The Writings of the late Elder John Leland...

Yesterday in our Sunday School class, we were discussing the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Our teacher talked about a couple he knew who were previously members of another Christian denomination and then had joined our church.  They remarked that they knew what the influence of the Holy Ghost felt like, but that, where they previously had to work extremely hard to maintain that presence in their lives, it was now easier to keep the Spirit with them, and they felt it so much more powerfully. 

It made me think of one of our ancestors, John Leland, who was a Baptist preacher.  He was definitely someone who sought after personal revelation, and tried to live his life in such a way that he could qualify for it at all times.  He was the maternal grandfather of Sally Barker (wife of James Dunn).  I came across his autobiography on Google books, which, although long (over 700 pages), is definitely worth reading.  Here is the link. 

For additional reading on this inspiring forebear, check out the Wikipedia entry about him.  It provides links to his involvement with the Cheshire Mammoth Cheese, and his role as a defender of religious freedom.

Edwin Pace

Dad asked me last week if I had much information on Edwin Pace, who was referenced in the preceding post.  I really didn't, so I did a small amount of research on him.  Edwin Marshall (Leonard's father) was the son of Elijah Marshall and Phoebe Priscilla Pace.  Phoebe's father was Edwin C. Pace.  A search on the web led me to his obituary in the Davis County Clipper, a newspaper in Bountiful, UT.  Below is the transcribed text (with a couple footnotes I added):

Davis County Clipper

Bountiful, Utah

Friday, February 16, 1917

Vol. 26, Page 1

PATRIARCH PACE IS CALLED BY DEATH

Had Resided in Bountiful Since a Year after First Settler Located There - Member City Council

                Patriarch Edwin Pace, a pioneer resident of Bountiful, passed away peacefully at his home here Tuesday, Feb. 13, 1917, at the ripe old age of 85.  Brother Pace had been confined to his bed only one month and up to that time had enjoyed very good health.

                Elder Pace came to Utah in 1848 after having endured all the hardships of pioneer life.  He endured the severe trials incidental to the winters of 1846 and 1847 in P[on]caw village[1], about 200 miles from Winter Quarters.  After opening this valley with Lorenzo Snow's company, he moved to Sessions Settlement, now Bountiful, in September of 1848, which has been his home ever since.  His records show that his first home was a willow hut of one room, built around with grass and sod.  Into this he moved with his mother, a small brother and a sister the first winter after his arrival[2].

                Since his coming here with an team as a boy of seventeen his life has been filled with the interests and duties connected with the upbuilding of this state.  He held many places of trust during that period.  He was a member of the first town board of Bountiful and served many years in the bishopric of South Bountiful ward.  Brother Pace had the privilege of listening to Joseph Smith's memorable address to the Nauvoo legion.  He was preceded in death by two wives, and seven children, and is survived by fifteen children, 123 grandchildren, and 136 great-grandchildren.  As a citizen his life has been ideal, as a father and a friend it has been tender and provident.

                The children are, Mrs. P.P. Willey, Bountiful; Mrs. Wilden Call, Grays Lake; Wm. E. Pace, Preston; C.E. Pace, Salt Lake City; Mrs. Rosabell Pette and Mrs. Dan Hatch, Oxford; Alonzo Pace, Palisade, Nev.; G.V. Pace, Bountiful; Mrs. B.F. Louder, Burley; Mrs. F.B. Smedley, Edwin Pace, Mrs. B.C. Holbrook, Mrs. Harry Muir and Mrs. Ira C. Holbrook, Bountiful.

                Funeral services will be held at the South Bountiful meeting house, Sunday, Feb. 18. 1 p.m.

---

[1] Ponca, Nebraska?

[2] His father, Elisha Pace (b. 1804), died 1 Oct 1845 at the age of 41 in Nauvoo, Illinois and was buried there.

Findagrave.com has a memorial page for him, too, which includes some photos. 

Family Brands

Here's an interesting book I came across on the Utah State Archives website regarding animal brands registered in the early days of Utah.  I've linked to the pages on which I found some of our ancestors, including:
Thomas Dunn (paternal g-grandfather of Lynn Dunn)
James Dalley (maternal g-grandfather of Lynn Dunn)

Parley P. Pratt (grandfather of Lettie Pratt Dunn)

Edwin Pace (maternal grandfather of Edwin Marshall)
Zerah Pulsipher (maternal g-grandfather of Geneva Wittwer Marshall)

Christian Wittwer (paternal g-grandfather of Geneva Wittwer Marshall)

Graduation

Congrats again to all those who just graduated. I was glad to be there to share it with you. Last Christmas, my downstairs neighbor Mike Terril showed me a book belonging to his mother (Lori Marshall Terril) about Moapa Valley. I found some pictures and stories of Grandma and Grandpa Marshall back in their school days that I thought I'd share.  The book is entitled "Muddy Valley Reflections" and was written by Virginia "Beezy" Lani Tobiasson and Georgia May Bagshaw Hall. It's a pretty thick book, so I apologize that the scans didn't come out the greatest.

Dunright Toilet Seat Cover

Who knew that one of our ancestors came up with this invention a long time ago?  Unfortunately, I'm not sure which one of them thought of it.  Just think, we could have been rich :)

Picture Slideshow

On the right hand side of the page is a slideshow with a selection of photos that came from Grandpa Dunn.  If you want to see the captions on the pictures, you can just click the second icon in the lower left corner of the box (to the right of the yellow icon). You can click directly on the pictures to enlarge them.

Welcome!

If you're reading this, you too must feel some interest in the history of our family. I have been doing a lot of research on my Dunn lines lately (since my mom does such great work already on her side), and figured that the best way to share what I've learned would be through a website. Hopefully I won't overly inundate anyone that way, since you may browse at your leisure. Also, it's easier to make updates if it can all be done in one place. I'll try to be somewhat selective in what I post, but rest assured, if you want additional information, I'd be happy to provide what I have. I also hope that if you do any research, you might share it with me so I can post it for everyone to enjoy.  Or, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to share those too. Thanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoy.