PATTY SPENCER TRUMAN --- later known as Martha
Patty Martha Spencer, was born 22 July, 1793, in Ostego, NY. She was the daughter of Mica Spencer, born 4 Dec., 1772, and Rhoda Mudge, Born 20 Oct., 1775, Her parents were married 10 May, 1792. She was married to John Frank Truman, born 28 Jan. 1789 presumably in Connecticut. He died in Dec. 1839 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and buried in a cemetary near by.
She joined the church in the late 30′s or 40′s as she was in good standing at Washington Corners, Michigan in Oct. 25, 1845 (We have a recommend or that date). Later they moved to Hartford, Knox County, Illinois. Her father Mica Spencer, died there 23 Oct., 1849. Patty with her widowed daughter, Anne Marie Barnum with two small child¬ren, and her son, Jacob Mica Truman, were living at Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1846, when the Mormon Battalion was organized. Jacob, her only son, was one of the volunteers. That left these 2 women and small children to travel alone without any man to help with this long dangerous trip. They yoked end unyoked their oxen and did their part of the camp work includ¬ing gathering fuel.
The women walked most of the way, one of the oxen died. It became necessary to work their cow in the place of the last ox. Later the cow took sick. After a long pull she laid down as if to die. They did everything they could but to no avail. It was getting near camping time so the train went a little ways and camped, and left them to do the best they could with their sick animal. Think of the worry of leav¬ing their load, everything they owned which would be necessary without their team. Patty was a woman of great faith, their prayers weren’t answered, something had to be done. She climbed in the wagon, produced the bottle of consecrated oil. She anointed the crown of the animals head and used all the faith she could muster with her prayers. Her prayer was answered, the animal arose and was able to do her share all the way to the valley.
The family moved to Cottonwood and resided their a number of years. Then she, with her daughter Anna Maria, her son Jacob, moved to Peoa, Summit County, where she kept house for her brother George who had two small sons. She reared these boys, Mica and Billy, and did everything to make them happy. She was a real mother to them. Later her son, Jacob, was called to settle in Southern Utah. Later she with her daughter spent a winter at St. George Temple doing the work for her family she loved so much who never had the privilege of doing their own work. When she came home she came “on running gears of a wagon”. In a few moments most of the town was there to greet her.
She was dearly loved by everyone that knew her and was called Grandma Truman. In 1878 she decided to go to St. George and live with her son Jacob. The season was late. With a big heavy wagon and rough roads the trip was more than she could stand, she died on the way at Fillmore with friends. She was taken and buried at Hebron, Ut Dec. 16, 1878.
As I remember, Grandma came to Utah in 1847 to meet her son from the Mormon Battalion. Rhoda Priscilla Huffaker Oct. 25, 1938
Source: Brent Bunker