Dangerfield Family History & Genealogy

History of Jabez Dangerfield

Written by Anjanette Stone Lofgren
A great, great, granddaughter
March 10, 2004


Jabez Dangerfield was born on Friday, November 12th, 1841, in London, England to Thomas Dangerfield (born Sept. 7, 1799) and Caroline (Unknown) (born Dec, 5th, 1797). His family lived in London, England, and were Baptists. His mother joined the Mormon Church about 1848, but later left it because of some misunderstanding with some of the Elders. His father never did join the church, but was always a religious man. Jabez’s father “…was a leather lace maker by trade, and was the first one to sell leather boot lace in England. Both (his) father and mother were very good people, very kind and set a good
example to all around” (Autobiography of Charles Denney Jr.).


Jabez was the youngest of 9 children; John Buckwell (adopted?) b. abt 1812 d. 1814, Thomas b. Nov. 16, 1822, Charles b. Jan 23, 1825, Henry b. July 17, 1827, Mary Ann b. Aug 11, 1829, Eliza b. Sept. 7, 1832, Amelia (Emelia) b. Jan 4 1835, Martha Marie b. Aug 29, 1837, and then Jabez. Only six of them lived to adulthood.

At the early age of 12 years, he was greatly impressed with the truths of the Gospel and would slip away in order to be able to attend the meetings. Jabez was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints about April 1st, 1854, in London, England. Later two sisters and two bothers joined the church and immigrated to the United States.

When Jabez was 13, he and his friends, Mr. and Mrs.David Leaker, left England for the United States to join the Saints in Utah on a ship called “The Caravan”. The ship builders, Hall, Snow & Co., built the ship at Bath, Maine, in 1855. The Caravan left the Liverpool Harbor on February 14th, 1856, under the command of Capt. William A. Sands. There were 457 Saints aboard, presided over by Elder Daniel Tyler, historian of the famous Mormon Battalion, and his councilors, Elders Edward Bunker, Leonard I. Smith, and William Walker.

The saints had several obstacles to overcome on their way to America. Storms and winds delayed the ship from getting under full sail until February 18th. The journey took about 6 weeks and was described as “prosperous, though stormy at times”. During the voyage, three children were born and one passenger died. One couple was married and the American flag was unfurled to celebrate. One sailor died during a storm. Those who expected to go forward started for Iowa City, while the others found temporary employment in New York and elsewhere.

When Jabez and the Leakers landed in New York, they were short on funds and had to stay there until they were able to save the money for their journey west. Jabez found a job working for a Wholesale Drug Company where he worked for four years. Once the Leakers were in the position to leave New York, Jabez quit his job much to the regret of his employers. His employers were thinking of promoting him to a partnership in the business, but he considered his religion more important to him, and he left with his friends. They left New York by train, and traveled to Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Jabez was 17 when he crossed the plains with the Horton D. Haight Freight Train, 3rd Company. They left Florence, Nebraska (now Omaha) on June 6, 1859. According to Alice Davis Crane, her husband, James, was “put captain over 10 wagons and there were 75 wagons in all.” Alice Davis Crane’s brother, William George Davis, who was 17 during this time period, was also in the Horton D. Haight Company. It was William George Davis’ great granddaughter, Carol Aileen Davis, who married Jabez’s grandson, Alma Dean Dangerfield, in 1945.

The Horton Haight Company was a cattle train that used the Saints as Teamsters. After three long months, the company arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 1, 1859.

He spent most of his time working for President Brigham Young, driving ox teams and other things, also freighting supplies into the Salt Lake Valley. He learned how to plaster walls and this became one of his trades. Later, he also helped supply drinking water for the saints by digging wells and worked on the irrigation ditches.

Jabez married his first wife, Mary Ann James, on December 23, 1866, in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. He was 25 years old and she was 22. When she was 11 years old, she and her family crossed the plains with the James G. Willie Handcart Company, which suffered many hardships. He father passed away before they came to the Salt Lake Valley in1856.

Jabez and Mary Ann had 8 children together; Annie Lavina Dangerfield b.09 Jul 1869, Jabez William Dangerfield b. 17 Apr 1872, Martha Mae Dangerfield b. 27 Mar 1875, David Charles Dangerfield b. 27 Mar 1875, Mary Etola Dangerfield b. 18 Sep 1877, Ida Pearl Dangerfield b. 02 May 1880, George Ernest Dangerfield b. 28 Jan 1883, and Adam Vernon Dangerfield b. 19 Oct 1885.

On August 2nd, 1883, Jabez took a second wife, Harriet Elizabeth Morris. They were married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. Harriet Elizabeth was 20 years old and Jabez was 42. Harriet Elizabeth’s family came to the Salt Lake Valley in 1862, where she was born the following year.

Jabez and Harriet Elizabeth had 4 children together; Robert Wallace Dangerfield b. 13 Sep 1884, Abraham Clarence Dangerfield b. 03 Sep 1887, Ethel Ivy Dangerfield b. 19 Mar 1890, and Alma Moroni Dangerfield b. 03 Sep 1897.

Jabez was not a public man, but whenever his services were requested he was always prompt to answer, doing much good among the sick, having a wonderful healing power for healing through administering. He was an honest tithe payer, often giving his last cent, but before he would reach home again someone wanting work done would stop him on the street.

Jabez lived in Salt Lake City for 26 years. He moved to Springville, Utah where he grew sugar beets, potatoes, and other vegetables. He and his family raised pigs and chickens and would also slaughter them.

He moved his wives and children to Provo and each wife lived in their own house with their children. Harriet Elizabeth lived at 986 West 3rd South, and Mary Ann lived at 244 West 3rd North. According to his death certificate, Jabez resided with Mary Ann when he passed away on January 3, 1927 at the age of 85.