Charles E Griffin Crossing the Plains

Chapter-4 Crossing the Plains------------- From Charles Emerson Griffin’s autobiography, “My father worked and got a pair of young steers which he traded for another ox. Father had succeeded in getting two cows for work and that was to be our team to go to Salt Lake with. President Young and the rest of the pioneers having gone on to Salt Lake Valley and returned the year before. When spring broke we started for the “Valley” with one yoke of oxen and one yoke of cows with the understanding that we would have to take provisions enough to last us until we could raise a crop. Besides taking our other things, farming tools ect. Our wagon cover was a few strips of carpet and a couple of oiled quilts or blankets. Our bread stuff was principally corn meal with the exception of one barrel of flour. Flour bread was, as I remember, quite a rarity and only used once in a great while. We started west in President Kimball’s company and traveled in it most of the way. My father was a captain of Ten. Nothing of importance occurred on the plains excepting one stampede, which resulted only in a good scare to all. Our traveling was necessarily slow on account of our heavy loads. We were on the road three months. As last we arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.” Charles Emerson Griffin left us this brief account of the journey that he made with his parents, Albert Bailey Griffin and Abigail Varney Griffin, across the plains from Winter Quarters to the Salt Lake Valley. Charles wrote the account late in his life his view of the journey colored by the prism of a twelve year old boy’s eyes. Charles had lived his whole life on the pioneer edge of America. First as his father carved a farm out of raw land in Ohio, then in Nauvoo. As a nine year old he made the trek to Winter Quarters where for the next two years he helped his father carve new farmland out of the prairie in Nebraska. Spending a summer on the plains did not represent a totally new adventure to the twelve-year-old boy. As a result he tells a very simple version of a very complex and bold story. Joseph Smith had set the vision for a haven in the western mountains early on in the Church’s history. The events in Missouri had set in motions the factors that saw a fulfillment of that dream howbeit on a timetable that was much shorter than most had ever imagined. Forced out of Nauvoo in the spring of 1846 the Saints gathered themselves at places along the trail in Iowa and at Winter Quarters. The next year, 1847, Brigham Young’s party pioneered the route across the plains and identified the place of Joseph’s dreams. 1,800 Saints made the trek to Salt Lake City that first year. In 1848 the church was ready to begin the process that would see the Church completely transplanted to the American west. 1848 saw four large companies organized in Winter Quarters. That year over 2,500 Saints made the journey west. The 1848 companies were better organized, transporting whole families with all of the necessities, to establish a permanent society. These large, heavily laden, wagon trains moved at a slower, measured pace. Their size and complexity required more coordination and cooperation. Those factors demanded a more complex organization. Charles’s brief account touches on none of the points we have just raised. In the following pages we will attempted to fill in the empty spaces in Charles’s story. The Griffin journey west starts on the Kimball Farm, which was located six or seven miles north of Winter Quarters. The estimation is that there were about thirty families working together on several hundred acres under the supervision of Heber C. Kimball. By all account the farm was very successful raising large crops of buckwheat, potatoes and corn. Although Charles tells of his mother pounding corn the farm operated a large gristmill, which could process large quantities of corn meal. Charles’ father, Albert Bailey Griffin, traded his labor for the resources that he used to transport his family to Salt Lake City. The family had left Nauvoo with an older wagon and a yoke of oxen. Two years later one of the oxen had died. Albert bartered for a second ox to complete the yoke. The family also acquired a pair of cows. The four animals would make up the team that pulled their wagon across the plains. This set up was very common among the teams traveling the plains that year. The team is the only animals mentioned by Charles. They certainly represented the family’s most important resource. However it is very unlikely that they represented the only livestock that the family owned and took with them on the trip. For starters as you review the roles Albert assumed and the duties he performed as part of the Heber C. Kimball Company it is hard to imagine that he did not own or at least have easy access to a saddle horse. In the journal history from the trip there is an entry describing the sorts of animals that were taken along. With the 64 wagons in one particular group there were, 21 horses, 16 mules, 199 oxen, 93 cows, 28 sheep, 28 hogs and 71 hens. Milo Harmon described his families’ animals as, 2 ox, 2 cows, 2 heifer, 2 sheep, 1 pig and 1 horse. There are a couple of hints concerning the Griffin family’s animals. Charles describes his father’s trade for the extra ox as involving 2 young steers that he had acquired. This seems to hint that Albert was able to trade for and acquire animals. Anther hint is the fact that Albert was assigned to manage the sheep herd on the journey west. Was this an indication that he himself owned sheep? Everyone who has lived in the country understands how easy it is to acquire chickens, trade for a few chicks and watch them grow. Chickens were easily transported in cages hung on the outside of the wagon. Why is the accounting for animals important? Access to milk, butter and eggs turned a corn and flour based diet from the bare basics to a pleasant variety. Having a beef supply that could transport itself until needed was an integral part of the planning for all groups who crossed the American plains. Whatever the makeup it is almost certain that the Griffin’s owned animals other than those pulling the wagon. All of the animals taken on the journey by the individual families were managed as a communal herd. Although we have no records to so indicate it is easy to imagine that a milk cow was brought along with individual wagons. The chickens almost certainly were transported in cages carried in the wagons. What about the foodstuffs and other items that they may have carried? Charles indicated that they carried enough food for the journey with enough left over to carry them until the next harvest season. The, “Immigrants Guide to the West” makes the following recommendation for a family of 4 for food for the crossing; 600 lb flour, 120 lb hard tack, 400 lb bacon, 60lb coffee,100 lb sugar, 200 lb lard, rice & beans, dried fruit, baking soda, corn meal, dried beef, molasses, vinegar, salt & pepper. According to Charles’ description the 600 pounds of flour for them was more likely to have been 200 pounds of flour, a barrel of flour was about 150 pounds, and 400 pounds of corn meal. Of course these numbers would need to be multiplied if we account for the extra needed to see them through the next winter. If you spend any time studying the Mormon immigration story you soon gain an appreciation for their organizational genius. Starting with the moment they arrived in Winter Quarters it is a safe assumption that the Church set about accumulating all of the items in the Immigrant Guide. Sitting on the Missouri River, Winter Quarters had access to the full range of goods transported on the waterways of America. That meant that whatever items they could not produce could be bartered for. It is then probably a safe assumption that the Griffin’s lauder reflected the same recommendations even if it was based, according to Charles, more on corn meal than flour. Also included in the Guide is a list of cooking equipment and tools; Dutch Oven, skillet, kettle, reflector oven, tea pot, table ware and a water keg. For tools, augers, gimlet, axe, hammer, hoe, shovel and a plow. And for the wagon, kingbolts, ox shoes, spokes, extra wagon tongue, spare axels, heavy ropes and chains and a block and tackle set. Charles noted that they took their “other things, farming tools etc”. What about their wagon? Charles indicated in his autobiography that they left Nauvoo in an “old wagon that he repaired sufficiently”. In response to the constant movement west, that had become part of the America culture, we see the birth of the prairie schooner. This type of wagon was purpose build for transport goods over long journeys. It was build with higher sides but its defining feature was the cover stretched out over the wagon bows that provided protection for the contents from the weather. The typical wagon had a nine or ten foot long box that was four feet wide and two feet deep. The box was usually sealed at the joints to prevent water seepage at river crossings. Many wagons had a second removable floor above the first. This area was used as a protective storage area for the families most valuable and fragile possessions. To a nine-year-old boy a common farm wagon when compared to the image of the cover wagon was just an old wagon. A purpose build covered wagon cost about $70.00, a farm wagon less than half as much. Historical references indicate that as a means of transport both were equally capable of hauling over 2000 pounds. A common farm wagon could be fitted with wagon bows and a cover added. Charles describes the cover for their wagon as a few strips of carpet and a couple of oiled quilts or blankets. Again we must remember that his description comes from the memories and understanding of a 12 year old. The ideal cover was made of good canvas. The most common wagon cover was made out of homemade cloth that was waterproofed with beeswax or linseed oil. My interpretation of the events with the wagon is that Albert made a deal for an older wagon that he got for a good price. Using the experience that he gained from his wagon-making father in law he then made the repairs necessary to bring it back to a good working order. At the end of its working life most wagons probably still had very few of the their original parts with constant repair being the understood. The wagon certainly served the family well on the demanding trip across the plains. While the wagon served the Griffins well in transporting their food and possessions across the prairie, home for the trip was a tent. While the wagon cover may have been assembled out of available materials that were adapted to fit a need the tents were almost assuredly made out of good canvas. By 1848 there was even a rubberized canvas available to make tents out of. Setting up the tent was probably the first chore taken care of each evening. The tent, a fire pit for a kitchen and water from the water barrel hanging on the side of the wagon was home. In the morning the tent was taken down and the bedding hung to air out. Both were then folded and reloaded on the wagon. On reaching Salt Lake City the tent and the by then empty wagon would serve as home until a cabin could be constructed. What does a corn meal based diet look like? Most days probably started with cornmeal mush. The mush was made by slowly stirring cornmeal into boiling water. A teaspoonful of salt and a tablespoonful of lard and maybe some dried fruit was added. The mush took about 3 minutes to cook. If available the mush was toped with milk, butter or molasses. Extra mush would be spread out and allowed to dry. The dried cake was lightly fried and served as a meal for lunch. Johnny Cakes were a popular use for corn meal. The batter was baked as a cake cooked for about 20 minutes or they were served as a morning hot cake. The recipe called for 2 cups of corn meal, ½ cup of flour, 1 tsp salt then add 2 cups of buttermilk and 2 tablespoons of molasses. The batter was made lighter with the addition of eggs if they were available. Corn Dodgers represented an easily transportable ration. In addition they stayed good for a period of time. It’s easy to picture a man eating a lunch of Corn Dodgers that he had transported tied up in a handkerchief. The recipe called for 2 cups of corn meal, 2 tbs butter, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tbs sugar, 2 cups of milk and 1 tsp of baking soda. Cook corn with butter, salt, sugar, and milk until it boils then remove and let sit for 5 minutes. Spoonfuls were then added to a Dutch Oven where they baked for 10 to 15 minutes. For dinner the corn meal was probably cooked into the cornbread that we are all familiar with. A variation on standard cornbread saw the addition of sour dough starter. The buckwheat that they raised was primarily used for hotcakes adding a little variety. The availability of milk, buttermilk, butter and eggs added richness to all of the recipes. You could probably not tolerate a corn meal diet without having molasses available. Even with the given that the simpler times included a simpler view of the world the constant corn diet certainly had to become monotonous. Those good pioneer women certainly had to be inventive to add as much variety to one ingredient as possible. For Charles the appearance of a loaf of white bread was an occasion. A pot of beans flavored with a ham hock or bacon was probably a welcome change as was rice instead of bread served with the meat and gravy. With potatoes being a key crop on the Kimball Farm they probably carried a supply. The key shortage as a food source for travelers was vegetables. The only vegetable with a long enough shelf life to survive the trip was onions. On the frontier it is almost impossible to imagine a day without meat. For all people living away from home bacon, with its good shelf life, was the absolute go to for meat protein. It is hard to imagine that an occasional steer or a pig or sheep was not butchered and shared among the company. Each company assigned men to serve as hunters for the group. It is not uncommon in the diary entries recorded on the trip to include a report of 2 or 3 buffalos being killed in a single day. A large bull bison can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds. In one of the journals the writer described the success of his hunting party, July 4, 4 buffalo, 6th--2, 7th--3 , July 8th men selected from every 10 to hunt, killed 4 buffalo, 3 deer and 1 calf. The meat that was not quickly eaten was processed into dried meat or jerky. Today we talk of a meat and potatoes diet for them it was a meat and bread diet. Outfitted and ready to go the wagons would leave Winter Quarters and head 27 miles west to the river crossing on the Elkhorn River, west of present day Omaha. In 1846 Albert Griffin had been sent to the Elkhorn to build the infrastructure for a bridge and ferry. Once across the Elkhorn the scattered wagons were organized into companies for the journey west. Traveling in tandem were two major companies that year. One has led by Brigham Young. It was made up of 1054 souls and 397 wagons. The Heber C. Kimball Company, which included the Griffins, was made up of 701 Saints and 226 wagons. Each immigrant company was divided into administrative units. There were Hundreds and divisions of Fifty. The larger divisions were then subdivided into Tens. A man, elected by a vote of affirmation, led each of these administrative units. It was not uncommon for a unit to vote to change leadership. According to Charles, “My father was a captain of Ten”. The Heber C. Kimball Company was divided into four subdivisions. Henry Harriman was elected Captain of a Hundred. Titus Billings, John Peck and later Isaac Higbee were elected as Captains of Fifty. Henry Harriman after whom Herriman, Utah is named captained the Hundred that the Griffins belonged to. The company roster listed Albert Bailey Griffin age 39, Abigail Varney Griffin age 38 and Charles Emerson Griffin age 12. Names that many would recognize that were part of the company including William Clayton. Howard Egan, Charles’s future Nauvoo Legion commander was in the company. Included were Joseph Fielding and his sister Mary Fielding Smith along with Hyrum Smiths children including a 10-year-old Sarah. Bishop Newel K. Whitney, who had lived next to the Griffin’s on the Kimball Farm, was also in the Company. Once organized the companies left the Elkhorn and traveled on another 12 miles until they hit the Platte River. The Oregon Trail started in Kansas with Fort Leavenworth being the principal starting point. It traveled along the southern side of the Platte River. The Mormon’s chose to travel along the northern side of the Platte. The decision in no small part was a deliberate attempt to separate themselves from the other immigrants traveling across the plains. The trail followed the Platte across Nebraska. Fort Kearny and the confluence of the North and South branches of the river 358 miles from winter Quarters were the first two major reference points on the trail. Scotts Bluff at a distance of 472 miles marked a change in topography as the trail entered Wyoming. The single most important stop on the trail was Fort Laramie at a distance of 512 miles. Here the Mormon Trail crossed over to the south side of the Platte River. At Casper the trail left the Platte. After crossing the Platte at Casper the trail headed in a more southerly direction for 68 miles until it came to Devil’s Gate. From Devil’s Gate to South Pass was anther 95 miles. From South Pass on to Salt Lake City was another 232 miles. The journal history of the trip is replete with references to having reached these famous milestones. By June 4th most of the wagons had crossed the Elkhorn. From Heber C Kimball’s journal, “On Sunday the 4th most of the saints assembled for prayer meeting near Prest. Kimball’s wagon, and were addressed by Bishop N. K. Whitney and Prest. Kimball on various subjects of interest, touching on the journey before us, and the necessity of walking humbly and righteous before God, that we may realize the blessings we need during our journey”. The journey itself got off to a shaky start. On the morning of the 6th the herd boys came rushing into camp and announced that the Indians were raiding the cattle herds. A number of the men immediately began a pursuit. After a six mile chase a firefight ensued. Three of the men were wounded one seriously all however were to survive. The net result of the raid, excluding the wounding of the men, was the loss of a single ox. The raid however hastened the effort to complete the formal organization of the company, which was finalized on that same afternoon. Albert Bailey Griffin was named Captain of the 5th Ten in the First Hundred. The official start date listed for the company is June 7th. What was life like for the Griffins on the journey west? A typical journal entry reads as follows, “Saturday July 1st this morning be began our march about 9 0clock. All things were prosperous with us this day. We traveled 14 miles and corralled near Pres. Young’s camp. Three Buffalo were killed and brought into camp.” With their farm wagon loaded to the brim the pace was set by the slow moving oxen. A man on foot could easily keep up. Unlike horse teams or mule teams the oxen were not controlled with reins. The bull-whacker walked along side giving verbal commands and liberally applying the rod. With only three in their family it seems logical that all of them took turns managing the oxen and cows pulling the wagon. Charles noted in his autobiography that he had started herding cows while they still lived in Winter Quarter’s. With his father busy with his other non-family related responsibilities there were many times when in all likelihood it fell to the twelve year old Charles to keep the wagon moving. The primary task for each day was managing the animals. The search for grass was the number one topic in the journal history of the trek. A lost or a single missing animal was a cause for concern. At the end of each day the wagons were drawn in to a circle forming a corral. The animals were kept in the corral until usually about three in the morning when they were taken out to graze. By holding them until morning the animals were eager to start grazing instead of wandering off. Within the first week of being on the trail one of the first organizational tasks was to formally organize a guard, their number one priority, the safety of the animal herds. In addition to his duties as a Captain of a Ten, Albert Griffin was appointed to be the Sargent of the 6th company of guards in charge of eight other men. When it was their turn in the rotation they were responsible to see that the animals and camp went undisturbed through out the night. From camp rules that have survived concerning having a primed rifle in camp etc. it is clear that Albert conducted his duties as Sargent of the Guard fully armed. Heber C. Kimball noted in his journal, “I feel sleepy this morning being on guard after part of the night”. Jacob Norton recorded in his journal on June 15th, “Our cattle remain quietly within our corral by close watching, Albert Griffin’s company being on guard”. By early morning the animal herds were driven back to camp where each wagon sought out their own animals and hitched them up. The men assigned to manage the herds were organized along the same lines as the organization of the guards. One of the things on the minds of the guards was the threat posed by the Indians. In the first week of the journey west they had a major confrontation with causalities on both sides. The Nebraska plains were very much Indian territory. There are a number of references to the Indians in the journal histories, “some Indians were discovered in our rear crawling up to some of the wagons who were behind the main body no damage was done by them”. There are a number of references to the scene witnessed when they passed the Pawnee Mission Station, “The Sioux have burned their new mission house”. In one instance they recovered an ox that the Indians had hidden in a deep depression. A number of accounts note encounters with groups of friendly Indians. The number of hours spent on the road each day was not necessarily long. It was impractical to over work the draft animals. There were many days when the company only made five miles. An eighteen or twenty mile day was quite unusual. Brigham Young recorded that the daily average was twelve miles. He also noted that they rested for twenty-two days on the journey. They still traveled for part of the day on most Sundays. Robert T. Burton noted in his journal, “ We would occasionally lay over for a few days. The sisters could bake bread, wash, iron, mend etc.”. It may have been on these rest days when Charles’s mother had the time to bake him a loaf of white bread. Concerning the same subject another journal entry reported, “females a chance to do their washing etc. which was attended to with alacrity.” There are a number of descriptions in the journals of planned rest days. The entries note that the wagons equipped with the blacksmith shop were sent on ahead in order to be set up and be made ready to make needed repairs. What was required of Albert as a Captain of a Ten? As part of the documentation noting the appointment of the Captains of the Tens was the following entry, “The following is a report of the several Captains of Tens setting forth the names and numbers of persons, wagons, horses, mules, oxen, sheep etc., etc. in each company of Ten”. Albert was responsible for everything connected with the ten or so wagons under his care. The Tens were kept together as a close group. They would have marched together and camped together. Each morning he probably made a quick inspection to make sure everyone was up and ready to go. Under his leadership the people in his Ten would have worked together to solve the problems that came up. Over difficult patches on the trail they would take turns doubling up the yokes of oxen to affect a passage. Working together to fix or supply parts for a broken wagon was a common occurrence. Families that had an extra teenage boy lent him to other families that had a shortage of able hands. Albert had been in charge of the family of Winslow Farr Sr., who had been called east on a mission in Winter Quarters. Winslow Farr Jr. made the trip west with the Griffins. The young Farr was later to return to Winter Quarters and cross the plains again with his family in 1850. I am quite sure there were any number of other communal activities undertaken by these small groups. The women in each ten and related Fifties and Hundreds almost surely worked together to produce and share the butter, eggs and milk that made their diets more palatable. By July 15th there had been eight new babies born on the trail. For a Ten the birth of a child was certain to have been a cooperative event. The journals note Tens dropping out of line to search for missing animals belonging to one of their members. As the Captain, Albert was also responsible for their religious life leading morning and evening prayers. As the journey moved further and further west the large companies divided into smaller and smaller groups in order to expand the search for grazing. The smaller the subdivisions the greater the responsibly faced by the Captain of Ten. The Captains in some ways assumed the role of a Stake High Council. From Brigham Young’s journal, dated July 16, speaking concerning the Tens from the two large companies, “The Captains of Ten, were called together in our corral to know their minds relative to the companies”. We have no information other than that written in his autobiography that tells the story of Charles’s experiences crossing the plains. In much of his personal writings he explains his life as it related to his father. In this story we have been forced to do the same. For the three Griffin’s the story of crossing the plains is one and the same story. However there are a few insights from the perspective of the young men in the Company. His future brother in law, the fifteen year old John Smith, wrote this in his journal, “I had to be the boy who brought the wood and water, herded the cows, and assisted to double teams over bad places, up hills, etc. On one occasion a circumstance occurred, which I shall never forget. At sundown, while we were encamped on the Platte River, it was reported that a woman was lost. Without ceremony I took my coat on my arm and a piece of corn bread in my hand and started out up the road”. There are two references to a buffalo stampede that seem to fit the description of the stampede that Charles described, “Killed the first Buffalo at the head of the Pawnee Swamps ……….. This was a pell mell hunt, a small band being started down the swamps toward the river, came running and dashing through our line and receiving showers of bullets and being pursed by men, women and children”. “This day a herd of Buffalo was drove towards the wagons, and five or six of them were killed. This was something new to us to see the chase they ran between our wagons”. The members of the two large companies joined together often for Sunday services. On the journey west they had the opportunity to hear some of the leading Priesthood holders in the church speak, Lorenzo Snow, Heber C. Kimball, Bishop Newell K. Whitney and the Prophet Brigham Young. There must have been some very powerful testimonies offered given what those men and personally witnessed and been party to. Among the common themes found in the recorded sermons, living the commandments, building up the Kingdom of God and following the Prophet. One eyebrow-raising theme that is mentioned often is the condemnation of the profanity that seemed to have been common in the camps. From a journal entry, “Sunday 18th The Saints gathered midway between the camps on the banks of the river for worship. Brother Brigham opened the meeting by prayer and then address the saints on the object that should be constantly kept in view on this journey, the building up of the Kingdom Of God on the earth, that an individual might believe Mormonism to be true and be all his life in the midst of the Saints and be damned and go to hell at last because they did not keep and retain the influence of the Holy Ghost within their own breast to govern and rule the whole man”. From William Thompson’s journal, “ The camps met together at 4 o’clock. The meeting was opened by singing and prayer by Father Isaac Morley. President Young arose and said there was some items of business to attend to, as for preaching, my preaching is for every person to do right. Let them act on the principals of right according to the light that he posses for Jesus is the light of every man that cometh into the world, both Saint and savage. This people know a great deal; the know the principals of the Gospel and it far exceeds the knowledge of the Christian world. There is some among us that has been slow to learn, yet their knowledge of theology is ahead of the religious portion of mankind. Then, brethren, live according to your knowledge. I am as liable to do wrong as other men but I keep trying all the time to do right. I know what is right. Since I have been called to judge I always have been able to discern the good from the bad, right from wrong. God is very kind and compassionate; more ten times than we are to our children, or any kind friend. Was it not that he is we would fall far short. Let us act perfect as men and we will be as perfect in our sphere of action as God is in his. I have always been faithful in my calling. I feel as willing to day as to my duty as I ever did. I am now willing to go to the ends of the earth and preach the gospel it was my calling as ever I was. I have traveled and preached till the blood has squashed in my boots. But I am for the mountains; this is my calling at present. I feel that we should divide into small companies, so that our cattle can have more time to feed. I have traveled believing all the time I have pushed the people up. I have seen the companies over all the bad places before I crost. There has been no murmuring among us, all has been well. I expect to be judged by my works not by my good feelings and I mean that they will be good all the time and the leave the result in the hands of the Lord.” “Erastus Snow said I arise to bear testimony to the principles that President Young has been speaking of. They are calculated to make us dignified as angles and Gods.” I am more than a little intrigued by the idea of the campfire conversations that occurred on those months on the plains. It is easy to imagine Bishop Whitney relating his accounts of the events at Kirtland and elsewhere. There must have been any number of conversations concerning personal remembrances of the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum. In the journal history for the Heber C. Kimball Company Albert Griffin’s name comes up much more frequently than most. I think it is a fair conclusion to say that he was well known and well respected. On July 2nd Kimball wrote, “It was agreed that Brother Ricks and Brother Griffin’s 10 drives the sheep and that they start in the morning before the camp”. This puts Albert as the leading group of wagons on the journey. There are a number of other reference to where he had made camp seeming to indicate that as the lead group the others followed his lead as they sought camps sites based on the availably of good grazing. August 13, “He informed me that Brother Isaac Higbee’s camp left there in the morning also Brother Griffin 10”. August 18, “Brother Baldwin was camped on the east about 1 mile from us and Brother Griffin’s Ten.” August 20, Brother Baldwin and Griffin’s Ten moved off at 11”. The journey across the very flat plains of Nebraska went very smoothly. The only complaint was that there were days when there was a shortage of pasture. The company only suffered two deaths in Nebraska one a new convert and one a little girl who was killed in a wagon accident. As the Company moved into Wyoming the search for grass for the animals took on more urgency. We see notes in the dairies of the need to travel three miles or more off the trail to find adequate grazing. One reference refers to a ten-mile detour to find grass. The first real trouble on the journey west starts in the vicinity of Devil’s Gate. The journals note that because of their lack of familiarity with the west they did not understand the nature of alkali tainted water and flats. As a result the death of cattle and oxen became a severe problem. August 22, “Part of Brother Harriman’s company has come up this evening. They have lost so many cattle that they have to take part of the wagons on and come back for the rest.” The Griffin’s were part of the Harriman Hundred. Heber C. Kimball wrote to Brigham Young from Seventh Crossing, “although I have been weakened considerably by the loss of cattle, though my loss is not to be compared with many others behind, for some of them have to go along part at a time, and go back after the rest…….it would be better for us to stop here, as there is good range for the cattle”. Up to this point on the journey they had enough draft animals that when the need arose extras could be used to double up and aid the wagons over rough spots. The numbers of deaths among the oxen and cattle created a situation where the companies had to more closely coordinate their animals in order to overcome hard to pass areas. Brigham Young, in the larger company, organized his extra draft animals and sent them back to help the Kimball Company. By the time the Companies reached South Pass, Brigham Young had organized a resupply of draft animals to be delivered from the Salt Lake Valley. There are no references to Rocky Ridge in the journals. In fact the closer to Salt Lake City they got the less was written in the journals. Following references to Harriman’s Hundred we can track the Griffin’s movements. “September 3, Cold frosty morning, Brother Harriman’s camped moved off at 10 AM.” September 8th found then at the Green River, by the 12th they were at Fort Bridger. “September 17, Cool frosty morning 2 miles west of Echo creek by the cold spring on the right of the road we past Brother Harriman’s camp in corral.” On September 22, 1858 the Griffins got their first look at the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, from Heber C. Kimball’s journal, “when we got to the top of the high mountain we had a view of the south part of the valley. When descending the steep hill we had to lock both wheels of the wagons. The road to descend being new was pretty good”. From William Burton’s journal, Sunday Sep 24th 1848, “This morning was pleasant. We started about 9 & passed into the Valley. We arrived at the Great Salt Lake City about 2 0Clock P.M. and was Joyfully received. Brother Kimball’s Com. Was almost all together. We corralled on City Creek.” The Griffin’s had arrived in Utah. References; Thompson, William, In Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Jacob Norton, Reminiscence and Journal Kimball, Heber C, Journal, June-Sept. 1848 written by William Thompson Kimball, Heber C., Journal in Autobiography written by William Clayton

The Utah War, 1857

After being forced out of Nauvoo, Illinois in 1846 the members of the Church of Jesus Christ, referred to as the Mormons, were determined to find a new home far from the grasp and influence of any outside interest. When they arrived in Valley of the Great Salt Lake, in what was then Mexican territory, they thought they had found just such a place. That circumstance changed quite rapidly. With the end of the war with Mexico, in 1848, Utah became a Federal Territory. -------------------------- Brigham Young became the new Territorial Governor. However a collection of government bureaucrats were soon dispatched to look after Federal interests including a Federal Judge. Old biases soon arose. Anti Mormon, anti polygamy sentiments were soon in full bloom. Judge Drummond led the dissent sending back reports to Washington of “Mormon” disobedience and disregard for federal authority. -------------------------- In response to these allegations and without bothering to conduct a thorough investigation and without consulting his Territorial Governor, Brigham Young, President Buchanan’s administration made the decision to dispatch federal troops and a new Governor to Utah. The goal was to firmly establishing Federal authority. The administration thought this would be a straightforward proposition. The troops would march west and take up residence in Utah just like they had in other territories with life going on just as usual. They even sent representatives west to buy supplies from the Utahan’s and make arraignments for an army encampment. ------------------------ The people in Utah took a different view of the proposition. Given the fact that there had been no consultation or prior warning they took the view that the oncoming Army was to be an army of occupation. They had the fear that they were about to suffer a repeat of the persecution they had suffered in Nauvoo. ----------------- With this in mind they made the determination to try and stop or delay the oncoming army. The hope was that they could gain time to peacefully resolve the conflicting points of view. -------------------- The Federal effort was set in motion with this order from Winfield Scott Commanding General of the US Army. ------------------- “Headquarters of the Army, May 28, 1857------------ Orders having been dispatched in haste for the assemblage of a body of troops at Fort Leavenworth, (Kansas) to march thence to Utah as soon as assembled. The general-in-chief, in concert with the War Department, issues the following instructions, to be executed by the chiefs of the respective staff departments, in connection with his general orders of this date:------------- “1- The force-2d dragoons, 5th infantry, 10th infantry and Phelps’ battery of the 4th artillery- to be provided with transportation and supplies, will be estimated at not less than 2,500 men. ----------------- 2- -------- will assign to this force a full compliment of disbursing and medical officers ------------ 3- About 2,000 head of beef cattle must be procured and driven to Utah. Six months’ supply of bacon, for two days in the week, must be sent ---- desiccated vegetables in sufficient quantity to guard the health of the troops for the coming winter. ---------- Winfield Scott” ------------------------------- A new Governor, Alfred Cummings, and a slate of federal officials would join up with the Army on the trail. -------------------- News that the Army had marched out of Fort Leavenworth reached the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1857 as the Saints were in the midst of celebrating the anniversary of their entry into the valley. ------------------- An article in the city charter granted for Nauvoo was the right to raise a militia. It was called the Nauvoo Legion. Soon after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley the decision was made to reinstitute the Nauvoo Legion. The commanding officer of the Legion was Daniel Wells, Second Councilor in the First Presidency of the church. Each local community raised a militia unit. Theses local militias were organized into military districts. In addition the Church raised several cavalry units that acted as a standing army for the Territory as a whole. These various units were assigned the task of dealing with the Indian conflicts that soon arose. Brigham Young also dispatched select units from the “standing army” to protect the Church’s interest in the surround area and along the immigrant trail. --------------------- When the leadership of the Church made the decision to act in opposition to the approaching threat it was primarily to the units of the standing army that they turned to. Order No-3 setting in motion the Mormon response was issued on August 13, 1857. (See documents) -------------------- Order No-3 detailed the Nauvoo Legion units that were to take to the field. It assigned, James Cummings and Robert Burton to take command. ------------------- Of all of the men order into service with Order No-3 only 125 immediately took to the field. Later on other units were dispatched to occupy key points on the immigrant trail. Key among them was Echo Canyon on the Utah Wyoming border. One of those original 125 men was Charles E Griffin. In his autobiography he noted that the 75 men of the Life Guards based in the Salt Lake Valley gathered at the tithing yard across from Temple Square on the 14th. ------------------------ “I returned to the City where I found the company settled. We camped there that night and next morning the 15th of Aug 1857 we started East.” ------------------- The Muster Roll for Charles’s unit recorded that he showed up for duty with his own horse and saddle as well as a packsaddle. It recorded that he reported with 3 blankets, a rifle, a pistol as well as ¾ pound of lead and 200 percussion caps. The rifle was probably a Harpers Ferry Model 1841, or something similar, the pistol a Colt Dragoon. ---------------------- Robert Burton had overall command of the Life Guards. The first major stopping point on the journey east was the famous way station Fort Bridger, Wyoming. There they were joined by 50 men sent from Provo. It was these 125 men who were to face the oncoming Federal Army. -------------------- At Fort Bridger and nearby Fort Supply, which had been built by the members of the Church, they gathered grain and other resources, which, they loaded, on the accompanying wagons. They traveled east crossing the Green River, on past the Big Sandy, across South Pass before dropping down into Rock Creek. Along the way they established supply depots. They also left men behind who would form a rapid express service delivering news to and from the front. ------------------- 5 miles beyond Rock Creek they establish a forward base on Strawberry Creek, which, gave them a commanding view of the trail. Leaving their supply wagons behind Robert Taylor and about 50 men, including Charles E Griffin, with their pack animals traveled on to Devil’s Gate, Wyoming arriving August 31, 1857. There they established a base camp. Sending patrols further east they made contact with the oncoming army just east of the Platt River near present day Casper, Wyoming. -------------------- Thus began the cat and mouse game between the opposing forces. The Guards set about gathered information on the makeup and disposition of the Federal units and their supply train that was stretched out along the immigrant trail. Robert Taylor sent men into their camps under false colors in order to measure their resolve and purpose. ---------------------- The Legion slowly retreat back to their base at Strawberry Creek keeping the Federals under constant observation. The decision was then made to send the supply wagons back to Fort Bridger. The remaining men, free from the encumbrance of the wagons, made the determination to begin a more proactive resistance. When the leading unit of the Federal Army stopped to camp at Pacific Springs west of South Pass the decision was made to raid the camp and drive off as much livestock as possible. They were joined by another unit that had taken the field lead by Orrin Porter Rockwell. --------------------- In the dark of the night the Legion raiders thundered through the 150 wagons that made up the Federal Camp firing their pistols in the air and making as much racket as possible. Further back up the trail a second raiding party attacked the artillery battery. The Pacific Springs raiders drove off the majority of the mules used to pull the wagons. It was the first open conflict between the opposing forces. Charles E Griffin in his autobiography describes his participation. As the mules were being driven off a quick thinking bugler blew the call for feeding the livestock. The army mules stopped their flight and returned to their camp expecting to be fed. Thus ended the first open battle of the Utah War. -------------------- Orrin Porter Rockwell, acting as a rear guard, had stopped on the trail and dismounted. The horses ridden by he and his companions joined the Federal mule herd in their rush back to the waiting grain sacks leaving a dumfounded Rockwell afoot. Rockwell had to steal mounts from the Federal camp that night before he could rejoin the Legion forces. ---------------------- Robert Taylor slowly withdrew his command to Fort Bridger. At Fort Bridger a council of war was held with the commanding officers of the Nauvoo Legion. The decision was made to begin a very active opposition. ----------------- General Daniel Wells issued the following order. ----------------- “Use every exertion to stampede their animals and set fire to their trains, burn the whole country before them and on their flanks, keep them from sleeping by night surprise. Blockade the road by falling trees or destroy river fords where you can. ------------------ Watch for opportunities to set fire to the grass on their windward so as if possible to envelope their trains, Leave no grass before them that can be burned.” ----------------- Units led by Lot Smith, William Hickman and Orrin Porter Rockwell joined Robert Taylor’s remaining men. The starting action was to burn Fort Bridger and the nearby Fort Supply to deny their use to the approaching Army. The Legion cavalry units then began to carryout General Wells order with a will. They burned wide swaths of grass. They raided the supply trains and animal herds. -------------------- Lot Smith led the most famous of the raids when he captured by bluff a whole supply train and burned it to the ground. Of the event he wrote ----------------- “We cooked a feast for the Coyotes”. ----------------------------- The Legion became so successful in disrupting the forward progress of the Army that in addition to their other defensive measure the Federal commanders organized a 100-man force mounted on mules that was given the specific task of taking the fight to the raiders. For the first time in the conflict combatants were fired on. The mules proved no match for the Legion Calvary who were mounted on some of the best horseflesh in the west. The Legion Calvary continued to raid at will. --------------------- The Legion was so effective in their delaying tactics that the Federal Army was prevented from entering the Salt Lake Valley that year. They were forced into winter camp at what was left of Fort Bridger. They called their encampment Fort Scott. They stopped because they simply did not have enough livestock left to pull their wagons. What was left of their mules and oxen, after their camps were raided by the Legion, could not find enough grass to keep up their strength. 1500 of the cattle sent along for food were found in the Salt Lake Valley that next spring rustled by the roving horseman. The Federal Army did not even have enough mules left to pull the wagons sent out for wood for their encampment. The soldiers instead pulled the wagons. The Federal Army spent a cold hungry winter at Fort Scott. ------------------ Later on that fall Robert Burton’s command was ordered back to Salt Lake City for rest and refit. Charles E Griffin was among a handful left behind to keep the express service between the front lines and the rear working. ------------------------- Charles was eventfully ordered home only to be recalled to lead a resupply effort back to the troops manning defensive positions in Echo Canyon and beyond. -------- Early the next spring Charles took the future church President, Joseph F Smith, with him on a reconnaissance mission checking on the encamped Federal Army. ------------ During that winter common sense prevailed. An agreement settling the conflict was reached. The Nauvoo Legion was granted full immunity. The newly appointed Governor, Alfred Cummings, was welcomed to take his seat in Salt Lake City. ----------------- On June 26, 1858 General Albert Sidney Johnson marched his troops into the abandoned Salt Lake City. The Federal Army took up permanent residence at Camp Floyd and the new Territorial Governor began his administration. The Utah War had reached a conclusion. ------------------------------ As a final action Brigham Young called on Orrin Porter Rockwell to hand pick a small unit and travel east along the immigrant trail and measure the Army’s compliance with the agreement to bring an end to their blockade. One of the men he picked was Charles E Griffin. ------------------------------- Of Charles E Griffin and the Utah War we can truly say, first in and the last to leave. ------------------------- An interesting side note of the conflict was the letters exchanged between Brigham Young and the Federal Commanders. Given the number of livestock liberated by the Mormon raiders I find this letter particularly amusing. ------------------------- “I am informed that among the mules that have come into our community is a small white one belonging to you, and a favorite of yours. The mule in question arrived in poor condition, and learning this was a favorite with you, it gives me pleasure to inform you that I immediately caused the mule to be placed in my stable where it is well fed and cared for and is held subject to your order: But should you prefer leaving it in my care during the winter it will probably be in better plight for your use upon returning to the east in the spring”. ------------------------------------------ Charles Emerson Griffin’s unit was the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Regiment in the Standing Army. The Regimental commander was Colonel Robert T. Burton. The Battalion Commander was Major Howard Egan. The commander of the 2nd Fifty was Captain D. D. McArthur. Charles’ unit was the 1st Ten of the 2nd Fifty. ------------------- Charles Emerson Griffin / Albert Bailey Griffin / Samuel / Samuel / Samuel Griffin of Killingworth ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documents; ------------------------- 1- Nauvoo Legion General Staff --2- Order No-3—3-Muster roll of the 1st 50---4- Muster roll of the 2nd 50--- 5- 1st Ten of the 2nd 50.

Charles W Fuller 1873-1918

Charles Fuller left a faint trail as he moved through his life. Tracing his life is a matter of tracing those connected to him. -------------- In a time when the town of Cambridge, VT kept very good birth records there is no record of his birth. We find him in the household of Roscoe Fuller in the 1880 census taken in Cambridge listed as age 7. Listed are Roscoe and his second wife Clara Edwards. Many histories list Clara Edwards as his mother. His mother was in fact Roscoe’s first wife Fanny Gallop. Roscoe Fuller married Fanny Gallup 20 October 1870 in Cambridge. Fanny was born in 1850 in Cambridge and died in Cambridge 12 April 1875. --------------- We find Charles in the 1900 census taken in the Pinar del Rio Barracks in Cuba. The detailed census lists him as Charles W Fuller born in Cambridge, VT. March 1873. Remember the Spanish-American War took place in Cuba in 1898. --------------- The next time we find Charles is in a marriage record dated 11 November 1909 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Charles Fuller age 30, born Cambridge, parents Roscoe and Fanny Gallup married Katherine Kay Smith age 19 born in Wilmington, Delaware.--------------- Charles is found in the 1910 census taken in Brookfield, Ma. He is listed as age 34 and Katherine K is listed as age 19. ------------ We find a birth record for a Charles Henry Fuller born 1 August 1910 in Brookfield. His parents are listed as Charles W Fuller and Catherine Smith. Tracing the history of Charles W Fuller and his family becomes a matter of following the historical trail for Charles Henry Fuller. There are no other records for Charles W Fuller after the records in 1910 in Brookfield. ------------ The next key record we find is a military record for Charles Henry Fuller. The document lists his date of birth as 15 August 1910, Brookfield, MA. The document lists a contact person as Mrs. Charles Ives of Prospect Park, Delaware, Pennsylvania. -------------- A look at the census records finds a listing for the household of Charles Ives age 45 in Prospect Park, PA. Listed in his household are Katherine K age 40 born Delaware, Charles H Fuller age 19 born Massachusetts, Foster Fuller age 18 born, Mass. and Katherine Fuller age 16 born in PA. ------------ There is a marriage record filed in Allentown, Pa dated 9 April 1925 between George Ives , age 40 of Dutchess, N.Y and Kathryn Fuller age 36 of Wilmington, Delaware. The detailed marriage record required the parties to declare their marital status, single, divorced or widowed. Kathryn noted, “Date of Death of former Husband July 22, 1918.” Her daughter Kathryn according to the 1930 census was born in Pennsylvania. This would lead us to believe that Charles W Fuller must have died July 22, 1918 in Pennsylvania. ----------- Charles and Kathryn Ives are buried in the Eulalia Cemetery in Coudersport, PA. According to the documents we reviewed Charles Ives was born 3 July 1884 in Kishkill, Dutchess, N.Y. and died 18 September 1950 in Coudersport, PA. Kathryn’s grave marker has the dates 1889-1983. ----------- Social Security records for Kathryn Kay Ives lists her date of birth as 7 October 1888 Wilmington and her death as October 1983 in Sioux Fall, South Dakota. In a 1960 city directory for Sioux Falls we find listed Ives Kathryn (Wid of Charles). I suspect that she was living near her daughter Kathryn. ------------- There is a military burial record for Charles H Fuller. It lists his birth as 8/15/ 1910 and his death as 10/1/1975. It records his burial in the Fernwood Cemetery in Fernwood, PA. ---------- There are military records for Foster Kay Fuller that record his birth as 16 September 1911 Springfield, MA. They also notes that he when he enlisted he was living in Prospect Park, PA. Foster is buried in The Hillcrest Memorial Park in West Palm Beach, FL. According to the Florida death index he died in West Palm Beach 4 January 1989. ----------- The only record for Kathryn is the 1930 census, which lists her as age 16 born in Pennsylvania. ----------------- Charles W Fuller / Roscoe S Fuller / Sylvia Griffin / Samuel Griffin / Samuel / Samuel Griffin of Killingworth See Blog January 2017 for history of Sylvia Griffin and Willard Fuller

Goldie Preston granddaughter of Sylvia Griffin

The history of Goldie Preston is anything but clear. Most existing family histories have her listed as the daughter of her uncle, Willard Osley. In the 1900 census taken in Cambridge, VT. she is listed as the daughter of her grandmother, Lemira Osley, born in August 1882 in Vermont. In the 1900 census Willard is living in Wethersfield, Connecticut. His household consisted of Willard, his wife, Etta and a daughter Sylvia born 1891 in Connecticut. ----------------------- In the 1910 census taken in Springfield, Mass. Goldie is again a part of the household of Lemira Osley listed as a granddaughter age 24. Also in that household are Willard and Sylvia Osley. Sylvia is also listed as Lemira’s granddaughter. The 1910 census gives us some hints regarding Goldie. In the census records families are almost always listed in chronological order. In the 1910 census we have listed; Lemira- Willard- Sylvia age 18 then Goldie age 24. If Goldie were Willard’s daughter the order would be Willard-Goldie-Sylvia. -------------------- In that same 1910 census Willard is listed a second time as part of the household as Solon and Lena Preston, Lena Preston being his sister. Apparently the two households were somewhat intermingled. ----------------- In the 1920 census in Springfield, MA. Goldie is listed in the household of Solon and Lena Preston as their daughter. Willard Osley is also living in Springfield in the 1920 census with his second wife, Mary but no Goldie. ------------ The lack of census records for the year 1900 for Solon and Lena Preston add to the confusion. Where were they living? Why would their daughter be living with her grandmother? I think part of the reason was that she was handicapped and the extended family worked together to keep her. ---------------------- Even given all of the confusion surrounding her I think the only logical conclusion is that Goldie, although she is referred to as a Osley in the census records. Is the daughter of Solon and Lena Preston. It is my conclusion that the Census takers listed her as an Osley simply because she was living in an Osley household at the time the census was taken. ------------------------ Goldie Preston / Lena Osley / Lemira Fuller / Sylvia Griffin / Samuel Griffin / Samuel / Samuel Griffin of Killingworth.

Efie L Osley grandaughter of Sylvia Griffin

The existing family histories for the family of Lemira Fuller and Joseph Osley lists two children, Willard 1861-1947 and Lena 1864-1955. Joseph died in 1898. ----------- Lemira is living near her children in Springfield, Massachusetts in the 1910 Census. The census record notes that she had given birth to 3 children, 2 of whom were still living. -------------- Found in Book II on page 26 in the Johnson, VT town records is the birth record for a Efie L Osley. Dated 5 November 1862 she is identified as the daughter of Joseph & Lemira Osley -------------- Efie Osley / Lemira Fuller / Sylvia Griffin / Samuel Griffin / Samuel Griffin / Samuel Griffin of Killingworth

Probate File for Henry Doud, Cortland, NY

Pages from Henry Doud’s Probate File. _______________________ Henry was the son of Reuben Doud and Polly Griffin. He was born in Cortland New York in 1797. He died there October 5, 1869. Henry never married. On his death his considerable estate was divided among his nieces and nephews. ________________________ Henry’s probate file provides some valuable insights into the family of Reuben and Polly.______________________ The probate file is found in the Corland Co.,NY Wills 1865-1868 Volume G-H. It starts on page 369. We posted a detailed perspective of this probate file on the Blog in January 2013. It may prove usefully to review the two entries together.____________________ The first document is the cover page for the file. Listed are all of the nieces and nephews of Henry Doud that appear at this hearing.______________________ The second document is the testimony of Henry’s brother Reuben Doud. _____________________ “I am a brother of Henry Doud. The following are brothers and sisters of the deceased. Lois Harrington, Eber Doud, Gaylord Doud, Vesta Hitchcock, Polly Walton, Truman Doud, Azubah Cetchum and Reuben Doud. Henry Doud is next older than myself. All of the brothers and sisters are dead except myself”._____________________ Lorenzo Doud provided testimony concerning his father, Eber Doud and his uncle Gaylord Doud. “Eber Doud was my father. He was a brother of Henry Doud”.__________________________ Jabez Collins was the husband of Adaline Doud. His father in law was Truman Doud. Henry spent his last days in the home of Jabez Collins. Jabez served as executor for Henry’s Will._________________________ Nathaniel Harrington, “My mother was Lois Harrington a sister of Henry Doud”.____________________________ Prosper Hitchcock “My mother was Vesta Hitchcock a sister of Henry Doud”._____________________ Lovinia Townley “My father was Truman Doud. He was a brother of Henry Doud”. _____________________________ Henry Doud / Polly Griffin / Samuel Griffin / Samuel Griffin of Killingworth

Malinda Griffin daughter of John Griffin / Mary Tyler

Our first introduction to Malinda Griffin was in her father John Griffin’s (1778-1832) probate file. In the probate file in Chittenden County, Vermont she is listed as a minor child. During the process of settling John’s affairs we find her name in the ledgers of the Essex, VT. land deeds. During the final disposition of John’s extensive land holding we find a number of deeds between John’s widow, Mary Tyler, and her children. In those land deeds Malinda usually signs with her sister, Jane, and her husband, Erastus Bentley, who are listed as being from nearby Jericho, Vermont.----------- When we conducted the original research on John Griffin and his family we were not able to find any additional information on Malinda. Unlike her sisters we did not find a record of a marriage in the Essex, Vermont records. In our analysis of the family we estimated that she was probably born in Essex, VT. in about 1816/17.---------- Recently using the Ancestry.com search engine we referenced a death record for a Mary N Nott born 15 October 1843 in Jericho, VT. the daughter of William Oaks of Jericho and Malinda Griffin of Essex.--------- In the volume, “The History of Jericho, Vermont” we find detailed entries for many of the prominent families who settled in Jericho. One of the entries is for the family of David Oaks. As part of that entry we find a description of the family of David’s son, William E Oaks, and his wife Melinda Griffin. The history lists her date of birth as 12 July 1816 and her death as 25 February 1846. ------------- William E Oaks was born 9 October 1809 in New Hampshire. He died 14 December 1868 in Jericho, VT. He and Malinda are buried in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Jericho. ------------ Their daughter Mary as born 6 October 1843 in Jericho and died 24 December 1910 in Newton, Massachusetts. It was her death record that we discovered on Ancestry.com. Mary married Albert Nott , (1846-1903). They are buried with her parents in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Jericho. The census records indicate that the couple did not have any children.----------- John Oaks was born 14 February 1846 in Jericho. He died 16 March 1916 in Windsor, Vermont. He is buried in the Ascutney Cemetery in Windsor, Vermont. John married Mary Fassett 12 May 1867 in Jericho. There is almost no information to be found on Mary. John remarried 2 June 1891 in Clinton, Massachusetts taking Hattie F Ruggles as his second wife. We find a third marriage for John. He married Emma Spaulding on 7 November 1895. John Oaks and Mary Fassett were the parents of two sons, William E and Raymond John. William was born 20 May 1869. Raymond was born 28 April 1877. The Jericho History noted that both of them lived in New York.--------------------------------- Malinda / John Griffin / Samuel Griffin / Samuel Griffin of Killingworth, CT.

Charles Emerson Grifffin Biography

Charles Emerson Griffin------------ A Biography------------- Bradley Orlo Griffin----------- Preface-------- Charles Griffin was born in Essex, Chittenden County, Vermont on May 10, 1836. He died at Antimony, Utah on July 18, 1900 on a return trip to his home in Escalante, Utah. His life journey took him first to Munson, Geauga County, Ohio then on to Nauvoo, Illinois. Charles with his family joined the Mormon migration to Utah. The family lived in Winter Quarters until crossing the plains in 1848. Charles then made his home in Utah until his death in 1900. At the age of 46 Charles wrote his autobiography. He wrote, “I write the following sketch of my life thinking perhaps some of my posterity may look back as I do at the present time and feel that they would like to know something of their ancestor’s history.” “I dedicate this sketch to my children, wishing all to have access to it and each to have the privilege of copying it if they wish.” The autobiography that Charles wrote is, to quote him a mere “sketch” of an incredible life. It is the autobiography of a very humble man. Living among the giants of his age he did not picture his life as being that dramatic. The testimony of time argues otherwise. He was deeply involved in many of the definitive moments in early Utah pioneer history. Our hope for this project is that we might be able to fill in the untold gaps in his story. Using his autobiography as a template we have attempted to gather information from the diaries, journals, histories and accounts of the people and places that shared his experiences. We have in our files copies of all the documents that are referenced in the work. Honoring Charles’ wishes we hope that this material is shared with all of his posterity. Charles shared much of his life with his father Albert Bailey Griffin. In many ways this is also his father’s story. ------------ Contents----------- 1- Essex to Munson 2- Nauvoo 3- Winter Quarters 4- Crossing the Plains 5- Salt Lake City 1848 6-Church Farm 7-Life Guards 8-Handcart Companies 9- Utah War a Historical Fiction 10- Black Hawk War 11- Gunpowder 12-Education 13-Coalville 14- Long Valley 15-Coalville 1866------------ Chapter-1 Essex to Munson----------------- Charles Emerson Griffin started his original autobiography by writing, “I write the following sketch of my life thinking perhaps some of my posterity may look back as I do at the present time and feel that they would like to know something of their ancestor’s history. Being now a little over 46 years of age and not having kept a journal of my life, I shall have to write from memory with the exception of a few dates that I have of incidents of my life. Having no knowledge of my ancestors farther back that my grandparents, I shall not attempt to guess at their history, but hope that before I die I may be able to trace back and get the genealogy of my forefathers. I dedicate this sketch to my children, wishing all to have access to it and each to have the privilege of coping it if they wish. My name is Charles Emerson Griffin, son of Albert Bailey Griffin, who was the son of Samuel Griffin. My mother’s named was Abigail, daughter of Paul and Ann Varney, I was born in the town of Essex, Chittenden County, State of Vermont, May 10, 1836.” In a letter written to his son, Charles Emerson, late in his life Albert Bailey Griffin declared that he like his son was born in Essex, Vermont. Charles represented the fourth generation of Griffins to live in Essex. His great grandfather, also named Samuel, arrived in Essex from Killingworth, Middlesex County, Connecticut in the 1790’s along with his three sons John, Daniel and Charles’ grandfather Samuel Griffin Junior. Samuel Senior and his sons represented the original pioneers in Essex. They carved farms out of the virgin wilderness. This pioneering tradition was to follow Charles all the days of his life. Charles’ grandfather Samuel Griffin Jun. married into one of the most prominent families in Essex that of Deacon Samuel Bradley. Deacon Bradley was a leading citizen in Essex playing a major role in the dominant force in the community the Congregational Society. He was a genuine hero of the Revolutionary War as was the family of his wife Abigail Brownson. Samuel Griffin Jun and his wife Sylvia Bradley carved a home out of the wilderness staring with the original Lot 81 purchased by Samuel on his arrival in Essex. Lot 81 was on the western edge of Essex in an area referred to as the Lost Nation. Over time Samuel Jun expanded his holdings purchasing a number of properties that surrounded the original home lot. The original home lot ran up the river bottom of Indian Brook. It is prototypical “bottom land” rich and productive. The landscape rises suddenly up from the river bottom for a hundred feet or so. The original Griffin house stood in the plateau that bordered the river bottom. By the time Charles was born the family had moved up the hill to the next adjacent lot where they build a new home that looked down over the original homestead. Charles was born and spent the first year of his life in the original house on the original homestead. Charles’ father Albert was the fifth of nine children born to Samuel and Sylvia Griffin. Albert married Abigail Varney, daughter of Paul Varney and Anna Austin, probably sometime in 1825. The Varneys and Austins were originally from Quaker stock having lived for multiple generations in Dover, New Hampshire before parts of the family moved to nearby Colchester, Vermont. The first child born to Albert and Abigail was a son Sidney born December 15, 1826. Sidney only lived until the age of four. A second son, Albert Bailey was born August 19, 1830 and survived only a few days. From the surviving family histories and traditions and a collection of letters written by Albert’s siblings we get a picture of a very close knit farm family of modest means. In letters addressed to Albert later in his life we read such sentiments as, “Yours with a sisters love”, “ My long absent but not forgotten brother”, “I received a very kind letter from you in due time …. Will you imagine my joy at reading a few lines from you, it really did seem like old times, I clasped it to my lips and raised my heart in prayer to God, to thank him for once more hearing by letter from you”. The sources describe a farm that had cattle, sheep and hogs. There are references to fruit trees and maple groves. The deed records show that the family had the means to continually acquire additional property as they expanded their holdings. We have descriptions of old houses and new houses as the family upgraded its living conditions. Everywhere is the description of cutting timber and clearing new land. This was the extended family that welcomed a new baby named Charles Emerson May 10, 1836. Greeting Charles and fussing over him for the first year of his life were his grandparents, Samuel and Sylvia Griffin, his Bradley aunts and uncles, his great Griffin Uncles, his married Aunt, Zilpha Griffin Day, and his father’s older brother Orlo and his family. Still living on the family homestead was his uncle Harrison and three aunts who undoubtedly fussed over him to no end Sylvia, Rosetta and Electa. Two older brothers, Philemon and Minor, had lived to see Albert married but died before Charles was born. It appears that the family worked the acres together. Orlo bought a small home lot from his father on which to build his home. As was the common pattern in an early America, where almost everyone made a living by farming, there came a time in every community when the land for new farms simply ran out. When that happened we see a generation of young men moving on to the next frontier. In Essex that generation was Albert Bailey’s and the next frontier was the Western Reserve in present day Ohio. The three Griffins left Essex probably in May of 1837. We get hints for that date from letters written to Albert when he was living in Utah from his sister Rosetta, “We can look down and see the house and farm where we all lived when you went away almost 37 years ago the 1st of May or about that.” In another letter she wrote, “Charles when I think of you it is as a boy one year old with sore cheeks and your hands done up to keep from scratching them.” From these descriptions we can imagine a picture of the extended family gathered around a fully loaded wagon one probably build by Abigail’s father Paul Varney to say their goodbyes. Charles notes that the Varneys, Paul his wife Anna Austin, their daughter Artemisia, and three sons, William, George and Paul Hamilton, also moved to Munson, Ohio. Staying behind were Albert Varney and his sister Ester. It would seem logical that they all traveled together but Charles is unclear on that point. By 1837 there was a well-established route from Essex, Vermont to Munson, Ohio. It is a short days ride from Essex to the shores of Lake Champlain at Burlington. The well-established Lake Champlain Trail stretched south down the east side of the lake from Burlington, Vermont to Whitehall, New York, at the southern end of the lake, and then on to Albany, New York a distance of 150 miles. Albany had been the capital of New York since 1797. By 1836 the population was well over 10,000. Albany had served as a major trade center since well before the Revolutionary War. As such it had served as the hub for a number of roads. One of the major roads ran from Albany via Utica to end up at Fort Oswego on Lake Ontario. Starting in 1794 the State of New York started building a road, referred to as the Great Genesee Road, from Fort Schuyler in what is now Utica to Canawaugus on the Genesee River a major north-south link in central upstate New York. In 1798 the legislature authorized a road extension to Buffalo on Lake Erie. By 1808 the route, by then called the Seneca Turnpike, had been vastly improved and macadamized along its entire length. Turning the route into a toll road funded the project. The Erie Canal had been completed in 1825 bringing another level of connections to upstate New York. Another road, the Lake Shore Path, stretched from Buffalo, along the shore of Lake Erie, all the way to Cleveland, Ohio. Munson was but a short detour south from the Lake Shore Path. The author of one of the earliest histories for Geauga County noted that most of the early residents had arrived via the Lake Shore Path. The distance from Essex, Vermont to Munson, Ohio via this route was 620 miles. The route was over well establish and in some portions greatly improved roads. There were a number of towns that offered rest and resupply on the route. Given the traveling conditions on this route I would estimate that it took the Griffins not much longer than 35 to 40 days to make the trip via wagons. Charles describes the Munson years in his autobiography. “Charles Emerson Griffin son of Albert Bailey Griffin who was the son of Samuel Griffin. My mother’s name was Abigail, daughter of Paul and Ann Varney. I was born in the town of Essex, Chittenden County, State of Vermont, May 10th 1836. When I was about one year old my parents moved to the State of Ohio, in the township of Munson, County of Geauga (now Lake) about twelve miles from Kirtland, where the Latter Day Saints, or as they were called Mormons, had a State and had built a Temple. My father bought a farm and followed farming for a living. We lived here for six years. I attended school from the time I was three years old until I was seven and learned to read and spell very well for one of that age. During that time my Grandfather Samuel Griffin visited us and I have a faint recollection of him and how he looked. My mother’s parents had also moved to Ohio and resided a short distance from us and I visited them often. My mother had three brothers, William, George and Hamilton. The two former died quite a number of years ago. Hamilton moved to Michigan where he was living some seven years ago. My grandfather and uncles were all wagon makers that is the Varneys. I think it was 1842 that some Mormon Missionaries came in to our community and held some meetings. They were the first I had ever seen or heard of. I recollect of going with my parents to hear them preach. My father invited them home with him after that the elders always made our house a stopping place when they came into the neighborhood. My father and mother were convinced of the truth of Mormonism and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My father sold out and was preparing to move to Nauvoo in the state of Illinois where the Saints were gathering when we heard of the Martyrdom of the Prophet and Patriarch Joseph and Hyrum Smith. I well remember the taunts and slurs cast at me by my school mates after my parents joined the Mormons, and when the news came of the death of the Prophet and Patriarch they were worse than ever in trying to aggravate me and they very often succeeded to the extent that I would often resent it with blows, and many were the combats I had with them. After my parents joined the church they made a visit to Kirtland were a few of the families of the Saints lived and I of course being their only living child accompanied them. My mother had two other children, both older than me but they had died in infancy. While in Kirtland we visited the Temple and I have at present time a very good recollection of how it looked.” Munson was part of the Western Reserve, land held by the state of Connecticut. In 1795 a large part of the holding was sold to developers. The lands were called survey lands. The federal government surveyed the land into 36 square mile blocks, which were subdivided into 640-acre sections with sections set aside for schools etc.. In the case of Munson the squares were only 25 miles. Munson was the 8th township in the 8th range. Munson was divided into 3 tracts and each tract was divided into lots. The point of the survey lands was to provide structure to western expansion. It was a way to provide title to land and encourage growth. This area was settled early in the development of Ohio because of its easy access to Lake Erie and the Lake Shore Path. Munson was one of the last townships in the 8th range to be settled because it was the most mountainous. Its geography had a great influence on how the people made a living. With its higher elevation it was blessed with abundant supplies of running water. The township supported a variety of water-powered mills, sawmills, carding mills and gristmills. It was also described as great grass county. Because of this it became famous for its dairy herds and dairy industry. Beef cattle were also raised and exported mainly to Pennsylvania. Another range-based industry was sheep including a brand of Moreno sheep raised for their great wool. The Munson that the Griffins arrived in was part of Geauga County. In the 1840 Census for Geauga County we find listed Albert B Griffin. His age is listed as between 30 and 40 as is the female in the house. Also listed is a male child under the age of five. Geauga County was organized on 1805. By 1813 a county court house was build in Chardon. Munson was surveyed into lots in 1816. By 1818 there were only 4 families living in the township. The 1830 census counted 354 residents while the county as a whole had 7,916 residents. The histories for Geauga County describes the area as densely forested when the first settlers arrived. It took some time to clear large amounts of farmland. In the mean time the residents supplement their larder with the wild game that was abundant in the area including, elk, deer, bear and turkey. The principal farm crops were, wheat, corn, potatoes and oats. The area early on became well known for its orchards of pears, apples and sugar maples. The area became a very successful farming area with the first of the famous county fairs being held in 1823. The Griffins started, as did most immigrants to the area, in neighboring Newbury Township one of the first townships in the area to be settled. We find a deed record dated August 29, 1838 in which Albert purchases 50 acres in Lot 29 from Samuel Hale. The purchase price was $700.00. A survey of land costs suggests that this was for an already established farm. The Griffins had arrived in Ohio in the Spring of 1837. A common pattern was to lease or rent a piece of property and then purchase ground later on. It is my estimation that that was the pattern that the Griffins followed. Albert quickly turned around and sold the property in September for a $50.00 profit. I think Albert on arrival in Newbury leased the farm with an option to buy. He bought the farm a year later and sold it with the improvements he made for a $50.00 profit. It is my guess that he then followed the same pattern in Munson. Albert Griffin made his first purchase in Munson in October of 1839. Over the next several years he bought and sold portions of Lot 10 in Section 3. His first purchase was for 35 acres at a cost of $165.00. The 35 acres were at the top of Lot 10. Over the next several years he bought and sold parts of the 65 acres that represented the middle part of Lot 10. The cost of the top part seems to indicate that it was unimproved ground. The price on the middle part was $1000.00. In all likelihood that price reflected the purchase of a working farm. Although portions of the Munson Township are mountainous Lot 10 is comprised of beautiful flat farm county. Rich Amish farms now occupy much of the county. The local school and beautiful town parks now occupy Lot 10. The property is at the intersection of the Bass Lake Road and the Mayfield Road. According to the Geauga County Histories most homes in the era were frame homes due to the ready availability of finished lumber. The picture that I imagine is a successful working farm that was being continuously upgraded. Ohio with its superb canal system offered farmers a wide access to markets and top dollar for their harvest. The farmers in Ohio were not just subsistence farmers they also raised cash producing crops. In the case of the Griffins hints are that that crop was sheep. I picture the family living in a comfortable farmhouse. Frame houses were easier to construct and in comparison to their log counterparts usually larger and multi storied. Charles wrote that his Varney grand parents lived near by. The deed records show the Varney brothers only purchasing home lots of one acre. Charles noted that the Varneys were wagon makers a fact reflected in the 1850 census. The 1850 census shows the family of his uncle Paul Varney, with Charles’ grandfather, Paul, as part of the household, living in Munson listed as wagon makers. I estimate that it is less than a mile between the two households. Charles notes that he visited the Varneys quite often. Their home lot sets near one of the streams flowing through the area. The location was probably selected to place it closer to the sawmills and the finished lumber they needed to make wagons. Speaking of his grandparents Charles also recorded the visit of his grandfather Samuel Griffin from Essex, Vermont. I find it quite remarkable that his grandfather would make such a journey. In a light buggy that could make good time I estimate that it was still a three-week journey both ways The singular event that forever changed the life path for the Griffins occurred, according to Charles, sometime in 1842. According to his description the family attended a number of meeting held by the Mormon missionaries. He then wrote, “My father and mother were convinced of the truth of Mormonism and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.” According to his description from thence forward the missionaries were frequent visitors to their home. He describes the first meeting between the Missionaries and the family as being in 1842. From the manner of his writing it seems that it was some time latter when they actually joined the church. Some records list a baptismal date for his parents in 1842. The Seventies records list it in July 1843. Charles offers no insights into the nature of their church life in Munson. Nearby Kirtland had been the headquarters of the Church beginning in 1831. In 1836 the Kirtland Temple had been completed. In 1837 and 1838 the majority of the church members in Kirtland had left for Missouri. For the next three year there had been a struggle over leadership in the Kirtland Stake and control of the temple. By 1841 a major reconciliation between the membership in Kirtland and the church at large had occurred. 1842 saw a large surge in baptisms in the area. Charles’ autobiography seems to indicate that the family may have only made a single trip to Kirtland and the Temple. In 1841/42 Joseph Smith had issued a call for the Kirtland Saints to join with the body of the Church in Nauvoo. There are no records of a branch of the church being formed in Geauga County. With only a limited number of visits to Kirtland the majority of church life for the Griffins may have been limited to visits by the missionaries. We know for a fact that at least one of their neighbors, Alfred Randall, had joined the church. It is not unlikely that there were others. This small group would have tried to meet together each Sunday. The Book of Commandment had been published in 1835. It is very unlikely that the Griffin house did not contain a Bible before they met the Mormons later to be joined by the Book of Mormon. I suspect that the majority of their church life in Munson was limited to family study of those three books of scripture. It was not easy to be a seven-year-old Mormon in Geauga County. There was a good deal of resistance to the Mormon Community in Ohio. The religious and political establishment resent the intrusion of the new sect and the growing Mormon influence. The church and its leaders experienced a lot of persecution. There was also a large amount of controversy surrounding the failure of the Kirtland Bank. The local newspaper, published in the county seat, Chardon, was very vocal in its opposition to the Mormons. As a result Charles describes being tormented about his Mormonism by his schoolmates. The future soldier, Indian fighter and sheriff noted his response to their taunts, “I would often resent it with blows, and many were the combats I had with them.” His response gives us a little hint at a hard as nails seven year old boy his life shaped by the demands of frontier life. Not long after their conversion to the Mormon faith the Griffins made the decision to move to Nauvoo and join with the body of the Church. Albert began to dispose of his property. After all of his property transactions Albert had ended up with fifty acres of property for which he had paid $365.00. As the family was leaving Munson he sold the remaining fifty acres to Asher Fowler for $600.00. In Nauvoo the Griffins had to acquire draft animals and a wagon. I think that when they left Munson in addition to their farm ground they also sold most of their farm equipment and animals as well as their house. This, along with the profits from the harvest that summer, and what every other monies they had accumulated represents the nest egg that they would use to reestablish themselves in Nauvoo. This time it was the Varney family who saw them off on the canal barges for the journey to a new home. References; www/samuelgriffingenealogy.blogspot.com, www/griffinsofessex.blogspot.com