BIOGRAPHY OF LUCINDA GIBSON STRICKLAND
Lucinda Gibson Strickland, daughter of Warren Gibson Strickland and May Anderson was born 16 June 1805 in Abbeyville, South Carolina. Her father was the son of Frederick Strickland and Mary Gibson and her mother, the daughter of William Anderson and Anna. Lucinda married James Pace on 21 March 1831. To this union was born eight children-- four boys and four girls, as follows: (1) William Byram Pace, born 9 Feb. 1832, Murfreesborough, Rutherford, Tenn. (2) James Finnis Pace, born 20 Feb. 1834 , Shelbyville, Shelby, Illinois. (3) Mary Ann Pace, born 20 Oct. 1837, Shelbyville Shelby, Illinois. (4) Sidney Warren Pace, born 25 Dec. 1837, Shelbyville, Shelby, Illinois. (5) Martha Elithina, born 15 April 1840, Shelbyville, Shelby, Illinois. (6) Margaret Angeline, born 14 Sept. 1842, Shelbyville, Shelby, Illinois. (7) John Ezra, born 12 July 1845, Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, and (8) Amanda Lucinda, 18 Feb. 1850, St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri.
Soon after the birth of their first child, William Byram, they moved to Shelby County, Illinois. Due to the fact that they were settling new country, they endured many hardships. A serious sickness broke out among the settlers, causing the death of their second son, James Finnis, and of Lucinda's mother, Mary (Anderson) Strickland (her parents had moved to Shelby County, also).
In 1839, Lucinda and James Pace heard their first discourse on Mormonism, and on April 14th, they were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
June 2, 1839, they left Shelby County and started for Nauvoo, arriving there June 13th, where they were counseled by the Prophet Joseph Smith to locate. Lucinda was in Nauvoo at the time of the Prophet's death and with others, went out to meet the brethren who were bringing in the bodies of the Prophet and his brother Hyrum after their martyrdom. She often told how sad the people were at that time.
She was present at the meeting when the mantle of the Prophet Joseph rested on Brigham Young; proving beyond a doubt, to those assembled, that he was the chosen leader to guide the Saints after the Prophet's death.
Jan.10, 1846, she was sealed to her husband, in the Nauvoo Temple, for time and eternity. During this mouth the Saints began to prepare to leave Nauvoo because of the mobocratic influence that surrounded them. On Feb. 5th, they left their home and moved across the Mississippi River. Lucinda and her children were taken to the home of her husband's brother , William Pace, while James returned to Nauvoo to stand guard at President Brigham Young's home until he should cross the river also.
Feb. 12th he rejoined his family and they began the journey westward through mud, rain, and snow until they reached Mt. Pisgah. Here it was deemed advisable that a number should remain and raise a crop to help provide the saints with necessities while en route to the West. They, among others, were selected to remain.
July 6th, Pres. Young returned to Mt. Pisgah and asked her husband and others to enlist in the Mormon Battalion. He was mustered into service of the U.S. 16 July 1846 and, leaving his wife and children, he took his eldest son, William Byram, then a lad of 14, and began the march to California.
Lucinda remained at Mt. Pisgah until 23 Sept. 1850. President Young advised James and Lucinda to locate on Peteetneet Creek in the south of Utah County. They, with two other families, moved to this location 20 October 1850. Here a home was built and fortified with pickets of cottonwood and the winter passed very well.
August 28, James received a call to fill a mission to England. He left for England, Sept. 9, 1852 to fill the mission. This mission lasted for three years. He returned home in 1855.
In October, in response to a call from Pres. Young, they moved to New Harmony in Southern Utah. They spent the winter in a "dug-out", cooking in the dug-out and sleeping in a wagon box. They spent the following twenty years in Washington, Wash., Utah.