John Parley James Life History

John James was born 12 August 1852, at Pinvin, Worchester England. John's father was William James, an agricultural labourer, son of Lee James and Sarah Price. John's mother was Jane Haynes (Haines), gloveress, daughter of Celia Haynes. John's brothers and sisters are: Sarah, born 14 or 16 August 1837; Emma, born 3 June 1839; Reuben, born 16 June 1841; Mary Ann, born 15 or 16 December 1844; Martha, born 8 June 1846; George, born 16 June 1847; Jane, born 9 September 1853. John's family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints in Birmingham Branch in 1850. They wanted to come to America and Utah while all the family were together. Father, William, had health problems but they thought maybe they could make the trip. William James family sailed from Liverpool, England 4 May 1856, on the ship "Thornton". They arrived in New York Harbor, 14 June 1856. The company traveled by rail through Albany, Buffalo, Chicago, and reached Iowa City on 26 June 1856. On 15 July 1856, they set out for the trek. James G. Willie became the captain for the Fourth Handcart Company. The company comprised of 500 persons. They had 120 handcarts, 5 wagons, 24 oxen, 45 beef cattle and cows. The company was divided into 100 persons to a group. They were led by a sub-captain. They had 5 round tents, with 20 persons to a tent, and 20 hand carts or one to every 5 persons, one Chicago Wagon, drawn by 3 yolk of oxen to haul provisions and tents. Each person was limited to 17 pounds of clothing and bedding.

James Brigham Wright Life History

James Brigham BRETT (WRIGHT) was born 2nd February 1845, in Manchester, County of Lancaster, England, the eldest son of Sarah Ann BRETT. He was illegitimate. (Traditional family rumor says that the father was a missionary.) When his mother married Andrew WRIGHT, 16 Dec 1849, he took his stepfather's surname and became known as James Brigham WRIGHT. Sometime in 1854 or 1855, Andrew WRIGHT deserted his wife, Sarah Ann, and ran away with another woman. Sarah Ann BROADHEAD, daughter of James Brigham WRIGHT, said the woman was the wife of Sarah Ann BRETT's brother. They were never heard of again and it is thought they came to America. (Sarah Ann had three brothers; Charles, George Frederick, and John James.) His mother worked very hard in a factory trying to support her three children; James Brigham; Thomas, born 23 Nov 1851; and Emma, born 19 Sep 1853. James Brigham was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was eight years old (1853). He was a very studious boy at his age, trying hard to help his mother, as they were in very poor circumstances. When he was nine years old (1854) the officers came and put them in the poor house. It was a terrible trial to his mother and nearly broke her heart. However, they were only in the poor house nine days as a good and faithful friend of the family, heard of her trouble and helped get them out. He was Edward CHAPPELL also a Latter-day Saint.

He took James home with him and apprenticed him to learn the clogger or shoemaker trade so he could help his mother support the others. At that time James Brigham probably became acquainted with Sarah Jane CHAPPELL, Edward's daughter, who eventually became his wife. When James was 11 years old (1856) the family was able to come to America. Sarah Ann had a burning desire to come to Zion and they worked and saved every penny they could for that purpose. With the help of Mr. CHAPPELL and the Church's Perpetual Emigration Fund, they came on the ship "Horizon", with a group of Saints bound for the United States, under the direction of Edward MARTIN. They sailed from Liverpool, England in May of 1856. The voyage was rough and he saw his beloved grandmother (Sarah Upstone Brett ALCOCK, aged 62) buried at sea. It was one of the hardest things he ever had to bear, to see his grandmother buried in a watery grave, and he never forgot this sad experience.

Sarah Ann Brett Wright Life History

Sarah Ann Brett

Sarah Ann BRETT was born the 7th of Nov 1825, in London, Middlesex, England, the daughter of James J. BRETT or BRATT or BRITT and Sarah UPSTONE. Her father was born about 1783 and her mother in 1790 or 1794, both in London, Middlesex, England. Sarah Ann was the youngest child of six children. Her brothers and sisters were Charles, born Jan 1818; George Frederick, born 15 Oct 1818; John James, born 24 Jan 1820; Eleanor, born 16 Jan 1823; and Sukey, born 16 Jan 1823. The marriage record of James BRETT and Sarah UPSTONE reads as follows: "At St. Giles in the Fields, married 18th Feb 1819, James BRETT, bachelor, of this parish, and Sarah UPSTONE, of the same parish, spinster, married by Banns." No further record of James has been found, but Sarah later married a William ALCOCK. Her name was found in the records of the Manchester Branch Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was baptized into the church 7 Nov 1844, and was recommended to Manchester from Leek, Staffordshire, England. The name of William ALLCOCK was found next to Sarah's in the branch records and he is presumed to be her husband. At the time of the 1841 census, William and Sarah ALCOCK were listed on Derby Street, in Leek, Staffordshire, England. His occupation was reported as stonemason, age 56, Sarah ALCOCK’s was dressmaker, age 50, and Sarah Ann BRATT’s was silk weaver, age 15. Sarah Ann BRETT or BRATT joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1842, when she was 17 years old. She was baptized by George ASHWORTH at the Manchester Conference of the British Mission, and was from Leek, Staffordshire, England. She was baptized again two years later on 23 May 1844. Sarah Ann's first child, James Brigham, was born 2 Feb 1845 in Manchester, Lancashire, England. His status was illegitimate and traditional family rumor says that his father was a missionary. Sarah Ann married Andrew WRIGHT, 16 Dec 1849. He was 22 years old and his profession was listed as cordwainer (shoemaker). He lived at 8 Ainsworth, St. Ardwick, in the District of Manchester. His father was John WRIGHT, dairyman. Sarah Ann was 24 years old and lived at Chancery Lane, Ardwick, in the District of Manchester. Her father was listed as James BRETT, servant man. Her friend, Emma CROCKER, was a witness to the marriage. Sarah Ann could neither read nor write so signed the marriage certificate with an "X".

Anna Knight DeMille - Grave Stone

Freeborn DeMille - Life History

Born: March 3, 1795, Plattskill, Ulster, New York Married: March 11, 1819, Anne Knight Died: January 23, 1881, Manti, Sanpete, Utah Children: Mariah, Orpha, Lora Ann, Oliver, Adelia, Ellias, Lovina Ester, Freeborn DeMill and Annie Knight Joined the church one year after it was founded. They lived neighbors to Joseph Smith. The family went through the persecutions and lived in Jackson Co, Kirtland and Nauvoo. Freeborn helped build the Kirtland and Nauvoo temples. In the spring of 1850 the parents, two sons and two daughters started for Utah and reached Manti late in the fall. They took up a piece of land and farmed and worked with the church, til death. The family endured all privations incident to pioneer life, during the grasshopper plague they saw many days when greens was all they had to eat. Indian troubles were among the difficulties here too. Freeborn DeMill married Anna Knight on March 11, 1819. Their first child was a daughter, that they named Mariah, who was born May 12, 1820. On December 24, 1822, a second daughter was born and given the name of Orpha. The third child was also a daughter, that they named Lora Ann, born June 2, 1828. Their 4th child, a son was born March 30, 1830 and given the name of Oliver. This was just a month before the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized. In Freeborn’s own record he states that he was baptized in the Susquehanna River at Colesville and a few months later his wife was baptized in September 1830 in New York State. He does not give the date of his baptism but his church record gives it as June 30, 1830. Church history shows a number of the Colesville members were baptized in June 1830. However, all the Knight family had joined the church and became members in 1830. Freeborn and wife were numbered with the total of seventy members in all of New York State in Dec. 1830. In Dec. 1830, the section thirty seven of the Doctrine and Covenants was received by the Prophet in which the Lord told him to visit and strengthen the church at Colesville and commanded the church members in New York State to assemble in Ohio. The latter part of January 1831, the Prophet Joseph Smith and his wife with Sidney Rigdon and Edward Partridge left New York for Kirtland, Ohio, with instructions from the Prophet that the members of the church in New York should follow in the spring. In Freeborn’s own written record, he states that on April 21, 1831, he with his wife and family, the oldest being eleven years old and the youngest thirteen months, left Colesville for Ohio. They arrived in Thompson, Ohio on May 16, 1831. The church history relates that the members of the Colesville branch, (which included all the Joseph Knight family) were instructed to settle in Thompson, Ohio, about ten miles east of Kirtland, where arrangements had been made for them to settle. Leman Copley had a considerable tract of land in Thompson, that he (a member of the church) had offered to let the saints from Colesville occupy. A contract was agreed upon and work commenced in good faith. However, Copely broke the agreement and some trouble over it caused the Prophet to receive the 54th section of the Doctrine and Covenants early in June 1831. As a result of this revelation, the church at Thompson composed of the members of the Colesville branch made all possible haste to leave Ohio for Missouri. In John Whitmer’s history of the church, Chapter 8, it states that Newel Knight was appointed leader of the company which was made up of the Colesville branch and under his leadership, they made the entire journey from Thompson, Ohio to Missouri. In the record of Freeborn DeMill, he states that they left Thompson, Ohio, June 28, 1831 and arrived in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri on July 25, 1831. (Twenty seven days). The Colesville branch did not settle in Independence, but in Kaw Township a few miles of Independence, in the valley of the Blue River. The saints rejoiced in the revelation of Section 57 of the Doctrine and Covenants naming the land of the Missouri as a gathering place for the saints and the place for the City of Zion; here they felt they could make their home in peace and safety. History of the Church, Chapter 16 starts out, and I quote, “On the 2nd day of August, 1831, I (Prophet Joseph Smiht) assisted the Colesville branch of the church to lay the first log for a house, as a foundation of Zion in Kaw township, 12 miles west of Independence. This was in between Independence and Kansas City, and is now covered by suburbs of Kansas City. The log was carried and placed by 12 men, in honor of the 12 tribes of Israel. At that time the land of Zion was consecrated and dedicated by Elder Sidney Rigdon for the gathering of the Saints.” Freeborn DeMill was one of the 12 men and it was from his record I gave the church historian the names of the 12 men. The church did not have the names of all 12 before I gave it to them. I quote from the same chapter 16 of the History of the Church as written by the Prophet as follows: “On the 4th of August, I attended the 1st conference in the land of Zion. I was held at the house of Brother Josua Lewis, in Kaw township in the presence of the Colesville branch of the Church. The spirit of the Lord was there. On August 7, 1831, I attended the funeral of Sister Polly Peck Knight, the wife of Joseph Knight, Sen. This was the first death in the church in this land, and I can say, a worthy member sleeps in Jesus Christ til the resurrection.” She was my great-great-grandmother. According to her son, Newel, her health had been failing for some time and she was very ill during the journey from Thompson, Ohio to Missouri. Yet she would not consent to stop travelling. Her greatest desire was to set her feet upon the land of Zion and to have her body interred in the land. While travelling on the steamer down the river, Newel went on shore at one of the stops and bought lumber to make a coffin, in case she should die before they arrived in Missouri. History of the Church, Chapter 20, the Prophet states he visited the saints in Kaw township a few miles west of Independence. He reported that the Colesville branch in particular, rejoiced as the ancient saints did with Paul. The foot note states that the Colesville saints were among the 1st to receive the gospel and were mostly converts of the Prophet that his heart was very tender toward them. Sept. 29, 1832, Freeborn DeMill and his wife had their fifth child born to them. A daughter given the name of Adelia. She was born in Kaw township, Jackson County, Missouri and is my grandmother. I will not take the time and space to tell of the persecution and hardships of the saints in Missouri as it is on record in the Church History. It must have tried the faith of the best of them after coming to the land of Zion and rest of them to have mobs and persecution drive them from their new made homes. In Freeborn’s own records he relates that on Dec. 1, 1833 as winter was settling in they were driven from their homes by mobs and out of Jackson county. They crossed the Missouri River to the north into Clay county where they took up new homes. Here a little over two years later, in the spring of 1837, they were driven with the rest of the Saints out of Clay county and went north-east to Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri, Here on January 12, 1838, their sixth child, a son was born, and given the name Ellias DeMill. Freeborn states that in the spring of 1839 they, with the rest of the Saints were driven out of the state of Missouri, they crossed the state for about one hundred miles to the east, came to the Mississippi River, crossed that and settled in Quincy, Ill. on the bank of Mississippi River. While here in Quincy, their oldest daughter, Mariah, at the age of 21 on April 22, 1841 was married to Daniel Buckley Funk. After coming to Utah this made their home in Sterling, Utah (six miles south of Manti) and raised a family of nine children, Freeborn’s record states that they left Quincy in 1842 and moved to Navuoo, Ill. Here on Jan. 8, 3.843, thei.r second daughter, Orpha, at the age of twenty one was married to Perry Davis and she died the same day. Here also in Navuoo on May 13, 1843, the seventh child of Freeborn and Anna was born. This was their last child, a daughter and was named Lovina Ester. On Thursday, Dec. 25, 1845, (Christmas day) Freeborn and his wife received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple. (There were 107 endowments given that day. On January 27, 1846 they were sealed in the Nauvoo Temple. Freebom states in his record that they left Nauvoo for the west on April 22, 1846, being driven out of their homes by the mobs. They arrived in Mt. Pisgah on May 26, 1846. Freeborn DeMill had injured his leg with a saw and was laid up for about five years while in Missouri. Most all the time they were in Mt. Pisgah he was laid up with fever sores. Here in Mt. Pisgah on Oct. 1, 1848, their third daughter Lora Ann married Samuel K. Gifford. After coming to Utah, they were called with others to settle in Utah’s Dixie and made their home in Shonesburg, southeast of Springdale. They were the parents of ten children. In the spring of 1850 they left Mt. Pisgah for the valleys of the Great Salt lake and arrived in Salt lake City Sept. 17, 1850, with the Capt. Warren Foot Company. After a short rest in Salt Lake , they left for Manti, Utah and arrived there Nov. 5, 1850. Freeborn was now past fifty five years old and his wife past forty six. Manti was their home for the rest of their lives, never again to he driven by the mobs. On Dec. 31, 1852, their fifth child, Adelia married John F, Squire, Jun., Manti’s first schoolteacher. They made their home in Manti and had a family of 8 children. More will be told of them later. On May 13, 1855, the oldest son, Oliver at the age of 25, married Emily Almina Deal. They had eleven children. He married a second wife, Fidelia Winget June 3, 1865, and they had seven children. This family was also called to settle in Utah’s Dixie and made their home in Shonesburg later moving to Rockville, On Dec 11, 1859, the youngest child, Lovina Ester, not quite 17 married John Alma Beal. They had eleven children and lived in Manti until about 1875 and them moved to Shonesburg. On June 11, 1863, the youngest son, Ellias, the last to marry, was married to Malvina Winget. He was 25 years old. They made their home in Manti and were the parents of nine children. Freeborn was a member of the first High Council organized in Manti and was a member for many years after. Ann Knight DeMill died on July 28, 1878 in Manti at the age of seventy~four and is buried in Manti, Cemetery. Freeborn DeMill died in Manti, Jan 23, 1881 at the age of eighty-five and is buried in the Manti Cemetery next to his wife. On May 3, 1856, Freeborn DeMill married a second wife by the name of Lynittee Janett Richards and to them two sons were born. Orrin, born Jan 29, 1858, Manti, Utah, and Benjamin born Jan 23, 1860, in Manti, Utah. In his record he relates that one died and the other was living in Ephraim with his mother, dated April 21, 1864. 1 have been unable to find any trace of this other son. I don’t know if he died before age of marriage or not. Taken from a book written and published by Loren DeLance Squire. The following are exerts from an article that appeared in The Pyramid”, date unknown, by David Mackey, entitled “Lines from Hwy 89”. “Vast distance in time and space separates the communities of Sanpete County from the remote hamlets of Rockville and Springdale. The little towns are tucked away between the crimson canyon walls and the Virgin River on the south road to Zion Canyon. … This pocket of the planet was largely settled by people transplanted from Sanpete. Settlers beaqring surnames of Petty, Black, Gifford, Brown, DeMill, Averett, Larsen, Stevens, Isaacson, Lemmon, Funk, Millet, Washburn, Klingensmith, Allred, Beal, Thaxton, Stocks, Siler, Kenner and Whitlock, were among those who would become residents of the area. … It was Isaac Behunin who had been the first to stake out a lone claim at the site of present-day Ephraim. When others began to encroach on the Sanpete land immediately around him, reportedly told a friend that while he would like him for a neighbor, there was only water enough for one family. So the founder moved. This same Behunin pioneer later moved his family into what is Zion National Park today. Eventually the small settlement known as “Zion” consisted of about six families but for various reasons the town ceased to exist by 1875 when people moved away. … The headstone of Oliver and Emily DeMille stands amidst numerous relatives. DeMille was born in 1830 and not only represented the early days of Sanpete, but his parents, Freeborn and Anna Knight DeMill, were among the first to be baptized into the new church founded by Joseph Smith that same year. …”

Freeborn DeMille - Early Church History

In September, 1830, Newel and his sister Anna's husband, Freeborn DeMille, attended the Church's second conference, also held at Fayette, New York (see HC 1:108-20). There Newel became the young prophet's confidant during a surprise crisis caused when Hyrum Page claimed to have received revelations for the Church through a peep stone. Hyrum carried "quite a roll of papers full of these revelations," Newel said, which led many astray. Newel said that Joseph Smith "was perplexed and scarcely knew how to meet this new exigency." Sharing the same room, the Prophet and Newel spent "the greater part" of that night "in prayer and supplication" (13). In response, Joseph received a revelation (D&C 28) that spelled out proper channels for revelation to reach the Church. Brother Page was corrected and peace restored. At that conference Newel was ordained a priest and Freeborn DeMille was baptized. After this conference, Hyrum Smith was made president of the Colesville Branch. He and Jerusha moved in with Newel and Sally Knight, and the two couples became good friends. Newel Knight soon replaced Hyrum as president of the Colesville Branch, whose membership was almost totally Knight relatives. In 1831, this branch of Knights showed remarkable trust in Joseph Smith by obeying a revelation he received calling them to "assemble together at the Ohio" (D&C 37:3). The Knights "were obliged to make great sacrifices of our property," according to Newel. He sold 60 acres of land, Freeborn DeMille 61 acres, and Aaron Culver 100 acres. Joseph Knight, Sr., sold 140 acres, "two Dwelling Houses, a good barn, and a fine orchard" (Knight 19). Sixty-two Knight kin moved to Ohio to help initiate this "first gathering of Zion" in this dispensation. The cluster included Joseph and Polly Knight and every one of their seven children. Other relatives in this migration included Pecks, Slades, DeMilles, and Stringhams. This Knight/Colesville Branch settled near Painsville, Ohio, on lands donated by convert Leman Copley. Responding again to revelations received through Joseph Smith (D&C 38, 51), the group gave up its deeply-ingrained beliefs in private property and the profit system and became the first Saints asked to try to live an economic cooperative order (D&C 38, 51). When Copley disaffected and withdrew his lands, a revelation redirected the Knights to move once again, this time to Missouri—designated by revelation as "Zion." Again, the large clan moved enmasse to the sparsely settled frontier area. Joseph Smith welcomed his Colesville friends to Missouri on 15 July 1832 and directed them to settle 12 miles west of Independence. "We found the country to be butiful, rich and plesent and we made our selves as Comfortable as we could," said Father Knight (Jessee 39). The Knights helped to establish this center for the gathering of Israel (D&C 57). In an impressive ceremony, 12 men representing the twelve tribes of Israel laid the first log as a foundation of Zion; five of the men were Knight relations. Newel was one of seven men who dedicated the Independence temple site. Such rituals seemed full of promise to all the Knights except mother Polly, who was dying. She became the first Latter-day Saint buried in Zion. Death claimed two more Knights that year, including Newel's sister Esther. In this outpost colony of the Church, the families labored hard during an optimistic first year of building, fencing, and establishing homes. Once again, they agreed to consecrate properties in order to live cooperatively. When a council of high priests was created to govern the Missouri church, Newel Knight became one of them, and also he continued to be president of what was still termed the Colesville Branch. As part of plans to one day build the Independence temple, six Knight men made labor pledges. Joseph Knight, Sr., decided to remarry and chose Phoebe Crosby Peck, who was Polly's widowed sister-in-law. Phoebe had four children of her own, and she bore Father Knight two more. Counting Phoebe's four, Joseph Knight, Sr., was father or stepfather of 13 children. In 1834, Missourians drove the Saints, including the Knight network, from Jackson County. The mobbers shot Philo Dibble, whom Newel Knight saved from death through a remarkable priesthood blessing (see Christensen 79). Fearing for their lives, the Knights rushed to the Missouri River ferries. Joseph Knight, Jr., told of women and children walking with bare feet on frozen ground (see Hartley 216). The Knight group lost much property, including a gristmill. The family had moved twice before, but this was their first forced move. Of that hard winter, Emily Colburn Slade Austin recalled: "We lived in tents until winter set in, and did our cooking out in the wind and storms" (Austin 72). Lacking proper food and shelter, many Saints became victims of "fever and ague"—probably malaria—including Sally Knight. After she gave birth to a son who died, she died. "Truly she has died a martyr to the gospel," her bereaved husband Newel eulogized (46). Newel, being a high councilman, was sent to Kirtland to help build that temple and to receive temple blessings. At Kirtland he boarded with his good friends Hyrum and Jerusha Smith. There he met and fell in love with another boarder, Lydia Bailey, whose belief in Joseph Smith and experience with the miraculous was equal to his. Her husband had deserted her, and both of her children had died, so her family sent her to Canada for a change of scenery. In late 1833, while lodging with the Nickerson family, she heard Joseph Smith preach and saw his face "become white and a shining glow seemed to beam from every feature" (Homespun 18). This witness of the spirit converted her. She moved to Kirtland, where she met Newel Knight, and on 24 November 1835, was married to him in the Hyrum Smith home by Joseph Smith. Theirs was the first marriage performed by priesthood authority in this dispensation, which pleased Joseph Smith greatly (HC 2:320). DEMILL, Freeborn A bill of damages against the state of Missouri 1833 Loss of time and labour in Jackson County Mo. $500.00 For improvements 300.00 1836 Also for improvements &c in Clay Co. Mo. 300.00 Also for lands and improvements in Caldwell Clay Co. Mo. 500.00 1839 For the loss of time and mooveing out of the State into Illenoy & for two Rifles with expences 430.00 deprived of Citizenship in Jackson County Mo. 1833. by a lawless mob. also in Clay County Mo. 1836 by the same Mob. and last of all by an exterminateing orde the Governor. 203.00 I hereby Certify that the above bill of accomps are Correct according to the best of my knowledge— Quincy May 6th 1839 Freeborn Demill [Sworn to before C. M. Woods, C.C.C., Adams Co., IL, 6 May 1839.] The Colesville branch traced their awareness of Joseph Smith's religious experiences to Joseph Knight, a native of Worcester County, Massachusetts. He, like Whitmer, became acquainted with the Smiths in Palmyra. Knight lent encouragement to young Smith by employing him in his carding mill and on his farm. He was privileged to be in the Smith home the morning that Joseph entered with the original gold plates of the Book of Mormon in his possession. Joining the Knight family in the Colesville branch were Freeborn DeMill, originally from Ulster County, New York; Ira Willes, formerly from Albany County, New York; Hezekiah Peck, from Windham County, Vermont; William Stringham, from Queens County, New York; and Benjamin Slade, from Windham County, Vermont. The Saints in these small communities strengthened and encouraged each other as they met in worship. It was these early meetings in western New York that became the basis of the first branches of the Church, whose membership knew and professed Joseph Smith to be a prophet of God. *Documented as being present on the day of organization of the Church, 6 April 1830. 24 1. Bennett Family16. Jolly, Vincent 2. Burroughs, Anna17. Jolly, William 3. Burroughs, Phillip13. Knight, Elizabeth 4. Chamberlain, Hope Haskins14. Knight, Joseph, Jr. 5. Chamberlain, Solomon15. Knight, Joseph, Sr.* 6. Conrad, Sarah (Sallie) Heller 16. Knight, Nahum 17. Knight, Newel 7. Cowdery, Oliver*18. Knight, Polly 8. Culver, Aaron19. Knight, Polly Peck 9. Culver, Ester Peck20. Knight, Sarah (Sally) Coburn 10. DeMill, Anna Knight21. Knight, Thankful 11. DeMill, Freeborn27. Mack, Almira 12. Harris, Martin*28. Marshall, John 13. Jolly, Harriet29. Page, Catherine Whitmer 14. Jolly, John 30. Page, Hiram 15. Jolly, Julia Ann31. Peck, Electa 32. Peck, Ezekiel 54. Smith, Katharine 33. Peck, Hezekiah55. Smith, Lucy (dau.) 34. Peck, Martha Long56. Smith, Lucy Mack* 35. Peterson, Richard Ziba57. Smith, Samuel H.* 36. Poorman, John 58. Smith, William B.* 37. Poorman, Margaret59. Stoddard, Calvin W. 38. Rockwell, Caroline60. Stoddard, Sophronia Smith 39. Rockwell, Electa61. Stowell, Josiah 40. Rockwell, Orin (father)62. Stringham, Esther Knight 41. Rockwell, Orrin*63. Stringham, William 42. Rockwell, Sarah Witt64. Whitmer, Anna Schott 43. Salisbury, Wilkins Jenkins65. Whitmer, Christian* 44. Scoby, William66. Whitmer, David* 45. Slade, Benjamin67. Whitmer, Elizabeth Ann 46. Slade, Clark68. Whitmer, Elizabeth Scott 47. Slade, George69. Whitmer, Jacob* 48. Slade, Molly70. Whitmer, John* 49. Smith, Don Carlos71. Whitmer, Mary Musselman 50. Smith, Hyrum*72. Whitmer, Peter, Jr.* 51. Smith, Jerusha Barden73. Whitmer, Peter, Sr. 52. Smith, Joseph, Jr. 53. Smith, Joseph, Sr.*

Freeborn DeMille - [The following is a letter copied as written from the original which was found among papers after the death of John P. Squire. The original letter is in the possession of Loren D. Squire.] Manti, Sanpete Co., Deseret, April 21st. 1864.

In complyance with your invitation as noticed in the news of April 13th. I write this to you, As I once lived in Jackson Co. Missouri. I have six children now living: Maria - married to Daniel B. Funk living at Manti; Lora Ann - married to Samual K. Gifford living at Shonesburg, Cane County (it is said to be Dixie); Oliver Demill living at Shonesburg, having been called to go south in 1861 ( I think). Adelia - married to John P. Squire here in Manti; Elias living in Manti and Lovina married to John Alma Beal living in Manti, Sanpete Co. Freeborn Demill.I was babtised in the Susquehanna river at Colesvill and my wife Anna Demill in New York State Sept. 1830 an on the 21st. of April 1831 we started from Colesvill and arrived at Thompson, Ohio May, 16th; and on June 28th. left Thompson and arrived at Independance, Jackson Co. Missouri July, 25th; and on December 1st. 1833 was driven out and went to Clay County; and in the spring of 1837 driven again and went to Far West Missouri. And in the spring of 1839 being expelled from the State with the rest of the Saints we went to Quincy, Illinois, where we remained until 1842 then repaired to Nauvo where we resided until April, 22ed. 1846 we then started west and on the 26th. of May arrived at Mt. Pisga where I rested until May 1850 then started for and arrived in the valley of Great Salt Lake September 17th. and in Manti Nov., 5th. 1850, where I still reside. We received our endowments in Nauvo temple Dec, 25th. 1845 and sealed in January 27th. 1846. I was one of the 12 who cut carried, and laid the foundation log of the house which was dedicated by Oliver Cowdry and Sidney Rigdon Aug. 2ed. 1831 Jackson County. I was laid up for 5 years in Missouri by a hurt on my knee by a saw tooth and again in Pisga by a feaver sore for about the same length of time. I was born at Plattekill in Ulster Co. N.Y. 1795 of Garrett and Lana Demill. May 3rd. I took a second wife by whom I had two children, one is dead, the other now living at Ephraim with his mother. I was chosen one of the High Council at its 1st. organization here June, 5th. 1851, remain still a member 1864, April, 5th. It is with feelings of respect and thankfulness to God our heavenly Father, to you and the Saints generally for the blessings I have and do enjoy and that there are those who still look and feel after me that I feel greatful and hope ever to be so – With esteam and respect as ever in the bonds of the covenant I remain your friend and brother, Freeborn Demill.

DeMill family in Shonesburg, Utah

DeMill family in Shonesburg

(SHONESBURG, Utah) - While some people believe Grafton is the most scenic ghost town in Utah, Shonesburg (or Shunesburg) is probably one of the better preserved and one of the least accessible. Located on the Virgin River’s east fork as it flows through Parunuweap Canyon is Oliver DeMille’s two story cut-stone house. Near the abandoned home is a rickety fence surrounding a tiny cemetery. Further north, the fence along Zion National Park’s boundary is visible. In addition, remains of a few chimneys and portions of walls are the only clues that a town once existed here. Long before the white man invaded the Virgin River valley, the Indians lived here, according to Stephen L. Carr, author of The Historical Guide to Utah Ghost Towns. Several of the Indians along the river had tiny farms to sustain them and give variety to their game diet. One Paiute native named Shunes (or Shones) had a little spread in a small valley on the Virgin River’s east fork. In 1861, Oliver DeMille and several other families purchased land from Shones and the settlement became known as Shonesburg. Carr states the settlers paid Shones little for the land, so he accepted it as down payment and continued living among the pioneers, doing some work and begging the rest of the time. Shones may have known more than he let on, as he watched the settlers clear the land, dig ditches, plant crops and orchards and maintained them, so they reaped much larger fruits and vegetables than the old Indian had, and he benefited more than if he had held the land, Carr states. The following information on Shonesburg is largely taken from an article written by Janice DeMille, entitled Shonesburg: The Town Nobody Knows, published in the Winter 1977 issue of Utah Historical Quarterly. She notes that while the neighboring canyons of Zion National Park are yearly visited by thousands, Parunuweap Canyon and remains of the pioneer village are rarely seen. It was LDS President Brigham Young’s call of pioneers for the Dixie Cotton Mission on Oct. 7, 1861 which was the impetus for Shonesburg’s start, DeMille states. Among those called from Sanpete County besides Oliver DeMille, were George Petty, Hyrum Stevens, Alma Millett, Hardin Whitlock and Charlie Clapper and their families. Some of the families spent part of the winter below Rockville where the floods of 1861-62 washed away their farms, causing them to move on to a new location. Traveling two miles up the Virgin to where it forked, they followed the east fork. Once a site was chosen, available land was divided into small lots to accommodate newcomers. Oliver DeMille II stated that 10 families made their homes there at that time. A town site was then laid out on the northwest side of the river. Most residents built log cabins and immediately began working on a ditch to bring water to their farms. The residents also cleared the land, planted orchards and vineyards, planted corn and made the irrigation ditch. Using pick, shovel, crowbar and scraper, they also built dugways along the river for a road into the valley. After all this work, only a small crop was harvested. They also built dams across the river, only to see them washed away by unpredictable floods. Nevertheless, by July 1864, Henry Stevens presided over seven families or 45 persons and 75 acres of cotton. A year later, Shonesburg residents finally had a good harvest of cotton, corn and cane. Cotton was also used by some people for beds. During the southern Utah Indian wars of 1866-67, LDS authorities in St. George advised settlers to gather to Rockville, so Grafton, Springdale, Shonesburg and Virgin residents came with only the basic necessities. Some moved in with relatives, but most camped outside, living in their wagons. While some men kept watch for Indian attacks, others went in groups to farm nearby fields. Following resettlement of Shonesburg in 1868, a windlass was built over the ledge at the head of narrow Shonesburg canyon to take the mail up and down the mountain without climbing the trail. Mail carriers were hired to go from Toquerville to Shonesburg Canyon and back. Lorenzo and Horace Slack, carriers at the time, would leave Toquerville Monday morning, go to Shonesburg the first day and camp there that night. The next day, they went four miles to the head of the canyon, ran the mail up the windlass, took the Kanab mail that came down the windlass and went back to Shonesburg for the night, then returned to Toquerville. They made two mail trips a week. When high water prevented crossing the river, they stationed someone on both sides and ran the mail across on a wire. A mule was used to pack the wire. The only public building in Shonesburg was the old log schoolhouse built about 1870, used for public purposes, including church services. Before 1866, no Shonesburg ward organization existed so residents went to Rockville when they could. Later, an LDS Church branch was formed in Shonesburg with Oliver DeMille the presiding elder. School terms were only three months, because students had to work early in the spring and late in the fall. LDS President Brigham Young had sent the saints to raise cotton and make wine, but the settlers grew all kinds of produce, including cane, corn, cotton, watermelons, peaches, apples, pears, apricots, plums and grapes. Little wheat was grown however. Usable farmland ranged from about four miles up the river from town to two miles below. The produce was then sent north and traded for flour and potatoes. Although life was hard, the settlers were almost self-sustaining. The women and girls corded, spun, and wove the raw cotton into cloth, then made their own clothes by hand because they had no machines. Shonesburg residents also had large families with just midwives and no doctors to help. Several women died in childbirth. Home remedies were used and some of the women used their skills as midwives and nurses. There were other resident experts like Joseph Millett, Jr., a master of basket making. Using willows from above Shonesburg, he made baskets to sell, then later taught others how. He also made shoes by hand for all of his older children. He was a carpenter by trade, but was also a proficient blacksmith, mason, farmer, casket maker and shoe maker. Around 1880, Oliver DeMille and his family moved into the two-story rock house on the hill. Each of the wives had her own apartment and fireplace, while on the upper floor was a large room where dances were held. Building on the hill gave a good view of the surrounding country in case of Indian attacks and was also considered a more healthy spot than the valley, because a breeze kept mosquitoes away. Joseph Millett, Jr., did the masonry, with Christian Larson helping on the carpenter work. The DeMille house however, was never completely finished the way Oliver planned. When Brigham Young came to the southern settlements, he on occasion, stayed at the DeMille home. But very few celebrations were held in Shonesburg; the people usually went to Rockville or other early settlements for holidays. Because it was hard to get around and with not much to do, they entertained themselves. Shonesburg was particularly known for good dances. Folks came from miles around to dance at the DeMille’s rock house while afterwards, the fiddlers would be paid in produce for the dance music. But year after year, floods came and washed away more land. Consequently, families began to leave as their farms were washed away. Because many Rockville settlers at one time moved away, Shonesburg people bought their places. Finally, only a few farms were left in Shonesburg. The year 1897 was the last year enough children were available to hold school. By 1900, everyone was gone except Oliver DeMille and his children. Years before, DeMille wanted to move away, but Brigham Young had told him to stay, saying the day would come when there would be a family for every acre of land. Oliver was obedient to counsel. But conditions did not get better, and the floods washed away enough land that finally there was a family for every acre left. After 41 years of struggle, the DeMilles moved to Rockville in 1902 where they went into the mercantile business with a dry goods and grocery store. Today, Shonesburg is a ghost town. Jim Trees, formerly of New York State, later purchased 1,060 acres in Shonesburg Canyon where the old Shonesburg town site was. At present, the entire town site is on private property and is off limits to tourists. Meanwhile, the only thing running free through the town site is the Virgin River which ultimately was cause for the town’s abandonment.

Gottlieb Theophile Hirschi - Swiss German Missionary Conference 1884

Gottlieb Theophile Hirschi top left

This portrait was taken in the photograph studio of Moritz Emil Vollenweider (d. 1899) and his son, Emil Vollenweider (1849-1921), at Postgasse 68 in the city of Bern on 24 December 1884. A conference of the missionaries serving in the Swiss-German Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) convened in the Hotel Emmentalerhof in Bern on 20 December 1884 under the leadership of European Mision President John Henry Smith (1848-1911), a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (since 1880). On that same day, David Kunz wrote in his diary: “[… on the morning of December 20th,] walked [from Niederstocken] to Thun. Got on the train to Bern. My brother, John, joined me at the station at Thun. As we arrived in Bern [at the mission office at] 36 Postgasse, we found Apostle John Henry Smith and several of the Elders there. At 5 P.M. a Priesthood meeting was appointed where all the elders that were present were called upon to speak their feelings. Afterwards Apostle Smith spoke to us for about two hours and gave us some extra good council and told us how to go on and fulfill our duties. It was really a time of rejoicing for the elders to meet again and hear words spoken by one of the Twelve Apostles. I and three more of the Elders went to Brother [John] Teuscher’s to sleep. John Kunz III’s account of that day is somewhat similar: “[…] took train to Bern and there the first Thing we knew met President John Henry Smith one of the twelve Apostels, being then President over the European Mission. And we all had a good blessed time for in the same evning Dec. 20 we had a Priesthood Meeting in the English Languge and all spocke in turns and President Smith give us most exellent Instructions so that we thought we should never forget them it lasted until 11 p.m.” Three sessions were held on Sunday, December 21, 1884, at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. On Monday, the 22nd, general sessions were held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; a conference of the Relief Society was held at 7:30 p.m. that same evening. John Kunz commented that “The whole of the Conference was a decided Success, we received lots of good Teachings and the Spirit of God was there, we all felt to rejoice and to thank God for his Mercy and Blessings.” In his diary entry on Tuesday, John Kunz wrote: “Dec. 23 was spent in having a Jolly time counseled all the Time by John Henry. In the Evning we gathered in the Capacity of a Sonday School Meeting around a nice Christmus tree full of nice Gifts for the little ones. They done so remarkably well that President Smith give each of the Boys who Prayed by opening and dismissing a franc, or twenty cents in U.S. Moneys worth.” On Wednesday, Christmas Eve day, David Kunz commented: “Had our breakfast there [in the Hotel Emmentalerhof] in the morning and went down to [the mission office at] 36 Postgasse. About 11 A.M. all the elders, 14 in number, and Apostle John H. Smith went to Vollenweider’s Gallery to have our likeness’ taken all in one picture. As all 15 of us were placed, we were taken once and Mr. Vollenweider told us to remain in our places. We did so for to be taken again, but before it could be taken again I fainted and fell to the floor. The brethren lifted me up and after a few minutes I came to my senses again and was placed on a chair among the others and our picture was taken. I spent the rest of that day in the office, also that night I stayed there.” John’s account of the experience is similar: “Dec. 24 was resolved by all of the Elders from Zion 15 to have each a Group Picture of all of the 15. We contracted and as we where about to be taken David my Brother fainted a dead faint, we doubted whether he would come again, but finely he got so we could take them, but later Experience learned us they where a failure. David I transported to the Officce and got Sister [Bertha Kunz] Pluess to care for him and went according to apointment in the Emmenthaler Hof to a Christmus Dinner where 14 of us had a good Time with an American Plum Pudding, allthough I missed my Brother very much and returned sooner and found him a great deal improoved. On Christmas day, December 25th, John Kunz III wrote: “a good many of the Brethren left to their diferent fields of Labor and here I must state that my Brother David was appointed President of Central Swiss Conference and myself as such of the Bern conference.” He continued: “Dec. 26, 1884 left Bern and also took leave of my Brother who was told to stay untill more improoved in his health, this Occasion was a new trial and a hard one to me, but as I had resolved to Labor and do whatever the Servants of God placed over me, would advise and apoint me to do, I left all though cryeing and praying, changing untill my head and eyes requested some stop about it.” This photograph is the second shot. Front row, left to right: David Kunz (1855-1916), Assistant Mission Secretary Louis Frederick Moench Sr. (1846-1916), European Mission President John Henry Smith (1848-1911), Swiss-German Mission President Frederick William Schoenfeld II (1831-1918), Mission Secretary Joseph Albert Smith (1844-1926), Thomas Biesinger (1844-1931) and Conrad Vaterlaus III (1835-1917); back row, left to right: Gottlieb Hirschi (1837-1900), Gottfried Fuhriman (1859-1920), George Conrad Naegle (1860-1935), John Kunz III (1844-1918), Jacob Hafen (1836-1917), Jacob Arnold Bigler (1849-1916), Francis (Fred) Marion Lyman Jr. (1863-1957) and John Rudolf Boshard (1856-1928).

Gottlieb Hirschi Early Church Information File