Voris McKee

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWCT-XG8
• Initiatory (LDS): 15 May 1985, SGEOR

Voris married Joseph Garr Bennett on 8 Aug 1941 in Holden, Millard, Utah, United States. Joseph (son of Joseph Bennett and Hettie Jane Stevens) was born on 6 Apr 1920 in Holden, Millard, Utah, United States; was christened on 6 Jun 1920 in Holden, Millard, Utah, United States; died on 5 Feb 1958 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States; was buried on 10 Feb 1958 in Holden Cemetery, Millard, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Scott Bennett was born on 9 Jul 1950 in Fillmore, Millard, Utah, United States; died on 10 Jul 1950 in Fillmore, Millard, Utah, United States; was buried on 11 Jul 1950 in Holden Cemetery, Millard, Utah, United States.

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWCZ-5V1
• Initiatory (LDS): 24 May 1916, MANTI

Angus married Nettie Elizabeth Hunter on 17 May 1915 in Fillmore, Millard, Utah, United States. Nettie was born on 22 Apr 1889 in Holden, Millard, Utah, United States; was christened on 6 Jun 1889 in Holden, Millard, Utah, United States; died on 7 Jan 1947 in Holden, Millard, Utah, United States; was buried on 9 Jan 1947 in Holden, Millard, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWCZ-5K9
• Initiatory (LDS): 24 May 1916, MANTI

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWCT-VFN
• Initiatory (LDS): 4 May 1887, SGEOR

Notes:

David Daniel McKee 1859-1946
As well as family members: Emily Ann Giles, James McKee, Matilda Sweat , D avid McKee, and Mary Tweed McMillan

David Daniel McKee was born January 28, 1859 in Spanish Fork, Utah Count y , Utah. He was the third child of three children born to James and Mati ld a Sweat McKee.
James’ parents, David McKee and Mary Tweed McMillian, were converts to t h e Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and were baptized May 15 , 1 837. They were the parents of eleven children, seven boys and four gi rls . James was the third child. David and Mary Tweed were on their way t o Ut ah from Nauvoo with the pioneers when David died at Winter Quarters , Ma y 1, 1847.
James married Matilda Sweat in 1852 at Bluff City, Iowa. Matilda and h e r family were also converts to the Church and were on their way to Uta h w hen Matilda and James were married.
Upon arriving in Utah, James and Matilda settled in Spanish Fork. In 186 0 , the family moved to Goshen, Utah, where they lived in a dug out. At t ha t time the Walker Indian War was in progress. Several men, includin g Jam es McKee were sent from the settlement to the top of a mountain t o guar d against an Indian attack. They were snowed in for the winter an d were i n a destitute condition when finally rescued. James McKee didn’ t surviv e this ordeal. He died July 14, 1861 at the age of forty-nine.
Matilda returned to Spanish Fork with her three children where she work e d in the homes of other people and gleaned from near-by fields to mak e br ead for her children. They lived for a time at the pond town.
James’ sister, Lettie (or Letty) was eight years younger than he. She h a d married Albert Stevens on November 22, 1852. They later moved to Hold en , Utah where Albert’s parents were living. Lettie and Albert still h a d a number of their own children at home when James died leaving Matil d a and three children in very poor circumstances. Albert and Lettie open e d their home for them and willingly provided for them for several years .
Later Matilda and her children moved to Paragonah, Utah for a few year s b ut returned to Holden where the townspeople built them a little log h ous e with a dirt floor and a dirt roof.
After the two older children were married, Matilda lived with David Dani e l until he married. She then made her home with Sarah for the rest of h e r life. Sarah was married to Andrew Stephenson. Matilda died July 4, 19 0 8 and is buried in Holden. She had been a widow for 47 years.
David Daniel attended school in Holden, and he was considered an excelle n t baseball player. He was primarily a pitcher. Though relatively smal l o f statue, being 5 foot 7 inches tall and weighing about 130 pounds, h e wa s a strong and wiry for his size. He had brown eyes and black hair.
He married Emily Ann Giles on October 14, 1886 in Fillmore, Utah. He w a s twenty-seven and Emily was nineteen. They traveled to St. George th e fo llowing spring where they were sealed in the St. George Temple on Ma y 4 , 1887.
They were the parents of nine children. Their first born, Dora, died a t o nly twenty-six months of age. Their third child, Ida Lorene, died whe n on ly six months old. They also lost their eighth born child, Riley LaV augh n who died at age thirteen of food poisoning. He was considered a ta lente d musician.
David Daniel homesteaded 160 acres two miles south of Holden. In orde r t o prove up on the land it was necessary for the family to live on i t fo r a certain period of time. They built a log cabin there where the y live d for two summers. The area was called Hog Ranch by some of the pe ople be cause they considered people homesteading there ‘hogs’ who wante d too muc h land for themselves. Most of the acres there were used for pa sture an d to raise dry land rye. They did have about twenty-five acres i n alfalfa . He owned three of the ten shares of Partridge Springs water w hich was u sed to irrigate.
After David ‘proved up’ on the land south of Holden, they moved back t o H olden. They also moved the log house on their lot and made a granar y ou t of it.
David Daniel formed a business partnership with David Jones in raising c a ttle. Mr. Jones ran the cattle on the mountain and David Daniel took ca r e of the hay ground pasture and raised winter feed. David Daniel obtain e d 40 acres of pasture at the hay ground west of Holden.
David Daniel purchased 140 acres located about 1.5 miles southeast of Ho l den. This property had two nice springs of water on it. The larger of t h e two springs was sold many years later to the city of Holden to be us e d as one of the two main potable water sources for the community.
The McKee family established a summer home ‘up to the field’, as it wa s c alled. It was there that an abundance of fruit and vegetables were ra ised . David Daniel was considered an excellent gardener. He also pasture d abo ut on hundred head of sheep up there.
During the summer months David Daniel and Emily held a number of communi t y socials at their summer home. They had a wooden platform built outsi d e where many nights of dancing were enjoyed. Lanterns or coal oil lamp s w ere used for lighting.
In the fall of 1917 or 1918 David Daniel and his son, Burton, were ou t i n the hills after a load of wood. The family needed from eight to te n wag on loads to get through the winter. They were caught in a snow stor m. Dav id Daniel got wet and cold before they got home. He became ill an d was le ft with a stiff back. He couldn’t bend over nor could he sit dow n on a re gular chair because of his stiff back. He was only fifty-eigh t or fifty-n ine years old at that time. The family had to work togethe r to take car e of their needs. Burton completed the eighth grade then dr opped out of s chool to run the family farm.
David Daniel loved sports. When he was over seventy years old he attend e d a basketball game at the ward recreation hall. One of the players acc id entally stepped on his left foot. He wouldn’t go to a doctor to have i t p roperly attended to. The foot was apparently broken and mended incorr ectl y. This left his unable to walk without crutches for the rest of hi s life .
In his later years, David Daniel could often be seen standing on the fro n t porch of his home for hours at a time. He also had a shelf built in t h e kitchen where he could stand and listen to his radio.
David Daniel passed away February 7, 1946 a few days after his eighty-se v enty birthday. After many years of physical pain and discomfort, he wa s a llowed to pass to the other side peacefully in his sleep.
David Daniel McKee was considered to be a kind and patient man who lov e d his family. He disciplined his children by talking and reasoning wit h t hem. In order to emphasize his instructions, on occasion, he would ta p th em on the arm with his knuckles and say “remember what I said.”
In some of Emily’s writings she said that David was very kind to her ev e n when she scolded him for such things as not having the wood box fille d . He never gave her a cross word. In his kind voice he would say “Emil y , did you expect to find me perfect?” or many other such statements.

Sources of information:
Burton David McKee, Bly McKee Nixon
Writings of Emily Ann Giles McKee
Stella H. Day, Compiler, Builders of Early Millard, Biographies of Pione e rs of Millard County, 1850-1875. Art City Publishing Co., 1979 .
Family history records

David married Emily Ann Giles on 14 Oct 1886 in Fillmore, Millard, Utah, United States. Emily (daughter of Joseph Sinkler Giles and Sarah Huntsman) was born on 23 Mar 1867 in Fillmore, Millard, Utah, United States; died on 15 Apr 1949 in Holden, Millard, Utah, United States; was buried on 18 Apr 1949 in Holden, Millard, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWCT-VFF
• Initiatory (LDS): 4 May 1887, SGEOR

Notes:

Emily Ann Giles: born March 23, 1867, daughter of Joseph Sinker and Sar a h Huntsman Giles, in Fillmore, Utah. She was a nurse and a homemaker. S h e married David McKee October 14, 1887, and lived on Main Street in Hol de n, Millard County, Utah. She raised a large family and worked in the R eli ef Society. She was kind and very considerate of everyone and had man y fr iends. She died April 15, 1942 in Holden, Utah and is buried in th e Holde n Cemetery.

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWJ4-G4L
• Initiatory (LDS): 7 Dec 1881, SGEOR

James married Matilda Sweat on 13 May 1852 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States. Matilda (daughter of Daniel Sweat and Anne Marston) was born on 23 Nov 1833 in Andover, Oxford, Maine, United States; died on 4 Jul 1908 in Holden, Millard, Utah, United States; was buried on 7 Jul 1908 in Holden Cemetery, Millard, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWJ4-G42
• Initiatory (LDS): 5 Jun 1871, EHOUS

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWN6-PL9
• Initiatory (LDS): 24 May 1869, EHOUS

Notes:

1860 Census of Fillmore City, Millard, Utah

1870 Census of Holden, Millard, Utah

1900 Census of Fillmore City, Millard, Utah

Military papers include:
Declaration for Survivors pension-Indian wars
Declaration for Widow's pension

BIRTH: Fillmore 2nd Ward Rec. GS#025,951

DEATH: Fillmore 2nd Ward Rec. GS#025,951

Occupation: Surveyor

"Builders of Early Millard," pp. 276-277:


SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF LIFE OF JOSEPH SINKLER GILES

Note to reader: This file contains a family group sheet of Joseph Sinkl e r Giles and Sarah Huntsman. Lists 15 children. On file at the Territ or ial Statehouse Museum in Fillmore, Utah.

Brother Joseph Sinckler Giles was born on April 5, 1832, at West Nottin g ham Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, the son of Joseph and Jan e Mo ore Giles. He spent his early childhood on his father’s 160-acre tr act i n Chester County and received part of his education in the school s of tha t vicinity. At the age of eighteen years he left home and wen t to Ohio a nd from that state to Illinois where he taught school at th e age of 19 ye ars. He taught at Red Oak Prairie and boarded with the sc holars in thei r homes, partaking, as he often said, “of their bacon, goo d corn bread, a nd coffee.”
While in Illinois he studied Law at Princeton, Bureau County, in the of f ice of John Porter Jr, and practiced his profession for a short perio d i n the inferior courts. He later came to Utah and became admitted t o th e Bar of this state and became one of the honored members in the act ive p ractice of the profession. He attended each session of the court i n Mill ard County almost to the day of his death.
Brother Giles joined the United States Army at the age of twenty-thre e y ears. He participated in the Indian and Mexican raids in Texas and F lori da at the time when Billy Bowlegs, an educated Seminole Indian, wit h abou t thirty dusky warriors were making raids on the settlements in th ose loc alities. He was with the Johnston Army when General Johnston wa s ordere d to Utah Territory to put down the alleged plans of the Mormon s to overt hrow the Government. He went through the starvation period o f that arm y when for a time it appeared that the entire army would be wi ped out bef ore sufficient food could reach them. He served as a surgeo n in the arm y and gained valuable experience in setting broken limbs, ex tracting teet h etc., which experience he put to use in serving his fello w citizens i n the early pioneer settlements in Millard County. Friend a nd stranger a like always found a warm welcome in his home.
He became converted to the Mormon faith through reading the sermons a n d writings of Parley P. Pratt and joined the Mormon Church in the yea r 18 58. Shortly after arriving in Utah he married Sarah Huntsman. Fro m thi s union thirteen children were born. Two of his sons, Freeman an d Jesse , and three of his daughters by his first marriage, Jennie Spragu e, Med a Nelson, and Lena Suthern still survive him.
After the death of his wife, Sarah, brother Giles married Ann Elizabe t h Carling, daughter of Abram and Ann E. Carling, of Fillmore City, Uta h . Of this union there were three daughters, Lou Frampton, Laura Broug h , and Florence Brough, and one son Grover A. Giles. Laura Brough follo we d her mother in death within one year of the date of death of Mrs. Gil e s which took place in March 1925. The two girls, Lou and Florence, an d t he one son Grover A., still survive Joseph Giles, who died on Novembe r 5t h 1921.
Brother Giles was a faithful and devout member of the church. He w a s a meticulous tithe payer, never failing to pay his monthly contributi o n strictly on the basis of ten per cent of his income, the items of hi s g ross income, the items of which were carefully recorded in a journa l kep t for that purpose. In civil affairs he served in many capacities . Fo r many years he was the only licensed abstracter, surveyor and lawy er i n the county, aside from giving of his talent and medical experienc e as r elated above. He said, “It was a real pleasure to walk twenty-fiv e mile s to set the broken limb of a friend or neighbor and then return b y the s ame means of transportation”.
Brother Giles did not accumulate great material wealth but he left a he r itage of great love and much service to his memory. He was indeed a mi ll ionaire in point of unselfish service to his fellowmen.
The concluding paragraph of the obituary in the local paper, The Progre s s, simply but beautifully expresses the epitome of his life’s work in t h e following language:

“In conclusion let us say that we have lost, for awhile, the associati o n of a faithful, true and loving friend; a man who became personally ac qu ainted with Christ’s life and works, and who consecrated all his power s o f mind, body and heart to the love of God and his fellow men”.


THE LIFE OF BROTHER JOSEPH SINKLER GILES

Brother Giles was born on April 5th 1832, at West Nottingham Township , C hester County, Penn. The son of Joseph, and Jane Moore, Giles. He s pen t his early childhood on his father’s 169 acres tract in Chester Coun ty , Penn. He received part of his education in the schools of that vici nit y. At the age of 18 years he left home and went to Ohio and from tha t st ate to Illinois where he taught school at the age of 19. He taugh t at Re d Oak Prairie, and boarded with the scholars at their homes, part aking, a s he was said many times, of their good bacon, corn, bread, an d coffee.
While in Illinois he studied law at Princeton Bureau County in the offi c e of John Porter Jr. and practiced his profession for a short period i n t hat state before the inferior courts. Later when he came to Utah h e beca me admitted to the Bar of this state and was an honored member o f that as sociation to the date of his death. Brother Giles joined the U nited Stat es Army at the age of 23 and participated in the Indian and Me xican raid s in Texas and Florida during the time when Billy Bow Legs, a n educated S eminole Indian, with about thirty dusky followers, were maki ng raids on t he settlement for those localities. He was with the Johnst on Army durin g the period of their starvation when it seemed that thei r entire number s would be annihilated. He served as a surgeon in the ar my and gained ex perience along the medical line, which later proved of g reat value to hi m in the service of his fellows during the early settlem ent of the commun ities of Millard county Utah. Stranger or friend alwa ys found a warm we lcome in Brother Giles home. He became converted to t he Mormon faith thr ough reading the sermons and writings of Parley P. Pr att and joined the M ormon Church about the year 1858. Shortly after hi s arrival in Utah he m arried Sarah Huntsman, (daughter of James and Mar y Huntsman who gave hi m thirteen children, ten of whom are now living, a nd have children and gr andchildren of their own.) After the death of hi s wife, Sarah, brother G iles married Ann E. Carling (daughter of Abraha m and Ann E. Carling of Fi llmore City, Utah.) Who, with her daughters , Low Frampton, Laura Brough , Florence Brough and her son Grover A. Gile s, survive him .
The members of his first family who survive him are as follows: Rile y , Freeman, John, Jesse, Mrs. James Sprague, Mrs. Emily McKee, Mrs. Mara nd a Turner, Mrs. Meda Nelson, Mrs. Melissa Miller, and Mrs. Lena Suther n . Practically all of his surviving children attended his funeral. A s wa s stated at he funeral, brother Giles has spent his life in the serv ice o f his fellowmen, and the sacrifice which he made for their welfar e will l ong be remembered and cherished by those who knew him.
For a great many years he was the only medical aid obtainable in Milla r d County and the good he has done in that regard can hardly be estimate d.
He was a devout member of his church and always paid an honest tithin g . In civil affairs he served well in every instance. For many year s h e was the only licensed abstractor, surveyor and lawyer in Millard Co unty , besides giving the medical dentist attention spoken of herein. I n hi s civil and religious duties he made sources of friends, and the wri ter d oes not know of a soul on earth who holds any malice or ill-will to ward t his noble brother who lived upon the earth 88 years, and 6 month s to th e day of his death.
He will be sorely missed by his family and his many friends, but ther e a re none who will wish him back from the happiness, which he has mos t sure ly found as the reward of his good deeds on earth. As one of th e speaker s remarked, “His life was a prayer and his death a benediction , and we ar e wex who are left behind”.



AN INCIDENT OF EARLY DENTISTRY IN HOLDE N
Related by Franklin Badger

I have heard my mother relate this story a number of times; of her fath e r Albert Stevens and Brother J. S. Giles. My Grandfather like this gra nd son and possible others—was very sensitive about having a tooth pulled .
After enduring the ache of one about as long as he could endure it, a n d trying every known and recommended remedy without relief, --he very r el uctantly decided to visit Brother Giles, as a last resort.
On making the purpose of the visit known, the dentist procured his forc e ps and together they went out to the woodpile. Grandfather sat on a l o g for the latter to have just a look at the offending tooth. While doi n g so he slipped the forceps on with a firm grip. Grandfather hollere d “h old on, hold on”. Brother Giles replied, “I am holding on”, and h e did t ill the tooth came out.




JOSEPH SINKLER GILES

Joseph Sinkler Giles was born April 5, 1832, in West Nottingham, Chest e r County, Penn. To Joseph and Jane Moore Giles. He helped his parent s a t home until he was eighteen years old and then he had a desire to wa nder , and see the country.
He left home and met a Mr. Church, who was Superintendent of Schools . M r. Church asked him to take an examination to see if he were eligibl e t o each school. “He had to study Webster’s speller, had to give the v owe l and consonant combinations, then Mr. Church asked me some very od d ques tions. I studied for ten days, passed my examination and began te achin g school”.
For the next two years Sinkler taught school. Seventy students from s i x years old to twenty-five years old, for twenty-two dollars a month . Th e next year he went to Mt. Privide Academy, Boro County, Penn. an d studie d Law for two years. In 1855 he joined the United States Army a nd was se nt to Governor’s Island as Assistant Clerk to the commanding of ficer fo r several months.
He was sent to Florida to help hunt Billy bow Legs, a small tribe of Se m inole Indians who rebelled against being sent to Indian Territory. He r e I was in charge of the chemicals, being appointed the Hospital Stewa r t [steward]. He had charge of the medicine and was called “Dr. Joe” . H e was with Johnston’s Army when they were ordered to go to Utah.
Brigham Young sent the army a wagon load of salt but Commander Johnst o n had the salt dumped out a long way from camp, as he would not let th e s oldiers eat it. Sinkler Giles asked permission to test the salt an d foun d it clean and pure. It proved to be a blessing for the army an d those w ho had settled there.
Sinkler Giles left Johnston’s Army in 1958 and came to Fillmore. He wo r ked in Fillmore, Scipio, and Holden. Thomas Robins of Scipio began tea ch ing Sinkler the principles of the Mormon Church. He was baptized in C hal k Creek by Daniel Thompson December 13, 1858.
Sinkler met Sarah Huntsman in December 1858. Sarah was the daughte r o f James and Mary Huntsman and was born June 5, 1841 in Nauvoo, Illino is . It was love at first sight. They were married January 30, 1860 b y Bis hop Lewis Brunson, at the home of the bride but we were later endow ed a t the Old Endowment House in Salt Lake City.
Joseph was the first Superintendent of the Sunday School in Holden, Uta h . He held positions in the church all of his life and also acted a s a do ctor, setting broken bones and relieving the sick whenever he wa s called . He was a very talented person and did much to help with the a musement s of the wards in which he lived.
Joseph Sinkler and his wife Sarah were the parents of thirteen childre n , all of them faithful members of the church (Mormon). He served as Co un ty Surveyor, County Attorney, and several other civic jobs besides alw ay s serving as a “doctor” whenever he was called.
His wife, Sarah Huntsman Giles, died April 5, 1881 and is buried in t h e Fillmore Cemetery.
After the death of his wife Sarah Huntsman Giles, Joseph Sinkler Gile s m arried Elizabeth Carling, daughter of Abraham and Ann Ashman Carling . T o this union were born four children, Lou Frampton, Laura Brought, F loren ce Brough, and Grover A. Giles.
Joseph Snkler Giles passed away November 5th 1921, in Fillmore, Utah, a n d is buried in the Fillmore Cemetery.
The names of his children born to him and his wife Sarah Huntsman Gil e s are: Joseph Riley, Mary Miranda, James Freeman, Sarah Jane, Emily An n , Jesse Huntsman, Elemeda Aratimisia, John Thomas, William Sinkler, Lor in da Melissa, Selina Merila, Eva May, and Jacob.




SOME OF THE CHILDREN OF JOSEPH SINKLER AND SARAH HUNTSMAN GILES

Emily Ann Giles: born March 23, 1867, daughter of Joseph Sinker and Sar a h Huntsman Giles, in Fillmore. She was a nurse and a homemaker. She m ar ried David McKee October 14, 1887, and lived on Main Street in Holden , Mi llard County, Utah. She raised a large family and worked in the Rel ief S ociety. She was kind and very considerate of everyone and had man y frien ds. She died April 15, 1942 in Holden, Utah and is buried in th e Holde n Cemetery.

Almedia Artemisa Giles (Nelson): was born November 1, 1870 to Joseph a n d Sarah Huntsman Giles, in Holden, Utah where her father taught schoo l . Almedia became a schoolteacher and was prominent in public school ci rc les. She later became a temple worker and worked in the Logan Temple , do ing genealogical work until her death.
She married Joseph Nelson June 27, 1888 and moved to Preston, Idaho. S h e died August 7, 1950 in Preston, Idaho.

John Thomas Giles: born January 30, 1873 to Joseph Snkler and Sarah Hun t sman Giles in Holden, Utah. He became a Blacksmith and made hardware f o r the early settlers, besides keeping the horses well shod. He also h a d a large farm where he grew most of the food for his family. He marri e d Aemina Wilson. He died December 8, 1939

Joseph Riley Giles: born October 8, 1860, to Joseph and Sarah Huntsma n G iles, in Fillmore, Utah. He became a farmer and learned the blacksmi th t rade. He was also a musician and played for the dances and entertai nment s in the church and town entertainments in Holden and Lehi, Utah . He mar ried Polly Harmon May 18, 1882. He died October 22, 1924 in Le hi, Utah.

James Freeman Giles: born November 23, 1863, son of Joseph Sinkler an d S arah Huntsman Giles, in Fillmore, Utah. He was a barber by trade an d pla yed the accordion for dances and entertainments in Fillmore, Holde n and L ehi. He married Thressa Stringham and moved later to Salt Lake c ity. H e always played his accordion for the dances of the senior citize ns in hi s ward, as well as a practicing his trade as barber. (He was ma rried Ma y 31, 1885). He died January 27, 1853.

Sarah Jane Giles: born September 14, 1865, to Joseph Sinkler and Sara h H untsman Giles in Fillmore, Utah. She was a seamstress and housewife . Sh e made suits for men and dressed for women, and continued sewing un til sh e was ninety-one years old. She remained a visiting teacher in th e Relie f Society until she was ninety-nine years old. She was a templ e worker a nd did three sessions of temple work the day after her one-hun dredth birt hday. She married Solomon Abraham Sprague January 9, 1888 . She died Dec ember 13, 1966 in Monroe, Utah.



SARAH HUNTSMAN GILES
Written by daughter, Almeda Giles Nelson

Sarah Huntsman was the tenth child of James and Mary Johnston Huntsma n , born 5 June 1841 in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, during the pers ec ution and mobbing of the Latter-day Saints.
Her father was the 36th member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-d a y Saints. He came west with one of the Brigham Young’s first companie s , but his wife and family came a year later
James Huntsman, her father was a mechanic. He invented a gadget call e d the milometer, with which to measure the daily mileage the Saints tra ve led. Appleton Harmon takes the credit for the making of it, but Jame s Hu ntsman invented it.
Nothing much is recorded of Sarah Huntsman’s early life, but she knew t h e Prophet Joseph Smith and mourned his martyrdom. She taught her child re n to love and revere him. She remembers him riding on a spirited hors e s itting so straight coming down the street.
Mother was beautiful with long black hair either coiled around her shap e ly head in broad braids, or on some occasions, hanging loose to her wai st . She had large grey eyes that could either by sympathetic or indigna n t as circumstances demanded. She never punished us except by her looks .
Her romance began when she and several girl friends worked at the Hunts m an Hotel in Fillmore. They filled thimbles with water, and if successf u l not to spill the water as they walked backwards and placed it under t h e pillow, their dreams would disclose to them who their future husband s w ere to be. The next morning there was great fun making while each gi rl t old her dream. Mother had seen a man dressed in an oilcloth coat, w alkin g with a soldiers step. As the day proceeded one of the girls excl aimed , “Oh Sarah, here comes your future husband.” Unbelievingly she lo oked o ut into the street and surely enough she saw her “Dream Man” wit h an oilc loth coat and the step of a soldier. They met and became frien ds, and la ter she was married to her dream man Joseph Sinkler Giles. Th ey were mar ried by Bishop Lewis Brunson 30 January 1860 in Fillmore, Uta h. They wer e later endowed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Ut ah, and wer e blessed with 13 children.
Sarah was exceedingly frugal, experiencing all the privations of the ea r ly pioneers.
Their first home was a dugout between Holden and Fillmore. Their equip m ent consisted of a sort of fireplace, a dutch oven and a large brass ke tt le in which soap as well as hominy was made. She made her own lye fro m w ood ashes, and used this for making soap, and also in the hominy maki ng . She made candles from animal fat, which furnished the only light fo r t he early Pioneers.
While living in the dugout, Father built an adobe house in the Easter n p art of Holden, Utah. (Where Arvin Stevens home now stands.)
Mother was faithful in teaching us children to pray and to otherwise ke e p the commandments of God.
I recall a song she taught us about the martyrs which she sang in her b e autiful clear voice.
Besides making all the clothing for her large family, she tailored sui t s for many of the town folks.
Father purchased one of the first sewing machines in that part of the c o unty, which greatly aided in her sewing projects. He also bought on e o f the first organs, and cook stoves in Holden.
Mother loved music and dancing, no girl in the community could out do h e r in rhythm and step dancing. Her pretty little feet fairly flew to t h e music.
She loved her religion and did her Relief Society teaching, worked zeal o usly, even when her health would scarcely justify the effort. Her bush e l of wheat was gleaned and turned to the Relief society regularly. Sh e a nd her children passed through the “no flour” time when only corn mea l co uld be had. This was served in various ways three times daily. Cor ndodg ers, straight mush, or gruel. However there was no variety in tast e.
Mother was an artist in all the crafts of those early settlers. Her ha n dwork in quits, laces, crochet work and knitting was unexcelled. She c ar ded, spun wool and taught these arts to her girls as they grew up.
Meticulous in the care of her home and children, I marvel now how she k e pt our hair in ringlets, (for it was not naturally curly) and dresse d u s in white aprons for school wear. On the whole, I have concluded si nc e I have a large family of my own to care for that my mother must hav e be en a wonder indeed. Her and her husband lived a very happy and cont ente d life together even if they didn’t have all the fancies of life.
She died giving birth to her thirteenth child at the age of 40. The me m ory of her beauty and accomplishments forever lives in her children’s h ea rts, and with all her many friends who knew her as, “Aunt Sarah”.
Sarah Huntsman Giles died April 5th 1881, and is buried in the Holden C e metery. Her baby Jacob, born April 5, 1881 is buried in the same cask e t with his mother. Her children are as follows: Joseph Riley Giles, b or n Oct. 8, 1860 at Fillmore Utah. Mary Maranda Giles Turner, born Janu ar y 16, 1862, Fillmore, Utah. James Freeman Giles, born Nov. 23, 1863 , Fil lmore, Utah. Sarah Jane Giles Sprague, born Sept. 14, 1865, Fillmo re, Ut ah. Emily Ann Giles McKee, born March 23, 1867, Fillmore, Utah . Jesse H untsman Giles, born Dec. 31, 1868, Holden. Almeda Artemesia G iles Nelson , born Nov. 1, 1870, Holden, Utah. John Thomas Giles, born J an. 30, 1873 , Holden, Utah. William Sinkler Giles, born Aug. 6, 1874, H olden, Utah . Lorinda Melissa Giles Miller, born Oct. 1, 1875, Holden, U tah. Salen a Marailla Giles Southern, born Oct. 29, 1877, Holden, Utah . Eva May Gil es, born Dec. 27, 1879, Holden, Utah. Jacob Giles, born A pril 5, 1881, H olden, Utah; died April 5, 1881.

Biography obtained from the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Fillmore, Ut a h, Territorial Statehouse Museum.

Joseph married Sarah Huntsman on 15 Jan 1860 in Fillmore, Millard, Utah, United States. Sarah (daughter of James Huntsman and Mary Johnston) was born on 3 Jun 1841 in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, United States; died on 5 Apr 1881 in Holden, Millard, Utah, United States; was buried on 8 Apr 1881 in Holden, Millard, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWJ8-GDJ
• Initiatory (LDS): 24 May 1869, EHOUS

Notes:

Pioneer
Harry Walton/Garden Grove Company (1851) Age at departure: 9
About 21 families from Garden Grove plus other individuals and 60 wago n s were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting po s t at Kanesville, Iowa (present day Council Bluffs). They left Garden Gr ov e, Iowa on 17 May 1851


This story was written by one of Sarah Huntsmans’ children. I do not kn o w how or where I got it, but I am her Great Granddaughter, Earline Gil e s Kvist.

Sarah Huntsman Giles was the 10th child of James Huntsman and Mary Johns t on Huntsman. She was born in Nauvoo, Illinois on the 3rd of June, 1841.
Her father was the 36th member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-D a y Saints.
The family moved to Kirtland, Ohio in 1830. From there they moved to Jac k son County, Missouri where they stayed until 1839. They were driven ou t o f Missouri on 27 February, 1839. The next day their son was born in a n ol d blacksmith shop. The next day, 28 February, 1839, they began the j ourne y to Nauvoo, Illinois. They lived there until the martyrdom of th e Prophe t Joseph Smith.
In 1846 they moved to Council Bluff. They were among the first settler s t here.
Grandfather Huntsman built a grist mill there and sold flour to the immi g rants
They traveled to Utah in Captain Merriotts’ Company of 50 wagons. Capta i n William Barton was Captain over their 10 wagons. They settled in Sal t L ake City on Mill Creek.
They were called by President Brigham Young to go to Fillmore, Millard C o unty in 1853. Grandfather Huntsman held a great many positions to trus t i n Fillmore, which was once the State Capitol of Utah.
During the early days he acted as Santa Claus to the poor of that town.
My mother, Sarah, married Joseph Sinkler Giles on January 30, 1869 in Fi l lmore.
My father came to Utah as a surgeon in Johnstons Army
My mother made buckskin shirts and pants for many of the young men of Ho l den, Utah, and also made clothing for men which she sold in the store . Sh e owned the first sewing machine in Holden. She was a great dancer a nd si nger. She gave birth to thirteen children. She was also a Relief So ciet y teacher when it was first organized and was a faithful teacher unt il he r death

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