Happy Birthday, Orpha!

With a little detective work and Google Maps, Jimmie James and his brother (descendants of Orpha's youngest brother, Joseph Franklin Nicoll) discovered the home Alexander Nicoll built in Washington, Utah, just north of St. George. Orpha was three when they moved into this home and lived there with her family until she was twelve, at which time the family accepted a call from Brigham Young to help settle eastern Arizona and moved to St. Johns. Today is Orpha"s 151st birthday as well as her 133rd wedding anniversary.

[As of July 2013 the home is abandoned (for quite a while it seems from the older photo) but still standing. It sits behind an occupied home. Using the address 142 East 100 South, Washington, Utah, you should be able to find it on Google Maps.]

Orpha: "At the Head of Her Posterity"

Orpha Elzetta Nicoll was born 148 years ago today (29 March 1867) in American Fork, Utah.
To honor this great lady on her birthday, we are posting a transcription of her Patriarchal Blessing.
She received this blessing on 16 April 1937 in Mesa, Arizona, as a widow at the age of seventy and just seven years before her death.

For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a patriarchal blessing contains inspired personal counsel from the Lord as well as a declaration of a person's lineage in the house of Israel. It is meant to be studied and lived, with a promise of guidance, comfort, and protection. Our current prophet, Thomas S. Monson, has said, "Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life's dangers." We can only hope this blessing was all of that for Orpha.

A blessing given by John F. Nash, Patriarch, upon the head of Orfa E. N. Greer; daughter of Alexander Nichols and Sabina Adams; born 29 March, 1867, American Fork, Utah. Sister Greer: In the authority of the Holy Priesthood, I lay my hands upon your head and seal upon you this Patriarchal blessing that shall be a comfort to you so long as you continue in your faithfulness. The Lord remembers your service in the spirit world and the covenants you made to serve Him when you came upon the earth. This you have fulfilled thus far in your life and He rejoices over you. Your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life with the assurance that you will receive an inheritance in the Celestial Kingdom if you hold out faithful unto the end. He loves you for the integrity and the way you have served Him, and the remainder of your days upon the earth will be pleasant and happy, filled with the inspiration of the Lord. His Spirit will be round about you to guide and direct you in all of your labors. He shall bless you with health and strength all of your days. You are of the lineage of Ephraim and you shall partake of the blessings pronounced upon that chosen people. He has accepted your mission of motherhood and will bless you with a power and influence over the young people, yours and others, and they shall bless you in days to come because of the influence you had over them and led them aright. The Lord blesses you with a knowledge of His purposes and you have joy and satisfaction in contemplating the future with its magnificent glories for you have a testimony that the Lord lives. Your labors in the House of the Lord shall return to your honor and glory and when you have finished this life's mission there will be multitudes to meet you on the other side when there shall be a period of great rejoicing. You shall be preserved and protected from harm or danger and shall have plenty of the good things of the earth so that your last days shall be your best days. I seal you up unto Eternal Life to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection, to be crowned among those who have fought the good fight and won the prize of exaltation, and you shall be placed at the head of your posterity to rule and reign in the House of Israel forever. These blessings I seal upon you through your faithfulness, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Remembering Orpha Elzetta Nicoll Greer

Orpha Elzetta Nicoll Greer

by her daughter Florence Leoma Greer Crosby

Orpha Elzetta Nicoll was born in American Fork, Utah, the seventh child of a family of twelve children (four boys and eight girls). She moved with her parents to Washington City near St. George, Utah, about 1870. The family lived here until December 1879 when they moved to St. Johns, Arizona, where her father built a fine two-story home.

On March 29, 1885, Mother was married to my father, John Harris Greer, in St. Johns, Arizona by David K. Udall. Mother gave birth to fourteen living children who were all married before her death in 1944. Tom was her only child who preceded her in death.

Mother was a good manager in her home. She was a good housekeeper and cook. She was kind and good and loved her children and taught us to do all the household tasks well. She did all of the sewing for her children and we were neatly clothed. She was hospitable and a good neighbor to all. She loved music. I remember well my sister and I receiving $1 for learning our music notes and our first little piece on the piano.

Mother developed high blood pressure in her later years and died as a result of a stroke while visiting her son James in Whittier, California. She was brought back to St. Johns, Arizona, and buried beside her husband.

HAPPY 129th ANNIVERSARY, HARRIS & ORPHA!!!

On March 29, 1885, John Harris Greer married Orpha Elzetta Nicoll in St. Johns, Arizona. To celebrate their 129th anniversary, this blog will be posting remembrances of them and their 14 children contributed by their descendants. These will appear in separate postings over the next 16 days. We will begin with Orpha in a separate posting today and Harris tomorrow, then continue with their children in order of birth.

We encourage you to post your personal remembrances in the comments section. If you have any additional photos or information you would like to share, please e-mail them to barbaraballantyne@hotmail.com.

A Pioneer Child's Experience

Orpha's mother, Sabina Ann Adams Nicoll, was born 17 February 1837 in Perth, Ontario, Canada. Her parents had been converted to the Mormon faith in 1835. The family left their home to join the Saints in De Witt, Missouri, in 1838 when Sabina Ann was a baby. Mob persecution during the winter of 1839 forced them to flee to Far West, Missouri. From there they soon fled to Illinois where her father was instrumental in building the city of Nauvoo and helped to build the temple there. In the summer of 1846, they were forced to flee Nauvoo and settled near Council Bluffs, Iowa, to prepare to seek refuge with the Saints in the Rocky Mountains of Utah.

Didn't know you were part Canadian, eh?

When you think of your Greer ancestry, you probably associate them with Arizona, Utah, or maybe even Texas. But Orpha Elzetta Nicoll Greer's parents were originally from Ontario, Canada. Here is a brief synopsis of how they got to Canada and how they ended up in Arizona.

Remembering the Prophet Joseph Smith

The Prophet Joseph Smith, along with his devoted brother, Hyrum, was martyred 169 years ago on June 27, 1844, in Carthage, Illinois. We remember him today through the stories of two family connections.

Where it all began…

Orpha Elzetta Nicoll was born in American Fork, Utah, 29 March 1867 to Alexander Nicoll and Sabina Ann Adams. When she was three, her family moved to Washington City, Utah (near St. George), then on to St. Johns, Arizona, in 1880 when she was thirteen.

John Harris Greer, the son of Thomas Lacy Greer and Catherine Ellen Camp, was born 10 February 1866 in Bosque County, Texas. He came to St. Johns in 1884 with his sister Oasis to attend school. They lived with their Uncle Gilbert and Aunt Julia, who happened to be Orpha’s older sister. Orpha and John Harris soon fell in love and married in St. Johns the next spring on 29 March 1885 (her birthday).

They are the parents of 14 children, and this blog is intended to provide a place for their descendants to connect with each other. Please help us honor their memories and keep their family together by submitting information to be added to this blog. Each child has a tab where their information will be stored. Just follow the instructions above (to the right of the family photo).

Welcome to the Greer family reunion that never ends!