Only 14 Survivors IN THE PERIOD BETWEEN July 24, 1847 and May 10, 1869, it is estimated that some 86,000 men, women and children made the long trek over the plains, from the east or the west, into Utah. Of this total, approximately 6,000 died and were buried, either in the ocean or in the lonely graves by the side of the pioneer trail. Today, only 14 of those pioneers—pioneers because of their arrival in Utah before the coming of the railroad—are alive. These 14, lone survivors of some 80,000, will be feted—those who can make the trip—on July 24, with seats of honor at the traditional parade, and with a luncheon at Hotel Utah. THE DAUGHTERS OF UTAH Pioneers have for many years taken up the responsibility of honoring these original pioneers, and under the leadership of their president, Mrs. Kate B. Carter, have compiled the histories of thousands of the pioneers—including those told in brief below. All of the surviving pioneers came to Utah as children, growing up in a new territory that their parents were wresting from the wilderness. These are the pioneers: Mrs. Agnes Griffin Branch, 175 West Third North Street, born in Hartford, Conn., June 20, 1860, came to Utah with her family when she was two years old. Ill with diphtheria when the family left their home, she survived the trip, although two sisters and a brother died of cholera during the trek. Once in Utah, the family suffered extreme hardships—the father returned east and a few years later the mother died. Mrs, Branch was adopted by an English couple, sent to a private school where she became a champion speller. She was married to H. W. Branch on May 30, 1885, and has lived in her home continually since early childhood, it being the home of her adopted parents. Mrs. Minnie Peterson Brown, Coalville, Utah, was born July 6, 1865 in Fredericia, Denmark, and came to Utah in 1866 with her parents. Her father worked at the grist mill in what is now Liberty Park, but later moved to Mill Creek and Kamas in Summit County. A short sojourn in West Morgan followed, but the family again re¬turned to Summit County and Mrs. Brown went to work in hotels. She was married to George Brown on July 31, 1884, and the young couple went to Arizona to help colonize that area. After two years in Arizona, they returned to Utah. Mr. Brown died in 1910 and Mrs. Brown took in boarders and managed hotels for several years, taking care of the family of six children, William Baxter Brown, a Scot by birth—Dundee on April 20, 1863—was only ten days old when his parents started their Voyage to America. They spent the winter of 1863 in Salt Lake City but moved to Payson the next spring, and then, 13 years later, moved south to Grass Valley, near Koosharem in Sevier County. Mr. Brown married Amelia C. Olsen, Nov. 20, 1888, and the family made their home in Koosharem where he was engaged in farming and stock raising. The family made a home in Koosharem until Mrs. Brown's death in 1946. Since then Mr. Brown has lived for about five years with a daughter in Salt Lake City, and with other of his children in other parts of the state. Harriet Harris Sweetring Clawson, was born Nov. 8, 1867 on the Atlantic Ocean as her parents were making a return visit to England. The family returned to America in 1868 and settled in Coalville. She proved an apt musician as a girl, and in later life, saw to it that her children re¬ceived music lessons. She was married to Moroni Clawson Aug. 9, 1887 and the couple spent some time in Echo, Morgan and later in Cumberland, Wyo., in the hotel business. They moved back to Morgan in 1912. and lived there until the death of Mr. Clawson, At the present time Mrs. Clawson is living with her son-and-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Basil A. Smith, 1729 Cornell Circle (1540 West St.), in Salt Lake City. Heber Charles Fox was born Jan. 14, 1866, in England, and came to Utah with his parents in 1866, locating first in Centerville, later in Salt Lake City, and then in Woodruff with his maternal grandparents. At the age of 17 he was granted a scholar¬ship to the University of Deseret. Following graduation in 1887 he spent a varied career as salesman, school teacher, a cattle buyer and clerk for firms in Evanston and Almy, Wyo., and vari¬ous parts of Utah. He was superintendent of schools in Woodruff and also served as county attorney for six years in Rich County, He mar¬ried Teenie Bowns in Almy, Wyo., on May 6, 1896, He retired at the age of 87 and now lives in Woodruff. Hilda Erickson, bom Nov. 11, 1859, in Ledsjo, Sweden, came to Utah in 1863, being sent with other children and her mother by her father, who followed in 1868. She was an expert seamstress, following it as a profession, and helped make the uniforms for the first Grantsville Brass Band. Married in 1882 to John A. Eriekson, the couple was called on a mission the following year to the Goshute In¬dians in the Deep Creek Valley. She served as teacher and doctor to the Indians, taking a course in obstetrics in Salt Lake City, to better help the Indians and white folks of the valley, In 1903 her husband was called on a mission to Sweden and she ran the family ranch during his absence, She lives at present in Grantsville, Walter George Fowler, a Londoner, was born Nov. 21, 1862, and came to Utah with his parents in 1868. As a boy he learned the harness and saddle trade, worked in the business for 26 years and then went into business with, a partner at 131 and 139 West First South St. until 1951 when the two partners retired, selling the business to one of Mr. Fowler's sons, Mr. Fowler married four times, and reared 11 children. He and his present wife, whom he married in March, 1948, now live at 351 Chicago (940 West) St. Josephine Erickson Halverson, born Dec. 27, 1864, in Norway crossed the plains to Utah by ox- team in 1865 and has resided in Utah since that time. She was married to Oliver Henry Halverson in 1881 and they made their first home in Gunnison. Mrs. Halverson moved to Salt Lake City in 1937 following the death of her husband. She is the mother of six sons and daugh¬ters, five of whom are still living—all in Salt Lake City. At the present time she resides with a son, Harold C. Halverson at 1902 Ninth East St. Selma Lundlberg Jensen, born June 16, 1863, in Christiana, Norway, came to Utah with her parents in 1866. Only three years old, she and her sister were tucked in between boxes and sacks in the wagon—while her parents walked and rode in the same position so long, her legs be¬came almost useless. When the family arrived in the valley, they went directly to Logan to make their home and Mrs. Jensen has lived there since. She was mar¬ried to James Nelson Jensen, Nov. 5, 1884. They had no children of their own, but she raised seven children of her husband's family. She makes her home, alone, at 39 East Fourth South St, Logan. Selina Beddous Kelsey, born in Yorkshire, England, Dec, 31, 1864, and came to Utah in 1867. The family moved to Salem and lived in a crude log cabin, gathering and trading wild fruit for materials to make clothes, and using horse hairs for thread. When 18 years old, she was married to Wil- Continued on Page 10