Anthony Willis family tree » Almira Moore (1836-1922)

Personal data Almira Moore 

• She was born on February 21, 1836 in Pomfret, Chautauqua, New York, United States.

  Attention: Age at marriage (October 10, 1851) below 16 years (15).

• Emigrated on July 5, 1849.
• Immigrated on October 10, 1849 vanuit Utah, United States.
• Fact: (AKA) Elmira Moore.
• Resident:
• Bet. 1839–1846: Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, United States.
• in the year 1920: Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States.Source 3
• (FamilySearch ID) : KWJD-VNV.
• (Not same person as her sister Mary Moore) : Records of Mary and Almira have been mixed together..
• She died on April 23, 1922 in Vernal, Uintah, Utah, she was 86 years old.
• She is buried in Vernal, Uintah County, Utah, United States of America.

Household of Almira Moore

She is married to James Duke.

They got married on October 10, 1851 at Provo, Utah, Utah, she was 15 years old.Sources 2, 4

Child(ren):

1. James Moore Duke  1853-1911
2. Almira Jane Mecham  1855-1894
3. Ethan Allen Duke  1857-1932 
4. Robert Stone Duke  1860-1930
5. Joseph M. Duke  1865-1899
6. Mahonri Moriancumer Duke  1868-1933
7. Jonathan Murdoch Duke  1869-1942
8. Lamoni Roy Duke  1873-1936
9. Bernice Gertrude Duke  1875-1917
10. Sarah Figenia Duke  1877-1930 
11. James Monroe Duke  1881-1907
12. Thomas T Duke  1883-1884

Notes about Almira Moore

James Duke, the eldest son of Jonathen Oldham Duke and Mary Stone Duke, was born December 21, 1829, at Albany, New York. His parents had recently arrived in America in June of 1829, sailing on the Eliza Grant from Liverpool, England, and landing at New York City, thiry-five days later.
Jonathan and Mary Duke were living in Albany when their new baby, James, was born. Jonathan had served an apprenticeship in masonry in England and found his services in demand in New York.
The Dukes continued to live at Albany for approximately two years after which they moved to Oswego which was then in Jefferson County. Here their oldest daughter and second child, Sarah Jane, was born. Though they had purchased land they found that they were happier at Albany, so they moved back where they continued to live until April 30, 1840.
Though the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had recently been restored to the earth and was officially organized April 6, 1830, at Fayette, New York, only one hundred and fifty miles from Albany, the Duke family knew little or nothing about it. It wasn't until the spring of 1839 while on a visit to her parents' home in Brooklyn that Mary learned of this new church which was destined to have so profound an efffect on their family and their future.
During Mary's visit to her parents, she was told about the restored Church which her father had declared to her was the same organization the Savior had established on the earth during His ministry in Palestine during the meridian of time. Mary's father taught her the doctrines of the Church and she believed them to be the same as those previously taught by the Lord in Palestine. Soon she, while still on her visit, applied for baptism.
Though Mary's husband, Jonathan, knew nothing of her conversion and baptism, he later wrote this in his journal, "The night she was baptized the Lord showed me the same in a dream."
A Few days after Mary's return home, her father, Robert Stone, and a companion, Elder Theodore Curtis, came to the Duke's home in Albany. After holding three successive evening meetings, Jonathan, James' father, was convinced that the message of the new Church was true and he was baptized on June 10, 1839.
Now that James' father and mother had become members of the Mormon Church they seemed to have an inner urge to join with the main body of the organization which was then located in the city of Nauvoo, Illinois. Nauvoo itself is positioned near the bank of the Mississippi River in a huge curve as it ambles in a southerly direction through the western edge of the state.
It was April 30, 1840, when the family left Albany and James was a ten year old boy at the time. They traveled by way of the Erie Canal to Buffalo and then sailed to Chicago on the steamboat New England.
The family stopped for two months at Chicago while Jonathan worked to get cash to pay for the remainder of the journey. After this delay, they had money to hire a team and wagon to transport them and their household goods west across the state of Illinois, and south about ninety miles to Nauvoo on the Mississippi River.
The family now consisted of the four children: James, Sarah, Jane, John, and Robert Stone. Traveling on the trip with them were also Jonathan's two sisters, Jane and Ann.
Soon after arriving at Nauvoo their own house was started on Lot number two, in block 52, where Joseph and Hyde Streets intersect. There were many things the ten year old James could do to help his father. He no doubt soon learned to mix the mortar for the brick or stone and he could perform a multitude of services which could duplicate the masonry and building skills his father had learned through years of patient practice, but he was a willing student and would one day become a skilled workman in his own right.
The next four years were busy and learning times for James. When he was eleven years old at the general conference on April 9, 1841, he was baptized into the Church by his father. At the same conference, he was also confirmed a member.
During this time period of extreme activity and growth at Nauvoo there was opportunity to see important people arriving to "join with the Saints" and there was a constant effort to build new buldings to house the growing population. The beautiful temple was about two thirds completed also, by this time.
One wonders if James had adventures, along the river, that resembled in any way the exploits of Huckelberry Finn or Tom Sawyer who were immortalized by the pen of Mark Twain and whose imagined setting was in similar conditions, and only some fifty miles on down the Mississippi at Hannibal, Missouri.
At any rate, Nauvoo was becoming the largest city in the state with a population of some twelve thousand people. But perhaps the city grew too fast for its own good because the Mormons were becoming the envy of the surrounding country and misunderstandings were growing. The slavery question didn't help either with the Prophet Joseph Smith advocating the granting of freedom to all slaves after purchase from their owners.
During all this activity, Joseph Smith had decided to announce his candidacy for president of the United States. This wasn't out of line when one considers that a backwoods lawyer, Abraham Lincon, a few years later was able to win the nomination with a relatively small following and eventually became president.
In early May of 1844, James' father, Jonathan, was called on a mission to Wilmington, Delaware, to promote the candidacy of Joseph Smith. He had, however, only been in Delaware two months when he was contacted by Heber C. Kimball, one of the members of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church, who told him that the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum had been killed by a mob at the jail in Carthage, Illinois, where they were supposed to be in protective custody. Jonathan and other missionaries in the United States were advised by the leaders of the Church to return to Nauvoo as soon as they could.
This was a very difficult time for the members of the Church. The leadership of the organization was in question by some people, though while still alive Joseph Smith had conferred the "keys of the Kingdom," or the authority to lead the Church, to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Brigham Young was the senior member and would naturally be expected to lead out.
In a meeting called to settle this question, the Lord gave a special manifestation which was witnessed by many of the church members who were present. As Brigham Young spoke to the congregation, his physical appearance seemed to be changed and it appeared that the Prophet Joseph was delivering the discourse. There have been many personal records made of the occurrence and mention was also made of the incident in Jonathan Oldham Duke's Journal.
As Jonathan sat with his family listening in astonishment to Brigham Young, his seven year old son, Robert Stone Duke, standing between his father's knees said, "Look, Papa, the Prophet is not dead." Jonathan in amazed awe replied, "Hush, son , and remember this."
With the leadership of the church clearly falling onto the shoulders of Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, they continued with great difficulty to build, complete, and dedicate the Nauvoo Temple.
On January 2, 1845, James' Aunt Ann, his father's olderst sister, died at the age of thirty-seven after what Jonathan described as a "long and tedious sickness," leaving her eldest son behind. Jonathan concluded by stating, "Peace to her memory."
James' father and mother were privileged to receive the blessing of the temple and on January 22, 1846, they received their endowments.
Later during the October, 1846, Conference, James was ordained a Seventy in the 24th Quorum; this showed that the church leaders had confidence in him.
Persecution from non-understanding people became more incessant and the lives of the Saints were in great danger. Before his death, Joseph Smith had prophesied that the main body of the Church would be forced to flee to the mountains where they would "one day become a mighty people."
In Nauvoo, intense preparations were being made to build wagons and gather the necessary provisions for the trek into the western country. At last, an advance company was ready to leave. It was feared that when they left the city and crossed the Mississippi River the lawless mob might make an effort to cut them off and to capture the Apostles and leaders that were present.
At this point Jonathan, being the great, unselfish man that he was, offered to serve in a special unit which was organized to see that the first wagon train was safely on its way. He was gone for three months on the mission, and from his own preparation, which delayed his departure date exceedingly.
In the months following Jonathan's guard service for the advance company he made new efforts to get ready for the journey west. He was getting material for a wagon and had the woodwork and iron bought for it, but suddenly he came down with a form of malaria fever which was accompanied by periodic chills. It was so severe that he was confined to bed where, in a great test of his faith and endurance, he remained for nearly a year.
It was during this time that 1500 ruthless men came into the city to force the remaining people to leave. Those left were mainly the very poor and the sick. James and his mother plead with the mob to allow Jonathan to stay because of his critical condition but they wouldn't listen and declared, "Damn him, it is good enough for a Mormon."
At this point, Jonathan records in his journal that the Lord had inspired Sister Jones, wife of William Jones, who with the aid of her son William, came with a team to the Mississippi River and were able to move the Duke family to Bonaparte, which is about twenty-five miles west of Nauvoo on the Des Moines River in Iowa. They stayed a few days before going to Bentonsport where they were able to live with Warren Snow a few more days. By this time, the person owning the house, a Mr. Reed, an enemy of the church, would not let them stay, so in his journal Jonathan wrote, "We pitched our tent on the bank of the river at the end of an old potter's kiln where we lived through the winter of 1847, and the following spring and summer." The river mentioned would be the Des Moines River which runs into the Mississippi from the northwesterly direction.
By this time Jonathan's health was starting to improve and he was able to slowly go back to work. With the very capable help of James, they were pooling their efforts to get the necessary traveling equipment and supplies on hand. The Duke family was now living at Pisga which was northwest of Nauvoo, while Jonathan and James were employed at whatever job was available in the area near Bentonsport and Bonaparte, which were before mentioned as being small towns on the Des Moines River. James spent a few months at a potter's shop at Bonaparte helping a man by the name of James Johnson. Jonathan had found employment building a large tavern at Bentonsport, but before he finished the job a heavy snow set in and it was necessary for him to spend the remainder of the winter there away from his family, much to his disappointment.
In the following spring of 1849, James came down from Pisga to Bentonsport with their team to get his father. They took back a load of provisions hoping to leave with their family for the Salt Lake Valley with Brother Whiting, but when they learned that their team wasn't strong enough to haul the necessary provisions for the long trip, they decided to get better prepared before leaving.
Once again, in a few weeks, Jonathan returned to Bentonsport where he found a job building a 60 foot chimney for a steam engine of some type. After the chimney project, Jonathan did plastering and other work, and again James brought the team down and they supposed they were ready to go to the Salt Lake Valley, but to their disappointment found that it was necessary to "make another raise."
Jonathan took James to Fort Des Moines in the spring of 1850, but found no work so they retuned, coming to Bentonsport in a conoe where they were again employed; this time James stayed to work with his father until the first of May when he returned to Pisga with their newly-earned provisions. This time it appeared that nothing could keep them from leaving on their trek to the "Valley."
When Jonathan arrived at Pisga on about the 10th of May, he found that the family, with James' help had left three days before, so he set out to catch them.
From Pisga, Jonathan traveled one day with the Simonds, then started on foot and amazingly walked nearly 60 miles in one day. At 12 o'clock that night he overtook his family. He reported in his journal that he was "tired out."
Traveling on to Council Bluffs with Brothers Malery Adams and Richard Smith, they spent a week there. Then they moved to the lower ferry with the Smiths nearby.
It would be well to mention at this point that James' sister, Sarah Jane, was later married to James Smith, son of Richard and Diana Smith.
It had been a trip of nearly 200 miles across Iowa to Council Bluffs and the Missouri River crossing, so the Dukes knew that they had actually started their jouney west after the before-mentioned delays.
Commenting on their departure from Council Bluffs, Jonathan wrote in his journal, "I joined Brother Steven Perry's ten in David Bennett's 50, in James Daws 100. Crossed the Missouri and started on the 13th of June, and traveled 12 miles and camped at the point of timber. (Then he added this somber note.) "This night Brother Warner was taken sick with cholera." The following day it was reported that their ten were asked by Brother Bennett to stay behind and care for Brother Warner, but he passed away that same day.
Their ten had soon caught up with the Bennett fifty, where they assisted in the interment of Sister Dille, the wife of David Buel Dille, who had fallen victim to the cholera that threatened the group. By the 15th of June, Jonathan reported that five men and women had succumbed to the sickness and were buried at what they called Cholera Creek.
On June 17, his journal recorded, "Camp moved on six miles and stayed to bury Brother Keyes on our noon halt, who had died on the road. Traveled eight miles further and camped at a point of timber. This night the Indians stole two horses which belonged to Henry Kinsley."
For the next few days there were no more casualties. One day they traveled 16 miles, another they traveled four miles, and the following day they had covered 18 miles.
On the 15th of July, buffalo were sighted for the time. Off and on, for the next several days, buffalo meat was plentiful in camp.
On July 24th, they made 16 miles and camped on the river, while on the 25th they had gone another 18 miles and camped opposite the famous landmark, Chimney Rock, where they had prayer meeting during the evening. Their last camping date on the Platte River was August 18.
James was mentioned again in his father's journal on August 22, when the two of them took a side trip to the "Salerates" Lake to get a supply of sodium bicarbonate, a type of baking soda. James was reported on a buffalo hunt on the same day but by the time he returned to camp he was very sick, "nigh unto death" as his father described his condition.
For the next several days he remained critical and his family traveled at the rear of the company. Finally on September 21, 1850, they entered the Salt Lake Valley and by that time James was again returning to good health.
At the time of their arrival, James was going on twenty-one years of age and would be living away from his parents' home soon. He and his father, Jonathan, built a small house in Salt Lake City, in the 12th Ward where the family spent the winter, but in the spring of 1851, Jonathan sold it and moved to Provo on March 7th.
Jonathan was to spend the rest of his illustrious life in Provo. He served as Bishop of the First Ward for a thirteen year period and was member of the City Council for some time. He was also appointed Justice of Peace of Provo City and later became major in the Territorial Militia during the Johnston Army threat. He was invited as a speaker in and around Provo on many occasions, and was considered to be a leading citizen in Provo and in the Utah Territory.
On October 10, 1851, James was married by his father to Almira Moore, daughter of Ethan Allen Moore and Sarah Webber, another stalwart pioneer couple. At this time James was nearly 21 years old and Almira was approaching sixteen. They had both grown up under adversity and appeared to be ready for this step in their lives.
James, now an experienced mason and builder with his services in demand, had the advantage over many young men of the time. Evidence of his ability is shown when he was listed with his father and a group of prominent Provo men who agreed in April, 1852, to help build a house for Elder George A. Smith, a member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, who was encourged to move into town to help promote growth and activity in the area.
On May 12, 1853, James and Almira had a happy event when their first child was born. It was a boy and they named him James Moore Duke. They were still living in the Provo area but were not destined to stay long with the many opportunities to help build up new communities in the territory.
The had hardly adjusted to their new role as parents when a call came through church authorities for the family to join the White Mountain Exploration Company to travel to Parowan where James helped construct a fort for the protection of the settlers.
It was in this setting that another important landmark in the Mecham and the Duke histories took place. On August 5, 1855, Almira Jane Duke was born. She was later to become the bride of Moses Moroni Mecham and the mother, grandmother, and honored ancestor of the multitude who are in the multitude who are in the Moses Moroni and Almira Jane Duke Mecham Family Organization. It is with pride that we recognize the outstanding character of this wonderful person.
From Parowan, James and his young wife, were soon called to travel approximately 40 miles north to help start the building of the new town of Beaver. They didn't stay there long, however, and we find that a third child was born in Salt Lake City on September 23, 1857. He was named Ethan Allen Duke in honor of his maternal grandfather.
About two and one-half years later on February 21, 1860, a third son, Robert Stone, was born back in Provo. In the early days of their marriage, the family was kept on the move helping with building assignments for the church.
All these experiences had seemed to be preparing James and his wife Almira for the great contribution they were to make to the people of Heber City and to Wallsburg where they would attain their full potential in this mortal life.
In 1859, James and his wife Almira and their young family moved to Heber where he built a house for them in a fort enclosure which was located near the present center of town. Two of his brothers, John and Robert Stone, and about forty-five others also built houses and lived there.
Heber Valley was still isolated from Provo and Utah Valley. When the area was first discovered there was no road up the Provo Canyon or any bridges over the Provo River. To get to the Valley at that time, it was necessary for wagons to travel by way of Immigration Canyon and Park City on on south. Communication with the outside world was difficult.
Eventually a sum of $18,000 was appropriated by the Territorial government to construct a wagon road from Utah Valley through the canyon to Heber Valley. A toll was later charged to travelers to help pay for the construction.
Still a young man of thirty-three, James was honored by being appointed one of the three selectmen to govern Wasatch County. He was sustained in the position by the Territorial government in the 1862 election. It was the responsibility of the selectmen to act much as do present day County Commissioners; they were empowered to appropriate money for public improvements, to supervise the building of roads and bridges, and other government projects.
Along with his civic responsibilities, James was soon busily engaged in dramatics, having been made vice-president of the association soon after their arrival in Heber Valley, and being one of the chief actors in many plays that were produced for the amusement-hungry, one thousand plus, people of the area. Later James was voted president of the group and functioned in this position for several years.
Following a successful winter of drama presentations, the leaders of the Association decided to construct a building of their own. Several weeks were spent by Elisha Averett, James Duke, and Jim Jordan leading out on the work, cutting stone and getting materials ready for the building.
However, by the time two walls were in place some of the more conservative people started wondering if it would be proper to have a new drama building while they were still meeting in a log church. This caused the leaders to put off the finishing of the building until a later time and they continued to have the plays in the church. The time and efforts of the group were then used to obtain more and better materials for the stage sets. Such items as wheat, oats, and lumber were traded for the sets and scenery.
It is interesting to learn that with James' other activities, he is given credit in historical accounts of the area as being a "fiddler" for the city dances.
Four children were born into the Duke family while they resided in Heber. They were: John Calvin, March 16, 1863; Joseph Moroni, September 16, 1865; Helaman, March, 1868, who lived until age 30 and was unmarried; and Mohonri Moriancumr born April 30, 1870.
Before the Prophet Joseph Smith was martryed, he told the brethren of the revelation he had received regarding plural marriage. This proved to be a blessing for many women who were left widowed during the terrible persecution of the Saints. Presiding brethren called worthy men in the church to take the responsibility of more wives, with the consent of their first companion. In October, 1868, James married a second wife, Mary Murdock, daughter of John Murray Murdock and Ann Steele.
At this point James had developed a farm several miles south of Heber in what was sometimes referred to as Round Valley, but was officially called Wallsburg. Much of his time was devoted to farming during the remainder of his life. He moved his wife, Almira, and her family to the Wallsburg farm where their other three chilren were born. They were: Lamoni Roy, born January 24, 1873; Bernice Gertrude, born January 19, 1875, and Sarah Phegenia born May 22, 1877.
His first wife, Almira Moore Duke, raised eleven healthy children and was a great example of pioneer womanhood. Mary Murdock did very well also, having a family of eight children though unfortunately three of them: John Murray, Archibald Kerr, and Thomas T. passed away at very young ages. Five of the older children, however, lived to maturity and were married. Their names, starting with the oldest, were: Jonathan Murdock, Mary Ann, Jenett, Lillie Isabella, and James Monroe. Mary Murdock Duke was described by those who knew her as a "very social and cheerful woman" and a faithful member of the church.
It will be of special interest to descendants of Moses Moroni Mecham and Almira Jane Duke that it was during this period of time that Moses Moroni or "Rone" as he was often called, found his way from Provo to the Wallsburg area and there he became acquainted with Almira Jane Duke, the oldest daughter of James Duke and Almira Moore Duke.
"Rone" was a handsome, enterprising young man and Almira was a popular, beautiful young lady with a sweet, soprano singing voice. They were both well-liked and admired by their acquaintances and it was "happy news in the valley" when they were married on December 26, 1875, and settled down in Wallsburg. They lived there until after the birth of four daughters and one son and then moved to Jensen, east of Vernal on Ashley Creek.

Note: This history was compiled by Robert Bernard Mecham in 1983 with special research aid given by Lena Roberts Bartholomew and Lois Gardner Anderson. It was included in the book "Mecham Family History" compiled and edited by Robert Bernard Mecham.

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