Kerry and I have been doing a family project like "Find a Grave" for our own families. We both have early pioneers in our family. We have searched in parts of Utah and Colorado and began some in Idaho this summer. It has been such an amazing experience as we have visually seen some of the sacrifices made by these people. We have been brought to tears at times as we have looked at dates and events occurring around them. Clearly some are buried in old west cemeteries with old rotted wood crosses and unknown grave sites. Many did not stay in the Salt Lake area for long because they were called to go to settle other places and help settle land and areas for those still coming to Zion. My grandfather, George Essex, was born in Paragoonah (now Paragonah) but as a baby his father, Silas Sanford, was called to settle the San Juan Area of Utah and Southern Colorado. This led him to be called as the Captain of the Hole in the Rock Expedition. Eventually this lead the family to Manassa Colorado. George later met and married Vista May Rogers and they proceeded to raise a family. The high altitude made raising crops very difficult with new families constantly coming into the area. Why George and May went to Central Idaho I still have not learned. I assume it was the hope of a farm and land and also to be closer to George's parents who had moved back to Utah for health reasons. During the time in Idaho three children were born in various locations. Two passed away shortly after birth, Martha who only lived one day is buried close to her Grandparents in Kaysville Utah. Silas Bennett who only lived nine days was buried in Blaine Idaho. Margaret, Madge, lived a long life and died in Manassa. George was injured in an accident with a horse rearing and striking him in the leg. From what I have learned his leg probably should have been amputated but a plate was put in and he dealt with pain the rest of his life. George and May returned to Colorado after the accident. Enroute my Father was born in Duchesne Utah. George loved and worked well with animals so this had to be heartbreaking. I am told that he was patient and kind to his horses and he loved them very much. But in his sleep he would cuss at them and carry on about how stubborn they were, my Mother loved to tell this story about him.
As we entered the area of Blaine we quickly found the cemetery and began to look for this lone grave. Kerry went to the directory but before he found it I walked right to the grave. I have learned the styles of the headstones for time periods and it was all by itself. I was kind of surprised to see the condition and type of stone because they were far from wealthy to afford the stone. Little Silas, I wanted him to know that he wasn't all alone, we had found him. (I am sure there are other family members who have visited that grave but I have never talked about with anyone else. And so to me it felt as if we were finding a lost and lonely family member.) I never had a baby boy but I would love to have named one Silas for many reasons after learning about my family, One day I will get to meet them all and I have so many questions.
Lauri: Thank you for posting the picture of little 'Silas Bennett Smith's' grave. I have often wondered if it had a stone, and wished I could visit the grave. Grandma Smith called him 'Bennett'. She didn't talk a lot about their time in Idaho, except to say that they were happy with the homestead. It was a hard life, and became more difficult when Grandpa's leg was crushed after a horse fell on him. The doctors wanted to amputate the leg, but Grandma refused to let them do it. She was able to get help from a neighbor lady who was a nurse, and they nursed Grandpa back to health. It became necessary for them to move back to Utah. My father George E. Jr, said they moved Kaysville, and then to the Roosevelt area. Grandpa had a brother living there, and they worked together. My father said he would go with his father(George Sr.) and they hauled freight by wagon pulled by two teams of horses. When George Sr. health didn't improve--Grandma May Smith wanted to move back to Manassa, to be closer to her Rogers family. During the move from Idaho, Sanford and Martha was born in Kaysville. Martha died and is buried in Kaysville. Sanford died as a young man after the move to Manassa, and is buried there. While in Roosevelt, Ralph was born. The Smiths were happy to be home in Colorado. Grandpa's health did not improve, but he continued to farm. He had a heard of milking cows, that they would take up the Conejos Canyon during the summer months. I remember going up there to stay at the Schusler place for the week. It was fun to help get the cows in at milking time. Gramdpa and Madge milked the cows. Then Grandma and Madge strained the milk, poured it into ten gallon cans. Then the cans would be loaded in the truck and hauled to a locked cage at the edge of the Conejos River, placed in the river to be keep cool until the Milk company picked the milk every morning.
ReplyDeleteAt home in Manassa, The Smiths owned a quarter of a city block. Grandpa raised potatoes on part of the property. He also had a garden spot,had raspberries, strawberries, and several crab apple trees. Grandma made jelly from the apples and preserves from the berries. Of course, Grandma had chickens, and they also raised a few pigs.