Alice Penn Maiben (1847-1920): Death Certificate

This is the death certificate of my 2nd great grandmother Alice Penn Maiben.  I obtained this from the Utah State Archives online.

 This certificate has her place of birth as Brighton, England on October 16th, 1847.  Her parents are Henry and Caroline Penn Maiben.

She passed away on May 6th, 1920 in Logan, Utah.  Cause of death appears to be pneumonia. (It is difficult to read.)

She was married to John Fell Squires.  He was the informant who signed the document.

Caroline Penn: Newspaper Article on her Death

The article above appeared in the Deseret News on October 19th, 1864.  Caroline Penn Maiben (my third great grandmother) had died on the 15th, just 4 days earlier.  This article has many beautiful things written about her.  Below is the text of the article:

DEATH OF MRS. CAROLINE MAIBEN

On Friday evening last Caroline Penn, the wife of Mr. Henry Maiben, of this city, departed this life, after a  severe illness of 13 days, aged 47 years and 7 months.

A virtuous, loving wife,
She spent a most industrious life.
Of mothers too, one of the best.
So neat, so clean, so kind, so blest:
On earth, her mission, well she fill'd
And when, to call her hence, God will'd
In perfect happiness she sped,
To mingle with the righteous dead;
And now, her trials being o'er,
She'll live in bliss for evermore.
We miss the dear departed one,
Yet feel to say, "God's will be done." -COM.

President Brigham Young was present at the funeral ceremonies, and delivered a very impressive and consoling address to the numerous friends of the deceased.

Mr. John T. Caine has furnished us the following for publication, which shows the high esteem Sister Maiben was held in by those who knew her:

At an informal meeting of the Deseret Dramatic Association, held on the Stage of the Theatre after the performance on Saturday evening, Oct. 15th, inst., Mr Clawson being called to the Chair and Mr. Clayton appointed Secretary, Mr. Caine presented the following expressive resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:

WHEREAS, It has pleased the Supreme Ruler in His infinite wisdom, to remove from our midst, by death, our beloved sister, Mrs. Caroline Maiben:
The Deseret Dramatic Association, whilst humbly bowing to this visitation of an all-wise Providence, deeply regret the loss of one of its most worthy and useful members, a lady whose virtue, modesty and amiability won for her the affection and esteem of all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance, Therefore
RESOLVED, That the Members of the Association, sincerely sympathising with the bereaved husband and family, tender them their heartfelt condolence in the loss of so excellent a wife and mother.
RESOLVED, That as a mark of respect to the deceased, the Members of the Association attend her funeral to-morrow. Further,
RESOLVED, That a copy of these Resolutions be transmitted to the bereaved family, and that the Editors of the DESERET NEWS and Daily Telegraph be requested to publish the same.
H.B. CLAWSON, Chairman
WM. CLAYTON, Secretary.

Alice Penn Maiben (1847-1920): Gravesite

The is the gravesite of Alice Penn Maiben, my 2rd great grandmother. These photos come from the findagrave.com website.

She is buried in the Logan City Cemetery in Logan, Utah.

The following paragraph about her life is included with the website:

Alice Penn Maiben Squires was the oldest child of Henry and Caroline Penn Maiben. Her parents were converted to the LDS church in 1851. The family left for America in 1853 and arrived in Salt Lake Valley. She walked most of the way across the plains. She married a young man who was in the same pioneer company as her John Fell Squires on 7 Aug 1868. They had 12 children together. Her descendants remember her as being a wonderful cook and lovely lady. Heber J. Grant spoke at her funeral in the Logan Tabernacle.

Henry Maiben (1819-1883): Gravesite

The is the gravesite of Henry Maiben, my 3rd great grandfather. The photo comes from the findagrave.com website.

He is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah.

This short paragraph about his life is included on the website:

Born in England, Henry worked with his father's business as coach maker/ painter and was educated at Eton and Oxford Colleges. He married Caroline in 1845 at the Parish Church of St. George in London. They were baptized into the LDS Church in 1851 and came to America in 1853, settling in Salt Lake City. Henry was a lead actor in the old Salt Lake Dramatic Company, a poet, lyricist, dance master, and painter. He moved to Provo for a while with his second wife Flora and eventually settled back in Salt Lake City where he passed away and is buried next to Caroline and Flora.

Caroline Penn (1817-1864): Poem

The poem above was written by Eliza R. Snow after the death of Caroline Penn (3rd great grandmother.)   It appeared in the Deseret News on October 26, 1864.  You can see the full page at the following link.  Caroline Penn died on October 14th, 1864.

Books today of the poetry of Eliza R. Snow title the poem Caroline.


Caroline

Respectfully Inscribed to Br. Henry Maiben

To live a Saint - a Saint to die,
Perfects the aim of mortal life -
Secures the key to courts on high,
With all the powers of being, rife.

Thus when a parting, lingering look
Of that dear gemless casket form,
Which in the coffin lay, I took;
This thought diffused a soothing charm.

For she was faithful, to the end -
In life's associations, true -
An upright, kind, confiding friend -
A faithful wife, and mother too.

Peace to her dust: your Caroline
Lives where no earthly ills betide:
In brighter spheres, her graces shine:
She lived a Saint - a Saint she died.


E. R. Snow
G.S.L. City, Oct. 17, 1864.

Caroline Penn (1817-1854): Gravesite

The is the gravesite of Caroline Penn, my 3rd great grandmother. The photo comes from the findagrave.com website.

She is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The following paragraph about her life is included in the website:

Caroline was born in Brighton, England to Thomas Penn and Sarah Edwards. As a young woman Caroline was head dressmaker in a large dressmaking establishment in London. She married Henry in 1845 in London and joined the LDS church in 1851. They traveled to America in 1853 settling in Salt Lake City, Utah. Caroline made the costumes for the old Salt Lake Dramatic Company where her husband was a lead actor. She died at age 47. Brigham Young spoke at her funeral and Eliza R. Snow wrote a poem in her memory and gave it to the family. She is buried next to Henry in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Henry Maiben and Family: Emigration to the United States

This post is a follow-up to this post.

Before beginning their journey from Keokuk, Iowa to Salt Lake City, Henry Maiben, his wife Caroline, and daughter Alice had already been in a long journey to get there.

This information comes from the Mormon Migration Database.  The family sailed on a ship called the International from Liverpool, England on February 28, 1853.  There were approximately 477 passengers on the ship.  The ship was wind powered, so the journey took about 10 weeks to get to New Orleans in the United States.  They arrived in New Orleans on April 23, 1853.

In New Orleans, the ship's passengers traveled by steamship up the Mississippi river to Keokuk.

One interesting note from the voyage.  On April 6th, the passengers had a special meeting to commeration the organization of the Church.  A journal entry from one of the passengers note this about the meeting,

"One of the songs composed on that occasion was a description of the officers on the ship and as I have said nothing about them, will give the parts of the song. I do not remember all of it but will give the parts that I remember.
It was set to the tune of Yankee Doodle and you may judge when four hundred were singing with all their [-] we at least made some noise, whether it was very musical or not."

That song was composed by my 3rd great grandfather, Henry Maiben.  Below is the song.  (Caution: language used that is considered to be in very bad taste in our modern times.)

An original song, Written and Sung, by Henry Maiben [Maibin] (of Brighton) on board the ship International, on the occasion of a Festival, held April 6th, 1853, in commemoration of the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

------------
TUNE--YANKEE DOODLE
------------

On board the InternationalAll joyful, and lighthearted, Bound Zionward, four hundred Saints, From Liverpool we started. We're English, Irish, Scotch, and Welsh Assembled here together; Resolved to do the will of God, Whate'er the wind and weather.
CHORUS Then, sing aloud, ye Saints of God, In one united chorus; Old Babylon we'll leave behind, For, Zion is before us.
We had a noble president, You'll scarce find such an one, Sirs, He stands near six feet six, in height,  And weighs near twenty stone, Sirs. But, best of all, he's full of love, He's frank, and open-hearted; And as sincere as any that From Bab'lon has departed.

Now, Elder Arthurs' counselors (I wish you all to know it) Are, Elder Lyon (from Glasgow), The celebrated Poet: And, Elder Richard Waddington, (From London's famous city) Who's been sick almost all the way, Which has drawn forth our pity.

And Elders are appointed to Take charge of wards and sections, And do all things according to The president's directions. Thus ev'ry regulations made Which is found to be needed; So that, there's not a soul on board Whose welfare is unheeded.

Then, of such fact, or incident That's worthy of remark here; We have a faithful record kept, By Elder Sims, our clerk here. [p.14 ] Amongst which you'll find, two deaths, five births, And twenty-five baptisms. Likewise (today) four marriages, But no such thing as schisms.

The Captain name is "David Brown," My muse cannot refuse its Verse, in reference to him; He comes from Massachusetts. Of course, he is tarnation 'cute,' Yet, he is honest, "rather," And must, ere long, become a Saint, And serve our Heav'nly Father.

The first mate's name is "Alfred Howes," The second mate's "Arch. Campbell," The third mate's is "John Marston," and Then, comes a sort of scramble: That is to say, a motley crew, Called sailors, or ship-riggers; Amounting to about eighteen, Swedes, Germans, Dutch, and Niggers.

The Captain's "Steward, and his wife," Next and forth our attention; Then "Richard Foulton" Captain's cook, I can 't omit to mention. And last (not least) the carpenter, "Calle Westerlind," a Swede, Sirs, The first of the ship's company T' embrace our Holy Creed, Sirs.

We've been on board five weeks and more, And have endured much sickness; We've also had headwinds and storms, T' impede the vessels quickness. Yet, we have cause, and do rejoice, Thanks to the God of Heaven! For unto us, his blessings have Abundantly been given.

Today's the 6th of April, and We now, are celebrating The glorious anniversary, With gladness unabating. And who? that could but witness now, Our festive, happy faces; But would obey the truth, to share The joy our faith embraces.

BIB: Lyon, John. Diary. (Ms 4687), pp.1-15. (CHL)

Mormon Pioneer Overland Trail Database: Part 1

This is an interesting database for those who have Mormon pioneers that traveled across the plains by wagon or handcart.  The database can be found here.

This first post looks at the family of my 3rd great grandfather Henry Maiben.

This family traveled with the Jacob Gates Company in 1853 by ox pulled wagons.  The company left Keokuk, Iowa on June 3rd, 1853 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley September 26-30 of that same year.

Henry Maiben, his wife Caroline Penn, daughter Alice Penn Maiben (my 2nd great grandmother), and an infant daughter Marion Maiben made the journey.  Marion was born in Keokuk.

Caroline Penn (1817-1864)

I found this post and the above picture on the blog All Things Ancestors about my 3rd great grandmother Caroline Penn.  She was married to Henry Maiben.

I have more information on Caroline Penn to come in a later post.