Lucretia and Eliza Mower were born Aug. 29, 1854 at North Ogden Weber Co., Utah. Lucretia died at the age of 2 years and eight months and twenty days. Eliza was thus deprived of the companionship of her twin sister.
In 1858 when Johnstons army came to Utah her parents moved to Springville where they made their permanent home.
Eliza was taught to work, she learned to milk cows when she was five years old, she knit garter and suspenders and by the time, she was six years old finished knitting a pair of stockings for herself even toeing them off. Pioneer children were taught to be useful and everything Eliza saw the older ones do she wanted to learn. She enjoyed assisting her father in planting the garden and caring for it. She can even remember of holding the sheep while her mother sheared them. They washed the wool and picked it and sent it to the carding mill and it was made into rolls. She then helped to spin and weave it into cloth for their clothing. She and her Aunt Elmira wove a beautiful piece of plaid flannel, her mother dying the colors for them, this was made into dresses for them which they were very proud of. They also spun enough flax to make her father a suit of clothes. The first pair of shoes Eliza had was when she was twelve years of age.
Brooms were very expensive in Elizas day and her father used to get a maple stick that was large at one end. He would make one end into a good handle and the larger end he would shave up until it was a mass of bushy shavings then he would fasten it off at the top of the shavings so they would not break off. Thismade a fairly good broom and would last, a long while. In later years he raised broom corn and they made their brooms from that.
Eliza attended the schools in Springville where she learned to read write and do a little arithmetic. Her first pen her mother made from a goose quill and her ink from indigo log wood. Her father went to slate canyon and chipped off pieces of slate rock and made little slates and pencils for she and her brothers. Therefore she was very proud of the first slate and pencil that was bought for her. Pioneer children had no time to be idle and her childhood and girlhood was spent in a typical pioneer home.
It was while attending school at Henery Cleggs, she met Hubert Singleton and she was later married to him.
Hubert Singleton was born April 6, 1848 Somersetshire, England son of Francis and Amelia Ann Williams Singleton. His father was a tailor and made clothes for the aristocratic people of the town and also uniforms for the soldiers. Huberts father was anxious that his son also become a tailor and at the early age began to teach him the trade.
Huberts parents heard the Mormon Elders preach who were in England at this time and they were immediately converted and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Their friends turned against them and it became necessary for him to sell his business as no one wanted a Mormon to work for them.
They set sail for America and they were on the ocean six weeks. On landing in America they still determined on coming to Utah. They then crossed the plains, their trials were many. They also buried one child on the plains. Upon arriving at the Missouri River his father was stricken with cholera and died at Fort Bridger. The heart broken family continues their journey and arrived in Utah in the Fall of 1864.
Winter was coming on they had no place to go. Hubert got work chopping wood for two old ladies Sister Parrish and Sister Jones for his board and keep, but all things were appreciated by this family after so many trials. In the spring he worked for Henry Devenish doing chores and herding sheep. The next year he did work for Daniel Sumsion. Hubert was industrious and willing to work and surly did so under many trying conditions. He helped tend the city pasture for five years and later assisted by his brothers and friends he built a nice little home for his mother where she taught school for a living. His education was limited but he learned to read write and to do arithmetic.
Hubert Singleton and Eliza Mower were married May 22, 1873. They began their married life living with Huberts mother where three children were born to them, Lucretia, Amanda and Matilda. Hubert then built a log house on this mothers lot where they lived and two more children were born, John Hubert and Eugene. Amanda died Oct. 7, 1878.
Hubert then secured a position as clerk in his brothers clothing store in Provo and there they lived for seventeen years while here four other children were born, LeRoy, Zina May, Ethel and Albert Grover. They were a very happy couple and very devoted to each other and their family. They entertained many friends and relatives here who were being persecuted for polygamy. They shared their joys and sorrows and tried to assist them in every way possible.
In 1890 two of their children were stricken with tonsillitis from which they did not recover, Matilda passed away Aug. 27 and Zina May Aug. 30. The family was grief stricken at this terrible loss so unexpected and sudden but our Heavenly Father blessed them and comforted them as he does all who put their trust in him.
In 1901 they moved back to Springville where two more children were born to them Maud and Henry the latter who died 5 days after birth. In March 1917 they lost another son LeRoy who left a family of five children.
Eliza has always been a devoted church worker as a Relief Society teacher and missed very few times of making her regular visit in thirty years. Eliza has also devoted many years of her later life in caring for the sick. It seemed to be a joy for her if she could go among the people and relieve their suffering.
After Hubert returned to Springville he followed the occupation of farming until his health failed him. Whatever Hubert was asked to do in a religious way he did to the very best of his ability. He held the office of High Priest at the time of his death. He was a patient sufferer for four years and passed away Oct 3, 1926.
Since his death Eliza has lived with her children, she is very much interested in temple work and every time it is possible she goes to the temple and does work for her dead relatives. May she continue in her good work and live many years to be a comfort to her children.
There is six living children, forty-one grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren. May they emulate the example of their parents and become worthy descendants of their noble ancestry.
compiled by her daughter Maud S. Chrisensen
Harold B. Lee Library-Microfilm Area Carol Ann Horton Date 8/18/78 Microfilm Call number P9-31(4) Date of article 4 Mar. 1895 Title of Article: District Court Page 1 Column 5 3rd paragraph under the sub titles
Eliza Singleton of this city comes next on the list of applicants to have the judicial shears sever the silken cords that once so pleasantly and now so gallingly hold her heart entwined to that of her Hubert. The twain were made one at Springville on 26 May 1873. The wife accuses the husband of habitual intemperance for more than a year last past, of cruel and inhuman treatment and says that he has failed to support her and her six children with the necessaries of life. She asks for the custody of the children, for alimony and for costs.
This action was never completed.