Rebecca Bird Tew

Rebecca Bird was born in Yardly, near Birmingham, England on October 28, 1838.  She was the daughter of John and Ann Russen Bird.  Her family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and shortly after began to make plans to immigrate to Utah.

Rebecca's brother Walter immigrated to Utah with his friend Thomas Tew Jr in 1851.  After arriving in Utah, Walter began securing funds to help bring his family to Utah.  Walter obtained permission from Brigham Young to use funds from the Perpetual Emmigraton Fund to bring his parents and siblings to Utah.   

The family left together for America when Rebecca was 16 years old.  I cannot find any information (yet) about their trip across the ocean.

While in Mormon Grove, preparing for the journey across the plains, Rebecca's father John contracted cholera and died on May 10, 1855.  Ann Bird who was 47 years old, buried her husband in Mormon Grove and traveled to utah with 4 children, Rebecca (16), John (14), Ann (11) and William (9). Walter was the oldest of the children and was waiting in Utah for their arrival.  Rebecca and her family crossed the plains in the Richard Ballentyne Company with 402 pioneers in the company and 45 wagons.  They left Mormon Grove on July 1, 1855.    The following image is taken from list of pioneers that traveled in the Company.

The family arrived in Salt Lake City on September 25, 1955.  Once arriving in Utah, Rebecca and her family settled in Springville Utah.  She married Thomas Tew Jr. on January 22, 1856.  Thomas Tew Jr. was her brother Walter's traveling companion to Utah and life long friend.  They had nine children, 2 sons and 7 daughters.

Rebecca Bird Tew died March 10, 1922 at the age of 83 years and 5 months in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Her death certificate lists 862 E. 6th South as her residence in Springville.

She is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville, next to her husband Thomas Tew Jr.  The headstone is located at N 40° 08.412 W 111° 36.172 and is marked on the map with a green arrow.  Rebecca Bird Tew is my 2nd Great Grandmother on the Mendenhall side of the family.

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John Mendenhall

Photo courtesy of the Mendenhall Family Association (MFA)

 John Mendenhall was born on September 7, 1847 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  The family had been driven from Nauvoo Illinois in June of 1846.  The Mendenhall family crossed the plains in 1852 in a wagon drawn by ox teams and arrived in Salt Lake City September 18, 1852.  They settled in Springville, Utah arriving September 26, 1852.  In Springville the family acquired considerable property consisting of farm and pasture land north of Springville.

There was little recorded of the early life of John Mendenhall.  He most likely worked with his father at farming and raising cattle.  He was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 2, 1857 by William Huggins and confirmed on the same date by Wilbur J. Earl.  John served an honorable mission to England from 1872 to 1874. 

 He returned from England on July 17, 1874 and became aquainted with Eliza Tew, the daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Tew, who were converts to the church from England.  John and Eliza were married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City on April 24, 1879. The 1879 federal census shows John Mendenhall as a 22 year old living with his family in Springville.

1879 United States Federal Cenus

The 1910 United States Federal Census show John and Eliza and eight children in Mapleton.

John Mendenhall was very active in the community and church.  He served many years as a counselor in the Bishopric of the Mapleton Ward.  He was a good public speaker, being called the "silver tongued orator of Mapleton".  He served as a trustee of the School Board and was active in construction of church and civic buildings.

John and Eliza Mendenhall home in Mapleton.

John Mendenhall with his eight sons

Back Row: Joseph, Harvey, Jesse, Barney

Middle Row: Aaron, Byron, Thomas

Front Row: John, Will (Will is my Grandfather)

John and Eliza Mendenhall

John Mendenhall died on April 2, 1020 at the age of 72 years and 7 months.  He left his wife, eleven children and thirty two grandchildren.

He is buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville, Utah.  The location of his headstone is at N 40° 08.447 W 111° 36.186.  It is marked with a green arrow on the map.  John Mendenhall is my Great Grandfather on the Mendenhall side of the family.

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