TITLE PAGE. Daughters of Utah Pioneers. 66 [066]. PIONEER NAME-Charles Harding BIRTH DATE AND PLACE- April 2, 1838 in Farr West, Caldwell Co., Missouri DEATH DATE AND PLACE- July 8, 1899 in Willard, Box Elder Co., Utah FATHER- Dwight Harding MOTHER- Phebe Holbrook Harding WHO MARRIED AND DATE- Matilda Josephine Zundel in Sept 30, 1865 YEAR ARRIVED IN UTAH- 1851 NAME OF COMPANY- WHO WROTE HISTORY AND DATE- Dr. Glen F. Harding WHO SUBMITTED HISTORY AND DATE- Lolita Field McFarlane CAMP NAME- Mt. Joy CAMP HISTORIAN- COMPANY NAME- MorganCo. HISTORIAN- SOURCE OF INFORMATION- Dwight Harding History, pgs. 193-205. Jacob Zundel Family History, Pgs. 274-282. SIGNATURE OF AUTHOR OR OWNER OF THIS HISTORY- Lolita F. McFarlane CAMP RECEIVED (DATE)- Feb. 8, 2010 COMPANY RECEIVED (DATE)- CHARLES AND MATILDA JOSEPHINE ZUNDEL HARDING FAMILY Charles Harding, son of Dwight Harding and Phebe Holbrook Harding , was born April 2, 1838, in Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri. He wa s born in the troublous time the Latter Day Saints were passing th rough when they were driven from their homes by mobs and forced to flee from state to state to protect themselves from the violence of wicked men who sought to destroy them. Charles was eight months old when his father Dwight Harding was called upon to lay down his arms together with all the other me n November I, 18 38. They were driven from their homes in Far West and had one wagon m whi c h to take their pos_sessions. Dwight Harding was told to take the wife and three children of Truman O. Angell with him. Truman O. Angell, a cousin of Phebe Harding, had to leave his family, and they had no one to take them from Far West. Besides their provisions and clothing there were nine people who had to be crowded into the wagon, They went to Quincy 1 Illinois . and lived there two years, then went up the Missis sippi River forty miles to Nauvoo . They lived in Nauvoo five years and were driven out in 1846. They built a comfortable house in Nauvoo on Fullmer Street. The Hol-brooks were neighbors . I While residing in Nauvoo, Charles and his two older brothers and sj s- 1 ter Elizabeth attended school taught by their Aunt Hannah Holbrook. Phebe Harding was a member of the Relief Society of Nauvoo . She was a woman of great faith in the promises of the Lord regarding His love and pro-tecting care for those who love Him and try to do His will. At one time while the y were yet in Nauvoo, her husband Dwight Harding was ta ken v e ry ill a nd his life was despaired of. They were in very hard circ umstances, and Phebe in her despair prayed earnestly to the Lord to spare her husband's life . She was prompted to send for the Elders to come anctagmim_ster to him. They came and with their . .temple clothing on,-.formed ·a prayer circle around him . In the blessing tha't was pronounced he was promised that he would recove r and take his family to a place of safety . The time to which his life was extended was even set to twenty years. This promise was fulfilled, and although he was not strong he managed by taking care of his health to 'enjoy life until his death. Charles Harding's parents were in attendance at the special meeting of the Church held in Nauvoo August 8 , 1844 ,. in which the apostles .P s serted .. their right to lead the church through their president, Brigham Young. They s aw the countenance and heard the voice of Brigham Youn·g change to that of Jose ph Smith. Before they left Nauvoo and while packing their necessary clothing and bedding in their wagon, a man and a s mall boy drove in the.ir yard ready to take possession of their home as soon as they left it. They had the dee ds 193 " which up to this time proved they owned the property. This made the third time they were driven from their home . Dwight Harding helped to build the Nauvoo Temple, and he and his wife had the privilege of receiving their endowments and sea lings in it . . They received their endowments January 21 , 1846, and were sealed January 29, 1846. In the spring of 1846 the family of Dwight Harding crossed over the Mississippi River into Iowa . They settled on Mosquito Creek about seven miles from Kanesville. When Dwight Harding and his family were driven out of Nauvoo, they were in Newell Knight's Company. Newell Knight left the company at Grand Island and went back to get counsel from Brigham Young, telling Dwight Harding to find the first wintering camp and winter there. They wintered at a place called Running Water.* At this place Newell Knight died. They traveled to a place called Niobia, Nebraska . * This was in the late winter of 1846. In the spring of 1847 they were counseled by Brigham Young to go to Ponco, Nebraska,* where the grass for the animals was plentiful and the winters mild. After advising with the friendly tribe of Indians living there, the ground was prepared and crops were planted. The crops were not for the saints who were settled there but were for the emi-grants who were to come the following season. Leaving Ponca in the spring of 1848 they returned to Council Bluffs , Iowa . Here Dwight Harding and Chauncey Ca 11 took a contra ct to build a jail. This was the first jail built in Council Bluffs. It was while they were here that Dwight Harding received a letter from relatives in Southbridge, Mas sa chusetts, saying that the Harding estate had been settled. Dwight's share would be $50.00. This was a small share indeed compared with the amount the other heirs were to receive, but he needed the money and the oldest son George was sent on foot one hundred miles to the nearest govern-ment mail station to receive it. The family of Dwight Harding consisting of his wife, three sons and two daughters arrived in Salt Lake City, September 15, 1851. They did not remain there long but drove north to Bountiful to the home of Joseph Holbrook, brother of Phebe Harding. North Willow Creek was recommended to them by Joseph Holbrook as a good place to locate in. While the family was resting, George came up to Willard to investigate before the family came. He went back and reported favorably. They came north as far as Perrigrene Taylors at Harrisville, camped two days, then came on to Willard arriving here September 26, 1851. Charles was now thirteen years old. Immediately they began to haul logs to build a house. The location of which is where the Alma Harding home is. They lived here one or two years. They took up seventy-five acres of land. There were a few families residing on North Willow Creek who had come in the spring of 1851. For five years all the houses that were built were made of logs, but in 1856 adobe houses were built by Dwight Harding, Charles Hubbard, Lyman • Niobia, Nebraska, is probably the present day Niobrara, Nebraska (pop. 786 in 1961). Niobrara is in northern Nebraska at the junction of the Niobrara and Missouri Rivers. south Dakota is across the Missouri River from Niobrara. Ponco, Nebraska, (pop. 924 in 1961) is in the nonheascecn part of Nebraska near the Missouri River. Nearby on the other side of the Missouri River are (footnote cominued on next page) 194 ird 3ry ·n out e 1, ght ' Wells , Mathew W. Dalton, and Salmon Warner. All were one and one-half stones high. The nails were made of old iron such as wagon tires. They were made by Will Wilker and cost 75 cents a pound . Pegs were shaped to hang clothes on. Alma and Charle s Harding made the adobe s for their home. Charles Harding was one of the seventeen children who attended the first school taught in Willard. Henry Thatcher, an emigrant on his way to California, had to stay in Willard that winter so he was hired to teach. The school house was of logs hauled from the Willard mountains and was built on Main Street where the Alonzo Barke: Sr. home now stands. It was the only place they had to meet in for school, church, and recreation--the first few years except their homes . T!'le second home of the Harding's was built on be lot where the home of George Harding now stands. It was also of logs, and a log granary wa s built. Later the house was replaced by the adobe one. The adobe house was being constructed when the people were called to "Move South." When the United States Army, Iohnston's Army : was stationed at Camp Floyd, the Harding boys contracted to ha·ul wood to the camp , They got the wood east of the camp and used horses I mules, and some oxen. They had 1 to hire some other men to help them. At this time Willard belonged to Weber Stake, and Lorin Farr was the Bishop. Late in the fall of 1857 Charles Harding and his brother George returned from California. Charles had gone there earlier in the year while George was working at the Thatcher ranch. They were returning by the southern route with other freighters, some of whom were rough and careless. One e~-e·- ning an • Indian came into camp. He was extremely dirty and half dead for want of sleep and food. He partook of their food then rolled himself up in his blanket and went to sleep. George and Char1es were also asleep in their wagon. Suddenly they were awakened by an explosion of powder. Springing from their bed to learn the cause, it was made known that some of the men had put powder in the Indian's thick, matted, gritty hair , then set the powder off. Just half of the hair on his head was blown clean off. The other half being ·on the under side was just as it wa s when he went to sleep. He was a funny sight. The men were convulsed with laughter because of his appearance and his wild frenzy. The Indian was thoroughly aroused and indignant, Charlie and George Harding wisely withheld their mirth and began to pacify him. They convinced him they were not in on the joke and brought him along with them to where he could be with his friends . Early in the spring of 1858 President Brigham Young, then Governor of Utah, called for 150 men to go on an expedition up into the Salmon River country to assist those who had been previously sent there. They were to bring back or protect the com pany of settlers who had been threatened and harrassed by a band of Indians. Many of the white settlers had been killed. Their cattle and horses had been stolen. Ten men were sent from Willard , among them were George and Charles Harding. When they reached Bannock Valley they came through a clump of cedars. As they came out in the open (footnote cominued from. page 194} Vermillion, South Dakota, and Sioo.ix City, Iowa. An account of the encampments at the junction of the Running Watet River and the Missouri Rive: and also among the Ponco Indians is in Chapter LXXVII, Volume Ill, A Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter · day Saints by B. H. Robercs. 195 Les country they saw a number of dead horses lying on the ground. They knew there had been an Indian raid. On closer inspection they found the body of Bailey Lake of North Ogden. His body had several arrows sticking in it. They reported their find to Captain Cunningham and were told to take the body home to his folks for burial. They filled their wagon box with snow, putting their provisions to the front end, and buried the body solidly in the snow. They started from what is now Arbon and traveled as far as Malad. The snow was knee deep, and they had to make a trail for the horses to go through it. They stayed in Malad over night and got an early start the fol-lowing morning. Charles Harding was riding a pony, so he rode ahead to ask the bishop of Willard to have fresh men and fresh horses ready to take the corpse to North Ogden. When the other men reached Willard, they and ·their horses were II jaded out. 11 The trip from Ma lad to North Ogden was made in one day. Because Charles Harding had had a great deal of experience in freight-ing to and from California and Montana, his advice was often sought for by those who subsequently made trips to those places. One day a party of gold seekers on their way to California stopped at Willard for road information. The leader, a shifty-eyed, hard-featured Missourian, rode into the yard of Dwight Harding and inquired for Charlie Harding. He wanted him to go with his company to show them the way. Neither Charles nor his parents liked the idea but he needed the money offered and finally consented to go. He was warned of the dangers he might encounter, was encouraged to live his religion and look to God for help and protection. Everything went along fairly well. The leader at times showed a moody, intemperate disposition. All the company feared him greatly and dared not cross nor vex him. He had taken a dislike to a red haired Scotchman in the company. One day while they were traveling tlirough Nevada, he made him leave camp without food, extra clothing, or fire arms, warning him not to be found in the camp again. It was a bad position for the young man to be ·in. There were no houses for hundreds of miles. One night the young man came creeping into camp. He was afraid to be heard or seen. Spying out Charlie Harding he awakened him and asked him where he could find a frying pan and food. He would run the risk for he was starving. Withoct arousing anyone, Charles told him he could get what he desired. He took them and quietly left. When morning came the 11 8oss" found out through some one that the Scotchman had been in camp for food. He anned himself and mounted his horse, and with a look of revenge on his face rode away. He was gone several hours but when came back he brought the frying pan. The fiend in him had triumphed. They were all glad when they reached California. They wished to be free of his presence. Besides freighting to California and Montana, Charles Harding made three freighting trips to the East for merchandise. Some of the freight was for the Harding store and some for the Walker Bros. store in Salt Lake. Each trip took considerable time and money. 197 71 He was fond of fun and recreation .. and he and his sister Elizabeth were members of the Willard Dramatic Association. Besides play mg at home, their plays were taken to the nearby towns. On September 30, 1865, C:Oades Hardrng and Matilda Zundel, daughter of John :acob and Sarah Forstner Zundel 1 were marned in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. It took twc ddys eac n way to make this trip, for they rode in a wagon. Twelve children, six sons and six daughters blessed this ..;nion. They build a very find substantial ho~se of rock that is now (1944) !n a good state of preservation. C;;arles Harding was a very Sticcessh:l farmer and cattle raiser, He owned a very productive farm in W:lJa:-d, and wi~h h1s brothers George and Alma fo"'mt.~d a partnership in a catt~e and s!ieep 1an.:.:1 a!: ?romontory, These three brothers also in the ~arl'y days of WJlard went into the merchandise business f.or many years, T!ieir fJ!St store was the two rock rooms now a_part of the George Ha:d~ng '1cme on Ce!'lter S1.:-eet. In it were the qoc.xis !hey brought from California, and whic.1 cc,nsisted of dishes: dress go0ds and calicos: heme medicine:s, st.0ves: tubs: was~ boards: etc, Whenever they could get it, stick candy and rock canjy was brought for the children. The second store was built on t~e southeast corner of Alma Harding's lot on Main Street. Th~s was late r t;sed for a granary. The third store*was built on the northeast corner of the Charle:s Harding lot on Marn Street. Th!s was made of rock. and b·.,ii~ by St:adrack ;ones and Dan 7ooey. Peter Baird did the carpentry work. There were two stories. The lower part was used for a store and the upper story was ~sed for a school. The store was considered to be a very excellent one ior those days. They were able now with more room to increase their kind and drr.ount of merchandise. Charles managed the store, and being a kind of Jovial nature and strictly hones t and honorable, he drew his customers not only from Willard but from the home folks who had moved to ranches and farms in Malad and Fromontory Valleys. At that time, too, there was a steady t:-ain of emigrant s passing through Willard on their way to the WE;;s+_. Afte r several years :his store b;,;rned down_. then Charles Hard~ng built another store on the ea st side of Main Street facing west. !t was of brick and also had two stor,ies. The lower pa!"'t was ·~sed as a store, and here in the front northwest corner Nancy Harding had a millinery department. The upper story was now used for recreational P'Jrposes. !t had a fine hardwood floor for dancing and there was a stage with s~itable wings and stage equip-ment for thealres. The approacn was frr.,m a bac:k stair. After a few years this store was also destroyed by fire. When the Union Pacific Railroad was b-.;;Ht in 1869, which connected the Central Pacific Railroad and spanned -:he country from coast to coast_. the Harding brothers all worked on it at grading and scraping, They had six or seven span of horses at work. Charles worked o..:t at Fort Bridger on the Union Pacific div is ion. On October 15, 18751 Charles Harding went on a short term mission to Massachusetts !o labor among his relatives there. He returned February rs,, "Sc-~ c..'.::,:ograph ,:,f this :;!ore,:,;-: page 19a. Tt.:. l,:,s. ~,::-:tit:,·.-. :r.~ :.;~: -.,;,.., :::1id ~c ~ ~ ~ of !h;; p!::v~ou;; ~f"?, e : As !Old. to Dr. Gler-F. Hr:i~ni "'Y i3e~ju~in A. Ha:-1ing i.~ 1258. ~,,;;.ja::-l:l A. rt:1:0.:!1::% S:Jj)pl:'!d this p1ctu=e. 199 1876. In· a church capacity he was a member of the 59th Qllort:m of Seventies and labored for many years as a ward teacher. Charles Harding was of a pleasa:;.t, ag:.-eeable nature and raade :nany friends. He was easy to approach, and children adored him. He was a:1 interesting conversationalist and loved to joke with his customers. He was a crood neiohbor and an honorable man. He oVv-ned a molasses mill, and for se~eral ye~rs made molasses which sold readily. His death occurred in Willard Juiy 8, i899, at the age of 61 years from Spotted Fever. He is buried in the Willard Ceme~ery. Ma tilda Josephine ZUndel ,* daug~t:er of J0!1.'1 !acob and Sarah Forstner Zundel I was born in Nauvoo, Hancock Cmm~y, IiEnois January 16, 1845. Her father was born in Wertheimberg, Ge-r;na:;1y, and emigrated to the United States when he was a young man. He met and :na:-ri.ed Sara:i rorstner in Pennsylvania. Sarah Forstner Zundei was bor;i !:1 oid Har:nony, B·~:ler County, Pennsylvania. They heard ar:d embraced Mcrmonisr:: in the early r ise of t~e church and were affiliated with it i:l all .its persec·.:tions, its growth, and its activities. jacob Zundel taught the Frop::iet ;ose;::,?: Smi:h ~ow to speak he German language, The Prophet Joseph Srr:ith often came t o t:,e Zt:ndel home in Nauvoo to see how well he was progressing in :AJs coL;rSc fa Germa!.1. Joseph and Hyrum came to administer to Jacob Zundel, t:':l.e small son of Jenn jacob Zundel, who l'ater died. The Zundel family had previously been driven ot.:.t of Caldwell County, Missouri! when the snow was two feet :ieei: and so cold that a bottle of milk froze between two feather beds. Many worr,en died during this move. John Jacob Zundel then took his family to Nauvoo, arriving there when it was in the making. It became a city almost over night. He bought•. some· fanri land and a city lot where he built d :::cmfot~able !iorr.e. The ::·ees on his lot had just begun to bear fruit when the,;y we:-e driven out. of Na-.ivoo, Matilda was a very small child when ner family was j:1·,0en from ti':.eir home to ioumey to Wi:ite~ Q~arters. Here they rei:!aineo o~e yea;:·. While they were stationed here, !':,e ca 11 ca!T!e for :he enlisting of the famous Mormon Ba!aliion. From ?;ere also ?.resident Bri.gham left for the valley .ro locate a place for the Latter-day Sain:s to settle :n. Before leaving he told the peopie if they were fa!thf-;,il fa& Lo:.-d wo..::ld bless them w ith the gift of tongues and the Interpretation of Tong;..:es whic h promise was fulfilled. Here at WL11ter Quarters many of the people d!ed from Sct:r,;y, k:-10wr. ot!'ler-wise as ~ ~ Black Leg, due to lack of vec;etaoles. However, on the Missouri River bottoms they were blessed finding wiid ~ota~o6s, onions and artichokes, and through these vegetables their lives were spared. Leaving Wini:er Ouarters they went into Pottawatomie County, Iowa whert they remained about two and one half years. The Zundel famiiy crossed the plains in Captain Wood's Company, Cap.ta in Wood had been their branch president. T:,ey had one ox r.eam and one ]:orse team. Melena, older sister of Mat!lda, made every inch of the • Additional pictures of Matilda J. Zundel Hardi.i.g on pages 218 and Se2. Chapter XIV {pages 353-372) contains the history of her parents with genealogy charts and sheets. 201 wagon cover by hand and it was said to be the finest cover in the entire company. Their wagons were very comfortable. Mother Zundel fastened their churn with milk in it to the outside of the wagon each morning, and by evening their butter was ready for the evening meal. They also had a folding able and steps to fasten on the back of their wagon. The children gathered buffalo chips for their fires. The wagons were placed in a circle at night. there was one opening left. Two men were to guard at night to protect the Qmpany from Indians and buffalo. The weatner for the company's journey as very pleasant generally. When about three fourths of the way across !he plains, the camp wa s truck with cholera and twelve of the company died. The camp moved twelve lies distant. Mr. and Mrs. Zundel s!ayed to administer to those who were ying and to bury their friends who died, also to-wash 'their,own d0tl}d.ng. one of their family took the disease. Matiida crossed the plains when she was Si.x years old . Like most children she loved dolls but did not have one. As :hey rode along they often :saw piles of clothes in a heap near a grave, Ttey wc·,1ld a s k their mother what they were there for, but she o:1ly looked sad and wen~ on wifn her work. uring the afternoon while walking behind t:1e wagon, she and some older children decided to get some of the clothes. T!'le fo"J.nd a whoie heap of them and made beautiful dolls. But when they looked up there were no wagons in sight, but they could see a man coming towards ~~1em on horseback . How-ever, they were not frightened. Wnen he reached t~em he said the company was miles ahead, and he made them walk. F!nally !hey came to a large stream. He made them wade, and wnen they got in the middle they were told to throw the clothes away. With tears in their eyes ~hey d1d as they were told and followed the guide. When they c;ot to canp their mother took off Matilda' s clothes and washed them and gave her a 'bath. The clothes were left by people who died of cholera, and ~hese chadren were exposed . \Vitr. all the worry, their mother got some toasted bread from a barrel full they brought with them. They she made some milk gravy and pt..t some jerked meat (dried beef) in it and poured it over the toa s: . The long walk was for-gotten and c hildren did not get the cholera • At one time about one hundred buffalos came very close to their com-pany but did not stampede them. Another morning when they awoke there was a b;..iffalo inside the circle of wagons. The mer. got thei: g~ns and killed it and it made an excellent food while it lasted. Independence Rock that stood all by itself was an inspiring sight, and the top of it was large enough and flat enough to dance on. Many names were written on it in tar. Later Chimney Rock was !eac:hed. It resembled a chimney and fireplace •. Echo Canyon was or.other camping place. This was almost of solid rock. They came into Salt Lake Valley thro~gh Emigration Canyo!1 in A'Jgust of 185 2. It looked like a lovely resting place after the long journey . Matilda and Daniel, the youngest of the Zundel children, were very tired . Upon arriving in Salt Lake City they camped near their Ai;.n'; Magda line Mor:sser' s home by the Jordan River but soon moved on to No:th Willow Creek, settling 203 73 on what is now (1943) the Ephraim White farm. Matilda was then seven years old. Their home consisted of a one room log house and their wagon boxes which were set on logs. They furniture consisted of three bed frames which John Jacob iundel had made himself with bed cords stretched across them. They had brought them across the plains. They also had a few maple chairs with rush bottoms, a few shelves and a home made table. The floor was of dirt covered with bunch grass, which was native to Willard and grows to be about three feet high. It made a wonderful floor. It could be cut with a butcher knife and there was plenty of it so !hat it could be changed every day if desired. The Zundel's had brought with them to Utah dried apples, . sugar and a supply of seeds of various kinds. They also brougr.t a supply of dry goods. The spring following their arrival they raised barley, wneat, oats, corn, pota:oes and other vegetables. John Jacob Zundei was the town doctor !n the early days. He knew a good many herbs and their uses. When Matilda's children were sick she always sent for her father. He hot only liked medicine but he loved to graft fruits of all kinds. He had every kind of fruit in his lot and often four kinds of fruit would be on one tree. Some of his German· prune trees still stand on the old home stead and bear delicious fruit. His orchard was noted in all northern Utah for exceptional quality and variety. As the emigrants went through to California they were well dressed, and the ladies had dresses made of silk, wool and delcine. Vegetables were traded for goods, and they also received some money. They were com-fortable so far as clothing was concerned for they had brought a good supply of clothing with them. When their hay and grain was ready to harvest they used sickles I sythes and cradles. One night after dark about one hundred Indians were trying to come upon them to kill them and burn their home. Sarah Zundel took her children and walked three miles to a neighbor. The older ones carried the small children. The father and oldest son Abraham remained to guard their home. The next morning every family moved into what is known as Willard City and formed a fort. The following day Major Moore and his officers came from Ogden to help make a trench around them. It was ten feet deep on the outside of dirt and with poles on the inside near the houses. The wagon boxes, were also used and two rooms sheltered them. One room was of boards owned by Mr. Birsch, and the other was a log room owned by Charles Hubbard. There was but one bridge to come in and go out of Willard. Shortly after the trench was completed the Bannock Indians came. The band consisted of one hundred braves, t'i-iree· squaws, the chief and an interpreter. At about every step their horses took, the Indians gave a war whoop. They rode to the entrance of the fort and said if they could come inside and stay that night, they would not molest them. They were allowed to come in, but every man stayed up with his gun loaded. At three o'clock in the morning the three squaws were by the wagon boxes crying and all the bucks were up ready to fight. Mother Zundel said, 205 71-