1837 - 1893 (55 years) Submit Photo / Document
Set As Default Person
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Name |
REEVES, Sarah |
Birth |
28 Sep 1837 |
Fauls, Shropshire, England |
Gender |
Female |
WAC |
3 Nov 1857 |
EHOUS |
_TAG |
Reviewed on FS |
Death |
16 Apr 1893 |
Henrieville, Garfield, Utah, United States |
Burial |
18 Apr 1893 |
Henrieville Cemetery, Garfield, Utah, United States |
Headstones |
Submit Headstone Photo |
Person ID |
I54230 |
Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith |
Last Modified |
19 Aug 2021 |
Family |
RIGGS, William Sears , b. 19 Mar 1830, Greencastle, Putnam, Indiana, United States Greencastle, Putnam, Indiana, United Statesd. 15 May 1923, Panguitch, Garfield, Utah, United States (Age 93 years) |
Children |
2 daughters |
+ | 1. RIGGS, Emma Lovina , b. 4 Dec 1863, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah Kanarraville, Iron, Utahd. 25 Apr 1951, Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States (Age 87 years) | + | 2. RIGGS, Amanda Ellen , b. 15 Oct 1871, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah, United States Kanarraville, Iron, Utah, United Statesd. 29 Nov 1936, Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States (Age 65 years) | |
Family ID |
F4751 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Last Modified |
24 Jan 2022 |
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Photos |
| At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
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Notes |
- This pioneer cabin was the summer home of William Sears and Sarah Reeves Riggs, my Great-grandparents. Roselia Riggs, my Grandmother, lived here as a child with her parents. It was located in Garfield County, Utah in a valley north of Bryce Canyon near the East Fork of the Sevier River, and was known as "Flake Bottom". The beautiful Escalante Mountain (Aquarius Plateau) lies behind it to the east.
Sometime in the 1870's-1880's the Riggs family owned and operated a dairy farm on the flats at this location, where they lived and sold milk and cheese during the summer months. During the winter they lived in Panguitch.
My Grandmother, Rose Riggs Ahlstrom, told the story that when she was a very little girl, a group of about a hundred Indians once stopped at the ranch and camped near this cabin. To keep the peace with them, her Father William Riggs gave them a young beef, which they butchered and roasted. While they were feasting, they danced and yelled all night, frightening little Rose and her sister nearly to death. But when morning came, the Indians had quietly disappeared, leaving nothing but a few cleanly-picked bones and the grass from the cow's stomach.
This is a copy of the original painting which I made from a picture I took of the cabin in 1979, around a hundred years later.
Sherrie Ahlstrom Hundley
(The cabin is no longer there)
William Sears Riggs, my Grandfather, was born 19 March 1830 to John Riggs and Mary Gilman. His brothers and sisters were: Henry, America, Samuel, John Lyle, Amanda, Malinda, Andrew Jackson, Mary and Joseph. The first four children were born in Kentucky and the rest in Indiana and Illinois.
When William was about 20 years of age, he and his brother, John Lyle, left their home to go to California during the gold rush. John Lyle became ill and returned home, but William joined up with a group of Mormon immigrants and crossed the plains with them, arriving in Salt Lake City in the year 1850.
(Film No. 298441)
Being in need of funds to continue his journey, he obtained work in Salt Lake City. A man by the name of David Savage hired him and another man, George Hager, to assist him in leading a group of immigrants who had just crossed the plains to a plot of ground near where Lehi, Utah is now located, to help them build cabins and settle there for the winter.
(Lehi Centennial History, 977, 244l, L1H2L)
Thirteen cabins were built as well as most of their furniture. My Grandfather William, occupied a cabin with David Savage, his wife and a daughter Amanda. Mr. Hager was and miner and left during the winter for California.
During the winter, on 15 February 1851, there arrived in the community a man whose name was David Evans, who was destined to play a part in the growth of the community for many years. He had previously been ordained a Bishop in Nauvoo by Joseph Smith and had now been sent by Brigham Young to preside over this group of Saints of Dry Creek, as they had named this community. While living in this Mormon community, William was converted to the gospel of Mormonism and was baptized in June 1852 by David Evans and confirmed by Israel Evans.
The first winter was quite severe. The cabins were mostly one or two rooms, with walls 7 feet high, and a leaky roof made of dirt and willows. A sod fireplace in one room served for heat and cooking. Quilts were tacked over windows and doors to let in light and keep out the cold, which function they performed imperfectly. Furniture was made from materials on hand.
William, after having joined the Church, gave up the idea of going to California and remained in Utah, and finally traveled to Southern Utah, where he was instrumental in helping to build up the towns there. He lived in Toquerville, Panguitch, Kanarraville, Henrieville, Cedar City and St. George.
On 1 February 1855, he was married to Sarah Reeves at Cedar City, Utah. Their marriage was later solemnized in the St. George Temple on 3 November 1857. Sarah Reeves was the daughter of William Reeves and Frances Long.
William and Sarah were the parents of ten children, namely Sarah Frances, Mary Elizabeth, Melissa Ann, Carolyn Jane (who died in infancy), Emma Lovina, William Reeves, Andrew Jackson, Amanda Ellen, Melinda Isabella, and Roselia. These children, with the exception of one, all lived to a good ripe age. They raised large families and were good honest people.
My Grandparents, William and Sarah spent the early part of their married life in Cedar City and nearby towns. William operated a grist mill at Kanarra for several years. In 1871, he moved his family to Panguitch, Utah and helped to build up that town. He was one of the main carpenters and helped erect the Stake Tabernacle and many other buildings and homes. He was a fine carpenter and most of my Mother's furniture in her early married life was made by him. Many of these pieces of furniture I remember as a child at home.
During the time he lived in Panguitch, he held many Church positions, in
1879-1881 he was a member of the High Council.
The children were all married now except Melinda and my Mother, Roselia. Taking his wife and two daughters, he moved to a small town Henrieville, Utah, and in 1892 was called to the Bishopric.
On 16 April 1893, Sarah died at the early age of 56 years. Roselia and her Father were left alone now and they went to Escalante, Utah and stayed with two of his married daughters, Amanda and Emma for a while.
On 30 September 1896, my Mother Roselia was married and Grandfather William sold his property and made his home with his children. Most of the time with Mother. He was a great help to her as my Father Frank's work kept him away from home a good deal of the time. Grandpa helped with the chores, feeding the animals, etc. He especially helped with the small children. I remember how he used to hold us on his lap and rock us in his favorite rocking chair, untying our shoe laces (which were usually tied in hard knots) at night, and carrying us upstairs to bed.
He loved music and played the violin. Everyday, when the morning chores were done and breakfast over, he would bring out his violin and play for us and for his own enjoyment. He knew countless songs. His voice was a deep, resonant bass and he would sing many songs for us, folk songs, humorous songs, ballads, etc. One we loved was about an old black crow. We loved to hear it. He and Mother would blend their voices together, and it was very nice. Later, as I learned to play the organ and piano, he would have me accompany his playing.
Grandfather William was a very distinguished looking man. His once black hair was now white, he had a small white beard and gray eyes. He was of average height and walked with a cane. I never heard him speak a cross word to anyone, and never saw him angry. He always had a good word to say of everyone he knew and everyone who knew him loved and respected him.
He made his home with my Mother and Dad, except for short periods, for at least 27 years, and they were so good to him. In his declining years, Mother cared for his every need. She was patient and kind to him. There was never an unkind word spoken between them.
He died 15 May 1923 at Panguitch, Utah. He had lived 30 years after his wife died. At the time of his death, he had 8 living children, 83 grandchildren, 152 great-grandchildren, 22 great-great-grandchilden. As of today, that number has greatly multiplied.
My Mother Roselia will be blessed for the wonderful, loving care she gave to her aged Father.
Mary Reva Ahlstrom Davenport
We don't have a history of my Grandmother, Sarah Reeves. Her family came from England for the Gospel. Mother said she was a small woman, with dark hair and eyes and spoke with a British accent. She raised eight black haired daughters and two sons. She died 16 April 1893 at age 56. She and William are buried at Henrieville, Utah.
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