Ken Palmer

 

Kenneth Darell Palmer

9/21/1946 ~ 9/21/2022

Kenneth Darell Palmer died peacefully on September 21, 2022 at home surrounded by his family after valiantly enduring 35 years of health challenges. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, J.Duffy Palmer and Jocelyn Jensen Palmer.

Ken was born on September 21, 1946, in Winslow Arizona. He was born happy and would wake up with a big smile no matter the hour. Ken started his ranch work early, at five years old, he roped six of the neighbor’s dogs and tied them to the fence in his yard. Thankfully, his mother intervened before he could brand them. Ken has been known for his eternal optimism; as a small boy he was sure he could fly off the shed roof with a sheet for his wings.

Ken had a tremendous love for all sports but particularly football. He loved to play, and his grit and passion always made up for his lack of size. Football pads and helmet made him feel invincible and he would get pummeled and get back up, pummeled, and jump back up, hit again and again by players twice his size but would always get back up all the more determined.

Ken served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Sydney, Australia. When getting ready to leave, his Dad asked if he was scared and Ken replied “I’m just very excited.” He served his mission with the same joyful passion and enthusiasm he displayed any time he was faced with a challenge. When he returned home he walked-on to the Weber State football team and became their starting corner.

Ken met his beautiful blue-eyed bride at a dance and with his signature enthusiasm asked her why the most beautiful girl in the room wasn’t dancing. She took his offered hand and he found her to be the woman of his dreams. Ken married Charlene Brothersen May 29th 1969 in the Salt Lake Temple. The two of them dreamed of having a big family. Ken wanted 11 kids, to make an entire football team, but they had 10, and he joked they were all boys, but eight. Nothing was too big for him to tackle and so he followed another dream to Mt. Pleasant Utah and bought a ranch, with very little understanding of how to make it work. Most people expected him to fail, but they didn’t know of his eternal optimism, shear grit and the power of his faith. He created a home and environment perfect for raising his best crop – children.

Ken lived a life of service. He served in church callings, in the community and spontaneously , often inviting family or even perfect strangers to the ranch to share his life, family and goodness. Once on the ranch, people became life-long friends – not being able to resist the clarion call of Ken’s love, enthusiasm or song. Ken would bring out the guitar and sing with gusto, but his songs were never designed to show-off, he would draw everyone in and teach them the harmonies and somehow with his help, all voices and personalities blended smoothly.

Although he suffered for 35 years with intense health challenges, he never cursed God, he never complained. He took whatever God gave him and bore it with faith. Physical pain was his cross to bear and he did so with trust, resilience, and an eternal optimism. Ken was cowboy to the core, he handled pain quietly, he rescued anyone and anything in danger, that saw what needed to be done and just did it. His cowboy sense of integrity and love of land was felt by all he knew. He loved his wife, his ranch and his horses with the same passion as everything else. He looked forward with perfect faith to the day he could run and ride again.

Ken is survived by his wife, Charlene Palmer and his children: Nathan (Katrina) Palmer, Heidi (Paul) Bouck, Matthew (Stacy) Palmer, Charity (Brian) Johns, Abigail (Spencer) Cox, Maggon (Travis) Osmond, Annalisa (Joe) Bailey, Hayley (Milo) Andrus, Lisle (Chad) Dewey, Brittany (Rustin) Walker, and 53 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Monday September 26th at 12:00 p.m.., viewing from 10:30 am. to 11:30 am. An additional viewing on Sunday September 25th from 6-8. All in Mt Pleasant Stake Center (295 S. State St.) Interment in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery.

Black Hawk Treaty Debate

 

There is an ongoing debate as to where the Blackhawk Treaty was signed or agreed to.  Even Hilda in the Mt. Pleasant History Book didn't make note of it. 

When I first joined the Mt. Pleasant Historical Association I made a call to the Utah Historical Society and asked if they had the treaty there.  They told me that there was nothing signed on paper and that it was just a word-of-mouth agreement.  

Virginia Neilson, of  Ephraim, said that the actual treaty was signed under a tree there in Ephraim.

John Alton Peterson in his book "Utah's Black Hawk War" states that "Black Hawk and his band of thirty warriors and their families totaling nearly a hundred individuals came to Mt. Pleasant to meet with Brigham Young near the end of June1868. The church president

appears to have been unavailable, but Orson Hyde met with the Indians in the settlement's social hall where they signed a treaty of peace.  Mounted on a new saddle, a gift from Young and head, Black Hawk left the conference committed again to try to get the other members of his confederacy to come to terms."

 In the footnotes of Peterson's book reference is made to Telegram of Orson Hyde to Brigham Young 31, June 1868.

Resolution to Pay Off the $5000.00 Due For Purchase of Historic Home (Relic Home) 1950

 

Father Morley Tells How Sanpete County Was Established ~~~ taken from "Saga of the Sanpitch 1979 " On To Manti by Leah B. Lyman

 “I have much to tell,” said Father Morley, and they all settled down to listen.

“I will make it brief and to the point,” he said. 

“On June 14, 1849, there rode into Salt Lake City a delegation of Ute Indians led by Chief Walker. At their request they were conducted to the office of President Young. With many grunts and motions the Mormon leader was made to understand that the Indians wanted some Mormons to come to Sanpitch Valley to teach the Indians how to build homes and till the soil. In August and exploration party of four men, with Chief Walker as guide, set forth. They found a beautiful valley through ran a creek of good water. They found the soil good and the surrounding mountains gave promise of plenty of timber both for fuel and for building. Within a few day they returned reporting that everything was favorable for the building of a community.”

 For a moment the speaker hesitated. So far he had only told of things in general, but when he spoke again it was in a reminiscent mood, for he was recounting experiences in which he had played a major part.

 “A company of some fifty families,” he continued, “was organized as soon as possible, with Seth Taft, Charles Shumway, and myself as commanders. We three were set apart to govern in Church Affairs, keep law and order, and advise in the things pertaining to the building of a new town. It was late in the fall when we left Salt Lake. We had to clear roads and build bridges as we went. We reached the chosen valley November 22, 1849, too late to make much preparation for the winter that was upon us. We camped near the creek in our wagon boxes and in a few days it began to snow. Soon it was more than three feet deep and still coming down. We were forced to seek the shelter of the south side of the hill that projected out into the valley. Some of the saints made dugouts in the hillside, while others used tents and wagon boxes for shelter.” 

The recounting of these events was painful, his voice choked and tears flowed down his cheeks.

 “I hope I never see another winter such as that,” he went on. “The men and boys shoveled snow daily, piling it into win rows to provide shelter for our horses and cattle, and also to uncover the dry grass for our starving animals. We even sharpened the horns of our cattle to make it possible for them to break through the crusted snow and find feed for themselves and also to help them to protect themselves from wild animals. “We lost many of our horses and cattle that winter, but it was not a total loss. We gave them to the starving Indians camping nearby and they greedily devoured them to ward off starvation. Even they had never seen snow so deep. It was as if the almighty God was testing our faith in every possible way. 

“Spring of 1850 arrived. With the warm weather came a new terror. Myriads of rattlesnakes came from crevices in the hill. Hissing their way into the homes of the saints, they wriggled and writhed about in their boxes, beds, cupboards, or anywhere they could get. With the aid of pine knot torches, we killed nearly five hundred of the reptiles in one night and soon had the country rid of this latest menace. The remarkable thing was that not a soul was bitten. In spite of everything we had endured we all came through the winter in good health.” 

There was a sigh of relief but no one made a comment. When the narrative was resumed it was in a lighter vein as if the crisis was past.

 “In August of that year President Young visited us and christened our town Manti, in honor of one of the notable cities told of in the book of Mormon. He also named the county, changing the name of Sanpitch to Sanpete. To make sure that we did not neglect the education of our children, he furnished part of the money for the erection of a school house. Jesse W. Fox was our first teacher. Our only method of making flour was with a huge coffee grinder which was passed from home to home. So President Young helped me to make possible the erection of a small grist mill in the canyon east of town.

“On the 9th day of September 1850, by an Act of Congress, Utah Territory was organized and Brigham Young was appointed Governor. Charles Shumway and myself represented Sanpete County in the

First Legislative Assembly in Salt Lake City. On the 5th of February 1851, an Act was passed incorporating the three towns now existing outside of Salt Lake City. Brownsville on the Weber River was incorporated under the name of Ogden. The town here in Utah Valley known as Fort Utah was incorporated under the name of Provo. Third was our own town of Manti. We were proud when we returned home. Soon the city of Manti was laid off, ten miles square, and divided into city lots. The settlers soon chose their lots and moved from the hillside to start homemaking in earnest.”

 Father Morley looked about as if trying to read their thoughts. “Well, that is about all there is to tell, only that there are plenty of city lots left. 

WHAT ARE MORMON HOBBLES?

 

WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY     (Washington County, Utah)

From The Forge: Mormon Hobbles Forged By Dennis Manning


http://www.americanfarriers.com/pages/AF...


These hobbles were used by Mormon travellers on their way to Utah to prevent their horses from being stolen.



DESCRIPTION

Mormon Puzzle Hobbles were iron hobbles connected by a chain and used to hobble horses or other livestock so that they would not wander off when not otherwise constrained such as by fences.

The unique feature of these hobbles was a chain mechanism that could be easily put on or removed if you knew how to do it. But if you did not know the trick, it was almost impossible to remove. This prevented the theft of animals by native Americans or other uninitiated.
HISTORY

These hobbles were developed by Mormon blacksmiths and were used by pioneers crossing the plains as well as by settlers in the intermountain west.

At least two pairs of these antique Mormon Hobbles exist in Washington County. One is at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in St. George and the other is at the Jacob Hamblin Home in Santa Clara.

North Sanpete High School 1916

No Names Given 

 

Daughters of Utah Pioneers ~ Mt. Pleasant ~ In Front Of Pioneer Monument Library Corner

 

Emma Smith's Final Testimony ~~~ Submitted by Larry Staker

 

Brad Bown ~~~ 2022 King Cowboy

 

Jacob Hafen Jr.

1918-12-20 Salt Lake Tribute Reports Jacob Hafen, Jr. Death  

Corporal Henry Mervil Zabriskie ~~~ Mt. Pleasant Soldier Is Killed In France

Mount Pleasant Pyramid 1918-11-8

Tribune November 5, 1918

 

Ralph Braby ~~~ World War I

Mount Pleasant Pyramid 1918-5-17

 

World War One

 

People Respond to Every Call During World War I

World War

When the United States entered the World War, the people of Mt. Pleasant loyally responded to every call, and made a record of which it may well be proud. One hundred and eighteen boys enlisted from Mt. Pleasant, and a number of Mt. Pleasant's sons enlisted from other communities. As the boys, one by one or in groups, boarded the train, great crowds, although sad at heart, cheered them as they left for the front. Three of the number died in service. Ralph Braby, while in California, was drowned, Jacob Hafen died of disease, and Henry Merville Zabriskie was killed in action, over seas. The Sanpete County Council of Defense was organized as follows: J. W. Cherry, chairman; Burke McArthur, secretary; Ed. Johnston, treasurer; Committee chairmen, Finance, N. S. Nielsen; Publicity, ,Burke McArthur; Legal, J. W. Cherry; Sanitation and Medicine, Ed. Johnston; Food supply and conservation, L. R. Anderson; Industrial survey, Orlando Bradley; Labor, Christian Willardsen; Military affairs, J. Morgan Johnson; State protection, H. R. Thomas; Survey of manpower, L. P. Brady; Woman's work, Mrs. G. W. Martin. In June 1918, there were deposited in the Mt. Pleasant Commercial and Savings Bank, by Mr. N. S. Nielsen, county chairman of finance, to the credit of W. G. McAdoo, treasurer of the Nation¬al American Red Cross, seven thousand five hundred dollars. 200 The citizens went over the top in the various other drives conducted. Liberty bonds, postal savings, Soldier's Welfare Re¬lief, Christmas boxes, tobacco, conservation of food, etc. Local committees were organized, among them the local Red Cross. The officers of this organization visited the neighboring cities, Fairview, Fountain Green, Moroni, Wales, Chester, and Spring City, and in cooperation with them, purchased material and sewed articles called for. There were checked out something over $3000, which had been obtained by weekly canvasses made by women and girls, and by other volunteer donations other than the National drives. Mt. Pleasant headquarters were established at about 122 West Main, where the women, some representing different organizations, met and did sewing, etc., as required. Many ship¬ments of goods were made. The officers at this time were: C. L. Johns, president; Mrs. Grace Madsen and Miss Irene Nielsen, vice president; Miss Hilda Madsen, secretary, and treasurer. History of Mt. Pleasant HML pp 199-200