A Tribute to May Thorson by Vard Roper

EXCERPTS FROM A TRIBUTE TO MAY THORSON

GIVEN AT HER FUNERAL AUGUST 29, 1972

BY VARD A ROPER

On August 6, 1896, .... a girl [was] born to Everett Milo Curtis and Sarah Ellen Draper Curtis whom they named Sarah May. She was born in Aurora where she has returned several times in her search for genealogy.

(CORRECTION: SARAH MAY WAS BORN TO SARAH ELLEN DRAPER AND RALPH CAMPBELL MCFADYEN ON THE 5l1i OF AUGUST 1896. ANOTHER CHILD, RALPH, WAS BORN 3RD JULY 1898 AFTER THE DEATH OF THEIR FATHER, RALPH CAMPBELL MCFADYEN 7 DEC 1897.


ON 15l1i NOVEMBER 1899 SARAH ELLEN DRAPER WAS MARRIED TO EVERT MILO CURTIS IN THE MANTI TEMPLE. THE TWO CHILDREN WERE SEALED TO THEM 11 DECEMBER 1908 IN THE MANTI TEMPLE (REF L H 5085-5086 170495 BOOK F P. 28).


Through her efforts the Thorson line was begun, showing her great concern for her loved ones over her own individual being. This was the genealogy of her husband whom she admired greatly and helped establish this love in her children. He died on July 6, 1954, still she was the strong supporter of this work. Only until a few weeks prior to this day did she mention that she wished more of her own line was complete. This was an important work in her life. Just a day or two ago while she was in bed and quite immobile she would take out her book when she couldn't sleep at night and with the aid of a flashlight go from cover to cover.

The Last Wagon Train - John Holman pioneer company

John G. Holman Company (1868)

Narrative:

Holman's ox train of 62 wagons left the rail terminus at Benton, Wyoming, on September 1 with 628 emigrants. Benton was located 11 miles east of present-day Rawlins, Wyoming. This end-of-track town was in existence for only three months, but during its brief history more than 100 people were reported to have died there in gunfights. The company was delayed in Benton when a woman in their company was arrested on a trumped-up charge and they had to wait for her trial. U.S. soldiers had to protect the company when an enraged mob from the railroad town marched on the wagon company. The mob had been angered by false rumors to the effect that the Mormons were intent on taking a woman to Utah against her will.

Most of those who traveled to Utah in Holman's company crossed the Atlantic aboard the ship Emerald Isle. Many in this company were Danes and Swedes who suffered much sickness while crossing the ocean and after landing in New York. Also traveling with the company were 8 independent wagons with about 40 passengers. After getting off the train and being loaded into the Church wagons, this company traveled in a northwesterly direction from Benton through Whiskey Gap and northward from there until they reached the Sweetwater River and the old emigrant road on September 8. As did many other companies in the 1860s, after coming through Echo Canyon they traveled to Silver Creek and then down Parley's Canyon into the valley. They arrived in Salt Lake on September 25. Twenty-two people died between Benton and Salt Lake.

The Black Family - the first two generations

from "The Black Family in America"

John David Black history

JOHN (DAVID) BLACK

son of William Black and Sarah Stevens

b. 24 March 1797 at North Carolina

married Mary (Cline) Klyn

19 April 1821
d. 15 October 1839 Bridgeport, Illinois

The Black family was well established in Vermillion, Richland County, Ohio, until 1837, when the elder son of the family lost his farm and decided to move to Illinois where land was to be had for the taking. Judging from the land deal, a copy of which is here reproduced, the rest of the family followed very soon. The sister, Rhoda, with her husband and family were already in St. Francisville, Lawrence County, by the time John reached there, and soon the whole family had taken farms and were settled close to what is now Bridgport, Lawrence County, Illinois. They were staunch Baptists, and when a church was erected the names of the Black family were all engraved on a plaque outside the door. So many of the family lived there the settlement was called Blacksburg; the name, however, was later changed to Bridgeport.