GENERAL STORE
Welcome to the General Store. Here I would like to share a few stories that I have discovered in my family search. Most of what you read here is true. So, pull up a chair, have a root beer and join me by the potbelly stove for a few interesting stories.
Colorado Charley Utter, Wild Bill's Pard
Daniel Boone and the Bryan Family
Utter City and Carbondale, Oregon
The Cosmopolitan - Saloon, Billiard Hall & Bathhouse, California
Angus, Iowa became a rough and ready sort of town back in the late 1800s. Today it is no more than a few patches of ground where buildings once sat and corn fields. Angus was just 6 miles northeast of Perry on the Greene-Boone County line. A historical marker is all that remains of this once bustling boom town today.
It was some time in the 1860s that a William Utter discovered coal on his farm. Shortly after this miners began staking their claims and a town sprang up. It was called Coaltown. The Des Moines & Fort Dodge railroad was built and the town prospered and grew. In 1883 an influential railroad man and mine operator, John McKay, changed the name to Angus.
Angus became well known in these years as a wild, wild town. The miners would work all week and raise hell on Saturday night. A half mile street with 16 saloons on both sides gave the miners a place to let off steam. Some didn't give a darn. It was a rough crowd and the meek better stay away. it was considered the toughest place in Iowa. One story tells that some of the saloons were built on the county line and when the law came into a bar the patrons would move to the opposite side of the room in another county to avoid arrest.
Angus boasted a population of 5000 to 7000 in its peak. Some 25 stores were lined up along its streets. Some of the businesses were the saloons along Whiskey Row, a dance hall with the McElheney's grocery general store on the first floor, a railroad depot, a blacksmith shop ran by Amos Clergy, a hotel, Thomas Hall - the opera house and dance hall, a two story four room school house, two churches - the Methodist Episcopal and the Primitive Methodist, livery barn run by Davy Gordon, a bank operated by Harvey Thomas, Billy Simpson's hardware store, a shoemaker and tanner run by Jimmy Wannemaker, a grist mill by the Raccoon River near Angus, a Masonic Lodge, Andy Waner meat market, Utter meat market, The Tenderfoot newspaper, and others that I don't know their names as of this writing.
A man named Orman dug a well and struck mineral water. He established a mineral springs and people from all over came to get water. It was reported that Jesse James and the Dalton gang would stop at Orman's for the night when they were passing through Iowa. In exchange for the night or horses, they would leave $20 gold pieces under each window of the house.
In 1884, workers at the Standard Mine went on strike to gain better working conditions and air quality. they were trying to organize a union. they wanted an eight hour work day. Trouble brewed. Strike breakers were brought in. Nothing was ever settled and it was going to cost the operators too much money so the mine operators shut down. Miners moved on. Stores went out of business. It was during these times that the Utter family, like many other families, decided to sell what they could and move on. They headed west for California. Angus became a ghost town. Through the years the remaining buildings were moved to Perry and other locations or simply just tore down. Today Angus is just a memory in a few peoples minds.
I would love to know more about Angus and if anyone has any information, please share it with me.
Right to left,Colorado Charley & California Joe sit next to Wild Bill's grave
Colorado Charley Utter, Wild Bill's Pard
Charles H. Utter was born in the state of New York around 1838. he grew up in the state of Illinois. As a small child , he most likely heard stories of the west and of the adventures that could be had there. He may have heard stories told by fur traders on their return trip from the Rocky Mountains. It was here, in the Rocky Mountain, where Charlie would eventually make his home. By 1857, Charlie left his fathers farm and headed west. He traveled through Kansas and possibly this was his first encounter of his life long friend, James Butler Hickok, later known as Wild Bill. Kansas was in turmoil during these years and Charlie may have witnessed some of the bloody tragedies which made him want to leave for a quieter place to live. He was next to be found in a place called Middle Park, in Colorado. He built a cabin near the Troublesome, a tributary of the Grand River (later called the Colorado). It was said that he was visited by the Ute Indians. He quickly made friend with them and learned many new ideas for survival and life.
In 1860 Charley gathered up his furs that he had trapped and headed south over the mountains to the newly developed gold mining districts just above the town of Denver. here he saw his chance to settle in and earn a little of the wealth that was to be had. He settled in the Illinois Central District with perhaps some of the men he knew from home. He became the assistant to Ed James, who was the recorder of the District. Perhaps Charlie thought he could earn more doing paper work than shovel work. Charley filed claims and made transactions in the names of relatives during this time. Some of the names still on file with the County Clerk's office, Central City, are Josiah Utter, Stephen A. Utter, C. D. Utter, Joseph Utter, William T. Utter, John Utter, Albert Utter, E. H. Utter, A. Utter, James Utter and George Utter. These relatives either bought or sold mining property or having given Charles H. Utter the power of attorney.
By the year 1861 on February 28th, Colorado became a Territory. the State Legislature authorize the building of a wagon road from Denver to Missouri City (the Illinois mining District) just above Denver. Charlie was spending his time between his cabin on the Troublesome and Missouri City. Utter was probably a member of a team of miners and trappers who left Central City on August, 1862 with the intentions of keeping the road open during the winter. The rout went from Central City to Gold Dirt via Berthout Pass, up Boulder Creek to South Boulder, thence to the north branch of South Boulder, thence up the north branch to the Range, and over the range to the head of Middle Park.
Sometime in 1864 The Utters decided to sell their holdings in the Illinois Central area and move on. It was probably not because there wasn't any more gold, but that it cost too much for the machinery to dig it out.he spent a lot of his time in the mountains hunting and trapping. He was employed as an assistant interpreter during the distributions of supplies to the Indians who came to Empire to get them. The Daily Miners' Register, June 28, 1865, painted this picture of Utter's winter in the wilds: Charley Utter, our agreeable young mountaineer friend, came over from his far off haunts yesterday. For many months Charley has lived alone in the unexplored regions of the Parks, upwards of two hundred miles from habitations of white men, with no companion save a trusty dog, and an occasional cinnamon or grizzly visitor.
1865 Lincoln had been assassinated and the country had come to a stop. Mining had also came to a stop. The hills were covered with abandoned properties. Utter did not feel the dull times. He seemed to be reaping a rich harvest in fur and had accumulated a fine bunch of ponies. By July C. Utter was proprietor of a neat and elegant billiard hall in Empire City. Two weeks later he sold it. September finds him in Denver on a business trip. He may have been assisting Governor Evans and the Indian Agent D. C. Oaks with distributions of Indian annuities which had arrived two months late from Nebraska. By the winter time Charley was back and settled in his cabin on the Troublesome.
1866 He made a trip to Denver probably with a load of furs and other prospects. Charley may have bought some horses from a Dan Dunsmore. Dan may have become interested in the mining that was going on in the mountains above Denver and may have followed Charley back to Georgetown. Dunsmore is found later driving a stage between Denver and Breckenridge. Georgetown was on that route and Utter may have supplied horses to the Adams Express. By May, he was making plans for running a pack-horse train over Berthoud Pass during the summer. He became a guide for the summer. July 4, Charley accidentally shoots himself while hunting for bears. In August, he accompanied Major Oaks and Jim Baker on official Indian business. Charley was trapper and guide. When he returns back home to Empire, he takes Matilda Nash as his bride.
Sometime during the year 1966-1867, he rented horses to Bayard Taylor, writer, lecturer and U.S. Minister to Germany. Taylor wrote a book, Colorado: A Summer Trip 1867. This year brought on a very severe winter. Utter was around for a brave rescue of two lost men in the mountains. Along with his pack train hauling ore business, he also was running a boarding house for the miners and prospectors. In July he had a contract with Joseph A. Love and Winton Smith to carry the ail from Georgetown to Argentine, Colorado. He spent the rest of the year hauling ore, guiding people on hunting, fishing, and prospecting trips into the Middle Park area.
1868 Charley moves to Georgetown to run the Pioneer Pack Train. His brother or cousin, Stephen Utter comes to live in this town also. Charley and Stephen join the International Order of Odd Fellows. Charley runs for marshal of Georgetown but i defeated by William Henderson.
1869 , July, Charley guides a party of Nationally known politicians and railway officials (Kansas Pacific Railway). Autumn comes and Charley and Matilda become Temperance workers. A tornado hits in November, but Utters escape damage.
1870 it was reported that C. Utter had been killed by Indians while on a prospecting party in Middle Park. it was later found out not to be true. In November, he spent much of his time devoted to his mine the Ocean Wave, on Leavenworth Mountain. the Wave had a tunnel 103 feet in length. The ore was rated as "high toned" ore which ran about $500 coin a ton.
1871 the Ocean Wave was leased to Thomas Price. Charley probably attended Madame Agnes Lakes Circus performance in Central City or in Georgetown when it came there. Mrs. Lake later became Hickok's wife. On July 21, Utter's house and stable was in danger of fire. Residents helped him put it out. He suffered a loss of $21,000 - No insurance.
1872 Wild Bill Hickok come to Georgetown and stayed with Charley. They probably talked about the old times they had when they were younger. Their conversations may have been about the Gold discoveries in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
1873 Charley ran a two column add "Daily Freight Line Between Black Hawk, Central, Georgetown, and Brownsville." The Daily Miner reported that Charley Utter and D. T. Griffith had sold the Ocean Wave for $20,000. During the summer time Ned Buntline organized an outdoor show replacing Buffalo Bill and Texas Jack Omohundro with "Dashing Charlie" and Arizona Frank.
1874 Charley worked as treasure for the Leavenworth Mountain M. T. Co. The Ocean Wave now had a tunnel of 511 feet with a large vein running through its walls. On March 21 Charley was "expelled for contempt" from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. It was also reported in July that Utter had extensive holdings stable, houses, fences, improvements, and about 30 lots. By September Charley was in Cheyenne. He was either there to buy horses and or visit his old friend Hickok. They may have been checking out reports on the Black Hills. Charley returns home in November and continues his business. He became an officer of the Red Cross.
1875 Georgetown organized Fire Company No.1 and C. Utter was secretary. During September to December, the Utter boys were hunting and fishing for the market. They killed 100 elk in North Park, 140 antelope in Middle Park and 309 deer in Northwest Colorado and sent in a 4 horse wagon load of trout from the Troublesome.
March 20,1876 Charley was back in Cheyenne superintending the operations of his Black Hills Transportation Line. He returned home in May to get five heavy wagons filled with flour. Charley made plans not only for freight but to take passengers to the Hills and a fast express to carry mail and light packages. Utter teamed up with Seymour and Ingalls. Ingalls was then a member of the House of Representatives in Washington D.C., from Kansas. During this tie there were many Indian attacks, robbery, and murders by outlaws along the Black Hills Trails. These problems delayed Utter's venture. In June brought Custer's battle on the Little Bighorn and the Utters, with Wild Bill leaving Cheyenne for the Black Hills. The Utter party reached Fort Laramie on June 30 and picked up Calamity Jane. July 22 Seymour and Utter had established a pony express between Deadwood and Fort Laramie. Among the riders were Charley Utter, H. G. Rockafellow, Herbert Godart, "Bloody Dick" Seymour, J. W. Burns, Brant and Dick Street, and Steve Utter. August 2 brought news that Wild Bill was shot and killed. Charley took charge of the funeral arrangements. Charley returned to Georgetown in September to drum up business for his freighting and to pay a $128 fine to get his brother out of jail. October - the Cheyenne Leader (newspaper) "states for the first time "Colorado Charley" Utter and Ingalls sold out their Pony Express to Clippinger. Utter still in the freighting business in Deadwood to Cheyenne."
1877 up to now Charley had spent his time in the Black Hills god areas buying, selling, freighting. But now he exchanges his buckskin clothes for a elegant black broadcloth, a Prince Albert coat and a top hat. He had a watch and a long (2 feet) chain made of gold coins, many of them set with diamonds and rubies.
1879 Charley makes a mistake and tries to open a dance hall in the company owned town of Lead. He closes his place and returns to Deadwood where he assists Tom Miller with his music hall. Fire hits Deadwood in September. Most of the town was destroyed. Charley moves on to Gunnison Valley, Colorado. Charley loses his wife Matilda. By autumn he is in Irwin, Colorado setting up gambling equipment.
September 4, 1880 Camp Willard notes C. H. Utter has opened a saloon and gambling hall. His stay was short and as soon as snows fell he moved into Gunnison. There he was known as one of the big shots among the gamblers. he had charge of the games in Jim Stevens' Saloon. December he moved on to Scorro, New Mexico. He dealt farro in the Monarch Saloon, and in the next room his Mormon wife, Minnie, and Maude another daughter of Brigham Young, ran the stud poker table.
October 7 1881 C. H. entered a mare at the Territorial Fair at Albuquerque. Charley's horse won two races.
June 9 1884 the Denver Daily News reported "Charley Utter........is now a Socorro gambler."
1889 Charley returns to Deadwood to make sure that the deed to a lot in which Wild Bill was buried, and which he himself had purchased in 1879 remained secure. He may have left for El Paso, Texas and spent some time there. It is believed that he formed a traveling medicine show and toured through Mexico.
!890 Charley was in Panama.
1904 Charley in Panama and Colon. He owned drug stores in both places and seemed to be well off.
1910 Charley was lasted seen by Upton Lorentz sitting in front of his drug store in Panama. He was entirely blind.
I would like to know where Charley is buried and
any other information that you might have on him
Left, Colorado Charley Utter in a trapper costume, 1869, drawing by Janet LangeAn, Right, advertisement from the Colorado Miner
A faded tintype taken about 1874-75 ,left to right, Arapahoe Joe, Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody, Texas Jack Omoohundro, and Charley Utter
For a more detailed story about Colorado Charley, read the book , Colorado Charley, Wild Bill's Pard, by Agnes Wright Spring, 1968..
The Boones and the Bryans
Morgan Bryan was born in 1671 in Denmark. His family had been in exile because of their Quaker religion. Morgan saw a chance to practice his beliefs, so he crossed the Atlantic Ocean and settled in Pennsylvania. Here he met and married Martha Strode a Holland girl orphaned on the ship that brought her to America. The Bryans moved to Winchester, Virginia for a time then in 1748, when Morgan was 77 years old, moved on and settled on the forks of the Yadkin River in North Carolina. Martha Strode Bryan died August 24, 1762, and her husband passed on the following year, April 3, 1763, at the age of 92.
The following are the children of Morgan and Martha Bryan:
Joseph - father of Rebecca who married Daniel Boone
Ellener - the only daughter
Morgan
Samuel - was a high ranking officer for the British in the American Revolution
John
James - his 6 children were reared by Rebecca and Daniel after their mother's death
William - married Mary Boone, Rebecca met Daniel at their wedding
Thomas
Joseph Bryan was the first son of Morgan and Martha. He was born in Virginia and moved to the Yadkin River. He married twice and had 11 children. His first wife's name is unknown and his second was called Alee, no surname is known.These are the children of Joseph Bryan, Rebecca's father:
Joseph - from his first wife
Samuel
John
Martha - married Edward Boone
Rebecca - married Daniel Boone
Mary
Susanna
Aylee
Phoebe
Charity
Elenor
Squire Boone Senior was born in Devonshire, England on December 6, 1696. he came to America as a young man and married Sarah Morgan of Berks Co., Pennsylvania, on September 23, 1720. They had 11 children. They also moved to the forks of the Yadkin River, North Carolina, in 1750, where they established a settlement. Squire died January 2, 1765 and his wife in 1777. Both are buried in Mocksville cemetery, North Carolina. Their children are:
Sarah - b. June 18, 1724
Israel - b. May 20, 1726
Samuel - b. May 31, 1728
Jonathan - b. December 17, 1730
Elizabeth - b. February 16, 1732
Daniel - b. November 2, 1734 - married Rebecca Bryan
Mary - b. November 14, 1736, married William Bryan, Rebecca's uncle
George - b. January 13, 1739, the lame son
Edward - b. November 30, 1740, married Martha Bryan, Rebecca's sister
Squire - b. October 16, 1744, Daniel's companion, m. Jane VanCleve
Hannah - b. August 1746, married John Stuart
My Bryan Line
I still need to make the connection to the above information. I believe that the following Bryans were related to the above. From the Census of Dunmore County, Virginia, David C. Bryan along with Jeremiah, John, Joseph, Morgan and William Bryan all received Bounty Land Warrants in the Virginia Military District in Ohio. David C. lived in Williamsburg, near the Little Miami River, Claremont Co., Ohio in the early 1800s and raise a family. They are as follows:
Please take note when you see (my grand ......) below it refers to Bill Utter
David Bryan- b., d.1766, m. Elizabeth ? b., d., she married John Bowman after David died
Their children: (Not sure at this point)
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David C. Bryan - b. d.1839 Ohio m. Ruth
Their children:
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David C. Bryan and Molvina (Mary)
Their children:
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Charles M. Bryan and Serepta Anne
Their Children:
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Clara Bryan and William Armstrong
Their children:
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Hugh Roy Armstrong and Alice S. Collingwood
Their children:
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Thomas S. Bryan and Cosharine
Their children:
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Mortimer A. Bryan and Lovina
Their Children:
Uttertown was once located on Clinton Road in Passaic County just west of the town of West Milford. Today it has been reclaimed by the forest and isn't even a wide spot in the road on Newark Watershed property. It has been reported to me that there is a cemetary called the Utter Cemetery located here where a William Utter b. c1757, d. 1826 is laid to rest. In nearby West Milford it was reported that there were four families listed as living on a section of Passaic County known as "The Greenwoods" in June/July 1845. there are no details only the surnames and their first initials. The listing reads: Utter, R., Utter, S., Utter, Jos., and Utter. An amateur genealogist and a member of the North Jersey Highlands Historical Society and the Friends of long Pond Ironworks, both nonprofit volunteer organizations in northwestern Passaic County, is Sue Maier. She can be reached at: susan.maier@kipi.com
In Vernon Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, there are Utters buried in the Chery Ridge Cemetery. They are:
Utter, Loran, son of Henery & Julia Utter, d. 1878 age 4 months
Utter, William, veteran War of 1776 & 1812, d. 1826 age 69 years
The following information has been supplied by John & Regina Henderson at:
johnm@alltel.net
Descendants of William Utter
Generation No. 1
1. WILLIAM1 UTTER was born 1756 in New York, and died 1825 in Buried in
Cherry Ridge Cemetery. He married JANE RUSSELL November 04, 1771 in Christ
Church, South Salem, Vernon Co, NY, daughter of ROBERT RUSSELL and MARY KIP.
More About WILLIAM UTTER:
Military service: 1812, Member of Geroge Washingtons Army
Marriage Notes for WILLIAM UTTER and JANE RUSSELL:
Children of WILLIAM UTTER and JANE RUSSELL are:
2. i. JOSEPH2 UTTER, b. 1776, West Milford, Passaic, New Jersey; d. October 1849, West Milford, Passaic, New Jersey.
ii. ABIJAH UTTER.
iii. SILAS UTTER.
iv. JOHN UTTER.
v. SIMEON UTTER.
vi. REBECCA UTTER.
vii. RUTH UTTER.
Generation No. 2
2. JOSEPH2 UTTER (WILLIAM1) was born 1776 in West Milford, Passaic, New Jersey, and died October 1849 in West Milford, Passaic, New Jersey. He
married RACHEL UNKMAIDEN Abt. 1803 in New Jersey.
Children of JOSEPH UTTER and RACHEL UNKMAIDEN are:
3. i. RUSSEL3 UTTER, b. 1804, New Jersey; d. 1873, New Jersey.
4. ii. JAMES UTTER, b. 1808, New Jersey; d. 1866, New Jersey.
5. iii. SIMEON UTTER, b. March 1809, New Jersey; d. April 28, 1892, West Milford, Passaic, New Jersey.
6. iv. ABRAHAM UTTER, b. June 1817, New Jersey; d. New Jersey.
v. MARY UTTER, b. 1818.
Generation No. 3
3. RUSSEL3 UTTER (JOSEPH2, WILLIAM1) was born 1804 in New Jersey, and died 1873 in New Jersey. He married MARY Abt. 1824 in New Jersey.
Children of RUSSEL UTTER and MARY are:
7. i. RUSSELL JR.4 UTTER, b. November 19, 1825, New Jersey; d. June 24, 1888, New Jersey.
8. ii. JOHN UTTER, b. 1827, New Jersey.
iii. ABSALUM UTTER ., b. 1829.
iv. MARY E. UTTER, b. 1832.
9. v. AHIJAH UTTER, b. 1834, New Jersey; d. New Jersey.
vi. ISAIAH UTTER, b. 1836.
vii. REBECCA UTTER, b. 1838.
viii. SARAH UTTER, b. 1840.
10. ix. JOSEPH UTTER., b. 1842, New Jersey.
x. ALISA UTTER., b. 1844.
11. xi. JACOB UTTER., b. July 1845, New Jersey.
xii. SUSAN UTTER., b. 1849.
4. JAMES3 UTTER (JOSEPH2, WILLIAM1) was born 1808 in New Jersey, and died
1866 in New Jersey. He married SARAH Abt. 1832 in New Jersey.
Children of JAMES UTTER and SARAH are:
i. DAVID M.4 UTTER, b. 1836.
ii. VELZER UTTER, b. 1838.
iii. CATHERINE UTTER, b. 1846.
iv. MARY J. UTTER, b. 1844.
v. SIMEON UTTER, b. 1849.
vi. RACHEL UTTER, b. 1849.
5. SIMEON3 UTTER (JOSEPH2, WILLIAM1) was born March 1809 in New Jersey, and
died April 28, 1892 in West Milford, Passaic, New Jersey. He married SARAH
SANFORD Abt. 1835 in New Jersey, daughter of MATTHEW SANFORD and CATHERINE
GARRISON.
Notes for SIMEON UTTER:
Baptized 3/3/1887 at West Milford Presbyterian Church, West Milford, Passaic, New Jersey
More About SIMEON UTTER:
Baptism: March 03, 1878, West Milford, Passaic, New Jersey
Children of SIMEON UTTER and SARAH SANFORD are:
12. i. ISAAC4 UTTER, b. 1836, West Milford, Passaic,New Jersey.
ii. VELZER UTTER, b. 1838.
iii. CATHERINE UTTER, b. 1842.
iv. MARY J. UTTER, b. 1844.
13. v. SIMEON UTTER, b. 1845, New Jersey; d. December 06, 1912.
vi. RACHEL UTTER, b. 1849.
6. ABRAHAM3 UTTER (JOSEPH2, WILLIAM1) was born June 1817 in New Jersey, and
died in New Jersey. He married HANNA 1846 in New Jersey.
Children of ABRAHAM UTTER and HANNA are:
i. SILAS4 UTTER, b. 1848.
ii. MARY UTTER, b. 1849.
iii. ABRAM UTTER, b. 1851.
iv. SAMUEL UTTER, b. 1853.
v. THOMAS UTTER, b. 1855.
vi. JOHN UTTER, b. 1857.
vii. HANNAH UTTER, b. 1859.
viii. JAMES UTTER, b. 1861.
ix. SARAH J. UTTER, b. 1863.
x. FRANCE E. UTTER, b. 1867.
14. xi. SIDNEY UTTER, b. July 1869, New Jersey; d. New Jersey.
Generation No. 4
7. RUSSELL JR.4 UTTER (RUSSEL3, JOSEPH2, WILLIAM1) was born November 19,
1825 in New Jersey, and died June 24, 1888 in New Jersey. He married
CATHERINE PREDMORE Abt. 1843 in New Jersey.
Children of RUSSELL UTTER and CATHERINE PREDMORE are:
i. MARTHA5 UTTER, b. May 30, 1844.
ii. JULIA FRANCES UTTER UTTER, b. August 24, 1847, New Jersey; d. August 23, 1850, New Jersey.
iii. MORRIS RUSSELL UTTER, b. February 08, 1849, New Jersey; m. SARAH, 1870, New Jersey.
iv. DANIEL BRITTEN UTTER, b. August 24, 1850.
v. RACHEL ANN UTTER, b. March 29, 1852, New Jersey; d. 1941, Newark, New Jersey; m. CHARLES MACKNET.
vi. LIFLET UTTER, b. January 15, 1854, New Jersey; d. July 25, 1860, New Jersey.
vii. LAVINIA UTTER, b. April 01, 1855, New Jersey; m. NOAH A. BERRY, September 22, 1879, Broadville, New Jersey.
viii. MARY LEE UTTER, b. April 28, 1857, New Jersey; d. 1916, New Jersey; m.
EDWARD A. BLANCHARD.
ix. JOSHUA SAMPSON UTTER, b. May 30, 1859, West Milford, Passaic, New Jersey; d. August 10, 1942, Dover, New Jersey; m. ANN, Abt. 1879, New Jersey.
x. AMOS DOUGLAS UTTER, b. September 14, 1861, New Jersey; m. LIZZIE, Abt.1883, New Jersey.
xi. CORNELIA UTTER, b. November 02, 1864, New Jersey; m. WILL ELLIOTT.
xii. CAROLINE UTTER, b. July 24, 1867, New Jersey; m. JOHN D. WILLIS, 1889, New Jersey.
8. JOHN4 UTTER (RUSSEL3, JOSEPH2, WILLIAM1) was born 1827 in New Jersey. He married ELIZABETH.
Child of JOHN UTTER and ELIZABETH is:
i. JOHN5 UTTER.
9. AHIJAH4 UTTER (RUSSEL3, JOSEPH2, WILLIAM1) was born 1834 in New Jersey, and died in New Jersey. He married JANE Abt. 1854 in New Jersey.
Children of AHIJAH UTTER and JANE are:
i. EMILY J.5 UTTER, b. 1856.
ii. SUSAN A. UTTER, b. 1859.
iii. LAVINIA UTTER, b. 1861.
iv. MARTHA L. UTTER, b. 1864.
v. HARRIET UTTER, b. 1866.
vi. HEINRIETTA UTTER, b. 1868.
vii. DONCAS UTTER, b. 1869.
viii. THEODORE UTTER, b. 1873.
ix. CAROLINE UTTER, b. 1875.
x. ADDIE UTTER, b. 1878.
xi. WALTER UTTER, b. 1879.
10. JOSEPH4 UTTER. (RUSSEL3 UTTER, JOSEPH2, WILLIAM1) was born 1842 in New Jersey. He married CAROLINE A. Abt. 1866 in New Jersey.
Children of JOSEPH UTTER. and CAROLINE A. are:
i. JOSEPH5 UTTER., b. 1868.
ii. MARY A. UTTER., b. 1870.
iii. CHARLES UTTER., b. 1874.
iv. ELIZABETH UTTER., b. 1878.
11. JACOB4 UTTER. (RUSSEL3 UTTER, JOSEPH2, WILLIAM1) was born July 1845 in
New Jersey. He married JULIA A. Abt. 1876 in New Jersey.
Children of JACOB UTTER. and JULIA A. are:
i. H. ELLSWORTH5 UTTER, b. April 1878.
ii. ADA UTTER, b. January 1880.
iii. JACOB UTTER, b. January 1886.
iv. ABIJAH UTTER, b. 1872.
v. ANNA UTTER, b. 1874.
vi. ALFORD UTTER, b. 1876.
12. ISAAC4 UTTER (SIMEON3, JOSEPH2, WILLIAM1) was born 1836 in West Milford,
Passaic,New Jersey. He married NAOMI JANE FREDERICKS May 05, 1856 in West Milford, Passaic, New Jersey, daughter of THOMAS FREDERICKS and NAOMI GREEN.
Children of ISAAC UTTER and NAOMI FREDERICKS are:
i. SARAH CATHERINE5 UTTER, b. April 24, 1857.
ii. THOMAS UTTER, b. 1859.
iii. NAOMI UTTER, b. June 1861; m. WILLIAM MCCONNELL.
iv. RACHEL ANNA UTTER, b. April 06, 1865, West Milford, Passaic, New Jersey;
d. May 30, 1942, Bloomingdale , Passaic, New Jersey; m. WILLIAM SANDERS, 1889, Butler, Morris, New Jersey.
v. JULIA FRANCES UTTER, b. June 12, 1866; d. 1942; m. HARVEY ROME.
vi. WILLIAM E. UTTER, b. 1869.
vii. HENRY UTTER, b. 1872.
viii. MARY A. UTTER, b. 1878; m. THOMAS MANN.
ix. JERIMIAH UTTER, b. August 1880, Warwick, NY.
13. SIMEON4 UTTER (SIMEON3, JOSEPH2, WILLIAM1) was born 1845 in New Jersey,
and died December 06, 1912. He married CAROLINE FREEMAN Abt. 1866 in New Jersey.
Children of SIMEON UTTER and CAROLINE FREEMAN are:
i. EDWARD5 UTTER, b. 1868.
ii. GRACE UTTER, b. 1885.
iii. CLARENCE UTTER, b. December 1888.
14. SIDNEY4 UTTER (ABRAHAM3, JOSEPH2, WILLIAM1) was born July 1869 in New Jersey, and died in New Jersey. He married ANNA E. 1887 in New Jersey.
Child of SIDNEY UTTER and ANNA E. is:
i. SARAH5 UTTER, b. 1898.
The Cosmopolitan Saloon, Billiard, & Bathhouse 1870-1932
Yosemite, California
The Cosmopolitan, once a haven for tired travelers where they could rest and relax in a grand style, no longer exists in the beautiful Yosemite Valley of California. It was destroyed by fire on December 8, 1932. This grand place was established and kept b Mr.. J. C. Smith. Everything in it was transported 20 miles on mules. Such items that were transported were; mirrors full-length, pyramids of elaborate glassware, costly service, the finest of cues and tables, reading-room handsomely furnished and supplied with the latest from the Eastern cities, and baths and their luxurious surroundings. The end of the wagon road was 20 miles away when the enterprise began, and yet such skill was used in repacking on the mules that not a single item was broken. Around 1875 - 1884 a Captain Elijah Standard Utter went into business with Smith. The business continued to flourish , the baths, drinks and the various unexpected comforts provided by the Cosmopolitan left lasting impressions that vied with El Capitan. The ladies exclaimed over the cleanliness of the bathtubs, a profusion of towels, fine and coarse, delicate toilet soaps, bay rum, Florida water, arnica, court plaster, needles, thread, buttons, and late copies of the Alta and the Bulletin. the men found joy in the barber, man talk, and the brandy and other drinks.
The Cosmopolitan boasted a Grand Register that was a foot thick, morocco-bound, and mounted with silver. Within it were the autographs and comments of thousand of visitors both great and lowly. This relic is now part of the Yosemite Museum collection.
Captain E. S. Utter was quite an investor in properties all around Yosemite, including the high country. He co-owned a homestead at Tenaya Lake, another one in Tuolumne Medows and quite a few mining claims along the eastern crest of the Sierra. his name was found in the now ghost town called Bodie. For more information check the Bank building for a link to Bodie.
Utter City, Coos County,Oregon
Directly across the slough from Henryville on the west bank of the Isthmus Slough, Coos County,was Utter City. Today only a few old pilings show the location about a half-mile south of Highway 42 and 101 interchange. Utter City once had a hotel, stores, houses and a post office. The town was formed around the 1870s by a William Utter who named it Isthmus. Capitalist William Utter and A. V. Ojeda on June 26, 1876 built a railroad five miles from this deep water port to the south. They went over the divide to their mine called Carbondale. They built the small hamlets of Utter City and Carbondale entirely on the premise that coal could be brought profitably from the Carbondale Mine. Utter made plans to build a railroad that he called The Isthmus Transit Railroad (ITRR) and he sent J. F. Dunham to San Francisco to obtain a locomotive (that they called Isabella). Dunham shipped it to Coos Bay on the three-masted schooner Emma Utter (see below). Dunham assembled the locomotive and became its first engineer.Unfortunately both towns became ghost towns when the venture failed. By 1877, the Utter City-Carbondale enterprise was in deep trouble and Utter tried to recoup some of the railroad cost by hauling freight and passengers. Ultimately this didn't work and the mine was sold at sheriff's auction for $40,000 and William McCrindle bought the railroad.
The Emma Utter was a three masted, 279.39 ton vessel built by the Hall Brother's shipyard for the Pacific Coast sailing fleet in 1875 in Port Ludlow, Washington. Her home port was in San Francisco, California. She carried the signal letters J. R. S. D. and her official number was 135205.A few of the known owners were; Pacific Coast sailing fleet, F. Gee and E. B. Dean. The Emma was abandoned at sea after striking a Grays Harbor sand bar on February 11, 1904.
The Utter Disaster on the Oregon Trail
On September 9 - 10, 1860 the Utter family from Walworth Co., Wisconsin was attacked by Indians along the Snake River, west of Castle Butte (Owyhee County, Idaho). Most were killed in the attack along with others in the party. Below is a list of the utters in the party:
Other names in the party were: Meyers, Chase, Van Ornum, Cressey, Gleason, Lawson, Munson, and the Reith brothers from Minnesota. the following were ex- Dragoon soldiers:
Sgt Charles Schamberg, Pvt Theodore Murdock. Pvt Henry Snyder, Pvt Charles Kishnell, Pvt William Utley and one deserter: Lucius (Charles) M. Chaffee 18 years b. Parker, PA.
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"An incipient little village" Beckwith`s History of Walworth Co.
by Helen Carlson
There have been many accounts written about Utter`s Corners. However, inaccuracies are evident in most. This history of the village has been compiled by the great granddaughter of the first settler and has been fully researched by the author. Information has been taken from the old family Bible, "handed down" stories, 1873 Walworth Co. Atlas, land records, "Annals of Whitewater" by Prosper Cravath, a personal interview with George C. Sherman in 1996 at age 90, a remembrance by Dr. Edwin Hull, written in 1934 at age 82 and published in the Whitewater Register in 1968. Both gentlemen resided on farms near the village. Some information was obtained from both Beckwith and Butterfield`s History of Walworth County.
It seems that from the beginning of the Utter family with the arrival of Nicholas, who came to this continent to settle along the Delaware, the male specie of the group have always had the urge to relocate. So it was with the two Utter brothers from Pennsylvania. Benedict Birch and his younger brother, Joseph Curtis (whom I shall refer to as B.B. and Curtis to distinguish him from his father Joseph), left Pennsylvania on horseback in the spring of 1836 to check out the newly opened territory of Wisconsin. The government would be selling land there for $1.25 an acre and they decided to relocate. They arrived in the northwestern part of Walworth County that summer and staked out their claims. Curtis chose Section 19 and B.B. took Section 31 in Whitewater Township. B.B. who was married to Lydia Keech in 1833, had two children, Betsy and Joseph Curtis, named after his uncle, so he returned to Pennsylvania for his family. Curtis was still single, so as the story goes, walked to Madison, the new capitol of Wisconsin, to work as a typesetter on one of the first newspapers, to earn enough money to purchase his land. In the spring of 1837, B.B. returned to Whitewater Township. Just a few feet south of Section 31, in Richmond Township, where the remains of the old church now stands, B.B. built the first dwelling. It consisted of four poles in the ground, covered and sided with bed quilts. In this abode, the third child of Lydia and B.B., Clarissa was born on Dec. 15, 1837. Some accounts have noted that she was the first white child born in Walworth County, but that is one of the errors of history books. She was the second, one being born near Fontana earlier in the year. She was the first in Richmond Township.
The village was situated on an intersection of Whitewater and Richmond Townships in Walworth County on the East and Johnstown and Lima Townships in Rock County on the West. Curtis built his home on the Rock County side in Section 36 of Lima Township and opened it up as a hotel and tavern. In time it became a very busy spot as it was on the stagecoach line from Milwaukee to Janesville. Dr. Hull stated, that as a boy he felt the house was very large and imposing. The Utters also claimed the land on all four corners of the intersection. The surrounding area was also very good agricultural land, so in addition to the hotel, Curtis farmed the acreage. B.B., who was still smitten with the wanderlust, transferred his holdings to his father Joseph, who was still in Pennsylvania with the mother and the younger brother and sisters. Joseph and the family came by horse and wagon in 1840 after spending a short period of time in Canada. Aunt Sally Utter, one of the younger children, described Chicago at that time as a small boggy village. Joseph built a house on the northeast corner of the intersection and opened a general store and post office. Government records list Utters Corners as being a post office in 1851 and it is assumed that Joseph was the post master. In 1844 B.B. moved with his family to Cold Spring, north of Whitewater. They had given birth to another son, Alonzo in 1840, and in 1845 Jabez Smith was born. Mary Amelia joined the family in 1849. In 1854 they once again sold their farm and moved to Lewiston Township, Columbia County, Wisconsin. There they spent their remaining years.
In the meantime, other members of the family arrived in Wisconsin. Dr. Eleazer Utter had settled in Sugar Creek Township and, along with his sons, Francis and Charles, ran a newspaper called the Western Star (now known as the Elkhorn Independent) in the county seat, Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Four of the older children, Betsy, Sabrina, Simeon, and Emily were grown, married and out in the world. Only Andrew, Harriet and Sally came with the parent to Utters Corners, and lived there until their marriages.
The village grew. In addition to the hotel/tavern and store and post office, there was added a black smith shop run by a Mr. Schultz, who was the only family of foreign birth in the village. Others were "Yankees" from New England. A short distance south of the blacksmith shop was the school, located in Johnstown Township. It was built in a clearing with fences on two sides. As Dr. Hull remembered, the road which ran in front of the school yard was not fenced and made a great play yard, but the best was on the south in an unoccupied eighty and not fenced and was called the "commons" The whole school building was about 18 X 24, lathed and plastered on the inside and clapboard on the outside. The desks were made of plain, unpainted lumber. Two scholars sat in each seat. Just opposite the general store, on the Richmond Township side of the road was the Methodist Episcopal Church which was organized in 1852. East of the church was the parsonage.
According to Dr.Hull, quote "Utters Corners was a thriving village in the early days and did quite a business in 1860, but the railroad had come from Milwaukee in 1852 north of us at Whitewater and people were beginning to trade where they took their produce to market. Before the railroad came, the village caught it`s share of the trade from both north and south as well as east and west. People came through from Milwaukee and Janesville and Rock ford or drove to Fort Atkinson, Watertown and Green Bay. They would often spend the night at the hotel. Joseph Utter ran his store until he died. Well do I remember him as going to church and taking a great interest in its activities. A clean fine looking man, straight and intellectual looking, his hair turning as white as snow as he grew old."Unquote.
Simeon Fairchild Utter has been written about as being one of the founder of the village, but this is another of the errors of history. He did not arrive in Wisconsin until 1854. He built a house just north of the general store and ran the farm. Dr. Hull remembers him as going to church occasionally, but he never saw the younger brother Curtis at the church unless there was a funeral. He was a good customer of his own business. Schools and churches were not friendly to saloons in any respect.
In the early years, other families settled in the area. One of these was the Stephen Keech family. Stephen and his wife were the parents of Lydia, wife of B.B. They arrived sometime before 1840. Curtis took Clarissa Keech as his bride in 1842. The Keech family had acreage in both Richmond and Lima Townships. The cemetery is located on land owned by the Keech family. Tamison Keech, the mother died in 1844 and is the first burial in the cemetery. Graves of many of the Utter family are well marked. Joseph and Elizabeth Russell Utter, Simeon Fairchild and his wife Martha, Joseph Curtis and Clarissa Keech Utter, Sabrina Utter Bigelow and daughter Roseta, Andrew Utter, Harriet Utter Phoenix, Mary, daughter of E.R. Utter. Also many of the Keech family as well as many of the original settlers in the area. Time and vandalism have taken their toll and the cemetery is now maintained by Rock County as there is no longer an association. The old church building still stands but is privately owned and is used mostly for storage. The homes are no longer standing and only the foundation of the barn on Curtis`s farm remains. The school house is used as a private residence and is quite well maintained.
Both Curtis and his father Joseph died in the fall of 1861. Elizabeth died in 1855. Curtis`s farm was kept by his wife, Clarissa and son Clarence until about 1872, when she sold the farm and moved to Whitewater. Upon the death of Joseph, his property where the store stood and the surrounding farm land was split into 8 parcels and deeded to the 8 surviving children.
The Sherman family bought 268 acres from the Utter estate in 1844. In an interview with George Sherman, he recalled the corners in later years. "In the old days the roadway came through the middle of the section, you can still see part of it. That is why they built their house where it is. The buildings are way off the main road. When the roads were made on the section lines, they were left way out in the middle." Mr. Sherman remembered a cheese factory and creamery on the Johnstown corner. The Utters also had a livery stable and a building that had six or eight stalls to keep travelers horses and buggies. In the house they had a separate room that had an old melodeon, a cross between an organ and a piano.
As a footnote to the Utter history, there are very few of the line left. The line from Nicholas Mattson Utter to the present generations is being compiled and will soon be ready for publication on the Utter home page.
Carol Helen Utter Carlson - great grand daughter of B.B.and Lydia Utter
The Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania, is situated in Luzerne County and crossed by the Susquehanna River. It is crescent shaped, approximately 20 miles long and 3 to 4 miles wide. A fertile, aluvial plain containing anthracite coal deposits, it is noted for its beauty. The valley was claimed by connecticut under its charter of 1662 which named its western boundary as the Pacific Ocean. This description conflicted with the William Penn grant and the Wyoming Valley was claimed by both colonies. It was settled in 1750-1760, mainly by people from Connecticut. The French and Indian War interfered with its settlement. The Iriquois Indians in 1754 repudiated the agreement with the Connecticut colony and resold the rights to Penn. The Pennamite-Yankee wars of 1769-1771 and 1775 was the result of the ensuing dispute.
During the revolution, a large portion of the men of the valley joined the Continental Army. A number of Tory-Loyalists remained and in 1778 were joined by a group known as Butler's Rangers, their Indian allies (Iriquois) some Scots and Dutch, whom the Connecticut people had expelled from the valley at the beginning of the war. The invaders were led by Sir John Johnson, John Butler, and Joseph Brant.
Prior to the attack, the settlers had taken refuge in the fort known as Forty Fort near Wilkes-Barre. The settlers did not number over 400, chiefly boys and old men; the British force including 700 Indians was about 1100. After a desperate battle fought on the 3rd of July, 1778, the settlers were completely defeated, about 2/3 being killed. They were forced to capitulate. After the surrender, many of the prisoners were tortured and killed by the Indians. The greater part of the inhabitants of the valley were compelled to flee to other settlements and endured great hardships.
Many of the Utter family were living in the area and became prisoners in this conflict. I will report their names at a later time.
Data taken from "History of Luzerne County" by H.C. Bradsby; Encyclopedia Americana, Vol 29, page 590-591; Encyclopedia Britanica, Vol 23, page 833; and Colliers Encyclopedia, Vol 23, page 657.
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