Benoni Patten, Revolutionary War Soldier

Tracing Benoni's parentage has been a study in human nature. I found it not unlike current events and times without being cut and dry and certainly a little messy how our Benoni came into this world. 

Introducing the main characters.
Adding to the confusion, it should be noted that a frequent claim as to Benoni's parentage has been that of John Patten and Abigail Makepeace. This is not true. While Benoni's biological father is named John Patten (probably not the same John Patten that married Abigail Makepeace), his biological mother is Margaret Holmes with Benoni being raised by his step-father William Wyman (Margaret Holmes' husband). 

Margaret Holmes and John Patten were never husband and wife, but obviously were in some sort of relationship, short-lived as it may have been. The relationship was mutual and acknowledged by Patten, we can see on the fifth of April 1757, Margaret brought suite against John Patten for, as it was put, "getting her with child". It is important to note, John Patten didnt put up a fight over paternity.

Benoni was born January 27, 1757 in Bedford, New Hampshire. He also lived in Putney, Vermont.

We see that Matthew Patten (no relation) was a well known and respected Justice of the Peace in Bedford, New Hampshire. On the fifth of April 1757 (over four months after Benoni was born) Justice Patten recorded in his diary, "was at James Walkers on John Pattens being apprehended by Margret Holms for his Getting her with child for which he agreed with her for 300 [pounds] old Tenor and he pd Charges".

excerpt from Justice Matthew Patten's diary from 1757, page 35

Margaret's parents were also living in Bedford, New Hampshire at the time and about this time sued some neighbors for saying Margaret's mother had procured abortion causing medication from a shady woman in the area to be used on her daughter to prevent Benoni’s live birth. (of course this was not true).

So our single mother, Margaret Holmes and her little son, Benoni probably living with her parents are found in New Hampshire's Bedford area and by 1759, Margaret is married to William Wyman. I love this William Wyman who married a young single mother and her little son who had a bit of a rough start. This name Wyman is note worthy in this story, as one of Benoni's sons was named David Wyman Patten, an important figure in early Church history. William Wyman must have left a lasting impression on Benoni to name a child for him.

William Wyman and Margaret would go on to have at least seven children of their own, all half-siblings to Benoni.

The next chapter of Benoni's life would be that of service to his country. His service in the Revolutionary war was noted for his imprisonment on a British ship and for the length of his service. 

Note: Benoni’s enlistment was less than two weeks after the first shots were fired at Lexington. He very possibly participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, or at least could hear it and saw the movements of the companies. 

Benoni wasn't the only one in the Wyman household to serve, William Wyman with his sons, Henry, William, stepson Benoni Patten all served in the Revolutionary War. Margaret Wyman with her younger, small sons were left in the wilderness while the others served the Government and many tales are told of their hardships, and of the bravery of this woman of Scotch-Irish descent, as she with her small help attempted the making of maple sugar, with only the rudest utensils, and managed to keep the fires burning.

The following is Benoni's own account of his military service in the Revolutionary War. Original spelling retained. Items above the line are enclosed in carats <>. Editorial emendations are in brackets [].

"<May or June> in the Year 1775 I inlisted under Sergt John Me Pum for that campaign My colonels name Johnan<an> Brewer my Capt name Isaac Grey, first Lieut Thomas Millington his Brother was a Subaltern Joseph Colson was Drum Mager of our Regiment our Lieuts name was buckmaster he and the Colonel was wounded at Bunker Hill Battle 1775 Robert Conkey was our Fiefer <[unintelligible] names> Nathanul Ellot John Crosset Isaac Grey Alexander Conkey I served in this corps until I inlisted under Lieut Thomas Millington in the month of Dec in the same year for the year 1776 <Now look to the [unintelligible] page A.E> ———June or July in the year 1777. I Entered a board the Massachusetts Brig Freedom Capt John Cluston commander Lieut Adams & Lieut Abbott [unintelligible] on [unintelligible] month of Sept [unintelligible] we sailed I was made a prisnor by the British Carried to New York Harbor tarried there until Dec Sent round Long Island to Rhode Island Harbour put a board of another prison Ship held there until twelvth of March the set ashore at Bristol ferry in Rhode Island Carried to the Hospital in providence and said [sad] state tarried there until April 12. Got a Discharge and [unintelligible] Holm
[Page Two]In the month of Dec 1775 I inlisted with Lieut Thomas Willington in the Service of my Country for the year 1776. The place of my inslistment was Prospect Hill in the year State of Massachusetts My Colonl name was Asa Whitcome my Capt name I think was Daniel Whiting Willington Brother was another of our Lieut our orderly Sergent name was Benjamin. Phillips was one of our Corporals. Robert Dillon was another Whitney was another the given names of Phillips and Whitney are forgotten
Privates Lemuel Dewy : Antony Manuel Manuel Swasy, a private of the name of Lown Thomas Ferrel There was one Luce I think he was a Sergent our Drummers name Johnathan Willington
We marched from Prospect Hill to Roxbury we tarried there untill after the British Evacuation of Boston we then went into the Town and tarried there until August we then marched to Ticonderoga as Soon as I landed I was complimented by Lieut Riggs will you go down the Lake and fight the British by the liberty of the Capt I went and on oct 11th we had an Engagement we [unintelligible] Back to Ticondaroga and in two days went to the Hospital at Fort George at the head of Lake George I was verry sick and in december came Back to Ticondaroga and Found my Regiment I served untill the first day of January 1777 I then came home"

According to a portion of The History of Butler County, Benoni Patten was taken prisoner during the battle of New York and was confined several months at a British prison ship in New York harbor.

Further, this history reveals some of the hardships such prisoners endured.

“One day, after suffering from hunger for a long time, a large iron kettle, with peas boiled into a soup, was brought to the prisoners, with nothing to eat it with - without spoons, ladles or other utensils, and each had to help himself with such as he could find in that loathsome prison-ship,” it states in the History of Butler County.

So, how did Benoni Patten seize this rare offer of nourishment?


“He, in his hunger after food, took from his foot an old shoe and dipped it into the kettle of pea soup, and drank out of the heel of the shoe.”

Of his capture by the British we learn that the British Prime Minister, Lord Germain, took the position that since the Americans were rebels, they did not qualify to be treated as regular prisoners of war. It is said Benoni would often relate the hardships those prisoners had to undergo while thus confined, half fed, poorly clad, and abused by those in charge. 

The British used up city jail space in New York and brought in a number of unseaworthy hulks which they anchored in Wallabout Bay (now Brooklyn Navy Yard), which they converted to prison ships. Benoni was moved to a prison ship in Rhode Island Harbor about three months before the most notorious prison ship of all, the Jersey was brought in to Wallabout Bay. 

Benoni endured the infamous harsh winter at Valley Forge, at Trenton. He also experienced the satisfaction of seeing Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown.

After doing his part and having sacrificed much, he was needing rest and recovery. It would be a few more years until Benoni would meet Edith Cole. They were married 14 September 1779 in Westmoreland, Cheshire, New Hampshire. In Patten style and tradition, they would go on to have thirteen children. Edith, Polly, Margaret, Sally 1, John (our ancestor), Benoni Jr 1, Archibald,  Benoni Jr 2, Sally 2, Elizabeth, David Wyman, Sophia, Ira.

It is recorded that the Benoni Patten family lived with Edith's father, Jonathan Cole in Westmoreland, New Hampshire for a number of years and is found in the 1790 census as living there.

Of the thirteen children of Benoni and Edith, six accepted the true gospel of Jesus Christ including Dr John Patten (our ancestor), Archibald Patten, Elizabeth or Betsey Patten Parrish, David Wyman Patten, Ira Patten, Polly Patten, even the mother Edith Cole Patten were all baptized. They were a close family, they were familiar with the teachings of the Holy Bible, so when the truth came, they were ready and accepted it. 

Excerpt from David W. Patten - baptism of family members by Brigham Young.

"May 20, 1833, brother Brigham Young came to Theresa, Indian River Falls, where I had been bearing testimony to my relatives; and after preaching several discourses, he baptized my brothers Archibald and Ira Patten, and brothers-in-law, Warren Parrish, Mr Cheeseman and my mother and my sister, Polly."

Just a year prior to the family baptisms, in August 13, 1832, Benoni died at Orleans, Jefferson County, New York, at the home of his son Archibald Patten. According to Edith’s pension application they had lived in Orleans for six months prior to Benoni’s death. Benoni's widow did receive a pension for his service after his death.

Signature of Benoni Patten on his statement of war service.

Samuel I Burgess

Samuel Israel Burgess (1826-1875)

Our Samuel Israel Burgess was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England on July 8, 1826 to his good parents Thomas Burgess and Mary Ann Nullis.

Samuel I Burgess and his parents, Thomas and Mary Ann, joined The Church in their native land and in 1836 they migrated together to be with the Saints in Nauvoo, Illinois. Surely they were involved in the building of the temple there and what joy, on February 7, 1846 Thomas and family were endowed in the Nauvoo Temple. What a blessing this must have been for the Burgess family! Samuel and his parents owned property in Nauvoo and after his father's property was damaged by the mobs, they fled Nauvoo in 1846 to Iowa.

Samuel married Marinda Hartwell June 2, 1850 by Lyman Stoddard at Springville, Pottawattamie, Iowa. Marinda was the only one of the Hartwell family to accept the gospel that we know of. Then in the summer of 1850 the new couple traveled with Sam's parents to Salt Lake City, Utah in an unknown company. They lived in Salt Lake City, Cottonwood, Lehi and Springville, Utah. These respective places are where their five children were born.

Marinda Hartwell Burgess Hughes (1831-1870)

What hard events, difficult circumstances or heartache occurred with the Samuel Burgess family over their nine years of marriage and family life, we do not have record. They moved a lot, was Marinda done moving with the small children? Was the marriage too difficult to stay? Had she become disillusioned with her religious beliefs? We do not know. It is all speculation, but the later events in Samuel's life show a side of Samuel's character that might be telling to the reader. Whatever the reasons, we know that sometime between August 1858 and 1859, Marinda Hartwell, left Samuel and her five small children never to be heard from again. At the time, their children were very young; Laura, age 7, Samuel age 6, Lizzie age 3, Thomas age 2 and Cleopatra was a baby (Cleopatra is our ancestor). What torment, what loss this must have been for everyone.

Marinda had sought another man and was remarried to John Hughes, Jr about 1859 in Utah. Marinda appears on the October 1860 census living in Camp Floyd, Fairfield, Cedar, Utah. Marinda is enumerated as twenty eight years old from her birth state of New York living with her husband John Hughes a twenty four year old blacksmith from New York.

I wanted to raise my voice as a direct descendant of Marinda in love and concern for her. Whatever circumstance drove her to abandon her infant child and four other small children must have been unbearable to endure even a moment longer. I know in my heart that she did what she had to do to survive. We know that Marinda went on to have at least three more children with John Hughes. With that in mind, we know the children weren't the problem. I believe she did everything she could in what must have been a very difficult situation to push her to her breaking point, to her final straw...to her leaving.

Who would be able to help raise these very young children? Samuel's own mother, widow Mary Ann Nullis Burgess, would be the saving grace for the now motherless Burgess children. What a blessing she must have been to the children. However, Grandmother Burgess would die just four years later leaving them alone again. It is said the oldest daughter, Laura then only ten years old would be relied upon to take care of her younger siblings.

By this time, Samuel received a call from Brigham Young to the cotton mission in Southern Utah's St. George and Washington area.

DIXIE COTTON MISSION of 1860's

On November 7, 1861, Sam Burgess left Salt Lake City in the company of Hugh Moon, John Ludd, Richard Hawkins, John Filling and William McMellon to go south to raise cotton and tobacco and the first night they camped at Cottonwood, at Thomas Bullock's farm. Samuel's mother came too, as she was one of the first to be buried in the St. George cemetery.

Samuel is noted among the Original St George Pioneers of 1861. In that same year, we have record that Samuel donated $25 to have the first town hall built. He also drew lot 42A Plat at 4th West and 4th North.

These cotton mission families endured the summer's blistering heat and were forced to continually rebuild their washed out dams on the Virgin River. As cotton growers they were successful, but they quickly found that to survive they had to grow their own food and "make do." Many were beset with chills and fever and were unaware that they had contracted malaria from the mosquitoes that bred in the seeping springs and along the streams' edges. This robbed them of much productive energy.

Many quit the mission. By June 1861 only twenty families remained in Washington. Late that year, the community received quite a number of new settlers, most of them from Sanpete County. Their spirits rose. One historian said, "Just to have a few fresh arrivals to share their miseries must have made the burden lighter." In 1862 the arriving cotton missionaries settled in what is now St. George.

Due to the alkali soil, the cotton crops did not completely germinate as expected, resulting in a limited harvest. A spirit of frustration and hopelessness overcame many of the early settlers. And by the time the Civil War ended, the economics no longer justified growing cotton in Utah's Dixie.

Once the cotton mission failed, Samuel moved to Pine Valley, Utah, this was about 1862, with his five children. It was a canyon with a beautiful stand of virgin pine trees, these trees were found to be without knots and perfect for the organ pipes of the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The water from Spring Branch was now carried through a longer millrace so more mills could be placed on it. The new millrace was made so that it circled round the old one. It extended east then north to a point just below the bridge above Sell's Grove. Here Robert Gardner, his son William and a brother in law, Bradford put up a mill with the first circular saw in the valley. This was the mill erected in the town. Up to then all the mills had used the old up and down known as "Muleys." The millrace now curved around through the southeast of Sell's Field and crossed back southwest in the Levi Snow's Pasture to run Whipple Mill. The water from the Whipple Mill tail-race ponded across the north in Maggie Calkins' field where Asa Calkins owned a gristmill. The then crossed out to the foot of the Cedar Hill into a field now owned by Effie Beckstrom. At this point Samuel Burgess and Ebenezer Bryce built the fourth sawmill in Pine Valley. It also had a shingle mill attached to it.

typical saw mill for that time

This is the same Ebenezer Bryce that was assigned to build a meeting house in Pine Valley. Bryce was a shipbuilder who had immigrated from Australia. When asked if he thought he could build a church, Bryce said, "If they will be satisfied to have it look like an upside-down ship, I'll be willing to try it." Of course the timbers used to build the church were from the Pine Valley Mountains. In 1868 after the roof was in place and finishing touches complete, Bryce remarked, "If floods come, it will float; if winds blow, it will roll over, but it will never crash."  Sam's business partner, Eb Bryce, is also known for his discovery of what he called Bryce Canyon. It is not recorded, but I am certain our Burgess family were involved with the building of this church in some capacity.

Pine Valley Church building (still in use) built 1868

They must have lived there for about eleven years during which time they harvested much of the timber in the area. Sam hauled many wagon loads into Salt Lake City. A few years later, he married widow Mahala Jane Mathis Thomas,  November 18, 1872, in Salt Lake City.

Pine Valley had become a thriving little community with saw mills on a rambling creek, schools, a bar to accommodate the outside workers hired to work at places of labor. In this setting, Samuel Burgess was raising his family.

The opening of mines in Pioche and the discovery of silver at Silver Reef in 1870 caused an increased demand for lumber products. Teamsters from Pine Valley were paid in gold for loads they hauled to Pioche. Marcellus E. "Cell" Bracken recalled, "Pioche, at that time was a wild town-possibly the wildest in the West. One night when I was there with a load of lumber, seventeen men were killed in gunfights, and a murder a day was considered about average." A gang of frontier outlaws learned that the teamsters of Pine Valley were paid in gold. They began preying upon the wagons as they returned to the mountains. Lurking in the brush along the trail, the highwaymen would leap up at an approaching wagon, level guns at the driver, and demand the gold he was carrying. The situation eventually became so serious that Wells Fargo established a local bank so that the freighters could be paid by check. "Pine Valley itself was no nest of angels," recalled Bracken. "As a matter of fact, it was probably one of the wildest of the Mormon towns. With the mills running at capacity, there weren't nearly enough family men to operate them, and many 'drifters' were hired. The town's peak population was about 600 persons, while ward membership never exceeded 275. Many of these drifters were murderers, thieves and army deserters....There were a number of saloons, and among the more worldly element, gambling flourished.

At this time in Samuel's life story, we come to the great tragedy. Samuel's second daughter, Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie", now a young woman, became infatuated with a young man, Ransom William Allphin, (they called him Rance) and they became sufficiently intimate that she became pregnant. Samuel insisted that Rance marry his daughter and even threatened him but Rance refused, saying that he had a wife before coming to Pine Valley from which he never divorced (this was probably not true). With Rance's adamant refusal to marry Lizzie, Samuel threatened to shoot Rance. They both went armed after that. As time went by, Samuel became more upset almost to the point of insanity.

Samuel made Lizzie leave home and she went to live with her married sister, Laura Burgess Nay, until the baby was born. The baby was named George Philip Allphin, born December 1874, and died 3 years later.

Robert Gardner lived in Pine Valley and in October 1875, Robert decided to go to Salt Lake Conference and took his wife LeNora with him. At that period the main traveled road out of Pine Valley went down a very winding road along a deep gorge known as Pinto Canyon. When it reached Pinto the road forked. The fork on the left went out to Pioche, Nevada where the men from Pine Valley took loads of lumber, grain, potatoes and other produce to the mines in Pioche. The fork on the right went east and then north to Salt Lake City.

Robert and LeNora stopped in Pinto and were seated on the ground eating their lunch when our Samuel Burgess came by and stopped to talk with them. Robert asked Sam why he was going down to Pinto, Sam said that Rance had taken a load of produce out to Pioche and his folks expected him back that afternoon; Sam intended to wait for Rance and was going to kill him.

Robert reasoned with Sam and asked him what good would it do and that two wrongs never made a right.  Robert thought he had sufficiently calmed Sam down enough for Sam to go back to Pine Valley. Robert said if he had known what was going to happen later, he would have stayed with Sam. Here Robert and Sam parted ways, with Robert going on to Salt Lake City and Sam starting back to Pine Valley. Despite Robert's good advice, as Sam advanced up the canyon, he must have become more and more upset and as Sam was a man of action, more and more resolved. Maybe Sam was taking his ideas from the tactics used by the gold seeking Pioche outlaws and highwaymen of the time. Maybe he even felt justified in his plans; knowing these same strategies and means were used often.

Near sight of Samuel Burgess death, "The Dairy"

The road that leaves Pinto, going to Pine Valley, winds its way south along the gorge. Then it turns sharply to the east and is fairly straight. Again it makes a sharp turn to the south. Just across the gorge before it makes this turn is a meadow known as "The Dairy." This place was fenced in because it had been used for a dairy. At this sharp turn, there next to the road was a large clump of oak trees. Here Sam turned his horse loose in "The Dairy" and hid in this clump of oak trees. Sam laid in wait for Rance.

Rance was driving his span of mules along the road to the east he glanced up and saw Sam's horse in "The Dairy." He guessed that Sam was hid near by so he laid his gun on the wagon seat beside him and kept a close watch for him as he rounded the clump of oaks and headed south. His mules pricked up their ears and Rance picked up his gun. Sam waited until Rance had passed by then stepped into the middle of the road and fired his gun striking Rance in the back. In the words of Cell Bracken, "Why the old man ought to have knowed better. There wasn't a one of them Allphins that wasn't a perfect shot."  Even after having been injured, Rance whirled around, fired his gun and got Sam right in the middle of the heart. Sam dropped dead right in the middle of the road.

Sam's bullet cut Rance's portal vein in two. Rance began to bleed profusely and became so weak that he had to lie down. He watched for the fork in the road that turned toward George Burgess's place in Grass Valley. That was closer than Pine Valley, and he knew he needed help as soon as he could get it.

The Gardner and George Burgess boys were playing down in the field below the house. One of the boys said they saw a wagon with no driver coming up the road. Soon enough, Rance climbed out and crawled over to the fence and called to them. They hurried down. He told them to run up to the house as fast as they could and tell their father that he had been shot and to please come get him.
Upon hearing the story George Burgess rushed down and took Rance up to his house. They all gathered round while Rance told them what had happened; he said they would find Sam dead in the middle of the road down by "The Dairy."

George and the women did everything they could to stop the bleeding, but to no avail. Rance died about three o'clock in the middle of the night October 11, 1875. They took his body to Pine Valley and sent some of the men of the town to get Sam's body.

Ira Joseph Earl and William P. Sargent made the coffins for them. The whole town was understandably upset.

When Cell Bracken was asked about the incident and if the town took sides, Cell responded, "I should say they didn't. Both families were loved and respected by all the town, and they all felt terrible. They all figured that Sam had gone through so much with his first wife leaving him with those children to raise, and then "Lizzie's" problem added to it that he was mentally upset."

Rance and Sam were both buried in the Pine Valley cemetery. Rance lies beside his mother Burnetta who died July 27th the year before. Only a few feet away, Sam lies at the foot of Grandfather William Snow's grave under a Cedar tree that has grown there since he was buried.

Despite this sorrow, the Keele and Burgess families continued to operate separate sawmills near each other on the creek.

The struggles and pursuits of Samuel I Burgess were finished, he passed away October 10, 1875.

This incident left our Cleopatra alone as all her brothers and sisters had started their own lives and moved away. Luckily Cleopatra would only have to wait seven more months to be married to William Augustus Keele. There would be no father or mother for our Cleopatra to celebrate this new couple's happy and blessed event. The Keele's would now be her people. (look for upcoming blog about the Keele's of Wayne county Utah)

Joanna Hollister Patten

Joanna Hollister Patten (1833-1916)

Autobiography of Joanna Patten

"My parents names are John and Vina Hollister. My mother's maiden name was Clearwater. My father was born in Marble Town, New York State, October 13, 1792. My mother was born in Marble Town, December 19, 1792. Her mother's name was Rachel Davis. Her Father's name was John Clearwater and was born in Ireland. My parents had nine children, to-wit: Isaac, Mary, Melissa, Alva, Keziah, Sarah Anne, Vina, Rachel, Catherina and Joanna. They were all born in the town of Caroline, Tioga County, New York.
My parents join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Kirtland, Ohio. They assisted in building the temple in that place and received their patriarchal blessings under the hands of John {Joseph} Smith, Sr the Patriarch of the Church and the father of the prophet, Joseph Smith. They emigrated with the Church to Missouri, and there through the persecution of the Saints. They were at Hauns Mill, Missouri the day after the terrible massacre, October 30, 1838. They were driven from their own homes by the mob, which was carrying out the extermination order of Governor Wilbur Silburn W. Boggs {Lilburn Williams Boggs}. My father lay out in the woods in the cold secreting himself from the mob, through which exposure, he died leaving mother with eight children to support. We were then without a home and lived in a wagon, all sick with chills and fever. She cared for and drove the team herself and returned to father's friends in Ohio. She stayed there a short time, helping missionaries who were sent to preach the gospel.
We then went to Nauvoo, stayed there until the Church was driven from that city after a severe battle and being disarmed. The women were searched for arms while camped on the banks of the Mississippi River, with neither shelter nor beds, except that furnished by nature. The mob fired at us but failed to injure anyone. We came west with the Church through the trackless wilderness, suffering the privations and trials incident to that journey.
I was baptized in Nauvoo in 1844. During our travels we suffered from hunger. The Lord sent quails which supplied our wants. This was in the year 1847. From then until 18523 we were traveling west until we arrived in Salt Lake Valley.
I was married to Thomas Jefferson Patten in Provo City, Utah April 25, 1853. He was born in Green County, Indiana, April 10, 1828. He is the nephew of David W. Patten one of the first Apostles, who was murdered in Missouri {Crooked River Battle} for his religion, being the first martyr in this dispensation. My husband is the son of John Patten, who was a High Priest.
I have ten children, all living, vis., Vina, born in Manti, Utah March 6, 1854; Thomas Jefferson, Jr {our ancestor} born in Provo City, Utah Feb 25, 1856; Hannah born on the desert on the Humboldt Nevada, Oct 10, 1857; on our return from Carson {Nevada} Mission, Joanna born in Provo City, April 18, 1860; Ida born in Provo City, Sept 3, 1862; Melissa, born in Provo City, Utah, May 9, 1864; William W., born in Provo City Aug 10, 1867; Alva born in Provo City, Oct 19, 1969; Phoebe born in Provo City, Aug 19, 1872; David Wyman, born in Provo City Nov 8, 1877.
We received our endowments in 1854 were sealed according to the law of Celestial Marriage in 1862. We received our second anointing in the same place under the hands of Apostle George A Smith.
During the first year of our marriage hostilities began between the Indians and the whites followed by a terrible war. Our people were obliged to move into forts for protection. Soon after the ward was over, in 1854, the grasshoppers made their appearance and ate all our cops, in consequence of which bread was very scarce. Many people lived on wild roots. Clothing was very hard to get, as it had to be hauled in wagons by oxen from the Missouri river, a thousand miles away.
In 1856, we moved to Carson Valley, Nevada and returned in 1857. The country in those days was inhabited by Indians from the Missouri River to California and were very hostile. My sister Isabelle was sealed in the Temple at Nauvoo to George F Stiles. Sister Sarah Ann was sealed to Phineas Young, brother to President Brigham young. Sister Catherine was sealed to Rosil Ferree. They have nine children.
My daughter Vina married John H Moore. Joanna married Joseph Harris, a grandson of Hyrum Smith.
I believe in Celestial marriage and believe it was formed of God for the redemption of mankind, to ennoble the human family. Without it our religion would not be perfect, for the man is not without the woman nor the woman without the man in the Lord. See revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Seer in Nauvoo Hancock Co., Illinois July 12, 1844, published in the Pearl of Great Price. In Heaven they neither marry nor are given in marriage. If we want to be more than angels, we must be sealed for time and all eternity, and live by every commandment that God has given us and our salvation is sure.
When I was three years old while in Missouri, my father died, being brought up by my mother consequently am a woman's suffragist. I believe in Woman's rites when she can get them.
I have been a member of the Relief Society ever since it was organized. Acted for about twelve years as teacher in the same Relief Society. My picture is with the county Presidents as Treasury of Relief Society. I am president of the woman suffrage society. Have done baptisms for seven thousand of the dead and endowments for about one hundred. Have received all the ordinances for myself.
Before this box is opened, I will have closed my eyes in death with the hope to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection with love and affection to everyone that should chance to read this, yours truly.
Now my gentle reader, whoever you may be. I have endeavored to give to you a little of the history of your ancestry, trusting that this may do you some good. My motive in writing this is to preserve the genealogy of my family. Before you read this, I may have passed from this stage of existence and others occupy my place but my prayer is that we may all be saved in the Celestial Kingdom of our God. Amen
Provo City, Utah County, Utah
January 1, 1881"
(This was found in a box 50 years after it was written by Joanna Hollister Patten)

Kirtland, Ohio about 1836

John and Vina must have felt the west ward movement pulling them to Ohio. The exact circumstances are not know why they moved, but in my heart I feel the spirit of the Lord was on them and maybe they didn't even know why they were to go to Ohio. Coming first to Portage county, Ohio here they found themselves among the budding new Church of Jesus Christ and here they found their home with the Saints.
John had such a drive to know what was right that on December 4, 1835  in Kirtland, Ohio he went to the home of Joseph Smith and spent the evening talking and discussing religion. John Hollister stayed the night at Joseph's home and in the morning acknowledged that although he thought he knew something about religion  he was now sensible that he knew but little. (Joseph Smith of this meeting wrote that John's confession was the greatest trait of wisdom he could discover in him). On Monday, December 7, 1835 he wanted to be part of the church, and remarked that he had been in darkness all his days, but had now found the light, and intended to obey it. By June 1836, John Hollister was ordained to office of Priest.
 The Hollister family was now part of the body of Saints and there in Kirtland Ohio helped in the building and dedication of the Kirtland Temple. Our Joanna was just a baby here in Kirtland, but still was a part of the experience of those early restoration events.

map showing west ward movement years 1830-1836

Kirtland Temple dedicate March 1836

At the age of three, Joanna's life of hardship began when the family moved to Missouri, where they suffered such persecutions that they soon fled to Quincy, Illinois. Persecutions were happening in part due to Missouri's Governor Lilburn Boggs issuing an "extermination order" upon all "Mormons". Gov Boggs is now most widely remembered for his interactions with Joseph Smith and Porter Rockwell, and Missouri Executive Order 44, known by Mormons as the "Extermination Order", issued in response to the ongoing conflict between members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and other settlers of Missouri.

Lilburn Boggs, Missouri Governor

The climax to the Missouri persecutions was the massacre at Haun's Mill one of the most lamentable instances recounted in American history. Joanna's parents were among the sufferers.



Joanna's father, John, fortunately escaped and hid in the woods all night, but through this exposure in the wet and cold, he died, leaving his wife to care for their eight children, who were all sick at the time. The family went back to Ohio for a time.

Lavina or Vina Clearwater Hollister (Joanna's mother)

Our courageous Vina would lead the team of horses and drive the wagon to safety all while tending to sick children and mourning the loss of her beloved companion and husband, John. What a terrible loss, what heartache. Yet Vina carried on and did not loose sight of her burning testimony or her resolve to be with the Saints in Zion.

Haun's Mill Massacre, October 30, 1838, tragic events for the Hollister family

We now go along with the Hollister family to Nauvoo. When Joseph Smith took up his residence in Commerce in the spring of 1839 the little settlement consisted of one stone house, three frame and two block houses and three log cabins. The place was virtually a swampy wilderness. By draining the land, a delightful location for a city was made possible and the name changed to Nauvoo, a word of Hebrew origin signifying  "a beautiful situation or place". Vina and her children including Joanna were among the Saints in Nauvoo, experiencing all the events that happened there. 1844 Joanna was baptized here. At the end of the first year, the population was over three thousand, and at the time of the great exodus, just six years later, it was twenty thousand and a city of beautiful homes. After the exodus the beauty of the place was destroyed, and the growth permanently stopped.

Nauvoo exodus, winter 1846

In the severe winter weather, the inhabitants of Nauvoo were once again driven from their homes, this time to the banks of the Mississippi River, where they were without shelter, bedding or sufficient food and clothing. The suffering at this time were almost unbelievable as might be exemplified by the fact that the first night of the encampment, nine babies were born to the refugees (another of our ancestors, Diantha Morley Billings helped to attend these mothers for the births).

They went to Winter's Quarters until the summer of 1852. Vina's struggle to get her family to Utah lasted from 1847 to 1852, and when they finally arrived in Salt Lake City September 1852 with the  Robert Wimmer Company, Joanna was 19 years old and her mother Vina was 59. They were soon sent with a group of saints to the Provo River Settlement.

Thomas Jefferson Patten, Sr  (1828-1909)

Here Joanna met a young man by the name of Thomas Jefferson Patten, to whom she was married April 25, 1853. Thomas was the son of Dr. John Patten who died in Winter Quarters and the nephew of  David Wyman Patten, the martyred apostle.
The young couple's honeymoon was one of perilous adventure. The day after they were married they were sent to Manti to take part in the Indian Walker War. They lived in a wagon and the Indian, bitter an Hostile stole their cattle and most of their possessions. So here our Joanna began her wifely duties in a wagon among the Indians. Because of their hostility, the white settlers were forced to live in forts. At the close of the ward they returned to their homes, but their crops were entirely lost when the grasshoppers made their tragic appearance. The plagues almost drove the people of Provo to the brink of starvation. The crops of 1854 and 1855 failed owing to the ravages of grasshoppers, though drought added to the disastrous situation. Then followed the unusually severe winter of 1855-56 when cattle and sheep died by thousands from starvation and cold the settlers suffered severely from these combined calamities.
In 1856 they were called on a special colonization mission to Carson Valley, Nevada for a year during which time their third child was born. Realizing as the leaders did, that agriculture was the backbone of the community, groups were thus called to demonstrate rotation of crops and other agricultural experiments.
As they returned, news reached them of the Johnston's army invading Utah, they were filled with apprehension when they remembered the horrors of Hauns Mill and Nauvoo. But imbued with such patriotism as the people had always shown, they met the new crisis with strength and courage in spite of the previous persecution at the hand of soldiers and officials.
For a few years, they lived in Provo they managed to save about $200 to furnish their little home. At this time, they were called upon to spend their little fortune for guns and ammunition for the Black Hawk war.

Sisters visiting together. Rachel Catherine Hollister Ferre (left),
Melissa Hollister Van Hyning (middle), and Joanna Hollister Patten (right).

Joanna and her husband decided to take a homestead on Provo Bench (now know as Orem), one of the first families to settle there, although their friends protested and ridiculed. Joanna was the first white woman to live there. They tore the sagebrush up by hand, piece by piece and prepared the grounds for their cops, alfalfa was one of  the crops everyone said could not be raised in that section. In order to get the necessary water for their home and crops. Thomas and Joanna helped dig a ditch from the mouth of Provo Canyon to their home, a great distance. They built a square log house, fifteen by fifteen with a huge stone fireplace, where the cooking was done. Later they built an adobe house with three rooms and an upstairs. This house was built on the north west corner of what now is ZCMI in the University Mall. Here they raised their large family in love.

Ten children surround Thomas Jefferson Patten Sr., and his wife Joanna in this formal portrait dating from about 1885. They were among the earliest settlers of Provo. On the back of the photograph, which has been mounted on stiff paper, is a record giving birth dates, spouses and other interesting information about those shown. Left to right, front row, are Thomas Jefferson Patten Jr., Phoebe Patten, Joanna Hollister Patten, Thomas J. Patten Sr., David Wyman Patten, Vina Patten Moore second row: Melissa Patten, Ida Patten, William Wallace Patten, Alva Patten, Joanna Patten and Hannah Patten

The first real home built on Provo Bench by Thomas Jefferson and Joanna Hollister Patten.  Grandmother Patten is standing in front of the house.  This was located on State Street in Orem and is North West of the University Mall

In addition to the alfalfa, they also raised sugar cane and Thomas owned and operated the first molasses mill on the Provo Bench. (did he like sweet things??)

In those days coyotes were numerous and spread terror with their howling and by stealing chickens, calves and pigs and most anything they could get to eat.
After two years of success on this homestead on the "bench" others began to avail themselves of land.

Here their hospitality to all was legend. In later years her home served as a haven for the unfortunate as well as a headquarters for church and state authorities. She was invaluable in the days when a doctor's services were almost unattainable. Her family remembers well the catnip tea she brewed, the burdock leaves they used to bind on to cure headaches as well as countless other remedies made from native herbs.
During hard winters, Joanna would leave a light burning in her window to guide travelers through the blizzards while her husband made trails through the deep snowdrifts to further assist them. Their hospitality was unsurpassed and their home was a stopping place for Church Authorities traveling up and down the state. Additionally, most of the schoolteachers made their home with Mother Patten.

She worked in the Relief Society and enjoyed her service for that organization.

Stake Relief Society presidency in Provo 1892. Joanna is in back row far right.

Thru all the years of struggle Joanna's spirit never faltered. She felt strongly the need for social development in the community life. a wider field for expression and greater opportunities for her children. To further the religious and social life of the little community, the Pattens donated a part of their land for the first school and the first church. They also gave land for a tithing yard and the first school on "the bench".

Timpanogus chapel, still standing today

Timpanogos Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in 1895 on property donated by Thomas J. Patten, Sr

Joanna herself says that because she was raised by her mother, she became a woman's suffragist. She carried on an active correspondence with Susan B Anthony for many years. In 1890 when the women of Utah were working for their franchise, Joanna was appointed president of the Woman's Suffrage Association of Utah County. She and Anna K Smoot traveled from one end of Utah county to the other, month after month until Utah became one of the first states to grant suffrage to women and the first to gain statehood with suffrage.
She was a woman of serenity and wisdom who literally hewed her niche out of the earth and set therein her light of inspiration for all who knew and loved her.

Stake Relief Society Board Provo, UT, March 21, 1914. Joanna is exactly in the middle in all black.
(L-R, Margaret Allen Webb Smith Harris, Marinda Melvina Knapp Glazier, Martha Ann Smith Harris, Marilla Lucretia Johnson Miller Daniels, Eunice Billings Warner Snow, (Diantha Morley and Titus Billings daughter), Joanna Hollister Patten, Alice Malina Barney Wilkins, Sarah Louisa Fausett Turner, Percia Cornelia Grover Bunnell, Hannah LIbby Carter Robbins, Sarah Topham Clark.)

The above picture shows a group of sisters, members of the Stake Relief Society Board. They had dressed in their Sunday best or Widow Black and stood proudly in front of the draped flag of the United States of America, quietly declaring their patriotism. This day was an important occasion. They had hired a photographer and made arrangements for a notary public to be in attendance. They desired to record an "official" and legal document. A bold act for eleven elderly women, but they were already active "Suffragettes", and proud of it. This photograph and document was to become their voice, their independent cry to be heard. A record for their posterity. The official document says, "We the undersigned with joy and heartfelt gratitude to God, Our Heavenly Father, hereby testify that we saw the Prophet Joseph Smith and declare unto all that he was a prophet of God."

Joanna sitting in chair last on right, her son Thomas Jefferson Patten, Jr just behind her. about 1908

Her granddaughter, Zelia Riley, writes some details of their life in Orem this would be in Joanna's later years,

"They had a large living room and there my grandfather had a table and a desk to one side and my grandmother would sit at the other side of the desk with a table. On the table would be the Standard Church works, the Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, The Pearl of Great Price and the Woman's Exponent (church magazine). Every afternoon, after we had picked cherries all morning and they had been working, digging weeds, getting dinner and everything, we then had a study period and a rest period. The house was always so quiet and we would either lie down for a little while or study. Then it came time for our supper. And what would we have for supper? A great big pan of milk. We each would have a big bowl and we'd have bread and milk, maybe with green onions or chopped onions that we would put in our milk. Sometimes we would have a little cheese. The meals were always cooked in this log cabin and then they were carried into the living room where we had a dining room table. There we had a wonderful meal, each time, especially in summer when it was hot outside.
My grandmother was a wonderful housekeeper. Everything was so clean and neat and we couldn't have one fly in the house.
By six o'clock in the morning, out the East window, we could hear our grandmother going to the ditch to get her water. They had to use ditch water. She would go to the ditch and I could hear singing yet as she was carrying this water over to the house to prepare the breakfast.
Grandmother did all of her cooking in a small log cabin. It was very clean and spotless. Out in the back of this cabin they had a big cellar that they had dug down into the side of the hill and then they had put a big roof over it and covered the roof with thatch and dirt. In this cellar it was very cool and on each side they had rows of shelves. On one side they set the milk. They had the milk in shallow pans and the cream would rise on this milk and oh it was so good looking. Sometimes when my grandmother wasn't looking we would get a slice of bread and just dip it in that cream and sprinkle ad little sugar on it. It was so good. Grandmother made all her own bread and I can just see it as she took it out of the oven all brown Of course, the first thing we would do at the beginning of each meal was to have a blessing. My Grandmother would often call on my Grandfather and he would say the blessing. He was always neat and clean. Grandfather seemed to enjoy all the meals and one thing that he would like to do, if grandmother wasn't looking was to take a spoon of sugar and eat it. He often said, "little rocks would be good if they had sugar and cream on them." as he picked up the cream pitcher.
On Sunday we all went to Church, I distinctly remember once going to Church with my grandmother, I think it was a fast meeting, all at once she got kind of uneasy and started moving around. I asked her what was wrong and she said "well there's just something wrong." She put her hand down on the side of her leg and held it tight, then she went out of the Church. When she came back she told me that a mouse had gone up her dress and she had to leave to get rid of the mouse.
Grandmother was a very beautiful little woman. Very petite and she always looked so neat and clean. Always she wore a checkered apron to keep her house dress clean and this was tied around her. It was neatly ironed and taken care of. On Sunday, she had her Sunday Clothes. My grandmother was quite a cultured woman. She believed in woman's rights or women's suffrage. She went to all their meetings and she carried on this way. She always had beautiful clothes to wear. I remember her usually wearing dark or black clothes made of silk or taffeta, with a cute bonnet trimmed with lace and flowers tied under her chin.
Grandmother had a wonderful flower garden out in front of her house. She prided herself in this garden. After all of her work in the morning, after dinner was over, after her reading and resting and studying, then she would spend an hour and a half or two in her beautiful flower garden. It had every kind of flower that you could think of and we would never find a weed in it.
I never remember my grandmother lying down. She always rested in the afternoon, but she rested in her rocking chair. She sat in the rocking chair by her desk. She always rested in this rocking chair, reading and resting. I remember her reading a book and the book I noticed mostly on the table or the desk was The Book of Mormon, The  D & C, Pearl of Great Price and the Bible. I don't remember all of the other books. They were always reading and studying form these books.
I never remember grandmother being ill. Of course, she was always working. Although she had little ailments, she would never complain. I never remember her being laid up with her illness.   Finally when she became ill and was 84, they sent for my mother. My mother went down there and stayed for two weeks. Not once did my grandmother stay in bed, all day she demanded that they get her up. She would sit in her rocking chair, and in this rocking chair, after three weeks, she passed away. She thought it was better because too many people die in bed."

Her death occurred December 2, 1916, she is buried in the Provo City Cemetery.

Ane Catherine Jensen Hunsaker

Ane Catherine Jensen Hunsaker (1843-1927)

As told by her daughter, Margaret Hunsaker Hawks or Maggie,
"My mother, Katherine Jensen was a beautiful dainty woman with a proud carriage, kind and generous especially to the poor and unfortunate. She was born in Norlundy, Galand, Denmark February 12, 1843 to her parents Hans Peter Jensen and Ane Marie Clawsen and died September 15, 1927 in Honeyville, Utah. She was about 10 years old when she sailed across the Atlantic Ocean with her Aunt Julia Jensen (her father's, Hans Peter Jensen, sister). Catherine's mother had died shortly after the birth of her fourth child, leaving her and her three other siblings motherless. After sailing to America on the Forest Monarch 1853, Katherine Jensen crossed the plains with her uncle Jensen in the John E Forsgren company." The company left May 21, 1853 and arrived in Utah September 29, 1853. They said the progress was slow with the roads being muddy and bad, but still averaged about 15 miles a day.

We know back in Denmark, Catherine was baptized February 12, 1851 as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with her father and mother in attendance. Also there in Denmark, before joining The Church, Catherine's father, Hans Peter was a iron foundry or steel mill factory owner and a preacher for a group of three hundred or so Baptists.  Once the family joined The Church, the family experienced persecution for their religious beliefs with a hostile mob breaking windows to their home and camping outside their home trying to kill Hans Peter. For these four small children, those events must have been so unsettling.

By 1852, Hans Peter and family were selling all they owned in preparation for journey to America. Catherine's aunt Julia (her father's sister) was taking care of the her and her siblings as Hans Peter was about preaching the gospel and gathering saints. Hans Peter came to America's Salt Lake City later than his first four children in October 1854 with a new wife, Sarah Josephine Clausen. This new step mother, Sarah Josephine, would be the one to take care of the first four Jensen motherless children, but was never very good to them. After she had children of her own, she was very partial to her own children and unfair to her stepchildren, including our Ane Catherine.

Later, Anna Mariah Clawsen's children received some of their mother's inheritance, but Sarah took this money to build a house for herself and her sister. Catherine's brother, John, said that he had to learn to read and write by himself while herding sheep on the hills near Mantua, Utah. Frederic, the youngest brother, died of the measles while sleeping outside in a granary in the middle of winter. Catherine and her sister Anna had to go out to work when they were very young.

Catherine was 13 years old when she went to work for Eliza Collins Hunsaker, the first wife of Abraham Hunsaker. Eliza felt sorry for Catherine and employed her mainly to help her and to give her a place to live. Catherine, who always loved Eliza, appreciated her kindness and called her "Aunt Eliza."
Where was Hans Peter Jensen to advocate and meet the needs of these first four children? I have a hard time processing and accepting his treatment and neglect of these children and even the malnutrition they experienced in their youth.

Catherine married Abraham Hunsaker on 15 November 1858, just before she was 16 years old. She became the mother of 10 children, all of whom lived to maturity except two. For the first part of her married life she lived in the Big House in Brigham City.

When Abraham moved to Honeyville, she went there to live in about 1874. For many years she lived in the house by Salt Creek, west of Honeyville. She moved into Honeyville later. While in Honeyville she cooked for the older boys who farmed and herded livestock.

She had many experiences with stray Indians who came begging for food. She was always afraid of the Indians, and one time took her small children and hid out in a cornfield for several hours until some Indians had gone away from her home.

Catherine was called "little grandma" as she only weighed 90 pounds. According to her brother John, this was no joke, however, as she had had to contend with hunger much of her life. Catherine never had very good health, although she lived to be 84 years old. She had a nervous condition, probably brought on by malnutrition in her early life. She was a faithful little lady and expected all of her children and grandchildren to be ladies and gentlemen.

later in life Catherine Jensen Hunsaker

Catherine Jensen Hunsaker obituary
Salt Lake Telegram, Friday, Sept 16, 1927, page 26

Catherine J Hunsaker later in life

Amos Hawks

Amos Hawks 1838-1911

Amos Hawks was born March 22, 1838 on The Plains of Far West, Missouri to his parents Joseph Bryant Hawkes and Phoebe Ann Baldwin (his father's second wife). Compiler's interesting fact to note, Amos dropped the "e" in his last name at some point.

We must begin Amos' story by starting with his father's conversion to The Church. Joseph Bryant and his first wife Sophronia Alvord received a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having been baptized in January 1832, while living in Pontiac, Michigan. Some sources say they were baptized by Elder Jared Carter (Elder Carter is mentioned in D&C 79).

The Church had been organized only a few years earlier, April 6, 1830.

Joseph Bryant Hawkes is mentioned in Joseph Smith's Journal on page 91 during his visit to Nauvoo on Saturday Oct. 24, 1835 & Sunday Oct. 25, 1835. He stayed overnight with Joseph and Emma Smith in the log cabin homestead in Nauvoo on Saturday Oct. 24, 1835 and went to church with them the next Sunday morning on Oct. 25. 1835. During this visit, Joseph was shown the Abraham papyri by the prophet. These papers were translated and became the Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price.

In August 1836, Latter-day Saints began to establish a stake of Zion at Far West. By 1838, Far West was home to 4,900 Saints. The Joseph Bryant Hawkes family were among those that came to Far West and to gather together away from persecutions. Sadly in April 1837, Sophronia Alvord Hawkes died there and at the time was buried in a cemetery west of town, but later fell into disuse and was then a cornfield without a proper marker for her final resting place. (Note Sophronia Alvord is a sister to Charlotte Alvord who married Lyman Curtis our ancestor on Dad's side)

Just a few months later, Joseph Bryant would marry again to a widow, Phoebe Ann Baldwin in about June 1837 in Far West, Missouri. Our Amos was born here as well having five half siblings, the brother closest in age to him by a few years, Joshua would form a close brotherly bond that would be the mainstay for the Hawks family and for their entire lives.

Amidst these events of change and adjustment of loosing a wife, gaining a wife and a new son, the Hawks family were forced to abandon the place by the winter months of 1839 due to severe mob persecutions and harassment. After they left, members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and a few others returned and dedicated a temple site there, in obedience to a commandment from the Lord (see Doctrine and Covenants 115:11; 118:5)

In 1839, Amos' father, Joseph Bryant, settled the family in the city of Nauvoo at the counsel of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Our Amos spent his youngest years growing up here in Nauvoo, what a time to be alive. It is certainly true that Amos and his family knew the Prophet personally, and as a child "sat on his knee" as the saying goes.

Nauvoo and temple about the time of the exodus 1846

Joseph Bryant Hawkes was called to help labor on the new temple in Nauvoo and did so for seven years, until its completion and dedication on April 30, 1846. I'm certain our Amos was at the temple sight looking on and witnessing these awesome events. Phoebe was one of the eighteen sisters who comprised the original Relief Society.

Nauvoo Temple 1846

The Hawks family suffered much through poverty and sickness during their stay at Nauvoo, having been driven from their homes and losing nearly all they possessed. April 30, 1846 the Nauvoo Temple was dedicated and in September of that same year, the Temple fell into the hands of the mob and on November 19th, it was gutted with fire. What a heartbreak that must have been to know all the hard work and effort was wasted.

Nauvoo temple burning

In 1846, Amos' Father Joseph and Mother Phebe permanently lost their health with chills and fever as a result of exposure and the hardships they were forced to endure. Although he survived these trials and sickness and eventually made his way to Utah, Joseph Bryant was never well again after living in Nauvoo. In addition to the loss of health and personal sickness, Joseph and Phoebe lost several children in Nauvoo, the oldest Samuel died of consumption, Adalie and Joseph both died young and Levi drowned in the Mississippi River. So much loss here.

It was in the month of October, after a hard battle of the few Saints that were left in Nauvoo, that they were driven out and had to flee for their lives out of the city, west across the Mississippi River into the wilderness. With little affects, they were moved with the rest of the exiles into the woods on the Iowa side. Their stock consisted of one three-year-old heifer (this heifer would be a life saver later).

Exodus from Nauvoo

After a few days they moved down to Montrose, a little town about three miles below, where they were taken into a house by a friend of his father's, James Hoten. To support themselves, they used the milk from their only heifer, and the boys, Joshua and Amos, would sell the milk to steamboaters who put in at Montrose.

Amos' father and mother were both very sick and were supported from the charity of their friends. A company of teams was sent back from Garden Grove, about 150 miles west in Iowa, where they moved to a settlement of the Saints, where Amos' married sister Lucy was living.

Amos' father's health was a little better though he was quite weak and had decided to go back East to his native land of Maine and his people and see if it would help his health. He also hoped some of his folks would help him out in his hour of need. He needed a wagon and supplies to get him to Salt Lake Valley. In the fall of 1847, about October, his father left for Maine. It is told Joseph walked to Maine and back again.

Joshua and Amos were all that was left to care for their mother. In a few weeks after his Father had gone east, his mother became a raving maniac and Amos went to live elsewhere. Phoebe was cared for by the members in the ward until Amos' father returned the spring of 1848. Phoebe had a brain tumor, and without a way to medically treat the tumor, she suffered immensely until her death.

Amos' sister Lucy and her husband, Philo Allen, had moved to Council Bluffs in the spring of 1847 and one year later they came back to gather the family, shortly after his father returned from the East. They went to live with Lucy and her family that summer and all farmed together.

Amos was baptized on April 6, 1848 at Garden Grove, Iowa. In the fall of that year they built a cabin on a farm that his father had taken up two miles south of Kanesville  Council Bluffs.

In the summer of 1850, Amos' Father convinced a widow with three children by the name of Mrs. Bowen, to come to the Hawkes home and help with housekeeping. So logically, Joseph married Mrs. Bowen, that fall August 27, 1850.

Phoebe Ann Baldwin, died in December 1850, still no better until death relieved her of her suffering. They were still living at Kanesville at the time. Father Joseph and Mother Phoebe Ann had been married for 13 years. She was 47 and he was 51.

Lucy Hawks (Amos' half sister) and Phil Allen

In 1851 they sold the farm in the spring and Amos and his father and family came to Salt Lake City in the Harry Walton/Garden Grove Company and settled in Ogden.  His father Joseph and Mrs. Bowen separated after they arrived in Ogden, after being married about one year; Joseph was now 52 years old.

On March 20, 1853, Joseph Bryant married his first wife's sister, Albina Alvord Murry, a widow. She was 39 and he was 54.

In April they moved near Spanish Fork, Utah, settling at Palmyra, a new town laid off the fall before.  Palmyra would eventually be united with and absorbed into Spanish Fork. They took forty acres of land in what was called "The Big Field," and farmed a little of it that year. Amos and Joshua spent the forepart of the season making a ditch and getting poles, they did quite a large amount of water work on the irrigation canal. That wasn't all they were doing that summer, there were always threats of Indian attacks.

A second Indian war had broken out, July 17, 1853 with Chief Walker at the root. An incident in Springville furnished him with the excuse. A white man, James Ivie, saw an Indian beating his wife and turned on the Indian with some punishment that later caused his death. As the Indian was a member of Walker's tribe the Chief at once set out on the warpath to seek revenge. These events would effect our Hawkes family living in Palmyra.

On the afternoon of July 23rd, Clark Roberts of Provo and John W Berry of Palmyra were dispatched by Col. Conover to Salt lake City with messages to General Wells asking for further orders. On reaching Summitt Creek, now Santaquin, they found he place deserted, as the settlers had fled to Payson for safety.  While riding through the town, they were suddenly fired upon by Indians. Roberts was shot through the shoulder and Berry through the left wrist. The two men rode at full speed toward Payson, arriving safely.

That same night when the two men arrived at Palmyra, they found the citizens camped in the school house. W. S. Berry and Charles Price were on guard. The Indians made a raid on the cattle at the Palmyra settlement and succeeded in getting them all out of the corral, but the guard went after the cattle and soon got them started back; another unsuccessful attack by the enemy.

On account of the Indian depredations, all the settlers on the river in what was then known as the "upper settlement" moved to Palmyra for the winter. The people stood guard all fall and winter, not knowing when the Indians might attack them.

In November 1853, Amos' stepmother died, at the age of 39, after being married to Joseph for only about eight months. She was his fourth wife. So, Joseph, Amos, and Joshua were left alone again, without anyone to do the housework, only themselves. The boys went to school that winter.

During the spring and summer of 1854, Joseph Bryant with a few other settlers went to Pres. Young to get permission to build a fort two and one-half miles east of Palmyra. Having received permission, the Hawkes family moved into this small fort (this was later called the "Old Fort") and built their own home within the fort's walls.

The fort measured 100 feet from north to south an 60 feet from east to west, about 40 acres of land. The outside walls were two feet thick and 20 feet high. To this fort there was only one entrance, two folding gates 16 feet high and built of planks two inches thick laid double (four inches thickness). The doors and windows of the houses all faced the inside of the fort, there being none on the outside. There were port holes in each of the compartments, both in the upper and lower stories. In the center of the square a well was dug which afforded water for the use of the families.

By August 12, 1854, a big peace council was held in Provo bringing the close to the Walker War of 1853 and soon the Indians grew weary of fighting. This allowed the settlers to leave the forts and go back to their homes and fields.

Joseph Bryant married a widow, his fifth wife, Catherine Cole Sterling, September 9, 1855. She had an adopted boy, Hyrum. Joseph B and Catherine went on to have two daughters together, Catherine and Saphronia. She was about 30 years old and had come from New Brunswick while Joseph was now 56 years old.

About this same time, Joseph took up two lots in Spanish Fork.  Amos and Joshua made quite a number of adobe bricks to build on Joseph's city lots. They put up a house of six rooms that fall and the next spring. It seemed that they were constantly on the move and building. Amos and Joshua worked at home most of the time, helping to get Joseph comfortably fixed in life. His health was poor and he could not do hard labor, so the heft of it fell on, Amos and Joshua.

Amos' brother, Joshua Hawkes 1836-1914
(note this branch of the family kept the "e" in Hawkes)

Amos married Mary on March 18, 1858 in Spanish Fork, Utah and on January 23, 1859 they were sealed. Wasting no time, they started their family right away and Amos Joseph was born November 1858 in Spanish Fork. Not long after Joshua White Hawks joined the family Dec 23, 1861 (our ancestor).

Amos Hawks and Mary with their infant son Amos Joseph (Joe) about 1858.

December 19, 1862 in Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah Territory, United States Amos' beloved father Joseph Bryant Hawkes, passed away. Throughout his life he had always been a strong supporter of the Prophet Joseph Smith and Brigham Young; a true Latter-Day Saint. Of his father's death his son Joshua Hawkes writes,

"My father took sick about the….of December with a cold on his lungs and died on the 19th. Loosing my father was the hardest blow to me of the whole. The loss of our eldest son and sweet babe was hard to bear, but the long years of toil and trials through which I had spent my whole life, knowing his untiring zeal and faithfulness in the Gospel and the welfare of his family which he always labored for, made it quite hard for me. His loss as a father can never be replaced this side of the Veil."

About this time, Amos and Joshua obtained some land in Spanish Fork known as the Pace Farm.  The water raised very high early in April, and commenced to overflow their land.  Quite a number of farmers began to levy against the rising water. They worked for three weeks in the water most of the time, which was very cold. They lost a part of their crop, but the land was cut in hollows, and most of the top soil washed away. By 1863 they built cabins on their farm land three miles from town.

Amos had a daughter, Agnes Evaline Hawks born March 23, 1864, what joy to have a little girl!  Their happiness too soon turned to sorrow when Agnes died May 3, 1867 at Willard, Box Elder County, Utah, just three years old. She is buried in the Willard pioneer cemetery.

Ephraim Manassa Hawks joined the family April 17, 1866 Willard, Box Elder, Utah Territory, United States. They would call him Eph.

Amos, bought himself a farm at Willard City, Box Elder, County about 1867. He wanted his brother Joshua to go with him and help him, since he had no place, he did and moved in the spring. Amos then went to Montana, leaving Joshua to care for the place and raised crops. Amos did not return until late in the fall, when they spent the winter in getting out fire-wood and attending their stock.

In the spring of 1868, Amos thought he would put out an orchard. So, he sent his brother Joshua to Salt Lake City to got $44 dollars worth of fruit trees and set them out. They raised some corn and enough wheat for their use, although the grass-hoppers were very bad and destroyed a great deal. They went to work and got out logs and put up a house for his brother that summer. Samuel Junius Hawks joined the family in the summer June 21, 1868, Willard, Box Elder, Utah. They moved into the cabin in the fall. The brothers and family were getting along quite comfortable by this time and thus they passed the winter.  By 1869, they were still working on the farm and raised a very good crop of grain and vegetables that summer.

Franklin Levi Hawks came along December 23, 1870 when the family was living in Willard. Amos had sold out his land and home at Willard not long after the birth of Franklin Levi and moved to Promontory.

By 1873 Amos and family had moved to Franklin, Idaho and put up a water-powered sawmill. It was at the intersection of Maple Creek and it sawed a great deal of lumber from Crooked Canyon. It was afterwards known as the "Gibson Mill." Amos was quite anxious for his brother Joshua to move up there, as the prospects appeared good. Here Lafayette Hawks was born April 4, 1873 Franklin, Idaho.
John Willis Hawks was their last child born to them March 3, 1876 in Franklin, Idaho.

By 1880, Amos and Agnes along with their sons decided to travel south and make their home in Mexico coming from Franklin, Idaho. (Along their journey south, one of their sons, Joshua White met and married Margaret Hunsaker while resting in St. George, Utah...our ancestors)

Continuing south in a wagon train, they never reached Mexico and when they arrived in Mesa, Arizona they decided to stay and settle. Here in the desert region, Amos and his seven sons helped to settle Mesa, Arizona and helped to organize a water system and plant fruit trees and helped it become the thriving community it would later be. They were carpenters, masons and builders using adobe bricks. His eldest son, Amos Joseph also owned a grist mill there. They are listed as a pioneer family of Mesa in 1881.

It was here in Mesa that they would experience another tragic loss, their 18 year old son Levi Franklin, just beginning his life would pass away August 8, 1887.  Aunt Mickey found out Levi was initially buried in the pioneer cemetery on University, but was brought to the Mesa City Cemetery as a re-interment sometime later.

Levi Franklin Hawks 1870-1888

They left Mesa, Arizona in about 1898 to settle in Price, Utah and by 1900, they were found in Orangeville, Utah in the census.

Brick makers, Amos Hawks family

Amos died April 12, 1911 suddenly probably of heart disease. He is buried in the Orangeville City Cemetery, Orangeville, Emery County, Utah. His wife followed him in death just nine days later.

His death notice in the newspaper reads:
Eastern Utah Advocate 1911-04-27
Gossip of Emery County
Orangeville, April 22 – The remains of Father Amos Hawks were brought over from Price, where he died, and buried her last Saturday. Father Hawks was a pioneer of Utah having come with his family in 1850. He was a stone mason and bricklayer by trade and therefore he took an active part in building up Utah and adjacent states and territories. He has resided in different places from Idaho on the north to Arizona on the south, and being very industrious and having a large family, he was always found in the lead in building up the different settlements where he resided. He leaves a good record as an honest, God fearing Latter-day Saint and a man not afraid to speak in defense of his convictions. He is survived by a wife, who is very ill and not expected to survive him long, six sons, and a large number of grandchildren. He was born on March 15, 1838. He has fought the good fight and gone to his reward. The speakers were U. E. Curtis, Jasper Robertson, and A. C. VanBuren.

Amos and Mary Hawks family about 1900-1910 Utah
Standing L-R  John Willis, Lafayette (Lafe), Samuel Junius (June), Ephraim (Eph)
seated L-R Amos Joseph (Joe), Father Amos, Mother Mary, Joshua White (Josh)