Grandpa's Grandpa

KNOW YE THE ROCK FROM WHENCE YE WERE HEWN Isaiah 51:1

We visited the old pioneer section of the Holladay cemetery (The old headstones have been replaced by flat ones so it doesn't have the charm of an old cemetery.) Up on the hill, across from the office, under the spruce tree are our family names, the oldest being Grandpa's Grandpa.

From Aunt Margaret's family history research: He came to this country from a working class town in England with his parents and older siblings when he was 11 months old. (Z's age). "In the spirit of obedience to the 'gathering to Zion,' they left their all and... emigrat[ed] to a new land, fortified by their faith and testimony of this great latter-day work. A company of 345 Saints sailed from Liverpool on February 15, 1853.

After a most speedy voyage lasting only 36 days [they] arrived at the bar at the mouth of the Mississippi River. After being detained at the bar several days, the [ship] was towed up the river, and the emigrants landed in New Orleans on March 31. Proceeding up the Mississippi River, the emigrants arrived at Keokuk, Iowa, on the 13 April, being two days short of two months from Liverpool, which was considered an exrtaordinarily rapid journey. Keokuk ...had been selected as the outfitting place for the Saints crossing the plains in 1853."

The captain of the company that your ancestors were in wrote this message to Brigham Young.

"Revered and Beloved President Young: I have received your notice to emigrating Saints and improve the first opportunity to forward the list of our camp, which I believe is correct. Provisions with us and with other camps are very short and we are making as much haste as possible to reach the Valley, but the inexperience of the English brethren in these canyons makes slow progress and much trouble and will forbid my leaving camp until all the wagons are safely landed at the foot of Emigration canyon. Any instructions you might choose to send by the bearer of this, respecting disposal of the camp, that point will be thankfully received. Very truly yours....." A list of the immigrants, which included your great great grandfather's family was sent with the above letter to the Prophet. It is a tradition in the family that the family was assigned to settle in the Big Cottonwood area. Big Cottonwood creek wended its way an 1/8th of a mile below the family home. His father farmed and continued to follow his blacksmithing trade that he had back in England.

Birthday party for that little shining star of a boy. Here he is bopping balloons.

Ben and Brooke treated us to lunch at Ben's favorite burger place. Thanks guys. It was fun and it's great to find a good tasting burger!