Ann Cannon Woodbury. "The Lord made the back equal to the burden."

Since today is Pioneer Day I want to tell a pioneer story, and I want it to be a progenitor's pioneer story.  So I spent the morning reading all about some of my ancestors and their journey from England to Salt Lake City.   The book was entitled "Cannon Family Historical Treasury." edited by Beatrice Cannon Evans and Janath Russell Cannon. When I was a young girl we would sing songs and hear stories about pioneers and I would be impressed with their courage, but I felt so sorry for them.  I was so relieved when I was older and learned that they weren't pioneers for life.  Well they weren't on the trek for life.The trip took less than a year including a winter stay in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Still a long journey, but their walking and walking had an end.  Their faith, on the other hand, that was for life.

Ann Quayle and George Cannon were married in Liverpool in 1865.  Some fun facts:  they were actually half second cousins.  They grew up in Peel on the Isle of Man.  George's father was a sea captain who died at sea on board his own ship, July 19, 1811, being the victim of a mutiny which he was endeavoring to suppress among his crew. (Well, not exactly a fun fact, but an interesting one.)

Ann and George were blessed with 8 children: George Quayle, Mary Alice, an unnamed boy who died soon after birth,  Ann (my ancestor), Angus Munn, John Quayle who died when he was 3, David Henry and Leonora.  When they were living in Liverpool they received a visit from a brother-in-law they had never met.  George's sister Leonora had married one John Taylor whom she had met in Canada.  They had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints through the ministry of Parley P. Pratt.  John Taylor had been called on a mission to England and came to bring news of the family and the restored church.

  After the first encounter with Elder Taylor, Ann remarked to  her son, "George, there goes a man of God.  He is come to bring salvation to your father's home."  Elder Taylor sang the songs of Zion and preached and left the family with a Book of Mormon.  Ann was immediately convinced.  George was not unimpressed, but was not at once fully responsive.  He desired time for further consideration and determined to investigate fairly.  He decided to devote his time to the reading of the book that had been loaned to him.  His interest grew with every page until he could scarcely lay it down.  He read into the night and had it propped on his joiners bench so he could glimpse at a few sentences as he worked.  At the completion he solemnly announced that "the book was true-- an evil-minded man could not have written it, and a good man would not have tried to write it with the intent to deceive."  He and his wife received the ordinance of baptism on February 11, 1840.

After the Cannon's baptism the desire to join with the body of the church in America grew in their hearts.  Ann was particularly anxious.  Her health was diminishing and she felt determined that her children needed go to Zion.  If they waited and she died in England she was afraid her husband's heart would fail him, and their relatives would convince him to forego the journey. After much prayer the plans were made.  They left Liverpool Sept. 17, 1842 on the ship Sidney.  They would not disembark in New York.  Ann had relatives there that would make her children stay if they were motherless.  They would sail to New Orleans and then to Nauvoo on the Mississippi river.

George recorded in his journal of the kindness of the ship's captain and the amiability of the saints on board.  The only drawback to his pleasure was the illness of his wife.  He wrote, "I will not attempt to describe the night in particular which I have passed while watching by the side of one of the best wives that ever man was blest with--to see the grim tyrant approaching slowly but steadily to his victim; yet with all her sufferings no complaint ever escaped her.  O God, how mysterious are Thy ways!  Teach me resignation to Thy will!"  Ann died October 28th and was buried at sea.

George continued his journey with his 6 children.  They arrived in Nauvoo on board the steamboat Maid of Iowa in April, 1843.  They were met by John and Leonora Taylor.  The meeting was happy and affectionate, but "recalled the great sorrow which they had suffered in the loss of the fond wife and mother."  George Q. went to live and work with Uncle and Aunt Taylor and Mary Alice took care of the younger children.  George purchased land with a house and built a shop for woodworking.  This was across the street from John Taylor's residence.  Angus remembers trying to help his father who sent him into the house to see if the water was boiling on the stove; not knowing how to tell whether it was boiling or not, the lad brought out a tablespoonful for his father to look at which resulted in hearty laughter from his father.

George remarried a widow named Mary Edwards White, but in the spring and summer of 1844 dark and dreadful days came upon the city.  Joseph and Hyrum Smith were murdered, and "John Taylor was brought to the brink of the grave by wounds from the mobocrats guns."  George Cannon constructed the coffins and took plaster casts of the faces and heads of the fallen leaders as they lay in state. These casts were used for drawings, portrait,s and busts made later by artists trying to depict their likeness.  The tragedy left the city in chaos and George decided to travel to St. Louis to try and earn the means with which to provide for his family.  While on this journey he became a victim of sunstroke and death struck him down.

Upon George's death Ann went to live with Aunt Leonora Taylor, Mary Alice married Charles Lambert and he was appointed legal guardian of the younger 3 children.  The mobs continued to persecute and oppress the saints of Nauvoo and the plans were made to go west.  George Q. was very sick and had to stay behind until he was strong enough.  Ann traveled with the Taylors.  They crossed the Mississippi on the ice on February 16.  They stayed 2 weeks at Sugar Creek.  The roads were very bad and horses had to be fed on cottonwood trees, but Ann reported that they had a great time and the Mormons were cheerful and happy.

They arrived at Garden Grove and stayed for a while.  The pioneers put in hundreds of acres of land in crops for the saints that should follow.  Ann shared this experience: "Uncle Taylor was going back to Nauvoo [to bring George Q].and was on his horse ready to start.  I had charge of the keys and could not find them.  Aunt was put out about it, and I was scared.  I went into the wagon and knelt down and asked the Lord to tell me where they were.  I rolled the bed over, raised the lid of my own box and there lay the keys where I had left them.   It proved to me that the Lord heard and answered prayers, and it made an impression on me that I have never forgotten.  I have had my prayers answered times without number."

Joseph Caine brought a box of gentlemen's boots from England that were too small for the men.  Ann was given a pair and her cousin had a pair from the store so she recorded that with their jerseys  and boots the rain did not affect them much.  On the journey to Council Bluffs Ann helped her uncles's family with the washing and cooking.  They washed on the banks of the creek and sometimes Ann would "tread the clothes in the bed of the stream with [her] bare feet."

At Winter Quarters they stayed until the season changed. Ann recorded "They brought one ox down for beef that weighed eleven hundred pounds.  They took the fat in anything that did not leak and buried it in the ground with a little salt and water and it kept good all winter to eat with the corn ground on a handmill.  We had a grist mill but the water to run it was frozen up so we boiled wheat whole and it was very good eating with milk.  The Lord only knows how we got along; we did not suffer.  We spent the time very pleasantly."

They would dance  in a house near President Young's camp and preach twice a week at meeting. "My heart used to swell and burn with gratitude to my Heavenly Father for giving me a testimony of the great Latter Day work.  I wish I could give my children and my children's children my testimony of the Gospel or help them to get it for themselves.  It would be the joy of my life."

In the spring of 1847 they took up the journey west.   There were lots of trials, but Ann said, "The Lord made the back equal to the burden." Ann took turns with her cousin driving an ox team.  When Ann did not have to drive she rode with George Q.  He told her to get her books so he could teach her.  She replied that she didn't have time because she had to fix the clothes.  She was always sorry for the missed opportunity and worked hard throughout her life to afford her children the opportunity for education.

On October 6, 1847 they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. There continued to be trials, but they worked hard and established their homes and families in the new territory.  Ann married Orin Woodbury and settled in Cottonwood Canyon.  Later they were called to Dixie (St. George).  Orin was a horticulturalist and Ann developed many skills including beekeeping and raising silkworms.

George Cannon's 7 children (minus Leonora who didn't fit in the scan.  Sorry Leonora) L to R Ann, George Q., David H., Angus M., Mary Alice, and Elizabeth (daughter of second wife, Mary.)

All of the Cannon children made it to Zion.  Their mother's heart's desire was fulfilled   In 1890 they gathered at the Logan Temple and were sealed to their parents. They lived long productive lives.  Ann had 10 children and raised all to maturity.  She lived to be 90.  Her advice to her posterity was to teach their children to work and pray and devote their lives to the upbuilding of the Kingdom of God on earth.

What a great story.