HISTORY OF SARAH JANE GOFF

My grandmother, Sara Jane Goff, daughter of James and Mary Elizabeth Kimbrough Goff, was born March 22, 1831, in Howard County, Missouri. It was here as a child she went through the persecutions of the saints, as they were driven from their homes in Missouri.

One writer has said, "My eyes have beheld the blood-stained traces of innocent women and children, in the dreary winter, who have traveled hundreds of miles barefoot, through frost and snow, to seek refuge from their savage pursuers."

After locating at Nauvoo, Illinois, this young woman witnessed the trial of the saints, the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and his brother Hyrum Smith.

After the temple was completed on January 21, l846, she took out her endowments, being just 15 years of age. She was with her parents in the exodus from Nauvoo, when they traveled across the state of Iowa toward the Rocky Mountains. There in Pottawattamie County, at the age of sixteen (l6), she married Elias Hicks Blackburn on March 3, l847.

In the year 1849, this young woman with her husband started for the saints new home in the Rocky Mountains in William Hyde's Company. On July 22, 1849 her first child, a son, was born as they reached Lone Tree, Nebraska located on the Platt River. They named him Elias Platt.

After arriving in Utah, she, with her husband and their baby boy, were sent to Provo where a fort was built to live in, as the Indians were very hostile in that locality. That winter of 1849-50, the people had fierce battle with the Indians, at which time Brother Joseph Higbee was killed and a number more wounded. In this way, this brave little woman spent her first winter in Utah, witnessing and sharing in these hardships and privations. In the spring of 1850, peace was made with the Indians, and the people began to move out of the fort and build on their own lots. They also planted their crops and gardens. At that time food was very scarce, wheat selling at $5.00 a bushel, so there was much suffering and weakness. The children were careful and saving of every particle of food.

On February 10, 1851, a second child was born to this young mother, and, being a girl, was named Sarah Jane. In March of that same year, President (?), and others came to Provo to organize a ward at which her husband was made bishop. So this young mother of but 20 years was the mother of children and would have to assist her husband in the church as a leader of the ward.

The winter of 1851-52 was a very hard one, but with the help of the Lord, the saints were able to survive. In April 1852, a young woman came to share her home and her husband, for Bishop Blackburn married Nancy Fips Lain.

During the year of 1853, there were many more troubles with the Indian Chief Walker of the Ute Tribe who waged war and many of the men (can't read) or to fight. By this time, the town of Provo and grown so that it was made into four wards.

During these years Sarah Jane's brother, Elisha, lived with this family. Part of the time her husband was away, as he made trips to help immigrating saints on the plains. On June 3, 1854, another son was born who was named Orson Hyde.

In the year 1855, conditions were much improved for the saints and provisions were very high--sugar being worth $1.00 per pound. In the fall of that year, a blessing came to the people of Provo in the shape of hard white (? can't read) found on the young cottonwood trees, which when shook from the trees and put into a tubs of water and boiled made sugar much the color of raw brown sugar. This was considered a great blessing as we well know how rare sweets were at this time.

In April 1855, while her husband was in Salt Lake City, he married Elizabeth Hale, and so again she shared with another.

Additional notes by Judyth Ann Goff Cook: This family moved in Minersville, Utah by 1854 where their son Orson Hyde was born. Other children were born to this couple as follows: Thomas Blackburn , July 18, 1858; Anna Laura Blackburn, August 29, 1863; James Elisha Blackburn, April 29, 1865; Alice Blackburn, September 6, 1877.

Sarah Jane Goff Blackburn died on December 28, 1891 in Loa, Wayne County, Utah, and is buried in the Loa Cemetery.

This history is written by Clara Haacke, granddaughter of Sarah Jane Goff.

History submitted by:
Judyth Ann Goff Cook
18 Jun 2000

Text prepared for website by:
Gwen Goff Hobbs
19 Jun 2000