Snowball Pioneers

Writ en by: Barbara Davis

Compiled by: Paige Torgerson

For Ruth and Morrell Snowball.

2014 Paige Torgerson. All rights reserved. No reproduction permitted.

Table of Contents:
Jacob Peart Sr.
Thomas Snowball
John Snowball
George Alma Peart
Mary Sorenson

1
7
10
14
17

Jacob Peart Sr.

Born: 3 June 1801
Where: Noonston, Cumberland County, England
Parents: George Peart and Nancy (Ann) Whitefield Peart
Spouse: Elizabeth Haldon
Phebe Robson Thompson
Fylinda Angela Loss
Ann Wilkinson
Crossed Plains: 1846
Died: 20 April 1874
Where: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Submitted By: Barbara J. Davis
1457 25th Street
Ogden, Utah 84401
801-394-2050
CAMP SAGE : Weber South Company

acob Peart Sr. was born June 3, 1801 in England to George and Ann Whitefield
Peart. Jacob married Elizabeth Haldon on December 30, 1824, in Alston, England.
He was twenty-three, and she was twenty. Alston, England is near the borders of
Scotland. It was a beautiful section of country where blue lakes glistened, rivers
cascaded and leapt over waterfalls, and high rugged mountains rose beyond the fertile
narrow valleys that lay between. In the fertile valleys crops of hemp, grain, potatoes,
and turnips grew. In the less fertile valleys cattle and sheep grazed. Factories loomed
in the business sections and in them many people found employment making fine
linens and cotton fabrics, wool yardage goods, blankets, rugs, yarns, etc. It was here in
Alston that Jacob and Elizabeth had their seven children, three boys and four girls.
Jacob Peart Sr. kept a journal, and some of those entries are included in this history.
Jacob Sr. recorded: I, Jacob Peart Sr. was born on the 3rd day of June 1801 at Noonston, near the headwaters of the river Tyne, Cumberland County, England. My father,
George Peart, was by trade a farmer. He also worked at the Lead Mines in vicinity of
my birthplace. My mothers name was Ann or Nancy Peart. I was one of seven children, namely: Thomas, John, George, Nancy, Cuthbert, myself and William. We all
1

Jacob Peart Sr.

Snowball Pioneers

grew up and had families. When I was

fourteen years old I joined the Methodist Sect, and in youthful simplicity
being truly honest hearted, I enjoyed
myself much in prayer, reading the
Bible, etc. When I was about eighteen,
my father moved to Alston. While
here I was chosen Superintendent of
the Sunday School, which numbered
about 300400 scholars. At the age
of twenty-three I married Elizabeth
Haldon the daughter of John and
Francis Haldon of Alston. I purchased
some land and built a small house
upon it. I also got a few cows and a
horse. While living here a man from
America made me a visit. He said
he was a preacher of the gospel, and
wished to get a place to preach in. I
exerted my influence, and got him
our Methodist Chapel, which was a
Jacob Peart Sr. Photo courtesy of Vilate Peart Woodbury
very
nice and commodious hall. (The
Schank.
missionaries were Elder Isaac Russell
and John Snider.) Church history is replete with accounts of the first Latter-day Saint
missionaries to England. The names of these first elders included Heber C. Kimball
and Orson Hyde of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Willard Richards, later called
to the same quorum; and Joseph Fielding, brother-in-law to Hyrum Smith. In addition to these four prominent men, three lesser-known members also joined the original company. These three Canadian converts, John Goodson, John Snider, and Isaac
Russell, completed the group of seven missionaries that left America in 1837 to open
the door of salvation to the nation of England. (Isaac Russell was a cousin to Jacob
Peart. He was born April, 13, 1807 at Windy Haugh, near Alston, England to William
and Isabella Peart Russell. When he was ten years old, Isaac and his family moved
to Upper Canada, settling near Toronto.) Russell and his fellow laborers faithfully
moved forward with the work, baptizing the first nine English converts. That afternoon, Russell preached to an assembly of about five thousand, many of whom were
pricked to the heart. The gospel message had indeed taken root in the country. To
spread the gospel message more effectively, the missionaries decided to divide their
labors. On August 1, 1837, Russell and Snider were assigned to head north to Russells
native Alston, near the border of Scotland. Jacob Sr. wrote of this time: I carefully
examined the doctrine, and in August, 1837, I was baptized into The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints. From this time persecutions were commenced upon us.
The Methodist Parson wrote, and published a tract in which he abused the Elder and
myself very much. I was soon ordained by Brother Russell. Elder Russell eventually
left for America, and I was left in charge of some sixty saints. I preached the Gospel
to the people as best I had opportunity, and baptized a few, until the spring of 1841

when I immigrated to America. Jacob, Elizabeth, and their children left England,
and sailed to America on board the ship Rochester. The ship Rochester set sail from
Liverpool on the 21st of April, 1841, having on board 130 souls of the Saints including seven of the Twelve Apostlesnamely, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, John
Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Orson Pratt, Willard Richards, and George A. Smith.
Parley P. Pratt was left to preside over the British mission, and Orson Hyde was on his
way to Jerusalem. The ship Rochester arrived in New York harbor. There the company
disembarked. Members of the Twelve and others of the company proceeded to Nauvoo, while others journeyed on to Kirtland. At best the trip from England to America
took several weeks, and as they neared their destination the food had become poor,
the sanitation facilities were bad, and the drinking water stank. All this was a breeding ground for disease, and many a ship, upon reaching the Mississippi for landings
at New Orleans, and St. Louis, were put in quarantine. Malaria and cholera were
prevalent. Jacob went on to write, I arrived in New Orleans nine weeks later. We then
took passage on a steam boat up the Mississippi River to Nauvoo. While at New Orleans my wife was taken ill with a violent fever. Upon arriving at Nauvoo on April 15th
I called on the Prophet Joseph Smith, and asked him to come and administer to my
wife which he did. He advised me to procure the assistance of Elder J. C. Bennett, M.
D. which I did. He gave her medicine, but in about 5 days she died. Elizabeth Haldon
Peart died June 2, 1841, at Nauvoo, Illinois.
Jacobs journal entries continued, In a few more months my oldest daughter, Ann,
aged 11 years, was also taken sick with winter fever and died in June of 1841; next my
youngest daughter, Mary, was taken sick with the fever and died a few weeks later,
then my second daughter, Frances, aged 9 years was taken sick with the fever, and
lingered until fall of 1841, when she died. Jacob Jr. also became ill at this time with the
fever, but was healed by the power of faith, under the administration of the Prophet
Joseph Smith. These bereavements were great trials to me, but I knew the work of
God was true, and I was at all times ready to say Thy
will be done.
Jacob later went on to marry a family friend, Phebe
Robson Thompson on May 6, 1842. Phebe Robson
was born August 30, 1804, in Alston, England to John
and Nancy Liddle Robson. She and her first husband,
John Thompson had been friends with the Pearts in
England. They also had sailed to America together
on board the ship Rochester. John Thompson had
died in Kirtland in 1841 (some records say Nauvoo.)
Phebe was left alone with their two children, Mary
and Robert Thompson. Family history records,
Phebe Robson Thompson, a Scottish lass, seems to
have had excellent health. She was a natural homemaker, and had a happy disposition. People liked to
be around her because they said she spread so much
good cheer. She could always find something pleasant
Jacob Peart Jr., oldest son of Sacob
to laugh and chat about, and was far less serious
Peart Sr. Photo courtesy of Vilate Peart
minded than her husband John. While Phoebe was
Woodbury Schank.

Jacob Peart Sr.

Snowball Pioneers

no less spiritual minded than John, she was not quite so pious. John believed in the
letter of the law, Phoebe gave it a little leeway. John could not forgive a wrong as
quickly as Phoebe, and he let adverse circumstances eat at him, while Phoebe took
things in stride, and laughed at the world. John was sensitive, and fine grained and
let criticism trouble him, but Phoebe was more inclined to forgive, and forget and to
shrug things off. Consequently, her life was easier all the way through. Phebe was
such a blessing in Jacobs life at this time. Even with the many struggles and sadness
the family was content in their new life together. One can assume from the letters that
passed between Jacob and Phebe at times when he was away from home on business,
that these two were very much in love. Jacob also sent Phebe love poems he himself
had created. (These letters and poems are still in the possession of family members.)
A year after the couple was married they had their first child, a son, George Alma,
who was born on January 21, 1844 at Nauvoo. He became the light and joy of the
entire family. Jacob recorded about this time in his life: After a time spent in digging
wells etc. I married Phoebe Thompson in the winter of 1842. She was sealed to me
(for time) by Hyrum Smith. My first wife was also sealed to me that day, with Phoebe
standing in as proxy. Soon after I was sealed to my second wife, I bought a city lot
from Israel Barlow. I planted fruit trees, and built a good brick house, and a workshop
of logs, also a horsepower calculator for turning lathe, and went to work to make
chairs and spinning wheels, and my spirits began to revive. I did considerable work
on the Temple, planing up boards, and laying floors in the attic, and tower. After this,
I went to work on the arsenal. I also worked considerable as a common bricklayer on
the Nauvoo House.
Jacobs son Jacob Jr.s history records: We lived neighbors to the Prophet Joseph
Smith. I was present when a number of Indians visited the Prophet, and gave a war
dance on the lawn. I was also present when the Nauvoo Legion was on parade. General Joseph Smith in uniform was riding a beautiful horse called Joe Duncan. In the
grove near the Temple I have heard the Prophet preach many times. I loved to listen
to him even when I was too young to understand. I was standing on Mulholland
Street when the bodies of the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum were brought in
from Carthage after the martyrdom. Many of the Saints were weeping aloud. The next
day I went down to the mansion house, and viewed the remains as they lay in state.
It was feared that mobs would attack the city, and my father spent many nights on
guard, with others of the brethren. Jacob Sr. also wrote of that time: After the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph and Patriarch Hyrum in the fall of 1844, by council of
Brigham Young, I went on a mission in connection with Brother Peter Maughn (Peter
Maughn came with the Pearts on the ship Rochester), and John Sander, to Rock Island to bring in coal for the saints in Nauvoo. We opened a coal bed, and commenced
to bring out the coal. The prophet had chartered the Maid of Iowa, a steamboat, to
deliver the coal to Nauvoo. Here I was visited with sickness, and brought near unto
death, and I was only healed by the power of God. It was also while I was here that
my oldest son, John Peart, age twenty, went to Galena, Illinois to seek work, and took
sick, and in two or three days he was taken from me on April 9, 1845. Jacobs journal
continued, In the spring of 1845, they sent for us to come home. After arriving at
Nauvoo, I was ordained into the Quorum of Seventies, by Brigham Young on January
13, 1846, and also had my endowments in the Temple of the Lord in connection

with my wife Phebe, and her daughter Mary who was at this time sealed to Willard
Richards. (At this time Jacob did many ordinances for some of his family who had
passed away.) Jacob worked in the Nauvoo Wagon Shop that winter, and on the 15th
of February 1846, crossed the Mississippi River, in company with the Nauvoo Brass
Band, of which he was a member, and the next day he arrived at Sugar Creek. Here
he stayed for several weeks waiting for grass. (Jacob Sr. was a member of the Nauvoo
brass band, whose music did so much to cheer the hearts of the exiled Saints on their
journey west.) Jacob recorded, We then started for the Wilderness, not knowing any
more than Abraham whither we were going. By slow and short marches, we arrived
at Garden Grove where we built houses, and fences in a large field, and put in some
grain. I was President of the well diggers. They lived principally on parched meal,
and after working all day in the rain, they would have to build fires, and dry their
clothes before retiring. At Garden Grove, Jacob Sr. helped to build fences for three
hundred acres of land, also constructing log houses, and assisting to cultivate the soil.
The houses were built and left for those who would come later. From there they went
to Mount Pisgah, where the Saints again halted, broke land, split a large number of
rails, planted as before. Here their provisions gave out. Young Jacobs history adds,
Finally Father received word from Willard Richards, to come to Winter Quarters, we
start for the mountains, but on the way, between St. Joe, and Winter Quarters, there
was a tremendous storm, and the creeks rose so high that we could not travel for
days, and being delayed, we arrived three days too late to go with the companies that
reached Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Our provisions we distributed among the Saints. Father went back to St. Joseph to get another outfit. Jacob was very disappointed that he
had not been privileged to go to Utah with the first company as promised by Willard
Richards and Brigham Young. These men were also disappointed, for they wanted
him along as much as he wanted it himself.
When Jacob returned to Winter Quarters he married Fylinda Angela Loss on November 21, 1847. At the time they were married Jacob was forty-six and Fylinda was
twenty. The couple was later sealed again in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City,
Utah on May 23, 1860.
Jacobs writing contained very little concerning their crossing the plains, In the
spring of 1848, I started in President Brigham Youngs Company for the Valley of the
Great Salt Lake. After a very long and tedious, but happy journey we landed in the
Salt Lake Valley. The day before we landed my second wife, Phebe, had a baby. Phebe
Louise Peart was born September 21, 1848 in Browns Creek in Emigration Canyon.
Jacob Sr. continued, After some two or three weeks, I moved onto my city lot in the
14th Ward, and commenced making adobes, and built me a house with three rooms.
(The house was located at about West Temple and Second South.) This same fall I also
made adobes, and built a house for Brother Woods in the 15th Ward. He let me have
a cow. I turned her in for lumber for my house. I also made adobes, for corn, for one
of the brethren that come in with the Pioneers.
On January 1, 1851 Jacob Sr. wrote in his journal, I give thanks to God for all his
blessings bestowed upon me and my family through the past year which have been
many. When we came first to this place, my circumstances were very much straightened, having little more than enough to bring my family here, we suffered very
severely through the first season for want of food and, likewise, clothing, but I believe

Jacob Peart Sr.

was kept from murmuring. This day we have plenty to eat, and to spare for the season,
and clothing sufficient to keep us from suffering, for which blessings I feel abundantly
thankful to the great giver of all good who hath richly crowned our labors with success, and poured into our bosoms blessings upon blessings; and I feel in my heart to
say, let blessing, and glory and honor, and praise majesty and dominion be unto His
name for ever and ever, amen.
By 1866, the Endowment House was completed and Jacobs diary mentions that he
is doing temple work for the dead. Jacob felt very strongly about temple work, and
he and his wife, Fylinda Angela, did a great deal of work in the Endowment House
for their ancestors. His journal entries recorded the following: April 3, 1866: I have
got in four acres of wheat, and laid it off for irrigation. I have also got in my carrots,
and now we have a heavy snowstorm which will bring up my seeds beautifully. For
this blessing I feel heartily to acknowledge the hand of the Lord, and praise his holy
name. (Jacob was now sixty-six.)
Jacob records in his journal, June 26, 1868, Friday Morning, My wife Phebe died,
or more properly, fell asleep in death. She apparently had no suffering, and seemed as
if going into a common sleep. Her features were natural and easy, but she ceased to
breathe a few minutes before eight oclock. Phebe Robson Thompson Peart died June
26, 1868 in Salt Lake City, Utah at the age of sixty-three.
In 1869 Jacob speaks of his health. He writes, Today the School of the Prophets
meets in the Old Tabernacle, being the usual time, and place of the meeting. I have
missed for about three times, owing to sickness, having a severe affliction in my lungs,
and in my head, by cold or some other way. The Elders administered to me for my
health on Thursday, and told me I should get well, and do a great work in the Church
yet, in the office I hold. I have been better since and hope to continue to mend until I
am quite well. Jacob was acting as a teacher in the 14th Ward from its first organization until his health failed him in 1871.
Jacob and Phebes son George Alma who was married a few years after his mothers
death, left Salt Lake City in the spring of 1871 to settle Randolph, Utah. He gave up
his work as a telegrapher, and sold his home to his half brother Jacob Jr. Jacob Sr.
wrote, It is now 1872, my health is very poor. My testimony is that the Gospel of
Jesus Christ as taught by the Latter Day Saints is true, and all they who obey its laws
and ordinances with honest hearts and continue faithful in keeping the commandments of God shall have Eternal Life. I also know that President Brigham Young has
a commission from God to lead the people, and is the mouthpiece of God unto us,
and I believe it is for him to carry out the work that Joseph Smith commenced, and
build up the Zion of our Lord upon the Earth. Jacob Peart, Sr. died April 20, 1874 at
the home of his son Jacob Jr. in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was seventy-three years old.
President John Taylor spoke at his funeral. He was laid to rest in the City Cemetery in
the Peart Lot.

Thomas Snowball
Born: 4 October 1808
Where: Wallsend, Northumberland, England
Parents: John and Elizabeth Bell Snowball
Spouse: Elizabeth Garr
Married: 1836
Where: Merrington, Durham, England
Crossed Plains: 1854
Company: Darwin Richardson (3)
Died Crossing Plains: 14 August 1854
Where: Green River, Sweetwater, Wyoming, USA
Submitted By: Barbara Snowball Davis
1457 25th Street
Ogden, Utah 84401
801-394-2050
CAMP SAGE: Weber South Company

homas Snowball was born 4 October 1808 at Wallsend, Northumberland,

England, a son of John and Elizabeth Bell Snowball. His people as far back as can be
traced were of English descent.
Thomas married Elizabeth Garr in 1836 in Merrington, Durham, England. They
had five children. He was employed by a large cotton factory where he was an engineer in charge of a double and a single engine. He was also an expert cabinet maker.
It was in 1848 that the family first heard about the Mormons. They were living in
Hull, England at this time. The family investigated The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and after thorough study of all phases of the religion the family joined
the church. Those of age were baptized, the parents (Thomas and Elizabeth) in April
1849 and the three oldest children in September of 1852.
All the stories tell how devoted the family was to the new religion, and how the
more they studied it the more active they became. Thomas was soon appointed a
home missionary in England. He worked hard in this position and many times he
took his young son John along with him. As the familys testimonies grew they developed a strong desire to immigrate to America to be with the main body of the Saints.
Because of Thomas skills in cabinet making and his faithful missionary work, he was
7

Thomas Snowball

Snowball Pioneers

chosen to come to America and help build the

temple in Zion. So Thomas sold everything he
could and in 1854 bought passage for him and
his family on the ship Windermere.
The family was warned prior to obtaining
passage that the ship was not safe and that
the crossing might be hazardous. This did
not, however, prevent them from going with
the rest of the immigrants who were going
to board the Windermere. There were 477
saints and seven former Presidents of Mission
Conferences sailing, for a total of 484 church
members.
They sailed from Liverpool on 22 February
1854. They had not been at sea very long when
the ship caught fire. Although it was soon
brought under control there was some damage
that was repaired. It was not long after that a
severe storm overtook them and the adverse
weather really slowed them down. There were Thomas Snowball, coutesy of Vilate Peart
Woodburry Schank
times, indeed, when there seemed little hope
of reaching land. In the midst of this terrible
storm, at the earnest solicitation of the captain, the saints assembled in fasting and
prayer and asked God for deliverance. The saints felt their prayers were answered
when the sea was calmed. After a trying voyage of eight weeks and five days, the latter
part of which they were reduced to half rations, they arrived safely in New Orleans on
23 April 1854. They were all held under quarantine on an island for three days due to
a smallpox outbreak on board the ship a few days before reaching New Orleans.
The Snowball family was met upon their arrival in New Orleans by Elizabeth (Garr)
Snowballs only brother, Reverend John Garr, who was a Presbyterian minister in
Missouri. He helped them obtain steamboat passage up the Mississippi and Missouri
Rivers to the Kansas City / Atchison area to prepare for the trek west.
It was during this time of preparation for the westward journey that Elizabeth Garr
Snowball died at the Kansas Campground along with six others who died the same
night, apparently from sleeping on the chilly ground.
The Snowball family decided to not buy a wagon and oxen, but rather bought passage west with the Richardson Company wagon train. Darwin Richardson, captain of
the third company and a former member of Zions Camp, was a very good man and
was returning to his home from a mission.
They left the Kansas Campground on 17 June 1854 with forty wagons and about 300
immigrants. There were 10 to 15 immigrants assigned to each wagon which was filled
to capacity with tents and provisions with little, if any, room for anyone to ride. In
essence almost everyone walked except the very young and the sick.
As the wagon train moved west they saw many herds of buffalo. Sometimes there
were so many that they had to stop the wagon train for several hours as the thousands

of buffalo would cross their trail. They were able to kill some from time to time to
furnish fresh meat for the camp.
At night they circled the wagons and chained them together, keeping the animals
inside. They always stood guard at night, usually in four hour shifts, to watch for
Indians and to protect the people and animals. The Indians, for the most part, were
friendly to the people but wanted the cattle.
When the pioneer group arrived at the Big Sandy River in Wyoming, the oldest
child, Anne Eliza, died from mountain fever on 27 July 1854, and was buried on the
prairie alongside the trail. Thomas Snowball died on 14 August 1854 on the Green
River in Wyoming. He was buried under a large tree near the banks of the river.
The four remaining children, John 14 years, Mary Jane 12, Ralph 9, and Elizabeth 7,
continued the journey and arrived in the valley of the Great Salt Lake on 30 September 1854. There were no relatives to receive them or to care for them. But many kind
people helped find homes for the young sisters and work for the two brothers. The
descendents of the Thomas Snowball family have always been grateful for the efforts
of the people to provide for the orphaned children.
Several months later, in the spring of 1855, the two sons, John and Ralph, were given
permission by Brigham Young to return to the Green River and bring the body of
their father home to the Salt Lake valley for burial. When they returned to the place
where Thomas was buried, they found the spring runoff had raised the Green River
high enough so that the tree was now in mid-stream; the body apparently washed
away.

Snowball Pioneers

ohn Snowball was born 17 December 1839 in Fawdon, Gosforth, Northumberland, England to Thomas Snowball and Elizabeth Garr. His parents learned of the
gospel of Jesus Christ through missionaries and joined the church in 1849. In 1850,
John and all the children eight years and older were baptized.
The great aim of the family was to immigrate to Utah, so they sold everything they
had and bought passage on the ship Windemere, sailing under Daniel Garns direction. They left Liverpool, England with 484 saints on Wednesday, 22 February 1854,
and arrived in New Orleans on 24 April 1854. Because of a smallpox and cholera
outbreak on board they were quarantined just below St. Louis, Missouri.
At Kansas Campground they were outfitted to cross the plains. Not caring to buy
oxen and a wagon, Johns father bought his family passage with the Darwin Richardson third company. There were 40 wagons, three yokes of oxen to the wagon with ten
persons assigned to each wagon. All but the old and sick had to walk.
Tragedy struck during the westward trek when both parents and an older sister
(Ann Eliza, aged 16) died. At age 14, John was now the oldest of four children: Mary,
age 12, Ralph, age 9, and Elizabeth, age 7. They arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah on 30
September 1854. John found a home for his sisters with Bishop William Allens family.
Ralph was assigned to herding cows and gathering fire wood for his board. John went
to Brigham Young explaining their condition. President Young put John to work as a

cooks helper up Parleys Canyon at a saw mill. Later the two brothers found a home
with the Winegar family near the Jordan River.
John was a good teamster and followed the plains as a freighter, primarily carrying
eggs and flour between Salt Lake and Nevada. On one trip to Denver, the train of
wagons he was with decided to go on. Not caring to go further, John and Ralph stayed
on in Denver thinking they could find work. Work was scarce, however, so they went
to the hills and cut dry wood into kindling to sell to the housewives to earn some
food money. That winter was long and food scarce so they invested their last money
in salt and ammunition. They went to the surrounding hills and fished and hunted,
living on meat alone all the rest of the season. Early the next spring they had a chance
to work their way back to the Salt Lake Valley. Their condition had been so bad that
besides having a bad case of scurvy and itch, they were covered with lice. The first
warm day on the trip back found them shedding their leather jeans for a good bath
in the stream while the ants did them the service of ridding their clothing of nits and
lice. When they arrived back they used the Great Salt Lake as a cure for their itch.
In 1865, John was a member of the first surveying party for the Union Pacific Company, working between Green River, Wyoming and Ogden, Utah. John and Ralph
were the cooks. Part of their job was to get meat which was plentiful in those days.
Before they left, Brigham Young told them if they would not use profane language
the Indians would not molest them. At one time the embers werent cold from the
cook fire when a band of Indians arrived; John put fresh wood on the fire and fixed
their lunch. One of the men in the surveying party got hurt and they were afraid of
infection so they sent for an Indian doctor, who went into the woods to get some
herbs and weeds and made medicine which was used to dress the wound. The man
soon recovered.
Late in the summer the men became discontented and decided to strike for higher
wages. They signed a letter to Brigham Young making their demands and threatened to quit the job unless they were met. The two Snowball boys would not sign the
letter. Brigham Young refused to meet the demands and informed the survey party
they could quit or continue at the wages agreed upon when they began the job. The
surveying party continued the work and completed the job in the fall of the year. They
returned to Salt Lake City where they were all paid off and discharged. After this was
over, Brigham Young called the Snowball boys to one side and told them to go to his
home and consider it their home as long as they cared to. This was his reward to them
for their loyalty in not joining the men threatening to strike. Both young men were
truly grateful for the privilege of having a home.
John became Brigham Youngs carriage driver and for the next year enjoyed his
home and company. President Young always insisted that his driver sit next to him so
that when he was ready to go, his driver would also be ready. He took him to all parts
of the state where the Mormon settlements were located. John never questioned the
Presidents judgment and always followed his direction.
Johns happiest time was spent at Brigham Youngs home, for the girl he loved, Mary
Sorensen, was also working for one of the Presidents wives. He and Mary were married on 5 December 1865, at the home of Bishop John Sharpe. He had waited until
both sisters and his brother had married and were settled in their own homes. He had
saved a little money to start a home and built a two room log house for them. They

10

11

John Snowball
Born: 17 December 1839
Where: Fawdon, Gosforth, Northumberland, England
Parents: John Snowball and Elizabeth Bell
Spouse: Mary Sorensen (Bodil Marie Christensdatter)
Married: 1865
Where: Salt Lake City, Utah
Crossed Plains: 1854
Company: Darwin Richardson (3)
Submitted By: Barbara Snowball Davis
1457 25th Street
Ogden, Utah 84401
801-394-2050
CAMP SAGE: Weber South Company

Jacob Peart Sr.

John Snowball and some men at Benjamin Losss Blacksmith Shop at Richmond, Utah.

did not have much furniture or conveniences, but it was the first home they either of
them had ever had.
They lived in Salt Lake City until 1871, when they were called to go and help settle
Randolph, Rich County, Utah. They sold their home, loaded their furniture and four
children into a covered wagon, and obediently started north to help make the northern part of the state safe for the Mormon people.
Johns first home in Randolph was a one-room cabin. Later he bought the home of
Wilford Woodruff. It had two long rooms with a fireplace in each end. As the family
increased he added more rooms (weather boarded and painted). He spent the rest
of his days in this home. When Wilford Woodruff first came to Randolph, he dug a
well on the place. He blessed the well and told the people it would never go dry. The
well has always had plenty of water, even in the driest seasons. Everyone hauled and
carried it to all parts of the town.
John loved to fish and hunt. The country was abounding with fish, ducks, and large
game so meat was plentiful. For years, he and Andy McMinn trapped and hunted for
a living and sold their game to the tourists going over the Union Pacific Railroad at
Evanston, Wyoming.
For 14 years he came to Salt Lake for grain to plant only to have it freeze. At one
conference, John Taylor came to visit the people in Randolph. Finding them so
discouraged, he called special prayer meeting to be held after the afternoon meeting.
He blessed the land and promised the people that if they would stick to the country,
they would raise and mature their grain. His prayer was answered and the country
produced grain. John got a start in cattle and, as there was plenty of range land, they
began to prosper.
All this time he was educating himself, reading and writing every day and studying
the childrens books. He loved music and played a violin. He took part in the home
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Snowball Pioneers
dramatics and delighted to entertain his children with stories of his early days. He
could hold an audience spellbound with his pioneer stories. Children loved him and
men respected him.
Through his untiring efforts, he held many responsible positions in Rich County. He
served as Notary Public, County Recorder, County Clerk, and Probate Officer for a
good many years.
John was ordained an Elder on 21 October 1880 by James Cummings; a Seventy
on 19 July 1890 by Christen D. Feldated; and a High Priest on 15 September 1895 by
William Budge. He was a charter member of the Genealogical Society; a ward teacher
for twenty years; a home missionary for the Bear Lake Stake; a Mutual officer; President of the Elders Quorum; and Ward Clerk and Historian for the Randolph Ward for
22 years.
After retiring from farming in 1900, John devoted much of his time to gathering
names for temple work. He hired English missionaries to gather names for him. His
hobby was the gathering and filing of records. He kept one large book that was filled
with everything of any importance that had happened in the town of Randolph.
Through all his busy life he was a loving husband to his beloved wife, Mary, and his
11 children.
In Johns declining years he refurbished their home, buying new carpets, some easy
chairs, cabinets for dishes, and a davenport, telling Mary they were honeymooning
again. He was the father of 11 children with four preceding him in death. His great
sorrow came when he lost Mary to a heart attack on 6 April 1920. John only lived a
little over a year when, on 14 July 1921, he died of stomach cancer. He is buried in
Randolph next to Mary.
He who was so fine in life, may his rest be sweet.

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Snowball Pioneers

George Alma Peart

Born: 21 January 1844
Where: Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois
Parents: Jacob Peart and Phoebe Robson
Spouse: Jane McPhail
Married: 16 August 1869
Where: Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Crossed Plains: 1848
Company: Brigham Young Company
Submitted By: Barbara Snowball Davis
1457 25th Street
Ogden, Utah 84401
801-394-2050
CAMP SAGE: Weber South Company

eorge Alma Peart was born 21 January 1844, in Nauvoo, Illinois to Jacob Peart
and his second wife, Phoebe Robson Peart, both converts to the Church. The family
was neighbors to Joseph and Emma Smith while living in Nauvoo. On 27 June 1844,
when George was five months old, the Saints witnessed the return of the Prophet
Joseph and his brother Hyrums bodies following their martyrdom. Within two years
the mob drove the family from their home and two years later in 1848 the Peart family was among the first to arrive in the Salt Lake Valley traveling in President Brigham
Youngs company.
A sister, Phoebe Louise, the only other child of this marriage, was born 21 September 1848, on Browns Creek in Emigration Canyon. She only lived a few years. After
arriving in Salt Lake City, the family began once again to build a home in the wilderness. It was there that George grew to manhood.
In 1852, George was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was re-baptized and confirmed on 24 March 1857. In
1865 he received his endowment in the Endowment House.
Because of unrest in the Territory, George was called to service in the Utah Militia
and served faithfully in the Black Hawk War and the Thistle Valley skirmish. Following his military service he was called in 1866 by Brigham Young to study Telegraphy

14

and served as operator in the office at Kanarra, Utah for a year. He then went on to teach
Telegraphy in Deseret University.
While he was teaching, he met Jane McPhail.
They were married and sealed in the Endowment House on 15 August 1868. George Alma
and Jane were the parents of ten children:
Sarah Jane, Phoebe (also written as Phebe),
George Archibald, Catherine, Mary, Agnes
(who died in infancy), Jacob Willard, John
McPhail, Alma Nephi, and Vilate.
In the beginning of May 1871, Georges family, with Archibald McKinnon and his family,
moved to the Bear River Valley and located in
Randolph, Utah. There were only three or four
families who had settled there at that time. Jane
was quite concerned with the new country to
which they were going and asked her husband
if there were trees. He assured her there were
lots of trees; but he forgot to mention that
George Alma Peart, courtesy of Amelia Peart
Macdonald Marx.
they were really only large sagebrush bushes.
She was quite disappointed when she saw the
flat, rolling countryside and the complete lack
of trees.
Before leaving Salt Lake City, George has
secured a lot of young fruit trees of different
varieties. Upon arriving in Randolph, he set
them out along the bank of Big Creek. But the
trees were doomed to a short life. The winters were extremely cold, and with the creek
overflowing and freezing, the young trees soon
disappeared. Only one tree survived the fierce
George Alma Pearts first wife, Jane McPhail
winter storms. It still stands today, gnarled and (right), and second wife, Mrs. Bertha Peart.
weather-beaten, hardly resembling the apple
tree it is. Occasionally there is a small apple on it.
George was a carpenter by trade and found farming to be extremely difficult, especially in such a harsh country. The sagebrush had to be dug out by hand. It took a
huge amount of time and work to get enough land cleared and cultivated to produce
enough food for his large family. But he was able to manage it.
All his life George Alma was an active member of the church. He especially loved
the Sunday School work and devoted about forty-five years of service to that organization. It had been his privilege to attend the first Sunday School class organized and
taught by Richard Ballantyne in 1849 in the Fourteenth Ward in Salt Lake City. When
he grew up he was a Sunday School officer in that ward. After moving to Randolph he
was chosen first assistant to Archibald McKinnon, Sr., and worked with him for ten
years. He was then appointed as superintendent, a position he held for twenty years.
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Jacob Peart Sr.

Some of that time he lived seven miles from the church house and people would
report that he was never tardy. Soon after the turn of the century he was appointed
stake superintendent of the Woodruff Stake Sunday School.
George and Jane were very civic minded people, always interested in the growth and
advancement of the town. He was the manager of the Randolph Branch of Z.C.M.I.
George served as a county commissioner in Randolph, a probate judge for Rich
County. He helped organize the Randolph dramatic association. Besides his love for
and service in Sunday School, George held positions in bishoprics, was a member of
the high council, and, when he and Jane later moved to Ogden, he was set apart as
patriarch, a calling he held until his death.
George Alma Peart passed away at the age of 79 on 9 June 1923, at his residence in
Ogden, Utah. He was survived by his beloved wife, Jane, six of his ten children, 37
grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.

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Mary
Sorenson
Bodil MarieChristendatter
Born: 22 November 1847
Where: lstrup, Aalborg, Denmark
Parents: Christen Sorensen and Mette Petersen
Spouse: John Snowball
Married: 5 December 1865
Where: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Crossed Plains: 1857
Company: Christian Christiansen Handcart Company
Submitted By: Barbara Snowball Davis
1457 25th Street
Ogden, Utah 84401
801-394-2050
CAMP SAGE: Weber South Company

odil Marie Christensdatter, daughter of Christen Sorensen and Mette Petersen, was born at Alstrup, Aalborg, Denmark on 22 November 1847 and christened on
2 January 1848. Sometime between Bodil Maries birth and November 29, 1855, her
father, Christen Sorensen, had the surname of his family standardized. Bodil Marie
was then known as Mary Sorenson until she married John Snowball.
It was in Alstrup that her parents first heard the missionaries teach the newly restored
gospel of Jesus Christ. They were soon converted and baptized members of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On 29 November 1855, Christen Sorensen, his wife
and six children along with 430 Scandinavian saints, sailed from Copenhagen, Denmark on board the steamship LOVEN, which was under the direction of Elder Knud
Petersen (who was returning from his mission in Norway). The Scandinavian saints
were joined by 42 British and 30 Italian saints at Liverpool, England. There they boarded the ship JOHN J. BOYD for their trip across the ocean to America.
The journey was a difficult one for the Sorensen family, with the two youngest children falling victim to a measles outbreak and buried at sea. Not long after reaching
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Mary Sorenson

Snowball Pioneers

America in February 1856, the two oldest

children, a daughter and son, died and were
buried at St. Louis, Missouri. The mother,
Mette, also died not long afterward.
Not much is known of Christen Sorensen
after that time. He married again but was only
able to earn enough money to send his two
daughters, Else (14) and Mary (9), to Utah. He
worked as a ferry engineer on the Missouri
River and later joined the Josephites, never
completing his planned journey to Utah.
Christen was able to purchase passage with
the Christian Christiansen Handcart Company
for his two daughters. Mary, who was small for
her age, was soon overtired and needed a lot of
assistance from her sister as they traveled. The
food they received was poor and they were so
long on the road that provisions became scarce
for the company. After arriving in the Salt Lake
Mary Sorenson, courtesy of Mrs. ben Larsen.
Valley on 13 September 1857, Else soon found
work helping in the home of Jeppe Christensen, whom she would later marry. Mary
tended babies for her board. Later she had a chance to make her home with Dr. Jeter
Clinton and his family. Sister Clinton was like a mother to her giving her good clothes
and teaching her some reading, writing, and tailoring. This was her home for some
time.
Later she worked for one of Brigham Youngs wives at the Beehive House. She especially remembered the fine parties and the bell that was rung at meal time calling everyone to prayer. While there, Mary attended a dance school. A long line was marked
around the room and they had to waltz on the line. Mary loved to dance.
It was while she lived at President Youngs home that she met and fell in love with
John Snowball. He was a teamster for the President. Their courtship lasted for two
years during which time they enjoyed the theater, dancing, housewarmings, and candy pulls. They were married on 5 December 1865, by Bishop John Sharpe and were
later sealed in the Endowment House on 21 October 1886.
Their first home was a two room house with four pieces of furniture: a bed, a dresser, a table, and a stove. A red table cloth, quilt, pillows, a few dishes and some pans
added to their belongings. They raised a garden and when the grasshoppers came,
Mary took everything she could find to put over her precious plants, but little was
saved.
Mary and John lived in Salt Lake City until 1871, when they were called to help
pioneer Randolph, Rich County, Utah. They left with their children, a little more furniture than they started out with, a team and a wagon. Mary, a real pioneer, endured
those first years of hardshippoor housing, deep snows, and Indianswith courage.
Their first home was a one room log house on the Polly Corless place on Little Creek.
Later, when Wilford Woodruff was called back to Salt Lake, John bought his home. It

was a large log house with great fireplaces at each end. It is still standing and is a real
landmark in Randolph.
Mary had the first sewing machine in Randolpha Damask. Her wonderful training with Sister Clinton enabled her to make overalls and jumpers for the Old Co-op
store, taking trade for her pay. She made dresses and mens suits for nearly all the early settlers and was paid for this by people doing work for her family. One Sunday in
church, Mary looked around and realized she had made every suit the men and boys
were wearing. She also had the first hat shop in Randolph. During his trips to Salt
Lake John would buy wires, velvet, flowers and straws for her to use in her business.
When the Relief Society was organized, she was called and set apart to make burial
clothes for the dead. She not only did this, but she trimmed the caskets after Charles
South made them. She would often be up all night in order to have things ready for
the funeral. She did this for 30 years.
People came for her night and day in times of sickness. On one occasion, Brother
Jacobson came for her in the night because his wife was very ill. All he had was the
running gears of an old vehicle with some slabs on it. Mary and two other sisters rode
on them, although they had a time keeping on the boards because the road was rough
and it was pitch dark. They finally made the five miles in safety. Sister Jacobson was
very sick, but by daylight they had finished their job leaving a new baby to cheer the
family.
Soon after they came to Randolph, Mary received her Patriarchal Blessing. She was
promised that she would feed the hungryboth rich and poorand be a mother to
orphans. Mary often wondered how she would do this. However, in her later years
she started a hotel and fed people from far and near. In 1902, when they closed the
hotel, thousands had registered and sat at her table. Later she had the chance to fulfill
the other part of her blessing by taking Mary Rose Clawson and also her grandson
Gilbert Brough to raise after they had been left orphans.
Mary was the mother of 11 childrensix daughters and five sonsand grandmother to 69 grandchildren. Knitting was her hobby, and there was always a stocking
handy whenever she sat down to rest. Wool and hair flowers were made for decorations on best dresses, and a lace and silk baby bonnet was made for all the newborn
babies.
She died suddenly on 6 April 1920, at Randolph, Rich County, Utah. They had just
sat down to eat and John asked Mary to say the blessing on the food. He lowered his
head and, as she did not start, looked up only to find her going backward in her chair.
She was gone in less than five minutes after being stricken. She was buried on 11 April
1920. People came from far and near to see her. As they passed her casket they told
of the things she had done for them and their families. She was a devout Latter-day
Saint; a good wife, mother, and grandmother; and a devoted friend to all in need.

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