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Samuel Lewis & Sarah Jane Huntsman
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SARAH JANE HUNTSMAN LEWIS
Sarah Jane Huntsman was born was born 5 April 1834 in Steuben County, Indiana. She lived in Thatcher, Arizona at the time of her death and funeral services were held 20 March 1917. Her clothes caught fire and she was burned so badly that she died a half hour afterwards: She was standing with her back to the fire - in front of the fireplace; the coals must have rolled down close to her skirts and before she knew it, a blaze ran up her back. She was old and inactive and very heavy; she weighed about 250 pounds and was almost helpless. Her screams attracted Uncle Winfred Moody who lived just down the lot. He ran but was too late to save her--she had to be buried soon.
She and her daughter lived there together, but Aunt Keturah was away at the time. It was a terrible experience but it was a blessing that she could go so soon. Funeral services were held in the Thatcher Church on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.
Sarah Jane Lewis was born in Steuben County, Indiana. Her parents had two children when they joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They moved to Nauvoo in 1840 when Sarah Jane was six years old; they were in Nauvoo when the Prophet was killed, she remembered him quite well all her life.
Sarah Jane came to Salt Lake with her father in 1851. She worked out a lot while there. She moved south to Parawan and worked for Tarlton Lewis and later married his son, Samuel Lewis. They had four children while there and then moved to Minersville where six children were born. They then moved to Panguitch where two more were born making twelve in the family. In 1831 the family moved to the Gila Valley and settled in Pima, Arizona. They later moved to Thatcher where she lived the rest of her life. Sarah Jane was a Relief Society teacher but she was so heavy she couldn't walk much so she contented herself by reading: She had good eyesight so she read night and day. She was familiar with many prominent writers of her day and became we11 versed in the scriptures and in the gospel.
Nine children - six daughters and three sons - and many grand children survive her.
Laura McBride Smith adds: "I used to stay with Grandma Lewis and go to school at the LDS Academy. It was fun to Stay with Grandma - she used to tell me the most wonderful stories and read to me. She had lots of fig trees by her house and the fruit was delicious. She also had currents and cherries; they just grew as they pleased because Grandma couldn't go care of things out doors.
My grandparents separated years ago, they were never divorced but they each went their way. Grandma had the property and Grandpa just lived here and there and never had a home of his own after they separated, I wish I had asked him more questions when I was with him.
I don't know if Grandpa could sing, but he used to stay with us and on
moonlight nights sit out in the yard and sing "rue-i-tup-tup" over and
over again and bounce my little sister on his knee, Grandma could sing a little;
maybe they could both sing when they were young. I hope they are happy now and
have patched up their differences. I hope we can meet them when we get over
there, I loved them both very much. I could always joke with Grandma and have a
good time.
Written by Laura McBride Smith
SARAH JANE HUNTSMAN LEWIS
Funeral Service and Brief History
Thatcher, Arizona – 20 March 1917. Funeral services for Sarah Jane Lewis. Her clothes caught fire and she was burned so badly that she died a half hour afterwards. She was standing with her back to the fire – in front of the fireplace; the coals must have rolled down close to her skirts and before she knew it a blaze ran up her back. She was old and inactive and very heavy; she weighed about 250 pounds and was almost helpless. Her screams attracted Uncle Winfred Moody who lived just down the lot. He ran but was too late to save her—she had to be buried soon.
She and her daughter lived there together, but Aunt Keturah was away at the time. It was a terrible experience but it was a blessing that she could go so soon. Funeral services were held in the Thatcher Church on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Bishop Franklin Taylor was in charge. Appropriate selections were given by the choir and President and Mrs. Payne sang a song. The opening prayer was given by John Morris. The speakers: Selena Phillips, John Nash, Thomas Kimball, and President Andrew Kimball – he spoke of the noble character of the deceased. The closing prayer was given by James R. Moody. Interment was in the Thatcher Cemetery.
Sarah Jane Lewis was born in Steuben County, Indiana April 5, 1834. Her parents had two children when they joined the church –Sarah Jane and Joseph Smith Huntsman. They moved to Nauvoo in 1840 when Sarah Jane was six years old; they were in Nauvoo when the prophet was killed. She remembered him quite well all of her life.
Sarah Jane came to Salt Lake with her father in 1851. She worked a lot while there. She moved south to Parawan and worked for Tarlton Lewis and later married his son, Samuel Lewis. They had four children while there and then moved to Minersville where six children were born. They then moved to Panguitch where two more were born making twelve in the family. In 1831 the family moved to the Gila Valley and settled in Pima, Arizona. They later moved to Thatcher where she lived the rest of her life. Sarah Jane was a Relief Society Teacher but she was so heavy she couldn’t walk much so she contented herself by reading. She had good eyesight so she read night and day. She was familiar with many prominent writers of her day and became well versed in the scriptures and in the gospel.
Nine children – six daughters and three sons – and many grandchildren survived her. She had a wonderful family!
Laura McBride Smith adds: "I used to stay with Grandma Lewis and go to school at the LDS Academy. It was fun to stay with Grandma Lewis – she used to tell me the most wonderful stories and read to me. She had lots of fig trees by her house and the fruit was delicious. She also had currents and cherries; they just grew as they pleased because Grandma couldn’t go care for things outdoors.
My grandparents separated years ago; they were never divorced but they each went their own way. Grandma had the property and Grandpa just lived here and there and never had a home of his own after they separated. I wish I had asked him more questions when I was with him.
I don’t know if Grandpa could sing, but he used to stay with us and on moonlight nights sit out in the yard and sing "rup-i-tup-tup" over and over again and bounce my little sister on his knee. Grandma could sing a little; maybe they could both sing when they were young. I hope they are happy now and have patched up their differences; I hope we can meet them when we get over there. I loved them both very much. I could always joke with Grandma and have a good time.