Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-10


"Our father, George Cannon. possess
sed remarkable vitality which has
been transmitted to his posterity. He
seemed imbued with an intense de-
sire for children, and that his descend
ants should not perish from the earth.
This was strIkingly shown according to
the statement of President George Q.
Cannon by his compact made with his
wife Ann Quayle before HIS marriage.
After explaining to her his desire that
his name shall never become extinct
he wanted II understood that in the
event that she did not bear him any
children after their marriage that he
should have the privilege OF raising a
family by another wife. TO this our
mother consented.
THE yirllity Of George Cannon and
the number of his descendants cannot
fail to Impress anyone who is familiar
with the family history. or the re-
naming sons and daughters of his
fathers family of nine, no known de-
scendants are now alive save those OF
his sister, Aunt Leonora, wife OF Pres
ldent John Taylor. On the contrary
MS living descendants now number
40 and 50 other descendants have
iYed but are now deceased.
MOTHER OF MULTITuDEs.
The words OF John Quine, our third
COUSIN vicar of Lonan and a Manx-
man OF acknowledged and exceptional
ability referring to the remarkable pre-
potency OF Leonora Radcliffe, might,
with equal truth be applied to our
rather, George Cannon. Mr.. Quine
says; And that Leonora Radcliffe,
that mother OF multitudes, that Great
ure OF blue veins after whom so many
Leonoras were named--what was she?
How strange that in her should be
concentrated the vitality OF the whole
family from which she had sprung,
through her to be transmitted to fu-
turity and through her alone She was
the flower and all the others but bar
rem leaves'
Our grandfather had nine children,
OF whom five grew TO maturity Yet
the descendants OF all his brothers and
sisters SO Tar as we can learn, number
less than one-twentieth OF those from
our father alone. When our parents
converted their possessions into cash
and took their little family OF six
children and set sail for America, they
were regarded by most of their friends
and kindred in the old Country as a
vanished race. When any of Gus SO
DdCh W tltHl, dE mas lldUHtlltu rum
time to time, they seem to regard us
almost as returned from the dead
PREMoNITIoN OF DEATH.
"Our mother had a premonlton that
she would not live TO see her dear ones
established in Zion: but she was most
anxious that her children should he
taken to the body of the Church that
they might grow up amid its influences.
AT the time we sailed, | was only
little boy eight years OF age Brother
Geo. @. was lS; Sister Mary Alice, 10;
Sister Ann, 10; Brother David 1, and
Leonora. the baby of the family, only
years OF age.
Mothers fears proved true. Our
father saw her grow weaker day by
day, and her strength slowly fail as
our sailing vessel worked its tardy
passage from Liverpool TO the mouth
Of the great Mississippi, until one DAY
they told us that mother was dead,
and her earthly cares forever ended.
Tenderly we gathered around her silent
form and took last fond look at the
features dearer to us than any IN
life, and then the mortal part OF our
mother was carefully committed
to the deep, and her spirit went 20
paradise to watch over and await the
eled stone nor green kept grave marks
her resting place; but In the depth OF
the ocean that had borne upon Its
waves 10 many OF her seafaring kim
bred she sleeps, while In the hearts OF
her posterity her memory Is ever green
because of her motherly love. and her
devotion TO the cause OF God; devotion
that made her willing to give her life
that abe and those she loved might DO
devoted to God and have life eternal,
UP THE MISSISSIPPI.
81 might tell of the slow journey up
the Mississippi OF the appointments
that awaited our father In the ingrati-
tude OF some OF those whom he had
rendered financial help In gathering
with the saints; Of the trials OF life
In a strange land under conditions be-
fore unknown. And through 1t all OF
fathers devotion 10 the gospel he had
espoused. After a time father married
again, and as a result OF that union we
have our sister Elizabeth and her de-
scendants.
Father now found much OF his
means spent and II was necessary 20 be
energetic TO provide for those dependent
upon him. And so at a later period he
went down the Mississippi river 10 st.
Louis, where he had better opportuni-
~ to obtain employment at his trade OF
carpenter and Joiner. Then, | was still
only little boy, when, about two years
after our arrival In Nauvoo. we were
told that father was dead. The head OF
our house was gone. and We were LETT TO
work our own way in the world without
either the good kind father or the dill
gent mother who had heretofore guild
ed our footsteps
But our heavenly Father did not for
get us and we were never without good
kind friends TO not only point the way
| but also encourage us along the path
that lay before us.