MORMON PIONEER
and EARLY RESIDENT OF NEWTON, UTAH
  (1845-1936)
(A compiled history by Eldon Griffin, comprising 32 printed pages)

PHOTOS
FAMILY GROUP / PEDIGREE CHART

PREFACE:
     John Jenkins was my Great Grandfather through his daughter, Alice Jenkins, and my mother Mabel Evelyn Christensen.
    I have thereby inherited about 100 jumbled pages of John Jenkins' history which were written by my Grandma, Alice Jenkins Christensen.  It appears that she wrote some of it while interviewing her father, because some of her notes are sketchy and in an abbreviated form.  She sometimes jumps from the first person ("I") to the third person ("Pa" or "He").  She wrote 4 or 5 very parallel, partial accounts which I have merged into one.  I have tried to put events into chronological order, however, many dates are not given.
     In addition to Grandma's writings I have added information from other sources, including John Jenkins personal history which was published in the Cache Valley Journal in 1927.  This is a very well-written article.  I have included it and have tried not to break it into small parts.
     Grandma's records almost completely leave out John Jenkins' episodes in Star Valley, Wyoming and Idaho.  She makes almost no mention of his polygamous marriages to his other two wives or his 35 children.  I will attempt to add some of that, of which I of myself know very little.  Some of the other relatives should be able to supplement this history.
     I have edited Grandma's accounts, but have tried to keep most of the original wording, including some grammatical errors.
     Texts in parenthesis thus: (....) are from the source document.
     Texts interjected in these brackets, thus; {...} are my editorial additions.  I also wrote the "Chronology" at the end.
     I feel that this history should be had by all of John Jenkins' descendants.  It belongs to all of us.  To me it is a living document which is subject to corrections and additions.  If anyone has additional information or stories please send it to me and we'll make this a joint project.  I am willing to share this with anyone at cost, which should be about $1.00 for a disk, mailer and postage..  I have it on my computer in WordPerfect format.  Also, I would like to get pictures and histories of any of his siblings, wives or children--preferably on a computer disk.  Please help me to add to and distribute the history of our common heritage.

   PREFACE
   1845 BORN - EMIGRATED
   1867 AT FARMINGTON
  1869 THE MOVE TO NEWTON
  1869 SWAMP HAY
  1869 BUILT LOG CABIN
  1869 NEWTON SURVEYED BY CLARKSTON
  1870 FIRST 8 ACRE CROP
  1870 CALVES AND COWS
  1870 BUILDING THE NEW TOWN
   THE RESERVOIR
  1874 FIRST LOG SCHOOL AND MEETING HOUSE
  1870 ROAD SUPERVISOR
  1875 POUND KEEPER
  1870 SAW MILL
   FIDDLED FOR DANCES
   FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT
  1870 MALAD TRIP
   FINAL SURVEY
   SQUATTED
   LAND
   INCIDENT WITH RUTH BENNETT OVIATT
   TAYLOR DROWNING
  1871 or 1872 BUCKEYE MOWERS
  1871 or 1872 CRICKETS - GRASSHOPPERS
   SICKNESS
   BLIZZARD
   CREEK BRIDGE
   FIRST STORE
   MOVED TO CREEK LOTS
  1873 THE FIRST THRESHER
   GRAIN MARKET - DRY FARMING
   LOGAN CANYON ROAD
   HAMPTON DIVIDE RAILROAD
   ACTIVITIES
   ACCIDENT, TORN KIDNEY
   NEWTON'S BEST HUNTER
   PLURAL MARRIAGE
   1887 PERSECUTED FOR POLYGAMY
   BIG MEADOWS INCIDENT
   TETON HUNT
   VETERINARIAN
   BEAR RIVER BRIDGE
   BRIDGE COLLAPSE
   1882 MISSION TO WALES
   DEBTORS
   1924-36 OX TEAM IN PARADES AND AIRPLANE RIDE
   PROPERTY OWNED
   HAPPENINGS
   CHURCH ACTIVITIES
   INDIANS
   INDIAN TALE
   "STICK HORSE RACE"
   1931 DAUGHTERS OF THE UTAH PIONEERS   (3)
  1936 DEATH
   JOHN JENKINS THREE FAMILIES
       1ST WIFE,MARY OVIATT
       2ND WIFE, ANNIE CLARKE
       3RD WIFE, ANN MARIE ("MARIA") JENSEN
   JOHN JENKINS' CHRONOLOGY
   BIBLIOGRAPHY

1845 BORN - EMIGRATED
    John Jenkins was born May 8th 1845 in Cowbridge, Glamorganshire, South Wales, son of Evan and Ann Davies Jenkins.  He was the eldest of the family of ten children.  He, with his parents, emigrated to the United States in 1850 (at the age of 5 years) landing in New Orleans.  From there they went up the Mississippi river to St Louis where they stayed for a short time. They continued on up the Missouri River to Kanesville (Council Bluffs) where they made their home and farmed at a place called Mosquito Creek for about 11 years until they could afford to go west. On Saturday June 22, 1861 they crossed the Missouri River to Florence, Nebraska (Omaha) and on 25 June 1861 they left there to go to Utah.  They crossed the plains with Captain Duncan's Company to Salt Lake City, arriving in time for Oct 1861 Conference.  They moved up to Farmington where they made their home.
    Following is his account of this period, including the newspaper introduction:

     Recently John Jenkins, 82 years of age, was in the office of the Cache Valley Herald.  He had just returned from a horseback trip to the reservation, where he delivered a bull right side up with care, and seemed none the worse for his hard trip.
     While we were talking, we suggested to him that he give us a story of his varied experiences since coming to the West, and he agreed to do so.
    Mr. Jenkins promised to do so, and here is the narrative in his own words:  (1)

     I was born in Cowbridge, Glamorganshire, South Wales, on the 9th day of May, 1845.  My parents joined the Church before I was born.  My father used to go out on the streets and preach the strange doctrine called Mormonism, and he would take me up to his arms so the people would not throw rotten eggs at him, as it was such a new thing to them they thought he was crazy.  When nearly 5 years of age I, with my parents, left our native land, leaving Liverpool February 18, 1850 (6), and crossed the ocean, which took eight weeks, on the good ship Josiah Bradlee (6).  We arrived in New Orleans April 16, 1850 (6), and went up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, landing just below Winter Quarters.  From there we journeyed four miles east to Council Bluffs and five miles east to Mosquito Creek, where we lived for eleven years.  When we arrived there our earthly belongings consisted of a few dishes and two feather beds, one of which they soon traded for a cow, the first we ever owned.
     Having no means to proceed to Utah, Apostle Ezra T. Benson advised my father to stay in Iowa until such time as he could get equipment to take us on, and in that time my mother gave birth to two pairs of twins.  The first pair was born in May, 1851, and the second pair on May 16, 1858.  When the first pair was born, the family was driven from their home by a flood and then lived in a dirt roof house that leaked so badly that an umbrella had to be placed over the bed to shelter mother, who lay confined with the babies.  As soon as possible my father took out his naturalization papers.  He then homesteaded a quarter section of land, on which we lived for eleven years.  While there, with the exception of a family named Fisher, our neighbors were Mormon apostates and Josephites, who were very bitter against the Church.  These people succeeded in influencing Mrs. Fisher and my mother to the extent that they refused to move on to Utah when means had been provided, mother refusing to sign deeds when father might have sold his land.  About 1859 or 1860 Brother Fisher took some grist to the mill one day, left it there and stated that he would call for it.  When he called for the grist he continued on to Utah, leaving his family behind him.  On learning of the Fisher episode, my mother changed her mind in regard to signing the deed and father sold his land for $500, equipped an outfit and started for Utah in May 1861 in Homer Duncan's company.
    Our train was an independent outfit.  We had two wagons, two yokes of oxen, eight cows and two or three horses.  Father drove one wagon and I drove one.  The family was in the wagon Father drove.  I drove one yoke of oxen and one yoke of cows.  We worked the cows as well as the oxen.  Starting in the morning the milk would be placed in the churns, and by noon, when we stopped, it would be churned to butter.  The Indians caused us no trouble, although they often came begging for flour and sugar.  One of our sports was to stand a dime in the split end on a stick, place the stick on end at about 25 paces and let the Indians shoot the dime from the stick.  The Indian hitting the dime got it.  It was remarkable how often they hit the target.
     In the company I was known as the "Little Hunter", and with an old muzzle loading rifle, I obtained more meat than our family could use, and we often had some to spare for others.  Once between the Platte and the Sweetwater I wounded an antelope, and after tracking it I got another shot and killed it and dressed it  and started for the train.  Then I realized I was lost.  I had wandered around until nearly sundown.  On reaching the top of the knoll I thought I saw a man and started running towards him.  On seeing me he ran from me, thinking I was an Indian, and my efforts to get him to stay he thought were signals to other Indians to close in on him.  I finally overtook him and found him to be a member of our company.  When I told him about the antelope, nothing could stop him going back for it.  We went back and found the game.  I split the cord in one leg, slipped the opposite hind leg through the slit, and my companion then put his head between the legs so that the antelope hung on his back.  I carried the guns and together we made our way back to the train, arriving at camp late at night.  I have often been out alone in the hills, but have never again had that feeling of being lost.
    I was then a boy of 16 and remember among other members of the company were President Charles W. Penrose, Francis W. Armstrong and Samuel Russell.  President Penrose often took part in the programs held around the campfire.
     We arrived in Salt Lake City in September 1861, and went from there to Farmington, where father bought 40 acres of rough land for $900.
    The following year the Morrisite trouble occurred.  When the militia was called out to quell the trouble I was standing on the Court House steps.  When Bishop John Hess came out and stated he was three men short of his quota.  I spoke up and said I would go if needed, so was sent home for my gun and then joined the company.  The first night out I slept on the ground without shelter.  It rained all night and from the exposure I contracted rheumatism from which I have never been entirely free.  The next day we went on to the Weber and found the Morrisite fort, located at a point where Uintah now is.  It seemed that Morris had prophesied that we (the enemy) would be unable to approach nearer than a certain point, because the Lord would smite us should we try.  The prophecy failed.
    In 1863  I was called by the Church to go to the Missouri river for emigrants, and drove a team of four yoke of oxen along with a company of 60 to 80 teams.  Thomas Ricks was captain of the company.  It took five months to make the round trip, leaving in May and returning in September.  I went in 1864 with Captain Israel Canfield of Ogden.  We had a pretty good year, except that the Indians stole some of our horses which were used only for riding, each wagon being pulled by four yoke of oxen.
    In 1865, the Indians being very hostile, the church sent no trains back, but in 1866 I went again, this time with Captain Horton Haight.  The South Platte at Julesburg, where we crossed, was three-fourths of a mile wide, and we ferried our stuff over by caulking the wagon boxes and lashing four together.  After about four hours of milling around, and with the help of the entire company, I got the cattle started across.  The captain called for volunteers and eight of us who volunteered followed them, swimming behind to keep them going.  We were in the water about six hours before we got them across.
    At the time there were about 500 trains of outsiders headed West who were unable to cross.  When we started back we were loaded with emigrants and wire.  Some apostates placed an attachment on the wire after it was loaded and a lawsuit followed, which was merely a scheme to hold us back until we could not get through the mountains for snow.  At Fort Kearney our train was held up for some time.  The officers said it was not safe to proceed, but we were allowed to go on by traveling with two trains together, making 150 teamsters, all armed, besides the emigrants.
    When we got about 25 miles west of Fort Kearney I was driving the lead wagon, as I usually did.  We came to a trading station called Plum(?) Creek, and I saw a man lying stretched across the road dead, with a double barrel shotgun across his chest and two buckets of alcohol by him.  The Indians had killed him.  We camped nearby for the night and some men were detailed to bury the man.  Next morning, after driving about five miles, we found eleven men who had just been killed by the Indians, their twelve wagons burned, and a woman and two children were carried away by the Indians.  Coming on West we camped on the bank of the Platte River by a knoll and that night we could see the Indians on a knoll and hear them splashing, fording the river all night.  No one in camp slept that night. The next morning the Indians were all gone.  That day the Indians were going north on the other side of the river and we were going west.  That was the last we saw of the Indians on the trip." (1)

    [All told John Jenkins crossed the plains seven times.]

1867 AT FARMINGTON
     When a young man in my teens, while living at Farmington, when Father did not need me, I would go out to work and obtain money which I used to obtain a start in life.  I would mow hay with a scythe for .75 per acre to get enough money to live on.  I worked for Tibbits and got two calves and a white heifer, which latter turned out to be my first milch cow.  There were 3 or 4 molasses mills in Farmington.  Bill Rice raised sugar cane.  When father didn't need me I would work around.  I worked for Bill Rice hauling wood to boil molasses and obtained another steer calf which I expected to use, when grown, for a yoke of Oxen.  Later Father killed one of the steers for beef.  That broke up my team, so I traded the other steer for a colt which I called "Dick".  I loaned him to Andrew Bigler to ride down to Sanpete to fight the Indians in the war of  '63 {age 18}.  Later I traded this horse to Clemus(?) Rogers for an old wagon.  (3)
    I married Mary Oviatt {daughter of Ira Oviatt and Ruth Bennett} on Dec. 28 1867 {age 22} in the old Endowment House at S.L.C.  I built a room on to my father's house where we lived the first winter.  In the Spring I broke land on a knoll in father's field and planted oats. With the proceeds I expected to buy a stove but the Grasshoppers came and took a good share of it.  I told Father they ate up the legs of the stove."  (3)

 A parallel entry from his newspaper account says: (1)
     "On December 28, 1867, I was married to Mary Oviatt.  In the winter of 1868 I camped in Weber canyon, working for the railroad to obtain money enough to buy a team of oxen.  In May, 1869, I went to Cache Valley with James Wilcox to look for a home, and after looking over the place where Newton is now located I decided it was good enough for me.  I went to Clarkston for a few days visit.  Then I returned to Farmington for my wife and came back to Clarkston by ox team and camped in my wagon box, with my wife, while I got logs from the canyon with which to build a house in Newton, which consisted of log walls, dirt roof and mother earth for a floor.  It was in September when I came to Newton, which has been my permanent home since.  I was one of the first settlers of this place, and have been identified in all the moves made for progress. "(1)

    During the summer Ira Oviatt, my father-in-Law, took a stroke and died.  We then moved up to stay with Mrs Oviatt where my first son, John Franklin, was born, September 13, 1868.  We spent the next winter at Oliver Robinson's taking care of his things while he was in the mission field.  While there, the winter before I came up here, I drove a yoke of cattle up Farmington Canyon and got out some Birds-eye (a sort of pine), with which I made enough shingles to shingle a house, all by hand, by first sawing them the proper length, then used a shaving knife and hewed them off thin on one edge.  I sacked them up and intended to save them to put on my home when I built.  I later sold them to a man by the name of Ladle for his house.  The lot I figured on building on, after hauling my logs, I found Tom Hunt held the deed to, so I decided to leave Farmington and go to a new place where I could obtain land of my own."  (3)
    In the winter of '68 {age 23} I went up Weber Canyon and camped under a snow shed and worked on the Rail Road.  Using a horse team of Father's, I had some hay I cut on shares off of Ezra Clark's.  Hay was $40.00 per ton. I was working on the railroad from Uinta to Echo & farther east.  They were paying $10.00 per day for hauling ties & bridge timber.  When I went after pay I had to go to the mouth of Echo Canyon.  There were all kinds of men working along the road, so I buried my money in the coal in my wagon so I would not be robbed.  I made usually one trip a day hauling timber along the line.  (3)
    I worked for Charley LaDuke to come to Paradise with a thresher.  He paid me $3.00 per day to haul grain to Farmington.  I went in canyon when I came to Brigham City, then to Mantua and over the Hill to Paradise.  I could not take the road back that way {too steep?} I gave Father, $7.00;  out of $10.00 I kept $3.00.  I fed my hay and shod horses under willows bent with snow which formed a shelter. I was all alone during the winter. (3)
     I obtained enough to buy a yoke of oxen.  I paid Alma Hayes $150.00 for a well-broke yoke of oxen.  I then traded a horse for an old wagon. I also bought two calves, one off Mrs. Compton for which gave her 100 lbs of flour, and the other off Bill Rice. (3)
    While we hated to leave our old home town and all our relatives,  I have always figured it the best move I ever made as there was no chance for a young man to get a start there.  The lake was on the west, with high mountains on the east, and the narrow strip that is left was all claimed.  So in May 1869 I rode up to Newton with my brother-in-law, James D. Wilcox, who was also looking for a home.  He drove a large span of mules and a new wagon worth $800.00.  We drove to Clarkston visited with the William Carbine's, Andrew Quigley & Rob Quigley, relatives of Wilcox.  We went hunting up City Creek shooting ducks and fish.  The jar of the bullet would turn the fish over.  We could go and pick them up -- all trout.  After looking the situation over I decided to make my home here.  (3)
    We returned to Farmington and I began making preparations for the move.  I had paid Alma Hayes $150.00 for a well-broke yoke of oxen. Then traded a horse for a wagon.  I worked for Tibbits for 2 steers and a heifer, a white cow, 3 years old, two calves, an old wagon and eleven head of sheep.  The latter (sheep) belonged to my wife, Mary, from her father's estate.  I also used the money I obtained working on the railroad in Weber Canyon the previous winter.  We said good-bye to all near and dear to us in the old home town and drove up to Clarkston.  (3)
    I set my wagon box off on the ground just one block east of the store on the south side of the street; which was our home where my wife with her small son, John, did the cooking while I worked in Elbow Canyon getting out house logs.  Each day I would bring home a load, which I piled on the ground on the block below the store and left them there till Fall.  In July we returned to Farmington and made preparations to return for the winter.  (3)

1869 THE MOVE TO NEWTON
    We came back [to Newton] in September.  When we left, there was just one house in Newton.  That was James Myler's, which was located near the southwest corner of the L. C. Larsen block.  Now several others were being laid up.  Bishop Rigby gave us one lot next to the South Field.  I set my wagon box on the ground on the same street as Myler's, facing south, in the middle of the next block west known {later?} as the old "Catt lot". It was on the south side of the Old Catt Lot near the South Field.  This was to be our home until something better could be provided.  We now had a home to build, hay to gather and corrals to build before winter set in.
    The first thing I did was to go to the river and get willows to make a corral for the animals.  One morning before I was out of bed I heard the chickens making an unusual racket.  I looked out.  A coyote was chasing my chickens and sheep.  Mary held the wagon cover up while I shot him.  (3)

1869 SWAMP HAY
    The next move was to secure feed for winter.  I went up in the Clarkston bottoms after they were through cutting their hay, took off my shoes and sox, rolled up my pants, waded out in the swamps, with water over my shoe tops and at places nearly to my knees. I cut the grass with a scythe, raked it out to dry with a home made wooden hand rake and then did the same along the sloughs and Bear River bottoms (duck grass and fox tail).  I made a rake out of a pole and stuck some teeth on it later.  I went as far out as William Thayne's just across from Benson ward.  It was mostly duck grass and wheat grass.  Very poor hay, but I was glad to get it.  It helped me through the winter.  (3)
    Hyrum Curtis and I worked together hauling.  As the wind blew so hard every day one could not make the light hay stay on the wagon without a loader.  I would often go to the meadows at night, put part of a load on then made my bed on it and finished early the next morning before the wind rose.  On one occasion I woke to find a mink on my bed, but he soon retired when I began to move.  (3)
 

1869 BUILT LOG CABIN
     After I secured enough hay to do me I began hauling my house logs, bringing down a load each day and Mary helped me work in the evening to put them up.  My wife would build a chip fire in the center of the room so I could see to chink and daub.  Having no lumber, I roofed my home first with a layer of willows from the river which was put on the logs, then coarse wheat grass, with a finer layer on top, then covered it with dirt.  It was in the latter part of November or first part of December before we moved in.  There were no door or windows until after Christmas.  Quilts being hung up as shelter from the storm, and no floor, nothing but dirt, the first winter.  It was an exceptionally mild winter that year with no snow till after the Christmas holidays.  (3)
    There was quite a few families had come in for the winter among whom were the following:  Frank Young, William Bell, Otto Gasberg, John Jenkins, Stephen Catt, James Myler, Swen Jacobs, Amos Clarke, Peter Jensen, Rasmus Peter Anderson, M. I. Benson, Lee Whitaker, Hyrum Curtis, Alfred Goodsell and John Larsen.  (3)

1869 NEWTON SURVEYED BY CLARKSTON
    In March of 1869 after being snowed in all winter, the Clarkston people had hired L. R. Martineau, then County Surveyor, to come over and survey the Newton townsite and lay it off in blocks.  They intended to move their town down here where it was much milder.
    The south field was laid off in 10 acre plats.  The meadows and north field in 5 acre plats.  Every man was to have one of each.    The Clarkston people were to trade their lots up there for an equal amount down here.  They were to bring all the water from Clarkston Creek down here.  That gave them the prior right.  Andrew Quigley had 3 or 4 families, so he was entitled to a whole block at the north east corner of town.  He owned a whole block of M. Peterson's.  His crossing was the best on the creek to go to Logan.  That crossing, which was the only one used for years, was known as the "Quigley Crossing".  It used to be a swimming hole and was used for baptisms. Though he never moved down, but Clarkston had the prior right, so "new-comers" took what was left.  William Stewart (Sam Stewart's father) owned Ma's lots.
    We were called "new comers" and had to take what was left.  We, ("Pa") myself, Chris Nelson, Swen Jacobs, William Bell and others, all who had no right to the creek, had to go up to Clarkston and clean out the springs to develop more water for our right.
     When spring came they had changed their mind and refused to move down after the snow melted, so they kept their water right.  They wished the town site to stay where it was.  They wished all located here to move up there, which we were not desirous of doing.  Those who had homes here in Newton did not wish to move up there, so Brigham Young came up to settle the dispute.  As he drove into town the people all turned out to meet and welcome him.  They lined up on either side of the road by the bridge on the hill by Alfonzo Christensen's {known now as about 250 West Main Street} in their best, which was very plain clothing.  Some were patched and children bare footed, but all were neat and clean.
     He drove to Frank Young's near Martin Beck's home where he stayed for a short time.  Then drove to Clarkston and held a meeting.  When he returned he drove to the bowery, located near the east side of our present meeting house, where he met with the people of Newton.  He told them that all that wished to should remain here as there was a natural site for a reservoir and there would be water enough for two towns.  He said the time would come when we would have summer rains as they did in the East; that we would see the time when the waters of Bear River would all be taken out for irrigation purposes; that the fields between Newton and Clarkston would all be farmed; we would grow wheat on the hill sides and use the lowlands for hay; that we would hear the whistle blow, a railroad would come within two miles of our door; and other things which at that time seemed impossible.  I have lived to see the fulfillment of all these predictions, which we might term "prophecy".
    President {Lorenzo} Snow also came up from Brigham City to settle the dispute.  Rigby called them Judases.  Snow said Rigby was wrong.  (3)
     The Newton history account says:
     Brigham Young was on an extended visit of the northern settlements and had not been called up to settle any dispute between Newton and Clarkston.  Only Lorenzo Snow and John Taylor spoke to the people of Newton.  Wilford Woodruff, one of the President's party, recorded that the instructions given at Newton were similar to those given to the Saints in other settlements.  At this first meeting at Newton, the discussion did not concern the relocation or division of the Clarkston Settlement.
     From Newton President Young and his group went to Clarkston and held a meeting.  Some of the Clarkston men, not favoring the relocation of their settlement, chose to challenge the decision of their bishop and stake leaders.  When they brought the issue before President Young, he upheld them in their desire to remain in the old settlement.  He gave "permission" for some to remain in Clarkston but advised them to move to higher ground.  He felt that the area could support both settlements.  When the meeting was over, the President's party returned to Newton and held another meeting where President Young again delivered his opinion in regard to the two settlements.  President Young and his party spent the night at Newton and early the next day they continued their journey north.  (2)
 

1870   FIRST EIGHT-ACRE CROP
    In the spring of 1870 {age 25} I broke up 8 acres of my 10 in the South Field (later Don and Spencer's 10).  I sowed wheat and raised 8 bushel (1 bu. per acre).  The next spring, 1871, I sowed malt barley in the same piece and raised a fairly good crop which I cut with a cradle.  W. F. Rigby followed me and bound by hand.  I used a flail to beat it out.  Sometimes I tromped it out with horses when a floor could be obtained.  We would then throw it up  and let the wind blow the chaff away.  Later we had a fanning mill to clean it before we had threshers.  (3)

1870   CALVES AND COWS
     In the spring of 1870 {age 25} I bought five more calves off L. R. Martineau Sr. of Logan.  And the next spring I sold them for $10.00 each, I received $70.00 which I turned into calves again, thus gradually increasing my herd.  I also took some cows to pasture for the summer off of Andrew Bigler of Farmington.  I was to have one-half of the increase also 1/2 of the butter.  This way my wife had butter enough to sell in the fall at Ogden to buy clothes and a piece of furniture for the house.  We had to go to Farmington for our flour and seed grain for several years.  We also brought back other supplies such as honey and molasses etc.  As we had no sugar; all our fruits were preserved with honey.  Davidson and Ballard run a dairy across the river where we could send a cow or two and receive cheese as payment.  A woman by the name of Sophia Hansen, or better know as "Big Sophia", run it.  (3)

1870   BUILDING THE NEW TOWN
     In the spring of '70 there was much to be done to make a new town, such as the building of roads and ditches, with very little to do it with.  There was not much time for my own cattle.  The first problem was water, they must have water in order to grow any crops or gardens which was so necessary to the health of the people.  We, myself with others, used two yoke of oxen on a plough and made ditches all over town and in the North and South Fields.  We then made a go-devil by nailing planks together and loading them with rock to scrape dirt out of ditches.
     We often held three and four business meetings per week.  One time it was so late one of the members went to sleep and fell off the bench; that roused me as I was getting pretty sleepy myself.  (3)

THE RESERVOIR
     There were ditches to make, roads to build, and we had decided to build a reservoir.  William F. Rigby, James (Jens) Christensen and myself was appointed to go up and mark off the dam site for the then proposed Newton reservoir.  So Bishop Rigby, James Christensen and myself went up and spaded two trenches, one on either side of the dam sight.  Then all united in doing the work.  It was a dirt dam which was scraped in from the high center knoll, with a wooden flume--nothing being known of cement at that early date.  We built a waste ditch on the west side for spring freshets, which broke three different times.  Brother {A. P.?} Welshman while watching at night made a little ditch {To keep the water from running over the top.  It washed out.}.  This did not prove very substantial as it broke out some three different times by the spring freshets.  At that time we had no rain from early in the Spring until the Fall rains came (or from April till October or November).  That meant the gardens and crops would be a complete failure.  I put in weeks and weeks labor on this project; and when a call came and I could not leave my own work to go, I hired a man in my place.  I was the largest stock holder for many years.  Whenever an assessment was made I also paid my share.  (3)

1874 FIRST LOG SCHOOL AND MEETING HOUSE
     I helped build the first log school and meeting house on the corner of Frank Young's lot.  We equipped it with slab benches having no back and bored holes part way for four sticks for legs.  I helped erect the bowery on the public square.  I quarried part of the rock from the rock quarry to build the first rock school house, also assisted with hauling load after load in and other work until its completion in 1874.  I still have a chisel which I used for that purpose, made by Amos Clarke.  I assisted with the addition which was later put on.  I was also interested in building the frame meeting house with all its additions and remodeling.  I have helped both with labor and cash for every public enterprise in the ward from that time up to the present.  I have ever been ready whenever a call has been made.  I never refused in my life.  (3)

1870 ROAD SUPERVISOR
    I was then the first Road Supervisor.  I had the men work their poll tax out on the crossings.  Each man had to work 3 days or pay $3.00.  Needless to say the former was preferable in those days.  We used cobble rock from the creek and hills or else, when wet, the loaded wagons would sink to the hubs.  We surfaced with dirt.  (3)
 According to the Newton history:
     "The court appointed John Jenkins as Road Supervisor in the summer of 1870 and he served in this capacity until April of 1882.  He was replaced by Peter Larsen, who was replaced by John Griffin in 1884."  (2)

1875 POUND KEEPER
     I was the Pound Keeper.  This was a responsible position in those days as there were no field fences.  Many a stray animal {horses, cows, sheep, etc..} would be brought in to be cared for until claimed or sold.  I held this position for many years as I had many animals of my own and did much riding.  (3)
 The Newton history says:
     "If Newton had a Poundkeeper before 1872, he is unknown, for in that year the court appointed Hyrum Curtis who served through 1875.  Next John Jenkins took over and served until April of 1882 {over 6 years}.  Moroni Jenkins {his brother} took over in 1882 and was replaced in 1884 by Peter E. Benson...."  (2)

1870 SAW MILL
    In 1870 {age 25} the town purchased an up-and-down saw mill from John Stoddard of Wellsville.  I left my work to help John Stoddard and Peter Larsen float the saw mill over the river for John Stoddard, which the people of the town erected in the slough just north of Soren Peterson's.  We expected to use it to get lumber to finish our houses.  William Bell was hired to run the saw.  It was an up-and-down saw.  It was reported it went up one day and down the next.  It turned out that there was not enough water to run the mill, even though Clarkston was through using water for that fall.
     It was while working on this that Mr. Stoddard fell and almost broke his back.  I helped carry him over to Bishop Rigby's where the men were working on his rock house, for assistance. They administered to him.
     Myself and William Bell went up in the north field where the water was spreading all over, to keep the water together and help it down.  There was not much water in the ditches even though Clarkston was through irrigating for this year.  All the ditches were dry and soaked up a good deal.  There was not much for running a mill, so they did not get much out of it.  (3)

FIDDLED FOR DANCES
     We had no bishop as Bishop Rigby's house burned down and he had gone back to Clarkston {temporarily}.  Frank Young, a nephew of Brigham Young, was a natural born leader.  He had heard I had the only violin in town.  That first winter he came and asked me if I would play for a dance.  It was to be held at Otto Gasberg's home, which was located in the center of the block just west of public square on the lots later owned by Simonsen; which I did. This was the first dance ever held in the Newton Ward.  From that time on I continued to play for dances for many years.  I also played for many dances in the surrounding towns.  I used to cross Bear River in a boat and play at the Davidson-Ballard dairy  near the present railroad bridge.  We used to send a cow or two to this dairy for the summer and obtain our supply of cheese for the winter.  At one time while playing at Benson Ward I purchased one 10 cents ticket and drew the quilt which was being raffled off.  William Bell came and stood in front of me and watched.  Finally he purchased a violin and I taught him to play.  (3)
 The Newton history relates:
     "Bishop W. F. Rigby, preparing to move his family to Newton, commenced a house in the summer of 1870.  The house was constructed of logs, stood 'one story and a half high' and was large for the times, being eighteen by fifty-four feet.  When the mason had just finished the chimney and only had to lay the hearth to complete the house, the mason decided to try the chimney to see if it would draw.  The fire caught the dry grass under the floor and the house burned down on Saturday, September 25, 1870.  On the following Monday the Bishop commenced to erect a rock house upon the same location.  ... across the road from the northwest corner of the Public Square."  (2)  It is still being occupied in 1994.

FAMILY RECREATION
From Alice Jenkins's history--daughter of John Jenkins and Mary Oviatt:
    "Father played the violin and his brother William accompanied him at dances.  We danced in our large living room and had an open house to all visitors....When Lewiston, {Utah} was first settled it was mostly people from Farmington who moved up there in the spring and back to Farmington to Winter and always stayed at our home, overnight at least, on each move.  That meant giving up our beds for their convenience...  My parents were among the leaders and sports who helped entertain in our home as we had the largest and best home for such gatherings..."
    "We had a happy and busy family with lots of out-door activity both in work and recreation.  The older people as well as the young gathered at our home.  The younger ones played baseball, pitch the pecket, etc..  The cow herd was brought in from the east hills toward evening by the cow herders.  After taking the cows home, the young people returned to play games and oft times would come in our home to spend the evening.  Father {John Jenkins} and two of the boys played the violin and organ.  We danced and played checkers, guessed riddles etc.  Our parents joined in.  We had a happy home life, worked hard, then joined in the recreation...."
    "We had so much company of traveling people, cattlemen, travelers from Farmington {John Jenkins and Mary Oviatt Jenkin's home town} and cattlemen, etc.  It was like keeping a hotel except for no pay..."

1870 MALAD TRIP
John Jenkins' words again:
    Many times I became discouraged.  In the spring of 1870 my parents moved up to Malad City, so I went over to see if I could better my condition.  I found a place on the west side near Portage I liked, but was told by Presiding Elder Easton, it was contrary to council to settle over there.  I think on account of the Indians, so I gave that up.  When my second son, William E. was born, September 14, 1870, I drove over to Malad to bring my sister, Juliette, over to stay with us.  On the way back, while driving through the canyon, a deer jumped up by the road side, which I killed and brought along.  If ever I got a shot at an animal at close enough range it always came down.  (3)

FINAL SURVEY
    Finally the government sent a man in here by the name of Stewart who made a new survey, which did not correspond exactly with the previous one.  Each man had been given two city lots, ten acres of land in the South Field and five in the North Field, and five of Meadow.  We now had to go to work and secure our holdings according to law.  Bishop Rigby proved-up on the town site.  He then chose a number of the most honest men whom he thought would do the right thing to prove-up on the property and then all were to deed it back to the ones now owning it.  Peter Benson secured the quarter adjoining town on the south, one mile long and 80 rods wide from the slough to Logan road.  I took a quarter in Section 19 below Benson's on the west side running north and south.  It extended nearly to the river.  Foster Curtis took the same kind of a strip on the east side of mine.  He filed on the east quarter below Benson's, Section 20, but died before he proved-up, so Peter Jensen filed and secured that quarter.  Jonas Beck filed on the "Meadows" and Hans Sorensen the "North Field",  then each one turned and deeded each man his share back.  (3)
     For a better description of how the land was proved-up see "A New Town in the Valley" (2).  It tells who proved-up and how many acres each resident received.

SQUATTED
     I had just squatted on a quarter east of the cemetery and built a shanty on it, for pasture, just prior to the government survey.  I could not secure two pieces at the same time so Peter Jensen promised to file on it and hold till I secured this for the town.  Which he did and then kept it, so I lost that piece.  After that, private parties took up land of their own adjoining town.  (3)

LAND
     I later bought four ten-acre pieces ("40 acres near Alma Benson's") in the "South Field" and five or ten acres of meadow from Rasmus Peter Anderson.  I turned in some cattle on the deal  to pay for it and hauled wheat by ox team to Heber C. Kimball's Mill, 19th Ward, Salt Lake City to pay the remainder.  (3)

INCIDENT WITH RUTH BENNETT OVIATT
     "One incident was: I was making a trip to Salt Lake by ox team, with a load of grain, taking it to Heber C. Kimball's mill to sell.  On my return home my wife's mother, Mrs. Oviatt from Farmington, came back wih me to pay her daughter a visit.  Nearing home on the mountains west of Newton, one of my oxen gave out.  I was compelled to leave Mrs. Oviatt and the outfit on the mountain and walk to Newton through the snow and get a fresh team to go back and get the wagon and Mrs. Oviatt, after which I had to fiddle for a dance that night."  (1)

DROWNING
    Taylor drowned on sand bar at the bend in the river above present bridge.  The first person buried.  (3)

1871 or 1872 BUCKEYE MOWERS
     I used home-made horse rakes; using sticks sharpened with an ax.
     In '71 or '72 two buckeye mowers came to town.  One was owned by W. F. Rigby and Rix the other by Chris Nelson and myself {John Jenkins}.  (3)

1871 or 1872 CRICKETS - GRASSHOPPERS
     It was in July 4 or 24 in 1871 or 1872 that Lee Whitaker and myself went down to the mouth of the creek to fish.  ("July 4 or 24 Pa and Lee Whitaker heard crickets were there so took two sacks...") We each had a sack.  When we arrived I never saw such a sight before or since.  The willows were completely loaded just bending down to the water's edge loaded with large black crickets like the ones which came in Salt Lake City in the early history of Utah.  The water was one living moving mass of fish which had come up to get the crickets, which we used for bait.  They were cornered on the east side of the creek and the river on the south trying to cross.  It was a wonderful sight. Every time we cast in our line we brought out a fish, mostly chubs and suckers from 6 to 12 inches long.  We soon had all we could carry in our large sacks.  Where the crickets came from I do not know.  I do not remember them doing any damage to speak of as there was very little wheat at that time and that was up next to town.
     Later, we had to fight grasshoppers several years.  We used to all turn out, children and all, with a flag on a stick, and drive them into rows of straw which we hauled at the edge of the wheat field and burned them after dark and dug trenches to drive them in, also other methods.  (3)

SICKNESS
     At the time I was in the Morrisite War in 1862, I contracted a cold sleeping on the damp ground.  I was bothered with breathing, had a pain in my chest which continued to bother me for years {sounds like pleurisy}.  A few years after moving up here {to Newton} other complications set in and I was a great sufferer.  For two years in the early 70's I had dyspepsia so bad I was unable to do a thing except take the town cow herd, which used to run over the east hill and around Little Mountain.  Many a day Mary, my wife, would put up a lunch, lead my horse to the door and help me on.  I would ride out over the hill, lay on the ground all day, many times unable to eat a bite and plead with the Lord to spare my life.  I scarcely had strength to get on my horse again at night.
     I took treatment from Dr. O. C. Ormsby, then of Brigham City, for liver trouble, consumption and other things, all of which did no good.  He did not discover the real trouble.
     In '71 and '72 it got very bad.  I road to Brigham City with Atkinson getting goods for his store.  As I passed through Brigham City I called on Dr. Ormsby, where I fainted from exhaustion.  He gave me a glass to get drink.
     I borrowed a horse off Hans P. Sorensen and rode on to Salt Lake City and consulted with Dr. Anderson, considered the best doctor in the territory.  Dr. Anderson said, "What is your trouble?".  I said, "That's what I should like to find out."  After describing my sickness he told me I had "rheumatism of the heart".  He recommended paras (sic) plaster on front and back, which relieved me some.  I soon commenced to improve.  I came home and took the town cow herd.  This I did for about two years.  For several years I was troubled with dyspepsia or stomach troubles.  Diet.  (3)

BLIZZARD
     When I was the first Road Supervisor of this district, the County had decided to build a bridge over the creek below my place, so I went to Clarkston and stayed at Andrew Quigley's.  Clarkston furnished the stringers.  The next morning I went to the canyon, loaded up and started home.  When I reached the top of the hill this side of Clarkston a big blizzard came up. I could not see where I was going, nothing but snow flying.  I was helpless to find my way out.  I wandered around all day in snow two feet deep or more.  There was no road.  I found myself toward evening, when it cleared somewhat, out on the Clarkston Creek a little above the reservoir.  I decided I could not get to Newton that night, so I worked my way back to Quigley's and stayed another night.  I reached home the next day with the stringers.  I supervised the erection of the first creek bridge.  (3)

CREEK BRIDGE
     I supervised the construction of the bridge just below my place.  When the reservoir would break I would take the flooring off and stake the stringers so they would not be washed away.  We labored hard cutting down trees and hauling up there to fill the wash that we might save enough for our gardens.  In those days we had no summer rains, our crops were a failure without water.
     Well, I did not want this bridge swept away, so when I got word the reservoir was gone I pulled the flooring off and staked the stringers.  The next day the mail man came along, it was Nealy(?) Bell.  He carried for Goodwin who had the contract.  He took the mail bag off and attempted to lead his saddled horse across the stringers.  When in the middle of the creek he fell in and must have knocked his head on a pole, as he drowned.  The swift current carried him down about 1/2 block.  The next day men dove and took the saddle off.  (3)

FIRST STORE
    The first store was owned by Alfred John Atkinson.  He finally became financially involved and the people took shares and called it the Newton Co-op.  J. H. Barker was then appointed manager and the store was moved to his residence.  William Griffin succeeded him and continued to manage it until it burned down.  At that time John and W. H. Griffin owned about 1/2 interest and myself and Amos Clarke the other half.  In the early days the store would only be open 2 1/2 or 3 days per week.  The Post Office was also kept there.  (3)
 The Newton historical account says:
     "The Newton Co-op also extended a great deal of credit because of repeated setbacks of the local economy; this placed the store in serious financial trouble on two occasions.  The indebetedness became so acute the second time that officials from the chief creditor, ZCMI of Salt Lake, came to Newton to close the store.  The store was saved when John Jenkins, one of the stockholders, donated his sheep herd and a few personal items to place the store back on a sound economic footing."   (2)

MOVED TO CREEK LOTS
     I later gave up the lots I had owned and purchased lots off William Stewart as I wished to be on the creek for water for the animals.  I moved my log house up there.  This time I had slabs and dirt roof and built a lean-to.  This was at the east side of town my permanent home.
     In about two years I had Thomas Hughes, a stone cutter and mason from Farmington, come and lay up two rock rooms in front of the log house.  The next Spring I sold my log house to Al Shepherd who moved it up on his ranch on Clarkston road.  John Godfrey owns it now.  It still stands out in fields east of Clarkston road on the hill where the road used to run.  I then had Mr. Hughes again come up and build on the back kitchen and three small rooms on the South.  (3)

1873 THE FIRST THRESHER
    The first threshing machine was an old sweep stake, a company machine owned by myself, Moroni Jenkins {John's brother}, Hyrum Curtis, Peter Benson and William Griffin {John Griffin's brother}. William Griffin run, Pa and Hyrum drove the Horses.  (3)

 According to the Newton history:
     "Another co-operative business venture was the procurement of the "co-op threshing machine."  On July 13, 1873, thirteen men--W. F. Rigby, J. Hansen, J. Jenkins, P. Benson, F. Curtis, R. P. Anderson, W. Griffin, J. Griffin, J. Wilson, J. Christensen, J. Seiter, H. Perry and P. Larsen-- promised to contribute $310.00 to assist in buying a threshing machine.  With this start the Ward appointed a committee of two--John H. Barker and Chris Anderson--to visit other members of the Ward to solicit subscriptions for the thresher.  The subscriptions were forthcoming and by the fall of 1873,  the threshing machine was bought.  The machine arrived in Newton and was ready for the 1874 harvest.  The owners of the co-op threshing machine established the policy of charging "nine bushels on the hundred for thrashing [sic] and furnish hand cutter, 5 men to run it."  The five men who operated the thresher for 1874 were W. Griffin, J. {James} Christensen, J. N. Beck, P. Larsen, and C. Peterson.  This thresher was horse driven and a small machine.  It was the first and only machine in Newton for several years.  In 1879 the Church records stated that the co-op threshing machine purchased in late 1873 "has had the patronage of the settlement since."  (2)

GRAIN MARKET - DRY FARMING
     There was no market for our grain at first.  We fed and used at home what little we grew.  Later some was taken to the flour mills at Logan, but most of it had to be hauled to Corrine, our nearest railroad.  For several years I used to drive to Ogden in the fall where we would sell our butter and chickens and buy our winter supplies, clothing and usually one piece of furniture each fall, then go on to Farmington for a visit and bring back flour,  and sometimes honey and molasses (had no sugar) and seed grain for spring planting.  On one of these occasions, a few years later, I purchased off Cone(?) Barnard this side of Brigham City, where I had seen it grown, a white winter wheat called Odessa.  He was the first man to start dry farming.  It proved quite successful and finally others tried it.  Slowly we got to planting fall wheat.  It was being grown to some extent at Fielding and Garland.  Peter Christensen has the name of being one of the earliest successful dry farmers on a large scale in Newton.
     Many years we had no rain from April in Spring till October, so it was impossible to raise much without water.  While in Iowa, we never thought of irrigating.  Brigham Young said on one occasion the time would come when we would have the summer rains as they did in the East.  He also predicted many other things that would transpire in this district which I have lived to see fulfilled.  (3)

ANOTHER ACCOUNT ABOUT HIS DRY FARMING
     I tried a little dry farm wheat on 10 acres in the South Field.  Just started at Fielding.  Come(?) Barnard, lives 2 or 3 miles between Honeyville and Brigham, 1st dry farmer and 1st header (before I came to Newton).  I went down there and got some to try it.  It was Odessa white winter wheat.  I had seen it grown at Bishop Layton's.  I planted it on ten acres.  It came good, in bunches.  It was good grain for some time, but winter killed or dried out.  I didn't try again for some time. Peter Christensen came from Weston.  He tried dry farming.  Peter Christensen was one of the first successful dry farmers in Newton.  (3)

LOGAN CANYON ROAD
     I responded to a call from the church authorities to help make a road through Logan Canyon out to Bear Lake.  I helped clear rock and brush and make the road.  (3)

HAMPTON DIVIDE RAILROAD
     The town of Newton was asked to put the railroad grade over Hampton divide from Collinston to Mendon.  I also helped to build it.  We were to receive stock as payment, but we never realized anything for that project.  I hired Swen Jacobs to work in my place as I had a stroke in my face. (3)

ACTIVITIES
     I have been actively engaged in all the enterprises of the ward community, both civic and religious from its earliest history.  All of which have been done with no thought of renumeration but only to build up the community.
     I helped to build the narrow gage railroad {The "Utah Idaho Central".  It went from Ogden to Preston.} from Collinston to Mendon when it first came to Cache Valley.  We were to receive stock in payment for this but got nothing.  I have let seed grain out for spring planting year after year as there was not many who could afford to hold till spring.
      In the early '70's I used to do a lot of killing of beef, mutton, pork and venison.  And when the present railroad and (Bothwell) canal were being built I furnished some of the largest camps with meat, killing 6 or 8 head of beef each night and delivering early next morning.  I have several hundred of dollars still out on this proposition.  I have loaned many a dollar for men to secure their land.  I have always sympathized with my fellow men and tried to help them in their mistakes and misfortunes.  I have always been one with the boys and enjoy to the fullest good, clean sport.
     I was Pound Keeper for many years, School Trustee several terms, and Road Supervisor when they worked their poll tax out.  My home has always been open to the stranger and visiting brethren on all occasions.  I have always believed in being obedient to authority and working with the head.  I have always done what I thought to be right to the best of my knowledge at the time under existing conditions and circumstances.  (3)

ACCIDENT, TORN KIDNEY
     Thomas Beck, Peter Jensen, James (Jens) Christensen, Rasmus Peter Anderson and myself each took a load of grain which had been previously bought.  We were to deliver it at Hole in the Rock (above Idaho Falls and this side of Eagle Rock) to the Overland Mail station.  Located at this point stage horses were kept here.  We drove up and camped there on the Snake River.  There was no firewood so I walked up river about 1/2 mile and got over on an island and walked back near our camp and threw wood over to the men.  I then tried to swing a pole around so I could cross without having to go all the way back.  In doing this I wrenched my back and tore a kidney loose.  I do not know how I got off the island.  I suffered so much pain I was helpless. I could not use my legs at all.  Rasmus P. Anderson and Peter Jensen took a part of my blanket and bound around my hips and back, pulled as tight as possible and tied a knot.  Thus I was able to stand the ride home.  I had to lay in the wagon.  I thought I had broke my back.  This gave me considerable trouble for many years.
     On the way home a dog followed us from Oxford.  James Christensen wanted to keep it.  Tom Beck put it in the wagon and turned it loose to go home, but lost his loose horse which I brought along being behind.  (3)

NEWTON'S BEST HUNTER
    Bishop Rigby once introduced me to Apostle Wilford Woodruff who was up here on a speaking tour.  As Newton's best hunter he said he should like to take a trip out with me, which we planned to do.  Just as we were ready to start he received a call to go back to Salt Lake City.  We were somewhat disappointed but I well remember his words at parting, "duty before pleasure".  (3)

PLURAL MARRIAGE
 From his newspaper history we read:
     "I accepted the doctrine of plural marriage and was married on September 21, 1873, to Annie Clarke in Salt Lake City, making the trip with Annie and her mother.  The following winter was very hard, snow being three feet deep on the level.  Feed became scarce and before spring came I fed all the hay and straw off the old sheds -- and no spring in sight.  In order to try to save the stock I broke trail through the deep snow to the south slope of the Little Mountain, here the snow having blown off and some dry grass could be found.  I finally got my cattle and sheep through to the mountain and built me a wind break of bushes and there I stayed, night and day, trying to pull my stock through until spring.  I finally saved some of them, but my losses were heavy.
    In the Spring of 1882 I was laid up with rheumatism about six weeks.  That following fall I was called on a mission to South Wales.  Before leaving Salt Lake City I was married to my third wife, Maria Jensen, October 17, 1882.  From there I left on my mission and my wife, Maria, returned to Newton.  After serving about one year, I was released on account of poor health, returning home in the Fall of 1883.
     In May, 1884, I took a squatter's right in the hills north of Clarkston, called the "Big Meadows."  Here I ran a dairy ranch, shipping butter and cheese besides pasturing horses and cattle for other people.  I owned this ranch for thirteen years, when I was finally run out by herds of sheep trailing through and eating all the feed.
     In 1885 and 1886 I was running cattle in the Big Meadows and looking after the farm in Newton, and dodging the marshals, who were ever on my trail.  I was sentenced to the penitentiary November 19, 1887, serving five months and paying a fine of $300 for practicing plural marriage.
     In May 1888, I went to Star Valley (Wyo) to look over the country for a cattle ranch, but returned home without buying.  I stayed home the remainder of the year looking after the farm and stock.
     In May 1889, with Maria, my third wife, I took 1113 head of cattle and went to Teton basin, ferrying the wagon over the Snake River and swimming the cattle through.  Reaching the basin, I took a squatter's right on a piece of land and built a log house, and fenced part of the land.  In the fall I had to take the cattle in to Newton to feed for the winter.
     The next spring when my son, Johnny, and I went back we found a survey had been made and my house on another man's land and my claim jumped, so I lost my previous year's labor.
     In 1891, now owning a place in Star Valley and the Big Meadows, also in Newton, I was kept busy looking after them.  I also owned 40 acres of land in Idaho, near Weston.  Hay was my main crop, starting first to put up hay in Newton, then going to Weston and then to Star Valley, putting up almost 200 tons in Newton, 50 in Weston, and several tons in Star Valley.  I would drive cattle to Star Valley in the spring and come back in the fall to winter.  I bought calves and yearlings.  In doing so I always had a bunch to drive out in the spring and raised them there.  In the fall I always selected what I wanted to sell, and a few to milk, and drove them to Newton to feed.  I continued this for several years, sometimes it being late in the fall, and the deep snow and cold sometimes making it quite a job to drive out.
     In the spring of 1894, when the marshals were after me, I went to Weston, found they had been looking for me and was on their way to the ranch in the Big Meadows where Maria then lived.  On learning this I started to look for them, and when I got to Ricks Ranch I got one of the Rick's boys to go to my ranch with me.  When we got to the ridge south of the house I stayed there while Ricks went to the house to look for Maria and the marshals, but found no one there.  On learning this I did not know what had become of Maria so I decided to go to my bed which I had on a little mahogany ridge north and west of the house.  This was my hiding place from the marshals.  There I found Maria and the two children.  The children were in bed and Maria was watching them, so I went out and found a horse and getting her on one horse and I on the other we started for Michael Clark's where we arrived about daylight, and from there I took her to Weston and I started for the Mink Creek Mountains where I stayed in hiding for the summer.  Johnny went with me to the saw mill on the Bear Lake road, located my summer camping ground.  I then showed him the location and told him he could find me there if he should want me.
     I had to make two trips with my horse to pack my supplies to camp--there being no water in the camp.  I got my supply from the snow drifts which lasted until some time in August.  I then moved down to the saw mill and started hauling logs to it.  One day while loading, the top log rolled on my hand so as to pin it between that and the bottom log, holding me fast.  I had to send Oliver for the ax, and then with the free hand chopped the other loose.  I finally got all my logs to the mill and got them sawed, but lost nearly all the lumber, thus losing a summer's work.
    While there in July, Annie, my second wife, was arrested and taken to Ogden, her father going with her, but was released on account of the case being an Idaho offense, and Utah having no jurisdiction over it.  The case was dismissed.
     In July, 1897, I moved Maria to Star Valley, where she lived for a number of years, then moved {her} again to Newton, where she is now living." {1927} (1)

1887 PERSECUTED FOR POLYGAMY
     I was among those who were persecuted for their religious beliefs and served five months in the state penitentiary and paid a fine of $300.00.  (3)

 The following is quoted from "Church Chronology":  page 155  (5)

 "Sat. {Nov} 19.--In the First District Court, at Ogden, John Jenkins and Hans Funk, of Newton, and Richard Fry of Morgan, were sentenced to six months' imprisonment and $300 fine each, for u. c. {unlawful cohabitation}; ...."  (5)
   "Church Chronology--1887" page 156
 "Fri. {Nov} 23.--In the First District Court, at Ogden, Wm. F. Rigby, of Newton, was sentenced by Judge Henderson to six months' imprisonment; John L. Anderson, of Brigham City, to three months' imprisonment; James {Jens} Christensen, of Newton, to six months' imprisonment and $300 fine;.....and Peter Benson of Newton, to six months' imprisonment and a fine of $100, all for u. c."  (5)
   "Church Chronology--1888" pages 160-161  (5)
 "Thurs. {Apr} 19.--Richard Fry, John Jenkins and Ferdinand Oberhansle were discharged from the Penitentiary."  (5)

BIG MEADOWS INCIDENT; By Eldon Griffin
 My grandmother, Alice, told me the following story:
     One time Alice was staying with her father (John Jenkins), and one of his wives (I believe she said, "Aunt Maria") at the Big Meadows, north of Clarkston.  They had a dairy herd and made butter and cheese, which they sold in Ogden.
     The federal marshals were trying to catch her father and arrest him for practicing polygamy.  His cabin was located where he could see them coming a long way off.  This gave him time to escape on his horse and ride over the mountain to Malad, Idaho. His parents lived there in Samaria for a while, also Idaho (which was very close by) was out of the Utah marshal's jurisdiction, but she didn't tell me about that.
     One time they were caught by surprise.  The marshals were too close for him to escape.  Grandma (Alice), rolled him up in the bedding stood in the corner of the cabin.  The marshals searched the cabin but could not find him and so they left empty handed.
     He had property in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming in order to avoid the jurisdiction of the marshals.  In fact, Freedom, Wyoming was so named because its Main Street is on the Idaho- Wyoming border.  All he had to do was walk across the street to change jurisdictions and keep his freedom.

 From the Newton history:
     "Following is a list of Newton's polygamists and the time they spent in the penitentiary for Unlawful Cohabitation:
 Hans Funk {Bishop} Nov 19, 1887 to May 19, 1888 (Fine $300)
 John Jenkins  Nov 19, 1887 to April 1888 ($300)
          {Eldon R. Griffin's Great-Grandfather}
 William F. Rigby Sr. {Bp} Dec 23, 1887 to May 23, 1888
 James {Jens} Christensen Dec 23, 1887 to ?
          {Eldon Griffin's Great-Grandfather}
 Peter Benson  Dec 23, 1887 to ?
 Andrew Hansen  Jan 27, 1888 to July 1888
 Wm. H. Griffin {Bp} Feb 12, 1888 to June 13, 1888 ($300)
          {Eldon Griffin's Great-Uncle}
 Christian Anderson Dec 10, 1888 to ?
 Jens N. Hansen  May 25, 1889 to Aug 24, 1889
 Hans Sorensen  Arrested Feb 1888
 John H. Barker  Arrested Feb 1888--case dropped
 A. P. Welchman  Left Newton before the Edmunds Act."
 (2)

TETON HUNT
     One time while out hunting in the Teton hills in company with several others (there was 10 of us) I saw a bear coming out of a hollow.  So we left our horses and went up close enough to get a shot.  I said, "Boys, we are close enough to shoot".  As I drew my gun I saw an elk close by.  I hardly knew which to take, but finally shot the elk.  Some of them shot at the bear and missed him.  So we camped there that night.  The next morning I wanted someone to go with me before it was hardly light.  No one would, so I went alone to the top of a high mountain and looked down on Palisade Lake  (south of Teton Basin near Star Valley, Idaho).  I worked my way down to get a shot at them (?) but they were gone but I found five deer grouped up.  I shot four times and got all of them.  One shot having killed a mother and her fawn standing close by her on the other side.  The bullet passed through her and struck her young.  So I got an elk and 5 deer with five shots.  (3)
     Each fall to winter I used to make 2 or three hunting trips to different parts; west hills, the mountains east of Cache Valley, Logan Canyon, North Cottonwood and up to Oxford.  There was plenty of game in those days.  I used to get from 3 to 5 head each trip.  At one time I brought home 10 head.  I used to sell to butchers at Logan and Ogden and some to the town people to help make a living.  I also turned some in as tithing.  Bishop Lewis of Logan said I was the only man who ever paid venison tithing on wild game.  What I could not sell, I cured by taking the bones out, salting the meat in brine, cutting it in strips and drying, sometimes smoked.  This is called "jerked meat".  I could sell this to saloon keepers who kept it for their customers.  The more they ate, the more thirsty they were.  (3)

VETERINARIAN
     I was the town's first veterinarian and worked in that capacity as long as I was able.  In later years when young men took out their degree in that line I was not alone, but have been very successful with my operations and treatment of animals with experience as my only education.  (3)

BEAR RIVER BRIDGE
     I helped build the first Bear River bridge in the bend, which replaced the toll ferry boat out by Dave Reese's.  Piles were driven down with stringers on top.  Then loose logs laid across the top, no railing, with quite a narrow steep dugway on the other side.  At one time while hauling a load of loose tithing wheat to Logan one of my oxen (Ball and Jerry) got his hind legs through the logs.  I being alone had quite a time in unyoking him and letting him down in the river.  After he swam out I yoked him up and drove on.  Another time in going up the dugway I had a balky horse which let the wagon run backward and hit one of the posts at the corner of the bridge.  Thus spilling part of my load in the river.  Many a thrilling experience might be related in passing over such a deep river with loose logs and young horses.  It was the worry of many a mother from the time they went to Logan until across the bridge on their return trip.  {I believe this may be the bridge that collapsed and "Mrs. Jenkins" nearly lost her baby as it was swept down stream}.  (3)

BRIDGE COLLAPSE, by Eldon R. Griffin
Grandma, Alice Jenkins Christensen and my mother, Evelyn Christensen Griffin told us the following story.  I found a newspaper clipping version of it in Christian Christensen's (son of "James" Christensen) missionary journal. As near as I can figure "Mrs. Jenkins" must have been Ann Clarke Jenkins and her baby, Donald.  The Buttars surname is mispelled in the article.
The article follows:

 "CLARKSTON CLIPPINGS"
EDITOR JOURNAL:--Your correspondent has just interviewed Mr. and Mrs. Butters, who went down with the Bear River bridge on Tuesday evening.  At half past five they drove upon the bridge.  There were five of them in the buggy: Father David and Mrs. Butters, their son, Charles and Mrs. Jenkins and her baby.  They had almost reached the center of the bridge, when it fell, and in a moment they were struggling in the water, with beams and iron pinning them down.  The buggy was overturned in the fall,  and for a time they were in imminent danger of drowning.  In the fall Mrs. Jenkins' baby was thrown from her arms and fell in the river, but Charles Butters was fortunate enough to catch it before it sank, and restore it to its mother.
     They cried aloud for help, and Mr. Wm. Bingham and a man who was plowing near by, rushed to the rescue.  Charles was the first to get out, and the three proceeded to lift the timbers off the others and assist them to shore.
     Mrs. Butters was found to be the worst injured, as she received a blow which cut a great gash in her scalp, struck her also in the face, knocking her teeth out, and she was so badly injured internally that she finds it difficult to breathe.
     Father Butters' shoulder was severely injured, and Charles complains of pains all over his body.
 Mr. Bingham and the other gentleman did good work in the rescue, and Mr. Bingham rode in his wet clothes to Logan for a doctor, being unable to catch one by telephone from Smithfield.
     Dr. Parkinson attended, sewed up the wound in Mrs. Butters' head and made her as comfortable as possible.  She is still suffering greatly, however.  I learn that the county commissioners will pay the attendant expense.
 The two runaway boys (etc)........Respectfully
       SANKO
 Clarkston, June 1, 1900"  (4)

1882 MISSION TO WALES
     On October 10, 1882 {age 37} I left Newton for the mission field to Wales being the first man from town to pay my own way.  The only contribution I received was $2.00 from a friend.  In the previous spring I had been laid up with inflammatory rheumatism in my ankle and knee which I was not entirely rid of.  I was laid up for six weeks in April in bed.  I was just skin and bones.  Later on my stomach bothered me.  I was not feeling well when I left for my mission.  I again was troubled with this complaint and had poor health all the time I was away.
     My companion, Shadrack Jones of Ogden, passed away and was buried there in a grave of water.  I brought his things home to his wife.  So in August of 93 {at age 48} I was released to return home.  I was not expected to live while crossing the ocean, but my life was spared to reach home, and I have seen many hard knocks since.  (3)

DEBTORS
     I have many hundreds of dollars out for seed grain and for meat, as I used to butcher.  During the year 1890 when they were building the Bothwell Canal and the Railroad came through the narrows, I killed over 100 beef steer and supplied the canal and railroad (Annette and Thompson R.R.) camps with meat.  They built a bridge over the river here.  I have also loaned money out to poor people to enable them to prove up on their land etc.  (3)

1924-36 OX TEAM IN PARADES AND AIRPLANE RIDE
     In later years I have drove my ox team in parades in all of the leading cities of northern Utah on many of the most important occasions and am now known as "the oldest bull whacker in the State of Utah".  Some of these occasions are the Centennial at Salt Lake City,  Golden Spike celebration at Ogden (50 year), where I was guest of the city for 3 days and took up in an airplane for a ride.  I drove them in the Centennial celebration at Logan and 4 or 5 other occasions. (3) {I saw him walking beside his ox team in a Logan parade when I was about 6 years old.  On his wagon was a sign which said, "John Jenkins, Oldest Bull Whacker in the State".  He would have been 90 or 91 years old then.  ERGriffin.}

 Another account says:
     "On the 24th of July in 1924 I was called to drive a covered wagon and my yoke of oxen in the big Centennial parade held at Logan Utah.  On several occasions since that time I have driven my oxen in the parades given in honor of the Pioneer Day, and different celebrations.
     Since 1929 I drove my ox team in the celebration commemorating the opening of the Ogden Aerial Field at Ogden Utah.  After driving my ox team on the streets of Ogden in the parade, I was taken to the Air Port about 2 miles south of Ogden City in an Automobile.  There I was transferred to an airplane and was soon riding through the air at the age of 84". (3) {1929}.

PROPERTY OWNED
Mar 10 1924 bought of Bill Rix place across creek
Peter B. sipe(?) 1885 S. field
Wm. Rigby Oct 29 1883 town site deed
from James P. Jensen to J. J. 1885
Foster proved up on 6 May 1879.  Pa has his patent.
In 1884 he squatted on the "Big Meadows" north of Clarkston where  "run cattle 13 years, made cheese and butter".
"I also owned 40 acres of land in Idaho near Weston",  {There is still a place near there known as Jenkins Hollow.}
"A place in Star Valley", Wyoming, near the town site of  Freedom.  (3)

HAPPENINGS
 From his newspaper account:
     "In 1899 {age 54} I was chosen first councilor to Bishop William H. Griffin, being ordained a High Priest and set apart February 28 by Apostle George Teasdale.  In this capacity I labored for about four years.
     In 1901 {age 56}, while working on the L.D.S. Church, in Freedom (Wyo), I fell from the square of the building, about ten feet, and struck on the floor joist, dislocating four joints of my spine which has caused a lot of suffering ever since when lying down, and some positions while working.  I have never been able to lie on my left side, since that time.
     I was later kicked by a stallion which broke a rib and caused severe suffering.
     Later I fell from a header box and broke my left leg below the knee while unloading some roots of apple trees which caught my clothing and pulled me out.
     In February, 1926 {age 80}, I had a wrestle with a bull, and got the worst of it.  He broke four ribs and bruised me quite badly, which caused severe pain and suffering for several weeks.
     In September of the same year, while driving some cattle over near Malad on the highway, my horse became tangled in some loose wire, left there by county workmen, and began jumping and pitching, getting tangled in the wire so that both the horse and myself were thrown.  I struck on my head and was knocked out for some time.  When I found the horse, she was standing down the road about forty rods with one hind leg cut off completely, so I had to shoot her.
     On February 4, 1927, {age 81} I fell from the loft of the barn, a distance of about ten feet, and landed on some ice and frozen ground, bruising my hip.  I thought it was broken.  For about fifteen days I had to lie on my stomach when I lay down, and kneel on my knees when up."  (1)

CHURCH ACTIVITIES
     I have always paid my tithing  and fast offerings and other donations for ward maintenance.  I lived the United Order as long as it lasted and served in nearly all church capacities.  I have been actively engaged in all the enterprises of the Newton Ward from its early organization until the present time both civic and religious. I have helped with tithing, work and donations on all buildings.  (3)

 "Martin C. Rigby, born in 1868, remembered the United Order and how part of its operations were conducted.  He recalled:
     We formed a sort of United Order to get hay for the winter.  I remember when John Jenkins...and Joe Wilson...would run  mowing machines.  They would pick out the best pieces of  grass and cut them.  I ran a sulky rake with a pair of  little yellow ponies...and raked the hay after the two  mowing machines.  Then other people who worked..."  (2)

     I have served as 1st Councilor in the bishopric to William H. Griffin, as President of the Y.M.M.I.A., Superintendent of the Sunday School, High Priest Quorum, and Home Missionary.  I have been a Ward Teacher from the early history of the ward up to the present time.  {Note:  Arbon Christensen told me that as a boy he loved it when John Jenkins came Ward Teaching to his home because he told of so many interesting experiences. ERG}.  I have assisted in building stake houses and temples.  I was personally acquainted with Martin Harris, and with my wife, Mary, visited him on his death bed {in Clarkston}.  (3)
     I have been closely associated with many of the apostles and leading church authorities in crossing the plains and other capacities and always relied and took comfort in their council or advice.  I have acted as school trustee for many terms, when we were obliged to board the teacher and collect his salary.  I have always believed in looking to the head and being obedient to those placed in authority over me and worked unitedly with them to accomplish results.  (3)
     I owned the first clock (1870), sewing machine and cook stove in Newton.  "First chair $15.  Dinwoody Charter Oak stove $100 for two."  (3)

Editor's Note:  The United Order was loosely practiced in Newton.  The Store, Davidson-Ballard Dairy, and the reservoir were part of it.  See "A New Town in the Valley", a history of Newton; LDS Genealogical film number 1320561.

INDIANS
 "Their Dessert"
{This must refer to Indians. It is a disconnected story found as part of Grandma's history of John Jenkins.  ERG}
 Make big fire and toast them for their dessert.  Gather locusts in woven baskets and sacks.  Camped near Loren Larsen's willow fence.  Indians stole some wheat from me.
 Battle creek war, 1863 soldiers from Fort laid it to the Indians, killed 2 men.  At where Treasureton creek empties in Bear River east and south of Clifton.  Soldiers who gave horses and mules Jan. cold deep snow.  (3)
 

INDIAN TALE
    One spring I came through Ogden on my way from Conference. I talked to an Indian at the station.  We were both waiting for a train.  I asked him where he was at time of Battle Creek War.  He said, "I was not born.  My father and mother were camped with the group. My Mother had a dream the soldiers were coming.  They got up in the night and left for father's brother's place at Promontory.  Later I was born in a meadow below Millville".  He now lives at Washakie.  (3)

"STICK HORSE RACE"
     "The following is a story told about two of Newton's most interesting early residents--John Jenkins and Alfred Goodsell.  Any distortion to this account can be blamed on the numerous times it was retold.  It also shows how an incident provided excitement and amusement to those who saw it, but it also gave much amusement to people who were not there--even a generation not born at the time.  For in the years before TV and automobiles changed the entertainment pattern of Newtonites, this story about the stick horse race was retold many times and lived over and over again in memory, always with a smile and good humor.
     The incident occurred either on the 4th or 24th of July and it involved a bet--a bet on a horse race.  Alf bet John that he could ride a stick horse around the public square {1/2 mile} faster than John could on his pony.  Now John had one of the finest horses in the area and he was well acquainted as to his speed so John had no inhibition about the race if it was on the level.  As the proposed race was being discussed, more men and boys thronged about the two future contestants.  The bystanders were insisting that the race be held.  Now the race was inevitable.  The race had one ground rule--John had to do everything that Alf did.
     Alf cut himself a stick and tied a string to the top of it while John readied his prized pony.  Both riders mounted their horses and a signal started the merry race.  A detailed account of the race cannot be given but in essence here is what happened:  Alf would ride his stick a short distance, then jump off and tie the stick horse to the picket fence that bordered the square, then crawl under the stick horse and then get back on and go again.  Alf repeated this several times as he circled the block.  One who is even unfamiliar with horses should not have to use his imagination very much to see the plight of John trying to do everything that Alf did.  Needless to say John finished a poor second.
    John protested that the contest was unfair whereupon the bystanders held a kangaroo court and declared that the race was fair and square."  (2)

 VISITED BY ELDON GRIFFIN
     I remember going to John Jenkins' house with my family when I was about 6 years old.  He played his fiddle for us.  His last living child, Burton, still lives in his old rock house down by the creek on the north side of east main street in Newton.

1931 DAUGHTERS OF THE UTAH PIONEERS 1931}  (3)
 Names
     The first camp was known as the "Wm. F. Rigby Camp", named after the first Bishop of the ward, a most enterprising and capable man; one who was instrumental in helping to lead the people of the ward successfully, a very social man and worthy of acquaintance.
     The other camp was named the "John Jenkins Camp" after one of the earliest pioneers who crossed the plains seven times by ox team bringing in goods and emigrants.  {He} has lived in Newton from the very first winter until the present time and has assisted with his means and labor to establish this great common wealth.  His name is respected in all circles for his unusually wide experiences and entertaining qualities.  At the annual Pioneer ball which was held at the P...-a-dor(?) at Logan, Nov, 1931 he received 1st prize for being the only living pioneer present to lead his camp.  They also received 1st prize for having the largest enrollment in the Stake and 1st prize for the largest numbers present.  Thus, three first prizes came to the camp named in his honor.
     The Stake Board was in attendance and installed the following officers for the old camp (Rigby):
 President: Iva Rigby
 1st Asst:  LaVerne Rigby
 2nd Asst.  Lizzie Peterson
 Chorister: Hazel Rigby {My first grade teacher. ERG}
 Organist:  Daisy Larsen

Officers for the new camp (Jenkins) were:
 President: Stella Jorgensen
 1st Vice Pres: Lettie Jenkins
 2nd Vice Pres: Valereia Larsen
 Sec & Treas: Caroline Larsen
 Chorister: Alice Jenkins
 Organist:  Evelyn Griffin
 Asst Organist: Leona Haws
 Historian: Mary Doudle

It was not long until we were supporting two thriving active camps.  (3)

1936 DEATH
     Grandfather {John Jenkins} died December 19, 1936, at Newton Utah at the age of 92." (3)  {He actually died at age 91 years, 7 months and 11 days.  He lived from 8 May 1845 till 19 Dec 1936}

JOHN JENKINS THREE FAMILIES
 1ST WIFE,MARY OVIATT
 (Daughter of Ira and Ruth Oviatt of Farmington)
 On December 28, 1867 John Jenkins married Mary Oviatt in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City.  Their children were:
 John Franklin Jenkins   (of Freedom, Wyo)
 William Evan Jenkins   (of Freedom, Wyo)
 Alice Clarissa Jenkins Christensen Barker (of Newton)
 Judith Evalett Jenkins (died young)
 Lewis Ira Jenkins    (of Freedom, Wyo)
 Ruth Ann Jenkins Bracken   (of Logan)
 Edmund D. Jenkins
 Lydia Rosabell (Bell) Jenkins Sparks (of Newton)
 Rhoda Lucetta Jenkins (died as child)
 Philip Eugene Jenkins   (of Freedom, Wyo)

2ND WIFE, ANNIE CLARKE
 (Daughter of Amos Clarke and Ann Johnston of Newton)
 On 22 Sep 1873 John Jenkins married Ann ("Annie") Clarke.  Their children were:
 John Henry Jenkins (child)
 David Robert Jenkins (child)
 Sarah Ann Jenkins (child)
 Mary Elizabeth Jenkins
 Sophra Jane Jenkins Hansen
 Junius Feremore Jenkins
 Ida Charlotte Jenkins Crookston
 Estella Naomie Jenkins Jorgensen
 George Edgar Jenkins
 Edna Almira Jenkins (died as a child)
 Lorran Amos Jenkins
 Archie Abaraham Jenkins   (of Newton)
 Veneta Vella Jenkins Banks
 Donald Thomas Jenkins
 Spencer Samuel Jenkins   (of Logan)

3RD WIFE, ANN MARIE ("MARIA") JENSEN
 (Daughter of Hans and Maren Jensen)
 On 12 Oct 1882 John Jenkins married Ann Marie Jensen.  Their children were:
 James Oliver Jenkins
 Mariam Lorene Jenkins (died as a child)
 Moroni Peter Jenkins
 John Raymond Jenkins (of Freedom, Wyo)
 Ann Olivia Jenkins McCulloch
 Wilford Lorenzo Jenkins (of Freedom, Wyo)
 David Seymour Jenkins (died as a young man)
 Meda Lucile Jenkins Parker  (of Newton)
 Lavon Jenkins
 Burton Jenkins (last alive of 35; and still lives in John Jenkins' old rock house down by the creek, Nov 1994)
 

JOHN JENKINS' CHRONOLOGY
 (by Eldon Royal Griffin, Oct. 1994)

YEAR     DATE       AGE         EVENTS
1845     May 8th        0             Born in Cowbridge, Glamorganshire, Wales
1850                          5             Emigrated to United States, to Mosquito Creek, Mo.
1861     June            16             Left Mosquito Creek and Crossed plains
1861                                         Evan Jenkins family made home in Farmington, Ut
1862                        17             In Morrisite War, at Uinta, Utah
1863                        18             Crossed plains to bring emigrants, round trip
1864                        19             Crossed plains to bring emigrants, round trip
1866                        21             Crossed plains to bring emigrants, round trip
1867     Dec 28        22             Married Mary Oviatt, Alice's "Ma", d. of Ira
1869     March                          Clarkston had Newton site surveyed by Martineau
1869     May            24             First trip to Newton/Clarkston from Farmington
1869     Sept            24             Moved to Newton
1869     Sep-Dec                      Built log house on Catt lot
1870                        25             Building roads, ditches, reservoir
1870     Spring                          Planted 8 acres of wheat
1870     Spring                          Bought 5 calves off of Martineau
1870                                        Moved saw mill
1871                        26            Sowed malt barley
'71 or '72                                 Crickets and fish
'71 and '72                               Sick, town cow herder.  Drs. Ormsby and Anderson
1873     Sep 21        28            Married "Annie" Clarke, age 17; Amos' daughter
1874                                        Rock School completed
1882     Oct 1?         37            Married "Maria" Jensen, age 19; Hans' daughter
1882                         37            Left for mission to Wales
1883     Fall             38             Returned from mission in bad health
1884     May            39             Took squatter's right to "Big Meadows"
1887     Nov 19        42             Sentenced to 5 months in pen for polygamy
1888     May            43             Visited Star Valley, didn't buy
1889     May            44             Moved Maria to Teton basin for summer, with 1113 head
1890                        45             Bothwell Canal & Railroad, furnished 100 beef
1891                        46             Owned 40 acres in Weston; place in Star Valley;
                                                 Big Meadows above Clarkston, and farm in Newton
1891                                         First "Meeting House" {Church} built.
1894                        49            Avoiding Marshals. Hid at Mink Creek, all summer
                                                   meanwhile Annie (age 38) arrested but released
1897     July             52             Moved Maria to Star Valley (age 34) until 190?
1899                        54             Made 1st Councilor to Bp. Wm. H. Griffin, Newton
 "                                               Ordained High Priest by Apostle Geo. Teasdale
1901                        56             Fell while building church at Freedom, Wyoming
1926 Feb                 80             Gored by bull
1926 Sep                 80             Horse-in-wire accident
1927 Feb                 81             Fell from loft
                                82             His partial history was published in newspaper
1929-1936               84             Took ox team to parades in Logan, Ogden, SLC
1936     Dec 19         91             Died at age 91 years, 7 months and 11 days
 

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

(1)   John Jenkins, "Pioneer Tells His Life Story", CACHE VALLEY HERALD, Wednesday,
        June 22, 1927;  John Jenkins, 82 writes interesting of early days in the West.

(2)   Larry D. Christensen, "A New Town In the Valley",  Centennial History of Newton, 1969;
        LDS Genealogical Film 1320561.

(3 )  Alice Jenkins Christensen Barker, Her personal hand written notes in the possession of Eldon
        R. Griffin.

(4 )  Sanko, "Clarkston Clippings", Cache Valley "JOURNAL" ?, 1 June, 1900.

(5)   Andrew Jensen, Church Chronology, 2nd Ed. (Salt Lake City, Utah--Deseret News
        Press, 1914)

(6)   Immigration Card Index 298434,  This corrects the newspaper account.
 

Compiled and edited by:
Eldon R. Griffin
555 So. Main
Garland, Ut 84312
(435) 257-3921
November 22, 1994
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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