Amanda and Samuel Chambers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Samuel Chambers and Amanda Leggroan |
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Salt Lake City, Utah, US |
Amanda Leggroan and Samuel Chambers were a brave couple who were once enslaved. They became important early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah. After gaining their freedom, they moved to Utah. There, they built a very successful farm and became well-known members of their community.
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Amanda Leggroan's Early Life
Amanda Leggroan was born on January 1, 1840. Her family lived in Noxubee County, Mississippi. Her parents were Green and Hattie Leggroan. Amanda had two brothers, Green Jr. and Edward. Her family was enslaved, meaning they were forced to work without pay. They belonged to a man named David Leggroan in Mississippi. On May 4, 1858, Amanda married Samuel Chambers. They both became free after the American Civil War ended.
Samuel Chambers' Journey
Samuel Chambers was born on May 21, 1831. He was born in Pickens County, Alabama. His mother, Hester Gillespie, was enslaved. Samuel first met missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while he was enslaved in Mississippi. Many people weren't interested in the missionaries' message. But Samuel, who was just 13 years old, showed a lot of interest.
He was secretly baptized and confirmed a member of the Church. This happened thanks to Thomas Preston, a new Church member. Samuel later shared that after joining the Church, he "greatly longed" to be near other members. However, because he was enslaved, he couldn't see how that would ever happen.
In 1850, Samuel married Priscilla Beasley. They had one child named Peter. Sadly, Priscilla passed away a few years later. In 1858, Samuel married Amanda Leggroan. After the Civil War, Samuel worked as a sharecropper. This meant he farmed land owned by someone else and shared the crops. He also worked as a shoemaker. For nearly 25 years after his baptism, Samuel had almost no contact with the Church.
New Life in Utah
In 1870, Samuel and Amanda made a big move to Utah. Amanda's brother Edward and his wife came with them. Samuel's teenage son, Peter, also joined them. They had saved money for four years to pay for the trip. They traveled a long way in an ox-drawn wagon. They finally arrived in Salt Lake City on April 27, 1870. At that time, only 118 African Americans lived in Utah.
When they arrived, Black members of the Church were not allowed to become priesthood leaders. Despite this, the Chambers quickly became active in their local Church group, called the Eighth Ward. Samuel became an assistant deacon. Amanda became a "deaconess" in the Relief Society. They also helped take care of the Church buildings.
The Chambers became very successful farmers. They grew fruits and berries. In 1875, Amanda was baptized into the Church. This was five years after they moved to Utah. Both Samuel and Amanda received their patriarchal blessings on September 5, 1874. A patriarchal blessing is a special blessing given by a Church leader. The Chambers were known for being very active in the Church, even with the racial challenges they faced.
In 1875, Samuel and Amanda bought land in Millcreek, Utah. They started a very successful farm there. They were seen as important farmers and were among the first farming families in Utah. Their farm produced many things. These included chicken, pork, eggs, peas, wheat, corn, cabbage, molasses, and butter. Samuel could not read or write his whole life. But Amanda taught herself to read and write using a special book called a Guffey speller.
Amanda and Samuel did not have any children together. Amanda passed away on March 10, 1929, at age 85. Samuel died several months later, on November 7, 1929. Many Church members and friends attended their funerals in Utah. They are both buried in Elysian Burial Gardens in Millcreek.
Years later, on April 20, 1984, Samuel and Amanda were sealed together in the Jordan River Utah Temple. This is a special Church ceremony. They were also sealed to their parents.
Honoring Their Legacy
In July 2020, a street in Millcreek, Utah, was named "Chambers Avenue." This was done to honor Amanda and Samuel. Representatives from groups like the NAACP spoke at the naming ceremony. Descendants of Amanda and Samuel's relatives also shared their stories.
