RICE FAMILY LEGACY

England was a cold, damp Country in the early 1800's. The living conditions were harsh and many families longed to find a better life, dreaming of the land of opportunity across the ocean called America. Among those were my Grandmother Alice Jane Durfee Rice's ancestors.
My great, great, Grandfather Frederick Barker born Sept. 18, 1800 in Diss. Shelfanger, Norfold, England and my great, great, Grandmother Ann Blygh born Feb. 18, 1802 in Tebenham, Norfolk, England decided along with Frederick's brother George to move with their families to America. They set sail on March 23, 1830 on an old warship called 'The Newbrunswick. '
Their journey was fraught with peril. Enduring much seasickness on a rolling, pitching upward then downward ship was difficult enough but the crowded conditions on the ship left them vulnerable to diseases. Both families came down with Small Pox and George's wife died. After a three month ocean voyage, they arrived in Staten Island, New York.

Frederick and Ann were converted to the Gospel at Waterstown, Jefferson County, New York and soon began their arduous journey westward. They came to Nauvoo, Ill. and before leaving , they with the other Saints went up on the roof of the Temple. They then crossed the Mississippi River and ended up in the fall in Council Bluffs, Iowa to form a Company to cross the Plains. They arrived in Salt Lake City in 1849 and were sent to settle a town called Ogden, Utah.

My other great, great Grandparents were Francillo Durfee born May 12, 1812 in Lincoln, Addison, Vermont and Miriam Jones born August 29, 1809 in Pittsfield, Addison, Vermont.
Francillo left Nauvoo with the first Company of Saints, 'the Exiled Saints.' While traveling West, he was called to be among the 500 Saints in the Mormon Battalion. He ended up with a detachment of men who became ill and left Santa Fe for Pueblo to winter on the Arkansas River. He was honorably discharged from the service, and traveled to Salt lake City, Utah. He was called by Brigham Young to settle various areas, one being a settlement on the Salmon River in Idaho. There he worked with the Indians teaching them farming and the other White Man's ways. He died in Beaver Dam, Utah. Miriam Jones never made it to the Valley, she died in Nauvoo, Illinois.

My great Grandfather was Henry Dennison Durfee born Sept. 6, 1833 in Westport Essex, New York. My great Grandmother was Jane Isobelle Barker born May 10, 1839 in Watertown, Jefferson, New York. Henry Durfee made several trips across the Plains to assist the Immigrant Saints coming to the Salt lake Valley. He was among the rescuers sent to bring the stranded hand cart companies that were trapped in early snow storms in Wyoming. He tells the story of one hand cart family. Somewhere along the trail their cart tipped over and rolled down a small ravine. When found by the rescuers, the father was exhausted and the mother was still struggling to move the cart. The family was brought to camp and after eating some hot soup, the mother and children went to bed. The father wanted to stay up by the fire a little longer. When they checked on him a little later, they found he had died. Henry Durfee was also a member of the Pony Express and had many trials and adventures. Both Henry and

Jane Isobelle died in Almo, Cassia County, Idaho.