Item Detail
-
Farr, Olive Hovey Freeman
-
1799-1893
-
MSS 1464
-
Olive Hovey Freeman Farr was born on June 23, 1799 in Hanover County, New Hampshire to Elijah Freeman and Olive Hovey. She began teaching school when she was sixteen, and on December 5, 1816 she married Winslow Farr. The couple lived in Waterford, Vermont until 1828 when they moved to Charleston, New Orleans County, Vermont, where they built a farm of 100 acres. Together, Olive and Winslow had six children: John, who died in infancy, Aaron, Lorin, Olive H., Diantha, and Winslow. After the birth of their fifth child, Olive was plagued with a liver complaint, which confined her to bed for almost seven years. In the spring of 1832, after Olive was miraculously healed by Elder Orson Pratt, Winslow and Olive were baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Selling their farm for half its value, they moved to Kirtland, Ohio, and in the spring of 1840 followed the Prophet Joseph Smith to Nauvoo, Illinois. The Farr family was forced out of Nauvoo by the mob, where they moved across the Mississippi River, to Winter Quarters, Iowa, where they remained until 1850. Later, they crossed the plains with the Joseph Young Company, arriving in Utah, September 30, 1850. She had one child after her miraculous healing. They settled in Salt Lake City, Utah, later moving out to Cottonwood, Utah. Olive died March 10, 1893.
-
This is a two-page typescript biography, a part of the Mary Ellen Stoddard Smith collection, located in the twenty-forth folder of the collection, and written by her great-granddaughter, Julia Etta Gay Shupe. The manuscript describes some of Olive's ancestors as being early pioneers from England to America, in particular, Edmund Freeman, who founded Sandwich, Barnstaple, Massachuetts, and later became assistant Governor of Massachusetts. The biography also describes Olive's conversion to the LDS faith. Elders Orson Pratt and Lyman Johnson requested to use the schoolhouse to hold meetings. Winslow was impressed with their teachings and brought them to his home in the hopes that the missionaries would heal his wife. Elder Pratt suddenly arose going to the bedside, said, Sister Olive, do you believe God can heal you? She answered readily, I believe all things are possible with God. Then he laid his hands upon her, rebuked the disease, and commanded her to be made whole, and instantly, to the surprise and joy of all, she at up in bed, called for her clothes, dressed and got up. Olive was well known, well liked, and perfect lady under all circumstances.