Laura Sumner Fackrell Chamberlain

Birth: Mar. 20, 1856
Woods Cross, Davis County, Utah, USA

Married: Nov. 3, 1873
Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Husband: Thomas Chamberlain (1852-1918)

Death: Dec. 28, 1936
Ogden, Weber County, Utah, USA, buried in Provo, UT

MEMORIES OF THE UNITED ORDER AND HER LIFE
by Laura Fackrell Chamberlain
written in 1932

My husband was a good man, and a natural leader among men. When we had been married a little over a year, Pres. Young and the heads of the church began to preach the United Order, and called on the people to join it. Those who were willing to live it were sent to organize them. All the Muddy people at Carmel joined, but the old settlers. Those who had been driven out by the Indians, and had come back. They did not care to join. The ones who did join moved onto a piece of farming land. We called the Covo, [Cave] and built a town, they named it Orderville. One and one half miles east of Carmel. They built quite a large hall with a kitchen and bakery at one end, and as fast as the people could move move up, they turned in their property and got credit on the books for it, and they all ate at the big tables in the hall.
The Order was organized, with a board of directors of 12 men, with the bishop at the head. They advertised for educated mechanics, and such tradesmen, as they lacked to make themselves self-supporting. The men were all supposed to work at something. The thing they were best fitted for. There were many places to be filled for men and women too. The women did their own work at home, and those who were able to work could find plenty to do. The younger married women and those who were strong enough took turns working in the kitchen, in sets of six with a man to oversee things and do the heavy work. He also had a boy to help with the chores. The girls in sets of six did the dining room work. We had enough in the sets that we did not have to work too hard. A man did the baking, Bro. Claridge. (Sr. Elizabeth McCune's father was the baker.)
We got credit on the books for our work. If anyone was not well enough to do their own work in the home, someone would do it, and they were given credit. The amount of work being charged to the one who was not able. A strict account was kept on the books. We were credited with the work we did, and charged with what we drew, in the way of board and clothes, and other things. Those who were not able to work, drew what they needed, the same as those who worked. We had our ward organizations the same as other towns, and had some very enjoyable times.
Bro. Thos. Robertson, would play a tune, on his bugle, to call us to meals. "Do what is right", was the tune that called us to prayers. At breakfast and supper, he also played a tune, for a call as well as for meetings.
We had many visits from our leaders, who gave much encouragement and good counsel. A good spirit provailed. As nearly as could be the word of wisdom was kept. No tobacco was used, and very little tea. None ever came to the big table
Such a spirit of love and unity existed, that when we meet now after so many years, we feel that we are meeting brothers, sisters and friends. We were together in the Order for over nine years, and I am sure it was a good experience to have had.
My husband's family still kept growing as the years went on. He had added another good wife to his family, once in a while, until there were six (wives) of us, and we had over fifty children. Some of them died. We have twenty-four sons and fifteen daughters living. We have never had any trouble and all have a feeling of love and respect for each other.
My husband held many honorable positions in the Church. He was on the board of directors and a counselor to the Bishop for some time, and then was ordained Bishop, which position he held for twelve years. He was then released, and put in the Stake Presidency. He as ordained Patriarch, when quite a young man, being the youngest Patriarch in the Church.
Pres. Lyman, said "he had a Patriarchal family."
I have done some church work. I have worked in the Relief Society, been Pres. and counselor in the Y.W.M.I.A., Councelor in the Primary, and teacher in the Sunday School. I have also done Temple work in the St. George, Manti, Logan and Salt Lake Temples.
I have nine children living, five sons and four daughters, fifty-three grand children, and ten great-grandchildren at present, in 1932.

Above photos and auto-biography found at findagrave.com