Joseph Baldwin Tanner

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

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

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

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.

Margaret 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.

Margaret Ann Taylor Goodman 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

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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