Alma James and Lauretta Henry Johnstun
Mr. Johnstun was born July 23, 1853 in Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake County, Utah. Mrs. Johnstun was a daughter of Calvin Wm Henry and Rhoda Priscilla Barnum. She was born April 25, 1855, at South Cottonwood ward, Salt Lake County. They were married May 30, 1875.
When but a baby, her parents separated, her father taking Lauretta's only brother. James B, to live with him. In a few years her mother married Simpson David Huffaker. On May 31, 1875, when they were married. Mr Johnstun worked in the sawmill and was very successful there. He understood the work and the machinery and knew how to select trees to make the best lumber. He also was a miner and helped to locate some of the richest mines in the vicinity of Park City. His mother was much opposed to the sawmill business inasmuch as her own husband had lost his life in a sawmill.
Considerable talk came to their ears of the Ashley Fork, it being rumored that such was an excellent place to to raise cattle in winter. Alma decided to bring their cattle to Ashley Valley. They hired Joe Worlman to help them drive the cattle over into the valley. Joe stayed to herd the cattle over into the valley. Joe stayed to herd the cattle during the winter and Alma and Robert returned to their families.
In the spring of 1878, Mrs Johnstun's husband and her brother, James B. Henry, decided to leave Parley's Park and go to Arizona or New Mexico to live. She did not want them to go. As she had a fear of them crossing the Colorado River. They insisted on going. The farther south they traveled the more discouraged they became. At Fillmore they turned around and came home. She was not surprised to see them, as her constant prayer had been for their return and her prayer was answered. They arrived in Salt Lake City in time for April Conference, and at that conference President John Taylor called Alma Johnstun, James Henry and Grandpa Black, with their families, to come to Ashley Valley to help colonize.
In three weeks, they had all their possessions packed in their wagon and were ready to leave for Ashley Valley (Vernal). The company consisted of Grandpa Black, with his wife and her daughter Elizabeth Johnstun, a Scotchman by the name of Davey Johnston (father of Bob Johnson who now lives in Vernal) his wife and five children. Mrs Black was Alma Johnstun's mother and for a number of years she had been an invalid. This rough trip was very hard on her. It being necessary at times to rest over for a day or two so she would be able to continue the journey. Sister Black did not live long after coming to the valley (She died May 11, 1879) and was the first person buried in the Vernal cemetery. Such terrible roads as they had to travel, in many places there were just trails down the steep mountainsides. The men would walk by the sides of the wagons and hold them from flipping over.
They would carry their babies and climb the mountains, clinging to the brush in order to keep their footing. They came over the old Blue fording all the streams and through the old Dodd bench, across Nigger Heave, down Current Hill Twist, entering the gap west of the Valley June 5, 1878.
Most of the residents were living down on the Creek but this party of people located on what was then called the Bench. It was just one block north and east of the present Uintah High School. The first thing the men did was to go into the mountains to get logs for their houses. The Alma Johnstun home was the first one built and was located just across the street east from the present high school. On July 1st, they moved into a neat log house with a dirt roof and a dirt floor. The dirt floor was made smooth by pouring scalding water on it and then patting it down firmly. On September 2, a little girl was born to the Johnstun's. She was first child born on the bench, and the first girl in Ashley Valley. She was named Emily Lauretta (born September 2. 1878). When this baby was just two weeks old, Al Westover sent a boy to ask if Mrs. Johnstun could care for his small boy whose mother died, Mrs Davey Johnstun said in her Scotch way. "Na, na, it will kill you." Mrs. Johnstun said. "I shall die then and for a good cause." She kept the baby for three months and two days, then Philip Stringham and wife, (Mrs. Westover was a sister of Mrs. Stringham) came to get the child and Mrs. Johnstun did not see him again until he was sixteen years of age, and then not again until in the year 1933. (Baby was Alfred Clair Westover, b 15 Sep 1878; his mother was Clara Crouch Westover, sister of Caroline Crouch Stringham)
The first summer in Ashley Valley, the pioneers made gardens, and did all they could to prepare for the winter. The Johnstun's had a few potatoes and a little corn. In the fall they bought some sugar beets from Mr. Downey and Mrs. Johnstun, remembering how her mother had made beets into syrup, boiled these down, thus making their winter's supply of syrup. In the spring of 1879 they rented a place from Mrs. Beatty, down on Ashley Creek, there they raised a nice crop of wheat and a good garden. In the fall, Mr Johnstun went to Heber and while there decided to buy a threshing machine to bring home with him. Before he returned, the Meeker Massacre occurred and Uncle Jerry Hatch advised everyone to go to a fort. They came to Mrs Johnstun and told her to go into the fort or she would very likely be killed by the Indians. She showed the true spirit of the pioneer woman and said, "I will stay and take care of our crops. I have a good dog and I am not afraid." Mr Johnstun returned home to find his home in the fort.
After the hard winter, Mr Johnstun moved his home just west of where the Rutlif home now stands. Their cattle were all gone, but they soon had a lovely garden and were thankful for the land that was so productive. Mr Johnstun had seen the possibilities for a sawmill on the mountains surrounding the valley. He also saw the great need of lumber in building up the homes in this new community of settlers. He brought the first sawmill to the Ashley Valley on October 27, 1880. It was a difficult task to bring such heavy machinery over the rough roads. There were no bridges over the streams so all rivers had to be forded. Pimmey Rynmon helped him bring it in. The mill was taken to the Dry Fork mountains and for many years supplied the lumber for builders in the Valley.
The mill was set in different parts of the mountains, and Mr Johnstun built a planing mill on the northeast corner of what is now known as Main St and Fifth West. This was in 1882. It was destroyed by fire in May of 1892. Mrs. Johnstun went into the mountains with the men to do the cooking, taking her family with her. When the children had grown and the boys were called to serve in the war Mr Johnstun retired from the sawmill business. He was thrown from a car and badly injured and died on December 18, 1920. Mrs Lauretta Johnstun helped during these early days trying to care for the sick, and took an active part in the church organizations. She is remembered by everyone for her kindness and sympathy, her helpfulness and high standards.
Transcribed by Rhonda Holton, Builders of Uintah, pg 37.
A. J. JOHNSTUN SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES RECEIVED IN ACCIDENT
MADE A BRAVE FIGHT WITH DEATH BUT AGE WAS AGAINST HIM. PIONEER OF ASHLEY VALLEY ALWAYS ACTIVE IN CHURCH AND CIVIC AFFAIRS
After more than two weeks of intense suffering, caused by being crushed in an automobile accident on December 3, A. J. Johnstun the aged and respected pioneer of Ashley Valley passed to his great reward on Saturday, December 18, at 1:45 p.m.
Death occured at the Uintah hospital in Roosevelt where he was taken after the accident east of Gate Canyon in the oil shale fields. A full account of the accident was given in the Vernal Express on December 10.
A. J. Johnstun or Al, as he was known to all his associates was one of the early pioneers of Ashley Valley being called here on a mission to help build up this country by President John Taylor in 1878 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to which mission he spent his useful and active life. His was not a life of outward show but rather one of every day Christly deeds.
Loved by a_______________________ he passed to his reward with a testimony of a truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Mr. Johnstun was born 67 yerars ago in South Cottonwood, Salt Lake County, Utah July 23, 1853, a son of Jesse W. and Betsy Ann Snyder (Johnstun). His early life was one of the early pioneer hardships which gave him the schooling for the hardships he was to endure in his latter life. His father before him, being one of the now famous "Mormon Battalion" who was killed in an accident in a saw mill in Parley's Park when Al was only a small boy.
May 31, 1875, he married Lauretta Henry in the old Endowment House in Salt Lake City and a few years later was called on his mission for building up the frontier, his lot being to come to Ashley Valley (Vernal).
To this union were born 12 children, 10 are living and also the widowed wife and mother, Minnie Atwood, Vernal; Emma (Emily Lauretta) was born September 2, 1878 and died January 21, 1880, was the first child born on what was known as the bench and believed to be the first girl born in Ashley Valley; A. J, Jr., St. George; William J., Roosevelt; Rody (Rhoda) Eugene (Eugenia) Marshall, Lewiston, Idaho; Elizabeth P. Hodson, Portland, Oregon; Jeremiah, (born and) died Janaury 31, 1890; Joseph, Vernal; Darrell Ray and Delpha May Neilson, twins, Vernal; George, Vernal and Owen H., Vernal.
There are also 22 grandchildren. All of the children were present at the funeral except Mrs. Hodson who could not get here. Seventeen of the grandchildren were present.
The first threshing machine was operated in Ashley Valley by Mr. Johnstun. He was also the second blacksmith in the valley. When he went to build his home on the homestead he had taken a part of which he still owned at death, there was need for lumber. He went to Salt Lake City and purchased a sawmill which was placed at the upper end of Deep Creek near where the Thorobred Ranch is located.
This was in 1881. Since that time he has been interested in sawmill and lumber business. Owning and operating the first planer in this section. The big Red planer being on his property. His saw mill is now at Brush Creek Mountain near Kane's cabin.
He also promoted and had an interest in the first steam roller flour mill which was located just opposite where his beautiful home was burned two years ago. The mill was also burned.
Israel Clark and Mr. Johnstun plowed the first furrow for the starting of the Ashley Central Canal. He also helped to open the first coal mine which was near the Pardon Dodds Sr. homestead.
During the hard winter of '78-'80 all were in the old fort Thornburg to seek protection from the Indians at the time of the Meeker massacre. In the spring all went back to their homes and to subduing the soil.
At this time Bill Reynolds the old miller of the Farmer's Mill in Maeser and Mr. Johnstun fashioned some burs out of rock and with machinery owned by Mr. Reynolds and the horse power of Mr. Johnstun's thresher ground the wheat into graham flour for the settlers.
In civic duties he ever took an active part and served several terms as county commssioner.
The closing of his active life by an accident and out in the hills and mountains he so loved seems only fitting. Surely no person has had more accidents, from broken fingers to the one that caused his death. Several different times he has thought to have been dead. Only last September he and his wife were in an auto accident near Logan which caused him to be laid up for a long time.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 21, at the First Ward meeting house with Bishop officiating. The speakers James Hacking and President J. B. Colton. Beautiful music was furnished by a quartet consisting if Anton Strebel, H. Bether, Jessie Hislop and Mrs. Pearl Johnson which sang, "Till the Resurrection Day," "I Have Read of a Beautiful City," "Wanted on the Other Side", and "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go Dear Lord."
Bishop H. B. Calder dedicated the grave.
Interment was in the Vernal cemetery by the side of his two children and near his mother who was the first person buried in the Vernal cemetery.
-Vernal Express, December 24, 1920, transcribed by Rhonda Holton
Alma James Johnstun is the son of Betsy Ann Snyder and Jesse Walker Johnstun.
He married Lauretta Maria Henry May 31, 1875 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Alma James Johnstun was the son of Betsy Ann Snyder and Jesse Walker Johnstun. He married Lauretta Maria Henry May 31, 1875 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah.
His death was the result of a car accident.
Siblings: Laura Johnstun Jenne, Maria Johnstun Workman, Elizabeth Johnstun Blankenship, Joseph Alonzo Johnstun and Amy Johnstun Toone, Alma James Johnstun Jr.
Mr. Johnstun was born July 23, 1853 in Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake County, Utah. Mrs. Johnstun was a daughter of Calvin Wm Henry and Rhoda Priscilla Barnum. She was born April 25, 1855, at South Cottonwood ward, Salt Lake County. They were married May 30, 1875.
When but a baby, her parents separated, her father taking Lauretta's only brother. James B, to live with him. In a few years her mother married Simpson David Huffaker. On May 31, 1875, when they were married. Mr Johnstun worked in the sawmill and was very successful there. He understood the work and the machinery and knew how to select trees to make the best lumber. He also was a miner and helped to locate some of the richest mines in the vicinity of Park City. His mother was much opposed to the sawmill business inasmuch as her own husband had lost his life in a sawmill.
Considerable talk came to their ears of the Ashley Fork, it being rumored that such was an excellent place to to raise cattle in winter. Alma decided to bring their cattle to Ashley Valley. They hired Joe Worlman to help them drive the cattle over into the valley. Joe stayed to herd the cattle over into the valley. Joe stayed to herd the cattle during the winter and Alma and Robert returned to their families.
In the spring of 1878, Mrs Johnstun's husband and her brother, James B. Henry, decided to leave Parley's Park and go to Arizona or New Mexico to live. She did not want them to go. As she had a fear of them crossing the Colorado River. They insisted on going. The farther south they traveled the more discouraged they became. At Fillmore they turned around and came home. She was not surprised to see them, as her constant prayer had been for their return and her prayer was answered. They arrived in Salt Lake City in time for April Conference, and at that conference President John Taylor called Alma Johnstun, James Henry and Grandpa Black, with their families, to come to Ashley Valley to help colonize.
In three weeks, they had all their possessions packed in their wagon and were ready to leave for Ashley Valley (Vernal). The company consisted of Grandpa Black, with his wife and her daughter Elizabeth Johnstun, a Scotchman by the name of Davey Johnston (father of Bob Johnson who now lives in Vernal) his wife and five children. Mrs Black was Alma Johnstun's mother and for a number of years she had been an invalid. This rough trip was very hard on her. It being necessary at times to rest over for a day or two so she would be able to continue the journey. Sister Black did not live long after coming to the valley (She died May 11, 1879) and was the first person buried in the Vernal cemetery. Such terrible roads as they had to travel, in many places there were just trails down the steep mountainsides. The men would walk by the sides of the wagons and hold them from flipping over.
They would carry their babies and climb the mountains, clinging to the brush in order to keep their footing. They came over the old Blue fording all the streams and through the old Dodd bench, across Nigger Heave, down Current Hill Twist, entering the gap west of the Valley June 5, 1878.
Most of the residents were living down on the Creek but this party of people located on what was then called the Bench. It was just one block north and east of the present Uintah High School. The first thing the men did was to go into the mountains to get logs for their houses. The Alma Johnstun home was the first one built and was located just across the street east from the present high school. On July 1st, they moved into a neat log house with a dirt roof and a dirt floor. The dirt floor was made smooth by pouring scalding water on it and then patting it down firmly. On September 2, a little girl was born to the Johnstun's. She was first child born on the bench, and the first girl in Ashley Valley. She was named Emily Lauretta (born September 2. 1878). When this baby was just two weeks old, Al Westover sent a boy to ask if Mrs. Johnstun could care for his small boy whose mother died, Mrs Davey Johnstun said in her Scotch way. "Na, na, it will kill you." Mrs. Johnstun said. "I shall die then and for a good cause." She kept the baby for three months and two days, then Philip Stringham and wife, (Mrs. Westover was a sister of Mrs. Stringham) came to get the child and Mrs. Johnstun did not see him again until he was sixteen years of age, and then not again until in the year 1933. (Baby was Alfred Clair Westover, b 15 Sep 1878; his mother was Clara Crouch Westover, sister of Caroline Crouch Stringham)
The first summer in Ashley Valley, the pioneers made gardens, and did all they could to prepare for the winter. The Johnstun's had a few potatoes and a little corn. In the fall they bought some sugar beets from Mr. Downey and Mrs. Johnstun, remembering how her mother had made beets into syrup, boiled these down, thus making their winter's supply of syrup. In the spring of 1879 they rented a place from Mrs. Beatty, down on Ashley Creek, there they raised a nice crop of wheat and a good garden. In the fall, Mr Johnstun went to Heber and while there decided to buy a threshing machine to bring home with him. Before he returned, the Meeker Massacre occurred and Uncle Jerry Hatch advised everyone to go to a fort. They came to Mrs Johnstun and told her to go into the fort or she would very likely be killed by the Indians. She showed the true spirit of the pioneer woman and said, "I will stay and take care of our crops. I have a good dog and I am not afraid." Mr Johnstun returned home to find his home in the fort.
After the hard winter, Mr Johnstun moved his home just west of where the Rutlif home now stands. Their cattle were all gone, but they soon had a lovely garden and were thankful for the land that was so productive. Mr Johnstun had seen the possibilities for a sawmill on the mountains surrounding the valley. He also saw the great need of lumber in building up the homes in this new community of settlers. He brought the first sawmill to the Ashley Valley on October 27, 1880. It was a difficult task to bring such heavy machinery over the rough roads. There were no bridges over the streams so all rivers had to be forded. Pimmey Rynmon helped him bring it in. The mill was taken to the Dry Fork mountains and for many years supplied the lumber for builders in the Valley.
The mill was set in different parts of the mountains, and Mr Johnstun built a planing mill on the northeast corner of what is now known as Main St and Fifth West. This was in 1882. It was destroyed by fire in May of 1892. Mrs. Johnstun went into the mountains with the men to do the cooking, taking her family with her. When the children had grown and the boys were called to serve in the war Mr Johnstun retired from the sawmill business. He was thrown from a car and badly injured and died on December 18, 1920. Mrs Lauretta Johnstun helped during these early days trying to care for the sick, and took an active part in the church organizations. She is remembered by everyone for her kindness and sympathy, her helpfulness and high standards.
Transcribed by Rhonda Holton, Builders of Uintah, pg 37.
A. J. JOHNSTUN SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES RECEIVED IN ACCIDENT
MADE A BRAVE FIGHT WITH DEATH BUT AGE WAS AGAINST HIM. PIONEER OF ASHLEY VALLEY ALWAYS ACTIVE IN CHURCH AND CIVIC AFFAIRS
After more than two weeks of intense suffering, caused by being crushed in an automobile accident on December 3, A. J. Johnstun the aged and respected pioneer of Ashley Valley passed to his great reward on Saturday, December 18, at 1:45 p.m.
Death occured at the Uintah hospital in Roosevelt where he was taken after the accident east of Gate Canyon in the oil shale fields. A full account of the accident was given in the Vernal Express on December 10.
A. J. Johnstun or Al, as he was known to all his associates was one of the early pioneers of Ashley Valley being called here on a mission to help build up this country by President John Taylor in 1878 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to which mission he spent his useful and active life. His was not a life of outward show but rather one of every day Christly deeds.
Loved by a_______________________ he passed to his reward with a testimony of a truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Mr. Johnstun was born 67 yerars ago in South Cottonwood, Salt Lake County, Utah July 23, 1853, a son of Jesse W. and Betsy Ann Snyder (Johnstun). His early life was one of the early pioneer hardships which gave him the schooling for the hardships he was to endure in his latter life. His father before him, being one of the now famous "Mormon Battalion" who was killed in an accident in a saw mill in Parley's Park when Al was only a small boy.
May 31, 1875, he married Lauretta Henry in the old Endowment House in Salt Lake City and a few years later was called on his mission for building up the frontier, his lot being to come to Ashley Valley (Vernal).
To this union were born 12 children, 10 are living and also the widowed wife and mother, Minnie Atwood, Vernal; Emma (Emily Lauretta) was born September 2, 1878 and died January 21, 1880, was the first child born on what was known as the bench and believed to be the first girl born in Ashley Valley; A. J, Jr., St. George; William J., Roosevelt; Rody (Rhoda) Eugene (Eugenia) Marshall, Lewiston, Idaho; Elizabeth P. Hodson, Portland, Oregon; Jeremiah, (born and) died Janaury 31, 1890; Joseph, Vernal; Darrell Ray and Delpha May Neilson, twins, Vernal; George, Vernal and Owen H., Vernal.
There are also 22 grandchildren. All of the children were present at the funeral except Mrs. Hodson who could not get here. Seventeen of the grandchildren were present.
The first threshing machine was operated in Ashley Valley by Mr. Johnstun. He was also the second blacksmith in the valley. When he went to build his home on the homestead he had taken a part of which he still owned at death, there was need for lumber. He went to Salt Lake City and purchased a sawmill which was placed at the upper end of Deep Creek near where the Thorobred Ranch is located.
This was in 1881. Since that time he has been interested in sawmill and lumber business. Owning and operating the first planer in this section. The big Red planer being on his property. His saw mill is now at Brush Creek Mountain near Kane's cabin.
He also promoted and had an interest in the first steam roller flour mill which was located just opposite where his beautiful home was burned two years ago. The mill was also burned.
Israel Clark and Mr. Johnstun plowed the first furrow for the starting of the Ashley Central Canal. He also helped to open the first coal mine which was near the Pardon Dodds Sr. homestead.
During the hard winter of '78-'80 all were in the old fort Thornburg to seek protection from the Indians at the time of the Meeker massacre. In the spring all went back to their homes and to subduing the soil.
At this time Bill Reynolds the old miller of the Farmer's Mill in Maeser and Mr. Johnstun fashioned some burs out of rock and with machinery owned by Mr. Reynolds and the horse power of Mr. Johnstun's thresher ground the wheat into graham flour for the settlers.
In civic duties he ever took an active part and served several terms as county commssioner.
The closing of his active life by an accident and out in the hills and mountains he so loved seems only fitting. Surely no person has had more accidents, from broken fingers to the one that caused his death. Several different times he has thought to have been dead. Only last September he and his wife were in an auto accident near Logan which caused him to be laid up for a long time.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 21, at the First Ward meeting house with Bishop officiating. The speakers James Hacking and President J. B. Colton. Beautiful music was furnished by a quartet consisting if Anton Strebel, H. Bether, Jessie Hislop and Mrs. Pearl Johnson which sang, "Till the Resurrection Day," "I Have Read of a Beautiful City," "Wanted on the Other Side", and "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go Dear Lord."
Bishop H. B. Calder dedicated the grave.
Interment was in the Vernal cemetery by the side of his two children and near his mother who was the first person buried in the Vernal cemetery.
-Vernal Express, December 24, 1920, transcribed by Rhonda Holton
Alma James Johnstun is the son of Betsy Ann Snyder and Jesse Walker Johnstun.
He married Lauretta Maria Henry May 31, 1875 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Alma James Johnstun was the son of Betsy Ann Snyder and Jesse Walker Johnstun. He married Lauretta Maria Henry May 31, 1875 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah.
His death was the result of a car accident.
Siblings: Laura Johnstun Jenne, Maria Johnstun Workman, Elizabeth Johnstun Blankenship, Joseph Alonzo Johnstun and Amy Johnstun Toone, Alma James Johnstun Jr.
Alma James and Lauretta Henry Johnstun
Mr. Johnstun was born July 23, 1853 in Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake County, Utah. Mrs. Johnstun was a daughter of Calvin Wm Henry and Rhoda Priscilla Barnum. She was born April 25, 1855, at South Cottonwood ward, Salt Lake County. They were married May 30, 1875.
When but a baby, her parents separated, her father taking Lauretta's only brother. James B, to live with him. In a few years her mother married Simpson David Huffaker. On May 31, 1875, when they were married. Mr Johnstun worked in the sawmill and was very successful there. He understood the work and the machinery and knew how to select trees to make the best lumber. He also was a miner and helped to locate some of the richest mines in the vicinity of Park City. His mother was much opposed to the sawmill business inasmuch as her own husband had lost his life in a sawmill.
Considerable talk came to their ears of the Ashley Fork, it being rumored that such was an excellent place to to raise cattle in winter. Alma decided to bring their cattle to Ashley Valley. They hired Joe Worlman to help them drive the cattle over into the valley. Joe stayed to herd the cattle over into the valley. Joe stayed to herd the cattle during the winter and Alma and Robert returned to their families.
In the spring of 1878, Mrs Johnstun's husband and her brother, James B. Henry, decided to leave Parley's Park and go to Arizona or New Mexico to live. She did not want them to go. As she had a fear of them crossing the Colorado River. They insisted on going. The farther south they traveled the more discouraged they became. At Fillmore they turned around and came home. She was not surprised to see them, as her constant prayer had been for their return and her prayer was answered. They arrived in Salt Lake City in time for April Conference, and at that conference President John Taylor called Alma Johnstun, James Henry and Grandpa Black, with their families, to come to Ashley Valley to help colonize.
In three weeks, they had all their possessions packed in their wagon and were ready to leave for Ashley Valley (Vernal). The company consisted of Grandpa Black, with his wife and her daughter Elizabeth Johnstun, a Scotchman by the name of Davey Johnston (father of Bob Johnson who now lives in Vernal) his wife and five children. Mrs Black was Alma Johnstun's mother and for a number of years she had been an invalid. This rough trip was very hard on her. It being necessary at times to rest over for a day or two so she would be able to continue the journey. Sister Black did not live long after coming to the valley (She died May 11, 1879) and was the first person buried in the Vernal cemetery. Such terrible roads as they had to travel, in many places there were just trails down the steep mountainsides. The men would walk by the sides of the wagons and hold them from flipping over.
They would carry their babies and climb the mountains, clinging to the brush in order to keep their footing. They came over the old Blue fording all the streams and through the old Dodd bench, across Nigger Heave, down Current Hill Twist, entering the gap west of the Valley June 5, 1878.
Most of the residents were living down on the Creek but this party of people located on what was then called the Bench. It was just one block north and east of the present Uintah High School. The first thing the men did was to go into the mountains to get logs for their houses. The Alma Johnstun home was the first one built and was located just across the street east from the present high school. On July 1st, they moved into a neat log house with a dirt roof and a dirt floor. The dirt floor was made smooth by pouring scalding water on it and then patting it down firmly. On September 2, a little girl was born to the Johnstun's. She was first child born on the bench, and the first girl in Ashley Valley. She was named Emily Lauretta (born September 2. 1878). When this baby was just two weeks old, Al Westover sent a boy to ask if Mrs. Johnstun could care for his small boy whose mother died, Mrs Davey Johnstun said in her Scotch way. "Na, na, it will kill you." Mrs. Johnstun said. "I shall die then and for a good cause." She kept the baby for three months and two days, then Philip Stringham and wife, (Mrs. Westover was a sister of Mrs. Stringham) came to get the child and Mrs. Johnstun did not see him again until he was sixteen years of age, and then not again until in the year 1933. (Baby was Alfred Clair Westover, b 15 Sep 1878; his mother was Clara Crouch Westover, sister of Caroline Crouch Stringham)
The first summer in Ashley Valley, the pioneers made gardens, and did all they could to prepare for the winter. The Johnstun's had a few potatoes and a little corn. In the fall they bought some sugar beets from Mr. Downey and Mrs. Johnstun, remembering how her mother had made beets into syrup, boiled these down, thus making their winter's supply of syrup. In the spring of 1879 they rented a place from Mrs. Beatty, down on Ashley Creek, there they raised a nice crop of wheat and a good garden. In the fall, Mr Johnstun went to Heber and while there decided to buy a threshing machine to bring home with him. Before he returned, the Meeker Massacre occurred and Uncle Jerry Hatch advised everyone to go to a fort. They came to Mrs Johnstun and told her to go into the fort or she would very likely be killed by the Indians. She showed the true spirit of the pioneer woman and said, "I will stay and take care of our crops. I have a good dog and I am not afraid." Mr Johnstun returned home to find his home in the fort.
After the hard winter, Mr Johnstun moved his home just west of where the Rutlif home now stands. Their cattle were all gone, but they soon had a lovely garden and were thankful for the land that was so productive. Mr Johnstun had seen the possibilities for a sawmill on the mountains surrounding the valley. He also saw the great need of lumber in building up the homes in this new community of settlers. He brought the first sawmill to the Ashley Valley on October 27, 1880. It was a difficult task to bring such heavy machinery over the rough roads. There were no bridges over the streams so all rivers had to be forded. Pimmey Rynmon helped him bring it in. The mill was taken to the Dry Fork mountains and for many years supplied the lumber for builders in the Valley.
The mill was set in different parts of the mountains, and Mr Johnstun built a planing mill on the northeast corner of what is now known as Main St and Fifth West. This was in 1882. It was destroyed by fire in May of 1892. Mrs. Johnstun went into the mountains with the men to do the cooking, taking her family with her. When the children had grown and the boys were called to serve in the war Mr Johnstun retired from the sawmill business. He was thrown from a car and badly injured and died on December 18, 1920. Mrs Lauretta Johnstun helped during these early days trying to care for the sick, and took an active part in the church organizations. She is remembered by everyone for her kindness and sympathy, her helpfulness and high standards.
Transcribed by Rhonda Holton, Builders of Uintah, pg 37.
A. J. JOHNSTUN SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES RECEIVED IN ACCIDENT
MADE A BRAVE FIGHT WITH DEATH BUT AGE WAS AGAINST HIM. PIONEER OF ASHLEY VALLEY ALWAYS ACTIVE IN CHURCH AND CIVIC AFFAIRS
After more than two weeks of intense suffering, caused by being crushed in an automobile accident on December 3, A. J. Johnstun the aged and respected pioneer of Ashley Valley passed to his great reward on Saturday, December 18, at 1:45 p.m.
Death occured at the Uintah hospital in Roosevelt where he was taken after the accident east of Gate Canyon in the oil shale fields. A full account of the accident was given in the Vernal Express on December 10.
A. J. Johnstun or Al, as he was known to all his associates was one of the early pioneers of Ashley Valley being called here on a mission to help build up this country by President John Taylor in 1878 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to which mission he spent his useful and active life. His was not a life of outward show but rather one of every day Christly deeds.
Loved by a_______________________ he passed to his reward with a testimony of a truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Mr. Johnstun was born 67 yerars ago in South Cottonwood, Salt Lake County, Utah July 23, 1853, a son of Jesse W. and Betsy Ann Snyder (Johnstun). His early life was one of the early pioneer hardships which gave him the schooling for the hardships he was to endure in his latter life. His father before him, being one of the now famous "Mormon Battalion" who was killed in an accident in a saw mill in Parley's Park when Al was only a small boy.
May 31, 1875, he married Lauretta Henry in the old Endowment House in Salt Lake City and a few years later was called on his mission for building up the frontier, his lot being to come to Ashley Valley (Vernal).
To this union were born 12 children, 10 are living and also the widowed wife and mother, Minnie Atwood, Vernal; Emma (Emily Lauretta) was born September 2, 1878 and died January 21, 1880, was the first child born on what was known as the bench and believed to be the first girl born in Ashley Valley; A. J, Jr., St. George; William J., Roosevelt; Rody (Rhoda) Eugene (Eugenia) Marshall, Lewiston, Idaho; Elizabeth P. Hodson, Portland, Oregon; Jeremiah, (born and) died Janaury 31, 1890; Joseph, Vernal; Darrell Ray and Delpha May Neilson, twins, Vernal; George, Vernal and Owen H., Vernal.
There are also 22 grandchildren. All of the children were present at the funeral except Mrs. Hodson who could not get here. Seventeen of the grandchildren were present.
The first threshing machine was operated in Ashley Valley by Mr. Johnstun. He was also the second blacksmith in the valley. When he went to build his home on the homestead he had taken a part of which he still owned at death, there was need for lumber. He went to Salt Lake City and purchased a sawmill which was placed at the upper end of Deep Creek near where the Thorobred Ranch is located.
This was in 1881. Since that time he has been interested in sawmill and lumber business. Owning and operating the first planer in this section. The big Red planer being on his property. His saw mill is now at Brush Creek Mountain near Kane's cabin.
He also promoted and had an interest in the first steam roller flour mill which was located just opposite where his beautiful home was burned two years ago. The mill was also burned.
Israel Clark and Mr. Johnstun plowed the first furrow for the starting of the Ashley Central Canal. He also helped to open the first coal mine which was near the Pardon Dodds Sr. homestead.
During the hard winter of '78-'80 all were in the old fort Thornburg to seek protection from the Indians at the time of the Meeker massacre. In the spring all went back to their homes and to subduing the soil.
At this time Bill Reynolds the old miller of the Farmer's Mill in Maeser and Mr. Johnstun fashioned some burs out of rock and with machinery owned by Mr. Reynolds and the horse power of Mr. Johnstun's thresher ground the wheat into graham flour for the settlers.
In civic duties he ever took an active part and served several terms as county commssioner.
The closing of his active life by an accident and out in the hills and mountains he so loved seems only fitting. Surely no person has had more accidents, from broken fingers to the one that caused his death. Several different times he has thought to have been dead. Only last September he and his wife were in an auto accident near Logan which caused him to be laid up for a long time.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 21, at the First Ward meeting house with Bishop officiating. The speakers James Hacking and President J. B. Colton. Beautiful music was furnished by a quartet consisting if Anton Strebel, H. Bether, Jessie Hislop and Mrs. Pearl Johnson which sang, "Till the Resurrection Day," "I Have Read of a Beautiful City," "Wanted on the Other Side", and "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go Dear Lord."
Bishop H. B. Calder dedicated the grave.
Interment was in the Vernal cemetery by the side of his two children and near his mother who was the first person buried in the Vernal cemetery.
-Vernal Express, December 24, 1920, transcribed by Rhonda Holton
Alma James Johnstun is the son of Betsy Ann Snyder and Jesse Walker Johnstun.
He married Lauretta Maria Henry May 31, 1875 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Alma James Johnstun was the son of Betsy Ann Snyder and Jesse Walker Johnstun. He married Lauretta Maria Henry May 31, 1875 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah.
His death was the result of a car accident.
Siblings: Laura Johnstun Jenne, Maria Johnstun Workman, Elizabeth Johnstun Blankenship, Joseph Alonzo Johnstun and Amy Johnstun Toone, Alma James Johnstun Jr.
Mr. Johnstun was born July 23, 1853 in Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake County, Utah. Mrs. Johnstun was a daughter of Calvin Wm Henry and Rhoda Priscilla Barnum. She was born April 25, 1855, at South Cottonwood ward, Salt Lake County. They were married May 30, 1875.
When but a baby, her parents separated, her father taking Lauretta's only brother. James B, to live with him. In a few years her mother married Simpson David Huffaker. On May 31, 1875, when they were married. Mr Johnstun worked in the sawmill and was very successful there. He understood the work and the machinery and knew how to select trees to make the best lumber. He also was a miner and helped to locate some of the richest mines in the vicinity of Park City. His mother was much opposed to the sawmill business inasmuch as her own husband had lost his life in a sawmill.
Considerable talk came to their ears of the Ashley Fork, it being rumored that such was an excellent place to to raise cattle in winter. Alma decided to bring their cattle to Ashley Valley. They hired Joe Worlman to help them drive the cattle over into the valley. Joe stayed to herd the cattle over into the valley. Joe stayed to herd the cattle during the winter and Alma and Robert returned to their families.
In the spring of 1878, Mrs Johnstun's husband and her brother, James B. Henry, decided to leave Parley's Park and go to Arizona or New Mexico to live. She did not want them to go. As she had a fear of them crossing the Colorado River. They insisted on going. The farther south they traveled the more discouraged they became. At Fillmore they turned around and came home. She was not surprised to see them, as her constant prayer had been for their return and her prayer was answered. They arrived in Salt Lake City in time for April Conference, and at that conference President John Taylor called Alma Johnstun, James Henry and Grandpa Black, with their families, to come to Ashley Valley to help colonize.
In three weeks, they had all their possessions packed in their wagon and were ready to leave for Ashley Valley (Vernal). The company consisted of Grandpa Black, with his wife and her daughter Elizabeth Johnstun, a Scotchman by the name of Davey Johnston (father of Bob Johnson who now lives in Vernal) his wife and five children. Mrs Black was Alma Johnstun's mother and for a number of years she had been an invalid. This rough trip was very hard on her. It being necessary at times to rest over for a day or two so she would be able to continue the journey. Sister Black did not live long after coming to the valley (She died May 11, 1879) and was the first person buried in the Vernal cemetery. Such terrible roads as they had to travel, in many places there were just trails down the steep mountainsides. The men would walk by the sides of the wagons and hold them from flipping over.
They would carry their babies and climb the mountains, clinging to the brush in order to keep their footing. They came over the old Blue fording all the streams and through the old Dodd bench, across Nigger Heave, down Current Hill Twist, entering the gap west of the Valley June 5, 1878.
Most of the residents were living down on the Creek but this party of people located on what was then called the Bench. It was just one block north and east of the present Uintah High School. The first thing the men did was to go into the mountains to get logs for their houses. The Alma Johnstun home was the first one built and was located just across the street east from the present high school. On July 1st, they moved into a neat log house with a dirt roof and a dirt floor. The dirt floor was made smooth by pouring scalding water on it and then patting it down firmly. On September 2, a little girl was born to the Johnstun's. She was first child born on the bench, and the first girl in Ashley Valley. She was named Emily Lauretta (born September 2. 1878). When this baby was just two weeks old, Al Westover sent a boy to ask if Mrs. Johnstun could care for his small boy whose mother died, Mrs Davey Johnstun said in her Scotch way. "Na, na, it will kill you." Mrs. Johnstun said. "I shall die then and for a good cause." She kept the baby for three months and two days, then Philip Stringham and wife, (Mrs. Westover was a sister of Mrs. Stringham) came to get the child and Mrs. Johnstun did not see him again until he was sixteen years of age, and then not again until in the year 1933. (Baby was Alfred Clair Westover, b 15 Sep 1878; his mother was Clara Crouch Westover, sister of Caroline Crouch Stringham)
The first summer in Ashley Valley, the pioneers made gardens, and did all they could to prepare for the winter. The Johnstun's had a few potatoes and a little corn. In the fall they bought some sugar beets from Mr. Downey and Mrs. Johnstun, remembering how her mother had made beets into syrup, boiled these down, thus making their winter's supply of syrup. In the spring of 1879 they rented a place from Mrs. Beatty, down on Ashley Creek, there they raised a nice crop of wheat and a good garden. In the fall, Mr Johnstun went to Heber and while there decided to buy a threshing machine to bring home with him. Before he returned, the Meeker Massacre occurred and Uncle Jerry Hatch advised everyone to go to a fort. They came to Mrs Johnstun and told her to go into the fort or she would very likely be killed by the Indians. She showed the true spirit of the pioneer woman and said, "I will stay and take care of our crops. I have a good dog and I am not afraid." Mr Johnstun returned home to find his home in the fort.
After the hard winter, Mr Johnstun moved his home just west of where the Rutlif home now stands. Their cattle were all gone, but they soon had a lovely garden and were thankful for the land that was so productive. Mr Johnstun had seen the possibilities for a sawmill on the mountains surrounding the valley. He also saw the great need of lumber in building up the homes in this new community of settlers. He brought the first sawmill to the Ashley Valley on October 27, 1880. It was a difficult task to bring such heavy machinery over the rough roads. There were no bridges over the streams so all rivers had to be forded. Pimmey Rynmon helped him bring it in. The mill was taken to the Dry Fork mountains and for many years supplied the lumber for builders in the Valley.
The mill was set in different parts of the mountains, and Mr Johnstun built a planing mill on the northeast corner of what is now known as Main St and Fifth West. This was in 1882. It was destroyed by fire in May of 1892. Mrs. Johnstun went into the mountains with the men to do the cooking, taking her family with her. When the children had grown and the boys were called to serve in the war Mr Johnstun retired from the sawmill business. He was thrown from a car and badly injured and died on December 18, 1920. Mrs Lauretta Johnstun helped during these early days trying to care for the sick, and took an active part in the church organizations. She is remembered by everyone for her kindness and sympathy, her helpfulness and high standards.
Transcribed by Rhonda Holton, Builders of Uintah, pg 37.
A. J. JOHNSTUN SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES RECEIVED IN ACCIDENT
MADE A BRAVE FIGHT WITH DEATH BUT AGE WAS AGAINST HIM. PIONEER OF ASHLEY VALLEY ALWAYS ACTIVE IN CHURCH AND CIVIC AFFAIRS
After more than two weeks of intense suffering, caused by being crushed in an automobile accident on December 3, A. J. Johnstun the aged and respected pioneer of Ashley Valley passed to his great reward on Saturday, December 18, at 1:45 p.m.
Death occured at the Uintah hospital in Roosevelt where he was taken after the accident east of Gate Canyon in the oil shale fields. A full account of the accident was given in the Vernal Express on December 10.
A. J. Johnstun or Al, as he was known to all his associates was one of the early pioneers of Ashley Valley being called here on a mission to help build up this country by President John Taylor in 1878 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to which mission he spent his useful and active life. His was not a life of outward show but rather one of every day Christly deeds.
Loved by a_______________________ he passed to his reward with a testimony of a truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Mr. Johnstun was born 67 yerars ago in South Cottonwood, Salt Lake County, Utah July 23, 1853, a son of Jesse W. and Betsy Ann Snyder (Johnstun). His early life was one of the early pioneer hardships which gave him the schooling for the hardships he was to endure in his latter life. His father before him, being one of the now famous "Mormon Battalion" who was killed in an accident in a saw mill in Parley's Park when Al was only a small boy.
May 31, 1875, he married Lauretta Henry in the old Endowment House in Salt Lake City and a few years later was called on his mission for building up the frontier, his lot being to come to Ashley Valley (Vernal).
To this union were born 12 children, 10 are living and also the widowed wife and mother, Minnie Atwood, Vernal; Emma (Emily Lauretta) was born September 2, 1878 and died January 21, 1880, was the first child born on what was known as the bench and believed to be the first girl born in Ashley Valley; A. J, Jr., St. George; William J., Roosevelt; Rody (Rhoda) Eugene (Eugenia) Marshall, Lewiston, Idaho; Elizabeth P. Hodson, Portland, Oregon; Jeremiah, (born and) died Janaury 31, 1890; Joseph, Vernal; Darrell Ray and Delpha May Neilson, twins, Vernal; George, Vernal and Owen H., Vernal.
There are also 22 grandchildren. All of the children were present at the funeral except Mrs. Hodson who could not get here. Seventeen of the grandchildren were present.
The first threshing machine was operated in Ashley Valley by Mr. Johnstun. He was also the second blacksmith in the valley. When he went to build his home on the homestead he had taken a part of which he still owned at death, there was need for lumber. He went to Salt Lake City and purchased a sawmill which was placed at the upper end of Deep Creek near where the Thorobred Ranch is located.
This was in 1881. Since that time he has been interested in sawmill and lumber business. Owning and operating the first planer in this section. The big Red planer being on his property. His saw mill is now at Brush Creek Mountain near Kane's cabin.
He also promoted and had an interest in the first steam roller flour mill which was located just opposite where his beautiful home was burned two years ago. The mill was also burned.
Israel Clark and Mr. Johnstun plowed the first furrow for the starting of the Ashley Central Canal. He also helped to open the first coal mine which was near the Pardon Dodds Sr. homestead.
During the hard winter of '78-'80 all were in the old fort Thornburg to seek protection from the Indians at the time of the Meeker massacre. In the spring all went back to their homes and to subduing the soil.
At this time Bill Reynolds the old miller of the Farmer's Mill in Maeser and Mr. Johnstun fashioned some burs out of rock and with machinery owned by Mr. Reynolds and the horse power of Mr. Johnstun's thresher ground the wheat into graham flour for the settlers.
In civic duties he ever took an active part and served several terms as county commssioner.
The closing of his active life by an accident and out in the hills and mountains he so loved seems only fitting. Surely no person has had more accidents, from broken fingers to the one that caused his death. Several different times he has thought to have been dead. Only last September he and his wife were in an auto accident near Logan which caused him to be laid up for a long time.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 21, at the First Ward meeting house with Bishop officiating. The speakers James Hacking and President J. B. Colton. Beautiful music was furnished by a quartet consisting if Anton Strebel, H. Bether, Jessie Hislop and Mrs. Pearl Johnson which sang, "Till the Resurrection Day," "I Have Read of a Beautiful City," "Wanted on the Other Side", and "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go Dear Lord."
Bishop H. B. Calder dedicated the grave.
Interment was in the Vernal cemetery by the side of his two children and near his mother who was the first person buried in the Vernal cemetery.
-Vernal Express, December 24, 1920, transcribed by Rhonda Holton
Alma James Johnstun is the son of Betsy Ann Snyder and Jesse Walker Johnstun.
He married Lauretta Maria Henry May 31, 1875 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Alma James Johnstun was the son of Betsy Ann Snyder and Jesse Walker Johnstun. He married Lauretta Maria Henry May 31, 1875 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah.
His death was the result of a car accident.
Siblings: Laura Johnstun Jenne, Maria Johnstun Workman, Elizabeth Johnstun Blankenship, Joseph Alonzo Johnstun and Amy Johnstun Toone, Alma James Johnstun Jr.
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