John Martin CARTER

                   SHORT HISTORY OF ELIZABETH ROXCY GOODLIFFE:
       Little is known of the life of Roxcy before she moved to Park Valley, Utah, at the age of 14. Her mother, Elizabeth Ballam, married a man who was not a member of the LDS Church by the name of Enos Anderson and they lived in Salt Lake City, Utah. Three children were born to them - Charles, Clarence and Roxcy. About the time of Roxcy's birth (4 Jan 1881) it was discovered that Enos also had a wife and children in Ohio. This disrupted the family and Elizabeth had her marriage annulled or divorced him. Roxcy would never talk about him. Enos reasoned that others were practicing pologamy in Utah, but this did not sooth the hurt of deception.
       Elizabeth left SLC and went to Snowville, Utah, to teach schoolin 1881. There she met and became the 5th wife of Arnold Goodliffe in 1882. They were sealed in the EHOUS. Roxcy was about 1 1/2 years old. The children were adopted by Arnold and sealed to him in the Logan Temple 3 years later. Roxcy remembered the temple with the white clothing and celestial room with its mirrors. However, Elizabeth wasn't happy in Snowville with the other wives and returned to Salt Lake City. Then Arnold built her a general store in Park Valley and moved Elizabeth and family there in 1895. She not only managed the store but was also the post mistress. Roxcy was then 14. Arnold stocked the store with goods to sell and spent his time traveling between Snowville, Park Valley, Stone and Malad, Idaho. Arnold added 2 more wives. He had no biological children but supported his wives, and children from other marriages. Not much is known about life in Salt Lake City but Roxcy remembered playing on the wall around temple square. For certain they stayed close to Roxcy's Grandmother Drake.
       Roxcy was a petete girl with fine features, brown eyes and auburn hair that curled about her pretty face. She probably didn't stand over 5 feet and weighed less than 125 lbs. She had a beautiful singing voice which helped attract John Carter to her. He thought she was the cutest thing he had ever seen and vowed to marry her. This happened 3 Nov 1897 when Bishop Goodliffe, Roxcy's father, pronounced them husband and wife. She was just 16 and John was 19.  A year later, 6 Jul 1882, their marriage was sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. Park Valley must have been a terrible shock for the young and vibrant teenager. But where love is other things can be accomodated. The love and admiration she and John shared lasted a lifetime, and surely continues.
       Where John and Roxcy established their first home is not known but they soon settled on property adjoining Erastus, John's father, on the south and west. They built a modest home that must have seemed always too small. Laurence was born soon after her 18th birthday and in the next 9 years 4 more children were born; viz. Kenneth, Gordon, Vera and Floyd. Thus, at age 26 Roxcy had 5 children - a child nearly every 2 years. Four years later Merley came, but by then there were helpers in the family. Thus, at the early age of 30 Roxcy had her last child.
       John was a good provider, but this meant hired men around to cook for and clean up after. Being in the sheep business John was gone much of the time leaving the chores to Roxcy and the boys. They were taught to work at an early age. While the boys did the outside work Vera was taught to do dishes, cook, iron and clean. If the job was not good enough it was done over.
       Roxcy was a fussy housekeeper. She was always jawing about millers (moths), flies, dirt and animals. Vera said, "If Mother had and enemy it was dust and dirt, and if any ever settled on the furniture it was because she didn't stop it in midair." She would rise soon after 4am to mop her floors and get ready for breakfast and family chores. In spite of her complaining she was generally happy and often sang as she worked. John tried to make a comfortable home for his family. Water was piped to a box near the front door, and they were one of the first families to get carbide gas lights. Electricity came after all of the children had moved away.
       Roxcy did find time to serve in the Primary and MIA, and was in the Relief Society presidency with Ethel Palmer and Annie Mecham. Her church attendance was probably inhibited by the fact that she never learned to drive a car. Had John been going Roxcy for sure would have been there. She taught her children about the church and all were active and served in many capacities, including missions, clerks, bishops, teachers, etc. In her patriarchal blessing, given by her father, the Lord promised, "if you will continue to serve God and keep His commandments, you shall have great power over your children, they shall sit and listen to your councils, and think honorably of their mother. You shall be blessed with wisdom, light and intelligence. You shall be blessed with life, for you shall live to be an old lady amd shall be considered one of the famous mothers in Israel."
       Roxcy was always a willing passenger to go with John - to sheep camp, to hunt rabbits at Muddy where thier daughter lived, or to Brigham City for a show. In Brigham City they stayed in the B Hotel and ate at the Idle Isle Cafe. They could be seen holding hands looking out the big front window. Here they gained more good friends.
       John died in 1959 and Roxcy lived another 10 years, but not to stay another night in the home she lived for nearly 60 years. First she stayed in the hotel in Brigham City and then moved into a small apartment. Her last years were spent living alternately with her children. Even in her older years she kept herself clean and well groomed with few demands on others. Her grandchildren all liked to visit her. She loved her children and grandchildren and was affectionately called Ma. She died quietly at the home of her daughter Vera at Muddy. John had come for her.      SCJ