Samuel Jonathan Wayment
SAMUEL JONATHAN WAYMENT
1846-1912
Samuel Jonathan Wayment was born May 28, 1846 in Cambridgeshire Parish of Whaddon, England. Samuel was the third of eight children. His parents were William Wayment, who was born in Whaddon, Cambridgeshire, England on May 4, 1820 and Martha Brown Wayment, born in Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, England on May 6, 1823. William and Martha Wayment had eight children. They were:
Aaron b. 14 Nov 1842; d. 15 Nov 1842; age 1 day
Joseph b. 7 Feb 1844, d. 20 Dec 1931; age 87
Samuel Jonathan b. 28 May 1846, d. 1 Jul 1912; age 66
William b. 1 Mar 1849; d. 19 Jun 1850; age 1 year, 2 months
Emily b. 15 Apr 1851; d. 15 Mar 1925; age 73
John Brown b. 13 Apr 1854; d. 30 Sep 1923; age 69
William Thomas b. 29 Apr 1858; d. 15 Feb 1943; age 84
Martha b. 25 Mar 1863; d. 13 Jan 1936; age 72
FAMILY LIFE:
Samuel was less than two years younger than his older brother, Joseph, and they were close companions throughout their lives. With their younger brother, William having died at the age of one year, that left a 6-year age gap between Samuel and his sister, Emily. Another brother, John Brown, was born when Samuel was nearly 9; followed by William Thomas when Samuel was 12; and the youngest sister, Martha, was born when Samuel was almost 17. Of the six children who lived to adulthood, Samuel was the first to pass away at age 66.
William and Martha Brown Wayment began their married life under very limited circumstances. Though a hard worker, William never accumulated much wealth. Their modest home and limited circumstances was a source of embarrassment at times for Martha, whose family was very well-to-do in England. It has been said that William’s earnings were sometimes about eight shillings a week (about two dollars U.S. money). By careful management they were able to take care of their children as they came into the family. The children hired out to work at an early age, working for farmers of the area. Their work included keeping birds out of the cherry trees, pulling poppies out of the grain fields and other kinds of work.
Some of the farmers were very hard on their young workers. Often the children would leave home at five o’clock in the morning and work for three or more hours. Then they would be called in for breakfast between eight and nine o’clock. Sometimes the meal was very meager. Samuel's brothers described one of their employers, a man named Joseph Bell, as “the meanest man a boy ever worked for!”
Joseph Wayment described the peculiar type of ‘smock’ clothing they all wore. It resembled a long sack with sleeves out of the corners and a hole in the end between the sleeves to put your head through. It came down below the knees– which prevented a person taking a long step. To jump a ditch or run it had to be pulled up. Often the jumper landed in the water of the ditch– much to his embarrassment and to the amusement of others. If the smock became wet it seemed to shrink and stick tight to the body. Usually one had to have help to get out of a wet smock.
When Joseph and Samuel grew older they worked with their father at fossil digging in the peat bogs. Joseph stated that he continued in this and other work until he had enough money to emigrate to Utah. Some of his work gave him opportunity to learn to handle horses. He enjoyed handling the large work horses on the farms in England.
EDUCATON:
Samuel's parents both had good educations for those times and they made sure their children also had educational advantages. Samuel learned the trade of engineer, or to use the English expression, "Engine Driver." He also learned to be an excellent machinist or mechanic. He was very ambitious and began working for money while he was very young. He remained in England until he was twenty-two years old.
WAYMENT HOME:
William and Martha and their family lived with his mother in Whaddon, Cambridgeshire, England in the Wayment family home in which members of the Wayment family had lived for over 300 years, but they did not own the property. It was owned by the Earl of Hardwicke. They, like many others, only rented. Herbert East, who served there as a missionary, said the house was used as a postoffice after the William and Martha Brown Wayment family came to America in 1878. The house was constructed of stone masonry, and the picture shows a thatch roof on it. The fireplace was big enough to walk into and had benches on either side where one could come in out of the cold and wet weather to warm themselves. This is where the cooking and baking was done. This home had a secret passage way that could be entered and traveled through without detection--an important element when the Mormons met together in this home during a time of persecution. Samuel's parents and grandmother often hosted the missionaries in their home, giving them food and beds to sleep in, as well as a place to hold meetings. Although extenuating circumstances prevented them from being baptized for many years, they were sincere believers.
RELIGION:
The Brown family (Martha's parents and Samuel Jonathan's grandparents) were especially bitter against the Mormon Church. This bitterness and the influence of the Brown family in the community, caused William and Martha to delay joining the Church although they were convinced of its truths. Their son, William T., said they were affiliated with the L.D.S. Church from 1843 on.
Martha was the only daughter of her parents. She became interested in the Mormon Church when the first missionaries came to Whaddon in 1837 and she, seeing the missionary had no food, asked her mother to give her dinner to the missionary--a request that was adamantly refused.
Finally, by 1850, William and Martha decided to disregard the threats of her family. William was baptized on 28 May 1850. A few months later, William’s mother, Mary Rook Wayment, was baptized 9 January 1851. The three of them (Samuel's grandmother and his parents) continued to support the Church and help the missionaries.
The extenuating circumstances caused by Martha’s family continued influencing her against joining the Church. However in spite of anything her family could do Martha was baptized 1 May 1857. Martha's wealthy father disinherited her except for the benefit of a few shillings when she joined the Church and her mother died two months following Martha's baptism.
Martha's father continued to use his influence in the Parish to oppose all new members and the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This influence extended into our own time, because the L.D.S. Church was not permitted to microfilm the records of the Church of England in Cambridgeshire for many years.
Being disinherited by her father did not change Martha’s mind about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her testimony of its divinity sustained her. She helped her husband set the example and teach their children the principles of the gospel. Emily's history states that she often "blacked" and shined the shoes of the missionaries.
Martha was very well-read; she said she had read the Bible about 100 times during her lifetime. She was always faithful and devoted to the Church and taught her children to live the same way. With her husband, she encouraged her children to join the Church and they were all baptized into the Latter-day Saint Church before leaving England.
The children were allowed to choose-- something Martha felt strongly about. Joseph, Samuel and Emily were baptized by John Jacklin on 7 May 1860, at a Baptismal Service held after dark to avoid detection from the mobs inflamed by their own grandfather. Samuel was almost fourteen years of age.
The Wayment family set up a mutual plan to migrate to America. They would all work together. They would send one at a time, until they were all in America. Joseph, the oldest living child, sailed on the ship AMAZON in 1863. Shortly before leaving England, he attended a meeting where he sang a solo that deeply impressed the people with his clear bass voice. Samuel and his wife, Castina, sailed on the ship CONSTITUTION in 1868, as newlyweds. John sailed on the ship NEVADA in 1873. The saving of money was very slow so William Thomas began working in the fossil mines when he was about ten years old to help earn passage to Utah. Part of the time he pushed a wheelbarrow around the mine, which was very difficult for a lad. Finally, the goal was reached. William and Martha with children William T. and young Martha, sailed on the ship, NEVADA, 25 May 1878, and after arriving in New York, they traveled by rail across the United States to Utah.arriving there on 13 June 1878. Now they all worked to help their daughter, Emily Negus, with her family, come to Utah 2 Sep 1882, sailing on the Ship WYOMING. What a joyous reunion for all! It had taken nearly 20 years to get their family together in Zion.
MARRIAGE:
On 11 Mar 1868, when Samuel was twenty-two years old, he married Castina Francis Ann Chapman, daughter of Jonathan Chapman and Julia Taylor Smith of Shingay-- a parish in the District of Royston and County of Cambridge on the River Cam. At that time there was a population of about 128 people who were living in 26 houses. The property all belonged to the Earl of Hardwicke. Julia was already a member of the church.
IMMIGRATION:
On 14 Jun 1868, just three months after their marriage, Samuel and Castina sailed from Liverpool, England on board the ship "Constitution." It was a small ship and over-crowded with passengers. The small group of Saints was made miserable at times. A group of radicals on the ship planned to throw the Saints and the crewmen overboard at one time. The Saints prayed fervently that their lives would be spared. The radicals started quarreling among themselves. Thus they split up and quieted down. The "Constitution" docked in New York City on August 5, 1868.
Samuel and Castina left New York City and continued across the country by rail until they reached Fort Benton which was on the Platte River in Wyoming. Here they joined the John Gillespie Company--a group of Mormon emigrants bound for Utah. From then on the trip was very difficult. Samuel took turns driving an ox team and walking, but it turned out that he walked most of the way. In Wyoming he contracted spotted fever and became very ill. The wagon train was forced to lay over several days. Due to Castina's excellent nursing ability, accompanied by faith and prayers, he was able to continue the journey and in a few days was able to drive the ox team again. This was a great testimony to them because he had been so very ill. His wife, Castina, was also expecting their first child, and this caused anxiety as their hardships were many. Their feet became blistered and sore. Food was scarce and the August sun was hot. Their faith was tested, but it never wavered. They arrived in Salt Lake City on 15 Sep 1868 to begin life in a new country. After resting and visiting with family and friends who had preceded them to this country, they continued their journey north to Deweyville, Box Elder County. It was here in a granary, belonging to Bishop John Dewey, that Samuel and Castina's first child, Julia Frances Wayment, was born on a cold, wintery day-- 13 Dec 1868.
FIRST HOMES:
They proceeded to build a home which was a dugout covered by a mud roof. It was very different from the comfortable homes they had left in England, and it was a challenge to young Samuel, who was very ambitious and wanted the best for his young wife. He engaged in farming and mining for the next two years.
His wife, Castina, became the first school teacher in Deweyville. The School house was also a dugout, and she took her first-born baby girl with her while she taught and worked with fifteen to eighteen students from grade one on up. Charcoal sticks were used for pencils and slate carried from England were used for paper. There were few books available to teach from. Her classes were frequently interrupted by visits from the Indians, but she seemed to have a way with the Indians and they became her friends. However, she said she always prayed to her Heavenly Father for protection when they came.
In 1870 the young family moved to Calls Fort, Box Elder, Utah where their first son, Samuel Jonathan Wayment Jr. was born on 17 Aug 1870. Call’s Fort was located just south of Honeyville. While there, the settlers were forced to fight several plagues of crickets. Samuel, along with his older brother, Joseph, helped to build the first school house that was built there.
In 1871, they made another move to Corinne, Utah--also in Box Elder county. A second daughter, Castina Wayment was born 22 Oct 1872. Corinne was a "Gentile" town where builders of the railroad lived.
OCCUPATION:
At Corinne Samuel secured a good job to supplement their income. He helped install and later became manager of the Corinne Saw Mill and Waterworks. He worked for John W. Young, who was engaged in building the Utah Northern Railroad. His job was sawing narrow gauge ties. He sawed enough ties to lay forty miles of railroad and continued in this work until the fall of 1873.
Samuel and his brother, William T worked for the David Eccles Lumber Company. He was foreman for the David Eccles sawmill for fourteen years. This necessitated traveling through Utah and to the Sawtooth Mountains near Sun Valley, Idaho. Sam Wayment Jr. remembers his father telling about an experience he had at one of the logging camps. The men were sitting around talking when a stranger walked into camp. In a loud voice he asked if there were any Mormons in camp. He said that he had helped drive the Mormons out of Missouri and he was going to help drive them out of this area. Samuel then picked up a large piece of wood, jumped over the table and started after the man. He “took off” and they never saw him again.
Samuel was a boiler maker and engineer. One day the manager of the mill was pushing Samuel to make more steam to run the saw a little faster and cut more logs. Samuel knew the steam limits of the steam engine, but under pressure of the manager for more steam, he poured some oil into the firebox. Almost immediately black smoke poured from the smoke stack and the boiler began to generate more steam, with added commotion. The men became alarmed and ran from the sawmill. They were afraid the boiler was going to blow up.
After the men fled, Samuel opened the safety valve, controlled the firebox and helped restore peace and order. From that day on, the officials let Samuel run the engine the way he wanted to.
At this time Samuel and Castina moved to Salt Creek -- now Warren, Weber County. He had already bought one hundred sixty acres of farmland there. Later he bought another thirty acres near the Weber River. All of it "had to be cultivated from its natural state of wilderness, cleared of undergrowth, sage brush and willows." He succeeded in making it one of the finest farms in Weber County. He made the first water ditch from the Weber River in that area and brought the first water into Salt Creek District, which is now West Warren. He was one of the organizers of the Salt Creek Irrigation company, of which he was secretary for many years. He also assisted in promoting the Fremont Park Irrigation Company, of which he was vice-president. This company has since been absorbed by the Utah Power and Light Company. Another son, Benjamin Wayment, was born at Salt Creek on 30 Oct 1875. On 26 Jun 1876, Samuel was ordained an Elder by John Spiers.
In the spring of 1876, the Weber River overflowed and covered much of the country that is now Warren. The first time it came up, the water stayed two weeks. The crops were not high enough to be damaged and after the water went down the crops grew very rapidly and were looking very promising. However, the river flooded a second time and the water came over the country higher than the first time and stayed six weeks. The crops were destroyed completely. Fortunately all the people living in this vicinity at that time lived on benches or hills high enough to be above the water.
About this time, the spring of 1877, the people of Salt Creek met and appointed a Road Supervisor. Joseph Wayment, Samuel's brother, was the first one appointed to this position, which position he held for 10 years. About the first work that was done was to fill up some of the creeks to make crossings. A year or so before this Joseph hauled salt from the creek banks out west of Plain City up to the Hot Springs. It took a whole day to gather the salt crystal and deliver the load. For this he received fifty cents per load. The salt was used in the smelting of silver ore in Montana. About 1877, the large canal, still being used, was built to serve Warren and West Warren. About 1880 the residents of Salt Creek (later Warren) organized together and built a ditch up to Four-Mile, in the southern part of Plain City, and ran water from there to water their crops.
In the fall of 1883, the first school house in Salt Creek was started and stood on the bench just a little north of the present Warren-West Warren Chapel. Once again, the Wayments were involved in building this school. It was a one-room brick building, in the west end of which was a double door with three windows on either side. This was used for all Church meetings as well as school until a two-roomed school house was built a half mile north on the corner north of the town square in Warren. Martha Wayment (Mrs. David East), Samuel Wayment’s sister, was the first teacher. The people of the locality met in a meeting and appointed a school trustee board. Joseph Wayment was president of this board and his brother Samuel also served on the board. They levied assessments on the land for school taxes, etc.
In the spring of 1884 the water came up again and flooded the country, but not so bad as in 1876, ‘tho it killed all the crops, many fruit trees, berry bushes and vines.
The machinery of the Slaterville Creamery was all installed by Samuel Wayment, who also became one of the directors. He had charge of the iron work and building of the Chief Canning Factory in Plain City and became one of its directors. He also built the iron work in the North Ogden Canning Factory. Next he set up the machinery for the Pleasant View Skinning Station.
Samuel Wayment Home in Plain City, Utah
For several years the family lived in Plain City, adjacent to Warren. They lived there because of its superior school advantage. Samuel loved music and purchased a piano while his family was still young so they could have the advantage of learning to play. Most of the children also loved to sing and were very talented in this area. The following four children were born in Plain City: William Chapman Wayment on 16 Sep 1877; Alma Ernest Wayment on 13 Mar 1879; Ethel Rose Wayment on 25 Jun 1881 and Edith "Pearl" Wayment on 12 Aug 1885.
During all this time, he was tending his farm and building a home plus helping to raise eight children. He planted numerous fruit trees. He built a very fine home out of the best materials he could secure. It was completed in 1898. I quote from an early biography, "It was one of the finest houses in the ward, surrounded by a beautiful lawn, flowers and shade trees." A grandchild stated: "I know this statement is true because I spent many happy hours there when I was a child. I called it my castle and it was a model home."
Samuel Wayment during his mission to England; The Wayment family about the time of Samuel's mission call.
Back row L to R: Samuel, Alma Ernest, William Chapman; Front row: Ethel Rose, Edith "Pearl", Castina.
MISSION TO ENGLAND:
On 28 Nov 28 1889, he was ordained and became a member of the Eighty-seventh Quorum of Seventy. On 28 Nov 1892 he received a call to serve on a mission to Great Britain by President Wilford Woodruff. The departure date was 25 Feb 1893. He was set apart for his mission by Seymor B. Young.
As a young boy in England, Samuel learned to play tunes on something that resembled a little tin whistle. When he returned to England for his mission, the "Lord of the Manor" requested him to come for a visit and play on his whistle.
He was released on 21 Mar 1895. . He sailed for England on the steam ship "Eturia" and returned on the steam ship "Furnessia".
Castina cheerfully assumed the responsibility of their children and he fulfilled his two-year mission in their native land. Castina and the boys were left to operate the farm. The three oldest children were married and lived nearby Castina. Benjamin was 18, William Chapman was 16, Alma was 14, Ethel was 11 and Pearl was 7 at the time their father went on his mission. Life was difficult for the family. They had milk cows and wheat, but milk and wheat became a very tiresome diet.
Castina served in many callings in the Church and was often called upon to help others in times of illness. Castina was tolerant and kind and able to see the good in others. She was a peace maker and always tried to iron out difficulties when they arose. She was very proud in the dress appearance, and her black silk skirts would rustle when she dressed for Church or some special occasion. Her influence was always felt by those who had contact with her in her home or her surroundings. She devoted her live to the rearing of a large family and to her Church which she loved so dearly.
Following is a photo of fellow missionaries in England; Samuel is on far right of middle row.
About a year after he returned home, the Warren Ward was organized. Samuel was called to be first counselor in the bishopric. He was ordained a High Priest and set apart for this calling on 10 Jun 1896 by President Joseph F. Smith. He served in this capacity for ten years.
FIRE:
One account states that in 1898, when Samuel was called as First Counselor to Bishop William L. Stewart of the Warren Ward, a family decision was made to leave Plain City and return to Warren.
They began to build another home. They kept the cows and chickens at Warren. Aunt Pearl says that after a hard day's work on the Warren home and farm, they started back to Plain City with eggs. Uncle John was not married at the time and he and the children were in the wagon with Grandmother.
Someone happened to look back and saw that the shed and the partly-finished house were in flames. They turned around and hurried back, but without water, they couldn't even save the animals. Not wanting to waste it, they invited local families to come and cut off pieces of the cooked meat for food for their families. During the fire, their dog kept running to a ditch and barking and it was only later that they realized that whoever had set fire to the buildings was hiding in the ditch. They always felt that they knew who the culprit was, but in their excitement nothing was done so they could not prove it. However, the family who was suspect held a séance and asked if the Wayments blamed them for the fire. No one can remember if they received an answer. There was nothing to do but clean up after the fire and start over.
MOVE TO WARREN, WEBER, UTAH:
Finally, on 10 Sep 1898, they moved back to Warren. When spring came they planted their lawn, flowers and trees. There was a Weeping Mulberry tree on the front lawn that was of interest to the grandchildren because it was such a good place to play. They also had a number of fruit trees and Grandfather always tried to plant his garden as close to George Washington's birthday (22 Feb) as possible. The leaves from the mulberry trees were fed to the silk worms raised so Castina and her daughters could have silk dresses to wear.
Samuel raised pigs and he built a large boiler in the back yard where he could scald the pigs when butchering time came. Grandchildren were sent to the fields to pull what he called "pig weeds" (red roots) to feed the pigs. They didn't realize that they were also weeding the gardens.
The parlor in their Warren home was a beautiful room. It was furnished with a red plush settee and chairs. There were tables and lamps, and the piano. People were only allowed in this room on special occasions, and when there would be special visitors. There was one exception: Pearl was taking piano lessons so she could use the parlor whenever she wished. Arthur Marriott once said "You know, I got to go into the parlor because I played the trombone and I would play duets with Pearl." The children who were not allowed in the parlor naturally felt a resentment--especially the teenagers. There was no love in their hearts for the parlor.
TROUBLE:
The above misunderstanding, was likely very challenging for both Bishop Stewart and Samuel Wayment. as Bishop Stewart's son, Daniel, and Samuel's daughter, Ethel Rose, were married and had a family at this time all living in Warren. Samuel was an outspoken person and in this case, it caused trouble not only in the church, but breaches in family relationships that had to be repaired. This was about 1906.
MOVE TO OGDEN:
In the fall of 1906, Samuel, Castina, and their youngest daughter, Pearl, moved to Ogden. When the Ogden Sugar Company was organized, he was one of the first men to take stock in it and helped set up the machinery for it when it was built. He was foreman of the work when Ogden's first sewer system was installed. He helped install the machinery for the Ogden Steam Laundry Plant in Ogden.
One account of his life stated and I quote. "There has scarcely been a building of any importance built in Ogden that he had not had charge of the iron work."
ACCIDENT:
On January 25, 1908 Samuel met with an accident while installing machinery in the Ogden Troy Laundry. He suffered a brain concussion, several broken ribs and a shattered and broken leg. He was taken to the hospital where he spent the next two months, being released on 10 Apr 1908. The following article appeared in the Ogden Newspaper:
"Painful Experience of Engineer Samuel Wayment of the Troy Laundry- January 27
Samuel Wayment, Engineer of the Troy Steam Laundry, was caught in the belt Saturday afternoon, and narrowly escaped with his life, suffering as it was a badly fractured leg and numerous bad bruises about his body. Mr. Wayment was engaged in running the machinery, when one of the belts flew off the wheel. Instead of stopping the machinery to put it back on the wheel, he tried to do it while it was in motion, and his right leg was caught in the belt carrying him up into the air before he was released. Dr. E.M. Conroy had him removed to the hospital where he is getting along as well as can be expected."
STROKES:
Samuel and Castina moved back to Warren, but Samuel soon suffered a stroke. He recovered enough to walk with a cane. However, on May 18, 1912, he suffered a severe paralytic stroke and was bedridden for six weeks at his home where the family helped Castina care for him.
DEATH:
Samuel died on 1 Jul 1912 at his home in Warren, Weber, Utah. He was buried in the Plain City Cemetery on
5 Jul 1912. He was sixty-six years old. He was a member of the High Priest Quorum of the North Weber Stake at the time of his death. He also held various other jobs in the auxiliary organizations of the church during his lifetime.
His obituary taken from an Ogden Newspaper, reads::
Impressive funeral services for Samuel Wayment were held at the Warren Ward Meeting House at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Bishop's Counselor Joseph M. Folkman presiding. Touching tributes to the life and character of Mr. Wayment were paid by Joseph Folkman, John Chambers, President C.F. Middleton and Patriarch George W. Larkin. Music for the services was rendered by the Ward Choir and two soloists, Miss Bernice Richardson, "Sometime We'll Understand," and Miss Ipson sang, "My Father Knows." Interment was in the Plain City Cemetery and grave was dedicated by Frank Stratford.
POSTERITY:
Samuel Wayment left a fine posterity. He and his wife, Castina, became the parents of eight children - four sons and four daughters. Their children are:
Julia Francis b. 13 Dec 1868 md. Joseph Knight; d. 17 Nov 1933; age 64
Samuel Jonathan b. 17 Aug 1870 md. Ellen Hulls; d. 30 Dec 1960; age 90
Castina b. 22 Oct 1872 md. William Jess Slater; d. 25 Aug 1910; age 37
Benjamin b. 30 Oct 1875 md. Ida Foy; d. 26 Jun 1960; age 84
*William Chapman b. 16 Sep1877 md. Elizabeth Walker; d. 2 Jun 1937, age 59
Alma Earnest b. 13 Mar 1879 md. Mary Jane Slater; d. 1 Dec 1963; age 84
Ethel Rose b. 25 Jun 1881 md.Daniel C. Stewart d. 27 Feb 1959; age 77
Edith Pearl b. Aug. 12, 1885 md. Robert S. Wallace d. 1 Jul 1980; age 94
Children of Jonathan and Castina (with Pearl missing): Benjamin, Alma, William, Julia, Samuel, Ethel. Possibly taken in 1910 when their sister, Castina, died or in 1912 when their father died.
His posterity also includes thirty-five grandchildren plus many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren at the time of death.
The following is taken from a biography written before his death. "While he has been one of the most successful men in this community, he has not made his wealth or position by any brilliant strokes of financiering or venture; but has taken life as he found it; working hard, but laying in the beginning a firm foundation on which he has built a solid structure which will endure for many years after he has passed away and be a source of encouragement and strength to those who shall follow in his footsteps. He has ever been a staunch friend of education assisting in many ways and improving the school methods of his ward wherever he lived. He helped to build the first school in Deweyville, Box Elder County and also in Warren, Weber County. An active member in his church, he was true and faithful and discharged the duties of the many callings he received to the best of his ability."
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Comments 1
Golden V. Adams Jr.
(website)
on Thursday, 14 February 2013 01:56
It is interesting to read of Deweyville as I grew up west of Collinston, Box Elder Co. There is a lot of family history preserved here. Thanks for sharing.
