Thomas Moss

In a Adult Sunday School Class in the 21st Ward [circa 1890?], a teacher related a story to Jimmy and the class about his parents, Thomas and Fanny Goodman Moss. He said, "Thomas and Fanny Moss were pioneers on the Dry Bench (that region lying roughly between South Temple and M Street and extending to the mountains). Brother Moss had just finished a dug out for their home. Rain started falling Saturday evening and was still pouring Sunday morning. "I said to my wife, 'I am going to see how Tom and Fanny are getting along.' Drenched by the rain he knocked on the door and in response to a pleasant, 'Come in!', I entered. What a sight met my eyes! The rain had soaked through the dirt roof and was dripping on the floor, and the muddy water was running down the walls. The children, three in number were under the table. 'Good gracious, Fanny, what are you doing with the children?' I asked. 'Just trying to keep them dry, Will.' she answered, laughing. 'I can't see anything to laugh at', came from Brother Moss. 'Tell me what good it would do to cry, Tom,' Fanny rejoined." Another two incidents told by Jimmy about his parents describe their qualities: "To most people, the 21st of December was the first day of winter with its cold winds, frost, and snow. But throughout the years I heard her (his mother, Fanny) say over and over on that shortest day, ' It will soon be spring.' and her cheerful voice helped us to face the cold days we knew lay ahead. "During the economic depression of 1893-1894, when practically everyone was out of work, the residents of the Dry Bench denuded the hills of every vestige of scrub oak and maple for winter burning. The next year my brother Joe and I brought in a load of pine logs with my brother-in-law's team. Fanny's comment was, ' Now we've done our part, the Lord will do His.' My mother gave her family a vision of the future. My father gave us a desire to consider the present and evaluate it." "These reactions were characteristic of my parents. Mother was cheerful and sunny in all situations; father was realistic seeing only the dry, hard facts. Thus it was through all the years of their lives. Mother meeting every dark situation with hope for the future. Her laughter, her cheerful nature, and her optimism kept her looking on the bright side of life, enabling her to make the best of the dugout and to carry throughout the discouraging trials of pioneer life."

Birthdate: 1 Jan 1813 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England Death: 10 Jan 1887 Salt Lake City, Utah Parents: Michael McCluskey & Ann Mitchell McCluskey Pioneer: 26 Oct. 1864 William Hyde Wagon Company Spouse: William Jackson Moss Married: 1 Dec, 1828 St. George, East London, Surrey, England Children: Ann 7 Oct 1829 Catherine 15 May 1831 (died 2 mo.) William 10 Nov. 1832 (Died age 22) John 5 Dec. 1834 (died age 6) Catherine 4 Feb. 1837 (died age 3) James 16 Jun 1838 (died age 3) Jane 25 Feb. 1840 (died age 22) Thomas 25 Oct. 1841 James 17 Apr. 1843 (died age 19) Mary Ann 4 Sep 1845 (died age 18) Eleanor 12 May 1847 Sarah 31 Jan 1849 (died age 4) Emily 9 Jun 1851 Elizabeth 19 Feb. 1853 (died age 1) Joseph 8 May 1855 Ann was from a very large and poor family. She was fifteen when she married William Jackson Moss. He worked as a harness maker. They had fifteen children of their own and raised two adopted children. They became members of the LDS Church in January 1851. Her husband was the presiding Elder of that branch of the church. Ten of their children had died of various causes by that time. It is difficult to imagine the heartache she endured. Her testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel led to a desire to come to Zion. Ann was blessed with the means to come with her companion to help build up the Kingdom of God. Her son, Thomas’ wife came to America first and worked to send money for Tom, all of his family, as well as her own parents. They immigrated to America with their remaining children in 1864 on the sailing ship, Hudson. They crossed the Plains with the William Hyde Wagon Company and arrived in Salt Lake Valley on October 26, 1864. Her husband obtained work with the Jenkin Brothers Harness Makers in the valley. They resided on Ninth East between South Temple and First South in the eleventh Ward. On November 9th, 1868, she and William received their endowments in the Endowment House. She shared her husband in polygamy with Maria Barrett. She gave her clothes to the needy, and opened her doors to the Elders. She and William had the privilege of celebrating their 58th Wedding Anniversary in the Eleventh Ward December 1, 1886 before she died on January 10, 1887.

In a Adult Sunday School Class in the 21st Ward [circa 1890?], a teacher related a story to Jimmy and the class about his parents, Thomas and Fanny Goodman Moss. He said, "Thomas and Fanny Moss were pioneers on the Dry Bench (that region lying roughly between South Temple and M Street and extending to the mountains). Brother Moss had just finished a dug out for their home. Rain started falling Saturday evening and was still pouring Sunday morning. "I said to my wife, 'I am going to see how Tom and Fanny are getting along.' Drenched by the rain he knocked on the door and in response to a pleasant, 'Come in!', I entered. What a sight met my eyes! The rain had soaked through the dirt roof and was dripping on the floor, and the muddy water was running down the walls. The children, three in number were under the table. 'Good gracious, Fanny, what are you doing with the children?' I asked. 'Just trying to keep them dry, Will.' she answered, laughing. 'I can't see anything to laugh at', came from Brother Moss. 'Tell me what good it would do to cry, Tom,' Fanny rejoined." Another two incidents told by Jimmy about his parents describe their qualities: "To most people, the 21st of December was the first day of winter with its cold winds, frost, and snow. But throughout the years I heard her (his mother, Fanny) say over and over on that shortest day, ' It will soon be spring.' and her cheerful voice helped us to face the cold days we knew lay ahead. "During the economic depression of 1893-1894, when practically everyone was out of work, the residents of the Dry Bench denuded the hills of every vestige of scrub oak and maple for winter burning. The next year my brother Joe and I brought in a load of pine logs with my brother-in-law's team. Fanny's comment was, ' Now we've done our part, the Lord will do His.' My mother gave her family a vision of the future. My father gave us a desire to consider the present and evaluate it." "These reactions were characteristic of my parents. Mother was cheerful and sunny in all situations; father was realistic seeing only the dry, hard facts. Thus it was through all the years of their lives. Mother meeting every dark situation with hope for the future. Her laughter, her cheerful nature, and her optimism kept her looking on the bright side of life, enabling her to make the best of the dugout and to carry throughout the discouraging trials of pioneer life."

Birthdate: 1 Jan 1813 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England Death: 10 Jan 1887 Salt Lake City, Utah Parents: Michael McCluskey & Ann Mitchell McCluskey Pioneer: 26 Oct. 1864 William Hyde Wagon Company Spouse: William Jackson Moss Married: 1 Dec, 1828 St. George, East London, Surrey, England Children: Ann 7 Oct 1829 Catherine 15 May 1831 (died 2 mo.) William 10 Nov. 1832 (Died age 22) John 5 Dec. 1834 (died age 6) Catherine 4 Feb. 1837 (died age 3) James 16 Jun 1838 (died age 3) Jane 25 Feb. 1840 (died age 22) Thomas 25 Oct. 1841 James 17 Apr. 1843 (died age 19) Mary Ann 4 Sep 1845 (died age 18) Eleanor 12 May 1847 Sarah 31 Jan 1849 (died age 4) Emily 9 Jun 1851 Elizabeth 19 Feb. 1853 (died age 1) Joseph 8 May 1855 Ann was from a very large and poor family. She was fifteen when she married William Jackson Moss. He worked as a harness maker. They had fifteen children of their own and raised two adopted children. They became members of the LDS Church in January 1851. Her husband was the presiding Elder of that branch of the church. Ten of their children had died of various causes by that time. It is difficult to imagine the heartache she endured. Her testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel led to a desire to come to Zion. Ann was blessed with the means to come with her companion to help build up the Kingdom of God. Her son, Thomas’ wife came to America first and worked to send money for Tom, all of his family, as well as her own parents. They immigrated to America with their remaining children in 1864 on the sailing ship, Hudson. They crossed the Plains with the William Hyde Wagon Company and arrived in Salt Lake Valley on October 26, 1864. Her husband obtained work with the Jenkin Brothers Harness Makers in the valley. They resided on Ninth East between South Temple and First South in the eleventh Ward. On November 9th, 1868, she and William received their endowments in the Endowment House. She shared her husband in polygamy with Maria Barrett. She gave her clothes to the needy, and opened her doors to the Elders. She and William had the privilege of celebrating their 58th Wedding Anniversary in the Eleventh Ward December 1, 1886 before she died on January 10, 1887.