Goodman and Mendenhall Family History

Francis Ann Otten Crossland

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Francis Ann Otton was born in London, England on February 8, 1824. This document shows her baptism in Middlesex County a few months after she was born.

Francis was the daughter of Ralph Churchill Otton and Elisabeth Kent Otton. As a girl, her chief occupation was making umbrellas. She attended the English grammar school for a limited time and later worked in an umbrella factory. Her meager earnings contributed to the support of the Otton family.

Francis Ann married Junius Crossland on May 29, 1841 at a Parish Church in London. She was seventeen years of age at the time of her marriage. Three of their children were born in London; namely, Amelia, Francis and Eliza Luff.

Francis in the England 1851 Census with Junius and their oldest daughter Francis

Francis heard the gospel preached and was converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in her native land and the entire family was baptized. In 1853, the Crosslands sold their possessions in London and left England against the wishes of her parents and seven brothers, and came to America. She emigrated to Utah with the Jacob Gates Company. More information regarding the Jacob Gates Company can be found at the LDS Church History site.

The crossing of the plains was extremely difficult for Francis. One month from the date the ship arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana, a daughter Emma Elizabeth was born May 30, 1853 at Keokuk, Iowa to Frances and Junius Crossland. Three days later, with Frances confined to her bed in the wagon, the family joined the Jacob Gates Company to emigrate to Utah.

At the Bear River, while Mrs. Crossland was still confined to her bed in their wagon, her husband died of Mountain Fever and was given a hasty burial in the wilderness of the plains. His grave is located near what is known today as Evanston, Wyoming.

The following excerpt from James Ririe's trail journal can be found at the
LDS Church History Site:

Francis settled in the Seventeenth Ward, in salt Lake City, where she continued her trade of making umbrellas. It was also necessary for her to take in washings in order to support her four children. Washings at that time were done by hand, as there were no washing machines. This was very hard on her, as she was frail and having come from a well to do family in England, was not used to such work.

It was during this time that the saints endured the “Grasshopper Famine”. She has often told the story of one dark rainy day when they found themselves hungry and without food, the famine having reached the stage where starvation seemed inevitable. That night the mother and children knelt down and prayed to the Lord for assistance. In the morning, the back yard was full of segos, which seemed to have sprung up over night. The family lived on these segos for several weeks and felt they had been greatly blessed.

In 1858, Francis Crossland married William Adams, abandoning her little Salt Lake home and moved to Utah County. She took her four daughters and went to the home of Mr. Adams to care for his three children, and his aged mother, who was blind and almost helpless. William Adams died on October 6, 1898.

Francis in the US 1880 Census with William and her youngest son Joseph Hyrum

Francis Crossland Adams was always a good neighbor and a willing church worker. She aided a great deal in caring for the sick of the settlement. She rode for miles, as a Relief Society worker, to care for the helpless, the sick and the needy. She was always active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and she served as a Relief Society teacher in the Pleasant Grove Ward from the time of its organization until her death.

Francis Ann Otton died on January 23, 1903 and is buried in the Pleasant Grove, Utah Cemetery. The coordinates of the headstone are N 40° 22.131 W 111° 44.458, marked with a green arrow on the map below. Francis Crossland is my 3rd Great Grandmother on the Goodman side of the family. The last name on the headstone, "William H. Adams" is her step son.

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Seth Benjamin Tanner

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Seth Benjamin Tanner was born March 6, 1828 at Bolton Landing, New York to John Tanner and Elizabeth Beswick. Seth was four years old when his parents joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In his seventh year, the family moved to Kirtland Ohio. He was ten when they moved to Missouri and twelve when the family settled in Montrose, Iowa. The family left Montrose in 1846 when Seth was 18 years old and headed west to Utah.

Soon after Seth's father John died in 1850, Seth and his brother Myron decided to go to the gold fields of California to seek their fortunes. George A. Smith, a Mormon apostle and long-time friend of the family gave the boys a yoke of oxen and a wagon for the journey. Seth and Myron were succesful in California and with their first earnings, they sent George A. Smith $400 in gold. This was three or four times the value of the team and wagon he gave them.

Seth married Charlotte Levi in 1858 in Pine Valley, Washington County, Utah, and they settled in North Ogden, and had seven children. She died in 1872, and after this Seth moved his family to Payson to be near other family members.

1870 Federal Census lists the Tanner family with 6 children

In 1875, Seth he was chosen to go on an exploring mission with James S. Brown to Arizona, to search out a suitable place for settlement on the Little Colorado River. He later returned to Utah and married Anna Maria Jensen in 1876, then moved his family to Arizona, to an isolated cabin on the Little Colorado River near Tuba City, on the present-day Navajo reservation. Apparently his cabin was on the main travel route and visitors often stopped over there. Wilford Woodruff mentioned it when on the underground, hiding out from the federal marshalls. Seth's second wife had no children of her own, but raised the children of Seth's first wife, in this lonely cabin in the wilderness. Seth Tanner apparently also helped with the Hole-In-The-Rock expedition for a time; he joined the expedition as a guide for the initial exploring party, guiding them up to the Bluff area after they had reached Moencopi in the Navajo country. The whole expedition would have been much better off had they followed the route which Seth showed them, instead of taking the insane "short cut" down through the hole and across the redrock country. This "short cut" took them 6 months, instead of the 6 weeks it took to go the "long way" around.

Seth got along well with both the Navajo and Hopi Indians. He and his children learned their languages, and they called him by a Navajo name which meant "the man who is strong as a bear," and his children were known as the young bears. He was often appointed to deal with the Indians, having the ability of making friends with them.

Seth Tanner founded trading posts on the Navajo Reservation beginning in 1875. Some of his ancestors have followed in his footsteps today. The Fifth Generation Trading Company sells handmade Navajo rugs, potter and jewelry.

Seth Tanner was a gentle, solitary man of the desert, and he did a lot of traveling and exploring through northern Arizona. He engaged in prospecting and mining in the area, but does not seem to have had too much success in these ventures. It is said that his name is somewhat of a legend in northern Arizona. A Wikipedia entry mentions several natural features that were named after him.

Seth Benjamin Tanner died on December 3, 1918 and is buried in Taylor Arizona. The location of the cemetery is N 34° 27.880 W 110° 05.880 Seth Benjamin Tanner is my 2nd Great Grandfather on the Goodman side of the family.

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Rebecca Bird Tew

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Rebecca Bird was born in Yardly, near Birmingham, England on October 28, 1838. She was the daughter of John and Ann Russen Bird. Her family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and shortly after began to make plans to immigrate to Utah.

Rebecca's brother Walter immigrated to Utah with his friend Thomas Tew Jr in 1851. After arriving in Utah, Walter began securing funds to help bring his family to Utah. Walter obtained permission from Brigham Young to use funds from the Perpetual Emmigraton Fund to bring his parents and siblings to Utah.

The family left together for America when Elizabeth was 16 years old. I cannot find any information (yet) about their trip across the ocean.

While in Mormon Grove, preparing for the journey across the plains, Rebecca's father John contracted cholera and died on May 10, 1855. Ann Bird who was 47 years old, buried her husband in Mormon Grove and traveled to utah with 4 children, Rebecca (16), John (14), Ann (11) and William (9). Walter was the oldest of the children and was waiting in Utah for their arrival. Rebecca and her family crossed the plains in the Richard Ballentyne Company with 402 pioneers in the company and 45 wagons. They left Mormon Grove on July 1, 1855. The following image is taken from list of pioneers that traveled in the Company.

The family arrived in Salt Lake City on September 25, 1955. Once arriving in Utah, Rebecca and her family settled in Springville Utah. She married Thomas Tew Jr. on January 22, 1856. Thomas Tew Jr. was her brother Walter's traveling companion to Utah and life long friend. They had nine children, 2 sons and 7 daughters.

Rebecca Bird Tew died March 10, 1922 at the age of 83 years and 5 months in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her death certificate lists 862 E. 6th South as her residence in Springville.

She is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville, next to her husband Thomas Tew Jr. The headstone is located at N 40° 08.412 W 111° 36.172 and is marked on the map with a green arrow. Rebecca Bird Tew is my 2nd Great Grandmother on the Mendenhall side of the family.

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John Tanner

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Probable John Tanner in later years.

John Tanner was born on August 15, 1778 in Hopkinton, Washington, Rhode Island to Joshua and Thankful Tefft Tanner.

John Tanner Birth Record

John Tanner married Tabitha Bentley in January 1800 and she died on April 1, 1801. He then married Lydia Stewart in 1801 and she died in 1825. He then married Elizabeth Beswick in 1825. I descend from Elizabeth Beswick.

John Tanner was a Bible reading Baptist who heard that Mormons were in town. He went to the meeting to protect his fellow Baptists. For some months, John's leg had been afflicted with open sores, a condition apparently without remedy. He drove to the meeting and listened to the two elders, Simeon and Jared Carter. He brought a Book of Mormon home, telling his Baptist friends that, "they had better not fight against the truth." A few days later, Jared Carter visited John at his home and administered to him. He commanded John to rise and walk in the name of the Lord. John never used crutches again. John and Elizabeth were baptized on September 17, 1832.

Probable John Tanner and Elizabeth Beswick

John was a wealthy man with a large family. In the fall of 1834 he had a dream that he was needed in Ohio. He left shortly thereafter, arriving in Kirtland in time to loan the Prophet Joseph $2000 dollars (John came to Kirtland with $10,000 in gold and silver), which was needed to stop the impending foreclosure on the farm upon which the temple was being built. He also loaned the temple committee $13,000 in merchandise (which was worth considerably more there on the frontier in Ohio); in addition, he later gave money directly for the building of the Kirtland Temple. Further, he signed a note with the Prophet Joseph for $30,000 in goods purchased in New York (meaning he was financially responsible, in part, for the loan). Just for the money he directly loaned (he forgave some of the loans and did not get any of the other money back), its estimated worth in 2009 U.S. dollars is anywhere from $500,000 to millions of dollars. The $2000 in cash he directly loaned Joseph for the mortgage of the temple lot is the equivalent of roughly $50,000 today.

Just before he left on a mission in 1844. John Tanner met Joseph Smith on the streets of Nauvoo. He gave the Prophet his note for $2,000, signed in Kirtland in 1835 to redeem the temple land. The Prophet asked what he wanted him to do with it, and Father Tanner said, “ ‘Brother Joseph, you are welcome to it.’ The Prophet then laid his right hand heavily upon Father Tanner’s shoulder and said: ‘God bless you, Father Tanner, your children shall never beg bread.’ ”

John loved the Prophet Joseph and the church. John invested much of his money in the Kirtland Safety Society bank in order to support it and give it better financial grounding; the bank failed (along with a lot of other banks at the time) and John, who had gone to Kirtland with many thousands of dollars in cash and merchandise, left for Missouri with a “borrowed team and one old broken down stage horse, and an old turn pike cart, a cag of powder, and $7.50 in cash.” John remained faithful. Many left the church after the Kirtland bank failed but John did not. He had participated in the glorious events of the Kirtland Temple dedication and knew and loved the Prophet Joseph. He had a testimony of the gospel and made the sacrifices he was asked to make.

John Tanner Home before leaving for Ohio

An article about John Tanner was published in the March 1979 Ensign. It was written by Leonard J. Arrington and is titled "The John Tanner Family". I was able to get a copy of the Ensign magazine when I found out that my neighbor has been saving church magazines for many years. She was happy to give me her copy of the Ensign. You can also read the article on-line at lds.org here. Photographs of the article are at the end of the blog.

A short movie was recently produced about John Tanner. The movie is called "Treasure in Heaven, The John Tanner Story." If you have not seen the movie, I would highly recommend purchasing the DVD.

A book was also written in 1974 about John Tanner called “John Tanner and his Family". This is a rare book and a few used copies are available at Amazon.com. The cost of the book ranges from $100 to $300. I haven't broken down and purchased a copy ... yet.

John Tanner died April 13, 1850 in South Cottonwood, Utah. This obituary is a great source for information about his family.

He is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery and the coordinates of his headstone are N 40° 46.547 W 111° 51.691 and is marked on the map with a green arrow. When my family was visiting the SLC Cemetery, we were not looking for John Tanner's headstone, but we stumbled across it. I was really excited to find it without having any information of its location. It is interesting that he is not buried near any of his wifes. Elizabeth Beswick is buried in Payson. John Tanner is my Third Great Grandfather on the Goodman side of the family.

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March 1979 Ensign, Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Pages 46-51

John Mendenhall

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Photo courtesy of the Mendenhall Family Association (MFA)

John Mendenhall was born on September 7, 1847 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The family had been driven from Nauvoo Illinois in June of 1846. The Mendenhall family crossed the plains in 1852 in a wagon drawn by ox teams and arrived in Salt Lake City September 18, 1852. They settled in Springville, Utah arriving September 26, 1852. In Springville the family acquired considerable property consisting of farm and pasture land north of Springville.

There was little recorded of the early life of John Mendenhall. He most likely worked with his father at farming and raising cattle. He was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 2, 1857 by William Huggins and confirmed on the same date by Wilbur J. Earl. John served an honorable mission to England from 1872 to 1874.

He returned from England on July 17, 1874 and became aquainted with Eliza Tew, the daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Tew, who were converts to the church from England. John and Eliza were married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City on April 24, 1879. The 1879 federal census shows John Mendenhall as a 22 year old living with his family in Springville.

1879 United States Federal Cenus

The 1910 United States Federal Census show John and Eliza and eight children in Mapleton.

John Mendenhall was very active in the community and church. He served many years as a counselor in the Bishopric of the Mapleton Ward. He was a good public speaker, being called the "silver tongued orator of Mapleton". He served as a trustee of the School Board and was active in construction of church and civic buildings.

John and Eliza Mendenhall home in Mapleton.

John Mendenhall with his eight sons

Back Row: Joseph, Harvey, Jesse, Barney

Middle Row: Aaron, Byron, Thomas

Front Row: John, Will (Will is my Grandfather)

John and Eliza Mendenhall

John Mendenhall died on April 2, 1020 at the age of 72 years and 7 months. He left his wife, eleven children and thirty two grandchildren.

He is buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville, Utah. The location of his headstone is at N 40° 08.447 W 111° 36.186. It is marked with a green arrow on the map. John Mendenhall is my Great Grandfather on the Mendenhall side of the family.

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Jacob Foutz

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Jacob Foutz was born November 20, 1800 in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, the son of John Foutz and Elizabeth Hinkle, who were both natives of the same area.

On July 22, 1822, as a 21-year-old man, young Jacob married Margaret Mann. Margaret was born December 11, 1801 in Thomastown, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, to David Mann and Mary Rock. While still a baby, Margaret was deprived of both parents and was left an orphan; Margaret was raised by strangers.

In 1834, while living in Richland County, Ohio, the Foutz family received a visitor from Elder David Evans of the four-year-old Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Evans taught Jacob and Margaret’s family the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Convinced of the Church’s truthfulness, the Foutz family was baptized a practice becoming increasingly unpopular with the northern Ohio neighbors. Jacob gained prominence in the area and became known as "the old preacher".

The Foutzes purchased some land on the Crooked River in Missouri. Here an organized branch of the Church had settled in a spot known as Haun’s Mill, named for the mill owned by Brother Jacob Haun. The branch was presided over by the man who had taught the Foutz family the Gospel, Elder David Evans. The Foutzes were anxious to finally establish a permanent home here among their new friends of the faith.

Map of Haun's Mill

The Foutz family was living at Haun's Mill during the time of the Haun's Mill Massacre. Miracously, all of the family survived the massacre. What follows are excerpts from Jacob's wife, Margarets account of the massacre that occurred on October 30, 1838.

I was at home with my little family of five children and could hear the firing of guns. In a moment I knew the mob was upon us. Soon a runner came telling the women and children to hasten into the timber and secret ourselves, which we did without taking anything to keep us warm. And had we been fleeing from the scalping knife of the Indian we would not have made greater haste, and as we went we finally numbered about forty or fifty women and children.

We ran about three miles into the woods and there huddled together, spreading what few blankets and shawls chance only had thrown in our path, upon the ground for the children and here we remained until two o’clock the next morning before we heard anything of the result of the firing at the mill...

It was about seven o’clock in the morning when we arrived at the mill. The first house I came to there were three dead men ... I hurried on to find my husband. (Jacob Foutz) I found him in an old house covered with rubbish. The mob had taken the bedding and clothing from the houses that were near the mill. My husband was shot in the thigh. I rendered him all the aid that I could but it was evening before I could get him home.

In the evening Brother Evans got a team and wagon and conveyed my husband to his house, carried him in and placed him on the bed. I then had to attend him alone, without any doctor or anyone to tell me what to do for him. Six days after, I and my husband together, extracted the bullet, it being buried deep in the thick part of the thigh and flattened like a knife.

During the first ten days the mob came every day with blackened faces, more like demons from the infernal pit than like human beings, cursing and swearing that they would kill that damn old Mormon preacher. (Jacob Foutz) And, at times like these when human nature would quail, I have felt the power of God upon me to that degree that I have stood before them fearless and although a woman and alone, these demons in human shape had to succumb, for there was a power they knew not of. During these days of danger I would sometimes have to hide my husband out in the woods and cover him with leaves. And, then again in the house. Thus during my husband’s illness was I harassed by mobocratic violence.”

Haun's Mill Massacre - painting by C.C.A Christensen

The Foutz family moved frequently with the Saints over the next years. In each place where Jacob lived, he served the Lord.

On October 27, 1840, Jacob Foutz was made second councilor to Bishop Matthew Leach in the Freedom Stake of the Church, near Payson, Adams County, Illinois.
The Prophet Joseph Smith records that on February 28, 1841, a branch of the Church or stake of Zion was organized in Brown County, western Illinois with Levi Gifford as president, Lodarick as first councilor, and Jacob Foutz as second councilor.
Between 1841 and 1842, he served a mission for the Church
On October 12, 1842, Jacob Foutz was appointed bishop of the Nauvoo Fifth Ward.

In 1847, Jacob Foutz led a company of pioneers as a captain of 50 to Utah. The company departed June 17, 1847 from the outfitting post on the Elkhorn River about 27 miles west of Winter Quarters, Nebraska. Included in the company was Jacob Foutz (46), Margaret Mann Foutz (45), Nancy Ann Foutz (21), Elizabeth Foutz Hess (20), Catherine Foutz (15), Joseph Lehi Foutz (10), Margaret Foutz (7), and Jacob Foutz, Jr. (3).

Jacob Foutz and Edward described the company in the following letter to Brigham Young.

You can get more information about the pioneer company at the LDS Church History site.

Shortly after arriving in SLC, on November 7, 1847, Bishop Foutz was called as the bishop of the East halft of the New Fort Ward, which was one of the five wards in the Great Salt Lake Valley.

Poor of health, Bishop Foutz spent much of his time in bed. The injuries he suffered at Haun's Mill had never completely healed, and a fever sickness he contracted in Nauvoo lingered as well.

Just a month after the birth of his last child, Bishop Foutz passed away at the age of 47. Jacob's died on February 14, 1848 while he was away from home excavating in gravel. His fellow workers said that he had a stroke and died suddenly.

Jacob Foutz's final resting place is somewhere in Salt Lake City, but unfortunately, the exact spot is unknown. He is my 3rd Great Grandfather on the Goodman side of the family.

George Edward Grove Taylor

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George Edward Grove Taylor was born on June 5, 1810 at Harefield, Middlesex, England.

George married Ann Wickes, who was born November 7, 1800, in Tetbury, Gloucester, England. She was of medium height and very pretty. She was thirty years and George was twenty years old when they were married in February 1830. Ann and George Taylor's first child was a son, whom they named Joseph Edward. He was born 11 December 1830, at Horsham, Sussex, England.

George was a tailor by trade. They moved to Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England. It was ten years before they had other children. Margaret Ann was born 20 June 1841; Martha was born 5 August 1843; and their last daughter, Maria, was born 17 January 1845. The girls were born in Spilsby. The family later moved near London, England. It was here that they met the Mormon missionaries. They were converted, the parents being baptized 27 July 1848.

In 1851, George married Jane Baxter as a second wife. This was against the wishes of Ann, his first wife. Jane was born 14 November 1818, at Harefield, Middlesex, England. Ann and George separated, which made a very unhappy situation for the children. The 1861 England Census shows George with his second wife Jane.

England 1861 Census

George and his wife, Jane, and family left London, England, 23 May 1866. There were 350 saints in the group, under the Company Leader, John Nicholson. The ship was "American Congress". They landed in New York 4 July 1866. They had been on the ship for seven weeks. As the city of New York was celebrating the 4th of July, they had to remain on board until the next day. But they enjoyed the fire works that night as the ship lay in the harbor. A complete record of the voyage on the American Congress can be found at the BYU Library. He is listed under the name George E. Grove.

After many ups and downs, many trials and privations, they arrived in Great Salt Lake City on 26 September 1866. They had traveled for seventy days.

High Priest Certificate

The obituary of George Edward Grove Taylor: "Deseret News," Salt Lake City, Utah, 7 August 1874 (film #6507 Part 12). reads, "He died 6 August 1874, buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery.

"Departed this life--sometime yesterday, Elder George E. Grove Taylor, of the 13th Ward, died at his residence. Deceased emigrated from London, England, in 1866, crossing the Atlantic in the Company of Saints which left that City, May the 23rd of that year, in the ship 'American Congress.' He was somewhat widely known, having been President of the Paddington, London, branch of the Church for some time previous and up to his leaving for this country."

George Edward Grove Taylor is my 3rd Great Grandfather on the Goodman side of the family.

Joseph Baldwin Tanner

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Joseph Baldwin Tanner was born January 9th, 1868 in North Ogden, Utah. Joseph's mother Charlotte Levi Tanner died when Joseph was just 4 years old. The 1910 United States Census shows Joseph (Baldwin) as a 2 year old boy.

1910 United States Federal Census

In Joseph's history he wrote,“When I was just a boy we moved to Tuba City, Arizona. We lived with Grandmother for a while at Payson, Utah as my mother had died when my sister, Elizabeth, was born. (His Grandmother was Elizabeth Besswick, wife of John Tanner).

Brigham Young sent a group to settle northern Arizona. Joseph's father, Seth Benjamin Tanner, was one of this group. He scouted ahead and made contact with the Indians, and became trusted among them. Seth Benjamin Tanner, had few equals in physical strength. The Navajo Indians had great respect for this powerful man. The Navajos gave Seth Benjamin the name Hosteen Shush, which meant “Mr. Stout Bear”. Joseph Baldwin was raised as a friend and companion of Navajo Indian children, he was given the name Shush-Yazh or Little Stout Bear. Through out his life Joseph Baldwin Tanner was known by the Navajo Indians as Shush-Yazh or “Little Stout Bear”.

Joseph Tanner recorded, "Moenave is where my days of courting Nora Foutz began. Joseph Foutz raised fine saddle horses which he sold to the government. He gave Nora a sick little colt from good racing stock, which she was able to save. I'd ride out to their place and we'd race to Tuba City for dances. It would make me so mad, I couldn't keep up with her. It was quite a sight to see her riding side saddle, with her long black hair flying in the wind.

Joseph Tanner and Nora Foutz were married in the St. George Temple. It was an unforgettable ten day round trip by horse and wagon from their home in Moenkopi, Arizona Territory to St. George, Utah. The marriage was performed on November 22,1888. After the wedding, they returned to Moenkopi where they established their home.

Nora Foutz and Joseph Baldwin Tanner

In 1902, the government bought the town where they lived for an Indian Reservation, and a place to build an Indian school. Joseph and Nora and their several little children moved to Kirtland, New Mexico.

Joseph Baldwin was an energetic man and prospered. He dealt in cattle, horses and in trading with the Indians. In the settlement made by the government to the people of Tuba City, Joseph and Nora received $4,725.00 which was more than double any of the other people mentioned in the settlement figures. They were not reimbursed for land, only for the improvements they made to the land. Also the government did not buy their animals.

The 1910 United States Census shows Joseph Baldwin at age 42 with 9 children.

1910 United States Federal Census

Joseph Baldwin and Nora Foutz Tanner Family

Joseph Baldwin Tanner died on April 22, 1944 in Gallup, New Mexico, five years after his wife Nora. The following tribute was paid to Joseph in his funeral service: “When we look back on the lives of men like Joe Tanner, the second generation who followed in the footsteps of and carried on the work of the pioneers of this great Southwest, we see how well suited they were for the work of their generation and how well they accomplished it. For over 30 years Brother Tanner and his wife were leaders in this ward, community and county, raising their fine family and joining in the economic, social and religious activities of their time. Brother Tanner was away from his home a good part of the time attending to ranching, trading, and contract work but he was always approachable and interested in and helpful in the work of the ward and stake, holding among other offices, that of High Councilman in the stake. With all of his outside activities and busy life. Brother Tanner was the first one at the bedside of a sick or injured neighbor, and his attentions were as gentle and capable as those of any woman”.

Joseph Baldwin Tanner is buried in the Kirtland Cemetery in San Juan, New Mexico. The coordinates of the cemetery are N 36° 74.580 W 108° 38.420. Joseph is my Great Grandfather on the Goodman Side of the family.

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Sarah Diantha Gardner Curtis

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Sarah Gardner was born in Payson Utah on September 9, 1852. Sarah was called Sadie. She matured into a caring woman and was called as the first counselor in the Relief Society when she was only fifteen years old and she held the position for twelve years. When only sixteen years old, Sadie became a school teacher. One of the first school teachers in Payson.

The Lyman Curtis family lived in nearby Pondtown (now called Salem). This is where Sadie met Joseph Nahum Curtis, who was called Dode. They enjoyed parties and dances, dancing the popular round dances (waltzes) of the day, which her father frowned upon. They dated each other for over two years and when Dode asked Sadie's father for her hand in marriage, he at first said no. But he finally consented and they were married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City on January 17, 1870. Sadie was eighteen and Dode was 24.

The endowment house was located on the northwest corner of the temple block in Salt Lake City. The endowment house served as a tempory temple for church members in Utah Territory from 1855-1889. The building was razed in 1889, four years prior to the completion of the Salt Lake Temple.

Endowment House in Salt Lake City

Dode built a fine adobe house in Salem, Utah and they settled down. Sadie was sustained as the first Primary President of the Salem Ward, being selected by Sister Eliza R. Snow, who came to introduce the newest auxiliary, the Primary Association.

The 1880 U.S. Federal Census shows Sarah living in Utah as a 27 year old wife, keeping house. The next household lists Sarah's mother Diantha and Sarah's 17 year old younger sister Marilla. Sarah's mother Diantha was the 4th of 8 wives of Elias Gardner, so I assume that he is not listed as part of the household because he was residing with one of his other wives.

1880 U.S. Federal Census

In the last year of President Brigham Young's life, he called Dode and his family to move to St. David on the San Pedro River in Southern Arizona. They accepted the call from the prophet. Sadie's younger sister, Marilla wanted to become a pioneer with them, but her father would not let her go unless she was married. Polygamy was being practiced at the time, so Dode took Marilla as his second wife and they moved to Arizona. They established a ranch south of St. David. Sadie was well acquainted with most of the historic people of this rough town, including Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Doc Holliday and others. Many children came into their family. Sadie gave birth to twelve children and some they just took in and raised as their own.

Sadie and Dode were very active in the church. Sadie was sustained as the first Relief Society President of her ward. Marilla became ill after the birth of her fifth baby and never recovered, passing away during 1891. Sadie took Mil's five children as her own.

The 1910 U.S. Federal Census shows Dode and Sarah and their children living in Arizona.

1910 U.S. Federal Census

Sadie and Dode

I became aware of a book written about Sarah Diantha Gardner Curtis that was published in 1967. The book is called Life is a Fulfilling. The Story of a Mormon Pioneer Woman -- Sarah Diantha Garder Curtis. It was written by Olive Kimball Mitchell who is a Grand daughter of Sarah, and was a BYU English Professor. It is out of print, but I was able to purchase a copy of the book on the Internet. I am so happy that I was able to get this rare book about this great woman.

Dode passed away in 1925 and Sadie went on to live until she was almost 90. When she became frail, she went to Tucson to live with a daughter. She died there on April 2, 1942.

Sarah Diantha Gardner Curtis Death Certificate

Sarah Diantha Gardner Curtis is buried in St. David, Arizona next to her husband Dode and her sister Marilla. The coordinates of the cemetery are N 31° 51.971 W 110° 12.352. Sarah is my 2nd Great Grandmother on the Goodman Side of the family.

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Joseph Snadon Hunter

2011-09-16T20:26:00.000-07:00

Joseph Snadon Hunter was born in Clackmannan, Scotland on November 20, 1844. His family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 30, 1846. On November 10, 1849 when Joseph was just 5 years old, the family set sail from Liverpool on the ship "Zetland" for America. There were 250 Saints on board and S. H. Hawkins was in charge of the company. There were seven members in the Hunter family. The parents, one girl and four boys, of whom Joseph was the youngest. They arrived In New Orleans on December 24, 1849. They stayed with Joseph's Grandfather in St. Joseph where the family contracted cholera and Joseph's brother Alexander and sister Euphamia died.

In March 1852, those of the family remaining, started across the plains with James Porter and family. The 8th of October 1852 , Brother Hunter and his little family were sent to Cedar City in Iron County, by President Young to help colonize it.

On January 1, 1865, Joseph married Eliza Catherine Pinnock, an eighteen year old English girl. Her family had also been sent to Cedar City by President Young. He first saw her at a Seventies Party, in the old social hall. He, with several other young men were standing by the North door when Eliza and her father and mother and sister came in at the South door, just across the hall. She was a beautiful girl. Joseph looked long at her, then turned to his friends and said, "That is my future wife".

Joseph and Eliza and six children in the 1880 census.

Joseph and Eliza's home has been of some importance in Cedar City since it was built in 1866. In 1982 it was placed on the National Historic Register. The home was scheduled to be demolished to make room for additional parking for a thrift store. Other pioneer homes had already been demolished, leaving the Hunter House as the oldest remaining pioneer home in Cedar City. A foundation was created to save the historic home. With support from the community, the home was disassembled and moved across town to a new location at the Frontier Homestead state park. It is now being reassembled.

The home in it's original location at 86 E. Center in Cedar City.

Kanani and I checked on the status of the home last summer while in Cedar City. The home is now in the Frontier Homestead stake park, but is not yet open to the public. As you can see, the home was added on to twice over the years. The only part of the home that has been re-located is the original part of the home, which is the left side of the house in the photo above. I am excited that the Hunter home will be preserved at the state park for many people to enjoy.

The home in it's new location at the Frontier Homestead state Park in Cedar City.

There has been much in the news about the Hunter home in Cedar City. This article is from the Deseret News in 2005.

Joseph Snadon Hunter's life was one of service, both in a civic and a religious capacity. He held many offices of importance. He filled a two year mission to the Southern States in 1881-82. Also a six months home mission to Washington Co. in 1898. He was set apart as a High Councilman in the Parowan Stake June 1884 by Francis M. Lyman.

He could play the violin and did so for dances. There were three young men, Joseph, Edward Parry and one other who played together. They even took their violins into the canyon with them, when they went for wood. They would play while they rested. The canyon still carries the name given it, "Fiddlers Canyon" a few miles north and east of Cedar City. His home and his means were ever at the disposal of the LDS. Church Officials.

Joseph Snadon Hunter died July 26, 1904 in Cedar City Utah. He is buried next to his wife Eliza in the Cedar City Cemetery The coordinates of his headstone are N 37° 41.418 W 113° 03.773. The location is marked on the map with a green arrow. Joseph Snadon Hunter is my 2nd Great Grandfather on the Mendenhall side of my family.

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Margaret Ann Taylor Goodman

2011-09-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

Margaret Ann Taylor was born on June 20, 1841 in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England.

Certified Copy of Birth Entry

When Margaret Ann Taylor was 7 years of age, two missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to their city and held meetings which the Taylor family attended. They believed the doctrines that they were taught and were converted. Her father and mother were baptized July 1848, and her brother Joseph in August. Margaret Ann was baptized the following year when she became 8 years of age.

The 1851 England Census shows Margaret 7 years old living with sisters and her mother who was a School Mistress.

Margaret Ann and her father left London, England on May 23rd, 1866. There were 350 saints in the group, under the Company Leader, John Nicholson. The ship was the "American Congress". They landed in New York July 4th, 1866. They had been on the ship for seven weeks. As the city of New York was celebrating the 4th of July, they had to remain on board until the next day. But they enjoyed the fire works that night as the ship lay in the harbor.

Margaret married William Nicholas Goodman on Feb. 27, 1864 whom she had known in England. He was a carpenter by trade and assisted in the work on the Logan and Salt Lake temples. They had eleven children.

Margaret and William first settled in Minersville, Utah. The United States Census from 1880 shows Margaret and William and six children. William is listed as a carpenter and Margaret as 'Keeping Home.'

1880 Census

William had poor health and they thought that a warmer climage may help. In 1881 they sold their home in Minersville and the family moved to Arizona. After a short stay in Mesa, they settled in St. David.

William Nicholas Goodman and Margaret Ann Taylor Home in St. David, Arizona

Shortly after their daughter Theresa was born (23 Jan 1885) William had a stroke but could write a little and told them what to name her. After another stroke he died on March 8, 1885 and was buried in St. David. Margaret sold their only cow to pay for funeral expenses.

When her husband died, she did not worry about finances...the secret of her success was in personal and family prayer. Margaret felt that this had held her family together and that she was greatly blessed of the Lord! She bought a few bars of soap and small articles and sold them in one of her rooms. From then on she would add a little more and finally bought a store from a Mr. Beebe. She continued in the merchantile business for 30 years. She was also the Postmaster in St. David and held this position for 20 years. She would also board and room school teachers. She would go to Fairbanks, Tombstone and Benson for store supplies using horses, wagons or buggy's.

Margaret Ann Taylor Goodman opened the mercantile store in St. David Arizona after the death of her husband. In the photo below, Margaret is in the light dress. Lorenzo Wright took over the store in 1919. He bought the store from her for $10.00 in 1922.

This photo in 1898 is of 57 year old Margaret Ann Taylor and her posperity. Her husband William was deceased.

Marget in the 1920 Census at 78 years of age with a John W. Wright age 29 living at the same address.

In 1920 Margaret fell and broke her hip. She was in bed about 4 months. She ended up spending the last 6 years in a wheel chair. Margaret died March 29, 1926 at 2:00pm after one week's illness of pneumonia at her home where she had lived for 43 years. This was at the age of 84 years, 9mos, 9days. She had been a widow for 31 years. Her posterity at the time of her death numbered 139. Eight living children, 68 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren. All of her children were at her bedside where she gave them encouragement and advice and urged them to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

William Mendenhall is my 2nd Great Grandmother from the Goodman side of the family. She is buried next to her husband William Nicholas Goodman in the St. David Cemetery. The coordinates of the cemetery are
N 31° 51.971 W 110° 12.352

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Bengt Nelson

2011-09-01T20:32:00.000-07:00

Bengt Nelson was born on September 28, 1834 in Lomma, Malmohus, Sweden.

Bengt first heard of a new religion that had come to the country in 1853. It took a long time before he could find anything definate about it. Finally, his sister had seen some Elders and had been converted and baptized. She persuaded him to go to Malmo to the first conference of the church held in Sweden. He was thoroughly convinced of its truthfulness and was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that same evening - April 15, 1854. Soon after, Bengt, in company with his brother-in-law and two sisters sailed for America arriving in New Orleans February 23, 1855.

Bengt was 21 years old when he crossed the plains in the Abraham O. Smoot Company. The company included 33 wagons and 1 carriage. The party also had 375 oxen and 12 horses. The company traveled to Salt Lake City at the same time as the Martin and Willie Handcart Companies and encountered the same disastrous weather conditions. The company arrived in Salt Lake City on November 9, 1856, arriving the same day as the Willie handcart company.

To read more about the Abraham O. Smoot company you can visit the LDS Church History site,

After arriving in Salt Lake City, he relates the following, "I had a dream on the plains that I should marry Ellen Johnson, the girl companion of my sister. I asked her if she thought it would come to pass. She said, 'Yes, I have dreamed the same thing and Frank B. Woolley is to marry us.' Accordingly we were married by Frank B. Woolley in his father's house November 16, 1856."

In our family history book this photograph is labeled as Bengt Nelson and Ellen Johnson. But, Kanani and I don't think that it looks like him. Do you?

Kanani and I were in Cedar City last summer and we stopped at the Frontier Homestead State Park. We went into the outdoor sheep shed and started to watch a video that was playing. As we watched, I saw my 2nd Great Grandfather Bengt Nelson on the video. I asked the museum curator if I could get a copy of the video. It was not for sale, but he said he would make a copy for me for a donation to the museum. I gave him a donation and about six months later, I received the DVD in the mail. I was excited! There are only a few seconds of Bengt Nelson, but it tells of how he started a very successful sheep business that is still functioning in Cedar City to this day.

A historical sketch of Bengt Nelson was published in the church magazine "The Instructor" in June of 1945. You can read the entire article from "The Instructor" at the end of this blog. A paragraph of the sketch reads:

A plaque stands at the rock church in Cedar City recognizing the old Cedar City Tabernacle. The plaque mentions Bengt Nelson as the director of building.

The plaque is at N 37° 40.652 W 113° 03.654

The 1900 Federal Census lists Bengt living in Cedar city.

Bengt Nelson died April 22, 1919.

Bengt Nelson is buried in Cedar City next to his wife Ellen Johnson. The coordinates of his headstone are at N 37° 41.427 W 113° 03.772. The location is marked on the map with a green arrow. Bengt Nelson is my 2nd Great Grandfather from the Mendenhall side of the family.

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Francis Cooke

2011-08-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

Francis Cooke was born in 1583 probably in England. He is described in Leiden Walloon church marriage records dating from 1603 as a "woolcomber out of England". He married Hester le Maheiu in Leiden, Holland with marriage intentions published 20 July 1603. While in Leiden, Francis and Hester were members of the Walloon church. Between 1611 and 1618, the Cookes were members of the Pilgrim Separatist congregation in Leiden.

Francis and his oldest son John, came on the Mayflower to Plymouth in 1620. He left behind his wife Hester and his other children Jane, Jacob, Elizabeth and Hester. After the Colony was founded and better established, he sent for his wife and children, and they came to Plymouth in 1623 on the ship Anne.

The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by the colonists, and signed on November 11, 1620 by 41 of the ship's 101 passengers, including Francis Cooke. The painting below depicts Francis Cooke signing the Mayflower Compact.

The Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 8, p23 notes that "Francis Cooke died the seauenth of Aprill, 1663."

Francis Cooke is my 10th Great Grandfather. His son John, who also came to America on the Mayflower is my 9th Great Grandfather. John married Sarah Warren whose father, Richard Warren also came to America on the Mayflower. Richard Warren is my 10th Great Grandfather.

Notable descendents of Francis Cooke include Franklin D. Roosevelt, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Dick Van Dyke, Richard Gere, (George) Orson Welles and Brian Douglas Wilson, Dennis Carl Wilson and Carl Dean Wilson from the Beach Boys.

Notable descendents of Richard Warren include Ulysses S. Grant, Alan B. Shepard, and Sarah Palin.

William Mendenhall

2011-08-23T22:02:00.000-07:00

William Mendenhall was born on April 8, 1815 in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. He married Sarah Lovell on February 21, 1839.

William first heard a Mormon Elder preach early in the spring of 1841. He was at once convinced of the truthfulness of the gospel and was baptized by Elder William A. Moor in Red Clay Creek on December 12, 1841. In May 1842 he started for Nauvoo leaving his wife and two children at her fathers house in Delaware. He worked at his trade of building brick houses all summer and then returned to Delaware to his wife and children.

William returned to Nauvoo with his wife and children in May of 1843. William was acquainted with the prophet Joseph Smith and was blessed by the patriarch Hyrum Smith and was in Nauvoo at the time the prophet and his brother were martyred.

William and Sarah Mendenhall's house still stands in Nauvoo and is located on the north side of Sidney Street just west of Page Street and the Ellis Sanders home. The approximate location of their home in Nauvoo is highlighted in red on the map.

William and Sarah were driven from Nauvoo leaving their home in June of 1852. William, Sarah and their 5 children crossed the plains in wagons with ox teams. They arrived in Salt Lake City in September of 1852. They traveled in the David Wood company with 288 pioneers. William was the 4th captain of 10 in the company.

To read more about the David Wood Company, go to the LDS Church History site.

A Deseret News article from 1852 shows all of the 1852 immigrants to Salt Lake City. Below is an excerpt just showing the 6th company.

William and Sarah settled in Springville, Utah. In 1904 William wrote, "I have performed work for the dead in St. George, Logan, Manti and Salt Lake Temples. I am reasonably well at the age of 89 years and six months." The photo below is of his home in Springville.

William Mendenhall died June 3, 1906 at the age of 91.

William Mendenhall is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville, Utah along side his wife Sarah Lovell.

The coordinates of his headstone are N 40° 08.445 W 111° 36.186. The location is marked on the map with a green arrow. William Mendenhall is my 2nd Great Grandfather from the Mendenhall side of the family.

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Eliza Catherine Pinnock Hunter

2011-08-11T22:11:00.000-07:00

Eliza Catherine Pinnock Hunter was born in Coventry, Warwick Co., England on March 4, 1846.

Eliza's baptismal record from Warwickshire, England shows that she was baptised on May 4, 1846, two months after she was born.
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The 1851 England census shows Eliza as a 5 year old girl.

When she was 10 years old her family converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the time, there was so much mob violence against the Mormons, that it was necessary to do all baptizing at night. So on a cold night in December the Pinnock family were baptized in the Thames River after breaking the ice to have the ordinance performed.

Eliza left England for America in 1862, one year before the rest of her family. She turned 16 on the ship. The passenger list from the Tabacott shows Eliza as a 16 year old "Spinster".

As I was looking through the passenger list for Eliza, I found what is an amazing coincidence. My 2nd Great Grandfather on the Goodman side, William Nicholas Goodman and his brother Nathaniel were on the same ship with Eliza. William was 20 years old and his brother Nathaniel was 19 years old and both of their parents had died several years earlier. You have to believe that they were acquainted with Eliza. They had no idea that 90 years later, their great grandchildren Karl Goodman and Wilma Mendenhall would get married.

After arriving in St. Louis, Eliza was placed into a company led by John D. T. McAllister with five other young girls, and they walked practically the entire way across the plains arriving in Salt Lake City in September of 1862.

Eliza stayed in Salt Lake City until her parents arrived from England the following year. They were called to go to Iron County and settled in Cedar City where Eliza met and married Joseph Snadon Hunter.

Joseph and Eliza had 10 children. As a mother, Eliza was exceptional. She truly sensed her responsibility in rearing and caring for her children, and she tried to rear them in righteousness.

The 1900 census of the United States shows 54 year old Eliza living in Cedar City with her husband. It shows that they had a 24 year old daughter, a 12 year old daughter and what appears to be a 12 year old niece from Tonga living in their home.

Eliza Catherine Pinnock Hunter died on November 26, 1913 and is buried in the Cedar City Cemetery. The coordinates to her headstone are N 37° 41.418 W 113° 03.773. The green arrow in the map shows the location of her grave. She is my 2nd Great Grandmother from the Mendenhall side of the family.

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Lyman Curtis

2011-08-03T21:22:00.000-07:00

Lyman Curtis was born January 21, 1812 in New Salem, Massachusetts. In December 1832 the Prophet Joseph Smith and Jared Carter came to the Curtis home and preached the gospel to the Curtis family. Every member of the family joined the church. Lyman was baptized March 14, 1833 at Milford, Michigan.

Lyman was a major supporter of the prophet Joseph Smith in the early days of the church. He participated in Zion's Camp and married his wife Charlotte Iris Alvord while on the camp. He spent two years helping to build the Nauvoo temple. Lyman and his brother George stood guard over the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum Smith after they were martyred.

Lyman was a member of the first company under Brigham Young as they crossed the plains. He was one of the nine scouts in the advance party who rode into the Salt Lake Valley on July 22, 1847.

Salem Utah

Eventually Lyman settled in Pond Town, Utah. He designed and built roads and canals. He was a successful lumberman and farmer. To honor Lyman, Pond Town was renamed to Salem, the name of the city where Lyman was born.

1850 Federal Census (Salt Lake City, Utah)

1880 Federal Census (Salem, Utah)

A surprise birthday party was held for Lyman and was documented in the Deseret News on February 9, 1881.

The Salt Lake Tribune announced the death of Lyman Curtis on August 11, 1898

Lyman Curtis is included in an LDS Church news article that features biographies of the original 1847 pioneer company.

Lyman Curtis died on August 5, 1898 and is buried in the Salem City Cemetery. The coordinates to his headstone are N 40° 02.337 W 111° 40.208. The green arrow in the map shows the location of his grave. Lyman Curtis is my 3rd Great Grandfather from the Goodman side of the family.

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Thomas Tew Jr.

2011-07-29T21:45:00.000-07:00

Thomas John Tew Jr. was born in Birmingham, England on June 27, 1833. His history written by himself states that he embraced the gospel on October 21, 1849.

Thomas also states in his history that he left his home on January 1st, 1851 with his best friend Walter Bird when 18 years of age for the land of Zion. Thomas and Walter were the first two boys to leave the Birmingham Conference. They left their families behind with plans to earn money in Zion and bring their families to join them as soon as possible. After being on the ocean for 9 weeks and 3 days, they arrived in New Orleans. The passenger list from the ship "Ellen" shows Thomas' age as 17 and Walter's age as 18.

After arriving in Salt Lake Valley they worked for eight months making adobes. They left for the Sanpete valley with packs on their backs on March 30th, 1851. However, they changed their minds and settled in Springville, Utah "for the scenery was so enchanting to our view and we could not help doing so.

Kanani and I have a special love for Thomas Tew and Walter Bird. Thomas Tew is my 2nd Great Grandfather, and Walter Bird is Kanani's 2nd Great Grandfather. Our ancestors were best friends! What is even more fun, is that Thomas married Walter's sister, Rebecca Bird. Which means that Kanani and I share the same 3rd Great Grandparents, Rebecca and Walter's father and mother, John Bird and Ann Russon, making us 4th cousins. We like to think that Thomas and Walter sometimes look down at us and smile that we found each other.

Thomas Tew died August 6, 1904 and is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville, Utah next to his wife and near his lifelong friend Walter Bird.

The coordinates of his headstone are N 40° 08.412 W 111° 36.172. The location is marked on the map with a green arrow. Thomas John Tew Jr. is my 2nd Great Grandfather from the Mendenhall side of the family.

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