Let me introduce you to Grandpa Ray Adams' parents.
Thomas Davenport Adams – son of
Charles and Sarah Ann Davenport. Born 15
Nov. 1870 in Parowan. Didn’t go to
school regularly due to helping his father on the family farm and on the sheep
range. While attending school in Provo at Brigham
Young Academy,
Pres. Woodruff called him to be a missionary and asked if he had a young lady
in mind to marry, and if so, to find out if she would marry him now. If she would consent to marry him, she would
also be called on the mission. According
to Luella Redd, his wife-to-be, he was a shy boy and loved to dance; he was a
steady and well-behaved man with no bad habits. His mission call, February
1893, was to the South Sea
Islands. They
decided to marry and had 1 week to make wedding plans and mission plans as
well. They all rose early on Monday,
February 20, 1893; were to be married in St. George and then depart for the Samoan Islands where Tom served for 3 years. After the first 2 years, his wife returned
home due to poor health. While building
their 2nd new brick home (currently Aunt Carol’s home in Parowan) they
moved in October 29, 1914, Thomas contracted a heavy cold that developed into
pneumonia. His illness was of typhoid
type that ran 2 courses. He lived for 40
days on nothing but liquids. His life
was spared but he was an invalid the remainder of his days on earth. He passed away on Sept. 2, 1938. For 17 summers their home was in the Parowan mountains at
Cedar Breaks, Little Ireland, where they homesteaded grazing sheep and making
cheese. Tom filled offices as mayor of
Parowan, sat on the school board, and served on the city council, and many
others. (Memories; Maria Luella Redd Adams, her autobiography)
Maria
Luella Redd Adams – born in the small village
of Harmony, Utah on 16th
of June 1875. One of her childhood
memories was the story of her mother’s silver thimble. She writes:
“One sunny afternoon I ‘borrowed’ it to take it with me to the orchard
to make doll clothes. After gathering up
my doll and scraps of calico and returning to the house, the silver thimble was
not to be found. Mother was most upset,
and I was heartbroken. We searched until
dark, and I went to bed with swollen, tear-stained eyes. How I prayed that night, kneeling beside my
bed, begging Heavenly Father to help me find the thimble. I finally slept and dreamed – and saw in my
dream exactly where the thimble lay. I
woke up and hurried to my father’s bed to tell him he must come with me to get
it. Father said, “But Louie, it is three
o’clock. Go back to bed, and if you know
where the thimble is we will find it in
the morning.” I simply could not do
that, so father got up and lighted a lantern.
We walked the length of the path into the orchard. I asked father to hold the light underneath a
small plank bridge over the irrigation ditch. There in the mud left from
yesterday’s watering was the thimble – exactly where I had seen it in my dream.
What a wonderful answer to prayer!
What an example for me to remember all my life!” ( Memories p.36-37).
She married Thomas Adams on Feb 20, 1893 in St. George Temple “after
which we departed for the Samoan Islands on a church mission ; our mission
destination: Nukoalofa, Tonga Tabu . We were taken by a small canoe to our island
home located in Muia, a small village.
My mission assignment was to teach the native children mornings and
evenings. As the first 2 years drew to a close, I found my health
declining. I had much trouble with
swelling feet. Finally I was released
with Sister Maggie Durham (whom we shared our home with as missionary couples)
to return home. Our husbands remained to complete their 3 year
assignment.”
Maria
Luella Redd Adams – born in the small village
of Harmony, Utah on 16th
of June 1875. One of her childhood
memories was the story of her mother’s silver thimble. She writes:
“One sunny afternoon I ‘borrowed’ it to take it with me to the orchard
to make doll clothes. After gathering up
my doll and scraps of calico and returning to the house, the silver thimble was
not to be found. Mother was most upset,
and I was heartbroken. We searched until
dark, and I went to bed with swollen, tear-stained eyes. How I prayed that night, kneeling beside my
bed, begging Heavenly Father to help me find the thimble. I finally slept and dreamed – and saw in my
dream exactly where the thimble lay. I
woke up and hurried to my father’s bed to tell him he must come with me to get
it. Father said, “But Louie, it is three
o’clock. Go back to bed, and if you know
where the thimble is we will find it in
the morning.” I simply could not do
that, so father got up and lighted a lantern.
We walked the length of the path into the orchard. I asked father to hold the light underneath a
small plank bridge over the irrigation ditch. There in the mud left from
yesterday’s watering was the thimble – exactly where I had seen it in my dream.
What a wonderful answer to prayer!
What an example for me to remember all my life!” ( Memories p.36-37). 
She married Thomas Adams on Feb 20, 1893 in St. George Temple “after
which we departed for the Samoan Islands on a church mission ; our mission
destination: Nukoalofa, Tonga Tabu . We were taken by a small canoe to our island
home located in Muia, a small village.
My mission assignment was to teach the native children mornings and
evenings. As the first 2 years drew to a close, I found my health
declining. I had much trouble with
swelling feet. Finally I was released
with Sister Maggie Durham (whom we shared our home with as missionary couples)
to return home. Our husbands remained to complete their 3 year
assignment.” 