Biographical Sketch of Ann Stanger Hogge

Ann Stanger, daughter of James Stanger and Isabelle Thompson Stanger, was born on April 4, 1828, in Faceby, Yorkshire, England. The only available record of her life begins with her marriage to Charles Hogge on June 26, 1 852, at Faceby They were married by Parson Brown, and their witnesses were Thomas Stanger, Ann Hogge, and Edward Walton. Soon after their marriage, they became acquainted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through discussions with Mormon missionaries from Salt Lake City, Utah. Many of the meetings were held in her father's home. Here husband Charles, joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in May 1853, and she followed in September 1853, with Elder Moses Cluff performing the ordinance for both of them.      

The Gospel became such a forceful part of their lives that the next two years were spent in missionary work in Faceby, feeding and clothing the many traveling Elders, buying missionary tracts, and assisting new members who joined the Church. On February 14, 185S Ann and her husband and young son, James, prepared to leave Faceby and join the Latter-Day Saints on the American continent in Utah. It was extremely difficult for them to leave their home and bid their loved ones good-bye, never to see them again, and depart for a strange new land. It was only their firm belief in the Gospel that gave them such strength. They sailed from Liverpool, England, on February 27, 1 855. After a very rough voyage with very scant provisions they arrived in Philadelphia, having been on the water eight weeks. In company with many other Saints they traveled by rail to Pittsburgh, and then took a steamship to St. Louis and on to Atcheson, Kansas. Here they stayed in a Mormon encampment for three months until arrangements were made for the journey across the plains. Ann endured the hardships of camping out, moving from camp to camp in Kansas, and planting gardens for later groups to use--all without a word of complaint.      

On July 2, 1 855, with a large body of Saints, they commenced their journey across the plains Ten people were assigned to each wagon which was so loaded with provisions and equipment that everyone but the children had to walk. Just four days later, in the heat and dust of the plains, Ann gave birth to her second child, a son whom they named William George She was allowed to rest in camp only one night; then they moved on next day. For three days she remained in the wagon with her new baby.  On the fourth day she commenced walking with the others. Her shoes were worn out so she walked the rest of the way barefoot the end of each day found her tired feet aching and bleeding. She endured the pangs of hunger and thirst, along with everyone else, but managed to keep her baby alive and healthy. Salt Lake City was a welcome sight to those weary Pioneers as they sighted it on top of the hill on September 22, 1855—two and a half months after leaving Kansas. Ann and Charles went directly to Bountiful to live with an uncle. Food was still very scarce, and this valiant little mother often went without any in order that her two small sons could eat. Her husband was called away several times with the Militia to protect the Saints from Indians and Johnston's Army from the East, which was pursuing them. In her crude log house, with dirt floor and roof, she remained alone and did the work of two.      

On May 20, 1860 she and Charles took their four sons and went to the Endowment House in Salt Lake where President Brigham Young sealed them for time and eternity, as a family unit, They moved several times in the next thirteen years--Centerville, Payson (where they lived in a dugout), Weber, and back to Centerville where they were preparing to buy a farm when they were called by President Brigham Young to go south and help settle the "Muddy Mission." They now had six sons and three daughters, and it was most difficult for them to leave their belongings and start out the last of November 1868, on another Pioneer venture. They didn't once question the call but left willingly with the other Saints. Ann's youngest child, Elizabeth, was only nine months old and became very ill on the journey. Only their faith and prayers saved her. For three years they endured further hardships--sand drifts, intense heat, meager rations, which they divided with the Indians, no roads nor buildings. Ann washed on rocks and used white sand for soap. She gathered sego bulbs from the mountains and cooked them for vegetables.  They raised sugar cane for molasses, and corn, which they dried and pounded between rocks for meals. They worked against all odds to cultivate this country--had built homes and planted grape arbors, orchards, cotton and wheat. The First Presidency decided, however, it would never be a very prosperous country so they called the back to the center                                                   owed of Zion.      

Once again, willingly, Ann and Charles forsook their home and new beginnings to heed the call of the church and move back, this time settling permanently in West Weber, Utah. They were so poor she had to make clothes for the boys out of the wagon cover. Charles built a comfortable redbrick house, planted an orchard and nursery stock Ann learned how to dry the fruit on rocks, and she sold it to the 4KOgden merchants.  Eventually she helped support her large family this way when her husband accepted the principle of Polygamy and married Annie Todd in 1 879. Ann accepted this second marriage dutifully and in good faith, and accompanied them to the Endowment House for their marriage Charles continued to support both families until the Manifesto of 1890, which outlawed polygamy and forced him to give up one of his families. He chose to live with his second wife and help raise their young family, which decision Ann accepted with dignity and courage. Though she raised her family alone thenceforth, she remained always a true wife to her husband.      

She was a dearly beloved grandmother, and one of her granddaughters writes this of her--"it was a real treat to go visit Grandma Hogge. I slept in her high bed on a straw 'tick'. She would sing to me and tell me stories. Once when I had typhoid fever she took charge of the treatment, wrapped me in sheet, placed hot cobs of corn around my feverish body to 'break the fever'. When I was well enough to sit up, Grandma took me to her home to give Mother a rest. I nestled on her lap in shawls and blankets as she tenderly cared for me. Always I looked forward to a big slice of bread and butter, which she covered with her choice black raspberry jam. In later years she took turns staying with her married children, and we were always delighted when it was our turn to have Grandma. She always sat in a big rocking chair, would mend and help Mother sew, and rock the babies to sleep. She made such good pies, doughnuts, and bread, and took pride in making them look attractive. When our baby sister, Martha, was only six weeks old she became ill with pneumonia, and Grandma held her all the time to keep her warm. Soon the precious baby died, but Grandma held her to the last. We all wept our hearts out when our pretty little sister was taken from us, but Grandma stood by to give us comfort and strength. She stood for all that was good and spiritual and clean. How I loved her"      

She was ever religious, attended Church regularly, and taught her children the principles of the Gospel. For many years in West Weber she was a counselor in the Relief Society, and after her release she spent the next eighteen years as a Visiting Teacher.      

She was then released because of illness, and for the next ten years she suffered with a cancer on her head. Part of this time she stayed with her daughters in Idaho. At that time, too, her children all gave her a comfortable swing rocker for her birthday. She returned to West Weber just prior to her death on October 31, 1 899. She was buried in the little cemetery there. A faithful Latter-day Saint and a typical pioneer lady, she passed through all the hardships of that era. Her name will every be blessed in the hearts and memories of her countless descendants. Written by Katheryn Hart Conger, 1955.