"Harris Folks Very Good To Us" - Junction (Day 13)

Poem on gravestone (below)

If you received this blog in your e-mail, click here to go to the blog site

September 14, 1884 - Junction 
Day 13 of 44 - (Week 3)
Junction to Junction = 0 Miles (Total Miles = 251 Miles)
Total Trip Average Miles Per Day = 19.3
Miles Per Day
Week 1 = 20.2
Week 2 = 21.7
Week 3 =   0.0

September 12 - 14, 1884

September 14 - 15, 1884

Original Journal Entry

"Sunday 14 - Sunday Johny McClaws and and others came from arizona we got a good deal of information from them, about the road.  Harris folks was very good to us."  (Added at the top of page):  Allen administered to Anna got well.

Final Journal Entry

"Sunday Sep. 14 layed over here.  Sunday John McLaws and Allen from St. Joseph Arizona arrived.  Received much information about the road.  Anna M. had a severe cough.  She would cough all night. Allen administered to her, it left her immediately. Harris folks very good to us."

Grandpa Anderson did not usually comment on people, but here he used the words "very good." Charles expressed gratitude in general at other places in his journal, but this time it was for a specific family.

The character of Charles Harris is further mentioned here in Fifty Pioneers - pg. 24).    
(Click on green for records)

"Despite their remote location and primitive surrounding, Charles Harris was widely respected for his impeccable manners, his skills in oratory and debate, and his strict honesty................ In 1887, Charles moved his family to Richfield to improve social opportunities."

A closer look at the gravestone of Charles Harris, presented the opportunity to become  better acquainted with this good man (and his family).  See previous blog.

Gravestone of Charles Harris (1834-1916)

MY PIONEER FATHER

Charles Harris

July 2, 1834

February 3, 1918

by son Silas A.

The Piute reservoir in sullen mood
Has buried deep the paths this good man sought.
Its dark, persistent, ruthless, dashing waves
Have ground to shreds the monuments he wrought.

No more the mark of plow or axe or saw
Proclaim his matchless energy and skill.
Deep hid forever from mortal gaze
The works of his strong hand and mind and will.

But works of hand were not his highest goal
If perish they, why grieve that they are gone?
His boundless acts of faith and hope and love
Fruits of noble life live on and on.

Yes Charles Harris was a very good man as Charles Anderson said.  
This was not only the opinion of Charles but of his family and peers.

Who Was John (Johny) McClaws?

About the same time the Anderson and de la Mare Families were leaving Grantsville for Arizona, the John and Sophia McClaws Family had loaded up their wagon and were heading to Utah.  They crossed paths in Junction.  Sophia de la Mare McClaws was the half sister to Philip de la Mare.  They were both children of Philip de la Mare from different mothers.  They had not seen each other in 8 years.  As newlyweds, the McClaws had been called to Arizona in 1876 when Sophia  was 18 and her husband John  23.    More of their story which relates to the Anderson story as well is found here in the John and Sophia McClaws booklet There are also  some interesting pictures.  

The McClaws and Phillips families "took" dinner.  Today was the 32nd birthday of John McClaws.  The John McClaws Journal (pg 127) records this day when Phillip and his half sister Sophia were reunited once again (be patient if waiting for journal entry on computer)

John and Sophia de la Mare McClaws

The John McLaws Journal describes the route the McClaws had just taken to arrive at the Harris ranch, and over which the Anderson family would now travel to Arizona.  The return trip of the McClaws Family from Tooele to St. Johns from November 11 to December 6, 1884 was also recorded in the McClaw's Journal (pg 131-132).  It described many of the same places the Andersons at that time would have traveled to arrive in St. Johns.

Below is a later interview by Rae Kirkham on Sophia De La Mare McLaws:

Sophia De La Mare McLaws Interview

Who Was Allen?  First Name?  Last Name

The  first and last name of John McClaws was recorded.  After all John's wife, Sophia, was the half sister to Philip de la Mare, who traveled with the Andersons to Arizona.  On the other hand, Allen recorded in the Original Journal Entry as a note at the top of the page. The name "Allen" was mentioned in the Final Journal Entry. It was not even known if Allen was a first or last name.  I am just grateful the name was recorded, and I hope Grandpa Anderson is not upset with my joking a little on the subject.  Because he left out a first or last name (I didn't know at the time)  that sent me off on a research project.


Fortunately it was not difficult  to find that Allen was Captain William C. Allen who had actually led the group to Arizona which included John McClaws in 1876. 

The John and Sophia McClaws booklet said that Sophia and John traveled with a group led by William C. Allen.  The group consisted of 47 men, 1 women, and 3 children.  After 9 weeks of difficult travel, their new home would come to be known as Joseph City, Arizona. The paragraph from the booklet told of their trip back to Utah.

McClaws Booklet

William Coleman Allen

Lovina Smith Allen

Lovina Smith Allen's history mentions the Allen family returning to Utah in 1884 after his father was gored to death by an angry bull at his home in Draper, Utah.  He was named to settle his father's estate.  They decided now to return to Draper and make their home feeling their mission had been a successful one.  This history tied them into the Allen mentioned in C. P. Anderson's Journal 

In his Final Journal Entry Charles  included that two year old Anna M  had a severe cough and had coughed all night.   William Coleman Allen administered to her and the cough left her immediately.  

Note:  This day had been a good one for the Andersons.  Their little girl, Anna M had recovered.  They met the McClaws and Allen families. They had a day to rest and found out about the road ahead.  

No doubt that conversation included the story of the Allen family crossing the lower ferry just nine days before.  At that same time a strong wind blew in heralding another storm.   The mother and children were so frightened of the precipitous road they refused to ride in the wagon and got out and walked (crossed Sept. 5).  This was a representative climax to their trying Arizona Adventure. ("History of W. C. Allen," 7 University of Arizona Special Collections).  In 1884 the water level at one point had risen higher than the ferryman had ever seen it.  (Lee's Ferry by P.T. Reilly, pg. 99-100).  In thirteen days  the Anderson family would cross Lee's Ferry.  Hopefully the water level would go down even more and their crossing would not be too difficult.  

Tomorrow the Andersons would go through Circle Valley (Circleville).  In 1884 the same year, they passed through, the story of the man pictured below really started.  He became a legend, not only in the local area, but throughout the country.  Historians are still trying to finish his story.  The Andersons stopped near where his family lived in 1884 and "turned out the horses." 

  




 

























 

Who Was Charles Harris? - Junction (Day 12)

Charles Harris

September 13, 1884 - Marysville to Junction (Charles Harris Ranch)*
Day 12 of 44 - (Week 2)
Marysville to Junction = 12 Miles (Total Miles = 251 Miles)
Total Trip Average Miles Per Day = 20.9: Average Miles Per Day - Week 2 = 21.7
*the Charles Harris ranch may be  about 2 miles Northwest of present day Junction

September 12 - 14, 1884

September 14 - 15, 1884

Original Journal Entry
"Saturday Sep. 13 hitched up late in the morning drove 12 miles to Charles Harris' Ranch and layed over Saturday afternoon and Sunday." (apparently he wrote this entry on Sunday)

Final Journal Entry
"Saturday Sep. 13 drove 12 miles to Charles Harris' Ranch, rested in afternoon."

Notes on Journal Entry:  A slight format change was made in the journal.  The day of the week was written.  Charles would eventually write the day and date on one line in the journal.

This is the shortest entry in his journal recording the trip so far. I wish he had just given a few more details, but not many people even keep a journal let alone one that provides  a day by day account.   For that I am very grateful.  He must have written this entry on Sunday as he mentions Sunday (the day after) in the original Saturday journal entry.  They needed time to rest as they had been making good mileage everyday, and as we shall see, their daughter, Anna M, was probably ill.  This was recorded the next day.  When I drove 12 miles from Marysvale, I saw no evidence of the ranch which was mentioned in the journal entry.

signpost 167 - 12 miles from Marysvale
near the Charles Harris ranch ?

near signpost 167 - 12 miles from Marysvale
near the Charles Harris ranch ?

I wondered where the Charles Harris ranch could be.   There were no signs to show me.  About one mile further, I noticed a small gated graveyard.  I got out of the car to check the tombstones.  Would you believe?  There was the grave of Charles Harris!  I never expected to find his grave at least in a small graveyard. This was my best day so far on the trail!

Click findagrave.com memorial

Charles Harris Grave

Obituary of Charles Harris

    
 Further research (click further research and go to page 24) revealed "Since this remote ranch was on the main road for settlers bound for Southern Utah and Arizona, they were often host to travelers, including the prominent, the ordinary, and the drifters  Otherwise they were isolated forty miles from the nearest stake organization and over ten miles from a school.  The Harris family lived here from 1877 to 1887.  Their children were largely without formal religious or school training only what they could receive at home in this period."  More will be said of Charles Harris in the next post.  Today we are just getting the Anderson family settled at the ranch.  To me the source of this information shown below  is interesting.

Charles Harris was the Great Grandfather
of Dallin Harris Oaks.  Martin Harris was
the Uncle of Charles Harris.

The father of Charles Harris was Emer Harris, the brother of Martin Harris. Emer received from his brother Martin Harris what is said to be the first bound copy of The Book of Mormon.  Emer died in November 1868.  He had not seen his brother Martin for over 30 years.  Martin Harris arrived in Salt Lake City nine months after Emer's death  More information on the Harris family can be found in 50 Pioneers (Click 50 Pioneers- see pgs. 20-23).

possible location near the Harris ranch ?
of old Hwy 89

Jacque Dalton and her grandson

But where was the ranch?  The graveyard was about a mile North of Junction and the 12 mile marker (from Marysvale) about two miles North.  I spoke with Jacque Dalton of Junction who told me that  the town was previously in the middle  of the Piute Reservoir Northwest of Junction. She also said her ancestors ran the Palmer House in Fayette.  Perhaps they were there when the Anderson family arrived (Day 8).  It's a small world.  Since the Harris family lived on the main road as the travelers stayed there, the ranch could have been near the town and the Piute Reservoir.    

Service station on old Hwy 89 just west of present day Junction.
At one time travelers stopped here.

Junction (Piute) when first settled was known as City Creek. It is named after the point where US-89and U-153 meet. The junction of the East Fork of the Sevier ...

According to the Journal, it was 12 miles from Marysvale to the Charles Harris Ranch.  According to local residents in 1884, the town of "Junction" sat in the middle of Piute Reservoir.  The Harris family probably lived on the main road and near the "town,"  It was about 12 miles to the Piute Reservoir (and 15 to Junction) from Marysvale so this could be the correct mileage.

The final journal entry was one sentence
It is surprising the resources available to
fill in what wasn't said.  It is an adventure
as well.

Tomorrow we will get better acquainted with Charles Harris.  The Andersons would finally have a day to rest.  Two travelers going from Arizona to Utah would also be at the Harris ranch, 

Big Rock Candy Mountain - Marysvale (Day 11)

September 12, 1884 - Richfield to Elsinore (nooned) to Marysvale
Day 11 of 44 - (Week 2)
Richfield to Elsinore = 31 Miles* (Total Miles = 239)*
Total Trip Average Miles Per Day = 21.7; Average Miles Per Day - Week 2 = 23.6
*mileage for this day not included in journal - calculated by google maps

September 11 - 12, 1884

September 12 - 13, 1884

Original Journal Entry

"12 Sep. Arose early John Hunter's teams gone hunted till 10 o'clock found them and Started, went little south of Elsinor and nooned - very windy - hitched up and drove over the mountain in the dark arrived at Marysville about 10 o'Clock Pastured our teams for 12 1/2 per span." 

Final Journal Entry
"Sept. 12 arose early, John C. Hunter's team gone, hunted until 10 o'clock, found them and started, nooned south of Elsenore, very windy - drove over the mountain in the dark to Marysville, arrived 10 o'clock.  Paid 12 1/2 per span pasture."

Note on Journal Entry: This was the second most mileage covered in one day and they went over a mountain.  This most miles covered was their second day out from Slagtown to Fairfield - 35 miles over  a fairly level traveling area.   This was also the least they had paid per span for pasture.  A long day and they didn't get started until 10:00 A.M. 

They got a late start because John C. Hunter's team was gone.  This is the first mention of John C. Hunter.  Who was he?  John Coutts Hunter was born in Scotland in 1848.  He made the trip when he was 35 with his wife Elizabeth (24) and their two children, James (2), and Elizabeth (1).  They were from West Weber, Utah.

John Coutts Hunter

John C. Hunter was mentioned three other times in the C. P. Anderson Journal:

October 23, 1884:   

John Hunter  drew for land with 11 others shortly after he arrived in St. Johns.

June 6, 1885:         

The Anderson family went to the sawmill. Over Sunday they stayed with John Hunter and his wife.                                                

July 6, 1885:               

John C Hunter and David E. Garner returned to Utah.  They were neighbors   to the Andersons in St. Johns.

David Garner was from Ogden, Utah His life sketch gives an interesting account (click)   of his trip to St. Johns.  It was a very difficult journey for the family.

Elsinore

Elsinore (click) was originally called Little Denmark because many of the early settlers were immigrants of that country.  At one time it was home to a Utah-Idaho Sugar Company factory.

Nooned South of Elsenor

Big Rock Candy Mountain

After Elsinore and about 5 miles before you reach Marysvale (click) you see Big Rock Candy Mountain.  A fun and scenic place to stop today.  In 1884 the Andersons were crossing the mountain late on what had been a windy day.  It was getting dark and even if they could still see the mountain they weren't thinking "candy mountain."

Big Rock Candy Mountain

Near the soda water fountain
At the lemonade springs
Where the bluebird sings
On the big rock candy mountain."

The song "Big Rock Candy Mountain" was made famous in the 1950s by Burl Ives.  The lyrics describe a traveling hobo who comes down the tracks to find the peace and perfection of the Big Rock Candy Mountain.

The colors come from many millions of years of mineralization caused by a complex chemical process involving hydrogen sulfide steam, ground water, and oxygen.  Ancient volcanoes erupted leaving colorful mineral deposits.  There are shades of yellow, red, orange, and even white volcanic rock.  It is a caramel colored group of hills.  The spring trickling down the yellow rocks looks just like lemonade mentioned in the lyrics.

Butch Cassidy's boyhood home will be seen down the road about 20 miles.
photo is courtesy of TripAdvisor

 "Big Rock Candy Mountain"

A little Piute County History (Click)  including Butch Cassidy. Marysvale is in Piute County

Marysvale

Arrived in Marysvale at 10:00 P.M.

Marysvale - stop and smell the roses hollyhocks

Marysvale-or stop and smell the hot dogs
sign in Marysvale

possibly camped near the river in Marysvale

 For the first time C. P. Anderson did not include the miles traveled in this journal.  Perhaps it was such a long day he forgot.  We'll certainly give him the benefit of the doubt.  It was not difficult to find the miles traveled  using Google Maps.  It took them 12 hours to cover the territory on this day, plus the time to find  the lost horses.  Today it is an easy 39 minute drive to travel the 31 miles according to the map.

Today we learned about a fictitious hobo from Big Rock Candy Mountain.  Tomorrow we will have the privilege to meet a very real person in what is called Junction today.  

SaveSave