Neriah and Rebecca (Hendricks) Lewis Jr

Neriah Lewis Jr

Neriah was tenth of twelve children. The family members were large in stature. Neriah, who was the smallest of the brothers, was six feet one inch tall and weighed one hundred and seventy pounds. The older brothers helped their father to clear land in Kentucky in order that the crops could be raised and homes built. It was related that they cut six to eight loads of wood per day.
Neriah Jr Married Rebecca Hendricks, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Dorris Hendricks. She was born Dec. 23, 1817. Neriah and Rebecca made their first home in Macoupin County, Illinois where they prospered and where their first three children were born; William Hendricks Lewis, October 14, 1837, Benjamin Marion Lewis, March 20, 1842; and Neriah Robert Lewis March 10, 1843.

William Hendricks Lewis, who was a young lad at the time, remembered well the events of those years and wrote the account from which the following information was derived:

"In the winter of 1846-47 my uncle David Lewis came to my father's home and preached the Gospel to my parents. My father accepted the same and a few weeks later sold out and moved to Nauvoo, where the family stopped with my mother's and father's relatives for about two weeks.
We then started for the great unknown west, traveling through Iowa to the Missouri River. I was present when Colonel Allen and other United States Officers called for the Mormon Battalion, and I saw the wives and mothers of those soldiers left on the black prairie without protection and with scarcely food enough to eat.

A rude, flat boat was constructed on which we crossed the Missouri River. We joined Bishop George Miller's company and continued our journey westward hoping to reach the Rocky Mountains that same season. However, after we had traveled a few hundred miles, winter came. We met some Punca Indian chiefs who told us they had grass, timber and water and we had better winter with them.

We accepted their offer, left the trail we had been following, and went with them. Just after we arrived at their camp some two or three hundred Indian warriors came on horseback to serenade us. They were wearing war paint and rode at full speed in single file. They fired their guns as they came and did not forget to give their war whoop. It was very exciting for our people. Many of them had never seen an Indian before.

While this was happening an old chief appeared on the scene, excitedly waving his hands and giving words of command. He said a war party of Pawnees were at his camp killing their women and children. On hearing this, the warriors broke their serenade and went at full speed to their camp where they had a desperate battle with their enemy.
They fought like demons for their families. Their war chief was killed and never before or since have I listened to such howling and mourning.

During the fall and early winter we dug roots to eat which we called pig potatoes. They were a great help to us, but later frost came and the cold was so intense that the ground was frozen three and four feet deep. There could be no more digging of roots. When cattle died of hunger and cold, some of the people dressed, boiled and ate the meat.

It was a cold, black winter and we suffered much from want of food. About eighty persons of our company died of black leg or scurvy and were buried without coffins. We had a little corn in the camp which the women would grind on a hand mill. At times there were as many as twenty or thirty persons waiting for their turn to grind.

Our corral of wagons in this camp was a long one and contained our cattle and horses. It was broken-up one night by stampeding of the cattle which ran over the wagons, as if nothing were in the way, and made kindling of most of our vehicles and their contents. Two boys were sleeping under one of the wagons at the time, but an old iron pot which stood under the axel-tree saved their lives.

As soon as spring came we made our way back to Winter Quarters where we remained and farmed during that season. We then moved to the Iowa side of the Missouri River and lived there for one year."

Rebecca Hendricks was baptized in April 1848. A little daughter Rebecca Louisa was born September 18, 1848 in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. The family moved to Preston Township, Platte County, near St. Joseph, Missouri remained two years before having there earned sufficient means to purchase a good outfit to come to the Valley, we started for Utah in April, 1851. At Winter Quarters we joined Orson Pratt's company with James Cummings as captain of hundred and Ormus Bates captain of fifty.

Among the loved ones who died on the plains were Rebecca’s brother Allen Hendricks and his wife. This couple had four surviving children and Neriah and Rebecca gathered 2 of them into their family of four children. (Beeson and Elizabeth took in the younger 2 orphans)

“A short distance out on the plains we let the old road and went around the Elkhorn. This caused us to travel about five hundred miles without a road. We had a successful trip and arrived in Salt Lake City on October 7, 1851. My father purchased a home in the fifteenth ward and we farmed the following season. In the fall of 1852 we moved to Centerville, but returned soon afterward to Salt Lake.’ The family attended meetings in the Old Tabernacle regularly for many years and listened to President Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and the apostles of the Prophet Joseph's time. We learned to love them and cherish their teachings.

One of the most tragic scenes of life is to see small children left without a mother. Neriah was called to witness this once again when on December 6, 1854 his own beloved wife and companion Rebecca died and left four of her own children and two of the orphaned children of her brother Allen. She was only 37 years old.

She left a legacy of love and selflessness, a history of nursing the sick of Bishop Miller’s company during that terrible winter with the Punca Indians, and the memory of compassionate affection for her brother’s orphaned children. For her faith, she gave up life on a prosperous farm with her husband in Illinois. For her family she bore uncomplainingly starvation, cold, rigors of the journey to the Salt Lake Valley, sickness and the birth of children with only her husband’s aid.

Early in the year 1856 Neriah married Martha Catherine Youngblood, a daughter of John and Edna Neal Youngblood. She was born December 25, 1835 in Perry County, Alabama. Her people were among the early settlers who had moved west from North and South Carolina. Martha Catherine’s mother died when she was three months old. She and her sisters were raised in the family of her father’s brother (Uncle), Jessie Youngblood. After the family joined the LDS church, they came to Utah in 1855.

Following his second marriage, Neriah and his family continued living in the Fifteenth Ward in Salt Lake City where Martha’s eldest child Arza, was born on December 15 1856. Later they moved to Farmington, Utah where their second child, Martha Ellen, was born May 24, 1859. In 1959 Neriah went to Cache Valley to help colonize that territory, and in 1860 moved his family into the Fort at Richmond, Utah. His son William Hendricks Lewis, (Neriah’s oldest son) had settled here and had been living in Richmond for sometime. Neriah’s brother, Beason, also lived there for many years.

During the eight years Neriah’s family lived in the Fort home, four sons were born and two daughters were buried. Orson Hyde Lewis was born May 27, 1861; Francis Hyrum Lewis, January 15, 1865, Willard Lewis, April 28, 1866, and Ezra Lewis; November 18, 1867. Their little daughter Ellen died and Rebecca Louisa died in 1863.

Life in the early settlement at Richmond and some events which occurred during the time the Lewis family lived there have been vividly described in the history of Cache County, compiled by MR Harvey.

In 1868, when the hostilities of the Indians had lessened, Neriah Moved his family into the rock home he had built on his city lot. He carried pine logs from the fort to be used in building a barn near the home. Members of his family have since marveled at his strength, because he was able to carry logs which were eighteen feet long and ten inches in diameter. the family home was located across the street from the southwest corner of the Tabernacle square. It was cool and comfortable and had a cellar to keep milk and other foods. The orchard bore fruit and they had a good garden. The three children who were born in this home compleded a family of nine. They were Wilford Lewis born July 25, 1869; Albert Edward Lewis, March 25, 1872; and Hattie Arminta, February 12, 1878.

In February of 1878 when the fuel was getting low, it was necessary for members of the family to go to the canyons to replenish the wood supply. A early spring thaw caused an avalanche which resulted in the death of Orson, his seventeen year old son. Although he was completely covered, his axe protruded from the snow and they located and released him. However, he died on the way home from his injuries. This overwhelming sorrow came to the family only days before Hattie Arminta was born.

Although a strong man, Neriah was also very kind and his anger was seldom aroused. He was diplomatic and wise in judgment and was called to be one of the church judges. Most disputes or problems that aroused among the people in this period of time were settled by the church, instead by the law. Neriah was instrumental in bringing about many peaceful decisions. He was also a member of the school board. He was loyal to the counsel of the church leadership and willing to do whatever he was called to, even though it meant sacrifice to himself and his family. The following incident was typical of his dedication.

In the spring of 1868 he was called to furnish a team and man to go back to the states and assist the emigrating saints on their way to Utah. (Like Siney was doing) Although it was time to plant the crops, he sent his only team of horses and his son Robert who was then seventeen years old.
Because of his love and service to others, Neriah was greatly loved by friends and neighbors who respectfully called him Uncle Neriah. When he died on July 22, 1890, the heritage he left his children was one of honesty, loyalty to right under all circumstances, love of fellowmen and country and a strong testimony of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days.” Iris L Schow.

Death Date: Jul 22, 1890 at Richmond, Cache, Burial Date: July 25, 1890
Marriage Information: Spouse: Hendricks, Rebecca

Name: Birthdate: Place:

1. Lewis, William Hendricks October 14, 1837 Carlinsville, Macoupin, IL,
2. Lewis, Benjamin Marion March 20, 1842 Carlinsville, Macoupin, IL,
3. Lewis, Neriah Robert March 10, 1843 Carlinsville, Macoupin, IL,
4. Rebecca Louisa September 18, 1846 Council Bluff, IA,

Neriah and Martha had nine children, with the exception of the oldest, the other eight were all born in Richmond.

Neriah, who like his four brothers were pioneers in the Church in the early days, and was loved and respected by all who knew him. He remained faithful to the Church and gave much of his time and talents all the days of his life. He died 22 July 1890 in Richmond.