Item Detail
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Cheney, Eliza Ann Beebe
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1815-1851
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MSS SC 2638
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Letter
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Eliza Ann Beebe Cheney was born on 11 January 1815 in Freedom, New York. She was the second eldest child of Charles Beebe and Elizabeth Traine Beebe. Her siblings were: Hiram, Charles, Jr., Florilla, Harrison, Darius, Lucretia, Dewitt Clinton, Edna Jane, Frances M., and Wellington Eugene.
Elizas strengths always lay in cloth. She would spin flax and wool, and do fancy work with fine linen, such as flowers for hats and bonnets.
When Eliza was still rather young, she came in contact with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, through her future husband. As they courted, he became interested in the Churchs teachings, and before long she was interested, too. Despite her familys objections, she went forward with her wedding, although on a smaller scale than initially planned.
On 22 April 1834 in Freedom, New York, Eliza married Nathan Calhoun Cheney, and together they had 7 children: Helen Mar, Eliza Jane, Charles Ebenezer, Nathan Beebe, Ann Louisa, Franklin Beebe, Emily Mariah. Most of their married life was spent farming and moving around with the Saints, from Freedom to Nauvoo, and from Nauvoo to Winter Quarters, before they settled in their final home in Utah.
Elizas family was rife with health problems and hardships. Eliza herself was never of a very strong constitution, and she was constantly falling ill. Additionally, 3 of her 7 children died at very early ages, Charles and Ann passing before they reached their first birthday, and Franklin only living to the age of 5.
Despite her near-constant health problems, she remained faithful to the Church, and she and her family set out for Utah in 1850 with the William Snow Company. The family settled in Centerville and lived comfortably enough. Eliza had her last child, Emily, just two months before she contracted erysipelas. Due to her illness, she died on 6 October 1851 in Centerville, Utah. Tragically, it was only 4 months later that Nathan joined her in death, leaving 5 orphan children at the time, ranging from 16 years to just a few months old. -
This letter consists of 3 photocopied pages of typescript. It is dated January 1848, from Winter Quarters Camp of the Saints. Eliza begins by addressing her parents and siblings, and reports to them on her progress with the other members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints heading West. She talks about her husbands work, as they save money to make it through the winter and leave in the spring, and her health, which has been markedly better lately than it usually is.
She mentions that the last letter she received from her family, dated 25 January, asked that she and her husband come home. Eliza resolutely responds by saying she will never return, as she has devoted herself to the Church, and she must follow the Lords command to go to Utah. She talks about how the cost of leaving her home is not so great when she compares the teachings of the Church with those of the Savior and His apostles, who gave so much for their beliefs.
Eliza also talks about the mission of the Church, which is to bring others unto Christ through service and missionary work, and she expresses her gratitude for everything her newfound faith has done for her. She humbly asks that if her parents can spare it, they send her some means to help her and her husband go to the Salt Lake Valley, as there wont be much out there until after its been settled for a time, and they will need to be able to make clothing, and grow food.
She ends her letter by exhorting her family to consider the Gospel and all the happiness and salvation it has to offer, mentioning that if Charlie (her brother) has not found someone to marry yet, that he should come to Winter Quarters and find himself a Mormon girl if he wants a smart wife. After asking her family to visit her before they leave on their trek West, Eliza tells her recipients where they can send letters to in the meantime and asks that they remember her to all her loved ones back home.