Sanborn: #8 George Benjamin Sanborn and Sarah Jane Smith. Part 3 of 4

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Seven additional children were born to George Benjamin and Sarah Jane Smith Sanborn after they moved from Paradise, Utah to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1885.

Eva, March 15, 1885 (died from pneumonia, November 14, 1885). Mary Ann, 1886. Henry, 1888. John William, 1890. Ella, 1892. Gladise, 1894 (died after being ill for four months, October 28, 1895). Jennings Bryan, 1896.

Their first year in Salt Lake City they lived at 549 Post Street. In 1896 they moved to 520 South 8th West, where they lived until their move to Pocatello, Idaho in 1903.

In 1895 George Benjamin began working for the D. & R. G. (Denver and Rio Grande) Railroad as a machinist. Five years later he was working as a blacksmith at the Fort Douglas Shops, and in 1893 he was working for the Union Pacific Railroad as a blacksmith.

According to his granddaughter, Marlene Sanborn Silotti, George Benjamin worked for the Union Pacific Railroad for 36 years. In 1903 his sons began appearing in the Polk Directories, also working for the railroad; George B., Jr., Joseph, William, Henry, John and Jennings.

Marlene traced the family through their ward records, and every other record she had access to. In 1885 they moved into the 6th Ward in Salt Lake City, which became the 25th ward in 1902. George Benjamin was listed as an Elder there. They moved to the Pocatello, Idaho 1st Ward in 1903. In 1909 the family moved to Ogden, Utah where they resided in the Ogden 2nd Ward. And in 1913 the family moved back to Salt Lake City. All of the children were blessed, baptized, and confirmed in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Their oldest daughter, Sarah Jane, married William Mikesell in 1895. George Benjamin Jr., married Amy LaVena Haywood on June 23, 1898. And the following February 1, 1899, Amy’s brother, George Mark Haywood , married daughter Laura Ellen Sanborn. Two younger sons, Henry and John William were both baptized three days later, on February 4, 1899. John was baptized by Hyrum Groesbeck. [An unexpected early tie.]

John married Henrietta Gall in 1911. They remained in Ogden, after his parents moved back to Salt Lake City. He was still living there in 1914, when he contracted pneumonia and died. He is buried in the Ogden City Cemetery.

The following year, in 1915, George and his sons were playing poker together in their Salt Lake home. “Henry suddenly threw down his cards and without saying a word walked out of the room. Suddenly there was a terrible scream and they found Henry on the back screened-porch. He had drank carbolic acid.” Henry had been discouraged and separated from his wife. His death was called a suicide. Nearly a hundred years later, drinking carbolic acid sounds more like an accident to me. What kind of a bottle was the acid stored in? Could it have looked like a liquor bottle, or anything else?

John Sanborn (1890-1914) and Henry Sanborn (1888-1915) are buried in the Ogden City Cemetery. (Picture taken October, 2009)

In 1924 George and Sarah Jane moved to Winnemucca, Nevada. Sarah received her Patriarchal Blessing while they lived there. Five years later George retired from the railroad, and they moved back to Salt Lake City. They bought a home at 349 Bothwell Court, and lived in the 25th Ward.

(To be continued.)

Family history from Marlene Sanborn Silotti.