History of
James Thomas Snarr (1818-1897)
and Harriet Brough (1820-1901)
The Burghs and
Broughs of Lincolnshire, England
Genealogies
of James Thomas Snarr and Harriet Brough and their Descendants
by the BFO Research Committee, 11 February 2012


Ancestry of James Thomas Snarr and Harriet Brough
James Thomas Snarr was born on 7 November 1818 in Kington-Upon-Hull,
Yorkshire, England. His parents were Barton Snarr, a "Baker",
and Elizabeth Sonley, who were the parents of five children. On 12 November
1844, James Thomas Snarr, a "Mariner", married Harriet Brough
in the parish church of St. Mary, Sculcoates, Yorkshire. She was born
on 5 November 1820 in Horncastle, Lincolnshire. Her parents were John
Brough, a "Gardener", and Jane (Julia or Judith) Marshall, who
had five children.
Between 1845 and 1851, James and Harriet had four children: Mary Ann
Snarr (born in 1845 in Horncastle, Lincolnshire); Thomas Snarr (born and
died in in 1847 in West Sculcoats, Yorkshire); Thomas Sonley Snarr (born
in 1849 in London); and Barton Snarr (born in 1851 in Kingston-Upon-Hull,
Yorkshire).
In 1851, James and Harriet lived in Kingston-Upon-Hull, Yorkshire, where
James worked as a "Baker and Confectioner". In November 1852,
Harriet was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
and in November 1853, James was baptized into the LDS Church. Shortly
thereafter they decided to leave England for "Zion" (in Utah).
The Journey from England to America
On 22 February 1854, James and Harriet Snarr, along with their three
young children (Mary Ann Snarr, Thomas Sonley Snarr and Barton Snarr)
left Liverpool, England aboard the ship Windermere. Also on board the
ship was Harriet's youngest brother, John Brough, and his wife, Mary Winter
Fanthorp, and their one-year-old son, Thomas Brough. After an eventful
sailing trip across the Atlantic Ocean, the Windermere arrived in New
Orleans, Louisiana, on 23 April 1854. An abbreviated account of the Windermere
sailing adventure of early 1854 is described below (via the website: http://lib.byu.edu/mormonmigration/voyage.php?id=437):
A Compilation of General Voyage Notes [of the ship Windermere, February-April
1854]: "The ship Windermere, Captain Fairfield, sailed from Liverpool,
England, bound for New Orleans, on the 22nd of February, 1854, with four
hundred and seventy-seven Saints on board, the company being in charge
of Elder Daniel Garn. Included in the company were seven ex-presidents
of conferences, namely: Abraham Marchant, Robert Menzies, Job Smith, John
T. Hardy, John A Albiston, J. V. Long and Graham Douglas. The Windermere
arrived at New Orleans April 23rd. During the voyage contrary winds were
encountered, arising at times to heavy gales; but at the end of five weeks
a favorable wind set in, and the ship made one thousand miles in four
days. After fifteen days sailing from Liverpool, the smallpox broke out
on board and spread rapidly as the vessel approached the tropics, until
37 passengers and two of the crew were attacked but at this crisis the
malady was suddenly checked in answer to prayer. Six marriages were solemnized
on board, and six births and ten deaths [mostly from small pox] occurred.
On the morning after arriving at New Orleans, eleven persons suffering
with the small-pox were sent to the Luzenburg Hospital, agreeable to order
from the health officers at the port; and Elder Long and five others were
selected to remain at New Orleans to attend to the sick until they were
sufficiently recovered to go forward. The rest of the company continued
the journey from New Orleans April 27th, on board a steamboat, and arrived
in St. Louis a few days later, from whence the journey was subsequently
continued to Kansas City."

More in-depth accounts of the Windermere voyage can be found on the following
three websites: http://lib.byu.edu/mormonmigration/voyage.php?id=437
http://www.davidgorton.com/Father/Journals/windermere.html
http://robbwasdenfamily.blogspot.com/2011/06/voyge-of-ship-windermere.html
Life Sketch of James Thomas Snarr
In 1940, a history of James Thomas Snarr, entitled "Sketch of the
Life of James Thomas Snarr, Utah Pioneer (1854)", was produced by
Zitelle McClellan Snarr (and others) and subsequently submitted to the
Daughters of Utah Pioneers (DUP) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The following
comments come from this history:
The ship [Windermere] arrived at New Orleans April 23rd. The morning
after, eleven persons suffering with small pox sent to the Luxenburg hospital.
Elder Long and five others were selected to remain at New Orleans, to
attend to the sick until they were sufficiently recovered to go forward.
The rest of the company continued from New Orleans on April 27th, on board
the steamboat Grand Tower, and arrived in St. Louis a few days later,
from whence the journey was subsequently continued to Kansas City.
It was reported that on account of the immense emigration to Calif.
and Salt Lake this season, oxen range in price from $75.00 to &110.00
per yoke. The cows from $25.00 to $40.00 per head. The price of wagons
in St. Louis is $67.00 and the freightage to Kansas ranges from $6.00
to $12.00 per wagon. This variation in the price of freights is the result
of the different stages of the river....
[Note: It is not known which Mormon pioneer company the Snarr and Brough
families traveled in when they crossed the American Plains during the
Summer and Fall of 1854. But it was probably either the Darwin Richardson
Company or Daniel Garn Company. The Darwin
Richardson Company departed Westport, Kansas City, Missouri on 17
June 1854, arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 30 September 1854, and
consisted of "about 300 individuals and 40 wagons...when it began
its journey from the outfitting post at Westport". The Daniel
Garn Company departed Westport, Kansas City, Missouri on 1-2 July
1854, arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 1 October 1854, and consisted
of "477 individuals and about 40 wagons...when it began its journey
from the outfitting post at Westport". Interestingly, Harriet Brough
Snarr gave birth to her fifth child, James Henry Snarr, on 11 September
1854 at Green River, Wyoming, and the Deseret
News (of
28 September 1854) reported that "Elder Daniel Garn and company
(was) seven miles this side (or west) of Fort Bridger (Wyoming) on the
22nd (of September 1854)".]
[Note: From the history of John Brough,
we learn the following: While crossing the Plains the two Brough families
shared toil and burdens. On one occasion little Thomas Brough, a few months
over 12 months of age, and little Bart Snarr, something past age two,
were riding in the same wagon. Bart pushed Thomas out of the wagon and
he was run over by a wheel. They stopped for 24 hours, during which time
Thomas's life was in doubt. He recovered fully, however, thanks be to
God. Harriet was pregnant as they made their way over the plains. The
jolting of the wagon affected her kidneys, giving her great pain thus
she walked practically the whole distance. At Green River, Wyoming on
September 11, 1854, a little son, James Henry, was born. The Snarr
and Brough families arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah during the Fall of
1854.]
Just how bright would you think the prospects were in this barren
desert country for a man who had followed the mariners trade or even that
of a baker. The family now consisted of an eleven year old daughter and
three little sons. On Nov. 13, 1956, another son, Joseph Hyrum, was born
into the growing family. On April 1, 1856, Harriet became the Eternal
Companion of James when they were sealed in the Old Endowment House in
Salt Lake City, by the Priesthood. Again on May 11, 1858, a daughter,
Harriet Eliza, increased the number of children from five to six.
This was about the time of the trouble in Echo Canyon, prior to the
move south. It seems that James was connected in some way with Elder Daniel
H. Wells, councilor to Brigham Young, in the capacity of the Supervisor
of teams, men and provisions
and there was some connection with the
tithing office. The Wells home stood on the south east corner of So. Temple
and Main St. just a across the street from the Tithing office. Annie Wells
stated that at that time, her father, Daniel H. Wells, was away from home
much of the time and James was left in sole charge of the commissary,
store room or train, as it was called. All supplies for the Wells family
were kept in this store room. If something was needed from the room, it
was always "Go get Jimmie" or "Jimmie will get it for you."
Jimmie, as he was affectionately called, was very good to the children
and they loved him. He was not a talkative person, leaning more to the
reserved type. He was strong, trustworthy and had considerable business
ability. Having been a sailor in Queen Victoria's navy, he had many tattooed
pictures on his arms above the wrists. The Well's children often gathered
about him, begging to be shown the pictures and told of his experiences
in the navy, but he usually had little to say. His physical build was
rather a long body, with very shorts legs. When sitting down, he appeared
to be a very large man. His eyes were steel blue and he had an abundance
or wavy brown hair. In later years, he wore a beard that looked, from
his pictures, much like that worn by Brigham Young. One sister said; "During
those busy days, Jimmie did more for the Well's children than my father
did." He made such delicious pie crust. Pie, in those days, was of
course a luxury, and especially when Jimmie made it.
It is not known just when affiliations with Squire Wells were severed
nor how early James and Harriet established themselves on Sixth South
[and] whether they built the little adobe home at 326 West Sixth South
or bought it. The understanding is that on February 15, 1860, another
son, Daniel Hamer, was born in the little home which continued to be Home
sweet Home to James and Harriet until the day of their death more than
forty years later. All of lot 2, block 30, plat A in the Salt Lake City
Survey was deeded to James by mayor Daniel H. Wells on Feb. 11, 1873.
James is listed as one of the first colonists of Murray, which was
known as Big Cottonwood Precincts.
Two other daughters graced the home of James and Harriet. Louisa,
who died in infancy, and Josephine, who was born April 21, 1865.
In June of 1866, the Indians made a raid on Thistle Valley in Sanpete
County, killing Charles Brown, wounding Thomas Snarr and driving off 26
horses. Thomas was but a lad of 16, but he was doing his part to protect
the early settlers against the Indians. He returned to England in 1872
as a Missionary for the Church and in 1888 Daniel, another son of James,
did his part by carrying the message of the Gospel to the birthplace of
his parents. During these years, James was operating a grocery store next
door to his little home, and ran a bakery in connection with it. Sister
Annie Wells Cannon stated that he operated one of the first bakeries in
the valley. He mixed his bread every night and baked early next morning
in the wood burning stove in his home.
[In the 1860 U.S. Census, "James T. Snarr" is listed as
working as a "Laborer" and residing with his wife, Harriet,
and their seven children in the 5th Ward area of Salt Lake City; in the
1870 U.S. Census, he is listed as working as a "Baker" and residing
with his wife, Harriet, and their seven children in the 6th Ward area
of Salt Lake City; and in the 1880's U.S. Census, he is listed as working
as a "Huckster" (who was often a person or "hawker"
who usually sold wares or provisions in the streets or public areas or
a peddler who sold fruits and vegetables) and residing with his wife,
Harriet, and three of their children in the 6th Ward area of Salt Lake
City, Utah.]
On September 11, 1881, Arnold G. Giauque was chosen Superintendent
of the Sixth Ward Sunday School with James T. Snarr First Assistant, and
James H. Poulton, Second. This position James held for nearly sixteen
years, or until he died on April 2, 1897. On April 3, 1897, James H. Poulton
became First and Hyrum H. Evans Second Assistants to Brother Giauque.
One time James stood behind the pulpit waiting for order. Finally he spoke
up in his meek voice, "Children, can you see me?" He was conscious
of the smallness of his statue-he couldn't much more than be seen above
the pulpit, and he felt that was the reason he was not getting order from
the small children down in front. When the Ward celebrated the anniversary
of its being organized in those years, there was usually a 50 gallon barrel
of lemonade, and oranges and candy for all. James must have contributed
his share, as the grandsons remember carrying cases of oranges and buckets
of candy from the store to the ward as his donation.
He had accumulated some of the good things of this earth about him.
He was thirty and a good manager. His loving wife, Harriet, was an immaculate
housekeeper, and a great hand to minister among the sick, cheer up the
bowed down and comfort the weary. Altogether a most hospitable person.
The little bakery attracted friends because of her cleanliness. Theirs
was a comfortable, happy home.
As the years piled upon his head, James suffered with asthma. The
boys, Tom and Barton had taken over the property at the farm in Murray
and Dan could manage the store, so it was possible for him to get out
for a few days. He became rather corpulent [or heavy] and his sons teased
him a bit, about it. He would always reply: "Wait, your day is coming."
However, his overweight and enlarged abdomen did not denote a healthy
condition. Bright's disease set in. But regardless of his physical condition,
he and his wife were very faithful in attending to their church duties.
They disliked very much to ever miss a Sabbath day worship. If company
dropped in at meeting time on Sunday, they were asked to come and go to
church. He with a sprig of mint or 'old man' in the corner of his mouth,
and she with her dainty fan were a familiar sight on the way to church.
He always had a sack of white mint lozenges in his pocket and the youngsters
received one in his hand. Children would sit along the bench beside him
at church. If he took a fancy to you, everything went well, but, if not,
you didn't get a mint.
James had been told in his patriarchal blessings that he had a vast
work to do for his kindred dead, and he spent many days in the [LDS] Temple
doing work for his parents, grandparents and cousins. The last work which
he performed was sealings.
His asthma condition became more acute. Many hours of the day and
night were spent kneeling on his large leather overstuffed chair endeavoring
to obtain relief.
The Deseret News of April 2, 1897 carried the following brief item:
"Faithful to the end he proved."
A message from the home of Elder James T. Snarr, highly esteemed resident
of Utah was received just as the news was going to press and brought tidings
of Brother Snarr's death. He was 78 years, 4 months and 25 days old and
had been confined to his home by illness for a long time. He was an early
settler in Utah and had resided in the Sixth Ward for many years.
On April 5, 1897 the News reported: "The funeral services over
the late James T. Snarr were held in the Sixth Ward assembly rooms Sunday
afternoon at 2 o'clock. There was a large attendance. The services were
conducted by Bishop James C. Watson. After the opening exercise of singing
and Praying by Elder Sm. M.T. Seden of the Fifth Ward, the assemblage
was addressed by Elders A.G. Giuque, Joseph S. Wells, Wm. Thorne, Bishop
of the 7th Ward, Jesse West, Harrison Sperry, Bishop of the 4th Ward,
James O. Watson and P.F. Gess. Closing prayer was offered by Elder James
Anderson. The speakers referred to the faithfulness and energy of the
deceased through a long life and addressed words of the comfort, consolation
and instructions to the family. The burial took place in the Salt lake
City Cemetery. All grand-daughters were present and dressed in white,
also present was a grandson named Brigham Young Snarr, 9th son of Barton
Snarr, James T. Snarr had requested his presence. He was dressed in a
plaid suit of a kilted skirt, jacket and white blouse. He was born Feb
8th, 1895 and was christened by James T. Snarr.
[James Thomas Snarr died on 2 April 1897 in Salt Lake City, and was
buried on 4 April 1897 in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.] Harriet, his wife,
died Oct. 11, 1901; [and was] buried Oct. 13, 1901. Cause of death was
incident to age. She was also buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Life Sketch of Harriet Brough Snarr
In 1944, a history of Harriet Brough Snarr, entitled "A Brief Sketch
of the Life of Harriet Brough Snarr", was produced by Zitelle McClellan
Snarr (and others) and subsequently submitted to the Daughters of Utah
Pioneers (DUP) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The following comments come from
this history:
The average woman today is prone to humor herself and expect those
about her to show some signs of respect for her condition during the period
of infanticipation [or anticipating the birth of an infant]. If this was
the case with diminutive Harriet Brough Snarr, she certainly was doomed
to disappointment. Of course, in the event of the coming of a fifth child,
there naturally wouldn't be as much fuss made as if it had been the first
or the second. However, it is doubtful if Harriet gave herself or her
condition much thought in the hustle and bustle of preparation for an
ocean voyage to a far away land. They were coming to Zion to help colonize
the great American desert. Great Salt Lake City was barely seven years
old.
It has been said that women have made the greatest contribution of
all in colonization. At least, it can truthfully be said that they made
as great a sacrifice.
Harriet must have been about two months pregnant when the ship Windermere
sailed from Liverpool on February 22, 1854. Among the 477 souls on board
were listed James Thomas Snarr, age 36, a baker; Harriet Brough Snarr,
age 31; Mary Anna Snarr, 8; Thomas Sonlay Snarr, 4; and Barton Snarr,
2. They had buried their second child, a son Thomas, in infancy. Harriet's
brother, John Brough, a seaman, age 26, with his wife and an eleven month
old child were also among the passengers.
They were eight weeks, four nights and five days on the water. For
seven weeks they didn't even see land. A terrific storm at sea, which
drove them off their course for many hundreds of miles, undoubtedly made
Harriet conscious of her physical condition, but that was only one detail
of the journey. Smallpox broke out among the passengers. There were forty
cases, resulting in ten deaths at sea. Further tragedy struck when fire
broke out in the hold of the ship, resulting in a panic. With the storm
lengthening their journey, their provisions ran low and the fresh water
supply became exhausted. The full details of this journey have been recorded
in the sketch of the life of Harriet's husband, James Thomas Snarr.
When the ship arrived at New Orleans, April 23, eleven persons were
sent to the hospital with smallpox; but on April 27, the rest of the Company
continued the journey from New Orleans on board the steamboat Grand Tower
and arrived in St. Louis a few days later from whence the journey was
subsequently continued to Kansas City and on over the trail until they
reached the Great Salt Lake Valley.
Harriet walked practically every step of the way across the plains.
The jolting of the wagon was almost more than she could bear. Her kidneys
were not functioning normally and she preferred to walk rather than be
bothersome to the men folk. They didn't quite reach their destination
before her hour of travail was upon her and at Green River, Wyoming, on
September 11, 1854, a little son, James Henry, was born. We know none
of the particulars of that experience. We have no record of the exact
company in which they traveled nor the day they arrived in the Salt Lake
Valley, but have always been given to understand that they arrived Sept.
30, or Oct. 1, of that year [of] 1854.
Like so many others, we have waited until all of Harriet's children
have completed their allotted span of days before we commenced to gather
this information together. What we have has had to be pieced like a patchwork
quilt from the knowledge of her two surviving daughters-in-law, grandchildren,
neighbors, Church History, Genealogical, Temple and Cemetery records.
It has been a labor of love, and my one regret is that the record is so
meager.
It seems that their mother died rather early in their lives and Harriet
mothered the others. She was baptized a member [of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints] in the Hull District on November 22, or December
14, 1852. She had been courted by a wealthy Mr. Tom Dawes in England,
before she married James t. Snarr. Mr. Dawes later married her sister
Carrie.
[On 1 April 1856, James Thomas Snarr and Harriet Brough were sealed as
a couple in the LDS Endowment House in Salt Lake City.]
James went to work in the Tithing Office [in Salt Lake City] under
Squire Daniel H. Wells almost immediately upon their arrival in Salt Lake.
He and Harriet first lived on third west between Sixth and Seventh South,
some time later moving to 326 West 6th South to an adobe home which was
deeded to James T. Snarr on February 11, 1873 by Daniel H. Wells. In this
little home they lived out their days. We have a photograph of it and
many of the grandchildren remember the arrangement [as shown in the picture
below].

The kitchen and pantry had been added on as a lean-to in later years.
More than likely the porches were added some time after the original structure
was built. The home was torn down [prior to 1944].
Harriet was an immaculate housekeeper. Her stoves had to be blacked
every day until they fairly shone. The board walks from the front gate
around back of the house were scrubbed regularly. The white bed spread
and primly starched counterpanes over the pillows always looked as though
the beds had just been changed. She had nice feather beds on top of the
straw or corn shuck ticks and it was a real trick to give them that perfectly
smooth, puffed up look.
Like most women she had a weakness for nice linens and pretty china.
She liked to go to auction sales and some of her treasurers were secured
in this manner; however, a few of her lovely dishes she had brought with
her from England and of these she was justly proud.
The walls of the little adobe home were thick and on the threshold
of each door there was always a small braided or hooked rug. During those
early years a fresh coat of white wash was applied to the walls each spring.
At first, the only floor covering was made from the rags sewed and woven
on the looms here in the valley, but in later years the floors were carpeted
right to the wall. In the front room, the carpet the grand-daughters remember,
was a gray background with large red poppy design. The furniture was massive
carved mahogany, horse-hair covered. There was a tall mirror just inside
the front door and in one corner stood a what-not laden with vases and
other treasurers in glass and china set on crocheted or knitted or embroidered
doilies. There were several large pictures on the wall--one was a copy
of the British artist Herring's "Three Members of a Temperance Society".
Three horses drinking from the public watering trough.
Harriet loved an open fire. They didn't have a fire place but there
was a large front room stove, the door to which could be thrown open,
revealing the blaze. She was very cordial and if any one dropped in, they
must stay for a bite to eat and she would invariable ask, "Shall
I light the fire, my dear?" She was very generous, always giving
something to some one, if only comfort and cheer. She was a great hand
to minister among the sick and was often seen carrying some dainty morsel
of food to some one who was ill. She was frugal withal.
A good cook [she was, for] in Harriet's pantry there were usually
stored many good things to eat, dried fruits and stored vegetables, preserves,
jams and jelly and there were cookies for the children. She got along
well with children. "Come on, my dear," she would say when one
of them asked if they could have this or that.
Sewing was a trial to her. She usually had a dressmaker, a Mrs. Spencer,
come to the home and make her dresses. She was very particular, almost
fussy, about her dress and she was considered to have good taste about
her clothing, but frequently after Mrs. Spencer had left the house she
would pick the dress to pieces and then couldn't get it back together
again. She was rather fond of jewelry. In fact, she influenced James to
have a little jewelry counter in their general store where they sold rings,
breast-pins and other little trinkets. Eunice Snarr Walton, a grand-daughter
has a little pin which her grandmother selected from that stock. The clasp
was broken but she took Eunice into the house and sewed the pin onto her
dress. The story is told that Harriet had several pieces of good jewelry
in England but a peddler coming to her door one day traded some rather
gaudy or showy pieces which were worthless for her plainer but valuable
articles.
Harriet was a tiny woman with snappy black eyes, quick as a wink in
her movements. Her husband was not much taller than she. He had rather
a long body but very short legs. Harriet was often joked about marrying
such a short man.
When James opened up the store, next door to their home, it was quite
natural for Harriet to go in and help him wait on their trade. She was
not a singer, but she was a good conversationalist. In fact, she made
up for her husband's reserve. She wrote a nice hand and helped to keep
the accounts in the store until her son Dan grew old enough to take that
part of the work over. She usually wore a bustle and it just bobbed up
and down as she hurried about her work.
In her younger days, she wore rats [or a hair piece] in her hair,
but later on lost so much of her hair that it was a continual source of
worry to her. She then wore a little lace cap most of the time. Sometimes
it was black, sometimes white, lace trimmed and threaded with pink or
blue baby ribbon. Often she would stand in front of the tall mirror in
the front room, eye herself critically and say, "Aren't I a spec!"
As long as the grandchildren can remember, the little home was surrounded
with nice shrubbery.
Harriet had ten children. Four daughter and six sons. Five of the
children were born after they arrived in Utah
.
It is our understanding that Harriet did some carding of wool, some
spinning and that she made "Brigham Young Quilts" out of soldiers
overcoats.
Their first daughter, Mary Ann Snarr Arnold died in 1869 leaving a
three year old son, Jack Arnold, who lived with his grandmother until
his father remarried. Being the eldest grandchild, Cousin Jack remembers
the regularity of their family prayers, morning and night; that his grandparents
subscribed to the Deseret News [newspaper] and at the close of their day
sat down to the table, one at each end, to read. At this time, too, they
would discuss the doctrines of the [LDS] Church and frequently the Bible
was brought out to prove the point.
Jack says he never heard his grandfather swear. Harriet had a quick
temper and grandfather wasn't too big for her when she got mad. At least,
she didn't fear to speak her piece, knowing the placid nature of her husband,
she probably knew there would be no open rupture. She had a little pet
expression which she gave vent to when she was upset, but if she did,
she usually finished the epithet with "Oh, God, forgive me."
She was like a nurse in the community, always coming up with some
home made remedy to set you straight. Once, one of the boys had an awful
stomach ache. Hot water bottles were not available so Harriet baked a
large pan cake and put it on the ailing part and for years they teased
the boy about eating the pancake when it was cold.
She was not free to do much public work; however, she did usually
attend Relief Society and the [LDS] Sacrament meetings. If guests called
at their home and the time arrived for them to start to Church, the guests
were invited to come along. Elsie Snarr Johnsen, another of her grand-daughters
says she used to go along, willingly, to Church in the summertime because
grandmother would allow her to use her dainty little lace fan when it
got too warm.
Being first assistant superintendent in the [LDS] Sixth Ward Sunday
School, James would have to be gone early Sunday morning. As soon as he
left home, Harriet would fly into the store, lock the door, and scrub
the place thoroughly. If she were chided for breaking the Sabbath, she
would reply, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness."
James trade as a baker no doubt influenced them in opening the store.
His was one of the very early bakeries in the city. He would mix his bread
at night and start baking in his wood burning stove at his home the next
morning by three a.m. With his good baking and Harriet's cleanliness,
they attracted friends from near and far.
That was before the days of refrigeration, but they had a rock cellar
in the rear of the store, with shelves lining the walls, where they kept
their milk and butter and when any was needed, Harriet would make a quick
trip to the cellar. In the spring of the year that rock cellar would fill
up with water and they had to use a raft to get around to the shelves
until the sons and the grandson could bail the water out.
They kept about four cows of their own. Harriet's daughter, Josephine,
her grandson Jack Arnold, and neighbor boy, Charles Ingham, frequently
did the churning. However, they bought most of their choice butter from
Gages, over Redwood Road way; about fifty pounds at a time. This would
fetch top price of 30 to 40 cents. Ordinary butter would command only
10 to 25 cents per pound. In those days, if you wanted 25 cents worth
of salt pork, you would almost have to get someone to help you pack it
home.
In 1872, Harriet's son Thomas went to England on a mission for the
[LDS] Church. In 1888 the son Daniel Hanmer, who had been named for Daniel
H. Wells, also went there to carry the Gospel message. He left a wife
and four little children here in Zion. James and Harriet helped to provide
for them from the store. While Dan was in England his parents went over
there for a visit and we think it was perhaps through their efforts that
Harriet's two sisters, Carrie Brough Dawes and Mary Ann Brough Curtis
emigrated to Utah.
After they returned from England, Harriet and James did some [LDS]
Temple work. They did the work for Harriet's parents in the [LDS] Manti
Temple in 1889. Their nephew, James F. Walkley took the store over for
a while. Their son-in-law, Bob McEwan had a turn at it and then their
son Dan took it over.
James died in 1897 and Harriet's sister Carrie Dawes came to live
with her. Harriet survived her husband by about four and a half years.
In her later years she had to wear very strong glasses but some time before
she died she got what was termed then as her second sight and she could
read anything without glasses. She became very forgetful and her memory
practically failed her at the last. She had five sons but didn't seem
to recognize them in her last illness. Her Grandson, Jack Arnold, says
he came to the home to see her and her sister Carrie told him she wouldn't
know him, but he insisted on being permitted to go into the room. Carrie
led him to the bedside and said to Harriet, "I guess you don't know
who this is". Harriet stirred uneasily moving her head slightly until
she could see him, then murmured weakly, "Of course I know who it
is. It's Johnnie, me boy".
Cousin Jack was 78 years old on 1 May 1944 and he wept at the recollection
of that precious moment as he talked to me about it at his home in March
1944.
Harriet passed away and was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery
on October 13, 1901, the very day that I, your scribe, who was to become
the wife of her grandson some twenty four years later, was born. Records
in the cemetery say that she died of causes incident to age. She would
have been seventy-nine years old on November 16 [her christening day]
of that year.
At the age of 65 Harriet had gone to [LDS Church] Patriarch John Smith
for a blessing. It seems that she was troubled in her mind then and at
that time among other interesting things he said to her:
"In thy mature years thou didst yield obedience to the Gospel
and forsook thy native land, home and kindred. For this thou shall in
no wise lose thy reward. For the Gospel sake thou hast suffered privations
and to a certain extent thy life from early times has been a checkered
one and many times the Lord has been mindful of thee and thy life has
been preserved for a wise purpose and I say unto thee be at rest in thy
mind and be comforted, for thou knowest that there is a God in Israel
and that he will hear and answer the prayers of the honest. Lift up thy
heart and rejoice for thine offerings are accepted. The Lord is pleased
with thine integrity. Thou art known among the mothers in Israel and thy
fame shall go forth for good among the people. Thou shalt complete thy
mission, and shall live in the memory of the Saints."

Descendants of James Thomas Snarr and Harriet Brough
James Thomas Snarr and Harriet Brough were the parents of ten children.
Their first four children were born in England, and included: Mary Ann
Snarr (1845-1869), who married John Arnold in 1863; Thomas Snarr (1847-1847);
Thomas Sonley Snarr (1849-1911), who married Olivia Priscilla Hefferan
in 1876 in Salt Lake City; and Barton Snarr (1851-1929), who married Eunice
Elizabeth Eardley in 1875 in Salt Lake City. Their last six children were
born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and included: James Henry Snarr (1854-1933),
who married Mary Jane Watson in 1876 in Salt Lake City; Joseph Hyrum Snarr
(1856-1939), who married Clara Arnold in 1882 in Salt Lake City; Harriet
Eliza Snarr (1858-1903), who married Robert Charles Collingwood McEwan
in 1876 in Salt Lake City; Daniel Hanmer Snarr (1860-1927), who married
Alice Thompson in Salt Lake City; Louisa Snarr (1862-1863); and Josephine
Snarr (1865-1943), who married Orson Pratt Arnold in 1884 in Salt Lake
City.
Currently, there are over 2,140 known descendants of James Thomas Snarr
and Harriet Brough--and most of these living descendants reside in the
western United States.
Daniel C. Snarr, Mayor of Murray City, Utah
One of the best known descendants of James and Harriet Snarr is Daniel
Clarence Snarr (b.1949), who is the present mayor (since 1997) of Murray
City, Utah. Daniel Snarr is a great-grandson of James Thomas Snarr and
Harriet Brough. For more information about mayor Dan Snarr, visit the
Murray City website at: http://www.murray.utah.gov/directory.aspx?EID=2.
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