Dear family: Here is a wonderful life story of Ann Cannon Woodbury which I want to share with you today. I was thinking I had sent it out before, but couldn't find it on my computer, and after reading it again, I felt it was worth reading again and again to remind us of our wonderful heritage passed down to us by our ancestors. Have a wonderful day. Love Jim
Ann Cannon Woodbury, second daughter and third child of George and Ann Quayle Cannon, was born in Liverpool, England, January 28, 1832. Her parents and her forbears for generations back, had been residents of the Isle of Mann, with headquarters centering in and around the town of Peel.
Shortly after their marriage, however, her parents had moved to Liverpool, England, where all of their seven children were born.
Although both parents had been brought up in the Church of England they refused to maintain affiliation with any religious denomination. George’s sister, Leanora, had joined the Methodists, and felt that he ought to join. But he said to her, “Leanora, I could confound your religion with very little difficulty, but, if you enjoy it it’s all right with me.”
He maintained that the doctrines of all the denominations were full of discrepancies and inconsistencies, that the true Gospel was not on the earth. “But,” Said he, “It is coming.”
His sister Leanora finally migrated to Canada with the family of a very dear friend. And it so happened that John Taylor, who had grown up in England, made his way to Canada at nearly the same time. The two met in Canada, were attracted toward each other, and after a brief courtship, were united in marriage.
Parley P. Pratt was called to fill a mission in Canada. He came in contact with John and Leanora Taylor, preached the gospel to them, and finally convinced them of its truthfulness. Shortly after their conversion Elder Taylor was called to fill a mission in England.
After landing in Liverpool he called at the home of his brother-in-law, George Cannon. He introduced himself to the mother and children, and told them he would call later for a longer visit. After he had gone the mother said to the children, “That’s a man of God.”
Brother Taylor, of course, returned and presented to them his message concerning the Restored Gospel. The mother was immediately convinced; the older children were deeply impressed; the father also felt impressed, but was somewhat reluctant about accepting it without further investigation. He read the Book of Mormon through twice, pondered its contents carefully and prayerfully, and came to this conclusion, “A bad man could not write such a book, and a good man dare not, unless he was inspired.” George became fully convinced and he and Ann were baptized by Elder Taylor February 11, 1840.
5. John Taylor, born January 30, 1863, died December 19, 1936.
6. Leanora Cannon, born August 25, 1865, died October 11, 1951.
7. Frank Bartlett, born December 27, 1867.
8. Alice Cannon, born November 16, 1870.
9. Angus Cannon, born May 20, 1873.
Liverpool, England, January 28, 1832. Her parents and her forbears for generations back, had been residents of the Isle of Mann, with headquarters centering in and around the town of Peel. Shortly after their marriage, however, her parents had moved to Liverpool, England, where all of their seven children were born.ANN CANNON WOODBURY
Shortly after their marriage, however, her parents had moved to Liverpool, England, where all of their seven children were born.
Although both parents had been brought up in the Church of England they refused to maintain affiliation with any religious denomination. George’s sister, Leanora, had joined the Methodists, and felt that he ought to join. But he said to her, “Leanora, I could confound your religion with very little difficulty, but, if you enjoy it it’s all right with me.”
He maintained that the doctrines of all the denominations were full of discrepancies and inconsistencies, that the true Gospel was not on the earth. “But,” Said he, “It is coming.”
His sister Leanora finally migrated to Canada with the family of a very dear friend. And it so happened that John Taylor, who had grown up in England, made his way to Canada at nearly the same time. The two met in Canada, were attracted toward each other, and after a brief courtship, were united in marriage.
Parley P. Pratt was called to fill a mission in Canada. He came in contact with John and Leanora Taylor, preached the gospel to them, and finally convinced them of its truthfulness. Shortly after their conversion Elder Taylor was called to fill a mission in England.
After landing in Liverpool he called at the home of his brother-in-law, George Cannon. He introduced himself to the mother and children, and told them he would call later for a longer visit. After he had gone the mother said to the children, “That’s a man of God.”
Brother Taylor, of course, returned and presented to them his message concerning the Restored Gospel. The mother was immediately convinced; the older children were deeply impressed; the father also felt impressed, but was somewhat reluctant about accepting it without further investigation. He read the Book of Mormon through twice, pondered its contents carefully and prayerfully, and came to this conclusion, “A bad man could not write such a book, and a good man dare not, unless he was inspired.” George became fully convinced and he and Ann were baptized by Elder Taylor February 11, 1840.
The second daughter, Ann, only eight years of age, was particularly impressed with the message, as presented by Elder Taylor. When on occasion the Elders would come to their home to spend the evening in a discussion of the principles of the new religion, Ann would be sent upstairs to go to bed with the younger children. When the rest were asleep she would creep down the stairs to the landing and listen at the door to the conversation. One night her father found her there fast asleep. Thereafter, when the elders came, she was permitted to remain and listen to the conversation.
She was baptized by Elder Taylor June 17, 1840, and she often declared that she was sure her testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel was as strong at that time as was that of any other member of the family.
After their conversion and baptism, the "Spirit of Gathering" rested upon them, and they were anxious to go and assemble with the Saints in Zion. The mother, however, had from the first a premonition that told her she would never live to reach Zion. But she had an unquenchable desire for her children to go where they could be brought up among the Saints in Zion.
They sailed from Liverpool September 17, 1842. The mother became ill the day they set sail and never sat up again. Because of pregnancy, she became nauseated, and it proved impossible for her to retain anything on her stomach. Dr. Levi Richards did everything possible for her, but she grew steadily worse, and passed away before reaching America. She was buried in mid-ocean among heartbreaking sobs from a husband and six motherless children.
They reached New Orleans, November 11, 1842, nearly eight weeks after leaving Liverpool. The Mississippi River became frozen over and they were unable to reach Nauvoo until the following spring. The Prophet Joseph met them at the wharf, and shook the hand of each one in the company regardless of age. Ann thought him a fine looking man, tall and stately, and with a dignity of bearing that would be difficult to duplicate. He made a profound impression on her that remained with her throughout life.
At the time of the martyrdom, her father went and helped bring to Nauvoo his brother-in-law, Elder Taylor, who was severely wounded, his body having received from the guns of the he assassins four bullets which he carried to his grave. George also prepared the plaster of paris masks that were used to preserve the features of the two martyrs, Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Ann said on more than one occasion that she heard Sydney Rigdon, standing in a wagon box, present his claims to be appointed guardian of the church, as successor to the Prophet. When Brigham Young arose to answer Elder Rigdon and the mantle of the Prophet appeared to rest upon him, although only a girl of twelve, she felt certain, deep down in her heart, that, he was the rightful leader of the church.
Ann's father was not only a contractor and builder, but was an expert cabinetmaker. During August following the death of the Prophet, work being rather scarce in Nauvoo, he, went to St. Louis in hope of obtaining employment. A few days after reaching St. Louis, he was suddenly taken violently ill, and died a day or two later.
Announcement of his death reached the family only indirectly. Members of the family on going to St. Louis were unable to obtain any detailed information concerning the circumstances surrounding his death, or even to determine the spot where his body had been laid to rest.
He left a wife, whom he had recently married, an unborn babe, and six children without father or mother. His body still rests in that unknown grave, a long way from any known relative or friend.
After the death of her father, Ann and her oldest brother George Q., went to live in the home of her father's sister, Aunt Leanora Taylor, wife of Elder John Taylor, of the Council of Twelve, and later president of the church.
Her older sister, Mary Alice, a little under sixteen years of age, became the, wife of Charles Lambert and together they provided a home for the three younger children, Angus M., David H., and Leanora.
With the family of her Uncle and Aunt, Ann and her brother George, crossed the river on the ice, February 16, 1846, and started westward into a comparatively trackless wilderness. She drove an ox team most of the distance across the plains, and assisted in every way possible with the routine work connected with the journey.
One day as she sat in the wagon driving the oxen, and her brother George was walking, he saw something he wanted to shoot. He rushed up to the side of the wagon and said, "Annie, hand me my gun, quick!" She reached for it, but he was quicker than she. He reached into the wagon, seized the gun by the barrel, and drew it forth. As he did so, the gun discharged, the bullet going through his coat and just grazing his side.
On another occasion, Brother Richards, who led the other company, said. "Brother Taylor, we've been taking your dust for a whole week I think we ought to change.'' "All right', said Brother Taylor, "we'll change." So they changed, and so did the wind and you may be sure they had fun over the incident.
Food was scarce during the early days in the valley, and Ann often felt the pangs of hunger, at one time being limited to one slice of bread a day. She experienced, the trials and persecutions heaped upon the Saints, during the later years in Nauvoo, the hardships connected with the journey across the plains, and the privations and suffering that went along with early pioneer life in Salt Lake, and later in Utah's Dixie. But her devotion to the principles of the Restored Gospel was unshakable, and her loyalty to those in authority over her was, steadfast and unwavering.
Her opportunity to acquire formal education was limited to a few weeks attendance at school, after reaching the Valley. However, by utilizing whatever spare time was available in reading worthwhile literature, she became an efficient and rapid reader and acquired a mind well stored with useful and cultural information. She was a good speller and although she knew nothing about working arithmetic on paper, she could work out in her head any ordinary arithmetical problem, probably in less time than it takes an ordinary individual to write it down on paper.
She continued living in the family of her uncle and aunt until her marriage to Orin Nelson Woodbury, February 17, 1853. The ceremony was first performed in the home of her brother-in-law, Charles Lambert, by Elder Parley Pratt. One year later they were sealed in the Endowment House for time and eternity.
After their marriage the couple made several moves, but finally purchased a farm south of Salt Lake, where they worked hard to make a real home for themselves and their growing family. They built on the farm a fairly comfortable home, the wife carrying the adobes and the mortar, while the husband laid up the walls.
Just as they were beginning to get comfortably established, they received a call from President Brigham Young to go to Southern Utah and help establish the Dixie mission. Most of the names were called at the October Conference, 1861, but Orin and a few others were not called until the following Sunday. As a result they had one week less time to prepare for the move than did the others.
It required about three week's time to prepare for the trip, as it was necessary to do some spinning and weaving, and to have the cloth made up into clothing, before starting on the trip which they knew would be cold.
They did not leave Salt Lake until a day or two after the main body had started. It was understood, however, that those ahead would wait at Salt Creek, or Nephi, for the companies to be organized. This plan was carried out with a captain being placed over a given number of families.
Orin was unable to sell his farm, but let it out on shares to a man for a year. The good brother not only took the entire 'share', but also burnt up a pile of slabs that were on the place, ready to build a new fence.
It took them four weeks to make the journey. With their four children, Eleanor, Orin, Annie Maria, and George J., they arrived on the campground at what has since been called the "Old Adobe Yard', on December 3, 1861. Almost immediately after their arrival, it began to rain, and it is said that some rain fell every day during a period of forty days. The soil at the adobe yard was heavy clay, very suitable for making adobes, but very unsuitable to serve as a campground during a forty day period of spasmodic, drenching rains.
In making the allotment of land, each family was given a definite number of acres of farming land near the Santa Clara Creek or the Rio Virgin, and a city lot on the St. George townsite, on which to build a home and maintain a family size garden. When Ann was taken to see the city lot that had been assigned to them, she looked the situation over carefully, then declared with emphasis, "I will never give my consent to move from here unless we are called by those in authority over us."
They were never called to move from the place, so there they remained. All of the six children born after leaving Salt Lake first saw the light of day within the walls of the four room adobe house, built by Orin with his own hands, and which at this writing (1956) still stands.
Ann had taken along with her the spinning wheel and loom with which she spun and wove cotton and wool into cloth, to be later made up into clothing for herself and family.
Sweets of any kind were difficult to obtain, especially cane or beet sugar. Ann raked and scraped and economized, and finally got together the stupendous sum of fifty dollars, with which she purchased a colony of honey bees that had been hauled in from California. From this one colony she soon developed an apiary that not only supplied sweets for her own table but also for the tables of many of her neighbors and friends.
In order to study the habits of her bees, she would take her knitting and sit for hours near the apiary and watch the bees in their various activities as they came and went in their search for the delicious nectar. She became recognized as a pioneer in the beekeeping industry and as an authority on bee culture throughout the Southern Utah area. For many years the price she obtained for a colony of bees stood at twenty dollars; 'and the standard price for honey was twenty cents a pound. Of course as the years went' by and the supply of honey, and also the supply of Dixie molasses or sorghum, increased, the price of honey declined somewhat. But even after cane or beet sugar became more easily available, the price of honey continued to stand at a satisfactory level.
She also became a pioneer in the raising of silkworms, and in the production of silk from cocoons spun by the worms. There are in the family today a dress, and other articles, made from silk raised, spun, and woven into cloth by her own hands.
She served for eight years as a member of the Utah Silk Commission appointed by the Governor, and made many trips to Salt Lake, not only to meet with the State Silk Commission, but also to attend the Beekeepers' Convention and Woman Suffrage meetings.
She usually made her trips to Salt Lake at the time of the semi-annual Conferences of the church, in order to represent the Relief Society, of which she was in the Stake presidency for 21 years. At the same time she represented the Primary organization in which she served as a ward officer, and for fourteen years as a counselor in the stake presidency. She represented also the Y.W.M.I.A.
For a number of years, when flour was scarce and difficult to obtain, she helped to supply it to the family by making yeast with which to supply the neighboring families. Each evening she would have a large jar of yeast on hand, kept in a handy place in her kitchen. If a neighbor wanted sufficient yeast to mix a batch of bread, she sent to Sister Woodbury a cup of flour and received in exchange a cup of yeast. In this way she kept her family well supplied with flour.
Ann (Aunt Annie, as she was usua1ly and familiarly called) lived many years after her husband's death, continuing her, work in the Relief Society, Primary, and other religious as well as civic organizations, as long as her health would permit. She had been a Temple Ordinance worker since 1880, and served in that capacity until physically incapacitated. She had served as Matron at the Temple during a number of those years.
For a number of years, during her later life, she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Alice W. Harmon. Later, however, her health became so impaired that she was nearly helpless. For a number of years therefore before her death, she lived with her daughters, Eleanor W. Jarvis and Annie M. W. Romney, in the home of the former. The two of them gave her the best of loving care until July 25, 1921, when she was called to the other side, in her ninetieth year, to receive her reward for a life well and valiantly spent. She left a family of eight living children (two sons, Orin N. Jr., and George Jeremiah having preceded her in death), a large number of grandchildren and great grandchildren, and a host of very dear friends to revere her memory. Ann Cannon and her husband, Orin N. Woodbury, were the parents of ten children, all of whom grew to maturity and became heads of families of their own. The names of the children in order of age are:
- Eleanor Cannon, born March 9, 1854, died April 16, 1934.
2. Orin Nelson, Jr., born July 14, 1856, died June 3, 1899.
3. Annie Maria, born October 14., 1858, died January 14, 1930.
4. George Jeremiah, born November 25, 1860, died September 12, 1889.5. John Taylor, born January 30, 1863, died December 19, 1936.
6. Leanora Cannon, born August 25, 1865, died October 11, 1951.
7. Frank Bartlett, born December 27, 1867.
8. Alice Cannon, born November 16, 1870.
9. Angus Cannon, born May 20, 1873.
Although both parents had been brought up in the Church of England they refused to maintain affiliation with any religious denomination. George’s sister, Leanora, had joined the Methodists, and felt that he ought to join. But he said to her, “Leanora, I could confound your religion with very little difficulty, but, if you enjoy it it’s all right with me.”
He maintained that the doctrines of all the denominations were full of discrepancies and inconsistencies, that the true Gospel was not on the earth. “But,” Said he, “It is coming.”
His sister Leanora finally migrated to Canada with the family of a very dear friend. And it so happened that John Taylor, who had grown up in England, made his way to Canada at nearly the same time. The two met in Canada, were attracted toward each other, and after a brief courtship, were united in marriage.
Parley P. Pratt was called to fill a mission in Canada. He came in contact with John and Leanora Taylor, preached the gospel to them, and finally convinced them of its truthfulness. Shortly after their conversion Elder Taylor was called to fill a mission in England.
After landing in Liverpool he called at the home of his brother-in-law, George Cannon. He introduced himself to the mother and children, and told them he would call later for a longer visit. After he had gone the mother said to the children, “That’s a man of God.”
Brother Taylor, of course, returned and presented to them his message concerning the Restored Gospel. The mother was immediately convinced; the older children were deeply impressed; the father also felt impressed, but was somewhat reluctant about accepting it without further investigation. He read the Book of Mormon through twice, pondered its contents carefully and prayerfully, and came to this conclusion, “A bad man could not write such a book, and a good man dare not, unless he was inspired.” George became fully convinced and he and Ann were baptized by Elder Taylor February 11, 1840.
The second daughter, Ann, only eight years of age, was particularly impressed with the message, as presented by Elder Taylor. When on occasion the Elders would come to their home to spend the evening in a discussion of the principles of the new religion, Ann would be sent upstairs to go to bed with the younger children. When the rest were asleep she would creep down the stairs to the landing and listen at the door to the conversation. One night her father found her there fast asleep. Thereafter, when the elders came, she was permitted to remain and listen to the conversation.
She was baptized by Elder Taylor June 17, 1840, and she often declared that she was sure her testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel was as strong at that time as was that of any other member of the family.
After their conversion and baptism, the "Spirit of Gathering" rested upon them, and they were anxious to go and assemble with the Saints in Zion. The mother, however, had from the first a premonition that told her she would never live to reach Zion. But she had an unquenchable desire for her children to go where they could be brought up among the Saints in Zion.
They sailed from Liverpool September 17, 1842. The mother became ill the day they set sail and never sat up again. Because of pregnancy, she became nauseated, and it proved impossible for her to retain anything on her stomach. Dr. Levi Richards did everything possible for her, but she grew steadily worse, and passed away before reaching America. She was buried in mid-ocean among heartbreaking sobs from a husband and six motherless children.
They reached New Orleans, November 11, 1842, nearly eight weeks after leaving Liverpool. The Mississippi River became frozen over and they were unable to reach Nauvoo until the following spring. The Prophet Joseph met them at the wharf, and shook the hand of each one in the company regardless of age. Ann thought him a fine looking man, tall and stately, and with a dignity of bearing that would be difficult to duplicate. He made a profound impression on her that remained with her throughout life.
At the time of the martyrdom, her father went and helped bring to Nauvoo his brother-in-law, Elder Taylor, who was severely wounded, his body having received from the guns of the he assassins four bullets which he carried to his grave. George also prepared the plaster of paris masks that were used to preserve the features of the two martyrs, Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Ann said on more than one occasion that she heard Sydney Rigdon, standing in a wagon box, present his claims to be appointed guardian of the church, as successor to the Prophet. When Brigham Young arose to answer Elder Rigdon and the mantle of the Prophet appeared to rest upon him, although only a girl of twelve, she felt certain, deep down in her heart, that, he was the rightful leader of the church.
Ann's father was not only a contractor and builder, but was an expert cabinetmaker. During August following the death of the Prophet, work being rather scarce in Nauvoo, he, went to St. Louis in hope of obtaining employment. A few days after reaching St. Louis, he was suddenly taken violently ill, and died a day or two later.
Announcement of his death reached the family only indirectly. Members of the family on going to St. Louis were unable to obtain any detailed information concerning the circumstances surrounding his death, or even to determine the spot where his body had been laid to rest.
He left a wife, whom he had recently married, an unborn babe, and six children without father or mother. His body still rests in that unknown grave, a long way from any known relative or friend.
After the death of her father, Ann and her oldest brother George Q., went to live in the home of her father's sister, Aunt Leanora Taylor, wife of Elder John Taylor, of the Council of Twelve, and later president of the church.
Her older sister, Mary Alice, a little under sixteen years of age, became the, wife of Charles Lambert and together they provided a home for the three younger children, Angus M., David H., and Leanora.
With the family of her Uncle and Aunt, Ann and her brother George, crossed the river on the ice, February 16, 1846, and started westward into a comparatively trackless wilderness. She drove an ox team most of the distance across the plains, and assisted in every way possible with the routine work connected with the journey.
One day as she sat in the wagon driving the oxen, and her brother George was walking, he saw something he wanted to shoot. He rushed up to the side of the wagon and said, "Annie, hand me my gun, quick!" She reached for it, but he was quicker than she. He reached into the wagon, seized the gun by the barrel, and drew it forth. As he did so, the gun discharged, the bullet going through his coat and just grazing his side.
On another occasion, Brother Richards, who led the other company, said. "Brother Taylor, we've been taking your dust for a whole week I think we ought to change.'' "All right', said Brother Taylor, "we'll change." So they changed, and so did the wind and you may be sure they had fun over the incident.
Food was scarce during the early days in the valley, and Ann often felt the pangs of hunger, at one time being limited to one slice of bread a day. She experienced, the trials and persecutions heaped upon the Saints, during the later years in Nauvoo, the hardships connected with the journey across the plains, and the privations and suffering that went along with early pioneer life in Salt Lake, and later in Utah's Dixie. But her devotion to the principles of the Restored Gospel was unshakable, and her loyalty to those in authority over her was, steadfast and unwavering.
Her opportunity to acquire formal education was limited to a few weeks attendance at school, after reaching the Valley. However, by utilizing whatever spare time was available in reading worthwhile literature, she became an efficient and rapid reader and acquired a mind well stored with useful and cultural information. She was a good speller and although she knew nothing about working arithmetic on paper, she could work out in her head any ordinary arithmetical problem, probably in less time than it takes an ordinary individual to write it down on paper.
She continued living in the family of her uncle and aunt until her marriage to Orin Nelson Woodbury, February 17, 1853. The ceremony was first performed in the home of her brother-in-law, Charles Lambert, by Elder Parley Pratt. One year later they were sealed in the Endowment House for time and eternity.
After their marriage the couple made several moves, but finally purchased a farm south of Salt Lake, where they worked hard to make a real home for themselves and their growing family. They built on the farm a fairly comfortable home, the wife carrying the adobes and the mortar, while the husband laid up the walls.
Just as they were beginning to get comfortably established, they received a call from President Brigham Young to go to Southern Utah and help establish the Dixie mission. Most of the names were called at the October Conference, 1861, but Orin and a few others were not called until the following Sunday. As a result they had one week less time to prepare for the move than did the others.
It required about three week's time to prepare for the trip, as it was necessary to do some spinning and weaving, and to have the cloth made up into clothing, before starting on the trip which they knew would be cold.
They did not leave Salt Lake until a day or two after the main body had started. It was understood, however, that those ahead would wait at Salt Creek, or Nephi, for the companies to be organized. This plan was carried out with a captain being placed over a given number of families.
Orin was unable to sell his farm, but let it out on shares to a man for a year. The good brother not only took the entire 'share', but also burnt up a pile of slabs that were on the place, ready to build a new fence.
It took them four weeks to make the journey. With their four children, Eleanor, Orin, Annie Maria, and George J., they arrived on the campground at what has since been called the "Old Adobe Yard', on December 3, 1861. Almost immediately after their arrival, it began to rain, and it is said that some rain fell every day during a period of forty days. The soil at the adobe yard was heavy clay, very suitable for making adobes, but very unsuitable to serve as a campground during a forty day period of spasmodic, drenching rains.
In making the allotment of land, each family was given a definite number of acres of farming land near the Santa Clara Creek or the Rio Virgin, and a city lot on the St. George townsite, on which to build a home and maintain a family size garden. When Ann was taken to see the city lot that had been assigned to them, she looked the situation over carefully, then declared with emphasis, "I will never give my consent to move from here unless we are called by those in authority over us."
They were never called to move from the place, so there they remained. All of the six children born after leaving Salt Lake first saw the light of day within the walls of the four room adobe house, built by Orin with his own hands, and which at this writing (1956) still stands.
Ann had taken along with her the spinning wheel and loom with which she spun and wove cotton and wool into cloth, to be later made up into clothing for herself and family.
Sweets of any kind were difficult to obtain, especially cane or beet sugar. Ann raked and scraped and economized, and finally got together the stupendous sum of fifty dollars, with which she purchased a colony of honey bees that had been hauled in from California. From this one colony she soon developed an apiary that not only supplied sweets for her own table but also for the tables of many of her neighbors and friends.
In order to study the habits of her bees, she would take her knitting and sit for hours near the apiary and watch the bees in their various activities as they came and went in their search for the delicious nectar. She became recognized as a pioneer in the beekeeping industry and as an authority on bee culture throughout the Southern Utah area. For many years the price she obtained for a colony of bees stood at twenty dollars; 'and the standard price for honey was twenty cents a pound. Of course as the years went' by and the supply of honey, and also the supply of Dixie molasses or sorghum, increased, the price of honey declined somewhat. But even after cane or beet sugar became more easily available, the price of honey continued to stand at a satisfactory level.
She also became a pioneer in the raising of silkworms, and in the production of silk from cocoons spun by the worms. There are in the family today a dress, and other articles, made from silk raised, spun, and woven into cloth by her own hands.
She served for eight years as a member of the Utah Silk Commission appointed by the Governor, and made many trips to Salt Lake, not only to meet with the State Silk Commission, but also to attend the Beekeepers' Convention and Woman Suffrage meetings.
She usually made her trips to Salt Lake at the time of the semi-annual Conferences of the church, in order to represent the Relief Society, of which she was in the Stake presidency for 21 years. At the same time she represented the Primary organization in which she served as a ward officer, and for fourteen years as a counselor in the stake presidency. She represented also the Y.W.M.I.A.
For a number of years, when flour was scarce and difficult to obtain, she helped to supply it to the family by making yeast with which to supply the neighboring families. Each evening she would have a large jar of yeast on hand, kept in a handy place in her kitchen. If a neighbor wanted sufficient yeast to mix a batch of bread, she sent to Sister Woodbury a cup of flour and received in exchange a cup of yeast. In this way she kept her family well supplied with flour.
Ann (Aunt Annie, as she was usua1ly and familiarly called) lived many years after her husband's death, continuing her, work in the Relief Society, Primary, and other religious as well as civic organizations, as long as her health would permit. She had been a Temple Ordinance worker since 1880, and served in that capacity until physically incapacitated. She had served as Matron at the Temple during a number of those years.
For a number of years, during her later life, she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Alice W. Harmon. Later, however, her health became so impaired that she was nearly helpless. For a number of years therefore before her death, she lived with her daughters, Eleanor W. Jarvis and Annie M. W. Romney, in the home of the former. The two of them gave her the best of loving care until July 25, 1921, when she was called to the other side, in her ninetieth year, to receive her reward for a life well and valiantly spent. She left a family of eight living children (two sons, Orin N. Jr., and George Jeremiah having preceded her in death), a large number of grandchildren and great grandchildren, and a host of very dear friends to revere her memory. Ann Cannon and her husband, Orin N. Woodbury, were the parents of ten children, all of whom grew to maturity and became heads of families of their own. The names of the children in order of age are:
- Eleanor Cannon, born March 9, 1854, died April 16, 1934.
2. Orin Nelson, Jr., born July 14, 1856, died June 3, 1899.
3. Annie Maria, born October 14., 1858, died January 14, 1930.
4. George Jeremiah, born November 25, 1860, died September 12, 1889.5. John Taylor, born January 30, 1863, died December 19, 1936.
6. Leanora Cannon, born August 25, 1865, died October 11, 1951.
7. Frank Bartlett, born December 27, 1867.
8. Alice Cannon, born November 16, 1870.
9. Angus Cannon, born May 20, 1873.
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