Martha Bradshaw Wood Holt - Her Story

(Written by Martha Bradshaw Wood Holt - July 1959)

I, Martha Bradshaw Wood Holt, was born of goodly parents whose names were Edward Elsey Bradshaw born 29 May, 1860 at the town of Tooele, Utah, and Mary Ellen Owens born 14 July, 1864 in Fillmore, Utah.

They were married in the St. George Temple 12 October, 1881. They were parents of 17 children with one pair of twins, and I am sorry to say only one of them survived, and that one was myself. I was born 27 January, 1900 in Woodruff, Arizona.

My parents were called to settle settlements in Arizona and Old Mexico. I was in long clothes when they went to Morelos, Mexico. I was between five and six years old when my parents decided to move back to Arizona. They settled at Fort Appache, Arizona. Our family washed for some soldiers while we lived there. We had a washing machine that was run by horsepower. My brother, Elmer, and I took turns riding the horse, and I used to get so sleepy riding, I would almost fall off from the horse as we rode around and around.

While living at Fort Appache, I turned eight years old, and I was baptized in a river there by my father on the 3rd of May, 1908. We had to hold church in our home as there wasn't a church branch nearby, and I was confirmed a member of our church by my older brother, Samuel S. Bradshaw.

While we were living at Fort Appache, I came down with rheumatism or Rheumatic Fever. I had to be carried around by my brother, Hyrum. I was down quite bad for a month or two. I wanted so bad to be able to be walking when my father returned home from a peddling trip. I prayed that I might be able to walk by the time my father returned home, and I am sure the Lord heard my prayers. I was able to walk the same day he came home.

We moved back down to Morelos, Mexico when I was between eight and nine years old and lived there until we were driven out when the rebels and federals had trouble in 1912.

We settled in Hurricane, Utah. The Government paid the people's way on the train to where they wanted to settle, so we came on the train to Lund, Utah, where my father's brother, Uncle Ira Bradshaw, sent two of his sons, Stanley and Bert, I think, with teams and wagons after us. They were all very thoughtful of us. I guess they thought there were so many of us. Bishop Ray Bradshaw and wife took me to live with them. I was twelve years old, and I am sorry I don't think I showed my appreciation to them enough, but I do now. They were very good to me. I stayed with them a little over a year. In September, I was thirteen years old, I took a severe cold and pneumonia with pleurisy set in. I was very sick and everybody was so good to me. No one told me, but I think they were worried about me. (They) didn't think I would live, but I know the Lord had a hand in sparing my life. My mother watched over me very good with the help of the Lord. I recovered and started school, but could hardly get home at noon (because) I was in so much pain. Pleurisy had set in again, and I was ordered back to bed. With good care, and through the help of the Lord, I was able to start to school before too long.

I went with a few boy friends. My first boy friend was Clarence Cripps. When I was sixteen years old, I went with a good-looking boy friend. His name was Nennial Wood. I went with him quite steady for two years. In 1918, at the time when World War I had begun, it seemed like everyone was talking about getting married. My brother, Burr, was getting married and he and Evadna Spendlove (whom he was marrying) wanted us to come along to and get married. The temple wasn't open so we all went to St. George, and Thomas Cottam married both couples. (It was) a civil marriage on 7 August, 1918, which I could see later on was the wrong way of getting married.

My mother passed away the winter after we were married which would have been 1919.

Our first baby was born 18 May, 1920 in Hurricane, Utah. I was anxious to get to the temple before more babies came so on 27 June, 1922, we got ready and went to the temple to receive our endowments and to be sealed for time and all eternity. We took our little girl, Lois, down to be sealed to us.

On September 13, 1922, our second little girl, Verlin, was born. In the coming winter, an epidemic of flu came among the babies and our little girl, Lois, took the flu. She ran an awful high fever, and she didn't live long, and she was taken from us. Verlin was only five months old when she took the flu also. We are sure it was through the Power of the Lord through the Priesthood that she was spared. She grew up a good girl and married a nice young man, Elton Stout in the temple and have a wonderful family.

The next January 8, 1924, our third little girl, Pauline, was born. She was just a beautiful flower, and when she was just thirteen months old the influenza came in our midst again, and she took it, and was very sick, and she was taken to the other side.

On 24 March, 1926, we were very proud, our first baby boy, Gordon, was born, and he grew up in the church. (He was) a good boy, married a nice girl, Donna Alger, and have a nice family in the church.

In November 26, 1927, our second baby boy, Blair, was born. He grew up in the church and filled a mission.

Our third baby boy, Arlington, was born 16 August, 1933. He grew up in the church and filled a mission.

Then our fourth baby boy was born on 6 November, 1935. He grew up in the church, was a good boy, and he is married to a sweet girl. One time before he was married, he came down very sick to his stomach with a pain in his side or clear across his abdomen. I had the doctor come in to see him. Everyone thought he should go to the hospital. I had called the Elders in to administer to him. It went on for a day or two and I had been putting ice bags on his stomach. It was the second morning he was really bad. The doctor didn't hardly know just what to do, but when the Elders came in I told Warner the Lord has said we could ask for blessings if it was for our good. He got better and I am sure the Lord heard our prayers. We didn't have money to send him to the hospital. The doctor said the only thing that kept him from rushing him to the hospital was his blood count didn't come up high enough, but I think it was through having the Elders come in. He soon got better.

Our last baby boy, Bryant, was born 23 February, 1941. Poor little fellow, he wasn't too healthy, and he had an awful sick spell when he was a baby. He didn't develop like he should have done. We sent him up to American Fork, thinking that he could be helped somewhat, but he took sick while there. We were going to bring him back home to take care of him ourselves, but I guess the Lord saw fit to take him too.

My husband hadn't had too good health the latter part of his years and he passed away 19 January, 1952. I had been coming to the temple to do work for the dead before my husband died. He was good to help me in going to the temple. While raising my family, I had worked quite faithfully in the Primary which I had enjoyed very much.

My husband left a mortgage on our home when he died. I started to work in a cafe to help pay it off. I thought I had to and I got down in my health so my boys were very good in helping me and my daughter and her husband were very good to help me out.

I kept going to the temple, and I know the Lord blesses us in doing His work. I did improve in my health. While going to the temple, I was called to be a part-time ordinance worker which I still am and very thankful for the opportunity of serving the Lord. While going to the temple, I did have the privilege of meeting another wonderful companion to live here in St. George and be able to continue to go to the temple, and he has a wonderful family in the church. I enjoy them all, and I do thank the Lord for all my family and blessings. I hope I can live worthy of them and be faithful to the end.