Pioneer Day 2013

In honor of Pioneer Day, I thought I would post the photos I took at the Historic Penrose Cabin in Farmington, Utah.  I have been to the cabin a few times, but had never been inside.  

This is me, back in the early 1990s, outside the gate at the Penrose Cabin

This last trip to Utah, we were able to get a hold of the DUP group that cares for the site and they unlocked the gate so we could see the interior of the cabin.

Our group was Marjorie Castle, Kathryn Berkowitz, Rebecca, Katrina and I.  

Charles W. Penrose left England and travelled, as a pioneer, across the plains, arriving in Utah in 1861.  This cabin was built in Farmington, Utah, for he and his family to live until another home could be built for them.  (This cabin is located behind an amazingly beautiful stone chapel in Farmington that I never remember to take a photo of, so I got this off Google Maps!)

There is basically one corner of the museum that has artifacts from Charles W. Penrose:

There are several items, including Charles' "dress suit" (which he is wearing in several photos), his rocking chair, and a portrait.

There were also many histories and photos in a binder on the front table.  To see photos of the histories, and all the photos I took at the cabin, click HERE.

It was lovely to get to see the interior of the cabin!

Rebecca, Katrina and Lora Nehring at the Historic Penrose Cabin

Direct line ancestry: Charles W. Penrose --> Frank W. Penrose --> Lu Penrose --> Kathryn Bond -->  Lora Marshall Nehring

Thomas Halligan and his family

This has been a week of amazingness!!  I have broken through so many road blocks this last two weeks, it is so exciting!

A while back I mentioned my difficulty in finding any information on Thomas Halligan.  This has been a road block for as long as I can remember.  I have been able to find oodles of information, thanks to the fantastic genealogical community out there!

It started three weeks ago when a Find-A-Grave volunteer took the headstone photos I had requested of Ann, Patrick and Mary Halligan.  I was guessing that they could have been Thomas' children.  The funny thing was, I didn't remember having requested that the photos be taken.  That one little forgotten request was the crack in the flood gates!

The Halligan marker at the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa

Ann Halligan's marker in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa.

Ann Halligan's marker in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa.  It says: Ann, wife of T. Halligan, died July 17, 18965, aged 68 years

Patrick Halligan's headstone in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa.

Mary Halligan, Patrick's wife's headstone in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa.

I was guessing that Patrick, Ann and Mary could have been Thomas' children.

When I made the request I added a note that if there was a Thomas Halligan buried there as well, could they please take a photo of his headstone too.  The volunteer told me that there was no headstone for Thomas in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa, but that she was familiar with the local cemeteries, and there was a Thomas Halligan buried in the St. Vincent's Cemetery in Riverside, Washington, Iowa.  

Thomas Halligan's headstone in the St. Vincent's Cemetery in Riverside, Washington, Iowa.  Transcription: Thomas Halligan, Died Aug. 22, 1874, Aged 50 years.  John, died June 15, 1863, Aged 8 years.  Julia E., died Nov. 18, 1865, Aged 1 yr. 9 mos.  May their souls rest in peace. Amen.

This Thomas Halligan died in 1874, at the age of 50, meaning he would have been born in 1824.  There are two children buried with Thomas, John and Julia.

I Googled the St. Vincent Cemetery and called to speak to the Sexton there.  He said that when they acquired the cemetery, there were no additional records, and, the first source of my frustration, Iowa did not start keeping records until 1880, six years until after Thomas Halligan died.  Iowa became a state in 1846, but didn't keep records until 1880?!  Bad Iowa!!

So, no death record, nothing.  So, I called the Riverside newspaper to see if there was an obituary.  (Hooray for unlimited calling plans!!)  The Riverside newspaper was not around then, but they said there was a Washington County newspaper and I should contact the Washington County Library's genealogical department to see if they had obituaries.  Since the department is staffed by volunteers, it took a few days for them to get back to me.

In the mean time, I did some digging.  I went back to the 1870 Census that lists Thomas Halligan with his wife, Lancia, and five children, Thomas, Patrick, Ann, Mary and Margaritta.  

1870 United States Federal Census for Union Township, Louisa, Iowa, line 6.

Thomas was born in Ireland, Patrick in Great Britain, and Ann in Iowa.  To me this tracks their immigration.  Patrick was born in 1850, which means that they would have immigrated to America somewhere between July 1850 and roughly, 1852-1854.  I have checked many immigration records and haven't found them yet.  Frustration #2.

The Iowa State Census for 1925 lists Patrick Halligan, born about 1850, from Ireland with father, Thomas Halligan, and mother, Annie Ratchford.

Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 - Census date - 1 Jan 1925

The Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947 lists Patrick Halligan, born 4 July 1850 in England, with father, Thomas Halligan, and mother, Anna Caslello. (?)

Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947

Thomas' birth year on the 1870 Census is 1842, and I am beginning to think that the census taker reversed the numbers of his birth year, and perhaps when Ann C. said Ann-C the census taker heard Lancia.  The more I look at census documents, the more I see human error.

There is also a 1860 census with Thomas Halligan, his wife Ann C., and children Patrick, Ann and Mary.  The ages and birth places match. 

1860 United States Federal Census - Union Township, Louisa, Iowa, line 19

In the meantime the Washington County Historical Society volunteer called me back.  There were no obituaries ……. frustration #3.  She said that if someone's horse died, it would make the front page, but when a person died, not so much.  She had the cemetery record for Thomas Halligan, which also mention the John and Julia, although the records are inconsistent, one says he died in 1874 and one says 1871.  The headstone says 1874.  She also referenced the 1860 and 1870 Census documents.  She also had the marriage record for Patrick Halligan and his wife, Mary.  Basically, not much more.

I called the Washington County Recorders office, to see if there were any records for any of the Halligan children.  They don't give information over the phone, and you have to be a direct relative to receive any of the documents.  They referred me to the Washington County Historical Society.  Been there.  They said I could pay someone to come to see if there was anything there to ask for, but I am not at that point yet.  Frustration #4.

There is also the 1880 Census where Ann Halligan is listed with her youngest daughter, Maggie (Margaritta).  A few lines down is Patrick and his family.

1880 United States Federal Census - Fremont Township, Johnson, Iowa, line 36

So, based on the census documents and Patrick's death record, I am convinced that this is my 3rd great-grandfather, Thomas Halligan, and his daughter, Ann, is my 2nd great-grandmother, Anna Teressa Halligan.

So, this would be my understanding of this family.  Thomas Halligan and Ann C. Ratchford were married in Ireland, somewhere around 1846ish.  They had a son, Thomas, born around 1848-50.  They immigrated to America, and Patrick was born along the way while they were in England.  For some reason Thomas didn't come with them, as he doesn't appear on the 1860 Census.  My grandfather, Don Caman, said that they came to America with the Sammon family.  "The Halligan family and the Sammons had come from Ireland, they were in the famine and it was to either leave Ireland or starve to death.  So, that's why they left Ireland.  The Halligans and Sammons eventually settled in Iowa and my great-great grandmother met my great-great grandfather in Iowa."

They arrived in America, traveling through Illinois, where John was born, and settling in Iowa, where Ann(a), Mary, Margaritta and Julia were born.  John appears on the 1860 Census, and then died in 1863, and is buried with Thomas.  Julia never appears on a census, as she was born in February 1864 and died in November 1865.  Some time before 1870, Thomas arrived to join the family.

In the St. Mary's Cemetery, the headstones were Patrick and his wife, Mary Morgan Halligan, and Thomas' wife, Ann.  Her headstone says, wife of T. Halligan.

After so many years of road blocks, it is wonderful to have a break through!!  I still have to find the immigration records, and I don't have the International subscription to Ancestry, so I have to find Irish records another way, but still a break through!!

Don Caman continued by saying: "My cousins are named Warren and my uncle was Warren, but really they should have used the name of Sammon, because I show no record that they children's names were changed or that they were adopted by WIlliam Warren, who was their step-father.  But, in those days, when the Census man came around, if you wanted to change your name, you could, because originally, my mother's name was Mary.  And for some reason she liked Amy Marie, so she changed it to Amy Marie."

My next post will be on the process of finding Anna's family and Mary/Amy Marie's family!  The excitement continues!!

Direct line ancestry: Thomas Halligan --> Anna Teressa Halligan --> Annie Marie Sammon --> Donald William Caman --> Donald William (Caman) Marshall --> Lora Teressa Marshall Nehring

Charles William Penrose - Life History: Part 2

Upon further research, it turns out there may be a biography of my great-great grandfather, Charles Penrose.  A book entitled "Charles W. Penrose : his life and thought" by Kenneth W. Godfrey.  It is available only at the libraries at BYU and the Utah State University, so I won't be able to check it out any time soon.  Next time I head that direction I will have to take a look.


In 1851 Charles Penrose began a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From a talk I gave in 1983:  "He rose in service in the Church in England, and forsook an opportunity for a career in the British government to fulfill a mission call.  He served as a missionary for ten years and traveled thousands of miles on foot" - and during which time he established a number of branches of the Church.


From the internet site: mormonhistory dot org it describes Charles Penrose's mission:


"His scriptural attainments and spiritual inclinations soon brought him under notice of the presiding authorities of the London conference, and in January, 1851, when not yet nineteen years old, he was ordained an Elder, and two months later was sent on a mission to Maldon, in Essex, to preach the gospel, "break new ground," and build up branches of the Church. This movement was much in opposition to the wishes of his friends, and to his own pecuniary interests, as he had been offered, on condition of his remaining home, a life situation in a government office. Shutting his eyes to the gilded bait of temptation, he took up the cross of the Master, and literally "without purse or scrip," taking not a penny in his pocket, nor even a change of dress, started out afoot upon his mission as a servant of the Lord. With bleeding feet but undaunted heart, he reached the town of Maldon, having slept out of doors for the first time in his life the chilly night previous. He was an utter stranger in the place, and the first "Mormon" Elder to visit that region of the country. He met with much opposition, but steadily worked his way in the town of Maldon, and the country round about, and succeeded in raising up branches of the Church in Maldon, Danbury, Chelmsford, Colchester and other places, baptizing a great number of persons of both sexes, many of whom are now in Utah, and being instrumental, by the laying on of hands, in the restoration to health of many persons afflicted with disease. He possessed the gift of healing to a remarkable degree, and several of the cures performed were of a miraculous order.


"He labored for seven years in poor agricultural districts, opening new missionary fields, building up branches, suffering many hardships and trudging on foot between three and four thousand miles every year."


The most famous story from his mission was that after seven years in the mission field, Charles was going to go home. The furniture in his flat, which was very nice, belonged to his parents.   Charles went to move the furniture out and the other missionaries rebuked him because they thought, since it had been so long, that the furniture belonged to the Church, not to him.  Elder Penrose said, I have taken all sorts of abuse from the people of this country, but I refuse to endure it from a fellow missionary!


Because of that occurrence, he wrote a poem that later became Hymn 336, "School Thy Feelings".


From ldschurcharchives dot com it refers to the circumstances surrounding Charles' writing of the hymn:


"Elder Charles W. Penrose, an apostle and later counselor to Joseph F. Smith, turned a false accusation against him into a poem, which later became one of our hymns: "School Thy Feelings," (Hymns 336.)


"Reflecting on the event that led to his penning the words, Penrose wrote: "This hymn was not intended for singing; it was written for myself. . . . I had been insidiously accused, not openly, but certain things had been said about me and my presidency of the Birmingham Conference . . . and this touched me to the heart. I did not know how to bear it. Weltering under these feelings I sat down and wrote that little poem, right from my soul, and intended it for my self. . . . President Brigham Young . . . later told me that he had it read to him several times when he had a deputy marshal guarding him in his house." (Our Latter-day Hymns, pp 323-24.)


"Later Elder Orson F. Whitney, then a member of the Council of the Twelve, expressed this thought: "Here was one who knew himself to be `falsely, basely slandered,' pleading not with his accuser but with himself against the passing of condemnation `on friend or foe.' Except for the infamy of his act, I could almost thank `the accuser of the brethren' for that `quiet slander' which wounded the poet's sensitive soul and gave us as the indirect and unintended result this beautiful hymn."


School Thy Feelings
School thy feelings, O my brother; Train thy warm, impulsive soul.
Do not its emotions smother, But let wisdom's voice control.
School thy feelings; there is power In the cool, collected mind.
  Passion shatters reason's tower, Makes the clearest vision blind.
School thy feelings, O my brother; Train thy warm, impulsive soul.
  Do not its emotions smother, But let wisdom's voice control.


School thy feelings; condemnation Never pass on friend or foe,
 Though the tide of accusation Like a flood of truth may flow.

Hear defense before deciding, And a ray of light may gleam,
Showing thee what filth is hiding Underneath the shallow stream.  
School thy feelings, O my brother; Train thy warm, impulsive soul.
  Do not its emotions smother, But let wisdom's voice control.


Should affliction's acrid vial Burst o'er thy unsheltered head,
 School thy feelings to the trial; Half its bitterness hath fled.
Art thou falsely, basely, slandered? Does the world begin to frown?
  Gauge thy wrath by wisdom's standard; Keep thy rising anger down.
School thy feelings, O my brother; Train thy warm, impulsive soul.
  Do not its emotions smother, But let wisdom's voice control.


Rest thyself on this assurance: Time's a friend to innocence,
 And the patient, calm endurance Wins respect and aids defense.
Noblest minds have finest feelings; Quiv'ring strings a breath can move;
 And the gospel's sweet revealings Tune them with the key of love.
  School thy feelings, O my brother; Train thy warm, impulsive soul.
  Do not its emotions smother, But let wisdom's voice control.


Hearts so sensitively molded Strongly fortified should be,
 Trained to firmness and enfolded In a calm tranquility.
  Wound not willfully another; Conquer haste with reason's might;
  School thy feelings, sister, brother; Train them in the path of right.
School thy feelings, O my brother; Train thy warm, impulsive soul.  
Do not its emotions smother, But let wisdom's voice control.


There was 143 years in between the missionary service of Elder Charles Penrose and Sister Lora Marshall, but we served the same cause, the same Church, the same Savior.  I am grateful for that connection and how that draws his life closer to mine.

Direct line ancestry: Charles William Penrose --> Frank William Penrose --> Lu Penrose Bond --> Kathryn Bond Berkowitz --> Lora Marshall Nehring

Charles William Penrose - Life History: Part 1

I mentioned in a previous post that my great-great grandfather, Charles William Penrose has never had a book written about him.  I found that amazing, as he had a very full life, and he was somewhat famous in Church history.  There is a dorm named for him at BYU after all. : )

When I was on my mission I was in a missionary conference and my Mission President was speaking about Charles W. Penrose.  He asked if anyone had heard of him, so I raised my hand and told him that he my 2nd great grandfather.  My Mission President asked what I could tell everyone about him, and put on the spot like that, my mind went completely blank, and I couldn't remember a THING about Charles W. Penrose.  I was so embarrassed!  I didn't ever want to be in that spot again!

A picture of me, Sister Marshall, on my mission.  I was leaving for the Australia Melbourne Mission and my Gma Lu Penrose Bond, Aunt Marji Castle and Uncle Brent Castle met me at the Salt Lake City Airport to say good-bye.  December 1993

So, I want to compile all I can find about Charles W. Penrose.  I will compile his history the best I can.  And, with it all in one place, hopefully I won't ever go blank again if anyone asks me about my great-great grandfather.

Let's start with the basics.  Charles was born on 4 February 1832 in Camberwell, London, England to Richard Penrose and Matilda Sims Penrose.  Charles was Christened on 31 May 1837 at St. John Parish, Waterloo, Lambeth, London, Surrey, England.

A copy of Charles William Penrose's christening/baptism certificate

A photo of Matilda Sims Penrose (no date)

He was the second child, and only son, born to Richard and Matilda.  His older sister was Juliana, and his younger sisters were Matilda, Emma and Elvira.

In a talk that I gave in 1983, I wrote: "On February 4th, 1832, Charles W. Penrose was born to a well-to-do family in Camberwell England.  By the time he was four he was already reading the Bible.  He heard the Mormon missionaries when he was eighteen years old and when he joined the Church, he was disowned and disinherited."  He was the only member of his family to join the Church, being baptized on 14 May 1850, and my grandmother said that as far as she knew, he never talked to any of his family again after that.

I don't have any photos of Charles as a young man, but I think of all his sons, that Herbert looks the most like him, so I am going to say that this is probably what Charles looked like as a youth.

Herbert "Herb" L. Penrose

Next post I will write more about Charles W. Penrose's mission in England.

Direct line ancestry: Charles William Penrose --> Frank William Penrose --> Lu Penrose Bond --> Kathryn Bond Berkowitz --> Lora Marshall Nehring

Charles W. Penrose

I found out today that there are no written biographies of Charles W. Penrose, which I found surprising. I was looking for a feed on the lds.org website and I stumbled across the Legacy podcasts from the Mormon Channel. Episode 57 is The Life of Charles W. Penrose. It is a 45 minute discussion with Historian Kenneth Godfrey on the life of missionary, Apostle, and First Presidency member Charles W. Penrose. I learned quite a few things I hadn't known about him.



To hear the broadcast CLICK HERE

Direct line ancestry: Charles William Penrose --> Frank William Penrose --> Lu Penrose Bond --> Kathryn Bond Berkowitz --> Lora Marshall Nehring

Ann Chatterley Macfarlane - Indian Persistence

Several weeks ago I taught a lesson to the young women at church about Heritage. I made a display to go along with the lesson about what my heritage is. My heritage, what has been handed down to me and I hope to pass on to my descendants, is family history. I brought the display home and hung it up in my workroom, right behind the computer, so that I can see it every day.


These are the women who inspire me! - 1st column: Annie Marie Sammon Caman, Sabra Adeline Dennis, Beatrice Ann Betts, Charlotte Ann Macfarlane McQuarrie. 2nd column: Kathryn Bond Berkowitz, Louise Elizabeth Lusty Penrose, Ruth McQuarrie Penrose, Florence Faye Alkire Love. 3rd column: Lu Penrose Bond, Joella Shewalter Cameron Love, Anna White Durrett Bond, Miriam Elizabeth Griffiths Bond Haddow. 4th column: Ann Chatterley Macfarlane, WIlburta June Love Linenbach, Florence Faye Alkire, Agnes Gray McQuarrie.

Among those women is my great-great-great grandmother, Ann Chatterley Macfarlane. She was an inspiring woman! There are many wonderful stories told of her, and each one impresses me with her dedication and her strength. I hope that I could be as up to the challenge as she was!!

I am going to share one of her stories today. The story of Indian Persistence.


"We have no photographs of Ann as a young girl, but from family comments and descriptions, she must have been attractive. Her hair and eyes were coal black, and didn't ever turn completely gray." - Anna Brooks Taylor

Ann was born in Manchester, England on 3 March 1837 to Joseph and Nancy Morton Chatterley. The family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and sailed to America to join the pioneer trek west to Utah. Joseph was an iron worker and his skills were needed in the Cedar City area.

From a biography by Ann's granddaughter, Ruth M. Penrose:

"When the Chatterley family arrived in Cedar City they found the Indians well established in the mountains and valleys roundabout. Ann, 15, wanted to learn more about them - even their language, which she soon did. The Indians admired her dark hair and eyes. One came to her father, Joseph Chatterley, and offered him 40 horses and 40 blankets for her - Joseph had no idea that the Indian was serious and thought no more of it; however, in about two weeks came this same Indian with 40 blankets and 40 horses and the tribesmen to help him. Joseph explained that white men did not sell their children - and for him to leave and take his tribe, blankets and horses. This caused much trouble - the Indians left in anger declaring to return and get her anyway.

"George A. Smith ordered Ann to remain inside the Fort until the affair quieted down regardless of the time it might take. Ann realized her own responsibility to keep the peace. After about three months and “lookouts” had reported no sign of trouble, Ann said as soon as it was really safe she wanted to learn to milk a cow. (Seems there was a space between the Fort and the enclosure where cattle were kept - this space between was for guards on duty at all times). One evening Ann was allowed to go to the corral with her brother at milking time. She watched how he did it - then he let her “strip” that cow while he went to milk another. She had started, but heard a slight rustling sound, looked up to see an Indian ready to grab her in a buffalo skin. She let out an awful scream and ran for the Fort. All were alerted and she was saved but did not recover from this fright for many a day, if ever. Every grandchild or great-grandchild over age 40 has heard this story - each one retells it - with his or her own degree of interpretation. This is my version. RMP"

The same story with different details is offered by Anna Brooks Taylor:

“The Indians were attracted to this little black-eyes, black hair girl and asked to buy her. Her father laughingly said, “She will cost 50 ponies and some blankets.” In only a few days the old chief appeared with the herd of ponies. When her father tried to explain, the Indian didn’t take kindly to the joke. During the next few weeks, she was guarded constantly. One night, as she carried a large bucket of milk to the fort, she spied a big Indian in the brush. She flew to the safety of the fort, but realizing he was gaining on her, she threw the bucket and the milk at him and fell through the door to safety.”

It is amazing what the pioneers went through as they crossed the plains and settled a new home in unfamiliar territory. It was a very different time!

Direct line ancestry: Ann Chatterley Macfarlane --> Charlotte Ann Macfarlane McQuarrie --> Ruth McQuarrie Penrose --> Lu Penrose Bond --> Kathryn Bond Berkowitz --> Lora Marshall Nehring

Beatrice Ann Betts Griffiths

Beatrice Ann Betts was born in Birmingham, England on 10 January 1865. I have no information about her until she became a mother. When Miriam Elizabeth Griffiths was born in 1892, Beatrice Griffiths, formerly Betts, is listed on the birth certificate, along with Miriam's father, Walter Griffiths.



There are a few photos of Beatrice and her daughter which were taken before they immigrated to America, including one with unknown family members.


Miriam Elizabeth and Beatrice Ann Griffiths


in front: Beatrice and Miriam. Does anyone know who the other people are? There is another photo of the woman on the far right in with photos of Beatrice, so she may be a sister, or her mother, I am not sure.

Beatrice immigrated to the United States through Emerson, Canada on the Canadian Pacific Railway, entering through the port of Noyes, Minnesota on 20 March 1897 and settled in Los Angeles, California.



On her application for naturalization, dated 24 May 1929, she listed her employment as a housekeeper, and described herself physically as white, with a dark complexion, 5 feet tall, 98 pounds, with dark brown hair and blue eyes.


This photo of Beatrice and her daughter, Miriam, was taken 18 August 1930, about a year after she came to America.

An interesting side note is that Beatrice also lists on her naturalization application that she is not married, and that her husband, Walter Griffiths, is deceased. I am not going to speculate on the nature of their relationship, but Walter Griffiths was actually alive and did not pass away until 1959. There is an undated photo of her in which she appears to be unhappy and it seems someone has been cut out. So, I guess I am speculating that perhaps they did not have a happy marriage.


Beatrice Griffiths - 1916

Beatrice died on 11 August 1941 in Los Angeles, California. I have not been successful as of yet finding out which cemetery she is buried in.



Direct line ancestry: Beatrice Ann Betts Griffiths --> Miriam Elizabeth Griffiths Bond --> Richard Griffiths Bond --> Kathryn Bond --> Lora Marshall Nehring