Eleanor Martin Ricks
Eleanor was born 20 December 1807 in Clark County, Kentucky. Her parents were Christopher Martin and Anna Turner Martin. The census of 1811 for Clark County, Kentucky, lists seventeen in his family and three slaves. Listed in the family group are
Sally or Sarah born 6 November 1791, David Martin (no birth date) date married 5 October 1820, Sinai Martin born 1784, Sarah Martin born 1798, Thomas Martin (no birth date) died 29 November 1869, Mary Martin born 17 April 1801, Frances Martin born 18 August 1805, Eleanor Martin born 20 December 1807, and Sina Martin born later 7 November 1818.
It is not known who all was living with the family. Extended families lived together at that time.
When Eleanor was twelve years old, her father moved the family to Trigg County, Kentucky. They lived near the Ricks family. She met and was courted by Joel Ricks.
At the age of 19 she married Joel Ricks on 1 May 1827. Their first son Thomas Edward was born 21 July 1828. They lived near Joel father's family until 12 September 1829 when they moved to Madison County, Illinois. They settled on a farm on Silver Creek about 20 miles east of Alton. They lived here for sixteen years. More children were born there. There was Lewis born 20 July 1830; Sally Ann born 28 December 1832; Clarinda born 10 January 1835; Temperance R., born 4 January 1837; William born 10 January 1839; Jonathan born 23 January 1841 ; Mary Elizabeth 19 January 1843; Josiah born 27 May 1845.
They joined the Campbellite church which they were affiliated with until 1840 when they met the Latter-day Saint Missionaries. The new doctrine taught by the missionaries agreed with their ideas of Christianity, as taught in the New Testament. They were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by George Boosinger 6 June 1841.
Joel went to Nauvoo and had several visits with the Prophet Joseph Smith. He liked the city of Nauvoo and decided to move there. Even though the Prophet had been killed in 1844, Joel sold the property in Madison County and moved his family to Nauvoo in 1845. They had a home near the temple. They received their endowments there 21 January 1846. Eleanor enjoyed Nauvoo. She welcomed sisters of the Relief Society to her home. Sister Cleveland of the Relief Society came to her home and worked on a temple robe for Eleanor.
Soon persecution started. Mobs of angry men destroyed much property. Homes were burned. By April 1846 the Ricks family was ready to cross the Mississippi River. Eleanor packed a trunk with bright colored fabric, bandanna handkerchiefs and her new temple clothing. The trunk was tied on the back of the wagon. Many things had to be left behind for their enemies. The Ricks were driving several teams. Thomas and Lewis were old enough to be of great help. As they crossed Iowa they stopped at regular intervals to plow plant large pieces of land to be harvested by those who came later.
They arrived at Council Bluffs, on the Missouri River in July 1846. They stayed here until the spring of 1848. Eleanor was never one to complain as she suffered the hardships of pioneer life. Her home near Alton, Illinois had been so comfortable. Even in Nauvoo her home had been nice.
Eleanor told of the time that food was very scarce. She said the Lord had sent quail for them in abundance. All they had to do is scoop them up. She was so thankful. When she would tell the story, tears would come in her eyes.
In the spring of 1848 they made preparations to head west. They joined the Great Company under the leadership of Heber C Kimball. The company consisted of 792 wagons and 2417 saints. Joel was captain often, John Pack captain of fifty, and President Harriman captain of one hundred, with Kimball over the Company.
As they were traveling through Nebraska, tragedy struck the family. The Company was attacked by Indians. Their son, Thomas and a number of other young men crossed the Elkhorn River on horse back to round up some of the cattle. Indians opened fire on them. Thomas was wounded and fell off his horse. Everyone thought he had been killed. His father hitched up a wagon and went for him. Two big Indians tried to stop him and tried to shoot him. For some known reason they could not hit him. When they were unsuccessful, they took the trunk of fabric that Eleanor tied to the wagon. While Joel was trying to get away from the Indians, some of the other men had been able to get Thomas loaded in another wagon. He was seriously hurt. The company could not be delayed. Joel made a bed for Thomas in a spring wagon and continued west. Eleanor was his nurse and he was quite well by the time they reached the valley.
While he was recovering, his 14 year old sister Temperance, drove a light wagon the rest of the way to the valley. At one time a herd of about a hundred stampeding buffalo raced between her wagon and the other wagons. All Eleanor could do was pray for her safety. It was very frightening.
Another hardship was that her sister Sina and husband James Oliver, who had joined the church with them, gave up the journey. Sina was ill. They returned on foot to Worden, Madison County, Illinois. Eleanor's mother had been buried there. How sad she was to have them leave.
The Company arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in September 1848. They spent the winter of 1848-49 in Bountiful. In the spring of 1849 they purchased a piece of land near the base of the mountain in Centerville. Joel built a saw mill. Two more children were born in Centerville Utah. Joel Martin on 15 October 1850 and he died 27 October 1850. Nathan was born 17 January 1853.
On 26 October 1852 her husband took another wife. She was Sarah Fisk Allen, a friend from Nauvoo whose husband had died. In August of 1852 their oldest son Thomas, married Tabitha Hendricks. Eleanor became a grandmother in June of 1853.
While they were living in the Centerville area they fought the crickets. Her daughter Mary married at the age of 15 to William Smith. Her two oldest daughters married the same man. Clarinda first in 1851 to Silas Smith and in 1853 Sally Ann. They both moved to Parowan, It broke her heart when both daughters died in child birth in 1865. She was unable to attend their funerals because of distance. Temperance married Ana Hinckley in 1857.
Her second son, Lewis contracted pneumonia while on a second trip east to help other immigrants. For three years she nursed him back too good health. During that time they became very close. He did a lot of reading and memorized what he could. This must have been a wonderful time for a mother who could not read or write well, yet could read her scriptures.
In the spring of 1859 Joel took his second wife Sarah and her children and moved to Cache Valley. After the hay was put up for the winter, he went back to Centerville for Eleanor and her family. He built them a small house. He later built a very nice stone house near where the Bluebird Restaurant now stands.
Whenever church authorities visited Logan they went to her home. She was a very good house keeper and a good cook. She was delighted to have them come. He was a stake leader and very active in Cache County as treasurer, stock holder, and much more. So we know she had to be a woman of faith and fortitude.
Every fall had what she called a Pumpkin Festival. It was a big party. She had all her grandchildren come. She made dozens of delicious pies sweetened with the fresh molasses. All had a wonderful time.
Under her back step, she kept a large toad that like to sun himself on her doorstep. It did catch some flies. Everyone knew that they could not hurt that toad. She raised a nice garden. Her grandchildren loved her flowers. Especially the fragrant pinks.
Eleanor did fine handwork. She made beautiful bedspreads, valances and curtains. She knit yards of exquisite lace. A beautiful lace collar is a keepsake of the family that shows her skilled workmanship.
It was her great desire to go to the Logan Temple It was her dream as she watched it being built. She knit stockings to pay her contribution. Her husband was the Stake Patriarch and she helped him record the blessings. She supported him in all his endeavors and they were many. He was one of Logan's foremost citizens.
She was a quiet, shy, unassuming woman. She was a deeply religious woman. It was because of her religious convictions that she was able to leave a comfortable home to face the unknown. She was the mother of eleven children raising ten to adult.
During her last illness many came to help because of their love for her. She died 25 February 1882 and was buried in the Logan cemetery. She died before she got to go to the Logan Temple. Joel saw that the work was done for many of her ancestors.
Information was taken from a history written by great-grand daughters Ella Vida Cardon Adams, Thomasa Blondel Cardon Porter; Joel Ricks history, author unknown, and the book Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude by Daughters of Utah Pioneers. I have truly learned to love this Great Great Great Great Grandmother of my children.
Colleen Tippets