Betsy Strait (Elizabeth on a few sources) was born 30 January 1804 in what was then Warren County, Kentucky. Her father, Israel, having arrived in Kentucky before 1799, is listed on the Warren County tax list for 1803 through 1807 having purchased land from his brother William Strait and Abraham Wood on Difficult Creek in what is now Allen Co., Kentucky.

About 1808, when Betsy would have been only 4 or 5 years old, her family left Kentucky. They are found on the 1810 Census at Coffee Island, Wabash Co., Illinois which is on the Illinois and Indiana boarder. Her sister Nancy and her brother William both indicate they were born in Indiana (1812 and 1815). But the family had arrived in St. Clair County, Illinois by 1818 as they were listed on the state census and on the national census in 1820. By then Betsy was 16 years old and one can only imagine the hardships she had endured in her young life and how primitive the country she had seen.

A marriage license was purchased in St. Clair Co., Illinois on the 1^st of August 1823 for the marriage of Absalom P. Free and Elizabeth Strait. Absalom had been married previously to Martha Belcher who died leaving him with two small sons. So Betsy was mother to these boys as well as her own 12 children.

Absalom and Betsy are living in Belleville, St. Clair Co., Illinois when the 1830 census was taken; Belleville having a population of only 164 males. The census list Absalom, age 30-40 as "head of house" and shows Betsy as 20-30; it also shows 2 male and 3 female children living with them. This would have been Martha’s 2 sons, and Betsy’s daughters Louisa, Emeline and Hannah. John Wesley Free, age 2, appears to have been missed.

As the story is told Absalom "was a strict Methodist who invited the members of his church to hold their camp meetings at his home. These meetings were extremely interesting and sensational, the members working themselves up to such enthusiasm in their desire for salvation that they often had to be carried from the mourner’s bench into the house." Betsy "was a hard-shelled Baptist and did for these people what she could, but with a poor grace, for she thought them not only foolish to carry on so, but extremely wicked. So their religion was always a ‘bone of contention’ until the winter of 1834-35 when Simeon Carter and his companion, John Brown, of the Mormon Church came to St. Clair Co., preaching a new Gospel. Absalom and Betsey were baptized in July of 1835."

About 1836 Absalom, Betsy and their family joined with the Saints in Far West, Missouri; they were driven out with the others in 1838, but meanwhile Betsy had given birth to their son Finley Carroll. They returned to St. Clair Co., for a period of time, as they appear on the 1840 Federal Census in the "northern half of St. Clair County, Illinois." It indicates that Absalom is 40-50 and Betsy is 30-40 and they have 10 others living with them. At that time they rented farms of Stookey, Edmunds, & Funk at Turkey Hill and Van Winkels, and they cultivated them.

About 1844 the family joined ranks with the Saints at Nauvoo, Illinois where they remained until the exodus of the Mormons in 1846. In company with the main body of the Church, they then went to Winter Quarters, on the Missouri River. While there Betsy gave birth to twin daughters who died shortly after their birth.

"That was the winter the call came from the government for volunteers to serve in the war against Mexico, and the response of five hundred and forty-nine able bodied men who went to fight for the honor of their country left many families with no one to provide for them, many being in destitute circumstances. Brigham Young organized those who were left into companies of ten, and the men and boys who were able to work were required to go out into different parts of the country and earn money to provide for the needs of the company. Absalom P. Free and his sons went into Missouri, where they worked in accordance with this provision and assisted in providing for those who were left without any means of support. After the main body had started across the great American plains for Utah, the Free family put in a crop on the Missouri river, and remained there until the spring of 1848." (Biographical Record)

Absalom and Betsy Strait and their family came west in 1848 with the first of three divisions of Pioneers with President Brigham Young in charge and was composed of "1229 souls and had with them 397 wagons, 74 horses, 19 mules, 1275 oxen, 699 cows, 184 loose cattle, 411 sheep, 141 pigs, 605 chickens, 37 cats, 82 dogs, 3 goats, 10 geese, 1 hive of bees, 8 doves and one crow." (Journal History June 16, 1848) This division left the Elkhorn River June 1^st and arrived in Great Salt Lake City September 20, 1848. Absalom served as Captain of Ten.

There is a story told concerning this trip that is very interesting. "One day as the wagon was being laboriously drawn over the bumpy desert land, an extra sudden jar sent one of Betsy’s little daughters tumbling from the wagon seat. Seemingly the wagon wheels had passed right over her head. To the amazement of the horrified family, the child jumped up unhurt. There was great rejoicing and prayers of thanksgiving. The child’s head had apparently fallen directly into a hole in the ground allowing the wheels to pass safely over it. This incident left a badly frightened but otherwise uninjured child, and a family who realized in humility that their Father in Heaven was ever watchful for their well-being."

An old friend of Absalom’s, Isaac Chase met them upon their arrival in the Great Salt Lake City Valley and at once took him to a piece of land adjoining his own. This land was allotted to Absalom which he farmed but was later traded for other property when it was proposed to form what is now Liberty Park.

When the Federal Census was taken in 1850, we find Absalom P. Free, age 53, Betsy, age 47, and the following children: Hannah (21), Preston (20), Telitha (15), Finley (12), Sarah (10), William (8). Apparently they did not live long on the Liberty Park land, as in the 1852 State Census they are in the 8^th Ward where they lived about 3 years, moving to the 12^th Ward. In 1860 Absalom (62) is listed with 3 wives, Betsy (Strait) 56, Sarah (Jerrold) 60, Elizabeth (Jerrold) 50, and 8 children. The Salt Lake City Directory list: Free, Absalom, farmer, 12^th Ward, First South between 3^rd & 4^th East. They later settled on a farm at Third East and Twelfth South, where Absalom lived until his death. The 1870 Census of Sugarhouse Ward, Salt Lake Co., lists Betsy Free age 66 (born in KY) and Jane age 19 (born in England) living next door to Betsy’s son Oliver Free. Betsy (age 76) is again living in Sugarhouse Precinct in 1880 where she is living with her widowed son Oliver (age 38) and Jane Mudd (age 29) who is listed as an adopted daughter.

Betsy, although consenting and living the life of polygamy, must have found it difficult as a note is written in the Sealing Records of the Manti Temple as follows: "It was the express understanding and agreement between Absalom P. Free and his wife Betsey Strait Free while living that she and her family were to be first in his family, the first wife and children having died out of the church. It is so allowed. The living children now acting for those who are dead." 29 June 1888.

Betsy "had the prettiest flower garden I (Emeline Young Wells) can remember. It was located in the southeast part of Salt Lake City. In it were old fashioned flowers, sweet williams, pinks, bachelor buttons, and four o’clocks. We grandchildren used to pick the red four o’clocks and use them to paint our cheeks and lips. When she saw us with our faces painted, she knew that we had been in her garden. Just before her funeral services, as she lay in her casket, a grandson, knowing her love for flowers, went into her own garden, picked a few sweet williams and placed them in her hands." (Heart Throbs of the West, Vol 2, p 257)

Her funeral note appeared as follows in the Deseret News, June 25, 1885:

"Departed this Life. - The numerous relatives and friends of Grandmother Free will learn with feelings of pain of her departure from this life, which event took place at the farm in Sugar House Ward yesterday at 3.10 p.m.
   "Betsy Strait Free was born January 30, 1804, in the state of Kentucky, and moved in an early day to Illinois, where, in 1835, with her husband, Absalom P. Free, deceased, and family; she was baptized by Simeon Carter into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
   "She passed through all the persecutions with which the Saints were afflicted in that State and in Missouri; and in 1848, migrated to Zion, where she has seen a numerous family grow up aground her. Her daughters were married into leading families of the Church, among whom may be named those of the late President Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Daniel H. Wells.
   "Her posterity numbers 12 children, 5 of whom are living; 58 grandchildren, 39 living; and 29 great-grandchildren, 21 living, making a total of 99, 65 of whom survive her.
   "Beloved by all, she was at once the confidant and counselor of all her family; and the little confidences placed in her were as safe in her keeping as her advice was good and encouraging. ‘Free by name and free by nature’ may be truly said of her. Her home was the rendezvous of relatives and friends, who never failed to receive a hearty welcome and a good dinner before leaving the shrine of her hospitality.
   "Funeral will take place at her home to-morrow, Friday, at 10 o’clock a.m. Friends of deceased are invited to attend."
   The funeral consisted of "Bishop A. G. Driggs presiding, Prayer was offered by Counselor Peter Hansen and music rendered by the Ward choir.
 "Interesting and instructive remarks were made by Bishop O. F. Whitney and Bishop Lorenzo Young. The closing prayer was offered by Elder John Clark, after which a large procession of relative and friends, followed the remains to their last resting place, where the dedicatory prayer was pronounced by Elder Nelson A. Empey." Burial took place in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Sources:
1) "Heart Trobs of the West" by Kate B. Carter
2) Biographical Record of Salt Lake City & Vicinity
3) Free Family News
4) "History of Betsy Strait Free" by Rhea Biesinger Brown
5) "History of Preston Strait Free & Mary Titcomb Free"
6) Deseret News 25 June 1885
7) Family records of Dorrit Y. Knapton
8) Extensive early life research by Mary K. Decker & Mary Ann D. Simmons
9) Published by Daughters of Utah Pioneers " Women of Faith and Fortitude"