Westons Go West - epilogue

Epilogue:

The Weston family were many times removed members of my husband's family – and I decided to write about them when I discovered that they had moved from Leicestershire to Utah.

Simon Weston died in 1907, aged 71, still working in Ogden as a shoemaker. His sons, Joseph and Simon Eban also continued in the area, and both worked with cars.

In the 1900 census, I found a listing for an Isaac Weston, in Arizona, which might or might not be their son. I made him a Mormon missionary in my story, but have no knowledge as to whether that was true or not.

In 1910, and again in 1920 Mary was still alive, and their youngest daughter, Annie lived with her. I can find no listing for her in 1930. Mary died on 2 February, 1923, aged 85.

Joseph Weston appeared to still be living in Utah, but no longer in Ogden, in 1910. I cannot find listings for the other children. He died in 1946.

A listing for a Heber S Weston, who might be their son, who in the English census was called Simon Eber Weston, shows him continuing to live in the area, married to Etta, with four children (none at all Mormon sounding names) and dying in 1939 at the age of 77.

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The information about the Gillogly family used in the book is largely accurate except for their relationship with the Westons, which is my invention.

James' monument in the cemetery was later destroyed by vandals. His sister had a beautiful tablet of Carrara mable with bust in relief placed in the church of the Good Shepherd in Ogden in memory of him, and a bell was given in memory of him to the church in Plain City, Utah, where he also had worked as rector for many years. Also a large stained glass window in Evanston Wyoming, bears his name and text of his last sermon, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."

After James' death, Lucelia kept on teaching music at the school, singing in the choir, and doing her various acts of charity and community work, working as president or secretary of most of the societies. When her eldest daughter, Helen, was finished with her schooling, they were invited to Missouri by Bishop Tuttle, who had been their friend and adviser for all their time in Utah, finding a job for Helen teaching at St James Academy in Macon, Missouri. Lucelia and the younger children moved with her, and they lived there several years. Upon leaving Ogden, the Band of Willing Workers gave Lucelia a gold thimble, and her other friends presented her with a seven piece silver tea set.

Helen, who studied at Rowland Hall, Salt Lake City, also had a thorough musical training. She married Major George Waterman in 1891, Commandant at St. James Military Academy at Macon. They later went to Fowler, California where he was superintendent of a Mission vineyard, and in 1900 to Bakersfield, California, being interested in oil wells there. They were all active in church work. They had three children, Edward, James and Katherine.

Lucelia's first son, James Webster Gillogly, had his personal history well documented. “At the age of thirteen he entered the Shattuck Military School at Faribault, Minnesota, where he graduated in 1893, being captain of his company at the time of his graduation. He came to California in 1894, first to Fresno county, where for a few years he was engaged in the vineyard business. Then he came to Alameda and entered the employ of the Oakland Transit Company. In 1900 he was appointed deputy city clerk of Alameda, where his efficient service and popularity gained for him election to the city clerk's office in 1901, and re-election without opposition in 1903, the last election being for a term of four years. Mr. Gillogly was a Republican. His first election, however, was on the independent ticket. In April, 1904, he was elected captain of Company G Fifth Regiment National Guards of California.”

Lucelia's second son, Matthew Lee born in 1877, went into the lumber business in Scotia, California. He attended several military schools.

The next living daughter, Laura Louise born in 1879; married William G. Hanson in 1902. She graduated 1897 at Bishop Robertson Hall, St. Louis, Missouri. Her graduation essay was on "Poetry." Later she attended for two years at Golden Gate Kintergarden Training School in San Francisco; graduated in 1899; and ran a private kintergardens in Selma and Bakersfield, California.

Her son, who was born eight months after his father's death, William Jay Syms was born Sept. 7, 1881. He worked for the mail service, in Alameda, California.

Lucelia moved to Alameda California in 1896, and wrote several books about her experiences while in Utah.

Fanny and Abie are figments of the imagination of a writer who goes by the pen name of sanguinity. He or she did much the same sort of thing as I do, taking historical figures and situations, and fictionalising them. I heavily borrowed from his/her work, changing it to suit my story – but I understand that much of the story line is taken from the work of John D. Fitzgerald who wrote books called Papa Married a Mormon and The Great Brain, based on experiences from his childhood.