Monday, November 17, 2008
CORRECTION
If you read the post dated August 13, you would have read that Chauncey died January 1980. That is incorrect, he died January 9, 1870.
Friday, November 14, 2008
WE CAN DO THIS
Deadline December 1 to order new monument for Chauncey and his family gravesite. The balance is increasing, but we need more.
This is your opportunity to participate in a historic event. The beautiful monument that we will be dedicating on May 9, 2009 will be there for hundreds of years. You will be proud to tell your children and grandchildren that you contributed funds to have it done. As the descendants of such an important historical figure, we have an obligation to make sure his memorial is worthy of the great man he was.
This is your opportunity to participate in a historic event. The beautiful monument that we will be dedicating on May 9, 2009 will be there for hundreds of years. You will be proud to tell your children and grandchildren that you contributed funds to have it done. As the descendants of such an important historical figure, we have an obligation to make sure his memorial is worthy of the great man he was.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
NEED YOUR HELP
DONATIONS FOR NEW MONUMENT NEEDED NOW!
The Monument Fund balance is currently $4,888. We have several commitments to increase that to approximately $7,200. To order a duplicate monument will require an additional nearly five-thousand dollars. The latest date to order the original design is Dec. 1. (See earlier blog) If there is not $12,000 in the Fund account by that date, we will order a design consistent with the amount available. The dedication will be May 9, 2009.
We can be justly proud to be the posterity of Chauncey Walker West. This comparatively small effort on our part is something we can and should do. His surviving family members at the time of his death were very young and their financial situation precarious due to Chauncey's early death and the financial losses he had incurred in building 200 miles of grade for the Central Pacific Railroad which he had not been paid for. Surely, we can do as well as his survivors did. His posterity now number in the hundreds, if not thousands. Chauncey left nine widows and fifteen orphans. He was father to thirty-five children, fifteen of whom died as infants or young children and are buried in his plot.
The names of all donors to this worthy project will be recognized at the gravesite in a permanent way to be decided later. In years to come, when your descendants visit that grave and see the beautiful new monument, you will want them to know that you were among those who cared enough to help.
We need to know the names of all donors, so please send checks (made out to Chauncey W. West Monument Fund) to Norma W. Buchanan, 2155 Grant Avenue, #219, Ogden, UT 84401. Any questions call me at 801-393-4385 or email norma.buchanan@hotmail.com. If you have already deposited directly to America First Credit Union, please let me know your name, amount, and date by either email, "snailmail" or phone.
Thank you so very much.
The Monument Fund balance is currently $4,888. We have several commitments to increase that to approximately $7,200. To order a duplicate monument will require an additional nearly five-thousand dollars. The latest date to order the original design is Dec. 1. (See earlier blog) If there is not $12,000 in the Fund account by that date, we will order a design consistent with the amount available. The dedication will be May 9, 2009.
We can be justly proud to be the posterity of Chauncey Walker West. This comparatively small effort on our part is something we can and should do. His surviving family members at the time of his death were very young and their financial situation precarious due to Chauncey's early death and the financial losses he had incurred in building 200 miles of grade for the Central Pacific Railroad which he had not been paid for. Surely, we can do as well as his survivors did. His posterity now number in the hundreds, if not thousands. Chauncey left nine widows and fifteen orphans. He was father to thirty-five children, fifteen of whom died as infants or young children and are buried in his plot.
The names of all donors to this worthy project will be recognized at the gravesite in a permanent way to be decided later. In years to come, when your descendants visit that grave and see the beautiful new monument, you will want them to know that you were among those who cared enough to help.
We need to know the names of all donors, so please send checks (made out to Chauncey W. West Monument Fund) to Norma W. Buchanan, 2155 Grant Avenue, #219, Ogden, UT 84401. Any questions call me at 801-393-4385 or email norma.buchanan@hotmail.com. If you have already deposited directly to America First Credit Union, please let me know your name, amount, and date by either email, "snailmail" or phone.
Thank you so very much.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
PROGRESS BEING MADE
Those who attended the August 12th West family meeting are busy contacting all of their West relatives to invite them to participate in this wonderful project. In the process we are all discovering new relatives we didn't know we had. It is really exciting - and fun.
To those of you who were not able to attend the meeting, will you also please contact your family members and invite them to participate. If they do not have access to the internet please tell them about what a great man Chauncey West was and the great things he accomplished. We have a great heritage we can be proud to be a part of.
Give them information on how they can send a donation to help us replace Chauncey's grave monument. I would appreciate your sending me names, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers of those you contact so I can add them to our Chauncey Walker West Family master list.
Checks should be made out to: Chauncey W. West Monument Fund and sent to: America First Credit Union, P. O. Box 9199, Ogden, UT 84409.
Plans for a dedication and reunion on May 9, 2009 are in the process and the material for the monument will be ordered by mid-September of this year.
The new beautiful grave monument will be stand proudly for 200 years or more. You will want to be a part of it.
To those of you who were not able to attend the meeting, will you also please contact your family members and invite them to participate. If they do not have access to the internet please tell them about what a great man Chauncey West was and the great things he accomplished. We have a great heritage we can be proud to be a part of.
Give them information on how they can send a donation to help us replace Chauncey's grave monument. I would appreciate your sending me names, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers of those you contact so I can add them to our Chauncey Walker West Family master list.
Checks should be made out to: Chauncey W. West Monument Fund and sent to: America First Credit Union, P. O. Box 9199, Ogden, UT 84409.
Plans for a dedication and reunion on May 9, 2009 are in the process and the material for the monument will be ordered by mid-September of this year.
The new beautiful grave monument will be stand proudly for 200 years or more. You will want to be a part of it.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
New Grave Monument To Be Dedicated
A great meeting of some of Chauncey's descendants was held August 12, in Ogden. It was fun getting acquanted with family members and learning more about our ancestry.
A decision by those attending the meeting was made to complete the new grave monument and have the dedication reunion May 9, 2009 to coincide with the Golden Spike Monument celebration held yearly on May 10.
Those of you who read this message will probably be personally contacted and invited to particpate financially and to attend the dedication. If you are one who is not personally contacted, this is an invitation to do so. Send donations to Chauncey W. West Monument Fund at America First Credit Union, P.O. Box 9199, Ogden, UT 84409.
Now more about Chauncey Walker West:
Chauncey West was either an owner or partner in nearly every business venture in the new city of Ogden. He was called to be Bishop of Weber County. As such he was responsible for accounting for all of the tithing paid, nearly all in kind. He also was responsible to assist those in need and there were many.
In his son Joseph A. West's biographical sketch he described his father as "a business man…pre-eminently successful…; one of the most resourceful men in Utah, always abounding in enterprises that had for their primary purpose the profitable employment of his people. He was foremost in the building of canals, and wagon roads, and the first to develop the lumber industry by the building of saw mills in the mountains. He and Francis A. Hammond established a tannery, boot, shoe, saddle and harness manufactory in Ogden. He also conducted a mercantile business, a hotel, a livery stable, a blacksmith and wagon shop, a meat market and many other minor establishments. In connection with Joseph A. Young he erected what was then one of the largest and finest flouring mills in the Territory. He also engaged extensively in freighting and carried the surplus products of his people to distant markets. In all these enterprises employment was furnished to hundreds of his fellow-citizens.
When the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railways were being built, he and Ezra T. Benson and Lorin Farr took a contract to grade 200 miles of the latter road from Ogden west. It was in the prosecution of this work, undertaken under circumstances that made it Herculean in character, that Bishop Chauncey W. West's eventful life was brought to an early termination. He had been given immediate personal supervision of the work, which was being pushed with all the vigor that money and the competitive energy that the two companies could command. As the Union and Central Pacific forces neared each other, work was kept up night and day, and to add to the already high tension of affairs, the Union Pacific company advanced wages so as to draw off the working force of its competitor. This in turn had to be met by another raise on the part of the Central Pacific contractors, and thus they were placed at the mercy of their men who became masters of the situation instead of servants of those by whom they were employed.
It was under these circumstances of labor demoralization that the most expensive part of this work had to be done, and in consequence its cost was enormous, and far beyond the prices to be paid as specified in the contract. Governor Stanford, who was personally upon the ground and understood the situation fully, promised to make the contractors more than whole, if they would not slacken their efforts, but rush the work to completion with the utmost possible dispatch. This was done, but the promise wasn't fulfilled, and in consequence, the contractors were financially ruined. (Note: in Lorin Farr, Pioneer, written by Earl T. Pardoe has some information about a payment being made to Lorin Farr by Central Pacific long after his two partners died. I am not taking time right now to track that down)
Bishop West went to San Francisco to get a settlement with the Central Pacific Company, but died without accomplishing it. His health had been greatly impaired by the hardships and exposure to which he had been subjected in prosecuting this work, and the damp, foggy weather of the coast, coupled with his great anxiety to secure such a settlement as would enable him to discharge his obligations, proved too much for him. In his last moments his great anxiety was to prevent grief on the part of his family. "
Chauncey Walker West passed away on January 9, 1980. The Ogden Junction newspaper quoted Elder Charles W. Penrose: "Weber County has lost a man of great value, the Church on earth a bright light and a faithful and devoted minister, and the poor a generous and large hearted benefactor."
From my reading about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad, I learned that from the beginning to the end of that huge undertaking the men who created the companies that built it, were constantly on the alert for ways to benefit themselves financially. But, it didn't come easily at the beginning. During most of the actual building of the road, they constantly needed money to finance the project. After the railroads were built and started business they made millions. Chauncey West, his partners and the other LDS contractors were great and good men, which cannot be said of the railroad men - all of whom are dead now.
Also at that time in this country "Mormons" were considered expendable and the railroad owners, being unscrupulous and dishonest, took advantage of that situation. The Utah contractors on the contrary, were honest, and hard-working. In fact in every book I have read, the Utah workers accomplished the most work in less time, with less trouble and without all of the drunkenness and debauchery that followed the other railroad work gangs.
There are numerous stories told about Chauncey West in many books, journals, diaries, but there is no comprehensive history of his life. Fran Jensen, a descendant who works at the Salt Lake Family History Library will be collecting this material as the genealogist historian for the family organization. Everyone who has such information is invited to send a copy to her. She can be reached by Email franjensen@mac.com. She also has a blog with more information about Chauncey at http://www.chaunceywalkerwest.blogspot.com.
A decision by those attending the meeting was made to complete the new grave monument and have the dedication reunion May 9, 2009 to coincide with the Golden Spike Monument celebration held yearly on May 10.
Those of you who read this message will probably be personally contacted and invited to particpate financially and to attend the dedication. If you are one who is not personally contacted, this is an invitation to do so. Send donations to Chauncey W. West Monument Fund at America First Credit Union, P.O. Box 9199, Ogden, UT 84409.
Now more about Chauncey Walker West:
Chauncey West was either an owner or partner in nearly every business venture in the new city of Ogden. He was called to be Bishop of Weber County. As such he was responsible for accounting for all of the tithing paid, nearly all in kind. He also was responsible to assist those in need and there were many.
In his son Joseph A. West's biographical sketch he described his father as "a business man…pre-eminently successful…; one of the most resourceful men in Utah, always abounding in enterprises that had for their primary purpose the profitable employment of his people. He was foremost in the building of canals, and wagon roads, and the first to develop the lumber industry by the building of saw mills in the mountains. He and Francis A. Hammond established a tannery, boot, shoe, saddle and harness manufactory in Ogden. He also conducted a mercantile business, a hotel, a livery stable, a blacksmith and wagon shop, a meat market and many other minor establishments. In connection with Joseph A. Young he erected what was then one of the largest and finest flouring mills in the Territory. He also engaged extensively in freighting and carried the surplus products of his people to distant markets. In all these enterprises employment was furnished to hundreds of his fellow-citizens.
When the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railways were being built, he and Ezra T. Benson and Lorin Farr took a contract to grade 200 miles of the latter road from Ogden west. It was in the prosecution of this work, undertaken under circumstances that made it Herculean in character, that Bishop Chauncey W. West's eventful life was brought to an early termination. He had been given immediate personal supervision of the work, which was being pushed with all the vigor that money and the competitive energy that the two companies could command. As the Union and Central Pacific forces neared each other, work was kept up night and day, and to add to the already high tension of affairs, the Union Pacific company advanced wages so as to draw off the working force of its competitor. This in turn had to be met by another raise on the part of the Central Pacific contractors, and thus they were placed at the mercy of their men who became masters of the situation instead of servants of those by whom they were employed.
It was under these circumstances of labor demoralization that the most expensive part of this work had to be done, and in consequence its cost was enormous, and far beyond the prices to be paid as specified in the contract. Governor Stanford, who was personally upon the ground and understood the situation fully, promised to make the contractors more than whole, if they would not slacken their efforts, but rush the work to completion with the utmost possible dispatch. This was done, but the promise wasn't fulfilled, and in consequence, the contractors were financially ruined. (Note: in Lorin Farr, Pioneer, written by Earl T. Pardoe has some information about a payment being made to Lorin Farr by Central Pacific long after his two partners died. I am not taking time right now to track that down)
Bishop West went to San Francisco to get a settlement with the Central Pacific Company, but died without accomplishing it. His health had been greatly impaired by the hardships and exposure to which he had been subjected in prosecuting this work, and the damp, foggy weather of the coast, coupled with his great anxiety to secure such a settlement as would enable him to discharge his obligations, proved too much for him. In his last moments his great anxiety was to prevent grief on the part of his family. "
Chauncey Walker West passed away on January 9, 1980. The Ogden Junction newspaper quoted Elder Charles W. Penrose: "Weber County has lost a man of great value, the Church on earth a bright light and a faithful and devoted minister, and the poor a generous and large hearted benefactor."
From my reading about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad, I learned that from the beginning to the end of that huge undertaking the men who created the companies that built it, were constantly on the alert for ways to benefit themselves financially. But, it didn't come easily at the beginning. During most of the actual building of the road, they constantly needed money to finance the project. After the railroads were built and started business they made millions. Chauncey West, his partners and the other LDS contractors were great and good men, which cannot be said of the railroad men - all of whom are dead now.
Also at that time in this country "Mormons" were considered expendable and the railroad owners, being unscrupulous and dishonest, took advantage of that situation. The Utah contractors on the contrary, were honest, and hard-working. In fact in every book I have read, the Utah workers accomplished the most work in less time, with less trouble and without all of the drunkenness and debauchery that followed the other railroad work gangs.
There are numerous stories told about Chauncey West in many books, journals, diaries, but there is no comprehensive history of his life. Fran Jensen, a descendant who works at the Salt Lake Family History Library will be collecting this material as the genealogist historian for the family organization. Everyone who has such information is invited to send a copy to her. She can be reached by Email franjensen@mac.com. She also has a blog with more information about Chauncey at http://www.chaunceywalkerwest.blogspot.com.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Chauncey W. West Descendants Organization
Great opportunity to get acquainted with the history of your ancestors and meet living relatives.
AUGUST 12, 11:00 A.M., COLONIAL COURT APARTMENTS SOCIAL ROOM, 2155 GRANT AVENUE, OGDEN, UTAH.
If you have questions you may email me at norma.buchanan@hotmail.com.
AUGUST 12, 11:00 A.M., COLONIAL COURT APARTMENTS SOCIAL ROOM, 2155 GRANT AVENUE, OGDEN, UTAH.
If you have questions you may email me at norma.buchanan@hotmail.com.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
ADDENDUM
Meant to include in earlier blog the estimated cost of the monument from the Mark H. Bott Company of Ogden - "Cost to replace existing memorial: $12,307.00. Includes: Five (5) pice memorial with existing inscription, removal and discarding of existing foundation, dscarding of the old monument, and pouring a new foundation. Memorial is approximately 10' Tall."
SUMMERTIME
Who in the world came up with the idea "Summer time, and the livin' is easy?" Great song, but not so. Been so o o o busy. I know you are also. But, the monument replacement project is progressing.
Fund Current Balance: $1,638.65.
YOU ARE INVITED
What; Meeting to organize West Family
When: August 12, 2008, 11:00 A.M.
Where: Social Room of Colonial Court Apartments, 2155 Grant Avenue, Ogden, Utah.
If anyone would like a copy of the statement, or plan to attend the meeting please email me at norma.buchanan@hotmail.com
To refresh your memory of what we are going to replace here is a photo of the monument.
For those who are interested in the information on the monument I add the following: South side: JOHN & ADELIA WEST
HOAGLAND (their children) ALICE C. D 5 Jan 1866 A 9 Yrs.; MARY A. D 16 Jan 1865 A 7 Yrs.; QUINCY A. D 10 Feb 1865 A 7 ___(?)Ms.; ELIZABETH D 12 Aug 1866 6 (?)
North Side: Formed like open book with a quote too worn to read, but looks like script writing. Bottom right side of quote looks like I Thess. In bottom left corner looks like D&C
On 2nd piece engraving completely worn and unreadable.
3rd piece: CHAUNCEY W. WEST, Died 6th Jan 1870, Aged 42 Yrs. 11 Ms. 3 Ds.
MARY HOAGLAND, Consort, Died 27 Aug 1870, Aged 41 Yrs. 6 Ms. 16 Ds.
HOAGLAND (their children) ALICE C. D 5 Jan 1866 A 9 Yrs.; MARY A. D 16 Jan 1865 A 7 Yrs.; QUINCY A. D 10 Feb 1865 A 7 ___(?)Ms.; ELIZABETH D 12 Aug 1866 6 (?)
North Side: Formed like open book with a quote too worn to read, but looks like script writing. Bottom right side of quote looks like I Thess. In bottom left corner looks like D&C
On 2nd piece engraving completely worn and unreadable.
3rd piece: CHAUNCEY W. WEST, Died 6th Jan 1870, Aged 42 Yrs. 11 Ms. 3 Ds.
MARY HOAGLAND, Consort, Died 27 Aug 1870, Aged 41 Yrs. 6 Ms. 16 Ds.
JENETTE GIBSON, Consort, Died 1 Aug. 1865, Aged 25 Yrs. 3 Ms. 23 Ds.
4th piece (bottom) - WEST
East Side: All pieces blank except 4th piece (bottom) WEST
West side top piece
MARGARET WEST
DIED 1846 (error, was 1848)
CHAUNCEY W. WEST
DIED 1895 (error, was 1894)
AGED 46 YEARS (error 45)
2nd piece
"Children ……….C.W. WEST" (very worn)
3rd piece - (several unreadable dates I obtained from Joseph A. West's genealogy)
JOSEPHINE E., D. 27 Dec. 1862 A.5 Yrs.
SARAH E. D. 23 Feb. 1859 A. 9 Ms.
VICTORIA, D. 27 Aug 1865 A. 11 Ms.
MARTHA P., D. 1 Jan 1867 A. 2 Yrs. 11 Ms.
DAVID G., D. 6 Jun 1865 A. 8 Ms.
ADA A., D. 3 Oct. 1873 A. 11 Yrs.
EUGENIE D. 16 Aug. 1861 A. 11 Ms.
JULIETTE D. 9 Feb 1865 A. 9 Ms.
LESTER D. Mar 1866 A. 4 Ms.
ADALINE D. 14 Aug 1870 A. 10 Ms.
CYNTHIA A. D. 29 Oct 1867 A. 4 Ms.
MELISSA J. D. 4 Aug 1870 A. 1 Yr 5 Ms.
ORLANDER D. 13 June 1866 A. 11 Yrs
LOUISA D. 15 Aug. 1870 A. 22 Ms.
DAVID LOUDON D. 24 FEB 1863 Age about 36 Yrs. (not a member of Chauncey's family, have no other information about him)
4th piece (bottom) - WEST
4th piece (bottom) - WEST
East Side: All pieces blank except 4th piece (bottom) WEST
West side top piece
MARGARET WEST
DIED 1846 (error, was 1848)
CHAUNCEY W. WEST
DIED 1895 (error, was 1894)
AGED 46 YEARS (error 45)
2nd piece
"Children ……….C.W. WEST" (very worn)
3rd piece - (several unreadable dates I obtained from Joseph A. West's genealogy)
JOSEPHINE E., D. 27 Dec. 1862 A.5 Yrs.
SARAH E. D. 23 Feb. 1859 A. 9 Ms.
VICTORIA, D. 27 Aug 1865 A. 11 Ms.
MARTHA P., D. 1 Jan 1867 A. 2 Yrs. 11 Ms.
DAVID G., D. 6 Jun 1865 A. 8 Ms.
ADA A., D. 3 Oct. 1873 A. 11 Yrs.
EUGENIE D. 16 Aug. 1861 A. 11 Ms.
JULIETTE D. 9 Feb 1865 A. 9 Ms.
LESTER D. Mar 1866 A. 4 Ms.
ADALINE D. 14 Aug 1870 A. 10 Ms.
CYNTHIA A. D. 29 Oct 1867 A. 4 Ms.
MELISSA J. D. 4 Aug 1870 A. 1 Yr 5 Ms.
ORLANDER D. 13 June 1866 A. 11 Yrs
LOUISA D. 15 Aug. 1870 A. 22 Ms.
DAVID LOUDON D. 24 FEB 1863 Age about 36 Yrs. (not a member of Chauncey's family, have no other information about him)
4th piece (bottom) - WEST
I am also including below the names of Chauncey's children's mothers. I hope you each know which one is your ancestor.
Mary Hoagland: Margaret, Chauncey Walker, Jr., Joseph Alva, John Abraham, Josephine.
Sarah Covington : Ellen Maria, Sarah Elizabeth, Mary Ann Adelia, Charles, Victorial, Lucretia, Clara, Mary Priscill.
Martha Joiner: William Henry, Leonora, Elizabeth Jane, Marhta Parmelia, Brigham Edward, Bryan Arthur,
Jenette Nichol Gibson: Heber W., Ada Ann, David
Adaline Amanda Wright: Israel Joshua, Eugene, Albert Andrew, Juliette, Edgar Alonzo, Lester, Andeline
Angeline Shurtliff: Cynthia A., Melissa J.
Mary Ann Covington: Orlander, Milton J.
Susan H. Covington: Louisa
More information about Chauncey's life and accomplishments will be included in future blogs.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Service to State & Church
From the "Biographical Sketch of Chauncey W. West" by Joseph A. West.
In the spring of 1863 Chauncey W. West was a member of the legislative convention of the inchoate State of Deseret which drafted a constitution and sent Hons. Wm. H. Hooper and George Q. Cannon, senators, as a delagation to ask for the admission of Utah into the Union as a state; and at the April conference, 1863, Elder West was selected to go to England and take charge of the European Mission, in the absence of George q. Cannon, then its president.
He left Ogden April 21, 1862, in company with Hon. William H. Hooper, and traveled, under cavalry escort, to the frontier. Upon leaving Ogden, the people of Weber County turned out en masse to bid him goodbye. The artillery fired a salute and bands of music heading civic and military organizations accompanied him some distance upon his journey. This public demonstration of esteem for one whose brief sojourn of six years among them had so won the hearts of his fellow-citizens, was only equaled by the right royal welcome that met him on his return sixteen months later.
At Washington he was introduced to President Abraham Lincoln and other distinguished statesmen, and on the 21st of June he sailed on the steamer "City of Washington" for Liverpool, arriving there on the morning of the 4th of July. He immediately entered upon the duties of his calling as president of the European Mission and so continued until President Cannon's return. He visited all the leading conferences of the British Isles and traveled extensively in Europe, preaching the gospel wherever opportunity offered. Upon the return of President Cannon he assisted him generally with the affairs of the mission until released to return home in the fall of 1864."
In the spring of 1863 Chauncey W. West was a member of the legislative convention of the inchoate State of Deseret which drafted a constitution and sent Hons. Wm. H. Hooper and George Q. Cannon, senators, as a delagation to ask for the admission of Utah into the Union as a state; and at the April conference, 1863, Elder West was selected to go to England and take charge of the European Mission, in the absence of George q. Cannon, then its president.
He left Ogden April 21, 1862, in company with Hon. William H. Hooper, and traveled, under cavalry escort, to the frontier. Upon leaving Ogden, the people of Weber County turned out en masse to bid him goodbye. The artillery fired a salute and bands of music heading civic and military organizations accompanied him some distance upon his journey. This public demonstration of esteem for one whose brief sojourn of six years among them had so won the hearts of his fellow-citizens, was only equaled by the right royal welcome that met him on his return sixteen months later.
At Washington he was introduced to President Abraham Lincoln and other distinguished statesmen, and on the 21st of June he sailed on the steamer "City of Washington" for Liverpool, arriving there on the morning of the 4th of July. He immediately entered upon the duties of his calling as president of the European Mission and so continued until President Cannon's return. He visited all the leading conferences of the British Isles and traveled extensively in Europe, preaching the gospel wherever opportunity offered. Upon the return of President Cannon he assisted him generally with the affairs of the mission until released to return home in the fall of 1864."
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Moving Forward
Hi, sorry I didn't post last week.
A BIG THANK YOU TO:
Lorna and Brent Belnap for their donation of $25.00. Brent is a grandson of Marie West and Volney Belnap. Louise West Tolton, daughter of Lawrence Berg West donation of $75.00
The monument account balance is now $1,637.39.
Here's how to make your donations: Write check payable to Chauncey W. West Monument Fund and send it either to America First Credit Union, P.O. Box 9199, Ogden, UT 84409. If you are an AFCU member, you can transfer funds from your account directly into account #9033994. Please let me know via email when you make a donation and the amount. Thank you
I have completed entering the genealogical information from Joseph A. West's Francis West of Duxbury, Mass. His Ancestors and Descendants. I can send a gedcom via email if any of you would like to have it. There is much research that needs to be done on this database. Some of you may have already done that. It would be helpful for all who are working on the West family research to collaborate and not duplicate each other. I would love to hear from anyone who is working on this family line or who wants to.
My email is norma.buchanan@hotmail.com
Now for this week's episode of the exciting and achievement-filled life of Chauncey Walker West. I continue from page 40 of the Biographical Sketch as written by his eldest son Joseph Alva West in 1911.
"In the fall of 1855 Brother West settled in Bingham's Fort, Weber County, and on the 29th of May removed to Ogden, having been appointed Bishop of the First Ward. In the fall of the same year he was appointed presiding Bishop of Weber County, a position which he held up to the time of his death, fourteen years later. He was also elected to the House of Representatives by the Weber county constituency about this time and continued a member of that body until the year 1860, when failing health compelled him to retire from the position.
As a prominent ecclesiastical officer of the Church he was untiring in his labors and zealous in the extreme. His devotion to the cause, and loving fidelity to his brethren, early won for him the esteem of his superiors and the affectionate regard of those over whom he was called to preside., As a legislator he was equally efficient. While not overly fluent in speech, he was possessed of a sound judgment, and keen appreciation of the needs of his constituency, and the commonwealth in general, so much so that he was early called to occupy leading positions on the most important committees of the House, and became prominently identified with all the leading legislative movements of those exciting and crucial times.
July 18, 1857 he received his commission from Governor Brigham Young as colonel of the Fifth regiment in the Weber Military District, and in March 1858, was made brigadier-general in the Nauvoo Legion for distinguished services in the Utah War, which position he filled with honor and ability. Being a man of great courage, unbounded energy and commanding presence, he was frequently selected for the most difficult and dangerous expeditions. He and his command were among the first to be called to the defense of the Saints when the misguided President Buchanan sent an invading army to Utah.
At Echo Canyon his regiment, which was said to be among the best drilled and disciplined of the Legion, occupied the post of danger (always the post of honor) in the center of the defile, and when tidings came of Johnston's intended detour via the Bear River, General West was selected to head him off. By forced marches he and his trusted men made such rapid progress and presented such an aggressive front to the enemy that hearing of their movements, the invading troops returned to their former rendezvous and went into winter quarters. This practically ended active hostilities, and gave the government an opportunity of obtaining a correct understanding of the Utah situation."
"Th th that's All Folks" I will notify you by email when I do the next post.
A BIG THANK YOU TO:
Lorna and Brent Belnap for their donation of $25.00. Brent is a grandson of Marie West and Volney Belnap. Louise West Tolton, daughter of Lawrence Berg West donation of $75.00
The monument account balance is now $1,637.39.
Here's how to make your donations: Write check payable to Chauncey W. West Monument Fund and send it either to America First Credit Union, P.O. Box 9199, Ogden, UT 84409. If you are an AFCU member, you can transfer funds from your account directly into account #9033994. Please let me know via email when you make a donation and the amount. Thank you
I have completed entering the genealogical information from Joseph A. West's Francis West of Duxbury, Mass. His Ancestors and Descendants. I can send a gedcom via email if any of you would like to have it. There is much research that needs to be done on this database. Some of you may have already done that. It would be helpful for all who are working on the West family research to collaborate and not duplicate each other. I would love to hear from anyone who is working on this family line or who wants to.
My email is norma.buchanan@hotmail.com
Now for this week's episode of the exciting and achievement-filled life of Chauncey Walker West. I continue from page 40 of the Biographical Sketch as written by his eldest son Joseph Alva West in 1911.
"In the fall of 1855 Brother West settled in Bingham's Fort, Weber County, and on the 29th of May removed to Ogden, having been appointed Bishop of the First Ward. In the fall of the same year he was appointed presiding Bishop of Weber County, a position which he held up to the time of his death, fourteen years later. He was also elected to the House of Representatives by the Weber county constituency about this time and continued a member of that body until the year 1860, when failing health compelled him to retire from the position.
As a prominent ecclesiastical officer of the Church he was untiring in his labors and zealous in the extreme. His devotion to the cause, and loving fidelity to his brethren, early won for him the esteem of his superiors and the affectionate regard of those over whom he was called to preside., As a legislator he was equally efficient. While not overly fluent in speech, he was possessed of a sound judgment, and keen appreciation of the needs of his constituency, and the commonwealth in general, so much so that he was early called to occupy leading positions on the most important committees of the House, and became prominently identified with all the leading legislative movements of those exciting and crucial times.
July 18, 1857 he received his commission from Governor Brigham Young as colonel of the Fifth regiment in the Weber Military District, and in March 1858, was made brigadier-general in the Nauvoo Legion for distinguished services in the Utah War, which position he filled with honor and ability. Being a man of great courage, unbounded energy and commanding presence, he was frequently selected for the most difficult and dangerous expeditions. He and his command were among the first to be called to the defense of the Saints when the misguided President Buchanan sent an invading army to Utah.
At Echo Canyon his regiment, which was said to be among the best drilled and disciplined of the Legion, occupied the post of danger (always the post of honor) in the center of the defile, and when tidings came of Johnston's intended detour via the Bear River, General West was selected to head him off. By forced marches he and his trusted men made such rapid progress and presented such an aggressive front to the enemy that hearing of their movements, the invading troops returned to their former rendezvous and went into winter quarters. This practically ended active hostilities, and gave the government an opportunity of obtaining a correct understanding of the Utah situation."
"Th th that's All Folks" I will notify you by email when I do the next post.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Close Calls
Reminder: NEED $4,100 BY END OF SEPTEMBER 2008, another $4,100 BY END OF JANUARY 2009, last $4,100 at completion. Current balance in Chauncey W. West Monument Fund is $1,517.64.
Excerpts from A Biographical Sketch of Chauncey Walker West by his son Joseph A. West on page 38 of his 1911 paper entitled Francis West of Duxbury, Mass., Some of His Ancestors and Descendants.
"The night previous to their arrival at Calcutta, Elder West dreamed of seeing a little boy standing on the wharf among a crowd of people waiting for the arrival of the Elders, and sure, enough, when they did arrive, there he stood. Upon going ashore, Elder West picked him out and remarked to his companions as he did so: "This is the little boy that I saw in my dream." Upon inquiry it was found that Sister Matthew McCune, learning of the expected arrival of the Elders and having no one else to send to meet them (her husband being away with the British army at the time) sent her son to the wharf. That son was Henry McCune, now a resident of Ogden, Utah, who but a little time ago related the incident to the writer.
During their voyage from Ceylon to Bombay the Elders encountered a terrific storm, and through an error in the captain's calculations, the ship was driven so near the shore that the vessel grounded and came near being broken to pieces. The life boats were launched, but immediately foundered. In the midst of these dreadful scenes, Elders West and Dewey rebuked the winds and waves in the name of the Lord, and almost immediately the raging elements were calmed, and the vessel swung off into deeper water. Although greatly damaged, and having several feet of water in the hold, the ship was taken safely to port and no lives where lost.
When homeward bound Elder West engaged passage for himself and Elder Dewey from Canton to San Francisco on the American vessel "Riega," and had gone as far as Hong Kong, China, when the Lord warned him in a dream to leave the ship, which he, in a vision, had seen wrecked upon the coral reefs. The warning was promptly obeyed, and the vessel put out to sea never to return. It was wrecked in precisely the manner seen by Elder West in his vision, for the captain, whom he afterwards met, told him the whole occurrence, and wanted to know why he had left his ship in such a mysterious manner. To his great astonishment Elder West related his dream, when the captain said with an oath, "Why did you not tell me?" The Elder replied that if he had he would have paid no attention to the warning, but denounced him as a fool. The captain replied with another oath, "I guess you are right."
While waiting to secure another passage home, Elder Dewey was taken violently ill with chills and fever at a boarding house kept by a Mr. Young. In the meantime Elder West had arranged with Captain Miller of the vessel "Cressy" to ship as a sailor to San Francisco, for $15 per month, provided his companion was able to accompany him by the time the vessel was ready to sail. Most fervently did they pray for Elder Dewey's recovery; and one day, while thus engaged, they were irresistibly impressed to leave the hotel and go on board the ship. For some days past it had been raining very hard, and soon after they left the hotel, the storm loosened a large rock from the mountain side nearby, which came rolling down with terrific force and struck the hotel, completely demolishing it. One of the inmates was killed and several were wounded.
Next episode will be about his contributions to the building of Ogden City
Excerpts from A Biographical Sketch of Chauncey Walker West by his son Joseph A. West on page 38 of his 1911 paper entitled Francis West of Duxbury, Mass., Some of His Ancestors and Descendants.
"The night previous to their arrival at Calcutta, Elder West dreamed of seeing a little boy standing on the wharf among a crowd of people waiting for the arrival of the Elders, and sure, enough, when they did arrive, there he stood. Upon going ashore, Elder West picked him out and remarked to his companions as he did so: "This is the little boy that I saw in my dream." Upon inquiry it was found that Sister Matthew McCune, learning of the expected arrival of the Elders and having no one else to send to meet them (her husband being away with the British army at the time) sent her son to the wharf. That son was Henry McCune, now a resident of Ogden, Utah, who but a little time ago related the incident to the writer.
During their voyage from Ceylon to Bombay the Elders encountered a terrific storm, and through an error in the captain's calculations, the ship was driven so near the shore that the vessel grounded and came near being broken to pieces. The life boats were launched, but immediately foundered. In the midst of these dreadful scenes, Elders West and Dewey rebuked the winds and waves in the name of the Lord, and almost immediately the raging elements were calmed, and the vessel swung off into deeper water. Although greatly damaged, and having several feet of water in the hold, the ship was taken safely to port and no lives where lost.
When homeward bound Elder West engaged passage for himself and Elder Dewey from Canton to San Francisco on the American vessel "Riega," and had gone as far as Hong Kong, China, when the Lord warned him in a dream to leave the ship, which he, in a vision, had seen wrecked upon the coral reefs. The warning was promptly obeyed, and the vessel put out to sea never to return. It was wrecked in precisely the manner seen by Elder West in his vision, for the captain, whom he afterwards met, told him the whole occurrence, and wanted to know why he had left his ship in such a mysterious manner. To his great astonishment Elder West related his dream, when the captain said with an oath, "Why did you not tell me?" The Elder replied that if he had he would have paid no attention to the warning, but denounced him as a fool. The captain replied with another oath, "I guess you are right."
While waiting to secure another passage home, Elder Dewey was taken violently ill with chills and fever at a boarding house kept by a Mr. Young. In the meantime Elder West had arranged with Captain Miller of the vessel "Cressy" to ship as a sailor to San Francisco, for $15 per month, provided his companion was able to accompany him by the time the vessel was ready to sail. Most fervently did they pray for Elder Dewey's recovery; and one day, while thus engaged, they were irresistibly impressed to leave the hotel and go on board the ship. For some days past it had been raining very hard, and soon after they left the hotel, the storm loosened a large rock from the mountain side nearby, which came rolling down with terrific force and struck the hotel, completely demolishing it. One of the inmates was killed and several were wounded.
Next episode will be about his contributions to the building of Ogden City
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Memorial Day Greetings
MEMORIAL DAY GREETINGS
Although Memorial Day this year was stormy, the cemetery was bright with beautiful flowers. In the Bott Monument Company Office is a little sign that says "The memorial is created not because someone died, but because someone lived." Every life is important and precious, worthy to be remembered.
No new email messages have been sent to me this week. However, three donations to the Monument Fund were sent in this month. The online June statement will be posted next week.
If you are a member of the America First Credit Union, you can transfer directly from your account to the fund account online or over the phone. To donate by check, make them payable to the Chauncey W. West Monument Fund. The address is: America First Credit Union, P. O. Box 9199, Ogden, UT 84409-0199. Phone: 801-617-0900.
Please email me at http://norma.buchanan@hotmail.com when you make donations giving the amount and date deposited. I would also like to hear from those of you who are interested in West family history. Thank you very much.
Another benefit of this project is to facilitate our finding our kindred, living and dead. The new Family Search, now being tested in some of the smaller temple districts, will be an amazing tool for us. It will be a place where those working on completing accurate family records can compare information and sources. It looks very exciting.
Now to this week's episode about the life of Chauncey Walker West.
Chauncey Walker West not only lived, but he lived fully by giving all of his energy, devotion, and labor to follow the Savior Jesus Christ. His service was remarkable. We go now to the next segment of his life after the harrowing, but very important participation in the Parley P. Pratt exploration to southern Utah.
This week's episode is about the mission to Asia. I have quoted from the book by R. Lanier Britsch, Nothing More Heroic and Joseph A. West's brief Biographical Sketch. Britsch begins with this in the preface to his book "I have chosen to recount this history in the voice of Amos Milton Musser….., who was one of the first missionaries to serve in India and spent a number of years working at the Church historian's office from 1902 to 1909. Thus he was probably familiar with the primary sources I have used…"
Britsch explained that from 1833, Britain a was in control of India. While the British ruled India many native British and other Europeans went to India hoping to find positions and get gain. They became the elite of the country and developed a strong upper class that the native Indian could never attain to. This led eventually to a tragic war in 1856/57. Much of this was going on while Latter-day Saint elders were traveling the roads and rivers of India. For the most part they were above the fray. They were affected by it, however, as noted in Britsch's book, native Indians and Mormon missionaries were excluded from association with the upper class.
I quote directly from his book, page 3. "The story of seventeen set-apart missionaries and their efforts to penetrate the almost unbreakable social and religious shell of the British in India. The elders attempted in every area to teach the Gospel to native Indians, but the main effort of the missionaries was to find Europeans who would listen to their message. At times the missionaries complained that the type or class of people who were so freely accepting the Restored Gospel in England and Scandinavia were simply not in India. This was largely true. The mission proved to be a most trying missionary experience. But it is a wonderful story of adventure, faith, faithfulness, and courage."
In Britsch's book he explained that missionaries had been sent to India as early as 1851 from Britain under the direction of Lorenzo Snow and that by spring of 1852 there had been over two-hundred baptisms. A development after January 1853 that had a great effect on the acceptance of missionaries was that the practice of polygamy became widely known. According to Britsch "Polygamy was the shout heard round the world. Everything any enemy of the Church could conceive in anger and hatred was heaped against the members of the Church because of this practice. Even before we arrived in Calcutta, word of polygamy went before us. There was no escaping its effects even in the most distant villages and camps of India, Burma, Ceylon, Singapore, Siam, and Hong Kong."
In Joseph West's account we read: "In the fall of 1852, Brother West and thirty-six others were called to go upon missions to eastern Asia. They started from Salt Lake City on the 21st of November, taking the southern route to California. On reaching San Francisco, the Elders, who were practically without means, learned that $6,250 would be needed to take them to their several fields of labor. Nothing daunted, they immediately distributed themselves over the city of San Francisco and throughout the mining regions of the state, seeking assistance. Elder West went to the latter section, and in less than two weeks the required amount was raised. On Jan. 25, 1853, Elder West made a contract with Captain Windsor of the ship "Monsoon," for the passage of the Hindustan and Siam missionaries to Calcutta, agreeing to pay $200 per passenger. On the 28th they set sail.
Five days after leaving San Francisco, Elders Richard Ballantyne and Levi Savage broke out with smallpox, to the great consternation of the captain and crew. The Elders promptly called upon the Lord in fervent prayer for the speedy restoration of their brethren and the preservation of themselves and the crew from the dreadful disease. God gave them an immediate witness that their prayers would be answered, and in less than two weeks the stricken Elders left their bunks and the smallpox, at first so threatening, disappeared from among them."
MORE ABOUT THE REMARKABLE MISSION TO ASIA NEXT WEEK -
YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS IT!
JUST A REMINDER - SEND IN YOUR DONATIONS AND EMAIL ME THE DATE & AMOUNT
Although Memorial Day this year was stormy, the cemetery was bright with beautiful flowers. In the Bott Monument Company Office is a little sign that says "The memorial is created not because someone died, but because someone lived." Every life is important and precious, worthy to be remembered.
No new email messages have been sent to me this week. However, three donations to the Monument Fund were sent in this month. The online June statement will be posted next week.
If you are a member of the America First Credit Union, you can transfer directly from your account to the fund account online or over the phone. To donate by check, make them payable to the Chauncey W. West Monument Fund. The address is: America First Credit Union, P. O. Box 9199, Ogden, UT 84409-0199. Phone: 801-617-0900.
Please email me at http://norma.buchanan@hotmail.com when you make donations giving the amount and date deposited. I would also like to hear from those of you who are interested in West family history. Thank you very much.
Another benefit of this project is to facilitate our finding our kindred, living and dead. The new Family Search, now being tested in some of the smaller temple districts, will be an amazing tool for us. It will be a place where those working on completing accurate family records can compare information and sources. It looks very exciting.
Now to this week's episode about the life of Chauncey Walker West.
Chauncey Walker West not only lived, but he lived fully by giving all of his energy, devotion, and labor to follow the Savior Jesus Christ. His service was remarkable. We go now to the next segment of his life after the harrowing, but very important participation in the Parley P. Pratt exploration to southern Utah.
This week's episode is about the mission to Asia. I have quoted from the book by R. Lanier Britsch, Nothing More Heroic and Joseph A. West's brief Biographical Sketch. Britsch begins with this in the preface to his book "I have chosen to recount this history in the voice of Amos Milton Musser….., who was one of the first missionaries to serve in India and spent a number of years working at the Church historian's office from 1902 to 1909. Thus he was probably familiar with the primary sources I have used…"
Britsch explained that from 1833, Britain a was in control of India. While the British ruled India many native British and other Europeans went to India hoping to find positions and get gain. They became the elite of the country and developed a strong upper class that the native Indian could never attain to. This led eventually to a tragic war in 1856/57. Much of this was going on while Latter-day Saint elders were traveling the roads and rivers of India. For the most part they were above the fray. They were affected by it, however, as noted in Britsch's book, native Indians and Mormon missionaries were excluded from association with the upper class.
I quote directly from his book, page 3. "The story of seventeen set-apart missionaries and their efforts to penetrate the almost unbreakable social and religious shell of the British in India. The elders attempted in every area to teach the Gospel to native Indians, but the main effort of the missionaries was to find Europeans who would listen to their message. At times the missionaries complained that the type or class of people who were so freely accepting the Restored Gospel in England and Scandinavia were simply not in India. This was largely true. The mission proved to be a most trying missionary experience. But it is a wonderful story of adventure, faith, faithfulness, and courage."
In Britsch's book he explained that missionaries had been sent to India as early as 1851 from Britain under the direction of Lorenzo Snow and that by spring of 1852 there had been over two-hundred baptisms. A development after January 1853 that had a great effect on the acceptance of missionaries was that the practice of polygamy became widely known. According to Britsch "Polygamy was the shout heard round the world. Everything any enemy of the Church could conceive in anger and hatred was heaped against the members of the Church because of this practice. Even before we arrived in Calcutta, word of polygamy went before us. There was no escaping its effects even in the most distant villages and camps of India, Burma, Ceylon, Singapore, Siam, and Hong Kong."
In Joseph West's account we read: "In the fall of 1852, Brother West and thirty-six others were called to go upon missions to eastern Asia. They started from Salt Lake City on the 21st of November, taking the southern route to California. On reaching San Francisco, the Elders, who were practically without means, learned that $6,250 would be needed to take them to their several fields of labor. Nothing daunted, they immediately distributed themselves over the city of San Francisco and throughout the mining regions of the state, seeking assistance. Elder West went to the latter section, and in less than two weeks the required amount was raised. On Jan. 25, 1853, Elder West made a contract with Captain Windsor of the ship "Monsoon," for the passage of the Hindustan and Siam missionaries to Calcutta, agreeing to pay $200 per passenger. On the 28th they set sail.
Five days after leaving San Francisco, Elders Richard Ballantyne and Levi Savage broke out with smallpox, to the great consternation of the captain and crew. The Elders promptly called upon the Lord in fervent prayer for the speedy restoration of their brethren and the preservation of themselves and the crew from the dreadful disease. God gave them an immediate witness that their prayers would be answered, and in less than two weeks the stricken Elders left their bunks and the smallpox, at first so threatening, disappeared from among them."
MORE ABOUT THE REMARKABLE MISSION TO ASIA NEXT WEEK -
YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS IT!
JUST A REMINDER - SEND IN YOUR DONATIONS AND EMAIL ME THE DATE & AMOUNT
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Making Progress
Dear West Family and Friends:
Deposits to the Chauncey W. West Monument Fund this past week: 5/14 - $100, 5/19 - $25. I don't know who sent these in but THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Those who made these donations, and those who send in donations in the future please email me and let me know the date and amount. I would greatly appreciate it.
PLEASE, PLEASE, let everyone you know who is a descendant about this blog and if you receive my email please forward it on to others. Thanks very much.
This week I begin the first segment from A Biographical Sketch of Chauncey Walker West, by his son John Alva West, published in 1911.
Chauncey Walker West, presiding Bishop of Weber County from 1855 to 1870, was the son of Alva West and Sally Benedict and was born Feb. 6, 1827, in Erie County, Pennsylvania. His parents removed in his childhood to the State of New York, where, in his sixteenth year, he obeyed the gospel, and soon after started out as a traveling Elder. In the fall of 1844 he gathered with his parents to Nauvoo, Ill., where, early in 8145, he was ordained a member of the 12th Quorum of Seventy--quite a distinguished position in those days for a young man only seventeen years of age.
When the Saints were expelled from Nauvoo in 1846, he assisted in starting the first company for the west. In June, 1846, he left with his and his father's family, to seek a home in the Rocky Mountains. He partook of the hardships incident to that memorable journey, losing many of his kindred on the way, among the number his father and mother and brother Joseph, who died at Winter Quarters. With no available resources but his indomitable will and untiring activity he succeeded in bringing his father's large family to Great Salt Lake Valley, where they arrived in the fall of 1847. He was one of the first settlers of Salt Lake Ctiy and also of Provo, Utah County, from which latter place, in the month of December, 1849, he started with a company of men under the direction of Apostle Parley P. Pratt to explore the sourthern part of Utah. The company was gone two months and suffered many hardships, but returned in safety. It was upon this return trip, and when the company was threatened with starvation, and came near perishing in the snow, that Brother Pratt selected Chauncey W. West and Nathan Tanner from among the members of his party to go to the settlements for relief; they made a most remarkable night and day journey to Provo.
Continued next week - be sure to login.
Deposits to the Chauncey W. West Monument Fund this past week: 5/14 - $100, 5/19 - $25. I don't know who sent these in but THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Those who made these donations, and those who send in donations in the future please email me and let me know the date and amount. I would greatly appreciate it.
PLEASE, PLEASE, let everyone you know who is a descendant about this blog and if you receive my email please forward it on to others. Thanks very much.
This week I begin the first segment from A Biographical Sketch of Chauncey Walker West, by his son John Alva West, published in 1911.
Chauncey Walker West, presiding Bishop of Weber County from 1855 to 1870, was the son of Alva West and Sally Benedict and was born Feb. 6, 1827, in Erie County, Pennsylvania. His parents removed in his childhood to the State of New York, where, in his sixteenth year, he obeyed the gospel, and soon after started out as a traveling Elder. In the fall of 1844 he gathered with his parents to Nauvoo, Ill., where, early in 8145, he was ordained a member of the 12th Quorum of Seventy--quite a distinguished position in those days for a young man only seventeen years of age.
When the Saints were expelled from Nauvoo in 1846, he assisted in starting the first company for the west. In June, 1846, he left with his and his father's family, to seek a home in the Rocky Mountains. He partook of the hardships incident to that memorable journey, losing many of his kindred on the way, among the number his father and mother and brother Joseph, who died at Winter Quarters. With no available resources but his indomitable will and untiring activity he succeeded in bringing his father's large family to Great Salt Lake Valley, where they arrived in the fall of 1847. He was one of the first settlers of Salt Lake Ctiy and also of Provo, Utah County, from which latter place, in the month of December, 1849, he started with a company of men under the direction of Apostle Parley P. Pratt to explore the sourthern part of Utah. The company was gone two months and suffered many hardships, but returned in safety. It was upon this return trip, and when the company was threatened with starvation, and came near perishing in the snow, that Brother Pratt selected Chauncey W. West and Nathan Tanner from among the members of his party to go to the settlements for relief; they made a most remarkable night and day journey to Provo.
Continued next week - be sure to login.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
C.W. West Monument Fund Progress Report
May 15, 2008
The news is getting around about the project. Two new people contributed this week that are not descendants of Chauncey but believe it is a "worthy cause." They are Dean Rock of Mountain Green who sent in one dollar and Paula Campbell Howell of South Weber contributed five dollars. Paula is my second cousins, descendants of Erastus Bingham whose fort Chauncey first lived in when he came to Ogden.
Descendants Kevin McCurley, Michelle McKnight, Lynnette Richins, and Marilyn Larsen contacted me this week, each glad that there will be a new monument on Chauncey's gravesite and pledging support.
The Chauncey W. West Monument Fund account now has a balance of one-thousand ninety-one dollars and thirty-nine cents ($1,086.39)
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO ALL
Expect to include a drawing of the new monument and a firm cost by first post in June. More about Chauncey will be posted next week.
Notify every descendant you know of this blog and encourage them to participate. Thank you
The news is getting around about the project. Two new people contributed this week that are not descendants of Chauncey but believe it is a "worthy cause." They are Dean Rock of Mountain Green who sent in one dollar and Paula Campbell Howell of South Weber contributed five dollars. Paula is my second cousins, descendants of Erastus Bingham whose fort Chauncey first lived in when he came to Ogden.
Descendants Kevin McCurley, Michelle McKnight, Lynnette Richins, and Marilyn Larsen contacted me this week, each glad that there will be a new monument on Chauncey's gravesite and pledging support.
The Chauncey W. West Monument Fund account now has a balance of one-thousand ninety-one dollars and thirty-nine cents ($1,086.39)
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO ALL
Expect to include a drawing of the new monument and a firm cost by first post in June. More about Chauncey will be posted next week.
Notify every descendant you know of this blog and encourage them to participate. Thank you
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Transcontinental Railroad Era
THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO PLEDGED FINANCIAL SUPPORT (named in last weeks post)
THANK YOU TO PAT MOSES OF PRESTON, IDAHO WHO CONTRIBUTED $60 TO THE FUND. SHE IS A DESCENDANT OF CHAUNCEY'S OLDER BROTHER AARON.
Most of the planning for the monument project can be done via electronic communication, but a meeting will be necessary to create a family organization. It may be possible to do it via a chat room or something of that sort. I am still learning how. More information on that in next couple of weeks. I will also post an illustration of the new monument and definite cost.
One third of the cost will need to be paid to order the material by September. Another one third must be paid to start making it about December and the final one third at time of completion of the monument by April 2009. The dedication will be near the time the monument is set in place.
Plans for a family gathering and dedication need to be completed by end of summer 2008 so all interested may make arrangements to attend. These plans need to be made by a family organization which means YOU.
Those of you who are in favor of this project and plan to support it financially, please email me what you pledge to donate so we can plan accordingly.
As I continue to learn more about the accomplishments of Chauncey West and the tremendous historical events that took place during his lifetime that he had a part in, I feel totally inadequate to put it into words. I am reading the seven-hundred page book Empire Express - Building The First Transcontinental Railroad, by David Haward Bain which was described by another historian and writer Geoffrey C. Ward in these words: "One of the greatest of all American stories has finally found a chronicler up to the task of telling it. David Haward Bain has managed to encompass it all--genuine heroism and brutal dispossession, utopian vision and rampant corruption, technological wonders and war with the elements--in vivid narrative that no one interested in the American character will want to miss."
It is obvious to me that the "genuine heroism" and utopian vision" spoken of definitely applied to Brigham Young's vision of how a railroad would benefit the growth of the Kingdom of God as well as the benefit to our nation. Brigham Young was the first one to buy Union Pacific stock and the only one who paid in full for it. Chauncey W. West, his partners and all of the men who labored in this state, most of whom were never paid, are the real heroes of this epoch.
For those of you who want to know more about Chauncey's contribution in this very important part of our nations history, I refer you to Bain's book or to Stephan Ambrose, another respected historical writer, who also wrote a book about the building of the railroad. It came with a high price for Chauncey and his family. Chauncey died in San Francisco while on one of several trips made in an attempt to be paid for the work that his company did in building the railroad. They were paid about half of what was owed. Another partner was Ezra T. Benson who also died within about six months of Chauncey. Lorin Farr was left with trying to straighten everything out. It took the rest of his lifetime for him to recover financially. What a great loss it was to everyone in the Ogden and Logan areas to lose such able, righteous, beloved servants of God.
THANK YOU TO PAT MOSES OF PRESTON, IDAHO WHO CONTRIBUTED $60 TO THE FUND. SHE IS A DESCENDANT OF CHAUNCEY'S OLDER BROTHER AARON.
Most of the planning for the monument project can be done via electronic communication, but a meeting will be necessary to create a family organization. It may be possible to do it via a chat room or something of that sort. I am still learning how. More information on that in next couple of weeks. I will also post an illustration of the new monument and definite cost.
One third of the cost will need to be paid to order the material by September. Another one third must be paid to start making it about December and the final one third at time of completion of the monument by April 2009. The dedication will be near the time the monument is set in place.
Plans for a family gathering and dedication need to be completed by end of summer 2008 so all interested may make arrangements to attend. These plans need to be made by a family organization which means YOU.
Those of you who are in favor of this project and plan to support it financially, please email me what you pledge to donate so we can plan accordingly.
As I continue to learn more about the accomplishments of Chauncey West and the tremendous historical events that took place during his lifetime that he had a part in, I feel totally inadequate to put it into words. I am reading the seven-hundred page book Empire Express - Building The First Transcontinental Railroad, by David Haward Bain which was described by another historian and writer Geoffrey C. Ward in these words: "One of the greatest of all American stories has finally found a chronicler up to the task of telling it. David Haward Bain has managed to encompass it all--genuine heroism and brutal dispossession, utopian vision and rampant corruption, technological wonders and war with the elements--in vivid narrative that no one interested in the American character will want to miss."
It is obvious to me that the "genuine heroism" and utopian vision" spoken of definitely applied to Brigham Young's vision of how a railroad would benefit the growth of the Kingdom of God as well as the benefit to our nation. Brigham Young was the first one to buy Union Pacific stock and the only one who paid in full for it. Chauncey W. West, his partners and all of the men who labored in this state, most of whom were never paid, are the real heroes of this epoch.
For those of you who want to know more about Chauncey's contribution in this very important part of our nations history, I refer you to Bain's book or to Stephan Ambrose, another respected historical writer, who also wrote a book about the building of the railroad. It came with a high price for Chauncey and his family. Chauncey died in San Francisco while on one of several trips made in an attempt to be paid for the work that his company did in building the railroad. They were paid about half of what was owed. Another partner was Ezra T. Benson who also died within about six months of Chauncey. Lorin Farr was left with trying to straighten everything out. It took the rest of his lifetime for him to recover financially. What a great loss it was to everyone in the Ogden and Logan areas to lose such able, righteous, beloved servants of God.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
West's Move to Ogden
Hope you have all read the news article published April 29, 2008 in the Standard Examiner. It was a well written, accurate, and fair article about the need to replace Chauncey West's gravesite monument. There was a good response to the article. One gentleman called and said he wasn't a descendant but wanted to donate because it was a "worthy cause." I sent email with a link to the article to everyone on my C.W. West address list. I am sure there will be more people contact me as the article gets more widely circulated. Please inform everyone you know who belongs to his family to email me and read my blog http://chaunceywwestmonument.blogspot.com.
I have received the following pledges of donations to the fund as follows: $1,000.00 from Melvin West Wright of Ogden, $500.00 from Mitch Beckstead of Salt Lake City, $500.00 from the Brewer Family represented by Rich Brewer of Ogden, $500.00 from me, Norma W. Buchanan. Two callers said they would send in a donation but did not state the amount. When the electronic statement is available I will post it.
I am indebted to Chauncey's grandson Franklin West as the following information was taken almost exclusively from selected portions of his published booklet, "Chauncey West Pioneer - Churchman" with some paraphrasing and a few added comments by me.
Shortly after Chauncey returned to his home in Salt Lake from his mission, he and his wife Mary with their two young sons Chauncey Jr, and Joseph moved to Ogden. The West family lived in Bingham's Fort the winter of 1855. In the spring, he obtained almost the entire block between 23rd and 24th Street and Main Street, now Washington, and Grant in what became the center of the business district of Ogden. (That area is currently part of the revitalization of downtown Ogden and called "The Junction.")
He built his home and a large barn on Main Street and planted almost the entire block into an orchard and a vegetable garden. At the same time he purchased 160 acres of land in Harrisville and built a small canal out of the Ogden River to irrigate it.
During this time, cattle were taken up through North Ogden Canyon to the Ogden Valley in the spring and then taken back in the fall. During the winter Chauncey kept his cattle on his ranch in Harrisville. Shortly after beginning to raise cattle, he started a meat business and established a market on his property.
Chauncey began a sizeable lumber business in Wheeler Canyon where he built a road and established a mill driven by water power from Wheeler Creek. He built and operated a tannery and used the leather in making boots, shoes, harnesses and saddles. He also built a wagon and blacksmith shop on the present site of the Methodist Church and had his meat market on the same street. Near the center of the block on 24th Street, he established a livery stable. Across the street on the corner of Main and 24th Street, he built and operated a hotel called the Ogden House. His barn was large enough that it was used as a social center for operas, plays, and dancing parties before ward houses were built.
Chauncey was called to be Bishop of the Third Ward almost as soon as he settled in Ogden. Within a short time he was appointed as Presiding Bishop of Weber County which office he held for the rest of his life. He was responsible for the collection and management of the tithing of all of the wards of Weber County. Keep in mind that tithing in those days was almost all "in kind," such as produce, animals, and other home produced commodities. The Bishop had to keep an accurate record of what was given, and give proper credit where it belonged and then to convert these articles into cash. He also had to know the needs of those in distress and to wisely help them get on their feet or provide them with the necessities of life from the storehouse. For at least eight years before regular mercantile stores were established, the tithing office was the only means of exchange for commodities.
His great energy and business ability was used to provide employment for the many pioneers moving into the area from all over the world. He was closely associated with Lorin Farr who was the Stake President. As noted by Franklin West's, "These two fine men worked together most harmoniously and beautifully, not only in religious matters, but they were closely associated in some business ventures, particularly in the construction of the railroad."
More about that very important time in the history of our country and in the life of Chauncey West in next week's episode
I have received the following pledges of donations to the fund as follows: $1,000.00 from Melvin West Wright of Ogden, $500.00 from Mitch Beckstead of Salt Lake City, $500.00 from the Brewer Family represented by Rich Brewer of Ogden, $500.00 from me, Norma W. Buchanan. Two callers said they would send in a donation but did not state the amount. When the electronic statement is available I will post it.
I am indebted to Chauncey's grandson Franklin West as the following information was taken almost exclusively from selected portions of his published booklet, "Chauncey West Pioneer - Churchman" with some paraphrasing and a few added comments by me.
Shortly after Chauncey returned to his home in Salt Lake from his mission, he and his wife Mary with their two young sons Chauncey Jr, and Joseph moved to Ogden. The West family lived in Bingham's Fort the winter of 1855. In the spring, he obtained almost the entire block between 23rd and 24th Street and Main Street, now Washington, and Grant in what became the center of the business district of Ogden. (That area is currently part of the revitalization of downtown Ogden and called "The Junction.")
He built his home and a large barn on Main Street and planted almost the entire block into an orchard and a vegetable garden. At the same time he purchased 160 acres of land in Harrisville and built a small canal out of the Ogden River to irrigate it.
During this time, cattle were taken up through North Ogden Canyon to the Ogden Valley in the spring and then taken back in the fall. During the winter Chauncey kept his cattle on his ranch in Harrisville. Shortly after beginning to raise cattle, he started a meat business and established a market on his property.
Chauncey began a sizeable lumber business in Wheeler Canyon where he built a road and established a mill driven by water power from Wheeler Creek. He built and operated a tannery and used the leather in making boots, shoes, harnesses and saddles. He also built a wagon and blacksmith shop on the present site of the Methodist Church and had his meat market on the same street. Near the center of the block on 24th Street, he established a livery stable. Across the street on the corner of Main and 24th Street, he built and operated a hotel called the Ogden House. His barn was large enough that it was used as a social center for operas, plays, and dancing parties before ward houses were built.
Chauncey was called to be Bishop of the Third Ward almost as soon as he settled in Ogden. Within a short time he was appointed as Presiding Bishop of Weber County which office he held for the rest of his life. He was responsible for the collection and management of the tithing of all of the wards of Weber County. Keep in mind that tithing in those days was almost all "in kind," such as produce, animals, and other home produced commodities. The Bishop had to keep an accurate record of what was given, and give proper credit where it belonged and then to convert these articles into cash. He also had to know the needs of those in distress and to wisely help them get on their feet or provide them with the necessities of life from the storehouse. For at least eight years before regular mercantile stores were established, the tithing office was the only means of exchange for commodities.
His great energy and business ability was used to provide employment for the many pioneers moving into the area from all over the world. He was closely associated with Lorin Farr who was the Stake President. As noted by Franklin West's, "These two fine men worked together most harmoniously and beautifully, not only in religious matters, but they were closely associated in some business ventures, particularly in the construction of the railroad."
More about that very important time in the history of our country and in the life of Chauncey West in next week's episode
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Nothing More Heroic
The title of this blog is the first part of the title to a book by R. Lanier Britsch, publised by Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, Copyright 1999. The rest of the title is "The Compelling Story of the First Latter-Day Saint Missionaries in India. The author includes a quote by Elder B.H. Roberts, "There is nothing more heroic in our Church annals than the labors and sufferings of these brethren of the mission to India." Chauncey West was called to be the leader of this group. A group of 13 Mormon missionaries boarded the sailing vessel Monsoon January 27, 1853.
The ship dropped anchor off Sagar Island, about 120 miles south of Calcutta on April 24th. The 2 years and 8 months on this mission were filled with severe trials and on his return on July 15, 1855, he wrote: "I cannot say that we have done any great things during our mission, but this much I can say, we have done the best that we knew how. I feel that we can say in truth that we have kept br. Amasa Lyman's counsel to the missionaries as we were on our way out; he said, 'if you can do no more, mind and save one each, this is yourselves.' I feel grateful to my Father in Heaven that my life has been spared to mingle again with the saints in these peaceful valleys, and I now report myself on hand for duty whenever the servants of God call, for the Priesthood is my law."
For the full story I highly recommend the book.
I would like to hear from you. Please let all of your relatives know of this project. My email address is: norma.buchanan@gmail.com.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Chauncey explores
Monument Progress Report Please inform all of your family members the address of this blog: If you agree that the monument should be replaced, please send in a contribution to the fund either by check payable to Chauncey W. West Monument Fund mailed directly to the America First Credit Union, P.O. Box 9199, Ogden, UT 84409-0199 or online by credit card on PayPal to my email address norma.buchanan@gmail.com which is programmed to automatically go into the Chauncey W. West Monument Fund at the credit union. I will post the account statement monthly. This is an invitation to all of Chauncey's descendants to participate if they wish to do so. The hope is that this project will also bring his descendants together. I look forward to meeting all of them I can find. We have a great heritage.
The photograph of the monument clearly shows its deteriorated condition. This is the only marker for all of the four adults and thirteen children of Chauncey's and four of his sister Adelia's children that are buried in the C.W. West family plot.
Now for the next exciting episode in the life of Chauncey Walker West, Explorer, Pioneer, Father
Chauncey and Mary had a new baby with them when they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley that had been born on the journey near what is now Green River, Wyoming, besides his two brothers and sister. Their first baby, Margaret, died shortly after they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.
He built a sturdy log and adobe cabin within what is now called "Pioneer Square" and began with the other men to divert the stream "City Creek" on the dry ground, plow and plant crops to provide their food for the coming winter.
In August of 1849, Mary gave birth to their first son who they named Chauncey Walker, Jr. In December of 1849, Brigham Young organized an exploring party to scout out the area south of Salt Lake to find suitable locations where settlements could be made. Parley P. Pratt was selected to head this group made up of fifty men with their wagons and animals. Chauncey, age twenty-one at this time was selected to go with this group.
The Pratt exploring party left Provo in December and traveled south approximately along where Utah State Highway 89 is located. The winter of 1849-50 was severe, making this journey even more difficult. They traveled south as far as they could go with horses and wagons, then cut over the mountains to the west about where Parowan is located, which was then called Salt Valley. The group made camp here and Parley selected a group to go with him on south to where Santa Clara is now located. Chauncey was given supervision of the other part of the group remaining in the Parowan area. Chauncey and his group explored west of Parowan discovering some interesting Indian petroglyphs at a place called The Gap. A detailed account of this exploring group is in the book Over The Rim, by William B and Donna T. Smart.
When Parley returned to the main group in Parowan in late January, they began traveling north. Parley, realizing they did not have sufficient supplies to carry them through the winter, left the main body of the men and equipment at Fillmore and started with twenty men and animals for Provo. The snow was so deep, the weather severely cold, and their supplies so low that he decided that he and one other of the men would take the best horses and push through to Provo to get help. The man he selected to go with him was Chauncey W. West.
In Parley's journal of January 27th we read, "Our provisions being nearly exhausted, Chauncey West and myself decided to take some of the strongest animals and try to penetrate to Provo, which was still some 50 miles distant in order to send back provisions to the remainder who were to follow slowly. We started at daylight, breaking the way on foot, leading the mules in our track and sometimes riding them. We traveled all day averaging about knee deep in snow. Camped at 11 at night on Summit Creek. Extremely hungry and feet badly frozen. We built a small fire it being the coldest night we had ever experienced and after trying in vain to thaw out our frozen shoes, stockings and the bottoms of our drawers and pants we rolled ourselves in our blankets and lay trembling with cold a few hours."
"January 28th. Rose long before day, ate a few mouthfuls of the last frozen biscuit remaining, saddled up our animals and after another laborious day, living on a piece of biscuit not so large as our fist, we entered Provo at dark, raised a posse of men and animals with provisions and set back the same night."
As noted in Franklin West's biography, "Governor Young had sent out colonists to practically every site recommended by the report of the exploring expedition."
Chauncey returned home to Salt Lake where he labored to build up the community and provide for his family, now consisting of his sister Adelia, their daughter Margaret, son Chauncey junior, and possibly his younger brothers. He and Mary welcomed another baby son into their home September 1851, whom they named Joseph Alva.
Be sure to logon next week for the next exciting episode.
The photograph of the monument clearly shows its deteriorated condition. This is the only marker for all of the four adults and thirteen children of Chauncey's and four of his sister Adelia's children that are buried in the C.W. West family plot.
Now for the next exciting episode in the life of Chauncey Walker West, Explorer, Pioneer, Father
Chauncey and Mary had a new baby with them when they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley that had been born on the journey near what is now Green River, Wyoming, besides his two brothers and sister. Their first baby, Margaret, died shortly after they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.
He built a sturdy log and adobe cabin within what is now called "Pioneer Square" and began with the other men to divert the stream "City Creek" on the dry ground, plow and plant crops to provide their food for the coming winter.
In August of 1849, Mary gave birth to their first son who they named Chauncey Walker, Jr. In December of 1849, Brigham Young organized an exploring party to scout out the area south of Salt Lake to find suitable locations where settlements could be made. Parley P. Pratt was selected to head this group made up of fifty men with their wagons and animals. Chauncey, age twenty-one at this time was selected to go with this group.
The Pratt exploring party left Provo in December and traveled south approximately along where Utah State Highway 89 is located. The winter of 1849-50 was severe, making this journey even more difficult. They traveled south as far as they could go with horses and wagons, then cut over the mountains to the west about where Parowan is located, which was then called Salt Valley. The group made camp here and Parley selected a group to go with him on south to where Santa Clara is now located. Chauncey was given supervision of the other part of the group remaining in the Parowan area. Chauncey and his group explored west of Parowan discovering some interesting Indian petroglyphs at a place called The Gap. A detailed account of this exploring group is in the book Over The Rim, by William B and Donna T. Smart.
When Parley returned to the main group in Parowan in late January, they began traveling north. Parley, realizing they did not have sufficient supplies to carry them through the winter, left the main body of the men and equipment at Fillmore and started with twenty men and animals for Provo. The snow was so deep, the weather severely cold, and their supplies so low that he decided that he and one other of the men would take the best horses and push through to Provo to get help. The man he selected to go with him was Chauncey W. West.
In Parley's journal of January 27th we read, "Our provisions being nearly exhausted, Chauncey West and myself decided to take some of the strongest animals and try to penetrate to Provo, which was still some 50 miles distant in order to send back provisions to the remainder who were to follow slowly. We started at daylight, breaking the way on foot, leading the mules in our track and sometimes riding them. We traveled all day averaging about knee deep in snow. Camped at 11 at night on Summit Creek. Extremely hungry and feet badly frozen. We built a small fire it being the coldest night we had ever experienced and after trying in vain to thaw out our frozen shoes, stockings and the bottoms of our drawers and pants we rolled ourselves in our blankets and lay trembling with cold a few hours."
"January 28th. Rose long before day, ate a few mouthfuls of the last frozen biscuit remaining, saddled up our animals and after another laborious day, living on a piece of biscuit not so large as our fist, we entered Provo at dark, raised a posse of men and animals with provisions and set back the same night."
As noted in Franklin West's biography, "Governor Young had sent out colonists to practically every site recommended by the report of the exploring expedition."
Chauncey returned home to Salt Lake where he labored to build up the community and provide for his family, now consisting of his sister Adelia, their daughter Margaret, son Chauncey junior, and possibly his younger brothers. He and Mary welcomed another baby son into their home September 1851, whom they named Joseph Alva.
Be sure to logon next week for the next exciting episode.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Monument Fund News & First Episode Life of Chauncey
The Chauncey W. West Monument Fund account at America First Credit Union now has two custodians. Norma Buchanan and Rich Brewer. Please send all of your relatives who are also descendants of Chauncey the logon for this blog: http://chaunceywwestmonument.blogspot.com and my email address: norma.buchanan@gmail.com. Any of you may email me at any time if you have questions or suggestions concerning this project or information you want me to include here.
For the benefit of the younger generation who may never have heard of Chauncey West and his great achievements and as a review for his older descendants brief biographical sketches of the life of Chauncey Walker West, a most remarkable man, and each of his wives who were equally remarkable women, will be posted on this blog each Wednesday evening.
Quoting from the Ogden Junction, dated Wednesday Morning, Jan. 19, 1870 "Bishop Lester J. Herrick said at the funeral of Bishop Chauncey W. West: "……..He was truly a father to the people and a friend to the poor…." This is only one of numerous accolades and honors paid to Bishop Chauncey West at his funeral.
Many years later in the Ogden Standard newspaper article commemorating 150 years since Ogden was settled, is this: "Chauncey Walker West is considered one of Weber County’s greatest pioneers and a highly respected leader in the history of the territory.” As one of his many descendants, I am truly grateful for his life, his character, his integrity, and his faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ. His contributions to building the Kingdom of God on earth, a great family, and the community in which I was born and raised and continue to reside has blessed my life immeasureably.
Chauncey was born in Pennsylvania February 6, 1827 to Alva and Sally Benedict West. His parents and their family responded to the message of Mormon missionaries and were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in about 1842.
In 1844 the family moved to Nauvoo, Illinois where Chauncey met Mary Hoagland, a lovely daughter of Abraham and Mary Quick Hoagland. They were married in May 1846 when Chauncey was nineteen and Mary seventeen.
Due to intense persecution by neighboring communities, the saints, under the direction of Brigham Young moved almost the entire population of the then largest city in Illinois, about 20,000 people, across the Mississippi River and out of the United States in early spring 1846. Their original plan was to travel to the Rocky Mountains before winter , but the crossing of Iowa Territory took four months due to unusually heavy rains that year. When they arrived at the Missouri River they decided to spend the winter. Many temporary communities were built on the Iowa side of the river, but about 500 log cabins were constructed on the west side and was called Winter Quarters.
Chauncey, with his young wife, his parents and brothers and sisters left Nauvoo in late May 1846 and traveled by wagon to Winter Quarters. Chauncey’s father, mother and elder brother Joseph died at Winter Quarters and are buried in the Winter Quarters cemetery. In the spring of 1847 Chauncey and his wife Mary brought his two younger brothers, Israel age 13, Alvin age 11 and sister Adelia, 5 across the plains to Utah arriving in the Salt Lake Valley September 1847. They built a small cabin and stayed in Salt Lake about two years. Life in the valley at that time was very hard. Take time to see the pioneer cabin across the street from Temple Square or the Miles Goodyear cabin near the Daughters of Pioneers Museum at 2150 Grant and imagine what it would be like for the five members of this family to live in one.
Logon again next week - You won't want to miss the next exciting episode
For the benefit of the younger generation who may never have heard of Chauncey West and his great achievements and as a review for his older descendants brief biographical sketches of the life of Chauncey Walker West, a most remarkable man, and each of his wives who were equally remarkable women, will be posted on this blog each Wednesday evening.
Quoting from the Ogden Junction, dated Wednesday Morning, Jan. 19, 1870 "Bishop Lester J. Herrick said at the funeral of Bishop Chauncey W. West: "……..He was truly a father to the people and a friend to the poor…." This is only one of numerous accolades and honors paid to Bishop Chauncey West at his funeral.
Many years later in the Ogden Standard newspaper article commemorating 150 years since Ogden was settled, is this: "Chauncey Walker West is considered one of Weber County’s greatest pioneers and a highly respected leader in the history of the territory.” As one of his many descendants, I am truly grateful for his life, his character, his integrity, and his faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ. His contributions to building the Kingdom of God on earth, a great family, and the community in which I was born and raised and continue to reside has blessed my life immeasureably.
Chauncey was born in Pennsylvania February 6, 1827 to Alva and Sally Benedict West. His parents and their family responded to the message of Mormon missionaries and were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in about 1842.
In 1844 the family moved to Nauvoo, Illinois where Chauncey met Mary Hoagland, a lovely daughter of Abraham and Mary Quick Hoagland. They were married in May 1846 when Chauncey was nineteen and Mary seventeen.
Due to intense persecution by neighboring communities, the saints, under the direction of Brigham Young moved almost the entire population of the then largest city in Illinois, about 20,000 people, across the Mississippi River and out of the United States in early spring 1846. Their original plan was to travel to the Rocky Mountains before winter , but the crossing of Iowa Territory took four months due to unusually heavy rains that year. When they arrived at the Missouri River they decided to spend the winter. Many temporary communities were built on the Iowa side of the river, but about 500 log cabins were constructed on the west side and was called Winter Quarters.
Chauncey, with his young wife, his parents and brothers and sisters left Nauvoo in late May 1846 and traveled by wagon to Winter Quarters. Chauncey’s father, mother and elder brother Joseph died at Winter Quarters and are buried in the Winter Quarters cemetery. In the spring of 1847 Chauncey and his wife Mary brought his two younger brothers, Israel age 13, Alvin age 11 and sister Adelia, 5 across the plains to Utah arriving in the Salt Lake Valley September 1847. They built a small cabin and stayed in Salt Lake about two years. Life in the valley at that time was very hard. Take time to see the pioneer cabin across the street from Temple Square or the Miles Goodyear cabin near the Daughters of Pioneers Museum at 2150 Grant and imagine what it would be like for the five members of this family to live in one.
Logon again next week - You won't want to miss the next exciting episode
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Next Step
I think I know how to include a photo so will try photo of Chauncey West gravesite monument in next post.
Also, there is bank account at America First Credit Union titled Chauncey W. West Monument Fund. I opened the account as custodian. In process of finding two other descendants to be custodians. Three signatures will be required for any withdrawal of funds.
I'm still working on how to have the PayPal donations credited directly to the account. Will post that info ASAP.
Personal checks may also be sent directly to America First Credit Union payable to the Chauncey W. West Monument Fund, Account #9033994. Your cancelled check will be your receipt. I will post the monthly AFCU statement here.
The goal is to have the new monument installed by end of May 2009. Propose we have an appropriate dedication service at or on Memorial Day. To achieve that goal, we must have at least $6,000.00 in the account by the end of 2008 in order for the monument company to order the material and get it made.
Your comments and/or suggestions are welcome.
Also, there is bank account at America First Credit Union titled Chauncey W. West Monument Fund. I opened the account as custodian. In process of finding two other descendants to be custodians. Three signatures will be required for any withdrawal of funds.
I'm still working on how to have the PayPal donations credited directly to the account. Will post that info ASAP.
Personal checks may also be sent directly to America First Credit Union payable to the Chauncey W. West Monument Fund, Account #9033994. Your cancelled check will be your receipt. I will post the monthly AFCU statement here.
The goal is to have the new monument installed by end of May 2009. Propose we have an appropriate dedication service at or on Memorial Day. To achieve that goal, we must have at least $6,000.00 in the account by the end of 2008 in order for the monument company to order the material and get it made.
Your comments and/or suggestions are welcome.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Purpose of this blog
The purpose for setting up this blog is to find and communicate with descendants of Chauncey Walker West, born 6 Feb. 1827 in Erie County, Pennsylvania for the purpose of replacing the badly weathered grave monument at his and other family members gravesite in the Ogden City Cemetery.
Edward Tullidge, pioneer historian wrote that Chauncey Walker West was "one of the most distinguished persons in the history of this territory." (speaking of Utah territory).
This is my first attempt to set up and use a blog. Haven't learned how to post pictures, but I will and then I will post a picture of the monument.
The Bott Monument Co. of Ogden, Utah estimated the cost to replace the present monument with a new one of the same size and shape of granite would cost about $10,000.00.
Many other descendants are enthusiastically in favor of this project.
Information on how contributions can be made will be coming in future blogs.
Edward Tullidge, pioneer historian wrote that Chauncey Walker West was "one of the most distinguished persons in the history of this territory." (speaking of Utah territory).
This is my first attempt to set up and use a blog. Haven't learned how to post pictures, but I will and then I will post a picture of the monument.
The Bott Monument Co. of Ogden, Utah estimated the cost to replace the present monument with a new one of the same size and shape of granite would cost about $10,000.00.
Many other descendants are enthusiastically in favor of this project.
Information on how contributions can be made will be coming in future blogs.
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