James B Henry

James Barnum Henry was born to Calvin William Henry and Rhoda Priscilla Barnum on June 30, 1852.

When he was two years old, James came with his parents to Utah, traveling all the way by ox team. His early childhood days were spent in the canyon and towns surrounding Salt Lake Valley. Later the family settled in Heber City.

As a young man, James was introduced to a beautiful enchanting Mary Frances Brown. Jim was a handsome man with beautiful "true blue" eyes and wavy dark hair, later turning to silver white.

They had nine children together: James "Jimmie" Calvin Henry, Sarah Priscilla Henry, Albert Monroe (Bert) Henry, Emma Mae Henry, Frances Mary (Franty) Henry, Lauretta Henry, Merrill Henry, Bartlett Henry and Bertha Henry.

He was kind and considerate and worked hard to support his family. He was a freighter and in later years hauled and delivered coal. They had a happy whirlwind courtship and were soon married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 25, 1878. James was 26 years of age and Mary was 21.

At October Conference of that year, the couple was asked by Brigham Young to come to Ashley Valley to make a permanent settlement there. On November 9, 1878 they landed there with what few belongings they possessed and immediately began preparations for the coming winter.

In the winter, when the settlers were out of food, James and a few other men were selected to go over Taylor Mountain, following the old Fort Thornburgh Road to Green River City, Wyoming to get flour for the starving pioneers of Ashley Valley. With heavy hearts they started out, knowing that all speed possible must be made going and coming or there would be deaths from starvation in Ashley Valley.

With a faith that seemed almost incredible, these men made their way across the mountain, loaded flour ar Green River and hurried homeward. The river was high from melting snows and they had to make several trips on the ferry boat to get it all across. The men worked all day. James Henry said, " "It seems to me everything must be done right now."

No sooner was this accomplished than the river began to rise, and within ten minutes had risen to the unprecedented height of four feet, and they made it home safely with no fatalities. The events of this trek have gone down as one of the remarkable things in the pioneer history of Utah.

James died in Vernal, Utah, December 13, 1932 of a heart attack at the homestead which he took up shortly after coming to the valley in 1878.

He is survived by his widow, Mary Francis Brown, two sons, Albert M. and Merrell, both of Vernal, three daughters, Mrs. Lauretta Merkley of Jensen, Mrs. Priscilla Lewis of Salt Lake City, and Mrs. Bertha Peterson of Ephraim, one sister, Mrs. Lauretta Johnston of Vernal, and one half- brother, John Henry of Lander, Wyoming. Also surviving are four half-sisters.

-Written by granddaughter Elsie Henry Ashby Morrill
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James B. Henry

James B. Henry Ashley Valley Pioneer Dies, Passes Quietly Away During Night at his Home in Vernal. Funeral Services to be held Friday.

Sometime during Tuesday night James B. Henry, Ashley Valley pioneer of 1878, passed to his final reward at his home.

Mr. Henry, who was born in Detroit, Michigan, June 30, 1852, is survived by his wife, who was the sixth white woman to come to Ashley Valley, two sons and three daughters. Also one half brother, three half sisters and one half brother.

The colorful pioneering history of the deceased will be given at the funeral service by Bishop Ray E. Dillman of Roosevelt. This sketch will be published in the Express and will be the beginning of a new series of pioneer histories.

Funeral services will be held on Friday at 11 a.m.

-Vernal Express, December 15, 1932
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J. B. Henry

Speakers Tell Pioneer Life of J.B. Henry. Many Hear Tributes Given of the Sterling Character of One of Ashley Valley's Most Outstanding Pioneer Settlers. The funeral of James B. Henry, Ashley Valley pioneer, who died suddenly while asleep on Tuesday night December 13, was held at the Vernal Second Ward Chapel on Friday at 11 o'clock.

County Commissioner, Ernest Eaton by request, presided and conducted.

A large crowd was present to pay their last respects to the departed. There were many beautiful flowers, even from those unable to attend.

By special request the ward quartet, consisting of A.G. Goodrich, Frank Goodrich, O'Donnell Goodrich and J.N. Lybbert, sang "Some Time We'll Understand." Mrs. Albert M. Goodrich was accompanist.

A mixed double quartet, Mrs. Rose Walker, Mrs. Mae Henderson, Miss Alice Caldwell, Miss Vonda Speirs, Joseph Horrocks, Frank Goodrich, Lowell Fox and Alfred Caldwell accompanied by Mrs. Arthur Manwaring sang, "Oh My Father," and "Sometime, Some where."

Ashley Bartlett formerly of Vernal and now of Price and one of the very first children born in Ashley Valley, sang, "Oh Grave, Where Is Thy Victory," as a tenor solo accompanied by Mrs. Manwaring.

The opening prayer was by H. W. Wooley of the high council and the benediction was by E.J. Winder. The grave was dedicated by George E. Wilkins and interment was in the Vernal Cemetery.

The pallbearers were Lloyd Henry, Earl Merkley, Owen Johnstun, William Holfeltz, Orisho Workman and Ivan Atwood.

James Barnum was born in Detroit, Michigan, June 30, 1852 and died in Vernal, December 13, 1932 of a heart attack at the homestead which he took up shortly after coming to Vernal, December 13, 1832 of a heart attack at the homestead which he took up shortly after coming to the valley in 1878.

He is survived by his widow, two sons Albert M. and Merrell, both of Vernal, three daughters, Mrs. Lauretta Merkley of Jensen, Mrs. Priscilla Lewis of Salt Lake City and Mrs. Bertha Peterson of Ephraim, one sister Mrs. Lauretta Johnstun of Vernal and one half brother, John Henry of Lander, Wyoming and four half sisters.

When two years old he came with his parents to Utah, traveling all the way by ox team. His childhood days were spent in the canyons and towns surrounding Salt Lake Valley. Later the family settled in Heber City.

On July 21, 1878 he married Miss Mary Brown of Murray, Utah, in the Endowment House. At the October conference of that year the young couple, with a number of others were asked by President Brigham Young and their names read off in conference to come to Ashley Valley to make a permanent settlement here. On November 8, 1878 they landed here with what few belongings they possessed and immediately began preparations for the coming winter.

State Senator Ray F. Dillman of Roosevelt was the first speaker at the funeral services, Mr. Dillman in his remarks related incident after incident in the life of Mr. Henry showing the integrity of this early pioneer of his trip in 1880 to secure flour for the starving settlers. He paid high tribute to the ideals of a friend whom he had known from his earliest boyhood days.

Especially did Mr. Dillman contrast the life of the earlier pioneer with that of today stressing that the heritage they had left become an inheritance for greater effort on the part of those reaping the benefits of the hardships they endured uncomplainingly.

State Senator H. B. Calder, president of Uintah Stake, was the next speaker, Mr. Calder, quoting "How Dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood when fond recollections bring them to view" Told of how he first remembered Mr. Henry as a member of the high council under President Clark his justness and humility in decisions of church and other events in the development of Ashley Valley. He also paid tribute to Mrs. Henry, who was one of the very few white women in the valley in its early history.

Mr. Eaton, in a few remarks told how, in his early youth Mr. Henry had given council which had materially changed his whole life.

H. Walter Woolley in his brief remarks touched the key notes of pioneering life as leaving its heritage to those of today. "That unless we shall profit by their endeavors the sacrifices they have made will have been in vain." "The inheritance is ours it rests in our hands what we shall do with it," said the speaker, "It is for this generation to carry on what they so nobly started, made, manifest in the life of Mr. Henry." "How do we measure up to all the pioneers have given us," he said.

Mr. Henry, Pete Peterson and Dave Woodruff were selected to go over Taylor Mountain following the Old Fort Thornburgh Road to Green River City, Wyoming to get flour for the starving pioneers of Ashley Valley. With heavy hearts they started out knowing that all speed possible must be made going and coming or where would be deaths from starvation in the homes they were leaving behind they realized the trip would be a difficult one and that any incident to them would mean delays.

Kirt Hadlock a veteran of the Civil War had received $600 as back pay on a pension Mr. Hadlock gave this money for the purchase of flour and other provisions for his starving neighbors and friends willingly sacrificing, what in those strenuous times was a small fortune, and meant financial advancement to him, over anyone else in the valley.

With this money, even at the high prices of flour and foodstuffs, they knew if the trip could be made quickly there would be sufficient for all until harvest time.

With a faith that seems almost incredible, they made their way across and loaded flour at Green River and hurried homeward. The Green River was high from the melting snows when they reached it. The ferry boat, a log raft built by themselves, would carry but a few hundred pounds at a time.

This necessitated many trips to get the provisions across.

The three worked unceasingly from early morning until late that evening without waiting to prepare food for Mr. Henry often said "It seemed to him everything must be done right now!"

Just as the last load was brought over and all were more than exhausted, two other teams with provisions came to the opposite shore. Renewed strength seemed to be given the exhausted men and immediately they started to help with the second loading and unloading but still without any food. Their one desire to get everything across before high water, which would mean at least a six weeks stay and starved people at home.

When everything was across Mr. Henry and the others testified that no sooner was this accomplished than the river began to rise and within ten minutes had risen to the unprecedented height of four feet. Their rejoicing was intense for they felt that if they could make the remainder of the trip in good time all would be well.

There was no runner to send ahead. Nothing had been heard of relief train by the pioneers. Their last bit of food had been allotted by Jeremiah Hatch, President of Uintah Stake. But one day he made the rounds to each home and said, "If you have anything to eat, eat it today for the boys will be in." What faith and what rejoicing.

Just as they were pulling into the valley they were met by a number of the pioneers, who had come out to meet them and to give them help. When Mr. Henry and comrades saw them their hearts sank within them for they were sure there had been deaths from starvation during their absence. The first thing that they asked, "Who had starved?" (Not a person had died).

The flour and provisions were given in charge of President Hatch for the common good of all. There was rejoicing throughout the valley.

The events of this trek and the incidents thereto have gone down as one of the remarkable things in pioneer history of Utah and stand out as one of the remarkable incidents of any pioneering history of all time.

This is one of the heritages Mr. Henry has helped with others of those early times to leave to the future generations of the Ashley Valley out of which there has arisen a generation as though set apart for a special purpose. A generation able to grasp the conditions of the new pioneering days that are now upon us.

As was truly said by Mr. Dillman, "A heritage and an inheritance for us to carry on. Given to us by sacrifice. That the life of 'Uncle Jim' and the other early pioneers, made the sacrifices of today in these times of depression dim in camparison."

-Vernal Express, December 12, 1932

Child not listed below: Bertha Henry Peterson Armstrong