LAY, Sarah

1877 - 1956  (79 years)  Submit Photo / Document

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• Name	LAY, Sarah
  Birth	6 Jan 1877	Santa Claira, Washington, Utah, United States
  Gender	Female
  WAC	11 Nov 1897	MANTI
  _TAG	Reviewed on FS
  Death	25 Mar 1956	Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States
  Burial	28 Mar 1956	Escalante Cemetery, Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I53627	Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith
  Last Modified	19 Aug 2021

  
  

  Family ID

  F26427

  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	SHURTZ, Myron ,   b. 22 Sep 1876, Panguitch, Garfield, Utah, United States Panguitch, Garfield, Utah, United Statesd. 10 May 1912, Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States (Age 35 years)
  Marriage	3 Nov 1897	Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States
  Family ID	F26426	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	24 Jan 2022

  
  

• Photos		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

  
  

• Notes

  WILHELMINA LAY WOOLSEY Wilhelmina Lay Woolsey was born August 9, 1886, in Escalante, Garfield County, Utah. She was the seventh child born to Rachel Ellen Wiltbank and John Taylor Lay. She had four brothers: John William, Joseph Coleman, Charles Spencer and Franklin Ellis. She also had four sisters: Annie, Sarah, Rachel Ellen and Jane. She was the first beloved child to be born to them in their new home, just four months after arriving at Escalante. She was a favorite of all the family, on both her father and mother's sides. She was very lovable, patient and trustworthy. Even the Queen Wilhelmina could not have had a greater, sweeter spirit. She grew up among many friends and relatives. She was a very imaginative child with high ideals and always looked on the bright side of life. She drew friends to her throughout all her journey of life here on this earth. She was christened by Edwin Twitchel, December 1, 1886. She was baptized by James B. Woolsey on October 22, 1894 and confirmed the same day by Andrew P. Schow. James B. Woolsey later became her father- in-law. Her education commenced in a little log one-room schoolhouse. Her first teacher was Maude Fairbanks. She learned very rapidly in school; her penmanship was perfect. Her schooling consisted of an eighth grade education. One of her favorite teachers was Victor Bean. She kept books and clerked for Issac J. Riddle at his general mercantile store. She took pride in her appearance, learning early to sew her own clothes, and used to spend hours crimping her own and her friends' hair, so that it lay in waves all around their heads. Prior to every dance, which was two or three every week, this must be done. They all wore their hair bobbed in the pitcher handle style, which was to wave it all around the head and form a pitcher handle bob on top. The style of dress was tight waists with mutton leg sleeves and skirts to the floor, which were lined and stiffened at the flare with crinoline, bound and trimmed with five or seven rows of ribbon around the flare. Some of her dearest friends were Mary Ellen Wilson, Adelia Allen, Alice Porter, Rebecca and Annice Roundy. Their admirers were many, and early they had steady beaus. They all married about the same time. Mina was married to Joseph Riley Woolsey, July 13, 1904, by Andrew P. Schow, at Escalante, Utah, and endowed at the Manti Temple on September 7, 1904. She was seventeen and he was twenty-one. A wedding reception was given for relatives and friends during the day and a wedding dance in the Roundy Hall that night. On the way home from the Manti Temple, they stopped and purchased bedroom and kitchen furniture and soon moved into a two-room log house on Main Street. Later, Riley traded it for the old Moroni Shurtz home, which was just a block below the post office on the south side of Main Street. This was a favorable business location. Mina made and sold ice cream and had a millinery shop in her home. She also took in boarders. She was a very thrifty person and a neat housekeeper. Friends and relatives were always welcome in their home. They always had a large garden, which she and the children took care of while Riley was farming and sheepherding. They had cows, pigs, and chickens to be cared for, also. They took advantage of all the opportunities Southern Utah afforded. She was always kind to her parents and they relied upon her very much. She spent much of her time helping her mother dry and can fruits and vegetables from the gardens, make soap, and cook for threshers. She was appointed Secretary of the Primary Association in 1903 when her sister, Sarah Shurtz was President, and served until November 1, 1907. Seven of their children were born in Escalante: Leah Owena, Leora Mina, Cecil R, *****, Paul Burnell, Marion Hunter, and *****. (living) One year the whole family came down with the measles, including Mina. Her mother, Rachel Ellen, came and stayed and cared for them. Due to Leora having appendicitis, Dr. Moorhouse, one of the doctors that came to town regularly, suggested they take her to the Dee Hospital in Ogden for an operation. While in Ogden, Mina could see there would be more opportunities in that area for her large family to find employment. On July 2, 1921, they moved the family and what belongings they could load on two wagons and traveled to Marysvale, eighty miles away, which was the nearest railway. The rest of the way to Ogden they traveled by train. They first settled in Roy, and then later moved to Riverdale. They all worked picking berries and fruit and doing whatever work was available. Her eighth child, Frank Dewayne, was born in Riverdale on October 6, 1922. By this time, her husband had obtained a job with the Southern Pacific Railroad Shops during the strike. She worried much about his safety each day that he went to work as to whether he would return unharmed. At this time Mina felt that they should try to buy a home as both Leah and Leora had also obtained work in the city. They bought a modern brick home on West Thirtieth Street close to the Sperry Mill. Here they were happy and prospered. Mina worked as a cleaning woman in the Eccles Building and a car dealer's office and with her husband's weekly wage, and the older children's help, they met their obligations. They furnished their home, educated the children, had time for work in the Church and lending a helping hand to their acquaintances. In Riverdale and the Ogden Eleventh Ward, she worked faithfully in the Primary Association as a teacher; always willing to do whatever was asked of her. She made two trips back to Escalante to visit her aged mother. Cecil had been very sick with rheumatic fever for a long time and the doctor told the family he would never overcome it. This grieved her very much. This was a difficult time for her as she was expecting her ninth child soon, and was busy preparing for her family's Christmas. Leah, the oldest daughter, was married, and Leora, the second daughter, was working at the Federal Bakery. On this sad day of the 24th of December 1925, Riley had gone to work at the railroad. Mina wrote a letter to each of her brothers and sisters telling them how she felt about Cecil's condition. When he came home at 4:00 p.m., she wasn't feeling well. Later they called Dr. Draper. Because it was Christmas Eve and he was in a hurry to go to a party, the doctor gave her a shot to force labor, which caused her to hemorrhage. Around 8:00 p.m. both she and her baby daughter had passed away, leaving a family of eight and a grief stricken husband to face the trials of life alone. Riley had a very sad feeling that the Lord was unjust to take the main stay of the family and leave the rest in torment, but the Lord was merciful to them. Cecil recovered and lived a normal life until June 8, 1945, when he died at the age of thirty-five, of the dread disease leukemia. The bodies of mother and baby were taken to the Lindquist Mortuary where they were prepared for burial, then brought back to the home she loved and had taken so much pride in. The funeral was held in the Eleventh Ward under the direction of Bishop Riley. Bishop Marray Jacobs of Riverdale, a very good friend, spoke and took as his text, Psalms. He placed emphasis on the verse that compared with her life, that she was willing to raise the flax, card and spin it, weave it into cloth and make her own garments. She was buried in the Ogden City Cemetery, December 26, 1925. Three of their sons served overseas in World War II: Paul Burnell, in the U.S. Navy, Marion Hunter and Frank Dewayne in the U.S. Army.