On March 21st 1828 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania the Doctor was called to the house of John Jacob Slaugh and his wife Magaret Hammond Slaugh. To them that night was born a son who they named George Jacob Slaugh. The story goes that immediately after George Jacob was born the doctor was called to the house next door to the home of Jesse Ivory and his wife Rachel Smith Ivory. On that same night was born Mary Magdeline Ivory.
Mary and George were not only next door neighbors, but became great friends in childhood. These two born within crying distance of each other on the same day would later marry each other.
George worked as an engineer on the railroad and helped support his family living in Philadelphia. While working for the railroad George had some issues with his hand, something that Doctor's called "White Swelling", and that they pronounced incurable. Mary told George to visit the Mormon's and that they could heal his arm. He met with some of the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who gave him a blessing. His arm was healed. This event led George and Mary to be baptized and join the LDS church. George and Mary had 5 children. two of them, Isaac and Sara, caught Typhoid fever and were pronounced dead by local Doctors. Again the couple called upon the assistance of the Elders of the church. Blessings were administered to the two children and both were miraculously brought back from the dead and regained their health.
In Philadelphia they had a good and comfortable life. Mary's family was wealthy and they had all they could ever want. But George felt the need to gather with the saints in Utah. He left to Utah to help settle things and prepare for his wife and children to join him. While there he became a teamster and crossed the plains three times to help immigrants make their way to Utah. He started to miss his wife and asked her to bring the kids and join him in Utah. She decided that things were nice in Pennsylvania and she did not want to leave her family. After a few years she decided they were better off separating.
Mary got remarried to Robert Croft. They had a son and named him Benjamin Croft. George also got remarried to Martha Nerdin. They also got pregnant, but during child birth Martha and the baby both died. George again contacted Mary and let her know his love for her and his desire for her and the children to join him in Utah. This time Mary was persuaded and decided that George had sacrificed so much to be with the saints in Utah that it was time for her to sacrifice also. She left without the consent of her husband Robert and took her six children to Utah. The trip was long and grueling. Benjamin was just a baby and Mary walked and carried him nearly every step of the way. At last her and George were reunited. They live in a small house with Georges brother and his family. The roof was dirt, and it was a hard pioneering life. Mary never did become comfortable with this life style and often longed to return to her family and their wealth in Pennsylvania. He mother would often send expensive luxuries to them, but Mary had to get rid of them because they reminded too much of where she longed to be. She even left one day with the intent of returning to Pennsylvania, but George caught up to her and begged her to stay. Eventually it all became to much for her and the rigors of pioneer life caused her to have a stroke at the age of 59 and she passed away.
One more cool story from George Jacobs life. He was at one point a body guard for Brigham Young and when Johnston's army came into Salt Lake he was put in charge of training a bunch of young boys and preparing them to fight against the army. W. W. Phelps asked him "George, are you scared?" George replied that he was to which W. W. Phelps responded "Never fear Brother Slaugh, there will not a gun be fired. I've seen too many armed hosts in the Heavens on our side."
This story reminds me of something that you might read in a Nicholas Sparks novel. A husband and wife born on the same day at the same time in the same place. They grow up together get married, have their struggles and separate momentarily. They get back together and the wife especially gives up everything just to be with the man she loves. This is Nicholas Sparks stuff for sure.
You might be thinking that George Jacob Slaugh is our so many greats grandfather. He's not! Robert Croft, Mary's second husband, is our third great grandfather. Their only child Benjamin, whom Mary carried across the plains to Utah, is the father of Great Grandfather Hyrum Slaugh. Benjamin was adopted by George and thus we receive the name Slaugh in our family history, but technically we are related to the Croft's and not the Slaughs. Not much is known about Robert Croft and his family.
Anyway interesting story. I like to think of it as a great love story, but I wish I could know more about poor Robert Croft who lost in this battle of love for the great Mary Ivory.
Mary Magdeline Slaugh
