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Show Klingonsmith-First white baby leaves heritage ... : A - ? ' f. r ' TV , : "f ;' Alfred Klingonsmith was born on December 20, 1858 at Cedar City, Utah. He was the first white boy born in the present site, after the pioneers moved from the Old Fort, Northwest of Cedar City on account of so many bad floods in that area. Philip Klingonsmith, his father, was the first Latter-day Saint bishop of the town. At the time Alfred was born he had served in this position for ten years. He taught the settlers to be kind to the Indians who lived in the area, and also helped provide food for them. Aired worked hard helping to break land and farm, he also helped his father in the balcksmith shop. According to his history, his father Philip made the first bell used in Cedar City. It was used to warn the people of fires, calls for help, and church meetings. Alfred had two sisters, Margaret Alice and Elizabeth, AI.RED AND LETITIA DOV ER KLINGONSMITH one brother John Henry, who died very young. He also had numerous half brothers and sisters as that was polygamy days and his father had three wives, so they had to help sup port themselves. His mother was Margaretta Elliker. She also worked hard to rear her family, spinning, knitting the socks, and warm sweaters for the children, and keeping up her family chores. They had much joy, as they made their own entertainment, sleighing, dancing, house parties and molassas candy pulls. They would trade for molasses with the Dixie peddlers. The Dixie people were glad to get wheat and oats for it in exchange. Alfred was a horseman and broke many horses, the men of the town nicknamed him Riddy. Grandma Letitia was born February 5, 1861 in Lane, Lancashire, Lan-cashire, England to William Henry Dover of Wheatley, England and Mary Ann Newcomb of Warwickshire, England. She came to America with her sister Emma Tucker and her husband William, when she was eight years old, leaving her father, mother and five brothers and sisters in England until they could follows. Her father earned enough money and the family came to America some years later. There was an increase in the family after Letitia left England, she had twelve brothers and sisters in all. Letitia and the Tuckers stayed in New York for a while, until he earned enough money to come west with the John Hunter Handcart Co. in April 1870. Grandma Letitia lived with Andrew and Letitia Corry, her aunt, and helped them in their Hotel until she was married. Alfred and Letitia were married by Lewis R. Chaffin in the presence of William H. Dover and Justice of the Peace Letitia N. Corry at Cedar City on Dec. 16, 1880. They were endowed in the St. George Temple March 4, 1882. . -.. !i , There' was eight children born to this union, Maggie Mae, Clara,! Fred, Mable Maud, Beatrice Pearl, Myrtle Agnes, Moroni and Ruth. Mable Maud died at two years of age. Grandma was very clean, she kept her home and children spotless, she loved to garden and had a beautiful yard, growing with shrubs, and flowers of every kind. The back yard had fruit trees currant bushes and berry plants. She always loved io share starts with her friends and neighbors. neigh-bors. In the fall she would save seeds for them. She made the clothing for her family and also did sewing for other people. She had a beautiful voice and sang in the choir for many years, she sang in the choir at the Original Dedication of the St. George Temple. She felt this was a great honor to her. They lived at Hamilton's Fort, when Clara was born. He was driving mail stage to Silver Reef in 1882. He worked as the overseer over-seer of the Cedar Sheep Association for 18 years, buying the supplies, hiring and firing the herders, moving the camps when the feed got short, and driving the herds to the shearing sheds. He also worked for Cedar Mercantile Sheep Co. He helped excavate by team and build the first power plant in Cedar Canyon and helped operate it. They were among the first families in town to have the electricity put in their home. The meter was installed in her parlor, later on it was moved to the front porch. Grandpa helped drill for Iron at the Iron Mines, West of Cedar City, he also hauled water by team. He was one of the men who helped with the building of "OLD MAIN" at the Branch Normal School. Grandma's father William Dover laid the corner stone on "OLD MAIN", at the Branch Normal School in 1897, he was a brick mason by trade. He also laid the brick for Alfred and Letitia's home, which is still in good repair. Leah Letitia passed away August 20, 1937, on her daughter Myrtles birhtday, after a long illness Alfred passed away on November 17, 1943. Both are resting under a green carpet in the shade of whispering trees in the Cedar City Cemetery. Most of their posterity resides in Utah except for a few in Nevada and California. This history was written and compiled by their daughter-in-law Joice Ashworth Klingonsmith Klingon-smith who resides in Cedar City, In January, 17. |