Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...

ii8 ANNALS OF OUR ANCESTORS
In a former chapter I mentioned our grandmother's lost
son, William Utter, who was left with his grandparents in New
Jersey. His younger brother, our Uncle Robert, named his
only son for this brother, and our cousin William was alto-
gether worthy to be the successor of WiUiam the first. As I
think of this Utter branch, whose members were so near to us
in every sense of the word "relative," I can but wish that some
of their name would write the annals of that worthy family.
Uncle William's wife, Elvira, was also descended from an
interesting family. Samuel Rogers was a pioneer preacher of
note in our chuixh's history, a true soldier of the Cross, who
would camp in the wilderness using his saddle for a pillow.
He forded streams by urging his good horse to leap even into
foaming rivers, where he would emerge on the opposite side
in a dripping condition. Oh, the heroic courage of the ministers,
who stopped for no obstacle, and of the early church,
which brought its religion into the wildernesses of our new
lands! I am proud to have felt the influence of such a character
as Uncle Sammy Rogers. He has left an impression upon
at least four generations, and will be remembered when at the
last day he hears the "Well done, good and faithful servant,
enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
After Uncle WiUiam 's marriage he removed to JeflPerson
County, Indiana, where he had previously purchased a hundred
acres of land. Their first children were twin girls, and one
was named Sophronia for our mother. The other twin daughter
is our cousin Araminta, now Mrs. C. E. Packard. Eight
other children were born to them. I think William Utter
and his wife lived together for more than sixty years. It was
upon the occasion of their golden wedding that I last saw our
dear father. It is a long space to pass over with but a movement
of the pen — from the days of our childhood visits from
the Utter cousins to the golden wedding of William and Elvira
— but it was so notable a family reunion that I wish to link it
in here. Besides father. Brother WilHam and his family and
my son Will and I were there.
Cousin David Utter 's gifted wife wrote a poem for the
occasion which told of the far-away days when the aged pair