Hole-in-the-Rock Remembered

Pioneers Identified with *

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San Juan pioneers who came to the area between 1879-1880 from other directions, other than Hole-in-the-Rock will be identified with * after their sur name. Many of these pioneers were already in San Juan County when the Hole-in-the-Rockers arrived. Scroll down the left column labels to find the surname of the pioneer you are looking for. * shows early arrivals; others are those in the first Hole-in-the-Rock group.
Thanks to help from pioneer descendants, our list of unknown pioneers is decreasing every week; however, many though do not have stories to go with their basic facts. Please help if you can.

"Lost" Need To Be "Found"

2010-01-18T08:03:00.014-07:00

If you are successful in finding new information or photos of "lost pioneers" from the Hole-in-the-Rock company, please e-mail it to either of the contacts below. Please include documentation as to where you found the information. Addition history about those with no data would be especially valuable.
jwilcox42@gmail.com or hnrtrek2010@gmail.com

Consider going onto Family Search to track down ancestors and other lost pioneers.

These are the ones on the roll who are still "MIA" missing in action: 1. Barnes, Noah 2. Christensen, Peter 3. Christensen, Lars 4. Dailey, Milton and 5. Mary Malinda Wilson, Children: 6. Marion and 7. Madalene 8. Echles, Andrew 9. Gurr, William Herber and 10 Anna 11. Hansen, Lars J. 12. Margaret and 13. Leonard 14. Johnson, James, 15. Lotte 16. James Marrion Jr. 17. John 18. Muny, Joseph 19. Nelson, Peter Albert 20. Pace, Wilford Woodruff 21. Perry, George E. 22. Robb, John Rowlandson 23. and Sarah Ann Edwards 24. Robb, William 25. and Ellen Stones, 26. son William 27. Roner, Jacob 428. Smith, John Aitkens 29. and Emily Jane Bennett 30. Smith, Samuel 31. Smith, Silas Jr. 32. and Betsy Williamson 33. Walden, George 34. Walker, Joseph 35. Webster, Francis 36. Westwood, George 37. Wilson, Henry 38. Woolsey, Joseph Smith
PLUS 60 or more children of record for whom we have little information!

Adams *, James J.

2010-01-17T17:00:00.014-07:00

Born: October 2, 1848, in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois

Died: March 2, 1922
Married: Caroline E. Redd on March 14, 1888 in the St. George Temple
Father: William Adams
Mother: Mary Ann Leech

Childhood:
James J. Adams was born on October 2, 1848 in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois. His parents, William and Mary Ann Leech Adams, lived in Nauvoo for two years before they moved to Springfield and little James was born. One year later, the family decided to head west. They got to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1849. In January, 1851, James’ father William moved to Parowan with fellow pioneer Samuel Hamilton. James, his mother and his siblings moved down to join him in May of the same year (1).

James was a hard worker and loved to help. When he was seven or eight years old, he helped to build the Fort in Parowan. Boards were mounted on either side of a trench, and James’s job was to fill the space between the boards with mud, to create a wall (2). As a young boy, James also enjoyed helping herd the cattle. He would ride his little horse named Sam and herd the cattle with his friend Tom Richards. The two boys knew how to have fun, while still keeping an eye on the cattle. They loved to roll over and play in the tall weeds, until someone warned them that they might roll over a snake if they weren’t careful. That was the end to playing in the weeds! They would herd all over the area during the day, and at night would bring the cattle back to the corral that had been built in the Fort (3).

As a child, James did not know what sugar was. To sweeten their food, his family used molasses instead and a little honey whenever they had bees. James remembered the first cake his Mom ever made out of sugar; he didn’t even want to taste it because it looked so different from the molasses cakes he was used to (4). His Mother and his Aunt Anne would weave all the cloth for their clothes (5). James always ran around barefoot as a kid. When he got a little older he wore moccasins and when he was about sixteen, James got his first pair of buckskin pants and button shoes. Not knowing that the leather in his pants would stretch, James wore them up into the mountains the day he got them and it started to snow. His new pants got so wet that they stretched out and from then on, he always had to roll them up (6).

James loved to learn. When he was just a little fellow, he started attending school. Aunt Sara Ann sent him to the head of the class and said, “you work hard and you can stay.”(7) And stay he did, for the next two years, until it was time for him to start working. James was a great reader. He got the measles and it affected his eyesight for a time, but when his eyes recovered, he was back reading anything he could. He was also a whiz at arithmetic; no one could beat him! (8) Several of his uncles and some of the neighborhood boys would stay at his parents’ home during the winter, and come to school with him. The family earned fifteen dollars for provided room and board for the boys.

Every spring and fall, James would accompany his father and brothers to Salt Lake City. James’ father would take barrels of tar to trade for whatever the family needed. They were a resourceful family, as were most. They got their salt from the Great Salt Lake, they gathered aluminum for aluminum coves, and copperus from under the yellow sandstone on the sides of the canyon, which they would also take with them to Salt Lake to trade (9).

Going Back Across the Plains
In 1864, when James was sixteen-years-old, he made his first trek back across the plains with his father. They drove four yoke of oxen and two steers to help them bring back two loads of stoves (10). They left in April and didn’t get back until the 10th of December. In 1868 they crossed the plains again to bring back a threshing machine.

James and his father lived on the basics-bacon and bread. They made bread out of flour, salt and baking powder, then fried it in a frying pan. James remembered his father being pretty hungry, but he did not seem to mind the simple, scant food. When they came across ripe grapes in their journey, they would mix them with molasses for a little treat. Once they bought fifty-cents worth of eggs and they had so many they could not all fit in their water bucket, the only thing they had to carry them in (11).

James enjoyed being out on the plains with his father. On their journey home, they came to the South Platte River and the water was rough. James’ father was nervous to cross the cold, raging water. He asked James if he thought his oxen would make it. James knew they would. His father trusted his judgment, and allowed James to drive them across the water first and he followed. They all arrived safely on the other side. In 1868, James and his father crossed the plains again. This time they went for a threshing machine for old man Webb. In the evenings, after a long day of walking, they would play music and dance by the campfire (12).

Employment
In 1865, James worked at his Uncle Nathan’s mill. To get the highest price he could on grain, James would ride across the desert from Deseret Springs (Modena) to White Pine, Nevada and sell it for 18 cents a pound. One night he was getting sleepy, and thought his team stay close by, so he fell asleep. The team strayed from the road and was at the edge of a deep ravine when James was awakened by his grandfather’s voice calling in his head, “James, James.” He never fell asleep on the job like that again! (13)

In 1868, when he was 18, James went to Beaver to help teach at the local school. The next year, he taught in Rose Creek, and never received any money for his teaching. He liked the experience it gave him and that was compensation enough. He would live with various families in the area, and even slept in a granary one winter with his friend Tom Butler. In the morning, James would have to break the ice on the tub to take a bath. In 1869, James and some of his friends, Will and Hugh L Thomas, formed a company and divided things equally. They all got along well until Will and Hugh got married. Then all kinds of trouble started brewing. James’ mother was the head of the company so when James was about to get married and it appeared the company was not going to work out, she divided everything and gave everyone what she thought they needed (14).

James went east during the Civil War to witness the action for himself and saw some of the soldiers. It was a tense, uncertain time in history. Every week they used to get a little paper called “The Dispatches About the War,” and everyone in town would meet to hear it read. They felt badly when they heard that Lincoln had been shot; they knew they had lost a friend. James couldn’t believe that some people sympathized with the murderer John Wilkes Booth (15).

James was “a self-made man.” (16) He worked hard every day of his life to provide the necessary comforts for himself and his family. Later in life, he served as sheriff and attorney of Iron County. He held many callings and was always active in church affairs.

Missionary work
In 1879 James was called to be part of the initial exploring party to the San Juan. On his return trip to Bluff, he did not travel with the main body of pioneers through Hole-in-the-Rock, but instead went southward again through Moencopi with those who drove the cattle. He only then remained in the area for about a year before returning to Iron County (17).

In the early eighties, he was called on his first mission to Tennessee (18). After he married and had five children, James was called to leave his work and family and serve the Lord yet again. This time he was called to the northern states and spent most of his time in Michigan. On January 11, 1900, his sixth child, a boy, was born, while James was still in Michigan preaching the gospel (19). He was a faithful missionary and answered the call to serve, even when it came with great personal sacrifice.

Marriage and family life

When James got back from his first mission to Tennessee, he met Caroline E. Redd, a daughter of Lemuel H. Redd from New Harmony. The two didn’t have much time together because Caroline was headed to Paragonah to teach school. The next winter, James took two of his nieces and went to spend Christmas with her. They got snowed in and no one seemed to mind spending the next three weeks together while they waited for the snow to melt! After that, James knew he never wanted Caroline to leave his side. When spring came, James and his niece Francella Adams again traveled to St. George. Brother McAllister married James and Caroline in the St. George Temple on March 14, 1888. When they returned to New Harmony, the whole town met to congratulate and show them a good time (20).

The newlyweds decided to set up a life for themselves in Parowan. They lived with James’s mother for a short time, then lived in the Old Wool house while James built a home of their own. Before a year had passed, James had completed their home, and they moved in just in time to welcome their precious first child. On March 13, 1889, their daughter Luella was born.

In time, James and Caroline would have eight children, five girls and three boys: Luella, Ancel James, Josephine, John, Pauline, Paul, Mary and Verene (21). When the boys got old enough, they would help on the family ranch by running the sheep (22). In the fall of 1905, James and Caroline went down the canyon from their ranch to harvest some fruit. On the way back they got caught in a rainstorm. Soaked to the bone, Caroline caught a fatal cold. She quickly developed pneumonia. James brought her into town to see the doctor, but nothing could be done. His beloved Caroline died September 3, 1903, leaving him to raise the eight children alone (23).

Memories From James’s Oldest Daughter
Luella Adams Dalton, wrote the following tribute to her father:

“Father was father and mother to us until we were all grown, when he finally went to meet his sweetheart on March 8th, 1922 after a few days illness of influenza. He was one of the stalwart pioneers of the south, an active church worker until his death. He was president of the 69 quorums of seventies for many years. He also held a number of civil offices-sheriff and county attorney. His schooling was very meager but he was a thorough student. James J. Adams was a self made lawyer and almost a walking history book. He stood shoulder to shoulder, with the men and women who helped to build this great common wealth, subdued the desert and conquered the Indians, leaving it all for us to enjoy. He was a self made man and a great reader. He had a rare knowledge of history and a wonderful memory. It was said of him at his funeral that few men had a greater knowledge of the gospel. He was a strict observer of the Word of Wisdom and full of faith till the last.” (24)

A Tribute to James J. Adams
By Elenor G. Bruhn

=============
1. James J. Adams autobiography as dictated to his daughter Luella Adams Dalton, “History of Grandpa’s Life,”. Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan, Utah. Mrs. Dalton submitted this autobiography to the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Cam p Elizabeth, under the title “A History of James J. Adams.” This version of her father’s autobiography is missing the poem written by Elenor G. Bruhn that is given at the end of the USU typescript, but is other wise identical.

2.James J. Adams autobiography,
3.Ibid,, 1.
4.Ibid., 2.
5.Ibid., 3-4.
6. Ibid., 4,
7. Ibid., 2.
8. Ibid., 3.
9. Ibid.,
10. Cornelia Adams Perkins, Marian Gardner Nielsen, and Lenora Butt Jones, Saga of San Juan (Monticello, Utah; San Juan County Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1957), 294 .
11. James Adams autobiography, 4.
12. Ibid., 5.
13. Ibid.,
14. Ibid.,
15. Ibid., 4.
16. Perkins, 294.
17. Ancil J. Adams letter to Amasa Jay Redd, 21 Dec. 1965, published in Amasa Jay Redd, ed., Lemuel Hardison Red, Jr., 1856-1923: Pioneer, Leader, Builder (Salt Lake City, Utah: privately printed, 1967), 145.
18. James J. Adams autobiography, 6.
19. Ibid.,
20. Ibid.
21. Perkins, 294.
22. James J. Adams autobiography, 6-7.
23. Ibid., 7.
24. Ibid.
25. Ibid., 8.
Article by C.S.M. Jones LLC, Family Heritage Consulting for Hole in the Rock Foundation.

==============

James J. Adams, son of William and Mary Ann Leach Adams was born Oct. 2, 1848, at Springfield, Ill. His family came to Utah in 1849 and were sent to Parowan in 1851. James taught school in Beaver in 1868 and at Paragonah in 1869. In 1879 he was called with the first company of explorers to the San Juan Mission. He married Caroline E. Redd in the St. George Temple March 14, 1888. During 1899 he went on his second mission to Michigan. He and Caroline were parents of eight children: Luella, Ancel James, Josephine, John, Pauline, Paul, Mary, and Verene. Caroline died Sept. 3, 1903. James was a self-made man. He served as sheriff and attorney of Iron County and was active in church affairs. He died March 8 1922 of influenza (Saga of San Juan).

Allen * , Isaac

2010-01-17T16:50:00.007-07:00

Isaac is mentioned once in the "Camp Records" of the southern exploring party going with the Harriman and Davis families. May 15, 1879: Silas Smith found his horses gone..Isaac Allen and Bro. Smith's boys went out hunting the horses, but returned without them (Miller p. 23). Probably not a relative to Peter Allan as this family spelled their name with an "a" . More Information needed.

Balden *, Thomas

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Information Needed

Barnes * , Noah

2010-01-14T12:22:00.003-07:00

Information needed

Barney, Danielson Buren and Laura Matthews

2010-01-14T10:54:00.008-07:00

Barney, Danielson Buren

Born: September 14, 1831, in Amherst, Ohio

Died: 12 January 1922 and was buried by the side of his wife in the Thatcher Cemetery.
Marriage: (1) Laura Matthews, on April 23, 1857
(2) Sophia Arkansas Hulsey, January 6, 1885
Father: Edson Ballou Barney, a member of Zion’s Camp
Mother: Lillis Ballou Barney
Children on the trek: Buren Onley (Birth 28 September 1860 29 20 -- Provo, Utah, Utah, USA--Death 30 January 1904 (Age 43) -- Thatcher, Graham, Arizona, USA), Alfred Alonzo (Birth 8 September 1865 3325 -- St. George, Washington County, Utah--Death 24 July 1942 (Age 76) -- Payson, Utah, Utah), Laura May (Birth 4 August 1868 3628 -- Pine Valley, Washington County, Utah--Death 17 March 1955 (Age 86) -- Thatcher, Graham County, Arizona) , Rachel Sophey (Birth 16 September 1870 3930 -- Pine Valley, Washington County, Utah--Death 23 April 1948 (Age 77) -- Alameda, Alameda, California), Edson Elroy, Eliza Melina, Betsey Maud, Ella Bird (Birth 24 April 1877 -- Pine Valley, Washington County, Utah--Death 11 February 1935 (Age 57)
(additional genenealogy information) (10 of their family)
Thanks to the Barney family for their great site!

Childhood Spent Among the Early Saints

Danielson Buran Barney was born 14 September 1831 in Amherst, Ohio. His parents, Edson and Lillis Ballou Barney, had converted to the LDS faith in the spring of that same year. The family moved several times during Danielson’s childhood in company with the early Saints, the first move taking them to Kirtland, Ohio, following his father’s return from Zion’s Camp. While living in Kirtland, young Danielson attended school inside the Kirtland Temple for a time.

Danielson Buren Barney, a veteran elder in the St. Joseph Stake, Arizona. His father's family had joined the church in the spring of 1831. They moved to Kirtland, Ohio, after his father had returned from Missouri whence he had gone as a member of Zion's camp. Danielson learned to read in the school taught in the Kirtland temple. As a child he moved about with the saints until they reached Nauvoo, Illinois. Here he was baptized by the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Mississippi River. He experienced the mobbings incident to the saints being driven out of Illinois.

One time in Nauvoo, he was asked to be a guard. He sat on the gate and watched that the mob did not come to harm the Prophet, Joseph Smith. The mob did not come that day, but he was a boy at his post all day. He participated in the exodus from Nauvoo in 1846. He spent the following winter at Winter Quarters. He resided temporarily in Pottawatamie County, Iowa. In 1851 the family immigrated to Utah and located at Provo, where Danielson experienced hardships and danger during the wars with Indians and grasshoppers.
   In 1855 he was called on a mission to the States, where he met and married Laura Matthews. He also converted her to the Church. She was the only one of her family to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints. They were married 23 April 1857, by Elder Barber. He returned home from this mission in 1857. When Danielson was ready to go home from his mission, he only had $2.50 in his pocket. He said he thought he might need it for emergency. He worked his way home and saved his $2.50.

    He was called from Provo to Dixie in 1861. He settled in St. George, Utah where he resided for many years. He helped build the St. George Temple. He moved to Pine Valley and bought a saw mill from William Gardner. He sawed lumber for the St. George Tabernacle and many residences in St. George. In 1879 he was called to Arizona. They temporarily went to San Juan first. On their way to San Juan, they were with the expedition that went through the Hole in The Rock. They had to chisel and dig out a roadway through solid rock. That 'is why it was called the hole in the rock. Some of the men were making the hole in the rock to get through, others were making a raft to ferry themselves across the Colorado River. In some Places they had to take their wagons to pieces and carry them down a piece at a time. They were pioneers and were making the best of what they had. On one ferry boat as they were crossing, the oxen began hooking and crowding the cows. They crowded the cows off into the river, and then jumped off themselves. Alfred the son of Danielson went off into the river with the cattle. He got out all right. The cattle went back to shore. They could not turn the ferry around, so they went on across and towed the boat up stream, then crossed back for the cattle. When they were going up a hill, one of the horses balked and backed them over the edge. The wagon tipped over about four times and landed right side up at the bottom of the hill. The horses were on top of it with the tongue broken. The horses were not hurt. Danielson's little daughter, Birdette, who was about five years old, was asleep in the wagon, but she was not hurt. They had two little pigs in a pen on the back of the wagon and they were both killed. They straightened up the wagon, fixed the wagon tongue and went on their way.

   The first year they were in San Juan, the Indians stole all their horses and drove them towards Blue Mountains. They were followed by a posse of men, they got most of them back. He helped build a canal from the San Juan River, but they could not keep the dam in the river, so he went to Durango, Colorado to work. While he was away his cattle died on the San Juan. While in Colorado he hauled lumber and timber from Barnes and Jones Saw Mill to Durango to help build the city. He moved from here to Luna Valley, New Mexico. He stayed there two years. It was here he met and married Sophia Hulsey as a second wife. They made a trip to St. George, Utah and were sealed for eternity in the St. George Temple. She was the widow of George Miner Dalis Underwood. She had one child named Sarah, by Mr. Underwood. She and Danielson had five children: George, Royal, William, Laura, and Myrtle.

   In 1886 he moved to Gila Valley and settled in Thatcher, Arizona. When they were coming from Luna Valley To Gila Valley, they followed the top of the mountain called Black Hills, north east of Gila Valley. They followed the top of the mountain, because there wasn't any road built down the canyon. They came to a place where they thought it was impossible to go down the hill. They plowed several furrows around the hills and kept the upper wheels in these furrows so the wagons would not tip over. They put a long pine log across the top of the wagon and several men were on the end of the log above the wagon. That kept the wagons from tipping over. They moved several wagons around these steep hills in this manner and never lost a wagon.

In 1890 he had to make an underground trip to Mexico because he had two living wives. The law was finding every man they could that lived in polygamy and was putting them in jail. They couldn't desert their families, so all they could do was hide from the officers. He lived the remainder of his life in Thatcher, Arizona. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was ordained a Patriarch in the St. Joseph Stake in 1912. He was set apart with Patriarch Samuel Claridge, by President Andrew Kimball, the Stake President, and was to travel throughout the entire Stake to bless the people. These two Patriarchs traveled with a horse and buggy. They visited and blessed many people in the Gila Valley. He set apart a room at the home of his son, Alfred, in Thatcher to give his blessings. His granddaughters, Ada and Frances, were his scribes and took down the blessings he gave in short hand, then copied them in his book. He gave many blessings to his own family as well as others. He was a wonderful man and lived a goodly life.

He died 12 January 1922 and was buried by the side of his wife in the Thatcher Cemetery.

LIFE HISTORY OF LAURA MATTHEWS BARNEY

She was born February 9, 1840 in the state of Ohio and then her family moved to Illinois and then to Wisconsin. She was reared in a family of four - of which she was the third child. Her father was a wealthy man who gave his children a good education. She became a school teacher. Her family were Baptists. Laura had read the Bible many times, which showed she was naturally religious.
    She met a young Mormon missionary from Provo, Utah and accepted his invitation to attend their meetings. He afterwards gave her a Book of Mormon. She read it many times in her room and pondered over it. She asked him to let her father read it. The missionary told her she would have to be very careful with the book because they were very scarce at that time. The Book of Mormon converted Laura to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She later married the young missionary who was Danielson Buren Barney. She left her home and all her people for the church. He came home from his mission and then went back and brought her to Provo, Utah where they were married.

    They stayed there until they had three children and they were called by President Brigham Young to go to St. George, Utah where they went through many hardships. Her husband worked on the St. George Temple. Their principal diet was cornbread and molasses.
    They were then called to Pine Valley. Her husband worked at the saw mill helping to saw lumber to build up St. George and Pine Valley. She ran a boarding house and cooked for the men. While in Pine valley she had the rest of her children - seven more making a total of ten. They went through many hardships raising their family.

    President Erastus Snow called them to come to Arizona. There was such bad weather that they could not travel so stopped on the way to earn more money. They stopped at Panguitch, Utah and worked at what they could before continuing their mission. They again stopped in Luna, New Mexico. During the cold winter they lost many of their cattle but finally made it to Thatcher, Arizona.
     One of the hardest trials was when her husband married his second wife. Although she had given her consent because of the gospel teaching, it was not easy. He went back to St. George to bring his second wife, Sophia Hulsey, to Arizona. She drove one team and her son drove the other one, and the rest of her children drove the cattle to Thatcher, Arizona.

     In Thatcher Laura Matthews Barney was constantly on call to help the sick. She also served as a midwife - going night or day to deliver babies all over the valley. Her granddaughter, Mary Vane Barney Carpenter, often told her children this memory of her grandmother. She said one night her first baby, Buren, was very miserable with the earache. She had tried all she knew to relieve his pain but finally gave up and her husband went to waken Grandma Barney who came in the middle of the night to help. She asked for a good plump raisin. This was warmed thoroughly then was gently pressed into the crying baby's ear. In no time at all, he had quieted down and was asleep.
     She was one of the first counselors in the Thatcher Ward Relief Society under President Elizabeth Moody from 1890 until 1898. She was in the Stake Presidency of the Relief Society with Elizabeth Layton and Maggie Brinkerhoff. She was a faithful member of the church all of her life. She died December 27, 1917 in Thatcher, Arizona.

Their youngest daughter Ella Bird was a victim of one of the few rollover accidents on the trip. As their wagon climbed Cottonwood Hill, their wagon tipped over sideways. As everything they had on the wagon tipped out and broke, Bird Ella, rolled up in a feather bed, escaped harm. After a couple of such incidents, precautions were taken to prevent this happening. Two men followed beside each wagon holding the rear wheels onto the grade with ropes. However, it still remained a hazardous crossing (*Hole in the Rock Site).

Barton, Amasa Miles

2010-01-14T09:51:00.012-07:00

Born: May 27, 1857, in Paragonah, Iron County, Utah
Died: June 16, 1887, in Rincon, San Juan County, Utah
Married: Harriet Parthenia “Feenie” Hyde (May 21, 1854)
Father: Joseph Penn Barton
Mother: Eliza Anderson

Parents and Childhood
Amasa’s mother, Eliza Anderson, was born into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her parents joined the Church in Tennessee in 1841, when Eliza was six years old. Shortly after becoming members, her parents decided to gather with fellow Saints, and moved to Nauvoo. As a young girl, Eliza was acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith and “vividly remembered the event of the martyrdom of the Prophet and his brother Hyrum, and saw their bodies after they were prepared for burial.” (1)

Amasa’s mother crossed the plains to Utah with her parents and arrived in Parowan in October 1851. It was there that Eliza met Amasa’s father, Joseph Penn Barton. They fell in love and were married in Parowan on May 24, 1854. After their marriage, they moved to Paragonah. Amasa, the second of their five children, was born on May 27, 1857. (2)
Mission and Marriage
Amasa Barton was called with numerous other saints to be part of the San Juan Mission. He accepted the call and set out to explore and colonize southern Utah and the Four Corners area. Eventually he settled in Bluff. It was there that he met his sweetheart, Harriett Parthenia Hyde, affectionately referred to as “Feenie.” Amasa and Feenie were married in Bluff in 1884.

Life and Tragic Death in Rincon

Below is an excerpt from “Fort on the Firing Line” by Albert R. Lyman, published in the Improvement Era between October 1948 and March 1950:
Excerpts from Chapters 13 and 14: For full story go to Fort on the Firing Line site

“The store which William Hyde began at Rincone, ten miles down the river from Bluff, had been slowly growing in prosperity in spite of Erastus Snow's ban on isolated dwellings. Amasa Barton married William Hyde's daughter, Parthenia, and became interested in the store.

In 1885, Barton became the owner of the store; at least he became the manager and the clerk, and he moved there with his wife and child to attend to the business. In taking this dangerous step Barton was not acting in defiance of any standard set up for the safety of the colony. From becoming interested in a small way, he had assumed one obligation after another until it seemed only sane and sensible to go there and give his investment personal attention. Also he may have considered it no longer necessary for the people to huddle together, since they had seen fit to move out of the fort.

Barton was a man of unusual strength and energy, large and magnetic, a talented builder and mechanic, and just the kind of man to develop a new country. With untiring effort he built a neat, commodious home from the crooked logs he could find along the river, and he made an attractive store building, warehouse, blacksmith shop, and other substantial conveniences. He devised a treadmill in which he had a donkey lift water from the river for his well-kept garden. Rincon, in Spanish, means, "corner." This corner is formed by the right-angle junction of Comb Reef with the gorge of the San Juan River. It is the corner from which the travel-worn company from Hole-in-the-Rock had so much trouble getting out in the spring of 1880.

Barton's operations in this cliff-bound Rincone began to make the very name a suggestion of neatness and beauty, for at his artistic touch the junction presented a unique and pleasing contrast to the bald, gray cliffs all around. His store like others of its kind, ran a pawn business instead of a credit account. A Navajo could pawn a gun, saddle, or anything else at a stipulated value, and draw goods up to that limit. The pawn could be renewed with a stipulated deposit, but anything left after a given amount of time was forfeited. The system was rich with possibilities of unpleasant misunderstandings even with good Indians, but with bad Indians it was a handy leverage for all kinds of mischief.

A Navajo known as Old Eye, from having lost one eye when a flying gad struck him several years before, had worked often for Barton at Rincone, and had often looked longingly at the display of attractive goods in the store. When he went back to his little sheep herd in the reservation, he somehow evolved the wild notion of carrying the goods away from the store. This idea was no doubt inflamed, if not really suggested in the first place, by a certain young bully with a bad face, who was keen for the venture. Rincone was remote and unprotected, and they could get far away before anyone came after them. Better still, they could do it in such a way that they would seem to be justified. However, that robbery notion got such a hold on Old Eye, who had been a friend to Barton from the day of their first acquaintance, he planned with the young bully to rob the store, and their plan looked neater in anticipation than it ever looked as a fact. . . .
. . .The mischief was done! . . .She was young and fair, and she tried with terrified eyes to read their intentions. "What do you want?" she asked in their language, hiding her emotions as best she could. "The store," one of them demanded, with a gesture meaning the key. She gave them the key and left them to take what they pleased. The robbery Old Eye had planned went forward wholesale while he lay sprawling on the sand where the bully had dropped him. The six men in eager haste carried the goods from the store in backloads to the boat, rowed them across in load after load, and stopped only when one of their vigilant sentinels warned them in a loud call that horsemen were approaching from Bluff.

Cheepoots had honored his trust with all diligence. Platte Lyman and Kumen Jones came loping over the sand hills where the old man had disappeared; reaching the store before it was thought possible they could have received the word. When Cheepoots rode his lathering cayuse into Bluff with Mrs. Barton's note, he found but six men in town, and by three in the afternoon all but one of the six had gone to Rincone, figuring that was the place of greatest danger. Somehow they clung to the belief that the town was immune to attack. Immune or not, Bluff that afternoon became terrible with forebodings.

Next day men came in from the camps, from the freight roads and other places in answer to the call of nightriders who told them of the danger. Everyone felt grave concern for what might happen. Then onto that stage of dreadful things pending, came a well-meaning actor, who threw the builders of the fort completely off their guard.

Amasa Barton lingered a week before he died, and in the first half of that time the men from Bluff kept fearful watch over him, and all the time they kept a vigilant eye on a mob of Navajos peeping from the cliff beyond the river. In the broad light of one of those May days, instead of in the nighttime, as the watchers had feared, they saw a man come straight down from that mob to the river, to the boat. He made no effort to keep out of sight; he rowed with deliberate stroke to the north side, and climbed to the shelf to where the weary watchers sat by the dying man.

It was Tom Holiday, one of the important chiefs who had been twice to Salt Lake City at the invitation of Brigham Young and John Taylor to hear and subscribe to peace treaties between his people and the Mormons. Impressive in size, magnetic, and intelligent, he marched boldly up to the Barton home, gave them friendly greetings and asked what the trouble was all about. They told him what had happened, showed him the unconscious man, and assured him they had no desire for anything but peace, not the least preparation for anything but peace. "I have been telling my people you are our friends," he said. "I told them you have always been our friends. I told them to go home and let the matter pass. I shall go back and send them home." He returned to the boat and up to the hiding mob from which he came, and very soon it was apparent they had all gone away; none of them could be seen. The crisis seemed to be past.

When Barton died, his funeral was held in Bluff without fear of further trouble from the Navajos. Men returned to the freight road and the camps to take up their work where they had dropped it.”
Amasa Miles Barton was a noble, brave man who lost his life in the self-less service of his family, his friends and his God.
Sources:
1. Our Pioneer Heritage, Compiled by Kate B. Carter, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Volume 6, page 509.
2. History of the Iron County Mission, Parowan, Utah, Compiled by Mrs. Luella Adams Dalton, page 237.
3. “The Fort on the Firing Line,” The Improvement Era, October 1949, chapters 13 and 14.
4. Picture of Amasa Miles Barton, http://www.bartonancestry.com/gen/showmedia.php?mediaID=109&medialinkID=201
Article by Article by C.S.M. Jones LLC, Family Heritage Consulting for Hole in the Rock Foundation.

Photo of Feenie's and Amasa's sons. The one on the left, was named Amasa Hyde Barton. The second son was not named at the time Amasa was killed. LaRue and Karl Barton in Bluff have a letter he wrote to his mother about 1 week before being shot and he talks about the two boys: . . .I send you a lock of my boy's hair the lightest is Hyde's. We haven't found a name for baby yet he is such a fine fellow can't get a name nice enough." Written June 7th 1887. Amasa died June 16. He was eventually named William Penn Barton and is the child in wagon.

Kumen Jones recalls Murder of Amasa
Other observations about Amasa by Kumen Jones

Barton, Joseph Franklin and Harriet Ann Richards

2010-01-13T22:20:00.009-07:00

Joseph F. Barton of Paragonah was married to Harriet Ann Richards, May 15, 1876 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. Harriet Ann Richards Barton was born at Parowan, Utah, Sept. 14, 1855. She was a school teacher. Early in 1879 he, with his wife answered the call by President Erastus Snow to help establish a colony in the southeastern part of the state. The couple, with their two little children came through the Hole-in-the-Rock into Bluff on April 6, 1880 (Saga of San Juan pp 299-300).

Children on the trek: Harriet, Eliza, Mary, Viola

Joseph Barton's journal describing the call and trail building.

Joseph described the descent down the hole this way:
Of course everybody was very anxious to try the new road down the celebrated hole in the rock which is a crack or gap thru the rim rock (barely wide enuf for the passage of a wagon) which led to a narrow ruff canyon that wound its way to the River. The first decent of the hole in the rock being 26 ft and which took sevrl days blasting to fill and even then was thot to be a very dangerous peice of wagon road. However by means of a long rope and 10 men the wagons were lowered thru the hole and set on their way for the River (3/4 of a mile distant) before any of the teams of Camp #2 put in an appearance. The writer happened to be some distance in advance of the balance of Company # 2 and reached the dreaded road just at Sundown and knowing that if he waited for the ten men and rope he would camp on the rim that night, but after taking a Survey of the cavity & putting on ruff lock and urging his team considerable finally got them to face what seemed almost next to death. However the next 1/2 minute landed team wagon and driver at first station about 300 ft down the hole in the rock right side up, where upon examination he found that the chain to ruff lock had broken but thru a providencial act the chain had flipped a lap around the feloe in Such a manner as to serve for a lock.

Barton had an especially dependable team of horses. A gggrandson Tad Barton said: "my great great great grandfather Joseph Franklin Barton's team of horses pulled many wagon on the original trek...they were blind from an out break of pink eye that hit Iron county so they couldn't see how steep the road was...they just did what they were told to "(1/19/2010). They are also mentioned in Lund's book

Joseph took a leading part in the education, civil, religious and financial affairs of the community. He was an exemplary neighbor, a good veterinarian. He had all the attributes to make him the fine colonizer he was. He eventually settled in Verdure, where he passed away.
Harriet possessed an exceptionally fine voice and sang in Alfred Durham's choir. When she and her husband settled in Bluff, she ecame very active in Church activities, especially the Relief Society and the Ward Choir. The couple had eight children: Harriet, Mary, Joseph Franklin, Morgan, Josephine, Isabel, Karl, and Wesley.

May 29, 1896 Harriet Barton died at the age of 40, seventeen days after giving birth to their eighth child. Nine days later their newborns boy died. Two years following Harriet’s untimely death, Joseph was called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the southernstates. After returning from his mission, Joseph married Eugenia Johnson in 1907 and moved to Verdure where they established a successful farm and ranch. Joseph died in Verdure, Utah on April 10, 1926 .
Kumen Jone's tribute to Joseph Barton:
Joseph F., one of the partners in the company that was located at Rincon, 10 miles west of Bluff, Utah. The company consisted of Amasa and Joseph F. Barton, Ernest and Frank H. Hyde. I think their company name or business was "Hyde and Barton."

Joseph F. took a leading place in education, civil and religious, and financial affairs, held official positions in all of above features of progress and civilization. Having him and family as my nearest neighbor for 24 years, I found them 100 percent fine. Brother Barton was an all around handy, helpful, exemplary neighbor; quite a veterinarian, understood many of the ailments of domestic animals, and for planning all corrals, outhouses, etc., his gift or ability along those lines was an asset to the community where he lived, and later in life he had the opportunity of "building a home by the side of the road and being a friend to man."--a home and surroundings that stood as a credit to southeastern Utah. This was at Verdure, Utah, where he and family resided for many years, and where he passed on from this mortal school. One of his sons, Karl S., lived with his family at Verdure for many years.

Today the Barton cabin represents the sole surviving feature of the earliest architecture of Bluff. It retains the integrity of its original location, design, setting, material, workmanship, feeling, and association.

Bartons featured in Hole in the Rock Newsletter
Brief history of the Barton Cabin

Bayles *, Hanson, Mary Ann Durham

2010-01-13T22:10:00.009-07:00

(Hanson Bayles story written by Jill Bayles, submitted March 29, 2010 --Thank you so much!)

Hanson Bayles was just twenty one when he was called to leave for the San Juan country in 1879. He left his sweetheart in Parowan as he was one of twenty-two in the first exploring party on the southern route to San Juan. In the fall the full expedition set out with Hanson herding some of his own cattle as he helped manage the large herd of livestock that accompanied the party. In April, 1880, the weary pioneers finally pulled into Bluff after their grueling six month journey. Next to the San Juan River they built a fort, their cabins, and established the San Juan Mission. The men drew lots for acreage to farm and for city lots to build their homes.

Later that year Hanson returned to Parowan to get his sweetheart, Mary Ann Durham; they were married in the St. George Temple and they were in Bluff to begin their married life by Christmas, 1880. The family prospered in spite of the hardship and four children were born in Bluff - Annie, Hanson Durham, Emma, and Caroline. Unfortunately, Mary Ann died in 1888 when their last child was born and Hanson was left a widower with four children under eight. His sisters Juliette & Emma came to Bluff to help care for the motherless family.

As Bluff grew, Hanson prospered and was able to build his herds & grazing land. He was a founding partner in the Bluff co-op. Meanwhile, a young woman named Evelyn Lyman, a daughter of Platte Lyman, was growing up in Bluff. She noticed Hanson & his little family and Hanson was aware of Evelyn as she played in the Bluff band and attended church activities. Her father warned her that she could be a widow for many years if she married an older man; his words turned out to be quite true.

Hanson was forty and Evelyn twenty two in 1897 when they married in the Manti Temple. Their first child, De Lyman Bayles, was born the next year and in 1900 Velyn was born. By this time their new block home was under construction. This home was located across the street west from Dorothea & Jens Neilsen's home and the growing family, now with six children, was anxious to move in. Soon Clark, Grant, and Adelia arrived, joining the teenagers from Hanson's first family.

Outlaws and Indian trouble continued to plague the settlers. During those early years, some of the men took turns being the sheriff. It was while Hanson was sheriff that he had a unique experience. Two outlaws were on their way through the San Juan country & he was notified to be on the lookout and try to apprehend them. He & a deputy had captured them & were taking them to Thompson where they could catch the train to take them on to Colorado. This was over a hundred miles so they spent a few nights on the trail with their horses and the prisoners. Hanson and the deputy would take four hour shifts during the night to guard the outlaws. One of those nights Hanson was on guard; he was sitting, leaning against a tree with his rifle across his knees. Everyone seemed to be sleeping as Hanson rested. Suddenly he awakened with a start grabbing his rifle. One of the outlaws had managed to get out of his handcuffs & was standing in front of Hanson just reaching for his gun! Quickly Hanson re cuffed him and tied him up tighter. A few days later the outlaws were turned over to the authorities without further incident. Back in Bluff, Hanson told his family of the close call. The outlaw told Hanson that he had planned to get the gun & kill him and the deputy. Why had Hanson awakened so suddenly when he was in danger? Hanson said he heard his Mother calling him in her distinctive Danish accent, HAN-SON! Anna Frederikka Oster Bayles, his Mother, had died years earlier, but he heard her that night.

By 1908, Grayson, 26 miles north of Bluff, was beginning to grow as more families settled there. It was that year that Hanson was called as the first Bishop of Grayson Ward (later called Blanding). Evelyn had a sad heart as they moved their growing family - now ten - from their nice home in Bluff to a tin granary in Grayson. The twins were born in Grayson, at Hanson's Mothers', and Mary came along in 1911. Mary may have been born in the new brick home Hanson had built on the corner of 200 South 100 East. Scott, the last child, was born there in 1915. This pioneer home is still occupied, now almost 100 years old.

Hanson was Bishop as the saints sacrificed and the South Chapel was built. The first telephone in Grayson was placed in the Bayles home. Around this time the Mormon Saints were run out of Mexico and many arrived in Grayson. As Bishop, Hanson helped them with food & shelter; many arrived with nothing. Many times he sent those in need to his own granary and fields for supplies.

Evelyn remembers tithing being paid in grain, vegetables, eggs, meat, fruit, and other items piled on their porch before it was distributed to the needy.

Hanson Bayles died in Blanding in 1922 and was buried in the Blanding Cemetary. Evelyn was eighty seven when she died; she is buried in Blanding. Mary Ann Durham Bayles is buried in the Bluff Cemetary.

==============================
(Saga of San Juan summary)
Hanson Bayles was born to Herman D. Bayles and Anna Easter Bayles 1858 at Parowan, Utah
In 1879, he was called to help in the settlement of San Juan County. He was a member of the Mormon Exploring and Hole-in-the-Rock Parties. Later, he married Mary Ann Durham in the St. George Temple and they moved to Bluff. They had four children: Annie, Hanson Durham, Emma, and Caroline. When Caroline was born Jan. 31, 1888 her mother died.
Hanson served as county treasurer, also county commissioner and was bishop of the Bluff and later the Blanding ward. He was considered one of the leading business men of the county. His counsel was sought in financial and spiritual matters. He owned vast tracts of land, also cattle and sheep. He was a successful farmer and rancher. He was dependable and just in all of his dealings. He died Nov. 1922.

Poem about Mary Ann Durham Bayles

Bryson *, Samuel

2010-01-13T21:53:00.004-07:00

Bryson was from Woodruff, Utah. He was assigned as Captain of the sixth ten, as the pioneers were organized into working units (Miller 101). He is also mentioned on pp 134, 162, 164, 168 of the Hole in the Rock book.
More information needed!

Bullock, Robert

2010-01-13T21:35:00.001-07:00

Bullock was born Jan. 8 1838 at Glasgow, Scotland. He was a member of the First Exploring Part to San Juan. He was with the group that went south, trying to find a viable route through Indian territory to the San Juan. That part of the trek was over 400 miles. Under Silas Smith's leadership during the San Juan trip, he drove cattle and acted as an advance scout. He was older than most of the men and his good judgement was highly regarded by the company, and Captain Smith who kept him in the lead.
While camping on the Sevier River below Panguitch, the company organized with Smith as Captain and Robert Bullock as sergeant of the guard.
He was among the first three to reach San Juan and return to lead the others to what later was called Fort Montezuma. This trip began on April 13, 1879. He returned to his home Cedar City (following the north route?) in September 18, 1879.
Me married Maria Fife Jan. 30 1867. He was a livestock man during his entire life. He died June 23, 1903 (Saga of San Juan p. 304) He is mentioned in Silas S. Smith's joural several times.

Bullock is also noted in Miller's Hole in the Rock pp 18, 24, 25, 31, 148, 150, 151

Butler, John

2010-01-13T20:58:00.001-07:00

John Lowe Butler (1808-1861).
Place names of Utah Butler Wash in San Juan County was named for one of the first White scouts in the area. It was John Butler who approached nearest to this rim, and the canyon.
He is mentioned on pp. 18, and 148 in Miller's book.
Account of persecutions of .... "Notes Regarding the Trip Through the Hole in the Rock." ...

Butt, Parley R.

2010-01-13T19:25:00.008-07:00

Parley Butt was born 27 Jan 1862 Parowan He died 20 Nov 1940 Dove Creek, Dolores, Colorado and is buried in Monticello. San Juan County Marriage records show that Parley married Bayles, Edith A. Verdure, UT, age 22 on 11/28/1898 They were then sealed in the temple 12/7/1898 Manti, UT by John D. T. McAllister (Elder of the LDS Church).
Parley Butt's saw mill
The cutting of ponderosa dates as far back as 1880, when the lumber for the first sluice gages on the San Juan River in Bluff were cut from trees on Blue Mountain.(4) This timber was taken using a combination of rip saw and sawpit by Parley R. Butt, Willard Butt, and George Ipson, in a region between Bulldog and Devil’s Canyon. (5) In 1891 Parley and Willard Butt set up the first sawmill on the Blue Mountain, halfway between Verdure and Monticello (9) (Blue Mountain Shadows Vol 3).

Story told by William Halls Jr (1863-1939)
After reaching Mancos, Colorado, all of the men folks took up desert entry claims. There had to be a six-mile ditch dug from the Mancos River to their claims. This was done mostly by hand work -- no bulldozers, no digging machines, and their horses were poor. Father worked in logging camps and coal mines, or wherever he could get work. He and the two Butt boys, Parley and Dick, were the first white men the Indians would allow on the Elk Mountain with cattle. This story was related to me by Parley Butt in 1915. He said the Indians rode into their camp and one of them was riding Dick’s horse. When he claimed the horse, the Indians laid back over their horses and pointed their rifles at the three of them. Parley said he and Dick were scared to death, but Dad was sitting on a log reading a yellow-back novel. He just looked up and grinned and went on reading. When I asked Dad about it later, he said, “Well, if you’re going to die, you might just as well grin.”

Parley called to Blue Mountain Mission
VERDURE The oldest Mormon settlement in the Blue Mountain Region was first known as South Montezuma. Later the name was changed to Verdure after the lush green growth along the stream bed. Verdure was settled by men of the Blue Mountain Mission March 11, 1887, under the direction of Pres. Francis A. Hammond of the San Juan Stake. He called George A. Adams, Frederick I. Jones, Parley R. Butt and Charles E. Walton to establish a new settlement at North Montezuma, later named Monticello. They first set up camp at Verdure to prepare for a permanent settlement at Monticello, six miles to the north. When company members moved on to Monticello in 1888 the Adams and Butt families remained at Verdure. By 1894 they were joined by the Alvin Decker, Willard Butt, Lingo Christensen, R.P. Hott and Francis Nielson families. Nielson operated a store and a school out of his log home, the first church met in the Decker home, and in 1893 a post office was installed in the Adams home. Verdure was a peaceful frontier village where cattle, farming and cheese-making were the main occupations. Gradually the settlers moved to Monticello.
Parley is mentioned on pp. 26-27, 150-151 in Miller's book.
Noelle Bronson recalls stories of her grandfather Parley Butt

Butt building in Dove Creek
==============================

Parley Butt (submitted by Lisa Rarick - his great, great granddaughter).
by Ernie Pyle
[Pyle was an American journalist who wrote as a roving correspondent for the Scripps Howard newspaper chain from 1935 until his death in combat during World War II. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1944. His articles, about the out-of-the-way places he visited and the people who lived there, were a folksy style much like a personal letter to a friend.]

"One of the settlers around Monticello was a Mormon named Parley Butt. He was one of the first in the town of Bluff to the South, and into Dove Creek, to the east. We met him yesterday in Dove Creek. He's a character if I've ever seen one.

He was in the Mormon scouting party that first penetrated southern utah. He was a member of the fated group that made Mormon history by their experiences at "Hole in the rock."

Parley Butt is a lovable rascal. Ugly as mud fence (aw, don't get nervous; he won't mind), with huge, queer gold teeth in his lower jaw. He's got an ornery grin on his face. I'd like to know him better.

He has been very rich in his day. Was a great Mormon cattle man, and owned thousands and thousands of acres of land. Probably the first citizen of southeastern Utah. He's lost a great deal of that, but he's doing all right, too. He has a good time.

He ran for the Utah Legislature once. Got elected by one vote. He said if that was the best they could do, nuts to "em. He refused to go to Salt Lake City.

He served three terms as sheriff of San Juan County. They tell how he tracked three desperadoes into the desert, found them all asleep, took their guns, and then just sat quietly until they woke up, and laughed at them.

Utah and Colorado will miss Parley Butt when he's gone. He's got a sense of ironic humor that you seldom see in this day and age. You find it mostly in Alaska among the old boys.

The friend who is traveling with me chatted with Parley Butt at a different time than I did. When my friend started to leave Parley Butt said to him, 'So long, kiddo.'

And when I said goodbye to him he said, 'Well give my regards to all the good looking people in the world.' I kinda doubt if a guy like that will ever die."

Butt, Willard

2010-01-13T19:03:00.002-07:00

Willard and his brother Parley were both from Parowan. Willard b.1858-d.1919 in Cortez.

Willard Butt, with his love for a practical joke, his easy wit and humor, coupled with his hospitality and intense interest in people, was one of the most colorful characters in the country. His doors were open to friends and to strangers, cowboys, and Indians. If danger was present, he was always in the front ranks. For many years he acted as county sheriff. In later life, when crippled with rheumatism, he continued to ride the range.

He married Julia Nielson, a girl with a heart, if that could be possible--bigger than his own. Their friends were legion. Far and near they came to bask in the sunshine and hospitality of the Butt home. To their marriage were born four children: Elsa, Harold, Rye, and Lila.
Willard came through the Hole-in-the-Rock to Bluff..remaining there for a few years until the Blue Mountain Mission materialized. He went to Verdure where he lived for a few years. Returning to Bluff he lived until his death, June 9, 1919 (Saga of San Juan 305).

Handwritten notes in book owned probably by Brigham Young Jr.:
All of the handwritten notes contained within the book appear to be written in the same hand. In addition to the probable ownership of this book by Brigham Young Jr. this copy also has a Bluff Utah provenance. Brigham Young Jr. spent some time in Bluff in the years 1895 and 1896. A handwritten table of distances in the back of the book records the miles between Bluff Verdure Monticello and Moab Utah. #11;#11;Also on the facing pace is a handwritten list that reads as follows: Bluff City Nov. 25 1897 Nov. 25 97 #11;Names of those who desire to go away from Bluff: #11;Willard Butts Willard George William Butt #11;#11;Names of those who remain in Bluff: #11;1. Bishop J. Neilsen sic 2. Kumen Jones 3. Lemuel H. Redd 4. Jas. B. Decker #11;5. Hans Bayles 6. John Allen 7. Hirum Perkins Hyrum 8. H. Jas. Neilsen sic #11;9. John Rogers 10. William Adams 11. John Adams 12. J.M. Redd 13. Jens P. Neilsen sic 14. Francis Neilsen sic 15. Fred. Adams 16. Jas. Hammond 17. Albion Brown 18. Willis Rogers 19. Pres. F.A. Hammond 20. Platt D. Lyman 21. 22. Division of the stake. Many of the individuals listed above were original settlers of Bluff Utah and came to the region with the Hole-in-the-Rock Expedition of 1879-80. As mandated by the LDS Church a group of approximately 236 people traveled with the goal of settling the south eastern area of the Utah Territory. The specific route the settlers chose led them to a narrow opening in the west wall of Glen Canyon. The only way to continue their journey was to blast a larger passage through this narrow opening referred to as the "Hole-in-the-Rock." A total of forty wagons made their way safely to Bluff Utah. Bluff was originally intended to be a farming village but because of the harsh terrain livestock production was implemented under the direction of Francis A. Hammond 1822-1900. Hammond was appointed the LDS Stake President of the San Juan area in 1885. #11;#11;Individuals listed above include: Willard George William Butt 1858-1919 was an original member of the Hole-in-the Rock expedition and was San Juan County!s first sheriff. He also started the first steam powered sawmill in San Juan County. He died in Cortez Colorado and was buried in Bluff Utah

Willard and how Whisker's Draw got its name
Willard Butt home in Bluff

Christensen, Peter

2010-01-13T17:50:00.001-07:00

No information found--much needed!

Christensen, Lars

2010-01-13T17:38:00.001-07:00

David Miller adds Christensen, Lars to a group listed as: "Persons sometimes listed as among the Hole-in-the-Rock Company but without definite proof (Miller, 147).

Cox, Samuel and Sarah Gane

2010-01-13T17:35:00.004-07:00

Child on the trek: Sarah Marchant (Read her story)
Samuel was one of three violinists on the trek, They furnished music for the dances whenever they could find a hard smooth surface. Cox also had a trumpet as did Charles Walton. These were used not only for musical selections, but to call the camp together, and for morning and evening prayers (Miller, 46).

Samuel Cox we believe was born 7 February 1834 Westcranmond, Somerset, England. His parents were Abraham Cock and Francis . He died 17 May 1926 in Beazer, Alberta, Canada. This is where his daughter later died as well in 1906 after the birth of her 10th child.

Sarah Gane was born about 17 November 1833 Shepton Mallet, England. She died 23 January 1915. Her parents were George Gane and Jane Marchant Gane.

From Cox/Olson History:
Samuel Cox and his wife Sarah Gane arrived in Cardston May 21st 1898. They traveled from Price, Utah to Lethbridge by train and then to Cardston by wagon. They were accompanied by their only child, a daughter, Sarah Marchant and her husband Erastus Olsen and their four children, Clarence age 9, Clara age 5, Gane age 4, and Murrel age 2. They lived in a log house east of Biglow home. During the first summer in Carston another son was born to them, Charles who lived only a few weeks. Both families moved to Aetna , June 8th 1900.

Samuel Cox built a rock home across the street from his daughter. He was a talented carpenter by trade and had a great love for music and drama. He was called on to organize a ward choir, serve as ward chorister and drama director. His wife Sara Gane, although past 60, had a special talent as an administering angel. Prior to her coming to Canada she had been a midwife and home nurse, traveling by horse to far off areas day or night. It didn’t take long for the people of Aetna to realize they had a true friend. She was called as Relief society President. Everyone called her to deliver babies, nurse the sick, or treat the injured. She never expected or received pay but willing gave of her talents to anyone in need. She was devoted to her daughter and stayed close to her to help her as long as she lived.

After their daughter died following the birth of her 10th child, Sarah Gane took the baby Carl to her home to care for though at this time passed 70. They moved from the ranch into a little comfortable home he built in Beazer across from the school. Grandma Cox, as she was lovingly called, continued her active life with her grandchildren, her church and the community. When friends admonished her to take it easy she would laugh and say “Well at least I won't rust out.” And she certainly didn’t. After she was passed 70 she served as Relief Society President, Sunday school teach, and cared for a baby until he was six years old, at which time his Father asked that he be returned to the family unit. She showed great love and concern for her grandchildren as long as she lived. To the younger children she became the only Mother they could remember.

She suffered a stroke in November 1914 and was bedfast until her death. Her granddaughter Myrtle, although only 15 years old moved into the Cox home to care for her. Friends came from as far away as Aetna to express love, to sit with her, to care for her during the long nights, that Myrtle might rest. On January 23, 1915 she suffered a second stroke and died. She was loved by all who ever knew her.

It was bitter cold and heavy snow. The ground had to be opened with a pick. Samuel built a cement vault large enough for both of them. In order to keep the cement from freezing lanterns were lit inside and it was covered until dry. Samuel built the casket for her himself, because he wanted it well built and beautiful. It was perhaps his finest work. He chose Maple wood. When completed the Sisters lined it with sating and padded the outside and covered it with velvet brocade. The handles and graven nameplate were silver. Indeed no finer casket could have been bought. She was laid to rest in the Beazer cemetery 26 January 1915.

Samuel took the wood that was left and fashioned a beautiful violin, which he often played. He was a very lonely man, living some at the Olsen ranch with his grandchildren, and some at his little home alone. Through a friend who knew her, he agreed to send to Sweden to have a sister come out to take care of him. Her name was Marta Ruda. She was a staunch member of the church and had been a cook in the mission home, and a mother to every missionary passing by. Upon her arrival they were married. She spoke no English, he no Swedish, but he set about to teach her. She learned remarkably well for a women her age. They got along well and she took good care of him until his death, May 18, 1926.

Marta Ruda was a very industrious woman, a fine cook and a friend to all. She greatly enjoyed temple work. She continued to live on in the little house Samuel Cox built in Beazer. She became “Aunt Marta” to most of the ward, although she had no direct family and no friend who spoke her native tongue. She died in Beazer of a heart condition February 25, 1935.

Dailey, Milton and Mary Malinda Wilson

2010-01-13T17:16:00.006-07:00

Name: Milton Dailey
Birth: 14 Oct 1827--Fallstown, Luz, Pennsylvania
Death: 28 Oct 1913
Burial: Oct 1913--Paragonah, Iron, Utah

Name: Mary Malinda Wilson
Birth: 6 Feb1851--Little Pidgeon, Pottawattomie, Iowa

Death: 16 Feb 1904
Burial: Feb 1904--Paragonah, Iron, Utah

There are eight children listed, including Madeline (born in 1876) and Marion (born in 1877). It appears that this family went on to eventually settle in Alpine, Apache, Arizona. Information from Caroline Nielson 2/5/2010

Children on trek: Marion and Madalene
(Louvisa Buckley mother of Malinda ?)

More information needed

Dailey, Wilson and Lorana Tilton

2010-01-13T14:49:00.002-07:00

Children on Trek: Bade, Belt
Dailey, Wilson Born 1817, Died 1903 He Shared headstone with Wilson Orr and Lorana . He was from Harrisburg, Utah.

Wilson Dailey, curiously enough, was one of the few pioneers who were not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or Mormons as more commonly known. Dailey considered this trek to be an opportunity to get to the mines in Colorado in company with a large emigrant train.

Dailey was one of two blacksmiths in the company. Blacksmiths were one of the most important figures in the company, as it was up to them to keep the roadworking tools sharpened and in good repair. They also created horseshoes, nails, wagon wheel bands and other needed pieces. They had several young men help them to build coke ovens at the top of the Hole, and then kept them busy pumping the bellows for the forges Hole in the Rock site.

Information needed

Dalley * , Nielson B.

2010-01-13T14:40:00.005-07:00

Nielson was born Feb. 22, 1861 in Summit, Iron county, Utah. (He is usually referred to as Nels.) At the age of 18 he was called to accompany the group selected to explore the San Juan County with the idea of settling this section of the state. Being a good rider and very handy with cattle, he was assigned to help with the livestock that accompanied the explorers. (Kumen notes in his journal that Nielson Dalley was from Cedar City.)
He accompanied James B. Decker, Kumen Jones, Parley Butt, and Hamilton Wallace back to Moencopy for the Davis family, who had remained there because of the ill health of Mrs Davis. They also brought the cattle and some horses on to Fort Montezuma. (His journal of southern exploring party of 1879, included in Hole in the Rock by Miller pp 148-154)
He returned later to his home in Summit and later married Mary C. Jones, Feb. 21, 1883. They were the parents of nine children. Mr. Dalley was a farmer and sheepman all his life. He died Aug. 30, 1947 (Saga of San Juan 307)

Possible connection on Bailey site

Dalton *, John C.

2010-01-13T14:33:00.006-07:00

Entry in Nielson Dalley's diary of the southern exploring company of 1879. John Dalton is listed as part of the company. On April 27 it says: "John Dalton and Nels Dalley chosen to hunt again for lost horse; tracked it 15-20 miles.... (Miller 148-149)

More information needed!

Ipson, George

2010-01-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

Information on pp. 147, 189 Hole in the Rock by Miller

More information needed

Thornton* , Hammilton

2010-01-13T09:40:00.003-07:00

Information needed
p. 30, Miller's book refers to Thornton
Kumen Jone's journal says in his entry dated Company start April 15, 1879 that the exploration party fouth started: Thornton is listed as part of the Cedar City group. "Hamilton Thornton from Pinto Creek, joined the party on the San Juan River."

Davis *, James and Mary Elizabeth Fretwell

2010-01-12T20:53:00.015-07:00

James Davis Family

Back Row, L to R: Cordelia (1881-1955), John Orson (1876-1952), Emily Ellen (1873-1947), James Henry (1870-1930), Ethel Olive (1879-1943).
Front Row: Stella (1883-1952), James l. (1840-1920), Mary Elizabeth (1843-1928), and Edward Fretwell (1865-1940). Taken c 1894

James and Mary were born in England; all the children were born in Utah. Four of the children died before this photograph was taken.

James Davis: His parents were George Davis (1806-1860) and Mary Antony Timson (1806-1866). James was born 9 August 1840 London, Middlesex, England; Death: 7 February 1920 Paris, Bear Lake, Idaho. He married Mary Elizabeth Fretwell 23 April 1864 at the Endowment House, Salt Lake. They eventually had 11 children, four of whom died before the 1879 San Juan Mission. James loved music and was an organist and also loved to sing and dance. He knew some fast and unusual dance steps which entertained their Navajo friends. He lived to age 80 and they say he could still dance a fancy jig. James once testified: "All the promises that were made to me by the Elders of the Church in England have been fulfilled, and life has been worth living (McDonald, Blue Mountain Shadows Vol. 30 p. 46)."

Mary Elizabeth Fretwell: Her parents were William Kellingley Fretwell (1817-1872) and Mary Ann Raby (1821-1858). Mary was the oldest of seven children. She was born 14 April 1843 London, London, England and died 21 November 1923, Paris, Bear Lake, Idaho. The blessing given to her prior to leaving to San Juan in 1879 was fulfilled and she never lost another child. In addition her health was restored, despite the primitive and trying circumstances the family faced while at Fort Montezuma. She survived to a ripe old age of 85.

Children on the trek: Edward Fretwell, James Henry Fretwell, Emily Ellen, John Orson. Their daughter Ethel Olive was the first known white child born in San Juan (Aug. 2, 1880). James hired Clara Mitchell to act as a midwife. The labor began Aug. 1 and was long and excruciating. After the first day, Clara went out of the fort exhausted saying she didn't think Mary would live, and then she left the area for awhile. While she was gone the baby was born at 2:30 AM Aug. 2. Both the baby and Mary were well and healthy. (McDonald, Blue Mt. Shadows Vol. 30 p. 19)

The Davis family was in the initial exploring expedition which settled at Montezuma Creek in July of 1879, nine months ahead of the arrival of the Hole in the Rock party at Bluff in April of 1880. The history of their experiences in San Juan is well documented in their histories below. They are truly icons of faithfulness and courage. It took so long for the main party to arrive and bring supplies that the Davises and Harriman's nearly starved. In fact, at one time there were even rumors they had been killed and Thales Haskell was sent to bury their bodies. Be sure to follow the links below to read their full story and understand the difficulties they faced so faithfully.
Hole in the Rock by David Miller also has references to Davis on pp. 12, 20, 27, 29, 90, 92, 149, 154-157

James Davis History

Mary Elizabeth Fretwell history

Five Years on the San Juan Improvement Era Jan. 1941 is now on line!

The Davis family later moved to Paris, Idaho in 1884. The spring of that year brought a devastating flood to the area with the river running five feet higher than normal, and destroying everything in its path. It peaked on June 18. Much of what the Montezuma settlers had built was washed downstream, proving that the greatest threat at Montezuma was not the Indians, but the river (McDonald p. 42).

The Davis family began to gather up what they could carry in one wagon. They traded their one remaining cabin, barn, and belongings to a Colorado cattleman for one small Indian pony. They left Fort Montezuma in Aug. or Sept. of 1884 with a caravan of other pioneers, eight wagons in total. They made their exodus through Recapture Canyon, the mouth of which is about 11 miles west of Fort Montezuma (McDonald p. 45.)

Issue #30 of Blue Mountain Shadows has great detail about this family and others who came to Montezuma Creek written by Ron McDonald as well as a poem about Mary Davis and her ordeal in crossing Arizona deserts while pregnant.
Poem about Mary Davis

Obtain Blue Mountain Shadows at Clarks Market, San Juan Pharmacy, EOC Museum, or Visitors Center in Blanding. Full sets should also be available at libraries at middle and high schools, CEU/SJC, and the Blanding Library.
If anyone wants to do further research on this family you can contact Ron McDonald at fortmontezuma@yahoo.com. He will try to help you locate living descendants who could provide additional profile information.

Decker, Cornelius Isaac and Elizabeth Morris

2010-01-12T18:31:00.007-07:00

Cornelius was born Feb. 11, 1855. Cornelius was the son of Zechariah Bruyn Becker, Sr. He married Elizabeth Morris of Parowan in 1875. Initially he went to Snowflake, AZ and established title to land where he built a house and prepared to make his home. However, upon returning to Parowan, he met Silas S. Smith's company of explorers headed to San Juan. Two of his brothers: James and Zechariah Jr., were members of that company; thus his attention turns towards San Juan. (See rest of his journal in Hole in the Rock p. 191-196.) Quotes from his journal

Children on the trek: Cornelius William and Eugene Morris

Cornelius is mentioned often in Miller's Hole in the Rock: pp. 59, 61, 68,73,74,101, 104, 127, 132, 162, 174, 191-196
Elizabeth is also mentioned on pp. 76, 79, 80, 116, 119, 128, 196-200 of Miller's book.

A letter to her parents: Dear Father and Mother, we received yours of the 23 of Jan. and Feb 2nd and was more than glad to hear from you. I got yours of the 23 about a week ago but did not have a chance to answer it. Some men start from here tomorrow for Escalante and we thought maybe it would be the last chance we would get to write. We crossed the river on the 1st of Feb. all safe; was not half as scared as we thought we'd be, it was the easiest part of our journey. Coming down the hole in the rock to get to the river was ten times as bad. If you ever come this way it will scare you to death to look down it. It is about a mile from the top down to the river and it is almost straight down, the cliffs on each side are five hundred ft. high and there is just room enough for a wagon to go down. It nearly scared me to death. The first wagon I saw go down the put the brake on and rough locked the hind wheels and had a big rope fastened to the wagon and about ten men holding back on it and then they went down like they would smash everything. I'll never forget that day. When we was walking down Willie looked back and cried and asked me how we would get back home. Willie wants me to tell George that him and his pa had a more than a good ride on the river, him and Genie got their valentines just two days too soon and was nearly tickled to death. They have got them yet and show them to everybody in camp. Cornelius has gone back after stock and will be gone for 10 days while the rest of the men work. We have go to another big rock, it will take about 10 days to fix it so we can go on. . . .(additional sections not included.) Letters are signed "Lizzie Decker")

Decker, James Bean and Anna Maria Mickelsen

2010-01-12T18:26:00.010-07:00

James Bean Decker was born March 25, 1853 at Parowan, Utah and was one of the outstanding pillars amoung the Bluff pioneers. His parents were Zechariah DECKER Sr. and Nancy Bean. He was the first Superintendent of Sunday Schools, a member of the District School Board for many years, and was especially interested in music and teaching. The Sunday School was organized under the “Old Swing Tree”. Brother Decker lead the singing in Sunday School and the Choir for many years until his death. He was cool, careful, resourceful. He worked at Verdure during the very early San Juan history. He died the winter of 1901-02 (Dec. 15, 1901) along with four of his children when a diptheria epidemic struck the community.

Anna Marie Mickelsen Decker was born in Cedar City, April 7, 1855. She married James B. Decker July 13, 1874. She came with her husband with the first pioneers. She was also active in the choir and other ward activities. She was the mother of eleven children. Anna Marie died 18 May 1937 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Ut (Genealogy Source)

Children on the trek (all grew to adulthood):
Anna Lillian (Born 13 Nov 1875 in Parowan, Iron, Ut. Died: 17 Jul 1963 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Ut
Nancy Genevieve was born: 20 Oct 1877 in Parowan, Iron, Ut. Died: Oct 1964 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Ut
Lena Deseret Decker was born January 3, 1880 at Fifty-mile camp. They were fifty miles from the nearest settlement, one hundred miles from a doctor, and 150 miles from their anticipated home. The winter of 1880 was considered one of the worst in Utah history. Snow covered the camp, and cold permeated the living quarters of the camp. To make Anna Marie comfortable, a wagon box was lifted off of its wheels and placed on the ground. Snow was then banked around it two or three feet high to act as insulation and keep out wind drafts. Lena was one of two babies born on the trip. (Hole in the Rock site) She died Died: 19 Oct 1920.
(Lena is mentioned on pp. 48, 81, 176 Hole in the Rock by Miller)

The father and four children died during the epidemic and are buried in Bluff:
Horace (Born 14 Feb 1885 in Bluff, San Juan, Ut. Died: 24 Jan 1902 in Bluff, San Juan, Ut),
Gertrude (Born: 16 Aug 1887 in Bluff, San Juan, Ut. Died: 16 Dec 1901 in Bluff, San Juan, Ut),
Lynn (Born: 12 Dec 1896 in Bluff, San Juan, U. Died: 15 Dec 1901 in Bluff, San Juan, Ut)
Clair (Born: 30 Aug 1892 in Bluff, San Juan, Ut. Died: 25 Jan 1902 in Bluff, San Juan, Ut
Others growing to adulthood:
James (Born: 19 May 1883 in Bluff, San Juan, Ut. Died: 12 May 1964 in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Ca),
Elmer born: Jun 1889 in Bluff, San Juan, Ut. Died: 17 Feb 1978 (Saga of San Juan p 308)
Claude Born: 27 Oct 1894 in Bluff, San Juan, Ut. Died: Jul 1980 in Kirtland, San Juan, NM
Afton born 25 Feb 1899 in Bluff, San Juan, Ut. Died: Feb 1943
Seven of the children grew to maturity, filling important positions in San Juan County and the surrounding territory.

Decker home in Bluff
================
James Bean Decker
By C.S.M. Jones LLC, Family Heritage Consulting for Hole in the Rock Foundation
Born: 25 March, 1853: Parowan, Iron County, Utah
Died: 16 December, 1901
Married: Anna Marie Mickelsen
Father: Zachariah Bruyn Decker
Mother: Nancy Bean Williams Lee

Early Life
James Bean Decker was born on March 25th, 1853 in Parowan, Utah. He was the second son and third child of Zechariah and Nancy Decker. Zechariah and Nancy were immigrants to Utah, with Zechariah serving in the Mormon Battalion en route. James’ descendants wrote little information down about his early life and experiences in Parowan. Like many children of his time, James’ education was infrequent at best, and ceased when he was old enough to help provide. In 1874 he was married to Anna Marie Mickelson in the Salt Lake Endowment House. It took the couple three weeks to make the trip from Parowan to Salt Lake City and back. Upon return, James and Anna built a “neat little brick home” on the west side of town. Until his marriage, James farmed with his father and made extra money hauling freight.
Hole-In-The-Rock Pioneer
In the spring of 1879 James and Anna were called to the San Juan Mission. By this time, they had two daughters and Anna was expecting a third child. After several months of preparation, they left in November. At Fifty Mile Spring, on January 3rd 1881, Anna gave birth to Lena Deseret, their third daughter. Being many miles from the nearest settlement, and without the aide of a doctor or midwife, Anna gave birth in the family wagon box.

Despite the families’ good health, the trek was arduous. The difficult terrain and long task of building roads slowed the expedition’s progress. Eventually, James and Anna arrived with the rest of the party in April. After arriving at the San Juan River, James, too exhausted to go any further, decided to make his home in Bluff, instead of going on to Fort Montezuma.
Challenges at Bluff
James was elected as the first sheriff of Bluff. This unpaid appointment kept James busy when he was not providing for his family. Periodically, hostility between Indians and whites in Colorado spilled over into the San Juan River area. On one occasion James led a posse of fourteen men who set out to recover stolen horses from a nearby war party of Utes. When confronted, the Indians refused to return the horses that belonged to the San Juan settlers. After several seconds with guns drawn, the Indians returned the settlers’ horses when they learned that the settlers were Mormons. Later, that same group of Utes ambushed and killed another posse of Colorado immigrants.

Hostile Indians were not the only threats that James dealt with. Rustlers and thieves also caused trouble and made life dangerous. One Sunday in 1886 James was interrupted during church by fellow settler and local cattle rancher, Bill Ball. Several cowboys who had been working on Bill’s ranch had stolen his horses and Bill needed help to track them down. James and some other men immediately left church and set out to catch the thieves. Bill rode at the head of the group, confident that his former hired hands would not shoot him. When James and the rest of the posse caught up with the rustlers in a nearby canyon, a gunfight ensued and the thieves shot Bill. James, who was standing right behind Bill, quickly came to his aid. But afraid that his white Sunday shirt would make him a conspicuous target, James took cover behind his horse. The battle continued, and although James’ horse was shot several times, the rustlers got away and James escaped unscathed. James spent the night with Bill, but by morning Bill had died. James made it safely back to Bluff, but the rustlers were never caught.

In Bluff, nature posed a more formidable challenge than even rustlers and Indians. James, along with other settlers, was involved in a project to dig a canal in Bluff to bring water to their crops. Several times a year, usually during the spring, the canal would flood and force the settlers to rebuild and replant. Also, as James’ son recorded, many of the Bluff settlers had to leave for several months each year to work in Colorado mines to supplement their income.

Community Involvement
James and Anna were among the few families who stayed in Bluff after Church authorities announced the release San Juan Mission participants. In time, James gave up his farm and took up ranching, an occupation that was much more suited to Bluff’s geography. As more and more settlers switched to ranching, Bluff thrived. This, along with abundant rainfall and good beef prices, allowed James and his family to prosper in Bluff. With economic stability, James became a prominent citizen in the San Juan area. He was called to be the first superintendent of the LDS Sunday School in Bluff, and soon after was called to hold the same position on a stake level as well. He did his best to magnify his position of teaching and leadership. Once he traveled all the way to Provo to enroll in a Sunday School teaching course offered by Brigham Young University. When he returned home to Bluff, he shared what he had learned with those who served under him in the Sunday School. In civic affairs, James served as county treasurer, county superintendent of schools, and county commissioner for several terms.

Family life was good for the Deckers in Bluff. They lived happily together, although in close quarters—their log home only consisting of two large rooms. James eventually began building “a white stucco house, two stories high, with bays and gables and arched windows to let in the light.” By this time, James and Anna had eleven children, and had enough money to send the oldest, James Jr., to Brigham Young Academy in Provo. After acquiring an organ for the family, James’ daughters played the music for the local congregation’s Sunday services. James himself directed the choir and two of his daughters, Lena and Jennie, played in the local string quartet. He loved to have his family gather around him in the evenings to sing, one of his favorites hymns being “Love at Home.”

Sadly, in December of 1901, several of the Decker children fell to diphtheria. On December 15 James Decker succumbed to the disease. In a little over a month, five of the 13 members of Decker family had died of diphtheria. James’ children and grandchildren recorded that the Decker tragedy “made a lasting impression on the community.” James Decker, the stalwart pioneer who arrived in Bluff and said he could go no further, filled his life with community service. He was remembered by fellow pioneer Kumen Jones as “even-tempered, cool, careful,” and possessed of “good judgment.” These qualities enhanced his business success and local leadership, and helped ensure the longevity of the Bluff settlement.

Reference List

Decker, Rod. “History of James Bean Decker” Rhea Decker Seaberg ed. Unpublished History from the Files of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Jones, Kumen. The Writings of Kumen Jones, ed. by Albert T. Lyman, 156-157; Cornelia Adams Perkins, Marian Gardner Nielsen, and Lenora Butt Jones, Saga of San Juan. Monticello, Utah; San Juan County Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1957.

Lillian Decker. “James Bean Decker”. Unpublished History from the Files of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Perkins, Cornelia, Marian Gardner Nielsen, and Lenora Butt Jones, Saga of San Juan. Monticello, Utah; San Juan County Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1957.
===================
Anna Maria Mickelson Decker
By C.S.M. Jones LLC, Family Heritage Consulting for Hole in the Rock Foundation
Born: 7 April, 1855: Cedar City, Utah
Died: 18 May, 1937: Salt Lake City, Utah
Married: James B Decker: 13 July, 1874
Father: Rasmus Mickelsen
Mother: Ane Nielsen

Early Life and Marriage
Anna Maria Mickelson was born April 7th, 1855 to Rasmus and Ane Mickelsen. Rasmus and Ane were born and raised in Scandinavia and were converted to the Latter-day Saint movement by Erastus Snow. Rasmus quickly threw his energies into his new-found religion and preached extensively to his local community. By 1853 Rasmus and Ane had saved enough to immigrate to the United States. After sailing from Europe, Rasmus and Ane stopped in St. Louis to earn some money before joining a wagon train intended for the Great Basin. The couple arrived in Salt Lake City in 1854, and was immediately sent by Brigham Young to settle in Iron County.

Six months after their arrival, Anna was born. Rasmus and Ane were ill-prepared at first to care for a child in their new environment. According to family recollections, all the couple had to wrap the baby in was “a shawl made from what remained of a tent, after the main portion had been used to make shirts and pants.” The close-knit community in Iron County came together to assist the immigrants. Eventually, one woman gave Rasmus and Ane an old calico skirt, which was used to make several dresses for Anna. Other kind settlers donated milk, as all Ane could afford to feed Anna was water stiffened with a little flour.

After six years, the family moved from Cedar City to the little town of Parowan. Although money was scarce, young Anna was able to attend school periodically. Family members recalled that she excelled in her class. When Anna was no longer able to attend school, she continued to learn throughout her life. Anna’s daughter recalled, “She has always been a great reader, especially of current events, and even now will wait up till twelve reading.” Much of Anna’s young adulthood was spent spinning cloth. She spent long hours making fabric for family use, as well as for extra income. One of her favorite pastimes was attending spinning bees, where local women would come together and have spinning contests, followed by recreation.

As Anna grew to maturity, she was well liked in the local community. She loved to sing, and was always a popular choice in local dances. When Anna was 18, she was approached by a young man named James Decker, who had a quieter, more reserved disposition. Initially, Anna was not interested in James, but when she saw him playing the organ in church, Anna knew she should marry him. She was able to overcome James’ embarrassment by quickly going to fetch water at the town well whenever James approached. When Anna was 19, and James 21, they were married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. They made the long, 300-mile trip in an old freight wagon. When they returned to Parowan they moved into a two room brick house James had built and happily lived there for several years. Two children, Anna and Nancy, were born there.

Hole-In-The-Rock Pioneer and Life in Bluff
In 1879 Brigham Young called several families to settle San Juan County, and James and Anna Decker quickly responded to the assignment. As the expedition started in November, the pioneers were confident that the trek would only take about six weeks. Because of this, Anna and James were not afraid to leave while Anna was seven months pregnant. On January 3, 1880 Anna gave birth to a baby girl in the harsh frontier weather at Fifty Mile Spring. Since the expedition was over a hundred miles away from a doctor, they had to improvise. The couple’s wagon box was lifted off of the axel and placed on the ground, providing a crude shelter from the elements. James then packed snow around the outside of the wagon box to provide even more insulation. In this dismantled wagon, and without the aid of a midwife, Anna gave birth to their third child. They named her Lena Deseret to mark the fact that she had literally been born in the desert of Deseret.

A month after Anna gave birth, the company broke camp and continued on the trek. The passage down the Hole was steep and dangerous. Since the wagons were so prone to tipping, Anna was unable to ride in the wagon. Anna had to help her two oldest girls, while another settler, Jane Walton, carried baby Lena. Although the rest of the journey was trying, James, Anna and their children arrived at the San Juan River area in good health. After six months of travel, they reached Bluff on April 6, 1880.

Life in Bluff was initially difficult for James and Anna. The settlers had frequent problems with rustlers, harsh weather, and sometimes Indians. James built a two-room log home into which eight more children were born to the family in the coming years. James was an important community leader in these early days. He was selected to be the community’s sheriff, and was also called to be the superintendant of the Bluff Sunday School. Anna was also involved in the community. In addition to doing her own sewing, she made clothes for other settlers and sold her products to supplement James’ income. As part of her service to the community, Anna sewed burial clothes for funerals in Bluff. Anna also served in the local church Relief Society as a visiting teacher and later as a councilor to the stake Relief Society president.

For many years the Decker family prospered. James became a successful cattle rancher and began to build a nice frame home. It was not yet completed when, in December of 1901, tragedy struck the family. Many of the family members were taken with diphtheria, and eventually James and four of the children died of the disease. The community mourned for them, but was afraid to come too near to the home. Eventually, Anna and her neighbors decided to burn the house to stop the disease from spreading. Anna was able to move into the home James had been building, but the loss of her husband and four children was devastating to Anna.

Final Years
With her husband and oldest son gone, Anna had to go to work herself in order to provide for her large family. For a time she sold bread to the local market store. This worked well until the community store saw her success and opened up a bakery, which took business away from Anna. However, Bluff needed a new postmaster and Anna was given the job. Anna remained in Bluff until her children were grown and had moved away. Eventually she moved to nearby Monticello to live with some of her older children. When World War I broke out, one of Anna’s sons, Claude, volunteered to join the Marines. When Claude told Anna about his decision, she replied, “I don’t blame you, for if I were a young man I would go too.”

Several years later, Anna moved to Salt Lake City and rented an apartment on Main Street. She spent the last several years of her life volunteering in the temple. Often she would spend her entire day laboring there. On May 16, 1937 Anna passed away; she was 82 years old. She was buried “back home” in Bluff next to James and the children she had lost to diphtheria. Anna was a faithful pioneer and an example of the rugged qualities that made the Hole-in-the-Rock expedition, and communities like Bluff, prosper. Anna’s daughter, Lillian Wood, recorded that although Anna never claimed to have had any “faith-promoting incidents” in her life, “she [felt] ever like saying ‘Father, help me as ever to be brave, that I may face the petty cares of life with understanding and self-control, knowing full well that in this world of strife each has her burden, each her trial of the soul.’”

Reference List
Matis, Josephine W. “Anna Maria Mickelsen Decker.” Unpublished History from the Files of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Perkins, Cornelia, Marian Gardner Nielsen, and Lenora Butt Jones, Saga of San Juan. Monticello, Utah; San Juan County Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1957.

Wood, Lillian D. “Sketch of the Life of Anna M. Decker by Her Daughter.” Unpublished History from the Files of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Decker, Nathanial Alvin and Emma Morris

2010-01-12T17:43:00.003-07:00

Nathanial Alvin Decker was born 19 JUL 1856, Parowan, Iron, Utah. He died 4 MAR 1929, Mancos, Montezuma, Colorado and is buried there. He married Emma Morris 11 JAN 1877, Saint George, Washington, Utah

Emma was born 27 JAN 1859, Dukinfield, Chester, England. She died 4 JUN 1929, Mancos, Montezuma, Colorado and is also buried there. They died the same year, just 3 months apart to the day.
Children on the trek: Sarah Jane and Alvin Morris
Another son, Nathanial Cornelius Decker was born 9 APR 1888, Bluff, San Juan, Utah and died 4 SEP 1958, Lemon Grove, San Diego, California. He is also buried in Mancos, Colo. (This conflicts with Saga of San Juan list)

Profile in Saga of San Juan p. 308:
Nathaniel Alvin was born July 19, 1856 in Paroway Utah. He was a self-educated man with meager schooling. At an early age he learned the value of work. Emma Morris became his wife January 11, 1877. They with other young couples received a call from President John Taylor to settle in the San Juan River country. Making the journey through the Hole in the Rock, they reached Bluff April 6, 1880.
Mrs. Decker, who had bravely faced the six months hazardous trek from Parowan, without complaint, came nearly to losing her life a week after reaching Bluff when she gave birth to her second child in a wagon box.
So far as we know, Alvin was the first white man to try living at South Montezuma (Verdure) in 1884. However, he returned to Bluff when Indian trouble developed and he stayed until the Blue Mountain Mission was established in 1887. His family accompanied him back to Verdure, remaining only a year or so, before establishing permanent residence in Mancos, Colorado.
Throughout his life he had been known as a determined, courageous man, deeply devoted to his family and church. He had a powerful voice and loved to sing and preach. He fullfilled an LDS mission to the southern states. His life's work was farming, freighting and supervising road construction.
His wife, Emma shared with him the hardships of pioneer life. Her vegetable and flower garden was the envy of all her neighbors. She, like her husband, loved to sing. They reared a family of eight children: Jane, Alvin Morris, Earl, Della, Will, Neal, Carl, and Ione.

Hole in the Rock trek remembered:

. . .Among them was a young woman whose clothes at that time no doubt still hid the treasure growing within her. Emma Morris Decker probably felt confident that she and her husband, Nathaniel Alvin Decker, and their young daughter, Sarah Jane, would be safely located in a new location long before the expected birth of this new child, for Church leaders predicted that their trip to their new home would take only about six weeks. Little did they know what lay in store for them, for the six weeks actually turned into six months before the group finally made their way across some of this nation's most inhospitable land to their new home. . . .Such were the conditions of the trek that Emma, Alvin, and little Sarah Jane made as Emma's unborn child grew within her. How grateful she must have been that they had finally reached their destination when on Monday, April 12, she gave birth to a son whom they named Alvin Morris (after an older brother of William). It can probably be truthfully said that, because of her condition, Emma's journey to her new home was one of the most difficult of any of those Hole‑in‑the‑Rock pioneers. . . .Five years after their arrival in Bluff, Utah, Emma gave birth to another son on November 21, 1885. This son they named William. Sometime after William's birth, the family left Bluff and moved to Mancos, Colorado.
History of Sarah Halls Decker

Decker, Zachariah Bruyn, Jr. and Emma Seraphine Smith

2010-01-12T15:07:00.023-07:00

Zechariah Bruyn Decker, Jr.

(Zechariah B. Decker Jr. About 1892

Photo provided by Calvin Decker from Ron McDonald research on Montezuma Creek)
Born: 11 March 1850, in Salt Lake City, Utah
Died: 9 March 1939
Married: Emma Seraphine Smith, (4 October 1869)
Father: Zechariah Bruyn Decker, Sr.
Mother: Nancy Bean
Children on the trek: Zachariah Nathaniel, Louis Addison, Emma Constance, Inez Gertrude, Jesse Moroni

(Seraphine's history below Zechariah's)

Childhood – Learning to Work Hard
Zechariah Bruyn Decker, Jr., was the first of thirteen children born to Zechariah Bruyn Decker, Sr., and Nancy Bean. His father had been a member of the Mormon Battalion, and had successfully mined for gold at Sutter’s Mill in California before he came to Utah. He met and married Nancy Bean in Salt Lake City. Zechariah Jr. was born to them 11 March 1850. Sometime in the next few years the family moved to Parowan where they took up farming.

As a small child, Zechariah Jr. was curious and excited about the world around him. He would follow his father around the farm asking endless questions about the farm and about the animals. But even when his legs grew tired, his inquisitive mind did not. He would climb into the back of the wagon, lie down on his back, and talk to the ravens flying overhead, peppering them with more questions and talking to them about the world. When “Zach” was about four years old, his father was helping build the fort at Parowan by hauling dirt with his ox team. Little Zach wanted to help too, and many times became buried in the mounds of dirt that were dumped out of the back of the wagon.

Zach learned work hard from a young age, especially since his father suffered from rheumatism and was often in too poor of health to provide well for his large family. When Zach was just seven years old, he and his brother James were given responsibility for herding sheep during the summer. At age eight, he drove a team of horses to Salt Lake City, taking his mother and grandmother to his aunt’s house at Conference time. By age ten, Zach was in charge of harrowing the fields in preparation for planting, which he did as best at even after the ox stepped on his foot one day and would not move for some time! It is told that when about this age, Zach took the family’s tithing wheat to the tithing office all on his own. The bishop at the tithing office questioned him as to who would unload the heavy sacks of wheat, to which Zach answered that since he had loaded the wheat, he would unload it as well (1).

When Zach was about fourteen years old, his father’s health had declined to the point that Zach had to assume full responsibility for the family farm. His brother James, who was three years young, helped as well. But with so much work to do – caring for livestock, planting crops, hauling and chopping wood – Zach had little time for formal education. He spent about three months in the local school learning arithmetic, but did not have much interest in other studies. At age sixteen, he was given the task of herding the Parowan sheep herd of which his father had been given charge (2). Zach spent many years riding the range and had many dangerous experiences recovering stolen animals from both outlaws and local Indians.

As a young man, he was called to be part of a local militia organized to protect the Parowan settlers from hostile Indians. Zach was chosen as a picket guard. During his second week as a guard, he discovered several clues indicating the presence of Indians in the mountains surrounding the Parowan valley. He reported what he had found to his superior officer, who was doubtful of Zach’s findings. However, two days later he spotted several Indians stealing horses and raised a warning cry. The militia men raced after the Indians, but were unable to catch them before they escaped into the trees (3).

Marriage and Call to Colonize
When he was nineteen years old, Zechariah Jr. married Emma Seraphine Smith. Seraphine, as she was called, was the eldest daughter of Emma Seraphine West and Jesse Smith, who was a cousin of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Zach and Emma had twelve children together – six boys and six girls. When she was expecting their sixth child, they were called to the San Juan Mission. Zach became part of the initial exploring party who left in April 1879 to begin the task of finding a suitable location for settlement in the Four Corners area.
Not many of Zach’s experiences on this first trip are documented, aside from the more general records that have been kept of it, except one. When the group of approximately thirty-five men, women, and children had begun to establish the settlement of Bluff that summer, they tried as best they could to maintain life as they had known it prior to their departure. Regular church services, for example, were held on Sundays in the mornings and evenings. As the fourth of July approached, celebratory services were planned to celebrate Independence Day just as it might have been back home. Elizabeth Harriman, one of two women in the company, collected as many scraps of fabric as could be spared to make an American flag. She even used part of her daughter’s blue dress for the stars’ background. But the only red fabric to be found was donated by Zach – it was his long underwear. Without his willing contribution, no flag would have waved boldly above their patriotic festivities (4).

Hole in the Rock

Zach returned from the exploring expedition in the fall, collected his family and more provisions, and joined the main group of San Juan pioneers at the Hole-in-the-Rock. He helped with the blasting of the rocks and building of the road down the “slanticular” canyon (5). When it came time for him to take his wagons down the “Hole,” Zach hooked them together with a large tree tied to the back. He then locked the back wheels of the wagons, and hitched his six horses to the front. Almost as soon as the horses began their descent, the braking mechanism in the hind wagon gave out, and Zach had to drive the horses down at a run to keep up with the momentum of the wagon. One of the horses fell and was dragged along, becoming badly injured. Seraphine and the children did their best to make it down the “Hole” on foot. Much to her dismay, she realized she had left the baby asleep in the back of one of the wagons. She screamed to Zach to stop, but it was too late, the wagons were already careening down the slope. Amazingly, the baby slept peacefully through the wild and dangerous ride (6).

One night, Zach and a companion returned along the trail to find those who were following behind the wagons herding cattle and horses. They found them just in time to avoid a potential tragedy. The cattlemen had reached a watering hole prepared by the exploring company the previous year, only to find it in the possession of local Indians. The Indians refused to grant them access to it, which angered the pioneers. They managed to tie the Indian chief (named Pecone) to a wagon wheel and then proceeded to water their stock. Incensed, Indian warriors were gathering in preparation for a fight. Zach was able to diffuse the situation by immediately releasing the chief, speaking to him kindly in his native tongue, and then giving him one of the best steers as compensation. The chief acknowledge Zach as a “wise counselor” and called off his warriors. Zach and the cattlemen rode hard that night to put as many miles as possible between them and the Indians (7).
    Trouble with Indians continued to plague Zach after he reached Montezuma Creek. He and his father had brought some blooded race horses with them to the San Juan. One Sunday as he was heading towards home after Sunday School, Zach saw Indians heading toward his place from a distance. His four oldest children were with him at the time, riding on the frame of the wagon as the wagon box had been removed. Zach told his children to hold on tight and then raced his horses home just in time to get his gun out of the house before the Indians arrived. That night he dreamed that the Indians would steal his and his father’s horses. Upon waking, he saddled his horse and rode to his father’s house to warn him. They discovered that the horses had indeed been driven away by the Indians. They found them nearly thirty miles up-river in the possession of four Indians who were just across the river from a larger Indian camp. The Indians in the camp spotted Zach and tried to warn the horse-thieves, but their cries merely served to distract them from Zach who was then able to take them by surprise and recover his horses (8).

Arizona

In the summer of 1881, Zach moved his family to Snowflake, Arizona. Initially he worked for a grading company, until one afternoon he angered his employer. The man ordered Zach to leave but Zach refused, as he had not been fully paid, and instead sat down to eat the meal that was provided with him for his work. The man yelled and cursed at him, but Zach calmly finished his meal. Then he asked to be paid for the work he had done. The man refused, to which Zach replied, “‘You’ll feed me and my teams and pay us wages from the time I started on this job until I get paid in full.’”(9 ) Realizing that Zach would not back down, his employer gave him an invoice to present to the contractor for full payment. The contractor was impressed with Zach’s gumption and hired him on the spot to haul supplies. It turned out to be a better job than the one he had just lost.
In 1884, Zach leased some sheep from a man named William Flake. He set his oldest sons to work helping him care for the sheep about fifteen miles outside of Snowflake. The next year, however, the Aztec Land and Cattle Company obtained some of that land which had once been part of a government railroad grant. The Aztec cattlemen brought in scores of Texas long-horned cattle that made grazing sparse for Zach’s sheep. They tried to force local sheepherders and cattlemen to move their herds to the east side of snowflake, but Zach refused. He maintained that the Aztec men were only legally entitled to forty acres of land on either side of the railroad line. To complicate matters, the presence of so many cattle and sheep in the area invited the presence of cattle rustlers, horse thieves and outlaws, in addition to the Aztec employees who were often men of low character. Zach’s determination not to be bullied made him a prime target for their threats and unlawful activities. He had many experiences where his life was in danger as he protected his sheep. Finally, in 1886, Zach decided to trade his sheep for property in Snowflake where he could establish a farm and be away from the outlaws.
     As luck would have it, however, Zach’s trouble with outlaws was not over yet. The next year, Zach had a run in with a man named Jim Stott, who had been heard to say that he would kill Zach Decker if ever given the chance. His chance came one night when Zach stopped at Stott’s ranch in search of his prize gray mare. The mare was missing, and Zach suspected Stott had stolen her and her colt. Zach spent the night at Stott’s, and when Stott left before breakfast the next morning and headed for the range, Zach followed at length behind. He tracked them for several miles out on to the neighboring Indian Reservation, where he soon found the mare and colt, but no Stott. He could tell by the tracks that Stott was already doubling back towards home. So after collecting his animals, Decker likewise returned to Stott’s ranch, where Stott greeted him cordially and inquired where he had found his animals. ‘”Right where you left them, Stott,’” was Zach’s reply. When Stott was asked why he did not shoot Zach when he had the chance, Stott replied that “he had too much respect for Decker’s gun.” About a year later, Stott was among a group of three men hanged by a band of vigilantes (10).

The year of 1887 proved to be one of change for Zach. It began with a solar eclipse on New Year’s Day, which he witnessed with awe and wonder just as the sun began to dawn. During the course of the year, the shadow of darkness passed over Zach’s life just as the moon had briefly blocked out the sun that first morning. He had sold his land in Snowflake and purchased a share in the Shumway grist mill with a farm nearby. He moved his family there, and while Seraphine home-schooled the children, Zach ran the mill. All seemed to be going well for the family until autumn came and several in the Decker household, including Zach, contracted diphtheria. Four of the children died within a week of each other, though Zach’s life was spared. It was a sad time for the family during which their faith in the Lord was tested and strengthened. In total, Zach and Seraphine were the parents of twelve children, the last being born on 16 September 1892. They fittingly named him Silas Smith after the leader of the San Juan Mission that had brought them south in the first place.

Just before the birth of little Silas, Zach moved his family back to Snowflake so the older children could attend formal schooling. They lived on forty acres in the settlement of Taylor, just outside Snowflake. On January 5, 1894, Zach was ordained to the office of High Priest and set apart to be the bishop of the Taylor Ward by Brigham Young, Jr. (11) Though it was a calling he had never desired or sought after, he willingly accepted it and served faithfully for sixteen years.

     Once, during his tenure as the bishop, he and some friends had gone out on a wild horse round up. Among the horses they had caught was a high-spirited stallion that none of the men dared to try and ride except Zach, who after some coaxing by his companions, mounted the wild horse. Immediately the stallion began to buck and kick and pitch, trying hard to throw Zach. He stayed on the horse as best he could, only to find that once he was finally off it, he had lost more than just his hat! His knife, keys, coins and other items from his pockets were scattered all over the ground, and his spurs were turned around over the insteps of his feet. It had been a wild ride that left his friends highly entertained (12).

Later Years

Zach’s beloved wife, Seraphine, died of breast cancer in 1909 (13). At the time of her passing, they still had two teenage children living at home. In 1915 Zach married Carilena Closcious (Lena), but sadly she also died of cancer only seven years later. For the next seventeen years Zach lived mostly alone, being too independently minded to live with any of his children. He spent a few winters in Mesa doing temple work, but then returned home to Snowflake. He became quite lonely and discontented in his final years of life, especially after his hearing became impaired and it was difficult for him to converse well with others. He died 9 March 1939, just two days before his eighty-ninth birthday (14).

Sources and article compiled by by C.S.M. Jones LLC, Family Heritage Consulting for Hole in the Rock Foundation

1. Francine Decker Holt, “History of Zechariah Bruyn Decker, Jr. and Emma Serphine Smith,” unpublished history from the files of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Salt Lake City, UT.
2. Francine Decker Holt’s account states that Zechariah Jr. was herding cattle, not sheep. 2.
3. Decker, Louis A., “Brief Sketch of the Life of Zechariah Bruyn Decker, Jr., son of Zachariah Bruyn Decker and Nancy Bean,” unpublished history available in the LDS Church History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, 2.
4. This anecdote is related by George Hobbs in his narrative of the first exploring party found in the “San Juan Stake History” available at LDS Church History Library, Salt Lake City, UT. Also noted in David E. Miller, Hole-in-the-Rock: An Epic in the Colonization of the Great American West (Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1966), 29.
5Francine Decker Holt, 3.
6. Ibid.
7.Ibid.; Louis A. Decker, 2-3.
8. Francine Decker Holt, 3-4; Louis A. Decker 3-4.
9.Louis A. Decker, 5.
10.Louis A. Decker, 8-9; Francine Decker Holt, 5.
11.Andrew Jenson, ed., “Decker, Zachariah Bruyn, Jr.,” Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia (Salt Lake City, Utah: Western Epics, 1971), vol. 4:618. It should be noted that Zach’s date of death is incorrect in this volume.
Decker article by C.S.M. Jones LLC, Family Heritage Consulting for Hole in the Rock Foundation

==========

DECKER, Zechariah Bruyn Jr. (1850-1939) is discussed on pp. 29, 76, 101, and 164 of Miller's Hole in the Rock
He and Emma Sedraphine are listed as pioneers who came to Utah prior to May 10, 1869
Decker genealogy lines

Additional information from Ron McDonald: "When Zac and Seraphine Decker arrived at Montezuma Zechariah was thirty, and Saraphine was twenty-seven. Quoting from Zechariah; “Erastus Snow asked me to take charge of the place called Montezuma. I did my best.”

Four of Zechariah’s brothers and his sixty-four year old father were also Hole-in-the-Rock pioneers. Zechariah Sr. chose to begin his ranch next to his son Zechariah Jr. and their family. Zechariah, who was usually referred to as Zack, along with his father located on land two miles north of Fort Montezuma on the bank of the Montezuma Wash which would be the site for their cattle ranch. Corrals were built first, followed by construction of two cabins. Zechariah Sr.’s cabin was a fair distance from Zack’s. They were probably planning to apply for homesteads of 160 acres each.

During the 1800s, Montezuma Wash carried a significant year-round stream with a few exceptions
when a long drought would dry it up. This occurred at least one time during 1875. In 1880, the
headwaters of Montezuma Creek at Blue Mountain included North Creek, South Creek, Upper
Montezuma, (now called Verdure), Devils Canyon, and a number of smaller tributaries and springs,
some of which have since been diverted. No water from Blue Mountain has reached the San Juan River
by way of Montezuma Wash for many years.

They called it Montezuma Wash, because rainstorms would swell the stream, making it better described as a wash than a creek or stream. The location probably looked inviting to Zach and his father, because there was water, but unlike the San Juan River, it was much smaller and less threatening. However, they were tempting fate by setting up housekeeping in a corridor regularly traveled by renegade Indians. They would have visitors."

During June of 1881, Zack abandoned everything he had built at Montezuma Wash, taking only what they could fit in the wagon. The family set out to join Seraphine’s family at Snowflake Arizona. Their remaining possessions on arriving at Snowflake were the wagon, four horses, 200 pounds of flour, and $100. Snowflake would become their permanent home. (Ron McDonald, Fort Montezuma 1879-1884 An account of the first Mormon settlers in San Juan County, Utah.)

Emma Seraphine Smith Decker

Born: 12 August 1853 in Parowan, UT
Died: 27 December 1909 in Taylor, AZ
Married: Zechariah Bruyn Decker, Jr., on 4 October 1969
Parents: Jesse N. Smith and Emma Seraphine Smith

Childhood
Emma Seraphine Smith Decker, who was named after her mother but called by her middle name, Seraphine, was born in Parowan, Utah. Her father, Jesse N. Smith, was a cousin of the Prophet Joseph Smith and younger brother to Silas Sanford Smith, President of the San Juan Mission in 1879. Seraphine’s father was often away from home on church assignments or missions, and since she was the oldest child with six sisters born after her, Seraphine grew up doing a lot of outdoor chores around the family farm. She shared a bed with her grandmother, Mary Aikens Smith, who had once been a school teacher and who became her tutor until she could attend school.

When her father left on his second mission to Denmark, he gave young Zechariah Bruyn Decker, Jr., permission to escort Seraphine to school activities and dances. Zach would arrive at the social function with a bag of grain on one arm (it was his ticket in) and Seraphine on the other. On at least one occasion, Seraphine made her dance dress all by herself – from carding the wool and spinning yarn, to weaving it into a woolly linen fabric and sewing it. She loved Zach’s curly hair and kind smile. He was not a man of many words, but he treated her in such a way that she always knew he loved her. They were married October 4, 1869, before Seraphine’s father had even returned from Denmark. Seraphine was seventeen years old; Zach was nineteen.

Their first child – a little girl – passed away in infancy. The cause of the baby’s passing is attributed to “incompetent nursing” according to one of their other daughters . No doubt it was a difficult time for the young couple. But in addition to her heartache, Seraphine suffered from “milk leg” during her postpartum weeks. (“Milk leg” is a condition in which blood clots form in the femoral vein after childbirth and cause swelling and great pain in the leg). It was a dangerous condition that continued to bother her as she gave birth to eleven more children. With the birth of her twelfth child she experienced another particularly bad attack and was bedridden.

Hole in the Rock

Seraphine and Zach had been married ten years when they were called to the San Juan Mission. She was expecting their sixth child at the time, (counting the baby they lost at the first), and their other children ranged in age from seven years down to seven months. They were one of the few pioneers who had a stove in their wagon! When it came time for them to make their descent down the Hole-in-the-Rock, Zach tied their two wagons together and then hitched all six horses to the front wagon while making sure to lock and block the brakes on the hind wagon. One of the brakes broke, however, as the horses began to plunge down the slope. Consequently, the momentum of the back wagon forced Zach to whip his teams along even faster and more recklessly than perhaps he would have liked. One of the horses fell and was dragged along as they went. By the time they reached the bottom of the steep canyon, Zach’s wagons and teams were in a tangled heap.

Seraphine and the children were making their way down the slope as best they could on foot when all this occurred. Watching the horses go crashing down the rocky road sent a wave of panic through Seraphine. She screamed to Zach that the baby was asleep in the hind wagon! Amazingly, the little babe did not even wake during the dramatic ride, but was delivered to his mother’s arms safe and sound asleep at the base of the rocky walls.

After the Hole-in-the-Rock pioneers had made their descent down the rocky canyon, and safely crossed the raging Colorado River, they spent nearly two weeks building a road up the Colorado Plateau. As the Deckers began their upward climb, they fell behind the main group in company with the Jim Decker family and the Mons Larson family. It was bitterly cold, and Sister Larson had carried her two boys – one on each arm - up the Plateau, for their little feet were frostbitten and purple. She no sooner reached the top than was in labor with her third child. Seraphine and her sister-in-law (who had given birth at Fifty-mile Spring) were there to help with the delivery, which was accomplished during a fierce snowstorm. Brother Larson desperately tried to pitch a tent so his wife could have shelter and some semblance of comfort. But she gave birth lying across the spring seat of the wagon as the snow swirled around her. Three days later, the two Decker families and the Larsons packed up and headed after the main wagon train. Seraphine wanted the new mother and her baby to ride in their wagon with them, since they had the comfort of a stove in it, but Brother Larson declined their offer – he did not trust anyone but himself to drive his precious new cargo.

Seraphine and Zach each drove a wagon as they traveled on to Bluff. Unfortunately for Seraphine, one member of the team she was driving was a very stubborn and frustrating mule. At one point along the way, the mule caused the wagon to tip over. Precious grains of wheat, meant for seed in the spring, spilled out all over the ground – wasted!
The Deckers did not settle in Bluff, but moved up river to Montezuma Creek. They lived there for two years during which time Zach served as the Presiding Elder of the settlement.

Arizona

In 1881 Zach and Seraphine moved their family to Snowflake, Arizona. They traveled by way of Fruitland and the old Santa Fe Railroad trail until they reached Brigham City (Winslow) where Seraphine’s father was working in railroad commissary for John W. Young, the railroad contractor. Seraphine arrived at her parent’s home on her twenty-eighth birthday – their journey’s end being a welcome birthday present. While living in Arizona Seraphine gave birth to six more children. Sadly, however, four of her children died of diphtheria in 1887. Yet in spite of her trials and difficulties, Seraphine never complained. She accepted with faith whatever circumstances came her way.

Seraphine served faithfully in many church callings and capacities. She especially loved working with children, and was the Snowflake Stake Primary President at the time of her death in 1909. She died in Taylor, Arizona, at the age of fifty-six from breast cancer after months of suffering and decline. Her passing was keenly felt by those who knew and loved her, particularly her husband of thirty-nine years. Nevertheless, she left behind a legacy of faith and courage and is honorably remembered for her life of service and devotion to God.

Reference List

Daphne Decker Bushman, “Emma Seraphine Smith Decker,” unpublished history from the files of Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Salt Lake City, UT.

Ellen Johanna Larson Smith, “Biography of Mons Larson, Pioneer,” unpublished history from the files of Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Salt Lake City, UT.
Francine Decker Holt, “History of Zechariah Bruyn Decker, Jr. and Emma Serphine Smith,” unpublished history from the files of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Salt Lake City, UT.
Louis A. Decker, “Brief Sketch of the Life of Zechariah Bruyn Decker, Jr., son of Zachariah Bruyn Decker and Nancy Bean,” unpublished history available in the LDS Church History Library, Salt Lake City, UT.

Decker articles by C.S.M. Jones LLC, Family Heritage Consulting for Hole in the Rock Foundation

Decker, Zachariah Bruyn, Sr and son George William Decker

2010-01-12T14:59:00.008-07:00

Zachariah (1817-1902) was born 22 Jun 1817 rank: as a PVT in Company A. (Civill War?)
He married Nancy BEAN (1826-) His father was Cornelius Johannes Decker (1789-1836) who was married to Gertrude Bruyn(1795-1888). Zachariah raised a family of eleven children. He is buried in the Parowan,Iron,UT cemetery. There has been very little written about his life in New York, and Illinois. Nancy Bean was born 14Dec 1826 in West Troy, Lincoln, Missouri. She was the daughter of James BEAN and Elizabeth LEWIS. She married Zachariah 4 Oct 1849 in Salt Lake City. Nancy died 3Mar 1903 in Parowan, Iron, Utah, and was buried 5 Mar 1903 in Parowan, Iron, Utah. More in Bean family history

(The following account was contributed by great-great granddaughter, Bonnie Trower Brantley, Moab) Nancy Bean, had an interesting and complicated life. She was born 14 Dec 1826 in West Troy, Missouri. Nancy and her parents were converted to the church while her family lived in Quincy, Illinois. The citizens of Quincy had given refuge toNancy Bean, had an interesting and complicated life. She was born 14 Dec 1826 in West Troy, Missouri. Nancy and her parents were converted to the church while her family lived in Quincy, Illinois. The citizens of Quincy had given refuge to homeless LDS church members who were exiled from Missouri and they were converted by Alexander Williams, one of the young exiled Elders.

Alexander Williams was a young uneducated Elder, and went to school with the Bean children, who befriended him and brought him home to meet their parents. He shared the gospel with the Bean family and other residents of the neighborhood, much to the chagrin of local ministers. Those members of the family who were old enough were baptized in May of 1841.

Thomas Williams was a school teacher, who was boarding with the family, and Sept. 4, 1842 he and Nancy were married. He did not accept the gospel, and left Nancy, taking their little daughter, Nancy Elizabeth, with him. Mother and daughter did not see one another again, until the daughter was a grown woman.

The Bean family moved to Nauvoo, and lived through the joyful as well as tragic times. They contributed much of the money from the sale of their property in Quincy to the building of the Nauvoo Temple. On November 4, 1844, Nancy married John D. Lee in the Nauvoo Temple and this marriage was also an unhappy union. They had a baby girl Jan 15, 1846, and the marriage ended in a divorce. Nancy crossed the plains with her baby daughter, Cornelia Lee. Nancy traveled in the Brigham Young Company and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 1n 1848 when she was 21 years old.
She met and married Zachariah, March 6, 1849, and this marriage was a long and happy one. Zachariah raised Cornelia Lee as though she were his own.

In 1850 the Iron Mission opened in Parowan, and the family became one of the founding families in the area. It was said of Zachariah that his life was always a force for good. He served in the town and the church in many important ways. He was the town constable and one of the presidents of the Seventy's. In 1869 he was called to serve a mission to the Eastern states. The United Order was practiced in Parowan from 1873 to 1876. As his responsibility during the times of the United Order, Zachariah was the superintendent of the "West Field" and Nancy was a tailor.homeless LDS church members who were exiled from Missouri and they were converted by Alexander Williams, one of the young exiled Elders.

Alexander Williams was a young uneducated Elder, and went to school with the Bean children, who befriended him and brought him home to meet their parents. He shared the gospel with the Bean family and other residents of the neighborhood, much to the chagrin of local ministers. Those members of the family who were old enough were baptized in May of 1841.
Thomas Williams was a school teacher, who was boarding with the family, and Sept. 4, 1842 he and Nancy were married. He did not accept the gospel, and left Nancy, taking their little daughter, Nancy Elizabeth, with him. Mother and daughter did not see one another again, until the daughter was a grown woman.

The Bean family moved to Nauvoo, and lived through the joyful as well as tragic times. They contributed much of the money from the sale of their property in Quincy to the building of the Nauvoo Temple. On November 4, 1844, Nancy married John D. Lee in the Nauvoo Temple and this marriage was also an unhappy union. They had a baby girl Jan 15, 1846, and the marriage ended in a divorce.

Nancy crossed the plains with her baby daughter, Cornelia Lee. Nancy traveled in the Brigham Young Company and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 1n 1848 when she was 21 years old. She met and married Zachariah, March 6, 1849, and this marriage was a long and happy one. Zachariah raised Cornelia Lee as though she were his own.

In 1850 the Iron Mission opened in Parowan, and the family became one of the founding families in the area. It was said of Zachariah that his life was always a force for good. He served in the town and the church in many important ways. He was the town constable and one of the presidents of the Seventy's. In 1869 he was called to serve a mission to the Eastern states. The United Order was practiced in Parowan from 1873 to 1876. As his responsibility during the times of the United Order, Zachariah was the superintendent of the "West Field" and Nancy was a tailor."

Zachariah Decker, served in the Mormon Battalion, was at Sutter's Mill in California when gold was discovered, and was in the Hole-in-the-Rock ...Church news Zachariah R. is mentioned on p. 189 Miller, Hole in the Rock.

George William Decker is included on pp. 43,49,50, 54, 80, 104, 109, 122, 200-206 of Miller's book. Inscription on back of photo:
George was only 15 when the pioneers descented the dangerous Hole in the Rock: Ensign article says: On 26 January 1880, everything was ready. George W. Decker, then a boy of fifteen, told of the first wagons to pass through the notch: “Hy’s and Ben’s wagons came to the Chute in this order. Hy’s horses refused to face the Chute—too steep—and they had too clear a view of the river about two-thousand feet below. They tried another team with the same rearing and surging backward and still a third team. … Joe [Barton] brought his big wheel horses and they moved off unconcerned but very slow and sure, feeling their way with their large careful feet for they were totally blind [an epidemic of “Pink Eye” had blinded them as well as hundreds of other horses in southern Utah more than a year earlier]. … Joe’s horses, calm and sure, gave the other horses courage to go down. … The crowd at the top came to life with chatter, laughter, and a crazy explosion of hurrahs.”
From George Decker’s journal, we get this insight into Ben Perkins: “Among those who loved to dance was Benjamin Perkins. His snappy Welch jigs furnished no end of entertainment and enjoyment for the entire company.”

More on Decker Family forum

Duncan *, John C.

2010-01-12T14:44:00.005-07:00

Brief information given in Miller's Hole in the Rock pp. 20, 26
More info needed!

Dunton, James Harvey and Mary Ann Doidge (Barker)

2010-01-12T14:18:00.015-07:00

James Harvey Dunton: Birth: 9 April 1829 Of, Centerville, Crawford, Pennsylvania Death: 21 May 1901 Paragonah, Iron, Utah; Burial: 24 May 1901 Paragonah, Iron, Utah. He married his first wife Martha Jane McKee (1835-1910) on 18 July 1852 at Paragonah, Iron, Utah. He married Mary Ann Doidge Barker 14 June 1878 in St George, Washington, Utah. She had five daughters from an earlier marriage.
Martha Jane McKee (James Harvey's first wife) Even though she is listed with the Duntons on the HIRF roster, it is doubtful that she and her children (Daniel David and Lette A.) were actually with the first party who came through the Hole in the Rock. Daniel and Letty were her children.

Mary Ann Doidge (1837-1910). She only lived briefly in San Juan County, Utah. The family left Fort Montezuma in 1881. Mary Ann lived in southwestern Colorado until her death on June 29, 1910. She remained faithful to the church, paid her tithing, and was staunch to the end. Ron McDonald said of her: It is our good fortune that Mary Ann, a schoolteacher, was adept at writing. She has provided us a description of what the fort (Montezuma) looked like in 1881, saying it was made in a square, with cabins touching each other, and doors facing inward. The river on the south side flanked the fort. A tall pole fence secured one side where cabins had not yet been built. Her children were required to stay inside the fort.
Grandma Barker [Mary Ann Doidge Barker Dunton] had five daughters from her first husband, [Joseph Barker] then she later married a man named James Harvey Dunton, and they had one son, John Harvey. (Told by Earl Halls ).

Those coming on the trek with the Dunton family:

Ellen (Ella) Melissa (Barker)
Georginia Madora (Dora) (Barker)
John Harvey

The four older girls were not likely on the initial trip though came later: Sara Jane, Mary Ann (Barker), Emma Amelia (Barker), Catherine Marie (Barker),
Sarah Jane (Barker) was born April 24, 1861 at 3:30 AM at Devonport, Devonshire, England. Her parents were Joseph Barker and Mary Ann Doidge. She was blessed by George Staniforth, May 27, 1861 and baptized 22 June 1873 by William Holyoak and confirmed by Harman Balis at Parowan, Utah. The rest of Sarah Jane's story: [She tells good stories about her mother's experiences. Worth reading.]

History of their Hole in the Rock trip: On April 15, 1879, a boy, John Harvey Dunton, was born to Mary Ann and James, the only child of that union. In the fall of that year, they were called by church authorities to go with others to southeastern Utah to settle the San Juan River territory. Early in 1879, Harvey Dunton went with an exploring company by way of Arizona to find a place for settlement on the San Juan River and build a cabin. The members of that first group started a settlement which was called Montezuma Fort. After starting a cabin, Harvey returned to meet up with the main party of "Hole-in-the-Rock" pioneers. He left all his foodstuffs with the few people who were staying at the fort but were nearing starvation, saying, "I won’t need it. I have my gun and I won’t starve."
In October 1879, Mary Ann and the three youngest children, Ella, Dora, and John joined up with the main party of "Hole-in-the-Rock" pioneers, probably traveling with the families of Harvey’s grown sons from his first marriage who also made the trip: James Cyrus and Marius Ensign. They traveled in a lumber wagon, bringing what few household belongings they could, including the stove and sewing machine that she so valued. The pioneering group headed for the Colorado River not really knowing where they were going to be able to cross the river. Eventually it was determined that a crossing might be made where a crevice in the steep cliffs was widened with dynamite, pick and shovel and much hard work before the wagons could pass through. The descent was so steep, the men blocked the wheels and then held back on the rear of the wagons to keep them from rushing into the horses. They finally crossed the Colorado River on January 28, 1880 by driving the horses and wagons onto a ferry boat. After crossing the river, they still faced difficult travel over very rugged country before they reached the San Juan, arriving at their new home in April. The trip that was supposed to take six weeks instead took six months.

While traveling on this trip, eight-year-old Ella developed a special fondness for her little half-brother who was less than a year old. Being the oldest child, she was allowed to ride in the wagon to care for him. She was a motherly type and spent many hours caring for him and carrying him on her hip even though he was a husky child.
   James Harvey Dunton helped his son on the Hole in the Rock route for a distance, then went back home to get his second wife Mary Ann (1835-1910) . Then Harvey and Mary Ann made the trip through the Hole and to Montezuma with three of their children, two of which were from Mary Ann's first marriage: Ellen Barker 9, Madora Barker 7, and John Dunton Jr., 16 months (Ron McDonald). Miller's Hole in the Rock has entries about Harvey Dunton: pp. 29, 90, 99, 156, 157
      By the time most of the "Hole-in-the-Rock" pioneers got to the San Juan River at what is now Bluff, Utah, they had had enough and they established their new community on the San Juan River there, instead of traveling on to Montezuma Fort. Since Harvey had already built a cabin at the fort, however, he took his family on and they spent the winter there.
   In telling the story, Dora says, "I don’t know how we lived through that bleak winter. I remember toward spring, we children gathered twigs and leaves from the greasewood bushes for greens. The fort was built for protection from the Indians. The houses were touching each other in the form of a square, with the fronts facing inside. The children were not allowed outside of the square. During the winter the men dug ditches and made large frame waterwheels for the purpose of lifting the water from the river to irrigate the farms. This work was all in vain and the experiment failed, as when the high waters came in the spring from the melting snows above, the waterwheels were washed out of the sandy soil and down the river. The people were obliged to leave there and look for new wilds to conquer. Later when I went back over the same route, the river was running through the place where the fort had stood."

James Harvey Dunton is also mentioned in Albert R. Lyman's Fort on the Firing Line as to his involement with the Montezuma Creek settlers. "Harvey Dunton came with the exploring party and stayed with the Davis family through the winter of 79-80. When George Hobbs brought food to the Montezuma settlers in February of 1880 Harvey Dunton returned to the Hole in the Rock party with George so he could check on his son James C. Dunton who was with the Hole in the Rock Party. James had with him his wife Eliza, and two children: and Mary Alice. They settled at Peak City (now Aneth). They were washed out by the river the following year and they left the area.

In May of 1881, when Dora was eight and Ella was ten, they again loaded their belongings into the wagon and started for an unknown destination. They moved north of Durango, Colorado, where James Harvey Dunton hauled lumber from a sawmill to Durango. Here, Mary Ann found work doing laundry for others. The first house they lived in there was a dugout and the children helped clear and then plant and harvest crops. Dora says "We helped Mother make tallow candles which we used for light, and soap for our laundry. We helped with the laundry and gleaned in the fields to get money to buy our school clothes. Mother, through it all, never looked on work as a drudgery, but was always glad to do anything she could to help
(Many thanks to the Hall family whose records added a great deal to the Dunton and Barker history both before and after they left San Juan. Many of the links below come from their web site: James H. Dunton : )

Ron McDonald of Blanding has a copy of James Harvey Dunton's journal on CD, and anyone wishing to do more research is welcome to contact him at hike@citlink.net
On September 9, 1884, a branch of the church was established in Mancos and James Harvey Dunton was set apart as Presiding Elder. On July 5, 1884, the first Relief Society in Mancos was held and Mary Ann was assigned as secretary. She also served as President of the Relief Society in Mancos from May 1891 until November 22, 1892. Kate said, "Mother taught school in Mancos for a while. School was held in the church and Mother rode sidesaddle on a horse called ‘Old Yellow’ to and from school."
Daniel David 1860-1939
Letty A. 1863-1896]

.

Timeline : of Mary Ann Doidge life plus more information. Photo from first marriage.
29 September 1835 - Joseph born
11 April 1837 - Mary Ann born
5 June 1860 - Joseph and Mary Ann baptized
11 June 1860 - Joseph and Mary Ann married
24 April 1861 - Sarah Jane born
1862 - Came to Utah
30 January 1864 - Mary Ann Barker born
9 February 1866 - Joseph ordained Elder
22 July 1866 - Emma Amelia born
2 April 1869 - Catharine Maria born
4 June 1871 - Ellen Melissa born
25 November 1872 - Sealed in Endowment House
19 June 1873 - Georgena Madora born
April 1874 - Joseph left the family, went to Nevada
2 March 1878 - Mary Ann baptized again
About 1878 - Mary Ann married James Harvey Dunton
15 April 1879 - John Harvey Dunton born
1879 - Mary Ann, Ellen, Dora, and John left Parowan
1880 - Hole-in-the-Rock to Montezuma Fort
May 1881 - left Montezuma Fort to move to Durango, Colo
Fall, 1883 - moved to Mancos
About 1882 - Four older girls came to Mancos
19 May 1884 - Emma married to Joseph Willden
9 September 1884 - James Harvey Dunton set apart as first Presiding Elder, Mancos branch
5 July 1884 - First Relief Society in Mancos held. Mary Ann secretary
June 1885 - Catharine married to Charles Pinkerton
14 December 1885 - Sarah married to William McDonald Devenport
About 1886 - James Dunton returned to Utah, Mary Ann built a home at "the Park" where she lived in the summer
11 June 1888 - Ellen married to William Halls
1 January 1889 - Mary Ann Barker married to Roy Weston
May 1891 - 22 November 1892 - Mary Ann President of Relief Society.
29 October 1896 - Joseph died in Eureka, Nevada
16 May 1897 - Dora married to Lewis Burnham
29 June 1920 - Mary Ann died in Red Mesa, Colorado
20 February 1924 - Ellen died in Huntsville, Utah

1 April 1939 - Sarah Devenport died

11 0ctober 1941 - Emma died

11 April 1954 John Harvey died in Pueblo

Dunton, James Cyrus and Eliza Ann Prothero

2010-01-12T13:55:00.005-07:00

The family was from Paragonah . James Cyrus was born 19 October 1855 at Parowan, Iron, Utah. He died 17 September 1931. He married Eliza Ann 31 October 1877. She was born 7 January 1861 Paragoonah, Utah
Children going on the trek: James Albert and Mary Alice.

James Dunton is mentioned on pp. 99, 167, and 177 in Miller's Hole in the Rock book. He was the son of James Harvey Dunton. Harvey Dunton returned to the Hole in the Rock party with George Hobbs so he could check on his son James C. Dunton who was with the Hole in the Rock Party. James C. also had a son names James R.
The Duntons settled at Peak City (now Aneth). They were washed out by the river the following year and they left the area.
Harvey Dunton helped his son, James, on the Hole in the Rock route for a distance, then went back home to get his second wife Mary Ann and 3 children.

More information needed

Dunton, Marius Ensign and Emily Hadden

2010-01-12T13:29:00.006-07:00

Marius was born 26 May 1857, Parowan, Iron Co., Utah. His parents were James Harvey DUNTON, Mother: Martha Jane MCKEE . He was a brother to James Cyrus, also on the Trek.
Emily HADDEN was born 23 Oct 1861, Parowan, Iron Co., Utah. they married 26 May 1877 in Parowan, Iron, (or St. George) Utah. She died in 1946.
Children on the trek were:
Marius Alfred DUNTON born 9 Mar 1878, Paragonah, Iron Co., Utah. Died in 1951
James Harvey DUNTON was born 31 Jan 1880, Paragonah, Iron Co., Utah, died 1937.
Those born later: Mary Pricilla DUNTON, Lewis Edward DUNTON, Thomas Ruben DUNTON, Parley Pratt DUNTON

Story about Marius Dunton: In 1882, two years after Mary Ann (Barker Dunton) had left Parowan, her four older girls went to Colorado. They were taken as passengers with a group that was going to Colorado. Progress was so slow that they covered most of the distance on foot, keeping behind the advance guard of horsemen and ahead of the slow-moving wagons. Mary considered this trip the adventure of her life. She never tired of telling about it and of the thrill of crossing the Colorado River on a ferry boat. They crossed the river at Lee’s Ferry and it was said they enjoyed the crossing so much that they went back on the empty ferry and crossed a second time. Kate said of the trip, "Emma and I rode with Marius Dunton, Mr. Dunton’s second son. Sade and Mary paid $20.00 each to ride with a family named Rolly. I had an easy trip, because I got to sleep in the wagon nights with Mrs. Rolly and her baby. It was my job to keep him in bed mornings, while Mrs. Rolly [Rowley?] prepared breakfast. He was a cute baby. The entire trip took us about a month." They arrived in Mancos shortly before Christmas.

Kate said, "Mr. Dunton met our wagon train at Bluff City. When we got close to home, Mr. Dunton told me of a turn-off ahead and said to follow it till I came to a big gate and that was where we were to live. . . [more on link site]

Echles, Andrew

2010-01-12T13:16:00.002-07:00

Listed in 1880 Census Bluff City, San Juan County, UT. Born in NY, age 42 (1838), cattle raiser.

Eyre, William Naylor

2010-01-12T13:13:00.001-07:00

William Eyre is mentioned on pp. 55, 118, 119, 213-216 of Miller's Hole in the Rock book.
More information needed!

Fielding, Amos Hyrum and Ellen Agnes Hobbs

2010-01-12T12:40:00.006-07:00

The family of Amos Hyrum and Ellen Fielding

Back row, L to R: Hyrum William, Thomas Amos, Joseph Oliver, John Melvin. Middle row: George Walter, Ellen Agnes, Amos Hyrum. Front row: Alice Constance, Mary Jane, and Franklin Down. Not pictured are Ellen Delcena, Myrtle, Delia, and Leonard. The date was 1889. They were from Parowan.

The Fielding family was a Hole in the Rock pioneer family, who did not receive a land grant at Bluff and continued up river to Montezuma. They settled there near the Harriman family. Ellen Fielding was a full sister to Sarah Elizabeth Hobbs Harriman.

The Fielding family arrived at Fort Montezuma in the spring of 1880. Hyrum was thirty-two and Ellen was twenty-six. They brought four children with them; Hyrum William, age eight, Thomas Amos, six, Joseph Oliver, four, and Ellen Delcena, two. Just days after arriving at Montezuma, on September 13, Ellen delivered a baby in the wagon box, and named him John Melvin. They hadn’t had time to build a cabin.

Ellen’s brother, George Hobbs helped them get settled. He probably helped them put up a cabin before he left the area. The Fielding family remained at Fort Montezuma approximately two years. They moved to the Mancos, Colorado area sometime prior to May of 1882. They lived out the rest of their lives in Webber, south of Mancos.
Hyrum was born 18 SEP 1848, Wrightington, Eccleston, Lancaster, England. He married Ellen Agnes Hobbs 28 JUN 1871, Parowan, Iron, Utah Genealogy records He died 1906, Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado and was buried there.
Ellen Agnes died SEP 1899, Mancos, Montezuma, Colorado and is buried there.
A younger child Franklin Downs Fielding was born 13 NOV 1887, Mancos, Montezuma, Colorado
Children on the trek: Hyrum William, ( May be the one who married Maybell Ophelia HAMMOND 06 DEC 1892, Mancos, Montezuma, Colorado)
Thomas Amos: SURN: Fielding Born: 15 Aug 1874 in Parowan, Iron, Utah, USA
Died: 1 Apr 1947 in Provo, Utah, Utah, USA
Buried: in Orem, Utah, Utah, USA
Baptised LDS: 7 Sep 1884
Notes: Joseph Oliver, Ellen Delcena (b. 11 AUG 1878,), John Melvin

For additional details contact Ron McDonald at: fortmontezuma@yahoo.com

Goddard, Sidney

2010-01-12T12:04:00.007-07:00

Sidney was from New Harmony and the younger brother of of William Pace Goddard. Their parents were William Pettibone Goddard and Mary Ann Pace.
Sidney Goddard never married.

Birth: 1 Oct 1858 - Payson, Utah, Utah, United States
Death: 9 Nov 1925 - Washington, Utah, United States
(information from Lee Allen Goddard, gg nephew via Ancestry.com

More Information needed

Goddard, William Pace and Ann Kirrilla Taylor

2010-01-12T11:54:00.007-07:00

William Pace Goddard was born on 16 April 1853 at New Harmony, Washington Co., UT. He was the son of William Pettibone Goddard and Mary Ann Pace. His father was the son of Percy Amanda Pettibone. Percy was the sister of Rosetta Lenora Pettibone, Lorenzo Snow’s mother. William Pace Goddard's mother was the daughter of James Edward Pace. Payson, Utah, was named for James Pace. James Pace was a 1st Lieutenant and 2nd in command of Mormon Battalion Company E. (Information from Lee Allen Goddard, great grandson of William Pace Goddard and Anna Kirrilla Taylor)

William Pace Goddard married Ann Kirrilla Taylor on 1 January 1877. William Pace Goddard died on 23 January 1923 at El Paso, El Paso Co., TX, at age 69.

Ann Kirrilla Taylor was born on 16 August 1859 at Kaysville, Davis Co., UT. She married William Pace Goddard, son of William Pettibone Goddard and Mary Ann Pace, on 1 January 1877. Ann Kirrilla Taylor died on 13 January 1955 at Benson, Cochise Co., AZ, at age 95.

William and Kirilla were enumerated in the 1900 Alma, Socorro Co., NM, federal census. He was a stockman, age 47, she was 40. Children in the household were John E. 19, Dora 17, Lori 16, Effie 14, Sydney C. 12, Alfred A. 8, Jettie L. 6, Gerold A. 4, and Mildred 2. Enumerated next door is William, 22, apparently a son.

William and Kirrilla were also included in the 1910 Mesilla Park, Dona Ana Co., NM, federal census. He was a farmer, age 57, she was 50. Children in the household were Sidney C. 22, Alfred A. 18, Jettie L. 16, Gerald A. 14, and Mildred 12.

Upon the celebration of her 80th birthday, she recalled Hole in the Rock and later pioneering experiences;
Mrs. Goddard recalls that she and her late husband were married on New Year's Day, 1876, at Harmony, Utah. In 1850, the couple joined a wagon train of 99 families to move down to New Mexico. They were on the journey for two years, having to blaze their own trails most of the way. [Hole-in-the-rock was just the first leg of a long trip] The wagon train crossed the Colorado River on improvised rafts made of logs tied together. They had little trouble with Indians, for at that time most of the Indians whose territory they passed through were friendly. They would often go to the wagon camps to beg food and tease and annoy the women, knowing that the women were afraid of them, according to Mrs. Goddard.

The wagon train went to Durango, Colo., where it stopped while the men of the families worked on the D. & R.G. Railroad, which was then under construction. After leaving Durango, they journeyed on to Gallup, N.M., which was nothing more than a blacksmith shop under a tree, she recalls. After going through Winslow, Ariz., the group went to Alma, N.M., arriving there the day after an Indian raid led by the famous chief Victorio. In the raid, the brother of Captain Cooney of the town's little garrison was killed, and Mrs. Goddard remembers that he was buried in a solid rock tomb, which is still a landmark there. From Alma, the wagon train journeyed on to Pleasanton, N.M., where the Goddards decided to make their home. They built a two-room home of solid concrete with small "portholes" for windows, the house being designed to withstand the many raids of Geronimo and his band of Apaches. The house was built in 1882, the year they arrived. Later, after the colony of Mormons there moved to Mexico, Mr. Goddard bought their land, and then bought the land where the soldiers were garrisoned, so that the Goddards acquired nearly all the property in the district, for ranching and farming.

In 1909, the family moved to Mesilla Park so that the seven younger children could attend college at New Mexico A. & M. Finally, in 1918, Mr. And Mrs. Goddard moved to El Paso and Mr. Goddard invested in real estate here. He died in 1923, and Mrs. Goddard now makes her home with a daughter, Mrs. M.W. Maddox, 3601 Lebanon Street. Mrs. Goddard's living sons and daughters are Mrs. A.J. Stockbridge of Duncan, Ariz; J.E. Goddard, New Mexico; Mrs. E.H. Cullom, Quinlan, Texas; Mrs. W.E. Williams, Tucson, Ariz; S.C. Goddard of California; A.A. Goddard of Denver, Col.; Mrs. M.W. Maddox, El Paso; G.A. Goddard, El Paso, and Mrs. L.V. Gardiner, El Paso. (family history)

Children with them on the trek: William Herbert (b. 1877), Maud Anna (b. 1870)
Alfred Allen Goddard (Lee Allen Goddard's grandfather), is not listed because he was the 8th of 11 children. Only two were born at the time of the trek.

New Mexico Early Birth Records County 25 Jan 1881-12 Nov 1895 show Three children born to this couple in Pleasanton.

Goddard, Alfred Allen Oct 19, 1891 Pleasanton Goddard,
Effie Sept 10, 1885 Pleasanton Goddard,
Jettie Lloyd July 28, 1893 Pleasanton Goddard, William Pace
--------------
In all likelihood the Goddards, Sevys and Paces were traveling together because of their family connections. They were also from Utah County, rather than Iron or Millard counties like most of the other pioneers.

Gower, John Thomas and Harriet Jane Corry

2010-01-12T10:31:00.001-07:00

Gower, John Thomas and Harriet Jane Corry were from Cedar City
She was married to John T. Gower in the St. George temple, October 8, 1879, and with her husband answered a call to help settle Bluff City, Utah. (The spent their Honeymoon on the trail.
Genealogy records show: John's parents were: Thomas and Martha Ann Tidswell. They had eleven children:

They were John Thomas Gower (the oldest) , Joseph Gower, Albert Francis Gower,
Jane Elizabeth Gower Yardley, Martha Ann Gower, Mary Isabell Gower,
Betsy Ann Gower, Katherine Gower Urie, Charlotte Gower Rosenberg, Horace Tidswell Gower and Louisa May Gower Condie.

Obituary in Iron County records of Harriet Jane Corry
Iron County Record, Friday, June 8, 1917

Mrs. A. F. Gower Laid at Rest - Funeral Services Over Patient, Long-Suffering Woman Held in the Tabernacle Yesterday
After a long and distressing illness with goiter and complications involving the heart, Mrs. Hattie Gower, wife of Mr. A. F. Gower, was released from her bed of suffering last Tuesday. For the last several weeks her condition has been such that the hand of a merciful providence is acknowledged in her final release.

Harriet Jane Corry Gower was born in Cedar City, Dec. 25, 1860. She was the youngest child in a family of 12, five of whom survive her--three boys and two girls. She was married to John T. Gower in the St. George temple, October 8, 1879, and with her husband answered a call to help settle Bluff City, Utah. After a three-years residence there, the failing health of her husband compelled their return to Cedar City, where Mr. Gower died in November of 1885. She was married to Albert F. Gower, a brother of her deceased husband, in September 1904. Four children are living, the issue of her first marriage and six grandchildren.
Sister Gower was a faithful church worker as long as her health would permit, being a Relief Society teacher in the West ward for a number of years. She was a devoted mother; always considering her children before herself, and was always on hand to help any one in sickness and trouble.The Record extends sympathy and condolence to all members of the bereaved family.

Funeral services were held in the tabernacle yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Opening prayer was offered by Joseph Armstrong and the closing prayer by Samuel T. Leigh. The speakers were Elders John Parry, Lehi W. Jones, Joseph T. Wilkinson, and U. T. Jones. They spoke generally of the homemaking qualities of the deceased, always found at her post and with only good to say about everybody.
Mrs. Elora Bryant, supported by the choir, rendered the vocal selection, "I Need Thee Every Hour."

submitted by Kathie Marynik

More information needed:

Gurr, William Heber and Anna Hanson

2010-01-12T10:11:00.003-07:00

William Heber Gurr 1856-1933) was born 12 October 1856 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. His parents were William Gurr (1834-1913) and Sarah Elizabeth Barker (1837-1902). William died 1 August 1933 in Parowan, Iron, Utah.
He married Anna Hanson 10 April 1878
Anna was born (1858-1935)
They had nine children, William being the oldest, and just a toddler when they left from Parowan to travel to San Juan.

Child with them: William John Gurr (1878-1955)

William Heber Gurr was ranching in Montezuma Canyon in 1880, and was friends with Zechariah Decker Jr.
==============
Australian LDS Emigration for 1853-1868 lists a William Heber Gurr He emmigrated in 1857.

Guymon *, Lafayette and Phoebe Madora Perkins

2010-01-12T09:59:00.012-07:00

Phebe and Lafayette Guymon.taken many years after

their stay at Fort Montezuma. Provided by Florence Walker

Lafayette Guymon

Born: 19 September 1840 at Bear Creek, Hancock Co., Illinois
Died: May 1935 in Toadlena, San Juan Co., New Mexico
Married: (1) Margaret Mortensen in 1861
(2) Phebe Madora Perkins
Father: James Guymon
Mother: Mary Ann Couch Guymon
Marriages: (1) Anne Margrette (Mortensen) Nielsen 20 Feb 1861 in Parowan, Iron, Ut. She was born on 4 Dec 1840 in Systofte, Bjorup, Maribo, Denmark. She died on 25 Aug 1875 in Minersville, Beaver,Utah. She was buried on 28 Aug 1875 in Minersville, Beaver, Utah.
(2) Phebe Madora Perkins on 11 Jul 1877 in Parowan, Iron, Ut.
(Genealogy records)

Traveling with them were his children from his first marriage. Enoch Couch (Mortensen), was born on 1 Feb 1872 in Minersville,Beaver,Utah. He was christened in 1872. He died on 13 Jul 1954 in Provo,Utah,Utah. He was buried on 15 Jul 1954 in Evergreen Cemete,Springville,Utah. He married Mary Antoinette Burnham on 15 Aug 1894 in Mancos,Montezuma,Colorado. See additional information:

Heber Columbus (Mortensen) was born on 5 Mar 1874 in Yellow Bank Mead, Millard,Utah. He died on 21 Jan 1885 in Mancos, Montezuma, Colorado. He was buried on 23 Jan 1885 in Mancos,Montezuma,Colorado.
James Neils (Mortensen) was born on 10 Nov 1865 in Minersville, Beaver, Utah. He died on 17 Dec 1944 in Mancos,Montezuma,Colorado. He was buried in Mancos, Montezuma, Colorado.

Lafayette's Childhood Years
Lafayette Guymon was born 19 September 1840 in Bear Creek, Illinois, about twenty-five miles from Nauvoo. His parents, James Guymon and Mary Ann Couch, were the parents of five children, Lafayete being the oldest. They had been introduced to the Latter-Day Saint religion while living in Hancock County, Illinois. After their conversion, James journeyed back to his parents’ home in Tennessee so he could share the joy he felt in his new found religion with them. Soon his parents, (Thomas and Sarah Davis Guymon), brother, and three sisters were likewise all converted to Mormonism, and went to live in Illinois and eventually to Utah with the Saints.

One day when Lafayette was a young boy, he was walking near the Mississippi River with his father when they heard a steamboat coming up the river. His father asked Lafayette if he wanted to go and see the boat, which of course he was very excited to do. As they hurried to the riverbank, they came upon another man, who stopped and spoke with Lafayette’s father for a few minutes. The man put his hand upon Lafayette’s head and inquired of James, “Is this your little boy?” Only afterwards did Lafayette learn who the man was – the Prophet Joseph Smith. It was a brief encounter, but something Lafayette remembered all his life. Sadly, however, he also remembered the day the Prophet was murdered as the day his father came home and cried bitterly, “as if his heart would break.”(1)

Lafayette’s family sold their farm in Illinois for two yoke of oxen and an old wagon when it came time for the Saints to leave Nauvoo. Reportedly, the same farm sold again ten years later for ten thousand dollars. From the deck of a flatboat they left Nauvoo behind them, and journeyed in their wagon first to Mt. Pigsha and then to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in terrible mud. It took them days to even go a few miles in the paralyzing mud. They stayed in Council Buffs for two years and planted crops for the pioneers who would come after them. Unfortunately, during their stay there, two of Lafayette’s sisters died of canker.

Also during these years, the Mormon Battalion was organized in response to the U.S. government’s need for troops to help fight in the Mexican War. Over five hundred men Latter-Day Saint men were enlisted in the regiment and marched over two-thousand miles to San Diego, California. Lafayette’s father was unable to enlist, however, due to an injured leg. Instead, he provided a man named William Lickenlooker, who he had hired to drive one of his wagons, with the necessary supplies and equipment to go in his place. Eventually, Lafayette’s family moved on from Council Bluffs to Canesville for a brief period of time. It was here that Lafayette was baptized a member of the Church.

Shortly thereafter, Lafayette had an experience with his family that laid the foundations of his testimony of the Church. His family had just begun their westward trek from Canesville to Salt Lake City when his father’s mother became seriously ill with cholera. Believing she was close to death, Lafayette’s father gathered their family around her inside the wagon and gave her a priesthood blessing. Miraculously, she was “instantly healed.” (2)

Settling in Utah
Lafayette’s family traveled to Utah in the Willard Richard company. They had three yoke of oxen, cows and a pig that they took along. Much to their chagrin, the pig froze to death when the family was only about a hundred miles from Salt Lake City due to an early winter snowstorm in the mountains. About this time, Lafayette’s father became sick with typhoid fever; he continued to suffer from it through most of the following winter. Their wagon train arrived in the Salt Lake valley 9 October 1849. Lafayette’s family, including his father’s third wife and her son, (a little boy named Brigham who died during the winter), spent the winter months living together in a one-room “pole house.” Amazingly, Lafayette was the only one in the household who did not fall ill.

That spring the family rented a farm in the Little Cottonwood area. There they saved their grain fields from hoards of crickets by driving them into the irrigation ditch with brooms. Next they moved to American Fork and a couple of years after that bought a farm in Springville. They were not there long, however, when they were called to settle in Parowan. They were not as lucky with grasshoppers in Parowan as they had been with crickets in Cottonwood. The grasshoppers completely destroyed their crops and the family was on the point of starvation. Fortunately, they were able to purchase some stored grain from a neighbor that lasted them through the winter and provided seed for the following spring.

When Lafayette was a young man of eighteen years of age, he was called to be part of the White Mountain Mission. This mission was unique in purpose: those called to it were given the assignment to find and prepare a place in the mountains where the local Latter-Day Saints could fall back into if the U.S. Army, under General Johnston, were to pass through. Relations between the U.S. government and the Latter-Day Saints were strained at that time, and the Saints living in Utah were wary of Johnston’s Army. For Lafayette, it was a sobering time.

Marriage and Family
At age twenty-one, Lafayette met and married Margaret Mortensen, a Danish girl living in Parowan (3). They had seven children in their thirteen years together before Margaret died of heart trouble at the age of only thirty-four. Prior to her passing, she and Lafayette had already buried one child and endured the anxiety of another who was spared from spinal meningitis only to be discovered deaf from the disease. For Lafayette, these heartbreaking experiences of loss were sad shadows of more losses to come.

Two years after Margaret’s death, Lafayette married Phebe Perkins, who was still a teenager at the time. In spite of her youth, Phebe did her best to be a good mother to Lafayette’s six remaining children. Not long after she and Lafayette were married, however, death claimed the life of eleven-year-old Mary. Like her mother, Margaret, who she was buried beside, Mary died of heart trouble on the way home from visiting a doctor about her condition 4. Not long after that, Phebe lost twin girls at birth. It was also a difficult time for the family financially as they struggled to prosper. Yet even with all these trials, Lafayette and Phebe clung to their faith and made the journey to Saint George with their family so they could be sealed together in the temple there.

Moving to Colorado by way of Hole-in –the-Rock
In 1879, Lafayette and Phebe decided to move to Colorado in the hopes of improving their financial security. They met up with the Hole-in-the-Rock pioneers as they started out along their way. Some of their experiences along the trip included being caught in a box canyon just as heavy rains filled it with water all the up the sides of the wagon and threatened to wash them all away. At other times, the lack of water they experienced was a serious hardship. They spent many hours searching for “water tanks,” or puddles of water that collected in bowl-shaped rock formations. Once, Lafayette narrowly escaped disaster when he slipped down into an egg-shaped water tank. He grasped a small bush or branch as he fell and was prevented from injury.

In later years, Lafayette recalled crossing the Colorado River as perhaps his most anxious moment along the way. He said that “it was perhaps the first time in his life that he would have handed the reigns to anyone else” when he saw the rock road sloping down the rushing river 5. The river was swollen from the rains and carried a lot of logs and other dangerous debris. To have enough time to reach the opposite shore and not be caught in the fast moving current of the unruly river, the wagons were loaded onto the raft further upstream and the men rowed with all their strength to safely time their landing . When his wagon, provisions and family were finally ferried safely across the torrent, Lafayette thought he was “the most thankful that lived.” 6

Continuing on to Colorado
After the wagon train finally reached Bluff, Lafayette and his family worked for three months gathering provisions and preparing to journey on to Colorado. When they arrived in Mancos, they had little food and only their wagons, blankets and clothing with which to start a new life. A kind man let them obtain food and supplies from George Bowers’ store on his personal credit account there. Lafayette did some freighting and work for Mr. Bower in payment and the men became lifelong friends.

As Lafayette journeyed up to the mountains one day for some wood, his deaf son, James, pointed to some land and said it would make a nice place for a farm. Lafayette agreed, and there the family made their home. The next spring they dug an irrigation ditch and began planting. They were surrounded by good friends in those early years of settlement who did much to help them get established.

But the heartache of loss was never far from them. Phebe gave birth to little boy who lived three months before passing away from whooping cough. As she watched his little grave being dug on a nearby hill, and heard the howling of coyotes in the distance, Phebe’s heart ached. Then, in the fall of 1884, she noticed that Lafayette’s eleven-year-old son, Heber, always seemed tired. About a week later Lafayette and Heber went out to pick beans. After about an hour’s time, Lafayette found the boy asleep in one of the bean rows. Later that day, Lafayette wrote in his journal about the experience:

“I said, ‘Well, Heber, are you going to get lazy and leave everything for Pa to do?’ I was sorry as soon as I had said it and asked him to forgive me and to go on in the house and lay down on the bed. He just looked sad and said, ‘It’s all right, Pa. I guess I am lazy—only I feel so tired all the time.’ He didn’t get up any more that day.” (7)

It was soon confirmed that Heber was suffering from diabetes. His lack of energy was caused by his body’s inability to process the sugars and starches found in everyday foods. There was no cure or remedy for the disease at the time, a fact Lafayette greatly lamented. “Oh dear God,” he wrote in his journal two months later, “I wish the doctors were smarter and could discover something to cure this awful disease. They will some day, but it will be too late to save my little boy.” (8) For nearly four months Lafayette and Phebe watched as the disease slowly overcame Heber. Throughout the ordeal, Lafayette recorded the bitterness of his feelings and the bravery of little Heber.
“January 15th – Today after all the rest had gone to bed, I was sitting with Heber all quiet and each thinking his own thoughts when suddenly he asked me, ‘Pa, are you sure Ma will be there to meet me when I go?” With me feeling so blue and sad and wondering if God has anything to do with a little boy’s suffering like this, it was hard for me to tell him I was sure his mother would meet him, but after I sat and thought a minute, I know she will. It’s just got to be that way. Then I told him the story my mother told me long ago about how Jesus said he was going to prepare a home for us over there and I just know he would have a nice place for a good little boy.” (9)

Five days later, Heber died. All Lafayette could bring himself to write that day was “Heber died today at 12:30. It is over, thank God.” He only made two more entries in his journal in the following days. Reading back over what he had written in the previous four months, Lafayette decided it was better not to write anymore at all. It was just too sad. “I’ll let God keep the records,” he ended (10).

In spite of all their sadness, however, the Guymon family enjoyed much happiness together in Mancos. At Christmastime, in particular, the spirit of the season made their home a warm and inviting place. It was also a home filled with music throughout the years. Lafayette was a fiddle player. He often played for local get-togethers and dances, bringing home more than two thousand dollars before he lost track.

But he was not the only one in the family who loved music. Phebe raised turkeys in order to earn enough money to buy an organ. She took music lessons and in turn taught all her girls how to play as well. Her daughter Clara wrote that “the joy that organ brought into our home and the difference it made in our lives, words could never express.” (11) One winter, the family watched as their beloved home burned down. But out of the flames came Lafayette, pulling the organ to safety.

A Time of Spiritual Testing
While Lafayette and his family lived in Mancos, he and Phebe became acquainted with some folks of more education and refinement. These friends began influencing Lafayette and Phebe in ways that made them question the authenticity of their Mormon faith. Yet even as he did so, a restlessness grew inside Lafayette. Finally it took him to the mountains in prayer one day. He returned feeling that the Lord had answered his prayers and confirmed in his mind the truthfulness of the Latter-Day Saint faith. He never strayed again from it.
New Mexico
Phebe began to have health problems which she sought medical help for in places as far away as Michigan and New Mexico. Eventually she found that her health improved in the warmer and drier climate of the San Juan. With much sadness, Lafayette sold his beloved Mancos farm and moved his family to Kirtland, New Mexico so Phebe’s quality of life would be better. Life in New Mexico was much more of a financial struggle for the family. Phebe’s medical bills had already drained much of their financial reserves, but in Kirtland farming was no way to make a living. Phebe worked at the Post Office and a small store and Lafayette tended to stagecoach horses in the stables in order to earn extra money.

Nevertheless, the family was still blessed with good friends and neighbors who strengthened them in their faith. Though they missed Mancos, they were still happy. They lived there for ten years before Phebe’s health began to decline once again. Lafayette decided to move his family to Provo, Utah, where his remaining daughters could attend Brigham Young University.

Sunset Years
Life in Provo created a lot of new and interesting opportunities for Lafayette’s family. They had greater access to educational and cultural experiences that expanded their enjoyments in life. Gradually their remaining children grew to adulthood and started families of their own. At first this was a lonely transition for Lafayette and Phebe, who had been consumed by family life for so many years, but after a while they became busy with other endeavors. Phebe served as the Primary President for many years, and Lafayette was the custodian for the Provo Fifth Ward.

Phebe eventually became ill again, and passed away 6 July 1922. Lafayette missed her greatly. To ease his loneliness he became actively involved in genealogy and temple work. At one point, he submitted 666 names to the temple for ordinances. He performed the vicarious ordinance work for as many of these individuals as he could before his health also began to fail.

He spent the last few years of his life living with his daughters – first Clara and then Lucy. It was at Lucy’s home in New Mexico that he finally passed away at the age of ninety-four. He was buried beside Phebe in the Springville Cemetery.

As a tribute to her father, Clara penned these words:

My Father

As I look back o’er the years,Of your long and checkered life,

With all its joys and sorrows, Happiness and strife.

I cannot help but wonder If somewhere on a scroll

These things have been recorded And in future will unroll.

When life’s great book is opened,And we come to give account—

I’m sure on life’s great balance sheet Your credits up will mount

For you gave your life in service,To your family and your God

And many came to love you, While on this earth you trod.

You have been my inspiration, By your life of upward striving,

That the ills of life can be o’er come, By straight and honest living.

You give us courage to climb up, And meet our trials today,

That life is very much worth while, Though thorns beset our way.

References and article by C.S.M. Jones LLC, Family Heritage Consulting for Hole in the Rock Foundation
1. Boyer, Clara G. “Biography of Lafayette Guymon,” 1, presented by Winnie Guymon of Camp Sunflower, Daughters of Utah Pioneers , as found in Kurt Jay Christensen, “Pioneer Trek Journal 1997,” available at LDS Church History Library. This biography of Lafayette Guymon is almost identical to a biography of him and his first wife, Margaret Mortensen, published in the history “They Answered the Call: A History of Minersville, Utah,” (Second Edition, 1997, Bountiful, Utah: Family History Publishers; 1962 Copyright, Minersville Centennial Committee). This biography contains more information about Lafayette’s first wife, and covers little of his life after her death.
2. Boyer, 3.
3. “They Answered the Call,” A 101. Margaret was disowned by her family for a time following her conversion to the Church when she was a young women in Denmark. Eventually her father’s heart was softened and he bought her eight head of cattle that she drove across the plains. She and her nine-year-old sister, were part of the Martin Handcart Company; her sister died in the winter snows in Wyoming.

4. There is a discrepancy in Mary’s age at time of death in the two sources, “They Answered the Call” and the Daughters of Utah Pioneers biography written by Clara Boyer. One states Mary died at one year of age, and the other relates the story of her passing on her way home from a doctor’s visit at age eleven. Based on other evidence that Phebe was Lafayette’s wife at the time of Mary’s death, Clara Boyer’s portrayal of her death is presented here.
5. Boyer, 5.
6. Ibid.
7. Bloomfield, Lucy G. with Kate B. Carter, ed., “From the Journal of Lafayette Guymon,” in Treasures of Pioneer History, vol. 5, Salt Lake City, Utah: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1956, 70.

8. Ibid., 71
9. Ibid., 72-73.
10. Ibid., 73.
11. Boyer, 7.
12. Boyer, 11-12.
==================
Ron McDonald in his Fort Montezuma history adds:
We believe Lafayette Guymon and his wife Phoebes Madora Perkins Guymon, moved into Fort Montezuma during 1881. They brought five Children: James Neils, age fifteen, Anna or (Annie) Emeline, twelve, Enoch Couch, nine, and Heber Columbus, seven. James was deaf.

Lafayette was forty-one, and Phebe was only nineteen. All five children were of Lafayette and his first wife Anne Margrette, who died six years earlier. Phebe became the new mother to the children, and would later add many more to the family following their stay at Fort Montezuma.

Lafayette drove a freight wagon for William Hyde, between Durango and Montezuma. We believe they moved to Mancos, Colorado during 1882, probably about the same time as the Fielding family. The two families lived as neighbors at Webber, which is located a little south of Mancos p. 26.

Haight, Caleb Isaac

2010-01-12T08:23:00.006-07:00

.CALEB ISAAC HAIGHT (b. 22 May 1856) also on the Hole in the Rock roster, son of Isaac Chauncy and from Cedar City. Was 23 at the time of the trek.

He is mentioned in Miller's book, p. 77 as being assigned along with Warren Taylor, and Albert Nelson to find forage for the horses. They drove them from Jackass Bench, below the Hole in the Rock, north beyond Fifty-mile Spring, then back 10 miles to Sooner Spring. Finding feed for the animals was of major concern.

Caleb Haight and Isaac C. Haight, lived at Montezuma for a short time, and then moved back to Cedar City.

Photo is possibly our "lost Pioneer" Caleb
Caleb and David Haight, Cedar City, Iron County, Utah
Sons of Isaac Chauncy Haight. See genealogy index
Not confirmed as there are also other Calebs. More information needed!

Haight, Isaac Chauncy

2010-01-11T22:19:00.006-07:00

Isaac Chauncey Haight

Born: 27 May 1813: Windham, Green County, New York
Died: 8 September 1886: Thatcher, Arizona
Married: (1) Eliza Ann Snyder: 31 December 1836
(2) Mary Murry: n.d.
(3) Eliza Ann Price: 10 October 1853
(4) Annabella Sinclair Macfarlane: 16 October 1853
(5) Elizabeth Summers: 24 January 1858
Father: Caleb Haight
Mother: Keturah Horton

Early Life and Religious Conversions

Isaac Chauncey Haight was born on May 27, 1813, to Caleb and Keturah Haight. Caleb and Keturah farmed in Green County, New York, and brought up Isaac in this farming atmosphere. Isaac has been remembered as being a “carefree and happy youth” who found pleasure in socializing with the local community.1 Although much of his time was spent laboring with his father and brothers on the farm, Isaac did have the opportunity to attend school during the winter. Reading the Bible supplemented Isaac’s education.

Isaac developed a special fondness for the New Testament and converted to the Baptist Church when he was eighteen, to be baptized shortly later. While studying with the Baptists, Isaac desired to go to Burma with other Baptist missionaries and preach the gospel there. Eventually he became disaffected with the Baptist movement, lamenting the fact that the churches of the time had lost the “primitive purity” of antiquity. He decried the fact that the Burma-bound “baptized missionaries preached for hire” rather than “without purse or script.”2

Isaac decided to stay in New York and farm with his family. During his early twenties, Isaac developed a severe case of pneumonia that left his lungs permanently scarred and his breathing impaired. This condition effectively ended his farming career. Isaac was able to educate himself enough to obtain a teaching job in Moravia, New York. He enjoyed teaching and immersed himself in the social scene in Moravia. In the winter of 1837, Isaac married Eliza Ann Snider. The two soon relocated back to Isaac’s family farm where Isaac helped farm in the summer and taught school in the winter.

Isaac still retained his religious fervor, even though he was no longer officially affiliated with the Baptists. He searched for pure New Testament teachings, and dabbled for a time in the Universalist movement. In the winter of 1838 Isaac found what he was looking for. An itinerant preacher named Pelatish Brown came to Isaac’s community and preached a sermon on Daniel chapter seven. Brown impressed Isaac, and after study and contemplation, Isaac embraced the Latter-day Saint movement. Isaac was baptized in a nearby lake in the middle of winter. Although it was so cold that his clothes froze to him as he emerged from the water, it was a joyous experience for Isaac. Isaac was then ordained an elder and presided over a local congregation of Latter-day Saints. Shortly thereafter, the Baptist Church formally excommunicated Isaac for heresy.

Travels With the Latter-Day Saints

Isaac went on his first mission during the winter of 1841. He journeyed back to his home in Green County, New York. Although many were prejudiced against his message, Isaac did have some success. In 1842, Isaac decided to bring his family and join the main body of Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo, Illinois. They arrived on July 24, 1842. After a year in Nauvoo, Isaac was again called to preach in Green County. Although his former community harbored ill feelings towards the Latter-day Saints, Isaac’s parents did join the Church.

Upon returning to Nauvoo, Isaac was chosen to be one of forty bodyguards to Joseph Smith, as well as a member of the local police force. He only served in this position for several months, however, as Joseph Smith dismissed the guard in the spring of 1844. This did not end Isaac’s public service, however. Isaac joined the city militia, called the Nauvoo Legion, and was one of twenty close friends of Joseph Smith’s who were chosen to accompany him to Carthage Jail. On the way to Carthage, where Joseph Smith would ultimately be killed by a mob, the group was stopped by the governor of Illinois, Thomas Ford, and ordered to return to Nauvoo. Several days later, while guarding the Nauvoo Temple, Isaac was informed that Joseph and Hyrum Smith had been martyred.

Emigration to Utah and Missionary Journeys

After a brief trip to New York, to conduct church and personal business, Isaac and Eliza Ann decided to go west with the main body of church members. Although initially appointed to lead a company of ten families, Isaac was asked by church leaders to stay behind in Nauvoo and help the citizens there sell their property. After fulfilling this assignment, Isaac departed Nauvoo on June 6, 1846. By July 13, Isaac and his family had caught up with the Saints in Winter Quarters. While there, Isaac volunteered to join the federally organized Mormon Battalion, but Brigham Young asked him to stay in Winter Quarters to build homes and take care of the needy. Conditions there were poor. Eliza Ann, and their daughter Keturah, became very ill, and only recovered their health after moving into a crude house. Isaac rejoiced when a son was born November 19, 1846, but was crushed when the baby died shortly thereafter.

Isaac and his family left Winter Quarters June 13, 1847, and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 22. Although the family had only a rough timber house to live in, these initial days in the Salt Lake Valley were happy for Isaac and Eliza Ann. Isaac continued to play a prominent role in the Latter-day Saint community. In 1850 he was elected to the Territorial Assembly and assisted church leaders in local rescue and exploratory missions.

On September 11, 1850, Isaac Haight was called to serve a mission in England, where he served until January 8, 1853. Although strenuous, this mission was very successful and Isaac was instrumental in bringing many converts to the United States. Once released, Isaac was assigned to stay in the eastern United States and coordinate the emigration of thousands of converts to Utah. In this, Brigham Young gave Isaac stewardship over thousands of dollars of the Perpetual Emigration Fund. After organizing the companies and securing wagons, food and other supplies, the trek left on June 20, 1853, under Isaac’s direction. In August, Isaac arrived and was reunited with Eliza Ann and their children, including a daughter that was born just weeks after Isaac departed for England.

Iron County Mission

While Isaac was in England, Brigham Young, with the assistance of Erastus Snow and Franklin D. Richards, established the Deseret Iron Works (later to be renamed the Southern Utah Iron Works). These leaders asked Isaac to lead the enterprise upon his return to Utah. It subsequently became known as the “Iron County Mission.” On October 8, 1853, Isaac recorded, “I was appointed by President Young and Brothers in Council to move to Iron County to take charge of the iron works. I would much rather have stayed here, but am willing to obey the council of my Brethren.”3
At this time Isaac took two additional wives, Eliza Ann Price and Annabella Macfarlane. He had become acquainted with Eliza Ann while on his mission in England. Eliza Ann had at one time been a maid to one of the queen’s ladies-in-waiting, and was quite refined in her demeanor. She was only four years older than Isaac’s oldest daughter, and the two women became close friends. Annabella was a widow with three children; she and Isaac became acquainted during the journey from England to Salt Lake City.

Isaac played a prominent role both in the iron works, and the community. In late November, Isaac was ordained a high councilor as well as one of the iron company’s directors. In December of that same year, Isaac recorded in his journal that he had been elected the first mayor of Cedar City. Isaac’s journal illuminates some of the struggles he faced in making the iron works successful. The company’s first furnace was of such low quality that it had to be quickly replaced by another. The furnace, so important to iron smelting, eventually had to be replaced more than four times. In time, however, the enterprise became successful and many tons of iron were produced. In May of 1855 Isaac was given the prominent position of stake president. Isaac went on to represent the community in both the Territorial Assembly and the state’s constitutional convention.

Mountain Meadows Massacre and Excommunication

By September of 1857, tensions in Utah were running high. Rumors that the United States government was sending troops to Utah, and fears that an approaching wagon train intended to stir up Indians against the Latter-day Saints, ushered in a crisis. Isaac Haight, a prominent military, civic and church leader, was thrust into the middle of the situation. A century and a half later, Isaac’s role in what became known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre is still a matter of controversy. Some believe that Isaac was in part responsible for the massacre; others argue that he had urged his fellow militiamen to be patient and wait for counsel to arrive from Brigham Young before taking action. Nevertheless, one thing is certain: Isaac’s life course was forever altered by the fateful events of that day.

By 1870, the events of the massacre had come under investigation by Latter-day Saint leaders, led by Brigham Young, and the United States government. Isaac and several others were excommunicated by the Church in 1870. In the summer of 1871, Isaac went into hiding to escape both public and government persecution for his role in Mountain Meadows, as well as his continued practice of plural marriage.

Although he did go on numerous expeditions to the Indians with several Latter-day Saints, Isaac kept a low profile. Because the reasons for his excommunication had been made public, he feared that, if found, federal officials would take him into custody. During 1873 and 1874 Isaac worked as the foreman of the lumberyard that supplied wood to the St. George Temple, which was under construction at the time. This job brought him into frequent contact with church leaders, including Brigham Young, who had a winter home in the St. George area. Samuel Lorenzo Adams, “one of Isaac’s dearest and most loyal friends,” recorded the events that led to Isaac’s reinstatement into the LDS faith in 1874. According to Adams, Brigham Young was invited to the Adams home in the late evening to discuss Isaac’s membership. Upon realizing this, Brigham responded: “Where is Isaac? I want to baptize him with my own hands.”4 Adams then sent for Isaac, who was warmly reunited with Brigham. After this cordial visit, the three went to a nearby creek and Isaac was re-baptized that very night. Afterwards, Brigham Young blessed Isaac and restored him to full fellowship.

Hole-In-The-Rock Pioneer and Later Life

Although Isaac was rebaptized, he was still wanted by civil authorities and looked-down upon by many. Because of this, Isaac often lived in hiding and was rarely able to visit his wives and children. When Church leaders called a hardy group of settlers to go to the San Juan, Isaac and his son Caleb joined the expedition. He had asked his wife, Eliza Ann Price, to go with him so he could be a better father to their ten children that he hardly knew, but she had rejected him. She did not want to face the hardships of the journey, nor risk putting her children’s lives in danger by traveling openly with her husband, a man with a price on his head. For seven years she refused to have any communication with Isaac, though he wrote to her and his children.

Although older than most of the expedition’s members, Isaac’s pioneering experience and the respect he garnered from the younger members made him an asset to the group. Also, this would give Isaac welcome relief from federal officials, who still sought him. Still fearing discovery, Isaac spent a good part of the trek concealed in Caleb’s wagon to avoid detection. In fact, many participants did not realize Isaac was among them, though no doubt many of the travelers who had come from Cedar City did. However, most records of the trek do not include the Haights as being among the participants. Although the trip took the pioneers across seemingly impassable terrain, the company made it to the San Juan and established a city there named Bluff. Isaac used his many talents to build homes, churches and other improvements in Bluff. He came to love and admire the singular beauty of the Four Corners area.

Eventually, federal officials stopped pursuing Latter-day Saint leaders for their connections to the Mountain Meadows Massacre. This, unfortunately, did not stop Church members, and non-Church members alike, from ostracizing and harassing Isaac. Once, in his final years, he was even driven from the steps of the St. George Temple by a mob of enraged Mormons who believed he did not belong there with them to worship God. Nevertheless, in spite of all the persecution and danger he suffered during the last quarter-century of his life, Isaac remained beloved and befriended by many. The fact that his presence in the Hole-in-the-Rock party was never disclosed, even in writing, by members of the group attest to the loyalty of his friends.

Eventually, though, Isaac decided it would be best if he left Cedar City, and Utah, for good. He traveled first to Mexico, and eventually to Arizona. It was in Thatcher, Arizona, in 1886, that Isaac Chancey Haight, who had witnessed and figured prominently in much of Latter-day Saint history, finally passed away.
--------------
End notes:
[i] Caroline Keturah Parry, “A Brief Sketch of the Life of Isaac C. Haight,” L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, 1.

[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid., 6.
[4] Caroline Keturah Parry Woolley, I Would to God: A Personal History of Isaac Haight, ed. by Blanche Cox Clegg and Janet Burton (Cedar City, Utah: Southern Utah University Press, 2009), 139.

Researched and written for the Hole-in-the-Rock Foundation by: C.S.M. Jones LLC, Family Heritage Consulting.

Bibliography

Alter, J. Cecil. Utah: The Storied Domain. A Documentary History of Utah’s Eventful Career. Vol. 3. New York: The American Historical Society, 1932.

Carter, Kate. Treasures of Pioneer History. Vol. 1. Salt Lake City, Utah: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1952.

[Nelson, Isaac]. “A Short History of the Life of Isaac Chauncey Haight.” Archives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Parry, Caroline Keturah. “A Brief Sketch of the Life of Isaac C. Haight.” Typescript. L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

“Sketch of the Life of Isaac Chauncey Haight.” Archives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Woolley, Caroline Keturah Parry. I Would to God: A Personal History of Isaac Haight. Edited by Blanche Cox Clegg and Janet Burton. Cedar City, UT: Southern Utah University Press, 2009.

Wiggins, Lou Jean S., comp. “Pioneers in Iron County: Isaac Chauncey Haight,” Pioneer Pathways. Volume 5. Salt Lake City, Utah: International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 2005.

=========

Genealogy shows he had a son: son CALEB ISAAC HAIGHT (b. 22 May 1856) also on the Hole in the Rock roster.
Autobiography of Isaac C. Haight
Part of the Covington company arrived in May 1857. Isaac C. Haight, who was presiding over the Parowan Stake, organized the new settlement as a branch of the Harmony Ward.

Harriman* , Henry Harrison and Sarah Elizabeth Hobbs

2010-01-11T21:55:00.015-07:00

The Harriman family were the first LDS family to settle in San Juan. They traveled with the southern Exploration /Expedition party through northern Arizona and after travelling 400 miles finally settled at Montezuma with their four children in June of 1979.

The Harriman family came from Parowan, Utah. Henry was the son of Henry Harriman Sr., a General Authority of the Church who is mentioned in this journal. Henry was born in the USA. Sarah Elizabeth was an English convert and moved from England with her family. She was born in 1853 and was the sister to George Hobbs, one of the main Hole in the Rock scouts. She married Henry Sept. 23, 1871 in the St. George Temple. She died in 1925.

Children coming to San Juan: Henry George (photo on left), Mary Clarissa (photo on right), John Alma, Lizzie Constance. Lizzie Constance died at Montezuma at about age 3, possibly of snake bite in 1881, and John Alma died at about age 6 in 1883 of measles. They are buried at Montezuma, and no photographs exist of either of them. We have record that Lizzie Constance was blonde with blue eyes.
Other children were born to the family after they left Montezuma, they are also listed below. William was born to the family at Montezuma in 1881.

Ron McDonald of Blanding has done extensive research on the Harriman family (Vol. 30 of Blue Mountain Shadows) and provides the following information: "The Harriman family left Montezuma with the Davis family during September of 1884. They settled in Huntington, Utah. Elizabeth eventually gave birth to a total of nine children. The last four were born at Huntington, after leaving Montezuma: Alice, Franklin, Cornelia, and Zuma Elizabeth. It’s interesting to note the name of their last child. Zuma was born eight years after they left Montezuma. This gives us some sense as to their feelings about the mission they had served at Montezuma.

The Montezuma Mission was a huge sacrifice for them, and though they were not successful at coexisting with the troublesome river, they were successful at filling their mission. As instructed, they made friends with the Indians and helped establish the Church in this new frontier. They filled their mission exactly as directed. The Harriman family stayed at their post longer than any other Montezuma settler, remaining there for an uninterrupted five years and three months." Two of their children are buried there: John Alma (1876-1883) and Lizzie Constance (1879-1881).

In 1885, they left Huntington because of poor soil, and headed to Idaho, experiencing even more hardships. Eventually they settled "on an unimproved farm, three and a half miles from Idaho Falls, cleared sagebrush, built a home, and began farming. While living there, Sarah took a nursing course from Dr. Ellis Shipp, from Salt Lake City. She already had some nursing and midwife experience prior to the schooling. In 1902, the family moved again, this time to a smaller but better quality farm north of Rigby, Idaho.

Sarah worked as a nurse and midwife, while Henry farmed in earnest. Life was better than it had been for a long time. In 1906, they filed for a homestead at beautiful Canyon Creek, in timber country north of Rigby Idaho. Henry built a one-room cabin at the homestead. Not long following the completion of the cabin, Henry was hauling a load of timber when a large log fell and threw him against a steel tire of the wagon. He sustained a serious brain concussion, and his suffering became intense. A doctor bled him in an effort to reduce the pain, which failed to give the relief the family had hoped for. Henry died two weeks following the accident, on June 14, 1908 at age 59.

"Sarah sold the farm at Rigby and lived in the cabin Henry had built at Canyon Creek. A few years later her sons built a house for her. Sarah was living there when she died on August 5, 1925, making her life’s journey 72 years. They were honorable pioneers, and their posterity has good reason to be proud."
( Ron McDonald, 3rd edition Fort Montezuma, 2010)

One interesting story that McDonald found concerns this rifle:
Harriman descendants still have the Winchester model 1876 .45/60 caliber rifle that Henry Harriman had at Fort Montezuma. There are a
number of stories about this rifle. At Montezuma Sarah was traveling in the wagon when she saw a band of Ute Indians coming her way. She knew they would ransack the wagon for things they might want, so she wrapped the Winchester rifle in some of her spare underwear, hoping the Indians would respect her privacy and not search through her underwear.
Sure enough, they surrounded her wagon and began looking for things they might want, but respected her underwear, and didn’t find the rifle. The rifle is now in the possession of a great-granddaughter of Henry and Sarah Harriman.

If you need more information about this family contact Ron McDonald at fortmontezuma@yahoo.com

Harris * Daniel and Hanna Thornton

2010-01-11T21:16:00.007-07:00

Daniel Harris was born on 17 March, 1831, in south Bend, St. Joseph county, Indiana, or nearby in Michigan, as a census record states. His parents were John Harris and Lovina Eiler. (Photo courtesy Lorraine Laws, Blanding)
Children on the trek: Edward Royal, Jacob Alonzo, John Alma

Daniel is mentioned often in Miller's book either as a scout, delivering mail, bringing supplies, etc. (Check index for pages.) He returned with the four Scouts: Sevy, Redd, Hobbs, and Morrell on their return trip from the San Juan early in Jan. 1880. He then took pack animals with supplies back to the site of Bluff later that same month. (His father was still living there?)

He was married to Lydia HARRIS on 5 Oct 1853. Children were: Daniel Duane HARRIS.
He was married to Rachel THORNTON in 1873. (Possibly sisters to George's wife)
He was married to Hannah THORNTON in 1874. " "

Life of Daniel Harris son of John and Lovina (Compiled 1963.)
His father’s family had come there three years before from Ohio and they were the first white settlers in that area. They chose a choice prairie grassland enclosed by wooded area, which is named Harris Township to this day.
When Daniel was 16 or 17 years old, and his brothers and sisters numbered seven, his father and mother decided to go to Oregon. They were converted to the LDS Church. His father and mother were baptized at and sister were baptized. Daniel and the oldest girl, both were baptized in Grand River on 9 June 1846.
They remained in that vicinity until 1848. A baby brother was born at Harris Grove, Iowa. They emigrated to Utah in 1848 in Brigham Young’s second company. There were over a thousand people in the he company. Did Daniel notice and become acquainted with a young sixteen year old girl, Lydia Harris, who was no relative but later became his wife?

Daniel’s father settled in Farmington, Utah, and another brother was born there. In 1851, this family went to San Bernardino, California with Lyman and Rich to make a Mormon settlement. At San Bernardino, in the fort, their 2 families lived for some time in a one room apartment in the fort wall. Two years later he married Lydia Harris, whose family had also moved to California.
In 1856, his father was sent on a mission to the mining camps in northern California to raise money to pay the mortgage on their land. John Harris mentions in his diary about Daniel going home—was he called on a mission too? By this time Daniel and Lydia had a son and daughter. (more on Bailey site)
Daniel was called with some of his father’s family to go back to San Bernardino to bring back some of the cattle left behind. They were accused of stealing livestock, and jailed. This episode caused friction in Daniel’s family, and he left Lydia, his first wife, and his children (his oldest son about 12 years old) and never saw them again as far as we know.

Lydia, moved in with her father and mother in Southern Utah. She married Samuel White and moved to Beaver. He died several years later. She spent the remaining sixty years of her life as a widow of meager means and raised Daniel’s four children and Samuel’s one daughter alone.

Daniel evidently moved to Juab County. In the 1870 census he was living at the new settlement of Chicken Creek with his parent’s family. He was baptized while there, the first baptism in the new ward.
Where and how did he meet Rachel and Hannah Thornton? These two English girls had emigrated to Salt Lake and evidently spent several years doing housework for a living before marrying Daniel. In 1873, he married Rachel when she was 27 years old. He married Hannah about a year later when she was about 20. One wife lived in Juab and one in Salt Lake. Five years later both were living in Salt Lake City.
Rachel’s children’s history was tragic. She had four children born in five years. Two were stillborn, one lived two months, and one eight months.
After 1879, Daniel and his two wives left Utah, joining others of the John Harris family and went to Colorado to work on the railroad. Family tradition says a land transaction left them with bitter feelings toward Utah settlements.
From there they evidently went to New Mexico where they met the Bingham brothers who were hauling freight to soldiers who were pursuing Geronimo. They worked with the Bingham boys and at times lived in Chavis, Lincoln, and Grand counties. . . . (1885) Hannah had six children by this time, five boys and one girl. While at Thatcher the youngest boy died. In 1892 Daniel went with McGee, an apostate Mormon) to Mexico to look after mining property. While there he died on August 25. McGee said he died of Salt poisoning—that is, took too much salt to ease the pain of abdominal cramps. The exact site of his grave is unknown.

Harris* , George and Martha Ann Thornton*

2010-01-11T18:49:00.008-07:00

George HARRIS was born on 18 May 1850 in Farmington, Davis Co., Utah. He died on 1 May 1926 in Tucson, Pima Co., Arizona. Parents: John HARRIS and Lovina EILER. He was a brother to Daniel.
He was married to Martha Ann THORNTON about 1875 in Utah.

In Miller's book, it quotes George Hobb's journal which said that the Harris family had heard about the comtemplated Mormon settlement on the San Juan, and had moved in from Colorado during the summer of 1879. He lists the number of people in the camp at 10 grown persons and five children (p. 98)
In Platte De Lyman's journal April 22, 1880 it states that he bought a log house, 10 acres, a stove, table..and a town lot from Geo. Harris...(171)
In the Hobb's journal (Miller 210-211) it gives more information about the Harris family .

Children on the trek: George William and Charles Eylor (Eiler)

Harris * , John and Lovina Eiler

2010-01-11T18:39:00.008-07:00

John Harris was born on 2 Dec 1808 in Green, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania. He died on 4 May 1899 in Farmington, Davis Co., Utah. Parents: Jacob HARRIS and Susannah HARTMAN. (Photos courtesy Lorraine Laws, Blanding.)
He was married to Lovina EILER on 5 Jan 1831 in Indiana. Children were: Daniel HARRIS , Lucinda HARRIS, Angeline HARRIS , Jacob HARRIS, Susannah HARRIS , Rebecca HARRIS, Joseph H. HARRIS, Oliver HARRIS, George HARRIS. Source

Lovina EILER was born on 17 Dec 1807 in Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio. She died on 7 Sep 1886 in Central, Graham Co., Arizona. Parents: Daniel EILER and Barbara GRIPE. She married John HARRIS on 5 Jan 1831 in Indiana.
John was the oldest of a large pioneer family (11 children). His father, who had come from Northern Ireland, had been the first to settle in the South Bend, Indiana, area. The township and fields had been named in his father's honor (Harris Township and Harris Fields).

At some time around 1845, John and his family had been converted to Mormonism. In February 1846 they started out to join the Mormon settlement in Nauvoo, Illinois, from South Bend. About a month later in March 1846 they arrived at Nauvoo. Two days after their arrival, John and his wife Lovina were baptized in the Mississippi River. John attended the dedication of the Nauvoo Temple on May 1, 1846. Within a few days they found themselves on the move once more. The Mormons were being driven out of Nauvoo. They crossed the Mississippi River on May 9. John Harris was elected captain of his company on May 11. On May 15 they started out on their journey.

Family records indicate that John and his family didn't arrive in Utah until 1848. If this is true, it appears likely that he and his family stayed in the vicinity of Council Bluffs for a couple of years before starting out again. When they did arrive in Utah, they settled in the Farmington area.
In March 1851, John, along with many other Mormon families (500 people in 150 wagons), were called upon to move to the San Bernardino area in California to establish a Mormon settlement. They arrived in California in June 1851.

In 1855, John was called on a mission in the mining district near Sacramento to help the Mormon Church pay back the money they owed for the property in San Bernardino. He spent most of the year in Coloma as a carpenter and handyman. As his wife didn't know how to write, he was lonesome a good deal of the time. He did correspond when he could with some of his children. During this time, John kept a journal which is now on file in the LDS Church Archives in Salt Lake City. (Lorraine Laws, Blanding, has a copy of this journal.)

During 1856 Brigham Young recalled the settlement in San Bernardino. This was during the Utah Wars. John and his family later settled in southwestern Colorado. Later John and his family later got word that the Mormon Church was planning to create a settlement in the Southeastern portion of Utah near Bluff. Since his son Daniel and his family were part of that original group, it is likely that was the connection.) In anticipation, he moved a portion of his family over to this area, and they were there to greet the first scouting expedition who came through The Hole in the Rock looking for a shortcut to the area.
Harris Cabin in Bluff:

John's wife Lovina later died in Arizona. In his old age, John moved back to Farmington, Utah, where he died in 1899 at the age of 90.

Life of Daniel Harris son of John and Lovina (Compiled 1963.)

In the history above it states that Daniel's parents John Harris and Lovina Eiler, were married two months before his birth, probably because of the scarcity of ministers in their area. His father’s family had come there three years before from Ohio and they were the first white settlers in that area. They chose a choice prairie grassland enclosed by wooded area, which is named Harris Township to this day.
When Daniel was 16 or 17 years old, and his brothers and sisters numbered seven, his father and mother decided to go to Oregon. They were converted to the LDS Church. His father and mother were baptized at Navvoo in 1846, a brother and sister were baptized. Daniel and the oldest girl, both were baptized in Grand River on 9 June 1846.
They remained in that vicinity until 1848. A baby brother was born at Harris Grove, Iowa. They emigrated to Utah in 1848 in Brigham Young’s second company. There were over a thousand people in the he company. Did Daniel notice and become acquainted there with a young sixteen year old girl, Lydia Harris, who was no relative but later became his wife?
Daniel’s father settled in Farmington, Utah, and another brother was born there. In 1851, this family went to San Bernardino, California with Lyman and Rich to make a Mormon settlement. At San Bernardino, in the fort, their 2 families lived for some time in a one room apartment in the fort wall. Two years later he married Lydia Harris, whose family had also moved to California.
In 1856, his father was sent on a mission to the mining camps in northern California to raise money to pay the mortgage on their land.
Harris Wash Was this named after / by John Harris? or George or Daniel?

Hansen, Lars J.

2010-01-11T18:19:00.001-07:00

Information Needed!

Haskell, Thales Hastings and Margaret Johanna Edwards

2010-01-10T20:00:00.018-07:00

Thales Hastings Haskell and Margaret Johanna Edwards

Thales H. Haskell:
Born: 21 February 1834 in New Salem, Massachusetts
Died: 13 July 1909 in Manassa, Colorado
Married: (1) Hannah Maria Woodbury Haskell on 4 October 1855; (She died 21 Jun 1857)
(2) Margaret Johanna Edwards on 15 September 1857
Father: Ashbel Greene Haskell
Mother: Ursula Hastings

Margaret Johanna Edwards Haskell
Born: 5 May 1835 in Abernant, Carmarthenshire, Wales
Died: 19 August 1916 in Manassa, Colorado
Father:
Mother: Johanna Williams Edwards

Thales’ Background and Early Introduction to the LDS Church

Thales Hastings Haskell was the second child and only son born to Ashbel Green and Ursula (called Zulia) Hastings Haskell. His older sister, Irene, was eight years his senior. Ashbel was a successful millwright and farmer, and provided well for his family. His mother, Zulia, was both beautiful and talented, and with her husband encouraged her children to attend as much schooling as possible. With a friend from school named Emmie Woodbury (later known as Emmeline B. Wells), Irene became seriously interested in the Mormon faith. Irene, her mother Zulia, her friend Emmie, and her cousin Catherine Haskell, were all baptized into the new religion despite growing persecution from neighbors and family members. Thales was not baptized at that time, though he became as much involved in the Mormon movement as anyone could be.

His sister Irene soon married and made plans to move to Nauvoo, Illinois, with her husband, Francis Pomeroy. The Haskells decided to follow them there, though by different routes. Thales and his mother, Zulia, oversaw the sale of the farm and mill business before departing for Boston with the intent of traveling to the Mississippi via boat. The sea voyage was not at all as romantic and adventurous as Thales had hoped, as he was sick with the measles for a good part of the voyage. His father, Ashbel, traveled aboard the ship Brooklyn¸ which set sail from New York and eventually landed in California. Ashbel’s skills as a millwright enabled him to find steady employment in the area, including being hired by a man named Johann Sutter to oversee the construction of a saw mill. It is reported that Ashbel was the first person to recognize the yellowish clumps of dirt as gold at Sutter’s Mill in January 1848. He made a good-size fortune in the next few years thanks to both the gold and his expertise at constructing saw mills. However, as he journeyed across Nevada to finally join his family in Salt Lake City in 1849, he passed away and was supposedly buried in place called Rock Valley, though the location of which, as well as the riches he was carrying, were never found by his surviving family members. The true circumstances of his death thus remain a mystery to this day.

Thales Haskell: A Pioneer of 1847

Thales and his mother, did not stay long in Nauvoo, as tensions were high and the Saints were already evacuating the city. They traveled to Winter Quarters with Irene and Francis and began preparing to journey across the plains to the Salt Lake Valley. In the spring of 1847, Francis was chosen to be part of Brigham Young’s advance party that pioneered the trail west. Thales, Irene and their mother departed two months later as part of the George B. Wallace company. Thales, though only thirteen years old at the time, drove the wagon and assumed a great deal of the responsibility for his family. Along the way, he became acquainted with Maria Woodbury, the sister-in-law of his cousin Catherine. They would sit and talk in the evenings when camp had finally been made for the night.

After Thales’ arrival in the valley, his family settled for a time in Mill Creek and Thales earned money herding cows but food remained in short supply, especially that winter. Eventually, however, Thales and his family moved to the Second Ward area and were fortunate to draw a lot near the church farm which favored a good wheat crop. The burden of starvation was finally lifted from them. Thales and Francis worked alongside each other farming wheat, until Francis was called on a mission to California. Once again Thales assumed responsibility for providing for his mother, his sister and her children. When Francis returned they decided to move the family closer to the city. As a token of his gratitude for caring for Irene and their young family, Francis bought Thales an accordion, and in time Thales learned to play it with ease.

Called to Serve

On his nineteenth birthday, Thales was finally baptized into the LDS faith. That same year he was asked to go to Parowan and give aid to the settlement there. After his return he was asked to head east to aid groups of European Saints making their way to the Salt Lake Valley. In 1854, following the Church’s April conference, he received another church calling that literally became his calling in life – that of missionary to the Indian peoples of the Southwest in what was called the Southern Indian Mission. His brother-in-law, Francis, had originally been called to the mission but had declined to go due to pressing business and family concerns; Francis had suggested that Thales might go in his stead, unbeknownst to Thales at the time. Thales was already en route to Southern Utah when he learned of Francis’ refusal. At first, he was bothered by the news. But he accepted the counsel to continue on with his mission anyway, believing that he “would not be the loser in the end.”[i]

Jacob Hamblin was also called to be part of this mission. During that first winter he became very sick and a rider was dispatched to Parowan to obtain medicine. In addition to bringing the needed medicine and food, the man brought a small cloth filled with cottonseed, a gift from a woman named Nancy Anderson who had emigrated from Tennessee. That spring Hamblin planted the seeds as an experiment. From a handful of small seeds were harvested seventy-five pounds of cotton that season. Within a few short years, Southern Utah became populated with several small towns by settlers called to labor in Dixie’s Cotton Mission. Thales Haskell’s new bride, Maria Woodbury, was among the first women to help harvest, card, spin and weave the cotton into thirty yards of fine cloth.

Marriage

Thales had married Maria in the home of her father on 4 October 1855, the friendship of their early youth blossoming into marriage. The couple moved immediately south and settled in Santa Clara where Thales could resume his missionary duties. A year and eight months later, while Thales was away from home, Maria was shot by a young Indian who had accidentally discharged one of Thales’ guns that he kept upon the wall. A neighbor heard the shot and saw Maria stagger out of her house. Others arrived on the scene and removed her to a sick bed, while runners were sent to find Thales. Within a few days, Maria, and the unborn child she was expecting, died from the wound. Thales was devastated, but did not seek retaliation upon the young Indian. The boy was well-known to the settlers and was often to be found helping them with their chores. He pleaded innocence to Maria’s killing, explaining that he had merely removed the gun from the wall to examine it when it accidentally went off. Thales believed him and did not wish to punish the boy. Members of the boy’s tribe disagreed, however, and it was Thales’ belief that the boy was later executed by the tribe. Maria and the baby were laid out in a wagon box and buried in a simple grave.

Thales returned home to Salt Lake for a time to have the support of loved ones as he grieved for Maria. While there, he was visited by Brigham Young and other church leaders who voiced their sympathy for his loss. President Young then kindly advised him to marry again “as soon as the right one came along.”[ii]

The “right one” for Thales proved to be a young woman named Margaret Johannah Edwards. She had been born in Wales on 5 May 1835, and as a young teenager joined the LDS faith not long after her mother had died. She immigrated to the United States alone at age nineteen, and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1854. For the next few years she boarded with various families in the valley, eventually staying on with the Woolley family who owned a mill near Little Cottonwood Canyon. She became acquainted with Thales Haskell during this time, and on 15 September 1857 the two were married by Brigham Young in the Salt Lake Endowment House. By the next week, they were on their way back to Southern Utah where Thales had been called to serve. They passed through the area of Mountain Meadows within a few days of the tragic massacre there, and were dismayed to see many bodies lying unburied in the autumn sun. It was a startling reminder that life would not be free from danger or possibly even death in the Indian territories where they were headed.

Margaret adapted herself to her new environment as best as anyone could. Thales’ built a small cabin – only twelve feet square – with a dirt roof and floor. Thankfully, however, they had the luxury of a comfortable feather bed and a few pieces of homemade furniture. Maria learned to be industrious with what little was available to her. For instance, she boiled down watermelon juice until it thickened into a sort of syrup that she used to preserve tomatoes in. Flour rations were meager, though beef was plentiful, and the family even ate the suet, or beef fat, as a substitute for butter. But in spite of their best efforts to survive, the arid country was harsh and unpredictable, and in 1859 the little that they had was washed away by a flash flood. The settlers decided to move to Pinto, about forty miles away, rather than attempt to rebuild what they had lost. Thales and Margaret called Pinto “home” for the next twenty years.

Margaret Called as a Midwife

While living in Pinto, Margaret received a unique calling and priesthood blessing by President Woodruff – that of midwife and nurse to the settlers of Southern Utah. Though she had no experience or formal training at the time of the call, she eagerly sought out anyone who could teach her anything about it. Throughout the remainder of her life she assisted in the births of over one-thousand children, only three of whom did not survive birth. And in addition to helping so many other women give birth, she and Thales had seven children of their own during the course of their marriage – five daughters and two sons.

Their grandson Albert recorded a revealing story about Margaret that captures the determination and strength of her character. She was summoned to the home of a family who lived across the river from her one spring evening. The river had quickly become a torrent of rushing waters, and the man who had come to seek Margaret’s help for his sick wife was daunted by the current, and afraid to cross it with his team of mules. Margaret responded, “Those mules can swim, can’t they?”[iii] She told the man to remove the harnesses from the animals, and then handed the man her bag of medicines. Fearlessly she swung up on the back of one of the mules and plunged into the river. The mule carried her safely to the opposite bank, where she waited for the man on the other mule to join her. They then proceeded on to the aid of the man’s sick wife. When Margaret had a job to do, she went to all possible lengths to ensure it got done.
Thales’ Work as an Indian Missionary

Margaret’s independent nature was a blessing to their family, as Thales was often gone from home for long stretches of time. He visited with different Indian tribes, and learned their languages, customs and ways, so as to help bridge the gap between them and the white settlers. He became a gifted speaker of five different Indian languages, in addition to Spanish, and understood Indian sign language. He also spent a lot of time chasing down horse thieves and livestock rustlers, and helped to build many trails, roads and forts in the area. Though his life was often in danger, he had been promised in a priesthood blessing that as long as he remained obedient to the Lord, he would never be harmed by Indians.

Nevertheless, a tragic event occurred in the fall of 1860 that deeply affected Thales. He was traveling with other Indian missionaries under the direction of Jacob Hamblin on a peace-making mission to the Navajo and Hopi Indian tribes of Northern Arizona. At the time, the Navajos were growing increasingly hostile towards their neighbors, both Indian and white. They warred against the Hopis, who sued for peace but found none. In this tense atmosphere, the missionaries hoped to establish peaceful relations with both tribes, but found the Navajos to be increasingly antagonistic. Advised to give-up their efforts, they decided to return home. As they broke camp, the horse of George A. Smith, Jr., became spooked and galloped off. George mounted another horse and went off in search of his own. When he did not return in a reasonable amount of time, Jacob Hamblin asked for volunteers to go and find him. Thales was the first to volunteer. He and another man found George A. Smith, Jr., mortally wounded, having been shot with his own gun by a Navajo. The Indian had asked to hold George’s gun – a request that implied reciprocal trust and friendship in the offering. Understanding this, George had willingly handed over his gun, which the Indian took and immediately shot him with. It was the ultimate betrayal. Thales and his companion did what they could for their dying friend, managing to hold him on a horse while they retreated from the Navajos, but after he had passed away they were obliged to leave his body behind as they made their escape. It was not for some months later that George A. Smith, Jr.’s, remains were recovered, though mutilated and scattered across the desert. Thales never forgot the bitter sting of this unfortunate event throughout the rest of his life.
Call to Arizona

In 1876 Thales moved his family from Pinto to Arizona. The LDS Church was in need of his expertise with the Indians as it began a program of aggressive settlement in the Southwest. Thales had been assigned to Moen Kopi, Arizona, the Church’s headquarters in the area. He and Jacob Hamblin had built a crude fort there, and Thales decided he wanted to have his family nearer to him. His oldest daughter had married by then, but there were still six children to be loaded into the two wagons they drove southward on the horribly rocky road. Sixteen-year-old Irene described the Moen Kopi fort where they lived for a time as “ugly” – the walls were “several feet thick with portholes on the side.”[iv] John D. Young, a son of Brigham Young, and some other men built a mill there where the settlers spun yarn from wool brought in by the local Indians.

Helping the Hole-in-the-Rock Settlers

In 1879 Thales received a letter from apostle Erastus Snow asking him to help Silas Smith and those called to colonize in the San Juan area. Silas Smith and the exploring party traveled to Moen Kopi where they met up with Thales and left their excess livestock and supplies until a place for permanent settlement along the San Juan could be determined. Thales traveled with them eastward to the San Juan River where they established Fort Montezuma, and then returned to Moen Kopi.

Several months later, however, he received word that the Davis and Harriman families who were living at Fort Montezuma had been murdered by Indians. Thales was directed to go and bury their bodies, should he be able to locate them. To his relief, he found the two families unharmed, though suffering from a severe shortage of food. He gave them what supplies he could before returning home again.

About this time, two of Thales’ daughters left Moen Kopi to visit Salt Lake City. While there, his daughter Francella got married. The other sister, Elijahetta, lived with Francella and her new husband for several months before she contracted typhoid fever. She passed away shortly thereafter. Her passing was devastating to Thales and the rest of the family, especially since they were unable to attend her burial and pay their respects.

In 1881, after the main body of Hole-in-the-Rock pioneers had established the settlement of Bluff, Thales again received a letter from Elder Snow calling him to assist the Bluff settlers in their endeavors to establish peaceful relations with the local Indians. Obediently, Thales moved his family to the San Juan country, first building a small home near the Davis’ family in Montezuma. Eventually he moved to Bluff where he felt his family would be more protected while he was away from home. During this time, Thales was instrumental in helping the settlers interface with their Indian neighbors. In particular, he was often called upon by Bishop Jens Nielson to aid the settlers in retrieving stolen livestock.

Kumen Jones recorded an interesting story about Thales and a notorious local Indian named “Navajo Frank.” In his mid-twenties, Frank was vigorous, charismatic and crafty. He was a known horse thief, though he tried to shrug off the accusation of “thief” with the excuse of just “borrowing” animals from the Mormon settlers. One day, however, he was caught by Thales and others riding a stolen horse. In the words of Kumen:

“Brother Haskell eyed Frank seriously for some time and then quietly but seriously told him that if he continued to steal from the Mormons that he would take sick and die. Haskel [sic] said but very little more. Frank gave us the ‘horse laugh’- but gave us the stolen horse and started for home.

Frank carried on his devilment for some time, and then it was several months before he was seen or heard from again, but what a change had come over him – you could scarcely believe he was the healthy, rugged Indian we had known some months before. He was thin and haggard. His full chest was all sunken in, and he made inquiry for Haskel [sic], saying that he wanted Haskel [sic] to write a letter to the Lord and tell the Lord that Frank would never steal from the Mormons again if his life was spared. . . .

Frank went up and told Haskel [sic] his story and plead for Haskel [sic] to intercede with the Lord for him. But Haskel [sic] told Frank he could not promise him for sure what the Lord would do, as Frank had been warned but he had had no ears. But it might be that if he would cease all his stealing and use his influence with the other Indians to have them stop their stealing and be friends to the white men, he might get well.

Navajo Frank is still living (1919) and while he is not the man physically that he was in 1882, he has never been known to give the settlers any more trouble.”[v]

Once, when Bishop Nielson apologized for repeatedly enlisting Thales’ help, Thales humbly replied, “Don’t feel bad about that. You know that is what I am here for.”[vi] His attitude was always one of modest obedience and willing service. Fellow Bluff settler, Kumen Jones, wrote that “within the body of Thales Haskell was one of the purest, brightest, kindest, interesting spirits; high minded, brave to a fault, always too big to do or think anything low or unworthy. ‘A man among men’ that could be trusted and that was an all-around true friend.”[vii]

During the years they spent in Bluff, the Haskells were an important fixture in the settlement beyond the stability that Thales’ influence brought to the region. Margaret’s skills and services as a midwife and nurse continued to bless the lives of many. She also served as the secretary to the Stake Relief Society.

Moving Between Bluff and Manassa, Colorado

By 1884, however, Thales was the only member of his family still living in Bluff. Two of his daughters had married sons of Silas S. Smith and moved to Manassa, Colorado. Margaret and the rest of the children followed them there, leaving Thales behind. In 1886, apostle Erastus Snow paid a visit to Bluff and commented on the fact that Thales’ family was not there. When Thales explained that they had moved, Elder Snow inquired as to why Thales had not gone with them. Humbly, Thales answered that as he had not yet been released from his missionary service, he had not felt it proper for him to leave. On the spot, Elder Snow released Thales and encouraged him to join his family in Colorado, which he did, though not for long. In 1888, Indian trouble again became so bothersome to the Bluff settlers that they requested to church officials that Thales return. Obediently, Thales accepted the call to return to Bluff, and he did what he could to help restore peaceful relations with the local Indians. In 1891 he was again released from his missionary service and returned to Colorado. Remarkably, he had spent nearly thirty-two years of his life as an Indian missionary.

Final Years

Finally reunited for good with Margaret and his family in Colorado, Thales lived out the rest of his years peacefully in Manassa. For fifteen years he worked as postmaster in the local post office. Margaret kept busy as well. For ten years she served as the Stake Primary President, and for another five was president of her ward’s Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association. She enjoyed reading newspapers and debating political issues with her sons and grandsons. When women’s suffrage was finally attained, she rejoiced in the opportunity to cast her vote and never missed an election day afterwards if she could help it.

In 1907, the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, surrounded by family and friends. To commemorate the occasion, Thales was given a new accordion, and Margaret, a gold watch. Not long after, Thales’ health began to decline and he passed away on 13 June 1909. An article about him appeared in the San Juan Record eleven years later, memorializing him as a “friend to the weak and afflicted, ever true blue and immovable in honoring the trust reposed in him.”[viii] Margaret, his faithful and supportive companion, lived on for another seven years, eventually succumbing on 19 August 1916.
-------------------------------
Researched and written for the Hole-in-the-Rock Foundation by: C.S.M. Jones LLC, Family Heritage Consulting.

End notes
[i] Albert Edward Smith, Thales Hastings Haskell: Pioneer, Scout, Explorer, Indian Missionary, (Salt Lake City, 1964), 21.
[ii] Ibid., 23.
[iii] Ibid., 58. I think this must be an appendix – and thus reflect different pagination. Check on this.
[iv] Ibid., 48.
[v] Kumen Jones, The Writings of Kumen Jones, ed. by Albert R. Lyman (s.i., n.d.), p. 41-42, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
[vi] “Who’s Who in the San Juan,” San Juan Record, (Monticello, Utah), 10 November 1920, as published in Albert E. Smith, Thales Hastings Haskell, Pioneer, Scout, Explorer, Indian Missionary, 88.
[vii] Kumen Jones, 20-21.
[viii] “Who’s Who in the San Juan,” in Smith, 88.
----------------------------------------------
Bibliography
Anderson, Carleton Q., Betty Shawcroft, and Robert Compton, eds. The Mormons: 100 Years in the San Luis Valley of Colorado: 1883-1983. La Jara, Co: La Jara Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1982.

Brooks, Juanita, comp. “Journal of Thales H. Haskell.” Utah Historical Quarterly 12 (1944): 69-98. Thale’s Journals are also available digitally through BYU’s Mormon Missionary Diaires at the following: http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/MMD&CISOPTR=69244&REC=5

Carter, Kate B., comp. Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 3, “Ashbel, His Wife and Children,” by Zula Rich Cole. Salt Lake City, UT: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1960.

Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 3, “Maria Woodbury Haskell,” by Minnie Mathis. Salt Lake City, UT: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1960.

Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 15, “The Cotton Mission” by James E. Bleak. Salt Lake City, UT:Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1972.

Jones, Kumen. The Writings of Kumen Jones.ed. by Albert R. Lyman. s.i., n.d. L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

Perkins, Cornelia Adams, Marian Gardner Nielson, and Lenora Butt Jones. Saga of San Juan. Monticello, Utah: San Juan County Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1957.

Smith, Albert Edward. Thales Hastings Haskell: Pioneer, Scout, Explorer, Indian Missionary. Salt Lake City, 1964.
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One of the most prominent missionaries to the Indians and a Bluff pioneer, Thales Hastings Haskell was born in N. New Salem, Franklin County Massachusetts, Feb. 21, 1834. He came with the LDS emigrants to Utah to search for his father who had gone to California. Thales stayed in Salt Lake and worked at various trades. He joined the LDS Church on Feb. 21, 1852.

He was called to work with the Indians and readily learned their languages. his first wife, Marian Woodburry, was accidentally killed by an Indian cleaning a gun. Mr. Haskell later married Margaret J. Edwards. The couple had seven children. The family moved from Pine Creek to Bluff where he served as an Indian interpreter and missionary. He was an able missionary, with a beautiful singing voice. He also played an accordian. His wife was a midwife and assisted in many births in Bluff.
In 1886 he moved to Manassa, Colorado, where he served as postmaster for 12 years. He died there in 1909, on July 13.

Children on the trek: Irene Ursulia, Margaret Ann, Sarah Francelle, Thales Hastings, Jr. , Mary Elijahetta, Ashbel Greene

1885

Thales and Margaret Haskell Family

Front row L to R: Mary Elijahetta, Thales Hastings, Margaret Johanna, Ashbel Green, Margaret Ann.
Back row: Sarah Francelle, Johanna Maria Haskell Harrison, Benjamin Harrison, Thales Haskell, Jr., Jesse H. Smith, Albert R. Smith, Irene Ursulia.

Researcher Ron McDonald explained the photo: "We do not know where the picture was taken, but we can put a close date on it, because, we know a few facts. Mary Elijahetta died in November of 1885, so it had to be taken earlier than that. The two sons of Silas Smith married into the family in 1884 and January of 1886 also, we can estimate the age of the two young men, Thales Jr., and Ashbel Green, by their appearance. If this reasoning is correct, Albert and Irene were probably engaged at the time of the photograph. It seems likely the picture was taken in 1885. We believe the empty chair was a show of respect for Thales’ first wife, Hannah, who was killed by a Paiute Indian twenty-eight years earlier. The two Smith men were sons of Silas S. Smith."

Ron McDonald wrote: Thales Haskell was sent to San Juan during the winter of 1979-80. He built a cabin near the James Davis family and later brought most of his family to live there also. After a few years at Montezuma the family moved to Bluff. Thales was the Indian interpreter and peacemaker, and became a legend. Margaret was a midwife who helped deliver many children. The empty chair was a show of respect for Thales’ first wife Hannah Maria, who was killed by the bullet from a Paiute gun. Margaret Ann or Irene taught school in Bluff, maybe both of them.

Kumen Jones said of Haskell: "Within the body of Thales Haskell was one of the purest, brightest, kindest, interesting spirits; high minded, brave to a fault, always too big to do or think anything low or unworthy. "A man among men" that could be trusted and that was an all-around true friend."
Go to link to read more.

Ron McDonald's research shows that the Haskell family "moved to Manassa, Colorado after the 1884 flood, except Thales himself. He remained at Bluff until his mission release in 1886. Fourteen-year-old Mary Elijahetta died of typhoid fever on September 14, 1885, not long after arriving in Salt Lake. This was a terrible tragedy for the Haskell family, which they had much difficulty accepting. The Derrick family had lovingly taken her care of and given a proper burial in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. The Haskell family was so spread out, only one family member could attend the funeral-- her sister Sarah Derrick.

Thales had a short rest at Manassa, and then he received a letter from President Wilford Woodruff, calling him back to the San Juan Mission. The Bluff saints were in trouble with the Indians, and Thales was the only answer the Bluff people could think of. Thales answered President Woodruff, saying he would go if he had a decent change of clothes. President Woodruff sent Thales $20.00, and he accepted the mission call and moved back to Bluff alone. Thales served faithfully for another three years, and was then given a written release from the mission, having served as a missionary almost 32 years.

Thales was a wonderful accordion player and singer, and was a happy and friendly man. He spent his last working years as postmaster at Manassa, and Margaret served in many Church callings through the years, including a long history of midwife service. She eventually assisted more than a thousand births.

McDonald shares one story from the Thales Haskell biography. While new at the postmaster job, he noticed a small man nosing through the mail, and told him to quit it. A few minutes later he found the little guy back looking through people’s mail, so Thales picked him up by the neck of his shirt and the seat of the pants and tossed him out on the street. The little fellow dusted himself off and returned to show his credentials to Thales, which read; “Federal Postal Inspector”. Thales died on July 13, 1909 at age 75, and was buried at Manassa, Colorado. Margaret died August 19, 1916 at age 81, and was buried near her husband."

Thales Haskell History Assembled by Albert E. Smith, 1964

Journal of Thales Haskell transcribed. 1858-1869

Original digital copy of Haskell's hand written journal 1859-1860, includes somes songs/ poems as well.

Improvement Era article: Fort on the Firing Line by Albert R. Lyman

Picture of Haskell cabin

Haskell mentionede in Silas Smith History

Haskell and exploring party to Pinto. Pre-Hole-in-the-Rock

Haskell's connection with Jacob Hamblin (You'll have to go through journal to find reference.)

Haskell's Exploring song: included in hia journal reprinted in Utah Historical Quarterly.

Mormon settlement in Arizona; Haskell mentioned
.

Hobbs, George Brigham

2010-01-09T22:42:00.004-07:00

George Brigham Hobbs

Born: Feb. 22, 1856 at Hersham, Sussex, England. Born: February 22, 1856, in Hersham, Sussex, England

Died: November 19, 1921
Marriage: Julia Broadhead, October 18, 1883
Father: William Down Hobbs
Mother: Mary Ann Pope
Death: Nov. 19, 1921 and was buried at Nephi, Utah.
George Hobbs played a pivotal role in the Hole-in-the-Rock expedition, and authored the only known accounts of the four scouts who pressed on ahead of the main company of pioneers to find a passable route.

Childhood
Born 22 February 1856, he was the eighth of nine children born to William Down Hobbs and Mary Ann Pope. At the time of his birth, his family resided in Hersham, Sussex, England, but following their conversion to the LDS faith, they emigrated to Utah. They were then sent to help colonize Parowan, Utah, where they built a small home.
When he was seven years old, he came with his parents to Utah. They were sent on to Parowan, Iron County, Utah. In April 1879, he was called with 26 other men to explore the way to San Juan. His sister, Elizabeth Harriman and her husband and four children were with the company that was sent to explore the southern route to San Juan. It was over 400 miles going through the deserts of Navajo Country in Arizona before they got to Montezuma Creek.
He returned with most of the men following a northern route through Moab, then finally back to Paraowan in September, nearly a 1000 mile round trip. The next month, October '79 he left for San Juan (the company taking the more direct route over the Hole in Rock Trail.)

Kumen Jones' report of 1st exploration
Second exploring party:
When the decision had been made to continue the mission on to San Juan, Platte D. Lyman, Field Captain of the expedition while Silas Smith returned to petition the Utah legislature for supplies, chose George W. Sevy, Lemuel H. Redd, Sr., George Morrell, and George B. Hobbs as scouts to plot a course up the other side of the the Colorado River gorge, all the way to Montezuma Creek, in the middle of San Juan country.

These scouts looked at a map, which told them that Montezuma was approximately 70 miles away. As they were only taking a burro, 2 small horses, and a mule, they figured they could travel lightly and make close to twenty miles a day. Not wanting to be overburdened, they only packed sufficient rations for 8 days. . . At the top of the Slick Rock Hills, at the north end of Grey Mesa, the scouts found it impossible to find a way down off the rounded rocks that sloped down to sheer cliffs. While three of the scouts were looking for a possible trail, George Hobbs remained in camp, eating breakfast. While eating, a lone mountain sheep wandered into camp. Not having a gun, George grabbed a pack rope, and fashined a lariat. He then tried to rope the sheep, as it stayed just out of reach ahead of him. After chasing it for sometime without ever being able to quite catch it, George noticed that he had reached the bottom of the rocks, and was down off the mesa. The sheep had just shown him the only route down off the mesa. It then promptly ran off, and he didn't see it any longer. When he had gotten back to camp, the rest of the scouts returned, stating that there was absolutely no way to get down off the mesa. They were surely astonished upon hearing the story, but were greatful that Providence had graced them with the necessary help they needed .
By December 23, they were only about halfway there, having been hampered by the rough country, and their lack of knowledge of the area. On the 23rd, they were met by a fierce snowstorm, unusual for that area. It left 3 feet of snow during that storm. On this trip he got lost in a snow storm at Silver Falls wash. Thinking he might die, he carved his name on a ledge. His children, after 75 years found this in 1956 and placed a plaque by it. (Hole in the Rock site).

Moved to Nephi

Like many of the Hole-in-the-Rock pioneers, Hobbs did not stay permanently in either Bluff or Montezuma. Instead, he soon relocated to Nephi, Utah, where he met Julia Broadhead. They were married in the Salt Lake Endowment House on 18 October 1883. They became the parents of eleven children – an impressive family that included triplets and two sets of twins. Hobbs made a living as a carpenter and contractor in order to provide for his large family, and was well-esteemed within his community. He passed away 19 November 1921.

Hobbs biography
Other information
Exploring trip to San Juan
Michael Hurst article on Bluff
Book about George Hobbs
Fire on the Plateau: Conflict And Endurance

Holyoak, Henry and Sarah Ann Robinson

2010-01-09T20:22:00.014-07:00

From HISTORY OF HENRY HOLYOAK By Minnie L. Carlile:
Henry Holyoak was born March 5, 1839, in Yardley, Worcestershire, England, the seventh child of George and Sarah Green Holyoak of that place. His brothers and sisters are: William, Mary, George, Anne, Sarah, Henry and Hannah.
Children on the trek: Alice Jane, Henry, John, Mary Luella, Eliza Hellen, Albert Daniel
The Holyoak family had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints June 24, 1841 and like all the saints, lived for the day they could accumulate enough money to come to America, sailing in February 1854, and landing April 1854. They came immediately on to Utah, arriving in October 1854. The trek across the plains was hard and also saddened by the loss of Mother Sarah and sisters Mary and Anne. Henry settled in Parowan, Utah, with his father and sisters. In 1863 and later he made three trips back East with ox-team for freight and immigrants.

In 1865 on January 29, he married Sarah Ann Robinson, daughter of English Immigrants. She was born in Nauvoo, Illinois December 22, 1842, and came to Utah with her parents settling in Paragonah. [Sarah Ann Robinson Holyoak, who was JR Robinson’s half sister. His son JR Robinson Jr. was also called to San Juan. Her mother & father were married on the ship to America in 1842, Alice Coupe Robinson died in Pottatattamie County, Iowa May 30, 1847, and left Sarah and her brother Richard. J R Robinson Sr married her sister Jane, at his first wife’s request, who was traveling with them, on August 24, 1847, They had 15 children, including the two from her sister. ]

They later went to the temple when it was ready for sealings and had their work done. It is interesting to note that all their children have been married in the temples; also the big majority, if not all of their grandchildren.
Children of this union are Alice Jane (Thomson), Henry John, Mary Luella (Young), Eliza Ellen (McConkie), Albert Daniel, Richard James, and Sarah Ann. (died at 13 years of age). James died at 8 years of age. The other five have contributed to the 29 grandchildren and over 200 great and great, great grandchildren.
(First five children were on the Hole in the Rock trail.)

When the church called colonizers for San Juan, the Henry Holyoak family were among those who were called from Parowan, 1879-80, (probably the 69th quorum of seventies) [According to J R Robinson's story, at the quarterly conference of the Parowan Stake, held Dec. 28 and 29, 1878 Holyoak was one of the names called to serve as a missionary "to settle where directed." Others who went from Paragonah were William Robb, James R. Robinson Jr, James Dunton.]

Sarah Ann drove her own wagon most of the way. She had a bed in it as well as a stove to keep her young children comfortable, the baby being very young. Henry John and Alice Jane drove the livestock, (which consisted of about 100 head of cattle, a yoke of oxen and some horses, at the time they moved on to Moab). The calves were tied up at night and in the morning the dairy cows were milked. The milk put in the barrel churn on back of the wagon would, by night, supply the family with fresh butter as well as milk. Many others shared in these dairy products (Carlile History).

The four years spent on the San Juan were wasted so far as crops were concerned because the rising river ruined the farming land, also took out the water wheel and washed it to the other side of the river. This left them with no way to get water onto crops not washed away.
Researcher Ron McDonald then continues the pioneer story:
"The Holyoak family moved to Bluff for a short time, but much of the land at Bluff had been washed away also, and it seemed there was no place for them. They decided to accept the mission release, and search for a more hospitable location. This would be their seventh move in just over four years. The wagon they brought through the Hole-in-the-Rock had been their home, much of the past four years.

During October of 1884, the Holyoak family followed the tracks left by the eight wagons, which, just a few weeks earlier, had carried the Harriman and Davis refugees north. They camped for a few days east of Blue Mountain near where the town of Monticello is now located. They then continued their journey past the spot where the Old Spanish trail intercepted Coyote Wash and finally to the location now called Kane Springs. The old wagon broke a wheel, and they were stranded. This was probably the low point for the Holyoak family. They were out of food; the wagon had serious damage; and they really didn’t even know where they were going. Fortunately, they still had a few cattle left from the fine herd they had brought from Parowan.

Henry left his family at Kane Springs, and rode all the way to Castle Dale in search of food. This trip took two weeks and the family hunted and ate rabbits until his return. He had procured some pig feed, with the chaff, bran and all, mixed together, which was the only thing he was able to buy. Henry went to work repairing their wagon. Near the end of February, they arrived and pitched a tent at a place a little east of the present town of Moab.

Henry traded nine cows and ten steer to Lester Taylor for eighty acres of land in an area, which appropriately became known as Poverty Flats, and still carries the name to this day. They had found their permanent location and there would be no more moves other than local ones. Things gradually began to improve. The Holyoaks were among the first settlers in the area. Someone said they were the seventh family to settle in the area. They helped build the town of Moab.

Part of the Holyoak family at a cabin they called Batchelor’s Hall, in Moab 1898

The photograph was taken a number of years after the Montezuma episode. The location was between Mill Creek and Pack Creek at Moab.

Left to right: Henry Holyoak, Richard Leroy Holyoak-child being held by Hattie Elizabeth Lutz Holyoak, Mary Luella Holyoak Young, Marion Thomson-child behind dog. (The dog was named Bob), Eliza Ellen Holyoak McConkie-inside cabin, Alice Jane Holyoak Thomson- center of doorway, James and Henry Thomson-children in basket, Sarah Ann Robinson Holyoak, Gurtie Thomson, Robert Thomson -Notice curious object inside his shirt, Henry John Holyoak, ? Davenport.

==================

Henry was called to serve a mission to England, his son, Henry John, served a mission to the southern states and Florida, where he contracted malaria, but survived. Albert Daniel also served a mission.

McDonald found this intereting story: "The Holyoak history tells of the Indian friends they had made while living at Montezuma occasionally visiting them at Moab. There would be a happy reunion when they arrived, and Henry would kill the fatted calf and put on a feast. The friendship the Holyoak family had with the Indians was genuine. This is truly amazing, when considering the fact that just fifteen miles from the Holyoak place, there are graves of at least ten white cowboys, who were killed in a fight with those same Indians during the Pinhook War."

Henry Holyoak was a counselor to Bishop Stewart, first Bishop of Moab Ward. Sarah Ann was counselor in the Relief Society and later became President. Sarah Ann died on November 20, 1921 at Moab. Henry died on January 23, 1926 at Ogden, Utah and was buried at Moab. They were wonderful pioneers, who lived valiant lives, facing all their tribulations and adversity with faith and patience. They left a very impressive posterity. More information

Experiences and blessing in Moab

Henry John This links shares his memories. He was a young man at the time of the expedition. .
Desert Magazine 1961 August also has Holyoak information in it.

Hunter, David Murie and Sarah Jane Urie

2010-01-09T19:54:00.002-07:00

The Hunters were from Cedar City.
Miller states on p. 80, that "Mrs. Dave Hunter" (along with the Perkins, Joneses et. al) was a very good singer. In The Undaunted p. 799, Lund states that David and Sarah were a young couple without children and that they returned to Cedar City along with George and Alice Urie (her brother?) before June 1880; however, the Hunters, came back to Bluff in 1884.

"One story about Montgomery’s great-grandson, David Muirie Hunter and his wife, Sarah Jane Urie. They were part of what is called the “Hole in the Wall” wagon train – they were chosen by the Mormon leadership to go southern Utah canyon country with a group of other Mormons to found a new town in the southern wilderness. They went by ox and wagon, traveling through country that is remote and takes a 4-wheel drive vehicle today. They had to cross the Colorado River. In order the get the wagons down off the cliffs, they blasted a “hole” and lowered the wagons with ropes. It was quite a feat. They settled the little town of Bluff, Utah, then returned to Cedar City, Utah later" (Japps of Scotland Website).

Hutchings, William Willard, Jr. and Sarah Agnes LeBaron

2010-01-09T19:42:00.002-07:00

Willaim was born 3 Apr. 1823; Died 15 Sep. 1904

William's parents were Elias Hutchings and Sally Smith were the parents of eleven children: Hovey, Shepherd Pierce, Erwin, Elias, William Willard, Joseph Stowell, Samuel, Lyman Smith, Sally Lovina, Mary and Martha.
William was 27 when he crossed the plains with the Milo Andrus Company (1850). William living in Beaver when called as a scout for the Hole in the Rock trail. He also is credited for suggesting the name of Bluff for the new town they settled in, due to the large sandstone cliffs in the area.

The children who came down the "Hole" were Sarah Elizabeth, Matilda Ellace, Lydia Marie
(See also Miller p. 118)

Hyde *, William and wives: Angeline Harris and Mary Ann Green

2010-01-09T14:59:00.010-07:00

William HYDE was born on 22 Sep 1832 in Marion, Williamson Co., Illinois. He died on 13 Sep 1894 in Mancos, Montezuma Co., Colorado.
(Photo provided by Lamont Crabtree, Circa 1875)

Angeline HARRIS was born on 4 Nov 1834 in Bertrand, Berrien Co., Michigan. Married William Hyde in 1852 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah. She died on 14 Feb 1893 in Nephi, Juab Co., Utah. Parents: John HARRIS and Lovina EILER. Angeline’s parents and siblings were the lone family found living at Bluff when the Hole-in-the-Rock pioneers arrived in April of 1880. (Photo provided by Lamont Crabtree, Circa 1875)

Mary Ann GREEN was married to William HYDE on 7 Apr 1858. (Photo provided by John Needham, Circa 1875)

"William was Sheriff or a policeman in and around Salt Lake City for a time, and went to San Bernadino with Charles C. Rich. He married as his second wife, Mary Ann Green, a niece of Bro. Rich. In fact he drove a team for Charles C. Rich across the plains to Utah and was with him and his family a great deal before he married Angeline Harris." Letter on file

William Hyde and family were living in Salt Lake City at the time they received their mission call to Montezuma. The call was issued on April 7, 1880, interestingly one day following the arrival of the Hole-in-the-Rock pioneers at Bluff. Church leaders had no apparent way of knowing the group had arrived safely, and William and family were the only missionaries called to San Juan during that conference (Fort Montezuma1879-1884By R. F. McDonald © 2010)

William Hyde was born on September 22, 1832, at Williamson, Illinois, the son of William Wood Hyde and Sarah Jackson. He had crossed the plains with his mother in the wagon train, which followed the original Vanguard Company from Nauvoo to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.

William Hyde came from Salt Lake City where he had been a member of the police force. Upon arriving in San Juan they established a trading post at Fort Montezuma, then later moved to Mancos, Colo (Saga of San Juan p 312).

Kumen Jones wrote: Late in the Fall of 1881, I made another trip as far as Escalante for freight which had been left there by William Hyde who, in that year, opened an Indian trading post on the river. This was late in the Fall. . ."
The store which William Hyde began at Rincone, ten miles down the river from Bluff, had been slowly growing in prosperity in spite of Erastus Snow's ban on isolated dwellings. Amasa Barton married William Hyde's daughter, Parthenia, and became interested in the store. In 1885, Barton became the owner of the store; at least he became the manager and the clerk, and he moved there with his wife and child to attend to the business
(Fort on the Firing Line by A.R. Lyman chpt 13).

William and Angeline arrived at Montezuma near Williams’ forty-eighth birthday. Angeline was 46, and she brought four children: Parthenia, (Feenie) seventeen, Ernest fourteen, Frank eleven, and Edna Estella five. Her daughters, Sarah, and Edith, and her son, Edward, were married and did not accompany the family to Montezuma.

William’s second wife, Mary Ann Green also accompanied him to Montezuma. Mary Ann was born August 11, 1838, at Caldwell County, Missouri to Harvey Green and Jane Ann Rich. She was forty-two when she arrived at Montezuma. Mary Ann had five children by William, two having died prior to the mission call, Joseph, and Edwin. The three surviving children accompanied the family to Montezuma: Helen Athalia, twenty-one, Mary Luella, ten, and Charles Albert, five. Mary and Helen are pictured on this page not far from the age they were when arriving at Montezuma.

The Hyde family left Salt Lake on June 27, 1880, using six wagons loaded with supplies. William hired teamsters and guards. The written account of one unidentified hired hand tells of leaving half of their supplies at Escalante, and blazing a new trail to the Grand River, (Colorado River), and crossing the river by way of the Halls Ferry. They suffered many hardships, and traveled long distances without water. He mentions sifting wigglers and polliwogs from the water at first, but said they eventually gave up and just drank what water they could find, wigglers and all.

The group arrived at Fort Montezuma on September 18, making the trip from Salt Lake City to Montezuma in three months less nine days. The Hyde family had been asked by Church leaders to accommodate the Navajo people, by providing a market for their wool. They immediately went to work building a substantial house, followed by construction of the first store in San Juan County.

At first William freighted supplies from Alamosa, Colorado, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was a six to eight week trip to retrieve freight from Santa Fe. Later on he freighted supplies from Animus City above Durango, which only took two weeks per trip. He could freight the 17 miles from Montezuma to Bluff in two days, and return with an empty wagon in one day.

During November of 1880 William’s daughter, Harriet Parthenia (Feenie) Hyde, embarked on the formidable task of teaching school. Her class would soon grow to nearly thirty students of diverse ages, some of whom were near her age of seventeen (Fort Montezuma 1879-1884 By R. F. McDonald © 2010)

Hyde's story Hole in the Rock on file U of U UTAH HUMANITIES RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Hyde Children in San Juan County 1879-1880:
Angeline's: Harriet Parthenia, Ernest Bertrand, Francis (Frank) Herbert, Edna Estelle.
Mary Ann's: Helen Athalia, Mary Luella, Charles Albert
Most data for the children can be found at Bailey Family Genealogy Site
Harriet Parthenia (Barton) [Nickname Feenie] Born 1863 In Minersville, Beaver, Utah. Married Amasa Barton 28 Nov 1884; he was killed by an Indian at Rincon on the San Juan River in 1887. She was San Juan's first school teacher. She died on 16 Apr 1950.
Francis (Frank) Hyde: was born on 28 May 1870 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah. He died on 18 Dec 1935 in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co. Married Lucinda Diantha Nielson, daughter of Jens Nielson, who also came through the Hole in the Rock.
Ernest Bertrand was born on 5 Jan 1866 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah. He died on 21 Apr 1933 in Salt Lake City
Edna Estelle was born on 25 Sep 1875 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah. She died on 1 Mar 1948 in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co.
=========
What happened to the Hyde family?
In 1880, the Hyde family brought a good number of cats with them from Salt Lake to Montezuma.

The local Indian people were very curious because they had never seen a domesticated cat. The cats
multiplied and became numerous around the Hyde place. Following the abandonment of Montezuma
many of the cats remained in the area. Possibly as a result, the Navajos named the area Mosi, which
means cat, and the area is still called Mosi by natives to this day. One account states the place was
named for an old trader the Indians called (Old Cat). It is unclear whether Old Cat was William Hyde
or if the name has reference to some other trader who lived there at a later date.

The William Hyde family suffered more than the loss of their farm and home in 1884. Angeline was
forced to either live in the little trading post at Rincon, which was also flood damaged, or stay with
friends at Bluff. Later she moved to Nephi, Utah; where she died February 14, 1893 at age fifty-nine
following the flood she never reunited with her husband.

William continued in the Rincon area for a short time. By the end of 1884 he had moved to River
View (now called Aneth), where his second wife, Mary Ann was living. Their cabin and store at River View were located a short distance from the Henry Mitchell place. William also built another trading post, which is still in operation today under the name Ismay. It is located a few miles northeast of River View, along
McElmo Creek. According to information provided by his 2nd.great grandson, Joe Wesh, All that’s left
of William’s trading post as of the year 2004 is the foundation under the Ismay trading post. William
hauled his store goods from Mancos, and didn’t use the route through McElmo canyon, but did his
freighting from Mancos, down Mancos Creek to the San Juan River, and west to River View. He
would stock the River View store and continue on up McElmo Creek to stock his store in McElmo,
which he later sold to Mr. Ismay.

The Navajos gave William the name: Nakai Nez, probably in reference to his deep sun tan, and his
ability to speak Spanish to the Mexicans in the area. He also spoke Navajo. As we have said earlier,
William was a highly motivated individual. He built at least four trading posts: Fort Montezuma, Rincon, River View, and the last one in McElmo Canyon. During 1888 William, Mary Ann, and the
two remaining children who were living at home, Mary Luella and Charles Albert, moved to Mancos
Colorado where they lived the remainder of their lives. According to 2nd great grandsons Johnny and
Joe Wesch, William worked as marshal for a time, and also during another period was employed as
city manager of Mancos. They also said William disaffiliated with the LDS Church. The author has
not verified that claim. William Hyde died at Mancos, of Brights disease, on September 13, 1894 at
age sixty-two. Mary Ann died at Mancos on January 6, 1912, at age seventy-four. Johnny and Joe
Wesch provided the following unedited and interesting obituary for William Hyde:
Another old resident of Mancos has passed to the mysterious beyond. Yesterday
morning at about 7 o clock Mr. William Hyde, who would have been 62 years of
age on the 23rd of this month, breathed his last. He was a man of magnificent
physique but for some months past it had been noticed that some insidious disease
had been making inroads upon it. He was born in Illinois and moved to Utah in '47.

In 1858 he was married to Miss Mary Green, a southern lady. In 80 he and his family moved to the San Juan River and there he established Hydes Ferry. In 88 he and his family came to Mancos, where they have since resided. His life was an eventful one, filled with deeds that border on the romantic. His nature was kindly, but one could
readily see, even in his declining years that he would be a foe of great energy and
implacable fierceness. . . .
It is sad that the final resting place for both William and Mary Ann is an unmarked spot on the north
edge of the Cedar Grove cemetery at Mancos. The only clue was a small note on cemetery records for
the location: (Mary Hyde beside unknown grave). They were valiant pioneers who filled their mission
to the letter and also went the extra mile. They had been called to establish a wool-trading depot for
the Navajo people to export their goods. During a five-year span they had built four such trading posts,
least three homes, a water wheel, and two ferry boat operations. Did they become wealthy? No, they
dealt honestly with the Indians, and kept little for themselves. After the death of William, Mary Hyde
supported herself as a cook. They are deserving of a gravestone.

At Rincon William’s two sons Ernest and Frank formed a partnership with Amasa Barton and Joseph
Barton, who had taken over the Hyde trading post. They had accumulated a good number of sheep
from the Navajos which Ernest enjoyed herding. The Hyde-Barton trading business at Rincon
continued until a Navajo killed Amasa Barton on June 9, 1887, just days following the birth of their
second son. This tragedy put an end to operations at Rincon.

Ernest and Frank stayed in San Juan for many years. Their lives are another story in itself. Edna
Estella married Albert Dalley in the St George Temple and lived places other than San Juan. Mary
Ann’s daughter Helen Athalia died in childbirth at Nephi Utah. youngest child Charles Albert moved to Oregon.

Jensen, Lars Peter and Jane Catherine Steele

2010-01-09T13:48:00.006-07:00

John Peter Jensen
Birth: 16 Apr 1851--Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Death: 18 Aug 1932--Taylor, Navajo County, Arizona

Jane Catherine Steele
Birth: 26 Apr 1855--Parowan, Iron, Utah
Death: 21 March 1903--Taylor, Navajo County, Arizona
Children on the Trek: Margaret (b. 1876) and Leonard (b. 1878)

There are 10 children listed in the family genealogy, including Maggie (Margaret?) born in 1876 and Leonard born in 1878.
Also, they appear to have gone on to settle Greer (or Taylor?), Arizona, as told in this source: http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/mrmsa10.txt.

"In Lee's Valley, sixteen miles southwest of Springerville, is Greer, established by the Saints in 1879. The first to come were Peter J. Jensen, Lehi Smithson, James Hale, Heber Dalton and James Lee. In 1895, was added a saw-mill, built by Ellis W. Wiltbank and John M. Black. The name Greer was not applied till 1896. The postoffice dates from 1898."

Researcher Caroline Nielson reports: An individual note on family genealogy site states "Family records of Raymond S. JENSEN. Apache County was divided and Taylor is now in Navajo County. Was with Hole in the Rock company. John's Mother's last name WAHLGREN has been Americanized to VALGREN. PRIESTHOOD LINEAGE on Lars Peter: Ordained a Deacon, Ordained a Teacher, Ordained a Priest, Ordained a Elder."

Both David Miller's book (p. 147) and Saga of San Juan indicate that Lars Peter Jensen is sometimes listed as one of the Hole in the Rock pioneers.

Johnson, James

2010-01-09T13:36:00.001-07:00

Children: Lotte, James Marrion Jr., John
Information needed
There is a James Parley Johnson who was born in Springville in 1860, who eventually moved to Blanding in 1912, but I have no proof that this is the same person. His name doesn't show up in Miller's book, nor on other Hole in the Rock Sites other than HIRF

Jones, Kumen and Mary Nielson Jones

2010-01-09T09:53:00.008-07:00

Five Stars ***** to the Kumen Jones family for their wonderful web site. http://kumenjones.org/
Not only did Kumen keep good records of his life, but took the time to write wonderful observations about the trek to San Juan, and also tributes to other pioneers, his parents, wives and children. This is a wonderful model for other Hole-in-the-Rock families to follow.

Kumen Jones: 5 May-1856 -- 11 Jun-1942 (Died at age 86)
Kumen was a member of the first scouting party and the first Hole-in-the-Rock company. He is esteemed highly in the pioneer history of San Juan. He was born in Cedar City, May 5, 1856. He was taught the old Welsh ballads by his mother Sage Treharne Jones. When his father died, he and his brother Lehi helped their mother with the four younger children and worked to provide a livelihood for the family. He and Lehi carried the mail on horseback to Bullion, Nevada for 3 years. He then went into the cattle business and prospered in it. It was at this time he fell in love with Mary Nielson, daughter of Jens and Elsie Nielson, who were from Denmark. They were married in the St. George Temple, Dec. 19, 1879. The next year in April 1879 he was called to join the inital exploring party into the San Juan Country. He was gone five months, and after returning was only home long enough to prepare for the long trek back to San Juan with the full company. Kumen was a cheerful mainstay and helpto the colonizers (Saga of San Juan p. 314-315). Please read more on his web site.

Mary Nielson Jones: Born 3 Oct-1858 -- Died 28 Feb-1933
Married: 19 Dec-1878. After arriving in Bluff in April 1880 the two worked hand in hand to help the new settlement grow. The couple had no children, but Mary was promised in a blessing given by her father Jens Nielson, that she would have a son, if she consented to her husband taking a 2nd wife. This blessing was not fulfilled until 1889 when their only child, Leonard was born. She was a mother of many, however, as Kumen's 2nd wife Lydia May Lyman, died becasue of a tragic fire in 1906, and Mary raised May's 10 children as well.

Kumen's Desciption of his wife Mary. . . .Aunt Mary started out in life from childhood with a sympathetic nature, and early in young womanhood fell heir to the prefix "Aunt" to her name, about everyone using it, even cowboy strangers, "Drummers" (now called "traveling salesmen," etc., and Stamoskezy by the Indians), with whom she served as store keeper and also as a nurse in times of sickness and trouble for many years. For in these misfortunes she served all alike without regard to color or station; many times going into the hogans of Indians on her mission of mercy. She has held office in all Church organizations that are open for women to hold from Primary to Stake President of the Relief Society, which position she held for several years. She worked in the San Juan Co-op store for about 35 years as saleswoman; helped run a dairy several seasons in early pioneer days.

The biggest job and one that shows the bigness of her heart is the most wonderful way she took over the children of my honored wife, Lydia May, unselfishly mothering and caring for them and their every need; and they with myself should honor her for the noble life-long service rendered to our motherless children.

Lydia May Lyman Jones: Born 1 May-1865 -- Died 17 Apr-1906 Married: 2 Dec-1882 (she came to San Juan after 1880)
Lydia May ws the daughter of Amasa M. Lyman and Lydia Partridge Lyman. May was born in Fillmore, May 1 1864. She was a fine dressmaker and seamstress. She was also a good housekeeper and cook. She and Mary became very good friends and loved each other. May and Kumen had 10 children, only one being a girl, named Mamie. The boys who survived infancy were Stanley, Thomas, Marvin, Leland, Marion, Alma and Francis. When May was 42 she was severly burned and died from the effects of the fire.

Kumen's testimony of the San Juan Mission
Kumen Jones'http://www.bluffutah.org/tour/jones.htm home in Bluff

Larson, Mons and Olivia Ekelund

2010-01-08T23:00:00.007-07:00

Mons Larson: (6 Jun 1823-25 Apr 1890); he was born in Skeglinge, Malmohus, Sweden. He married his 2nd wife Olivia on 23 January 1876 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Ut. His Father: Lars Olson, Mother: Beretta Jonsson Olson. 1st Wife: Elna Olsson Malstrom Larson.
Prior to 1879 Mons had established a residence at Snowflake, Arizona and had returned to Santaquin, Utah in the spring of 1879 to move his wife Olivia and their two children to the new home site. He was already to begin the trek, when he heard of the San Juan Mission expedition that was going to try a new route by way of Escalante. He was a close friend of Silas S. Smith, so not wanting to travel alone, and believing the route would be shorter and easier, he decided to travel with the Hole-in-the-rock expedition as far as Montezuma. Unfortunately, this unknown route was much longer than the established route (pp. 129-130 Hole in the Rock).
According to David Miller Mons was one of the men who helped to build the ferry used to take the wagons and cattle across the Colorado River p. 197.

Mons was a member of first high council in the then Eastern Arizona Stake. He helped to build the first church and made the first bench with a back. He is buried in The Glenbar Cemetery, previously called the Matthews Cemetery, is located at Glenbar, Graham County, Arizona. The records are kept at the Museum in Pima, Graham County, Arizona and at the Pima City Hall.

Lorentina Olivia Andersson Eklund:(1856-1935)
They had two little girls that died when they lived at Matthewsville. Where they were buried is unknown. Possibly they were left in this Old Pima Cemetery.

Children on the Trek: Moroni Mons, Lars Andrew, John Rio

Thanks to several journal keepers, we have record of John Rio's birth: John R. Larson was one of the two babies born on the trip. He was born on Grey Mesa on Feb. 21, 1880. Following is an account of his birth written by his Sister, Ellen J. Larson Smith.

The canyon on the other side of the [Colorado] river required only fifteen days of work to get to the plateau [Grey Mesa] above. The Larsons and two other parties had been left by the main group during the climb upward. Olivia had been walking a good deal of the day with Moroni and Andrew on each arm, it was so cold that the children's feet had become frost bitten and were purple. The father and mother sat up nearly all night doctoring their children. The wagons were strung all along the roadside, some had reached the top of the plateau above and some were still below the Larsons.
It was February 21, 1880, when the Larsons reached the top of the plateau. A blizzard was raging and it was in this terrible snowstorm, exposed to the desert winds, that Olivia gave birth to a boy.

The boy was born while the mother was lying on a spring seat and her husband was trying to pitch a tent so the mother could be made more comfortable. With the help of sister Seraphine Smith Decker and brother Jim Decker,she was placed in the tent and made as comfortable as circumstances would permit. The boy was named John Rio (since he was born near the San Juan River). He grew to be a fine stalwart man and reared a fine family. The day after the baby came a hard wind raised the tent upward, Olivia reached up and took hold of the pole and held it down."

Steven Smith adds another account of the birth
. . .

The third day after the birth of the Larson baby, the Larsons and the Deckers moved on to join the company which had gone ahead. Mrs. Z. B. Decker wanted Mrs. Larson to ride with her because they had a stove in their wagon, but Mons wanted her to ride with her because he would not trust her with another driver. Because of Olivia's unusual vitality, she was able to be up the fourth day, packed her belongings and climbed into the wagon traveling all day over rocky roads. She said the baby never had colic. If it wasn't snowing she could bathe him, otherwise, this wise young mother of twenty-three, who now had three babies, rubbed him with flannel instead of bathing him.

Lewis, James Harding and George Frederick Lewis (son)

2010-01-08T22:37:00.012-07:00

James Lewis Harding was born Jan 12, 1814 in Gorham, Cumberland, Maine. He lived with his parents, Rev. James Lewis and Hannah Harding Lewis, in Gorham, Maine until he was about 20. He then tried “following the sea”, as some of his relatives had, out of Portland, Maine; but it was not to his liking, and “being of a roving disposition”, he went west, stopping in St. Louis, Missouri in 1840. He worked as a clerk in St. Louis and was sympathtic to the suffering of the Mormons. He was baptized in the LDS church in 1842. He served a mission in the Eastern states with George Adams (Maine) 1843-44. He owned property in Nauvoo.

His father was a Methodist minister and greatly opposed to the Mormons. In June of 1843 James wrote his father giving several reasons for his belief in the Church. But he also stated in the letter, “I have fancied you will rather consider I am, as it were buried to all my friends.” He was correct in his fears. During James’ trip to the east he visited his parents and later told his children and grandchildren of his last visit with his parents with his father shaking his fist and telling him “to never darken their door again. His mother, with her apron to her eyes in an effort to staunch the flow of tears.”

Family researcher, Shauna Dalton Hart, his gggranddaughter, confirms that James’ father disowned him when he joined the LDS religion. James Lewis was baptized in 1842 and knew the Prophet Joseph and other early Church leaders in Nauvoo. He came across the plains with the pioneers, and was one of the original settlers called by Brigham Young to settle Parowan, Iron, Utah in 1851. One time he and his family were almost dead due to starvation, but through prayer and faith a stranger (unseen) came to their door and left a sack of flour.

He married Emily Jennison Holman on May 9, 1847 in St. Louis, SLC, Missouri. After leaving Nauvoo in 1849. Called to settle in southern Utah in 1950 then in 1852 he served a mission to China which proved to be very difficult and hostile to missionaries. Shauna Hart explained, "James Lewis along with Hosea Stout and Chapman Duncan, were the first missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be sent to China. They went to Hong Kong, but due to persecution and no knowledge of the Chinese language, they returned to the USA after a few months. James and Emily had fourteen children – two of which died at an early age. the family resided in Parowan, Utah for eleven years.

He was a respected and active citizen, entered politics as a State Legislator in 1854-55, acted as Probate Judge for 10 years and helped in many ways to settle Parowan. On 5 April 1857, while still living in Parowan, he was sealed by Brigham Young to a second wife, Emma Bateman April 5, 1857. He settled in Panacha, Nevada and was a teacher. He later moved to Iron County, Utah where he became a probate judge for 10 years. Moved to Kanab in 1871.

One source says James Lewis served as the first Judge of the new San Juan County. [Did he do this from Iron County?]

“I moved to Kanab, Kane County Utah in 1871, and was elected commissioner
for a number of years. Court was held in St. George. I labored in the temple at St. George the winter of 79-80 and 81 and 82. In 1872 I was elected county commissioner of Kane County. Court was held at Toquerville.
Article from Shauna Hart 3/7/2010: From James Lewis' autobiography. [It says he was called in 1882, but it is likely this should be 1880]
"In 1882 I was called on a mission to San Juan with my family. I was appointed Judge of that country. My son George was the blacksmith for that company which consisted of twenty-five families. The road was made through Potato Valley by way of Escalante and "HOLE IN THE ROCK" which was a jump off of 40 feet of solid rock, which required much blasting before wagons could be let down through the pass. The walls of the Hole were more than a hundred feet high on each side above the roadway. One mile from the top of the hill brought us to the Colorado River."

We crossed on the ferryboat provided for that purpose, above the mouth of the San Juan River. The road had been made by the company with great labor and toil of months and was the most rugged I ever traveled. Water was only found in the holes in the rocks deposited in the rainy season and the melting of snow in the spring. Grass was only found in the washes, which were often narrow and the sides steep and rocky. We followed the San Juan River to Bluff City where we stopped for the season."

“Here I found Elder Silas S. Smith, president of the Stake and Mission which
included the San Louis Valley, the gathering place of the Southern Saints. Bluff City was selected as the County seat of the county. I returned to Kanab by way of Potato Valley, expecting to return with my family. Part of which had moved to Arizona. The road by Potato Valley was for single teams. I could not return by that route. I took the route to Arizona by way of St. Johns, expecting to cross the Navajo reservation to Bluff City. Upon arriving at St. Johns I found the Indians hostile by the killing of two Indians. The Indian Missionaries informed me I could not cross the reservation. I reported my situation and was released from my mission [to San Juan] by Apostle Erastus Snow. I settled at Taylor, Apache County, Arizona and remained in that county with my children until 1891. George married in 1882 after they arrived at their destination in Arizona.” The "Hole In the Rock" trek took place from Oct 1879 to April 1880. James was 65 years old, George was 23."
James died 29 May 1898 in Kanab, Kane County, Utah.

Places lived: (Chronologized, earliest to latest, incl. age)

1814 - 1834 (Age 0 - 20) Gorham, Maine
1834 - 1838? (Age 20 - 24) At sea (Portland, Maine)
1838 - 1840 (Age 25 - 26) Traveled West
1840 - 1842 (Age 26 - 28) St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri (Baptized at Keokuk, Iowa Feb.1842)
1842 - 1843 (Age 28 - 29) Nauvoo, Illinois (met Prophet Joseph Smith and other leaders)
1843 - 1844 (Age 29 - 30) Mission to Eastern States
1844 - 1849 (Age 30 - 35) St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri (Married Emily Holman 9 May 1847, age 33)
1849 - 1850 (Age 35 - 36) Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
1850 - 1852 (Age 36 - 38) Parowan (Center Creek), Iron, Utah (arrived Jan 1851)
1852 - 1853 (Age 38 - 39) Mission to China (Hong Kong) One of first 3 missionaries to China
1853 - 1864 (Age 39 - 50) Parowan, Iron, Utah
1865 - 1871 (Age 50 - 57) Harrisburg, Washington, Utah
1871 - 1882 (Age 57 - 68) Kanab, Kane, Utah
1882 [1880] - 1882 (Age 68 - 68) San Juan Co. Mission, Arizona
1882 - 1891 (Age 68 - 77) Taylor, Apache, Arizona
1891 - 1898 (Age 77 - 84) Kanab, Kane, Utah (Died 29 May 1898)
(More information given here: http://www.beckfamily.org/nauvooLandAndRecords/15925.pdf) The file also lists his children's name. Emily had 14 children, and Emma had 1.

Additional information and his autobiography A wonderful source! His autobiography says he came to San Juan in 1882, [but it was probably 1880, however, doesn't appear he ever really lived there.]

George Frederick Lewis was the 6th child of James Lewis and Emily Jennison Holman. He was born July 8, 1856 in Parowan, Utah. George Frederick married HUFF, Mary Adalaide 9 Dec 1890. He was 34.

He died 9 Feb 1909 in Colonial Garcia, Chihuahua, Mexico. He was 52 and died of a heart attack. “He loved the Lord and family and taught his children to do the same.” George Fredrick Lewis was the blacksmith for the “Hole in the Rock” company, building a pass and roadway through rock descending one mile from the top to the San Juan River below. He helped colonize Colonial Garcia, Mexico. George died there leaving his wife, Mary Adalaide, to take care of seven children at a difficult time in Mexican history.

Places George lived: (Chronologized, earliest to latest, incl. age)

1856 - 1864 (Age 0-8) Parowan, Iron, Utah
1865 - 1871 (Age 9-15) Harrisburg, Washington, Utah (US Census 1870)
1871 - 1879 (Age 15-23) Kanab, Kane, Utah
1880 - ? (Age 24-?) Bluff, San Juan, Utah (US Census 1880)
188? - 1888 (Age 23-32) Taylor, Apache, Arizona
1888 - 1895 (Age 32-39) Pinedale, Gila, Arizona (married Adalaide Huff 7 Dec 1890)
1895 - 1896 (Age 39-40) Taylor, Navajo, Arizona
1896 - 1909 (Age 39-52) Colonial Garcia, Chihuahua, Mexico

His uncle, Philip B. Lewis, gave George a patriarchal blessing when he was age 19. One promise of note follows, “Thy body shall not be weary, but thou shall leap like a halk (hawk) upon the mountains. Thou shall be preserved from the [hands] of thy [enemies] and every weapon formed against thee shall fall harmless at thy feet . . .”

The family moved to Arizona in 1882 where George eventually met his bride to be, Mary Adalaide Huff. They were married in the St. George, Utah Temple in 9 Dec 1890. They lived in Taylor, Arizona where their two oldest children were born – George William and Adolphia James. Of this marriage eventually came seven children; two born in Arizona, the other five while living in Colonial Guarcia, Mexico, including Zilpha, our line [Shauna Dalton Hart, source].

While living in Arizona, George and others established and purchased the first sawmill built in the vicinity. Blacksmithing, building and farming were the sources of income during his lifetime. He also taught his children these trades and taught them “not to be idle”.

George moved his family over 500 miles to Old Mexico about 1896 after a call to “go to Mexico and take up land from the Mexican government.” Mary’s mother and father (James Henry and Sophia Huff) and their family also moved to Mexico. Father Huff died in 1903, and Mary’s mother returned to the States. George’s father, James Lewis, died in 1898 in Kanab, Utah – George may not have seen him after moving to Mexico in 1897. George’s mother, Emily, out-lived George (her son) by two years – Emily later dying in Kanab, Utah in 1911.

George worked hard all his life. As his boys were able, they helped him. He died of a heart attack in 1909 at the age of 52, leaving his wife, Mary, and children - Zilpha, [the Dalton line] was only eight years old. The oldest boy, George William, was sixteen and the youngest child, Emily, was only seven months old. George Fredrick Lewis was buried in Colonial Garcia, Mexico. His grave has not been located in the present “colonies”. His wife and children were driven out of Mexico in 1912, three years after George died.
=======
Thanks to Shauna Dalton Hart for supplying many details of the life of these two families, as well as photographs.

Lillywhite, Joseph and Mary Ellen Willden

2010-01-08T19:53:00.016-07:00

Joseph Lillywhite was born in New York City, New York County, Ny on 15 Nov 1847 and died Jan. 18, 1888.

His wife Mary Ellen Willden was born 5 Nov 1850 Kanesville, (council Bluffs), Pottawattamie, Iowa. She died 6 Jul 1922 Chandler, Mrcp, Az and was buried in Mesa. They were married 5 Dec 1867 in Beaver, Beaver, Ut which is where they were living when they received the call to go to San Juan.

Joseph Lillywhite is mentioned as being in a side exploration group consisting of Edward and Platt Lyman to determine a reconnaissance of the area, arriving eventually at what is now known as Clay Crossing of the San Juan. Here they found approx. 200 acres of level land, heavily timbered with cottonwood trees, but it wasn't large enough to encourage the planting of a settlement (Hole in the Rock, Miller, p 134, see also p. 168)
Story about Indian Attack at Lee's Ranch

Children on the trek: Joseph Jr. (1868-1921), Mary Eleanor (1872-1931), Charles Willden (1874-1947), Jeremiah Lawrence (1877-1893, John LeRoy (1879-1887). Later three more children were born.

Famly Group sheet:
Tribute to Charles and Margaret Coplan

The Lillywhite story begins:
Story of Joseph Lillywhite, Hole-in-the-Rock pioneer Taken from biography written by Charles Willden Lillywhite, Jan. 18, 1943 (55 years after the death of his father.) Possessed by Linda Wright, Blanding, a descendent of Joseph Lillywhite

Lillywhites leave from England
Sometime during the summer of 1847, the Lillywhite family left their home in London, England, and sailed for America. The family consisted of the father Benjamin Lillywhite and wife, Margaret Mitchell, son Benjamin, Jr. and daughter Sarah, who was about 18 months old. She died on the ship, and was buried at sea. Their destination was to join the Saints in Zion. At St. Louis they began to assemble teams and wagons for the trip west, when Benjamin Sr. was stricken with cholera and died within a few hours, leaving the family stunned and heartbroken. Rather than return to England and her parents, Margaret determined to press forward to Utah. She sent the two little boys on with a family, while she remained behind to earn enough money to pay for her husbands funeral expenses. Benjamin Jr. was 7 at this time, and could do chores. When it came time to reunite with his mother, the family didn’t want to give him up! Joseph was only 3. After her husband died, Margaret eventually married a man by the name of Eldridge. They lived in the Milford, Beaver area. She died 22 Oct 1889 just a few months after her son Joseph, who died Jan. 19, 1888 in Arizona.

Joseph's life
As Joseph grew to manhood, his grandson Charles, described him this way. He was 6 feet tall, light blue eyes, auburn/light born here, with a slight tendency to baldness, at age 40. He sang tenor in the choir, although he had been shot through the right chest while a youth. One of the volunteer nurses who cared for him was Maryellen Elizabeth Willden, and from this acquaintance a courtship developed between the patient and nurse, and soon afterward a marriage! (Read this story in Pioneer Stories by Preston Nibley: “Indian Attack at Lee’s Ranch: pp. 159-174) Reprint on-line p. 229
Joseph had a pleasant disposition, slow to anger, but very firm in defense of right. He would always accommodate any man in need, but would not be imposed upon for long. He was of Swedish ancestry. As a young man he worked on ranches. He acquired a fair education, was a persistent reader of good books and used good clean language. Slang, vulgarity, or profane language never passed his lips. He was devoted to his family and home.

Joseph and Maryellen built a two-story, four room home from volcanic rock which was lime painted. It was still standing in 1937. They also owned 40 acres of rich black Beaver bottom lands. He raised alfalfa and had milk cows and horses. Their apple orchard was just coming into bearing, and he was making rapid and substantial advancement toward an independent financial success…Then in late summer of 1879 a call went out to families to colonize new and undeveloped lands, and the Lillywhites joined a company which was forming in Beaver to go settle San Juan. Joseph needed no urging to join, and was imbued with the spirit of the times to colonize other areas.

The Call to San Juan
Charles remembers: “Father sold his Beaver holdings, absorbing most of the value in teams, wagons, cows and some cash and in the late summer of 1879, he headed east on the old Escalante trail and joined some 70 wagons of other colonizers encamped on the north bank of the Colorado River at a location where LDS scouts located what they decided was the most feasible point to establish a ferry over the turbulent Colorado River. This location was fittingly named Hole-in-the-Rock. At this point the west bank rose from the riverbed to a height of several hundred feet, mostly perpendicular. The rains through the ages had work out a cleft in the north bank of these walls of sandstone and it offered the only location where wagons could reach the riverbed without prohibitive cost. This declivity had a short stretch where the canyon walls were a few inches too marrow to permit a wagon to pass and another short stretch where a sloping ledge of sandrock would not permit safe passage. The third impediment was an extremely steep grade, too steep to admit a wagon’s descent under brake control only.”

“A counsel was held and it was decided to camp on the north bank and send for powder so a fairly safe roadbed could be inexpensively and quickly, be built. However, several weeks elapsed before the powder arrived and then it was inadequate for the job. By this time the colonists were impatient to break camp and be on their way. After using the scant supply of powder to widen the face of the canyon walls, they drilled a series of holes on the downside of the sloping ledge and drove strong oak pegs in these holes. They then cut and laid poles and brush, covered with small rock and earth to bring the sloping side up tow here wagons could be lowered without capsizing. The gorge was now ready for experiment. The entire population was out the morning of January 1, 1880. To add security to the descent of the heavily loaded wagons, a long, strong rope was attached to the rear axle of each wagon as it was driven down the precipitous declivity in the high towering walls to the riverbed and a landing where a flat ferry boat had been built by those emigrants. They had been detained for more than two months and welcomed the prospect of resuming the journey and because of their careful operations the entire company of approximately 300 was safely lowered through that gorge and ferried over the turbulent stream within a 24 hour period.”

Irrigation Problems in Bluff
No details are given about the rest of the trip, only saying it was “but a few days” until they arrived camping on the north bank of the San Juan River in Bluff. There was abundant rich tillable ground. “Those pioneers from Utah and Idaho who had no experience combating irrigation problems caused by turbulent and seasonal flooded riverbeds were elated over the apparent feasibility of irrigation from the San Juan River, but alas this dream was hard to realize. A ditch was dug heading some distance from the colony’s lands to bring water from the San Juan through a gravel ditch to irrigate those rich acres. During the night the swollen stream of the River washed out all vestige of the ditch heading, and left the ditch high and dry. The colonists had planted a quantity of garden seeds that needed water.

One ingenious brother devised a waterwheel and by evening the colonists again saw reason to rejoice when water from self-propelled water cups filled and dumped into a trough leading to their irrigation ditches. Imagine their disappointment the next morning when they gazed on a silent waterwheel with the river stream running briskly down a channel some distance from the designated spot. Another lesson learned by those inexperienced colonists! It was at this state that Joseph Lillywhite together with several other men gave up the experiment. While there have been many attempts to settle and till those rich lower San Juan acres, none have been very successful; except many miles further upstream, where smaller tributaries of the San Juan are successfully controlled for irrigation.

Family leaves Bluff for Arizona
Sometime in the late spring of 1880 Joseph and Maryellen loaded their equipment and household effects and headed for Alpine, Apache County, Arizona traveling by way of Fort Defiance and Wingate (both US Army posts) where needed supplies could be purchased. Charles continues: “We traveled south through Zuni Indian territory with our two wagons, one drawn by a good trusty horse team and the other drawn by a horses and a span of rather weary little mules. We stopped at Wingate for supplies. The mules were not used to the Zuni right colored garb nor the Indians, and they shied and it took all hands of the children to avert a runaway.

The family arrived with cattle and wagon in Alpine, nestled amount the tall mountain peaks between New Mexico and Arizona. Alpine was a “veritable paradise with black, rich mountain soil. However, because Joseph had been shot through the right lung, he was in poor shape to withstand the rigors of the mountain climate, and the family relocated to Woodruff, Az to a milder climate.

In late summer of 1881, the family finances were getting painfully low, and because there was a demand for teams and men to help build the Atchison-Topeka and Santa Fee Railroad grade being built in northern Arizona, Joseph loaded his family and household into wagons again and drove to Winslow, Az. They pitched their tens there. Charles drove the ox teams while his brother Joseph Jr. dumped and filled the “slip scrapers.” They worked there until the summer of 1882, when the grade was completed.

They ended up heading back to Woodruff, and selected a city lot. At that time the town only had nine thatched roofs, homes with dirt floors, and bare adobe rooms making up the triangle fort, where they stayed.

During the summer of 1887 a measles epidemic prevailed in Woodruff and the little brother John who was 10 years old was stricken. Pneumonia complicated his recovery from measles, and “we gathered about his bedside to witness his most earnest pleadings: “Don’t let me die, Papa. Pray for me.’ The little fellow sat up in ed and pled as I have never heard another plead for life, until his voice became a whisper but his lips still moved in pleading for life. My good father earnestly prayed for his recovery until John’s voice was stilled in death. I have witnessed many pass way but never one who pled for life as that noble little fellow. Sometimes we’ll understand.

Charles continues: “His passing left a vacancy in the family but yet more was demanded, for at 4 AM on January 18,1888, I stood beside the death bed of my good father as his eyes closed. How I loved and was just learning to appreciate the companionship of my devoted father when pneumonia cut him down and left that grief stricken family far away from all relatives and the land of my birth, Utah. My brave mother dried her tears during the day and faced the lonely trying days with fortitude that only real pioneers can muster. My sister May confided to me that for months after father’s death she found tearstains on mother’s pillow when she made the beds. Joseph’s untimely death, Jan. 19, 1888 was no doubt hastened by overwork and anxiety over the repeated failures to control the stream for irrigation. (The story continues with the Lillywhite children on Children of the Rock)

Lyman, Amasa Mason, Jr.

2010-01-08T19:20:00.003-07:00

Amasa Jr. was born 22 Feb 1846, the son of Amasa and Maria Louisa Lyman. He and died 21 Feb 1937

It is likely that it was Amasa Jr. who is identified as one of the men bringing cheese and pork into camp. He had come from Panguitch with Joseph Smith Woolsley to help build the road. Since there was not adequate supplies to distribute to all 250 people, they decided to auction it off. Thus the name Cheese camp stuck for this site (Hole in the Rock by Miller, p 126).

More information needed

Lyman, Edward Leo

2010-01-08T18:42:00.011-07:00

Edward was born 4 Jan 1857 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Ut. to Amasa Mason Lyman and Lydia Partridge Lyman. He died 22 May 1906 Oak City, Millard, Ut

The Lyman web site includes information about him. http://sites.google.com/site/edwardleolyman/ or http://ell.lymansite.us/

He married Mary Maranda Callister and they had 10 children.
Mary was married to Edward Leo Lyman, Sr. in the Endowment House, 14 November 1878 by D. H. Wells. He was 21 and she was 24. They set up housekeeping in one room of Caroline Lyman’s3 home in Oak City where Edward was associated with his brothers in the sawmill business. They spent their honeymoon at the sawmill.
Mary was staying in Fillmore with her mother when her first child was born 22 Aug. 1879. The baby was stillborn and the young mother nearly lost her life. Mary was advised by her Doctor never to attempt to have another child as it would mean almost certain death. She did go ahead and have her family, 10 children. Ida May (stillborn,) Edward Leo Jr., Philomela (Millie), Lydia, Frank Arthur, Thomas Callister (Callis), Willis Jay, Evelyn (stillborn), Clara and Alma Rich.

    Edward actually went on the Hole in the Rock expedition, which was the reason he was away when his first child was born. On his second trip to San Juan he had built a log cabin in Bluff, Utah and expected to return with his family. Mary, however, did not want to move to the desolate Four-corners area away from family and civilization. Mary’s uncle George A. Smith told her that she would not have to go to the San Juan. On Edward’s return to Millard County to get his wife he had two horses die and almost didn’t survive himself. This trip convinced him that he didn’t want to move to the San Juan.
     This is one of the letters he wrote home to Mary while he was on the trek to San Juan:

Gunsite Crossing Dec 14, 1879
Dear Mary [in Fillmore]
            I received your letter dated 21st on the 10th and I was very glad to get it as I have only heard from home twice since I left home but I expect there is two or three letters on the road for me. I got the papers all right but have not had much time to read yet. I have left the cattle and am going to work on the road for a week or two it is a hard road to travel from Escalante to here the teams can make from 2 ½ miles to 6 miles in a day and they have to double a good deal of the way the last five miles is over solid rock a good deal of the way and some places it goes over rock hills so steep that they have to put three or four spans on one wagon to get over some places the wagons have to be held to keep them from going over and the road is so steep in some parts that the horses and brake cannot hold the wagon and it goes down spinning but we got here all right. We are camped about one mile from the Colorado and it is the roughest place to make a road I ever say you can not immagen anything half as rough I have never seen any place in the Oak Creek mountains near as rough and there is twice as much work in six miles on the other side as there is on this and what there is beyond that we don’t know.
       I think I will go down to the river today as I have not been down there yet I went part way down yesterday we had to go down about forty feet on a road but we have got a trail worked around the rock where a man with a clear head can go down without a roap. I must stop and eat breakfast. I have ate and am going down to the river I am going to take some fish hooks down they catch fish over two feet long. Bro. Smith is coming today and they are going to have a meeting it is very comfortable here the weather is warmer there now than it was there when we left home. We are 240 miles from home and I expect we will have to go 80 miles farther but we don’t know there will be nearly 100 wagons when they get together.
      Bro. Smith is going to start back to Parowan tomorrow to see bro Snow and get powder and tools it will be two or three months before we will get to San Juan so it will be some time before I will get back home but you must keep up your spirits darling and it will all come out right after a while. I am glad you did not take the school for I don’t want you to work so hard any more for I am better able to work than you are Mary and nothing will make me happier than to work for you darling all my life for I love you more and more every day of my life and when we get a home we can enjoy our selfs
more than we have before. Tell Fred I would like to write to him but I have not got time today. I have got a horse that will just suit him to hunt deer on I have rode my horse twice and I never saw a better horse to break there is lots of rase where the cattle are and they are doing well. Alma Steavens and I started from the heard last Tuesday we hunted half a day and found a beef and then went about 15 miles our horses gave out and we had to camp without any hiding. Se sat up all night and by that means we got an early start the next morning and went 15 miles to where we expected the folks were but they had moved on 10 miles so we asked some folks for some grub and then went on
and got there about sundown with our horses all give out it is the worst road to travel over I ever saw - good bye my darling little wife. -E.L. Lyman. (437-443_1879_Dec14_Eddy_to_Mary.doc)    found at http://sites.google.com/site/edwardleolyman/hitr-letters
Additional letters can be found on the site.

Mary's letter on January 2, 1880 from Oak Creek says, “I was so afraid that you were suffering with the cold.... I am afraid you will get hurt working at such work I am sure it must be dangerous don't go down such steep places anymore it scares me to read about it... Give my love to Ida and May, I am so glad they are enjoying the trip. It will be your birthday day after tomorrow O Eddy how I do wish I could make you a nice present or could see you...”

Eddy took the time to chisel his name, “EL Lyman”, at Register Rock on the east side of the river. After arriving in Bluff on April 6, 1880, Eddy left the new Bluff to return to Oak Creek on April 29th. He arrived home in Oak Creek exhausted and worn out on May 24th 1880.
On November 5, 1880 Edward left Oak Creek again to travel to Bluff to work, spend the winter, and prepare to settle there. He arrived at Bluff City on January 1, 1881. Later that following summer he returned to Oak Creek.

Edward and Mary decided to stay in Oak City instead of going to San Juan. The Lyman Brothers organized into “The Lyman Brothers Co.” Edward bought a lot and built a small home. Mary taught school to help out the family finances, even though children were coming along regularly. Fire destroyed the two sawmills, one after the other and the Lyman Brothers were so in debt that they went to work for the Consolidated Wagon and Machine Co. to pay off the indebtedness. Edward and Mary moved to Ogden in the summer of 1888. The family lived in Ogden11 until 1897 when the debt was paid.

The great tragedy of Mary's life was the death of her beloved husband, on May 22, 1906 of pneumonia. With the help of her sons she managed the farm, and was both father and mother to her children. She moved to Delta in the spring of 1912 to be with her boys who were farming there. She was called to be the President of the Relief Society in the new Deseret Stake Aug. 11, 1912. She was devoted to her calling and earned the love and respect of the women of the stake. She bought a one seated buggy so that she could travel around the stake in her duty. She was released March 27, 1921.

Mary and Ed Lyman family 1885 (High quality resolutions can downloaded for a fee at: http://picasaweb.google.com/carl.lyman/ELLymanFamilyPhotos#
The collection includes photos of Lyman and Callister grandparents as well as Edward and Mary and their family.