The Hadwen Family of Lancashire

Orson's faith was tested the most when he buried 9 of their 13 babies, including a set of twin girls. The medical cause of the babies' death was an RH blood factor problem, and modern knowledge could have saved their lives. Orson lived to age 91 - the longest of the 14 children

ORSON EZRA HACKING

THIRTEENTH CHILD, SEVENTH SON

1882-1974

WRITTEN BY VINNIE AULT, JULY 15, 1957, LEAH MCKINNEY,

VIRGINIA COLEMAN & NANCY LINDQUIST

From the book “History of John Sampson & Jane Clark Hacking”

ORSON & IDA HACKING

My father, Orson Ezra Hacking, was born on September 16, 1882, on his father's forty-seventh birthday. I remember Grandfather, John Sampson Hacking, and Grandmother, Jane Clark Hacking telling me what a beautful little fellow he was and how they loved him. He was their thirteenth child, but was cherished him as much as their first. He always returned that love.

My father had fun growing up on a farm with so many brothers and sisters but one day he had an accident and broke his arm; Zarracomb set in and the doctor's wanted to "amputate". Grandma wouldn't let them and she spent hours rubbing consecrated oil on it and praying for him. She made him carry buckets of water to a newly planted tree to strengthen his arm---it did heal and is just fine!

When Father was old enough, he attended school at the "Little Old School House". He loved school and had many friends. He liked to climb trees, play marbles, ball and acrobatics in the barn. In the winter he skated, went sledding and when he was older, took his father's team sleighing.

My father, Orson, met and courted my mother, Ida Melvina Brown from Lehi. Many times he rode his bicycle or horse fifteen miles to see her. Sometimes he took his father's black surrey and sleek, black, high-spirited horses. He was a fine sight with his shoes shined, his suit pressed, his hair black and shiny and a twinkle in his brown eyes. When he knocked at the door, he was sometimes met by her father. If she was busy he would say, "Young Hacking, you be on your way, Ida has work to do".

One day he and his brother, George A rode their bicycles to Lehi and rented a surrey and horses from Hammer's Stable. They felt that they were two very fine looking chaps as they called on their dates, Ida and her friend, Francis Briggs, were all dressed up for the dance at Saratoga. It was a beautiful, moonlit evening and they were having a delightful time when one of them spotted a little, black and white kitten in the middle of the road. The girls wanted to catch it and in the process the wheels of the surrey got mixed up with the "cute little thing". The smell soon told them that it was not a kitten. What a spot they were in. They wanted to go to the dance but the smell was overwhelming. Father washed himself and the surrey in perfumed soap but it didn't work, They still went to the dance and had a good time but everyone commented on the "skunk smell". The girls kept the secret.

For eighteen years Father grew and developed into a loving, responsible person. He fell in love and married my mother, Ida Melvina Brown, February 22, 1901 in Lehi, Utah. They were young, but willing to do what it took to raise a family. Father had to sell his only beloved horse to pay for their furniture. Soon after their marriage, Wayne was born and my father was called to serve in the Southern States Mission. He gladly accepted but was hesitant about leaving his young wife and baby.

Father had a beautiful voice and it helped in many ways while preaching the gospel. He and his companion would often sing on the street corners to gather crowds and then give their messages. At this time, missionaries sometimes traveled without purse or script and often they were hungry and tired with no place to sleep. One hot, dusty, discouraging day, when walking on the railroad tracks to avoid snakes they came to a large Inn and felt like they should stop and ask for lodging. They told the proprietor that they were tired and hungry Mormon Missionaries that needed a place to stay. Out of curiosity, he let them stay. He told them they could sing for their supper. Father and his companion had such wonderful voices that they soon had the room filled with people. Many of the people there were very interested in their message, including the humbled inn keeper. He really liked the and invited them back to sing and preach.

On November 4, 1902, about a year later, my mother, Ida was called on the same mission. She courageously packed up Wayne and her belongings and went to the Southern States Mission. She served most of her time in the Mission Home as a Mission Mother. All the Elders loved Wayne and taught him to dance on table. They both served an honorable mission and were released November 10, 1903 and returned to Cedar Fort.

Father came home and farmed, raised animals, and sometimes sold vegetables, eggs, chickens and butter to the "Boom Towns" of West Dip, Toplift, Sunshine, Ophir, Manning, and Mercur. It took all the family's help the day and night before he left to get things ready and packed in the wagon. The kids helped Aunt Hattie pluck the chickens and had a great time. Father had to leave at three a.m.

to make the trip in one day. One night, on his way home he stopped at a Saloon to cash a large number of checks. It was the only place open and he had a bad feeling when he entered the room. He hurried and cashed the checks, then went straight to his wagon and started off. When he reached the top of the hill he felt likehe was in danger and was prompted to whip the horses into a run. At that time, a man jumped out of the brush at the side of the road and started chasing him. He had a good lead on the man and he couldn't catch him. Later that same night a man was robbed and beaten at that same place. At the same time this happened my mother felt anxious too. Thank Goodness Father listened to the small voice.

On another one of Father's trips to Mercur he had a near tragedy. I, Vinnie, had been kicked by Grandfather Hacking's horse "Old Brownie", when he was startled by a pitchfork that fell off and hit him. It was a bad gash and Gran Hacking couldn't sew it up so I had to go to Mercur to the doctors. One of these times, when I was having it checked we were going down a steep grade and Father was impressed to take me off the wagon and put me on the steps leading to the railroad station. He climbed back into the wagon and started down again with the brakes on tight. Something went wrong and before he could get control, the wagon rolled over with the wheels straight in the air. He was able to jump clear but he could not have helped me to safety. Again Father felt grateful to Heavenly Father for the prompting! He gathered up what he could and left.

My father, Orson, with his team of horses, laid the first telephone line to Toplift. It was hard work and he worked long hours with little pay and freezing conditions. Another job he had was hauling ore five miles on a steep and winding wagon trail from Mercur to the Manning Mill. For a while he worked as a road supervisor; he used a hand scraper pulled by horses instead of the huge motorized graders we have today. The work was hard but he was grateful he could provide for his family.

In 1913, our family moved to Roosevelt because my parents thought we would be financially better off there. They were expecting a new baby and I can only imagine how hard the trip must have been on Mother! We went in a wagon and took everything we had; I rode a horse and helped Wayne drive the cows. It took us seven days, but my parents made it fun.

Shortly after that trip my brother, Earl Byron was born on June 15, 1914. Through the doctor's neglect he died and we almost lost Mother too. My father had gone to get the doctor for the second time and my mother had to deliver the baby all by herself. When the doctor and my father arrived they found my mother in a chair holding the poor baby. The doctor had been drinking and said that Mother was fine, but she wasn't; part of the afterbirth was left and she became very ill. Her legs were swollen as large as her body and she had problems with blood clots. Father was the same caring person then as he is now. For six weeks, while she was in the hospital, he cared for the children in the day and Mother at night. He must have had a terrible time, because we had both the whooping cough and "the Itch" simultaneously. After her illness my parents started working in the church. My father traveled to many wards performing his songs; inspiring many.

In February of 1915, we moved back to Cedar Fort and stayed until 1933; father raised sheep, cattle, and fine Hamiltonian Horses. He broke horses and soon had them so gentle they would eat out of his hand and let children sit on them. In January of 1916, Father purchased some sheep in Benjamin, Utah and was driving them home across the frozen Utah Lake when half way across it started to crack. The noise was so loud the sheep bunched up and would not move. Father offered a prayer and was prompted to lasso the large black sheep with the bell who was the leader. He pulled the sheep as fast as he could and sent the dog behind to guide the flock; by the time the sheep were out of danger, the water was to their stomachs. Again the Lord had protected my Father from danger and he was very thankful!

My Father almost lost his life another time when he and Uncle Alfred Anderson went into the hills west of town to bring their cattle home to sell. Father was riding his favorite horse, Jack; they had all of the cows but one cut and they were having a hard time getting it. Father was on the run when his horse stepped into a hole. He was thrown from his saddle but his foot was caught in the stirrup. The frightened horse jumped to his feet and started running. Father was able to grab hold of the ring on the saddle and he "held on for dear life" while he went through oak brush and over rocks, and dirt for more than a mile. Alfred finally got Jack stopped but poor Father had many broken ribs and bruises; he was lucky to be alive!

Tragedy struck again on December 14, 1916, when our sick baby sister, Josephine was born in Lehi at the home of Mother's parents, the Browns. After twenty-three days she went to sleep and didn't wake up; our family was so sad!

My father was called to be Bishop of the Cedar Valley Ward in August 19, 1917. He was a great Bishop and spent many hours in the service of others. He brought his wagons, horses, hired help and boys to help harvest one widow's crops afte the death of her husband. My mother Ida supported him in his calling and fed wagon loads of people during conferences and helped the needy whenever she could.

My parents always paid a full tithing, even when they had very little. Once after Leah had just returned from the California Mission and Howard was on a mission to the Samoan Islands, he needed some extra money. We didn't have any extra money so father decided to sell his last cow. Grandpa went to the mountains for it but had a hard time cutting it from the neighbor's cows it was with; finally after two days of trying and much prayer he succeeded. My father sold the cow, paid his tithing, sent Howard his money and had five dollars left. We wondered if Heavenly Father would require us to pay tithing on money sent to missionaries and father said "Heavenly Father always over pays us when we keep His commandments. No man is entitled to the blessing of the Celestial Kingdom who refuses to pay an honest tithing. It is God's money; it is not mine. The blessings that we receive from the Lord for keeping his commandments are not always in money and material things but what the Lord feels is best for us." Then he quoted D&C 64:23 and Mal.3:10.

In 1932, during the Depression, my parents lost everything and were forced to move out of their home. They camped by the Jordan River in a tent, not telling their children and later moved to SLC where Father sang in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. After a little while, they moved to Tooele where he worked for the US Government in the Dept. of Agriculture; the Geyser Marian Gold Mining Co. at Mercur, Utah; the US Dept of Interior, supervising the Civilian Conservation s; the Tooele Ordinance Depot and the Tooele Court House.

My parents have been very happy in Tooele; they have many friends and continue service in the church. One Christmas, the Bishop gave them a card which read: "O. E. Hacking, a man of God like Nathanial of Old; a man without guile a Sister Hacking like Ruth; having Faith as Knowledge."

Their home in Tooele is beautiful and they have gorgeous flowers everywhere Our Father in Heaven has surely blessed them!

My parents have always loved life and fun! They always repaid us for for our hard work with something nice: like a trip up the canyon with a nice lunch and a freezer full of homemade ice cream, or a trip to the circus or the fair. When we had to work in the fields, Mother would bring us a basketful of goodies for lunch. Father liked to spend time with us; he would play marbles, preach a sermon, or teach us a new song. We loved to hear him sing because he had such a beautiful voice! All our family enjoyed singing and playing musical instruments. We attended concerts in Provo and Salt Lake City whenever we could.

Our friends were always welcome at our home. In the winter time, we had sleigh riding parties and it was always Father's team and Grandfather's sleigh that we used. If there wasn't a driver my parents would drive and take a nice treat for us. I used to ride horses all over the mountains with Father, helping him drive his cows or look for baby calves. Father had a talent for breaking wild horses; he could make them so tame we could ride on them when he was through. We didn't stay on them very long but he would just pick us up and put us back on top. That is probably why Wayne and Howard have no fear of riding wild horses. I never saw anything Father was afraid of and that is what everyone said about Grandfather too. Both men were so kind to everyone and everything; yet so brave and strong. I never saw either of them mistreat family, friends or animals.

My father, Orson, and my mother, Ida, had twelve children, but eight little babies were taken from them at birth. The rest of us, I (Vinnie), Wayne, Howard and Leah were lucky enough to live in their home filled with love where the Savior's teachings were taught. We had such a happy childhood and our parents and grandparents were a big part of it. There was so much fun and laughter in our home. It made our many trials much easier.

All these years, through all their joys and tears my parents have lived the way Father in Heaven would have them. Not long ago Mother said to me, "I want to tell you how good your father has been to me. In all our married life he has never spoken a cross word or done an unkind thing".

My heart aches so much to see Mother and Father grow older. Five years ago my mother had a stroke and has been seriously ill ever since; Father has been so kind through it all. My mother has been his sweetheart for fifty-seven years and he still loves her so much! It is her birthday today and we are all going to celebrate with a beautiful cake that Howard's wife, LuRae, made. Mother and Father have seventeen grandchildren, thirty-one great-grandchildren and all of them always remember their birthdays!

Yesterday Father was telling us how much he loved his parents and how kind they were to my grandmother's mother, Elizabeth Pearson Clark. He said that every time they had a good meal, he or one of his brothers or sisters would take part of it in a little bucket, to his grandmother's. One day his mother sent some ice cream and his grandmother ate a bit and said, "I will just put it here on the shelf and let it warm a bit". My father thought that was such a strange thing to do! Every morning when it was cold, his family would go to her house and start her fire. The one time they didn't, she got burnt and everyone was so sorry! After that Grandfather John insisted that she leave the old house and come and live with them.

I was born in the old house she lived in. They gave her the best room in their home and were so happy to have her there! Grandmother Elizabeth Clark was just as wonderful as her daughter; my grandmother Jane. Grandmother was like a queen to me, I thought she was so beautiful! How we all loved her so much and marveled at the wonderful family she raised! My grandmother was truly a noble woman! My grandfather was so sweet to his grandchildren. I was so broken-hearted when he died; I went behind the church and sobbed my heart out! We appreciate our grandparents and our father and mother so much! We love them more than anything in the world!

Orson Ezra Hacking lived to celebrate his 90th Birthday, his Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary and after ninety-two years, he graduated from this world to his Monsion on High on January 29, 1974.