Morgan Pioneer History Binds Us 'Together Conrad; and two more girls, Emma and Harriet were born in Morgan. Peter was the only one to remain in Morgan for his lifetime. Peter owned property northwest of the Morgan County Fairgrounds, along the Weber River. His wife, Ann Elizabeth, had poor health and he sold the property to help care for her. One thing unusual about her was that she smoked a clay or corncob pipe. Ann, being in poor health died September 24, 1878, at forty-four years of age. Peter remained in his family home in Morgan with four of his children until the 1890's. Prior to his death, he couldn't eat or talk. He literally starved to death. Peter Jr. and his wife, Janet, moved in with Peter in 1900 to care for him. When the four children started their own families and left home, Peter and Janet remained and lovingly cared for Peter Sr. He died February 21,1910. His funeral was held in the North Morgan Church building. They took his body to the cemetery in a bobsleigh. SOME INTERESTING FAMILY RELATED STORIES • Peter Sr. was picking huckleberries on one side of bush when a bear was picking on the other side. When they met, they were both surprised and went their own ways! • Indians would come and beg for food. The family helped them with what they could. • There was a stove out back of the wheat house where they pickled pig's feet. • Peter would sit on a stump and whittle. • Peter Sr. played the violin. It is reported that he played at public gatherings, dances, etc. Some tunes that come to mind are "The Bear Went Over the Mountain" and "The Devil's Dance." The violin came across the plains with the family. A great family story passed from generation to generation follows: CHIEF INDIAN JACK The Indians in Morgan were always very kind to the Mormon settlers. They lived near Morgan during the summertime and went to Southern Utah each winter. Peter Rock made pretty good friends with some of the Indians and would often lend to The Rock Family gun, "Old Hoioler" and borrow from them. Peter owned a muzzle- loaded rifle that was five feet long, which he used for hunting. One day, his friend, Indian Jack asked him if he could borrow the gun. Peter said, "Yes, but be sure to bring it back tomorrow." Jack said, he would and went off with it. The next day, Peter waited for Jack to bring his gun back, but he never came. Day after day, Peter wondered if he would ever see his gun again. And soon the Indians moved to Southern Utah. By then, Peter figured his gun was long gone. But the next summer, when the Indians moved back, Chief Jack showed up with the rifle and said to Peter, "Bring 'em back gun." So Peter said, "I thought you said you would bring it back tomorrow." And the Indian replied, "Tomorrow? No, bring'em back today!" Peter then invited Chief Jack to Thanksgiving dinner. Peter Rock Sr. obtained the gun in the above story from a party traveling to California. We do not have the name of the party or of its leader. The group arrived in Morgan with one of the teams completely played out and someone told them Peter Rock had a span (team) of very fine mules. The driver of the worn-out team contacted Peter to see if the team could be traded for a muzzle loading rifle. This was satisfactory to Peter. He and his son, Peter Jr., used the gun to hunt meat for the family. When the gun was fired, it made a very loud and distinct sound and was dubbed "Old Howler." It could be heard from the hills above North Morgan, over most of the town and all knew Pete Rock was hunting. When Indian Jack asked for the gun he actually ask for it by name "Old Howler." When the gun was no longer used, it hung in the attic of the Rock home in North Morgan until 1954 when at the death of Sarah Janet Rock, it was passed to Darrel H. Spackman, a grandson. It was still in excellent condition. One of the characteristics of both Peter Sr. and Jr. was the care for anything they had in the best possible way. ■©9-