ira norton jacob: a midway fort family
The Heber Valley Heritage Foundation Midway Fort Family of the week is that of Ira Norton Jacob researched by Jason Moulton
His cabin was located on the West side of the Midway Fort sandwiched between Washington Clifts and Samuel Thompson.
Ira Norton Jacob KWJJ-PSX was born on 16 October 1840, in Hancock, Illinois, United States, his father, Norton Jacob, was 36 and his mother, Emily Heaton, was 29. He married Julia Ann Gerber on 5 January 1863. They were the parents of at least 1 son. He lived in Salt Lake, Utah, United States in 1850. He died on 9 February 1906, in Loma, Mesa, Colorado, United States, at the age of 65, and was buried in Mound City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
From the LDS Church History biographical Database comes the following. His Birhtplace is listed as having been born on “The Banks of Crooked Creek Near Pilot, Hancock, Illinois. He immigrated to Utah in the Heber C. Kimball Company starting on June 7, 1848, through September 24, 1848. He was Age 7 at the time of his immigration to Utah. He was baptized on September 12, 1875, at the age of 34.
Julia Ann Gerber K2QF-M9C was born on 22 August 1845, in Indiana, United States, her father, Johannes Gerber, was 48 and her mother, Anna Maria Ackeret, was 21. She married Ira Norton Jacob on 5 January 1863. They were the parents of at least 1 son. She lived in Knoxville, Knox, Tennessee, United States in 1850 and Provo, Utah, Utah, United States in 1860. She died on 26 March 1864, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 18, and was buried in Mound City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
Ira and Julia Ann Gerber had one son who died as an infant.
Ira Julian Jacob was born on 23 March 1864, in Mound City, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, Ira Norton Jacob, was 23 and his mother, Julia Ann Gerber, was 18. He died on 2 April 1864, at the age of 0, and was buried in Mound City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
Contributed Bywilliamferrinwhitaker1
“When I was a boy in Midway, I used to climb the hill to the west of The Homestead to visit a small group of graves which included Julia’s and her infant son Ira’s. They were very isolated then, located in a clearing surrounded by a grove of Gambel oaks. I needed seclusion from time to time and this was a favorite spot.
Many years later, while serving an experimental art mission, I had a very vivid dream. I saw Julia as she would appear on the morning of the First Resurrection. She was glorious and beautiful, her skin was like the finest porcelain, her eyes a piercing bright blue, her great mass of dark hair framed her face.
I thought about all the children who died before the age of accountability and how they would come forth as infants and children, to be raised by worthy women, for it wasn’t fair that Julia had to die so young and that the infant Ira died shortly after his mother. In the resurrection all things will be made good. Ira will be a perfect baby and his mother will be exquisite, for beauty is a law of heaven.
I took on this painting project as part of my mission, as an experiment. At last I fell far short of what I saw in my dream. However, the idea is true and it’s something we can all look forward to.
This image is just a close-up detail of the entire painting. It was painted in 1986 in oils on a panel.
Today Julia’s grave is still surrounded by Gambel Oaks, but the site is now located in the middle of a lovely condominium development above Midway, Utah. No longer isolated, it is still a lovely place to visit.“
Following the death of his wife and son Ira married Lovia Ellen Clift.
Lovia Ellen Clift KWJJ-PS6 was born on 28 July 1849, in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States, her father, George Washington Clift Jr., was 32 and her mother, Amanda Caroline Fausett, was 21. She married Ira Norton Jacob on 27 March 1865, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 1 daughter. She lived in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States in 1880 and Vernal Utah Temple, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States in 1900. She died on 14 July 1927, in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States, at the age of 77, and was buried in Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States.
BIOGRAPHY OF LOVIA ELLEN CLIFT JACOB found in the memories of Lovia Clift Jacob
Contributed By Margebecraft
“Lovia Ellen Clift was born on 28 July 1849 at Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa to George Washington and Amanda Caroline Fausett Clift Jr. She was the second of twelve children, nine girls and three boys.
Her father George Washington Clift Jr. was born on 24 February 1817 in Maunie, White, Illinois to George Washington and Loviah Lettie Farley Clift Sr. Her father was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 12 February 1840 at the age of 22.
Her father first married Margaret on 10 November 1821 in Maury, Tennessee at the age of 16. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 1 January 1832. They were living in Hancock, Illinois by 1840. He received his endowments on 3 January 1846 in the Nauvoo Temple in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, just a month before the main body of saints were driven from Nauvoo. He was 41 years old.
Amanda married George Washington Clift Jr. on 9 July 1840 at the age of 12 in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois. She was baptized into the Church on 4 June 1845 at the age of 17. George was born on 24 February 1817 in Maunie, White,Illinois to George Washington and Loviah Lettie Farley Clift Sr. He was their only son. He was 23 years old when they married. He was baptized into the Church on 12 February 1840 at the age of 22.
They had one child, Eliza Jerusa born on 25 January 1847 in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois . After they left Nauvoo, they made their way to Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowawhere they joined others preparing to go west. Lovia Ellen was born on 28 July 1849 at Council Bluffs.
They came to Great Salt Lake City with the William Snow/ Joseph Young Company in 1850. Her mother Margaret was 53 and her father John was 45. George Washington was 33; Amanda Caroline was 22; Eliza Jerusa was 3; and Lovia Ellen was an infant. They departed on 21 June 1850 with 489 individuals and 42 wagons in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Kanesville, Iowa (present day Council Bluffs), but the size of the company more than tripled as it made its way across the plains. It was initially organized near the Missouri River.
Cholera broke out in the camp shortly after they started west. By the end of July they were able to kill some buffalo which added meat to their meager diet. They made it to Chimney Rock by 5 August. They made to to Fort Laramie by 13 August. There was heavy rain and they had to take the cattle across theriver to feed. It rained steadily for the next few days. When they got to Fort Bridger, they had only 113 more miles to go. They arrived in the Salt Lake valley on 4 October 1850. Her parents settled in Midway,Wasatch, Utah Territory.
Amanda and George settled in Provo, Utah, Utah Territory. They had twelve children in all, nine girls and three boys. Three of the children were born in Provo. George Alexander was born on 12 April 1851;Amanda Jane was born on 19 January 1854; and Alzina was born on 29 August 1856.
They were in Alpine, Utah, Utah Territory by 1859 and had three children there. John Edward was born on 14 April 1859; Mary Maria was born on 17 May 1861; Matilda was born about 1863 and died at a young age; and Madora was born on 27 August 1864. George and Amanda received their endowments and were sealed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Territory on 19 July 1862.
Virtue was born about 1869 and died at a young age. Violet Lettie was born on 29 November 1869 in Midway, Wasatch, Utah Territory; Frank Eugene was born on 1 April 1870 in Coalville, Summit, Utah Territory.
Lovia was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 1 January 1863 at the age of 13. She married Ira Norton Jacob on 27 March 1865 in Salt Lake City,Salt Lake, Utah Territory at the age of 15. She later received her endowments on 6 September 1869 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Territory at the age of 20.
Ira was born on 16 October 1840 on the Banks of Crooked Creek near Pilot, Hancock, Illinois. He was the sixth of eleven children, five girls and six boys. His father was born on 11 August 1804 in Sheffield, Berkshire, Massachusetts. His mother Emily Heaton was born on 28 November 1810 in Burlington,Chittenden, Vermont. They were married on 20 November 1830 in Busti,Chautauqua, New York.
His father was baptized into the Church on 15 March 1841 at the age of 31. His mother was baptized into the Church on 1 September 1842 in Nauvoo at the age of 31. They received their endowments on 12 December 1845 in the Nauvoo Temple in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois. They were sealed on 19 January 1846 in the Nauvoo Temple, just three weeks before the main body of saints were driven from Nauvoo on 4 February 1846.
Norton came to the Great Basin with the Brigham Young Vanguard Company in 1847. Norton was 42 years old. He left his family in Council Bluffs,Pottawattamie, Iowa. Emily had a baby on 12 August 1847 without her husband being there. Members of this company left Winter Quarters as early as April 5th to join with the larger group. Everyone gathered to a place about 20 miles from Winter Quarters on the banks of the Platte River. There they worked repairing wagons, organizing supplies, and chopping firewood.It wasn’t until the 16th of April that the company was officially organized into the hundreds, fifties, and tens, with captains appointed and they started on their way. Once organized, this vanguard pioneer company consisted of 142 men, 3 women, 2 children,and 72 wagons. They traveled 1031 miles before reaching their destination. Some members of the company traveled ahead and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley as early as the July 21, 1847. By the 24th of July, the entire company had arrived. He went back to Council Bluffs and his family traveled to Great Salt Lake City with the Heber C. Kimball Company in 1848. Norton was 43; Emily was 37; Oliver Bar was 14; Lucian Heaton was 12; Ira Norton was 7; Joseph was 3; and Emily Amelia was an infant. They departed on 7 June 1848 with 697 individuals and 225 wagons in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Winter Quarters, Nebraska.
They traveled very close to the Brigham Young and Lorenzo Snow Companies. On Thursday 8 June right after they left Emily sprained and bruised her ankle severely. Norton was called as captain of the guard. He had ten companies under his guard and had sergeants over each of the ten companies. They killed their first buffalo on 30 June, which would bring meat for the people. By 15 June they were at Chimney Rock. Norton writes on Sunday 14 August:“moved on from the Willows Spring over in the Sweetwater Valley &camped on Grease—Wood creek eight miles, N. East from the Independence Rock—here my Son Oliver Bar Jacob died on Monday the 14th of August <(at 8 o’ clock A M)> after having suffered incredibly for above three months with Black Scurvy, Black canker &liver complaint all of which he bore with great patience &resignation—he was a good Boy and a very promising Youth[.] Aged 14 years 7 months & 9 days—We buried him on a small eminence near our camp ½ miles S. East of the road & marked the spot with a heap of rough Stones & a lettered Board—here with services &mourning we left him to rest in the Wilderness.”
On 21 August they had to leave seven wagons behind because so many cattle had died. Occasionally they would sent back the teams to bring the remaining wagons to be with the rest of the company. On 3 September teams from the Salt Lake valley came to help with their distress. They were able to move over South Pass after that. On 23 September they encamped at the mouth of the canyon and arrived in the Salt Lake valley on 24 September 1848. Norton noted it was greener than it had been the year before.
Their family first settled in Salt Lake City, then Woods Cross, Davis, Utah Territory. Sometime during 1860 they moved to Provo Valley, locating in the area of the upper Snake Creek..
Ira first married Julia Ann Jemeyma Gerber on 5 January 1863. They had one child Ira Julian born on 23 March 1864 in Mound City, Wasatch, Utah Territory. Julia Ann died from complications to childbirth on 26 March 1864 in Midway, Wasatch, Utah Territory. Julian only lived 16 days and they were buried in the same grave.
Ira and Lovia had six children, one girl and five boys, all born in Midway, Wasatch, Utah Territory except the last child, who was born in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah Territory. Ralph Clifton was born on 24 July 1868; George Isaac was born on 9 September 1870; Ira Edgar was born on 30 January 1876; Ina Ellen was born on 20 May 1878; John Ezra was born on 1 August 1880; and Oscar Norton was born on 7 August 1885.
Ira was appointed second counselor to Sidney H. Epperson on 11 March 1868. Brother Eperson was the Presiding Elder of Midway. He was a veteran of the Black Hawk War serving as Captain of the Infantry Company of the Wasatch County Militia.
In 1880 they moved to Wanship and then to Ashley Valley. Ira died on 9 February 1906 in Loma, Mesa, Colorado at the age of 65. He was buried on 12 February 1906 in the Mound City (Midway), Wasatch, Utah.
Lovia died on 14 July 1927 in Ogden, Weber, Utah at the age of 77. She was buried on 17 July 1927 in the Ogden City Cemetery.”
Six children were born to this marriage. Two of the children, Ralph Clifton, and George Issac, based upon their birth dates, may have resided in the Midway Fort with their parents.
Ralph Clifton Jacobs was born on 24 July 1868, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, Ira Norton Jacob, was 27 and his mother, Lovia Ellen Clift, was 18. He married Fanny Elizabeth Workman on 4 April 1900, in Uintah, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 3 daughters. He lived in Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States in 1900 and Grace, Bingham, Idaho, United States for about 10 years. He died on 4 March 1931, in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States, at the age of 62, and was buried in Grace Cemetery, Caribou, Idaho, United States.
George Isaac Jacobs was born on 9 September 1870, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, Ira Norton Jacob, was 29 and his mother, Lovia Ellen Clift, was 21. He married Hannah May Workman on 8 October 1902, in De Beque, Mesa, Colorado, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 1 daughter. He lived in Box Elder, Utah, United States in 1920 and Collinston, Box Elder, Utah, United States in 1930. He died on 7 June 1932, in Beaver Dam Cemetery, Beaver Dam, Box Elder, Utah, United States, at the age of 61, and was buried in Beaver Dam, Box Elder, Utah, United States.
Ira Edgar Jacobs was born on 30 January 1876, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, Ira Norton Jacob, was 35 and his mother, Lovia Ellen Clift, was 26. He married Lillian May Horne on 28 August 1919, in Bear Lake, Idaho, United States. He lived in Lincoln, Wyoming, United States in 1920. He died on 12 July 1928, in Cokeville, Uinta, Wyoming, United States, at the age of 52.
Ina Ellen Jacob was born on 20 May 1878, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, Ira Norton Jacob, was 37 and her mother, Lovia Ellen Clift, was 28. She married Abraham Glenn Harris on 9 September 1897, in Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 4 daughters. She lived in Election Precinct 14 Ashley, Uintah, Utah, United States in 1910 and Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States in 1920. She died on 3 September 1962, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 84, and was buried in West Jordan City Cemetery, West Jordan, Salt Lake, Utah, United States.
John Ezra Jacobs was born on 1 August 1880, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, Ira Norton Jacob, was 39 and his mother, Lovia Ellen Clift, was 31. He died on 11 April 1901, at the age of 20.
Ira N Jacob Homesteaded 120 acres described below on November 1, 1875. The BLM records list his name as Ira W Jacobs but they are believed to be identical .
The Following articles were located in the Wasatch Wave in a search for Ira N Jacob
