Orange Seely ~~~ The Leader of the First Settlers of Emery County ~~~Orange and Hanna Seely

 

MY 9TH GREAT GRANDMOTHER WAS ANN POWELL ~~~My Brother Pete or Greg shared this on Facebook

 

For this July 24th celebration, I looked up on Family Search, to find my first Grandparents to live on American soil. This is what I found.

Ann Powell, burn in Jamestown, Virginia, British Colonial American.

In 1611.

Parents:

Captain William Powell

Elizabeth Wyllis

Captain Powell arrived in Jamestown with the Third Supply mission in 1609.

Ann Powell is my 9th grandmother, on my grandmother Sarah side.

I believe Ann is my first relative to be born on American soil.

Oh, and this is my birthday! Thanks Pete!!

Sanpitch Valley Begins By Indian Request ~~~ Fern Jacobs

 

In the beginning, there was a beautiful little valley tucked between high mountains of the Wasatch Range.  The Indians and wild animals  had been its only occupants.  Several sparkling mountain streams flowed down the face of the mountains giving life to the land it touched.  Then came the white men and civilization as it is called.

It is impossible to separate the migration from almost every nation of Europe, from the Latter-day Saint Church......especially in the beginning.  They were attempting to escape the persecution of men not believing in the "inalienable right" to worship as they pleased given in the first documents written up by the founding fathers of this new nation.  So it was decided to come west to a spot no one else would want in the dessert surroundings of the great salt sea.

So as the migration continued, there were many who found land and built homes in the Salt Lake and Cache valleys.  After Chief Walker, Chief Sowiette and a band of Ute Indians went to Salt Lake to urge President Young to send "pale faces" south to this Sanpitch Valley to teach the Indians how to build their houses and till the soil, a group of men journeyed down into this valley and were entertained by the Indian tribe.  It was decided that Manti be the first settlement.  They came on November 22, 1849, about 43 families making shelters in dug-outs, wagon boxes, or whatever could be found.  After a terrible winter and infestation of rattle snakes in the spring, they began the arduous task of clearing land, planting crops and building homes.

Among the group who first settled Manti were two men, Madison D. Hambleton, Gardner Potter and their families.  These two men, in 1851, came north to Pleasant Creek Canyon and found desirable timber to be cut.  So they brought out timber, cut shingles and furnished lumber for building the first homes in Allred Settlement ( later called Spring Town ).

In the spring of 1852, under the direction of these two men, a settlement was made on Pleasant Creek about a mile west of where the town of Mt. Pleasant is not situated.  About six families made their way here, built homes and began to till up the soil on the south of the little settlement.  There was plenty pastureland as well as the creek and the sawmill which he and Potter built.

It has been found through research and the stories of a great-granddaughter of Madison Hambleton now living in Mt. Pleasant, that Mr. Hambleton was born Nov. 2, 1811 in Erie, New York, and died July 1901 in Nephi.  He and his family, consisting of a wife and two daughters, had been in Nauvoo when the expulsion took place and came west to Salt Lake and lived there in Cottonwood for a time before coming to Manti with the first group.

Their sawmill was located in Pleasant Creek Canyon just west of the present site of our power plant and supplied lumber for much of the building in the valley.  These two men saw the great possibilities of what was to become one of the big enterprises of the community later on.  At one time, many sawmills dotted our mountains and gave employment to many men with their teams and wagons.

The site was chosen near the slaughter house used for many years by Erickson Meat Co.  This to many seems the most logical place, from the scant information give of our early history.  If anyone knows more about this matter, we would greatly appreciate additional data.  Around this spot are many trees  .... not necessarily the local type.  One can recognize Russian Olive, ash, box elder and the more common poplar, willow and oak.  This suggests these trees having been planted for shade trees.  Also the site was on the bend of Pleasant Creek as it turns north to join Sanpitch River.

Early in July, 1853, the Ute Indians went on the war path because of some killings  the Indians thought unjust.  Chief Walker had changed his attitude toward the whites shortly after they had arrived in the Manti Valley and had been stealing cattle.  Chief Sowiette tried and was successful in subduing Chief Walker many times on behalf of the white men.  But this time the Indians got out of hand so to speak, and word was passed down through the state to expect trouble.  A posse was dispatched from Provo on July 23, 1853 and  after a bloody fight at Hambleton, the posse assisted the settlers to get to Spring Town.  As they left, they turned to watch the flames from Indian torches lay to ruin their little settlement and the sawmill.  Some of the men later returned to harvest what they could salvage of their crops.

The stay at Spring Town (or the Allred Settlement) was brief as they also had been threatened.  As a result, all was moved to Manti.  Here 765 men, women and children lived that winter.

In 1857, as Johnston's Army threatened the "peace to destroy,"  President Brigham Young urged the people to move farther south.  Thus, many more found their way to our little valley of the Sanpitch.  Also, there was a great migration about this time from the Scandinavian countries of LDS converts.  Many came to Ephraim, Manti and Sanpete.  By February of 1859 permission had been granted by President Young to resume a settlement on Pleasant Creek while urging extreme precaution to be taken and a fort built immediately to protect the people in case of another fierce Indian attack.  That spring, a larger group numbering about 20 families  lead by James R. Ivie, Joseph Clement and Isaac Allred left Manti.  The men had come up previous to this time to cut cedar posts and see the lay of the land.

The question was arisen as to why Madison Hambleton's name was not on the list of those who came in the second group. The answer has been found  through research that he and his son-in-law, Abraham Bosworth, had contracted to deliver mail from Manti to Nephi and up to Salt Lake once every week.  So he moved to Nephi and lived there the remainder of his life.  Just another side issue , Abraham Boswell had come over from Nephi  to purchase lumber from the Hambleton-Potter Sawmill and had met and fallen in love with Gerusha Hambleton.  They married in 1853 and lived in Hambleton Settlement until they were driven out with the rest.

As was suggested, a fort was one of the first considerations and was duely built of stone with native rock and mud mortar.  It was 26 rods square, with the walls 12 feet high ~~~ four feet at the bottom and graduated to two feet at the top with port holes to fire at the Indians if need be.  On the inside the fort walls were used as one wall for houses built about 18 feet square.  There were two large gates on the north and south with smaller ones on the east and west, leaving space for Pleasant Creek to flow from east to west through the fort to supply water for them.  This fort was located on the intersection of what is now Main and State Streets;  East about a block, north to about first north, west 40 rods, and south the beginning.

Many lived in the fort for a time until a dugout or houses could be built.  Then they would move out and others would come and take residency in the Fort until their abodes were ready.  Many families came and the town grew rapidly.  Soon there were about 800 inhabitants with about 1200 acres of ground under cultivation.  There was great rejoicing as the fort was completed in July 1859.  When the drums would beat, it was a signal for all to run for the fort as the Indians were coming.

In the center of the fort was built the first community building.  It was used as the very first school house with A.B. Strickland and Mrs. Oscar Winters as teachers.  It also served as meeting house, theater, dance hall and for church services.

There were difficult times but everyone had to be united in the effort of self protection, preservation from cold, hunger and lack of means.  It was a time of bartering....not much money changed hands.  Each one in turn would trade what he had, could raise or could make for something he needed, that someone else could furnish.  The United Order was begun but did not survive long, although in one sense of the word, the exchanging of services, handmade products and food was the basis for their survival.

There was much to do to get everything started.  City lots and farming land were divided and the settlers drew their land by number.  Irrigation ditches and canals had to be dug and rights established which stand to this present time.  We can stand in awe and amazement at the system organized with little or no understanding of the principles of irrigation.

Homes had to be built, trees, gardens and grain planted after the arduous task of clearing the high sage brush and rocks from the land.  Women set up looms and spinning wheels in their homes to make clothes from scratch; that is they would shear the sheep, wash and card the wool, spin and dye it, weave it and then cut and sew it by hand to make wearing apparel for their families as well as knitting stockings and sweaters.

I wonder in this day and age just how many of us would survive long if we had to grow or produce all we had to eat.  It gives us a deeper appreciation of our progenitors the work and diligence they demonstrated.

William S. Seely was appointed the first bishop which also entailed being the mayor and judge, but the town prospered.

They couldn't have all work and no play.  Not long after the fort was completed, there were theater performances staged with wagon covers used as curtains.  There were dances, weddings to celebrate, quiltings and celebrations to liven things up.

Five languages were spoken in Mt. Pleasant, so there was much confusion in understanding each other, but each group studied the gospel in his own tongue and was united in one cause .....their religion.

The first school established outside the fort was "Aunty Hyde's" school, located about one half a block west of the present high school.  She would call "to books ... to books" to begin the day in lieu of a bell.

The town was incorporated on February 20, 1868.

Many businesses needed to be established and all followed in the course as the needs arose such as a printing press, blacksmith shop, shoe makers, dentist shops, doctors' offices, hotels, post offices, banks, leather tanneries, adobe kilns for making bricks, sawmills and flour mills. Space will not permit a detailed outline of each of these projects and names of those responsible given credit.  I hesitate mentioning names for fear of deleting some more important than others.  All assisted each in his own way to make our town a better, more desirable place to live.

President Young sent word for a brass band to be established.  John Hasler, a musician from Switzerland brought instruments from his native land and established the first brass band.  For playing in this band each man was given a ten acre field in the northwest part of the community fields.  It is even yet referred to as the "brass band field".

The different auxiliaries of the church were organized and eventually the town was divided into wards and churches were built.  Dr. McMillian came and established Wasatch Academy in the year 1875.  A school house was built and called the "Simpson School" as Hans Y. Simpson had contributed generously to its being built.  It was located on 200 West and about where the Wasatch Academy tennis court now stands.

In 1889 the Deseret Telegraph branch line was completed to Mt. Pleasant.  1872 found the Indians and white men signing the Black Hawk War peace treaty in Bishop Wm. S. Seely's home which is now our Pioneer Museum on State Street.

The D&RG Railroad started its run from Salt Lake to Mt. Pleasant in the year 1890 as well as the telephone system from Fairview to Mt. Pleasant the following year.  Thus distances and communication brought the world closer to our fair, becoming city.

Mt. Pleasant erected a three story brick school house in the year 1898.  Its bell tolled curfew at nine o'clock each night and again in the morning, people could set their clock by the 8 o'clock bell ringing loud and clear with precise regularity.  The school was to have been named Hambleton in honor of Mt. Pleasant's first leader, but somehow it was changed to Hamilton.

The North Sanpete High School was completed in 1912.  This gave students a chance to continue their education beyond elementary school.  Wasatch Academy now included instruction for children kindergaarten through 12th grade as well.

Mt. Pleasant weathered three major floods in 1893, 1918, and 1946.  All went roaring down through the main section of town distributing mud, rocks and debris on each side of Pleasant Creek, through houses, stores and streets.  In 1918 one life was lost.  A flood dam has now been built to catch the quick run-off so we are hoping the problem is solved permanently.

For many years the sheep industry was the main way of making a living here.  First came the more common variety of sheep which would be taken to the west desert in the winter, returning in the spring to be traded to the mountain tops to graze on the high green grass.  Later, the Ramblette was brought from Russia.  This breed had long wool fibers and were much sought after.

In 1872 Mt. Pleasant boasted of a population of 3000 but times change and many sons and daughters reluctantly left home to make more lucrative living elsewhere.  Lately, many are moving back and the town population is increasing.  Several land development companies are selling lots for homes.  Many people have found out clean clear air, our desirable climate, cool mountain setting very desirable.  As you can tell, I for one, love our fair little city.

Fern acknowledges the book of  "Mt. Pleasant", compiled by Hilda Madsen Longsdorf; "These Our Fathers", compiled by Florence Bagnall and the family of Madison D. Hambleton, Mrs. Thomas Milburn a great granddaughter of Hambleton and "History of Sanpete and Emery Counties".  as her sources for her excellent report.

Home of Arthur Benjamin Williams and his wife Lenora Dianthia Justesen ~~~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

 

Pioneer Merchants

PIONEER MERCHANTS OF MT. PLEASANT

History of Mount Pleasant by Hilda Madsen Longsdorf
pp 326-330
(Compiled 1922)

During the fort wall days of Mt. Pleasant, Alma Bennett

and Miner Wilcox sold a few necessities.

Later, as the people began to move from the fort, some goods were brought in by peddlers.

In the early sixties John Dahlin and others conducted sort of a store in one room of a small house on a lot where S. E. Jensen now lives at First East and First South; and from a small room of a dwelling house just south John Wheeler and David Candland sold goods. Some say Peter Jorgen Jensen was also

located in this neighborhood. 

Freighting was done by ox teams across the plains from eastern points to Salt Lake City, and then in turn it took a long time to make the trip from Salt Lake City to Mt. Pleasant.

About 1863, Alma Bennett had a small workshop on a lot where A. C. Madsen's home now is on State Street and Third North where he made and sold furniture, he also sold articles made at a crude sawmill owned by George Wilson, Henry Mc. Arthur and A. H. Bennett, east of town. Later, several people made and sold furniture, among them James Olsen, Nils Rosenlof, and Harold Christian Beaumann, Sr.



In 1866, Paul Dehlin had sort of sawmill machinery oper­ated by a big water wheel, placed in the stream on Main Street between Third and Fourth west about where the Clyde property is now located.

In 1864 William Jennings established the Jenning's store, on the lot where William Hansen now lives, north side of Main Street between Second and Third west. It was managed by Joseph Stanford. Anthon H. Lund and Charlie Hampshire clerked there for a short time.

About 1869 a Co-op store was started, later this company erected a building on the southwest corner of the intersection of Main and State streets.

A few years later on account of the increasing business of this company they built a brick building on the northeast corner of intersection Main and State streets.

The brick for this building was made west of town under the direction of Andrew Madsen and C. W. Anderson; Martin Rasmussen, James C. Meiling and others did the burning. Among those who did the excavating were John Meyrick, Paul Coates, Sr.; Lars and Andrew Christensen were masons, and Jacob Rolfson and Eric Gunderson, Sr., were carpenters. Nothing but first-class bricks or materials were put into the building at that time.

The same clerks, Charlie Hampshire, Ole Sorenson, Blenda Dehlin, and Lauritz Larsen, served in this building; among those who later served were Wellington Seely, Wm. Morrison, Jr., Stena Jensen, Louise B. Madsen, Caroline Johansen, Nora Jorg­ensen, Lena Madsen, and Minie Johansen.

In 1898 the Equitable Building was erected and the stock was transferred there. This company built the Branch Building on Third South and Second West, which for some time they operated in connection. Later Tathen and Dun. Then George Christensen, then the Progress Branch, and then Paul Monsen and Vern Gunderson were located there.

In 1893 the Union Mercantile Company was organized. They did business in the brick building formerly occupied by the Co-op store. In 1897 the company was reorganized as Madsen & Sons Mere. Co., who were in business for a number of years. Madsen & Longsdorf began business in the building in 1898




selling machinery and repairs. S. D. Longsdorf also had a grocery and produce store there. Three years after the building of log Co-op Store, G. G. Bjelke, John Waldermar, Magnus Rosen­berg and others built an adobe building west on Main Street which was considered much more up to date than the "Log Co-op." They were joined by Niels S., Andrew, and Hans S. Nielson.

In this building sprang into existence what was later known as the Sanpete County Co-op. It was then known as the Lower or Swedish store or Gentile store, and did a flourishing business with N. S. Nielson, August Wall, Hans Nielson, (clerk) Andrew S. Nielsen and Henry Ericksen as clerks.

During the seventies John Waldermar had a butcher shop in a log building opposite the Sanpete County Co-op, where Henry Ericksen and A. B. Waldermar were the clerks. Among the meat dealers a little later were Mike Jorgensen and Taylor Armentrout. A joke well remembered was a wager a young man made at that time that he could, blindfolded, hit a mark with a cleaver on a chopping block in Armentrout's Shop. He was blindfolded and as he raised his arm to strike, M. G. Rolph slipped the young man's hat on the mark; the man struck and cut his own brand new derby right in two. This caused quite an excitement at the time, but Rolph had to furnish a new hat.

Other meat dealers were DeLong, Niels Rasmussen, Evan Ivie, and Keen Tidwell. In 1889 the Ericksen Meat & Grocery Company was established by Henry Ericksen and Alif Ericksen. Later Joseph Seely, Al Peterson, John Ericksen, Andrew O. Mad­sen, and Stewart Seely were located on the north side of Main Street, between State and First West.

It is thought that Hutchin and Lither opened the first drug store unless Dr. Evans earlier sold drugs. They say he sold every­thing and customers were welcome to help themselves from any bottle back of the curtain. It is said 1. B. Hunter also sold drugs. Lindsay had a drug store in Nickolsen's building, north on State Street. This building was later moved to Main Street and was occupied by Dr. E. C. Mills and others. Biddle, Wright and Moss were located on Main Street; later they sold to S. H. Allen and Thomas West, who, in 1889, established a later type drug store. William Clos and Paul Vanoric were the druggists there. W. W.


Woodring also had a drug store. In 1897, A. H. Maiben built the Palace Pharmacy, which later was Maiben and McGraw, Maiben & Aldrich, and of later date, A. D. Sutton Drug Company, R. W. Weech Drug Company, and now we have on the corner of State and Main, where the old log store once was, the drug store owned and operated by Ed Johnston.

It is remembered that in the early days Mrs. Coates had a small store in part of an adobe house on the lot where the Hans Nielsen home now is. Later her son held forth in what is now known as the Willard Kofford block.

Daniel Beckstrom had a furniture shop about where Lawrence Carlsen now lives. Ferdinand Clark and Christian Johanson car­ried a stock of furniture on State Street, as did also Axel Bjelke.

Back to the stores again-Niels Lund conducted one in part of the adobe building on the lot where P. C. Lund's home is today. Sorn J. Neilson had a store where Roy Christensen now lives. Later he and his brother, Neils Peter, and H. C. Beaumann, erected a store on Main Street, on part of Peel's lot, where the DeGraff sisters, Antoinette and Annie, clerked. Abram Johnson, Lena Jorgensen, Rozena Fechser and Amelia Olsen were among the first clerks there. In 1895 Larsen Brothers had a store, on Larsen's lot, south of the South Ward Chapel, where Alex Poulsen later located.

Some of the early Main Street stores which need only be men­tioned in passing, were Brown & Acord, the creamery stations managed by Peter Matson and Ole Hansen, and James B. Porter's book store a block east; Tarvey's notion store, Arrowsmith notion store, Aldrich Brothers in the Progress Building, W. O. Ash & Company, Hardware, which started as a tin shop and developed into a leading hardware store, located in part of the building used by the Consolidated Furniture Company.

Tathen and Selby conducted what was known as New York Cash store, or Golden Rule; later John Selby became sole owner, and later the National was operated there by Straws.

Another store of early importance was the one operated by George Farnsworth and others. It was started in part of a small building about where the B. F. Lovel home now is. Later they built a frame building just south. The building had an upper story where furniture was carried in a limited way. Abram John­son and Amasa Aldrich were the clerks who served. Later A. Kofford's two-story frame building was erected on Main Street, near where is now the grocery department of the Wasatch Merc. Niels Rolph, it is said, had conducted a small needle shop in his father's property in the northeast part of town. After his death, M. G. Rolph operated the store erected on Main Street. Many remember the auction sale conducted there when L. P. Nelson acted as an auctioneer. Martin Kroll conducted the first confec­tionary store, also the first bakery. It was located between State and First West, on Main Street, many remember the ringing of a bell as the door was opened. Peter Jensen was formerly located on this block, also.

Many such stands have since operated and vanished, however, Anthon Gunderson, located west on Main Street, and Peter Jensen. formerly located in part of the Mt. Pleasant Opera House, held forth for many years.

J. E. Gunderson bought and made improvement on Main Street, and J. C. Penney Company started business there in 1911, with W. B. Hicks as manager. Postgard's Jewelry Company, which later became the Squire Jewelry and Floral Company, was estab­lished in 1920, between First and Second West on the north side of Main Street, and later they moved one block west, and then back again.

So history is made.

SUNDAY SCHOOL 1889

 

Joe Duncan (from our archives)

 

The picture above shows the Prophet Joseph Smith dressed in his Lieutenant General uniform. The Prophet rode this horse in maneuvers of the Nauvoo Legion and on many other occasions.

While living in Nauvoo, Moses Martin Sanders and his wife Amanda Armstrong Faucett Sanders lived as neighbors to the Prophet, Joseph Smith, and they cherished their association with the Smith Family. Moses owned a very beautiful, but unruly horse. As Moses was often away from home, performing church duties, it fell to the lot of Amanda to lead this horse to water and she was really afraid of him. He was very high-spirited.


One day the Prophet Joseph said to his neighbor, Moses, "Brother Sanders, give the horse to me and I'll promise that you will never lose by it." Moses Martin replied, "I would, but I am afraid that he may hurt you." Then the Prophet said, "No, he would never hurt me." So Moses tossed him the rope and said, "He is yours." The horse was called "JOE DUNCAN", a very beautiful, intelligent animal.

TWENTY FOURTH OF JULY

  TWENTY FOURTH OF JULY

Talula Nelson Mt. Pleasant, Utah  

The Twenty Fourth of July was always a gala day in the early history of Mt. Pleasant. At sunrise, the flag was raised on the historic liberty pole. It was worth rising early to see the men thread the rope through the pulleys and see the flag ascend smoothly and surely to the top of the high pole. We would recall how a lumberman, Niels Rolfson, had brought this long straight tree down from the mountains. What a piece of engineering to guide it safely down the steep slopes and deep canyons! At times it would have to be raised by hand almost perpendicularly to make the quick u-turns and miss the trees that lined the road. The team of horses had to be held at tight rein to ensure slow movement. When it finally arrived at the corner of State and Main it was raised by block and tackle and secured in its upright position by pegs and props. An iron band was placed around it to fasten the pegs. Pulleys were then fastened to the top and bottom to raise the flag. At ten o’clock in the morning, the grand parade would begin. The streets had been lined for hours with people waiting for the wonderful display of floats, beautiful girls, and horses. Someone would shout, “Here they come,” and we would all rush to the edge of the sidewalk, and sure enough, Uncle Sam, tall and stately in his red, white, and blue could be seen prancing down the street. For years Elija McClleham led the parade in his gorgeous costume. His six feet, seven inches was topped with a high stove-pipe hat, which added to his height. His long legs were made to look longer in the red and white striped pants. The blue coat with large brass buttons was crowned with a silk star-studded hat of blue, with white stars and a red and white striped brim. He carried a cane, which added to his high-stepping, as he kept time with the drum or band which followed. The beautiful Goddess of Liberty, her special white float drawn by six white horses, well-groomed and decorated with white pompoms, came into view. The float, a hayrack done in white bunting, carried a beautiful young lady dressed in white with a crown of gold, and her two lovely attendants. The majestic title, Miss Liberty, completed the breathtaking pageant. Miss Utah followed. Her float was decorated in red, white, and blue bunting. The word “Utah” on her crown, and the presence of her two attendants seated by her completed the gorgeous float drawn by four bay horses decorated in red pompoms. The 13 original states were represented by 13 lovely ladies all dressed in white and carrying a torch to signify our beginning as a nation. Their float was appropriately decorated and drawn by a team of gray horses, which were decorated with torches to match. Miss Mt. Pleasant brought many “oos” and “awes” as her lovely float, drawn by four horses, made its way into view. She was attended by several lovely girls with banners across their shoulders. All were proud to represent their beautiful city. Miss Sanpete brought a good laugh as she came riding on a donkey decorated in carrots. Carrots were all over, hanging on the bridle and saddle. Her crown was carrots, and a great corsage of carrots completed her dress. Following Miss Sanpete came the other 28 counties, represented by 28 young ladies, all riding horses, their county banners across their shoulders.

Utah’s best crop, a hayrack loaded with primary children, was exciting for the children and parents alike. Scenes from the bible were displayed by other church organizations. The Gleaners were well portrayed by three women bent over among sheaves of corn and wheat. Jacob’s well and Moses in the bulrushes was cause for much hand-clapping as the wagons bearing these precious messages moved on. Indians added a great deal of color as their wagons came along. Their bright shawls and black braids could be seen among the willows near a three-pole wiki-up. The Gold Dust Twins clowned along beside the parade. Old Dutch Cleanser came in her red and yellow dress, stepping the full width of her wide skirt and carrying her stick to fight dirt. Following, came a long line of covered wagons drawn by oxen. Their wagons were loaded with children poking their heads out from under the cover; Mother and Dad were seated in the spring seat, a small child between them. Outside were boxes of chickens fastened to their wagon. Others led a cow, and small pigs could be seen in their boxes. Calves and colts ran to and fro beside their mothers. Azel Peel always had a team of cows trained to pull his wagon. Charley Peterson (“Shoemaker,” as he was called, to distinguish him from others by the same name) hitched a cow and horse together, much to the delight of the viewers. Indians would attack in mock battle. They would come out of nowhere, shouting, yelling, and riding wild into the covered wagons. Nephi Gunderson, dressed as an Indian with war paint and feathers, rushed up to a wagon where his fiancée, Marie Hansen, was riding; grabbed her, at least tried to get her. He found a nineteen-year-old girl quite a handful. She cooperated and rode off with the Indians among much laughing and screaming by the crowd. After the parade, a meeting was held in the chapel. This was a very special meeting, where so many stories of pioneer experiences were told. “Come, Come Ye Saints” and “The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning” were sung by the audience. “Utah, We Love Thee” was always a special solo. The band played the “Star-Spangled Banner”, and we all stood while they played. Then the closing prayer was offered. The park where the old fort stood was alive after the program. Here many brought picnic lunches, and a pleasant hour was spent visiting. Finally, the Bishop came with a bog of coins, and the time had come for the races. What fun! Foot races, sack races, tugs of war, and climbing the greased pole! A young pig was greased and turned loose for anyone who cared to chase him. The one who caught and held on to him earned the pig. 

The park became a ball ground for the men while the women and children retired to the social hall for a children’s dance. Later in the evening, after the chores were done and the children put to bed, the married folks went to the social hall, where they danced and ate till the wee hours of the morning. 

Occasionally, the twenty-fourth was celebrated in the mountains. This was a day long to be remembered. After the flag-raising and gun powder was set off in Wilson’s Blacksmith Shop, the wagons started to roll toward the mountains to Derfee’s Meadows. There, on this beautiful smooth meadow, the wagons formed a circle similar to the pioneers’ as they crossed the plains.

 After the horses were taken into the trees, fed, and taken care of, fires were started in the hole prepared for Dutch ovens. The mothers were well prepared with spring chickens, young carrots, green peas, and new potatoes, which were soon stewing under the watchful care of the men-folk. Sourdough biscuits were baked, and the picnic was ready. Gooseberry and rhubarb pies were in abundance. Many preferred another scone dripping with fresh butter and honey.

 Good food with fresh mountain air made enormous appetites. Balls and nipkats made their appearance in the circle made by the wagons. Horseshoe games challenged the men. A fiddle player and some danced on the rough terrain. When the ladies got tired of much we weighed each year was the highlight of the trip. We didn’t worry about our weight because Grandma’s hot graham bread was too good to resist. 

  They took hikes through the beautiful forest. They gathered wildflowers and berries. Reference was made that on just such a celebration Brigham Young was informed of Johnson’s Army approaching. All too soon the sun was sinking, the daylight turning to twilight. Wagons started the long drive back to town. No headlights were needed as the faithful teams followed the rock road home. After chores, the dance hall was filled, and the tired people danced till morning. Yes, the Twenty-Fourth of July was a special day in the early history of Mt. Pleasant. Much time and effort were put into making it a day fit to honor the pioneers, who made this land choice above all others. 

 

Lars Ericksen Family Group Sheet

 

Watson Christian Houtz

It appears that Ann Seely was never married to Watson Christian Houtz.

Watson Christian Houtz, a veteran Elder of Mount Pleasant, Sanpete Co., Utah was born April 19, 1840, 

in Union County, Pennsylvania, the son of Christian Houtz and Susan Palan [Susanna Pawling].

  He emigrated to Utah with his parents in 1848, crossing the plains in Lorenzo Snow's company. 

 En route Bro. Snow married Bro. Houtz's sister. 

 His parents died in Salt Lake City, 

and Bro. Houtz was located with strangers at Springville, Utah Co., 

where he was baptized when about twelve years of age.  

In 1865 he made a trip back to the Missouri River as a freighter. 

 In 1866, while freighting between Utah and California,

 he was taken prisoner by the Indians on the Muddy, 

but finally got the drop on the chief with his gun and ordered him to

 scatter the Indians, which action gave Bro. Houtz

 a chance to escape with his life.  

Altogether Bro. Houtz spent twelve years of his life freighting in 

California, Utah, Nevada, and Montana. 

 In 1876 (Oct. 2nd), he married Sophie Bohn (a native of Denmark), 

who bore him seven children, namely, 

Sylvia, 

Roxa, 

Bertha, 

Lafayette W., 

Katie, 

Martin, 

and Nellie.  

His wife was born in 1850 in Copenhagen, Denmark, and emigrated to Utah in 1856,

 crossing the plains with handcarts together with his mother and four brothers.

(LDS Biographical Encyclopedia by Andrew Jenson, Vol. II, 1914.)

 

Home of Watson Christian Houtz ~~~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

 W

BLACKHAWK VETERENS MEET AT SNOW COLLEGE ~~~ "JOE small potatoes"

 

Collecting Hen On Nest

One item at our Mt. Pleasant Relic Home

what brings back memories for many is the 
              "Hen on the Nest".

Seems like every family had one.

And now they are collector's items.  

~~~~~~~~~~

In the 1920s, Charles Westmoreland added a large decorating department to the Westmoreland Glass Factory, which allowed for the distribution of impressive crystal and decorated ware. But it was milk glass that kept the company in the black. Indeed, an estimated 90 percent of all Westmoreland glass produced between the 1920s and ’50s was made of milk glass.

One of Westmoreland’s most enduring products was a covered dish called Hen on Nest, which was manufactured in numerous sizes. The earliest Hens were pressed from a more fragile (and more collectible) type of milk glass than the versions that followed. Early Hens can be distinguished from later ones because they were pure milk-white; it was only later that the hen’s comb was colored bright red.
 

The typical hen on the nest is white milk glass.  

Courtesy of Ogden  Publications Inc. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Salt and Pepper Shakers to Match

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

  

Blacksmith Class From Snow College Traditional Building Skills Institute

 

Blacksmith Class From Snow College Traditional Building Skills Institute

The Snow College Traditional Building Skills Institute Basic Blacksmith Class visited our Blacksmith Shop in 2008,  Gerald Cooper, Instructor wanted the members of the class to see a working pioneer blacksmith shop. He also demonstrated the coking of coal at the shop.   here: http://www.beautifuliron.com/thefire.htm

City Council Members In The Early 1900s

 

Manhatton 1851 ~~~ Manhatton Now ~~~ Jeff McDonald the Survivor

 Jeff McDonald 

COLORS OF NATURE ~~~ Shared by Tweet Lee

𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦:
Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
Keep skunks, bankers, and politicians at a distance.
Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
Words that soak into your ears are whispered, not yelled.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.
If you don't take the time to do it right, you'll find the time to do it twice.
Don't corner something that is meaner than you.
Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.
It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.
You cannot unsay a cruel word.
Every path has a few puddles.
When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
Don't be banging your shin on a stool that's not in the way.
Borrowing trouble from the future doesn't deplete the supply.
Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen anyway.
Don’t judge folks by their relatives.
Silence is sometimes the best answer.
Don‘t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t botherin' you none.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
The biggest troublemaker you’ll ever have to deal with watches you from the mirror every mornin’.
Always drink upstream from the herd.
Good judgment comes from experience, and most of that comes from bad judgment.
Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.
If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
Most times, it just gets down to common sense.

HUB CITY DAYS GRAND MARSHAL

 

James Webb Space Telescope

 

.: Utah State Penitentiary, Sugarhouse, Salt Lake Cit...

.: Utah State Penitentiary, Sugarhouse, Salt Lake Cit...: Utah State Penitentiary The following photographs and paintings show the Utah State Penitentiary, a Federal prison that was located at...

Early Pioneers ~~~ Mt. Pleasant

 

Home of August Pearson and his wife Mary Simpson ~~~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

 

Pearson Family

Home of Fredrick Petersen and his wife Ane Madsine Nicoline Larsen ~~~Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

 

Random Photos From the Mt. Pleasant Pyramid

 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.