Memorials › Lucinda Melissa Davenport Forsdick

Lucinda Melissa Davenport Forsdick

1 Jul 1839 – 3 Apr 1892

Birth1 Jul 1839
Death3 Apr 1892
CemeteryChester Cemetery
Chester , Thayer County , Nebraska , USA
Added byColin Stephen Pegram on 07 Jun 2012
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46225901

Bio

The Chester Herald (Chester, NE), April 8,1892; pg. 4 Obituary. Mrs. Stephen Forsdick died on Sunday after a very long and painful sickness. Although her family had been almost daily expecting her death for several months, their loss is none the less severely felt and the bereaved household have the sympathy of all in their hour of affliction. The funeral was held in the Christian church (sic) at 11 o'clock on Tuesday and was attended by a large number of her relatives and friends who completely filled the church. After the services, which were conducted by Elder Bryant assisted by Revs. Lenfest and Hindman, her remains were followed to their last resting place in the Chester cemetery (sic) by a large number of people. We print below a short sketch of her life which was read at the funeral: Lucinda Malissa Davenport was born in Wayne Co., Mich. July 1st, 1839. When a child, her parents, who had joined the Mormon church, removed to Nauvoo, Ill., and resided there until driven away in the spring of 1846. After enduring all the hardships incident to a life in the wilderness, the family arrived in Salt Lake City in the fall of 1851. In 1856 she, in company with the rest of her people, left Utah for the Missouri river (sic), and October 2nd of the same year, was married to Stephen Forsdick at Fort Laramie, then in Nebraska territory. She was the mother of nine children, seven of whom survive her. In her early youth, she united with the Mormon church, but as she grew older, she discarded polygamy and some of the other glaring inconsistencies of that church and in after life did not unite with any other denomination, believing that pure religion consisted more in good works than in loud protestations of her faith. She was a faithful wife and mother, and ever strove to live in the light as she saw it. She died April 3d, 1892, aged 52 years, 8 months and 2 days. ==================== The Hebron Journal (Hebron, NE), Friday, February 11, 1921; pg. 6 STEVE FORSDICK STOLE HIS BRIDE FROM A MORMAN Went to Government Fort For Protection The Colonel Finally Decided to Give Them Military Portection In 1853 young Forsdick, then a fun-loving and adventure seeking youngster, joined a band of Mormons and with them made the perilous journey to Salt Lake City through the savage Indian country that stretched to the west. Young Forsdick encountered many interesting experiences during his trip, and arrived at his destination of September 31, 1853. It was on the return trip, three years later, that he met pretty 17-year-old Lucinda Davenport, who was destined to become his wife. Forsdick's party, who were returning to "God's country" as the country east of the Missouri was called, met an eastward bound party of Mormons near old Fort Laramie. Both parties stopped for a short rest and to exchange courtesies of the trail. And it was during this short respite that young Forsdick and Lucinda met and were mutually attracted. Life had been anything but sweet for the Mormon girl. When but a little girl she had been betrothed by her parents to William Woodward, a man years her senior, who was at that time head of their expedition. His attention to her had been very distasteful. Her future life as one of Woodward's wives looked dark indeed until the daring and handsome young Forsdick appeared on the scene. The story of the elopement follows: When I first saw my wife I resolved then and there that she would be mine. I confided in my chum, Sam Covington, and he offered to lend what aid he could. During the several days that our parties camped near together, I spent much of my time near the Davenport wagon. The girl and I became the best of friends, and she confided her troubles to me. The night before the parties were to continue their journeys, one to the east, the other to the westward. I proposed to the girl and was accepted. In my youthful enthusiasm I did not realize the gravity of the occasion. To marry her with the consent of her parents would have been impossible, and to have done it in opposition would have been a crime punishable by death. I decided my only course was to elope. Late that night she and I stole away to the fort and were married, while Covington held the attention of Woodward by earnest conversation. The next morning there was great excitement at the fort. Some one had stolen a Mormon girl, and trouble was expected. I went to the colonel at the fort and told him of my action. At first he insisted that she be returned to her people, but after much parley I managed to convince him that my action was justified, and he finally agreed to see that we were protected at the fort. I secured work, and my wife made her home with the family of Dr. Page, the family physician.

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