Eliza Melvina Richardson hid thousands of dollars in a bucket filled with nails, horseshoes and old iron, hiding it from people who had threatened harm.  She also hid two pistols under her dress as they left their familiar Nauvoo home, crossed the Mississippi River and protected the family’s assets from those raiding the pioneers. She did this at age 17 while helping five children from her husband’s previous marriage before having 15 kids of her own.

This story of her ancestor is what South Jordan Elementary fourth-grader Hannah Irion learned and wrote about for the Jordan River chapter’s Sons of Utah Pioneers’ 250-word essay contest.  

“I emailed my great-grandma and learned about Eliza,” Hannah said. “Her story is inspiring. She crossed the Mississippi and traveled much of the trail with the children without her husband. I’m so glad I got to learn about her and her bravery. I hope I can be like her and overcome anything.”

Hannah won the pioneer ancestor writing contest and received a $50 cash award. Her classmates Finn Midgley and Lohi A’Alona placed second and third, respectively, and were awarded $25 and $15.

Guy Moore, chairman of the Sons of Utah Pioneers’ essay and scholarship committee, said the intent is for students to research and learn about their pioneer heritage and write an essay about one of the pioneers or about someone who has contributed to society in the sense of being a modern-day pioneer.

Those elementary winners, along with their parents and the three $1,000 scholarships winners, Riverton High seniors Austin Segelke, Hunter Gledhill and Luke Horner, were honored at a recent banquet at the Gale Center. Gledhill provided the evening’s entertainment on the piano.

The high school seniors’ essays focused on their pioneer ideals of faith in God, loyalty to church, country and family, courage in adversity, service to others and hard work. In addition to the essays, grade-point average, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation and financial need weighed in on the decision, Moore said.

“We are very impressed with the quality of youth we have with us; their parents and the schools are doing a great job with their education and character,” Moore said. 

He said many of the elementary students’ essays have stuck with him the past couple years. He recalls reading one about Henry Ford as a modern-day pioneer to last year’s winner, Bree McCleary, writing about how her great-, great, great-grandfather prayed for new shoes on his pioneer journey and happened to find some that were just the right size in a patch of grass.

“In judging the applicants, we are impressed with stories that touch our hearts,” he said.

Finn’s essay was about his fourth-great grandmother, Susanah Stone, who came to America for freedom of religion; she had joined the Church of England.  During her journey, her boyfriend died, she was cold, hungry and tired, but she persevered to Salt Lake City where she met and marries Thomas Lloyd. 

He wrote “their sacrifices because of their religious beliefs help with my religious beliefs.” 

“They had a lot of trials they overcame with faith by being brave and determined,” Finn said. “It’s taught me that we’ll all face challenges and if we work hard and have faith, we’ll succeed.”

Lohi shares her middle name with her ancestor, Elsie Berthelson, who was brave, honest and disciplined and one of 18 siblings.

“I’ve been told that I’m a lot like her by being kind and outgoing,” she said. “I’ve learned to try hard and to be brave from her.”

Lohi said Elsie traveled three months from Denmark to Utah when she was 14 years old. She provided a home for her children with honesty, discipline and hard work — as well as plenty of food. 

“The smell of bread, pies, sweet soup and chicken soup with Danish dumplings was always there,” she wrote, adding that her relatives’ recipes have been shared to more than 100 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “Elsie was known for hosting many family parties and get-togethers.”

The fourth-graders’ teacher, Carrie Wardell, appreciates the essay contest both because it ties into her class curriculum learning about Utah history as well as because it provides them the opportunity to connect with their relatives.

“This empowers them to learn how our ancestors connect with us today,” she said. “Many left a legacy for their family and by learning it, it brings them closer to their family. By having this opportunity to write them, it preserves their stories for future generations.”  λ