Robert and Matilda Louisa Price

 

Information comes from History of Bear Lake Pioneers by Ezra J Poulsen and Jean P Badge


Robert Price, who was born June 19, 1835 at Great Missenden, England, was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints August 28, 1853, in London.  He was married to Matilda Louisa Kelsey on October 13, 1855 at Clerkenwell, a district in the borough of Finsbury, London.  On November 30th, just 48 days later, they sailed for America on the Emerald Lake, a ship of 2000 tons. They arrived in New York December 31, 1855.

From the time of their arrival until the spring of 1861, they lived in New York, Brooklyn and finally Wallingford, Connecticut.  By this time they had three children.

Children of Robert Price and Matilda Louise Kelsey (1832-1879)

Matilda Mary Price b-3 Jan 1857 in Williamsburg New York; d-23 Mar 1886 in Paris
Robert Henry Price b-2 Nov 1858 in Wallingford Conn. d-14 Mar 1885 in Paris
Welcome William Price b-8 July 1860; d-25 Aug 1944; m-Charlotte Isabella
Ellen Louise Price b-25 Feb 1863 in Salt Lake City; d-2 July 1939 in Montpelier
Anna Maria Price b-9 June 1865 in Salt Lake City; d-3 Dec 1865 in Salt Lake City
Grace Price b-9 Sep 1871 in Paris; d-4 Feb 1905 in Paris

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Children of Robert Price and Susannah Juchau (1845-1923)

Charles Juchau Price b-19 Nov 1864 in Salt Lake City; d-3 Dec 1864 in Salt Lake City
Susan Juchau Price b-7 Jan 1867 in Salt Lake City; d-18 June 1939 in Paris
Mary Ann Price b-12 Jan 1870 in Paris; d-8 Apr 1926 in Ogden Utah
Elizabeth Price b-12 Dec 1871 in Paris; d-26 May 1914 in Liberty; m-Benjamin Pitman Hyman
Joseph Stanners Price b-22 Mar 1874 in Paris; d-7 Oct 1972 in Salt Lake City
Kate Mae Price b-9 Maar 1876 in Paris; d-20 June 1955 in Rexburg Idaho
George Benjamin Price b-4 Apr 1878 in Paris; d-9 July 1958 in Garden City Utah
Emma Charlotte Price b-7 Sep 1880 in Paris; d-30 May 1957 in Paris
Arthur Davie Price b-19 Nov 1882 in Paris; d-25 Nov 1921 in Provo Utah
Melvina Charlotte Price b-18 Aug 1884 in Paris; d-5 Jan 1933 in Montpelier
Mercy Isabelle Price b-26 Jan 1887 in Paris; d-7 June 1961 in Salt Lake City
Heber James Price b-4 October 1888 in Paris; d-28 Sep 1958 in Montpelier

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Children of Robert Price and Christina Shepherd (1852-1938)

Daniel Shepherd Price b-3 Feb 1880 in Paris; d-30 Sep 1947 in Logan Utah
Constance Christina Price b-9 June 1881 in Paris; d-30 Sep 1921 in Logan
Alice Angelina Price b-20 Jan 1883 in Paris; d-28 Feb 1950 in Soda Springs Idaho
Frederick John Price b-12 Sep 1884 in Paris; d-12 July 1964 in Salt Lake City
Phoebe Price b-7 July 1886 in Paris; d-24 Nov 1972 in Salt Lake City
Ezra Robert Price b-7 Feb 1889 in Paris; d-11 Oct 1926 in Provo Utah
Wilford Price b-29 June 1893 in Paris; d-5 Sep 945 in Montpelier

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In 1861 the Civil War broke out and there was great excitement in the East, but Robert, who had saved a little by this time, decided to continue their journey to Zion. They arrived in Salt Lake September 12 and stayed there until 1869. Robert entered into the practice of plural marriage and married Susannah Juchau, March 2, 1864. In 1869 the call came to go to Bear Lake and settled on the allotted ten acres in Paris. He obtained another 40 acres and entered into business. In the spring of 1870  he became associated with Charles C Rich, David P Kimball and Francis M Pomery in establishing a shingle and planning mill at the mouth of Paris Canyon.  This enterprise, which produced all kinds of finished lumber, shingles and millwork soon became one of the most important industries in the valley.

In 1874 the church requested all local leaders to become part of a co-operative and Robert became the secretary of the new Bear Lake Co-operative with Charles C Rich, President, and William Budge, vice-president. Under these leaders a unit was established, known as the Paris Co-operative Institute.  It opened a general store, a dairy, a tannery and finally a boot, shoe and harness shop. At one time as many as 6000 pairs of boots and shoes were manufactured in one year.

On August 20, 1977, Robert was made a bishop of the new Paris Ward which had divided. He was set apart by Elder John Taylor of the Council of Twelve.  Until his death in 1910, his energies were devoted to the building of the Second Ward. Under his leadership a new chapel was built nd many individual and community problems were solved.  Paris grew rapidly and became the religious and cultural center of the area. It became the county seat and as such was an important civic center.

On May 1, 1879 Robert married Christina Shepherd, a daughter of William Shepherd and Mary Ann Tracey.  His first wife Matilda died 26 May 1870 and Susannah and Christina helped raise Matilda's children. On February 6, 1887 Robert married Wilhelmina Gray, a widow with two children.

Children of Robert Price and Wilhelmina Barbara Gray (1853-1925)

Mathew Gray Price b-20 Dec 1888 in Paris; d-3 Mar 1935 in Evanston Wyo
David Robert Price b-3 Feb 1891 in Paris; d-13 Apr 1952 in Idaho Falls Idaho

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Robert felt a deep concern about his family in England and made two trips back there hoping to interest them in the church but with little success.  In April 1910 he was in Salt Lake at conference time and when getting off a street car, he put his foot on the ground before the car stopped and he was thrown and badly hurt. After a short time in the hospital his family came and took him home where he died April 6, 1910.  Susannah died January 10, 1923 and Christina died September 9, 1938.

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Robert Price 1910 Obituary

 

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