GREAT GREAT GRANDPARENTS

GEORGE CORRY AND MARGARET CLIMIE

as Recorded in the Journal of Robert Gardner

A few years ago, I came across the journal of Robert Gardner online and discovered that our great great grandfather, George Corry (Jr.) and his family were in the same group as Robert Gardner from the time they joined the Church in Canada (about 1844) until they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.  Sadly, there is no journal from our George Corry (let this be a lesson to us to write down our lives) but since their experiences are similar, we can learn quite a bit about how our ancestors lived during the period from joining the church to arriving in the Salt Lake Valley from this journal of Robert Gardner.  I have extracted a few paragraphs from Robert Gardner’s journal.

The whole thing is online at:  

http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/RGardner.html

The brief history of George Corry and Margaret Climie is in the Corry Book and also here on our Corry Family History Blog: 

http://corry-history.blogspot.com/2011/02/george-corry-1807-1875-and-margaret.html

From the Gardner Journal:

“My father emigrated to Canada in the year 1821.  He located in the backwoods of Canada in the Township of Dalhousie, Upper Canada.  This was a very poor part of the country consisting of rocky ridges covered with heavy timber mostly hemlock, pine, cedar and some hardwood. Some swamps and mud lakes, and here and there small patch of land that would do to cultivate, after cutting and burning the heavy timber then there was a kind of a thistle that came up among the grain which compelled us to reap it with gloves or mittens on our hands, cradles, reapers, and thrashing machines was not in fashion in that country in those day. And it was hard, cold country to live in but we lived in it about twelve years. Here I lost my education, or rather never got it. As the people was poor and in such a scattered condition they could not have school. When after a while we got a school I was grown and father needed my work on the farm as I was the youngest and the only one at home, so six weeks was all the time I ever went to school when I started I was spelling in two letter words and when I quit I was a fair reader in the Testament and the best speller in school but there I had to stop which has been the lament of my life what little I have learned since I have had to pick up the best I could.  Robert’s Uncle Archibald Gardner was tired of the poor country and started west in search of a better country which he found about 500 miles of in the township of Warwick, Canada West, near the lower end of Lake Huron. My father, William, and our family followed Uncle Archibald there. 

Great great Grandfather George Corry with his parents (George Corry and Margaret Cold), brothers (Isaac, Thomas and Henry) and one sister (Charlotte) immigrated from London, England, in about 1817 and settled in Bathurst which is about 33 miles from the above mentioned Dalhousie.  The description of the land for them is similar to what is stated above.  So eventually George, his parents and brothers Thomas and Henry left that area and traveled west to Plympton, Lambton County and settled there.  (Their brother, Isaac, stayed in Bathurst, raised his family and eventually died there.)  The distance from the above mention Warwick to Plympton is about 9 miles.

Gardner Journal:

“I think it was about 1843-1844 that an elder named John Baraman [Borrowman] brought the gospel of Jesus Christ to our neighborhood.  I did not oppose but I went to their meetings to hear and judge for myself. The Methodist minister used to hold meeting in his house but where the meeting come at the same time as the Mormon meeting he would go two miles to hear what the Mormon's taught. I would tell them they could go ahead hold their meeting. My wife and father and mother would take care of them. They advised me not to go near them for if I did I would be deceived but I went when I pleased and never went out of my way to shun meeting them.

“In the beginning of January 1845 in company with a few Saints we went a mile and half into the woods and cut a hole in the ice about 18 inches thick and was there baptized in the township of Brook in a stream called Brown's Creek. I was there baptized by his brother William who had been ordain elder, and I was confirmed by another elder, named Samuel Bolton, on a log by the water's edge that was the happiest day of my life up to that date. I can't describe my [feelings] but I felt as humble as a little child to think I had lived to have my sins remitted and received the Holy Ghost. It being winter time there was little work done by me for he wanted to spend all his time studying the scriptures and the Book of Mormon and other latter-day work.”

John Borrowman is the same missionary who taught great great grandparents George Corry and Margaret Climie.  (article about John Borrowman:  https://www.lds.org/ensign/1996/09/a-halfpenny-and-a-pearl?lang=eng )  George was baptized in 1843 and Margaret in 1844.

 

From the Gardner Journal—leaving Canada for Nauvoo:

“He soon got ready and started early in March.  They went with horse teams. It was a very wet time and very muddy. They traveled through Michigan and took the nearest route for Nauvoo.  The company met Brother Archie, he having gone ahead we met him at Otaway on Fox River. They had started to load ox teams some time before and they overtook them a few days before they got to Nauvoo. Arrived at that place on the 6th day of April. They were having conference and apostle Orson Hyde was in charge of affairs there then for the main part of the church had gone west. The Canada company went to conference and they stayed a few days and bought our fitout; such things as we would need such as flour, corn meal and corn to parch to eat for food and such things as we would need on the journey.”

George and Margaret and their family were in this same group.  Their son Andrew Corry was born 28 April 1846 in the wagon as they crossed the Fox River in Ilinois.  We read in the Gardner Journal about when the “Canada Company” arrived in Nauvoo and their brief experiences there before leaving to follow the Saints who had already left in February.  It is sad to note that George and Margaret had five children when they lived in Plympton.  Two died there before they left for Nauvoo—Charlotte (1840) and Elizabeth (1845).  Their older daughter, Janet and two others, Margaret and George, left Canada with their parents and then Andrew was born as they crossed the Fox River.  So now there are four living children arriving in Nauvoo.

From the Gardner Journal:                                                                                                             “We crossed the Mississippi River and passed Montrose and went a few miles north and camped.   My father went up in Iowa to try and trade horses for oxen but the oxen had been bought up and they were scarce and could not be bought at any price. I had one Canadian horse that was very bad with the heaves, but I was told he would get over it out west. I met a man and inquired if he had any oxen to trade for this horse. He said, "No, but I have a fine mare," he would give me for him. I went to see her, but rode my horse very slow lest he would begin to heave. His mare was a very ? one, but I had to give him 14 dollars to boot. I got on my mare and rode away and thought I had done it.

“I rode about two miles and I met a man. He asked me if I had bought that mare. I said "Yes, wasn't she a fine one." He said "Yes, but she was stone blind;" that took me down a notch. But I did not go back

“After that I traded that horse for one yoke of cattle and I bought another yoke and a cow, went back to camp we then rigged up our ox teams instead of horses and started west.

“We traveled about twelve miles and camped for the night, 22 of May, 1846 in Lee County, Iowa. The next morning we fixed mother and baby as comfortable as possible and started on for the companies from Nauvoo was all ahead. And we loaded in more flour at Bonapart for we had strengthened our teams and we were pushing on for the Missouri River expecting to overtake the main camp of Saints there. By this time our company had got the name of the Canada Company for we traveled so close together. There was in the company John Park, William Park, David Park, and their families. James Hamilton and family, James Kilfoyal and family, Samuel Bolton and daughter, James Crage, John Baroman, George Coray and family, Andrew Coray and family, Brother Johnes and family, and John Smith and family, my brother William and family, Archibald and family, father and mother Rodger Luckham and family, myself and family.”

Of course, the George Coray and family is our George and Margaret.  The Andrew Coray is a mistaken first name since there wasn’t an Andrew Coray.  I am 99 and 44/100 per cent sure that it should be Thomas Corry and family.  Thomas is George’s older brother and he lived in Plympton with George.  I’m pretty sure he was baptized and then left the church probably in Winter Quarters and came back into Iowa where he lived with his family and died.  More about Thomas soon.

Gardner Journal:                                                                                                                         “Iowa was a new and thinly settled territory, and many of the Saints were poor and not having teams to travel with was counseled to stop where the land was not taken up and put in crops until they could help themselves.  They had settled a place called Garden Grove and another called Mount Pisgah and other places. Some of our camp began to drop off at some of these places and others went on. We overtook what was known as Orson Hyde's camp near Mosquito Creek close by the Missouri River. Here I began to see some of the suffering of the Saints. The first night we come to Hyde's camp there come up a storm thundered and the wind blew very hard so very hard rain.  Next morning it was painful to see the Saints with tents down (blown) down and wagon covers tore off and everything wet with the rain.

“I went to one tent that was blown down and found a woman sitting on the ground and a very young baby both shaking with the ague and a number of larger children sitting around in their wet clothes, shaking with the same disease, no one able to help the rest. I asked where her husband was and she said he was called to go to Mexico to fight for Uncle Sam [Mormon Battalion] who had driven us to the wilderness to endure these hardships. I tried to gather up her tent but I could not; it was wore out. They had been driven from Nauvoo in the dead of winter, in the depth of poverty, traveling through deep snow. The men having to leave part of their family by the wayside, and travel on perhaps for a week, then leave that part and go back for the rest with the same team, until themselves nearly everything they had was wore out. And many died by the way from hardships.

“We next traveled on a few miles to the main camp at the liberty poll on Mosquito Creek where President Young and council was making the rest of the 500 hundred men of the Mormon battalion to go to Mexico.

“We then traveled on about half a day to a camping ground near a grove of timber which was called Cutler Park. The season now being so far spent and so many of our best young men gone to Mexico, President Young thought best to go no further this fall but find winter quarters, cut hay for our stock and start on early in the spring. A town site was selected down the river called Winter Quarters.  Streets, blocks and lots were layed out and given out to the people. And in a few days a town of houses were in sight. Lots of hay was cut and stock taken to herd grounds, a large log meeting house was build and a good grist mill was built to grind our corn and wheat. Wood had to be provided for the family of the men that had gone in the battalion and there was a meat market erected and several blacksmith shops, shoe shops, chair makers and nearly all kind of work as if the people was going to stay for years.

“Men that could work had to work nearly night and day, for many of the older was taken with a disease called the black leg and was entirely helpless and many died with it. Their legs from their knees down would get as black as a coal.

“On the account of having to stay there that winter and use up their provisions many had to go to Missouri to work or trade for provisions and seed to take with them across the plains for it was the intention to start west early in the spring.

“Brother John Taylor and Parley P. Pratt arrived in Winter Quarters, from a mission to England while the Saints was getting ready and we traveled with them across the plains, the most of the company left Winter Quarters and other places early in June, went to the Elk Horn River about 20 miles there or near there we was organized into companies and we started on the 15th of June.

Now some more about the starting west. At the river where we was all camped at the Elk Horn we had to make a raft to take the wagons over the river. It was made of logs and pulled across by a rope by men's strength. We concluded to try ox strength instead of men which proved a success but my wagon was the first try with oxen and we lacked experience and the team started before the wagon was blocked or balanced being too near the hind end of the raft and the rope being hitched to the front and raised it up and my wagon and family and all I had began to roll back into the river. I caught the hind wheel and held it until we was across but the raft was nearly on end but God helped me and we were saved. Next the rope broke that pulled the raft and I swam the river twice to get it tied and kept on ferrying in my wet clothes which gave me the chills and fever again and they stayed with me half way across the plains.

“The company was divided into hundreds, fifties, and tens, each having a captain; Apostle John Taylor was in our company. It was all smooth traveling until we got about one hundred miles to a place, Pawnee village, a deserted Indian town. The train stopped to fix a bridge and I being several teams back I started on to help. I had gone but a few steps when my nigh leader turned out to get a bit of green grass. My eldest boy, Robert R., being in the wagon and being very careful stepped down of the tongue of the wagon to stand at their head till I come back. So the night wheeler kicked, throwing him under the wheel then started up the wagon running both wheels over his bowels. I was near enough but could not save him. We laid him in the wagon and started on that afternoon and after awhile he got out and ran and played to show me he was not much hurt to try and make us feel better, but he soon got into the wagon and never got out again without help. He lived till we traveled several hundred miles and died on Deer Creek on the Platte River. He seemed to fail every day. He was hurt in his kidneys and suffered fifty deaths. He lived till there was nothing left but he shin and bones. I had to drive my team all day and sit up and hold him all night and see him suffer all the time.

“With many other difficulties we made our way over rivers through the canyons and over the mountains and reached Salt Lake Valley. At the mouth of emigration canyon on October 1, 1847 my wagon was badly broken, my team nearly given out, and myself wore out. We looked over the valley there was not a house to be seen nor anything to make one of. But we was glad to see a resting place. And felt to thank God for the same. We then drove down to the camping place, afterwards calling the Old Fort. It is now in the lower part of Salt Lake City. I unyoked my oxen and sat down on my broken wagon tongue and said I could not go another day's journey, and the rest of the folks was nearly as bad off as me but they did not have so much sickness as I had in my family. But that was happy day for us all, for we knew that was a place where we could worship God according to the dictations of our own conscience, and mobs would not come, at least for awhile.

George and Margaret lost two more children at Winter Quarters:  Margaret and George, both in 1846.  They are buried in Florence, Nebraska, (which was formerly Winter Quarters) in a private cemetery not open to the public.  By the time they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, only two of their six children were left, Janet, the oldest who was born in Canada and Andrew, their youngest at the time, who was born in Illinois while crossing the Fox River.

“All of the families that belonged to the Canada Company that reached Salt Lake at this time was John William and David Park and their families, George Coray and family, Rodger Luckham and family, my father and mother, William Archibald and myself and our family, Rodger Luckham's wife was my sister, James Crage come with the pioneers, and John Baraman went with the battalion and to the valley by way of California. The rest of the company stayed back till they got ready by getting teams and fitout. Some stayed back and apostatized.” (This included Thomas Corry and family who stayed in Iowa as mentioned above.)

Corry Family Photos From Yesteryear

Here are a few of the great pictures recently shared on Facebook by "Minnie" Stewart (also known as Suzanne) (with my guesses as to who is who--open to other opinions).  I thought I would post them here for those who don't use Facebook.

1.  Mother and Son--Abish and Elwood in the mid-1940's when he was serving in World War II,  

2.  Ruth, Iris, Elwood, ?, ?, and Judy (back).  Lloyd, Jeff, Beth, Liz, Kristine and Bob (front).  Behind Kris ?

3.  Bill Palmer, Lloyd, Martin (back).  ? and Grandpa Elias Moroni (front)

4.  Beth, Lloyd, Martin and Melvin

5.  Jeff, E.J., Kristine, Iris, Norman and Ruth (back).  Behind Zona ?.  Liz, ?, Zona, Suzanne, Lloyd (front)

6.  Grandpa and Grandma Corry

7.  Father and two young sons:  Lloyd, Melvin and E. M.

Great Great Great Grandfather JOHN SOMERS HIGBEE (Compiled from information in Isaac Higbee and Sophia Somers Family Organization 1955-56) John Somers Higbee was born 7 March 1804, Tate, Clermont, Ohio, to Isaac Higbee and Sophia Somers. John’s parents and older siblings had lived in New Jersey. In the year 1802, Father Isaac and his family moved to Tate Township, Clermont County, Ohio (near Cincinnati). “By the time the Revolutionary War was over, the fertile country down the Ohio River induced many to go there and establish new homes. Several Higbee families of New Jersey joined in the migration--Isaac Higbee, with his wife and family being among them. They helped form what was known as the ‘Collins Jersey Settlement.’” (Sheila Jessop History, RootsWeb). From John’s journal: My father’s family consisted of three boys and three girls and I was the youngest. I went to school about five years and, at the age of fourteen, went to learn the cabinet trade with Peter Cliver, my brother-in-law [married to John’s older sister, Mary]. Here I stayed five years. Then I went home, fishing with a net with my father for a living, moving from place to place. Other times I did carpenter work.” (Isaac Higbee and Sophia Somers Fam. Org, 1955-56) John was married to Sarah Ann Voorhees on 16 February 1826, at Batavia, Clermont County, Ohio. (See Clermont County Marriage Records, 1800-1850: Sary Ann Voris to John Higbee 16 Feb 1826 byChapman Archer, JP) John and Sarah. along with his parents’ family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mav 1832. They heard the Gospel from Elders Calvin Wilson and Lyman Wight who baptized and confirmed them. They sold their property in Ohio and moved to Jackson County, Missouri, in February 1833, where they bought land and planted corn. John and Sarah’s oldest son, John Mount Higbee, was born in Ohio in 1827. Their two daughters, Sarah and Harriet, were born in Missouri, and Silas, the younger son, was born later when they moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. From his journal: “The Mormons were mobbed and driven out and in November, I moved out with a sick wife and only what we could carry on our backs to Clay County. In this condition, five families made huts out of the bark of trees for the winter and depended entirely on the success of my hunting wild game with a flint-lock shot gun, as the enemy had taken all our guns. I was very successful with the old shot gun. We had many deer to eat that winter. For bread we crossed the Missouri River in the night to steal our own corn from my brother’s farm (we had not sold it), a distance of six miles.” “The mob kept threatening us, so my parents, brothers, and other families moved to Caldwell County, Missouri, near Far West. Then the state rose up against us. The army took our guns and I was forced to sign a deed giving all my land in Jackson and Caldwell Counties for the use of the executives of the state. They selected 57 of us, taking us to Richmond. After 29 days we were tried and nothing found against us. We were ordered to leave the state, which we did, January 1838, going to Illinois in a rickety old one-horse wagon. There were three families on this trip. After arriving in Quincy, Illinois, my father, Isaac Higbee, died from fatigue, at 75 years. In May 1838, we moved to Nauvoo for a few years. In Nauvoo. John was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Nauvoo Legion. He is listed in the Hancock County Tax Record, is found in the 1842 Nauvoo Census and received his endowment in the Nauvoo Temple on 23 December 1845. He was a High Priest in the Priesthood. At one time he went to rescue Joseph Smith with a posse of men in a skiff on the Mississippi River. From his journal: “February 1846, I enlisted in Colonel Markham’s Company and was elected captain over ten men. On the 9th of February, I commenced to ferry across the Mississippi to Montrose, Iowa, all those that wished to join the company. The people lock up their homes, leaving all they could not take with them or sell. Very few ever realized anything on what they left. I hunted wild game for the camps, stood guard, split rails for farmers in Northern Iowa for horse feed, etc. At the Sheridan River, I was appointed general hunter for the Heber C. Kimball Company. Sarah Ann and the children crossed the Mississippi River 29 March 1846, with John M. driving. John S. went back to meet his family and all arrived at Mt. Pisgah the last of May. From his journal: “We stopped at Mt. Pisgah, Iowa, and planted a garden. Here my wife took sick and died through want and exposure, 15 June 1846, 41 years old, leaving four children, John M. [19 years], Silas [5 years], Sariah [12 years], and Harriet [9 years]. About this time, John heard of the recruitment for the Mormon Battalion. He traveled to Council Bluffs, with his son John where they could join, but discovered that the Battalion had left twenty-four hours earlier. The three younger children had been left with neighbors in Mt. Pisgah. Instead of going with the Battalion, he was asked to run the ferry across the Missouri River. While living in Winter Quarters, John was married, 17 August 1846, to Judith Ball Tate, a widow from South Carolina. In November 1846, he was called as Bishop of the 19th Ward of Winter Quarters. He served until April 1847, when he was again appointed hunter for the Heber C. Kimball Company going to the Rocky Mountains. Leaving his family, he started with the company on April 9. Upon reaching the Platte River, John was asked to remain behind to help run the ferry until his family arrived in August. He then continued on with them, arriving in Salt Lake on 26 September 1847. He was called again as Bishop in October. From his journal: "In January 1848, I went with Parley P. Pratt, J. Tibbets and others on an exploring, hunting and fishing expedition, south of Utah Lake, crossing over the point of the mountain between the two valleys, taking our wagons with a skiff in it. We crossed without cutting a brush or making a road. My son, John, was teamster. In March 1849, I was sent to make a settlement in Utah Valley at Timpanogos which we called Provo. In the fall of 1849, John S. was called to England on a mission, returning home on 8 January 1852. He was asked to preside over the 333 Saints on the ship returning home. One of the passengers was Ann Grainger Carr, a widow with one daughter. John and Ann were married 11 March 1852. With President Brigham Houng, he explored the Salmon River area. He and his family moved onto the Weber River in April 1858. In February 1865, John moved with his wife, Ann, and children Sarah Ann, Charlotte Jane, Sophia and Sabra (twins), Richard Tate and Isaac William, to Toquerville, Washington, Utah. John Somers Higbee died 27 September 1877, at Toquerville. His wife, Ann, died two years later, 27 September 1879, at Toquerville. Both are buried there. The children of John and Ann are Sarah Ann, 1853; Charlotte Jane, 1855; Sophia and Sabra, 1857; Richard Tate, 1859; and Isaac William, 1860.

London and George Corry's Family

There is focus today on the wedding of Prince William and Princess Katherine at Westminster Abbey in London. Our George Corry and Margaret Cole were married at St. George Hanover Square and the children (William Henry, Isaac, Thomas, Charlotte, George, Henry and Charles) were born at St. James Piccadilly Parish in Westminster, all of which is in close vicinity to today's "goings on." The commentary speaks of "The Mall" which apparently borders St. James Parish.
The following site (http://partleton.co.uk/Benjamin1774a.htm) was prepared by someone concerning their ancestor, but mentions the places, with pictures, where our family lived and carried out their lives before emigrating to Canada in 1817.
From a previous blog entry: "The first documented record of George Corry tells of his joining the First Life Guards. . "A Trooper George Curry [Corry] enlisted on 21 July 1790 and served at Hyde Park Barracks continuously until 24 October 1802 on which later date he was discharged presumable in consequence of the outbreak of peace by the Treaty of America when the army was drastically reduced."
"George Corry and Margaret Cole were married on 2 September 1790, at St. George, Hanover Square (1), in London, England. The record is as follows:
St. George Hanover Square, Westminster
Date: 2 September 180, after banns
Name: George Curry, this parish
Name of Bride: Margaret Cole, this parish
Signatures: George Corry
Mark x of Margaret Cole

"The next record for George and Margaret is in St. James Parish (2) which borders the St. George Hanover Square Parish. This was apparently their home during the years their children were born. The birth records for their children are found in the St. James Parish birth register (see family group record).
(1) ST. GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE, a parish in the city of Westminster, county Middlesex."
(2) St. James is an area of central London in the City of Westminster. It is bounded to the north by Piccadilly, to the west by Green Park, to the south by The Mall and St. James’ Park and to the east by The Hay Market.

OUR CORRY RELATIVES (continued from 22 March 2011 installment)

Four younger sons of Isaac and Jean Ritchie Corry (William, Ritchie, Robert and Henry), moved from Ontario and obtained land in Minnesota where they settled.
William, the oldest of these four, was born in 1828 at Bathurst, Lanark County, Ontario. He was married to Margaret Elizabeth Kirkman about 1850 in Bathurst. Their first two children, Isaac William and Grace, were born in Lanark County before the family moved to Minnesota. The last two children, Jane Ann and Williamine were born in Wabasha County, Minnesota.
Williams’s time in Minnesota was very short. He died in 1862 in West Albany, Wabasha, Minnesota which was the same year that his youngest child, Williamine, was born. After William’s death, his wife, Margaret Elizabeth, was married to James Munro. She raised her children in Wabasha County, Minnesota. Williams’s oldest son, Isaac William, and his wife and children settled in Wyoming where Isaac likely died. Isaac's wife and their two sons moved to Pueblo, Colorado, where they settled.
Next was Ritchie who was born in 1830 at Bathurst. He was married to Margaret Jane Jamieson in 1854 at Perth, Lanark County, Ontario. Their first child, Thomas Henry, was born in 1856 in Lanark County before they moved to Minnesota. Their other two children, Orpha and Margaret, were born in Wabasha County, Minnesota. Ritchie’s time in Minnesota also was very short. He died in 1863 in West Albany, Wabasha, Minnesota, which was the same year as the birth of his youngest child. Ritchie’s wife, Margaret Jane, returned to Canada to her home area of Carleton County, Ontario where she raised her three children.
Robert Corry was born in 1832 at Bathurst. He was married to Isabella Maria Nichol in 1862 in Lanark County, Ontario. Their only child, Isabella Maria, was born in 1863 in Lanark County. The family then moved to Minnesota with Robert’s brothers. Robert’s wife, Isabella, died in Lake City, Wabasha County, Minnesota in 1865. Robert died two years later in 1867 in Wabasha County, leaving their daughter, Isabella Maria, a four-year old orphan. She returned to Lanark County, Ontario, where she lived with her maternal grandmother until her marriage in 1888 to James Lindsay. She was the mother of six children and died in 1921.
Isaac Corry’s youngest son, Henry, was the only one to survive (for a little longer at least) life in Minnesota. He was born in 1838 in Lanark County, Ontario. He was married to Elizabeth Kirkman (who was a sister to Margaret Elizabeth Kirkman, wife of Henry’s older brother, William) in about 1858. Their oldest child, Isaac J. was born in Lanark County, Ontario, in 1859. Their other three children were born in Wabasha County, Minnesota—William Henry, Grace MacFarlane and Robert Ritchie.
Sometime between 1880 and 1885, Henry, Elizabeth and their family moved to Traill County, North Dakota, where Henry lived for the remainder of his life. He died at the age of 52 years at Reynolds, Traill County, North Dakota, in March 1894. Henry’s children moved further west and settled in Pondera County, Montana. Elizabeth lived with her son, Isaac, and died in 1915 in Pondera County, Montana.

OUR CORRY RELATIVES (continued from 13 March 2011 installment)

The fourth child of Isaac and Jean Ritchie Corry was George Corry (second cousin to our Great Grandfather William Henry Corry). George was born 14 January 1846, in Bathurst, Lanark, Ontario, Canada.
In a letter written by Father Isaac to his brother, George, in Utah, Isaac says of his son, George: “George has tried a good many things. He learned ax making and general blacksmithing with McAtheron of Perth. . . .he is very eager to make riches but has not accumulated a great deal. He was deputy sheriff for a while; went to California. . . .next to Colorado; made nothing. Now [he] keeps an ax factory. That is [his] trade now. He is town constable."
After traveling around to several places, George returned to Perth where he had an ax factory and was also the town constable.
Perth Courier, December 23, 1870: "We regret to learn that the blacksmith shop belonging to our former townsman, George Corry, of Fallbrook was on the 17th December destroyed by fire together with all of Mr. Corry's tools. The loss is estimated at between $500 and $600 and no insurance. By vigorous efforts, Mr. Corry has already had his shop built again and is now ready to do all kinds of blacksmithing."
Perth Courier--The subscriber [George Corry] respectfully informs the inhabitants of Perth and the public generally that he has opened a shop where he is making all sorts of edged tools. Blacksmithing also done. Come up to Harvey's old stand near Mr. Haggart's mills where you can get an axe guaranteed to cut hemlock knots and hickory bark.
George was married to Mary Neilson, the daughter of Reverend Johnston Neilson, on 23 November 1849, at Bathurst. They were the parents of seven children:
The oldest, Isaac, was born in 1851 (about) and died in 1879 in Colorado. Perth Courier, April 25, 1879: "Corry - Died at Malta, Lake County, Colorado, on the 12th April, formerly of Perth, aged 27. The death of Mr. Isaac Corry, eldest son of Mr. George Corry of Perth, is announced in Colorado. He had been employed there working in the mines."
The second, Annie Jane Corry was born about 1854 and married to Henry Joseph Duffield in 1874. They had three children (George F., May Estella, and Henry Corry Duffield). Annie died in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 1892, at the age of 38.
Next was Caroline Hutchinson Gray Corry, born in 1856 and married to Francis John Allan in 1880. They were the parents of five children (George William, Robert Neilson, Clara, Caroline Florence and Francis Maud). Like her older sister, Caroline and family left Ontario and settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba Province. Caroline died in Winnipeg in 1933.
George’s fourth child, James, was born and died in 1860, in Perth.
The fifth child was George, born at Perth in 1862. He died from a drowning accident in 1890. Perth Courier, October 3, 1890: "Corry - Drowned in the River Tay, Perth, on Wed., 24th Sept. George Corry, Jr., son of Mr. George Corry, aged 28. On Wednesday of last week, George Corry, Jr., went down to the river to shoot ducks. The boat in which he trusted himself was a small "monitor" almost 8 feet long and about 2 1/2 feet wide at the top, sloping to a very narrow width at the bottom, a very small and dangerous craft. He did not reach home that night as expected but as he was accustomed to stay some times down the river, this did not cause a great deal of apprehension. However, on Saturday, someone found his canoe with a broken paddle and a dead duck in it but could not see or find the owner. Search was made that day and his coat and hat found near that locality. It was continued on Sunday afternoon when the searchers in the canal barge [found] the body in the canal. The funeral took place to Elmwood Cemetery on Tuesday. The deceased was 28 years old. His affected parents in their bereavement have the sympathy of the entire community."
The sixth child, Robert, was born in 1865 in Perth and died in 1885 at Batouche, Saskatchewan Province, in the Riel Rebellion of 1885.
The last child, Minnie, was born in 1868.
George was a trustee of the Baptist Church in Perth. He died 16 November 1907, at Perth. His wife, Mary, had died nearly seven years earlier, 27 March 1900.

George Corry and Margaret Cole Family

After the our Corry Book was published, we found correct birth records for the children of George Corry and Margaret Cole. The records at the beginning of the Corry Book are the early records which were just estimates. Here are the dates for the family of George Corry and Margaret Cole as found in the St. James, Westminster Parish register records. George and Margaret were married
2 September 1790

1. William Henry Corry, October 1796. No further information
2. Isaac Corry, 31 January 1800 - 15 August 1881
3. Thomas Corry, 2 January 1802 - 26 March 1863
4. Charlotte Corry (McLellan), 21 August 1804 - 28 February 1859
5. George Corry, 25 October 1807 - 28 April 1875
6. Henry Corry, 22 April 1810 - no death date, but by the 1880 Census, his wife was a widow.
(Henry's entry in the Parish Records is a little suspect, but I think it is our Henry. The entry lists the father as Henry Corry and the mother as Margaret Cole. I feel that the person making the record mistakenly put Henry as the father's name (which would be reasonable since the child's name is Henry) rather than the correct name of George. There is no other birth entry for Henry Corry in the records and no other record with Henry Corry and Margaret Cole--they are all George Corry and Margaret Cole.
7. Charles Corry, 1812 (christened 17 April 1814). Charles is listed with the family in the 1819 military settlement census in Bathurst, Lanark, Ontario, after the family immigrated to Canada, but that is the last we can find of him.

Our Corry Relatives (continued)

In 2007, we began a history of the descendants of Great Great Great Grandparents, (speaking from my perspective), George Corry and Margaret Cole beginning with William Henry Corry. As noted, the only information so far is William’s birth in October 1796, as recorded in the St. James Parish, Westminster, London, England records. We have found no record of William with his family in Canada. Next came a history of Isaac, second son of George and Margaret followed by a history of Isaac and Jean (Ritchie)’s oldest son, John Corry/Korry (third generation).
To continue with the third generation, Isaac and Jean’s next child is Margaret, born in February 1823 (taken from a hand-written birth record). We have found no other information on Margaret and she is not mentioned in her father’s will.
Janet Corry is the next child of Isaac and Jean. She was born 6 January 1825 (according to the 1901 Census record) in Bathurst, Lanark County, Ontario. She was married to Archibald Forde who was born in Ireland. They were the parents of one daughter, Jessie Forde, who was born about 1865. Archibald and Janet remained in the area of Perth, Lanark County, Ontario, all their lives. Archibald was a carpenter and they belonged to the Brethren religion. Father Isaac lived with Archibald and Janet during his last years until his death in 1881. Archibald died 14 April 1906 at Perth and Janet died a year later, 7 May 1907 at Perth. In his will, Isaac left $500 to Janet and the following:
“To my said daughter, Janet Ford, I further give, devise and bequeath all the
rest and residue of my estate, real and personal, not herein otherwise disposed
of and I intend this bequest to be in satisfaction of any claim she or her
husband may have against me at my death for keeping and taking care of me up to
that time.”
Jessie, the only child of Archibald and Janet, was married in 1887 to John Devlin. John died eight months later in June 1888. Four months after his death, Jessie gave birth to their son, John Archibald Devlin, in October 1888. The baby lived only a few months and died 5 January 1889. At the age of twenty-two, Jessie was a widow and had buried her only child.

George Corry (1807-1875) and Margaret Climie (1814-1875)

GEORGE CORRY 1807 - 1875
George Corry was born 25 October 1807, in St. James Parish, City of Westminster, London, England, a son of George Corry and Margaret Cole.
His father served as a private in the First Regiment of Life Guards. George was the fifth child of seven children in the family. He had five brothers and one sister: (William Henry, Isaac, Thomas, Charlotte, Henry and Charles). The family emigrated to Canada in 1817. They settled in the Bathurst, Lanark County area and later moved to the Plympton, Lambton County area of Upper Canada (now Ontario).
George inherited 100 acres of land through a grant to his father. George was married on 26 January 1838, to Margaret Climie. The marriage was performed at Sarnia, Lambton, Upper Canada, by George Watson, the Baptist Elder of Sarnia. Both George and Margaret were residents of Plympton at the time.
George and Margaret were the parents of twelve children: Janet (1838), Charlotte (1840), Margaret (1841), George (1843), Elizabeth (1845), Andrew (1846), Mary Jane (1848), William Henry (1850), Hyrum (1852), Rachel (1855), Moroni (1857), and Harriet Jane (1859). Charlotte, Margaret, George, Elizabeth, and Moroni all died in childhood.
George and Margaret were taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in 1843 and 1844 respectively, were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1846, George and Margaret and their family sold their land in Plympton and left Canada eventually arriving in southern Utah and settling in Cedar City.
George and Margaret lived in Cedar City until they died. They both died on 28 April 1875, (the 29th birthday of their son, Andrew) at Cedar City, Utah. Their son, Andrew, tells of a vision about the deaths of his parents: "Father was ill at the time. It was about three months before their deaths. I saw them both die about one hour and ten minutes apart. When mother was ill, they expected her to die any minute. It was about four o'clock in the morning. She was very bad. I told them they wouldn't die until ten o'clock, and the folks thought I was crazy. When ten o'clock came, they were still alive. I wondered if I had been deceived in my dream, but it flashed on me that it was at night, so I went in and told them it wouldn't be until night. They thought I was out of my mind, for they were both very bad. They lived until ten o'clock that night.

Letter from Isaac Corry (Perth, Ontario, Canada) to his brother, George Corry (Cedar City, Iron, Utah)

Perth, January 25, 1870
Dear Brother,
I had long since thought that you had ceased to exist on the earth untill a few days past; my son George fel in with a man named John Barriman who appears to be a leader of Mormonism and he learned from him that you still live and is enjoying good health. It revives my heart to know that you and your wife are still living.
I have had a good many ups and downs in the world since we parted. My wife died between ten and 11 years since. I have also bueried my oldest daughter and four sones. The rest of my family are setteled in the world. One sone, my oldest, John*, is a mill owner and lumber dealer up at the foot of bob's lake at Dr toms rapids. George, my next eldest, has tryed a good many things. He learned the ax making and general blacksmithing with McAtheron of Perth who has long since been called to his last home. My youngest sone, Henry, is setteled in Minisota where I moved to shortly after Jane's death. Three of my sones are bureried there. I bought a farm there and could have made money there had it not been for the homicidal War that arose between the northeren and southeren States which put all our buisness and calculations into confusion. I have now sold all my property there to Henry and am retired from the Buisness of the world and am living with my oldest daughter, Janet, who is married to Archibald Foord, a carpenter.
Old age is making me loock quite hory and gray. I have been a great deal troubeled with rumatisms. Sometimes I feal quite strong and hardy and think that I would like to have a small farm here and would be able to work it.
There has bean a great many changes in the old neighbourhood where we used to live. Principally all the old residents have been consigned to mother earth. Sister Sharlot died about thirteen since. Sam is living yet and is quite hardy and smart. His family are all grown up. He is now postmaster on his old homestead. There is quite a buisness up at gravely bay at the foot of Christies lake where they have erected a large factory for extracting the juice from hemlock bark. They consume about ten thousand coards of bark in the year and about 2 thousand coards of fire wood in the year. The juice of the bark is sent to ingland and other foreign markets for tanning purposes. George Gray is still able to toddle around but is getting very frail. Martin Condrad is still alive. His wife is dead a number of years. Nichold Smith Stillard and David Calso are all dead. Old Mr. Russell is dead. His sone, Austin, lives on the old homestead. Peter Conne... moved away to Iowa. George Farrell is still alive and is a good shot yet. Keeps his hounds and kills a few dier every fall. I do not know of any more news that would interest you. Perth is always a dull place although there has bean a great many improvements since you left. We have a railroad called the Brockville and Ottowa railroad that comes into Perth and then branches of up the Ottowa. Sawed lumber is quite a traffick in this country. There is about 7 million feet leaves Perth anually at a valuation of about 11 dollars a thousand which goes principally to the United States markets.
I suppose that you will be aware that Brother Thomas died some years since in Iowa.
Please write to me at as early a date as you can make convenient. It seams although I could hardly beleive that you are alive untill I hear direct from yourself and beleive me your loving Brother longing to hear from you.
Isaac Corry
*John Corry, a successful mill owner and operator, changed the spelling to Korry because it was easier to carve a "K" into the logs than a "C". Read his story in THE DAMMED LAKES, by Lloyd B. Jones, Box 194, Stirling, Ontario.

MARGARET CLIMIE CORRY
1814 - 1875

Margaret was born 11 November 1814 in Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, Scotland, the seventh of nine children of Andrew Climie and Janet Turnbull. Her brothers and sisters are: Andrew (1801), Janet (1803), Robert (1805), Thomas (1807), Hugh (1810), William (1813), William (1818) and Bothia (Elizabeth) (1821). Margaret's father, Andrew, was a weaver by occupation.
In 1821, when Margaret was about six years old, her family emigrated to Canada. They settled first in Dalhousie Township in Lanark County, Upper Canada (now Ontario). The acreage was unfit for cultivation; as a result, about fourteen years after arriving in Canada, they moved, in 1835, to Plympton, Lambton, Upper Canada.
On 26 January 1838, she was married to George Corry, also of Plympton.
Margaret, with her husband, George, was taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ by missionaries serving in the area of Plympton. She was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 8 May 1844.
Margaret and George were the parents of twelve children: Janet (1838), Charlotte (1840), Margaret (1841), George (1843), Elizabeth (1845), Andrew (1846), Mary Jane (1848), William Henry (1850), Hyrum (1852), Rachel Maria (1855), Moroni (1857) and Harriet Jane (1859). Charlotte died when only two days old. Margaret and George died at Winter Quarters, Nebraska, in 1846 at ages five and three, respectively. Elizabeth died when two days old.
George and Margaret left Canada with other members of the church and gathered with the Saints in Nauvoo, Illinois. On their journey from Plympton to Nauvoo, their sixth child, Andrew, was born in their wagon (in the middle of the river) as they crossed the Fox River in Illinois. This was 28 April 1846. They were in Nauvoo only a short time when they, with the other Saints, were driven from the area by local mobs. They left Nauvoo in May 1846, crossed the Mississippi River and Iowa to Winter Quarters, Nebraska, where they settled for about one year. Two of their children (Margaret and George) died while they were at Winter Quarters. They crossed the plains to Utah in the summer of 1847, departing on 17 June 1847, and arriving on 19 September 1847. They were members of the Archibald Gardner Company. By the time they began their journey across the plains, Margaret had given birth to six children but only Janet (age 8) and Andrew (age 1) were still alive.
After arriving in Utah they settled in Salt Lake City for a short time. Their seventh child, Mary Jane, was born on 29 April 1848. She was one of the first five children to be born in the Salt Lake Valley after the arrival of the Saints to that area. In 1850, the family moved to Provo where William Henry was born on 30 July 1950. They lived in Provo until 1853 at which time they went south to Cedar City where they settled permanently.
Margaret died on 28 April 1875, at Cedar City, Iron, Utah. Her husband, George, also passed away on that day.

Corry Honey

 We found this last lone jar of Corry honey some months ago in the Beckstrand home in Bountiful down in the corner of the dark storeroom. Mark finished off the last of it a few days ago and declared it to be the BEST HONEY. Perhaps it truely is the end of this era unless some of you have another jar in the corner of your dark storeroom.

Corry Family-1968

 This is a little different view, with a few new folks in the picture

Some Corry Family Members

 This was probably taken in about 1968, perhaps at the occasion of Grandma Abish Jones Corry's funeral, September 1968, in Cedar City.

Recent Discoveries

After several years of trying to find more information concerning Henry Corry (younger brother of my/our Great Great Grandfather George Corry (Margaret Climie), I recently found information on Henry and Louisa's daughter, Charlotte Corry--her husband and children and a Picassa album online which contains her picture.
A week or so later, I found Henry's widow, Louisa Austin Corry, in the 1880 Census along with two more children who had not been previously identified. Henry had died by that time, but more research has identified several "new Corry cousins."
Henry's family, according to the 1860 Census, included his wife, Louisa, and five chldren: William H., Charlotte, Maria, Hannah and Mary. The 1880 Census showed Louisa as a widow with two more children: Emma and Frederick.

Attached here are two obituaries. One is for Hannah Corry Herrick, Henry and Louisa's daughter. The other is Vernon Halbert Corry, grandson of Henry and Louisa and son of Frederick.
Death notice in Saginaw Daily News, 22 February 1932: Hannah Herrick, died February 1932 in Owosso, Michigan. Chesnaning resident. 76 years old.
"Chesaning--Mrs. Hannah Herrick, 76, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C. J. Weisenberg, of Owosso, following a stroke a week ago. Mrs. Herrick was born May 8, 1856. She came to Chesaning when 16 years old. Funeral services were held at the Walker funeral home Monday [or Sunday] afternoon. Rev. Ray Birdsall of ?land officiating. Burial was in Wildwood Cemetery. She is survived by her daughter, two sons, Ray of Chesaning and Frank of Flint, and one sister, Mrs. Emma ? of Jacksonville, Florida.
Obituary from Saginaw Times
"Corry, Vernon H., Saginaw, Michigan. Passed away at Veterans Administration Hospital early Wednesday morning, July 14, 1976. Age 82 years. He was born May 29, 1894, in Riverdale, Michigan and came to Saginaw in 1922. He served overseas in the United States Army during World War I. He was employed by Standard Oil Co., here for 30 years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and a life member of Pioneer Lodge No.79 F&AM. He married Ann Clark June 23, 1923. She survives him. He also leaves two sons, Sherwood Corry, Chicago, Illinois; Bruce Corry, Saginaw; six grandchildren. Funeral service will take place 2:00 p.m. Friday at the Case Chapel, 409 Adams St., Rev. Harold Kaser will officiate with burial in Roselawn Memorial Gardens.

September 1--Birthday of Abish Jones Corry and Ruth Corry Urie

ABISH JONES CORRY
1884 - 1968
Abish was born on 1 September 1884, in Cedar City, Iron, Utah, a daughter of Uriah Treharne and Mary Alice Higbee Jones. She was the oldest of seven children (Alma Treharne--1887; Irene--1889; Mary Malicent--1891-1897; U Ashton--1893; Zelma--1895; and Emron H--1898). Her parents were living at the home of her Grandmother, Sage Treharne Jones, and she was probably born in that home. The family lived in that home for four years. Ed Ashton and his wife, Cora, and their baby, Dolly, joined the Jones household while they were "on the underground" (hiding during the polygamy years). Dolly was a second cousin to Abish and they became very close, almost like sisters. Ed Ashton was an excellent builder and bricklayer and he built a house for Uriah's family to which they moved just before Abish's brother, Alma Treharne, was born (23 January 1887). In July 1889, after Abish's sister, Irene, was born, the family moved back to Grandmother Sage Treharne Jones' home. In July 1891, three months after her sister, Mary Malicent, was born, the family went up on Cedar Mountain with Aunt Tury and her family. They carried on the activities of a dairy--milking cows and making butter and cheese. It was a lot of fun for Abbie and her brother and sisters. There was always a clear cold spring of water. Abish was eight years old when her father, Uriah, was sustained as president of the Parowan Stake.
In her own words, Abish tells about her first day at school: "The first day I went to school, I felt bad because I couldn't read and I stayed in at recess to get the teacher to show me how to read and write. Most of the children went out to play. I found out that you can't learn that quick. My Mother and Father helped me a little at home, but I expected to learn faster."
She wrote of another experience: "One day the Indians came to our place to beg for some bread. Mother was holding [my younger sister] and the squaw remarked how pretty she was and asked Mother for her. Well, we all began to cry thinking she was really going to take her but Mother told her no and so they said no more and we felt better."
During the school year of 1894-95, Brother and Sister Warner stayed with Abbie's family. Brother Warner was a teacher at the public school in Cedar City. Abbie was eleven years old at this time. In a letter written in 1896 to Abbie's mother Mary Alice (after the Warners had moved from Cedar City), Sister Warner wrote about Abbie: "There is Abish--a sweet, pure-minded girl. I hope she is progressing in her studies. Often Brother Warner tells me of what a rare intellect she has and he says, 'my, but she will be a smart woman if she continues in her studies as she did in my school.'"
The general authorities would stay at Uriah and Mary Alice's home so Abbie and her brothers and sisters would always be very busy cleaning the house from top to bottom. President Lorenzo Snow stayed with them after he had made known his special "Tithing Revelation" to the saints in St. George, on his return trip to Salt Lake City.
When Abbie was fourteen years old she had her hair curled with a curling iron by her Aunt Millie Higbee. They had wonderful canyon outings at the canyon in the summer and skating trips to "eight mile" in the winter in the white-topped, horse-drawn "station wagon" with two seats all filled and kids sitting in the back with their legs hanging down. One trip was made to Navajo Lake.
On 24 July 1897 when Abbie was thirteen years old, she went [to Salt Lake City] with her father to the great celebration commemorating the arrival of the pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley. President Wilford Woodruff took a prominent part in the events. Abbie marched in the parade with her Salt Lake cousins. They were dressed in light summer dresses and they all carried Japanese parasols which were spoiled when it rained at the end of the parade.
Abbie attended the schools in Cedar City up through the Branch Normal School. After finishing at the BNS, she attended two years at the University of Utah and lived with Aunt Cora Ashton. She graduated from the University of Utah on 8 June 1905. Her father didn't believe in his children dressing extravagantly so Abbie went to school with one or two skirts and two blouses. They were made of fine material, but she had to make them do by washing and ironing them often.
Abbie had earned a teaching certificate but she never taught school. She worked at the bank. The Jones family lived next to the Corry family on 100 West for a number of years. When Elias Moroni Corry went on his mission to California, Abbie and some of her friends decided to write to different missionaries. Abbie wrote to Lyle (Elias) and they dated when he returned from his mission. Abbie said that Lyle took her for granted and at one dance he didn't take her--just expected he'd see her there and take her home. Abbie decided differently, so she told him she wouldn't go home with him since he didn't ask her to go to the dance. She avoided him for awhile and it finally awakened him to the fact that he should do something about it. They had a talk, became serious and were married in the Salt Lake Temple on 6 June 1907. They moved into the Uriah Treharne Jones home on 100 West Hoover Avenue in Cedar City which they bought for $1,500.
Lyle was assistant cashier at the bank. They took in boarders, mostly young women who were attending college in Cedar City. Abbie cooked on a coal or wood burning stove which also furnished heat for the kitchen and part of the room next to it.
Their first child, Virginia, was born 16 April 1908, at home. Next came Elwood on 4 March 1911; Elma on 18 November 1913; Inez on 3 June 1917; Ruth, 1 September 1919 (born on Abbie's birthday); and Beth, 6 February 1922. All these children were born at home with Dr. Menzies MacFarland as the attending physician. The older children were waiting upstairs when Beth was born. After the birth, the doctor came upstairs and asked the children if they would like to trade their new baby sister for his new baby boy (he and Mrs. MacFarlane had all boys). The reply was an emphatic "No".
Abbie did the washing with a scrubbing board and had to boil some of the clothes to get them clean. The ironing was done with a heavy iron that was heated on the stove.
Lyle and Abbie decided to build a new home. The plans were made by a man from Salt Lake City. The family moved into the new home before Melvin was born on 15 March 1924. He was born in the new home. The last child, Lloyd, was born 13 August 1928. [Editor's note: I seem to remember my mother saying that Lloyd was the only child born in a hospital.]
The new home was next door to Grandpa Uriah and Grandma Mary Alice Jones' home. Abbie appreciated the conveniences in the new home--electric stove, furnace for heat, etc. The old coal stove was put in the basement in the laundry room. Abbie suffered from arthritis which made it very difficult for her to do as much as she wanted. She was able to drive the car which she enjoyed. She had to have her teeth removed and had false teeth when she was in her twenties. She said that her bad teeth were probably what caused the arthritis to afflict her so early. She didn't complain of these handicaps. She played the piano when the family lived in the old home on First West, but as the arthritis became worse, she had difficulty in playing. Many times she would have to rock back and forth on the bed in order to stand up.
Abish served as second counselor in the Parowan Stake Primary and was released on 25 November 1928.
She was always busy and she taught her children the importance of work. The girls always had certain jobs to do. They divided up and two would do the kitchen work--meals, dishes, cleaning cupboards, etc. and the other two or three would clean the other parts of the house. They also learned to preserve fruits and vegetables.
Her daughter, Inez, remembers that Abbie came to Bountiful (where Inez and her family lived) to stay and help when each of her children--Corry, Eric and Kathy--were born. She was always willing to help when asked even though it was difficult for her.
In her later years, Abbie broke her hip (the first time was 1953) twice and had to have one eye removed with a glass-eye replacement. Staying at home alone became too difficult so she would travel to Bountiful to stay with Inez and Sterling and family for a month and then with Elma and Orrin and family for a month--back and forth each month. Sometimes she would spend time in Cedar City where Ruth and Scott and Elwood and Iris were able to help with her care. During the last several years, however, it became too difficult to travel to Cedar City so she remained in Bountiful at the two homes. She died on 15 September 1968, at Elma and Orrin's home in Bountiful, Davis County, Utah.
Abbie's daughter, Elma, wrote the following shortly after (October 1968) Abish passed away.
"It is sixteen years ago this year since we moved to Bountiful and it was the summer after we moved here that Mother broke her hip the first time. Mother had a strong constitution and determination to do things for herself. She recovered from the first break and then she had her left eye removed and replaced with a plastic one. A year or so after, she had another break on the other hip. She recovered from this and was able to get around fairly well considering her age and her arthritis.
She spent the last sixteen years with her children and grandchildren in Cedar City and Bountiful. We all learned to appreciate her more and love her.
"Mother had a good appetite most of the time, but about the last couple of years I don't think her body absorbed much of what she ate. At times when she liked some food especially, she always remarked how much she enjoyed it. She whistled and hummed songs quite often--even in this last year she would hum or whistle."
Another daughter, Inez, wrote the following a couple of months after Abish passed away:
"We never remember her complaining about her trials. She always kept wanting to be active and useful and independent. After her hip was broken, both times, she wanted to help with the dishes. We would put the dishes in a pan by the wheelchair and she would wipe them and put them on the table. We got an adjustable ironing board and a small light-weight iron so she could help with the ironing. She would get up out of the wheelchair and push it from behind to exercise her legs before they became too weak. She would go back and forth and then would have to rest.
"Another thing she did was to tell the children stories and poems when they were younger. She could be quite dramatic. She always kept up with current events and seemed to get a lot of enjoyment in discussing things with the family. Also, she would always help the children in learning to use the correct English. She would correct them kindly when they used the wrong parts of speech.
"I think we learned more about patience and endurance from Mother than we could have any other way--and our love for each other also deepened by having the experience and privilege of taking care of her.@
A cousin, Margaret Harmon, said what a beautiful woman Abbie was.
Abbie's brother, Alma Treharne, wrote the following:
"She [Abish] was a wonderful woman and raised a wonderful family. She was always so kind, gentle and understanding, yet firm enough to mold her children's lives to become fine men and women.

RUTH CORRY URIE
1919 - 1990

Ruth was born on 1 September 1919, in Cedar City, Iron, Utah, a daughter of Elias Moroni and Abish Jones Corry. She was the fifth child and fourth daughter.
Her father, Elias Moroni wrote the following about Ruth in August 1932 (he was serving as Bishop of the Cedar West Ward at the time and she was a few weeks from age thirteen): "Our next, Ruth, a beautiful girl full of purity and promise; a blessing to our home and to society, and one worthy of one of God's most noble sons, and whose success is assured if given the proper help from her parents."
Ruth was afflicted with Bright's Disease (nephritis--kidney disease) when she was in seventh grade. She had to miss school because of illness and wasn't able to graduate from high school with her class. She had surgeries at different times because of her illness and went to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to stay with Virginia and Bill for a time because the warmer climate was beneficial.
Ruth married Scott Maine Urie on 23 December 1950. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on 20 January 1956. Scott spent five years on active duty during World War II and also served for three years during the Korean War. He was a partner in an auto repair shop with Richard Stucki--U&S Motor Company. He served for seventeen years in the Southern Indian Mission and was branch president over nine branches in Southern Utah, Southern Nevada and Western Arizona. He also served as first counselor in the Duck Creek Branch presidency.
Ruth was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served as secretary of the Southern Regional Indian Mission for seventeen years. She was a temple ordinance worker in the St. George Temple. Ruth was a talented musician--vocalist, pianist and organist and also played the violin. She served as organist for all the church auxiliaries.
She worked closely with Scott in their business, U&S Motor Company, serving as secretary. Ruth and Scott were the organizers and the enthusiasm behind the "Corry Reunion" which is held yearly at Navajo Lake and Duck Creek. They provided their cabin as a place for some family members to stay and also as the place for the annual talent show.
Ruth died in St. George, Washington, Utah, on 3 July 1990. She was buried in the Cedar City Cemetery.

History of Mary Clark Higbee (1833-1918)

Mary Clark Higbee, my great great grandmother, died in 1918 and so was known to some extent by four of our immediate ancestors, Virginia, Elwood, Elma and Inez.
She was born 22 November 1833, at Clark, Clinton County, Ohio, the daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Garner Clark. She was the fifth child in a family of thirteen children. No record is known of her early childhood except that she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with her family and eventually came West to Utah. Her older brothers, Joseph and Riley Garner Clark, joined the Mormon Battalion and so Mary was obliged to drive a team of oxen as the family crossed the plains. Her family came with the Heber C. Kimball Company, second division, which left Winter Quarters on 29 May 1848. After a trip without hardship, the family, except for Joseph and Riley, arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on 23 September 1848. Records indicate that the family settled in Provo where her father, Samuel Clark, made the first leather in Utah in 1849.
On 28 October 1853, Mary was married to John Mount Higbee in Provo, Utah. They were later sealed (11 November 1855) in the Salt Lake Endowment House. John and Mary came to Southern Utah where they had been called to help with the settlement of Cedar City. They were the parents of eleven children. Their first two sons, John Mount (1854) and Joseph Somers (1856), died in infancy--John Mount died at three weeks and Joseph Somers at eight months. Another son, Franklin
(1867)died at six months. Silas (1871) passed away at age sixteen. The seven children who lived to adulthood were: Rebecca Ann (1857), Samuel Alonzo (1859), Myron David (1861), Mary Alice (1863; my great grandmother), Isaac Clark (1865), May (1869), and Edward James (1873).
Mary assumed all the family responsibilities when her husband went to Arizona to live with his other family (second wife, Eunice Bladen and their children). This was a very difficult time in their lives as John was obliged to live in Arizona for twenty years and Mary was left to raise her family and manage their livestock and farming interests with the help of her older children. Her youngest son, Edward James, was only one and one-half years old when his father left for Arizona.
Mary was small of stature, with blue eyes, a sunny disposition and was fond of a good joke. She was aristocratic and very precise in manner. She was famous in her family for her sugar cookies and plum preserves. She was an interesting conversationalist. One granddaughter told that when she was young, she preferred visiting with Grandmother Higbee to almost anyone else. Mary moved gently when she walked and was a beautiful, smooth partner on the dance floor.
She was friendly with the Indians who came asking for food or how to cure one of their family members who was ill. Mary wore false teeth and one day, while talking with some of the Indians, she sneezed and her "store teeth" flew out of her mouth. The Indians vanished suddenly and that was the last seen of them for awhile.
Mary became a member of the Female Benevolent Society (now Relief Society) while they were living at the Old Fort. She later served in the presidency of the Cedar Ward Relief Society from 1868 to 1897.
Her parents, Samuel and Rebecca, spent a considerable part of their later lives at her home. Mother Rebecca passed away while living in Cedar City and is buried in the Cedar Cemetery.
Mary lived the last few years of her life at the home of one of her daughters. She enjoyed good health and was especially blessed the last few years with her eyesight improving sufficiently so that she could read, sew and do considerable close work without the aid of eye glasses which she had worn for so many years previously.
Mary Clark Higbee died 26 August 1918, at Cedar City. She is buried in the Cedar City Cemetery.
Obituary from the Iron County Record, 30 October 1918
Iron County Record, Cedar City, Iron Co., Utah, 30 August 1918, pp-1,8
Elderly Lady Called Home
Sister Mary Clark Higbee, at Ripe Age, is Summoned by the Angel of Death.
Sister Mary Clark Higbee, an old resident of this place, died Monday
night, August 26th, after a rather protracted illness. She was the widow of
the late John M. Higbee, and mother to a number of our prominent citizens,
including S. A., M.D., Isaac C. and Edward Higbee, and Mrs. U. T. Jones, and
Mrs. J. S. Woodbury.
Deceased was born in Ohio November 22, 1833, and came to Utah with the early
pioneers, going through all the hardships and trials of that period. In
crossing the plains, as a result of two of her brothers being called into the
Mormon Battalion, she was left to drive an ox team with the company.
Was married to John M. Higbee in the fall of 1853 at Provo and arrived in
Cedar City on her twentieth birthday.
Sister Higbee was the mother of 11 children, six of whom survive her, as do
also 30 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
She has always been a devoted member of the Church of Latter-day Saints and
was prominent in church work. For a number of years she was connected with the
presidency of the Relief Society and did much good in that organization.
Funeral services were held in the Tabernacle Wednesday, and was attended by
a large number of townspeople. Interment was made in the Cedar City cemetery.
(Sources: "Isaac Higbee and Sophia Somers Family Magazine" (1957). The History of Elias Moroni Cory and Abish Jones, Their Ancestors and Descendants (2002). "Iron County Record" (1918).

Passing of a Generation

Lloyd 1928-1967
Elma 1913-1985
Inez 1917-1989
Virginia 1908-1990
Ruth 1919-1990
Melvin 1924-1994
Elwood 1911-1998
Beth 1922-2010

Compiled by Cousin Kathie Marynik

The following are extracts from Saints Find the Place - A Day-By-Day Pioneer Experience - Winter Quarters to the Salt Lake Valley (1997) by David R. Crockett. Although no specific mention is made of the family of George Corry, Jr., except for their names in the listing of the second company of pioneers, it is hoped that this information provides an insight into their trek across the plains. -- KM


Saturday, June 5, 1847 - Winter Quarters, Nebraska:
Pioneers who would be part of the second company of Saints left the city of Winter Quarters to start the trek west, to follow the lead company to the mountains. Saints had to get 350 pounds of flour for each individual. They also had to take seed grain, farming implements, cooking utensils, etc. Some also would take along chickens or a pig.

Wednesday, June 9, 1847 - Elkhorn River, Nebraska:
Wagons started to arrive at the Elkhorn River. Men began work to build a raft to cross over the hundreds of wagons that would soon follow.

Saturday, June 12, 1847 - Winter Quarters, Nebraska:
More wagons left Winter Quarters to the mountain west. It soon started raining and shortly after that, one of the wagons broke its wagon tongue and had to be repaired. They traveled seven miles toward the Elkhorn River and camped with a company of fourteen wagons.

Sunday, June 13, 1847 - Winter Quarters, Nebraska:
More of the Saints continued to roll out of Winter Quarters to gather at the Elkhorn River and to organize for the next pioneer company departure. This huge company would consist of 1,561 people.
One family recorded their possessions at the start of the journey to be “one wagon, three yoke of oxen, two cows, one mare and colt, provisions for a year and a half, some seed grain, clothing, farming tools, etc.”

Monday, June 14, 1847 - Elkhorn River, Nebraska:
About 200 wagons were camped side by side as the second company of pioneers continued to gather. The men stayed very busy building rafts, crossing over wagons, building bridges and fires, and preparing for the long journey ahead.

Thursday, June 17, 1847 - Elkhorn River, Nebraska:
Included in the third Ten led by Archibald Gardner were “Andrew Correy, George Correy, Janet Correy, Margaret Clemmie Correy.”

Sunday, June 20, 1847 - On the Platte River, Nebraska:
The huge pioneer company did not move out. They were waiting for the arrival of the artillery. A guard was kept night and day over the cattle herds.

Tuesday, June 22, 1847 - On the Platte River, Nebraska:
The massive second pioneer company began to roll west along the Platte River. At 8 o'clock AM, the signal for starting was given by ringing of the Temple bell. They journeyed all day for about fifteen miles. They camped in their fifties and formed half moons by the river. They watered their cattle in the river by the light of the moon and then took them out to feed a while.

Thursday, June 24, 1847 - On the Platte River, Nebraska:
Trouble arose on the trail when two pioneers argued over passing rights. That evening, charges of disobedience were brought against the two men. It was decided that wagons would no longer travel more than two abreast along the trail.

Friday, June 25, 1847 - On the Platte River, Nebraska:
Timber was sometimes very scarce and hard to get. The wind and dust were “almost intolerable” as the pioneers traveled twelve miles during the day. The pioneer companies reached Loup Fork and camped on its bank for the evening near Looking Glass Creek. A midwife was sent back three or four miles to help deliver a baby. She returned to her camp at midnight.

Saturday, June 26, 1847 - On the Loup Fork, Nebraska:
The pioneer companies crossed over Looking Glass Creek on a bridge and traveled to Beaver Creek where they found many wild berries to eat. The roads were good, and the buffalo grass very short and dry. Suffocating dust flew in clouds. A five-year-old boy was kicked by an ox, fell beneath the wheel, and then run over by the wagon. [He died several weeks later and was buried in a shallow grave.]

Sunday, June 27, 1847 - On the Loup Fork, Nebraska:
The large second pioneer company rested on the Sabbath, but because Beaver Creek was so high, they spent time moving many wagons across the stream. A general meeting was held, and it was decided to take a sixty-five mile detour from the first pioneer company's trail. The waters of Loup Fork were much higher now than when the first company crossed.

Monday, June 28, 1847 - On the Loup Fork, Nebraska:
Some of the cattle started to fail from the hard journey, and some of the oxen started to get sick from "foul feet." More rest would need to be given to the animals. Wagons started to break down from being damaged while crossing the creeks. The main body continued on and crossed Indian Creek. As they neared the Pawnee Mission, caretakers visited the companies.

Tueaday, June 29 1847 - On the Loup Fork, Nebraska:
The pioneer companies passed by the deserted Pawnee mission and village, which was in ruins, having been burned by the Sioux the previous year. The roofs of the wigwams were round and covered with grass and earth. No Indians were seen but it was sensed that some were lurking about. A calf which had lagged behind came up with an arrow shot through its back.

Wednesday, June 30, 1847 - On the Loup Fork, Nebraska:
As the second pioneer company traveled up Loup Fork, they came upon deep ravines that were difficult to pass through. It was decided that it was time to cross over the river. A herd of antelopes was seen running in every direction.

Thursday, July 1, 1847 - On the Loup Fork, Nebraska:
The morning was cold and windy as the second pioneer company worked to cross over the more than 500 wagons belonging to the company. The river was about a half mile wide and shallow, but the bottoms were full of quicksand. They had to double the teams on the wagons. They traveled away from the river, then headed back to the Platte. A few buffalo were spotted for the first time.

Saturday, July 3, 1847 - Between Loup Fork and the Platte River, Nebraska:
The second company of pioneers again rejoined the trail created by Brigham Young's company
and camped on a stream within view of the Platte River. They traveled about fourteen miles. One man broke his arm during the night while wrestling.

Sunday, July 4, 1847 - Between Loup Fork and the Platte River, Nebraska:
It rained for awhile in the morning. The pioneers held a celebration to recognize Independence Day. A public meeting was held. The leaders asked the pioneers to work together and to be obedient. They were warned to not build large campfires that would attract the Pawnee Indians. It was decided that the companies travel separately, because it was impossible to feed and water so many people and animals in one place. They would have to start camping more spread out.

Monday, July 5, 1847 - On the Platte River, Nebraska:
One wagon broke down while crossing Wood River. The rest of the camp reached Grand Island and found a guide board left by the first pioneer company that read: “April 29th, 30th, 1847. Pioneers all well, short grass, rushes plenty, fine weather, watch Indians – 217 miles from Winter Quarters.”



Tuesday, July 6, 1847 - On the Platte River, Nebraska:
Across from Grand Island, two babies were born, delaying one company for a few hours. Some pioneers waded the river to get wood and brought it back on their backs.

Wednesday, July 7, 1847 - On the Platte River, Nebraska:
The second pioneer company traveled fifteen miles and found another guide board left by Brigham Young's group. It said that they had killed eleven buffalo. The companies passed by a
large prairie dog village. A wagon wheel ran over one pioneer’s foot, so he was unable to drive his team.

Thursday, July 8, 1847 - On the Platte River, Nebraska:
The pioneers found another buffalo skull with a message that Brigham Young's company had
written to them on May 4. Some wild or stray horses were spotted. They were caught and brought into the camp. The companies crossed over several steams and built bridges over some of them. Buffalo were again spotted.

Friday, July 9, 1847 - On the Platte River, Nebraska:
Another broken wagon delayed one company, but they later caught up on the banks of the Platte. Some of the men went on an unsuccessful buffalo hunt. Because the waters were high with more mud slues, the camp had to take a slightly different route than the first pioneer company. Several women washed in the river.

Saturday, July 10, 1847 - On the Platte River, Nebraska:
The second company of Saints traveled only about eight miles and camped early for the weekend near an island full of willows. Hunters were sent out hoping to kill some buffalo, but they came
back with only some antelope and deer. They were about 252 miles from Winter Quarters and about 700 miles behind Brigham Young's pioneer company at Sulphur Creek.

Sunday, July 11, 1847 - On the Platte River, Nebraska:
Hunters were sent out to hunt buffalo. Eight were later brought in. [Sunday hunting had been
prohibited in Brigham Young's company but had not yet been discouraged in this second pioneer
company.] A public Sabbath meeting was held at 1 PM. One woman who had been ill for six months died; the second death on the journey from Winter Quarters.
The women washed, ironed, and cooked, while the men repaired their wagons and let their teams rest and recruit. When all the companies came up, they would start on again.

Monday, July 12, 1847 - On the Platte River, Nebraska:
They traveled about twelve miles and camped. Many of the men were busy smoking buffalo meat. “The men fixed scaffolds out of willows and spread out the meat cut up in thin slices, and made fires underneath, as one side of the meat would get dry, they would turn it over, and by so doing, it became dry. They called it ‘jerk’ meat. We put it into sacks, and had enough to last us all through and it was the sweetest meat I ever tasted. The children grew fat on it.” They obtained wood by wading over the river to Grand Island.

Tuesday, July 13, 1847 - On the Platte River, Nebraska:
The second pioneer companies started the day's journey at 7 AM. They crossed trodden down buffalo paths that led from the bluffs to the river. [When the first pioneer company passed this location in May, they saw thousands of buffalo making their way to the river.]

Wednesday, July 14, 1847 - On the Platte River, Nebraska:
One company had difficulties and was delayed. During the night, their herd broke out of the yard and crushed two wagon wheels, killed a cow, broke off some horns, and broke the leg of a horse.
The pioneers arrived at the location where the first pioneer company camped on May 9, 1847.
[This was near present-day Brady, Nebraska]. They found the post, guide board, and box with a letter and history of the journey up to that point. The guide board stated that they were 300 miles from Winter Quarters. Several herds of buffalo were spotted, and hunters were successful in killing some for meat.


Thursday, July 15, 1847 - On the Platte River, Nebraska:
The companies had to travel over some sandy bluffs away from the river in order to avoid
swampy land. They camped at a spring of cold water. Because of problems with cattle, it was thought best to begin forming the wagon circles as companies of fifty rather than larger groups. Larger numbers of buffalo were beginning to be seen.

Friday, July 16, 1847 - On the North Platte River, Nebraska:
The second company traveled about twelve miles and saw thousands of buffalo. The grass
was very short, eaten by all the buffalo. After camp was established, a herd of buffalo ran into one of the camps among the oxen and cattle. One of the buffalo was shot in full view of the women and children.

Saturday, July 17, 1847 - On the North Platte River, Nebraska:
Patty Sessions wrote of this day: "I gather a few dry weeds, built a little fire on a buffalo dung, broiled some meat for my dinner, drank sweeten ginger and water. I have seen many thousands of buffalo today. One crossed our track just forward of us. We had a fair view of him."
Great joy was felt when the pioneers met some trappers heading east. They said they had met Brigham Young's pioneer company at South Pass. They also mentioned that several of the pioneers had been left at the North Platte river crossing and were operating a ferry. The trappers brought back letters from the pioneers.
As the pioneer companies were sleeping during the night, they were alarmed by the bellowing of a huge herd of buffalo on the other side of the river.

Sunday, July 18, 1847 - On the North Platte River, Nebraska:
At 11 AM, a public Sabbath meeting was held. Jedediah Grant's company, twenty miles behind, had lost 75 head of cattle two night earlier, and some men were sent out to help find them. The men were told to quit killing buffalo needlessly. At 4 PM, another meeting was held at which letters from the men at the Mormon Ferry were read. After the meeting, a baptismal service was held for many of the youth. Confirmations were given and many children were blessed.

Tuesday, July 20, 1847 - On the North Platte River, Nebraska:
The lost oxen could not be found, so it was ordered that other companies provide some oxen to be used as replacements. Large herds of buffalo could be seen on both sides of the river. The companies traveled on about twelve miles.

Wednesday, July 21, 1847 - On the North Platte River, Nebraska:
The second pioneer company traveled on, gazing on multitudes of buffalo. Some of the companies had to pass directly through the herd. "This is truly a land of buffaloes -- they are in sight all the time -- an almost innumerable herd of them came over the bluff today & seem'd about to cross our Camp on their path to the river -- our hunters met them & they chang'd their course, much to our
gratification." That evening, the cattle were very uneasy because of the sounds of the numerous buffalo.

Thursday, July 22, 1847 - On the North Platte River, Nebraska:
Dead carcasses of thirteen buffalo were spotted, indicating that there were probably Indians
nearby. At midday, the companies came in sight of 100 or 110 Indian lodges. “We were no sooner in camp at evening, than they came running on horseback to our camp, about 100 in number. Report rang through the camp that a body of Indians were coming with a Red Flag, but on near approach it proved to be the Stars and Stripes. They are of the Sioux nation -- the neatest and most cleanly Indians I ever saw. They were friendly; we gave them a feast of bread etc. After firing a cannon, the Indians retired to their lodges about 2 miles distance." These were the first Indians seen since leaving Winter Quarters.

Friday, July 23, 1847 - On the North Platte River, Nebraska:
It rained during the night and into the morning. The pioneer companies remained in their camps
while they waited for the Jedediah Grant hundred to catch up. The Indians again visited the camp in even larger numbers, including women and children. Trading took place for moccasins, buffalo robes, and other items. In the evening a feast and dance was held. The Indians would dance for the Saints, and then the Saints would return the compliment by playing violins, fifes, and drums. Cheers were heard throughout the camp. The pioneers fired two cannons, and soon all the Indians returned to their lodges.

Saturday, July 24, 1847 - On the North Platte River, Nebraska:
The second company of pioneers, unaware that their new home now had been found in Utah by Brigham Young’s company, left their camp at Cedar Bluffs and passed the Indian lodges which were on the other side of the river. Some of the men went over to their lodges and were kindly received and invited to dine, which they accepted. Their meal consisted of dried meal pounded. All the dishes which the Indians had were earth shells. Skins of beasts were used to carry water, corn, etc. This was a hunting party 200 or 300 strong, with a considerable number of horses for pack horses. Their tents or lodges were small and made of skins “gaily painted." Many of the Indians followed the companies as they traveled, still trying to make bargains with the pioneers.

Sunday, July 25, 1847 - On the North Platte River, Nebraska:
In the morning, the pioneers were excited about the arrival of Saints sent back by the first company. They held a meeting and read letters from Brigham Young and Willard Richards. Letters were then written to be taken to Winter Quarters. It was recommended that the companies start traveling in fifties. Some of the companies moved out in the evening.

Monday, July 26, 1847 - On the North Platte River, Nebraska:
With permission to travel in smaller groups of fifties, the companies were free to depart from
camp whenever they were ready. They ascended some sandy bluffs during the day, "the hardest sand hill we have found." Large numbers of Indians were seen traveling on the other side of the river. They had tents and baggage fastened to mules, horses, and on drays formed of tent poles drawn by horses, mules, and dogs. Covers for the baby Indians were made by fastening skins over bows which were fixed to the upper side of the drays.

Tuesday, July 27, 1847 - On the North Platte River, Nebraska:
The second company traveled about eighteen miles. Along the way they met another party of
Indians who were friendly to the pioneers. It commenced raining just as they stopped , leaving no time to cook supper. During the day, they traveled across from Ash Hollow which was still 650 miles from the Great Salt Lake Valley.

Wednesday, July 28, 1847 - On the North Platte River, Nebraska:
The pioneers reached Ancient Bluff Ruins, about 612 miles from the Great Salt Lake Valley. A violent thunder storm blew in. Sand came down from the hills covering the pioneers, animals, and wagons
with dust. At times, the wagon covers had to be held down to keep them from blowing off. On the other side of the river, the ground was all flooded.

Thursday, July 29, 1847 - On the North Platte River, Nebraska:
The first of the pioneer companies arrived across the river from Chimney Rock. They met a party of men on horseback returning from Oregon.

Friday, July 30, 1847 - On the North Platte River, Nebraska:
More of the companies passed by Chimney Rock. “The bluffs truly present views wildly magnificent.” The sun was scorching throughout the day, and the nights were cold. Some of the men climbed the heights and shot some mountain goats, an animal most had never seen before.

August 1-7, 1847 - Near Fort Laramie, Wyoming:
The company met General Kearny's detachment and had a happy reunion with the fourteen Mormon Battalion soldiers who were part of the detachment. They rested several days and repaired wagons. During the week, a mother of nine children died and was buried near the trail. "The body was wrap'd in a quilt & consign'd to its narrow home without a coffin. It truly seem'd a lonely grave."

August 8 - 14, 1847 - West of Fort Laramie, Wyoming:
The pioneers continued their journey through the Black Hills in Wyoming. "The country here is rugged enough -- diversified with scrubby pine, hemlock, cottonwood & very thinly scatter'd; with bluffs presenting the appearance of well fortified castles the inhabitant of which exclude themselves from our view, altho' 2 grizly bears have been seen.”
On Friday evening, young people met for a dance. However, some of the pioneers "intruded with much insolence" and had to be tried before a bishop's court on Saturday.

August 22-28, 1847 - Near Mormon Ferry and Independence Rock, Wyoming:
The "Big Company" of more than 1,500 pioneers continued their journey westward. They
traveled in groups of fifty families, spread over about fifty miles. The river was considerably shallower than when the first pioneer company ferried across. Some of the wagons had difficulty while crossing the river. As the pioneers moved away from the North Platte toward the Sweetwater, many of the oxen became sick from drinking alkaline water, causing some of them to die. Some of the pioneers reached Independence Rock where hundreds of names were painted or engraved.

September 5-11, 1847 - Near Big Sandy River, Wyoming:
Those traveling in the lead fifties continued their trek west. As they reached Hams Fork, many of the women gathered currants and bull berries. They crossed Green River, and by Saturday some of these pioneers reached Blacks Fork.

September 12-18, 1847 - Wyoming:
The company started their week's journey spread across a 115-mile stretch of the trail from the Continental Divide at Pacific Springs to Fort Bridger. "The ridges of mountains so distant that it seems like a prairie country. A few scattering trees to be seen." The next day: "The mountains very grand -- ridge rising after ridge in front of me -- the clouds sometimes obscuring the distant ridges." On Wednesday, the lead companies traveled through Echo Canyon. "It is very narrow, only room for the road on one side. The rocks several hundred feet high; in some places overhanging the road." By Saturday, the lead companies reached East Canyon, only four days away from the Great Salt Lake Valley.

September 19-25, 1847 - Utah and Wyoming:
The company started the week spread across an area from Green River in Wyoming, to East Canyon in Utah. On Wednesday, a dance was held at the home of a Frenchman near Fort Laramie. Many of the men and women of the pioneer company attended.
A number of the companies were being delayed because of lost cattle, broken wagons, and sickness. The companies were joyful when they met Joseph Young coming from the valley with teams to assist those in the rear.
Isaac C. Haight arrived at the fort in Great Salt Lake City on Wednesday. He wrote: "Our cattle worn out and all of us tired of traveling. The Fort contains 40 acres of land surrounded with houses made of sun-dried brick built after the Spanish fashion on three sides and with houses on the other. We went immediately to work to prepare to build us houses. The Fort, not being large enough to contain all the inhabitants, we had to enlarge it."
When companies entered the valley on Saturday, the men fired rifles and pistols in the air and shouted for joy.


[The George Corry, Jr. family is said to have arrived at the Great Salt Lake Valley on September 29, 1847. Unfortunately, there was no special note for that day.]