6th generation:Maria Taylor (my ggg maternal grandma; Helen McRae's paternal grandma)

Maria Taylor was born on January 17, 1845 in Spilsby, Lincoln, England.  She married Joseph McRae on March 4, 1862 in SLC, Utah Territory.  She is the mother of 10 children. She died April 19, 1901 and was buried the next day in Thatcher, Graham, Arizona.

Maria Taylor, age 8, came to America aboard the "Germanicus" from Liverpool to New Orleans. April 4-June 13, 1854. She came with her mother Ann and sister Martha, age 10.

Annie Maria, Maria Taylor (seated) and Mary Jane McRae

1 MARIA TAYLOR McRAE (Jan. 17, 1845-April 19, 1901) Maria Taylor McRae was born in Spillsbury, Lincolnshire, England, January 17, 1845. She was the daughter of George Edward Grove Taylor and Ann Wicks. She had three older brothers and sisters, namely Joseph Edward, Margaret Ann and Martha. When Maria was seven years of age, some Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were sent from America to preach the Gospel to the people of England. The family gladly accepted their message, and Maria could hardly wait for her eighth birthday so she could be baptized. Her Father and brother were appointed as local missionaries and made many converts into the Church. Maria only went to school a few weeks in England where about all they taught was sewing, having to count the threads of the cloth between each stitch. She was well rewarded for her patience, and later she became a good seamstress. She was the mother of seven children before she had a sewing machine. The family wished to go to America, but as they did not have the money for all to go, they thought it best to send their son, Joseph. He arrived in Salt Lake City in 1852, obtained employment at different jobs. Later he became one of the pioneer undertakers and built the first coffin factory west of the Mississippi River. As soon as he could save enough money, it was sent to his mother so that she and his two younger sisters, Martha and Maria, could pay for their voyage to the United States. They were ten weeks and three days crossing the ocean. They arrived at St. Louis and remained there a year. Each went to different homes to work. The mother did nursing and the girls took care of children and washed dishes to pay for their board and room. Maria was small for her age and had to stand on a box to wash the dishes and mix bread. With the help of the Emigration Fund, they started for Salt Lake City, a thousand miles away. They shared a wagon with another family and as the Mother was sick most of the time, and her sister not very strong, Maria had to walk most of the way. As she trudged along over the rough country day after day, Maria became very discouraged. One day she went and sat down under a tree and let the wagons go on by. Soon she heard a noise, and looking up, saw a large Indian standing nearby. She arose and ran as fast as she could, the Indian following her, but he didn’t try to harm her. When they were near the MARIA TAYLOR McRAE-Jan. 17, 1845-April 19, 1901 2 wagons, he disappeared into the bushes. This taught her a lesson, and after that she stayed near the others. After suffering many hardships, they arrived in Utah and stayed at the home of her brother, Joseph, a while. There again, they each went to different homes to work. Maria was fortunate, living in the homes of cultured people, the Whitney’s, where she helped to care for Orson F. Whitney as a baby. She would take him for walks up City Creek Canyon. He has said his first recollection was the wild roses that grew there. She later lived in the home of Emmeline B. Wells, Editor of the "Woman’s Exponent", now called "The Relief Society Magazine". Sister Wells was very kind to her, encouraging her to read, and related many wonderful experiences in her life and of the Church. Maria became so attached to the daughter, Annie, that she later named her own daughter after her. As the girls grew older, they earned fifty cents a week and paid for their clothing. They had three dresses a year, two made of unbleached muslin, which they dyed with the bark of trees or plants, and one wool, made in the fall, for Church and social occasions. Maria was about 4’ 5" tall, had grey eyes and dark auburn hair, with a permanent wave that could never be combed out, and always kept a clear English complexion which never freckled, in spite of dust, and heat of traveling. On March 5, 1862 she married Joseph McRae, son of Alexander McRae who was in Liberty Jail with the Prophet. Their lives were mostly spent in pioneering, living the first years of their married life in Salt Lake City where four children were born Eunice Ann dying in infancy, Joseph Alexander, John Kenneth, and George Edwin. As Brother Joseph had some farming land in Wasatch County, he offered the land to Joseph and Maria to run on shares, so the family moved to the town of Charleston, where two daughters, Annie Maria and Mary Jane were born. It was here they built their first home. As their home was about completed, Joseph had gone into Colt Lake City to Conference and to buy more lumber, but returned with a "call" from President Brigham Young to go to Arizona to help settle some of the wastelands there. It can well be imagined the feeling of the family, especially Maria, when the father arrived home and told of the new plans. New adventure was exciting for boys, who no doubt were dreaming of fighting the Indians, but for Maria, always pioneering, always wanting a home where some of the comforts of life could be had for her growing family, this must have come as quite a blow. A home had been so near before her husband left, and now at his return the plans had been changed so completely. However, never doubting the divinity of the "Call", never shirking her duty, she went quietly about getting their possessions ready for the long trip into the land of ’privations and hardships". MARIA TAYLOR McRAE-Jan. 17, 1845-April 19, 1901 3 Taking their lives in their hands, but with great faith in their leaders, they sold their home and left Charleston with their five children. Joseph and the boys started in November with the teams, and Maria and the girls went by train to Minersville, Utah to the home of her sister, Margaret Goodman. Her husband and boys met them and they spent Christmas together. They went on to St. George and were there for the dedication of the Temple in January. They formed a Company here at St. George under the leadership of Daniel W. Jones, and with two teams and wagons, loaded with what food and essentials they might need in an unknown country, they set out. Arizona at that time seemed to be mostly inhabited by Indians who were committing many depredations. When they reached the Colorado River, Joseph had to sell a wagon, and Maria gave up her valuable flat-irons and other useful articles to pay the ferryman for helping the Company cross the river. They now had to crowd into one wagon ’till they reached the Salt River and camped where Lehi now is. They went to work and took out a canal, planted gardens and lived in tents. As they had received a letter from President Young asking that at least a part of the Company go farther south and settle on the San Pedro, they, with six other families, left Lehi the last of August. The privations and hardships of this journey are explained in the history of her husband. On arriving at the San Pedro River near what is now called St. David, they again camped in tents. For these refined and delicate mothers, sick and sad, deprived of the comforts of home, cooking over fires in the open when the wind filled their eyes with fire and dust, going to bed and getting up unkempt and unwashed, their children deprived of the little niceties of civilization, made the very discouraged and disheartened. In a letter from Maria to her Mother, here is just a little of the heartache: San Pedro River, Arizona 2 February, 1879 “My Dear Mother: This is Sunday afternoon and we have no meeting so I thought I could not occupy my time better then to answer your very welcome letter. We were very glad to hear from you and that you were all well, as it found all of us pretty well. The children have the chills sometimes. I have MARIA TAYLOR McRAE-Jan. 17, 1845-April 19, 1901 4 not had but one hard chill since we have been here. We do not know what we are going to do yet about where we shall live. President Taylor writes he should not like to have the settlement broken up on the San Pedro River. He thinks it will be more healthy farther back from the river, but it will be very expensive to take the, water out. The most of the Company feels like trying it another year. It is nearly time we settled down somewhere. When I read about what the sisters are doing in Utah, I feel as though we were not doing much good, but I suppose it is all necessary for the forwarding of the work. Dear Mother, I can realize how you loved the Society of Saints, for I long for the time to come when there will be some good Latter-day Saints come here to live. Do not think there is none here, but when you mingle with people every day, you begin to know one another so well that there is nothing new; but when you are deprived of a blessing, you know how to appreciate them when you get a chance, Mother. You wanted me to write a long letter, but we have nothing particular to write about. I have plenty of hard work as usual. We have two boarders, besides our own family, and living in a tent is not as convenient as a house, but I want to try and get a few things that we need. We are surrounded by gentiles and they are a rough set. They have nearly all been to Utah and have drifted down here. Tomorrow is Annie’s birthday. She is very large for her age. It does not look like it did in Charleston six years ago. The ground is dry and dusty, and very warm in the middle of the day, but very cold at night. This is a good climate if it was only healthy. Joseph and the children send their love to you. I must stop and get supper. Give my love to all. From your loving daughter, (signed) Maria McRae. PS We live 38 miles from the post office, so I do not know when I shall get a chance to send this.” After living here for some time, they managed to build a fort to protect them from the Apache Indians. They were never molested. As Joseph said, “We were not called down here to be killed by Indians", but they had many scares. After they were settled in the Fort, every one became ill with chills and fever excepting Joseph. Maria had a settled fever all summer, which they called “Malaria". At times the sick had to wait on the sick. In October, while all were sick with these chills, Apostle Erastus Snow and others made them a visit from Salt Lake City. He administered to the sick and promised them that this river would yet be settled with Saints. Maria believed MARIA TAYLOR McRAE-Jan. 17, 1845-April 19, 1901 5 this promise and hoped to live to see it fulfilled. As nearly all were sick in bed, she must have had great faith. It was truly a blessing to the new settlers when the Lord guided Brother John H. Campbell to join with the Saints on the San Pedro. Great was the relief and many of the problems solved when he gave the Saints work on the saw mill and feed from his store. Joseph and Maria took their family and moved to the mountains to work. He was happy to get the money that they sorely needed at this time and was in hopes that a change of climate might improve her health getting away from the intense heat and the diseased water, as at that time it was not really known what was causing the “malaria". In Miller Canyon, Joseph built a large one-room house out of new lumber, thinking to have a nice comfortable room when the baby was born. Shakes were put on the roof instead of shingles. As the lumber had not been seasoned, the boards shrunk, so on September 20, as the rain poured down outside, their son Charles was born, being the first white child born in Cochise County. Pans and buckets were placed over the bed to keep Maria dry. Sometime later they came back to the Fort and helped settle the Valley, taking out a canal freighting to Tombstone (which was discovered in 1878), and also to Bisbee later. Here a home was built, and three more sons were born. - - Parley Kenneth, Orson Pratt, and Milton. Maria taught the first school room in St. David. This was in 1870 and 1879. She would call in the neighbors’ children and teach them along with her own. She didn’t want her children to grow up in ignorance. It is said that she was the first teacher in Cochise County. She with Susan Curtis, established a school in her home. The McRae home was the largest in the community. They held lots of entertainment there and always had a group in their home. One night Maria had a dream in which she saw canals along the foothills above the town, and everything was green and pretty. Maybe, if Charleston Dam is ever completed, this may come true. She loved St. David very dearly and even after moving to the Gila Valley, she wanted to return there. Maria had a tremendous adjustment to make when Joseph returned from Salt Lake City in April, 1880, with the news that he had entered into plural marriage with Augusta Erickson. The taking of another wife by Joseph, while the righteousness of the act was never questioned by Maria, was a great trial to her. MARIA TAYLOR McRAE-Jan. 17, 1845-April 19, 1901 6 Joseph’s release from the “Call" to assist in colonizing Arizona came in the fall of 1890. Being discouraged about crop failures and things In general, the family decided to return to Utah to live. Joseph and Maria left the children on the old homestead in 1893 while they went on ahead to their intended home in Utah, but returned at word of Charles’ serious illness with typhoid faver; Parley and Hilton also had the fever. After the children recovered, the family decided to move to the Gila Valley. This was on July 20, 1893. When they first entered the Valley, they stayed in Safford a few months, then bought a home in Thatcher where the children attended school. Maria’s health began to fail and it became the duty of her daughter Mary Jane "Mamie” to care for her as Joseph was away a good deal of the time. His inability to succeed in matters temporal, altho’ he was a good man, a true father and a faithful Latter-day Saint, caused her to fall into a sort of melancholy which unquestionably hastened her death. It seemed impossible for her to rise above and conquer her feelings. She passed away in the old home in Thatcher on April 19, 1901 with Mamie, Charles and Milton with her. Her husband and daughter Annie were living in St. David and were unable to attend her funeral due to storms which had washed away the railroad tracks between St. David and Thatcher. She was buried in Thatcher. She was loved and mourned by many, being regarded as a faithful wife and true and loving Mother. So goodness, honor, and purity adorn the parents of whom the family should be justly proud.

Maria Taylor's Birth Certificate

6th generation:Joseph McRae (my ggg maternal grandpa; Helen McRae's paternal grandpa)

Joseph McRae was born on March 3, 1838 in Far West, Caldwell, Missouri.  He married Maria Taylor on and together they had 10 children.  His second wife was Augusta Erickson and they were married  on Feb. 3, 1888 and they had 3 children together.

Back Row left to right: David, Joseph, Daniel and John McRae
Front Row: Mary Jane, Martha, Alexander, Eunice Fitzgerald, and Sarah Eunice McRae

         

Maria Taylor and Joseph McRae and two of their children

Old Fort Utah Monument listing Joseph McRae and his family.

History of Joseph McRae

Contributed By: GaySlade · 12 September 2013 · on Familysearch.org 

Joseph McRae was born 3 March 1838, in Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri, a son of Alexander and Eunce Fitzgerald McRae.  At the time of his birth, his father was incarcerated in Liberty Jail with the Prophet Joseph Smith and other Church Leaders.  His mother walked from Far West to Liberty, a distance of fifty miles, carrying her infant son, so he could be given a name and a father's blessing by his father.  The Prophet asked permission to bless and name the child, which was granted.  He gave the child his own name of "Joseph"; perhaps the only baby to be blessed by a prophet in chains.

Joseph's childhood was spent amid the drivings and persecutions in Missouri, Illinois and elsewhere. In  September, 1850, he was baptized by M. Wilbur.  When fourteen years of age, he drove an ox-team from Iowa to Utah, arriving with his family in Salt Lake City in 1852.  He hired out to learn the blacksmith trade.

On 4 March 1962, Joseph married Maria Taylor, daughter of George Edward Grove Taylor and Ann Wicks.  Four children were born in Salt Lake City: Eunice Ann, 26 September 1863 (she died the following month); Joseph Alexander, 19 March 1865; John Kenneth, 12 November 1867; and George Edwin, 29 March 1870.

The family moved to Charleston, Wasatch County, Utah, in 1873, where Annie Marie was born 3 February 1873, and Mary Jane was born 23 May 1876.

In October, 1876, Joseph attended General Conference in Salt Lake City.  While there he planned to purchase lumber to finish their new home which was anticipated by the entire family, but instead, received a "call" from President Brigham Young to take his family to Arizona to help build up the "waste places."  They were told to sell their possessions, but to take with them a two-year supply of food and clothing as their contribution to the "United Order."  Some did not bring enough, but, of course, shared alike.

Joseph and the boys left in November with the teams, while Maria and the girls went to Minersville, Utah, by train, to the home of Maria's sister, Margaret Goodman.  Joseph met them there and they spent Christmas together.  Then went on to St. George and were there for the dedication of the St. George Temple on 1 January 1877.

They left St. George on the 17th of January.  President Young traveled south with them a short way, held a meeting and gave them a blessing.  He organized a "company," and formed the group into the United Order.  Among the men were Henry C. Rogers, George Steele, Thomas Biggs, John D. Brady, Isaac Turley, Austin Williams, Daniel W. Jones, Philemon C. Merrill and Joseph McRae.  Daniel W. Jones was chosen as leader, with Philemon C. Merrill as assistant. There were twenty-two wagons in all.

Joseph McRae had two wagons and was the blacksmith of the company.  The way was through Beaver Dam to the mouth of the Virgin River.  That profiteering was not unknown in those early days is shown by the fact that the expedition at Stone's Ferry on the Colorado had to pay ferriage of $10.00 for each wagon.  Much of the cost was borne by Joseph who turned over one wagon, some horses, and a little money to the ferryman.

To the south the road was well-traveled from Fort Mohave Ferry to Prescott, through the valleys of Chino and Peoples, the village of Wickenburg, to Phoenix.  They did not stop in Phoenix, however, because of an epidemic of smallpox there, but drove up the river on the north side to where the road crossed going to Fort McDowell - called the Wells- McDowell-Maricopa Ford.  They arrived there about noon on March 6.  Many cottonwood trees grew along the river as well as large numbers of reeds.  The latter grew large enough to provide fishing poles, and the stream was well-stocked with fish.  They were informed by their leaders that they were now at the end of their journey.  Considerable dissatisfaction was shown by this decision, because President Young had named three possible colonization points, namely: the upper Gila, the San Simon or the San Pedro.

In the afternoon, plows and scrapers were put into use and ground broken for a dam and canal to divert the river waters to the thirsty land farther downstream.  While part of the company worked on the canal, others went down the river to clear away a dense growth of mesquite covering the land,  preparatory for crop planting.  Anyone who has never cleared land of mesquite cannot appreciate the difficulties they had.

The work was completed and crops were planted which thrived in that virgin soil beyond their fondest expectations - melons of a rare flavor, corn, sugar cane, and garden vegetables in abundance.  

Henry C. Rogers was superintendent of canal construction.  Ross R. Rogers was engineer and made the survey with a spirit level and a straight edge.  The first cost was about $3,500, most of which represented labor.  (The canal is still in operation, but with some modifications - 1957.)  George Steele planted a nursery and kept the young trees alive by hauling water from the river.

Fort Utah was begun in July - a square, built of adobes, with a well in the center, and houses built around the inside of the square to protect the women and children from the Indians while the men were at work.

Pioneering conditions were very trying - the land was infested with all sorts of dangers: scorpions, tarantulas, centipedes, lizards, gila monsters and rattlesnakes.  But, as in all warm climates, brilliant-hued birds were numerous, and the mocking bird was at his best - he should be heard in his native habitat to be really appreciated.  Quails were also very numerous.

They had 150 head of sheep to supply meat and the herd was cared for by the boys of the colony.  One day a fire broke out in driftwood in the bend of the river, spreading over several acres. The trail of the sheep to water was over this drift, and since sheep do not like to change their habits, they started over the drift to the river, and the boys were powerless to stop them as the animals rushed into the fire.  Ninety were badly burned, some to death, while others had to be killed. The part of the animal not burned was salvaged and used for food.  The pioneers had roast mutton, boiled mutton, fried mutton, broiled mutton, dried mutton, etc.  "Mutton" was a very dangerous subject for a long time afterward.

Everything that had been brought from the North that was salable was put into a large tent or commissary, with Thomas Biggs as storekeeper.  It was not designed to sell to people outside of the colony but the members could purchase articles with tin money in the denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50 cents and $1.00.  These pieces of tin money were stamped with a steel die, according to the value represented.  The money was issued every Monday morning according to the size of the family, but luxuries were not to be had.  Everyone was to share equally, but the rumor spread that some were favored and had the "cream of the stock"--before this, all legal tender money was turned into a common fund, therefore, it was not possible for malcontents to go to other places and purchase anything.  

Early in August, 1877, the greater number of the Lehi settlers left the Salt River, traveling southward under the leadership of Philemon C. Merrill, known in history as an officer in the Mormon Battalion.  Besides the leader, the adult members of the company were Dudley J., Seth A., Thomas, and Orin D. Merrill, George Steele, Austin Williams and Joseph McRae.  All but Williams and Orin D.  Merrill had families.

The company traveled at night to avoid the intense heat of the sun, and one night the driver of the lead wagon went to sleep and his team turned out of the road and began to travel in a circle.  The others followed, and soon were going round and round, getting nowhere.  The country was so level, it was some time before the mistake was discovered; then it took about an hour to straighten out the train and go on.

Next morning they reached a well in the desert where they had to buy water for the stock at ten cents a head, and thirty cents for domestic use.  The water was drawn in a bucket made of rawhide.  The constant use of the bucket rendered it very slimy, and anything but inviting, but it was water out of that rawhide bucket or no water!

When they reached Hayden's Mill, about five miles down the river, Williams, who had been working there as a millwright, allowed them to draw food on his wages and this was enough to supply them for at least a week longer, when other ways had to be provided.  

Tucson was the first stopping place, and there they learned of the death of Brigham Young.  The news cast a gloom over the little band, for they felt he was really the only man who knew the WHYS of their being in that land.  They felt like sheep without a shepherd, but mourning could not be indulged in for long, for someone had to feed the hungry mouths. A Mr. Thomas Gardner owned a sawmill on the east side of the Santa Rita Mountains, about thirty miles from Tucson, and this brought immediate relief when a contract was made with him to haul logs to the mill and lumber from the mill to Tucson.

As the group rounded the southern end of the Whetstone Mountains behind them they could see the Santa Ritas they had just left; on the right were the Huachucas, which were to the right of the Dragoon Mountains.  This later became the site of Bisbee, a land famous for copper.  The first camp was made on 29 November 1877, about one-half mile south of the present site of St. David.  The country had been settled to some extent by Mexicans and Spaniards, prior to the coming of the Mormon Battalion.  The waters of the San Pedro must have been a welcome sight to the jaded Mormon Battalion when crossing it in 1847 on their way to California.

This was the land of the Apaches, one of the most merciless bands of Indians the United States has ever had to deal with - not brave, but cruel and treacherous.  These Indians divided into several units called Chiricahuas, Coyute-resk, Pinilinos, and Arivaipas.  The first named were the ones which roamed that part of the country, led by such chieftans as Victorio, Cochise, Geronimo and Captain Kidd.  The Chiricahuas - the last of the Indian warriors - were subdued by General Miles in 1886.  He surrounded Geronimo and his band in their stronghold in the Dragoon Mountains, directly east of the settlers.  They were taken to the San Carlos Reservation in the northern part of the territory, but a small band broke away under the leadership of Captain Kidd, an Indian who had had much training as a Government trooper.  They burned, pillaged and murdered on their trail to Mexico, where they were eventually captured by U.S. Troops, who had been given the right to follow them into that country.  

The colonists built a form of fort, or three-sided structure, with rooms joined as a defense against possible Indian attacks.  The stone was taken from a hill on the west side of the river about two miles distant, and could be cut like chalk.  An ordinary axe could fashion the stone, but when exposed to the weather for a length of time, it hardened, and the outside became as hard as flint.  Lumber was scarce and of poor quality, and what could be purchased cost one hundred dollars a thousand.  The only lumber used to build the houses was for doors and window frames.  The floors and roofs were typically Mexican - made of mud.

During the fall of 1878, about a dozen horses were stolen and several men took the trail toward Mexico to look for them.  All turned back after a short time except Joseph and Orin D. Merrill.  The horses were located near the town of Arivipa, Sonora, Mexico, guarded by the thieves.  Joseph and Brother Merrill were considering sending for reinforcements, when the outlaws seemed to sense danger and fled with the horses.  Smuggling animals across the international border became quite a business, and outlaws profited on both sides.  Other things were smuggled too. Some of the first oranges ever seen were brought from Mexico.  They were small and pretty sour - almost as sour as lemons, and not much larger.  They also brought cane, or sorghum.  The sugar came in bars, or cakes, weighing about one-half pound.  These bars were melted to make syrup.  Often there were "foreign substances" imbedded in these cakes of sugar that did not add to the appetizing qualities, but which had to be overlooked.  

As was usual in early settlements of Arizona valleys, malaria appeared very soon, spread by mosquitos from stagnant water.  In the fall of 1878, nearly all the settlers were prostrated with the malady, even spreading to the domestic animals.  The sick had to wait upon the sick, and when Apostle Snow visited there on 6 October 1878, there was no one to greet him.  His first address was to an assembly of thirty-eight individuals, many of whom had to be carried to the meeting on beds.  Notwithstanding these conditions, the Apostle blessed the place, prophesying that the day would come when the San Pedro Valley would be settled from one end to the other with Saints, and that they had experienced the worst of their sickness.  For nearly two years the Saints had been separated from all that seemed dear to them, living among uncouth people, in an unfamiliar environment, discouraged, disheartened, and the Apostle's visit was like a tonic and they felt better in body and spirit.

Brother Jim W. Campbell, who joined the Church in Texas where he had a store, was a savior to the pioneers in the San Pedro Valley.  He loaded his store goods and large family in freight wagons pulled by strings of mules or horses and came to San Pedro.  He stored his gold in the bottom of a wagon, and passed through the Indian territory without mishap.  With this money he invested in a sawmill in the Huachuca Mountains, and gave the settlers food from his store. Joseph, with most of the other settlers, moved his family to the mountains, partly for the healthful climate and partly for the need of employment.  Here in the mountains, Nymphus Charles was born 20 September 1879.

While the Saints were establishing themselves on the San Pedro and the Gila, the Church authorities had by no means lost sight of the primary objective of the southern migration.  St. David was the scene of one of the most notable councils of the Church.  It was held in January of 1885, and was presided over by President John Taylor, who left Salt Lake City on the third of January.  Included in his party were Apostles Joseph F. Smith, Erastus Snow, Brigham Young, Jr., Moses Thatcher, and Francis M. Lyman, among other dignitaries of the Church.  They were met at St. David by Jesse N. Smith, Christopher Layton, Alex F. McDonald and Lot Smith, Presidents of the four stakes in Arizona.  The persecution of the members of the Church was the main topic under discussion.  There was determination to extend the Church settlements further south.  According to Orson F. Whitney;  "In order to provide a place of refuge for such as were being hunted and hounded, President Taylor sent parties into Mexico to arrange for purchase of land in that country upon which the fugitive Saints might settle.  One of the first sites selected for this purpose was just across the line of Mexico in the State of Sonora."

One day while in Mexico, Joseph watched with much amusement some natives trying to shoe a horse.  They were having a difficult time.  Being a blacksmith, he asked permission to shoe the horse.  In a few minutes he had the shoe on the horse to the amazement of the Mexicans.  The horse was owned by a wealthy man who had a large number of ranches.  He offered Joseph a ranch thirty miles square if he would bring his family and live among them, but Joseph refused the offer, not caring to conform to the Mexican ways.

While living in St. David, three sons were born to Joseph and Maria: Parley Taylor on 19 January 1882; Orson Pratt on 15 October 1884; and Milton on 8 May 1888.

In the winter preceding Milton's birth, Joseph went to Salt Lake City, and while there entered into plural marriage with Augusta Matilda Erickson, on 3 February 1888.  He returned to St. David one month before Milton was born, bringing Augusta with him.  This was a great surprise to the entire family, especially to Maria.  Three sons were born to Joseph and Augusta.

Joseph was released from his colonization of Arizona "call" on 24 October 1890.  After being flooded out several times, he became quite discouraged and decided to return to Utah to live.  He and Maria attended the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple in 1893, leaving the children on the homestead in St. David, but were called home by the serious illness of Charles who had contracted typhoid fever.  Parley and Milton also contracted the disease but were not so seriously ill.

After two attempts to return to his old home in Utah were thwarted, Joseph decided that as the Lord had called him to pioneer in Arizona, he was not meant to leave, so, on 20 July 1893, he moved the family to the Gila Valley.  They stayed in Safford a few months, then purchased a home in Thatcher.  Here the children attended school.

Maria's health became very poor after arriving in Thatcher.  She passed away 19 April 1901, and was buried there. Joseph was in St. David at the time, but because of a storm washing out the road, he was unable to attend her funeral and arrived some time later. 

Joseph sold the family home in Thatcher, and the boys went to Bisbee to find employment.  He returned to St. David. He passed away 12 July 1914, at the home of his son, Orson, in Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona, and was buried in St. David, Cochise, Arizona.

JOSEPH  McRAE

(Tune: "Oh Beautiful, for Spacious Skies"}

Joseph McRae, an honored name;      

Blessed by a prophet's hand;       

His own great name he gave that day              

Joseph, a name so grand.

Young Joseph grew til manhood seen,       

A blacksmith was his trade.       

Maria fair, he wed one day,       

A helpmeet to his aid.

       

Joseph McRae, an honored name;       

As father tall you stand;       

Sent forth a leader of his day,           

To pioneer this land.

       

Joseph McRae, an honored name;       

Blessed by a prophet's hand.       

Sent forth a leader of his day,       

To pioneer this land.

Chorus:

       

Joseph McRae, Joseph McRae       

Thy name we honor still,       

Thy sons and daughters pledge to thee       

To keep the faith, we will.

Joseph & Augusta Erickson McRae Marriage License & Certificate

Joseph & Augusta Erickson McRae Marriage Certificate

The McRaes

Contributed By: Toll Family · 24 May 2015 ·on Familysearch.org

So we're McRaes

Our family tree

Now just what does that

Mean to me?

Another reunion

And why go there?

That's not for me -

What do I care?

These are the words - 

I've used them too.

Listen, let me tell you

What a McRae should mean to you.

The first McRae

From the Scottish clan,

Our history tells us

Was very good man.

One sailed to America,

He longed to live free,

And the result of that

Was for you and me.

Then he heard the Gospel,

Knew that it was no myth,

And for it was jailed

With Joseph Smith.

They crossed the plains,

The way was long and rough.

But they never quit

When the going got tough.

And finally, at last

They reached Salt Lake,

A long well-earned rest

They were going to take

They were there when the crickets

Ate grandmother's curtains,

Saw the miracle of the gulls,

Of this, I am certain.

They planted their crops

Watching them grow.

And then were told

They were needed, so go.

And here they came,

With a few worldly goods,

Doing it all because

They knew they should.

Big people in stature,

Big on character too.

Think of all that they did

For me and for you.

Some say we are stubborn,

Of this I've no doubt.

Just the kind of bull-headedness

To bring this all about.

So we're McRaes,

A family true

Now doesn't that mean

A lot to you?

Yes, you're from McRaes

And don't you forget it.

And don't give our forefathers

Cause to regret it.

Edna T. Judd

Given at the McRae Reunion, 12 May 1973, at St. David, Arizona

6th generation:Susan Melvina Bingham (my ggg maternal grandma; Everett Alma Young's maternal grandma)

Susan Melvina Bingham was the second wife of Winslow Farr Jr.  They were married May 5, 1873 in SLC, Utah and had 11 children in 21 years.

Historical Events for Year 1856: Jan 25th - Battle of Seattle; skirmish between settlers and Indians. Feb 18th - The American Party (Know-Nothings) convenes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to nominate its first Presidential candidate, former President Millard Fillmore. Feb 19th - Tin-type camera patented by Hamilton Smith, Gambier, Ohio.   Feb 22nd - 1st national meeting of Republican Party (Pittsburgh). May 24th - Pottawatomie Massacre took place in Kansas.  Jun 9th - 500 Mormons leave Iowa City, Iowa and head west for Salt Lake City, Utah carrying all their possessions in two-wheeled handcarts.

When Susan Melvina Bingham was born on November 23, 1856, in Ogden, Utah, her father, Erastus, was 34 and her mother, Susan, was 17. She married Winslow Farr on May 5, 1873, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They had 11 children in 21 years. She died on November 6, 1903, in El Paso, Texas, at the age of 46, and was buried in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico.

Susan Melvina is seated on the left in the middle. 

  

6th generation: Winslow Farr Jr. (my ggg maternal grandpa; Everett Alma Young's maternal grandpa)

                   

Winslow Farr Jr. standing at the top in the middle and just below him is George Q Cannon, seated. 

Polygamist prisoners at the Utah State Penitentiary in Sugarhouse.  George Q. Cannon is the man seated in the middle behind the man with in black with a cane.  Winslow Farr Jr is the tall one standing up in the back on the right side of George Q. Cannon. 

Winslow Farr, Jr. 

7 November 2013 · Shared on Familysearch.org

Conquerors of the West: Stalwart Mormon Pioneers, volume 2 

Name: Winslow Farr Jr. 

Birth Date: 11 May 1837 

Birth Place: Charleston, Orleans, Vermont 

Parents: Winslow and Olive Hovey Freeman Sr. 

Death Date: 18 Feb 1913 

Death Place: Taylor, Utah 

Arrival: 30 Sep 1850, Joseph Young Co. 

Spouse: Emily Jane Covington 

Marriage Date: 17 Oct 1858 

Marriage Place: Southern Utah 

Spouse's Parents: Robert D. and Elizabeth Thomas Covington 

Married 2nd: Susan Melvina Bingham Date: 5 May 1873 Died: 6 Nov 1903 , El Paso, Texas Married 3rd: Matilda Halverson Date: 12 Dec 1878 . Married 4th: Sarah Mitchell Graham Date: 10 Jan 1899 , Colonia Dublan, Mexico 

Winslow was the youngest and smallest at birth of his parent's children. Family tradition states that at birth his mother's wedding band would slide completely over his entire hand. At any rate, he became the tallest and largest of his siblings, reaching the height of six foot four. His parents joined the Church in 1832 , sold their farm, and moved to Kirtland, Ohio . In 1840 they moved to Far West . When Nauvoo was settled, the Farr 's moved there and built a nice home. Winslow was baptized by his father on his eighth birthday. The first shoes worn by Winslow were made out of rawhide. His best pair of pants were made by his mother out of a piece of carpet. In 1857 , he was made a captain in the Mormon Militia, called the Nauvoo Legion. In 1858 he traveled to Southern Utah to be married. They were asked to help establish a new settlement in Paradise, Cache Valley, Utah , where he served in the militia, and other positions, and was town marshal and other positions. He loved to play the violin for special occasions around the area. In 1867 they moved to Ogden , In 1868 he was called on a mission to Great Britain . He returned home in 1870 and brought a group of saints across the plains. When the Edmunds Tucker Act outlawed polygamy, he took his third wife and their children to Southern Utah , where he worked with the Indians in missionary work. He returned to Ogden and he served time for polygamy. In 1888 he took his three wives and their children to Mexico , where they eventually settled in Colonia Dublan . He often returned to Ogden . He was made a patriarch in his later years. He finally lived with his fourth wife Sarah in Salt Lake where he suffered a stroke in 1913 . Three of his sons cared for him and moved him back to the homestead in West Weber , where he died. Children of 1st wife: Lafayette . Lorin . Barnard . Aldebert . Only 4 of his sons were listed. The other wives had children too. Randall Smith 

Added by: Burnt Almond Fudge

5/31/2012

Winslow Farr entry dated Nov. 12, 1888 in the autograph book of Ebenezer Hunter (1831-1908) imprisoned for polygamy - Ebenezer Hunter entered Utah Penitentiary 22 Sept 1888, released 22 Nov 1888

Winslow Farr - aged 58 years - 1895 

The writing on the back of the photo states “Yours Truly Winslow Farr Aged 58 years

6th generation: Lillian Adelaide Hurst (my ggg maternal grandma; Everett Alma Young's paternal grandma)

Lillian Adelaide Hurst was born November 18, 1861 in Springville, Utah Territory.  She married James Absalom Young on February 12, 1879 and was the mother of 12 children, only 6 of whom lived to adulthood.  Three lived to be one year-old or less, one died at age 5, and 2 at 13.

                                                   

She died August 23, 1910 in El Paso, Texas and was buried 3 days later on in Dublan, Galeana, Chihuahua, Mexico.

Taken in Colonia Dublan, Mexico, in 1896. Philip Hurst Family, the family she grew up in as a little girl.  is Lillian, she is seated on Walter Frederick Hurst's lap towards the right side of the photograph.  (I will take the time to type up everyone's names when I do a page for her father and mother when I get to them in the 7th generation).

Lillian Adelaide Hurst life history

Contributed on Familysearch.org

Lillian Adelaide Hurst was the daughter of Philip Hurst and Lucinda Harris Guymon.  Lucinda died when Lillian was just 5-1/2 years old. Her father, Philip Hurst next married Elizabeth Wilcox, who did her best in caring for Lillian and her 3 younger siblings.  Times were hard, and Lillian worked in homes in order to buy clothing for herself and help the family.  She was just 17 when she married James Absalom Young and they were the parents of a large family - 12 children.  Six of these children did not live past childhood.

She was a dedicated Relief Society teacher, a Relief Society Visiting Teacher,  loving wife and mother; and loved the Gospel.   Her daughter Mary Agnes Young Brown recalled that they always knelt in prayer when their Home Teachers came to their home in Colonia Dublan.  One time in Colonia Juarez during Conference time, a funeral was held for a man named Lycurgus Wilson.  President Joseph F. Smith was there and Lillian sat on a quilt-covered wagon seat and talked to President Smith's lovely wife, Mary Taylor Smith.    Lillian was deeply moved by the experience and appreciated the privilege of visiting with her.

Lillian longed to go to theTemple, but she never had that privilege in her life and it deeply grieved her.  Lillians' endowment was done for her on 5 December 1912 by Regina Lundgren Young, the second wife of James Absalom Young.   Lillian Adelaide Hurst died after surgery, which was performed in El Paso, Texas.   She had been hemorrhaging for a prolonged period of time (over 3 months)  and was too weak to survive the surgery, which was performed in an effort to save her life.  Her body was returned for burial in Colonia Dublan, Mexico, where she was buried next to her father Philip Hurst's monument.  . 

 

Regina also stood as proxy for Lillian's deceased daughter, Ida Lillian.   Lillian's daughter, Mary Agnes  stood proxy  for her deceased sisters, Edna and Eva, who had died as very young children.   Lillian's oldest son, James Floyd stood proxy for his deceased brother Jesse Louis Young in the Manti Temple.

The Following is taken from the writings of Mary Young Brown, a daughter.  

As a child on holidays we had dinner with our relatives with all the good food of the day, turkey, pumpkin pie.  We children played pomp pomp, pull away, hide and seek and jump rope and jacks and dramas.  Grandfather had been a very fine actor, also Uncle Phil.  The men played tug-o-war with long ropes, choosing up sides, each side pulling and hollering and laughing.  I got very excited and clung to mother’s skirt, I was afraid someone would get hurt.  It was nice to have my parents and relatives relax and enjoy themselves.  So we had many relatives who were very kind to us, they teased us in fun, and sometimes corrected us when we needed it.  When Mama and Papa spanked, we felt very sorry for ourselves, but we loved and needed our parents, as all little children do.

Mother had mounted a lot of picture prints from famous artists that hung in all of the rooms except the parlor where the pictures of Edna and Harold hung in large frames.  The dining room, kitchen hall, stairs, and bedrooms had large loom woven carpets on their floors.  Mother always went to the best homes and loved our Latter-day Saints.  She also visited non-members with Father and she entertained them in our home, notably Dr. Skipwith.

My mother tried to make the best of her life.  She was really religious.  She was a little over 5 foot or less and had lovely brown hair.  She wore it in a round bob at the nape of her neck.  She had lovely brown eyes and a pretty straight nose.  She was a little overweight and her feet hurt so she wore comfortable shoes.  She wore her dresses to her ankles.  She hired her best clothes made.  She raised chickens and made butter and sold eggs, butter, and buttermilk to buy our clothes.  She bought Father a new suit so he would go to church with her.  She was honest but liked to be treated fairly and did not let people take unfair advantage of her except Father.  He did not treat her right; he knew it and repented of it many times over.  My mother's endowment was done for her in the Manti Temple on December 5, 1912.

Brother Turley and others sold us fruit.  We always had bottled fruit except the year mother died.  She died August 23, 1910. 

To Ernst Young (Mary’s brother) Colonia Dublan Mexico:

‘Mother passed a restless night, examination this morning. Dr. says he can cure her all right, don’t know when operation will be performed.  In better spirits at this hour, 8 o’clock.’ Father (James Absalom Young)

Lillian died in 1910 in El Paso, Texas

This picture was taken in the Fall of 1897.  Sitting is James Absalom Young, next to him is wife Lillian Adelaide Hurst holding baby Edna, who died in Jan. 1902.  On the left of James Absalom is Harold Arthur or Arthur Harold, who died in 1904.  On the right of Lillian is W. Ernest Young.  Standing in back, L to R is:  John Alma Young, James Floyd Young and William Harrison Young Sr.

Death Certificate - Lillian Adelaide Hurst Young (1861-1910)