Elizabeth Ann Heninger Pritchett
Elizabeth Ann Heninger Pritchett, wife of Leonidas a.
Pritchett, was born in Burkes Garden, Virginia, May 6 1839. She was the daughter of Philip and Elizabeth
a. Workman Heninger, one of a family of nine children, three boys and six girls.
Elizabeth Ann Heninger was married to Leonidas A. Pritchett
in 1863. She and her husband embraced
the gospel and emigrated to Utah in 1865.
At Ohio they were forced to separate from the company of which they were
member s and remain there for a time owing to the birth of their oldest daughter,
Katherine Lititia. Their oldest child, a
boy, had died in Virginia. The little
girl was born May 12, and three weeks later an opportunity arose to resume
their journey across the plains by working in a government freight train. Mrs. Pritchett cooked for the men and Mr.
Pritchett helped with the wagons.
In crossing the plains they met many bands of Indians, some
of whom were hostile and some of whom were friendly. In many cases the company
had very narrow escapes. In one instance
the young baby was saved by two feather beds.
Mrs. Pritchett was bringing three feather beds to Utah. One day they met a band of Indians, who,
seeing the little black-haired baby, wanted to trade for her. The mother, of course, became very frightened
and hid the baby. When the Indians saw
that they could not get the baby by trading for it, they held up the train of
wagons and began searching for the little white papoose. In their search they came to the wagons containing
the feather beds. They seized two beds,
ripped open the ticks with their tomahawks and began tossing the feathers into
the air. As the wind began to blow the
feathers about, the Indians started to shout and dance. The captain of the train, seeing that the
Indians childish attention was diverted from the baby, ordered the train to
move on. As the train slowly disappeared
from the Indians sight they could still be seen dancing. You may be sure that whenever Red med
appeared thereafter the baby was not in sight.
After a long and tiresome journey across the plains they
arrived in Salt Lake City in the fall of 1865.
On arriving in Salt Lake they had few belongings; one feather bed, and
iron kettle and a pair of government blankets which the company had given
them. They were taken into the home of a
kind Latter Day Saint and that winter remained in Salt Lake.
In the spring they removed Ogden and settled in for a time
at Harrisville. While living here Mrs.
Pritchett experienced the greatest homesickness of her life. How dreary and forsaken this part of the
country appeared to her in comparison to the beautiful town of Burkes Garden.
Virginia. She said she used to go to a
little hill not far from home and there look around her and cry out in
loneliness.
Her husband, a carpenter, soon had plenty of work and after
a while things looked brighter. In a
year or two they moved to Riverdale.
After spending a number of years in Riverdale they made their home in
Eden, Ogden Valley. Here she lived until
her death in 1896, age 58 years. Her husband had died eight years before.
Elizabeth A. Pritchett was the mother of ten children, three
boys and seven girls. Seven grew to
manhood and womanhood and raised large families. Two boys and one daughter died in
infancy. Elizabeth A. Pritchett was a
kind and devoted mother, a good and helpful neighbor, and a true and faithful
church member. She was loved and revered
by her family and friends. She was noted
for that good southern hospitality, all who came must have something to eat;
she shared the best she had with everyone.
To her relatives and friends she was known as: Aunt Bet”
She was not as active in church duties as she would have
like to have been, but she encouraged her husband and children to do their
part. Her children have remained
faithful in the church and many of her grandsons have fulfilled honorable
missions.
May her children and grandchildren cherish her memory and
remain true to the faith she loved and sacrificed so much for, is the desire of
her loving daughter, Matilda P. Pritchett Wood.
