Pioneer Heritage -

Many thanks to my sister, Maria, for these stories: 

JULIETTE FACKRELL HOWARD

Juliette Fackrell Howard was born January 19,1849 at Millville, Jo Davis Co., Illinois to Joseph Crumb and Clarissa Dempsey Fackrell.  She was the 3rd child in a family of 14. She was about 4 years old at the time they made the journey by covered wagon to Utah.

At the age of 8 years, she accompanied her family in the move south when the Johnson's Army came to drive the people out. She suffered many hardships. Food was so scarce their meal often consisted of a small baked potato or one spoonful of bran mush. Juliette and her sister had one pair of shoes, taking turns in wearing them. Her father made their shoes whenever he was able to obtain a hide to make leather. She attended school in West Bountiful. When she was 12, Juliette washed the wool, dyed the yarn and wove cloth for her own and her sister's clothing. Her children remember her braiding hats in seven strands of straw. She was an expert at needle work and knitting.

She met James Howard and married him on April 19, 1869 in the old Endowment House. They were married by Joseph F. Smith. Her sister, Betsy Jane, was married to James' brother, William, the same day. Soon after her marriage her brothers and sisters took sick with black measles. Her mother nursed them back to health and being in delicate health, contracted the disease and died July 5, 1869, leaving a large family. In addition to her own family, Juliette later took two of her mother's children and raised them to manhood and womanhood.

She was blessed with an outstanding personality, cheerful disposition, and a keen sense of humor. Her eyes were blue, she had light brown hair and was small of stature like her mother. She obeyed cheerfully and promptly because she was just. She was

queen in her own home, her authority never being questioned.  Her home was always open to neighbors and friends she was especially kind and thoughtful to children. There was always delicious cookies and candy for them. Juliette was also famed for her Christmas Pudding and stuffed fowls.

In 1889, Juliette's husband was called on a mission to England and it

was necessary for her to take charge of the milk and farm business including a large family and the hired men.

One of her greatest trials was the loss of her son, Joseph, who died at the age of 22. He was a promising young man and was ordained a seventy just two weeks before his death. He also had books purchased to attend the University of Utah that fall. She had lost two other sons in their infancy and also a daughter 32 years old.  Juliette was a resident of South Bountiful Ward for 54 years. She was a counselor in the YLM1A from 1880 to 1888 and served as a Relief Society teacher until her death.  Her chances for education were limited. She gave her children the privileges she was deprived of. With the exception of one, all of her children studied music. Four of her daughters being organists at different periods in the South Bountiful Ward.

On Saturday, April 19, 1919, James and Juliette celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary at their home where many of their friends called and wished them happiness on a half a century of married life.

She died March 2, 1924 at South Bountiful, Utah in the home which was the birthplace of her children around which clung so many happy memories.

This history was written by Matilda Ann Howard Johnson,

daughter of Juliette Fackrell Howard, March, 1942.

After Juliette's death the following sketch of her life was found: My father, Joseph C. Fackrell, Mother, Clarissa Dempsey. Father of English descent. Mother of Irish descent. They were naturally of a religious nature. My Mother, a Methodist, was born in Illinois, Jo Davis County near Springfield, in 1849. When five years old, I came with my parents to Utah in 1852. Settled in Bountiful for a short time and then moved to Farmington, Utah. I lived there five years. Again we moved to Bountiful in which place I have lived ever since. I became the wife of James Howard in 1869 in the Endowment House .in Salt Lake City and £rom that union 12 children were born to gladden our days.

I have passed through the shifting scenes of the saints. Moving out with my parents in 1859, while Johnston's Army passed through, which proved a blessing to the people as they were so destitute for clothing and as there was no money or any way to obtain clothing when they moved away, they left a great deal which was a great benefit to the people and in 1884 my husband married Betsy Jane Howard. From that union a daughter was born. We are happy and have been blessed and prospered in many ways.

My education has been limited as the opportunity of gaining an education was almost impossible in those days.

The thing that has most influenced my life was to be exemplary in all things and to raise a posterity that would be a credit to us. Which has been verified. We have been active workers in the Church of Jesus Christ all our lives and hope to continue to be the remainder of my days.