My father was named John Alger. (pron. All-gur) My mother, Sarah Pulsipher Alger. Both born of goodly parents. My father's father was Samuel Alger and his mother was Clarissa Alger. My mother's father was Zera Pulsipher and mother Mary (May) Brown. All of True-American Stock. My father and mother's family consisted of children, Sarah Ann Alger, born about 1845. She became the wife of William Cowley in Beaver City (Utah) about 1865.

I (Olivia Alger) was born in Winter Quarters, Nebraska, June 23, 1847. My parents were asked by President Brigham Young to remain over in Winter Quarters for one year. My father, John Alger being a fine mechanic, and wagons were needed to help the poor saints through the Valley of the Mountains. Here my father assisted the. saints in many ways in their extreme necessity. Also, my mother, who was not only brave but honest and true to everything pertaining not only to their own family but all in need. My sister Sarah Ann was three (3) years old and I one (1)

when we emigrated from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake City then only a fort - called later the Old Fort. We passed through all the hardships, pleasures and pains and gays - oh, those happy and hazardous times! We aizo (sic) read our own church history. My parents reared to manhood and womanhood ten children, four sons and six daughters.

John, born January 25, 1851; Samuel Nelson Alger, born in Payson, Utah during the time we were driven cruelly from Salt Lake City by the troops (1854 sent to Utah by the Government to destroy the Mormon's homes, all of which we find in church history₁ but did they do it? Reason and history say no.

My father, with all others there, were preferred to burn their homes built in their dire distress, but God is good. We were back home to Salt Lake in time for collecting winter fuel. God seen to that. Apply to church history for facts.

Don Alva Alger was born January 27, 1859; Willard Alger was born in Salt Lake City, 1861. This is all of the boys.

The girls, Sarah Ann, born in Nauvoo on April 13, 1845; Olivia born in Winter Quarters, Nebraska June 23, 1847; Martha Ellen born in Salt Lake City January 25, 1853; Ann Eliza born in Salt Lake City about 1855; May (Mary Elma (Edna) born Hebron, Iron County, Utah, December about 1865. This is the family of my father and mother. My father had another wife and family. Will be mentioned otherwheres as this is my special family history or a portion of it. I will proceed.

When St. George was first settled, though my Father was sent with his family to leave Salt Lake and help settle Utah's Dixie, which will all be found in church history. My father took a contract at Beaver of building a gristmill and also a sawmill in Beaver, Beaver County. This being where the Dixie people were compelled to get flour or depend on johnnycake, otherwise corn bread.

My father was displeased with my choice for a sweetheart. I was then only 17 years old. He interfered. I never could tell why. Still I listened to him and married Philip Oakden which proved a very unhappy, as well as, I think now as I always did, unwise marriage as he was not of energy enough to provide for a family. Although I was 17 and he 27. He was by nature a wanderer and I think I can say idler. He had never belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He joined about four years later but that is all he ever did do in that regard and it proved a very unhappy union I suppose for both as we separated and I went to St. George with my children with which he never interfered in the least. He could not support them. I had then buried my second daughter with scarlet fever -one year old. I had the three with me. I was soon divorced from him.

The Church sent men from different parts of Utah on what is known as the sugar strip, a big woody piece of country with much valuable timber. These men were sent to move a saw mill back there to get out timber for he St. George Temple. There being a boarding house there. Two women were asked to go there and cook for those young men. I there met Hyrum S. Bryson who had been sent from Bountiful. He became my husband after the temple was completed. We were married in the St. George Temple January 27, 1877. I think the first temple ordinance was performed there on or about January 15, 1877.

My children after marrying Hyrum Bryson were: Hyrum S. Bryson, Jr., Samuel Bryson, John Alger Bryson, Olivia, David Lee (LeRoy), Ross Charles (died at birth or soon after), Earl Donald. One daughter, Olivia, born in St. David, Arizona.

This is my individual family thus far.

Following is a poem written by Olivia Alger Bryson.

Angel of Death

for Miss Agnes Oviatt

Lo! Now has the Angel of Death

robbed our village and our home

Deep is our pain and sorrow neath

such trials wherever we may roam.

The gates were opened for the guests

and listening we fancy we hear the voice,

"Whatsoever I may do is best,

so do not lament, you should ever rejoice."

Angels visited your neighbors home,

dear friends, as well as having visited thine,

And a beautiful heavenly wreath

now surely crowns the dead for a life divine.