In 1841 he lived in Bedfordshire with his parents, and two older siblings. His father was a bricklayer.
In 1842 when he was only two years old his family left England. He sailed from Liverpool with his parents and two surviving sisters on Monday, January 16th, 1843 on the ship "Swanton". Captain Davenport was in charge. Lorenzo Snow was in charge of the Mormon converts. The ship arrived in New Orleans, Louisana 26 Feb 1843. They then went on to St. Louis Missouri on the ship "Arnaranth" and arrived there the 29th of March, 1843. Both were seriously ill.
His mother died in childbirth on May 9th, 1849 in St. Louis.
His father died in St. Louis on September 14th, 1853.
He crossed the plains with the Moses Thurston Company. There is no mention of his sisters on the list of people in this company, but further census records show that they both arrived in Utah later. It was reported that Samuel traveled overland with the Helm Family. You can read more about the journey here. They departed Mormon Grove, KS on July 4th, 1855, and arrived in South Jordan, Salt Lake, Utah on September 20th, 1855.
Samuel married Sarah Jane Hamilton on April 1st, 1865. She had one child from a previous marriage. They had nine children together.
Their first child, Mary Ann, was born on November 25th, 1865.
In 1866 Sarah's firstborn son, James Hamilton Gardner, came to live with them when he was seven years old.
Their second child, Samuel, was born on October 21st, 1876.
Their third child, Sarah Lovinia, was born on January 16th, 1870.
In 1870 Samuel and Sarah lived together with their four oldest children. He was a farmer.
From a history of Samuel Howard Jr.:
Millcreek was settled in 1848. Here the family lived in a typical pioneer home. It was small, but no one complained of the size. It was furnished with only those pieces of furniture that were absolutely necessary for housekeeping. Some of these had been made by themselves. Even comfort, convenience and beauty had been sacrificed. Still it was clean and there was always food to be enjoyed. Even though weather, a scant harvest, or other reasons sometimes made their food supply very small. The furnishings, including rugs, table and bed linen, curtains and such items as are used by a housewife were products of her own. Yet a spirit of love, understanding and unity filled their home so that it offset the absence of those other items. There was always room for babies and so here the family grew to number five. The log house, which was the home of the Howard family, had been moved about one half mile west from it's location near the river, giving it a west frontage onto the Main Road. This was done after Samuel's father bought the farm, but prior to moving into it. Later this home was added to and sometime after 1918, a part of it was torn down but that which was left was still being used as a residence in 1957. It is located at 12581 South 1300 West, Riverton, Utah.
Their fourth child, Elizabeth Virginia, was born on May 18th, 1872.
Their fifth child, John William, was born on June 23rd, 1874.
Their sixth child, Robert Lorenzo, was born on November 14th, 1878. Their son, John, died of diphtheria the same day at the age of four. The next day their daughter, Elizabeth, died of diphtheria at the age of six. The whole family eventually caught the disease, but only those two died.
Their seventh child, Leonora Ellen, was born on March 12th, 1880.
In 1880 they lived in South Jordan with five children. Samuel again was listed as a farmer.
Their eighth child, Geneva Edna, was born on October 9th, 1881.
Their ninth and last child, Joseph Reuben, was born on August 3rd, 1886.
In 1889 thirteen year old Samuel Jr. was thrown from his horse on an icy field while herding the cows. he had a broken nose and a large gash to his head which became infected. He was months in recuperation, during which time his brothers and neighbors helped out on the family farm to take up the work he was normally responsible for. He eventually fully recovered.
In 1891 Samuel went into partnership with another man named Milo Andrus on a horse drawn wheat thrashing machine, which kept him in work for years to come.
In 1900 they were in Riverton, UT with four children. Samuel was a farmer, their son Robert tended the sheep, their daughter Leonora was a music teacher, their daughter Geneva was a dress maker and the youngest, Joseph, was at school.
According to "Pioneer Immigrants to Utah Territory":
Samuel helped make the first plow in Utah. He became a Sunday School Superintendent. He made horse shoes. He helped shoe Johnston's Army mules. His middle name is after Lorenzo Snow when he was blessed. He had little schooling due to being orphaned at age 13. His family came west separately so he hired out to a family to pay his way. He was the first farmer to successfully raise wheat and barley. He was on the school board, the Missionary Entertainment Committee, and he was the Chairman of the Republican Party in Riverton. He was called on Mission to Arizona but the call was rescinded due to his recent settling in Riverton.
Throughout his life he worked as a blacksmith, the Postmaster, a sheepman, and a farmer.
He died on September 10th, 1906 in Riverton,UT at the age of sixty five of stomach cancer, and was buried in the South Jordan Cemetery in South Jordan, UT.
*I remember my grandmother (Samuel and Sarah's great-great granddaughter) telling me that Samuel's grandparents did not like the LDS church, and disagreed with Samuel Sr. and Betsy's decision to immigrate to America to join. When it was time for them to leave for Liverpool, the grandparents hid the two children and they were forced to leave without them. I don't have documentation for this.
Do you know anything about Samuel? Do you have any memories, photos or information to add? I would absolutely love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below to add your information. If you have photos to share, please send them to me along with any other information at tomebug (at) gmail (dot) com.
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