A Lucky Find!

Last semester, I was trying to document marriage records for the Merrill family. Unfortunately, marriage records were rarely kept in Utah before 1887, which was too late for my research subjects. However, I was able to find a book on familysearch.org titled, Marriages in Utah Territory 1850-1884 from the Deseret News 1850-1872 and the Elias Smith Journals 1850-1884. In this record, I found an entry for Elthura Merrill and Reuben Collet’s marriage. It reads, “At Smithfield, Cache Co., Jan. 7., 1861, by Bishop John G. Smith, Mr. REUBEN COLLETT and Miss ELTHURA R. MERRILL, all of that place.”[1]

I was not able to find anymore entries for the rest of the Merrill family; nevertheless, it was special to find Elthura in this book because she is my direct ancestor. 

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[1] Hansen, Judith W and Norman Lundberg. Marriages in Utah Territory 1850-1884 from the Deseret News 1850-1872 and the Elias Smith Journals 1850-1884. pg 40. familysearch. Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah Genealogical Association, 1998. (Online) https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE1039394&from=fhd: accessed April 7, 2015).

Photo Courtesy: familysearch.org, as contributed by Dale Clarence Hansen.

Orrin Jackson Merrill Podcast

This week, I had the opportunity to create a podcast. The podcast highlights Orrin Jackson Merrill and his early years in Utah. Orrin Jackson Merrill was the son of Samuel Bemis and Elizabeth Merrill and was born in Millcreek, Utah. 

The following information is in regards to the podcast music.

Composer: Luigi Boccherini

Work: String Quintet op 10 n 5 G269 Mvmt 3 Allegretto

Performed and Recorded by Jacques Lochet

Author: User: Quinbrid

Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BOCCHERINI_Op10n%C2%B05_G269_Mvt3_Allegretto_-_Jacques_Lochet_violin_and_synthesizer.ogg

The speaking in the podcast was a direct quote from:

"Orrin Jackson Merrill" By Geraldine Jacobs. Contributed by: Loni Hackworth. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [LDS}. Database. FamilySearch/FamilyTree https://familysearch.org/photos/stories/5289913: Accessed 26 March 2015.

Reuben Collett Affidavit

While I was working on a Google Alert assignment, I found several affidavits regarding Reuben Collett and his service during the Salmon River Expedition in 1868. I knew from his obituary that Reuben had been involved with the expedition; however, that was the extent of my knowledge. It was really intersting to find some official documents regarding his service. The following are some excerpts from one of the documents:

“Rubin Collett, being first duly sworn, upon his oath says: I am a resident of Smithfield, Cach County, Utah and have been such resident for 53 years last past, and am of 73 years of age. I served in the Salmon River Expedition Expedition under Capt Thomas Smith”

The document goes on to say, “This company was sent to settle the salmon river county and driven away by Indians”[1]

Click on the URL below to see the digital image of the record.

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[1] Cache County, Utah, Commissioner of Indian War Records, Indian War Affidavits, Box 1 Folder 13, Ruben Collett, 1907; 1908; 1909, Utah State Archives; Digital Image, archives.utah.gov, (http://images.archives.utah.gov/cdm/ref/collection/2217/id/16519: Accessed 5 October 2015).

Learning About Samuel Bemis Merrill through United States Censuses

              Samuel Bemis Merrill was born in New York State on January 4, 1814. He was an early member and pioneer of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and migrated to Utah in 1850. While doing an extensive search in the United States Census Collection, I discovered some interesting tidbits concerning Samuel Bemis. In the 1880 census, he suffered from Rheumatism and he was crippled as a result of that illness. I also discovered in the 1880 census that Samuel’s son and grandchildren lived with him and helped him with his farm.[1]

 Another interesting detail is that while I was searching in the 1870 Census I could not locate Samuel Bemis anywhere. Finally, I searched for his wife Elizabeth Gardner and found her and her children with a Thomas Merrill. Through analysis, I concluded that the census taker made a mistake and incorrectly recorded Samuel Bemis as Thomas.[2]

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[1] 1880 U.S. census, Smithfield, Cache County, Utah Territory, population schedule (1st enumeration), enumeration district (ED) 12, p. 209C (stamped), p. 12 (penned), family 110, Samuel B Merrill; digital image, Ancestry.com (http:www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 Feb 2015) citing National Archives microfilm publication T9 roll 1336.

[2] 1870 U.S. census, Smithfield, Cache County, Utah Territory, population schedule, p. 166 (stamped) front, dwelling 45, family 44, Thomas Merrill; digital image, Ancestry.com (http:www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 February 2015); citing National Archives microfilm publication M593, roll 1610.

Reuben Collett: A Life of Productivity

Reuben Collett was the husband of Elthura Merrill. He was born in England, and immigrated with his family to the United States after joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was a person larger than life, and played a huge role in settling the west. His life was one of productivity despite his personal handicaps caused by losing most of his arm in a threshing machine accident.  The following excerpts from his obituary summarizes him the best.

“Reub Collett’s life has been unusual in the scope of his pioneer activities, as this has extended into Idaho, Wyoming, and Arizona as well as Utah He has been a builder of homes and redeemer of pioneer conditions in all these states … In the summer of ’55, young Reub became one of the members of the “Salmon River” mission in Idaho passing thru all the thrilling details of this trying and exciting expedition, and from this time on to the end of his life was known and admired for his wonderful physical endurance and courage”[1]

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[1] "A Pioneer Gone to His Rest," Vernal Express, January 30, 1920, accessed April 7, 2015, Utah Digital Newspapers. (http://udn.lib.utah.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/vernal1/id/81527/show/81558/rec/5).

“So beautiful a Christian life”

 

                                                                                                            [1]

Elizabeth Merrill was an early Mormon pioneer who came with her husband Samuel Bemis and their children to Utah in 1850. Within a few years of moving to Utah, the Merrill family made Smithfield, Cache County, their home and lived there for many years. It was a real treat for me while I was researching Elizabeth to find such a beautiful memorialization of her.

“The Funeral services over the remains of Elizabeth Merrill, who died in Preston July 4th, at her son’s residence, Mr. Orrin Merrill, were held at the tabernacle Friday at 3 P.M. … The speakers were the Bishop of Preston, A.B. Chambers and Bishop Woodruff. They spoke of the sterling qualities and the lovable character of the deceased, and expressed the wish that so beautiful a Christian life would serve as a shining light leading the young people to a better life.”[2]

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[1] FamilySearch, as contributed by Joan Montgomery1

[2] "All the Smithfield News: What Was Done On The Fourth. What Will Be Done on the Twenty Fouth," The Logan Republican. 11 Jul. 1906, p8, col. 1: digital image, Newspapers.com. http://www.newspapers.com/image/79991459/?terms=cynthia+merrill+douglass+utah: accessed 18 March 2015)

                                                                                                                                              

Elthura Merrill Collett in the News!

[1]

Elthura Collett was the daughter of Samuel Bemis and Elizabeth Merrill. She married Reuben Collett and for a time, they lived in Uintah County, Utah. Elthura was mentioned in two newspaper articles describing her participation in Relief Society conferences. The following quotations are excerpts from two of those articles, one in 1900 and the other in 1906.

 “The stake conference of Relief Societies was held in the stake house, Saturday, March 10^th, 1900. Quite a large number of ladies belonging to the various societies were in attendance…President Sarah Pope made a few opening remarks, after which Bishop John N. Davis delivered quite a lengthy address He stated that not  only in the world, but among the saints, practices were being introduced that are an abomination in the sight of God. He counseled the members of the society to use their influence to have these practices cease among the Saints…Elthura Collett gave the report of the Merrill ward society she endorsed the remarks of Bishop Davis, and enlarged upon the necessity of living pure and upright lives.”[2]

“The regular quarterly conference of the Relief Society of the Uintah Stake of Zion was held at the stake house, at Vernal, Wednesday, February 21^st, 1906…Elthura Collett spoke upon the subject of prayer.”[3]

From these articles, it can be inferred that Elthura was a prominent figure in the Uintah community. The articles also demonstrate the importance of Relief Society and religion in her life.

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[1] Familysearch.org as contributed by Marvis F. Collett.

[2] "Relief Society Conference," Vernal Express, March 17, 1900, accessed April 7, 2015, Utah Digital Newspapers. (http://udn.lib.utah.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/vernal1/id/15444/show/15468/rec/3).

[3] "Relief Society Conference," Vernal Express, February 24, 1906, accessed April 7, 2015, Utah Digital Newspapers. (http://udn.lib.utah.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/vernal1/id/27210/show/27239/rec/4).