Samuel Walker West

A short documentary for a Utah History Class of Parowan, Utah, found on Ancestry.com talks about Samuel Walker West, and his son, John Anderson West (1830-1917) and their family who were some of the original settlers of Parowan, Utah, in the early 1850's. Also mentioned in the video is George Albert Smith, who was the son-in-law of Samuel West. George Albert Smith (1817-1875) was an Apostle in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, (and cousin to Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the church). George Smith was married to Samuel West and Margaret Cooper West's daughter, Susan West (1833-1926). Jesse Nathaniel Smith is also mentioned in the video, and he married two of Samuel West's daughters, Emma Seraphine and Margaret Fletcher West.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P5k8YSiRwY

Chapter 19 from the Book, “The John Dalton Book of Genealogy: Samuel Walker West was the son of John West and Sarah Walker West of Benton County, Tennessee. It is thought that John West came to Tennessee from South Carolina. Samuel Walker West was born March 30, 1804, in Dickson County Tennessee. Samuel Walker West married Margaret Cooper, January 29, 1829, in Chalk Level, Benton County, Tennessee. Margaret Cooper was the daughter of John Cooper and Esther Fletcher of Tennessee. She was born in Montgomery County, Tennessee, December 9, 1804."

In 1829, Samuel Walker West and Margaret Cooper West moved to Benton County, Tennessee. At the time of the birth of their first child, Sarah Esther, Samuel and Margaret were living on a 1,000-acre estate inherited by Margaret's maternal grandmother, Esther Fletcher, from her (Mrs. Fletcher's) uncle William's estate. Chalk Level, Benton County, Tennessee, does not now exist, but the burial place of Margaret Cooper's father and mother in Montgomery is still intact. Benton County is southwest of this place. The Cumberland River and the Tennessee River are in that vicinity. The parents, who died at their home on this 1,000 acre plantation, were both buried about one and one half miles from the Cumberland River, about ten miles from the town of Clarksdale, it's probable location in Northwest Dickson County, Tennessee. This would be less than twenty miles northwest of Nashville.

Their first child, Sarah Esther West, was born in Chalk Level, Benton County, on November 8, 1829. About a year later, their first son was born, John Anderson West, Sr., on December 19, 1830, also in Chalk Level, Tennessee. The West family was still living in Tennessee when their third child was born, Isles Marion West, on April 10, 1832, but sadly, he passed away when he was only 15 months old on July 6, 1833. A year and a half later, their daughter, Susan Elizabeth West was born on December 4, 1834.

They joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and were baptized and confirmed in 1834 by Wilford Woodruff, Warren Parrish and David W. Patten. Their next daughter, Emma Seraphine West, was born January 3, 1836, while the family was still living in Chalk Level, and a year and a half later, another daughter, Margaret Fletcher West was born on May 22, 1838. Years later, both Emma Seraphine West and Margaret Fletcher West would be married to Jesse Nathaniel Smith, a LDS church leader and first cousin to Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Mormon Church. Their daughter Susan Elizabeth West, was married to George Albert Smith, another Smith cousin, and an apostle in the church.

In 1840 Samuel and Margaret moved their family to Wadsbarron, Calloway County, Kentucky, to be with Samuel's widowed mother, Sarah Walker West, and they lived in that area for a couple of years. Their daughter, Lydia Clementine West was born there April 20, 1840, and their next son, William Moroni West, Sr., was born there on February 9, 1842. Many of their family members criticized Samuel and Margaret for joining the LDS Church, but later Samuel's mother, brother and his brother's wife joined the church and were baptized into the church.

On the first day of June in 1842 Samuel, Margaret, and their family started for Nauvoo, Illinois. They purchased property there, located at Kimball 1st Block 3, Lot 9 and at Herringshaw & Thompson, Block 10, Lot 4. Their daughter, Nancy Malinda West, was born in Nauvoo on March 22, 1844. Three months later, Joseph Smith, Jr., the leader of the LDS Church, was murdered at the Carthage Jail, on June 27th, and not long after, the Mormon people began to prepare to move west to the Great Salt Lake Valley.

During the general exodus of the Saints from Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1846, the West family started for Utah, however, their first stop was District 21, Pottawattamie, Iowa, where they were living during the 1850 U.S. Federal Census. In that census record, they were listed as follows: Samuel, 46, farmer, Margaret, 46, John, 19, Susan, 16, Emma, 14, Margaret, 12, Lydia, 10, William, 8, and Nancy, 6. Their oldest daughter, Sarah Esther, had already married her husband, William Barton, and they were living on their own. Also living in the West home was a woman by the name of Levira Annette Clark Smith, 36, and her daughter, Levira Annette Smith, who was 9 years old.

Levira was the widow of Samuel Harrison Smith, who was the brother of Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the LDS Church. Samuel and Levira were married in Kane county, Illinois, on May 30, 1841, but sadly not long after Joseph and Hyrum Smith were murdered at the Carthage Jail on June 27, 1944, and Samuel Harrison Smith died from an unknown illness and left Levira a widow. Two of their daughters had died at a very young age, Louisa and Lucy Jane, and their only surviving daughter was Levira Annette Smith.

It is believed that Levira and her daughter traveled from Iowa to the Great Salt Lake Valley in Utah with the West family. The mother, Levira, passed away in January, 1883, in Salt Lake City, and was listed as the widow of Samuel Harrison Smith. Levira's daughter Levira Annette Smith, married her cousin, Joseph Fielding Smith, on April 5, 1859, at age 16. Joseph F. Smith was the President of the LDS church and the son of Hyrum Smith, Joseph Smith, Jr's. brother. Levira and Joseph Fielding Smith had no children. Seven years later when Joseph took a plural wife, Levira was not able to adapt to plural marriage and obtained a divorce in 1868, "due to interference on the part of relatives, and because of the continued absence of her husband in the mission fields and in ecclesiastical duties." Levira Annette Smith, passed away in December, 1888, in St. Louis, Missouri. Why she returned to the Midwest is unknown, unless perhaps she had other members of her mother's family living in that area at the time.

Evidently, Samuel Walker West and his first wife, Margaret Cooper West, were well known for taking in many people who needed assistance, and they also provided a lot of aid to those in need as well as giving greatly to the Mormon church. So this is just one example of their generosity, allowing Levira and her daughter a place to stay after the death of her husband Samuel Harrison Smith. Samuel Walker West and Margaret Cooper West also adopted and raised at least six Native American Indian children. Samuel and Margaret West's parents and family members were not pleased with all the money they gave to the church before leaving Tennessee for the Great Salt Lake Valley. Margaret at one time gave her own money to some Mormon elders to be used to help construct the temple in Kirtland, Ohio, per written information provided by Sarah Esther West Barton, the oldest daughter of Samuel and Margaret West.

Samuel, Margaret, and their family remained in Iowa until 1851, when they started their journey to the Great Salt Lake Valley, on September 25, 1851, in the Harry Walton, Garden Grove Company. While they were living in Kanesville, Pottawattamie, Iowa, their last son was born, Samuel Wilford West, but he passed away on February 23, 1848, before his first birthday.

They were pioneers in Parowan, Iron County, Utah, locating there in November, 1851. For a number of years, they remained in Parowan and Samuel was engaged in farming and other pursuits as stock raising. Samuel was sealed to his wife, Margaret cooper, May 13, 1852, in the Salt Lake City Endowment house. They had their endowments March 8, 1854.

At the age of 53 years old, Samuel took a plural wife, Christiana Johansen, who was 30 years old at the time of their marriage on February 20, 1858 in Parowan, Utah. She was born January 27, 1828 in Manbo, Lowland, Denmark. On May 15, 1858, Samuel took his second plural wife, Mary or Karen Marie Hansen. She was born in Denmark in 1798, they had no children, however, Samuel was sealed to her the same day as their marriage.

Samuel and Christiana's first child, Isaac Walker West, was born a year later on February 26, 1859, in Parowan, Utah. Their first daughter, Phoebe Maria, was born a year and a half later on October 25, 1860, also in Parowan. Two years later, another daughter, Minerva Ann West was born November 27, 1862, in Parowan, but she lived only about three and a half years and passed away on April 19, 1866, before her 4th birthday. Another daughter was born the following year, Hannah Rebecca in 1867, and then George A. West in 1869. George married Annie Crampton in Salt Lake City in 1910, and they had two known children, Edwin Lanta and Edith Louise, but George died at the young age of 45 after being kicked in the head by a horse.

Samuel set up housekeeping with Christiana, and in the 1860 census, they were living in Beaver, Beaver County, Utah, and were listed with their first son, Isaac Walker West, 1 year old, and Samuel's other plural wife, Mary, age 60. Margaret and her children stayed in Parowan, and interestingly enough, in the 1860 census for Parowan, it shows Samuel, 56, was also living with Margaret, 55, and two of their children, Lydia, 20, and William Maroni, 18. Somehow Samuel managed to live in two places at once, which is interesting because Beaver and Parowan are about 30 miles apart, and it probably took at least a day or two to travel between those two towns in the year 1860, even if you had a really fast horse and buggy!

In the 1870 census, Samuel, 66, was listed as living in Washington County, Utah, with Christiana, 40, and their children, Isaac W., 11, Phebe W., 9, Christina, 5, Hannah, 2, and George A. West, 7 months old. But he was also listed as Samuel , 66, with Margaret, 65, in the census for Parowan, living alone, with their son, John Anderson West, 40, next door. John was living with his 21-year old plural wife, Mary Jane Robinson West, and children, Elizabeth, 9, Nanette and Martha, 11, John A., Jr., and Samuel, 4, Joseph A., 2 and William, an infant. I'm not sure who Elizabeth, Nannette and Martha were, but John Anderson West, Jr., was probably John and his first wife Betsy's son. Samuel and Joseph were certainly John and Mary Jane's children.

John had five children with his first wife, Betsy Jane Fish West, but she was living elsewhere with their children at the time. In 1875, John and Mary Jane were separated, but they were back together again in 1880 the year after John moved to Snowflake, Arizona. John and Mary Jane had eleven children, but several died young.

Listed on the next census page was Jesse Nathaniel Smith, 35, and his wife, Emma Seraphine West Smith, 34, (Samuel and Margaret's daughter) along with Jesse's mother, Mary, 74, and Jesse and Emma's children, Mary J., 15, Nanna D., 15, Margaret A., 13, Eliza S., 11, Joseph, 10, Margaret, 9, Sarah E., 4, Silas D., 2, and Susan J., 1 year old. Two of these children, Joseph and Margaret, were actually children of Jesse and his plural wife, Margaret Fletcher West, (who was Emma Seraphine's sister). Margaret died in February of 1864 from appendicitis at the very young age of 25, when her son, Joseph West Smith, was just 5 years old, and daughter, Adelaide Margaret, was 7 years old. Her death occurred while Jesse was on an LDS Mission to Denmark from 1862 to October of 1864. Emma Seraphine raised Margaret's two children as her own after Margaret's death.

Samuel was very active in Ecclesiastical affairs, being a high priest and a High Councilor of the Parowan Stake. He had a large family, and all of them were honored by the community. Samuel died in Washington, Utah, February 22, 1873, and was buried in the Washington City Cemetery. His wife, Margaret, moved with some of their children to Arizona in about 1879, and was listed in the 1880 census for Snowflake, Arizona, with her daughter, Nancy Malinda West Rollins, and her husband, John Henry Rollins, Sr., and their children. Margaret was working as a "doctress" according to the census record. Margaret passed away June 19, 1882, and was buried in the RV Mike Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake, Navajo county, Arizona, Plot: U-35, space 1.

Samuel's plural wife, Christiana, still lived in Washington, Utah, from 1880 to the time of her death in 1916 at the age of 88 years old. In the 1880 census, Christiana, 52, was with her children, Isaac W., 21, Christina, 15, Hannah, 12, George A., 10, and Samuel's other plural wife, Mary, 81. Christiana was working as a carpet weaver, Isaac as a farm laborer, Christina, as a factory worker and the other two younger children were at home, with Mary keeping the house. It is not certain when Mary passed away.

By 1900 Christiana, was listed as a 72-year old widow living with her youngest son, George A. West, 29, who was working as a minister. Her oldest son with Samuel, Isaac, 42, was living next door with his wife Luvisa Maria Haymaker Shurtz, 24, who had two children from a previous marriage to Reese Napolean Shirts or Shurtz, who were living with them at the time, Nancy Evidean Shurtz, 6, and Francis LeRoy Shurtz, 2. They had been married in 1892 in Kanarrville, Iron County, Utah.

Isaac was working as a farmer and owned his farm free from a mortgage. Isaac and Luvisa were married May 30, 1899, in St. George, Washington County, Utah. They had a daughter, Phoebe Minerva West, in 1907 and had three other children, William Isaac, Samuel Lafayette, and Christina. They divorced and Luvisa married a Mr. Christian, and they had two more children, a son, Wayne Clayton Christian, in 1911, and a daughter, Ruby Matilda Christian, in 1914. Isaac and Luvisa's daughter, Phoebe Minerva West, married Sephus Vermont Justesen in 1925 in Millard, Fillmore, Utah, at the age of 18, and they had seven children. Their oldest son, Jerald Vermont Justesen, was born May 17, 1992, and passed away November 16, 2004, nearly 200 years after the birth of his great-grandfather, Samuel Walker West.

In 1910 Christiana, 82, was living as a boarder with a family by the name of Caldwell. After her death on December 26, 1916, she was buried in the Enterprise City Cemetery the following day.

FROM ANOTHER SOURCE:

Samuel Walker West came west from his home in Tennessee, via his mother's home in Kentucky and then with stops in Nauvoo, Illinois, and Pottawattamie County, Iowa, before leaving for Utah with the Harry (Harrison) Walton/Garden Grove Company in 1851. There were about 21 families from this company, plus other individuals and 60 wagons when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Kanesville, Iowa, (present day Council Bluffs). One record states they left Iowa on May 17, 1851.

From an autobiographical sketch he is listed in the St. George Stake, High Priest Quorum Genealogical records, 1872-1906, Reel 6039, 142, in Record of Members Collection, 1836-1970. He was the Fifth in Ten under Capt. William Barton (his son-in-law), Samuel West, James Huntsman, Ira Huntsman, and Joseph Hawkes, who departed May 4, 1851, from Garden Grove, Decatur County, Iowa.

They departed the West Prong of the Elk Horn River on July 12th, and on August 2nd, started up the Platte River. They were at Ft. Laramie on the 16th, Green River on September 12th, and Ft. Bridger on the 16th. On September14, there were 25 dead oxen and cows. They may have not arrived in Salt Lake City on September 24th, but rather the next Spring. Where they stayed during that time is not known.

From Ancestry.com and Excerpts of "Our Heritage: As It Glows from the West" by Riggs and West:

Samuel kept a record of his daily doings, but due to the many long moves and the difficulty of transporting their belongings, books and papers were often lost. Thirteen sheets of one of Samuel's daily diaries, which had been attached to a book, were found. The dates given show 1857, 1858, and 1859. From these pages of his own writings we give choice quotations.

"On July 20, 1857, I was called in to settle a difficulty between Brother H.... and Brother T.... We worked with them most all day. Brother T.... refused to take our advice, or that of the bishop. He said he would spend $200.00 rather than give up his point. I was sorry."

From his writings we find that Samuel was often called to visit people in strained or troubled conditions. Sometimes trouble between husbands and wives, and sometimes between neighbors. He mentions several instances where one feels his earnest desire for peace.

He seemed to be rather quiet and almost retiring by nature, yet when conditions called for strength and vigor, he had plenty in reserve. His family all respected and loved him. He seemed to keep close to them even after they were married. We have found several letters written to married daughters, counseling them, and telling them of the happenings in the home. His son John often spoke of his father, asking him how conditions stood with him, and saying, "Let's go in and talk it over, my boy." Samuel seemed to counsel with all his family. He and Margaret, his wife, must have been very close to each other. He had to be a kind, understanding man to have his girls cling to him so closely after they were married. He was honest to a fault, and seemed to understand the needs of his neighbors always.

One way to know the personal life of a man is to review his diary. It is brief but he records the things that seem important to him.

"Saturday, Februrary 20, 1858: Brother A. Lyman came at 10:00 o'clock. He sealed Christianna Johnson to me this day."

"Friday, May 15th, 1858, Brother Lyman came 'according to our request, and sealed Mary Hanson to me.' Mary was born in 1798 in Denmark, and she had no children."

Other interesting entries from his diary are:

"December 20, 1857, our horse team started south to bring people from San Bernardino, California."

(NOTE: this would have been when the members of the LDS church were returning from San Bernardino after being sent there in about 1851 by the church leaders to settle the area. My other third great grandfather, James Henry Rollins, and his two wives, Eveline Walker Rollins and Hannah Hulme Rollins were in that group of settlers. James Henry Rollins son, John Henry Rollins (1841-1887), married Samuel Walker West's daughter, Nancy Malinda West. I wonder if there was any connection between Samuel Walker West and Eveline Walker Rollins, due to the middle name of Samuel and the maiden name of Eveline....so far I have found no connection. Della Dale Smith, 11/3/2012.)

"December 26, went to hunt oxen but did not find them. Military training in the afternoon. An express came in from the company that went south that they needed ox teams and more horse feed. A meeting was called for that evening. Fifteen yoke of cattle, three wagons and four men were turned to that mission without a word. I was appointed to see that these families who sent their men and teams away should be kept in wood."

"December 28, Brother F. Smith, G. Holyoak and S. Roger, hauled wood for the S. Lewis and J. Henderson families."

"January 1, 1858, coldest day we've had this winter. William Barton with our Esther and their family joined ours, and together we made a dinner, and we invited some twenty or more to join us."

"Wednesday, the 6th, went with Mother and my two sons (in-law), Wm. Barton and J.N. Smith to Red Creek to divide our lambs."

"January 9th, Snow fell. Lehi chopped wood. I settled my tithing."

"February 14th, City officials elected. I was appointed judge."

"March 30th (this date is not clear as to year) Plowed and sowed wheat. Mail came in. Brought word that the saints were going to leave, and wanted all our horse teams to come immediately to assist in bringing the families away."

"Wednesday, March 31st, went to Summit Creek for my horses."

"April 1st and 2nd, plowed and harrowed with horses and oxen."

"Saturday, April 3, making ready for start for Salt Lake City."

"Sunday, April 4, on our way."

"Wednesday, April 7th, snowing hard, six inches deep. Got a good stable for my horses, and supper at Brother Wolf's. All the company arrived about 9:00 p.m. All very cold. Teams were all taken to the bishop's yard. The brethren of the place took the company in and gave them warm supper. Very cold night. Blew almost like a hurricane."

"Friday, April 9th, facing a very strong, cold wind. Stopped at Bishop Hancock's in Payson. Found good yard and plenty of hay for our horses, and food for ourselves. Evening more pleasant."

"Monday, April 12th, we reached the Great Salt Lake at four o'clock in the afternoon. J.N. Smith, my grandson, Steven Barton, and myself went to the Jacob Gates farm to spend the night. (With our daughter Lydia)."

"April 13th, we spent the night at Brother George A. Smith's home. (To be neer to my daughter Susan.) Then we began to load our wagons for our return trip, with the public tools out of the gun shop.

"February 26th, 1859, four minutes after 6:00 a.m. Christianna gave birth to a son. We called him Isaac Walker West."

"July 24th, 1859, good day all peace and union. We united our dinner, our family, John A. and wife, J.N. Smith and family, George A. Smith and family, Silas Smith and family, Isaac Grundy and family. We are at Jesse N.'s home. He himself not present, gone west on a mission. [This appears to have been an exploring mission, he was gone two months.] Ate supper at same place."

"September 9th, 1859, was called on an exploring expedition. Found rather poor country. Valley of Rio Virgin too high and cold for cotton."

In closing this short narrative, we would like to give a testimony of Samuel Walker West, given in his own words:

"I attended a meeting held in Nauvoo called for the purpose of soliciting a leader for the Saints whose hearts were torn asunder by the foul murder of their beloved Prophet. I stood and listened to several of the speakers, but their words had no impression on me, and I sat down with my back partly turned to the stand and my thoughts went out to God (as it were) and I said in my heart, 'Oh Father, we are indeed as sheep without a Shepard.' While thus engaged, President Young arose to speak, and the first sound of his voice went through me like electricity. I whirled around thinking, 'Oh, that is Joseph's voice. We have a leader.' It was Brigham Young, and I have always known he was the right man in the right place." Samuel Walker West.

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From Find A Grave.com:

Father of 11 natural born children with Margaret Cooper West: Sarah Esther, John Anderson, Isles Marion, Susan Elizabeth, Wesley, Emma Seraphine, Margaret Fletcher, Lydia Clementine, William Moroni, Nancy Malinda, Samuel Wilford, and 6 Native American children he and Margaret fostered: Lehi, Clara, Andrew, Rosetta, Russell and Nephi.

Father of 6 children with Christiana: Isaac Walker, Phebe Maria, Minerva Ann, Christiana Elizabeth, Hanna Rebecca and George Albert.

Spouses:

Margaret Cooper West (1804 - 1882)

Christianna Johansen West (1828 - 1916)

Karen Marie Hansen West

Children:

Sarah Esther West Barton (1829 - 1906)

John Anderson West (1830 - 1917)

Susan Elizabeth West Smith (1833 - 1926)

Margaret J. West Smith (1838 - 1864)

Margaret Fletcher West Smith (1838 - 1864)

William Moroni West (1844 - 1874)

Nancy Malinda West Rollins (1844 - 1917)

Isaac Walker West (1859 - 1908)

Phoebe Maria West Pendleton (1860 - 1928)

Minerva Ann West (1862 - 1866)

Hannah Rebecca West Allen (1867 - 1887)

George Albert West (1869 - 1915)

Maintained by: mommycita

Originally Created by: Utah State Historical Society

Record added: Feb 02, 2000

Find A Grave Memorial# 53179

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Obituary: From a listing on Ancestry.com, and a newspaper clipping from the Deseret News, May 28, 1873:

Died, of putrid sore throat, at his residence in Washington, Washington County, February 22nd, 1873, Samuel West, in the 69th year of his age, after a short illness. Deceased was born March 30, 1804, in Dickson County, Tennessee. He embraced the gospel under the teachings of Elders David Patten and Warren Parish, and suffered persecution with them and Elder Wilford Woodruff, in Benton County, of his native state. He gathered to Nauvoo in 1842, and assisted to build up Zion in that place until 1846, when he moved to Winter Quarters, on the Missouri, from whence he emigrated to these valleys, in 1851, and located in Parowan, where he continued to live until 1862, when he moved part of his family to Washington, where he continued his labors in the causeof truth till his death. He died firm in the faith of the gospel, and in the hope of a resurrection with the just.

Information on place of marriage to Margaret Cooper:

Place of marriage is listed as Chalk Level, Benton, Tennessee. A search for Chalk Level and Benton finds the following: Chalk Level is an unincorporated town in Hawkins County. Hawkins County is in the Northeast part of Tennessee.

Benton County was formed in 1835 from part of Humphrey County. It was named in honor of David Benton (1779-1860), who was a member of the Third Regiment, Tennessee Militia in the Creek War and an early settler in the county. Benton County is in the Northwest part of Tennessee, 360 miles west of Chalk Level.

Benton is also a town in Polk County, Polk County is in the Southeast part of Tennessee, 153 miles southeast of Chalk Level.

This is also a second Chalk Level in Benton County, although it does not show up on any map - State Route 191 (abbreviated SR 191) is a secondary state highway in Benton County, Tennessee. It runs from Interstate 40 (Exit 133), Birdsong Exit, north to Birdsong Resort, Marina, Lakeside RV and Tent Campgrounds and North America's Only Freshwater Pearl Farm, the Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Museum, Farm, Tour and Pearl Jewelry Showroom on the scenic Birdsong Creek just 9.2 miles North of the Birdsong Exit at I-40 then on to Camden and then out 191 North to Nathan Bedford Forest State Park just north of Eva, Tennessee. This highway crosses US 70, Business US 70, State Route 69A. This highway passes through the small communities of Eagle Creek, Birdsong, Chalk Level, Camden Bay, Eastview Tennessee, Eva, and the court square in Camden, Tennessee.

The first church at Chalk Level, Benton County, was a Primitive Baptist. The founding date is uncertain but it is believed to be between 1828 and 1832. It was located approximately 1/4 mile West of the present church near the old Chalk Level Cemetery, which is known as Brown Graveyard.

Chalk Level, named for the local rock outcrops, was first organized in 1831 by John D. Camp. It is about 7 miles southwest of Camden, and is considered one of the earliest communities in the county.

After looking at several web sites I feel that this marriage took place just south of Camden, Tennessee, close to the present day Chalk Level Baptist Church, 120 Shiloh Church Rd, Camden, Tennessee.

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Foster Children of Samuel Walker West and Margaret Cooper West were:

In addition to his 17 natural-born children (11 with Margaret and 6 with Christiana), Samuel and Margaret were foster parents to 6 Native American children: Lehi, Clara, Andrew, Rosetta, Russell, and Nephi.

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More Information from Ancestry.com:

SETTLING OF COAL CREEK: Two companies were sent to settle Coal Creek--Company F, commanded by Captain Henry Lunt, consisting of 25 men: and Company C, commanded by Peter M. Fife, consisting of 11 men, which made a total of 36 men. They arrived November 11, 1851. Both companies were under the command of Matthew Carruthers, a major in the Iron County Militia stationed at Parowan. (From Dr. Morris A. Shirts).

Company F:

Henry Lunt

Samuel West (my third great grandfather)

James H. Martineau

James Baird

James Bullock

William Stone

James Williamson

Alexander Kier

Robert Henry

Duncan Ross

George Cassell

William C. Mitchell Jr.

John Tout

James Thorpe

Richard Harrison

William Woods

James Whittaker Sr.

James Whittaker Jr.

Thomas Rowland

William Slack

Edward Williams

William Evans

John Stoddard

Thomas Cartwright

John Chatterley

Company C:

Peter M. Fife

Joseph Chatterley

Alexander Easton

John Easton

George Easton

Robert Easton

William Bateman

Alexander Ross

Nephi Johnson

S. Johnson

Information contained in a letter written by George A. Smith, November 5. 1851 (the day these companies were organized), was published in the Deseret News, November 29, 1851, as follows:

"Yesterday a site was surveyed for a fort and stock corral on Coal Creek, some 20 miles from Parowan. Today a company has been organized to commence immediate operations on the construction of the new post. They are mostly comprised of English, Irish, Scotch, and Welsh miners and iron manufacturers. They have also been organized into two companies of militia. Matthew Carruthers is the major. They will commence Monday to put up the corral; after which, they will move their families, who are remaining here, and encamp in their corral until their fort is completed."