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Show • • • PETER ROCK SR AND ANN ELIZABETH SMITH August 2, 1832-February 21 , 1910/ August 6, 1834- September 24, 1878 Peter and Ann Elizabeth were born in Quincy Franklin, PA They married 11 May 1853 Peter and Ann Elizabeth had eight children. Angus Cannon in the Sasquanna River baptized Peter a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in September 1857, sometime after the family of three left Pennsylvania with two yolks of oxen. On July 9, 1863 they left Winter Quarters in Florence Nebraska on Captain W.B. Preston Wagon Train of immigrants, which consisted of 300 people and 55 wagons. They only saw Indians once on the trip west and were not bothered by them. The wagon train arrived in Salt Lake City on Thursday, 10 September 1863. There is no record of the Rock's on the train in Salt Lake City. Local and family records show that the Rocks arrived in Morgan on the third of September 1863. It is believed that the families of Peter and Henry Rock and Conrad Smith left the wagon train in Henefer and came to Morgan. They lived in dugouts near Stoddard some time after arriving. It was near a fort that was built for protection from the Indians. Family records show that Peter Rock Jr. was the first white child born in a dugout in Stoddard, on 1 February 1867. He being the eldest child when his mother died in 1878 had the responsibility of helping raise the family. Peter Rock Sr. had owned land in Stoddard and Morgan (Mt Joy). He was a farmer and mason. His granddaughter, Noma, said that he was a slender man and wasn't cross with children and was a kindly man. He was especially gifted in the planting and care of orchards. He worked with his cousin, Henry on the building of the Morgan Stake Meeting House. It was ready for Conference 21 May 1882. At some time prior to 1873, Peter Rock Sr acquired some property in North Morgan at the east end of North Bridge Street. Now known as State Street. He paid between $6.00 and $7.00 for the lot. The original rights to the water for the property was signed to them in an agreement with the Indians. He built a log cabin overlooking the valley. It still stands at the site. It sits at the top of the street that rises up to the north from South Morgan. Travel under the railroad tracks, crossing Highway 30, now Interstate 80, to a dead end at the Rocks home. The address was 749 East 300 North. The rear of the back yard rises up a little canyon that goes into the foothills. The house looks out upon the city of Morgan. It had three rooms downstairs and an upstairs with two rooms for sleeping accommodations for the children. The stairs were in the southwest comer of the cabin. The cabin had split shingles, made by Peter. (Reportedly the first made). A garage was eventually built near the front yard and in later years was dwarfed by the large tree. Fruit trees grew in the backyard with the vegetable garden and the south border of the front yard always planted in peonies. He had been very involved in the development of the South Robinson Spring and built a ditch to furnish water to his orchard and garden as well as to homes by the stream and flues. There was also a small spring and a pond in the hollow above the cabin. They were buried, along with the yard and garden area, with shale, when the flood came. Peter planted a tree out from the house, along a stream of water running down the hill from the springs. It was reportedly the largest tree in Morgan. The tree was removed. The trunk of the tree still remains as a reminder of its size. The house was sold and has since been remodeled. The remodeling was done around the original log cabin. 1 • • • |
