Family Group Record-568, Syphus Family, printout

FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
6 Jan 1992
Page 1 of20
HUSBAND LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726
LDS ORDINANCE DATA
BORN: 23 Jan 1827 PLACE: LEAFIELD,OXFORDSHIRE.ENGLAND
CHR.: PLACE:
DIED: 19 Apr 1915 PLACE: PANACA,LINCOLN CO,NEVADA
BUR.: 21 Apr 1915 PLACE: PANACA,LINCOLN CO,NEVADA
MARR: 25 Dec 1851 PLACE: ST. PANCRAS,LONDON,MIDDLESEX,ENGLAND
FATHER: MATTHEW SYPHUS SR.-2491
MOTHER: MARY ANN LONG-2492
B: Feb 1850 ENG
E: 10 Aug 1861 ENH
SP: 17 May 1878 STGEO
SS: 9 Aug 1861 EH
PARENTS’ MRIN: 855
WIFE CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
BORN: 10 Jan 1832
CHR.:
DIED: 17 Aug 1918
BUR.: 19 Aug 1918
FATHER: JOHN LONG-2506
MOTHER: MARTHA HIGNALL-2505
PLACE: STANDLAKE, .OXFORDSHIRE,ENGLAND PLACE:
PLACE: PANACA,,LINCOLN CO,NEVADA
PLACE: PANACA,,LINCOLN CO,NEVADA
B: Apr 1851 LIVE
E: 10 Aug 1861 LIVE
SP: 10 Jul 1936 LOGAN
PARENTS’ MRIN: 862
CHILDREN
1.
M
NAME: LUKE SYPHUS-1728
BORN: 3 Mar 1853 ' PLACE:
TABLE BAY,AFRICA
B: Child
CHR.: PLACE:
ON SHIP 'JAVA',NEAR AFRICA BURIED. AT SEA,NEAR AFRICA
E: Child
DIED: 29 Mar 1853 PLACE:
SP: 26 Sep 1879
BUR.: 1853 PLACE:
SPOUSE:
MARR: PLACE:
SS:
2.
NAME: LOVINA SYPHUS-1729
BORN: 31 Aug 1854 PLACE:
SIDNEY,NEW SOUTH WALES,AUSTRALIA
B: 3 May 1863
F
CHR.: PLACE-
DIED: 10 Dec 1934 PLACE: ST. GEORGE,WASHINGTON CO,UTAH
BUR.: Dec 1934 PLACE: ST. GEORGE,WASH CO,UTAH
SPOUSE: GEORGE BURTON WHITNEY-3837
MARR: 9 Oct 1873 PLACE: SALT LAKE CITY,SALT LAKE CO,UTAH
E: 9 Oct 1873 EH
SP: 26 Sep 1879
MRIN: 1317
SS: 9 Oct 1873 EH
3.
NAME: EDWARD HENRY SYPHUS-38
BORN: 22 Aug 1856 PLACE:
SAN PEDRO,,LOS ANGELES CO..CALIFORNIA
B: 1864 LIVE
M
CHR.: PLACE-
DIED: 10 Jun 1941 PLACE:
LOGANDALE,,CLARK CO.,NEVADA
E: 26 Sep 1879 LIVE SP: 26 Sep 1879 LIVE
BUR.: H Jun 1941 PLACE:
LOGANDALE,,CLARK CO.,NEVADA
has other marriages
SPOUSE: ANNA VILATE BURGESS-1721
MARR: 30 Mar 1884 PLACE:
TUNNEL POINT,AR
MRIN: 565
SS: 17 Jul 1887 SG
4.
NAME: MARTHA ELLEN SYPHUS-1730
BORN: 6 Mar 1859 PLACE:
TOQUERVILLE,WASH CO,UTAH
B: 1867 LIVE
F
CHR.: PLACE:
DIED: 18 May 1925 PLACE:
ST. THOMAS,,CLARK CO,NEVADA
E: 9 Mar 1877 STGEO
SP: 26 Sep 1879 STGEO
BUR.: May 1925 ' PLACE:
SPOUSE: HARRY GENTRY-3838
MARR: 9 Mar 1877 PLACE:
ST. THOMAS CEM.,OVERTON,CLARK CO,NEVADA
ST. GEORGE,,WASHINGTON CO,UTAH
MRIN: 1318
SS: 9 Mar 1877 SG
Check one option for all individuals on this form: !MARY F. SYPHUS
[ ] 1. I will provide proxies for []Bap []End []Seal |54 EAST 300 SO. 4 7
at thetemple. {ST. GEORGE, UTAH 84770 [ ] 2. Please provide all proxies at any temple. [
[ j 3. Send all names to the Ancestral File. [Phone:801-673-3144
Relationship to Husband Wife'
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
6 Jan 1992
CHILDREN (continued)
Yr of Birth 1827
Yr of Birth 1832
HUSBAND LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726
WIFE CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
Page 2 of20
5. NAME: ALFRED LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1731
—- BORN: 22 Dec 1861 PLACE: SANTA CLARA,HASH CO,UTAH
M CHR.: PLACE:
DIED: 10 May 1894 PLACE: ST. THOMAS,,LINCOLN CO,NEVADA
BUR.: 16 May 1894 PLACE: ST. THOMAS CEM..OVERTON,LINCOLN CO,NEVADA
SPOUSE: JULIA ANN WARDELL-3642
MARR: 17 Feb 1887 PLACE: ST. GEORGE,.HASHINGTON CO,UTAH
B: 1869 LIVE
E: 17 Feb 1887 LIVE
$P: 26 Sep 1879 STGEO
MRIN: 1263
SS: 17 Feb 1887 SG
6. NAME: GEORGE ALVIN SYPHUS-3814
---- BORN: 23 Dec 1863 PLACE: SANTA CLARA,,WASHINGTON CO,UTAH
M CHR.: PLACE:
DIED: 28 Jan 1933 PLACE: PANACA,,LINCOLN CO,NEVADA
BUR.: Jan 1933 PLACE: PANACA,,LINCOLN CO,NEVADA
SPOUSE: MARGARET ANN WADSWORTH-3839
MARR: 12 Sep 1893 PLACE: ST. GEORGE,.WASHINGTON CO,UTAH
B: 1871 LIVE
E: 12 Sep 1893 LIVE
SP: BIC
MRIN: 1319
SS: 12 Sep 1893 SG
7. NAME: LEVI WALTER SYPHUS-3641
---- BORN: 22 Apr 1866 PLACE: CLOVER VALLEY,,LINCOLN CO,NEVADA
M x €HR.„: PLACE:
DIED: 14 Apr 1949 PLACE: 3,CLARK CO,NEVADA
BUR.: Apr 1949 PLACE: ST. THOMAS CEM..OVERTON,CLARK CO,NEVADA
SPOUSE: NEVER MARRIED-3813
MARR: PLACE:
8. NAME: CHRISSIE AMELIA SYPHUS-3815
-— BORN: 17 Mar 1868 PLACE: PANACA,.LINCOLN CO,NEVADA
F CHR.: PLACE:
DIED: 2 Jan 1936 PLACE: OAKLAND,,ALAMEDA CO.CA
BUR.: Jan 1936 PLACE: OAKLAND,,ALAMEDA CO,CA
SPOUSE: GEORGE KERRY RIDING-3850
MARR: 6 May 1890 PLACE: ST. GEORGE,,WASHINGTON CO,UTAH
9. NAME: MARY ETTA SYPHUS-3816
---- BORN: 5 Jan 1871 PLACE: PANACA,,LINCOLN CO,NEVADA
F CHR.: PLACE:
DIED: 30 Nov 1895 PLACE: ST. THOMAS,.CLARK CO,NEVADA
BUR.: Dec 1895 PLACE: ST. THOMAS moved,to OVERTON,CLARK CO,NEVADA
SPOUSE: JOHN MATHESON BUNKER-3856
MARR: 12 Sep 1895 PLACE: ST. GEORGE,.WASHINGTON CO,UTAH
B: 14 Jun 1874
LIVE
LIVE
E: 17 Sep SP: BIC
MRIN: 1308 SS:
1895
B: 9 Apr
1876
LIVE
E: 6 May
1890
SG
SP: BIC
MRIN: 1321
SS: 6 May
1890
SG
B: 2 Nov
1879
LIVE
E: W Sep
1895
LIVE
SP: BIC
MRIN: 1322
SS: 12 Sep
1895
SG
10. NAME: CLARA MELISSA SYPHUS-3817
---- BORN: 6 Jan 1874 PLACE: PANACA,.LINCOLN CO,NEVADA
F CHR.: PLACE:
DIED: 18 Jan 1952 PLACE: PANACA,,LINCOLN CO,NEV
BUR.: Jan 1952 PLACE: ST. THOMAS CEM..OVERTON,CLARK CO,NEV
SPOUSE: NEVER MARRIED-3858
MARR: PLACE:
B: 7 May 1882 LIVE E: 12 Sep 1895 LIVE SP: BIC
MRIN: 1324
SS:
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992
Page 3 of 20
HUSBAND LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726
WIFE CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
Yr of Birth 1827
Yr of Birth 1832
HUSBAND - LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726
BIRTH: FAMILY GROUP SHEET OF EFFIE SYPHUS: 23, JUNE 1827 LEAFIELD, OXFORDSHIRE ENGLAND; SON OF MATTHEW SYPHUS AND MARY LONG.
OTHER: FAMILY GROUP SHEET OF ELLIS GENTRY HAS HIM AS BORN 23, JUNE 1837, BUT HE WOULD HAVE ONLY BEEN AGE 14 AT THE TIME HE WAS MARRIED, SO WE HAVE USED THE RESEARCH DATE BY EFFIE SYPHUS AND IT IS SHOWN, BY HIS HAND WRITING, IN THE
!MARRIAGE: LONDON RECORDS; DISTRICT ST. PANORA'S OLD CHURCH, DEC. 1851, VOLUME 1, PAGE 380. HER NAME IS NOT LISTED, JUST HIS. WE HAVE A COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE THOUGH, THAT HAS ALL THE DATA.(See notes further down in the history.)
FAMILY HISTORY AS COMPILED BY: the family of GEORGE BURTON WHITNEY AND HIS WIFE, LOVINA SYPHUSabout 1972. Copy available at Nary F. Syphus 54 E. 300 So. II 7, St. George, Utah 84770. COMPILED BY FENTON WHITNEY.
COPIED AS IS:
There, in or near London, was a girl in her teens and a young man. The young lady had accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but the young man had not.
The story here is how she (Christiana Long Syphus) told it in the sunset of her life with her own lips.... She said, "You know when I first heard the Elders, we went to their meetings together and their messages all seemed so true and it found a responce in my heart and I tried to show him, but he would --rret listen, but I knew it was true. I could not marry him because he could not accept the Gospel. I finally told him so and he felt sorry and so did I, but I wanted my children taught this Gospel. Thus he and I parted, but there was another young man by the name of Luke Syphus. He was a good young man; he joined the Church. We married and I have never been sorry."
They were never sorry and their faith was never shaken. They bore the hardships and suffering and privations with all the rest of our forefathers who settled this intermountain land. Many of them left homes of luxury and came for the love of truth.
Luke Syphus, son of Matthew and Mary Long Syphus, was born 23rd of January 1827 at Leafield, Oxfordshire, England. He married Christiana Long, the 25th of December 1851 at St. Pancras Church in Middlesex County, England.
Christiana Long, daughter of John Long and Martha Hignall, was born the 10th of January 1832, at Standlake, Oxfordshire, England.
Christiana’s mother died when she was eight years old. Later her father remarried and, although the step-mother was kind and good to the children, Christiana wanted to be independent. She wanted to earn her own living; so, she went to London to find employment.
Though Christiana was not born of the gentry, she always conducted herself in a most well-bread, lady-like manner. This quality emabled her to find employment in a "gentleman’s family", caring for his children. However, she did not like the lady for whom she worked because she expected Christiana to do so many other things besides taking care of the children. She decided to leave and because she had always been such a lady-like girl, they were forced to give her a good letter of recommendation.
Her next job was with a family by the name of King. Here she stayed, seemingly very happy for five years, or until they left to sail for America. The Kings wanted Christiana to go to America with them, but for some unknown
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992
Page 4 of 20
HUSBAND LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726
WIFE CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
Yr of Birth 1827 Yr of Birth 1832
reason, she stayed behind.
Who can tell where the kind hand of providence takes charge of our lives for a purpose. It was not long after the Kings left, that she heard the Gospel of the Latter-Day Saints. When she heard this new religion, she began attending meetings and investigating. The more she studied and heard, the more she was convinced that she had found the truth.
Where Luke and Christiana lived in England we do not know (THEIR MARRIAGE LICENCE STATES THEY LIVED ON LEWIS STREET IN CAMDEN TOWN -north part of London - Luke was apparently an apprentice to Mary Long’s father, John Long, a lawyer. On the licence the same street is listed as their residence, thus Luke may have boarded at the Long house.),nor what occupation Luke followed; but we do know that later he was a good stone mason and was skilled at whip-sawing lumber. He was able to make good use of these skills later in his life.
About a year after their marrige Luke and Christiana set sail for Australia, 21, November 1852, in the sailing vessel Java. This vessel had about five hundred people aboard and carried water and provisions for three months.
Before sailing, Luke was given a blessing by the presiding church officials in England that he would suffer a great loss on the voyage, and that he would be the means of saving the ship. This prophacy was literally fulfilled.
It is on this voyage that we begin to get a picture of the character and personality of Luke Syphus. Many adverse conditions prevailed, among them reverse winds that sometimes drove the ship back for several days. So instead of a three month voyage, it lengthened into five months.
All the people on the vessel suffered terribly from lack of food and water; many died and were buried at sea before Australia was reached. The passengers were put on rations that amounted to two tablespoons of water per day and sea biscuits. These sea biscuits were not only so hard thay had to be cut with an ax, but they were also filled with big worms - they were eaten anyway because those on board were so hungry.
When the ship was three months out, Christiana gave birth to her first son, Luke, on the 3rd. of March 1853. He was born while the ship was in Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope, Africa. Due to conditions on board ship, she could not give her baby proper nourishment and care, so he died on March 29, 1853, twenty-six days after birth, and was buried at sea.
The reverse winds were not the only troubles that beset the Java. She sprang a leak and for some time the captain considered abondoning ship. In fact, he had ordered the boats lowered with all the women and children loaded in them. Here is where Luke showed his faith and inspiration. While the captain was below seeing about repairs and pumping ooperations and organizing a bucket brigade to bail water, Luke preempted the captain’s place and ordered all passengers to stay aboard and aay fromthe boats. In a calm, authorative voice, he told them that the leak would be repaired and the water pumped out, and the ship would continue safely on it’s way. They were assured by his calm manner and none left the ship. However, when the captain on deck he was very angry and threatened to put Luke in the brig for his actions. But Luke did not back down on the wisdom of his order, and the captain realized that he had been spared additional troubles, forget the insubordination and the incident was closed.
After 5 months of buffeting by the elements, passengers almost starved, with many sick on board, the Java reached Australia. (24, April 1853) This was just at the time when so many rich gold mines were being discovered in that country. Consequently, there was a great demand for lumber and all kinds of
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992
Page 5 of 20
HUSBAND WIFE
LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726 CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
Yr of Birth 1827
Yr of Birth 1832
building material. Luke was quick to see the possibilities in this activity and immediatey prepared to saw lumber. Nell sawed lumber brought a very good price, as it should.
At that time,lumber sawed by hand and under great difficulties was whip-sawed in the following manner: First a deep cellar-like pit was dug. The log to be sawed was marked with straight black lines the size of the borers determining the number of lines per log. The helper would stand on the log, the two of them drawing the great saw up and down the length of it. A most arduous way to get lumber! Surely Luke earned the good wages he got for his efforts!
Since Luke and Christiana were Latter-day Saints, the home they established in Australia became headquarters for the L.D.S. Elders and Apostles who came there to proselyte the natives.
In Australia the cool time of the year comes in the summer months. This was fortunate for Christiana for on August 31, 1854 she gave birth to her second child, a lovely daughter, later named Lovina. At the time of her birth, Luke and Christiana were living in Sydney, New South Nales, Australia.
Luke worked hard, and with the help of his good wife, was able to save enough money for passage to America. Always in their hearts from the time they first joined the Church, had been the desire to go to Zion. When the time came to sail., Lovina was not quite two years old, but already she was a beautiful child, taking after her mother in looks. Christiana was a small, dainty women with fine features, beautiful black wavy hair, laughing brown eyes that were shadowed with provocatively long lashes, and a lovely mouth that curved easily into smiles. Her ankles were trim and neat, ending in the high arched instep of true aristocrat. These attributes of beauty she passed on the her children to some degree, but her first born daughter, Lovina, was a true prototype.
There is no record of the names of the people with who they associated and did business while in Australia except one: this was Joseph Ridges. He and Luke were associated in the lumber business and became fast friends; a tie that lasted throughout their lives. This same Joseph Ridges was later called to build the Salt Lake Tabernacle organ.
He tells about his conversion to Mormonism and his association with Luke and his personal history:
' In 1852, in company with a friend, I set sail for Australia, suffering from a bad attack of gold fever, and after five months we landed at Sydney. Nhile on borad ship I became acquainted with a gentleman whose name was Luke Syphus, and it subsequently transpiered that Mr. Syphus was a Mormon; but at that time I could not have told what a Morman was as the fame or otherwise of the Latter-day Saints had not then become so widely known at it is today. Upon landing at Sydney, I joined forces with this gentleman, and we went some four hundred miles up the rivers and creeks into the dense bush. 'Nell, to cut the matter short, it was not long before I fjound out what a Mormon was, and I become one of them joyfully...an action I have never regretted, if it did have the effect of causing my brothers and relatives at home in England to cease corresponding with me.*
Brother Ridges had gone to Australia seeking gold, but through his association with Luke he found the more precious good - the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
On the 23 of May, 1856, Luke and Christiana and little Lovina set sail on the ship Jenoveve (or Jenny Flora) for America. They sailed with a large company composed mostly of L.D.S. This too was a hazardous passage as the ship caught fire three times while on the three months voyage across the Pacific.
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992
Page 6 of 20
HUSBAND WIFE
LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726
CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
Yr of Birth 1827 Yr of Birth 1832
They landed at San Pedro Harbor, California early in August (15, August 1856). Most of the Saints moved inland to San Bernardino where an L.D.S. colony was already established. However, the Syphuses and a few close friends stayed behind at San Pedro because Christiana was expecting her third child momentarily. Luke quickly gathered driftwood and ship wreckage to make a shelter. This was the first cabin on the beach, and some two weeks later the first white child was born there. This was Edward Henry Syphus, born August 22, 1856, a son to Luke and Christiana.
When the mother and baby could travel, the little party also moved into San Bernardino 30, September 1856. Here Luke sawed lumber and made rails from the trees of the nearby mountains. With these he built a three room house hor his little family and fenced a fifteen acre farm. The soil here was very good,and with the help of a young Indian, Luke cleared and planted his small farm.
Ever a kindly man, and one to help the needy, Luke took the hungry Indian boy in, gave him food, and paid him to help with the land. Over Christiana’s protests, the Indian was allowed to sit at the table with the family for his meals. This was contrary to prevalent custom, but Luke felt that if he worked in the field, he should be allowed to eat as his family ate. This Christian kindness later paid big dividends to the Syphuses and their friends.
The small farm yielded abundant crops in 1857. It looked as though the family larder would be running over with winter supplies, plus what could be grown the year round.
Things began to look good for the Saints in San Bernardino. They had water, good soil, good climate, and were seemingly unmolested by persecutors, but their good fortune was short lived. Far away in Southern Utah the Mountain Meadow Massacure had been perpetrated. It’s effects on the members of the Church was far-reaching. In California the Latter-day Saints were threatened with death if they did not get out. The leaders in Salt Lake called them to come to Utah for safety. They had to leave so quickly they had no time to sell anything; probably would not have found buyers anyway. They just walked away, leaving their homes and crops to anyone who chose to take them (3, Dec. 1857).
This certainly was a test of faith and proof of the sturdy character of these people. The wilderness road to Utah lay across three waterless deserts and through valleys infested with starving, hostile Indians, every mile was fraught with danger, yet those sturdy people loaded their families and meager possessions into wagons and started across the trackless wastes.
They were sure of three oases between San Bernardino and Utah, but they were not sure they would ever reach them. And reaching them, they were not sure they would leave alive because of the Indians lying in wait.
These oases were Las Vegas,The Muddy, and Beaver Dam, Each had running water, shade, and a modicum of grass. Las Vegas was a clear spr4ing that spouted up and ran out into the desert. The Muddy was a big creek, fed by warm springs that meandered down through a long marrow valley, all enclosed by tawny mesas. Beaver Dam was a mountain fed stream, bordered with trees and grass at intervals that had cut a wide gash in the earth for more than a hundred miles. Before, between, and after these three oases lay the desert,stark and jealous, reaching out hungry hands for the weak and unprepared.
The little party of fleeing Saints had safely negotiated the first third of their journey. They stopped at Las Vegas without incident, and were praying to do the same at the Muddy. But as they drove down the tottuous trail to the river ford, they came upon Indians...half naked, hungry Indians.
The wagons had made the crossing safely and were slowly following the trail
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992
Page 7 of 20
HUSBAND WIFE
LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726
CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
Yr of Birth 1827 Yr of Birth 1832
across the upper valley...each driver kept a sharp look-out for Indians, for they knew the Piutes would do anything for food.
Suddenly Luke heard a noise to the rear of his outfit. Hastily looking over his sholder into the dark depths of the wagon,he saw Lovina being lifted out of the back opening by two brown hands. With a shout he stopped the teaqm and leaped to the ground, running as he lit. He struck the Indian a blow that made him drop the child and sent him spinning. Lovina had been too frightened of the ugly brown face to cry out, but in later years she said she was sure the Indian was only looking for food and had moved her, the better to look.
With this incident to spur them on, the little party moved toward Beaver Dam. Up they went, up the steep sandy slope of the mesa, over the ragged rim-rock, acorss the dreary miles of top, down over the rim-rock, and on across the slopes of shifting sand. Plop, plod, plop went the feet of the horses,and in the minds of the people a question: Would there be Indians at the Beaver Dam?
There were...the whold tribe had assembled, ready to pounce on the wagon train. The Saints quickly prepared to defend themselves and in so doing, one member of the party was recognized. Luke Syphus...the young Indian that he had employed in San Bernardino and so kindly treated, knew his friend. He quickly spoke to the chief...pleaded with him to spare the lives of those in this wagon train. Reluctantly the chief consented, provided the Saints would give them food. An agreement was made. Leaving most of their provisions behind, the train was allowed to proceed in safety.
And so the third oasis was left behind, and what lay ahead—none knew. When Utah ws reached, the Syphuses reached Cedar City January 31, 1858. They stayed there abut a year, but apparently were not satisfied,for they moved further suth into Toquerville. They left November 15, 1858, arrived the 16th of November 1858. This was a small settlement of saints between Cedar City and St. George. The Syphus’ did not stay long here either, but during their stay, a fourth child, a daughter, was born. On the 6th of March 1859, Martha Ellen Syphus joined the family.
The next place the family moved was to the settlement of Santa clara, a small place that was being built up on a bend of the Santa Clara Creek; they arrived on December 11, 1859. Here they acquired land, built a home,and surrounded themselves with the usual accoutrements of farm life: Pigs, chickens, cattle, farm equipment, and so on. The family was doing very well—was busy and happy, and well onto forgetting their previous hardships. Here too, in this quiet time, Alfred Luke Syphus was born, December 22, 1861. (IT IS LISTED THAT THEY WERE SEALED TOGETHER ON 10, AUG. 1861 IN THE ENDOWMENT HOUSE IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. LISTED ON THE SYPHUS FAMILY GROUP SHEET BY EFFIE SYPHUS.)
When he was one week old, (Jan 1, 1862), disaster struck again. During the winter of this year there had been so much snow and rain that the beneficient Santa Clara Creek became a torrent. It’s angry water gobbled up the land it had previously made. The people hastely abandoned their homes, climbing to a hillside for safety. Here Christiana sat with her week-old son, along with her neighbors and watched the greedy creek carry their homes away. The men saved what they could, but since they had been forced out in the evening.it was hard to work in the dark. When morning came, the only thing left of a flourishing settlement was the chimney of Luke and Christiana’s house. This made two homes and farms that they had lost in five years.
But they were not daunted. With stout hearts they moved around the point of the hill, a greater distance from the creek and started over again.
Luke’s brother Matthew Syphus was in Santa Clara, Utah at the time of the
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992 Psgs S of 20
HUSBAND LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726 Yr of Birth 1827
WIFE CHRISTIANA LONG-1727 Yr of Birth 1832
flood with his little family, his wife being Marianna (Mary Ann French). After the flood disaster Matthew went to California (where the gold had been discovered) and he left his family in the care of Luke and Christiana. Thus, with this added responcibility, Luke made a decision to give up farming and to follow the stone masonry trade.
He quickly made adobies and built a house for his family. One was surely needed for there was much sickness that summer after the flood.
Because of so much sickness in the two families, Luke moved Marianna and her children into his home. They watched her two oldest daughters die, even as Chriatiana nursed her own ailing children, it was a terrible summer and one to try the faith of the most devout.
Probably because of the sorrow he had seen in this house, Luke sold it, moving the two families to a new one closer to the hills. In this new home, Marianna saw her baby die and Christiana gave birth to another son: her sixth child, George Alvin Syphus, born the 23rd. of December 1863.
In the proceeding two years, and in spite of so much personal trouble and sorrow, Like had been very busy. He had been building homes for other people; homes that still stand, a monument to his integrity as a builder. One house in particular that he helped build was a home for Jacob Hamblin. Most of the towns people helped to build this home in someway as it seemed a community project. It’s site was up on a hillside overlooking the rest of the town. A rather pretentious, two story house with thick rock walls.
In the fall of 1863 Matthew returned from California and resumed responsibility for his family. About this time, or shortly after the birth of George Alvin Syphus, Apostle Erastus Snow called on Luke to make yet another move. Several families were called to settle in Clover Valley, Nevada and Luke was called to be the Bishop.
These were the days of Indian uprisings and raids; Clover Valley was not exempt. In fact, the raids became so frequent that the settlers had to build a fort and a big round public stockade for the cattle and horses. At night, guards had to be posted to ward off Indian forays.
On one of these raids, two of the Indians were shot, but the settlers decided to follow them and end once and for all, if possible, the trouble. Since the raid took place about midnight, the men at the fort took up the trail as soon as they could follow the tracks. When they stopped for breakfast, Luke’s horse got loose and went back to the fort. This caused a great deal of excitment and sorrow, because he was loved by all the settlers. One woman swore personal vengence on anyone who had harmed ‘their Luke'. But, Luke returned home safety and all were relieved when he came back although the men were unable to stop the Indians. The raids continued until nearly all the stock was driven off.
Clover Valley was a beautiful valley, on of the most picturesque yet settled by the Saints. The present settlement is know as Barklay (1965) and is on the Union Pacific Railroad. But, in 1864 it was an isolated, lonely place. The small group of Saints had to depend entirely on their own resources for protection from the Indians.
The Indians here were especially troublesome. They were ruled tyranically by on Bushhead. He was feared as much by his own people as by the white settlers.
Luke was not only the ecclesiastical leader of the group, but he had to plan the strategy against the Indians as well. Many skirmishes and narrow escapes were recorded, not only by the Clover Valley group, but by more distant settlements.
One of these mre distant settlements was in the Pahranagate Valley, some 60
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992
Page 9 of 20
HUSBAND LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726
WIFE CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
Yr of Birth 1827
Yr of Birth 1832
or 70 miles away. The settlers were not Latter-day Saints, but Bushhead was no respecter of persons, and one of his group killed a man at Kiko in the Pahranagate Valley, then cunningly blamed the Mormans for it! This of course aroused their fury against the Saints in Clover Valley. They organized a posse and came posthaste to wipe out the "damn Mormons’.
But here again we see the quiet strength and sagacity of Luke Syphus revealed. Calmly his group met the irate posse and asked for a hearing. He quickly outlined the situation, explaining the cunning perfidy of Bushhead. Immediately the two valleys joined forces and subsequently succeeded in capturing the leaders of the Indians, among them the rebel Bushhead. After their demise, there was no more Indian trouble.
It seems that in each place that Luke and Christiana helped to settle, they were destined to spend a short time. They gave their strength and talent to establish a settlement and then were called to a new frontier, and in each place a child was born into their family. Here in Clover Valley, Levt Walter Syphus was born on April 22, 1867, their seventh child.
Luke and Christiana were required to make one more move before they finally chose and were allowed to make a permanent home. In the fall of 1866 they moved 55 miles east to an isolated little valley that was later known as Pinto. There stay was very short. Just through the winter of 1866-1867. In the spring of 1867 they moved to a settlement that had already been established, and was situated adjacent to rich and active mines. Yes...in the spring of 1867 the Syphuses moved to Panaca, Lincoln County, Nevada and they were ’home'.
Not long after they came to Panaca, another rich mining town sprang up. This was Pioche. Here they found ready sale for all the vegetables and farm products they could grow.
They build a comfortable home and being thrifty and industrious they were able to give their children all the comforts available at the time and in some instances, provided even luxuries.
In Panaca, Luke and Christiana found the sanctuary among the. Latter-day Saints of Zion that they had set out to find so many years before when they left England on the sailing vessel Java. They had given the strength of their youth, their talents and native abilities to help in getting the church established in outposts throughout Southern Utah and Nevada. Now at the ages of 40 and 35, those choice, rich years of life, they found permanency and could put those abilities with which they were so richly endowed to purposeful and permanent uses.
They took active part in church, civic and political enterprises. Luke was a Bishop for seven years in the Panaca Ward from Feb. 25, 1875 to June 7, 1882. And prior to that he was first counselor to Bishop Thomas Jefferson Jones for a period of four years. He was a County Commissioner for Lincoln County, Nevada for ten years. In this capacity he skillfully guided the policies and achievements of that body along lines of greater civic improvements.
Christiana was not idle either. She was busy helping her husband to organize and staff the various church auxiliaries. Many of these she had to guide herself until enough people came into the ward to take over the leadership. Always they wanted the best the church had to offer their children in opportunities and training and they worked together to achieve this end.
It was here in Panaca too, that Christiana told her granchildren about her conversion to Mormonism and about her marriage to Luke, the good man who had joined the church. 'I have never been sorry." How well she had earned the peace and comfort of the final years in Panaca.
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992
Page 10 of 20
HUSBAND
WIFE
LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726 CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
Yr of Birth 1827 Yr of Birth 1832
Luke and Christiana passed on to their reward after years of full rich living in the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Luke died at the age of 88 on April 19, 1915. Christiana followed 3 years later at the age of 86 on August 17, 1918.'
1858- Book, 'UNDER THE DIXIE SUN' section about Santa Clara, Utah compiled by Nellie McArthur Gubler, page 154.
' In the spring of 1858 the Saints living at San Bernadino, California were called back to Utah by Brigham Young because Johnson’s army was enroute to Utah and President Young wanted all the Saints he could get to be ready in case they were needed to defend themselves. Some of the Saints settled at Santa Clara, thus strengthening the settlement. Among these people were Luke and Matthew Syphus, Christopher L. Riding, Hamblin and Brown Crow, William Lay, William Crosby and other.' (The Syphus family brought with them many grape starts from California.)
The terrible flood that washed away the fort in Santa Clara and many pioneer homes, is reported to have been Jan. 1, 1862. The dam had been built and rebuilt many times and the people rebuilt, started again each time.'
PANACA, NEVADA WARD RECORDS (on film) HAS HIM LISTED SEVERAL TIMES: BAPTIZED: 1850 in Camden Town, London England, (must have been confirmed a member of the Church at that time.) PANACA WARD ORGANIZED 12, AUG. 1865 AND WAS IN THE ST. GEORGE, UTAH STAKE UNTIL 1912.
1864 - CLOVER VALLEY, NEVADA BOOK: 'THE WOODS FAMILY' of Clover Valley, Nevada 1869-1979 compiled by Ori1la Woods Hafen, Mary R. Edwards and Elbert B.
"'Edwards. Page 8.
' Clover Valley was not, therefore, strictly virgin territory. It had been vistied, and a brief camp established there in 1857 by the White Mountain Mission sent out by Brigham Young to find possible places of refuge in the western deserts to which the saints might retreat if forced from their Utah homes by the invading U.S. Army. The next attempt at colonizing the area came in early 1864. As a result of a severe drought in the lower Virgin River drainage area during the previous year a number of settlers along the Santa Clara River decided to look elsewhere for home sites and more stable conditions. Their search lead them to Clover Valley some 60 miles to the Northwest from Santa Clara. The group, including LUKE SYPHUS, Amos and Bradford Hunt, Brown and Hamilton Crowe, a Mr. Blair, a Mr. Young, Samuel Knight and Dudley Leavitt, was under the leadership of Bishop Edward Bunker. The settlers built primitive dwellings close together in the shape of a fort and around a flowing stream of water. One side of the fort also served as a part of a corral in which their animals were driven at night to be guarded from Indian depredations.
While the settlers had made a treaty with the Indians permitting them the use of the land and range, the natives were frequently hungry, and they began raids on the lifestock of the whites. Persistence in the thievery on the part of the natives, the killing of an Indian in the act of driving off animals and the execution of Indians by miners in the region, led to an every increasing tenseness in racial relations. Finally, in 1866, the small colony was abandoned. Some of the inhabitants moved to Shoal Creek and Hebron, Utah, and others made their homes in Panaca. (THIS IS WHY LUKE SYPHUS AND CHRISTIANA LONG SYPHUS, WITH THEIR CHILDREN, MOVED TO PANACA, NEVADA.
The Clover Valley was to remain isolated and vacant until 1869 when Lyman
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992 Pa9® 11 °f 20
HUSBAND LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726 Yr of Birth 1827
WIFE CHRISTIANA LONG-1727 Yr of Birth 1832
Wood, accompanied by his brother-in-law, Richard Bird and family, moved in. They were afterwards joined by Talor R. Bird and family and Richard Gibbons and others. This little valley had been abandoned three years before because of Indian depredation.
Lyman Wood purchased the land title from LUKE SYPHUS of PANACA, and proceeded to set up a temporary home in the abandoned fort.' 1865 - BOOK: "ORSON WELCOME HUNTSMAN' compiled by himself, page 6 ....
'We traveled (from the Salt Lake City area), as it were in wilderness, for the space of three or four weeks,and arrived in Clover Valey which was then in Washington Co., Utah Territory, but some years after, when the state lines were run, or surveyed, this beautiful little valley was found to be 10 or 15 miles in Lincoln Co., Nevada.
This valley was only abut one mile wide and three or four miles long, running east and west, carpeted with green meadows, watered by nice springs raising in the valley and flow west,and surrounded by low rolling hills, which were covered with wild sage brush and cedar trees and a very good stock range at that date.
This valley was settled early in the spring of 1864 by a small company of Saints from the Santa clara, lead by Bishop Edward Bunker. This valley is about three hundred and fifty or seventy-five miles, a little west of south from Salt Lake. Joseph Huntsmans, Drsen, brother, was already living their as was his sister, Mary and Mariah.'
-H’-HE HUNTSMANS ARRIVED IN CLOVER"VALLEY IN OCTOBER 1865 - they went to work preparing for the winter and soon had built a comfortable log house on a little town lot. Most of the people in Clover Valley lived in the little fort which was built of log houses built closely together, forming a hollow square. This was to protect them from the Indians who had been hostile but at this time, were now becoming friendly and would go from door to door begging for something to eat, whether they were hungry or not.
Late in the summer of 1866, President Brigham Young sent a proclamation advising the people who were living in a scattered condition and in small towns and settlements to move together, or move into larger towns so they could easier protect themselves from the raiding Indians.
Apostle Erastus Snow,who was presiding over this suthern mission, advised the people of Clover Valley to move to Shoal Creek and to the settlement which was located in Meadow Valley which was afterwards called Panaca (an Indian mand for mineral) so as to strengthen these two places. Bishop Tuck Syphers (LUKE SYPHUS) and some others moved to Meadow Valley and some went to other places while ten families located on Shoal Creek - THIS ENCLUDED THE HUNTSMAN FAMILY. Page 7 of the above book.
BOOK: "THE HOODS FAMILY' of Clover Valley, Nevada 1869-1979. Page 7 and
8.
(Lyman Hoods was asked by church authorities to explore and find suitable areas for the Saints to live and develope - this is his story.) 1869 - "Lyman had reported to Joseph H. Young, who was in charge of the Muddy Mission,and was assigned to develope the Long Valley area on the Meadow valley Hash. The water flow,however, was unstable and following the spring runoff the stream dried up completely, and the assigned settlers were forced to leave.
Hhile enroute to Meadow Valley in search of a new place to make his home, he passed through Clover Valley. Although the valley was of limited acreage he became completely enamoured with the small green vale and the surrounding hills
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992 Page 12 of 20
HUSBAND LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726 Yr of Birth 1827
WIFE CHRISTIANA LONG-1727 Yr of Birth 1832
and mountains covered with stirrup high range grasses.
CONFIRMED INTO THE PANACA WARD AS A MEMBER: 15, NOV. 1869 in Panaca Ward, Nevada and also listed as a member and confirmed 14, June 1874. Listed as an Elder. Was Re-Baptized 1876 by Samuel Marion Lee (film 4 SL 3647). RECORDS: it shows that he did many confirmations and blessings not only for his own family members, but for other families members.
ORDINATIONS: He did ordinations in 1871 so it can be assumed he had the Priesthood before 1874 especially since the Panaca, Nevada records show he was baptized in 1850 in England. PEOPLE HE BAPTIZED or CONFIRMED:
Blessed the baby, Fielding Langford who was born on 16, Dec. 1867 in Elder Co. Utah. Blessed in 1868. Parents: James A. Langford and Mary C. Turnborgh. Blessed a baby: chrisa Amelia Syphus - April .1868 in Panaca, Nevada. Panaca, Nevada, Sept. 3, 1871 - ordained Heber Marshall a Deacon.
' ' ' - ordained Edward H. Syphus a Deacon.
Panaca, Nevada, June 14,1874 - Joseph C. Davis Panaca, Nevada, June 14, 1874
10 other people are listed but the paper was torn and names are not available. Panaca, Nevada, Sept. 5, 1875 - ordained Richard H...ollough an Elder.
‘ " - ordained Edward Syphus (his son) a Teacher and
a Priest on the same day.
THERE ARE MANY RECORDINGS OF HIS PRIESTHOOD WORK - TOO MANY TO LIST. EAGLESVILLE, LINCOLN CO., NEVADA:
16, July 1876 3 people - names not given.
WIFE - CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
SEE HUSBANDS RECORDS FOR MARRIAGE INFORMATION.
PATRIARCHICAL BLESSING: by John L. Smith, Patriarch upon the head of Christina (Christiana) Syphus, daughter of John Long and Martha Ignol (Hignell), born Standlake, Oxfordshire, England on Janth 1822.( should be 1832, copied wrong.) Blessing No. 45, 24, May 1875, Panaca, Lincoln co., Nevada.
Sister Christina by the authority of the Holy Priesthood invested in me to bless the fatherless, I seal upon thee a Patriarchal Blessing. The Lord hath given his angels charge over thee, to preserve thy life, until thou hast accomplished that which is necessary to extend the Gospel to thy kindred, back to the days of Adam. Thine inheritance shall be with the children of Ephraim, and thy posterity as numerous as the stars of Heaven, to the increase of which there shall be no end. Thy children and thy children's children shall rise up and call thee blessed, and hear thy name in homorable remembrance to the end of time. In company with thy companion thou shalt be crowned a Queen to reigh over thy children through all eternity, have power in the Priesthood to preserve the lives of thy children, and drive the destroyer far from thy habitation. In thy house there shall be no lack, and thy storehouse filled to overflowing. Thou shalt see thy sons and thy daughters classed among the honorable ones of the earth, mighty and wise in Israel. All thy former gifts ayd blessings I renew upon thee, with every desire of thine heart, in righteousness not one word of which shall fail, if thou art faithful to the end, for I seal them upon thee in the name of Jesus thy Redeemer, Amen.
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992
Page,13 of 20
HUSBAND
LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726
Yr of Birth 1827
WIFE
CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
Yr of Birth 1832
SEALED TO PARENTS: LG TEMPLE RECORD BOOK N, PAGE 950, S-C TO PARENTS. ST. GEORGE TEMPLE RECORD 4 5105, BOOK N. PAGE 142.
PANACA, NEVADA WARD RECORDS:
PARENT: Lists her as being the parent of several children.
PARENTS: Lists her parents as being JOHN LONG and MARTHA HIGNELL born in Stanlake, Oxfordshire, England. Birth date is registered as being 10, Jan. 1832.
BAPTIZED: Date given is 1851 in Camden Town, London, England.
DIFFERENT RESOURCE:
Date found in the research of Minnie Hargett L.D.S. Records Index: Baptized: 13, Apr. 1851 in London, England.
CHILD 1 - LUKE SYPHUS-1728
BIRTH: This first child of Christiana Long and Luke Syphus was born aboard the ship"Java" on which his parents set sail from England for Australia on 21, Nov. 1852. This vessel had about five hundred people aboard and carried water and provisions for three months. When the ship was three months out Christiana gave birth to her first son, Luke, on the third of March 1853. He was born while the ship-was in Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope, Africa. Due to conditions on board ship, she could not give her baby proper nourishment and care, so he died on March 29, 1853, twenty-six days after his birth, and was buried at sea. THIS IS FROM A HISTORY OF LUKE AND CHRISTIANA LONG SYPHUS compiled by John Whitney.
CHILD 2 - LOVINA SYPHUS-1729
WHITNEY FAMILY HISTORY BOOK.
CHURCH ARCHIVES FAMILY GROUP SHEET RECORD.
SANTA CLARA, UTAH RECORDS ON FILM 4 1131, PART 276, NEW FILM 4 IS 2045. 1864-1904 LOVINA - MAY 3, 1863 - M. ENSIGN.
PANACA, NEVADA WARD RECORDS: she is mentioned as being Baptized in 1862. AND BAPTIZED IN SANTA CLARA, UTAH.
CHILD 3 - EDWARD HENRY SYPHUS-38
Family records data has birthday 22-Aug-1856.
St.Thomas Ward records has birthday as 27-Aug-1856.NEV.Ward.
Baptism date in St. Thomas, Nev. Ward Records; Baptized in CLover Valley, Nevada as listed in the Family Group Sheet written by Effie Syphus.
PANACA, NEVADA WARD RECORDS: Film 4 3647 or new number, 14,914. BAPTIZED: 1864 in Clover Valley, Nevada BIRTH: Born in San Pedro, California, August 22, 1856.
PARENTS CAME FROM SAN BERNARDINO, CA. IN 1857 WHEN,HE WAS VERY YOUNG. The name of the town, the Indian name, means:"IVANPAH - good waters'. It is in southern Piute Territory and applied to the Santa Fe branch - 1902 Goffs. The Italian Saint of the 15th century, "Bernardino", was recorded as a place
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992 Page 14 of 20
HUSBAND LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726
WIFE CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
name in 1810, San Bernardino. In 1842 it was applied to a land grant, on a part of which Mormons in 1851 started a settlement, the nucleous for the present city. The mountains are mentioned before 1850, the county was named in 1853, and the national faorest in 1893. The name aslo occured in other parts of the state. The city of San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA., was short lived for the Mormons, only about six years, when the troubles with the Indians and other matters forced the Saints to be called back to Utah.
The Mormons had made a beautiful city and hated to leave it, but.they did as they were told.
The City of San Bernardino was patterned closely after Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s streets were wide, surveyed on sectional lines, and shade trees bordered them. Many houses were built of adobe with gables built of native lumber and shakes. A proposed temple block centered the city and streets numbered from there. Many streets bore names accociated with their church leaders or events in church history. After the Mormons left the streets names were changed and forgotten. There were well planted farms, road making, grist mills and peaceful citizens. Most of the Mormons got on well with the Indians.
A Mr. Jefferson Hunt had lead the first Mormon’s wagon train into the San Bernardino area and helped the people get established. This was about 1850 and the route was through north Texas.
MARRIED: 1) ANNA VILATE BURGESS: APRIL 1882 AT TUNNEL POINT, ARIZONA, another date, from her father’s family group sheet is: 30, March 1884. With her endowment date being: 12, Feb. 1879. Baptized in 1872.
Film 14,924 F69 3654 in St. George Genealogy Library, UT.
—- FROM HIS SON, FAY BEEBE SYPHUS: * Edward Syphus and Harry Gentry. Edward was a butcher and helped Harry Gentry. Edward had his own farm and had cattle first. When he built the house in St. Thomas, he sold his cattle to pay for it. He hauled his own produce, from the farm, to different places such as the mines in the area. His wife, Eleanor, pulled vegetables from the garden and took them to Logandale and sold them. She had a white topped covered buggy pulled by two horses that she drove herself.
Edward built roads out to mines and did other contract work. A name of a mine was, Grand Gulch that was about 50 miles from St. Thomas, Nevada.
The produce was unloaded onto a platform and Fay, Edwards son, would unload it from the platform to the train with a wheelbarrel.
Edward started the idea about having the road through the Valley of Fire and he started construction of the road. He would drag a hugh log behind his horses and level the ground and get the bushes off the dirt. He was always keeping the streets of St. Thomas clean because he wanted it to be a pretty town. When ever he would see a bush growing in a street, he would remove it.
He and his brothers bought a piece of land some distance away from St. Thomas and wanted to use it for a meadow to grow alfalfa and hay for feed. They made a cement ditch, that went for miles, from a spring that they owned, ROGERS SPRINGS and another spring, BLUE SPRINGS, ( which now was bought by the State so that they could make a State Park. So, as it happehs it is a State Park near Lake Mead). There are still many miles of the old
Yr of Birth 1827
Yr of Birth 1832
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992 Pa9e 15 20
Yr of Birth 1827 Yr of Birth 1832
cement ditch. Eventually, the meadow was lost through the families lack of funds to pay the bank what they owed it. They had borrowed $40,000 dollars to buy the land and build the ditch. They were unable to pay off the loan and lost the water and the land.
All that work may not have netted the family lots of money, but the history of it is interesting for the descendants of Edward Henry Syphus. In the spring of 1989, Fay Beebe Syphus Jr., his wife, Mary and son, Douglas, went to the sites of these two springs and followed the remains of the cement ditch. Pictures were taken of some of the ditch. In between the two springs, Rogers Springs and Blue Point Sprngs, there is a smaller spring where the men would camp. It took them about 3 years, starting in 1907, to get the ditch completed. There were wooden flumes across the large cuts in the landscape. In 1989 there are still a few signs of wood and some metal bands that were around the flumes. Fay Beebe Syphus Jr. found an old wheelbarrow still in the gully by the camp. It had been broken and abandoned with cement remains still in it. Of course it was in pieces, rusted and not worth anything except for the sentimental value to the family.
He understand that Edward Henry Syphus had his brother, Levi, work with him and also, Everett Syphus, Edward’s son. Everett has written a little bit about this ditch in his personal history. There may have been others who - worked on the ditch, but we do not know who they are.
Other marriages:
21 Dec 1892 ELEANOR AMANDA BEEBE-39 MRIN: 12
CHILD 4 - MARTHA ELLEN SYPHUS-1730
FAMILY GROUP RECORD AT CHURCH ARCHIVES.
PANACA HARD RECORDS SHOW SHE WAS BAPTIZED IN 1867 IN PANACA, LINCOLN CO., NV.
ADDITIONAL TEMPLE DATA:
BAPTIZED: 2, NO. 1979 SG.
ENDOWED: 6, NOV. 1979 SG.
SEALED TO PARENTS: 6, NOV. 1979 SG. RESOURCE: 7927490-12.
CHILD 5 - ALFRED LUKE SYPHUS SR .-1731
GRAVE STONE IN ST. THOMAS CEM. AT OVERTON, NEVADA. AND FROM THE FAMILY GROUP SHEET SUBMITTED BY EFFIE SYPHUS.
GRAVESTONE DATES ARE: ALFRED L. SYPHUS: DEC. 22, 1861 - MAY 16, 1894. Death: the Lincoln Co., Newspaper states: ‘Alfred Luke Syphus died in St. Thomas, Nevada while chasing a cow'.
BLESSED BY HIS FATHER IN SANTA CLARA, UTAH ON MARCH 8, 1862. FILM 2,045- NEW FILM NUMBER; OLD FILM I 1131 PART 276.
RE-BAPTIZED NOV. 20, 1870 IN PANACA, LINCOLN CO., NEV. (for some reason many people were re-baptized in this years)
SEALED TO PARENTS: 26 SEP. 1879 AT ST. GEORGE TEMPLE. TAKEN FROM THE LUKE SYPHUS.TEMPLE BOOK.
HUSBAND LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726
WIFE CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
SEALED TO SPOUCE WHEN THEY WERE MARRIED, BUT DATA FOUND FOR A LATER SEALING:
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
M170579 SEALED: OCT. 2, 1984 IN THE ATLANTA, GEORGIA TEMPLE.
6 Jan 1992
Page 16 of 20
HUSBAND LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726
Yr of Birth 1827
WIFE CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
Yr of Birth 1832
CHILD 6 - GEORGE ALVIN SYPHUS-3814
DATA TAKEN FROM THE FAMILY GROUP SHEETS OF THE L.D.S. ARCHIVES.
The sixth child of Christiana and Luke Syphus born 23, Dec. 1863, Santa Clara, Washington Co., Utah. Shortly after his birth Apostle Erastus Snow called on Luke Syphus and his family to make a move, with a group of settlers, to Clover Valley where Luke Syphus would be the Bishop. These were the days of Indian uprisings and raids and Clover Valley was not exempt. In fact, the raids became so frequent that the settlers had to build a fort and a big round public stockade for the cattle and horsesin 1864 Clover Valley was an isolated and lonely place. The present settlement is now known as Barklay and is on the Union Pacific Railroad. (This taken from the Whitney History)
DATA FROM THE BOOK: ’GEORGE ALLEN WADSWORTH - From Pilley (England) to Panaca (Nevada)" by Helen Free Vanderbeek. Several pages.
LINCOLN CO., NEVADA - NEWSPAPER: 'George Syphus - May 4, 1894 - is tearing Jown a frame house and will build on of brick.
Dec. 26, 1895 - George Syphus is working on his residence of 4 rooms.
CHILD 7 - LEVI WALTER SYPHUS-3641
ST. THOMAS CEMETERY STONE RECORD. ST. THOMAS OEM. IN OVERTON, NEVADA.
or LOGANDALE, NEVADA
PANACA WARD RECORDS OF THE L.D.S. CHURCH. Gives his birthdate and place. FILM 4 SL 3645.
LINCOLN CO., NEVADA NEWSPAPER: "Levi Syphus - Panaca - Sept. 26, 1902 is the Democratic Candidate for Assembly.
Nov. 14, 1902 - Levi Syphus was elected to the Assembly.
Sept 16, 1904 - Levi Syphus is the Democratic Candidate for the Assembly-.
LEVI MOVED TO ST. THOMAS, CLARK CO., NEVADA JAN. 1916 SOON AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER. HE MOVED FROM PANACA, LINCOLN CO., NEVADA.
LEVI NEVER MARRIED. FAMILY TRADITION HAS IT THAT HE LOVED A GIRL WHO CHOSE ANOTHER MAN TO MARRY AND LEVI NEVER FOUND ANY OTHER ONE TO LOVE.
CHURCH DATA: BORN IN CLOVER CITY, WELLS, ELKO, NEVADA - H000145 884344-884346. SEALED TO HIS PARENTS: 12, AUG 1981 IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.
CHILD 8 - CHRISSIE AMELIA SYPHUS-3815
DATA FROM THE FAMILY GROUP SHEET IN THE L.D.S. ARCHIVES RECORDS.
MARRIED TO GEORGE KERRY RIDING ON 6, MAY 1890. FIVE CHILDREN.
PANACA, NEVADA WARD RECORDS:
CHRISA AMELIA SYPHUS BORN MAR. 17, 1868 IN PANACA.
BLESSED APRIL 1, 1868 BY LUKE SYPHUS.
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992
Page 17 of 20
HUSBAND
WIFE
LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726
CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
Yr of Birth 1827 Yr of Birth 1832
CHILD 9 - MARY ETTA SYPHUS-3816
DATA FROM THE FAMILY GROUP SHEET OF THE L.D.S. CHURCH ARCHIVES.
PANACA, NEVADA WARD RECORDS:
MARY ETTA SYPHUS, BORN JAN. 5, 1871. TO LUKE AND CHRISTIANA SYPHUS. BLESSED: APRIL 6, 1871 BY LUKE SYPHUS.
BAPTIZED: 2, NOV. 1879 BY GEORGE B. WHITNEY. CONFIRMED BY HER FATHER. SEALED TO HER HUSBAND IN THE ST. GEORGE TEMPLE -12, SEPT. 1895.
LINCOLN CO., NEWSPAPER: "Mary Etta Syphus got her teachers certificate on March 23, 1889'.
Feb. 4, 1892 - Is teaching Primary School in Panaca, Nevada.
NO CHILDREN OF THIS MARRIAGE...FROM THE HISTORY OF THE BUNKER FAMILY. SHE MARRIED: JOHN MATHESON BUNKER ON 12 SEPT. 1895.
QUOTE: 'John had been courting Mary for quite some tine, they were engaged to be married on John’s birthday, 12, Sept. 1895, but John thought they should wait until he had a home for them to live in. No !, said Mary, we must get married as planned; I may not be with you long. They were married as planned, and moved to St. Thomas, Nevada. How wise a woman’s intuition for, she was not long with him; just over a month after their marriage, Mary took seriously ill. John sent word to his mother, Mary, then living in Bunkerville, Nevada, “"to come to St. Thomas. When his mother received the word, she went to Eddie Bunker and told him we must go to John as Mary was seriously ill. Mother Bunker instructed Eddie to get Joseph Earl, a brother-in-law, and assemble material for a coffin. Eddie felt there was no need of this for if Mary did ' pass on, they could find material in St. Thomas for this purpose. No 1, said mother Bunker, we must take these things with us.
Mary Etta Syphus Bunker died 30, Nov. 1895 before Mother Bunder and party reached St. Thomas and Joseph Earl built the casket out of the material they had brought with them. There is a letter from Mary to John just before their marriage dated: 25, August 1895 Panaca, Nevada
Mr. John M. Bunker
St. Thomas, Nevada
Dearest John, I write to you today for the last time I suppose before we meet. I do not feel much like writing, I am so sleepy, but I still take pleasure in writing to you now that the time for your coming is so near. It seems so far off, I suppose, because I am so anxious to see you again.
Although this is Sunday, I have been home all day and I don’t feel satisfied at all about it. Be sure and tell me when you expect to get here.
August 26, 1895 con't.. Annie came down after meeting and stayed all evening so I could not write. Conference will be the 15th and 16th. Unless I knew we could be married on your birthday, I would rather not start on the 7th. I think Monday would be soon enough. You said you could find out if we could be married on Thursday the 12th; if you know, please tell me. I prefer that day to any other for our wedding day and want to start in time to have it so if it were possible, but I am afraid it isn’t. Would you like to stay to Conference? Tell me what you think about it. I think May and Clara will accompany us, but neither of them can go on south with us. I am sorry your mother has given up going. When I heard May had returned, I thought your mother could surely be there. I hope you will come as soon as you have been
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992
Page IS of 20
LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726 CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
Yr of Birth 1827
Yr of Birth 1832
HUSBAND
WIFE
thinking of coming whether we start on the 7th or not. I have my sewing all done or rather will have today; that is all I am obliged to do now. I spent most of last week on my silk and feel quite relieved to have it done. I believe I like it quite well; that sounds like I am not sure of it, but I am. I want to put in the remainder of the time sewing for Ma if I can.
This is a quite dismal fall day, a chilly wind is blowing and to all appearance, there will soon be frost. Our folks have stacked their grain in the field and the thrasher has been moved there this morning (and) will thrash for them before any one else, beginning today.
I shall conclude now, hoping to hear from you soon. Don’t fail to write again if you can help it. I look forward to your coming this time with greater pleasure than I ever did before for I feel that you are not going to leave me so soon. Oh ! how I just long to see you. I do hope nothing will sour to blight our hopes. With much love and XXXX (kisses). I bid my dearest adiau. Your loving Mary'. John’s answer to Mary.....
29, August 1895
Dearest Mary: You will not feel bad if I do not write very much tonight as I am very tired and it is quite. I received your very welcome letter last nite and was more than pleased to hear from you. Mother said they married on Thursday. I do not know what to say about staying to Conference; I have sent off the bill for things and I expect them at Kingman about the 25th of September and of course I should be there when they come so as now exspect to leave there Monday, get to Panaca Wednesday or Thursday. There is a lot of sickness here now. Chrissie'Abbott is quite sick and has a fever all the time and is very nervious. Julia was just in and said Addie had caught cold this afternoon and she was afraid she was going to have the croup. Big Harry has a gathering on his finger which gives much pain and Della has had fever all day. I can think of no more to write tonite. I was pleased to hear you had your sewing all done and that you were so well pleased with it. Keep of good spirit and also keep well.
From your ever loving, John M. Bunker.
CHILD 10 - CLARA MELISSA SYPHUS-3817
DATA FROM THE FAMILY GROUP SHEET AT THE L.D.S. CHURCH ARCHIVES.
SHEET HAS HER BAPTISM DATE AS MAY 7, 1882.
ADDITIONAL TEMPLE WORK TAKEN FROM THE IGI MICRO-FICHE:
BAPT: 14, MAY 1882
ENDOWED: 12 SEP. 1895 ST. GEORGE TEMPLE
SEALED TO PARENTS: 16, JUL 1981 SALT LAKE CITY TEMPLE.
REF: H000145-1826.
FILM OF EARLY PANACE WARD RECORDS.
NOTES FROM THE MUSEMUM AT PANACA,NEVADA. CLARA’S ORGAN IS THERE.
jMASON AND HAMBLIN ORGAN, MODEL NO. 33, SERIAL NO. 4940, MADE ORGANS FROM 1865 TO 1882."
"This old organ is from the home of Luke and Christiana Syphus. Converts to the L.D.S. Church, they left England in 1853 bound, via Australia for the United States and Zion. During their ocean voyage they met and converted Joseph Ridges to the church, the man who later built the Salt Lake Tabernacle organ.
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992
Page 19 of 20
HUSBAND WIFE
LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726
CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
Yr of Birth 1827
Yr of Birth 1832
In 1856 they landed at San Padro harbor and from there joined a colony of Mormons at San Bernardino. California. From there they were called to Salt Lake City to defend the church against Johnsons Army. When nothing came of that, they were called south to colonize, they came via Clover Valey to Panace among the first settlers during the early sixties. Luke Syphus served as the fourth L.D.S. Bishop of Panaca, Nevada, 1875 to 1882,as far as we can determine they purchased the organ about that time. They were refined and cultured people, their daughter Clara learned to play and contributed freely of her talent and services to the little community. She was described by one of the older residents as being tall, dark of hair and fair of skin, and very pretty. About this time, she became friendly with a tall good looking young man and they became engaged, however, it was agreed that he should first fulfill a mission for the Church and that upon his return, they would be married. All went well until his return but then things seemed to fall apart. Some say that it ws because of opposition from her parents others claim that he went to his parents home first and she became up-set. Be that as it may, the first evening they were together they quarreled and she left him at the dance and went home alone, he walked home with another girl whom he subsequently married. Though they arted at the dance, her love for him never ceased, she lived the reminder of her life alone, her principal happiness coming from the organ and her love for music, a fire in the old family home caused her death. Among the few things saved was this old organ, the intense heat yellowed the keys and dulled the finish but etherise it is -in splendid condition. Only a few days before her death neighbors heard her playing on it.
In keeping with his desire to preserve historic relics, the organ was purchased by James H. Gottfredson in 1959 and restored to its present condition.' FAMILY TRADITION: she was called the 'Cat Lady' because, in her older age, she had many cats who lived with her in her home', (see below)
FAMILY TRADITION: Clara spent a summer with her sister Lovina Syphus Whitney in St. George, Utah at 300 West and 200 South in St. George, Utah. This was before 1901. After the death of Clara’s parents, it is said that her brother, Levi, spent some time living with Clara in the family home in Panaca, Nevada. In 1937 Clara and her brother Levi, took their mother, Christiana, to Salt Lake City, Utah so she could have cataract growths removed from her eyes. Mabel Whitney Macfarlane, a granddaughter of Christiana Syphus, went to Panaca and took care of her grandfather, Luke, while Clara and Levi took Christiana to the doctor. Mabel states: 'Grandmother being blind made it hard for Aunt clara, who never married. Besides keeping up the home, Clara had to wait upon her mother, and of course, she cared for her father in his last years. Uncle Levi tried to help her financialy, but he was away from home a great deal....I have never heard any unkindness, or a swear word in their home. They were devoted to each other. I think Clara felt it was her duty to stay home and take care of her parents. For so many years she played the organ for all the church functions. I think of Clara as having won a great reward in heaven for her devotion to her parents, but she deprived herself of the blessings and happiness of having a family of her own.'
FAMILY TRADITION: - HELEN O’CONNER. ‘She used to be very frugal and when she went to the grocery store, that my father owned, she would taste all the cheese and other things, like the vinegar, so that she could pick out the ones she liked best '( and getting a small free meal.)
FAMILY TRADITION: She was known as the cat lady and always had all the stray
FAMILY GROUP RECORD-568
DOCUMENTATION
6 Jan 1992
HUSBAND LUKE SYPHUS SR.-1726
WIFE CHRISTIANA LONG-1727
Page 20 of 20
Yr of Birth 1827 ■ Yr of Birth 1832
cats at her home to feed them on tuna. It is said that she had many in her home when she died. It is said she had 27 at one time which she cared for.
PICTURE: In the Whitney History there is a family group picture of the Luke and Christiana Syphus family taken before 1894 when her brother, Alf, died.
HER DEATH DATE IS TAKEN FROM THE SEVERAL FAMILY GROUP SHEETS OF LUKE AND CHRISTIANA SYPHUS - WITH HER AS A CHILD. IT DOES NOT SAY WHERE SHE IS BURIED,BUT SHE WAS BURIED BY HER BROTHER LEVI WHO IS BURIED IN THE 'OLD ST. THOMAS CEMETERY IN OVERTON, NEVADA.