John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer Pioneer History

Geary-Fryer Handcart Pioneer Legacy

2009-07-19T18:34:00.000-07:00

By Andrea Lee Conley of Pleasant Grove, Utah with special thanks to Roland Lee of St George, Utah, Grant Lee of Boise, Idaho, Kaye Page Nichols of Midway, Utah and Vernetta Page Marshall of Charlottesville, Virginia for ongoing research.

John Thomas Geary

Sophia Fryer Geary

Part 1 The Trek

"After a long pull and a strong pull and a pull all together, we have managed to fight our way through rivers, roads, creeks, over hills, and dales and snow, and every thing else which is good and bad I am thankful we are here," wrote Sophia Fryer Geary after her arrival in Great Salt Lake City December 15, 1856. (1)

Her husband, John Thomas Geary, was born in 1823 in Atterton, England, the son of a wealthy family who had him tutored and educated in seven languages. After studying in Germany, he practiced law in London. When he married in St. Savior's Church in Surrey to Sophia Fryer, from an old and respected family of the Isle of Wight, England, they led a three hour parade of both families and friends through the streets of London. (2) Sophia had twin siblings Albert and Victoria born at the time of the Queen's marriage.

In 1851, John Hyde was one of the elders who knocked on the Geary's door in London. At first turned away by the butler, then beckoned back by John, they spent a pleasant two hours together in his study. They said this was something they had been looking for all their lives. John attended many meetings of the Saints, and soon both he and Sophia were baptized- John 20 May 1851, and Sophia 20 April 1851. This caused "such a commotion" that his Geary family turned them out "without a single copper," "disowned him entirely, and wished to never see him again." They became fugitives, John even having to shave his head in disguise. (3)

They went to Liverpool where church members took them in, and John worked on the docks at night loading and unloading freight. When he had earned enough for Sophia's passage, he sent her with some other Saints to America, (4) and then earned his passage to come with her brother Richard, crossing the Atlantic Ocean to New Orleans, then up the Mississippi River to Keokuk, Iowa. There in 1853 in the camping ground, their first child Sophia Ann was born. From there they made their way to Council Bluffs, Iowa where a son Thomas Fryer Geary was born and died.

Descendent Roland Lee stands by the wagon monument to the pioneers at Martin's Cove.

By August 1856, they had outfitted a wagon and joined up with Andrew J. Siler's independent wagons and the Willie Handcart Company leaving the old Winter Quarters, now known as Florence, Nebraska on the 16th. On the afternoon of August 22nd, the journal records "Sister Sophia Geary had her left foot run over by Bro. Wilford's wagon. She was administered to in the evening by Bros. Siler, Cantwell and Geary. He sealed the blessing of health and strength upon her and promised that inasmuch as she would exercise faith she should walk tomorrow." Paul Lyman of BYU Studies adds, "The wagon wheels were rimmed with iron and the wagons themselves probably weighed close to two tons. This action should have crushed her foot." (5) She must have proved faithful as the company record of August 23 states matter-of-factly "Sis. Geary walked a considerable distance pursuant to Bro. Siler's promise."(6) Paul D. Lyman in BYU Studies, "The Travels of the Willie Handcart Company," (2006) Willie Handcart Company journal, August 22, 1856

They continued on, losing their oxen to a buffalo stampede during the night of September 4th, and had to use their cows to pull the wagon. Finally at Fort Laramie, Wyoming they were advised by the brethren to stay awhile to obtain oxen and join up with the Hodgett and Hunt independent wagons and the Martin Handcart Company, who were following them. (7) From this point on there was relentless rain, sleet, snow, frozen ground, howling of the wolves, deaths and buryings, scanty or non-existent rations, tear-stained cheeks, empty bellies, bloody feet, prayers, and hymns. (8)

"The handcarts and wagons were brought along to Devil' s Gate, to camp at Martin's Cove. It was decided to store most of their freight in log houses or huts which constituted the former trading post, for the winter. The great object now was to save as many people as possible... There was considerable crying of women and children, and perhaps a few of the men, whom the wagons could not accommodate… One of the relief party remarked that in all the mobbings and drivings of the 'Mormons' he had seen nothing like it." (9) Sophia simply records, "We left most of our clothes at Devil's Gate." (10)

"By this time the shoes of many of the emigrants had 'given out'. As they continued on, their terrible journey, there was no appreciable mitigation of the piercing wintry cold, but its intensity rather increased. The Rocky Ridge and the South Pass were crossed on the 18th of November, a bitterly cold day. The snow fell fast and the wind blew piercingly from the north. Here there was a sufficiency of wagons, for the first time to carry all the people." (11)

At this point, the rest of the Company continued on to the Valley where they were welcomed by throngs of people "dismissed in the middle of the usual Sunday morning services in progress at the "Old Tabernacle" when President Young learned of the approach of their company to the city. This was so that the people might meet the emigrants and care for them…. to prepare to give those who have just arrived a mouthful of something to eat, and to wash them, and nurse them up…. Prayer is good, but when baked potatoes, and pudding, and milk are needed, prayer will not supply their place. Now that most of them are here, we will continue our labors of love until they are able to take care of themselves." (12)

Once again, the Gearys remained behind, this time when little "Echo was born at the mouth of Echo Canyon on the 26th of November 1856." In John's diary he said that "the snow at that time was in drifts 18 feet deep and all that they had for Sophia and that sweet baby was a little straw in the wagon box with a quilt over it for a bed and not too much to cover them with. The wagon cover was so old that it kept them busy mending it the best they could. But with the help of the Lord they got along fine and Echo lived to marry and become the mother of two fine sons." (13) In a January 3, 1857 letter, John Geary states, "I must say we have two little responsibilities living. Sophy and another little girl born back at the mouth of Echo Canyon, therefore we named her Echo then added the name Workman after our Captain." (14)

Upon his winter arrival in the Valley, John worked cutting and hauling wood from the canyon with his brother-in-law Richard Fryer, then happily obtained a teaching position in the 14th Ward of the city. In time, "Brigham Young sent them to Dixie where John was one of the first men there to raise cotton. He was the very first man who ever taught school there who did not whip the children." (15)

John and Sophia Geary had five daughters grow to maturity: Sophia Ann, Echo Workman, Eliza Jane, Leah Fryer, and Sarah Annie. In 1867, John died of an accidental gunshot wound in Salt Lake City and was buried in a pauper's grave in the city cemetery. His wife Sophia remarried, to Joshua Thomas Willis, had two more children, William Richard and Laura Adinal Willis, then died after childbirth with a third child in 1872. Both she and her son James were buried in the same grave in the Toquerville, Utah cemetery.

"No one will probably ever know or realize the heartbreaks and hardships they endured but with the help of their Lord, they died as they had lived-true as steel to the Gospel of Jesus Christ." (16) As John testified just two weeks after entering the Great Salt Lake Valley, "We are well and fully alive so trust in the justice of the Kingdom of God which may he grant to be the lot of all the honest in heart." (17)

1. In Bessie Snow, Fate of the Fryers. (1973) Letter from Sophia Geary to Jane Harrison 19 Jan. 1857, Great Salt Lake City.
2. Personal story by Golda Geary Page Smith from memory in 1967 as told to her by her mother Sophia Ann Geary Page.
3. Personal story by Smith.
4. Personal story by Smith.
5. Paul D. Lyman in BYU Studies, "The Travels of the Willie Handcart Company," (2006) Willie Handcart Company journal, August 22, 1856.
6. Willie Handcart Company Journal, August 23, 1856.
7. Willie Handcart Company Journal, October, 1856.
8. Riverton Wyoming Stake, Remember, the Willie & Martin Handcart Companies and Their Rescuers-Past & Present," (1997).
9. John Jaques, "Some Reminiscences", Salt Lake Daily Herald, 22 Dec.1878, 1.
10. Snow, Fate of the Fryers, Letter of 19 Jan. 1857.
11. Jaques, "Reminiscences".
12. B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol. 4. Ch. 98, p. 100-101
13. Personal story by Smith.
14. In Snow, Fate of the Fryers, Letter from John Thomas Geary to Jane Harrison Jan. 3, 1857, Great Salt Lake City.
15. Personal story by Smith.
16. Personal story by Smith.
17. In Snow, Fate of the Fryers, Letter Jan. 3, 1857.

Submitted by Andrea Lee Conley, 3rd great granddaughter, July 4th 2006,
876 North 1010 West Pleasant Grove, Utah 84062 801- 785-6258 conley@fiber.net

Geary-Fryer Research Challenges and Miracles 2003-2006

On our way home from. our Ohio Cleveland Mission with assignment at the Historic Kirtland Visitor Center in 2003, we drove along the Mormon Trail, following the handcart pioneers. From Nauvoo on, we listened to "The Fire of the Covenant" tapes by Gerald Lund (which my brother Blaine Lee had lent us) dramatizing the story of the Handcart Pioneers. We anguished with those pioneers through their trials and sorrows, troubles and triumphs. I thought, "This is crazy! I feel such a closeness to them, as if we were related! But, I know we are not!"

Upon our arrival home, I received a call from my brother Grant Lee in Boise who was helping someone in his ward with family history. He asked if we had any handcart pioneers. I answered with authority in the negative, as I had read all of my ancestors' stories. We did have a lot of pioneers, just not with the handcart companies. Then he told me he had found the names of John Thomas Geary, wife Sophia, and daughter Sophia Ann, our 3rd great grandparents on Grandpa James Horald Lee's side, on the list of the Martin/Willie Handcart Company. I was amazed! Maybe we didn't get all this information originally because Grandpa Lee's mother died early, both Gearys died early, we didn't have access to John Thomas Geary's missing journal, we knew they were in a wagon not a handcart, family stories all said 1855 instead of 1856, they were busy trying to make a living and didn't know what they had accomplished so the real story just didn't get passed on to us.

Thus began our fervent and feverish research. We first gathered all of Grandma Lee's research (copied personally from Jennie May Woodbury Lee herself in about 1978), data from Uncle Jim (James H. Lee Jr.), Sheri and Steve Naylor, and Betty McMaster, the current family history specialists. Then we went to different internet sites to see what information was already out there about circumstances and relatives. I also visited the Salt Lake Family History Library and the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Brothers Grant Lee and Roland Lee and wives Joyce and Nellie visited the city of Toquerville and cemetery, the Hurricane library, Sophia's brother Richard Fryer's home in Toquerville (still standing), and interviewed some Toquerville locals. From this, word came to us of a Fryer manuscript which our bedridden mother Thelma Reeder located after much sleuthing. She called a friend in her ward, Louise Ward, who knew their ex- home teacher Max Seegmiller who said, "That's written by my Aunt Bessie Snow. She was a school teacher. But who you really want is Ted Snow," who suggested to call Bessie's niece Gwin Winn, who went up to her cabin in Pine Valley to retrieve a copy of the "Fate of the Fryers" (only 15 were printed).

This compilation details letters indicating that the Gearys were indeed with the handcart pioneers, going through all their trials and leaving their belongings at Devil' s Gate. This manuscript and even church records on Family Search such as Echo's birth and endowment dates have a contradiction in listing 1855 instead of 1856 as their arrival time or as Echo's birth. Even the Golda Geary Page story shows Sophia finally giving birth to little Echo Workman Geary at the mouth of Echo canyon amidst 18 foot snowdrifts Nov 26, 1855. Also, some relatives thought that John stayed behind to help get other's wagons ready and Sophia went across the plains alone.

Research Miracle #1 Finding the burial place of John Thomas Geary. At first I could not find the burial place of John Thomas Geary, even though family group sheets listed him as buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. He wasn't listed in any of the printouts of that or any cemetery, and I even called the cemetery itself which gave no clue as to his burial. Finally, I went through microfilms of the Deseret News Weekly for January 1867 at the BYU library and did find the cemetery's sexton's report at the end of January listing 15 deaths and burials for the month, one an accidental shooting. At least I was on the right track because his death was from an accidental shooting.

Next, I obtained a "Book of the Dead" microfilm at the SL Family History Library for early Salt Lake including the year 1867 which did list a John Thomas Geary, and even gave his plot number at the SLC Cemetery. The death date there was as listed in our own family history records. So, armed with these records, our own family group sheets, and census records, I personally visited the cemetery to talk to the current sexton. His records showed the name John Thomas George not Geary in that grave. I assured him it was a miscopying error. After reviewing the data for several weeks he said he would list both names. At last, our John Thomas Geary in his grave was discovered for posterity! He is now listed both on the cemetery's internet site, and at the cemetery. Although at present, he is buried in a pauper's grave without a tombstone to mark it.

Research Miracle #2 Finding daughter Echo and husband. Next, I looked at the posterity of John Thomas and Sophia Geary. I focused on daughter Echo who married, after her parents died, somewhere in Utah, to a man from Ireland name Kennedy Hanley. Someone had done their work and their marriage, but not their children. I found them in Silver Reef, Utah in 1880, a mining area, and then in Idaho in 1900 in another mining area. I checked Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Colorado for 1910 and 1920 but found nothing. Then I found them in Spokane Washington in 1910, Los Gatos, California in 1920, and widow Echo with her son Robert still in Los Gatos, California in 1930. I was thrilled!

I searched Google for cemeteries near Los Gatos, called them on the phone and found Kennedy at first, then Echo, and finally Robert Hanley all buried there, and obtained their death information. Then I emailed my brother Grant Lee with the data, not even dreaming I would ever get anything further. But he called his daughter-in-law's father who works near Los Gatos, who had a digital camera, took it with him to work, photographed the tombstone, and emailed the picture to Grant who emailed it to me. Boy was I surprised and delighted! The tender mercies of the Lord!

Then Grant said I ought to call a library to see if they have obituaries. I googled to find the library in Los Gatos and called their number. They gave me the email of those in charge of obituaries, who after about two weeks mailed me obits for Echo and her husband. None was available for the son.

Research Miracle # 3 Finding Echo's sons. I had read that Echo had two grown sons, so I wanted to find them. Robert was one, listed on the census. I also found his 1917 WW1 registration which gave his birth date verified by his burial record. At the same time, looking for Hanleys, I "happened" on a James G. Hanley in the California death records with birth and death dates that coincided with other data. I further found him on the 1900 census record at school in Spokane, and in 1930 in Virginia with wife Nelle. I didn't find him in 1910 or 1920. I theorized the G stood for Geary, but didn't know.

I went to Rootsweb on the internet to see if anyone had queried about this family. Lo and behold a woman from Georgia was descended from Kennedy's brother Daniel who had come from Ennis, County Clare, Ireland to Ohio in the 1860's and had listed Kennedy Hanley of Spokane in his obituary. I emailed her, and she emailed me back with the brother Daniel Hanley's obituary. I emailed her more stuff, then she emailed me photos that said Robert Emmet Hanley on the back of one and James Geary Hanley on the back of the other, and one of Echo, and one of maybe Kennedy. They were so beautiful I cried!

I immediately went to my local family history center to print up their temple work in Temple Ready. I took that disc to the temple to print the cards, and had the impression to call my brother Grant Lee to see if he would like to do the temple work. He said he had wanted to do the temple work, but felt it was my prerogative as I had done the research, but felt that if I wanted him specifically to do the work, I would surely call him. He was just reading his patriarchal blessing about doing Temple Work when I called with the offer. He was enthusiastic, "Oh, yes!" He would love to do the temple work!

Research Miracle #4 Finding Echo's son James' grave. Meanwhile, I had been looking for more data on James' grave on the internet for many weeks when I "happened" upon a California Military Cemetery, the Presidio, near San Francisco. I ran down the list of names alphabetically and found the grave of James G. Hanley. I was thrilled!!!! So, Grant did all three male baptisms on February 4th 2006, did the confirming of the sons himself with tears running down his cheeks, did two sessions immediately following for Kennedy and Robert's endowments, then returned Feb 11th for James' work. Since Grant was alone at the temple, he asked a couple to act as the parents for the sealings of the sons to their parents Kennedy and Echo Hanley. It turned out this couple will actually be at Martin's Cove, Wyoming this summer as missionaries and want to use our Geary family story to share with other families who come to visit!

Research Miracle #5 Reconciling family stories with actual facts of arrival time. From President Hinckley's Handcart Celebration this year, we know that the handcarts didn't begin until 1856, not in 1855. Then on June 15, 2006, I received an e-mail from BYU Studies telling about a daily journal for the Willie Handcart Company with added information by BYU professor Paul Lyman. I asked my husband David if he had sent me the data, and I asked my brother Grant Lee if he had sent me the data. Neither had, but I strongly feel that my father, Blaine Lee, was directly involved from the "other side."

As I read through the daily handcart journal, I came across an entry for August 22, 1856 stating that our Sophia Geary had her foot run over and crushed by a 2000 pound wagon. Her husband and two other priesthood holders blessed her that if she was faithful, even though her foot was crushed, she would walk the next day. The record for August 23 states she did "walk a considerable distance that day pursuant to Bro. Siler's promise." This one bit of information was so very, very important in that it identifies both Gearys as being there at the same time, and with the handcarts of 1856. So, Sophia did not come across the plains alone, but John was with her, and with the baby born in Echo canyon.

They left August 16th from Florence, Nebraska as several independent wagons attached to the Willie handcart company. What we hadn't realized is that each handcart company had wagons to carry the 20-person tents and other heavy equipment. First came the handcarts, then the independent wagons, then the handcart supply wagons. The next day, the 17th, John Thomas Geary went back to Florence with brother Jost to help him, then returned to the wagon train. Also, there were many, many trials mentioned in these daily journal including September 4th loss of oxen for the wagons.

On September 30th, at Laramie, Wyoming, the leaders advised the wagons to wait for another wagon group coming in a week that might better be able to help them. So on October 1st the Willie Company continued on without them, while they waited for the Martin Handcart Company and the Hunt and Hodgett wagons. This proved "a blessing for that company as it provided more wagons for those exhausted handcart Saints to ride in when they traveled near Martin's cove." And it identifies that our people were with both handcart companies, first Willie, then Martin.

Celebration. In the middle of the night July 1st 2006, I felt compelled with the thought that since this was the 150th anniversary of OUR Handcart Pioneers, then we as a family needed to celebrate OUR people. So I got up, went out into the kitchen, and wrote down "celebrate our Handcart Pioneers." The thought that came to my mind was to write up all that has happened since I first felt the impressions and we first went over the Mormon Trail, of finding the graves, obituaries, doing the temple work etc., to make a record, type it up, and share it with all our family this year. I thought it might be great to have a memorial service, so I e-mailed Grant about having a tombstone with a handcart insignia on it made up, and having a family ceremony at the Salt Lake City Cemetery for John Thomas Geary and family. Grant said he is ready! How grateful we are for the gospel legacy from our blessed, honored pioneers.

Click here for new research added in 2009 by Kaye Page Nichols that sheds much new light on the history of John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer

Click here for Part 2 - Cemetery Records, Newspaper Accounts, Personal Histories, Letters of John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer

Click here for Part 3 - Family Group Sheets, Census Data, Maps of John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer

August 4,2006
Andrea Lee Conley
3rd Great Grand daughter
876 North 1010 West
Pleasant Grove, Utah 84062
conley@fiber.net

EXCERPTS FROM WILLIE HANDCART COMPANY JOURNAL

Paul D. Lyman in BYU Studies, "The Travels of the Willie Handcart Company," (2006) Willie Handcart Company journal, 1856

16 August 1856
Handcart Company leaves Florence
with 85 Hand-carts and 11 waggons.
"Brother Jost borrowed a yoke of oxen from Bro Cantrell."

16 August 1856 continued
Andrew L Siler captain of Independent Waggons

17 August 1856
"Bros. Jost and Geary returned to Florence
with Bro. Cantwell's oxen."

l

22 August 1856
"During afternoon Sister Sophia Geary
had her left foot run over by Bro. Wilford's waggon."
She was administered to in the evening by Bros. Siler,
Cantwell, and Geary, Capt. Siler officiating. He sealed
the blessing of health and strength upon her and promised that
inasmuch as she would exercise faith she would walk tomorrow."

23 August 1856
"Sis. Geary walked a considerable distance
pursuant to Bro. Siler's promise."

Mormon Overland Travel
James Cantrell Autobiography

"The wagons were driven by W H Kimball,
John A Jost, Andrew I Siler, William Wilford,
and myself. (James Cantrell)

James Cantrell Autobiography
"5 of the Wagons belonged to Andrew L Siler,John A Joste (Jost),
William Wilford, James S Cantwell, and William Kimball."

Journal of
John Alexander Jost
who arrived in S.L. City
15th December 1856

Cemetery Records, Newspaper Accounts, Personal Histories, Letters of John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer

2009-07-19T06:58:00.000-07:00

Part 2
of "The Geary-Fryer Handcart Legacy"
Cemetery records, Life stories, Newspaper Accounts,
Letters of John Thomas Geary, Sophia Fryer, and daughters.

Compiled by Andrea Lee Conley

Grant Lee finds John Thomas Geary,
Sophia Geary, and Sophia Ann Geary
on Martin-Willie Handcart Company List.

Photo of Eliza Jane Geary

Eliza Jane Geary Life Story by Roxa Keele & Effie Keele

Eliza Jane Geary poem by James H Lee Jr
Salt Lake City, Utah.

Letter of appreciation about pioneer
ancestor Sophia Fryer Geary and photo
of her tombstone in Toquerville, Utah
by descendant Roland Lee of St George, Utah.

Sophia Fryer Geary plot in Toquerville Cemetery, Utah

Grant Lee of Boise, Idaho rejoices over
tombstone ceremony for
John Thomas Geary 15 December 2006
150 years from day Gearys arrived in Great Salt Lake City.

Last of the Willie~Martin Handcart Pioneers of 1856

John Thomas Geary 5 Feb 1823~5 Jan 1867
Sophia Fryer Geary 12 July 1829~27 May 1872
Children:
Sophia Ann Geary 10 June 1853~14 Aug 1934
Thomas Fryer Geary 25 Aug 1854~Jan 1856
Echo Workman Geary 26 Nov 1856~9 May 1936
Eliza Jane Geary 6 April 1859~8 Jan 1931
Leah Fryer Geary 13 Dec 1860~5 Jan 1898
Sarah Annie Geary 29 Feb 1864~21 May 1921

Arrived Great Salt Lake City December 15 1856
Honored 15 December 2006
by
Blaine Nelson Lee Family
150 years

John Thomas Geary Tombstone Laying
December 15 2006
150 year Celebration of
entrance into the Great Salt Lake Valley

Descendants and Spouses
Top Photo: back row-James H Lee Jr, Joyce Lee, Grant Lee
Nellie Lee, Roland Lee, Blaine Lee,
middle row-Betty McMaster, Farol Freeman,
front row- Betty Lee, Andrea Lee Conley

Bottom Photo:Andrea Lee Conley,
Grant Lee, Roland Lee, and Blaine Lee

Celebration Poem for John Thomas Geary
and Sophia Fryer Geary 's arrival in
Salt Lake Valley by James H Lee Junior of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Deseret News 2 January 1867 article
of John T Geary accidental shooting.

Deseret News 9 January 1967 article of
John Thomas Geary recovering from
accidental gunshot wound in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Union Vedette newspaper article of
John Thomas Geary accidental shooting
January 1867 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Fort Douglas paper 1863-1867.

Salt Lake City, Utah Sexton Report
January 1867 listing accidental
shooting of John Thomas Geary
in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Salt Lake City, Utah Deaths for January, 1867
listing John Thomas Geary death in 14th ward.

John Thomas Geary shot by accident,
buried in Plat D Block 7 Lot 4
Salt Lake City Cemetery, Utah.

Salt Lake City, Utah Cemetery Burial
for John Thomas Geary, mistakingly
labeled John Thomas George!

Salt Lake City, Utah Cemetery Layout
where John Thomas Geary
is buried in Plat D, Bloc 7, Lot 4 .

John Thomas Geary tombstone
placed by Woody and Mike Page
Salt Lake City Cemetery, Utah.

Marie Gardner letter about John Thomas Geary
grave at the Salt Lake City Cemetery, Utah.

22 May 2007 Kaye Nichols letter to
Andrea Conley about John Thomas Geary,
mentions great grandparents Daniel Richey Page and
Sophia Ann Geary Page, grandparents Robert Geary Page
and Dora Halterman, cousin Kenneth "Sunny Bailey."

John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer Geary
Family History Meeting
Kenneth R Bailey with 1629 Bible of Gilbert, Arizona
Andrea Lee Conley at home Pleasant Grove, Utah
Kaye Page Nichols and wife of Midway, Utah

29 November 2007 Kaye Nichols letter to Andrea Conley
about John Thomas Geary tombstone, mentions
Vernetta Page Marshall, grand-daughter of
John Page. The Lyre/olive branch motif from seal.

Geary Family Seal Harmony and Peace
Booties knitted by Sophia Fryer Geary as a girl in England
In posssession of Kenneth R Bailey of Gilbert, Arizona

Robert Geary Page letter 6 January 1929
detailing ownership descendency of Geary 1629 Bible
brought across plains to Salt Lake City.

8 June 2007 Kaye Page Nichols letter about large framed
Pioneer photos of John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer
Geary once in posession of Garn Page of Parowan,
brother of Vernetta Page Marshall.

Pioneer Portrait of Sophia Fryer Geary 1829-1872
Present location unknown

Pioneer Portrait of John Thomas Geary 1823-1866
Present location unknown

1629 Bible brought across plains to Salt Lake City
by John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer Geary,
printed by Thomas and John Buck, printers to the
University of Cambridge
In possession of Kenneth R Bailey Gilbert, Arizona

Information about Geary Family 1629 Bible
John Thomas Geary brought across plains to Utah,
and family seal, depicting a musician's lyre with an
olive branch across it.

Transcript of tape recording made by Reta Page Bailey Bartell
of her conversation with Golda Geary Page Smith
on 27 September 1974 about the Geary family bible
brought across the plains by John Thomas Geary.

Memories of Page's Ranch at Pinto, Utah
1900-1934
by Golda Geary Page Smith
written August 1985
in Farmington, Utah.

Daniel Richey Page Family Photo
Back- Amy Sophia Page, Daniel Richey Page,
Sophia Ann Geary Page, Eva GearyPage
Middle-John Geary Page, Dettie Geary Page, Robert Geary Page,
Front-Golda Geary Page, Daniel Geary Page.

April 22, 1936 letter by Robert Geary Page
about when he and Marion Keele and Effie Keele
visited the Salt Lake City Cemetery to find
John Thomas Geary grave Plat D Block 7 Lot 4.

Notes April 21, 1936 by Robert Geary Page
about Salt Lake City, Utah Cemetery plot
for John Thomas Geary.

25 June 1936 Letter from Robert Geary Page
mentions Francis Marion Keele 's wife Effie Keele
and two children getting baptized in Salt Lake Tabernacle.
Work getting data on burial of John T Geary
in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

1 May 1858 genealogy of Moses Fryer Family
including Jane Fryer Harrison and
Sophia Fryer and John Thomas Geary.

Transcription of Moses Fryer page of
genealogy written May 1, 1858.

St. James Church
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England

Photographed and contributed by Dale Clawson

Headstone of Moses and Elizabeth Fryer
in the
St. James Churchyard Cemetery
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, England
Photographed and contributed by Dale Clawson

Sacred to the Memory of
Moses Fryer
Born Feb 6, 1786
Died July 6, 1863

Also Eliza his Wife
Born Nov 5, 1796
died July 8, 1871

Fight the good fight
of Faith lay hold
on Eternal Life
I Tim 5:12

Transcription of letter written by John Thomas Geary
from Great Salt Lake City, Utah
13 September 1860 to wife Sophia Fryer Geary.

Original letter from John Thomas Geary
in Great Salt Lake City written to wife
Sophia Fryer Geary 13 September 1860.
Words are written crosswise to utilize
every bit of space on paper to save expense.

Transcription of letter written by
John Thomas Geary in Great Salt Lake City, Utah
22 July 1866 to daughters
Sophia Ann Geary, Echo Geary,
Eliza Jane Geary, and Annie Geary.
In possession of Vernetta Marshall
of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Last Will and Testament of John Thomas Geary

subscribed 10 Sept 1866

formerly of Toquerville, Washington County, Utah now of Great Salt Lake City,

Sent to Effie S. Keele in Oct 1939 by Marion Clawson

grandson of John Thomas Geary's brother-in-law Richard Fryer

Contributed by Charles Martin of Hollister, California

Andrea Lee Conley and Vernetta Page Marshall
Geary descendents collaborating on data and photos

Letter from Sophia Fryer Geary in Toquerville, Utah
dated 16 October 1866
sent to President Brigham Young about a divorce
and received 1 November 1866.
(In possession of Vernetta Marshall
of Charlottsville, Virginia.)

Response by Brigham Young
from the President's Office
to Sophia Fryer Geary of Toquerville, Washington,
Utah 13 November 1866.
(In possession of Vernetta Marshall
of Charlottesville, Virginia.)

Transcribed letter from Sophia Ann Geary Page
from Little Pinto, Utah to Mr. Brown of Parowan
24 July 1882 about her father's will, letters,
and documents. Original in possession of
Kaye Page Nichols of Midway, Utah.

Original letter by Sophia Ann Geary Page
from Little Pinto, Utah to Mr. Brown
24 July 1882 in possession of
Kaye Page Nichols of Midway, Utah.

Transcribed letter from Mrs D Page (Sophia Ann Geary)
at Little Pinto, Iron County, Utah to
John Brown, Esquire of Parowan, Utah dated
13 April 1894 about his letter to her dated August 22, 1882.
Original in possession of Kaye Page Nichols
of Midway, Utah.

Transcribed letter from William Richard Willis
of Taylor, Navajo County, Arizona
to Mrs Sophia (Ann Geary) Page of Little Pinto,
Washington County, Utah post marked
21 December 1914 with a 2 cent stamp,
but written 15 December. Mentions his
children Hyrum Richard Willis, Jennie
Willis and Leo Willis.

Original letter from William Richard Willis
of Taylor, Navajo, Arizona to
to Sophia Ann Geary Page in Little Pinto,
Washington County, Utah 21 December 1914.
Original in possession of Kaye Page Nichols
of Midway, Utah.

Patriarchal Blessing of John Thomas Geary
son of Thomas Geary and Sarah Ann Geary
given by John Young 25 January 1858
in Great Salt Lake City.

Patriarchal Blessing of Sophia Fryer Geary
daughter of Moses Fryer and Eliza Fryer given by
John Young 25 January 1858 in Great Salt Lake City.

Letter from Roland Lee to Andrea Lee Conley
and David Conley detailing property of
John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer Geary in
Toquerville, Utah Block 15, Lot 4, T 75 A3A
234 North Ash Creek Drive
as found in the Washington County Deeds.

Data from Roland Lee of St George,
Utah showing record of John Thomas Geary
property in Toquerville, Utah.

Kane County, Utah Deed Book C p554
Estate of John Thomas Geary , deceased. Order
of sale of real estate by Probate clerk 26 August 1880.

Kane County Deed Book C p555

Kane County, Utah Deed Book C Page 578 Kane County, Utah
Order confirming sale of Real Estate of
John T Geary, deceased Lot 4 Block 15,
Toquerville 26 August 1880.

Kane County Deed Book C p 579,
Charles Stapley Jr, administrator of estate
of John T Geary, deceased. 9 October 1880.

Kane County, Utah Deed Book C, p 580
Order to sell whole of the real estate of
John T Geary, deceased, situated in Town of
Toquerville, County of Kane, Territory of Utah for $160.

Kane County Deed Book C p581
Estate of John T Geary deceased
Lot 4 Block15 in Town of Toquerville for $160.

Kane County Deeds Book C p582 filed 9 October 1880
Probate Judge William Bringhurst, County Recorder Martin Slack.

John Thomas Geary Property
in Toquerville, Utah
Block 15 Lot 4
234 North Ash Creek Drive.

Above and below: Centennial map of
Toquerville, Utah showing location of property
of John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer
at 234 Ask Creek Drive. Also property of Richard Fryer.

Letter from Kaye Page Nichols June 13, 2009
to Andrea Lee Conley detailing new Geary research
from England parish records.

Elton Geary Ordinance Data
from Parish Records

The Independent Chapel which is occupied by Protestant Dissenters
in Warwickshire, England FHL British Film #0825423
January 1837

Registration Commission Papers 1837 England

Registration Commission Contd.

Baptism Register
among the
Protestant Dissenters
of the
Independent Denomination
of
Athersone in Warwickshire
Page 1-40

Baptisms in Atherstone in the Parish
of Mancetter in the County of Warwick

#365 Frederick Geary
Fourth Child Son of Thomas Geary Farmer of Atterton
in the parish of Witherley son of John Sharman Geary
Farmer of Daddlington Leicestershire and Mary his wife

#366 Elton Geary
Fifth Child Son of Thomas Geary Farmer of Atterton
in the parish of Witherley son of John Sharman Geary
Farmer of Daddlington Leicestershire and Mary his wife

Mother~Sarah Ann daughter of John Elton
Grocer of Leicester and Elizabeth his wife
Frederick Geary born July 8th 1830
Baptized January 6th 1837

Mother~Sarah Ann daughter of John Elton
Grocer of Leicester and Elizabeth his wife.
Elton Geary Born January 9th 1835
Baptized January 6th 1837

Sarah Ann Geary buried June 10th, 1852 age 48, p. 252
#8415 burial in the Highgate Cemetery of Saint James',
in the parish of Saint Pancras, in the County of Middlesex,
in the Year 1852
Abode-44 Duncan Terrace Islington,
& Townside Cottage Belgrave near Leicester

Marriage by Banns of Elton Geary and Mary Ford solemnized
at The Parish Church in the Parish of St. Luke
in the County of Middlesex
November 12th 1859
Thomas Geary-gentleman-father of Elton
David Ford--father of Mary

Family Group Sheets, Census Data, Maps of John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer

2009-07-18T07:05:00.000-07:00

Compiled by Andrea Lee Conley

Part 3 of "The Geary-Fryer Handcart Legacy"

Family Group Sheet John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer
John Thomas Geary b 1823

Sophia Fryer Geary b 1829
Sophia Ann Geary b 1853
Thomas Fryer Geary b 1854
Echo Workman Geary b 1856
Eliza Jane Geary b 1859

Leah Fryer Geary b 1860
Sarah Annie Geary b 1864
Census 1841, 1851, 1860, 1870, children 1880

Archive Family Group Sheet
John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer

Photo Sophia Fryer Geary Willis with son Willie Willis,
daughter Echo Geary, unidentified girl,
Sister-in-law Theresa Revel Fryer, her
son John Fryer, daugher Annie Fryer.

Google Map of Atterton in Leicestershire, England.
Dadlington on right, Witherley on left.

Map of Hamlet of Atterton, Leicestershire, England where
John Thomas Geary was born and raised.

1841 Census
Market Square, Parish & Township of
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, England
Sophia Fryer 12 with sister
Jane Fryer 15 female servant

1841 Census England
Photo of actual page Sophia Fryer 12 and Jane Fryer 15.

1851 England Census
Old Bond Street, Parish St George Hanover Square,
City Westminster, County Middlesex.
Sophia Fryer 22 servant

1851 England Census photo of actual page Sophia Fryer 28.

1851 England Census
#44 Duncan Terrace, Parish Islington,
Ecclesiastical District St Peters part of, Borough of Finsbury
John T Geary 28 Attorney and Soliciter
Frederick Geary 20 brother Soliciter articled Clerk
Elton Geary 16 brother Clerk in Merchants Home
Charlotte Hall 40 widow cousin

1851 England Census
photo of actual page of John T Geary
with brothers Frederick Geary, Elton Geary.

1860 Census
Cedar City, Iron, Utah Territory
J T Geary 28
Sophia Geary 27
Sophia A Geary 6
Echo W Geary 3
Eliza J Geary 1

1860 Census Utah Territory
photo of actual page
J T Geary family.

1870 Census
Tokerville, Kane County, Utah Territory
Sophia (Fryer Geary) Willis 40

1870 Census
Tokerville, Kane County, Utah Territory
photo of actual page
Sophia Willis 40
Echo Geary 14
Sophia Geary 18
Eliza Geary 12
Lea Geary 8
Annie Geary 7
Willie Willis 2
Adina Willis 6/12 December

Daughter Sophia Ann Geary born 10 June 1853 Keokuk Camp Ground, Lee, Iowa, died 14 August 1934 Page's Ranch, Iron, Utah. Sophia married 12 April 1876 Pinto, Washington, Utah Daniel Richey Page born 27 May 1855 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah to Daniel Page and Mary Ann Richey, died 26 April 1933 Parowan, Iron, Utah. They divorced and Daniel married 19 August 1909 Parowan, Iron, Utah Cecellia Spencer Evans born 7 April 1860 Parowan, Iron, Utah to Jenkin Abram Evans and Sarah Ann Norris, died 17 November 1949 Ogden Weber, Utah.

Children:
Robert Geary Page born 2 June 1877 Little Pinto, Iron, Utah, and died 6 November 1945 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. Robert married 10 February 1904 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake,Utah Dora Halterman born 28 March 1882 Parowan, Iron, Utah to George Samuel Halterman and Phoebe Madora Benson, and died 7 February 1984 Blanding, San Juan, Utah.

Children:
Pearl Page married Joseph Irving Nichols born 16 February 1909 Burton, Fremont,Idaho to Alvin Raymond Nichols and May Elizabeth Russell, died 3 October 1986 Sublimity, Marion, Oregon with children: Joseph Page Nichols married Gloria Hermine Trauffer; Kaye Page Nichols married Mary Lou Madsen; Douglas Russell Nichols; Wendell Keith Nichols; and Elwood Marks Nichols.

Reta Page born 11 July 1905 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, and died 3 April 1988 Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada. Reta married 14 June 1928 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Kenneth Bailey born 12 October 1905 Monticello, San Juan, Utah to Joseph Moroni Bailey and Phoebe Lapreal Christensen, died 10 February 1956 Monticello, San Juan, Utah. Children: Kenneth Rone Bailey married Jolene Shumway; Carol Dawn Bailey married Irwin George Behunin; Lawrence Page Bailey married Geraldine Hughes; Reta Lapreal Bailey married Lynn Lyman Adams; Joseph Moroni Bailey married Phoebe Lapreal Christensen.

Joseph Halterman Page born 18 november 1907 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, died 19 March 1946 Cedar City, Iron, Utah. Joseph married 8 June 1931 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Lucille Fowlke born 13 May 1908 Lindon, Utah, Utah to Earnest Alva Fowlke and Esther Mariah Hanks, died 4 December 1982 Provo, Utah, Utah. Children: Richard Joseph Page married Barbara Jean Davis; William H Page.

Roberta Page born 30 November 1909 Legrande, Union, Oregon, died 7 December 1909 Legrande, Union, Oregon.

Glen Halterman Page born 16 June 1911 Parowan, Iron, Utah, died 29 September 1953 Salt Lake City, Utah. Glen married 12 December 1930 Salt Lake City, Utah Edith Lyle Kiholm born 15 September 1914 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah to Iner Christifer Kiholm and Violet Shaffer, died 29 January 1995. Children: Robert Kiholm Page married Lauretta Mathie; Donald Kiholm Page married Claudia Louise Linton; Doreen Page; Vicki Page.

Sheldon Robert Page born 12 March 1920 Pleasant Grove, Utah, Utah, died 20 July 1925 Lehi, Utah, Utah.

Amy Sophia Page born 27 January 1879 Little Pinto, Iron, Utah, and died 31 January 1960 Parowan, Iron, Utah. Amy married 26 September 1906 St. George, Washington,Utah Frank Knell born 24 October 1877 Pinto, Washington, Utah to Benjamin Knell and Ann Green, and died 8 February 1938 Cedar City, Iron, Utah. Children:

Virginia Knell born December 1907 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, died 2 April 2001 St. George, Washington, Utah. Virginia married 8 December 1941 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah (D) Doxie Womack Tooke born 22 December 1901 Mexia, Limestone, Texas to Marcus Aurelius Tooke and Mattie Rambo, died 31 December 1985 Sparks, Washoe, Nevada.
Children: Kaye Eric Tooke married Sandra; Jan Franklin Tooke born 13 February 1944 Cedar City, Utah married Trudi; Alan Knell Tooke born 13 February 1944 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, married Marie Louise Quist, married 2nd Carol Lynn Page, died 2 February 1998 Provo, Utah, Utah; Paul Knell Tooke married Eileen.

Georgia Knell born 15 July 1909 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, died 7 May 1993 Newcastle, Iron, Utah. Georgia married 22 February 1928 Parowon, Iron, Utah Edward Murray Harrison born 14 June 1906 St. George, Utah to Heber Eldridge Harrison and Lettie May Nelson, died 22 September 1994 Newcastle, Iron, Utah. Children: Reed Knell Harrison born 2 June 1931 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, died 7 February 1998 Sandy, Salt Lake, Utah, married Allie Huntsman; Frank Merrill Harrison born 1 June 1940 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, died 30 July, 2007; Lamond Harrison married Eva; Edward Harrison.

Nevada Knell born 21 March 1911 Little Pinto, Iron, Utah, died 1 November 2007 Parowan, Iron, Utah. Nevada married 9 June 1931 St. George, Washington, Utah Ray Hardison Adams born 17 October 1902 Parowan, Iron, Utah to Thomas Davenport Adams and Maria Luella Redd, died 28 March 1969 Cedar City, Iron, Utah. Children: Carol Ann Adams married Kreston Johnson Snow; Stephen Ray Adams born 1 February 1934 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, died 18 October 1995 Cedar City, Iron, Utah; Norman Knell Adams born 6 December 1938 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, died 13 November 1940; Knell Adams (female) born 1 January 1947, died 19 June 1948.

Frank Page Knell born 2 May 1914 Newcastle, Iron, Utah, died 1 March 1977 Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada.

Walter Leo Knell born 6 January 1916 Newcastle, Iron, Utah, died 2 August 2003 North Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada. Walter married Charleen Stirling born 8 August 1921 Leeds, Washington, Utah to David Stirling and Annie Ethel Isom. Children: Walter Stirling Knell born 17 August 1951 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, died 1 September 1969; Robert Frank Knell born 19 April 1957 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, died 17 August 1959 Washington, Washington, Utah; Margaret Knell married Froyd; Inez Knell married Davis; David Knell; Martha Knell married Bradford; Patricia Knell married Muni. Walter married Beth Picketts.

Benjamin Kay Knell born 14 January 1918 Newcastle, Iron, Utah, died 4 April 1990 Cedar City, Iron, Utah. Benjamin married 30 June 1973 Lajean Wood born 5 September 1931 Cedar City, Iron, Utah to Elmer Hunter Wood and Melba Hollingshead, died 20 October 2006 Bakersfield, Kern, California. Lajean married Reuben Kay Jolley 24 March 1951, George O'dell Sanford 1 May 1993 St. George, Washington, Utah.

Amy Luzon Knell born 23 April 1923 Newcastle, Iron, Utah, died 2 February 2005. Amy married 24 May 1941 St. George, Washington, Utah Dean Elwood Forsyth born 11 September 1915 Newcastle, Iron, Utah to Jessie Turner Forsyth and Mary Ethel Jamieson, died 27 August 2005 Cedar City, Iron, Utah. Child: Renee Forsyth born 16 March 1947 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, died 18 March 1947 Cedar City, Iron, Utah.

John Geary Page born 10 April 1881 Little Pinto, Iron, Utah, died 31 August 1960 Cedar City, Iron, Utah. John married 6 October 1920 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Maggie Johnson Orton born 2 September 1896 Parowan, Iron, Utah to Samuel Taylor Orton and Esther Ellis Johnson, died 1 September 1981 St George, Washington, Utah. Children:

Elwood Orton Page born 1 April 1923 Parowan, Iron, Utah, died 6 February 2005. Elwood married Eloise Dobrusky born 1 February 1928 Cedar City, Iron, Utah to Albin Joseph Drobrusky and Mary Haycock, died 18 October 1909 Logan, Cache, Utah. Children:
Gayle Page married James; Richard Kirk Page married Rebecka Putnam; Michael Don Page married Angela; Charlotte Page born 21 Mar 1947 St. George, Washington, Utah, died 29 March 1947; Jerry Quentin Page born 17 May 1949 St. George, Washington, Utah, married 4 December 1971 St. George Temple Glenda Stratton, had Justin Page, Summer Page, and died 28 February 2008 Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada; Dennis Elwood Page born 19 November 1950 St. George, Washington, Utah, died 25 March 1951.

Lennie Page born 15 July 1925 Davenport, Scott, Iowa, died 15 December 1994 Logandale, Clark, Nevada. Lennie married Ivan Mac Jones son of Frederick Melling Jones and Kate Smith. Children: Melanie Jones, colleen Jones, Curtis Ivan Jones, Eric M Jones born 31 October 1957 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, died 1 November 1957

Garn Orton Page married Rose Luree Bentley. Children: Leland Bentley Page; Kathrine Rose Page married Rickey Dallas Hunsaker; Dorian Garn Page married Joyce Sandberg; Annette Page married Rupert Del Hulet with 8 children; Jacquelyn Page; John Kurt Page; Sylvia Marie Page born 26 August1957 Tucson, Pima, Arizona, died 5 April 1958.

Vernetta Page married Marshall.

John Quentin Page born 10 September 1921 Parowan, Iron, Utah, died 18 July 1943.

Claude Orton Page born 19 December 1927 Parowan, Iron, Utah, died 9 June 1930.

Eva Geary Page born 22 May1883 Little Pinto, Iron, Utah, died 18 January 1973 St. George, Washington, Utah. Eva married 28 August 1905 Parowan, Iron, Utah Edwin Richard Higbee born 15 January 1883 Toquerville, Washington, Utah to Richard Tait Higbee and Lorine Isabel Lamb, died 16 August 1983 St. George, Washington, Utah. Children:

Eleen Rosalia Higbee born 29 June 1906 Toquerville, Washington, Utah, died 10 August 1994, married 3 October 1928 Grant Brooks Harris ;

Wilma Lorina Higbee born 29 October 1909 Toquerville, Washington, Utah, died 27 January 2007 Santa Clara, Washington, Utah, married 28 June 1929 St George Temple William Arthur Kemp;

Magnolia Higbee born 24 February 1913 Toquerville, Washington, Utah, died 6 December 2004, married 11 March 1933 St George, Washington, Utah, married Eugene R. Palfreyman;

Lamond Page Higbee born 18 July 1919 Toquerville, Washington, Utah, died 3 June 1995 Winnemucca, Humboldt, Nevada, married 11 July 1939 Frankie J Shipp;

Maree Higbee born 8 December 1921 Toquerville, Washington, Utah, died 2 May 2009, married 21 February 1946 Dean Crosby Gardner;

Gena Higbee born 12 October 1923 Toquerville, Washington, Utah, died 25 March 2005, married 20 February 1942 St George, Washington, Utah Melville Hirschi.

Dettie Geary Page born 6 September 1885 Little Pinto, Washington, Utah, died 25 January 1960 Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada. Dettie married 10 October 1908 Caliente, Lincoln, Nevada Thomas James Tulloch born 10 November 1878 West Huntington, Ontario, Canada to James Tulloch and Hannah Mary Anderson, died 21 April 1952 St George, Washington, Utah. Child: Harold Page Tulloch born 27 November 1911 Little Pinto, Iron, Utah, died 11 January 1934.

Golda Geary Page born 12 May 1895 Little Pinto, died 19 October 1976 Bountiful, Davis, Utah. Golda married 23 December 1926 Iron County, Utah Heber Edwin Smith born 22 April 1891 Cedar City, Iron, Utah to Elbert Francisco Smith and Nelly Norma Reid Cox, died 13 August 1965 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. Children:

Heber Garth Smith born 22 December 1927 Enoch, Iron, Utah, died april 1950 Veyo, Washington, Utah;

Shirley Smith born 22 December 1927 Enoch, Iron, Utah died 17 August 1995 Pearce, Cochise, Arizona, married 28 February 1964 Lordsburg, Hidalgo, New Mexico Jesse Eugene Amalong born 10 May 1920 Dos Cabezas, Chochise, Arizona to Jesse Eugene Amalong and Ruby Evelyn Stafford, children: David Eugene Amalong born 28 May 1968 Warren, Chochise, Arizona, married Donna Shockly 8 November 1993 Pearce, Cochise, Arizona, and Elizabeth Ann Amalong born 11 November 1969;

Nelly Udeene Smith born 9 January 1935 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, died 8 June 1935 Cedar City, Iron, Utah;

Daniel Francisco Smith born 31 January 1937 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, married 1 September 1959 Cedar City, Iron, Utah Carol Jeanette (Kaye) Crabtree born 29 Mach 1935 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah to John Edward Crabtree and Florence Ellen Mortenson. Children: Michael Daniel Smith, Craig Lee Smith, and Karrileigh Smith.

Daniel Geary Page born 29 August 1899 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, died 20 September 1954 St George, Washington, Utah. Daniel married 11 October 1943 Verda Farnsworth born 31 March 1910 Lyman, Wayne, Utah to Alma Stephen Farnsworth and Mary (Mame) Elizabeth Turner, died 11 October 2004 St. George, Washington, Utah.

Photo Daniel Richey Page family:
Amy Sophia Page, Daniel Richey Page,
Sophia Ann Geary Page, Eva Geary Page,
John Geary Page, Dettie Geary Page, Robert Geary Page,
Golda Geary Page, Daniel Geary Page.

Tombstone Photos
Top: Daniel Richey Page 1855-1935
Parowan Cemetery, Parowan, Utah

Bottom: Sophia Ann Geary Page,
Leah Fryer Geary
Pinto Cemetery, Iron County, Utah

Photo Daniel Richey Page family children-grown
Sophia Ann Geary Page, Daniel Richey Page.

Sophia Ann Geary Page,

Family Group Sheet Daniel Richey Page Family:
Daniel Richey Page b 1855
Sophia Ann Geary Page b1853
Robert Geary Page b 1877
Amy Sophia Page b1879
John Geary Page b1881
Eva Geary Page b 1883
Dettie Geary Page b 1885
Golda Geary Page b 1895
Daniel Geary Page b 1899
Census 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930

Archive Family Group Sheet Daniel Richey Page Family

Children:
Robert Geary Page born 2 June 1877 Little Pinto, Iron, Utah, and died 6 November 1945 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. Robert married 10 February 1904 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake,Utah Dora Halterman born 28 March 1882 Parowan, Iron, Utah to George Samuel Halterman and Phoebe Madora Benson, and died 7 February 1984 Blanding, San Juan, Utah.

Family Group Sheet:
Kennedy James Hanley b 1845
Echo Workman Geary Hanley b 1856
Robert Emmet Hanley b 1882
James Geary Hanley b 1885
Census 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930.

Echo Hanley Death Certificate
19 May 1936
Widowed
of 15 Loma Alta, Los Gatos, Santa Clara, California
burial Los Gatos, California
informant L. E. Hanley of Wallace, Idaho

James G. Hanley death certificate
Veteran's Administration Hospital
San Francisco, California
Death 19 May 1940 age 55 yrs 2 mos 4 days
Residence 214 Saratoga Avenue
Los Gatos, Santa Clara, California
Birth 15 March 1885
Salt Lake City, Utah
Occupation: Miner
Father: Kennedy Hanley born Ireland
Mother: Echo Geary born Utah
Informant:Veterans Hospital
Buried National Cemetery 22 May 1940
Married to Nellie E. Hanley age 70

Robert Hanley Death Certificate
Death 10 April 1936
of general paralysis of the insane
Agnew State Hospital, Agnew, California
54 years 1 month 27 days
Father Kennedy Hanley born Ireland
Mother Echo Geary
Informant: Hospital Records Agnew, California
Burial Los Gatos Cemetery, Los Gatos, Santa Clara, California

Kennedy James Hanley
Death Certificate-Paralysis of throat
310 San Jose Ave, Los Gatos, Santa Clara, California
31 October 1921
Age 76 years 10 months 16 days
Burial: Los Gatos, California 2 November 1921
Birth 15 December 1844 Ireland
Married to Echo Hanley
Mother: Catherine
At place of death: 1 year 2 months
In California 3 years, in US 60 years
Informant Robt. E. Hanley of Los Gatos

Photos:
Kennedy James Hanley taken at Fox & Symons Salt Lake City, Utah
Echo Workman Geary Hanley taken at Wardner, Idaho
Robert Emmet Hanley age 5 yr 2 mo taken at Fox & Symons Salt Lake City, utah
James Geary Hanley age 2 yr 6 mo taken at Maxwell.

Research Report on the Birth of Echo Workman Geary Hanley “The Second Birth in Echo Canyon” By Kaye Page Nichols
Click here to read complete 16-page essay

Family Group Sheet:
David Keele b 1854
Eliza Jane Geary Keele b 1859
Elzada Keele b 1878
Annie Eliza Keele b 1881
Eathel Keele b 1883
John David Keele b1885
Leah Keele b 1891
George Quincy Keele b 1893
Francis Marion Keele b 1896
Howard Geary Keele b 1900
Ireta Keele b 1902
Orval Geary Keele b 1905
Census 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1930

Family Group Sheet:
James Davis b 1860
Sarah Ann (Annie) Geary b 1864
Robert Davis b 1883
Heber Davis b 1885
Walter Davis b 1887
Effie Davis b 1891
Ernest Davis b 1891
Grace Davis b 1896
Census 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920

Daughter Sarah Ann (Annie) Geary born 28 February 1864 Toquerville, Washington, Utah, married 11 September 1882 Lincoln County, Nevada to James Davis born
15 March 1860 Heber City, Wasatch, Utah to James Bailey Davis and Catherine Kirby.
Sarah Annie died 21 May 1921, Basin, Big Horn, Wyoming and James died 15 April 1900 Otto, Big Horn, Wyoming, both buried Burlington, Big Horn, Wyoming.

Children:
Robert Davis born 24 November 1883 Orangeville, Emery, Utah and died November 1943 Wyoming. Robert married 7 June 1907 Burlington, Big Horn, Wyoming, Maud Etta Perkins born 2 December 1996 Albion, Cassia, Idaho to Charles Augustus Perkins and Huldah Parks. Maud died 30 July 1977. Children: Emma B Davis born 1909 Basin, Big Horn, Wyoming; Thelma Fae Davis born 26 May 1911 Basin, Big Horn, Wyoming and died 19 September 1996 Healdsburg, Sonoma, California; Robert Davis born 21 January 1922, died 11 February 2002 San Juan, Grant, New Mexico.

Heber Davis born 6 September 1885 Orangeville, Emery, Utah, died 3 November 1902 Big Horn county, Wyoming, buried Burlington, Wyoming.

Walter Davis born 26 September 1887 Panaca, Lincoln, Nevada and died 29 November1957 Casper, Natrona, Wyoming. Walter married 23 January 1913 Otto, Big Horn, Wyoming Hazel Elizabeth Tolman born 23 January 1893 Eureka, Juab, Utah to Wilford Richard Tolman and Laura Rowena McFate. Hazel died 18 January 1976 Bellflower, Los Angeles, California. Children: Eugene Tolman Davis born 26 November 1913 Basin, Big Horn, Wyoming, died 12 March 1915; Bert Tolman Davis born 29 October 1915 Otto, Big Horn, Wyoming, died 9 April 1989; Fred Davis born 19 January 1918 Basin, Big Horn, Wyoming, and died 9 November 1968 Casper, Natrona, Wyoming; Marilyn Hazel Davis born 4 March 1923 Basin, Big Horn, Wyoming, died 25 June 2003 San Bernardino, San Bernardino, California.

Ernest Davis born 29 January 1891 Star Valley, Uinta, Wyoming and died 1 February 1959. Ernest married 7 February 1921 Basin, Big Horn, Wyoming Delilah Sessions born 27 August 1903 Byron, Big Horn, Wyoming to Scott Aytch Sessions and Minnie Amelia Cox. Minnie died 16 May 1989. Children: Ethel Marie Davis born 22 October 1926 Cheyenne, Laramie, Wyoming, died December 2008; Della Ruth Davis born 18 March 1930 Cheyenne, Laramie, Wyoming, died 15 March 1952.

Effie Davis born 29 January 1891 Star Valley, Uinta, Wyoming and died 24 April 1962 Orange County, California. Effie married 7 September 1910 Elmer Gould born 8 February 1884 LaMar, Barton, Missouri to William Broadway Gould and Mary Elaine Mann. Elmer died 8 March 1929. Children: Alta F Gould born 26 August 1911 Burlington, Big Horn, Wyoming, died September 1974 Lander, Fremont, Wyoming; Ernest Alva Gould born 29 January 1913, died July 1981 Washington, D.C.; Harold Elmer Gould born 5 April 1915 Powell Park, Wyoming, died 15 November 2005 Grand Junction, Mesa, Colorado; William Raymond Gould born 10 October 1917 Powell Park, Wyoming, died July 1990 Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.

Grace Davis born 21 August 1896 Otto, Big Horn, Wyoming, died 18 January 1916 Otto, Big Horn, Wyoming, and buried Burlington, Wyoming.

Photo Sarah Annie Geary Davis
1863-1921

Annie (Sarah Ann) Geary Davis
probably taken in Panaca, Nevada

Effie Sholes Keele Collection
Possession of Kristin Osterbaan
Madras, Oregon

Archive Family Group Sheet Annie Geary and James Davis

Family Group Sheet:
Joshua Thomas Willis b 1818
Sophia Fryer Geary Willis b 1829
William Richard Willis b 1868
Adina Laura (Lolly) Willis b 1870
James Willis b 1872
Census 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930

Family Group Sheet:
William Richard Willis b 1869
Harriet Rachel Thompson Willis b 1871
Rachael Sophia Willis b 1889
Willliam Albert Willis b 1890
Archie A Willis b 1890
Franklin Leo Willis b 1895
Carl V Willis b 1897/1898
Jennie Willis b 1901
Clarencr Edmund Willis b 1903
Ella Mae Willis b1905
Hyrum Richard Willlis b 1908
Echo Bee Willis b 1910
Census 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930.

Archive Family Group Sheet William Richard Willis Family

Family Group Sheet:
Samuel Larcum Lewis b 1867
Adina Laura (Lolly) Willis Lewis b 1870
William Lewis b 1888
Emily Melissa (Millie) Lewis b 1892
Sophia Lewis b 1894
Samuel Larcum Lewis b 1897
James Royal Lewis b 1898/1899
Charles Holman Lewis b 1901
Laura Lewis b 1904
Sheldon Willis Lewis b 1907
Alice May Lewis b 1910
Census 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930.

Samuel Larcum Lewis and Adina Willis
(Photo courtesy of Heather Chamberlain Burch)

Samuel Lewis, son of Samuel Larcum Lewis and Adina Willis
(Photo courtesy of Heather Chamberlain Burch)

Family Group Sheet:
Thomas Geary b 1792 Census 1841, 1851, 1861
Sarah Ann Elton Geary b 1803
John Thomas Geary b 1823 found Census 1841, 1851, 1860, 1870
Thomas Edmund Geary b 1825 Census 1841, 1851, 1861
Henry Geary b 1826/1828 Census 1841, 1851
Frederick Geary b 1830 Census 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871,
1881, 1891, 1901
Elton Geary b 1834 Census 1841, 1851, 1861.

1841 England Census
Thomas Geary 45 and family

Photo of actual census page
1841 England Census
Thomas Geary 45
Sarah Geary 35
Thomas Geary 15
John Geary 15
Henry Geary 13
Frederick Geary 10
Elton Geary 6

1851 England Census
Civil Parish Leicester St Mary
Town Leicester, County Leicestershire,
Thomas Geary 58
Sarah Ann Geary 48.

Photo of actual page 1851 Census
Thomas Geary 58

1861 Census England
Civil Parish Leicester St Margaret,
Ecclesiastical Parish Christ Church
#86 Stanley St
Thomas Geary 65 landed proprietor
Charles Geary 5 son.

Photo of Actual Census Page 1861
Thomas Geary 65.

Family Group Sheet
Moses Fryer b 1786 Census 1841, 1851, 1861
Eliza Miller Fryer b 1796 Census 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871
Eliza Fryer b 1820
Jane Fryer b1823 Census 1841, 1851, 1860, 1870, 1880
William Aaron Fryer b 1825 Census 1851, 1861, 1871
George Edward Fryer b 1827 Census 1841
Sophia Fryer b 1829 Census 1841, 1851, 1860, 1870
George Nick Fryer 1832 Census 1841,1851, 1861, 1871,
1881, 1891, 1901
Leah Fryer b 1835 Census 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871,
1881, 1891, 1901
Richard Fryer b 1837 Census 1841, 1851, 1860, 1870,
1880 his children
Albert Fryer b 1840 Census 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871,
1881, 1891, 1901
Victoria Fryer b 1840
Annie Fryer b 1843 Census 1851, 1861

St. James Church
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, England
Photographed and contributed by Dale Clawson

St. James Church, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, England
Photographed and Contributed by Dale Clawson

Tombstone of Moses and Eliza Fryer
Churchyard Cemetery of
St. James Church in Yarmouth,
Isle of Wight, England
Photographed and Contributed by Dale Clawson

Sacred to the Memory of
Moses Fryer
Born Feb 6, 1786
Died July 6, 1863

Also Eliza his Wife
Born Nov 5, 1796
died July 8, 1871

Fight the good fight
of Faith lay hold
on Eternal Life
I Tim 5:12

I

Photo of Tombstone
Theresa Ann Revel Fryer
1839-March 16, 1875
and son Moses Fryer
Oct. 15, 1874- Mar. 18, 1875
Toquerville Cemetery
Toquerville, Utah

Photo of Tombstone
Richard Fryer
1837-1875
Husband of
Thresa Ann Revel
1840-1875
Toquerville Cemetery
Toquerville, Utah

1841 Census England
Yarmouth, Hampshire, Isle of Wight
High Street
Moses Fryer 50 painter
Eliza Fryer 40
Mary Fryer 30
Edward Fryer 15
George Fryer 9
Leah Fryer 7
Richard Fryer 4
Albert Fryer 1

Actual Photo of 1841 Census page
Moses Fryer 50

1851 Census England
Yarmouth, Hampshire, Isle of Wight
High Street
Moses Fryer 66 plumber & glazier
Eliza Fryer 54
George Fryer 17 journeyman bricklayer
Leah Fryer 17
Richard Fryer 13
Albert Fryer 11
Anne Fryer 8

Actual Photo 1851 Census Page
Moses Fryer 66

1861 England Census
Yarmouth, Hampshire, Isle of Wight
High Street
Moses Fryer 74 Plumber & Painter
Eliza Fryer 64
William Fryer 35 Mariner
Albert Fryer 21 Painter glazier
Annie Fryer 18 school teacher

Photo of Actual 1861 Census page
Moses Fryer 74

1871 Census England
Yarmouth, Hampshire, Isle of Wight
Eliza Fryer 74 mother
Albert Fryer 31 painter or glazier
Ann Miller 81 aunt
Leah Fryer 38 Mariner's wife
Florence Fryer 16
Louis Fryer 6
Victor E 4.

Photo of Actual 1871 Census Page
Eliza Miller Fryer 74

Family Group Sheet:
Moses Fryer b 1786
Elizabeth Pinnock Fryer b 1790
James Fryer b 1808
Mary Ann Fryer b 1810 Census 1841
John Fryer b 1813
Sarah Ellen Fryer b 1816

Kaye Page Nichols updates historical data 2009

2009-07-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

This excellent new account compiled in 2009 contains the most current research and findings on the lives of our ancestors John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer. It sheds much new light on these stalwart pioneers and clarifies a few misconceptions in previous accounts of their lives. The record is well-researched with new photos and copies of actual documents of their marriage etc. As a family we are indebted to Kaye Nichols for his expertise and tireless efforts to bring this new information to light.

Click to Open PDF file of the complete "History of John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer" by Kaye Page Nichols, 2009.

PREFACE TO THE RESEARCH PAPER BY KAYE PAGE NICHOLS ON THE LIVES OF JOHN THOMAS GEARY AND SOPHIA FRYER

This effort was a personal challenge for me. In conversing with my mother, Pearl Page Nichols, about her paternal heritage, she knew very little about the Geary side of her family. I determined that while she is still living, I would make this a project for my personal family research, so that I can share with her what I have found.

In the course of my research, I became acquainted with Andrea Conley, and Vernetta Page Marshall, who are also descendants of John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer. We have collaborated on some material of common interest. It was Andrea that acquainted me with the booklet “Fate of the Fryers” by Bessie Snow, who was a grand daughter of Jane Fryer, a sister to our ancestor, Sophia Fryer. In my reading of the story of the Fryer’s and the Geary’s my interest was piqued and I began to question some of what I was reading in Bessie’s booklet. My investigation revealed some facts which vary from that of the story by Bessie Snow. It is not my intent to disparage her account, as it was what was available to her at the time she wrote it. Our ability today to correspond by electronic means and to search many databases online, gives us a great advantage over what was unavailable to previous generations. I have given source information in as detailed a fashion as I could, so that future investigators can go right to the sources which I have used.

Hopefully, Bessie is now conversing with those about whom she wrote, and they are clarifying for her the facts of her heritage. In due time, I can envision that I too will confront these same ancestors, and they will be able to correct my perceptions of reality. Together we can both revel in the realization that the gospel of Jesus Christ was what these ancestors sought for and embraced so that our generation can enjoy the fullness of the gospel, as revealed and practiced in this day and age. Their toils and deprivations, their example and convictions, their heartaches and joys, and the fruits of their labors are what we are building upon today. As we come closer to the day when we will personally join with them in realizing our pre-existent knowledge of the great plan of redemption, we can hope that what we learn about them here in this sphere of our existence will help us to recognize them when we again meet them and can embrace them here on this earth.

In further assistance to me has been Jeanette Page Saltzman, daughter of Richard J. Page, one of my first cousins. Jeanette is living in London with her family, and she has been able to provide me photos, document research, and British perspective of events and much more. This has given me a greater appreciation for John & Sophia Geary, and their early reception to teachings of the restored gospel.
I feel as though I have come to a better understanding of Sophia and John, and I am much closer to them now than before I started this investigation. Any mistakes or errors in interpretations of the facts herein are mine, and critics may discard or accept as they please any items in my musings.

-- Kaye Page Nichols, February 2009

Read More

Click to Open PDF file of the complete "History of John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer" by Kaye Page Nichols, 2009.

Kaye page Nichols, Andrea Lee Conley, and Kenneth Bailey collaborated on the Geary/ Fryer research.

Marriage Entry of John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer

2009-06-14T22:05:00.000-07:00

Copy (above)of marriage entry for John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer married 26 August 1852. The Copy of Marriage Entry was obtained from the General Register Office, Application No. 926307/1, in the Registration District of St. Saviour, Surrey, England, 10th day of February 2009. Copy in possession of Kaye P. Nichols.

Cathedral of St. Saviour's in Surrey, England, where John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer were married.

The Page Family Bible

2009-06-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

WRITTEN BY RETA PAGE BAILEY BARTELL MONTICELLO, UTAH
MARCH 30, 1980

I am Reta Page Bailey Bartell, daughter of Robert Geary Page and Dora Halterman Page. My father's mother was Sophia Ann Geary Page, my grandmother.

In the early 1920's, when I was about sixteen years old, Grandma Page came to visit us in Pleasant Grove, Utah. She had with her a family bible that had been passed down to the oldest child in each generation for many generations.

The back of the bible had been torn off and the leaves were charred around the edges. Grandma wanted my father to take her to Salt Lake City to have the bible re-bound. He took her to the Deseret Book Company where they made arrangements for this work to be done. Grandma stayed with us in Pleasant Grove until the book was finished.

The bible had been published in 1629. The following is quoted from the fly leaf:

"The Holy Bible, Containing the Old Testament and the New."

"Newly translated out of the original tongues, and with the former translations diligently compared and revised by His Majesty's special command. To be read In the Churches."

"Printed by Thor and John Buck, printers to the University of Cambridge."

When they brought the bible back from Salt Lake City, Grandma gave the bible to my father, because he was her oldest child. With the bible was a family seal depicting a musician's lyre with an olive branch across it, and the words: Harmony and Peace, written around the outer rim. The seal was made of Cornelian Agate in A gold setting. This seal had accompanied the bible from generation to generation. In those days important documents and letters had to be carried and delivered by hand. Sealing wax was used to seal the documents or messages. While the wax was still warm a family seal made the "family stamp" in the warm wax. When the wax hardened, the document or letter could not be opened without disturbing the sealing wax. This insured privacy in correspondence. With the seal and the bible were two blue and white plates resembling "Blue Willow" plates.

On the back of each plate was the name George Jones England.

Booties knitted by Sophia Fryer, along with the Geary family seal

John Thomas Geary Life History as told to Golda Geary Page Smith

2009-05-13T08:32:00.000-07:00

Recorded From Memory by Golda Geary Page Smith January 8, 1967, from stories told to her by her mother Sophia Ann Geary

IMPORTANT NOTE: Current family research by Kaye P. Nichols has clarified some of the actual details mentioned in the account below. Bear in mind that this is history handed down by word of mouth and related from memory when Golda was very old. We are grateful to have all historical accounts, both verbal, and documented which helps us to better know and understand our stalwart ancestors and their life experiences.
Also read John Thomas Geary and Sophia Fryer History by Kaye Page Nichols.

John Thomas Geary was born February 5, 1823 in Atterton, England to Thomas Geary and Sarah Ann Elton. He was educated in seven different languages besides his own, which was English. He practiced Law in all of them. He was a Lord, and was Speaker in the House of Lords in London, England.

He was married August 27, 1852 to Sophia Fryer, daughter of Moses Fryer and Eliza Miller who were of a very old and respected English Family of the Isle of Wight, England. The day these two were married they led a parade of both the Geary and the Fryer families through the streets of London, Everybody was out to see this newly married pair. It lasted for three hours.

Not long after they were married a couple of Mormon Elders, Parley P. Pratt and one other came to their door. When the butler found out they were Mormons he told them Grandfather did not want to hear anything they had to say. So they left. Grandfather had heard part of what was said, so he called the butler and asked him who those men were. The butler told him and Grandfather asked him to please go and bring them back for he wanted to talk to them. He asked the butler to never turn anyone like that from his door again. When they returned, they were led in to Grandfather's Study where he welcomed them and they spent a very pleasant two hours together.

For awhile Grandfather attended LDS meetings alone, at night. He would then tell Grandmother all about it. It was not long before they were both baptized. They always said that this is what they had waited and hungered for all their life. When it became known that John and Sophia had joined the Mormon Church there was terrible commotion. They were turned out into the street without a single copper in their pockets and they were both disinherited by the Geary and Fryer families. John and Sophia went to the Elders and the Saints for help. The Saints made them welcome and took them into their homes. Grandfather had to disguise himself in every way that he could, he even shaved his head and had to keep under cover because he was hunted just like he was a fugitive.

When the excitement had finally died down a bit Grandfather left Grandmother with the Saints and he made his way to Liverpool where he was again given a home and protection by the Saints. He obtained a job at night, working on the docks, helping to load and unload freight on the big ships as them came in and went out. Finally, when he had earned enough money he sent Grandmother to America with a group of converts. She came to America with Sophia’s sister, Jane Fryer and brother, Richard who married Thersa Ann Revel April 7, 1861, also came with them. Because they were Mormons and might be put off the ship or be prosecuted they had to be careful. One time a sheriff and police came on board and searched their baggage but could find no identification to show that they were Mormons.

John stayed and worked until he had enough money to get him to America. He came on the ship “Jersey” and while on ship he did all kinds of jobs to earn as much money as he could. He kept no journal of the trip but had a pleasant voyage. It took three days and nights to clear the English Channel and six weeks to make the trip across the ocean. They had a death and two births on voyage. He arrived at Belees, America February 15, 1853. The ship was towed across the bar to the Mississippi River and soon was gliding up the river. It took two day to reach New Orleans. They saw Negroes strutting around as big as life. They had separate living quarters for men and women. The next day the saints put their luggage on the “John Simonds” and they left at dusk to go up the river. The scenery was different than they had ever seen before, steamers going up and down the river and Negroes at work on the plantations. They passed thick long woods and now and then was a large piece of farm land with a bustling little town by it. It took six days to go up the river. They stayed at St. Louis for six weeks and John got a job working for $1.00 a day. He bought a wagon and cattle and camped with 1200 other saints in wagons and tents. They organized their companies and he was in the last company to leave with Captain John Brown. They reached council Bluffs on the Missouri River on July 17, 1853 and had to stay for a time for his wife was ill.

It took he and Grandmother three years to make their way to Utah. This was a real test. They had to live on roots, bulbs, bark off the trees, needles from the pine trees, berries and the leaves from scrub Cedar trees, or just about anything they could find. Aunt Echo was born in Echo Canyon as they were coming into the Salt Lake Valley on the 26th of November 1856. In Grandfather's diary he said that the snow at that time was in drifts 18 feet deep and all that they had for Grandmother and that sweet baby was a little straw in the wagon box with a quilt over it for a bed and not too much to cover them with. The wagon cover was so old that it kept them busy mending it the best they could. But with the help of the Lord they got along fine and Aunt Echo lived to marry and become the mother of two fine sons.

When they arrived in Utah, Brigham Young sent them to Dixie and Grandfather was one of the first men there to raise cotton. He was the very first man who ever taught school in Toquerville who did not whip the children. In 1866 he moved to Salt Lake City, while there he wrote his last will and testament and died there January 5, 1867.

So far as we know, Grandfather was the only one of his family to join the Mormon Church. One of Grandmother's brothers and his wife, and a sister and her husband joined the Church later on and came to America.

No one will probably ever know or realize the heartbreaks and hardships they endured but with the help of their Lord, they died as they had lived true as steel to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As long as I live I shall tell how grateful I am for my grandparents who came to Utah for the sake of the Gospel. I know as they knew, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Later day Saints is the only true Church on the earth. This I bear as my testimony to you.

*This story is (from memory) as my mother, Sophia Ann Geary, told it to me.
Date: Jan. 8, 1967 Name: Golda Geary Page Smith