Trip Preparations

Zak and I leave tonight for a family campout, and then from there we'll be with family until they drop us off for our flight to Switzerland on Sunday morning.  We're doing a month-long Design Thinking for Innovation program.  Zak plans and prepares perfectly, and has helped make sure everything gets done before we leave.  I put in my two-weeks-notice, and worked the very last time at Shoe Carnival last night.  While organizing some shelves, I thought it might be a good idea for us to have a headphone splitter adapter, so we could both listen to the iPad together.  I texted Husband, but the reception in the back storage room isn't the greatest.  A couple hours later he stopped in the store to show me the headphone-adapter-splitter he just bought and to visit me my last time at Shoe Carnival.  This morning I realized my text never went through, so he just bought it without even realizing that's what I wanted.  My thoughtful hero.

Countries of Origin IV

The last of my Dad's grandparents, Lavina Ann Ririe, has infamous Utah parentage.  These are the ones brought up in numerous church lessons on the handcart pioneers.  I'm not sure about the others besides the McBrides, though.

My great-great-great Grandfather, 1. James Ririe, born 24 January 1827 in Cluny, Aberdeen, Scotland, came to Utah, as did his wife, 2. Ann Boyack, born 20 May 1830 in Mains, Angus, (Forfarshire), Scotland.  He died 17 June 1905 in Eden, Weber, Utah, and she 7 September 1914 in Ogden, Weber, Utah.  LDS.org explains that James come to Utah as part of the Jacob Gates Company in 1853 at the age of 26; 33 wagons and 400 people in the company.  He kept a journal and wrote an autobiography.*  She came to Utah as part of the Milo Andrus Company in 1855 at the age of 25.**  Her party arrived late in the season after the snow started, rushed by their anxious leader the whole way.  These companies traveled with help from the Perpetual Emigrating Fund.

Aberdeen(shire), Scotland 

(http://www.flybmi.com/bmi/flights/aberdeen/baku.aspx)

James Ririe married and was sealed to 3. Betsy Hendry, 4. Margaret McKay, 5. Grace Sutter, 6. Mary Mitchell, 7. Ellen (Helen) Smith, her twin 8. Barbara Smith, and 9. Ellen and/or Helen Mitchel, practicing polygyny.  Some of these might be the same women.  Betsy Hendry was born in Dundee, Forfar, Scotland, Margaret McKay and Grace Sutter in Cluny, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, twins Ellen and Barbara Smith in Birse, Aberdeen, Scotland, Mary Mitchell of Aberdeen, Scotland, and Ellen or Helen Mitchell of Skene, Aberdeen, Scotland.  So, James Ririe probably married and took care of many widows and maids of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Ruth Burns McBride, Peter Howard McBride, and Robert Franklin McBride

My great-great-great-grandfather's brother and family, around 1875 

Lavina Ann Ririe's paternal great-grandparents are the famous ones in early Mormon history.  10. Robert McBride III, born 15 November 1803 in Isle of Butte, Scotland,   Robert met his wife after leaving Scotland to journey to England.  They married, had children, and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while living there.  Around this time, Lancashire got its status as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.

St. Helens Church, Churchtown, Lancashire, England

Margaret Ann Howard grew up in Churchtown

(http://www.yourlocalweb.co.uk/lancashire/churchtown/pictures/)

His wife, 11. Margaret Ann Howard, born 21 December 1814 in Churchtown, Lancashire, England (like the Barlows), was sick for most of the journey across the plains.  Their journey took them across the Atlantic on the Horizon, arriving in Boston on 30 June 1856.  From there they took cattle cars on the train to Albany, New York, and then managed to get third class accommodations.  They rode into Cleveland on the 4th of July 1856, and then made it to Des Moines, and Iowa City.  They traveled with five children while crossing the plains; 12. Jeanetta Ann (16), 13. Heber Robert (13) (my Great-great-great-grandfather), 14. Ether Enos (8), 15. Peter Howard (6), and 16. Margaret Alice (2), having lost three children beforehand.  Their mother, Margaret Ann, died 4 July 1892 in Eden, Weber, Utah.

Heber Robert McBride finding his father

(http://www.surnames.com/documented_websites/arminta/heber_robert_mcbride_fifth_child.htm)

The Martin and Willie Handcart Companies are well known because out of the many handcart companies, these two groups left late in the year, with tragic results.  Robert died 20 November 1856 near the upper crossing of the Platte River in Wyoming, while traveling west as part of the Martin handcart company.***  Heber Robert found his father under the handcart one cold morning after the last crossing of the Platte River.  He kept a detailed journal about his immigration and journey, aiding the historical understanding of the Martin Handcart Company and other events.  Toward the end of his life, he and his family moved to Welling, Alberta, Canada, where Heber Robert McBride died 29 July 1925.  His wife, Elizabeth Boyd Gould died 24 March 1940 in Welling, Alberta, Canada.

I would like to point out for my father's benefit, that the McBrides may have emigrated from Scotland to the Americas, but they lived in Ireland until immigrating to Scotland sometime between 1783 and 1803.  (18. Robert McBride II was born 14 February 1783 in Antrim, Antrim, Ireland, and died 10 February 1862 West Parish, Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland).

Dunluce Castle, Antrim, Ireland

Marvels in the area where the McBrides lived before coming to Scotland

(http://www.old-picture.com/europe/Dunluce-Castle.htm)

Glencoe Village, Antrim, Ireland
(http://www.old-picture.com/europe/Glencoe-Village.htm)

Heber Robert McBride married Elizabeth Boyd Gould, whose parents immigrated to Eden, Weber, Utah.  19. Robert Gould Jr., born 22 January 1830 in Dalmahoy, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, married 20. Joan Ann Simpson, born 3 February 1831 also in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.  It would be interesting to find out exactly when each family met the missionaries and decided to be baptized.  Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elders Alexander Wright and Samuel Mulliner, first came to Scotland 22 December 1839.  Elder Orson Pratt came the following May, climbed the hill over the city, Arthur's Seat, and "dedicated Scotland for the preaching of the gospel. Edinburgh became the headquarters for the Church in Scotland for several years.*  My ancestors weren't the first people in the area to be baptized, so I'll have to look up the missionaries' journals and other documents to find out.  Oh wait, it should say that on new.familysearch.org:  Robert Gould, Jr. was baptized 28 November 1848.  Many members of the Church were baptized in Scotland in the 1840s, discussed on the site Mormon History for the British Isles (http://mormonhistory.org/content/view/223/96/lang,en/).

St. Mary's Church, Dalmahoy, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
Dalmahoy is to the southwest of the city of Edinburgh.  A church still stands in the area.

http://www.oldukphotos.com/edinburghshire-dalmahoy.htm

©  For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk; used with permission

St. Cuthbert's Church, found in Old & New Edinburgh (1890)

http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/

Joan "Ann" was christened at St. Cuthbert's Church in Edinburgh 22 March 1831.  "With a history spanning 1000 years and more, St Cuthbert's has been, in turn, Celtic, Roman, Episcopalian and Presbyterian. For the last 300 years it has been a congregation of the Church of Scotland and a member of the Presbyterian family of churches" (http://www.st-cuthberts.net/).  

©  For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk; used with permission

Princes Street Gardens, 1878 (St. Cuthburt's seen from behind)

http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/

Robert and "Ann" brought their children, 21. Elizabeth Boyd Gould (4) and 22. Robert Simpson Gould (2), across the plains as part of the Homer Duncan Company in 1861.  Ann died 22 March 1869 in Eden, Weber, Utah.  Robert remarried, and practiced polygyny.  His other spouses are Mary Elizabeth Eube of Dalmahoy, Midlothian, Scotland; Ursula Ruhle of Vailbringen (can't find it on any maps), Württemberg, Germany; and Anna Elizabeth Ruhle, of Calw, Schwarzwaldkreis, Württemberg, Germany.  Sisters? Cousins? Aunt and niece?

Ann's mother, 23. Elizabeth Craig Simpson, born 12 April 1801 in Prestonpans, Haddingtonshire, Scotland, immigrated with them after the death of her own husband, John Simpson, in 1838.  Elizabeth married Benjamin Kimball Hall around 1864, and died 7 November 1872 in Ogden, Weber, Utah.  

Trail of the Martin Handcart Company to Martin's Cove

Alcova, Wyoming (lds.org)

Several years ago my family went to Martin's Cove, and because of Heber Robert McBride's journal and other accounts, they know what happened along the trail for those pioneers.  Their stories are highlighted in the visitor's center and museum.   I didn't know much about rest of the Ririe background.  Now I know that it's likely all of them joined the Church in its early British history and then made the journey across the U.S.  Most of them even walked across, pulling handcarts.  I found two more polygynous families, which means I may have a lot of relatives in the world, although not all of them had kids.  These ancestors came from Scotland, England, and yes, Dad, Ireland.  These ancestors didn't arrive when America was first settled, but like the pilgrims, they left for religious freedom, and possibly other opportunities.

Sources

*James Ririe:  http://lds.org/churchhistory/library/source/1,18016,4976-19348,00.html
**Ann Boyack:  http://lds.org/churchhistory/library/narrative/1,18046,4981-1-52,00.html
***McBrides:  http://lds.org/churchhistory/library/source/1,18016,4976-19143,00.html, http://lds.org/churchhistory/library/source/1,18016,4976-7554,00.html, http://lds.org/churchhistory/library/source/1,18016,4976-9428,00.html
*James R. and LaVelle R. Moss, “Names and Places: Locales of British LDS Interest,” Ensign, Jul 1987, 17, http://lds.org/

Journey to Graduation

Bravely trekking through the sludge of bureaucracy, I GRADUATED on Saturday.  B.A. International Studies, cum laude.  It wasn't always like that, though.

In high school I took concurrent enrollment anatomy and physiology, pre-calculus, American history, business, and English.  Those grades were all right, and then I went into the big leagues.  My dream had been this:

Age 21 or 22:  Graduate with a bachelor's degree in science

22-23.5:  Serve an LDS mission, preferably to Germany

24-27:  Graduate from optometry or med school to become an optometrist or ophthalmologist

Get married somewhere in there, have some kids, and join a medical practice.

My first year on campus I did fairly well in all of my classes but chemistry.  Of course, it's hard not to do well in self-defense and basic rock-climbing.  My second year I still hadn't developed very good study habits, after easy A's in high school, and I had the worst semester of my life.  Every Tuesday night I'd go to my sleeping graveyard shift, try to do my calculus, and cry for a hour.  I failed Calculus and got a D+ in biology, and my semester GPA plummeted to 2.08.  My dream was over.  I knew I didn't want to redo the classes that I didn't understand, and that I hated, and that was the only path to a career as a dignified eye doctor.

I met with a career counselor, whose main suggestion was to pay for a bunch of personality tests.  The results came out mostly for technicians and assistants, which I didn't want to have as my big aspiration.  I was helping people with disabilities at work, so I think some of the answers I gave were based on what I was doing then, because I knew I could do it.  Occupational therapist topped the lists, based on my experiences.  Judge came up, but never lawyer.  My counselor pointed out that I have creative tendencies, and as an emotionally expressive person, I cried, explaining how I never thought I could do something like graphic design, interior design, or anything creative as a profession, because I couldn't picture anyone wanting to pay for or buy anything that I produced creatively.  I stifled that creativity, and she recommended I join the community orchestra.

After looking into occupational therapy, it sounded interesting. Requirements for the grad program at an in-state college, didn't require a specific major, as long as I got a degree.  I went through every single major offered at the university, and looked for ones I thought I'd enjoy.  Deaf Education.  Speech Education.  International Studies.  I'd taken German in high school and continued, wanting to have it as my minor.  One of the requirements for International Studies was an long-term experience abroad, as well as upper division foreign language courses.  I'd been planning to spend a summer in Germany anyway, and the other classes seemed interesting.  I found the one.

I chose classes before a major that semester, so I ended up in marriage and family relations, parenting and child guidance, and ice skating, among others.  College was finally starting to get enjoyable and interesting.  I still feel like a graceful angel on the ice.

That summer I flew to Stuttgart, Germany all by my lonesome, and took language courses.  They hosted the 2006 soccer World Cup, or Weltmeisterschaft, at the time, with displays of patriotism and excitement.  I went to a local church and participated, along with some of the other American students, in other congregational activities and classes.  I loved speaking German and seeing the culture firsthand, but admittedly, spoke a good deal of English with the other students.

I took another semester of generals back at the university, and then took a semester off of regular classes.  I continued with a few classes at the Institute of Religion, next to the university, to help me prepare for an LDS mission.  My friend, Elise guessed that I was going to Cincinnati, out of all of the places in the world, to teach the Amish.  That spring I was called to the Ohio Cincinnati Mission, which doesn't have many German speakers, but has a strong German heritage.  I didn't get to teach any Amish people, but I did see a group of Amish youth touring the infamous international food store, Jungle Jim's.  While there I didn't think much about school or future careers, but I considered Communications, because I figured having good communication skills and a degree to show it would be helpful for anything.

In the spring of 2009, I returned to the university, changed my major to communications, and then forgot.  I tried the career counselors again, who just told me to pay for the tests again.  As I hadn't gotten a job and had no money, he didn't help much.  I switched back to International Studies, since those were the classes I was taking.  For the first time, I actually read my textbooks.  I understood the material.  I still wasn't getting straight A's, but slowly my GPA raised over time.  I love the social sciences.  We covered economics, sociology, culture, management, problems around the world.  Topics in psychology, urban sociology, ancient economic history, and others would overlap and finally make sense.

I even made it into the community orchestra my counselor recommended, after two auditions, a lot of practice, and help from my friend and violin teacher, Courtney.

It took and a half more years to finish classes, tests, and other requirements.  I still don't know much about politics, and don't keep up with what's going on in the world, but I have gained some perspective.  I better understand that each side has valid points, that America isn't always the best at everything (in fact, it's better to let other countries do some of the jobs, so we can focus on the growing technologies and innovations), and that what is normal to me isn't always normal to someone else.  I've learned a little about a lot.  Most people know much more than I do, but the world and her people truly fascinate.

My plan did fall apart, but last summer I dated one of the best men on campus, who has brought great joy and excitement into my life.  I love being married.  I don't have a distinguished job lined up in the near future, with promise of a six-figure paycheck.  It's o.k.  Zak's graphic design background and encouragement has shown me that I can be creative.  I can use the knowledge and skills I've gained for my degree toward many ends.  We're even doing a Design Thinking for Innovation study abroad program in Switzerland together this summer.

And yes, because of my flaming-heckfire diligence, I finally raised my GPA my very last semester to a 3.51, cum laude.

Calvin Hooper, WWII Marine

When Grandpa Hooper was alive, he didn't like to talk about the War.  Calvin Muir Hooper was a young man around the time of World War II (born March 1925), and I know he served in the marines, but that's all anyone would tell me.  Dad told me, "Grandpa would always change the subject.  You knew there were some really bad memories there that he didn't want to discuss."  I asked Dad, as one of Grandpa's next of kin, to help me figure out the which group in the marines he served.  I lucked out, though, as I found some information in the family books Mom let me "store" at my house for a little while.

Calvin Muir Hooper

Uncle Dennis (Grandpa's son), delivered a speech at a reunion in 1997:

"With the start of World War II, Grandpa Hooper encouraged Dad to go to Machinist School in Sandy, Utah, which he did.  He then got a job at Hill Air Force Base where he worked until he joined the Marine Corps."

Kamikaze about to hit the USS-M 

(http://s580.photobucket.com)

"Calvin was stationed on aircraft carriers in the Pacific Ocean throughout the war.  Several times Japanese suicide attacks hit his ship and came very close to killing him.  Dad's marine group was the first Marine Corps unit to enter the city of Nagasaki after the atomic bomb was dropped, and Japan had surrendered the war.  The experience was so unpleasant that Dad did not talk much about it.  After three years in the war, it was over and Calvin returned to Ogden."

Nagasaki was bombed by Fat Man shortly after Little Boy dropped on Hiroshima.

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/bombing_of_nagasaki.htm:

"As Nagasaki had been targeted in the past, people in the city had become blasé when the air raid siren sounded. The same was true on August 9th. The irony was that Nagasaki was well served with good bomb shelters and far fewer people would have been killed or injured if the air raid sirens had been listened to. The surrounding hills had tunnels dug into them which would have been very effective for the people who could have reached them.

"Fujie Urata, who lived in Koba and had seen a large flash, could not believe what she was seeing. She described people with great sheets of skin hanging off of their bodies; grotesque swollen faces; torsos covered with large blisters.  As in Hiroshima, many in Nagasaki died after the immediate impact of the bomb had gone away from mysterious ailments which we now associate with radiation poisoning. No-one, understandably, knew what to do to help the victims of this newest of illnesses.

"In 1953, a report by the US Strategic Bombing Survey put the number of deaths at 35,000, wounded at 60,000 and 5,000 missing. In 1960.  Later, the Nagasaki Prefectural Office put the figure for deaths alone at 87,000 with 70% of the city's industrial zone destroyed."

The reenactment of the Hiroshima bomb is on youtube:  http://youtu.be/_rHrV2QhArA

I can't imagine what it must have been like going into Nagasaki, not knowing how you could help these people.  Seeing what the bombs did to their bodies, the animals, and buildings.  That must have been heart-wrenching.  I still don't know exactly which unit it was in which Grandpa served, but nps.gov talks about some of the early Marine units in Nagasaki after the bombing:  

http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003143-00/sec2a.htm

Note: There is now a part 2 post, which I wrote after finding out from family on which ship Grandpa actually served. http://morningnahptime.blogspot.com/2011/08/calvin-hooper-wwii-marine-cont.html

Countries of Origin III

As part 3 of 8 I've made some interesting findings about the countries where my ancestors lived before they came to the U.S.  So far I've noted non-biological ancestors from England, and a few from France, who came mostly in the 1600s to the New World through Morise LeRoy Hooper.  Charlotte Jeanette's ancestors came from Scotland and England.  Now I'll search through Dad's Mom's Dad's ancestors, through John Frederick Barlow, to find the U.S.-bound immigrants.

Okay, it looks like his dad, 1. Walker Barlow emigrated from  Blackley, Lancashire, England, after his 9 June 1851 birth, and died 2 July 1933 in Ogden, Weber, Utah.  He is my great-great-grandfather, which is a lot easier to note than 9- or 10-greats.  Walker's parents emigrated, also.  2. Thomas Barlow, born 13 June 1823 in Whitefield, Lancashire, England, and Thomas's first cousin, 3. Ann Hulme, born 3 May 1826 in Little Heaton, Preswich, Lancashire, England.  She died 19 August 1861 on the plains of Wyoming, while he died 16 October 1896 in Ogden, Weber, Utah.  I assume Ann Hulme was part of an LDS handcart company.*  Thomas later married 4. Eliza Cato, born 1 February 1831 in Tring or Wiggington, Hertfordshire, England.  Eliza died 17 March 1919 in Ogden, Weber, Utah.  He outlived them both.

  

Lancashire, England

Thomas' and Ann's mothers had both passed away in England, and afterwards the fathers emigrated, 5. Edward Barlow, born 14 August 1801 in Little Heaton, Prestwich, Lancashire, England (died 9 November 1877 in Ogden, Weber, Utah), and 6. George Hulme, born 5 January 1794 in Unsworth, Prestwich, Lancashire, England, (died 27 October 1865 on plains en route to Utah).  Edward Barlow traveled with Thomas and Ann in the Joseph Horne Company in 1861, and George went in 1865 with the William S. S. Willes Company.

Walker's in-laws ended up in Ogden, Weber, Utah.  7. Simon Barker, born 1 October 1826 in Shelfanger, Norfolk, England,, and 8. Jemima Newey, born 22 March 1836 in Purbright, Surrey, England.  He died 1 January 1917 and she 12 April 1866.  That's quite a while to be a widower.  Oh, he married 8. Ann Barlow (her family show up in my family history at least three times**) 16 November 1869.  She was born either 16 November 1836 or around 1825 in Prestwich, Lancashire, England, and died 25 March 1895.  Her (polygynous) husband of nearly 11 years, Charles Root Dana (born in Schenectady, New York!), had passed away a year previous to her marriage to Simon Barker.

A few years ago Dad wrote down for me the direct Barlow line from which we descend.

Not too much variety here, as John Frederick Barlow's ancestors all came from England.  The ones that emigrated came to the Utah area by boat and handcart after joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Some died along the journey.  Not only is there a strong pioneer heritage, but the Barlows were in Lancashire for many generations.  That is their land.




* http://www.barlowgenealogy.com (Volume 4, The Price of Pioneering Four Lonely Children page 444)

"Ann Hulme Barlow, daughter of George and Ann Barlow Hulme was born May 03, 1826 in Little Heaton, Lancashire, England. She was baptized into the Latter-day Saint Church in March, 1842. She was a hand weaver in one of the silk mills near Manchester. Ann married her cousin Thomas Barlow. Two children, Edward and Walker were born in England. Thomas and Ann with their sons left Liverpool on the ship Siddons February 27, 1855. When they arrived at Pittsburg, Thomas and Ann stopped to visit two brothers, George and Uri Hulme.  (Thomas Barlow came to the United States in 1855 and settled initially in Pennsylvania where his wife had two brothers. He was recorded at Shaler Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the 1860 census. In 1861 he and his family moved west to Utah and settled there at Ogden.)

Thomas found employment in a confectionery and bakery and the family resided there six years during which time three more children were born to Ann, Elizabeth Ann, George Thomas and Abraham. When the baby was a few days old they started on their journey to Utah. The hardships of the journey were too much for Ann and she soon became ill. The baby died the 3rd of August 1861 and was buried by the wayside. Ann died sixteen days later and was buried on the left hand side of the road ten miles west of Deer Creek Station in Wyoming.  Thomas and their four children continued the journey and arrived in Salt Lake City the 13th of September, 1861 in the Joseph Horne company."

-Harriet Ann Barlow Lester         

Captain Joseph Horne

**Ann Barlow is the sister of Thomas Barlow. and is the aunt of Walker Barlow.  She and Simon Barker had no known children.  Walker Barlow's aunt married his father-in-law.

Another source of information that would be helpful with this line is http://www.lancashirebarlow.com, as most of them were born in Lancashire, England.

Countries of Origin II

Continuing the search for immigrant  relatives who came to the United States, I'm going over new.familysearch.org's listed ancestors of my Dad's Dad's Mom, Charlotte Jeanette Muir Hooper, also known as Netty.

Oh, I don't have to go back ten generations to find the first person.  Her paternal grandfather, 1. John Walter Muir, and grandmother, 2. Grace Muir, born in Fordel, Dalgety, Fife(shire), Scotland, 22 August 1826 and 3 March 1825.  She died first 14 June 1864 in Beaver, Beaver, Utah.  He passed away 10 October 1902 Salt Lake City and was buried in Beaver, Beaver, Utah.  Yes, they were first cousins.  As a polygamist, he had a few other wives: 3. Jane Penman, born in Dalgety, Fife, Scotland, place of death unknown; 4. Mary Hibbard, born 21 June 1823 in Pilsley, Derby(shire), England, who died 5 October 1885 in Salt Lake City or Beaver, Beaver, Utah; 5. Eliza Rial, born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, place of death unknown.  I am a descendant of John and Grace Muir.

                                    Kinghorn, Fife, Scotland                            St. Bridget's in Dalgety, Fife, Scotland

Grace Muir's parents also emigrated from Dalgety, Fife, Scotland, 6. Walter Muir, born 1 September 1789 and 7. Ellen Beveridge, born 18 July 1786.  Walter passed away April 1857 in Cedar City, Iron, Utah, and Ellen in October 1869 in Beaver, Beaver, Utah.

Charlotte Jeanette Muir's maternal grandparents were also the first generation in the U.S. in their family line.  8. Caleb Kelsall Orton, born 11 November 1840 in Byron, Nottinghamshire, England, died 10 April 1901 in Parowan, Iron, Utah.  9. Charlotte Trout, born 23 December 1840 in Radford, Nottinghamshire, England, died 28 March 1881 in Parowan, Iron, Utah.  They brought their daughter, Hannah Elizabeth Orton, who later became the mother of my Great-grandma Charlotte, Jeanette Muir.  Hannah was born Christmas day 1876 in Sneinton, Nottinghamshire, England, and died 8 February 1943 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, but was buried next to her husband in Beaver, Beaver, Utah.

Patchwork farms of Nottinghamshire, England

The Muirs and Ortons most likely came to America, making their way west to Utah, after joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who were gathering new members with missionary work around the world, but especially focused in Europe.

Wow, that was much faster and easier than trying to search for all of the immigrants in Morise LeRoy Hooper's line, who came in the 1600s.

Family Scandal

Some might consider the marriage and children of first cousins (both sides) or polygyny (both sides) a scandal.  I've known about these things in my family history for a while, but only recently discovered some details to my Grandpa Hooper's parentage.  To clarify the note on my Countries of Origin I post and divulge our first major family scandal, I now share what I can of the vexatious romance of Charlotte Jeanette Muir Hooper and John Marshall Sharp.

Great-Grandma Hooper was born 30 January 1905 as Charlotte Jeannette Muir in Beaver, Utah, famous for also being the birthplace of outlaw Butch Cassidy and partial inventor of T.V., Philo T. Farnsworth.  She went by Jeanette or Netty.  Her parents had their last of eleven children when she was 13.  By the time she was 18, Jeanette was ready for adventure.  She attended high school until a man from back east came to Beaver, where he worked as a cheesemaker.  John Marshall Sharp claimed to not quite be 29 when they courted and married 12 September 1923, and to be from New York City.  His new job moved them to Kansas, taking Jeanette away from her family, with whom she was very close.  He grew up Methodist, and she a Latter-day Saint, which may have strained things.  After being married about 11 months, Jeanette became pregnant with a boy.

The younger generations thought Jeanette had come home after John abandoned his pregnant wife, but found out later from some of her personal memoirs that she had left him, not giving him a chance to see his unborn son, Calvin.  After years of searching for New York records of his birth, family member and historian, Lesa Pringle, stumbled upon the website treesbydan.com, which listed John Marshall Sharpe as a Canadian citizen, born 14 September 1890, three years before the family, and perhaps Jeanette, had thought.

Further mysteries appear, as treesbydan gives a marriage certificate for John to a woman named Katie Frances Ward, on 28 December 1911 in Trenton, Hastings County, Ontario, twelve years before he married Jeanette.  He was 21 and Katie was 18 at the time.  On 9 November 1915, a Detroit border crossing passenger and crew list shows that cheese maker John Sharp crossed the border with his wife Katy Sharp to go to the home of friend Hanna Beauchamp in Detroit.  What happened to Katie?  Did they divorce; did he or she leave?  Did she die?  How much did Jeanette know?

Jeanette went back to Beaver, Utah, where she had my grandpa, Calvin Muir Sharp, and graduated from high school and seminary.  Eventually she moved with family members to McGill, Nevada, where she met the right man for her, Morise LeRoy (LaRoy) Hooper.  They married 10 July 1928, and Calvin took on the name Calvin Muir Hooper, even though he was never formally or legally adopted.  (My maiden name very well could have been Sharp).  Morise, Jeanette, and Calvin were sealed for time and all eternity as a family in the Logan LDS Temple 20 January 1965.

John Marshall Sharp(e)

It is still unknown what happened to John Marshall Sharp(e) after he left Kansas.

Calvin Muir Sharp Hooper

A treasure trove of knowledge comes from robandsusanpages.com and Lesa Pringle's compilation The James & Hannah Elizabeth Orton Muir Family, as well as http://www.treesbydan.com/p2750.htm#i69377