LIFE HISTORY OF JAMES RITTER HEBDON

LIFE HISTORY OF JAMES RITTER HEBDON

 Written by Mary Emma (May) Hancey his daughter

 Born in Hull, Yorkshire, England, September 21, 1886, son of Joseph William and Malinda Ritter Hebdon
He grew to manhood in Hull and learned the trade of mason as an apprentice to his father who also followed the masonry con-struction trade.
He was baptized by Joseph r. Smith, 20 Nov. 1865.  After joining the church he would walk 20 miles in order to attend meetings.  He did not tell his parents for sometime, however, when they found out that he had been baptized into the L.D.S. Church they became very bitter, and told him either to forsake the gospel, or leave his home.  He would not give up his new found faith, and was therefore driven from the home of his parentage, a disinherited young man.
He married Ann Usher in 1861.  TWO children were born to this union, Martin and Fredrick, after the birth of the second child they decided~to come to the United States, to Utah, where they could be among the saints, be free to worship, and be free from persecution. They left their homeland along with a group of saints, Ann's mother was coming to Zion with them.  They booked passage on a ship which was very slow and tiresome.  After several days out to sea his mother-in-law, tired of the journey, and very homesick , desired that she and Ann should return on the first passing vessel to their home in England. James felt very sad and could not think of returning after having given up everything, so he and his family could come to Utah.  His greatest desire was being fulfilled and to return would break his heart, be-sides causing all his plans to be forsaken.
With the realization there was but one alternative, he quietly poured out his feelings~to God; praying that something might be done, that in some way they might continue on their way to Zion.  Asking that the Lord would intervene and prevent his wife from going back to England with her mother, where he was sure, their faith would be so shaken that they would deny the gospel which they were all so proud of and were sacrificing so much for.  Ann would not listen to his pleadings.
She went on deck to see the captain to see if the next ship going to England would take her, and her mother and children aboard so they could go back to their home.  They were soon informed that the longed for ship was coming.  Ann in her joy and excitement slipped and fell down the hatch way breaking her leg, also causing premature birth to another child.  Three days later blood poison set in. Ann passed away and was buried at sea, a few days later the new baby, Francis, passed away following his mother to a watery grave.
James in his sorrow and grief sailed on to the United States with his other two sons.  After eight weeks the ship docked in New York, but none were able to go ashore as a state of quarantine was declared all aboard the ship.  When the quarantine was lifted they were taken from the ship.  Martin and Fredrick along with many others had had scarlet fever and after several days illness, passed away and were buried in Mount Olive Cemetery at New York.
Being alone in a new world, James, went to the mission head-quarters and spent sometime working as an elder in the mission. It was while working at the mission home that he met Mary Ann Kate White, whom he married, 16 Aug. 1867, at Williamsburg, New York, married by D. H. Miles.
James and Mary Ann Kate started across the plains some few months after their marriage, with a group of saints heading for Utah.  When they arrived at Omaha, Neb. their first child, Alice Malinda, was born the 29 Apr. 1868.  James left mother and baby in Omaha and came on with some of the group so he could make money to send for his family, however, after a few days of con-fined rest Mary Ann Kate started on with another company of saints doing washing and anything possible to pay for her way to Utah.. The company Mary Ann Kate was traveling with met another company at Laramie, Wyoming which had been waiting for the company to catch up so they~might travel together.  Some of the teamsters from the waiting company of saints came over to see Just who and what the new company contained, they were introduced to Mary Ann Kate and realizing that there was a fellow in their company by the name of Jimmy Hebdon, they asked if she knew him.  Mary Ann Kate became very excited and exclaimed that Jimmy was her husband and that she would go to their camp with them.  She took Alice in her arms and walked the three miles through sagebrush and sand to their camp. One of the men went and awakened Jimmy telling him, "We have a woman and a baby out there that claim you.,'  Jimmy had Just taken his shoes off and was sitting by the camp fire.  He Jumped up leaving his shoes behind and ran to meet her, it was a surprising and very joyous occasion.  They continued the trip in Captain Lovelands Company.
After arriving in Utah they were called to go settle Franklin, Idaho to help in settling that part of the new Zion.  Their first home in Franklin was a dugout in the side of a little  hill on the banks of Cub River (Aug. 1868).
James had been ordained to the office of an Elder in the Melchizedek priesthood and on 1 Nov. 1868 he and Mary Ann Kate with their daughter Alice were sealed together in the endowment house in Salt Lake City, Utah.  He also had Ann Usher and children sealed to him at this time.
In 1869, the Hebdon's moved to a new home, a one room log home which was very much in need of repairs.  Enos James was born at this home 28 Mar 1870, also Joseph Thomas 16 July 1872 at Franklin, Idaho.  James had taken up land in 1870, but soon after the birth of Joseph, he was sent to Paris, Idaho as a presiding Elder for several years.  while at Paris three daughters were born, Elizabeth Ann born 6 Apr 1875, Phebie Hannah, 11 May 1877; and Mary Emily 19 Nov 1879.  After his release as presiding Elder in Paris the family moved to Preston, Idaho where Truman Ritter, 8 Dec 1881 and William Francis 22 Nov 1884 were born.
About 1885 James asked Miss Glazer to be his wife and they were married.  Mary Ann Kate did not approve of this marriage even though polygamy was being practiced at this time, it was also being persecuted.  James took his family and Mary Ann Kate down into Escalante, Utah leaving his third wife in Smithfield, Utah with her family.  The law was moving in to stop polygamist practices and he went to Escalente Utah to get away from it. While in Escalante Edward Eardly was born 23 Jan. 1887.  They soon moved back to Idaho going to Whitney where Alvin White was born 20 Dec. 1889; and Lorenzo Lars 30 Dec. 1890.  The family then moved to Glendale, Idaho where Earl Milton wass born 1 Dec. 1894, passing away Feb. 1895.
Sometime in 1895 the Hebdon's moved to Star Valley Wyo. Where they lived in Afton and Thayne.  James very active in the church working as a home missionary throughout the valley and carrying on his livelihood as a mason, lime burner, plasterer and brick layer.  He helped build the Osborn owe Home, the tabernacle at Afton,Wyo.At this time his sons were doing the lime bujrning and handling the lime by team and wagon to Afton.  The lime kiln which they built themselves, was located just west o f Thayne and was used for many years.
James Ritter passed away 17 Jan. 1908, at Blackfoot Idaho of a sudden stroke.  Funeral and burial were at Preston Idaho 23 Jan 1908.  He was survived by Mary Ann Kate , seven sons; Enos, Joseph.Truman, William, Edward, Alvin and lorenzo; four daughters; Alice, Elizabeth, Phoebe and Mary.  His life was one of faith,service and determination, also being filled with many trials and tests of faith.  He lived about 13 years in Thayne, Wyo..



 JAMES "Ritter" HEBDON

As I received family research from England in the 1976-77 I realized that Grandpa was not named James Ritter Hebdon but James Hebdon   The records showed his christening and marriage to Ann Usher as James Hebdon and also as he arrives in America and Marries Mary Ann "Kate" White.   I had determined that at the time he married Jane Glazier, about 1885. and took Grandma to Escalante, Utah he decided to change his name to James Ritter but when does one travel to Escalante to check this out
Little did I know that as I climbed into our car in July 1996, on a beautiful Monday morning headed for Mesa, Arizona for a wedding that Ben had other plans.  As we got to Nephi, Utah Ben informed me that "we're on our way to Escalante, Utah so what is our route?" This was indeed a great surprise. We traveled through some very beautiful country but some that I would not have wanted to travel in the mode of travel in 1885 - 1886.
I must do some research to find out the exact date that Grandpa married Jane.  She was the sister-in-law to Aunt Alice, who had married Luther William or Pryor Glazier.  Alice later divorced Glazier and was married and sealed to Seth Thornley 20 July 1904.
As we arrived in Escalante the big question was "Who can help us and where do we go."  We were told at the city information office that the president of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers could help us the most.  We spent the next half hour trying to find her.  Finally success.  She took us over to the church house and located a small book "Escalante Story".  The index showed that there was mention of a James Hitter.  "Page 72 'James Hitter and his brother (Charles White) were here in 1687 and took part in church activities.   They left in 1888.'"   Page 159 "John C. Campbell was bonded for the privilege of operating a liquor store in Nay 1898, the earliest record of such license in Escalante. Nephi Johnson and his brothers, Seth and George R. Johnson, had a store in the adobe-stucco house that they bought from James Ritter, now used as a wash house by the S. James Alveys."  This was all that was mentioned but we know that Uncle Edward Erdley Hebdon was born in Escalante 23 Jan 1887.  Alvin White Hebdon was born in Whitney, Idaho 20 December 1888.
We could not find the church records that we needed to show
 Uncle Eds birth and that Grandma was there also. but we know from
our records that Grandpa and Grandma were in Escalante all of 1867
and traveling back to Idaho during the summer of 1888.
 The last question was "Where is or where was the adobe-stucco house that the Flitter's lived in?"  Here again we spent about an hour tracking down the different information that was given to us. We found the little home but the fellow living there said "This is not the home you are looking for."  He sent us over to talk to his uncle, Merlin Alvey.  As we visited with Merlin Alvey, who is now in his 80's (July 15, 1996) verified that we were at the home of the Flitter's.
This was a most interesting day and so neat to find the home that Grandpa built for his wife and lived in during their stay in Escalante, Utah.
T.R. HEBDON'S FATHER'S FATHER, FATHER, 2012