Amoses Moses Virgin, son of George Thompston Virgin and Mary Ann Barker Virgin, was born at Marston, Morteyne, Bedford, England on January 23, 1854. After his father was killed on December 30, 1861 in Birmingham, Warwick, England, they emigrated from England on May 14, 1862.

Amos and his mother lived with relatives in Grantsville, Utah, until they moved to St. Charles, Idaho in October of 1864. Although Amos was only ten years old he did everything possible to earn a living for his mother and brother, Nephi Charles Virgin. This was a hard task during the early years of the valley as the homesteads were being made. Becoming a fisher and hunter, Amos also became an expert trapper and shipped the furs to an eastern market. He made his own snow shoes to run his traps; he also loved boating, swimming, skating, and sports of all kinds.

On September 27, 1875 Amos married Sarah Frances "Fannie" Merkley (May 19, 1857-December 17, 1938), adopted daughter of Christopher Merkley and Xarissa Fairbanks Merkley. Making their home in St. Charles, their union was blessed with ten children: Sarah Frances Virgin 1876, Alice Xarissa Virgin 1879, Linda Rose Virgin 1880, Mary Ann Virgin 1882, George Amos Virgin 1885, Eugenie Virgin 1889, Jessie Virgin 1892, Zalia Louise Virgin 1894, Alicia Naomi Virgin 1897 , and Heber Harold Virgin 1899. At one time their home was used for night school with Alma Larson as the teacher.

Amos loved music. He played the violin and sang in the choir. He loved to dance and called for dances. During the time of his stay in St. Charles he was a teacher in the Sunday School, and also a ward teacher. On July 18, 1886 he was ordained a Seventy by C.D. Fjelstead.  Also during this time a daughter, Linda Rose Virgin, was buried in St. Charles in August of 1882.

One Sunday Brother Floyd, who ran a small local store, told Amos's mother that he was going to Salt Lake City on Monday. He said he would bring her some chairs if Amos would catch one hundred pounds of fish to send. After Sacrament meeting Amos and his mother went to the creek where he caught nine fish. His mother said this was enough so she took them to the house and dressed them. They weighed one hundred pounds. Floyd took the fish to Salt Lake City, sold them and brought home the chairs.

One time when Amos had saved five dollars for some needed shoes the local church brethren asked for money to build the Logan Temple. He gave the five dollars for the temple and pulled the old shoes together with wire, and then went to the logging camp in Logan Canyon to help get logs to build the Temple.

In August 1899 Amos and Fannie moved to Salem, Madison, Idaho with their four daughters and two sons to be nearer their tow oldest daughters who had married and moved there. There he bought a farm and in the Snake River Valley pioneered again. He worked in the office of the Church while he served as a Ward Teacher.

After he had converted James Inman, his wife and two sons, while ward teaching, they joined the Church. He was blessed with the gift of healing, and was called many times to administer to the sick. His examples and precepts were always worthy of a Latter-day Saint. He was ordained a High Priest on May 1, 1909 by George A. Pincock. His family is a credit and honor to him and his wife.

Sarah Frances "Fannie" Merkley Virgin died at Fish Haven on December 17, 1939 and was buried in St. Charles, Idaho.

Amos Moses Virgin died at the home of his youngest daughter, Alicia V. Howell, in Fish Haven, Idaho on October 12, 1942. He was buried by his wife and daughter Linda Rose Virgin, in St. Charles, Idaho.

Right Click mouse on image - then click on view image - to see enlarged photo

Paul Brown states that to the best of his knowledge they are: The three daughters on the top row, he cannot swear to their identy. BUT since all the others are in birth order, I think that is a fair judgment
Back row: Sarah Frances Virgin (b. July 22, 1876); Alice Xarissa Virgin (b. March 31,1879); Mary Ann Virgin (b. October 10,1882) and George Amos Virgin (b. September 8, 1885) Grandpa Amos Moses Virgin (b. Jan. 23, 1854) with Alicia Naomi Virgin (b. Feb. 6, 1897) on his lap; Eugenie Virgin (b. March 8, 1889); Jesse Virgin (b. January 28, 1892; died in 1928); and Zalia Louise Virgin (b. November 20, 1894); Heber Harold Virgin (b. May 31,1899) up on the edge of the sofa (Notice that there is 23 Years difference in Sarah and Harold) Grandma Sarah Frances MerkleyVirgin (b. May 19, 1857)

Now for some information: Sarah and Alice moved to Rexburg/Salem when Mother was just a small child. Their sister, Linda Rose (1880 and died 1882), was buried in St Charles and is not pictured. Her grave is there beside Grandpa & Grandma Virgin in St Charles. Grandma & Grandpa visited the two daughters and decided to move up there also. I remember Mother, Alicia, talking about some of their chickens getting away. Wish I could remember what they were called. Mutton chop that was the name of them. They had these fluffy feathers on their legs. George died from a ruptured appendix in 1903. Grandpa Virgin made the trip to SL to do George's endowment and have him sealed to a lady by the name of Elvira Judy. She had died previously and this was a decision by both parents to seal them to each other.

http://mygenerations.org/ - Amos Moses Virgin homestead in Salem, Idaho

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Copyright 2001 www.OrsonPrattBrown.org