Elizabeth Jane Young was born at the home of her maternal grandmother, Sarah Maurice Canivet, at Grouville on the Island of Jersey in the English Channel on 13 June 1845. Her parents, Josias Richard Young and Elizabeth Esther Canivet, lived on the nearby Island of Guernsey until she was ten years old. Elizabeth at that time was stricken with an illness and pronounced dead by the family physician.

Mormon Elders, probably Milo Andrus and Elder Dunbar, who were laboring in the mission, administered to her and Elizabeth regained her health. The family was converted to the Latter-Day Saint religion and sailed for America in March 1855 aboard the Royal Champarasio. They were six weeks in crossing the Atlantic, encountering severe storms. At one time all men were called on deck and her
father who had been a sailor in his youth was asked to assist the seamen.

In New York they joined the Milo Andrus company for immigration to Utah, but later went with Captain Harper's Company which arrived in Utah Oct. 1855. The family went immediately to Provo where Brother Young secured work as a carpenter and cabinet maker. The family moved to Camp Floyd where her father helped build barracks for soldiers of the Johnson's Army. Here Elizabeth met George Coleman who had come to Utah in 1856 driving a hospital wagon. Elizabeth was 15 years old when she married Mr. Coleman on August 12, 1860.

They moved to Sanpete County where Mr. Coleman owned property. Mr. Colman built a house there, but Elizabeth suffered from homesickness so much that they decided to move back to Camp Floyd. One foot of snow had fallen when the family prepared to move back. The wagon, heavily loaded, had to pass 15 miles through a canyon. The people in a small settlement reported that the Indians had been mean lately and warned the Coleman's to be careful and not make a fire in the canyon at night. They hadn't gone far when the wagon became stuck. The Indians came out of the hills and Elizabeth, terrified for her life, urged the team on with a forked stick. Mr. Coleman offered them food and the Indians allowed them to go in peace. Mr. Coleman was always friendly with the Indians,which stood them in good stead after they moved to Tooele. Many old Indians came to Mrs. Coleman years later and spoke kindly of "good ole Coleman".

Four children were born to the Coleman's in Camp Floyd: Ann Elizabeth, born 5 July 1861; George Edward, born 14 Feb. 1863; William John, born 3 July 1864; Josias Leonard, born 19 Dec. 1965. In 1866 Mr. Coleman came to Tooele and selected land for his homesite. Nearly all the property on Coleman Street was his. He built a home, planted trees and set out crops. The little family moved in, and on the property on Coleman Street nine children were born: Eliza Jane, born 31 Aug.1867; Martha Ellen, born 4 April 1869; Louisa Maria, born 19 Oct. 1870; Suzannah Olivia, born 19 Oct. 1875; Lottie Emma, born 30 Oct. 1877; Andrew James, born 28 July 1880; Mary Agnes, born 3 March 1882; Zelpha Lara, born 26 Nov. 1883; and Franklin Ernest, born 19 Dec. 1885. Another son, Thomas Henry, was born 5 Aug. 1872 in Camp Floyd where Mrs. Coleman's mother lived.

When their second child was one year old Mr. Coleman was stricken with rheumatism. At this time he lost the use of his arms completely. He told his wife that he wanted to be taken to Salt Lake City to Brother Taylor's. On the way they passed a caravan which had been destroyed and people massacred by the Indians the night before. At Brother Taylor's home, prayer circles were held and a week later Mr. Coleman drove home himself.

All during their lives they were friendly to the Indians, offering them a certain proportion of their peaches. The Indians would come in the fall and camp, gather peaches, prepare them for drying, and take their share.In 1890, Frank, their youngest son, was killed when a colt kicked him. Mr. Coleman never seemed well after that shock, and 26 Sept. 1894 he died of typhoid fever.

Mrs. Coleman's life was devoted to motherhood and service to her family. She spent her life in loyal service to her husband and family. She was quiet and home loving. Naturally retiring in nature, she was devout in her Latter-Day Saint beliefs, but found her duties first to her family and their needs.

She had a retentive memory and recalled to the end of her life many little songs taught her in her early youth by her French grandmother. She enjoyed excellent health all her life and to the end retained her desire to be a burden to no one.

She and her husband were the parents of 14 children. At her death on 6 March 1939, she had over 190 descendants who survived her in five generations: 8 children, 45 grandchildren, 97 great-grandchildren, 41 great-great-grandchildren, and 1 sister, Mrs. Charlotte Ann Busch of Ririe, Idaho.

Contributed by Renae Burgess Linn via buckaroomac