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.. FROM COVERED WAGONS TO AIRPLANES & SPACESHIPS Return to Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 SPENCER EARL SAVILLE 1902 GEORGE WRIGHT SAVILLE 1841ELLEN WESTWOOD SAVILLE 1841 JOSIAH SAVILL(E) 1816
SPENCER EARL SAVILLE 1902 - 1969
Spencer, the youngest son of Ernest and Florence May Hanson Saville, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, 3 Oct 1902. He was a studious young man, interested in everything around him, especially a new field of electronics. By the time he was in his teens, he had studied on his own and learned about a new electronic instrument that could transfer talking and singing etc., from a central point to a box he had built called a receiver, later known as a radio. He called it his ham radio. The young boys in the neighborhood were fascinated when he would let them come in and see the "wonderful things" he was doing. He also kept them interested by his ability to stand on his hands and on his head. He was a hero to them. He went on a mission to the Hawaiian Islands for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where he spent 2 years preaching the gospel to the natives. He learned to love the native dish, poi, and also cooked small octopus. When he returned from his mission, he tried to convince his mother and family members that they were both good to eat but he wasn't successful. He had purchased an electric guitar and a regular one and a ukelele which he had learned to play well. Before leaving for his mission, he had introduced a neighbor, Earl J. Glade, to his radio equipment. Mr. Glade became quite caught up in the instruments and eventually went on to help start up the first radio station in Salt Lake – KSL. He managed it for many years. Spencer’s older sister, Irene, was asked by Mr. Glade to become a soloist for KSL which she did for a time. Spencer was caught up in electronics. He studied on his own to learn all he could about this new medium. He read magazines, got books from the library, talked to anyone he thought could help him understand and then put his information to work and made it work. He eventually was able to reach stations all over the world with his equipment. Read more in the book. . .
GEORGE WRIGHT SAVILLE
1841 I, George Wright Saville, was born, was born July 14, 1841 in Saffron Walden, Essex, England. My father was Josiah Savill. My mother’s maiden name was Mary Anne Wright. My father, Josiah, was born Oct. 11, 1816, and my mother was born July 18, 1816. My father was French and Jewish, my mother was English. My troubles began early, before I was 3 years old. I was blind 3 times and my sight came back. When 3 1/2 my hand was mashed between a gate and post and I almost lost my hand with blood poisoning. When I was getting better I fell down and struck my head on the stump of a cherry tree, and I was badly hurt. About age 4-1/2, my parents moved to the town of Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire. My father was a shoemaker and at that time there was great distress in England. Food was very high and not much work. I had but very little schooling. When about 8 yrs old, I had, what the Dr said, was a deep seated abscess under the flesh in the thick part of my right thigh. My leg got shorter and very small so I couldn't sit in the usual way. Some months after this my mother heard of the Mormon Elders and was invited to attend a meeting at the home of Elder Dell who spoke of the gifts of the spirit following those who believe. She told him of her boy and he promised her if she would receive the gospel with an earnest heart that I'd be healed. My mother took me with her to the next meeting where Elder Dell anointed my leg, then my head and confirmed the anointing and the next day, my leg started to heal and in a short time it was as good as the other leg. Before I reached the age of 10 yrs old, I was helping my father make shoes. My mother was baptized but my father was so opposed to the Mormons, he didn't join. I was baptized Dec. 24, 1854. From then on I worked a lot for the Church. At 16 I was sent out with two other boys, a little older than I to preach the gospel in the village near by. At 18, I was ordained a priest by Elder Geo. Teasdale. From then on I was kept busy at meetings with much opposition about this time. I baptized William Webb and his wife Martha. My father had started in business for himself and Brother Webb worked for him. Because of the mob spirit, we had to give up the hall and held the meetings in Brother Webbs home. He was ordained an Elder and set apart to preside over the Branch. We were few in numbers as several had left for Utah. I tracted in the morning, Branch meetings at 2 p.m., and outdoor meetings in the evening.
About 9 months before, I had received a love letter unsigned, something about "Roses are red Violets are blue and you shine so bright in every part." I finally found the girl, a quite shy girl. When I was 20 years and 7 months, old, I married the girl, Ellen Westwood, on Jan 11, 1862 at Bishop Stortford, England. Wm. Webb left for Utah and I was set apart to preside over the Branch and did so until I left England June 23, 1868, on the ship Constitution. We had 3 children, Jessie Agnes, Ernest, and Herbert Geo. born Dec. 25, 1867. Hebert Geo. was sick when we left and all during the journey on the way over. Ernest was having convulsions on the ship and was finely given up for dead. While being wrapped for burial they saw his eyes move. He got better toward the end of the journey. Herbert Geo. died Xmas day 1864, being 1 yr old. We arrived in Salt Lake Sept 15, 1868, very poor and exhausted, with 2 sick children. We had only a small stove because everything had to be left in Omaha, I, George, walked all the way, Ellen walked in the afternoon, rode in the morning. Ellen's sister, who was a cripple, had to ride all the way. (George was barefoot and bleeding on both feet upon reaching the tithing office, which was where the Deseret News Bldg now is. Ellen gives this account of her husband as he arrived in Salt Lake. She said he sat down on the steps and wept for a long time, he was so disappointed. It was dusty, hot and dry and sage brush. They went to live in the 18th ward, in 2 small rooms, sleeping on the floor and getting along with nothing but some boxes for chairs and table, they had a very sick baby and it was getting worse. He went to work soon after he arrived here and was very successful. His shop was in his home. Some months later in 1862, he moved to 2nd So. about where the mint café is now, and opened a shop. Read more in the book. . .
Ellen Westwood Saville was born the 18 Oct. 1841, in Farnhall, Essex, England. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Martin Westwood. Little is known of her life before she married George Saville. She and her family were members of the Church of England but after meeting some missionaries and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, she and her mother and four of the children joined the new church against the desire of her father. He later joined the church after arriving in Utah. She was baptized in 1857 in England. Ellen met George and they were soon married. She was a small lady, probably about five foot tall or even less. She loved pretty things and George tried to give her the things she wanted. She was friendly and people liked her. Her home was always nicely kept and decorated with the pretty things she loved. George helped his father in his shop as a shoe maker. According to a letter his mother once wrote, George probably kept the books for his father's business also. When George was preparing to leave for America with his family, his mother said that she would now have to keep the books in as much as George was leaving to take his family to America. Ellen always supported George in his church work. They soon determined that they would go to America and the Valley. Ellen was expecting their 4th child and was not well. George's brother James, and his sister Emma, wanted to go with them, plus Ellen's sister, Caroline or Carrie as she was known. Carrie had a club foot which made it extremely difficult for her to walk so she and Ellen rode most of the way plus the 3 small children. They set sail on June 24, 1868 on the ship "Constitution." The name of the Captain was John Gillespie. When they arrived in New York they took the train to Fort Benton, stayed one week and then started for Utah by ox team and wagon. They were six months on the plains. They had a hard time of it some days. George walked the entire distance with his shoe sewing machine on his back. He wouldn't trust it to the wagon because it was how he intended to support his family when they arrived in the valley. Ellen was never very healthy after she was married. Each baby she had was difficult for her. She had 3 children before they finally left for America, Jessie Agnes born 1864, Ernest born in 1866, and Hubert George born in 1867. She was sick most of the time while crossing the plains as she was expecting another child, so George insisted that she ride most of the time. They apparently were able to ride part way in the train but had to go most of the distance to the Valley in a wagon. George was glad to have the help of his brother. Because Ellen was not well and because they had so many small children, George and Ellen decided it would be a good idea if he was to marry Carrie as his 2nd polygamous wife so she could help Ellen. They were married the 20 July 1871 in Salt Lake City. Ellen became extremely jealous of the marriage and made things very difficult for George and Carrie, so George provided a nice home for each of them, about a block apart on 7th East. Carrie bore George 6 children and was a wonderful wife, mother and she tried very hard to also be a good sister to Ellen. Read more in the book. . .
JOSIAH SAVILL(E) 1816 Josiah, son of John and Sarah Crane Savill, was born on the 11th of October 1816, in the little village of Saffron Walden, Essex, England. It was a typical English village of the day with thatched roof cottages, narrow streets, and a parish church of which they were proud. The cemetery was in the church yard. Some of the cottages had lovely roses or other flowers which twined up around the doorway. Most people had a small garden in which they raised some flowers and vegetables. They drew their water from a central well. Josiah's father was a cordwainer (shoemaker) of French/Jewish descent. His shoes were all hand made and the work was good. He taught his son, Josiah, the value of doing good work that he could always be proud of. As soon as Josiah was old enough, about seven or eight years old, he often helped his father in the shop, putting his little hand down into the toe of the ladies’ and children’s shoes to stitch where his father's larger hand would not go. Young children often had to go to work, but Josiah was more blessed than some because he was able to work and learn from his own father. John, Josiah's father, made a fair living for his family in his little shop. He had his wife Sarah and their six children to support, so he worked long and hard hours. Josiah had two brothers and a sister older than he; John Jr., Elizabeth, and William who died when he was nearly eight years old. He also had two sisters and two brothers younger than he was; Sarah, James, Mary Ann and the second William. Josiah was a good looking youth with dark hair and beautiful eyes. As he grew to manhood, he sported a well trimmed beard and mustache as did so many of the young men of the day. He was of average height, about five foot nine or ten and his good looks soon attracted a young lady that caught his eye. Her name was Mary Ann Wright. Josiah worked hard to perfect his abilities as a shoemaker until at last he knew that he was in a position to support a family. It was then that he approached Mary Ann's father to ask for permission to marry his daughter. They were married on the 3rd of August 1840 in the parish church in Saffron Walden. At the time, records say that Josiah was living on High Street and Mary Ann was living on Gold Street. They were married by the parish priest, N. Bull, after their banns had been taken care of. Mary Ann was a thrifty housewife and with her education and talents, she was able to make a nice home for her husband and the children that were to bless their home. Later on she would tell her daughter about how she had to work such long hours sitting as a seamstress in a factory to help make ends meet during bad times. The first baby was a boy who they named George Wright. He was born a year after their marriage on the 14th of July 1841. They were to have five other children born to bless their home in the coming years; Mary Ann, Emma, Eliza, James Wright, and Lydia. To their sorrow, baby Lydia died the following year. Health problems were to plague their little family. It started with George. In his own words, he said, "My troubles began early. Before I was three years old, I was blind three times. When I was three and a half, my hand was mashed between a gate and gatepost and I nearly lost my hand. When it was nearly better, I fell down and struck my head on the stump of a cherry tree and was badly hurt." Read more in the book. . . |
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