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

The Stagecoach Inn - Fairfield (Day 2)

September 3, 1884 - Slagtown to Knowlen and Fairfield (Camp Floyd)
(Day 2 of 44 - Week 2)
Tooele* to Fairfield = 35 Miles (Trip Total = 47 Miles)
*Mileage from Tooele not Slagtown (see Google Maps below))
                                                             

September 3, 1884

September 3 - 5, 1884

Note:  
Care has been taken to preserve the original spelling, grammar, punctuation, and meaning as written.

 Original Journal Entry (above)
"3rd we went to Tolman's at Knowlen there we I traded off my black mare for a mule, then we went to Fairfield the second night.  we stayed at Young's a distance from Tooele of 35 miles.

Final Journal Entry

"Sep. 3. we went to Toleman's at Knowlen.  I traded my big black mare off for a gray mule which proved a great blessing to me as the mare was sick, and "gave out" the first day upon the journey.  A man came and offered me the mule for the mare and I traded.  I then had a fine mule team.  We went to Fairfield that night and stayed at Young's place 35 miles from Tooele."

C. P Anderson went into more detail on trading for the mule in the second entry. This was an important part of the journey.  Tomorrow they would shod the mule. 

After Slagtown at the junction where you turn is the following monument:

Turn at this monument

Then they went to Knowlen.

Note on Knowlen:  "We went to Tolman's at Knowlen."  Knowlen was settled about 1870 by Ormus E. Bates.  It was located on Ophir Creek about a mile west of the mouth of Ophir Canyon near Ophir.  Cyrus Tolman was an early settler at Knowlen  He moved from this area in 1881.  Click on his name for more information on him and the area.

The Andersons then went to Fairfield which at one time was known as Camp Floyd. There are many interesting activities at Camp Floyd throughout the year.  You might want to time your visit to take part.  It has a rich history.

Camp Floyd was one of the United States most strategically important military outposts.

It was the largest military base in the country and the second largest city in Utah. Camp

Floyd's legacy is now little more than a single building.  This documentary brings 

to light the story of Camp Floyd.

Did the Anderson's stay here September 3, 1884? (see Research Tips)

Remember to put the cursor on the side if you don't want the map to move 

Feel free to move it around as well.  It will reset when you close out.

If you "lose" the route click + or - or move the cursor with one finger to find the route.  You can also reset the map.  These maps will be available on most every post to help visualize where the route was and the miles traveled.  Click "more options  for a larger map and "details" for the actual route. If you are "going" on this trip, it will help to become familiar with how to use the maps.  You can "talk" to me about it in the comments below.

Before we try to answer the question, "Where did the Anderson Family stay the night of September 3, 1884."  Let's see how Sherlock Holmes might have approached this case and other research problems on this blog.

1880 Census Records

                                                           1880 Census - Page 1 of 4 - Fairfield

                                                            Exhibit #1 - Young Family  (267/276)*

                                                            *Dwelling #/Family#

                                                         

                                               1880 Census - Page 2 of 4 -  Cedar Fort (Fairfield ?)  

                          Exhibit #2 - Young/ Carson Families  -  Listed in the same household (278/287)

                                                        1880 Census - Page 2 of 4 -  Cedar Fort (Fairfield ?)

                                                                     Exhibit #3 - Young Family (287/ 296)

                                                                                                                   

Again, Where did the Andersons stay the night of September 3, 1884 ?

The genealogist in me could not help but try and find where the Youngs lived because this is where the Anderson's stayed.  I went to the 1880 Census and looked up all the Youngs in Fairfield (Camp Floyd) and nearby Cedar Fort.  The Anderson's could have been with any of these families. However there is a Josias Young Family living in the same household as the John Carson Family.  Who was John Carson (also see 1880 census above)?  The link will give more of his story, but he had built his home in Fairfield, and it later became an Inn when Johnson's army came to Utah.   

The census record above  lists John Carson as being in the HOTEL business.  Josiah Young is living in the same place (See Exhibit 2).  So did the Anderson's stay in the  Stagecoach Inn or did they stay with one of the other Young families?   I know it's not like we're trying to find out where George Washington stayed, but I was just curious.  Seems like they would have stayed near the Stagecoach Inn.  But why did he say they stayed at Young's place?  Why didn't he say they stayed at the Stagecoach Inn or Carson's place (the owner ?)  They also may have just camped near one of the other Youngs who lived there.  

Is this a case of the tent being stolen, or is the answer more complicated?  There are always mysteries when doing family history. Don't forget to talk (comment below) a little as we are traveling down the trail.

The route may have been different back then, and we don't know exactly where they stopped and started each day. 
The Journal =   47 Miles from Grantsville to Fairfield.
Google Maps = 48 Miles: 24.4 (Grantsville to "Slagtown" --Steptoe Marker) + 23.8 (Steptoe Marker to Fairfield).

 Where the Anderson's stayed is something for Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to look into. Mileage differences between the Anderson journal, google maps, and actual travel mileage today will be discussed in this section. 

Depicting (not actually) the "Andersons" visiting with the "Carsons" and "Youngs"
 in front of the Stagecoach Inn.
  Information (See Fairfield Utah History Websites)

• Next Posting: Thursday, April 7, 2016 (Day 2) - Shodding the Mule

"I then had a fine mule team"
C. P. Anderson Journal -- Sept. 3, 1884

Discover the People's Co-op
Did they shod the mule near here?

Lehi Bakery - home of the square doughnut
suggested "nooning" spot.