Louisa Whittaker, daughter of James and Malinda Fishel, was born at Fairview, North Carolina, Feb. 28, 1825. Her parents received the Gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when it was preached to them by one of its missionaries while they were living in North Carolina. Louisa was baptised Oct. 7, 1843. After accepting the Gospel, the Whittakers were very anxious to join the main body of the Church in Illinois.
Louisa was a very bright little girl, doing such things that any ambitious girl would do. Of her early education and religious activities very little is known.
While on a visit to Iowa, Harmon Dudley Pierson met Louisa and her parents. A romance soon began and on Aug. 31, 1848, they were married at Council Bluff, Iowa, by Elder George Smith.
Fatrher Whittaker gave these young people some land and on it they built their first home. Harmon was not comfortable in Iowa, having previously been with the Saints in the Salt Lake Valley in Utah, he was anxious to join them again. Before moving to Salt Lake two children, Matilda and Charles D were born to them. Matilda was born in Hancock Co., Illinois and Charles Daniel at Council Bluffs, Iowa.
In the spring of 1850, Harmon and Louisa and her parents, started on their journey to Salt Lake City in a company of 1000 saints under the leadership of Captain William Snow. Harmon was made captain of ten wagons. They started on this long perilous journey in a wagon drawn by one yoke of oxen, a cow, and a heifer. They bravely endured the hardships of crossing the plains and Louisa was always encouraging her companion and helping him through many difficulties.
They arrive in Salt Lake City in the fall of 1850. Here they were greeted by Ebenezer, Harmon's brother. Ebenezer gave them a piece of land at Session Settlement, now Bountiful, Davis County, Utah. They built a home here but were dissapointed in their crops that first year, so moved to Ogden, Utah to live. Here Harmon worked in a Blacksmith shop with Merl Stone.
Harmon saw an opportunity to provide a better home and living for his wife and family, so he hpmesteaded at Willard, Box Elder County, Utah, buying his claim from a Mr. Lish. Here they built an adobe house by a spring of water known as Cold Springs. Their oldest son born in Utah was born here January 1, 1850. They named him James Heber. There were many hardships and trials for them to overcome but the Lord blessed them and in the fall of 1853 they raised a good crop. Here William Lester was born March 27, 1852, and on Nov. 21, 1853 Parley Leander was born.
When the Walker War, between the Whites and the Indians, broke out, Louisa and her three little sons went to live in a fort built of mud and stones. When the Echo War came, Louisa saw her husband join a company of men, as he was their Captain, and go to prevent the Johnston Army from entering Salt Lake Valley.
In their home in Willard, a little girl, whom they called Martha Louisa, was born Sept. 29, 1855. Then on Oct. 22, 1857 another little girl, Margaret Malinda, was born. She was permitted to live but a short time. Then came Minerva Ann, Hemen, Wilford, Samuel Levi, Solomon Matthew and Gilbert.
With a desire to make a bigger and better home for his large family, father Harmon moved his family to Plymouth, Utah, a place about 35 miles north of Willard, here they homesteaded and built another home.
Louisa did not leave Willard until after the other wivws of Harmon (Ellen and Mary) and their families had been moved to Plymouth. The other families moved in the spring of 1870.
At her new home in Plymouth she was as active in the Church affairs as she had been in Willard. She was a good mother, a home builder, and a very good seamstress and taylor. She could take the wool, after it had been removed from the sheep, wash, pick, comb and cord it, spin, dye and weave it into cloth and then make it into either a dress for herself and daughters, or a suit for her husband or sons.
In 1876 she accompanied her husband on a mission to their old home in Council Bluffs, Iowa. While he was visiting his relatives, she and her son, William, went to North Carolina. They returned to Utah April 1877 bringing with them her two cousins. They returned to Utah April 1877 bringing with them her two cousins, Mahalin and Naomia.
She was the first president of the Plymouth Relief Society. This office she held very efficiently for a number of years, giving council and advice and helping care for the sick. She was also very active in other Church organizations.
She endured many sorrows and trials. Once while she and her husband were on their way to attend a conference of the Church at Portage, Utah, one of the horses refused to go, and Gilbert, her youngest son, only a boy at the time, got out of the buggy and attempted to lead the horses. After they were started and the buggy was in motion, he climed into the back of the vehicle. In doing so he caught his foot in the wheel. As trhe wheel went around it pulled his body with it, throwing him round and round. His leg was amputated at his home, but infection set in which resulted in his death Nov. 11, 1882.
Another sorrow came to her when her son, Solomon, while going to visit his brother, James, at George Town, Idaho, met with an accident which caused his death March 16, 1885.
While doing her housework at her home in Plymouth, she fell and broke her hip and was a cripple for the rest of her life. She had to use crutches in order to get around. (Her husband died 3 July 1891) She went to live with her son Parley at his home four miles east of town and altho she was on crutches she came to town on Sunday to attend Sunday School and Sacrament Meeting and during the week she attended Relief Society meeting.
When Parley was called on his mission, she lived with her son, Hemen and his family until Parley returned. She was a faithful wife, a loving mother, and a kind and understanding friend. She was called to the Great Beyond April 12, 1908 there to join her husband and children. She was lain to rest by the side of her husband in the family plot at Willard, Utah.