Nancy Ann Bache History
Taken from "Archibald Waller Overton Buchanan" by Golden R. Buchanan
Much of this history was taken from the "Deseret News, 27 Aug. 1884 p. 512
"Nancy Ann was born 23 Feb. 1790 in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky, which just happens to
be the same town where her future husband, John Buchanan, was also born and where he grew up.
John Buchanan and Nancy Ann Bache were married 12 Apr. 1812 in Lexington, Fayette County,
Kentucky and a Reverend McCloud performed the ceremony, the two fathers actings as
witnesses,John Buchanan and Harmon Bache.
They began their family immediately as their oldest child Jane was born in Lexington, Kentucky.
Their last and tenth child was born in Tazewell County, Illinois, so this would indicate that the
Buchanan family emigrated from Lexington, Kentucky to Tazewell County, Illinois sometime after
1830 and before 1833. From 1833 to 1839 when her husband John passed away, her life would be
parallel with that of her husband. She, with him and the family, passed through the persecutions and
mobbings incident to the settlement of that part of the country by the Latter-day Saints.
After her husband's death, and in order to protect herself from future mobbings and violence, she
moved her family to Nauvoo where they could be closer to the Prophet and to the body of the
saints. It should be noted that her sons-in-law accompanied them from Lima to Nauvoo where they
spent the next few years as a family.
It should be remembered that these were trying times for the saints even in Nauvoo. The temple was
under construction and the saints were exerting every ounce of strength and effort and using every
dollar to finance and complete the temple so that the sacred ordinances of the gospel could be
administered in their fullness. June 27, 1844, the Prophet and his brother Hyrum were martyred by
the mob in Carthage, Illinois, and we find the Buchanan family deeply concerned and wrapped up
in that historical event because of their love for the Prophet and for the Church.
Persecutions and drivings and threats continued during the next several years after the death of the
Prophet. The mobs felt now that the Prophet was gone that just a little extra effort on their part and
a few more burnings and killings would destroy the Mormon people completely. Little did they
know the faith of those who had accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ and those who had a testimony
of its divinity. Persecutions and mobbings only drove them closer together.
In the year of 1845 certain parts of the temple were nearing completion so that the ordinance of the
endowment could be administered. There was a great rush of the people to receive these blessings
before they left the country.
By the year 1846 it was a foregone conclusion that the saints would have to leave Nauvoo and go
west into the plains. Before the Prophet's death he prophesied that the saints would go to the Rocky
Mountains and there would build cities and towns and prosper in the valleys of the west.
The endowment ordinance as he had received it from the Lord had been given to the Twelve and a
few others. The great program of sealing wives to husbands and children to parents was also
explained and begun before the Prophet's life was taken. Under the direction of President Brigham
Young the endowment work in the temple was commenced again in earnest and a number of the
leading brethren and sisters of the Church received their blessings in the temple.
Let us picture in our minds the situation as it existed in Nauvoo and surrounding areas. Here was
the House of the Lord. Here was the temple which they had built in their poverty and which they
had dedicated to holy purposes, now they were being forced to leave it. Many of the worthy saints
desired these blessings, not knowing if they would ever see another temple in their lifetime.
Many of the widows and the women who were not married wanted these blessings before they left
Nauvoo and if possible to be sealed to one of the leading brethren of the Church. Maybe all things
were not fully understood by them then, but their desire was to do the will of the Lord.
Nancy Ann Bache Buchanan had been a widow for seven years. Now she was facing the plains of
Iowa and maybe further persecution and even death. On 22 Jan. 1846 she entered the temple and
received her endowment. In the evening of the 22 Jan. 1846 she was sealed to Isaac Morley for time
and for eternity. The children were not sealed. She was sealed and legally married to Isaac Morley
on the above date. The writer has verified this fact and has seen the temple records of Nauvoo. She
was sealed to him on the above date by Brigham Young at 7:15 in the evening and the witnesses
were Willard Richards and a man by the name of A. M. Lyman. [A. M. Lyman most likely Amasa
Mason Lyman, father of Francis M. Lyman, one of the church apostles; A. M. Lyman born in
Nauvoo and moved to Provo, Utah.] The writer has also searched and has been informed by the
brethren that this sealing was never cancelled. He has gone through the history of the Morley family
and through their genealogy and in not one place is there a mention of his sealing to Nancy Ann.
All of the circumstances indicate that they never lived together as husband and wife.
Isaac Morley did not accompany them, nor did he bring them to Utah as you would expect from a
husband. As far as history goes on either side of the two lines there is nothing to suggest that he
helped the family financially or physically in their move across the plains."
"The records indicate that Nancy Ann was finally sealed to her own husband John in the Manti
Temple 17 June 1896.
Here we have a woman sealed to two husbands. This last sealing took place after her death and the
brethren allowed it to happen since they did not know her wishes in the matter. During the
Millennium she will have to make a choice but she will have her free agency to decide which
husband she wants. I might add that her position is similar to hundreds of others in like
circumstances. There was a great deal of confusion in the early times.
The problem arises with this sealing because John Buchanan had been baptized into the Church in
life. Both John and Nancy Ann were members of the LDS Branch in Lima. Isaac Morley was
President of Lima Branch. After John's death in 1839 in Lima, in accordance with the prevailing
instructions, Nancy Ann was sealed for Time and All Eternity to Isaac Morley in the Nauvoo
Temple 22 Jan. 1846.
After her death, "Nancy Ann appeared in a dream to one of her sons saying that it is not right and
something must be done. She said she could go where John is, but he couldn't come to where she
was. So the Children felt so strong about it, that they took it to Pres. Woodruff and told him about
the dream and President Woodruff gave them permission to have the sealing done right. So the
Buchanan Family followed official instructions and had Nancy Ann sealed to her husband and the
same day had four of their children sealed to them."
"Four of her children, including our grandfather Archie, were sealed to their father and mother the
same day. Archie came all the way from Glenwood at the age of 66 to have it done. All of the
family have since been sealed to their parents.
Nancy lived with her family. She and her two sons-in-law and her two sons, John and Archibald,
who was now 16 years of age, and the girls started out and braved the mud and the cold of the
winter of 1846 and 47. We find them in Council Bluffs in the spring of 1847.
The widow Buchanan at Council Bluffs was called upon to allow her oldest son John to go with the
Mormon Battalion. She remained with the family at Council Bluffs and at Mount Pisgah until John
had finished his term in the army.
John was not impressed with the deserts of the west and the difficulties of living in the mountains.
He tried to persuade his mother and his family to remain in the the beautiful rolling lands of Iowa
and to take up farms there and make that their home, but Nancy Ann was not to be deterred. She
had made up her mind long ago to follow the Prophet and the saints. She convinced her family to
follow and all of them did except one of her sons-in-law, the Coolidge family, who remained
behind in Iowa.
The Buchanan group had accumulated sufficient food and animals so they left for Utah with the
Howell train of pioneers. They arrived in Salt Lake Valley 13 Sept. 1852. They were immediately
advised by Brigham Young to go south and settle in Sanpete County. They continued on south and
the entire family arrived in Manti, where Nancy Ann and John spent the rest of their lives. He raised
two big and good families in this area, which have been a credit to the Church and to their
community. John died 11 Oct. 1897 and was buried at Manti."
"Our grandfather, Archibald Waller Overton Buchanan, who had accompanied the family, was 22
years old when he arrived in Utah with his mother and her family. Nancy Ann's family was now all
grown, the youngest child being 18 on their arrival in the valley. She had lost three in death and
after many years of drivings, persecutions and difficulties with mob neighbors she undoubtedly was
glad to see the broad valley of Sanpete County, and more than glad to settle down with her family
to enjoy even pioneer privations and difficulties. The balance of her life was spent in making and
building the present town of Manti, Utah. She died, still proud of her heritage and her Buchanan
name, 17 Aug. 1884 and lies buried in the Manti Cemetery.
From Manti, as her daughters married they went to other parts of the state. We do not have the
history of many of them but her sons John and Archie stayed together in Manti until Archibald was
called to go to Sevier County. John, Archibald and Lorenzo Dow, who died at an early age, were
the only boys in the family of ten. This is completely contrary to the Buchanan pattern of families.
More About John BUCHANAN and Nancy Bach:
Marriage: 12 Apr 1812, Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky
Children of John BUCHANAN and Nancy Bach are:
i. Jane Bache BUCHANAN, born 01 Feb 1813 in Tazewell Co.,
Illinois; died 05 Feb 1848 in Little Mackinaw, Tazewell Co., Illinois;
married Alexander Blair DAVIS 19 Jul 1831 in Tazewell Co.,
Illinois.
ii.
Elizabeth BUCHANAN, born 01 Jul 1815 in Lexington, Fayette Co.,
Kentucky; died 23 Jun 1913 in Cushing,Woodbury Co., Iowa
(Bur:Glenwood, Mills, Iowa); married Joseph Wellington
COOLIDGE 17 Dec 1834 in Tazewell Co., Illinois; born 31 May
1814 in Bangor, Hancock, Maine; died 13 Jan 1871 in Glenwood,
Mills, Iowa (Bur:Glenwood, Mills, Iowa).
Joseph COOLIDGE and Elizabeth BUCHANAN:
Marriage: 17 Dec 1834, Tazewell Co., Illinois
iii.
Lorenzo Dow BUCHANAN, born 14 Jul 1817 in Lexington, Fayette
Co., Kentucky; died 1833.
iv.
Emmeline BUCHANAN, born 01 Mar 1820 in Lexington, Fayette
Co., Kentucky; died 04 Nov 1899 in Woodside, Emery, UT
(Bur:Woodside Cemetery); married Simmons Philander CURTIS 04
Jul 1840 in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois; born 26 Mar 1818 in PA; died
10 Apr 1880 in Springville,, UT (Bur:Springville City Cemetery,
Springville, UT).
Emmeline BUCHANAN:
1860 census Springville, Utah, UT: Simons Curtis, aged 42, farmer, bp PA;
Emeline aged 40, bp Kentucky; Franklin aged 11; Mary A. aged 8 -- both born
Iowa; Joseph aged 6; Emeline aged 3; Nancy aged 6 months -- all born UT.
1870 census Springville, Utah, UT: Franklin Curtis, aged 22, trader, bp Iowa;
Emeline Curtis, aged 50, bp Kentucky; Nancy Curtis aged 10; Harmon Curtis
aged 7 -- both born UT.
In 1870 Emeline's husband, Simmons Curtis, is living with his younger wife,
Aseneth, and their children.
Notes for Simmons Philander CURTIS:
1860 census Springville, Utah, UT: Simons Curtis, aged 42, farmer, bp PA;
Emeline aged 40, bp Kentucky; Franklin aged 11; Mary A. aged 8 -- both born
Iowa; Joseph aged 6; Emeline aged 3; Nancy aged 6 months -- all born UT.
1870 census Springville, Utah, UT: Simmons Curtis, aged 52, farmer, bp PA;
Aseneth aged 30, bp PA; Joseph aged 17; Rhoda aged 9; Rosalia aged 7; Bertha
aged 7; Bertha aged 6; William aged 4 -- all born UT. Note: Joseph is the son
of Emmeline; she is living in the same area with other children
More About Simmons CURTIS and Emmeline BUCHANAN:
Marriage: 04 Jul 1840, Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois
v.
Catherine BUCHANAN, born 1823 in Lexington, Fayette Co.,
Kentucky; died 1838.
vi.
John IV BUCHANAN, born 25 Jan 1825 in Lexington, Fayette Co.,
Kentucky; died 11 Oct 1897 in Manti, Sanpete Co., UT; married (1)
Adeline COONS 23 Feb 1851 in Glenwood, Mills Co., Iowa; born 21
Nov 1832 in Kirtland, Lake Co., OH; died 11 Apr 1912 in Manti,
Sanpete Co., UT; married (2) Sarah WILKINSON 21 Apr 1866 in
Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT; born 16 Oct 1847 in Mount
Pisgah, Harrison Co., Iowa; died 16 May 1920 in Manti, Sanpete Co.,
UT.
Notes for John IV BUCHANAN:
1850 census District 21, Pottawattamie, Iowa: Joseph W. Coolidge, aged 36,
miller, real estate valued $2,000, bp ME; Elizabeth aged 35, bp Kentucky;
Henry aged 14; Rebecca aged 9; Sarah Ann aged 5 -- all born Illinois; Timothy
aged 3, born Omaha Land; William aged 8 months, bp Iowa. Also John
Buchanan, aged 24, miller, bp Kentucky.
1860 census Manti, Sanpete, UT: Jno Buchanan, aged 33, florist, bp Kentucky;
Adeline aged 28?, bp Kentucky; Jno aged 8, bp Iowa; Elenor aged 6; Wm H.
aged 10 months; Ncy J. aged 3 -- all born UT; Ncy Buchanan, aged 69, bp
Kentucky.
1870 census Manti, Sanpete, UT: John Buchannan, aged 41, farmer, bp
Kentucky; Adeline aged 37, bp OH; John aged 19, bp Iowa; Nancy aged 12;
William aged 10; Ernestine aged 7; Elizabeth aged 6; Thadeus aged 10 months
-- all born UT; (Wife 2) Sarah aged 22, bp Illinois; Raymond aged 3; Adelbert
aged 8 months -- both born UT.
1880 census Manti, Sanpete, UT: John Buchanan, aged 53, house carpenter, bp
Kentucky, both parents Kentucky;Adeline aged 46, bp OH, father New York,
mother PA; Tina aged 18; Elizabeth aged 16; Thaddeus aged 11; George aged
8; Laura aged 3 -- all born UT; (Wife 2) Sarah aged 30, bp Iowa, both parents
England; Raymond aged 13; Mary Ann aged 7; Raphael aged 4; Maybel aged
2; Nellie aged 8 months, born Sept -- all born UT.
John and his family lived in Kentucky until sometime between 1830 and 1833,
when they moved to Tazewell County, Illinois. At various times, John's parents
and children were all baptized. Records are not complete, but they did go to
Caldwell County, Missouri, and were part of the expulsion there. They are
found also in Quincy and Lima, Illinois with the saints. John's father died in
Lima, Illinolis, and his wife Nancy took their family and moved to Nauvoo.
They stayed until the saints were driven from Nauvoo. They were the saints in
Council Bluffs. John joined the Mormon Battalion and accompanied the sick
detachment members who were sent back to Pueblo, Colorado. They arrived in
Salt Lake 29 July 1847. After John's arrival in the Valley, they were advised by
Brigham Young to help settle Sanpete County. A year later they moved to
Manti where John built a grist mill. He lived here with his family, including his
wives and children, until his death. Source: Conquerors of the West: Stalwart
Mormon Pioneers, Vol 1-4
More About John IV BUCHANAN:
Occupation: Bet. 1850 - 1880, 1850=Miller, 1860=Florist,
1870=Farmer, 1880=House Carpenter
Religeon: MORMON POLYGAMIST
More About John BUCHANAN and Adeline COONS:
Marriage: 23 Feb 1851, Glenwood, Mills Co., Iowa
vii.
viii.
ix.
Mary Ann BUCHANAN, born 01 Aug 1827 in Lexington, Fayette,
Kentucky; married Preston GUARD Abt. 1847 in Lexington, Fayette
Co., Kentucky; born Abt. 1827 in Lexington, Fayette, Kentucky.
More About Preston GUARD and Mary BUCHANAN:
Marriage: Abt. 1847, Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky
Eleanora BUCHANAN, born 1828; died 1838.
Archibald Waller Overton Sr. BUCHANAN, born 09 Feb 1830 in
Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky; died 07 May 1915 in Venice,
Sevier Co., UT; married (1) Caroline Sophia SORENSON; born 30
Apr 1858 in Hallenslev, Holbaek, Denmark; died 03 May 1928;
married (2) Helen Amelia Whiting 22 Aug 1854 in Manti, Sanpete,
Utah; born 21 Aug 1836 in Nelson, Portage, Ohio; died 07 May 1910
in Lyman, Wayne, Utah; married (3) Mary Ann BROWN 01 Jan
1860 in Manti, Sanpete Co., UT; born 02 Oct 1842 in Greenville,
Floyd Co., Indiana; died 15 Feb 1901 in Glenwood, Sevier Co., UT;
married (4) Anne Marie LARSEN 11 Oct 1869 in Endowment House,
Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, UT; born 01 Sep 1851 in Skorpinga, Soro,
Denmark; died 03 May 1901 in Glenwood, Sevier Co., UT.
Notes for Archibald Waller Overton Sr. BUCHANAN:
Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah -- Genealogies and Biographies -- B --
Privates
BUCHANAN, ARCHIBALD W. (son of John Buchanan of Scotland and
Nancy Bache of Lexington, Ky.). Born Feb. 9, 1830, at Lexington. Came to
Utah Sept. 13, 1852, Captain Howell company.
Exerpt from "Archibald Waller Overton Buchanan" by Golden R. Buchanan
"Our grandfather, Archibald Waller Overton Buchanan, who had accompanied
the family, was 22 years old when he arrived in Utah with his mother and her
family. Nancy Ann's family was now all grown, the youngest child being 18 on
their arrival in the valley. She had lost three in death and after many years of
drivings, persecutions and difficulties with mob neighbors she undoubtedly
was glad to see the broad valley of Sanpete County, and more than glad to
settle down with her family to enjoy even pioneer privations and difficulties.
The balance of her life was spent in making and building the present town of
Manti, Utah. She died, still proud of her heritage and her Buchanan name, 17
Aug. 1884 and lies buried in the Manti Cemetery.
"From Manti, as her daughters married they went to other parts of the state. We
do not have the history of many of them but her sons John and Archie stayed
together in Manti until Archibald was called to go to Sevier County. John,
Archibald and Lorenzo Dow, who died at an early age, were the only boys in
the family of ten. This is completely contrary to the Buchanan pattern of
families." (Excerpts from Archibald Waller Overton Buchanan and Family by
Golden R. Buchanan.)
1860 census Manti, Sanpete, UT: Archd Buchanan, aged 36, farmer, bp
Kentucky; (Wife 1) Amelia aged 23, bp OH; (Wife 2) Mary A. aged 18, bp
Indiana; Sarah aged 3; Archbd aged 1 -- both born UT; Rozina Snow, aged 2,
bp UT.
1870 census Manti, Sanpete, UT: Archibald Buchanan is living with three of
his wives: Archbd Buchanan, aged 40, real estate valued $1,000, bp Kentucky;
(Wife 1) Amelia aged 33, bp OH; Sarah aged 13; Archibald aged 11; Hellen
aged 8; Lorenzo aged 6; Pheobe aged 2 -- all born UT; (Wife 2) Mary A. aged
28, bp Indiana; Eunice aged 12; James aged 9; Mary aged 7; William aged 5;
Eugene aged 3 -- all born UT; (Wife 3) Maria Buchanan, aged 17, bp
Denmark; his mother, Nancy Buchanan, aged 80, bp Kentucky.
Note: Pheobe aged 2, living with Amelia, is most likely their daughter Theda
Jane of the same age. Eunice aged 12, living with Mary is most likely Mary's
sister. The record shows that she has a sister, Eunice Ann, born March 1850.
1880 census Glenwood, Sevier, UT: A. Buchanan, aged 50, farmer, bp
Kentucky, both parents ?; Amelia aged 43, bp OH, both parents Massachusetts;
Archibald aged 21, laborer; Lorenzo aged 16; Thodor aged 11; Effie aged 9 -all born UT. Living next door is his other wife, Caroline, aged 21, bp Denmark,
both parents Denmark; Lorin aged 1, bp UT.
Sources:
Title: Archibald Waller Overton Buchanan and Family
Author: Golden R. Buchanan
Publication: J. Grant Stevenson, 230 West 1230 North, Provo, UT 84601 1978