She came to the United States in 1848 when she was six years old.
In July of 1852, at ten years old, she was part of the Robert Wimmer Company, which departed from Council Bluffs, Iowa and arrived in Salt Lake City on September 15th, 1852. She traveled with her Grandmother, her parents, and five younger siblings.
Sarah was married to Archibald Gardner on June 21st, 1857 in Salt Lake City, UT when she was just fifteen years old, and he was forty two. She was his seventh wife. They had one child together, James Hamilton. The marriage was annulled by the LDS church and she married Samuel Lorenzo Howard on April 1st, 1865.
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.
Samuel died on September 10th, 1906.
In 1910 Sarah lived with her widowed daughter Geneva and Geneva's two young sons. Geneva was the Postmaster for Riverton.
In 1920 she still lived with Geneva and her two sons in Riverton. Geneva was still working as the Postmaster.
According to "Pioneer Immigrants to Utah Territory":
Sarah was the 7th wife of Archibald Gardner with 28 years difference in their ages. The marriage was annulled by the prophet. She was active in the Relief Society Presidency for 30 years. She was unable to attend school because of her large family, so she taught herself to read and write. She was a spinner in the home where she met her husband Howard. She grew the first flower garden in Riverton, and she was the first Postmistress of Riverton, UT (unpaid).During her life she was a seamstress, housekeeper, and spinner.
Sarah died of breast cancer, with a contributing cystic goiter on March 16th, 1924 in Riverton, UT and was buried in the South Jordan Cemetery in South Jordan, UT next to Samuel.
Do you know anything about Sarah? 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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