West Jordan Dec. 1 [1873]

Dear son Heber

it seems a hard task for me to inform you of the sudden death of your much beloved brother Enoch it seems verry hard for us to part with him no one could tell the feelings of his poor Mother I never saw your Father feel so bad before this is the eleventh day since your Father got home with his family all well on the sunday he had twelve sons in school we had the missionarys and had a very good meeting monday and tuesday Enoch was helping the boys haul manure wensday morning he went with Samuel R. and Alfred after coal to coalsville expected to get home on friday in the after noon on friday your Father started to the factory and met Samuel a little ways past callders but with no coal when Sam saw his Father he wept like a child he said Father just look under the blanket and there lay Enoch cold in death your father hasten home to bring the sad news while Sam came slowly on they had started before daylight that morning with thir loads with Enochs team in the midel they where all walking the lines tied up comeing down a little hill they whent on the off side to put on the brak when the two teams run down the hill Alfreds team runing past Enochs Alfred run to stop the team they stoped at the foot of the hill and looking back they saw Enoch laying in the road he could not speak he lived about ten minutes Alfred went back to the settelment with the 2 teams he started home the next day with Bro Wardel got home yesteday when he met Enochs funerel he took a horse and followed them your Father and Alfred started this morning after the 2 loads that was left forty miles your father told me to write to you to say [he had?] intend to send Israel to the sheep to let you come in now he as lost Enoch he would not send Isreal away and you will have to stay until he can hire a boy. I am sorry you was not here to see Enoch I feel anxous for you to go to school Isreal wants you to come home may the Lord open the way for you to come and comfort your heart and give you wisdom to do your duty. your Father is comeing out soon do write soon as you can

your affectionate Mother

Mary Bennion

Enoch had no bones broke

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Taylorsvill Dec. 8

Marcus

My Dear son I hope this will find you in good health I was disapointed in not being home when you was here. I did not expect to be gone but one week when I left home. but I was not very well the first few days so I could not work in the Temple the first week. but after all I had a very pleasent time with my friends and every one was very kind to me. and when I got to working in the House of the Lord I felt that they were some of the happiest days of my life. I hope that all my Dear children will prove themselves worthey to go in there and recive the blessings that are given to the saints of the most High. I did some work for my sister Emily and for fathers mother and sister I feel sorry sometimes that you are away so much form home and cannot attend meetings. but where there is much given there is much requried. if I should become careless about my dutys it would be worse for me than you. after haveing so many testimonys of the truth. there is nothing selfish about the true gospel for those that have the spirit of it have a great desire that all thir friends should partake of the same blessings. I know that it is my duty as a mother to entreat you to strive to keep the commandments of God. and if you have any bad habits the sooner you leave them off the better it will be for you. and try to use your influnce for good with all that you are associaated with I should like to write more if could I have not much time now the bakery takes up a great deal of my time what I have to say to you I say to all my children. I send you a few things to let know that I do not forget you Edwin will tell you about them. dont be aftraid to write to me the first chance you get. with love to Milton and your self

your loveing mother

Mary T Bennion