A Brief Sketch of the Life of
Lucy Philena Canfield
Emmett Day
Adapted by Allyson Hunt Wood
from published histories by her children Emma and Elsie
Birth: 21 Jan 1853
Provo, Utah, Utah Territory
Daughter of: David Canfield and
Elizabeth Story Depuy
Married: 13 Oct 1873
Endowment House,
Salt Lake City, Utah
Wife of: Thomas Carlos Emmett
Married: 5 Nov 1888
Hamblin, Washington, Utah
Wife of: John Day, Sr.
Death: 4 May 1901
Hamblin, Washington, Utah
Buried:
Lucy Philena Canfield, was born 21 January, 1853, in Provo, Utah County, in the proposed state
of Deseret. Her parents David Canfield and his wife Elizabeth Story Depuy had moved to Utah
with the Saints in the summer of 1850. The Canfield family was called by President Brigham
Young to help settle Provo.
Lucy Philena was the fifth child born to this little family. The family began in Bryan, Williams,
Ohio where her parents were married 1 Oct 1843. In nearby Defiance her oldest brother, David
Canfield Jr., was born 27 Jun 1844, (the same day the Prophet Joseph Smith was killed in
Illinois.) By 1845, the Canfield family can be found in the Chicago, Cook County, Illinois City
A Brief Sketch of the Life of Lucy Philena Canfield Emmett Day
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Directory living with John
Depuy on Michigan Street.
David, a carpenter by trade,
had moved his family to
Chicago to find work. During
the years of 1846-47, the
family lived in their own
place on Kinzie Street.
David had joined the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints years before his
marriage to Elizabeth. The
Depuy family had a strong
tradition of belonging to the
Dutch Reformed Church and
this may have been a concern
for their family and Elizabeth
but just a little over a year
after they were married, on
27 January 1845, Elizabeth
also joined the "Mormon"
religion.
Lucy’s father David Canfield worked on the
original Nauvoo Temple.
Source: Nauvoo Temple J. R. Smith Engraving,
Graham's Magazine, 1849,
http://www.lds.org/museum/exhibits/nauvoo/home/
Although many religions require a great deal from their members, the LDS Church required
much from their early members. Elizabeth and David's membership in this church and their
desire to join with the other Saints lead them to pack up their little family and move from
Chicago to Nauvoo, Illinois. David, as a skilled carpenter, was put right to work finishing the
Nauvoo Temple.
The time-frame that the Canfield family lived in Nauvoo is unclear. When trouble became so
bad in Nauvoo for the Saints, President Brigham Young told David it would be best for the
Canfield family to return to Chicago where they had family and earn enough money to purchase a
wagon and the needed supplies. In 1850, in an unidentified wagon company the Canfield family
moved to the Utah Territory.
In addition to David Jr., more children had been added to the family in the Illinois years,
including: Ellen Elizabeth born 1 Apr 1846 in Chicago; Moroni Canfield born 5 Feb 1848,
Chicago.
A Brief Sketch of the Life of Lucy Philena Canfield Emmett Day
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A painting by Samuel Jepperson depicts Fort Utah under
construction in 1850 at its second location at the present Sowiette
Park.
Source: BYU, Lee Library, L. Tom Perry Special Collections: MSS3341
http://www.lib.byu.edu/sc_copyright.html
In 1850, soon after arriving in Utah, the Canfield family was called to settle Provo, where they
remained for 11 years. James, the fourth child in the family, was born 9 Oct 1850 in Provo; Lucy
Philena Canfield was born 21 Jan 1853; Parley Pratt was born 24 Jul 1855, Lyman born 19 Dec
1857 followed by Harriet Elma on 5 Apr 1859; Clara 12 Nov 1861. While living in Provo, the
Canfield’s lost two of their small children: David Jr. died 14 Jun 1857, Ellen Elizabeth died 27
Jan 1858 at the tender age of 11.
A Brief Sketch of the Life of Lucy Philena Canfield Emmett Day
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Shortly after the birth of
Clara the Canfield’s were
called to the "Dixie
Mission". They lived in St.
George for two years.
Then they moved to a ranch
on the creek, known as the
old Foster Ranch. As I
remember them telling me,
this ranch was east and south
of Central Utah, on the banks
of the creek, surrounded by
black ledges. While living
here for eight years, the
family were members of the
Pine Valley Ward. It was
while living in the Pine
Valley Ward that Harriet
Elma passed away on 12 Dec
1859 and their final child,
Alice Lilian, was born on 28
Oct 1864.
They moved a short distance
away to a beautiful place
called "the Meadows", later
known as Hamblin.
It was while living here that
Lucy Philena met and
married Thomas Carlos
Emmett on Oct 13, 1873.
They traveled to the old
Endowment House in Salt
Lake City, Utah where they
Thomas Carlos Emmett and his bride
received their endowments
Lucy Philena Canfield
and were sealed. (Photo via
Beverly Knell Jones includes
pencil markings on back
identifing them as Thomas
Carlos Emmett and Lucy Philena Canfield)
A Brief Sketch of the Life of Lucy Philena Canfield Emmett Day
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Thomas Carlos was the son of Moses Catherine Emmett. He was born 4 May 1855 in North
Ogden, Weber, Utah. In the 1870 U.S. Federal Census for Utah, Thomas was living with his
parents and siblings in the Meadow area, including: Emily, Ellen, James, Caroline, Catherine and
Moses.
Thomas Carlos and
Lucy Philena made
their home at the
Meadows for several
years. There they
had two girls; Olive
Philena born 10
October 1874; and
Alice Lillian, born
14 August 1876.
Alice Lilian was not
allowed to stay long
in this world and
passed back to her
home in Heaven on
2 Jun3 1878. They
buried her in the old
Meadows cemetery.
Also David Carlos
was born there on
“In Memory of / Alice Lilian daughter /
Nov 20 1878. While
Carl was yet a baby,
of Thomas C and / Lucy P Emett aged /
they took their little
1 year, 9 months and 19 / days born August 14 /
family and all their
1876 died June 2 1878
belongings and
Photo by Daryl Moss findagrave.com
moved to Kanab
around the year 1879
to live with Thomas’
brother James. Lucy kept house for the two brothers while Thomas and James worked as
stockmen. (Page 29, Kanab, Kane, Utah 1880 US Federal Census)
The next few years were unhappy years for Lucy as her husband was away most of the time. He
was engaged in cattle and horse dealings. He also played the violin for dances and was in great
demand all around that area. In 1882-3, Thomas Carlos went away on one of his trips, never to
return. It was later reported that he had been killed. Other reports say that he died in Phoenix,
Maricopa, Arizona from smallpox.
A Brief Sketch of the Life of Lucy Philena Canfield Emmett Day
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Lucy was pregnant
when he left her and
in the year of 1883,
she needed care and
someone to look after
her. Her brother's
Moroni and Lyman
Canfield went to
Kanab and moved her
home to the
Meadows, where her
father and mother and
other members of her
family lived. They
provided a home and
cared for her and her
children. It was on
March 6, 1883 that
the baby, Elsie was
born.
Her family was very
good to her and she
was always very
grateful for the many,
many goodnesses
they had shown her
and her children.
Lucy Emmett and four of her five children:
Lucy Philena, Olive Philena, David Carlos [Carl],
Don Thomas and little Elsie.
A Brief Sketch of the Life of Lucy Philena Canfield Emmett Day
Lucy continued
loving and caring for
her children with the
help of her loving
extended family.
Within the next few
years a young man
named John Day
came to the
Meadows. He had
come from Salt Lake
City, down into this
southern part of the
state, seeking
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employment. He had worked for men that
owned large herds of cattle, and he also
sheared sheep. He was classed as an "expert"
in shearing sheep.
Lucy quickly became the "apple of his eye"
and they were married 5 November 1888.
John bought a little house in the Meadows
where his instant family included a beautiful
wife and four little ones under the age of 14.
Later he built on to his little home, making it
quite a comfortable home for Lucy Philena
and the children.
On 1 August 1889, Emma Day was born in
this humble home at the Meadows.
John Day, Lucy’s second
husband, was very good to Lucy
and to her children. He
continued raising their three
children after her death.
Several times when John took long shearing
jobs, Lucy would go with him and cook for
the shearers. Emma remembers them telling
her of going out to Burnt Flat one spring, this
was near Lemans Cave, they told of going in
this beautiful cave many times.
On 29 August 1892, Lucy gave birth to twins
John and Henry. Her health was never quite
so good after their birth, but the Lord did
bless her with health and strength sufficient
to care for her tiny babies. They were frail
and it took months of constant care. Ollie and
the older children helped a great deal. (By this time Ollie was married; Carl went away to work
and was gone a great part of the time; Don and Elsie lived with their mother most of the time but
sometimes went to stay with their grandmother, and away to school. Elsie stayed with Aunt Knell
in Cedar City and went to school)
It was about 1896 when the family moved from the Meadows to the Old Castle ranch at the
mouth of Pinto Canyon. The exact place where now the New Castle Dam is built. Lucy's health
did not improve as they hoped it would. She suffered several sick spells while living there. At
one time she was so ill they became very worried and frightened so Carl rode a horse to Cedar
City, Iron, Utah and back in a few hours to bring her medicine. Transportation then was only by
horse. This faithful old horse could not walk for days after making this trip.
A Brief Sketch of the Life of Lucy Philena Canfield Emmett Day
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The Day children: Emma, Henry and John Jr or Jack as he was called
About the spring of 1898 they moved to Enterprise, Utah. John had moved two rooms of the
house they had at the Meadows, on a lot in Enterprise. Lucy was enthused with the prospects of
this little town. There were such a few families here then, and so much to be done. Everyone was
working hard to get organized. Land had to be cleared of the tall sage brush, homes built, ditches
and fences built. Everyone worked untiring and gave of their means unselfishly. Lucy gave the
first quilt top to be sold by the Relief Society (then just organized). The proceeds to go into the
building fund for our little brick church house and amusement hall.
The next two or three years were happy and eventful years for them. John was appointed
Enterprise's first Post Master. At the same time he was setting himself up in the mercantile
business. Lucy was by his side in all his under takings.
A Brief Sketch of the Life of Lucy Philena Canfield Emmett Day
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It was in April 1901 when Lucy took seriously ill.
John lost no time in taking her to Cedar City for
medical aid, but all that was done for her was to no
avail, and on 1 May, 1901 she passed away. Her
body was brought back to the Meadows to her
mothers old home. Services were held there and she
was buried by her infant daughter Alice Lillian, in
the cemetery on the hill.
Photo of Lucy Philena hangs in the
Daughters of the Utah Pioneer
building in Enterprise, Utah.
Remembrance for Mrs. John Day,
Lucy Philena Canfield Day,
beloved wife and mother.
A Brief Sketch of the Life of Lucy Philena Canfield Emmett Day
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Headstone: Lucy
Philena Canfield
/ Wife of / John Day
Born Jan 21 1853
[Provo, Utah, Utah]
Died May 1 1901
[Cedar City, Iron,
Utah]
Grave is located in
the Hamblin
Cemetery, Hamblin,
near Pinto and
Mountain Meadows,
in Washington
County, Utah.
A view of the area where Hamblin town was located,
according to Ivin Elmer Hunt.
Photo by Allyson Wood - ‘86
A Brief Sketch of the Life of Lucy Philena Canfield Emmett Day
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