A Brief Sketch of Lucy Philena Canfield Emmet Day

 A Brief Sketch of Lucy Philena Canfield Emmet Day

adapted by Allyson Wood

from published histories by her children Emma and Elsie

 Lucy Philena Canfield, was born 21 January, 1853, in Provo, Utah County, in the proposed state of Deseret.  Her parents David Canfield and his wife Elizabeth Story Depuy had moved to Utah with the Saints in the summer of 1850.  The Canfield family was called by President Brigham Young to help settle Provo.

Lucy Philena was the fifth child born to this little family.  The family began in Bryan, Williams, Ohio where her parents were married 1 Oct 1843.  In nearby Defiance her oldest brother, David Canfield Jr., was born 27 Jun 1844, (the same day the Prophet Joseph Smith was killed in Illinois.) By 1845, the Canfield family can be found in the Chicago, Cook County, Illinois City Directory living with John Depuy on Michigan Steet.  David, a carpenter by trade, had moved his family to Chicago to find work. During the years of 1846-47, the family lived in their own place on Kinzie Street.

David had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints years before his marriage to Elizabeth.  The Depuy family had a strong tradition of belonging to the Dutch Reformed Church and this may have been a concern for their family and Elizabeth but just a little over a year after they were married, on 27 January 1845, Elizabeth also joined the "Mormon" religion. 

Although many religions require a great deal from their members, the LDS Church required much from their early members.  Elizabeth and David's membership in this church and their desire to join with the other Saints lead them to pack up their little family and move from Chicago to Nauvoo, Illinois.  David, as a skilled carpenter, was put right to work finishing the Nauvoo Temple.

The timeframe that the Canfield family lived in Nauvoo is unclear.  When trouble became so bad in Nauvoo for the Saints, President Brigham Young told David it would be best for the Canfield family to return to Chicago where they had family and earn enough money to purchase a wagon and the needed supplies.  In 1850, in an unidentified wagon company the Canfield family moved to the Utah Territory. 

In addition to David Jr., more children had been added to the family in the Illinois years, including: Ellen Elizabeth born 1 Apr 1846 in Chicago; Moroni Canfield born 5 Feb 1848, Chicago.

In 1850, soon after arriving in Utah, the Canfield family was called to settle Provo, where they remained for 11 years.  James, the fourth child in the family, was born 9 Oct 1850 in Provo; Lucy Philena Canfield was born 21 Jan 1853; Parley Pratt was born 24 Jul 1855,  Lyman born 19 Dec 1857' followed by Harriet Elma on 5 Apr 1859;  Clara 12 Nov 1861.  While living in Provo, the Canfields lost two of their small children:  David Jr. died 14 Jun 1857,  Ellen Elizabeth died 27 Jan 1858 at the tender age of 11. 

Shortly after the birth of Clara the Canfields were called to the "Dixie Mission". They lived in St. George for two years.

Then they moved to a ranch on the creek, known as the old Foster Ranch. As I remember them telling me, this ranch was east and south of Central Utah, on the banks of the creek, surrounded by black ledges.  While living here for eight years, the family were members of the Pine Valley Ward.  It was while living in the Pine Valley Ward that Harriet Elma passed away on 12 Dec 1859  and their final child, Alice Lilian, was born on 28 Oct 1864.

They moved a short distance away to a beautiful place called "the Meadows", later known as

Hamblin. It was while living here that Lucy Philena met and married Thomas Carlos Emett on Oct 13, 1873.  They traveled to the old Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah where they received their endowments and were sealed.  (Photo via Beverly Knell Jones includes pencil markings on back identifing them as Thomas Carlos Emmett and Lucy Philena Canfield)

Thomas Carlos and Lucy Philena made their home at the Meadows for several years. There they had two girls; Olive Philena born 10 October 1874; and Alice Lillian, born 14 August 1876.  Alice Lilian was not allowed to stay long in this world and passed back to her home in Heaven on 2 Jun3 1878.   They buried her in the old Meadows cemetary. Also David Carlos was born there on Nov 20 1878. While Carl was yet a baby, they took their little family and all their belongings and moved to Kanab around the year 1879.

The next few years were unhappy years for Lucy as her husband was away most of the time. He was engaged in cattle and horse dealings. He also played the violin for dances and was in great demand all around that area. In 1882-3, Thomas Carlos went away on one of his trips, never to return.  It was later reported that he had been killed.

Lucy was pregnant when he left her and in the year of 1883, she needed care and someone to look after her. Her brother's Moroni and Lyman Canfield went to Kanab and moved her home to the Meadows, where her father and mother and other members of her family lived. They provided a home and cared for her and her children. It was on March 6, 1883 that the baby, Elsie was born.

Her family was very good to her and she was always very grateful for the many, many goodnesses they showed her and her children.

  Lucy continued loving and caring for her children with the help of her loving extended family. Within the next few years a young man named John Day came to the Meadows.  He had come from Salt Lake City, down into this southern part of the state, seeking employment.  He had worked for men that owned large herds of cattle, and he also sheared sheep.  He was classed as an "expert" in shearing sheep.

Lucy quickly became the "apple of his eye" and they were married 5 November 1888. John bought a little house in the Meadows where his instant family included a beautiful wife and four little ones under the age of 14.  Later he built on to his little home, making it quite a comfortable home for Lucy Philena and the children.

On 1 August 1889, Emma Day was born in this humble home at the Meadows. 

Several times when John took long shearing jobs, Lucy would go with him and cook for the shearers. Emma remembers them telling her of going out to Burnt Flat one spring, this was near Lemans Cave, they told of going in this beautiful cave many times.

On 29 August 1892, Lucy gave birth to twins John and Henry. Her health was never quite so good after their birth, but the Lord did bless her with health and strength sufficient to care for her tiny babies. They were frail and it took months of constant care. Ollie and the older children helped a great deal. (By this time Ollie was married; Carl went away to work and was gone a great part of the time; Don and Elsie lived with their mother most of the time but sometimes went to stay with their grandmother, and away to school. Elsie stayed with Aunt Knell in Cedar City and went to school)

  It was about 1896 when the family moved from the Meadows to the Old Castle ranch at the mouth of Pinto Canyon. The exact place where now the New Castle Dam is built. Lucy's health did not improve as they hoped it would. She suffered several sick spells while living there. At one time she was so ill they became very worried and frightened so Carl rode a horse to Cedar City, Iron, Utah and back in a few hours to bring her medicine. Transportation then was only by horse. This faithful old horse could not walk for days after making this trip.

About the spring of 1898 they moved to Enterprise, Utah.  John had moved two rooms of the house they had at the Meadows, on a lot in Enterprise. Lucy was inthused with the prospects of this little town. There were such a few families here then, and so much to be done. Everyone was working hard to get organized. Land had to be cleared of the tall sage brush, homes built, ditches and fences built. Everyone worked untireing and gave of their means unselfishly. Lucy gave the first quilt top to be sold by the Relief Society (then just organized). The proceeds to go into the building fund for our little brick church house and amusement hall.

The next two or three years were happy and eventful years for them. John was appointed Enterprise's first Post Master. At the same time he was setting himself up in the mercantile business. Lucy was by his side in all his under takings.

 It was in April 1901 when Lucy took seriously ill. John lost no time in taking her to Cedar City for medical aid, but all that was done for her was to no avail, and on 1 May, 1901 she passed away. Her body was brought back to the Meadows to her mothers old home. Services were held there and she was buried by her infant daughter Alice Lillian, in the cemetery on the hill.