William and Mary Jane Head

This is William Henry Head and Mary Jane McClellan. They were Elizabeth Head Blumel's grandparents. Here is a narrative taken from the book "James McClellan and His Progenitors" by Rosa Mae McClellan Evans



William and Mary Jane Head

William Head was born 29 June 1824 in Huntsville, Missouri. He was 27 years old when he married 19 year old Mary Jane McClellan on 17 Jan 1850 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. . They both grew up in the early days of the church and experienced many of the joys and sorrows of that time period. For example, at the age of twelve, Mary Jane and her mother were present at the meeting where the voice of Bingham Young became like that of the Prophet, Joseph Smith, and the people were assured that he was to be their chosen leader. We also know that William’s father, Anthony Head, was mentioned among those, including the Prophet, to stand trial but in the end, all were dismissed and soon after his father died in Nauvoo of a chill fever.
Not long after William and Mary Jane were married, they decided to join the William Snow Company and migrate to Utah. It took five months to cross the plains and during most of that time, Mary Jane walked. Once their feet toughened, most walked across the sands in bare feet. One day, Mary Jane stepped on a prickly pear, covering the bottom of her foot with thorns. The wagons would get quite a distance ahead of her while she stopped to pick out the thorns, so she would run to catch up, then stop to pick more out. William was one of the hunters for the company, and when he went with others to get meat, Mary Jane drove the team.
Buffalo were still plentiful during their journey, and more than once their train narrowly escaped destruction from stampeding buffalo. The men who were on horseback were fortunate in being able to turn them away from the train. In the mornings, they would milk the cows that had been brought along, and the milk was put in a churn and set in the wagon. By the time they reached their camp site in the evening, the motion of the wagon would have churned a nice pat of butter. Once a week the company would stop so they could wash, cook, and bake enough to last the following week.
They arrived in Utah October 6, 1850 and their first home was in Payson. Ten years later, they settled in Franklin, Idaho, being among some of the earliest pioneers to that area. Since there was still concern over the Indians, and a fort had not yet been built, it was necessary to circle the wagons, and the pioneers lived inside the circle to maintain a degree of safety. But even after the fort was built, it was still necessary for the entire company to spend many nights inside the meeting house.
During the battle of Battlecreek, William brought seven or eight men home, hungry and almost frozen. Mary Jane readily prepared food and shelter with nothing but a fireplace for a stove. By the fall of 1864, the small town of Franklin came very near to having a massacre. But because 300 minute men were gathered from Logan very quickly, they were able to avoid it. In the end, the Indians made a peace agreement and all of Franklin was grateful.
Much of what the early pioneers enjoyed was the product of their own work. Mary Jane made her own lye, starch, soap, dye and candles. She even learned to prepare the wool sheared right from the sheep’s back, then sew the resulting fabric into suits for her husband and sons. One day, while suffering from a severe headache, she regretted having to do the laundry. Nevertheless, she placed the tub of water on rocks above the flames of the fire and brought the clothes out and laid them on the ground, then went back into the house while the water was heating. When she returned, the fire had somehow reached the clothing, and there was nothing left but a safety pin and a button. She never grumbled about the wash after that, thankful that they had clothes to wash.
It is recorded that during the 4th of July celebration in 1863, William was Marshal of the day. Also, they ran the hotel in Franklin, part of which was still standing in 1969.
In 1871, William and his family moved to a ranch that was seven miles north of Franklin. They set up a cattle business and often sold their cattle up into Montana. Later they moved into Preston, where they remained.
William died 3 May 1891, in Preston but was buried in the Old Franklin Cemetery, in Franklin Idaho. Mary Jane succumbed to bronchial pneumonia on 21 January 1916. Her funeral service was held in the Preston Opera House. William and Mary Jane had 10 children and only 5 were still alive at the time of her death.
Gov. Moses Alexander, who had become acquainted with Mary Jane a year prior to her death, wrote a letter of condolence to her son, William.

I have had conveyed to me the sad news of the death of your beloved mother, known to her many friends as Grandma Head. I had the pleasure of meeting her in her home a year ago, and from her learned much of the early day struggles. To the pioneers of this state, we surely owe our gratitude for laying the foundation of this commonwealth of Idaho. The loss of your mother cannot be compensated by any power on earth, and her memory will be all that is left for the family to build new hopes on. To us who have known her, she was th personification of sacrifice and devotion to the cause of humanity and we can only sympathize with you and offer you words of condolence in your bereavement; and point to you the many noble qualities which she possessed that made her a shining example to emulate to all those who come after her.





This narrative was written by Mary Jane’s sister, Matilda. She was only a year and a half older than Mary Jane and so I am sure many of their experiences were the same.

A FEW INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF MATILDA E. LOVELESS WHEREIN SHE REMEMBERS JOSEPH THE PROPHET IN THE CITY OF NAUVOO WHERE SHE LIVED SIX YEARS. Sister Matilda E. Loveless says:

"I am the daughter of James and Cynthia Stewart McClellan and was born in Nashville, Tennessee Dec 15, 1829. My parents moved to Nauvoo in 1840, the year I was eleven, losing eight cows and other valuable property. The first winter we suffered much from want and sickness, still we did not murmur, but were thankful we had gathered with the saints in the beautiful city of Nauvoo. My parents were very industrious and through the blessings of the Lord we were seen in comfortable circumstances again.
I can remember very distinctly the appearance of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Joseph always used a black horse and Hyrum a white one. I very often saw Joseph and his wife Emma at meetings, out walking, and riding in their carriage with Porter Rockwell as coachman, on their way to Joseph's farm, passing by our house. His farm was superintended by a man named Lett. I always attended Sunday School in the morning and Meeting in the afternoon in a grove near the Nauvoo Temple. Joseph was usually present. My happiest childhood remembrances are those spent in Sunday School, and I learned many scriptures at that time. I remember seeing Emma singing in the choir. At one time while attending meeting it was raining very fast and I was holding an umbrella and it seemed that Joseph had been absent a few meetings and at this time was speaking very powerfully and every one was so interested they did not even notice the storm.
At one time Joseph was taken to the Carthage jail for treason and on his return Emma and many of the brethren and sisters left Nauvoo on horseback to go and meet Joseph. On their return, Joseph came in a carriage, while I, together with many other children were very much interested and great rejoicings were among the people. The feelings of the people cannot be described for it was heavenly. Down on the flat, a place south of Nauvoo, I have often watched the brethren drill with Joseph taking the lead. I can remember Emma being present at these drills. How well I can remember being very pleased when my mother would let me take father's dinner to him while he worked on the Nauvoo Temple. I seemed to understand the importance of the building and father was always so pleased to have we children come with his dinner and would tell us about the Temple of God he was assisting to build, being a blacksmith, he had a shop near by where he worked when necessary and then all kind of labor. I can remember my father coming home in the night, having been on guard duty, to make bullets in our fireplace. In those days we were always in dread of mobs. Father occasionally wore a red coat and we children spoke of him as belonging to the red coat company.
I was present when the capstone was placed on the Nauvoo Temple and I remember the rejoicing of the people, also the song that was composed for the occasion. In those days, we children would work and do anything so as to have the privilege of meeting in the gathering of the Saints; our very souls were enthused over the Gospel. We delighted in understanding all that was said and done in the in the church. I was present at the dedication of the Temple. The day my parents and brother, William, received their endowments. On their return home, how happy they were over receiving these blessings and they spoke to me about having mine, but I said: No, I will wait until I am married. Which I did. I was present and heard Joseph speak to the Indians on the lawn by the old white house right across the street from the mansion house. Many Indians were seated around, others standing. Many of the people of Nauvoo were present.
I have drank water many times from the well at Carthage Jail where Joseph lay when the man wanted to strike off his head and was prevented by the knight from Heaven. My father owned a farm beyond Carthage so we would stop and get a drink from this well when going to our farm as the water was so cool and fresh, but never drank there after the prophets death. The last time I saw Joseph, was the day he delivered his last public address when He said: I call upon God and Angels to witness that I have unsheathed my sword with a firm and unalterable determination that this people shall have their legal rights and shall be protected from mobs, violence or my blood shall be spilt upon the ground like water and my body consigned to the silent tomb. I can remember so well that day it looked so cloudy as though it would storm so my mother sent me to my father with his coat. I remember so well the scene and how attentive my father was to the remarks of Joseph, so I listened and became equally so. The day that word came that Joseph and Hyrum were killed I shall never forget the confusion among the people. A number of we children ran to the cornfield and prayed for the safety of our parents. I saw the murdered bodies of Joseph and Hyrum laying in state in the Mansion-house. I saw the coat and other clothing they were killed in; also the pillow that Hyrum's head rested on and the stains from the wound on his face. Even now, I cannot think of that sight but with the most horrible feelings.
I was present at the meeting held in the grove when Brigham Young stood up and spoke with the voice of Joseph and his very appearance was like Joseph's and with one voice the people sustained him as their leader. The feelings that thrilled my soul gave me a testimony of the truthfulness of this Gospel that has never left me and has sustained me through many trials for I learned then, and knew God is leading this Church and this testimony I can bear to the whole world if need be. We moved with the Saints to Council Bluffs where I was married to James W. Loveless in 1847. I attended the party that was given for the Mormon Battalion and danced there for the first time. I had two children before crossing the plains, arriving in Utah in 1851.