ELIZA ANN BRACE LUND 1821 - 1908


It is regrettable that a more complete history cannot be included in these pages in describing the life of this wonderful woman. Records show that she was born 11 Oct. 1821 in Hereford, Herefordshire, England. Nothing of her early life-is known to her family with the exception of a few little stories. In the hope that her descendents may be stimulated to greater genealogical research, I am going to include a little story which had been handed down by word of mouth in at least one particular Lund family. I understand some believe it and some do not. The story is told that Eliza Ann was the daughter of Peter Grazen and Jane Brace Grazen. (In the records of another descendent of Eliza's I find the name spelled Graton.) As a young girl she heard the Mormon missionaries from America preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Her heart was touched and she believed their message. When she was baptized, her father was so angry that he disowned her. He told her to 'get out' and led her to feel that she was not worthy of bearing his name. Thus driven from her home she took her mother's maiden name of Brace by which she was known from then on. Her grandparents on the Brace line were John and Jane Brace. As soon as possible she set sail for 'Zion' with a company of Saints. I am indebted to Eliza's granddaughter, Elizabeth Lund Hill and Jennie Lurid Brown, for most of the information that I am able to give from now on. They tell that their grandmother was engaged to a certain young man before she left England. When she saw him wipe his nose by drawing his sleeve across it, she took her ring off and threw it into the ocean in disgust. Perhaps we can imagine that she already had her eye on young Wilson Lund who was also a Mormon Convert from Westmoreland, England and a member of the same group of Saints. She always told her family that she met Wilson on ship board and that they were married as soon as land was reached. So it was that two lonely people were united and to them, our ancestors, we owe a heritage debt for the fine family name which we bare. The Lunds came directly to Nauvoo, the gathering place of the saints at that time. Wilson was a stone cutter by trade and worked on the Nauvoo Temple. When it was completed, he and Eliza received their endowments there and were sealed to each other. Orson Hyde of early church history must have been a great friend of this couple because when their first son was born September 17, 1845 at Nauvoo, Illinois, they named him Orson Hyde Lund. The little fellow died 14 November 1845. The saints weren't permitted to enjoy the comforts of their beautiful little city, for they were driven here and there by wicked men. The Lord made known to President Brigham Young after the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith that the people would have to move farther west in order to be out of reach of their enemies. Eliza wanted to go along with the first company of Saints to have the honor of being the original pioneers, a fact she was always just a little disappointed about. When the first company left, her husband had signed a contract with William Adams to go over the state line to New Diggins, Wisconsin to quarry rock for William Champion. By this employment they were able to get money to fit themselves out for the journey west when they did get ready to start. It was here in Wisconsin that she gave birth to her second son May 29, 1847. He was given the name of Robert Charles, no doubt called Robert after his grandfather, Robert Lund. It was a relief to be able to live in comparative peace, but they weren't entirely happy to be so far away from the main body of the Saints. As soon as the contract was satisfactorily filled, the Lurid and Adams families in company with Thomas Judd and the Henry Barney families bought wagons, cattle and supplies and started on their way to Utah, across the state of Illinois and into Iowa. It was near Council Bluffs, Iowa where Jane Eliza was born April 23, 1849. She was given the name of Jane for her grandmother and Eliza honoring her mother. Thus it was with her two little children and meager supplies she traveled along day after day courageously looking ahead to the life she could make for her growing family in the new land ahead. The little city of Salt Lake was a welcomed site to her on that fall day of 1849 as the slow oxen came to a stop. She was happy to be 'home' at last. The first thing she and her husband did was to make a place to live. When the Salt Lake Temple was started in 1853, Wilson Lund gave much of his time in helping cut the stone for the lower part of this fine building, just as he had on the Nauvoo Temple. In June 1852, William Wilson was added to the family, named for his father. Brigham James came along in December 1854. Heber John came December 1856, but he died at birth. Margaret Elizabeth came in November 1857. In the fall of 1857 Eliza welcomed into her home as a 'hired girl' Ellen Nielson, a young Danish convert who had just arrived from the Old Country. Ellen could not speak English nor could Eliza understand Danish, but they managed to get along well together. Polygamy was being practiced and preached at that time in order to further the Lords work. Eliza gave birth to Mary Agnes in December 1860, named for her grandmother, Mary Wilson Lund. She came just a few months after Ellen's first child Alfred, born in October. Eliza was again in delicate health in the fall of 1862 when her husband was called to go south to St. George. The trip was so hard on her that she was obliged to stop at Fillmore with friends to rest. She kept the two little girls with her and sent the four older children along to St. George in the care of Ellen. It was in Fillmore that little Fanny Emma was born January 14, 1863. As soon as she could she traveled on to join her family in Dixie. Her little daughter, Margaret Elizabeth, died July 19, 1863 and little Fanny Emma passed away September 28, 1863. Her last child, Eliza Ann, was born in February 1865 in St. George. She again put forth her efforts in helping to provide a home for her family. Life in this new locality was not easy, especially for Eliza and Ellen whose husband spent most of his time cutting stone for the Tabernacle, Temple, and other public buildings. Eliza made her own soap for household needs, the lye being derived from the ashes of the cotton wood trees and saleratus. She was careful to bank her fire at night, so she would have live coals in the morning to begin her cooking. The heat in the summer was intense with no shade to give relief. Flies and insects were prevalent to torment them and the water was poor that supplied their needs. The soil was so alkali that it was hard to raise a garden. No doubt Eliza had many discouraging moments and real sorrow came when her 16 year old daughter, Jan Eliza, died January 22, 1866. As the years went on the living conditions of the Lunds were much improved for they had a very comfortable adobe home situated in the southwest part of town. These added comforts were much enjoyed and appreciated. Eliza's first thought was her family. Their religious teachings were never neglected, and she realized the importance of education by helping to encourage them in every way she could to get what schooling was possible. In due time the children started seeking companions and making homes for their own. Robert Charles married Mary Ann Romney. William married Anna Elizabeth Wiltbank. Brigham chose Rosilla Polly Branch. Mary married Thomas Judd and Eliza Ann married Ruben Joseph Farnsworth. When the St. George Temple was completed and dedicated in 1877, Eliza was chosen and set apart as one of the first ordinance workers. This position she filled faithfully and well. In fact she was at the temple the day before she died. Her granddaughters say she always took her grandchildren to the temple and had them baptized when they were eight years old. It was about the year 1881 when Wilson moved his wife Ellen and her family from Hebron to Paragonah where he spent the rest of his days there with her. He occasionally went to St. George to visit and do Temple work. He died July 26, 1889 in Paragonah. Elizabeth and Jennie recall how expert their grandmother was at washing and ironing, an art she had acquired by working in the laundry in the old country. She insisted on doing the washing and ironing for her son Robert and family in return for the financial help he was able to give her. She was very independent and wanted no favors unless she could do a little in return. Robert would buy her nice clothes, but these she wore only on Sundays and special occasions. She seemed to feel more at home dressed in a bascue waist, worn with a black skirt over which was a very neat blue and white checkered apron. Whenever she left the house, she always put on her sunbonnet. She was very witty and good company for old and young. Eliza lived to the good old age of eighty-seven years, and she was active and alert to the last. She was cared for by her daughter, Eliza and family, who made their home with her. Death came on June 29, 1908. She was buried in the St. George cemetery.

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