Martha Duggan Gibbs Wright--history.

MARTHA DUGGAN GIBBS WRIGHT
By Martha S. Lee

Martha Duggan Gibbs was the eldest of seven children born to George Duggan and Ellen Phillips Gibbs. She was born 15 Dec. 1844 at St. Kary, liaverford-west, Pembroke, Wales. Her mother was the first in her family to be converted to the church. She had her window open and heard some missionaries preaching on the street. AS she listened to their message, she was convinced that it was true. She told the members of her family. they were all baptized and turned their eyes toward Utah. Martha was the first of her family to have that privilege. When she was eighteen years of age she crossed the ocean in the ship "Cynesure", in the company with her Uncle John Duggan Gibbs and his family. Upon landing in New York they proceeded immediately to Florence, Nebraska, where they assembled for the trip across the plains. They were assigned to the Thomas E. Ricks' Company, and arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah, 4 Oct. 1863.

Martha went directly to Paradise, Utah as she had promised to help a fried from the old country, Mrs. William Thomas, who was expecting a new baby. She stayed with her until the 23rd of Feb. 1865, when she married John Fish Wright. She lived with her husbands family a short time until they built a home for themselves. Her first child was born before her parents were able to emigrate. They were living up in Old Paradise, an her husband was called to be an interpreter and minuteman in protecting the early saints from the Indians. He was called out at night a great deal, and Martha was very nervous.

When she was called to be president of the Relief Society, she was living across the street from the Church. They had moved down to the site of Paradise with the other settlers for better protection from the Indians. Later she and her husband acquired a large farm north of town. It was here she raised her ten children, and through her frugality and industry she helped her husband become one of the influential farmers of the valley. In 1891 she moved to Hyrum, her husband having been called to be bishop there. She was a great help to him n this and other responsibilities he had there' serving the first two years herself as president of the Relief Society and helping with arduous tasks of dispensing of the perishable tithing merchandise.

She had a testimony of the gospel and was blessed with the gift of faith. During her long life she had many manifestations shown to her of it's power. She lived near to her Heavenly Father. At her last sickness she said she did not know why He did not take her home, as she had told Him that she was ready.

Martha Duggan Gibbs Wright was an ideal wife and companion. She was an excellent homemaker, trained in all the arts to assist her in achieving success. Her father was a tailor and her mother did the homework and let her daughters go in his shop and learn his trade. she could even make coats and suits for her family. She was always tidy and neat about her personal self. She was just and hospitable. Her home was always an attraction to her grandchildren. She always had some good thing to give them to eat. They sought her companionship and homely, nourishing food. How well we all remember her raisin buns with carroway seeds in them.

In her later life at the death of her daughter-in-law, she took four of her grandchildren into her home to raise with the aid of her unmarried daughter, Dora. She possessed unusual talents, especially the fits of discernment. Her large family looked to her for her judgement in all matters, in spite of her retiring nature and small stature. She had a keen sense of humor which effectively balanced her otherwise practical nature. She always wore a fresh white apron and some soft ruffle at her neck.

They bought a lovely home in Logan when her husband retired. She was near her oldest daughter, Mary Ellen and her youngest daughter, Evelyn. She died the 5th of May 1928, at the age of 84 in Logan, Cache County, Utah; surrounded by her family which she lived to see grow to maturity, and to grow in an appreciation on the gospel she had left her native land to embrace.