JACOB MICA TRUMAN
Taken from: Daughters of the Utah. Pioneers, lessons for May 1955, pg. 496
Jacob Mica Truman, son of Martha Patty Spencer and John Frank Truman, was born in Niagara, NY, Aug. 30, 1825. In the early 1840′s he heard and accepted the Gospel along with other members or his family. When the call came for 500 Mormon men to form a battalion, Jacob was among the first to volunteer. He was assigned to company “C”.
Jacob loved to ride horses and when new horses were bought to replace those that had died along the way, Jacob helped to break them in. One day he tried to ride a very wild animal. The horse ran under a tree whose branches knocked Jacob to the ground and he was badly hurt. The doctor of the company said he would not live long…that they would have to go on and leave him there to die. Pour of his comrades begged the doctor to dress the wounds and let them stay behind with him for a little while. The request was granted. As soon as the company moved on, the four boys formed a circle and offered up a fervent prayer for the recovery of their comrade. After a short time Jacob was sufficiently recovered to be put on a horse and all rejoined the camp that evening. The Doctor, not being of their faith said, “You can kill those d Mormons.”
After Jacobs release from service he stayed in California and panned gold. He brought back a small sack of nuggets to Salt Lake. Soon after he met, fell in love with and married Elizabeth Boyce. They had 3 children when he married Catherine Maxwell. He built 2 homes and purchased a small farm for each of his families.
In 1860 Jacob was called to help settle small communities located in Southern Utah. Later he was called by Pres. Snow to help settle a small town, named Hamblin, where he served as presiding Elder. He passed away Nov. 31, 1881.
by, Lauretta Hunt Ross