Elizabeth Jane Henderson

Elizabeth Jane Henderson was born July 4, 1830 in Caledonia, Missouri to James Goforth and Sarah Anna Harris Henderson. Elizabeth is a Pioneer of Richmond.

Early Life

In 1832, Joseph Smith, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, began telling followers of the Church that Missouri would be the location where the Lord Jesus Christ would establish his New Jerusalem. Members and missionaries began moving to the State, and some became associated with the Henderson family. From the association, the Henderson family was baptized into the Church in 1837.

As persecutions began to rise and the Extermination Order was signed by Missouri's Governor, the Henderson family left their home of 12 years and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1839. Elizabeth remembers her time in Nauvoo and Joseph Smith:

"The first time I remember of seeing Joseph Smith was at a ball game, he being the Captain of the team. The people made many remakrs about the Prophet playing ball, but, when the game was done he truned and said, 'Well boys I have played all with you now if you want to return the compliment allo of you come with me and work as hard at arecting a log cabin for a widow as you have at playing ball.' Needless to say they all responded willingly. This occurred when I was about seven or eight years old.

"I saw him many times after this in company with his brother Hyrum, and heard them speak to the people and exhort them to keep the commandments of God. Those were dark days in Nauvoo, and the Prophet was known to go among the people and try to cheer and comfort them in their hour of need. Although he was continuously harassed by his enemies. And very often my father and many others were called out to protect him from mob violence. His kindness to his people caused him to be loved by them all from the oldest to the youngest.

"...From the first time I saw him untill the present time I have never had the reverence for any other man that I have always had for his loved memory. And I firmly believe that he was one of the noblest men of the earth, and a true Prophet."1

In order to provide for his family, Elizabeth's father began working for Mr. Lincoln, cultivating his crops. It was a whole family effort, acording to Elizabeth's brother John:

"I was 10 years old and father had me drive one team while my older brother George held the plow, and he held another plow while my sister Jane Elizabeth Jane Tidwell acted as teamster. We worked away on this plan until we put in a large crop of wheat, oats and corn. It kept us busy during the summer, plowing and hoeing, but we were well rewarded in the fall with good crops of everything we planted."

Death of Parents and Marrage

In 1842-1843, Elizabeth's parents died. At the age of 13, Elizabeth and her siblings were left orphans and were tossed around from family to family. Elizabeth was taken into a non-LDS family home, but after the assassination of Joseph Smith, the family feared that Saints would retaliate against the non-LDS and used Elizabeth as a shield of protection.

In the fall of 1846, Elizabeth moved to Bentonsport, Iowa to live with her sister Mary. Mary was married to Ransom Tidwell, and while living with her family, Elizabeth was introduced to Ransom's younger brother Thomas. Elizabeth and Thomas Tidwell were married Oct 7, 1847 in Stringtown, Iowa.

The Tidwell family remained in Iowa until 1854 when they moved to Utah. The exact company they joined is unknown.

Life in Utah and Richmond

Soon after their arrival, the Tidwell family made their home in Kaysville, Utah. In 1859, Thomas was called to serve as Bishop of Richmond. The Tidwell family moved to Richmond in 1860. That same year, two of Elizabeth's siblings moved to Richmond: Martha Ann and William Jasper.

The Tidwells were unable to relocate their animals to Richmond, so they left them in Nephi, Utah. Thomas travels to Nephi and Richmond to care for his animals. Due to his travel and the length of time he was gone, Thomas stepped down as Bishop in 1861. The Tidwell family moved back to Nephi soon after.

Epilouge