The Whitworth Family

Isaac Whitworth was born in Bedford, Tennessee about 1800 and moved to Jackson, Alabama while a young man. He married Elizabeth Mc Cormack in Jackson county,Alabama about 1826. They had two sons born a year apart,Edward Green in 1827 and John Washington (ourLine) August 28 1828. Isaac tried farming and they stayed there for several years and then moved to Sangamon, Illinois where two daughters were born. Catherine Liddy lived but her twin died. They went back to Alabama to take care of some unfinished business and Isaac Jr was born the 8th of September 1834.
They went to Tennessee perhaps for his fathers death and Sarah Ann was born there in 1836.
They heard the land was cheap and plentiful in Missouri and they moved to Carroll County, Missouri in 1844. Isaac and Elizabeth farmed while Edward G and John W. joined the army in Mitchells regiment under General Sterling Price.
They fought in the Mexican war and Edward Green was killed by Indians the 26th of May 1847 at Grazing Camp, New Mexico. John W was honorably discharged September 26th 1847 at Fort Leavenworth. He heard rumors of gold in California so he arrived home and convinced his father to go with him to California to mine. Isaac died either on the trip or in California as his wife was listed as a widow in the 1850 Missouri census. Elizabeth returned to Alabama and married Will F. Clarke on the first of August 1859. She died the 27th of March 1877 and is buried in the McCroski cemetary in Carroll, Missouri. On her headstone she is listed as the wife of Isaac Whitworth.
John Washington Whitworth returned to Missouri and farmed section 10 in Fairfield township. He was married September 4, 1856 to Permelia Jane Matthews, native of Kentucky. Permelia died May 18, 1879 leaving 9 children. John W. remarried May 1 1880 to Lucinda Smith Shirley.The children were George W, Elizabeth, Isaac, John L, Nancy J, Truax Laffitte, Edward G and William R. All children remained in Missouri and were buried there, mostly in Carroll county, Missouri.
Our Truax died in Pleasant Hope, Greene, Missouri during the flu epidemic in 1919. He died while his two oldest sons were fighting in World War I. There were so many bodies to be buried that he was buried late at night in the Robberson Prairie cemetary and only his wife could attend.

Welfare Farms

Now that the church is changing the focus on the Welfare Program and discontinuing projects like the bean farms and the chicken farms, I would like to share an experience Elmer Heid had.
We joined the LDS church in California in 1953. Everything was new and wonderful and we wanted to be completely involved so when they needed volunteers to work at the Pear farm, Elmer volunteered. We had been in the church for a short time so he was still in the AAronic Priesthood. He drove up to the Pear farm near Lancaster, California with a fellow member who was in the same situation. They didn't know exactly where the farm was but knew they were close.Elmer was inspired to stop at this tiny house along the way and ask directions.He went to the door and as he started to knock he heard this tiny weak voice calling "Please come in I need help".Elmer went in and there was this little old lady in bed and hurting so badly she couldnt get out of bed. She said" I was just praying for help and you came to my door.Please go over to the LDS pear farm and ask someone to come over and give me a blessing" Elmer wasnt sure what that entailed so he sent his partner over to the farm while he stayed and fixed her something to eat and drink. They came back immediately. As they anointed her head with the oil and proceeded to bless her with the ability to heal, Elmer felt the spirit strongly and knew she would be healed. They stayed for a little while and did some things for her until she was able to get up and move around. She was so grateful and Elmer gained a testimony of the Power of the Priesthood.