Evan and Susan Greene
Information comes from the History of Bear Lake Pioneers by Zerviah Susie Greene Smith
Evan Molbourne Greene was born in Arelius New York on 22 Dec 1814, the son of John Greene and Rhoda Young. By the time he was 15 he was teaching school. When he returned home in the spring, his parents had wonderful news. Samuel H Smith, the younger brother of Joseph Smith had left a copy of the Book of Mormon at their home. His mother was a sister of Brigham Young and she and John both were converted to the gospel. Evan read the book very carefully. He felt sure that it was true after praying for guidance, he joined the new church. He made arrangements to travel to Kirtland, Ohio and visit the prophet.
He traveled to Kirtland Ohio to meet the prophet and became a secretary to him, clerked in a store and taught grammar in the school of the Prophets. He served a mission to the Eastern States and when released was visiting relatives in New York where he married his cousin Susan Kent, 29 Aug 1835. Susan was born 3 Apr 1816, in Genoa New York, the daughter of Daniel Kent and Nancy Young. They returned to Kirtland and remained with the Saints and were driven from place to place. They helped build both the Kirtland and Nauvoo Temples and took part in their dedications.
When they were forced to leave Nauvoo, they traveled with the Saints to Winter Quarters. President Brigham Young told Evan that he wanted him to remain at Council Bluffs and take care of the mail. He was appointed postmaster and remained there for 5 years. He aided the immigrants as they came along their way to Utah. He maintained an open house for the sick and needy. The mail was sent with each company as they departed.
The Greene family made the trek to Utah in 1852. Evan was requested to settle in Provo and set up a school. They would have preferred to stay in Salt Lake among their friends and relatives, but the went to Provo. While in Provo, he taught school, served as mayor and as a representative to the Territorial Legislature. Evan selected some valuable property for a school he established. Later he turned this property over to the church for the Brigham Young Academy, later to become Brigham Young University.
In 1858 he moved his family to Grantsville. While he lived here, he again sat in the Territorial Legislature and was appointed probate judge. He was called to help settle Bear Lake Valley in 1864. He was sent to settle and preside over Bennington. Bennington was settled by Evan Greene, Hyrum Hoops and Edmond Homer in 1864. Additional families were directed to this locality five years later.
Evan took his two older daughters, Eveline and Melissa with him and left the mother and the little children in Grantsville until a cabin was ready for them. His oldest living daughter, Rhoda and her husband Jared Bullock, went with them. Early in 1864, when the family had been in their new home only a few weeks, their ten year old son, Admanzah, died suddenly. His death was partially due to the cold, damp climate. Cold severe snowstorms raged over the valley that winter. Seven milk cows and a horse of Evan's froze and were buried in the snow. The daughter, Rhoda Greene Bullock, was expecting a baby. the snow ws so deep when she lay in childbrith that no one could go for the help that was needed. She and the baby died 26 Nov 1864. It was impossible to bury the bodies so they were kept frozen in the snow until spring.
The family found it impossible to remain in Bear Lake after this experience. Evan talked with Charles C Rich and was released from his responsibilities with his sympathy and blessings. The Greene family moved to Smithfield Utah. Evan bough land, built a home and prospered during his stay in Cache Valley from 1865-1875.
Children of Evan Molbourne Greene and Susan Kent
1. Emily Frances Greene b-31 May 1836 in
Kirtland Oh; d-27 May 1838
2. Evan Flavius Greene b-22 Feb 1838 in Kirtland; d-8 Oct 1925 in La Crescenta
California
3. Rhoda Greene b-8 Mar 1838 in Egypt Illinois; d-26 Nov 1864 in Bennington;
m-Jared Bullock
4. Nancy Leonora Greene b-25 Sep 1841 in Glasgow Ill; d-14 June 1901 in
Orangeville Utah
5. Susan Eveline Greene b-6 May 1843 in Glasgow Ill; d-28 Oct 1915 in Elba Idaho
6. Ann Eliza Greene b-14 July 1845; d-16 June 1846
7. Melissa Greene b-9 June 1847 in Mosquito Creek Iowa; d-10 Apr 1927 in St
George Utah
8. Louisa Lula Greene b-8 Apr 1849 in Kanesville Iowa; d-9 Sep 1944 in Salt Lake
City
9. John Portenius Greene b-16 June 1851 in Kanesville; d-3 Mar 1852
10. Ad Manzah Greene b-27 Jan 1854 in Provo; d-30 Jan 1865 in Bennington
11. Jasper Willoughby Greene b-11 Jan 1856 in Provo; d-24 Oct 1856
12. Edwin Murray Greene b-25 Nov 1859 in Grantsville Utah; d-3 May 1936
Evan Greene died 2 May 1882 in Clover Flat, Garfield Co, Utah and was buried in Salt Lake City. Susan Greene died 17 Apr 1888 in Oakley Idaho and was buried in Salt Lake City.