ELENOR JONES CALL

Elenor Jones Call, daughter of Benjamin Jones and Esther Davis Jones, was born in Cayrncock, South Wales, March 19, 1844. Her father, Benjamin Jones, was the son of David and Eleanor Morgan Jones and was born on a farm called Pandry Manfymith at Mandile Llanfyhennel, Carmarthenshire, South Wales on January 1, 1814. Her mother, Esther Davis Jones was born on a farm called Tanycord near Lampeter, Carmarthenshire, South Wales on June 5,1814.

Her grandparents on her mother's side were raised close together. The families owned their estates for generations back and were thus freeholders. Her sister, Mary Jones Harding, was born in the same house that her mother was born in. Her father's and mother's families were devout Methodists, very liberal in their ideas, and very highly respected, they being the wealthiest families in the county in the year 1838.

When Benjamin Jones and Esther Davis Jones were married, they commenced life in unusually good circumstances and fine prospects at Lampeter, Carmarthenshire, South Wales. It was here their first two children were born. They were then advised to move the family to Glanmorganshire because of the great cholera epidemic. Some members of the Jones family had already moved there. The doctors advised Mr. Jones to work at his trade, that of boot and shoemaker. He was also a shoe merchant. The young couple prospered and were doing fine. Their third child, Elenor, was born here--Cayrncock Parish, Glanmorganshire, South Wales on March 19,1844. Their son Evan was also born here.

Again the parents were advised to move, but this time it was by the Methodist pastor, who wished Benjamin to lead their choir and take care of the chapel and cemetery. For about three years everything seemed to go their way; prosperity and contentment filled their home.

In February of 1848, while living in Cadiston Parish, Captain Dan Jones passed through the village on his way to Swansea to take the steamer for Liverpool and then to America. He brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with him, but it brought a spirit of uneasiness to the community. Some of the people ridiculed him and spoke all manner of evil against him. The people began speaking of this new religion and the deplorable creatures who professed to teach it. One day a neighbor lady came to the home and asked Benjamin if he had heard these men preach. He said, "No, and I don't want to hear them either, for they are men who are trying to make money by deceiving the people." The woman continued to attend their meetings, and again she went to Benjamin saying that he was intelligent and wise, and she wanted him to advise her in regard to spiritual affairs, as he read the scriptures and was so well informed. She greatly desired to go to the meetings of the Mormon Missionaries, but her people were very much opposed to her going. She begged Benjamin to attend and then tell her what he thought concerning them. He finally promised to go the following day. He went on the back streets and stood in the back of the church, as he felt ashamed to be there. On his return home he was very quiet. He had some of their literature with him. He read a great deal, and one could see that he was greatly disturbed in his thoughts.

Shortly afterwards one of the missionaries came to the home and had dinner and spent the afternoon presenting the principles of the Gospel. This brought ill feelings between the parents. Esther wanted Benjamin to join the Church of England because they had offered him a clerkship with a very good salary. He refused to join the Church of England. The missionaries told Benjamin if he would be baptized with a pure motive and a prayerful heart, he would obtain knowledge that the Mormon Church was true. After prayerful study, he felt that he should be baptized and was on a Sunday midnight in July, 1849. Esther also believed and was baptized six weeks later.

The Methodist pastor came to the home to plead with Benjamin and Esther to renounce this strange and wicked religion and to think of the disgrace they had brought upon the family. Then persecution and hardship started in earnest. Benjamin lost his position, and the family was shunned.

Elenor was baptized when she was eight years old. The family moved to another county in order to obtain work. In those days the Elders traveled without purse or script and had to depend on the Saints for many things. While in the Parish where the Jones family lived, they made their home with them. Sister Jones did their washing, ironing, mending, and assisted them in many ways. It was no small task for the Saints to care for the needs of the Elders, but they did it well and were happy in the thought that they had found the truth and wanted to help the servants of God. Esther was always kind and charitable to the poor, and she shared with those in need, even strangers, what she had.

The doctrine of gathering to Zion was very strongly urged, and Benjamin Jones and the older children were anxious to go to Zion. He had been made an Elder and presided over a branch of the Church in South Wales. His wife felt that he was doing all he could in that position and should remain there. Disputes arose in the family, and they were considerably divided as to the proper course they should take.

Mary Jones Harding, the eldest daughter, had worked for a rich gentleman for some time, and she had saved money toward paying her way to Zion. She was tired of the persecutions and hardships that her family were passing through.

At this time the following incident greatly strengthened the faith of this good family. One of the neighbor women who had reviled and cursed the Elders and the message they bore and all those who had joined the Church also cursed the Priesthood of the Church. When her baby was born, the little one had but one arm, and the woman then became convinced that the punishment and cursings she had asked for others had been heaped upon herself and the daughter she bore.

Benjamin and Esther consented that Mary leave for the "valley." On May 28, 1863, when she was twenty-two years old, she left Swansea for Liverpool in a small sailing vessel called a packet. In Mary's words, "My parents and sisters and brothers and many of my friends came to the wharf to bid me good-bye. I cried pitifully, for I knew that some of them I would never see again. This was true, for there I gazed for the last time on the faces of my dear mother and baby brother Johnny. To make the parting easier for me, my little brother Joseph was placed on a barrel so I could see him, and across the water came the clear, musical tones of his sweet voice as he sang, 'We are coming sister Mary, We are coming bye and bye. Be ready, sister Mary, for the time is drawing nigh." Oh, how sweet the tones of his boyish voice, and how assuring were the words of the song."

In 1864 brother David left Wales for Zion, arriving in Salt Lake City on October 6, 1864. He went to Willard to be with his sister Mary. He was taken ill with Mountain Fever and lived but one month, passing away on November 6, 1864, at the age of twenty-two

years. Previous to leaving Wales, he had presided over a conference as well as doing regular missionary work. He, like the other boys and girls of the family, had great faith and a strong testimony of the Gospel.

When the news of David's death reached the family in Wales, they were greatly disturbed, and Mother Jones, not being in sympathy with emigrating to Utah, tried to persuade her husband to stay in Wales. The will of Benjamin could not be changed, and his wife was equally determined. He and some of the children left for America, and a little later Elenor, who had been such a support to her mother and younger children, also left for Zion. The mother and two children, Eliza, then about nine years of age, and John, about five years, stayed with their mother. The anguish of Sister Jones was almost more than she could bear--her husband and eight children having left their home, and one of the number already dead. All the children in the family were fine singers, and many evenings had been spent in devotional singing and prayer, with neighbors coming in to enjoy the music; now all was quiet and lonely.

Elenor had the care of two or three younger members of the family while en route to America. She walked every step of the way across the plains. Now many times at night she would think of her mother and the two children so far away, and her heart would be saddened at the thought that perhaps she would never see them again. But she had work to do in helping others on that long and tedious journey, and she must not think of her own sorrows. They finally reached Willard, where she was happily reunited with her father and Mary and the others.

The following year, on March 30, 1867, she was married to Omer Call and entered into plural marriage. She obtained work and saved everything she possibly could to send home to her mother. She was a beautiful girl of twenty-two years, gifted with a lovely voice and a keen sense of honor. She brought sunshine and love wherever she went. She was also a peacemaker and very just. She became a favorite wherever she went. Though many times her heart was heavy, and she yearned for her dear mother and sister and baby brother, she tried to keep her sorrow to herself. The year she was married she was welcomed into the family by her husband's first wife, Sarah, who became very fond of her. They lived for many months together as one family. The two women were considerate and unselfish with each other. On one occasion a trip was planned, and Elenor was invited to go, but she refused the trip when she learned that there was not room enough for Sarah to go also. Sarah Call was also a beautiful singer, and the two women sang together and enjoyed their companionship.

After a time Omer built a comfortable home for Elenor about a mile south of Willard. She labored willingly, many times beyond her strength, to care for the children that came to them, often helping with Sarah's children, too, because of Sarah's poor health.

Omer and his twin brother Homer often went to Ogden, where they would buy shirting, gingham and fabric by the bolt. On their way home they would often stop at Elenor's first. Omer would take the cloth in and ask her to take what she wanted for the children and herself. She always refused to take her choice, saying that Sarah and Homer's wife Nancy should first take what they wanted, and she would take the rest.

When Elenor had been married about fifteen years, Sarah passed away. Elenor was devoted to her all during her long illness and rendered a the assistance she could. When the end was approaching, many were in the room and heard Sarah call Elenor to her side and asked her to leave home and come to the one she had been living in and be a mother to her children. Elenor was reluctant to promise to assume such a task, and she did not answer. Sarah released her hand and began to weep, so Elenor said, "If your time has come, Sarah, I will do the best I can for your children. Sarah put her arm around Elenor's neck, saying "Now I can die happy, for I know you will keep your promise." At this time Elenor had seven children of her own.

Elenor felt the loss of Sarah keenly, realizing that she had lost a very dear friend. Shortly after this she moved to the larger house on April 6, 1883. Elenor felt this added responsibility keenly, but she prayed constantly and earnestly for strength and wisdom to rear this family of children in the fear of the Lord. She did her job well. The children of both families reverenced and honored and loved her, and all that lived grew to be a credit to the Call family. She buried one girl and three boys. The two boys met accidental deaths, one in a molasses mill run by water power. One was kicked by a horse. She had eleven children of her own.

The Call home was a stopping place for friends and others, not even acquaintances, on their road to Conference in Salt Lake City. They drove into the yard by wagon-heads, and all were welcomed. Accommodations were found for them and their horses. This continued for years.

Sister Call held many positions of trust and responsibility in the various organizations of the Church, both in Willard and in Wales. She used to walk as far as ten miles to sing at meetings in Wales, and she belonged to Evan Stevens' choir, as well as others, for many years.

She had many trials to pass through, but she bore them without a murmur.

When the children of the first family married, they moved to Idaho, where they became leading citizens.

When Elenor lived in South Willard, she was a friend to the Indians, and many came to camp near her home. She was chairman of the wheat committee for many years and worked with the other women gleaning in the fields.

Her mother never came to Utah. Her brother John died when he was twenty years of age and was buried in Wales. Her mother died in Tanycord, near Larnpeter, South Wales on April 6, 1882.

Children of Omer and Elenor Jones Call are:

1 Justin David, born April 6, 1868; died May 20, 1922

2 Mary Lucina, born June 12, 1869; died June 17, 1869

3 Cyrus John, born February 10, 1871; died October 2, 1885

4 Joseph, born October 4, 1872; died 23 March 1878

5 Sarah Eliza, born 2 February, 1875; died 19 May, 1970

6 Benjamin Carlos, born 28 March 1877; died 30 January 1962

7 Esther, born 24 March 1879; died 4 May, 1959

8 William Vosco, born 28 July, 1881; died 8 May, 1957

9 Margaret Elenor, born 23 April, 1883; died 24 September, 1941

10 Chancy Homer, born 31 December, 1884; died 5 December, 1893

11 Waldemer Alma, born 29 January, 1889; died 8 November, 1948

Written by a son, Benjamin Carlos and his wife Louise of Brigham City.