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Casteel, Israel1 (1789- 1860)

Parents and birth

Jacob Casteel's2 parents were Francis Casteel (1755-1833) and, presumably, Mary Peck (1758-after 1831.)3 According to Lois Allen, land records show that Francis moved in 1792 into Knox Co., Tennessee. The Knox Co. Tennessee State had only existed since 1786 and Knox County was created in the same year Francis took up residence in the area. He probably married prior to that time. To the union of Francis and Mary were born seven children, possibly more.4 Jacob was the fourth. The children, their known birth dates and places, and dates and places are as follow:

Abraham Casteel b. 1780-90, , Knox, TN m. 20 Feb 1816 Polly Nowland/Nowlin Casteel b. 1793 , , Knox, TN d. abt. Jan 1833 Casteel b. 1795 , , Knox, TN d. before Apr 1844, , Pike, ILL Jacob Israel Casteel b. abt 17975, , Knox, TN d. May 1860, San Bernardino, CA Casteel b. 1799 , , Knox, TN d. after 1850 Mary Casteel b. abt 1801 , , Knox, TN d. 1844 Charity Casteel b. 1805 , , Knox, TN d. before 14 Mar 1843 Casteel 6 b. abt 1791, , Knox, TN d. abt 1831, 1834, Bond, ILL

1 See also Family Tree Document sketches for Margaret J. Casteel (Jacob’s daughter), and William D. Kartchner (Jacob’s son-in-law). Perhaps the best study of the Casteel family was prepared by Lois Allen in 1976. Her book, The Casteel Family, can be copies at the LDS Family History building in . The call number is 929.273/C275a. Another booklet, History of the Casteel Family, by Phyllis Casteel Louden and updated by Mary Jean Johnson Lehman, focuses on another bronch of the Francis Casteel family, but includes much information about earlier Casteels. It, too, is available for copying at the LDS Family History building. Its call number is 929.273/C275L 2 The surname has also been written as Edmond du Chastel de Blangerval. Apparently the earliest Casteels of whom we have record came from Flanders, which included present-day Belgium and parts of France and the Netherlands. Some have speculated that Casteel comes from the Spanish “Castillo” or “Castile”, but apparently the origin of the name is more French than Spanish. 3 Lois Allen argues that while Mary appears as the wife on Francis Casteel’s Will, she may be a second wife. She affirms that no hard evidence has come forth showing Mary to be the mother of the seven Casteel children. Allen writes: “It should be noted here that Francis Casteel could have very possibly married more than one time, and so it would be unjust to say Mary is the mother of these children without finding further proof, such as a certificate or record, or court records.” (p. 1.) 4 Allen is of the opinion that Francis had more children. She bases her assumption on a phrase from Francis’ Will. After naming seven children: , Jacob, Elijah, Isaac, Rebecka, Mary, Charity, he adds, “the balance of my children I have portioned them of heretofore.” (Allen, p. 7) 5 This date was determined by calculating back from Jacob’s death date. Grundvig reports that” the San Bernardino County California 1860 Mortality schedule states Jacob’s age was sixty-three.” 6 Daniel Casteel is not listed on Francis Casteel’s Will. However, Daniel’s descendants claim to be part of Francis’ progeny. 2

As is evident from the above, all were born in Knox County, Tennessee. Some family group sheets specifically identify the town as Timbercrest, which is now a suburb on the west side of Knoxville, about 5 miles from the University of Tennessee. Grundvig and Allen state that Francis Casteel’s will was filed in the Knoxville courthouse of Knox County, TN, and it bears out the fact that Jacob is the son of Francis Casteel. “In October of 1833 and again in February of 1834 the court records show Jacob I. and his Elijah from Pike County, IL, were selling their father’s land in the county of Knox, Tennessee, which land was conveyed to them and their sisters from their father by his will of 1833. Allen writes:

“No doubt Jacob’s and he traveled back and forth from Illinois to Tennessee by the easily accessible waterways to visit their homeland and family. It seems apparent that Jacob and his brother took their three sisters back to Pike County when they returned home after selling the Tennessee property for there are no further court dealings in Knox County, Tennessee of this family after 1841. Two of Jacob’s sisters’, Mary and Charity, marriage records are in Pike County, Illinois. The third sister, Rebecca, is on the 2840 census of Pike County, where also he5r will was proved on 4 April 1844.” (Grundvig, p. 1)

Marriage

In about 1818 Jacob married Jane Nowlin7 in Cooper County, Missouri. What prompted Jacob to move to Missouri is unknown. Allen does mention that a Shadrach Casteel was a Methodist minister there in 1824-27. (Allen p. 3) However, Jacob's stay in Cooper County was short. By the time his first child, Mary Ann Casteel, was born 25 Apr 1819, he was living in Washington County, Illinois. The birth dates and places of Jacob's six known children are as follow:

Mary Ann Casteel b. 25 Apr 1819, Washington Co. ILL Stephen Francis Casteel b. 1820 or 1821, Pike Co, ILL Emeline Catherine Casteel b. 1823, Pike Co. ILL Margaret Jane Casteel b. 1 Sep 1825, Cooper Co. MO Sarah Casteel b. 1828 or 1829, ILL Oglesby Casteel b. 1830, Pike Co. ILL James Nowlin Casteel b. 12 Jan 1833 Springfield, ILL

The above dates are possible and perhaps probable. However, several Family Group Sheets differ considerably as to birth dates and even birth places. One FGS has Stephen Francis (or Frank Lewis, or "Frank") born in "Canada." Another lists Sarah's birthplace at Essex, Vermont.

7No marriage record has been found for Jacob and Sarah. The 1818 marriage date is an estimate since their first child was born early in 1819. Also, Grundvig adds that the Monroe County, Illinois census of 1818 shows Jacob I Casteel with one female in his home. (Grundvig, p. 2) Find a Grave gives Sarah's name as Sarah Knowlin Casteel. It’s interesting that Jacob’s oldest brother, Abraham, also married a Nowlin. According to the record he married Polly Nowland/Nowlin 20 Feb 1816 at Madison Co., IL. 3

Given the geographic proximity of several of the births, it would seem that the children were born either in Missouri or in Illinois.

Illinois map showing the counties where Jacob and wife lived from 1819-1833 and later.

Washington Co.

Pike Co.

Hancock Co. (Nauvoo)

Sangamon Co (Springfield)

1830-1848

1830 Census

Jacob I. Castell appears on the 1830 census of Pike County, Illinois. The specific line item for Jacob reads: Male Under 5: 1 5-10: 1 30-40: 1 Females Under 5: 1 5-10: 1 20-30: 1

As additional corroboration as to the whereabouts of the Casteels 1830-40, Lois Allen has found evidence that they were living in Pike County, IL, in 1834.

1838: Daughter’s marriage, Jacob’s land purchase

In 1838 the oldest Casteel daughter, Mary Ann, married Alexie or Alexander St. Mary (Marie) in Pike Co.8 Also, the following year, the fourth child, Margaret Jane, joined the Mormon , at age fourteen. She, too, was living in Pike Co. at the time. It is very likely that others in the

8 Grundvig states that the 1840 census shows Jacob and Sarah living in Hancock County, IL with two of their daughters and two sons. (p. 2) (Grundvig’s sketch can be found on new.familysearch, Family Tree: Jacob I. Casteel). 4

Casteel family were baptized that same year and in the same location.9 Land purchase documents of 1838 and 1840 also document that the Casteels were living in the vicinity of

Quincy, Illinois during those years.

The above land documents state that Jacob Israel Casteel purchases 40 acres of land on 6 Aug 1838 and another 40 acres on 3 Nov 1840 in Pike County “at Quincy, Illinois.”

1840-1844

In addition to the 1840 land purchase, the census of that year (Hancock County), gives the following information:

Males 5-10: 2 40-50: 1 Females 10-15: 1 15-20: 1 30-40: 1

The next mention we have of the Casteels is in 1844. William D. Kartchner, who was living in Nauvoo at the time, wrote

9 Grundvig adds: “…we know that they were members by 1841 because Sarah Nowlin Casteel did baptisms for her parents in Nauvoo then according to Nauvoo records.” (Grundvig, p. 2) 5

During the winter [1843-44] I became acquainted with Brother Jacob I. Casteel's family, and became familiar with Margaret Jane Casteel, and was married to her by Elder James B. Hamilton, on the 17th of March 1844.10 I moved my shop and lodgings to my father- in-law's. The mob was threatening the settlers, and I stood guard the greater part of the winter, and during a very wet spring my father-in-law was called on a mission in company with Alfred D. Young to go to Tennessee.11 About that time my brother John came to see me from [Washington Co.] Illinois and visited Nauvoo. I was taken with rheumatism, caused by exposure, standing guard at night with a continued rain for six weeks.

Several facts are quite clear from the above journal entry: . #1 Jacob Casteel and family lived for a time in Nauvoo. #2 Jacob was a member in good standing of the LDS Church and was called to serve a mission to Tennessee. (He was probably sent to Knox Co where he had relatives and in all likelihood was on his mission when Smith and Hyrum were killed at Carthage in June of 1844). #3 Jacob Casteel must have been doing quite well financially since his new son-in- law opted to live in the family home and do his blacksmith business from that location.

The Emmett fiasco

Shortly after the death of Joseph and Hyrum, Jacob's daughter, Margaret J. and her husband were persuaded to head west with a James Emmett who claimed to be under orders from Church leaders to scout out suitable travel routes for later pioneer companies.12 In the confusion following the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum, Emmett seized the moment to convince others that he had a special assignment to lead an exploratory group west. He convinced John L. Butler, James Holt, Jacob Casteel and family, William D. Kartchner and from 90-130 others living in the Bear Creek settlement to accompany him on his trek. Emmett instructed the group to “remove immediately to the West, without passing through Nauvoo.” On 4 September 1844 Emmett led his company quietly and in haste across the Mississippi River above Nauvoo. Traveling with the group were nearly all, if not all, the Casteel clan.13

10 William states the marriage took place on the 17th. Other records show clearly that it was the 21st. 11 According to Edward Lyman, the purpose of Jacob's mission to Tennessee was to explain 's views on politics and to organize support for the 's presidential candidacy. (Edward L. Lyman, San Bernardino, The Rise and Fall of a California Community, Salt Lake City: Signature, 1996, p. 12.) 12“In a February 1844 meeting with Joseph Smith, Emmett volunteered to assist in exploring areas west of the Rockies for a new and safer site for the church.” Richard E. Bennett, “Mormon Renegade: James Emmett at the Vermillion, 1846,” South Dakota State Historical Society, 15 (3) Fall 1958, p. 219. 13 This is about the last mention of Frank Casteel. According to family , after leaving the Emmett group he eventually made a journey down the Mississippi River, supposedly to Texas, and never returned. His fate was never known, and it was a great cause for mourning by his mother and brothers and sisters. (Margaret Jane Casteel Kartchner sketch, author unknown, p. 1) About the Casteel involvement in the Emmett group, Allen writes: “…reference is made to the fact that Elicsi St. Marie & family, Stephen F. Casteel and his sister Emeline formerly wife of John Savage and others did leave. 6

The journey was difficult and the leader, James Emmett, was arrogant and cruel. His authoritarian style of domination included the following:

He ordered the surrender of all private properties, including beds and oxen, and called for ‘public’ ownership of everything. . . . Two disaffected followers later wrote: ‘Emmett searched the camp and confiscated all guns and threatened everyone with death if they opposed him.’” (Bennett, p. 221)

Eventually, the group disbanded and some of the Casteel children and perhaps even Jacob and his wife, made their way back to Nauvoo. Margaret Jane, Jacob’s daughter, and her husband, Wm. D. Kartchner, however, ended up in Pueblo, Colorado, before continuing on to . (For more information on the Emmett experience, readers should read Bennett’s article, “Mormon Renegade: James Emmett at the Vermillion, 1846,” William D. Kartchner’s journal, or the life sketch prepared by Ron Freeman on the life of W. D. Kartchner).

On to Utah

It is not known when Jacob Casteel and family left Nauvoo after their split from the Emmett group. However, most of the departed in 1846 and by 1847 they were scattered in way stations across Iowa and in Winter Quarters, on the Missouri River. Curiously, one additional mention of Jacob Casteel is made in connection with another advance group of pioneers. As the saints toiled their way across Iowa, George Miller led an advance group. In early July 1846, after Brigham arrived at the Missouri and established Winter Quarters, Miller and Emmett received orders to continue west up the Platte River to Grand Island, in Pawnee Indian territory. Miller sent a letter back to Brigham describing the situation:

Pawnee village, August 13, 1846. Dear Brethren, we report to you our situation according to your letter, we have organized a council and commenced making preparations for the coming winter. It was thought best not to leave but a few families at the Pawnee station, as the chance for wintering stock was slim. The following personas and their families were left at Pawnee: [there follows a list of names, among which is Jacob Casteel.]”

So, the bottom line is that we do not know Jacob’s activities from August 1846 until October 1848 when he arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. He may have stayed at Grand Island, or returned to Winter Quarters in the spring of 1847.

Although Jacob was not able to make the trek to Utah in 1847, he did leave in the company headed by , on July 3, 1848. The company was large: 526 individuals traveling in 169 wagons. It was so unwieldy that the pioneers soon divided into two sub-groups headed by Willard Richards and respectively. Interestingly, among the Lyman group were James Madison Flake and his family, including nine-year old son, William Jordan. Little did William realize that he would be traveling with the grandfather--Jacob Casteel-- of his future

….on p. 23 of this [Kartchner] journal [he wrote] ‘I told them I wanted some meat and they brought meat and roasting ears to my father in law and me’” …” (Allen p. 14) 7 wife! The Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel record shows the following as members of the Richards-Lyman company:

It is interesting to note the ages of the Casteels. Jacob and Sarah were not young, being 51 and 48 respectively. They were accompanied by only two of their six children; Joshua, 18 and James, 15. Frank had disappeared and Emeline, perhaps, had died. Margaret J. was already in the Valley, having arrived with the Mississippi Saints five days after the first pioneer company, on July 29th, 1847. No record has been found for when Mary Ann Casteel St. Marie and her husband crossed the plains, but they were with Jacob and Sarah when they left for San Bernardino in 1850.

Many of the Company members kept journals or diaries. More than thirty sources relating to the Richards Company are cited in the Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel record. This photo was taken from Unfortunately, the Casteels did not keep a journal and Family Tree, Jacob Casteel, mention is made of them only once in the extant sources. newfamilysearch.com. No Company Historian, Robert L. Campbell, mentioned the information was given as to Casteels in his July 4th entry:14 [July] 4th ". . .Dr Richards the provider or [needed] a teamster – Brother Casteel [offered to] furnish circumstances of the photo. one this week"

The journey to the Salt Lake Valley lasted nearly four months with Company members arriving between October 10-19th, 1848. Much could be said of the trip, and the interested reader is referred to the sources mentioned in the Overland Travel record.

As the Company approached the Salt Lake Valley, William D. Kartchner, having already been in the area a year, hastened to the mountain north of the city to greet his father-in-law:

On [sic: In] October 1848, I went back on Emigration Canyon to meet father-in-law and family. I met them on the big mountain. Soon after their arrival we all moved to Amasa's

14 Campbell, Robert L., [Journal extracts, 30 June-19 Oct. 1848], in Historian's Office, Journal 1844-1997. Mormon

Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–1868, Willard Richards Company (1848)

8

Survey. Built a two-story log house with two apartments for the families. We hauled my abundant corn crop and shared equal and had some to share with others. Next season we made a light crop of wheat and some corn.

The area Kartchner refers to as "Amasa's Survey" became the gathering place for many families who had emigrated from the Southern States:

Under the leadership of Amasa M. Lyman, a tract of country consisting of about one mile square, in the vicinity of present-day 5900 South and 1300 East, between the two Cottonwood Creeks, was surveyed and divided into 10 acre plots. This was about ten miles southeast from Great Salt Lake City fort, and was first known as the "Amasa Survey;" later as Cottonwood and then South Cottonwood. . . . Later the Union Fort was built about 3 miles away to the southwest. . . . The book BETWEEN THE COTTONWOODS (1992) says that "The south-eastern portion of the Salt Lake Valley was a lush grassland during the 1800s, cut by creeks and small streams and pocked by numerous flowing springs. Birds and small animals thrived in the riparian environments, while the grass acted as a haven for wild horses (actually Indian ponies). The and boys of the area considered the catching and riding of these horses a favorite sport during the 1850s and 1860s . . . The field north of the present South Cottonwood Ward (5600 South and Vine Street) was used by Utes on their annual migration . . . The field's continued use by the Utes prompted its maintenance as a campsite. It later acted as a camp and rest stop for the teams of oxen that hauled the granite for the Salt Lake Temple, beginning in 1853 and continuing through the 1860s and 1870s. These teams left the mouth of and followed what is now Vine Street to the site of the South Cottonwood Ward. The men and oxen would then camp overnight before continuing the journey to Salt Lake City the next day. Beginning in 1874 the field became the ward burial ground." With the exception of the Tanners and Lymans, most of the pioneers who first settled in South Cottonwood were part of the "Flake Company" of Saints from Mississippi, who had crossed the plains and come into the valley in 1847 a few days after 's party (they had wintered in Pueblo, Colorado, and Brigham Young sent Amasa M. Lyman to meet them and bring them into the valley). Some of the Southern Saints (the Flakes, Crosbys, and Browns), were slaveholders. The original plots of the "Amasa Survey" were assigned to Amasa M. Lyman, William Crosby, Daniel Clark, James M. Flake, John Tanner and his sons Sidney and , Daniel M. Thomas, and John Brown, among others." Most of the settlers of South Cottonwood continued to live in either tents or wagon boxes during the fall and winter of 1848. John Brown erected the first adobe house during the spring and summer of 1849. Many of the original settlers of South Cottonwood, including several black slaves of the Southern Saints, left the Salt Lake Valley in 1851 and went with Apostle Lyman to help settle San Bernardino, California ... The South Cottonwood Ward (also known as the "Mississippi Ward"), with Abraham O. Smoot as Bishop, was organized in 1852, and the Amasa Survey plots were redistributed. The ward covered an area from Big Cottonwood Creek on the north to the Point of the Mountain on the south (approx. 13 miles), and from the Wasatch Mountains on the east to the on the west (approx. 7 miles). The South Cottonwood Ward meeting house at 5600 S. Vine Street (at approximately 700 E.) was erected in 1856. 15

15 http://www.rootcellar.us/tannutah.htm 9

Next stop: Manti, Sanpete County.

William Kartchner tells of Jacob Casteel's next place to settle:

The winter of 1849 the settling of San Pete Valley was agitated and father-in-law wished to go on account of good range for his cattle. Early spring, after a hard winter and a deep snow in San Pete he came to visit us. During his stay one of his oxen was driven to Salt Lake City by some general drive being made. [It was] gone one week, and he [it] was found in Pres. Young's possession, when called for, he, Pres. Young, said "What if my workmen will swear that ox has been here all winter and ate his head off?" It so confused father-in-law that he went away and never got his ox. I urged him to commence in a Bishop's court, but he feared to offend Pres. Young, and it remains unsettled. Father-in-law went back to San Pete afterwards called Manti Company by the former name, county San Pete. 16

That action was taken by Brigham Young in response to a request he received in June of 1849 from Chief Walkara (Walker) to send a group of to join the Ute Chief's Indian encampments and to teach them how to farm and build houses. Walkara's words were:

Beyond the mountain, plenty of streams. From Salt Springs over a mountain, lots of timber. Then next sleep17, good land, plenty of timber and grass. All my land clear. . . . If you come unto my land, my people shall not steal your cattle, nor whip them. I want the Mormon children to be with mine.18

Brigham sent out an exploratory party on August 20th, consisting of Dimick B. Huntington and three others, to accompany Chief Walker to the "Sanpitch Valley," located 135 miles south of Salt Lake City. The explorers were entertained royally by the Indians and after a few days returned and reported everything favorable for the founding of a colony. Subsequently, a group of 124 men, 100 women and an unknown number of children, with Chief Walker as guide, left the Salt Lake Valley on October 28, 1849 to establish this first settlement south of Fort Utah. Jacob Casteel and family were part of this group. The company arrived in "Sanpeetch" (Sanpete County) in early November, just as winter was beginning to set in. In a few days the snow began falling and continued almost incessantly until the ground was covered to a depth of three feet or more. Settlers were forced to use wagons and dugouts holed into the south side of " hill" for protection against the severe cold.19 Several hundred peaceful Indians were camped about a mile away. About half of the cattle brought by the settlers froze to death that winter and the pioneers were unable to get supplies from Salt Lake.

16 Wm. Kartchner, p. 9 (from Orson P. Brown internet site). The transcription reflects modern spelling and punctuation. 17 The use and meaning of “sleep” here is confusing. Perhaps it refers to a night’s travel, after one night’s sleep. 18 Ronald W. Walker with Dean C. Jessee, “The Historians’ Corner,” BYU Studies, 32, no. 4 (1992), p. 130. The phrase “Then next sleep” doesn’t seem to make much sense, unless it refers, perhaps, to a distance traveled after sleeping a night on the mountain with lots of timber. 19 Carter, Vol. 3, p. 281. 10

As spring approached the ground thawed which presented the Mormons with another problem: rattlesnakes! When it began to be warm weather, the people became acutely aware of the new obstacle:

In the evening following the first warm day of early spring the peaceful colonists were startled by a continuous hissing and rattling of myriads of rattlesnakes . . . wriggling and writhing about in the boxes, beds, cupboards and everywhere they could get inside the homes of the settlers. A general warfare was inaugurated by the aid of pine knot torches, and many hundreds of the reptiles were killed, nearly five hundred being slaughtered in one night. The strangest thing was that not one person was bitten . . .20

As Kartchner indicated, Jacob returned to Manti in the spring of 1850, but his stay there was short-lived. Within a year he would be on the move again. In 1850 Jacob figured in another census, taken in Payson just prior to the departure of the group going to San Bernardino.

In the 1850 census, only Jacob, age 54, his wife, Sarah, age 50, Joshua, 19, and James, 18, are listed.

→ San Bernardino

After Brigham Young's permanent return to the Valley in 1848 he immediately started an outward expansion of Mormon settlements. Ogden and Utah County (Provo) were among the first. Manti followed shortly thereafter. In 1849 Jefferson Hunt returned to California, leading a wagon train of "Gold Mission" Mormons that included Charles Rich, James M. Flake and many non-Mormons heading to the gold fields. He had been in the San Bernardino area earlier as part of the and had met a Mr. Williams who was owner of a large ranch and anxious to sell. One thing led to another and in February 1851 Brigham Young called and set apart a number of men, including Rich and Lyman, to lead a company to the San Bernardino area and to establish a settlement there. Brigham's original plan was for some twenty families to accompany his designated agents. He was very surprised and disturbed when he learned the size of the group planning on going to California. He wrote:

"Elders Lyman and Rich's company, however, had swelled to above 570 persons and 152 wagons, most of whom had become so enamored of the California "" that they had

20 William B. & Donna T. Smart, Over the Rim, Logan, Utah: Utah State Univ. Press, 1999, p. 35. 11

determined to try their fortune there. I was so sick at the sight of so many of the saints running to California, chiefly after the of this world, and was unable to address them."21

Not all the San Bernardino Saints were willing volunteers. Jacob Casteel probably was—due to his unfortunate ox encounter with Brigham Young. However, his son-in-law, William Kartchner was quite willing to remain in Utah:

By the winter of 1850, a project was set on foot by some of the church authorities to plant a colony in Southern California and some families were chosen by Amasa Lyman and others by Charles C. Rich. [Jacob Casteel's ?] family and myself were chosen by the former. I declined going. When Amasa heard it, he said that if I refused to go, he would cause me to have a worse mission, which scared me, as I had not received . I thought I would be excused on that ground, but on Feb. 8th, I was notified to be at the endowment house for that purpose. . . . During this time Brothers Lyman and Rich bought a ranch known as San Bernardino, and gave notes for the sum of $77,500.00 with fifty heads of cattle included. We moved to the ranch Sept. 1st. [1851] . . . In October we held the harvest feast in the meeting shed called Tabernacle, where the different kinds of products were exhibited. Corn stalks sixteen feet long, melons, 38 lbs. and the mammoth pumpkins [were displayed.] A public dinner and dance and general good times were had. (Kartchner, p. 9-10)

To back up just a bit. On the way to San Bernardino, the travelers passed through Santa Clara where Brigham had established an Indian mission. Unfortunately, Jacob had an unpleasant experience with an Indian he met: "One of Lyman's party, Jacob Casteel, had apparently previously befriended a Tonequint band member and the diarist-leader noted 'Casteel's Piute ran off with his horse.'"22

Jacob's final years

In San Bernardino Jacob Casteel must have found the security and comfort he had longed for. His young adult sons married and the family prospered. A printed history of early California listed Jacob Casteel as an occupant of “Old Fort.” Joshua Casteel, on the other hand, did not see fit to live inside the Fort and built his home away from the Fort. For six years things went well. Grundvig describes several of the accomplishments of the Mormon settlers:

Life in the fort must have been crowded and tiresome. Well over 400 people lived within the enclosure, yet they maintained harmony under these difficult circumstances. The women of each household were constantly occupied baking bread, making and mending clothes, and housecleaning, which was made all the more difficult because of mud, dust and frequent winds. Sand often drifted into the houses until it was several inches deep on their floors. Since there were more than one hundred children below school age, there was an unending

21 "Mormon Colonization of San Bernardino," www.covalt.org/mormon.HTM, p 5. 22 Edward L. Lyman, Amasa Mason Lyman, Mormon Apostle and Apostate, Salt Lake City: U of Utah Press, 192. 12

need for babysitting. The women also marketed a substantial quantity of eggs, butter and cheese. The community worked together to accomplish their goals for the common good. By October 1852 two water-powered threshing machines were in operation, and they were kept busy day and night. The colonists harvested 60,000 bushels of wheat and 30,000 bushels of barley during the first season. By 1854 the fields had been expanded to 4,000 acres and by 1856 their grain covered 6,000 acres. They also marketed large quantities of butter and about one hundred dozen eggs in Los Angeles each week.” (Grundvig, p. 4)

Unfortunately, in 1857 Utah was under the threat of subjugation by the U.S. Army. Therefore, Brigham Young called the colonists back to Utah to aid the Saints living there. Jacob declined to return. Perhaps he still held a grudge against Brigham Young over the stray ox incident. Others have said that his home was a gathering place for missionaries from the Reorganized Church and that some of his family converted.23 Whatever his motives, when the Saints left San Bernardino, Jacob, with his wife, Sarah, and two sons and a daughter stayed behind. Only Margaret Jane and her husband William D. Kartchner returned to Utah.24

Jacob’s death

Jacob's peaceful life in California did not last long after of the majority of the Mormons. Three years later, fell ill with a condition called "cramp colic"—according to the death notice. The medical description for Jacob’s ailment states: "Enteraigia [Pain in the intestine] An acute, paroxysmal pain in the region of the umbilicus, slightly relieved by pressure, due to an irritation of the sensory nerves with spasmodic contraction of the intestinal muscle, and not accompanied by fever. Also called: Intestinal colic, tormina, intestinal neuralgia."25

Jacob worsened over a four day period and he finally died of the condition at age sixty-three.

Jacob died in May of 1860 and was buried somewhere on his own homestead as was the practice at the time. However, although he was not formally buried in the Pioneer Cemetery,

23 The unknown writer of the Jacob I. Casteel sketch for Find a Grave wrote: "Another consideration worth noting is that some of those soon to be formed into a branch of the Reorg. Church were actively proselytizing in the Casteel home prior to the Mormon exodus. The family would eventually affiliate with that faction opposed to B. Young's leadership" (Find a Grave: Jacob Israel Casteel.) Kartchner recalled a conversation he had had in San Bernardino with a man named Strong, Senior: "He was opposed to Brigham Young as President of the Church and generally directed his talk to me as I had one argument with him at San Bernardino, soon after my arrival there. I found him at Sister Casteel's my wife's mother's preaching loudly Josephite Doctrine. A few questions quieted him." (Kartchner, p. 11) 24 Grundvig adds: “…some of those who remained in California including Jacob’s son Joshua and his daughter Mary St. Marie were baptized into the “Josephite” (Reorganized LDS) church and had been proselyting in the Casteel home prior to the Mormon’s returning to Utah. 25 Grundvig notes that such a condition can be a sign of appendicitis. 13 he--or his burial site--in all likelihood became part of that cemetery eventually since it was created in whole or in part on Casteel property. In other words, the property for the Cemetery was purchased from the Casteels, or at least part of the property was obtained from them.26

Death “Schedule” [list] for “Southern District of California, County of San Bernardino, ending June 1st, 1860”

The data given for Jacob includes:

Age 63, Male, Married, Birth: Tennessee, Month of death: May, Farmer, Cause of death: Cramp colic, Days ill: 4

An interesting entry just three below Jacob’s is of Jaas. F. Casteel, age 1, born in California, died in April 1860, Cause: scarlet fever, days ill: 10. This may have been a child of either Joshua or James Casteel.

26 (email from Richard Thompson, Librarian, SB Hist. and Pioneer Society to Kartchner) 14

Jacob’s widow

Jacob’s wife, Sarah, was listed in an 1860 population enumeration as head of a household consisting of herself and her son, James. Documents concerning Jacob, who died intestate, can be found in the Probate Court of San Bernardino County, and they named Joshua Casteel as estate administrator. Neither Stephen nor Emeline are mentioned in the estate settlement. The three children living in California and Margaret Jane Kartchner were given a share of Jacob’s estate.

Jacob's widow remained in California and remarried at least twice, first to a Warner Johnson and later to a James Warren.27 According to a great-granddaughter, Thalia Kartchner, Sarah Nowlin Casteel died after having been thrown out of a wagon in which she had been sitting on a chair back of the spring-seat, and the fall to the ground brought about bruises from which she died.”

Sarah Nowlin Casteel Johnson was buried 7 Aug 1892 at Banning, Riverside, California.

27 Find a Grave: "Sarah Knowlin Casteel."