Aspinwall

History of Eleaser Aspinwall and his father Peter Aspinwall. They are ancestors of John Henry Plumb and his father, Merlin Plumb. This record contains and fun and interesting story of Eleaser's older brother, Captain Samuel Aspinwall.

John Henry Plumb

John Henry Plumb

John Henry Plumb was born in Keggs Creek, Pottawattamie County, Iowa November 27, 1847. At the age of two years he crossed the plains with his parents, Merlin and Elizabeth Cleopatra Bellows Plumb. They were with the Steven Markham Company of Pioneers. "In the spring of 1850, (Merlin's mother) Sarah (Sally) Roberts Plumb, with her son-in-law, John Bellows, his wife Marilla and baby, her son, Merlin and wife Elizabeth and baby John Henry all left with the Stephen Markham Company, in one wagon. John Bellows and Merlin Plumb with his wife walked most of the way. Taken from the "Bellows History" by Velma and Allen Bellows.

Map of Mormon Settlements

After a short stay in Salt Lake City, they moved to Provo, Utah where they lived for five years. They moved to Payson, Utah where John's father went in to the sawmill business. The sawmill was located in a canyon near Mt. Nebo.

this was Ute Indian country and ever summer the Indians would amp near the mill. Some of them worked for Mr. Plumb. John was seven years old at this time and was not big enough to work so spent most of his time playing with the Indian children. They were the only playmates he had. In the winter the family would move into town and each summer they would move out to the mill. So it was that John spent six years of his young life with the Indians. He learned how to make the bow and arrow and joined them in their hunts. He learned to trail and stalk deer. He learned many other way  an habits of the Ute Indians. He later had many dealings with the Indians, both friendly and unfriendly.

Sawmill

Mount Nebo

Map of Utah

In 1860 they sold the mill and moved to Pond Town, living there until 1866, when John was called to go back to Missouri River to bring out a load of emigrants. Leaving in the spring the company set out with forty-two wagons and drivers. Each wagon had three to four yoke of cattle. They also drove a herd of loose oxen. These were used as extras in case any of the animals driven became sick.

Pioneer Emigrants

They reached the Missouri River in June 1866. The train not being able to return for some time, John got a job on a wheat farm. This was the first time he ever saw a reaper and he thought it was a wonderful invention. This was a small machine and was pulled by four horses. With one man to drive and one to take bundles. As a knife cut the wheat it would fall back on a table and a man rode on the back of the machine and as the pile on the table grew to the size of a bundle he would take it off in piles ready for the binders. He stood on a small platform and was fastened to the machine with a wide leather strap that fastened around the waist.

Reaper

This was John's job for which he received $2.50 a day. One dollar more than the binders got. After being there about two months, the emigrants arrived and they were ready to leave. John had a little cash on hand, bought a cap and ball pistol and broad cloth suit of clothes.

Leaving the Missouri River in July 1866 they started on their eleven hundred mile trip to Utah. The distance traveled each day was from thirteen to eighteen miles. After getting one hundred miles out, they saw large herds of buffalo every day until they got to the mountains. The Indians were bad at the time, never coming in large numbers, but small bands, trying to steal stock and with these they had several skirmishes.

bison

The main fare was bacon and beans. John said the wagon was loaded with thirty hundred of bacon.  They drank out of cans, there being very few cups in camp. The emigrants consisted of Swedes, Danes and English. There were two fiddlers and an accordion player in the outfit. when the day hadn't been too hard and they were camped on hard ground, they would have a dance. John said they had lots of fun teaching the foreign girls how to dance American style.

After traveling about half of the journey, just on this side of Ham's Fork, where the Oregon Trail and Salt Lake crossed, they discovered they had lost an ox and were satisfied it had gotten in with the other trains cattle. The second at noon they decided to send some one back for the ox, and John, being in charge of the ox, it fell to him to go. He chose Lon Clark, an experienced man to go with him. It was nearly sundown when they left. The train going West and North had traveled a day and a half and the train going Southwest had also traveled a day and a half and the trains forty-five miles apart. Using John's own words, he said, "So taking two loaves of bread and a little bacon we set out going a Northeast direction. After a hard day's ride we caught up with the Montana Train just as it went into camp about sundown. We rode up and asked to see the wagon boss. The boss, hearing his name called, came up and asked us what we wanted. We told him about the ox. He got mad right away and asked us if we thought he was stealing oxen. He said, "if you fellows think you can come over here and get off with that stuff, you are badly fooled. I've heard a lot about the Mormons and they are a bunch of crooks, and pulling his gun he ordered us from camp.

We intended camping with them as our chuck was nearly gone, but seeing we were not welcome we pulled out-- going back to the road in a Southeast direction. We traveled about half a mile and camped in the brush, making a  small fire to keep warm by. We ate the last of our bread and lay down to sleep awhile. We were awakened some time later by a herd of oxen grazing up by our camp. I told Lon that I believed we could go out and find the ox and we could drive him off while it was dark. We could hear the guards herding the cattle as they hallowed back and forth, all's well. One of the guards had seen our fire and was coming to where we were camped. As he approached we got our guns ready and I said to Lon, "let's hold him up". When he came up we said, "hello friend" he said "hello".  "Ride right up and keep your hands up" we ordered. "Now we don't intend to hurt you, but we don't know what you want!" "Well, he said, "I heard what the wagon master told you but your ox is here". I told him we were satisfied of that all the time, and I asked him to get down and come over by the fire. "No, I can't he said, I'm on guard." Well, we can't help that,  come on over" and he came and sat by the fire.

The draw where we camped was covered with thick brush about as high as a man's head. So, I told Lon if he would stir up the fire every fifteen or twenty minutes I would go look for the ox. So, I set out and hunted about an hour, but I couldn't find him and I returned to camp. On said "you couldn't tell him if you saw him" I answered that I would know his hide if I saw it in a tannery in Kansas City." The guard spoke up then and said, "Your ox is right over there for I saw him about two hours ago," I set out and sure enough I found the ox and drove him up to camp.

I was lost several times and if Lon hadn't made the sparks fly every once in a while I would never have found the camp. Now I said "Lon, let's saddle up and get out of here." "What are you going to do with this man?" asked Lon. The guard had lain down and was apparently asleep. "Just leave him where he is and when he wakes up he can go on about his business, for I knew he was our friend and wouldn't give us away. So, we saddled up and left, keeping out of sight of the other guards. We finally got our ox to the road and started on the back trail. After leaving the draw, the road led up a slope some two or three miles long, and as we started up this slpe it commenced to get light in the east. We made the old ox go a little faster as we wanted to get over the ridge before it got light, but when we reached the top, the sun was up. We looked back and the camp was astir, getting ready to pull out. We knew they could see us and expected them to follow us, so we went over the ridge. I told Lon to watch one side of the road and I would watch the other, for if they get this ox, they'll have to fight for him. So, we kept a good watch and made the ox go as fast as we could.

AFter traveling som emiles and no trouble coming from the camp, we slowed up. We traveled all that day, stopping now and then to let the ox rest. The grass was good and plaenty of water along the way. We traveled until night when we camped and lay down and slept until the moon came up or nearly morning. Our bread and bacon was gone, so all we had to do was saddle up and go. Along about noon we came to a ranch house. There was a woman and some children in the yard and Lon asked her if we could get something to eat. She said they were out of food, but her husband had gone after a deer and if we would wait till he came back she would fix us a good dinner.

We were anxious to go on. I asked when our train had passed there, and she said about noon the day before. When she saw we were in a hurry she offered us cheese and buttermilk, and brought out a big can of buttermilk and a large piece of cheese. The buttermilk was about three days old and awful sour, but it tasted mighty good to us. The cheese was old and mallow and filled with skippers. We would break a chunk, knock the bugs off, and eat it, but being without food a good many hours it tasted good to us. After thanking the woman we went on our way intending to travel all night so as to catch up with the train in the morning, but in the early part of the night we came to a big bush and decided to rest for a few hours.

The journey all day ha been full of stops to let the ox and horse rest. The night was cold and we built a fire to keep warm by and as the blaze grew into a bright light, we found we camped under a service berry bush and it was loaded with dry fruit. We commenced to eat for we were awful hungry and we ate and filled our pockets. When we had eaten about all we wanted we commenced to feel sick at the stomach. We were two of the sickest men you ever saw and it wasn't any time "till we got rid of the berries we had eaten. After a while we felt better and went to sleep and didn't wake up until sun up.

We got on our way as quick as we could, both feeling weak and sick. I still had my pockets full of berries and couldn't help but eat one once in awhile. Along about eleven o'clock we topped a ridge and there we saw our train camped in Pioneer Hollow. As we came into sight they began to cheer, for they were satisfied we had been killed. They were getting ready to send some men after us. Well, we camped there the rest of the day, killed a fat ox and that night had a big supper and dance, and I could dance as good as any of them.

We started out the next morning with everybody feeling fine. We all rode down the hills and on level ground and walked up the hills, and without any further incidents of any importance, we landed in Salt Lake City in the latter part of September.

After delivering the emigrants to Salt Lake City, John returned to Pond Town, named so because there was a large pond in the center of town. (Its name was later changed to Salem after they asked Lyman Curtis to give the town a better name. He named it Salem after his home, of New Salem, Massachusetts. John later married Lyman's grand daughter, Ada Adeline Elliot.) Sunday came and John put on his new suit and went to church. Now all the clothes the other boys had were home-made jeans and woolen shirts. So, John cut a big shine with his new tailored suit, and by night all the girls in town were after him.

In December 1866, John married Eveline Madora Curtis (also Lyman Curtis' granddaughter) and made Pond Town his home until 1869, when he was called to the Muddy Mission. He stayed there four years and in 1873 moved back to Pond Town and lived there until 1880 when he was called to help settle Aizona. In the fall of the same year, he and his family and four other families moved to Brigham City, located where Winslow, Arizona now stands.

On the way down it was customary to hobble the horse and turn them out at night. Each man keeping a saddle horse tied up to the wagon in case of trouble, and to ride after the other horses in the morning. I got up one morning and went after the horses, I found them all but three and upon investigation I found where they had been unhobbled and driven off and by the tracks I knew it was Indians that did it.

I caught a fresh horse and took a little lunch and set out after them. I followed their tracks all day up through rocky canyon and came upon the Indians about that evening They were making camp, so I hid in the rocks to wait until dark. They built a fire, hobbled their horses and got supper. When they turned the horses out I noticed they were headed down my way so I waited and as the night wore on the horses came closer, and when I thought Indians would be asleep, I slipped out and went up and unhobbled the horses. They were used to following the one I was riding, so I led her out of sight, and had a hard time of keeping her from nickering. When the others saw her they came up to where she was. Leading her and the others following, I made my way down the canyon as best I could in the dark. After getting out of danger of being heard by the Indians I mounted my hourse and rode, reaching camp a little before sunrise.

In the year 1883 I was married to Ada Adeline Elliott. The next Spring I moved to St. Johns, arriving here in the later part of April, 1884. I pitched my camp at Salem, setting up two tents which answered for a home until we could build.

A few years later, I was moving with my family to the Gila Valley. I was driving the wagon and my boy, Willie, was driving some milk cows. My wife and the smaller children were in the wagon with me. Down on the side of Fort Apache at Tuekwy Tanks, about ten o'clock on morning. I had stopped to fill a barrel with water for camp use and was busy with this task when three Chreokee Indians rode up. They said, "you stop here?" I told them when I filled the barrel I would talk to them. Trying to keep cool and think of something for I understood enough of their language to know from their talk that they intended to kill us and take our stock.  "You stop now, we Cherokee!" I said "ther's my cows over there, then they laughed. One of them went after the cows, but the boy said "you wait pa will iet you have themwhen he comes over." They could talk a little English, but I let on that I did not understand and wehn they asked questions I answered something different from what they wante to know. I could tell by their talk that they thought I was crazy.

When we went on a long trip the wife generally cooked upa big box of cookies, and we had one in our wagon and Clara, now Mrs. J. R. Overson, got the cookies, climbed out of the wagon and passed them to the Indians. Well, they took the cookies and ate them and I could see that they had changed their minds about killing us.  The Indians were wearing their war paint and were the most hideous looking creatures I ever saw and the girl then nearly grown, took it upon herself to give them the cookies. Clara was as brave a girl as I ever saw, not only in this case, but in others nearly as bad. She always showed great courage and judgement. I never saw her frightened. Well, the Indians sure left, saying "you go now". That was the narrowest escape I had ever had an I was sure glad to see them ride off."

Mr. Plumb has lived in St. Johns forty-two years, has spent the best of his life here, suffering trials and hardships to help build up this country. He helped build the old school house--hauled lumber for the old Court House and jail. In fact, he helped in everything that went ot make this a better and more prosperous community. He is now seventy nine years old and is the father of twenty-one children; has sixty three grand children and six great grand children. His wife died a short time ago. He is another real pioneer that gave his bit that the West might be what it is today. We wish him happy and prosperous years in our midst.

The above account was published in the St Johns (Arizona) Weekly Herald April 22-29, 1926)

John Plumb died in 1933, when I was 5 years old. We were living on the O'Cote Ranch 10 miles out of the town of Eagar Arizona. My parents felt it a privilege to care for this great pioneer until the time of his death. And at the time of his death I was in his room eating a piece of warm cake that mother had just baked. I was hanging on the bedstead at the bottom of his bed. While eating the cake one of my teeth fell out and I told grandpa. He said, "Go and get your ma to come here." I immediately responded and left the room. When we returned grandpa had passed away (I had swallowed my tooth). My parents put his covered body on a wooden slab across the back seat and through the open windows of our new Model A Ford car. I road under the body, and not being able to sit up I laid across the seat and was soon fast asleep. We took the body to St. Johns to be prepared for the funeral and for burial.

My mother continually spoke with love and honor about her pioneer parents all of our lives. She told of the origin of the Plumb family. The plumbs came from the Island of Corsica off the coast of France. They were ship builders and built a ship to sail to America but were ship-wrecked off the coast of England. So, they lived there several years working and earning money to build more ships. They sailed to America in the 1600s. They were converted to the church by the Prophet Joseph Smith and were scheduled to be baptizd by him when the mobs imprisoned him. His grandfather, Merlin Plumb Sr. was a physician and merchant and spoke 5 foreign languages. The readily accepted the gospel when they first heard it. John's father, Merlin, was a young boy at the time.

When the Plumbs moved to Arizona, having been brick masons in Nauvoo, Merlin and John were the first white men to make adobe brick and the fist white men to build a home from them. They lived in tents and dugout basement homes until they finished building their nice big home from adobe bricks they had made.

Mother said that father always carried a pistol on his hip in a holster with bullets on the belt. He often removed it when he came in the house. He would put it in the wood box or in his chuck box. The enemies of polygamy were continually threatening and he said he would use the gun if necessary to protect his wives and children. When they moved down on the Gila to Eden they were being threatened. One night and informant came to the door and told John they were coming to get him and to prepare to leave. Within a short time he and his wife and family packed up their things and escaped throug a corn field and then in to Old Mexico. They lived in Colonial Diaz for a bout a year. Grandpa didn't like Old Mexico and moved back to the sates. Mother remembered the trip home in the wagon and how kind her father was to the children. When she wanted him to stop he would stop. She loved getting down and picking the wild flowers. However, their trip was saddened when they had drank from a spring where the water was bad and her brother, Orson became ill with diphtheria and died soon after they arrived home. 

Mother, grandfather and some of her brothers were very dramatic and patriotic. They recited poetry. Because of his Corsican origin, grandfather loved to recite poems about Napoleon Bonaparte. For many years they were called upon to recite in public.

Grandfather would grow crops for two years in one place and grow enough food to fee both families. At the end of the two years, he would load up the foods in a wagon and freight it to where his other family lived. He would again grow enough food in that area to feed his families, then at the end of that two year period he would load up all the food stuffs to feed the other family and freight it back.

At one time when he was freighting over the White Mountains, a rider came with a message that grandmother was very ill and close to death. When he received this message, he stopped his teams and went into the forest to pray. He felt that if he made a sacrifice the Lord would spare her life. So, he told Heavenly Father how his wife and wanted him to quit using chewing tobacco. So, he told Heavenly Father that he wanted to quilt and also prayed for his wife's recovery. When he arrived home his wife had recovered and he had already quit using tobacco and never touched it again.

Notes on history of John Henry Plumb family
(Submitted to this blog by Kathryn Burton Castleton)

From notes left by daughter May (May is the second child from John's first wife, Eveline)

These notes on same group as people father, John Plumb was with in Brigham City, Arizona. Speaking of United Order.

Well, I can't think of much.  We'll try and go back to my childhood days for a few minutes as I remember in 1876, Christmas Eve, we landed in Brigham city.  

There was a fort of adobe huts built in a square.  The missionary men had built it before the women and children came.  

The ones I remember were P. Lot Smith, Bishop George Lake, Andrea Anderson (made the bread)  George Skinner (baker) John Simms, William Ballard, blacksmith, Moses Curtis carpenter, Monroe Curtis, Sidney Wilson, Steven Wilson teacher, Ben Nielsen, Sister Bates a nurse, Orve Bates, Adams, John Johnson, Merlin Plumb, Brother Yorgin, Silvester Perry, Gran. F. Morris, three Morris families, Jess Wansley, Mat Wansley, Ovie Overson, John Plumb, Eliger Hancock, W. Woodscandy, Dave Stratten, Heber Reed, Bro. Breman (pottery?)  Bro. Isaacson, Sister Whiting, Christopher christensen, Brother Miras, Billy Ballard, Joseph Ballard, Sully Richardsen, Elwin and Edwin Richardson.

(Other notes on same group of people Father, John Henry Plumb, was with in Brigham city speaking of United Order)

Two or three families lived in one room.  the next year, men got logs from the mountains and built what they called wings on each side of the Fort.  They would build about eight rooms in a string so in case of Indian raids they couldn't get in the fort. The people turned all their horses, wagons, cattle, clothing and food to the store house and kept only just what they had made for change ( I guess money).

(This is a site about the restoration of Brigham City http://brighamcityproject.blogspot.com/)

At that time, there weren't any other towns like Winslow or Holbrook nearby.  All they had to depend on was horses and wagons to go to Utah and sell what was left etc.

They had sheep and would card and spin, make their own stockings also cloth for clothes.  They would buy buckskin from the Indians to fix their pants to make them last longer.  After some time, they got a little card machine and a little grist mill.

After some time they got selfish and greedy so the president called them to other places to build the country up as best they could.

My father, John Henry Plumb, with others, was called to St. Johns on a ten year mission.  Then after ward called to Mexico.  

When they got to St. John's they built houses out of cedar posts.  Would dig trenches, set posts then dob the cracks with mud.  They had dirt roofs.  After they were better financially they bought a saw mill and then a grist mill.

Geneva Plumb tells the following story about her father, John Henry Plumb.  At one time a sheriff by the name of John Picket had an Indian tied up beating him.  Sheriff Picket was known for his bad temper and everyone was afraid of him.  They did not dare to interfere with what he was doing.  Along came John Plumb, he wasn't afraid of anyone.  he was riding in a wagon at the time.  He jerked his team to a stop, got down from the wagon and untied the Indian.  He told the sheriff that was no way to treat another human being.  The sheriff was taken aback by the look in John Henry's eyes and by his voice that rang out loud and clear. After this event many people respected and revered John Henry Plumb.

Geneva said that they passed the word, "Look out for John Plumb."

Story of May Madora Plumb Hancock including some history of her father, John Henry Plumb's life.

In the early 1870's John Henry Plumb, then about 20 years of age, was called by Pres. Brigham Young as a missionary to go settle "the muddy" in Nevada.  Taking his young wife and baby they went in company of a few other families.  Their home consisted of a wagon box, with a lean to built on the side which was covered with sage brush, skins of animals, pieces of canvas and anything that was available that might provide shelter.  Here there eldest daughter May Madora was born 4 June 1870.  

They did not remain there long on account of Indian depredations. The mission failed.  They were released and returned to their houses in Salem, Utah. Seven years later a second call came to go settle Brigham City in Arizona.  

May well remembered all the hardships this move brought.

On their way they found the water hole where they had expected to replenish their meager supply of water dry. Their need was great.  They all knelt in prayer asking the father not to forsake them.  Soon a cloud appeared on the horizon and then it began to rain.  They caught enough water in canvases to last them until they reached water.

At Brigham City May attended her first school, her mother's sister being the teacher.  She longed for her old home in Utah, but most of all she grieved for her doll which she had been compelled to leave behind.  It was a rag doll given by an aunt, but she never had one at Brigham City.

(Brigham City notes. After the family of John H. Plumb left Brigham City, they were called to St John's. We had to pay $10.00 for 100 pounds of flour.  It was really musty, too.  So Papa got some wheat and we ground our flour and mush in a coffee mill.  We would rather grind our flour than to eat the musty.

The Indians got so bad.  They stole our horses and cattle and got on a shooting spree occasionally.  I remember they killed two white boys.  The Indians got more civilized.)

At one time, material for clothing could not be had.  May helped her mother wash and dye pieces of wagon cover from which clothing for the children was made.

After several years of untold hardships they left this locality and went first to St. Johns then to the Gila Valley.

Grave of Eveline M. Plumb in Eden, Arizona

It was on this trip that the greatest test of May's courage came.  The family had just reached Casadore Springs when they came face to face with a band of hostile Indians led by Geronimo himself.

May's father, John Henry Plumb, was at his wit's end for fear for his family. He believed in what Brigham Young had said.  "It was better to feed the Indians than fight them." Then too, he had heard that the Indians were in awe of a person dressed in white.  He told May to put on a white apron and take a pan of cookies and pass to the Indians.  Although she quaked with fear she did his bidding.  

The Indians accepted the cookies and permitted the family to go on their way unmolested.

The family made their home at Eden, Arizona.  Here May spent her young womanhood, being active in all church and other activities.  Here she met Levi Hancock who was freighting from Globe to Wilcox.  They were married in 1893.

Four years later May and Levi, with their two little girls went by team to St. George, Utah to have their temple work done.  

This union was blessed with two sons and seven daughters, two of whom and her husband have preceded her to the great beyond.  At this time she is survived by seven children, 63 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, 3 sisters and four brothers.

Her mother died leaving four unmarried children whom May mothered and welcomed to her home as long or whenever they wished to stay.

On account of her husband's health they came to Taylor then to Clay Springs where she has resided for 35 years until the Master called her 14 Jan. 1950.

All her life her most outstanding characteristic has been her great faith in the power of healing. 

While living in Eden an epidemic of typhoid passed through the country.  Most of her children were stricken.  For over three months she cared for them untiringly, night and day, never losing faith that they would be healed even though doctors, nurses and friends told her their was no hope.  They all recovered.

When Eva (daughter of May Madora Plumb Hancock) was stricken, she accompanied her to Gallup, nursing her all of the time and never giving up hope although it lasted for many months.  (Eva was sick for five and a half years.)

The doctor once told her, "there is something more than my skill operating in this case."  After leaving Gallup, New Mexico, they remained in Snowflake for some time.  One day, some of the church authorities came to her and said, "Sister Hancock, we feel you are fighting a losing game. We have come to dedicate this girl to the Lord and let her go in peace."  With fervent faith May answered, "she will get well. Her patriarchal blessing says she shall live to be a mother in Israel."  In answer to that mother's prayer and devotion she is the mother of a fine family, grandmother of three fine babies.

The rest are here as a living monument of her faith and works.  With May, faith without works is dead, for she worked untiringly.  We hope and pray all of her descendants will emulate the beautiful example of their mother.

Mary Elizabeth Wiltbank Burton

Mission Farewell Photo - 1947

Short Personal History by Mary Burton:

As a member of the Walker Lane Daughters of the Utah pioneer camp, I am challenged to submit this history ASAP. I submitted the history of my great-great-grandfather Lyman Curtis in order to become a member of the DUP.

He was one of the 9 horsemen who entered the [Salt Lake] Valley before the first Company [of pioneers] and built a huge fire of sagebrush so that it could be seen up immigration canyon in the month of July, 1847. The nine horsemen were scouts who scouted ahead of the first Company to make sure they were going in the right direction.

My Grandparents were: Ellis Whitney Wiltbank, son of Spencer Watson Wiltbank who crossed the plains as a young man in the first company. He drove a mule team for "the brethren" [of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]. He married great grandmother Annie Sanders, who also drove a mule team for her father. They were married on the first Christmas Day after their arrival.

Ellis Whitney married Hannah Mary Hall, daughter of Thomas Hall, who joined the church in England. When walking by a church he heard the hymns being sung inside a church. He went inside and joined Brigham Young and the missionaries singing before the audience, because he was a good singer and thrilled at the spirit he felt from hearing the hymns. He was soon baptized. He married Ann Hughes who was small enough to hide in the Grandfather Clock when Thomas came to ask for her hand. They lived to raise many grapes that could be picked right from the kitchen door in St. George, Utah. They worked on the St. George Temple and spent their later years serving there.

My mother's parents were likewise as valiant: She is the daughter of John Henry Plumb who is the son of John Merlin Plumb Jr. and Elizabeth Cleopatra Bellows whose family came to Nauvoo to be baptized by the Prophet Joseph Smith only to see him chased by the mobs and martyred before that took place. Merlin's father was a doctor who spoke five languages. On one occasion he was caring for a very sick child when the prophet Joseph came to their door when being chased by the mobs. They hid him in the feather ticking under the sick child and declared to the mob that the child was too sick to be moved. The mob then left. They must have suffered terrible times. After the Prophet was martyred, the mobs gave them only a few hours to bury their father who had become ill and died, and leave Nauvoo. They were later baptized by Eliza Sheets.

John Henry Plumb crossed the plains from Iowa to Salt Lake Valley when he was two years old, as his parents had stopped in Potowatamie county Iowa to wait for him to be born and grow old enough to make the rest of the journey. He grew up around Indian children as playmates as the Indians helped his father with his sawmill on Mt. Nebo. He learned Indian ways and was always friendly with the Indians and almost became like one of them. John Henry Plumb married Eveline Madora Curtis and had 11 children, and he married my grand mother, Ada Adeline Elliott who had two children and had been divorced. He was called by Brigham Young to take her as a second wife.

John Henry Plumb made trips back to help bring the saints to Salt Lake City. He was called to help settle Arizona. He maintained a farm in Gila Valley, Arizona and one in St. Johns, Arizona, from which he raised enough food to feed both families and do freighting back and forth. He had great respect for human life. He and his father at one time captured Geronimo and held him captured in their tent. Eventually they let him loose. His wife was near death and he received word about her while freighting. He stopped his horses in the mountains and went to pray in the woods and told Heavenly Father he would give up the use of tobacco if God would spare her life. His prayer was answered and he never touched tobacco again. He saw a white man beating an Indian that the man had tied to a tree. He stopped his wagon, went to the white man and pulled him away from beating the Indian and took away the whip. He asked the man to untie the Indian man and told him that was not the way to treat any human being. He always carried a gun as he was sought after for being in polygamy. He was ready to defend his families at any moment. He escaped to Old Mexico through a cornfield taking his families with him. He stayed on e year and came back to the states because he did not like Old Mexico. His wife asked him to quit carrying a gun, so he threw his gun in his chuck box and never carried it again. He took especially good care of his animals and his tack (bridles and harnesses, etc.) and his farms. Indians could be found camping in his yard and around his house on weekends and in their travels back and forth. One of my earliest recollections is riding in the back seat of our model T Ford underneath Grandpa Plumb's body after he passed away, as my parents were taking care of him at our ranch house ten miles out of Eagar, Arizona. My father and mother laid his body on a slab or wide board with a blanket over his body and laid it across the back windows. I tried to sit underneath, but I was too tall so I lay down to sleep until they arrived in St. Johns to prepare his body for burial.

I was not around my grandparents while growing up because they had all passed on. That makes these histories even more important to me. My parents lived in Holbrook, Arizona where I was born and moved to McNary, Arizona, and then to our ranch near Eagar, and then into Eagar.

I was raised in Eagar, Arizona and went to school there. As a teenager I worked at the movie theater, in the drug store, and I ironed shirts for voice lessons. I worked at my Aunt Mollie Butler's guest lodge [in Greer, Arizona] in the summers and met lovely people from the desert who came to fish while on vacations in the summer, one of whom was the Governor's secretary. She offered me a job if I would go to Business School in Phoenix. So, I did and then worked for the Arizona State Industrial Commission. From there I went on a mission [for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] to the North Central States.

I grew up loving to sing after taking voice, so in Phoenix I sang in the Youth Ward Choir. And in the mission field I had fun singing whenever called upon. When I came home, I worked for J.W. Becker as his secretary. Then I came to BYU, thinking I could find the same missionary spirit and associates that I enjoyed as a missionary. But, things weren't the same and re-entry was lonely and hard. There were few missionaries I knew, until one Sunday I was late for my church and went to the next ward and there was a missionary I knew, Elder Burton. We enjoyed each others company. He talked and I listened. When we met his cousin Melva Fawn Smith from Arizona, we began to find out we had a lot in common. She was a granddaughter of Lot Smith and he was a great grandson of Lot Smith. Melva Fawn and I were friends in the Arizona Club at BYU. My father and grandfather were friends of Lot Smith and his family in pioneer times when all those Arizona pioneers were there together and knew each other. Lot Smith was the first Stake President in Arizona and my grandfathers, Merlin and John Plumb, were also right there with all of the first ones to help settle Arizona.

So, I married George LeR Burton who was born March 16, 1930 in Holbrook, Idaho and I was born in Holbrook, Arizona on August 24, 1928. It's been fun having that in common and knowing that our grandparents knew each other.

When our children were small and growing, we had opportunity to go a lot of places as LeR was in National Real Estate. We traveled to many cities in the U.S., such as Seattle, New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisico, San Diego and many cities in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon, Idaho Montana, Florida and Hawaii. We have been to some Church history sites and would like to see more.

In the fall of 1988 we traveled to England and Germany on our way to South Africa. I was in South Africa five weeks and it was the greatest trip of my life. We had an equally great trip to Alaska to see Denali and the glaciers and boat trips to see the sea life. It was an unforgettable experience.

As far as holding positions in the Church, I have always loved serving my Father in Heaven anywhere I have been asked to serve. I began with teaching the small children in Sunday School with my girl friend in the Phoenix Third Ward. I was called as a youth to sing in the Ward Youth Choir. We traveled around the area and sang where ever our Bishop made the arrangements, from the Mesa Temple to Youth Conference in Prescott. Next I served as the Stake Youth Activities President (chairman). It was challenging and fun to have that responsibility. Next, I was called on a mission from the Phoenix Third Ward. I served in the North Central States with headquarters in Minneapolis, Minn. I was only 19 years old when called and served in the mission office as mission statistician for nine months and then I served out proselyting in the city for the remaining eleven months. After coming home, I taught in MIA, Sunday School, Primary and Relief Society. I was asked to be the Jr. Sunday School Coordinator back in 1953 in our BYU ward in Provo. I taught all of my children in primary, especially the boys in scouting. I served as a den leader for both my boys and their friends for about nine years.

My awards are not particularly spectacular. I worked hard to receive my Golden Gleaner Award. And now, they do not give that award anymore.

My greatest reward is my children. We have six daughters and two sons [Julie Robin, George Craig, Janene, Elizabeth, Kathryn, Camille Jared LeR and Helen]. They were born within the first ten years of my marriage. That is the greatest challenge I have had mainly because the illness of hypoglycemia. As I got older the illness became worse and I would fall asleep during family night or other important times when I needed to be alert from my blood sugar dropping so low. With the responsibilities of family I seemed to neglect my own needs of going to a doctor to find out what was the cause of the problem. Through it all I have had many spiritual experiences that have gradually taught me to listen closely to the promptings of the Spirit and it has strengthened my belief and relationship with the Savior. Learning and listening about the pioneers and their experiences of faith and fortitude has increased my attitude of gratitude. I realize that I should have had a great appreciation of pioneers in my youth. May I never forget to honor them and to be grateful for their sacrifices.

My next greatest reward is in my grandchildren and great grand children. They are our most priceless rewards! We have many family problems that I am sure other families have had through the generations. Our grandchildren have made achievements beyond our greatest expectations already in their lives and may they all continue to do so and use their older cousins as examples to follow. We want each one to always keep themselves worthy to have all the blessings of the gospel in their lives by keeping the commandments. Learning how to communicate and how to remain friends and realize mistakes are made by everyone, that no one is perfect, and to love one another are some of our challenges as a family. I want my family to know that i have a testimony of our Savior and through the power of the atonement have received baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost, becoming clean from the blood and sins of this generation and taken into God's rest, but still must endure to the end. So, through my spiritual experiences, I have learned and know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true Church on the earth today. I love the Savior. I believe in Him. Jesus is my friend. I honor Him and worship Him in every way. I still have much to learn about Him. Much progress is to be made in our whole family continually.

Mary Elizabeth Wiltbank Burton
 Junior High School

My mother used to tell met that I came from "strong stock." Meaning that I came through strong pioneer ancestors. So, I believe my children came from "strong stock" as I have tried to show by telling about some of my ancestors in this history.

Mary Elizabeth Wiltbank  Burton
High School

Mary Elizabeth Wiltbank Burton
graduation

(Written by Mary Burton, submitted to this blog by Helen Burton Macfarlane)

January's Cold Outside

January's Cold Outside
Submitted by Kathryn Burton Castleton

Making a few comments might be a good idea while I'm gathering information for this blog.  It's really exciting to get into the histories of our ancestry and it's wonderful to see people become followers of this blog.  Sharing it with your family is what it's for, so feel free to send them the blog address and tell them to join!  Thanks so much for your support.

Typing time is precious and I am trying to do it as quickly as I can to get histories of our ancestors up on this blog.  The other night, at about 3 AM I decided to call it a night and go to bed.  When I got up from the chair there was a sense of very disappointed people standing around waiting for me to type more.  I felt like explaining myself to them all. Maybe my explanation would go something like, "I'm sorry guys, I really have to go to sleep.  I have to work in the morning. A tired preschool teacher is not a happy preschool teacher."  As I closed the door to the room where I was typing there was a feeling of longing.  Someone behind the door wanted to make me promise to come back.

Whether it's on this blog or around the dinner table or through emails, I know it's important to get the histories of our ancestors out to as many people as possible. The purpose of our blog is to tell these stories  and be strengthened from the history and experiences of our GREAT grandparents.

Merlin Plumb jr.

Merlin Plumb Jr.

Merlin Plumb and Elizabeth Cleopatra Bellows

History of Merlin Plumb Jr.

Born 14 August 1826, Mulberry Delaware, Ohio

Died 20 September 1901, Payson, Utah County, Utah

Arrived in Utah 1850

Stephen Markham Company

Married Elizabeth Cleopatra Bellows

Written and submitted to the DUP by 

Mary Elizabeth Wiltbank Burton, his great-granddaughter

with a few clarifications by her daughter, Kathryn Burton Castleton

Merlin Plumb Jr. was the son of Merlin Plumb Sr. and Sarah (Sally) Roberts Plumb.  He was born the 14th of August 1826 in Mulberry, Clermont County, Ohio.  He was the second son of a family of twelve children.  It was his lot to survive the rigors of mormon pioneer life from infancy to early childhood.  Merlin was but 4 years of age when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized through the prophet Joseph Smith.

Delaware County, Ohio was located only a few miles from Kirtland Ohio.  It was in this area that a great zeal of missionary work was being performed by the LDS church.  When Merlin's parents heard the gospel preached, they readily accepted it.

Merlin Plumb Sr. was a doctor of medicine, a well educated man and could speak five languages.  He and his family were to be baptized by the prophet Joseph Smith, but as written in the Bellows family history, the prophet was killed by the mob before that baptism took place.  While being chased by the mob, the Prophet came to their home and they hid him under a feather mattress.  Then, an infant baby which was being taken care of by the doctor was laid upon the mattress.  When the mob came they were told that the baby was too ill to be moved.

These quoted come from the Allen Bellows history: "Merlin, with the rest of his family were to be baptized by the prophet Joseph Smith, but when the appointed time came, cruel mobs were persecuting the saints and seeking the life of their leader.

"The Prophet Joseph SMith, was hid in their home, at one time, while the mob was hunting him, he was hid under the feather bed.  While fleeing the mobs at this time, Merlin Sr., the father, died.  The family was ordered to leave and be out of sight by sundown, the family hurriedly buried their father, packed their few belongings in readiness to leave their home.  With faith God would guide them and protect them, they obeyed the wicked mob.  They started on their journey, being driven from place to place with thousands of other Saints.  Being poor, persecuted, suffering many trials, through the evil doings of wicked men.

The family moved to Nauvoo Illinois with the rest of the saints.  "Going into a swamp at Nauvoo, they helped to build a beautiful city.  Hearing the Prophet Joseph Smith praising them. Here too, they witnessed and suffered the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.  Soon, they were driven from their home and shelters."

(Copied from Allen Bellows' Bellows History)

"In the year 1838, Merlin was baptized by David Fulmer, then again on 11 March 1839 when he was 13 years old.  At Winter Quarters, homes were built by the Saints.  Living here in the year 1848, with his mother Sarah (Sally) Roberts and his sister, Marilla Plumb, waiting to come West, Marilla met and married John Fergerson Bellows

(I am unable to find anything about the younger sister, Sarah, born 29 April 1830, or his younger brother, Marion born 14 January 1832, or any of the older children.)

"While being driven and persecuted by the people, from place to place, Merlin Jr. met Elizabeth Cleopatra Bellows, they being married around the year 1843.  Merlin was 18 years old and his wife, Elizabeth Cleopatra, being 16 years old, when their first son, A.I. Plumb was born 1844, in Ohio.  Evidently the boy died as there is no further information about him.

While living in Pottawattamie, Kegs Creek, Iowa the second child was born.  His name was John Henry Plumb and he was born on 27 November 1848.

"The family lived there, working to get money, wagons, and provisions to come West.  June 1, 1850, Merlin Plumb Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth Cleopatra and baby son, John Henry, his mother, Sarah (Sally) Plumb, John F. Bellows, and his wife, Marilla Plumb and son, James Merlin Bellows came West as a family with the Stephen Markham Company.  Merlin Plumb Jr. walked with his brother-in-law, John F. Bellows, and his wife Marilla, the entire distance, from Iowa City to Salt Lake.  The wagon, only one, had to serve the entire family.  The family arrived in Salt Lake city on 5 October 1850, after a five month journey.  Merlin was a cooper by trade.  He made the first barrel and churn in Salt Lake city.  Merlin was now 24 years old."

"It seems that Cleopatra and her mother Sarah (Sally) Roberts Plumb drove the team of oxen the whole journey.  Although it has been told that Sally rode a horse much of the way and carried a gun to help fight off the Indians."

(They were sent to Provo from Salt Lake and first camped on the Provo river where Merlin's baby son, John Henry (age 2) lived, but sadly the baby son of Marilla, (James Merlin Bellows) died.)

"They stayed in Provo, until after November.  Merlin's third son, Jeremiah, was born there 27 November 1850.  The name Jeremiah was after Merlin Sr's brother Jeremiah."

  An interesting account or story told by my mother, Geneva P. Wiltbank about Jeremiah follows.  Jeremiah was born Jan. 24, 1818 at Delaware, Caldwell County, Ohio.  He was among a party coming west with the Mormons.  He and some others were sent back to retrieve some stock the mob had stolen from the traveling Saints.  He became defiant with the mob and was sentenced to serve ten years in prison.  In prison, he was found to be a good cooper and was required to make so many barrels a day while serving his sentence.  For some reason the Saints failed to get Jerry paroled as they did the others that were taken prisoner with him.  He had a wife, Diantha and a child ( a small girl), that went on with the Saints.  It is said that Apostle Amasa Lyman married Diantha as a plural wife after they reached the Salt Lake valley.  The little girl fell from a high platform and was instantly killed about two months after Lyman married her mother.

Jeremiah or Jerry as he was called served his jail sentence and the family never heard from him again.  Yet, on the family group sheet it has him listed as married to (2) Mrs. Sarah Hales (no dat given) (3) Eliza Blake, November 17, 1868.  My mother, Geneva Wiltbank also said that his brother, Merlin Jr. my great grandfather, went back to see him while he was in prison.  But because of his large family and their mother being a widow, they had no means to do anything to get him released.

Jerry was very bitter toward some of the Mormon people for not trying to get him out of prison.  He did not forsake the mormon religion, but was bitter against some of the people.  And we need to know more about him and his descendants. 

After leaving Provo, Merlin Plumb Jr. and his family, his mother Sarah (Sally) Roberts and John F. Bellows and family moved on to Payson.  The Plumb and Bellows families lived close together in the Fort.  Here Merlin became very active in the church.  While living in Payson first Ward he was baptized several times.  Even up to March 16, 1857.  Cleopatra was baptized also in Payson 1851 and 1854.  (Early church members somehow had a misunderstanding concerning the baptism ordinance.)

While living in Payson, four more children were born.  They were Merlin James on May 2, 1853.  On November 17, 1855 Elizabeth Elenor, (probably called Ellen) was born.  It was that same year that Sally Roberts received her Patriarchal Blessing on February 14, 1855 by Isaac Morley.  Elizabeth Elenor only lived until she was 11 months old.  She died March 1856.  Martha Jane was born October 14, 1857 and then Euphrates on Febriary 9, 1860.  He died in 1861.  Great Grandmother Sally said he only lived 11 months so he would have died December 1860.  His death date is 1861 so he must have died in January 1861.

During the year 1860 the family was called to settle Pond Town (now called Salem, Utah.)  The following excerpts are taken from the Salem history.

Merlin Plumb was a pioneer of Pond Town and settled to the east of Payson and on the far west and south end of the river.  He also helped to set up the pattern of irrigation for Salem.  The twon was first called Pond Town because of the pond of wather in the center of town.

In Salem their seventh child Owen was born, Ohon Sacratus, in about 1861.  His death is recorded in Salem about 1862.  Great Grandmother, Sally , says he only lived ten months.  Next came Charles Riley on March 23, 1862.  Cleopatra's health was beginning to fail before he was born.  She was stricken with St. Vitus dance as it was called then, or Shaking Palsy, but she could still card wool to make all their clothes.  She also could weave baskets from reeds and as they had to be kept wet this caused her condition to grow worse.  Despite this, she had another child.  Sarah Judith was born in Payson on July 15, 1866."  copied from "Peteet Neet Sketches"

While living in Salem in 1866, Merlin Plumb went with a group of men back to the Missouri River to assist in bringing the Mormon immigrants to this territory.  Ten teams were fitted out, and loaded with provisions.  Merlin Plumb was in charge of these men.  Some of their names were L.M. Colvin, Ed Win Tanner, James Betts and 26 others ( this is taken from a letter from cousin Charles Plumb as he had stated the story as told to him by Aunt Martha Tryon, Merlin's daughter).  Merlin made two trips across the plains (to the states) for immigrants.  He was captain over 10 men.  On the first trip he became ill and they were afraid he would die.  The man in charge under him stopped the wagon train.

After they had stopped and camped they asked him what to do.  He replied to their question by saying, "Well boys, if you do what I say I will get well."  Then he told them to toake him into the tent and wash and anoint him with oil, and administer to him and he would get well.  So, they knelt down in a prayer circle.  The next morning, he was able to drive his own team.  He swam the Mississippi river in one of his trips.

After on of these trips their last child, Mary Marilla was born October 5, 1869.  Merlin and Cleopatra received their Patriarchal blessings in Salem given by John Smith, on December 9, 1869.

All of their children were blessed and baptized in Payson except Mary Marilla, who was baptized in St. George. (She is the mother of Thurza Hall Proctor who wrote a history of merlin Plumb.  It is from her history that I am taking a lot of this information.  And she received a lot of her information from my mother, Geneva Julia Plumb Wiltbank, the daughter of John Plumb Ada Adeline Elli.  John Plumb being Merlin's son.)  Thurza says that her mother, Mary Marilla was baptized in St. George because the family was there waiting to go to Arizona.  Thurza has also researched a great deal and written with specific dates and documentation.

Merlin married his second wife, Mary (Polly) Ann Clifford, January 11, 1870.  She had one child at the time he married her.  Thurza writes that her mother, Mary Ann Clifford had to marry her second husband Timothy Reed who already had a grown son.  The child Celestia Ann Reed was the result of this union. Merlin adopted this child and had her sealed to him.  It sates on the bottom of the family group sheet of Merlin and Polly that Polly Ann divorced Mr. Timothy Reed.  No dates found on divorce or marriage.  

Apparently Mary Marilla was 3 months when Merlin married his second wife.  Celestia Ann was born Dec. 10 1868.  Thes makes her about two years old at the time her mother married Merlin Plumb.

Merlin and Mary (Polly) Ann's first four children were born in Utah: Hiram, March 11, 1870, Salem, Utah: Henry, March 1, 1871, Salem, Utah: William Lafayette, May 15, 1875, Richfield, Utah: and Ellen CB. FEbruary 8, 1877, Salem, Utah.

Right after the Plumbs were called to settle Arizona along with a large group of Saints.  The took large amounts of supplies and cattle with them.

Mary Marilla was 8 years old at the time they started for Arizona and was baptized in St. George, en route.  Judith was 11 years old at the time.  Arriving in Taylor, Arizona,m where Merlin and Polly's sixth child was born, February 8, 1879.  The named him T.C. Plumb.  This child died young.

From here they moved to St. Johns.  While here they lived the United Order.  Food, clothing and necessities were proportioned out, and Judith says she got a little extra because her mother was sick (Cleopatra) was sick.  I do not know how long this lasted, but remember Judith saying that when they broke up finally, grandfather did not get out as many cattle as he had put in (taken from Marion Thatcher's history.)

It is hard to tell how much schooling any of them had.  It was very likely interrupted many times as they moved from place to place.

My mother, Geneva Wiltbank, has written that Merlin Plumb built the first adobe house in St. Johns.  He built one in the field and also one that his son John Henry raised his family in.  She said that up to the time the adobe home (John Henry's) was built they were living in a dugout and when they moved into the home a rich family took over the dugout and it made their family feel quite "high class" to be moving into a real home, and they quickly grew to appreciate their grandfather's building skills.  For many years they stood as a monument to his good work.  As adobe is not as long lasting as brick, after many years the home began to deteriorate.  My mother prized all of the relics that she could find around her father's property.  She even had the stove that went into the fireplaces and the yoke from which the oxen were driven.  It hung on our porch for as long as I can remember.

There were also two adobe houses standing for many years in Snowflake, Arizona that Merlin built.  Of course, they had been added on to which helped give them supprot to last longer.  My mother, geneva remembered hearing about her grandfather, Merlin passing through Snowflake with two wagons, oxen and two large families.  She wrote, "just what the occasion was I did not learn." It may have been the tiime he took up a homestead on Silver Creek and was later driven out by the Indians.  Mother described her grandfather Merlin as being small of stature and had coal black eyes so she had been told.

Geneva Wiltbank writes about Merlin when she says, "I have always understood that he was a great friend of the Indians until after the skirmish at Walnut Springs.  At Walnut Springs he overheard the Indians plotting to make a raid on the town of Snowflake that day.  He left their camp as unsuspectingly as possible, taking the opposite direction.  The Indians soon got suspicious of him leaving camp and opened fire upon him.  He raced his team as fast as he could and reached the town in time to get word to the men.  They set up barricades and were able to fight the Indians off.  He was given credit for saving the town of Snowflake."

Geneva tells us another story about her father John Plumb who always befriended the Indians.  Many is the time they would look out the window and see a group of Indians making their camp on the front yard of the John Plumb home in St. Johns.  She said a sheriff had an Indian tied up and the sheriff was beating him.  No One dared interfere with what he was doing until John Plumb came along.  He wasn't afraid of anyone.  He was riding in a wagon at the time.  He jerked his team to a stop and got down from the wagon and untied the Indian.  He told the sheriff that was not the way to treat another human being.  The sheriff was taken aback by the look in his eyes and his voice rang out loud and clear.  After this it was the pass word.  "Look out for John Plumb!"  ( John Plumb grew up with the Indians in Utah when his father Merlin had a sawmill on Mt. Nebo while living in Payson, Pond Town or Salem.  He hired the Indians to help him and John had no other playmates.  He learned the Indian ways and it was said that his demeanor was a lot like an Indian.  this is also written in John Plumb's history.)

The Merlin Plumb families next moved to Brigham City (near Winslow), Arizona.  Here Merlin and Polly's seventh child was born, March 5, 1881.  They named her Etta Creola.  During this same year, they must have moved from Brigham city, to a place called Walnut Creek.  It is about 18 miles from the town of Snowflake.  The following story is written by a man by the name of Edward Wilson.  He states that the following incident took place in that year of 1881.

An Unwritten Story

by Edward Wilson

How many people know what became of the famous outlaw, Black Jack, or the equally infamous Indian called the Apache kid?

for the last few years, many of my friends have requested that I write a true account of some of the early events of Arizona never before seen or recorded.  

"An Unwritten History" that is what it is and the attempt was not to write a story, but to give a true account of what really happened.

I am indebted to Oliver D. Brown for a great deal of help in arranging the text, dates etc.  without his assistance, interest and energy this book might never have been written

(I take it from this that a whole book was written and what I have is only taken from the book.)

The next part of the history deals with Mr. Wilson and his folks making the trip to Arizona.  I am going to include this also because I think it very interesting in describing some of the pioneers coming to the West, although the first part has nothing to do with the Plumbs.

To cross the country from Arkansas, thirty five years ago meant a long hard journey.  the only means of travel at that time was by the old fashioned "Prairie Schooner"  The railroad in this part of the country was still an event of the future.

In the year 1879 my father decided to go out west or to be exact, away out west.  We lived about fifty miles east of Little Rock Arkansas, at the time.  Our journey was made over the Old Santa Fe Trail.  

Emigrants crossing the country during those days formed "trains" or "parties" and traveled together.  This was for their own protection as the country to the west and southwest was full of hostile Indians.

An emigrant train today would look rather odd.  some of the wagons had horses, some of them horses and mules, some had oxen and several in our particular "train" had two oxen and one horse in the lead.

We passed through country that today is thickly settled, with numerous towns and cities.  We traveled days , seeing no one except the members of our own party.  Trinidad, colorado was only a "tie camp" or a place where travelers made camp for the night.

                                                 Merlin Plumb Jr.

                                               Merlin Plumb Jr.

Merlin Plumb Sr.