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Jonathan Pugmire, Jr. and Elizabeth McKay

Jonathan Pugmire, Jr. (1823-1880)

Jonathan, son of Jonathan Pugmire, Sr. and Elizabeth Barnes was born 7 December 1823 at Carlisle, Cumberland, England. Little is known of his youth, except that he was trained as a blacksmith by his father. When he was eighteen, the family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and they began plans to emigrate. In February of 1844, he sailed from Liverpool with his father's family on the Isaac Allerton. Aboard the ship, he met Elizabeth McKay, a convert from Scotland. They were married 30 April 1844, after arriving in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Their early married life was spent at Montrose, Iowa making preparations for the move west. Jonathan helped to prepare many wagons. Their journey began in April of 1846, but was interrupted by Jonathan's service in the Mormon Battalion. After the long march was over, he returned to his family at Winter Quarters and continued on to Utah in the Heber C. Kimball company of 1848. For the next sixteen years, the Pugmires resided in Salt Lake City where Jonathan served for many years as the foreman of the Public Works blacksmith shop. He was a member of the Nauvoo Legion and spent three months in Echo Canyon preparing to resist Johnston's Army. He also served for three years as bishop of the Salt Lake 7th Ward.

In 1864, Jonathan went to help settle Bear Lake Valley, making his home at St. Charles, Idaho. There he established a farm, worked as blacksmith, and managed a co-op store that was built on his property. He also served as the tithing agent for the Bear Lake Stake. He practiced plural marriage and had three families. Jonathan died suddenly on 18 September 1880 in St. Charles. He was fifty-seven.

See history of Jonathan Pugmire, Sr. and Elizabeth Barnes

Elizabeth McKay (1822-1887)

Elizabeth, daughter of Donald McKay and Mary McLean, was born 14 February 1822 at Roseneath, Dumbartonshire, Scotland. When Elizabeth joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age eighteen, her parents objected. The resulting estrangement forced her to seek refuge with other converts until she could arrange passage to America. She set sail in February of 1844. During the two-month-long journey, she celebrated her twenty-second birthday and met Jonathan Pugmire, Jr. Three weeks after their arrival in Nauvoo, Illinois, Elizabeth and Jonathan were married (13 April 1844) and began preparations for the move to the west.

That journey began three weeks after Elizabeth had given birth to their first child. The day after they arrived in Winter Quarters (Nebraska), Jonathan left with the Mormon Battalion. In his absence, Elizabeth suffered many hardships. After Jonathan's return they continued their trek and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in September of 1848. Elizabeth gave birth to their second child along the way and had seven more during the years they lived in Salt Lake City.

In 1864, the Pugmires responded to a call to help settle Bear Lake Valley. Those first years were very difficult. It took some time to establish suitable living conditions. Five years after their arrival, a store was built on their property. Elizabeth helped in the store as Jonathan managed it. After his death, she assumed the management of the store.

Jonathan had three wives living in St. Charles. After his death, they all wanted to live together, so the children built a 14 room house for them to share. Elizabeth was active in church work. While on a trip to Soda Springs in behalf of the Primary organization, she became very ill. She died a few days later (13 November 1887) at age fifty-eight. Her family said of her, "No hardships she was required to endure ever made her regret her acceptance of the Gospel. Her faith was deep and abiding and her spiritual and mental integrity were supreme."

The Children

  1. George McKay Pugmire (1846-1910) md. Maria Adelia Young

    2. See history of George McKay Pugmire and Maria Adelia Young

  2. Jonathan McKay Pugmire (1848-1866)
  3. Vincent McKay Pugmire (1850-1888) md. Nancy E. Rich and Hattie Harker
  4. James McKay Pugmire (1852-1910) md. Marinda E. Young and Johanna Jacobsen
  5. Elizabeth McKay Pugmire (1854-1911)Thomas G. Rich and John A. Alguire
  6. Robert McKay Pugmire (1856-1886) md. Maria Nielson
  7. Charlotte McKay Pugmire (1859-1870)
  8. Edward McKay Pugmire (1861-1943) md. Luana A. Booth and Susanna L. Rich
  9. Mary McKay Pugmire (1867-1867)

Autobiography of Jonathan Pugmire, Jr.

I was born on the 7th day of December A.D. 1823 in the city of Cumberland, England. At an early age I moved with my father and his family to Liverpool. About the age of 14 years I went to serve an apprenticeship at blacksmithing in the establishment owned by the Grand Junction Railway Company, Crown Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool. My father being foreman of the shop, I worked until the Company moved their establishment to Crew Cheshire on the 14th day of November 1841. I and my father were baptized in the River Mersey into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by Elder John James and confirmed by Elder George L. Adams, and became members of the Liverpool Branch of said Church.

On the 11th day of February, 1844, we sailed from Liverpool for New Orleans, U.S.A. on board the ship Isaac Allerton. Amongst the passengers, I became acquainted with one --Elizabeth Mackay of Roseneath, Dumbartonshire, Scotland, daughter of Donald Mackay and Mary McLean. After a passage of forty-five days we landed at New Orleans, and from thence we sailed by steamboat up the Mississippi and landed at Nauvoo on the fifth of April 1844. On the day following, being the first day of Conference, I first saw the prophet Joseph Smith. On the thirtieth day of April, 1844, I was married to Elizabeth Mackay by Thomas Dunvet, High Priest. Directly after landing at Nauvoo, I commenced working at blacksmithing on the Temple and at other times as guard.

The people in the various parts of the state (Illinois) were very hostile to us as a people. On the 27th of June, 1844, the prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum were cruelly murdered by the ruthless mob, although under the solemn pledge of protection from the Governor of the State, Thomas Ford, and also under the flag that offered protection to the down trodden of all nations. Owing to the frequent mobs in and around Nauvoo, a great deal of poverty existed.

My wife and sister went to St. Louis to try and do something to help sustain my father and his family. In the fall of the year I went to St. Louis to bring my wife and sister back. But previous to my going after my wife, my father and his family had moved over the river into Iowa and there purchased a farm.

At the October Conference of 1844, I was ordained a member of the 22 Quorum of Seventies under the hands of the First President of said Quorum.

In the spring of 1845, myself and wife moved to St. Louis for the purpose of making an outfit preparatory to our starting out West. In the fall of the same year, we returned to Nauvoo when I was called to go over the river to a place in Montrose to do blacksmithing and help to fit out the companies going out West...

...In March 31st 1846, we had a son born in Montrose, Lee County, Iowa, whom we named George Mackay. About the 31st of April, we left Montrose for what was then known as Winter Quarters, but now known as Florence [Nebraska]. We arrived at Winter Quarters on a Monday evening, and on the following morning I left with what is known as the Mormon Battalion. A call having been made by the President of the U.S.A. on President Brigham Young for 500 of his best men to go to Mexico and fight the battles of a country, who had refused to sustain us in our rights and who wink at the murder of our Prophet and Patriarch[.] But as President Brigham Young said that it would be the salvation of the Church and kingdom of good for 500 of the Elders to volunteer their services to the U.S.A.[,] at the counsel of God's servants I and my brethern volunteered our services to a Nation that had treated us as worse than serfs. During my absence with the Battallion, my mother died. After about sixteen months with the Battallion, I returned and arrived at Florence on the 3rd of August 1847, where I found my wife and son George M. well and pleased to see me returned in safety.

During the remaining portion of this year, and the winter and spring of 48, I was busy engaged in making preparation in Florence to move with my family to Salt Lake Valley. So anxious were we to leave that we started with a wagon not ironed as they usually are (the iron not being in the region around). The only iron about the wagon at the time of starting was the king bolt, draw bolt and the linch pins. In the latter part of May we left Florence for Elk Horn where on our arrival we were organized into President Kimball's hundred and Captain Heriman's fifty. While in camp at Elk Horn our second son was born on the fourth day of June 1848, whom we named Jonathan Mackay. While we lay in camp at Elk Horn a band of the Omaha Indians attempted to drive off our cattle in which our temporal salvation to a very great extent lay. In connection with the brethren of the Company. I was engaged in repelling the attack thus made us [and] we recovered our stock. Howard Egan and Thomas Ricks were wounded and [also] two horses belonging to H.C. Kimball. Thomas Ricks was severely wounded in the back and lay not far from the Indian Camp. Many of the brethren felt a little afraid of trying to rescue T. Ricks. I was riding an old horse belonging to Dr. Bernhisel and feeling somewhat vexed at the brethren being so slow to go to the rescue of T. Ricks and the slowness of the old horse that I was riding. I jumped off the old horse and made better headway on foot to the wounded man and we brought him safe to camp and with good nursing he recovered. During the excitement my wife got out of her bed still being weak, but feeling anxious for my safety she ventured beyond her strength, which gave her a heavy back set, and she did not fully recover her strength until she arrived in Salt Lake Valley.

On account of the late attack made by the Omahas we left Elk Horn a little sooner than we intended, and moved Westward. As we were traveling[,] one of H.C. Kimball's wagons broke down. Which circumstance enabled me to get a couple of tires, which I put on two of my wheels, which enabled me to dispense with two of my hickory tires. A short time after that, I got two more iron tires and arrived in safety in Salt Lake Valley in the month of September 1848.

Early in 1849, I was,in connection with Thomas Tanner, called by President Brigham Young to work on the Public Works at blacksmithing. Brother Tanner was appointed foreman which position he held until his death in 1855. At his death, I was appointed foreman and held that position until I left the employ in 1869. During the time of the move in 1858 I acted for a short time in absence of D.M. Wells as Superintendant of Public Works. While at Provo during the move I assisted in erecting a Public Blacksmith Shop. At which several of the old hands were employed. On the return of the people to Salt Lake City, President Brigham Young had a blacksmith shop erected the building planned and superintended as to inspection, 42 feet by 60 feet of which I was foreman about 20 hands were employed in the shop.

Immediately after entering Salt Lake Valley I was enrolled as a private in Co. A 2nd Regiment first division Nauvoo Legion, and step by step I gained promotion from 1st Corporal with its various grades after which I was promoted to Sergeant filling the various grades of that office. I was then promoted to be Lieutenant which I filled the four grades of that office. I was next promoted to be Captain of Co. A 2nd Regiment. In the fall of 1856 the Nauvoo Legion was reorganized into tens, fifties, and hundreds. I was elected Major of the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Brigade. In the summer of 1857, James Buchanan, President of the U.S.A. ordered an army of 5000 men to Utah. The purpose for which the army was sent was to repeat the deeds done at Carthage and drive us from our homes. Myself and the Battalion of which I had command were ordered by Governor Brigham Young to Echo Canyon with others to resist the entrance of said army into Salt Lake City. I remained with my Battalion for three months in Echo, when we were ordered home, and others sent to release us. In 1860 I was promoted to be Colonel of the 2nd Regiment of the 2nd Brigade of Infantry which office I held till I moved to St. Charles, Bear Lake Valley. I received the commissions from the different Governors of Utah who were acting during the vartious periods of my promotions.

On the ___day of ______185_ I was ordained to be one of the Presidents of the 22nd Quorum of Seventies ordained under the hands of said Quorum. W.C. Clough, Alex McRay, Alex Wright and Brother Elliot which position I held till fall of 1858, when I was called and ordained to be second counselor to Bishop Willey of the seventh Ward of Salt Lake City and the following year was first Counselor to the above named Bishop. When Bishop Willey left for Cache Valley, I became acting Bishop, in which position I acted till early in 1861. I was set apart and ordained Bishop of the Seventh Ward of Salt Lake City, under the hands of Bishop Edward Hunter and L.W. Hardy, which position I acted in till I was called to go to Bear Lake Valley (then in Utah) when I resigned my office of Bishop of the Seventh Ward and the office of Colonel of the 2nd Regiment of Infantry.

Early in the spring of 1864 myself and family moved from Salt Lake City to Bear Lake Valley. Settled in St. Charles, took up a farm, fenced it and broke up the land, built up for myself and family a home where we might be comfortable.

In the spring of 1865 my son Jonathan M. went with my cattle across the plains to Florence in the State of Nebraska for the purpose of assisting to bring the Saints from the various Nations to the Lord's gathering place in the mountains. He recrossed the plains the same season getting home in the fall. One month from the time he got back, he died. I was away at Salt Lake City at the time of his death, and did not learn the news of the sad event till I was nearly home...

...In the year 1869 myself and several of the brethren in St. Charles entered into a Mercantile Co-operative Establishment to be known by the name and title of the St. Charles Co-Operative Institute. I was selected salesman of said Institute which position I still retain.

On the 18th day of January 1865 I was commissioned by the Governor of Idaho as one of the County Commissioners (this part of Utah in a recent survey by the government was added to Idaho) to locate precinct boundaries, school districts and county roads of which board I was chairman, St. Charles being in Bear Lake County Idaho. I filled the above office during the term prescribed by law...

...From the organization of the Co-op store in St. Charles in 1869 up to July 1877, I furnished store room and fixtures with fuel free of expense. My object in thus acting was to try and make the Institute a success, which I think thus far has been. In the Spring of 1877 I commenced a frame building for a new store of the following dimensions 35 feet long and 24 feet wide, height from floor to ceiling being 16 feet. The building is substantial, was finished and dedicated on the 20th of July by Elder C.C. Rich of the Quorum of the Twelve. On the 24th I was open to the public. The interior of the building is fitted up in a first class style. With many conveniences not to be found in many institution of much higher pretentions. The store is well stocked with a general assortment of goods and sold at reasonable rates. It is well conducted which makes it a success. My individual interest in the Mercantile Department of the Institution is $1300.00 with a good interest in the building...

[Source: Pugmire Family Records, Film # 823639, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah]

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