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| John Social Rolph 21 Aug 1822 - 23 Apr 1891 |
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| Georgetown Cemetery Georgetown, Idaho |
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| Diantha Sophia Whitney Rolph 02 Dec 1831 - 26 Feb 1904 |
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| Cardston Cemetery Alberta, Canada |
MARRIAGES OF JOHN SOCIAL ROLPH:
(1) Mary A. Russell, 1841.
(2) Emily Botterill, aft. 1842.
(3) Elizabeth Shaffer, aft. 1843.
(4) Martha Ann Miller, aft. 1844.
(5) Diantha Sophia WHITNEY, May 01, 1850 in Lake Zurich, Lake Co., Illinois,
More About John Social ROLPH:
Date born 2: Aug 21, 1822, Shelden, Genessee Co., New York, USA.
Burial: Georgetown, Bear Lake Co., Idaho, USA.
Died 2: Apr 24, 1891
Endowment (LDS): Jan 22, 1846, Nauvoo Temple - Nauvoo, Illinois, USA.
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Patriarchal
Blessing
For
John Social Rolph
A Patriarchal Blessing of John Social Rolph, son of Social and Julia Rolph, born in the town of Sheldon, County of Genesse, State of New York
August 21, 1820
Brother John, I lay my hands upon your head in the name of
Jesus of Nazareth to place and seal a blessing upon your head, and seal a
blessing upon you touching your lineage and rights inherent, as also
inheritance. Behold, I say unto you, John, you are of the tribe and lineage of
Manasseh, and in the lineage there are rights inherent to you and to your
children after you: also a right to the Priesthood and its gifts and graces, to
be given in the established order of the kingdom of God and to be sealed upon
your head in the due time of the Lord. And you shall receive an inheritance in
the lineage of your fathers if your faith fail not, even you shall possess and
inheritance in your day and generation, the same that shall be everlasting
inheritance and you shall be blessed in some future day with power and influence
and prosperity in your proclamation when shall be sent hither and thither to
magnify a calling and a gift that shall be given you as also a dispensation of
the Gospel unto many people. And you shall be blessed in your house and
habitation in your basket and in your store and health shall spring up round
about you. You shall see and realize your blessings and appreciate them to the
honor and glory of God. And your name shall be perpetuated in the lineage of
your posterity unto the latest generation and your days and years shall be
multiplied upon your head. Wisdom and knowledge shall inspire your heart to
remember the brazen serpent and to look and live.
These blessings
I seal upon your head ever so, Amen.
Given by Hyrum
Smith, Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ
This copy was obtained from Maude Hunter, Grand Daughter
of John Social Rolph and Martha Rolph. (Her mother was Dorcas Rolph Cross.)
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1879
May 7th. Mormon Apostles, Charles C. Rich and Moses Thatcher
appointed to supervise the founding of LDS settlements in Salt River Valley Lower Valley Maroni and Cynthia Hunt and
family; Frank Cross and John and Hannah Hill. First settlers at Stumpp Creek (Auburn Star Valley
1879-80
Severe winter. Extra heavy snows and cold weather catch setlers off guard. Many
reports of losing cattle, trips out of the Valley on foot to get food, etc.
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John Social Rolph was born 21 Aug 1822 at Sheldon, Genesee, New York. He was the oldest son and second child of Social Rolph born 15 March 1790 at St. Charles, Kane, Ill. and Julia Clapp.
His sister Marion Rolph was born 1 Aug 1820. A second sister, born 1824 was Alta Rolph. In 1825 Henry was born and his mother must have died at this birth or soon after. We have her death date as 26 July 1825, which we have not been able to prove. After the death of his mother, Julia Clapp, his father married Diana Wells and they had three children. Hiram who was born 26 December 1831, Danial, born 11 February 1833 and William born 31 March 1838.
About the time his Step mother's oldest child was born John Social joined the Mormon Church. For this he was sent away from home and being only nine years old, and having to live wherever he could find someone who would give him a home for his work he lived a very hard and cruel life. Some of the men he lived with were hard masters.
About 1841 he married Mary Ann Russell and they had three children. Oscar born 13 March 1842, Enos, born 1 March 1844 and Enon, born 1 October 1846.
We have no farther record of his wife (she may have died). On May 4, 1847 he volunteered as a private in the war with Mexico, being in the company of Captain Thomas B. Kinney in the Illinois 1st. Regiment which was commanded by Colonel E.W.B. Newby.
At the time of the death of President John Quincy Adams a salute was to be fired, and while loading the cannon it exploded, wounding John Social. On the report dated 18 October 1848 it reads "John Social Rolph was left at Las Vegas, New Mexico. sick." He was discharged because of injury to his right hand and side. He was crippled for life.
After he was released from the service he married Dianthia Sophia Whitney, daughter of Levi Whitney and Pamelia Chase. She was born 2 February 1829 at Mexico, Oswego, New York. She died 26 February 1904, at Cardston, Alberta, Canada. She gave him nine children. George Social born 7 March 1851 and Alta Marie, born 8 November 1852. They were both born at Lake Zurich, Lake County, Illinois. Alta Marie died 29 July 1853. William Henry, was born and died 21 July 1854. Alta Matilda was born 5 Aug 1855. Both was born at Tama, Tama County, Iowa. Four months later they moved to La Porte, Blackhawk, Iowa, where John Jay was born on 11 March 1857 and Albert Freeman was born December 8, 1858.
Soon after this they moved to Utah. (whether or not in the company of the Saints has not been determined.) His wife was baptizes 1 May 1860. (Place is not known.) They settled on the river just below where the bridge now stands in Ogden, Utah, and there Edward Everett was born on the 26th of January 1861 and Anna W. was also born on 19 February 1863.
On July 6, 1861 John Social married two more wives. Elizabeth Shafer and Emily Potterill in the endowment house, by Brigham Young. Dianthia Sophia had her Endowments that day and so did John Social and his other two wives.
Emily had a son Alfred born March 2, 1863 in Ogden. That summer the family was called to go to Arizona to help settle that area. They started with three wagons and the older boys driving loose stock and sheep. They had not gone far when the Indians drove off most of their stock, including some of their Oxen, which they replaced with cows and continued on their way. But this caused a delay and before they got through the mountains in Washington County, Utah the snow came. It got so deep the wagons had to be left and the family had to make their way to the valley on foot. John and the boys made trip after trip on snowshoes to carry out their food and belongings. The wagons were brought out in the spring.
Emily's son Alfred died on 9 May 1863 and then had a daughter Alice, born and died the 24th of July 1864 in Washington County, Utah. She had no more children.
There had been a grasshopper was the summer of 1863, in Washington County so the people there were short on food. When John Social brought his supply of flour in he divided with his neighbors until it was gone. The next summer the grasshoppers took the crops again so there was very little food. Greasewood and roots made up a large part of the family diet.
During the following winter there was lots of sickness. All the family except Emely and baby Anna came down with chills and fever. During that time of sickness and hunger two more babies came to the family. Dianthia Sophia had her last child, Justin Lomis on 14 January 1865 and Elizabeth gave birth to a girl, Julia D., on 23 January 1865. In spite of famine and sickness both children lived.
The family moved to Rockville, then to Zions Canyon, where they had better times. Here another wife was added. Martha Miller who gave him three children. Social born about 1869. Dorcus born 16 July 1871 and Mary Jane, born 8 Aug 1872. This making him the father of 18 children.
The family moved back to Northern Utah, then to Georgetown, Bear Lake County, Idaho where he made his home.
In 1884 he had a stroke, leaving his right side paralyzed. For seven years he lay helpless. He could stand, when lifted onto his feet so long as he did not try to move, but any movement made him fall.
On 23 April 1891 he passed away in Georgetown and was buried there.
Dianthia Sophia Whitney was born 2 February 1829. She was the daughter of Levi Whitney, born 12 July 1790 and Pamelia Chase born 29 June 1791. They were all born in Mexico, Oswego County, New York. Pamelia was the daughter of Lt. Joseph Chase and Sarah Doolittle. Thomas Whitney was born about 1560 in Barkhampstead, Hartford, England. His grandson Henry Whitney came to America and settled in Norfolk, Fairfield, Connecticut. Four generations later we find them in New York. Thomas Chase was born in England about 1478. His second great grandson, Aquilla, came to America about 1640. He lived in Hampton, Rock County, New Hampshire. The family moved to Massachusetts then to New York. They were Preachers, Statesman, Builders and Contractors. Anthony Doolittle was born in Kidderminster, Worchestershire, England, about 1590. His sons Abraham and John came to America. John had no children, so the family in America were all from Abraham. He was in Massachusetts in 1640 and went from there to Connecticut. Dianthia Sophia Whitney was the ninth child of a family of twelve. Dianthia seems to have been in Illinois when she met and married John Social Rolph. He was a cripple, just back from the war with Mexico. They made their home in Lake Zurick, Lake County, Illinois, where their two first children were born. George Social, 7 March 1851 and Alta Marie, 8 November 1852, she died 29 July 1853. They moved to Tama, Tama County, Iowa, where William Henry was born and died 21 July 1854 and Alta Matilda was born 5 Aug 1855. Four months later they moved to La Porte, Blackhawk County, Iowa. On this trip most of the family were walking. When going down a steep bank baby Alta was thrown from the wagon. Her father was walking by the side of the wagon caught her be the dress, saving her life. At La Porte, John Jay was born 11 March 1857 and Albert Freeman was born on 8 December 1858. On May 1, 1860 Dianthia Sophia was baptized. Whether in Iowa or Ogden Utah we have not determined. The family moved to Utah about that time as they were living by the river just west of where the bridge now stands. On 26 January 1861 Edward Everett was born and on 19 February 1863 Anna Whitney was born. On the 6th of July 1861 John Social took two more wives. Elizabeth Shafer and Emily Patterill. They were married in Salt Lake City by Brigham Young in the Endowment House. On the same day Dianthia Sophia had her endowments in the Endowment House. It is believed that her husband and his other wives had their Endowments at the same time. Emily gave him two children, Alfred, born 2 March 1863 and died 9 May 1863 and Alice, born 24 July 1864 and died the same day. Emily had no other children. Elizabeth had one child, Julia D., born 23 Jan 1865. The family was called to go to Arizona to help in the settling of that area. They started in the summer of 1863 with three wagons and the boys driving loose stock and sheep. The Indians drove off most of their stock and some of the work oxen. They replaced the oxen with cows. This delayed them so that they were caught in the mountains of Washington County, Utah by the deep snow. The Wagons had to be left until spring. The family had to walk out of the mountains into Washington County. John and the older boys made trip after trip on snowshoes to bring out the supplies from the wagons. They had one kettle and some tin plates. Father made wooden spoons, so they cooked their food, the grownups had a portion on a plate and the six children sat on the ground around the kettle and ate from it. Their home was a dugout in the side of a hill, with a quilt for a door. During the grasshopper was in Washington, food was very scarce. They lived on greasewood, roots, wild berries and any thing they could find to eat. With this hunger and also lack of sanitation there was a great deal of sickness. The winter of 1864-65 found the family, all except Emily and baby Anna, down with chills and fever. During that time of sickness two babies came to them. Dianthia gave birth to her last child, Justin Lomis born on 14 January 1865. Then Elizabeth gave birth to her only child, Julia, born on 23 January 1865. With both mothers so ill and food so scarce the babies had a hard fight, but they both survived. The family moved to Rockville, then to Zion Canyon. Here they were able to raise good crops of corn and cane. Another wife joined the family here. Martha Ann Miller, she married John in the year 1868 and gave him three children. Social, born 1869, Dorcus, born 16 July 1871 and Mary Jane, born 8 Aug 1872. They were all born in Zions Canyon, Utah. With her husband a cripple and the other wives not very strong, the burden fell on Dianthia. She worked in the fields right along with the boys. In 1872 or 1873 they moved back to Northern Utah, then onto Georgetown, Lake County, Idaho. Here they established a home. By the early 1880's Dianthia's children were married. Her daughter Anna was having a hard time raising a large family. (She had seventeen and fifteen lived for her to raise.) So her mother went to Canada to live with her and help out with the children. Here she spent the rest of her life. In 1896 she had a stroke and was helpless for seven years. On 26 February 1904 she had a third stoke and passed away. She is buried in Cardston, Alberta, Canada.
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