Sunday, January 13, 2013

Lewis (Louis) Curtis Zabriskie

When I went on my little cemetery tour I was struck by the three tombstones of Lewis Curtis Zabriskie.  He has been on my mind so I decided to see if I could find more about him.  In a Google search I found a brief history about Lewis Curtis Zabriskie in an ebook entitled Polish Pioneers in Illinois, 1818-1850 by James D. Lodesky, who gathered his information from George Olin Zabriskie.  Apparently this George Olin Zabriskie, was quite the genealogist, he was a descendant of Lewis Curtis Zabriskie through his second wife and I descend from Lewis’ first wife. 

LEWIS CURTIS ZABRISKIE

My 3rd Great-grandfather




According to George Olin Zabriskie, [George Olin Zabriskie, The Zabriskie Family, Copyright 1963 by George Olin Zabriskie, pp.348-9] Lewis was born in Hamilton County, Ohio on September 17, 1817.  He converted to the Mormon faith April 19, 1836.  Lewis fled Missouri during the Mormon exodus of 1838-1839.  He settled in Adams County, Illinois, first, but later moved to Hancock County.  Lewis was not done moving yet, and at some point moved across the Mississippi River to Lee County, Iowa.  Lewis’ father, uncle, and brother were all living in Lee County at the time.

Lewis was married twice.  His first marriage was to Mary Keziah Higbee on April 5, 1839.  Mary was born in Clermont County, Ohio, September 5, 1821.  The marriage produced six children, William, Isaac, Eleanor, Huldah, John, and Mary. Mary Higbee Zabriskie died March 2, 1847, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Lewis’ second marriage was to Sarah Ann Park.  Their marriage took place in Council Bluffs, Iowa on July 25, 1847.  Nine children were born from this marriage, Hyrum, Joseph, Matilda, George, David, Louisa, Sara, Esther, and Charles.

Lewis and his family participated in the famous Mormon trek to Utah in 1846.  The family took up residence in Provo, Utah, September 23, 1851.  Lewis’ father was also living in Provo.  Lewis moved several times after arriving in Utah.  In 1859, he moved to Salem, Utah County.  In 1860, he moved to Fairview, Sanpete County, Utah.  Lewis made his last move in 1862, his final destination Spring City, Utah, Lewis died in Spring City, November 17, 1872.

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