| Show PIONEER reminiscences the builder of the first chimney father of the first child maker of the first gaiter boots A general and local pioneer we are permitted to present therol the following interesting communication toquerville washington ton county utah territory territory president wilford woodruff dear brother in the midst of all the ups and downs that we as a people are called upon to pass through in this lower world I 1 still feel it a joy and satisfaction to celebrate the twenty ty fourth of july our pioneer day in looking over the DESERET caws matter from mondays dally daily of july 23 1888 1 feel flattered with the eulogy therein contained riot not particularly on account of the praise to ti those 1 0 8 e alone who were pioneers tor for they in reality could not do any different but praise to god our heavenly father who pioneered us here although I 1 was not numbered among the 1 43 who came as that noble baud I 1 was with yon nearly all the way from green river and only stayed back to let the presidents company keep on the lad you remember coming out on oa the east bench to meet the battalion detach ment under captain james brown I 1 was then one ol of the boys and I 1 immediately went to work macip making ado bles and laying them up into I 1 the fort wall of what was called the old fort of which I 1 believe I 1 built about one half with my own hands bands I 1 know I 1 built the first chimney that ever drew smoke in these val valleys leTs it was tor for president brigham young in a log house on the east side of the fort As it t is comforting to recount the reminiscences of the past wh n they bring pleasing recollections of hav having done our duty and andas as there mu always be a first I 1 have the honor of I 1 being the lather father of the FIRST CHILD BORN IN THE VALLEY it was named after president young young elizabeth steele born august oto 1847 1647 at 30 a in I 1 also made the first arst lasts and the first gaiter boots that abat were made in these valleys I 1 can now say sav with pleasure that that same baby girl then born is a handsome matron having married one mr james and now lives at Ka narrah iron county utah territory she is the mother of five sons and two daughters and is now a grandmother I 1 was one of the pioneers who came colron to iron county with president george 4 amith in 1850 and have helped to 10 develop this southern Seu thern country taking an active part in building up and defending our possessions from indian and white mens depredations I 1 also two years on a mission among the indians and enjoyed myself ver very muen among them and do not think think the red lied man beyond the pale of redemption demp dempt tion iOD I 1 have observed oo served many good traits of character among them one is that they are generally true to their friends I 1 take great comfort in thinking over old times and am pleased to see that my old friend william carter who turned the first sod n the valley has not been forgotten lie he did more dil ditching ching in one day than I 1 could do he ditched 15 rods roda three feet wide and three tareo and hall half feet deep in one day there are many of my old pioneer and soldier brethren that I 1 remember with pleasure and as the DESERET NEWS says will be remembered with pleas ure are in after generations as their valor and integrity is not at present tally fully appreciated precia prec ted but posterity will do them justice I 1 can rejoice to learn of tile the increase of our people and the spread f t truth L T uto whereas on the 2 aih of july 1847 I 1 mere were pioneers and Aaita at tallou liou boys and some 20 of our sisters who are mothers in israel also a few mississippi saints who wintered at pueblo now in Co colorado lorade state ho bo were the little nucleus around which gathered so thousands and have spread around into other territories it makes me think of a sum in multiplication in compound numbers it if six will multiply in fifty eight years into what will multiply into in the next fifty eight years it if all are faithful in keeping the commandments mand ments of the lord lora if israel had bad only allowed themselves to nave been governed by good counsel where there are now a few saints there would have been many IJ Ht vever wever israel is on the increase and will never be less and vie te little attle affliction wherewith we are a filleted is merely a fatherly hint that we are not forgotten by him I 1 chauk god all the time that tha IM we are not allowed to run wild like sheep without a shepherd and I 1 hope hop abe thet me is not net far distant when we will see our apostles and leading brethren among us once more in our little town our superintendent of sunday school gathered lais his little tt flock around him organized them in good shape and we spent our in singing reciting etc I 1 had bad the pleasure of waking making ten minutes speech all went bentoff wen off well with a dance in the evenin evening presided over by brother martin slack we are trying to hold the fort while our bishop win ada A orin bringhurst burst is in prison for far obeying the uw baw of the lord it is said baid in the scriptures toe the time will come when the lord will take to him hi great power ind and rule the rations cat ians and za Z on will arise ard shine I 1 am thankful that your health is still good although yon are not per to he be among 1 us I 1 constantly pray for our it adins brethren those whom the lord has chosen to lead his keople aad way may god continue to you ong BS re life health and peace and prosperity to israel is the constant prayer of yur brother in the gospel JOHN STEELE it appears proper in connection with the foregoing to state that brother joseph harker of taylors ville this county claims to be the father of the first male child born in this valley or rather its vicinity his son william harker who is still living in the same ward where his father resides was born in echo bafton utah while the family were traveling hither warden september brother joseph harker also erected the first firs cabin on the westside west side of jordan river in november and december 1848 we had the pleasure of a call from the veteran this afternoon |
