John Christian Baum

 Reading through some family histories I discovered that my third great grandfather was once a slave. John Christian Baum.

His father was so poor after the Revolutionary War that he “bound out” John to a rich man to help support the family. He worked for this man until he was twenty one years old. At that time his brother, Jacob bought him back. John and Jacob were very close and loved each other very much.

I find the term “bound” interesting. A very politically correct term for “SLAVE”

John later joined the church, was married and had nine children. He died in Heber, Utah.

Robert The Bruce

My 17th great grandfather: ROBERT I Popularly known as Robert the Bruce, was King of the Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. Robert was one of the most famous warriors of his generation and eventually led the Kingdom of Scotland during the first war of Scottish Independence against England. He fought successfully during his reign to regain Scotland’s place as an independent country and is now revered in Scotland as a national hero

SIR JOHN GRANT OF FREUCHIE1

While visiting Scotland we descoverd that one of my ancesters was not only a member of the Grant Clan but he was also the Lord of a castle.

The beautiful Urquhrt castle, siting on the banks of Lock Ness.  In 1509 SIR JOHN GRANT OF FREUCHIE the first chief of Clan Grant takes formal possession of the castle and lordship of Urquhart from King James IV.'to construct within the castle a tower, hall, chamber and kitchen, with all the requisite offices, such as a pantry, bakehouse, brewhouse, oxhouse, kiln, cot, dovegrove and orchard? from the royal charter granted to Sir John and sealed at Stirling Castle, December 1509

A Post Card Home

Years ago I was the recipient of my grandma Lee’s personal records. It consisted of her genealogy papers and a box of papers that she’d written bits and pieces of her personal history. I tried to put them in a chronological order and I compiled her history in a readable fashion.

Among her belongings was this leather post card that she had sent to her mother while she was away at school.

It reads around the edges “322 University Street SLC, It is time I was going to school, Your loving Pearl”

On the back it’s addressed to.

Mrs. S S Grant 

Theodore Utah

(Theodore was the original name of Duchesne)

I’m a little confused about the address in SL, I was told she attended school at the BY Academy in Provo. 

Issac Baum

Issac Baum was born on April 7, 1832 in Chester, Pennsylvania. His family lived for short time in Carthage, Illinois and later moved to Nauvoo. At the age of twelve he was one of the witnesses of the Martyrdom of Joseph Smith. he wrote of his experience.
On June 26, 1844, I was helping my father cultivate the corn when shots were heard. I called to Father, saying, “They have killed the prophet,” and Father asked, “How do you know they have killed the prophet?” I said, “I heard the shooting.” Father told me to go to the house and tell Mother to have his clothes laid out, for he was going to town. When I got home, Mother was starting for a bucket of water to start the noon meal, and when I met her I said, “Oh, Mother, they have killed the prophet,” and she said, “My son, I fear they have,” I took the brass bucket and got the water from the well, and as I came back and gave it to her, as she looked in the bucket she said, “Son, there is blood in this water. Throw it out and get some more.” The water was much better this time. A boy like me was too excited to wait for father, and as I put the bucket down, I started away, calling back to Mother, “Tell Father I have gone ahead.” Not taking time to go around by the road, I crawled through the fences, back yards, and arrived at Carthage Jail, where a large crowd had gathered. I heard the militia shouting, profaning and boasting what they were going to do. The body of Joseph was sitting propped up by the old curb. One of the militia took hold of his hair and jerked his head up, and raised his sword which was sharp on both edges. But just then lightning came out of a clear sky and he dropped to the ground. The mob thought he was dead, so they galloped away on their horses, any way to get away quickly.
Issac was also one of the men that volunteered to go to the rescue of the ill fated Willie and Martin handcart companies that were stranded by an early winter storm in October of 1856.
Issac married Mellissa Sessions on 6 May 1856 in Provo, Utah and they became one of the earliest families to settle in what would become Heber, Utah. Together they were the parents of eleven children, the oldest, Louisa Maria is my great grandmother.
Issac was said to always be a man of service to others willing to always lend a hand.
Issac died in Heber 18 November 1920. He is buried in the Heber City cemetery.

John Lee

Home of John and Sarah Lee as it now looks on Main Street in Heber City

John Lee was born January 18, 1822 at Mission, Nottinghamshire, England.
John was left fatherless at age two, at ten years old he went to work, first as a farm hand and then in a foundry for six years.
John Lee married Sarah Roebuck on November 15, 1841. John joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1846 and Sarah was baptized in 1849. After being baptized John became a traveling elder and baptized some twenty persons.
John and Sarah left England in 1856 on the sailing ship Enoch Train. They arrived in America at Boston, and then went West by handcart. "Travel was slow and dusty, everyone got very tired, many died. June 15 our son William age twelve died and was buried by moonlight somewhere on Moon creek. Three of our children had to ride the whole way (one 6 months, one two years, and one four years old)."
The Lee family, after arriving in Salt Lake went South and spent three years in Spanish Fork before moving the family to what is now Heber City. "There were twenty-eight families here then."
Their home was the first with a fireplace in it when finished. At Christmas they had the first party in the valley.
John and Sarah had twelve children born to them. Sixty-four grandchildren and eighty-six great grandchildren.
John Lee died at home on September 14, 1909. John and Sarah are buried in the Heber City cemetery.

Pioneer Day, July 24th

We have several of our ancestors who are remembered among the "pioneers" of Mormon history.
Among those great pioneers are: John and Sarah Lee and their children, George Sidwell and others.
I have chosen to highlight David Grant, my great great grandfather. David made the trek West not once but three times. David was born in Scotland and at the age of 22 made is way to America. In 1840 while in Payson, Illinois he was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. David was a tailor by trade and had a successful business in Nauvoo.
David and his first wife Mary were among those that received their temple endowment in the Nauvoo temple.
After leaving Nauvoo they were among the saints that spent a time at Winter Quarters. In Winter Quarters Mary gave birth to their second child. Mary died shortly after giving birth.
The next year David was called to go with Brigham Young as he led the first company to begin the great exodus West. David was with the vanguard company that entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 24th 1847. The next spring David returned to bring his 2 young children to the valley. David married again and was then called to serve a mission the British Isles.
After serving a 4 year mission he returned again to Salt Lake for the third time with a handcart company. David introduced Elizabeth Williams, one of the girls he had met on the trip West to his son, hoping they would marry. She was not impressed with David's son and instead Married David on 21 December 1856 together they had 8 children.
David had 2 wives pass away during his life time was married 4 times and fathered a total of 19 children. He died at his home in Millcreek, Utah on 22 December 1856.

I am so thankful for all those that came before us. To blaze the trail with their testimonies and faith.

If you want to read the complete story of David there are several versions posted in FamilySearch