John Alger
1820-1897

John Alger
1820-1897

John Alger was born in Astabula County, Ohio, 5-Nov-1820. He was the son of Samuel & Clarissa Hancock Alger & was baptized with his parents in 1830.

He met Zera Pulsipher, a devout Mormon & farmer in New York, very early in his life. Shortly thereafter he converted & joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

On 6-Jan-1842, at age 22, John Alger married Sarah Pulsipher, daughter of Zera Pulsipher & Mary Brown. John was, at that time, a skilled carpenter & wheelwright. They were married by the Prophet Joseph Smith, himself. He became very active in the church &, when it became apparent that they were going to be forced to move west, John spent much time making wagons and preparing other articles that would be needed in making such a long arduous trip.

John & Sarah had a total of 11 children together. Their first was a son they named Nelson, but he passed away at a very young age & is buried in Nauvoo. Their second was a daughter, Sarah Ann, born 13-Apr-1845 & their third was also a daughter, Olivia, born 23-Jun-1847.

The family then migrated to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake around mid-September, 1848. They traveled there with their parents families on both sides. John & his family settled just north of Salt Lake where their third daughter, Adeliza was born on 09-Aug-1849.

John Alger fathered 6 more children with Sarah before taking on a 2nd wife: John Zera, Martha Ellen, Ann Eliza, Samuel Nelson, Alva Don & Willard Edgar.

On 26-Oct-1861 John Alger took his second wife, Jane Ann Burnett & he moved both families to Beaver where John Alger went into partnership with Lafayette Shepart. In 1863 William E. Cowley joined the partnership as a blacksmith.

John's eldest daughter, Sarah Ann would soon marry William E. Cowley. Another daughter, Ann Eliza would go on to marry Joseph Price & yet another, Adeliza would eventually marry & be widowed by Andrew B. McArthur.

John & Sarah's 11th & final child was a daughter, Mary Edna, born on 09-Dec-1865 in Hebron, which is where Zera Pulsipher & his family had settled.

In 1909, John went on a mission back to St. George with his 2nd wife, Jane Ann (who always went with him on his travels). He also brought his brother, Alva & sister-in-law(whose husband had been killed in the Civil War) and small boy. Before he could return, his 1st wife, Sarah Pulsipher Alger had passed away.

John was a man who loved dancing and entertainment. He liked to sing and did his part at parties and social gatherings. It is unclear as to whether or not John was the father, but Jane Ann did mother 6 children of her own, 4 boys & 2 girls.

Three of his sons with Sarah: John, Samuel and Willard moved to what was then called Castle Valley, Emery County. Sarah's daughter, Sarah Ann & William E. Cowley had 8 sons and 2 daughters together. They also came to Castle Valley in 1886. Then Jane Ann & her boys joined them 1890. John Alger visited them once in this home. Sarah Ann’s family relocated to Cleveland, Emery County.

John Alger was now nearing 70 years old. He was too old to continue building new places and helping others settle the land as he had done the past forty some-odd years. The remainder of his years he spent with family, sometimes travelling to visit individual members.

On 04-Feb-1897, at age 76, John Alger passed away. His body lies in eternal rest at St. George Cemetary.

Headstone destroyed by vandals 2019ish