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Alexander Glass Gourley
b.24 Jan 1841 Cornbroe, Bothwell, Lanark, Scotland
d.23 Jun 1917 Eureka, Juab, Utah
Family tree▼ (edit)
m. 19 Jul 1860
Facts and Events
Alexander Glass Gourley was the second son of Paul and Margaret Glass Gourley. He was born on 24 January 1841 in Cornbroe, Bothwell, Lanark, Scotland, however his birth date on a Holytown church record states January 22nd. He was only eleven days old when his mother died. His father remarried when he was about twelve. Alexander joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 8th, 1852 at the age of eleven years old. He was baptized by his father Paul, and confirmed by Robert Linsay on October 17th, 1852. About four years after his baptism, he and his family left Scotland and emigrated to America. They traveled from Liverpool to New York on the ship Thornton. The records show that the family went through Castle Garden, then traveled by boat and rail to Iowa City. (According to his sisters history they traveled up the Mississippi river from New Orleans to Iowa City). From there they went to Florence, Nebraska. They were in Florence for a brief time then they began their journey across the plains by handcart to the Salt Lake Valley. It was a very difficult journey and many of the people in the Martin handcart company died along the way. Alexander was asked to drive teams for Captian Hodges so he wasn't able to help his own family with their handcarts. *The following is from a dedicatory prayer at Martin's Cove Visitor Center, by President Hinckly August 15th, 1992
"They were members of the Martin Handcart Company, the fifth company to come to the valley that year...Terrible was the suffering of those who came here to find some protection from the heavy storms of that early winter...They found themselves in a terrible storm with vivid cold. Their people hungry and cold and dying from sheer exhaustion. They came up to this cove for shelter, and many died here...They are buried somewhere in this earth. We stand here with bared heads and grateful hearts for their sacrifices and the sacrifices of all who were with them along the this tragic tail."
They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley at the end of November or first of December 1856. The family lived in Salt Lake City for a while also in Lehi before moving to Goshen in 1857. Alexander along with his father, Paul and brother Robert are listed in Goshen history as the first settlers of Goshen. For several years Alexander worked for the Beackstead family in Jordan, Utah, probably to earn enough money to begin his own life and family. On July 19th, 1860, Alexander married Amelia Brady who was from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. She was the daughter of Charles and Susan Ann Elizabeth Brady. Alexander and Amelia lived in Goshen most of their married lives. They were the parents of nine children: Alexander George, Margaret Amelia, Elizabeth Ann, Lillian Janett, Annie, Emma Leonora, Fannie Isabe, William Paul and Ellison Virginia. In 1865 the Black Hawk War commenced in Sanpete and Sevier counties. The settlers there were not prepared for a war. When the Indians came down on them in large numbers, it was impossible for the people to turn them back. Some people were killed, their cattle driven off, and their homes burned. The settlers there asked Brigham Young for help. He began gathering an army form all the different towns. Some volunteered, some were asked to go along. The city of Goshen sent her quota. Some times they would come home for a few days. Then they had to go back again. This war lasted about three years. Goshen men who went were; John Burraston, John Llewellyn, Hans Jasperson, Hugh Mckee, Alex Gourley, Andrew Sorensen and Peter Okelberry. All came back safe. About 1867 or 1868, Alexander was hired by Bishop Price to go to San Bernardino, California to buy a thresher that was run by horse power. He was paid fifty dollars for the trip. The trip was made by horse with his bed roll and camping equipment on three other horses. This trip took him six weeks, today that same trip can be made in 8 -10 hours by car or 90 minutes by plane. On November th 9th, 1871, Alexander became a citizen of the United States of America. The minutes of that event are as follows: "Alexander Gourley personally appered in open court and by his oath and that of Peter Roberts and James H. Jenkins gave spoken (word) showing that he was entitled to be admitted a citizen of the United States of American. Whereupon it was order that he be admitted and the usual oath administered and certificate of citzenship given." In 1874, Goshen organized a baseball team and Alexander was on it. He played third base. He played games in Nehpi, Eureka, Payson, Provo, Lehi and Salt Lake City. Sometimes they went by wagon, but most of the time they rode horseback because they could make better time. Most every player had a finger or two broken or put out of place. They grew a large joint which they always referred to as their baseball finger. The Goshen team claimed to be able to beat anything this side of Salt Lake, but Salt Lake always beat them. Alexander is found with his family on the census reports from 1870-1910 in Goshen. His occupation was farming and it is interesting to note that on the 1865 tax record, he had land valued at $100 and 1 cow valued at $30; then in 1879 just 14 years later he has land and a house valued at $200, 1 cow, 2 horses and mules, 1 vehicle and household furniture valued at $25. The total worth in 1865 was $130 and in 1879 it was $480. On June 23, 1917 at the age of 77 years 5 months and 1 day, Alexander Glass Gourley died at his son's home in Eureka, Utah. he died of a cerebral hemorrhage. Apparently he had only been there for 10 days. Perhaps he took ill and his son and daughter-in-law took car of him. The doctor stated in the death certificate that he had been treating Alexander for about 3 days. The details are not known. He had been a widower for about three years. he was buried on June 25th 1917 in Goshen, Utah. His obituary from the Eureka Reporter reads: Pioneer Utah Man died at Home in this City - Alex G. Gourley, a native of Scotland and one of the early pioneers of Utah, died in this city last Saturday. Death resulted from a stroke of paralysis from which the deceased has suffered for a number of months. Alex. G. Gourley was the father of Alex G. Gourley Jr., William Gourley and Mrs. Vern Firth all of Eureka and Mrs. Madsen of Salina. When the deceased came to Utah he settled in Goshen and made his home there during the greater part of his life. He was enterprising, active and upright citizen and his death will be regretted by a wide circle of friends. The remains were shipped to Goshen on Monday morning and that afternoon funeral services were conducted from the LDS church at that place, William Thomas, first councilor to the bishop presided. The speakers were old time friends of Mr. Gourley, who were able to talk in an interesting manner regarding his life and deeds. Special musical numbers were rendered. At cemetery, the body of the aged pioneer being laid beside that of his wife who passed away three years ago. Many Tintic people were at Goshen for the funeral. The original author of above is unknown, however the sources for it are listed below. Additional information supplied by Raymond W. Madsen. SOURCES: Interview of Nicholas Teeples Book --An Enduring Legacy pages 46-47 Millennial Star 18:30 (June 6, 1856) pages 478-79 Book --Heart Throbs of the West pages 364-65 Death Certificate Book -Goshen Centennial History: pages 4, 20, 33 and 86 Goshen Tax records 1870-1900 census records Obituary: Eureka Reporter -Friday, June 29th 1917, page 8 addtional source: President Hinckly dedicatory prayer, 15 August 1992: Church News, Deseret News -April 1997. References
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