Person:George Adams (42)

COMBINED HISTORY OF GEORGE MASON ADAMS AND) MARTHA DEVY ADAMS AND EMMA ELIZABETH MONK ADAMS

                 George Mason Adams, born October 1, 1856 in Northampton. Northahamptonshire, England was the third son of David and Maria Thetford Adams.  He was six weeks old when his mother sailed from England, 11 Nov. 1856, on the ship "Columbia."  He and his mother were sick and survived the voyage only by the care from the saints on board ship.  They were met by his father, who was in America on New Years Day, 1857.

During their short stay in New York the Adams attended a meeting where John Taylor was, (Who later became president or the church and was twice a missionary in England). He walked down into the audience, picked up the baby, took him to the front, gave him the name of George Mason Adams and a wonderful blessing. George was baptized at Alpine city, Utah in 1865, by John Wesley Vance and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints on the same day. He was baptized again 3 Oct. 1857, by John Devey, confirmed the same day by Albert Marsh. (To be baptized again was done frequently at the beginning of the church) He was ordained to the office of a Deacon 12 Dec. 1847 by John Devey.

             All had a responsibility in keeping the home and farm running right.  George herded the cows; a boy nine years old could do the job well.  He learned about the birds and woodland folks while the cows grazed.   His father, being a shoemaker and not a farmer left the farming up to the boys, Edward and William.  As George grew older he did the greater share of the farming, his older brothers worked away from home.  His family was the first to plant an orchard in Alpine.

        When George was about sixteen years old he took his gun, called a "Muscat" and went up School

House Canyon hunting some lost cattle. He climbed upon a large granite rock to look around. While leaning on his gun it slipped, the hammer striking the rook as it fell, discharging a load of bird shot' through the upper part of his arm, tearing a goodly portion of it away. He was alone and nearly bled to death. His father was prompted that something was wrong and went to look for him. His youngest brother, Albert, then a small lad, remembers seeing then coming down the hill north of their place. His father carrying the gun in one arm while supporting the blood smeared brother with the other. Richard T. Booth, Alpine's medical helper was called in. He took care or the injured arm. A large scar always remained. The arm was smaller there because of so much being shot away, but it did not impair the usefulness of the arm to much extent.

        About this time in 1873, a beautiful English maiden with eyes of blue and blonde hair came to Alpine with her mother and younger sister. Her name was Martha Devey; She was born 9 Aug.

1859, at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England. Her father, William Devey, was born 26 March 1826, in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, Her mother, Ann Kershaw, was born 16 October 1823, or 1824 in New Castle on the Tyne, Northumberland, England

        William Devey was a blacksmith by trade, making chest handles and hinges, which he sold

in 100 pound lots, to different factories in England. William and Ann Kershaw Devey, after hearing the gospel by Latter-Day Saint missionaries, accepted It's truths and were baptized 7 October 1849. They had a large upper room in their house. The meetings of the saints were held in this place for years. They taught their children the gospel. Martha, the sixth child, was baptized in a well when she was ten years old in 1869.

They were very desirous to come to America and join the Saints in Utah. The couldn't save enough money for all of the them to come together so John, The eldest child, came in 1868 and was joined by his father in 1872. John had already built a small home in Alpine, Utah on the lot occupied by S. O. Strong, and his blacksmith shop was in the T. F. Carlisle lot, but soon moved it by his home. Father and son worked together making cable chain, harness rings, bridle bits, railroad and coal picks, iron wheelbarrows and several other articles.

William Henry, then a lad of eleven years, came six months after his father got to Alpine. In August of 1873, the mother, Ann, with her two youngest daughters, Martha, age 14 and Hannah Alice Avery, age 5, left England. On their arrival in alpine, they moved into their home, which was not quite completed. It did not have doors or windows in, so they hung quilts and etc., in them. It was advisable they stay to themselves as the small daughter, Hannah, came down with measles when the arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Devey's were close neighbors to the Adams. We know not how long the courtship of George and Martha was, but we can imagine how he floated in the air so it seemed to him the first time that he took Martha to the dance. Although dancing was somewhat different then than today, of course, there was that special girl or boy and the others, which they dance with. The coins did not giggle in the young man's pockets, instead he carried in his arms a squash, or a measure of apples, potatoes, wheat, corn, or a pound of butter, or what could be spared from home. This was given to the fiddler for his pay, who occasionally cast an eye at the produce in the corner, as back and forth the bow flew and the tune of "Turkey in the Straw" filled the air and the dancers formed to dance the quadrille" or what now is called "Square Dance."

George couldn't dance every set with Martha. For his shoes were shared with other Boys whose lassies were waiting to try their skill at the "Schottische. Jacks turn was next being a little older and more experience in the waltz. He would let Susan's arm rest lightly across His chest and how his heart would pound until, Susan fancied he was in love with her. When the "Suveann" was played, some of the words to this tune is Do you see my new shoes, etc.," George Wishing Martha to see his birthday present, a new pair of shoes made by his father hurriedly sought his shoes.

        When George was nineteen years old and Martha was sweet sixteen, they were married for time and eternity 10 April 1876 in the Endowment House, in Salt Lake City, Utah.  The temple was not finished at that time.

To a one-room cabin George took his bride, located on the southeast Part of Alpine, nearer to American Pork, Canyon. He owned a few acres of land, which had been given him as payment for living on the homestead of his brother-in-law, John Devey. At that time it was not required the filer to live in person on the land.

        As pioneers, they knew hard times.  One year the wheat was so smutty no one would buy it. Martha would wash and dry the wheat then take it to the store for much needed groceries.

Once while they were in a meeting, President Brigham Young said, "There are people in this building who will live to see horse-less carriages". George had the privilege or riding from ShowLow, Arizona to Spanish Fork, Utah, in one with his granddaughter May Adams Butler and her husband, Ray, about 1921. Martha traveled by wagon or train. Martha's brother, John, built the first automobile west of the Mississippi River.

        Two children, Martha Louisa and George William were born to them in Alpine, Utah. Before George William was a year old, church authorities to help colonize Arizona called George and Martha. Carefully they planned and made ready for the long hazardous journey over desert, mountains and Lee's backbone. The trip was made with team and wagon in 1880 which was an unusually cold winter in Utah, and did not make it easy as they left in January or February. Out on the desert George saw an antelope, which he thought was too far away to kill, but decided to try. Being successful, they enjoyed the fresh meat.

Coming into the country of the Little Colorado River, the wind blew nearly every day. Oh how dusty and dry it was. Few days were nice and sunny. How welcome the cedars were at a higher elevation. Arriving at Croydon Cooley's Ranch on the Show Low, they were within eight miles of Forestdale, where Ted and Caroline had their home. Some had settled there in the fall of 1878, in the beautiful valley of over a thousand acres, surrounded with hills, covered with tall pines, large oak and juniper trees. Mountain springs supplied the water. O how happy they were to stop traveling and be where firewood was plentiful, a tent to live in, spring in the air, farming to be done. Good crops of corn, potatoes, squash, beans and other crops were grown without irrigation. Life looked very promising there among the new neighbors, which in two years numbered over forty families and some Indian families, who returned each spring to do planting of corn. One day while the men were working in the fields, they heard screams of the children coming from the tent. Rushing to the door, they found an Indian man with a hatched in one hand holding Martha's hare with the other hand. He had dragged her to the sack of flour that she had in the corner, and told her he wanted it. She refused to give all the flour to him. When George entered, he asked what he meant to do. His reply was, " was going to scare white squaw into giving me the flour, white squaw no scare." In those day flour was a luxury, which cost twenty-five dollars for a fifty pound sack. Flour had to be freighted by ox team or mule pack from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Food became scarce at times, salt was not available for weeks. Martha fed and cared for many friendly Indians. They soon learned she was not afraid of them and that she was able to take care of herself. After living there for a few months they moved to Ellsworth Ranch closer to ShowLow. One night the Indians got into a drunken brawl among themselves and were fighting on both hillsides above the houses. George was away. While the bullets were whistling around, Martha with her two small children crawled on their hands and knees for a hundred yards to a neighbor's house where others were gathered. After about an hour of fighting, an Indian came to he house where the people were. The door being locked, he took his gun stalk and broke the door. He came in, searched the house thoroughly looking for the squaw who he said had caused the trouble and s going to kill her. They never knew whether the woman was found. A couple of weeks later, 20 March 1881, Edward Franklin Adams was born to George and Martha at Ellsworth Ranch, in a house with a dirt roof, cool in summer and warm in winter, but oh how terrible when it rained or the snow was melting.

October 1868, Col. Holliday made a speech where in he envisioned the great railroad what would connect the east with the west. It would start at Topeka, Kansas and follow the old Santa Fe Trail. In New Mexico the railroad crossed the Continental divide, winding its way to Arizona, down and along the Little Colorado through Holbrook continuing west to Canyon Dueblo, east of Flagstaff, where the Railroad Bridge was built in 1882. A contract for grading was let December 1880. George worked some of the time on this grading. He was at Brigham City near Winslow, August 1881, when word was received that a serious outbreak of the apaches had occurred. Jesse N. Smith called for volunteers, George M. Adams was among the group. They arrived home finding all was well, however, the troops had captured and Indian prophet and some scout who had mutinied. In the melee the prophet and his wife, Captain Hentig and six soldiers were killed. In the fall of 1881, the Apache trouble caused considerable uneasiness. June 1882, the people hastily built a fort of heavy timber at the Cooley home at ShowLow. While they were there the Indians cut up a dog and put it in a sack, sending it to the Fort with the message, "If the white men did not leave the country, all would by done as the dog had been." The man in charge said, "Oh what shall we do?" The man replied, "Oh we can't do that. They will come up here and massacre us." George said, "They had better come while we are prepared for them." No one ever came to battle with them. Thomas Adair a member of the Mormon battalion founded a small settlement three miles northwest from ShowLow, a little to the east lived Edson Whipple. They built a blockhouse with portholes as a protection against Indians and white desperadoes. Later this fort was turned into a recreation and church building. Their first dance was Christmas 1882.

George and Martha moved back to Utah. He farmed that summer for Jim McDaniel. Maggie Myrtle was born 12 December 1883. George decided that more money could be made in Arizona, so they moved back in the spring. In due time they bought the Staley home, it being the first home built by Mormons in this vicinity. Joseph H. Frisby was a son-in-law to the Staley's, who's home was on the same lot as George and Martha. Years later the Adams bought the Frisby home which was a much nice home. But many events happened while they were living in the first home that they bought. Flossie Henrietta, their seventh child, was born 11 April 1889. David Henry, the fourth oldest son was ridding in a wagon. A wheel went over a r4ock, causing him to hall between the back wheel and wagon box. It hurt his head. He live a few days then died 5 May 1889. Maggie Myrtle, six years old, was playing outside. Thinking her ankle was sprained she went to her mother who could see two small holes in the skin. George went where she had been playing and found a small striped snake, the Indians called it a "King Snake. For ten days she lingered in pain. The last few days she heaved dark green bile. 30 May 1889, her spirit went back to her heavenly home. David Henry was buried about 300 feet east of their home. Maggie Myrtle was put to rest beside him. 1 August 1899, Fannie Dicey, their twelve year old daughter, dying from a scare of a man chasing a group of children, left this mortal sphere to join her brother and sister. She was buried at Adair Cemetery. The remains of David Henry and Maggie Myrtle were moved and interred by their sister.

George had made a trip to Holbrook fifty miles away for lambing and household supplies, which were put into the house. They were now living in the Frisby building. To those who know how strong the March winds can blow, in this part of the country, will agree that it has plenty of force.  George started the stove fires then went to do his chores. Soon he saw the roof was on fire. He was almost paralyzed with fear for he knew Martha was in bed and sick and the smaller children were also in the house. Flossie remembers Minnie wanted to stop and put her shoes on. The mail driver came from over the north hill; he really had his horses on the run. He stopped to help, but very little if any was saved. Will and Frank were out on the mesa tending the sheep. The blue grass was so good that spring. They saw the smoke. Frank thought it was their home, but will said, "No, it is too far away." Harry Ellsworth came to tell the boys of their home burning down; he stayed with the sheep while the boys went to see their parents.

Some winter they would keep the sheep out west of Snowflake at the sinks or east of Snowflake at Mesa Rondonda. Other sheepherders were hired to help. At one time the herder would find a sheep every day that had been killed and not eaten, only the blood had been sucked out, at no time did the sheep run or show signs of fear, although the herder watched very closely he saw nothing. George decided to watch the herd, to see if he could find the cause of the killing. He watched all day. All went well until he saw a sheep trailing behind the others. As he turned his head he thought, "Well that's an odd shaped sheep." Looking more closely, it turned out to be a wolf that would hang its head as though grazing, walk closer to the herd, look up to see how close he was to the sheep then hang its head. George shot the wolf. That ended the killing of sheep in this manner. We know not what years they were in the sheep business, but while they were, George and his son-in-law, Joseph Sponseller would ship the old ewes and wool to Kansas City, going to market with the shipment. On one of these trips George bought Martha a beautiful hat, trimmed with ostrich feathers, it cost $25.00. She was so proud of it. Martha was ever ready and willing to do all she could to help out in the financial way, running a rooming and boarding house at least twenty of the last years of her life. She was a good cook. At her table sat army officers and their wives from Washington DC enroute to and from for Apache. They were also provided night lodging. They ran the Forage Station for the teamsters of Fort Apache who ate and slept there on their way to and from the fort to Holbrook with freight or passengers. At times large groups of cavalrymen stopped. It was not a small job keeping food for the men, horses and mules. In 1895 George bought a mowing machine. While he was keeping up with modern farm equipment, Martha was also buying beautiful furniture for the living room, new bedroom suites with large mirrors in the dressers. They were a busy family, with culture, love and obedience in the home. They found time to learn music, memorize songs that they remembered for years for they sang so much. Louise played the accordion, Will the harmonica, Frank harmonica, jews harp and guitar. Dicey the organ, flossie the mandolin and guitar, Minnie the organ and guitar, Katie the organ, and George the accordion, violin and organ. Sewing was an art Martha and the girls were fitted with, as tucks, frills; silk braid and lace found their place on their dresses. Martha sewed suits for the men folks. George was Sunday school Superintendent 1894 to 1899 at Ellsworth Ranch. He was a faithful ward teacher and always ready to help his neighbor. He filled many other Ward assignments. He was active in civic work, clerk of the election, Justice of the Peace, road Overseer, Notary Public, elected Constable Nov. 1908 under sheriff J.T. woods, School Census Marshall. George had his share of injuries, his beautiful little black pony "Raymer," threw him and broke his collarbone. A sheep is so small, little can it do to a husky man, but beware for at the Sponseller dipping pens, on of these innocent sheep caused him to wrench his back. The men thought him dead. They discovered he was still alive. The closest doctor was some forty miles away. He was sent for and came. Now a mule is much larger and his strike can be painful, especially when the strike is over the heart with two mule shoes in the jumper pocket resulting in two broken ribs. During his life he had seven ribs broken. One arm broken in two places from a wheelbarrow falling from above where he was working. He also had a shoulder blade broke and his skull fractured. Father and mother (George & Martha) bought the Huning house. It was very beautiful and we all loved it there. Father run the government station, taking care of all the mules and horses, furnishing their feed. Mother and my older sisters that were at home, flossy and Minnie, were kept busy cooking meals and fixing rooms for all the officers and their wives which were a great many. Mother was appointed Postmistress 15 March 1903 having served a year before her appointment. Flossy helped mother take care of the post office. As it was inconvenient for the people in the west side of town to get their mail when the wat3r was high in the creek, father bought a lot and moved a building where some of the family could live and care for the mail. November 1906 tragedy struck our happy home. Mother was afflicted with a stroke, which left her an invalid for nine months. Then our Father in Heaven called her to her home on high 14 July 1907, to c0ntinue her marvelous work. Her children buried her in the Adair Cemetery. After flossie and Minnie were married George decided to sell the home over the river to Kirkim and Brown who planned to convert it into a sanitarium to be called the "White Mountain Health resort." He moved into a home in town. George was foreman during the construction of the church house started in 1909 and dedicated August 1915. He also was foreman on the long ditch to cover the land in Scott Flat, which commenced January 1910. While visiting in Utah, George met Emma Elizabeth Monk, a sister-in-law to his oldest sister, Fannie. They were married 7n April 1910 in the Salt Lake Temple. She was the daughter of Charles and Emma Leywood Monk, born 24 June 1866 in Spanish Fork Utah. Her parents were very old. She was taking care of them and didn't go to Arizona until May 1911. She and George went to Holbrook by train then on to ShoLow with team and buggy. They were so tired and dusty. Aunt Emma was so pleased on their arrival as George's married children were and families also Katie and Fred were there to welcome them. The women folks had a big meal ready to eat. Eight years, 1918, Emma's parents took sick and she went to Utah to be with them. George moved there also. After her parent's death, George and Emma continued to live in her home. (Spanish Fork) He and Aunt Emma made many trips to see his children in Arizona. The winter of 1924 and most of the following year both of them spent in Arizona. They lived in the Spanish Fork 4th Ward. 19 December 1927, George went to pay his tithing. He walked a block to the Bishop's office. On entering the building he collapsed. A doctor was called, but on arrival George was dead. He was buried in Spanish fork, Utah. Emma continued to live alone in the old home. Her brother, Newell, and family living next door were a great help and comfort to her. In later hears of her life she took great delight in traveling, making two or three trips to Arizona to visit her stepchildren whom she dearly loved. She never had the privilege of having children of her own. When she was in her 80's she made the trip by bus alone to Cody, Wyoming to visit her brother, Charles, who was past 90 years old. She loved to tell how she enjoyed that visit. Emma had a quiet, pleasing, personality and could always see the funny side of things, making her company acceptable to her friends and neighbors. She was a good housekeeper and love flowers, making her life more beautiful with them. When Emma's health failed to where she needed constant care, Annie, her brother Newell's daughter, again took her home and cared for her, doing all loving hands could do until she was released from her earthly mission. She was buried in the Spanish Fork Cemetery at the side of her husband, ending a long and unselfish life devoted to kindness and love to her fellowmen. Emma died 19 January 1951 and was buried on the 23rd of January.