Amasa M. Lyman, Apostle, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Wikipedia Biographical Summary

"...Amasa Mason Lyman (March 30, 1813 – February 4, 1877) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and was an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was also a counselor in the First Presidency to founder and president of the church Joseph Smith, Jr..."

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amasa_Lyman

Biographical Article

Pioneers of San Bernadino
THE AMASA MASON LYMAN FAMILY

Amasa M. Lyman was 38 years old when he, with Charles C. Rich, who was 42, was called by President Brigham Young to lead a group of colonizers into Southern California. After a tedious and trying trip of 3 months beginning March 11, 1851, they reached Sycamore Grove which is 15 miles northwest of the present city of San Bernardino. While here the groups camped in different places about a half mile apart to give the cattle plenty of ground for forage. Francis M. Lyman, a boy of 11 at the time, always remembered with clearness the valuable lessons he learned under the sycamores, and all his days afterwards the Sycamore was his favorite tree. Whenever he was among trees he always searched for the Sycamore.

A monument now marks the place where this camp was located. The bronze tablet on the monument contains the following words:

SYCAMORE VALLEY RANCH formerly called SYCAMORE GROVE first camp of the PIONEERS June 1851 CAPTAIN JEFFERSON HUNT, AMASA M. LYMAN, CHARLES C. RICH, DAVID SEELY, ANDREW LITTLE.

Amasa Lyman was accompanied on this expedition by five wives and six children. Two wives and their two children were left in Salt Lake City. He was accompanied by the following wives:

1. Maria Louisa Tanner Lyman, the first wife age 33, and the following named four children: Matilda 15, Francis Marion 11, Amasa M. Jr., 5, and Maria Louisa 2. Her daughter, Ruth Adelia, born in Shokokon, Illinois died in Florence Nebraska in 1848. Lelia Deseret, Love Josephine, and Agnes Hila were all three born in San Bernardino.

2. Caroline Ely Partridge Lyman, 24, had no children at that time. Her children Martha Lydia, Frederick Rich, and Annie were born in Salt Lake City; Walter Clisbee and Harriet Jane were born in Fillmore.

3. Cornelia Eliza Leavitt Lyman, 26, became a mother almost as soon as the company was located in the old Mexican quarters. This child born November 6, 1851 was named Lorenzo Snow Lyman and was the first white child born in San Bernardino. Today his picture is displayed in a prominent place in the pioneer cabin in Pioneer Park of that city. Her other son, Henry Elias was also born in San Bernardino.

4. Dionitia Walker Lyman, 35, had no children.

5. Priscilla Turley Lyman, 22, had no children at that time. Her children, Theodore Kimberly, Ira Depo, and Isaac Newton were born in San Bernardino; Albert Agustus was born in Salt Lake City; Stephen Alonzo and Frances Priscilla were born in Fillmore.

As the town of San Bernardino grew Amasa wrote of its progress to the Millennial Star. Following are excerpts from his letters. On December 10, 1851 he writes: "We have built since our arrival here some 100 tenements. We are now finishing a stockade court, for our protection against the Indians, who have at present assumed a hostile attitude toward the American settlers in the southern portion of the state, the result of which is yet undetermined. An expedition is now up for their subjugation, in which we are, as usual, invited to participate. We hope the war for us may be a bloodless one."

On June 25 of the following year he wrote: "In December we finished the survey of our Big Field of near two thousand acres. Plowing and planting immediately followed, after which Brother Rich, with a small party, started to look for a road from this place to San Diego. He succeeded in finding a good wagon road with good feed and water all the way. In April we reared our Bowery. It is an adobe building 60 by 30 feet. In this we held our conference on April 6. It was a happy day for the saints here.... The Bowery is occupied during the week by our day school of 125 day scholars under the direction of two well qualified teachers, and on the Sabbath, after the morning service, by our Sunday School and Bible class, which are largely attended by old and young.

"We have in rapid progress a grist-mill... One of our citizens has procured an engine and machinery and contemplates the speedy erection of a steam sawmill.

"We have completed a wagon road to the dense forests of pine, hemlock, and redwood that cover the mountains adjacent to this place, so that we shall soon be able to supply this part of the state with lumber of the best quality at less than gold mine prices.

"In March we commenced the survey of our city, and on the 8th Brother Rich and myself planted the center stake on Temple Block.... Near the river we have our youthful vineyard of 40 acres, which we propose to increase to a more respectable size in time. Near the vineyard, in ruins, are evidences of the industry of the Jesuits, who occupied parts of this country when Catholicism swayed its iron sceptre over this lovely though benighted land.

"Within a mile of Temple Block there is a warm spring of pure water which runs but a few steps until it mingles its waters with a sulphur spring. There is another spring of pure cold water; so that, when we have our bathhouse erected, we can enjoy the luxury of the warm and cold bath in the same establishment....

"The site of San Bernardino resembles very much the site of Salt Lake City. In the rear we have the venerable snow-clad cap of the Sierra, Nevada, towering to the clouds, at the foot of which gush forth innumerable streams whose crystal waters can be dispersed throughout the city, thereby affording to our citizens an abundant supply of that delicious beverage . . . As to the climate, it is as pleasant as we could wish."

These letters give an idea of the early development of the Mormon settlement in San Bernardino Valley. All of the work was directed by Lyman and Rich, such as the location of the town, the surveying of it, the making of roads to the canyon and coast, the establishment of schools and the church, the planting and harvesting of crops, the fencing of this vast domain, the creation of a civil government, and whatever else goes into the making of a substantial commonwealth.

The most pretentious home in San Bernardino belonged to Amasa M. Lyman. It was a two-story structure of adobe and lumber, had a portico completely around the building and steamship deck around the top. The following brief description of this home is given in Heritage of the Valley.

"In the month of April, 1854, Lyman and Rich formed a new partnership known as Lyman, Rich, Hopkins, and Company, apparently with a view of engaging in trade with Salt Lake. This month also saw the first steps toward the building of a new residence for Lyman. It was inside the fort-a long, two story building one hundred and twenty-five by fifty feet, with separate apartments for each of his five wives-the most imposing dwelling in the colony. The walls of the lower story were of adobe, and a piazza ran around the entire structure. Thomas Whittaker and Fred T. Perris drew the plans, and the lumber came partly from the mill on the mountain and partly from the Lyman-Rich establishment in Mill Creek Canyon. The house and contents were assessed for taxation in 1855 at $1500, a high value for residence in those days. It was destroyed by fire in 1865, several years after the recall of the Mormons to Salt Lake."

A picture of the ruins of the Lyman home is to be found in A Heritage of the Valley with the Mormon Bowery or Council House in the background; as are also excellent portraits of Amasa Mason Lyman and Charles Coulson Rich.

After Amasa M. Lyman was called back to Zion and before he had moved his entire family, his wife Cornelia wrote to him from San Bernerdino as follows:

"I read in one of Brother Brigham's sermons that it was about time for every true saint to leave this place . . . it does not make me feel bad any.... I have spent most of two days at the Doctor's to get mine and the boys' likenesses. (Daguerreotypes) I think he will have to fix a room with more light before he succeeds in taking them. He needs practice, he says himself, for when he misses taking them he does not know what the trouble is. He thinks he can take them by the next mail. He is very anxious to take them to suit you."

Since the dedication of the beautiful new $600,000 courthouse April 30, 1927, and the dedication of the Pioneer Monument in Sycamore Grove the following day, the Arrowhead Parlor, Native Daughters of the Golden West, have erected a monument or marker on the southwest corner of the courthouse square on which, in everlasting bronze, the name of the original Pioneer leaders appear again. This bronze marker, on a concrete block, dedicated June 5, 1932, is located where the Council House stood in the corner of the stockade. It was the first public building constructed in San Bernardino.

The "Temple Block" now "Pioneer Park" and "Pioneer Cemetery" are areas which were dedicated to the public by Amasa Lyman and Charles C. Rich.

SOURCE: Heart Throbs of the West: Volume 7 -- Pioneers of San Bernardino

Chart: the eight wives

Year of Marriage, Name, Her Age, His Age, # of Children

1. 1835 Maria Louisa Tanner 17 22 8
2. 1843 Diontha Walker 27 30 0
3. 1844 Caroline Partridge 17 31 6
4. 1846 Eliza Partridge Smith 23 33 5
5. 1846 Pauline Phelps 19 33 7
6. 1846 Priscilla Turley 17 33 6
7. 1846 Cornelia Leavitt 21 33 2
8. 1853 Lydia Partridge 23 40 4

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amasa_Lyman

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