SENT FROM SUE BAKER
SENT FROM SUE BAKER
Sent by Jeanne Guymon. 2nd wife Thelma Cottam Kinder married 2 Mar 1946,
1 Married Harry H. Kinder. Divorced. 2 Married Clare Howe Oliphant Sr.
2nd March in SG Temple. 3 Her four children were adopted by Clare Howe
Oliphant Sr. and sealed to him the same day as temple marriage. Therma,
Barbara Ruth, Harry Otis, and Clair Foster. 4. Joseph Cottam Oliphant born
to Clare H. and Thelma Oliphant. !Endownment: Date on Therma's sheet is 28
May 1936.1 Married Harry H. Kinder. Divorced.
2 Married Clare Howe Oliphant Sr. 2nd March in SG Temple.
3 Her four children were adopted by Clare Howe Oliphant Sr. and sealed to him
the same day as temple marriage. Therma, Barbara Ruth, Harry Otis, and Clair
Foster. 4. Joseph Cottam Oliphant born to Clare H. and Thelma Oliphant.
!Endownment:Date on Therma's sheet is 28 May 1936.
Sent by Jeanne Guymon. 2nd wife Thelma Cottam Kinder married 2 Mar 1946,
1. Married Agnes Britton 11 June 1846. Divorced
2. Married Sabina Augusta Dollinger. 1 Dec. 1861.
3. Married Lucinda Abigail Judd 11 Apr. 1870
4. Sealed to Richard Oliphant and Ann Holcomb 6 Feb 1967.CHARLES HENRY OLIPHANT
Copied from my book which I call my Judd book. - Jeanne Oliphant Guymon
Charles Henry Oliphant, the son of Richard Oliphant and Susannah Young, was born 16 November 1825 in Canandaigua, New York. He was raised in Rochester, New York by the Fox family. His mother, Susannah Young, the sixth child of eleven children, was born 17 June 1795 in Hopkinton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, to her parents John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brigham, Susannah Young’s younger brother, was the ninth child in the family.
Charles Henry married Agnes Britton 11 June 1846 in Rochester, New York. Agnes Britton was born 23 June 1826 in Rochester, New York. They had three children while living in Rochester: Charles Parsons Oliphant was born 23 March 1847, Richard James was born 25 September 1849 and Edwin Colt Oliphant was born 25 September 1851. Because of excessive labor, Charles Henry Oliphant was sick for eight months. While he was suffering with his trials of sickness and unemployment, he had a desire to gather with his relatives to the West. His Uncles and Aunts on his mothers side had joined the Church. He tried to contact his two half brothers, James and Feramorz Little who had moved to St. Louis from New York.
His two half brothers referred to above were the offspring of his mother, Susannah Young and James Little who were married in 1815. James Little’s father emigrated from Ireland in 1807. James and Susannah had four children all born on a farm near Aurelius, Cayuga County, New York: Edwin Sabriska, Eliza, Feramorz and James. James was born 14 September 1822. The father, James, was killed when his wagon overturned upon him in 1822. His youngest child was just a baby.
Susannah Young Little met Richard who lived with his father, John Oliphant and mother, Ruth Thompson, nearby in Auburn, Cayuga County, New York. My father, Clare Howe Oliphant, told me Susannah and Richard met in a lumber camp. They were married early in the year 1825 and my grandfather, Charles Henry Oliphant was born 16 November 1825 in Canandaigua, Ontario County, New York. This marriage did not last very long.
It has been a common belief that Charles Henry Oliphant was born out of wedlock. In his own writings he referred to “the secret of his life” which led us to believe that he was illegitimate. It is possible that his parents, John and Ruth Oliphant, were opposed to this marriage so they asked for the marriage to be dissolved. Richard was marrying a woman who had three children and was five years older than their son. John, his father, being a very religious person, may have felt that this was beyond the ethical and religious standard of that day. It may have been that he was marrying below his social standing because she had no money.
There is evidence that there was a marriage between Richard and Susannah. Adrian Oliphant, son of Lawrence Oliphant, my cousin, found this evidence when he was laboring on a church mission in New York State. In Owsego, New York, he found the divorce papers between the two of them and copied them from a book. I have tried but in vain, to obtain a copy of this divorce. Adrian said that he sent this home to his parents when he was on his mission. Nada says it may be in the papers that the family inherited from their father and mother, Elgin and Druceal Oliphant, but they have not come across them.
Richard Oliphant kept a shell of secrecy over the relationship between himself and his son Charles Henry Oliphant. He never revealed the existence of this son to his wife, Anna Jones, as will be shown in some letters he wrote to Charles Henry. There is no mention of this marriage of Susannah Young to Richard Oliphant in the book of Harriet Little, Descendants of William Little Jun.
Father and son did not know about the existence of each other until Charles Henry was in his teen years. But I will let Charles Henry tell you about this in his story.
Richard Oliphant was born 23 Jan 1801 in London, Middlesex County, England to his parents John Oliphant and Ruth Thompson who emigrated to Auburn, Cayuga County, New York in 1811.
A short history of Richard Oliphant and Susannah Young, James A. Little and his brother, Feremorz Little, will be given in another chapter. Each story adds more light on each others history. A very good collection about John Oliphant, Richard Oliphant’s father, entitled MEMOIRS AND REMAINS of JOHN OLIPHANT, of Auburn, New York is enclosed also. These writings are very interesting - giving a very good idea of what kind of man John Oliphant was; that he was a very humble, religious man. I will enclose the full contents of this book which I obtained from the library of the University of Rochester, Rare books division, Rochester, New York. The personnel of the library allowed us to copy only parts of the book; I was able to get the rest of the pages I didn’t have from my Aunt Minerva Oliphant. We also got pictures of Richard and John Oliphant from this same University library as well as the short sketch of Richard Oliphant. These things all need to be passed on to their descendants, which I am attempting to do.BRIGHAM YOUNG LEAVES ON MISSION - TEACHES NEPHEW, CHARLES HENRY OLIPHANT
My grandfather, Charles Henry Oliphant, was brought into the fold of the Saints in these early years of the Church. He said that his Uncle B. [Brigham] Young came to teach him the gospel in his youth when he lived in Rochester with the Foxes who were his foster family. He was fourteen years old when Brigham left on his mission which makes Charles Henry the right age according to both stories. So it would be well to insert his story here.
From the following story of Brigham Young who was leaving on his mission to England in 1839, and Charles Henry’s own story, I pieced together this information. Brigham did not go directly to England and he was not with Parley P. Pratt and the other apostles so he must have been in Monroe, Ontario and Wayne County, New York teaching the gospel to his own relatives, and specifically to Charles Henry Oliphant. This story of Brigham as he goes on his mission shows the great faith and committment he had to the work of the Lord which made him the great man that he was.APOSTLES LEAVE NAUVOO FOR ENGLAND MISSION
It had been five months since Brigham Young and his fellow apostles had gone back to Far West to fulfill the prophecy and commandment that told the Twelve Apostles to take their leave from Far West on 26 April 1839 so they could take the Gospel to England. They remembered the Lords commandment “to continue to preach” and the promise “that I will provide for their families”, recorded in section 118 of Doctrine and Covenants.
To fulfill this commandment, Brigham Young and the other apostles left for their mission to England on the 14 September 1839. It was very hard to go because Brigham Young was very worried about his sick wife and children. But he must not postpone this mission any longer. As he left there was a prayer in his heart that the Lord would care for his family and that he would have the strength to accomplish the work the Lord had for him to do. He left his sick wife, Mary Ann, and ten day old daughter and crossed the river to Nauvoo from his temporary home in Montrose, the abandoned Fort Des Moines to leave on his mission.
Although the Twelve Apostles were called to leave the United States for a mission in the British Isles, their departure was delayed by “the ague” or malaria. The rest of their children were so ill that none of the family could even go to the well for a pail of water. Brigham and his wife, Mary Ann, had lost nearly everything in Missouri when they were driven out by the mobs. Each member of his family had only one set of clothes.
One of the brethren helped Brigham make it the thirty or so rods to the riverbank and rowed the apostle across in a boat. At Vilate and Heber Kimball’s home, however, Brigham collapsed from exhaustion and remained sick for four days. Now Heber had not only his own sick wife, who was about eight months pregnant, and children to take care of but also his fellow Apostle.
Mary Ann Young soon heard of Brigham’s situation. She “got a boy to carry her up in his wagon to my house that she might nurse and comfort Brother Brigham to the hour of starting,” Heber wrote. Four adults and several children were all sick in a small fourteen-by-sixteen-foot log cabin.
On 18 September, Heber bid his wife good-bye, “who was then shaking with a chill, having two children lying sick by her side.” He “embraced her and [his] children and bade them farewell” as he and Brigham made it to a wagon. Both wives were unable to come to the door to see them off. Heber helped Brigham into a wagon and began their journey. Heber recorded, “My inmost parts should melt within me at leaving my family in such a condition, as it was, almost in the arms of death. I felt I could not endure it. I asked the teamster to stop.”
Heber asked Brigham to gather all the strength he could to sit up and bid their wives good-bye. “This is pretty tough,” Heber said, “but let’s rise up, and give them a cheer.” He and Brigham did so as they waved their hats three times over their heads and shouted, “Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah for Israel!” Vilate and Mary Ann, upon hearing the shout of farewell, managed to get to the door of the cabin with smiles on their faces, and, while leaning on the door frame, they waved and called out, “Good-bye; God bless you!” (Life of Heber C. Kimball) Orson F. Whitney
Both Brigham and Heber returned the good wishes and then told the driver to go ahead. This brief salutation both relieved and sustained the two men as they left their wives for a period of almost two years.
All the Apostles, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson and Parley P. Pratt and George A. Smith, and their wives, finally did get well. But while the apostles were on their journey, they were so bereft of funds that they made the final leg of the journey only when the captain of the steamboat on which they had come down from New Haven, Connecticut, saw their plight and paid for their steamboat fare. Brigham left some money for his wife, but debts had to be paid. His first letter to Mary Ann, written only hours after parting, explained the various obligations owed. She had only $2.72 left following the disbursement of the funds. “This is almost robbing you I know, but I do not know what else to do. Brother Joseph has pledged himself that the wives of the Twelve should have what they wanted. I do feel as though the Lord would provide for you and me.” Brigham himself had neither passage fare nor clothing for his journey. He relied upon the Lord to sustain his family and himself as he began the long journey to the British Isles.
The Apostles were all en-route to England. Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor and Theodore Turley had already sailed for England before Christmas. Orson and Parley P. Pratt were in New York City and Philadelphia preaching the gospel. These missionaries had been preaching in New York, but Orson was restless and felt impressed to go farther out and chose Philadelphia, about 100 miles south of New York. To his amazement, when he arrived he found Joseph Smith. Joseph, frustrated with the slow moving wheels of government to get redress, had left Washington. D. C. and gone north to visit the Saints in Philadelphia.
Orson immediately sent a letter back to Parley, telling him to come to Philadelphia. That had been just before Christmas. Now, three days into the New Year, Parley had returned. The room fell quiet for a few moments after Parley reported what Joseph told them about his lack of success in Washington. It was depressing to know that in spite of the Constitution, no one cared enough for justice to act in behalf of the Mormons.
Joseph Smith and Elias Higbee had arrived in Washington, D.C., on November 28, 1839, and the next day had an interview with President Martin Van Buren who said ”Gentlemen, your cause is just, but I can do nothing for you. If I take up for you I shall lose the vote of Missouri.”
The news was bad but Parley did have some wonderful news too. While they were with Joseph, he spent many hours teaching them about God and the heavenly order of Eternity. This was the first time that Joseph had revealed to them what the Lord had revealed about Eternal Marriage. Parley couldn’t wait to tell them what Joseph said. He said these precious relationships, which we so deeply esteem here, are not to be broken by death. They are to continue in the next life. The eternal family is the organization of heaven. Joseph called it sealing.
“It is a part of the keys of the priesthood restored to earth by Elijah. And through these keys, a husband and a wife, can be sealed together for all eternity. Parents and children can be sealed together into an eternal family unit.” Parley turned to his wife, who he had brought with him, and took her hands in his. “Do you understand what this means dear Mary Ann? This fountain of love which so endears you to me and me to you comes not just from the human breast, it springs from God! And God has prepared the way so we may be joined together for the eternity’s. That is what Joseph taught us, and that is why I rejoice with you this day.”CHARLES HENRY OLIPHANT TELLS HIS OWN STORY
“I, Charles Henry Oliphant was born in Canandaigua, Ontario County, New York about five miles from Hill Cumorah, November 16, 1825. My first recollections are of the town of Mendon, Monroe County, New York. While living there I suppose I was three years old. Uncle B (Brigham Young) had his factory there. The family lived over the shop, ascending to the living rooms by a pair of stairs outside. Here my mother married William B. Stilson. I had been sleeping with her and wept bitterly when I was separated from her. It was here that I remember my brother James (A. Little) leaving me, going with our Aunt Fanny Young. Afterwards I think the family moved from Mendon to Springwater and from there to Conesus, both in Livingston County and from there to Rochester in Monroe County in the fall of 1831.
In the latter place I went to school to a teacher by the name of Chapman. Stilson was dissipated and Mother and her children suffered much for the necessities of life. The following circumstances will illustrate this character: While living in Mendon, mother was one day a short distance from home and came across a lost pig. It was very small and poor; we took it home and nursed it into a thrifty shoat. It was taken along when we moved to spring water and it grew to be a fine fat hog. Mother anticipated from it as an addition to our food supply. One day these anticipations were blasted by a rum seller coming and taking it away to pay one of Stilson’s whiskey bills. He was severe to cruelty; giving me terrible whippings for little childish indiscretions. He was by trade a painter.
“In Rochester, my mother [Susannah Young] gave me to a Mr. Esekiel Fox and his wife Lucretia in the winter of 1831. From that time, I never again saw my mother, who died in Salt Lake City in 1852. [This was just a week or so before Charles arrived in Salt Lake City.] Here my brother Feremorz visited me and our brother James, in the spring of 1841 on his way to the West.
“During my youth at the Foxes, several of my relatives came to see me; B. and Jos. [Brigham and Joseph] Young, who preached the Gospel to me. This has kept me from being prejudice against the Saints. In the spring of 1841, I was struck on the head by a vicious Negro for defending one of my friends from his insults. For several weeks I was near unto death. My brother, Feremorz was sent for and staid (sic.) with and nursed me for several weeks. This injury affected my memory and even my eyesight for some years after. Finally the abuse of Mrs. Fox became intolerable. One day in August 1842, the old lady struck me over the head with a mop. I defended myself by pushing her down, made a clean run for the yard fence, cleared it at a jump and have not been back since.
When I left the house, I met Mr. Fox on the street; I told him what I had done. He replied that he wondered that I had not left long before. He said he would find me a home. His daughter, Mrs. Francis Briggs, had once befriended me, and I went to her home. She said I could have a home at her house. She dressed me up and greatly improved my appearance; for I left Mr. Fox’s house with very poor apparel. She found a situation for me as clerk in a trading establishment.
While with those people I went by their name. My mother had told them that my name was Charles Little. I never knew the contrary until the visit of my brother, James, before referred to. He informed me that my father’s name was Oliphant. He knew where my father lived and I wrote a letter to him. Up to this time I knew nothing of my father and he knew nothing of me. On receiving this letter, he wrote to me at once. This was the first development of my family status to me.
For several years my father had correspondence with the Fox’s. They gave me a bad character, which deterred my father from seeing me.
Those people taught me many good things mixed up with some evil and much cruel treatment. For the latter, the Mormons was mostly to blame. [I think the reason he said the Mormons were to blame was because he was friendly to the Mormons who were teaching him the gospel; he received cruel treatment when he would not deny the teaching of Joseph Smith and persecution was inflicted upon him just as it was upon all the Mormons.]
Several years before leaving the house of Mr. Fox, they had persuaded me to choose a guardian by the name of Forsythe. The man who had employed me as a clerk, was under the necessity of using my wages to clothe me. My guardian afterwards claiming my wages, he felt compelled to discharge me.
After leaving this place, I found a place in the printing office of an anti-slavery paper, I think called “The Native American.” ---- There I became acquainted with Fred Douglas, the great anti-slavery man and with Henry G. Riley, a literary character and one of the first who took up with Morse’s Telegraph, and became an extensive operator in business. By this time, with great effort, I had acquired an extensive intelligence by reading standard works on history and science.
“This was the winter of 1842-3. In the fall of 1842, the Washington Temperance Societies were on the boom through the country. I was elected President of the first Young Men’s Washington Temperance Society of the city of Rochester. About this time I also became a member of the Banner Conference Fire Company. The same fall, I think in October, the Fire Department of Oswego, where my father lived, invited the company to which I belonged to pay them a visit. Here for the first time I saw my father seated at the banquet table by the side of Horace Greeley. He took a prominent part in the ceremonies of the day. My father up to this time, had never met me and my secret at the time was only known to myself. I was now not quite 17 years old.
Horace Greeley, although considerably my senior, looked quite young. At this time I did not have any communication with my father. The next spring I went to work for Mr. Fox for wages in the horticultural business. In the autumn of 1843 I had an offer from Amos Sawyer, Sheriff of the county, to assist me in starting in the tree raising business. Through his influence, I had land and capital offered to assist me. The same land is now included in the Commercial Nurseries.
“After I was through with Mr. Fox, I started with a couple of biscuits in my pocked for a neighboring town to find employment for the winter. On the way I was met by my old Sabbath School teacher, Deacon Calvin Balt; learning my purpose, he inquired if I would like to learn the carpenter’s trade; I replied that I would. He told me to wait awhile, for he knew where he could get me a place. The result was that I went to Mr. Drury and apprenticed myself to him to learn the carpenter and joiners trade. He afterwards joined the Millenites and his efforts to prepare for the Millennium broke him up. He and his family were very kind to me. He found me a place to continue to work at my trade at a Mr. Lauren Parsons, to whom he recommended me. Here I worked a year at my trade. While I was at Drury’s place, my brother Edwin S. Little came to see me and urged me to go West with him. I should probably have done so had it not been for my engagements with my employer. Thus I came very near gathering with the Saints at that early day. Also the same fall, Uncle G. A. Green came to see me.” (Edwin had with him his wife, Harriet and son George.)
In April 1844, I went to work for Parsons. In the great political struggle in the fall of 1844, I assisted in the city of Rochester, in raising the highest Liberty Pole in the United States, and came near closing my life. The ash pole was 244 feet in height.
For several years previous my father had corresponded with the Fox’s. They gave me a bad character, which deterred my father from seeing me. This fall of 1844, my father visited the Foxes; he had two of his daughters, Sarah and Martha with him. I was sent for and went. The old lady Fox insulted and abused me. My half-sister, although knowing nothing of the secret of my life, appeared to sympathize with me very much. From this time my father gradually lost his prejudice of me and cultivated my acquaintance.
The winter of 1844-5, at my employer’s, Lauren Parsons, I first saw my wife, Agnes Britton. She was raised in the family of my employer’s brother, George M. Parsons. There was a great religious revival in the country and I joined the Baptist Church. I connected myself at once with the Sabbath School of the Church and labored in it several years. It was ----- Moore, the founder and for many years the owner and publisher of the Rural New Yorker. Several other young men grew up in this school and afterwards made their mark.
In April 1845 I went to work for Charles Ensign, a good mechanic, where I improved much in my trade.
I think it was also in the year 1845 that the Baptist proposed through a Professor Burbank, to send me to college and educate me for the ministry. As I now remember there were two reasons why I did not accept the offer; the knowledge that my injuries in the spring of 1841 had somewhat impaired my faculties, and the condition that after receiving my education I should labor for the Baptist Church.
In the winter of 1845, myself in company with two other young men; Alfred Pritchard and Wm. B. Strong, went into the lowest quarter of the City of Rochester and started a Sunday School. Visiting the locality about 16 years after, I found that quite a prosperous church had grown up, the probable result of the Sunday school. About this time I was called up by my church for some liberal religious views with regard to the Communion, but no action was taken on my case.
In the spring of 1846, Agnes Britton learned that there was an opening in a neighboring Academy for employment as assist teacher. I took her out to make application. She was engaged, but on returning home, her mother was taken sick and died. This prevented her filling her engagement. Immediately after on the 11th day of June, we were married. She was born June 23, 1826, in Rochester. We had nothing to begin with. She worked at vest making and sustained herself until I had learned my trade. In the fall of 1846 I found employment as a journeyman carpenter. In the spring of 1847, the 23rd of March, our first child, Charles Parsons Oliphant, was born in the City of Rochester. That year I worked as a journeyman, the following year, 1848, I commenced business for myself. During this time I was badly hurt by a scaffolding falling, broke my right arm; while it was healing I went to visit my father at Oswego in September 1848, --bought a city lot and commenced making me a home. This house became my home in 1849. In it September 25, 1849 my son, Richard James Oliphant was born. I built a shop and carried on business until I left that country.
The first two years of my residence here I had much sickness, probably mostly caused by excessive labor. At one time for eight months I was helplessly sick, and once was supposed to be dying. Along through these trials and labors, there was mingled a spirit of uneasiness, a desire to gather with my relatives in the West. Often in a dreary mood, I have looked to the west, desiring to travel that direction. With changes involving prosperity and adversity, I spent the time until 1851. September 25 of that year my third son, Edwin Colt was born. Through sickness and adversity, my home was sold and about two weeks after the birth of my son and before my wife was in safe condition to move, I had to move out of my home in quite a destitute condition. Anticipating the coming evil, through the influence of my old friend, Professor Burbank, who was at the head of an old institution of learning in Wyoming, New York. I visited him in company with Henry A. Ward, since the celebrated Professor of Geology. This resulted in my moving to that place, where I arrived with my family during the holidays in the winter of 1851-52. This was 40 miles from Rochester, and this move effectually took me out of the unfortunate groove in which I had been running.Previous to this time I had some correspondence with my brothers, Feremorz and James. In 1850 I lost track of my relatives in St. Louis, but had previously learned that James and our mother had gone to Salt Lake. During the summer of 1850 I made general efforts to get correspondence with my brother, Feremorz, and finally was informed by a gentleman in St. Louis to whom I had written, that he could not find such a man in the city. As the cholera had been prevalent in that place, I concluded that he probably had died with it. (I had written to him about going west. In the fall of 1852, just before I started -- my father visited me in Wyoming, [New York]. He manifested much sorrow at my leaving and going so far from him.
When I was on my mission in 1861-2, he came to see me when I was in Rochester. This was the last time I saw him. Here the channel of communication was broken with my relatives. But I could not give up; the spirit of unrest was with me and I finally wrote a letter to Brigham Young at Salt Lake and addressed it in this novel way: “Brigham Young, Patriarch of the Mormon Church, Great Salt Lake City.” I sent it off without much hope, but it reached its destination and in due time I received an answer, which informed me that while I was seeking Feremorz in St. Louis, he was on his way to Salt Lake, having arrived there in the fall of 1850, about a year after the arrival of my brother, James, and my mother, and our half-sister, Cornelia Stilson.
I kept up correspondence with my relatives; finally writing my mother that I desired to start for Salt Lake the following summer, 1853. I afterwards was informed that she received this letter four days before her death. She greatly rejoiced at the news that I was going to gather with the Church.
I lived in Wyoming [N.Y.] and carried on my business with the design of moving West the coming fall. Although I sought to keep my design a secret, it got out that I as preparing to go West to join the Mormons. This injured me in disposing of property and etc. However, I found some friends; did the best that I could. The day of my leaving Wyoming is not distinctly recalled, but I made the journey in October 1852. We took the [railroad] cars from Batavia to Buffalo, from there to Detroit on steamer. There we took the only railroad then, to Chicago, the Southern Michigan. From Chicago we took the Chicago and Illinois Canal; being several days on the way to La Salle, the head of navigation on the Illinois River. We took the only boat then available, a stern wheeler for St. Louis. At that time there was no railroad west of Chicago.
On arriving at St. Louis I went to the Lindal House and took rooms. The same night a man died of the cholera in the house. I was taken down with it, but recovered through the good judgment and nursing of my wife. I remained in the hotel until my very limited funds were exhausted. Being glad to get work anywhere, I found my first job offer on the Illinois side of the river. The job proved to be a very good one and lasted me well into the winter. I completed the winter by working for a stair builder in St. Louis. (At the hotel where I boarded I first saw Brother Thomas Robertson. The first preaching I ever heard of the Gospel was by him in the bar-room of the hotel.)
During this winter I was expecting funds from my brother Feramorz. I learned that he sent me a draft of several hundred dollars, but for some reason it failed to reach me. He was carrying the mail between Salt Lake and Laramie. He wrote me from Laramie and I received the letter. In it he said he was then waiting for the Eastern Mail. He started for Salt Lake, had a terrible trip, was reported by way of California to be lost. This news reached me by the news papers.
During the spring I worked away, striving to get means to cross the Plains. In the meantime a Scarlet Fever epidemic came around. It took away two of my children; Charles Parsons, my eldest, died May 25, 1853, and Richard James, who died June 3rd or 4th following. I had the Scarlet Fever when nursing my children. The pressure was so heavy on my family that I continued to work over my children when I felt fit only for the bed myself. I owe a debt of gratitude to young men of my acquaintance; George B. Rector and Thomas Giddings, both of whom had partly made my house their home. They not only helped nurse my sick children, but spent a large portion of their wages in assisting me to carry the expenses of my affliction. The loss of my children was so far the severest affliction of my life. I need scarcely add that at the close of this fiery trial, poverty had a firm grip on me.
Soon after the loss of my children, I heard from the Valley. Brother Levi Stewart, afterwards Bishop of Kanab, arrived in St. Louis, hunted me up and told me that before he left home, President Young came to see him, told him he had a Nephew with a wife and three children in St. Louis, who wished to come to Salt Lake. He wished him to hunt him up and if he needed assistance to give it to him. As requested, Brother Stewart furnished me means. With it, I paid the money debt I owed the young men who had assisted me in sickness; and bought the out fit as directed for crossing the Plains. This left me without any funds to pay my expenses to the outfitting point at Council Bluffs. Some of my friends opened my way and I landed with the family at the landing a few miles below the Bluffs. I found means to move my family and affects up to the Bluffs. (Before leaving St. Louis, I received from my brother Feremorz, orders on several way stations on the road to draw for anything I might need. Here I met for the second time Joseph W. Young, whom I had before met in St. Louis on his way home from a mission to England in charge of a company of Saints. He had been married when on his mission to an accomplished lady whom I saw in St. Louis, apparently in the best of health. When I saw her at the Bluffs she was coming down with consumption.
I bought on credit a homemade wagon of Jas. E. Johnson for about $50. I purchased what was needed to fit it up. Put a box on it, put my family and affects into it, borrowed a yoke of oxen to move it to where the Saints were gathering and took my place in camp. Jas. W. Young’s wife was down sick with the consumption and required the most of his time and energies to attend to her. We were the only two Americans in the camp, which was made up of Welsh and English, who had no experience in these circumstances and surroundings. This threw much labor on to me. We started on to the Plains under these difficult circumstances. We arrived at Loop Fork and with some difficulty crossed it. The day we crossed, some fat, wild cattle were seen on the east side. The following day Jas. W. directed me to take some men and try to get them. We crossed the river and followed them until we found Indian tracks behind. The long travel on foot and fording the river twice in the hot sun was very heavy on me. After arriving in camp at night, there came on a terrific thunder storm. The men of the camp seemed panic-stricken and the cattle began to scatter. Gathering three or four men who still retained sufficient coolness to work under my direction, we saved the cattle. The result of these exertions was; the following day I was taken down with brain fever, from which I did not recover for five months.
At Wood River, Brothers Levi Stewart and Isaac Knight came up with us. By them, word was sent to the valley of my helpless condition and the sickness of the wife of Jas. W. Young. While they were in the Pawnee country along Wood River, the Pawnees with several hundred warriors, made a raid on camp, evidently to plunder. Before they left, they taxed us pretty heavy in camp outfit, flour, sugar and etc.
Jas. W. Young’s wife grew no better and I continued very low. Nothing of special importance happened until we arrived at Independence Rock. (Note: by Clare H. Oliphant Sr. This is known as Clear Water in Wyoming.)There we were met by two teams from the Valley, the result of the news of our condition taken in by Brothers Stewart and Knight. One was sent by Uncle Brigham, the other by [my] brother Feremorz. My feelings cannot be described in making this connecting link with friends, whom I had so long desired to see. Myself and family, with necessary things, were put into these wagons. Jas. W. Young took his own wagon with his sick wife in it. Charles F. Decker had charge of these teams. While sick on the plains, I have but little recollection of dates. I think this took place about the first day of September. The teams were driven as fast as the sick could bear. We crossed Green River in the middle of the day and stopped to rest. There Jas. W. Young’s wife died. The teams drove to [Fort] Bridger, as soon as practicable and there obtained something to put the body in. We arrived in Salt Lake City in the evening of the 25th of September, 1853. Charles Decker drove us to his house opposite to where the Theatre now stands. It had been a rainy, dismal day. I recollect they made me a place to lay down near the fire. A man came in with a lantern, looked at me, asked me if I knew him. I answered that I did not unless it was Uncle Jos. Young. He replied, I am your Uncle Brigham. He assured me I should get well, and blessed me.
I was sick for several months after my arrival and was taken care of by my friends. Uncle Brigham did not say much to me about the Gospel, but on one occasion, took me home with him; said he did not care to talk much to me about the Gospel, but bore his testimony of the truth of it.
Soon after my arrival and still unable to do anything, the spirit was upon me to labor for the introduction of fruit into Utah. I borrowed some money for this purpose off my brother, Feremorz. And sent East for scions to engraft on seedling trees which had been produced in the country. This proved a failure. The mail that winter was left along the route at way-stations. The next season it was gathered up by ox teams and my scions arrived several months after the season had passed when they could be used. The spring after my arrival, in 1854, I purchased a city lot, in the 12th Ward, for which I paid $250. In time I made a beautiful place of it. I went into [the] business of raising trees and introducing good varieties as fast as my circumstances would permit. For stocks to work, I paid 50 cents per piece for young peach trees.
Uncle Lorenzo Dowe Young had one cherry tree, around the roots of this many sprouts came up; they were worthless only for stocks. For some of these to bud into, I paid 2 dollars each. At that time there was no grafted or budded fruit in Utah. Previous to this, L. D. (Lorenzo Dowe) Young, having been back to the States, had made an effort to bring a number of choice varieties of fruit across the Plains in a growing condition in a wagon. He donated a wagon and team to this project. It was an expensive undertaking to haul soil in which trees were growing. We succeeded in getting several varieties through, but lost all but one, and that proved to be the Rawles Jannet. This was the first introduction of this choice variety of apples into Utah. I propagated some from this, by grafting and budding in 1855. I watched for the fruiting of seedling trees; where there appeared a choice variety, I propagated from it. This was the first of anyone operating in that line in the country. In 1855, I built the first house for my family. Prior to this, about 1850 or 51, a person, name now lost, brought from the East, a lot of choice seeds. These were planted by Wm. C. Staines near City Creek on what is now known as the old Carrington Place. A large portion of them were washed away. When what were left came into bearing, there developed some fine varieties. From these I propagated, named and listed them. From these have spread some of the finest varieties of peaches and several other.
After my arrival in Salt Lake, I continued to investigate the principles of the Gospel; read books, attended meetings, talked with friends and etc. Finally becoming firmly convinced that the people among whom I had cast my lot, had the true Gospel, I was baptized in May 1855 by my cousin, Even M. Green, in City Creek. My wife also joined me in this. I think Brother Green also confirmed us. The winter of 1854 and 55 I did the woodwork of the Utah Penitentiary by contract, with Pres. Young and my brother Feremorz. I completed the job in April 1855. This enabled me to pay my brother some 500 dollars which I was indebted to him for assisting me in getting to Utah. I also had some means left to assist me in improving my home and business.
In the fall of 1854, I sent to Ellwanger and Barry of Rochester for cuttings and small trees. They put me up about 40 dollars worth. There was then an express across the Plains; by this I directed it be sent. By a strange fatality the parcel went by way of California. I traced this to San Francisco and there I lost all track of it. I made great efforts through friends, traveling elders to get anything that would assist in good fruit into Utah. I found a general willingness to assist in this laudable undertaking.
On the 4th of October 1854, my daughter Ida A., was born. In the fall of 1855 I worked and paid for all the peach pits I could get at one cent a piece. I finished a house for Loran Farr and took my pay in peach pits. I also built a fence for Dr. Sprague for this pay. I now began to succeed in developing the nursery business. In the spring of 1856, I received by mail many seeds, cuttings and etc. About this time I was indebted to Mrs. Caroline Jackson of San Bernadino and Mr. John M. Kerner of San Jose, California for scions and cuttings of the most popular varieties of fruit in the U. S. Fortunately they arrived in excellent condition in the spring of 1856 via the southern Route. These varieties greatly assisted to give an impetus to fruit raising in Utah. Also Elder George Q. Cannon sent some excellent varieties from California the same spring.CHARLES RECEIVED LETTERS AT WYOMING, NEW YORK
Charles received two letters from his brother, James A. Little, one dated April 30, 1852 from Salt Lake City the other August 10, 1852 from Iron County, Utah; and another from Aunt Fanny Young Murry dated August 31, 1852 in Salt Lake City, Utah encouraging him to come join with them. The first letter from James indicated he had been caring for their mother, Susannah in Salt Lake City. The second one announced the death of their mother Susannah. The letter from their Aunt Fanny, quite informative, told about her travels from Nauvoo, about things he must do to prepare for journey to Utah. I will quote her last sentence. “I must now say farewell my dear children, may heaven protect and preserve and prosper, and bring you safely to our arms. Your uncles are rejoiced that you are coming.” She refers to his brother Feramorz Little. The other brother, Edwin S. Little, last to cross the river with Brigham Young when they left Nauvoo, died when his wagon, broke through the ice.The following is the rest of Charles Henry Oliphant’s autobiography written by his daughter May and saved by his son Seymour Oliphant.
The spring after my arrival in 1854 I purchased a city lot in the 12th Ward for which I paid $250. In time I made a beautiful place of it. I went into the business of raising trees and introducing good varieties as fast as my circumstances would permit. In 1855 I built the first house for my family. ----
After my arrival in Salt Lake I continued to investigate the principles of the Gospel, read books, attended meetings, talked with friends and etc.. Finally becoming firmly convinced that the people among whom I had cast my lot had the true Gospel I was baptized in May 1855 by my cousin Evan M. Green in City creek. My wife also joined me in this.
On 4 October 1854, my daughter Ida was born. In the fall of 1855 I worked and paid for all the peach pits I could get at one cent a piece. I finished the house for Lorin Farr and took my pay in peach pits. -----
"This same autumn I did initiatory labor, backed by Pres. Young and all the leading men of the Church, getting up the meeting for the organization of the Deseret Horticultural Society. Of this Wilford Woodruff was president and W.C. Stains and C.H. Oliphant as an active director and corresponding Secretary. I had by this time my nursery business well under way and it furnished me abundant labor. In the budding season of 1856 I propagated mostly from the best Utah varieties of fruit and the season of 1857 had a very good assortment of imported varieties from which to bud. --- This growth in my business put me in quite an independent and well earned feeling of security, making it possible to better my families in our everyday life. In the year of 1856 [our first child in Salt Lake] was born, our second girl born Sept. 25th and we named her Fanny Lucretia. I had by this time a home with some of the comforts we had done without since our marriage in 1846, June 11. In March of 1858 our fourth boy was born on the 12th and he received the name of Feramorz. ---Insert here the letter Brigham Young wrote to Charles Henry
I grew in my own testimony of the divinity of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the restoration of the Gospel, and that Brigham Young was a prophet carrying on this work that Joseph Smith had so well founded and had been brought to the borders of the United States with the establishment of the great work in the valleys of the mountains to fulfill prophecy of old.
Our 7th child was born 19 1860. We gave her the name of Eva Rosline.
During the middle of the next year I received a call to fill a mission for the Church in the New York area. On my way to my field of labor I met in St.. Louis the young man who I grew up with by the name of Fox and in our conversation he said he was on his way west so I told him when in Salt Lake to visit my family. While in St.. Louis I tried to find the graves of my two boys who died in the early part of 1853. --- Eight of nine years had passed and the city had grown to the extent that the graves were overrun by the city's growth and I could not find them. -----
On my return from my mission my home was broken up by the Fox whom I spoke of earlier. I had my business affairs settled and in selling some of my property I made a (divorce) cash settlement with Agnes of $5,000 she received, and each of the five children received $3,000. ----
(The following was written by Seymour Oliphant, a son of Charles Henry.) Charles H. Oliphant remained in Salt Lake during the years of 1863, 1864 and in 1865 was called by Pres. Brigham Young to settle the southern part of Utah. During this period he furthered the interest of his nursery business.
He married Augusta Dollinger. She had a wonderful contralto voice and she was used a great deal in musical entertainment and in choir work.
He had a team of mules and used them for a number of years, so when he moved south he put much of his nursery stock in the wagon in all likelihood sold along the way as he traveled. His destination was Eagle Valley. He arrived there in 1865 and soon had the trees and shrubbery planted. A nice house was developed and within three or four years had a well established home and nursery.
There was a family located here by the name of Judd. They became acquainted and their oldest was a girl by the name of Lucinda. Her father and mother were Zadok Knapp Judd and Mary Minerva Dart. In the meanwhile a survey was made and we found ourselves in Nevada. The taxes were very high and weighing the problems we decided to move to a place to be called Kanab, Utah.
" I had at this time the consent of the parents of Lucinda to wed and at this time went to Salt Lake City and were married in the Endowment House the 11 April 1870. On our return we moved to Kanab. It took time to build and our first child by Lucinda was born in a wagon box. We named her May, born 6 April 1871. Before I could have the two log houses I was working on finished, our 2nd girl August Sabina came to stay, 10 Feb 1873. Ernest Morgan was born in the brick two-roomed house on 15 April 1875.
"The next two were boys, John born 17 April 1877, then came Zadok Ralph, he coming to our home 3 January 1879, then two girls were added to our flock the first Lucinda named after her mother born June 24, 1880, then Grace came on the 15 June 1882. My wife Sabina Agusta died July 18th 1880, being buried in the Kanab Cemetery. She had only one child. Grace was the first child to be born in the adobe home as it had more room for a growing family. ---- A nice orchard grew into bearing soon, as also currants, gooseberries and raspberries did very well. After Grace's birth mother brought into the world a curly haired boy and they named him Seymour after Seymour B. Young, a close friend of mine. The family was still growing and the next was a girl, Agnes, born 26 November 1885, then came a boy calling him Clare Howe, he carrying the initials of his father. He was born Feb 21, 1888. The next year we moved to Orangeville. We left Kanab in October and arrived in Orangeville, Emery County, Utah in the middle of Nov. 1889. It was an open winter and lots of mud. Earlier in the year I went up from Kanab to Orangeville with a half brother, Lacy Stilson, bought the lots in town and moved a log house that had been used for a schoolhouse and a meeting place for the Orangeville Ward, to the Northwest lot.
"We lived in the two room log house during the winter of 1889 and 1890. The lot where the log house was located was of heavy dark clay. As soon as weather conditions would permit us my sons and I started to set out the trees and shrubbery on the lots that were more favorable to work in and this was done in rows in nursery style. The stock that came from Kanab was trenched in and the planting began from here. Just as soon as we could get at it trees were planted in orchard style on the Southwest lot. Our oldest son died from being thrown from a fine mare we had. This caused peritonitis or strangulation of the intestines. He left this life on the 25th of June 1890. Not long after that the entire family came down with typhoid fever with the exception of Seymour and Agnes and the baby boy that was born on 21 of March 1890. His name was William Darby. Soon after the recovery Father bought another log house from Jed Crawford and moved it onto the southwest lot. In this house we grew up as a family. The house faced the east and on the west side a lean-to was built. This made two bedrooms the south one for the girls and the north one for the boys. The house was all in one room and that served as kitchen and living room until a lean-to on the north end extending from the back of the bed rooms added to the outer edge of the porch. This made a room about 25 feet in length of this lift formed a bedroom leaving 14 feet for the kitchen.
From these humble walls our family spread out, the next addition was another boy, we named him Elgin born 31 July 1893, and three years later our youngest a girl was born. She was born 10 May 1896 and we named her Ila. We lost her the 27th of Aug 1896.
May taught school in Orangeville one year, then taught in Ferron three years, then John R. Young took her down to Fruitland, New Mexico where she taught school there about two years. Her next school was at Woodside at the lower crossing of the Price River, and there she met James B. Miller, son of Scott M. Miller. She married him the 23 of August 1897. I think she lived in the first log cabin for a year or so. Then her first child May was born in the bedroom off the kitchen April 20, 1898. Then her second child, Leo J Miller, came to town 17 Nov 1899. They as a family lived with us for several years and while living at Sunnyside, in 1904, the father showed up after an absence of five years. He came with his father and he promised to settle down and they moved to Murcer, Utah. They lived there about a year and not long before the next child was born, the mother came to Orangeville where Morgan Scott was born 5th August, 1905, the father promising to be with her when the baby was born. But he was never seen again nor by his parents either. So the family lived as brother and sisters with us. Little May married from this home.
Sabina married Swain Anderson 17 March 1897. Bina was a talented girl, had a wonderful memory and was good at readings and humorous pieces. She worked with the Primary for several years as president putting on cantatas and other educational programs. She had a nice voice and liked to sing. during her married life she brought life to the world six times. Four married: Lois had children, so did Mabel and Katherine has a daughter who is a young lady (1965) Cecil married a nice girl, Ruth Stevenson, who was blind but talented and a nice singer who did teaching in Braille. She died two years later. Now in 1965 Katherine is working in a wide area taking in Los Angeles. She resides in Orem, Utah. Her husband is able to drive though he has not perfect sight. Leo J. Miller is the only one of the three children of May's who is living. Little May's son John Smith Varner was killed near Santa Rosa in the fall of 1963 by someone hitting his car head on. He was teaching in one of the schools in that district. Scott Morgan has his family of five. Three [were] married and [are] living in Salt Lake City.
John's children all are living in the Salt Lake area with the exception of Clare Wheeler who is at the present at Phoenix Arizona with a branch of General Electric.
Of Ralph's children, Ernest and family are in Salt Lake City. LaVar passed on in 1965.
Lucinda and Lorenzo Young had ten children, four only [were] married. Ruth married Edwin Palmer, they had five or six children. She passed on 10 February 1962. Rose married Earl Owens -- three or four to that union. She has a son on a mission this summer of 1965. Rose lives at Boise, Idaho.
Lucinda lives at Orem, Utah. She married Bernard Anderson. They have three living children.
Persis married Alma Grover-- they have four children and live at Middletown, Idaho.
Grace married Peter H. Gurr. They have a nice family --nine married and have families. Grace died on Nov. 9, 1957. The husband is living at St.. George, Utah. Most of the children live at Parowan, the place of their birth. Two live in Cedar city, one at Beaver and one at Orem, Utah.
Seymour married Violet Fry Henderson of San Jose. They lived in Utah at Hiawatha for seven years where a son Kenward Seymour was born Oct 21, 1921.
Agnes or Ness as she was called, married Jasper Cree Nutter, 23 Dec 1919. They had two children. The older, Agnes never married and lives in a home on State Street, Salt Lake City. John did live at Kearns Utah, while there they adopted three children, all of one family. The older girl is married now. The family all left Utah for more schooling. His wife's name is Rachel Nelson. They are now living at Madison, Wisconsin.
Clare Howe Married Mattie Hiatt from Payson, Utah. They moved around considerable. They have six children living--all married and have families. Clare H. Jr. at Orem, Utah, Margret and Jeanne live at Phoenix, Arizona. Gertrude lives at San Jose. They have two boys. Burt and Ruth Alice live in Montana. A few years after Mattie died at Silverdale, Wn. in 1942, Clare married a widow, Thelma Cottam with four children. They had one boy to this union, his name Joseph.
William Darby lives at St.. George. He married Minerva Cottam and they have four boys and two girls. Two of the boys are married. Richard lives in Salt Lake, LeRoy married Barbara Larson and they have a child. All of Will's children except Richard live in St.. George, Utah.
Elgin married Druceal Toone. They have eleven children; nine of them married and have children. They live in Orem, Utah. Clyde is filling a mission in Hong Kong. One girl Gayle is sixteen years old and lives at home. Six of Elgin's children have filled missions for the L.D.S. Church.
(Continuing with Charles Henry Oliphant's own story,) I resided the last years of the nineties in Orangeville. Following the death of Amasa Scoville, I did the janitor work at the Social Hall with the help of my family. I did that for three or four years. My nursery business took most of my time. The work that was heavy was done by John and Ralph with Seymour helping in hauling manure and sand, and chips from the woodpile--all of which was put on the northwest lot. When it came to the cultivating, Lucinda, Grace, Seymour and Nessie were the ones that kept the weeds down. They made a very dependable team. On the whole the lots produced respectable living, supplemented by the returns of May's teaching and Ralph's working for Andrew Anderson at $15 a month.
In the later part of the nineties, John and Ralph went to the Emery Stake Academy under Alexander Jamison as principal. John worked for Tob Whitmore at Price, Utah and Johnny Downard at Range Valley. Then in 1900 he was up at Clear Creek at the coalmines when the explosion in the Schofield Mine took 200 lives and John went down to help. It was through monies coming from John that an organ was purchased which rounded out the singing of the Oliphant clan. It added much to the evening’s enjoyment. The four lots were virtually made a paradise by them. We had some of our friends let us haul some of their wheat and oats to cover our sheds for the horses and cows, by having the threshers come and left the straw and chaff. By the returns of sales of onions and other produce we bought cows and other comforts for the home. The boys went to the sawmills to get lumber and slabs for the yards and the fence was made of six-inch lumber and cedar posts.
About the time of the birth of my son, Elgin, I went over to Fairview in Sanpete Co. to get Grandma Judd. On this trip we had many experiences--cloudburst and torrents raging. Grandma was the first woman to pass over the new road through Strait Canyon. My son Seymour accompanied me. This was in July 1893. That same year the Orangeville roller mill was put in operation with Olli Sorenson as miller. This mill took the place of the old burr mill further up the canyon. I sent three of the children to Emery Stake Academy the winter of 1898-99, Grace, Seymour and Nessie attended with Seymour driving the team with a 3 and 1\2 Mitchel wagon. There were other Orangeville students with them as well. This was in the new building on the same lot where the academy had been held in a log building. In the middle of the 90s I was tree inspector and did some bee work for the county residents." (End of Charles own story.)In October 1902, Charles Henry Oliphant, together with his son Seymour was preparing for the threshers. He was in his 77th year and was taken sick only for a week or so. His health had been failing all that summer. Surrounded by his wife and children he died October 15, 1902. He often said, "I would rather wear our than rust out, and I prefer to die when I am no longer able to work." His was a full life. The funeral was held in the afternoon of Friday, October 19, 1902. Among the songs were his favorites. "Oh My Father," "Nearer My God to Thee", Beautiful Home," and "Shall We Gather At the River.” Speakers included Andrew Anderson, First Counselor A. G. Jewkes Sr. and Bishop Jasper Robertson. (All the above data was furnished by Charles Oliphants daughter May and typed by Seymour.)
SENT FROM MARGARET KNAPHUS
Sent by Ethel Claunch.
JAMES FRANKLIN HIATT SR.
By Jeanne Oliphant Guymon
A grand-daughter - daughter of Martha Gertrude Hiatt OliphantJames Franklin Hiatt Sr. was born on the 12th of June 1871 in Payson, Utah. He was the second child born to his parents, James Madison and Martha Ellen Taylor Hiatt. They had emigrated West from North Carolina in 1869.
As he was growing up in Payson, Utah he was expected to help in the daily activities about the home. They produced most all of their food on their acreage in Payson. They had cows , chickens, pigs, and they raised vegetables in their garden. They planted fruit trees and the home was becoming a little paradise for them. When he was about five years old, the family moved from their small one-roomed log home they had built with their industry and hard work into a new five-roomed adobe house which they had also built.
When James Franklin was only fifteen years old, his father died. He went with his father to the canyon to get their winter's supply of wood. It was while they were there that his father became sick They had taken two teams and two wagons. With much difficulty they got home safely. He died from the effects of typhoid fever a number of days after this incident.
James became the man of the house and helped his mother to "keep the home fires burning" for six years until he was married at the age of twenty-one. He married Christiana Gertrude Mitchell on the 19th of November 1890 in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived for a time with his mother.
Their first child, (my mother) Martha Gertrude Hiatt was born the 30th of August 1891 in the home of Martha Ellen Taylor Hiatt.
His wife's family had emigrated from South Africa in 1863 soon after they became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So they were pioneers in the city of Payson just as Jame's family had been. James and Gertrude had much in common in which to build a life together.
They built a home with their thrift and hard work much as their parents had done. This home was a model of industry and thrift. My mother, Martha Gertrude Hiatt Oliphant tells the story this way:
My parents lived for a time with my grandmother, who had been a widow. Then Grandma, who, as I see now, was a business genius, helped her son to acquire a piece of virgin sagebrush land next to her own, and lent him $800 to build a home on this land for his family.
This home in which I grew up ;was a model of industry and thrift. It was constructed of brick and native lumber and shingles made in the mountains nearby at sawmills. It was a clean, light, restful place, and in my early childhood had no trees etc. around it until they had time to grow after my father and mother planted them. It was windswept and dry at first. But irrigation ditches were dug, the yard was scraped down with my father and his team at hard labor, so the water could be run in on them to make plants grow. An orchard for family use was planted, a little at a time. A lawn and a hedge were planted. The house was painted and redecorated as funds became available. At first the walls were white-washed with lime. The carpets consisted of rag ones, home-made on a loom. My mother made her own first carpet --cut and sewed carpet rags from old bits of clothing, and wound them into balls eight inches in diameter. Grandma had a carpet loom and my mother wove the carpet on it. As the family grew, more room was necessary. The attic came into its own as bedrooms, with a good staircase up to them. An then a cellar was added by digging under the floor of the northwest room and hauling the dirt out through an opening made in the foundation of the house and wheeling the dirt in a wheelbarrow up a plank on an inclined plane. The cellar was then cemented and a nice window left and screened where the exit had been, and the cellar stairs were under the stairs that led upstairs.
In this home we had plenty of the foods we hear so much about over the radio now as having so much vitamins. There was milk and butter and cream and buttermilk and dutch cheese and whole-wheat mush and good bread and honey and meat of various kinds, and garden produce of every kind, raised in our own garden, and fruits of all kinds that grow in Utah, and berries, etc. All these things in abundance.
There were things cultural too. Ma was an accomplished pianist or organist. She played beautifully. And she taught us the beauties of music and tried to make musicians of us like she was herself. May mother was a lady. She used no slang, told no vulgar stories, indulged in no acts of questionable character. She taught us to be honest and never try to hide any questionable behavior. She had a powerful presence; I wished always to please her, never to get any look or slightest word of disdain from her. She was undoubtedly the strongest force that shaped my life.
My parents were the parents of one girl and three boys besides me. I was named Martha for my paternal grandmother, and Gertrude for maternal grandmother, and also for my mother. I was born August 30, 1891. ---- On December 19, 1892 my sister was born. She was named Cornelia for another name of my maternal grandmother, whose maiden name was Christiana Gertrude Cornelia Clagnette Frost. Her married name was Mitchell. Ma called my sister Cora, and I was known as Mattie. We grew in stature and in years and understanding. In our baby-hood our father was called on a mission. I cannot recall his going. He went to North Carolina to preach Mormonism among his father's and mother's kindred. He spent two years as a missionary. I recall his returning. Ma took us and went to Salt Lake City to meet him on his return. It was a glad reunion.
I forgot to tell of life while Pa was away on his mission. I recall how Ma worked keeping the home fires burning. She had a brindle cow we called Old Red to give the milk to feed us. Such good milk it was -- rich and yellow. Old Red had crumpled horns and long, freckled teats six inches long. And she was hard to milk. Ma paid for it by milking it only! Ma climbed on top of the haystack in winter, knee-deep in snow, and cut the hay with a hay knife to feed Old Red so she could feed us! And she tended her flock of chickens and pig so we could have eggs and meat to eat. And we kept well and I was happy in the security and dependability of my mother's capabilities and strength.
My mother's youngest sisters stayed with us at night sometimes to keep us company, and went to school in the daytime. Aunt Nora and Aunt Rachel Mitchell, they were.
At the return of my father from his mission I didn't know him. I whispered to ma, "Ma, who is that man?" and she said, "Why, that's your Pa! Don't you know him?"
He was never very demonstrative to his children. He was inclined to be cross and harsh and showed little affection to us. He was prone to laugh at us and ridicule us, or else scold us, thinking we ought to know more than we seemed to know. ---- But he was not without affection for us, as numerous incidents prove. At Christmas time he locked himself up with wood and tools and made a little cradle for me, and a little cupboard, and another time a sled out of broken hayrake teeth that he bent in his blacksmith shop for runners. He fastened these to a board to ride on, and that made many sled rides available for us. We got skates one Christmas. And the year I was in the third grade we got the smallpox. What a dreary Christmas we had.
But I'm getting ahead of my story. On May 27, 1897, my brother, James Franklin was born. He was a wailing infant. I think he must have been hungry much of the time. He had what was known as the "white mouth" and was seriously sick. Ma had her hands too full. She couldn't seem to cope with the situation at times. She got Dr. Hall's Canker Medicine to give James F. I don't know how she managed it, but she finally got him through that serious sickness. But he was so thin and pale and cried so much Ma used to put him in the baby buggy for me to push him about, and he would keep quiet then. One time, on washday, I pushed him out on the rocks in front of the house where the lawn was some day to grow, but where boulders as big as my head held sway at that time. I pushed the baby buggy over one of those boulders and James F., fell out on the rocks. That broke his arm, and I think the bones of his poor arm never grew straight any more. They put splints on the arm and tried to do the best they could. He suffered intensely because of that. I was not very old when this happened and had only a child's judgment.
Now, about that winter I was a third grade school child. The school was a one-room school up by the flour mill. At mid-winter our family -- every member-- was sick, had smallpox. Since then vaccination has been perfected, but that winter all Payson had it! The town almost every house, was quarantined. A man was hired by the city to take a district of the town. Several men -- one for each district -- went on horseback each day to take our grocery order and fill it and return it to us, so nobody would go without absolute necessities. An orange piece of calico 9 x 12 inches, nailed to a piece of wood was nailed as a quarantine sign at each home so infested. This would get wet with snow and rain and blow out stiff and straight and freeze that way -- so it looked like a piece of orange sheet metal. During the time we were quarantined Ma took it herself. Her face was pitted seriously. And worse than all, my brother, Ralph, was on his way. This sickness induced his premature birth. He almost didn't make the grade. One day he lay in the buggy as though he were dead. Ma cried aloud and prayed aloud for him He rallied and lived to become a man, through her love and faith and prayers. (Ralph Kleo Hiatt was born 9 December 1900.)
There was one more addition to my mother's family. That was the coming of my brother, Lewis Mitchell Hiatt. He was the youngest. He was born January 23, 1907. He grew to manhood and took his father's place in the sun.
Eight grade graduation found Cora matured and about to be ushered into wife hood. She managed to go to school at high school two years. Then she married Frank Taylor. I continued in high school and graduated at the spring of 1912 with honors. I got a scholarship ;to go to the University on. In the fall of 1912 I went to the University of Utah. My dear friends, Irene and Susie Simons, were going there, and I wanted desperately to go along with them and have company I was acquainted with. But just at the time for me to go, Ma was taken very sick. She miscarried a baby girl. She thought she overdid herself tending Clare Taylor, Cora's baby, and induced the miscarriage. She and Pa mourned over the loss of that baby.
James Franklin Hiatt had a gift for writing. He wrote a composition entitled " The First Settlers Story". He wrote another - "Hello - Good-bye" which I will quote hereafter. This was read at his funeral at his request. It was written June 24, 1952. James Franklin Hiatt Sr. wrote this while he was in "Utah County Welfare Infirmary".
Hello - Good-bye
Two words in the English language vastly different, though exactly the same. Used more than any other. Producing more real joy and fame, than all else by the name.
To explain a little further, and make things a little more plain.
Imagine yourself a standing at nearest end of a land a-waiting for your turn to come to hear the words, "Hello, It's a boy! Welcome son." And so with that - good-bye starts.
Down the lane with honest heart. Determined to do your full part in carrying on the program thus begun. And finally, at the point where you cease to view things going forward, only from the rear.
And finally the time doth come, to separate from these cheerful scenes and Say Good-bye. And Hello and Good-bye.
The two words separate and the same, discovered at the latest end of the lane.
****************Life Story of James Franklin Hiatt Sr.
Written 1985 by his daughter-in law, Edith Taylor Hiatt.James F. and Gertrude had two girls, Martha Gertrude (Mattie) born 30 August 1891 and Cornelia (Cora) born 19 December 1892 when James F. was called to go to the Southern States Mission. He was set apart by President S.B. Young on February 2, 1894. This was hard for him to leave his wife of just over three years and his two little girls one and two years old. he wanted to do his duty and believed as Nephi had said, That the Lord asks nothing of his people unless a way is provided that it may be accomplished." With a heavy heart, he left for his mission traveling without purse or script eating where he was invited, and sleeping where a bed was offered which was sometimes under the stars. It is believed he traveled by train to the mission field. Gertrude took care of the children and farm animals, and did all the things a woman could do to care for her children.
In one of James F.'s letters sent to Gertrude just before being released he tells her of his love and concern for her, and of his plans for coming home. "When I return to my loved ones in Zion with a clear conscience, I think often of the joyous times I am returning to, and if I look at your pictures when in such a study, it seems like I just can't stand it longer. I pray that we may both be contented till the time comes, as much as possible and then have the happy privilege of being able to enjoy ourselves many years to come. There has been many people who, when they look at your pictures, as well as other say that Utah affords the most healthy looking people they ever say. May the Lord bless you with every needful blessing is the prayer of your loving husband, James F. Hiatt." (letter in possession of Lewis M. Hiatt) No date is given of his mission release. it is believed it was in the summer of 1896.
Three more children were born into the family of James F. and Gertrude. These children were: James Franklin Jr. born 22 May 1897, Ralph Kleo born 9 December 1900 and Lewis Mitchell born 23 January 1907. James F. Sr.'s mother, Martha Ellen, helped him obtain a parcel of ground at Eighth South and Third West in Payson - Highway 91. Here James F. built a three-room brick home. It is not know if this was before or after his mission. The house was built on a rock foundation. The walls were of adobe with a red brick facing. The ceilings were high as was the custom in those days. The house was cool in the summer and warm in the winter. After the house was built, he dug a cellar under the northwest room. This was done by pick and shovel. A window was made in the foundation and a scraper was lowered into the excavation and the dirt was pulled out by a horse on the outside attached to a long chain. Later he built a kitchen, bathroom, and utility porch on the west, and two bedrooms were finished upstairs. What started to be a three-room house became a large comfortable home. Barns and granaries were built. Fruit trees were planted as apricots, pears, peaches, apples, cherries, and grapes. When the trees produced fruit, James F. would peddle the fruit in Goshen and other towns. This was done by horses and wagon. He had horses, cows, and pigs. Gertrude would churn the cream into butter and it was of such good quality it was in demand.
In the fall the Indians would camp on the hill west of the barn. The Indians would shuck corn and do other odd jobs to pay for fruit which they dried and took to their winter camp grounds for food. The Indians became friends and would come back year after year.
James F. worked with his mother helping care for her farm until the time of her death 2 March 1909. His mother's farm was divided between the two boys and one sister. James F. then bought more farmland. it was his desire to have his children live close to him. Marth (Mattie) married Clare Oliphant and moved away. Cornelia (Cora) married Frank Taylor and farming was not his ambition. Frank died in 1918 of the flu. Cora married Angus Pierce and they moved to Idaho. James F. Jr. married Leah Bowen and he studied electricity and made that his life work. Ralph farmed until he married Ida T. Lee. He then worked at Geneva and farmed on the side. Lewis married Edith Taylor and made farming his life work. The depression of the 1930's was hard on James F. Sr. The Federal Land Bank held a mortgage on all of his farm ground. There was no money to pay the loan payments. The Federal Land Bank started foreclosure; however, Ralph and Lewis were able to save most of the farm from the foreclosure.
James F.s wife, Gertrude, his life companion who loved him and supported him, always encouraging him for forty years, died suddenly of a stroke on November 15, 1931 at the age of 59. His life was empty, his light had gone out, he had lost the desire to carry on.
Ralph lived home with his father until he married then James F. lived alone. He became very lonely and on 11 June 1937 he married Olive A. Maddox. This marriage failed. On 2 June 1944 he married Sarah Jasperson and this marriage ended in divorce also. No one could take the place in his life of Gertrude. James F. Jr., Ralph, and Lewis did all they could to help him. The church had always been of great importance to him. He had held many callings in most organizations. He taught Sunday School, Priesthood, read the scriptures and could understand the principles. He loved to sing and directed the music at different times in most of the organizations. He had a true base voice and sang in choirs and male choruses. he gave readings that brought tears to the eyes of many as he recited his story, "The First Settlers Story," and Betsey and I Are Out". The Church was his comfort the rest of his life. He attended all his meetings and enjoyed his association with the members. He was anxious that his grandchildren get to church meetings and would call for them when they needed a ride.
James F. Hiatt Sr. was a portly man. He held his head high and his back straight. He stood about five feet ten inches high with dark hair. He was very religious and studied the gospel He was hard working and enjoyed watching and growing crops. Farming was his occupation following the example of his father and grandfather. he lived to see many changes. His father farmed with oxen teams and then horses. In later years tractors were used on farms. In his early days he would drive a team of horses on the coach that was used at funerals for burying purposes. A bicycle was one of his means of transportation, and he was known to ride it as far as Provo. When cars became more plentiful, he owned one. His last car was a 1930 Model A Ford, which he drove as long as he was able to drive. He never had the opportunity to ride an airplane.
The last few years of his life, James F. developed hardening of the arteries. He would black out because not enough oxygen would get to his brain. He needed constant care so he was placed in a rest-home in Provo. He died there on 14 February 1954 at the age of 82.
At the funeral of James F. his good life was told. The speeches told of him being a stalwart in the Church, a balance wheel in his community. They told of his strong testimony that he bore of the divinity of our Savior, his love for the Church, of his kindness and honesty. He was buried in the Payson Cemetery by the side of his dear wife.
Children of James Franklin and Christiana Gertrude Mitchell:
1. Martha Gertrude born 30 August 1891-Married Clare Oliphant 16 May 1918 Died 13 December 1942
2. Cornelia (Cora) born 19 December 1892 - Married Franklin Hugh Taylor 23 November 1911 - He died 11 August 1918 - Married (2) Angus Pierce 20 October 1920 - He died 12 January 1946. - Married (3) George S. Taggart, 12 October 1955 He died ? She died 17 January 1961
3. James Franklin Hiatt, Jr. born 27 May 1897 - Married Leah Ann Bowen 14 February 1916.- She died 28 January 1963. - Married (2) Viola Butler Ivy 15 May 1964. He died 2 December 1980.
4. Ralph Kleo Hiatt born 9 December 1900. Married Ida May Throckmorton Lee - 7 August 1934. - She died 21 November 1961. Married (2) Dora Alice Crook -5 October 1962. He died 31 March 1973
5. Lewis Mitchell Hiatt born 23 January 1907. Married Edith Taylor 16 October 1929.(5100.) JAMES FRANKLIN HIATT SR. (2931.) (1158.) (402.) (81.) (11.) (2.) (1.):
b. 12-6mo-1871, Payson, Utah; m. 19-11mo-1890, to CHRISTIANA GERTRUDE MITCHELL, d/o David Alexander and Christiana Gertrude Cornelia Clagnet (Frost). Mitchell; b. 10-4mo-1872; d. 15-11mo-1931.CH: (6569.) Martha Gertrude; (6570.) Cornelia (Cora).; (6571.) James Franklin Jr.; (6572.) Ralph Kleo; (6573.) Lewis Mitchell. (R152).
Sent by Ethel Claunch.