ANGELINA THERESIA ALDOUS was born in Huntingdonshire, England 27 December 1843, a daughter of ROBERT ALDOUS and MARY ANNE PARKIN. She crossed the Atlantic with her parents when she was six years old. Three years later they crossed the plains with a company of Mormon pioneers enduring many hardships.
In 1855 the family moved to Ogden, settling in Bingham's Fort, now known as Five Points. Here she became acquainted with BRIGHAM HEBER BINGHAM, Sr. On 16 December 1861 at the age of 17, she married Mr. BINGHAM.
They had two children born to them at the fort, BRIGHAM HEBER Jr. and EDWIN A. BINGHAM. They then moved to Huntsville where two more children were born. MARIA and ROBERT. MARIA passed away in infancy.
The area of West Weber, four miles west of Ogden, was being homesteaded by the saints and BRIGHAM and his family then moved there from Huntsville, building a two room log house among the tall sage brush which grew in abundance in the semi-wilderness. Clearing the land of this wild vegetation required much hard work before they could plant their crops. Many hardships were endured including fighting the crickets.
They had trouble with Indians, their coming and peeking through the small windows caused ANGELINA many fearful moments. But rather than antagonize them by attempting to drive them away and because it was her nature to be congenial and kind to everyone, she made many friendly gestures toward them by offering sugar and bread to them and other delicacies enjoyed by the red friends.
The furniture of their small hut was scanty, there was no table. A large chest which Mr. BINGHAM had made in which to keep their clothing was used for a table. BRIGHAM made a crude bed for his wife and self and a trundle bed for the children.
ANGELINA gathered wool that had been pulled from the backs of sheep by the brush and weeds as they grazed, wove, washed, and spun it into yarn which she wove into cloth to be made into clothing and stockings for her children. One year she knit 23 pairs of stockings for her family and pieced quilts together to keep them warm in the winter.
Her husband, B. H. BINGHAM Sr. became the first Bishop of Wilson and ANGELINA was secretary of the Relief Society. As the years rolled by they built them a brick house which stands on the old homestead and is now owned by a grandson, MERLIN BINGHAM.
According to the doctrines of the Latter-day Saint's philosophy on Polygamy BRIGHAM Sr. married two other women. When the manifesto against polygamy was declared, BRIGHAM took his two younger wives and moved to Mexico, leaving ANGELINA to rear her children alone.
ANGELINA toiled in various ways, gleaning the fields of wheat, churning butter and walking to Ogden once a week with her basket of eggs and butter exchanging them for calico and food for her children.
She had the courage and faith to rear her children in the gospel, teaching them to be honest and faithful, and to work together in love. She raised a wonderful family of boys and girls, all good and faithful members of the L.D.S. Church. Some became Bishops others high councilmen. She was always loved by all the children in her locality. They called her aunt ANGELINA.
She was very neat and conservative in all she did and her home was always in order.
After her family was raised, she sold her farm to her youngest son, ERASTUS. He reserved the right for her to have two rooms for her home. She lived there until her husband came back and wanted to live with her while on his visits to Ogden. A small house was bought not far from the home of ERASTUS, by her children. Although her husband had left her when she needed him most, she was glad to accommodate him and forget her hardships. Her husband made several visits from Tucson to Ogden. She was very independent even to the end and hated top be waited on. Her last days were spent with a son JOSEPH, and it was here she passed away 28 July 1929 at the age of 85. She lefty nine children at the time of her death. When her daughter LUCINDA was 9 years old she passed away.
Account from "The Descendants Of ERASTUS BINGHAM and LUCINDA GATES"
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