they were called to join the 1 Company of Infantry to go to Echo Canyon and were later

Transcription

1 JOSEPH PARRY Joseph Parry was e son of Edwa and Mary Foulks Parry and was born April 4, 1825 in e Parish of New Market, Flintshire, Nor Wales. He was e youngest of irteen children, nine sons and four daughters. His moer died when he was irteen years old and his faer died four years later. In his early you his parents had taught him e necessity of being truful, virtuous and just before all men. They were not however, a religious people. Shortly after his faers dea he left Wales and went to Liverpool, England. Arriving about noon wiout money wi which to buy food and a nights lodging, a stranger in a large city, fascinated by e strange sights and not knowing where to go, when miraculously he met an old friend and school mate William Jones. William took him to his lodging house and shared his bed and boa wi him until he was able to obtain employment, which was only a few days. Soon after is an uncle, John Parry came to England to live at Birkenhead. They had become acquainted wi e Latter Day Saint Missionaries and after investigating it s principles ey were converted and were baptized. On October 3, 1846 one of John Parry s sons named, William came to Liverpool and he took Joseph wi him to hear Missionaries preach in e Liverpool Branch at e Music Hall. Up to is time no religious sect had impressed him favorably. There were about five hundred people present and while e meeting was being conducted two plainly dressed men came in and walked directly to e stand. They were introduced as Apostles of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints who had just arrived from America. They were John Taylor and Orson Hyde. John Taylor preached a powerful sermon on e First Principles of e Gospel as restored to our Prophet Joseph Smi. He testified before God and e congregation at he knew at Joseph Smi was a Prophet of God and at e Gospel at he restored to e ear was true. Joseph was much impressed and investigated furer is strange, but beautiful religion and became convinced of its divinity and Dec. 31, 1846 he was baptized by Elder Thomas Thomas in e river Mercy. He remained in England at Liverpool until he emigrated to America, wi e exception of a short Mission in Wales to preach e Gospel to his broers and sisters, as well

2 as a large circle of relatives and friends. He was not received kindly however and he made no converts. They were under e impression at he was deluded and felt sorry for him. One sister, Elizabe told him at she would raer see him in his grave an see him connected wi such a church. He informed her at some day she would change her views and at she also would become a member and would follow him to Zion. He left his blessing wi em and went back to Liverpool. This sister and her husband were converted to e Gospel and ey emigrated to Utah wi a handcart company. She was married to a John Parry and when ey came to Utah ey settled in Cedar City. Their family group sheet is also in is book. In e spring of 1847 he was oained a Priest and on September 1, 1848 he married a young lady named Jane Payne in Liverpool and six days later he emigrated to America. They had only sufficient money for one Steamship Passage so ey agreed at she would remain in England until he could send for her. There were 232 Saints on boa e ship Erins Queen and ey arrived at New Orleans October 29, He remained ere and worked until he had saved sufficient money to send for his wife. She sailed January 29, 1849 on e ship Setland wi 358 nd Saints on boa. They arrived April 2 and on e 7 she was stricken wi e Cholera and died April 19. They had been able to be togeer for only about ree weeks. There was a severe epidemic of Cholera at is time and many ousands died. A few days after is sad event he sailed on a steamship to Saint Louis. The trip occupied seven days and ere were 37 deas on boa from e Cholera. The boat would stop on e bank of e river and e crew would dig a trench and place e bodies side by side in e trench and hurriedly cover em over. No markers were left to show eir resting place. He lived in St. Louis and in Kanesville, Iowa until e fall of In January 1850, st he made e acquaintance of Elisa Tunks for Herefo Shire, England and on e 1 of April we were married by Elder John Burnside. After arriving in Kansville, Ohio he bought a lot and built a log house. They lived ere for two years. At at time President Young instructed e Saints to move in mass to Utah e following year. They were advised to sell eir property to buy teams, wagons and provisions for e journey. He sold his for far less its value and left July 13, 1852 in e last Company of e Season. Cholera broke out and

3 ere were some deas and e Indians stole some of eir cattle and horses, but ey reached e valley ree mons later. He tells us at it was no pleasure trip. They didn t have a cent of money wi em on e long journey. Immediately after e Conference of 1853 when e corner stone of e Temple was laid, he went to Ogden to live. He bought a corner lot on Main Street and 3 and built a new adobe house. Which was e first adobe house in Ogden City. At about is time he and 26 oer broers of e Priesood were called to organize a Mission in e Salmon River Country in Idaho among e Indians. He was set apart by Apostle Lorenzo Snow. Their instructions were to settle among e Flaead, Bannock and Shoshone Indians wherever ey would receive em, and teach em e rudiments of civilization, persuade em to cease eir savage customs and try to induce em to live at peace wi each oer and e white people. They were also to try to prevail upon em to cease eir roving habits and build homes, and of course ey taught em e principles of e Gospel. Upon eir arrival, rough eir interpreter, Broer Hill, ey told em at ey had come as friends to help em. The Indians gave em permission to occupy eir land but ey could not kill eir game or catch eir fish, of which ere was an abundance, however ey were willing to exchange eir foods wi em. They built a fort in which to live and corral eir horse and cattle because e Indians could not be trusted. Some of e Missionaries stood gua every night. They were always well armed and never traveled or worked alone. Having told e Indians at ey were eir friends ey presumed ey had come to feed em and ey imposed upon e Missionaries so much at eir rations got very low, and at fall he was chosen along wi eight oer Missionaries to return home for more provisions and return wi em as early as possible in e spring. They left December 4, There was much snow and ice which made e journey a ha and dangerous one. They arrived in Ogden December 26 in good heal, but hungry and frost bitten. He found his family in better heal and circumstances an when he left em in May. They were left in a deplorable condition. Five mons prior to his departure, his wife had been confined to her bed perfectly helpless, and is was how she was e day he left for his mission. She had ree children and an infant. The eldest was five years old, and her only help was a girl age 13. What made it more distressing, he was compelled to take all e flour

4 in e house wi him in oer to make up his year s supply. At at time, flour was scarce and sold for $25.00 a barrel. He left e brave woman wiout flour, money, and wi little cloing, yet it was her wish at he answer e call to help his fellow men. He found em living on bran bread and very poor meat. He hauled his firewood on a hand sled at winter. During is winter at he remained in e valley, he met and married Ann Malin who had arrived in one of e Handcart Pioneer Companies. Polygamy was en being practiced by many in e Church. [I found in e IGI recos at ey were married by President Brigham Young in his Office. The reco stated at ey were sealed by him. However, Ann Malin didn t receive her endowments until she was married to Charles Sharp. So it is questionable as to wheer Ann Henrietta was born in e Covenant. She was later sealed to bo her faer and moer.] The following spring he returned to e Salmon River Mission. On March 28, he left home in charge of e company of returning missionaries, also some new ones, and arrived at e mission e latter part of April finding all well and e mission in good condition. During e year, 200 Indians were baptized. They, however, didn t sense e nature nor e seriousness of e covenants ey had entered into. Considerable wheat and oer grains and vegetables were planted. All came up beautifully, but as e year before, e grasshoppers devoured all wi e exception of a few straggling hills of wheat. These matured and proved e fact at wheat could be raised in at altitude and latitude. For ree weeks ey lived on fish, wild meat, butter, and milk. A grist mill was built here during e summer. They made much improvement in enlarging e fort, building new cabins, and corrals, and clearing more land. The breren had made great progress in learning e language. A better feeling existed between e whites and red skins. About is time, President Brigham Young, some apostles, and oer leading men visited em for ree days. He admonished em to be patient, kind, and do all ey could to instruct e Indians. Abundant crops, even potatoes, were harvested at fall. The irrigation ditches had been a great benefit. The desert was now fruitful. In September, Gilbert Belnap and Joseph were sent home on business and ey found e Saints very excited over e approach of Johnston s Army. Two days after eir arrival st ey were called to join e 1 Company of Infantry to go to Echo Canyon and were later

5 transferred to e Cavalry and oered to e front to meet e army and delay eir advance in every way possible. However, no blood was shed. It was found at e army had camped for e winter at Fort Bridger, so all men were oered home for e present. On February 25, 1858, e Indians made a raid and captured most of e stock of e Salmon River Mission and also killed ree Missionaries (James Miller, George McBride, and Bailey Lake). President Young sent 100 cavalry and teams (Joseph was among em) to return e Missionaries home. Thus ended e Mission. These men who had so humbly, faifully, and bravely labored, and suffered untold haships of hunger, cold, and e forsaking of eir wives and children, lost everying ey had worked for. They came home destitute. The raid was instigated by Indian Agent, Dr. Garland Hurt, who was a bitter enemy of e Mormon people. It was e only raid by e Indians. Joseph found his family in e most destitute condition. His wife, Ann gave bir to a daughter, Ann Henrietta, September 16, Early in 1858, he worked for Apostle John Taylor on his flour mill on e Weber. In April Johnson s Army again advanced and e Saints were oered by President Young to move sou and leave eir homes. The women and children went to Provo and remained ere until e difficulties were settled rough diplomatic and military negotiations and agreements, en e men who had remained in e valley to protect eir homes were able to bring eir families home from Provo. Difficulties were settled, and ey returned to eir homes in July. Since all e crops had been destroyed, Joseph bought butter, eggs, and cheese, and sold ese to e soldiers at Bridger. He made several trips before winter and did exceedingly well, having made enough to pay all his indebtedness and lay in a supply of food and cloing. On one of ese trips, after e Mountain Meadow Massacre, Joseph Parry was traveling rough Echo Canyon when he met a group of bitter apostates and discharged teamsters. They engaged him in conversation and asked him if he was a Mormon and when ey hea at he was a member of e Church ey planned to hang him. While ey were making preparations to hang him a party of U.S. Soldiers came along and Joseph

6 appealed to em. Reluctantly ey took him forcibly from e mob and he left immediately and hurried on his way. As soon as e soldiers left however, e mob followed him, apparently ey were determined to carry out eir interrupted plans. Joseph hea em coming in pursuit and drove his team and wagon into some ick willows and underbrush until ey were gone. Darkness came and when he was satisfied at all danger was past he was delivered out of eir hands. During 1859, he remained at home doing carpenter work, and buying, selling, and trading produce at Fort Bridger. He brought back oxen, wagons, groceries, cloing, etc. Wagons which had cost e contractors $200, he bought for $70. The same wi e oer ings. He made enough to purchase 16 acres of land. The Army proved a blessing for it brought money and merchandise into e Territory of which ere was a great need. During 1860, he worked on his farm grubbing and fencing and planting some, also. He worked all he could at carpenter work. The springs of were very wet, and e farm was under water. No crop was raised. He did carpenter work and worked for e city, being in charge of a force of men who were protecting e river bridge and county road. The river could only be crossed at e bridge, so it was very important to save it, as many people lived on bo sides of it. Also, in e spring of 1863, he worked for e city again on e river, making dams and levies. He raised good crops at year. In October, he, wi Samuel Glasgo, were made counselors to William Hill, who had been appointed President of e 3 Wa District. He spent e greater part of e next year assisting in gaering teams, men, and supplies to send east for e immigrants. He raised a good crop, also five acres of sugar cane. He did well as he sold many barrels of molasses in Montana at a dollar a gallon for cash. President Hill died December 4, 1864, and he was chosen to fill his place. This position he held for a number of years. He also labored as a missionary in e various was in e county. He built his rock house on e corner of Main and 23 Street in Ogden. The 3 of July his wife, Eliza, died leaving him e care of five children and babe two hours old. This was ha for him as he had no female relative to help him. He found it very difficult to get a suitable housekeeper. He married Olive Ann Stone November 20, 1866, in

7 e Endowment House. She was a great comfort to him, being a devoted, loving, faiful, and kind wife and moer. On February 11, 1867, he was elected alderman from e 3 Municipal Wa. Lorin Farr was mayor, He was made chairman of water and sanitary committees. In September 1868, in connection wi William N. Fife, he secured a grading contract on e Central Pacific Railroad. They had five teams and financially did well. They secured e second contract and lost all ey made on e first, and at too, due to misleading woing of e contract. February 22, he married widow Susan A. Wright Brown in e Endowment House, February 24, he and Olive Ann received eir second annointing by President Daniel H. Wells and Elder John T. D. MacAllister. In 1870 Joseph was called to fill a Mission in Wales and he mortgaged a corner lot of his Ogden property for five hundred dollars so at he could have money to purchase necessary cloing, have money for transportation and leave some money for his family. When e note came due upon his return he was unable to redeem it so he lost it. While on is mission, after an absence of 23 years, he visited e remaining members of his faer s family, two broers and a sister. They were most happy to see him once again, but ey didn t want his religion. He labored in e Swanee Branch in Wales a year when he received a release. He wrote back to e Mission President he wished to remain anoer year. However, President Eldredge informed him at President Brigham Young had sent his release, and at his services were needed at home. He returned in May wi ree small emigrant families. They were 10 weeks on e ocean. Upon arriving home, he found e families well, but destitute indeed. He soon obtained work at e Central and Union Railroad Companies. Also, he acted as Depot Policeman. He rented his farm. In 1873, he was again elected as counselor in e 3 Wa. This year he planted an acre of orcha on e farm, and e remainder in market gaen vegetables. He had wood contracts at fall and winter for e Central Pacific, using six teams and 15 men. In February 1877, he was re-elected for e fif time to represent e 3 Wa. This year he, wi Samuel Fowler in charge, went into e nursery business, plus e marketing-

8 gaening. Up to is time, he had received no funds for his city services, but is time, he received $150 for e two years. In e spring of 1880, he was elected by e school boa, wi Job Pingree and Richa Ballantyne, to finish e Central School Building. On August 28, it was finished, and was e first grade school in e Territory of Utah. In October 1880, he was selected an alternate in e High Council. David H. Peery was President of e Stake. The year 1881 was a very sorrowful one for him, as well as for many oers. Black dipheria broke out in plague form. It claimed ree of his children. In 1884 e Courts began to enforce e Edmunds Law in rega to Plural Marriage. Most of e breren went into exile. He traveled in Utah, California, and Arizona. Most of his time, for two years, was spent wi William N. Fife and family in Arizona. He received wo at his wife, Susan, had been arrested, so he immediately came home to give himself up to e courts. On his way to court, he met several of e deputy marshals, as well as old friends, who did not recognize him because of his disguise. This he did so ey wouldn t have e pleasure of arresting him. Joseph had two wives at is time and he gave himself up and was sentenced to six mons in jail and a ree hundred dollar fine. This was e highest fine given to anyone at day. He was taken to e penitentiary e same day, wi seven oers. He was put in Cell No. 2. He and forty eight oer men were kept in a cell twenty by twenty feet. It was very dirty and ere were not sufficient bunks and he and several oers had to sleep on e tobacco spotted floor. In one corner was a privy. Imagine e stench from so may breaing and e use of is. The Church leaders, Lorenzo Snow and Rudger Clawson and many oers were imprisoned at e same time and were forced to live under e same terrible conditions. They had to live wi e worst criminals who used tobacco, foul language and taunted e broers shamefully. The guas were very spiteful wi e Mormon prisoners and persecuted em at every opportunity, putting em in e sweat box at e least provocation. The Sweat Box was a room 5 x 5 x 3 feet. A man could neier stand nor lie down, but had to sit on e floor e entire time and eat bread and water. There were 10 guas at e penitentiary. They all had short lives, after e men were released to come home, and had terrible deas. It looked like God s judgement was upon em. All kinds of indignities were practice upon e breren. One he mentions in

9 particular: Broer John Stodda of Ogden was handcuffed to a muerer and paraded up Sou Temple and along Main Street. This so humiliated him at it broke his spirit. He gave way to despondency so badly at he was not able to row it off. Combined wi e unsanitary conditions, it shortened his life, for he died shortly after his release. There were four oer broers from Weber who went in, hail and hearty, who died shortly after eir release, in e prime of life. The food was exceedingly plain. The table was very dirty. The tin plates were black and coated wi fil. There were no knives nor forks nor spoons. The had to use eir fingers and umbs to carry e food to eir mous. For breakfast, ey had a slice of bread, some beef, and a cup of coffee wi no sugar, no milk, cream, no butter. The dinner was e same wi a potato, cooked wi e skin on, laid on eir plate, and minus e coffee. The supper was mush and no trimmings. However, ey were permitted to buy milk every morning, and friends were allowed to bring em butter and sugar. Mary Morris, his niece, carried him ese ings every week, also oer dainties which he never received. From 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., e prisoners were given eir liberty in e prison ya to do as ey pleased. The breren were all urged to read and study, Broer Clawson taught em bookkeeping. One rough man taught a mixed school. There were fifteen hundred polygamist breren imprisoned at is time which caused much suffering to em and eir families. Upon Joseph s release, Mary Morris was at e penitentiary wi a buggy to take him to her home for dinner and a night s rest. He returned to Ogden on a pass given him by his old friend, George Bywater. He found his families well, but destitute. His expenses while in exile and confinement were: $400 traveling etc., $300 fine, $300 lawyer fee, and $150 cost of court suits. Subsequently, he paid it all up. His business had suffered a $2,000 loss. At at time, he was engaged in surfacing tar sidewalks. In all, ere were 1,500 polygamists imprisoned. [Joseph had 5 wives, Jane Payne, Eliza Tunks, Ann Malin (Later divorced), Olive Ann Stone, Susan Wright Brown. He provided well for his large family and left a very large posterity.]

10 In 1890 ere was a boom in real estate and building in Ogden and Joseph sold a corner lot for $22,000 cash. That same year he opened up 18 street and gave e city a deed for e same. He built his wife, Susan, a six-room modern house on 18 Street, also, an eight-room house for Olive Ann. This he rented for a time at $35 per mon. He sold several lots on 18 Street. He laid many sidewalks. He handled more money at year an any previous time. From his rentals, he received $140 per mon. Among oer ings he built and rented a block of buildings which is still known as Parry Block, it is located at 23 Joseph Parry Street and Washington Ave. The business enterprises he began are still incorporated and some of his descendants owned Stock in e Company he established. As a building contractor he helped much to build up and develop Ogden City. In 1892, he donated $500 towa finishing e Salt Lake Temple at it might be dedicated April 6, He and his wives attended e ceremony e first day. The children went ree or four days later. A great depression swept e country in 1893, and his rental decreased materially. Through stock investments (upon e advise of friends), he lost considerable: $13,033 in e Consolidated Implement Co., $8,000 in State Bank of Utah, $500 in e Pressed Brick Co., and $300 in e Equitable Cooperation. A considerable amount of money in ose days. In 1895, he was elected a director of e Consolidated Company. On July 26, 1896, he was chosen first counselor to Lorin Farr of e High Priest Quorum of Weber Stake. In 1898, he was elected for e six time a member of e City Council. His finances turned for e better. He made some real estate sales, and rentals increased. He leased his corner on 23 Street and Washington Avenue for 10 years providing he put a building upon it. He oversaw e entire erection of e Parry Block, which was finished at a cost of $20,000. Joseph Parry was a tall noble looking man. He wore a bea and he had e bearing of a gentleman, which he was, in every sense of e wo. He was always kind and gentle and was a man who could demand respect in any company. He was deeply religious and devoted much of his time and efforts to Church activities. He was e Mayor of Ogden and

11 was an Alderman and City Councilman, serving in e last mentioned office until e time of his dea. His was a noble and well balanced life, he labored untiringly for e betterment of his community and roughout his entire life he served his Church. He was a firm believer in tie paying and up to e last hour of his life he demonstrated his fai and desire to serve e Lo. It was on e Sabba Day after he had attended his meetings and bore his testimony, blessed several baby s and returned home from evening meeting. He said at he was a little tired and ought at he would retire. He sat down and wrote out a check for his Fast Donation. Suddenly he gave a deep sigh and was gone. Dea was instantaneous. He was eighty six years old two mons before his dea. [ My moer, Hazel Greenwood Nelson always told me at on many occasions he would take e trolley to Sandy and walk up e tracks to eir home to visit his family. He never forgot em even ough he and Ann Malin were divorced. He would hold his grandchildren on his lap and play wi em, having a good visit.] REMINISCENCES OF GRANDDAUGHTER LUCILLE PARRY PETERSON OF HER GRANDFATHER JOSEPH PARRY his fortune. Joseph was an adventurer as he left his home in Newmarket, Wales, at age 17, to seek He was an obedient convert to e Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as he followed its Prophet and leaders. He was a loving husband as he and his new wife planned eir trip to America. He was an early pioneer as he arrived in Utah in 1852 wi e 13 Company of Welch immigrants. He was a successful business man as he cleared e land, sold building lots, built homes, and business areas in Ogden. The two story 75 x 125 foot brick building he built at e norwest corner of 23 and Washington Ave. in Ogden was so well built it has now been incorporated in Ogden City Mall. It was in 1899 Joseph built is building and it was in is building at he and his sons conducted a business selling monuments and headstones and

12 specialized in investments. In 1952 e family sold e building to e Norgate Co. Real Estate, subsidiary of Allied Stores. He was a compassionate man as he harnessed his best teams to his strongest wagons, and loaded em wi food and cloing and traveled back into e vast prairies to meet e starving weary pioneers as ey ended eir ree mons journey to Utah. He was a tireless missionary as he taught e Indians in e norern country, taught his relatives and friends in far away Wales and England, and taught e immigrants in Utah as ey arrived from e European countries. He was a brave soldier as he served as Captain and Chaplain of e Infantry at fought e federal army in Echo Canyon, sent by President Johnson, whose mission was to annihilate e saints. He was a polygamist, who had five wives, strong courageous women who gave bir to 23 children. Many of ese children and grandchildren have become outstanding Utah citizens. He was an enusiastic politician as he was elected and re-elected as alderman of e 3 District of Ogden. He was a leader and socially accepted as he helped plan e welcoming reception for e Railroad officials as e railroad arrived in Ogden. He was a progressive educator, as he served on e Ogden School Boa. He was an active Church member, as he served in a Bishopric and for 27 years as a High Councilman of e Weber Stake. He was a loving faer and grandfaer, I felt e love Grandfaer had for little children when, at age 4, I sat on his lap. He hugged me and called me his little Mary. Grandfaer endured to e end, for on e day of his dea he named and blessed ree tiny new born infants in e Fast and Sacrament meeting in e 3 Wa. Indeed, Joseph Parry of Ogden was a great man.