PYRAMID PHOTOS

 

  When the Mt. Pleasant Pyramid Office was moved

to Springville these photos were given to us to

share at the Relic Home.  Some do not have names 

or descriptions.  Let us know if you can add

any details. 

Thomas Braby and Eliza Keddington Braby ~~~ Pioneers of the Month ~~~October 2025

 

Thomas Braby was born in Sussex England, January 10, 1884, a son of Edward and Ann Braby.  The family consisting of the parents and 10 children came to Utah in 1875, after joining the L.D.S. Church in England.

In September 1879, Mr. Braby came to Mt. Pleasant and was employed by L.J. Jordan and John H. Seely, prominent wool growers for 11 years, after which he engaged in business for himself.

He married Eliza Keddington of Salt Lake City on September 21, 1887, and they were the parents of seven children.  Mrs. Braby died February 22, 1927 and on June 18, 1931 Mr. Braby married Annie C. Jensen of Mt. Pleasant.

During his youth when Mr. Braby worked as a sheepherder, he acquired his education with "Gaskell's Compendium of Forms", which was practically his sole teacher.

Thomas Braby

1920-21. Mayor, Thomas Braby; Recorder, N. O. Clemenson; Treasurer, Pauline M. Petersen; Councilors, H. C. Jacobs, four years; Bent R. Hansen, O. M. Aldrich, John Gunderson, Wm. L. Madsen.

In 1894, Caleb West, Utah's last territorial governor, commissioned Mr. Braby as Captain of Company C (later Company D); Utah National Guard, which rank he held for 14 years.  During our trouble with Mexico, preceding the World War, Mr. Braby was made Major of Ordinance, and was stationed at Fort Douglas on the staff of General W.G. Williams.  He was a member of the Utah State Shooting Team which competed at Camp Perry, Ohio in 1910-1911.

He was assistant postmaster for three terms, prior to serving 16 years as Postmaster from 1899 to 1915; and later served two terms as Mayor of Mt. Pleasant.  Previously, he had been on the city council committee of three which supervised construction of the municipal water system.  He also served four years as city marshal.

He was active in the L.D.S. Church, as president and later as secretary of the North Ward Elders Quorum.  He was also active in fraternal organizations.  He also served many years as secretary-treasurer of the Pleasant Creek Irrigation Company.

Eliza Keddington Braby was the daughter of  William Kedington and Mary Anne Barns Keddington. 

Anna and Thomas Braby in 1941

Anna Jensen Braby

His children were Ann B. Syndergaard and Ada B. Kofoed who lived in Salt Lake City; Edward Braby of Columbia; Orson Braby of California and Mt. Pleasant, and Nellie B. Coates of Mt. Pleasant.  One son, Ralph R. Braby was one of 11 members of the 145th Field Artillery who were drowned at San Diego, California in May of 1918, when a rip tide engulfed them while bathing.  His other two sons were both veterans of World War I.

JACOB ARNOLD BIGLER

 

The following is a composite of information found on Family Search as well as a history in the Relic Home files written by an unknown descendent

Jacob Arnold Bigler

Musingen Switzerland 

Pauline Ott Bigler 

Elizabeth Rosetta Krebs Bigler 

Jacob Arnold Bigler Immigrant from Switzerland. Came to America as a young man seeking excitement and adventure. 

He enlisted in the Army hoping to see the wild west. His calvary was sent to Utah in 1872; their assignment was to stop a minor Indian uprising.

He ended up in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. While camped in Mt. Pleasant just outside the city he first heard the singing of some beautiful hymns in the native tongue of his Swiss countrymen. He was aroused to curiosity and longed to meet those who were singing. He spoke several languages, was well educated and a polished gentleman. He had always had the advantages of a lovely home, money and culture. He visited the Cottage meetings and was immediately impressed by the teachings of the gospel.

He deserted the army at this time because he couldn’t get the religion he had heard about out of his mind. He wanted to be baptized. He had so much faith that the Lord would protect him that even with a warrant out for his arrest, he was not apprehended. He was never identified although several times he was approached by officers and questioned.

He went to the mountains to herd sheep for the winter to be less conspicuous. It was here that he broke his leg. Several days elapsed before he could get help, and he lay there in pain all that time.
His leg was never set properly, and he always walked with a limp. At age twenty-six his hair turned white.

He had felt the wonderful spirit of the cottage meetings he attended.. He said, “I had never heard anything that impressed me like this before. I couldn’t get the teachings out of my mind. To me it seemed a natural way of living. It was just like a picture unfolding and showing me step by step the truths of these teachings. Each time I heard the Elders speak, I became more and more convinced that this was the restored gospel of Christ.” 

Jacob's  family was very wealthy. But he chose to be a Mormon and be poor. His answer was...”this life is so short, and a testing, but the next life is for eternity.”

He met and fell in love with a young Swiss girl. Pauline Ott. Pauline was the daughter of Henry Ott and Elizabeth Winkler.  Elizabeth Winkler Ott, Pauline's mother, and four girls emigrated in the company of Fred Hasler.  Henry Winkler Ott died in Zurich Switzerland before his wife, Elizabeth Winker Ott immigrated.  

Jacob and Pauline moved to Richfield and joined the United Order.  Brother Bigler put in $1000.00   While they were there he took a second wife, Elizabeth Rosetta Krebs, a convert from Switzerland. Her parents were Johannes Krebs and Elizabeth Probst Krebs 

When the United Order broke up in Richfield, he was given an ox team and and was called to Arizona as an Indian Missionary. He had great faith and was successful in teaching the Indians, and was much loved by them.  

He was promised these words in his Patriarchal Blessing....your ministry shall be acknowledged by many, and your testimony shall sink deep into the hearts of those who listen to your words.”

He was called to work as a missionary among the Indians. He served there for 7 years, faithfully. He was as true as steel to his faith and to what he thought was right.

The Bigler family was called by the General Authorities to help settle Arizona. He learned the language of the Indians fluently. He was called on a second mission to Switzerland. He was a true Arizona pioneer. He was on intimate terms with Lot Smith, John D. Lee, and Jacob Hamblin, and many other early Mormon historical figures. Jacob Hamblin was known as the “Apostle of the Lamanites,” trailblazer and a great scout of the American frontier. 

Jacob and his two wives settled at Willow Springs, a desolate place in the desert, and named after a spring which they used to irrigate their garden.  They were able to raise most everything they needed.  They would trade vegetables and melons for groceries when they could, from the people who were traveling through.  They grew corn but not wheat.  They ground their corn in a coffee mill when they could get one.  When they couldn't they ground it like the Indians between two rocks.  

While living in Willow Springs, the black diptheria broke out and Pauline's oldest girl three years old died.  Her death and her burial there nearly killed Pauline.  

Several of Jacob's children were born in Willow Springs.  There was a boy named Hyrum.  Another boy named Joseph died when he was about a year old.  He is buried in Taylor.  Hyrum died about the same time and is also buried there.  

Later Jacob moved his wife, Pauline back to Mt. Pleasant, where he made her a home and where her mother and one sister lived.  He moved his wife Rosetta to Midway where her people were.  

Brother Bigler had seventeen children.  He was a good and faithful Latter Day Saint.  He was loved by all who knew him.  He had a gift of healing and has almost raised the dead through faith in the Lord.  

He loved music.  He sang in the choir for many years.  Young people loved to have him tell his experiences while in Arizona with the Indians.  He loved young people and they loved him.  

LARUE SEELY BROTHERSON

 

LaRue Draper Seely 

Jay and LaRue Seely

 

01 Feb 2011
Event Type	Burial
Event Place	Mount Pleasant, Sanpete, Utah, United States of America
Event Place (Original)	Mount Pleasant, Sanpete, Utah, United States of America
Cemetery	Mount Pleasant City Cemetery
Photograph Included	Y
Note	Contains Biography

Birth Date	1922
Birthplace	Moroni, Utah

 

 

BIG WINNERS AT 1975 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DRAWING

 

LARSEN LEGACY ~~~ SPANS SIX GENERATIONS ~(From our archives)

 

HOMES OF ANDREW P. JENSEN and wife JACOBINA WILHELMINA LUNDBLAD ~~~Researched, Compiled and Updated by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

 

HOME OF ANDREW SIMON JENSEN and CAROLINE (LENA) MONSEN ~~~ Researched, compiled and updated by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

 

NORTH SANPETE HIGH SCHOOL SONG

Last night we attended our oldest granddaughter's volleyball game against Juab.  They won and are first in the region.  After the game, the entire student body and audience rose to sing the school song. I'm embarrassed to say that I had forgotten some of the words, but I found them this morning in my son's 1984 yearbook.  
Below is the old North Sanpete High School, now torn down.

Comment: Author unknown

 

ARE YOU A HAFEN ??? ~~~ HERE'S WHERE YOU CAME FROM ~~~ LAKE KONSTANZ SWITZERLAND~~~HAFEN HARBOR

 

SCHOOL HOUSE OF JOSEPH SMITH IN VERMONT ~~~ Taken From "The Birth of Mormonism In Picture ~~~Published by Deseret Sunday School Union~ Salt Lake City, Utah ~Copyright 1909

 

THE BIG PIONEER STORE ~~~ Written by Pearl Madsen Olsen ~~~ (from our archves)

 

 These coins were used by early pioneers at the ZCMI.  Donated to us by Dick and Peggy Ruiz. 

   

 

 

WILFORD FRANKLIN HAFEN AND WIFE CARRIE NIELSON HAFEN

WILFORD HAFEN  ~~~~~~~~~~CARRIE NIELSON HAFEN

 

Wilford Hafen

Contributed By

Wilford Hafen was the youngest child and only son that survived in his large family. Several male siblings died in infancy. Wilford was born June 12, 1883 to Jacob Hafen and Anna Katherina Naef. He was a farmer. He died at age 38 years, 5 months, 7 days (Utah Death Certificate), on 19 Nov 1921 in Mount Pleasant, Sanpete, Utah. He was married (Carrie Nielson, Oct 19, 1907). Cause of death was cerebral hemmorrhage and a fractured skull caused by a fall from a horse. He was buried Nov 22, 1921 in Mount Pleasant.