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History of Clarinda Huetta Johnson Winget, Utah Pioneer of 1847 (Mother of Cyrus Alphonzo Winget)
Snow fell heavily and cold at Winter Quarters (now Florence, Nebraska) on the little Mormon Camp. It had come this far, since being driven from Nauvoo, Illinois, by the mob in the winter of 1846. Few there were who had shelter, other than their covered wagons. A few families had hurriedly built cabins, but Flora Clarinda Gleason Johnson was not one of these. She was alone in her wagon, this 15th day of January, 1847. Eight babies were born in the Camp that cold winter night, and her first child was one of these. She was named Clarinda Huetta. Benjamin Franklin Johnson, her father, was not there for the blessed event. He was back on the trail with his other wives and their families. His first wife was Melissa LeBaron, a lovely woman, and his second wife was Mary Ann Hale. Apparently there was some disagreement between he and his third wife, Flora, and she had gone on alone.
As soon as weather permitted in the spring, the Camp began their journey westward. Little did Huetta know about the long journey, but eventually she and her mother arrived in Salt Lake Valley, in the summer of 1847. They came with the Musser Company, and were some of the first to arrive. Abraham Washburn and wife Tamar Washburn, also his full cousin, had been very kind to Flora and her little daughter at Winter Quarters and also while crossing the plains. This friendship continued.
Huetta’s father came to the Valley in 1848. Reconciliation was attempted, but failed. On February the eleventh, 1849, President Brigham young granted a divorce, and Flora then married Abraham Washburn that same day, in President Young’s office. Previously, she had been sealed in the Nauvoo Temple to her first husband. This made a question for the descendents of the little girl, wondering what should be done in regards to her. The Archive Authorities state she was born in the Covenant and she will have her choice, and that nothing needs to be done for her as far as sealing is concerned.
In Abraham’s first family there were ten children and one adopted son. Abraham was a kind gentle man and was good to Huetta.
In the fall of 1849 the two Washburn families, with others, moved to Manti, Utah. They arrived there the twenty-first of November. The next day Huetta was happy to have a new baby sister – the first white child to be born in Sanpete County. She was named Almeda Mariah Washburn. That same night snow fell a foot deep. The winter was severe and cold, with much snow, and most of the cattle froze or starved to death.
Three more sisters and three brothers of Huetta were born in Manti, making seven in all. They grew up together – working, praying, worshipping, playing, and watching always for hostile Indians. There was much to be done in this frontier town and all must help.
Her mother was Relief Society President for about twenty-five years and taught many an emigrant lady to make a living in this new country. She also taught school and was a nurse. In this environment, how could a child help but be very industrious, helpful, kind, and considerate? Huetta had all these qualities, besides a very strong faith in God.
She helped bake many loaves of bread in her mother’s large oven. She also helped make soda crackers. These kept well and were often given to the men who were in the camp just a block from the Washburn home. This camp was constructed for protection against the Indians. She also made jams and jellies from fruit which was raised on their lot. The trees and bushes were brought in the wagon from Provo, by her mother and a brother.
Huetta became acquainted with a Black Hawk Scout named Zenos Winget. Her sister, Almeda, was going with Zenos’ brother, Alphonzo. On the fifth of January, these two couples were married in Manti. Later their marriage was solemnized by going to the Endowment House in Salt Lake City and being sealed. Zenos and Huetta were sealed on the ninth of November, 1867.
The wedding in Manti was a big affair. The two Winget brothers looked fine in suits made by the girls and their mother. These were made by washing wool, dyeing it, carding, spinning, and weaving it into cloth, from which the suits were cut and then made. The girls made their dresses in the same manner. There was a wedding dance for all the town folk, after which more than 200 persons were served at the home of the girls’ parents. Plans were made to sprite the grooms away, then take the girls for a long sleigh ride, but the girls heard the plot and warned their husbands and they evaded their would-be abductors.
Three children were born to Zenos and Huetta in Manti. Their names were: Zenos, Cyrus Alphonzo, and Clarinda Huetta. Then they moved to Sevier Valley – the little settlement of Monroe, in 1872.
About this time, Huetta’s father was living in Spring Lake. She and he became very close and thought a great deal of each other. Zenos farmed in Monroe each summer, but when the crops were harvested in the fall, the little family would hitch up a team of horses onto a covered wagon, which had a stove in, and taking a few necessities would start for Spring Lake. It took about two weeks to make this trip, which was most enjoyable. The country was very beautiful at that time of the year. For many winters they went to Spring Lake, living in a house furnished by Huetta’s father – B. F. Johnson. He was a great colonizer and established many things for his families to do. He had six wives besides Flora, who had separated from him. It was said, that at one time he had forty-two children. So Huetta had many brothers and sisters – Washburns and Johnsons.
Huetta’s father and his families had large orchards of fruit. This necessitated having a cannery. They had fields of sugar cane and made molasses from it. There were hives of bees, which supplied honey. Broom corn was grown and a broom machine turned out thousands of brooms. Hides were tanned and harnesses and shoes made. Then railroad ties were cut and tracks laid for the railroad. There was much work for everyone. When spring came, the Wingets would again go back to Monroe, and again plant crops. They always had many things to take back with them.
Later, when the Johnsons moved to Mesa, Arizona, these trips ended. At the time the older Johnsons went by train, the younger ones went by wagon. The ones going by wagon came by way of Monroe. They camped in the street, just west of the Winget home, and stayed for several days before continuing their journey. The street was almost filled with wagons and people. Everyone enjoyed this get-together, but there were sad goodbyes at parting.
Three more children were born to this couple in Monroe. There were named: Catherine Melissa, Zenia, and Benjamin Franklin.
Huetta’s health was very poor. Before the birth of her first child she seldom had a sick day, but because of improper care then, she scarcely had a well one again. She was frail and thin, but ambitious. Somehow she managed to keep up with the washing, ironing, mending, cooking, and cleaning. She did beautiful embroidery as well as other fancy work. She raised silk worms on the large mulberry tree in the front yard and made silk from the cocoons – a long tedious process. She was very patient, kind, and loving. She also was very spiritual.
Typhoid fever was prevalent in those days. Three years after coming to Monroe, in 1875, their oldest child contracted it and died. In 1878, two of the girls took the dread disease and died also, just ten days apart. Preceding these deaths, Huetta was forewarned. Before the loss of the girls, she saw a personage by her bedside one night, holding a little girl in its arms, dressed in white. Later when the Relief Society sisters brought one of the girls in, dressed for burial, the sister held her just as Huetta had seen before. Zenos always said that nothing of a serious nature ever happened that she did not know about it before it occurred.
Huetta often would gather her children around her knee and together they learned to pray, or gathered around her chair were taught the truths of the gospel. Her great desire was to have her children grow up to be good. She sometimes said, “If I only knew you children would grow up to be honorable, honest, righteous, and good, it would be most pleasing to me.” Many times, Bishop Dennison L. Harris came to visit her and they would exchange stories. He also was spiritually inclined.
One evening in the little one-roomed home, after all were asleep but Huetta, she arose, lit the lamp and began turning the pages of the calendar. Her husband, being awakened asked, “Mother, what are you doing?”
Alphonzo, the second child, remembered hearing her answer, “I have just been told that in sixteen weeks, something will happen which will cast a gloom on this household. In counting it up, it will be the 22nd of June.”
Zenos tried to persuade her that she was tired or had been dreaming, but in his heart he knew something would happen. About this time Huetta had been feeling much better than usual. On the tenth of June she sat writing a letter to her father in Mesa, AZ, telling him how much improved she was, when suddenly she took very ill. She called to Zenos to help her onto the bed. From that time on she grew weaker. On the 22nd of June, 1883, at the age of 36 years, her life ended with these parting words, “Goodbye, Zenos, I’ll meet you 24 years from today.”
She was always a devoted wife and mother and a true Latter-Day Saint. She was buried in the cemetery in Monroe. Her husband married Eliza Roxey Squire(s) in a couple of years and to them was born six children. Zenos died the 22nd of June, 1907, just exactly 24 years after Huetta’s death.
Brother Joseph
