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.

Moses Martin Sanders

I was having a hard time coming up with someone or something to blog about this week. Usually I have been gathering data or visiting cemeteries, but this week I have to guiltily admit that I have not had my ancestors on my mind. So when my phone beeped at me like it does every Sunday to remind me that it's time to blog I did not know where to begin. 

Luckily the idea came to me to look through past research projects from Universal Genealogy Center and in one of the documents I came across an advertisement for lodging in an old Nauvoo cabin built by Moses Martin Sanders and his son, John Franklin Sanders. Now I not only have a blog idea, but a trip to plan as well. I have copied and pasted the history here along with the website. 

Moses Martin Sanders

My paternal 3rd Great-Grandfather

Nauvoo Log Cabins @ http://nauvoologcabins.com/cabin_sanders.php
Moses Martin Sanders Cabin 
Built by Moses and John Franklin Sanders

Acquiring an old homestead log cabin inevitably means, digging up the past in search of history. In this case the time spent was well worth the effort. 

The Sanders story is one of adventure, tremendous faith, hardship and perseverance. It is not an isolated case, but rather a similar representation of thousands of pioneers and the trials they faced. Thanks to those who kept journals and records, we have the opportunity to view their lives from a distance. 

Moses Martin Sanders was born August 17, 1803, the son of David Sanders and Mary Allred. Moses was the Grandson of Moses Sanders, founder and first pastor of the Line Grove level and Nail Creek Baptist churches of Franklin County, Georgia. 

At the age of 23 Moses Married Amanda Armstrong Faucett, born May 6, 1810 in Maury, Tennessee. They were married on January 12, 1826 in the same county. They both came from homes that owned slaves. Her first child William Carl was born December 4, 1826, but lived only about 8 months. Amanda's second son, Richard Twiggs, was born May 31, 1828. In 1829 the family moved to Montgomery County, Illinois where her third child, John Franklin, was born on March 20, 1830. Here she had two baby girls named Rebecca Ann born, March 5, 1832 and Martha Brown born May 23, 1833, and another boy named David Walker, born on September 1, 1834. 

Moses and Amanda joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on January 28, 1835 and were baptized by immersion by Elder William Joy. In the summer of 1836 they moved to Missouri where their Seventh child was born and they named him Joseph Moroni Sanders. He was born December 25, 1836, which was during the time Caldwell County was organized. The Sanders purchased property at Far West, Clay County, before the northern part was formed into Caldwell County, Missouri. They went to be with the main body of the Saints. They suffered inhuman treatment at the hands of the mobs and were driven from their land and home. Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were in Liberty Jail facing false charges. During this time Amanda delivered her Eighth child and he was named Sidney Rigdon Sanders, born April 10, 1839. 

The Sanders traveled up river and took shelter with the concerned people of Quincy, Adams County, Illinois. It was in Quincy that Moses was ordained an Elder and a Seventy. In May of 1839 the prophet Joseph Smith and a group of Saints settled at Commerce, which was fifty miles up the river from Quincy. Joseph renamed the area Nauvoo the Beautiful. There the Sanders built a small log home on the corner of Water Street and Partridge. they lived next door to Joseph's Uncle John Smith, and very near the Prophet, and they cherished the associations, both in Church activities and in sporting events. Moses owned a beautiful but unruly horse. One day the prophet said to his nearby neighbor, Moses, "Brother Sanders, give the horse to me and I promise that you'll never lose by it" Moses Martin replied, "I would but I'm afraid that he may hurt you." Then the Prophet said, "No, he would never hurt me." Moses tossed him the rope and said, "He is Yours." 

While in Nauvoo, Amanda had three more children. Emma was born on January 23, 1840 and she is said to have been named by the Prophet himself, in honor of his wife, Emma. On June 4, 1843 Eliza Jane was born followed by Hyrum Smith Sanders born on October 10, 1845. Life was difficult for survival on account of malaria, lack of proper food, shelter and persecution of the mobs. It was here in Nauvoo, they had the sorrow of parting with their son Sidney Rigdon, who was six years of age. The Sanders also witnessed the return of the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum. 

That same year, Joseph Moroni Sanders was baptized on the day he turned eight. His Birthday was on December 25th, Christmas Day, 1844. A hole had to be cut in the ice and he was baptized by immersion in the Mississippi River. Joseph Moroni had a vivid recollection of the Prophet, when he gave his farewell message to his people before, Joseph and his Brother Hyrum met their tragic death. It is interesting to note that at this event Joseph Moroni was less than eight years old at the time. The Sander's enjoyed many of the Prophet's Sermons. He also remembered Brigham Young when he was chosen to be the president of the church, when he spoke in the voice and image of the slain Prophet, Joseph Smith.

Joseph Moroni Sanders
My paternal 2ggf

John Franklin Sanders as a teenager helped the builders of the Nauvoo Temple as a water boy. Year after year John saw firsthand the huge, cut, chiseled, and polished stones arrive from the Quarry by wagon. The Sunstones, Moons and Star stones along with the Twelve Oxen we're carved out of stone. Nothing but the finest quality and workmanship was accepted for the House of God. Large amounts of timber from the pineries of Wisconsin were floated down the Mississippi to provide the lumber necessary for such a large edifice. The work was hard and tedious, under adverse conditions, poverty, sickness, weather and opposition, but the work continued. John's father and older brother Richard also worked regularly on the Nauvoo Temple. The Sanders witnessed the completion of the Lord's Temple in Nauvoo and on January 3rd, 1846, Moses and Amanda received their endowments and were sealed for time and all eternity by Heber C. Kimball. Often John was the only one home to help his mother and younger brothers and sisters, as his Father and Richard were gone so much on church duties. Moses served as city policeman, and in the Temple as the voice for Temple Prayers.

Due to mobs and persecutions the Mormons were driven from Nauvoo in the dead of winter in 1846 and crossed the frozen Mississippi. Wagons with belongings and supplies lined up Parley Street as the mass exodus began. The Sanders arrived at Winter Quarters, now Florence, Nebraska, in the summer of 1846, they camped and settled at Pigeon Grove near Kanesville, Iowa. It was here that Amanda lost two more children. Eleven month old Hyrum Smith, was buried at Winter Quarters on September 27, 1846. Not much later on April 4, 1847, Eliza Jane, age three, died and was buried in grave #123. 

Moses worked in a sawpit making lumber by hand, and John worked on the ferry along with Henry Weeks Sanderson. When a call from the United States Government for 500 Mormons to enlist in the war against Mexico. The Oldest living son, Richard Twiggs Sanders, age Eighteen, volunteered. 536 men signed up by July 16, 1846, and they marched from Council Bluffs to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and to San Diego, California. This was the longest march in the history of the United States Infantry--over Two thousand miles. 

Oliver Stratton

Oliver Stratton - My 3rd Great Grandfather
Born: 24 June 1818
Died: 21 August 1879

I wanted today’s entry to be about another Mormon pioneer ancestor in honor of Pioneer Day.  I was unable to find another story, but I did find on the church history site in LDS.org that my maternal 3^rd great grandparents came in 1849.  Oliver Stratton, my 3^rd great grandfather was born on 24 June 1818 in Bedford County, Tennessee.  Oliver married Harriett Ann Brown on 22 August 1841 in Hancock, Illinois.  Oliver, age 31, and Harriett, age 23, crossed the plains with their three young children, James Albert, age 5 (2^nd great-grandfather), Melissa Ann, age 3, and baby Oliver.  They traveled west with the Allen Taylor Company.  I am grateful to my pioneer ancestors that were willing to leave their homes to follow the prophet and build Zion in Utah.  Oliver and Harriet settled in Provo, Draper, and finally in Virgin City, Washington County, Utah.  They had a total of twelve children.

So far I only know of six ancestors that blazed the trail to the west.  There are probably more, but I will have to look another day.  I found the picture of Oliver Stratton on Findagrave.com.

Hulda Charlotte Zabriskie Sanders

                   Hulda Charlotte Zabriskie - My 2nd great-grandma

                                      Born: 30 January 1844
                                        Died: 11 June 1908

Hulda Charlotte Zabriskie was born January 30, 1844, at Ambrosia, Lee County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Lewis Curtis Zabriskie and Mary Higbee. Her mother died before they came west, and her father soon married Ann Park, a girl who was taking care of the children, and she proved to be a very kind and capable stepmother. I have heard my Hulda say many times that she could not have loved her own mother more than she did her.

They came to Utah in 1851 with the Garden Grove Company, settling first in Provo, then Salem, then Fairview and finally at Spring City where they remained permanently.

While they were crossing the plains the Indians saw Hulda and were very much attracted to her on account of her long white hair and tried to buy her. They followed them for several days and offered them horses, guns, meat and whatever they had for her. After this they kept her hid whenever they were in Indian territory.

She was married to Joseph Moroni Sanders, August 20, 1860 at Fairview, Utah. Their first child, Mary Amanda, was born at Fairview, September 10, 1861, and on February 26, 1864 a son was born which lived only two days.

In 1865 her father-In-Law, Moses Martin Sanders, and his family were called to the Dixie Cotton Mission. It was found that cotton could be raised quite successfully here, and there had been a factory built at Washington County where the cotton could be turned into yard goods, some ready-made clothing, and blankets which could be exchanged for other products throughout the state.

Joseph Moroni and his brothers obtained land in the Washington fields, and Moses Sanders bought the Middleton Ranch and built a house there just east of the bridge, which still stands in good condition.

-HISTORY OF HULDA CHARLOTTE ZABRISKIE SANDERS by her daughter, Nettie Ann Sanders Spendlove

Garden Grove Company- Departure: 17 May 1851 Arrival: 24/25 September 1851

John Prichard Squire

                   John Prichard Squire - My 2nd Great Grandpa
                   Essay written by Loren D. Squire, my grandpa

                                     Born: 30 March 1824
                                      Died: 25 April 1872

John Prichard Squire was born March 30, 1824, in Bainbridge, Geauga County, Ohio. He was a son of Aaron and Elizabeth Prichard Squire. He kept a journal or diary, from the age of 21 when he left his home in Ohio.

Lorenzo Snow, born in Manua, Ohio, April 3, 1814, became an early convert to the Mormon Churtch in Kirtland, Ohio, 1836, and began missionary work in his neighborhood. Among the families he visited was the Squire family in nearby Bainbridge. He converted John P. Squire and his older sister Harriet, who became one of Lorenzo Snow's wives.

John P. Squire came to Utah with the Lorenzo Snow Company, arriving in Salt Lake City, September 22, 1848. At the October conference in 1849, Lorenzo Snow was called to open up the mission in Italy. He hired John P. Squire to take care of his families during his absence. He returned from his mission August 30, 1852.

October 1, 1852, Mr. Squire left the employ of Lorenzo Snow and left for Manti, where he built a one-room log cabin for the purpose of opening a school, which he did December 13, 1852.

A couple of weeks after opening the school, Mr. Squire married Adelia DeMill, December 31, 1852. She was the daughter of Freeborn and Ann Knight DeMill, who was born in Jackson County, Missouri, September 19, 1832. This school room became their home, where they moved the school benches out after school and beds for family living.

This journal states that he taught school in this building until February, 1856, when illness forced him to close down. He died April 25, 1872, at the age of 48. They were the parents of 8 children -- 2 had died, leaving Mrs. Squire a widow with six children to raise. Mrs. Squire also raised 2 grandchildren whose mothers had died at his birth, and Alice Squire, a daughter of Oliver, the youngest son.


I (the author of this story) started school in Manti the fall of 1904, and got the job of getting the kindling wood and coal (when they had it) in for Widow Squire after school each night. She was 62 when I started this job and I did it for several years. I used to play with a sword that hung in a metal scabbard from a peg in the wall. My arms were not long enough to draw the sword without dropping the scabbard to the floor. Widow Squire said her father, Freeborn DeMill, had brought it all the way across the plains to Manti, as it was the one his father Garrett DeMill owned and used in the Revolutionary War, while he served in Duchess County, New York Militia, under the command of Colonel Abraham Brinkerhoff.

Adelia DeMille Squire

               Adelia DeMille Squire - My 2nd Great Grandmother

                                  Born: 27 September 1832
                                  Died: 17 December 1917

Adelia DeMille Squire was born September 27, 1832 in Missouri. Her parents were among some of the first to join the Mormon Church. They experienced the early sufferings and persecutions of that people. They were driven from Nauvoo at the time of the exodus.

She crossed the plains in 1850, driving an ox team most of the way. She arrived at Manti the same fall and has been a good citizen ever since. She was married to John P. Squire, December 31, 1852. She has been a widow for 47 years and was the mother of eight children of whom four survive here. Besides rearing her own children she has reared two grandchildren. Of her posterity there are 17 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. The funeral was held in the Tabernacle at 3 p.m. Sunday. The speakers were Ezra Showmaker, Francis M. Cox, George E. Bench, Bishop N.R. Peterson. The pallbearers were six grandsons. Besides the relatives residing in Manti, her two children O. E. Squire and Eliza Winget of Monroe were present, grandchildren, Orson Allen of Salt Lake, Mrs. and Mrs. Milton Doxford of Austin, Luther Winget and wife of Monroe, Elmer Winget and wife of Austin, Ruby Squire of Monroe, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Waters of Richfield, Mrs. Leone Johnson of Salt Lake and son-in-law, Cyrus Winget of Monroe.
-The Manti Messenger, December 28, 1917 (Obituary)

                                      Another excerpt on Adelia Demille from Findagrave.com

In December 1833, when Adelia was only 1 year old, they were driven from their home by a mob to Clay County. In 1839, when Adelia was about 7, they were driven to Quincy, IL, and to other places. In 1842, they went to Nauvoo where they stayed until 22 April, 1846. Adelia was 14 when they were driven out of Nauvoo.
On the 26th of May, they arrived at Mt. Pisgah (Iowa) where they resided until 1850. Then they started for the Great Salt Lake Valley and arrived in Manti, Sanpete Co, UT on November 5, 1850. Adelia was just 18 and walked all the way across the Plains and drove the oxen team.