Aurelia Spencer Rogers
Aurelia's aunt's and uncles- some of her mother Catherine's siblings. THere are no known photos of Catherine Curtis Spencer
Aurelia and some of her siblings.
Her father Orson Spencer and an illustration of the scene of their mother's struggle to survive on the trek
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AUrelia on the left and her husband on the right
This is a woman I grew up hearing about my whole life from my grandma Dece Rogers Allen (my maternal grandma). Living only 4 houses down, I would listen often to the stories of how this courageous pioneer would survive and travel with her family at the young age of around 12 to cross the plains from Nauvoo, IL to Salt Lake. This journey was especially difficult because of the death of their mother only 30 miles leaving Nauvoo. Then, her father Orson Spencer was called to serve a mission in England and to be the editor for the Millenial Star. Here is a description of how the conditions were when they reached Winter QUarters in Nebraska as written by my grandma Dece R. Allen:
"Just as Winter Quarters looms large in the history of the church, it also plays a prominent part in our family history. Orson's brother, Daniel, was one of the original 13 bishops in Winter Quarters. It was to WQ that Orson SPencer brought his motherless children after the tragic loss of Catherine. It was here that he left them to the tender mercies of Heavenly Father and the watchful eye of kind neigbors as he answered a call to "preside over...the CHurch of Jesus CHrist of Latter-day Saints in Europe and her islands, and all the printing and publishing and emigration of said church."
It was in WQ that Aurelia and her brothers and sisters lived, parentless, in a log cabin that for a short time had no door, and for a longer time, no floor. It was here in WQ that food was so scarce, and so unpalatable, that Aurelia would write of going to bed without supper so she would be hungry enough to eat the poor fare next morning. But it was here in WQ that Aurelia increased in faith, courage, and dependancy on the Lord. SHe was buoyed up by the tender messages of love and counsel sent by her father, and strengthened by the personal concern of such church leaders as Pres. Brigham Young and Apostle Wilford Woodruff. Aurelia's noble character, forged in the refiner's fire at WQ's, made her equal to the great responsiblilty which lay ahead...that of organizing and leading the first Primary."
I am so grateful for the efforts of my grandma to preserve and share these stories. They are more than stories to me. THey are real and I am humbled by them, in awe of them, and encouraged by them!
Aurelia and some of her siblings.
Her father Orson Spencer and an illustration of the scene of their mother's struggle to survive on the trek
.jpg)
AUrelia on the left and her husband on the right
This is a woman I grew up hearing about my whole life from my grandma Dece Rogers Allen (my maternal grandma). Living only 4 houses down, I would listen often to the stories of how this courageous pioneer would survive and travel with her family at the young age of around 12 to cross the plains from Nauvoo, IL to Salt Lake. This journey was especially difficult because of the death of their mother only 30 miles leaving Nauvoo. Then, her father Orson Spencer was called to serve a mission in England and to be the editor for the Millenial Star. Here is a description of how the conditions were when they reached Winter QUarters in Nebraska as written by my grandma Dece R. Allen:
"Just as Winter Quarters looms large in the history of the church, it also plays a prominent part in our family history. Orson's brother, Daniel, was one of the original 13 bishops in Winter Quarters. It was to WQ that Orson SPencer brought his motherless children after the tragic loss of Catherine. It was here that he left them to the tender mercies of Heavenly Father and the watchful eye of kind neigbors as he answered a call to "preside over...the CHurch of Jesus CHrist of Latter-day Saints in Europe and her islands, and all the printing and publishing and emigration of said church."
It was in WQ that Aurelia and her brothers and sisters lived, parentless, in a log cabin that for a short time had no door, and for a longer time, no floor. It was here in WQ that food was so scarce, and so unpalatable, that Aurelia would write of going to bed without supper so she would be hungry enough to eat the poor fare next morning. But it was here in WQ that Aurelia increased in faith, courage, and dependancy on the Lord. SHe was buoyed up by the tender messages of love and counsel sent by her father, and strengthened by the personal concern of such church leaders as Pres. Brigham Young and Apostle Wilford Woodruff. Aurelia's noble character, forged in the refiner's fire at WQ's, made her equal to the great responsiblilty which lay ahead...that of organizing and leading the first Primary."
I am so grateful for the efforts of my grandma to preserve and share these stories. They are more than stories to me. THey are real and I am humbled by them, in awe of them, and encouraged by them!
posted by eva flake | 10:27 AM
6 Comments:
Awesome pictures, I have never seen them before! I am a descendant of Howard Orson Spencer and I am wondering if you have in the picture of Aurelia and her siblings if you have the brothers mixed up. Because I have a lot of picture of Howard Orson Spencer and he looks more like the one that you have labeled George Boardman Spencer. But I love the pictures, thank you so much for posting them!
Thank you so much for posting these photos. I too am a descendent of Aurelia and her family. Their faith and sacrifice continue to inspire me.
I was looking online for some photos for a project and founf your blog. I am a descendent of Catherine Curtis Spencer and have three or four photos of her. Your post mentioned that there were no photos of her. I didn't know if you meant the mother, Catherine Cannon Curtis, or not.
There is a Facebook group for the descendants of Orson Spencer and Catherine Cannon Curtis Spencer. We've been sharing pictures, documents and stories. Anyone can join. Just do a search for it...
HI I from family of Aurelia's and there is a book writen by Aurelia Spencer Rogers her self. Called " life of Arelia Spencer Rogers" I was blessed to meet some one on Howared line of family bought Orson Spencer Journels and i lost touch. does any one know any more info from that line?
also one of the stories that she told was when she was traviling up and down through the town to show how step up primary we stopped at a house for the night and after dinner it leed to talking and the older couple asked if she was related to Orson Spencer and the reply "Yes" then the coulpe told a tender story that there baby had died NY and they had no money for a casket, and that Elder Orson was rasing money him self to go to England buy he gave when enough to buy a casket. and they didn't know who to ever repay him? he replyed offer shelter to any of my family if you get the chance. that night they they where able to repay that debt. That storie ment alot to aurelia also.
I am a great great grandson of Howard Orson Spencer. Thank you so much for sharing the pictures. Like Kathleen, I was wondering if you had the pictures of Howard and George mixed up. I love learning about this amazing family and would be so interested in obtaining any pictures, journal writings, etc to add to my family collection. I would happily pay for whatever was needed to obtain it.
Thanks again for sharing!
Tyler
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