JosephSmithSr.
So shall it be with my father: he shall be
called a prince over his posterity, holding
the keys of the patriarchal priesthood over the kingdom of God on earth, even the Church
of the Latter Day Saints, and he shall sit in the general assembly of patriarchs, even in
council with the Ancient of Days when he shall sit and all the patriarchs with him and shall
enjoy his right and authority under the direction of the Ancient of Days.
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ALVEY, James Sr.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17]

Male 1849 - 1932  (82 years)  Submit Photo / DocumentSubmit Photo / Document


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  • Name ALVEY, James 
    Suffix Sr. 
    Birth 12 Oct 1849  Arnold, Nottinghamshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17
    Gender Male 
    WAC 18 Oct 1899  MANTI Find all individuals with events at this location 
    _TAG Reviewed on FS 
    Death 2 Mar 1932  Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17
    Burial 4 Mar 1932  Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [17
    Headstones Submit Headstone Photo Submit Headstone Photo 
    Person ID I54197  Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith
    Last Modified 19 Aug 2021 

    Family ID F26653  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family MAYFIELD, Sarah ,   b. 28 Jan 1852, Arnold, Nottinghamshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationArnold, Nottinghamshire, Englandd. 10 Mar 1944, Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 92 years) 
    Marriage 19 Dec 1872  England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 6 sons and 5 daughters 
    Family ID F22251  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 24 Jan 2022 

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

  • Notes 
    • When James Alvey was born on October 12, 1849, in Arnold, Nottinghamshire, his father, William, was 29 and his mother, Mary, was 26. He married Sarah Mayfield and they had 14 children together. He then had one son from another relationship. He died on March 9, 1932, in Escalante, Utah, at the age of 82, and was buried there.

      James Alvey married Sarah Mayfield on December 19, 1871. While they lived in England, ten children were born to them.
      In their home in England, they entertained many missionaries. At one time, he was the Branch President of the branch of the church in Arnold, England.
      Not much is known about their life in England. Grandfather worked in a clothing factory, and worked up to be a silk worker. Most of their family worked in the factory that made underclothing.

      They sailed to America, on the ship “Wisconsin” on August 31, 1889. They landed in New York on September 10, 1889. They boarded a train to come to Utah at New York. When they got on the train Grandfather went to see about the luggage, leaving Grandmother to get the children seated and ready. Grandmother always said that with so many children, there were ten of them, that she didn’t even look for the best place to sit, but immediately got them settled in the first car. When Grandfather came back, he told her that there were some Mormon Elders in the last car and he felt like they should go back there with them. By this time Grandmother was tired, and protested the move, but Grandfather insisted, so they moved to the very last car on the train.
      After they had traveled for hours, a bad storm came up, streams of water ran along the railroad tracks, on both sides. They came to a river that they had to cross (I regret that I never asked the name of the river) the river was so swollen from the rains that when the train started across the bridge, it gave away and [the] first car fell and stood upright in the water. One by one the cars rolled into the river until the last car came to the edge, it rolled back along the tracks, thereby saving the lives of all those in it.
      The people were taken off the train, and taken to a farmhouse, where they stayed until the train and track were able to run. Grandmother used to tell about how very frightened they were. She had one large umbrella, and she said all the children tried to crowd under it to keep out of the rain.
      Grandfather said many times, that he was directed by our Heavenly Father to change cars, though he could see no reason for it at the time.
      When they got within a few miles of Salt Lake City, brother John Wright and two of his sons, Edward and William, came to meet them. They got on the train and rode with them the remaining distance to Salt Lake. Brother Wright took them to his home for a few days, then they went with some relatives in Cotton wood. They stayed there for about a month and then moved to Escalante with a brother, William Alvey, where they made their home.

      Their home in Escalante was a credit to the community, they were very clean and neat. Grandfather was a gardener, a painter, a paperhanger and was very particular in everything he did.
      He was always very active in the Church, and an inspiration to all who knew him. He was tall and straight, with a very distinguished looking mustache. He had a keen sense of humor, was very good company and loved his family.
      James Alvey died March 2, 1932, at his home in Escalante, Utah. He was buried in the cemetery in Escalante.

      Written by Leona Boyce Spencer
      4 February 1966


      Written by: Irene Alvey Heaps and added to by Alfred Alvey

      James Alvey Sr., was born in Nottinghamshire, England in 1849. He married Sarah Mayfield on December 19, 1871, she being the only one of a large family who joined the church. When a young man he served his country as a soldier. He joined the church in 1871 and was always a faithful worker, never letting anything keep him from doing what he thought and knew to be his duty. He labored as an Elder doing missionary work, assisting the Elders in presenting the Gospel. He was counselor to the president of the branch.

      The James Alvey Sr. home was always a home to the Elders, who were entertained and helped by he and his wife. They had the privilege of entertaining President B.H. Roberts, Senator William King and dozens of others of our Elders.

      After joining the church their desire was to come to America, and when the time came for them to set sail, they were given a blessing by the President of the mission. In the blessing they were promised that they would reach their destination in peace and safety and that they would never want for the necessities of life. Grandfather said later that there were many times when he didn't know where the next sack of flour was coming from, but some way was always provided for them to get it.

      They were 12 days on the water and it was a very tough stormy trip. Annie was a little baby and she got very sick on the way, with vomiting, diarrhea and high temperature, from lack of proper nourishment. She layed very ill for several days and grandmother's one fear was that Annie would die and have to be buried at sea. Grandmother commented in later years that they wouldn't slop their hogs the way they were fed on the boat.

      After landing in New York, they were to take a train to Chicago. While Grandfather was arranging for tickets, etc. Grandmother got on the train with the 10 children in one of the front cars and had quite a time getting them all seated and settled. When he got on he said he felt they should go farther back in the train, so they moved to the last car next to the caboose. Grandmother told how vexed she was that he would make them move after they were all settled. Forty miles out of New York City there was a bridge out, and every car on that train derailed except that last car and the caboose. This was a testimony to Grandfather all his life.

      In Chicago they bought a team and wagon and a cow they led behind, and they headed west. They stopped in Salt Lake for a while but didn't like it, so they went on down to Escalante, arriving there in October, 1889. Grandfathers blessing had been fulfilled.

      It took wonderful faith and courage to start on that journey with a wife and 10 small children, all under 17 years of age. It took faith for Grandmother to leave her entire family parents and 4 brothers and 5 sisters--for the sake of the Gospel, and to follow a husband to a place almost unknown to them.

      At the time of his death, Grandfather was survived by 10 living children, 88 grandchildren and 58 great-grandchildren. While in Escalante he served as President of the High Priests Quorum.

      In thier declining years Grandfather and Grandmother took great pride in keeping their home, yards and garden beautiful.

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