Samuel matkin was born August 19, 1850 and passed away
January 16, 1905. He was born in Lancashire, England and
came to Utah. When he was two years old his father died.

He met his wife Sara Ann Wilkes and was married January 25,
1869. They were the parents of nine children. In 1882 he took
his second wife Permelia Drury. They had three children. In
1887 he took his third wife Sena Anderson and settled in
Canada. They had six children.

Father had a hard life in Canada carrying mail and freight from
Lethbridge to Cardston as there was no railroads then. He
made two seventy mile trips a week with a team and wagon,
in all kinds of weather.

He married mother when she was but fifteen years old and he
was nineteen years old.

Father never had any brothers or sisters; all he had was his
mother until he married.

A History of Samuel Matkin

Samuel Matkin and his 3rd wife Sena Anderson were married a
month before they left for Canada.

He was an officiator at the Logan Temple and she was a cook
there. They left by covered wagon for Canada arriving 6 weeks
later in May just before the group who came in June 3, 1887.
They were able to travel faster as they had no stock to drive.

They lived one block northeast of the Cahoon Hotel. This
property is still owned by the family.

Samuel farmed in the summer and freighted in the winter between
Cardston Lethbridge by horse and wagon. It took 3 days to make
the trip, necessitating sleeping out for 2 nights. He hauled the
first mail to Cardston. He often had to cut the frozen bread with
an axe & slept out on the prairie in severe cold.

He died in 1905 age 54.

Samuel Matkin was born August 19, 1850 as West Lehigh, England.
He was the son of Thomas & Esther (Broadhurst) Matkin.

When he was two years old his father died. Soon after his mother,
joined the Church & set sail for America with her small son, Samuel.
On the way, she gave birth to another son, Joseph, who died at sea.

Esther & her small son Samuel crossed the plains to join the
Latter-day Saints in Utah.

Return Individual Histories