Dennis Giles

Other Events and Attributes:

• Initiatory (LDS): COMPLETED, LANGE
• FamilySearch ID: K2W8-2FM

Notes:

Dennis Giles
Written By Dorothy May Benson

My grandfather, Dennis Giles was born 17 August 1886 in Holden, Utah a n d was the second of six children and his parents were Joseph Riley Gil e s and Polly Frances Harmon. He came from pioneer heritage. His materna l g randfather, Appleton Milo Harmon built the roadometer which was attac he d to the wheel of a wagon and was used to measure the distance travele d b y the pioneers. His family was sent to Toquerville, Washington County , Ut ah by Brigham Young – then because of extreme heat which was disagre eabl e to them they moved to Holden, Utah and that is how they happened t o b e living in that place when Dennis was born.
The family moved to Lehi, Utah where Dennis met Rhoda Winnifred Thomas a n d they were married 12 December 1906 and had four children: Ardith, Dar y l Harmon, Leda and Phyllis. I understand that Dennis father ran a black sm ith shop in Lehi, then Dennis had it when the automobile came into bei n g and he converted it into an automobile repair shop.
He was very musical and in the early 1900’s there was a band called th e L ehi Silver Band which became very famous. Dennis played the trombon e in t he band and also conducted the band at times.
In 1926 he moved to southern California and lived in Huntington Park, Ca l ifornia where he worked as an automobile mechanic.
In the following years his children got married and he became a grandfat h er. Ardith married Frederick Brown May on March 3, 1932 and their child re n were: Robert Giles May, Marian Joyce May, Dorothy Jean May and Richa r d Dennis May. Daryl married Blanche Jeannette Richardson on June 17, 19 3 5 and their children were: Leda Jeannette Giles and Linda Claire Giles . L eda married Alvin Edgar Duncombe on August 7, 1940 and their childre n wer e: Joan Duncombe and Alvin Paul Duncombe. Phyllis married Russell V incen t Peterson on October 10, 1938 and their children were: Judith An n Peters on, Carol Jean Peterson, Janalee Peterson, Julia Lynn Peterson , Russell V incent Peterson Jr., and Rita Gay Peterson.
His wife Rhoda Winnifred Thomas died from breast cancer in January 194 8 a fter a number of years of X-Ray, radium and treatment the specialist s cou ld give to her. She is buried in Lehi, Utah.
After the death of his wife he went to Washington and Oregon to visit h i s sisters, Mabel and Helen and while there he renewed an acquaintance w it h Ann Johnson Tamian whom he had known back in Lehi. They were marrie d o n September 18, 1948 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ann was a very accomplished pianist, violinist and accordion player. I r e member Dennis and Ann played beautiful music together.
I remember that the family would get together for Grandpa Giles birthd a y which came in August and meet at the home of our aunt who had swimmi n g pool in her backyard and it a very enjoyable family activity.
Dennis Giles died on 20 April 1969 in Huntington Park, California an d h e is buried in Lehi, Utah.

Dennis married Rhoda Winnifred "Winnie" Thomas on 8 Dec 1906 in Lehi, Utah, Utah, United States. Rhoda (daughter of William Thomas and Harriet Ellen Barnes) was born on 12 Sep 1885 in Lehi, Utah, Utah, United States; was christened on 7 Feb 1886 in Lehi, Utah, Utah, United States; died on 15 Jan 1948 in Huntington Park, Los Angeles, California, United States; was buried on 20 Jan 1948 in Lehi City Cemetery, Utah, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Ardith Giles was born on 13 Dec 1908 in Lehi, Utah, Utah, United States; died on 1 Jun 2004 in Ojai, Ventura, California, United States; was buried on 11 Jun 2004 in South Jordan, Salt Lake, Utah, United States.
2. Daryl Harmon Giles was born on 6 Dec 1910 in Lehi, Utah, Utah, United States; died on 29 Dec 1985 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States; was buried on 2 Jan 1986 in Lehi, Utah, Utah, United States.
3. Leda Giles was born on 3 Nov 1914 in Lehi, Utah, Utah, United States; died on 25 Dec 2001.
4. Phyllis "Grandma Pete" Giles was born on 10 Oct 1917 in Lehi, Utah, Utah, United States; died on 28 Feb 2016 in Orem, Utah, Utah, United States; was buried in Santaquin City Cemetery, Utah, Utah, United States.

Dennis married Anna Kinnunen in Jun 1948 in Nevada, United States. Anna (daughter of Salomon Kinnunen and Anna Kolapakpa) was born on 28 Feb 1894 in Michigan, United States; died on 13 Jan 1989 in Huntington Park, Los Angeles, California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KKC1-GY1
• Initiatory (LDS): 25 Nov 1932, LOGAN

Notes:

A Life Sketch of Joseph Riley Giles and Polly Frances Harmon
By Ardith Giles May
When I was growing up, I lived in the same block with my father’s parent s , Joseph Riley and Polly Frances Harmon Giles. I have fond memories o f th ose two beautiful people.
My Grandfather Giles, as well as my father, was a blacksmith and owned t h e only blacksmith shop in Lehi, Utah. Lehi is located about 30 miles so ut h of Salt Lake City, Utah. At that time the population of Lehi was abo u t 3000 people. I can remember standing in the door of the blacksmith sh o p and watching them shoe horses and pound on the anvil and pull a lon g co rd which caused the bellows to heat the iron horseshoes in order t o do th e repair work that they did.
Grandpa Riley (he was always known as Riley rather than Joseph) loved li t tle children and my brother and my sisters were always warmly greeted a n d loved and cuddled whenever we stopped in. He was so pleasant and kin d a nd seemed to know just how to talk to children and comfort them whene ve r they needed him. He was never too busy to hold us in his lap and le t u s tell him our little troubles. We dearly loved him. He was the sweet est , kindest and most pleasant man I ever knew.
My grandmother, Polly Giles, was just as pleasant and kind as Grandpa. S h e was so jolly and happy – always singing as she worked. We would sit a n d listen to her sing. The songs that I remember most were: “Beautiful D re amer”, “Silver Threads Among the Gold” and “When You and I Were Young , Ma ggie”. Their home was such a relaxed place. We always felt welcome a nd co uld usually count on receiving a good piece of homemade bread and j am.
Grandpa Riley was a good-looking, strong, well-built, slender man abo u t 5 foot 10 or 11 inches tall and weighed perhaps 180 pounds. He ha d a fu ll head of brown hair, slightly streaked with gray. It was slightl y wave d and parted on one side. He wore a full mustache that was alway s neatl y trimmed. His countenance was pleasant and smiling. I always rem ember hi m in his dark blue bib overalls.
Grandma Polly was a very large woman –perhaps about 5 feet 7 or 8 inch e s tall. It was a characteristic of the Harmon family to be rather larg e . She had a pretty face and her hair was a beautiful gray (I seem to re me mber Grandma Polly telling me that she was prematurely gray at age 25) . S he wore it softly pulled on top of her head and there was always a so ft w ave across the front that made her look beautiful. She was always pl easan t and smiling. I remember her most in printed house dresses wit h a clea n checked apron.
I can remember sitting in Grandma Polly’s kitchen as she would sit and m e nd socks. I would watch how she did it, weaving the darning cotton bac k a nd forth. I became good at darning myself because of her. I also reme mbe r her teaching me how to mend and repair clothes. This is also someth in g that helped in raising my family. I can picture her now singing an d men ding while rocking in her rocking chair, before the wood stove.
Grandma and Grandpa’s youngest child was Helen, who was only one year ol d er than I. Helen and I were great pals and we were together so much. O n e of the things we did was play “hide and seek”. Grandma would even le t u s play this in the house and I wonder now how she ever put up with m y bei ng there so much.
I was always warned by mother when I went to Grandma Polly’s house, nev e r to mention the Church. Even though they were good people, their bitte rn ess toward the Church, which was created by Polly’s mother, Elmeda Str ing ham Harmon was always present.
After Elmeda’s husband, Appleton Milo Harmon, died, she began to rememb e r her comfortable circumstances back in Salt Lake City and harbored il l f eelings toward Brigham Young because they were sent to southern Uta h an d suffered hardship and deprivation.
However, I feel sure their names were never taken from the records of t h e Church, because I can remember being in their home where Ward Teache r s and the visiting teachers would call, and they were always very poli t e to them even though they never attended church.
My grandparents have been dead for many years, and I have had a desire f o r a long time to know more about their early lives, so that my childre n m ay come to understand and to know about those fine people. After corr espo nding with their daughter, Mabel Giles Cox I have learned a few thin g s I would like to relate.
Joseph Riley Giles was born in Fillmore (near Holden), Millard County, U t ah on October 8, 1860. He was baptized 26 June 1869. His father, Josep h S inkler Giles was born in West Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvani a. J oseph Sinkler Giles joined the United States Army and was sent to Ut ah wi th Johnston’s Army to investigate the Mormons. This was in 1857 whi ch wa s 10 years after the Mormon Saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley . Whil e he was in Utah, he joined the Mormon Church and never returned a gain t o his homeland or ever saw his parents again. Joseph Sinkler Gile s settle d in Holden, Utah and there married Sarah Huntsman.
Sarah Huntsman and her parents, James Huntsman and Mary Johnston, had jo i ned the Mormon Church around 1830 and lived in Nauvoo, Illinois. They c ro ssed the plains with the Mormon Saints in 1851. They were sent to Hold en , Millard County, Utah, by Brigham Young to colonize that part of th e sta te.
Polly Frances Harmon Giles was born in Toquerville, Washington County, U t ah on March 4, 1864. She was baptized 23 November 1946 – previous bapti s m date unknown. Her father, Appleton Milo Harmon, was born in Conneaut , E rie County, Pennsylvania. He and his parents, Jessie Pierce Harmon an d An na Barnes, had joined the Mormon Church in 1842 and moved to Nauvoo , Illi nois. While living in Nauvoo, he met and married Elmeda Stringham . She an d her parents, George Stringham and Polly Hendrickson, had joine d the Mor mon Church in 1839 and moved to Nauvoo.
Appleton Milo Harmon was a man of great strength and ability. He came ac r oss the plains with Brigham Young in 1847 and made many trips back an d fo rth across the plains to bring his wife and his parents and wife’s p arent s to Utah. He was sent to Toquerville, Washington County, Utah by B righa m Young to colonize that part of the country. He lived there for ma ny yea rs, and finally settled in Holden, Millard County, Utah where Poll y and R iley met and married.
Little is known of their courtship, but they were married on May 19, 18 8 2 in Holden, Millard County, Utah. He was 22 and she was 18.
Four children were born to Polly and Riley while living in Holden: Elme d a (Meda) Giles born August 6, 1883, Dennis Giles born August 17, 1886 , Ma bel Giles born January 13, 1894 and Shirley Robert Giles born Februa ry 17 , 1898.
Joseph Riley Giles was a natural born mechanic. When he was a young bo y , about 14 or 15 years old, the farmers in the community had bought a t hr eshing machine. It had come “knocked down” and no one knew how to asse mbl e it. So Riley Giles did it!
Riley bought a tract of land east and south of Holden and became a farm e r as well as a blacksmith a mechanic. This was a perfect location. He h a d cows and horses and a great deal of pasture land. He built a find hou s e on this land and always had a garden to help feed his family. There w a s a spring on this land that was the source of their drinking water. T h e water was in a large well. A frame roof was built over the well in or de r to keep it clean and protected. They carried water to the house in b uck ets. Rain water was caught in a barrel to wash clothes.
One day, Mabel was sent to the well for water and as she looked at the r i m of the water tank, there lay a long watch snake. She was so frighten e d that she couldn’t scream but ran to the house making much squawking n oi ses. She can still remember that scary feeling to this day!
Riley did black smithing as well as farming while living Holden. He ma d e each of children a “tack hammer” – a small hammer on one end and a ta c k puller on the other end. This was made entirely of iron. He also ma d e a “flat iron” entirely of iron, which when heated on the old wood sto ve , was heavy but a good pressing iron.
Riley could shoe a horse to perfection. Some of the horses were wild a n d hard to handle, but he had a way of running his hand over them and th e y would calm down with his touch.
Riley was also a “Bronco Buster”. He could ride wild horses and calve s a t public events around the town. He was never thrown from a horse, bu t on ce thrown from a calf. Note” My father, Dennis and my grandfather, R ile y owned a beautiful team of roan colored horses. Their names were “Ol d Cu b”, and “Bawley”.
At one time while the family was still living Holden, Riley purchased so m e produce from the farmers, and procured a large load of home cured ha m a nd bacon, wheat, dried corn and oats, and traveled in a covered wago n an d peddled his produce. He traveled to Elko, Nevada and other cities . Some times he would be gone several months selling a doing black smithi ng alon g the way. He always came home for Christmas! He had a dog name d “Tago” w ho always went with him, sitting on the seat beside him. Whe n came home , usually in the night or early evening Polly would open th e door and “Ta go” would jump into the house and dash to the bedroom int o the arms of Ma bel “Tago” was one of the family.
Riley also ran a sawmill in Pioneer Canyon near Holden. Mabel can rememb e r the piles of sawdust. He was a very hand a versatile man a natural me ch anic, able to do many kinds of work.
Joseph Riley and Polly Frances were also natural musicians. In those yea r s they lived in Holden, they played for dances in the community. Rile y pl ayed the violin by ear, and Polly played the organ by ear. Their hom e wa s always full of music and happiness. They had music in their souls ! Rile y had traded a wagon for the violin he owned, and it was a very go od one . Mabel was the one who inherited this violin and has given it t o her son , Edward Riley Cox.
In talking to the sister of grandpa Joseph Riley, I found that he beca m e dissatisfie with the Church because he was chided by the brethren bec au se he began to do some of his farm work on Sunday. This led him to sta y a way more often and gradually he didn’t go to church at all. As his ch ildr en came along, he neglected to have any of them baptized.
In about the year 1900, the Joseph Riley Giles family decided to move no r th, nearer to Salt Lake City. Polly’s father, Appleton Milo Harmon, ha d d ied in Holden when he was only 57 years old. Polly’s mother, Elmeda S trin gham Harmon, was then living in American Fork, Utah, to be near on e of he r sons, Jesse Harmon, who lived in Provo, Utah. Riley and his fam ily move d to American Fork to be near her. They lived there for awhile , then purc hased a blacksmith shop and a house in Lehi, which is onl y 3 miles nort h of American Fork. This was an old adobe house with the b lacksmith sho p right next door, located on Main Street very near the bus iness sectio n of Lehi. Eventually a house was built for Polly’s mother , Elmeda String ham Harmon, on the same lot on Main Street.
Two more children were born to Riley and Polly in Lehi: Donald Frankli n G iles born March 14, 1905 and Helen Jeannette Giles born November 22 , 1907 .
Joseph Riley worked at black smithing for many years in Lehi. After my f a ther, Dennis, grew up and married, he did black smithing also with hi s fa ther (I have mentioned earlier that we lived just through the bloc k fro m my grandparents). When the era of the automobiles came into bein g, Den nis opened a garage to sell and repair automobiles. My father an d grandfa ther traded houses and business locations. This would make the m each liv e next door to their business. The address now the Riley Gile s home woul d be the red brick house at 39 South Center Street, Lehi, Uta h; and the a ddress for the Dennis Giles home would be the white frame ho use at 30 Eas t Min Street, Lehi, Utah (The house that was originally bui lt for Elmed a Stringham Harmon.)
Besides doing black smithing, Riley tried his hand at inventing. He an d h is brother, Jesse, invented a “Brush Grubber”. He made the iron prong s th at pulled the sage brush up by the roots. It was pulled by horses. I t wor ked very well, so they applied for a patent. But the cost proved t o be to o much, so the project was soon forgotten.
Another venture that Riley made was to work for the Land Clearing and Im p rovement Company. He applied for a tract of land west of the city of Le h i near Cedar Fort. He worked the ground after clearing it, planted whea t , had a good crop and sold the wheat around the area. But the deal to o bt ain the land fell through, so he went back to Lehi and to blacksmithin g a gain.
Grandma Polly Giles was homebody. Taking care of her family was her lif e . They came first always. Her sweet, loving pleasant personality was wh a t made us love her. She made everyone so welcome in her home.
One of the highlights that I remember was going Holden to family reunion s . How they all loved to get together and visit and sing! There was alwa y s music.
At the end of Joseph Riley’s life, he was employed by a construction com p any in a place called Toplift, in Cedar Valley, Utah. I don’t know th e na me of the company, but he was tangled into a chain saw that threw hi m o a fly wheel crushing him. He was taken to the Lehi Hospital where h e di ed a few hours later on October 22, 1924 at the age of 64.
After all her children were married Grandma Polly went to live with he r d aughter, Mabel, who at the time lived in Ogden, Utah and later in Pen dlet on, Umatilla County, Oregon. She died in Pendleton on October 15, 19 44 an d was buried in the Lehi Cemetery beside her husband.

Joseph married Polly Frances Harmon on 19 May 1882 in Holden, Millard, Utah, United States. Polly (daughter of Appleton Milo Harmon and Elmeda Stringham) was born on 4 Mar 1864 in Toquerville, Washington, Utah, United States; died on 15 Oct 1944 in Pendleton, Umatilla, Oregon, United States; was buried on 20 Oct 1944 in Lehi City Cemetery, Utah, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: LLWM-JGH
• Initiatory (LDS): 5 Nov 1948, SLAKE

Notes:

A Life Sketch of Joseph Riley Giles and Polly Frances Harmon
By Ardith Giles May
When I was growing up, I lived in the same block with my father’s parent s , Joseph Riley and Polly Frances Harmon Giles. I have fond memories o f th ose two beautiful people.
My Grandfather Giles, as well as my father, was a blacksmith and owned t h e only blacksmith shop in Lehi, Utah. Lehi is located about 30 miles so ut h of Salt Lake City, Utah. At that time the population of Lehi was abo u t 3000 people. I can remember standing in the door of the blacksmith sh o p and watching them shoe horses and pound on the anvil and pull a lon g co rd which caused the bellows to heat the iron horseshoes in order t o do th e repair work that they did.
Grandpa Riley (he was always known as Riley rather than Joseph) loved li t tle children and my brother and my sisters were always warmly greeted a n d loved and cuddled whenever we stopped in. He was so pleasant and kin d a nd seemed to know just how to talk to children and comfort them whene ve r they needed him. He was never too busy to hold us in his lap and le t u s tell him our little troubles. We dearly loved him. He was the sweet est , kindest and most pleasant man I ever knew.
My grandmother, Polly Giles, was just as pleasant and kind as Grandpa. S h e was so jolly and happy – always singing as she worked. We would sit a n d listen to her sing. The songs that I remember most were: “Beautiful D re amer”, “Silver Threads Among the Gold” and “When You and I Were Young , Ma ggie”. Their home was such a relaxed place. We always felt welcome a nd co uld usually count on receiving a good piece of homemade bread and j am.
Grandpa Riley was a good-looking, strong, well-built, slender man abo u t 5 foot 10 or 11 inches tall and weighed perhaps 180 pounds. He ha d a fu ll head of brown hair, slightly streaked with gray. It was slightl y wave d and parted on one side. He wore a full mustache that was alway s neatl y trimmed. His countenance was pleasant and smiling. I always rem ember hi m in his dark blue bib overalls.
Grandma Polly was a very large woman –perhaps about 5 feet 7 or 8 inch e s tall. It was a characteristic of the Harmon family to be rather larg e . She had a pretty face and her hair was a beautiful gray (I seem to re me mber Grandma Polly telling me that she was prematurely gray at age 25) . S he wore it softly pulled on top of her head and there was always a so ft w ave across the front that made her look beautiful. She was always pl easan t and smiling. I remember her most in printed house dresses wit h a clea n checked apron.
I can remember sitting in Grandma Polly’s kitchen as she would sit and m e nd socks. I would watch how she did it, weaving the darning cotton bac k a nd forth. I became good at darning myself because of her. I also reme mbe r her teaching me how to mend and repair clothes. This is also someth in g that helped in raising my family. I can picture her now singing an d men ding while rocking in her rocking chair, before the wood stove.
Grandma and Grandpa’s youngest child was Helen, who was only one year ol d er than I. Helen and I were great pals and we were together so much. O n e of the things we did was play “hide and seek”. Grandma would even le t u s play this in the house and I wonder now how she ever put up with m y bei ng there so much.
I was always warned by mother when I went to Grandma Polly’s house, nev e r to mention the Church. Even though they were good people, their bitte rn ess toward the Church, which was created by Polly’s mother, Elmeda Str ing ham Harmon was always present.
After Elmeda’s husband, Appleton Milo Harmon, died, she began to rememb e r her comfortable circumstances back in Salt Lake City and harbored il l f eelings toward Brigham Young because they were sent to southern Uta h an d suffered hardship and deprivation.
However, I feel sure their names were never taken from the records of t h e Church, because I can remember being in their home where Ward Teache r s and the visiting teachers would call, and they were always very poli t e to them even though they never attended church.
My grandparents have been dead for many years, and I have had a desire f o r a long time to know more about their early lives, so that my childre n m ay come to understand and to know about those fine people. After corr espo nding with their daughter, Mabel Giles Cox I have learned a few thin g s I would like to relate.
Joseph Riley Giles was born in Fillmore (near Holden), Millard County, U t ah on October 8, 1860. He was baptized 26 June 1869. His father, Josep h S inkler Giles was born in West Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvani a. J oseph Sinkler Giles joined the United States Army and was sent to Ut ah wi th Johnston’s Army to investigate the Mormons. This was in 1857 whi ch wa s 10 years after the Mormon Saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley . Whil e he was in Utah, he joined the Mormon Church and never returned a gain t o his homeland or ever saw his parents again. Joseph Sinkler Gile s settle d in Holden, Utah and there married Sarah Huntsman.
Sarah Huntsman and her parents, James Huntsman and Mary Johnston, had jo i ned the Mormon Church around 1830 and lived in Nauvoo, Illinois. They c ro ssed the plains with the Mormon Saints in 1851. They were sent to Hold en , Millard County, Utah, by Brigham Young to colonize that part of th e sta te.
Polly Frances Harmon Giles was born in Toquerville, Washington County, U t ah on March 4, 1864. She was baptized 23 November 1946 – previous bapti s m date unknown. Her father, Appleton Milo Harmon, was born in Conneaut , E rie County, Pennsylvania. He and his parents, Jessie Pierce Harmon an d An na Barnes, had joined the Mormon Church in 1842 and moved to Nauvoo , Illi nois. While living in Nauvoo, he met and married Elmeda Stringham . She an d her parents, George Stringham and Polly Hendrickson, had joine d the Mor mon Church in 1839 and moved to Nauvoo.
Appleton Milo Harmon was a man of great strength and ability. He came ac r oss the plains with Brigham Young in 1847 and made many trips back an d fo rth across the plains to bring his wife and his parents and wife’s p arent s to Utah. He was sent to Toquerville, Washington County, Utah by B righa m Young to colonize that part of the country. He lived there for ma ny yea rs, and finally settled in Holden, Millard County, Utah where Poll y and R iley met and married.
Little is known of their courtship, but they were married on May 19, 18 8 2 in Holden, Millard County, Utah. He was 22 and she was 18.
Four children were born to Polly and Riley while living in Holden: Elme d a (Meda) Giles born August 6, 1883, Dennis Giles born August 17, 1886 , Ma bel Giles born January 13, 1894 and Shirley Robert Giles born Februa ry 17 , 1898.
Joseph Riley Giles was a natural born mechanic. When he was a young bo y , about 14 or 15 years old, the farmers in the community had bought a t hr eshing machine. It had come “knocked down” and no one knew how to asse mbl e it. So Riley Giles did it!
Riley bought a tract of land east and south of Holden and became a farm e r as well as a blacksmith a mechanic. This was a perfect location. He h a d cows and horses and a great deal of pasture land. He built a find hou s e on this land and always had a garden to help feed his family. There w a s a spring on this land that was the source of their drinking water. T h e water was in a large well. A frame roof was built over the well in or de r to keep it clean and protected. They carried water to the house in b uck ets. Rain water was caught in a barrel to wash clothes.
One day, Mabel was sent to the well for water and as she looked at the r i m of the water tank, there lay a long watch snake. She was so frighten e d that she couldn’t scream but ran to the house making much squawking n oi ses. She can still remember that scary feeling to this day!
Riley did black smithing as well as farming while living Holden. He ma d e each of children a “tack hammer” – a small hammer on one end and a ta c k puller on the other end. This was made entirely of iron. He also ma d e a “flat iron” entirely of iron, which when heated on the old wood sto ve , was heavy but a good pressing iron.
Riley could shoe a horse to perfection. Some of the horses were wild a n d hard to handle, but he had a way of running his hand over them and th e y would calm down with his touch.
Riley was also a “Bronco Buster”. He could ride wild horses and calve s a t public events around the town. He was never thrown from a horse, bu t on ce thrown from a calf. Note” My father, Dennis and my grandfather, R ile y owned a beautiful team of roan colored horses. Their names were “Ol d Cu b”, and “Bawley”.
At one time while the family was still living Holden, Riley purchased so m e produce from the farmers, and procured a large load of home cured ha m a nd bacon, wheat, dried corn and oats, and traveled in a covered wago n an d peddled his produce. He traveled to Elko, Nevada and other cities . Some times he would be gone several months selling a doing black smithi ng alon g the way. He always came home for Christmas! He had a dog name d “Tago” w ho always went with him, sitting on the seat beside him. Whe n came home , usually in the night or early evening Polly would open th e door and “Ta go” would jump into the house and dash to the bedroom int o the arms of Ma bel “Tago” was one of the family.
Riley also ran a sawmill in Pioneer Canyon near Holden. Mabel can rememb e r the piles of sawdust. He was a very hand a versatile man a natural me ch anic, able to do many kinds of work.
Joseph Riley and Polly Frances were also natural musicians. In those yea r s they lived in Holden, they played for dances in the community. Rile y pl ayed the violin by ear, and Polly played the organ by ear. Their hom e wa s always full of music and happiness. They had music in their souls ! Rile y had traded a wagon for the violin he owned, and it was a very go od one . Mabel was the one who inherited this violin and has given it t o her son , Edward Riley Cox.
In talking to the sister of grandpa Joseph Riley, I found that he beca m e dissatisfie with the Church because he was chided by the brethren bec au se he began to do some of his farm work on Sunday. This led him to sta y a way more often and gradually he didn’t go to church at all. As his ch ildr en came along, he neglected to have any of them baptized.
In about the year 1900, the Joseph Riley Giles family decided to move no r th, nearer to Salt Lake City. Polly’s father, Appleton Milo Harmon, ha d d ied in Holden when he was only 57 years old. Polly’s mother, Elmeda S trin gham Harmon, was then living in American Fork, Utah, to be near on e of he r sons, Jesse Harmon, who lived in Provo, Utah. Riley and his fam ily move d to American Fork to be near her. They lived there for awhile , then purc hased a blacksmith shop and a house in Lehi, which is onl y 3 miles nort h of American Fork. This was an old adobe house with the b lacksmith sho p right next door, located on Main Street very near the bus iness sectio n of Lehi. Eventually a house was built for Polly’s mother , Elmeda String ham Harmon, on the same lot on Main Street.
Two more children were born to Riley and Polly in Lehi: Donald Frankli n G iles born March 14, 1905 and Helen Jeannette Giles born November 22 , 1907 .
Joseph Riley worked at black smithing for many years in Lehi. After my f a ther, Dennis, grew up and married, he did black smithing also with hi s fa ther (I have mentioned earlier that we lived just through the bloc k fro m my grandparents). When the era of the automobiles came into bein g, Den nis opened a garage to sell and repair automobiles. My father an d grandfa ther traded houses and business locations. This would make the m each liv e next door to their business. The address now the Riley Gile s home woul d be the red brick house at 39 South Center Street, Lehi, Uta h; and the a ddress for the Dennis Giles home would be the white frame ho use at 30 Eas t Min Street, Lehi, Utah (The house that was originally bui lt for Elmed a Stringham Harmon.)
Besides doing black smithing, Riley tried his hand at inventing. He an d h is brother, Jesse, invented a “Brush Grubber”. He made the iron prong s th at pulled the sage brush up by the roots. It was pulled by horses. I t wor ked very well, so they applied for a patent. But the cost proved t o be to o much, so the project was soon forgotten.
Another venture that Riley made was to work for the Land Clearing and Im p rovement Company. He applied for a tract of land west of the city of Le h i near Cedar Fort. He worked the ground after clearing it, planted whea t , had a good crop and sold the wheat around the area. But the deal to o bt ain the land fell through, so he went back to Lehi and to blacksmithin g a gain.
Grandma Polly Giles was homebody. Taking care of her family was her lif e . They came first always. Her sweet, loving pleasant personality was wh a t made us love her. She made everyone so welcome in her home.
One of the highlights that I remember was going Holden to family reunion s . How they all loved to get together and visit and sing! There was alwa y s music.
At the end of Joseph Riley’s life, he was employed by a construction com p any in a place called Toplift, in Cedar Valley, Utah. I don’t know th e na me of the company, but he was tangled into a chain saw that threw hi m o a fly wheel crushing him. He was taken to the Lehi Hospital where h e di ed a few hours later on October 22, 1924 at the age of 64.
After all her children were married Grandma Polly went to live with he r d aughter, Mabel, who at the time lived in Ogden, Utah and later in Pen dlet on, Umatilla County, Oregon. She died in Pendleton on October 15, 19 44 an d was buried in the Lehi Cemetery beside her husband.

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

.

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWJH-BLC
• Initiatory (LDS): 16 Dec 1845, NAUVO

Appleton + Elmeda Stringham. Elmeda (daughter of George Stringham and Polly Hendrickson) was born on 30 Dec 1829 in Jamestown, Chautauqua, New York, United States; died on 3 Aug 1923 in Lehi, Utah, Utah, United States; was buried on 6 Aug 1923 in American Fork, Utah, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWJH-BLD
• Initiatory (LDS): 22 Jan 1846, NAUVO

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: LHPQ-SY8
• Initiatory (LDS): 25 Feb 1916, LOGAN

Notes:

MARRIAGE: "American Republican" Newspaper, 12 Dec 1827

DEATH: "Village Record" Newspaper, 30 Nov 1858, 21 Dec 1858

Occupation: Cotton mills


Joseph and Jane Moore Giles had a 160-acre tract in Chester County, Penn s ylvania. Their children attended schools in that vicinity. They were me mb ers of the Oxford Presbyterian Church.

Joseph Gyles worked as a supervisor at the S.E. Dickey Cotton Mill in Ho p ewell. The Joseph Gyles home near Hopewell was bought from James Whites id e Turner and James MacQueen. The Ebenezer T. Gyles home on South 3rd S tre et, Oxford was at one time a shopping mall. It has since been torn do wn.

In 1834, Joseph Gyles was the tax assessor for West Nottingham.

Joseph married Jane Moore on 6 Dec 1827 in Lower Oxford Township, Chester, Pennsylvania, United States. Jane (daughter of John Moore and Jane Gray) was christened on 2 Feb 1790 in Lacock, Wiltshire, England; died on 6 Jul 1882 in Nottingham, Chester, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: L56B-CJ3
• Initiatory (LDS): 25 Feb 1916

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: K14S-B65
• Initiatory (LDS): 25 Sep 1855, EHOUS

Notes:

SOURCE: A Profile of...Camp, 1830-39. Backman, Jr., Milton V.

SOURCE: Nauvoo: Early Mormon...Series 1839-46. Platt, Lyman. 1980

SOURCE: Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah. Esshom, Frank. 1913 Page: 950

SOURCE: Utah Federal Census; Year: 1860, 1870

SOURCE: Nauvoo Social History Project. Smith, James

SOURCE: LDS Missouri Petitions of 1830's Johnson, Clark

Pioneer
Harry Walton/Garden Grove Company (1851) Age at departure: 49
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.


Brief History of James HUNTSMAN and Mary JOHNSTON HUNTSMAN Written by: E s tella Rebecca Spafford Sampson (a Great Granddaughter)

James Huntsman was born on 6 June 1801 in the state of Pennsylvania. H i s wife, Mary Johnston was born 6 May 1801 in Pennsylvania. They were ma rr ied in the same state, then moved to Kirtland Ohio, USA in 1830. Ther e th ey joined the Mormon Church when it was organized. His son tells u s tha t James was the 36th member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latte r Day S aint. They moved from Kirtland Ohio to Jackson County, Missouri . They liv ed there until 1839 when they were driven out on the 27th Feb . 1839. On t he second day out on the road Feb 28th 1839, their son Pete r was born i n an old blacksmith shop, which is still standing in Jackso n County, Miss ouri. The next day on the 29th, they started on their jour ney to Nauvoo , Illionios. In Nauvoo on the 3rd of June 1841, their daugh ter Sarah wa s born. They lived in Nauvoo until the Prophet Joseph and hi s brother Hyr um Smith were Martyred. In 1846 they moved to Counsil Bluff s and settle d there. Their son Isaac died there in 1850. they ere amon g the first se ttlers at that place. He (James) built a grist mill and so ld flour to th e emigrants as they came along. In 1851 they, with other s aints, left the re on their way to the Rocky Mountains, in the Caption Me rott Company o f 50 wagons. Captian William Barton was captian over thei r 10. they settl ed in Salt Lake City on Mill Creek in 1851. they staye d there until 185 3 when they were called by President Brigham Young to g o South and help s ettle Fillmore, Millard County Utah. James Huntsman di ed in Fillmore on 1 0 Nov 1871 at the age of 70 years. His wife Mary John ston Huntsman died 1 5 Aug 1895 at Arrow Grand, San Louis County, Califor nia, USA. She was pla ce in the poor house by her sone Jacob. She was ver y unhappy there and lo nged many times to return to her home in Fillmore . She left the Church wh en she went to California but in her later year s longed to become a membe r of the church again. Her sons did not repor t her death to her dear one s in Utah. They didn’t know until one of he r granddaughters came from Cal ifornia to Utah and told the story of he r sad life and her sorrow and dea th. While Mary lived in Utah, she wa s a weaver of fine cloth, and dyed he r own colors, she carded wool and m ade many beautiful coverlids and blank ets. James held many responsible p ositions in Fillmore. For a number o f years after they settled there, h e acted as Santa Claus to the poor o f the town, taking apples and frie d cakes, that his wife had made. He wa s a member ot he 21st Quoram of th e Seventies and was also in the Mormo n Batalion in the Company B. He wa s ordained a Seventy 16 July 1847. He d ied June 3rd 1878 at Annabella Se vier County, Utah, USA. But was taken t o Fillmore for Burial. HE was a b lacsmith by trade. Mary Johnston Huntsma n died 15 Aug 1890 at Arrow Gran d, San Louis County, California. Her pare nts were Samuel Johnston and El izabeth Johnston.
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Isaiah HUNTSMAN and Rebecca Carter AMES Family Group Sheet notes

#1 Ezra md (2) Mary Williams, 25 Oct 1879, Annabella, Sevier, Utah. Ma r y Williams was formerly married to George Chandler, Temple cancellatio n o f this marriage recorded in President McKays Office. Two children b y thi s marriage, Mary Elizabeth Chandler and George Andrew Chandler, the y wer e adopted by Ezra. As of 25 Apr 1965, nothing has been found on Mar y Walt on or possible children of this union .

#2 Harriet md (1) BANKHEAD, John Henderson, no date found and one chil d b y this union, Joseph Huntsman Bankhead. Temple Cancellation of this m arri eage. Md. (2) DALTON, Daniel Henry. Joseph Huntsman Bankhead was sea led t o Mother and Daniel Henry Dalton.

#4 Isaiah Jr. (1) DALTON, Susan. She died in fire at Meeker Colorado. ( 2 ) md Pamer, Mary. She died in child birth, child was raised by Catholi c f amily by the name of Clark. The child is known by Jack Clark and live s i n Long Beach, California, USA. Child not legally adopted. (3) md LEWI S, T hirza Ellen Lewis.

#7 Estella, md NEBEKER, Lewis Monroe, he died leaving her with a small c h ild. Another child died in infancy. She md. (2) SPAFFORD, William Nels o n Jr. children by Nebeker were sealed to Estella and William Nelson Spa ff ord Jr.

#9 William (1) THURSTON, Evelyn (Eeveline) she died and he md (2) JOHNSO N , Minnie Jane. She was previously married and her children are seale d t o her 1st husband THURSTON, Erastus.

James married Mary Johnston on 19 Nov 1822 in Perry Township, Lake, Ohio, United States. Mary (daughter of Samuel Johnston and Elizabeth Huntsman) was born on 6 May 1801 in Washington, Washington, Pennsylvania, United States; died on 15 Aug 1895 in Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, California, United States; was buried in Arroyo Grande Cemetery, San Luis Obispo, California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWJ5-7T7
• Initiatory (LDS): 25 Sep 1855, EHOUS

Notes:

DEATH: San Luis Obispo Tribune 23 Aug 1895

BIRTH: 1850 Census of Troy Twp., Richland Co., Ohio

Mary Johnson was born May 6, 1801 in Washington County, Pennsylvania: t h e daughter of Samuel Johnson and Elizabeth Huntsman. While yet a child , s he went with her parents to the “virgin” Ohio Valley where she met he r fu ture husband James Huntsman. In 1822 they were married and lived i n Richl and County near their parents as they began to raise their family .
In the fall of 1833, the Mormon missionaries began preaching in Richla n d County and James and Mary were among the first members of the Churc h o f Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is presumed that Mary’s mothe r wa s also baptized. They sold their comfortable home and huge farm to b e nea r the Saints and were among those who were in Jackson County. The y were p resent in the bloody slaughter at Haun’s Mill, where their broth er-in law , Jacob Potts was killed; a victim to the ruthless mob .
Faith and Peace was again found in the city of Nauvoo. They were clos e t o the Prophet Joseph Smith. From Joseph’s own journal is found this e ntry : “October 7, 1842; This day teachers for the school of the prophet s me t and organized in Nauvoo, Illinois, with Elish Averett, President ; Jame s Huntsman, First Counselor; James Hendricks, Second Counselor.” T hey wer e active in the building of the Temple and when it was complete d were amo ng those who did work for the dead.
A short time before the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith, James to o k his youngest son Peter to the Temple and the child was afraid of th e ox en. The Prophet lifted the child up so that he could touch one of th e oxe n and explained to the boy that they were not real .
If their testimonies had not been tested and tired, once again they we r e without a home as they watched their beautiful city burn under the ha nd s of a mob. The Huntsman’s were resettled in Council Bluffs with the r ema ining faithful Saints. It was their on July 17, 1846 at Pleasant Morn ing , Camp Israel, Council Bluffs that quote:” President Brigham Young se lect ed the brethren to act as Bishops; James Huntsman and others.” He i s reco rded as being a man of great means and generosity when called upon .” Some time after their baptism James was called to serve a mission in T ennessee , leaving his wife to raise the family in Richland County.
The family crossed the plains with the early Saints and lived in Salt La k e City, Utah Territory for one year before heading south to Fillmore i n O ctober 1852. They took up residence in an old fort once used to prote ct t he settlers from warring Indians. Time passed and James Huntsman bui l t a brick home which stands today at what is known as 150 West Center S tr eet. It was here that they farmed and raised cattle to make a living.
Brigham Young visited James Huntsman and family often, both in Salt La k e City and Fillmore, Utah. James was only married once, but his brothe r s journals indicated that he would have taken on more wives as was th e cu stom, but his wife forbade it.
On one occasion Brigham Young visited James and suggested that he migh t t ake on another family since her able to financially. James told Presi den t young he was willing if he could persuade is wife Mary to go for it . Pr esident Young preceded in the home as directly asked Mary is she wou ld pe rmit James to take another wife. She was drinking coffee at the tim e an d threw it in President Young’s face. President Young headed out th e doo r and to his horse drawn buggy saying to James, never mind you hav e all t he wife you can handle. Mary left to California with a few child ren afte r she became a widow and she followed her children seeking gol d in Califo rnia. She died August 15, 1895 in Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obi spo County , California.

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWJH-BL8
• Initiatory (LDS): 16 Dec 1845, NAUVO

Jesse married Anna Barnes on 29 Apr 1819 in Conneaut Township, Crawford, Pennsylvania, United States. Anna (daughter of Abijah Barnes and Abi Bradford) was born on 6 Mar 1789 in New Ashford, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States; died on 16 Jan 1847 in Florence, Douglas, Nebraska, United States; was buried in Winter Quarters, Douglas, Nebraska, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWJH-BLZ
• Initiatory (LDS): 16 Dec 1845, NAUVO

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWJW-SXT
• Initiatory (LDS): 22 Jan 1846, NAUVO

George married Polly Hendrickson on 17 Aug 1820 in Colesville, Broome, New York, United States. Polly was born on 3 Apr 1803 in Colesville, Broome, New York, United States; died on 9 Oct 1885 in Holden, Millard, Utah, United States; was buried in Holden Cemetery, Millard, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWJ5-CS1
• Initiatory (LDS): 22 Jan 1846, NAUVO