Sarah Emily Potter

    

     Of the ten children born to Elijah John Potter and Sarah Eliza Jolly, Sarah Emily Potter was the oldest surviving child. Four other siblings passed away while under two years old. Her mother passed a couple of months after giving birth to the youngest Pearl Melvina Potter. Pearl died just ten months later.

     From the history of Elijah John Potter we read, “Sarah Eliza died 14 Dec 1891 and is buried on a high hill overlooking Asay Creek, Garfield, Utah. It was a sad thing for this Potter family of small children to have their mother taken from them. After this Elijah was never satisfied to stay in one place for long. He never remarried and was both father and mother to his children. Elijah kept the boys with him as they traveled around from place to place.”

     This may have been one of the reasons that Sarah Emily married so young. Just days before her 14th birthday she married William Greenhalgh. In 1892 he was 31 years old, 17 years her senior. Together they had ten children. Her first was born when she was just 15 years. All but two children lived to adulthood, Sarah, Mary, Alice, Myrtle, Elizabeth (married to Chester Reynald Keele), William Wallace, George (died as an infant), Eva (died as an infant), Elijah John and Wanda Greenhalgh.

     In 1910 William and Sarah lived in Heber Valley described as, “one of several back valleys in the Wasatch Mountains, that was often called Utah's Switzerland because of the rugged beauty of Mount Timpanogos located to the west, its climate, and a large population of Swiss that settled in the area."

     In Williams obituary he is said to have raised sheep and cattle in this area. William and Sarah toiled on the farm raising children through the dust bowl, the great depression and through two world wars. They saw the invention of phones, electricity and automobiles.

     Life was hard for families in the these early days. Often as my husband and I go for drives in the country we longingly look at the lovely county homes in the midst of rolling hills and remember raising our children in such a place. We can hope and imagine that during Sarah's life there were periods of peace and joy and watching her children grow. 

Sarah Emily Potter/Greenhalgh/Slack
" .Grandma Slack Wanda and John her daughter and son"

Breast Cancer Awareness

     Important note! Sarah Emily Potter/Greenhalgh died of Bilateral Breast Carcinoma at just 58 years old if you are a descendant of this family line be aware and be diligent.

Sarah Emily Potter/ Greenhalgh
mother of 
Elizabeth Ruth Greenhalgh/Keele
mother of
  Cleo K. Keele
        Chester Gale
        Alice Fern Keele
        Elizabeth Keele 
        Ramona Mae Keele
        Velva Jean Keele/Latimer
        Lawanna Pauline Keele