14 April – 21 Jul 1918
AUTOBIOGRAPHY of Margaret McNeil Ballard
Wife of Henry Ballard Utah Pioneer, 1859
Born in Tranent, Haddingtonshire, Scotland, April 14, 1846, daughter of Thomas McNeil and Jeannette Reid McNeil.
My birthplace, Tranent, was a small village located near the sea shore on the banks of the mouth of the Firth of Fourth, not many miles from Edinburg. From the village one may view the beautiful scenes of grasses and hills and waters so typical of picturesque Scotland.
When I was eight years old my father baptized me a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had joined the Church and was baptized when I was about two years old. He was’ a coal miner and had to be to work every morning at four o’clock. Therefore, when I was baptized I had to go early in the morning. It was a beautiful May morning-when I walked to the sea shore. He carried a lantern to light our way. As I came up out of the water the day was just beginning to dawn and the light to creep over the eastern hills. It was a very beautiful sight, one that I shall never forget. At this time I was filled .with a sweet heavenly spirit which has remained with me to this day.
That night all of the saints met at our home and I was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I was given my choice to either, sing, pray or bear my testimony. I offered up a simple prayer for my heart was filled with great joy and thanks to God for this privilege of becoming a member of His church and this gratitude has remained in my heart and has increased as the years have gone by.
The first ten years of my childhood were spent in Tranent, but because of being a “Mormon” I was not permitted to attend the school and so I was entirely deprived of schooling while in the old country, and in pioneering there was little opportunity of education. During those ten years our family enjoyed the association of the Elders and saints. My father was President of the Edinburg Conference for a number of years, therefore, the Elders visited our home often and we were always glad to receive them, although, many times ‘I went to bed hungry in order to give- my meal to the visiting Elders.
On 27 April 1856 we left our home and on Sunday, May 4th we left Liverpool for America. There was a large Company leaving. My mother was not well and was taken on board the ship before the time of sailing while the sailors were still disinfecting and renovating the ship. Here my brother, Charles, was born, with only one woman on board the ship to attend my mother. When the Captain and doctor came on board the ship and found that a baby had been born, they were delighted and thought it would bring good luck to the Company. They asked the privilege of naming him. Brother Willie, President of the Company, thought it best to let the Captain name him as there were eight hundred passengers and nearly all of them were Mormons, so he was named Charles Collins Thornton McNeil, after the boat, Thornton, and Captain Charles Collins.
We were on the ocean for nearly six weeks. During this time we had many· hardships to endure, but through it all we were greatly blessed. Because of my mother’s condition, and my being the oldest member of the family, and being blessed with health, I had to share the responsibility with my father of taking care of the rest of the family, who suffered greatly with sea sickness.
On board ship we had to prepare our own food and were permitted to take our turn using a stove which was provided for the Company. I was the cook for the family and sometimes experienced trouble in preparing our porridge, which was about all we had to eat. I was but ten years old and somewhat a venturesome spirit and through this perhaps, met many more difficulties than I would have done otherwise, however, I was protected from accident and blessed with health the entire trip.
At the end of this long, tiresome journey, we landed at Castle Gardens, New York, on June 14. 1856. After landing we planned to go west to Utah with the handcart company, but President Franklin D. Richards counseled my father not to go in that company, for which we were afterwards very thankful because of the great suffering and privations and the cold weather which these people were subjected to. There were many of the Company who were frozen that year on their journey.
My father was then advised to go to St. Louis and spend the winter there and prepare to go through to Utah the next year. We stayed at St. Louis until spring when we were called on a mission to help make a settlement one hundred miles west of civilization. The place was to be called Genoa. We left St. Louis on the steam boat and came up the Mississippi River. The measles broke out while we were on the boat and all of my mother’s children took them and were very sick, with the exception of myself. When we landed, we camped on the bank of the river until our teams and wagons came.
When we were all ready to start on our journey westward, my father’s team, consisting of unbroken, five year-old oxen, ran away and our family was delayed. My father had never seen oxen before and the animals allotted to him had to be roped and tied to get the yoke on them and fastened to the wagon. As soon as they were released from the ropes, they became unmanageable and ran away. The company had gone ahead and my mother was anxious to have me go with them so she strapped my little brother, James, on my back with a shawl. He was only four years old and was still quiet sick with the measles.
Mother had all she could do to care for the other children so I hurried on and caught up with the Company. I traveled with them all day and that night a kind lady helped me to take my brother off my back and I sat up and held him on my lap with a shawl wrapped around him, alone, all night. He was a little better in the morning. The people in the camp were very good to us and gave us a little fried bacon and some bread for breakfast. We traveled this way for about a week, my brother and I not seeing our mother during this time. Each morning one of the men would write a note and put it in the slit of a willow stuck into the ground, to tell how we were. *
*NOTE: The L.D.S. Church records in the Church Historian’s Library gives an account of the settlement of Genoa and in the record there is the following: “In passing it may here be stated that Sister Margaret McNeil, a girl twelve years old, arrived on the present site of Genoa ahead of the main Company in 1857 and was the first female in camp.”
During the time of settlement, we had very little to eat as the people were all very poor. We raised corn but the frost came early and it did not ripen well. We had to dry it in the oven and it was so nearly spoiled that we had to open the door while it was drying because it was so offensive, but it was all we had to eat. We had only one hand grinder for the whole company to use in grinding, which belonged to Brother Sleight. Of course it kept us very busy grinding. During the settlement of Genoa, we suffered much from the hostile Indians. They were very troublesome and we were always in danger of being molested.
After we had made this settlement, my father was called to go and help make another settlement, called Woodriver, about one hundred miles west of Genoa, which made it about two hundred miles from civilization. This was a very pretty place, surrounded with trees, most all of them being elm trees.
One day while we were at Woodriver our cow got away from us and when father found that she was lost he sent my brother, Thomas, and me to hunt for her. We looked all that day but were not successful in finding the cow. We started out early the next morning to continue the hunt and looked all day until towards evening. We were going down along the Platte River about five o’clock and as we looked down the river we saw three large Sioux Indians coming towards us on horses. They looked very war like and I was afraid they were going to carry us away with them, so I said to my brother, “Let us pray.” We were running as fast as we could, and still kept praying all the time, although we did not have time to get down on our knees.
The Indians soon came right to us and wanted us to go with them. We were trying to be brave and told them we were going home, and pointed towards our house, for we could see the smoke coming out of our chimney. One of the Indians tried to pull my brother up on his horse, but he was heavier than the Indian expected and my brother slipped from his grasp and dodged right under the horse’s belly, between fore and hind legs and we ran until overtaken again. The Indians laughed and had a good time at our efforts to get away from them, but in our maneuvers we were getting near home. I asked them to go home with us and mother would give them coffee and biscuits. I was shaking all over with fright and could hardly speak but pointed over to where the men were working.
The Indians left us and went over to where the men were and then went to our house and mother gave them a nice warm supper and they went away peaceably. Our Heavenly Father surely blessed and protected us on this occasion, for which we were very grateful.
We did not stay at Woodriver very long. My father made all preparations to go on and when the next company came we were ready to travel with them, and the place was abandoned, regardless of splendid growing crops, because the Indians were so troublesome. The Captain was pleased to have us travel with his company and was very kind to us.
One night our cow ran away from camp and I was sent out to bring her back. I was barefooted and not watching where I was going. All of a sudden I began to feel that I was walking on something soft and looked down to see what it could be, and to my horror, found that I was standing in a bed of snakes, large ones and small ones. At the sight of them I became so weak that I could scarcely move. All I could think of was to pray, and in some way I jumped out of them. The Lord blessed and cared for me so that I was protected from many other such experiences.
While crossing the plains, my mother’s health was very poor, so I tried to assist her as much as I could. Every morning I would get up early and get breakfast for the family and milk my cow so that I could hurry and drive her on ahead of the company, and let her eat in all grassy places until they had passed on ahead and then I would hurry and catch up with them. The cow furnished us our chief source of food and it was very important to see that she was fed as well as circumstances would permit. In this way the cow gave us plenty of good rich milk. Had it not been for this we would have starved.
Being alone much of the time, I had to get across the river the best I could. Our cow was a jersey and had a long tail. When it was necessary to cross the rivers, I would wind the end of the cow’s tail around my hand and swim across the stream with her. At the end of each day’s journey I would milk my cow and help prepare our supper and then would be glad to go to sleep wherever my bed happened to be.
We traveled very slowly until we reached “Sweet Water”.
Here there was a terrible storm. The Captain got on his horse and scouted around to see if he could find a place of safety. He found shelter down at the bottom of a hollow. We camped here for several days, until the storm abated.
I was very brave and wanted to go out and explore this new camping ground. I had not gone far when I saw a large ox grazing a little way from where we were. I ran and told my father and he and some of the other men went and brought it into the camp and killed it for the company. The find of this ox I thought was wonderful, and I felt very providential as we were almost starving.
In leaving this camp we had not gone far when we met Patriarch John Smith, and Brother John P. Green who were going on missions and were traveling with a mule team. Father went to them for counsel and told them of our circumstances. Brother Smith blessed my father and gave him ten dollars, and Brother Green gave him five dollars. Brother Smith told father to leave the Company and go on as fast as possible for it was getting cold and we were short of food. He also said to go through Weber Canyon into Ogden as it was much quicker. With the money that was given us father bought fifty pounds of flour. We also got a little meat. Brother Smith advised my father to stay in Ogden until he earned enough food to put us through the winter and then to go to Cache Valley and take up land there.
We started out on our journey alone and had a very hard time of it. Our food gave out and we had nothing but milk and wild rose berries to eat. However, we had a good team and could travel fast. We arrived in Ogden on the 4th day of October 1859, after a journey of hardships and hunger, with thankfulness to our Heavenly Father for His protecting care. I walked every step of the way across the plains and drove my cow, and a large part of the way carried my little brother James on my back.
We camped on the outskirts of town and father left us and went on into Ogden to find work. When father came back to us he had found a man whom he had known in Scotland. This man took us to his home and we stayed there until we were ready to go to Cache Valley. We all got work. Mother took the smaller children and went and husked corn. I herded cattle, and father and my older brothers worked on the threshing machine.
When we had sufficient supply we left Ogden and had not gone far when we met Henry Ballard and Aaron Dewitt who had been to conference and were returning to their homes in Cache Valley. Brother Ballard and Aaron Dewitt helped us greatly during our journey as we traveled together to Cache Valley. When we got to the Logan River the water was so high that it lifted the box right off the wheels and we had some difficulty in getting across. We arrived in Logan October 21, 1859.
We camped in a fort made for protection from the Indians. We were in the last fort which extended from the corner of Main and Center Streets to what is now known as Third West Street. My father worked to get enough hay for the cattle for the winter and then went to the Canyon and hauled logs to make a house. We had neither lumber nor glass, so for the doors and windows he wove willows together and plastered them with clay. He used bulrushes and willows for the roof and bulrushes for the carpet and we were very comfortable until spring. My father and older brothers worked in the canyon all winter getting out logs which he exchanged for bran or bacon or anything we could get.
At one time we were right out of everything to eat and father had a few logs he could spare and went to a man and asked him if he would give him some bran for them. This is all we had to eat for some little time. This man found that we were in very poor circumstances and told the Presiding Elder that we· needed help. So a meeting was held and the people were told that they should pay fast offerings, which they did. The first fast offerings paid in Logan were given to my father.
Father soon got work building a bridge and after this we did not have it so hard. I carried water for the family all that winter from the north branch of Logan River which was a about three blocks away. I had very little clothing on my body and my feet were bare and I would leave blood stains on the snow. Sometimes I would swab them in old rags, but this was worse than ever because the rags froze on my feet.
Early in the spring I went to work for the family of Thomas E. Ricks for one dollar a week.
Brother Ricks needed a man to plow and asked father if he could spare one of his boys. Father said he would let him know that night so when I got home he asked me if I would help him plough and let my brother go to Mr. Ricks. My brother could get two dollars a day and this would pay for the seed wheat much quicker. So my brother went to work for Mr. Ricks and I drove the cattle while father held the plough, to break the ground for the first crops that were planted in Logan, this being the first season after Logan was “settled. After plowing was finished, I went back to Brother Ricks and worked there until fall.
In the spring Grandma Thatcher offered me more money and the work was easier so I went and worked for her all summer for $1.25 a week.
I had been keeping company with Brother Ballard for some time, and although I was but fifteen years old, he wanted to marry me. He felt that he could provide for and take better care of me and save me from working so hard.
Brother Ballard went to my father and asked for his consent to my marriage; and, much to his surprise my father objected, saying that he had to have my help for some time. “How much does she earn?” Brother Ballard asked. “Five dollars a month”, was the reply. So it was agreed between the two that Brother Ballard would pay my father $5.00 a month for two years if he would consent to our marriage. We were married on May 5, 1861. Brother Ballard had been Bishop of the Logan 2nd ward for six weeks at the time of our marriage.
A short time before my first baby was born I had my first experience in sewing. My husband had a fine young steer that he was saving to sell in order to get enough money for us to buy material to make clothes for our little baby that we were expecting. One of the prominent brethren of Logan suffered a great financial loss at this time and was left destitute. The people were called upon to give what they could for the support of the unfortunate family. We had our winter supply of food in the house, but no money, and this steer was the only thing we could dispose of to raise money.
My husband came home feeling very badly and said, “Margaret, I am very sorry and disappointed but I have been called upon to raise some money to help out one of our brethren, and the only thing I have that I can give is that steer. What shall I do? I too was very much disappointed, but said, “Give it, Henry, we will find a way. My husband’s gratitude for my willingness and his regrets brought him to tears. It was a big sacrifice for me at the time, but I knew it was right.
After my husband had left the house I hunted out two of his old home-spun woolen shirts and pulled down the blinds and locked the doors so that no one would see me try my hand at a new art. I spread the shirts on the floor, and without a pattern, cut out the two little dresses and sewed them up by hand. This was about all the clothes I had for my first child. However, she was most welcome to us and was given as much love as two loving parents were capable of bestowing.
Our first baby was born on January 18, 1863. It was a girl and we named her Margaret Hannah.
In 1864 my husband went back with his team to gather in the poor off the plains before the winter weather came. He was in Captain Preston’s Company. During his absence I spun and wove a nice big piece of cloth to make our winter clothing. It was not until I received my husband’s first letter, while on this trip, that I learned to read and write. Up to this time I could not do either, but I was determined to learn to read his letters and to answer them. With many difficulties and obstacles to overcome, I accomplished my desires. Brother Ballard returned on Sep. 19th, the day before my next child was born. On Sept. 20, l864 my first son was born. We named him Henry William after his father and grandfather.
On July 8, 1866 my son Thomas was born. My husband had been prospered in his work and we were gradually becoming better off.
On Oct. 4, 1867 my husband married my sister Emily for his second wife. Although I loved my sister dearly and we knew it was a commandment of God that we should live in the Celestial Marriage, it was a great trial and sacrifice for me. But the Lord blessed and comforted me and we lived happily in this principle of the Gospel and I have thanked the Lord every day of my life that I have had the privilege of living that law.
On May 15, 1868 I gave birth to twin babies, a little girl and boy. We named the girl Janet and the boy Charles. They were two beautiful babies, but did not stay long with us on this earth. The little girl died in September. 16, 1869 and ten days later, September 28, the little boy died. This was a very sore trial for me.
During the winter of 1869 we had about one hundred sheep wintering in Clarkston. It was a very hard winter. The snow was so deep that nearly all of the sheep died. A man came and told my husband that if he wanted to save a start of sheep, he must go at once with a wagon and haul some into shelter. I told my husband to get another wagon and team and I would drive that and go with him. It was very cold. We started very early and it was eleven o’clock when we got home that night. We brought twenty sheep back with us but about half of them died on the way home. I never will forget the sight of so many sheep lying around dead and dying. It made my heart ache to see the suffering of these animals.
On April 9, 1870 my son George Albert was born. He was a fine big healthy boy and brought great happiness to our home.
In the following September 1870, I received a Patriarchal Blessing from Brother Charles H. Hyde. This was a very great comfort to me. It promised me many privileges and blessings which have nearly all been fulfilled.
On February 9th, 1873 I gave birth to another son. We named him Melvin Joseph. This son was a child of promise. I had given birth to six children. Two were taken in death while in the first year of their lives just ten days apart. My heart was sore, and my sorrow and sickness had weakened my strength. Many days and weeks I was bedfast.
One day after my husband had taken the children a block away to see a parade; I rose from my bed, crawled to the door, and locked it so that I might pour out my soul to God on my knees in prayer. I called to remembrance my willingness to bear children and my approval of my husband’s marriage to my sister and that a great posterity might build up God’s kingdom in Zion. I begged the Lord for help.
God heard my prayer and comfort was given me. I saw no person, but a voice spoke plainly, saying, “Be of good cheer. Your life is acceptable, and you will bear a son who will become an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Melvin’s life was precious in the sight of his father and me, and we recognized in him a choice spirit. He was also honored by his brothers and sisters, although they did not know of the promise given concerning him.
During June 1874 there was an epidemic of scarlet fever. Many families were severely afflicted. My children all came down with it and were very sick. After being sick with the fever for about one week, my son George Albert died on July 7. On July 13, my oldest daughter, Margaret, also died from the same disease. This was another trying ordeal for me to pass through, but the Lord gave me strength to go through these things.
Not long after this my son Henry was helping his father haul peas from the field. In some way he fell on the pitchfork and it ran through his bowels. His father prayed over him at the time and, asked the Lord to spare his life until he could get him home to me. When they brought him in the house he looked like he was dead. I hurried and made an herb plaster and put his whole body in it. We also offered up a mighty prayer for him and he was restored to health again and we know that it was the power of the Lord that saved him, for at that time we had no doctors to help us.
Just two weeks after this, I gave birth to another daughter. She was born on Sept. 19, 1875. We named her Ellen Phebe. A few weeks after this my husband was brought home from the Canyon very sick, suffering with kidney trouble. The brethren had been in and administered to him, but he was very, very bad and we thought he was surely dying. I was standing at the foot of the bed and was greatly grieved to see him in such agony. He looked at me and said he knew he could die if I would only give him up.
But a voice came to me and said “Lay your hands on him,” but I was very timid about doing this for the brethren had just administered to him. The voice came again, but I felt that I could not do this with the Priesthood in the house. I felt that they would think me bold, and I was very weak. The voice came to me the third time and I heeded to its promptings and went and put my hand upon his head. The spirit of the Holy Ghost was with me and I was filled with a Divine strength in performing this ordinance. When I had finished, my husband went to sleep and slept quietly for two hours or more.
For a number of years we had a great deal of trouble with the Indians. They were very hostile and the people had to seek shelter in a large cellar. They would ride their horses into the houses and tramp the gardens all to pieces.
We also had grasshopper wars – I have seen the heavens darkened with the grasshoppers until one would think it was midnight. I have often gone out at such times and driven the grasshoppers into a trench with a bunch of willows and. then buried them alive. With all that we killed the ground would be left perfectly bare of vegetation.
On February 8, 1878 another daughter was born to us.
We named her Rebecca Ann. Soon after this my husband’s father and mother came and lived with us. They were with us for about eight years before their death. They both lived to a good old age, his father being 96 and his mother 86 when they died. They were both very feeble and required a great deal of care and attention, but I was ever willing to help care for them and bestow my affection upon them and make their lives happy, and they both died blessing me, which has always been a comfort to me.
From the first organization of the Relief Society in Cache Valley until 1880 I labored as a teacher and on Dec. 11, 1880 I was put in as President of this organization in the Second Ward, with Sister Barbara Larsen as first, and Sister Susan J. Smith as Second Counselors, and sister Emmeline James, Secretary. I labored in this capacity for over thirty years. During these years I tried to do my duty in caring for the sick and comforting the needy.
I have walked for blocks through the deep snow, I have been out in rains and winds, in the darkest nights, and in the earliest hours of the morning to comfort and minister to those who were afflicted and who were sick and suffering and sorrowing and dying. I have set up all night, time after time with the widows and given advice to those in need. I have tried to be a peace maker to those in trouble and through it all, the Lord directed me and I enjoyed His Spirit as my companion in my labors. Many an afflicted one has gone to her last sleep blessing me and many who yet remain bless me for services rendered unto them. It comforts me to have done some good to those less fortunate than myself. Many, many times I have neglected my own family and home but the Lord always came to my rescue and blessed me.
On December 13, 1881 I gave birth to another daughter and we named her Lettie May. Shortly after this a family by the name of Phister, who lived in our ward, were left orphans. The father died leaving a wife and six small children. In seven months after his death the mother gave birth to another baby and died while the child was very young. After her death the seven children were brought to my home and stayed there until after the funeral and until Bishop Hardy of Salt Lake City came up and distributed them among different people. I adopted one of the little girls, her name was Lena, and raised her as my own until she was married.
On May 17, 1884 the Logan Temple was dedicated. The second day after the dedication, President John Taylor said that all members of the Church who were worthy and who desired to go through the Temple might do so the next day.
My husband, being Bishop, was very busy writing out recommends to all who wished to go through the Temple when my daughter Ellen came in with a newspaper in her hand and asked for her father. I told her that her father, was very busy but to give the paper to me and I would give it to him. She said, “No, a man gave the paper to me and told me to give it to no one but father.” I let the child take the paper to her father and when he took it and looked at it he was greatly surprised for he saw that the paper had been printed in Berkshire, England, his birthplace, and was only four days from the press. He was so amazed at such an incident that he called Ellen and asked her where the man was who had given her the paper. She said she was playing on the sidewalk with other children when two men came down the street, walking in the middle of the road, one of the men called to her saying, “Come here, little girl.” She hesitated at first for there were other little girls with her. Then he pointed to her and said “You”. She went and he gave her the paper and told her to give it to her father.
The paper contained about sixty names of dead acquaintances of my husband, giving the dates of birth and death. My husband took the paper to the President of the Temple and asked him what he thought about it. President Merrill said, “Brother Ballard that was one of the three Nephites or some other person who brought that paper to you for it could come in no other way in so short a time. It is for you to do the work for them.”
My husband was baptized for the men and I for the women and all of the work was done for them. Again I felt the Lord was mindful of us and blessed us abundantly.
Shortly after the Logan Temple had been dedicated, my father was called to be one of the officiators and while he was performing this work he was taken very ill with pneumonia and his life was despaired of. One morning, early, they sent for me and said that if I wanted to see my father alive again I had better hurry down.
I was not well myself, suffering with erysipelas, and had not been out of the house for a week or so. I wrapped up sufficiently and was taken down in a sleigh. When I got there mother was feeling very bad and could not be comforted. I went and looked at father and when I saw the condition he was in it made me very sorrowful also, for you could hear him breathe all over the house. The spirit of the Lord was with me and I had a desire to administer to him.
I asked mother if he had been administered to and she said he had been in the morning. I was timid about going ahead and doing anything of this sort, but I knew it was right that I should, so I asked mother if she did not want to help me in doing this, but she said no she did not because she did not feel that it would be of any use, ~ because if the Priesthood could not help, then we could do nothing.
I hesitated for a few minutes and the Spirit said to me again, “Anoint him,” so I went and closed the door and asked mother if she would pray with me. She consented to do this and we knelt down by the bed and prayed and then I anointed his head with oil and prayed for him. The power of the Lord was with me for while my hands were still on his head he began breathing much easier.
When I finished father opened his eyes and said “Thank God for this blessing, I knew this power was in the Church and I thank Him for it.” This was most wonderful to me because I was so weak physically and not able to do this and surely the Lord did bless us all. Father was still very weak, but that night he sat up in his chair with his clothes on, and it was not long until he had fully recovered from his sickness. I have told this little experience to show you how perfectly my Patriarchal Blessing had been fulfilled, as I was promised that I should heal the sick through the Power of the Lord.
On Oct. 2, 1884 my son Henry was married to Elvira Davidson in the Logan Temple by Apostle Marriner W. Merrill.
On Aug. 21, 1885 I gave birth to another daughter. We named her Mary Myrtle.
At this time, the men were being persecuted for having more than one wife. If they were caught they were treated very unkindly and put in prison. In order that my husband might not be caught, he left home and went over to Cache Junction. He would hide in all kinds of places for the Deputies were bound to find him.
At onetime while he was over there, I was praying to know what to do for the best, I felt the Lord could save us more than anyone else. After I had gone to bed I lay thinking about it and a voice said to me “It is time he was moving from where he is.” It was repeated again and I said, “Where shall he go then?” and the same voice said, “Take him to Aunt Rosina Morrell’s.”
I did not sleep any that night but wrote a note to my husband telling him that I felt impressed that he should come to Logan, and that if he decided to come to ride in a load of hay as far as the old slaughter house and then to cut across the fields and I would meet him below the railroad track. However, I left him to choose for himself. Early in the morning I sent my son, Melvin, on his horse to Cache Junction with the note to his father. My husband also thought it best that he should leave and come home as I had suggested. In the meantime I had made arrangements with Sister Morrell for him to stay with her. You may be sure it was a solemn meeting, we just saw each other for a few minutes. I told him of the arrangement I had made, and he hurried up through the back yards to Sister Morrell’s where he stayed for three weeks. Of course this all happened after dark.
The very next morning after ·he had left Cache Junction the Officers came to the house he had been hiding in and ran pitch-forks in the wheat bins and hay stacks to make sure that he was not there. When they found the hole where he had been hiding they cursed and swore to think he had gotten away from them. This is just one of the many times that I have been warned and guided by the Spirit of the Lord.
While my husband was at Sister Morrell’s he was fasting and praying, and so was I, to know what to do. One morning about two o’clock he had a presentiment that he should go on a mission to England, his native land, and through the help of the Lord he was able to get away from his enemies. He consulted Apostle Franklin D. Richards about such a mission and was advised to leave in two days from then. These were very strenuous times and as two of the other brethren were in the same circumstances, they decided to go on a mission also. They were brothers Robert Davidson and William Watterson. The afternoon they were leaving I had a large supper prepared and both of these families had supper at my home. I gave them each a room in which to say goodbye to their families without being seen.
That night after dark my son, Henry, drove my husband and the other brethren to Salt Lake. Oh, what a storm we had that night. It seemed that the evil one would overpower us after all. The wind howled terribly and tore up trees and the thunder and lightning was dreadful. The Lord was surely near us for had it not been for the storm the brethren would have been caught for the roads were full of deputies watching for them. My husband and the other brethren arrived in Salt Lake after a tedious journey. They were set apart and left for Great Britain on Nov. 3, 1886.
While my husband was away, his family and I worked very hard and we were blessed and got along very well. The boys hauled logs from the canyon and sold them and we did everything we could for our support. Every Sunday my family and I fasted and prayed to the Lord in behalf of Brother Ballard that he might be prospered in his labors. The Lord did bless him and his family also during his absence.
Because of my husband’s being away, the deputies did not bother my home and I sheltered a number of the polygamist brethren under my roof and gave them women’s clothes to dress in so they might go and visit their families. I also drove them in my buggy, dressed in disguise, to visit their loved ones. They felt safe and the Lord preserved them.
My husband secured a great deal of Genealogy while he was in England and sent these records to me. My son, Henry, and I did the work for these names in the Temple. When my husband came back he was very pleased to know that all of the work was done. It gave me great joy to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord in helping work out salvation for those who had died in darkness. And again I felt that I had fulfilled in part another blessing which was promised me by one of God’s Patriarchs.
Brother Ballard was away on his mission for over two years. He arrived home in Logan in January 1889. In order that he might not be detected he took a freight train from Salt Lake City and traveled in the night, arriving in Logan in the early morning. I did not know just when to expect him home, but I felt impressed that he would come in this manner and sat up all night waiting for him. When I heard the train whistling into Mendon, I awakened my son Thomas and sent him to the station to meet his father. He arrived in safety but did not know Thomas because he had grown so much during the separation. Although our meeting was held in secrecy, it was a joyful one. We were very thankful for the work my husband had been able to accomplish and for his protection and that we had all been spared and granted life and health and had been cared for by our Heavenly Father during my husband’s absence.
After Brother Ballard had been home for a few days he thought it best to go and tell the officers that he was home again and ready to serve his term for polygamy, in the penitentiary. The officers granted him a day or two to rest and visit with his families. Then he went to Ogden and was tried before a Court and fined fifty dollars and sentenced to two months imprisonment. He paid the fine and served his term and then returned to us feeling free from obligation of this kind.
The following December, my little daughter Ellen took very sick with membranous croup. She suffered terribly for several days and then died on December 12, 1889. She was fourteen years old and a great comfort to me and such a companion during her father’s absence. Of course this was another severe blow to me. The Lord blessed me and comforted me so that I knew that it was best that she should be taken.
Ten days before her death I had a dream which troubled me greatly for I knew it had something to do with the children whom I had buried. After her death I went to the Temple to get endowments for her and was feeling badly. I prayed that I might know the meaning of my dream. I was sitting wondering why I had been called to go through this trial once more when the interpretation of my dream went before my eyes. With great plainness I saw in the vision that which would have come upon my children. If they had lived they would have been lost to me. I was shown that my five beautiful children were saved and that they would be mine again. I had this vision, for which I feel thankful, and this is as true as the sun ever shines upon the earth.
On April 2, 1890 my son Thomas was married to Phoebe Smith in the Logan Temple by Apostle Marriner W. Merrill.
On March 8, 1891 my son Henry was called to be Bishop of the Benson Ward. He was set apart by Apostle Moses Thatcher and held this position for over twenty years.
In February of 1891 my father took suddenly sick and died. This was a great sorrow to me for I loved my father very dearly and felt his loss keenly. His faith and power of healing, through the spirit of God, were very wonderful. I relied upon him in trials and sorrows and sickness and felt that I had truly lost a good friend and a loving father. His life had always been an inspiration to me and a guiding star.
On Apr 6, 1893 I attended the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple. My soul was filled with joy for the privilege of being a partaker of such a Heavenly feast as was manifested at that dedication.
On June 17, 1896 my son, Melvin, was married to Martha Jones and my daughter, Rebecca, was married to Louis S. Cardon in the Logan Temple, Apostle Marriner W. Merrill performing both the ceremonies.
A few weeks after his marriage, Melvin went upon his first mission. During his absence I gave his wife a home with me and did everything I could for her comfort and welfare. While she was with me she gave birth to their son, Melvin Russell. He was a very delicate child and we had many serious times to pass through with him. The Lord was good to us and answered our prayers and restored him many times to health. Day after day I have fasted and prayed for him and surely the Lord was good to spare his life.
Shortly after my son returned from his mission my son- in-law Louis, went upon a mission to Switzerland. His wife, Rebecca, and their little son Ballard, came home to live with me and remained with me for over two years.
My daughter, Lettie, was married to George W. Squires on February 22, 1899 in the Logan Temple by Apostle Marriner W. Merrill. Shortly after their marriage, George went on a mission to California, leaving Lettie with me. So this time I had two missionary wives with me at the same time. The Lord blessed us all and we were provided for and kept in peace and comfort until my sons-in-law returned, having filed honorable missions.
My mother died December 6th, 1900 after an illness which lasted over two years. During her sickness I endeavored to render willing service for her comfort and. benefit. She lived with my sister, Jeannette, about three blocks from my home. Every day during her two years of sickness I walked back and forth two and three times a day to assist my sister, who had very poor health, to care for my mother. It grieved me to see my mother afflicted for such a long time. I did everything I knew for her comfort and in turn I received her gratitude and blessing.
On Mar. 13, 1901 my sister Jeannette died leaving five orphan children, three boys and two girls. Her husband died two years before her death. Upon her dying bed she pleaded with me to take her two little girls and raise them as my own. After the funeral I brought the two little girls, Edna aged six, and Jeannette aged ten, to my home. I have done my duty by them as well as I have known and I know my Heavenly Father is satisfied with my efforts. Now they are raised I am proud of them. I love them and know that they love me.
My sister Emily took sick about this time and suffered very severely for months. This was another trial for me for, although we had many misunderstandings and difference of opinion, she was very dear to me. We had traveled the road together for many years and had passed through trials and hardships together and stood by each other in all the experiences of life. While we had our trials, living the law of plural marriage, I believe we lived it and got along as well as human beings could be expected to live it. I know we will have cause of great rejoicing in the Great Hereafter for having done so well. Since her death I have tried to do justice to her children in all of our dealings. I have tried to give motherly counsel and advice to them all, both sons and daughter, sons-in-law and daughters-in- law. I love them everyone next to my very own, and I know they love me. They have always shown love and respect for me.
My husband died February 26, 1908 after a brief illness. Although he had been a sufferer for a number of years, and I was thankful to see him released from his suffering. My life has been more lonely without him than anyone can imagine without having experienced it themselves. He was a kind and loving husband, and an affectionate father, a man of honor and justice, filled with faith in God, and exercised great power in his Priesthood. I have been a widow for nine years. Each day I miss him more and know that I will be filled with joy when I am once more, associated with him.
On Sept. 3, 1908 my daughter Myrtle was married to D. Ray Shurtliff in the Logan Temple by President William Budge.
Five months after their marriage D. Ray went on a mission to England. During his absence my daughter made her home with me the greater part of the time. In this way I have assisted the spread of the Gospel by providing a home and food for my three daughters and one daughter-in-law while their husbands have preached the gospel to the nations of the world. I have given what material assistance I could to help along with this work so near and dear to my heart.
A number of my grandsons have also filled missions, for which I feel thankful.
My son, Melvin, was called to preside over the Northwestern States Mission shortly after his father’s death. He left in April 1909 and is still laboring in this capacity. He has been an instrument in performing a great work for which I feel thankful. I have visited him a number of times in Portland, Oregon, during his mission. Ithas been my happy lot to minister unto several of the Elders in this part of the Lords field. I learned to love them all because of the work which they represent. I have also gone out with them to their street meetings and raised my voice in defense of the truth and have born my testimony of the truthfulness of this work to throngs of people crowded in the streets of Portland. My heart rejoices for this great privilege and I thank God for the Testimony which I was able to bear on such occasions. In my weak way I feel that I have assisted in the spread of truth and I feel thankful for this great blessing.
On Sept. 6, 1911 my sister’s daughter, Jeannette, whom I had raised, was married to F. Wayne Shurtliff in the Logan Temple by President William Budge.
I am thankful for my family, for their love and respect and for the honor they have shown to me and their father. I am thankful for their obedience and for their desire to follow their parents’ example concerning the things of the Lord. I am thankful that the Lord has blessed them with the privilege of everyone having been married in the Temple by the Priesthood of God and sealed for time and eternity. Not only my own family, but all of my husband’s children and all those whom I have raised as my own, have had this privilege, except Edna, who is not yet married.
My life has been one of varied experience. I have had a great deal of sickness to pass through, both with my children and grand children, but I have always relied upon the Lord and He has never failed me. I have stood by my husband under all conditions, sickness, trials, poverty and prosperity. I have labored by his side in the fields. I have done various kinds of work, such as soap making, weaving and spinning, reaping and sowing, plowing and gleaning. From the first day that I entered this valley until this day I have never ceased my labors to up build and beautify this city.
Although my life has been one of sacrifice and service I feel that I have lived it the best I could with the knowledge I have had. My testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel grows stronger each day and the work grows dearer and sweeter to my soul. I know that God lives and that he hears and answers prayers, that Jesus is the Son of the living God, and that Joseph Smith was His Prophet. I thank God for this knowledge and leave this as my testimony to my children and grandchildren and all who may come after me. I plead of you all to heed the Spirit of God that you may also have this testimony burning in your hearts, that you may have His Spirit as your daily companion.
The foregoing autobiography was written about one year before her death. This year like all other years of her life was spent in service and devotion to her religion, her country and her family.
She was the mother of eleven children, five of whom preceded her to the Great Beyond.
Shortly after her return to Logan from the April Conference of 1918, she was afflicted with a painful disease, high blood pressure, resulting in slow hemorrhages of the brain, which lasted for ten weeks. During this time she suffered intensely without complaint or murmur. From the day she was forced to take her bed until the last breath of life she accepted whatever came as the will of the Father with such resignation as is rarely found.
In her Patriarchal Blessing she was promised to remain upon the earth as long as she desired. Having a strong constitution with a sound body and heart there seemed to be no reason why she should not be healed and remain with us for many years, but it was her firm conviction that she was not to remain. She would say, “I am satisfied with my life and I am ready to go back to my Heavenly Father.”
To those who were privileged to be with her during her sickness were given the golden hours of her well spent 1ife. Such a peaceful, heavenly influence dwelt in her home and about her that we felt we were in the presence of holiness. The lessons of patience and endurance and faith which she gave shall always be treasurers to us. Her exhortations to her children are well worth remembering. Her wonderful testimonies will live as long as memory lasts. Her mind was keen and bright to the last, sensitive to her appearance and surroundings.
Margaret McNeil Ballard was one of the heroines of her day; great in the intrinsic virtues that are found only in those intrepid souls who have carried forward the pioneering of the world. No trial, however hard, daunted her courage. No tribulation, however severe, dampened her zeal. Nothing embittered or disturbed her faith. She endured, without murmuring, hardships, hunger and toil. Her faith in God was wonderful, almost perfect. She recorded many miraculous events as a result of her faith. She was often guided by the unmistakable impressions of the Spirit. Her mind seemed to be unusually susceptible to the whisperings of the “still, small voice.”
She died as she had lived, a devoted Latter-day Saint with full faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She departed from this life on July 21, 1918 at the age of seventy-two years. It was a beautiful Sunday morning with the birds singing their morning songs and the last star hanging in the eastern sky. What a glorious Sabbath Morn it must have been to her and her loved ones on the other side.
Her funeral was held in the Logan Tabernacle, July 23. It was one of simplicity and peace, typical of her life. She was buried beside her husband in the Logan Cemetery, one spot on earth very dear to her heart.
LOGAN, UTAH, JANUARY 19, 1917. A BLESSING GIVEN BY JAMES REID MCNEIL, PATRIARCH (her brother,) UPON THE HEAD OF MARGARET BALLARD, DAUGHTER OF THOMAS MCNEIL AND JANETT REID, BORN APRIL 14, 1846, IN TRANENT, SCOTLAND.
Sister Margaret, I place my hands upon your head and give you a blessing. You are a daughter of Joseph who was sold into Egypt through the loins of Ephraim. You have been greatly blessed in your life. The Lord has heard your prayers and he is answering them with a blessing upon your head.
Now, Dear Sister, because of your faith and humility and your obedience to the Holy Priesthood, your children and children’s children are working for the salvation of souls of men. And they shall continue their work and as long as the earth stands, they will be found working in the cause of Christ for the redemption of the souls of men.
Lift up your heart and rejoice for great are the blessings that are in store for you. Your name is written in the Lambs Book of Life and shall never be blotted out. And I say unto you that you shall yet live to see many great and important events in regards to the fulfillment of prophecy upon the heads of the children of men.
Dear Sister many Nations are at war now, but you shall live to see that all nations will be at war and in Zion alone will there be peace. Praise the Lord therefore that you and your children have their feet firmly planted in this goodly land, for they shall never be rooted up.
I say unto Dear Sister because of the sacrifices you have made and, because of your humility before the Lord all of your children shall be redeemed, not one of them shall be lost, no, Dear Sister, not one. For the Lord has heard your prayer and his blessing is sealed upon your head.
Now Dear Sister, put forth your energies for there is much that you can yet do in the redemption of your dead kindred. Your example and energy in this direction will be a stimulant to others. For I say unto you the day will, come when your feet shall stand upon Mt. Zion among those you have assisted to save. And they shall fall upon your neck, and you shall fall upon theirs and weep for joy and your joy shall know no bounds.
Now, Dear Sister, we can only tell you of a few of the things that are before you, but remember the Lord is good and he will fill all of his promises in his own time. I seal upon you eternal life with all the promises that have ever been sealed upon your head by the servants of the Lord. I seal you up against the power of the evil one until the day of redemption, for you shall come forth in the morning of the First Resurrection and reign a Queen and Priestess in connection with your husband.
In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
James Reid McNeil
LOGAN, UTAH, MAY 20, 1884. A PATRIARCHAL BLESSING GIVEN BY ZEBEDEE COLTRIN, PATRIARCH, UPON THE HEAD OF MARGARET MCNEIL BALLARD, BORN IN TRANENT, SCOTLAND, APRIL 14, 1846.
Sister Margaret, I lay my hands upon your head and seal a Patriarchal Blessing upon you for thou art a daughter of Abraham of the house of Joseph and lineage of Ephraim. I seal upon thy head a Father’s Blessing for thou art a lawful heir to all the blessings of the new and everlasting covenant and inasmuch as you will keep all the commandments of the lord. Thou shalt attain to all the blessings of exaltation and the choice blessings of the heavens shall rest down upon you and thou shalt be filled with the blessings of the most High and the light of the Lord shall rest down upon you and every organ of thy mind shall be filled with the inspiration of the heavens.
Thou was called and chosen of the Lord before the foundation of the world was laid to come forth in this· dispensation to assist in bringing forth a righteous branch before the Lord. Thou shalt be a mother of a mighty people and the spirit of the Lord shall rest down upon them throughout all future generations.
Many of thy sons shall become Prophets and Apostles and shall become Kings and Priests unto the most high and they shall become a great and mighty people dwelling in the midst of the Zion of the Lord and thy daughters shall be women of great renown filled with the inspiration of the Lord and they shall be mothers of a mighty people filled with the Holy Ghost and shall become a great and mighty people in the midst of the Zion of the Lord and unto thy generations there shall be no end.
Thou shalt attain to all the blessings that shall be given in the Temples of the Lord and behold the Lord when he shall come to his Temples and thou shalt be able to do a great work both for the living and the dead and to assist in the work of redemption of thy father’s house.
Thou shalt remain upon the earth until you shall” become exceedingly old until thy head shall be as white as wool for thou hast a great and mighty work to do upon the earth for the eye of thy God is over thee.
Thou shalt be numbered with the Lord’s anointed for thy joy shall rest down upon thee and thy faith shall be strengthened and thy tabernacle shall be made strong.
The eye of the Lord has been over thee because of the purity of thy heart and thy faith in the son of God and shall dwell in thy house throughout all thy days upon the earth and the desires of thy heart shall be granted unto thee and you shall receive an everlasting inheritance when the Lord shall bring again Zion and shall have power to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection and shall dwell among the sanctified before the Lord.
Now, Sister, I seal all these blessings upon thy head and thee up unto exaltation and thrones and dominions and eternal lives in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen.—- J. G. Coltrin. Clerk
A PATRIARCHAL BLESSING GIVEN BY CHARLES H. HYDE, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, SEPTEMBER 14, 1870, UPON THE HEAD OF MARGARET MC NEIL BALLARD
Margaret, I place my hands upon your head and seal upon thee a Patriarchal Blessing, for the eye of God has been upon thee from everlasting, thou hast chosen to come here and do a great and mighty work in this kingdom.
Thou art a noble spirit, the Father has given His angels charge over you that you may live long on the earth. Thou shalt comprehend things of the Father, thy wisdom shall reach within the veil.
Thou shalt have faith to heal the sick and do many miracles in thine household even to forward this kingdom on the Earth. You shall converse with angels from time to time.
Thou art a daughter of Ephraim, a right to the fullness of the Priesthood, with thy companion, a kingdom upon the earth forever and ever.
It is your privilege to live till the coming of the son of God. Your inheritance shall be beautiful in Zion. Your table shall be spread with the bounties of the earth; no good thing shall be withheld from thee. Holy Prophets shall converse with thee face to face. Thou shalt be the means of redeeming your progenitors till you are satisfied.
These blessings I seal upon your head, with crowns of glory and eternal life with all thy father’s household forever and ever, Amen.