Sarah Elzina Pulsipher

Sarah Elzina Pulsipher "4 months old" in 1855

Sarah Elzina and Daniel Moroni Tyler Wedding Photo 1872

Life sketch of Sarah Elzina Pulsipher Tyler

Sarah Elzina Pulsipher Tyler was born 6 Nov. 1854 at Salt Lake, Salt Lake County, to John Pulsipher who was born at Spafford, Onondaga County, New York 17 July 1827, and Rozilla Huffaker who was born 24 Jan. 1837 at Bureau County, Illinois.

When about six months of age Elzina’s father was called on a Latter-Day Saint mission among the Shoshone Indians, laboring at Fort Supply in Wyoming. This Fort is located about twelve miles from Fort Bridger in Wyoming. His call was to teach the Indians how to live a better life and to become civilized. He came home for the winter and returned the following spring taking his wife and daughter, Elzina, with him.

The following incident occurred when mother was nine years of age. Her mother was weaving a rug. The door was pushed open and four large Indians walked into the room. They asked where her husband was. She silenced them by saying he was asleep. (He had gone from the house and the Indians had waited until he was out of sight before they entered). They demanded food. Elzina’s mother slid off her stool, pushed an Indian out of her way, rushed to the door over which hung the gun, and turned on them as she cocked the gun and told them to get out or she would shoot. The Indians knew she meant business and left. She followed them out in the yard ordering them to go fast, which they did.

Elzina put on a coat and was helped up onto the roof of the house to watch the Indians until they were around the mountain. Elzina later learned to speak the Indian language.

She often went with her father to herd the cattle and sheep. A Book of Mormon was take along and she was taught how to read by her father. It became and always was one of her cherished books. She learned many of the stories contained therein. Her mother died 9 Feb. 1871, when Elzina was sixteen years of age. She was the

oldest child so she had the responsibility of caring for the other children. She could sew and cook.

Elzina married Daniel Moroni Tyler 19 Aug. 1872 at the Endowment House in Salt Lake, Utah after traveling by covered wagon and horses 200 miles, accompanied by his mother, Ruth.

The first year after their marriage they lived at Beaver City, Utah where their first daughter Rozilla was born and died 18 May 1873. Daniel was a good telegraph operator and was called to teach others. Elzina learned how to send and receive messages. When they wanted to talk and didn’t want the children to hear them, they used the telegraph, with their knives and forks!

The second child was born 30 Oct. 1874. Daniel Tyler, the child’s grandfather said:

His name shall be Daniel. It is my desire is that the first son of each generation be named

Daniel. This tradition has been carried on for six generations (as of 1964). This statement was given at Hebron,

Another son John Pulsipher was born here 31 Aug. 1878. One and a half years later a little dark haired, brown-eyed girl was born 2 Feb. 1880 and was given her grandmother’s name, Ruth. Two years later on May 31, 1882 William Nathaniel was born.

The parents worked very hard to make a living for the growing family on small wages. They milked cows, made large rolls of butter and extra good cheese and had a large garden to care for. They raised melons and other produce, which with the butter and cheese was exchanged in the city for articles, which they needed.

The father Daniel hauled freight and would take his young son, Daniel, with him to help care for the horses and to run errands.

Another period of two years passed and another brown-eyed girl arrived 8 Aug. 1884 and was named Esther Murray. About this time Daniel was teaching school.

7 November 1686 marked the birthday of a big boy named Andrews. His mother was very sick. Emily made her appearance to this world on April 19, 1889. Snakes were plentiful at Hebron. They crawled into the houses and frighten the people.

In January of 1891 the family moved from Hebron O Huntington, Emery County, Utah where six months later on 3 June 1891 twins Marion and Mary were born. Two years later on Christmas Eve 24 December 1893 Charles was born.

Pneumonia set in and he died 10 September l895 and was buried in the Huntington cemetery. Nine of the ten children were in bed with measles at the time.

After a few days illness with diabetes Nathaniel died 7 Jan. 1897. Elzina, now a widow, and her family left Huntington for Idaho on the l9th day of May 1897 with two covered wagons with furniture, bedding and provisions and cattle. The journey was slow, stopping to let the cattle feed. The children would play games, run races at camping time while the mother would cook and knit stockings.

After traveling the distance of about six hundred miles they reached Eagle Rock, now Idaho Falls, Idaho a month later. They settled first at Willow Creek (now Ucon) a small town nine miles northeast of Idaho Falls.

The family lived a few months in Earl Huffaker’s log house where the boys worked on the farm. The next year Dan and John rented Ray Huffaker farm, which later John bought.

Those happy childhood days were over now. The family found mates of their own and left the home nest, to make homes for themselves. All of them settled within a few miles of the old home.

About the time John was married in 1904 the boys bought forty acres of ground and built a nice three-room house located in the village of Ucon. Another room, and porch were added later.

Elzina loved her new hone. Now she could attend church more regularly. She was a faithful Latter Day Saint working in the Relief Society and Primary organizations in Ucon. She delighted to see her sons and daughters attending to their church duties. She taught them the principles of the gospel from childhood. At different times all the children held positions in the different organizations of the church.

In the Spring of 1906 Elzina had a very severe sick spell. Bishop Alphonzo Bert Simmons called a special fast for her. The older ward members fasted two days and a special meeting was called. Elzina was given a blessing by Lewis Huffaker and Heber Andrus. Many testimonies were borne. Her Uncle Lewis Huffaker was impressed to tell her that if she drank buttermilk she would be healed. Prior to this meeting she had been unable to keep food or liquids on her stomach. This buttermilk was made from their and their neighbors churns so it was fresh. It was her only source of nourishment for a long time, but it gave her strength

In June of the same year she went to Salt Lake to live with her sister Emily Robbins and to be near a doctor. Doctors Richards and son Gill were her doctors. She was taken thirteen blocks in a wheel chair pushed by her sister and daughter Mary to the doctor’s office. Later another daughter Emily helped and Mary returned home to Idaho. The doctors remarked that a greater power than theirs was aiding in her recovery.

In three months time, she returned home to Ucon in a berth, on the Yellowstone Special train. She recovered gradually and lived for six years in good health. She did small chores such as feeding the geese and chickens, harnessing and hitching the grey mare (Maud) to the buggy and going to church and to visit her family.

She loved reading the Book of Mormon and read it through several times. It was a habit in the home to read from that book aloud in the evenings. Elzina could tell what book they were reading from if only a few lines were read.

Elzina taught her children not to be afraid of work. “An idle brain is the Devils work shop” was often repeated by her. Her hands were never idle. She knit lace, scarves, stockings, gloves and mittens. She passed away on 18 September 1912 at her home surrounded by her family. She is buried in the Ucon cemetery.

A letter written by Sarah Elzina Tyler about the death of her husband to his parents.

We got your very welcome letter few days ago. Have been very busy cleaning house and washing bedding. Some of the children are going to school. The boys are all busy hauling grain. Just got the hay up. Danny is not very well. He must have went to work too quick after he had measles. Him and Ruth just got around when the rest took them, eight all the same time and was not so could go out when their Pa died, so they had the funeral here. The folks have been very kind to us and to help while Dan was sick. We couldn’t get him out of bed for six weeks. He lay in the same place without moving the least bit, only his shoulders. His back was sore the whole length. Could see the sharp bones where the sores were made from laying so long. It was over seven months he never walked. He was so anxious to see some of you. Emily thought John could come, and he counted the days it would take him to come, then we got word he couldn’t, but he said he would if we wrote again. He never knew he wanted to see him. We got father’s letter the day before he died saying John was working. All he said was, “it was so hard to die without seeing any of them”.

He just grew weaker and never said much, but could talk till a few minutes before he died. He took my hand and said: “O don’t hold me any longer and stopped breathing so easy. He suffered more than any one can tell and was so patient.

Father you give so good advice we will try hard to keep in mind and live as we should, but I expect it will be hard without him to help us. I feel as though I had much to do alone to raise one’s children as they should, but they are all good and obedient now. Their teachers all say they are the best children in school. Nights they are at home while others are around yelling and doing mischief. There is something they all can do to help. And they are willing to do anything to help.

We were very sorry for poor Alice. She has such bad luck with her babies, but it is a comfort to know they are innocent. I went to meeting today and every hymn they sang was something Dan used to sing. I was such a baby. Don’t think I will go for a while. It was hard to go this time. He always went with me. Give our love to all and write to me. Excuse poor spelling and writing. From your daughter and sister Elzina.

I would like to share a personal experience with you concerning an experience with this wonderful grandmother. This is a chapter from my autobiography "Reflections" by Roma Christensen.

There was a point in my life when I felt so discouraged that I did not want to live any more. Many times I took a handful of pills hoping to get someone to notice that I needed help and a little "T.L.C.". I did not really want to die. My mother had died when I was fifteen years young. I missed her and felt lonely and alone. My father was a good man but he was afraid that I would rebel against him if he did not let me do everything I wanted to do. Therefore, I went where I wanted and came back when I wanted and I did not get punished for anything I did.

I know my father meant well, but because he was afraid of me, I did not think anyone cared. A teenagers mind doesn't always think clearly. And I was a typical teenager.

I had a very special boyfriend. I devoted my whole life to pleasing him. I wrote to him daily when he served in the armed forces in Viet Nam. I worshiped the ground he walked on. I dearly loved his mother and siblings. His mother became as much a part of me as my own. Until he decided to marry another girl.

My heart hurt. The pain was more than I could bear. I did everything I could do to get him back. And then I realized that it would take a miracle to do that. Little did I know that a miracle of a different kind was about to happen.

I was eighteen years old when I finally decided to follow through with a plan to take my own life. It was December. The frosty air felt cold against my face. I hurried back to my college dormitory and proceeded to make my plans. I was sure that no one cared about me. My life was unimportant. No one needed me. Even my room mates didn't care! I sat on my bed and reviewed the scenario I had planned out in my head. I would follow through with my plan tomorrow. It was late and I went to bed knowing that this would be my last night on this earth.

As I lay there I heard my room mates come into my room. I didn't open my eyes. I wanted them to think I was sound asleep. I heard them whispering to each other, "she looks like an Angel sleeping there, doesn't she"? I couldn't believe my ears. Did I actually hear them saying something nice about me? My mind wandered back to my plan. Did someone care? Reasoning with myself I could not see how this kind statement would do anything to change the events in my life. Life? Nothing could change my life. I was destined to be unhappy all the days of my life. I just knew it. Then I drifted off into dreamland with tears streaming down my face.

Dry your eyes, I heard her say. I opened my eyes to see who was speaking to me. It was a lady I did not know. She held her hand out to me and asked me to come with her. I obeyed. Her hand felt cold. But I could tell that she was someone special and would not hurt me. She spoke to me in soft whispers. "I am your great grandmother, Sarah Elzina Pulsipher Tyler" and "I want you to know that I love you". She went on to explain that I was very important to her, that my life did matter and that I needed to stay here to complete my work. She said I had a special mission to fulfill, that the Lord needed me to stay. I asked her how anyone could need me. I wasn't worth anything. But she reinforced her words and told me that she loved me.

As I looked into her eyes, I knew she meant what she said. I had never felt such a deep expression of Love. There was no doubt left in my mind that she cared. She asked me to walk with her. We exchanged many important things along the way. She escorted me to the Cemetery in Ucon, Idaho. She directed me to the headstone on a grave. It was pure white with a rounded top. And as I read the inscription I realized that this was her grave. Suddenly we were back in my room and as she slowly disappeared I heard her whisper, "Remember, I Love You"!

Morning came fast and I jumped out of my bed, into my clothes, into my car, and headed for Ririe. A twenty mile drive. When I got to my dads home, I proceeded to search the family photos for a picture of my great grandmother. I finally found it in a family history book that my dear uncle Stuart Tyler had put together.

I couldn't believe my eyes, this was the person who had visited me in the night. Then I drove to Ucon and went to the Cemetery. When I found the headstone, I knew that my grandmother had come from the world beyond to save my life. Tears ran down my face. I was overwhelmed. It was then that I knew who my Guardian Angel was. And I got down on my knees and thanked my Father in Heaven for allowing her to come to me.

The following chapter in my book tells of my father and I becoming best friends.