Alice Penniston Wasden

Alice Peniston Wasden was born in Ashton, Yorkshire, England, August 29, 1842, the first child of Thomas and Mary Cocum [sic] Wasden. At the age of five she entered school, but her schooling was very limited because at an early age she and her two brothers began working at a book bindery. Her parents operated a small store to support their family. They were in comfortable circumstances, as they all worked.

Her parents accepted the Gospel in England, and by careful saving they were able to emigrate to America in 1855. They boarded the ship Thair in the early spring and landed in New York June 1st of that year. The captain of the ship was William Stedson. [Actually, the name of the ship was William Stetson. The Wasdens are listed on its roster. The captain's name was Jordon]. [The captain] was very kind to all the Saints, and they had a most pleasant journey. They continued westward by boat and rail until they reached Cincinnati, where they stopped to rest and make further preparation for the long journey across the plains.

While in the vicinity of Cincinnati the family was stricken with Cholera. They buried two children, one dying while the other was being buried. The mother, through grief and sickness, was confined to her bed for eleven months, and Alice had to care for the family as well as nurse her mother back to health. The family lived in Cincinnati for about four years.

[Pictured here are young Thomas Wasden, (before he was married), and Mary Wasden with their son James Brooks Wasden. Both of these photos were taken in England.]

Taking up the journey by ox team, they continued westward to Florence, Nebraska, arriving there in April of 1859. Here they stopped for about six weeks, during which time a baby boy was born. He was named Thomas Nephi Wasden.

For their trek across the plains they joined the Edward Stevenson Company. They had only travelled a short distance and were making camp for the night when the report came that a deer had been seen. The men lost no time in getting ready for the chase. Alice's father was a good shot and captured the prize, and a big feast was prepared. As the journey proceeded Captain Stevenson shot a buffalo and the camp had another feast.

At times their hardships were almost unendurable. They arrived in the Great Salt Lake Valley about September 20, 1859. Alice had walked almost the entire distance across the plains.

[One of the shawls that Alice's mother, Mary, wore on her journey is on display at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers (DUP) Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah.]

Upon arriving in Salt Lake they were directed to continue on South. In Provo they met a Captain Dan Jones, who had a home on the Provo River, just west of Provo. As it was getting rather late in the season, provisions were made for them to live with this Captain Jones for the winter, as they had no home or place to go. In the spring of 1860 they moved south to Ephraim, Sanpete County. Here Thomas Nephi Wasden died. Alice taught school that winter, and was baptized into the church. The next spring they moved on to Gunnison. While there Alice, at the age of nineteen, met and married Jacob Flynn Hutchinson on the 9th day of June 1861.

From Gunnison, Alice, with her husband and family (for she had married a widower with a number of children) moved to Springville. From this union there were three children born; Joseph, 0rson, and Alice. They lived in the old Fort at Springville and Jacob Flinn Hutchinson took some part in the Black Hawk War. On several occasions the Indians became very troublesome, and drove away some of the cattle.

My father, 0rson Hutchinson, was born on the block where the old Tithing Office stood. He was the second child of Alice Wasden Hutchinson.

While shoeing a horse my grandfather was kicked by the horse and died some time later from the effects. He was buried in the Springville Cemetery in 1868. Grandmother and her three small children went to Scipio, where her folks had settled.

On June 14, 1869, Grandmother married John Thueson in the Salt Lake Endowment House. They made their home in Scipio, Millard County, for several years. Later, in 1876, they moved to Brooklyn in the Sevier Valley. Many hardships were endured in building a home in this rocky, barren place. As I remember her home in Brooklyn, it was a four room adobe house.

There were some locust trees in front of the house, and I well remember her flower garden; which consisted of larkspurs, Iris, and hollyhocks. Only very hardy flowers would grow, due to the very gravelly soil. She was a real homemaker, and her home, though humble, was always neat and orderly. I especially remember a blue and white homespun bedspread and some bright colored rugs which she had made from worn out knit clothing.

She had a family of nine children, and soon after her last child was born, was left practically alone to provide and care for them. This she did, almost entirely with her own hands. She carded wool, spun it, then wove it into cloth. She was very handy with a needle, and made most of their clothing. I remember her telling me of making homespun suits for the boys. In addition, she bought hides from the Indians, tanned them, and made them into gloves which she sold to stores and some to the Indians. I remember her telling me she used to bake more bread for the Indians than for her own family.

[Alice Penniston Wasden Hutchinson Thueson]

Sometime later she moved into the town of Monroe, and it was here I went to live with my grandmother, while my father was away on a mission. At this time Grandmother was alone most of the time, as her children were almost grown and away working.

In Monroe she had a large lot with quite a few fruit trees and a garden spot. As a child I helped her prepare apples to dry. I also helped dry corn and pick small fruits, which she preserved for winter. She raised her vegetables and potatoes for winter use.

Many of my early lessons of thrift I learned during the time I lived with her. Grandmother was an active worker in the Relief Society most of her life. She was President for a number of years in Monroe. She also was a teacher in Sunday School and active in the dramatic and social activities of the Ward.

In 1912 she moved to Plain City on a small farm, where she lived with her youngest son who was unmarried. Later she went to live with a daughter, Laura England, of Plain City, where she made her home until her death on November 25, 1917 at the age of seventy-five years. She was a loving mother and was loved by everyone who knew her.

(Read by Vivian H. Carlsen, a granddaughter)
Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Camp 38
September 29, 1959

[The photo of Alice's grave marker was taken by Dave Carlsen in September 2001. It is located in the Plain City, Utah Cemetery and reads:

MOTHER
Alice W., Wife of
John N. Thueson
1842 - 1917]

[This note was written by Alice in Vivian Hutchinson's small autograph and 'friendship' book in Monroe Utah, on Jan 18, 1901. The book is in the possession of Vern Carlsen. The note reads:

[These photos of Thomas and Mary's grave markers were taken by Debbie Hansen as part of the Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness program. The stones are located in the Gunnison, Utah Cemetery. Mary's reads:

IN MEMORY OF
MARY WASDEN
BORN April 25
1816
Thryberg, England
DIED Feb 28
1892]

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Last Updated 10 October 2006