Autobiography of Selena Layton Phillips
Written March 30, 1909
By Selena L. Phillips
My grandfather Samuel Layton was born in England, 1787.
My father Christopher Layton, was born in Thorncut, Bedfordshire, England, March 8, 1820.
My mother Caroline Cooper Layton, born Yorkshire, England Sept. 26, 1836.
My husband Edward C. Phillips, born Salt Lake City, Utah Dec. 29, 1849
I was born in Carson City, Nevada. August 15, 1857.
My brothers and sisters as follows:
James Albert Born June 13, 1859. Kaysville, Utah.
Martha Alice Born Feb. 20, 1861. Kaysville, Utah.
Heber Chase Born Dec. 8, 1862. Kaysville, Utah.
Heber Chase Died Sept. 9, 1863. Kaysville, Utah.
Joseph Born July 28, 1864. Kaysville, Utah.
Joseph Died May 10, 1897. Thatcher, Arizona.
Caroline Born April 12, 1866. Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah.
Frank Born Jan. 21, 1868. Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah.
Frank Died Sept. 10, 1870. Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah.
Frederick Born Jan. 27, 1872. Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah.
Frederick Died Salt Lake City, Utah.
Chancy West Born May 7, 1874. Salt Lake City, Utah.
Horace Born Oct. 26, 1876. Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah.
Benjamin Born Sept. 26, 1879. Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah.
Martha Alice Died Feb. 22, 1880. Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah.
I was married to Edward Charles Phillips, Nov. 17, 1873 in the endowment house, at Salt Lake City, Utah by Daniel H. Wells.
Our children were as follows:
Jesse Charles Born Aug. 30, 1874. Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah.
Christopher E. Born July 27, 1877. Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah.
Christopher E. Died Dec. 28, 1891. Thatcher, Graham Co., Ariz.
Franklin C. Born Mar. 8, 1880. Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah.
Franklin C. Died Aug. 14, 1881. Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah.
David D. Born Jan. 5, 1882. Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah.
Joseph Alvin Born July 27, 1884. Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah.
Rudgar Born Jan. 6, 1887. Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah.
Horace & Benjamin Born June 6, 1889. Thatcher, Graham Co., Ariz.
Horace & Benjamin Died June 6, 1889. Thatcher, Graham Co., Ariz.
Alice Selena Born Jan. 2, 1892. Thatcher, Graham Co., Ariz.
Priscilla Born Dec. 27, 1895. Thatcher, Graham Co., Ariz.
My father emigrated to America, with a colony of Latter-day Saints, arriving in Nauvoo, June, 1843.
My mother came to America in 1846 in April, 1846.
In the spring of 1856, my father having been called with many others by Brigham Young, to Carson City, Nevada, on a mission. He married my mother on April 12, 1856. The ceremony being performed by President Brigham Young, Starting immediately after they were married.
Father having four wives along with him, and four children at this time, four wagons, and lots of stock. While camped on Bear River, they met President Young and Company, who were going to explore Bear Lake Valley.
Brother Brigham remarked, “Bro. Layton, you have more stock than the whole church.”
“President Young, they are all at your disposal.” he answered.
“Oh no, I don’t want them.” he said. So father picked out ten of his best cows and made him a present of them. President Young then blessed him and his family, and said not one of them should fall by the way. I have hear both father and mother say this promise was truly fulfilled, with regards to his family and his stock.
A baby girl was born on the way. She was named Maggie. She always was so dear to me, we were almost like twin sisters.
They arrived at their destination all well, having had such a pleasant trip. Mother has often told us what a lovely place it was to live in, close by the river, where they could go out and in a few minutes, catch enough fish for a meal. Their experiments and pleasures while there were too numerous to mention at this writing.
On Aug. 15, 1857. I was born in a small house of willows, then plastered with mud, and a thatched roof. From what I can understand it must have been something like the Mexicans build their houses here in Ariz.
But before I was three months old, Father was recalled to Salt Lake, and we were soon on the move.
Arrived at Kaysville in November, camped at Bro. William B. Smith’s place for a while until father could have time to look around. THIS is where I was named and blessed by Apostle Lorenzo Snow. He later became President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Father then bought David Day’s farm now owned by James Green of Kaysville. Here he moved his two families. Later taking up land on Kay’s creek, he built an adobe house of four rooms, later known as the prairie house.
Father then moved Aunt Sarah, Aunt Isabell, and my mother up to that place, where my brother James was born.
My grandfather Layton passing away at this home at the age of 71 years. He was blind for a long time before he died.
I remember distinctly father buying my sisters Polly, Maggie, and myself a nice little chair. The first little chairs we had ever see.
Also I remember a band of Indians coming and wanting something to eat. Mother and the folks not having any bread baked, they started to cooking hot cakes on the stove for them, as long as the dough lasted. We small children were very frightened at them and kept pretty close to our mothers while the Indians stayed.
Later father bought the old farm from a man by the name of Allen. He then moved Aunt Sarah B. to this place, from the Day farm.
In the summer of 1859 father built a frame house down in the grove at the Allen farm, and then moved my mother down there. The windows were covered with factory and we had a quilt for a door.
It being so lonely for mother in the grove for mother and the two babes, she persuaded father to move the house up by Aunt Sarah’s home.
In 1862, my father was made Bishop of Kaysville Ward, which position he held for seventeen years. He then moved mother up to Kaysville from the farm.
He was then first counselor to Wm. R. Smith in the Davis Co. Stake, Utah and held this position until he was called to come to Arizona to preside over the St. Joseph Stake which was in Feb. 1883. Continued as President until his health failed him and he was released Jan. 27, 1898, and he was ordained a patriarch on that same day.
He gave his family a Patriarchal Blessing and having a desire to spend the remainder of his days with his family in Utah, he took a state room in a Pullman car and went to his old home in Kaysville, Utah.
Arrived there June 17, of that same year. He gradually grew worse and decided to undergo an operation which was performed by Dr. Richards and Dr. Wilcox of Salt Lake City. Inflammation soon set in and on Aug. 7, passed peacefully away. He was interred in the Kaysville Cemetery where five of his wives are laid to rest.
In 1863, my Aunt Sarah was very sick with cancer in her breast. Mother took her baby boy and cared for him. In April, 1864, Aunt Sarah desired to be moved up in town, where her baby was and where she could get medical aid better if needed. She gradually grew worse and passed away on Oct. 25, 1864. She was interred in the Kaysville Cemetery. Her baby Charles and daughter Maggie continued to live with my mother until Maggie was married to Joseph G. Allred, Dec. 4, 1873.
Our school advantages were very poor. Each year we had about three months school, or as long as the parents could pay the teachers, and the teachers would not compare with the teachers of today, not compelling us to take any studies, only what we thought we’d like to, and we all know children do not know what is best for them.
I was not more than eight years old when I first started to assist with the family washing and ironing. I also helped to spin the yarn to make our dresses and our stockings. We were taught to knit our own stockings while very small, and how thankful I am that I could do this for myself and family.
I used to spend a good deal of my leisure time in making tidies and knitting lace to sell. In this way I helped to get my own clothes.
I was taught ever since I commenced to earn anything, to pay my tithing, though it be ever so small an amount. I am very grateful to my parents for instilling this principle in me, as it has continued to grow as I have grown in years. While I was very young I had a great desire to keep the commandments of God, the very best I could, and have always tried to be obedient to my parents, and those placed in authority over me and to show reverence to Lord’s anointed.
Oct 1st, 1868. I was baptized at Elder Winell dam, in Kaysville by William Blood. Confirmed the same day by Elder Rozel Hyde.
For several years my sister Maggie and I used to take care of the sacrament dishes, the buckets being brass, we used to take great delight in polishing them for our dear old Deacon Brother Courts, whom we learned to love. He was so good and kind to us, whenever there was a party or dance, he would come and get us girls, and take us over, and then at ten or half past ten came, he was right there to take us home. He was such a dear old gentleman.
In Oct. 1869, we moved to Salt Lake City to live. Our home was in the 12th Ward, until 1870, when father traded our home for one in the 17th Ward where we moved to. We remained at this place until the fall of 1870, when we returned to Kaysville, to a new home father had bought for us. During our stay in Salt Lake City, we attended the school in the 12th Ward, and the University which was in the 14th Ward. We also attended the Sabbath School in the 14th Ward.
We truly appreciated the privilege of attending these schools. My Sunday School teacher was Sister Annie T. Hyde whom I learned to love for her noble qualities of character, which continued to grow with her as she grew in years. She was chosen first counselor to sister Basheba W. Smith in the Relief Society throughout the whole Church of Jesus Christ. Dear sister Hyde passed away March 12, 1909. I feel we have lost a benevolent sister, who was true to every trust, and always carried with her a sweet spirit, which was felt by those she met. These few lines written by, Eliza Buckwalter, Sec. of American Fork, seemed so appropriate for this dear sister that I will insert them here.
“The many good deeds of our sister,
We can never, never, portray;
But we know the welcome words ‘Well Done’
Will be said on the great Judgment Day.
During the year of 1871, I took up the study of Telegraphy. My teacher was Miss Ellen West, of Ogden City, Utah. This was a study I truly loved.
Sept. 16, 1871, I received a Patriarchal Blessing from Elder John Smith. He had been at our home giving blessings. I assisted him by writing for him.
Sept. 19, 1871, Patriarchal Blessing of Selena Layton, daughter of Christopher and Caroline Layton. Born, Washoe Valley, Carson City. August 15, 1857. Sister Selena, by virtue of the Holy Priesthood, I lay my hands upon thy head, and seal the blessings of the new and everlasting covenant upon thee, and I say unto thee, honor and obey thy parents, and thy days and years shall be many. Thou shalt also have health and strength of body and mind, and be made equal unto every task.
Thine intellect shall be bright and thou shalt discern good and evil, and shall not be deceived by evil designing persons, for the eye of the Lord is upon thee, and He hath given thine Angel, special charge concerning thee, who will guide thy foot steps and direct thy course through life, and protect thee from the evils of the world.
And I say unto thee, seek to honor the will of the Lord, for thou hast a work to perform, for which if thou are faithful, thou shalt be exalted hereafter and be crowned with the faithful Mothers in Israel.
And thy name shall be handed down in honorable remembrance with thy posterity from generation to generation. Any many of riper years shall seek for thy counsel. Thou shalt also be blessed in thine outgoings and incomings, and in thy basket and store.
Therefore I say unto thee be prudent and no good thing will be withheld from thee, for the Lord is pleased with thine integrity. He will hear and answer thy petitions.
Thou shalt have power over the adversary, and the destroyer shall pass thy dwelling, for health and peace shall reign therein.
Thy guardian Angel shall remove the stumbling blocks from thy pathway, and give thee counsel in time of need. Therefore by upon thy guard, for thou are of the lineage of Abraham, and an heir to the blessings promised to the Saints.
Thy table shall be spread with the bounties of the earth, and thou shalt administer to the wants of the widow and the fatherless, therefore let thy heart be comforted, for thy last days shall be thy best days.
This with thy former blessings, I seal upon thy head, and I seal thee up unto eternal life to come forth on the morning of the first resurrection, with many of thy kindred and friends.
Even so, Amen.
April 1871. I took charge of the railroad and Deseret Union Telegraph Office, having charge of this office for two years. I think I accomplished more in book learning while in this position than I did in all my months of schooling before.
This is where I attained the desire to spell correctly, and be prompt and on time with any and everything entrusted to my care.
I am truly thankful for this early training in life as it has been a great blessing to me. When ever young people fail to learn the lesson of promptness in youth, they usually make many failures in life.
My roll call was at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and it was very few times I ever missed answering that call in the two year.
“Blessed is the worker who had pleasure in her labors, for joy will crown her efforts.”
April 15, 1909. I have just returned from the depot where we went to see our son David off. He is just starting on a mission to South Africa. We had great pleasure in the way our son accepted this call and we feel to place him in the care of our Heavenly Father, while he is needed on that part of our Fathers land ever praying for his welfare, while there, and a safe return home when released.