Alonzo Ewing Bushman

Bush man, Alonzo Ewing (1885-1967) and Smith, Edith (Mrs. Alonzo Ewing Bushman) (1888-1982)

By Lenore B. Carpenter From Climbing Life’s Mountains: Arizona Pioneer Stories and Faith-Promoting Experiences, collected by Edith Smith Bushman 1941-1972; compiled and published by The A. E. Bushman Family Organization, 1993. (See "Published Sources" on Table of Contents Page.)

Among early settlers was John Bushman who arrived at Allen’s Camp with the first group. Two hundred men had been called in January 1876 by President Brigham Young to settle in northern Arizona. Although they traveled together from Utah there were four groups of fifty men each under the supervision of four different captains. On March 24, 1876 all arrived at a point just east of present Joseph City. William C. Allen (John Bushman’s captain) decided to remain in that vicinity. The other three moved on to nearby locations. However, of the four colonies mentioned above, only Joseph City survived permanently.

John’s son, Alonzo Ewing Bushman number eleven in a family of twelve children, married Edith Smith whose parents, Joseph West and Nellie Mardsen Smith, arrived in Snowflake on December 14, 1879 just eighteen months after that town was founded. So it was that Alonzo and Edith, grew up on a frontier in communities where most of the residents had been called to Arizona for the same reason: to establish new homes for a growing church.

During the next thirty to forty years the slow mode of transportation before the advent of the automobile, made it necessary for them to stay in one anothers homes when they visited in another town. During these visits, which might extend from two days to two weeks, one of the favorite pastimes was to exchange family stories and experiences with one another. It is little wonder that both of them developed an appreciation for the value of a good story.

Alonzo and Edith established their first home in Joseph City after their marriage in 1914. They became the parents of seven children. In 1941 when their first grandchild was born, Edith was impressed to begin a collection of true stories with the hope that she might preserve for her descendants a part of her early environment and also strengthen them spiritually through the great faith and example of others.

As her collection grew she began to reach out beyond her own family circle to neighbors and friends and to other communities besides Joseph City and Snowflake. Then as she and her husband Alonzo (better known as Lon), moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1957 to serve as ordinance workers in the Arizona Temple, contacts included friends from southern Arizona towns as well as the church colonies in Old Mexico.

This gathering continued over a period of 31 years from 1941 to 1972. In Edith's efforts, she has captured choice experiences and bits of history that could have been lost to future generations.

It is a joy to finally have these stories in book form. During her lifetime her children and grandchildren, and others, often came to her for advice and counsel. We know she was inspired to leave this treasure for her descendants. At her funeral, her son-in-law, Leon C. Miller, prophetically stated as he pronounced the invocation, her influence is great and far-reaching and will yet touch unborn generations.

GEDCOM Note

Wedding Dinner after double wedding ceremony for Dean Bushman and Carolyn Williams and Frances Bushman and Paul Peel. This was also a grand way to have a Homecoming for Edith and Lon Bushman. They had just returned from their mission to Texas. Wedding of Frances Bushman and Paul Peel and Dean Bushman and Carolyn Williams Alonzo Ewing Bushman born 21 December 1885 in St. Joseph (Joseph City), Arizona. The headstone for Alonzo and Edith Bushman is located in the Mesa City Cemetery in Mesa, Arizona. Latitude 33.43846 Alonzo Ewing Bushman born December 21 1885 passed away on May 27, 1967 in Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona Funeral Program for Alonzo Ewing Bushman taken from his Book of Remembrance in possession of Edith Haws Alonzo E. Bushman and Edith Smith were married in the Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah, 10 June 1914 Alonzo Ewing Bushman The Joseph City Band with Alonzo Ewing Bushman Alonzo Bushman family headstone of Edith & Alonzo Virgil and John Bushman lived in Mesa, Arizona until the bottom fell out of the market for cotton. Their families enjoyed being together. Alonzo E. Bushman WWII draft registration card, note First name spelled "Alonza" Elders in Central States mission with Sidney Eynon Burgoyne in November 1912 This letter written 27 Jun 1964 expresses appreciation for the party put on by the children of Alonzo and Edith Bushman Morris and Father Alonzo E Bushman delivering milk in Joseph City AZ in 1938, some one inside maybe a sister Nellie or Pauline Edith Smith & Alonzo Bushman wedding picture. Summer 1966 From John Bushman's Journal Edith Smith and Alonzo Bushman 50th anniversary Journal Entry in Aunt Roxie Smith Shelley's book about her sister Edith Smith Bushman and Edith's family 50th Wedding Anniversary Party p. 27 in Unflinching Courage p. 32, Unflinching Courage p. 32, Unflinching Courage The seven children of A E and Edith Bushman gave them a party for their 50th Wedding A great reunion! The young people sure had a lot of fun, staying up late at night, and playing their own group games after the organized games were over. A great reunion! The young people sure had a lot of fun, staying up late at night, and playing their own group games after the organized games were over. A great reunion! The young people sure had a lot of fun, staying up late at night, and playing their own group games after the organized games were over. Alonzo's mission photo. Eastern States Mission, USA. 40th Wedding Anniversary. The A.E. Bushman Family met together on Saturday, Aug. 23, 1954 to celebrate both the 40th Wedding Anniversary of Alonzo and Edith and also to bid farewell as the two would be leaving to labor in the Texas-Louisiana Mission. Alonzo and Edith spoke in church on Aug. 24th. Dedication of their new home in Mesa, Arizona Homecoming for Alonzo and Edith Bushman from their mission and Wedding celebration for the youngest Bushman children: Dean and Frances.