Lately I have been very interested in my family history. I have been interested in my family history in general for a long time - definitely at least since I went to Ricks College when I was 19 years old and took a family history class there. I don't remember a lot about it and I don't remember stories or ancestors making an impression on me. I mostly remember entering dates and stuff like that. I recently logged into Family Tree app because I am creating a TIMF card, which has a picture of an ancestor on the front and my family pedigree chart on the back. The purpose is to share the card with non-members to explain about family history work and why it's important, which is a great missionary tool. I realized there is a "memories" tab under each person and some of them have life sketches or life histories and there are pictures and sometimes funeral programs, pictures of the grave sites, etc. As I have been reading these histories, I have often stopped and appreciated the strength of these women who came before me. They did hard things and many of them had faith that I admire. I want to write down the things that are inspiring me about these women so I can draw on their experiences when I need strength and encouragement and so I can share them with Eleanor at some point.
Sidonie Eliza Constance Bunot Roberts
- Her parents locked in her in room often out of necessity when she was a little girl because they were planning to leave France to go to the United States and her grandfather's family wanted to take her to keep her there with them. I can only imagine what this was like for her. She was an only child, very young and must have felt lonely and bored.
- In 1861, they traveled from France to London, England and then sailed to America, arriving in New York in June of 1861. Over the next month, they traveled by steam boat and railway until they reached Florence, Nebraska. They then traveled across the plains with other Saints (about 500, led by John R. Murdock) and arrived in SCL, Utah on September 12, 1861. Sidonie was born in 1856, which means she was only five years old when they arrived in Utah after that long journey! That is quite an extensive traveling experience for such a young child, especially under difficult conditions (she mentioned being sea sick on the boat and being scared of coyotes and "indians" while crossing the plains).
- Her parents spoke French in their home. She learned English from other children and would interpret for her mom wherever they went, as her mother never learned to speak English well. I can imagine it would be difficult to translate all the time as a young child.
- In February 1862, her father, Joseph, took a plural wife. Sidonie would've been six years old at this time. I am trying to imagine how she must have felt to have basically a stepmother living with her and her parents. I think the dynamics of that arrangement would be difficult for a young child to understand (and I wonder how her mother and father felt about it as well).
- Sidonie's mother got very sick and passed away on December 3, 1866. Sidonie would have been ten years old when her mother died and turned 11 one month after. It was just before Christmas and that must have been even more difficult for her, not only that first year but every year after.
- Sidonie's father left shortly after with a surveying crew for the railroad and was gone for about a year. Sidonie was left with her stepmother, Louise (Richard), who was kind to her and tried to be a good mother. She had two kids of her own at this point. Sidonie often watched the children while her stepmother worked. Sidonie said this was a very difficult time while her father was gone and that he was gone such a long time, they thought "he was killed by indians." They were all joyful and relieved when he returned.
- When he was only 6 years old, Sidonie's half-brother, Joseph, died. The history doesn't specify how but I can only imagine this would be so sad for Sidonie, who spent time with Joseph and cared for him while his mother was at work. He was also probably her playmate, as he was older than his other sibling.
- When Sidonie was 14, her father married another wife, who lived with them, Ann Hunt Price. She was only 18 and Sidonie's father was 42. I can imagine this may have been a difficult adjustment, especially after losing her mother four years prior. Ann was also only four years older than Sidonie at the time of their marriage, which may have felt uncomfortable for Sidonie.
- When Sidonie was 17 years old, she married Tom Roberts, who was 21 in 1873. They had twin boys but one of them, Joseph, only lived for 35 days. They had 11 more children after the twins. Losing a child must have been heart wrenching. This child had the same name as her half brother, who also passed away young.
- This part I will quote from the history: "Thomas had been invited to join his brother, Arthur, in a partnership in the mercantile business in Star Valley, Wyoming. He talked it over with Sidonie and they decided to accept the offer. Sidonie realized it meant giving up her nice home in the city for a crude log cabin in undeveloped territory, but she was no stranger to pioneering. She had five sons growing up and they would all soon need to be employed profitably. She was willing to make the sacrifice and was not afraid of this new adventure." I love that Sidonie looked at the big picture and was willing to sacrifice for her family, especially her children and what would be best for them.
