Susannah Orilla McDonald

People Buried Here

Description

ohn was the 4th of 10 children born to James & Sarah, but their first son (also named John) lived less than a year. John was 8 when his family joined the Church, a month after his 10th birthday his family sailed from Ireland to gather with the Saints in Nauvoo. When they arrived in Nauvoo John and his younger brother William helped their father restore an old cabin Hyrum Smith had suggested for their family. Both John & William obtained work tending cattle which he continued his whole life. He was only 13 when a mob drove his family out of their home and set it afire. He and William went with their father into Missouri to find work to provide for the journey West. They worked for a slave owner and worked along side his slaves. John said no matter how hard they all worked the slaves would sing & dance each night. John watched his father join in doing Irish step dancing and “singing Irish comic songs”. John was 16 when his father died of Cholera on the 5th day of their long wagon trail to the Great Salt Lake Valley. He and his two older sisters took responsibility for their widowed mother and 4 younger siblings for the rest of the journey. When they arrived John could see there was not enough grazing for their cattle in the Salt Lake Valley so he took the cattle to what is now Alpine. After one cold Winter in Alpine he moved the cattle and his family to Springville. John accepted every call from Brigham Young including cavalryman in the Walker Indian War, pony express rider to Missouri, and one of the rescuers of the Willie and Martin Handcart companies. Upon his return from the rescue he married Mary Lucinda Cole. They gave everything to the Springville United Order and when it failed he continued faithful. He was one of the first settlers of Heber where he continued as a cattleman and served as Patriarch.