Lucinda Bybee

Lucinda Bybee married David Layne who are the parents of Mary Elizabeth Layne who married George Wilding Sr.


Lucinda Bybee was born 20 or 21 July 1805, Glasgow, Barren County, Kentucky. She was the fourth child of Lee Allen Bybee and Jerusha Jane Attkerson. Her three older sisters were: Elizabeth (1801), Polly (1802), Nancy 1803-1843), then Lucinda, John (abt 1806), Absalor (10 Feb 1808), Mary (24 Oct 1809), Alfred (4 Nov 1810), Sally Ann (22 Dec. 1815-1889), Loraine (abt 1817-1873), Lee (4 May 1819), Ruth (abt 1821), Joab (abt 1823).


Lucinda Bybee married David Layne, 11 Sep 1824. They had seven chldren when David died, leaving a five hundred dollar debt that caused the farm to be sold the next year, 1841, and the family moved to or near Bowling Green County, near to Lucinda's father, Lee Bybee's place.


In the fall and winter of 1838, Phineas Young, A.W. Babbit, and others came through Clay County preaching the gospel as restored by Joseph Smith, the modern prophet of the Lord. David Layne and Byrum Bebee went to the meeting and were well pleased with what they heard and after consideration and comparison with the Bible, they concluded to embrace it at the first opportunity which did not come as far as David was concerned for he was taken sick and died that same year. Byrum was baptized the next year, followed the Saints and was faithful to his covenants to the end of his life. He died in southern Utah about 1870, leaving a large family and a numerous posterity most of whom are in southern Utah at this time, 1897.


In 1842, Lucinda Bybee Layne with all members of her family and her father, three brothers and their families and others from their homes in Indiana, started from their homes to gather with the saints in Nauvoo, Illinois, When about 20 miles from their homes near Terrehaute, Indiana, on of Lucinda's sons Elishu Preston, fell off the wagon and run over by the wheel. Both legs were thought to be broken but next day could walk as well as ever. The following day they crossed the Wabash river and arrived at Paris, Illinois where Lucinda's sister, Polly White lived with her Huband Middleton White. At that time he being the jailer, the jail was their home. The Laynes stayed with them for two days then traveled westward across the state of Illinois to Nauvoo on the east bank of the Mississippi River about 250 miles from where they had started. They stopped in the city for nearly three weeks while the brethern looked about for land that could be purchased. They found land available about five miles outh and a little east of the city and soon moved onto it. That first winter was very cold in 1842-43.


At Springfield they saw their first railroad and cars. At Cathage they saw the jail where two years later the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were murdered 27 June 1844. They also saw Captain Robert F. Smith commander of the mob that committed the bloody deed.


The children who were school age went to school parts of the years of 1842, 43, 44 at this place where they had settled.


In June 1844 the family lived in a home near to the road that led from Warsaw to Nauvook and during this month almost day and night they heard reports of mobs coming from Warsaw and other places which kept them all in continual alarm. Being on the main road, there were many nights that were entirely sleepless. On the night of June 27th their home seemed to be filled with evil spirits and the next day Lucinda's father came with the terrifying news that the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum had been murdered in Carthage jail. Such a time of mourning had never been know among the Saints.


In the fall of 1844, Lucinda's son, Johnathan along with others chopped wood that was hauled to Naufoo and turned it to those in charge of the Temple work and thus the Laynes had the privilege of assisting in the building tof the Nauvoo Temple.


Johnathan with others at a muster of the Nauvoo Legion when the Prohet Joseph Smith as commander made his last public address when he made the statement as he uncheathed his sword and pointing it heavenward said: "It shall never be sheathed again until the Latter-day Saints shall have their rights". He at this time asked the people if they would stand by him, they answered "Yes" in a loud voice. We have only to read this part of the history of the Latter-day Saints to see a good reason for this.


When the Prophet's and Hyrum's bodies were brought to Nauvoo, Lucinda forbid the children to go along with the many thousands to take a last look at them. The older boys had respect enough for their Mother to obey thought they were sorry to their dying days that they weren't allowed to see them.


In thw winter of 1845-6 the leaders of the church agreed with our people to leave Illiois as soon as their homes and lands could be disposed of and to be ready when the others were to depart. To accomplish this, the branches were organized into working companies to make wagons, carts or anything that could be used to move the people westward. Some of the wagons were used without any iron, not even for tires, rawhide was often used in place of a wooden lingbolt. Cows were often used in place of oxen and some of the frollest outfits that were ever seen or thought of were used to start on the 1500 mile journey.


Their enemies took advantage of this situation. They believed the Saints would go thether or not they sold their homes and they could claim them without cost. However most all were able to dispose of their homes and property at some sort of renumeration which in many cases was about the same as giving them away. Lucinda owned a small brick home and then acres of good land. It was sold in trade for eleven dollars worth of the blackest, most bitter and most vile flour that was ever seen or tasted. It was only after two or three days without food that it could be eaten at all. The fact is that no description of what the people passed through written by the learned or unlearned could possibly portray correctly the true situation. It must be felt to be truly realized. The hearing of the ear, the sight of the eye could not fittingly portray it neither think it possible the language we understood could perfectly describe it.


In May 1846, they with grandfather Lee Bybee and her brothers, Lucinda and her children with others started from their once peaceable homes and were ferried across the Mississippi River. They crossed five miles below Warsaw and Nauvoo, west and north and camped for a week or ten days to make better preparation for the long journey before the. It seemed as if they had to start first and prepare afterward. After two days journey they came to the DesMoines River at Farmington, Iowa there they camped with Byrum Bybee where one of his daughters met a man Luan Bird and in two or three days she married him. He lived at Farmington, Utah and was not of our faith.


They were able while there to get a abundance of good flour for their labor which was a great treat after eating the black stuff they had brought from Nauvoo and surely the hand of the Lord was with them and they thanked him and tried to live as he required them to.


They remained there until the middle of summer then crossed the DesMoines Rivert at Bonapart Mills traveling wetward 10 or 12 miles where there was a large camp of moving saints, here they stopped for several weeks. A man from Keosoqua on the DesMoine River about 20 miles from camp came and wanted an experienced nurse to care for his wife who was ill. Lucinda went and cared for the sick woman for two weeks. Johnathan then took sick with fever and continued to grow worse until little hope for his recovery was entertained. He was in this condition when brother Joseph Young of the Seventies stopped one day to feed his horse and eat with the group. When Johnathan heard that he was there he asked that someone go and bring him that he may lay his hands upon him but they said it would do no good. Johnathan insisted and Brother Young was brought and administered to him and immediately he asked for something to seat, the first food in nearly a week. The next day he was able to get up from his bed and was soon well again. The family knew it was the power and mercy of God that had made the healing possible. After a period of about four weeks they moved on westward with many others toward a resting place for the Saints. In about two weeks they arried at a place where Lucinda's two daughters, Martha Jane and Sally Ann with their husbands, Anthony Johnson Stratton and Horace Burr Owens had stopped on Grand River. They had built themselves log cabins and had raised a little corn which was badly frost bitten but which they were glad to grind and eat before the next spring. Even the frosted cornmeal was a hundred percent better than the bitter black flour they had eaten on the road from Nauvoo. To get corn dry enough to grind they layed it overhead on the house and when dry enought o shell they did so then carried it on their backs to a handmill at Brother Lorenzo Snow's home. They often had to wait their turn to grind the corn as the mill was constatly busy day and night , beside this they paid a small toll for its use. Brother Snow presided over this place for some time.


The next year 1847 they raised some good corn that fully matured being dry and sound and made good bread.


There were scouts sent ahead to make log homes that the companies could live in during the winter months. By putting in an early crop they could then move on to a fall crop ready to be harvested, leaving the early down crop for the following companies to harvest. This was done by the advice of Pres. Brigham Young. In this manner thousands of the saints have been able to gather to Utah.


After living in Pisgah, Iowa nearly 18 months, about November 1847 Lucinda married aman by the name of Barnett Manzer and the following spring they moved onto Potawatomie County, Iowa in company with John W. Cowley and his mother and others. After two eeks of traveling they camped on North Pigeon Creek where Barnett Manzar bult a house and fenced some ground then planted a crop. They made themselves as comfortable as possible at the same time preparing to move farther west as soon as possible.


In the early spring of 1850 some of the men went to drive freight teams to Salt Lake City and Johnathan, on of Lucinda's sons, was with them and he states this experience on the 5th day of April about 10 o'clock we saw this peculiar sign in the heavens. The sun was surrounded for a little distance with a circle of light. From the eastern edge of the sun reaching through this light was the representation of an arm reaching from the shoulder to the hand, the fingers could be plainly seen as grasping the hilt of a large sword with the point toward the earth to the southeast of where we were (Northwest Missouri). This remained in our sight until noon then it disappeared.


Some years Some years after this I read of a person in Illinois one night who stood looking at the heavens with face toward the south and he saw a similar sight. A streak of light reaching from the earth many degrees upward as the figure 1, the ends seemed to lengthen out and each end turned to the right and met in the center making the number 8, the upper end then straightened out leaving the lower end forming the number 6, and then the two ends turned forward and met in the center forming the number 0. Putting them all together as they were maked the figures 1860. This taken in connection with the hand and the sword that was shown to us the events that took place are easily understood to mean the foreshadowing of the great war of the United State, The Civil War
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As the men reached the place where they were supposed to outfit the freight trains and were about ready to continue the trek westward many of the men let down considerably in their moral conduct which was not in keeping with the teachings of the church. This so disgusted the remaining few that they left the train and went back to the man company. Johnathan being one of these went back to find his mother, Lucinda, with a tiny baby whom they named Stephen Manzer.


In the summer of 1851 nearly all of the Latter-day Saints in Potawatomie County prepared to go the following year to the Salt Lake valley. In the month of May the saints of the North Pigeon branch started their journey to the valley and within the next day or so crossed the river on the flat boat. The cattle were forced to swim but all crossed safely thought the river was more than a half mile wide at the crossing.


The company they traveled in was organized as all companies of the Latter-day Saints were who crossed the plains. Their captain was Benjamin Gardner. They raveled slowly to allow the cattle time for possible feeding. They soon arrived where the buffalo were seen in countless numbers and they had buffalo meat in abundance most of the journey. In June the arrived at the Loop Fork River which they must ford, the river being full of quick sand forced the wagons to keep going once they started to cross for the running water would take the sand from under the wheels and they would sink a foot or more in just a few minutes and so completely envelope the lower side of the wheels that they were forced to use two or three teams to move the sinking wagon. This same condition applied also to cattle, horses or men, all must keep moving or they would become fast in the reacherous sand.


At long last all were safely over and camped for the night. Early next morning they were on the move again passing the Bishop W. W. Lames company who were camped on Look Fork River.


Cholera was in the Lames camp therefore they passed them by and stopped on the west fork of the river for noon. A short time later the Lames company passed on by going up the river. After two hours nooning they again overtook the Bishop's wagon and two others. The Bishop had died of Cholera and they had stopped to bury him. They had dug the grave and were lowering the body inti it, the waster was six to eight inches deep in the bottom of the grave but they lowered the body whihc as half buried in water. They finished covering it with soil and immediately continued on their journey.


Near 4 o'clock in the afternoon they overtook another wagon along the road. It also was one of Bishop Lames wagons, his wife had also died of the cholera and they were digging her grave less than seven miles from where he was buried. It was indeed a sad sight. Death was stalking abroad in daylight as well as in darkness. They then passed on along the Wood River about 10 miles from the last mentioned grave.


Cholera attacked four more in the Lames camp that night and at noon the following day Brother Amos Hunt lost a son near 16 years of age and he was buried immediately. The camp moved on and that night another died and was buried in the like manner. Next morning they moved on again. Indeed it seemed as thought they raveled in death valley so many new graves were passed day after day. They were now on the Platte River and within a few days relief came to them when the sickness ceased and they gave thanks to the Lord.


The camp always layed over on the sabbath day and meetings held as often as it was possible to do so. All camps were made in a circle, wagon to wagon, and always at least four men on guard throughout the night, also two men were with the cattle. Cattle was often taken some distance to find food for them. As troublesome as all these things were it was much better than fear of the mobs had been and it was always pleasant to reflect on going to the land of peace, if not of plenty.


Thus day by day, week by week, they traveled ever onward to the land of promise where they would be free to worship the Lord their God according to the dictates of their own conscience with none to afflict or oppress. Free from the hands of such men as they who killed the prophet of the Lord and drove helpless and sick men and women, many whose husbands were in the service of the government. That same government did nto raise a hand to prevent these outrages
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Near the forks of the Platte River it was thought best to divide the company into two or more camps, making it possible to travel faster. This was done and proved to be advantageous as planned.


Their company did not cross the Platte River at Fort Laramie but continued up the north side until they reached the mountains 40 or 50 miles above Fort Laramie. There they camped the 11th company, James Megaw captain. They were there two or three days as feed was good and old acquaintances had a good time visiting.


It was a new thing to climb mountains. The different kinds of timber, pine and spruce, the magnificent scenery and the view to be had of the valleys was entirely new to them. The buffalo that were to be seen at this time in the hills and plains near the Platte River was really wonderful. From a 50 foot hill one could see in any direction as far as the eye could reach. The earth was black with herds of moving buffalo so close together that the ground could not be seen between them. Guards were put out right and left to prevent them from going between the wagons, thereby stampeding the cattle and horses, in this manner a stampeded was avoided in their company, but other companies were not so successful being less watchful. Buffalo travel very little at night this proved helpful to the moving saints. In one herd of buffalo an old work ox was seen but it was impossible to separate him from them.


When they broke this camp they separated from the 11th company and didn't see them again until they arrived in the valley. They crossed the river to the south side for the teams were beginning to tire and feed at the camp grounds was not enough for their large herds. It was thought best to again divide the company and this they did and lightened their loads as much as possible by throwing away boxes and other things that could be spared to help the poor overworked teams.


George Wilding, who had married Lucinda's daughter, Mary Elizabeth in the spring of 1851 broke his wagon, his team being weak and nothing with which to mend the wagon. He put his load and team to other wagons and within a few days they reached Deer Creek. There they found coal in the bed of the creek and stayed over a few days to mend wagons and to keep the sabbath. Monday they moved on again and when camping for noon a large group of Cheyenne Indians came to them. As the Indians were dressed in war paint and seemed a little hostile they hardly knew how to handle the situation. They put up a brave front showing no fear although they were, they got out their fiddles and the young folk danced which greatly amused the Indians. Giving them a few presents the Indians soon moved off which suited the company very well and soon they also were on the move but not in the same direction as the Indians had taken.


One day a number prairie dogs were killed and cooked over the sagebrush fires. They were very palatable meat, although many could not be persuaded to eat because it was called dog.


On they traveled for many days through sagebrush and plains, mile after weary mile. After many trials and timbers later they reached the foot of the so longed for mountains. There they camped and ate dinner by a small creek at the foot of the mountain but their stop was short for they had been told that from the top of the next little mountain they could see into the valley of the great Salt Lake so on they hurried to see who could arrive there first. Soon they reached to top and there fore them lay the valley thay had come so far to see. Some were moved to tears of gratitude and thanksgiving, others disappointed with the looks of the place, all sagebrush, dry, a treeless plain, but down the mountain, across the bench and into the city they went. Arriving there at 4 o'clock p.m. 27 September 1852. They found many old friends and acquaintances and soon began to feel better. The next day they were ready to move on toward Ogden, Weber County. Some went south and Arnett Manzer and Lucinda with their unmarried family consisting to two daughter, Nancy Marie, Jerusha Emeline and two sons, Elihu Preston, and baby Stephen went to Nephi County.


There seems to be not record at the present day as to what became of Barnett Manzer but we do know that Lucinda and her children returned to Salt Lake from Nephi and resided in a home on the corner of South Temple and Second West until these children were married and Lucinda was alone. On the 4 Oct 1857 she buried her son Robert Lee Layne and on 19 Oct 1863 she received her endowments which gave her much joy. Shortly after the railroad was completed she went to Pasadena, California to be with her daughter.


As she grew older she returned to her children living in the the vicinty of Salt Lake and was cared for by the George Wilding family in the Sixteenth Ward. She was deprived of her eye sight in her later years but received tender care from her daughter Mary Elizabeth Wilding who lived in the block north of the Jackson School until her death 10 April 1896 at the age of 91 years.


(Author unknown)