| Notes |
- [Hollingg.ged]
Baptized by Soloman Edwards in Croydon, Utah.
Confirmed Sept 29, 1876 by George Knight, Utah. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A Brief Life History of the Life of Sarah Emma Toone Holling Portland Oregon 6 March 1939
Sarah Emma Toone was born in Salt Lake City, Utah July 9, 1866 the first child of 12 children born to William Henry Toone and Hannah Webb who was sealed under the everlasting covenant. The remaining eleven brothers and sisters was born in Croydon, Morgan County Utah where the family went to live near the father of William Henry Toone. They had been called there on a mission by the church for colonization in the Weber Valley. William Henry Toone and his wife Hannah Webb both trace their ancestors back to the early English history. Her early life was spent in the beautiful valley of Croyden north east of Morgan in view of the Devils slide and the Devils Mirror.
As she grew older she went to Great Salt Lake City for schooling and work where she met her husband Marcus William Frisby Holling the son of Marcus Holling who was a secretary to Brigham Young, before he was sent on a mission to Holland to become the mission president.
After courtship they was married in civil marriage at Morgan Utah October 22, 1889 and was married under the covenant in the Logan Temple October 24, 1889. They made their home in Salt Lake City where her husband was employed as a machinist.
The first four children was born in Salt Lake City during which time she was active in Sunday
School, Relief Society and Religion Class work, and opening her home at all times for the entertainment of young people.
During the winter of 1900-01 her husband accepted employment in Portland Oregon and she came to Oregon and visited for a couple of months giving approval to moving her family to the Pacific Coast. She then returned to Salt Lake City, closed the home and returned to Oregon with her four children and sister Nettie who remained with her for several months.
After establishing a home in Portland they became active in church work and took an active part in all activities under the then existing branch organization. Her husband was a leader in
the branch on her return, and she immediately took part as Sunday School Teacher, Young Peoples Director and visited the poor and the sick and ministered to the saints in distress.
On January 18, 1903 the first Latter Day Saints Relief Society was organized with Sarah Emma Holling sustained as set apart as the first president with Katrina Westergaard and Mary Simmons as counselors. The first meeting was held in the home of the president on the North West corner SW 2nd and Grant streets January 20, 1903. The following meetings was held at the same home until a later date when they visited the various homes of the sisters and held their meetings.
The following extract from a letter will express int eh presidents own words her love for the saints which was written to a sister who was in distress, living some distance from Portland. "The Elders also our branch president said it would be well for me to write you, and assure you if my writing will be of any benefit to you in any way, I will take great pleasure in doing so. I realize that we, as sisters in the gospel of truth and rightousness can do much for each other in extending our love for one another in times of trial, and it is our duty to lend a helping hand to our sisters at all times. We are strangers; still I feel to draw near unto you in my desire to help you in any way that I can, even to exhorting you on in the great work that we are engaged in, that will eventually save and exault each and all of us that walk in fear and meekness before him, putting all our trust and energy to that one great end. I feel to bear you my testimony to the devinity and the truthfullness of the gospel; for I feel as sure that God lives as I do that I have a body of flesh and blood. We have a Relief Society organization here in Portland and have some very nice meetings. There are about 9 or 10 enrolled and we sisters meet in humbleness and the Lord does answer our prayers and pours out his spirit upon us, insomuch that we have the spirit of testimony bearing in our midst."
Before the sewing meetings was started the sisters constructed a silk patch work quilt with the names of the sisters worked on the squares and presented it at a surprise party to President Holling when she broke down with tears of appreciation and was unable to speak. This proved to be a very happy birthday party. The spread passed on to the older daughter Ximena who acted as secretary who was very pleased to receive it, and which is now the prized possession of the younger daughter.
Sister Holling's notes are complete with small details of early history of the Relief Society and branch activities, such as assistance given, calls on the sick at homes and hospitals, choir practice, cottage meetings business transacted, names of early saints that helped make church history in the Oregon district, and personal information which expresses the spiritual devotion with love and service that carried the work along.
The first death noted in these personal notes was a sister Lucretia Smith who passed away 9 June 1905 at the age of 72 years and was entured by Finley's Mortuary on June 11th the missionaries presiding at the funeral. The endowment work for sister Smith was done by Sister Holling in the Salt Lake Temple when she went to Utah for the burial of one of her sisters.
Another extract from these notes are quote " On January 31st 1908 myself and counselors met over town and purchased furnishings for the missionaries quarters, such as sheets, pillow cases, curtains, and bedspreads to the amount of $14.42. Feb. 3, 1908 I went to the missionaries headquarters and spent the day sewing and cleaning for them.
"Called on Brother and Sister Pratt and son Heber who informed me that he had been called on a mission to Germany."
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1866 - 1921 (54 years)
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