Samuel and Elizabeth Bott Brough Family Part 2

The settlers in Randolph were pleased to have Samuel, an expert chimney maker, in their midst. While Samuel built chimneys for the settlers they cut and hauled logs for the house he was building for his family. He received 20 acres of land to homestead. He built a two-room log house located on the corner of Field Street and Second East.

Samuel returned to Porterville in the fall to harvest his crops and move his family to Randolph. By the time he returned, Elizabeth feared for his life. She was sitting by the side of the house crying when she saw him walking over the hill.

Samuel harvested his crops, sold his farm to his older brother, Thomas Brough, and sold their house to Charles White. With a horse, a pair of oxen and a prairie schooner, Samuel, Elizabeth and their six children left for Randolph. Ducks, pigs, chickens and all their belongings were packed in the wagon, which also had a box on the back. Their three cows along with some other cattle were driven. It took a week to make the trip.

It was after dark when they reached Big Creek south of Randolph. The wagon got stuck in the mud and they all walked into Randolph and stayed at Samuel Henderson's while Mr. Henderson went back to help Samuel get the wagon out. It was near midnight when they finally reached the little two-room log house with a dirt floor. Samuel had gathered the chips from the hewed logs and piled them in the center of the room. At the time, it did not have any doors or windows in it. Elizabeth sat on the pile of chips and cried. A fire was soon started in the fireplace in the west end of the room.

Elizabeth and the children stayed and milked and fed the cows, pigs, chickens and ducks while Samuel went to Almy, Wyoming to work in the coal mines during the winter. In the spring Samuel cleared a piece of land and planted grain and had a small vegetable garden. They gathered hay from the "bottoms" east of town for the cattle. They carried their water from "Little Creek" for household purposes until a well could be dug--they called it the "Old Windless." They still had hard times as their crops were not certain. Samuel was a very good farmer and worked at this in the summertime, and worked in the coal mines in Almy during the winters.

Three more children, Hannah 27 May 1872, Benjamin Richard 6 Jul 1874, and Adria (Ada) 17 July 1876, were born to them in Randolph. Elizabeth and her daughters, Mary Elizabeth and Jane, were among the first members of the L.D.S. Relief Society there and Elizabeth was set apart as one of the first visiting teachers. She was a very generous person, with love in her heart for her family and all she knew.

Elizabeth was told in her patriarchal blessing, “Thou shall feed the orphans and be mothers unto them and they shall never want bread …” also, “God shall care for thee and thou shall never lack for means when thou hast a desire to clothe and comfort those who are destitute.” She and Samuel gave a home to Lena Haney, and granddaughters Opal and Bessie Brough after their mothers died.

Samuel and Elizabeth had the first brick home to be built in Randolph. Samuel made his own brick, lime, and did the mason work on his home, and many other homes in Randolph.

Elizabeth’s granddaughters recall her as a dainty lady; mannerly, polite and refined. Proper in everything she said and did. When working in her home she could always be found with a long black skirt, frilly black satin blouses, and a long clean white starched apron, edged in lace at the bottom. She always had pretty bonnets that tied under her chin. Her apron strings she tied into bows in front so she could get them just right, then slipped them around to the back. Her home and Elizabeth were immaculately clean and neat.

When she gave her grandchildren a slice of bread and butter or jam she would put the loaf of bread between her legs, buttering it and then cutting a slice off. All agreed her apron was as clean as any bread board would be.

Samuel and Elizabeth’s yard was beautiful and well kept. Flower beds lined the board walks. The house’s sunny bay windows were filled with plants and blooming fuchsias and geraniums. Her cupboard held the English china painted by her sisters, straight from the Wedgewood potteries in Staffordshire.

Samuel Brough was a religious man and attended to his Church affairs with dedication. He died 29 May 1911 at the age of 71. He left Elizabeth well provided for financially. On hand were all six of her daughters. Three of her fours sons passed away before she did.

Elizabeth’s life was an example of true devotion to her husband, family, church and friends. She was a hard worker and often said, “It is better to wear out than to rust out.” In later years she accepted help from her granddaughters to clean her house, but no one was allowed to polish her stove. She was known throughout the valley for her hot cross buns, raisin bread, and butterscotch candy. Her daughter and granddaughters delivered hot cross buns to loved ones on Good Friday as they had seen her do.

Elizabeth was the only one of her family to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She always defended her faith and encouraged her children and other Latter-day Saints to remain faithful to their beliefs. Of Elizabeth it was said, She never regretted the sacrifices and hardships she went through to come to Zion. She died 23 Nov 1921 at the age of 83.

See Part 1 for references. Pictures of the Brough homes are from Helen Rex Frazier collection. I took the picture of the Randolph Ward last summer, 2008.