John & May, Mary, Michael, William, Stephen, Michael Jr, Suzanna, Anthony, Anna, Myrtle & Joseph Melycher
My Aunt Jackie married Willie Melycher in 1987. I wrote and shared some memories of their wedding previously. Somewhere around 2003, I stopped and visited Willie. We ended up talking about family history and he whipped out this family history. I have had it in my possession since then. I eventually scanned it so I had a digital copy. Recently I had it transcribed. Now I make it available in a much easier format.
MELYCHER FAMILY HISTORY
This history was compiled by Mary A. Melycher in memory of my husband Anthony F. Melycher. Information was given by family members, vital statistics and birth certificates. It is hoped that each member receiving a copy please keep it updated so that it will be a valuable source of information for the future.
The information was completed on this date January 14, 1986.
The Melycher family name was entered in the American Immigrants Wall of Honor by M.A. Melycher. It will be permanently displayed in the renowned Ellis Island, where the family arrived when they came to America.
Michael Melycher
Born in Austria in the year of 1869 (this information taken from birth certificate of Anthony F. Melycher and from a prayer card given out at the time of the funeral). He died in Bridgeport, Conn. August 22, 1947 at the age of 78. He married Suzanna Gajdosik, who was also born in Austria in the year 1878 (this information taken from birth certificate of Anthony F. Melycher and from prayer card given at the funeral). They were married in Austria. Suzanna died in Bridgeport Conn. on January 7, 1959. They had ten children, one died in Austria. Michael, John and Stephen were all born in Austria, and Joseph, Anna, and Mary were born in Croton Falls, New York, Anthony, William and Rudolph were born in Connecticut.
They operated a large dairy farm on Pond Brook Road, in Newtown, Conn. until their retirement, when they went to live with their daughter, Anna Dzurka, in Bridgeport, Conn. Before the farm was sold many acres of land were given to family members who either built on it, sold it or passed it on to their heirs. The homestead still stands on Pond Brook Road in Newtown, Conn.
Michael Melycher had the first accredited tuberculin tested dairy herd in the area. The farm was a large one averaging around two hundred acres and was operated by family members.
Michael Melycher donated land to build a school in the area of George’s Hill Road, which when discontinued reverted back to him and sold to Thomas and Belle Nicholl.
Michael Melycher
Date of birth – April 14, 1900. Married Helen Moyle Sept. 13, 1937.
Children born of this marriage:
Michael Melycher III – date of birth – April 9, 1939, in Kentucky
Michael Melycher III was married and had four children by the first marriage:
Patty Melycher – date of birth 10-17-62, in California
Kris Melycher – date of birth – 10-29-63 in California
Susie Melycher – date of birth – 6-1-65 in California
Cara Melycher – date of birth – 2-25-69 in California
Michael Melycher III divorced and remarried and adopted Michael C. Melycher – 1-16-77 and had a stepson Jon – date of birth 11-1
Michael Melycher died April 30, 1997
John R. Melycher
Date of birth – April 29, 1902. In Austria, Date of death Feb. 16, 1985
Married
Stephen D. Melycher
Date of birth – Feb. 15, 1906 in Austria. He became a Catholic priest and served in the U.S. Army overseas as a Chaplain.
Joseph R. Melycher, Sr.
Date of birth August 16, 1910 in Croton Falls, New York. Married Myrtle Beardsley Nov. 28, 1935 in Newtown, Conn. Three children born of this marriage, Joseph, Jr., Ronald, Maureen. Divorced Myrtle and married Virginia Scofield. Divorced Virginia and married Phyllis Una Burton May 6, 1961.
Joseph R. Melycher, Jr.
Date of birth – April 15, 1936
Married Sandra Johnson and had two children, Mark and Michael
Joseph R. Melycher, Jr. divorced Sandra and married Mary McCann (divorced)
Mark Melycher – date of birth – April 16, 1957, Danbury, Conn.
Michael Melycher – date of birth – March 10, 1960.
Mark Melycher
Date of birth – April 16, 1957, Danbury, Conn. Married Pollyanna Parks April 15, 1979. Three children born of this marriage: Chrystal Melycher date of birth – August 17, 1979, and twin daughters, Bonnie and Jennifer Melycher – date of birth – February 4, 1981. All born in Danbury, Conn.
Anna Melycher
Date of birth – March 10, 1912 – in Croton Falls, New York. Married Anthony Dzurka in Newtown, Conn. Oct. 22, 1938. One child born of this marriage: Carolyn Dzurka – date of birth – July 13, 1940, Bridgeport, Conn.
Anna Dzurka died Aug. 14, 1990 in Bridgeport, Conn.
Mary Melycher
Date of birth – February 28, 1914. Married Alfred Appell in Newtown, Conn. Oct. 30, 1937. One daughter born of this marriage: Suzanne Appell – date of birth – June 10, 1940 in Danbury, Conn.
Suzanne Appell married Ronald Gaucher in Florida (divorced). Married later.
Joseph R. Melycher, Sr.
Date of birth – August 16, 1910 – Croton Falls, New York
Married Myrtle Beardsley Nov. 28, 1935 in Newtown, Conn. (divorced)
Children born of this marriage:
Joseph R. Melycher, Jr. – date of birth – April 15, 1936
Married Sandra Johnson and had two children, Mark, and Michael. Joseph R. Melycher, Jr. divorced Sandra and married Mary McCann (divorced)
Ronald Michael Melycher – date of birth – July 23, 1938, in Sandy Hook, Newtown, Conn.
Married Patricia Ann Trocolla Dec. 21, 1957 in St. Joseph’s Church, Danbury, Conn. They had four children and adopted one.
Coreen Melycher, Tracie Melycher, Ronald Melycher, Stephen Melycher, and (adopted) William Melycher.
Maureen Melycher – date of birth – June 1943.
Married George Duncan in Danbury, Conn. and had three children, George Duncan, Craig Duncan, Robert Duncan.
Joseph R. Melycher, Sr. also married Virginia Scofield. (divorced)
Joseph Melycher, Sr. married Phyllis Una Burton May 6, 1961
Linda H. (George Duncan), son of Maureen, had two children – Amanda
Craig D. and Linda I. Duncan-Melycher had a son born in Danbury Hospital that died in infancy Dec. 16, 1989. Craig D. Duncan is a son of Maureen Melycher-Duncan.
Anthony Francis Melycher
Date of birth – November 15, 1915, Bridgeport, Conn. Died at Danbury Hospital September 8, 1984 of intracerebral hemorrhage.
Married Mary Ann Rzchowski June 24, 1939, St. Rose of Lima Church, Newtown, Conn. He was a trailer truck driver for thirty years, and started and operated Melycher’s Danbury Exterminating Company until he retired in 1981.
Children born of this marriage: Anthony F. Melycher, Jr., Donald William Melycher, Richard Phillip Melycher, Karen Louise Melycher, and Jean Marie Melycher.
Anthony Francis Melycher, Jr. date of birth – April 14, 1940, Danbury, Ct. Died June 2, 1979 in an automobile accident in New Milford, Conn.
Married Christine Brenda Lucsky February 1, 1964 in Danbury, Conn.
Children born or adopted in this marriage: (Served U.S. Army Reserves)
David Anthony Melycher – date of birth – January 17, 1970 in New Milford, Conn.
Melissa Kim Melycher – (adopted) July 27, 1972. Date of birth March 18, 1967, Seoul, Korea.
Leah Melycher – (adopted November 17, 1976) – date of birth – May 2, 1974, Seoul, Korea.
Christine Brenda Melycher married Donald Wharton January 1, 1983 – (divorce January 28, 1985).
Donald William Melycher – date of birth – March 5, 1941, Danbury, Conn. Served in U.S. Air Force November 1959 – November 1962.
Married Patricia Frances Graff November 23, 1962 in Clifton, New Jersey. (divorced)
Children born of this marriage: Timothy Francis Melycher, Todd Christophe Melycher, Tracey Elizabeth Melycher (adopted), and Dennis Melycher.
Timothy Francis Melycher – date of birth – October 13, 1963, Fort Worth, Texas. Served in U.S. Submarine Service of the U.S. Navy.
Todd Christopher Melycher – date of birth – September 12, 1966 in New Jersey. Served in U.S. Navy.
Tracey Elizabeth Melycher – date of birth – September 1, 1967. (adopted). Enlisted in U.S. Air Force.
Dennis Melycher – May 12, 1970 in New Jersey.
Richard Phillip Melycher – date of birth – September 5, 1942, Danbury, Conn.
Married Barbara Boergermann October 12, 1974 in St. Peter’s Church, Danbury, Conn.
Children born of this marriage:
Jacqueline Theresa Melycher – date of birth – March 17, 1983, Danbury, Conn.
Richard Phillip Melycher, Jr. – date of birth, April 11, 1986, Danbury, Conn.
Karen Louise Melycher – date of birth – August 23, 1943, Danbury, Conn.
Married Vincent Weis June 5, 1965 St. Peter’s Church, Danbury, Conn.
Children born of this marriage:
Jean Louise Weis – date of birth – May 24, 1966, Danbury, Conn.
Jason Weis – date of birth – January 22, 1972, Danbury, Conn.
Jean Marie Melycher – date of birth – July 14, 1945, Danbury, Conn. Died July 19, 1945 in Danbury Hospital of prematurity. Buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery Section #12 No. 760.
William Francis Melycher
Date of birth – September 21, 1918. Married Laura Henrietta Einsman June 13, 1943.
Laura Henrietta (Einsman) date of birth October 16, 1917, died August 31, 1971.
Children born of this marriage:
Arthur William Melycher, Diane Marie Melycher, William Francis Melycher, Jr.
Arthur William Melycher, date of birth – November 5, 1948. Married Monica Ellen Patronelli – date of birth – June 6, 1953 – marriage date March 11, 1972.
Children born of this marriage:
Michael Arthur Melycher, date of birth – Sept. 20, 1972
Sean Thomas Melycher, date of birth – May 12, 1975
Laura Bridgett Melycher, date of birth – February 5, 1983
Active duty in U.S. Navy Aug. 27, 1967, to retire August 1, 1988
YNC Chief Petty Officer Arthur W. Melycher
Diane Marie Melycher, date of birth – January 11, 1954. Married Joseph Tenk October 21, 1977. Registered nurse
Children born of this marriage:
Daniell Kristen Tenk – date of birth – January 15, 1986 Norwalk Hospital
William Francis Melycher, Jr. date of birth March 25, 1955. Married Paula Larsen 6-18-82 (divorced). Married Jacqueline Jonas 7-23-88. May Melycher date of birth 1-21-89.
Rudolph Melycher
Date of birth – March 17, 1920. Died in Newtown, Conn. on September 20, 1920 of Cholera.
William, Joseph, Michael, Stephen, John, and Anthony Melycher
Ronald Michael Melycher, Sr.
Date of birth – July 23, 1938, Sandy Hook, Conn.
Married Patricia Ann Trocolla – Date of birth – January 22, 1939.
Married in St. Joseph’s Church, Danbury, Conn. – December 21, 1957.
Ronald Melycher, Sr. married Irene Bonadio in Newtown, CT. 9-16-1989
Children born of this marriage:
1. Coreen Ann Melycher – date of birth – July 3, 1958, born Danbury Hospital, Danbury, Conn. Married Raymond DeBettencourt, Jr. April 23, 1982, Danbury, Conn.
Children born of this marriage:
Sean Patrick DeBettencourt, date of birth, October 25, 1982, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Coreen and Raymond DeBettencourt divorced October 1995
2. Ronald Michael Melycher, Jr. – date of birth – November 16, 1959, Danbury Hospital. (DOB 12-22-52)
Married Debra Lynn Barry – June 20, 1981, St. Joseph’s Church, Brookfield, Conn.
Children born of this marriage:
Joshua Michael Melycher – date of birth – August 3, 1983, Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, Conn.
Heather Lynn Melycher – date of birth – Nov. 11, 1987, Waterbury Hospital, Waterbury, Conn.
3. Tracie Marie Melycher – date of birth – November 9, 1960, Danbury Hospital
Married Richard J. Coyle, October 22, 1983, St. Joseph’s Church, Brookfield, Conn.
Children born of this marriage:
Jennifer Marie Coyle – date of birth – March 18, 1984, Danbury Hospital, Danbury, Conn.
Emily Ann Coyle – date of birth – March 20, 1987, Danbury Hospital
Caitlin Mary Coyle – date of birth – June 12, 1988, Danbury Hospital
4. Stephen James Melycher – date of birth – September 2, 1964, Danbury Hospital, Danbury, Conn.
5. William Joseph Melycher – date of birth – November 21, 1968. (adopted June 1970).
William Joseph Melycher and Terry Quilinin had a son born May 8, 1988, William Joseph at Danbury Hospital
William J. Melycher married Terry Quilinin Feb. 6, 1989 in Brookfield
Grandchildren Marriages
Jean Louise Weis to John A. Oman Oct. 23, 1986, King Street United Church Of Christ, King Street, Danbury, Conn. Reception at Fireside Inn, Newtown, Conn.
Melissa Kim Melycher married Dean Edward Jordan, June 4, 1988, Trinity Lutheran Church, Rt. #7, New Milford, Conn. Reception Fern’s Rt. #7 New Milford, Ct. (thunderstorm in progress during ceremony)
Great Grand Children
Jennifer Lynn Oman Born in AirForce Hospital, New Hampshire, July 29, 1987. 7 lbs. 1 Oz. 20 inches long.
Michael David Melycher – date of birth – Nov. 23, 1987 to Tracey Melycher in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Coral Springs.
Hiram, Amanda, James, and Aliza Ross at the grave of David and Sarah Buttar in Clarkston, Utah – August 2021
I moved this history up in my list because I know two other descendants of David and Sarah Buttar who live near us. My wife and children are descendants of David and Sarah Buttar’s daughter, Emma Jane, who married David Crompton Thompson.
Amanda and Hiram Ross at the graves of David and Emma Thompson in Clarkston, Utah – August 2021
There are a couple of histories out there for David and Sarah Buttar. They seem to descend from a common history. There are a couple of differences and disputes, which I will point out.
David Buttar was born 2 December 1822 in Perthshire, Scotland to Donald Buttar and Elspeth Rattray. David’s death certificate and a Scottish family record give his father’s name as Daniel rather than Donald; all other sources use Donald. Some family records give Elspeth another first name of Betheah, but no contemporary record provides such a name. Although through the years, she was referred to as Betty. Some of the Buttar family records show the name. Her parents did not provide it on official records and she did not use it in her life for official purposes.
No contemporary record gives David’s birth location. He was christened 12 December 1822 in Rattray, Perthshire, Scotland. Family records show him as born in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland. His death certificate, the information coming from his surviving spouse, Sarah Keep Buttar, gives this location too.
Donald, David’s father, was a tailor by trade. David was the youngest child of his father’s family. Both Donald and David apprenticed to become shoe makers. In Blairgowrie, David ran a substantial shoemaking business, employing and boarding some fifteen persons. David followed the shoe maker trade in both Scotland and in the United States. David was brought up in a religious home. He was also musical playing the bellows on the local Presbyterian Church’s pipe organ and the flute for the choir. His father, Donald, died at the age of 83 when David was 12 years old.
In 1848, at the age of 26, David married Margaret Spalding in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland (there are disputes on the actual date, so I left it generic). On 19 January 1851, David was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Margaret was initially resistant to the gospel. Elizabeth Graham Macdonald, a recent convert who boarded with the Buttars family in Blairgowrie while her missionary husband was away in the Highlands, worked to bring Margaret to an understanding of the gospel. Margaret was baptized in November 1851. David was ordained a priest in 1854. In February of that same year, David left Scotland for America with his wife and their four small children: Marjory, Meek, Bethea, and David. They sailed from Liverpool on the ship John M. Wood, arriving in New Orleans in May 1854. While at sea the youngest child David died. Family tradition holds a more harrowing account — that the parents initially kept the baby’s body rather than commit it to the sea, but that sharks began circling the ship in such numbers that the crew made a frantic search for the cause and found the child. The parents were compelled to give up the child to the deep. Whether the full family account is accurate in all its details, the loss of their infant son at sea was a grief the family carried with them to Utah. The journey by sea to America from Scotland took seven weeks and two days.
David and his family traveled across the plains by ox cart with the Taylor Company. (Other sources identify the plains company as Captain William Empey’s Company, one of the final wagon companies to cross the plains that year.) While on the plains, cholera erupted amongst the company and David became very ill and nearly died. It took him some time to get over the effects of cholera. David and his family had to walk most of the way to Utah. On the plains David had two remarkable encounters with rattlesnakes. One day while gathering firewood he picked up a rattlesnake among the sticks and carried it quite a distance in his arms without realizing it — discovering it only when he laid the wood down. On another occasion he made his bed under the wagon and in the morning, upon rolling up his bedroll, found that a rattlesnake had slept curled beneath him through the night. Neither snake harmed him. David would not kill rattlesnakes and said of them, “they didn’t harm me and they won’t hurt anyone else if they leave them along.”
Sarah’s history is shared below that includes stories of crossing the plains. Sarah mentions she traveled “first with Father and Mother… in Pratt’s Company, then Captain Inkley came to bring the sick in” — her journey in 1866 was separate from David’s 1854 journey.
The family arrived in Salt Lake City in the fall of 1854. They lived in Salt Lake City for five months where David worked as a shoemaker for a Brother Samuel Mellener. David then moved his family to Lehi, Utah. After moving to Lehi, David continued working for Brother Mellener. David did not have a method of transportation and had to walk from Lehi to Salt Lake to pick up leather for his shoes and return the finished shoes to Brother Mellener. There were times when he was able to secure a ride to Salt Lake. After a few years, David was able to raise some calves that, once grown, were able to supply a team of oxen for transportation. In Lehi the family lived in a mud house with a dirt floor. David also began to farm in Lehi. In the year 1856, all the crops in Lehi were eaten by grasshoppers and the family had no flour. Because of the flour shortage, bran bread was made.
In August 1863, Margaret died several days after giving birth, leaving David with six small children. The oldest girl was only fourteen years old and the baby, Margaret, was five days old. Baby Margaret died two weeks after her mother and was buried in the Lehi cemetery. David experienced sad, hard times and, having no family nearby to assist him with the children. Four years later on 16 December 1866 he married Sarah Keep Francis. Sarah had previously been married in England to Thomas Robert Francis, but had left him behind before coming to the United States. Family history records that Francis was fond of drink and ultimately died in the Poor House. Sarah had a daughter of her own, Lucy Ann Francis, who David always regarded as his own daughter. On April 16, 1868, a daughter, Sarah Isabell, was born. Sadly, Sarah Isabell died on June 15th. Sarah Isabell was buried in the Lehi cemetery.
In October of 1868, the family moved to Clarkston in Cache Valley of Utah. David was ordained an Elder that same fall. Upon arriving in Clarkston, David built a two room log house in the Clarkston Fort. In 1870, David moved from the fort and built another two-room log home on the north side of Clarkston near his farm. He raised cows, horses, sheep, pigs, and chickens on their farm.
Buttar home north of Clarkston, Thomas James in front of the house, David Alexander next to the right, then James Joseph, then David, then Emma Jane, Sarah, and Mary
In 1882, David and Sarah built a large, white framed house for the family. The two-story home had a porch on the front, three dormer windows on the second floor facing east, and two dormer windows facing south with a veranda below. It was a large home for the standards at that time. It was a beautiful home that overlooked the farm and had a commanding view of the valley. The first prayer circle in Clarkston was held in an upstairs room of that home, and was kept there for three years and four months before being moved to the new Tithing House. Unfortunately, this beautiful home burned on 11 May 1931.
David became a high priest. He believed in paying an honest tithing, knowing that the Lord keeps his promises by opening the windows of heaven to pour out blessing on all that keep his laws and commandments. This was proved to David in the spring of 1871 when the grasshoppers were so thick that when in flight they darkened the sun. Three times that summer the grasshoppers ate all of David’s grain. When they came the fourth time, with the help of his children, the grasshoppers were driven into ditches where the chickens would devour them. The grasshoppers were so large that the chickens could only eat three or four at a time. David told his family that because he had paid his tithing that the Lord would provide for them. It was then that the seagulls came and began eating the grasshoppers until they could eat no more. When the seagulls had eaten their fill, they would go to the ditch and throw up the grasshoppers and then continue to eat more. Once the grasshoppers were completely devoured, the seagulls flew away. This time the grain grew to maturity and David produced 1,300 bushels of grain – the largest crop he had ever harvested up to that time.
When David first began to farm in Clarkston, he cut his grain with a “cradle”, after a few years he purchased a “dropper” to cut the grain. He hired six men to flail and bind the grain. David would cure his wheat for planting with slack-lime, and he would sow his seeds by hand casting them.
David continued to make shoes for the first few years in Clarkston, but the last shoes he made were for his step-daughter, Lucy Anne, and he purposely made one that was wrong-side-out and stated that “he wouldn’t make any more shoes”, and he never did.
David would mend his harnesses with wooden, maple pegs that were actually intended as tacks to hang shoes on. He planted five to ten acres of potatoes each year. Although for the first few years hay had to be bound by hand, David purchased the first self-binder in Clarkston that bound the hay with wire. Later, he assisted Andrew Heggie and Peter S Barson in buying the first header in Clarkston.
One year the sunflowers had grown so profusely in the wheat that when the threshers came, they refused to thresh it. He made a flail and flailed all the wheat by hand on a wagon cover. After the grain was harvested, David had to haul it some 60 miles (each way) to Corinne or Ogden by team and wagon just to sell it.
During the construction of the Logan Temple, David donated $100 each year until the temple was completed. He did temple work for many of his ancestors in the Logan Temple. He also gave financial assistance to build the old rock meeting house in Clarkston as well as the new chapel that is still standing in Clarkston today (although it has undergone several additions and renovations since then). On 1 June 1882, David received a federal land patent signed by President Chester A. Arthur for approximately 160 acres in Cache County, Utah Territory, formally securing title to his Clarkston farm.
Sarah Keep Buttar
In 1884, David married Sophia Jensen Hansen in plural marriage. He lived in polygamy for 20 years. David and Sophia were later divorced, though David continued to provide for her financially each year until her death in 1909. In 1889, polygamists were advised by the authorities of the Church to give themselves up instead of being hunted down by the law. On the first of June 1889, David gave himself up. Because of his age (67), he was not required to serve the usual six months jail sentence. He paid, instead, a $100 fine and returned home a happy man.
Back (l-r): William Sparks, Hans Jensen, Lucy Ann Francis, Robert Buttar, John Buttar, Daniel Buttar, Elizabeth Buttar, Charles Buttar, Margaret Cutler, Will Sparks; Sitting: Emma Gover, Sarah Buttar, David Buttar, Sarah Keep Buttar, Karen Buttar
On 30 May 1899, David, his wife Sarah, their son Charles and a niece Mary Ann Jenkins, had all attended the Logan Temple. While driving across the Bear River Bridge on their return trip home to Clarkston, the bridge broke and the buggy, horses, and all the people went into the water. Beams and iron from the bridge pinned the occupants in the water. Charles, while trying to free Sarah, saw the Jenkins baby floating downstream and caught its clothing just before it floated under the broken bridge, saving its life. Sarah received a severe blow to the head, cutting a gash in her scalp, knocking out her teeth, and injuring her internally. David’s shoulder was also severely injured. William Bingham and William Thain, who were working in a field nearby, heard the cries for help and came to pull everyone from the river. Bingham then rode to Logan for a doctor. Sarah was taken home to Clarkston unconscious. William Bingham, who had so bravely rescued her and the others, thought that surely she had died and came to Clarkston a few days later to attend her funeral. It would be an understatement to say that he was quite surprised to find no funeral transpiring, as Sarah was alive and well. Sarah did report afterward of having an out-of-body experience during the near-drowning incident and spoke of the beautiful things she witnessed on the other side of the veil.
In 1909, David contributed $200 to President Budge of the Logan Temple. President Budge gratefully said that the donation was an answer to prayers, as money was needed to purchase a new rug (carpet) to replace carpet that had been burned in a recent temple fire. President Budge gave David a priesthood blessing which pleased David greatly. David also stated that he thought that would be his last donation to the temple – and it was. On November 23, 1911, David passed away from eye cancer at the age of 89. He was laid to rest in the Clarkston Cemetery. A beautiful, majestic monument has been erected to his memory at his burial site.
Buttar home on 6 October 1920
Was David a Buttar or Buttars? His christening record prepared by the church has Butter, likely from the mouth of his father. It does not show as plural. When David was married to his first wife, Margaret Spalding, the church recorded his name as David Buttar. Another record, likely created from his own dictation to the individual creating the record. The 1860 Census, probably from someone else’s mouth, has Buttar. But yet, 1870, probably from someone else’s mouth, has Buttars. It goes back and forth. 1910 Census – Buttars. Death certificate for Charles William Buttar – father is David Buttar – Sarah Keep Buttar completed this death certificate information (but Charles’ grave marker has Buttars). The death certificate for his wife, Sarah Keep Buttar – has his name as David Buttars. Alternatively, when he died, Sarah Keep Buttar provided the death certificate information and provided his name as David Buttar. But, when she applied for the Daughters of the Pioneers, she wrote Buttars. Ultimately, some of his siblings and own children used both variations. There are likely other records, but it appears at this time the records created by him in his own life show Buttar. Lastly, when he died, the family listed Buttar on the tombstone (as seen above). But since his christening record (provided by his parents), marriage certificate (provided by him), and his death certificate (provided by his wife) all list Buttar, along with his tombstone, I will go with Buttar for this history.
David has an entry in Pioneers and Prominent Men in Utah.
“Buttar, David (son of Daniel Buttar and Batheah Rattray, born 1788, both of Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland. Born Dec. 2, 1822 at Blairgowrie. Came to Utah November, 1854, Capt. Taylor Company.
“Married Margaret Spalding Dec. 14, 1848, in Scotland (daughter of John Spalding and Marjory Meek Johnson), who was born April 1, 1822, and came to Utah with husband. Their children; Marjory Meek Johnson b. Sep. 16, 1849, m. Henry Mullet December, 1866; m. Joseph J. Harrison 1869; Batheah b. July 15, 1851, m. William Sparks Dec. 15, 1868; David b. November, 1863, d. February, 1854 [sic]; John Spalding b. May 22, 1856, m. Sarah L. Tanner Jan. 1, 1880; Daniel b. Sept. 22, 1858, m. Emma Gover January, 1883; Robert Sutter b. April 6, 1861, m. Mary Godfrey 1891; Margaret b. Aug. 6, 1863, d. infant. Family home Lehi, Utah.
“Married Sarah Keep Dec. 16, 1866, at Lehi (daughter of James Joseph Keep (high priest) and Ann Miller; married July 22, 1836; pioneers Oct. 22, 1866, Abner Lowry company. She was the widow of Thomas Francis, married May 15, 1865, and mother of Lucy Ann Francis, born March 26, 1866, who married Hans Jensen July, 1884). She was born June 28, 1840, Greenham, Berkshire, Eng. Their children: Sarah Isabell Buttar, b. April 16, 1868, d. June 15, 1868; Elizabeth Keep b. June 9, 1869, m. John Loosle Dec. 3, 1891; Charles William b. June 15, 1871, m. Angeline Stuart May 18, 1892; Thomas James b. Oct. 13, 1873, m. Annie Loosle; David Alexander b. Dec. 14, 1876, m. Rose Loosle; James Joseph Keep b. Feb. 26, 1878, m. Agnes Jordan; Mary Janet b. June 30, 1880, m. Louis Thompson; Emma Jane b. Oct. 8, 1882, m. David Thompson. Family home Clarkston, Utah.
“Settled at Clarkston 1868. High priest. Shoemaker; farmer. Died Nov. 23. 1911.
Back (l-r): James Joseph, David Alexander, Emma Jane, Daniel, Mary Janet, Robert Sutter, Lucy Ann, Charles William, Thomas James; Front: Elizabeth, Sarah, David, and John Spalding
The Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah biography gives a good overview of David’s family.
This editorial obituary also provided some insights into David.
“CLARKSTON, Nov. 27 – Never has a departing member of the Clarkston ward had greater honor shown him than that which has been bestowed upon our departed friend and brother, David Buttars; a true and honest man in every relation in life.
“The funeral services, held Sunday afternoon, had a very large attendance, there being relatives and friends from Salt Lake, and from all parts of this county, present, besides the very large neighborhood attendance. Twenty-one members of the ward choir were present, and rendered some fine selections. The floral emblems were numerous and most beautiful. Bishop Ravsten presided. The choir sang, “Farewell all Earthly Honors” and Elder William Griffin of Newton offered the opening prayer. The choir then sang, “Rest For the Weary Soul,” following which the following brethren offered words of praise for the departed, and of hope and condolence to the living: Prest. Roskelley, John E. Griffin of Newton, and C. P. Anderson. The choir then sang: “It is Well With my Soul.” Prest. Skidmore, Elder Burnham and Bishop Ravsten then added their testimony of the worth of the departed; the last named speaker proclaiming the deceased a full tithe payer, a blessing in and to the ward, and a faithful Latter-day Saint. The choir sang “Shall I Receive a Welcome Home.”
“Nearly forty vehicles followed the remains to their last resting place, where Bishop Ravsten dedicated the grave. Six stalwart sons: John, Daniel, Robert, Thomas, David and James, acted as pall-bearers. These, with a loving wife and four daughters, and a host of children and grandchildren are left to mourn his loss.
“Brother Buttars was eighty-nine years old at the time of his death. He was born in Scotland, but had lived in Utah since the year 1854. Following his arrival he lived in Salt Lake for a short time, then moved to Lehi. Leaving Lehi he came to Clarkston of which he was a resident for more than forty years; passing through all the toils and hardships that constituted the lot of our pioneers. He was always in the front rank of progress and helped make Clarkston the desirable place it is today. He was charitable to the poor, and a liberal contributor to missionary, and all other beneficent funds and works. His memory will be kept green at least so long as the present generation lives. Among other good works he officiated in the Logan Temple for more than eleven hundred of his deceased kindred.
Back (l-r): Margaret Priscilla Buttars, George Alfred Sparks, David Sparks, (photo of James & Ann Keep), Thomas James Buttars, David Alexander Buttars, James Joseph Buttars, Mary Janet Buttars; Front: Rachel Betheah Buttars, Margaret Sarah Buttars, Daniel David Buttars, Melvin Henry Buttars, David William Buttars, Thomas Hans Jensen, and Emma Jane Buttars
David and Sarah Keep were married 16 December 1866 in Lehi, Utah. David and Sarah received their endowments in the Salt Lake City Endowment House on 14 December 1868. David and Margaret, and David and Sarah were also sealed the same day in the Endowment House. I am not clear if Margaret was initially endowed on 14 December 1868 and the record was lost, but the work is officially shown as completed for Margaret on 5 June 1884 in the Logan Temple. David married Karen Sophia Jensen 11 June 1884 in Logan, Cache, Utah at the Temple.
Handwritten biography of David Buttar by Sarah Buttar after his passing
Handwritten biography of David Buttar by Sarah Buttar after his passing
This biography added some other interesting insights, particularly of his death. Sounds like a painful process, even if the final passing was like going to sleep.
Buttar home, Thomas, Elizabeth, Sarah, David Alexander, Mary, James Joseph, Emma Jane, David, and unknown
“A sketch of Sarah Keep Buttars life up to the age of 82 which I Sarah write myself, I was born the 28th of June 1840 at Stroudgreen, Greenham, Berkshire, England. Daughter of James Joseph Keep and Ann Miller Keep.
“I was christened in the Church of England, and learned all the Collicks, Hymns, Prayers and Chants, I can yet repeat some of them. I was naturally religious and when eight years of age the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints came and stood outside my Fathers gate and preached. My Mother was brought up a staunch Baptist and my Father belonged to the Church of England. Mother didn’t understand the teachings of the Elders as soon as my Father did. One Sunday Morning the Elders came to preach in front of our house and Father took a bench out for all to sit on. Father believed in their teachings and one Sunday morning, 23 July 1848, he crept out of bed and was baptized without any of us knowing it. When he came back mother knew he had been baptized, and came upstairs and told us children to call out “You have been by the Latter Day Saints haven’t you?” Father told Mother if she would go to the Latter Day Saints Church with him he would go to the Baptist Chapel with her sometimes.
“One day they were too late for the Baptist meeting and Father ask Mother to go the Latter Day Saint meeting, and she went with him and soon after she joined the church. After joining the Church they lost everything, their home, and five other houses they owned. Then they had to pay rent, after this the Elders came to our house and held their meetings. Then I was baptize the date being February 1849 the ice was broken for me. I had to walk home on and one half miles under Mother’s cloak in my wet clothes, because the mob was calling my Father, “Curley Keep”, the Latter Day Devil to let a little girl like me be dipped.
“In 1850 we all had the smallpox, my eldest brother James Joseph Keep died from smallpox 25 February 1850, my Mother was also very sick with the smallpox.
“We were very poor and when my baby sister Harriet was born the 8th of March 1850, my Mother had a cancer in her breast and Father wanted to get a Doctor, but Mother wanted the Elders, so my sister and I went for the Elders, they administered to her and anointed her breast and the cancer went away, and she was never bothered with it again, this strengthened my faith in the gospel and I became more religious and what I learned I did not forget. I was taught to learn and repeat verses of the Bible when in Sunday School and at home. As I grew older I traveled much with my Father and his companion. When they went out preaching in the open air I was always anxious to go, and they said I could go if I could sing for them which I did. People gathered to listen to their teachings and many joined the church. My Father and his companion and I suffered many persecutions but the Lord preserved us from our enemies.
“At the age of thirteen I went to London with my father and his companion I sang in the streets of London, we were often told by the police to move on.
“At the age of eighteen I was self willed, and thought about marriage, my Father told us older girls not to get married until we came to the New Valley. Although I had great desire to get to the valley, thinking it would be “Heaven on Earth” yet I thought I would please myself. At this time I had a dream and was shown the route to the valley. The American Elders said when I related it to them that it was truly the route to the valley, in the dream I saw high mountains and the plains, and as I passed on walking I came to a beautiful green meadow, and I heard Heavenly Music and Singing. I saw on the top of the high mountain a very elderly looking man and he was dressed in a long robe, his beard and hair was long and white, he was winding some silver piping on top of the mountain, the sun shown on him so bright that it dazzled my eyes and just at that time a woman passed by me, then I saw a gate leading into the meadow, and there was a gatekeeper, the woman went up to the gate he told her she would have to have her blessing before she could go through, he beckoned to the man on the top of the mountain and he came down and gave her a wonderful blessing he beckoned to the man again and he came and laid his hands on my head and told me to honor my father and my Mother that my days may be long up on the land which the Lord they giveth thee, he said go thy ways and obey they parents in all things. I didn’t think I had as good of a blessing as the woman that passed through before me and when the gate keeper said you can now go into the meadow I said, “I do not want to, for he did not give me as good of a blessing as that woman had, and I did not want to go in.”
“He said, “You had what you deserved,” then I went back and I saw a house where there was dancing and I could hear music, I thought I heard my sister’s voice, and I went up to the door, there were two door keepers, and they gave me a push and said, “You can’t come in here,” I fell down the steps, when I got up I turned to the meadow again and I sat down and cried bitterly, when I awoke my pillow was very wet, I saw that I was going to do something wrong and afterward I knew what it was.
“At the age of twenty five I married against my Father’s and Mother’s wishes and they didn’t know it for six weeks, then to my sorrow I found that my husband had just joined to church to get me, for my Father said I should not marry anyone out of the church, this was his council and I disobeyed him. When I was married my husband told me that it was once my day but now it was his day, he let me know it at a later time.
“In 1866 my Father and Mother were going to the Valley, and I could not go, my husband said if I went to see my Father off he would push me overboard, but the Lord helped me. My Mother and Father told me if I would go with them and leave my husband they would pay me for it, I could see I would never get there the way my husband was acting so I gave my word to go. I left him although it was very hard to part. I kept my word and obeyed my parents, and like in my dream I shed many tears, I did not tell my husband that I was going and he seemed kinder that day then ever before, which made it more hard for me to endure, but I prepared everything as though I was going back home that night, he ask if he should come for me and carry the baby, I said no it might be late when my Aunt leaves, and I may stay at Mother’s all night.
“The next morning finding I did not go home he went to Mother’s and not finding me there he sent a man dressed in pilots clothes to the ship to find me, he questioned me as to where I was going with such a young baby and at that I hardly told him, when he said are going alone, my Mother said “NO” for I was going with my Father and my Brother-in-law, meaning my sister’s husband, he said “OH” and up the companion ladder, I told Mother I was afraid my Husband would come, I passed my baby over to the other side of the ship, I got into the berth of a young couple that had a feather bed in one corner and I crept down behind it. Three policeman came and looked in every berth and did not see me, they were after two apprentices, and four more sisters, and one brother that were leaving husband and wives, they never got any of us, but the two apprentices went back.
“We set sail 23 May 1866 on the American Congress. When at sea we were tossed about and nearly all become seasick. I was blessed by having only three days of seasickness, Father and Mother and my two younger sisters were very sick and my baby caught the whooping cough, having caught cold by being passed about when the policemen were after me. The Lord spared her life and she got well.
“The cook’s cabin took fire, and a little time after the sea was so rough our main mast broke, and the sail went into the sea, next day they fixed the mast, we had a calm and the ship did not move back or forward, but rocked about. We had a Concert on the top deck and enjoyed ourselves. We had heavy fog very often so bad the Captain could not see where we were going, Brother Rider, the President’s counsel was talking to the Captain on the quarter deck and saw the fog lift up he said “What is that?” It was the breakers he saw, but the Captain did not answered, he sprang to the wheel and called, “About ship all hands to the Riggins,” soon the danger was over and the Captain said that in a short time all would have had a watery grave if the fog had not lifted, we were saved by providence.
“When we were on the river the boat took fire, and they carried large fiery sticks past the foot of my bed and threw them in the water.
“We landed in New York the 4th of July 1866, we anchored and saw many beautiful fire works, a ship was set on fire on the sea and with flames coming out of its many windows it was a great sight. Next day we went on the pier and then came another task, we had to pass a man that read our names off when we came to my name, as I was called Sarah Keep, and child, he said “Stop!” Where is your husband, and how do you know he is not here? “Stand Back!” he shouted, I stood back and all the young men passed, my old friend, Will Penny, came and ask me what was the matter, I told him and he told me to come with him and they would not know who he was, I went with him and all was well. We stayed in New York three weeks. My sister Lucy’s baby was born there, then came another task, my Father did not have enough money to take me on to the valley, I sold my wedding ring to buy my baby a pair of shoes, and a hat, and also to pay for an advertisement. I advertised to be a wet nurse, my Mother was to take my baby on to Zion, and I would follow. I went to the office and engaged at twenty dollars a month, when I was returned home I met my Father, he said he had been to the office of Brother Bullock and Thomas Taylor who was looking after the emigrant companies and they told him not to leave me there in a strange land if I had left my husband for the gospel, and as my Father didn’t have the money they said the church would take me and I could pay it back when I got to Zion and I had the money to do so. Father decided I could go on with him if I wanted to, but I thought I could save enough to pay my own way, I was very glad when it was time for the boat to leave. When we were on the train the wheels caught fire and we were pushed into another car as if we were sheep, for we were just emigrants.
“While crossing the plains with oxen teams the Cholera broke out, and about seventy one died, many were buried in a quilt or sheets, the wolves would howl around at night, and perhaps dig up the dead that were buried.
“One night about twenty five or thirty Indians came to camp, they were on the war path, it frightened us very much, for we were afraid we would surely be killed, they had scalps of women’s long hair hanging from their tomahawks, and their belts were filled with arrows and bows in their hands, they had a letter which they gave to the Captain to read, he called, is there anyone in camp who can read the Indian language, a young sister by the name of Emma who had left her husband and two little girls said “I can read the Indian Language.” She had learned to read it when her husband was a soldier, and he had taught her to read it, she read the letter, and was pleased the Indians, the Captain pitched a tent inside the ring of wagons, and fed them they sang all night, and followed us all the next day calling “We Want White Women,” at last they left us.
“When traveling the Captain would take my baby on his horse, and tell me to walk on, and the teamsters would pick me up, and take me in their wagon and they would ride on the tongue of the wagon, they would tell me to sing to them and they would walk rather than see me walk as I had sore feet. I used to wash my baby’s clothes in the streams when we camped, and the teamsters would tell me to dry my clothes by the fire, they let me bake my bread in the skillet after their baking was done. Sometimes I had only bread or small piece of bacon to nurse my baby on.
“I am thankful I am here, and I have learned what I came here for, I can say I do know that the Lord has been with me and give me more than I deserve, but he has promised “He that leaves Father and Mother, Husband or Wife for the gospel, shall receive a Hundred Fold.” I can now see there was work for me to do for the dead and the Lord has blessed and preserved my life many times to do this work. I am very thankful to him for it.
“I traveled first with Father and Mother, and two Sisters in Pratt’s Company, then Captain Inkley came to bring the sick in, and I came with his company I left my parents, and arrived in Salt Lake City at conference, the fifth or sixth of October 1866. In two weeks I hired out to a sister’s home to nurse her as she was sick. I got a cold in my eyes, and it was so terrible that I went to my sister Mary’s in Lehi until they were better. Brother David Buttars came there on business and told me he knew what would cure my eyes if I would do it. He told me Brother Brigham Young’s remedy. Was to dig down a little over a foot deep in the soil mold the soil and lay it on my eyes at night in a fine cloth, I did it and it healed my eyes in a week.
“Mr. Buttars came again and asked my sister and I to his daughter Marjory’s Wedding Supper. I went and when I was going home he wanted to go with me and carry the baby, he did so, and that night he ask me to become his wife, that was the pay he wanted for telling me what would cure my eyes, in less than three weeks we were married in my sister’s house by the Bishop’s counselor in Lehi, I was twenty six years old and had one child, and David was forty four and had five children. Sixteen months later I had my first baby girl, Sarah Isabelle two months later 15 Jun 1868 she died and was buried in the garden until David came home, then she had been dead eight days, David and I buried her ourselves in the graveyard at Lehi Utah.
“My husband had been to Clarkston to buy us a home, this was in June 1868, and in October 1868, we moved to Clarkston, Utah.
“That fall the grasshoppers were so bad that we cut up cow skin and made a rope which three of us dragged up and down the garden in order to make the grasshopper fly away, and keep them from cutting the grain. There were so many grasshoppers that when they were flying they would darken the sun.
“When we were on our way to Clarkston, we were just crossing the mountain top, and the tongue of the wagon broke, the horses and the cattle went off and were lost for five days travel time, during this time the mail coach with President John Taylor passed us and nearly tipped over, because we could not get out of the way, we started again for Clarkston and arrived at the end of October 1868, and I have lived here since.
“I was the first milliner in Clarkston, I made Straw hats, and straw braid, and straw trimmings for the hats. In 1869 my third daughter was born. Two more years we fought the grasshopper and crickets. In 1871 there were seven crowds of crickets and three crowds of grasshoppers that came and ate everything up. On the 15th of June 1871 my first boy, Charles, was born, and eight days after on the 23 of June 1871 the seagulls came and ate all the grasshoppers and crickets.
Baby quilt made by Sarah Buttar
“I joined the Female society in 1869 at Clarkston, and was a teacher for many years. I was the President of the Primary for six years, and a teacher for about eighteen years. The first Prayer circle in Clarkston was in my home, I was very much delighted and it was kept there for three years and four months. Then it was moved to the New Tithing house. I was married to my husband David Buttars 16th December 1866 and was sealed to him in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah 14 December 1868.
Clarkston Ward Sisters: Annie Heggie, Marie Anderson, Sarah Buttar, Jane Godfrey, Hannah Thompson, Elizabeth Loosle
“In 1884 my husband took another wife. We lived in that Celestial order for twenty three years. I have worked in the Salt Lake Temple, and the Logan Temple for the dead. I have worked and paid for about two thousand names. I have had my second Endowments many years ago. I have seen and talked to Martin Harris, one of the three witnesses, who is buried in the Clarkston Cemetery, I am a member of the Camp of Daughter’s of pioneers named in his honor, I have planted flowers on his grave.
“I have been near drowning two or three times. Once on the ship and twice in America, once when I was crossing the Bear River Bridge with my husband and relatives, we were returning from doing temple work, the bridge broke and we all went into the river, I was laid upon the river bank for dead, being crushed with the broken timber, I regained my consciousness, that was on the 30th of May 1899.
“I have had nine children five girls and four boys, three are dead at the present time, Eight of them are married and have families of their own. I am now Eighty two years old. I am writing this in March 1923.
“Sarah Keep Buttars died 7 October 1935 at the age of ninety five. She was active until a few days before her death. She attended the Cache County Fair in September 1935 and won a prize for her Fancy Hand Work and the honor of being the oldest pioneer in Cache Valley attending the fair.
We took the opportunity to attend the Casper Wyoming Temple Open House on 31 August 2024. We planned the weekend to do some sightseeing and visit some church and family history sites. I am reposting as this has updates on 3 additional ancestors that also came through the Overland Trail.
We left on the Friday morning with the hope of making it all the way to Casper before nightfall. We took old US Highway 30 through Soda Springs and Montpelier. We made a stop to visit the grave of my Grandmother in Dingle.
Aliza, Lillian, Paul, James, and Hiram Ross at the graves of Bud and Colleen Lloyd
We drove through Cokeville and reminded the kids of the story of the Cokeville miracle. As we drove along the old highway, I pointed out the old railroad Y that used to go to the Stauffer mine that was located in Leefe, Wyoming. I spent the first summer or two of my life at Leefe while my dad was tasked with tearing down and removing the mine with Circle A Construction. We stopped in Kemmerer to refuel and also drive past the first J. C. Penney store. We made a quick stop at the Parting of the Ways along the California, Mormon, and Oregon trails.
James Ross at Independence Rock
With four kids, we often stop at rest areas. As you can see above, we stopped at the one at Independence Rock. The rock is nearby and doubles as the parking location to visit the rock.
We finally made it to Casper about sunset. We ate an amazing Italian meal at Racca’s Pizzeria Napoletana and checked into our hotel.
Casper Wyoming Temple
We got up early, dressed appropriately, and headed out to visit the Casper Wyoming Temple. It was beautiful. Much smaller than I had anticipated. It is definitely one of the smallest temples, but that is because of the population and distance to other temples. It will supposedly have five stakes in its temple district, some of which will still come from a long distance to attend. Don’t let size fool you, it still has all the distinct parts of a temple and related quality. I think I may very much prefer the intimacy of the smaller temples. It actually reminded me of the Helena Montana Temple on size and flow.
Ross family at the Casper Wyoming Temple Open House
The temple does not have an adjoining chapel, but it does have a distribution/visitor center. We watched the video, enjoyed waiting in the line, and got to see the whole temple. If I were asked, there are a couple of design changes I would make for flow, but this temple will not regularly see these types of crowds or have those issues.
Ross family with the Casper Wyoming Temple
We hurried back to our hotel, changed, loaded up the car, checked out, and headed off to our next stop: The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper. I did not take any pictures there, but it was very well done. I enjoyed the visit, helped the kids with their junior ranger activities, and learned a few things. Part of the museum had its own little room and video dedicated to the Martin and Willie Handcart Companies.
We stopped at Independence Rock again on our way headed west. We walked around the massive rock and looked at a number of the signatures carved into stone from over 160 years ago. It was hot and we needed to get our little doggies along to Devil’s Gate.
I will write about this more in a bit, but Devil’s Gate was a major landmark on the trail going west for all pioneers on the trails. But Devil’s Gate became more than a landmark and became a historical site in the tragic fall of 1856. Fort Seminoe was based there on the west side of Devil’s Gate, but it had been abandoned earlier that same year. It was that fall that the Martin Handcart Company found itself stranded in the snow. Days later the stranded handcart company moved into a nearby cove to get away from the wind, snow, and cold. That cove is now known as Martin’s Cove.
The Sun Ranch from Devil’s Gate, now The Martin’s Cove: Mormon Trail Site
We found the visitor’s center much more hospitable than some of our ancestors. As I worked through my family history, I had some of my own ancestors who passed through this very Devil’s Gate and area. Here are my ancestral lines that came across on the Mormon Trail. I had counted only 3 while in Casper, but hadn’t realized the Williams clan came over in two separate trips.
William and Mary Ann Sharp in 1853. Wagon train. Moses Clawson Company. William and Mary Ann met in the wagon train and married in Nebraska in 1853. William and Mary are my 3rd Great Grandparents.
John Williams in 1860. Wagon train. John Smith Company. John came over with his two sons John Haines (1829) and Richard (1838). I don’t know why his son David went separately in 1864. I am a descendant of John through David. John is my 4th Great Grandfather.
Johanna Benson in 1862. Wagon train. Joseph Horne Company. Johanna came over with some of her children and their families, her daughter Agneta, came over in 1864 with her family. Johanna is my 4th Great Grandmother.
William Edward Stoker in 1863. Wagon train. Unknown Company. William was traveling with his family, including the baby Mary Ann. William is my 3rd Great Grandfather, Mary Ann is my 2nd Great Grandmother.
John and Agneta Nelson in 1864. Wagon train. William Preston Company. Agneta is the daughter of Johanna Benson who came over in 1862. John and Agneta are my 3rd Great Grandparents.
David D and Gwenllian Williams in 1864. David is the son of John mentioned above. Wagon train. William S Warren Company. Gwenllian came with her sister Mary. Both married on the ship in Liverpool before setting sail for Utah. Gwenllian and Mary’s parents, David and Margaret Jordan, came over in 1872 crossing the plains by rail. David and Gwenllian are my 3rd Great Grandparents.
That gives me 10 ancestors that crossed the plains by wagon, none by handcart that I can tell. The unknown companies were all wagon trains as there were not handcarts those years.
Devil’s Gate – 2024
Every single one of these seven ancestors of mine who came west on the trail would have passed through Devil’s Gate. Here I stood on this sacred ground and snapped this photo of my daughter, my descendant and their descendant, at Devil’s Gate.
Aliza Ross at Devil’s Gate
It took me a bit more work, as I am not as familiar, to find those family lines of Amanda’s that also would have passed along the Mormon Trail to the west before the railroad made it much, much faster and safer. It took me several occasions over a couple of weeks to spend the time to research all these lines.
Henry and Ann Jackson in 1852. Wagon train. James C Snow Company. This is Amanda’s 4th Great Grandparents.
Regina Hansen in 1853. Wagon train. John E Forsgren Company. Her son, Hans Hansen, also accompanied her on the trip. Regina’s husband stayed behind. Regina is Amanda’s 4th Great Grandmother, Hans is Amanda’s 3rd Great Grandfather.
Grave of Hans Hansen in Plain City, Utah. Edith Sharp Ross’ stone is the stone at 10 o’clock from the top of this stone, my Great Grandmother.
David Buttar in 1854. Wagon train. William Empey Company. He appears to have traveled alone. Amanda’s 3rd Great Grandfather.
Birthe Jacobson in 1854. Unknown if wagon train or handcart company. Birthe’s daughter, Maria Jacobson, also accompanied her on the trip. Her husband Jorgen died in Missouri as part of the trip. Birthe is Amanda’s 5th Great Grandmother, Maria is Amanda’s 4th Great Grandmother.
Harriet Housley in 1856. Handcart company. Edward Martin Company. Harriet’s son, George Housley, also accompanied her on the trip. Two other children came later. Harriet is Amanda’s 5th Great Grandmother, George is Amanda’s 4th Great Grandfather.
Richard and Christine Hemsley (1836 – 1915) in 1857. Handcart company. Israel Evans Company. This is Amanda’s 4th Great Grandparents.
Ole and Anne Jensen in 1861. Likely wagon train. Unknown company. Amanda’s 5th Great Grandparents.
John Crompton in 1862. Wagon train. Joseph Horne Company. John also had his daughter, Hannah Crompton, with him. John is Amanda’s 4th Great Grandfather, Hannah is Amanda’s 3rd Great Grandmother.
Anna Nielsen in 1862. Wagon train. Christian Madsen Company. She traveled alone. Amanda’s 3rd Great Grandmother.
Joseph and Penelope Thompson in 1862. Wagon train. John Riggs Murdock Company. Their son, Joseph Thompson, also accompanied the family. Amanda’s 4th Great Grandparents, Joseph is Amanda’s 3rd Great Grandfather.
Joseph Wayment in 1863. Wagon train. Unknown Company. Appears to have come alone. Although his parents and most of his siblings would come later by rail. Amanda’s 3rd Great Grandfather.
Axel Boyer in 1866. Wagon train. Abner Lowry Company. Amanda’s 4th Great Grandfather. Also traveled with the Keeps, other ancestors of Amanda.
James and Ann Keep in 1866. Wagon train. Abner Lowry Company. Their daughter, Sarah Keep, also accompanied the family. James and Ann are Amanda’s 4th Great Grandparents, Sarah is Amanda’s third great Grandmother. Also traveled with Axel Boyer, other ancestor of Amanda.
Richard Hemsley (1801 – 1866) and his later wife Sarah in 1866. Wagon train. William Henry Chipman Company. Amanda’s 5th Great Grandfather.
Peter Peterson in 1866. Wagon train. Joseph Sharp Rawlins Company. Peter is Amanda’s 4th Great Grandfather.
That is the Hemsley line alone, Amanda’s Dad. I count 26 ancestors of Amanda’s Dad that came through Devil’s Gate.
James, Lillian, Hiram, and Aliza Ross at Devil’s Gate Mormon Handcart Visitor Center
Amanda’s Mom’s line, the Holden family, has the following:
Edwin and Ruia Holden in 1852. Wagon train. Uriah Curtis Company. Their son, Henry Holden, also accompanied the family. Edwin and Ruia are Amanda’s 4th Great Grandparents, Henry is Amanda’s 3rd Great Grandfather.
Jesse and Temperance McCauslin in 1851. Wagon train. Unknown Company. Temperance passed away in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She did not make the trail in Wyoming or Devil’s Gate. Their daughter, Louisa McCauslin, also accompanied the family. Jesse is Amanda’s 4th Great Grandfather, Louisa is Amanda’s 3rd Great Grandmother.
John and Adelaide Roberts in 1863. Wagon train. Thomas Ricks Company. Their son, Hyrum Roberts, also accompanied the family. John and Adelaide are Amanda’s 3rd Great Grandparents, Hyrum is Amanda’s 2nd Great Grandfather.
Thomas and Mary Ashton in 1851. Wagon train. Morris Phelps Company. Mary also passed away in Iowa. She did not make the trail in Wyoming or Devil’s Gate. Their son, Joseph Ashton, also accompanied the family. Thomas is Amanda’s 4th Great Grandfather, Joseph is Amanda’s 3rd Great Grandfather.
Sarah Jarvis in 1854. Wagon train. Job Smith Company. She came with some of her family, but not with her son, Amanda’s ancestor, George Jarvis. Sarah is Amanda’s 4th Great Grandmother.
George and Ann Jarvis in 1853. Wagon train. Unknown Company. George and Ann are Amanda’s 3rd Great Grandparents. George is the son of Sarah Jarvis mentioned above.
William and Rebecca Finch in 1854. Wagon train. Daniel Garn Company. William and Rebecca are Amanda’s 3rd Great Grandparents.
Joseph Finch in 1853. Wagon train. Joseph Young Company. Joseph is the son of William and Rebecca Finch mentioned above.
John and Hannah Davis in 1851. Wagon train. Eaton Kelsey Company. Their daughter, Mary Jane, also accompanied the family. The family also has Davies listed for their last name sometimes. John and Hannah are Amanda’s 4th great grandparents, Mary Jane is Amanda’s 3rd Great Grandmother.
John Evans in 1866. Wagon train. William Henry Chipman Company (same company as Amanda’s Richard Hemsley above). His wife, Sarah, died on the trip from the United Kingdom in New York. His son, John Evans, also accompanied his father and brother. John is Amanda’s 3rd Great Grandfather, John is Amanda’s 2nd Great Grandfather.
James and Elizabeth Boyack in 1855. Wagon train. Milo Andrus Company. James and Elizabeth are Amanda’s 4th Great Grandparents.
James Boyack in 1853. Wagon train. Appleton Harmon Company. James is Amanda’s 3rd Great Grandfather. James is the son of James and Elizabeth Boyack above that came in 1855 across the plains.
Margary Waterhouse in 1855. Wagon train. Milo Andrus Company. Margary is Amanda’s 3rd Great Grandmother. She came across with the same train as James Boyack’s parents, presumably that is how she met her future husband. The Company arrived 24 October 1855 in Utah, James and Margary married 23 November 1855 in Springville, Utah.
That is the Holden line alone, Amanda’s Mom. I count 26 of ancestors of Amanda’s Mom that came through Devil’s Gate. As an aside, I also looked at her biological line (as she is adopted), and not a single one of her biological ancestors passed through Devil’s Gate.
James riding while Hiram, Lillian, and Aliza Ross pull a handcart at Devil’s Gate Mormon Handcart Visitors Center
We also stopped and visited with the sixth crossing of the Sweetwater River. This was the location where, like the Martin Handcart Company, the Willie Handcart Company also got stuck in wind, snow, and cold in 1856. Their rescue occurred here.
The next day, on our way to Grand Teton National Park, we made a stop at Fort Washakie, Wyoming. This is one of the alleged graves of Sacagawea. We stopped and remembered her, whether her final resting place or not.
All in all, I was surprised by my own connection to the Mormon Trail. I had never considered that I have 7 ancestors who had literally came this way. Or that my children have 59 ancestors that literally come this way. They passed by Independence Rock, through Devil’s gate, and two of those 59 suffered with the Martin Handcart Company. I will write more on the Housleys later as there have been other interesting interactions with that clan since our marriage.
This photo appeared of David D Williams recently. I had a very small copy of the same photo attached to a family pedigree sheet. Here is a copy of that pedigree that belonged to my Grandmother, Gladys Maxine Donaldson Ross. The other photos on the pedigree I have also match. I was pretty excited when this one showed up in better and higher resolution than the one on the family group sheet.
Pedigree of David Delos Donaldson
My Grandma would not have known David as he passed away in 1911. I have previously written on David D Williams and Gwenllian Jordan. For a quick updated, David D Williams was born 12 November 1832 in Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, Wales. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in August 1848. He saved and emigrated to Utah in 1864. He married his wife on board the the ship, General McClellan, docked at Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. He and Gwenllian Jordan settled in Ogden, Weber, Utah. They had 10 children of which Mary Elizabeth Williams (1869 – 1951) is my Great Great Grandmother. David passed away 27 November 1911 in Ogden. He was buried 2 December 1911 in the Ogden City Cemetery. He and Gwenllian do not yet have a tombstone, something I hope to correct.
CORRECTION: THIS IS NOT David D Williams and Gwenlliam Jordan, it is Joseph Willard Horsley and Erma Busenbark.
I am a bit disappointed to announce that this photo is not as we had believed. This photo was in a stack of Donaldson photos and I was told it was a photo of David D and Gwenlliam Jordan Williams. David and Gwenlliam is the parents of my Great Great Grandmother Mary Elizabeth Williams Donaldson.
We had no other photos of David and Gwenlliam in which to compare the photo. I posted the photo on FamilySearch in 2013, it is now removed. At the time, I had a hunch the photo was not them. Since the time of the photo, my Grandpa has passed away, Aunt Betty has passed away. I don’t know where the photo went that had writing on the back (and I didn’t scan the back).
I was contacted by another lady who indicated the photo is actually of Joseph Willard and Erma Busenbark Horsley.
Here is another picture of Erma. To me it is easily the same lady.
Erma Busenbark Horsley Oram
The fact that this lady is related to Betty Oram Donaldson and that I think she had the photo above, I am not concerned we had the wrong names. However, I wish I could see the back of the photo.
But I am convinced enough to remove it as David D and Gwenlliam Williams.
This wasn’t intentional. Not sure why or how it happened, but it did.
Anyone who knows me knows that I stop and visited deceased people and ancestors anytime I am in the neighborhood. Kinda like stopping in to visit any other cousin or friend when you are driving through, are in town, and have some time. Ancestors are very accommodating whenever you want to stop in and visit. Maybe COVID-19 just gave us more time.
I have the following ancestors who are buried somewhat nearby, western United States. I will link each ancestor I have written about previously if you want additional information. Here are my ancestors and where they are buried.
As of this writing, I see there are two ancestors that I haven’t stopped and visited in the last few years and got pictures with the kids and the tombstone, Christiana Andra in Salt Lake City and William Sharp in Ogden (I now have the goal to get it done before the end of the year). I also have a couple of known ancestors without tombstones, David and Gwenllian Jordan in Ogden, Utah, Hubert Jonas in Ellensburg, Washington (but we got pictures at the grave), and Damey Ross in Olivehurst, California (who we visited after hours and couldn’t even locate the grave). We should remedy that but we may just have to stop and get pictures with their grave locations.
I also cheat and use the 2016, 2018, and 2019 photos with three ancestors, Johanna Benson in Spring City, Utah in 2018, John William Ross in San Bruno, California in 2016, and James Thomas Ross/Meredith in Fresno, California in 2019. I could do a 2020 photo for Johanna, but I am not going to California just to redo a tombstone photo with the two Ross ancestors.
Lillian (in background by Wanner tombstone), James, Aliza, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Mary Louise Wanner (1901-1991) and William Fredrick Andra (1898-1990) on 26 July 2020.
Aliza, Paul, Lillian, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Mary Ann Bailey (1828-1913), Mary Ann (Lillian “Lillie” Musgrave) Stoker (1861-1935) and Milo Riley Sharp (1857-1916) on 23 May 2020. Mary Ann Bailey is the mother of Milo Riley Sharp, don’t confuse mother Mary Ann with spouse Mary Ann. We shorten our Lillian’s name to Lillie’s spelling in her honor.
Aliza Ross with tombstones for Hermina Jansen (1860-1921) and George Henry (Gerhardus Hendrick) Van Leeuwen (1856-1932) on 28 June 2020.
Joseph Jonas – Richmond, Utah
Tombstone of Joseph Jonas (1859-1917) on 26 July 2020. The S is a mistake put there by someone. Some have put his mother’s maiden name “Schumacher” there, but we have yet to find any evidence of that middle initial or name.
Annie Jonas – Crescent, Sandy, Utah
Lillian and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Annetta Josephine Nelson Jonas (1864-1907) on 11 July 2020.
Herbert & Martha Coley – Richmond, Utah
Lillian Ross with tombstone of Martha Christiansen (1879-1961) and Herbert Coley (1864-1942) on 26 July 2020.
Christiana Andra – Wasatch Memorial, Latona Section, Salt Lake City, Utah
Aliza Ross, Jill Hemsley, Lillian Ross with tombstone of Christiana Wilhelmina Knauke (1869-1957), widow of Friedrich Theodor Andra, on 6 September 2020. She went by Wilhelmina in the United States and married Johann Wendel, as I have written previously. The other grave is her daughter-in-law and grandson, Rebecca Emelia Christensen (1904-1931) and Otto Carl Andra (1929-1929).
Lillie, Paul, Aliza, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of William Sharp on 27 November 2020. This was the first time I had ever been to William’s grave.
Mary Sharp – Plain City, Utah
Aliza, Paul, Lillian, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Mary Ann Bailey (1828-1913), Mary Ann (Lillie Musgrave) Stoker (1861-1935) and Milo Riley Sharp (1857-1916) on 23 May 2020. Mary Ann Bailey is the mother of Milo Riley Sharp, don’t confuse mother Mary Ann with spouse Mary Ann. We shorten our Lillian’s name to Lillie’s spelling in her honor.
Aliza, Lillie, Paul, James, and Hiram Ross at the graves of Gwenllian Jordan (1842-1900) and David D Williams (1832-1911) on 27 November 2020. Neither have a tombstone.
Hubert Jonas – Holy Cross, Ellensburg, Washington
Lillian Ross with tombstone of Emma Schriber Jonas (1855-1898), wife of William Jonas on 5 August 2020. William and his father Hubert both do not have tombstones and are buried next to Emma.
Hiram, James, Lillian, and Aliza Ross with tombstone for Agnetta Benson (Bengtsson)(1832-1873) and John Nelson (Johann Nilsson)(1827-1902) on 25 July 2020.
Paul, Aliza, and Lillian Ross with tombstone of Constance Josephine Eliza Jorgensen Christiansen (1857-1932) on 8 August 2020. Portland apparently isn’t watering their cemeteries this year.
Paul, Aliza, Lillian, and Hiram Ross with tombstones for Margret Watkins (1816-1902), David Jordan (1820-1893) and Thomas Jordan (1857-1880) on 23 May 2020. Thomas is the son of David and Margret.
Paul, Aliza, Hiram, and Lillian Ross with tombstone of Johanna Johannsson Benson (Bengtsson)(1813-1897) on 7 September 2018. I know I am cheating, it wasn’t 2020. But it was recent.
Aliza Ross with tombstones of Hanna Mathea Christensen (1831-1900) and Olavus Jorgensen (1830-1904) on 26 July 2020.
Others visited this year.
Garrett Lee Smith – Weston, Oregon
Paul Ross with tombstone of Garrett Lee Smith (1981-2003) on 9 August 2020. Garrett was my last missionary companion.
Eli Benjamin Stoker – Mullan, Idaho
Tombstone of Eli Benjamin Stoker (1870-1952) on 3 August 2020. Eli is the half-brother to my Mary Ann Stoker Sharp.
Mary Nelson Jonas – Holy Cross – Ellensburg, Washington
Aliza Ross with tombstone of Mary Nelson Jonas (1885-1899) on 5 August 2020. Mary is the sister to my Joseph Nelson Jonas.
Ezra & Flora Benson – Whitney, Idaho
Aliza and James Ross with tombstone of Flora Smith Amussen (1901-1992) and Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) on 26 July 2020. Many know Ezra as the 13th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Secretary of Agriculture under President Eisenhower.
Spackman Plot Marker – Lewiston, Utah
Aliza Ross with the Spackman Plot Marker. She recognized and wanted a picture with the Pacman tombstone on 26 July 2020.
Walter Theodor Andra – Logan, Utah
Aliza, Hiram, and Lillian Ross with tombstone of Walter Theodor Andra (1896-1967) on 25 July 2020. Walter is brother to my Bill Andra.
Charles Wilson Nibley – Logan, Utah
Aliza, Hiram, James, and Lillian Ross with tombstone of Charles Wilson Nibley (1849-1931) on 25 July 2020. Charles is known for various positions and business interests, but most will know him as a member of the First Presidency (non-apostle) to President Heber J Grant of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Moses Thatcher – Logan, Utah
Lillian, Hiram, and Aliza Ross with tombstone of Moses Thatcher (1842-1909) on 25 July 2020. Moses is known for various positions and business interests, but most will know him as a an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Allison Ann Parker – Logan, Utah
Tombstone of Allison Ann Parker (1976-1997) on 25 July 2020. Allison is a friend and brother of my high school friends Ryan and Russell Parker. She passed away after a tragic accident driving back to Utah after our Senior Prom date night in 1997.
Peter Maughan – Logan, Utah
James, Aliza, Lillian, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Peter Maughan on 25 July 2020. Peter is known for various positions and business interests, as one of the founders of Cache Valley, Utah.
Ezra Benson – Logan, Utah
Aliza, James, Hiram, and Lillian Ross with tombstone of Ezra Taft Benson (1811-1869) on 25 July 2020. Ezra is known for various positions and business interests, but most will know him as a an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Nels Nelson – Crescent, Sandy, Utah
Hiram and Lillian Jonas with tombstone of Nels August Nelson (Nilsson)(1857-1935) on 11 July 2020. He is the brother to my Annetta “Annie” Jonas.
Stanley Spatig – West Warren, Utah
Tombstone of Stanley Hazen Spatig (1940-2013). Son of Eva Virtue Wanner Spatig, sister to my Mary Louise Wanner Andra.
Joseph & Ann Wayment – West Warren, Utah
Bryan Hemsley, Amanda, Aliza, and Hiram Ross with tombstones of Ann Reed (1852-1931) and Joseph Wayment (1844-1931). Amanda’s Great Great Great Grandparents on 24 May 2020.
Louis & Martha Hansen – West Warren, Utah
Bryan Hemsley, Aliza, Amanda, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Sarah Eveline Judkins (1886-1943), Louis Alma Hansen (1876-1951), and Martha Ann Wayment (1877-1908) on 24 May 2020. Louis and Martha are Amanda’s Great Great Grandparents.
Walter & Myrtle Hansen – West Warren, Utah
Bryan & Jill Hemsley with Aliza, Lillian, Amanda, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Myrtle Thompson (1902-1959) and Walter Wayment Hansen (1904-1995) on 24 May 2020. Walter and Myrtle are Amanda’s Great Grandparents.
Evan & Lona Jonas – Lindquist Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, Ogden, Utah
Aliza and James Ross with tombstone for Lona Rae Jensen (1930-2012) and Evan Reed Jonas (1928-1999) on 23 May 2020. Evan is the brother to my Norwood Jonas.
Spencer & Jimmie Jonas – Lindquist Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, Ogden, Utah
Aliza Ross with tombstone of Viola Amelia (Jimmie) Cole (1920-1996) and Spencer Gilbert Jonas (1919-1988) on 23 May 2020. Spencer is the brother to my Norwood Jonas.
Melvin Thompson – Lindquist Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, Ogden, Utah
Amanda, James, Aliza, Lillian, Hiram Ross, Bryan and Jill Hemsley, and Alyssa Smart with tombstone of Melvin J Thompson (1925-2018) on 23 May 2020. Mel is Amanda step-Grandpa.
Merle & Belle Hemsley – Lindquist Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, Ogden, Utah
Bryan & Jill Hemsley, Hiram, Lillian, Aliza, and Amanda Ross with tombstone for Belle Sarah Peterson (1917-2003) and Richard Merle Hemsley (1912-1962) on 23 May 2020. Merle and Belle are Amanda’s Great Grandparents.
Ellen Weller – Hooper, Utah
Tombstone of Ellen Watton Weller (1828-1894) on 23 May 2020. I stumbled upon this tombstone in Hooper. I was walking around, felt inspired to walk over, and looked at this one knowing there was a link. Name looked vaguely familiar. Half-sister to my Hannah Maria Rogers Coley. Didn’t know she was buried in Hooper, FamilySearch didn’t have it either. Her and Joseph Weller are now documented and updated.
Dee Hemsley – Hooper, Utah
Alyssa Smart, Bryan and Jill Hemsley, Aliza, Lillian, Amanda, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Richard DeLece Hemsley (1936-2013) on 23 May 2020. Dee is Amanda’s grandfather.
William & Martha Wayment – Plain City, Utah
James, Amanda, Lillian, Aliza, and Hiram Ross with tombstones for Martha Brown (1823-1905) and William Wayment (1822-1883) on 23 May 2020. William and Martha are Amanda’s Great Great Great Great Grandparents. The tombstone above Aliza’s head is William Edward Stoker mentioned above, my Great Great Great Grandfather.
Lorenzo Snow – Brigham City, Utah
Hiram, Lillian, and Aliza Ross with tombstone for Lorenzo Snow (1814-1901) on 23 May 2020. Lorenzo Snow is known as the 5th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
David & Ruby Haight – Wasatch Memorial, Salt Lake City, Utah
Aliza & Lillian Ross, Jill Hemsley, with tombstone of Ruby Olson (1910-2004) and David Bruce Haight (1906-2004) on 6 September 2020. David Haight is known as an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I previously interacted with him regarding marriage.
Charlotte Sharp – Ogden, Utah
James and Paul Ross at the tombstone of Charlotte Elizabeth Earl (1816-1907) on 27 November 2020. Charlotte married my William Sharp (1826-1900) after she was widowed of her first husband Charles James McGary (1808-1875).
Lorin Farr – Ogden, Utah
Paul Ross with tombstone of Lorin Farr (1808-1907) on 27 November 2020. Lorin Farr was the first Stake President of the Weber Stake which covered all the territory of all my ancestors in Ogden and Plain City. He was also the first Mayor of Ogden.
Thomas Marsh – Ogden, Utah
Paul Ross with tombstone of Thomas Baldwin Marsh (1800-1866) on 27 November 2020. Thomas Marsh is known as the first Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who had he remained faithful, would have been President before Brigham Young.
Sergene Sorenson – Pleasant View, Burley, Idaho
Lillie, Hiram, Aliza, and James Ross with tombstone of Sergene Sorenson (1932-2013) on 2 January 2021. Sergene is the sister to my Grandma Colleen.
Scott Sorenson – Pleasant View, Burley, Idaho
James, Lillie, Hiram, and Aliza Ross with tombstone of Scott Sorenson (1951-2001) on 2 January 2021.Lillie, Hiram, Aliza, and James Ross with tombstone of Bert Sorenson (1924-1991) on 2 January 2021.
Thomas and Margret Mordecae Watkins are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter Margret to David Jordan, son of Benjamin and Mary Evans Jordan. David and Margaret were married 21 September 1839 in Merthyr-Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales.
Much of the history below is taken from the sketch written by David and Margret’s granddaughter Martha Evans Anderson (1870-1930). I have fleshed it out with dates and additional detail from source documents.
Margret Watkins was born 10 September 1816 in Merthyr-Tydfil. She is believed to be the second of 5 children born to Thomas and Margret Watkins. We really do not know a whole lot about Thomas and Margret Watkins. A number of stories have survived which are shared below.
David Jordan was born 7 February 1820 in Merthry-Tydfil. He is the first of four known children born to Benjamin and Mary Jordan. Just like Margret’s parents, we really do not know much about this family. At least minimal family history dates or stories have come down regarding either line.
Benjamin and Mary Jordan “were of a religious turn of mind and taught the Bible when he was just a boy, refined and of a gentle manner.” Mary Jordan passed away in April 1843 when the family was still young. The family consisted of David, Jane, Sarah, and John. The Jordans were “a very refined and considered High Class people and of a high moral and religious character. They were always proud of their personal appearance, always well dressed.” The brothers were “devoted brothers, they lived and worked together with kind and friendly for each other. When David and Margaret had children they all lived as a loving family together…this brother was named John Jordan.”
We really do not know anything of the Courtship between David Jordan and Margret Watkins. “At this times Wales was in a prosperous condition and David and Margret were soon settled in which was very comfortable and spacious. They had an extra room so that his father and one brother could live with them in their home. His father lived only two weeks, when he died. His brother continued to live with David and his wife.”
“Margret (Watkins) Jordan lost her mother when she was very young, leaving her father with a family of small children. While the family was without the mother’s care, Margret met with an accident which left her with a crippled arm for the rest of her life. This happened when she was about 2 years old…when her sister was carrying her on her back, when she slipped and fell. Margret cried for days from pain before they learned that she had a broken arm at the elbow. It had already started to set, it had been so long since it happened that they thought the child could not stand to have it rebroken and set properly, so it was never properly taken care of.”
“Margret’s father married again and brought into their home a most worthy and wonderful new mother to the children. Grandmother used to tell us that she never remembered her real mother but their step mother was all that our real mother could have been.”
“When Margret was still in her teens and because of her crippled arm, she was apprenticed in a school for sewing. The sewing at that time was all done by hand, they had no sewing machines. Margret took to that kind of work very readily and was very satisfied to become a very good seamstress, while still a very young woman. She was able to construct some of the finest work in the area.”
“Margret had a blind brother who learned to play the harp. He was often requested to play, to entertain for groups at entertainments. He carried his harp with him everywhere he went. He was employed to play at different places and went alone to his employment places with his harp. He became very popular and was loved by all his friends and family.”
“Margret continued to follow her trade as a seamstress after her marriage to Grandfather David Jordan, because she was very popular among the people of her community for her sewing. As her family duties increased on her time, they had six children, two of which died in infancy, she gave up a lot of her sewing and devoted most of her time and energies to her family responsibilities.”
“David and Margret were among the very first in their area to embrace [T]he Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were baptized [18 January 1849]. Their children all grew up in the church.”
At this time there was a large branch of the Mormon church in their area of Wales. “Their family was very faithful and devoted to their new church. David was a good singer and also a composer and poet.” He composed a number of beautiful poems. One song was in honor of the Prophet Joseph Smith. “As children, we remember hearing him sing this beautiful song, the music was very sweet and the words were all in Welsh. We only understood it in part, but there was just something about the song that touched us very deeply.”
When they embraced the LDS church they had two little children, Mary and her older sister Gwyn who were 3 and 5 years old. They were raised in the LDS church and were baptized when they reached 8 years old.
David and Margret’s first son was Thomas Jordan born December 1840 in Merthyr-Tydfil and dying June 1841. We know very little about this little boy.
The first daughter was Gwenlliam Jordan born 2 August 1842 in Merthyr-Tydfil. She was baptized in August 1851.
I had a copy of Gwenlliam Jordan and David D Williams in this post, but we have determined that photo was actually of another couple.
The second daughter was Mary Watkins Jordan born 5 December 1844 in Merthyr-Tydfil. She was baptized 1 January 1852.
“David was a coal miner. He and his brother went to work every day in the coal mines. They were paid good wages at the time, so they did very well economically.”
“One day David’s shift in the mine interfered with his Priesthood meeting so he traded shifts with a friend of his. He was the secretary of his group and felt like he should attend his Priesthood meeting. Grandmother Margret told us that she remembers the incident very well. It was a beautiful day and all was peaceful and calm. Then at 9:30 am word came there had been an explosion in the mine. People rushed to the place and it was soon learned that a large number of miners had lost their lives in the explosion and among them was David’s friend who was working in his place. This was a great sorrow for David. He loved this man very much and he was there instead of David.”
“As time went on, conditions changed. Little by little the miner’s wages were reduced causing hard times. Then there were strikes putting them out of work entirely for months.”
“Their two girls had by now grown into their teens. They found employment and became independent. There was also two little boys in the family.” These two boys would have been David and Thomas.
Charles Jordan was born 3 November 1848 in Merthyr-Tydfil. He died in December 1848.
Margret Jordan was born 26 Jul 1850 in Aberdare, Glamorganshire, Wales. She died in June 1852.
David Moiah Jordan was born 7 June 1854 in Merthyr-Tydfil.
Thomas Jordan was born 17 March 1857 in Merthyr-Tydfil.
Ann Watkins Jordan was born in 1861 and we do not know how long she lived.
“Margret now returned to her sewing again to support the family during the hard times. In a few years, the two girls got married and came to Utah, leaving their parents and the two brothers in Wales. This happened in 1864.”
I have previously written about Gwenlliam Jordan and her marriage to David D Williams at this link.
“David and Margret had now been members of the LDS church for 20 years. They were however very happy and contented until their daughters left for America. They were also making every effort to join their daughters in Utah.
“Then they were made very sad by the death of their youngest son. He was 11 years old. Many of the members of their church had gone to Utah and they were feeling lonesome and sad.” David Moiah Jordan died 14 October 1865.
“The Elders that served as missionaries in their area always found a big welcome in the Jordan home, even in the middle of the night would stop by and found a welcome and told them that it was like coming home.”
“They themselves were making every effort to prepare to go to Utah themselves. They were planning to sail with the next company of Saints that were to leave by ship for New York.”
“It was now 9 years since their two daughters had gone to Utah. One day the Elders called on them and told them that the next ship would sail in three weeks. They counted their money which they had saved and it was not enough. So they decided that they would have to wait for a later sailing date, until they could accumulate some more funds.”
“When they had secured the money they needed, they sent word to their daughters of their plans so they would expect them.” The Jordan’s departed 29 July 1872 from Liverpool, Lancashire, England.
“After a lazy and weary journey crossing the Atlantic Ocean, they landed in New York City, on the 13th of August 1872 and remained in New York with their 15 year old son. They found employment and remained there until October. They received a letter from their 2 daughters containing money for them to continue to Utah. Some of the money came from their daughter Mary’s husband, who sold his team of horses to get the money to send to them.”
They arrived in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah on 10 November 1872 “after visiting in Ogden with their oldest daughter Gwenie Williams, and then they continued on to Brigham City where their daughter Mary Evans lived. It is useless to try and describe how happy they all were to be back together again after 9 years of being apart, and praying for the time when they could all be together in Zion.”
“The first winter in Utah was very hard on them because of the extreme cold temperatures and the abundance of snow. It was particularly hard on Grandfather David because he was used to working underground in the coal mines of Wales.”
“Their daughter Mary and her husband William Evans were living in their two room log cabin at 1st East and 3rd South, just one half block south of the First Ward Meetinghouse. They had 4 children by now, Margret, Mary Jane, Martha, and Abraham, who was just one week old when their grandparents arrived in Brigham City from Wales. These newly arrived grandparents remained with William and Mary and their 4 children in their small home the rest of the winter of 1872.”
“At this time the railroad was being built from Ogden to Logan and the three men, Grandfather Jordan, son-in-law William, and the 15 year old son (Thomas) of David and Margret Jordan, all found work building for the railroad. It was very difficult for David and his son to endure working out in the awful cold weather through that first winter.”
“Two years later, William Evans purchased another house on a large lot. The house had 4 rooms in the Third Ward at the corner of 3rd West and 3rd North. It was on the northwest corner of the intersection. When they moved into the bigger house with their 4 children, they sold the old house to David and Margret who lived in their log home for the rest of their lives.”
“They lived comfortable and made it very attractive and comfortable. They were neat and tidy people and they kept a beautiful garden which they were very proud of and they produced a lot of products for their table.”
“They were very interesting people to talk to and had many interesting and the conditions and memories of their lives in Wales and the extensive knowledge and testimony of the gospel, made it always a pleasure to visit with them.”
“As time went on they worked at many different things that there was to do around Brigham at that time, which was all real hard labor.”
David and Margret attended the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah to receive their own endowments on 10 October 1878. David and Margret were sealed to each other the same day.
“Their son Thomas grew into manhood and they decided that they would build themselves a better house. They erected the foundation and bought as much of the material for the house as they could the first year, with hopes that the next year they thought and hoped that they could continue building the house.”
“However, the winter came and there was no work to be had for them. Their son Thomas decided to go to Evanston, Wyoming to work, putting up ice, and they had some relatives. He obtained employment in one of the coal mines near by. He was doing well and was very happy there with the thought that he would be able to help his parents with their new home building.”
“This was not to be because Thomas was severely injured in an accident and word was sent to his parents at Brigham City. His father, David, went to Evanston to see his son but Thomas died just one hour before his father arrived on February 28, 1880.”
“This was a great sorrow to Thomas’ family and destroyed all their hopes for completing their home building plans. When spring came, David sold all the building materials that he had accumulated for their new home, spent the rest of their lives in the original small log house.”
“Their sorrow over the loss of their son weighed so heavily upon them that it changed their life’s hopes for the future. However, their faith and convictions in the gospel and the LDS Church which they accepted in Wales; and the trust in their Heavenly Father never failed them. Faithfully they continued to attend all their church duties and their testimonies grew and were wonderful to hear them speak.”
“Grandfather David was able to adapt himself to most any kind of employment; and with the products of their well kept garden and the fruit that he raised in the years at their home, they had a comfortable living.”
“They also took a great interest in the Temple work of the church and were some of the first to attend the new Logan Temple after its dedication in 1877.”
“They had their family genealogy all in order so that when the temple was ready, so were they. They traveled to Logan often to do temple ordinances for the members of their family and stayed a week at a time on many occasions to do this temple work.”
“This work of love continued until David’s health began to fail, but he continued to obtain information and prepare records on the members of their family for the work to be done in the temple for their dead ancestors.”
David and Margret were sealed to all their children in the Logan Temple 27 June 1888. Gwenlliam and Mary were both happy to be physically present for the occasion. All of the other children had passed away prior.
David and Margaret Jordan
“Grandfather David Jordan’s life came to a peaceful end November 26, 1893 in Brigham City, Utah. So peaceful and sweet was his passing away that our family can be proud of that dear old Grand Sire. He was the first fruits of the gospel in our family.”
“Grandmother Margret was not the last one in their little home, and she felt the loss of her companion very keenly, but she was visited and comforted by her living daughter and grandchildren. She wanted to continue living along in their home.”
“It had been 25 years since she and her dear husband came to live in that little log cabin; and there she wanted to stay until she could go to join her dear departed companion.”
“She lived another 7 years after her husband died.”
Mary Jordan Evans, LaVan Jones, Margret Evans Jones, Margret Jordan
“She died November 19, 1902, at home in Brigham City, Utah. She was buried in the Brigham City Cemetery beside her beloved husband.
A side note at the end of the above: “This was written by granddaughter Martha Evans. This story was copied from a note book, in the hand writing of Martha Evans.” “It is probably a repetition of the story I have previously translated from his hand-written record that I have previously had translated and distributed some years ago. However, I am sure that it is more more in detail than the one I translated previously because there is much more of it. Yours truly, Wesley Anderson 10 May 1986”
Gwenlliam passed away 3 September 1900 in Slaterville, Weber, Utah. Mary passed away 8 December 1923 in Brigham City.
I am sharing this life sketch of David Davis Williams and Rebecca Price Williams. The original version was written by William Jenkin Williams and found in the records of Eliza Williams Rees with insights from her granddaughter Betty Mifflin Bushman taken from family interviews and her own experience. For the most part I will stick to the original history. I do not have any photos to share, but since I have the history, I wanted to make it available.
Before I jump into the rest of the life sketch, I think it is important to connect these individuals to my family history. I have previously written of the marriage between David D Williams and Gwenllian Jordan. David D Williams had a brother named John Haines Williams. David Davis Williams is the son of John Haines Williams.
I will provide more family information after the life sketch.
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“David D. Williams was born in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales on June 19, 1852, a son of John Haines Williams and Sarah Jane Davis. He came to the United States with his parents, settling first in Pennsylvania in 1858. In 1860 the family moved to Ogden, Utah, crossing the plains with in a handcart company led by Captain Elias Morris. It was the second ox team to land in Ogden. From there the family went north to the Malad Valley where they settled in Muddy Creek, living in a dugout where some of the children were born. They later moved to Gwenford.
“Rebecca P. Williams was born on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1857, at Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales, a daughter of Jenkin Williams and Eliza Price. She was baptized (LDS) in Wales on December 11, 1867 by her father, Jenkin, and confirmed by John Thomas. With her parents, she came to this country for the gospel’s sake, settling in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After living there two years, they went to the Malad Valley in the year 1872.
Younger Rebecca Price Williams
“On Rebecca’s birthday, December 31, 1877, she and David were married in St. Johns, Oneida, Idaho by Justice of the Peace William H. Waytell in the presence of Benjamin Waldron and Mary Ann Daniels.
“David was baptized (LDS) 8 March 1878 by John Evan Price and confirmed by Samuel D. Williams.
“He and Rebecca took up a farm in Gwenford where they lived for about twenty years. During this time David operated a freighting business between Kelton, Utah and Helena, Montana, a trip that would take him about three months. He served as a deputy sheriff, was the first Chief of Police of Samaria, Idaho, and even worked as a blacksmith. Later he went into the confectionery business and operated a business and general store, D.D. Williams Candy Kitchen, with Rebecca in Samaria until his death June 27, 1927. He was a man, it is said, who could not be idle. His daughter, Eliza, described him as a wonderful husband and father. His granddaughter, Mae Rees Mifflin, remembers him with great fondness also. She named her first child, Darla Dean, after her grandfather. It is a wonder that Darla was not nicknamed Dee Dee too.
David Davis Williams
“About him, a grandson, Ray Earl Rees, told the following story: Their daughter, Eliza (Ray’s mother), had a washing machine. In order to help her elderly parents, she would do their laundry. Every Monday morning Grandpa David would drive his buggy the few miles to Malad with a bundle of clothes for her to wash. Grandpa would drive the team around to the north road and enter the farmyard by the back way. About the time he was expected, Ray would wait out by the gate to open it for his grandfather. Then he would climb up in the buggy with him and ride up to the house. Always Grandpa Williams had a sack of candy for Ray. He could depend on that treat and waited eagerly for it each Monday morning.
“When the family would visit their grandparents in Samaria, it was a treat to go in to the store and see all the candies on display behind the glass counter. Rather than give the children candy, Grandpa Williams would give them each a nickel and let them do the choosing. They were not allowed to go around the counter, but while he smiled encouragement to them, they would stand before the counter and choose their treat.
“He was the sweetest man who ever drew a breath, Ray said about his grandfather.
“David was always a prominent figure in our childhood stories about family as our mother was said to be his favorite. He even appeared to her to tell her goodbye after his death.
“It seemed so romantic to my sister and me that he and Rebecca married on my favorite holiday of the year, New Year’s Eve. That day was also Rebecca’s twentieth birthday. Her present was our handsome, nice great-grandfather. What a perfect party time to have a wedding anniversary.
“Rebecca is remembered by her daughter, Eliza, as a wonderful mother and homemaker, never being one to go away from home. She had a wonderful alto voice and when the children were small, she would often gather them around and sing to them.
“After her children grew up and married, she helped her husband in keeping the confectionery store. Many remember stopping there as youngsters on their way to Mutual to share a soda and socialize. They were always reminded not to be late for their church meeting by Rebecca, who would usher them out the door at ten minutes ’till. Later the teenagers would reunite there to pick up where they had left off.
“Her daughter, Eliza, described her this way, Rebecca P. Williams was loved by all who knew her. She was kind to everyone and did not have an enemy on earth.
“Great-Grandmother Rebecca was always a colorful figure to my sister and me. As the youngest surviving child in her family of eleven children, we loved the story of how when the family came from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, she was assigned to carry a beautiful crystal bowl for her mother. With it wrapped in a shawl, fourteen-year-old Rebecca later carefully tended it all the way to Idaho. Through interesting circumstances, that bowl was inherited by our grandmother, then Mama, and finally Darla. Since Darla also inherited Grandma Rees’ beautiful china closet, it seemed quite natural that the Welsh bowl would always rest inside it. At any rate, I never ever expected it to be mine. One day when I was picking up Darla to bring her to my house for a day’s visit, her daughter, Alyce, walked out to the car with us. In her hands, Darla was carrying something wrapped in a piece of fabric. She handed it to me with a smile saying that she had a present for me as a little thank you gift because I was so good to her. With Alyce looking on and smiling too, I turned back the cloth to see the Welsh bowl. Ignoring my protests that it was hers and that I could not accept it, she said she knew it would be safer in my home, that I would take good care of it and always treasure it. Alyce said they had talked it over and both felt that it should be mine. How I love to hold and admire that bowl. Made of clear glass in a square shape, scalloped edging runs along its rim and base. With a small pedestal and lion heads at each square corner, it is truly a work of art and indeed a special item. I love knowing of its history and importance in our family. When we would look at it as children and hear its story, it was always viewed in quiet awe or discussed in hushed tones. Never, ever, did I think it would be mine. I felt amazed, quite honored, and a bit afraid of the responsibility.
“David died on 27 June 1927 after an illness of eight months.
“Later Grandma Rebecca moved to Malad where she resided just across the street from her daughter, Eliza. I remember Grandma carefully preparing a plate of dinner each evening for her mother. It was usually the job of Uncle Ray to deliver it with a caution to hurry so it would be hot for his grandmother. When I was around, he would often grab me by the hand and together we would dance across the street as he deftly carried the napkin covered plate in one hand and dragged me along with the other.
“I remember her as a frail little lady, a bob of white hair on top of her head, wire-rimmed glasses perched on her nose as she looked us over. Books and magazines were plentiful in her small apartment and always a deck of cards. In addition to reading, she liked to play games, playing Solitaire to entertain herself when no one else was around.
“Rebecca died on March 30, 1936 at the age of 84, a few months before my fifth birthday.
Rebecca Price Williams
“Both are buried in the Samaria Cemetery.
“Thirteen children were born to David and Rebecca, five boys and eight girls: Sarah, William Jenkin who died in infancy, Mary, David, Phoebe, Jenkin, Eliza, Margaret, John, Catharine, Beatrice, Frances Orenda who died as a baby, and George.”
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Some more family history information.
David Davis Williams born 19 June 1852 in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales and died 27 Jun 1927 in Samaria, Oneida, Idaho. He was buried 30 June 1927 in Samaria.
Rebecca Price Williams born 31 December 1857 in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales and died 30 March 1936 in Malad, Oneida, Idaho. She was buried 2 April 1936 in Samaria.
David and Rebecca were married 31 December 1877 in St Johns, Oneida, Idaho.
Their children are:
Sarah Elizabeth Williams born 22 August 1878 in Samaria and died 31 February 1968. Buried in Draper, Salt Lake, Utah. She married James Benjamin McGuire (1872-1952) 30 September 1900 in Samaria.
John Jenkin Williams born and died 23 September 1879 in Samaria. Buried in Samaria.
Mary Jane Williams born 10 April 1881 in Samaria and died 14 January 1975. Buried in St Johns. She married John Nelson Hill (1872-1913) 22 February 1899 in St Johns.
David Joseph Williams born 26 February 1883 in Samaria and died 4 April 1973. Buried in Malad. He married Ester “Essie” Katherine Munsee (1888-1967) 25 March 1908 in Ogden.
Phoebe Ann Williams born 12 December 1884 in Samaria and died 15 March 1942 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. Buried in Riverton, Salt Lake, Utah. She married Thomas Charles Jones (1883-1922) 4 July 1903 in Samaria.
William Jenkin Williams born 24 Jul 1886 in Samaria and died 5 Jun 1963. Buried in Samaria. Married Mary Mae John (1901-1989) 26 February 1921.
Eliza Mae Williams born 10 February 1888 in Samaria and died 6 July 1967 in Ogden. Buried in Ogden. Married Gomer Vaughan Rees (1883-1971) 24 November 1904 in Samaria.
Margaret Rebecca Williams born 25 November 1889 in Samaria and died 9 November 1980. Buried in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas, Ohio. Married Walter Russell Ripley (1895-1979) 13 December 1913 in Malad.
John Haines Williams born 31 May 1891 in Samaria and died 25 February 1957 in Malad. Buried in Malad. Married Eleanor Jones (1899-1975) 29 March 1916 in Malad.
Catharine Zina Williams born 14 August 1893 in Samaria and died 19 Oct 1988 in Salt Lake City. Buried in Malad. Married Elijah R van Ables (1892-1961) 12 December 1920 in Malad.
Beatrice Estella Williams born 30 July 1894 in Samaria and died 9 December 1976. Married Carl William Jones (1892-1958) 4 April 1913 in Malad, later divorced. Married Allen John Keehn (1888-1957) 16 November 1938 in Elko, Elko, Nevada.
Frances Orenda Williams born 6 May 1897 in Samaria and died 10 September 1897 in Samaria.
George Thomas Williams born 22 February 1901 in Samaria and died 24 June 1962 in Pocatello. Buried in Restlawn Memorial, Pocatello, Bannock, Idaho. Married Theona Withers (1906-1990) 4 October 1924 in Malad.
Sagacity 