Sarah Jane Smith Sanborn gravestone.

Looking east towards the Wasatch Mountains from the George Benjamin and Sarah Jane Smith Sanborn grave sites,  in the Ogden, Utah City Cemetery.

George Benjamin and Sarah Jane Sanborn 

biographies are posted here; Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

On January 15, 1940 Sarah Jane Smith Sanborn passed away and was buried here in the Ogden City Cemetery next to her husband, George Benjamin Sanborn. Her two sons are buried on the far side of the plot (shown in this 2009 picture). I hate to think Sarah Jane was forgotten afterwards, but it appears she was. There may not have been enough money to order a gravestone at the time of her burial. And if ever there was, Sarah Jane was no longer there to see that it was done. 

Sanborn family descendants have added this gravestone to mark her grave near her husband's.

It's not quite the same as those of her husband and sons. There are new cemetery requirements, that require it be placed in cement.

Marlene Sanborn Silotti

November 22, 1931 – July 12, 2009.

Sanborn family descendants had the gravestone set for Memorial Day this year. 

And as a tribute to great grand daughter, Marlene Sanborn Silotti, who would have wanted it done.

#3 Beryl Burt Sanborn. Part 4.

(Continued from here.)

Pete and Beryl's grandchildren in front of their grandparents' home.

l-r; Suzanne, Gina (in front) Dawn [(behind her) Dawn Valene Silotti Newren 1952-2001], Jimmie [James Kevin Sanborn 1954-2000], Becky, Sherry, and Vicki Gwen Sanborn [ 1951-1999].

Beryl treasured her grandchildren. There were seven when this photo was taken in about 1963, ultimately there would be thirteen. Beryl was a modest woman and not inclined to boasting. She enjoyed reading a good book, being with her family, her favorite soap opera, quilting, and attending relief society.   

In the final year of her life she wrote, “We have 12 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Pete helps Richard at his antique shop so between times we are kept busy cutting lawns and keeping our garden weeded.” 

Beryl is the lady in the front on the right of the quilting frame.

This picture was undoubtedly taken in the Millcreek 1st Ward .

Beryl is the second lady from the left.

The other ladies in both pictures are unknown to me.

The garden! Pete and Beryl's garden was something to behold, encompassing most of their back and side lots; perfectly pruned rose bushes producing glorious roses, and peonies--huge peonies, and a bounty of vegetables. Produce enough for the family and neighbors. Traditionally the grandchildren sold much of the harvest to raise money for their school shoes and clothes. The annual ritual of the garden, the work  and the reward, is now fondly remembered by her grandchildren.

Beryl wrote, “The first time Pauline [Burt, her sister-in-law] had me go to R. S. [Relief Society] I had left beans on cooking and had to leave. I was secretary in R. S, then I was put in [as] organist for a while [James Burt purchased a piano for his children, and Beryl learned to play the piano as a girl]. Oral Greening was president and she asked me to cook & serve on workday. So I got my dear friends Leola Austin & Veda Danks to help so we were in charge of that for a year.”

Veda Danks and Beryl in Pete and Beryl's living room.

In 2004 Beryl’s descendants wrote their memories.

Daughter Marlene: “When I think of the years after my marriage and when my girls were little, I really know what a wonderful mother I had. I was so miserable during my pregnancies and Momma was always helping me.

“When I hurt my back doing yard work and had to stay in bed for a month Momma came up every day. If I had to take one of the girls to the doctors (which was often with Becky) she was my chaffer.

“During those years we were just barely getting by money wise, she would always buy me a dress for church.

“I had a huge ironing to do every week, so early every Tuesday morning she would come up with her iron and ironing board and help me do it. She always brought something nice for lunch. I know that is why I have always liked to iron. Whenever somebody in the ward needed help I have offered to do their ironing.”

Son-in-law, Gene:  “Every year for many years we would go to Payson [Utah] and hunt pheasant. We would bring home the pheasants along with some cotton tail rabbits, Beryl would cook a big meal of rabbit and pheasant for the whole family. (Next to the [Beryl’s] pot roast this was my second favorite meal). I think that her Thanksgiving dinners were a close third.

“Pete never seemed to get enough of yard work, he loved being outdoors and in his gardens. The way his yard looked with his flowers and the (raked) gravel driveway, was a testimony of this. Not to mention the best corn in the valley. Which brings us back to his love of hunting .... It seems that the pheasants loved Pete’s corn too. Pete would get his 22 rifle using a 22 short (a bullet which makes very little noise) standing inside his backdoor he would shoot at the pheasants .... A few minutes later Beryl would go out with a dishpan [to] hang out some clothes and come back in with dinner.

Daughter-in-law, Joanna: “Remember Grandpa’s Iris and Rose Gardens. They were the prettiest things on that street.

“Planting corn in the Spring and the harvesting it in about August and then letting the kids go door to door selling it for school clothes. It was the best and sweetest corn I have ever eaten.

“Nobody could fix pot roast like Grandma. It makes my mouth water now to think about it.

“I remember when Grandma and Aunt Leah [Sanborn] would go to Salt Lake maybe 2 times a month. They would have lunch and then take in a movie. (This was about when they started rating movies). Well, they went into the old Rialto Theatre on 3rd South. They got their tickets and proceeded in. The usher met them and explained that the show was x-rated. They said that was fine. About 10 minutes elapsed and 2 red faced women came out. Aunt Leah asked the Usher why he didn’t tell them it was a dirty movie. He said I told you that it was x-rated. They thought he meant the movie had been x-rayed.”

(To be concluded.)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 5

#18 William Smith & #19Jane Rawlings, in the Sanborn line.

Avon (old Paradise), Utah, cemetery hill, October 2009.

William Smith
b. 6 Jun 1811, Stoke St. Milborough, Shopshire, England
p. Samuel Smith, Sarah Serjeant
m. 1849, Herefordshire, England
wife: Jane Rawlings
d. 14 Apr 1890
b. Paradise Cemetery, Paradise, Utah

Jane Rawlings
b. 8 Mar 1827, Parish Holdgate, Bouldon, England (neighboring parishes)
p. William Rawlings, Jane
d. date unknown
b. Paradise Cemetery, Paradise, Utah

Born in England, in neighboring parishes, William Smith and Jane Rawlings were married 1849 in Herefordshire, England. Church records show William Smith was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints on January 24, 1854.

In 1856 Willliam and Jane were on their way to the Salt Lake Valley. Their first daughter, Sarah Jane, was born April 1, 1856 in Keokuk, Iowa. They were traveling with their children, William 5, Joseph 3, and Thomas 2. The family laid over for about three weeks, until Jane recovered from childbirth.

The family was part of a company of overland emigrants which left Florence, Iowa, about June 1, 1856 with Elder Philemon Christopher Merrill, Captain, “a splendid man.” They are listed as William Smith, wife and 4 children. The company averaged fifteen miles each day. They were called together for prayer every night and morning and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on August 14, 1856. A journal keeper from the group noted that day, "crossed the creek a number of times. Road rough much of the way & bad crossing. Clear & warm, most of the day. Cool morning."

After arriving in the Valley the family lived "in the first place they came to." Draper. On February 8, 1858, their son John Sergeant Smith was born there.

In March 1860, Joseph G. Crapo, Alvin M. Montierth, Barnard White, and William Smith, who were residing at that time in Draper, Utah, decided to visit Cache Valley in hopes of finding a location for settlement. They had heard about the lush, green valley with plenty of water and timber. They joined a wagon train that was going north and traveled with them until they reached Ogden’s Hole. They then followed an old Indian trail north into Cache Valley. Barnard White drove the first wagon and team of mules into Old Paradise (Avon) on April 1, 1860.

The area chosen was located at the forks of East Creek and Little Bear River. Today it is a small agricultural community on U-165 eleven miles south of Logan and three miles southeast of present-day Paradise.

They returned to Draper to bring their families to the new location. On May 12, 1860, Joseph G. Crapo and Alvin M. Montierth returned with their families. On their return trip they stopped at Salt Lake City and convinced David James to join them at the new location. All of the settlers were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and David James had served as their Branch President while they were in England.

They were able to get a crop planted that year which they irrigated from springs on the east side of the Muddy or Little Bear River and they had a good harvest. Four homes were built on one side of a small road and four homes on the other side of the road in fort style. The following families spent the first winter on their chosen location either in the fort, small cabins, or in dugouts: David James, Joseph G. Crapo, Alvin M. Montierth, William Smith, Barnard White, William Woodhead, James Lofthouse, Enoch Rollins, Charles Rollins, Edward Davenport, John Sperry, Jerome Remington, Winslow Farr, Jr., James Bishop, Elijah Tams, Leonardis L. Crapo, Prince Albert Crapo, and Dr. Ellis.

In February 1861, Apostle Ezra Taft Benson and Bishop Peter Maughn called David James to be bishop. Apostle Benson remarked while visiting the settlement that "This is like Paradise".

They suffered many hardships and trials in Paradise—including being taken as prisoners by Indians. William Smith and another man guarded the outside of the meeting where the women and children were for safety. When the Indians were “a talking together” William and another man went to Logan for help. By giving the Indians food, clothing, and blankets, they were able to make peace with them.

Their daughter, Sarah Jane, said, “Wolves could be heard on the roof howling and scratching, trying to get into the dugouts. They would keep a fire all night so the smoke going up would keep the wolves from coming down the chimneys.”

In 1860 they started to raise crops. “When the crops were up the grasshoppers came so bad one could not see the sun. The next day the crops were all destroyed. For seven years the pioneers fought the pesty hoppers--then came the crickets. And for two years they destroyed every thing. The seagulls came as a blessing to the pioneers, as they rescued them from starvation by devouring the crickets.”

The first wagon load of wheat William Smith ever sold was at Box Elder. All that he received for the whole load of wheat was a washtub, a few clothes, a little sugar, and a few other things.
In the spring of 1868, the town was moved north about three miles from the original site, to minimize conflicts with the Indians, who liked to camp near the first site. The original settlement is now called Avon, named by Mrs. Orson Smith in honor of Avon, England, the birthplace of William Shakespeare.

William Smith, was a farmer and a “stockraiser.” He was a Seventy and a High Priest. He died in Paradise in April 14, 1890. He and his wife are both buried there.

Their children are:
William, born 1851, Stoke St. Milborough, Shropshire, England
Joseph Rollings, born 1852, Stoke St. Milborough, Shropshire, England
Thomas Rawlings, born 1853, Ludlow, Shropshire, England
Sarah Jane, born 1856, Keokuck, Iowa
John Sergeant, born 1858, Draper, Utah
Hyrum, born, 1859, Paradise, Utah
Mary Ann born 1862, Paradise
Martha Amelia, born 1865, Paradise
Ellen Rawlings, born 1867, Paradise
John, born 1869, Paradise, Utah
Emma Louise R., born 1872, Paradise, Utah

William Smith family marker at the Paradise, Utah cemetery.

Posted today in memory of Marlene Sanborn Silotti (Nov 22, 1931 - Jul 12, 2009)Genealogist Extraordinaire!

DUP History, Sarah Jane Smith, A Utah Pioneer of 1856, submitted 1936 by Dau. Fla Barton. FamilySearch. Family records. John W. Van Cott history of Avon at, onlineutah.com/paradisehistory.shtlml and cacheregister.com/citypages.php. Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, Utah Pioneers Book Publish Company Publishers, 1913, p. 1171. Pictures by the author. Please advise me of any errors you may find here.