April 3, 2015

Compiled by Darlene Hutchings Odenwalder

Nebeker Nebeker

John and Mary Woodcock

Nebeker
H

Mary Woodcock
Nebeker
John married a plural
wife, Mary Woodcock,
on September 12,
1854, in Salt Lake
City. She was a daughter of William Woodcock and Hannah
Stones of Pilley Green,
Yorkshire, England.
She was born September 19, 1830, and
came to Utah October
14, 1853, in the Cyrus
Wheelock company.
They had a home for a
while in Bountiful, later
on a ranch overlooking
the Jordan River. In
the fall of 1861,

Called to Dixie
In 1861
John Nebeker was called by
Brigham Young to move part of
his family to southern
Utah, his wife Mary Woodcock
their children Encora Laurena, William, Alfred, and Sarah Ann came to Toquerville
where they added Susanna
Adelia, George (Wash) Washington, Mary Lurena, and
Zettie May Nebeker. Three of
Johns grown sons by Lurena
also came, Ira Nebeker, Aaron
Nebeker and Aston Nebeker.
They built a house on the east
bank of Ash Creek, which emptied into the Virgin River. He
erected a rock house of six
rooms, also a cotton mill. He
planted all kinds of trees,
grapes, cotton, figs and nuts.
Here he operated the first
cotton mill this side of the
Mississippi River.

In 1862 Marys sister Encora

Woodcock and her husband
George Batty and their six

children made their way to

Toquerville, our Mary and John
took them into their home until
they could build a dugout.

until the mother was well.

John was closely associated
with apostle Erastus Snow in
the settlement of southern
Utah, including what is now
part of Nevada. He was probate judge of Kane county,
now Washington County. Here,
while living in Toquerville, two
of his children were buried,
Susannah Adelia and Mary
Luella. John and his wife, Mary
Woodcock, had buried two
children before leaving Salt
Lake City, Encora Lurena and
William Woodcock. (2)

Mary Encora Batty and Mary

Nebeker were called and set
apart by Brigham Young to go
to salt Lake City and study
obstetrics.(1) Mary as
a midwife, would deliver the
baby, wash and dress and
care for the mother and baby

Cotton Gins in Dixie:

James McFate had erected a primitive hand-powered cotton gin. John Nebeker followed with a water-powered mill built in a rock building and is still standing today. (2)
The cotton gin is an instrument to remove the seeds, from cotton . After ginning, the
raw fiber, now called lint is pressed into bales and shipped to the Cotton Factory
A cotton mill/factory is a factory for the production of yarn or cloth from cotton.

P a g e

Compiled by Darlene Hutchings Odenwalder

What is Sorghum?

Sweet Sorghum has

been widely cultivated
in the U.S. since the
1850s for use in
sweeteners, primarily
in the form of
sorghum syrup. By
the early 1900s, the
U.S. produced
20 million US gallons
(76,000 m3) of sweet
sorghum syrup
annually. Making
syrup from sorghum
(as from sugar cane)
is heavily laborintensive.

John Nebekers Cotton Gin

IMPROVEMENT ERA
APRIL 1940

A LANDMARK
of Cotton Time in
Utahs Dixie
By
Mark A. PENDLETON

In presenting the business of the October

Conference, 1861, President Brigham
Young said it was is intention to call
upon a number of Swiss and other brethren to go the southern part of the territory to raise cotton, indigo, grape, figs and
sorghum cane. War between the North a
and the South was in progress, and but
little cotton from the cotton-raising states
would reach the North. The time had
arrived for Utah to raise cotton to supply
the needs of the intermountain region. Accordingly, more then 300 people, in the late fall of 1861, were called

to colonize the hot, arid wastes of the

southwestern Utah, to become known
as Utahs Dixie.
Among the stalwarts called to the difficult mission was John Nebeker, a
pioneer of 1847. He was well
equipped for the task, for he had
means, had worked in the cotton mills
of his native state, Delaware, had
commercial education, was an experienced farmer and fruit grower, a saddle and harness maker, and had served
as justice of the peace in Salt lake
City.
As a cotton gin was needed at Toquerville, Erastus Snow called upon John
Nebeker to erect a stone building on
his lot, to install the machinery, and
operate the mill.
(Continued page 3)

Darlene standing in front of the entrance

to the John Nebekers cotton gin (2012)

P a g e

(Continued page 2)

It is claimed that it was the first gin mill

in the West driven by water power. It
played an important part in the development of Utahs Dixie. The gin house
is in a remarkable states of preservation
as the accompanying photograph shows.
Among the pioneer relics at the Utah
State Capitol is a small doily made by
Mrs. John Nebeker from the first cotton
ginned at this mill it was presented by
Mrs. Zettie N Kearl only surviving child
of the Nebekers.

T h e
6 5 - 6 7

The Gin is
on private
Property
Please do
not enter
without
permission
of the
property
owners

Gary and Darlene

Odenwalder
at
Cotton Gin Drive
(2012)

N e b e k e r C o t t o n G i n
E a s t C o t t o n G i n D r i v e

In the fall of 1861, John

Nebeker moved with a portion of his family to Toquerville where he raised cotton and built and operated
this cotton gin, the first in
Utah. Prior to this time,
the people had to pick the
seeds out of the cotton
balls by hand, As Toquerville farmers raised about
100 acres of cotton each
year, the gin turned out to

S e q u e n c e

o f

be a substantial labor saving device.

From 1870 to 1872 John
acted as Probate Judge of
Kane County, Utah and
Toquerville as the county
seat. It was at this time
that all properties in
Toquerville were deeded to
John Nebeker by the president of the United States
(presumably Ulysses S.
Grant) and, in turn, deeded

C o t t o n

to the respective occupants. This insured local

title and explains why the
name John Nebeker is
on all the abstract deeds.
(2)

Locally, The Nebeker Cotton gin is referred to as the

The Old Gin House. (3)

G i n s

O w n e r s h i p

John Nebeker (Fir st Pr obate J udge Kane County) 1972

to Ashton and Lucy Nebeker 1891
to Hans Anderson and Eliza Ann Slack Anderson (Carpenter, dairyman, maker of coffins, grindstone from silver Reef red
sandstone and oak.)
to John T. Beatty and Eva Slack Beatty 1946 (First Primary secretary age 12; fathered 21 exemplary children, chorister,
mayor. Left Helena with 3 farms and 250 cattle to fill Southern Mission.)
to H. LeGrand and Lorea (Johnson) Griffin 1963
to Hilda O. Larsen
to William and Melody Brady (3)
Sources: (1) A History of Toquerville Volume V Compiled by Wesley Larsen Page 80 written by Elivira Batty Suthweeds (2) John Nebeker in possession of Ruth Swenson Author unknown. Courtesy Washington County Historical Society 2010

Compiled by Darlene Hutchings Odenwalder

Did you know?

John Nebeker and wife Lurena Fitzgerald Nebeker came to Utah in
1847. He took a great interest in the cultivation of fruit tree, he and
his brothers bringing with them from Illinois a large quantity of apple seeds and peach pits... He said, In 1853 President Young and I
raised the first apples ----- one each. Both were put together and
Mrs. Nebeker made the first apple pie. John cut the first wheat in
1848 with a sickle. It is called May wheat.

Fun Facts

Johns Father (George Nebeker)

had been a foreman of a Cotton
Factory in Delaware.

John Nebeker was the first man to

reap wheat and grind flour into
wheat in Salt Lake.

John and Lurenas son Ira Nebeker

was one of the rescuers of the Martin Handcart Company, he was 17.

John Nebeker was a great and notable pioneer, not only is he mentioned in many Utah
and Mormon history books, he is also mentioned in the following:

First Apples fruited in Utah were

seedlings in the garden of John Nebeker in Salt Lake City, about the year
1855. Two varieties of which pronounced worth of propagation and
were wildly disseminated. One an oblong yellow sweet apple good size,
ripping in September and called Pride
of the Valley; the other large yellow
fall apple called Mountain Chief
Source: Volume 16 American Pomologist Society
Fruit Cultures 1877

History of Wyoming
Annals of Wyoming volumes 14-15
History of Idaho volume 1
The diaries of John D Lee
Nevada Historical Quarterly Volume 18-19
And many others...

Compiled by Darlene Hutchings Odenwalder

Mary Woodcock Nebeker

19 September 1830 12 February 1902

Pioneer Story of Mary Woodcock Nebeker by her daughter, Zettie May Nebeker Kearl Mary W. Nebeker
was indeed a true pioneer. Not only in name, but in deed. She sacrificed a great part of her life for the gospel she loved so well. Mary was born September 19th, 1830 in the small village of Pilley Green, near Barnsley, Yorkshire, England. She was the seventh child of William and Hannah Stone Woodcock. She had
black hair and dark grey eyes. She was five feet, six inches tall. She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints in the year 1851, being the only one in her family to join at this time. Her mother had
been an invalid for five years before she died, and Mary had worked to help her father to pay for the mothers sickness. So when she decided to join the company that was leaving for Utah, she went to her father
and asked him to lend her some money to help her immigrate to Utah. But her father said, No indeed, I
will not. And if you do not give up on having anything to do with those low degraded people, I shall have
to ask you to discontinue your visits to my house. Mary was almost broken hearted by the attitude of her
father, brothers, and sisters. But she knew she was right and felt that her Heavenly Father would help her
some way to go. Mary had an Uncle John Stone with whom she had lived and to whom she was greatly
attached and who had always seemed to be very fond of Mary. She went him and asked him to lend her
enough money to go to Utah, telling him that she would pay him back. He went into another room and
came back with a quart of gold sovereigns which he dumped on the table saying, these and many more
like them shall be thine if thou will aide with me but nary a penny will I give to thee if thee goes with those
low, degraded people. Mary said, Uncle, I wish you could know the joy there is in the gospel and that
you would go to Utah with me. But, he told her never! He told her he was ashamed of her and could not
think what had made her be so silly saying, You were always such a sensible girl, Polly. How could you
become so deluded? Mary undaunted, trusting to her faith in her Heavenly Father, she bid farewell to all
her family and went alone and almost pennyless. She went to a place called Ashton under Lyne, Lancashire
where a company of Saints were preparing to leave for Utah. An old lady Heaps, that was over eighty years
old, but is anxious to go to Utah engaged Mary as a maid to take care of her on the journey. O how delighted Mary was, but two weeks before the Saints were to sail, the old lady died. This left May no way to
go. Mary had a young friend, a niece of the lady that had died, whose name was Sarah Ann Carter. Her
aunt had left her twelve leather seated chairs and she told Mary that they would sell the chairs and that
Mary should have what they got for them. So the did so and they got just enough to pay Marys passage
across the ocean. The company of three hundred and forty passengers left Liverpool February 15th, 1853
on the ship Elvira Owen. After thirty-five days, they arrived at the mouth of the Mississippi River, stayed
there two days waiting for a steamboat to take them to New Orleans. From New Orleans, they went to
Saint Louis, stayed over Sunday, and then went to Keokuck twelve miles below Nauvoo. They stayed at
Keokuck seven weeks waiting for cattle and horses, wagons, etc. Mary had been on deck when a large wave
had passed over the deck drenching them. Mary caught a bad cold, which settled in her legs causing them
Compiled by Darlene Hutchings Odenwalder

Mary Woodcock Nebeker

Page 2
to swell. She was so lame that she had to walk with a stick. She had got a job of cooking and other work
with a family by the name of Whitworth. They left Keokuck June 1st, 1853. Cyrus H. Wheellock was captain of this company. There were 53 wagons. They got to Council Bluffs July 2nd, where they had to stay
till the 15th of July on account of high water. The company arrived in Salt Lake City October 6th , 1853.
Mary had walked all the way across the plains but fifty miles. The first winter in the valley, she lived with a
widow and her son and took car of a pre-mature baby whose mother had died. This baby died in the
spring, so Mary then went to live with a Mrs Lurina Nebeker, whose husband John Nebeker was away in
Green River Country, where he had been called by President Brigham Young. One day while Mary was
doing the family ironing, Mrs. Nebeker received a letter from her husband asking her to send him two new
shirts with the brother that had come to S.L.C. for supplies. Mrs. Nebeker cried very bitterly as she read
the letter from her husband. Mary said, Oh, Mrs. Nebeker, whatever is the matter? The reply was, my
poor John wants me to send him two new shirts and here I havent a cent. Mary felt very badly for this
poor woman that could not get shirts for her husband when he needed them so badly. Taking the ironing
to put away, she took her own to the room she shared with some of Mrs. Nebekers girls. She still shows
her great faith in her Heavenly Father, she knelt down by her bed and asked her Heavenly Father to open
the way for this poor woman to get the money for shirts or for cloth for to make shirts for her husband.
As she was about to arise from her knees, she saw three pieces of money on her pillow. She thought Mrs.
Nebeker had placed it there to see if she was an honest girl or not. Mary felt very badly about this. She
went to Mrs. Nebeker and asked if she put the money there. Mrs. Nebeker reply was, indeed I did not. I
would not do such a mean thing especially at this time when I need it to get my poor John some shirts.
Two of the Nebeker boys were asked if they had placed the money on Marys pillow. Ira said, Money,
money, money. It seems in away in the dark ages of the past that I have heard that word but whether it
some thing to eat or wear I really have forgotten. Mrs Nebeker said, O boys, do be serious and say if you
put that money on Marys pillow or not. Perry said, Well rest assured that we did not, not by a jug full.
They never did know where the money came from. Mary gave it to Mrs. Nebeker and she took it to the
store. The clerk said it was Spanish money and gave Mrs. Nebeker enough cloth to make two shirts. In
September 1854, Mary became the plural wife of John Nebeker and at the invasion of the Johnson Army
she was left in Salt Lake City to set fire to the Nebeker home if the men should cause any trouble. She
went through the great cricket war. For weeks this family of nine people lived on weeds and thistles for six
weeks (sic). They only had a little musty bran and a little milk. Marys first two children, a boy and a girl,
died the same day that they were born. And when her fourth child was born [my grandmother, Sarah Ann
Nebeker Findlay], her husband was called to go as a pioneer to help settle the southern part of Utah, so
Mary, feeling that she could stand the hard life of pioneering better the first Mrs Nebeker could, she with
her two children went down to help her husband. They made a home on the east bank of Ash Creek and
Compiled by Darlene Hutchings Odenwalder

Mary Woodcock Nebeker

Page 3
and help (sic) start the little town of Toquerville and other settlements. Mary picked and spun the first cotton raised in Utah. At first she did not like the dry barren country, but she soon grew to love it dearly, and
had a nice home, all kinds of fruit trees, nuts, grapes, etc. And so many dear beloved friends. She was ever
a friend of the Indians who called her Poage (Mother), they used to come in groups. About this time one
of Marys sisters and her family came down to Toquerville, to be near her sister. Oh, how happy Mary was
to see some of her loved ones from far away England. At this time Marys eighth child was born. She had
buried two since she came to Toquerville. Mary picked carded and spun the first cotton grown in Utah.
Marys joy was short lived as her husband was again called to be a pioneer to another country the north of
Utah, this time Bear Lake. Mary hated to again be parted from her sister and dear friends, but ever putting
duty before pleasure, she bad (sic) farewell to her beloved sister and dear friends and home and went with
her husband and four children to Bear Lake. They arrived in Laketown th middle of August 1871. Mary
was not very much impressed with this cold bleak country after her lovely warm home in the south, her
home was one large log room with ruff (sic) pine floor and home made furniture made from boxes and
pegs for legs. She had a large wooden box with a calico curtain around to put her clean clothes in, a dressing table if you please, a very small mirror over it. How the snow did pile up this winter, it covered the
fences and it was so cold that many of the cattle froze to death. And they had to melt snow for all the water they used, both for the home and for the horses and cows. As early in the winter a snow slide had
dammed the small creek up in the canyon. Marys family never knew till years after how badly she felt that
first winter. She made the best of conditions and made a happy home for her husband and for four children. Most of this winter her husband lived in Salt Lake City and Marys eldest boy was only 13 years old
then- President Young called her to study to be a midwife as they were called, she was blessed and set apart
for this mission, which she did for many years. She would deliver the babe, wash and take care of both
mother and babe til the mother was able to take care of her self for two dollars and fifty cents. She was
called to be president of the Relief Society when it was first organized (which office she held for fifteen
years or more till her health became so bad that she had to be released. She was on of them that experienced that awful time when the Shoshone and Bannack Indians were on the war path and camped on the
south shore of Bear Lake. Thousands of them and the people of Bear Lake had to feed them. My the number of cattle, sheep, and pigs, and grain it took to feed them. At least President Young and others came up
and made a peace settlement with Washakie and Tigitt (sic) [Naughites?] . Mary was a widow for 20 years.
She died at the age of 71 years old, February the 12, 1902 at Round Valley, she was living with her youngest daughter at the time, Mrs. Zetti May Nebeker Kearl. [Transcribed from an account written by Zetti
May Nebeker Kearl and archived in the DUP Museum in Salt Lake City]

Compiled by Darlene Hutchings Odenwalder

Wiley Nebeker
Born 8 March 1852 died 23 July 1867
Son of John and Lurena Nebeker

Compiled by Darlene Hutchings Odenwalder

Source Historical Quarterly Volume 1-6 1928-1933 (1934) page 87

Source Historical Quarterly Volume 1-6 1928-1933 (1934) page 88

Source Historical Quarterly Volume 1-6 1928-1933 (1934) page 89

History of Utah By Orson F. Whitney

Volume IV 1904 pages 111

History of Utah By Orson F. Whitney

Volume IV 1904 pages 112