The Lavender Fields of Mona - (Day 6)

photo by C. Wayne Fox

The purpose of this blog is to take us through territory we are aware of now with a late 1800s perspective.  It is the same route my great grandparents, Charles and Anna Anderson, followed in 1884 from Grantsville, Utah to St. Johns, Arizona.

September 7, 1884 - Santaquin to Mona 
Day 6 of 44 (Week 1)
Santaquin to Mona = 12 Miles (Total  = 121 Miles)
Trip Average = 20.1 Miles Per Day (Week 1 Average = 20.1 Miles Per Day)

September 5 - 7, 1884

September 7 - 9, 1884

Original Journal Entry

"Sunday Sep. 7 We left Santaquin and traveled 12 miles to Youngs about 1 mile from Mona (or Willow Creek) it rained all day so we could hardly travel we put up at Youngs paid 30 cents per span."

Final Journal Entry
"Sunday Sep. 7 traveled 12 miles to Youngs, it rained all day, could hardly travel,  paid 30  per span for feed." 

A span are a pair of animals (as mules) usually driven as a team matched in appearance and action and driven together (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).  Near Mona they paid 30 cents per span.  The price per span was recorded at different stops in C. P Anderson's Journal. This price varied as we shall see.  Today this might be much the same as comparing the price for a gallon of gas at different spots along the road.  The price for gas didn't vary so much.

photo by C. Wayne Fox

Youngs Lavander Farm

How exciting to see this sign that showed Youngs up ahead.  An actual identified place for the next stop that matched the journal entry (Youngs)! 

There was a nicely furnished home (visitor center) with many different products for sale and even lavender ice cream.   It certainly wasn't like this in 1884 when the only thing for sale was a place for the livestock to graze at 30 cents per span.

Outside it looked like a small Disneyland park with a lake and paddleboats, a western village, a large barn, and beautiful  gardens.  

Western Village

Paddle Boats

There was even a castle with a jousting area.  Watch the You Tube Video to get a better idea of this area.  What a beautiful place to celebrate the arrival of the Andersons here 130 years ago!

Youngs is a beautiful area today

History of Youngs

Now that you have seen Young Living Lavender Farm, an explanation is in order.  Back when the Anderson's camped at Youngs, this farm was not owned by the Young Family, but by  Howard and Martha Coray (click). Yes it was the Coray farm.  Howard Coray had a very interesting story.  In a fun scuffle with the Prophet Joseph Smith his leg was broken. He had a blessing from the Prophet that he would soon find a companion, which came to pass when he married Martha Knowlton.  While Howard Coray farmed and raised livestock on this farm, Martha grow herbs and began marketing her products.  Today this place is called Young Living Lavender Farm but after Gary and Mary Young, who didn't purchase the land until 1996.  Coincidently nearly 125 years later the Youngs are growing herbs on the same land in much the same way but on a grander scale as Martha Coray was doing.

The Andersons didn't camp at the Lavender Farm in 1884.  It was not called Youngs until 1996.

The place where the Andersons camped in 1884 was called Youngs, but Young Living Lavender Farms was not purchased by  Gary and Mary Young until 1996. It is a coincidence that the lavender farm in 2016 and the place the Anderson's camped in 1884 were both called Youngs in their day.  

 In 1884 when the Anderson's "put up at Youngs" it was probably with Branch and Parmelia Young just down the road about three miles from the lavender farm of today. 

1880 Census (House 69).  Branch Young Family near where the Andersons probably camped in 1884 (1 miles from Mona)

The farm of Howard Coray in the 1880 census and where Gary and Mary Young have their Lavender Farm today. 

1880 Census (House 89).  Howard Coray Family about four miles from Mona where Young Living Lavender Farm is located today.

Today we can enjoy what was the Coray place when visiting the area, and as we get closer to Mona just imagine where the Youngs lived and the Andersons camped.  Joseph Branch and Parmelia Young (click)  are buried in the graveyard in Mona.  

If you didn't get enough ice cream at the Red Barn in Santaquin, you can buy lavender ice cream here.  The Andersons couldn't do that.

Possibly close to area the Anderson's camped

The Anderson's camped about 1 mile from Mona

 

Branch and Parmelia Young Family

While in Mona, I contacted, Gordon Young, a great grandson of Branch Young. So about 130 years ago the grandparents of Gordon and I possibly met near this same location in Mona, Utah.  Things have changed but the mountains in the background look the same.

Gordon Young in Mona, Utah

Gordon said the Young Family lived in a small adobe house that burned about five years ago near the shed below.  It is located about 445 - 350 West Street (near 300 South) in Mona, Utah.  A local resident told me that they called part of the area in Mona at one time, Youngstown.  So maybe we don't have to imagine.  It could have been very near here where the Anderson's camped in September of 1884.

shed near former Young home
  445 350 W (near 300 South) Mona, Utah

Young farm in Mona, Utah

 Branch and Parmelia Young (click)

Branch and Parmelia Young Home in Mona, Utah

The Young Living Center is 3 Miles from Mona.  The Andersons camped one mile outside of Mona so this would mean they traveled 11 miles according to Google Maps.  The Journal says they travelled 12 miles.  Due to rounding the miles and where they camped in Mona and Santaquin this could easily be off by a mile.   

When I arrived at Youngs Lavender Farms the mileage was about three miles off.  We had only come 8 miles from Santaquin, not 11 or 12.  This led to further research as explained in this blog.  I wanted this to be the spot where the Andersons camped on September 7, 1884, but it was not to be.  Sometimes those pesky details get in the way of how you want the research to go, or the answers you think or want.   This is why sources should always be checked for accuracy. 

Things aren't always like they seem

Even though my ancestors did not actually camp here on this trip to Arizona, it will always be possible to   stop at Young Living Lavender Farm.  There could not be a better rest stop, and with plenty of activities for children.  It is like a miniature Disneyland at the side of the road.  Thanks to the staff  for making our visit there most enjoyable!

Posted October 1, 2016

Fall Festival

Day 6 is now in the history books (if it wasn't already).  We have been on the trail for 1 week.  We have traveled 121 miles and averaged 20.1 miles a day. 

Coming in May 
to a blog near you

A Surprise at Burraston Ponds - (Day 7)

A local resident told me of a place which   would be interesting to check out in Mona.  Turns out this has everything to do with the trip to St. Johns.  Brent Aagard loaned me a book on Levan.  It has some valuable information as well! 

Kirk Fairbanks photo - taken in Levan
sun and clouds 

The Journey Continues

Four Utah Towns/ Chief Guffich - Santaquin (Day 5)

The purpose of this blog is to take us through territory we are aware of now with a late 1800s perspective.  It is the same route my great grandparents, Charles and Anna Anderson, followed in 1884 from Grantsville, Utah to St. Johns, Arizona.

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September 6,1884 -Provo to Springville, Spanish Fork, Payson, Spring Lake, and Santaquin
(Day 5 of 44 - Week 1)
Provo* to Santaquin = 24 Miles (Trip Total = 109 Miles)
*camped in Southern Provo.  Is mileage from Provo (Woolen Mill) or Southern Provo ?

September 6, 1884

Original Journal
"we went a distance of 24 miles pasing through Springville, Spanish Fork, Payson, Spring Lake, and camped in Santaquin."

Final Journal
"we passed through Springville, Spanish Fork, Payson, Spring Lake, and camped in Santaquin, 24 miles."

This may be one of the shortest daily journal entry, but five new towns are named.

Springville

Spanish Fork

Payson

 Spring Lake

Santaquin

Although I passed through these towns,  I didn't stop to tour  each one.  There is some good history here and if you have time, I encourage you to do some exploring. 
Some highlights might include:

• Springville (Brookside) - a poplar tree that is one of the biggest in Utah.
• Spanish Fork - a 37 foot cross erected in 1976 commemorates Father Dominguez and Escalante reaching this area September 23, 1776.  There will be other places the Andersons will travel near or on the trail of Fathers Dominguez and Escalante on their 44 day journey.
• Spring Lake - Black Hawk the instigator of the Black Hawk War is buried here.
• Payson, Utah - The Temple grounds

Payson, Utah Temple

Again, check the website for other information on these sites as well as other places to visit in these towns. I would encourage you to click on the following places when in the website.

D.U.P. Markers

Utah Cities of Towns

or just Search the town in the space provided

Try to find at least one of these towns to get familiar with the site 

There are many good links on the JacobBarlow.com site. One of these links, "Best Mapping Site" is where I found ACME Mapper which provided the maps for this blog. Good luck in your exploring.  I'll meet you in Santaquin.  





I don't know where the Andersons nooned on this day, but they camped in Santaquin.  May I suggest stopping at the Red Barn to "camp."  The ice cream is great.  While you are enjoying your ice cream, you could go to Jacob Barlow's website and learn a little more about Santaquin from two entires on his blog.  The blog also tells the story of Chief Guffich and how "Santaquin" received its name.  Then you'll be ready to "hitch up" and go to "Youngs."  The story is also included below:

A Connection to the Past in Payson - Samuel Moore Sr.

At the same time I was preparing this posting, David Moore, a friend in my Ward, told me of his ancestor who also went to St. Johns in 1884.  I later found this was Samuel Moore Sr. He was also one of the 102 families called to St. Johns in 1884.  I checked familysearch.org and found Samuel's first son, Walter, was born in Payson the day after the Andersons passed through Payson (September 7, 1884).  For that reason, the family did not start until seven weeks later on October 29, probably following nearly the same route as the Andersons.  The story of their journey to Arizona and mission in St. Johns can be read here.  We never know who we are going to find on our journey to St. Johns.  

The Moore family arrived in St. Johns December 5, 1884.  I'm sure Clara Moore was well acquainted with my great grandmother, Anna Anderson. Clara was in the choir for the eight years they were in St. Johns and my grandmother, Anna,  played the organ for the Ward choir.   

The friendship of Samuel and Charles was confirmed late one night when I read this entry recorded in C.P. Anderson's original journal:  "April 23 (1887) went to Springerville to preach.  Brother S.D. Moore and myself stayed with Bishop George H. Crosby we preached in Sunday School and after-noon meeting and arrived home the 25 of April.  (Charles P. Anderson had been called to be a home missionary in the Eastern Arizona Stake at the Quarterly Conference in Snowflake on March 10).

S.D. Moore - April 23, 1887

I then checked his final (edited) journal where he said:  "Samuel D. Moore (full name not just initials) and myself went to Springerville as home missionaries, stayed with Bishop Geo. H. Crosby, preached in S. School and meeting.  Arrived home 25."  To find this entry go to the Journal of C.P. Anderson (on familysearch.org under books) and then Page 8: 1887-April 23. 

There is addition material on the person page in familysearch.org  of Walter Harvey Moore, Samuel Moore's son, on St. Johns.  Go to this link to find it




From their camp (1320 South State ?) in south Provo to Santaquin is 23 miles according to google maps.  Today you can make it  in 45 minutes.  It would take even less time if you took I-15, but I wanted to follow their route as closely as possible.  
When I drove this route, I found from 700 East Center in Provo to 2nd West and Center Street in Santaquin was about 24 Miles.  It is about 3 miles from 700 East Center in Provo to the Southern Provo boundary.  Like I said in the previous post, where they camped in southern Provo, or how the mileage was determined is not entirely clear.


In 1884 24 miles was a long day for the Andersons.  According to the map, it would take about 46 minutes today, and you even have time to stop at the Red Barn for ice cream, and activities.    I always look forward to this stop  when I am on the "trail."  

Other activities are sometime available ( Videos Facebook)

Great resting spot today to "noon or camp"

This blog is accessible from The Red Barn Visitor Posts on their Facebook page (left hand side) 

Next Posting - Thursday April, 22, 2016 (Day 6) - Things Aren't Always What They Seem

• We will  visit  "Youngs," near Mona, a beautiful place just off the road today, but things aren't always what they seem. Did the Anderson family camp there?