Caroline LeSueur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Caroline LeSueur
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| Personal details | |
| Born | June 11, 1814 Velle Babet, Jersey |
| Died | October 1, 1898 St. Johns, Arizona |
| Spouse | John LeSueur |
Caroline LeSueur (born June 11, 1814 – died October 1, 1898) was a brave Mormon pioneer. She helped start the town of St. Johns, Arizona. Her life was a journey of faith, hard work, and new beginnings.
Contents
Meet Caroline LeSueur: A Pioneer's Story
Her Early Life in Jersey
Caroline LeSueur was born Caroline Le Gresley on June 11, 1814. Her home was in Velle Babet, Jersey, one of the Channel Islands. In 1836, she married John Le Sueur. They got married at St. Ouen's Parish Church.
At first, they lived in the parish of St Peter. They soon had two children. Sadly, their first child died when they were very young. The family then moved to Saint Helier. This was the main seaport city of Jersey. John worked as a teamster, driving wagons. Later, he worked in a candle factory. Caroline ran a small grocery store from her home. She sold fresh vegetables from her garden. In St. Helier, they had four more children. Three of these children grew up to be adults.
Discovering Mormonism
One day, Caroline's husband, John, became interested in the message of some Mormon missionaries. Caroline did not want him to learn more. She even told him to stop. But John kept investigating the new religion.
Soon, Caroline and John often debated about their beliefs. Something about the Mormons made Caroline curious. She decided to learn about them herself. After her own study, she accepted Mormonism. Caroline and John were both baptized in 1849.
The Big Move to America
After joining the Mormons, the LeSueurs faced challenges. Their friends, neighbors, and even store customers started to avoid them. Caroline and John wanted to move to Utah Territory. This was where many Mormons were gathering. It took them six years to save enough money for the long trip.
Finally, in 1855, they crossed the Atlantic Ocean. They sailed on a ship called the Chimborazo. When they arrived in America, their family name changed. Le Sueur became LeSueur.
Building a New Life in Utah
After reaching Utah, the family settled in Bountiful. They lived there for ten years. For a short time, they moved to American Fork. This was during a conflict called the Utah War.
By 1862, the family was doing well. They had no debt. They owned a home on 30 acres (120,000 m2) of land. They also had a herd of farm animals. But that same year, John LeSueur passed away. Caroline was left with four children still at home. They were between 6 and 14 years old. She also had two married daughters.
Caroline bravely took over managing the farm. She leased out the land. Three years later, she moved her family to Montpelier, Idaho. This town was just starting to be settled. They moved into a small, two-room log cabin. Thirteen years later, when they left Montpelier, they lived in one of the nicest homes in the town center.
Founding St. Johns, Arizona
In 1879, Caroline LeSueur became one of the first settlers of Mesa. This was in Arizona Territory. Later, she moved her family again. They went to a small Mexican village in northeastern Arizona. This village was named St. Johns. Mormons had bought most of the land around the village. They were looking for new settlers. Caroline worked hard for the rest of her life. She helped build up the town of St. Johns. She died there on October 1, 1898.
