Mary Ann Eccles Robinson headstone

Fire in Kanab

A Kanab fire which took the lives of Margery, her sister's (Artemacy) son, Urban Van, and Margery's three sons and. Upon the death of Margery, Artemacy lovingly cared for Margery's children.

In December of that same first year, 1870, came the tragedy that was to leave its scar on the lives of this family and almost disrupt the entire settlement of Kanab, Utah. The Navajo and Northern Indians had been making raids on the settlements. The young men took turns guarding the cattle at night from a small dugout in the side of a hill. The other men took turns guarding the fort. Once Jacob Hamblin persuaded the Navajos to come to Kanab and hold a peace conference as there was always tension.

Hyrum Charles Robinson and Macy Brown Robinson headstone

Richard Smith Robinson headstone

Richard Smith Robinson history by Harriet Judd

RICHARD SMITH ROBINSON

Written by Harriet Judd; Kanab, Utah.

Richard Smith Robinson was born November 25, 1830, in Upton, Cheshire, England. He was the son of Edward Robinson and Mary Smith. Edward Robinson was born in little Sutton, Cheshire, England, October 16, 1807. He was first a farmer, then Gentleman's Coachman and became the first guard (or conductor) on the first train in the world. Many years later when the worlds far was celebrated at Chicabo about the year 1878, Edward Robinson received a free ticket to attend this fair but was unable to accept because of his old age. So the committee in charge sent him a fine watch as a prize for his services.

The story is told of Richard’s schooling when as a lad of ten years in England, he was standing up for his young sister Elizabeth, whom the school teacher was abusing, and the teacher knocked him down with a heavy mahogany rule, which seems to have practically closed his school activities, for the family came to America in the ship “Henry” in 1842 when Richard was only twelve years of age, and he never went to school again.

Margary Wilkerson headstone

Levi Stewart Memorial

From the LDS Church News:

Statue honors Kanab founder

Published: Saturday, June 30, 2001

KANAB, Utah — A nine-foot tall bonze statue of Levi Stewart, founder of this southern Utah community, was unveiled and dedicated June 16.

More than 160 descendants and residents of Kanab attended the statue unveiling and dedication and a banquet.

Macy Brown Robionson - sense of humor

Macy had quite a sense of humor, and she would pull tricks on her sister Margery. One night Margery’s boyfriend came to get her. While he was in the house waiting for Margery, Macy and her friends took the horse and buggy and went for a ride. Margery and her boyfriend stayed home. Another time Margery and friends were having a special party and dinner. Macy and her friends went to the house of the party and wired all the doors shut so no one could get out of the house. Then they, Macy and friends, took a rooster which they had tied paper butterflies all over and threw it onto the table and really broke up the party.

A sketch of the Life of Hyrum Charles and Macy Brown Robinson

A Sketch of the Life of Hyrum Charles and Macy Brown Robinson

by Stewart C. Robinson

Hyrum Charles Robinson was born Oct. 12, 1882 in Pinto Washington co., Utah to Richard Smith Robinson and Mary Ann Eccles Robinson, a polygamist family.

Richard and Mary Ann had been living in Pinto for many years, having been called to help colonize the Dixie country. In 1875, the Robinson’s were called to move to Sink Valley in Kane county, where they ran a dairy. We do not know for positive why Mary Ann went back to Pinto when Hyrum was born, unless it was because she wanted to be with her mother at the time the baby was born. Because the records show he was born at Pinto and also that the family was living at Sink Valley, very little is known about the growing up years of Hyrum. We have been told he had very little education, about fourth grade level. From there on, he was self-taught.

A sketch of the life of Levi Stewart

A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF LEVI STEWART

If we could turn back the hands on the clock of time, back to the early years of 1800, and go visiting among the hills in Overton County, Tennessee, we would find there some of the descendants of Samuel and Lydia Stewart, who had moved from Stokes, or Forsyth County, North Carolina, to make new homes. It was here, about 1807, our progenitor, William Stewart, met and married Elizabeth Van Hooser, daughter of Abraham Van Hooser and Mary Williams (Wilhelm). They were the parents of five sons, Squire, Riley, Levi, William Jackson, and Urban Van. These children were all born in Overton County, Tennessee, excepting Levi. It is with him, our direct ancestor, this story has to do.

Levi Stewart, references from the "History of Kane County"

Copied from the History of Kane County.

On April 2, 1870 President Young accompanied by leading men in the church [among them was Levi Stewart] made a visit to Kanab area. On the return of the party to Salt Lake City, President Young called Levi Stewart to form a company of men selected and effect a settlement on the Kanab Creek. In this company were 52 individuals. The families of the following men made up this company: Levi Stewart, T.J. Stewart, Moses F. Farnsworth, a family f rom Big Cottonwood, John R. Rider, Edward A. Nobles, Al I en Frost, Edward Cooke and William Thompson. John Morgan's family also joined the party.

Levi Stewart Founder of Kanab biography

LEVI STEWART
FOUNDER OF KANAB, UTAH

1870

Compiled by Georgenia Stewart, gg granddaughter

Levi Stewart was born April 28, 1812 in Madison Co., Illinois, the son of William Stewart and Elizabeth Van Hooser. Elizabeth was a member of the Van Hooser family that had pioneered the Troy Township in Madison Co. Illinois. Photographs of Levi showed him to be a man of large stature, over six feet tall, with blue eyes and dark hair. On Feb 12, 1833, he married Melinda Howard, daughter of John Howard and Jane Van Hooser. The Howard's were the first settlers on the Looking Glass Prairie in Madison Co. After Levi and Melinda's marriage they moved to Vandalia, Fayette Co., Illinois where their first three children were born.