John Henry Rollins, Sr.

This is a continuation of John Henry's father, James Henry Rollins' autobiography, which was too long to fit on his profile page. It starts off with John Henry's father, James Henry Rollins, talking about what was happening when they lived in San Bernardino, California, from about 1851 until 1857. Here is the remainder of his father's document, which talks about his son, John Henry Rollins, while they were on the trip back to Utah from California and an encounter with Indians.

There was nothing particular transpired during the years 1856 and 1857, except improving our places, making orchards and farming. In 1857 I was candidate for assessor of San Bernadino and was elected, notwithstanding the opposition. I was elected City Treasurer in 1854. In 1856 we were called by President Young to Salt Lake, so we sacrificed our land and horses and fitted up for the journey in 1857.

As we were coming on the road, my oldest son, John Henry, was driving a team of three span of mules, with my wife and children in the wagon. We were trailing along the Mojave, and he started out one morning, and was a few miles ahead of the train. As he drove around a point of a mountain, two big buck Indians came down upon them, and grabbed his leaders and swung them around and almost tipped the wagon over. At this, my wife with her baby in her arms, jumped from the wagon, and they threatened to shoot John Henry with their bows and arrows and he stood them off with a loaded black whip. At this juncture, when they were about to shoot my son, the train of wagons came around the point and the Indians fled up into the mountains.

This frightened my wife so that from that time on the rest of the journey she was confined to her bed, and we came very nearly losing her. When we arrived in Cedar City, Utah, we stayed there for several weeks until my wife could regain her strength. While we were thus resting before going on to Salt Lake, we were counseled to remain in the southern part of the state to help strengthen the settlements there, which many of them did.

Not being able to obtain a house to live in, in Cedar, I moved on with my family to Parowan, and there I found a house that I obtained from Job Hall. I lived in Parowan for a year or so. While here, on November 18, 1859, my wife Hannah, gave birth to a son, Francis Robert; that year I was called and set apart to go and be Bishop and help to settle a place on the lower Beaver River called Minersville, on account of there being some mines around that vicinity. I found and located the first lead mine in Utah Territory. We formed a company, and opened up the mine calling the mine Rollins Mine, and the district, Pioneer District.

The company, with Isaac Grundy, hauled rock and made a primitive furnace, to which we hauled the ore, Brother Grundy smelting it for one half of the product. Some of our company withdrew. The first bar of lead smelted weighed 60 lbs. This was carried to Salt Lake by Tarlton Lewis. The next six bars I took myself, and sold to the merchants for 25¢ per lb., and I obtained for it shoes, clothing and groceries of all kinds. After this we procured molds which run bars that weighed 1 lb., and sometimes we run 5 lb. flat bars. The 5 lb. bars I sold to Brother Pyper for the purpose of making white lead. The smaller bars I sold for 25¢ apiece, as I went up through the country.

Previous to this time, I was ordained a Bishop of the Minersville Ward, and held that position until 1867. I was elected as County Representative to the first Legislature of Salt Lake. I remained there 40 days, and when I returned home, I resigned the Bishopric in favor of James McKnight, who was one of my counselors. (Records below indicate he served as Bishop from 1860 to 1869).

I was at this time appointed postmaster at Minersville, my salary being $12 a year, and it increased year by year until 1872, when I received $240 a year. This great increase of the mails was caused by the opening of mining districts in different parts of the country, this being the central office. Four horse coaches were run here daily from Salt Lake to Pioche. I kept the station at Minersville, where the stages met either way, from which point I distributed for Beaver and all mails going south.

I sold my interest in the Rollins Mine for $5,000. This mine was afterward called the Lincoln Mine or district. I put three thousand dollars of this money in another mine, called the Cave Mine, which was located some four miles north of Minersville and seven miles east from Milford, and made gold and silver bars of bouillon, each bar being valued at $1,800 and $2,000. But I eventually lost all I had on account of bad partners, which finally left me penniless, and so ends my financial affairs.

I am now 80 years and six months old and I am still residing in Minersville, where some of my younger children are, but I am thinking of selling my property here and going to Wyoming where some of my older children reside, and as age is creeping on both my wife and myself, thought it best. It is now March, 1888.

I disposed of my house to George Roberts, Jr., for $500 dollars and will soon depart for the place mentioned to spend the rest of our lives with my youngest daughter, Mrs. Wallace Hamblin.

We departed for Wyoming on the first of July. We arrived in Salt Lake City and visited there with my oldest daughter, Mary Osborne for several days. Had a very enjoyable time while there. We then journeyed on and arrived in Lyman, Wyoming, on the 8th of July.

My sons and daughter and families were all very happy to have us with them again. The people of Lyman were preparing for a celebration on the 24th of July in honor of the Pioneers. They asked me if I would make a speech on this occasion, which I consented to do. I related a great many incidents that I had passed through in those early days, which were very interesting to the younger people.

The rest of the summer and fall I spent visiting back and forth with my sons, Charles and Watson and families, which I enjoyed very much. But as winter and colder weather came on, my health seemed to be failing me and I am quite feeble, so will close this writing, and put my trust in the Lord, His will, be done, not mine.

(Note: I finally abandoned the mining business - James Henry Rollins)

In the month of January, 1899, father and mother went to visit my brother Watson and family. They stayed there about two months and he kept failing. He never did get bed-fast. We called Bishop Brough to come down and administer to him. After administering to father, Bishop said he would go home and do his chores, and would return and stay all night. He did not get home before father passed away, while sitting in his chair by the fire.

There were no telephones here then and no way to get news only on horseback. During the evening a blizzard came up and it was very dark. Bishop did not know how he was going to come down to the ranch, it was so stormy, but as he had promised he would try it. So he went out and got on his horse, and as he did a light appeared in front of him and lighted him right to our house. He told us about it as soon as he came in, and he stayed the rest of the night, and helped to wash and lay my father out. This was on the 7th of February 1899.

Father was laid away very nicely dressed in his Temple robes. He was buried in the Lyman cemetery, being the first man buried there. He was a faithful Latter-Day Saint until the end of his journey through life. Father was 82 years and 9 months old. Mother was born May 16, 1823 near Dayton, Ohio. She lived and had very good health for 13 years after father died. She fell and hurt her head and she was laid up for about three weeks but she never did get helpless. She passed away on the 25th of September, 1912. She was in her 90th year. She was buried in the Lyman Cemetery by the side of father. This ends the life story of James H. Rollins and his wife, Eveline Walker Rollins. The last written by their daughter, Mrs. Ida M. Rollins Hamblin.

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The following information is from a book entitled, "Monuments To Courage: A History of Beaver County (Utah)," and talks about Minersville during the time that James Henry Rollins and his family lived there. They arrived in 1859, and lived there for nearly 40 years. His son, John Henry Rollins, moved to Snowflake, Arizona, in about 1879 along with his wife and children, and some of his in-laws. John's wife, Nancy Malinda West Rollins, had 3 sisters who married into the Smith family, cousins of Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the LDS Church. One of her brothers-in-law was Jesse Nathaniel Smith, first cousin to Joseph, who had 5 wives. Two were Nancy's sisters, Emma Seraphine West Smith and Margaret Fletcher West Smith. Margaret died in Utah, but Emma and the Smith children moved with Jesse to Arizona.

According to a book, "Monuments To Courage: A History of Beaver County," chapter Sixteen, Minersville -- It's founding and History, page 212: First Crops Planted in 1859...May 17, 1859, Jehu Blackburn, with his wife, Susan, the first white woman to settle there, planted the first crops. That first year they lived in a covered wagon, under the cottonwood trees in the lot now owned by George LeFevre. Two of these trees have weathered the elements for more than 71 years. Due to shortage of water in the early days, there was little hay raised by the Minersville settlers. To supplement the small supply, the ranchers, farmers and stockmen would make regular trips to the Yellow Banks, 20 miles north of Minersville, and sickle the native grasses which grew in abundance on the banks of the Beaver River, hauling the hay by ox team and mule team to store in their fields for winter feeding.

At this time the main traveled road came down to the canyon to the south from Parowan, through this settlement and then east to Beaver. With the advent of the Pony Express and the stage coach, the road branched toward the southwest and passed the Hot Springs, 18 miles west of Minersville.

James Henry Rollins kept the first open house, or hotel, on the LeFevre lot. Here, too, were stabled the horses used on the coaches for the express. He was also the first postmaster, and in 1859, Elders Lyman and Rich ordained him Bishop of Minersville.

The following men have acted as successors to Bishop Rollins: James McKnight, 1869-1977; William Wood, 1877-1879; James McKnight (second term), 1880-1890; Solomon Walker, 1890-1894; George Eyre, 1895-1901; Ruben W. Dotson, 1901-1917; Henry F. Baker, 1906-1908; George Marshall Sr., 1908-1917; George R. Williams, 1917-1919; George H. Eyre, 1919-1928; George Marshall, Jr., 1928-1938; Truman Rollins, 1938-1939; Charles K. Jameson, 1939-1942; Delos Baker, 1942-1945; Sherman W. Carter, 1945-1946; Harold Baker, 1946 - .

The first house, built of logs, was erected on the LeFevre lot by William Barton, who later sold it to John H. Rollins. William Barton was a brother-in-law to John Henry Rollins, since William Barton's wife, Sarah Esther West Barton, was the sister of John Henry Rollins wife, Nancy Malinda West Rollins. The pioneer houses of those days were crude affairs, built of roughly hewn logs, dirt roofs and dirt floors. The furniture consisted of rock or adobe fireplaces, roughly constructed tables and benches. Bedsteads were considered luxuries and were home-made. The door and window casings were chopped from cottonwood which grew along the creek. Later, pine logs were brought down from Pole Canyon, north of the settlement.

One pioneer woman relates that her first home in Minersville was a small adobe room with a dirt floor and roof. She traded a nice wool shawl, which she had brought from England, for enough lumber to make a door, and took some thin material she had for the window panes. There was a small bin in one corner for grain, and poles were put over it for a bed.

The first carpenters to construct furniture were William Goodman and Charles Burke. One of the first houses built, which is still standing, is in the fields once owned by Hyrum Walker and now the property of Elmer Marshall. It was moved from town to its present site. William Corbridge built the first brick house.

The first church building was constructed of adobe, and stood just east of the present church building. This was also school house and amusement hall. Previous to this, all church and school activities and amusements were held in various places.

The first grist mill was erected east of the old Hollingshead home. It was owned by Nelson Hollingshead. Charles Burke helped to construct it and was the miller. Flour, bran, shorts and corn meal could be obtained here, if you were fortunate enough to raise the grain.

The first brick was made in the street south of the George Davis place, which was then the outskirts of the settlement. The first brick kiln was on a small plot of ground between the Newell Carter and the Walter Dalton homes. The first molasses mill was built in the street west of the school house, and was operated by Albert L. Stoddard. Molasses took the place of sugar in those days.

The first school was held in "Grandma Corbridge's" house, located where Abraham Wood's home is now. The first teachers were Bill Hyde, George Roberts, Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner (the sister of James Henry Rollins) and Mary Ann Hamblin. The children used slates and slate pencils, with a few copy books to read from. Their desks were rude tables and benches made from logs. A blackboard was provided for the teacher's use. Later, much of the school was held at night.

The first Sunday School and meetings were held in Elias Blackburn's home, located where George Marshall's home is now. Rachel Marshall was secretary and was only 12 years old.

Mrs. Rosena Rollins and Abraham Wood were the first white children born in Minersville. Mrs. Rollins was born October 17, 1860, and Mr. Wood was born May 12, 1860.

In the year 1850, the town of Minersville was laid out, and was named for the mines near it. This same year a mining company was organized, with Isaac Grundy as president; Tarlton Lewis, William Barton, Jehu Blackburn, James Henry Rollins, Silas Sanford Smith and Samuel Lewis as directors. In 1860, the company leased the mines to John Protherol, to be mined on shares.

During the first years a few tons of lead bullion was produced. It is commonly known that this was the first mine opened in the State of Utah. The lead was so pure that it was melted in a crude smelter, located in Minersville, and formed into bricks from which bullets were made.

The furnace of the smelter was made of stone, with a firebox beneath a cup where the lead was placed. When the lead was melted, a hole beneath was opened and the lead ran out into molds. This bullion was used as money, which was a curiosity in those days.

The lead from the mine was hauled in wagons to Salt Lake City. James Henry Rollins, Bishop of Minersville, took one load of bullion to Salt Lake City and traded it for groceries, which he brought back and gave to the poor. The first shoes brought into Minersville came at this time.

Mrs. Rachel Marshall and Melissa Lee (daughter of Mr. Rollins), say when they were little girls, 8 or 10 years old, they helped day after day to mold the lead bullion into bullets, which the settlers used to defend themselves against the Indians. The Lincoln Mine was recorded in Beaver County Court House, December 7, 1870. It was divided equally among the four men who discovered it.

The first dramatic plays were directed by George Roberts and Jim Jackman, to help finance a library. Some of the early players were Rachel Marshall, Solomon Walker, Bathsheba Grundy, Nancy Rollins (James Henry Rollins daughter-in-law) and Nat Goodman. Early plays were "Ten Nights In a Bar Room," "Married Prince," "She Stoops to Conquer," and "The Unfinished Gentleman."

The first cemetery was where the present one is located. Later it was moved to a plot of ground between the McKnight farm and the Griffiths farm, and still later was moved back to its present site, one-half mile northwest of the town.

Richard Clayton was one of the first blacksmiths. He was persuaded by William Gillins, one of the earliest settlers of Minersville, to locate there. Mr. Clayton made the remark that he wanted to live where he could feel the pure mountain breezes. Mr. Gillins assured him that the wind blew better in Minersville than any place he knew. So, in 1868, Clayton built his shop. He did all the work for the settlers and also for the Salisbury Stage Line Company.

The first store stood across the street west from the Abraham Wood home. Later it was moved to the Herbert Eyre lot. It was operated by Albert Stoddard. The old Co-Op Store was also on the Herbert Eyre lot, with William Wood as proprietor. In 1870, Dupays operated a little store on the Bert Gray lot. Rosena Rollins was clerk for three years.

The William Carter store stood between the Vic and Moroni Myers homes. In 1880, he he built an addition to the Fred Pryor building. Later, in 1895, he sold to Dotson. A new Co-Op Store was erected where the Frank Carter home now stands. This structure has served others who were interested in the mercantile business, including Ed Myers, Fred R. Pryor, Mary Carter, I.N. Nolder, and in more recent years, Frank Pryor, a son of Fred R. Pryor.

The first orchards were planted by James Henry Rollins, on the lot now owned by Ellis LeFevre, and John Bradshaw, on the lot now owned by Moroni Myers. The fruit of all kinds was traded and sold to the other towns, and put on exhibit at fairs which were held in the old school house. Some of the most beautiful fruits, vegetables, fancy work, quilts and rugs were put on display there. James Henry Rollins exhibited squash that were as large as a tub and weighed up to 150 pounds.

The fairs used to be one of the biggest times of the season. They would put up swings for children, have jump the ropes, teeter-totters, foot racing, boxing and dancing, all on the school grounds. It would be a good time enjoyed by old and young.

The first brass band was organized under the supervision of Mr. B.J. Shinderling, and later kept going under the leadership of George Jameson. The men in the band were Ed Rollins, Jewel Rollins, Pete Dotson, Wayne Blackburn, George Jameson, Sy Bradfield, Bill Dotson, Bill Burns, Tine Bingham, Foster Rollins, George Bradshaw, Ezra Walker, J.S. Murdock, Lawrence Dotson and Orrin Murdock.

The first school house was built by Ed Bradshaw. It is still standing today. In the year 1880, 80 students attended; ranging from the first to the fifth reader, which was the highest grade at that time. Barlow Ferguson was the teacher during 1879-1880. "Aunt Hattie" and "Uncle Moroni" Myers remember him as a very pleasant man. He often rode a white mare in his leisure time, up one street and down the other, singing this song at the top of his voice: "Sing to me robin, The bright sun is shining, Warble your silver notes, Right in my ear." He was a very good singer and had a beautiful voice. In 1911, the present school house was built with brick made and burned by James Banks.

The first class to graduate from high school at Minersville was in 1927. This was the year for Beaver county's high school basketball tournament. Minersville had the outstanding team of the state. Under the coaching of a Minersville coach, Stanley McKinght, the team went to the state meet in 1926 and won the state championship in 1927. From there they went to Chicago, to compete in the national tournament. One of the Minersville boys, Othello Smith, won the All-State Sportsmanship award, and another, Clarence Gillins, was selected as a member of the All-State team.

When the settlement was first made, Isaac Grundy was in charge, but later James Henry Rollins was made bishop and he assumed the responsibility. He was also elected County Representative to the first legislature held in Salt Lake City. Minersville was incorporated as a town with James McKinight, president of the first Town Board. Some of the first board members were George Marshall Sr., Solomon Walker and William Wood. The first city marshal was A.L. Stodard. F.R. Clayton was the attorney who wrote the Articles of Agreement and By-laws.

The nine o'clock curfew was one of the first city laws and there was also a stock law to keep the streets free of cattle. The first electric lights were installed in 1913-1914, a water line of clay pipe was put in, and later wooden pipe was installed, and in 1936 a new steel line was put down the canyon, which since has been extended all over the town.

A new town hall was erected and it was a large, pink-rock building that furnishes rooms for the post office, library, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and the town Council room, also two small rest rooms. The years 1938-1939 were the banner years for road construction in the history of Minersville. The entire town roads, consisting of about 50 blocks, were graded from curb to curb and gravel surfaced with 16 blocks of oil and seal coating.

Minersville precinct had 446 inhabitants in 1870, 525 in 1900, 815 in 1930, and the Minersville Ward had a membership of 702, including 187 children, on December 31, 1930. There was a membership of 653 in December of 1946, and 531 in July, 1947.

At the southeast corner of the L.D.S. square in Minersville stands a monument, erected by Lincoln Camp, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, in which is embedded a miner's pick and several pieces of ore from the Lincoln mine. It is believed to be the only monument in the world erected to a mine. The Lincoln was the first lead mine to be operated in Utah, and in the early stages of development it was operated on special orders of Brigham Young, to supply the Mormon pioneers with lead for bullets.

On March 20, 1937, the marker was dedicated in front of the town hall. The following program was rendered under the direction of Mrs. Alvaretta C. Robinson, captain of the Lincoln Camp, and Mrs. Lucy Osborne, captain of the Susanne Camp, Daughters of Utah Pioneers:

Selection by the band. The history of the Lincoln Mine was read by Mrs. Effie H. Marshall, historian of the Lincoln Camp. Dedicatory prayer, Truman Rollins. Unveiling of the monument by Mrs. Jane Banks, daughter of James Henry Rollins, Jr., and Althea Dotson, descendant of Isaac Grundy. There was another selection by the band, and then a parade by band and pioneers, which was miniature. The pupils of the fourth grade of the District School were costumed to represent different characters appropriate for the occasion, namely, President Brigham Young, some of the people who were active with the work in connection with the Lincoln Mine, the Indians who roamed this country in early days, and some of the pioneers of Minersville. After marching to the school house, an interesting program was rendered in honor of Minersville's birthday; a special feature being the dramatization of early pioneers by the fourth grade. A leading part was taken by the 10 year-old triplets of Elmer Marshall and Effie Hutchings Marshall, Rachel, Ruth and Ross. Lunch was served to 225 people in addition to 22 old folks.

Sports were conducted in the afternoon and dance at night. The celebration was an entire success. Nearly every town in Beaver county was represented, and a number were present from Iron County and other localities. _________________________________________________________________________________

The following obituary for James Henry Rollins was found in the February 11, 1899, issue of The Salt Lake Herald:

James Henry Rollins Dead. Fort Bridger, February 8 -- Another veteran of the church passed away yesterday. Patriarch James Henry Rollins passed to the great beyond. He was with his wife and some of his children when the end came. He was well known in Beaver county, and resided in Minersville, Utah, nearly forty years. He was prominent in the early days of the church, and an intimate and close friend of the prophet Joseph Smith.

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The following was found on Ancestry.com and talks about the son of James Henry Rollins, John Henry Rollins, Sr., and his wife, Nancy Malinda West Rollins. Although it mentions that they "arrived in Arizona in 1883" they were actually living there in 1880 per the U.S. Federal Census that year. Previously in 1870 they were living in Minersville, Utah. An Arizona Voter Registration Record for September 19, 1882, shows that John H. Rollins, Sr., and his son Edward Ephraim Rollins were living in Snowflake, Arizona, at that time. John was 40 years old and Edward was 21 years old.

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/13902522/person/14415275/media/1?pgn...|pgNum

"After the 1883 arrival of the Nancy and John Rollins family in the Safford, Arizona, area Mr. Rollins both freighted and farmed and either acquired or constructed a two-story brick building which stands today just north of the Ideal Food Market located on the Bowie Highway.

Mr. Rollins passed away in 1887 while his sons, John Henry, Jr. and Moses Porter, also died early accidental deaths. One daughter, Maggie, married the noted Thomas Harbo Rynning who achieved fame as a Captain of the Arizona Rangers and Warden of the Arizona State penitentiary."

NOTE: In the 1880 U.S. Federal Census John Henry Rollins, 38, and his wife, Nancy, 36 were living in Snowflake, Apache County, Arizona, with their children: Ephraim Edward, 18, Nancy Malinda, 17, John Henry, Jr., 14, William Samuel, 12, Guy Washington, 10, Jesse, 8, Iles Marion, 6, and Moses Porter, 2 years old. Also in their home was Nancy's mother, Margaret West, 75, listed with the occupation of "doctoress". John Henry was listed as a farmer, and his oldest two sons, Ephraim and John Henry, Jr., were working as farm laborers. This census record showed John Henry Rollins, Sr., and his wife Nancy Malinda West Rollins, were both born in Illinois, but John was born in Lee County, Iowa, and Nancy was born in Nauvoo, Illinois. Nancy's mother and father were born in Tennessee.

Perhaps John and Nancy had first moved to Snowflake, Arizona, from Minersville, Utah, in 1879, and then later around 1883, they moved from Snowflake to Safford, Arizona. My great grandmother, Dortha Roxana Madsen, married John Henry Rollins, Jr., in 1885, while living in Safford, Arizona. They had 2 children, Dortha Evelyn in 1886 and John Delbert Rollins in 1888, but then sadly, John Henry Rollins, Jr., died at the very young age of 24 years old in an accident in 1889 and left his wife a 20-year old widow with a 3-year old daughter and 1-year old son to support and raise alone.

Previously in the July, 1860 U.S. Census for Beaver County, Utah, John Henry Rollins, Sr., and his wife, Nancy, were listed in the home of his father, James Henry Rollins, probably because they had just been married in April of that year. This census correctly showed that John was born in Iowa, but incorrectly stated that Nancy was born in Tennessee, which was where her mother was born. By 1840 the West family had already left Tennessee and were living in Nauvoo, Illinois, where Nancy was born in 1844.

Snowflake, Arizona, is about 180 miles north of Safford, Arizona. So it is assumed that the Rollins family was originally in Snowflake, Arizona, in about 1879 just before the 1880 census record was taken, but then later moved south to the Safford area, maybe around 1883, and later built their home there, a picture of which is shown under the Media Tab above.

The following is from another website which indicated the family came to Arizona in 1879, which makes sense, based on the 1880 U.S. census information:

search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=legacy&rank=1&new=1&MSAV=0&msT=1&gss=angs-d&gsfn=John+Henry&gsln=Rollins&uidh=5b5&ct=24938

"LDS President Jesse Nathaniel Smith brought his family to Snowflake, Arizona, on January 16, 1879. (NOTE: Jesse Nathaniel Smith was married two of Nancy Malinda West Rollins' sisters, Emma Seraphine West Smith and Margaret Fletcher West Smith. Margaret died of appendicitis in 1864 when the family was still living in Utah. Her two children with Jesse were raised by her sister, Emma Seraphine West Smith, along with the rest of Emma's own children with Jesse.

Jesse Nathaniel Smith's family were accompanied by John Henry Rollins, Joseph Fish, John R. Hulet, Smith Doolittle Rogers, Lehi West and their families; also Amos Rogers and some others. Smith Doolittle Rogers was the husband of Eliza Snow Smith, daughter of Emma Seraphine West Smith and Jesse Nathaniel Smith. In the meantime, Bishop John Hunt and family had arrived December 2, 1878, as well as Mons Larson and family December 30, 1878. Albert Minnerly, a man handy with tools, came in with his wife about this time.

As other settlers followed, a town site was laid out. The field was divided into ten-acre lots, with each family drawing one good lot and one second-class lot, thus giving each family twenty acres of farming land as well as a city lot. With the rest, William J. Flake took one share and no more, and all lots were sold at the same rate as the original purchase.

Work then began in earnest. Crops were planted, ditches laid out, fences built, logs were hauled from the neighborhood of Pinedale (then called Snowflake Camp), and houses erected. The first were largely log houses, roofed with poles and dirt, and with dirt floors until sawmills were brought in. Shakes or clapboards, frequently used instead of shingles at this time, were much more satisfactory than dirt or mud roofs.

It must be remembered that this early settlement was undertaken as a community enterprise. It was not a number of pioneers each building a home and developing a farm for himself. It was a colony of people tied together by a religious ideal, each doing his part to provide for his family, but also each cooperating with the group in religious worship, in establishing educational facilities for the youth, in providing organized amusements for old and young, in caring for the sick and needy, and in building irrigation systems, mercantile establishments, stock herds, and whatever was needed to make community life complete.

The story of the founding and building of Snowflake is the story of leadership, of neighborliness, of unselfish devotion to religious ideals by such men as William J. Flake, Bishop John Hunt, and President Jesse N. Smith, and also by hundreds of others—men, women, and young people—who learned lessons of service and trustworthiness in a pioneer country where hardships, poverty, arduous labor, and the rigors of an unconquered wilderness and adverse climate touched hearts and built character.

These people had dreams for their children—dreams of schools, of comfortable homes, of modern conveniences and centers of culture—which stimulated them to energetic effort. So, before 1879 had given way to the new decade, a log house was erected that served for a house of worship, a schoolhouse, an amusement hall, a town hall, a place where quorum meetings, Sunday Schools, Primaries, Relief Societies, Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations, dances, theatricals, socials, and civic and political meetings were held.

In the spring of 1879, before the completion of the old log schoolhouse, Annella Hunt taught the first school in one of the adobe buildings erected by James Stinson. This same room was also used for church assemblies up to the close of 1879. Mr. Leslie taught school the winter of 1879-80 in the newly erected school building, having seventy-two pupils enrolled.

In 1881 William D. Kartchner became the first postmaster of Snowflake. About this time William J. Flake brought in a sawmill from the Little Colorado Stake holdings, and sawed logs began to be used in the buildings that were erected. This same year, 1881, the Relief Society hall was built of sawed logs. It was used for church meetings of all kinds. Later, an addition on the north provided a stage for theatrical presentations, which thrilled and delighted the community.

Reverses were to be expected in pioneer life. In 1880 the colonists were at starvation's door. That year the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway lines had reached the neighborhood between Albuquerque and Gallup, and the men succeeded in obtaining work near Fort Wingate. This employment saved the day at a critical period. In 1881 and 1882 the Indians broke away from the reservations, and some of the colonists were killed.

In 1883 work was begun on a substantial church edifice sixty-five feet by thirty-five feet, with a twenty-foot ceiling. Brick and lime were burned locally, lumber was sawed at sawmills in the nearby pine forest, and walls made of red brick laid in lime mortar were raised that fall.

The following year the church building was roofed, the windows and doors put in, a thirty-five-foot spire placed on top of the east end, and the frame for the galleries constructed. The September conference was held in the new building, although it was not finished. At this conference the building, which was originally designed for a ward chapel and erected by ward members, was designated the stake house. The people of the stake were then asked to assist in finishing the building. Contributions from various wards in what are now St. John and Snowflake stakes were received. This edifice, having been remodeled and cut up into classrooms constituted the west wing of the Snowflake Ward chapel, which was dedicated July 2, 1939, and burned November 23, 1941. The brick walls withstood the fire and were used for the walls of the west wing of the new building. They were covered by a coat of plaster.

Mention has been made of community cooperation. The early Mormon colonists who were called to Arizona were instructed to try to solve the "United Order" problem. This was undertaken in Sunset, Brigham City, Old Taylor, and St. Joseph (now Joseph City) by having all possessions of the inhabitants of each ward administered as community property. This method did not work out successfully, so a modified form was tried in Snowflake, in the form of cooperative enterprises.

The Arizona Cooperative Mercantile Institution was organized in 1881, and about this time attempts were made to organize a co-op herd, gristmill, shoe shop, and tannery, all as cooperative enterprises. The co-op herd, with headquarters at Dry Lake, did well until drought, the influx of more cattle, and thieving camp hands which followed in the wake of a large cattle company, ruined the prospects. The shoe shop was run for a few years, the tannery never got a good start, and most of the stockholders of the gristmill soon withdrew, leaving it to be run by individuals. The co-op store ran successfully until the depression of 1933 closed its doors. The Snowflake and Taylor Irrigation Company functioned quite successfully up to 1934. At this time it was superseded by the Show Low-Silver Creek Water Conservation and Power District. These cooperative movements undoubtedly assisted considerably in the early development of the country.

Persecution of polygamy became so severe in 1885 that nearly all the leading men of the colonies were forced into exile. It didn't matter whether they were polygamists or not; if they were accused they were convicted if caught, so they left until the storm blew over. Of course, all community enterprises suffered greatly during this period. Several periods of drought brought severe reverses to the cattle industry.

The political ring almost succeeded in disfranchising the Mormons by stuffing ballot boxes, throwing out their votes, depriving them of holding office when they were legally elected, driving them from the polls by threats of violence, and by subverting justice through manipulation of the courts.

About 1885 the Aztec Land and Cattle Company had come into possession of much of the land granted to the railroads by the Federal Government, and this company brought in thousands of head of cattle. Many undesirable characters followed the cattle into this land and frequented the cow camps. These men began threatening and beating any Mormons they caught on the range, stealing their cattle and horses and making it very difficult to raise stock. Many went out of the stock business because of this condition. A few, however, including Zachariah B. Decker, could not be intimidated nor driven from the range.

(NOTE: Zachariah B. Decker was the husband of Emma Seraphine Smith, a niece of John Henry Rollins, Sr., and his wife, Nancy Malinda West Rollins, being the daughter of Nancy's sister Emma Seraphine West Smith.)

There was a bad outbreak of diphtheria in October of 1887, and four of Zachariah and Emma Seraphine Decker's children died in that epidemic. Zachariah was badly stricken, but he survived. Since John Henry Rollins died in October of 1887, perhaps his death was also the result of diphtheria, although that is unknown. His eldest son, Ephraim Edwards Rollins also died in July of 1887 due to typhoid fever.

On one occasion Mr. Decker rode up to where a group of these men were shooting at a squirrel high up in a dry tree. They shot about fifty times, and the squirrel was still unhurt. They turned to Z. B. Decker and asked if he could hit it. He brought down the squirrel with the first shot. He could bring down a hawk on the wing or a rabbit on the run. On more than one occasion this reputation and his cool, fearless demeanor enabled him single handily to stop a crowd of these outlaws from driving his sheep off the range. He never had to use his gun on them, for none of them dared risk a gunfight with him.

Soon after this, the worst of these outlaws were killed in the Pleasant Valley War, but not before they had stolen many of the colonists' most valuable horses and driven many of the stock-holders out of business. Disease also stalked the harassed colonists, and dreaded diphtheria took many of the children at a period when antitoxin was not known and medical aid was not available. Typhoid fever and other diseases also took a heavy toll.

To add to these tribulations, much of the land which the colonists had purchased from the supposed owners was found to have been deeded to the Aztec Land and Cattle Company, and the people had to buy it again or move off and lose their improvements as well as their holdings. To save the colonies, those who were located on government land and not subject to the decree of the Aztec Land and Cattle Company volunteered to help pay off this debt. They accepted an assessment of $6.25 per acre, while those located on Aztec land were assessed $12.50 per acre. Purchase was made of seven sections near Snowflake and Taylor, and one section at Woodruff at a total cost of over $20,000. The Church advanced the first payment so that the deal could be closed. The contract was carefully lived up to, and the account paid off in the course of a few years.

The development of the schools of Snowflake is a brighter picture. The Mormon people always established good schools for their children. In 1880 the stake academy was opened in the Relief Society hall, with E. M. Webb as principal. Fifty-one pupils were enrolled. Many mature boys and girls who had not had the opportunity of attending the district schools attended the academy, and this was the beginning from which developed the splendid secondary school system of the community."