HISTORY OF VALERIA ANN FLINT

-by Harriet Jane Harries (Daughter of Valeria Ann Flint LAIRD)

Valeria Ann Flint was born in Farmington, January 14, 1853.

Wi11iam Flint, her father, was born at Spafford, Onondago County, New
York, January 28, 1813.
When but a young man hearing the Prophet Joseph Smith preach, he
knew his teachings were true.
He married Mary Jane Goodridge December 4, 1850, a daughter of
Benjamin Goodridge and Penelope Gardner, pioneers of 1850 (Wilford
Woodruff company). She was born June 11, 1825, came to Utah with her
parents.
William Flint presided over a branch of the Mormon Church in New
York State. He also had the privilege of driving Joseph F. Smith's Mother's
team from Elk Horn seventy miles west of Winter Quarters to the forks of
Sweet Water and was sent back to help other poor emigrants to the valley.
He arrived in Salt Lake with President Brigham Young and Heber C.
Kimball Company September 26, 1848.
Their courtship was rather short, having known Mary Jane but three
weeks but with the blessing of Heber C. Kimball that he should raise a noble
family, they were married.
Valeria was the second daughter. Not much is said of her childhood
days only at a young age she lived with her Aunt Hattie Hardy in Parleys
Canyon at the Hardys Station.
During the winter her Uncle procured timber from the hill sides for
fuel.
While at Hardys Station, Valeria met Edward Laird, who was a
freighter from Heber city to Salt Lake. On one of their camping grounds in
Park City they found a piece of ore. Later, he, his father and Dick Winmill
sold their rights for fifteen hundred dollars. That spot of ground became the
famous Silver King-Mine where it has turned out millions.
Edward was born February 12, 1853, at Anet Lodge, Scotland, a son
of James Laird and Mary Rainey, coming to-Utah with Captain Willie Hand
Cart Company of 1856, experiencing many of the trials and sufferings of
that epic making march.
It is well known historically that of all the Companies crossing the
plains those veterans of 1856 experienced the hardest trials. James

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Laird pulled a hand cart with luggage, and taking his wife and three week
old baby and little son Edward but five years old, and one other child.
Brother Anderson said Ed was the life of the camp, such a bright sunny lad.
Anonymous letters and warning setting forth-the hardships and
impossibilities of such a journey were conveyed to them, by sympathizing
outsiders, offering them inducement to stay.
Many who started out with them backed out in a few days. -
Foot sore and weary with weeks of walking was it possible for them,
faith or no faith, to walk five hundred miles further. The flesh certainly was
weak but their spirit was willing, so they went on and on, and by the
blessings of God, he pulled that hand cart a thousand miles and never rode
one step.
Thrilling scenes and suffering accompanied that journey, being
entirely out of provisions; they stopped for want of strength to proceed and
never should they beheld (with mortal eyes) the City of the Saints had not
Brigham Young sent out a number of brave :hearted brethren with food and
c1othing to their relief. May they all be everlasting blessed.
Edward admired the pretty, slim girl with the big brown eyes, as she
served him his dinner. A lasting friendship sprang up and one year later they
were married, January 15, 1862, at the age of 19, making their home in
Parley Canyon, about one-half mile beyond his father's - place, who ran a
half-way house. His father's family first settled at Spanish Fork, living there
for a number of years as a farmer until later when they were called by
Brigham Young to help colonize Heber City. In his later years, he moved to
Parley Canyon and operated a half-way house.
Edward followed the freighting and, being a thrifty type started with
the sheep on a small scale, but gradually his business grew with cattle,
flourished until he was a leader in that industry.
Their first house was made of logs about eighteen feet square. This
hut, like most of those built the first few years, was roofed with willows and
earth, the roof having but little pitch, so when it rained, dripping in one place
and then another, they dodged about. Aunt Lizzie Winmill's first baby was
born in that hut, they holding an umbrella over her. The earth overhead was
thoroughly saturated and after it commenced to drip it was much worse
indoors than out.
With her eighth baby, mother did a washing when it was five days old
which brought on chills and fever. This together with the anxiety of the rest
of her children, threatened her to the gates of death. It was months before
she was able to take care either of herself or child.

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But the Lord was merciful in so ordering things that made it possible for
Aunt Hattie Hardy to live with her for five months.
Soon after this, a third home was built consisting of five rooms, a
large kitchen, living room, small bed room; two bedrooms upstairs, a front
porch was completely hidden by large poplar trees (which trees still stand),
I have not the slightest recollection of any stern rules at home. There
never was compulsion in the family and there never was resistance, but there
was kindness every day. Mother was always doing kindness.
She grew in favor with them all. My mother was honest in doing
every- thing to the best o£ her ability, industrious to an astonishing degree,
fair with her neighbors, and stainless in her character.
She lived a faithful wife, the exemplary mother, and Latter-Day Saint
in whose heart benevolence and native goodness was abounded.
Father it was said manifested high qualities of honesty and integrity while
not having the advantages of schooling, he was decidedly well informed and
of remarkable judgment. He was a success through hard work and economy.
He was a foundation for many of the industries of Sugar House, Salt Lake
City, Utah.

Note: As a young child, I knew Valeria Ann Flint Laird. She was a very
kind and generous Great Grandmother to me. Every time we visited her at
her home, she would give each of us a dime or a quarter. (Group of children
were: Garth and Verna Naylor, myself and my sister, Ruth Fay Abbott.) My
mother was Ruth Vennetta Naylor, daughter of Frank Sefton Naylor and
Rhoda Lois Laird, daughter of Edward Laird and Valeria Ann Flint.
Submitted to the Daughters of Utah Pioneers February 2010
Date: January 18, 2010 by Mary Lou (Abbott) Shaw, 5370 Nugget Rd., Fair
Oaks, CA. 95628. Phone: (916) 961-5271.