Description

Zadock Knapp Judd

The following is one pioneer’s perspective on courting, love, marriage and family. It comes from the autobiography of Zadok Knapp Judd. I love this and it is placed in here for a little bit of humor and to lighten the air just a bit. In the story, it goes like this:

In the spring of 1851, a man by the name of John Dart came to Parowan with his family. A year later, one of his daughters Mary Minerva Dart began to show preference for me, Zadok said, above all other fellows and then he said, and as I had no housekeeper but an old widow, you banks oh banks, I thought a good deal of Miss Mary.

Threshing time came and I was one of the hands threshing for Mr. Dart. He spoke of his going to the city soon after that work was done. I wanted to ask if I might go with him. I planned several ways, Zadok said, in which I might ask him for his daughter. But each time, my little heart thumped so hard that I was totally unable to do so and he went away and I had not his consent to marry his daughter.

While he was away one day, while in Mary’s company, we were talking about another couple who were to be married soon and I said simply, “When shall we be married?”

Zadok said it not a very romantic proposal but it served the purpose. Mary said, “Well, just as soon as you were ready.”

With this settled, we went to the presiding elder to get him to perform the ceremony but he refused to do so without the consent of Mr. Dart. So Zadok continued, “We had to wait until his return from the city.”

We were married soon after November 14, 1852 in the log house I had built, with a house full of friends as witnesses. Here is the whole story, as I have learned it lately and then he concludes with this poem:

The summer was over, my flocks were all shorn,

My fields were cut down and I have harvested my corn.

To the cottage of sweet Mary, so neatly to view,

I straightway went to courting for I had nothing else to do.

T’was down in the valley together we sat,

We passed away the hours in curious chat,

I told her that I loved her and hoped she loved me too

And we’d love one another for I had nothing else to do.

So to the next village together we roamed,

In search of the clergy, we found him at home

I paid him his fee; he made one of us two,

We were married straightway for we’ve nothing else to do.

Years have made a change since we came to this place,

Our table is too small, our cottage wanted space,

We have healthy, rosy lads and lassies too,

And we loved the little rogues for they have caused us else to do.

I love that. Isn’t it interesting? How now and forever, children and family change us in so many wonderful ways. They waft us closer to God. Indeed, parenting makes us more like our Heavenly Father and our Heavenly Mother.

Thank the Lord for the opportunity.

Source:

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWNN-2K3