Thomas Condie and Helen Sharp by RHB

Thomas Condie was born September 27, 1805 in Dunfermline in Fifeshire, Scotland and moved to Clackmannan as a small child. Thomas was the sixth of eight children of Gibson Condie and Jean Russell. He was christened on January 12, 1806 in Clackmannan. Thomas had blue eyes and dark hair. He is remembered as being a tall, gentlemanly sort of man, possibly six feet in height.

Helen Sharp was born May 25, 1811 in Clackmannan, Scotland to Luke Sharp and Janet White. Helen, had blue eyes, rather dark hair and she was tall.

While still a child, Thomas began to work in the coal mines of the district. He was running an engine drawing coal at the mines when he met and married Helen Sharp on August 21, 1830.

Thomas continued to work in the coal mines until about 1835 when he left the mines and took over the running of the Crown Inn which included selling groceries, liquors, and tobacco. Later he rented a somewhat larger place in Alloa, two miles away. There were many buildings on the place. Keeping fine carriages and horses were added to his activities.

[image of Crown Inn missing, ebf 2010]

In 1847 Elder William Gibson introduced the Gospel in Alloa and many were converted and baptized into the church. The early members rented the hall in the upper part of the Crown Inn as a meeting place. Among them were John Sharp, baptized May 2, 1847, the Russells, Hunters, and Pattersons.

Helen Sharp was the first of her family to join the church. Thomas was very bitter when he found out that Helen had joined the church and greatly persecuted her, not allowing her to be confirmed for six months. Even Satan himself worked against her and one night before she had gone to sleep, but while lying in bed, an evil spirit threw her out of bed onto the floor. She prayed constantly though for help and guidance and in a few months four of her children joined.

Thomas Condie was a great reader and had a fine memory. He was a Presbyterian and held firm to his beliefs. He would quote passages from the Bible to prove in his own way that Mormonism was from the Devil. A discussion between Elder Gibson and a Baptist minister named Scott brought many people to hear for themselves. Later there was a discussion lasting two days between John Sharp and two ministers. Shortly afterward, Alexander Dow came from Dunfermline and reasoned with Thomas Condie. His heart began to soften toward the gospel and he allowed his children, Janet, Gibson, Helen, and Margaret to be baptized. He, too, soon joined the church when he realized he was in error and that his faith was built on a weak foundation. He often said that the Lord had given him a testimony in a remarkable way. “One night a voice repeated to him ‘thrice sundry times’ the scripture found in Isaiah 54:15-17.” After this manifestation he had a fervent testimony all his life. On September 1, 1848 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland he was baptized by Alexander Dow and confirmed by William McMaster, President of the Dunfermline Branch.

About this time Thomas was having trouble with his business. He and a partner had leased a coal mine, but through the dishonesty of his partner the business failed and Thomas was forced to leave Clackmannan to seek employment. His wife, Helen, took charge and settled up the indebtedness with the help of their son Gibson.

Helen and the children then packed their belongings and hired a team to take them and their luggage to the depot seven miles away. They took the train to Glasgow, where they met Thomas and all boarded a steamer for Liverpool. The ship had no sleeping accommodations for the trip to Liverpool. It was very cold and all were sleepy and tired after the trip but very thankful to have arrived in safety on Christmas Day 1848. They stayed for some time in Liverpool waiting for a ship to take them to America, and as they walked around, especially on Sunday, they were shocked to find the worldliness of the people and the lack of honoring the Sabbath Day.

They spent several days in rooms of the home of a Catholic woman who was very devout in her religion. White waiting in Liverpool for the ship to be made ready to sail, Thomas Condie took his gun apart and used blue vitriol to clean the rust from its parts. He put the gun back together and was putting it away when his youngest daughter, Mary, picked up the cup containing the poison and drank it. Their land lady wanted to send for the priest but Thomas Condie sent his two oldest children, Janet and Gibson, to find the elders mentioning Orson Pratt who was president of the British Mission. They went to where a group of the saints were meeting and told what had happened. Apostle Orson Pratt appointed two or three of the brethren to go with the children. They administered to Mary and rebuked the poison from her body and promised her that she would recover. No sooner had they removed their hands from her head than she began to vomit. The skin of her tongue and throat came away also. But Mary did recover and the members of her family joined in thanking the Lord for restoring her to health and strength. Mrs. O’Brien, the landlady, was amazed and wanted to know more about their church.

Three weeks later, when the ship Zetland, a large square rigger less than a year old and weighing 1283 tons was ready, saints from England and Scotland went aboard. The leader of the company was Orson Spencer and there were 358 members aboard. Among them was Thomas’s youngest brother Gibson and his family. Orson Pratt came aboard and organized the company, and promised that if all lived right, they would arrive safely in New Orleans. On January 29, 1849 the vessel was towed out to sea. The first mate got drunk and neglected his duty and the ship was nearly dashed on the rocks in the Irish Channel. During the voyage the galley fireplace caught fire and it seemed the vessel was doomed, but again the Lord preserved them. They held their church services regularly and the captain and some of the crew attended their meetings. Nine weeks later they came into the Gulf of Mexico where they had to wait until a steamer came by to tug them up the Mississippi River to New Orleans. There was another ship alongside of them that was full of slaves from Africa. The Condie family was permitted to board the ship and sample the food of corn doggers and molasses. On April 2, 1849, they arrived in New Orleans, and traveled thence by steamboat to St. Louis where they met friends from Clackmannan, Scotland. They advised them to go on seven miles farther to Grovi Diggins where most of the saints were gathered and some preparing to go west to Salt Lake City.

Thomas took his family there but they were without funds and had to start work right away to get money to live on. Many old friends who had come from Clackmannan the previous year were here, the Sharps, Fifes, and others. Thomas and Gibson began to work in the mines and worked there several months. Helen gave birth to a son, Robert, shortly after their arrival but he died soon after birth. Then little Mary who had drunk the vitrol also took sick and died. They soon realized that Grovi Diggins was not a very healthy place to live so Thomas decided to take his family to Council Bluffs where it was a little higher and dryer climate. They bought two cows for $11 and other goods were low in price. On August 28, 1849 daughter Jannet married Joseph Sharp. Jannet and husband, Joseph Sharp, and Gibson Condie, Thomas’s brother, remained as they were planning to go to Salt Lake City in the Spring.

Leaving St. Louis on March 1, 1850, the Thomas Condie family went by steamboat to St. Joseph, Missouri. Helen was very ill with a miscarriage so they remained there until she was able to travel.

The remainder of the journey was made by ox team through mud and in bad weather. Arriving in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Thomas began to look for a place to live. He purchased a farm located on Mosquito Creek from Enos Curtis and bought a cow and calf and began to plant corn and potatoes.

There had been no rain for months that spring and crops were failing after three plantings. At a conference held on May 10, 1850 at which Wilford Woodruff, Orson Pratt, and Orson Hyde were the speakers, Elder Hyde predicted good crops if those who could would help the poor. Many handed in their names that they would give employment to the poor. Soon small black spots appeared in the sky, then increased in size and the sky became very black. It began to rain and from then on there was regular rain.

While located at Council Bluffs, Thomas and his family did not have sufficient to eat, but with the aid of Elder Orson Hyde they obtained some cornmeal on which to subsist until the crop was harvested. Nuts were plentiful and the family gathered sacks of them, also wild plums. When they went to the mill which was three miles away, they packed the corn in sacks on their shoulders and heads. Thomas and his four children would each take a sack of corn and return with the flour or meal. They also went to the woods and carried all of their firewood the same way. Thomas then made a trade for a yearling calf to mate the one they had. They made a yoke and a small wagon and used this team of calves to haul wood and corn.

In 1851 Ezra T. Benson came with the message that saints at Council Bluffs should start for Salt Lake City and he assisted them in making arrangements. The saints were advised to go to the wood and chop down wood for wagons. This they did and after the wood was seasoned Thomas proceeded to make his own wagon, which he accomplished with the exception of some iron work which was done by the blacksmith.

The family was anxious to get started but corn was only ten cents a bushel and there was no sale for their land as all the people were selling. They gave their land to Brother McPherson and borrowed $1000 from Brother Almon W. Babbit who was there from Utah. With this they purchased a yoke of oxen for $50. They also bought the wagon cover and cooking utensils. After living in Council Bluffs for two years and three months, they were ready to move on in the summer of 1852.

They crossed the Missouri River on a flatboat and remained on the other side a few days to be organized. Daughter, Helen was left to come on in the Russell Company.

Thomas was 47; Helen was 41; their children: Gibson,17; Helen, 15; Margaret, 13; Thomas, 10; and their infant son, Orson Hyde, joined the Captain Thomas D. Howell Company of 293 individuals plus 10 families and about 65 wagons when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Kanesville, Iowa (present day Council Bluffs). They divided into groups of fifties and tens and left on June 7, 1852. They were with the thirteen wagons that arrived in the valley on September 2, 1852 – the rest of the company did not arrive until a few days later as they had to stopped to rest their animals.

From Gibson Condie’s journal comes the following:

“Bro' Orson Hyde Came along and organised us in a Company. We were in Captain [Thomas Charles Davis] Howell Company. He had charge of 100 wagons. They were divided into fifties and tens. Bro. McCulloch [Levi McCullough] was the Captain of our ten. Bro. [William] Banks was in our ten also Bro. Simeon [Simmons Philander] Curtis and Joseph Hunter and others. It was advisable by Bro. Hyde that the hundred wagons should go as a body until they pass the hostile Indians – the Paunees [Pawnees] and the Omaha nations. We continued our journey as a whole body. It looked a grand sight to see the wagons at camp circle. If they were attacked by the Indians they were ready. They had their guards out. We had guards to watch our cattle every night. At nights we would have prayers. Everything had to be in order. No confusion whatever. On Sundays they would rest and have meeting. Generally good attendance. Good spirit prevail. They took an Interest to help an assist one another. Sometimes they would have a little amusements, dancing &c. Everything to cheer and comfort them on their journey. I remember well on the camping ground. A few Omaha warriors with their chiefs came into camp. They were very friendly. We were very kindly to them. Gave them something to eat and some presents. We knew we were passing through their country. We wished their good will. Captain Howell called the brethren together and wished the saints to sing a hymn or so to the braves or warriors. We sung “O stop and tell Me Red Man.” Bro John Toone took the lead of singing. The Indians were in the center of the circle. The singing took like a charm upon them. Singing about there Forefathers. they listened very attentively. The spirit of God rested upon them. There murderous spirit seemed to vanish away from them. They were pleased in our company and thanked us. We did all rejoice to see the good spirit prevail while we were singing of a fallen race; while their forefathers was once a white and delight some people and chosen people of the Lord. I wonder why people has been blessed; has seen and know for themselves while our Saviour visited them on this land; the good teachings and counsels he gave to the; and the Lord blessed their labors. And now we see the results of disobeying the commands of the Lord. A curse came upon them – a dark skin and became indolent, plunder and steal. &c. We continued our journey crossing the rivers with flat boats taking our wagons across. Swimming the cattle across Elk Horn and Loupe [Loup] fort [Fork] rivers. All went safely across. We continued our march. We would continually see Indians from the war path having scalps with them, hanging on poles the ones they have killed. They are continually fighting while they are out a hunting. They intrude on there lands, kill their game &c. They then fight it out, generally they woed [wield] the bow and arrow. The arrows are poisoned. And guns if they can get them. They would trade anything for a gun. Sometimes for exchange ponies, buffalo robes, buckskins. &c. We bought or traded. Gave them some sugar and flour for buckskins, moccasins, buffalo robes &c. We arrived at Fort Larime [Laramie]. We had traveled along the north side of the Platte River and now we are in Sioux Country, a powerful tribe numbering many thousands warriors. It is said to be the most powerful tribe from the Missouri to the Rocky Mountains. It is a beautiful country all around the Platte River for hundreds of miles. There were no white families living around. Only a few mountaineers living amongst the Indians. Their living, buying furs, robes, buckskins and take them to the cities and do well. We would sometimes go hunting for buffalo five or six miles from the roads. It was a grand sight to see hundreds of them grassing on the plains. When they run it made the earth almost tremble before them. We killed a number of them. Generally we had horsemen to follow them up. They ran so swift. We would follow the horsemen. They would shoot them down. We then would cut the best parts. The hind quarters and pack it in sacks and carried for miles until we get to camp. We cut the meat in slices and hang the meat before a slow fire until it was dry. I was very fond of it when it was cured. It was so sweet I could be eating all the time. We were camping alongside the Platte River. I went with a large tin pail. for water to the river. I reached over the bank and the earth gave way. Bucket and I went into the river. It was very deep. I regained my senses. I tried to get the bucket but it was gone. I had done a little swimming while I was boy. I was very thankful to my Heavenly Father that I was spared from being drowned. We continued our journey and passed Pike’s Peak, a high mountain and traveled and came to the Sweet water. We crossed this stream fourteen times. our cows and oxen were, sore footed, the hoofs cracked. We used tar for there hoofs. We passed Tar Springs on the road side and continued traveling until we came to Green River. We all crossed in wagons. The river was low. It is a very fine country round there. We continued and came to Fort Bridger. There were no soldiers. only Bridger himself a trader or mountaineer. There were around Bridger a large band of Indians very peaceable. Had ponies to trade and buckskins &c. I understand. Bridger did say if the Mormons could raise a bushel of corn in Salt Lake Valley he would give them a thousand dollars. The Mormons did raise corn in the valley. I do not suppose Bridger gave the money. We traveled until we came to Bear River, crossed in wagon and traveled down Echo Canyon until we came [to] Weber River before us. They were a chain of mountains for us to cross. We crossed the river in wagons and traveled up by Hogs Back and got into East Canyon Creek; traveled up the stream until we came to the foot of the Big Mountain. We traveled up the Big Mountain five miles, very rocky, until we got to the top. We could have a view of part of Salt Lake Valley and descended down the other side. Until we came to the foot of the Little Mountain. We again traveled up the mountain. Had to double until we got to the top about one mile and half in length. We could have a good view in the valley and descended down the little Mountain. Locked both wheels all the way until we came to Emigration Canyon. We passed Captain Smoot’s Company. They were Camping. We traveled down Emigration until we came to the bench. Now we had a beautiful view of the Valley and its surroundings. I marveled to myself. how the pioneers could find their way across the mountains, making roads, cutting brush and timber to come to this beautiful Valley. Surely the Lord opened their way for them to pass through the chain of mountains and canyons. Our company of 13 wagons arrived in Salt Lake Valley September 2, 1852. The rest of the company would be in a few days. We left part of the company 500 miles back. It was considered to do so on account of feed and being scarce water to go in small companies. I consider we had a good time, free from sickness, enjoyed health & strength traveling over one thousand miles across the plains. We had no trouble with the Indians whatever. Generally very friendly toward us. I am very thankful to my Heavenly Father for preserving us.”

In Salt Lake, they found their daughter Janet and husband Joseph Sharp settled in the Tenth Ward. Thomas purchased a lot from the city in the Fourth Ward and established a home on the corner of 1^st West and 7^th South.

The next years were eventful. On April 6, 1853, the cornerstone of the Salt Lake Temple was laid. On October 25, 1855 Thomas and Helen went to the Endowment House for their own endowments and sealing.

During 1855 came the grasshoppers and drought. Provisions were scarce, high in price, and flour could not be purchased for money. The family subsisted on snake roots, sego lily bulbs, nettles, etc. This period of scarcity was followed by a bounteous crop.

When Salt Lake was threatened by Johnston’s Army, Thomas and his family moved to Spanish Fork where they lived in a schoolhouse returning in July 1858.

Thomas and several others from the Sixth Ward went to the Weber River to look for farms. They took up land in Lost Creek. Thomas gave his claim to young Thomas, who built the first log cabin there in 1862. In 1865 Helen and Thomas moved back to their home in Salt Lake City.

Helen Sharp Condie died of pneumonia on February 21, 1883 and was buried on February 24 1883 in the Salt Lake Cemetery. Her funeral was held in the Fourth Ward in Salt Lake City. She was 72 years old and had borne her husband 12 children and had raised seven of them to adulthood.

On March 13, 1885, Thomas with children Gibson, Helen, Margaret, and Thomas went to the Logan Temple where he had all the children sealed to him and Helen except the twins. Twins Joseph was sealed to his parents in the Logan Temple on February 19 1890 and Cecelia in the Salt Lake Temple on June 28, 1893.

Thomas Condie passed away on November 9, 1887 at the age of 82 years. He was buried beside his wife in the Salt Lake Cemetery on November 12, 1887.

Margaret Condie, daughter of Thomas and Helen wrote concerning her parents on October 5, 1924: “I leave as my testimony that I was always closely associated with my parents and know their weaknesses as well as their strength. During all of their lives they were true to the gospel and died firm in the faith. Especially father’s testimony was always positive in affirming that the gospel was true, and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was true.”

Sources: Journal of Gibson Condie

Clackmannan Parish Registers

Branch records of Clackmannan and Dunfermline

Salt Lake Fourth Ward Records

Logan Temple Sealing Records

Writings of Gibson A. Condie

Condie Family Organization, June 1968

http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompanysources/0,16272,4019-1-161,00.html

Clarence Sharp Barker’s handwritten history in the possession of Bonnie Rice, daughter of Clarence Barker

Will in the possession of Bonnie Rice

Submitted by Ruth H. Barker, 2010