Life on the San Pedro
Contributed By: RuthMaroney · 9 November 2014 · on Familysearch.org
Life on the San Pedro
From the life story of Joseph Gilbert Allred; written by his daughter, Edith Allred Davis
Joseph Gilbert Allred was born 2 June 1852 in Draper, Salt Lake County, Utah. On 8 December 1873 Joseph Gilbert married Eliza Ann Layton in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah. Eliza was the oldest daughter of Christopher Layton.
In 1883 Christopher Layton was called by the President of the Church to go into Southern Arizona and organize the St. Joseph Stake of which he was its first President. So, he and his family left Utah and settled in St. David, Arizona.
Joseph Gilbert sold his 40 acres of land in Layton, Utah for $3,000.00, and prepared to join his father-in-law in Arizona. In March 1883, after arrangements and preparations for the trip had been make, which consisted of furniture, cattle, grains, fruits, and machinery, three train car load were transported to Arizona, taking eight days and nights to make the trip, arriving in St. David at midnight on March 13th.
Early the next morning following their arrival, Eliza Ann walked a short distance to the San Pedro River, and cried because of the lonesomeness of the desert country. First they lived out of doors, sleeping in tents until adobe houses could be built.
In the meantime a ranch had been purchased on the San Pedro River, about six miles below the first camp. This ranch consisted of about 100 acres of which 40 belonged to Joseph Gilbert and 60 acres to Christopher Layton.
What seed could be planted at that time was planted, and the farm land was prepared for the different crops. Grass hay was cut from the hillsides, and cattle raising was quite profitable.
In the St. David area at this time only a one teacher school was available, and the children rode 2 ½ miles to school in a cart pulled by a burro.
There had been a prophesy made to these people that there would be much water in this country. Sometime after their arrival there, an earthquake cracked open the barren ground, and springs came up in many places. The people then built small houses around the springs and here they would float pans of milk to cool in the spring houses.
While in St. David, Joseph was called to be a second counselor to the Stake MIA Superintendant, and later was called to be the second counselor to Bishop M.H. Merrill.
His oldest daughter, Sarah, tells of trapping quail with her brother, Christopher, and going into “Contention” with their father as he took in loads of Prairie hay to sell. The children took the quail to the Can-Can, and sold them. This money they earned was their own for special treats and treasures.
Joseph was away from home a great deal freighting and helping other immigrants in their trek from Utah to Arizona and Mexico. In the story of George Albert Martineau, mention is made of “Joe Allred who was helping transport horses. They unloaded at Tucson, and changed to the Spur Line running to St. David. The final unloading point was a small Mexican town called Contention.”
In May 1888, Joseph Gilbert moved his family to Thatcher. In April 1903 Eliza Ann passed away. Joseph Gilbert married Elizabeth Allen in Thatcher, Arizona on 15 May 1904. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on 19 October 1904. Elizabeth Allen is your great-great-great grandmother.
Joseph was a quiet person, and had an easy-going personality who tried very hard to provide the best for his family. He contributed a great deal in the settling of the saints in Arizona, not only by moving his family to such desolate country, and helping develop it, but also by helping friends and neighbors establish themselves in a new country. He was known by many as “Uncle Joe” – a man of wisdom, understanding, patience and love. A regular tithe payer, always paid his church and other obligations, gave help where needed, and always had family prayers.
Joseph Gilbert passed away on 18 January 1915.
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Eliza Ann Layton and Joseph G. Allred |
Contributed By: Linda Layton Norton · 5 May 2014 · on Familysearch.org
Joseph Gilbert Allred was the son of Joseph Anderson Allred, born April 26, 1931 in St. Role, Monroe County, Missouri and Rhoda Ann Palmer, born March 15, 1834 in Canada and married January 1, 1851 in Salt Lake City.
Joseph Gilbert Allred was born June 8, 1852 in Draper, Utah. Later the family moved to Lewiston, Cache County, Utah and engaged in farming. Joseph Gilbert Allred remained at home, helping with the tasks of the farm until he was 14 years of age. At the age of 12 he stood night guard with others against the Black Hawk Indians.
When he was 14 he went to Kaysville, Utah to work for a Mr. Christopher Layton. His father’s sister Mrs. Mary Egbert was living in Kaysville at this time, engaged in the raising of silk worms. Mr. Layton was engaged in extensive farming. Joseph Gilbert’s responsibilities increased each year. At the end of the 7th year (December 8, 1873) he was married to Eliza Ann Layton, born May 28, 1856, oldest daughter of Sarah Martin and Christopher Layton. They made their home in Kaysville, purchasing a home. It was here their oldest child, Sarah Martin, was born October 16, 1874. Feeling that by living in the city he could not do justice to his farm work, he took his little family and purchased a farm in Layton, Utah, making his home there.
On June 16, 1877 a son was born. He was given the name of his two grandfathers; Christopher Anderson. Joseph Gilbert still managed and helped Christopher Layton with his farms. The best of equipment, at least the best that could be secured in those early days, was used. On October 2, 1879 a daughter, Rhoda Olive was born and died July 19, 1880 and was buried in Kaysville. On July 6, 1881 at Layton, Davis County, Utah a son, Joseph Myron was born.
In 1882 Christopher Layton was called by the President of the Church to go into Southern Arizona and organize the St. Joseph Stake of which he was its first president. The Mt. Graham Stake and the St. Joseph Stake at that time constituted the St. Joseph Stake.
In March 1883, after arrangements and preparations for the trip had been made, which consisted of furniture, cattle, grains and fruits and machinery; three train car loads were transported to Arizona taking 10 days and nights to make the trip. Joseph Gilbert sold his 40 acres in Layton for $3000. His family (who got on at Ogden) was 8 days and nights on the way. Joseph Gilbert took charge of the cattle trains.
At Lathrop, California, when it was necessary to stop for feed, Christopher Anderson, his 5 year old son, joined his father for the remainder of the trip. Oranges were bought from the Indians at a California Station. This was a treat to old as well as young.
On March 23, 1883 at midnight this little company, consisting of Joseph’s wife and 2 children, Sarah and Myron, Brother Martineaux and family and Dr. Grosbec and family of Logan arrived at Benson. Shortly after, the Martineaux and Grosbec families moved to Gila Valley.
Three tents, which had been prepared by Christopher Layton, who had arrived a month earlier, became the camp home of Joseph Gilbert and his family. In the meantime a ranch had been purchased on the San Pedro River, about six miles below the first camp. This ranch consisted of about 100 acres of which 40 belonged to Joseph Gilbert and 60 acres to Christopher Layton. These pioneers lived in tents until they were able to build a house. Brother Layton’s house was completed first, and then Joseph Gilbert began to plan and build one for his little family.
On October 19, 1883 Charles Gilbert was born. He died March 23, 1886 in St. David, with pneumonia.
What seed could be planted at that time was planted, and the farm land was prepared for the different crops. Grass hay was cut from the hillsides, and cattle raising was quite profitable. At this time only a one teacher school was available. Within the five years, Alford Cluff, Mrs. Coston, Miss Burham, Tom Williams, Seth Jones, and Izetta Pomroy were teachers.
Joseph Gilbert was counselor to Bishop Merrill of the St. David Ward, and later was counselor to Peter A. Lofgreen. The children rode in a cart 2 ½ miles to school, having a burro to pull it. At the age of 12, Sarah M. together with her mother taught Sunday School classes.
By recommendation from the Authorities of the Church, Christopher Layton and family moved to Safford, about 1886. At which time he bought the grist mill at Safford and the land between Pima and Safford in Graham County, Arizona along the Gila River. The town of Thatcher between Safford and Pima was surveyed in 2 acre lots and sold for $25 a lot.
In May 1888, Joseph Gilbert moved his family to Thatcher, purchasing two lots. While a home on Main Street was being constructed for his family, Joseph Gilbert bought a saw mill and sold lumber off Mt. Graham, to pay for his home, and his wife taught school to buy the doors and windows. He was made High Councilman in that year.
On April 16, 1891, a daughter, Maggie Eliza, was born at Thatcher, Arizona. In 1892 the millinery store, or stock which was purchased at Tombstone, was enlarged and groceries and Ice Cream Parlor and notions were added. An Ice Plant was built which was owned jointly by Christopher Layton and Joseph Gilbert Allred. This was the first Ice Plant in the Gila Valley.
Taken from the collection of Sarah Martin Allred Hunt, daughter.
Children of Joseph Gilbert and Eliza Ann Layton Allred
The caption has Christopher Anderson and Joseph Myron backwards. The girls are, left to right, Margaret Eliza "Maggie" and Sarah Martin (Hunt) Allred.
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