Memorials › Hannah Elizabeth Barnes Francis

Hannah Elizabeth Barnes Francis

19 Feb 1867 – 24 Nov 1939

Birth	19 Feb 1867
Death	24 Nov 1939
Cemetery	South Morgan Cemetery Morgan , Morgan County , Utah , USA
Added by	Leena Rogers on 05 Nov 2012
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55182603

Bio

Wife of Samuel Francis Jr. Married 26 Feb, 1908 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Children: Lester Samuel Francis. HANNAH ELIZABETH BARNES FRANCIS Hannah Elizabeth Barnes was born February 19, 1867, in Lehi, Utah, a daughter of Charles Barnes, Jr., and Rhoda Wonfor Barnes. All of her childhood and adult life was spent in Lehi. She was married to William Racker (date unknown) as his second wife in a polygamous marriage, so there were problems from the start. When the government began checking closely on the polygamist families and arresting the men, Hannah came to Morgan, Utah, on the underground to protect her husband. She needed a place to live. This happened just at the time when Samuel Francis Jr., and his bride Sarah Jane Ursenbach, finished building a two-room home for them to live in. Before they got moved into it, Samuel received a mission call to go to England. They decided Sarah Jane would live with her folks for the two years he would be gone, and they would rent their home to Hannah. When Samuel returned from his mission, Hannah left Morgan and not much of her life is known for the next twenty years or so. She did divorce her husband and she raised three sons. One small son was killed when he fell from a load of beets. The other sons were Bill and Ralph Racker. Hannah had a brother living in Preston, Idaho, and made plans to go visit him. She had no way to travel but by train. She found out that the train stopped in Ogden, and she could then catch a train to Morgan, so she decided to visit her good friends Samuel and Sarah Francis on her way to Idaho. Upon arriving in Morgan, she found that Sarah Jane had died from a ruptured appendix and Samuel was left with five teen-age children. This was shocking news to her. Samuel gave Hannah a ride to the station, and gave her an envelope as she left that contained some money. He knew she was having financial difficulties. Later, when Hannah returned to Lehi, she wrote a letter to Samuel thanking him for his help and concern. This started a correspondence, which eventually led to a proposal of marriage. They were married February 26, 1908. Hannah gave birth to a son on January 26, 1909, and they named him Lester Samuel. Hannah was a very loving and caring stepmother to Samuel's children—Flossie, Roy, Gilbert, Howard and Lena. They all loved and respected her. Samuel died February 21, 1917, and Hannah raised all the children to adulthood. Lester Samuel later married Eva Merrell on August 5, 1931. Aunt Hannah, as she was affectionately called, used to braid beautiful rugs out of old rags and won many prizes at the Morgan Fair. She had a green thumb and raised many beautiful flowers in and out of her home. She always had a cheerful word for people who came to her door, and no one was every turned way hungry. For many years Hannah took car of the sacrament cloths and cups for the Morgan Ward. This took some time, but to her it was a labor of love. Hers was truly a life of unselfishness and service for others. Our Heritage: Samuel and Esther Francis, p. 221-222

Photos

Family

Parents

• Charles Barnes Jr 1827–1911
• Rhoda Wonfor Barnes 1831–1879

Spouse

• William Emil Racker 1853–1925 FaG
• Samuel Francis Jr 1858–1917 FaG

Siblings

• Joseph Simpson Barnes 1850–1921
• Charles Henry Barnes 1863–1940
• George Franklin Barnes 1870–1951

Children

• Wilford E Racker 1889–1952 FaG
• Harold Racker 1893–1898 FaG
• Lester Samuel Francis 1909–1984 FaG

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