We stopped to pay a visit at the Clarkston, Utah, Cemetery in 2021. We were in Cache Valley for the Jonas Reunion and I knew Amanda had some ancestors buried in Clarkston. Amanda did not recall ever seeing their graves. We had then also been talking about Martin Harris in our study of the Doctrine & Covenants. I surprised the family with a surprise stop on our way home from the Jonas Reunion in Hyrum. It was a hot, windy, and smokey day. We stopped again this year, 2026, for a follow up since I have been doing some research on these families and it is fun to update pictures with the kids. Most of this post I wrote in 2021, but have updated it with new research and photos.
Amanda, Aliza, Hiram, and James Ross at graves of James & Ann Keep – 8 August 2021
Amanda and Aliza Ross – 16 August 2026 – Clarkston Cemetery
James & Ann Keep are Amanda’s 4th Great Grandparents. Amanda wasn’t very familiar with them so we had to do some homework.
James Joseph Keep was born 25 September 1804 to James Joseph and Ann Evans Keep. Family tradition, including his own later Church membership reporting, places his birth in Acton, Middlesex, England. He was christened 11 November 1804 in St. Nicholas Parish, Chiswick, about two miles away. His father died when James was 5, his father was 29 years old at death, and little James was raised for a time by his grandparents.
James married Elizabeth Parr on 15 June 1826 in Greenham, Berkshire, England. She was a widow, he a bachelor of 21. She died in 1836, confirmed by a probate record in Reading, although the exact date was not provided. James remarried to Ann Miller on 25 July 1836 in St. Mary’s, Reading, Berkshire, England. They joined the Methodists, then the Baptists, and then were Independents.
Two young Mormon men came near the house preaching the gospel and Ann told James to go out and hear them. They were preaching about baptism. He went into the house and searched his Bible to ascertain the truth of what they said. Here he found that baptism was to be born of the water and the spirit. When they came again to preach, James took a long bench for the people to sit on. That evening he went to the meeting house. There he heard the saints speak in tongues.
He and his family were baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His own account, written decades later, states he joined 23 July 1848 and Ann soon after, with his baptism arranged secretly, before dawn, without his family’s foreknowledge. Such a secret baptismal services may explain why no official record of the baptism and confirmation appear to exist. Official Church membership records instead show a longer process: daughter Mary Elizabeth baptized 14 March 1846, Sarah on 10 January 1849, James and Ann together on 15 March 1857, daughters Ann and Lucy on 24 April 1857, Harriet on 18 June 1858, Ruth on 1 January 1862, and Maria Jane on 1 February 1865. Rather than one dramatic family conversion, the record suggests a longer, gradual process, perhaps beginning with Mary Elizabeth on her own. I don’t wish to undermine the baptismal story, it does not match official church records.
Ann Miller was born 10 August 1816 in Newbury, Berkshire, England to James and Ann Elkins Miller. She was christened 2 October 1816 at North Croft Lane Baptist Church in Newbury.
The 1841 and 1851 census both have the Keep family in Thatcham, Berkshire, England. He was a mason and bricklayer. It was during this time that Ann Miller had a miracle.
~
Kennett Place, Newbury, Berks, Sept. 30, 1850
Dear President Pratt,
We have recently been favored with a manifestation of the miraculous power of God; in this branch of the Church a sister, named Ann Keep, the wife of Joseph Keep, who is a deacon in the Church, had a cancer in her breast for some time; and it became so bad of late that she intended to have it cut out, and the time was appointed for it to be done. Three medical men were to be present at the operation. A brother named David Davis, an elder in the Church, called to see her, and she told him she was going to have the cancer taken out; and he said to her “have you got any faith in the power of God?” and she answered “yes:” and he said “so have I.” Accordingly he anointed her breast with oil, and laid hands upon her, and the pain left her there and then, and she never felt it any more; and from that time the cancer got less, until it disappeared; and the breast that had the cancer is as well as the other. This is known by many out of the Church.
Yours, &c.
Thomas Squires
President of the Newbury Branch
It was Ann’s daughters Mary Elizabeth and Sarah who ran to fetch the Elders that day, according to the family’s own retelling of the story, a detail Sarah herself would later recall in her own history.
~
James, Ann, and family left for the United States from London on 23 May 1866 on the ship American Congress arriving at Castle Gardens, New York, on 5 July 1866. They were in Wyoming, Otoe, Nebraska on 13 August 1866 traveling with the Abner Lowry Wagon Company arrving in Salt Lake City, Utah on 22 October 1866.
We later found a published account of that crossing by John Nicholson, the young elder appointed to lead the company of Saints aboard the American Congress. His company included James, Ann, and their daughters Ruth, Maria Jane, and Sarah Keep Francis with her baby, Lucy Ann.
~
As the ship neared Newfoundland, a thick fog closed in for several days. Captain Woodward, unable to see the sun, could not fix his position. On the quarterdeck, Nicholson’s counselor John Rider suddenly saw the fog lift and called out, “Captain, what is that?” Rocks and breakers lay dead ahead. Woodward sprang to the wheel and gave the order to come about just in time. Nicholson estimated that a few moments’ delay would have wrecked the ship, with few if any aboard surviving. At the captain’s request, most passengers, the Keeps among them, never knew how close the danger had come.
John Nicholson, “Saved by Providence,” Juvenile Instructor, 16:2 (15 January 1881), p. 19.
~
James was ordained a Deacon 5 August 1849, a Priest 19 January 1851, and an Elder 18 May 1851, all by Thomas Squires, and was set apart to travel and preach the Gospel in the open air throughout England. James and Ann received their endowments and were sealed to each other at the Endowment House in Salt Lake City on 6 June 1868. James was ordained a High Priest later that year, on 25 September 1868, his 64th birthday, by Edwin D. Woolley, bishop of Salt Lake City’s 13th Ward and Brigham Young’s business manager (and later grandfather to Spencer W. Kimball and J. Reuben Clark).
The 1870 Census places the James & Ann Keep in Newton, Cache, Utah with Maria. Shortly afterward they moved to Clarkston and James built a masonry home. The 1880 Census has them located in Clarkston. James was known for his masonry work and often built chimneys for individuals.
Ann helped in the fields with James to raise crops. They had oxen with which they did their farming. Sometimes she would be very tired when she got home. The oxen’s names were Jack and Jue. Ann called them by name and they would reply by their actions.
James & Ann Keep
Ann enjoyed her home and loved to make it look nice. She had flowers in the windows and all around the house and a fine orchard of apples, English currants, and gooseberries. All kinds of vegetables were grown in the garden. Her husband helped to care for it too. There was a small porch on the front of her house with a hop vine all around it which grew and ran all over the porch making a nice shade in the summertime. In the fall she would gather the hops and dry them and make yeast with them three times per week. The sisters in the town would send a cup of flour to trade for a cup of yeast to make their bread. In this way she kept herself in flour.
The house, located at about 53 West 200 South in Clarkston, was plastered white on the outside by their son-in-law, Morgan Davies, husband of their daughter Ann. Morgan was a professional plasterer who worked as a foreman on the Salt Lake Temple and helped finish several other prominent Salt Lake City buildings, including the Salt Lake Theater and the State Capitol.
Ann and James Keep at their home in Clarkston, Utah
She was called as first counselor to Mary Griffin in the Clarkston Relief Society on 12 January 1875, per a contemporaneous letter published in the Woman’s Exponent. She was released in 1885 as she and her husband were getting old and could not do their work so well. Ann was a very busy woman. When too old to do heavy work, she would sew quilt blocks for the Relief Society and for her grandchildren or anyone who would let her do it for them.
James and Ann decided to sell their house and property and live on the principle and interest. In 1890, they sold out and moved to Lehi, Utah for two years. They then returned to Clarkston for several years. Ann had a very bad sick spell and it took her a long time to recover. After she got well, they moved to Newton to live with a daughter, Ruth Griffin.
Just before her death Ann bore a strong testimony to the truth of the gospel, telling her daughters and families to hold fast to the end for this was the true Church of Jesus Christ and to do all they could for their dead. She told her nurse, Caroline Thompson, to hold her pocket book for her, then she took out a dollar and passed it to her daughter, Sarah Buttars and said, “Get my brother Joseph’s temple work done for he was a good man.” She passed away 25 October 1896 in Newton.
Nine days after Ann’s death, James wrote to his grandson, John Griffin, then serving a mission: “I can tell it is such a blow to me that it makes me feel so lost that I can hardly bear up with my spirit… after living with a good wife 60 years it is very hard to part with each other.” He wrote that Ann had told him not to pray for her life to be spared, “I want to die and I am going to die so give me up to the Lord.” She spent her final hours talking and praying, urging their children to “stand fast to this church, it is the true church.” James added that he had recently been to the temple, baptized eleven times for the dead, and sealed forty-one couples as man and wife since her passing.
Ann’s funeral was held in the Clarkston meeting house on 28 October 1896, with remarks by Thomas Griffin, John Griffin, Ole Peterson, Bishop W Griffin, Counselor A W Heggie, and Bishop John Jardine. A local correspondent noted that James, then 93, sat at the head of her coffin, “he has lost his right hand,” the account read. “He is deaf and can’t hear a sound but can walk around and converse with others and may yet live many years.”
James passed away while staying with his daughter Mary Turner in Lehi on 14 March 1899. His body was returned and buried in Clarkston.
James’s funeral was held in Clarkston on 17 March 1899, three days after his death; his body had arrived the day before, accompanied by his daughter and grandson, Mr. and Mrs. Turner of Lehi, and his grandson Mr. Davies of Salt Lake. By his own prior request, six friends spoke, including John E Godfrey, the same Godfrey who had stood beside him as a witness to Martin Harris’s testimony some 24 years earlier. Six of his grandsons served as pallbearers.
~
James Keep finds himself in history due to being present in the home of Martin Harris at the visit of Ole Jensen in July 1875. John Godfrey and James Keep both signed as witnesses to the statement of Ole Jensen, Clarkston Ward Clerk. This is from Jensen’s statement:
It was in Clarkston, Utah, July 1875. Early in the morning a thought came to my mind that I would go and see how Brother Martin Harris was feeling. It was only three blocks from my home. I heard he was not feeling well. People came from other towns to see Brother Harris and hear him bear his testimony on the Book of Mormon. When I arrived there were two men present. Brother Harris lay on his bed leaning on his elbow. I said, How are you? Brother Harris answered slowly, Pretty well.We came to hear your testimony on the Book of Mormon.
Yes, he said in a loud voice as he sat up in bed, I wish that I could speak loud enough that the whole world could hear my testimony. Brother stand over so I can see you. Then he stretched out his hand and said, Brother I believe there is an Angel to hear what I shall tell you, and you shall never forget what I shall say. The Prophet, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and myself went into a little grove to pray to obtain a promise that we should behold it with our own eyes.
That we could testify of it to the world. We prayed two or three times and at length the angel stood before Oliver and David and showed them the plates. But behold I had gone by myself to pray and in my desperation I asked the Prophet to kneel down with me and pray for me that I may also see the plates. And we did so and immediately the Angel stood before me and said, Look and when I glanced at him I fell but I stood on my feet and saw the Angel turn the golden leaves over and I said, It is enough my Lord and my God.Then I heard the voice of God say the book is true and translate correctly!“
Martin Harris then turned himself as though he had no more to say and we made ready to go but he spoke again and said, I will tell you a wonderful thing that happened after Joseph had found the plates. Three of us took some tools to go to the hill and hunt for some more boxes of gold or something and indeed we found a stone box. We got quite excited about it and dug quite carefully around it and we were ready to take it up, but behold by some unseen power the box slipped back into the hill. We stood there and looked at it and one of us took a crowbar and tried to drive it through the lid and hold it but the bar glanced off and broke off one corner of the box.“
“Sometime that box will be found and you will see the corner broken off and then you will know I have told the truth again. Brother as sure as you are standing here and see me, just so sure did I see the golden plates in His hand and He showed them to me. I have promised that I will bear witness of this truth both here and hereafter.”
His lips trembled and tears came into his eyes. I should liked to have asked one more question but I failed to do so. But I refreshed myself and shook hands and thanked him and left. When I think of the day I stood before Martin Harris and saw him stretch forth his hand and raise his voice and hear his testimony, the feeling that thrilled my whole being, I can never forget. Nor can I express the joy that filled my soul. This is a true statement.
Sarah Keep later confirmed this in her own written history, noting that her father’s presence was recorded “in the presence of John Godfrey, Ole A. Jensen and James Joseph Keep, my father.”
~
We also visited the grave of Martin Harris in the same cemetery at Clarkston.
Paul, Aliza, and Hiram Ross at the grave of Martin Harris on 8 August 2021
Amanda, James, Lillie, Aliza, and Hiram Ross at Martin’s grave – 16 August 2026
Thomas Squires (1811–1868), who ordained James and later served as President of the Newbury Branch, had followed a strikingly similar religious path of his own. A Wesleyan preacher from age fifteen, he later turned to the Baptists, and finding neither fully satisfying, began preaching what he considered an improved doctrine of his own. He first heard of the Latter-day Saints from two women he met after preaching in a village on a Sunday morning, tracked down and corresponded with an Elder in London, and was soon baptized, confirmed, and ordained an elder in a single day. He baptized many converts and established several branches of the Church.
When the Newbury Saints raised the means to send him to Zion, Thomas emigrated in 1854 with his large family, sailing from Liverpool to New Orleans on the Golconda. Cholera struck the company in St. Louis, killing his wife, Mary Ann, and all but a son and a daughter, Sarah Ann, among his children, along with the wife of his son-in-law John Green. Thomas himself was gravely ill but survived, arriving in Salt Lake City on 30 September 1854, where his brother John, who had emigrated a year earlier, nursed him back to health. Sarah Ann later married her brother-in-law, John Green, himself recently widowed in the same epidemic.
Thomas settled in Kaysville, mending shoes for a living, but never fully adjusted to life afterward. In the words of his brother, John Paternoster Squires, Thomas had been “almost worshipped” as a preacher in England, and mending and pegging old shoes “seemed too monotonous for him.” He grew discouraged, drifted from the Church, briefly joined the Josephites (the RLDS movement), then left Utah altogether for Denver and later Cañon City, Colorado, where he preached for the Baptists and was supported by the townspeople until his death on 18 May 1868, of paralysis.
This is a book I received that belonged to my Great Aunt Betty Oram Donaldson. I was not sure exactly what to do with it, other than share it for family history purposes. The photos in the book were not very high quality, but I am replicating them here anyway. Hopefully this history is of value to someone else who has family in the book.
“It’s a Great Life”
It’s the time in life for all of the Wilson School Class of ’47 to stop for a moment and realize that “It is a Great Life.”
We are matured and “aged” to the point that we are willing to accept that we are what we are. We realize that all of us have talents and abilities and that no two of us are alike, but that’s what makes us successful and happy. We are happy when we use our abilities and develop our talents.
In sports and business they often refer to “a level playing field,” meaning that both sides of the competition have equal opportunities. Therefore I believe that in life competition, the only “level playing field” is when we compete with ourselves. Our goal should be to do the very best we can, because no one else has the same talents, or abilities, or past experiences that we as individuals have. It has been said that we are the sum total of our past experiences. I believe our religious freedom and our constitution give us the opportunity to pursue success and happiness.
At the reunion dinner it was noted that all of us were satisfied with our accomplishments in life and most of us were in the service of others by actively volunteering in our churches, schools, civic organizations or other needy causes. Yes! It is true that most of us are involved in golfing, traveling, or other hobbies that we have looked forward to doing while preparing for these Golden Years. The time and resources to pursue and enjoy these activities make it “a Great Life.”
I am proud and honored that I attended Wilson School and associated with all of you there. From that small class we have many success stories and important things that we have done. Each of us has his or her own success story to be proud of whether it’s related to our families, our friends, our activities in church, our civic involvement, our involvement in other special organizations, or our career successes.
It has been said that when we die if we have five close friends that we have been successful in life, If that is true, then all who were part of the Wilson School Class of ’47 are successful individuals because of the friendships that we share today.
May each and every one of us continue to be successful and happy in our daily life, and always remember that it is a Great Life.
— R. B. (Bud) Willey, Class of ’47 Student Body President
History of Wilson School Class, 1938 to 1947
Many of you attended your very first school years in another school. As each one came to Wilson we became friends and so your memories will begin where you started. For a few of us our total elementary school experience was in the old Wilson School and that is why we started this memory book with the first grade.
First Grade, 1938–39
Our first grade teacher was Miss Dorothy Poulsen. She was young and pretty and we loved her. Our first grade class room was upstairs on the southwest corner. It was large with windows on the south and had wood floors. We had tables and chairs, a playhouse, a sand table and a space for a reading circle. We read from Dick and Jane books. We carried our lunches to school and stored them in a screened cabinet in the hallway. Many of us had Snowdrift shortening buckets for lunch pails. That year the front entrance of the school faced north with steps going toward the road. There was no cafeteria. First and second grades were excused at 2:00 p.m. to go home. That year we had two age groups in our class. We met with the children a year older than us. A doctor visited our class and checked our ears and throats. There were about 29 children in our room.
Second Grade, 1939–1940
Our teacher was Miss Viola Poulsen. Our classroom was upstairs on the southeast corner with windows on the south and east and a fire escape outside. We had desks that year and reading circle space on the east. We learned reading, math and other subjects. The school district closed the Marriott-Slaterville School that year and those children came to our school, so we had one age group of children in our classroom. About this time in the second or third grade we began getting soup for school lunches. They brought buckets of soup to the classrooms and passed enamel bowls and spoons to each student and filled them with soup. That was the forerunner of school lunches. About this time the school was remodeled so that the entrance faced the east and the office was built where the north entrance had been. The bathrooms were downstairs in the basement.
Third Grade, 1940–41
Mrs. Folkman was our teacher. Our classroom was the upstairs northeast corner or the southwest corner. There were 29 children in the class.
Fourth Grade, 1941–42
These were the war years. Our teacher was Miss Chadwick. Our classroom was the upstairs middle room on the north. These war years were very hard. School was closed in the fall so the older school boys could help harvest farm crops. We went to school on Saturdays a while to make up the time. The older boys were soldiers and were drafted to fight Japan and Germany. Many of our brothers were soldiers. No school pictures were taken during our fourth, fifth and sixth grades because all resources were concentrated on helping the war effort.
Fifth Grade, 1942–43
Our teacher was Miss Vera Shaw. She was a superb teacher. Our classroom was the upstairs northeast corner. About the time of fifth or sixth grades they began school lunches and we had tables in the basement in the hallway. I don’t remember when the cafeteria was built.
Sixth Grade, 1943–44
Our teacher was Vera Shaw again. Our classroom was on the main floor southeast corner. As an activity one day we made butter by shaking cream in a bottle then we each had a cracker with butter on it. We learned reading, math, and spelling etc. It seems like part of this year we had Mrs. McGrath for a music teacher and we made a book of all the old music composers. We bought victory stamps and gave the government the money to help fight the war. A favorite game of the boys was marbles. Each boy took great pride in his collection of marbles and his skill at shooting. The girls played jacks. We had a rubber ball and a set of 12 or so jacks and we would sit on the floor in a circle or around a table and go clear through onseys, twoseys, downseys, under the bridge or over the bridge etc. Another favorite of the girls was jump rope. If you could do “Red Hot Pepper,” or “Double Dutch” without missing you could jump quite a while. To be able to run in and out without missing was a keen skill. The boys played baseball. Another favorite game was “Pop the Whip.” Boys and girls would hold hands “tight” and run in a snake line and try to pop the end person off. We took turns being on the end to be popped off. Another favorite was “Flying Dutchman”. We were in a circle and two people ran around the circle. If your hands were touched you ran to beat the other couple to the empty space. Another favorite in winter time in the gym was four-corner kick.
Seventh Grade, 1944–45
Miss Maude Holmes was our teacher. That year for a very short while we had a Mr. Carter who was unusual. He stole some of our lunch money. Our classroom was on the southwest corner of the main floor. Around this time the school district built the cafeteria on the south of the school. We blessed the food and everyone ate together and we learned dining etiquette. The mashed potatoes and hamburger gravy and chocolate cake were favorites.
Eighth Grade, 1945–46
Mrs. Woodward was our teacher. Our classroom was on the northwest corner of the main floor. There were 27 in our class. World War II ended and the United States began it’s healing process and the rebuild.
Ninth Grade, 1946–47
Mr. Leland Reese was our teacher and our classroom was on the northeast corner of the main floor. We were becoming sophisticated adolescents. Mr. Reese taught us first aid. Mr. Wheat Taylor was our principal. Mr. Pettigrew was the orchestra teacher and some of us played instruments. We had basketball and baseball games against the other schools on Fridays.
Wilson School was a safe and healthy environment for children to grow. The teachers respected our childhood and watched over us with kindness. Every year each class in the school participated in a school program. Mr. Arthur Taylor was our principal in the early years. A Mr. Chadwick was principal for a time. Wheat Taylor was principal in our later years and helped prepare us for high school. All in all we had a memorable early school experience and look back at those fun years with fondness.
Ninth Grade Class of ’47 Reunion in 2000
Drauca Marston Holmes, Lola Taylor Sheffield, Louise Holmes, Marilyn Bowman Garner, Betty Lou Buck Schulze, Emma Ropelato Walling, Nona Flitton Forsgren, Gladys Sorensen Gibson, Lila Stone Harwood, Robert Holmes, Gordon Belnap, Betty May Oram Donaldson, Rudell Willey, Jewel Checketts Atwell.
Where Are They Now
GORDON “DUTCH” BELNAP
Married Faye Robins in 1951. Three sons, Rob, Tim, Mike. Eight Grand kids. US Navy: Honorable Discharge. Weber Jr. College 2 years. Utah State: Grad 1958, Masters 1965. Coach, Utah State University 13 years. Athletic Director Weber State University. Faye passed away Aug. 1996. Married Karen Smith Sept. 1997. Hobbies: woodworking, golf, travel, volunteer 2nd grade teacher.
MARILYN BOWMAN GARNER
I’ve had a good life. I attended Weber College, married Don Butler and had 2 children, Kathy and Gary before leaving Ogden in 1956. We lived in Pocatello, Idaho before moving to Grand Jct. Colorado. During our 15 years in Colorado, I worked for a wholesale drug company and the last year as office manager, bookkeeper for an ophthalmologist. While living there Vickey and Jodi were born. Our son was killed in a car accident in 1968 and in 1971 Don and I were divorced. I moved with my girls to Salt Lake in 1973 where I spent the first 4 plus years as office manager/legal secretary for an attorney. Then I went to work for Salt Lake County. When I retired in 1999, I was fiscal manager for the SLC Public Works Department. I married Clair Garner in June of 2000. We plan to keep up the good life with travel, golf, volunteer work, genealogy and enjoying our 9 grandchildren.
BETTY BUCK SCHULZE
When I left high school, I married Marler Williams. A boy, Monte B. was born of that marriage. Marler died 8 months after Monte’s birth. I went to work at HAFB to support myself and Monte. While working at Hill, I completed my schooling at Utah State University. I married Willard Smith. One son, Donald was born of that marriage. After Donald’s birth I returned to work at Hill. I worked as a supervisor for several years, then selected to study under Dr. Fredrick Herzberg, Distinguished Professor of Management from University of Utah. Under Dr. Herzberg’s guidance I completed a Masters Degree Equivalent in Industrial Psychology then taught Organizational Development, Air Force wide. I retired from HAFB with 25 years service. Willard and I traveled for 8 years prior to his death from cancer. I am now married to Hugo Schulze. We are enjoying our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I love to golf and play every chance I get. I have played on bowling leagues in the past. I had a wonderful time golfing with my past friends, especially Dutch Belnap, at the Weber High Golf day in 2000.
JEWEL CHECKETTS ATWELL
I was engaged my senior year, and married Daryl Hendrick on June 19, 1950. We settled in Layton and had 4 girls and 2 boys. I played on the church softball team until I tore the cartilage in my knee, then I helped coach. We moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and I started my dream of becoming a nurse. I worked 25 years in all areas of nursing, really enjoyed it, and learned a lot. Daryl passed away in June ’68. That was the year I met Gene. I married him in Nov. ’78. He is my best friend, lover and husband. He’s really been good through all the surgeries I’ve had. Gene had 4 children and our families are like one big family, all getting along well. These 21 years have been so happy! We have a total of 10 children, 26 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Gene is now retired from US West [Quest] and we live in Roswell, New Mexico.
JOHN EILANDER [JACK]
Upon my graduation from high school, I married and went into the US Army. After my release from the Army, I went to work for 3 years at the Ogden Arsenal. Subsequently, I was hired by Weber State University, where I retired in 1992 after 38 years of service. I am the father of 6 children, grandfather of 11 grandchildren and great grandfather of 10 great grandchildren.
NONA FLITTON FORSGREN
After graduating from high school, I got a job at a 5 and dime store for a short time before the opportunity came for me to take employment at Hill Air Force Base as a sheet metal mechanic. I had met my husband, Judd, at a senoir class party. After dating for some time we were married in 1953. I quit work to have our family of 3 daughters. We lived in Ogden and Willard then back to the Ogden area of Kanesville, West Haven. About the time our girls were in school, I again had a chance to return to my old job of riveting. I worked on the F4’s and F16’s. After 22 years of enjoyable service at HAFB, I retired in 1987. I have been busy since, wondering how I had time to work. Judd and I have traveled long and short trips, taken cruises and just the summer of 2001 traveled to Sweden, my husbands long time desire. I have served as Relief Society President in our ward and am enjoying my grandchildren as well as all the family. We have much fun and enjoyment with them. They are the greatest.
ROBERT WILLIAM HOLMES — February 17, 1932
(“Where he’s at, there’s mischief” . . . “Bob” . . . likes any back seat . . . not a lone wolf . . . Windy’s always with him . . . they work together . . . that smile! . . . is the key to many locked doors . . . for Bob.)
Born and raised in Wilson, my Father passed away when I was 10, I was left to run the farm, which I did after school and during the summer months.
After graduating from High School I joined the Navy for a 4 year term. During the time I was in the Navy I was in several places in and around Formosa (Taiwan), Korea, Japan and China. It was very educational for me, seeing other countries and other cultures. In the Navy I was assigned to the aircraft carrier, USS BOXER, for eight months we cruised the seas patrolling the waters and land around the foreign countries. The rest of the time I spent in San Diego at Miramar Air Force Base and Point Mugu at Oxnard, California. I learned lots and seen lots during these eight years.
While in Point Mugu, I went a place called Jockey Meads, a resort between Oxnard and the San Fernando Valley, where I met Dorothy Lou Bates. I was invited to church in the Valley and stayed to a fireside at the Bishop’s house. My relationship with Dorothy continued and we were Married on July 17, 1953 in the Logan Temple. We have been blessed with five beautiful daughters, three son-in-laws and twelve grandchildren, six boys and six girls.
After my duty in the Navy, I enrolled in college at Utah State Agricultural College, halfway thru my years there they changed the College to a University, now called Utah State University. I graduated with a BS degree in Industrial Arts Education with a minor in Math after four years. The next summer I started my Masters Degree and a couple years later I finished my Masters in School Administration with a minor in Industrial Arts Education.
I was an Industrials Arts Teacher and taught wood shop for 35 years, retiring in June 1993. I was also a General Contractor for many years building houses and other structures.
I was the Chairman of the Wilson area planning committee for 14 years.
I was on the Weber County Board of Adjustments from 1988 until 1995, chairman of the board from 1990 until 1995. I also served on the Weber County Boundary Commission for one term.
I was the facilitator in organizing and establishing WEST HAVEN CITY – 1990. We became a city in July 1991 and I was the first Mayor serving for three years. While Mayor, I tried to get the city to agree to the sewer and secondary water but no one thought that was important and no one needed it, now, in the year 2001, it is needed and being put in the ground.
Keeping active in politics, I am currently the chairman of the WEST HAVEN SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICT. Working with the city makes me feel like I have accomplished a great deal in my life and I enjoy what I am now doing. I am excited about every piece of pipe that is laid in the ground.
LOUISE HOLMES
I’m still Louise Holmes, having never changed my name. Following high school I attended Weber College and received an A.S. Degree. Then I attended USAC and received a B.S. Degree. After teaching school for 10 years I went back to what is now USU and received a Masters of Education Degree. After 33 years of teaching school I retired. I have spent part of my time volunteering as a tutor for children ages 6 through high school. I’m still recognized by many of my former students. They always stop for a visit. Traveling has always been fun for me. I’ve taken many tours and have met people who still remain my friends. For the past 23 years I’ve made my home at the Three Fountains Condominiums in North Ogden
JoANNE HOWE GEARY
Since graduation in 1950 my life has been pretty good. I got married in ’52 and had my first boy in ’53, another boy in ’55 and girls in ’59, ’60, and ’66. They are all grown now and in their own homes. We have 11 grandchildren, 6 girls and 5 boys. My husband and I took our children to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in ’75. We’ve been to Catalina Island off California 4 times. We like to travel when we can to visit our daughter and her family. My husband and I, for the most part, live a very quiet life. Don, my husband, likes gardening and watching video movies. I like to cook, do puzzles and watch quiz shows and video movies, of which we have a large collection. My husband also likes to paint and sketch. Two years ago, after wearing glasses for 56 years, I had my eyes operated on and now I only need glasses for reading small print and driving. We’re going to California, San Bernardino to be exact, in April to see our youngest granddaughter get baptized. We like to travel when we can. We’ll be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary before the Winter Olympics in 2002. It will be a family affair.
CARMA KLINKE POINDEXTER
I married Hugh H. Poindexter in Deer Lodge, Montana. He was a rancher and truck driver. I have three daughters, Denise, Kathy; and Ellie, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. I have lived in Ogden, Utah; Roy, Utah; Los Angeles, California; and Bountiful, Utah. My home has been in Bountiful, Utah for the past thirty-two years. My husband and I have drove truck together and traveled every state in the U.S. except the New England States and Hawaii. God has been good to me. We are retired Snowbirds now.
DRAUCA MARSTON HOLMES
Drauca and Wayne Holmes were married in October following our graduation. Drauca worked as a secretary while Wayne attended Weber College. They moved to Logan where Wayne graduated as an electrical engineer. Drauca was an Executive Secretary for the Cache Co. Dept of Public Welfare. Wayne was commissioned into the Air Force and they lived in California and New Mexico for the next four years. Drauca was a stay-at-home Mom. They moved to Brigham City in 1959. They have four children and 14 grandchildren. Drauca worked as an Executive Secretary for Thiokol, NASA and the Air Force, performed semi-professionally for six years, graduated from Weber State University in Theater and developed the Heritage Theatre in Perry, Utah, for which she was the Executive Director for 23 years. She and Wayne retired in 1994 and have served an LDS Mission to the Family History Library in SLC.
BETTY MAY ORAM DONALDSON
My name is Betty May Oram Donaldson. I have lived in the Honeyville and Ogden areas during my younger years. I attended the Honeyville Elementary School and the Wilson Lane School, then the Weber High and Box Elder High Schools. After school I worked as a dental assistant and then a medical assistant until retiring at 62. I married David W. Donaldson in 1953. We built a home in Plain City, Utah and have lived there for 49 years. My hobbies are cooking, working in my flower gardens, fly fishing and all other outdoor sports.
EMMA ROPELATO WALLING
After graduation I went to work for Hill Air Force Base where I met my husband Richard J. Walling. We married Aug. ’53 and I continued working until Dec. ’54 at the birth of our son Dean. Our daughter Terry arrived Jan. ’56. I was able to stay home to rear the children until ’64. Then I went to work at the I.R.S. seasonally until I retired in ’90. My husband passed away in 1972 and my son died in an auto accident in ’93. I sold my home and moved in with my aging parents to help care for them until their deaths in ’96 and ’00. I now plan to visit my family in California and will enjoy traveling to long dreamed of places and spending time with my six grandchildren.
PAUL STOKES
I married Mary Jean Miller June 1961 and we have two daughters, Julie Ann, 34 and Lisa Marie, 31. We have two grandchildren, Heather Lynn Beasley 8, and Nicholas Ryan Bronch 17 months. I graduated from Utah State University with a BS degree. I majored in education and minored in Psychology. I taught school for a total of seven years. I also was in the Air Force Reserve for seven years. We moved to Ward, Arkansas in 1965, where we owned and operated a dairy farm for 12 years, then went into the mobile home park business in Jacksonville, Arkansas, and have been renting mobile homes for the past 17 years. We are now semi-retired and have moved back to the farm in Ward. My hobbies are music, dancing and most of all watching the Arkansas Razorbacks football and basketball teams play.
LILA STONE HARWOOD
I married Jack Harwood 52 years ago. One year later we had our only child, a son, Keith Harwood. He gave us 4 wonderful granddaughters. Our 3 older girls blessed us with 6 great grandchildren, 3 more girls and 2 boys. My husband retired a few years ago, but still works part time, which is nice for both of us.
GLADYS SORENSEN GIBSON
After graduating from Weber College with an Assoc., I married Gary Gibson in the Logan Temple. Our 4 children were born in ’54, ’56, ’58, and ’59, two girls and two boys. Our oldest daughter passed away in June, 1995. Gary traveled for HAFB fixing missile test equipment and I stayed at home with our children. In 1966 I was hired at Pioneer Elementary as librarian, so I went to school with our children. I cataloged the books and set up the library. It was on the job training. I read stories to the school children and taught library science. I worked there 15 years. I love children’s literature. In 1977 I enrolled at Weber State once again and in 1982 graduated with a BS in Elementary Education with a Library Endorsement. I was hired as a teacher at Kanesville Elementary in 1982 and taught second grade 13 years and retired in 1995. I have worked in many chruch positions the most recent being an ordinance worker in the Ogden Temple. I’ve been a member of 3 musical groups and performed as soloist and alto. Gary passed away in Oct., 2001. Now I enjoy making quilts, reading and my family. We have 3 living children, 13 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. I’m trying to keep busy and enjoy life..
LOLA TAYLOR SHEFFIELD
What Have I been doing the last 50 years? After I graduated from Ogden High School, I took the Cosmetology Course at Weber College and finished after a year. Then I worked at a salon in downtown Ogden. The money was sporadic so when another job offer came at McKesson-Robbins Wholesale Drug House, I took it.
My brother was on a mission in New York and he suggested I come back to Palmyra to see the pageant, which I did. Among the many missionaries involved in the production was one Grant Sheffield from Kaysville, who I met while at the pageant. When he returned from his mission in December he called and came to visit to ask me for a date for New Year’s Eve. We continued to date through the next few months and we were married in June. Shortly after our marriage, Grant was inducted into Uncle Sam’s Service at Fort Ord, California. Our first daughter of three, Vickie, was born while we were at Fort Ord, followed by two more girls, Debbie, and a year later, Sherrie. (Three years after Debbie.)
After Grant graduated from the School of Architecture at the University of Utah, he was hired at Thiokol in the design section. We bought a newly constructed home in Salt Lake- that was another story- commuting back and forth from Salt Lake to Brigham City. Everything went great for five or six years, then Thiokol went down the tube. We were the first wave of the unemployed.
Our neighbor had recently left Utah and went to Tempe, Arizona, and already had set up an interview for himself. So we packed up and went job hunting, hoping to have similar luck. But our trip continued on to California. Another friend we had been close to left a job in California and took a leave of absence when he went to Thiokol in Utah. He took his old job back, with Metropolitan Water District in California, as an engineer. He told us they were hiring and Grant was hired. He retired after 32 years. We bought a home in Brea, California, (Tar Town). Brea means tar in Spanish. (La Brea tar pits in Hollywood or Los Angeles County, not the same.) We lived in an old oil-producing town. Our son Jared was born ten years after our youngest daughter. It took all of us to raise him; he was one busy boy.
We have 8 grandchildren, 5 boys and 3 girls, one little great granddaughter. Most of the children and grandchildren live in Utah. The oldest and the youngest, with 6 of the grandchildren and the great grandchild, live in Utah. Our daughter Sherrie lives in Texas and we have one in California.
We have done a lot of traveling with our children. We have enjoyed traveling with our children to see aunts, uncles, cousins, who were living in Canada, and my sister and their children living in New York. We could travel the country and do lots of visiting and also Mexico was close by and fun to visit too. We continued our traveling after our children flew the nest. Also retiring gave us more time to travel the globe. We have enjoyed spending our vacations in many countries.
We have had a great 50 years and look forward to many more.
RUDELL WILLEY
Rudell married Barbara Hadley a few months after graduation on November 1, 1950. They have three children, one boy and two girls. They also have twelve grandchildren.
Rudell worked 35 years for the Southern Pacific Railroad as a brakeman-conductor traveling between Ogden and Carlin, Nevada. During those years Rudell was active in electrical contracting with a Master Electrician License. He was also involved in real estate development with a Real Estate Brokers License and a Commercial Property Managers License.
Rudell has enjoyed hunting in Alaska, Yukon Territories, Canada and the Western United States. fishing in Alaska and Mexico, flying his private airplane the past 34 years in Alaska (four times north of the Artic Circle) Mexico, Guatamala, Jamaica and the Caribbean Islands. Vern Smith accompanied him on many of these trips. Rudell is currently involved in activities in the L.D.S. Church, civic activities, The Quiet Birdmen (an international pilot organization) and Enable Industries, a handicapped facility. Rudell and Barbara now spend a lot of time traveling in their private plane and their motorhome.
In Memory of Our School Friends Who Are Gone But Not Forgotten
DOLORES HIPWELL CHARLTON
Dolores was married June 9, 1950 to Wayne Charlton from West Weber. They moved into a small home in West Weber. It caught fire and burned everything, wedding gifts, furniture and all. They then moved up to Wilson into a small home by her mother and dad on 2100. Later they built a nice brick home by her mother and dad. Wayne and Dolores had two children, Brent born in 1952 and LaRee born in 1954. Wayne worked at American Can and also became involved in race horses. He raised a very nice quarter horse from a colt and named her LaRee Bar and took her to Las Alemedas, California and won many races and made good money from her. A Dr. Allred helped Wayne get started in horse racing. They built another brick home on 2550 in Wilson with nice horse barns and then moved to California and raced horses. They did very well. Dolores loved Utah Noodle chow mein and ate a lot of it when they were in Ogden. They bought a ranch in California then sold it and moved to Oklahoma on a ranch. Their son Brent helped Wayne train race horses. Wayne is an expert on knowing the legs of race horses. Dolores was the bookkeeper. Late in 1992 the doctors discovered she had a cancer in her liver. Wayne had expert doctors attend to her but the cancer was too far advanced. They moved back to the house on 2550 and she died June 1, 1993 and was buried in West Weber Cemetery on June 5, 1993. Dolores and Wayne have five grandchildren.
LYNN JENSEN, 1932–1998
Lynn Jensen served in the U.S. Army for three years. Fifteen months of which he spent in Korea, where he saw combat and was awarded the Bronze Star with V device for valor. He also was awarded the Occ. Medal, a Korean Service Medal with five bronze stars, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. Following his military service, Lynn spent time in California and Utah. He married Betty Jo and has a stepson, Butch. He divorced and moved to Alaska, where he lived in Chugiak and Eagle River. He had been through engineer and demolition school in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He was a self-employed mechanic and machinist until he retired in 1996. He died December 2, 1998 from a stroke and was buried in Alaska. He was a very quiet man who would help anyone in need.
ROBERT WAYNE KIRBY
Robert Wayne Kirby was born in Brunswick, Missouri in 1932. In 1941 the family moved to West Ogden. He attended Wilson Elementary and Junior High School for 9 years. He graduated from Weber High School in May of 1950. Bob worked for the Union Pacific Railroad as a fireman/engineer for a period of time. He also worked as a cabinet maker before becoming involved in the drywall trade. In about 1970 he moved with his wife to Elko, Nevada to work in the construction trades. This was a period of increased construction in the Elko, Nevada area due to the newly found gold mines in the surrounding area that brought an influx of workers. Later on Bob worked at the Commercial Hotel in Elko maintaining the gaming machines in the casino there. Bob died in an accident in 1974 in the Elko area and is buried by his parents in the Centerville, Utah Cemetery. He left behind three daughters and one son. Bob will always be remembered for his infectious smile that was always on his face and will be noted among his family, classmates and co-workers for his happy-go-lucky attitude and good-natured personality.
ARTHUR KRANENDONK
Art died a very tragic death when his truck caught fire in an accident and burned. Art was married for a very short time and has one daughter. He worked for George Stratford and at the Sugar Factory. He was a very hard, steady worker.
FRANKLIN F. STANGER
Served lds mission to Uruguay. Married Mada Lurae Waldron from Malad, Idaho. Father of 7 children, 3 girls and 4 boys. Employed as a salesman. Loved to fly an airplane. Passed away May 8, 1990. Lived in Weber County area all his life.
RUSSELL PACKARD
When Russell was young, his dad owned the Oil Refinery in West Ogden. He was at the Ogden Rodeo when the announcer said his business was on fire. Everything was destroyed. The family moved to Astoria, Oregon. Russell went in the army and was assigned to guard duty on base in North Africa. His buddy was on guard duty. For a prank Russell kicked the guard shack. The buddy shot Russell dead without checking on who was kicking the shack.
JIM POULOS
Married a Greek girl, had one son and one daughter. He was office manager of Texaco Oil Co. in Salt Lake City until the company went out of business. He was stand offish and wanted nothing to do with his family. He was a bartender in Salt Lake City. He died about 15 years ago during open heart surgery, after having heart problems for several years.
SHELDON STAUFFER
Sheldon married Colleen Bradshaw sometime between 1952 and 1953. His oldest daughter, Beverly, was born in 1954. His son Gary was born in 1957 and a daughter Shelley was born about 1960. He worked at Hill Field. He died sometime between 1975 and 1985.
MAURICE CHENEY
No information is availabe for Maurice.
We could not find any information or the whereabouts of Vincent McEnerny or Rose Mary Ellsworth or Bill Saunders.
VERN H. SMITH, August 24, 1932 – February 28, 1981
Born in Wilson Lane on August 24, 1932, grew up in Wilson on a farm, attended Wilson School for 9 years, Weber High School for 3 years, attended Weber College from 1950 to 1954, bought first farm in the spring of 1953 in Warden, Washington, served a 2 years L.D.S. Mission in the southern states, starting January 6, 1954.
Vern started farming in the spring of 1956 in Warden, Washington. Met his wife Kay Pratt in Moses Lake, Washington (14 miles from Warden) in 1956. They were married August 15, 1957 in the Salt Lake Temple.
Vern served in the L.D.S. Church as a Bishop, on the High Council, and in the Stake Presidency.
Vern and Kay had 7 children. They had two boys and five girls.
In 1968–1969 Vern was chosen “The Outstanding Young Farmer” in the state of Washington. At the time of his death he was raising beef cattle and farming approximately 1,300 acres of land.
Vern loved to travel, especially in his private plane (Piper Cherokee six) to Mexico.
On February 28, 1981, on the return trip from Mexico, his plane crashed, on Parker Mountain, just north of Escalante, Utah. All aboard, six adults, were tragically killed.
It has been said that, “The common people of the earth are the great people of the earth.” If that is true, then Vern Smith was among the greatest.
Wilson School Faculty
Row 1—Mrs. Stanford, Miss Shaw, Mrs. Barton, Mrs. Bouwhuis. Row 2—Mrs. Secrist, Mrs. Woodward, Mrs. Sorensen, Miss Holmes. Row 3—Principal, Wheat Taylor, Mr. Pettigrew, Mr. Rhees.
Wilson School 9th Grade Class of ’47 Directory
Name
Address
Phone
Jewel Checketts Atwell
502 N. Mexico Drive, Roswell, New Mexico 88501
(505) 624-1751
Gordon Belnap
2338 Combe Road, Ogden, Utah 84403
(801) 479-7793
Betty Mae Orem Donaldson
2558 N. 4100 W., Plain City, Utah 84404
(801) 731-3168
Jack Eilander
1111 N. 2000 W., Ogden, Utah 84404
(801) 731-2916
Nona Flitton Forsgren
3703 S. 2700 W., West Haven, Utah 84067
(801) 731-0123
Joanne Howe Geary
2166 Polk Ave., Ogden, Utah 84401
(801) 621-4152
Gladys Sorensen Gibson
2294 S. 2300 N., West Haven, Utah 84401
(801) 731-0590
Lila Stone Harwood
2486 C. Ave., Ogden, Utah 84401
—
Robert Holmes
2297 W. 2550 S., West Haven, Utah 84401
(801) 731-0564
Louise Holmes
325 E. 2550 N., North Ogden, Utah 84414
(801) 782-7753
Drauca Marsten Holmes
75 N. 600 E., Brigham City, Utah 84302
(435) 723-6459
Marilyn Bowman Garner
7025 Sunburst Circle, Salt Lake City, Utah 84121
(801) 943-8912
Carma Klinke Poindexter
P.O. Box 373, Clearfield, Utah 84015
—
Betty Lou Buck Schulze
1111 E. 1150 S., Clearfield, Utah 84015
(801) 825-8354
Lola Taylor Sheffield
587 East Aspen, Brea, California 62621
(714) 671-0335
Paul Stokes
2205 Green Acres Road, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076
(501) 982-2232
Emma Ropelato Walling
1013 E. 5285 S., Ogden, Utah 84403
(801) 479-2743
Rudell Willey
1028 E. Brookhaven Dr., Kaysville, Utah 84037
(801) 546-8880
(Note: addresses/phone numbers as printed in the original memory book — likely out of date by now, but preserved as a record of where the class was circa 2001–2002.)
This document found its way into my family history files for good reason. Settler no. 68 — William Sharp (1826–1900) — is my ancestor. William was born 10 December 1826 in Misson, Nottinghamshire, England. He married Mary Ann Padley and the couple crossed the plains in the Moses Clawson Company, arriving in Salt Lake City on 15 September 1853. They went first to Lehi, but as the Plain City History records, “the land was not too good and there was no good grazing for their cattle.” They consecrated their Lehi property to the Church on 8 January 1857 — the same day as William Clark himself — before joining the group that would found Plain City.
The Daughters of Utah Pioneers history of Plain City describes William Sharp simply as “the first stone mason in Plain City.” That understates it considerably. He built the Episcopal Church in 1877, the old Singleton home, and Robert Maw’s adobe house — that last detail connecting two Lehi consecrators (nos. 68 and 47) in the work of building their new community. He played the cornet in Plain City’s first band alongside Abraham Maw. He made adobe bricks with Joseph Skeen, Joseph Robinson, and Jeppe G. Folkman — all men who appear on Clark’s consecration list. He worked with Thomas Singleton constructing many of Plain City’s early houses. His daughter Victorine Mary Sharp married Robert Edward Maw, connecting the two founding families by marriage as well as by community. His son Milo Riley Sharpplayed first base on Plain City’s founding baseball team, and Milo’s wife Lillie Stoker Sharp performed in Plain City’s second dramatic association. Milo served as school trustee beginning in 1897. Across generations, W. Albert Sharp served as a founding trustee of both the town board and the cemetery district when Plain City incorporated in 1944.
The Sharps were not alone in making that journey north from Lehi. The consecration list reads almost like a founding roster for Plain City — and the primary sources confirm it. Robert Maw (no. 47) left his own first-person account: “I Robert Maw, say that I was one of the first pioneers who came to Plain City on March 17, 1859. We left Lehi on the 10th of March.” The fall 1858 scouting party that selected the Plain City site included Daniel Collett (no. 14), Joseph Skeen (no. 69), William Wallace Raymond (no. 64), Joseph Robinson (no. 67), Joseph Folkman and Jeppe Folkman (no. 28), and Thomas Ashton — men who had consecrated their Lehi properties just months before. When Plain City Branch was organized in May 1859, William Wallace Raymond was appointed the first Presiding Elder, with Daniel Collett and Jeppe G. Folkman as counselors. Joseph Skeen — who built Plain City’s first log cabin and is credited with introducing adobe making to Utah — was appointed the first water master. His wife Alice Booth Robinson was recorded as the first white woman to set foot on Plain City soil.
Jeppe Jorgen Folkman (no. 28) managed Plain City’s cooperative ZCMI store from its founding in 1869 and operated one of the settlement’s first stores from his home. The Folkman family remained central to Plain City’s commercial and civic life for generations. Robert Maw (no. 47) founded the Maw family line in Plain City — his descendants produced three generations of ward bishops, a commercial dynasty in the Maw store and canning operations, and civic leaders serving on the town board and irrigation company board well into the twentieth century. William Van Dyke (no. 78) operated one of Plain City’s earliest merchant stores, confirmed as a living pioneer at the 1909 50th anniversary celebration. The Raymond family (nos. 63–64) provided the first Presiding Elder, first Relief Society president, and LDS Sunday School assistant superintendent.
The Lehi fort of the 1850s was, in a very real sense, the nursery of Plain City. Clark’s consecration list and the Plain City founding history are two windows into the same group of people, two years apart.
The following is a transcription of Clark’s paper, with the three original images and footnotes collected at the end.
Wayne E. Clark, a Lehi native and retired Auburn University professor of entomology, spent years examining the consecration deeds signed by early Lehi settlers, comparing them against Utah County property records, the 1860 Federal Census, Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, and family history sources. His 2017 paper, part of the Wayne E. Clark Collection at the Lehi Historical Society and Archives (lehihistory.com), has been cited by the University of Utah’s Century of Black Mormons project and published in the Lehi Free Press. The underlying deeds are held in the Utah County Office of Land Records and at the BYU L. Tom Perry Special Collections.
Early Mormon Settlers in Lehi, Utah Territory, Consecrated Their Properties to Their Church
Wayne E. Clark
Lehi, Utah, 2017
The Lehi Pioneer Monument was erected in 1908 on the Northeast corner of First North and First West Streets in Lehi, Utah. A photographer pointing his lens toward the Southeast captured a portion of a small adobe home in an early photograph of the monument. That home stood on First North Street on the block on which the Lehi Memorial Building would come to stand in a few years. In pioneer times the block on which it stood was the northeastern-most of sixteen city blocks that were enclosed within a twelve-foot-high mud wall erected as protection against the fear of hostile Indians. The monument was constructed on the site of the last crumbling remnants of the old wall.
Things have changed in Lehi since the little adobe home stood across the street from the monument. The wall is gone and forgotten. The old Lehi High School/Junior High School athletic field that came to occupy the site on which the monument and the adobe house in the background is gone, if not entirely forgotten. Instead of the athletic field, chairs and umbrellas surround a small wading pool on a deck that extends south of the swimming pool that’s part of the large Lehi Legacy Center complex on the ground on which the monument stood, and a large parking lot covers the ground on which the house once stood. Today, if one stands on the spot where the photographer stood in 1908, or some time not long afterward, automobiles that carry people to and from the Lehi Legacy Center occupy a prominent portion of the scene. The Memorial Building can be seen along the photographer’s line of site in the background.
The owner of the home was my second great grandfather, English Mormon immigrant William Clark (1825–1910). He and at least 84 other heads of families in Lehi did what he did between 11 April 1856 and 30 January 1858. A little more than three years later he consecrated his little adobe house to the church.
Feramorz Young Fox provides an explanation of the “Consecration Movement” of the 1850s.2 He writes that the movement was church-wide. Hundreds of documents he calls “deeds of consecration” were generated in the Utah Territory between 1855 and 1862.3 The first public announcement of the Consecration Movement was given at general conference in April 1854, but the implementation was delayed until a proper form compliant with the laws of the Territory could be developed and printed. He writes that Brigham Young’s consecration deed4 is dated 11 April 1855, but notes the existence of an earlier deed recorded in Millard County on 1 January 1855.
Fox presents a table5 in which the numbers of deeds by county are listed, along with the population of each county between the years 1855 and 1857. The total for the fourteen counties in the table is given as 2,747. This must be the figure used by Leonard Arrington to calculate that about forty percent of the 7,000 heads of families in the Utah Territory deeded all their property to the church during the period in which the program was in effect.6 Fox gives the following numbers for Utah County: 69 (1855), 147 (1856), and 92 (1857) for a total of 922.
William Clark’s consecration deed is representative.
Be it known by these presents that I, William Clark, of Lehi City, in the county of Utah, and Territory of Utah, for and in consideration of the good will which I have for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, give and convey unto Brigham Young, Trustee in Trust for said Church, his successors in office, and assigns, all my claim to and ownership of the following described property, to wit:
One lot in the City of Lehi with buildings thereon and improvements: Lot no. 6 in Block 16 containing 50/160 of an improvement.
Also Lot 9 in Block 7 of Plat B in the American Creek Survey of Farm Land containing 5 acres … $25.00
Also Lots 12 & 13 in Block 5 Containing 2 acres in the Lehi Garden Lot Survey … $20.00
Also Lot 15 in Block 10 Containing 10 acres in Plat B, American Creek Survey of Farm Land … $30.00
Also outstanding account in land … $200.00
1 yoke of oxen, 1 horse … $140.00
1 wagon, $45, 1 rifle, $10 … $55.00
2 cows @ $30.00 each, 1 two year old, $25 … $55.00
1 yearling heifer, $15, 1 hog, $17 … $32.00
Farming tools, $10. Mechanics tool, $2.50 … $12.50
Household furniture … $50.00
35 Bu. of Wheat @ $2 per Bushel … $70.00
10 Bu. of Corn @ $1.5 per Bushel … $15.00
30 Bu. of Oats @ $1 per Bushel … $30.00
30 Bu. of Potatoes @ $1 per Bushel … $30.00
Garden Vegetable $6, Hay $24 … $30.00
120 lbs of Pork at 20¢ per lb … $24.00
Total Amount of William Clark’s property … $1048.508
Together with all the rights privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging or pertaining. I also covenant and agree that I am the lawful claimant and owner of said property and will warrant and forever defend the same unto the said Trustee in Trust, his successors in office and assigns, against the claims of our heirs and assigns, against the claims of any heirs, assigns, or any person whosoever.
[signed] William Clark his x mark
Witnesses: Thomas Taylor George A. Leslie Thomas Ashton
Territory of Utah, County of Utah. I Lucius N. Scovill, Recorder of the aforesaid County, certify that the signer of the above transfer, personal known to me, appeared this 8th day of January AD 1857, and acknowledged that he of his own choice executed the foregoing transfer.
Lucius N. Scovill Recorder of Utah Co. UT.
The property William Clark and his neighbors in Lehi consecrated to the church included title to land. This falls into three categories for Clark and for the others: farm land, garden plots and lots on city blocks. The farm land is defined in what the deeds refer to as the “American Creek Survey of Farm Land.” This survey has not been located.9 Likewise, the survey for the Garden Plots referred to on the consecration deeds has not been located.10 The third category of property in land recorded on the consecration deeds refers to a “Lehi Survey of Building Lots.” The survey was evidently done in 1853 by Bishop Evans, as described in the consecration deeds.
The sixteen blocks inside the fort were numbered beginning with the block on the Southeast corner as Block 1 and continuing east to west with Blocks 2 through 4, then switching to east on the second tier of blocks and so forth to Block 16 on the Northeast corner of the fort.
Although the blocks inside the fort had to be re-numbered, this numbering system is consistent with one in use today. The current system apparently dates from 1861. According to Gardner,13 on April 27, 1861, the council received a numerously signed petition asking that the city be enlarged. This unmistakable sign of growth occasioned much discussion. For one, Bishop Evans seriously objected to any such extension of the city, giving as his reason the lack of water in Dry Creek to supply any considerable addition to the population of Lehi. Finally, however, all objections were satisfactorily adjusted, and the City Council ordered that a tier of blocks be surveyed around the wall. These did not supply the unexpected demand for building lots, so a tier each on the North and South was subsequently surveyed and sold to home builders.
Gardner included a diagrammatic depiction of the fort, surrounded by the wall, in his history,14 with four gates for ingress and egress, four guard towers, and the locations and layouts of each of the blocks, as well as the layout of the building lots on the blocks, are depicted. The numbers of blocks 1–16 are shown, with the corresponding numbers of the same blocks in the later surveys and continuing to this date, in parentheses. The lot and block numbers are listed on 71 of the 85 1856/1858 Lehi consecration deeds.15 The building lots on the diagram as assigned to the individual settlers are identified by the following numbers. Some of the homes listed on the consecration deeds are still standing. The house nearest current addresses of these are listed. The apparent location of houses no longer standing are also given below.
The Settler Lists
Note: Seventy-two of the 85 examined consecration deeds list the block number and the lot number of property in the city. All of the blocks listed are inside the fort. A few deeds list portions of additional lots, and some list two or more complete building lots. Thirteen deeds list no city lots. Presumably those individuals did not own their own homes. Thirty-two deeds list an adobe house and one lists a “mud house.” These are valued from $150.00 to $1,100.00. Two individuals, Abram Hatch and John Riggs Murdock, specified that their adobe houses had four rooms and one cellar. Joseph Skeen listed a 6-room adobe house. Eight log houses (on 7 lots), with values ranging from $60.00 to $200.00, are listed on the deeds. Eighteen deeds list a lot number and a block number but specify only that the property was “with improvements,” without describing the type of house. Fourteen of the 85 deeds have no lot or block numbers or houses. Presumably these individuals did not own their own homes. Lehi settler’s consecrations ranged from $127.75 to $3,075.00, for a total of $93,128.70.
South, 400 West 1. Andrew Anderson (1833–1909). Lehi, Lot 4, Block 12, with adobe house, $400.00, $1,203.00 total consecration. 17 November 1856. BK C, 1855, p. 83. 37 South, 400 West
South, 200 West 2. Thomas Ashton (1813–1903). Lehi, Lot 8, Block 11, with log house, $200.00, $1,543.00 total consecration. 9 January 1857. BK F, p. 109. 36 South, 200 West
140 South, 200 West 3. Charles Barnes Jr. (1827–1911). Lehi, Lot 2, Block 7, with adobe house, $300.00, $1,008.00 total consecration. 10 January 1857. BK F, p. 129.
69 South, 300 West 4. Alfred Bell (1794–1874). Lehi, Lot 4, Block 11, with adobe house, $400.00, $1,201.00 total consecration. 10 January 1857. BK F, p. 123.
5. Jens Peter Ipsen Benson [Peter Benson] (1831–1898). Lehi, no city lot, $135.00 total consecration. 16 January 1857. BK F, p. 177.
6. Yeppa Benson [Jeppe Bendtsen] (1795–1872). Lehi, no city lot, $168.00 total consecration. 16 January 1857. BK F, p. 177.
West, 300 South 7. Samuel Briggs (1826–1898). Lehi, Lot 3, Block 4, with adobe house, $150.00, $997.00 total consecration. 10 January 1857. BK F, p. 131. 382
West Main Street 8. George Brough (1823–1914). Lehi, Lot 7, Block 16, with adobe home, $150.00, $421.00 total consecration. 16 January 1857. BK F, p. 180. 55 North Center Street
North Center Street 9. Abram Brown [Abraham Brown] (1808–1891). Lehi, Lot 9, Block 12, with adobe house, $250.00, $608.00 total consecration. 26 January 1857. BK F, p. 208. 333 West Main Street
West Main Street 10. John Brown (1820–1896). Lehi, Lot 7, Block 9, with improvements, $150.00, $3,083.00 total consecration. 8 January 1857. BK F, p. 81. 45 West Main Street
15 West, 100 South 11. Martin Bushman (1802–1870). Lehi, Lot 6, Block 8, with improvements, $300.00, $1,032.00 total consecration. 16 January 1857. BK F, p. 167.
284 West, 200 South 12. David Clark (1816–1889). Lehi, Lot 2, Block 6, with adobe house, $600.00, $1,520.00 total consecration. 5 February 1857. BK G, p. 71.
100 West, 100 North 13. William Clark (1825–1910). Lehi, Lot 6, Block 16, with adobe house, $200.00, $1,048.50 total consecration. 8 January 1857. BK F, p. 91. 45 West, 100 North
West Main Street 14. Daniel Collett (1807–1894). Lehi, Lot 4, Block 15, with improvements, $200.00, $1,313 total consecration. 10 January 1857. BK F, p. 126. 188 West Main Street
West Main Street 15. Sylvanus Collett (1835–1901). Lehi, Lot 6, Block 10, with adobe house, $150.00, $360.00 total consecration. 9 January 1857. BK F, p.
104, 115 West Main Street 16. Sarah Couzens [Sarah Jaque] (widow of Joseph Couzens [Joseph William Cousins (1809–1856)], deceased). Lehi, Lot 4, Block 13, with improvements, $150.00, $927.20 total consecration. 9 March 1857. BK H, p. 40.
206, 389 West, 100 South 17. Daniel William Cox (1801–1858). Lehi, Lot 5, Block 5, with adobe house, $450.00, $2,225.50 total consecration. 20 January 1857. BK F, p.
West Main Street 18. William Taylor Dennis (1810–1894). Lehi, no city lot, $4,115.50 total consecration. 9 January 1857. BK F, p. 111.
West Main Street 19. Joseph Dobson (1804–1872). Lehi, Lot 2, Block 15, with mud house, $200.00, $721.00 total consecration. 8 January 1857. BK F, p. 83. 130
86 North, 400 West 20. James Downs (1815–1882). Lehi, Lot 6 and W1/2 of Lot 7, Block 13, with adobe house, $250.00, $1,813.00 total consecration. 9 March 1857. BK H, p. 46.16
North, 100 West 21. Robert Dunn (1818–1885). Lehi, Lot 5, Block 16, with improvements, $250.00, $1,085 total consecration. 20 January 1857. BK F, p. 272.17 86 North, 100 West
North, 100 West 22. Shadrack Empy (1822–1892). Lehi, Lot 7, Block 14, with adobe house, $200.00, $820.00 total consecration. 10 January 1857. BK F, p. 130. 229
West, 100 North 23. Abel Evans (1812–1866). Lehi, Lot 5, Block 14, except NE Quarter of lot, with house, $150.00, $528.00 total consecration. 31 December 1856. BK F, p. 40.18 90 North, 300 West
Main Street 24. David Evans (1804–1883). Lehi, Lots 2 and 6, Block 14, $1,100.00, $3,075.00 total consecration. 10 May 1856. BK C, p. 39.19 288 West Main Street
Main Street 25. Henry Beck Evans (1830–1911). Lehi, no city lot, $180.00 total consecration. 28 January 1857. BK F, p. 284.
200 West 26. Joseph Field (1831–1911). Lehi, Lot 4, Block 10, with improvements, $200.00, $489.00 total consecration. 16 January 1857. BK F, p. 178. 49
200 West, South 27. John Folker (1814–1884). Lehi, Lot 8, Block 6, with adobe house, $200.00, $984.00 total consecration. 8 January 1857. BK F, p. 94. 166
South, 200 West 28. Jeppe George Folkmann [Jeppe Jorgen Folkman] (1824–1916).20 Lehi, Lot 6, Block 1, with improvements, $65.00, $394.00 total consecration. 28 January 1857. BK F, p. 285. 65 West, 200 South
200 West, South 29. William Fotheringham (1826–1913). Lehi, Lot 3, Block 1, with two log houses, $100.00, $1,845 total consecration. 4 November 1856. BK C, p.
73, 66 West, 300 South 30. Charles Wesley Gallup. Lehi, no city lot, $438.50 total consecration. 16 January 1857. BK F, p. 170.
31. John Henry Glines (1831–1897). Lehi, no city lot, $387.00 total consecration. 31 March 1857. BK H p. 90.
Block 6, Lot 6, 6 North 32. Abram Hatch [Abraham Chase Hatch] (1830–1911). Lehi, Lot 6, Block 4, with adobe house, $750.00, $2,891.00 total consecration. 10 January 1857. BK F, np. 132.21
100 South 33. Lorenzo Hill Hatch (1826–1910), and Sylvia S. Hatch. Lehi, Lot 2, Block 13, with buildings and improvements, $800.00, $1,608.00 total consecration. 11 April 1856. BK C 1855, p. 41.22 212 South, 300 West
125 West 34. John Joseph Hayes (1825–1899). Lehi, E1/2 Lot 7, Block 7, $100.00, $311.00 total consecration. 9 January 1857. BK F, p. 105. 125 West, 100 South
96 North, 200 West 35. William Brown Hill (1836–1883). Lehi, Lot 5, Block 15, with improvements, $150.00, $931.75 total consecration. 29 December 1856. BK F, p. 30. 96 North, 200 West
93 North, 100 West 36. William Hyde (1818–1874). Lehi, Lot 8, Block 15, $150.00, $1,040.00 total consecration. 23 December 1857. BK H, p. 106.
187 West Main Street 37. Ezekiel Hopkins (1801–1872), or his son, Ezekiel Hopkins (1839–1911). Lehi, Lot 5, Block 10, with log house, $200.00, $610.00 total consecration. 10 January 1857. BK F, p. 120.23 187 West Main Street
87 North, 300 West 38. Daniel James (1807–1880). Lehi, E1/2 Lot 7, and N1/2 Lot 8, Block 13, with adobe house, $200.00, $871.00 total consecration. 28 February 1857. BK H, p. 21. 87 North, 300 West
South, 300 West 39. Samuel James (1825–1893). Lehi, Lot 7, Block 12, with adobe house, $150.00, $490.00 total consecration. 28 January 1857. BK F, p. 278. 24
West Main Street 40. John Karren (1834–1905). Lehi, Lot 7, Block 11, with adobe house, $150.00, $441.00 total consecration. 28 January 1857. BK F, p. 181. 231
West Main Street 41. Thomas Karren (1810–1876). Lehi, Lot 2 & the E1/2 of Lot 3, in Block 12, with log house, $150.00, $1,766.00 total consecration. 8 January 1857. BK F, p. 92. 390 West, 100 South
217 South, 100 West 42. Henry Kearns (1778–1859). Lehi, Lot 5, Block 1, with improvements, $350.00, $1,049.00 total consecration. 10 January 1857. BK F, p. 128.
West Main Street 43. Suel Lamb (1833–1913). Lehi, Lot 5, Block 9, with adobe house, $150.00, $652.00 total consecration. 10 January 1857. BK F, p. 127. 95 West Main Street
261 South, 200 West 44. John Irvin Lawson [John Lawson] (1805–1884). Lehi, N1/2 Lot 3, Block 3, with improvements, $50.00, $145.00 total consecration. 10 January 1857. BK F, p. 117.
290 South, 200 West 45. Abraham Losee (1814–1887). Lehi, Lot 1, Block 3, with improvements, $150.00, $1,153.00 total consecration. 9 January 1857. BK F, p. 115.
290 South, 200 West 46. John Smiley Lott (1826–1894) and Permelia Darrow Lott (widow of Cornelius P. Lott, deceased) and Peter Lott (1805–1882). Lehi, Lot 1, Block 3, $150.00, $1,153.00 total consecration. 9 January 1857. BK F, p. 115.
[Peter] Lyman Lott (1842–1906). Lehi, Lots 6 and 7, Block 3, with improvements, $600.00, $2,226.00 total consecration. 8 January 1857. BK F, p. 100. 241 West, 200 South
47. Robert Maw (1834–1920). Lehi, no city lot, $285.00 total consecration. 19 January 1857. BK F, p. 182. PC
45 West, 100 North 48. James McGaw (1824–1872) & Elias Bassett.24 Lehi, Lot 6, Block 16, with adobe house, $400.00, $2,255.00 total consecration. 23 December 1857. BK H, p. 108.
100 North 49. Ephraim Mecham (1808–1891). Lehi, no city lot, $392.50 total consecration. 28 January 1857. BK F, p. 280.
50. John Miller (1846–1939). Lehi, no city lot, $127.75 total consecration. 28 January 1857. BK F, p. 280.
300 West 51. John Murdock (1792–1871). Lehi, Lot 5, Block 3, with house, $100.00, $295.00 total consecration. 31 December 1856. BK F, p. 38. 209 South
300 West 52. John Riggs Murdock (1826–1913). Lehi, Lot 4, Block 3, also 3/8 of Lot 3, Block 4, Lehi, with 4-room adobe house with cellar, $800.00, $5,097.00 total consecration. 9 January 1857. BK F, p. 114. 269 South, 300 West
238 West, 300 South 53. Orrice Clapp Murdock (1824–1915). Lehi, Lot 2 and 2 rods of the E side of Lot 3, Block 3, with house, $500.00, $1,665.50 total consecration. 8 January 1857. BK F, p. 95. 238 West, 300 South
South Center Street 54. Jens Nelson [Jens Nielsen] (1796–1875). Lehi, N1/2 of Lot 7, Block 8, $50.00, $306.00 total consecration. 16 January 1857. BK F, p. 171. 140
South Center Street 55. Henry Elliot Norton (1826–1913). Lehi, no city lot, $460.00 total consecration. 7 May 1856. BK C, p. 42.
74 West, 100 South 56. Peter Madsen Peel [Peder Madsen Pihl] (1820–1900). Lehi, Lot 3, Block 9, with log house, $100.00, $537.00 total consecration. 28 January 1857. BK F, p. 279. 74 West, 100 South
140 South Center Street 57. Hans Peterson [Hans Pederson] (1823–1881). Lehi, S1/2 of Lot 7, Block 8, with log house, $60.00, $537.00 total consecration. 28 January 1857. BK F, p. 286. 140 South Center Street
88 South, 300 West 58. Canute Peterson (1824–1902). Lehi, Lot 1, Block 12, with improvements, $150.00, $1,957.00 total consecration. 8 January 1857. BK F, p. 85.
59. Peter Peterson (1821–1901). Lehi, no city lot, $307.50 total consecration. 28 January 1857. BK F, p. 283.
290 South, 100 West 60. Stephen Howard Pierce (1816–Deceased). Lehi, Lot 1, Block 2, with improvements, $466.00, $761.00 total consecration. 28 January 1857. BK F, p. 275.
290 South, 100 West 61. Charles Price (1800–1873). Lehi, no city lot, $680.00 total consecration. 27 November 1856. BK C, p. 104.
South Center Street 62. Tunis Rappley (1808–1883). Lehi, Lot 8, Block 1, with adobe house, $200.00, $772.00 total consecration. 28 January 1857. BK F, p. 282. 220 South Center Street
260 South, 100 West 63. Alonzo Pearls Raymond (1821–1904). Lehi, Lot 8,25 Block 2, with adobe house, $300.00, $2,305.00 total consecration. 9 January 1857. BK F, p. 108. 260 South, 100 West
215 South, 100 West 64. William Wallace Raymond (1824–1881). Lehi, Lot 5, Block 2, with log house, $200.00, $2,020.00 total consecration. 31 March 1857. BK H, p.
88 West, 215 South 65. William Reid (1805–1858). Lehi, Lot 5, Block 13, with improvements, $23.00, $450.50 total consecration. 16 January 1857. BK F, p. 179.
86 North, 400 West 66. Alonzo Donnell Rhodes (1824–1893). Lehi, E1/2 of Lot 1, Block 10, with house, $200.00, $1,164.00 total consecration. 9 January 1857. BK F, p. 102. 90 South, 100 West
125 West, 100 South 67. Joseph Robinson (1814–1891). Lehi, W1/2 Lot 7, Block 7, with improvements, $100.00, $521.00 total consecration. 28 January 1857.26 BK F, p. 281. 125 West, 100 South
100 South 68. William Sharp ([1826]–1900). Lehi, no city lot, $235.00 total consecration. 8 January 1857. BK F, p. 86.
86 West, 125 South 69. Joseph Skeen (1816–1882). Lehi, Lot 5, Block 4, with 6-room adobe house, $1,000.00, $2,764.00 total consecration. 8 January 1857. BK F, p. 99. 377 West, 200 South
205, 390 West Main Street 70. Joseph Johnson Smith (1821–1902). Lehi, Lot 3, Block 13, with adobe house, $500.00, $1,804.00 total consecration. 20 January 1857. BK F, p.
89, 267 South, 400 West 71. Samuel Thomas Smith (1823–1890). Lehi, Lot 4, Block 4, with adobe house, $150.00, $507.50 total consecration. 8 January 1857. BK F, p.
West Main Street 72. James Taylor [James Whitehead Taylor] (1819–1891) and Ann Taylor. Lehi, Lot 8, Block 7, $700.00, $1,300.00 total consecration. no date, no month,27 1856. BK C 1855, p. 40. 110 South, 100 West
382 West, 300 South 73. Thomas Taylor (1826–1900). Lehi, Lot 2, Block 2, with adobe house, $300.00, $932.00 total consecration. 9 January 1857. BK F, p. 106–107.
65 South, 100 West 74. William Taylor [William Whitehead Taylor] (1828–1907). Lehi, Lot 3, Block 10, adobe house, $200.00, total consecration $625.00. [no date]. BK C 1855, p. 81. April 1856. 65 South, 100 West
186 South, 300 West 75. Daniel Stillwell Thomas (1803–1878). Lehi, Lot 5, Block 12, with adobe house, $300.00, $842.50 total consecration. 26 February 1857. BK G, p. 204. 405 West Main Street
West Main Street 76. Preston Thomas (1814–1877). Lehi, Lot 5, Block 11, with log houses, $200.00, $2,207.00 total consecration. 8 January 1857. BK F, p. 97. 281 West Main Street
186 South, 300 West 77. John Titcomb (1800–1858). Lehi, Lot 1, Block 5, with adobe house, $300.00, $1,150.00 total consecration. 10 January 1857. BK F, p. 122.
37 West, 200 South
78. William Van Dyke (1830–1901). Lehi, Lot 7, Block 1, with adobe house, $200.00, $523.75 total consecration. 30 January 1858. Not found in Utah County book.28
11 West, 200 South 79. Andrew Vince [Moses Andrews Vince] (1809–1859). Lehi, Lot 8, Block 8, $450.00 total consecration. 8 January 1857. BK F, p. 88. 11 West Main Street
216 South, 200 West 80. William Sidney Smith Willes (1819–1871). Lehi, Lot 8, Block 3, with improvements, $700.00, $2,020.00 total consecration. 9 January 1857. BK F, p. 112–113.
168 West, 200 South 81. Thomas Griffin Winn (1829–1904). Lehi, Lot 3, Block 7, with adobe house, $200.00, $666.50 total consecration. 7 January 1857. BK F, p.
80 West, 168 South 82. William Henry Winn (1833–1884). Lehi, no lot or block, $148.00 total consecration. 9 April 1857. BK H, p. 84.
240 South, 100 West 83. Solomon Wixom (1809–1879).29 Lehi, Lot 7 and N1/2 of Lot 8, Block 2, with adobe house, $400.00, $1,308.50 total consecration. 28 January 1857. BK H, p.
36 West, 100 South 84. Georg Gottlieb Zimmermann (1781–1866). Lehi, Lot 2, Block 9, with improvements, $125.00, $443.00 total consecration. 16 January 1857. BK F, p. 169.
88 South, Center Street 85. John Zimmerman (1820–1908). Lehi, Lot 1, Block 9, $125.00, $1,873.00 total consecration. 16 January 1857. BK F, p. 176. Fort Cabin Occupants
The cabins were arranged end-to-end to form a hollow square in the first of two phases of the fort. Van Wagoner says nearly three hundred settlers occupied sixty cabins, but he names only fifty-three individuals31 on the list corresponding to the numbers (1–85) of the diagram.
East Side (7)
North Side (12)
West Side (18)
South Side (16)
William Goates
2. Thomas Ashton
John Andreason
Orrace Murdock
81. George Zimmerman
4. Alfred Bell
17. Daniel Cox
51. John R. Murdock Sen.
John Zimmerman
22. Abel Evans
Samuel James
50. John Murdock
John Spires
23. David Evans
38. Samuel James
31. Abram Hatch
61. Tunis Rappley
14. William Dobson
75. Luke Titcomb
45. Mrs. Pamelia Lott
Martin Bushman
Philip Olmstead
Charles Partridge
45. John S. Lott
John Brown
Prime Coleman
7. Samuel Briggs
Ira J. Willes
William Coleman
William Goates
77. W. S. S. Willes
George Coleman
70. Samuel T. Smith
44. Abraham Losee
William Burgess
12. David Clark
Mrs. Lydia Losee
Jehial McConnell
57. Canute Peterson
68. Joseph Skeens
Joel W. White
9. Abraham Brown
40. Thomas Skeens
Israel Evans
John Mercer
Alonzo D. Rhodes
David Evans
69. Joseph J. Smith
Thomas Karren
Riley Judd
84. Daniel S. Thomas
John Winn
David Judd
Samuel Harwood
Silas P. Barnes
John W. Norton
Daniel Cox
61. Tunis Rappley
Henry Norton
Oley Ellingson
J. Wiley Norton
David Norton
Closing Notes
Some of the settlers remained in Lehi after their 1856/1857 consecrations were accepted and recorded. The locations of the homes of several of them in later years have been located in other studies.32 Some moved from Lehi. Some moved from the fort in Lehi to other property in Lehi. For example, William Clark moved from the Lot 6 property on Block 16(40) to a home on Lot 4 of the same block some time before he received title to both lots in 1871.
Some of the names absent from the cabins list are absent from the consecration deeds. This could reflect the fact that the individuals left Lehi before the consecration movement began, or that the individuals did not consecrate their property, or that their consecration deeds have not yet been located.
Sixty-eight of the 128 building lots on the sixteen blocks in the fort are represented on the consecration deeds. If 40% of the men in the Lehi settlement consecrated their property, as Arrington says was the estimated percentage of the participation of the men in the Territory, 51 lots should have been claimed on the deeds. It appears that participation in the consecration movement was higher in Lehi than in other parts of the Territory.
Notes
1 This, and similar documents by Wayne E. Clark, are posted at the Lehi Historical Society and Historical Archive Indexes, https://www.lehihistory.com. Thanks to John Knollin Haws Jr. and the other volunteers at the Lehi Historical Society and Archives for encouragement and support, and to Dan Olds for heartily pushing for the search for consecration deeds and for other important historical information. Corrections or additions welcome. wayneeldenclark@gmail.com.
2 Fox, Feramorz Y. (March 1944). The Consecration Movement of the Middle ‘Fifties,’ Improvement Era, 47 (2) February, March 1944: 80–81, 120–21, 124–25, 146–47, 185, 187–88.
3 He wrote that the recorded deeds were to have been sent to the office of the Trustee-in-Trust of the church in Great Salt Lake City. These must include the deeds now preserved in the LDS Church History Library, in Salt Lake City. Consecration Deeds, 1854–1867. One book, Consecration book, circa 1857–1858, Call Number CR 5 53, Identifier CR 5 53/b0001. No. 233, has a list of deeds from throughout the Territory. The original deeds on the printed forms of many are accessible from CR 5 53: Consecration Deeds 1854–1867. For example, the original consecration deed of John Brown is accessed from Deeds, B, #271–288. Fox mentions the existence of two deeds in possession of a man who found them in a rubbish pile.
4 Found in “Book A of Deeds” in the church historians office, and in “Pioneer Records, Salt Lake County Recorder’s Office, p. 249.”
7 Fox notes that this is an exact count, taken from records in office of the county recorder. He must have seen the copies of the deeds preserved in LDS Conveyance books in the Utah County Office of Land Records, 100 East Center Street, Suite 1300, Provo, Utah 84606. The contents of the books are indexed for electronic searching. Consecration deeds of early Lehi settlers are found in books labelled LDS Church Conveyances, BK C, BK F, and BK H.
8 His consecration was twenty cents below the average, $1,048.70.
9 Ownership and numbers of Lots and Blocks and acreage on various surveys throughout the county are contained in Webb Access to Utah County Land Records – Abstract Images — LDS Church Conveyance. Included are “American Creek Survey 1851,” “American Creek Survey of Farm Land,” 1853–1855, “Upper Dry Creek Survey of Farming Land,” 1853, and “Lake Farm Land.”
10 Presumably the garden plots in 1855/1856 were the same as the ones on later records. The earliest entry in the Utah County abstract book for garden plots for Lehi is for 1 December 1879.
23 Original in LDS Church History Library, CR 5 53, box 3, fd. 3
24 James McGaw, age 34, was in Ogden, Utah, in the 1860 Census. His wife, Mary Matilda Bassett (1800–1878), age 56, was with him, as was Mary’s mother, Matilda Salter Bassett (1800–1878), age 56, (1837–1906), age 23, and Elias Bassett, age 40. Elias must have been James’s brother in law.
25 This may be listed in error for Lot 6. Lot 8 of Block 2 is also recorded as having been claimed by Solomon Wixom on 28 January 1857. Alternatively Raymond and Wixom could each have occupied 1/2 of Lot 6 in 1857.
26 Immediately follows the deed of David Evans, dated 10 May 1856, and precedes the deeds of Lorenzo Hill Hatch, dated 11 April 1856, and of Henry C. Norton, dated 7 May [1856].
32 A subsequent study of the consecration deeds combined with the 1860 Census and other sources of information resulted in a more complete picture of the Lehi City fort in the years following the issuance of the deeds. Mormon Pioneers in Lehi, Utah Territory, 1854–1871, https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5wDxipAGQN2YzRBczAxMjlhsVFU/view?usp=sharing
Wayne E. Clark, Lehi, Utah, 2017. Part of the Wayne E. Clark Collection at the Lehi Historical Society and Archives, https://www.lehihistory.com. Contact: wayneeldenclark@gmail.com. Corrections or additions welcome.
Standing (l-r): Frank Carlisle, Harve Carlisle. Sitting: Fred Carlisle, Joe Carlisle, Jim Carlisle.
I thought I would share this photo because I have it and do not know how many others do. This is the five sons of Isabella Sharp and Joseph Carlisle. Isabella is the sister to my William Sharp, who I have written about previously at this link: Sharp-Bailey Wedding. Here are some of the details of the family, but I do not really know much more. They have a pretty large family with plenty of family historians so I will let them write the Carlisle history (which I know they have probably already done).
Joseph Carlisle was born 21 July 1826 in Sherwood on the Hill, Nottinghamshire, England and died 17 March 1912 in Millcreek, Salt Lake, Utah.
Isabella Sharp was born in December 1831 in Misson, Nottinghamshire, England and died 29 March 1904 in Millcreek, Salt Lake, Utah. Her christening record, dated January 1832, establishes 1831 as her birth year. Both her Deseret News obituary and the In Memoriam published at the time of her death recorded her birth date as 21 December 1832 — the year is contradicted by the christening record, and whether the day was the 21st or 22nd remains to be confirmed by further research. Her parents were Thomas Sharp and Elizabeth Cartwright Sharp. If you search her brother, mentioned above, you can read more about her parents and family.
Misson is a small village and civil parish in Nottinghamshire, England, situated on the River Idle approximately one and a half miles from the Yorkshire boundary and three miles east-northeast of Bawtry. The village’s ancient name appears in historical records as “Mysen” or “Misne,” both of Danish origin, suggesting the area was first settled by Danes who came up the Trent valley to Gainsborough and then followed the River Idle inland. Until 1886 the parish straddled the Nottinghamshire-Lincolnshire boundary, when it was ordered placed entirely within the Bassetlaw division of Nottinghamshire. It was in this quiet fenland village, near the meeting point of three counties, that Isabella Sharp was born.
The Sharp family emigrated to America aboard the ship James Pennell, which sailed from Liverpool on 2 October 1850 under the direction of Christopher Layton and William L. Cutler, carrying 291 Latter-day Saint passengers. After a difficult voyage that included a severe storm near the mouth of the Mississippi that disabled the ship and nearly exhausted the provisions on board, the James Pennell arrived at New Orleans on 23 November 1850. The passengers then continued up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, where they found employment and shelter for the winter. The passenger manifest confirms Elizabeth Cartwright Sharp (age 45), William Sharp (age 24), Isabella Sharp (age 19), Elizabeth Sharp (age 26), and James Sharp (age 10) all traveled together on this voyage. The account of the voyage is preserved at Saints by Sea.
Isabella’s mother, Elizabeth Cartwright Sharp, died in St. Louis on 17 February 1851, just months after their arrival. Isabella remained in St. Louis, was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and married Joseph Carlisle there on 18 May 1853. That same month her brother William departed St. Louis with the Moses Clawson Company, arriving in Salt Lake Valley in September 1853. Joseph and Isabella followed, also traveling with the Moses Clawson Company, and settled first in Millcreek, Salt Lake County.
The Deseret News of 31 March 1904 reported her passing under the headline “Early Settler Dead: Mrs. Isabella S. Carlisle Goes the Way of All the Just.” The notice recorded that she was born in Misson, England, 21 December 1832, emigrated to Utah in 1851 [she arrived in America in November 1850 but did not reach Utah until September 1853], and passed away at her home in Mill Creek on Tuesday last after a well-spent life of nearly 72 years. She became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1850 and endured with patience and fortitude all the hardships incident to the settlement of these valleys. The funeral was held from the Mill Creek Ward house on Friday at 12 o’clock noon.
An In Memoriam published at the same time recorded that Sister Carlisle was one of the first to join the Relief Society when it was organized in the ward in 1863, and was a great support to it financially. She served as presiding teacher in the third district for twenty-one years, and as first counselor in the Primary Association, third district. She was honorably released by Bishop James C. Hamilton. The funeral was held at the Mill Creek Ward house, where a large concourse of friends met to pay their last respects, Bishop Hamilton presiding. She was interred in the Mill Creek Cemetery.
In December 1933, three of Isabella’s sons — Joseph R. Carlisle, James S. Carlisle, and Harvey C. Carlisle — wrote to LDS Church President Heber J. Grant requesting reinstatement by proxy of their Uncle William Sharp and his wife Mary Ann Sharp, who had been excommunicated from the Church on 31 January 1879. President Grant consented by letter dated 16 December 1933, authorizing proxy baptism and, if applicable, restoration of endowments and sealing through Elder George F. Richards, President of the Salt Lake Temple. The letter was addressed care of Mrs. James S. Thompson — confirming that Annie Thompson, whose 1957 history of Elizabeth Cartwright Sharp appears elsewhere on Sagacity, was the daughter of James S. Carlisle.
Joseph and Isabella were married 18 May 1853 in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.
Joseph Richard Carlisle was born 19 December 1854 in Millcreek and died 2 April 1935 in Salt Lake City. He married Lily Naomi Titcomb 29 November 1883 in Salt Lake City in the Endowment House.
Isabella Jane Carlisle was born 12 April 1857 in Salt Lake City and died 1 April 1928 in Salt Lake City. She married Joseph William Walters 3 January 1875 in the Endowment House.
Thomas Matthew Carlisle was born 12 April 1857 in Salt Lake City and died 10 March 1869 in Millcreek.
James Sharp Carlisle was born 4 September 1859 in Millcreek and died 2 December 1938 in Millcreek. He married Keturah White 11 February 1885 in Logan, Cache, Utah in the Logan Temple.
Ezra Taylor Carlisle was born 14 August 1861 in Millcreek and died 12 February 1862 in Millcreek.
Elizabeth Ann Carlisle was born 24 November 1862 in Millcreek and died 6 November 1881 in Millcreek. She was engaged to marry John Calder Mackay and obviously died before that marriage could take place. On 21 December 1881 in St. George, Washington, Utah Isabella performed Elizabeth’s eternal ordinances in the St. George Temple. Isabella also stood in as proxy as Elizabeth was sealed to John Mackay, who accompanied Isabella to St. George.
William Frederick Carlisle was born 14 November 1864 in Millcreek and died 5 January 1922 in Millcreek. He married Sarah Ann Rogers 23 December 1897 in the Salt Lake Temple.
Harvey Cartwright Carlisle was born 22 September 1866 in Millcreek and died 3 July 1935 in Holladay, Salt Lake, Utah. He married Lucy Carline Cahoon 21 January 1891 in the Logan Temple. After her death he married Amelia Annie Towler 16 January 1901 in the Salt Lake Temple. After her death he married Emily Steven McDonald 19 July 1923 in the Salt Lake Temple.
Herbert Towle Carlisle was born 23 August 1868 in Millcreek and died 25 October 1870 in Millcreek.
Orman Carlisle was born 8 May 1871 in Millcreek and died 9 May 1871 in Millcreek.
Carrie Brown Carlisle was born 18 November 1872 in Millcreek and died 15 July 1873 in Millcreek.
Ether Franklin Carlisle was born 11 September 1873 in Millcreek and died 4 May 1915 in Salt Lake City. He married Maude Miller Harman 10 November 1897 in the Salt Lake Temple.
Rosamond Pearl Carlisle was born 29 July 1875 in Millcreek and died 13 June 1921 in Murray, Salt Lake, Utah. She married Uriah George Miller 19 February 1902 in the Salt Lake Temple.
The family certainly lost quite a few children. But all those who lived to marry did so in an LDS temple, or its equivalent at the time.
For more on the Sharp family and Plain City’s founding generation, see:
I received a letter from a first cousin, twice removed this past week. I was pretty excited about the letter and appreciate her thinking of me. Alice Coley Miller, daughter of Lloyd and Verda Coley. Lloyd is the brother to my Lillian Coley Jonas. The card and letter speak for themselves. As time passes, many of these types of documents are likely just trashed. This letter was somewhat difficult to type up and be loyal to what Great Grandma Lillian wrote. Having said that, I have made a number of corrections in brackets to be more accurate than what she had at the time of writing. The modern miracle of the internet, crowd-sourcing, and FamilySearch have completely changed this clunky process that Alice, Veda, and Lillian were engaged. I hope Great Grandma Bowcutt doesn’t mind my sharing her handwriting and grammar. I also linked the other pages and photos I have on this family, so you can go to those links to read the full information and histories that I have previously written.
February 26
Dear Paul
I have moved from Brooklyn, New York to Bountiful, UT. In going through stuff I found this letter written to me by your great grandmother Lillian Bowcutt (Jonas). Since it’s in her handwriting I thought you might like to have it.
I appreciate all the genealogical information you are gathering and that names on the Coley line are coming up for temple work to be done.
Enjoy the coming spring.
Alice Coley Miller
Mrs. Frank W. Miller, 1050 East 31 Street, Brooklyn, New York 11210.
Lillian Bowcutt, Box 312, Richmond, Utah 84333
Richmond UT, Febr. 6, 1976
Dear Alice Husband + family
Just haven’t been able to write and tell about the Coleys you see I haven’t been able to get much either. But aunt Veda has a lot she said write her and see if she can help you. I’ll send you what I have about them.
