Lydia Downer Gates information

Some further information that I found online.
http://www.archive.org/stream/downersofamerica00down#page/n247/mode/2up
From "The Downers of America, by David Downer:
"#1928 LYDIA, b 12 July, 1810. Removed to Utah in 1852, and d at Wilson Ward ,Utah, 11 Oct, 1896. She m 4 Feb, 1830, Samuel Gates, of Livonia, MI. He b in N. Y. State, 14 Mar, 1804; d at Lynne, Utah, 7 Aug, 1877. The history of this family, as furnished by her nephew, Mr. Martin L. Downer, of Detroit, is of interest. Mr. Gates, with his family, crossed the Missouri River on their way to Utah, 4 July, 1852. They made the journey by ox-team, and arrived at Salt Lake City 27 Sept, 1852. A few weeks afterwards they removed to a farm at Lynne, where Ogden City now stands. Mr. Gates remained there several years, laying out and grading the city under Brigham Young's direction. He finally settled in the Great Salt Lake Valley, two miles from the foot of the Watsatch range of mountains. Their house was the first built on that windswept desert. Mr. Martin L. Downer visited Mrs. Gates in 1892. He was the only Downer relative she had seen for forty-six years. He found her happy and contented on her 20-acre farm, which was always green, being irrigated by a nearby mountain stream. She was a Mormon and a firm believer in their faith, and was much honored and beloved by all who knew her. Her descendants were numerous. A large number died previous to her death, but at the time it occurred there were living 4 of her children, 33 grand children, 117 greatgrand children and 31 great-great-grand children-- a total of 185. In Utah building, at the World's Fair, Chicago, were several views of her home, one of which showed her sitting under a box alder tree knitting. A copy of the same is given on another page." (Picture at top of page is Lydia knitting under the box alder tree)

She Dreamed She Was Reading

When I visited with a cousin who is 93 years young, she told me about an experience she had when she was a teenager. She went to a church meeting for youth and they had a genealogy lesson. When someone found out that she was related to Lydia Downer Gates, she said that she had a picture of her and her husband. It was a thrill to me to see these pictures for myself and copy them. Lydia was a great grandmother of Charles William Carter, and the Mother of Mary Amelia Gates, who married James Harvey Gardner.Lydia was married to Samuel Gates and the mother of 11 children.
Samuel and Lydia Downer Gates
She Dreamed She Was Reading
(From the writings of
Lucetta Maria Marler Atkinson)


When my grandmother Lydia Downer Gates (born 1810) was a young girl, she arose from her bed one morning and told her family that she had been reading a book all night in her dreams. She could not remember the name of the book nor what she had read, but she could distinctly remember its appearance.

The next morning Lydia announced that she again had been reading the book in her sleep, starting where she had left off the night before and continuing all night. Although she could not remember anything she had read, she was deeply impressed that the book contained an important message for the entire family, something that would be of great value to all of them.

Night after night the book appeared before her until she had read it through. This took some time and before it was over Lydia arose from her bed each morning sleepy and exhausted, quite as if she had missed a night's rest.

She described the book in detail to her family... length, width, thickness, binding, everything that might help them to recognize it if they should see it. The family looked for it in bookstores wherever they went; and if anyone came to the house selling books, they looked carefully to see if there was one answering the description Lydia had given. She herself never ceased to watch for it in the homes of others. Lydia could not get away from the thought that it contained valuable information for all of them.

Some time later, one of her aunts asked her if she would come and take care of her house for a while, as she was going on a journey. Lydia was glad to accommodate her. When the aunt was leaving she said, "Lydia, if you would like to read while I'm away, there are some books in that chest"; and she pointed to a wooden chest in the bedroom.

As soon as her work was done, Lydia went to the chest and began looking over the books. She glanced through one and then another, and put them aside. And then, as she casually reached for another book, before her eyes lay the book of her dreams! Her fingers trembled as she grasped it and held it close. A feeling of joy swept over her. In telling of the experience later she said, " I felt as light as a feather; I felt as though I would rise to the ceiling. I opened the book and began to read, and as I did so, I remembered having read it all before. I read it through and it was just like reading a book for the second time." It was the Book of Mormon!

When the missionaries came to Livonia, Michigan, in 1838, Lydia and her husband, Samuel Gates, were baptized. They went west with the Saints and settled in Lynne (now Ogden), Utah. Always a devoted Latter-day Saint, Lydia reared a large family, and lived to the age of eighty-four.

(I don't know where this was published, I'm guessing it could have been the Church News, from the style. Submitted by Karen Babcock, third great-granddaughter of Lydia Gates. Sister Babcock, a homemaker, serves as Laurel adviser in the Pullman Washington Stake and as a Primary Chorister in the Pullman Ward.)
Samuel and Lydia Downer Gates in later life

Ancestors of Charles William Carter

I recently went to Idaho and visited with a 93 year young relative and received some new pictures and information. I'm sharing it here. Hope you will enjoy this bit of history.

Charles William Carter was the son of Levi Corydon Carter and Lydia Alzina Gardner. Levi was born in Chillecothe, Peoria, Illinois, in 1856. Lydia was born in Ogden, Weber, Utah, in 1856.

Here are two pictures of Levi and Lydia that I was able to get just last weekend. The first is a picture of the two, probably soon after they married. The second is later in life.

Lydia's parents were James Harvey Gardner and Mary Amelia Gates. They were both in the 1852 wagon train company headed by Isaac Bullock.

James's father's name was, Moses Isaac Gardner. His mother was Polly Ann Pierson. They joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints not far from Kirtland, Ohio. He said in his journal, which he started in 1821:
"Moses I Gardner, son of Jotham and Hannah Gardner was born January 5, 1793, in Hanover, County of Morris and State of New Jersey. Brought up in the state of New York, Schoharrie County. Married Polly, daughter of John and Susan Pierson, in Seneca County, Feb. 2, 1815. Came into Ohio May 27th, 1831. Baptized and confirmed into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by Wm. E. McClellan, one of the first twelve, Dec 21 1834. And ordained a priest by Elder Noah M. Fance, July 26, 1835. Ordained an Elder in said Church, August 17, 1836, by Joel H. Johnson and N. M. Fance. Elders printed license given March 31, 1836 by Brother Joseph and F. G. Williams, and license recorded on Book A, page 27 by Thor Burdock. Received my washing and annointing in the House of the Lord in Kirkland, Ohio 1836. License renewed and entered on Book A, page 90 by James H. Coon April 7, 1843. Was ordained a high priest in Nauvoo Feb 23rd, 1845. Recorded in Book A, page 73. We moved from Ohio into Edgar County, Illinois Oct. 8, 1836."

Another quote from the journal says:
"We moved into this place, May 27, 1831, town of Huntsburg, Geauga County, Ohio. We bought 54 acres of land, built a house and moved into it June 16th, 1831."

It is exciting to me to read the following.

From "Pioneer and General History of Geauga County, with Sketches of some of the Pioneers and Prominent Men" 1798-1880 published by the Historical Society of Geauga County p. 751
"I will now relate what I know of the Mormons who became such while living in Huntsburg and afterwards left for the west, in compajy with the prophet, Joe Smith. I thik it was in the year 1836 that a debate took place between a Rev. Mr. Tracy and Joe Smith, which continued two days. There were also several other Mormon elders present. The debate was held in a school-house just across the road from my house, affording me a good opportunity in listening to the discussion. The question discussed was: "Are prophets needed at the present tiem?" The Mormons not only contedede that they were needed, but that it was in accordance with Scripture, and prophets were ordained now, as in the time of Moses. If Tracy had held to the passage of Scripture, "The law and the prophets were until John," I thik he would have gained the day, but as it was, Smith was too much for him.
Soon after this debate, twelve families joined the Mormons. These families resided in the northwest corner of the township. Their names were as follows: Thomas Faunce, Noah M. Faunce, Peter Consolley, John Brower, William Brower, Joseph Brower, Hiram Cory, Reuben Barton, Moses Gardner, Abram Marble, Nat. Marble, and Alfred Dixon. Also from Clairdon there were: D. Dudley, Samuel Phelps and some others, who also joined and went off with the Mormons..."

Now, here is what Joseph Smith had to say about what I think is the same event. The dates are different in all three documents but the facts seem to support one another.

History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Period 1; History of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, by Joseph Smith Jr., Vol II, p 218
"Sunday, March 29, 1835--I preached about three hours, at Huntsburgh - where William E. M'Lellin had been holding a public discussion, on a challenge from J. M. Tracy, a Campbellite preacher, the two days previous, on the divinity of the Book of Mormon - at the close of which two were baptized; and on Monday, four more came forward for baptism."

I received a link to the Kirtland Elders Quorum Record 1836-1841, some time back and Moses is mentioned in the minutes as follows: 2 March 1836
This evening the Elders met at the Lord's house: the
meeting opened by prayer and a hymn was sung; and president
[Alvah] Beman proceeded to anoint the following Elders (viz),
Richard Howard Age 53, Daniel S. Miles Age 45, Moses Gardner Age
42, David Clough Age 40, Aaron Smith Jr. Age 38, Phinehas H.
Young Age 37, Trouman Jackson Age 34, Wm. Wightman Age 28,
Reuben Barton Age 24, and Charles Wightman Age 26. [Six of
these brethren were approved on the 24th of February, 1836, and
ordained on the 27th and 28th of the same month (see Kirtland
Council Minute Book, p. 144 and page [--] of this book).]
The Brethren were then organized for and sent up their
prayers to the father in heaven; the blessings were then sealed
by a prayer from the president, and a shout of Hosanna. The
Brethren then spake of the goodness of the Lord, and told their
feeling[s] and determinations.
The meeting was then dismissed with singing and prayer."

The map I have of Nauvoo, Illinois shows that Moses had land in Nauvoo on the corner of Partridge and Sidney streets. I also have a land patent showing that Moses owned land in Coles County, Illinois in 1839. He is shown on the 1840 census for Coles County, Illinois with his wife and 8 boys. Thomas Faunce, Noah Faunce and Thomas W. Faunce are also shown on the same page of the census.

Apparently they moved from Coles County to Hancock Couty, Illinois in 1841. His journal states: "We left Spring Point Sept. 6, 1841."

It is shown in early church records that Moses I. Gardner was baptized in Nauvoo, for two brothers and two sisters on April 8 1843.

They made another move within the county of Hancock as follows: "Moved in Hancock County, Illinois, Oct. 25, 1844." (Hancock county includes Nauvoo and the area around Carthage.)

His journal tells of leaving Nauvoo. "We left Nauvoo June 15, 1846 - moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, July 15, 1846. They lived there until 1852. In the 1850 census for District 21, Pottawattamie, Iowa, Moses is listed as an LDS Preacher and the family still has a document from the State of Iowa, County of Pottawattamie, that gives him authority to perform marriages.

The next image is a copy of this document.

"The following tells of Moses and family leaving Council Bluffs to join the Saints in Salt Lake. There are some excerpts from the journal and a narration by Otto Duke a descendant of Moses's brother, Charles.

Moses Gardner and his family set out from Council Bluffs, IA to go to Salt Lake and join the body of the (Mormon) Church there.
According to his Father's journal, on 4 July 1852, 22 year old James, "left Missouri River, for Salt Lake" with Captain Bullock's wagon train. He accompanied his parents, Moses Isaac Gardner, Polly Ann Pierson Gardner and two brothers, 19 year old Charles and 12 year old George. After the entry in his Father's journal telling of the departure, there appears another entry, made by James Harvey Gardner. It states:
"Polly Gardner died July 29, 1852
Moses I. Gardner died July 31, 1852
George A. Gardner died July 31, 1852"
The next entry says: "James Gardner got in Salt Lake City, 27th day of September, 1852."
Charles and James both lived to reach the Salt Lake Valley. Both lived, married and produced families. Susan Easton Black in her book, "Graves Along the Trail," says that Polly, Moses and George were "stricken with cholera and died" near present day Kearney, NE, and that the Isaac Bullock Company left from Council Bluffs, IA."

As you can see and understand from the map, the location of Cold Springs, Nebraska is given as the place of death of Polly and Moses.

James Harvey Gardner made a few more entries into the journal which his father had started as follows:
"James Gardner got into Salt Lake City, 27th of Sept. 1852"
"Moved up on the Weber Oct. 12, 1852"
"James H. Gardner married Mary A. Gates Nov. 14, 1852."
"I left Ogden May 6, 1858 and went to Spanish Fork, then to Provo on May 30th."
"Rented a house of W. Johnson for $21 a month."
"Moved back to Ogden Oct. 1860."
"Moved to Ogden Valley May 1864."
The follow pictures are of James Harvey Gardner in later life. One of him with son Charles and his family. Back row: Sadie and Charles Gardner and son, Lester. Front row: May, Ernest, James Harvey and Howard Gardner.
The second picture is James Harvey Gardner, grandfather of Charles William Carter.