Harriet Brough & James T. Snarr

History of

James Thomas Snarr (1818-1897)

and Harriet Brough (1820-1901)

by the BFO Research Committee, 11 February 2012

Ancestry of James Thomas Snarr and Harriet Brough

James Thomas Snarr was born on 7 November 1818 in Kington-Upon-Hull, Yorkshire, England. His parents were Barton Snarr, a "Baker", and Elizabeth Sonley, who were the parents of five children. On 12 November 1844, James Thomas Snarr, a "Mariner", married Harriet Brough in the parish church of St. Mary, Sculcoates, Yorkshire. She was born on 5 November 1820 in Horncastle, Lincolnshire. Her parents were John Brough, a "Gardener", and Jane (Julia or Judith) Marshall, who had five children. 

Between 1845 and 1851, James and Harriet had four children: Mary Ann Snarr (born in 1845 in Horncastle, Lincolnshire); Thomas Snarr (born and died in 1847 in West Sculcoats, Yorkshire); Thomas Sonley Snarr (born in 1849 in London); and Barton Snarr (born in 1851 in Kingston-Upon-Hull, Yorkshire). 

In 1851, James and Harriet lived in Kingston-Upon-Hull, Yorkshire, where James worked as a "Baker and Confectioner". In November 1852, Harriet was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), and in November 1853, James was baptized into the LDS Church. Shortly thereafter they decided to leave England for "Zion" (in Utah).

The Journey from England to America

On 22 February 1854, James and Harriet Snarr, along with their three young children (Mary Ann Snarr, Thomas Sonley Snarr and Barton Snarr) left Liverpool, England aboard the ship Windermere. Also on board the ship was Harriet's youngest brother, John Brough, and his wife, Mary Winter Fanthorp, and their one-year-old son, Thomas Brough. After an eventful sailing trip across the Atlantic Ocean, the Windermere arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana, on 23 April 1854. An abbreviated account of the Windermere sailing adventure of early 1854 is described below (via the website: http://lib.byu.edu/mormonmigration/voyage.php?id=437): 

A Compilation of General Voyage Notes [of the ship Windermere, February-April 1854]: "The ship Windermere, Captain Fairfield, sailed from Liverpool, England, bound for New Orleans, on the 22nd of February, 1854, with four hundred and seventy-seven Saints on board, the company being in charge of Elder Daniel Garn. Included in the company were seven ex-presidents of conferences, namely: Abraham Marchant, Robert Menzies, Job Smith, John T. Hardy, John A Albiston, J. V. Long and Graham Douglas. The Windermere arrived at New Orleans April 23rd. During the voyage contrary winds were encountered, arising at times to heavy gales; but at the end of five weeks a favorable wind set in, and the ship made one thousand miles in four days. After fifteen days sailing from Liverpool, the smallpox broke out on board and spread rapidly as the vessel approached the tropics, until 37 passengers and two of the crew were attacked but at this crisis the malady was suddenly checked in answer to prayer. Six marriages were solemnized on board, and six births and ten deaths [mostly from small pox] occurred. On the morning after arriving at New Orleans, eleven persons suffering with the small-pox were sent to the Luzenburg Hospital, agreeable to order from the health officers at the port; and Elder Long and five others were selected to remain at New Orleans to attend to the sick until they were sufficiently recovered to go forward. The rest of the company continued the journey from New Orleans April 27th, on board a steamboat, and arrived in St. Louis a few days later, from whence the journey was subsequently continued to Kansas City."

More in-depth accounts of the Windermere voyage can be found on the following three websites: http://lib.byu.edu/mormonmigration/voyage.php?id=437

http://www.davidgorton.com/Father/Journals/windermere.html

http://robbwasdenfamily.blogspot.com/2011/06/voyge-of-ship-windermere.html 

Life Sketch of James Thomas Snarr

In 1940, a history of James Thomas Snarr, entitled "Sketch of the Life of James Thomas Snarr, Utah Pioneer (1854)", was produced by Zitelle McClellan Snarr (and others) and subsequently submitted to the Daughters of Utah Pioneers (DUP) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The following comments come from this history:

The ship [Windermere] arrived at New Orleans April 23rd. The morning after, eleven persons suffering with small pox sent to the Luxenburg hospital. Elder Long and five others were selected to remain at New Orleans, to attend to the sick until they were sufficiently recovered to go forward. The rest of the company continued from New Orleans on April 27th, on board the steamboat Grand Tower, and arrived in St. Louis a few days later, from whence the journey was subsequently continued to Kansas City.

It was reported that on account of the immense emigration to Calif. and Salt Lake this season, oxen range in price from $75.00 to &110.00 per yoke. The cows from $25.00 to $40.00 per head. The price of wagons in St. Louis is $67.00 and the freightage to Kansas ranges from $6.00 to $12.00 per wagon. This variation in the price of freights is the result of the different stages of the river....

[Note: It is not known which Mormon pioneer company the Snarr and Brough families traveled in when they crossed the American Plains during the Summer and Fall of 1854. But it was probably either the Darwin Richardson Company or Daniel Garn Company. The Darwin Richardson Company departed Westport, Kansas City, Missouri on 17 June 1854, arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 30 September 1854, and consisted of "about 300 individuals and 40 wagons...when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Westport". The Daniel Garn Company departed Westport, Kansas City, Missouri on 1-2 July 1854, arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 1 October 1854, and consisted of "477 individuals and about 40 wagons...when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Westport". Interestingly, Harriet Brough Snarr gave birth to her fifth child, James Henry Snarr, on 11 September 1854 at Green River, Wyoming, and the Deseret News (of 28 September 1854) reported that "Elder Daniel Garn and company (was) seven miles this side (or west) of Fort Bridger (Wyoming) on the 22nd (of September 1854)".]

[Note: From the history of John Brough, we learn the following: While crossing the Plains the two Brough families shared toil and burdens. On one occasion little Thomas Brough, a few months over 12 months of age, and little Bart Snarr, something past age two, were riding in the same wagon. Bart pushed Thomas out of the wagon and he was run over by a wheel. They stopped for 24 hours, during which time Thomas's life was in doubt. He recovered fully, however, thanks be to God. Harriet was pregnant as they made their way over the plains. The jolting of the wagon affected her kidneys, giving her great pain thus she walked practically the whole distance. At Green River, Wyoming on September 11, 1854, a little son, James Henry, was born. The Snarr and Brough families arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah during the Fall of 1854.]

Just how bright would you think the prospects were in this barren desert country for a man who had followed the mariners trade or even that of a baker. The family now consisted of an eleven year old daughter and three little sons. On Nov. 13, 1956, another son, Joseph Hyrum, was born into the growing family. On April 1, 1856, Harriet became the Eternal Companion of James when they were sealed in the Old Endowment House in Salt Lake City, by the Priesthood. Again on May 11, 1858, a daughter, Harriet Eliza, increased the number of children from five to six.

This was about the time of the trouble in Echo Canyon, prior to the move south. It seems that James was connected in some way with Elder Daniel H. Wells, councilor to Brigham Young, in the capacity of the Supervisor of teams, men and provisions…and there was some connection with the tithing office. The Wells home stood on the south east corner of So. Temple and Main St. just a across the street from the Tithing office. Annie Wells stated that at that time, her father, Daniel H. Wells, was away from home much of the time and James was left in sole charge of the commissary, store room or train, as it was called. All supplies for the Wells family were kept in this store room. If something was needed from the room, it was always "Go get Jimmie" or "Jimmie will get it for you."

Jimmie, as he was affectionately called, was very good to the children and they loved him. He was not a talkative person, leaning more to the reserved type. He was strong, trustworthy and had considerable business ability. Having been a sailor in Queen Victoria's navy, he had many tattooed pictures on his arms above the wrists. The Well's children often gathered about him, begging to be shown the pictures and told of his experiences in the navy, but he usually had little to say. His physical build was rather a long body, with very shorts legs. When sitting down, he appeared to be a very large man. His eyes were steel blue and he had an abundance or wavy brown hair. In later years, he wore a beard that looked, from his pictures, much like that worn by Brigham Young. One sister said; "During those busy days, Jimmie did more for the Well's children than my father did." He made such delicious pie crust. Pie, in those days, was of course a luxury, and especially when Jimmie made it.

It is not known just when affiliations with Squire Wells were severed nor how early James and Harriet established themselves on Sixth South [and] whether they built the little adobe home at 326 West Sixth South or bought it. The understanding is that on February 15, 1860, another son, Daniel Hamer, was born in the little home which continued to be Home sweet Home to James and Harriet until the day of their death more than forty years later. All of lot 2, block 30, plat A in the Salt Lake City Survey was deeded to James by mayor Daniel H. Wells on Feb. 11, 1873.

James is listed as one of the first colonists of Murray, which was known as Big Cottonwood Precincts.

Two other daughters graced the home of James and Harriet. Louisa, who died in infancy, and Josephine, who was born April 21, 1865.

In June of 1866, the Indians made a raid on Thistle Valley in Sanpete County, killing Charles Brown, wounding Thomas Snarr and driving off 26 horses. Thomas was but a lad of 16, but he was doing his part to protect the early settlers against the Indians. He returned to England in 1872 as a Missionary for the Church and in 1888 Daniel, another son of James, did his part by carrying the message of the Gospel to the birthplace of his parents. During these years, James was operating a grocery store next door to his little home, and ran a bakery in connection with it. Sister Annie Wells Cannon stated that he operated one of the first bakeries in the valley. He mixed his bread every night and baked early next morning in the wood burning stove in his home. 

[In the 1860 U.S. Census, "James T. Snarr" is listed as working as a "Laborer" and residing with his wife, Harriet, and their seven children in the 5th Ward area of Salt Lake City; in the 1870 U.S. Census, he is listed as working as a "Baker" and residing with his wife, Harriet, and their seven children in the 6th Ward area of Salt Lake City; and in the 1880's U.S. Census, he is listed as working as a "Huckster" (who was often a person or "hawker" who usually sold wares or provisions in the streets or public areas or a peddler who sold fruits and vegetables) and residing with his wife, Harriet, and three of their children in the 6th Ward area of Salt Lake City, Utah.] 

On September 11, 1881, Arnold G. Giauque was chosen Superintendent of the Sixth Ward Sunday School with James T. Snarr First Assistant, and James H. Poulton, Second. This position James held for nearly sixteen years, or until he died on April 2, 1897. On April 3, 1897, James H. Poulton became First and Hyrum H. Evans Second Assistants to Brother Giauque. One time James stood behind the pulpit waiting for order. Finally he spoke up in his meek voice, "Children, can you see me?" He was conscious of the smallness of his statue-he couldn't much more than be seen above the pulpit, and he felt that was the reason he was not getting order from the small children down in front. When the Ward celebrated the anniversary of its being organized in those years, there was usually a 50 gallon barrel of lemonade, and oranges and candy for all. James must have contributed his share, as the grandsons remember carrying cases of oranges and buckets of candy from the store to the ward as his donation.

He had accumulated some of the good things of this earth about him. He was thirty and a good manager. His loving wife, Harriet, was an immaculate housekeeper, and a great hand to minister among the sick, cheer up the bowed down and comfort the weary. Altogether a most hospitable person. The little bakery attracted friends because of her cleanliness. Theirs was a comfortable, happy home.

As the years piled upon his head, James suffered with asthma. The boys, Tom and Barton had taken over the property at the farm in Murray and Dan could manage the store, so it was possible for him to get out for a few days. He became rather corpulent [or heavy] and his sons teased him a bit, about it. He would always reply: "Wait, your day is coming." However, his overweight and enlarged abdomen did not denote a healthy condition. Bright's disease set in. But regardless of his physical condition, he and his wife were very faithful in attending to their church duties. They disliked very much to ever miss a Sabbath day worship. If company dropped in at meeting time on Sunday, they were asked to come and go to church. He with a sprig of mint or 'old man' in the corner of his mouth, and she with her dainty fan were a familiar sight on the way to church. He always had a sack of white mint lozenges in his pocket and the youngsters received one in his hand. Children would sit along the bench beside him at church. If he took a fancy to you, everything went well, but, if not, you didn't get a mint.

James had been told in his patriarchal blessings that he had a vast work to do for his kindred dead, and he spent many days in the [LDS] Temple doing work for his parents, grandparents and cousins. The last work which he performed was sealings.

His asthma condition became more acute. Many hours of the day and night were spent kneeling on his large leather overstuffed chair endeavoring to obtain relief.

The Deseret News of April 2, 1897 carried the following brief item: "Faithful to the end he proved."

A message from the home of Elder James T. Snarr, highly esteemed resident of Utah was received just as the news was going to press and brought tidings of Brother Snarr's death. He was 78 years, 4 months and 25 days old and had been confined to his home by illness for a long time. He was an early settler in Utah and had resided in the Sixth Ward for many years.

On April 5, 1897 the News reported: "The funeral services over the late James T. Snarr were held in the Sixth Ward assembly rooms Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. There was a large attendance. The services were conducted by Bishop James C. Watson. After the opening exercise of singing and Praying by Elder Sm. M.T. Seden of the Fifth Ward, the assemblage was addressed by Elders A.G. Giuque, Joseph S. Wells, Wm. Thorne, Bishop of the 7th Ward, Jesse West, Harrison Sperry, Bishop of the 4th Ward, James O. Watson and P.F. Gess. Closing prayer was offered by Elder James Anderson. The speakers referred to the faithfulness and energy of the deceased through a long life and addressed words of the comfort, consolation and instructions to the family. The burial took place in the Salt lake City Cemetery. All grand-daughters were present and dressed in white, also present was a grandson named Brigham Young Snarr, 9th son of Barton Snarr, James T. Snarr had requested his presence. He was dressed in a plaid suit of a kilted skirt, jacket and white blouse. He was born Feb 8th, 1895 and was christened by James T. Snarr.

[James Thomas Snarr died on 2 April 1897 in Salt Lake City, and was buried on 4 April 1897 in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.] Harriet, his wife, died Oct. 11, 1901; [and was] buried Oct. 13, 1901. Cause of death was incident to age. She was also buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Life Sketch of Harriet Brough Snarr

In 1944, a history of Harriet Brough Snarr, entitled "A Brief Sketch of the Life of Harriet Brough Snarr", was produced by Zitelle McClellan Snarr (and others) and subsequently submitted to the Daughters of Utah Pioneers (DUP) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The following comments come from this history:

The average woman today is prone to humor herself and expect those about her to show some signs of respect for her condition during the period of infanticipation [or anticipating the birth of an infant]. If this was the case with diminutive Harriet Brough Snarr, she certainly was doomed to disappointment. Of course, in the event of the coming of a fifth child, there naturally wouldn't be as much fuss made as if it had been the first or the second. However, it is doubtful if Harriet gave herself or her condition much thought in the hustle and bustle of preparation for an ocean voyage to a far away land. They were coming to Zion to help colonize the great American desert. Great Salt Lake City was barely seven years old.

It has been said that women have made the greatest contribution of all in colonization. At least, it can truthfully be said that they made as great a sacrifice.

Harriet must have been about two months pregnant when the ship Windermere sailed from Liverpool on February 22, 1854. Among the 477 souls on board were listed James Thomas Snarr, age 36, a baker; Harriet Brough Snarr, age 31; Mary Anna Snarr, 8; Thomas Sonlay Snarr, 4; and Barton Snarr, 2. They had buried their second child, a son Thomas, in infancy. Harriet's brother, John Brough, a seaman, age 26, with his wife and an eleven month old child were also among the passengers.

They were eight weeks, four nights and five days on the water. For seven weeks they didn't even see land. A terrific storm at sea, which drove them off their course for many hundreds of miles, undoubtedly made Harriet conscious of her physical condition, but that was only one detail of the journey. Smallpox broke out among the passengers. There were forty cases, resulting in ten deaths at sea. Further tragedy struck when fire broke out in the hold of the ship, resulting in a panic. With the storm lengthening their journey, their provisions ran low and the fresh water supply became exhausted. The full details of this journey have been recorded in the sketch of the life of Harriet's husband, James Thomas Snarr.

When the ship arrived at New Orleans, April 23, eleven persons were sent to the hospital with smallpox; but on April 27, the rest of the Company continued the journey from New Orleans on board the steamboat Grand Tower and arrived in St. Louis a few days later from whence the journey was subsequently continued to Kansas City and on over the trail until they reached the Great Salt Lake Valley.

Harriet walked practically every step of the way across the plains. The jolting of the wagon was almost more than she could bear. Her kidneys were not functioning normally and she preferred to walk rather than be bothersome to the men folk. They didn't quite reach their destination before her hour of travail was upon her and at Green River, Wyoming, on September 11, 1854, a little son, James Henry, was born. We know none of the particulars of that experience. We have no record of the exact company in which they traveled nor the day they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, but have always been given to understand that they arrived Sept. 30, or Oct. 1, of that year [of] 1854.

Like so many others, we have waited until all of Harriet's children have completed their allotted span of days before we commenced to gather this information together. What we have has had to be pieced like a patchwork quilt from the knowledge of her two surviving daughters-in-law, grandchildren, neighbors, Church History, Genealogical, Temple and Cemetery records. It has been a labor of love, and my one regret is that the record is so meager.

It seems that their mother died rather early in their lives and Harriet mothered the others. She was baptized a member [of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] in the Hull District on November 22, or December 14, 1852. She had been courted by a wealthy Mr. Tom Dawes in England, before she married James t. Snarr. Mr. Dawes later married her sister Carrie.

[On 1 April 1856, James Thomas Snarr and Harriet Brough were sealed as a couple in the LDS Endowment House in Salt Lake City.]

James went to work in the Tithing Office [in Salt Lake City] under Squire Daniel H. Wells almost immediately upon their arrival in Salt Lake. He and Harriet first lived on third west between Sixth and Seventh South, some time later moving to 326 West 6th South to an adobe home which was deeded to James T. Snarr on February 11, 1873 by Daniel H. Wells. In this little home they lived out their days. We have a photograph of it and many of the grandchildren remember the arrangement [as shown in the picture below].

The kitchen and pantry had been added on as a lean-to in later years. More than likely the porches were added some time after the original structure was built. The home was torn down [prior to 1944].

Harriet was an immaculate housekeeper. Her stoves had to be blacked every day until they fairly shone. The board walks from the front gate around back of the house were scrubbed regularly. The white bed spread and primly starched counterpanes over the pillows always looked as though the beds had just been changed. She had nice feather beds on top of the straw or corn shuck ticks and it was a real trick to give them that perfectly smooth, puffed up look.

Like most women she had a weakness for nice linens and pretty china. She liked to go to auction sales and some of her treasurers were secured in this manner; however, a few of her lovely dishes she had brought with her from England and of these she was justly proud.

The walls of the little adobe home were thick and on the threshold of each door there was always a small braided or hooked rug. During those early years a fresh coat of white wash was applied to the walls each spring. At first, the only floor covering was made from the rags sewed and woven on the looms here in the valley, but in later years the floors were carpeted right to the wall. In the front room, the carpet the grand-daughters remember, was a gray background with large red poppy design. The furniture was massive carved mahogany, horse-hair covered. There was a tall mirror just inside the front door and in one corner stood a what-not laden with vases and other treasurers in glass and china set on crocheted or knitted or embroidered doilies. There were several large pictures on the wall--one was a copy of the British artist Herring's "Three Members of a Temperance Society". Three horses drinking from the public watering trough.

Harriet loved an open fire. They didn't have a fire place but there was a large front room stove, the door to which could be thrown open, revealing the blaze. She was very cordial and if any one dropped in, they must stay for a bite to eat and she would invariable ask, "Shall I light the fire, my dear?" She was very generous, always giving something to some one, if only comfort and cheer. She was a great hand to minister among the sick and was often seen carrying some dainty morsel of food to some one who was ill. She was frugal withal.

A good cook [she was, for] in Harriet's pantry there were usually stored many good things to eat, dried fruits and stored vegetables, preserves, jams and jelly and there were cookies for the children. She got along well with children. "Come on, my dear," she would say when one of them asked if they could have this or that.

Sewing was a trial to her. She usually had a dressmaker, a Mrs. Spencer, come to the home and make her dresses. She was very particular, almost fussy, about her dress and she was considered to have good taste about her clothing, but frequently after Mrs. Spencer had left the house she would pick the dress to pieces and then couldn't get it back together again. She was rather fond of jewelry. In fact, she influenced James to have a little jewelry counter in their general store where they sold rings, breast-pins and other little trinkets. Eunice Snarr Walton, a grand-daughter has a little pin which her grandmother selected from that stock. The clasp was broken but she took Eunice into the house and sewed the pin onto her dress. The story is told that Harriet had several pieces of good jewelry in England but a peddler coming to her door one day traded some rather gaudy or showy pieces which were worthless for her plainer but valuable articles.

Harriet was a tiny woman with snappy black eyes, quick as a wink in her movements. Her husband was not much taller than she. He had rather a long body but very short legs. Harriet was often joked about marrying such a short man.

When James opened up the store, next door to their home, it was quite natural for Harriet to go in and help him wait on their trade. She was not a singer, but she was a good conversationalist. In fact, she made up for her husband's reserve. She wrote a nice hand and helped to keep the accounts in the store until her son Dan grew old enough to take that part of the work over. She usually wore a bustle and it just bobbed up and down as she hurried about her work.

In her younger days, she wore rats [or a hair piece] in her hair, but later on lost so much of her hair that it was a continual source of worry to her. She then wore a little lace cap most of the time. Sometimes it was black, sometimes white, lace trimmed and threaded with pink or blue baby ribbon. Often she would stand in front of the tall mirror in the front room, eye herself critically and say, "Aren't I a spec!"

As long as the grandchildren can remember, the little home was surrounded with nice shrubbery.

Harriet had ten children. Four daughter and six sons. Five of the children were born after they arrived in Utah….

It is our understanding that Harriet did some carding of wool, some spinning and that she made "Brigham Young Quilts" out of soldiers overcoats.

Their first daughter, Mary Ann Snarr Arnold died in 1869 leaving a three year old son, Jack Arnold, who lived with his grandmother until his father remarried. Being the eldest grandchild, Cousin Jack remembers the regularity of their family prayers, morning and night; that his grandparents subscribed to the Deseret News [newspaper] and at the close of their day sat down to the table, one at each end, to read. At this time, too, they would discuss the doctrines of the [LDS] Church and frequently the Bible was brought out to prove the point.

Jack says he never heard his grandfather swear. Harriet had a quick temper and grandfather wasn't too big for her when she got mad. At least, she didn't fear to speak her piece, knowing the placid nature of her husband, she probably knew there would be no open rupture. She had a little pet expression which she gave vent to when she was upset, but if she did, she usually finished the epithet with "Oh, God, forgive me."

She was like a nurse in the community, always coming up with some home made remedy to set you straight. Once, one of the boys had an awful stomach ache. Hot water bottles were not available so Harriet baked a large pan cake and put it on the ailing part and for years they teased the boy about eating the pancake when it was cold.

She was not free to do much public work; however, she did usually attend Relief Society and the [LDS] Sacrament meetings. If guests called at their home and the time arrived for them to start to Church, the guests were invited to come along. Elsie Snarr Johnsen, another of her grand-daughters says she used to go along, willingly, to Church in the summertime because grandmother would allow her to use her dainty little lace fan when it got too warm.

Being first assistant superintendent in the [LDS] Sixth Ward Sunday School, James would have to be gone early Sunday morning. As soon as he left home, Harriet would fly into the store, lock the door, and scrub the place thoroughly. If she were chided for breaking the Sabbath, she would reply, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness."

James trade as a baker no doubt influenced them in opening the store. His was one of the very early bakeries in the city. He would mix his bread at night and start baking in his wood burning stove at his home the next morning by three a.m. With his good baking and Harriet's cleanliness, they attracted friends from near and far.

That was before the days of refrigeration, but they had a rock cellar in the rear of the store, with shelves lining the walls, where they kept their milk and butter and when any was needed, Harriet would make a quick trip to the cellar. In the spring of the year that rock cellar would fill up with water and they had to use a raft to get around to the shelves until the sons and the grandson could bail the water out.

They kept about four cows of their own. Harriet's daughter, Josephine, her grandson Jack Arnold, and neighbor boy, Charles Ingham, frequently did the churning. However, they bought most of their choice butter from Gages, over Redwood Road way; about fifty pounds at a time. This would fetch top price of 30 to 40 cents. Ordinary butter would command only 10 to 25 cents per pound. In those days, if you wanted 25 cents worth of salt pork, you would almost have to get someone to help you pack it home.

In 1872, Harriet's son Thomas went to England on a mission for the [LDS] Church. In 1888 the son Daniel Hanmer, who had been named for Daniel H. Wells, also went there to carry the Gospel message. He left a wife and four little children here in Zion. James and Harriet helped to provide for them from the store. While Dan was in England his parents went over there for a visit and we think it was perhaps through their efforts that Harriet's two sisters, Carrie Brough Dawes and Mary Ann Brough Curtis emigrated to Utah.

After they returned from England, Harriet and James did some [LDS] Temple work. They did the work for Harriet's parents in the [LDS] Manti Temple in 1889. Their nephew, James F. Walkley took the store over for a while. Their son-in-law, Bob McEwan had a turn at it and then their son Dan took it over.

James died in 1897 and Harriet's sister Carrie Dawes came to live with her. Harriet survived her husband by about four and a half years. In her later years she had to wear very strong glasses but some time before she died she got what was termed then as her second sight and she could read anything without glasses. She became very forgetful and her memory practically failed her at the last. She had five sons but didn't seem to recognize them in her last illness. Her Grandson, Jack Arnold, says he came to the home to see her and her sister Carrie told him she wouldn't know him, but he insisted on being permitted to go into the room. Carrie led him to the bedside and said to Harriet, "I guess you don't know who this is". Harriet stirred uneasily moving her head slightly until she could see him, then murmured weakly, "Of course I know who it is. It's Johnnie, me boy".

Cousin Jack was 78 years old on 1 May 1944 and he wept at the recollection of that precious moment as he talked to me about it at his home in March 1944.

Harriet passed away and was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on October 13, 1901, the very day that I, your scribe, who was to become the wife of her grandson some twenty four years later, was born. Records in the cemetery say that she died of causes incident to age. She would have been seventy-nine years old on November 16 [her christening day] of that year.

At the age of 65 Harriet had gone to [LDS Church] Patriarch John Smith for a blessing. It seems that she was troubled in her mind then and at that time among other interesting things he said to her: 

"In thy mature years thou didst yield obedience to the Gospel and forsook thy native land, home and kindred. For this thou shall in no wise lose thy reward. For the Gospel sake thou hast suffered privations and to a certain extent thy life from early times has been a checkered one and many times the Lord has been mindful of thee and thy life has been preserved for a wise purpose and I say unto thee be at rest in thy mind and be comforted, for thou knowest that there is a God in Israel and that he will hear and answer the prayers of the honest. Lift up thy heart and rejoice for thine offerings are accepted. The Lord is pleased with thine integrity. Thou art known among the mothers in Israel and thy fame shall go forth for good among the people. Thou shalt complete thy mission, and shall live in the memory of the Saints."

Descendants of James Thomas Snarr and Harriet Brough

     James Thomas Snarr and Harriet Brough were the parents of ten children. Their first four children were born in England, and included: Mary Ann Snarr (1845-1869), who married John Arnold in 1863; Thomas Snarr (1847-1847); Thomas Sonley Snarr (1849-1911), who married Olivia Priscilla Hefferan in 1876 in Salt Lake City; and Barton Snarr (1851-1929), who married Eunice Elizabeth Eardley in 1875 in Salt Lake City. Their last six children were born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and included: James Henry Snarr (1854-1933), who married Mary Jane Watson in 1876 in Salt Lake City; Joseph Hyrum Snarr (1856-1939), who married Clara Arnold in 1882 in Salt Lake City; Harriet Eliza Snarr (1858-1903), who married Robert Charles Collingwood McEwan in 1876 in Salt Lake City; Daniel Hanmer Snarr (1860-1927), who married Alice Thompson in Salt Lake City; Louisa Snarr (1862-1863); and Josephine Snarr (1865-1943), who married Orson Pratt Arnold in 1884 in Salt Lake City.

     Currently, there are over 2,100 known descendants of James Thomas Snarr and Harriet Brough--and most of these living descendants reside in the western United State. Two well-known descendents of James Thomas Snarr and Harriet Brough include: Daniel (Dan) Clarence Snarr (b.1949)--who served as mayor of Murray City, Utah, from 1997 to 2013 (see below); and Joan Snarr Blanck (b.1941)-who currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Brough Family Organization. 

Ancestors of James Thomas Snarr (1818-1897)

     In April 2015, BFO genealogists researched the ancestry of James Thomas Snarr, which has now been documented and who are listed below:

William Snar, b.abt.1469, of Kelfield, Yorkshire, England

Robert Snar, b.abt. 1495, of Kelfield, Yorkshire, England

William Snare, b.abt.1521, of Stillingfleet, Yorkshire, England; married Alison in 1546

William Snare, b.abt.1547, of Stillingfleet, Yorkshire, England; married Margaret in 1572

William Snarre, b.abt.1573, of Elvington, Yorkshire, England

John Snarre, b.abt.1599, of Elvington, Yorkshire, England; married Mary Johnson in 1636

Robert Snar, chr. 24 August 1645, Stillingfleet, Yorkshire, England

William Snarr, chr. 2 January 1685, of Stillingfleet, Yorkshire, England; married Ann Hurst in 1716

Robert Snarr, chr. 1 February 1726, Howden, Yorkshire, England; married Mary in 1754

William Snarr, chr. 16 March 1758, Howden, Yorkshire, England; married Mary Barton in 1782

Barton Snarr, b. 5 March 1798, Howden, Yorkshire, England; married Elizabeth Sonley in 1818.

James Thomas Snarr, born 7 November 1818 in Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire, England; married Harriet Brough in 1844 in England; died on 2 April 1897 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Snarr Ancestors and Descendants, 2016 (PDF File)