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Show The Robinson history reports that the wagon train waited three hours for Jane Geneva's birth. Mother and tiny baby were given a blessing and the Company continu¬ed on its way, arriving in Salt Lake City later that Fall. Joseph Lee first settled his families in Farmington where he built homes for two of his wives. He lived for some time in Cottonwood south of Salt Lake City where he served as Bishop of the Cottonwood Ward. In 1858 he bought land in Mountain Green, Morgan County, built a log cabin and moved Laurinda and her nine children there. They were Dee Pembroke, (a son from a previous marriage), Nathan Benjamin, Josephine Elnora, Mary, Laurinda Eliza, Jeddiah Nephi, and twins, Annetta Luella and Jenetta Orilla. All but Jane Geneva and Dee were born in Farmington. Two of his families were settled in Hooper and one later moved to Parowan, a settlement Joseph Lee, George A. Smith and others selected for a townsite. They also were responsible for the selection and location of Fillmore. In Mountain Green, Joseph Lee helped build a school and church house. Laurin¬da cared for the farm and her children and was alone with them most of the time. Settlers were constantly on guard against hostile Indians and at one time a night watch was organized, with various men acting as guards. When the Indians appeared at her home Laurinda always shared food with them. In those days there were no matches with which to build a fire. If, in the morn¬ing, the fire in the fireplace was out, she would look over the valley for a home where smoke was curling out of a neighbor's chimney. One of the children would be sent to borrow a start. That was easier than trying to kindle a flame with flint. Laurinda made the first wool dress in Utah. As remembered by Jane Geneva, the sheep were sheared and the wool washed in Gordon Creek, then corded and spun into yarn. President Brigham Young was so pleased with her efforts that he had the dress sent back east to show people that Utah folks had nice things also. Jane Geneva remembered that the children would gather salvace (service) berr¬ies which her mother dried and used like raisins in cakes and other goodies. Joseph Lee served on the Davis Stake High Council and as a patriarch. At one time he was Justice of the Peace for Davis County. He also served a mission to the southern part of the State. Joseph Lee Robinson died in 1893 at the age of 82. Laurinda died two years later. Both are buried in Farmington. A husband of three wives, he left a posterity of 29 children. Alice Rollins Sorensen, Layton 123 |