Thomas Arthur Gladman Shreeve
Written by son, Caleb A. Shreeve Sr.

Contributed By: SallyShreeve1 · 22 April 2013 ·

Family Search: Thomas Arthur Gladman Shreeve (KWC7-4RK)

This story of necessity is brief. If I were to attempt to relate in detail the life experiences of my father, it would fill a great volume. This is written for the benefit of his posterity that they may more fully appreciate their decendency from a great "Prince of the House of Israel of the Tribe of Ephraim."

Thomas Arthur Gladman Shreeve was born February 15, 1851 at Norwich, Norfolk, England. He was the second son and child of William Shreeve and Maria Gladman Shreeve. His boyhood was spent in and around Norwich. He received what schooling was available to those of limited means. The principle study being the Holy Bible, which book he learned very thoroughly.

Just one experience is given to show something of character and mental attitude even at that day...one day as a boy of eight years he had been studying the life of the ancient apostles. As he was walking home down a lane he said to himself, "I would have liked to have lived in those days when the Master was on earth." All of a sudden a loud voice spoke to him saying, "If you will be a good boy, the day will come when you will hear the voices of prophets and apostles.' Startled, Thomas looked all about, but there was no one in sight. He never forgot this event. Several years later in the market place of Norwich he heard a Mormon missionary preaching the Restored gospel. The voice of the missionary was the voice of him he had heard in the lane years before. Although his mother had been baptized as a young woman into the LDS Church, she had lost contact with the church because of family opposition. Thomas was immediately converted. Then in turn his mother, brothers, and sisters became interested in the Gospel. His father William joined the church but never took an active part - in fact the acceptance of the Gospel created a serious division in the family. Some wanted to come to Zion and some wanted to stay in England.

At the age of nineteen years, Thomas worked his way to America on a sailing ship. During the passage he had to lie with his back to a porthole to keep out the roaring seas. He arrived in Utah in October 1869 on one of the first through trains from the east.

He secured work in the old ZCMI as a shoe clerk. Within four years after coming to Utah, he had saved enough money to send for his mother, three sisters, and one brother. Two brothers and one sister stayed in England. Teddy (Edward) was drowned in the Thames River while an infant. Later his brother William left England and went to Australia. Because of this serious disruption in their family life, Thomas was always somewhat reluctant to speak about his home life in England. Maria and her brood arrived in Utah on September 29, 1873. While on the ocean Maria and her family escaped a watery grave in a miraculous manner.

As Thomas was an expert shot, he was chosen to be one of the house guards for President Brigham Young. He served under that famous man, Porter Rockwell, and from him learned many things not generally known about the times of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

At the age of 28 he was called by revelation to serve in Australia as a missionary without purse or script. His missionary experiences have been published by the church in the Faith Promoting Series-Finding Comfort. His experiences are remarkable, and by the power of God he re-established the missionary system in Australia. Later by direct intervention and divine manifestations, he was called to New Zealand where he laid the foundation of the present mission in that land.

After some two and one half years he returned to Salt Lake City where he continued his employment with ZCMI. Later he was transferred to the Ogden store as a shoe clerk. Later when the ZCMI closed the Ogden store due to its poor management, he opened a small store which he operated for years. Thomas was never a good businessman. In fact, he was considered a poor man in terms of wealth. This never seemed to bother him---his philosophy was "The Lord will provide" and he did after a fashion.

He married Emma Clews Barnes. To them was born the following children: Arthur, Edgar, Myra and Leland. On September 11, 1888, he married my mother, Mary W. Bluth, daughter of John Melker Ludvig Bluth and Augusta Wallin in plural marriage. To them was born the following children: Ivena, Thomas B., Ernest, Caleb, Arnold, and Eva.

He served in the Fifth Ward Bishopric of the Weber stake for 12 years. Then he was chosen as the Mount Ogden Stake secretary when Weber Stake was divided. He had served for years on the old Weber Stake High Council prior to the division. Shortly after assuming the stake Secretaryship, he was called to be the first patriarch of Mount Ogden Stake which position he held until his death December 28, 1931. As a patriarch he gave over 500 patriarchal blessings. His blessings and forth tellings have had a great effect on the lives of the recipients....

Thomas' posterity could well follow the example of their great progenitor and serve to their best ability the cause of our Lord in bringing salvation to the children of men and the redemption of Israel in these, the latter days.

~ Written by Caleb A. Shreeve Sr.