Obituaries
If you have any Uintah County related obituaries contact the Coordinator.The word came as a shock to the entire community Saturday morning that death had claimed Mrs. Kate Jean Boan at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. C., Ruple. Her illness was known but news had been given out that she was recovering and would soon be well again. She was over from the new home on Homestead No. 3 near Moffat with Mr. Boan and the children to spend a few days with Vernal friends. Taken suddenly ill on Monday the last day of July of a complication of diseases that baffled medical skill, her condition hung uncertain between recovery and relapse until last Saturday the thread of life snapped. This leaves motherless the two younger children Quincey and Phillis. Mr. Boan and the family have the sincere sympathy of all.
Kate Jean O'Meilla was born May 14 1859 in [New?] York State. Her life was the price of the mother's. The father to perpetuate the Union, was a sacrifice on the bloody field at Shiloh. she was given to be reared of foster parents and came to womanhood under their wise directions. Her married life began in Colorado as the wife of Wesley A. Blake, officer of the signal service in charge of Pikes Peak Station. After reappointment brought the Blakes to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he fell ill and died. Mrs. Blake turned her energies into the newspaper profession being on the staff of the Salt lake Tribune at the time of securing an appointment as matron at the Indian school at Whiterocks in 1885. She later married A. Q. Boan, who now survives her. She is the mother of six children, five of whom are living.
A most fitting funeral service was held from the Vernal First Ward chapel Monday a 2 p.m. Rev. M. J. Hersey of St. Paul's Episcopal Church presiding. Mrs. Boan was a distinctive character among women, possessed of virile, striking personality, keen, original and ambitious. Her true biographer must say that she was of the dynamic type, a woman not to be led but to lead, the kind that could plant the flagstaff of the press in a frontier country and dare to dip her pen in vitriol if she thought it need be. Her nature bred enemies but they admired even while they hated. She was not devoid of faults but had a world of virtues such as of charity, hospitality and of ambition to be a public benefactor. hers was a nimble wit but withal she had a very broad view of serious human affairs which enable her to give substantially to the world in her public service. This she did as founder and editor of the Uintah Pappoose, the pioneer newspaper of Eastern Utah, printed in Vernal, Utah, 1901. This effort was a very creditable one, the pages of the Uintah Pappoose bristled with good humor, good sense and good advertising of local people and place.
Her service in the Indian School at Whiterocks was praiseworthy but last and perhaps most enduring she was known for her own inimitable self, that something for which everyone praised her acquaintance and may she live as long as those memories.
Contributed by Marilyn Hersey Brown
The deceased came to Ashley in 1882, and took charge of James Gibson's store, and made Ashley his home, until sickess compelled him to have some one to care for him and attend his wants, he was taken to the home of Wm. Gibson, who is a son of Mr. Crouch's sec- ond wife by her first husband.
Mrs. Crouch died two years ago, and Mr. Crouch, has lived alone most of the time until death claimed him for his own. Mr. Crouch, was a kind ad generous man and leaves a host of friends that will sincerely mourn his departure to that bourne from which no traveler returns. A family of three grown children are living in Salt Lake City. The funeral services was held in the Ashley ward school house, and discased was buried on Wm. Gibson's farm by his own re- quest.
FHL Film #1486756
contributed by Cindy Dyer
Ashley Valley Pioneer Passes Away
George Freestone a pioneer of Ashley Valley died at his home Thursday August 26, at 6:30 a.m. He was born August 13, 1838 at Prince Edward Isle. Mr. Freestone had been ill for several months and a few weeks ago had the misfortune to break his arm. After this accident he gradually grew weaker and suffered severely until death came as a release.
Mr. Freestone had been a prominent church worker until ill health compelled him to retire. He was Bishop of Vernal Ward for several years.
The funeral will be held at the First ward chapel Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Contributed by Lori Reynolds Weinstein
EARLY TEACHER AND ABSTRACTOR BURIED HERE -1938 Mary Olive Haws Glenn was born May 20, 1865, at Provo, Utah, the daughter of Albert and Nancy Haws, who came to Utah in the early migration from Wayne county, Illinois. Her twin brother, Marion Oliver Haws preceded her in death.
On Aug. 2, 1885 she was married to John Glenn, a young civil engineer, in the Logan temple. Mr. Glenn died April 18, 1923, following an accident to him in the Leota bottoms when a tree fell across him where he was camped.
They came to Vernal in 1886 where both taught school for a time. For many years Mrs. Glenn was abstractor for the Glenn Abstract Co. While abstracting on January 1, 1916 Mrs. Glenn was stricken with paralysis and has been an invalid since.
Following the death of her husband she has lived with her daughters; the last four years with Mrs. C.L. Knight at Randlett. Throughout her long illness she was ever pleasant and kind with relatives and the host of friends who loved to visit with her. Mrs. Glenn was a reader of note in the early history of Vernal. Death occurred Sunday, July 10 at 11 a.m., in Randlett.
She is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Elsie Knight, Randlett; Mrs. May Strohmeyer, Mesa, Ariz.; Mrs. Albie Gagon, Mojave, Calif.; Mrs. Ada Moore, Globe, Ariz.; and Mrs. Vera Hill, Wellington, Utah; also, 30 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
The funeral services were held at the ward House on Tuesday, Elders Jas. M. Shaffer, Geo. A. and John N. Davis were the speakers. All of whom spoke of their long aquaintence with the deceased, and related many noble traits which characterized his life. The enterment took place in the Vernal Cemetery.
Geo A. Goodrich was born in Sunenburg (sic), Mass. March 3, 1839. His father, Benjamin Franklin Goodrich was the son of Levi,* who was a son of one of the sturdy welchmen* who landed in America soon after the advent of the Mayflower.
When eleven years of age (1850) George left his old home for the far west. They fell in with Wilford Woodruff's company of Saints at Philadelphia-though the Goodrich family at that time were not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He and his parents were baptised by Elder Woodruff in the Platte River July 10, 1850.
Soon after their arrival in Utah George became conspicous in frontier life. On the approach of Johnson's Army he was called into the Utah Militia and went with his company into Echo Canyon to prevent the army's entrance into Salt Lake City. The militia was so poorly clad and the weather was so severely cold that sixteen men were badly frozen the first night out that they returned to the city for medical treatment. George, however remained with the troops until a compromise was effected. In 1862 he was called to drive a team back across the plains to assist in immigrating the Saints. On his return he again took up his work in the militia, was made a captain and became active in the "Black Hawk War."
In 1863 he was united in marriage with Eliza Ann Taggart, three years later he accepted the order of plural marriage and took to wife Harriet Taggart. Soon after the latter union he was called with his families to assist in colonizing the "Muddy" in Southern Utah . In consequence of the barren and unproductive condition of the country in it's wild state they were soon ..(illegible). For weeks at a time all they had to eat was melon and bran bread. On one occasion the men were obliged to leave their families in the wilderness and go in search of food. Crossing the desert they were threatened with death from thirst. So desperate did their condition become that on killing a rabbit they shared it's blood to quench their thirst. They came to an old well so badly caved in that no water could be seen, no one dared go down to dig for water owing to the uncertainty of the walls. Finally Mr. Goodrich entered the well with the remark "I would rather die in the attempt to get water than to choke to death." He found water and with a tin cup dipped up sufficient to satisfy the wants of all the men and teams. He was in the well for more than two hours and shortly after he got out the walls all caved in.
He and one other man sawed enough lumber with a whip saw to complete an adobe meeting house. Scarcely had they completed their ardous task when it was determined by the state boundary survey that they were located in Nevada. The taxes became so high that they could not pay them and the State seized many of their horses and cattle and sold them for taxes.
Brigham Young sent them their release and they left their crops almost ready to harvest. Their hard earned meeting house barely finished, and came back as far as Orderville.The following season crops were planted there only to be destroyed by grasshoppers. It was necessary in order to obrtain food to leave that county and in 1871 Mr. Goodrich and family settled in Morgan, Morgan Co. There he engaged in milling, first operating a saw mill and later a flour mill. He served two terms as sheriff of Morgan County. He here married a school teacher, Miss Rhoda Slade. His three wives bore to him thirty-two children, sixteen boys and as many girls. Until the death of his daughter, Mrs. Rhoda Roberts a few weeks ago there were still living eleven boys and eleven girls. Besides his children he leaves to mourn him his three wives and sixty-two grandchildren.
He remained true to his religion to the last. In virtues such as honesty, charity, brotherly kindness and purity he was a monument of strength and an example to all. His large posterity remains an honor to his name being among the pillars of strength in every ward where they reside. His name can never die nor can he in generations to come be forgotten.
*note- grandfather's name listed here is wrong
For more information, contact contributor, Lori Reynolds Weinstein
News has been received from Santa Monica, California announcing the death of "Aunt" Abigail Oaks December 23, of heart trouble. The remains will be shipped to Vernal for burial and will arrive here Tuesday, on which day the funeral will be held.
About four weeks ago Mrs. Oaks and her daughter, Mrs. W.L. Fletcher, left Vernal for California for their health. Mrs. Oaks grew gradually worse and on December 23 she passed away. Mrs. Fletcher's condition is so serious that she will be unable to come home at this time.
Abigail Mary (Reynolds) Oaks was born in Michigan seventy years ago. In the early days of Utah she settled in Wasatch County, near Heber. In the winter of 1879 she came here, where she has resided since. Her husband died fifteen years ago. Three children, Mrs. W.L. Fletcher, William H. Oaks and Edward M. Oaks survive her.
Deceased was an active worker in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and was at one time president of the stake Primary. As a member of the Relief Society she ministered to many in need. Most of her life was devoted to caring for the sick and she was untiring in her efforts until her health broke down a year or two ago.
Edward Oaks went to Salt Lake to meet the remains, which will be brought to the city by a missionary, whose name has not been learned. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at Maeser ward house.
Contributed by Lori Reynolds Weinstein
James Reed was the son of Jim Reed, one of the first white settlers of
the Uintah Basin, coming here before 1830 with his uncle, "Shambo Reed" and
Dennis Julien and Archambeaux, French explorers.
They established a trading post near the site of old Ft. Robideau near
Whiterocks. Jim Reed operated a trading post in Wyoming near South Pass for
many years. It was here he married a Shoshone Ute woman. They moved to the
basin the eartly eighties. Jim's youth was spent in trapping. He married
Rachel Burson
He died Tuesday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lillie Reed Wash. Among
the children of his first wife living are Bill Reed, Lillie Wash and Lucy
George of Ft. Duchesne and John Reed of Alaska.
Children by his second wife are Glenn, Charles, Louis, Wilson, Anita and
Loraine. He has one sister, Mrs. Mary Harris of Ft. Duchesne and one
brother, Charles Reed of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Contributed by Lori Reynolds Weinstein
After an illness of nearly three weeks the soul of Mrs. Rhoda Reynolds
fled to it's maker, on Friday, jan 13, 1899.
The deceased was a daughter of George and Alice Carlisle Freestone, born at
Alpine, Utah Co., July 25th 1866. Her mother died when she was two years
old, at which time she moved with her father to Cache Valley remaining there
seven years.
In 1879 she moved to this valley and married to Robert B. Reynolds in March
1883. She was the mother of eight children, six of whom survive her. Her
youngest child, two weeks old was buried last week. She was a loving mother,
a faithful wife, and died as she had lived, a faithful Latter-Day Saint.
She suffered much excrutiating pain in the stomach until death came as a
relief. Mrs. Reynolds mother died at about the age and under similar
circumstances.
Funeral services were held in Millward and the remains interred in the Vernal Cemetary.
Contributed by Lori Reynolds Weinstein
WILLIAM PITT REYNOLDS - Obituary (died Nov 13, 1900) From the Vernal Express:
END OF AN ACTIVE LIFE - Father Reynolds
The Oldest Man in the County Passes Away-Was one of the Early Settlers of Utah and Assisted in the Building of New Settlements.
It was well known that Father William P. Reynolds, who has been an unusually active man almost up to the last month of his mortal career, had been suffering from a complication of diseases incident to old age and his recovery had been despaired of by his family and friends for some time. Therefore the news of his death was not unexpected. The sad event occurred at his home in Mill ward early Tuesday morning, and as the news spread among the people it caused a great deal of comment.
Throughout life he had been a man of strong character, honest, up right, generous to a fault, cheerful under adverse circumstances, devoted to his family and friends and a consistent Latter Day Saint. He was an indefatigable worker and his strength of mind and body were phenomenal. He was more than able to support himself up to the date of his last ill- ness. On the county records we find a claim for services rendered the county allowed him at the October meeting of the county commissioners. He enjoyed the distinction of being the oldest person in the county. Had his life been prolonged until next April he would have been eight-five years of age.
The funeral services were held at the Mill ward Social Hall under the auspices of the Mill ward bishopric. A large cortege followed the remains from the residence to the meeting place. Six members of the High Council acted as pall bearers, A large throng of people attended the funeral, giving evidence of the high esteem in which the aged veteran was held.
The speakers were Elders J.H. Glines, George D. Merkley, I.J. Clark, George A. Davis, Thomas Karren, R.S. Collett and S.R. Bennion. All of the speakers referred to the good character and the sterling integrity as well as the great labors of the deceased. Elder I.J. Clark had known him for fifty-eight years. After the services the remains, followed by an immense cortege, were interred in the Mill ward cemetery.
BIOGRAPHICAL
William Pitt Reynolds was born at Benton, Yates county, New York, April 3rd, 1816. He was married to Melissa Bardwell October 6th, 1841, at Erie, Pennsylvania, after which he returned to New York and resided in Livingstone county. He was baptised into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by Elder William Hyde in 1844.
In 1848 he moved to the state of Michigan where he buried both his parents. His removal to Utah took place in 1853 and his first residence in the new settlements was at Provo. While there he was an active member of the Utah Militia. During the winter of 1858 he assisted in rescuing the last of the hand cart companies that were snowbound in the mountains.
In Wasatch county he was a pioneer. As he settled at Heber City in 1861. He moved to this valley in 1880 and has ever been a prominent man in this community. He and his sons built the first flouring mill here. One term he served as county prosecuting attorney. Since the organization of the stake he has been a member of the High Council. His aged wife survives him as does also ten of his fourteen children. He has eighty grandchildren and thirty- three great-grandchildren.
Bayliss Sprouse was born in Texas August 6th 1831. He came to Utah during the early fifties and engaged in the activities of pioneer life. Among other labors he made several trips back across the plains to the Missouri River after immigrants and was one of the rescuers of the ill fated hand cart companies.
Under Captain Wm Kimball he served as a militiaman during the Utah Black Hawk Indian war. He married Nancy Wilmouth Johnson, a sister of Lycurgus and Alfred Johnson and this union was blessed by eight children whose names follow: Willis and Mrs. Nancy Mitchell, dead, Bayliss "Jake" Sprouse, Jas. Sprouse of Roosevelt, Mrs. Genevieve Johnson, of Vernal, William Sprouse, Mrs. Cora Mullins and Mrs. Burnetta Ross, of Lapoint, living.
His entire life was spent on the fringe of civilization, he was devoted to the labor of a pioneer. In youth he assisted in the early settlement of Salt Lake city, Cedar city, Iron county and Rich county. In Utah, San Luis valley Colorado and last of all he established the first store in the Deep Creek district of the reservation. Until about three years ago he was actively engaged in business, though he lived to the ripe old age of seventy-nine years. As a citizen he was honorable, upright and progressive.
Contributed by Lori Reynolds Weinstein
Mrs. Nancy W. Sprouse, wife of Bales Sprouse, of Millward, died Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. of inflamation of the bowels, after an illness of fourteen days. The deceased was sixty years of age lacking a few days...
The family have lived in the valley since 1898, coming from Colorado, but had previously lived in Utah. The funeral services are to be held at the Millward hall today at 10 o'clock.