Post by *Marjorie on Aug 23, 2020 18:37:04 GMT -7
Robert Philip Crosbie
(His family and friends called him Curly Bob)
3 January 1851 – Hazelbank, Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland
5 May 1918 – Ogden, Weber, Utah
5 May 1918 – Ogden, Weber, Utah
By Marjorie Crosby Gibson Sanchez
Robert Philip Crosbie, his family and friends called him “Curly Bob,” was born January 3, 1851 in Hazelbank, Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. His last name was also spelled “Crosby.” He was raised by his grandparents Robert Gray and Helen (Francis) Crosbie. Robert was baptized by his grandfather Robert Gray Crosbie on July 6, 1868 to become a member of “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints”. He received an education by Scotland law in the small Village of Hazelbank so he was taught to read, write, and arithmetic that he found useful in his future years. Robert's baptismal record was found at the LDS Family History Library Film 0104154 Scotland Branch Records.
Robert's grandfather Robert Gray Crosbie, was born in Kirkfieldbank, Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland in a row house near the River Clyde Bridge. His Grandfather Robert also lived close to Stonebyres House originally owned by the Blackwood Weir/Vere. Robert Gray Crosbie's great-grandmother was Margaret Weir wife of John Crosbie.
The route from Kirkfieldbank, Scotland, to Stonebyres, Scotland, to Hazelbank, Lanarkshire, Scotland and it is only 2.4 miles from Kirkfieldbank to Hazelbank.
By 1847 Robert Gray Crosbie family is living in the Village of Hazelbank, Parish of Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland and Robert Philip Crosbie story begins when Robert Crosbie (Robert Philip Crosbie), age 3 months, appears on the 1851 Scottish Census living in Household No. 31 of his grandfather Robert Crosbie.
1851 Scottish Census LDS Family History Library Film # 103717.
Robert Philip and his brother Gavin Andrew together next appear in the household of their grandfather Robert Crosbie, see 1861 Census.
1861 Scottish Census LDS Family History Library Film # 103868.
Individuals can find Robert and Helen (Francis) Crosbie's family becoming members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints records recorded and found on Film No. 0104154 at the Family History Center Item 9 Record of members, 1844-1886 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Lanark Branch (Lanarkshire). Glasgow Conference Record Scotland British Mission. Record of Members 1844-1857 Libr. No. 972. Record of Members 1848-1855 Libr. No. 946. Record of Members 1850-1886 Libr. No. 971 Page 8 of 16.
Robert and Helen (Francis) Crosbie's deaths at Family History Center LDS FHL Film No. 0104154, Item 9 Record of members, 1844-1886 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Lanark Branch (Lanarkshire).
The Crosbie family's membership records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Scotland are furnished from the book by “Elva Crosbie Dean”, the granddaughter of Josiah and Mary (Waldie) Crosbie She was kind enough to mail the book to me in 1991. She and I met in 1963 at her parents Robert and Martha Emma (Fielding) Crosbie home in Provo, Utah.
Elva Crosbie Dean above compiled her information from two membership records and Conference minutes as appeared in “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Millennial Star”
The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star was the longest continuously published periodical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was printed in England from 1840 until 1970, when it was replaced by the church-wide Ensign. It was primarily aimed at British Latter-day Saints.
Picture of Crosbie’s The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints Baptism Records
These records show some members were cutoff. Cutoff met lack of knowledge or lack of understanding the standards of the Lord’s way or laws. They either walked away or they worked very hard to be reinstated. The Crosbie Family feelings ran deep and knew the church was true and they had strong testimonies burning inside that made them desire to read and study the Bible and Book of Mormon even harder to stand as members in the church. It met a great deal to them. They sat higher standards for generations to come.
1871 Scotland Census, [Page 10 Film # 104039] Bob and Guy appear again, but this time as lodgers and working as coal miners living in Auchenheath, Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Seventeen year old Gavin CROSBIE and also an Ann Philips are living with the Thomas Harrison Family in house #44, while 20 year old Robert CROSBY is next door with the Jane Brown Family in house #45.
The Crosbie family traveled to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Glasgow Conference where Robert Philip Crosbie met Helen Spowart. Soon Robert is living in the Village of Townhill, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland working as a coalminer there. Helen's father, Thomas Spowart, is the Branch Leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and his father George Spowart owned coalmines in the Torreyburn area. Thomas's father eventually disowned him for marrying beneath his rank and joining the LDS Church. Thomas and his wife Catherine had seven children, George, Jean Ellen, William, Catherine, Helen, Margaret, and Elizabeth. George and William stayed in Scotland. Catherine, Margaret, and Elizabeth died before Thomas and Cathrine Spowart came to the United States on to Wyoming where their oldest daughter came earlier. Jean Ellen Spowart, emigrated on May 23, 1866 years earlier. She married while on board ship "American Congress" by James Ure (per Millennium Start, 9 Jun). “Perpetual Emigration Fund” (GS#025,686, p. 162, 1866 with husband and his son, Robert. James paid 4 pounds, Jane 1 pound passage fee per Roy Sneddon, Nebraska.
A page from the History of the Spowart Book submitted by Janet Porter to the LDS Family History Center.
The couple arrived in Ogden, Utah and assigned in 1866 and sent to Uintah, Weber, Utah to work on the railroad project. James H. Sneddon had found work in Almy, Unita, Wyoming when the railroad open up new mines at Almy, Uinta, Wyoming by 1869. Christina younger sister of Jean's left Scotland in 1871 and Jean met her sister Christina at the depot there in Uintah on her arrival from Scotland. The two sisters only remained a short while just long enough for Jean and Christina to pack the Sneddon household goods in a wagon and moving everything to Almy, Wyoming being closer to Jane's husband.
Helen Spowart's sister Christina emigrates to America in 1871 and met James Harrison Bowns in Almy, Uinta, Wyoming.
Thomas Spowart’s father George Spowart own mines in Torryburn, Fife, Scotland but Thomas is living in a tenant complex on North Chapel Street and walks a few miles to Townhill to work in the mines there. Robert Crosbie is living in Townhill close to Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, working in the Coalmines and attends church meeting in Thomas Spowarts home.
The Spowart children's goal was to marry only church members of “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Robert was an active member and later marries Helen Spowart at the St. Andrews Church on August 22, 1873 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland.
Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Robert Crosbie son of Robert and Helen (Francis) Crosbie and Helen Spowart daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Spowart) Spowart Marriage License
On Robert's marriage license he listed Robert and Helen Crosbie as his parents.
Marriage Record: Marriage Record Certificate No. 124, found at the Family History Center - LDS Film No. 0300266, on page 62, 1873, Marriages in the
Burgh of Dunfermline, in the County of Fife, Scotland, on 22 August, 1873 at Free St. Andrews Church, Dunfermline, after banns according to the forms of
the Church of Scotland. (Signed) Robert Crosbie, Coalminer, Bacholar. Age 22, residence of Townhill, Dunfermline. Parents: Robert Crosbie, Damask Weaver &
Helen Crosbie maiden name Francis (Signed) Helen Spowart, Power Loom Weaver, Spinister. Age 20, residence of North Chapel Street, Dunfermline.
Parents: Thomas Spowart, Coalminer and Catherine Spowart maiden name Spowart. Certificate signed by Andrew Brydie a minister. (Signed) John Burt &
Mary Sharp, Witnesses. The above Marriage was Registered at Dunfermline on the 25th day of August, 1873 by R.A. Wilson, Assistant Registrar.
St. Andrews Church, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Robert Philip Crosbie and his brother Gavin along with their Uncle Josiah were making plans and saving money. After Thomas and Catherine Spowart left for American both Robert living in Dunfermline and Josiah who had been in the Edinburgh area, were back living close to the Crosbie Families in Hazelbank. Helen is now pregnant so she and Robert move closer to Robert's mother in Rigside, Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland where Robert finds work at Wilson Mining Company. Their daughter Catherine "Kate" Crosbie is born on January 31, 1874. Birth Certificate found on LDS Family History Library Film No. 0329052.
Mary (Waldie) Crosbie gives birth to her and Josiah’s third child Elizabeth on February 22, 1874 in Hazelbank, Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
There is no record showing where Guy is living or working at this time but as said before you can bet he is close by the family. Josiah and his family are living close to his parents in Hazelbank as are his Crosbie brothers, John Francis Crosbie, Robert Francis Crosbie, George Francis Crosbie and James Francis Crosbie. They all carry their mother’s maiden name except Josiah Rodgers Crosbie who has the middle name from his Aunt Marion (Crosbie) Rodger’s husband Josiah Rodgers.
Their plans are set in motion they have decided Josiah, Robert and his family will go first. Helen (Spowart) Crosbie’s parents are already there in Almy, Wyoming as we know. We also know Mary has given birth to little Elizabeth "Betsy." Helen is anxiously anticipating the thought of seeing her parents as well as showing them their new baby Kate....
Shipping Records for Josiah Crosbie, Robert Crosbie, his wife Helen, child, Kate Crosbie leaving Glasgow, Scotland
on the S.S. Anglina, Film No. 0175749.
Uncle Josiah, Robert, his wife Helen and baby Kate took the train to Glasgow then board and sailed on the S.S. Anglia and landing in Castle Garden, New York, New York, on August 25, 1874. From there they take the train to Almy, Wyoming.
Glasgow, Scotland Harbor
Josiah Rodgers Crosbie
Josiah Crosbie is the 6th person from top on the Passenger List for S.S. Anglia
S. S. Anglia
Robert Philip and Helen (Spowart) Crosbie Family
Robert, Helen, and Kate are on 5th from the bottom on passenger list
When they set sail they were not traveling with church members or there is no such log that has been found. There is no diary of their voyage to Garden Castle, New York, New York or the journey by train Almy, Wyoming. When Helen (Spowart) Crosbie got off the train she faces blowing winds, flying tumbleweeds, and sagebrush. She sat on her suitcase and trunk with baby Kate in arms and cries for her beautiful beloved Scotland.
Helen’s mother Catherine Spowart died September 14, 1874 in Almy, Wyoming, shortly after she Helen arrived.
Helen’s mother Catherine Spowart died September 14, 1874 in Almy, Wyoming, shortly after she Helen arrived.
Then by letters from sister Nellie we know that Mary (Waldie) Crosbie, her children, Mary, Thomas, Elizabeth (little Betsy), and Gavin who walked to Auchenheath Railroad Station 2.7 miles then traveled to Liverpool, board and sailed on the S.S. La Victoria from Liverpool arriving in Castle Garden, New York, New York on November 5, 1874. The voyage must have been very cold it was November.
Shipping Records for (wife of Josiah) Mary Crosbie, children, Mary, Thomas, Elizabeth (called Little Betsy) & Gavin
Crosbie leaving Liverpool, England on the S.S. Victoria, Film No. 0175750.
S. S. La Victoria
Mary is No. 28 at the top with Mary, Thos, Eliza below her then Gavin is No. 6 close to the bottom of the page
Almy, Uinta County, Wyoming
Here is a few more pages of history that I used from Elva Crosbie Dean’s story and an individual may find and read the book which can be found at website:
Mary Waldie describes looking out the train window noticing the Chicago Fire 3 years earlier in 1871.
Two weeks after Robert and Helen (Spowart) Crosbie arrived they were re-baptized in the Almy Branch on September 27, 1874. They were still living in Almy 1878 when the Summit Stake was formed and members’ names were recorded. Their children Robert, John and George were born in Almy between 1875 and 1879. However, when the list of members was made in 1891, the Crosbie’s were gone. From 1880 to 1892 they were in Leamington, Millard, Utah, after which they spent a few years in Mona, Juab, Utah where their last son Alexander was born in 1895. Shortly, thereafter, Helen and Robert were living in Ogden.
Robert’s Uncle John Francis Crosbie moved from Scotland to Ogden, Utah in 1890 with his son Robert Laidlaw.
Helen’s sister Jean are found signing the Almy Order on September 19, 1875. The church record states that they moved to Evanston on January 7, 1880. They then followed mining to Carbon County, Utah. By 1900 they had a large family (eventually 12 children) and were living in Castlegate where Christina and James moved. Jean, also known as Jane, died there at Spring Canyon, Carbon County, Utah on December 8, 1913.
Guy, his brother Robert Philip Crosbie, and their Uncle Josiah Rodgers Crosbie and family attended The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days there in Almy Ward. Christina Spowart, Helen’s sister’s husband became Bishop James H. Bowns. He was mine Foreman of No. 4 mine in Almy. He later became General Mine Inspector for the Utah Fuel Company and elected County Commissioner 1902-1905 in Carbon County, Utah. It is James H. Sneddon, the husband of Jane Spowart and a sister of Helen that recommended Robert Philip and Guy to the railroad. Bowns and Sneddon will separate Robert Philip Crosby and Guy in the future before 1900.
Josiah and Mary have a son Josiah on March 12, 1875 Almy, Wyoming.
Robert Philip and Helen were on Almy Ward records showing they were still living in the ward in 1879 but Robert Philip was not at home at the time their son Robert Crosbie born on November 26, 1875 Almy, Wyoming or their second son John was born October 8, 1877 also in Almy, Wyoming.
On November 15, 1877 Mary gives birth to their son John Waldie Crosbie in Almy, Wyoming.
It is time for Robert and Helen to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah to go through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Endowment House on October 10, 1878. The Endowment House was a temporary place to continue temple work until the temple was built.
The Union Pacific Railroad gained control of the Utah Central Railroad in 1878, and in 1881 merged it with the Utah Southern Railroad and Utah Southern Railroad Extension to form the Utah Central Railway, a Union Pacific subsidiary that ran south from Ogden to Frisco. Guy and Robert Philip Crosbie were working for the Utah Central Railway.
Brigham Young’s Utah Central Railway started in Ogden and arrived in Salt Lake City in 1870. Later, as The Utah Southern Railroad, it was extended 13 miles to Sandy, Utah by September of 1871. It was then extended to Lehi by the Fall of 1872, and reached York (27 miles south of Provo) in April 1875. There remained for several years. York, Utah was a prominent terminal and railroad center on the old Utah Southern Railroad approximately fifteen miles north of Nephi and four miles south of Santaquin. York lasted for several until the next terminal was established to the south Juab. York was then promptly abandoned. The town named York was later changed to Mona.
Gavin and Robert Phillip Crosbie worked with James Leavitt Latimer who was born September 4, 1850 in Glasgow, Scotland the son James Bone Latimer and Margaret Reid Dougal. Some of his children were born in Beaver, Utah. Also, they worked with Alexander Graham who was also born in Scotland I wondered could he be related to us through his Grandmother Helen Francis whose mother was Bridget Graham. Others they worked with were Abraham Kimball son of Heber C. Kimball, Robert Watson his foremen and Bishop Callister. Bishop Callister was over the team of horses. Our Gavin loved working with the horses. The rail-line entered Juab County by June 1879.
John Leavitt Latimer was the road master of the railroad when I entered the service, but was succeeded by James Latimer, a well-seasoned and competent track-man with heart as big as his feet. He was the sincere friend of the working man who did his work rightly. The majority of the Maintenance of Way employees were of Scottish and Scandinavian extraction. The McGregor’s McCardell’s, McMillan’s, Crosby’s, Odd’s, Garrett’s, etc., where there. One day there was a wreck on the line and I was instructed to call the two section gangs at my station to be ready with food and blankets. When the work train arrived to pick them up, although I had called them two or three times, they were tardy and held the wrecker. “Where are the men?” asked the road master somewhat nettled. “Just leaving the section house”, I replied. “They celebrated Robbie Burns’ birthday last night till the wee hours.” “Hot Mon (Hot man), that’s the third time they’ve celebrated his birthday so far this year.
He was road-master for more than twenty years. James became a citizen of United States 21 May 1881 just 6 days after Guy Crosby did his on the 15th.
A roadmaster is a managerial position, working on a railroad. In this job, you are assigned a specific territory, and are responsible for the maintenance and repairs of all tracks within your roadway. Your duties include performing inspections and managing the quality of the railroad tracks in your territory.
TRACK LABORER – JOB DESCRIPTION. Position Summary: Performs hard physical labor using hand tools and equipment to: construct, alter, repair, maintain, and demolish railroad tracks, associated structures and components. ... It could include handling ties or rail with a crew (90 to 100 lb.)
Track gang employees work sometimes over 1000 miles from home for 8 days on and 8 days off work, with the travel days to and from work on their own time, leaving only 5 or 6 days actually at home, and put in long hours outside in bad weather conditions to repair and maintain tracks, as do the local track repair people ...
Jim Latimer of Oasis was unanimously chosen president and manager of the Railroad Man’s Sheep Company with wisdom and sound practical judgment. Some twenty years later he dies.
Burns Night is annually celebrated in Scotland on or around January 25. It commemorates the life of the bard (poet) Robert Burns, who was born on January 25, 1759. The day also celebrates Burns' contribution to Scottish culture. His best known work is Auld Lang Syne.
James was in charge of the construction of the railroad going south to Nephi when it was at a place called York or Starr (now known as Mona) in Utah County. Starr is where the Young Living Lavender Farm is at now in 2020.
The terminal being at Nephi they moved to this. They lived on Main Street in the house next to the Goldbrough Hotel. But being a railroad man, he wanted to be closer to this, so they purchased in the southwest part of town.
John W. Young who was in charge of construction work, including track laying, came to the camp and asked the two young men if they wished to go to work at the track laying, at a wage of $2.00 a day and board, their pay to be received when the track was laid into Salt Lake City. John W. Young was a son of President Brigham Young.
James Hill and James Latimer new one another in Scotland.
Thomas Callister was a Bishop that was born in the Isle of Man. He worked for the railroad, lived in Fillmore, and passed away in 1880. He served on the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Utah Twenty-First Session, in 1874 for the Juab and Millard Counties.
His daughter Mary Maranda Callister married Edward Leo Lyman the son of Apostle Amasa Mason Lyman who is related to our family by the marriage of his son Edward Leo Lyman who married Lousia Maria Tanner who is the sister of Sydney Tanner.
Charles Odd lived in the section home and he was a very meticulous man, thrifty and frugality. He married Agnes Graham in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, 22 Dec 1881, just one month before her 18th birthday. They lived at Burnt Corral a little railroad stop about 20 miles south of Leamington. There were 4 houses that all belonged to railroad workers. In 1896 they moved to Kaysville, Utah.
Jesse W Fox was the General Surveyor. With the completion of the Pacific railroads in 1869, Brigham Young and other Utah capitalists constructed the Utah Central Railroad to connect Salt Lake with those lines. Jesse W. Fox was employed as engineer in the enterprise. Mr. Fox is mentioned as a stockholder in the Utah Southern Railroad running from Salt Lake through Provo to Juab, which he also served as Chief Engineer, in like capacity he was employed in the construction of the Utah Southern Extension Railroad to Frisco. In 1881 all three lines were consolidated and Mr. Fox became chief engineer of the system.
Heart Throbs of the West, Kate B. Carter, Vol. 2, p. 270 - Indexed in the Utah, familysearch.org, Early Church Information File, 1830-1900. There is ability to view the index online.
Robert Watson and Eliza Elliot – Robert was born 19 Aug 1826 a Dundee, Forfar… Scotland to Robert Watson and Agnes Robertson. He died 21 Mar 1891 in Springville, Utah, Utah. He married Eliza Elliott 17 Mar 1857 Eliza born 10 May 1836 at Nottingham, Notts, England to Joseph Elliot and Dorothy Wardle. She died 10 Dec 1914 at Springville, Utah, Utah. Eliza joined the church in England against the wishes of her family. At the age of 16 sailed along from Liverpool for America on 25 May 1856, landing at Boston, June 30, 1856. She proceeded to Iowa City and thence to Des Moines where she waited three weeks to join a Handcart Company to cross the plains. She joined the Martin Handcart Company. The Company made a start and then stopped again for two weeks at Winter Quarters. The company was caught in heavy snow in Wyoming and had to be rescued and many died from exposure. They arrived in Salt Lake City 30 Nov 1856. She married Robert Watson, Jr. 17 Feb 1857. She was the mother of five sons and four daughters…
Joseph Smith Black was living in Deseret Ward and Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Joseph was known as J.S. Black and Robert Watson both moved from Spring City, Sanpete County, Utah to the town of Deseret. Both Black and Watson worked on the railroad with Robert and Guy Crosby. Joseph was sentenced for 75 days for polygamy.
Abraham A. Kimball mentions Robert Watson who is the witness on Guy Crosby's citizenship. Robert was from Scotland.
Now this is where I started understanding Uncle Glen Merchant’s story of how our Guy and Electa (Twitchell) met.
Millard County History - Page 498: The railroad was built through Leamington in the year 1879 and extended as far as Milford. Among the first men to come with the railroad were: James Latimer, roadmaster; Bob and Guy Crosby, just over from Scotland, and Alexander Graham who worked on the section.
In 1875 there was a train terminal at York and needed the railroad extended from York (now known as Mona) to Frisco. It was moved to Nephi. New mine strikes were opening up in the Beaver County area. As a child I remember where the old terminal in Mona was and would always look for it as we traveled to Beaver.
1800 – 1900 Black Rock History: Chapter 3 Reference of Abraham Alonzo Kimball Diary – Son of President Heber C Kimball.
Black Rock Springs (Co-op Ranch) to find railroad surveyor but they had gone to Beaver River. Webb was at the ranch establishing a trading post for Bishop Callister to supply railroad teams so we obtained quarters for ourselves and horses, awful cold and windy.
10 Dec 1879 – After breakfast we set out for Smith Ranch some 6 miles (10 kms) distance, on arriving there the Surveyors had just set out to work so we found them all along the line. We found the chief Jesse W Fox at the Lameraux Ranch (this is where our great-grandmother Electa Twitchell, a servant and her brother Big John Twitchell, a farmer laborer are working in the STAR PRECINIT, BEAVER COUNTY, UTAH IN 1880) of Riverside Station where we got some dinner and remained all day boarding with the Surveyors, received the promise of a job of grading (next spring.)
Black Rock Spring was owned and operated by a cooperative of the LDS Church. They were also in the process of setting up a store for the first time. The need for building a store would have been the direct result of the coming of the railroad.
The next spring, Kimball returned to do grading work, but he began at Yellow Banks Stage Station about 3 kms (Uncle Glen Merchant shared that this Yellow Banks Stage Station is where our great grandmother Electa Twitchell meets our great grandfather Guy Andrew Crosby.) north of present-day Milford. See the 1875 map on page 13. In his diary, Kimball mentions where the track layers were, only where the graders were building up the railroad bed. Briefly jumping ahead, the first passenger train arrived at Milford on May 15, 1880, so we can assume the tracks were first laid to Clear Lake in March and to Black Rock sometime in April, 1880.
Before going further into the Black Rock Story, a little more history of Frisco and Milford is in order. Kimball (Abraham Alonzo Kimball) also helped finish the railroad grade right up to Frisco. He was like a private contractor of today and he ran a crew of men and teams with scrapers. He also had a few choice comments about the situation at Yellow Banks, gentle swearing, Milford and Frisco, that are worth mentioning. His last camp was very near Frisco. Parts of his diary went like this:
7 Mar 1880 - Antelope Spring Sunday March 7th 1880. Arose early… arriving at Yellow Banks 3 p.m. where our job was….. spent afternoon in fitting up camp by tearing down an old log house and putting up the same, also putting up tent.
Yellow Banks March 8th The boys arrived with hay and grain from the end of the track so after dinner the boys wen up the river to shut off the water as it was ruining our job…. Some of the boys was inclined to profane the name of god so I proposed to them that the ones who done the swearing should do the praying which was agreed to. I was surprised to find that in one week’s time the swearing was about done away with. So much so that I had to offer prayer occasionally myself.
8 Apr 1880 - Thursday April 8th 1880 …..Moved camp to Milford 2 ½ miles (4 kms) to commence another job, worked hard all day moving, put up a good camp and was awful tired. Milford is a town consisting of one Quartz Mill, one Smelter and so 12 houses and one store and saloon and one barn and several camps of railroad (workers)…..
19 May 1880 – Wednesday May 19th 1880. Went to Frisco which is a noted mining camp but of low grade society, mostly Irish (and) 5 to 8 hundred inhabitants…..
Sunday May 30th 1880 …..returned at dinner time, found cook and all gone from home so I shaped dinner for 5 of us, then went out to see the bears dance as some Italians came along with two trick bears, all went off nicely, good dancing….
Sunday June 13th 1880 After breakfast washed and cleaned up and set out for the Bonanza Mine one of the greatest bodies of ore known….. then hitched our team up and drove to Frisco where we called at the post office, also done a little trading as the stores were in full blast failing to observe the Sabbath day, being a mining camp composed of Jack Mormons, Jews and Gentiles.
Near Frisco June 17th Commenced loading up to start home so after dinner the teams set out for Milford, the cook (Miss Prons) set out for the cars to ride down on them. On arriving I met J. W. Fox, Surveyor so he wished me to return to Frisco with him so we proceeded on train to my old camp and from thence by wagon to layout the depot which was accomplished at the bottom and of Main St….. The engine had gone to Milford taking cook so the construction boss (Watson) (Robert Watson who is a witness on Guy Citizenship Record) said we could take a couple of flat cars down having to brake being heavy grade….. Making the trip in 37 minutes some 13 miles (21 kms) without aid of steam (engine).
23 Jun 1880 – John Twitchell, age 19, a farm laborer, Electa Twitchell, age 17, servant at the W. G. Lameraux Ranch at the STAR PRECINIT, BEAVER COUNTY, UTAH, ON THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL CENSUS. While Robert Philip Crosby and his brother Guy are staying at the ranch Guy has meets his future wife Electa Malinda Twitchell and they marry on February 2, 1881 in Beaver, Beaver, Utah.
The Star District including all the settlements below the Yellow Banks formed into a precinct and to be called Star Precinct. The Utah Central Railroad was organized the same day the Union Pacific Railroad reached Ogden, Utah. Frisco was in the Grampian Precinct. Guy’s brother-in-law was the sheriff of Star Precinct.
A friend of the Crosbie and Spowart family, Charles Beveridge, on one occasion in 1881 went down into the mine to make an inspection, and as he was coming up the shaft, he heard a terrible roar. He knew immediately what is was, and threw him-self down to the ground, clutching the railroad tracks. The blast and fire went over him, but his hands’, face, and ears were badly burned. His shoes and clothing were completely burned off him, but wherever his LDS garments covered him, his skin was untouched, and was as white as ever. Was it a miracle? I think so! After his recovery, he became a little stooped which is understandable. He was no longer 6 feet 2 inches tall, but he never complained. His condition was such that he would be unable to continue in the mines, so he became Postmaster, and along with that, he carried all kinds of musical instruments. (he is able to play all of them).
He also had a candy counter, which of course, was his daughters pride and joy. It was the largest mine accident west of the Mississippi and could be felt all the way to Salt Lake City Valley some 88 miles away. That explosion took the lives of our Uncle Josiah Rodgers Crosbie, age 39, and his friend John Barton, age 34 who were both killed that evening. John Barton was the first husband of Jane Beveridge the daughter of Charles and Catherine Beveridge that came with Thomas and Catherine Spowart to America. Jane (Beveridge) Barton after John’s death entered in plural marriage with James Harrison Bowns.
On March 4, 1881, gases in the Central Pacific Mine number 3 exploded, killing 38 miners. On March 10, the Cheyenne Weekly Leader reported the disaster: A terrific explosion occurred last night between 9 and 10 o'clock in the Central Pacific mine, killing 35 Chinamen and 3 white men.
A HORROR IN WYOMING.
TERRIFIC COAL MINE EXPLOSION AND GREAT LOSS OF LIFE
TWO WHITE MEN AND THIRTY-FIVE CHINAMEN KILLED — THE MINE ALL ON FIRE. FUTILE REPORTS TO RECOVER THE BODIES OF THE DEAD — NUMBER OF MEN INJURED.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, March 4 — A special from Evanston, Wy., to the Tribune says: “The gas in the Rocky Mountain Coal and Iron company’s mine No. Two, at Almy station, on the Union Pacific road, exploded at 8.45 last evening, throwing the flames many hundred feet high out of the main slope, carrying away the buildings around the mouth of the shaft, and setting the machinery buildings on fire. About 15 minutes before the explosion from 10 to 30 white men and 50 Chinamen went down to work for the night. At two a.m. 17 Chinamen, more or less seriously injured, had been rescued, many with limbs broken and badly scalded. About 20 dead Chinamen have been discovered, but have not yet been brought up.
No white man has yet been found, and there are no hopes that any are alive. The jar of the explosion was plainly felt at Evanston.”
A dispatch from Cheyenne says the night shift consisted of 50 Chinamen and five whites. Two of the whites were brought out in a crippled condition, and 15 Chinamen were rescued through the ventilating shaft, all of whom were more or less injured. It is believed that 35 Chinamen and two white men, are now in the mine which is on fire. The mine is owned by the Central Pacific railway, and was being worked at its full capacity. The accident will cause a suspension of work for a year.
Evening Gazette (Port Jervis, New York) Mar 5, 1881
Frightful Explosion in a Coal Mine –
Forty Men Killed.
A fearful explosion took place in mine No. 2 last night. The cause is not definitely known, but it is supposed to be by gas generated by fire in the abandoned mine No. 1, which has been burning for the past six years, and is separated from mine No. 2 by wide walls only. The explosions completely demolished all the buildings over the main stope and, setting fire to these, burned them, together with the engine and other houses adjoining. There were sixty Chinamen and four white men in the mine. Of the latter, Mr. Gillespie, John Barton and Josiah Crosby were taken out dead, and Charles Beverage alive, but very dangerously burned, but may recover. Twenty-five Chinamen have been brought to the surface, all badly scalded and many with broken limbs. The balance are probably dead. The white men were all married and leave large families. The fire in the mine is now out, and everything possible is being done for the recovery of the balance of bodies and for the injured.
Reno Evening Gazette (Reno, Nevada) Mar 7, 1881.
September 24, 1881 A clock rises from the ashes. It seems that the impetus behind the clock in the courthouse Tower was the Great Fire of 1881., one of the selling points of the idea was that the bell of the clock could be used to summon residents in case of another fire. Southern Utonian
John Francis Crosbie in April 1882 came to visit his family in America. He came to check on Mary Waldie Crosbie first, to see what this new country might have to offer, and traveled to Leamington to visit Guy and Robert Philip. He stayed and the visit was recorded on Leamington Church Record. He was back in Scotland when his mother died. Helen Spowart’s father Thomas Spowart also visited in 1882 with Robert Philip and Helen telling them all the news possibly at the same time John Francis Crosbie did.
Josiah and Mary’s daughter Elizabeth “Little Betsy”, age 8, dies on July 18, 1882 in Almy, Wyoming. Robert and Helen’s little boy is named Josiah was born on August 3, 1882. Their Uncle James Francis Crosbie sails on September 2, 1882 from Liverpool with 662 other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He also visits Mary then travels to Leamington, Utah to see Guy and Robert Philip and tells them that their Grandmother Helen (Francis) Crosbie died on July 4, 1882 in Hazelbank, Lesmahagow, Lanark, Lanarkshire, Scotland when their Uncle James Francis Crosbie comes in September of the same year. James was at his mother’s bedside when she passed away on July 4, 1882.
Milford kept the railroad profitable until 1882 or 1883 when the mine faltered, and the railroad with it. However, the farmers worked together with the newspaper to draw investors to continue the railroad. The church building there burned destroying records up to 1883.
Jane Beveridge, the widow of their friend John Barton who died with Josiah she is the daughter of Charles and Catherine Beveridge, the friends of Thomas and Catherine Spowart. She also enters into a plural marriage with Christina Spowarts husband James Harrison Bowns’ on August 9, 1883 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Male individuals could not enter into plural marriage unless he had enough income to provide for the families.
On May 14, 1884
Robert registered his mark and branding iron on the same day as his brother Guy. The mark was “RC” on the right shoulder and he was living in Leamington, Millard County, Utah. Guy registered his mark and branding iron showing as “79” on the Right Hip of the Thigh and was living in Milford, Beaver County, Utah.
On 15th of May 1884 Guy became a US citizen in Salt Lake City, was witnessed by his brother Robert Philip, and also by Robert Watson their foreman as well as a good friend. who is also from Scotland.
“Certificate of Citizenship #31
United States of America Territory of Utah -
Be It Remembered, That on the 15th day of May in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty Four, Guy Crosby late of Scotland, in the Kingdom of Great Britain, at present of Beaver County, in the Territory aforesaid, appeared in the Third Judicial District Court of the United States, in and for Utah Territory, and applied to the said Court to be admitted to become a Citizen of the United States of America, pursuant to the directions and requirements of the several Acts of Congress in relation thereto. And the said Guy Crosby having thereupon produced to the Court such evidence, made such declaration and renumeration, and taken such oath as are by the said Acts required; thereupon it was ordered in the said Court that the said Guy Crosby be admitted, and he was accordingly admitted by the said Court to be Citizen of the United States of America.
By the Court: John A. Hunter, Judge
Wit: Robert Crosby Robert and Watson
Ref. Vol. 22. p. 172 - 15 May 1884.”
1884 – Robert Philip and Helen’s daughter Margaret was born 26 December 26, 1884 in Leamington, Utah.
1885 - The brothers get word that their grandfather Robert Gray Crosbie has died on August 3, 1885.
1885 - Then Guy and Robert Philip’s Uncle John Francis Crosbie makes another trip to see Mary Waldie Crosbie in Wyoming and Robert and Guy in Leamington, Utah and stays a while, even fines work. Again he does not stay but returns to Hazelbank.
Texterious was a boss for the railroad and lived next door to Guy Crosby. Robert Crosby, Guy’s brother, and B.P. Texterious together organized the Leamington Irrigation System costing $50,000.00. In 1888 B.P. Texterious donated property for the new schoolhouse and ward house, an addition was added on in 1896.
Robert Philip Crosby worked with other to organize "The Leamington Irrigation Company":
Book F
Pages 155-158
Recorded September 29th 1886 This Indenture made the 11 day of September in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight-Hundred and Eighty-Six between the undersigned the parties of the first part and The Leamington Irrigation Company the party of the for the second part witnesseth that whereas The Leamington Irrigation Company has been duly incorporated under the laws of the Territory of Utah, and it is intended by this instrument its transfer to the said party of the parties of the first part which they and each of them have and The property and rights to property hereinafter described. And whereas said corporation has been formed for the purpose of managing, controlling and regulating the use of said described property, and rights to property for the benefit of such stockholder in accordance with the articles of agreement and in conformity with the By-Laws of said corporation hereto fore adopted.
Now, therefore, know all men by their presents, that the said parties of the first part and each of them whose names are hereunto subscribed in consideration of certificates of stock in said incorporated company hereafter to be inspired to them, then, and each of their heirs and assigns, in conformity with the By Laws of said corporation heretofore adopted, do hereby grant bargain, sell, transfer, remise, release and quit claim unto the said party of the second part its successors and assign, and all and each of their right, title, interest claim and demand whatsoever in law as Equity of, in, or to all their individual primary rights, in and to the water of Sevier River in Leamington Precinct, Millard County, Territory of Utah, and all and each of their interest in and to the main canal, known as the Leamington Irrigating Canal and all and each of their interest to the, ditches, dams, fumes, gates and other means to divert and control said waters for domestic and Irrigation purposes, togather with all and singular the rights, claims, here dilaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging to have and to hold the said premises with their appurtenances unto the said party of the second part it’s successors and assigns forever.
In witness whereof the said parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
in the Presence of: Louis Nielson
Abraham Sorenson
Sealed
Sealed Robert Crosby
B.P. Textorious
Lewis H. Stout
Y.P. Johnson
Geo. Morrison
Lens Nielson
C.C. Johnson
John Talbot
William Keller
A. O. Sorenson
J. H. Strange
Richard Pay
Thomas Morgan
Dan Radford J.
(?) Radford
Peter (X his Mark) Habel
James R. (X his Mark)
Ross A. Nielson
A. M. Wooley
C. Overson
Charles L. (X his Mark) Green
Recorded September 29th 1886
Territory of Utah, County of Millard, September 29th 1886
He the undersigned citizens of the United States and over the age of twenty-one do this 29th day of September 1886 claim and locate 1500 feet in length and 600 feet in width on this mineral boundry.
Robert Philip and Helen’s daughter Agnes Helen is born on September 6, 1887 in Leamington, Utah.
Robert Philip and Helen’s son William T. Crosby was born on December 7, 1889 in Leamington, Millard County, Utah.
James Spowart Crosby is born in Leamington, Millard, Utah on July 25, 1892.
Robert purchased from his brother Guy a portion of his land on August 11, 1894. Then Robert sells to James Latimer some land on December 24, 1894.
11 Aug 1894
No. 2 Grantor – Guy Crosby sold to Grantee – Robert Crosby
(Warranty Deed)
J-300
8/11/1894 $100.00
9/25/1894
Beg. S E ? N E 4 Sec. 10-15-4 W 6.80 ch; N 20.09 ch; etc.
24 Dec 1894
No. 4 Grantor – Robert Crosby sold to Grantee – James Latimer (Warranty Deed)
Mortgage
A-546
12/24/1894 $300.00
1/3/1895
Released 6/5/1895
Robert and Helen's son Alexander was born on January 13, 1895 in Mona, Juab, Utah. But a few months later Robert is buying land on May 15, 1895 from James Latimer. These two guys are selling land back and forth to one another. Latimer lives in Levan, Juab, Utah but has land also in Leamington and into Deseret where he is President of the Sheep man’s Association. Roberts’ brother Guy is wheeling and dealing with land he sells to George Finlinson. Guy and Electa had a new son also on September 18, 1895 the same year and they named him James McGarry but called him “Vic”.
As a Section Foreman Robert Philip Crosbie had a notice placed in the paper on 17 Aug 1895 (Saturday). He was long-time Section Foreman at Mona Tank which is the Mona Reservoir. Nearly all of the section men on this division of the U.P. have been laid off. He will be the foreman with 4 men constitute a gang from Juab to Oasis. Chris Thompson will handle a crew from Oasis to Frisco.
He had land in Scipio School District No 9 location a233 N E 1/4 S E 1/4 Sec 1.
Robert Crosby also had land in Hinckley, Utah location SW 1/4 SW 1/4; Sec 5, TWP 17 S, RGW.
Guy's, Robert's brother, son young Guy, age 12, was out riding on September 1,1896 was thrown from the horse which trampled his legs. The accident did major damage to the youths legs. From family relatives it was said the doctor wanted to amputate the legs but the parents would not allow that to happen.
Word came that Robert’s mother Agnes Crosbie Nelson died on February 23, 1899 in Lanark, Lanarkshire, Scotland and on November 23, 1899 Helen’s father Thomas Spowart died in Ogden.
Robert and Helens children are getting married. Their oldest daughter Catherine married John Wayne in Salt Lake City in 1900. John was from Sanpete County, Utah area. Robert’s son George Crosby finds work as a machinist for the railroad at the age of 20 and marries Henrietta Lenora Cazier on August 3, 1899 in Ogden. She goes by Lenora and was born June 27, 1879 and raised in Nephi. George’s job sent him to Wells, Nevada and Lenora stayed with Robert and Helen in the Ogden Ward 1 and their home was on Wall Street in 1900. Robert was close to 49 years old and working for the railroad as a section formen. Later on in the year George, wife Lenora, and his mother-in-law Angelina C. Halliwell are living in Wells but his mother-in-law dies. Lenora's father, John William Cazier, had died earlier in Nephi, Juab, Utah on June 14, 1890.
Guy and Electa moved from Leamington and are living in Beaver, Utah on G Street and farming in North Creek area northeast from Beaver about June 1900.
Robert gets word his brother Guy has passed away suddenly on July 3, 1901 and so Robert decided to sell his property in Leamington on December 30, 1901 to J.P. Johnson. Robert and Helen sell and George their son signs as a witness.
Helen’s two brother-in-laws James H. Sneddon and James Harrison Bowns had moved to Scofield, Carbon, Utah to work in the mines but there was a huge explosion at Winter Quarters and the two guys moved their families to Sunnyside also in Carbon County. The brother-in-laws convinced Robert and his family moved from Ogden to Sunnyside, Carbon, Utah and Robert was hired on as a trackman foreman laying track for the mines there. His son George brings his family and he is hired as railroad machinist.
William T. another son of Robert and Helen, hires on as a Trapper in the mine. He was just a child and on January 8, 1904 he died from a mining accident. The workers used his belt as a tourniquet then brought him out of the mine. He was transported to the hospital infirmary where he said, “Goodbye to his mother” and died. There is a court case in Price but the finding was in favor of the mining company saying the boy caused his own accident.
George and Lenora Crosby’s son Robert Crosby is born on February 5, 1906 in Sunnyside, Carbon, Utah but by April 25, 1910 they are living in an out of the way town in Utah west desert called Ibapah, Tooele, Utah. The railroad is moving him around and by July 2, 1910 he is in Springville, Utah, Utah where his son John Crosby is born. From here their little family appears in White Pine County, Nevada on August 1912. They evidentially work themselves to Los Angeles, California and remained.
Robert's son James graduates from school.
However, Robert and Helen Crosby were living in Sunnyside, Carbon, Utah on April 17, 1910 but they decide to move back to Ogden, Weber, Utah in the same year. Their children were known for singing in church and community events in Ogden.
Robert was nominated through the democratic party to run for County Assessor for Carbon County, Utah.
On January 15, 1914 Robert’s beloved wife Helen Spowart Crosbie passes away in Ogden, Weber, Utah.
Robert died on May 5, 1918 a loving husband and father. He was a long time active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; belonged to Knights of Pythias (The legend illustrates the ideals of loyalty, honor, and friendship that are the center of the order.) He was keenly interested in everything that pertains to the welfare and progress of the community in which he lived, and his cooperation at all times can be counted upon the further interests for the general good. Robert believed in living the Golden Rule. He was a track foreman for the U.I.C. In the latter 1910 to 1918 he worked for Ogden Bamberger. He and Helen were laid to rest in unmarked graves at the Ogden City Cemetery, in Ogden, Utah.
Resources:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Family History Library 35 North West Temple Salt Lake City, Utah 84105
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Almy Ward Records, p. 1.
100 Years of History of Millard County, Utah LDS FHL Book US/CAN 979.245 H2d pg. 498
A History of Millard County, Utah LDS FHL US/CAN 979.245 H2L pg 170
1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, Kirkfieldbank, Hazebank, Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. 1871 Auchenheath, Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland Census. Rigside, Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland Census.
1880 Almy, Uinta, Wyoming Census
Gavin "Guy" Andrew Crosbie Family History
Juab County, Beaver County, Carbon County, Weber County, Utah Histories
Marriage Records of Uinta County, Wyoming, 1870-1900, compiled by Phyllis J. Dunlap Martin, Complied February, 1983, Orig: County Clerk Office, Evanston, p. A-24.
Ogden City, Weber County Index to Cemetery and Burieal Records, A-Z Vol. II. This record confirms that Thomas was born June 11, 1819, the son of George Spowart and Christina Wilson in Fifeshire, Scotland. (The actual record appears to read “Fifield” but no doubt should have been “Fifeshire.”) The burial location is E/5/36.
“Thomas Spowart”, Catherine Spowart, Margaret McCartney Jewett
Contribution from the following are greatly appreciated:
Teenie and Minnie Bowns Cox (personal records)
LaVaun and Zella Cox (photos)
Marlene Cos Dimond (biographies, compiled records)
She finished what Teenie and Minnie had began
Submitted by Janet Porter
Creation Irrigation System in Leamington filed Abstract of Deeds, Fillmore, Millard, Utah
Utah Historical Society 300 S Rio Grande, Salt Lake City, Utah
Ogden Standard Newspaper - Ogden, Weber, Utah
The Carbon County Newspaper - Carbon County, Utah
Sun Adocate Newspaper - Price, Carbon, Utah
Kate B. Carter, Heart Throbs of the West
The Families Crosbie, Waldie, Fielding, Whittle By Elva Crosbie Dean
1880 Almy, Uinta, Wyoming Census
Juab County, Millard County, Beaver County, Carbon County, Weber County, Utah Federal Census
Mountain Veiw Cemetery, Beaver, Beaver, Utah
Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Weber, Utah
Evanston Cemetery, Evanston, Uinta, Utah
Sunnyside Power Plant Cemetery, Sunnyside, Carbon, Utah
Robert’s Uncle John Francis Crosbie moved from Scotland to Ogden, Utah in 1890 with his son Robert Laidlaw.
Helen’s sister Jean are found signing the Almy Order on September 19, 1875. The church record states that they moved to Evanston on January 7, 1880. They then followed mining to Carbon County, Utah. By 1900 they had a large family (eventually 12 children) and were living in Castlegate where Christina and James moved. Jean, also known as Jane, died there at Spring Canyon, Carbon County, Utah on December 8, 1913.
Guy, his brother Robert Philip Crosbie, and their Uncle Josiah Rodgers Crosbie and family attended The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days there in Almy Ward. Christina Spowart, Helen’s sister’s husband became Bishop James H. Bowns. He was mine Foreman of No. 4 mine in Almy. He later became General Mine Inspector for the Utah Fuel Company and elected County Commissioner 1902-1905 in Carbon County, Utah. It is James H. Sneddon, the husband of Jane Spowart and a sister of Helen that recommended Robert Philip and Guy to the railroad. Bowns and Sneddon will separate Robert Philip Crosby and Guy in the future before 1900.
Josiah and Mary have a son Josiah on March 12, 1875 Almy, Wyoming.
Robert Philip and Helen were on Almy Ward records showing they were still living in the ward in 1879 but Robert Philip was not at home at the time their son Robert Crosbie born on November 26, 1875 Almy, Wyoming or their second son John was born October 8, 1877 also in Almy, Wyoming.
On November 15, 1877 Mary gives birth to their son John Waldie Crosbie in Almy, Wyoming.
It is time for Robert and Helen to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah to go through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Endowment House on October 10, 1878. The Endowment House was a temporary place to continue temple work until the temple was built.
The Union Pacific Railroad gained control of the Utah Central Railroad in 1878, and in 1881 merged it with the Utah Southern Railroad and Utah Southern Railroad Extension to form the Utah Central Railway, a Union Pacific subsidiary that ran south from Ogden to Frisco. Guy and Robert Philip Crosbie were working for the Utah Central Railway.
Brigham Young’s Utah Central Railway started in Ogden and arrived in Salt Lake City in 1870. Later, as The Utah Southern Railroad, it was extended 13 miles to Sandy, Utah by September of 1871. It was then extended to Lehi by the Fall of 1872, and reached York (27 miles south of Provo) in April 1875. There remained for several years. York, Utah was a prominent terminal and railroad center on the old Utah Southern Railroad approximately fifteen miles north of Nephi and four miles south of Santaquin. York lasted for several until the next terminal was established to the south Juab. York was then promptly abandoned. The town named York was later changed to Mona.
RAILROAD CREW
Gavin and Robert Phillip Crosbie worked with James Leavitt Latimer who was born September 4, 1850 in Glasgow, Scotland the son James Bone Latimer and Margaret Reid Dougal. Some of his children were born in Beaver, Utah. Also, they worked with Alexander Graham who was also born in Scotland I wondered could he be related to us through his Grandmother Helen Francis whose mother was Bridget Graham. Others they worked with were Abraham Kimball son of Heber C. Kimball, Robert Watson his foremen and Bishop Callister. Bishop Callister was over the team of horses. Our Gavin loved working with the horses. The rail-line entered Juab County by June 1879.
John Leavitt Latimer was the road master of the railroad when I entered the service, but was succeeded by James Latimer, a well-seasoned and competent track-man with heart as big as his feet. He was the sincere friend of the working man who did his work rightly. The majority of the Maintenance of Way employees were of Scottish and Scandinavian extraction. The McGregor’s McCardell’s, McMillan’s, Crosby’s, Odd’s, Garrett’s, etc., where there. One day there was a wreck on the line and I was instructed to call the two section gangs at my station to be ready with food and blankets. When the work train arrived to pick them up, although I had called them two or three times, they were tardy and held the wrecker. “Where are the men?” asked the road master somewhat nettled. “Just leaving the section house”, I replied. “They celebrated Robbie Burns’ birthday last night till the wee hours.” “Hot Mon (Hot man), that’s the third time they’ve celebrated his birthday so far this year.
He was road-master for more than twenty years. James became a citizen of United States 21 May 1881 just 6 days after Guy Crosby did his on the 15th.
A roadmaster is a managerial position, working on a railroad. In this job, you are assigned a specific territory, and are responsible for the maintenance and repairs of all tracks within your roadway. Your duties include performing inspections and managing the quality of the railroad tracks in your territory.
TRACK LABORER – JOB DESCRIPTION. Position Summary: Performs hard physical labor using hand tools and equipment to: construct, alter, repair, maintain, and demolish railroad tracks, associated structures and components. ... It could include handling ties or rail with a crew (90 to 100 lb.)
Track gang employees work sometimes over 1000 miles from home for 8 days on and 8 days off work, with the travel days to and from work on their own time, leaving only 5 or 6 days actually at home, and put in long hours outside in bad weather conditions to repair and maintain tracks, as do the local track repair people ...
Jim Latimer of Oasis was unanimously chosen president and manager of the Railroad Man’s Sheep Company with wisdom and sound practical judgment. Some twenty years later he dies.
Burns Night is annually celebrated in Scotland on or around January 25. It commemorates the life of the bard (poet) Robert Burns, who was born on January 25, 1759. The day also celebrates Burns' contribution to Scottish culture. His best known work is Auld Lang Syne.
James was in charge of the construction of the railroad going south to Nephi when it was at a place called York or Starr (now known as Mona) in Utah County. Starr is where the Young Living Lavender Farm is at now in 2020.
The terminal being at Nephi they moved to this. They lived on Main Street in the house next to the Goldbrough Hotel. But being a railroad man, he wanted to be closer to this, so they purchased in the southwest part of town.
John W. Young who was in charge of construction work, including track laying, came to the camp and asked the two young men if they wished to go to work at the track laying, at a wage of $2.00 a day and board, their pay to be received when the track was laid into Salt Lake City. John W. Young was a son of President Brigham Young.
James Hill and James Latimer new one another in Scotland.
Thomas Callister was a Bishop that was born in the Isle of Man. He worked for the railroad, lived in Fillmore, and passed away in 1880. He served on the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Utah Twenty-First Session, in 1874 for the Juab and Millard Counties.
His daughter Mary Maranda Callister married Edward Leo Lyman the son of Apostle Amasa Mason Lyman who is related to our family by the marriage of his son Edward Leo Lyman who married Lousia Maria Tanner who is the sister of Sydney Tanner.
Robert Logan Scott born April 18, 1853 in Fenwick, Ayrshire, Scotland, son of John Ferguson Scott and Ann Shields. This man had 9 months of schooling education in Scotland and put to work in the factory by the age 10. He was baptized in the LDS Church December 5, 1871 by Thomas Godfrey. The ice in the River Clyde had to be broke for his baptism. He was confirmed by Alexander Rankin. When he arrived in 1875 went to work for U.P. work train at very laborious work.
He emigrated to Utah and there married Catherine Latimer, the daughter of James Latimer, also from Scotland, in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, August 11, 1876. He obtained work as a Section Boss on the railroad near Deseret, Millard County, Utah, and homesteaded a farm there.
He emigrated to Utah and there married Catherine Latimer, the daughter of James Latimer, also from Scotland, in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, August 11, 1876. He obtained work as a Section Boss on the railroad near Deseret, Millard County, Utah, and homesteaded a farm there.
Alexander Stewart Graham – lived in Deseret, Millard, Utah. Moved to Baker City, Oregon for four years, then to Kaysville, Utah, then sent to Leamington, Utah in 1877, where he was promoted to section foreman in Leamington, Millard County, Utah. Sunday School meetings was held in their home. He faithfully gathered his little family together once a week and took them several miles by hand-car to this Sunday School. His son Alexander Jr., age 7, Was killed in a train accident and Alexander, himself, died in 1881.
Charles Odd lived in the section home and he was a very meticulous man, thrifty and frugality. He married Agnes Graham in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, 22 Dec 1881, just one month before her 18th birthday. They lived at Burnt Corral a little railroad stop about 20 miles south of Leamington. There were 4 houses that all belonged to railroad workers. In 1896 they moved to Kaysville, Utah.
Jesse W Fox was the General Surveyor. With the completion of the Pacific railroads in 1869, Brigham Young and other Utah capitalists constructed the Utah Central Railroad to connect Salt Lake with those lines. Jesse W. Fox was employed as engineer in the enterprise. Mr. Fox is mentioned as a stockholder in the Utah Southern Railroad running from Salt Lake through Provo to Juab, which he also served as Chief Engineer, in like capacity he was employed in the construction of the Utah Southern Extension Railroad to Frisco. In 1881 all three lines were consolidated and Mr. Fox became chief engineer of the system.
Heart Throbs of the West, Kate B. Carter, Vol. 2, p. 270 - Indexed in the Utah, familysearch.org, Early Church Information File, 1830-1900. There is ability to view the index online.
ROBERT WATSON
Robert Watson and Eliza Elliot – Robert was born 19 Aug 1826 a Dundee, Forfar… Scotland to Robert Watson and Agnes Robertson. He died 21 Mar 1891 in Springville, Utah, Utah. He married Eliza Elliott 17 Mar 1857 Eliza born 10 May 1836 at Nottingham, Notts, England to Joseph Elliot and Dorothy Wardle. She died 10 Dec 1914 at Springville, Utah, Utah. Eliza joined the church in England against the wishes of her family. At the age of 16 sailed along from Liverpool for America on 25 May 1856, landing at Boston, June 30, 1856. She proceeded to Iowa City and thence to Des Moines where she waited three weeks to join a Handcart Company to cross the plains. She joined the Martin Handcart Company. The Company made a start and then stopped again for two weeks at Winter Quarters. The company was caught in heavy snow in Wyoming and had to be rescued and many died from exposure. They arrived in Salt Lake City 30 Nov 1856. She married Robert Watson, Jr. 17 Feb 1857. She was the mother of five sons and four daughters…
Joseph Smith Black
Joseph Smith Black was living in Deseret Ward and Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Joseph was known as J.S. Black and Robert Watson both moved from Spring City, Sanpete County, Utah to the town of Deseret. Both Black and Watson worked on the railroad with Robert and Guy Crosby. Joseph was sentenced for 75 days for polygamy.
Abraham A. Kimball mentions Robert Watson who is the witness on Guy Crosby's citizenship. Robert was from Scotland.
Now this is where I started understanding Uncle Glen Merchant’s story of how our Guy and Electa (Twitchell) met.
Millard County History - Page 498: The railroad was built through Leamington in the year 1879 and extended as far as Milford. Among the first men to come with the railroad were: James Latimer, roadmaster; Bob and Guy Crosby, just over from Scotland, and Alexander Graham who worked on the section.
In 1875 there was a train terminal at York and needed the railroad extended from York (now known as Mona) to Frisco. It was moved to Nephi. New mine strikes were opening up in the Beaver County area. As a child I remember where the old terminal in Mona was and would always look for it as we traveled to Beaver.
1800 – 1900 Black Rock History: Chapter 3 Reference of Abraham Alonzo Kimball Diary – Son of President Heber C Kimball.
Black Rock Springs (Co-op Ranch) to find railroad surveyor but they had gone to Beaver River. Webb was at the ranch establishing a trading post for Bishop Callister to supply railroad teams so we obtained quarters for ourselves and horses, awful cold and windy.
10 Dec 1879 – After breakfast we set out for Smith Ranch some 6 miles (10 kms) distance, on arriving there the Surveyors had just set out to work so we found them all along the line. We found the chief Jesse W Fox at the Lameraux Ranch (this is where our great-grandmother Electa Twitchell, a servant and her brother Big John Twitchell, a farmer laborer are working in the STAR PRECINIT, BEAVER COUNTY, UTAH IN 1880) of Riverside Station where we got some dinner and remained all day boarding with the Surveyors, received the promise of a job of grading (next spring.)
Black Rock Spring was owned and operated by a cooperative of the LDS Church. They were also in the process of setting up a store for the first time. The need for building a store would have been the direct result of the coming of the railroad.
The next spring, Kimball returned to do grading work, but he began at Yellow Banks Stage Station about 3 kms (Uncle Glen Merchant shared that this Yellow Banks Stage Station is where our great grandmother Electa Twitchell meets our great grandfather Guy Andrew Crosby.) north of present-day Milford. See the 1875 map on page 13. In his diary, Kimball mentions where the track layers were, only where the graders were building up the railroad bed. Briefly jumping ahead, the first passenger train arrived at Milford on May 15, 1880, so we can assume the tracks were first laid to Clear Lake in March and to Black Rock sometime in April, 1880.
Before going further into the Black Rock Story, a little more history of Frisco and Milford is in order. Kimball (Abraham Alonzo Kimball) also helped finish the railroad grade right up to Frisco. He was like a private contractor of today and he ran a crew of men and teams with scrapers. He also had a few choice comments about the situation at Yellow Banks, gentle swearing, Milford and Frisco, that are worth mentioning. His last camp was very near Frisco. Parts of his diary went like this:
7 Mar 1880 - Antelope Spring Sunday March 7th 1880. Arose early… arriving at Yellow Banks 3 p.m. where our job was….. spent afternoon in fitting up camp by tearing down an old log house and putting up the same, also putting up tent.
Yellow Banks March 8th The boys arrived with hay and grain from the end of the track so after dinner the boys wen up the river to shut off the water as it was ruining our job…. Some of the boys was inclined to profane the name of god so I proposed to them that the ones who done the swearing should do the praying which was agreed to. I was surprised to find that in one week’s time the swearing was about done away with. So much so that I had to offer prayer occasionally myself.
8 Apr 1880 - Thursday April 8th 1880 …..Moved camp to Milford 2 ½ miles (4 kms) to commence another job, worked hard all day moving, put up a good camp and was awful tired. Milford is a town consisting of one Quartz Mill, one Smelter and so 12 houses and one store and saloon and one barn and several camps of railroad (workers)…..
19 May 1880 – Wednesday May 19th 1880. Went to Frisco which is a noted mining camp but of low grade society, mostly Irish (and) 5 to 8 hundred inhabitants…..
Sunday May 30th 1880 …..returned at dinner time, found cook and all gone from home so I shaped dinner for 5 of us, then went out to see the bears dance as some Italians came along with two trick bears, all went off nicely, good dancing….
Sunday June 13th 1880 After breakfast washed and cleaned up and set out for the Bonanza Mine one of the greatest bodies of ore known….. then hitched our team up and drove to Frisco where we called at the post office, also done a little trading as the stores were in full blast failing to observe the Sabbath day, being a mining camp composed of Jack Mormons, Jews and Gentiles.
Near Frisco June 17th Commenced loading up to start home so after dinner the teams set out for Milford, the cook (Miss Prons) set out for the cars to ride down on them. On arriving I met J. W. Fox, Surveyor so he wished me to return to Frisco with him so we proceeded on train to my old camp and from thence by wagon to layout the depot which was accomplished at the bottom and of Main St….. The engine had gone to Milford taking cook so the construction boss (Watson) (Robert Watson who is a witness on Guy Citizenship Record) said we could take a couple of flat cars down having to brake being heavy grade….. Making the trip in 37 minutes some 13 miles (21 kms) without aid of steam (engine).
23 Jun 1880 – John Twitchell, age 19, a farm laborer, Electa Twitchell, age 17, servant at the W. G. Lameraux Ranch at the STAR PRECINIT, BEAVER COUNTY, UTAH, ON THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL CENSUS. While Robert Philip Crosby and his brother Guy are staying at the ranch Guy has meets his future wife Electa Malinda Twitchell and they marry on February 2, 1881 in Beaver, Beaver, Utah.
The Star District including all the settlements below the Yellow Banks formed into a precinct and to be called Star Precinct. The Utah Central Railroad was organized the same day the Union Pacific Railroad reached Ogden, Utah. Frisco was in the Grampian Precinct. Guy’s brother-in-law was the sheriff of Star Precinct.
Taking Tracks North from Milford to Yellow Banks, Utah
Max Yarbrough traded this picture of Guy and Electa Crosby for Melinda Idonna Crosby's. Melinda's picture was donated by Judge Otho Murphy in Moab, Utah in the 1963.
Floating Gang or Track Gang
Hand Car Crew
A friend of the Crosbie and Spowart family, Charles Beveridge, on one occasion in 1881 went down into the mine to make an inspection, and as he was coming up the shaft, he heard a terrible roar. He knew immediately what is was, and threw him-self down to the ground, clutching the railroad tracks. The blast and fire went over him, but his hands’, face, and ears were badly burned. His shoes and clothing were completely burned off him, but wherever his LDS garments covered him, his skin was untouched, and was as white as ever. Was it a miracle? I think so! After his recovery, he became a little stooped which is understandable. He was no longer 6 feet 2 inches tall, but he never complained. His condition was such that he would be unable to continue in the mines, so he became Postmaster, and along with that, he carried all kinds of musical instruments. (he is able to play all of them).
He also had a candy counter, which of course, was his daughters pride and joy. It was the largest mine accident west of the Mississippi and could be felt all the way to Salt Lake City Valley some 88 miles away. That explosion took the lives of our Uncle Josiah Rodgers Crosbie, age 39, and his friend John Barton, age 34 who were both killed that evening. John Barton was the first husband of Jane Beveridge the daughter of Charles and Catherine Beveridge that came with Thomas and Catherine Spowart to America. Jane (Beveridge) Barton after John’s death entered in plural marriage with James Harrison Bowns.
On March 4, 1881, gases in the Central Pacific Mine number 3 exploded, killing 38 miners. On March 10, the Cheyenne Weekly Leader reported the disaster: A terrific explosion occurred last night between 9 and 10 o'clock in the Central Pacific mine, killing 35 Chinamen and 3 white men.
A HORROR IN WYOMING.
TERRIFIC COAL MINE EXPLOSION AND GREAT LOSS OF LIFE
TWO WHITE MEN AND THIRTY-FIVE CHINAMEN KILLED — THE MINE ALL ON FIRE. FUTILE REPORTS TO RECOVER THE BODIES OF THE DEAD — NUMBER OF MEN INJURED.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, March 4 — A special from Evanston, Wy., to the Tribune says: “The gas in the Rocky Mountain Coal and Iron company’s mine No. Two, at Almy station, on the Union Pacific road, exploded at 8.45 last evening, throwing the flames many hundred feet high out of the main slope, carrying away the buildings around the mouth of the shaft, and setting the machinery buildings on fire. About 15 minutes before the explosion from 10 to 30 white men and 50 Chinamen went down to work for the night. At two a.m. 17 Chinamen, more or less seriously injured, had been rescued, many with limbs broken and badly scalded. About 20 dead Chinamen have been discovered, but have not yet been brought up.
No white man has yet been found, and there are no hopes that any are alive. The jar of the explosion was plainly felt at Evanston.”
A dispatch from Cheyenne says the night shift consisted of 50 Chinamen and five whites. Two of the whites were brought out in a crippled condition, and 15 Chinamen were rescued through the ventilating shaft, all of whom were more or less injured. It is believed that 35 Chinamen and two white men, are now in the mine which is on fire. The mine is owned by the Central Pacific railway, and was being worked at its full capacity. The accident will cause a suspension of work for a year.
Evening Gazette (Port Jervis, New York) Mar 5, 1881
Frightful Explosion in a Coal Mine –
Forty Men Killed.
EVANSTON, (Wyoming), Mar. 5.
A fearful explosion took place in mine No. 2 last night. The cause is not definitely known, but it is supposed to be by gas generated by fire in the abandoned mine No. 1, which has been burning for the past six years, and is separated from mine No. 2 by wide walls only. The explosions completely demolished all the buildings over the main stope and, setting fire to these, burned them, together with the engine and other houses adjoining. There were sixty Chinamen and four white men in the mine. Of the latter, Mr. Gillespie, John Barton and Josiah Crosby were taken out dead, and Charles Beverage alive, but very dangerously burned, but may recover. Twenty-five Chinamen have been brought to the surface, all badly scalded and many with broken limbs. The balance are probably dead. The white men were all married and leave large families. The fire in the mine is now out, and everything possible is being done for the recovery of the balance of bodies and for the injured.
Reno Evening Gazette (Reno, Nevada) Mar 7, 1881.
Evanston City Cemetery
September 24, 1881 A clock rises from the ashes. It seems that the impetus behind the clock in the courthouse Tower was the Great Fire of 1881., one of the selling points of the idea was that the bell of the clock could be used to summon residents in case of another fire. Southern Utonian
John Francis Crosbie in April 1882 came to visit his family in America. He came to check on Mary Waldie Crosbie first, to see what this new country might have to offer, and traveled to Leamington to visit Guy and Robert Philip. He stayed and the visit was recorded on Leamington Church Record. He was back in Scotland when his mother died. Helen Spowart’s father Thomas Spowart also visited in 1882 with Robert Philip and Helen telling them all the news possibly at the same time John Francis Crosbie did.
Josiah and Mary’s daughter Elizabeth “Little Betsy”, age 8, dies on July 18, 1882 in Almy, Wyoming. Robert and Helen’s little boy is named Josiah was born on August 3, 1882. Their Uncle James Francis Crosbie sails on September 2, 1882 from Liverpool with 662 other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He also visits Mary then travels to Leamington, Utah to see Guy and Robert Philip and tells them that their Grandmother Helen (Francis) Crosbie died on July 4, 1882 in Hazelbank, Lesmahagow, Lanark, Lanarkshire, Scotland when their Uncle James Francis Crosbie comes in September of the same year. James was at his mother’s bedside when she passed away on July 4, 1882.
Milford kept the railroad profitable until 1882 or 1883 when the mine faltered, and the railroad with it. However, the farmers worked together with the newspaper to draw investors to continue the railroad. The church building there burned destroying records up to 1883.
Jane Beveridge, the widow of their friend John Barton who died with Josiah she is the daughter of Charles and Catherine Beveridge, the friends of Thomas and Catherine Spowart. She also enters into a plural marriage with Christina Spowarts husband James Harrison Bowns’ on August 9, 1883 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Male individuals could not enter into plural marriage unless he had enough income to provide for the families.
On May 14, 1884
Robert registered his mark and branding iron on the same day as his brother Guy. The mark was “RC” on the right shoulder and he was living in Leamington, Millard County, Utah. Guy registered his mark and branding iron showing as “79” on the Right Hip of the Thigh and was living in Milford, Beaver County, Utah.
On 15th of May 1884 Guy became a US citizen in Salt Lake City, was witnessed by his brother Robert Philip, and also by Robert Watson their foreman as well as a good friend. who is also from Scotland.
“Certificate of Citizenship #31
United States of America Territory of Utah -
Be It Remembered, That on the 15th day of May in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty Four, Guy Crosby late of Scotland, in the Kingdom of Great Britain, at present of Beaver County, in the Territory aforesaid, appeared in the Third Judicial District Court of the United States, in and for Utah Territory, and applied to the said Court to be admitted to become a Citizen of the United States of America, pursuant to the directions and requirements of the several Acts of Congress in relation thereto. And the said Guy Crosby having thereupon produced to the Court such evidence, made such declaration and renumeration, and taken such oath as are by the said Acts required; thereupon it was ordered in the said Court that the said Guy Crosby be admitted, and he was accordingly admitted by the said Court to be Citizen of the United States of America.
By the Court: John A. Hunter, Judge
Wit: Robert Crosby Robert and Watson
Ref. Vol. 22. p. 172 - 15 May 1884.”
1884 – Robert Philip and Helen’s daughter Margaret was born 26 December 26, 1884 in Leamington, Utah.
1885 - The brothers get word that their grandfather Robert Gray Crosbie has died on August 3, 1885.
1885 - Then Guy and Robert Philip’s Uncle John Francis Crosbie makes another trip to see Mary Waldie Crosbie in Wyoming and Robert and Guy in Leamington, Utah and stays a while, even fines work. Again he does not stay but returns to Hazelbank.
Texterious was a boss for the railroad and lived next door to Guy Crosby. Robert Crosby, Guy’s brother, and B.P. Texterious together organized the Leamington Irrigation System costing $50,000.00. In 1888 B.P. Texterious donated property for the new schoolhouse and ward house, an addition was added on in 1896.
Robert Philip Crosby worked with other to organize "The Leamington Irrigation Company":
Book F
Pages 155-158
Recorded September 29th 1886 This Indenture made the 11 day of September in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight-Hundred and Eighty-Six between the undersigned the parties of the first part and The Leamington Irrigation Company the party of the for the second part witnesseth that whereas The Leamington Irrigation Company has been duly incorporated under the laws of the Territory of Utah, and it is intended by this instrument its transfer to the said party of the parties of the first part which they and each of them have and The property and rights to property hereinafter described. And whereas said corporation has been formed for the purpose of managing, controlling and regulating the use of said described property, and rights to property for the benefit of such stockholder in accordance with the articles of agreement and in conformity with the By-Laws of said corporation hereto fore adopted.
Now, therefore, know all men by their presents, that the said parties of the first part and each of them whose names are hereunto subscribed in consideration of certificates of stock in said incorporated company hereafter to be inspired to them, then, and each of their heirs and assigns, in conformity with the By Laws of said corporation heretofore adopted, do hereby grant bargain, sell, transfer, remise, release and quit claim unto the said party of the second part its successors and assign, and all and each of their right, title, interest claim and demand whatsoever in law as Equity of, in, or to all their individual primary rights, in and to the water of Sevier River in Leamington Precinct, Millard County, Territory of Utah, and all and each of their interest in and to the main canal, known as the Leamington Irrigating Canal and all and each of their interest to the, ditches, dams, fumes, gates and other means to divert and control said waters for domestic and Irrigation purposes, togather with all and singular the rights, claims, here dilaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging to have and to hold the said premises with their appurtenances unto the said party of the second part it’s successors and assigns forever.
In witness whereof the said parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
in the Presence of: Louis Nielson
Abraham Sorenson
Sealed
Sealed Robert Crosby
B.P. Textorious
Lewis H. Stout
Y.P. Johnson
Geo. Morrison
Lens Nielson
C.C. Johnson
John Talbot
William Keller
A. O. Sorenson
J. H. Strange
Richard Pay
Thomas Morgan
Dan Radford J.
(?) Radford
Peter (X his Mark) Habel
James R. (X his Mark)
Ross A. Nielson
A. M. Wooley
C. Overson
Charles L. (X his Mark) Green
Recorded September 29th 1886
Territory of Utah, County of Millard, September 29th 1886
He the undersigned citizens of the United States and over the age of twenty-one do this 29th day of September 1886 claim and locate 1500 feet in length and 600 feet in width on this mineral boundry.
Robert Philip and Helen’s daughter Agnes Helen is born on September 6, 1887 in Leamington, Utah.
Robert Philip and Helen’s son William T. Crosby was born on December 7, 1889 in Leamington, Millard County, Utah.
James Spowart Crosby is born in Leamington, Millard, Utah on July 25, 1892.
Robert purchased from his brother Guy a portion of his land on August 11, 1894. Then Robert sells to James Latimer some land on December 24, 1894.
11 Aug 1894
No. 2 Grantor – Guy Crosby sold to Grantee – Robert Crosby
(Warranty Deed)
J-300
8/11/1894 $100.00
9/25/1894
Beg. S E ? N E 4 Sec. 10-15-4 W 6.80 ch; N 20.09 ch; etc.
24 Dec 1894
No. 4 Grantor – Robert Crosby sold to Grantee – James Latimer (Warranty Deed)
Mortgage
A-546
12/24/1894 $300.00
1/3/1895
Released 6/5/1895
Robert and Helen's son Alexander was born on January 13, 1895 in Mona, Juab, Utah. But a few months later Robert is buying land on May 15, 1895 from James Latimer. These two guys are selling land back and forth to one another. Latimer lives in Levan, Juab, Utah but has land also in Leamington and into Deseret where he is President of the Sheep man’s Association. Roberts’ brother Guy is wheeling and dealing with land he sells to George Finlinson. Guy and Electa had a new son also on September 18, 1895 the same year and they named him James McGarry but called him “Vic”.
As a Section Foreman Robert Philip Crosbie had a notice placed in the paper on 17 Aug 1895 (Saturday). He was long-time Section Foreman at Mona Tank which is the Mona Reservoir. Nearly all of the section men on this division of the U.P. have been laid off. He will be the foreman with 4 men constitute a gang from Juab to Oasis. Chris Thompson will handle a crew from Oasis to Frisco.
He had land in Scipio School District No 9 location a233 N E 1/4 S E 1/4 Sec 1.
Robert Crosby also had land in Hinckley, Utah location SW 1/4 SW 1/4; Sec 5, TWP 17 S, RGW.
Guy's, Robert's brother, son young Guy, age 12, was out riding on September 1,1896 was thrown from the horse which trampled his legs. The accident did major damage to the youths legs. From family relatives it was said the doctor wanted to amputate the legs but the parents would not allow that to happen.
Word came that Robert’s mother Agnes Crosbie Nelson died on February 23, 1899 in Lanark, Lanarkshire, Scotland and on November 23, 1899 Helen’s father Thomas Spowart died in Ogden.
Robert and Helens children are getting married. Their oldest daughter Catherine married John Wayne in Salt Lake City in 1900. John was from Sanpete County, Utah area. Robert’s son George Crosby finds work as a machinist for the railroad at the age of 20 and marries Henrietta Lenora Cazier on August 3, 1899 in Ogden. She goes by Lenora and was born June 27, 1879 and raised in Nephi. George’s job sent him to Wells, Nevada and Lenora stayed with Robert and Helen in the Ogden Ward 1 and their home was on Wall Street in 1900. Robert was close to 49 years old and working for the railroad as a section formen. Later on in the year George, wife Lenora, and his mother-in-law Angelina C. Halliwell are living in Wells but his mother-in-law dies. Lenora's father, John William Cazier, had died earlier in Nephi, Juab, Utah on June 14, 1890.
Guy and Electa moved from Leamington and are living in Beaver, Utah on G Street and farming in North Creek area northeast from Beaver about June 1900.
Robert gets word his brother Guy has passed away suddenly on July 3, 1901 and so Robert decided to sell his property in Leamington on December 30, 1901 to J.P. Johnson. Robert and Helen sell and George their son signs as a witness.
Helen’s two brother-in-laws James H. Sneddon and James Harrison Bowns had moved to Scofield, Carbon, Utah to work in the mines but there was a huge explosion at Winter Quarters and the two guys moved their families to Sunnyside also in Carbon County. The brother-in-laws convinced Robert and his family moved from Ogden to Sunnyside, Carbon, Utah and Robert was hired on as a trackman foreman laying track for the mines there. His son George brings his family and he is hired as railroad machinist.
William T. another son of Robert and Helen, hires on as a Trapper in the mine. He was just a child and on January 8, 1904 he died from a mining accident. The workers used his belt as a tourniquet then brought him out of the mine. He was transported to the hospital infirmary where he said, “Goodbye to his mother” and died. There is a court case in Price but the finding was in favor of the mining company saying the boy caused his own accident.
George and Lenora Crosby’s son Robert Crosby is born on February 5, 1906 in Sunnyside, Carbon, Utah but by April 25, 1910 they are living in an out of the way town in Utah west desert called Ibapah, Tooele, Utah. The railroad is moving him around and by July 2, 1910 he is in Springville, Utah, Utah where his son John Crosby is born. From here their little family appears in White Pine County, Nevada on August 1912. They evidentially work themselves to Los Angeles, California and remained.
Robert's son James graduates from school.
However, Robert and Helen Crosby were living in Sunnyside, Carbon, Utah on April 17, 1910 but they decide to move back to Ogden, Weber, Utah in the same year. Their children were known for singing in church and community events in Ogden.
Robert was nominated through the democratic party to run for County Assessor for Carbon County, Utah.
On January 15, 1914 Robert’s beloved wife Helen Spowart Crosbie passes away in Ogden, Weber, Utah.
Robert died on May 5, 1918 a loving husband and father. He was a long time active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; belonged to Knights of Pythias (The legend illustrates the ideals of loyalty, honor, and friendship that are the center of the order.) He was keenly interested in everything that pertains to the welfare and progress of the community in which he lived, and his cooperation at all times can be counted upon the further interests for the general good. Robert believed in living the Golden Rule. He was a track foreman for the U.I.C. In the latter 1910 to 1918 he worked for Ogden Bamberger. He and Helen were laid to rest in unmarked graves at the Ogden City Cemetery, in Ogden, Utah.
Resources:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Family History Library 35 North West Temple Salt Lake City, Utah 84105
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Almy Ward Records, p. 1.
100 Years of History of Millard County, Utah LDS FHL Book US/CAN 979.245 H2d pg. 498
A History of Millard County, Utah LDS FHL US/CAN 979.245 H2L pg 170
1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, Kirkfieldbank, Hazebank, Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. 1871 Auchenheath, Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland Census. Rigside, Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland Census.
1880 Almy, Uinta, Wyoming Census
Gavin "Guy" Andrew Crosbie Family History
Juab County, Beaver County, Carbon County, Weber County, Utah Histories
Marriage Records of Uinta County, Wyoming, 1870-1900, compiled by Phyllis J. Dunlap Martin, Complied February, 1983, Orig: County Clerk Office, Evanston, p. A-24.
Ogden City, Weber County Index to Cemetery and Burieal Records, A-Z Vol. II. This record confirms that Thomas was born June 11, 1819, the son of George Spowart and Christina Wilson in Fifeshire, Scotland. (The actual record appears to read “Fifield” but no doubt should have been “Fifeshire.”) The burial location is E/5/36.
“Thomas Spowart”, Catherine Spowart, Margaret McCartney Jewett
Contribution from the following are greatly appreciated:
Teenie and Minnie Bowns Cox (personal records)
LaVaun and Zella Cox (photos)
Marlene Cos Dimond (biographies, compiled records)
She finished what Teenie and Minnie had began
Submitted by Janet Porter
Creation Irrigation System in Leamington filed Abstract of Deeds, Fillmore, Millard, Utah
Utah Historical Society 300 S Rio Grande, Salt Lake City, Utah
Ogden Standard Newspaper - Ogden, Weber, Utah
The Carbon County Newspaper - Carbon County, Utah
Sun Adocate Newspaper - Price, Carbon, Utah
Kate B. Carter, Heart Throbs of the West
The Families Crosbie, Waldie, Fielding, Whittle By Elva Crosbie Dean
1880 Almy, Uinta, Wyoming Census
Juab County, Millard County, Beaver County, Carbon County, Weber County, Utah Federal Census
Mountain Veiw Cemetery, Beaver, Beaver, Utah
Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Weber, Utah
Evanston Cemetery, Evanston, Uinta, Utah
Sunnyside Power Plant Cemetery, Sunnyside, Carbon, Utah