History of Ira Draper by Sabrina Draper Durfee

History of Ira Draper

by Sabrina Draper Durfee

In 1852 the Church sent Apostles Ricks and Lund to California to incorporate the Saints in the San Bernadino Valley Mission, including improved lands, products, and buildings, etc.; to organize and pay for such land to the Church. Many of them protested. They had not bought the land, but had settled there and lived on the land, cultivating it, and producing vegetables and fruits; and had many hundreds of acres in orange groves and grape vineyards.

The Church asked for a clear title to the land for colonization. However, many of the Saints objected, and felt they could hold the land they had settled on, since the Mormon Battalion, under President thomas Jefferson in 1809, had marched the greatest march ever on foot to free California and other Western lands from Mexico.

The death of Ira Draper by Stella Lewis Draper

my grandfather's death which happened while my father was freighting, out to Dolemore, etc. Mother, my sister, Sadie and myself with smaller children were with him alone. He died in the night about 1 o'clock. We had coil lamps. He asked for beat up egg which Mother fixed, and as he raised up to drink it, he gave the dish a toss towards the fire place and fell off the bed dead. We, lifted him back onto the bed and straightened him out when our coil 1amp grew dim. We had to go out of that room and through an open space to another room for coil and because of our sorrow and excitement and fright, we spilled the oil, but put in water to raise the oil already in the lamp up to the wick. Before daybreak, Sadie. and I went and milked and done the chores, and as soon as daylight appeared we took her baby boy (Ralph) a year old, and walked to the nearest ranch three and a half miles below for help, leaving Mother and the little children (5 children) to watch over him until we got back. It was 8th June 1899, just 6 days after his 71st birthday. He was so very straight, well built and handsome, true honest and faithful and always was so sincere and earnest in his blessings and prayers which he never neglected no matter what or who our company was. He was a true example of all the gospel teaches. Coming to I the Valley for his funeral and burrial Wilford Curtis and some others gathered the pink wild roses and completely covered his casket in the head open buggy. We all came down except sister Sadie and her second fiance; Evert Curtis and her two small children. The oldest, (May) was only 2 1/2 years old, and she called him (Grandpa) her Daddy as her own Daddy was dead.

Ira Draper headstone

Amburs and Sarah Ellen Draper family history by Stella Draper Lewis

This is a family history (I think partial) written by Stella Draper Lewis who is the the sister of my Great-great grandmother, Sarah Ellen Draper Curtis, who is called Sadie in this history. It also has accounts of her parents, Amburs and Sarah Ellen Harward Draper, and grandfather Ira Draper.

Family History

By: Stella Draper Lewis

I was born on 7, Oct. 1884, about 100 yards south of hte Harward bridge across the Sevier River on the Loss Creek side of the river, not more than 25 yards from the banks. My father and Grandfather Draper owned and run the first thrashing machine in Aurora, and had to quit work for my arrival. He told the men when he went back that he had to braid my hair which was well 3 inches long, a great difference to what it is in my old age, 67 years, as it is very thin and short, hardly enough to braid.

History of Ira Draper and his son Amburs Draper by Stella Draper Lewis

FAMILY HISTORY OF IRA DRAPER AND HIS SON, AMBURS EVIT DRAPER

By Stella Draper Lewis

My father, Amburs Evit Draper was the son and only child of Ira Draper and Mary Patience Van Leuven Draper. Little is known of their history prior to their coming to Utah, except that Ira was born in Lobury, Upper Township, Canada, 2 June 1828. His wife was born 27 Feb. 1832 at Lobrough, Canada.

On their way to Utah they stopped at Lyndon, Atchison County, Missouri where their son Amburs Evit was born, 25 Nov 1850. They came to Utah the next year. Ira's parents, Thomas Draper and Mary Mosier Draper settled at Springville, Utah County, Utah, where they both lived and died, and were buried at the Springville cemetery.

Ira and his wife Mary continued their journey with their baby, and with Mary's parents, along with others to San Bernardino, San Bernardino County, California.