ELIZA WEBSTER FLINT

Eliza Webster, born October 23, 1874, in Kaysville, Davis County, Utah, the 5th child of eleven children born to Levi and Agnes Higgs Webster.

Eliza was raised on a small farm where she helped in the home with the household chores and also on the farm, planting and harvesting crops.

She attended elementary school for a short time in one of the first adobe schoolhouses in West Kaysville, Utah. This school was also used as a meetinghouse.

As she became older she did housework for her aunt, Annie Adams, a choice place to be when she was away from home.

The most cherished memories of her childhood and as a young adult, was the great love that existed in the home between her father and mother, the love they had for their family, the concern they had for others, and their willingness to help neighbors and friends.

Eliza Webster married John Frederick Flint, June 10, 1895 and to this union 7 daughters and 4 sons were born. Moving from Kaysville, Utah in the spring of 1898 with their two daughters, Beatrice Manita and Florence May, they moved into their new three room house in South Hooper, Weber County, Utah, that was built on a 160 acre farm, that the young couple were buying from John Flint Senior, Eliza's father-in-law. Some of the ground was still to be cleared of greasewood and sagebrush. With cooperation and hard labor, this young couple was able to accomplish many good things. The ground was cleared both from the handicaps and debt. It became under cultivation and irrigation, with most of the irrigation being done by the flooding method. Acres of hay were planted along with the grain. Each year tons of hay were harvested and put into large stacks, a large granary was built and filled each summer with bushels of grain. Buildings, stables, sheds, pens, pastures and a corral were soon filled with horses, cattle, milk cows, sheep, pigs and chickens. This meant a lot of hard work before sunrise until long after sunset, for the couple. Eliza didn't complain, facing each new day with courage and faith, she "planned her work and worked her plan."

Her children, names and dates of birth are: Beatrice Manita Flint, born January 1, 1897, Kaysville, Davis County, Utah; Silva "Sylvia" Elizabeth Flint, born October 1, 1898, South Hooper, Weber County, Utah; Lillie Agnes Flint, born November 1, 1900, South Hooper, Weber County, Utah; Ivy LaVon Flint, born October 18, 1902, South Hooper, Weber County, Utah; Myrtle Jane Flint, born November 5, 1904, South Hooper, Weber county; Ida Ada Flint, born December 19, 1906, West Point, Davis County, Utah; John Virgil Flint, born May 23, 1909, West Point, Davis County; Wilford W. Flint, born July 18, 1912, West Point, Davis county; Clifford W. Flint, born March 24, 1915, West Point, Davis County; and Golden E. Flint, born February 7, 1920, West Point, Davis County.

(Note: I heard Grandma say that it surprised her to find that even though she had been going by the name of Sylvia Elizabeth Flint all of her life, her legal birth certificate had the same spelling as in the above paragraph, namely Silva Elizabeth Flint. Ora Leavitt)

An addition to the home was completed in the spring of 1909, this being the year her first son, John, was born.

Eliza's accomplishments were very noticeable because she had the art of cooking and baking. She served well planned wholesome meals, her home was clean and in order, most of the time the kitchen had the aroma of food being prepared. She would put out big white washings, her ironing of beautiful tablecloths, pillowcases and colored shirts, starched print dresses and tie aprons, making quilts, sewing for herself and family, embroidery and crocheting work.

Eliza often had guests in for a Sunday dinner, or occasionally on a Friday evening. Fun games were played, group singing was enjoyed, solo's were sang by one of her dear friends, Cynthia Stoddard, who accompanied herself on the piano. Often Eliza and her husband were asked to sing a duet entitled "In the Baggage Coach Ahead" or "I'11 Take You Home Again Kathleen." Refreshments were always served. Eliza was a good hostess, very cheerful and friendly. She was loved by those who knew her, because she had a sense of humor and enjoyed playing little tricks on people. She and her husband joined a dancing group and enjoyed dancing at the West Point Ward hall and also at the Sam Butler's Open All-Dance Pavilion. Happy hours were spent in activity, one in particular was the dance marathon at the Burthana in Ogden, Utah. She and her husband enjoyed driving to Ogden and spending the evening watching the couples dance, and when they were unable to attend, Eliza would put her ear to the radio to follow the progress of the participants. Their theme song, "Do You Ever Think of Me", set the stage for her interest in the dancers welfare. Eliza had great love for her husband, and their family, for their home and their loved ones. The family was her first concern, she taught them by encouraging them to be honest, to have love for one another, to have faith in God, and to exercise faith through daily prayer, to work for their exaltation while in their earthly life and to have high ideals and self respect.

Many happy years filled the life of Eliza, as she saw many changes in the culture and economy of the country, when additional conveniences became available, such as electricity, automobiles, radios, hot and cold running water in the home.

Eliza had a knack of rubbing a sick person from their head down to their toes, making them feel better. It seemed as though she had the gift of healing in her hands.

Death and sorrow, also came into her home through the years. In the early part of February, 1903, Eliza's sister, Sarah Elizabeth Webster Bennett, took very ill. Eliza and her husband had the Alvin Bennett family move in with them. Do to the crowded condition and the illness of Sarah, Eliza with her five young daughters, went to Ogden and lived for a while with her brother-in-law and sister, Mr. & Mrs. George Flitton. Her husband stayed at home to do the chores, and help the Bennett family in what ways he could. On February 18, 1903, Sarah passed away at the Flint home. The following year March 22, 1904, Eliza's little daughter, Ivy LaVon, passed away at the age of 17 months. On January 19, 1940, her oldest son, John Virgil Flint, passed away. Many of her family, father, sisters, and three of her grand children, passed away during her lifetime.

Eliza lived to see all but one of her children married, this being the youngest son, Golden E. Flint. She loved and enjoyed her grandchildren, the oldest being a grandson, Leon R. King. Eliza's death came after a short illness in the Idaho Falls Hospital, December 17, 1940, while in Idaho Falls to attend the funeral of a son-in-law, Lemuel R. King, who passed away December 7, 1940. Her body was sent by train to Ogden, Utah, arriving there early in the morning of December 19, 1940. Funeral services were held in the West Point chapel, December 22, 1940. Interment was in the Syracuse Utah Cemetery.

(See following story by her daughter Sylvia Flint Adams.)

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The Webster Family