Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-08-10
ROMANCE OF JOHN P. MEAKIN
Invitation TO Attend Reunion of VOL
colt Family Recalls Early History,

Mr. and Mrs. John p. Meakin the
well known lecturer and wife, received
several days ago an invitation to at
tend a reunion of the Wolcott family
of America, to be held at the River
side Auditorium, Warren, Ohio, Sept.
o. They will make unusual efforts to
attend. Mrs. Meakin's maiden name
was Wolcott.
The paragraph is news. weaved
through and around 1t is one of tho
prettiest little romances a writer could
wish FOR. 1t began away back in
1852. In that year a Methodist preach
er arrived In Salt Lake. He was on
his way to California to take charge
of church In one of the towns of
that state. He was detained here some
time by various causes. Finally these
obstacles disappeared from his path,
and he was free to continue his jour-
riey, but still he remained in Salt
Lake. Finally the "cat came out of
the bag" as they said in those days,
and the Methodist preacher, Robert
Winter Wolcott, was no longer a
himself n Jealous Mormon. He had
been wooing pretty Elizabeth Ann
Wright, or Libby Wright, as she was
better known among her set With
Wolcott's announcement of his con-
version to the Mormon faith came the
news that his wooing had been sue
cessful
Pretty Libby Wright and the former
Methodist preacher are going to be
married" said the village, that stood
fifty years ago where Salt Lake stands
today. And they were. Jan. IT, 1851,
saw the ceremony performed. In the
following April Wolcott was called
upon to fill a mission to England. He
left during the next month, kissing his
wife q goodbye, little dreaming II was
tho final farewell on this earth. His
work took him to Northampton, Eng
land. He became acquainted in Raunds
and there became a great friend OF
James Menkin and his family
One day Elder Wolcott received
photograph OF his wife and the little
daughter. who had arrived in the home
after the fathers departure. He showed
this to James Mealdn during an even
ing call, Taking John, a little mite of
a fellow on his knee the visitor patted
him on tho head saying, half laugh
ingly, half seriously, John. bless thee
and name thee as future companion
for my little daughter" Shoi " after
this incident Wolcott became i'll and
died in Northampton without ever see
ing his little daughter.
Years and years afterwards the
Meakin family had taken UP it's resi-
dence in Salt Lake. John was now
a Young man. One evening he at
tended n dancing party and met a girl
whom he ind arstood TO be n Miss Will
cox. He met her again at q ball in tho
old Eighth ward and he felt great
~ fascinated by her. He asked II he
might not see her again and to his
great delight received an invitation 20
call Mt her home He did this, need
less 10 say, He found the young lndy's
mother most charming woman and
upon leaving called her Mrs. Wilcox
my name is not Wilcox" she cor
rected good naturedly. IT'S Wolcott."
"Wolcottl" said the young man.
ITS familiar name TO mel" He then
told her a meager bit OF the story
he had been told when body about
the missionary who had blessed him
and expressed the desire that he
should be the companion OF his daugh-
ter. The mother. daughter and caller
were soon discussing a most wonder
full event. Letters were brought out
and II developed Mrs. Wolcott and
girl We're the widow and daughter OF
Robert Winter Wolcott and their call
err was none other than the one-time
youngster. whom the dead man had
blessed as he uttered his strange wish.
The dead mans wishes expressed 80
many years before were fulfilled with
In few months an John j. Maakln
asked Miss Woloott 10 become his
wife and she aid For 80 years MIR.
Meakln has been looking and trying
10 locate members OF tho Woloott
family a year ago no visited with
relatives OF Robert Winter VOL
colt and again this summer, Robert
Winter Wolcott fen into dlsfavor whom
he deserted the Methodist faith for