Monuments and Markers Pueblo Colorado

Members of the Mormon Battalion and 

The Mississippi Saints including 

the George Washington GIBSON family 

wintered 1846-1847 at Pueblo 

Photo shared by D. F. Larkin at familysearch.org 

A DETACHMENT OF THE UNITED STATED SOLDIERS OF

THE MORMON BATTALION

IN THE MEXICAN WAR SPENT

 THE WINTER OF 1846-47 NEAR THIS SITE. 

WITH THEIR FAMILIES  AND MORMON

 IMMIGRANTS FROM MISSISSIPPI

 THEY FORMED A SETTLEMENT OF 275 PERSONS.

 THEY ERECTED A CHURCH AND ROWS OF

 DWELLINGS OF COTTONWOOD LOGS.

 HERE WERE BORN THE FIRST

 WHITE CHILDREN IN COLORADO. 

Erected...1946

6 GIBSON / (Sparks)

Pvt Riley Garner Clark of the Mormon Battalion

From the Biography of Riley Garner Clark, Sr. husband of Amanda Williams who was daughter of Marcy Jane Lucus and John Williams.

The call was made for five hundred Mormon volunteers to serve their country in the war with Mexico, and Riley Garner and his oldest brother, Joseph, enlisted in Company A, Iowa Mormon Battalion Volunteers, July 16, 1846, under the command of General Kearney. President Brigham Young promised the Mormon boys who enlisted in the army that if they would be faithful to their God, they would not be required to fight, which promise was fulfilled. Thus, the fighting was either ahead of or behind them. White on their march to San Diego, California, they endured many hardships. At one time they marched all day, both men and teams, without water. The last of their provisions gone, beefs were killed and that was their only food. Great suffering was experienced by the Battalion boys through exposure as many were poorly clad and destitute of tents and wagon covers. Sickness was prevalent in the camps and great numbers of them died, but they never wavered in their purpose. A song “The Lonesome Howling Wolves” was composed by one of the members of the group and was sung over the graves of those that had died. The chorus was as follows: “We burnt ashes and coal over the graves to hide them from the savages and the lonesome howling wolves.” Father used to sing this to his children. As he sang the chorus he used the carpenter saw, and by running his fingers up the blade, he demonstrated the howling of the wolves. Father also sang the chorus of another song which went: “How hard to starve and wear us out upon this sandy desert route.” I was only eight years old when my father died, but I can remember well his being a kind and loving father, telling us children stories about his adventures in the Battalion and singing us the songs which were composed while there. After a long and perilous journey they arrived in California January 29, 1847. Their camp was located a mile below the Catholic Mission and some four or five miles from the seaport town of San Diego. They served one year in San Diego, after which they were honorably released. While there, they were permitted to visit many places of interest; among them were the old mission home at San Diego, the old San Gabriel Mission at Los Angeles, and other such places. General Kearney was more than pleased with his Mormon boys. He lifted his hat with martial pride and said, “Over the Alps Napoleon went, but these men crossed the Continent.” It was the greatest mark of infantry in the history of the world. Their return trip was made by way of the Southern route. Here again they endured many hardships. While crossing the desert they suffered so from the heat and lack of water that their tongues would become dry, parched, and swollen. After a rain, which was welcomed happily, they would run to puddles of water, lie down and drink to quench their burning thirst. Their feet became sore and bleeding, which made it very difficult to travel. Riley Garner Clark and his brother Joseph joined their parents who had immigrated to Utah in Heber C. Kimball’s company in Provo on September 24, 1848.

Church History in the Family - Mormon Battalion - Gilbert Hunt

Corp. Gilbert HUNT

A member of the Sick Detachment of the Mormon Battalion.
HUNT married at Fort Pueblo, Colorado abt Mar 1847 Lydia A. GIBSON
the daughter of George Washington GIBSON. [Lydia married Mr. HUNT at Fort Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado in 1847 she was there with her parents and the Mississippi Saint her was there with the Mormon Battalion.]

Birth:	Apr. 11, 1825 Albion Edwards County Illinois, USA
Death:	Nov. 14, 1858 Cottonwood Salt Lake County Utah, USA
Son of Charles Jefferson Hunt & Celia Mounts Married Lydia Ardelicia Elinor Gibson, 23 Apr 1847 GILBERT HUNT, Corporal. On detached service 17th of September, 1846, by order of Acting Lieutenant Colonel A.J. SMITH. Mustered out with detachment to date July 16, 1847. (This muster-out remark, and all to the same purport, are marked on the official roll with an asterisk; the footnote reads as follows: "It is not conclusively shown where this detachment was mustered out. Evidence on file indicated that it was stationed at or near Great Salt Lake at time of M.O., but travel pay has been allowed in each case from Los Angeles, so the detachment was evidently considered as having been M.O. at that place the same as the balance of the Company.' GILBERT HUNT was a son of the Captain [Jefferson Hunt] of the Company. Family links: Parents: Jefferson Hunt (1803 - 1879) Celia Mounts Hunt (1805 - 1897) Spouse: Lydia Ardelicia Gibson Hunt (1826 - 1915)
Burial: Salt Lake City Cemetery Salt Lake City Salt Lake County Utah, USA Plot: F_7_13_4W … while being detained at Pueblo, Colo, she [Lydia GIBSON a teenage daughter of Mississippi Saint George Washington GIBSON] met and married to Gilbert Hunt who was also a member of the Mormon Battalion, but had been detailed to assist in taking care of some sick, who were in camp for rest, and not able to travel, but soon followed the first company westward. Soon after they were called to join a company under Chas C. Rich and Amasa Lyman to settle San Bernardino, Cal., returning to Salt Lake City after several years, when on Nov. 14, 1858, Mr. Hunt died, leaving Mrs. Hung with four young children. Four months later she gave birth to her fifth child. She had lost two children while living at Cottonwood.… Washington County News 1915-03-18 Lydia (Ardelicia or Elenor) GIBSON HUNT

Church History in the Family - Mormon Battalion - Alpheus Peter Haws

Sgt. Alpheus Peter Haws (1825-1906).
His wives 1. Adeline DUNN (1830-1852) and 2. Betsy DUNN (1838-1937) are 3rd great grand aunts. They are the oldest and the youngest full sisters of Mary DUNN ENSIGN.

Birth:	Oct. 15, 1825 Essex Ontario, Canada
Death:	Nov. 5, 1906 Santa Rosa Sonoma County California, USA
Son of Peter Haws & Charlotte Harrington Married Adaline Dunn [1845 sealed Nauvoo at age 15.] Married Betsy Dunn (Adaline's sister), [married 1854, .at age 15. Divorced.] 81 years old. Sgt. Co. D Mormon Batt. IA Vols. Mexican War. Information from L Haws, Berkeley, CA. ALPHEUS P. HAWES, Sergeant. (Tyler's list, ALPHEUS P. HAWS, Fourth Sergeant) Mustered out with Company July 16, 1847, at Los Angeles, Cal. 1870 US Census 45 year old Alpheus P Haws living in Grass Valley, Lander, Nevada with wife 34 year old Betsy, 16 year old Laura A. Haws, 13 year old Adaline G. Haws, 17 years old D C Haws, 4 year old W Haws and 2 year old Lola A. Haws. 1900 US Census 74 year old Alpheus Haws living in Oakland City, Alameda, California. Appears to be a veterans Hospital. States birthdate as Oct 1825, born In Canada, parents born in New York, immigrated in 1838, married in 1880. * Mormon Battalion members
Burial: Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery Santa Rosa Sonoma County California, USA =============================== Adeline DUNN and Alpheus HAWS BIOGRAPHY: 279.3/Ea85m Membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 1830-1848 By Susan Easton Black. p. 679 Gives birthdate as June 19, 1829. Reference: Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register 1845-46; Family Group sheet father and spouse; TIB BIOGRAPHY: "500 Wagons Stood Still: Mormon Battalion Wives" by Shirley N. Maynes 1999. pp 256-259 Adeline Dunn Haws--Husband: Alpheus Peter Haws--4th Sergeant-- Company D Adeline Dunn was born June 19, 1830 in Belleville, VanBuren County, Michigan to Simeon Adam Dunn and Adeline Rawson. The family was early converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois to be near the Church Headquarters. It was in Nauvoo where Alpheus and Adeline become acuqainted and were married. They both received their temple endowments on December 24, 1845 and were sealed to each other on January 30, 1846. They were members of the Nauvoo 4th Ward. The family of Alpheus Haws had come from Canada and his father, Peter, was 1st Counselor to the Second Bishop of the Church George Miller. He and several other men were commanded by the Lord to build the Nauvoo House. D&C-124:66-72. After Alpheus and Adeline were married, they left Nauvoo with the Saints in their western migration. "On March 27, 1846--When their company reached Shoal Creek in the Cariton River region, where for three weeks they were delayed by the freshets, the camp was more thoroughly organized. Companies of hundreds, fifties, and tens were formed, and captains appointed over them. Each company had its own commissary, and Henry G. Sherwood, was the Commissary General. Peter Haws was one of the contracting commissaries. The Apostles, who had hitherto been acting as captains of companies, were relieved of those commands and made presidents of divisions. The camp consisted of two grand divisions, presided over by Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball; the former as President and General-inchief, directing the whole." (Our Pioneer Heritage, DUP publication Vol 5-pp69-70) By June the Haws and Dunn Families had reached Council Bluffs, Iowa. At the time of their arrival, President Brigham Young and other church leaders were recruiting men to enlist in the Mormon Battalion. Alpheus volunteered his services and became 4th Sergeant in Company "D" under the command of Captain Nelson Nelson [should read Captain Nelson Higgins]. He, and his future brotherin- law, Luther Tuttle, were both members of Company D. The evening before the Battalion left, July 19, 1846, Alpheus, Luther and John Buckman returned to Council Bluffs, where Luther Tuttle married Abigail Haws, sister of Alpheus. Adeline remained in Council Bluffs with her father and mother. In 1848 Simeon and Adeline Dunn, including their daughter, Adeline Dunn Haws, left Iowa, in the Brigham Young Company for the Salt Lake Valley. This division of 1229 Saints commenced their journey at the Elkhorn River, June 1, 1848, and arrived in Salt Lake September 20 to 24, 1848. [There are several errors here. Adeline Rawson Dunn died in Nauvoo, as did Simeon's 2nd wife, Margaret Snider. Simeon married Harriet Atwood Silver in Council Bluffs and she and 3 of Simeon's daughters crossed the plains in 1848. Adeline remained in Council Bluffs. She appears with Alpheus and his parents in the 1850 Census for Pottawattamie County, Iowa.] [Alpheus was discharged from the Mormon Battalion in July 1847.] After reaching Salt Lake Alpheus and Adeline were together again after a two and half year separation. Sadly, Adeline died January 11, 1852. Her burial place is unknown. Adeline did not leave any children. [Adeline's two infant children had died - Alpheus Peter Jr. (1849-1853), Thomas (1851-1852).] Alpheus married Adeline's sister, Betsey, and settled in brigham City, Box Elder County, Utah and reared a family of ten children. Alpheus and Betsey were baptized and confirmed members of RLDS Church on July 31, 1867 at Lander County, Nevada, by C.E. Brand. Alpheus had taken a plural wife, charlotte, and she was baptized and confirmed a member of the RLDS Church on the same day. The Alpheus Peter Haws family moved to California. Alpheus Peter Haws was born October 15, 1825, in Gosfield, Essex, Ontario, Canada to Peter Haws and Charlotte Harrington. Alpheus died November 3, 1906 and is buried in the Franklin Rural Cemetery (South of Santa Rosa, California Memorial Park on Franklin Street). Members of the Finley Park ward were assigned a service project to clean up and restore this cemetery, and while working on their project, they found a large tombstone with Sergeant Haw's name written on it. The present day Mormon Battalion organization is working with the Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery Restoration Advisory Committee to place a Mormon Battalion plague near his tombstone. Information obtained from a brief history written by David R. Freebairn and members of the Finley Park Ward Committee, Santa Rosa, California-Compilers file. L.D.S. Church records History Luther Tuttle-Utah State Historical Society Utah-Index sextion-compilers files Concise History of the Mormon Battalion in the Mexican War 1846-48 by Sgt Daniel Tyler- Roster of Company D pp122-123 and Journey from California to Salt Lake pp305-325 Heart Throbs of the West--Daughters of Utah Pioneer Publication- Dunn Family Crossing the Plains in Brigham Young Company 1848 Vol 9 pp482-483 Family Group Sheet Family Group Record obtained from the Peter Haws family-compilers file

Church History in the Family - Mormon Battalion - James Polly Brown

Pvt. James Polly Brown (1803-1871)

his wife Eunice REASOR is a 1st cousin 5 times removed.

Birth:	Apr. 22, 1803 Taylorsville Spencer County Kentucky, USA
Death:	Nov. 6, 1871 Rockville Washington County Utah, USA
Son of Robert Brown & Margaret Polly Married Eunice Reasor, 13 Apr 1826, Floyd, Indiana Children- Sarah Jane Brown Lowry, Eunice Ann Brown Munk, Robert H. Brown, Newman Brown, John Taylor Brown, Mary Ann Brown Buchanan Married Petra Christine Pedersen, 6 May 1855 Married Martha Ann Miller, 15 Nov 1858 Children- Margaret Ann Brown In 1846, President James K. Polk instructed Col. Stephen W. Kearney, the Commander of the Army of the West to enlist 500 Mormons for the purpose of assisting the U.S. Army in the Mexican war. Captain James Allen was ordered to go to the Mormon Camps in Iowa to recruit five companies of men with 75 to 100 men in each company. Captain Allen told the settlement of Mormons: "I have come among you, instructed by Col. S.F. Kearney of the U.S. Army, now commanding the Army of the West, to visit the Mormon camp, and to accept the service for twelve months of four or five companies of Mormon men who may be willing to serve their country for that period in our present war with Mexico; this force to unite with the Army of the West at Santa Fe, and be marched thence to California, where they will be discharged." Among these men was James (Polly) Brown and his wife Eunice Reasor Brown. James was a private in Company D, with Captain Nelson Higgins and 1st Lieutenant George Parker Dykes. James was born 22 Apr 1803 in Taylorville, Shelby/Spencer, Kentucky. He married Eunice Reasor who was born 4 Mar 1808 in Renbrely, Shelby, Kentucky. They had nine children. By 1851 the family was in Manti, Sanpete County, Utah. It was here in Manti that Eunice died on 18 Jul 1858. She is buried in the Manti City Cemetery along with two daughters, Sarah Jane Brown who married John Lowry, Jr., and Eunice Ann Brown who married Peter Mikkel Munk. Eunice's grave is marked with a plaque stating that she was among the women who marched with the Mormon Battalion. The plaque was placed by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. James died 6 Nov 1871 in Rockville, Washington County, Utah, and was buried in the Rockville Cemetery in Washington County Utah. * Mormon Battalion members Family links: Children: Neuman Brown (1830 - 1879)* Robert H. Brown (1832 - 1877)* Mary Ann Brown Buchanan (1842 - 1901)* John Taylor Brown (1847 - 1849)* Eunice Ann Brown Munk (1850 - 1936)* Margaret Ann Brown Heap (1860 - 1944)* Spouses: Eunice Reasor Brown (1808 - 1858) Petra Kirstine Sorensen Brown (1824 - 1861) Martha Ann Miller Rolph (1834 - 1911)
Burial: Rockville Cemetery Rockville Washington County Utah, USA