Item Detail
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Sanderson, Dora Day Pearl Rawlinson
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1887-1950
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MSS SC 2681
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Biography
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Dora Pearl Day Rawlinson Sanderson was born on 4 March 1887 in Fairview, Utah to Eli Azariah Day, Sr. and Eliza Jane Staker Day. She was the fifth of 13 children, her siblings being: Eliza Estella, Charlotte Jane, Sarah Ellis, Martha Geneva, Eli Azariah, Jr., Harriet Josephine, Joseph Smith, Rowena Merl, Alvin Delroy, Nola Maud, George Nathan, and Arthur Merril.
Dora grew up in a polygamous home, as her father married Elvira Euphrasia Cox as his second wife. He was arrested a few times for his practice of polygamy. But Dora had a full childhood, attending public school, Sunday School and Primary. She was often a favorite among her teachers, and she became a fast reader. Dora was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 28 April 1895 by Parley R. Young, and Charles K. Hansen confirmed her.
In the spring of 1902, she graduated from the eighth grade, despite the fact that she could have graduated the year prior. She was a bright student, but there were so few opportunities for high school, and all of her friends were in the year behind her, so she opted to remain with them another year. After her graduation from the eighth grade, she went to Snow Academy in Ephraim, Utah, where she studied for 4 years before graduating from both the Normal and Kindergarten Normal schools in 1908. During this time, she also attended 4 years of Seminary, and she participated in womens tennis and basketball. Her grades being the highest in the class, she was chosen to give the speech at her graduation ceremony.
Just 2 years later, in 1910, Dora pursued further education, attending Brigham Young University for 1 year, which awarded her with her five-year Normal certificate upon completion.
The very next year, Dora began her teaching career, starting with a first-grade class in Gunnison, Utah, where she was quickly named one of the best teachers in all of Sanpete county by the superintendent. The year following, in 1912, she moved to Nephi, Utah, and taught a first-grade class there.
It was in 1913 when she returned to Fairview to teach and to help her mother raise her remaining siblings while her father was on a foreign mission.
On 12 June 1914 in the Salt Lake Temple, Dora married Eli Wilford Rawlinson, whom she had met while attending Snow Academy, and together they had 2 children: Joseph Eli, and Laura. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Delta, Utah, where Eli had a teaching job. After his first year, Eli decided to turn to farming for his living, and so Dora taught in his place.
Sadly, Eli passed away in 1918, a victim of the Spanish Flu epidemic, despite his best efforts to stay clear of the virus. The rest of the family fell ill as well, but Dora and the children were eventually able to recover. The loss of her husband was a hard blow to Dora. She moved back in with her mother and had to have her brother and brother-in-laws help to save the farm. She struggled greatly with this trial until Eli appeared to her in a dream and comforted her, telling her he had been called to do work on the other side of the veil.
Dora returned to teaching in 1919, but she was never satisfied with being a widowed mother. Nevertheless, it wasnt until 1922 that Dora remarried. In Manti, Utah, on 28 April, she married David Sparks Sanderson, a widower with 2 sons of his own, and with him she had 2 children, David Van Arden, and DeReta Jayne.
With David, Dora moved to Hinckley, Utah, selling her farm in Delta to help pay for one in her new place of residence. In 1931, however, the depression hit their small town, and Dora and David lost everything. They had to return to Fairview, where they lived in a log cabin not far from the home of Doras mother. When the family had scraped enough money together to purchase a house, they moved back to Hinckley.
In 1938, Dora and David were called to the genealogical committee of their ward, and from that calling grew Doras abiding love of family history work. A year later, she was hired on as manager of the school lunch program at Hinckley High School, which she did for several years until she was asked to quit so that someone who needed the income more could fill the position. Dora was upset about this, claiming she needed the income, too, but she left the position.
Doras children drew her to Los Angeles, California, as most of them had moved there. Dora and David purchased their last home in 1945 in Hollywood, California, and while they lived there David worked as a custodian and Dora worked in a small department store near the home.
In 1948, Dora became severely ill. She never regained her health after this, as it was found she had developed breast cancer by 1949. Even as her body deteriorated, her spirit and her love for her children and grandchildren never failed. She spent three weeks in the Los Angeles County Hospital before growing unhappy there and returning home. Even though it was her family taking care of her, she still pushed to do everythi -
This folder contains 4 copies of a 7-page typescript biography of Nathan Staker. The title page (included with 2 of the copies) reads, Biography of Nathan Staker Pioneer, Born: 26 November 1801 Kingston Ontario Canada, Died: 29 May 1884 Mt. Pleasant Utah, Arrived in Utah Fall of 1852, Henry Miller Company, Married: 1) Jane Richmond 1827; 2) Eliza Cusworth (Burton) 1857.
The authors of this work are listed as Dora Sanderson, Granddaughter, William Merchant Staker, Grandson, and Sarah Ellis Halley Pearson, Granddaughter. It should be noted that Williams name is the only one included at the end of the biography, but it is uncertain who wrote which parts of the life sketch. It is also mentioned that the manuscript has been submitted by Geneva Day Larsen, Granddaughter, of Camp Sowiette of Center Utah County, Provo, Utah.
The document covers Nathan Stakers life, beginning with his birth and Methodist upbringing before talking about his conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his marriage to his first wife, Jane Richmond. After crossing the plains from Nauvoo to settle in Utah, Jane passed away from Smallpox in Pigeon Grove. After her death, Nathan moved to Pleasant Grove, Utah, where his bishop introduced him to his second wife, Eliza Cusworth. The biography mentions that he spent much of his time farming, and even fighting off Native Americans from the Black Hawk tribe before recounting a story of true faith and power. After a harrowing incident, where Nathans oldest daughter fell from a footbridge and drowned, he brought her back to life, using the miraculous power of the Priesthood. The biography closes by also mentioning how Nathan would often teach school as a volunteer.