Reuben Fowkes and Mary Bacon Fowkes

(Maternal Grandparents of Lenora Starkey Gerrard)

The year 1984 was an important one for me, because that year two babies were born who in due time became my grandparents. To Richard Fowkes and Mary Barrass, was born a baby boy, in the town of Ibstock, Leicestershire, England, February 18, 1842. He was given the name of Reuben --Reuben Fowkes.

A short distance away, in the town of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, to William Bacon and Caroline North, a baby daughter had arrived ten days earlier, on Febrary 8, 1842. She was named Mary, --Mary Bacon. These two children grew to maturity, met and fell in love, and were married int he year 1863 on Easter Sunday, which came that year on April 5th. They belonged to the Church of England.

Reuben's vocation was that of civil engineer. His wife Marcy was an expert tailoress. She spun the cloth, and made men's suits. She as a good cook, was gifted in music, and also had a lovely singing voice.

These two people were converted to Mormonism by Latter Day Saint missionaries. Two little daughters were born to them in England, Edith Elizabeth and Esther Ellen. When the children were two, and eight months, respectively, this little family embarked for American on June 20, 1868, sailing from Liverpool on the steamship Minnesota. There were 534 emigrating saints who sailed on that voyage. They were sunder the direction of John Perry. They arrived in New York July 12, 1868. From there they traveled by rail to Laramie, Wyoming, which was then the terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad. Here they joined Captain Chester Loveland's company and proceeded to Salt Lake City, Utah, by wagon train. A Mr. Cluff was in charge of their division. They left Laramie July 22, 1868, arriving in Salt Lake City August 20 1868.

The journey across the plains was long and hard. They followed the Platt River which was dangerous to cross because of the quick-sands. The Big Sandy Mountains were also difficult to cross. The sand was so deep that the oxen could only go a few steps at a time. Everyone who was able had to walk, --men, women, and children. Wood was scarce and it was hard to gather enough to even make fires to cook with.

Due to extreme heat, there was much sickness. Mary had sunstroke and became very ill. The journey was extremely difficult for her. She grew very thin. Her wedding ring slipped from her finger and was lost in the deep sand. It was her most valued possession, and she regretted that it was never recovered. Mary was placed in one of the wagons to ride, because of her weakened condition. The two young daughers also required much care, but with the help of her good husband, Reuben, they reached the Salt Lake Valley. They lived in the Seventh Ward on First West between Third and Fourth South. Reuben worked on the great tabernacle and other buildings.

After a short stay in Salt Lake, the Fowkes family moved to Coalville, Utah. They built the first rock house in Coalville. It was made of flat rocks, and the children helped by carrying small rocks in their aprons to fill the chinks. In this house another daughter Eveline Mae was born on May 14 1869. This quaint little rock home inspired George Beard, the well known Utah artist to paint it. He titled the picture, "The Fowkes Homestead."

Reuben, as I have stated, was a civil engineer in England, and upon coming to this country brought his surveying equipment with him. He did some work ont he great tabernacle and other buildings in Salt Lake, as I have said. He also prospected and surveyed lands, and found coal for the Union Pacific Coal Company at Grass Creek, Utah, and Cumberland, Diamondville and Kemmerer, Wyoming. He worked in the Union Pacific tunnel in Weber canyon. Reuben was later mine superintendent at Almy, Wyoming, for many years. Mary was a dress-maker in the community. She also made and sold candles, which were much in demand at the time.

Reuben Fowkes assisted in the socil life of the community by directing a Home Dramatics Club in Coalville. In her childhood years, little Eveline Mae (she was always called just "Mae") had parts in many plays. She especially enjoyed playing the part of little Eva in "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

In 1874 the Fowkes family left Coalville. After Mr.s Fowkes worked for a number of years as a Superintendent of the Almy mines, he then took up a homestead on lwer bear River, in Uinta County, Wyoming. In the book, "History of Uinta County," by Elizabeth Arnold Stone, we read:

"It is interesting to notes that the Fowkes name, aside from being perpetuated among us in the line of thei rdescendents, who are among our foremost citizens, has been given a lasting place in the geological history of the county in the "Fowkes formation" that comes to the surface on the Fowkes ranch about six miles blow Almy."

This formation is commonly known as "The Fowkes Beds," in geological strata.

(I add, parenthetically: The little daughter Eveline Mae, who was born in the little house in Coalville, Utah, grew to womanhood and was married to William John Starkey in the Logan Temple on October 18, 1888. William was also a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in England, and came to this country for the Gospel's sake. They became the parents of eight children, five girls and three boys, I being the fourth girl.)

This history would not be complete without making mention of the Indians who roamed this western land at that time. Chief Washakie was a very good friend of the Fowkes family. He was a welcome visitor in their home. He was of the Shoshone tribe, which is the tribe most closely associated with western Wyoming. No Indian name stands out so prominently as "Chief Washakie," and it is said that of all of the Indians, he worked most consistently for the good of his people. He was born in 1804, became chief at the age of 19, and was the leader of his tribe for nearly eighty years. They were the years of the greatest Indian troubles through which the country every passed. when the white men, through necessity, often from selfish motives, were steadily encroaching on the hunting grounds of this once independent people. Chief Washakie possessed a natural dignity that commended respect. But he did not like the Arapahoes, and when greeting their chiefs, instead of shaking hands as with an equal, he would coldly extend two fingers, keeping the other fingers clenched, which was the Indian way of showing distrust. It might be said here that the Shoshones and the Arapahoes seldom intermarry. Each looks on the other with true tribal pride and prejudice. (Info. from "History of Uinta County," by Elizabeth Arnold Stone, and acquaintance of mine.)

The following is a true story. I have often heard my mother, Mae, the little girl in this history, tell it:

When my grandparents, Reuben and Mary Fowkes, were living at their ranch home in Bear River, one day they left to go to the town of Evanston, some twelve or thirteen miles distant, to do some shopping. Two of their daugthers, Edith and Mae, were to stay at home until their parents returned.

Late in the afternoon the girls decided to go down into the field and drive the cows home, ready to be milked by their father, when he returned. They were sure he would be returning soon.

When they were in the willows by the river, they glanced toward the winding road, and were delighted when they saw a cloud of dust. They were happy because their parents were coming home at last!

But their delight turned to dismay, because as they watched, they soon discovered that it wasn't their father and mother, but Indians! Mae and Edith ran into the willows to hide, and would probably have remained unnoticed by the Indians, had not the little dog that was with them kept running in and out of the bushes, and when he saw the horses, gave several sharp barks. The girls called the dog, and tried to quite him and keep him hidden, but it was too late. The Indians had seen him. Knowing that someone must be there with the dog, they rode their horses down to the field. Eith and Mae ran toward home after they had been seen. The Indians followed them, keeping their horses hoof right on the little girls heels. The girls ran as fast as they could and were crying all the way home. When they reached home, the girls hurried in and tried to local the door, but the Indians were to quick for them. They jumped off their horses, pushed open the door, and went inside. They had been drinking "fire water," and kept demanding that they be given "biskee" (biscuits), dishes, meat and soap. The dusky faces and out-stretched hands, and the demand for "cold biskee" and other things, could not be disregarded with safety. The girls were wishing desperately that their parents would come.

One of the Indians kept watch at the door. Presently he said something in an excited voice to the others, and pointed down the road. They all rushed outside, got on their horses, and rode rapidly away. The Indian who kept watch had told the others that someone was coming around the curve of the hill. Sure enough, it was Reuben and Mary. Never had the girls been so glad to see their parents. They had arrived just in time.

Reuben and Mary said that the Indians had passed them with a whoop and a yell, whipping their horses and driving them like made. This was several miles back down the road. They were afraid that these wild men were up to some mischief, and they drove as fast as they could, knowing the little girls would be frigthened, and probably in great danger.

Mr. Fowkes told Chief Washakie about the incident, and how the Indians behaved. The Cheif liked the Fowkes family. He had often eaten meals in their home. Cheif Washakie severely rebuked the Indians, and told them they must never bother these good people again. After that they had no more trouble with the Indians.

Concluding this history, I want to state that Reuben and Mary Fowkes had thirteen children in all, three of whome died in infancy. The other ten all married and reared honorable and respected families, who were good citizens of the country. They were Edith Elizabeth Fowkes Wanless, Esther Ellen Fowkes Thomas, Eveline Mae Fowkes Starkey, Caroline Annie Fowkes Harris, Mary Lenorah Fowkes Harries, Reuben William Fowkes, Kathering Emma Fowkes Sellers, Richard Barras Fowkes, Ernest Fowkes, Ethel Violet Fowkes and Lucy Fowkes (twins) and Joseph Valentine Fowkes.

Reuben passed away in Almy, Wyoming, on February 24, 1892, of what is now believes to have been appendicitis, and Mary died in Evanson, Wyoming on March 9, 1915, of pneumonia. Their final resting place is in the Almy, Wyoming cemetery.

Describing my dear grandparents; Grandfather Reuben Fowkes was about five feet, ten inches tall, had blue-grey eyes and brown hair. He was of medium stature. Grandmother Mary Bacon Fowkes was small in stature, dark brown eyes and black hair. She was one of five sisters: Mary, Elizabeth, Ann, Lucy, and Catherine Bacon.

(Grandfather Reuben Fowkes followed the advice of church authorities and married a second wife, Catherine Bacon, a sister to Mary. To Reuben and Catherine two children were born: Lillian and Samuel H. Pike Fowkes. They all got along well together.)