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Show AT ENJOYABLE CELEBRATION One hundred and nineteen descendants descend-ants of John Marriott assembled at the Marriott meeting house yesterday to observe his 101st birthday anniversary. anniver-sary. Out of 23 living children, 15 attended attend-ed the celebration. In addition, of the 176 living grand-children, 72 were present; pres-ent; of 133 groat-grandchildrcn, 30 wore present; and of tho four great-great-grandchildren, two attended. In summary, of the 336 children, grandchildren, grand-children, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, 119 were present at yesterday's celebration. John Marriott was born in England, March G, 1817, nearly a half century before tho close of the CivJl war. Ho became a convert to tho faith of the Latter-Day Saints while yet a resident of England. His conversion caused him to emigrate to America and take up his residence in Utah. Ho was personally acquainted with Joseph Smith, the prophet, and was in the bodyguard that attended tho prophet during the perilous period of Mormonism at Nauvoo, 111. He also was one of the workmen that erected the temple at Nauvoo. In 1S55, he moved west to this state rnd lived for a whilo at Kaysville, but two years later, or in 1857, ho removed to tho present sito of Marriott, then merely a river bottom covered with willows, sloughs and underbrush. He devoted 15 hours a day, for several years, toward reclaiming the land by a system of irrigation. He probably was one of the first pioneers in irrigation in the west. He tapped tho Ogden river and moved the water to Marriott with the result that Marriott has become be-come a garden spot, unexcelled by any similar area in the country. In this pioneer work, he endured many hardships, which invariably is the experience of every pioneer. He reared four families. Two of his widows wid-ows survive him Mrs. Theresa South-wick South-wick Marriott attended yesterday's mooting, but Mrs. Margaret Burton Marriott was too ill to attend. The guests of vthc family were Bishop and Mrs. T. E. Powell, his counselor, Mi, and Mrs. John D. Pot-orson, Pot-orson, Mrs. Ruth Hodson, pioneer and early friend of tho family, and Charles Nelson, who' had been so' closely connected con-nected with Mr. Marriott as to bo practically prac-tically ono of tho family. At 1 o'clock thero were 1-10 seated at sumptuously sumptuous-ly ladened Liblos, which, In contrast to tho pioneer sacrifices, stood out so conspicuously noticeable. During the afternoon, tho following program was given at tho meeting house: Song and quartette, Caleb and Wells Marriott, Mrs. Jack Checketts and Mrs. Aaron Tracy; recitation, Mrs. Jeanette Skecn; song, Gladys Creamer; Cream-er; recitation, Maudo Howett; recitation, recita-tion, Catherine Marriott; violin duet, Lorenzo Marriott and Bernard Parry. Tho remainder of tho afternoon was spent in dancing. After definitely deciding to have a "family reunion" on tho same date and at tho same place each year, officers were elected to serve for a period of five years. The principal address at yesterday's session was made by Aaron Tracy. His subject was, "Why We Honor John Marriott." For supper, another elaborate repast was served, when the guest list had been considerably increased by late arrivals. ar-rivals. Dancing also took place in tho evening and thus rounded out a day of genuine celebration. The family especially desires to ox-press ox-press appreciation of the bishopric of tho ward for the free use of tho beautiful beau-tiful rooms and halls. |
