John Morgan attends the G. A. R., Grand Army of the Republic, Parade in Washington DC, September 20, 1892.

This picture of D. W. Hamilton is from the John Hamilton Morgan picture collection at the Marriott Library, Special Collection, University of Utah. He is John Morgan's uncle. From John Hamilton Morgan's journal, also in the Marriott Library collection:

1892
[Salt Lake City]
September 1
Met at Bennett’s office on the political situation. Afterwards at the President’s office. Met the First Council at 12 m. and arranged a circular letter to the Seventies. Held a short session. During the day it was decided that Willey L. Brown and myself should go east at once and try to arrange our political affairs. Went to the lake with the children. Met [probably Charles W.] Bennett, [Willey L.] Brown, and [unknown] Smith and arranged details of trip East.

Note: On September 15 John Morgan arrived in Washington DC. His journal entries might be script for “Who was Who” to see and lobby in Washington DC at that time. He stayed there and worked for “Utah and the West” through October 7, 1892.

September 18
In company with brother S. F. [probably Spencer] Clawson, walked out through the city. In my room most of the p.m. In the evening attended Baptist Church and heard a lot of stuff.
September 19At the Rigg’s house met uncle Dave Hamilton, here attending G. A. R. [Grand Army of the Republic] Reunion. He came up and had dinner with me. Met a number of old acquaintances.
September 20Watched the G. A. R. parade, 80,000 veteran soldiers in line starting at 9:30 a.m. It took until after 6 p.m. for them to pass a given point. It was a grand display and one doubtless that will never be witnessed again. The day was a very fine one and with bands of music and soldierly tread, 80,000 veterans marched up Penn. Avenue where very many of them marched twenty-seven years ago. The most pitiable sight was to see so many of the old fellows under liquor in the evening. A magnificent display of fireworks during the evening.
September 21
Rained nearly all day and very disagreeable. With uncle most of the day. He left for home in the p.m. President Harrison with his sick wife came to the city this morning. Met General Minty on the street, Talked Utah matters with General Alger. Called on the Attorney General and got a list of applicants for the U. S. Marshal office.

This Spring I noticed a new G. A. R. marker

in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

This is a picture of the reverse side,

and names the donors.

It's near Main Street in the same block as
John Morgan's gravestone,
which is to the right and further east in this picture.

Charles W. Bennett is named Lawyer; Republican politician, who came to Salt Lake City in 1871, in John Henry Smith's online diaries.

Spencer Clawson is identified as Merchant, Politician, Capitalist, in Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah.

A Double Walton Wedding, October 24, 1894, Logan Temple, Utah.

Samuel and Susan Peabody Walton’s

granddaughters’ wedding day.

Daniel T. Wood and Susan May Walton

are on the left

Joseph Tolman and Rosanna Walton

are on the right

married

October 24, 1894

Logan Temple, Utah

daughters of

Samuel Augustine and Eliza
Cathryn Kent Call Walton
Of Auburn (Star Valley) Wyoming

Thanks to Samuel and Susan Walton descendant, Marla, for sharing this terrific double wedding day picture. Susan May is Marla's grandmother. [Ed. Dec 9, 2010. Thank you, Marla, for the replacement picture with softened tones.]

John Hamilton Morgan is sealed to Mary E. Kilgore.

The earliest mention I can find of a Kilgore in John Morgan’s journal was in July of 1877, near Look Out Mountain, Georgia, where on the 18th he wrote … Came to Mr. Kilgore, who appears to be investigating… Thereafter Kilgore is frequently mentioned in journal entries.

1877 Appears to be written while in Cassandra, Georgia

September 30 – At 9 A.M. I baptized: Wm. C. Kilgore, Jas. T. Kilgore and A. H. Mitchell, they were confirmed by Mr. L. [presumably Lisonbee] At 11 Bro. L. preached to a good house full of people who paid close attention. At 3 P.M. I preached to a tolerable fair audience.

1st October – At 12 – M. [presumably John Morgan] baptized Johathan [sic] Road, confirmed by L. [Lisonbee] and Caroline [presumably Wm. C. Kilgore’s wife] Kilgore, confirmed by M. [John Morgan], and immediately after confirmation left for Horton’s Chapel feeling very well on our arrival at Bart Fawcett’s ...

Other early (1877) Southern State's Mission journal entries are posted here and here on this blog.

Nine years later, in 1886, John Morgan’s wife, Mellie, had traveled to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to be with him. Emigrants from the country gathered to Chattanooga to travel west with them. A Sister Kilgore is among them. Additional journal entries from that trip were posted here on this blog.

1886
November 17 This has been a very busy day and a very inclement one. Rained in torrents a great part of the time. Telegrams and letters came in from every direction giving information of the arrival of the saints at the various stations who are enroute to Chattanooga to join the company leaving for Zion tomorrow. Sister Kilgore and a number of saints came in from the country …

A little over two years later, in 1889, John Morgan stopped in Logan, Utah, on his return to Salt Lake City, from a conference in Franklin, Idaho. He had, by this time, married two plural wives, Annie in 1884, and Mary Ann in 1888.

1889
January 26 took the 8:30 a.m. U. C. train for the north to attend Conference at Franklin, Idaho. Arrived at 3 p.m. and drove from the depot to President George C. Parkinsons. Slept at brother M. F. Cowleys. Extremely cold.

January 27It was 10 degrees below zero this a.m. At 9 a.m. Conference convened. At 10 a.m. a fair attendance. …

January 29It was 21 degrees below zero this morning. … At 12:40 p.m. took train for Logan. Had dinner at brother Fullmers and from there to brother W. C. Kilgores where I spent the afternoon and evening.

January 30Went to the Temple early and at 8:30 a.m. spoke a while to the people. Spent the entire forenoon in the Temple and before leaving had Mary C. Kilgore (dead) sealed to me [NFS Mary E. Kilgore 1857-1880]. Taking the 2 p.m. train, reached home at 6:30 finding all well.

From John Hamilton Morgan Journal, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah. NFS New Family Search sealing and baptismal dates are in sync with JHM Journal entries. Picture of Logan, Utah Temple from Wikipedia.

John Hamilton Morgan's first convert is sealed to him.

According to The Life and Ministry of John Morgan by Arthur M. Richardson, page 361, Jennie Whipple was John Morgan’s first convert, while he was serving in Illinois. This picture of her is [a copy of a copy]from the John Hamilton Morgan collection, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah.

From The John Morgan journal there I found some entries mentioning her.

Normal, Illinois
1876, January 3
Returned to my father’s home today. The Christian Church at Lexington was refused at the last moment and so I failed in my endeavor to speak there.
Normal, Illinois
1876, January 4Went to Bloomington this morning and visited with Sister Beeston [Beeson]; had a truly pleasant interview with her. It is surely good to meet one of your own people and I thank God for His blessings to her and to myself. [Note: On this day, John Morgan entered in his journal a paragraph about his genealogy. It is posted here on this blog.]

Bloomington, Illinois
1876, January 5Brought Aunt up from Father’s today and called on Sister Beeston; [Beeson] had a pleasant talk and administered to her. …

Normal, Illinois
1876, January 8
Visited Sister Beeston [Beeson] this morning and fixed her windows for her. Had an interesting interview with her and Miss Miller. ...

Money Creek, Illinois
1876, January 14
... [Note: The following is inserted in his typed journal following the entry for this day.] (Eliza Jane Beeson (Whipple) born February 6, 1842 in Fairfield, Columbiana County, Ohio – daughter of Henry Martin Beeson and Ruth Cope, baptized August 25, 1883 by Elder John Morgan, Confirmed by George Reynolds. Desires to be sealed to John Morgan – copied from a note that she left with Lily T. Freeze).

I have learned the following about Sister Beeson or Whipple. From page 361 of The Life and Ministry of John Morgan by Arthur M. Richardson, "Another visitor he was happy to see, came to town on the 20th Jennie Beeso Whipple from Illinois who had been his first convert to the Church while serving as a missionary in that state in 1876. On the 25th he baptized her at 11:30 a.m. at Warm Springs with George Reynolds serving as witness."

[Note: The 1883 John Morgan journal section, that may substantiate this 1883 baptismal date, and the same New Family Search baptismal date, isn’t in the Marriott Library collection. ]

Salt Lake City
1884, October 29Accompanied Jennie Whipple south on the [illegible] C. train. She is going to Nephi. I left the train at Draper and returned on the 10:10 a.m. train. ...

[Note: In August, 1887, John Morgan was in Salt Lake City, visiting Mellie and his family. He was being sought by the Marshals. His journal entries from that visit are posted here in this blog.]

1887, August 4
At home quiet all day. Sister Jennie Whipple came down in the afternoon and remained until dark when I drove her out to the Hot Springs ...
According to New Family Search, Eliza Jane Beason was in the Salt Lake Temple completing her own temple work on August 17, 1899. She was sealed to her parents January 17, 1900.

In 1900 Jennie Whipple was Head, or Superintendent of the County Infirmary at 1979 State Street, in Salt Lake City, according to the Farmers Precinct, Salt Lake County Census. She was born February 1842, was 58 years old, widowed, and both of her parents were born in Ohio.

Jennie B. Whipple was living at 210 Fern Street, in Salt Lake City, when she died on May 30, 1909. The information on her State of Utah death certificate was provided by Bishop T. F. Tingey.

She was buried June 2, 1909 in John Hamilton Morgan’s family plot at the Salt Lake City cemetery. You can see her gravestone’s proximity to John Morgan’s gravestone in the picture at the end of this post.

Eliza Jane Beason [Jennie Beeson Whipple 1842-1909] was sealed to John Hamilton Morgan, December 14, 1927, in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Note: I did not know who this "fallen headstone" belonged to [front left], when I first began visiting John Morgan's gravesite--years ago. Another descendant pointed it out to me last Fall. It appears all of John Morgan's wives were living in Salt Lake City in 1927. No--there is a wife who never lived in Salt Lake City!

Samuel Walton and Susan Walton Family Histories INDEX.

One wonders if this picture of Susan Peabody Walton was taken before she left Iowa and Kansas, or after arriving in Woodruff, Utah. And how close to 92 years old was she, when this picture of her was taken? It is from my father's picture pedigree chart.

Could she and Samuel have had any idea, when they were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico, Maine in the early 1840's, and determined to gather to Nauvoo, what was ahead for their family?

Two and-a-half months after leaving Maine, Susan was widowed. She probably didn't know that for a long time. By the time it appears she reached Nauvoo, her husband had disappeared, and the Saints they traveled from Maine to join, were evacuating the area.

The following index will hopefully assist you in locating the information I've gathered about their family members and posted on this blog.

Susan Peabody Walton Virgin Walton Houghton
March 28, 1800, Mexico, Maine to

February 10, 1892, Woodruff, Utah

Samuel Walton
About 1802, Paris Maine to

August 24, 1845, Nauvoo, Illinois
Old Nauvoo burial grounds are pictured here.

Their children are:
Rosannah Virgin born 1817 to Susan Peabody Walton and Mr. Virgin.
Grace born 1824
Hannah born 1826
Benjamin Chaplin born 1830
Samanthy Ann born 1834
Hester Ann born 1837
Elizabeth born 1840
Samuel Augustine born 1842

My great grandparents’ (Stephen Vestal and Elizabeth Walton Frazier's) ranch was Up the Creek, in Woodruff, Utah. The school and church house, being in the village center, are about a mile from the Frazier Ranch. This portion of the town map, from the 1972 book The First 100 Years in Woodruff, shows Susan Walton Houghton’s place, which is marked as #8. Up is to the East, and North is to the Right.

Susan settled in Woodruff, Utah sometime between 1872 and 1875. On the book’s map legend, #8 is Granny Walton’s place.

Samuel Walton and Susan Walton

family history INDEX

Part 1--#19 (Frazier line) Susan Peabody Walton Virgin Walton Houghton 1800-1892.

Part 2--#18 Samuel Walton (Frazier line) #19 Susan Peabody Walton Virgin Walton Houghton.

Part 3--#18 Samuel Walton #19 Susan Walton, The Caravan Divides.

Part 4--The Waltons, Arthur & Martha from Mexico, Maine, arrive in the Salt Lake Valley in 1851.

Part 5--Susan Walton’s children, Benjamin Chaplin [1830-1923] Rosannah Virgin [1817-1885].

Part 6--Rosannah, Susan Walton’s daughter, is sealed to Perrigrine Sessions February 2, 1846 in Nauvoo.

Part 7--Samanthy Ann, Susan’s daughter is called Anna.

Part 8--Samuel Augustine Walton, Son of Susan Walton. 1842-1929.

Part 9--Susan Walton’s daughters, Hester Ann and Elizabeth Frazier.

Part 10--Susan Walton’s daughter, Grace Walton Crain.

Susan Walton's daughter, Grace Walton Crain. Part 10.

(Continued from here.)

Grace Walton Crain
b. 1824, Mexico, Oxford, Maine
p. Samuel Walton and Susan Walton
m. Mr. Crain
Children: Joseph Crain (1845- ), Francis Crain (1847- )
d. 1874

Gratie [Grace] Walton (33) was listed living with her mother, Susan [Walton] Houghton, in the 1856 Pleasant Ridge, Lee County, Iowa census. A five year old male child, F. M. Crane, born in Iowa, was a part of the household also.

In 1870, prior to the Fraziers and Waltons departing for Utah, Gracie was living with her sister Elizabeth Walton Frazier and her family in Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas. She appears to have a different last name [Leivie] on the census inserted below.

1870 Census 4th Ward, City of Lawrence,
County of Douglas, Kansas

Grace Walton Crain Leivie [1824-1874 ]

It was disappointing not finding any further information about Gracie. Perhaps I will eventually.

Links of Walton History, by Hattie Walton Heninger, 1881, p 131. NFS.

Happy Mother's Day!

A history of my grandmother, Emily Rufi Frazier, begins here on this blog.

A day late,
Happy Mother’s Day
to all of our wonderful mothers!





Here is a link to a virtual tour of the streets and lanes of Woodruff, Utah. Grandma Emily Frazier is buried there. A grateful thanks to Lisa for sending me this picture of her gravestone.

The card is from my Grandma Bessie Rex's scrapbook.

Susan Walton's daughters, Elizabeth and Hester Ann, married Frazier cousins. Part 9.

Elizabeth Walton and Stephen Vestal Frazier

On the occasion of their wedding.

(Continued from here.)

My parents could never find a definitive place for Stephen Vestal and Elizabeth's wedding. It was listed in 1860 in Henry County, Iowa, or Lawrence, Kansas. Recently I found them in

Marriage Records of Jackson County, Missouri

1827-1860

Volume 1

Name: Stephen V. Frazier

Location: Shawnee, Kansas

Spouse: Lizzie Walton

Marriage Date: 01 Mar 1860

History of Stephen Vestal and Elizabeth Walton Frazier.

Part 1.

Part 2.

Records of Hester Ann and Elizabeth Frazier joining the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1862 and 1863, respectively, can be found in Part 2 of the history of Stephen Vestal and Elizabeth Walton Frazier, linked above.

Hester Ann Walton
b. June 14, 1837, Mexico, Oxford, Maine
p. Samuel Walton and Susan Walton
m. Asa Frazier of Henry County, Iowa.
Hester Ann wasn’t yet a teenager, when the Walton family caravan left Mexico, Maine in 1845.
In the 1856 census she was living in Pleasant Ridge, Lee County, Iowa near her mother and siblings. Hester Ann and a child were boarding with David and Mary Barnes.
Asa fought in the Civil War as a private in the 25th Iowa Infantry, Company G. It was organized at Mount Pleasant, Iowa and mustered in September 27, 1862. They fought in the Siege of Vicksburg May 18-July 4.
Listed in a report by Iowa Adjutant General of Casualties among enlisted Men is Asa Frazier. He died at Vicksburg, Mississippi, on July 25, 1863 of inflammation of the stomach.

In the 1870 census [H]Ester Frazier, with a child Benson F. Frazier, was living with Catharine Glesser, in the Lawrence Ward 3, Douglas, Kansas. Her mother, Susan Houghton, and Stephen Vestal and Elizabeth Walton Frazier and family, were living in Lawrence Ward 4, Douglas, Kansas. According to NFS, Hester died in 1872. I've yet to find a source, or her child.

(To be continued.)

Marriage Records of Jackson County, Missouri. 977.841 V25j or FHL microfilm #1,421,672, item 12. Picture of the Fraziers on their wedding day copied from a daguerreotype tin picture in family collection. Early Reorganization Minutes, 1852-1871, Book A. pp. 133, 190. Report by Iowa Adjutant Generals office, Hon. William S. Stone Governor of the State of Iowa, Approved Mar 30, 1866, January 1, 1867, Vol. II, Des Moines F. W. Palmer, State Printer, 1867. Iowa 25th Infantry marker at Vicksburg Military Park from Wikipedia.

Samuel Augustine Walton, son of Susan Walton. 1842-1929. Part 8.

On the backside of the picture is written:

Continued from here.

Samuel Augustine Walton was three years old in 1845 when he left Mexico, Maine with his family.

b. 7 May 1842, Mexico, Oxford, Maine

p. Samuel Walton and Susan Walton

m. Eliza Catherine Kent

d. February 9, 1929, Auburn, Lincoln, Wyoming

According to New Family Search, Samuel Augustine and his wife had six children. Samuel also came to Woodruff, Utah. He lived there for a time, and his daughter Susan Mae was born there. He later moved his family to Star Valley, Wyoming.

This picture belonged to my father, and a year ago I had no idea who he was, or why my father had kept the picture. Now I understand.

A descendant of Samuel's, through his daughter, Susan Mae, saw this blog and wrote me, looking for history of Susan Walton.

More will follow.

Samanthy Ann, Susan Walton's daughter, is called Anna. Part 7.

(Continued from here.)

Samanthy Ann Walton
b.17 Oct 1834, Mexico, Maine
p. Samuel Walton & Susan Walton
m. Slat Caldwell, Kansas City, Missouri, he died Douglas, Kansas
m. Captain Justus Witherell, Douglas County, Kansas

Samantha A. Walton appeared in the 1856 Pleasant Ridge, Lee County, Iowa census as a 22-year-old “Embroideress.” She was living with her mother, Susan Walton Houghton, who was widowed. Her sisters Gratia [Grace] Walton and Rosanna Cord [Card ] were at home with their children, F. M. Cram [Crain] and Charles A. [Alonzo] Card. Her sister Elisabeth, and brothers B. C. [Benjamin Chaplin] and S. A.[Samuel Augustine] Walton, were living with them also. The census is posted here.

At some point Samantha married Slat Caldwell. He died. From the Douglas County, Kansas, marriages, 1869, there is record that Justus Witherell, 32 years, was married to Anna Caldwell, 29 years, on 23 September 1869 in Douglas, Kansas, by James M. Hendry, PJ [presumably Justice of the Peace].

Captain Justus Witherell served in the Civil War as part of the 11th Regiment, Michigan Infantry 2nd, Company I. He ranked in as a First Lieutenant, and ranked out as a Captain.

Captain was used as a first name in his NFS record, and in an entry in the Woodruff, Utah, Ward History.

1888, January 18
Frazier Bros. & Cap. J. Witherell assisted by Deputy Marshals searched several houses in Woodruff for Polygamists but were not successful. Further information about the Fraziers in Woodruff history is posted here.

In 1900 Justus and Anna Witherell were living in Ogden, Utah where they were "fruit growers." Whether seasonal, or permanent, the previous account in the old Woodruff Ward records, indicates some of my ancestors did not endear themselves to the community.

From The First 100 Years in Woodruff, page 461, it says, Samantha Ann was married to Captain Witherell and lived her whole life in Woodruff. Aunt Ann, as she was affectionately called, was an active very alert, independent person. She lived in a little house just below the Frazier Ranch. She had no children. It states in her sister, Elizabeth Walton Frazier's, history, “And she took her widowed sister, Ann Witheral into her home for years.”

It appears Captain Witherell died shortly after 1900. I can’t find a record of his death, or burial, but this Civil War widow’s pension record indicates Anna applied for benefits.

Ann Witherell died in 1922 and is buried in the Woodruff Cemetery. Thank you to Lisa, who looks after the cemetery, and the records there, for sending me the picture of Anna's headstone.

(Susan Walton's children's histories to be continued.)

Woodruff Ward History 1887-1935, LR 20227-11, page 39. Church History Library in Salt lake City, Utah. The original records were burned in a fire in the 1930's. This section of the history on microfilm was "recollected" after the fire. http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/douglas/marriage/marr1869.htm

Rosannah, Susan Walton’s daughter, is sealed to Perrigrine Sessions, February 2, 1846 in Nauvoo. Part 6.

(Continued from here.)
I took advantage of being able to write to a NFS contributor who disputed Rosannah’s marriage to Perrigrine Sessions. I received a kind note back, with the names of two reference books about Brother Sessions, that do not list Rosannah as one of his wives. Through the afternoon we shared bits of information, concluding it was possible they had married.

Last night she sent me a copy of the following quote from page 94 of the book referenced below.

“Also included in this section is a reference to a Rosan Vergin, who appears to be another wife of Perrigrine. This is verified by a recently discovered note he wrote on November 22, 1878:

"I PG Sessions had sealed to me Rosan Vergin in Nauvoo Hancock Co in Willard Richards Office he being one of the Twelve Apostles Feb 2 1846 Daughter of Susan Walton. in May following I left her in Nauvoo Among Apostates and Mobocrats whare she was persuaded to Marry a Man By the name of Card and one child by him he died and she came and Settled in Woodruff Utah. Oct 23/1878 came to Bountiful stoped to Sylvia's my Sister and sent for me Asked Forgiveness for what she had done and said she had been baptized I told her that I was willing to forgive her and do any thing lawful for her what that was I knew not She returned to her home and died Nov 3/1878 with a cansor in her rite breast was Buried in Woodruff."

Exemplary Elder, The Life and Missionary Diaries of Perrigrine Sessions, 1814-1892, Edited by Donna Toland Smart, BYU Studies and Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History, Provo, Utah. The page I photocopied from the Family History Library, in Salt Lake City, had the book number, but not a date. US/CAN 921.73 Se72sd

Of further interest to me in that book, are five different references to Osgood Vergin. From page 71, May 1843, from Elder Sessions’ Missionary Journal, “… from here I went to the town of Mexico & precht at the Walton schoolhouse ^twise^ where I found a small branch of the Church that brother Jerrymiah. [Jeremiah] Willey (9) had built up and had left them in the care of Elder Ausgood Vergin who I found walking in the truth and the Saints were injoying the gifts and blessings of God the saints numbering about twenty …

The link to Rosannah's gravestone is at the top of this post. Brother Perrigrine specifically dates her passing above as November 3, 1878. Chiseled in her gravestone in the Woodruff Cemetery is 1885. My best guess is her grave stone was done much later than her passing. Perhaps at the same time her mother’s stone was done. They are both in the very same style.

(Samuel & Susan Walton's children's histories are to be continued.)

Quotes' spelling and punctuation is retained. The picture of the New Nauvoo Temple is from Wikipedia. And I thank a new NFS friend who took the time this required, and shared the resource.