The following is a brief narrative written by Elizabeth Maria Stones Chatterton for the Daughters of Pioneers, sometime before her death (13 April 1927).
My father, Joseph Stones, emigrated to America in 1851 on the ship named "Ellen:. he was married on board the ship, March 8 1851, to Elizabeth Walker by James W. Commings, the Captain of the Saints. My parents arrived in New Orleans in April 1851. They resided there two years then moved to Illinois, from there to Florence, Nebraska and then on to Utah in 1861. George B. Wright was Captain of the company while crossing the plains. We arrived in Salt Lake in 1863, and we came to Franklin [Idaho] in 1865. My mother died while we were in Salt Lake. Father married a Swedish lady while we were in Salt Lake named Edla Christine Wannerbeck, to help him take care of his children.
I was born June 24, 1854, at Alton Illinois. My parents, with four children, Including myself started across the plains when I was seven years of age. I walked nearly all the way.
One instance I remember very well. We had just camped for the night, and mother had baked bread for supper, when a band of about fifty Indians all dressed in war paint came to our camp. I was very hungry; so I ran and sat on the bread so the Indians could not get it. My father laughed at me and said that I would surely look out for something to eat.
When we arrive din Franklin in 1865, I spent most of my time knitting and spinning for the family. Joseph Chatterton and I were married April 29, 1872 in the Salt Lake City Endowment House. Born to us were 12 children, 4 girls and 8 boys, 9 of whom are still living. The three boys who died were infants or young children.
(A few memories of Emmeline Chatterton McKay, her grand-daughter)
I can just remember my grandmother out gathering eggs. She raised chickens so
she could have eggs to buy or trade for her groceries. She could make the best
pies, she dried fruit from their big orchard of prune and apple trees and made
them into pies. She could knit such beautiful lace, for pillow cases, baby dresses
and bedspreads and decorations. Her knitting needles could click about like
a clock ticks.