tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64494065676327423192024-03-19T02:01:25.874-07:00Payson Historical SocietyDeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.comBlogger268125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-12586689553585597872021-03-20T12:27:00.000-07:002021-03-20T12:27:30.656-07:00<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>PETEETNEET MUSEUM TO REOPEN</b></span></p><p><b>(Photo courtesy of Payson Chronicle) <br /></b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVej4vaTbzx2RXbGels3cy7X5mBlvxQ_DSWNZzvOIhp7S7EN-z66D6i1nnILayp15SkG9YOn8v07PQYIQr7d5TVvL9HLzOjwkJJ3Z1HQH9xJnHBDo6e4QvUVPwTbamz0SsothkiTL2QI/s1440/reopen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVej4vaTbzx2RXbGels3cy7X5mBlvxQ_DSWNZzvOIhp7S7EN-z66D6i1nnILayp15SkG9YOn8v07PQYIQr7d5TVvL9HLzOjwkJJ3Z1HQH9xJnHBDo6e4QvUVPwTbamz0SsothkiTL2QI/w255-h320/reopen.jpg" width="255" /></a></b></div><b><br /> </b> <br /><p></p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-74951779766494801042021-02-13T10:22:00.004-08:002021-02-13T10:22:47.988-08:00ALEXANDER COWAN<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJTK2ILLtWtijcDmD2EIfOeNR54OJkhq0ukbezZ66dGk1RJi2qPJgPHKV4Jrp0yJCZKsXHsSXro2if9_cRdDboJwG40Lp84ihZT2lLbzlZOvlA0zfKesZxqlzccUJcicHPBjN2F2VViE/s245/Alexander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJTK2ILLtWtijcDmD2EIfOeNR54OJkhq0ukbezZ66dGk1RJi2qPJgPHKV4Jrp0yJCZKsXHsSXro2if9_cRdDboJwG40Lp84ihZT2lLbzlZOvlA0zfKesZxqlzccUJcicHPBjN2F2VViE/s0/Alexander.jpg" /></a></b></div><b> ALEXANDER COWAN</b><p></p><p>Alexander Cowan was born in Campsie, Scotland on December 18, 1830. His parents were John B. and Agnes Barry Cowan. John B. was a weaver of fine textiles including lace curtains and other decorative articles.<br /> John B. was taught the gospel by early missionaries in Scotland. He and his family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. <br /> Soon after joining the Church, John B. disposed of his property and with his family started for America. His family consisted of his wife, four sons and one daughter.<br /> The trip was made in a sailing vessel and took at least six weeks to cross the ocean. Agnes, John B.’s wife, became ill and died. She was buried at sea. They reached New Orleans and sailed up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Missouri.<br /> The Church authorities had caused a port to be opened at New Orleans in 1844 so that the trip across the plains might be shortened. This port remained open until 1855.<br />Upon arriving in St. Louis, the family resources were about gone. The two single boys, Alexander and William remained there to work for two years, so that they might assist the family to get established in Utah. <br /> John B., his daughter, two married sons and their families started for Salt Lake City. They crossed the plains in Levi Stewart’s Company, arriving in Salt Lake September 17, 1850. The daughter died and was buried on the plains. John B. lived in Salt Lake City for a while and then moved to Spanish Fork. His sons Andrew and James stayed in Salt Lake City. James later moved to Slaterville in Weber County.<br /> Alexander helped on the public work in Salt Lake, and 1852 with a pardner John Charford, contracted to make the adobes for the wall around the Temple block. He crossed the plains 7 times. In 1861 he went to states with two yoke of oxen to assist the Saints to come to Utah.<br /> In 1864 he was sent to Fort Bridger to assist colonizing and later to Carson Nevada, 1855 where he took up a ranch which had some very rich mines in it. It is claimed while there he dug the first irrigation ditch to water his land, and in 1858 was called home on account of Johnson Army trouble. <br /> Alexander married Eilley Orrum Hunter, a widow,(divorcee) in Salt Lake City. They were among those who President Brigham Young sent to Washoe Valley, Nevada to establish a branch of the Church in Carson City. Alexander purchased 350 acres of land for $100.00 from Orson Hyde where they built a small home. <br /> As gold seekers came to Virginia City, Alexander and Eilley also went there. Eilley operated a cafe and Alexander went prospecting. He and Sandy Bowers struck and staked their claim on the Comstock Lode, one of the richest gold mines in the world.<br /> One day Alexander came back from the mine unexpectedly. He heard Sandy and Eilley plotting to kill him. Alexander quietly left Virginia City in the latter part of 1859. He had to cross the Sierra Nevada mountains on snowshoes. He made one misstep, went over an embankment and was buried in snow to his neck. He always felt that it was a miracle that he was able to get out.<br /> Alexander arrived in Salt Lake City during the Christmas holidays in 1859. He met Jane Mitchell who had arrived in Salt Lake City with a handcart company late in September or October 1859. After a courtship of three weeks, they were married in January 1860.<br /> After divorcing Alexander, Eilley got claim to the ranch after she divorced Alexander Cowan. Later, Eilley married Sandy Bowers and became one of the first millionaires of the Comstock Lode. The built the Bowers' Mansion on the property that once bThey visited kings in France and England. They built a beautiful mansion on Alexander and Eilley's property and furnished it with the best the world had to offer, buying many beautiful pieces of furniture and carpets from France and England. Even the door knobs were gold. Nothing was too expensive for them. The estate also had two large swimming pools. They lived a royal life for a while.<br /> Sandy and Eilley had a little girl. One day when the daughter had nothing to do, Eilley gave her a bucket of silver dollars to play with, which kept her happy the rest of the day. She died when she was only nine or ten years old and is buried in the family cemetery behind the mansion. Later, Sandy Bowers died of miner's consumption at the age of 36. Some men talked Eilley into investing her money and she lost everything. Eilley ended up a fortune teller on the streets of San Francisco and died a penniless pauper. She was buried next to Sandy and their daughter. <br /> The homestead was sold several times and then bought by the State of Nevada. The mansion is now a museum where tour guides tell you their story. There are swimming pools and picnic areas for all to enjoy. The Bowers Mansion is located 19 miles south of Reno. <br /> On the hill just above the mansion is a cemetery. Their little daughter, about 9 years old, was first buried there. Then when Sandy died of miner's consumption at age 36, Sandy was also behied there. <br /> It was in the summer of 1861 while Alexander was on this trip, that his first baby, a daughter died. Jane had to go through this trying experience without her husband, but she was not alone. Kind and loving family and friends stood by her.<br /> It was on this trip that Alexander met Elizabeth Raetz and soon after their arrival in Utah on Nov. 20, 1861, they were married and she became a plural wife. Jane went with them to the Endowment House and witnessed the ceremony. Elizabeth had joined the L, D. S. Church when she was 25 years old in December 1859 in Berne County, Switzerland. She left for America in June 1860 with her deceased brother's five year old daughter.<br /> At an early date the pioneers realized that the lowlands to the south and west of Salt Lake City had to be drained in order for it to be suitable for cultivating. Alexander Cowan was one of the first to lead out in this undertaking. So, strong and purposeful men with ox teams and shovels drained and made useful hundreds of acres of soil. Most of the land prepared at that time is within the city limits today.<br /> When preparations for the building of the Salt Lake Temple were being made, it was such sturdy men as Alexander Cowan who went forth to bring the granite for the foundation from the granite deposits in the nearby mountains. He often told of the experiences he had with this noble group. When the wall around the temple block was built, John Croffer and Alexander made a lot of the cobble rock foundation which was three feet by three feet. The adobes were mortared in as well as the cobble rock and all were capped with sandstone blocks.<br /> In the fall of 1862, Alexander Cowan moved his family to Payson. His family then consisted of himself, Jane Mitchell Cowan and John M, then six weeks old, and Elizabeth Raetz Cowan. They came with ox team and arrived in Payson early in October. <br /> Alexander had traded an ox team for a peach orchard ready for bearing to a man by the name of Rube Jolly. This was the first peach orchard in Payson and was located at 3rd East and 3rd North. It was about two and one-half acres and people came from as far away as Sanpete County to get a supply of peaches. Many people came and dried peaches on shares. In peach blossom time, it was a beautiful sight to stand on the east hill and look down on the mass of pink blossoms.<br /> Later, Alexander obtained a homestead claim southeast of Payson which he sold to a Mr. Erlandson. A portion of this homestead is where the Erlandson peach orchard was for many years. He also owned a 150 acre ranch northeast of Payson. Here the two families took turns living for a period of a year. Jane decided rather than to move so often, she would rather stay on the ranch permanently. Elizabeth remained in town.<br /> At the time of the Indian trouble with Chief Black Hawk and Chief Walker Wars, Alexander Cowan was, on one occasion, returning from Sanpete County on horseback. He was prompted to leave the road and ride behind some brush. He had just gone behind the brush when a band of Indians, whooping and yelling, came galloping by. They overtook a man driving a wagon and killed him and his family.<br /> In about 1870, the people of Payson community decided to build a tabernacle. It was a spacious building built of adobes which were molded by Joseph Crook and Alexander Cowan. William McClellan was the carpenter.<br /> In the early days, much of the tithing was paid in kind, which means it was paid by giving ten percent of produce and animals raised to be used for food for the needy. It had to be hauled to Salt Lake City by team. These trips were usually in the fall of the year and Alexander Cowan made many of these trips. When it was necessary for two wagons to go, his son John M. went along as the second teamster. These trips took about four days.<br /> Alexander Cowan built many houses, mainly of logs. His last home was of brick. It was built on the corner of 5th East and 4th North in Payson. He was the father of fifteen children. Eight of them grew to maturity. He died December 25, 1918 at the age of 88 and is buried in the Payson City Cemetery.<br /> <br /></p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-91991547164519858772021-01-04T10:47:00.000-08:002021-01-04T10:47:00.228-08:00SARAH SLUSSER NISONGER<p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpKPZtxnX1SJqE7Ov31-YCfBVt8PvtYvR-kgyYecMCoj5QsityUS9Ox7K1ONJRt6M15B5QxudAwEomvGiXPTiRVzeExB-76zmmyXFFhZJnLe0rLeFbbu8SeXnNa5e0EKzMpb4fu5msu8/s600/Sarah+Slusser+Nisonger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="429" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpKPZtxnX1SJqE7Ov31-YCfBVt8PvtYvR-kgyYecMCoj5QsityUS9Ox7K1ONJRt6M15B5QxudAwEomvGiXPTiRVzeExB-76zmmyXFFhZJnLe0rLeFbbu8SeXnNa5e0EKzMpb4fu5msu8/s320/Sarah+Slusser+Nisonger.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>SARAH SLUSSER NISONGER</b><br /><br /> Sarah Slusser was born in Clear Creek, Warren County, Ohio, near Dayton, on April 26, 1812. Her father’s name was Peter and her mother’s name was Mary Deam (Diehm) . The Slusser family was large and included nine children. They lived on a farm about seven miles from Dayton. They had many cows, chickens, horses and were considered prosperous. <br /> Near their home, was in a thick wood with many kinds of nuts. There were walnuts and almonds that were gathered in for the winter. They also raised popcorn and enjoyed apples and popcorn around the fireplace during the wintertime. When they wanted turkey, they went into the woods and killed them, as they were wild.<br /> Sarah married Henry Nisonger on March 3, 1836 and from that time on she led an unsettled life. When they were first married, she went with her husband into the woods where he cut wood. She cooked for workers while they were thus employed. It was about this time they met the Mormon Elders and immediately joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and where faithful members from that time forward. <br /> Sarah and Henry had nine children: David, born in 1837, Mary, born in 1840, Chester, born in 1841, Carmen, born in 1842, Airon, born in 1845, Sarah Jane, born in1846, Lydia Ellen, born in 1849, Phoebe, born in 1851 and Elisie, born in 1854.<br /> They moved to Saint Louis, Missouri where they were forced to live in a log house with several other families. The children of the other families tormented her children all the time because they were Mormons. Her husband couldn’t get work, so Sarah went to work at a shirt factory to help support the family. They were planning to go to Utah so her husband took a contract to cut wood for the railroad. This job lasted for two years. She cooked for the men and cared for her family. In this way they earned enough money to be able to travel to Utah. Their outfit included two wagons and eight head of oxen. One wagon was without a box and was loaned to a man by the name of Knox. They got along with just the one wagon.<br /> They came west with the Milo Andrew’s Company and arrived in Ogden, Utah in the fall of 1856. They rented their first home. It was only one room which they shared with another family as it was hard to find a place to live. The winter was long and cold. It was very inconvenient as the children had whooping cough and one little girl died. Henry was away working in the canyon a good part of the winter.<br /> Sarah joined the Relief Society while they were in Ogden. On one occasion a neighbor had a baby and she had no pins for the baby’s clothing, so Sarah went to Relief Society and asked for pins which the sisters took from their own clothing and sent them to be used for the new baby.<br /> The next spring they moved to the bench where they rented a house for several years. They bought a lot and started to build a dugout, but before it was finished her husband, Henry, was called to go to Echo Canyon to help keep the United States Army out of Utah. Sarah and the children were left in an unfinished dugout. Henry was gone all winter and the dugout was cold and leaked everywhere. They were forced to sleep in wet beds a lot of the time.<br /> When Henry returned, they moved to Payson, Utah, where they lived in a brush shack in the southeast part of the city, for a short time. They then moved to Camp Floyd where they lived for eighteen months. Here Sarah washed clothes for the soldiers and baked pies and sold them. They then moved to a ranch located at Pelican Point on the west side of Utah Lake.<br /> When Sarah wasn’t cooking, she cored wool, spun the yarn, and wove the thread into cloth to make clothes for her family. She was alone with her two girls a lot of the time and it was ten miles from the nearest neighbor. <br /> On one occasion, ten to fifteen Indians came along the road. There were no Squaws or Papooses with them and Sarah was very frightened. She put on a brave front and got out a large flint lock gun and put it on the loom where she was weaving. The Indians came and saw the gun and started laughing and slapping their legs and talked in their own language. Presently, her daughters came down off the hill where they had been tending sheep. As they came near the house their dogs and the Indian’s dogs began to fight. Sarah got up from her loom got a bucket of water and threw it at on the dogs causing the Indians to really laugh. To the great relief of the family they soon left. Sarah and her family went up into the hills that night and took the bedding from the dugout so if the Indians came back they wouldn’t find them.<br /> From the ranch at Pelican Point, they moved to Goshen and from there to Santaquin. Their first home in Santaquin was in the southeast end of town. It was a one room log house. Two of her children, Chester and Sarah Jane, were married there. She continued to cord, spin, and weave. A few years later Phoebe was married. They moved to Diamond in the Tintic District.<br /> Sarah lived with her daughter Phoebe in Santaquin for the last two years of her life. She passed away on April 2, 1900 at the age of 88. She is buried in the Santaquin Cemetery. Her husband Henry died November 27, 1872 in Salt Lake City, Utah where he is buried.<br /><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-46458554114874690342021-01-04T10:42:00.001-08:002021-01-04T10:42:18.863-08:00DAVID CROCKETT<p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuK0TXFrNaaRdiarjy18E9ah0yI8_jHS7v3CNSoBQ5HBsELLwQMOsMGGCJZHq66lfTCNC9CYDj5G9Pno7gXeN-vKkReho2bCrVsb-qIFK-xmmgqhnjnG86EAYYxk9LU6CZBnoJOzJHlc/s341/David+Crocket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="266" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuK0TXFrNaaRdiarjy18E9ah0yI8_jHS7v3CNSoBQ5HBsELLwQMOsMGGCJZHq66lfTCNC9CYDj5G9Pno7gXeN-vKkReho2bCrVsb-qIFK-xmmgqhnjnG86EAYYxk9LU6CZBnoJOzJHlc/s320/David+Crocket.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p> <b>DAVID CROCKETT</b><br /><br /> David Crockett was born on December 30, 1806 on one of the Fox Islands off the Atlantic coast of Maine. The place is called Vinalhaven and is in Knox County. The islands are covered with pine trees and the main industry is fishing. James was the son of James Crockett and Elizabeth Breckett and the grandson of Isaac Crockett, who was also born on the island in 1746. David married Lydia Young on December 20, 1830 when he was twenty-three years old.<br /> David was among the first people on the Eastern seaboard who accepted the gospel as taught by the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The missionary who taught David and his family was Wilford Woodruff when he was on his first church mission;<br /> Wilford noted in his missionary journal about the receptiveness of the people and they had been able to convert the entire congregation after preaching to them, The Crocketts had been attending a church where the minister was Baptist.<br /> In 1847, the Crockett family had a strong desire to be associated with the main body of saints. , So with a team and a wagon, they started for Nauvoo, Illinois. They arrived there during October of 1841. They had seven children at that time, the oldest, Alvin, was ten years old and the youngest Wilford Woodruff Crockett was only a few months old at the time. The baby was three months old when they reached Nauvoo. They became eye witnesses to and shared in the hardships that were endured prior to the great exodus to the west in 1846.<br /> During the entire winter during their stay in Nauvoo, the whole Crockett except for Alvin, was confined to their beds with the fever that was probably malaria. Twelve-year-old Alvin took care of them as best he could. He chopped wood in the nearby forest and brought t home in a wagon for fuel to keep the family warm during the cold winter months.<br /> When the saints were driven from their home in Nauvoo, the Crockett family settled in Dover, Davis County, Iowa. They made their living by farming on shares until April 1849. They then traveled to the Missouri River where they remained until July 4, 1849. On that day, they left for the Great Salt Lake Valley with the Williard Richards Wagon Train Company.<br /> By this time, they had added three more children and they now had a total of ten children. David William was just fifteen months old. Lydia, who was now thirty-seven years old was pregnant while crossing the plains in the heat of the summer.<br /> David Crockett, arrived in the Salt Lake Valley October 19, 1849, on the 18th birthday of his son, Alvin. In 1851 he was sent by Brigham Young to help colonize the settlement at Peteetneet. <br /> When they arrived, they were told that all of the land had been taken up that could be watered by the creek. Disappointed, they and the David Fairbank family turned eastward and became the first settlers of Pond Town.<br /> Later, the people at Fort Peteetneet reconsidered and the Crocketts returned when more land was opened for settlement. The city was incorporated January 1, 1853, and David Crockett was elected first mayor of Payson. He served the term of 1853-54, and was reelected for two additional terms, 1855-56 and 1857-58. He was later elected alderman and served the term of 1859-60.<br /> David's wife Lydia, was a midwife. The family moved to Logan about 1860, where Alvin Crockett became the first mayor of that city.<br /> The Payson City was incorporated on January 21, 1853 and the first Mayor elected in the new city was David Crockett. Payson had been incorporated, through action of the Territorial Legislature of Utah. The settlement then included Spring Lake Villa to the south and Summit (Santaquin) to the southwest. He was elected immediately after the incorporation of the city. He served the term of 1853-1854. Later, he was re-elected and served two additional terms, 1855-56 and 1857-58. After this he served a term as alderman in 1859-60 and then moved his family to northern Utah. His son, Alvin, became the first mayor of the City of Logan. <br /> The year 1855 was ushered in with all the peace and prospects of a good life that one could expect in a new country with the people surrounded with tribes of Indians, almost shut out from the knowledge of the world, subject to plagues of insects, droughts and so on.<br /> The "Reformation" was faithfully preached into the first part of 1857, and its constantly burn¬ing fire finally began to make havoc in the ranks of the unbelievers. The work was so successful that on March 16th of that year some 228 persons went down to Peteetneet Creek and were re-baptized in the icy waters that flowed from the snow banks in the canyon. Public and private confessions of faults and sins were common and a very happy state of affairs existed. Every man was inspired with a desire to do right, make restitution for injuries to others, and accept peace offerings from his neighbor. Meetings were well attended and speakers spoke as men with authority.<br /> Immense quantities of grain were sown that year and a large harvest was reaped. It is possible the Lord saw the humbleness of the people and rewarded them accordingly.<br /> Now word reached the settlers that James Buchanan, president of the United States, was sending an army to quell an uprising of the Mormons in Utah Territory.<br /> Because of the pressing need for doctors and midwives, a few Payson women went to Salt Lake City to take a course in obstetrics offered by the Relief Society. Romania Hyde was instructor. Those attending were Lucinda Patten, Mrs. John (Sarah) Koonz and Mary Oberhansly<br />The colonists at Peteetneet (Payson) were among the first to use irrigation as a means of watering their crops.<br /> Only three years earlier, Brigham Young's pioneers of 1847 had been some of the first Anglo- Saxons to use irrigation in the North American continent. So it was that when John C. Searle plowed the first irrigation ditch in Payson, he was among the first in the New World to try this method of turning water onto arid lands. Within a few months after their arrival, the first seventeen families believed the water supply too low to support additional settlers. Thus it was that they directed newcomers to the springs three miles east of Peteetneet.<br /> The situation was serious, more settlers were coming into the colony almost every week, and the people began to look about for means of developing additional water.<br /> In 1854 Mayor David Crockett and other city officials caused a dam to be built at the spring where Spring Lake Villa would be established three miles south of Payson. Water could be stored in this man-made lake and used as needed. It was channeled through what has always been known as Spring Creek and used to irrigate lands southwest of Payson..<br /> David married Lucinda Sophronia Ellsowrth Pierce I 1856, who was divorced from her prvious husband. She was one of Payso’s first school teachers. David's wife, Lydia, was a midwife. They family moved to Logan about 1860, where his son, Alvin Crockett, became the first mayor of that city.<br /> David Crockett died on April 12, 1876, and Lydia died March 11, 1888, Lucinda died December 11, 1915. David and both of his wives are buried in the Logan City Cemetery.</p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-35114545271286364172020-12-23T14:28:00.005-08:002020-12-23T14:39:49.854-08:00THOMAS POLSON CLOWARD<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgzZIKwHwqd57l5Jv6AO7XxyE_mZpZLOS2UYukIcUH8wbyCXvInO3LeWVoD6Z9kwqf6pyDt7rpqQN0CcbGg0JazEVmKu921_e9NMa0cuzFvrbecTAqZwwdZ0DuGkTgMRN0oxg-GNEhR0/s341/Thomas+P.+Cloward.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgzZIKwHwqd57l5Jv6AO7XxyE_mZpZLOS2UYukIcUH8wbyCXvInO3LeWVoD6Z9kwqf6pyDt7rpqQN0CcbGg0JazEVmKu921_e9NMa0cuzFvrbecTAqZwwdZ0DuGkTgMRN0oxg-GNEhR0/s320/Thomas+P.+Cloward.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><br /><p><b>THOMAS POLSON CLOWARD </b><br /><b>SHOEMAKER</b><br /><br /> Thomas Polson Cloward was born in Pottstown, Chester County, Pennsylvania on December 10, 1823 and lived with his parents, Jacob and Anne Pluck Cloward, until he was fifteen years of age. He was the fifth child and had nine brothers and sisters, Catherine Ann, Charlotte, Daniel Henry. William, James Mason, Jacob Elijah, Albert Wilson, Hannah Jane. and Eliza Ann. They lived in Pottstown until after his brother Jacob Elijah was born, then they moved to Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware where Albert Wilson, Hannah Jane and Eliza Ann were born. He was then apprenticed to Mr. Poulson, a shoemaker. Thomas remained with him until the spring of 1844, and it was at this time that he added Poulson to his name.<br /> After accepting the Mormon faith, he went to Nauvoo, Illoinois, After his arrival in Winter Quarters with the exiled saints, he became aquainted with a young lady, Mary Page, whom he courted and later married on the 25th of March, 1847.<br /> Two weeks later, oftThe same year there was a company organized, and he was chosen one of a band of 143 to come west to the Rocky Mountains and find a resting place for the saints. They left in the sixth day of April, arriving in Salt Lake Valley July 24, 1847. He left his wife in Winter Quarters and Thomas left to head west with the Brigham Young Company of pioneers. He was one of eight scouts who came to the Salt Lake Valley July 22, 1847, looked over the country and reported their findings to Brigham Young.<br /> After his arrival in the valley with the Pioneer Company, Thomas is credited with making the first pair of shoes in the Salt Lake Valley. The wife of Heber C. Kimball, Ellen Saunders Kimball, was badly in need of shoes after the long journey. Thomas took an old pair of boot tops, sat down on the ground where the old Z.C.M.I, later in what would become the downtown area of the ciity. He made her a pair of shoes, also a pair of moccasins from the scraps for the little one she was expecting,.<br /> In the fall of the same year, Mr. Cloward returned to Winter Quarters to assist other saints in their exodus west. The following spring, he crossed over to the east side of the Missouri river, there built a house and made some small improvements on government land. The winter of 1848 Thomas moved to St. Joseph, Missouri and remained there until the year 1852. He then fitted himself out with a yoke of oxen, a yoke of cows, and a wagon. With his wife and two children, he joined Captain David Wood's Company leaving Kanesville, Iowa in June and again crossed the plains to Utah.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUwfO6n-6JauqVUzcB6n-39w5BUY8jEufzEWgbxZMbLXTMYzotE7wRKwY0k41niBCg6V7mrf79kVAJbBYw_hyphenhyphen9LX3eOfCLZLuxQ_aYaIczkgGhlWhs0fxQjzuKLTiwb9dlNcG6l1jE9w/s505/Cloward+Shoe+Shop.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="505" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUwfO6n-6JauqVUzcB6n-39w5BUY8jEufzEWgbxZMbLXTMYzotE7wRKwY0k41niBCg6V7mrf79kVAJbBYw_hyphenhyphen9LX3eOfCLZLuxQ_aYaIczkgGhlWhs0fxQjzuKLTiwb9dlNcG6l1jE9w/s320/Cloward+Shoe+Shop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Thomas left Salt Lake that same year and settled in Provo, and here he took a plural wife. He met and married Mary Amelia Gardner, daughter of Elias and Amy Pritchard Gardner in the year 1853. He remained in Provo nine years then moved to Payson, Utah where he set up a shoemaking establishment. A pair of high heeled ladies shoes made by this artisan was highly prized; and "there was not a child in the settlement who wore neater footwear, or a young man at the dance who was more proud of his boots, than the boys whose father was Thomas P. Cloward. After the boys were married. he made shoes for their wives. Often the young boys' boots were made of brown leather with bright red trim around the top."<br /> When Mr. Cloward moved to Payson from Provo he erected a cabin on the current highway, east of town. Later, he built a cabin further west and still later built a fine brick home.<br /> He had eight children with his first wife and eleven children with his second wife. After coming to Payson, heI built a cabin out in the fields east of town. He worked as a shoe maker until the Salem Canal was started. He took an active part in building this canal which brought the much needed water to this little valley. I\<br /> He was called to go to Echo Canyon to take part in what was called the Buchanan War of Utah War. The President of the United States, James Buchanan, sent out a large army to invade Utah, as it was reported that Mormons were not loyal to the Government. This happened to be one of the coldest winters, and many hardships were encountered. Food and clothing were scarce. Some had to wear rawhide on their feet and boiled rawhide for food. They had no woolen clothing to wear and standing guard in the wind and snow while their clothing froze to their bodies. In the Spring of 1858, they were called home with the loss of only one man. <br /> Although driven from home by mobs under the guise of law. he never felt disloyal to the flag and Constitution of the United States. In 1852, he came to Provo, and there assisted in building a fort to protect the people from the Indians. He served in the Walker War under General Conover. He also served in the Black Hawk Indian War under General William McClellan, and was always to the front in defending the homes of the people. He was also one of the prime movers in the construction of the Salem Canal, which cost in the neighborhood of $45,000 and made possible one of the richest fields in the wes tern country. He has always been identfied in many ways with building up of this section of the country. <br /> Thomas Poulson Clowardlived a long life. and was a joy to his numerous posterity. He died the 16th of January 1909 in Payson, Utah, and is buried in the Payson City Cemetery in the family plot along with this two wives. <br /><p></p><p> </p><p> </p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-32287379701844210822020-12-23T10:00:00.001-08:002020-12-23T10:00:12.444-08:00WILLIAM CLAYSON<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSR0DihB-YFFmd9o882NrWJLIdi6K96x6HTnyHg9iYvZBGXt79lZOPyWpkQ6NrzqzrJKJa1VbSgoY6B7RKa_DBJra1nhPdHEEQZN6NbuFMlNuTMg_pAeObJTAK4IZ4p0GW-t5PPF6CrXI/s477/Clayson+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="430" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSR0DihB-YFFmd9o882NrWJLIdi6K96x6HTnyHg9iYvZBGXt79lZOPyWpkQ6NrzqzrJKJa1VbSgoY6B7RKa_DBJra1nhPdHEEQZN6NbuFMlNuTMg_pAeObJTAK4IZ4p0GW-t5PPF6CrXI/w160-h188/Clayson+Photo.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b> WILLIAM CLAYSON</b><br /><br /> He was born in the village of Wilby, near Wellingborough, Northampton shire, England, Feb. 9th, 1840. He was the son of Thomas and Fanny Esson Clayson. His father was a farm laborer, and his mother a farm house servant, but like many of the English converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were of the best class of English peasantry.<br /> William was their second child but their first son, and was put to light farm work at a very early age. When he was ten years of age, while working on a threshing machine feed table forking train to the feeding, one of the pitchers accidentally pushed him and his left foot was caught by the cylinders and was so mangled, one half of it had to be amputated, leaving it similar to a club foot. <br /> When he regained his health and strength from his accident, he apprenticed to learn the shoemaking trade. It was about this time he also started to learn to play the flute, and took lessons in Wellingborough from a good teacher and musician named John Hornsby. While working in the shoe shop in Wellingborough, he heard of the Mormons and their religion. <br /> While his parents attended the Established (Episcopal) Church, they were not communicants, and William, up to this time had not given much serious thought to religious matters. He was rather inclined to make fun of the ministers and preachers. <br /> When William and his sister Emma heard of the Latter-day Satins, they became interested. They investigated, and were converted, and William was baptized by Elder Mark Lindsey, on May 26, 1855. His sister was baptized a few months before him. His parents were much opposed to their joining the Mormons, and his mother said to them, “That if they felt they must be baptized, she wished they would be baptized into a decent Church.<br /> But afterward his parents and the rest of their children (four boys: Thomas, Eli, Nathan, and John) joined the church and emigrated to Utah. Soon after William was baptized, he was called to accompany the Elders laboring in Wellingborough and vicinity, one of these Elders was Aleck Sutherland father of George Sutherland, who was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.<br /> In 1859, William was ordained an Elder and was called to preside over the Wilby branch, and it was about this time he became acquainted with Susan Moulton, whose father, John Moulton was president of the Irchester branch in a nearby village. Their acquaintance ripened into love, and they became betrothed. Early in 1861 William was released as president of Wilby Branch, and sailed from Liverpool for Utah on a sailing ship, in April 1861. It took about three weeks sailing to get to New York, then from New York to Florence (Omaha) Neb. They came by rail, then by ox teams across the plains and mountains to Salt Lake City. While on this part of his journey he would play his flute for the emigrants to dance in the evenings while camped for the night. The company he traveled with arrived in Salt Lake City in Sept 1861.<br /> Soon after arriving in Salt Lake City, he started south with some other emigrants for Parowan, intending to there start a home for himself and his promised wife Susan Moulton. When the company got to Payson he was met by an old friend and shipmate, Jesse Tye, who persuaded him to stop in Payson and work in the George W. Hancock Shoe Shop. <br /> In a few months he was made foreman and worked at this trade of shoemaking all the rest of his life, most of the time having his own shop or in connection with a partner. Some of his partners were John Butler, Father Marsh, Henry Terrort, William G. Ostler, Thomas P. Cloward and Andrew Thurstrup who also worked for him many years.<br /> By Sept. 1862 William had saved $500 dollars, but soon after was taken very ill with inflammatory rheumatism, and was quite helpless for some time, and all his savings were used up within the next year. He was taken care of at the Hancock home part of the time, and then William Heaton and his wife took him to their home and nursed him back to health and strength, enough so he could work again, and so he could write to his parents, and sweetheart in England.<br /> In the meantime, Susan Moulton and his brother Thomas and sister Emma had decided to emigrate to Utah. They arrived in Salt Lake City in the fall of 1863. They immediately came to Payson and William Clayson and Susan Moulton were married December 16, 1863 by William Heaton, and in 1866 were remarried in the Endowment House. Three children were born to them, William Jr. May 10th, 1865, Fanny Aug. 1st 1867 and Charles who died in infancy about 1869 or 1870.<br /> During his first years in Payson he played the flute in the ward choir also he played for dances and theaters. He was appointed ward chorister in Dec. 1865 and continued so until his death in 1887. He married Selina Heaton as a plural wife in Sept. 1865. He had four or five piece orchestra that was very popular for dances and theaters until the Payson Opera House was built in 1883, when it was increased to nine pieces.<br /> Under the direction of Bishop John B. Fairbanks and his first counselor Orwell Simons the Payson Brass Band was organized July 1st 1869 with William Clayson as president and leader, but a teacher, a Swiss musician from Manti was engaged as a teacher for three weeks, while William was learning to play the cornet. He was also leader of their organization until his death. In 1805 he had turned the orchestral work over to younger musicians.<br /> During his early years with the orchestra it was sometimes necessary to have special music for some of the plays presented by the home dramatic companies and he would have to arrange this music and sometimes compose some for the orchestra, and also composed one hymn tune for the ward choir and one march for the band. None of his music was ever published.<br /> Soon after Joseph L. Townsend came to Payson in the seventies. They were called to act as Assistant Superintendents. in the Payson Sunday School. Brother Townsend as 1st counselor and William Clayson as 2nd counselor and chorister. It was soon after this and about 1876 0r 1877 that Brother Townsend started writing Sunday School Hymns. Some of these he brought to William Clayson to have them set to music and he composed music for eight or nine of them, six of which are in the Deseret Sunday School Book. The others are in other books now out of print.<br /> But in reality, his greatest work was his teaching music to the young people of Payson and thereby creating a musical culture that was far reaching to the benefit of Payson and also to the church, from the fact many of his students and those that worked with him were able to go with the work both in Payson and in other communities. <br /> William Clayson was ordained a seventy Dec. 28th 1864, and ordained one of the Presidents of the 46th Quorum Sept. 19th 1886. From 1879 until 1882 he was a member of Payson City Council when he was disqualified by the Edmunds Law. He was also water master over the “Clayson Ditch” for many years. <br /> He married his third wife Sarah A. Sheffield of Brigham City in 1876. There were no children born to his two plural wives. His wife Susan died Oct. 15th 1883. His death was July 28th 1887, caused from Brights disease. His wife Selina died Dec. 1915 and Sarah Dec. 3rd 1928. William and all of his wives are buried in the Payson City Cemetery. <br /></p><p> </p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-58905315565222242422020-11-10T16:37:00.000-08:002020-11-10T16:37:02.371-08:00EMMA JANE DIXON DOUGLASS<p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVaK4CwLP2EgYReFCNW6PB7hNxRML8SIEeagfdN_31BKUdd5owSxSVrtYcdOZ8DRC11n5dlcrVuVfvcitRb1IaZstaNm5mlihyphenhyphenG8X_SIz6SNfDOqyOBDCbRf4xlZ-IzSkjUudJq5LY-lk/s255/Emma+Jane+Douglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVaK4CwLP2EgYReFCNW6PB7hNxRML8SIEeagfdN_31BKUdd5owSxSVrtYcdOZ8DRC11n5dlcrVuVfvcitRb1IaZstaNm5mlihyphenhyphenG8X_SIz6SNfDOqyOBDCbRf4xlZ-IzSkjUudJq5LY-lk/s0/Emma+Jane+Douglass.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>EMMA JANE DIXON DOUGLASS</b><br /><br /> In the little farming community of Kirtland, Ohio, a green spot of rolling hills, Emma Jane was born on October 16, 1855, the sixth child of Christopher Flintoff Dixon and Jane Elizabeth Wightman Dixon. Her father had come from New Brunswick to Kirtland, bringing with him his wife from New York. Both belonged to the Latter-day Saints Church, which probably was their reason for coming to Kirtland.<br /> In Kirtland they lived in a long rambling frame house, one bought from Hyrum Smith. All of her brothers and sisters were born there. The house stood across across the street from the Mormon temple. A tall climbing rose hungs to a corner of the house. When she later visited the spot, the owners were surprised when all she asked for was a rose clipping to take to Utah. Other visitors before her were chiefly interested in the house because of its connection with Hyrum Smit. They had asked for souvenirs such as pieces of the wall or steps or fireplace.<br /> It was in that old house that Emma and brothers and sisters played Ring Around the Roses together. The ones old enough to play were Ruth Elizabeth, Charles Hyrum, John Henry, Mary Adelma, Erastus Wightman, and Emma. Her oldest brother Joseph had died in infancy. The two others, Estelle Victoria, and Christopher Flintoff were too small at the time.<br /> She could remember her mother looking on at the children as she did with her lap full of sewing! She had no machine and stitched for her brood whenever she had time. Occasionally a woman was hired to help her.<br /> When Emma was not playing, she used to like to go out under the old chestnut grove with her father to salt the sheep. Besides farming, he used to herd sheep nearby. Once when they were out there, a troop of Union soldiers appeared. They practiced jumping over their fence. Emma remembered they were all happy that her oldest brother Charles was too young for the Civil War. Then too, he was so sick there that they often feared for his life.<br /> Emma remember that her oldest sister Ruth always had lots of beaus in Kirtland. She was glad for the recognition people gave her. But it was Emma’s sister May, who in her very quiet way, seemed closest to Emma. Often Emma wished that she could sit as May did by her sick Grandmother Wightman’s side and sip tea. Maybe it was because she was too lively to be by her in her sickness. May gave her just that quiet ease that she desired. When Grandmother died, Emma stood with the others, watching her coffin being carried across the street to the temple burial ground. <br /> Once when Emma had her little sister Estelle with her, they got lost near the temple. Emma remembered the tears they shed before someone found them and took them home<br /> Their neighbors in Kirtland were considerate ones. One Sabra Whitley used to help Emma’s mother with the children. When her brother returned home after the Civil War, he brought the smallpox with him to Sabra. When she stood at our gate afterwards, Emma’s mother feared to invite her in because of the dreaded disease.<br />Another neighbor Hat Frank lived across the street from us. She was blinded in one eye by a boy who threw a snowball that hit a window, causing a piece of glass to blind her. Whenever Hat used to come over to our house she’d sing the song, “Oh, How I Wish I Were Single Again.” The line in the song about the husband wishing the children dead worried me when she sang it. I couldn’t imagine anyone wishing his children dead.<br /> Ella Green, another neighbor, was the child of a rather odd mother. When Ella left her dress on the floor as she hurried off to school, her mother sent after her and brought her home to pick it up. Emma was so surprised that she thought about the incident for a long time.<br /> About the only thing Emma could remember in connection with their plans to leave Kirtland and cross the plains to Utah was the friendliness of their neighbors. They took them into their homes, shared their meals before our the Dixon Family’s departure. Next, they were on a pretty boat on Lake Erie. The light red carpet on the boat seemed very attractive to Emma. On the boat she remembered the captain asking where the mother of the children was. Emma’s mother was sick in her cabin. When they reached Florence, Nebraska, her father left the family to return to Kirtland to settle his affairs. When he rejoined them with an ox team, they made ready to start their long trek across the plains. Emma remembered the many barrels of crackers they had. The two oxen were Bright and Golden. They drew the wagon. Ruth rode a pony part of the time. The rest of the maily rode in the wagon or walked. From Florence on, they rode in the company of Captain Canfield.<br /> Whenever the company halted, they would all start hunting for buffalo chips to burn. Once when they stopped, some Indians looked in their wagon. They laughed when the children cried for fear of them. From June to October they rode over the plains with just two accidents that Emma could remember. Rastus, her brother, had his foot run over and was left crippled because they had no doctor to aid them. Arthur Wightman, just a little boy, fell into the fire and burned the palm of his hand. He held his hand so tightly closed to ease the pain that it grew together. Even though Emma was just seven at the time, she remembered those two accidents.<br /> Emma never forget reaching Salt Lake City on October 16, 1862, which was her seventh birthday. The peaches were just getting ripe and a Mormon elder brought them some. How good they tasted to to the family! In Emigration Canyon they were met by Orawell Simons, who had preceded them to Utah. From Salt Lake they came right on to Payson, taking four days for the trip. In Payson they were again with those that knew. Her father’s sisters were already established there.<br /> On the public square in Payson, they made their camp. Later they moved down to the “Old Place” as they later called it. Emma remembered the large, clear stream of water that flowed near the house. They had to make adobes for the house and live with relatives until the house was built. It nestled in a green grove of box elder and cottonwood trees, close by Peteetneet Creek.<br /> When Emma was little, they made their our own candles. They hung strings on sticks, dipped the strings in tallow, and then brought them out to cool. By repeating the process they made candles the size they wished.<br /> They were taught thrift. Regularly they gleaned wheat that scratched their hands. They weeded too. Emma could remember going with her Aunt Betsy McKinley, her father’s sister, out to pull the cockle weed from the wheat field. Iemma thought the cockle weed a pretty one.<br /> Emma was always interested in the animals, both on their “Old Place” and on their second place over on the “Bench.” She often helped with the milking and did other farm chores. Her father gave her many calves because of her interest.<br /> At home, they often made candy from the skimmings of molasses. Part of their work was in gathering saleratus from the hills to put in water for cooking purposes. They made their soup too from extra grease drippings. Nearly always they had cheese in the making.<br /> Her father’s estate in Kirtland had brought him a considerable sum, large enough for him to get well-fixed in Payson with his farmland, homes, cattle and sheep. <br /> When Emma was in her early teens, she went in a cart drawn by a horse that the family had bought from a man who had it in a show in Montana, over the old Spanish Fork Road to the house on the Bench. Just as Emma got to the top of the hill, she saw a band of Indians running around on their horses in the pasture. She was so frightened upon seeing them that she turned and hurried back to Payson, forgetting that her mission to the Bench was to bring back her sister May who was there, with some friends. Of course, nothing happened except that those at the Bench had to walk to Payson. May often joked with Emma about the incident, saying that she cared so little for her that she had left her to the Indians while Emma made my own safe getaway.<br /> The Douglass’ always feared the Indians. Even when they came to the door and knocked and said, “Wine,” the family was afraid.<br /> Down at the Old Place Emma’s father planted a large orchard a few years after their arrival. They had apples of all kinds, peaches and plums. Emma thought the plums were delicious. She remembered cutting the peaches in the old granary for drying and laying them on a lath out in the sun to dry.<br /> If ever Brigham Young or any of the church leaders were to be in town, the Douglass’ were dressed in their Sunday best and taken out to see the leaders go by. It was always an event for them.<br /> At the age of thirteen, Emma was quite a big girl and a tomboy. Her chief delight was riding horses and running races. When she started to school, her first teacher was Lucretia Wightman. The schoolhouse was the old Wightman home across the street from the Old Place.<br /> Our Friday’s the spelling matches were always an excitement event. Two students called up sides with John Tom Hardy for teacher. Isaiah Coombs, who taught them in the old Central School, was the teacher of arithmetic. If ever Emma needed help, William Patten, who was good in figures, helped her out. Mr. Coombs also taught reading, writing and grammar. They had a grammar book for any questions in grammar.<br /> Later, I went to T. B. Lewis, who taught in the old tithing office upstairs. It was while she was in his school that she was voted by popular vote the best student, and she received for a prize Eliza r. Snow’s book of poems.<br /> After leaving Mr. Lewis’ school Emma went to Provo, where Warren and Willson Dusenbury taught in the Lewis building. After that, she went to the Deseret University on Main Street in Salt Lake, where Dr. John R. Park was my teacher.<br /> When the Philomathion Society was organized by T. B. Lewis, Emma made her first public appearance, reciting from memory Saint Gadula’s Bells. She always attended Sunday school regularly in the old Union Hall, a hall used for not only religious work but for dances and stage performances as well. In Sunday School they were taught the Bible by memorizing certain chapters.<br /> Emma was past 19 years old when Samuel Douglass and Emma were married in the old Endowment House in Salt Lake on October 26, 1874. They returned to Payson in a buggy the following day. When they reached Payson, her mother had a big dinner for them. They were married a little sooner than they had planned because her father was going on a mission to New Brunswick.<br /> Soon after their marriage, they moved into the new house just built. After her they had oil lamps in thier home. They used them until the night Emma and Samuel’s daughter Nell was married when their electric lights were installed.<br />Samule and Emma had eleven children: Mary Estelle, Armanella, Samuel, Charles, William, Emma, Henrietta, Edith, Stanley, Marguerite, and Kathryn.<br /> Emma Jane passed away on June 4, 1943 and was buried next to her husband in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.<br /></p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-36251885375525270662020-11-10T16:18:00.000-08:002020-11-10T16:18:43.315-08:00WILLIAM CLAYSON<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8vJp2ljkdEQmwmOHlBXN4erXNJ-lTRxalM_GPhuAy-YsDwcdXnCANVYpodgiw4hTkJs-MwLxcBbUNtbNnmz8sQi16YUAJyjpagHq30sfZc0p40u3aCGT3Wbd2HQCRWqfFhTLZh4s0QM/s200/William+Clayson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8vJp2ljkdEQmwmOHlBXN4erXNJ-lTRxalM_GPhuAy-YsDwcdXnCANVYpodgiw4hTkJs-MwLxcBbUNtbNnmz8sQi16YUAJyjpagHq30sfZc0p40u3aCGT3Wbd2HQCRWqfFhTLZh4s0QM/s0/William+Clayson.jpg" /></a></div><br /> WILLIAM CLAYSON<br /><br /> He was born in the village of Wilby, near Wellingborough, Northampton shire, England, Feb. 9th, 1840. He was the son of Thomas and Fanny Esson Clayson. His father was a farm laborer, and his mother a farm house servant, but like many of the English converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were of the best class of English peasantry.<br /> William was their second child but their first son, and was put to light farm work at a very early age. When he was ten years of age, while working on a threshing machine feed table forking train to the feeding, one of the pitchers accidentally pushed him and his left foot was caught by the cylinders and was so mangled, one half of it had to be amputated, leaving it similar to a club foot. <br /> When he regained his health and strength from his accident, he apprenticed to learn the shoemaking trade. It was about this time he also started to learn to play the flute, and took lessons in Wellingborough from a good teacher and musician named John Hornsby. While working in the shoe shop in Wellingborough, he heard of the Mormons and their religion. <br /> While his parents attended the Established (Episcopal) Church, they were not communicants, and William, up to this time had not given much serious thought to religious matters. He was rather inclined to make fun of the ministers and preachers. <br /> When William and his sister Emma heard of the Latter-day Satins, they became interested. They investigated, and were converted, and William was baptized by Elder Mark Lindsey, on May 26, 1855. His sister was baptized a few months before him. His parents were much opposed to their joining the Mormons, and his mother said to them, “That if they felt they must be baptized, she wished they would be baptized into a decent Church.<br /> But afterward his parents and the rest of their children (four boys: Thomas, Eli, Nathan, and John) joined the church and emigrated to Utah. Soon after William was baptized, he was called to accompany the Elders laboring in Wellingborough and vicinity, one of these Elders was Aleck Sutherland father of George Sutherland, who was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.<br /> In 1859, William was ordained an Elder and was called to preside over the Wilby branch, and it was about this time he became acquainted with Susan Moulton, whose father, John Moulton was president of the Irchester branch in a nearby village. Their acquaintance ripened into love, and they became betrothed. Early in 1861 William was released as president of Wilby Branch, and sailed from Liverpool for Utah on a sailing ship, in April 1861. It took about three weeks sailing to get to New York, then from New York to Florence (Omaha) Neb. They came by rail, then by ox teams across the plains and mountains to Salt Lake City. While on this part of his journey he would play his flute for the emigrants to dance in the evenings while camped for the night. The company he traveled with arrived in Salt Lake City in Sept 1861.<br /> Soon after arriving in Salt Lake City, he started south with some other emigrants for Parowan, intending to there start a home for himself and his promised wife Susan Moulton. When the company got to Payson he was met by an old friend and shipmate, Jesse Tye, who persuaded him to stop in Payson and work in the George W. Hancock Shoe Shop. <br /> In a few months he was made foreman and worked at this trade of shoemaking all the rest of his life, most of the time having his own shop or in connection with a partner. Some of his partners were John Butler, Father Marsh, Henry Terrort, William G. Ostler, Thomas P. Cloward and Andrew Thurstrup who also worked for him many years.<br /> By Sept. 1862 William had saved $500 dollars, but soon after was taken very ill with inflammatory rheumatism, and was quite helpless for some time, and all his savings were used up within the next year. He was taken care of at the Hancock home part of the time, and then William Heaton and his wife took him to their home and nursed him back to health and strength, enough so he could work again, and so he could write to his parents, and sweetheart in England.<br /> In the meantime, Susan Moulton and his brother Thomas and sister Emma had decided to emigrate to Utah. They arrived in Salt Lake City in the fall of 1863. They immediately came to Payson and William Clayson and Susan Moulton were married December 16, 1863 by William Heaton, and in 1866 were remarried in the Endowment House. Three children were born to them, William Jr. May 10th, 1865, Fanny Aug. 1st 1867 and Charles who died in infancy about 1869 or 1870.<br /> During his first years in Payson he played the flute in the ward choir also he played for dances and theaters. He was appointed ward chorister in Dec. 1865 and continued so until his death in 1887. He married Selina Heaton as a plural wife in Sept. 1865. He had four or five piece orchestra that was very popular for dances and theaters until the Payson Opera House was built in 1883, when it was increased to nine pieces.<br /> Under the direction of Bishop John B. Fairbanks and his first counselor Orwell Simons the Payson Brass Band was organized July 1st 1869 with William Clayson as president and leader, but a teacher, a Swiss musician from Manti was engaged as a teacher for three weeks, while William was learning to play the cornet. He was also leader of their organization until his death. In 1805 he had turned the orchestral work over to younger musicians.<br /> During his early years with the orchestra it was sometimes necessary to have special music for some of the plays presented by the home dramatic companies and he would have to arrange this music and sometimes compose some for the orchestra, and also composed one hymn tune for the ward choir and one march for the band. None of his music was ever published.<br /> Soon after Joseph L. Townsend came to Payson in the seventies. They were called to act as Assistant Superintendents. in the Payson Sunday School. Brother Townsend as 1st counselor and William Clayson as 2nd counselor and chorister. It was soon after this and about 1876 0r 1877 that Brother Townsend started writing Sunday School Hymns. Some of these he brought to William Clayson to have them set to music and he composed music for eight or nine of them, six of which are in the Deseret Sunday School Book. The others are in other books now out of print.<br /> But in reality, his greatest work was his teaching music to the young people of Payson and thereby creating a musical culture that was far reaching to the benefit of Payson and also to the church, from the fact many of his students and those that worked with him were able to go with the work both in Payson and in other communities. <br /> William Clayson was ordained a seventy Dec. 28th 1864, and ordained one of the Presidents of the 46th Quorum Sept. 19th 1886. From 1879 until 1882 he was a member of Payson City Council when he was disqualified by the Edmunds Law. He was also water master over the “Clayson Ditch” for many years. <br /> He married his third wife Sarah A. Sheffield of Brigham City in 1876. There were no children born to his two plural wives. His wife Susan died Oct. 15th 1883. His death was July 28th 1887, caused from Brights disease. His wife Selina died Dec. 1915 and Sarah Dec. 3rd 1928. William and all of his wives are buried in the Payson City Cemetery.<p></p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-89356111512778568312020-10-18T10:21:00.000-07:002020-10-18T10:21:00.182-07:00GEORGE WASHINGTON HANCOCK--PART 8<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj872Bxe4sgJVT9NrBw1JiTtyHAS50eIdMDGdu2TwidD4Kdkr0wApVLJwkN6gk6ZmXM7W_z2ZqA85LQrg-_ZlEIbQvZlet4rjuvViOmnkcSTCxjzUkBcAhlNU49jCzbGKyO3Pv0bhb9qM8/s195/G+W+Hancock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj872Bxe4sgJVT9NrBw1JiTtyHAS50eIdMDGdu2TwidD4Kdkr0wApVLJwkN6gk6ZmXM7W_z2ZqA85LQrg-_ZlEIbQvZlet4rjuvViOmnkcSTCxjzUkBcAhlNU49jCzbGKyO3Pv0bhb9qM8/s0/G+W+Hancock.jpg" /></a></div><br />GEORGE WASHINGTON HANCOCK–PART 8<br /><br /> During the Johnson Army invasion the saints moved south in 1857. The Hancock home was a place of refuge for many on the unfortunate people. His house was full and his yard was full of tents pitched and on his fields wagons were drawn and in them homes maintained and he and his family were a source of comfort and help to the weary driven travelers.<br /> At this time George was serving as constable of Utah County. In this work he was involved in many Indian troubles as a peacemaker and his life was often in great peril. He did a great deal of trading with the Indians, trading merchandise for furs and buckskins. When the Indian affairs became too troublesome to solve he would invite them to his store and let them have blankets and provisions on credit, of which he never lost a cent as the Indians were very honest with their dealings with him. In this way he could keep them contented for a time. He would also take them to his home and feed them at his table and was always sought as a peacemaker between them and the white men. The Indians gave his great respect and consulted with him in their difficulties and called him their "White God."<br /><br /> Because of the office he held as constable he was away from home a great deal of his time and his life was in constant danger. During these trying days of the Johnson Army trouble, lawlessness prevailed and to some degree the people were prone to take the law into their own hands and execute justice as they saw fit. During the move south impostors took shelter under the cloak of religion and professed sincerity while in reality they lived by unlawful and dishonorable acts.<br /> Oct. 9, 1869 a Zion's camp reunion was held in Social Hall in Salt Lake City and George and his brother Charles joined as representatives of the Saints who were driven out of Missouri. Memories brought back those days of hardships and suffering and they gave thanks for their present blessings and for their deliverance.<br /> About this time George was serving as guard in protecting the people from organized cattle thieves operating in the settlements in the southern part of the state, many in California. The people were losing stock every night and special guards were stationed at different high points overlooking the town. A lot of the stock was kept in a large corral. One night 2 boys planned to steal some horses out of this corral, but one boy became frightened and gave the plot away. So the guards were watching for them and George was one of the detailed men. One of the boys came to the enclosure in the night and George and another guard (Geo. Patten) started after them. The boy fired his gun at them. Mr. Patten & George pursued the boy as far as Salem where they caught him and brought him back to Payson. When they reached there a large mob had gathered and great excitement prevailed. While they were holding this boy, George one arm and Patten the other, someone in the crowd shot the boy in the back. No one at that time seemed to know who it has as there was so much confusion and excitement at that time as the mob had already been to the shack of a woman who had been in ill repute for a long time and who was the mother of this boy outlaw. The mob had been so enraged and incensed that they had torn down the dugout or shack over the head of this woman and had killed her while Patten and George were after the boy. At the time of all this nothing was done to apprehend the guilty party or persons involved, but 32 years later, just before the assembly of the National Legislative Congress which met in December, when National prejudice was at its peak on the anti-poligamy, the case was recalled. As one reporter recorded it the Deseret News of November 22, 1889. "The anti-Mormon bloody shirt must be washed in front of the National Legislative Congress which meets in December and in the absence of no live coals concerning the Mormons, the dead coals are fanned into Life."<br /> A son Asael Hancock living in Payson gives an account of this trouble. He says, "One night a messenger came to our house and called my father to the door and said are you George Hancock, and he answered yes. I have a paper for you to read. Mr. Hancock invited him to come into the house so he could read it better in the light but he preferred to have him accompany him to his hotel. He was then taken from his home under arrest where he was kept all night in a home about 5 blocks away and made to sit up all night in a chair while these men played cards with the woman who owned the place and drank whiskey. This place was an inn which had a bad reputation. In the morning he was taken to a jail at Provo. Mr. Patten and gotten word of this and left that night for Nephi and later went on to Mexico to his ranch. This woman and her son had been in ill repute for a long time, her husband had killed an emigrant at Kanesville, Iowa in the early forties by striking his head with an iron bar. George's brother, Charles, was at this time a bishop and had seen that this family had been furnished with food many times. But the mob had been incensed and aroused while the guardians of the law were busy protecting the people from cattle thieves. This woman also had a daughter who grew to womanhood and always came into George's store after the trouble and always said she considered George innocent of any of the trouble. Quoting from one of the papers "There is a good reason to regard the arrest of Mr. Hancock as a work of malice." He is an aged man and a highly respected citizen and has given many active years of service.<br /><br /> While George was interviewed at the jail he emphatically said, "I am not guilty." He was confined in jail without bail for a period of 4 months waiting trial and the courts refused to hear his case, but fanned it before the public eye in every newspaper as "Mormon criminal". Being brought to justice after 32 years when in reality he was at all times available in the little town of Payson, engaged in public enterprises. The case was taken before the Supreme Court of the Territory of Utah and after one year a new trial was held and Pres. Cleveland reviewed the evidence and the case was dismissed. The testimony of one of the witnesses was questionable and the other witness at the time was serving a sentence of 2 years for an immoral crime. So George was finally vindicated. George showed his wonderful character and influence for good while he was confined in jail. He had such a peaceful and spiritual influence and commanded such great respect from the prisoners that they kept themselves cleaned and washed up and George said a blessing for them on all the food served to them.<br /> While he was thus confined his son, Asael, was brought home from Tintic where he was working to look after his father's store and to see him in his trouble. About that time he telegraphed to Asael that a man had been to see him and had offered him $4,000 for his store building. Asael was renting the upstairs at that time for $:200 per month and asked his father to hold out for a better price. Asael had been given power of attorney in his father's affairs. After much dickering back and forth Asael finally sold the property for $8,000 cash. This enabled his father to pay off the mortgage on his home and gave him $6,000 to start again in business. He then started a creamery forming a company. But it proved failure as the people would often put water in their milk and with other discouraging features they gave it up. Going back to the year 1847, after the woman and her sons had been killed. George continued his useful and active life in full confidence of his fellowmen and the authorities of the church, and having no guilt upon his conscience pursued his life in the usual manner, helping and serving all who came across his path. His only regret was that his beloved church would come into the limelight through this trouble.<br /> At conference 1871 George was called upon to fulfill a mission to the eastern states and was set apart by Lorenzo Snow. After he had successfully fulfilled this mission and was returning home he brought a carload of hogs as he had heard there was a scarcity of pork at home. He brought them as far as Lehi. The railroad was only built that far so he had men help him drive them on the road from there to Payson. He got a good price for them which was a big help to him financially, later his merchandise business increased so much he was able to build a nice store building where he carried on his business. It was well stocked with dry goods, groceries, hardware, etc. He brought in stoves by the carloads from the east. In later years he built a lovely home, about the year l875. This home is still standing and was purchased by Asael his son. Then the cruel years that followed grieved and aged him far beyond his years and involved him financially and taxed his strength and tried his soul. The injustice of it all in the guide of justice. On the 9 March 1897, a host of his relatives and friends met at his home to celebrate his 71st birthday and this report of it was given in the Desert News. "By request he sang songs composed by Patriarch Levi W. Hancock, his uncle, and also related many, experiences while serving in the Battalion. He told of their march to Sante Fe and California and upon their release, to Fort Hall and Thence south in search of the pioneers and how he found them in Salt Lake Valley in 1847. He told them of his trip back east through the snows of winter with but a few companions, crossing the mountains and plains, exhausted by privation finally reaching the settlements of Missouri, having been sustained nearly all the way by game from his rifle, seeds and corn bartered by Indians and now and then gristly mule meat and raw hide strips cut from the pack saddle and cooked over the camp fire without salt and from the wayside shrubs in place of vegetables and bread. The family were so interested they begged to hear more and stayed on listening until one o'clock in the morning. George Hancock bore his testimony to the truth of Mormonism and the prophetic mission of Joseph Smith whom he had know so well. He said "I have seen 500 of the strength of Israel volunteer into active service. I have seen the saints settled in a new land in the desert of the mountains. I have see the crusade of Johnson's army and its departure to the southern states at the great rebellion of the Civil War. I have witnessed the building and dedication of the Salt Lake Temple. I have known all five of the presidents of the church and have seen the growth of the church from its very beginning. I have gone through so many trials but I still love the Gospel of Jesus Christ." He urged his children and grandchildren to be faithful to the cause for which he went through so many privations and in which his heart still throbbed in full fellowship and sympathy.<br /> George W. Hancock was 5 feet 8 inches tall - weighed 133 pounds, chest measurements 45 inches. Eyes were blue and his hair was jet black. He possessed a cheerful disposition and was agreeable company, well informed and intelligent with a fair education for his day. It is said that he had but 3 months of schooling in his life but this did not keep him from studying. He and his brother, Charles, after a hard day's work, would gather birch bark to make a light by which they could study. He had been a hard worker and passed through so many experiences which made him older than his years. Although he had been wealthy and prosperous at one time he suffered great losses but lives to pay every debt he owed but dies a poor man, leaving only about $500 in cash and his home and the memory of a life well lived and a posterity that is proud to bear his name. His life may be called a grand success.<br /> Of him his daughter, Betsey Jane wrote "My father was a good man and I wish my son to emulate him." What greater tribute could be paid a father then that?<br /> His daughter, Alta, wrote of him from Albuquerque, N.M. January 6, 1925 "Father spent his life and substance in helping the poor and needy. He tried to create employment for all in their own trade, yet with all these cares and business worries he never shirked his religious duties. He was a kind husband and father. He would not eat unless every child was at the table for the blessing and prayer. The best I can say of my father is that he was one who loved his fellowmen."<br /> Although he had been ailing for the past few weeks, he passed away on January 15, 1901.<br />He was buried in the Payson City Cemetery. <br /><p></p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-61501580645022967792020-10-18T10:06:00.000-07:002020-10-18T10:06:03.343-07:00GEORGE WASHINGTON HANCOCK--PART 7<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbvFHx-A9C7cFvujRFEYSkY9SrAwDjUCwhvjZ0uHOfvIkk0tb09MJoEA8Whm7ik74gZ7XXboBTQb22TJNc23I4d7ds2-_anTz6bzes2O617UQ2vv08XBMPkYCaOMwj2JfUcPMRkRfblQ/s195/G+W+Hancock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbvFHx-A9C7cFvujRFEYSkY9SrAwDjUCwhvjZ0uHOfvIkk0tb09MJoEA8Whm7ik74gZ7XXboBTQb22TJNc23I4d7ds2-_anTz6bzes2O617UQ2vv08XBMPkYCaOMwj2JfUcPMRkRfblQ/s0/G+W+Hancock.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b> George W. Hancock–Payson Pioneer<br />Life in Early Payson--Part 7</b><br /><br /> On the 6th of April 1855 at the annual conference of the church held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, 53 elders were appointed to go on missions for the Church. George W. Hancock was one of those called. He was called on a special mission to assist in surveying a route from Utah to California. Like former calls made upon him by his church, he responded cheerfully. During his absence his beloved wife, Amy, was left with the responsibility of his 2 motherless children and the care of her own 2 babies. Before his return, death called their baby son, George Jr. from them and Amy was left alone in her sorrow. In March 1856, President Brigham Young called George to go down to Payson, Utah to make work for the emigrants who were settling in this place and to employ them and to handle their wares. This call was filled and George moved his family and established himself in Payson where he spent the rest of his life.<br /> On the 20th of April, he became a member of the 2Oth Quorum of Seventies and in May 1857, when the 46th Quorum of Seventies was organized at Payson and Santaquin, he became one of its presidents with James B. Bracken, John Thomas Hardy, Benjamin P. Stewart, Wm. B. Maxwell. Payson, at the time George moved there, was a small town with a mud wall surrounding part of it built as a fort for the protection for the people against the Indians. The growth of Payson in the early days was largely due to the thrift and industry of George W. Hancock in establishing enterprises and employing the emigrants and help them to get started in life.<br /> During the Battalion days, he had acquired a good understanding of the Spanish language, and also the language of the Indian and this helped him with his future dealings with the Indians. When he moved his family to Payson, he built them a house and opened up a store in half of it. The house was the largest house in the settlement, therefore all the church authorities and Indian chiefs who visited Payson were guests at his home. He was the first and only merchant in Payson at that time.<br /> He soon became overstocked with hides and in order to avoid serious loss he built a tannery and set emigrants to work who understood tanning. It was not long before he became overstocked with leather so he hired a skilled Englishman to open a shoe shop and make shoes. He then built a harness factory and hired a harness maker to make harnesses and saddles. He also built and operated a glove factory and later a hat factory. His business enterprises grew until at one time he employed 20 shoemakers to make shoes and fine riding boots, about 6 men making saddles and harnesses, 2 men making saddle trees and covering, them with rawhide, several men tanning the hides and making leather. From the buckskin he bought from the Indians he employed several men and women in making fine gloves and hats from the furs. He owned and operated a lumber yard, a grist mill, and later a creamery and a canning factory. He built the first electric light plant in Payson and donated land for the opera house and helped to build it and operate it. At the time of his death he was engaged in a coal and lumber business. All through his life he found employment for the poor and many owed him their first start in life. He was a firm believer in President Brigham Young and obeyed his call and prospered.<br /> While operating these various enterprises it was now always easy to dispose of his products. He, therefore fitted up two freight wagons and teams and drivers and when his supply was greater than the demand he sent them on a selling tour. The market for most of these goods<br /> was in California. He kept a tavern or stopping place for travelers on their way to the gold fields and sold his goods to these prospectors. Sometimes he sent trucks into Idaho and Nevada.<br /> Upon one of these trips to Nevada and when gold was discovered there, he went himself and took his young nephew, Charles Hancock Jr. with him. They had 2 wagons of flour, dressed pork, and other merchandise and went as far as Pioche. There he sold his load for $460. He tucked the money, save for a few dollars for expense money, away and started home. He drove the head team and Charles drove the team behind. As he jogged along the road he saw in the distance men moving behind huge rocks. He knew at once their intentions and stopped his team and got out of his wagon and went behind the rear wagon as if to examine the wheels. As he did so he said to the boy, Charles, that there were robbers ahead. What do you think we had better do? The sleepy boy said, "What?" At this time, not wanting to wait, the robbers dashed from behind the rocks mounted their horses and galloped toward the defenseless victims. George, seeing their approach put his hand into his pocket and let the few dollars he had down the leg of his trousers into the wagon wheel track and shuffled his feet, stamping it into the dust. When the five masked bandits drew up their horses, flourishing their revolvers and demanding their money and valuables. George realizing their lives were in peril, surrendered all he possessed, but the gold dollars hidden in the wagon track and covered with dust. One of the bandits struck him over the head with the butt of his revolver, cutting a ghastly hole in his head from which he suffered all the rest of his life. The robbers then knocked young Charles down and covered him completely with blankets and threatened his life if he opened his eyes or moved for one hour after their departure. They cut the harness lines and tied George's hand and foot to the wheel of the wagon and left him in an unconscious condition under the scorching sun to bleed and die. They also cut the tugs of the harness and turned the horses loose and then mounting their horses rode toward Pioche.<br /> When George recovered consciousness, he could not persuade Charles to untie him or render any assistance, so great was the boy's fear, until he thought the hour was up. George was faint from loss of blood and the intense heat and it was with difficulty they made their 6 miles to Pine Valley to Cyrus Hancock, George's cousin's place. Upon reaching there George fell in a faint. Cyrus came to his rescue and carried him into the house and rounded up his horses and helped him on his way home. One of these pieces of money saved was a gold dollar coined in 1860. George carried this dollar for good luck all the rest of his life until just before he passed away he gave it to his daughter, Betsey. She wore it on her watch chain for many years until prior to her death she gave it to her granddaughter, Virginia Shurtliff, who kept as a sacred relic of her ancestor. <br /><p></p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-22972600041454033792020-10-18T10:02:00.002-07:002020-10-18T10:02:52.286-07:00GEORGE WASHINGTON HANCOCK--PART 6<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8L825QEMudPPv8it4OEkPTDcYDSFWYn7mi4aBVugzTsD3c06dKh8hgLal7O48YdGU_raJnGWvwWBcWr3-J8yYbmInQg62lfp58sZUaQjcxgjcoUayuMayfVyYTifmFvAldvoz2wZQs2M/s195/G+W+Hancock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8L825QEMudPPv8it4OEkPTDcYDSFWYn7mi4aBVugzTsD3c06dKh8hgLal7O48YdGU_raJnGWvwWBcWr3-J8yYbmInQg62lfp58sZUaQjcxgjcoUayuMayfVyYTifmFvAldvoz2wZQs2M/s0/G+W+Hancock.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b> GEORGE W. HANCOCK–PAYSON PIONEER<br /><br />SALT LAKE VALLEY TO IOWA AND RETURN --PART 6</b><br /><br /> George left his brother in Salt Lake Valley and on the 10th of October 1847 after but a brief rest from his long, toilsome journey of nearly 800 miles and with a small group of companions. He pursued his way back over the mountains in falling snows and again across the great desert, depending upon his rifle, the only remnant of the war. Suffering with cold and hunger and a mental torture for the welfare of his father 's family. The impression which tortured George's mind night and day was that his father would not be there to greet him. He finally reached his home, if it could be called a home on the 12 December 1847 with his greatest fears realized. His dearly beloved and honored father had passed away 10 days before and had been buried on the banks of the Missouri River near Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie Co. of Iowa.<br /> Upon his arrival George possessed but one dollar. He paid this for an ax and then went into the woods and cut down trees and build a log house and move his stepmother and family of five small children from the wagon which had been their only home and which had sheltered them from the wintry blasts of 1846 and the burning sun of the summer of 1847..<br /> In the spring of 1848 George met and fell in love with Betsey Jane Fackrell daughter of James and Amy C. Fackrell, Mormon refugees from Bertrand, Michigan, who were now living with the saints at Council Bluffs. After a few brief months of courtship George and Betsey Jane were married on 14 May 1848 in the Bertrand branch camp of the Latter-day saints in Pott. Co. Iowa. At the time of their marriage George was 22 years old and Betsey was 24. George took his bride to the Hancock log cabin home and the next day, 15 of May, Betsey's family started upon their journey across the plains. George spent the next year in hard labor preparing an outfit so he could go west and join the saints in the spring.<br /> On the 24 of March 1849 this little cottage was made glad because of the arrival of a baby boy. They named the baby Charles in honor of the affection George bore for his brother, Charles. When the babe was about 2 months old, the family left their little log cabin home and in company with his father's wife and five children started upon their westward journey. With their earthly possessions loaded into a wagon which was drawn by a team consisting of a cow and a steer, they traveled over plains, rivers, mountains, and deserts and finally arrived in the valley of Great Salt Lake the last of September 1849.<br /> Betsey's father, James Fackrell Sr., owned a great deal of land in Woods Cross so the first of Oct. George and Betsey journeyed on to Woods Cross and there bought land and built them a log cabin. The next spring they planted crops and a garden and reaped a good harvest which provided well for his small family. On the 22 of Feb. 1851 their second child was born, a girl whom they named Betsey Jane after her mother. After this child's birth the mother was very ill and when the babe was but three weeks old the mother died Erysipelas. <br /> Thus at the age of 27 Betsey left two children and her heart broken husband with but a memory of 3 happy years spent together. George tenderly laid away his young wife in Salt Lake City Cemetery in Platt 3 Block 12. Their two motherless babies were cared for by kind friends and neighbors and finally George secured the services of his Uncle Thomas Hancock's widow, Annie Hancock, who had come into the valley with her two fatherless boys, John and Daniel. Thus George's home was maintained and his children cared for until 4 April 1852, when he married his 16 year old cousin, Amy Experience Hancock. Amy was the daughter of Joseph and Experience (Wheeler) Rudd Hancock and was born 12 May 1835 near Liberty, Clay Co. Missouri.<br /> Unto George and Amy 12 children were born of whom only 3 grew to maturity. Alta Marie, who married J. L. Townsend; Solomon and Asael. After his marriage to Amy, George took up his life, sharing the activities of the community and was prominent in all public projects. On March 9, 1852 Brigham Young, the Governor of Utah Territory, appointed him Captain of Co. B. of Regiment Infantry of Davis Military District. In this office he served in honor until he moved to Payson in 1856. (2 years previous to this time in 1854 he was called to go with Orson Hyde to help survey the line between California and Utah.<br /> On the 6 and 7 of Feb. 1855 the first general festival of the Mormon Battalion members was held in the Social Hall in Salt Lake City and upon that occasion all the members of the Battalion who were in the territory who could possibly attend met with the first presidency of the Church in a social gathering. President Heber C. Kimball addressed them and the following is taken from his speech: "This world was not made in a day, neither will our victory be obtained in one day, but it will take many years for it is a great work. I want to see you all honor yourselves and make your priesthood honorable in the sight of High Heaven. I wish to see you honor God and your calling as you did in the campaign when you went to California. I verily believe and know that you did then, generally speaking, and I know that resulted in the salvation of this people and had you not done this we should not have been here. I want to tell you, gentlemen, that we will have times and seasons yet, and you will be brought into closer quarters than you were on those occasions. I feel to warn you of these things. Do not sell your guns, but if you have not good ones, get some and rub up your swords and be ready, but fear not, for the Lord will prepare a ram in the thicket and he will save his people and overthrow the wicked if it takes everyone of these boys who were in Zion's Camp and the Battalion to do it. It was said in a revelation given to the prophet Joseph Smith, that we then offered a sacrifice equal to that of Abraham offering up Isaac (Zion's Camp) and Isaac's blessing shall be upon your brethren. Our prayers are lifted up day and night in your behalf and you will be blessed indeed, every man and every woman.<br /> But every man that lifts his hand against you shall fall, and every nation and every president and king that lifts their hands against you and this people cannot prosper but the curse of the Almighty will rest upon them. These are my views and feelings upon the subject, May God bless you forever, amen."<br /> President J. M. Grant was the next speaker and these are parts taken from his speech. "I have read many narratives of the valor of men and the service they have rendered to their country; but I here see a set of men who have stood in defense of their country, under the most heartrending circumstances that human beings could be placed in; men having families and friends to leave on the open prairie; you not only saved a large tract of land for this country but you saved this people from being pounded upon by the militia of several states, for heartless villains had concocted plans to have all of this people murdered while upon the western frontiers. Yes, brethren, had it not been for this Battalion a terrible massacre would have taken place upon the banks of the Missouri river. Notwithstanding your hardships and the difficulties you passed through rendered service to the people of God that will ever be remembered, and such service as will bring blessings upon your heads in time and eternity. If your friends fell by the wayside and if you lost your families, your wives or your children and you sustain the people of God, you can depend upon a reward for all that you suffered, for you are the sons of God. You have done a good work and I say God bless you. When Isaac went to the alter he was called a lad and was 25 years old (and some of you are not much older now) he went cheerfully because he knew it was right, but he had no more of a task to perform than this Battalion for you had to live upon what you could get, eat hides, blood and all, and you had to eat your mules and walk over the scorching plains and go days and nights without water. I would as soon have carried Isaac's burden as yours. The burden laid upon you was hard to bear and it was harder than there was any need for it to be.-- We love the rights of the constitution guarantees to every citizen. What did the prophet Joseph say? When the constitution shall be tottering we shall be the people to save it from the hand of the foe. . You have been called upon to defend the Church of God and your country. I came here to Say-- thank you for your services in that Battalion."<br /> A dinner was then enjoyed after which President Brigham Young spoke and the following were part of his talk. "I now behold a part of the men who left their wives, children, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, cattle, horses, and wagons upon a prairie in a wild savage country and took up arms and marched forth in defense, you men have constantly had a goodly share of my faith and prayers and sympathies from the time you volunteered. At the departure of the Mormon Battalion I am sure that no set of men or people have ever had more faith exercised for them than this people had. Perhaps also there have been no people on the face of the earth who according to their knowledge possessed more faith than these men when they left their families at Bluffs. The brethren that went into the Battalion went as good hearts and spirits, according ho the extent of their understanding, as ever men went upon missions to the world and they manifested a readiness to do anything required of them, these men now before me were the saviors of his people-- when I think of them the feeling bursts in my heart. God bless them. I bless you now and pray every good thing to bless you. I see your motto, the Mormon Battalion-- a ram in the thicket. Yes, and well caught. They made every sacrifice required-- they offered their lives to save this people from the evil designs by their enemies. They did everything that was required by the government of the United States and I am sorry to say that some few of them lost their lives in the sacrifice. I will tell you one thing, brethren and sisters, which is as true as the Lord Almighty lives, if the Battalion had done as I told them in every particular, there would not a single man have fallen in that service; I know that such would have been the result. Most of them did live and act well; but they had the world, the flesh and the devil to contend with and no wonder some should manifest their weakness in those times. Brethren, you will be blessed if you will live for the blessings which you have been taught to live. The Mormon Battalion will be held in honorable remembrance to the latest generation, and I will prophecy that the children of those who have been in the army in defense of their country will grow up and bless their fathers for what they did at that time, and men and nations will rise up and bless the men who went into the Battalion. As the Lord lives, if you will but live up to your privileges you will never be forgotten. Worlds without end will be had in honorable remembrance forever and ever." Is it any wonder that the posterity of George Washington Hancock proudly says, "He is a member of the Mormon Battalion."<br /> <br /><p></p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-46577754163124600812020-10-18T10:00:00.002-07:002020-10-18T10:00:34.188-07:00GEORGE WAHSHINGTON HANCOCK--PART 5<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMe9dcJ364AZQ7jQmfWB9QhNFFHCR8ooxRPXtwhIY86PH-0okZsDTNOPzXLLfujFpIDBhcfhsDE7Mt1uI-6gzVWa9qgOfcfNLr5ADx_dxfRM_mkk7uRyrQ13M1wYp5yiX2-x9bkBfAIY/s195/G+W+Hancock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMe9dcJ364AZQ7jQmfWB9QhNFFHCR8ooxRPXtwhIY86PH-0okZsDTNOPzXLLfujFpIDBhcfhsDE7Mt1uI-6gzVWa9qgOfcfNLr5ADx_dxfRM_mkk7uRyrQ13M1wYp5yiX2-x9bkBfAIY/s0/G+W+Hancock.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b> George W. Hancock–Payson Pioneer<br />Part 5<br />From California to the Great Salt Lake Valle</b>y<br /><br /> Again the volunteers took up their march and George and Charles with Co. C. under the Command of Lt. Rosecrans went north to Cajon Pass near where San Bernadino now stands to guard the pass from Chief Walker and his band of Utes. <br /> During their stay at Cajon Pass, they not only were alert for the Utes and Spaniards but word came to them from the commanding officer to be on the alert for a surprise attack from the volunteers from Missouri who were still their enemies. Although, they were serving under the American flag in the same cause for the protection of all American subjects. <br /> The Missourians had prejudiced the Spaniards as well as the Indians against the Mormon boys and had incited them to robbery, cruelty and murderous conduct, but to no avail, none of the Battalion boys were harmed by their enemies. On 22 April however, Lt. Pace with 27 noncommissioned officers and men were assigned to go to Cajon Pass and relieve Co. C. and Co. C was ordered to "March with all diligence to the Los Angeles" Military headquarters. <br /> Co. C. left at once and on the 9th of May and Gen. Kearney arrived at Los Angeles from Monterey and on the 10th he addressed the Mormon Battalion. He dwelt at some length upon their arduous journey, their patriotism to the government and their obedience to orders. No Commander ever did or ever could eulogize or give greater amount of praise to any corps of veterans than was given this little band by the commander of the army of the west. He sympathized with them in the unsettled condition of their people, but still thought the boys should re-enlist for another year. In conclusion he said he would take pleasure in representing their patriotism to the President of the U. S. and in the halls of Congress and give the Battalion the justice and praiseworthy conduct merited. <br /> The boys took part in the celebration (first) ever held in Los Angeles on the 4th of July. At sunrise the entire command assembled in the fort which the Battalion had helped build. The Star Spangled Banner was played by the New York volunteers band while the colors were being raised. Nine cheers were given for the stars and stripes and then Hail Columbia was played by the band, after which 13 guns were fired by the first dragoons. The companies then marched back to their quarters. At 11 a.m. the command was again called out under arms and the dragoons and the Battalion paraded inside the fort. The Declaration of Independence was read and then Hail Columbia was again played by the band. Col. Stevenson then gave a speech giving the fortification the name of Fort Moore in honor of Capt. Moore who had died. The band they played Yankee Doodle followed by patriotic song by musician Levi Hancock of the Battalion and then a march was played by the band. The Mexican trouble was about over and their time of service for the Battalion had expired. The officers of the army tried in every way for a re-enlistment but the general inclination of the boys was to follow the advice of Father Pettegrew who showed the necessity of returning to the Prophets of the Lord before going any farther.<br /> On the 16th of July 1847 at 3 o'clock, the five companies of the Battalion were formed according to the letter of the company with A In front and E in the rear, leaving a few feet of space between. The notorious Lt. A. J. Smith then marched down between the lines in one direction and back between the lines, then in a low tone of voice said, "You are discharged." This was all there was to the ceremony of mustering out of service this veteran corps of living martyrs to the cause of their country and religion. Thus the Mormon Battalion-- a ram in the thicket-- was discharged.<br /> On the 17 and 18 the companies drew their pay of $96.00 for the years service and in four days, on the 20th had been organized to travel home in companies of hundreds, fifties, and tens, the modern Israelitish custom. Thus organized they left the shores of the Pacific in Los Angeles on the 24th of July 1847 by coincident on the same day the Mormon Pioneers entered the valley of Great Salt Lake. Thus the prophecy made by Brigham Young was fulfilled. Not a shot had been fired at the Mormon boys-- their greatest battles were fought with wild beasts and hunger and the Battalion had been honorably discharged "about 800 miles from where the saints were then located."<br /> The members had conducted themselves in such a manner that it called forth attention and admiration of the whole United States and is a chapter in the history of this Nation which cannot be ignored by the bitterest enemy and today as if by way of monument the Sante Fe railroad marks the old trail of the line of march of these fearless Mormon volunteers. Their hardships endured from Council Bluffs to San Diego is but one chapter in this arduous march-- equal hardships were endured on their return trip from Cajon Pass to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, nor was this the end of the chapter for George, for the story of his hardships continues to the banks of the Missouri River back again over the trail to Council Bluffs.<br /> From Los Angeles, George and Charles Hancock in company with their fellow comrades journeyed once more up the coast of the Pacific to Cajon Pass and on through this mountainous region north to Sacramento, which at that time was but a fort, and then on to Sutters Fort where gold was discovered. George brought home gold from Sutters Fort and had a ring and bracelet made from it. <br /> After leaving Sutters Fort, on the 24 of August 1847 they received the first word from the saints they had had since leaving their loved ones more than a year before. The messenger brought the news that the saints were settling in the valley of Great Salt Lake and that 500 wagons were then on the way to their new location. One can hardly imagine the mixed feelings of hope and fear, joy and thankfulness of these gaunt worn soldiers at such news. With this news their eager feet pressed on over the hills and deserts of California, climbing lofty peaks, enduring thirst again, sore feet, tired bodies and weary brains hoping and praying for deliverance. From the grass of the cold, lofty Sierra Mountains, they crossed the southern part of Idaho in feverish search of the Oregon Trail on and on to Fort Hall and turned their course south to the valley of the Rockies. <br /> On this homeward trip they encountered grave hardships; their food supply became exhausted and to sustain life they took the pieces of old raw hide from their saddles and scrapped and boiled it into soup. Some of their comrades died on their return and with sorrowing hearts and yet not knowing when the same lot would befall them the worn plodders buried the dead and pressed on eager to forget the past. Their trail crossed the last camp of that ill fated Donner Party, which scene haunted their waking hours as well as their sleep. Such was the horror of the scene that these boys felt that death would loose its dread if they could blot from their minds this tragedy and the existing evidence of their final fate.<br /> Food and water became exhausted. Hope was gone and life was slowly leaving their wasted frames. On this vast stretch of Salt land death walked by their side and mocked their ceaseless hunger and stared into their unseeing eyes. Finally a spark of faith was fanned in the soul of George and he begged his companions to renew their hope and seek God with him on their knees. George, the 21 year old youth knelt with his companions and offered up a prayer for deliverance and asked God to spare them that they might again be united with their loved ones At the close of the prayer he said, "Now open your eyes and look ahead and you will see water. All eyes were eagerly focused, their waning vision and in the distance a little green speck appeared through the blinding whiteness of the desert salt. If they could but reach the spot of vegetation they knew there would be moisture and so they hastened their weary feet but with slow progress and after many hours of weary travel they finally reached the maple bush and beheld a spot of green grass. They threw their exhausted bodies to the ground and with their hands dug into the soft earth at the root of the bush until they came to soft mud. Lying on the ground they pressed their parched tongues to the life giving cool mud and thanked God for moisture. <br /> When somewhat refreshed they arose and surveyed their surroundings. Not far away a little spring of water was trickling into a tiny pond. On the banks of this pond wild birds from the desert had come to drink. As if these birds had been sent, they fearlessly stayed and were easily killed with sticks. They were quickly dressed and cooked over a fire and eaten by these gaunt youths and they were refreshed and strengthened and felt that their prayers had been heard. <br /> The boys remained in this spot for two days and ate and drank and rested and prayed and then resumed their journey. They had little preparation to make with no packing to do when getting as their only possession was a mule. This one lone mule escaped the fate of his fellow beasts of burden for they had either died of thirst or starved or in the name of human sympathy had been killed on the way. This mule was their favorite and a pet of all the company and so was at this time turned loose on the desert with but small chance to long survive on the scant grass and water at this spring. <br /> The boys continued their journey on foot over desert and mountains and after many weary marches with scant food finally reached the Oregon Trail, and traveled south to Fort Hall and on south with increasing hope and courage until at last they reached the valley of Great Salt Lake. <br /> Upon their arrival in the valley they camped in an old shack rudely constructed by some former traveler and on the morning as they awoke to their great surprise stood the old faithful mule with his head at the door of the shack. He had faithfully and patiently followed his friends to their destination to the valley of the Rockies. They thought he would surely die, but he did not as he lived six years from that time and proved to be a useful and faithful servant and was loved by all during his remaining days.<br /> George and Charles finally reached Salt Lake the first part of October 1847, tired worn and emancipated and disappointed to find their parents not yet in the valley. The boys decided that one of them should go back to Missouri and help the family across the plains the following spring and the other one should remain and plant crops and make a home for the Hancock family upon their arrival. <br /> <br />Upon his arrival George possessed but one dollar. He paid this for an ax and then went into the woods and cut down trees and build a log house and move his stepmother and family of five small children from the wagon which had been their only home and which had sheltered them from the wintry blasts of 1846 (1845?) and the burning sun of the summer of 1847 (1846?).<br /><br />In the spring of 1848 George met and fell in love with Betsey Jane Fackrell daughter of James and Amy C. Fackrell, Mormon refugees from Bertrand, Michigan, who were now living with the saints at Council Bluffs. After a few brief months of courtship George and Betsey Jane were married on 14 May 1848 in the Bertrand branch camp of the Latter-day saints in Pott. Co. Iowa. At the time of their marriage George was 22 years old and Betsey was 24. George took his bride to the Hancock log cabin home and the next day, 15 of May, Betsey's family started upon their journey across the plains. George spent the next year in hard labor preparing an outfit so he could go west and join the saints in the spring.<p></p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-27860746211812841542020-10-18T09:55:00.001-07:002020-10-18T09:55:34.171-07:00GEORGE WASHINGTON HANKCOCK--PART 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYpKQpyFKSn0zFUNEWawiVSWOwHCwIOJrySPsKM66rOcT_migGIFAjKUQ1PFs1Py0xFeNjCStvPQKIUO0F-QUdrg39IKqBDZpowEANNPt2WR2zQL-nNEBPCOJdlrgqo0y7c5YIn3HrVI/s195/G+W+Hancock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYpKQpyFKSn0zFUNEWawiVSWOwHCwIOJrySPsKM66rOcT_migGIFAjKUQ1PFs1Py0xFeNjCStvPQKIUO0F-QUdrg39IKqBDZpowEANNPt2WR2zQL-nNEBPCOJdlrgqo0y7c5YIn3HrVI/s0/G+W+Hancock.jpg" /></a></div>George Washington Hancock–Payson Pioneer<br />Part 4<br />Mormon Battalion March<br />Tucson to San Diego<br /><br /> The Gila River was finally reached and on the 21 of Dec. they here made asphalt. On the 22 they marched 10 miles more and arrived at the Pima Indian village. The 23 and 24 were spent in the village of the Maricaopa Indians and Christmas day was spent marching from the Maricaopa Village and camping Christmas night again without water. The next day they marched 23 miles and encamped near the Gila river. At this time, beef secured in the wild bull region has exhausted and the grass was scanty and the animals fared badly. After their brief rest the Battalion continued upon their march down the Rio Gila where, on the 1st of Jan 1847 to lighten the load of the weary half starved mules a barge was made and 2500 pounds of provisions were launched on the river. The improvised boat was shipwrecked in the numerous sandbars and the contents lost at a time when rations had been reduced to a few ounces per day per person.<br /> On the 9 of Jan. the great Colorado river was reached which ferried across one raft. This was a sight to see. Company C's wagon got stuck on the sand bar in the river and the Colonel refused to allow other companies to wait or render aid but left the boys to their plight. The worn out men got in to the water and helped the broken down team extract the wagon from the sand. Nine miles farther on, however, the wagon was abandoned because the team was unable to pull the load another rod. From the banks of the Colorado river they crossed the Colorado desert where wells were dug for water and rations were reduced to a minimum. From the Colorado river the march became the hardest and the most trying of any they had experienced, both for men and beasts. Here were the heaviest sands, the hottest days, and the coolest nights. The men were half naked and suffering for want of both food and water and better clothing. They were nearly barefoot and instead of shoes some used rawhide wrapped around their feet or they stripped the skin from the leg of an ox and sewed up the end with sinews and used this as a shoe. Cast off clothing was used to shield them from the burning sand during the daytime and to keep their feet warm at night. When their feet became so swollen and sore they could go no farther Charles and George found some old dry cattle bones with which they made a covering for their feet by putting their heels in the sockets and strapping them on as shoes. In this condition on the 19 of Jan. they came to a halt for before them were the mountains that seemed impossible to go over. A rugged ridge some 200 feet high loomed before them and their route lay up a dry ravine through the openings in the solid rocks and the passage was at least a foot narrower than their wagons. No tools were saved from their shipwreck but a few axes, a small crowbar and a spade or two. With these implements the passage was hewn out and the wagons unloaded and carried through, being tipped in a way to admit them through the narrow passage. Both men and teams were exhausted and they again camped that night without water. The night was very cold but before the sun rose the morning of the 20 they again received orders to march on. At this time the last of the flour had been given out and their rations were gone and there was yet many miles to travel. Hoofs and bones had been reboiled to sustain life, their rations now reduced to a spoonful to be divided in to 7. Men looked like death, their mouths were black past recognition with a staring glare as if death was close at hand. Their clothing was so tattered it would scarcely cover them, but the men staggered on. They soon came to an exceedingly rough rocky descending road to a little valley and in the valley to San Philip, a deserted Indian village.<br /> Lying enemies had spread false tales of the Mormon Battalion to the villagers. They were represented as savages who would commit unthought of crimes; they thought nothing of slaying and eating the natives. Upon the arrival of the soldier boys they found the village almost deserted; the people had fled to a distance taking with them their cattle and provisions, leaving only a few of the old and infirm residents. Upon the arrival of the boys the remaining residents were surprised at the courteous treatment of the soldiers and in sympathy to them for their present starved condition they have them corn. Many ate to excess and became ill. At night a rustling noise was heard in the bushes; the guard called a halt, but no halt was made but kept coming stealthily along. A shot rang out in the dark.<br /> A heavy thud resounded. It was an old devoted cow coming back in search for her deserted calf. The intruder was killed and dressed and the meat saved the lives of the sick soldiers. At this time orders were received for the Battalion to march to San Diego instead of to Los Angeles. On the 21 they reached Warner's Rancho and here had their first full meal except at Tucson and the wild bull country since the reduction of rations on the Dio Del Norte more than two months before. At this rancho there was a hot spring of a temperature of about 175 degrees F. Here the men washed their faces and hands but the water was too hot for which to bathe. After such refreshment the soldiers took up their march with renewed hope and upon many a lip there was a song of praise for their deliverance in nearing their journey's end. While on the march to San Diego they passed through the San Luis valley and crossed the San Luis river and traveled down the river. On the 27 of Jan they reached the San Luis Rey mission about noon and about one o'clock, one mile below the mission they ascended a bluff where to their extreme joy they got their first look at the Pacific Ocean, which seemed only a few miles away. Joy and cheer filled their souls but not unmixed with sorrow. Their hearts turned to the banks of the Missouri river, to their fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, wives, and sweethearts and their children and friends; all without shelter and under the threat of massacre by the Indians; all under the same powers they were now serving, each not knowing of the others sufferings, deaths, grief's and anguishes or their joys and hopes. During this time word had reached the saints at Council Bluffs that the Battalion had met with ill fate and every man had perished. George's father, Solomon, and his wife, Phoebe, were stricken with grief upon this tragic news and sought the lord in comfort. They received to the satisfaction of their souls through the inspiration of the knowledge that their two boys were safe and would come back alive.<br /> On Jan 29 1847 the Battalion with George and his brother reached the shores of this great western sea and planted there for the first time the American flag. This great march was at last completed, being the longest march on foot ever recorded in the annuals of history. Of it one historian had written, "This march completed, created one of the most picturesque features of American military annuals." Upon reaching the Mission of San Diego on Jan 30 1847 their proud commander, Lt. Col. George Cook issued the following memorable order.<br /> The Lt. Col. commanding; Congratulations to the Battalion on their safe arrival on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, and the conclusion of their march of over 2,000 miles. History may be searched in vain for an equal march of infantry. Half of it had been through wilderness where nothing but savages and wild beasts are found, over deserts where, for want of water, there is no living creature. There with almost hopeless labor we have dug deep wells which the future traveler will enjoy. Without a guide who had traveled before we have ventured into the trackless tableland where water was not found for several marches. With crowbar and pick and ax in hand we worked our way over mountains which seemed to defy ought save the wild goat and hewed a pass through a chasm of living rock more narrow than our wagons.<br /> "Thus marching half naked and half fed and living upon wild animals, we have discovered and made a road of great value to our country. Arrived at the first settlement of California, after a single days rest, you cheerfully turned off from the route to the point of promised repose, to enter upon a campaign and meet as we supposed the approach of an enemy and this too without even salt to season your sole existence of fresh meat.<br /> Thus volunteers, you have exhibited some high essentials qualities of veterans. On Jan 31 1847, the Battalion remained in camp at San Diego and in the evening orders were issued for them to return to the San Luis Rey Mission. Feb. 1 they marched for San Luis Rey where they arrived about noon on the 3rd. Here they remained until the 19th of Feb. drilling, cleaning, and keeping in readiness for call. On the 18th of Feb., Company A, C, D, and E were ordered to Pueblo de Los Angeles 126 miles from San Diego. These companies took up their line of march on the 19th and arrived about noon on the 23rd. Here they found the lowest type of degraded civilization. At this place the Battalion cleaned up the streets and beautified their campground on the shores of the Pacific, were drilled and disciplined every day until the 11th of April when this order was received; "(1) Co. C. Mormon Battalion, will march tomorrow and take post in the canyon pass of the mountains, about forty-five miles eastward of this town. Lt. Rosecrans, its commander, will select a spot as the convenience of water, feed and grass will admit of and, If necessary, effectually to prevent a passage of hostile Indians with or without horses. He will erect a sufficient cover of logs or earth. It will be his duty to guard the pass effectually, and if necessary to send out armed parties, either on foot or mounted to defend the ranches in the vicinity, or to attack wandering parties of wild Indians. (2) The assistant commissary of substance will take means to provision this post until further orders," Lt. Col. Commanding, George Cook.<br /><p><br /></p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-74926626898630567942020-10-18T09:51:00.004-07:002020-10-18T09:51:32.081-07:00GEORGE WASHINGTON HANCOCK--PART 3<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vIWKG3g0luiFfnJUMC9bqV9XwqwNP_WRutnrfj1k_j5vtBRWehoJo-AVPn0GB0x3s3Nf2U6q5duN0H7uDvojlHoyXXB5mqOq_0mbXS7E4qqtMnlrTazwHlB2cd9ee3Zi9JxKuAC6puI/s195/G+W+Hancock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vIWKG3g0luiFfnJUMC9bqV9XwqwNP_WRutnrfj1k_j5vtBRWehoJo-AVPn0GB0x3s3Nf2U6q5duN0H7uDvojlHoyXXB5mqOq_0mbXS7E4qqtMnlrTazwHlB2cd9ee3Zi9JxKuAC6puI/s0/G+W+Hancock.jpg" /></a></div>George Washington Hancock–Payson Pioneer<br />Part 3<br /><br />The following is told in the words of members of the Mormon Battalion:<br /><br /> On 23 July 1846, at Ft. Leavenworth Colonel James Allen departed this life and a great sorrow and consternation fell upon every man of the Battalion for they had learned to love him for his tolerance and sympathy although he was not of their faith. Well might they have been concerned for later Lt. Smith was placed in command, at whose hands many suffered severe treatment. On 12 of Aug. in the heat of summer they started from the fort on their long march over unknown trodden trails to the great Pacific enduring the broiling sun, heavy rains and fierce winds and "save for a few officers detailed from the regular army of the United States, not a man had been a soldier unless in the ride train bands which held annual musters. On 15 Aug. They reached the Kansas or Kaw river and were ferried across the river on flat boats by half civilized Shawnee and Delaware Indians and a day or two later encountered a severe hurricane. Tents were blown away, wagons overturned, and rolled in the weeds, men fell on their faces and clung to the brush to keep from being blown away and were badly bruised and frightened. After reaching the Arkansas river they traveled up the river about one hundred miles and then crossed it at a point where the road branched: one road leading up the river to Bent's Fort and the other to Santa Fe. they took the road to Santa Fe and journeyed on twenty-five miles across a dreary desert and suffered intensely with excessive heat and want of water. Their teams shared in their suffering too. Finally they came to a pond of water but it was full of insects where Buffalo had gathered to defend themselves from the flies. The water was discolored and had a most disgusting appearance, however. No luxury was ever more thankfully received and the men drank of this awful water and filled their canteens and flagons, as bad as it was.<br /> The next day they continued on across the dry parched desert and then made a dry camp but started at 4 o'clock the next morning and traveled on ten miles and encamped where they obtained brackish water by digging holes in the sand. All during these long marches the sick were at the mercy of a fiendish surgeon who ordered the sick marched before him to the tune of "Jim along Joe" and administered to them powders of calomel and arsenic from an old rusty spoon. If the sick declined to swallow his dose, the medicine was forced down them to the accompanying of blood curdling oaths from the wicked murderous doctor.<br /> A hospital wagon was attached to each company but one would have to be unable to walk before given use of this wagon. At roll call the quack doctor, George B. Sanderson of Platte Co. Missouri, an enemy of the saints, then ordered a dose of calomel or arsenic for every complaint, administered out of his old spoon by his first aid, a colored boy. To add to the hardships of the men they were reduced to two-thirds rations and each day either from calomel, poor rations, or filthy water, made thick as gruel by the Buffalo wallowing in it, sickness increased and their condition was pathetic. Thus with poor equipment, short rations and sickness they marched over the hot desert sands of Kansas, and on eleven hundred miles to the mountains of Santa Fe, New Mexico, having been two months on this toilsome journey over a trackless wilderness, suffering with chills and fever and the tyranny of a quack doctor. They arrived the 12 October.<br /> On this march George fell prey to the inhuman practices of Dr. Sanderson and at once became sicker from the effects of the medicine and went and laid down in the back of a wagon. It being too hot to travel during the day the Battalion was on march during the night and when night came on George's devoted brother, Charles, stole up behind the wagon where George was lying and took him in his arms and carried him away out of sight of the train of wagons. He held him in his arms all night, praying for him and for strength for both of them to go on. After some time both of them fell asleep. In the morning when then awoke they were refreshed and well and they praised God for his blessings to them and then hurried on and overtook the wagons, and from then on George had no more sickness.<br /> Upon their arrival at Santa Fe, Col. George Cook took command of the Battalion and of them wrote "Some are too old, some are too feeble and some are too young. They are undisciplined, much worn by traveling on foot and marching from Nauvoo with clothing scant, no money and their mules utterly broke down. Their animals are scarce and inferior and deteriorating every hour for lack of forage. The Battalion broke camp at Santa Fe and traveled six miles to Agua Frio and then down the Rio Grande Del Norte and camped on the 10th of November. On the 11th, they marched about 15 miles and where water and grass was plentiful. On the 13th they turned off to the right and left the Rio Grande Del Norte and traveled in a southwesterly direction. On Sunday, the 15th of November, an old white ox which had been seen at least a dozen summers and which had been driven all the way from Fort Leavenworth, having given out the day before a few miles back, was brought into camp, dressed and issued as rations. He was a mere skeleton and his small amount of remaining flesh was more like sickly jelly than raw meat.<br /> The valley in which they encamped on this day they named "White Ox Valley" and the little rivulet they named White Ox.<br />The condition of their larder by this time may be imagined from the lines of Levi Ward Hancock, descriptive of their plight<br /> On the 16th, they came to a spring in a narrow canyon which they named Cook's Spring" which name it still bears. On the 17 they reached the copper mine road leading from the mine to Yamos. Along this they marched 18 miles over a gradually ascending prairie to Ojo De Vaca or Cow Spring, with courage undaunted they marched on, poorly clad and food diminished, crossed to the Continental Divide and on the 28 they reached the back bone of North America. Here they found plenty of deer, bear, and antelope and small game in the Sugar Loaf mountains. Grass was tall and at places tracts for the wagons were made by marching files of men ahead to tramp down the grass in ruts wherein the wheels might run. In places from the top of the Divide the wagons were lowered with ropes by hand to the bottom of the canyons while the animals were driven below. While crossing this mountainous region the Battalion had gone without water for 48 hours and each day their food grew less. On Dec. 2 they reached the ruins of the rancho San Bernadino and here the first wild cattle were found. They traveled to a stream called Ash Creek and there one of their number Elisha Smith, dies and was buried. The night was made hideous with the howls of large wolves.<br /> From Ash Creek they marched 17 miles northwest and camped without food or water. Patiently they journeyed on to the San Pedro valley then a distance of ten miles to San Pedro Creek and then 6 miles down the stream. In the valley of the San Pedro on the 11th they camped in a canyon. Here they found grass tall and thick. Wild animals bedded in this grass. Unaccustomed to the intrusion for this was the first trail made through this country, the wild bulls resented any infringement upon their privacy. The soldiers who went out in advance of the command passed along the bluffs on each side of the stream and came upon hundreds of wild cattle. As the wagons and mules marched upon them it was a challenge for conflict. The animals gathered on the line of march to gratify their curiosity and marched toward the train of wagons and soldiers as if bent upon finding who dared to intrude upon their quiet retreat. Their terrible forms and majestic appearance was impressive. Every man alone loaded his musket and the battle was on. The roar of guns heard from one end of the line to the other mingled with the roar and bellows of the wild bulls was terrorizing. One of the team mules was gored to death, several tossed into the air and the two pack mules were killed. Wagons were damaged and the sick were frightened. Hideous bellows and roars were resounded, men yelled and screamed and confusion prevailed. Some threw themselves down and allowed the beasts to run over them, others fired and dodged behind mesquite brush to re-load their guns, while the beasts kept coming at them. Others climbed up small trees and others on top of the wagon tops. Amos Cox, a member of the Battalion, was thrown about 10 feet into the air with a gore cut in his thigh from which he suffered all his life. Albert Smith of Co. B. was run over by a wounded bull and had three ribs broken. The bulls were finally subdued and those not killed is not known but probably sixty were either killed or wounded. One writer records 81 were killed and many more wounded. The encampment pressed on to the Tucson fort, arriving on the 14 Dec. tarrying for a brief bloodless battle in taking the ancient Pueblo.<br /> When they arrived at Tucson, Arizona, Charles Hancock had two shirts. He traded one for a quart of corn and then divided it equally with his brother George. They ate but a few kernels of corn a day and thus kept from starving. On the 18 they continued their journey and from this time they went for many days without water. They traveled over a heavy desert where the wagons had to be pulled through the deep sands by the men with ropes. Men became so weak for want of water that they could not go on but were left by the road side. Lt. Rosecrans, who now was Capt. of Co. C. left his men and rode on in advance and into the hills in search of water. Fortunately he found a hole some distance from the road. He filled their canteens, mounted his mule and rode back to the famished men where he found them along the trail in squads of two or three without water, or blankets or a fire and unable to go on. He gave them what water he had which revived them and then led them to the spring. They resumed their march about 3 a.m. and on the 20 came to water and camped. During this time George carried a bullet in his mouth for days to cause the saliva to keep his mouth wet so he would not choke.*<br /><br />*From Biography submitted by Janine Simons<p></p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-28829585359106874922020-10-10T11:01:00.003-07:002020-10-10T11:01:36.085-07:00SARAH BAKER DONE<p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1HZJM8xKnWZo2jBzpjhs20UWQLLBeu-JscdI4pMB2DN6bF3qkuNt6_9ZZ1KXYkXkOprLf7Lls3EVI-GCVEjUbZdhf2AW6fgqZ9NIM0LPZ7dmBcszCI2f3OmIAmriJ9WHCB_Q1qhZKJ4/s1265/Sarah+Barker+Done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1265" data-original-width="888" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1HZJM8xKnWZo2jBzpjhs20UWQLLBeu-JscdI4pMB2DN6bF3qkuNt6_9ZZ1KXYkXkOprLf7Lls3EVI-GCVEjUbZdhf2AW6fgqZ9NIM0LPZ7dmBcszCI2f3OmIAmriJ9WHCB_Q1qhZKJ4/s320/Sarah+Barker+Done.jpg" /></a></b></div><p></p><p><b> SARAH BARKER DONE</b><br /><br /> Sarah was born on January 6,01828 in Thornhill, Lees, England. She was the daughter of John and Nancy Morby Barker. She was the seventh child in a family that would include ten children, nine girls and one boy.<br /> Thornhill was a coal mining town. Sarah and all of her siblings would eventually work in the coal mine since that was the only work they were able to obtain. A law was later passed that forbid girls to work in the mines. Sarah and her sister, Ruth went to Glosip to get work in a factory.<br /> When Sarah was twenty-four years old she married John Done on February 15, 1852 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England. They lived with John’s mother, Ann Hancock Done, after they were married. Both John and Sarah continued working in the factory. <br /> John, Sarah, Ann, and John’s two brothers, James and Gorge, were taught the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The entire family was baptized on December 6, 1852. When John and Sarah’s children began arriving beginning in early 1853. The first two children were born in England. They were Abraham, born March 3, 1853; and Elizabeth Anne, born June 27, 1854.<br /> Soon after the family was baptized, the family was advised to immigrate to the United States and then on to Zion. It was decided that James and Geoge were to go first to America. John, Sarah, his mother, and their two children were to follow as soon as they could.<br /> The rest of the Done family followed two years later after they borrowed money from the Perpetual immigration Company. This load enabled the rest of the family to leave for America.<br /> The family sailed on the ship, Samuel Curling, on April 22, 1855. After arriving in America they traveled to Mormon Grove and joined the Milo Andrus Company on August 5, 1855. The trip across the plains was very hard on the family. John had never driven an ox team before. It took him period of time to tell one from the other and where the oxen belonged when hitched to the wagon.and One of the ox got lost and was never recovered.<br /> The family arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on October 24, 1855. Sarah walked most of the way carrying young Elizabeth Anne in her arms. They first settled in Little Cottonwood that was about ten miles south of Salt Lake City. It was initially very difficult struggle for the family because food was very scarce and hard to get.<br /> The Done’s later moved south Payson in the south end of Utah Valley. The family added six more children to their family: George Henry, born June 29, 1854; May Jane, born July 5, 1859; Hihn, born August 9, 1861; Sarah Ellen, born September 9, 1863 and died at age 1; twins, Wilford and Williard born December 10, 1865. Wilford later died when he was about one year old.<br /> Sarah passed away on November 27. 1886 and John passed away on Juy 14, 1901. They were both buried in the Payson City Cemetery.</p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-91390753810745761402020-10-10T10:57:00.003-07:002020-10-10T10:57:27.373-07:00JOHN JASPER McCLELLAN<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7hPWRxFyIzYex9aEo5_L9uCJHM26kiiFiZZBoECn-3i0dagskOl3VlmXTrK5HUGzR92skCCG9hdgxpKvtPvxnBhM03950gokK0aypCQPTUQyP88anfTnVmX1DLrIHMHR1O-fqlCNmU4/s520/John+J.+McClellan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="390" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7hPWRxFyIzYex9aEo5_L9uCJHM26kiiFiZZBoECn-3i0dagskOl3VlmXTrK5HUGzR92skCCG9hdgxpKvtPvxnBhM03950gokK0aypCQPTUQyP88anfTnVmX1DLrIHMHR1O-fqlCNmU4/s320/John+J.+McClellan.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p> <b>JOHN JASPER Mc CLELLAN JR.</b></p><p><b> </b><br /> John Jasper McClellan, Sr. came to Utah on foot in 1848, arriving with the main body of the pioneers. After staying in Salt Lake a few months, he moved to Utah County, where he became an influential citizen. He married Eliza Barbara Walser. She immigrated to Utah early in life with her mother and stepfather, John Deim (Dean), who became a prominent merchant in Payson. His wife was a native of Switzerland and sang in a choir there. It is said that McClellan the organist got his talent from his mother, who played the reed organ, and her father, who likely taught her.<br /> John Jasper McClellan, Jr. was born in Payson, Utah Territory on April 20, 1874. By the age of eleven, McClellan was serving as a church organist in Payson. His father served as mayor of Payson from 1887 to 1890.<br /> As a young boy, he was fascinated by the little organ that had been brought by team from the railroad in Lehi to the original Payson Tabernacle. The tabernacle was originally built in 1870. It was built near the center of the old fort where an original temporary meeting place of the old fort had been located. It was dedicated by Apostle Wilford Woodruff on July 20, 1872. It was designed with a hip-angle roof and tall slim windows on each side. A balcony was built into the west end of the building. A slender shoe-box pulpit stood in front of the speaker's stand in the east end of the building. The building was destroyed by fire in 1904.<br /> John J. Jr. was often present when John Done Sr. played the organ and William Clayson Sr. led the singing either for the congregation or the choir. Sometimes, he was allowed to work the lever that helped expand the sound into the gallery. After meetings, John J. Jr. or Johnnie as he was called would often run his fingers over the keys of the small organ. One day he was allowed to place his feet on the pedals and push air into the reeds while his fingers sought a melody. <br /> Johnnie was never known to make a mistake according to Mr. Done who was also one of his first teachers. Sometimes he was allowed to substitute for Mr. Done at the organ in some church meetings. <br /> He was the oldest child in the family. Like other children of his time, he spent most of his youth in going to school; he wore homemade clothes and he seldom traveled far from his home. It was therefore a wonderful occasion when his Grandfather Deim took him to Salt Lake City to Conference when he was but eight years of age; but the greatest thrill came when he heard the organ. He became so excited he "fell back and hit his head." He said, "If only I could touch that organ."<br /> Two years later, he began participating in musical activities of Payson. William Clayson, Jr., son of the well-known "Mormon" hymnist, was personally acquainted with "Johnnie." When he was about ten years of age, he sang alto in the Payson Ward choir under William Clayson, Sr., with John Done, Sr. as ward organist. This lad often told Mr. Clayson, Jr. that he got his inspiration to play while watching Mr. Done.<br /> When he was about ten in about 1885, Mattie Ramsey, a young woman from Illinois, came to Payson. (She was the older sister of Emma Ramsey Morris who became a well-known singer.) She had attended a Catholic school in Vincennes, Indiana, and was a fine musician. For over a year she taught McClellan, taking produce as part payment for his lessons. It was not until he started lessons from Miss Ramsey that McClellan began “playing out,” and Mr. Clayson felt that her influence on this boy was very great. <br /> When once he began the study of music, he figured in most of the musical activities of Payson. He played marches on a small cabinet organ in the Central School, and played piccolo in Payson's Brass Band in 1887 and in Payson's Silver Band in 1889. In March of 1888 his father bought him a new Conn Cornet, which he played in the Payson Band. Later, he learned the clarinet, but soon quit playing it so that he could spend more time practicing the organ and piano.<br /> For financial reasons, he left school before graduating, and his father financed him in business. He and Frank Pickering published Payson's first regular newspaper; he wrote for it, <br />set the type and printed it. This he did for two years, at the same time continuing his music study.<br /> In the winter of 1886-87, Abram Done had a small dance orchestra, consisting of James W. Huish, piccolo; Ralph Archibald, piano; William Clayson, Jr., cornet. McClellan earned his first money as a pianist substituting for Mr. Archibald that winter.<br /> In the following spring he became organist for the ward choir. William Clayson, Sr. was still the director and once said of the accompanist, "Johnnie never hit a wrong note." He was also the first person to play the new organ in the Payson Tabernacle. This organ had been replaced in the previous year by a Hammond Organ..<br /> Mr. Clayson died in the summer of 1887 and one of McClellan’s uncles, Jacob Walser, led the choir until he moved to Mexico; then Hyrum Brimhall took his place. This led to a very close friendship between McClellan and Brimhall. The boy accompanied Brimhall when the latter played violin solos, and also became the pianist for the Brimhall orchestra. It was while a member of this orchestra that Payson musicians began to notice his exceptional talent and thought he should have a chance to study music elsewhere. <br /> Another encouragement, for further study away from home came, the following year. During the last week in January 1891, a dramatic company from Michigan, directed by Mr. and Mrs. Felix Vincent, performed in Payson. They engaged the Brimhall orchestra to play for them every night, and then Mr. Vincent hired McClellan and Brimhall to tour Southern Utah with them for a few weeks. They performed "Cricket on the Hearth." While on the trip, Mrs. Vincent often talked to McClellan about Michigan, and she later told his father that "Johnnie" had extraordinary ability and should study in the east.<br /> As a result of this sentiment and the encouragement of the Payson friends, McClellan went to Michigan in the summer of 1891, McClellan went to Saginaw, Michigan, where he studied under Albert W. Platte. He then went to the Ann Arbor Conservatory, where he studied under Johann Erich Schmaal. He also studied with Alberto Jonas while there. He served as organist of St. Thomas Catholic Church while in Ann Arbor. He also served as pianist of the Ann Arbor Choral Union. <br /> While in Michigan, he thrilled the audiences which filled University Hall. He also did some composing while there. Professor Lamson, head of the vocal department at Ann Arbor, sang some of McClellan's songs at the latter's graduation piano recital. He set to music "Sweet Is the Work" for his mother while he was at Ann Arbor. Among the Latter-Day-Saints, this song is probably his best-known composition. <br /> He was choirmaster and organist of the St. Thomas Catholic Church during the time he was at Ann Arbor. He wrote a Mass for orchestra and choir which was performed for Easter in 1896 and repeated two weeks later to a crowded hall. Many of the musicians were brought from Detroit, and one of the finest sopranos in the state was soloist. The Tabernacle Choir of Salt Lake City still sings "Gloria" from this Mass. <br /> In June 1896, he graduated from the university. He was the first pupil in his field to be graduated by the institution, and the first Utah boy to graduate from such a school. He was offered a position at the school, but chose to return to Utah. <br /> He returned to Utah, where he taught music at L. D. S. College and at Brigham Young Academy (the forerunner of Brigham Young University). It was during this time that he married Mary Douglass who was the daughter of Samuel Douglass, a local merchant. They eventually became the parents of five children. He also served as the pianist for the Salt Lake Opera Company.<br /> In 1899, McClellan went to Berlin, Germany, where he studied with Xavier Scharwenka and Ernest Jedliczka. While in Berlin, McClellan edited and published a new edition of the L. D. S. hymnal in German.<br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02pMHxfxIUTFyieV247MmA1T1G_vJikt-HX8d4KpowbQyx1cCt1u1AB6IzHpe6m_BMB2K4vEuc_7lX1rO9X4Zk3n41Qqb-bIHrxqCfjwiv7ojjEl1G6LlAewzvj-vRrLyTLlTymUvuWk/s2048/J+.J+at+Tabernacle+Organ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1582" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02pMHxfxIUTFyieV247MmA1T1G_vJikt-HX8d4KpowbQyx1cCt1u1AB6IzHpe6m_BMB2K4vEuc_7lX1rO9X4Zk3n41Qqb-bIHrxqCfjwiv7ojjEl1G6LlAewzvj-vRrLyTLlTymUvuWk/s320/J+.J+at+Tabernacle+Organ.jpg" width="320" /></a> One of the main events in the life of John J. McClellan Jr. occurred soon after his return from Europe. On August 29, 1900, he was appointed organist of the Salt Lake Tabernacle, replacing Joseph J. Daynes, who had occupied the position for more than thirty-three years. On his return he was also given the chair of music at the University of Utah. He kept this position for several years and then resigned, as he preferred to spend his time teaching privately.<br /></div><p></p><p> In September 1900, the Salt Lake Opera Company chose him for its new director. On December 31, 1900, he persuaded the authorities of the Church to spend $12,000 to have the organ remodeled by the Kimball Company. This remodeling caused the fame of the organ to spread. <br /> Often when important persons or groups were passing through Salt Lake they desired to hear the organ, and it was only natural that the church authorities should be pleased to have them do so. As a result, McClellan was called on at any time of the day or night, at home or at his studio, to play special recitals for the visitors. This caused difficulties as well as inconvenience, and the organist felt that something had to be done. In 1901, he had the idea of giving regular free recitals, at least in the summer, for the population at home as well as for the tourists. At first these were given bi-weekly. The recitals brought increased recognition to the organist and the Mormon Tabernacle organ.<br /> Among those who studied under McClellan were Alexander Schreiner, later the Tabernacle organist; Sidney B. Sperry and J. Spencer Cornwall.<br /> John Jasper McClellan, Jr. served as the chief organist of the organ in the Salt Lake Tabernacle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1900 to 1925.<br /> The following year, McClellan continued his many musical activities in spite of the great strain of overwork. The effect of this, however, caught up with him in the autumn of 1923 while on a concert tour of the coast. In San Francisco, he was to play on the world's fair organ, but the evening of the concert , he suffered what some called a stroke. <br /> This partially paralyzed his left hand and arm, and it was several months before he recovered from it so as to be able to play again. After this collapse, some Salt Lake people decided to have a statewide testimonial in honor of McClellan to raise money for him. Mrs. McClellan objected strenuously but they told her that he was a public servant and she had nothing to do with it. Plans for the testimonial progressed rapidly and by January 19, they were complete. At least sixteen Utah cities planned to honor him on January 24. <br /> McClellan and his wife spent the ten months of his recovery at the Mission Inn in Riverside, California. In September 1924, he resumed some of his former duties. The strain had been too great, however. On July 28, 1925 (his mother's birthday), he was again stricken while in his studio at the McCune School of Music and Art. He died the second of August and was buried the sixth of August (his father's birthday).<br /> John Jasper McClellan Jr. made the oldest organ recording that we know about today on the organ at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. It was recorded on or about 1 September 1910. The Columbia Graphophone Company had transported equipment to record the famous choir. Two enormous acoustic recording horns, five feet long and two feet wide, were suspended on a rope strung across the Tabernacle. Although the engineer deemed the recordings successful, apparently they were never approved for release. This is considered the first recordings of organ music ever made.<br /> John J. McClellan was an accomplished musician and composer. Some of his pieces have appeared in many publications of the L. D. S. Church. This list shows songs by John J. McClellan Jr. that have appeared in songbooks or other collections published by the L. D. S. Church, as well as songs from unofficial collections of interest to church members (note that this is not necessarily a comprehensive list of all songs by John J. McClellan Jr.).<br /> As a result of this sentiment and the encouragement of the Payson friends, McClellan went to Michigan in the summer of 1891, McClellan went to Saginaw, Michigan, where he studied under Albert W. Platte. He then went to the Ann Arbor Conservatory, where he studied under Johann Erich Schmaal. He also studied with Alberto Jonas while there. He served as organist of St. Thomas Catholic Church while in Ann Arbor. He also served as pianist of the Ann Arbor Choral Union. <br /> While in Michigan, he thrilled the audiences which filled University Hall. He also did some composing while there. Professor Lamson, head of the vocal department at Ann Arbor, sang some of McClellan's songs at the latter's a graduation piano recital. He set to music "Sweet Is the Work for his mother while he was at Ann Arbor. Among the Latter-Day-Saints, this song is probably his best-known composition. <br /> He was choirmaster and organist of the St. Thomas Catholic Church during the time he was at Ann Arbor. He wrote a Mass for orchestra and choir which was performed for Easter in 1896 and repeated two weeks later to a crowded hall. Many of the musicians were brought from Detroit, and one of the finest sopranos in the state was soloist. The Tabernacle Choir of Salt Lake City still sings "Gloria" from this Mass. <br /> In June 1896, he graduated from the university. He was the first pupil in his field to be graduated by the institution, and the first Utah boy to graduate from such a school. He was offered a position at the school, but chose to return to Utah. <br /> He returned to Utah, where he taught music at L. D. S. College and at Brigham Young Academy (the forerunner of Brigham Young University). It was during this time that he married Mary Douglass who was the daughter of Samuel Douglass, a local merchant. They eventually became the parents of five children. He also served as the pianist for the Salt Lake Opera Company.<br /> In 1899, McClellan went to Berlin, Germany, where he studied with Xavier Scharwenka and Ernest Jedliczka. While in Berlin, McClellan edited and published a new edition of the L. D. S. hymnal in German.<br /> One of the main events in the life of John J. McClellan Jr. occurred soon after his return from Europe. On August 29, 1900, he was appointed organist of the Salt Lake Tabernacle, replacing Joseph J. Daynes, who had occupied the position for more than thirty-three years. On his return he was also given the chair of music at the University of Utah. He kept this position for several years and then resigned, as he preferred to spend his time teaching privately.<br /> In September 1900, the Salt Lake Opera Company chose him for its new director. On December 31, 1900, he persuaded the authorities of the Church to spend $12,000 to have the organ remodeled by the Kimball Company. This remodeling caused the fame of the organ to spread. <br /> Often when important persons or groups were passing through Salt Lake they desired to hear the organ, and it was only natural that the church authorities should be pleased to have them do so. As a result, McClellan was called on at any time of the day or night, at home or at his studio, to play special recitals for the visitors. This caused difficulties as well as inconvenience, and the organist felt that something had to be done. In 1901, he had the idea of giving regular free recitals, at least in the summer, for the population at home as well as for the tourists. At first these were given bi-weekly. The recitals brought increased recognition to the organist and the Mormon Tabernacle organ.<br /> Among those who studied under McClellan were Alexander Schreiner, later the Tabernacle organist; Sidney B. Sperry and J. Spencer Cornwall.<br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreBQacDXWfDdWMR0WnMRVEfa33Fwu0dQldGhO1uC762lw8ENJlHPdGX9wmRsOs3VHmspW-t27Tb9yS8V9j8MXNYi1PfuycK7c1KF0yU78_hrLgKaA9LNVLMyA8j-7A4OXrJNR-be4_bY/s2048/J.J.+Later+in+life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1678" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreBQacDXWfDdWMR0WnMRVEfa33Fwu0dQldGhO1uC762lw8ENJlHPdGX9wmRsOs3VHmspW-t27Tb9yS8V9j8MXNYi1PfuycK7c1KF0yU78_hrLgKaA9LNVLMyA8j-7A4OXrJNR-be4_bY/s320/J.J.+Later+in+life.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p> John Jasper McClellan, Jr. served as the chief organist of the organ in the Salt Lake Tabernacle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1900 to 1925.<br /> The following year, McClellan continued his many musical activities in spite of the great strain of overwork. The effect of this, however, caught up with him in the autumn of 1923 while on a concert tour of the coast. In San Francisco, he was to play on the world's fair organ, but the evening of the concert , he suffered what some called a stroke. <br /> This partially paralyzed his left hand and arm, and it was several months before he recovered from it so as to be able to play again. After this collapse, some Salt Lake people decided to have a statewide testimonial in honor of McClellan to raise money for him. Mrs. McClellan objected strenuously but they told her that he was a public servant and she had nothing to do with it. Plans for the testimonial progressed rapidly and by January 19, they were complete. At least sixteen Utah cities planned to honor him on January 24. <br /> McClellan and his wife spent the ten months of his recovery at the Mission Inn in Riverside, California. In September 1924, he resumed some of his former duties. The strain had been too great, however. On July 28, 1925 (his mother's birthday), he was again stricken while in his studio at the McCune School of Music and Art. He died the second of August and was buried the sixth of August (his father's birthday).<br /> John Jasper McClellan Jr. made the oldest organ recording that we know about today on the organ at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. It was recorded on or about 1 September 1910. The Columbia Graphophone Company had transported equipment to record the famous choir. Two enormous acoustic recording horns, five feet long and two feet wide, were suspended on a rope strung across the Tabernacle. Although the engineer deemed the recordings successful, apparently they were never approved for release. This is considered the first recordings of organ music ever made.<br /> John J. McClellan was an accomplished musician and composer. Some of his pieces have appeared in many publications of the L. D. S. Church. This list shows songs by John J. McClellan Jr. that have appeared in songbooks or other collections published by the L. D. S. Church, as well as songs from unofficial collections of interest to church members (note that this is not necessarily a comprehensive list of all songs by John J. McClellan Jr.).<br /> As a result of this sentiment and the encouragement of the Payson friends, McClellan went to Michigan in the summer of 1891, McClellan went to Saginaw, Michigan, where he studied under Albert W. Platte. He then went to the Ann Arbor Conservatory, where he studied under Johann Erich Schmaal. He also studied with Alberto Jonas while there. He served as organist of St. Thomas Catholic Church while in Ann Arbor. He also served as pianist of the Ann Arbor Choral Union. <br /> While in Michigan, he thrilled the audiences which filled University Hall. He also did some composing while there. Professor Lamson, head of the vocal department at Ann Arbor, sang some of McClellan's songs at the latter's graduation piano recital. He set to music "Sweet Is the Work" for his mother while he was at Ann Arbor. Among the Latter-Day-Saints, this song is probably his best-known composition. <br /> He was choirmaster and organist of the St. Thomas Catholic Church during the time he was at Ann Arbor. He wrote a Mass for orchestra and choir which was performed for Easter in 1896 and repeated two weeks later to a crowded hall. Many of the musicians were brought from Detroit, and one of the finest sopranos in the state was soloist. The Tabernacle Choir of Salt Lake City still sings "Gloria" from this Mass. <br /> In June 1896, he graduated from the university. He was the first pupil in his field to be graduated by the institution, and the first Utah boy to graduate from such a school. He was offered a position at the school, but chose to return to Utah. <br /> He returned to Utah, where he taught music at L. D. S. College and at Brigham Young Academy (the forerunner of Brigham Young University). It was during this time that he married Mary Douglass who was the daughter of Samuel Douglass, a local merchant. They eventually became the parents of five children. He also served as the pianist for the Salt Lake Opera Company.<br /> In 1899, McClellan went to Berlin, Germany, where he studied with Xavier Scharwenka and Ernest Jedliczka. While in Berlin, McClellan edited and published a new edition of the L. D. S. hymnal in German.<br /> One of the main events in the life of John J. McClellan Jr. occurred soon after his return from Europe. On August 29, 1900, he was appointed organist of the Salt Lake Tabernacle, replacing Joseph J. Daynes, who had occupied the position for more than thirty-three years. On his return he was also given the chair of music at the University of Utah. He kept this position for several years and then resigned, as he preferred to spend his time teaching privately.<br /> In September 1900, the Salt Lake Opera Company chose him for its new director. On December 31, 1900, he persuaded the authorities of the Church to spend $12,000 to have the organ remodeled by the Kimball Company. This remodeling caused the fame of the organ to spread. <br /> Often when important persons or groups were passing through Salt Lake they desired to hear the organ, and it was only natural that the church authorities should be pleased to have them do so. As a result, McClellan was called on at any time of the day or night, at home or at his studio, to play special recitals for the visitors. This caused difficulties as well as inconvenience, and the organist felt that something had to be done. In 1901, he had the idea of giving regular free recitals, at least in the summer, for the population at home as well as for the tourists. At first these were given bi-weekly. The recitals brought increased recognition to the organist and the Mormon Tabernacle organ.<br /> Among those who studied under McClellan were Alexander Schreiner, later the Tabernacle organist; Sidney B. Sperry and J. Spencer Cornwall.<br /> John Jasper McClellan, Jr. served as the chief organist of the organ in the Salt Lake Tabernacle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1900 to 1925.<br /> The following year, McClellan continued his many musical activities in spite of the great strain of overwork. The effect of this, however, caught up with him in the autumn of 1923 while on a concert tour of the coast. In San Francisco, he was to play on the world's fair organ, but the evening of the concert , he suffered what some called a stroke. <br /> This partially paralyzed his left hand and arm, and it was several months before he recovered from it so as to be able to play again. After this collapse, some Salt Lake people decided to have a statewide testimonial in honor of McClellan to raise money for him. Mrs. McClellan objected strenuously but they told her that he was a public servant and she had nothing to do with it. Plans for the testimonial progressed rapidly and by January 19, they were complete. At least sixteen Utah cities planned to honor him on January 24. <br /> McClellan and his wife spent the ten months of his recovery at the Mission Inn in Riverside, California. In September 1924, he resumed some of his former duties. The strain had been too great, however. On July 28, 1925 (his mother's birthday), he was again stricken while in his studio at the McCune School of Music and Art. He died the second of August and was buried the sixth of August (his father's birthday).<br /> John Jasper McClellan Jr. made the oldest organ recording that we know about today on the organ at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. It was recorded on or about 1 September 1910. The Columbia Graphophone Company had transported equipment to record the famous choir. Two enormous acoustic recording horns, five feet long and two feet wide, were suspended on a rope strung across the Tabernacle. Although the engineer deemed the recordings successful, apparently they were never approved for release. This is considered the first recordings of organ music ever made.<br /> John J. McClellan was an accomplished musician and composer. Some of his pieces have appeared in many publications of the L. D. S. Church. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-83915435877404845922020-09-25T09:39:00.000-07:002020-09-25T09:39:04.131-07:00ABRAHAM DONE<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQI-TxB8l96fk-Ih1F4cI-bBAYW0JbveDZm0Cv2NHDVxxkq-cYtpIjLfVzAXWmiT0JIvKM7EVQiheXWUaRZ1UDoe7SzrdN3vhUH5F_x2n34s1hC2MCAXYTX781_dDdTHh3IMzkooPtXg/s285/Abaham+Done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQI-TxB8l96fk-Ih1F4cI-bBAYW0JbveDZm0Cv2NHDVxxkq-cYtpIjLfVzAXWmiT0JIvKM7EVQiheXWUaRZ1UDoe7SzrdN3vhUH5F_x2n34s1hC2MCAXYTX781_dDdTHh3IMzkooPtXg/s0/Abaham+Done.jpg" /></a><br /></div><p></p><p>ABRAHAM DONE<br /><br /> Abraham Done was born March 3, 1853 in Hartshead, Lancashire, England. He was the oldest son of John and Sarah Barker Done. He had three younger sisters and four younger brothers. His younger sister was also born in England and the remainder of his sibling wee all born after the family arrived in Utah.<br /> When Abraham was born, his parents had already accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They had joined this church December 6, 1852, three months before he was born. When they accepted the Gospel, they were advised to go to "Zion" as soon as possible so they began their plans and preparations. Before the final plans could be carried out, Elizabeth Anne was born 27 June 1854. <br /> With the monies they had been able to save, and the balance borrowed from the Perpetual Emigration Fund of their new found church. The borrowed money was to be paid back as soon as possible after they arrived in Utah, United States of America. They set sail from Liverpool the 22nd of April 1855 on the vessel Samuel Curling. They arrived at New York City the 27th of May 1855. They had been on the ocean for five weeks on their sailing vessel. Abraham also brought his mother, Anne Hancock, with him. <br /> The trip from New York to Utah was made by train, river steamer, and on foot. They traveled with the company of Milo Andrus. From Kansas to Utah they walked as they traveled by ox-teams. Sarah Barker Done walked all of the way from Kansas and most of the time she carried her fourteen-month-old baby. It was a hard trip for all of them. John drove the oxen that pulled the wagon they were assigned to. He had never seen oxen before so could have had no experience handling them. He soon learned. <br /> When they reached the valley of the Great Salt Lake they decided to settle at Little Cottonwood, which was about ten miles south of Salt Lake City. John had been a factory worker in his native England but there were no factories where he could seek employment, so he purchased a small farm. Farming was also a new experience to him but he had to provide for his family and his Mother.<br /> George Henry was born to the family 29th June 1857, while they were living in Little Cottonwood. When Johnston's Army came into the Salt Lake Valley, Sarah took the children and went south to Springville, where she remained until John could build a new house for them. While living in Springville Mary Jane was born 5 July 1859.<br /> Hard times were experienced while they were living in Springville. John could not get all of the land that he needed to farm so that he could build the new house and the family decided to move farther south to Sanpete County, to the town of Moroni. For their first home here they used a dugout in the side of a hill where they later built a room adjoining, which was made of adobe and had dirt floors. <br /> The hardy parents soon became accustomed to the new way of life. The Father became a better farmer and the Mother learned to card wool, spin it and make their clothes from the wool. She was a good cook and a fine homemaker. She made a happy home even though they were poor in the worldly goods. <br /> They slept, cooked and entertained in the one adobe room and it was here that their remaining children were born. John Jr. was born 11 August 1861; Sarah Ellen was born 9 September 1863 (she died of scarlet fever when she was eighteen months old); the twins Wilford and Willard were born 10 December 1865 (Wilford died when he was one year and nine months old). This additional sorrow was just about more than their mother could bear. <br /> Abraham, called Abe, was baptized in Moroni and was a great help to the family. He learned to shoulder many responsibilities. Though life was hard for these hardy pioneers from a foreign land, and they often went without sufficient to eat, the home was rich in good music. John was an accomplished violinist and Sarah had a beautiful voice. Their music brought many happy hours to their home and the entire community.<br /> When Abraham was nine years of age, with his violin, he joined with his Father in playing for programs and for the dances in their village. The grasshoppers were still a problem to the farmers. At times the grasshoppers filled the air like a cloud. They were killed by the bushels. That first winter in Moroni was so cold that fruit and corn would not produce, Wheat, potatoes, and many other vegetables could be raised so at times, even though they had no bread, they had plenty of vegetables and greens. <br /> Their mother sorrowed after losing the two babies and her health was affected. Even the water at Moroni did not agree with her and Abraham and the family became ill. The decision was made to move again and they selected the town of Payson, in Utah County. <br /> Before leaving Moroni they had sold their home, but received very little money in payments so they had only an ox team and this small amount of money. Again it was a hard start. They bought a lot in Payson that had a large, one-room log cabin on it. They were crowded in this one room but their health was better. They also purchased ten acres nearby and they planted it into alfalfa. <br /> By the time Abraham reached the age of sixteen years he was a real help to the family. They made the adobes for the two rooms they added to their home. Everyone in the family worked at whatever they were capable. The girls received $.50 a week for working in homes and the boys worked with their Father in the fields. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWs7EJodR_C53ui9HdJtt9Oc3rribTMh8rAu32ruzDA8mSCiGBoimsSnIeGNXWpilBEGd9ahevL8zk8Zu4oCB2fq2MerOryyEIBNUvcnoEhTzz9Zx7o_hQRkGihW-b8TSofAl2-fek04/s761/Done+Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="761" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWs7EJodR_C53ui9HdJtt9Oc3rribTMh8rAu32ruzDA8mSCiGBoimsSnIeGNXWpilBEGd9ahevL8zk8Zu4oCB2fq2MerOryyEIBNUvcnoEhTzz9Zx7o_hQRkGihW-b8TSofAl2-fek04/s320/Done+Home.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p> John next bought a large tract of land west of Payson where he raised alfalfa seed. He was one of the first in the area to raise this type of seed, and he and his boys were very successful in this venture. <br /> Abraham also became very proficient as a carpenter. The family also bought a sawmill in Payson Canyon where they cut the trees and made lumber which they could successfully sell. The second or third organ brought to Payson was purchased by John Done, for the benefit of his children and their love for music. <br /> Elizabeth Annie (Lizzie) learned to read with help from her Mother. She also learned some "numbers" but her formal schooling did not come until she was fourteen years of age and went in the "Third Reader." She attended school only four winters. <br /> Lizzie, being the oldest child, had to assume as much responsibility as possible. She helped with the housework and also with some of the work outside, such as drying apples or crushing them for cider, which was mostly made into vinegar, to be sold. She also helped when they were extracting the honey from the beehives. She learned to sew by hand before the family “cutting bees at fruit drying time and "corn shelling bees in the winter. There was always much laughter and singing at these parties. When their tasks were finished, there would usually be honey or molasses candy and apples for all. Also, cookies which were made from sour cream and honey.<br /> A friend, Antha Fillmore, lived next door to the Robinson home and was a very close friend to Elizabeth Robinson. One evening, when Antha's boyfriend called on her, Abraham Done, came with him and he introduced him to Elizabeth. The two couples began to double date and soon a double wedding was planned. The date was set much sooner than the parents could complete the preparations, but the "double marriage" took place any way. They were married on June 22, 1875.<br /> The new Mrs. Done stayed with her parents for a week after the wedding while preparations were being made for the new couple to live with Abraham's parents for a while. Abraham continued to work with his Father and brothers on the farm and at the saw mill. The families prospered and were able to accumulate quite a lot of property. <br /> Abraham managed the first Electric Light Plant that served the people of Payson. The family had purchased some stock in the company. <br /> Abraham went on a mission to the Southern, Šri Lanka in 1888 and while there he contracted the Malaria fever. The disease really took its toll and kept reoccurring so he was released from the mission to return home. He was not able to complete one year of the mission and his hair turned prematurely grey during this sickness. <br /> Abe was very active in civic affairs, as well as church. He was city councilman and a member of the Payson school board, also Sunday School Superintendent. The Done School across the street from his home on 300 East and 300 South was named in his honor. He was exceptionally good in spelling and mathematics and played in the Payson orchestra, being a violinist.<br /> Soon after his returning home, the family moved into a new, large, two-story house. This home was considered one of the best in Payson. The lot, about half of a block, contained a lumber yard, corral, barn, shade and fruit trees and a large lawn. The last three children of the family were born in this home. <br /> Plural marriage was the subject of much controversy at this time. Abe and Lizzie were anxious, to live this divine principle, so they decided to sell their property and. go to Mexico where they could live in peace. A number of people were there including Robinson and Done relatives. So all the family, except the oldest son who was on his mission in Germany, moved to Mexico. They boarded the train in Payson for El Paso, Texas and then on to Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico. Enough other people went to make up two passenger cars, including a young widow, Louisa Haag Abegg, with her four children. Abe and Louisa were later married according to the law of plural marriage and had five children: Richard Haag, William F., Marba, Otto and Beth. A mixed train was chartered with the two passenger cars, some freight cars for the furniture and other belongings, and cattle cars for the cattle and horses.<br /> When they reached El Paso, Texas, Lizzie's brother, Bishop John Robinson of the Dublan Ward was there to meet them. He rode back to Colonia Dublan with them, and Abe stayed to see about getting the furniture, cattle and horses across the international border. They stayed with John for a few days, then purchased a three-room adobe house, adding a kitchen and another bedroom. This was about in the middle of town, east of the railroad tracks.<br /> Abe and Lizzie were always fond of company, parties, picnics and family gatherings. He liked to read, but abhorred dirty jokes, or trashy reading. He was patient, long-suffering and managed his children with justice. Lizzie was also patient. She loved to sing at home or in the choir. When correcting her children and grandchildren she would sing a song appropriate to the occasion. <br /> Abe used the talent he gained in violin playing any time when asked for the benefit of family or church. He organized a family orchestra in Dublan, and then organized the town orchestra. He played the violin. His son Joe played the trumpet or cornet. The girls, Edith, May, Eva and Ethel helped with the organ at various times.<br /> He secured farming land, and also worked as a carpenter doing many jobs to sustain his family. They had taken a stand of bees to Mexico with them, which Lizzie took care of, so they always had honey and honeycomb. She liked to tend them and though they stung her, it did not seem to hurt.<br /> His family used their talents enriching their lives and benefiting others. Edith gave private music lessons and taught school. She married Louis Paul Cardon. They had twelve children-Louie, Edith, Mary, Florence, Paul Done, and Ellen (twins), Eva, Ethel, Lucy, Thomas Done, Emanuel Done and Lawrence Done—seven of whom survived to adulthood. Abe's baby, Abram Wilford died of diphtheria, while quite young.<br /> Arthur Done returned from his German mission and came to Colonia Juarez where he taught school in the Juarez Stake Academy, the church high school. He was very efficient on the violin, and taught music. He married Fannie Clayson, and their union was blessed with these children: Fannie Mae, Arthur Joseph, Jesse Clayson, Jedde Edward, Ethlyn Annie and Dorothy.<br /> Abe and Ellen Precinda Moffett (Nellie) were married according to the law of plural marriage at that time in the colonies. Their family consisted of: Reed, Olive, Leo, Bernard, Leela, Ammon, Pearl, Horace, and Owen Emmett Done. He built homes and took good care of his loved ones.<br /> Abe's families lived in Mexico until the Exodus of July 28, 1912. The colonists were asked to leave by the Church Authorities because of the Revolution in Mexico. Each family was allowed a small amount of clothing and bedding, the rest they had to leave. People sadly gathered to await the train. Some were loaded into freight cars, including Abe and Lizzie. She had a can of sugared honey and gave the children hunks of it to keep them quiet while waiting.<br /> The destination was El Paso, Texas. And, at the time of the Exodus, the government seemingly forgot about them as Mormons, and simply thought of them as American citizens in trouble. A large lumberyard was arranged to make it as comfortable as possible, and those who had no friends or relatives in El Paso were allowed to stay there until places could be arranged. All the refugees were encouraged by the Church Authorities to go to a town or place where they had relatives, or someone to help them get located, and find work. Abe moved to Binghampton, near and now part of Tucson, Arizona, where a colony of refugees was locating.<br /> During the winter of 1914-1915, Lizzie went to Salt Lake City, Utah, where she took a course in obstetrics and nursing that the General Board of the Relief Society was giving. She helped deliver hundreds of babies in the years that followed, mostly in the Binghampton area. Most of the time she was doctor, nurse, and part—time housekeeper.<br /> To celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary in 1925, Arwell and Mary B. Done Pierce took her parents on an extended vacation to visit all their children, then on a tour through Yellowstone Park, through Montana, Washington, Canada, down the California coast, and back to El Paso, taking three and a half months.<br /> Abe, Lizzie and Nellie and families moved to Mesa. Louisa stayed in Binghampton.<br /> To celebrate their sixtieth wedding anniversary, in June, 1935 a reunion was held in Mesa, Arizona. Most of the family, many relatives, and also close friends attended this. They spent a good deal of their last years doing temple work in the Arizona and Salt Lake temples.<br /><span> </span>They were living in Salt Lake City when Abraham suffered a stroke and died June 13, 1937. Lizzie then stayed with her children and daughters—in-law, going to those she felt needed her first in the Utah area, then to El Paso, then to Mesa. She suffered a stroke on Mother's Day, May 8, 1938. May took her back to El Paso where she cared for her until she died August 5, 1938.<br /> Funeral services were held in El Paso, Texas then she was buried by the side of her beloved husband in Provo, Utah Cemetery.</p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-16129192813638068152020-09-22T12:52:00.001-07:002020-09-22T12:52:22.581-07:00JANE ELIZABETH WIGHTMAN DIXON<p><b>JANE ELIZABETH WIGHTMAN DIXON</b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYq927iFyVOuGAhff_EMFWKScKzjwFycndnB7nJa52pXMEnpFfW31g1VTFYse40BfMm8X_KwZdQETYamMZV1P_ekyJnJbXzWkV02_PowHke-zdjGQRO63WYsqoKAftab-N9dYTXRy4kiw/s503/Jane+Elizabeth+Wightman+Dixon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYq927iFyVOuGAhff_EMFWKScKzjwFycndnB7nJa52pXMEnpFfW31g1VTFYse40BfMm8X_KwZdQETYamMZV1P_ekyJnJbXzWkV02_PowHke-zdjGQRO63WYsqoKAftab-N9dYTXRy4kiw/s503/Jane+Elizabeth+Wightman+Dixon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYq927iFyVOuGAhff_EMFWKScKzjwFycndnB7nJa52pXMEnpFfW31g1VTFYse40BfMm8X_KwZdQETYamMZV1P_ekyJnJbXzWkV02_PowHke-zdjGQRO63WYsqoKAftab-N9dYTXRy4kiw/s503/Jane+Elizabeth+Wightman+Dixon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYq927iFyVOuGAhff_EMFWKScKzjwFycndnB7nJa52pXMEnpFfW31g1VTFYse40BfMm8X_KwZdQETYamMZV1P_ekyJnJbXzWkV02_PowHke-zdjGQRO63WYsqoKAftab-N9dYTXRy4kiw/s320/Jane+Elizabeth+Wightman+Dixon.jpg" /></a></b></div><p></p><p><b><br /><br /><br /> Jane Elizabeth Wightman was born on June 22, 1818 in German Platte, Herkimer County, New York. She was the daughter of Joseph and Amy Sholes Wightman. Jane Elizabeth Wightman was a descendant of Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island. Her Dutch lineage on the Gysbert op den Dyck side dates back to 1297. And as early as 1642 the Updykes (as they spelled their name) held land grants in New Amsterdam, subject to the sovereignty of the Dutch West India Co. Her ancestors owned free tracts on Long Island and possessed at one time all of Coney Island. As the estates were sold, one part was kept in the family for six generations, finally it being sold in 1816. It is today run as an extensive dairy enterprise called Cedar Crest Farm. The dwelling there was built before the Revolution, but has been remodeled as comfortable residence. <br /> Jane Elizabeth married Christopher Flintoff Dixon on September 1, 1844. He was a landowner from Canada. The Dixons began their married life in Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada. Shortly afterward they accepted the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and then moved to Kirtland, Ohio. Their oldest son, Joseph Wightman Dixon passed away shortly after his birth on October 19, 1845.<br /> <br /></b><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAElQqHpzdjRhDcYA-9Ig0gqKq_dhpa2sYtVguMmMnhcnrLbIIOuCfLNDGw-6EYnq-rCTRCIg1EjHFPzRvh8oqKXfbLjgghACa7V2U1xyO_Ch2WL5tJLN3i_GQOf1D-jamxTryG2uT5eQ/s328/Jane+Elizabeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAElQqHpzdjRhDcYA-9Ig0gqKq_dhpa2sYtVguMmMnhcnrLbIIOuCfLNDGw-6EYnq-rCTRCIg1EjHFPzRvh8oqKXfbLjgghACa7V2U1xyO_Ch2WL5tJLN3i_GQOf1D-jamxTryG2uT5eQ/s320/Jane+Elizabeth.jpg" /></a><b> They purchased the home of Hyrum Smith who had moved on to Missouri. Jane Elizabeth’s husband raised sheep and other types of livestock. She cared for their home and the children as they were added to the family. She corded wool and spun it into yarn, dyed it and then wove a blue and white bedspread in a bird pattern that was popular in the day.</b></b></div><b> The Dixons was one of the last families to leave Kirtland because her mother had fallen and broken her hip. She was bedfast for ten years and was cared for by Jane Elizabeth. After the death of her mother, the family began the long trek across the plains in the spring of 1862 along with their eight children. They were members of the Isaac Canfield Wagon Train. The three older children had ponies to ride while the younger children walked along by the side of the wagon and then rode when they became tired. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on October 16, 1862.<br /> Three days after arriving in the valley, they traveled south to the community of Payson. They purchased forty acres of land that had originally been owned by James Pace. He was one of the original settlers and the town had been named after him. They erected a small, four-room adobe house with an attic.<br /> She had nine children with Charles Flintoff Dixon. Their children were the following: Joseph Wightman Dixon (born October 19, 1845), Ruth Elizabeth Dixon (born November 25, 1846), Charles Hyrum Dixon (born September 23, 1848), John Henry Dixon (born July 15, 1850), Mary Adelma Dixon (born April 25, 1852), Erastus Wightman Dixon (born July 5, 1854), Emma Jane Dixon (born October 13, 1855), Estelle Victoria Dixon (born October 16, 1857), and Christopher Flintoff Dixon Jr. (born October 20, 1861). <br /> Mr. Dixon became a prosperous, successful farmer in Payson owning many acres of land, both in Payson and on the bench in Provo.<br /> Jane Elizabeth Wightman Dixon and her son, Charles Hyrum, became ill and died of typhoid fever. Jane Elizabeth passed away on November 15, 1877 and her son passed away on December 7, 1877. Both of them were buried in the Payson City Cemetery,</b> <br /><p></p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-51228039829341211942020-09-01T10:01:00.002-07:002020-09-01T10:01:21.238-07:00HEAMON ALISON HILL<p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7nz0hkUPBHGhCItACysWUxjD4hwUM0o_YPxDZbI9YZI4DbX-BNun6fch8caP_oSNc06QUh7c8jivDtHYtUSq0fLKUoIRgxqsEhEyGZt_Pkz27CjGkzSiVdOxlndbdXEde1hBsxQDCn4/s786/Alison+Hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="558" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7nz0hkUPBHGhCItACysWUxjD4hwUM0o_YPxDZbI9YZI4DbX-BNun6fch8caP_oSNc06QUh7c8jivDtHYtUSq0fLKUoIRgxqsEhEyGZt_Pkz27CjGkzSiVdOxlndbdXEde1hBsxQDCn4/w290-h410/Alison+Hill.jpg" width="290" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> Heamon Alison Hill*</b><br /><br /> Heamon Alison Hill was born at Petersboro, Hillsboro County, New Hampshire, on the 24th of December 1836. He is the son of Leonard Hill and Sally Forbush Hill.<br /> Alison lived with his parents, and their seven his siblings, in Petersboro. In 1841 the family was contacted by the Mormon missionaries and converted to the gospel. They were the only members of their families to join the church, and were ostracized from their family and friends. In 1843 they decided to leave their comfortable home and move to Nauvoo, Illinois to be with the main body of the church. Their extended families regarded them as "lost". One record simply states, "They joined the Mormons and moved west."<br /> After their arrival in Nauvoo, Leonard, being a carpenter and a builder, helped to build many homes in the area at the time. He was building a new home for his family, on the outskirts of town when they were forced to leave it in the great exodus.<br /> The Hill family rejoiced in being with the saints. They were grateful for their association with the Prophet Joseph Smith, and were diligent in accepting and following his leadership and counsel. They were firm and true to their faith. As with the other faithful saints, their grief was heavy when the Prophet and his brother Hyrum were martyred, 27 June 1844. In connection with this event, Alison's sister, Maria, related the following story: " One day I was sitting on the doorstep of our home when the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum stopped at our home and came to our well to get a drink. They were on their way to Carthage, where they were shot and killed. Father said it was the last place they stopped as they left Nauvoo for the last time. They came to the well and got a drink, but they did not come to the house, The cup they used was kept in the family for a long time. Maria said she remembered the incident so distinctly, and held it close to her heart, even in her elderly years.<br /> The ninth child of Leonard and Sally was born in Nauvoo, 30 Sept 1845. They named him Emerald Jasper.<br /> In the spring of 1846, the family was forced to leave Nauvoo, their new home, and most of their belongings that wouldn't fit into their wagons. They headed west. The exodus was executed under the orders of Governor Ford, the Governor of illinois. Alison was about 9 1/2 at this time. After crossing the Mississippi River conditions were so severe, and their persecution so great, many of the saints became ill. They needed to stop and organize themselves to continue their journey.<br /> Leonard Hill became very ill. Being the Priesthood father, he undoubtedly did without that members of his family might have his meager share. He has endured strenuous labors and persecutions, but endurance has its limits. He passed away 10 sep 1846, the exact location is not recorded. The baby, Emerald Jasper, passed away 20 days later. Of these events, Alison's sister Maria reported, "The Lord blessed us, for a man came to us seeing our plight, took us to his farm. He gave us a room in his home, put our cattle to pasture, and burried our Father and baby brother on his private burial ground. We stayed there for a long time because our Mother and older brother Charles were both very sick."<br /> Later that year, the Hill family moved on with a group of Saints. By February 1847 they had reached the Misouri River, reaching it in the winter months so that they could cross it on the ice. Sally Forbush Hill became very ill and passed away. A hand sled was fashioned by her children, and it was said that Alison, then 10 years of age, pulled the sled, carrying the body of their dead mother, that they might bury her on a hill on the opposite shore.<br /><br /> Less than 2 months later their oldest brother, Charles, died and was buried along the wayside. Out of a family of 11, only 5 remained--three girls, and two boys. The oldest, Sarah, was only 16 years old. They had no home, parents, or food and traded everything they had to survive. They were left in a settlement again, and eventually divided between several families. Heamon and his brother George were placed with the Turley family. While with them Alison permanently lost the sight in one eye when whipped, on accident, by one of the Turley boys.<br /> Their sister, Sarah, married a widower named Bingham Bement. He was a kind man who gathered all the children together to live with him and Sarah. They had only a small one-room home, but at least they were together. They were working diligently, trying to prepare to continue their journey to Utah, when an epidemic of small pox broke out. They all contracted the disease. Sarah was expecting her first child. They baby was born, but it was covered with small pox and only lived a short time.<br /> In the spring of 1850 they finally continued their trek across the plains. Alison was traveling with a Mr. Bigford and his wife. He was to help them with all of their tasks, and he would receive his food and keep. He felt lucky to have such an arrangement. Hardship struck again when Mr. Bigford contracted Cholera and died. This made the trip very difficult for Alison as he was left with all of the work--work meant for a man. He walked every bit of the way, with the exception of one half of a day when he fell ill. He was allowed to ride in the wagon.<br /> It has been said of him, that he walked the entire distance, but it would be more like twice the distance as he had to go back and forth so much to keep the Bigford sheep and cattle together and on the trail. <br /> The camp arrived in Salt lake City in October 1850. The only possesions Alison had were the clothes on his body, and surely they were very worn. It had been a long and tiresom trip for a young man still waiting for his 14th birthday.<br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-LaDILflFCbCrOutY95QnJ12Bog7UsN5mDwrq3k8PaUszkDD5CFUP12pfjg-Ik6VwnAZtHlEySodoHHdYGX-pXlA9kykoR8YvHgBmziG3Qqz9eHzVIWaWHKcqr_mGhtFdV3oHxx4Uos/s602/Payson+Settlers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-LaDILflFCbCrOutY95QnJ12Bog7UsN5mDwrq3k8PaUszkDD5CFUP12pfjg-Ik6VwnAZtHlEySodoHHdYGX-pXlA9kykoR8YvHgBmziG3Qqz9eHzVIWaWHKcqr_mGhtFdV3oHxx4Uos/s0/Payson+Settlers.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p> His sister Jerusha had married John Courtland Searle in March of 1850. Soon after they arrived in the city, President Brigham Young sent them, along with 2 other families, to settle the area of the Peteetneet Creek, now known as Payson. There were the Searles, The James Pace family, the Andrew Jackson Stewart family, and two young boys Alison Hill and Nathaniel Haws.<br /> As winter would soon be upon them, they immediately began to harvest the wild hay growing there, made corrals, and erected log cabins. The cabins were built from rough hewn cottonwood logs from the banks of the river. Not having a broad axe, they had to use an ordinary axe, an awesome task. Young Alison worked as hard as any man, and was always willing to do his share and a little more.<br /> A few years later, Alison Hill rented a piece of hay land south of Salt Lake City. He had to cut the hay with a hand scythe, and give the owner 3/4ths of the crop as rent. It was while working here that he met Lurancy Chase from Salt Lake City and began courting her.<br /> Alison asked Lurancy to marry him in the spring of 1860, but she always said she put him off until the 25th of November of that same year. They were married in Salt lake City and their first home together was in two rooms of her fathers home. These were log rooms with no chinking. They had plenty of fresh air, and must have been very cold during the cold months.<br /> After the endowment house was finished they were sealed together for time and all Eternity on 8 Nov 1861<br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVoSjrZ8woySErOpanoi1RU7vn9zyVCy9kgc-yCThMo3d1U6CLw_RcPAjgvuGrHMZ3sTWj2bQNJthTmHJmqZq8N4nNMGDPdBWe_wfSjCaqPJN_IGOFHNHy8NfC6QZ7Z0gItyVlyY40zg/s1595/Homes++Allison+Hill+Cabin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="1380" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVoSjrZ8woySErOpanoi1RU7vn9zyVCy9kgc-yCThMo3d1U6CLw_RcPAjgvuGrHMZ3sTWj2bQNJthTmHJmqZq8N4nNMGDPdBWe_wfSjCaqPJN_IGOFHNHy8NfC6QZ7Z0gItyVlyY40zg/w354-h410/Homes++Allison+Hill+Cabin.jpg" width="354" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> </p><p> In 1862 they moved to Payson where they built their first home, of which Alison was very proud. When they had been married 5 years still no baby had blessed this home. Lurancy said that one day a Mr. Milan Fillmore, having lost his wife in childbirth, came to her home and asked her to care for the child. She was hesitant because she had no experience with tiny babies, and this one was not very strong. When he saw her hesitation he raised his arm and said, "Sister Hill, I promise you, in the name of Jesus Christ, that if you take this child and care for it, the Lord will bless you with children of your own." She took the baby, cared for it and loved it, however, a little later it died. Of this Lurancy said, "I could have felt no worse had it been my very own." About one year later they were blessed with a baby girl of their own. They named her Miriam Lurancy, after her Grandmother Miriam Chase.<br /> When President Brigham Young called for volunteers to go back and help the emigrants who did not have sufficient means to get to Utah, Alison willingly left his wife and 3 week old baby, took his team and wagon and on 25 april 1866 he started back acrossed the plains. He was hoping to make the long trip easier for some than it had been for him. <br /> Alison Hill returned home six months later, Oct 1866. This was a great sacrifice. He had missed the growing season of the year. He was needed so much at home to comfort his wife and tiny daughter. Due to the damp cold weather on the trip, and the exposure, his health was never as good as it had been before. He developed asthma and it effected him the rest of his life. Upon his return he sold his team to buy his wife a cook stove. It was ordinary for him to walk the distance from Payson to Salt Lake City fairly often. <br /> They were blessed with 7 children; four sons, and three daughters.<br /> He died on 24 February 1907 at the age of 70. He wass buried in the Payson City Cemetery.<br /> <br />*The Facts for this story were gathered by Jennie Bird Hill, wife of Leonard A. Hill, son of Heamon Alison Hill. This history was re-written by Marie T. Hill, and condensed by Jana Nielson.<br /> <br /></p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-44017191364904533532020-08-22T11:33:00.003-07:002020-08-22T11:33:25.386-07:00GEORGE WASHINGTON HANCOCK--PART 2<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcRN1Qnts4EYXhXn_eXe50kItN7bn7OtUH4HAWOwoXR60LCwyHoqZjHG0Ak3dI6f8nJ_TywLPJBD0ACELobhggI7qtB0TJNTNcEstB4of1wetwXQ3JzQVlTqhyekCyVVICKRvmpKTaTY/s195/G+W+Hancock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcRN1Qnts4EYXhXn_eXe50kItN7bn7OtUH4HAWOwoXR60LCwyHoqZjHG0Ak3dI6f8nJ_TywLPJBD0ACELobhggI7qtB0TJNTNcEstB4of1wetwXQ3JzQVlTqhyekCyVVICKRvmpKTaTY/s0/G+W+Hancock.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>George Washington Hancock–Payson Pioneer<br />Part 2<br />Mormon Battalion March<br />Mt. Pisgah to Ft. Leavenworth </b><br /><br /> The following is told in the words of members of the Mormon Battalion:<br />. <br /> Their longing eyes turned westward peering into the future as their hopes seemed about to be realized. At this time, in view of the many losses of the saints and their present reduced circumstances a representative of the Church was sent to Washington D.C. to apply to the government for some compensation to assist the saints in their contemplated exodus. There the Mormons were represented as "true hearted Americans" and the petitioner stood ready to pledge himself as their representative to answer any call the government might make upon them in their country's defense. Half were refused, but as the United States at that time was engaged in war with Mexico the representative was taken at his word and Captain Allen was sent at once to Mount Pisgah where on the 26 of June he made known his mission, and a call of 500 Mormon men to give active service were enlisted.<br /> After a conference with the Church council, Captain Allen went to Council Bluffs where on the 1st of July it was determined by Brigham Young that the requested Battalion should be raised and this was the answer: "We will take our young men first and if there is not enough we will send our old men, and if necessary we will send women. We will furnish our quota if it takes every one of the twelve apostles to do so.<br /> Just as a new sun seemed to be dawning upon the horizon of their hopes the call from the government came to these destitute saints to furnish a battalion of 500 volunteers to serve one year in the United States army to engage in the Mexican war, and at that time the Mountain Mission was abandoned. It has been recorded that "like all other grave situations confronting the saints this one was met with calmness and determination, promptness and order." Their leader, Brigham Young, advised men to volunteer that by doing so the United States president and all the world might know of their love, sincerity and loyalty to their country.<br /> The people were in dire circumstances, refugees from mob violence no homes but covered wagons, no clothes, and a scant supply of food. A year before it would have been easier to have enlisted 2000 men in 24 hours than now to enlist one hundred men in a week, said their prophet, "but we will raise our number now." The number was raised only because of the council and efforts of the leaders of the church and the confidence in which they were held for the people of that time and no reason to believe or trust in the officers of the Nation. This is verified in the words of Captain James Brown after the war, "I do not suppose there is an individual in the Battalion who had he been left to his own thoughts and feelings, independent of council, would have enlisted. I would have felt very reluctant under the circumstances had it not been for the council of my brethren whom God authorized to dictate the affairs of his Kingdom." An American flag rescued from the wrathful mob of former days and secretly tucked away with their most precious relics was hurriedly produced. It was masted to a pole and under its stars and stripes, on the 13th of July 1846 enlisted commenced. George and his brother were among the first to sign their names to serve their country as volunteers to this call. On the 16th of July the enlistment was completed. Five hundred men and boys had enlisted to fight the battles and defend the rights of those at whose hands they had suffered hunger, mobbings, burnings, and driving, being deprived of homes and property.<br /> Captain Allen took the Battalion under command. Teamsters had been withdrawn for this campaign and much heavy work fell upon the women and children and the aged and infirm. George, now a youth of twenty, and his older brother, Charles, twenty-three, with no preparation left their father in his 53rd year with a family of seven and his aged mother, living in a covered wagon. On 18 July under the cottonwoods, President Young called the Battalion together and blessed them and exhorted them to live up to the ideals of their religion and in no way compromise with things of the world. He exhorted them to be loyal to their country and to their God, that through their loyalty they would be able to alley prejudices of the people. He told them that this call would prove to be a temporal salvation of Israel. "Through your services to our country," he said, "Indian lands for residences will be granted to the Mormon families left on the banks of the Missouri river, a stretch of fifty or sixty miles in length and thirty or forty miles on its east side. Food will be produced on its farm lands and gathered to carry with the saints on their contemplated move west."<br /> He advised volunteers to be conservative with their means to send home all they could spare and this would prove to be as manna from Heaven for the saints. He promised protection and help to the families of these volunteers and promised to see them safe in the Rockies, fed and cared for even by the last crust divided with them. In power and majesty he blessed them with the promise that if they would live their religion at all times, under all. circumstances they would not have to fight anything but the wild beasts. "None of you will fall into the hands of your enemies," he said. You will pass over battlefields and there will be battles in front of you and battles in the rear, on your right and on your left, but you will not be harmed and your enemies shall flee before you." This promise was fulfilled and after the war was over William Hawks bore testimony to its fulfillment in these words.<br /> I want to bear testimony that the President promised the Battalion that inasmuch as they would go forth and do right there should not be a ball shot at them, and I can say for one, that I realized the truth of that saying; I have experienced it--I have seen those words fulfilled and that promise to the very letter, when placed in the midst of my enemies with nothing but these little Mallets (fists) to defend myself with and they were well armed with bows and arrows, knives and rifles, but they burnt the priming, the powder flashing in the pan and not a gun aimed at me went off and their arrows broke.<br /> Brigham Young further promised them "In the name of Israel's God if you will do these things, trusting in God and uncomplaining you will come back alive." I am willing to bet my right arm that this will be true, promised their prophet" and when your time of service is over you will be discharged at a distance of about eight hundred miles from the place where the body of the church shall be located, and your names shall be held in honorable remembrance to the latest generation." The distance between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles is today 748 miles. On 19 July a farewell ball was given to honor and cheer the departing soldiers. A bowery had been constructed for shelter and the dance floor consisted of hard earth tromped down by anxious feet. Violins, horns, tambourines and sleigh bells were assembled. The dance started at an early hour and lasted until the sun dipped behind the shore line of the Omaha hills.<br /> Courage was inspired in the hearts of both the volunteers and their families and when the parting came it was one of cheer as they marched away to the tune of "the girl I left behind me" played on the fife by Levi Ward Hancock, George's Uncle who enlisted in Company E.<br /> Five hundred wagons were left without teamsters and as many left without fathers or brothers. On 20 July 1846 the line of march was ordered and these two youths Charles and George, assigned to Company C and their Uncle Levi, the musician of Co. E equipped but with one blanket each and no tents again traversed the plains of Iowa and Missouri and marched to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, 2000 miles away encountering terrible storms and heavy rains and deep mud. The weather was very warm and the men in poor physical condition to start with and at once they became exhausted. The second day out a rain fell during the forenoon and in the afternoon they traveled but four miles in mud. They crossed the Nishnabotany river at Hunsaker's Ferry and camped near Lindon in Missouri. <br /> Captain Allen was in favor of moderate marches but some of the other officers having horses to ride urged long marches. Thus many began to fail at almost the beginning of their journey. On 25 of July they found themselves out of flour and many retired to bed fasting, while others made a meager meal of parched corn. No flour was obtained for two days afterwards, during which time a distance of thirty-eight miles was traveled in the heat and dust of a July sun. They crossed the Nodaway river and camped at the town of Oregon and there flour was delivered to them. On 29 they passed St. Joseph Mo. and camped one mile outside the town. On the 30 they passed through Bloomington and camped on a small creek where the wind commenced to blow and continued until trees fell in all directions around the camp. The howling of the wind and the crashing of trees as they fell the vivid lighting and the roar of thunder made the scene one of terror, but not one tree fell in camp. Surely God was with the Mormon boys. The next day they passed through the town of Weston and from there they marched nearly five hours to cross the river opposite Ft. Leavenworth. It took them nearly five hours to cross the river and get to the garrison. They arrived at Ft. Leavenworth on the 3 of August. Tents and arms were furnished to Company C. and on the 5th of Aug. they were paid $42.00 each in advance for the year for clothing money. The Mormon volunteers used their old clothes and sent the greater part of their pay back to the saints, which proved a heat benefit to the saints in their distress.<br /> Col. Allen, their honored and beloved commanding officer was taken ill after their arrival at Ft. Leavenworth and was forced to remain. Captain Jefferson Hunt was ordered to advance in command of the company.*</p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-67543613209671898702020-08-22T11:24:00.000-07:002020-08-22T11:24:24.883-07:00GEORGE WASHINGTON HANCOCK--PART 1<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW20kZhi4gWeOgfHrg7zIHu3wH-Bod9H5l4qvId2ifiriEM69MwwCYjCYZZiDwA_aKVWL1BvmbD-DkQLYBfV6YqjbyILhzItxPBVyspaAHNXyXbLLe8CDFu21KsswQG3Ec5Umq6IeDw0/s195/G+W+Hancock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW20kZhi4gWeOgfHrg7zIHu3wH-Bod9H5l4qvId2ifiriEM69MwwCYjCYZZiDwA_aKVWL1BvmbD-DkQLYBfV6YqjbyILhzItxPBVyspaAHNXyXbLLe8CDFu21KsswQG3Ec5Umq6IeDw0/s0/G+W+Hancock.jpg" /></a></div> <p></p><p><b>George Washington Hancock–Payson Pioneer<br />Part 1</b><br /><br /> George Washington Hancock, son of Solomon and Alta Adams Hancock, was born the 8th day of March 1826 in Columbia, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He was the sixth child of his parents and at the time of his birth his father was thirty-three years old and his mother was thirty-one.<br /> When he was very young, the family moved from the place of his birth to Chagrin, in the same county and state, on a farm where the next few years of his life were spent. George was but four years old when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized. His parents and grandparents accepted the gospel and were among the first converts of the Church and were baptized in the year of 1830, a few months after its organization.<br /> Immediately after his baptism George's father, Solomon Hancock, left to fill a mission for the latter-day Saints Church and his mother, Alta, was left with the care of the six small children and to mourn the loss of their two first born.<br /> The father returned from his mission late in the fall of 1831 and in the following year he moved his family from Chagrin, Ohio to Jackson Co. Missouri and settled on the Big Blue river, six miles west of Independence, the gathering place of the saints. They encountered many hardships and endured severe sickness and the death of two more of their children on this journey. George was also very ill and nigh unto death, but through the blessings of the lord, the destroying angel passed by and his life was spared.<br /> After reaching the Big Blue river they planted a garden of corn and in the spring of 1833 they built themselves a house. Mob violence soon fell upon the Mormons at this time and after suffering severe persecutions and burnings the people of this place, on the tenth of Nov. 1833 fled from their home to Van Buren County. George, with many of the children, walked barefoot over burnt prairies’ suffering the gnawing ache of hunger, bleeding feet and chilled bodies from exposure of the wintry winds and storms. <br /> On Nov. 13, his youthful eyes beheld the misery and the mercy of God in confounding the pursuing enemies as a meteoric drama shot forth stars from the heavens, falling as hail to the earth. The mob fled terrified, while the handful of saints rejoiced. They were pursued on the following day and once more deliverance came in the form of a terrible hailstorm, blinding the eyes of the pursuers, while the saints were protestingly sheltered in a cove of a hanging rock. Here their healthy appetites were appeased by the cooked meat of two raccoons, and the next day this little groups of thirty saints again took up their journey unmolested and arrived in Van Buren Co. Missouri.<br /> The Hancock's stayed at this settlement until the next spring and in April 1834 they crossed the Missouri river and settled in Clay Co. Missouri. While here his loyal young heart quickened its beat as he beheld with pride Zion's Camp marching through Clay County, on its way to redeem Zion, with his two uncles, Joseph and Levi in its ranks. At this time George, being eight years old, was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints by his uncle Levi Ward Hancock .<br /> In the fall the father, Solomon Hancock, started on another mission going east, leaving his wife, Alta, with four surviving children of their family of ten. George had known little during his youthful years of life but hunger, want, and hardships. The brightest spot of his life was his mother's love and her sympathetic care, and her courage and cheer. On Jan. 31, 1836 while his father was still upon his mission, the greatest tragedy of all came into his life-- his mother, having been very ill, died on this day and George was left motherless with only his two brothers and a sister to share his grief. The family consisted of Eliza, sixteen; Joseph, fourteen; Charles, thirteen; and George ten.<br /> With sorrow only their young hearts knew they laid their mother in a grave in this strange and unfriendly land. The children were left to the mercy of friends until their father returned, which was some months after, bringing their mother's niece, Phoebe Adams, who became their stepmother.<br /> Phoebe gave the children good kind motherly care and tenderly reared them through the perils of mob persecutions to manhood and womanhood and in her old age received their blessings.<br /> In 1836 the family once more were forced from their home in Clay Co., leaving the fresh grave of their dear wife and mother and moved to Caldwell Co. Missouri, and there helped to establish the city of Far West, the gathering place of the saints. There they bought land and built them a home and enjoyed peace and prosperity for a time. In 1838, the violence of the mobs broke out again and the Hancock family passed through those trying days in Missouri. <br /> They finally fled from their home and possessions, valued at $1500, leaving all and again stained the soil of Missouri with their bleeding feet as they walked over its dreary prairie to a little settlement in Adams County. Illinois. There they lived on rented land until 1839 when they moved again going to Commerce Co., Hancock Co. Ill. which place afterward became Nauvoo, the beautiful, with the body of the saints.<br /> In 1841 they bought land from the state of Ill. and settled in Lims, later called Yelrome in Hancock Co. near the city of Nauvoo. At this place for a time they enjoyed peace and plenty by the labors of their own hands. George was now fifteen years old and at this place afforded his first and only schooling which lasted but three months.<br /> Tragedy and sorrow came to this boy once more however, when on the 27th of June 1844 their prophet and friend whom George loved dearly, Joseph and his brother Hyrum, the beloved patriarch, were martyred at Carthage Jail. George was a mourner with thousands of saints who viewed their remains in the Nauvoo Mansion House for the last time. This was a time of great anxiety and one of watchfulness by day and one of sleeplessness by night.<br /> In Feb. 1845 mobs once more terrorized the people of Ill. and threatened the lives of the saints in the settlement of Yelrome.<br /> Like the beasts of prey the mobs stealthily stole in the shadow of darkness and were not apprehended. When morning disclosed their losses, the thieves themselves made the first accusations, accusing the saints of their thefts, thus arousing prejudice in the minds of honest residents against the innocent Mormons.<br /> The president of this settlement, Isaac Morley, having been accused of theft and his life threatened, fled in grave fear to Nauvoo. President Brigham Young advised him to remove his family to Nauvoo and there to remain. The mobsters then proceeded to tear down and burn barns and houses belonging to the saints and went from one settlement to another and committed the most inhuman acts of vandalism.<br /> 0n the 12th of Sept. 1845 George's father was put in charge of the settlements of the Hancock Co. and George and his brother shared many experiences with their father in his attempts to regain order and safety for the saints. On this condition George wrote a rhyme:<br /> On the tenth of Sept. 1845. The mob commenced their burnings. The Mormons fro to drive They came to Morley's settlement Determined to go through To drive the saints of God<br />To the city called Nauvoo<br /><br /> On Nov. 20 1846 during the night the mob applied the torch to the Hancock barns and George and his father and brother hastened to put out the fire, but were soon fired upon and in self defense were forced to take up arms and participate in the battle which took the life of one of the saints, Brother Edmund Dwarf. The mob was scattered only a time and as persecutions and burnings continued, Brigham Young sent a message from Nauvoo for the families living in these settlements to prepare to leave and come to Nauvoo. Over a hundred teams were sent from Nauvoo to bring the people away and the mobsters were left to apply the torch as they choose.<br /> The Hancock's stayed in Nauvoo only about five weeks. The Militia had been sent to suppress the rnob and a compromise had been made whereby all Mormons might remain unmolested until the spring of 1846, during which time arrangements for the sale of all property should have been completed and at the expiration of this time all Mormons remaining would be expelled from the settlement and their property confiscated.<br /> The Hancock family returned to their farm to make a home for those who came to father their crops and to sell what they could of their possessions. On the first of April 1846 they took a last look at their hard earned home, realizing but a small part of its cost and turned their faces westward, making a road through the wilds of Iowa, and joined the Saints at Council Bluffs, in Pottawattamie Co., Iowa.<br /> At this time Brigham Young and his associates in the Church made plans for the saints to go west far beyond the savagery of. a civilized community where the worship might be enjoyed in peace and the Gospel of Jesus Christ could grow to the magnitude and greatness for which it was destined.<br /> The courage and confidence of the saints at this time may be understood, as we reflect upon the word of their mouthpiece, Brigham Young, "Come calm or strife, turmoil or peace, life or death, in the name of Israel our God we mean to conquer or die trying. We mean to open up the way for the salvation of the honest in heart for all nations or sacrifice everything in our stewardship, and if we fail in the attempt, having done all we could, our Father will not leave his flock without a shepherd."<br /> In view of this determination a camp was organized to go to the unknown west for the purpose of locating a resting place for the saints. On 29 June 1846, George's Father was called on this mountain mission and also to assist in securing money and volunteers to go with him. Solomon in company with Parley P. Pratt and Ezra T. Benson left his home and family and went to Mount Pisgah, returning the 4th of July 1846, having secured eighty-four volunteers to go as pioneers and $50.00 to help pay the way.<br /> Hope was inspired in the hearts of the Hancock family in the anticipation of a home of peace where nights might be spent in the blessed relaxation of undisturbed slumber and the waking hours in the realization of day dreams of happiness with a home to shelter them, a fire to warm them, and food to nourish their starving bodies.* <br /></p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-21981874200871660012020-08-08T10:59:00.008-07:002020-08-21T12:50:36.849-07:00ANN HANCOCK DONE<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGplgjwGSw3HBEIVCJ_EM7Cm7q2gX0isy2ffBMxY4cAzhVBz8viJVqC_gpvI_K3tWz5HcPjJuL4zDUY2-tndyCUGXi9RQP7mbFRM3S4rP-LzTtVvl2EDwc7cP3IwQAnlaCDXaVvLWhANI/s1038/Ann+Hancock+Done.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="647" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGplgjwGSw3HBEIVCJ_EM7Cm7q2gX0isy2ffBMxY4cAzhVBz8viJVqC_gpvI_K3tWz5HcPjJuL4zDUY2-tndyCUGXi9RQP7mbFRM3S4rP-LzTtVvl2EDwc7cP3IwQAnlaCDXaVvLWhANI/s640/Ann+Hancock+Done.jpg" width="199" /></a></div> <b>ANN HANCOCK DONE</b><br /><p></p><p> Ann Hancock was born July 4, 1805 in Tunstal, Wolstanton, Stafforshire, England. She was the daughter of John and Elizabth Houldcroft Hancock. The Hncock family heard the message of the Gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Her husband, Abraham Done passed away in May 1835 in Stockport, Cheshire, England. They were the parents of: John, born January 28, 1826; James, born May 28, 1830; Abraham, born July 29, 1832 and died at age 1; and George, born March 18, 1834.<br /> Ann was baptized on January 26, 1852. Ann and her family were advised to immigrate to Zion. It was decided that her two sons, James and George, would go first and left two years before other family members were able to follow. Ann and her son, John and his wife and children would come as soon as possible after.<br /> Ann Hancock Done, her son, John, and his wife, Sarah Barker Done borrowed money for the Perpetual Immigration Company which enabled them to make the trip. Ann, her son and his wife sailed along with John’s two children, Abraham and Elizabeth Anne on the ship, “The Samuel Curling. The set sail on April 22, 1855.<br /> Set they set forth on their way to Zion from the Mormon Grove with the Milo Andurs Wagon Train Company on August 5, 1855 and arrived in Salt Lake City of October 24, 1855. The trip across the plains was very difficult for the family. John had never driven oxen before. His wife, Sarah walked most of the way with a baby in her arms. One of their oxen got lost and was never recovered which created near tragedy for the family.<br /> The family first settled in Little Cottonwood which was located ten miles south of Salt Lake City. It was a very difficult struggle since food was scarce and hard to get.. They later move to Payson. Ann lived the rest of her life in Payson and died there on July, 28, 1871. She was buried in the Payson City Cemetery.<br /></p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-73930977259919883892020-08-02T10:50:00.005-07:002020-08-02T10:50:51.414-07:00JOHN BOYLSTON FAIRBANKS<span style="font-size: large;">JOHN BOYLSTON FAIRBANKS SR.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> John Boylston Fairbanks was born 28 April 1817 in Sand Hill, Montgomery, New York He was the son of Joseph Fairbanks IV and Mary Polly Brooks. When John was nine years old he moved with his parents to New Jersey. <br /> When he was 15 years old, he went to work as a clerk in a store. The LDS missionaries visited Fort Mead where he worked. He hears the gospel message. Joseph, father of John Boylston, with other members of the Fairbanks family also heard and accepted the preaching of John Leach, a Morman missionary, and were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 166, in 1843, Bergen County, New Jersey., John Boylston's mother was baptized in Feb 1844. <br /> Sarah Van Wagmer was born July 11, 1822 in Pompton Plains, Bergen County, New Jersey. She was the third daughter and youngest child of Halmagh J. and Mary Van Houten Van Wagoner. They were both of Dutch descent. Their ancestors came from Holland in the early 1600s. The family converted ot Mormonism is 1843.<br /> The story goes that Sarah and friends saw John B. Fairbanks. walking down the road and Sarah turned to her companions and said, "that’s the man I'm going to marry". That night they met at a cottage meeting, after which he escorted her home, thus beginning the romance which culminated their marriage, August 31, 1844. <br /> The family formed a group to move to Nauvoo, and in two months they were ready. arriving the November 1, 1845. On June 27. 1845, their 1st child, John Joseph was born, but lived only a few hours. John B. was ordained into the 70th Quorum of 70's, on January 21, 1845. During 1844-45, John B. worked on the Temple and on the January 21, 1845 he and his wife were endowed and on the 23rd they were sealed for time and all eternity. <br /> During the exodus from Nauvoo in 1846, they crossed the Missippi River but didn't stay long, went onto Winter Quarters, preparing to move west. While in Winter Quarters, John lost his father in death and Sarah lost her mother. Here also their 2nd child was born and named after John's sister Harriett. <br /> Shortly after marriage John and his Sarah and a group of relatives left to join the Saints in Nauvoo. Their first child John Joseph was born and died 27 June 1845 in Nauvoo, Hancock,Illinois. While they were in Nauvoo, he helped in building the Nauvoo Temple. <br /> His family traveled with the Saints to the Salt Lake Valley with the Jedediah M. Grant/Willard Snow Company departing on June 19,with 160 individuals in the company. The family consisted of John Boylston, age 20; his wife, Sarah VanWagoner, age 25; Mary Jane age six; William Henry, age seven; Sarah’s mother, Polly Brooks Fairbanks, age 67; John’s brother David age 37 and his wife, Susanna Fairbanks, age 27. John’s daughter Harriet was just an infant. She was born 27 November 1846 at Winter Quarters, Douglas, Nebraska. <br /> John Boylston Fairbanks was a captain of ten and left a journal of their experiences as they came across the plains. They were not the only company traveling west at that time. There were probably 7-8 companies and lots of confusion and trials were experienced because of such amass exodus. <br /> From his journal: “Tuesday, June 22, 1847 they rolled westward up the Platte River to where the road touches the River again. Parley P. Pratts Company started in front going double file. There was artillery on the right of Parley’s Company. Elder Taylor’s Company was next in double file on the right of artillery. Captain Grant’s Company was in the rear of Parleys in double file. Captain Smoot’s Company was in the rear of Tailors in double file, the first 50 occupying the left and the second on the right hand of road.<br /> On June 26, their company was in the back of the companies, and it was very dusty. About 11:00 the wind shifted and it helped a great deal. On the 28 they were near a Pawnee Village which had been burned in the fall by the Indians. It was now a missionary station. <br /> On July 11, they were able to kill two or three buffalo calves from a herd of about 5,000. The buffalo stampeded upsetting several wagons and scattering the cattle. After hunting for the animals, unable to find them; their loses amounted to 51 head, 40 work cattle and nine cows. By the 23 July they met a group of Sioux Indians, who were armed and made up in regular battle order with a flag for war or peace. When they found the pioneers were friendly,they visited with the men, women, and children, trying to trade a few muskets. <br /> They reached Fort Laramie by August, 7 watered the animals and rested. By the 9 August they were in a heavy rainstorm. They had a little snow storm on the 17 August. The feed for the animals was very poor and very little water. They reached the Saleratus Lakes by 27 August and took in what they wanted before rolling on six miles to the Sweetwater River. It was a beautiful stream. Several of the oxen died in this area,probably from the Saleratus Lakes. They were at Independence Rock on the 29 August.<br /> Captain Grant had the company equalize their load so they could move forward as they reached the mountains. From there they could see the Wind River Mountains were covered with snow. President Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball met and spoke with the companies as they stopped on their way back to Winter Quarters. <br /> They crossed the Big Sandy and the Little Sandy on the 12 and 13 of September. The feed was excellent. By September 20, they were on Ham’s Fork. It was very hot and dusty. Two days later they were at Fort Bridger. Sunday 3 October they repaired and rolled on down the canyon, turn to right after the last mountain, camped at the foot of the mountain and picked some service berries. They made it to the Great Salt Lake valley on October 4, 1847.” <br /> His father built a home in Salt Lake City and he served as a clerk of the First Ward. Early in 1851 he moved his family to Payson,Utah, Utah Territory where he remained for the rest of his life.<br /> John and Sarah had eleven children. John Joseph was born and died on 27 June 1845 in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois. Harriet was born 27 November 1846 in Winter Quarters, Douglas, Nebraska. Henry was the first of their family to be born in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Territory. The family then moved to Payson, Payson, Utah Territory. <br />In June 1847 they were prepared to leave Winter Quarters, John B. was chosen captain of the 14th ten, of the 2nd fifty, of the 3rd hundred. Willard Snow being the captain of the fifty and Jedediah M. Grant captain of the hundred. Arriving in the Salt Lake valley Oct 6, 1847. <br /> The first home of John Boylston and his wife Sarah was the wagon box they came across the plains in. A piece of carpet hung at the front of the wagon for a door; at the rear was a bed, under which were the trunks; in front was a small stove, and a piece of carpet covered the floor. One chair was the extent of their furniture, yet Sarah said it was the happiest winter she had ever experienced.<br /> On the 20th of Mar 1849 their 3rd child was born, Henry by name. In 1851 he with others was asked by Brigham Young to go South to settle; and they went as far as what is now know as Payson. Along the Peteetneet Creek, but because of the scarcity of water they moved three miles east to Pond Town where there was a large spring. They made a dam across the ravine, and then took the water out onto the land, which secured good crops. but because of trouble with the Indians, they moved again south to Payson which was then called Peteetneet, and here to was a fort. <br />Nathaniel was born 2 August 1851 in Payson, Utah, Utah Territory and died 6 August 1859 in Payson. He had just turned eight. Sarah Ann was born 22 April 1853 and died 10 August 1857; John B. was born 27 December 1855; Mary was born 18 February 1858; Alicia was born 6 April 1860; Lillie Maria was born 22 August 1862; Franklin was born 2 June 1865; and George A. was born 26 January 1869. <br /> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> John was a member of the city council in 1853-56. On the 15 Feb 1862 he was set apart as Bishop of Payson. He was a great friend to the Indians and they showed their appreciation by putting their arms around him and patting him on the back and shoulders. When told of his death, the Indians shed tears. <br /> While still a Bishop he was called to go to the Eastern States on a mission. returning 10 april 1870. A year later 20 April 1871 he left for another mission, this time to Great Britain. He returned home in charge of 510 saints, which sailed from Liverpool 3 Sep 1873. Arriving in New York 27 sep 1873. When he returned he was no longer Bishop.He died 14 May 1875 of Typhoid Pneumonia. the attendance at his funeral held in the Payson Tabernacle, was the largest Payson had ever known. He left his wife Sarah, eight children, four sons and four daughters.<br /> John died May 14, 1875 at the age of 58 in Payson and was buried May 16, 1875 in Payson, Utah, Utah Territory. Sarah Fairbanks died 8 February 1898 at the age of 75 in Payson and was buried May 14, 1875 in Payson, Utah, Utah Territory. He is buried in the Payson City Cemetery<br /> </span> </span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-48559312398012469292020-07-30T14:14:00.001-07:002020-07-30T14:14:07.342-07:00ELIZABETH HUMPHRY DIXON <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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ELIZABETH HUMPHRY DIXON <br /><br /> Elizabeth Humphry Dixon was born in Flamouth, Nova Scotia, March 29, 1778. She was the daughter of William and Jane Flintoff Humphry, early settlers of Flamouth. When her father died in 1795, Charles Dixon (1st), an old family friend happed in on one of his journeys to market. He advised Mrs. Humphry to remove her family of three sons and two daughters to Sackville, where he was engaged in a small way in merchandise, purchasing his goods and supplies, and marketing the surplus products of his farm at Halifax. He offered her a lot on his land situated on the main road through the village. Mrs. Humphry accepted promptly, and a house was erected on the property. <br /> In due time, the family moved in. Elizabeth's mother was evidently a capable woman as she commenced very soon to keep a Public House, as it was called, and her house was for many years sort of a headquarters where much of the semi-public or parish business was transacted. Mr. Dixon held his justice courts there until a brief period before his death.<br /> On October 13, 1799, Elizabeth became the wife of Charles Dixon II, a young widower, and the son of the Humphry's benefactor. His first wife was Rhoda Emerson, a daughter of one of the original grantees of Sackville. She died at the age of thirty. His marriage to Elizabeth took place very soon after the death of his first wife, and quite shocked the sense of propriety of Mr. Dixon's Methodist associates. It caused for a time some estrangement, but the offense, if any, was soon overlooked inasmuch as the bride was a Yorkshire Lass and the alliance was regarded with great favor. Doubtless they believed as most Yorkshire people do to the present day, there is no one quite the equal of a good Yorkshireman.<br /> About the year of 1803, Mr. Dixon left for a visit to the United States with a neighbor, Timothy Richardson. Most of the journey was made on foot until they reached Ohio. There they had a boat constructed in which they pursued their journey down to New Orleans. From there, they took passage by sea to New York, where Mr. Dixon fell ill. Fortunately, his brother-in-law, George Bulber was in New York and finally located Mr. Dixon and Mr. Richardson, gave them such aid as they needed to get back to their home. The boat passage for home with Captain Burnham was to hold back father; for at Mount Desert they were detained by severe weather and lost considerable time. At length they reached home, and Elizabeth wept for joy at the sight of her husband, as she had received no word from him since his departure.<br /> After the destruction of Mr. Dixon's lumber mill by fire, he and his son-in-law entered into an arrangement to build ships for commerce with England. They built several, but due to the decline in prices to both ships and merchandise they ceased work, and two years later sold their ship business to other parties, and confined their energies to farming.<br /> One evening when Charles Dixon and his son Christopher were returning from a parish meeting, they passed two Mormon elders holding a street meeting. Christopher paused a moment to listen. He was very impressed and persuaded his father to return with him the next evening to hear them. He likewise was moved by their doctrine, and soon after Charles II, Elizabeth his wife, and their seven youngest children embraced the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faith.<br /> The Dixon's from their early beginning had been people of religious nature. Charles Dixon I emigrated to Nova Scotia in 1772 at the age of 42. There was much religious and economic unrest in England at this time. Mr. Dixon owned the Hutton (paper Mills) at Hutton Rudby, and was active in public affairs. He and his family sailed from Liverpool on board the Duke of York, March 16, 1772 with 62 passengers aboard. In a letter to Charles Dixon II and his daughter Sara, he tells of conditions in England and reveals a progressive religious nature that in future years influenced the destiny of his children and their children in a religious way. Part of this letter is as follows.<br /> In 1837, Charles and Elizabeth Dixon and their seven youngest children moved to Kirtland, Ohio, feeling this was the only proper and safe course to pursue due to their religion which was so unpopular at that time. They left September 1, 1837 and traveled in covered wagons arriving in Kirtland on October 14 where they purchased property and resumed their old occupation of farming.<br /> The following autumn, Charles Dixon II and his daughter Jane and youngest son started for Missouri. Soon after they crossed the Missouri River they met a large number of Mormons being driven by force from the state. Most of them were in a destitute condition. They returned with these people to Quincy Illinois where Mr. Dixon hired a house and remained all the winter. He liberally used his means in relieving the necessities of these poor suffering brethren. Charles Dixon II became an intimate friend of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He received a Patriarchal Blessing from the Prophet's Father in 1837 in the Kirtland Temple when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was just seven years old. Joseph Smith, Sr., was the first Patriarch of the Church. The Dixon children were all baptized in a stream in Kirtland, Ohio. Christopher Dixon purchased Joseph Smith's home from his brother Hyrum, and lived there with his family until they set out for Utah.<br /> The Dixons without exception were devout followers of Joseph Smith, and on more than one occasion Charles and his son Christopher affirmed their belief by saying, "I would follow Joseph Smith to the ends of the earth." The news of the Prophet's death fell as a heavy blow to the family, and the consequent splitting of the church was confusing. It wasn't until the spring of 1854 that they finally made up their minds to go west. Charles Dixon II had entered his eighty-ninth year and Elizabeth her seventy-seventh, but despite their age the fact that Mr. Dixon was nearly blind, they sold their belongings in Ohio and set out for Salt Lake City. Alfred Dixon and Leonard Dixon went on to Sacramento. Edward Dixon another son of Ruth Dixon Ohara (Mrs. George O'hara) arrived in Utah August 9, 1859. They visited with their people then went on to Sacramento.<br /> Charles Dixon II, his wife Elizabeth Humphrey and Martha & Orrawell Simons arrived in Rock Island and halted for a few days while their party fitted teams for the journey across the plains. Here Charles Dixon fell from the steps of the hotel and broke his hip. His injuries proved fatal. He died 17 July 1854 in a covered wagon and was buried on the plains near Davenport, Iowa. He was born in Yorkshire, England January 1, 1766.<br /> Whether Charles Dixon II outstripped Charles I in purity of heart and holiness of life was for no man to judge, but the fact remains that the fact of his life was an attempt to join the people of the church of his choice, that he had given so much of his life to.<br /> Elizabeth continued the journey with her daughter and son-in-law, Orrawell Simons, and made her home with them until the arrival of her son Christopher, who did not arrive in Utah until October 1862. They all lived in an adobe house which they built at 340 West 4th North the fall of their arrival. It is located directly across the road from the spot where the first pioneers camped, and is situated far back from the road in the front of a large grove of willow and cottonwood trees. The grove for many years was used for town celebrations and enjoyed by the whole community. A small foundation still remains under a second growth of Box Elder trees. The history of the Adobe house built in 1862 appeared in the Deseret News, March 13, 1948. It has been remodeled and has been occupied by six generations of Elizabeth Humphry Dixon's descendants. Elizabeth died at the age of 87 years on July 17, 1864--ten years to the day after the death of her husband. When she was advanced yearsburied, she was the oldest woman in the Payson City Cemetery. Besides yer lies the grave of a little Indian girl who helped her during her advanced years.<br /> The children of Charles II and Elizabeth Humphry Dixon are as follows:<br />John: Born Aug. 9, 1800; Elizabeth: Born January 1, 1803; Sidney: Born Aug 9, 1805; Leonard: Born July 12, 1808; Jane: Born October 13, 1810; Ruth: Born August 4, 1813; Christopher Flintoff; Born May 6, 1816; Edward: Born August 17, 1818; Alfred: Born January 31, 1821; and<br />Mary: Born July 13, 1823.<br /> Elizabeth passed away on July 17, 1864 in Payson. It was ten years to the day after the death of her husband Charles Dixon II. When she passed, she was the oldest woman at 87 years of age. at the time of her burial. in the Payson City Cemetary. Nearby is the grave of a little Indian girl who helped her in her advanced years.Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339230496343479222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6449406567632742319.post-57454385353708018642020-07-19T10:21:00.004-07:002020-07-19T10:21:41.132-07:00HYRUM KING ELMER<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>HENRY KING ELMER</b></td></tr>
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<b>HYRUM KING ELMER AND MARY HUFFMAN ELMER</b><br /> Hyrum King Elmer was the seventh child and third son born to John and Sally (Polly) Peake Elmer on June 4, 1816 in Norwich, Orange County, Vermont. Nothing more is known of his early years growing up in Vermont.<br /> Hyrum’s first marriage was to his cousin, Lucina Elmer. To this couple were born two children. Henry Elmer was born March 7, 1841 in Sand Prairie, Adams, Illinois. Lucy Lodia Elmer was born July 3, 1843 in Lee County, Iowa. Lucina Elmer died January 4, 1844, leaving the two young children in the care of an aunt, Hannah Child Elmer. Hyrum’s mother, Sally Peake, had died about 1832 and is buried in Indiana. <br /> Hyrum was a river-runner. He would go up the river and cut logs, which were then bound together in a raft and floated down river to their destination. His father was a shingle maker. After his marriage to Mary she was often left alone while Hyrym rode the rafts down the Mississippi River to keep the logs floating. She knew how dangerous this could be for more than one man had slipped between the logs to fade forever out of sight.<br /> The Mississippi River was frightening and many times when she was left alone, she would ppick up her babies and go to her father’s for the night. It was said she would place Henry in the horse and the baby o a large stump. She would get on the horse with Henry and then pick up the baby.<br /> Ont night she was alone with only a younger brother for companym she heard a prowler. She realized the possibility they might be murdered. Once again her prayers were answered, for when her young brother called of to the would-be intruder, his voice was so gruff and mature it frightened the prowler away..<br /> Hyrum grew up hearing and reading the Bible. He was ready when the missionaries came with the gospel in 1835 and was soon baptized, as was his family. In 1835 Abram Butterfield, a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints paid a visit to the Elmer home. Hyrum was baptized by Elder Butterfield and confirmed by Elder Hazen Eldrege. <br /> He lived in Vermont for 22 years and after his conversion, he went to Massachusetts to work to earn the money for his parents and family to join the saints. After two years, he went home, got his parents and left for Missouri .<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>MARY HUFFMAN ELMER</b></td></tr>
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On June 9, 1845, eighteen months after the death of his first wife, Hyrum married sixteen year old, Mary Huffman, the daughter of James and Nancy Summers Huffman in Lee County, Iowa. Mary was born April 16, 1829 in Columbia, Wood County, Ohio. Mary took these two children of Hyrum to her heart and became a real mother to them.<br /> To this union were born twelve children, three sons and nine daughters as follows: <br />One unnamed son born in 1846 and died in infancy; Francis Marion Elmer, born November 11, 1847; Cynthia Elmer, born May 13, 1850; Sally Elmer, born March 14, 1852; Mary Elizabeth Elmer, born June 7, 1854; Diana Elmer, born December 12, 1857; Tryphena Elmer, born April 5, 1860; Lovina Ursula Elmer, born December 1, 1862; Almira Jane Elmer, born April 18, 1865; Lucinda Elmer, born September 20, 1867; Hyrum John Elmer, born April 1, 1871; Roxy Ann Elmer, born January 7, 1873. The last seven of these children were born in Payson, Utah County, Utah. <br /> The Elmer family were in the midst of the wandering and persecutions of the Saints. They eventually made the decision to come to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. They prepared to leave for their westward trek. Their team consisted of one yoike of oxen and two yokes of cows. After making the necessary preparations, they departed Kanesville, Iowa June 28, 1852 in a company under the direction of Capt. Uriah Curtis. Traveling in this same company were two of Hyrum’s brothers, William and Ira and their young families. This company arrived in the Salt Lake Valley between September 29 and October 1, 1852. <br /> The rest of the family gradually made their way west. Upon their arrival they made their home near Bingham Canyon in Wight's Fort . Hyrum made shingles and ran Bishop Hunter 's cattle and dairy. In the spring of 1857 , Hyrum moved his family to Payson where they remained. He helped build up the community, where he was well liked and respected. Besides his own children, he and his wife took five children into their home to raise.<br /> Family records indicate that Hyrum King Elmer married twenty-one year old Margaret Huffman, sister to his wife, Mary, in 1852. This marriage probably took place before their departure west. Margaret died in 1854. <br /> The family spent their first year in Provo and then moved to Whites Fort in 1853, where they made shingles from logs hauled from Bingham Canyon. They also engaged in farming and raising livestock. <br /> In the spring of 1857, Hyrum moved his family to Payson, Utah County, Utah. He and his son, Henry, remained at Whites Fort to continue working there for a few months. Henry worked for Bishop Hunter who had charge of the church cattle, and operated a dairy near the fort. <br />In 1857 they moved to Payson, Utah where they acquired a good acreage of farm land. Their first home was a log house with a mud roof, on the East bench or Hungry Slope as it was called. They later built an adobe home which was one of the better homes in Payson at the time.<br /> Most of Hyrum’s family remained in Payson and helped to build up the community. They passed through many trials and hardships pioneering the west. Hyrum was well known for his thrift and industry and his kindly disposition. Besides their own large family, Hyrum and Mary took five children into their home to raise and care for. <br /> Mary was a good motherly type woman and loved her family very much. In her later years she loved to sit on one side of the heating stove in her rocker with her husband on the other side enjoying each other's companionship.<br /> Mary Huffman Elmer suffered a stroke in January 1900 and was ill for several months and passed away on December 10, 1902 at the age of 73.. Hyrum departed from this life on September 30, 1909 at the age of 93, He passed away at his old home, owned then by his daughter, Mary McBeth. He was survived by two sons, seven daughters, 76 grandchildren, 169 great-grandchildren and 3 great great-grandchildren. Both Hyrum and Mary are buried in the Payson City Cemetery.<br />
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