Wood Cowboy Grandpas

4th Great Grandson of John WOOD Sr.

JRA

LWR

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John Andrew WOOD - Laura Elizabeth PARKER. Andrew born in Grafton, Utah 1883, died in Hurricane, Utah 1932

John WOOD Jr - Sarah Jane GIBSON

born in Lehi, Utah at age 5 move to the Virgin river area with parents, Grafton, Pipe Springs, Hurricane

John WOOD Sr - Ellen SMITH

John Wood Sr. lived in Lancashire, England, Lehi Utah, Virgin Utah, Duncan, Utah, Grafton, Utah, Rose Valley, Nevada, back to Grafton Utah, Ellen died there, John moved to Hurricane, Utah.

Cowboys working on the Arizona Strip B. F. Saunders Cattle Ranch.  From left: George A. Gibson, George Cropper (forman), Joe Scow, Moen Indian, Jess Lemman (cook), Parley Warnick, Dave Ballard, John Wood Jr., photo taken at Fredonia, Arizona. 

At the turn of the century everywhere was open range and nearly everyone in the settlements on the river had a few head of cattle. The cattle ranged in the winter in the Big Plain area – Gooseberry Mountain, Rattlesnake, and Caanan Gaps – and in the summer on Kolob Mountain.  (Personal History of Ether Wood)

It was always necessary to have a general roundup in the spring and fall to move the cattle from winter to summer range and vice versa.... (Personal History of Ether Wood)

Some of the men I remember riding with on the range was my father, John Wood, Jr., Dave and Ep and John Ballard, Dave and John Hastings, Frank and Alfred Russell, Dave and Dan Hirschi, Rosewell and Levi and Ben DeMille, Jim Jennings, Frank McMullin, Arch Spilsbury, Ed Higbee, Sam and Hi Ford, my brother [John] Andrew, my cousin Orin Wood, Uncle George and Dardy Gibson, Jim and E. N. Stanworth, and Tom Reeve. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

John Andrew Wood, Orin Wood, Henry Ballard, George Andrew Gibson

1902 Orin Wood, unknown, unknown, George Henry Wood Jr., George Wood Gibson, John Andrew Wood, Angus Franklin Ballard, George Andrew Gibson Sr.

Grafton, Utah

[John Andrew Wood born in Grafton 25 April 1883] in a two-room frame house about ¾ of a block from the one room adobe schoolhouse where I went to school and church and all public gatherings. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

John Sr and Ellen Wood home in Grafton 

My grandfather’s house (John Wood, Sr.) was across the street west. My grandfather and his wife, Ellen Smith Wood lived in the back room and Uncle George and Aunt Emily Wood Gibson lived in the front two rooms. Emily was the youngest child of John Wood. My grandfather’s house is still standing. My brother, Andrew [John Andrew WOOD], moved my father’s house and barn to Hurricane in 1911 and lived in it until he died and his family moved to Salt Lake City about 1932. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

1910 John Andrew Wood Married Laura Elizabth Parker.

Andrew moved his parents [John Wood Jr and Sarah Jane Gibson] house and barn from Grafton to Hurricane, Utah. Kirt DeMar Wood was born in that house in Hurricane.  

My father’s barn and corral was about 300 yards south from the house and across the street west about 100 yards south from the “south” ditch. I never could understand why he didn’t build them close to the ditch so we would not have to drive the horses and cows to water three times a day. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

John Wood, Sr. was a blacksmith in Grafton.

Across the street east from the barn was a small rocky hill. Just north from it was my father’s blacksmith shop. Two of my jobs at the shop was to blow the bellows to make the fire hot and the other was to help him fix wagon wheels when the tire would get loose. He would take it off, put it in the fire and get it to a white heat then put it in the tire shrinker, push down on the lever which would make the tire smaller. He had a measuring wheel about 8 inches in diameter with the which he would go round the wheel, also the tire. It was necessary to have the tire slightly smaller than the wheel. To put the tire on the wheel he would lay the tire flat on the ground, put the three bricks or rocks under to hold it about three inches from the ground, then crisscross stove wood around it. When it was red hot and expanded he would put it on the wheel, pour water on to cool it and keep from burning the fellies. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

Across the ditch north at the top of the lot where the house was, was a molasses mill. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

There was two streets running east and west. On the street on the south side on the east end was Uncle “Nen” Wood’s log barn and corral – also a short distance west was his two-room log house.... On west was Frank Russell, Albert Russell, and William Isom. William Isom was my Uncle. His wife Mary was my mother’s sister.... (Personal History of Ether Wood)

.... At this time the Piute Indians must not have had a reservation. They would pitch their teepees on the edge of town. The people of Grafton was sociable and good to them. The squaws would make regular trips around town carrying sacks containing flour and vegetables. They would usually walk in the house without knocking, and unless you asked them to sit, they would stand. They wouldn’t say anything unless you started a conversation. The Grafton women would add a little to what they had; then they would go.... My father [John Jr] could speak the Piute language quite well. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

Indian photo from the collection of Laura Parker Wood

They had no wagons. Their method of moving camp was to take two poles about 12 feet long and put one on each side of a horse – like shaves of a sleigh. The horse would hold up one end, and the other would drag on the ground. They would put their belongings on the poles behind the horse. Quite often the kids would ride too. The squaws would ride the horse. In the summer they would move to the mountains and higher ground. My father’s old friend, Poincum, would move to our ranch on Kolob. There was no game laws then, and when Poincum would get a deer he would skin it and quarter it and carry it in on the hide. He always gave us a hind quarter. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

A great deal of his [John Wood Jr] early life was spent in the cattle business. He was known as one of the finest horsemen there was. His old companions said he could ride a horse, or rather a bucking bronco, with a dime in either stirrup without losing them from the stirrup. (Funeral of John Wood Jr.)

He  [John Wood Jr] was not a profane man, and while working on the range he was a leader and an example of honesty and integrity. As an active church worker, he served for twenty years in the bishopric with James Ballard and J. N. Stanworth, at Grafton, Utah. (Funeral of John Wood Jr.)

In the spring of 1898, the worst tragedy in the history of Grafton happened. Uncle Nen Wood [George Henry Wood Sr] was killed by an outlaw horse. The men from the towns on the river gathered in the street in front of our place to start on the spring roundup. I remember as they started out one of them shouted “Here goes Roosevelt’s Rough Riders.” (It was during the Spanish American War.) When they were about a mile from where they were going to camp at “The Troughs” the outlaw horse started to buck. When the horse wasn’t able to throw his rider, he threw himself on his side. Uncle Nen’s head hit the ground so hard it caused a concussion of the brain. He never regained consciousness. Nen and my father had never been separated. I have heard my father tell about their boyhood. One thing I remember well was he said they had one pair of boots between them and they took turns wearing them. (Personal History of Ether Wood) / (This is one of several accounts of this family death.)

When I [Ether] was 13 and 14 years old [1903], my brother Andrew, who was six years older than I, was going to school in Provo in winter and worked for the Bar Z Cattle Co. in the summer. That left me to look after the cattle and farm. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

In 1904, when I was 15, I went on the biggest cattle roundup that was ever held in Northern Arizona. There were 75 men and 200 saddle horses and 8 chuck wagons. I can only remember two besides myself in what was called “The River Outfit.” They were Uncle George Gibson and Jim Jennings. We were holding all the river cattle that had strayed, and some had been driven from their winter range....(Personal History of Ether Wood)

In 1906 when I was 17, we moved to Hurricane, although we lived in a tent with a board floor and walls for six years. We built a barn, stable, and corral; fenced the lot and field; and worked on the canal.

In 1907 when I [Ether] was 18, I rode horseback 100 miles to the Buckskin Mt. (It is now the Kaibab.) to see if I could get a job with the Bar Z Cattle Company. It was owned by Benjamin F. Saunders of Salt Lake City. He sold out in the fall of the year to a company in Los Angeles. I found the outfit in Pleasant Valley. It is about 15 miles from the headquarters ranch in the V.T. Park. I was lucky getting a job. The men with the outfit were Charley Demmick (main boss), Dave Rider Forman, George [Henry] Wood, Jr. [uncle], [John] Andrew Wood my brother, Dardie Gibson [cousin], Arch Swapp, Oscar Littlefield, Hi Pollack, Tommy Cafel, Billy Craine, and Jake Hopkins.  (Personal History of Ether Wood)

 About 1897 John Wood Jr. bought the Ranch on Kolob Moutain

About the turn of the century, my father [John Wood Jr] bought a ranch on Kolob Mountain from [his brother in-law] Moses Gibson. It was on Big Creek about a mile up the valley from what is now Kolob Reservoir. We lived there many years in the summer and darried. Our milk cows were range cattle and were quite hard to break to milking. We would lasso them and snub them to the fence, Quite often when we turned them loose we would have to go under or over the fence to keep from getting a horn in the seat of our pants. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

Kolob Ranch

Andrew, Ether, Augusta Carter, Sarah Jane Gibson, Iona, John Jr, Roland Parker Wood

Kolob Ranch

Andrew, John Jr, Sarah Jane

We didn’t have a cream separator. We had a milk house built of logs with rows of shelves on each side. We would put about a half gallon of milk in each pan. About every other day my mother would skim the cream into a 10-gallon churn that had a crank handle on one end that went round and round until it was churned to butter. This round and round job was one of mine. I really got my exercise. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

Be sides this job and helping milk the cows I had two more jobs. We turned the cows on the open range in the day and I had to round them up each evening before milking time. I also had to deliver milk and butter to sheep camps for miles around. In the back end of the milk house which had but one door we stored grain and other supplies. One day, to our surprise, one of the big work horses squeezed through the door and was eating grain in the back with shelves of milk on both sides. We were very careful to not get him excited. We had to work him slowly out backwards. There was a log extending from each side and under the door, so we had to lift each of his feet over one at a time. After that, we kept the door shut! (Personal History of Ether Wood)

Grouse was quite plentiful. With my 22 single shot Stevens rifle, I helped some to supply meat for the family. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

To go to Kolob from Grafton with a wagon or buckboard, we had to go down the river nearly to Virgin then up North Creek, past Mountain Dell and the Mill. On horseback, we could take a cut-off on a trail up the Black Mountain, north across Coal Pits and cross North Creek about a mile above the Mill where we would come into the road. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

My father [John Wood Jr] kept horses and cattle on the ranch from early spring until late fall. He often sent me up horseback to see how everything was. It usually took me until the middle of the afternoon to make it. I didn’t like staying at the ranch alone, so I would hunt the nearest sheep camp to spend the night and then ride back to the ranch at daylight. Sheep herders always seemed to like company. Two of them I remember best was Hi Prince and Jim Taylor. They herded for Joe Prince. His range joined our ranch. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

1911 I [Ether] was released from LDS  [Western States Mission] Dec. 16, 1911 from Durango. I came over the D. and R.G. (Denver and Rio Grande) through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison to Salt Lake City, on the U.P.R.R. (Union Pacific Railroad) to Lund, and from Lund to Cedar on BenNell Stage. My brother, Andrew, met me in Cedar with a team and buggy. I arrived in Hurricane between Christmas and New Years. Found my folks still living in a tent. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

Spring 1912 [Ether] went to Moapa Valley, Nevada on horseback to sell trees for Frank Barber. I stayed part time with Uncle Mose Gibson at St. Thomas. Coming back, the first day I rode from St. Thomas to Littlefield, Arizona, the second day to Hurricane 60 miles. I rode a little white horse of Andrew’s (my brother) named Pedro. In 1912 I also worked at the Cripps Brick Yard and [Ether] hauled rock for the foundation of my father and mother’s house with a wagon from on top of the Hurricane Hill. I also helped build the house. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

In the spring of 1916, I quit work for Esplins and bought a few cattle and ranged them on the Kolob Ranch in summer and in the South Hills in winter. In winter I tended camp for Charles Lundgren. During the winter of 1917 -1918, I tended sheep camp for Bill Smith and my brother, Claud Wood, herded the sheep. In the spring, Claud quit and another brother, Clarence Wood, and a cousin, George Isom, helped me trail the sheep to the shearing corral and the lambing ground on the Bullock Plains where we lambed them. After lambing, I quit and lived on the Kolob Ranch during the summer. (Personal History of Ether Wood)

John Andrew Wood 

Sheep on Kolob, John Andrew and Ether Wood

... Spring of 1918, I bought some cattle from Bill Spendlove. I ranged them on the Kolob Ranch in summer. I fenced the southeast side of Little Creek Mountain for a winter range. Also, my father, [two younger brothers] Claud, Clarence, and I started a sheep buck herd. In the spring, we ranged them in the Berry Springs area and on the Kolob Ranch in summer. The following are some of the sheep men that owned the bucks: Albert Lundell, Charles Lundgren, Oscar Larson, Joe Prince, Howard Chamberlain, John Spendlove, Wm. Spendlove, Ted Atkin, Henry A. Pace, Wm. & John Adams, Thorleys, Brinkerhoffs, and others. We continued this about 4 years.  (Personal History of Ether Wood)

John and Sarah Wood home in Hurricane, Utah 

on horse back Ether, Sarah Jane Gibson, Iona - Ether's daughter, John Jr, William Erwin Wood

 John Wood Jr 1883-1932

John Andrew Wood 1883-1932 on a barrowed horse as an extra in a Wester movie being made in the Hurricane area

Brands including grandfathers John Wood Sr, and John Wood Jr, uncle Ether Wood, cousin Orin Wood

Monuments and Markers - Noble Hurricane Pioneers

 Hurrican Vally Heritage Park

Noble Hurricane Pioneers 

Note: the Pioneer Women are included

Listed Grandparents :

John Wood Sr 1819-1911

John Wood Jr 1858-1931

Sarah Jane Gibson Wood 1863-1936

John Andrew Wood 1883-1932

Laura Elizabeth Parker 1889-1970

Listed Aunts and Uncles:

George Andrew Gibson 1861-1952

Emily Wood Gibson 1867-1951

Ether Wood 1889-1974

Augusta B. Carter Wood 1888-1965

Angus Franlin Ballard 1885-1992

Ivie Wood 1891-1985

William Erwin Wood 1893-1969

Elsie Stout 1892-1980

Claudius Wood  1896-1944

Marguerite Dalton 1896-1974

Listed Cousins:

George Henry Wood Jr 1882-1976

Iva Orilla Williams Wood 1890-1964

Joseph Andrew Scow 1883-1962

Emily Ellen (Ella) Wood Scow 1884-1919

Orin Wood 1886-1923

Harriet Fidelia Flanigan 1887-1918

Anna Jennings 1884-1965

Lafayette Hall 1888-1980

Mary bertha Wood 1889-1980

Elmer Ford Wood 1892-1964

Josephine Spendlove Wood 1895-1927

John Nennial Wood 1897-1952

Martha Bradshaw Wood 1900-1964

George Wood Gibson 1885-1942/45

Jessie Helen Jennings 1889-1974

Jessie Bliss 1885-1961

Ellen Mae Gibson 1885-1972

John Edgar Gibson 1889-1973

Wealth Workman Gibson 1893- 

William Abner Gibson 1892-1953

Reeta Iantha Campbell Gibson 1896-1980 

Henry Melvin Gibson 1894-1963

Historical facts: Hurricane was first settled in 1896. The Hurricane Canal brought water to the area. It built over a period of 11 years (1893–1904), mostly by pick and shovel.

Monuments and Markers - Hurricane, Utah

2. WC MONUMENT  #12 BIRTH OF HURRICANE, 284 E. 200 N., Hwy. 9, Historic Hurricane
Canal Trail and Bowery Park, 84737
Open to Public
Erected by Sons of Utah Pioneers August 1, 1987
Large lava boulder set in cement foundation 64”x59”
Marker (#15)/Plaque Placed by Sons of Utah Pioneers August 1, 1987
Metal 30”x29”-1 picture – man with shovel
Marker Text

Birth of Hurricane 

 This monument is near the spot where a celebration took place on August 6, 1904. 
After nearly eleven years of arduous work on the canal, water was ready for diversion on to 
the land. 

 Five or six wagon loads of people came from the little towns near by. The crowd was 
solemn but happy. They let out a big shout as the water gushed down the hill. Names for 
the new city to be were discussed and voted upon. 

 We thank God for these Pioneers of our valley. 
 For the complete story, visit Pioneer Park. 

3.WCMONUMENT #13THE HURRICANE CANAL, 35 W. State St., Pioneer Heritage Park,
84737
Open to Public
Erected by Utah State Historical Society 1992
Metal Post of Permaloy; 15”x19”x35”
Marker Text

Hurricane Canal 

 The construction of the Hurricane Canal is one of Utah’s proudest stories of pioneer 
determination. This canal built completely by hand opened the Hurricane Bench to farming 
and the establishment of the town of Hurricane. In 1893, two local men, James Jepson and 
John Steele decided to try to build the canal even though earlier reports had determined it 
impossible. Company shares were sold to help finance the project. This stock was issued in 
blocks not to exceed 20 shares. Each share was one acre of land with water rights. Nearly 
100 men subscribed to stock in the Hurricane Canal Company. Many of the shares were 
paid for in labor. Work on the canal was difficult and dangerous. The canal’s 7 ½ mile 
length clings to the sheer walls of the Virgin River Canyon then follows the Hurricane Fault 
and circles the farmlands of the Hurricane Bench. The canal is 8 feet wide and 4 feet deep 
laid out on a 12 foot shelf of conglomerate and lime stone rock. Twelve tunnels had to be 
blasted through solid rock and six flumes on wooden trestles were built to span ravines. 
Ten cisterns were built on the hillside below the canal to hold drinking water. Construction 
could be done only during the winter months in order to leave the men free to take care of 
their farms. Work progressed slowly and landslides often wiped out months of hard labor. 
After eleven years of tenacious effort, the canal was finished in 1904, providing water for 
2,000 acres of farm land and the new community of Hurricane.

6.WCMONUMENT #16THE HURRICANE CANAL, 35 W. State St., Pioneer Heritage Park 
84737 
Open to Public
Erected 1988 
Metal plaque on large Pioneer Gratitude Statue on Large stone monument 
Marker/Plaque Placed by Sons of Utah Pioneers (#23D)
Marker Text 

The Hurricane Canal 

On August 6, 1904, pioneer families from Virgin City, Grafton, Toquerville, 
LaVerkin, Rockville and Springdale met in the shade of a bowery and watched the Virgin 
River water gurgle out of the Hurricane Canal on the fertile, parched soil of this valley. 
Finally, the Rio Virgin was conquered! At that joyful celebration, the city they had 
dreamed about for many heartbreaking years was named Hurricane from the historic 
Hurricane Cliffs. In 1906, the first homes were built here. 

Source: DUP (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers) Saint George, Utah web page. 

Hurricane Historic Tour, page 16

301 South 100 West, Hurricane 
John WOOD Jr. (twin) (1858-1932) and Sarah Jane GIBSON (1863-1936).
Were married 29 Jun 1882 in the St. George L.D.S. Temple.
They were the parents of 1-John Andrew WOOD (1883-1932), 2-Ellen May WOOD (infant), 3-Pearl Ann WOOD (infant), 4-Ether WOOD (1889-1974), 5-Ivie WOOD BALLARD (1891-1985), 6-William Erwin WOOD (1893-1969), 7-Claudius WOOD (1896-1944), 8-Clarence WOOD (1899-1955), 9-Josephine WOOD (infant).

John WOOD Jr. was the son of John WOOD (1819-1911) and Ellen SMITH (1822-1899).
Sarah Jane GIBSON was the daughter of George Washington GIBSON (1800-1871) and Ann Elizabeth NEWMAN (1840-1875).


below: a photo from Ether WOOD history

John Wood Jr. died here in 1931 'Sarah' Jane Gibson Wood was living here when their son John 'Andrew' Wood died here in 1932 Andrew's wife Laura and their children moved to Salt Lake City. 

Sarah must have gone to live with daughter Ivie Wood Ballard were Sarah died 1936 in Salt Lake City.

Monuments and Markers - Hurricane Canal

The names of John Andrew WOOD and his father John WOOD Jr. are listed on this monument as canal builders.

Sons of the Utah Pioneers
Monuments & Markers

Hurricane Canal Trailhead Monuments (#15, 100, 100A)
Sponsor: Hurricane Valley Chapter, 1987 & 2001
Location: 200 East 100 North; GPS: 37° 10' 41.65" N, 113° 17' 03.47" W

At this location there are four markers mounted on large rocks; also other artifacts and a bowery with seating. These monuments mark the spot where water first flowed into Hurricane Valley from the Rio Virgin River. The canal was literally etched into the mountainside stretching hundreds of feet above the canyon floor, passing through ten tunnels of solid rock and over five trestled flumes. With hand tools and dynamite, the 12-mile channel took twelve long years to build. The four plaques are titled as follows: Birth of Hurricane, Builders of Historic Hurricane Canal, Historic Hurricane Canal and Historic Hurricane Canal Trail.

4 WOOD / Parker
5 WOOD / Gibson

Ivie WOOD BALLARD (1891-1985)

Ivie WOOD abt 1896

Angus Franklin BALLARD and Ivie WOOD

Angus b.1885 in Grafton, UT son of Edward Harvey BALLARD and Maria Louisa RUSSELL, m. 25 Feb 1909 at St. George, UT to Ivie WOOD daughter of John WOOD Jr. and Sarah JaneGIBSON , Ivie was born 4 Jan 1891 at Grafton, UT. Angus died 3 Dec 1972 in Salt Lake City, UT, Ivie died 31 Mar 1985 in Salt Lake City, UT.

HISTORY NOTE: When Ivie's brother John Andrew WOOD died in Hurricane, UT 19 Jun 1932 his widow Laura Elizabeth PARKER WOOD and children moved in with Ivie for several months until they could get settled in Salt Lake City after their move from Hurricane.

Ivie WOOD BALLARD and child

Ivie WOOD BALLARD and three of her children
- my best guess is from oldest here to youngest -
right 2 LaRee BALLARD (1911-200), left 3 Claudia BALLARD (1914-2004), baby 4 Reba BALLARD,
not pictured - first born child 1 Erma (Jun 1909-Jul 1909), 5 Maxine BALLARD, 6 Merlin Wood BALLARD, 7 Delmain Gibson BALLARD.

Photos from the collection of Laura Elizabeth PARKER WOOD.
I will add more photos of Ivie and her family as I come across them.

I don't have any contact with the decedents of Ivie WOOD BALLARD. I am hoping her grandchildren will search and find these wonderful photos she had gave to her brother Andrew and sister in-law Laura some as long ago as one hundred years. I have other photos of the BALLARD children and will scan them when I can.

Deseret News Obituaries found online:
Obituary: LaRee Ballard Hargis
Published: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 12:00 a.m. MST

LaRee Ballard Hargis, beloved mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, died March 19, 2000.

She was born Sept. 14, 1911 in Hurricane, Utah to Angus Franklin Ballard and Ivie Wood Ballard. She married Charles Katris and later divorced. Charles and LaRee had one son. She married John Calvin Hargis. LaRee and Cal had one daughter and one son.Graduated from West High School. She worked at the Rialto Theater as an usherette, Skaggs Drugstore as a cashier, Keeleys Restaurant and Toms Cafe as a waitress and The Foxy Lady dress shop until retiring in 1981.

She is survived by her daughter, Arline Hedges of Murray; her son, Ron (Gail) Hargis of Hurricane, UT; her son, Clair Katris of Florida; her brothers, Merlin (Vi) Ballard; Delmain (Sadie) Ballard; her sisters, Claudia Juretich; Reba Carn and Maxine Duffy; 15 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. She was loved by all. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Cal and granddaughter, Karen Stokes....

------------------------------------

Obituary: Claudia Ballard Juretich
Deseret News (Salt Lake City) , Oct 22, 2004

1914 ~ 2004

ST. GEORGE, UTAH - Claudia Ballard Juretich, 90, completed her life's work and joined with Janette, Shaun, Cami and Orion. She passed away peacefully Thursday, October 21, 2004 at 8:36 a.m. at her home, and in the company of her son and daughter, in St. George, Utah.

Claudia was born June 8, 1914 in Hurricane Utah, the daughter of Angus and Ivie Wood Ballard and the oldest of seven [correction-third of seven], Erma, LaRee, Reba, Maxine, Merlin, and Delmain. She married Matt Juretich (now deceased) of Murray, Utah on August 14, 1933 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Claudia grew up in Hurricane and later moved to Salt Lake where she graduated from West High, was married, and blessed with five children (Marlene, Amber, Tamra, Janette, Kim), the first, second, and fourth preceding her in death. She delighted in her 17 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She learned to play the piano, sew, garden, decorate wedding cakes, and make amazing cookies and treats. A voracious reader, she completed thousands of books. She was an example of how not to be idle.

Claudia loved to laugh and found the good in life. She was extraordinarily giving to family and friends. She was sensitive of how others felt and would commonly do without so others could have her best. Some of her favorite remarks were, "May as well laugh than cry." "That's wonderful!" and "Oh, goodie!" Her hallmark statement was, "Just do the best you can", and we intend to do just that. Thanks Grandma....

Copyright C 2004 Deseret News Publishing Co.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

Ivie WOOD BALLARD with brothers abt 1965 -
William Erwin WOOD (1893-1969), Ether WOOD (1889-1974)

Photos need help with identification 1-8

Photos belonged to John Andrew WOOD and Laura Elizabeth PARKER. Family lived in Grafton, Kanarraville, Hurricane and Salt Lake City, Utah. Some of the related families are WOOD, GIBSON, NEWMAN, PARKER, ROUNDY, DAVIS / DAVIES, WILLIAMS.


Click on photo to enlarge. If you can ID any of these people please comment here or email me.
Thank You

2. From left - Believed to be Winnie DAVIS - LaRen's boy, Charles PARKER Jr., Ceo's son - Wayne DAVIS.

5. Believed to be Charles PARKER Jr. (1884-1960) and wife Emiah Venita EVANS (1888-1974).

Photos need help with identification 9-23

Photos belonged to John Andrew WOOD and Laura Elizabeth PARKER. Family lived in Grafton, Kanarraville, Hurricane and Salt Lake City, Utah. Some of the related families are WOOD, GIBSON, NEWMAN, PARKER, ROUNDY, DAVIS / DAVIES, WILLIAMS.

Click on photo to enlarge. If you can ID any of these people please comment here or email me.
Thank You

13. Believed to be Ether WOOD (1889-1974).
14. Young man on left believed to be Charles PARKER Jr. (1884-1960).
21, 22, 23 born in Grafton, UT are the children of John WOOD Jr. (1858-1931) and Sarah Jane GIBSON (1863-1936)
21. William Erwin WOOD (1893-1969) and Ether WOOD (1889-1974).
22. Ivie WOOD (1891-1985) who became the wife of Angus Franklin BALLARD (1885-1972).
23, John Andrew WOOD (1883-1932) husband of Laura Elizabeth PARKER (1889-1970).

Dear Laura, Lovinly Esther

Letter to Laura Elizabeth PARKER WOOD

1911 post card photos of James Robb and Esther Parker Robb with their daughter Elaine

Dear Laura, letter on back of both post cards from Laura's sister, Lovingly Esther, Laura had been married one year earlier and had moved from her home in Kanarraville to Hurricane, Utah. Laura's parents would make trips to Hurricane when the peaches were ripe to do canning. They would boil their bottles over an open fire. In the scorching heat of Southern Utah.

[Esther PARKER ROBB contributed many family histories which will be added to the blog]

Hurricane Utah Relief Society ca. 1915

I believe number 21 is my grandmother Laura Elizabeth PARKER WOOD. I have in my collection of Laura's photos a copy of this picture unnumbered and unlabled.
Number 42 Ivie WOOD BALLARD is my grandfather John "Andrew" WOOD's little sister.

On the 16th of May 1915 Andrew and Laura's third child Iris was born.

Mormon Trail - English Saints John WOOD and Ellen SMITH

Mormon Pioneer ancestor of Kirt DeMar WOOD From BR Sixth Generations back to John WOOD (1819-1911) and Ellen SMITH (1822-1899). Ellen delivered and lost her baby on the plains. John was very ill while walking all the way.

John and Ellen Wood

Known places of residence are: Hurst, Ashton UnderLyne, Lancashire, England -John / Staleybridge, Dukinfield, Cheshire, England-Ellen / Stockport, Cheshire, England / Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England / Lehi, UT /Grafton, UT / Nevada / Grafton, UT / Hurricane, UT-John. John WOOD Sr. age 33 / b. 1819 Hurst, Ashton UnderLyne, L. ENG - m. 1850 Stockport, C. ENG. - d. 1911 Hurricane, UT - Ellen SMITH WOOD age 30 / b. 1822 Staleybridge, Dukinfield, D. ENG - d. 1899 Grafton, UT BAPTIZED: John 7 May 1851, England and Ellen 7 May 1851 England Both ENDOWED: 26 Apr 1862 EHOUS SS: 1862 EHOUS SP: John 23 Sep 1965 SGEOR, Samuel WOOD and Sarah MAY SP: Ellen 10 Jan 1964 SGEOR, John SMITH and Ellen GARNER BY SEA: 1853 ship ‘Elvira Owen’ ‘Elvira Owen’ Information: U.S. / 874 tons Depart Liverpool: 15 Feb 1853 Arrive New Orleans: 31 Mar 1853 Company Leader: J. W.Young 345 LDS passengers “Under the direction of Joseph W. Young, who had presided over the Preston Conference, a company of 345 Saints sailed from Liverpool on 15 Feb 1853, on board the ship ’Elvira Owen’. On 23 Mar 1853, after a most speedy voyage lasting only 36 days, the ‘Elvira Owen arrived at the bar at the mouth of the Mississippi River. Three births, three marriages and three deaths occurred during the voyage. There were a few cases of small-pox, which, however, did not prove fatal, and the disease did not spread to any great extent. “Captain Owen treated the Saints with much kindness, especially the sick, and a memorial, expressive of their gratitude far his fatherly conduct to all, was presented to him by the passengers. “After being detained at the bar several days, the ‘Elvira Owen’ was towed up the river, and the emigrants landed in New Orleans on 31 Mar, 1853. Proceeding up the Mississippi River, the emigrants arrived at Keokuk, Iowa, on 13 Apr 1853, being two days short of two months from Liverpool, which was considered an extraordinarily rapid journey.” BY LAND: 1853 Cyrus H. Wheelock Company Departure: Kanesville, Iowa 3 June 1853 Arrival in Salt Lake Valley: 6-16 October 1853 Wood, John (33) Wood, Ellen (30) pregnant, Wood, Sarah Ann (2) daughter. Pioneer information: Ellen was expecting her third child when the company left for the trek across the Plains. She and her daughter were able to ride but her husband walked. John became terribly ill with Cholera and would have to stop frequently to rest. Ellen feared that he would never catch up with the company, but he did. Sometimes it would be late at night before he reached them. Food for the family was very scarce while crossing the Plains. Ellen gave birth to a son 17 June he died 21 Aug 1853. Ellen was full of sorrow as they left the little grave to continue West. (see: “Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude” p. 3434.) Sources: Perpetual Emigrating Fund, General Files. Company Information: About 400 individuals and 52 wagons were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Keokuk, Iowa. This company included a California company. They crossed the Missouri River on July 11. Read Trail Excerpt:. . . we left Keokuk. I wish I could afford a page to a description of our starting. The oxen were wild, and getting them yoked was the most laughable sight I had ever witnessed; everybody giving orders, and nobody knowing how to carry them out. If the men had not been saints, there would doubtless have been much profane language used; but the oxen, not understanding "English," did just as well without it. But it did seem so truly comical to witness the bewildered look of some innocent brother, who, after having labored an hour or more to get "Bright" secured to one end of the yoke, would hold the other end aloft, trying to persuade "Buck" to come under, only to see "Bright" careering across the country, the yoke lashing the air, and he not even giving a hint as to when he intended to stop. …At night, when we camped, the wagons were drawn up in a circle for protection, also forming a corral into which the oxen could be driven to be yoked. The teams, being unyoked, were driven to grass by the herdsmen, who guarded them through the night. Our camp presented a busy scene, some gathering fuel (which consisted mostly of either "buffalo chips," or sage brush,) some bringing water, others building fires and preparing supper, or baking bread for next day's journey. After supper, groups could be seen around the camp fires, singing the songs of Zion, talking of bygone days, or the hopes of the future, until the bugle call for prayers, when all except the guards (for we watched as well as prayed) retired to rest. (Cornaby, Hannah, Autobiography and Poems [1881], 32-35.) Trail Excerpt: Perhaps it is well to state here, that the church brought passengers from Liverpool to Salt Lake City, that year for ten pounds sterling, per adult, children half price infants (nursing) free. (Seymour, Charles William, Journal and reminiscences [ca. 1880-1906], 80-82.) Personal note: First child was with them. Second child had died in England. Third child born and buried on the Mormon trail. Neither John or Ellen ever heard from their parents in England again. Sources: Wood, John, 1853, NA, Elvira Owen, Ship roster on microfilm(s) 200173 25690 Wood, John, 1853, NA, Cyrus H. Wheelock, Journal History 19-Sep-1853 p. 2-7 film 1259740 Wood, Ellen, 1853, NA, Elvira Owen, Ship roster on microfilm(s) 200173 25690 Wood, Ellen, 1853, NA, Cyrus H. Wheelock, Journal History 19-Sep-1853 p. 2-7 film 1259740 Wood, Sarah Ann, 1853, NA, Cyrus H. Wheelock, Journal History 19-Sep-1853 p. 2-7 film 1259740 Kirt DeMar WOOD - John Andrew WOOD pedigree