Ellen Bannister Breakell Neibaur
Ellen was born 28 February 1811 to Richard and Alice Bannister Breakell in Longton, Lancashire, England. She was christened in the Church of England 31 March 1811. Her father was a weaver and farmer. They attended the Church of England about five miles west of Preston on the River Ribble.
Little is known of her early life. She was a very beautiful girl and won beauty contests in England and also in later years in Nauvoo and Salt Lake City. She was living in Preston England when she met Alexander Neibaur. They were married 16 September 1834 (or perhaps 1833) in Chorly, a town near Preston. He was 26 years of age and she was 23. He was a Jew. His parents had wanted him to be a Jewish Rabbi, but he wanted to go in to dentistry. He became a Christian and joined the Church of England. He set up a dentist practice there in Preston.
One account says their oldest son Isaac died in England. Children listed on the family group sheet are Joseph William born 6 January 1835, Margaret B. born 20 February 1836 and Isaac (Peretz Samuel) born 7 January 1838 and died 2 January 1839. Another son was born that they named Isaac also, born 30 March 1839, all in Preston. It could be their third child Isaac that died in England, not their oldest son
In 1837 Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to the area. They held meetings in the Cock Pit, a pub, that was a famous gathering place near the Neibaur home. The missionaries told about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. They told of a young boy, Joseph Smith, who had seen God and Jesus Christ. He had received plates of gold that he had translated into a book called the Book of Mormon. Some called it a "new Bible".
Alexander was anxious to read the "new Bible". As he read it he knew it was the book and message he had seen in his night visions and was waiting for its message. It took Ellen longer to accept the message. But she too had a special witness of the truthfulness of the message. They were baptized 9 April 1838 in Preston, England.
Living conditions there was hard for the Saints in England. The Elders encouraged the saints to come to America to be with the main body of the church. They prepared to come to America. At the time many had to sell most of what they had to pay their passage. All they could bring was packed in trunks, so much had to be left behind. The Neibaurs may have been better off than most because they were able to purchase property in Nauvoo.
The family left Preston 5 February 1841 to go to Liverpool and went directly to the ship Sheffield. There were others from Preston with them. Passengers were coming and going getting supplies for the trip. They got their luggage on board and got some things from the cook shop for the family and went aboard. It was very cold when they went to bed that night. The next day Alexander went to see an old friend, Mr, Hauk. His friend was glad to see him and happy to know he was going to America. He gave Alexander a gift of a pair of gloves, a boa for his daughter, and a gift for Ellen.
On 6 February, Elders Young, Taylor and Richards, who had been in charge, came aboard and ordered all to be on board by 8 o'clock on Sunday morning the 7th of February and passage to be paid in full. One man had to pawn his clothes. There were 235 passengers on the Sheffield. Elder Hyram Clark was President for the voyage. As they sailed out the shore was lined with people waving good bye.
They sailed out of Liverpool on 7 February 1841. They had three children, William, 6, Margaret, 5, and Isaac, 2, with them. Ellen was sick most of the way. The winds were good most of the time and they arrived in the Gulf of Mexico 26 March and anchored in New Orleans, Louisiana 29 March 1841. They were anxious to get to Nauvoo. They boarded the ship Marovian to go to St Louis. It was very crowded. Six or seven people were sleeping in one bed. Many sat up huddling together. The weather was cold. Some wore their winter clothing. There was thunder and lightning and rain along the way. Passage fee was one dollar each. They arrived at St. Louis 14 April 1841.
To get to Keokuck, Iowa, they boarded the ship Goddess of Liberty. It was even more crowded. They reached Keokuck the 17th of April. The ship Captain said the ship could not go further up the Mississippi. They had to take another ship, the Aster, which took them to Nauvoo, arriving 18th of April 1841. They had been on four ships. It had been 71 days since the left Liverpool. At last they were with the main body of the church.
Saints in Nauvoo gave them a warm welcome. They offered them houses to sleep in. By the 28 of April Alexander and Ellen had obtained 1/4 of a lot to fence and build a small home. On 22 May, only a month after arriving in Nauvoo, Ellen gave birth to a baby girl. She was named Alice Breakell. Alexander set up a dentist practice.
A house was soon built and she enjoyed being with the Saints. Ellen gave birth to more children in Nauvoo. Bertha Breakell 14 December 1842 and Hyrum Smith 30 November 1844. In 1846 on the 5th of January, they received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple and were sealed 22 January 1846.
The Neibaurs knew the Prophet Joseph Smith well. Alexander taught Joseph German and Hebrew. It was the time there was great persecution for the Saints. They were very saddened over the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum. The mob attacks and lynching were hard on Ellen. One day she watched as state troopers marched down the street and rode their horses into their yard, breaking down the fence and stamping through their garden. The beautiful garden was ruined.
The Saints were preparing to leave Nauvoo. Most left in February. The Neibaurs left in September after the birth of an their daughter, Leah Breakell, on 29 August 1846.
In Alexander's journal we read: “September 17 crossed Mississippi River to Montrose, Iowa, staid one week, Br. Fuller taking us 1 1\2 miles west of Farmington, staid 4 weeks. Moved to Bonaparte, Iowa, staid until June 24, Br. Staking taking on to Council Bluff - journey 4 miles on the Prairie, Br. rode back, let us have a yoke of steers to help us along as we had not team enough. Got some jobs at Benten’s Point, left on 29, jobs at Strongtown, Soap Creek, Grey’s Mill. Reached Mount Pisga”
It was while living in Winter Quarters that Ellen gave birth to a baby girl that was stillborn. They named her Rachel.
By May 25, 1848 they were ready to start their trek west. Ellen walked most of the way to the Salt Lake Valley leading a pair of cows. When they stopped at night she would wash the cows to cool them, then milk them. Much of the time she would carry a child too sick to walk. Along the way she picked berries when possible. Food was scarce, but they were able to get some buffalo meat and fish. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 24 September 1848.
They were able to buy a lot at 2nd South on 2nd East. Alexander also had a 5-acre lot on 9th East and 21st South where he planted crops. By October they were busy making adobes for a house. They, with seven children, lived in a tent while the house was being built.
His journal records: “3 December Very cold 14 December heavy wind, tent blown down 15 very cold and snow 16 tent down again 17 heavy snow at night”
It was really a struggle that first winter in the valley. He started his dentistry practice. Ellen assisted a Dr. Anderson a great deal, nursing the sick. They later started a sulphur match business.
More children were born in Salt Lake City. Sarah Ellen Breakell was born 21 May 1849. Sarah's history says she was born in a "hut" twelve by fourteen feet with roof and floor of mud. At the time she was born there was a big rain storm and mud was running down the walls and under her mother's bed. Rebecca Ann was born 30 March 1851, Mary Esther born 4 December 1852, Matilda Isabella 30 January 1854, Nathan Alexander born 14 September 1855. She raised 11 children to adulthood.
In 1855 the grasshoppers came. The family had nothing to eat but bran mush and pigweed. It was hard for the children to keep it in their stomach. There were times the children fainted from weakness.
When Brigham Young asked for donations to be given to saints that were coming in the valley, she did her part. She gave a new pair of stockings and a pair of shoes while wrapping her own feet in rags. How happy she was when the sister wearing her shoes and stockings was a friend from Preston. Both rejoiced.
In 1860 Ellen became sick and spent several months bedfast. She continued having poor health for about ten years before she passed away of a cerebral hemorrhage 14 December 1870, at the age of 59.
Ellen was a great pioneer woman who had great faith and courage. She left a great posterity who honors her name for the great woman she was, an example for all.