Rachel Starkey
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Rachel could remember some of the joyous, happy days of her childhood in England. Especially she remembered the beautiful flowers, in particular, the snow drop flowers which resembles the buttercup flower only larger and pure white. She also recalled the peace and quiet of the English countryside. Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visited the home of Mr. and Mrs. Starkey, and Rachel remembered them holding her on their knee and telling the family of the true church and its members, and the visitation of the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Three of the missionaries’ names were Moroni Brown, Ben E. Rich, and Newton Farr.
There were not many Mormon people in the English village, and the missionaries held meetings in the Starkey home. They would sing songs and talk and held wonderful meetings. The Starkey family knew deep within their hearts this was the true church that the missionaries spoke of, and they felt that they must come to America to be near the saints. When the family decided to come to America, they felt deeply the sadness of leaving their home and friends and yet they knew they were doing right to come. The family sailed from Liverpool, England, and came to this country on the Star Liner. The journey across the water took three weeks, and Rachel was very ill during the crossing. After reaching America, the family traveled by train; the railroad had just been completed, and it seemed a long, slow journey. At last they arrived at Ogden, Utah and were met by William Baker. There was only a small building which was the Depot and a few small stores in Ogden at this time. Mr. Baker took the family by team and wagon to the place which is now Roy, Utah. At that time, it was called “The Basin.” The family, through the kindness of Mr. Baker and many other saints, were soon settled in a little two-room cabin. Rachel had three brothers and four sisters, and all were happy and thankful that they had made the journey to this new land. The first Sunday School Rachel attended in Roy was a little bowery covered by willows. Her first teacher was Justin Grover who was the Superintendent. After a short while, the family went to South Weber and lived in a small, humble, one-room cabin while the father worked on the construction of the Weber-Davis County Canal. About one year later, the family started a home on one hundred and sixty acres of land between Hooper and Roy. They lived in a tent until a two-room house could be built, and all worked to start clearing sage brush. With a mule team and single plow, they started clearing and farming the land. Rachel, being the youngest, spent many hours herding cows. She loved the grass and flowers, and spent many hours in the pastures and fields. In later life, she cultivated and grew beautiful flower gardens. The hardships were many, but with the help of the Lord, the family soon had them a small, humble home of their own and was blessed in many ways. For Christmas, they had a Cedar branch for a Christmas tree, and Rachel was happy and joyful to receive one toy and a new hat with a red feather. They all went to Sunday School and were humble and thankful for the chance to learn the principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They tried to pay their tithing and helped with the building of the church. Mr. Starkey was a good provider and being faithful, was blessed and became prosperous. As soon as school started, Rachel attended. David Davis was her first school teacher. Dances were held in some homes and later at the two-room school, and she enjoyed these very much. When Rachel was seventeen years old, she married Samuel Hadley at Ogden, Utah. Later they were endowed at the Salt Lake Temple. Rachel was a wonderful mother and homemaker. For many years, she worked as a Relief Society Teacher and has been a faithful member. With a good companion, she has spent her life in fulfilling one of the greatest missions on earth—to bring a family into the world and to raise them in honesty and goodness. She made a wonderful, humble home for her children and always taught them honesty and to follow the teachings of the Lord. Excerpts taken from “Footprints of Roy” by Emma Russell,
also found in “Hadley Heritage” compiled by Ralph Hadley; |