GEORGE WASHINGTON HANCOCK--PART 2

 

George Washington Hancock–Payson Pioneer
Part 2
Mormon  Battalion March
Mt. Pisgah to Ft. Leavenworth

    The following is told in the words of members of the Mormon Battalion:
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    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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."
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.*

GEORGE WASHINGTON HANCOCK--PART 1

 

George Washington Hancock–Payson Pioneer
Part 1

    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.           
    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.
    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 .
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.    
    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.
    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.
    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.
    In Feb. 1845 mobs once more terrorized the people of Ill. and threatened the lives of the saints in the settlement of Yelrome.
    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.
    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.
    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:
    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
To the city called Nauvoo

    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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."
    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.
    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.*

ANN HANCOCK DONE

 ANN  HANCOCK  DONE

    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.

JOHN BOYLSTON FAIRBANKS

JOHN BOYLSTON FAIRBANKS SR.

  

  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. 
    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. 
    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.
    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. 
    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. 
    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.
        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.
    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.  
          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. 
    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.
          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.
          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.
          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.
          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.
        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.”
          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.
          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. 
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. 
    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.
    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.
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.
 

     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. 
    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.
          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