ROE, John Charles^[1]

1850 - 1920  (70 years)  Submit Photo / Document

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• Name	ROE, John Charles
  Birth	6 Aug 1850	Radford, Nottingham, England
  Gender	Male
  WAC	24 Sep 1873	EHOUS
  _TAG	Reviewed on FS
  Death	27 Oct 1920	Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States
  Burial	29 Oct 1920	Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I54212	Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith
  Last Modified	19 Aug 2021

  
  

  Family ID

  F26662

  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	YOUNG, Mary Frances ,   b. 14 May 1856, Cedar City, Iron, Utah, United States Cedar City, Iron, Utah, United Statesd. 25 Mar 1883, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah, United States (Age 26 years)
  Family ID	F26661	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	24 Jan 2022

  
  

  Family 2	HALL, Eliza Ann ,   b. 16 Nov 1872, Gunlock, Washington, Utah, United States Gunlock, Washington, Utah, United Statesd. 4 May 1952, Long Beach, Los Angelas, California, United States (Age 79 years)
  Marriage	27 Nov 1889	Manti, Utah
  Children	+ 1. ROE, Mary ,   b. 16 Feb 1900, Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United Statesd. 22 Apr 1990, Provo, Utah, Utah, United States (Age 90 years)
  Family ID	F21340	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	24 Jan 2022

  
  

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  !He used name of John Charles Roe during his lifetime. gathered and Contributed by his Children – 1952 and 1953 revised 1957 to correct some mistakes Charles John Roe, son of James Roe and Elizabeth Hollis, was born in Radford, Nottinghamshire, England, the 6th of August 1850. He was the fourth child and only boy of the family. His grandmother Mary Hackett Roe, died 27 April, 1845. About the time of Charles John’s birth, his father and mother were living with his grandfather, Charles Roe, on Outgane Lane in Radford, although his certificate of birth shows he was born at Byfield place, Radford His parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in England. Just when and how we do not know, but they are both listed among the members found in the early church history of the Nottinghamshire Branch of England in the year 1845 and also 1855. This is found on a film at the Latter Day Saint's Library at Salt Lake city, Utah. James Roe died 16 Nov. 1853, Radford, Nottinghamshire, England. We also find recorded in the Church Historian’s Office in Salt Lake City, that on 4 April, 1854, Elizabeth Roe, age 41, her children, Emma, age 11, Mary, age 8, Isabella Jane, age 5, and Charles John, age 3, set sail from Liverpool, England, on the ship Gerrmanicus for the United States. The following was taken from the book ’Church Emigration’ Vol. 2: ’The ship Germanicus, Captain Fales, with 220 Saints on board, in charge of Elder Richard Cook, sailed from Liverpool 14 April, 1854. The vessel had a rather lengthy voyage in consequence of which she had to put in at St. Georges on Grand Caicos (An island north of Dominica) where she stayed two days, and took in eight days supply of water. She also had to stop at Tortugas (near Key West, off Florida) for a further supply on the 30th of May. Continuing the voyage from Tortugas, June 4th, the company had a pleasant voyage to New Orleans where they arrived the 12th of that month. One birth and two deaths occurred during the passage. ‘Within two hours after landing at New Orleans, Elder Cook had made an engagement with the captain of the steamboat, ’Uncle Sam’, to take the company to St. Louis for $3.50 each, luggage free; those under fourteen years of age, for half price. It was suggested they stop but they felt the Spirit of God was with them. They told of the terrific heat on the ocean and their faith and desire to go on, and they sailed up the Mississippi singing their hymns of joy. ‘The next day, the 13th, the Saints continued the journey from New Orleans to St.. Louis, Missouri, where some of them remained until the next season. The rest soon afterwards reached the general place of encampment for the emigrants near Kansas City.’ Part of the company went on to the mountains that year and part stayed over until the following spring. Another journal states there was much suffering of the Saints who sailed the Mississippi that year. The insects were so bad, many contacted chills and fever and many died. While we find no written record of Elizabeth Roe or the four children at St. Louis, we were told by Mary, the second child, their trouble started here. In her late years of life, she has a clear mind and many stories to tell. She said her mother died at St. Louis with yellow fever and was buried in the gravies. In our search on this, all we have been able to find is a Park called Gravois and, also, a Gravois Avenue. Whether this Park was a cemetery at one time, we do not know. The next written record we have been able to obtain just gives the four children at Mormon Grove, which is located three miles from Atchison, Kansas. This was the general place of encampment for the emigrants near Kansas City. This was the assembling place for the companies before they started on their westward trek. The little family must have spent some time here, for we find recorded they left Mormon Grove 24 July 1855, with the 6th Company, 2nd Division, Perpetual Emigration Funds and C. A. Harper was captain of the company. There were 238 souls, 25 wagons, 304 oxen and 15 cows. There was with them an independent portion of this company, with 67 souls, 14 wagons, 136 oxen, 15 cows, 1 horse and 1 mule. However, they returned in the afternoon to the Grove to take part in the proceedings of the 24th, which was celebrated in grand style on this occasion, Apostle Erastus Snow and other prominent brethren being present. The train stretched out on the morning of the 28th, arriving in Salt Lake City 29 October 1855. This would place Charles John's age at the time of arrival in Salt Lake City, at 5 years. He was much too young to remember the events of the trip. He only remembered he rode in the back of a wagon and his sisters trailed along behind. Because their father, James Roe, was part owner of the lace mills of Radford, their mother had sufficient money for their journey. She also brought with her some of the lace manufactured by the mills. She had accompanying her a lady who had joined the Church in England; Grandmother Roe paid her way over as a traveling companion and this lady in return helped care for the children. Sometime after Elizabeth's death and before they left Mormon Grove, this woman left and returned to England, telling the people there that the family had been killed by Indians, and it is believed she took with her what money Grandmother Roe had left, for the children came on with the poor and orphaned. The following are the memories of the trip of Mary, second child of Elizabeth Roe: At St. Louis, she remembered the hammering and sawing going on day and night to make caskets for the dead; the sorrow in camp over the sick and dying, and her own mother's death. While still at St. Louis and having all their troubles, a man came up to their camp, picked up a big piece of lace, held it up and said, "This will buy me a team of oxen". He took the lace and went away. Mary said that sometimes during the crossing of the plains, they would travel for days with the rain falling so fast that there was no way to bake bread or perform other duties, but that when the day did come when it was nice, they would do their washing and bake bread. The oven was made of hot rocks packed so they completely surrounded the pans of bread. The chickens they had they would let loose to graze, but some would go so far the coyotes or other animals would get them. Those that did return were put in their coops for the night and made ready for the next day's journey. At night the wagons were placed in a circle, and then the animals, such as oxen, were put in the center to graze. When the Company arrived in Salt Lake City, the orphaned children were taken to the public square. There, people who could add one or more to their families came and took them. The Roe children were taken into different homes. Charles John was the last of his little family to be taken. His sisters told him later that when they left he was sitting in a chair. (William Jobe Perkins took Charles John, and often told him he would have taken his sisters but they were spoken for when he got there.) Mary said one day she met the old family gardener from England on the street in Salt Lake City. He seemed so surprised to see her. He told her that her mother's traveling companion had told them the family were all killed by Indians. He was sad over their mother's death. Emma, the oldest of the children was born 4 June 1842, at Radford. Her children are all dead now and we were unable to get a reply to our letters from her grandchildren, so we know very little about who took her to raise or what her life was. We only know that she was a good mother and a hard working woman. We find her recorded as head of the little group as they left Mormon Grove. We can picture little 12 year old Emma full of sorrow and loneliness, yet trying to take a mother's place to her two small sisters and baby brother, as they would naturally look to her for love and comfort in their sorrow and hardships. We know loving hands cared for them as they were brought on to Salt Lake City, and our thanks go out to the memories of those dear Saints. We understand Emma was married to Abraham Taylor previous to her marriage to Mr. Watts. On September 20,1864 she married Albert Louis Watts, in Salt Lake City. They moved to Junction, Madison County, Montana, where her first child, John Albert, was born. She was the mother of five children, one boy and four girls, Mary Emma, Caroline Matilda, Aredeny and Josephine. Emma died 10 March 1897, at Wells, Nevada. The following is a newspaper clipping of her death: 'Mrs. Watts had only been seriously ill for a short time. Her death came upon the people of Wells and the neighborhood by surprise. Much sympathy was felt by all classes of the community for her family in their sad bewilderment. The funeral on the 11th was large and representative. Mrs. Watts was born in Nottingham, England, Jun. 5, 1842, and came to America at the age of 12. She was held in high respect by all who knew her. She fought the battle of life honestly and courageous. May the providence of God be sanctified to all who remains loyal in the locality, and so act upon their lives that they may always live in fear of God, and be ready when his call comes.' Mary, the Second Child, was born in Radford, 19 February 1846. She was taken and raised by William and Mary Booth, at Kaysville, Utah. Mary worked hard for the Booths. It seems these people took her for the work she could do. While on the ship coming from England, a young man, 10 years Mary's senior, took a liking to her. They became friends while on the ship. Later they were separated and did not see each other until they happened to meet on a farm outside of Salt Lake City. This young man was Samuel William Halse. He was working on this farm when one day Mary went there to visit a friend. They met and by conversation found out they came over on the same ship and that Mary was the little girl he had liked so well. Their friendship soon turned to love and they were married 7 April 1861. Three years later when the Alder Gulch gold rush was on, with an emigrant train composed of oxen-teams, they arrived at Alder Gulch, Montana. Samuel bought out a claim, but it turned out to be a salted mine. His ore soon ran out, and after a winter of sickness, the little family went to what was called Ruby Valley, near Sheridan, Montana. They bought a 160 acre homestead. Samuel passed away 11 February 1888, leaving Mary with a family of 8 children. She was the mother of 14 children, five died in childhood. Her children are as follows: Emma Elizabeth, Mary Isabella, William Henry, Alfred John, George Samuel, Hannah Margaret, Percella Maria, David Walter, Jane Hellen, Charles Edward, Harry Joseph, Alice May, Arthur Lester and Mildred Myrtle. In the year 1912 the family moved to Long Beach, California, where Mary lived until 1917, when she moved to Los Angeles. She passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mildred Myrtle Van Deventor with whom she had made her home. She was ill six weeks with pneumonia, then stricken with paralysis, and died 6 March 1928. Her body was taken to Sheridan, Montana, and laid to rest beside her husband. Isabella Jane, third child, was born 16 Aug. 1847, at Radford, England. She was taken and raised by Levi and Eliza Brodbent, who became loving parents to her (The Brodbents also raised another girl, Carrie Wakefield). She was raised in Salt Lake City, and married George Albert Boyd in the Endowment House 10 November 1866. Isabella became the mother of ten children, 5 girls and 5 boys, Eliza Anne Mary Isabell, Percella Elizabeth, George Alford, John William, James Buttler, Edward and Alice, twins, Lee Albert and Susan Emma. She was a loving mother and good homemaker. She was a hard working woman and loved to sing as she worked. They lived in Salt Lake City until 1879, then George Alford Boyd was called to Plain City, Weber County, Utah, to superintend the salt ponds owned by the Church. He owned ponds of his own in Millard, Utah, and he farmed when he wasn't working in the salt industry. Isabella Jane passed away the 17th of April 1902, at Plain City, Utah. Charles John had two visits with Isabella after he moved to St. George. He and Francis visited her in Salt Lake City, then he visited her on his return from his mission. As previously stated, Charles John was taken and raised by William Jobe Perkins, who lived in or near Salt Lake City at this time. William Jobe Perkins was born 17 December 1815 in Tennessee. He had two wives. The first, was Martha Perkins, better known as Aunt Patty; and, as we understand, his cousin. She was born 19 January 1819 also Tennessee. They had one child, William Perkins, who died when a baby. They raised Charles John and another orphan, Al Delong. His second wife, Mary Jane Wills, was born 28 January 1842 in Handcock County, Illinois. They had four children, Andrew H., Martha Jane, Edna Elizabeth and Dicy Ray. In 1861, William Gant Perkins was called on a mission to St. George, in Southern Utah, to help settle that part of the country. Their home was in St. George, but they farmed in the summers at Kanarrah, Charles John’s children recall stories he told of the hardships they lived under,. The children were not allowed to eat between meals. They were growing boys and got hungry, so Charles John would raid the bread box whenever possible. He said they kept their bread in a boiler (an oval shaped tub which was used in boiling the clothes on wash day). Charles John would tie a string to the boiler lid, then get outside and by jerking the string a little it made the lid rattle. Aunt Patty would come running shouting, "Johnnie’s in the bread box!" but seeing no one would return to her work. Then the boys would go in and get the desired bread. He said Aunt Patty was very frugal, although they had sufficient for their needs. It didn’t make any difference how many ate at the table, one pie had to suffice. Young Charles John’s shirts and pants were made of canvas and were made large and baggy so they would last a long time. As he grew older, they were made of buckskin. He was known as Johnnie Perkins until he was about 15 years old. His schooling was very little -- about the fourth grade. The seats were split logs with short legs, and the desks were split logs with long legs, Their first slates were wood, but later they were able to obtain real slates and pencils. As he grew older, Charles John was sent with other boys to herd cows. He told us children one incident that happened as they were herding. They noticed or heard something in the willows along the creek bank. Thinking it was one of their cows, they threw mud dobs at it. After much fun they discovered it was a black bear. Someone must go after help and someone must stay with the cows. They drew lots and Charles John stayed with the cows. Help soon arrived and the bear killed. One late fall when the shoemaker had not gotten around to making Charles John some shoes, William Perkins and his wife, patty, undertook to make him a pair. They did the best they could but the job turned out to be very crude. The kids followed him around to look at his shoes. He said he kicked them on all the rocks he could and he thought they never would wear out. He drove an ox team hauling rock to be used in the St. George Temple, He told that the temple site was a swamp and to provide a solid foundation for the building, they made a trip hammer from an old cannon to drive rock into the swamp, and how the mud and water flew! He drove an ox team when he was still too small to take the yoke off their necks. When they stopped for lunch, he had to leave the yoke on their necks and just unhitch the yoke from the tongue so the oxen could eat and drink. As he grew older he helped with the farming and other things that needed to be done. He often went on trips north of St. George to peddle molasses. As a young man, he hauled freight into St. George and from St. George to Mesquite, Nevada, for mining. He grew up in Southern Utah, and was a drummer in the military band in the Navajo War. He was called out often for guard duty during the Indian trouble. He told of having a mule which didn’t like Indians. If it smelled Indians or heard them, it started kicking. He sat out lots of nights while on duty wrapped in a quilt to keep warm because they couldn’t have a fire. He told of one raid in which the Indians came in unexpectedly and ran off the horses that were not locked in the barns, and of a team of mules which had on iron hobbles, and when the Indians could not get them off they shot a number of arrows into the mules. On another occasion, the Indians raided the settlement at night and drove off a good number of the horses. The next day, Charles John, with a party, followed the Indians to try to get the horses back. They overtook the Indians early the next morning and found some were still asleep, Charles John had been assigned to the group to go after the horses while the others were to fight the Indians off. They reported that only one Indian escaped and that he was wounded. Perkins owned cattle and Charles John’s job was to see that they were marked and branded. Their lariats were locally made hair ropes. One day, he roped a large steer and his foot got caught in the coil and in trying to get his foot out, the steer got away and the coil of rope cut the flesh from his leg just above the ankle Before it healed, proud flesh began to grow so the Perkins woman burnt alum and then powdered it and poured it on the wound. He said the first time they did it, it hurt so bad he jumped up and ran. It left a bad scar around his leg. Charles John married Mary Frances Young the 24th day of November, 1873, and moved to Kanarrah and rented a farm,. He was popular with the young people, and often told the story of coming to town to find that a certain young man was trying to get his girl and that this certain young man was then on his way to see Frances. John hurried over to her house, went in the back way and rushed Frances out while the other fellow was knocking at the front door. Mary Frances was the daughter of Willis S. Young and Ann Cherry. She was born March 14, 1856, at Cedar City, Utah, the third child of Willis S. Young and Ann Cherry. During her early childhood she went each summer to the Cedar City mountains with her parents to ranch. As she grew into young womanhood she worked in the home of her Uncle John Wesley Willis to help support herself. She had to work so hard it ruined her health. She loved to dance and many a morning after a dance her mother would find her on her bed and she hadn’t even bothered to undress. One of the young men who came courting her was disliked by her. At one time when he had called to see her and had left, she told her mother she never wanted to be asked to go with Tutty White Coat again, as she called him, because he always wore a white coat. At the age of 17 years, on November 24, 1873, she was married to John Charles Roe, and they made their home in Kanarraville, near St. George Utah. They had a very happy married life even if they only had a two room house. John was a poor man but a good provider, Frances always felt she had more things than any of her sisters. At one time John gave Frances a ten dollar gold piece to buy whatever she liked. She took it to the store many a time with the intention of buying cloth, but each time the clerk would get the material down she would change her mind. She had it for one year. One day John came in very worried and said, "Frank (as he called her), how am I going to get money to pay my taxes this year?" Frances got up without saying a word and went into the bedroom and brought the ten dollar gold piece for him to pay the taxes. During their short married life, when Frances’ health was so poor, there was many a night when John would sit up all night without taking off his clothes. The first child of Charles John and Mary Frances was a girl, Patty Isabell" born on the 13th of July, 1875, at Kanarrah, and died the same year on the 29th of September. Dora Elizabeth was born on the 12th of April, 1880. On the 25th of March, 1883, a baby boy was born dead and Mary Frances died also at this birth. This left Charles John alone with his little daughter, Dora, three years old. On his rented farm he had his crops partly planted. After the death and burial of his beloved wife and infant son, he finished planting his crops. He would take Dora into the field with him, letting her ride on the plow until she became sleepy; then he would put her to sleep in the wagon where a bed was waiting. When the crops were all planted, he started for Escalante, Utah, to take Dora to her grandmother, who had moved there. The last night before entering Escalante, he stopped at a ranch above town where a nine year old girl was running bare foot doing her evening tasks. This was the first glimpse he had of the girl who was to become his second wife. After seeing his little daughter safe with her grandparents, he returned to Kanarrah and stayed until his crops were gathered and sold; then went back to Escalante to be near Dora. He received a patriarchal blessing on January 18, 1872, given by William Gant Perkins his foster father. He herded sheep in the winter months and farmed in the summers at Escalante. He was an active worker in the Church, and was called from Escalante to fill a mission to the Southern States. Joseph Griffin received a call at the same time. They were the first two missionaries from that little town. The townspeople gave them a farewell dance the night before they left, collecting $10, 00. Five dollars was given to each. With $30.00 Charles John had collected selling some cattle, he left the12th of February, 1887, to preach the Gospel to the southern people His mission field was in North and South Carolina and Virginia. Before he left he became engaged to Cassy Allan. The following is taken from his mission diary (the records show his name to be Charles John Roe): "On the 2nd day of February, 1887, I, John C. Roe, and Joseph Griffin left home to go on a mission to the southern states. The first night, we camped in the pines on the mountain. 3rd - We left very early and traveled until night. Camped at William Wilcockes at Coyota (now Animony). Very cold. 4th - All well but felt very lonely. Camped at Bro. Anderson’s. 5th - Thinking of home and friends. Camped at Salina. Still very cold. 6th - This morning I have got a very bad tooth ache. Felt bad all day, This is Sunday. Very cold day. Camped on the bank of the Sevier. 7th - My tooth has ceased aching some. We arrived at Nephi. Went up town. Have supper to get, shaved and had my tooth pulled; went to town to sell our eggs. Took store pay. Bought a dress pattern for Dora. Ate dinner; got ready for the train; shook hands with Bro. Griffin and Bro, Mitchell (These two men took them as far as Nephi); left them standing on the platform. Arrived in Salt Lake City about 7 0’clock. Went to Bro. John Smith’s. They treated us kindly. 9th - Joseph and I went up town to do same trading bought our things at Teasdales; walked around town. 10th - Snowed today; had our likeness (photograph) taken; strolled around town. 11th - Fine day. Stayed in and read. Went to a theater at night It was very good. 12th - spent taking in sights; went to another theater. 13th - Sunday; raining; went to meeting. Bro. Snow talked; went to another meeting at night. 14th - All is well; we were set apart for our mission. 15th - Left Salt Lake City at 8 o’clock in the morning; arrived at Green River about sundown; seen about 50 antelope just before we got here. 16th - Found ourselves in Laramie City next morning after travelling all night across the Platte River. Arrived in Denver 4 o’clock in the afternoon; went to a panorama; seen the Battle of Gettesburg. At 8 o’clock left for Kanaas City. Arrived at 5: 45 - a very large city. Left for Memphis at 6 o’clock; traveled all night. In the morning found ourselves at the Mammoth Springs. 17th - passed through Mississippi Bottoms. It was pretty much covered with water for 4 miles. We crossed a trestle work in one stretch. Then we arrived at the Mississippi River; got on a steamboat and crossed the river. Found ourselves in Memphis City on the bank of this large stream with steamboats running up and down it. It was a sight. Streets are narrow, a manufacturing city. Got a hotel room; after supper we went up town. Saw a woman weighing 700 lbs., another 500 and one 60 lbs. Went to a theater and took train at 10 P.M. Here Jos. Griffin and others were sent to their field of 1abor; all had the blues. 18th - The rest of us glided on for Chattanooga. Crossed the Tennessee River on a large brig; arrived in Chattanooga about 9 A.M. Stay there all day; took in sights. 19th - Sunday. We passed over some battlefields to David.. Here Elders leave for different fields of labor, so now we begin to have the blues. 20th - him and Bro. King left. 21st - Felt rested, boarded another hack for the end of our journey. Arrived about one o’clock; found elders at Bro. Dean’s place. From here on, its just day by day missionary work, only occasionally the blues, or "Don’t hear very often from home." Charles John’s first letter is from Cassie Allen, He dreamed one night of holding Dora in his arms, and wakened to feel her presence. He was quite concerned until he heard from home. During his mission, Charles John wrote back to sell his lot and the balance of his cattle. He finally had to borrow money from N.B. Roundy to complete his mission, and herded sheep for Mr. Roundy upon his return to pay it back. He returned from his mission on November 24, 1888, but Cassie had lost that old time love, so the engagement was broken. His attention was later turned to a blue-eyed 17 year old girl, who proved the same little barefoot Eliza Ann Hall he had seen upon his arrival into the valley many years before. She lived on a farm and Charles John would go there to see the family at first, then just to visit her. Love grew fast, then one evening he rode up to the corral fence where she was milking and called to her. With milk pail in hand she went over to the fence to talk to him when all of a sudden she heard him say: ’Eliza, will you marry me?’ She spilled the milk, stammered and stuttered, but finally gave him his answer. John Roe and Eliza Ann Hall were married in the Manti Temple on November 27, 1889. Their first child, Dicy was born October 11, 1890, and died September 10, 1891. Gomar (named after a singer in a Opera he’d seen on his mission.) was born December 30, 1891; John Wilford was born August 25, 1893; Zina was born July 31, 1895, Emma was born October 31, 1897; Mary was horn February 16, 1900; Bona was born November 24, 1902; James Varley was born November 26, 1905; and Verna was born July 17, 1911. Soon after Charles John returned from his mission, he started to interest the people in collecting a missionary fund. He was appointed chairman of the committee, and for years funds were gathered to help missionaries to stay in the mission field. He was choir leader for several years, Y.M.M.I.A. president and chairman of the Old Folk’s Committee. He was ordained a Seventy by Apostle Lorenzo Snow on February 14, 1887. He was set apart at the same time to fill his mission. He was ordained a High priest on January 7, 1907, by David R. Udell. His occupation after his mission was herding sheep. On one trip to the herd, as he rode out through the sage brush south of town,, he stopped and wrote his name on a post at the southwest corner of a lot. When he came from the herd, all the lots were taken,. but this one, so that is how he secured the lot upon which he finally built a home and reared his family. The first canal built, to take the water into the town and the fields was built by assigning so many rods to each man. Charles John, with a group of others, dug his by hand and also helped some of the older men with theirs. He also farmed, carried mail for a short time from Tropic to Escalante through the upper valley and was watermaster for 22 years at Escalante. He was a strong believer in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was a kind and loving father and always taught us children to be honest, truthful and useful. He often times said, "If your word is no good, then neither are you." "Always judge a person by what they are -- not what they have." "Don’t be afraid of people who feel they are better than you, for they are only better if they live a better life", and ’If you borrow anything, remember you are responsible to see that it is paid back." He would come home tired after his work and lay on the floor to rest. We children would get our combs and brushes and divide his hair; some would braid and some wave. One day he jumped up, put on his hat and went to turn a stream into another canal, and when he returned home, little braids were sticking out from under his hat. We all had a good laugh, but were warned thereafter to be more careful. He would come home sometimes with a bag of peanuts, open the door and throw them in, and how we would scamper for our share. It seems he always had bags of candy hid in the wheat bin, and it would be brought out at night for all to enjoy, but many a time we kids would dig in the wheat until we found the candy and then would enjoy eating part of it. Whenever Charles John went to give out water turns or go up to the dam or head off the canals to turn water, we children would take turns riding behind him on his horse. Charles John’s main object in life was his family. If we felt bad, it made him feel bad, and he would work to make us happy and to give us all he could.. A good illustration is told by his daughter, Mary Roe Porter, "One year on Valentine’s day, I came home from school broken hearted:. Everyone in class had gotten one or more store bought valentines but me, Daddy heard me out and said. "Well, don’t feel bad. The ones people make are always the best". He soon left, but in about two hours came back and asked me if I would go to the post office after the mail. I went and there was a beautiful valentine, bought from the store and addressed to me. I knew the handwriting, but could anyone get a more beautiful valentine from a more wonderful person? I was happy and he smiled when I showed it to him." Charles John Roe loved people, both old and young, and was known long after his death as an honest person. On the afternoon of October 29". 1920, he decided to go gather wood above, town. His daughter, Bona, the only one home, noticed him as he was harnessing the horses, and when he didn’t return at chore time, she became alarmed and went to the home of her sisters, Dora and Gomar, to tell them of her alarm, but none of the men were home. On her return, she stopped at Johanna Barker’s home and phoned Mother, who was out caring for the sick. Mother tried to change her mind, but Bona still felt something was wrong. She got Lera Schow"about 18, and Lazell Barker, about 15, to go look for him (see Memories of My Father by Bona Roe Mason).. There were others out looking for him, but he was found by Lera Schow and Lazell Barker. When they rode up to the wagon, they found him lying under the horse called ’Charley’ on the right side. Evidently he had been thrown out of the wagon head first. The axle of the wagon was up against a cedar stump with some branches sticking out, which he either did not see or thought the wagon would pass over. It is believed his head hit the wagon tongue as he was thrown out or hit the ground. There were one or two cuts on his head. The old dog, Rover, was standing near by. Lazell got the dog to one side while Lera pulled Daddy out from under the horses. As Lera leaned down to listen if Daddy’ s heart was still beating, Rover tried to lick his face, showing his appreciation help had come. The place where they found him is about one-half mile north of the town of Escalante, just below where there are some white rocks sticking out from the hills. After the funeral on October 27, 1920, he was taken to the Escalante Cemetery in a buggy pulled by the same two white horses he was using at the time he was killed. Thus ended the life of Charles John Roe, who was born in a family which had plenty and who lived his life with just the bare necessities. We wish to thank all those outside of the family who have helped us in gathering this history. Our hope and desire is that we will be able to add to this at a later date and correct anything that has been proven wrong.

  
  

• Sources

  [S180] Woolsey, #1, 1. Photos p. 441, p. 52.