McCleve History (told by daughterMargaret)

Margaret McCleve Hancock
Compiled by Rhoda P.J.Wakefleld & Margaret Butler Shelley (Granddaughters)
Margaret McCleve, daughter of John McCleve and Nancy Jane McFerren, was born to Belfast, Ireland September 17, 1838. She was the third child of a family of ten children. Her father was in the employ of a rich Lord, Alexander Gilmore. The baby of the family was given his name, for which the child was presented, by his highness, a little velvet suit in which he was christened.
The children were at liberty to roam over the beautiful grounds, through the arched driveways that led down to the ocean, chasing the tide as it came and went or enjoying a bath or playing on the soft warm sand. Here Margaret spent a very happy childhood. Her parents heard the Gospel from Elders D.T. McAllister and James Ferguson. They were convinced of it's truthfulness and accepted it as the true plan of salvation, and were baptized. On account of the persecutions, they saw no more Elders until Margaret was 12 years old. Then she and her sister, Catherine were baptized. Before long they desired and were advised to gather with the Saints to Zion, Although her father had a good position, his family was large and It was a long and expensive journey and his circumstances would not allow them to all migrate at once. For this reason they were advised by the Elders to send the two oldest girls on ahead, which was a severe trial to the parents. Three years later the rest of the family followed, sailing from Belfast to Liverpool on the Samuel Curling vessel. Here they again set sail for the land of the free. This journey took them five weeks. The sea was very rough. A storm arose which threatened to destroy them, but they landed in Boston without Incident, going from there by rail to Winter Quarters. Here they had to lay over for about two weeks waiting for the handcarts to be finished.
One day Margaret, with other young women from the camp, walked over to Iowa City, While there in the house of a friend, an Indian walked in and shaking hands with some of those present, but not with the girls. They were greatly frightened and ran to camp. It was the first time she bad ever seen an Indian. The family left Iowa City in the company of Daniel D. McArthur June 11, l856.
They were all looking forward with great anticipation of seeing their two daughters and sisters, Sarah and Catherine, who bad been in Zion with the Saints for about three years, during which time they had married. Sarah had married John Young (a brother to President Brigham Young) and Catherine had married Phineas Cook. Of course the girls were anxiously waiting to see their loved ones they had left in Ireland, tbree years previous. Margaret was seventeen years of age and she pushed a handcart the entire distance across the plains. In the company was a German family of Saints that had accepted the Gospel by the name of Elliker. Margaret fell in love with this young man who was about her age. He used to walk beside her, helping her with her handcart and conversing with her as they walked along. Everyone felt sure that when they got established in the valley they would be married.
One day something happened that she could never forget. This young man sick and weak from lack of food and privations, which these suffering Saints endured. He gave up and sat down by the side of the road to rest. He told the company that be would rest for a few days by the side of a clear stream of water and would come along with the next company of Saints. He was never heard from after that. Whether he perished for lack of food or killed or carried off by the Indians will never be known. This was a great sorrow to the Saints. On a few rare occasions a small quantity of venison or other wild meat or berries was handed around in the camp. Margaret would give her small portion to her sick baby brother whom she cared for and tended most of the way. Children were her special care ever since.
Her own dear father succumbed to the hardships and all that was left of this worthy man was in a grave two days travel from their destination. This left the mother with her six children to continue the journey alone, This was a great trial to the mother and family, the great effort he put forth in trying to gather with the Saints and his daughters and families was continued by this noble woman.
Supplies were sent to them by President Young, be himself coming out to meet than. They arrived in Salt Lake City the latter part of September 1856.
Margaret's mother married David Ellsworth March 28, 1857 and went to Payson, Utah to live where Margaret married Mosiah Lyman Hancock when she was nineteen years old on January 9, 1857. Her first baby was born the following October 14, 1857 but died at birth. This was a great disappointment to the young mother who had spent many hours dreaming of her first born while she had stitched by hand little garments fashioned from her own daintily embroidered shirts of pure Irish linen. Fourteen months later, while they were still living in Payson, Utah, a baby girl was born whom they called Margaret Clarissa born December 7, 1858.
From here they moved to Salt Lake City, where the next son, Mosiah Lyman, was born and given his father's name. He was born September 12, l860. That winter her husband was playing with the Theatrical Association of Payson in the different settlements around Salt Lake. He was also called by President Young to attend a school of Orson Pratt's, a wonderful privilege for anyone then or now. However, they were soon called to Southern Utah to help settle and they made their home in Harrisburg where their next five children were born, Levi McCleve, born 31 Aug l862, Eliza Jane born 28 Mar 1864; John Taylor, born 21 Mar 1866; Joseph Smith, born 28 Dec 1867; then they moved to Leeds, where the next four children were born;- Mary, born 9 Jan 1872; Amy Elizabeth,born 29 Dec 1973, Thomas, born 18 Nov 1875; Rebecca Reed, born 14 Dec 1877. Here they began to gather around than a few luxuries and accumlate some property. At Leeds they had quite a little store and a comfortable home. Her husband had made a trip or two across the Colorado River to the Indian Villages in Arizona with Jacob Hamblin, On one of these expeditions they were without water for 56 hours. At another time, Newton Adair, grandfather of the Baldwins at Taylor, said, "Mosiah Hancock and I divided a crow's gizzard between us on one of our trips to Arizona with Jacob Hamblin,"
In 1859 the family was again called to move on south, this time help settle Arlzona. They sold their store and home and started out that fall. As they advanced along the way the load became heavy for the teams, that were becoining thin on account of the scarcity of food. and one by one the pieces of furiniture was unloaded and left by the way. Winter was advancing and the children suffered from the cold. One of the boys, John, and his sister, Jane, walked, most of the way in order to save the teams. Their feet were never dry all the way. Margaret had been obliged to make part of their journey without her husband, who had gone on with others of the family to prepare a home for those coming. He met them at Lee's Ferry however, and came on the most of the way with them. They traveled in company with his brother, Joseph, and his wife, Emily, and their one baby, Clarence.
They arrived in Taylor New Years Day in the dead of winter, The horses were so weak and tired they made several attempts to climb the banks on the east side of the little Silver Creek. One of the girls said that she remembers her father taking each of the children in his arms and carrying them up the bank. He had already drawn the family lots which were directly across the river. There they settled where Margaret lived the rest of her life. Her daughter, Annie Minerva, was born in Taylor August 30, 1880,
Margaret was the mother of thirteen children. She raised twelve to maturity. One of her severe trials came with the loss of her son, Joseph Smith Hancock, who was killed by being thrown from a young frisky mare. He was buried at almost the same time that he was to have been married. This was a great trial to Margaret and all her family. He was a model young man who was loved by all who knew him. Besides, "Aunt Margaret" as she came to be known, was the mother of the entire community, acting as nurse almost without exception, for 25 years. She was called and set apart for this mission by President Jesse N. Smith, which calling she most faithfully performed, going day and night, no matter what the hour to administer to the needs of the sick, suffering or those in sorrow or distress, as those who knew her can testify. She was very successful in her work as obstetric nurse to the hundreds of mothers she waited on.
On one occasion she was caring for the sick and had spent the most of the night relieving the suffering. When she felt that all was well with the patient, she started for her home. It was a bitter cold night. Snow had fallen to a great depth. She started out making her way thru the snow. It was quite a distance between houses. The wind had started to blow. She wended her way thru the snow, keeping her face covered as much as she could, to protect her from the bitter cold wind.Finally, when she looked around to see which way to go, she was turned around. She had no idea where she was. Snow was so heavy she couldn't detect any houses. It was a serious situation to be out this bitter cold night, not knowing where shs was or which way to go. She felt that she could go no farther, when a short distance from where she stood, she saw a match strike thru the window and a man lit a kerosene lamp as some of his children had to have attention. She made her way to the house, not even knowing whose house it was, and knocked. The man came to the door and welcomed her in his home.
He built a fire and she warmed herself. It was coming daylight when she went on to her home. She gladly gave her time and strength which finally cost her life. No sacrifice was too great for her if she could help her family or friends,
She and daughter, Amy, owned a little store in Taylor for years that helped in the support of her family. Though her trials were many she was always firm in her faith and found comfort in bringing comfort to others. She had a very kind and sympathetic nature, charitable to those in need or in trouble. She was loved and trusted by all who knew her. It can truly be said of her, that the world is better by her having lived in it. During her last illness she received word of her husband's death on Janualy 14, 1907, He had been living on the Gila Valley with his son, John, He is buried in the Hubbard Cemetery. During the last years of Margaret's life she wasn't very well. She was now 70 years old. She gave up her nursing. She had spent years in caring for the sick and bringing babies into the world. She believed as all Latter-day Saints do, that we all existed as spirits in the spirit world before we came to this earth. She had helped hundreds to come to earth, to gain a body, to gain earthly experience, and to prove themselves. When she was so sick and suffering so much she could see many little spirits clamoring to come to the earth to parents who were desirous of them. This concerned Margaret and she told her children, that tenderly cared for her, that she dldn't want to die until she could place these little spirits with parents here on this earth. John and Thomas and wives had never had any children of their own. Jane and Sarah had had a large family and were rather old. She called her children to her and told of this and asked each of them that were with her, if they would be willing to take one of these little spirits and care for it, They all said that they would be more than happy to if it were possible. Then she said, "I know John and Mary and Levi will be glad to (John and Mary and Levi were living down on the Gila Valley at this time). After getting this promise from her children she passed away May 4, 1908.
It is interesting to note that all of Margaret's children that were married brought some of these spirits into their homes within a year after they had made this promise to their mother.
Margaret's husband, Mosiah Lyman Hancock, had a kind charitable heart and like his brother, Joseph, liked to relieve poverty and distress. He spent a great deal of his time in later years, doing Temple work. So, while his wife labored to bring souls into life, he in turn, labored to save souls in everlasting life. May we ever bless the memory of these worthy pioneers .
Margaret passed away May 4, 1908 and was buried in the Taylor cemetery May 6, 1908.