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Life and Times of William Jordan FLAKE 1839-1932

Ron Freeman, 2011 291 N. 2620 W. Hurricane, UT 84737 435-635-8011 [email protected]

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Introduction

For my 34th birthday, 15 Jan 1973, as a gift my father presented me with Osmer Flake's biography of William Jordan Flake.1 In his dedicatory to me, my father wrote:

My dear son Ron: It's a pleasure to present you this record of a very small portion of your grandfather [error: great-grandfather] Flake's life and accomplishments. I was privileged to know him and the writer of this book.2 . . . how fortunate we would be if even such a sketchy record were available more frequently. As portrayed, he played a major role in the colonization of Utah and Arizona. May it afford you an even greater appreciation of your progenitors. xxx Your Father & Mother

I was grateful for the present my father gave me on that occasion. As a young boy, I made the trek with my family to Snowflake from northern Utah annually, and I enjoyed staying in the old Freeman home and spending time with the Turley cousins. Since those days, I have read Osmer's biography of his father, and other historical accounts such as Lucy H. White Flake's journal, Roberta Flake's book on her mother, Joel Flake's autobiography, Al Levine's books on Snowflake, etc.

Much of what we of the 4th, 5th, 6th generations know of William J. Flake has been gleaned from the book written by Osmer and the other by his sister, Roberta. Osmer's book, William J. Flake: Pioneer Colonizer, carries no publication date, but apparently it was printed in 1948. (I have a copy my grandmother gave to my father in 1954 so obviously it was published before that year.) Roberta's book, To the Last Frontier, was printed or perhaps reprinted in 1976.3 We shall always be indebted to them for their pioneer efforts. Without their dedication, we would have only bits and pieces--some accurate and some not so-- about the man who accomplished so much in his life, including the founding of Snowflake.

However, as I have prepared brief family sketches on other Freeman and Flake ancestors, I have noted certain inconsistencies in some of the details presented in previous sketches and articles on William J. Flake. In addition, recent research and the availability of internet resources allow us to rethink the historical contexts of certain events in which William's life unfolded. In short, thanks to the internet and research by interested Flake descendants, we are in a better position to add to the early efforts of Osmer and others.

1 William J. Flake is my great-grandfather (Ron Freeman → Roy Freeman → Emma Flake Freeman →William J. Flake). I was born in 1939, seven years after William's death. The phrase, "the writer of this book" used in my father's dedicatory, refers to Osmer D. Flake, William J. Flake, Pioneer-Colonizer. 2 Osmer Flake died in 1958 at age 89--just two months shy of his 90th birthday. Roberta died in 1981, at the age of 103½. 3It appears that Osmer and Roberta used Lucy's diary/journal as the basis of their books. They didn't, however, use her actual language. At times, they, Roberta in particular, embellished and reworked the simple, sparse entries that Lucy had written. 3

My approach is a simple one. I intend to mesh and blend the narratives of Osmer and Roberta, and also include excerpts from Lucy's unpublished journal that she began in 1894, and Augusta's transcription of various sessions she had with William in 1912 in which he dictated his recollection of many of his early experiences. In addition, certain others have written historical accounts that make reference to William J. Flake. The Flake Roundup, over the years, has made available a great deal of information, much of it taken from contributions by William's children and grandchildren. Other sources are William D. Kartchner's personal journal that he kept up until his death in 1884, and the sketch that Emma Flake Freeman wrote of her mother, Prudence Jane Kartchner Flake. Emma's sketch provides insight into the Flake family from the second wife's point of view. Joel and Osmer Flake also have written their life stories that, obviously, have a bearing on William J. Flake. Another valuable resource is the journal William himself kept while prison in 1884-1885, and excerpts from it do not appear in the accounts of Osmer and Roberta.

In short, although Osmer, Roberta and Lucy have made contributions of inestimable value, perhaps a bit more might be added about the life and times of our wonderful ancestor, William J. Flake.

Unfortunately, my writing skills are less than desired and I lack the patience of a skilled researcher. However, I am retired and have more time than talent. Consequently, despite my limited ability, I want to make William J. Flake more accessible to other Flake descendants, and to my own children and grandchildren in particular.

Ron Freeman

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INDEX

Birth and early years in Mississippi (1839-1844)...... p. 5

Nauvoo and Winter Quarters (1844-1847)...... 8

On to Utah! (1847-1851)...... 15

The "Gold Mission" → California...... 20

San Bernardino (1851-1858)...... 24

Marriage, → Beaver UT (1858-1877)...... 33

"Living the Principle", a second, plural wife...... 55

→Arizona ...... 77

First settlement: (Old) Taylor (1878)...... 82

Founding of Snowflake (1879)...... 85

Snowflake: the early years (1879-1884)...... 88

Off to Prison! (1884)...... 117

Death of Prudence (1896)...... 158

Death of Lucy (1900)...... 170

William's later years (1901-1932)...... 172

William's Death (1932)...... 187

Tributes...... 192

William J. Flake's life in perspective...... 200

Conclusion...... 202

Works Consulted...... 203

Family group records...... 204

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Birth and the Mississippi years

As Osmer Flake indicates in his book, William Jordan Flake was born 3 July 1839. He was the first child born to James Madison Flake and Agnes Haley Love4 and he was named William after his maternal grandfather, William Love, and Jordan after his paternal grandfather, Jordan Flake. At the time of William's birth, James and Agnes had been married less than a year and were living in Anson Co., North Carolina on, we assume, the Flake plantation.

The Flake plantation

was located on Smith's

Creek, near Lilesville

The Flake family had lived in Anson County for more than a half century and by all indications were financially well established. For example, when William's grandfather, Jordan Flake, died, in addition to bequeathing nearly $2,000 in cash, he also distributed twenty-nine slaves to his several children and their spouses.5

About a year after William's birth, on 31 August 1840, a second son was born to the Flakes. He was given the name of Charles Love Flake.6

4 For more information about James M. and Agnes H. Love Flake, see James Madison Flake, privately published by the present writer. 5 Jordan Flake died in Anson Co. in 1843--about a year after James Madison left the area. In Jordan's will, he bequeathed to James two slaves and $300. 6 Some family group sheets give Charles' birth year as 1842, but that date is questioned by others such as Dave Smith. Charles is acknowledged as the second child born to the Flake union. Another brother, Thomas, was apparently born in 1842 in either Anson Co., NC, or Kemper, MS, so Charles had to have been born earlier. 6

On to Mississippi

In 1842 James and Agnes decided to leave their very comfortable home and lifestyle in Anson Co. NC in order to create a new life for themselves in much more primitive conditions some 500 miles to the west, in Kemper County, Mississippi. Osmer Flake suggests the companionship of a brother and friends who went with James might have contributed to the lure of the west:

When the subject of this sketch [Wm. Jordan Flake] was three years old his Father decided to take Greely's advice (not yet given) and go West. . . . The trip was made with a pair of white mules, a mare and a horse pulling a large Prairie Schooner. They landed on the Sucarnooche, a small branch of the Tom-Big-Bee River, in Kemper County, Mississippi. Here, he made all preparations for a new start, secured the land and put up the necessary buildings for a good farm home. He was very fond of hunting. He fixed a deer lick, then built a turkey pen. He would set the trap at night and go out any morning and get his turkey, or to the lick and shoot a deer. He kept a fine pack of hounds, and when he wanted the chase, he took them. Some were trained to start the deer, and when they came around near, he would shoot a deer [&] they were trained to stop; another large dog that he kept with him would run for the wounded animal and bring it down. Another dog was trained to follow him and pick up anything he dropped or left behind. He could sit under a tree, and lay his powder horn or hunting knife down, and the dog would bring them along. He kept a drove of hogs running in the woods, where acorns were plentiful, so that he had all the good meat he wanted. Maps of the area in . . . During the next three years, life seemed to be at Mississippi where its best. His brother, John W. Flake and other North Carolina friends had moved in near him, and conditions James and Agnes grew better and better. All of them were wealthy and settled in about 1842. enjoyed everything the times afforded. There seemed nothing more to ask for. It had been a busy and very enjoyable three years. ( William J. Flake, pp 2-3)

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Conversion to Mormonism

In April of 1843 a young Mormon missionary named Benjamin Clapp was called to serve a mission in Alabama, the place where he had been born. Clapp was twenty-nine years old in 1843-- a year younger than James Madison Flake. He had been converted to the Mormon faith by Wilford Woodruff in Kentucky/Tennessee in 1835 while Woodruff was serving his first mission. Clapp was full of missionary zeal and eager to share his message and conversion story with any who would listen.

Several Flake family historians have provided accounts of what happened when Elder Clapp knocked on the door of James and Agnes Flake.7 Osmer states:

In the winter of 1843 and 1844, there came a stranger to their door and asked for entertainment [i.e. food and lodging]. No one was refused in the old South. Southern hospitality did not admit the turning away of a stranger. This man carried neither purse nor script, yet he was well dressed, intelligent and refined. He carried a Bible, which was very common among southern people, for they were a religious people. This man also carried another Book, which he said had been delivered by a Heavenly messenger to a Prophet. He said that he was a Minister carrying that new, yet old Gospel as taught by the ancient Apostles, that the Elders were sent out two by two as of old, and that he was spending all of his time to deliver that message to the World.8 (William J. Flake, p. 3)

Carol Read Flake adds a few more details to the Flake conversion story:9

Proselyting had been going forward in the eastern section of Mississippi since 1839, with several small branches of the Church in neighboring counties [i.e. counties neighboring Kemper Co.]. As membership increased, so did opposition. Just the year before [1842?] a company of between eighty and ninety Latter-day Saints had emigrated to Nauvoo because of persecution. The mere fact that the Flakes had opened their home to one of the sect's elders drew forth bitter comment and even threats from relatives and neighbors. But this did not dissuade James and Agnes from continuing their investigation of Mormonism. After several weeks they became convinced that they had found the true Church of Jesus Christ. They were baptized during the winter of 1843-44, along with a few others. All were ridiculed and defamed because of it. A branch was organized, having the picturesque name, Running Water Branch.10

7 In addition, even fictional accounts have been written about that first conversation between Clapp and Flake. For further information, see James Madison Flake, by Ron Freeman, pp. 18-25, also Bound for Canaan, pp 15-18 8 The source of Osmer's information is not known. He may have heard about his grandparents' conversion from his own father, William Jordan, but William was but a young child of 3-4 years of age in 1843. 9 Carol Read Flake, Of Pioneers and Prophets, 1974, p. 45 10 Actually, the name of the branch to which James Flake belonged is unclear. In Lucy's autobiography, she copied an 1844 baptismal record that stated: "This certifies that James M Flak [sic] has been recieved into the Church of Jesus Christ of Laturday saints (in the Runing Watter branch of said church) . . . and has been ordained an Elder according to the rules and regulations of Said Church and is dully autherised to preach the

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On to Nauvoo

Within a year, in about June of 1844, James made a hurried trip to Nauvoo where he met Joseph Smith and was given a patriarchal blessing by Hyrum Smith. All doubt cast aside, James moved his family north to Nauvoo in the summer or fall of 1844--just months after the martyrdoms of Joseph and Hyrum.

James was accompanied north by several of his Mississippi friends and converts to the LDS faith: Billy Lay, C. Covington, Joe Matthew and families.11 In addition, James brought with him his wife, 3 children: William, Charles and Richmond, who was born in Kemper Co. Mississippi in 1842.12 Also accompanying the family were three slaves, Green, Liz and Edie. Flake tradition states that prior to leaving Mississippi Flake "gave the rest their freedom to go with whom they wanted."13

We know very little of the Flake family's quality of life in Nauvoo. Osmer tells of two experiences had by William Jordan Flake. On one occasion William was apparently taken to the top of the still unfinished Nauvoo Temple and was enthralled by the spectacular view. According to Osmer, "All his life he [William] thought of this as the most beautiful view he had ever looked on." (William J. Flake, p. 6)

The other incident was more somber. William threw a handful of gunpowder on a fire to see it burn and the flashback blinded him for two or three months:

. . . he took a handful of powder out of his Father's powder horn and threw it in the fire. He did not see it burn; neither did he see anything else for weeks, but wore a black cloth over his face for two or three months, both day and night, with holes cut for his eyes and mouth, until he got a new face. The old one having burned off. (William J. Flake, p. 6)

Osmer also mentions that young William was witness to mob depredations:

gospel agreable to the authority of that office May 15 1844 James M Morehead Chirch Clirk (Lucy H. White Flake Autobiography, unpublished, 1973 typescript prepared by; Chad Flake and Hyrum F. Boone, BYU Library, p. 136). However, the Running Water branch was in Alabama and was headed by Benjamin L. Clapp. According to the minutes of a conference held in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1844, James M. Flake was the presiding elder of the "Running Tiger Branch." (Minutes of the Mississippi and Alabama conferences, held in Cypry, Tuscaloosa County, Ala, on the 12th of April, 1844.) 11 William J. Flake, p. 5 12 As mentioned previously, another child, Thomas, was born either in Anson Co. NC or Kemper Co. MS in 1841. He died in 1844 but it is unknown whether he died before or after the move to Nauvoo. 13 Apparently, the offer of freedom was either rescinded or reworked as later both Liz and Green continued as slaves in Utah. Also, "freedom to go with whom they wanted" is not exactly the same as unconditional freedom. 9

His other most vivid recollection was of seeing mobs passing along the street many times, looting houses and robbing the people. He would run and hide until the mob had passed by. 14 (William J. Flake, p. 6)

James Madison Flake home in Nauvoo, as it appeared in 1966. It has since been torn down. Apparently, it was one of the finest homes in Nauvoo.

Carol R. Flake gives more information about the Flakes in Nauvoo, but neglects to cite her sources:

In Nauvoo, James constructed a large brick home for his family with the usual bricked- up well and cistern in the rear. The Flakes very soon became a part of the bustling, busy community. . . . The winter of 1844 was long and cold. The Flake family found frost and snow and biting winds a new experience.

14 As a young 5-6 year old boy, William may have overstated the mob actions he saw. Other pioneer journals of the period indicate that until the mob burnings at Lima (Morley's Settlement) in September 1845, things were mostly calm in Nauvoo and order was maintained by the "whittling society." Regarding the general state of affairs in Nauvoo, William Huntington wrote [1 Mar 1845]: "I have spent my time cutting stone at the Temple. All the affairs of the Church have moved on in good order and peace." In July of 1845 Zina Diantha Huntington reiterated her father's impression of tranquility in Nauvoo. She spoke of "attending meetings, ... A time of rejoicing... A time of peace in this City." 10

On December 23rd [1844] James was ordained a member of the Eighth Quorum of Seventy. The certificate of ordination was signed by Benjamin L. Clapp, the man who had baptized him. Young William Jordan, age five, retained life-long memories of their sojourn in Nauvoo. A second little brother, Richmond, died there, and another brother, Samuel was born [11 Oct 1845]. (Carol R. Flake, p. 48)

James' home was in Block 19. The temple was built on Block 20, just across the street to the west of the Flake home.

James returns to Mississippi16

Apparently, the slave/servant, Edie, either did not like the cold weather or simply yearned for her family in the south. Consequently, James made another trip south in 1845 to Mississippi to

16 Dave Smith says that this trip was taken in 1845. Osmer Flake and Carol Read Flake date the trip later, after James had arrived in Winter Quarters (William J. Flake, pp 9-10, Carol R. Flake, p. 59). We have no concrete evidence to support either date. 11 return Edie to her more familiar surroundings. When he returned to Nauvoo, he brought badly needed mules for the poorer Saints to use in the exodus from Nauvoo.17

From Nauvoo → west

James Flake lived in Nauvoo approximately two years, from summer/fall 1844 until about June of 1846. Osmer errs a bit when he observes:

His Father spent his time helping the poor people, both with his work and with his means, preparing for their long journey. He helped one company after another to get started on their long, long road to the West. He and his family remained until among the last. They crossed the Missouri in February 1846, driven by mobs, many of them led by Professed Christian Ministers."18 (William J. Flake, p. 7)

Actually, James M. Flake and family probably didn't leave Nauvoo until May or June of 1846. Family researchers have found a tithing receipt dated 1 April 1846 that indicates James was a member in good standing and that he had paid his "property tithing" and in addition had contributed $140 "to assist the poor to go to the West." The existence of the receipt is clear evidence that James was still in Nauvoo as of 1 Apr 1846. As a benefit for his faithful contribution, James was given the privilege of using the baptismal font, but no record has survived of his having done vicarious baptisms for his deceased ancestors.

17 Dave Smith, p. 2. No source given for his information. No one has ever mentioned it, but perhaps James traded Edie to some of his relatives in exchange for the much-needed mules. 18 The first part of Osmer's statement is correct, but that information contradicts his later affirmation that the Flakes left in February 1846. That was when the first pioneers left Nauvoo. Also, they crossed the Mississippi, not the Missouri River. 12

→ Winter Quarters

As mentioned, we do not know the exact date when James left Nauvoo, nor do we have any details about his journey across the state of Iowa. However, it was a relatively easy trip, compared to the struggles and hardships of those who had left Nauvoo during the early days of February. Those early contingents crawled slowly across the State through snow, rain and deep mud.19 The 300+ mile journey took the first groups 131 days to complete. They literally made the trail for later pioneers who needed less than a third that time to traverse the State.

One of the later departing Saints, Joseph Lee Robinson--the man who later chose James as his Counselor in Winter Quarters, left Nauvoo in June. The page of his journal is missing where he told of the groups of saints with which he and his family traveled. However, on June 27, 1846 he "camped at a beautiful grove and stayed over the Sabbath. We found several of the brethren there and had some conversation with Brother Benjamin Clapp..."20 It is very possible that the Flakes were traveling either with Robinson or Clapp. Robinson, by the way, was sent back to Nauvoo on Church business, but left there again on July 18th and arrived in Cutler's Park (Winter Quarters) on August 20th. His trip across Iowa required only 32 days travel--one- fourth the time it took the original Saints who left in February, 1846.21

Winter Quarters: late 1846-June 1848

By December of 1846 the Flakes were living in Winter Quarters, 7th Ward. (Winter Quarters was situated on the west side of the Missouri River.)

Map of area that was Winter Quarters. The Seventh Ward was in the area marked by #1.

19 Not without a sense of humor, some of the early pioneers quipped: "It was a middling good road when the mud did not quite reach one's boot tops--while astride a horse." Another wrote: "We only had to pass through one mud hole--which was about six miles in length." 20 (The Journal of Joseph Lee Robinson, p 76, internet download) 21 Referring later in his book to the Flakes' crossing of Iowa, Osmer errs again when he says: "Real life now came to William, though only a boy of seven years, he had seen so much of sorrow and persecution, that he was rapidly developing many qualities, that were to dominate his life. His Father and Mother, with six small children, driven in the dead of winter, across the ice into the bleak plains of Iowa, was enough to appall the strongest heart." As we have seen, it was not in the dead of winter. In addition, James and Agnes were accompanied by only three children: William, 7, Charles, 6, Samuel, 6-8 months. Son Thomas had died in 1844 and Richmond, according to Carol Read Flake, died in Nauvoo. (Carol R. Flake, p. 48) Perhaps Osmer was including Green and Liz in his count since Green was about eighteen and Liz thirteen.

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Although a recent arrival, James was immediately selected as First Counselor to Bishop Joseph Lee Robinson in the Winter Quarters Seventh Ward. A perusal of ward members reveals some interesting information:

--Several of the families were from the South: Collins,22 Covingtons, Matthews, Thomases. It is conceivable that they had been with the Flakes in Nauvoo and had traveled with them across Iowa.

--The entries for the Flakes show both living and deceased children, the living in bold print. (The family information includes deaths and a birth that occurred during the Flakes' sojourn in Winter Quarters.)

--For some reason, Green Flake was given head of family status in the ward census-- perhaps because he was a baptized member of the Church.

--The entry, "Carlotty L. Flake" must refer to Agnes' servant/slave Liz since no record exists of the Flakes having a child named Carlotty.23

Flake activities at Winter Quarters

Life must have been bitter-sweet for the Flakes during the period 1846-47. The bitter part was the loss of two of their children. Frederick was born and died the same day, 3 Nov 1846, probably shortly after they arrived at Winter Quarters. He was buried in the Cutler Park Cemetery, #47.

22 Albert Washington Collins was from Noxubee Co. MS, the county adjacent to Kemper Co. He married Susan Thomas and his father-in-law, John Pledger Thomas, was also in the WQ 7th Ward. 23 About Carlotty, Arlene Flake has noted: "Carlotty is listed with the Flake family in the list of 7th Ward members in Winters Quarters in 1847. She is also listed in the emigrants' list of the Amasa Lyman Company going west in 1847 along with the Flake family. As she is not a daughter of James Madison and Agnes Love it appears almost certain that this is Liz, who we know accompanied the family to the Salt Lake Valley. I can see no other references to Liz so this must be the black girl that was taken in by the family. The Winter Quarters Research Group gives no source of information for Carlotty. (25 Mar 2011 e-mail sent from Arlene Flake to Margo Clouse, editor of the Flake Roundup. 14

James' second child to die was Samuel B. Flake. He passed away five months after Frederick, on 25 Mar 1847, at age 1½. He is buried in the Winter Quarters Pioneer Cemetery, Grave #114.

A baby girl

On a more positive note, just eleven days after Samuel's death, Agnes gave birth to a baby girl, on 4 April 1847. They named her Sarah James Flake. In later years, she and William J. were the only two Flake children who eventually married and had children. Sarah was only 15 months old when the Flakes made the trek to Utah.

Sarah Rich, wife of Charles C. Rich, wrote in her journal of the generosity of James M. Flake:

We had not gone far before we met Brother E. T. Clark with a sack of flour and a bushel of potatoes in his wagon. He said he had been inquiring where I lived and he said it was for me, so I sent him on to my house with instructions for the girls to hurry up breakfast and we would soon be there with some groceries. We went and got a little sugar, a little coffee, and tea, and of course a dollar would not get much, but we were so proud to get a little. We then started for home, passed Brother Flake's whom I had never seen; he was just finishing dressing a calf. Someone present observed to him that there went Sister Rich. He turned and called me and said, "Sister Rich send that man here and get a quarter of this calf." I did so, and reached home with plenty to eat . . .24

James M. Flake and others were counseled to stay at Winter Quarters when the first Pioneer Co. left for the West in April of 1847. Bishop Joseph L. Robinson wrote:

1847. Early in the spring, the First Presidency and a good company of pioneers and families left to search out the place for the Saints to gather into. It came to pass that we that remained behind, went to with our mights [sic] in plowing, planting and sowing and fencing and going down into Missouri for supplies. (p. 94)

James stayed behind with the Robinsons and others, whether by his own choice or by counsel from Church leaders. However, he did send Green Flake with the first Company and loaned the Company the use of his fine mules and mountain carriage:

When Brigham Young commenced fitting out a train to take the first of the Pioneers across the Great Plains, he needed the very best teams and outfits to be had. James M. Flake, who had put his all upon the altar, sent his slave, Green, with the mules and mountain carriage, to help the company to their destination. He told Green to send the outfit back by some of the brethren, who would be returning, and for him to stay and build them a house. Like the old slaves he faithfully carried out his instructions.

24 Autobiography of Sarah D. Pea Rich, 1814-1893, typescript http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/SRich.html 15

We have always believed that President Young USED THIS OUTFIT FOR HIS OWN CONVEYANCE [capitalization in the original] and it was from that carriage, that he got his first view of the Valley. History records that he lay sick in President Woodruff's carriage.25 (William J. Flake, p. 9)

Of the Winter Quarters experience, William J. later recalled:

We stopped at the Missouri River at a place we called Council Bluffs on the west side of the river. In the winter of '46 I had chills and fever and I went to school to Washington and Cook [?], my first schooling. Herded cows in the Missouri bottom in the summer of '47. . . . In '47 went to school a little while in the winter26

On to Utah!

Osmer Flake states that by early summer of 1848 James and family had made all necessary preparations for the journey across the plains:

When they were ready to leave there, they were divided into three companies. Amasa Lyman and Dr. Willard Richards led the company James M. traveled with. Some started on June 29th, the others July 2nd, 1848. They soon joined together, elected Flake, Captain of one hundred wagons. . . . The company consisted of 502 white people, 24 negroes, 169 wagons, 50 horses, 515 oxen, 170 chickens, 4 turkeys, 7 ducks, 5 doves and 3 goats. Liz, the negro girl with him and three other small boys walked and drove the loose cattle all the way to Utah . . . William became eight years old and was baptized in the Elk Horn River, by his Father. (William J. Flake, pp 10-11)

The Lyman-Richards Co. was not the first, nor the only company to leave in the spring and summer of 1848. Actually, only three pioneer companies left Winter Flake, Agnes Haley Love (28) Quarters for Utah in 1848, but they were huge. Flake, Carlotty L. (10) Flake, Charles Love (6) Brigham's was the first and it totaled 1220 individuals. Flake, James Madison (33) It left on 5 June. Heber C. Kimball's was next, leaving 7 Flake, Sarah James (1) June and it was comprised of 662 Saints. The Flake, William Jordan (9) Richards/Lyman wagon train was the smallest, but still numbered 526. It was the last to leave. The Lyman portion of the group left on 1 July and the Richards component followed on 3 July. James Madison Flake was part of the Amasa Lyman group.

25 Osmer seems to contradict himself in this affirmation. On the one hand he says that "we" i.e. the Flake family believe Brigham Young was in the Flake carriage when he first viewed the Valley. However, he then adds that historians are of the opinion that Brigham Young was in Wilford Woodruff's carriage on that memorable day. The latter comment seems to be the more accurate one. 26 Augusta Flake 1912 transcription of recollections and memories of William J. Flake, as he dictated the information to her. (p. 1) 16

A perusal of the list of Company members reveals some interesting information. James, of course, is listed, as is his wife Agnes Haley Love, and also three children. Carlotty, as explained previously, is in all likelihood Liz, the slave girl, but the age seems about five years too young. (She was about five when James and Agnes married in 1838 so she should have been 15-16 in 1848.) It is interesting that no mention is made of Green Flake.

Osmer indicates that William was baptized in the Elkhorn River27 and that event must have occurred within 2-3 days of the family's departure from Winter Quarters since the Elkhorn River is located only 27 miles from Winter Quarters and was one of the first deep river crossings the pioneer company faced. Fortunately, ferries had been constructed by earlier companies. The previous year, the 1847 company headed by Brigham Young wrote: The pioneer companies crossed the Elkhorn River, shown by red line.

[11 Apr 1847] The Sabbath dawns fine and warm over the encampment here on the Elkhorn River. A few of the party still are rafting wagons across the river which at this point is some dozen rods [rod=5.5 feet] wide and four feet deep. (Excerpt from journal of 1847 company, first to cross the plains.)

A year later, journal entries by those in Flake's company recorded a rather uneventful crossing of the Elkhorn:

On the 2nd of July[1848] the first fifty crosed [sic] the Elk Horn River. We forded it. (Robert Campbell trail excerpt). Sat July 1st [1848] today all hands rolling out, going into the horn leave Dr. Richards to come with another com[pany] Sunday the 2nd [1848] all crossed the horn. Formed a large circle with the stockfold in the centre. Everything good order and harmony (Jonathan Crosby trail excerpt) July 6 [1848]--Crossed Elkhorn--We overtook Amasey Lyman's company under the command of Captain Fleak [Flake]. (Hugh Moon trail excerpt)

In addition to the Flakes, other names of interest are listed on the Richards/Lyman company roster. For example, also traveling in the same company were Jacob Israel Casteel (age 51) his wife, Sarah Knowling [sic: Nowlin] (48), and two children James Nowlin (15) and Joshua (18). Jacob's daughter, Margaret Jane, was not with them since she and her husband, Wm. D.

27 In his 1912 oral interview, William also confirmed his baptism: "[I was] Baptized in the Elk Horn River by my Father." (Augusta Flake, p. 1) 17

Kartchner, had arrived in the Salt Lake Valley the previous year, with the Mississippi Saints. In 1850 Margaret would give birth to Prudence Jane, who would become the second wife to William Jordan Flake. Thus, in 1848 William Jordan, age 9, crossed the plains with his future wife's grandfather! 28

Although James Madison Flake did not keep a personal diary of his experiences during the trip, he is, nevertheless, mentioned quite often in journals and diaries of company members. From those sources, we learn that James M. had a very significant role in the leadership of the company. He was a scout, a hunter, a wagon master, and toward the end, part of a relief effort to bring new oxen to aid the Saints in their last push over Big Mountain into the Salt Lake Valley.

Very little is known about nine-year old William's activities while crossing the plains. His responsibilities included the herding of cattle. Also, Osmer described one other assignment that fell to William:

The Captains saw that each one was awakened early, so to be ready for an early start. All slept in their wagons. About day light, the Captain sent William with a "Bull Whip;" it had a long handle and lash. He was to throw the lash over the wagon cover and wake everybody up. This continued to be his job every morning on the trip. There was a fine old gentleman, who he liked very much, but his wife was a scold, and always making trouble. One morning there was a violent quarrel in the wagon where they slept. He saw what he thought was her head against the wagon cover. He reversed the whip and hit the head a hard crack with the heavy stock. Then he ran from wagon to wagon making a hurried call, trying to get to the Father before she caught him, for she was right on his trail. They reached his wagon together, and to his sorrow he learned that it was the man's head he hit instead of hers. The Father made peace, but he [William] used more caution from them on. (William J. Flake, p. 100)

The Richards/Lyman companies arrived in Salt Lake City from October 10-19, 1848.

Fall 1848: Big Cottonwood Creek/ Amasa's Survey

Of the Flakes arrival in Utah, Osmer Flake wrote the following:

When they reached the Valley, there was a log house awaiting them that Green had built on the 'Amasa Survey' on Cottonwood. [It was] the first town settled in Utah outside of Salt Lake City. William Crosby was the first Bishop, James M. Flake, a councilor [sic]. The

28 Several other southern families traveled with the company, including William Lay, John Brown, Joseph Matthews and others. 18

negro was then given his freedom and was known as Green Flake. He raised a large family in Salt Lake, then moved to Idaho. He was known as a good citizen. (William J. Flake, p. 13)

Osmer's statement may contain some inaccuracies. It appears that Green Flake had returned to Winter Quarters the previous fall and had not been able to construct a suitable dwelling in advance for the Flakes.29 Another misstatement is when Osmer says "The negro was then given his freedom and was known as Green Flake." Actually, Green was known by the name Green Flake well before the Flakes arrived in Utah. In addition, it appears that Green was NOT given his freedom in 1848. He is listed on the Utah 1850 Census of "Slave Inhabitants of Utah County, Deseret" as belonging to Agnes Flake.30

The above census table reads

"Name of Slaves Owners- Agness Flake

Number of Slaves -- #1, #2

Description (#1) Age: 23, Sex: Male, Color: Black

(#2) Age: 17 Sex: Female, Color: Black

Regarding William's first experiences in Utah, Osmer Flake wrote:

William, now eleven years old had to take the part of a man. He herded cows down on the Sandy, during the winter of 1849 and 1850.31 He well remembered the coming of the

29 See James Madison Flake, by the present writer, for a more complete discussion of the cabin-building issue. However, Orson F. Whitney, in his History of Utah, vol. I, SLC: Geo. Q. Cannon, 1892, p. 357, includes Green's name among those who accompanied Brigham Young on his return trip to Winter Quarters in late August, 1847. 30 See James Madison Flake, by the present writer, for a more complete discussion of the slave/free man status of Green. Some reliable sources say Green was turned over to the Church as tithing in 1851 and after 1-2 years of service, was given his freedom and a plot of land by Brigham Young. 31 In 1912 William J. recalled: "Settled on Cottonwood. Herded cows in '49 on the Jordan bottom opposite Cottonwood. Went to school in the winter." (Augusta Flake, p. 1) In that same interview, William also

19

crickets. He, with most everyone else, was out fighting them, to try and save the little crop they had. To lose the crop meant starvation. They fought until the people began to fall from exhaustion and the crickets came in ever increasing numbers. They saw it was a losing battle; then the Lord interceded in their behalf. Although it was a bright day, a shadow fell over the fields, and a noise of wings came nearer; they wondered if it was a new calamity. They looked up and the sky was full of gulls. For a moment they stood in wonder. Then the birds lit right at their feet, paid no attention to the people, but began picking up the crickets. The people stood in awe, and witnessed the salvation of the Lord. (William J. Flake, p. 16) Of the miracle of the gulls, Wikipedia states:

These insects, now called "Mormon crickets" because of this incident, are not true crickets, but instead belong to the katydid family. Having ornamental wings, they are unable to fly, but instead travel in huge devouring hordes. Mormon crickets eat all plant material in their path, but they also cannibalize any insects that die on the way, including their own species. They're known to cyclically swarm in some areas of the Mountain West, especially in Utah and Nevada. These insects threatened the livelihood of the Mormon pioneers; stomping on the pests did not dissuade them from entering farms . . . According to some pioneers' accounts, legions of gulls appeared by June 9, 1848.32 Many letters and diaries recount that these birds, native to the Great Salt Lake, ate mass quantities of crickets, drank some water, regurgitated, and continued eating more crickets. Ornithologists don't regard this as particularly unusual because the seagulls around the Great Salt Lake often eat insects in the adjacent valleys, but some pioneers saw the gulls' arrival as a miracle, and the story was recounted from the pulpit by church leaders such as Orson Pratt and George A. Smith. (Pratt 1880, p. 275; Smith 1869, p. 83) The traditional story is that the seagulls annihilated the insects, ensuring the survival of some 4,000 Mormons who had traveled to Utah.

The "Pinching" incident.

A humorous event that occurred not to William, but his young sister, Sarah, happened shortly after the family's arrival at Amasa's Survey:

Sarah, the baby girl, was sleeping with Liz in a wagon box set on the ground. She was about three years old. She cried out in the night, and said that Liz had pinched her. They got her quiet, but later on she cried out again and accused Liz, but Liz vehemently denied it. Sarah would not stay in the bed with Liz, but Green pacified her, and told her he would "lay down close to the wagon box and if Liz pinched her again he would learn her a lesson." They all went to sleep but soon were awakened by another scream; this time it was from Green. "You rascal, would you bite a nigger?" and he jumped up and chased a coyote commented "Had a sister born in '50 while my Father was gone." However, he must have not remembered correctly. His sister, Sarah James, was born in Winter Quarters, before they left for Utah. No record has ever surfaced of another daughter having been born to Agnes and James Madison in 1850. 32 Actually, if the "miracle of the seagulls" occurred on June 9th, 1848, that was 5 months before William arrived in the Valley. Of course, William may be referring to another cricket infestation. They happened almost annually for a number of years. 20

out of camp. When morning came, the coyote was setting on its haunches some distance from the house. One shot from Grand-father's gun and there was no more pinching. (William J. Flake, p. 13)

The "Gold Mission" to California

James Flake lived in the Cottonwood-"Amasa's Survey" area for about a year after arriving from Winter Quarters. He was residing there when news of gold strikes in California reached the Great Basin. Gold had been discovered in the Sacramento area early in 1848. Many Mormons, including Saints who had arrived on the ship, Brooklyn, and many ex-Mormon Battalion volunteers were busily engaged in gathering gold. More than 300 members of the Church were at work on Mormon Island, in the Sacramento area, by July, 1848.

Brigham Young was adamantly opposed to Church members running off in search of riches. He stated:

Some have asked me about going [to California]. I have told them that God has appointed this place for the gathering of his Saints, and you will do better right here than you will by going to the gold mines."33

However, in September, 1849, Young recorded in his journal:

Fourteen or fifteen of the brethren arrived from the gold country, some of whom were very comfortably supplied with the precious metal ... That there is plenty of gold in Western California is beyond doubt. (Campbell, p. 2)

Although Brigham continued his public denunciation to those who wanted to run off to California, by the fall of 1849 he softened his opposition to the extent that he permitted certain church leaders to "call" young men of their choice on a "mission" to journey to California to mine gold for them. Albert K. Thurber wrote:

The California gold mines were attracting great attention and as B.J. Johnson was of the Council of Seventy, the president, Brigham Young, authorized them to send a few men, as Johnson told me, to prove them. ...Johnson was to fit us out and get one third of what each made and we to receive one third of what he made at home." (Campbell, p. 4)

It is not known who called James M. Flake to be part of what became known as the "Gold Mission."34 Be that as it may, on 11 October 1849 the group with which Flake was traveling left Salt Lake City. Henry Bigler recorded:

33 Eugene E. Campbell, "The Mormon Gold Mining Mission of 1849," BYU Studies, 2, no. 1 (1959-60) p. 2 21

I then got in the waggon and we drove to Brother Flakes on Cottonwood, about 10 miles. Got thare in the night, all was gone to bed, we mired in the big field, we had to get in the mud and water with our shoulders to the wheels (Friday 12th This morning we ware detained a little in getting something made. ...we bought a mare of Brother Flakes, paid $20 down and give our note for 100$ with interest at our Return. (Campbell, p. 5)

Several members of the group kept journals of their experiences. Henry Bigler and George Q. Cannon were two of the more meticulous chroniclers. Cannon's October 15th entry indicates that Flake had been chosen as Captain:

Monday, 15 October 1849 We started pretty early we were 20 in all & had chosen Bro. J. M. Flake for Captain; after travelling 8 miles we reached Hobble Creek & 8 miles further crossed Spanish Fork.35

The journey south as far as Cedar City was made with a minimum of discomfort. They traveled with a party of non-Mormons led by a Captain Smith. On 23 October they met up with the group piloted by Jefferson Hunt. Charles C. Rich also joined them. The three groups spent a day in camp while they considered a proposal to take a shortcut, known as Walker's Cutoff, to California. It was claimed that it could save 500-600 miles in travel. On 24 October the Smith group and the LDS group headed by Flake voted to take the shortcut. They unloaded the two wagons they had and repacked those supplies on pack mules. For about a week, they continued south, and arrived at a creek near Cedar City they called "Muddy Creek"--not to be confused with the Muddy River near present-day Overton, NV.

Osmer Flake described Flake 1849 journey to California in the following way:

In 1850, James M. Flake was called to go with a company led by George Q. Cannon and C.C. Rich, to look up a place in California to settle poor Saints who would come by Water to the West Coast. On the trip they got into the country now know as Death Valley. When they had gone without water until neither man nor beast could

34 Actually, two groups of gold missionaries were called. James' group consisted of about 20 men. Another group that left a little later and arrived at the gold fields by a different route was made up of about 30 individuals. (Campbell, pp 10-11) 35 The Journals of George Q. Cannon, Vol. I To California in '49, edited by Michael N. Landon, SLC: Deseret Book, 1999, p. 15 22

go further, they unsaddled and lay down on the hot sand facing death. C.C. Rich went out behind a sand knoll and, like George Washington at Valley Forge, knelt down and told the Lord of their condition and of their dependence on Him. His pleadings were not unheeded. He returned, roused the men and told them help was in sight. They looked up at a bright clear sky. He told them to spread their canvas out prepared to catch water. They looked at him, and he pointed to the West. There, they saw a small cloud, so small it could hardly be seen. It grew rapidly, and they had no more than made their preparation that the rain fell, and they caught all the water they needed for themselves and horses. (William J. Flake, p. 14)

Osmer's account, while moving in its description of the prayed-for miracle of the rain, errs on several points. First, the journey was begun in late 1849, not 1850. Also, George Q. Cannon was never one of the leaders. First it was James M. Flake and later Charles C. Rich. In addition, the purpose of the trip was not to find a suitable place "to settle poor Saints who would come by water" but to reach the gold fields. Finally, the gold missionaries never did approach the area now known as Death Valley. Some of the wagons that had signed on with Jefferson Hunt did cross the Death Valley area, but James M. Flake and his group, as can be seen by the map on the previous page, never entered that region.

Returning to our description of Flake's journey, on November 1st, the Smith-Flake groups broke off, heading west.36 Most of the 105 wagons Jefferson Hunt was guiding also attempted to take the cutoff. Hunt was left with only seven wagons and he refused to give in to pleas for all of them to take the shortcut.

Cannon's and Bigler's journals record the difficulties the group encountered during the next 2½ weeks. They headed west, but faced steep hills and deep ravines. Water, or its scarcity, was a constant problem. Finally, after wandering around semi-lost for ten days, Charles C. Rich took over leadership of the LDS contingent:

11 Nov This day's travel was an uninterrupted succession of hills very fatiguing for both animals and men...we had not gained over 3 miles by our day's travel. BRO. RICH SAID THIS EVENING THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO BE LED ROUND IN THIS MANNER "ANY LONGER," WE SHOULD ALL PERISH "IN THE MOUNTAINS" IF THERE WAS NOT AN ALTERATION; IF HE COULD NOT HAVE HIS WAY HE SHOULD GO BACK TO THE WAGONS AS QUICK AS HE COULD. HE SAID IF HIS COUNSEL HAD BEEN TAKEN WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN HERE [capitalization added]. I was glad to hear him speak as he did for I had seen that he had not taken a very active part in matters & that Capt. Smith's opinion had been taken in preference to the Generals...37

36 On Sunday Oct 28 "In the evening Bro. Rich called the Coy. [Company] together to know who should be Capt. of the company it was his mind that Bro. Flake remain as Capt. of the Co'y." (Cannon, p. 29) 37 Bigler faults the non-Mormon Captain Smith for leading them astray. He seems to infer that James M. Flake allowed Smith to pretty much take the lead as to where they were going. 23

After Rich took over, within a few days the so-called "miracle of the rain" occurred after which the group headed south and shortly they met up with Jefferson Hunt and those that had decided to stay with him:

18 Nov Travelled about 5 miles down the Creek and came in sight of some cattle grazing on the other side of the Creek & seen some men who told us Capt. Hunt was here with seven wagons... (Cannon, pp. 32-56)

Thus ended the more brutal leg of the journey to California. The gold mission group joined with the Hunt wagon train and they arrived December 9th at the Cajon Pass. From there they went to the Williams ranch where they worked and recuperated for about a month. The first part of January, Rich & Hunt used the money the group had earned to outfit the company for the trip up through California to the gold mines, some 400-500 miles away.

Accidental death of James Madison Flake

We do not know the exact day when, or place where James Madison died. Both Cannon and Bigler had ceased making daily journal entries by that time. We know that the group followed the coast north until they reached Gilroy Ranch, south of present-day San Jose. " When they turned east, they crossed Pacheco Pass, descended into the San Joaquin Valley, crossed the San Joaquin River, and ascended the Merced River toward the Mariposa diggings." (Cannon, p. 79) It was in that area, the San Joaquin Valley, where James suffered his fatal accident. According to Henry Bigler, it occurred in May 1850.38 Osmer Flake described James' death in the following way:

While passing through the San Joaquin Valley, he was thrown from his mule. His only words were "Brethren, lay hands on me". He passed away from a broken neck. His whole life since joining the Church, had been given to help his fellow men. He spent a fortune helping them to cross the great American Desert, to get away from the Christian mobs. Wrapped in a blanket, he was buried by the side of the trail. He truly gave his life for his brother. At camp that morning, a man was to ride a fractious horse and had no cinch. He [James] took the cinch from his saddle and gave to the man who, he thought, needed it worse. As he was riding on the trail the mule got scared, jumped to one side and the saddle and all fell to the ground. (William J. Flake, P. 15)

38 When Bigler began his journal entries again he wrote: "A fiew days ago we buried Br. Egar Gipson [Edgar Gibson], we had the painful duty of intering br. Flake who was thrown from his [mule] last may "(Cannon, p. 81) 24

The Aftermath

Agnes did not hear the tragic news until 3 months later.39 Osmer stated:

When his wife heard the sad news, she took to her bed, and did not recover for a long time. She was a frail woman and was suffering with tuberculosis. It is a wonder she held up at all. (William J. Flake, P. 15)

William, now eleven years old, was suddenly thrust into the role of man of the Flake household.

San Bernardino (1851-1858)

Agnes' time for mourning was short-lived. She probably heard of her husband's death in about September 1850, when Amasa Lyman returned from the California gold fields. Perhaps it was at that time--in order to distract Agnes from her grief--, that Amasa mentioned the possibility that a Mormon settlement would be made in southern California and that he wanted Agnes to be part of it.

Brigham Young was not in favor of extending Mormon settlements into California. However, when Lyman and Rich sat down with Brigham in the fall and spoke to him of the advantages of such a colony, Brigham's last hesitation crumbled. 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 small 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 to go 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 "paradise" that they had 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 God of this world, and was unable to address them."40

Since most of Agnes' friends living in the Cottonwood area were friends and associates of Amasa Lyman, one of the proposed settlement's leaders, it was almost a foregone conclusion that Agnes would join them in the trek to California.

39 Edward E. Lyman states that Amasa Lyman heard of James' death as early as May 1850: "Near May's end, Lyman [while he was in California] received the sad news that his good Mississippi friend, James M. Flake, still mining as a missionary for church leaders, had been killed by a broken neck, suffered when he was thrown from a mule. Lyman hurried to Hangtown (Placerville) with Jefferson Hunt and Porter Rockwell to meet the Mormons there, retrieve some of Flake's possessions, and collect $382 in tithing from the group. When he returned to Utah in the autumn of 1850, Lyman called on widow Agnes Flake to express his condolences." (Amasa M. Lyman, p. 185) 40 "Mormon Colonization of San Bernardino," www.covalt.org/mormon.HTM, p 5. 25

The trip to California was quite arduous. Due to its large size, the company left in groups of ten, at hourly intervals--to enable them to use more efficiently the water for themselves and grass for the 1,100 head of livestock they took with them. They departed from Payson shortly after the visit by Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball. They arrived in mid-April, 1851, at the last outpost of Mormon colonists, the newly established Iron Mission in Cedar. From that point on, the journey became much more difficult. One historian, Edward Lyman, notes: "The 400 mile journey from southern Utah to southern California stands as one of the most challenging in the annals of American pioneering." (Lyman, San Bernardino, p. 43) The wagon train made its way slowly down through Mountain Meadows to Santa Clara, then veered southwest to avoid the Virgin Gorge. They found water at Beaver Dam and then made the 80 mile trek to perhaps the most appreciated stopping point at Vegas, where there was good water and grass.

The most difficult stretch in the trek was from Vegas to Mojave. Edward Lyman describes the ordeal:

The terrain was rocky and difficult for oxen, and an even greater challenge was finding sufficient feed and water for so many cattle, horses and mules. . . . Although there were several good camping locations in the Mojave Desert, particularly the oasis-like Resting Springs, the stretches between good water and grass necessitated considerable night travel and several dry camps. Animals were lost to thirst and exhaustion. Pratt observed old men, women, and children struggling along the sandy road between Salt Springs and Bitter Springs, west and southwest of present Baker, California, and wrote: "It was certainly the hardest time I ever saw." While some 14 miles from water, they were forced to stop for rest every few minutes. They encountered members of their party who had been ahead of them, "lost in slumber-- every man and beast, by common consent, sunk in profound slumber and probably dreaming of water and feed ahead." They quietly passed by and in the cool of the night reached the Mojave River. The pioneers had reason to be relieved since the worst part was over. They would then take a week to travel leisurely along the 50 mile desert river extending toward the San Bernardino mountains. (Lyman, San Bernardino, pp 44-45)

The 600-700 mile journey lasted three months, from about March 24th, 1851 until June 10th, when the Company reached Cajon Pass and made camp in Sycamore Grove. Osmer Flake gives quite a few details of how Agnes and her little family fared on the trip:

On March 24, 1851 they started on the long, long journey across the American Desert. She [Agnes] drove the mules on the carriage; Liz drove two yoke of oxen on the wagon. 26

William and Charles drove the loose stock. She [Agnes] had bought a small Indian pony, for them to ride part of the time. 41 There were long distances without water and they suffered great hardships. One stretch was five days without water for the stock; some of them died from thirst. One time she stopped to have some repair work done on the wagon, expecting to go on with another family who had also stopped. After three days, these people decided to turn back. She was built of sterner stuff; there was no turning back with her. She started immediately, knowing the hard time she would have to catch up with the company, across a waterless, treeless, Indian-infested country, but they went on. They caught the company just across a long stretch of desert where there was no water; they were almost famished. William rushed to a bitter seep, grabbed a cup from a camp nearby, and drank four cups of water. As he got the fifth, a man ran up and took it from him. He fought for the water, and had to be physically restrained. They would not allow him to drink any more water until he had eaten some food they furnished him. This likely saved his life, as he would have drunk so much it would have killed him. It taught him a lesson about quenching thirst that he never forgot. If real thirsty, drink a little water, then eat a bit of bread. Another time when they had crossed a long stretch with no water, William was lying on the horse almost unconscious. The horse walked into a pool of water. A man nearby pulled him out, almost gone. On the Mohave Desert, as William ran out in the brush on foot to turn a cow back in the road, an arrow whistled by his ear and hit the cow, (it was meant for the cow). If they [the Indians] killed an animal, people would go off and leave it and they would get food. These are some of the hardships William went through while yet a boy of tender years. . . . They would hobble the gentle mule out at night, knowing the other would never wander off, but followed wherever the other went; she was tricky and treacherous. One morning in the Cajon Pass William went out early for the mules. He soon saw a wolf ahead of him. Priding himself on his throwing, William tried his hand on the wolf. The wolf trotted around and soon he saw it was following him, then another and another. First it was great fun throwing and hitting them, but he was not strong enough to do much damage. They [the wolves] continued to increase until there were ten or twelve of them. When the dog would go after them, they chased him back. The more of them there were, the bolder they became, and he quit throwing at them. They got so close he did not even dare turn his back to them, fearing they would jump on him if he did. So he backed up until he reached the gentler mule. He did not stop to unhobble the mule, but dropped the rocks he had been carrying, and jumped on the mule just in time to avoid contact with the fangs of the nearest wolf. He kicked the mule and went for camp about a half mile away. The other mule followed closely and would grab a wolf by the back and throw it to one side, stomp some of them and kick others. When they neared camp, the wolves slunk off in the brush. William always looked on this as the most narrow escape of his life. They reached the Cajon Pass in June 1851. Here they camped for weeks while looking for a place to settle. While here he got one more month of school. A large Sycamore tree gave the shelter and the whole outdoors was the classroom. The leaders, Lyman and Rich, purchased the San Bernardino land grant, one hundred thousand acres, for $77,000. William's widowed Mother turned all she had in on the deal,

41 Of the pony William commented, in his 1912 interview: "My mother bought me a little mare from an Indian, but she was so poor I couldn't ride her much." (Augusta Flake, p. 1) 27

except the mules and wagon, which she kept to help in making a living for the three children and herself.42 (William J. Flake, pp 19-20)

In late November [1851] rumors began to fly about an uprising of local Indians who were allegedly planning attacks on American settlements from the Mexican border all the way to Santa Barbara. Hastily, the Saints began to build a fort large enough for their entire population. The threat of Indian hostilities soon evaporated, but the Saints, in a manifestation of group solidarity, decided to make the fort their home until such a time as urgent community projects were completed and the huge debt was somewhat lessened.43 The result was that the Fort remained home to almost 400 people for more than 2½ years. During that time, land for a huge collective farm was cleared, planted and harvested. Irrigation projects were begun and completed as were roads and public buildings.

Agnes Flake, widow of James Madison Flake lived in the Fort from 1851-1853. Her dwelling was #36. In the spring of 1854, the settlers began to build separate dwellings and the Fort was dismantled and the logs used for private and public buildings.

Osmer Flake described Agnes' "cabin" in the following way She built a small stockade house, the posts standing on end with a flat roof. The wind blew so much and the sand drifted in until it was inches deep on the floor. She said "If it ever stops blowing long enough, I will get a house the sand will not sift through." (William J. Flake, p. 20)

Eventually, in about 1854 the Fort was dismantled and individuals began building private homes. Agnes' boys worked long and hard to provide a suitable dwelling for their mother:

42 William commented, in 1912: "Mother sold her oxen and wagons and paid seven hundred and fifty dollars on it [the ranch] and never got her money back." (Augusta Flake, p. 1) 43Initially, Lyman and Rich gathered the colonists together and outlined the financial arrangements and encumbrances they had made. They, the colonists, not the Church leaders in Salt Lake City, had made the purchase and were responsible for paying off the $77,000 debt. "When the proposition was put to the congregation, they committed to purchase individual inheritances from the leaders." (Lyman, p. 53)

28

William now twelve years old [1851] was taking his part equal to many much older. When there was hauling to or from Los Angeles, he would go along with some of their friends, and in this way make many a dollar to help his Mother. When he had no other work, he would make adobes for a house. When he was fifteen years old [1853-54] --he [later] told us-- "with the help of my younger brother, we made adobes for a house." 44 They would put a yoke on four or five yoke of calves, and drive them around in the mud to mix it. Then they would mould out the adobe. They always had the help of Liz; she was a worker. By changing work with men, they got the walls laid. It was the first house built by our people in the San Bernardino Valley. (William J. Flake, p. 202

A Visit from a Brother

The Gold Rush attracted men from all geographic areas and social classes. One of these happened to be Agnes' younger brother, Augustus. At Los Angeles he somehow learned of his sister being at San Bernardino and so he made a special trip to see her. What he saw must have been difficult for him. His beloved sister was an impoverished widow, living in a primitive hut. His heart went out to her; after all she was one of only one or two siblings still alive. Agnes had had ten brothers and sisters, but all except two had died prior to the visit by Augustus:

Anna J. Love. b. 1810 d. 1838 Richmond Love b. 1811 d. 1844/45 Jane Elvira Love b. 1812 d. 1844 Mary Love b. 1813 d. 1851 Charles Love b. 1815 d. abt 1844/45 Rosa B. Love b. abt 1816 --still living in 1855 Agnes H. Love b. 1819 John Love b. 1823 d. date of death unknown Augustus Love b. 1825 --still living when he visited Agnes, 1853-54 Thomas Love b. abt 1825 d. abt 1844/45 William Love b. abt 1827 d. 1842

Augustus must have felt strong emotions for his sister, six years older than he. However, his expression of love was not unconditional. He proposed to Agnes the following:

When he found that she was a widow and living in poverty, that the trip had cost all they had, he begged her to return with him to the old home. She said that she could not stand the struggles that lay before her, her widowhood, her weakened condition, (the T.B. was taking its toll), the hard work of building and starting anew.

44 William, in 1912, was of the opinion that he and his brother built the adobe house for his mother in 1852: "In the spring made dobies and built a house. This was in '52." (Augusta Flake, p. 1) However, Edward L. Lyman stated that after the fort was built, "though no longer a necessity, the fort remained home to almost 400 people for more than two and a half years." In other words, the colonists voted to live in the fort and engage in other public works projects rather than building their own personal dwellings. (San Bernardino, the Rise and Fall of a California Community, Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1996, p. 64. 29

He told her their parents had both passed away. There was no one to occupy the old home. They all had plantations of their own, and she could have the land, the home and all the negroes she needed to work it with. They would all be glad to welcome her back. She could live as a lady, raise her children as gentlemen and lady, give them all good educations, and never again know want or hunger or trouble.45 All they would ask of her, was to give up Mormonism and have nothing more to do with that. She looked him in the eye and asked, "You don't think you are asking much, do you?" "No," he said, "very little." She replied, "It is more than my life's blood. I would rather wear my nails off over the wash tub to support my children, than to take them away from the Church, for I know it is true." He asked "Agnes, is that your answer?" "Yes," she replied. He turned and walked away a few steps, then turned and said, "Agnes, if you ever change your mind, write me and I will come for you at once." She answered "Brother, you will never get that letter." She never saw nor heard from any of her kin people again, nor did any of us for forty- six years. (William J. Flake, p. 22)

The last year or so of Agnes' life was difficult for her. She gradually got weaker and weaker. Osmer Flake describes her final stage of life:

Thus his [William's] time went on for three years, doing whatever there was to do, freighting, farming, road building, anything to help his Mother. The two large white mules they had brought with them all the way from North Caroline proved their physical salvation. His Mother bore her part and bore it well. Although she was growing weaker all of the time, she never complained of her lot, of her condition, or of the load she had borne. She suffered her troubles in silence, never burdening other people. Later in the evening, she called the children around the bed, and told them she could stay no longer, but would have to leave them. She talked to them a long time of her hopes for them. She told them that if they wanted to live in this World, they must leave tea, coffee, tobacco and liquor alone. They were death to her people. Their constitutions could not stand it, and all of them who indulged in those things died young. It did not seem to affect some people, but her family could not stand it and live. To William, she said, "William, you are the oldest and I will hold you responsible for your every act; you must set an example before them, worthy of your standing. The whole responsibility is upon you." When she had finished her instructions, she told them to go to bed. William wanted to sit up with her, but she said, "No, I am tired and want some rest; if you sit here I cannot sleep." All went to bed as usual, but just before day, she called Liz, told her to go get the children, and when they came, she sent Liz for some of the women. While they were coming,

45 Of course, little did Augustus realize that the Civil War would devastate the South, beginning in less than 6 years. So the promised land--had Agnes accepted his conditions-- may not have turned out to be so blissful. 30

she talked calmly to the children, kissed each child, bid them farewell, and lay back on her pillow, dead. (William J. Flake, p. 23)

Thus lived and died first James M., then his wife Agnes. Prior to her death, on December 24, 1854, Agnes had summoned the branch clerk, Richard Hopkins, and Amasa Lyman to write her will. Edward Lyman writes:

"It seems clear that he [Amasa] had already assured her that his family would look after her remaining children as their own." . . .Fulfilling Lyman's promise to Agnes Flake, Maria Lyman undertook the care of Agnes's three children. Marion Lyman later commented that his mother "shouldered a great responsibility when she took these children in addition to her own." . . .Amasa also fully included these children with his own. . . . When Marion turned sixteen, Amasa gave him some land and cattle of his own. William Flake, who was "skilled with the lasso," received the same resources. (Amasa M. Lyman, pp 221-222)

The Flake Children

When Agnes died, she left three orphaned children. William was 16½, Charles, 15 and Sarah, 8. According to Osmer Flake, for the first 6-8 months after Agnes' demise, the servant woman, Liz, kept the family home and looked after the children.

Liz kept the home and looked after the family all summer. In the Fall of 1855, they went to live with Amasa Lyman's family. Liz stayed with them and did all she could to help out as long as they lived in California. Lyman had a son (Madison)46 the same age and size as William. They had been close friends all the way from Nauvoo. Now, they were being raised in the same home, that friendship became crystallized, and all their lives, they were the closest of friends. They slept together, rode together, took a farm and worked it on shares, raising forty acres of barley, and in all things were inseparable. (William J. Flake, p. 27)

During the next two years, William, his brother and sister and the Lyman children had many experiences. Osmer tells of two of William's adventures that could possibly have been life- changing. The first was a near-fatal swimming accident:

46 Osmer meant to say "Marion," not Madison. Francis Marion Lyman was born 12 Jan 1840 in Illinois. Thus he was about 6 months younger than William. Marion--he went by his middle name-- was called on a mission to England in 1857, but when he reached Salt Lake City, he was sent back to San Bernardino to help those saints returning to Utah due to the so-called "Utah Rebellion." He married Rhoda A. Taylor in November, 1857, and was later called to be an apostle in 1880. He was President of the Quorum of the Twelve from 1903 until his death in 1916. He and William became life-long friends and considered themselves brothers. 31

There was a swimming pool on the San Bernardino River, where the boys gathered for swimming. On the bank nearby was a stump ten feet high. They vied with each other to see who could be the first one to mount the stump and dive off. There had been a flood that washed sand in and nearly filled the hole; this they did not know. William was the first to reach the stump. He dove off, but did not come to the surface as usual. Some thought he was drowned; others said "No, he is just like a Hell Diver, and will show up." Very soon they saw his body roll against a log down the stream. They pulled him out and rolled him to get the water out and did such things as they knew and finally got him breathing, but found his head was knocked back and they could not straighten his neck. They carried him to town and the Doctor did all he could but after a number of days, told him nothing could be done for his neck, that he could never bend it again, and would never be able to see ahead of him but by bending over. William said he would either bend it or break it trying. He would not go through life in that condition. Fortunately the bruise on the spinal column caused a numbness of his body, and he had very little feeling. He would put two blocks of wood on the ground, lay with his head on one, his feet on the other, then stiffen his body, so that it would be suspended in the air and constantly rub his neck; even in bed he assumed that position. He could walk around, but had to get on his hands and knees to see the road ahead of him. This way he would go visit with neighbors and pass the time away. One day he went to the home of a friend, and asked the girl what was the matter with him. One leg was shorter than the other. She told him he had lost one shoe. She went back along the street and found it, put it on him; then he felt all right. A few weeks of this and he could see a little improvement, but it took months of patient work to get so he could see where he was going, and much longer to get so he could use his neck and have very good use of his body. Neither the numbness nor the neck condition ever left him. He could not sit with his head down to write letters or such as that [for] very long at a time, and with one side of his body he had but little feeling. He had done what the Doctors had said was an impossibility. He lost faith in Doctors and never had one in the home again, until Mother's illness forty-six years later, and on his death, he had never had a Doctor." (William J. Flake, pp. 25-27)

William's second adventure was not quite as life threatening, but could have marked a change in his values and a disregard for the advice he had received from his mother on her deathbed:

He and his friend Marion Lyman had formed the habit of smoking, while out in the hills gathering the horses to take with them to Utah. They talked of the tobacco habit, and both knew it to be wrong, [so they] decided they would quit. They threw their sacks of tobacco and paper out of their pockets and he never touched tobacco again. (William J. Flake, p. 27)

Edward Lyman tells of William and Marion's dalliance with tobacco in slightly different language:

Marion and possibly William also experimented, like many adolescents, with forbidden behavior. Admiring the Hispanic caballeros' indulgence in cigarettes and wine, the former later confessed: "As I entered my fifteenth year, I was large for my age and I had the 32

pernicious habit of smoking cigarettes fairly well fastened upon me. It gave my father and mother very much concern lest one bad habit should be followed by another." . . . Marion continued to smoke until he was seventeen even when it might have prevented him from successfully courting the attractive newcomer from Australia-- if Rhoda Taylor's mother's advice had been heeded. The mother of the girl he was interested in advised her daughter not to encourage a smoker. Later, Amasa's partner, Ebenezer Hanks, appealed to Marion to quit smoking for his father's sake and he finally did so.47

William's activities. 1854-57

In 1912 William said the following about his San Bernardino activities:

In '54 put in some grain in the barley field east of the fort In '55 Mother died and I was left an orphan. In the fall of '55 went to live with Amasa Lyman as my guardian. In '56 put in five acres of grain. Took care of the cows. Lived [with] Amasa Lyman. Went to school in the winter. In the fall of '57 San Bernardino was broken up -- sold out everything and started back for Utah. (Augusta Flake, p. 2)

Preparations → Utah, Liz given her freedom

In 1857, the call came for the faithful saints of San Bernardino to return to Utah during the so- called "Utah Rebellion." Amasa Lyman, naturally, was among those who heeded the call. Although letters suggesting the Saints removal from San Bernardino may have begun during the summer of 1857, the actual order to return did not arrive until the end of October. Brigham wrote: ". . . [the] time appears to be near at hand, when you will either have to abandon your faith or your present locality and escape to Utah as best you can." (Lyman, San Bernardino, 389) Subsequently, on 8 Nov, at a public worship service, the statement was made that the Saints "were now at liberty to go to Salt Lake if they wished to do so." (Lyman, 391)

At the time, San Bernardino boasted a population of approximately 3,000. Estimates vary as to the number that returned to Utah, and those that stayed. A New York Times article, published some ten years later, on 12 Dec 1867, stated:

"Without a murmur and with very few exceptions the entire people obeyed the summons, and made active preparations for a general departure. Great sacrifices were made of homes, lands, stores and personal effects. Much valuable property sold for a song, while much was abandoned outright. Just enough stock and provisions were taken to make the journey and sustain life; and before March 1858, the City of San Bernardino was almost entirely deserted by the Mormons, more than nine-tenths have made their exodus."

47 Edward Leo Lyman, Amasa Mason Lyman, SLC: U. of Utah Press, 2009, pp. 222-223 33

The Times was perhaps overstating the number of faithful. Edward L. Lyman estimates that perhaps two-thirds, or 2,000, made the decision to return to Utah. However, as the Times indicated, those who turned their face eastward to Utah suffered great material losses. Land was devalued by half to two-thirds, without consideration for improvements. A fellow named Brown purchased thirteen city lots for an average price of $50 each. One of San Bernardino's most prosperous farmers, Daniel Starks," sold his home and 10 acres of the best district grape vineyards for six mules and a wagon, and left unsold a threshing machine and newly purchased machinery for a gristmill and probably over a hundred acres of undeveloped farmland." (Lyman, 394)

According to Osmer,

"Liz wanted to stay with the children, to look after them even when they were preparing to return to Utah, but William declined Liz' offer since she did not get along well with Amasa Lyman's wife. He told her she was to have her freedom, to go where she pleased or to get married and raise a family of her own. She later married and became quite wealthy and raised three children. . .She sent William a fine present when he married, a nice set of knives and forks which could not be obtained in Utah." (William J. Flake, p. 27-28)

Arrival in Utah, courtship, marriage

William was perhaps one of the more fortunate of those who returned to Utah. He was able to trade his San Bernardino property for livestock, specifically horses. In January of 1858 he started back to Utah, driving a herd of about 100 horses. He was only 18½ years old at the time. Perhaps some of the horses belonged to Amasa Lyman, but William had many of his own in the herd. According to Edward S. Lyman, William had two other men helping him:

As Amasa, Marion and another unnamed companion traveled southward on January 28, [1858] some fifteen miles from the Mojave River, Amasa met his brothers-in-law, Freeman and Seth Tanner, and his foster son, William Flake, driving horses and mules (probably including some of his own) toward Utah, assisted by two friendly Las Vegas Paiutes. Lyman and his associates had been subsisting on a few crackers a day, and certainly welcomed the better dinner shared by the drovers.48

Lucy Hannah White tells of William's arrival in Cedar and their subsequent meeting and courtship:

I have told you William Jurden Flake came to Cedar City the last of February 1858 My Father and Uncle Joel White was called to go out to California and also Uncle David Savage to bring back the poor saints that were there they made this young mans acquaintance they said he was such a good stedy young man while all the others were so Wild and rude they

48 Amasa Mason Lyman, p. 259 34

had much to say of this young mans good qualites and good behaveyour I said I want to meet this young man when he comes they came in about two weeks a hed of him he was driving a large band of Horses they got thin and he had to wait till they re[cr]uited up the first evening he was in Ceader Uncle Joel invited him several other my self included to go and spend the evening we all likid his aperance very much . . . William Flake remained in Cedar City and we became acquainted in due time he offered his hand in Marage My Parents being Willing we were Married Dec 30, 1858 by Apostal Amasy M Lyman at my Fathers House had a Wedding Apostle Lyman gave us very good council told us how to treat each other called us children he [William] was 19 in July myself 16 in Augest he said we was not set in our way like we would be if we were older he used most all the evening talking and counciling it was very plesant indeed William was still working for Brother Lyman we went there to live we stayed there three weeks then a part of his family Moved to Beaver We went with them in May 1859 my parents moved to Beaver49

1859→ Beaver

The first settlers of Beaver arrived 5 Feb 1856. There had been a heavy snowfall the previous day that delayed their arrival. The area was considered to be "a cold, barren and saleratus desert land, although fairly well supplied with water, a growth of wire grass...and a fair sprinkling of bench grass among the stunted sagebrush." The land was surveyed and divided into sixteen ten-acre lots. A Charles C. Woodhouse arrived in the spring of 1856 and found the settlement in turmoil. "Men were quarreling because all wanted corner lots." Thus it can be seen that Beaver was a young town that would provide lots of opportunities--and stiff challenges-- for William and his new bride.

After the move, William continued working for Amasa Lyman. However, he traded horses in order to obtain a place with two log cabins on it. He gave one to his very close boyhood friend, Marion Lyman—who had married the year previous.

For a period of time, William and Lucy lived in separate locations, he with the Lymans and she with her parent’s family. Lucy wrote:

William continued to work for Apostal Lyman till October [1859]. I lived with my people in Oct Apostal Lyman asked William if he dident want to go to himself the latter had bought a log House so we went to Housekeeping about the middle of October we had very little to keep house with but we were just as happy as could be we loved each other and loved our home and felt truly thankful my parents lived close by and greatley assisted us50 (Lucy, p. 9)

49 Diary of Lucy Hannah White Flake, p. 8,9 50 Osmer wrote: “ William was still living with Amasa Lyman so he took his bride there, where they all lived for three weeks, then moved to Beaver; a new town was being started there. . . . He had lived with Amasa Lyman since his Mother's death. In the summer of 1859 they moved to themselves.” (William J. Flake, p. 30)

35

Osmer wrote that the newlyweds had to make their own furniture:

In the new home, they really started from the bottom. His [William's] Mother had left considerable stuff, kitchen cooking utensils and other house furnishings, bedding, etc. but it was all gone. Their [William's and Lucy's] furnishings consisted of a bed-stead made with an axe as the only tool, two log benches he made, a frying pan, a case knife he found and for which he whittled a handle, two tin plates and a spoon that he cut out of wood with his pocketknife. (William J. Flake, pp 30-31)

Roberta Flake Clayton, in her modernized version of Lucy's journal, wrote that in June of 1859 Lucy enjoyed herself at a dance. However, where Roberta got the information is a bit of a mystery since Lucy did not mention the incident in her handwritten journal. Roberta penned— speaking as if she were Lucy :

The first "May Ride" I ever had was held in June after we were married. In June, because it was too cold in May to have an outdoor picnic. There were swings made in the trees, a May Queen, and the braiding of the Maypole which was very pretty. All joined in and everyone had a good time, As we got better settled we had dances more often. Whenever William was in town he was asked to be the Floor Manager. His duties were to only admit people of good standing, and to see that all the men who danced paid their tickets. These might be paid in beets, carrots, beans, corn, wheat, cabbage, potatoes, squash, molasses, or an order for ditch work or barbering. Anything the musicians could use. These tickets entitled each man to a number. These were called in rotation, and if anyone danced out of his turn he was told by the Floor manager to take his seat, unless he could prove that he had traded turns with someone else.51

First child

In addition to the occasional community gatherings, another event that added to William and Lucy's happiness was the birth of their first child, 8 Nov 1859, just ten months after William and Lucy exchanged wedding vows. Lucy remarked:

. . eight 8 of November we was bless with our first born a son James Madison he was a nice large babe in due time he was blest by Apostle Lyman baby grew was helthy and so good Beaver was then a new place plinty of work to do our nearest store or place to buy goods was Salt Lake City 220 miles away

In his 1912 interview William added: I was still living with Lymans [ in 1858] and lived there for a year afterwards. In '59. I helped Lyman's folks move to Beaver and then moved my folks to Beaver. Eight or ten trips I made." (Augusta Flake, p. 3) 51 Roberta Flake Clayton, To the Last Frontier, Autobiography of Lucy Hanna White Flake reprinted 1976, p. 24) 36

1860

The year 1860 is not well documented by Lucy. She tells how her own father went back across the plains on Church business and helped bring a wagon train of saints to Salt Lake City, but she says nothing of events in her own and William’s lives.

Osmer indicates that in 1860 William and his father-in-law bought a loom in Salt Lake City for Lucy and her mother. The purchase may have coincided with Samuel White's return to the valley from his trip out to Winter Quarters.

During the previous summer [1860] he [William] and his Father-in-law purchased a loom in Salt Lake City. Mother's Grand-mother taught her and her sister Mary how to spin and weave. For a number of years, Mother made the clothes for the family, taking the wool from the sheep's back, washing, carding, coloring, spinning and weaving. I wore some of the clothes thus made fifteen years later. (William J. Flake, p. 35)52

Osmer tells about two incidents in which William's life was at risk. (He states that these events occurred during the winter of 1860, but the source of his information is not clear.53 Lucy makes no mention in her journal of these events having happened in 1860.)

In the Summer of 1860 he farmed on North Creek and hauled grain for the church from Beaver and South to Salt Lake City. In the Winter he went to California for freight, and received twenty-five cents a pound for hauling. In the Winter of 1859 and 1860, he traded horses for five yoke of oxen while in Salt Lake. He also acquired two wagons. He started for

52 Roberta wrote, again as if she were Lucy: " We had to make what we could such as lye, soap, starch, candles, thread, yarn, cloth, clothes, socks, stockings, gloves and in many instances our shoes. I had learned to spin when a little girl. Father and William bought a loom together. Grandmother White lived near me and she taught me how to weave. We wove all the cloth we wore, our blankets, rugs, etc. We wore our clothes as long as we could, then the best parts were taken to make clothes for smaller children, and the scraps for a quilt. When they were too near gone for any of these they were torn into strips, the ends sewed together, and woven into rugs. We were great hands to help each other, and quilting, rag bees, wool cardings and pickings furnished excuses for all to get together. “ (To the Last Frontier, pp 25-26) 53 In his 1912 interview, William J. placed these events in 1858 prior to his marriage to Lucy. He stated: "In the spring of '58 got back to Cedar City. Went up to Beaver. The Indians stole a big band of horses-- the ones I drove from California and I made my first trip after Indians. I had seven little horses, went up to Salt Lake and traded six of them for five yoke of oxen and two wagons. Started for Cedar City with my oxen and wagon, got as far as Summit and lost my oxen. Hunted for two weeks before I found them. I found my oxen and swore at them and was met by an old man who gave me good advice. I always thought he was one of the old Nephite prophets because I followed his tracks for a little way and lost them and the snow was knee deep. . . . In Cedar Springs I went to Aunt Mary Savage's, unyoked my oxen and turned them loose on the hills for the winter. Next morning I got on my horse and started for home. . . Went to sparking and about six weeks afterwards I was married to Lucy White on the 30th day of December. (Augusta Flake, pp. 2-3) 37

home with the new outfits. It was two hundred and ten miles, and in the winter traveling alone. One night there was a heavy snow; eighteen inches deep when he arose in the morning. He started to get the oxen. For ten days he tramped over the country, but could find nothing of them. On the tenth day, while trudging along in the snow he saw a man just a few yards away coming toward him and [the man]asked of him, what he was doing out in that deep snow? William said he was hunting for his oxen. The man pointed toward a hill and said "You will find them beyond that hill in a thick clump of trees." William thanked him and started along the back tracks from which the man had come, but to his surprise there were no tracks beyond where he first saw the man. He turned to see where the man was but there was no one in sight. Then it dawned on him that he had seen one of the three Nephite Prophets. He walked on and soon found his oxen and returned to camp.

A day or two later some of his oxen were bogged in the Salt Creek. It was bitter cold and he had to drag the oxen out and was wet to the skin and almost froze to death before he could get a fire. After getting the fire going good, two soldiers who were deserting from the army came along and warmed up. He tried to get them to stay but they would not, for fear they would be caught. They went on, and the two bodies were found a few days later where they had frozen to death. While passing along the Sevier River he met a small detachment of soldiers. He was wearing one of the regulation Government overcoats. It was an extra warm coat; a number of them had found their way out among the people. The officer ordered him to surrender the coat. He refused to do it, and told the officer that if he gave up the coat, he would freeze to death, and he would rather die fighting than freezing. The officer, seeing the determination in his eye, let him keep the coat. He kept it for more than twenty years. (William J. Flake, pp 31-32) 54

54 In 1912 William gave a slightly different version of the above incident: "That day I went to the Sevier. Eight miles was all I could travel it was so cold. The Sevier froze over it was so cold. The ground was froze. The bridge was slippery and my oxen wouldn't pull the wagons across. I drove up so close to the bridge that no one could cross without first helping me over. There was a company of soldiers camped on the other side of the river in a little ravine close by. I went over the bridge to where they were. They were there to guard the bridge, to keep people from going over with stolen goods. I had an old soldier coat that I bought in California. The captain said, "My young man, I've got to take that coat away from you." I told him that if I took that coat [off] he'd take me, that I'd die before I'd give it up, that I'd freeze to death without it and I'd better die fighting than freeze to death. He said, "I can't help it; I'll have to take it." I said, "I bought this coat in California and I won't give it up." He said, "Was you ever in California?" I said, "Yes, sir, I just came from there last spring." He said, "Can you give me a description of the road and the water and everything?" I told him, "Yes sir." He said, "Cook, fetch him some supper." Said, "I am going to quit this country pretty quick." After supper he came with his book and pencil and wrote down what I told him about the road. (Augusta Flake, p. 3) 38

1861

A second son is born, dies

This year began with the birth of a second child, another son. They named him William Melvin and he was born on 20 Jan 1861. Lucy remarked "He seemed a fine helthy child was blessed by my Father." (p. 10) Unfortunately, this child lived only two months and passed away on March 20th of that same year. Lucy wrote:

I can say his death was the first trial of my faith it seemed my prairs had alway been answered before but in his sickness it seemed like my prairs did no good but still I kept trying to get my Hevenly Father to here [sic: hear] me kept praying but it seemed he could not here me (Lucy, p. 10)

William: "not religious"

William, on the other hand, was not—according to Lucy—a prayerful man:

William was not rligous being brought up in California after he was twelve and having no father to teach him this was some what of a trial to me but I loved him and prayed for him in secret I would often pleade with him to pray in the Familey but he would not when the Teachers would ask him if he tended prairs in his familey he would say no they would talk to him he would say he was going to be religious when he got old (Lucy, pp 10-11) William's early employment

It appears that almost from the outset of his marriage, William was busy trying to get established and provide for his wife and growing family. As mentioned, he initially worked for Amasa Lyman farming, herding cattle, building, etc. Later, he began to branch out on his own.55 According to Osmer, during the fall and winter of 1860-61 William and his brother, Charles, began cutting logs in a nearby canyon.56 One day an accident occurred that nearly cost William his life:

While hauling logs from the mountains to improve the place, during the winter, his wagon slipped off a dugway and tipped over. His foot caught in the logs and he fell under the load. The snow was about ten feet deep and this saved him from being

55 In 1912 William explained: "That summer [1860] we farmed on North Creek--Philo Carter and me. We took us up a farm east of Greenville, three miles west of Beaver." (Augusta Flake, p. 3) 56 In his 1912 interview, William stated: "In the spring [1860] I went up in the mountains to haul house logs. I got behind to cut some birch splints for my wife's corsets. I tipped over the wagon and the logs went on top of me. Charley dug a hole and let me out. The snow kept the logs from mashing me." (Augusta Flake, p.3) 39

crushed. Charles jumped clear of the load unhurt, and he dug in the snow under the logs and rescued William. (William J. Flake, p. 35)

It was fortunate Charles was with William on that occasion. (Charles and Sarah, William's siblings, lived with William and Lucy until they came of age to either marry or strike out on their own.)

As soon as weather permitted, William starting freighting to Salt Lake City. His brother, age 20, accompanied him. Emma Flake Freeman recalled a story from those early days:

While he was freighting for the Pony Express, he had an experience that he used to tell us about. He and his brother Charles were on Point Lookout, North-west of Salt Lake City. He had bought a new red flannel undershirt, and just put it on that morning. He felt something on his body and on examination he found it was alive with "Cooties." It was snowing hard and the weather was cold, but off came every stitch of his clothing, so he could clean himself from the tormentors. Charley refused to sleep with him, but when night came, and there was just enough bedding for one bed, Charles changed his mind says "body lice were preferable to freezing". He made two trips to Salt Lake with freight in 1861. (William J. Flake, p. 34)

Sometime that spring, possibly as a result of contacts William made during his previous two freighting trips, he started hauling freight to and from Camp Floyd. Readers may recall that Camp Floyd was created as a compromise during the so-called Utah Rebellion of 1857-58. Brigham Young did not want government groups in near proximity to the Saints in Salt Lake City, so an agreement was reached to build suitable housing in an area about 50 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. By the fall of 1858 four hundred buildings had been constructed to house the 3,500 soldiers—one third of the entire U.S. Army at that time. Eventually, the camp population rose to about 7,000 inhabitants and the supply contract called for Russell, Majors & Waddell to deliver 16 million pounds of supplies. That required 3500 wagons, 40,000 oxen, 1,000 mules and 4,000 men!

With the outbreak of the Civil War, orders came in July 1861 to shut down Camp Floyd. Within two months, only 18 families remained where a once thriving town had existed. Of course the closure of Camp Floyd was a boon to Brigham Young and those living in the Salt Lake Valley. Equipment and supplies were sold at auction for less than 10% of their value. It is no wonder that William Flake found ready need for his freighting services in that area during the last half of 1861. Lucy wrote:

. . . that spring after our baby died[1861] he [William] made several trips to Salt Lake with freight in July he went to freighting on the western mail line from Camp Floid [Floyd] a way out west halling grain for horse feed so I was lonely and had plenty of time to pray as I was anxious for my husbands welfare used to pray for the time to come for us to be worthy to go and get our endewments (Lucy, p. 11) 40

Endowment Time

In those early years William's mind was not on religious matters; he was also too busy getting his affairs in order financially to even think about going to Salt Lake with Lucy to be endowed. However, certain things seem to happen no matter what. Lucy told the story thus:

That fall my Father and Mother was going to Salt Lake for conference they knew I was lonely as it had been nearly three months since I had saw William so Father asked me to go to conference with them I wrote to my Husband to meet us in Salt Lake as we were coming to Conference he came and we attended all the meetings after Conference was over Our Bishop F T Farnsworth57 came to my Husband and said Brother William I want you and your wife to come to the endowment House and have your Enduments he [William] was so surprised he knew not what to say if the Bishop had told him he wanted him to go to England he could not [have] felt more surprised he tried to get excused said he did not think himself Worthy but the Bishop would not let him off so he came and told me I thanked my Hevenly Father knew it was in answer to prair that night I was so thankfull hardley slept the 9th October 1861 we received that great blessing and was seled for time and all Eternity (Lucy, p. 11)

After conference, Lucy and her parents returned home. William stayed on up north freighting and did not return to Beaver until Christmas day. Lucy remarked: "He came home on Christmas day being six months from home it had been lonely but my little son James was a great comfort to me." (Lucy, p. 12)

1862

This was a busy year for William and his wife. Lucy was happy because William spent the first nine months in the area of Beaver. He apparently obtained land 3 miles west of town and moved there to create a farm:

. . . in 1862 my husband farmed58 we moved three miles from home milked cows made butter and chees and that seemed the happiest summer of my life [emphasis added] my husband raised a good crop

William and his son, James, about 1862. From a tintype. (Photo courtesy of Margo Clouse.)

57 This Bishop Farnsworth was the ancestor of Beaver’s most famous native son, Philo Farnsworth, the inventor of modern-day television. 58 Osmer says this occurred in 1860, but Lucy said it happened in 1862. Osmer wrote: “ In 1860 he took up a farm three miles west of Beaver and fenced it. Fencing meant work, as they had no wire. They had to build the stake and rider fence or pole fence, and each took long days of hard labor, but they got a fence that turned stock and lasted much longer than the wire fence of the present.” ( William J. Flake, p. 32) 41

and every night he was home that seemed so good for most all the time he had been gon from home since our marrage for he had to work at anything he could to make a living in September we moved home 59 (Lucy, p. 12) A 3rd Child

On 18 October 1862 a third child, another boy, was born and given the name of Charles Love. The first name was in honor of William's brother, and the middle name was, of course, William's mother's maiden surname. It is said that Charley, William's brother, was "very fond of his namesake." (To the Last Frontier, p. 29)

An older brother looks out for a younger one

When William married and set up his own household, he invited Charley and Sarah to live with him and Lucy. Charley, who was only a year younger than William, was a big help. He worked side-by-side with William in cutting logs and freighting. However, at a certain point, Charley decided to strike out on his own. This must have occurred sometime in 1862. Lucy Flake and Charles. Roberta, again writing as if she were Lucy, tells the story Probably late 1862 or early thus: 1862. (Photo courtesy of Margo Clouse) These brothers were very fond of each other and we [Lucy & William] tried to keep Charley with us, but he was restless and would only stay a short time and be off again, whenever work could be obtained. One night, after he had been with us a week he told us he was leaving the next morning. William asked where he was going and with whom. He told us. William knew the reputation of some of the fellows and told Charley he didn't want him to go with them. I begged him to stay with us and told him how welcome he was. Told him he should marry some nice girl and live in one of our houses. We all went to bed. The next morning Charley went out to saddle his horse. William went out and again tried to talk him out of it. Finally, Charley said, "Look, Bud Willie, I am a man now. I am twenty years old and big enough to row my own boat." He put his saddle on his horse and as fast as he could cinch it on one side, William would loosen it on the other, trying all the time to persuade him not to go. Finally Charley got mad and told him hell nor high water could hold him back. William said he would rather see him dead than to go with that bunch. Soon they came along, and seeing the condition, offered to help him get away. William looked into his brother's eyes and told him, "Charley, there is only one way you can

59 William's 1912 recollections are at variance with those of Lucy. He stated: "In '62 went out and freighted on the Western Mail Line and Pony Express. I had a herder to herd my sheep. His name was Hyrum Schofield. He took care of my sheep for four years. In '62 in the winter I went to California and back for freight." (Augusta Flake, p. 4) 42

go, and that is over my dead body." Charley knew he meant it, so turning to the others, he told them to go on, that he would follow them. I was so worried I did not know what to do, but as usually when there was no earthly help I went to my Heavenly Father. After the gang was gone the boys both came in the house. William got Charley to go to town with him that day. There was a dance that night. We persuaded him to go with us. Everyone was especially nice to him and he had a good time. Within a day or two we learned that the "friends" had robbed a Wells Fargo Express; some of them had been killed, the others captured and sent to prison. His gratitude to Will who had saved him lasted as long as he lived. (To the Last Frontier, p. 29)60

→ California

When the baby, Charles Love, was 2 months old, William left for California:

. . . my Husband concluded to go to California for a load of goods for a murchant as that was all the work they could do in the Winter time that would pay. The night before he started I tried to get him to pray he would not but promised he would if he ever got home again the Winter was long and very cold but our Heavenly Father blessed myself and babys and also my Husband he returned in March of 1863 the first night I told him of his promis he knelt down and praid his first prair I ever herd him pray and I was thankfull and happy to know he was trying to do his duty a little better. (Lucy, p. 12)

1863

Records give few details of how William spent his time in 1863. He returned from California in March and apparently soon after, they moved out to their farm 3 miles from town where he planted crops, herded his cattle and sheep and worked getting timber out of the canyon. Lucy summarized William's activities in a few brief lines:

That summer my Father was called to go across the Plains and be Capton of a company of Saints 61 that summer my Husband farmed and worked in the Canyon getting out poles so he was home part of the time Father returned home in the fall all right that winter William went to California for goods he loded for a Murchant in Salt Lake City (Lucy, p. 12)

60 Osmer added: “He [Charles] appreciated what his brother had done for him and decided he would follow "Mule skinning" the only trade he knew and he knew that well. He gained the distinction of being the best driver in California.” (William J. Flake, p. 40) 61 Samuel White was indeed Captain of an emigration company. It left Florence, Nebraska on 15 August— somewhat late in the season--, and arrived in the Valley on 15 October. Trail reports indicate that White was given the sobriquet of "Slow Captain" because "he took nearly 9 weeks to make the trip from Florence to SLC." (Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, sources notes for the Samuel White Company) 43

$100 Assessment

Osmer indicates that in 1863 the Saints in Beaver began building a chapel. William was assessed money and or time:

He was assessed one hundred dollars. As was characteristic of him, he immediately went to work to get the job done. So he started hauling logs from the mountains and such other work as there was to do. Before the building was much more than started his assessment was paid. Bishop Farnsworth said, "Bill, you paid that so easily, we will just assess you another hundred;" he went ahead and paid that off. He followed that method all through life, paying his shares, then helping others to pay up, some who were better able to pay than he, but unwilling to help. (William J. Flake, p. 40)

Deputy Sheriff

John Hunt moved to Beaver about the same time as William and in 1863 was asked to be the sheriff of Beaver County. He served in that capacity for the next 12 years62. One of Hunt's first actions was to obtain the services of William J. Flake as his deputy:

. . . in 1863 he [Hunt] was elected Sheriff of Beaver County. He did not want the job because mines and Fort Cameron were nearby with rowdy drunk miners and soldiers to control. He begged his trusted boyhood friend, William J. Flake, to be his volunteer deputy sheriff. . . . Three thieves stole 30 valuable Kentucky mules from the government. They had several days head start before Sheriff Hunt and deputy Flake knew about it. The tracks led into the wilderness and it took eight days to catch up with the herd. The thieves believed that the law had given up and finally made camp one evening in a ravine. That night, John prayerfully planned their attack. Just as the morning sun shone down into the ravine, the lawmen, with guns aimed, charged down the hill with the sun at their backs shouting "Surrender." The sun-blinded thieves gave up. All 30 mules were recovered. Meanwhile, their wives, Lois Hunt and Lucy Flake, had heard nothing for nearly two weeks and were worried to death.63

Osmer made reference to another of William's law-enforcement experiences:

During those times the Indians and white thieves were stealing continually. Many times every year, he was on the trail of stolen stock. He was not a gun man but was known

62 May H. Larson, daughter of John Hunt, recalled: "Among my very earliest recollections are those of my Father's friend[ship] with and for William J. Flake, such as exchanging work at haying time, and . . . calling on him to assist in time of need, during his [Hunt's] twelve years as sheriff of Beaver Co, Utah, and of father always telling him to bring his six-shooter when going on the trail of a dangerous man, which, if he did, it was never loaded, preferring a rock, to throw left handed anytime, as a weapon, if he could elude father's watchful eye, to see he was properly prepared." (One-half page typed sketch in possession of Ron Freeman) 63 The Flake Roundup, Winter, 2007, p.2 44

far and wide as a man of nerve. [Faced by William] without a gun, but with a rock in each hand, the worst outlaw would surrender his gun. Once when the miners undertook to run Beaver, and there was a riot, he braced himself in a door to keep them from closing it to barricade the house. Five men clicked their guns in his face and he told them he was not born in the woods to be scared of coyotes. Mr. Pollock, one of their number, jumped in front of them and said, "Put up your guns; that is my friend Flake." (William J. Flake, pp 40-41)

1864: An only brother dies

As William was returning from California, he met his brother Charley on the road:

In the winter of 1864 while returning from California, he [William] met his brother Charles for the last time. Charles was driving ten mules with a jerk line, going West. William was going East. They met just as Charles' Company was pulling out. The other teams went on and his team began moving around for a start. He spoke in a low voice, and said "Be quiet." Not a mule moved again until the talk was over and he said, "I'll have to be on my way." He tightened the jerk line just a little and called the lead mule by name. She tapped her foot; every mule straightened up, a second tap and all leaned into the collar, a third tap and everything moved off as smooth as any machinery could have moved. Mule driving was as much of an art then as handling a car, airplane or other machinery now. . . . A short time after this, [after Charley had reached another way station] the cook called them to dinner. All of the boys went in but him. He said, "I'll be there in a minute," and went into the shed to feed his mules. When he did not come, some time later the cook went out to see what was the matter. Sitting against a hay stack with a nose bag in one hand and a feed cup in the other, Charley sat with his chin on his breast, dead. (William J. Flake, p. 42-43)

Neither family group sheets nor New Family Search give any details as to the exact date and place where Charles died. They only indicate that his death occurred in 1864. He was 24 years old at the time and had never married.

Also, Charley was not always such a good mule skinner. Osmer tells how Charles learned the skill: When he [Charles] thought he was getting to be a good driver, he had applied for a job. The man asked if he could drive a team. He said, "Yes." The man said, "Get in the saddle, and turn that team around." There was a ten mule team ready to go; he got up, jerked the line, and called loudly for them to start. Nothing moved. A second time, and he got off the mule, and said, "I apologize, I guess I don't know how to drive mules." The man said, "You act like a man that could learn, watch me." He got on the mule gave the line a light pull and spoke in a low voice, and they started right off. "Now," said the owner, "you try it." He did and had no trouble with the team. He drove for this man as long as he lived. He never spoke loudly to the team, neither did he ever hit a mule while in the harness. If a mule needed whipping, he unhitched it, chained it to a wheel and when he put it back in the team, it was willing to do its share. He 45

took the best of care of his team, and saw that they had what they needed, even if he had to do without. (William J. Flake, p. 43)

While William was en route home to Beaver, Lucy was invited to go to St. George to visit family and to meet her husband on his return trip. She eagerly accepted the opportunity:

I knew when he got home he would have to go on to Salt Lake with his goods so when he was coming back a Brother Carden [Cardon] and wife was going down to St. George he asked me to go with my two little boys and meet my Husband so I went We arrived there most a week before he did but as I had meny Friends and acquaintences there spent the time very plesantley when he came he was greatly pleased to see us and as a man living there was takeing Likenesses he had ours taken James and him Charles and me together the first time mine was ever taken64 it was such a treat we went on home with the train of wagons when we got to Beaver he stayed over night and went on with the train he was gon three weeks and when he was in a few rods of home our Bishop Farnsworth met him and told him he wanted him to go back a cross the Plains to bring back a load of poor saints so in about three weeks he had to start East

Crossing the Plains

We do not know exactly when William left Beaver on his trip east. A perusal of wagon trains leaving Nebraska65 shows that 16 groups left during the summer of 1864. The first left on June 4th and the last on August 21st. The wagon train in which William traveled is unknown, but judging from arrival dates, it was probably either the Preston or Rawlins Company. The earlier trains arrived in Salt Lake City before September 1st and the later ones reached the valley after September 25th. The Preston train arrived in Salt Lake City on September 15th and the Rawlins Company on September 19-20th. Either of these dates would have allowed time for William to unload and be back in Beaver by September 30th, the date Lucy and others give as his return home.

William's name is not mentioned in the trail sources for any of the 1864 wagon trains, but that is not unusual since teamsters were not considered emigrants. The Preston Company was composed mostly of Danes and Swedes totaling 380 passengers. In addition, each wagon carried

64It was not the first time William had his picture taken. In 1861 as a joke, while in Camp Floyd he dressed up like a Mexican and had his picture taken and sent to Lucy. She wrote: William's beard was about two inches long. He had it and his hair dyed and had the picture taken. He sent it to me in a letter and told me it was a Spanish friend of his. When I saw it I said, "I don't want an old Mexican's picture" so I tossed it aside with only a passing glance. When he came home he had a good laugh at me, saying I was a great one, didn't know my own husband. I answered that it was no wonder, I saw so little of him (To the Last Frontier, p. 26) 65 A new departure point for the saints had been created by 1864. Apparently the transcontinental railroad had extended its tracks beyond the original jumping off point at Winter Quarters (Florence, Nebraska). The new jumping off place was named Wyoming, Nebraska. That is where William picked up his Church freight and the emigrants assigned to his wagon. 46

1500 lbs. of Church freight. A news item that appeared in the Deseret News later that fall happily informed readers that new paper and ink for the newspaper press had arrived on the Preston wagons.66 Also, a Henry Ballard wrote: "June 25th was helping to fix up some new wagons and making arrangements to get me a cook stove through which I did." We shall see shortly that William had the same thought in mind.

Osmer indicates that William was six months on the trip which means that he must have left Beaver sometime in April. That date is corroborated by a journal entry made by Henry Ballard, another teamster: "Apr 24 camped east side of Little Mountain." That was his first journal entry and the first day of the trip back to Nebraska to pick up freight and emigrants. William J. Flake could easily have been part of that group which was composed of approximately 50 Church wagons, as can be seen by the following Henry Ballard journal entries:

June 21. Went within four miles of Wyoming,[Nebraska], the landing place for the Saints this season. June 22. Some of the brethren went in to see the emigrants, about 1,000 had arrived. The captain went in to get his instructions from Joseph W. Young, who had charge of this season's emigration. June 23. I went to Nebraska City to get some blacksmithing done and [to] trade a little, but everything was very high on account of the war that was going on.67 June 24. I went to Wyoming [Nebraska] and stayed overnight. June 25. Was helping to fix up some new wagons and making arrangements to get me a cook stove hauled through which I did. June 26. Returned to camp and Joe. Rollands company had arrived and camped near us. June 27. In Camp. June 28. We moved our wagons to Wyoming and sent the most of our cattle back to the old camp. We then commenced to load up our wagons. June 29-30. Still loading up. July 1. I went to Nebraska City after a wagon. July 2. In camp all day. July 3. 800 more emigrants arrived at Wyoming. All the Utah trains had arrived. July 4. We moved four miles out this time taking Platte road. We were very heavy loaded. We had 380 passengers and their baggage and provisions and 1,500 lbs. of freight to each of the 50 wagons.68

Osmer described Williams 1864 "down and back" journey in the following way:

On the trip across the plains, he was to be prepared to bring 2,000 pounds for the Church also three persons and luggage. He brought three girls and was six months on the trip. With grain, camp outfit, etc., it took four horses. All of their teams were small, and he wanted to bring some things for himself, so he took six horses, and brought back 1200 pounds for himself. He brought back two cook stoves, one for Mother. I do not know who the other was for. It was her first, and few people could boast of a stove in those days. He also brought

66 Capt. W. [William] B. Preston's church train, which arrived on the 15th inst., brought us large fonts of newspaper, book and job type of the most approved styles and finish, and an abundant supply of the best qualities of printer's ink. (Trail source, Preston 1864 Company, Mormon Overland Pioneer Travel) 67 Ballard is referring, of course to the Civil War, 1861-1865. 68 Ballard, Henry, Private journal of Henry Ballard, 1852-1904, 49-60. Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–68 47

many things needed around the home, that could not be obtained in the West. Father said it was on this trip that he got his start. He reached home on September 30, 864. (William J. Flake, p. 44)69

William's own description of his trip back to the Missouri to aid emigrants is brief, and mentions that he received a little remuneration for his time and the use of his team and wagon:

In the winter of '63 I went to California for freight. When I got back I was called to the States after the poor to work for labor tithing. They gave me four hundred dollars for the summer's work. This was the summer of '64. Brought a boy home with me by the name of Dewship. I took the money that I had made freighting to California and fit myself out for housekeeping. (Augusta Flake, p. 4)

New Dwellings, new son

Almost as soon as William arrived back home, he decided they had outgrown the small log cabin in which they had lived for 5 years. He moved it to the back of their property. Lucy wrote:

". . . after he came home he moved the log house we was living in back in the lot and commenced a doba [adobe] house. . . . we got two rooms of our new house done so we moved in that winter then it was two years before we got any more done to it" (Lucy, p. 13)

William no sooner started building the adobe home than Lucy gave birth to their 4th child, another boy. James was 5 and Charles 2. One other son had died shortly after birth and, unfortunately, this son would soon pass away, in less than two months. He was given the name of Samuel Orson, the name of one of Lucy's brothers. He died on December 21st, 1864.

1865

This year was a busy one for the Flakes. William had been gone from home more than eight months of the previous year. Now, he decided he needed more room for his ever-growing livestock business. Consequently, in April, Lucy and family moved to Pine Creek, an area about 20 miles north of Beaver. Lucy recalled:

. . . so in the spring 1866 [1865]70 William thought we had better move to pine Creek 20 miles away and farm and his sheep would do better so in the spring April we moved and

69 Roberta added, speaking from a woman's perspective: "The 30th day of September 1864 was properly celebrated by us. Not only because it brought our loved one, but it also brought freedom from the back- breaking, brain-baking process of preparing everything we cooked over a fireplace. I [Lucy] was so anxious to cook now, that William said he would soon be as fat as a pig." (To the Last Frontier, p. 32) 70 Lucy erred in saying the Pine Creek experience occurred in 1866. Roberta and Osmer give 1865 as the correct date and the mention of Indian hostilities supports the 1865 date. William himself adds more confusion by his

48

the snow was very deep we made a shelter and camped out till we could get a log house built to move in we worked hard got a house built and moved in we had very cold time but when we got in the house we was thankfull William put in a cropp we had a neighbor and was getting along nicely the Indians commenced to be hostile and we was told to move home the last of July so William moved the children and me home he went back and tended his sheep and farm till fall then he moved his sheep in and commenced work on the house and got the other two rooms so we could live in them (Lucy, p. l4)

Sheep, cattle and horses.

From the time William lived in San Bernardino, and even earlier, he had shown an ability with livestock. Osmer, Roberta and Lucy all remark on William's prowess in breaking horses and inspiring others to have confidence in going shares on raising cattle and sheep. From Lucy's 1865 comment, it is evident that by that date he had acquired a sizable amount of sheep. Osmer and Roberta mention as early as their 1860 entries that William "took sheep on shares." They also included the following stories about William and his experiences with livestock:

William was a natural horseman. When people had horses they could not handle, they brought them to him. Charles Ogden had a large yellow horse that would kick himself loose from the wagon, breaking wagon box, tongue, singletree, or anything they had. Father took him; after the first spell of kicking, he tied the horse's front foot up, hitched him on a wagon and started out for a load of posts. When the horse tried to kick he would fall, and he soon gave that up; but he drove him six miles going on the one front foot, then let the foot down and went on after the posts. It was considered a two day trip but he got home that night. The next morning he did the same as the day before and kept this up for six days, using a fresh horse with him every morning. They never had any more trouble with him and he was later considered the best horse on the Western mail line out of Salt Lake City. . . .There was another horse that was not mean but, would not tighten a tug. He tried him several ways and finally hitched him on the horse power of a thresher and told the driver not to touch the horse except when he stepped over the tumbling rod, then to give him as hard a cut as he could, just one lick each round. Drivers, in those days, could handle a whip. The horse just danced around for about fifteen rounds, then he began to pull a little and by noon, he was doing his share, but he was covered with stripes. When he got to pulling all the way around the circle the driver quit whipping him and he never gave any more trouble. A horse was brought to him that would lead as well by the tugs as by a rope around his neck. He tried for a long time and was about to give him up as the first horse that ever conquered him. He finally decided on one other experiment. He put a good strong harness on the horse, hitched a singletree to him; the horse would not hold any pull at all, even by a man. He then took a smaller horse and hitched it to the singletree, but headed it the other way. Then he put a chain on his neck and hitched old Pete, his favorite horse to the end of the chain, determined to make him pull, or pull his head off. He started the horse behind slowly

1912 comment: "In '60 I took up a ranch on Pine Creek, eighteen miles north of Beaver. Took the people's sheep to herd." (Augusta Flake, p. 3) William was probably very much in error in his recollection since he stated earlier than in 1860 he started a farm 3 mi. west of Beaver. 49

and when he got to where the chain on his neck tightened, started the horse in front; for a minute it looked as though it would pull his head off. Then he began to scramble, and the two pulled the horse from behind. William gave them a short rest, then started them as before, with the same result except that the middle horse began pulling sooner. After two or three times he took off the chain and led the horse and pulled the smaller horse back, and he learned that he could pull, and made a good work horse. All of the spoiled horses were brought to him, also many wild horses. He broke horses for $5 each, and twenty to twenty-five years later he still bought spoiled horses and trained them. He bought fifty head at one time from the C. ranch near Winslow, and took one hundred head of bronchos to break. The horse he used to break bronchos with was "Pete," a small sorrel horse, tough as a knot, hardy and dependable for William. He could ride him, work him or use him in any way he wanted. However, no one else could do anything with him. He [the horse] was twenty-three years old when we came to Arizona, but he was the main stay on the whole trip. In 1862 he began accumulating a few cattle. He took cattle on shares, and built up a herd and never was without cattle again, until he passed away. The first favorite saddle horse that I have knowledge of was a yellow horse he called "Colonel." On long trips or bad trips when going out to chase broncho horses and such work, Colonel was the choice. One day he gave way in the back, miles from home. William had him hauled home, fixed a sling to hold him up, and did all he could, but lost the horse. He always loved a good horse, and treated them well. (William J. Flake, pp 36-38)

William was equally successful with sheep. Roberta reported that by the time William and his family moved to the farm in 1862 they had "enough sheep to supply themselves with wool." Osmer added:

Most of the people owned a few sheep and they wanted to start a herd. He took it on shares for three years and hired a herder, so he could be free to use his teams and do other work. The herd was made up of a number of small bunches that had never been kept in control and it was hard to keep them together. He had a valuable sheep dog he called "Sank.' He would circle the ground looking for tracks, and when he found where any had wandered off, he followed and always brought them back. Once he was two days getting back to camp. Before reaching camp, he found a dead sheep, and though he was trained to never eat anything but that which was given him, he had been without food for two days, and he ate some of the dead sheep. The herder had poisoned the meat, to kill coyotes, and when he got to the herder, it was too late to save him. (William J. Flake, p. 33)

In 1865 when William brought Lucy and the two boys back to town, it was time for James— Jimmie—to start school. However, the little boy didn't want to go to school; he wanted to work with the livestock like his father. Roberta, speaking as if she were Lucy, tells the story:

Jimmie was now going to school. Because of our lack of education, Will was determined that our children should have every advantage, so he [Jimmie] started as soon as the teacher would take him, and he was kept in school every day regardless of the fact that he didn't like school. 50

The little fellow begged his father to take him with him to the sheep camp, and let him herd sheep rather than go to school. We decided that a few days out at the camp would "cure him" so William took him out and left him for a week with the sheep herder. If it would work I could stand the separation, though I cried every time I thought of him. When the week was over, William lost no time going out after him. To our great disappointment he was perfectly satisfied and the herder said he was as good a "hand" as a man would be. He wanted to stay longer, so we found our experiment had failed. (To the Last Frontier, p. 34)

Indian Troubles: Black Hawk War.

As mentioned previously, the reason William took his family back to town in July of 1865 was because he had heard rumors of Indian hostilities. A trivial event sparked the uprising of a minor Ute chief, Antonga Black Hawk. The incident happened when Black Hawk and Jake Arapeen, another Ute, went with a group of Utes to Manti on April 9, 1865, to discuss how the Indians might amend for killing 15 head of cattle to feed starving Ute Indians. During the exchange, one drunken man, John Lowry, grabbed Jake by the hair and dragged him from his horse. Lowry left quickly for home to get his pistol and the Indians retreated in the opposite direction.

The Utes felt dishonored by Lowry's action and retaliated in the next few days by killing five Mormons and stealing hundreds of head of cattle. As a consequence, scores of hungry warriors and their families flocked to eat "Mormon beef" and to support Black Hawk, who was suddenly hailed as a great war chief.71

Over the next 4-5 years an estimated 150 battles, skirmishes and raids occurred between whites and Indians in Utah. The settlers lost thousands of head of livestock and nearly 100 Mormon settlers were killed, not to mention an unknown number of both hostile and peaceful Indians. Dimick Huntington, a well-known Indian friend and interpreter, estimated that in 1865 there were some 23,000 Indians in Utah. In 1872 he reduced that estimate to 10,000.

The war had far-reaching consequences for both the white settlers and the Indians. Colonization was put on hold and many settlements were abandoned for nearly ten years. "It was not until after 1872 that Mormons in Utah were able to expand settlements without the threat of Ute resistance."72 On the other hand the War "was a disaster for the Northern Utes. They were forced permanently onto the Uintah Reservation to live dependent on corrupt government agents. No promises made in any treaty were fulfilled completely." 73

About a year after the initial panic regarding the Indian threat, Lucy had an unnerving experience of her own with an Indian:

71 John A. Peterson, "Black Hawk War," Utah History Encyclopedia. Internet download. 72 Wikipedia, "Black Hawk War (Utah) p 11 of 12. 73 Ibid, p. 11 51

. . . he [William] had acquired a very fine dog, he called "Nero," a yellow and white bull dog. He was a splendid watch dog. He would not even bark if a stranger came around, but would follow closely behind him and if they tried to put a hand on anything, he would give a low growl. If they persisted, he would take hold of them. If they went into the house, the dog would follow them and lie down on the floor, and if a suspicious move was made, he took a hand. Mother felt safe with Nero around. One morning William rode off over the hill to see about his cattle. He was hardly out of sight when an Indian appeared at the door and wanted food. That was quite common, and Mother gave him some breakfast. When he was through eating, he got up and picked up a sack and started putting flour, potatoes and other food in the sack. Then with the sack on his shoulder, he started for the door. Lucy was three miles from town, but she could not stand to see her food carried off in that way. Nero lay on the floor but never moved. She grabbed the sack and jerked it off his shoulder. The Indian had his quiver of arrows and bow on his back and as he whirled, he jerked an arrow with one hand and the bow with the other, but Nero had him by the throat and on the floor. Mother went over, took the bow and arrow and told Nero to let him up. When he went off down the road, he showed the disgrace he had suffered. No greater disgrace came to an Indian than to be whipped by a woman. When leaving home, William usually made Nero stay with the folks. But one cold day, when he left for a two or three day trip, Nero tried to follow, and he sent him back. A mile or two away he saw Nero still following. He had to get off his horse and threaten him before he trotted off toward home. He rode all day and soon after he made camp, Nero came sneaking in, as though he expected a whipping. There was no wood to be had, and the rain and snow had wet the brush so that he could not build a fire. He carried but one blanket and a light canvas on the back of his saddle. It turned out to be a bitter cold night and he could not have survived but for the warmth of the dog. He would move him from place to place and thus he [the dog] had saved the lives of both him and his wife. (William J. Flake, pp. 46-47)

William mentioned the Indian problems in his 1912 interview:

The Navajos made a raid on the Beaver cattle and horses. We were called out of the dance at midnight to go after them. The Indians were bad that summer-- I spent the summer chasing Indians. I helped move the people away from Circle Valley that summer. In the winter went to Snake Creek, 200 miles north of Beaver, after some thieves that had been stealing stock. (Augusta Flake, p. 4) 1866-67

A Marriage

The year started off with the marriage of William's only sister, Sarah James, to Joseph Hyrum Levi, on 23 Jan 1866. The union of Sarah and Joseph Levi produced six children, the last two— twins--, born in 1874. Sarah and Joseph were still together in 1878, but at some point thereafter divorced. Sarah subsequently married Phillip Oakden and eventually moved to Idaho where she died 12 Oct 1897 in Parker, Fremont, Idaho. Osmer added the following information about Sarah's life: 52

After the death of Charley, William and Sarah were the only two members of the [James M. Flake] family left. Six had gone over the River Styx. These two lived close together in Beaver until this time [1877]. Sarah married Joseph Levie [Levi] and was the mother of five children74. She later married Phillip Ogden [Oakden]. They lived in Beaver a short time after William left there, and then they moved North, finally to Idaho. Post Offices were scattering [scattered] and mail service primitive, and they [William and Sarah] lost track of each other for thirty years. One of her daughters, who was living in Canada, Agnes Haley Pease, made us a very pleasant visit at Snowflake, together with her husband. From her we learned much about the family. All of the children married and raised families. We have met and visited with a number of them and found them to be good citizens and respected as honest trustworthy people. The oldest girl, Ida, married John Moore, and they celebrated their Golden Anniversary on March 10, 1935. They had thirteen children, all of whom had married and were raising families. The first death they had in the family was the Father, John Moore. Sarah James lived to a good old age [50], and passed the latter years of her life in comfort, and died in Idaho. (William J. Flake, p. 58)

Black Hawk hostilities

William apparently was so involved in defending the saints during the Black Hawk War that he had no time to care for his own livestock. Osmer states:

William spent much of his time in 1866 in the Black Hawk war. Returning from one of the raids he went over to Circle Valley and helped rescue the Dalton family, who have been prominent in the affairs of Beaver all of the time, from then until now.75 . . . The Black Hawk war lasted most of 1867 also, he was in on it all. For fifteen years he served as a Minute Man, he had to have his horse, saddle and gun ready to go on a moment's notice. Many nights he was called from his bed in the middle of the night, to be at the rendezvous to start on the trail. Maybe he would be home in a few hours, or perhaps it would be days or weeks. They were building the West and no task was too great. (William J. Flake, p. 48)

74 Sarah actually had six children: Frederick 1867-1948, Ida N. 1868-1947, Sarah C. 1870-1920, Agnes H. 1872- 1966, (twins) Clarance H. 1874-1952 & Clara E. 1874-1942. (Source: NewFamilySearch) 75The settlement of Circleville dates back to 1864. In the next 2 years about 40 families settled in the Valley. They renamed this valley, Circleville because of the almost perfect circle of mountains surrounding them. In 1866, The Black Hawk War with the Indians drove them out of the settlement. No actual raid was made upon the settlement until November 26, 1865, when a band of raiders entered the Valley from East Fork Canyon killing four persons and driving off most of the stock belonging to them. The whole colony was forced to vacate the place June 20, 1866. Most of the people went north to Sanpete County. A few crossed the mountains to Beaver and Fillmore. The valley remained vacant until sometime in 1869. While in Beaver the family of Charles Wakeman Dalton heard about this beautiful valley that these early settlers talked about. The first Mormon settler to resettle to Circleville was Charles W. Dalton, who came in 1874 with his first wife, Julietta Bowen. We have found no details about the rescue of the Daltons by William Flake and others. 53

Finally, a daughter is born

In her autobiography Lucy wrote:

February 16 [1866] our first daughter was born she was blessed by my Father Mary Agness we was very thankfull for a Daughter as we had had four sons (p. 15)

The child was given the names of the mothers of both Lucy and William. Lucy's mother was Mary H. Burton White and William's, Agnes Haley Love Flake. Mary was born in Beaver two months before the birth of Beaver's most famous or perhaps second most famous native son, Robert LeRoy Parker, alias Butch Cassidy, who was born 13 April 1866.76

Fall General Conference

In October, William and Lucy returned to Salt Lake City for General Conference. They enjoyed the experience immensely and brought several individuals back to Beaver with them.

In the fall we went to salt lake to conference had a good conference and a good visit with our relitives returned home all right brought Grand Ma White home with us Fathers Mother for a visit Sister Woodhouse with her Daughter abut sixteen years old had no home so we took them to live with us so we had a large family the young girl spun and I wove sister Woodhouse done the cooking and most of the house work 1867 dawned upon us found us well and happy trying to do the best we could William still had the sheep hurd we moved on in the same rotean of labor not much change. Sister Woodhouse went a way in the spring but her Daughter lived with us in the fall she was Married to my eldest Brother Samuel Orson they went to Salt Lake and was Married in the Wm. J. Flake, circa 1870 Indument house77 Grand Ma went home78 so we just had our own family too boys and our baby girl I am writing this from memory [1894] and no dout meny important things are forgotten. (Lucy, p. 15)

In Roberta's reworking of Lucy's memoirs, she adds, speaking as if Lucy, that the Flakes regularly had non-family living with them

76 The other famous Beaver native, as mentioned previously, was Philo Farnsworth, inventor of television. 77 Mary Ellen Woodhouse and Samuel Orson White were married and sealed by Wilford Woodruff in the Endowment House 5 Oct 1867. 78 An inconsistency occurs between Osmer and Lucy. Here, Lucy states her grandmother "went home," presumably to Salt Lake City. Osmer, says the grandmother stayed with William and Lucy "until she passed away." (William J. Flake, p. 45) 54

We always had someone living with us besides our own family. The true Southern hospitality was exemplified in my husband, and even then the remembrance of his orphaned boyhood made him want to help every boy. He was generous to me also, because after the family increased he always provided help for me. Often times it was a dear old lady like "Grandma Booth," or someone who was lonely and stayed with us until she found another place. From Grandma Booth I learned so many things. She was a lady (and she was just that) who had come from the East Indies. She was an excellent cook, introducing curry powder into our home. She also taught me how to make many tasty dishes with it. I think the favorite one was curry gravy that we would have on cold evenings for supper. Cooking was not her only accomplishment. She had some of the most exquisite embroidered dresses, made on the sheerest Indian linen. She had woven the linen, then embroidered it. Skirts with scalloped edges and graceful designs extending to the belt. We pioneers had never seen anything so beautiful, and marveled that such beauty could exist. Grandma Booth had learned the tailor trade and she taught me how to finish off my husband's and sons' suits until one would think they were boughten. We all loved the dear old lady. We never tired hearing her tell, in her broken English, about her home so far away where the Gospel found her, and then how she longed for America and the Church.79 (To the Last Frontier, p. 36.)

1868

Another son

The year started off in a mostly normal fashion. Osmer remarked that by now "William was looking after about all the cattle owned in Beaver, and it kept him busy during the years of 1869-70." (William J. Flake, p. 49)

On March 6th, Lucy gave birth to her fifth child, another boy. They named him Osmer Dennis Flake. When William was asked where he came up with the name "Osmer," he said it was in the Bible. However, later in life the son Osmer never was able to pinpoint the biblical source.(William J. Flake, p. 48)

79 It may be a mere coincidence, but in the Rawlins Company of 1864, the one in which William may have been a teamster, there was an Ann Pennington Booth, age 57. Perhaps it was on that journey where William became acquainted with this mysterious "Grandma Booth." 55

Living "The Principle": William takes a second, plural, wife

In 1868 William made a life-altering decision. Osmer's, Lucy's and Roberta's recollections are quite different and even contain a few errors. Since it was such an important event in the Flake household, we will include all three descriptions of the event.

Osmer: William thought it was his duty to obey the principle (this was before there was any law against it). Mother thought it right wo [sic: so] with her full and free consent, he sought the hand of Prudence J. Kartchner, who lived on the Muddy (South-west Utah).80 On October 10, 1868, they were sealed husband and wife in the endowment house, Salt Lake City. Mother [Lucy] was present. Eliza R. Snow asked her if she was willing. She said that she was willing to try. Sister Snow then gave her a blessing, and said that she would retain her beauty and never grow old. Up until she passed away more than thirty years later, she was an exceptionally fine looking woman. The two women lived in the same house, or in close proximity and often helped each other, when their work permitted. (William J. Flake, p. 49) Lucy:

. . . in the fall of this year [1868] William concluded to take another Wife I was quite willing We all went to conferance in October and the 9th of Oct Prudence kartchner was sealed to him I was there sister E R Snow asked me was I willing said yes she asked do you think you can live in that principal I said am quite willing to try my Mother and sister live in it and I think can do as much as them and besides I wanted my Husband to go into that principal before I was old because I think it right she said my reward would be great because I was willing and she said Sister you never shall get old and she gave me a great blessing and every time she saw me that day she blest me (Lucy, p.16) Prudence Jane Kartchner Flake

80 Osmer errs twice in this statement. First, from other accounts, Prudence did not go to the Muddy with her parents and family, but chose to remain behind to marry William. In addition, the Muddy is not in SW Utah but in the current state of Nevada. For a time, however, it was thought the Muddy was in Arizona. 56

Roberta:

"The Crucial Test" After dinner, one day in early summer of 1868, William and I [Lucy] were sitting at the table. The children were playing around our [out?] doors. William always sat and scraped and stacked the dishes as I passed them to him, while we rested a minute and talked. That was a daily rite if he were at home and business was not too pressing. "That was an excellent dinner, Lucy. How you contrive to fix such a good meal out of so little is beyond me," said my husband, as he reached over and took a small piece of meat and put it in his mouth. That was another typical habit of his; he liked dessert, but finished with a bite of meat if there was any on the table. "A good cook is one who can do just that," I reminded him, "and I pride myself on being a good cook." He got up from his end of the table and came over, put his arm around me and said, "You are a good cook, and the best wife a poor man ever had." He drew a chair up beside mine, sat down with his arm still around me. "We aren't so poor," I said, "we have everything—each other, love, health, our four lovely children, a roof over our heads, food to eat. What more could we want?" Taking my face in his hands he turned it around so that he could look into my eyes, and asked, "Lucy, dear, could you share your husband with another?" He bent his head over until his lips met mine. Each kiss carried the same thrill the first one had. He stood up and pulled me to him, and I noticed a seriousness about him that I had never seen before as he said, "Lucy, I have been counseled to take another wife, if you are willing." I could not speak, nor could I keep the tears out of my eyes. "Don't try to answer me now," he said in his gentlest voice. "I think I know how you feel. I have been struggling with myself for a week, trying to bring myself to ask you this. Think over it, pray over it, as I have and then let me know." I flung my arms around his neck, and held him, as though I would never let him go. My eyes were brimming with tears. Of course I was not willing. He was mine. Mine by all the laws of man and God. For ten years we had been all the world to each other. We were made for each other. Why should I let someone else come between us? Neither of us spoke again, but I could tell by the tears that dropped on my bowed head that he was suffering as much as I was. The baby cried in the cradle. Duty was calling me. It seemed Duty was always calling. I released my grasp, took his arms from around me and went to the cradle. William walked slowly from the room and went to the field to his work. For days I went about my household tasks, outwardly calm, but within my soul was a battle raging that it seemed at times would overpower me. How I prayed during those days that my duty might be made plain to me, and that I would have strength to do it if it was. Never had my husband been so precious to me, our home so dear. "Why?" I asked myself over and over again. I seemed to be two beings. To every "why" there seemed to come an answer, and these are some of them. I knew the principle of Polygamy was from God, revealed to his saints in latter days as it had been to Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon and Moses in former times. I knew there were more righteous women than men, especially in every Church. I knew their desire for wifehood and motherhood that was a Divine instinct and as great as mine. 57

I knew there was no better "stock" on earth than the people of my faith who believed and practiced abstinence from all vices. None who could bring forth sturdier, more intelligent offspring. I knew without my consent, William would not and could not take another wife. I had sacrificed many things for my belief. Was I strong enough to permit my husband to bring another woman into our home as his wife? Outwardly William and I went on as usual, but I know he was as troubled as I by the look of abstraction on his face. All the time I was asking myself if I should run the risk of losing my beloved by sharing him with another. Prayer is a great source of strength. Always it had been my ally. Answers to prayer come in various ways. I had seen the sick healed instantly, the deaf made to hear, the blind to see. I had seen miraculous things happen, such as the seagulls coming and devouring the crickets that were destroying our crops. I had great faith in prayer—but how could I know whether the feelings in my soul were answer to prayer of my own desires, they conflicted so. Finally I prayed that when my husband came home from a three day trip he had taken, that my words might be directed by a Higher Power. While he was gone I went to Mother and asked her what I should do. She said gently, "My daughter, that is something you and Heavenly Father have to decide. That is one thing I cannot advise you about." I tried to picture in my mind what young lady had won a place in my husband's affections. I hadn't seen anything in his actions that he had a thought for anyone but me. He was kind and courteous to all but had shown no preference as far as I could see. The night of William's return I had a good supper fixed. The children were so glad to see their father that I had a hard time to get them to bed. When they were finally asleep I went up to Will and taking his hand said, "Let's go for a walk, there is such a beautiful moon tonight." We walked out to the back of our lot and sat down on a fallen log. Neither had spoken as I led the way. When we were seated, William put his arm around me; I cuddled up beside him a minute, and then I said, "Will, who is the young lady we are going to marry?" I felt his strong frame quiver, his arm tighten about my waist, heard the catch in his voice as he gasped "We?" "Yes, we," I answered in a voice I hardly recognized, so full was it of unselfishness and self-mastery. "We, of course." I went on, "we were made one a long time ago, you and I, who are we going to marry? "Are you sure it is the right thing for us to do?" asked William in a trembling voice, and then I loved him as I never had before because I knew that he had been true to me. Then he told me his struggle had been as hard as mine. If he did not believe the principle was from God he would never have considered it, but as there was no compulsion to entering into it, he had battled with himself to see if he was good enough to undertake it. I told him no one was more worthy, no one could make a better husband, and then I asked again her name. William told me he admired a young lady whose family had lived in our town for some years, and whom we had seen grow up. She was about eighteen, the picture of health and vitality. Was a favorite among the young folks. Her features were delicately moulded, her hair was little darker than mine, her eyes were expressive. She liked to dance, to sing, to whistle. Several members of her family were musicians, and their large family seemed very devoted to each other. The Kartchners were of German and the Casteels of French extraction and were fine people. 58

When William asked me if he had my consent to ask her to join our family, I gave it. We talked of her good qualities, at least William did, and I tried hard to be as enthusiastic as he, but somehow I wanted to be alone. It seemed as though the battle was not yet won. As soon as I could, without seeming to be in haste, I suggested that we go in, gave as an excuse that I was a little chilly. William was apologetic, said he thought his arm could keep me warm, but that I was shaking. Why hadn't I mentioned it before? In the house I busied myself seeing that the babies were all right. William started getting ready for bed, and asked me if I were coming. I knew he would not go to sleep until I did, so I also retired. As soon as I heard his deep, even breathing, I knew he was asleep. I slipped out of bed and went over and sat down on the floor by baby's cradle, and cried until I was tired. These were the thoughts that ran through my mind. Prudence was seven and a half years younger than I. Would that give her such an advantage over me? Imps of jealousy suggested all sorts of things which I finally answered thus: I have had ten years of blessed associations with my man. That could never be taken from me. I was his first and for ten years his only love. If in that time I had not found a place in his heart and life that no other could fill—then I had failed. Was it possible for a man to love more than one wife? If a woman died and her husband married again, no one questions his love for either the first or second wife. As each child had its own place in my affection, as with the coming of each my capacity for love increased, how could I question the quantity of love one was capable of? In my case, the more love I gave the more I had to give, for love is infinite. I remembered the words of the Master, "Greater love hath no man than this, that he would lay down his life for a friend." I paraphrased that, "Greater love hath no woman than this, that she would give to her husband another woman for wife."

"We take another wife." The summer passed quickly. William often brought Prudence to our home so that we might get better acquainted. It must have been rather hard for a good looking, fun- loving, popular young lady to marry a man eleven years older than herself, who already had a wife and was the father of six children, and yet any girl should have felt proud and honored to become the wife of William Jordan Flake. Prudence did not give her answer at once. Her family was leaving shortly for the new settlement on the Muddy in Nevada. Prudence told William that she would let him know before they left. She must have had a great struggle to decide whether she would go on with her family or whether she would become the wife of a man who already had a wife and four [living] children. Prudence showed her devotion to him and to the Principle of Plural Marriage by accepting him. The day arrived for her family to leave for Nevada; she rode with them as far as the crossroads. Then bidding them all a tearful and affectionate goodbye, she bade them go on without her. There, William found her at the parting of the ways and I am sure that she never had cause to regret it. The nearest place this marriage could take place was Salt Lake City, so on the first of October, we three and my baby six months old, started on this trip. On October 9, 1868, William and Prudence were married by the same Power that had sealed us for time and eternity. I was asked if I gave my consent to which I answered "Yes." 59

I was asked if I thought I was good enough to live that principle, and I said I was quite willing to try. . . . Our trip home was a happy one. Prudence and William were both most considerate of me. Prudence took turns with me caring for baby Osmer. One of us would sit up on the spring seat by our husband for an hour or two and then she would get back in the wagon and the other would take the honored seat. Again we had a honeymoon but there were three of us united now as one. It was not unusual to have another woman in our home because we always had company, but to have someone have the same claim to the love and protection of my husband as I, was a new experience. We lived in the same house. There was a log house where William and I had lived when we were first married, but we decided it would be better for us to live in the new house. It was large enough so that each of us had our own bedroom. I learned early to keep my love making for my husband until we were alone, as I did not want to create any jealousy in our lives, and Prudence was as thoughtful as I. Love sacrifices all things to bless the one beloved, but only through sacrifices do we gain strength, and we were all adjusting ourselves to a new order of living. William would often come up when he saw us standing or sitting close to each other and put his arm around both of us and say, "No man had as choice a wife as either of you and here I have you both," or some other blarney which we both liked to hear. When he came in he would kiss the one first who was closest to the door. When he brought anything for one of us he brought for the other. . . . Now that there were two women in our home, and someone else to look after the babies when I was away, I accepted the position as teacher in the newly organized Relief Society in our town, and shortly thereafter was called to teach in the Sunday School. Prudence was more interested in the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association; I took care of the home and children while she attended that. We got the benefit of both organizations by telling each other what we had learned. (To the Last Frontier, pp. 40-46)

Of the three accounts, Roberta's is clearly the most detailed. The question arises as to the source of Roberta's information. Was this embellishment simply an artistic, literary attempt on Roberta's part or did she learn the particulars of the event at her mother's knee? After all, Roberta, who was born in 1877, lived in contact with her mother for the next 23 years. It is entirely possible, given Roberta's penchant for family history, that Lucy spoke to her many times over the years of that momentous decision she, and by extension, William made in 1868.

A chronological glitch

One detail of the story that has passed down through generations of Flake descendants relates to exactly when William and Prudence began their courtship that culminated in their marriage in 1868. Roberta's account implies that everything happened during the summer of 1868. Other accounts affirm that Prudence made the decision to remain behind to marry William when her family left to help colonize "The Muddy." However, a close reading of the journal of William D. Kartchner's--Prudence's father-- indicates that he and his family left for the Muddy 60 in 1865-66. Kartchner left first, in the fall of 1865, then returned in May of the following year, 1866, to gather the rest of his family and belongings:

In the fall of 1865 George A. Smith called me to go to the "Muddy." I was on my way in two weeks, leaving the farm unsold. Leaving my first wife, Margaret, and children, I took Lizzie, my second wife, and the following children, one married daughter, Sarah Emma (Ninean Miller), Prudence, John, Mark, Alzada, Minda, Nowlin, and Orin; also Lizzie's son, Aaron. We arrived on November 8, 1865, and I put in fall wheat. In May, 1866, my first wife, Margaret, and children arrived.81 Elizabeth had a baby boy born in St. Joseph, Rio Virgin County, May 15, 1866.82 We named the baby Henry and he lived 15 months and died August 24, 1868, at Mill Point, Nevada. Margaret Jane gave birth to a beautiful little girl baby at Mill Point March 14, 1867.83

It is interesting that Kartchner mentions having Prudence with him when he left for the Muddy in the fall of 1865, but later he contradicts himself by saying that he returned to Beaver for his first wife and children. The mystery is, of course, where Prudence was living from the fall of 1865 to the spring of 1868. Kartchner makes no mention in his memoirs of returning to Beaver in 1867-68. At the very least, the information from Kartchner's memoirs raises questions about the accuracy of the traditional Flake story that affirms that Prudence said goodbye to her family as they were leaving for the Muddy.

William added a bit of confusion to the account in 1912 when he declared: "In the fall of '68 I married Prudence Kartchner and went to the Muddy. Then I went down to the salt mountain on the Rio Virgin and got a load of salt and had it ground up for fine salt." (Augusta Flake, p. 4) Of this "Salt Mountain" James McClintock has written:

Therein is an enormous salt deposit, locally called the Salt Mountain, though three such deposits are along the Virgin between St. Thomas and the Colorado River [in the area of The Muddy]. One of them is described as a cropping out along the foot of a high bluff of brown clay, exposed for 80 feet in height from the base of the hill, though the depth below its

81 This statement contradicts a previous one in which he said he took the children with him and Lizzie. Also, William errs in stating that his oldest child, Sarah Emma and her husband Ninian Miller accompanied him to the Muddy in 1865. Ninian Miller and Sara Emma didn't marry until 1 June 1877 in the St. George Temple. There is a record in New Family Search, however, of Sarah Emma having married Orrin Twitchell in 1863, in Beaver, Utah. They divorced in 1866. (source: New Family Search) 82 Probably the first wife arrived from Beaver in time to help at this birth, as she did duty as a midwife a number of times. 83William D. Kartchner memoirs, entries for 1865 61

surface is unknown. The salt is obtained by blasting, as it is too hard to dig with picks. It is of excellent quality and of remarkable purity. In early days, from this deposit was obtained the salt needed in southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and much of Arizona, steamers carrying it down the Colorado southward.84

Clearly, additional clarification about William's marriage to Prudence would be desirable. About the only thing we know for sure is that William married Prudence in 1868 at Conference time in Salt Lake City.

1869-71

The next three years passed quickly in the Flake home. Osmer stated that William was kept extremely busy looking after his cattle and sheep.85 Also, in 1869 the community began to build the Beaver Woolen Mills of which more will be said later. Lucy wrote little about 1869 other than "we were jitting [getting] along nicely." In the spring of 1869 she was called to be a Sunday School teacher. With Prudence available to help out at home, Lucy felt she could work in the Relief Society and teach Sunday School. Prudence was young and eager to learn— 18 years old--, so she asked for and received permission to attend school. Once, however, another young woman drew an unflattering sketch of her and Prudence never forgot the insult:

As has been mentioned, mother [Prudence] attended school after her marriage. One day one of the girls drew her picture, on her slate, showing a neat patch on her dress. This offended her, and although they both moved to Arizona and were in the same stake, Prudence never again associated with her or had anything to do with her. She did not take offence easily but once offended, did not forget.86

On March 13th of 1870 Lucy gave birth to another child, a second girl. William insisted that she be given the names of his two wives: Lucy for his first wife and Jane, from Prudence Jane his second wife.

Lucy's final comment about 1870-71 was: "I don’t remember anything of importance happened this year [1870] 1871 things moved on about the same (Lucy, p. 17)

84 James McClintock, Mormon Settlement in Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, 1921, p. 127 85 Of his activities during the 1869-70 period William summarized: "In '69 I worked around home and in the mountains and hauled poles. During these years helped build all the roads that were built in Beaver. ...also helped build bridges. Hauled poles in '67, '68, '69 to fix up my farm. In '70 I helped build the woolen factory. . . . I worked out nine hundred dollars on the Woolen Factory." On another note, William also said that during that period he took in two young men: "Hired Billie Hutchens and he lived with me for five years. He was just like my own boy. So was Dewship who stayed with me for two years. I sent them to school, fed and clothed them." (Augusta Flake, pp. 4-5) 86 Emma Flake Freeman, The Life of Prudence Kartchner Flake, edited and reprinted privately by Ron Freeman, p. 8 62

William → Pahreah with Brigham Young

In his 1912 interview William stated:

President Young came by with a company of forty men from Parowan on the way to the Pahrea. He asked for four men to go with him. Charley White, President Murdock, Dan Gillis and I went with him. (Augusta Flake, p. 5)

Pahreah was first settled in 1865, but soon abandoned due to the Black Hawk War. The biggest influx of settlers occurred in 1867 and in 1870 Pahreah was officially organized. Pahreah, spelled variously as Pariah, Paria, is located about 42 miles NE of Kanab. The forty seven families that settled in that location planted vineyards, grew vegetables and nut trees and ran cattle in nearby canyons. By 1890 only a few people lived in that area. Paria eventually became a ghost town, but later served as the set for several well-known western movies.

Beaver Woolen Mill

In 1870 the people of Beaver completed construction of a mill for processing raw wool into finished shirts, coats, blankets, etc. The building was three stories high and measured 60 by 120. It was the first Woolen Mills to operate in Southern Utah. Machinery was brought west from New England by railroad and wagon. John Ashworth and others schooled in England in the art of wool manufacturing formed the corporation. For many years this mill was the main factor in the growth and prosperity of Beaver and surrounding territory. Lucy commented "William done lots of work on it and had a large share in it When done this done away with the spinning and weveing" (Lucy, p. 17-18)

Despite Lucy's assertion that 1871 was an uneventful year, several things happened—mostly negative-- that disrupted the tranquility of the Flake home. In the summer, Lucy's 18 year old brother became ill. He thought that a trip to St. George might improve his health, so Lucy and her mother took George—that was his name-- and Lucy's baby girl south for a visit. Unfortunately, George's health worsened and he died the last day of August, which was also his mother's birthday. To make matters worse, Lucy's baby fell ill with chicken pox and was very ill.

Lucy's uncle felt sorry for his sister at her loss so he invited her, and Lucy, to go to Salt Lake City:87 In the fall of 71 my Brother Died Uncle Robert T Burton sent for Mother to come up to Salt Lake and go on a trip East with Aunt Rebeca Jones her sister and his sister so Mother concluded to go I went as far as Salt Lake with her my youngest sister also went my

87 Emma Flake Freeman wrote that her mother, Prudence, took care of the children while Lucy and later William were in Salt Lake City: "William and Lucy went to Salt Lake City during this time and left the children with Prudence. Of course this was not a trip of but a few hours. Osmer D. had the whooping cough during their absence." (The Life of Prudence Kartchner Flake, p. 8) 63

Brother Charles took us up there we made our home with sister Mary mother started east I stayed three weeks then William came after me Theressa my youngest sister was to remain with Mary till Mothers return before she came Thressa took very sick they wrote to Mother to hurry home as cold wether was coming they did not tell of the sickness but she got so bad they feared she could not live till Mother came but through praair and faith they kept her till Mother came she came just dusk and Thressa Died before morning November 28 71 she was a lovely Child 11 years old so sweet and always such a comfort far beyound her years (Lucy, p. 19) In short, 1871 was a difficult year for Lucy Flake. She lost a brother and sister and two of her children had serious illnesses.88

1872

This year also brought its share of heartache and sorrow to the Flakes. On July 28th, the youngest child, two-year old Lucy Jane fell into a kettle of boiling soap:

. . .my baby Jane we called her fell in a kittle of soap or turned it over on her she was dredfuley burned so bad it was eleven days before she could be dressed it was a dredfull bad thing it was wonderfull that she lived but [through] constant care and much faith she lived (Lucy, p. 18) In her narrative, Roberta added:

She was only a little over two years old when it happened. She had gone over to Mother's [Lucy's mother] and on the way back stopped to stir the soap when she fell into it. My aunt heard the scream, ran and picked her up and hurried her to the house. There was not a drop of water in the bucket so she ran to a small irrigation ditch and put the child into it to wash the hot soap from her. She stripped off the clothes and with it the skin from the upper part of her body. All that remained was a tiny line of skin where one of the elbows was bent, and the skin on her head, forehead and just below her eyes. All that saved that was a little pink chambray bonnet she was wearing. I [Lucy] was in a delicate condition at the time, and Auntie didn't want to excite me so she sent a child after William and told her not to tell me what had happened. But of course I knew at once, and ran to my baby. I have never seen anything that was so pitiful. For weeks we did not dress her. I watched over her night and day. Her life was spared for which we were very grateful and her scars were never noticeable. (To the Last Frontier, p. 47)

88 Lucy, Osmer and Roberta give basically the same information for the year 1871. (Osmer, William J. Flake, pp 49-50), ( Lucy, p. 18), (Roberta, To the Last Frontier, p. 46-47) 64

Another son is born, dies.

On 12 September a seventh child was born to William and Lucy.89 This was another son and they named him Wilford Jourdan [Jordan]. Unfortunately, he was born prematurely and lived only twelve days. He died on 24 September, 1872.

Lucy H. Flake, circa 1870-77 William's rock-throwing prowess

It is well-known that William had an aversion to guns. Whenever he needed to protect himself, he used rocks and, from all accounts, was an excellent rock-thrower:

Only one man ever questioned his marksmanship with rocks. He [the man] threw rocks at the boys, and when Father came up and told him to quit, he turned, threw at him and ran. He had been drinking and was going up into a part of town where the men were all off at work. Father did not think it the proper place for a drink crazed soldier, so he picked up a couple of rocks, jumped on a horse near by and made chase. The soldier made for a pile of rocks on a ditch bank, one rock from the horseman hit him in the back of the head and as he came up with a rock in each hand, another hit just above his eye. He was pulled out of the canal. The Captain was notified, and an ambulance was sent for him. When he got out of the hospital, about a month later, he was not fit for Army Service any longer, and was sent to his home in the East. This happened in Beaver, when Fort Cameron was first established.90 (William J. Flake, p 148)

1873

William explores northern Arizona

Even as Brigham Young aged, he never lost his zeal for outward expansion of Mormon towns and hamlets. By about 1870, the more choice parts of Utah had been settled, so Brigham turned his attention northward, into Idaho, and south, toward the Arizona Territory. Between 1870 and 1873 settlements or places of residence were established at Kanab, Pipe Springs (east of Washington/St. George) and Lee's Ferry. Thus an approach to Arizona was secured.

89 In his biography of William, Osmer states that this child was born "on September 12, 1871." (William J. Flake, p. 50) However, Osmer also indicates that this event occurred after the baby Jane was burned badly, and that happened in 1872 according to Roberta and Lucy. 90 Fort Cameron was built in 1872 and was shut down eleven years later. 65

In December of 1872 the Arizona Exploring Company, under the leadership of Lorenzo Roundy made a two-month exploration of the area of the Little Colorado River. They found the area to be forbidding and inhospitable, but Roundy, in his final report, neither condemned the country nor did he recommend in favor of colonization. Within a week of receiving Roundy's report, Brigham called 250 missionaries to establish settlements along the Little Colorado River. However, as spring approached, only about 40% of those called, or a hundred men, a few women and one child left with the group leader, Horton D. Haight. The Company crossed the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry and proceeded south more than a hundred miles. They became so discouraged by the conditions that they turned back and re-crossed the Colorado in early July, leaving behind a terse message engraved on a rock: Arizona Mission Dead--1873.

William Jordan Flake was one of those called to accompany Roundy in his initial exploration of northern Arizona. Lucy mentioned this trip briefly in her journal, but Osmer gives a much fuller account: In the Winter of 1873 William was called with three others from Beaver to go and help explore Arizona the accompany consisted of thirteen they were bless and set apart for that Mishon he was gon seven weeks had a hard cold trip they did not find any thing or place that looked like a settlement could be made there he returned home in 1874 in January found all well at home (Lucy, p. 19)

Osmer:

In the Winter of 1873 William with three others from Beaver were called to join nine other men, and go to explore Arizona. Wallace Roundy was the leader of the company. It was a hard cold trip. They crossed the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry and went South, passed [past] the San Francisco Mountains and onto the upper Verda [Verde] and returned; they found nothing suitable for a settlement. President Young promised them that they would have dry camp grounds and good feed for their horses every night. He said there was lots of game, and if they did not waste any, they would have fresh meat all the way. The promise was fulfilled; they would ride in snow all day and then find an open space on which there was fine grass and dry ground for camping. One day near the Mountain, the snow had been deep all day. It was crusted on top, so that the only way they could travel was to make their horses jump out on the snow and break through. A rider would make his horse jump ten times, then jump to one side, and the next would take it, while he would take his place behind. Near sun down, one of the men said, "It looks like Brigham's promise would fail this time; there is no bare ground or feed here." The leader said, "No promise of brother Brighams fails." Soon they came upon a small hill and in front of them lay ten or fifteen acres of fine dry ground covered with grass. On this trip he [William] killed his first turkey. As they were returning home, the party separated in Southern Utah. He and a companion going across the mountains toward Beaver, the others West. One day when they had had little to eat, and no meat, they traveled in deep snow all day and did not see a living thing. Just about sundown, his companion said, "This is one time President Young's promise will fall to the ground unfulfilled for we have no meat for supper tonight." Will said, "No, here comes the meat." Looking up, they saw a large mountain hare come jumping through 66

the snow toward them. He got off his horse and killed the hare. President Young's promises were always fulfilled. (William J. Flake, pp 51-52)

1874

By 1874 William was expanding and improving his holdings. He acquired choice new farmland and in the next two years built two solid spacious homes. Osmer wrote:

The people had fenced a large pasture West of Beaver, taking in a large part of the Valley. They decided to divide it. He [William] owned a share and immediately began buying more until he had two hundred and forty acres of the best land in the Beaver Bottoms. He put in all the time he could on that, for he wanted it for a home for the rest of his life. (William J. Flake, p. 53)91

United Order

In April of 1874 the inhabitants of Beaver voted to practice the United Order. That was the year that Brigham Young publicly proposed that the Mormon communities of the Great Basin organize and practice what he called the "United Order of Enoch."

The Panic of 187392 provided a particularly sharp lesson in the dangers of integration with the national economy. Those areas of Utah tied to mining suffered severely, while Brigham City, with its elaborate cooperative system, seemed relatively unaffected. Observing poverty, dispiritedness and disaffection as he traveled south to his winter home in St. George during the winter of 1873-74, the aging Mormon leader considered how best to control the situation. The previous October Lorenzo Snow, apostle and founder of the Brigham City Cooperatives, had preached a sermon which perhaps was still ringing in Young's ears: "It is more than forty years since the Order of Enoch was introduced, and rejected. One would naturally think, that it is now about time to begin to honor it." So important was the new movement that Young postponed the April general conference so he could be in Salt Lake City93 to introduce personally the new system of economic reform. Under Young's leadership, producers would generally deed their property to the Order, and all members of the Order would share the cooperative's net income, often divided

91 In William's 1912 interview, he stated that his acquisition of good land occurred much earlier: "In '66 they surveyed the big pasture at Beaver. That is where I had made up my mind to have a farm. It was a town pasture and they divided it up into five acre lots. I traded around until I got three hundred acres of it, two hundred forty of it in one place. There is where I build my home-- took up a homestead there. '67 I spent fixing up my farm." (Augusta Flake, p. 4) 92 Before the Act, the United States had backed its currency with both gold and silver, and it minted both types of coins. The Act moved the United States to a 'de facto' gold standard, which meant it would no longer buy silver at a statutory price or convert silver from the public into silver coins. The result was disastrous for western states' silver mines and even Utah. 93 Brigham was in the habit of spending his winters in St. George, where the climate was milder. 67

into shares based on the amount of property originally contributed. Sometimes, the members of the Order would receive wages for their work on the communal property. The cooperative plan was used in at least 200 Mormon communities, most of them in rural areas outlying the central Mormon settlements near the Great Salt Lake. Most of the communities held out for only two or three years before returning to a more standard economic system. Many [attempts to implement the United Order] never got beyond the stage of electing officers. The disappointing result perhaps could have been predicted. Young was attempting at a stroke to transform a frail but functioning capitalist economy, serving some 80,000 persons into a commonwealth of communes. Aware that some would resist, he specifically ordered that no one be coerced. Moreover, he placed upon the bishop of each congregation the responsibility of determining how far his flock was willing to go in the direction of cooperation and urged bishops not to push them further than they were willing. The result was a bewildering variety of organizations and a good deal of fighting within congregations as to what form their United Order should take. The more common orders were in the congregations of rural towns, such as at St. George, [begun 9 Feb 1874] where land and farm equipment were placed under the direction of an elected committee which supervised production. The committees decided such matters as which crops to grow, who should work at which tasks, and to what extent members would be allowed to move or work outside the order. There was, however, no effort to prescribe beyond seeing that the work due the order was accomplished. Moreover, as the orders began to disband in the fall of 1874, the members seemed to have no difficulty identifying the property they had contributed.94

According to Osmer, Lucy and Roberta, William entered the United Order in Beaver in April of 1874, just two months after St. George began their United Order efforts.95

The United Order was advocated, and in April 1874, he [William] sold out all that he owned into the Order. He was assigned to look after the stock, and he took them to a ranch on the East fork of the Sevier, where there was a fine pasture. He took Prudence to the ranch for the summer and moved back to Beaver for the winter. He was paid one thousand dollars a year to look after the stock. This lasted two years, when the Order broke up. Then he had more time to improve the farm, although he still looked after the stock at the same price. (William J. Flake, p. 53)

94 Several internet sources describe Brigham Young's United Order attempt. www.media.utah.edu/UHE/u/UNITEDORDER, eom.byu.edu/index.php/United_Orders , en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Order 95 Again, a slight discrepancy of dates exists between Osmer and William: "In '75 I went to work in the United Order. We put in everything we had. I was appointed one of the superintendents of the stock. I went out to stay with them I went over and helped build a place on Flake Flat." (Augusta Flake, p. 5) 68

William → St. George, Lucy very ill

Apparently in the fall of 1874 William was asked to deliver cattle to St. George, to feed the men working on the construction of the temple96. He went, but returned after only two weeks because Lucy became seriously ill:

. . . my helth was dredfull poor but he went I continued to get worse and worse till my people wrote for him to come home they wrote twice he did not come then they sent a dispatch he came I was very low for three weeks my children had to be kept away from home it seemed the other World was as plain to my view as this my suffering was great but the work that I came to do was not finished and God in his Murcy spared my life it was no earthley power my friends said I was a living Merical [miracle] I hope to do my work honerabley and good and gain the reward of the faithfull I was sick a long time gained very slowly William and Prudence moved on a ranch three miles from town just as soon as I could walk around a little For four months never washed dishes or swept the floor and felt so despondent it seemed it was hard work to live . . . the summer came and passed my helth improved very slow (Lucy, p. 20)

1875

Due to his United Order assignment, during the years of 1874-1875 William "was away almost continuously except when he had to be home because of sickness." (William J. Flake, p. 53) He was constantly looking for places to pasture the large herds of cattle and horses under his supervision.97 Once he went as far east as Potato Valley, with a Henry Gale and others as his traveling companions:

In company with William J. Flake, Edwin Twitchell and others, I [Henry Gale] went to Potato Valley, 150 miles east of Beaver, in the spring of 1875, to search for a place to make a home. I took up some land and planted some crops, but the location was so far away over a

96 It is difficult to tell from Lucy's and Roberta's narratives whether Lucy got sick in 1874 or 1875. Osmer places the illness and trip to St. George in November of 1876 (William J. Flake, p. 53) Roberta seems to place Lucy's illness in 1874—before George's birth in April of 1875. (To the Last Frontier, p. 51) Lucy also seems to indicate November 1874 as the date when William made the St. George trip. (Lucy, p. 20) Construction of the St. George temple began in 1871 and proceeded on a demanding schedule. It is conceivable that beef would be needed for temple workers in the fall of 1874. Of course they could have needed help in 1875 and 1876 also. Lucy's illness may have been exacerbated by the fact that she was pregnant in the late fall of 1874. As an additional complication, in 1912 William said Lucy's illness occurred in 1876: "In the fall of '76 I took a head of beef cattle down to St. George and went to work on the Temple, but Lucy got so sick I had to go back home." (Augusta Flake, p. 5) 97 William explored the surrounding area for a distance of 200 miles north, east and south. In fact, there is a mountain peak near Bryce Canyon called "Flake Mountain." The present writer has not been able to determine whether or not William Jordan Flake was the source for the name of the mountain. 69

range of high mountains that it could not be traveled in the winter. I sold my work there and started for home arriving on the 12th of May, 1876.98

Another son

On 16 April 1875 Lucy gave birth to another son. They named him George Burton in honor of the brother Lucy had lost in 1871. The middle name was the surname of Lucy's uncle. Lucy wrote:

. . .he was a butifull child and we was thankfull for him as we had lost our youngest and Jane was five years old . . . my baby was quite delicate this was very hard on me as we had lost three we had very hard work to keep him when two months old he came very near dying he was so low he could not swallow we praid and administered to him all night the next morning he could swillow and graduley got better of that spell time went on

Prudence: childless

Meanwhile, Prudence had been married 7 years by 1875 and still had not produced any children. Moreover, her asthmatic condition was getting worse. Roberta wrote: "We had a hired girl to help Prudence because she was suffering more and more with asthma." (To the Last Frontier, p. 51) Emma Flake Freeman later wrote that Prudence was so anxious for a child that she took in a foster girl for a time:

All of us must have our trials, and mother's [Prudence's] greatest trial was that she did not have children for the first ten years of her married life. During these years of anxious waiting for children of her own, mother's friend urged her to adopt a baby. Well she did: a girl by the name of Farnsworth. She also kept a boy for a short time. Of course she became very fond of these children who were filling her hungry mother's heart, and she took special pains to keep them clean and neat, and gave them much love and attention. What great joy she had, and poured out her affection on them. Later, however, when she was to leave Beaver, when her husband received another call from the Church [1877], the family and others advised her to leave the children behind, which really caused sadness and heartaches as she had spent many happy hours with them. Now to be torn from them, and probably never see them again, was a great trial. (Emma F. Freeman, p. 10)

New Brick Home

According to Osmer, in 1875 William built a brick home in the town of Beaver. Neither Lucy nor Roberta make mention of the new home, but it was later sold for $1200 as the Flakes prepared for their exodus from Beaver.

98 History of James Gale and his father Henry, written by Carie Mae Gale Wilkins McGrath from the James Gale Book, http://gale.surnames.com/history/galehistory.htm

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1876

In 1876 the United Order in Beaver was dissolved. We do not know the reasons for the breakup but most of the United Order experiments in Utah lasted a very short time. William took back his property and livestock as did the rest of the contributors. William, however, continued to look after the stock of people in Beaver, for the same $1,000 annual salary.

William's son → Potato Valley

As mentioned previously, William explored as far as 150 miles east of Beaver, looking for suitable pasture. Potato Valley seemed to be a good location. It received its name in 1865 when a certain Captain Andres was chasing Indians during the Black Hawk War. When he and his militia entered that area they found wild potatoes growing there, hence the name. Later, in 1872 John Wesley Powell went through the area and recommended the name be changed to Escalante, in honor of the legendary Spanish missionary explorer--although Escalante never passed through that part of Utah.

In the spring of 1875 a group of men from Panguitch settled the area as the climate was more hospitable for growing crops and grazing cattle. William J. Flake also saw the possibilities of Potato Valley and in 1876 he sent his oldest son, James, there to plant a crop.

In order to help to settle the waste places, he [William] sent his son James (seventeen years old) with necessary tools, teams, seed, etc., to Potato Valley (now Escallenta [sic], Utah) where he helped build up the place. There, James married Nancy Hall in 1877. He sold the place and moved to Arizona that year.99 (William J. Flake, p. 54)

The ideal farm and ultimate abode.

Osmer and Roberta give good descriptions of the sawed log home William built out on "the farm" during 1876:

Much of 1876 was spent in improving his farm; he built a sawed log house near the center. It was still in good repair when I visited it seventy years later. He had built a brick house in town the summer before. . . . William's place on the Beaver was all he could ask for. He worked and traded, and bought until he had an ideal place. He worked hard to fix it up, and had a large comfortable house on the farm, and a good home in town for school purposes and winter use. The farm was stocked with horses, cows, pigs, geese, ducks and chickens. Plenty of water. The Beaver River flowed through the center; Spring Creek came from the South-East, and a large slough from the North-East. It was fine land and where it was not cleared, was covered with heavy brush. He hired two Piute Indians to clear off and pile the brush. About once a week, we boys went out at night and built big bon-fires.

99 Osmer mentioned that James sold the Escalante property for $800. (William J. Flake, p. 58-59) 71

In February 1877 he, Mother [Lucy] and the children moved to the farm. What wonder that his joy knew no bounds, when he had all of his loving family by his side, and looked out over those fertile acres. ALL HIS [emphasis in the original] (William J. Flake, p. 54)

Roberta's description of the farm was equally detailed and poetic:

William had acquired 240 acres of the best land in the Beaver bottoms. He had always wanted that and began farming and improving it. There was lots of sage and rabbit brush to be grubbed off and some leveling to do. It was three miles from Beaver. We were very happy in the possession of such a good farm. . . . Every spare day William worked on our farm. He built us a large sawed log house. There is an old saying that a man must build one home before he knows how to build. William should be a master house builder; he had built so many. This one was big, roomy and comfortable, and the location ideal. It was on a slightly raised knoll in the bend of the clear sparkling Beaver River. The stream formed a crescent at the foot of the clear sparkling Beaver River at the foot of the elevation, and the rippling waters made music as they danced over the stones. From our steps we could overlook our 240 fertile acres. We had geese and ducks that we plucked the down from regularly for pillows and feather beds. We had chickens, hogs, horses, cows. There wasn't anything we lacked and we were as happy as a family could be. We were so happy in the thought that William would not have to be away any more, we had our living at home and our days of hardship and struggle were over. (To the Last Frontier, pp 50-51)

In other words, William and his family were happy and satisfied. They had worked hard and had prospered. Now they were content to spend the rest of their lives on their beautiful farm in Beaver. Little did they realize what monumental changes the next year, 1877, would bring.

1877 An eventful, unforgettable, life-altering trip to St. George

In February of 1877 William moved Lucy out to the newly finished sawed log home on the farm. Shortly thereafter, William proposed a trip to St. George for the temple dedication:

I moved down there [to the farm] in February of 1877 we had a fine large house we had geese ducks hogs chickens horses and cows we thought we was fixed for life or nearly so the St. George Temple was to be Dedicated the sixth of Aprial Conference was going to be held there William took Prudence and went I could not go my little George was quite poorly and some one had to stay at home so there was no chance for me to go and while they was gon he [Geore] was dredful sick he came near dying (Lucy, p. 21)

When William and Prudence returned to Beaver, their countenance told Lucy everything:

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at that Conference William was called to go to Arizona in the fall they gave us six months to get ready to go Oh the thought of leaveing my poor Widowed Mother who had stood over me night and day in my dredfull sickness and never gave me up when all others did it was cruel it seemed to me and William said he had rather go to England he felt dredfull bad but we was called and there was no other way we had to begin to make preparations to go James was now 18 he was keeping company with a girl he got Married we was prepareing all summer the 19 of Augest another Daughter was born to me she was born just sun rise Sunday morning it was the day President Young Preeched his last sermon100 Mother called her Roberta after uncle Robert Burton . . . well we got redy for our trip as fast as we could we sold our farm for four thousand dollars $4000101 we fitted up five wagons our city lot we sold for twelve hundred dollars it had adoba house and a brick house the Brick was new and tw[o] lots one was fruit trees all over it people have to take what they can get when they move (Lucy, p 22) Osmer added a few more details to Lucy's account:

At the conference, as the leaders looked for men who could be depended on, one of the Apostles asked, "How about Bill Flake?" another said "If he is anything like his Father, he will stick." President Brigham Young called him on the Mission to Arizona.102 He [William] asked if he could come down and spend a few years and help get things started and return. President Young said, "Sell all that you have, that you can't take with you. Take your family and go there to settle the Saints. Leave nothing to come back to." . . . It was not so hard on Aunt Prudence, for all of her family were moving to Arizona.103 To Mother, it was almost like a death sentence. (William J. Flake , p 56)

100 As Lucy says, Roberta was born on a Sunday, the same day Brigham Young preached for the last time. He died 10 days later, on 29 August 1877. 101 Osmer states that William sold the farm to David Levie [Levi]. David was the brother of Joseph Hyrum Levi who was married to Sara James Flake, William's sister. William gives a different set of figures regarding the sale of the farm: "I sold my farm for two hundred forty head of cattle. Bought forty wild mares that were hard to corral, took a contract of hauling one hundred thousand feet of lumber one mile to the top of a mountain four dollars a thousand, bought some gentle horses and oxen and hired two men to put them up. The broke my horses." (Augusta, Flake, p. 6) 102 After the very negative report in 1873 by the Arizona exploring party, and the failure of the 1874 colonization group, Brigham put plans for Arizona on the back burner until 1876. In that year he sent a fairly sizable group south and they established 2-3 settlements on the Little Colorado River, but by 1877 they needed help so Brigham decided to send another large group. He called the second group, including the Flakes, Kartchners, Freemans and many others during the April 1877 temple dedication and conference. 103 Her family was the Kartchners who at the time were living in Panguitch. William and Margaret Kartchner were called at the same time as William J. Flake. William Kartchner was 57 and his wife 52. William J. Flake, in contrast, was only 39 years old and Lucy 37. 73

Preparations for the trip

William began immediately to prepare for the journey to Arizona, gathering tools, seed, implements, etc. that would be needed to begin life anew in the south country. He readied six wagons and equipped them with special features to make the women more comfortable:

We had a big, heavy kitchen cupboard that we placed back down in one of the wagons. Into this we packed our dishes, wrapped in clothing, and finished filling it up with anything in the clothing and bedding line we might not need for our trip. The doors were shut down and a bed made on top of it. The wagons occupied by Prudence, Nancy [James' wife] and myself [Lucy] each had a small cook stove in the front and the double wagon boxes loaded with grain, flour, seed, dried fruit, beans, corn, plows, hoes, rakes, shovels and anything that could be packed in them. On top of that was laced rawhide strips, back and forth, to make bedsprings. On these we put our shucks and straw ticks, wool mattresses and feather beds. These furnished a nice place for the family to ride on in the daytime and a bed at night. On the outside of the wagons we had racks for our water barrels. On the back of one of the wagons we had a cupboard built. This had a door that could be let down to prepare the meal on. In this cupboard we kept our tin dishes, knives, forks, and other cooking and eating utensils needed, with the exception of the iron pots, bake ovens and brass buckets. These hung from the backs of the wagons, because the former were too black to put inside and the buckets had to be ready and handy, so that when we found water we could fill up the barrels. When our Caravan was ready, it consisted of six wagons104, loaded to capacity. These were drawn by nine yoke of oxen and seven span of horses. We had two hundred head of cattle and forty head of horses. (To the Last Frontier, pp 55-56)

William needed help with all the things that needed to be done so he hired some men. He even hired men to accompany them on the trip:

He hired two men to break steers to work. He had to have some well trained oxen to train them with. A neighbor had a red and white ox he called "Bright." He wanted $60 for him. William thought it was too much but when Harper showed how the ox would mind, by having him pass down the street loose with a bunch of cattle, and he a block away, would call out "Woe [Whoa] Haw, Bright," the ox left the cattle and came down the street. William

104 Lucy said they had 5 wagons: "we fitted up five wagons" (Lucy, p. 22) William agreed with Lucy: "I started from Utah with five wagons, five yoke of oxen on one wagon and I hitched Albert Minnerly's wagon behind that, four yoke of cattle on another, three span of horses on another, two span on each of the other two. Charley, Osmer, a man named McKnight and I drove the cattle. I helped everyone on the road that needed help-- Reidhead Gale and Turley." (Augusta Flake, p. 6) 74

took the ox and never regretted it; he was the near leader105 and could handle two or three yoke of steers. He then got a dark brown ox called June, a Near Wheeler106. With those two in a team they could handle any team either spoiled or wild steers. He then fitted up wagons, made bows and yokes and got a number of chains. To get work for them [the oxen] he took a contract to haul lumber for Willis Copeland from his sawmill in the Beaver Canyon up quite a steep mountain road three miles, to a saddle, from which a team could haul to town three times as much as they could haul up the mountain. I [Osmer] was nine years old. I followed the wagon, and when they had to rest the teams, I would put wooden blocks behind the wheels to stop the wagons from rolling back. (William J. Flake, pp 57-58)

Another trip to St. George.

Before William left for Arizona, Church leaders counseled him to go to the newly dedicated St. George temple where he could do temple work for his deceased ancestors. So, just a month before their departure for Arizona, William, Lucy and Prudence made a hurried trip to St. George: . . . When she [Roberta] was nearly two months old William rebaptized his family as we wished to go and work in the Temple and it was council for all to get baptized before going. My babe was two months old on the 19th Oct and we started on the twentieth 20 of October to St. George to wort [work] in the Temple for Williams dead relitives we worked there one week I was also adopted to my Father and Mother her and my eldest Brother ware ther also working and stood proxy for my youngest sister this labor was a great comfort to us my sweet little babe [Roberta] was in the Temple Sister July Suliven took care of her We recieved our second Washing and anointing they said as we were coming a way so far we could recieve them but they never had given them to any one so young we also recieved them for Williams Father and Mother it seemed like we were in Heven sure when we were working in that Holey place but when we got out satan dubles his forse on a person trying to make up for the good one receives but we must be more prairfull and try harder to over-come him (Lucy, p. 22) Rebaptisms, Adoptions and Second Anointings.

Lucy's journal entry alludes to three ordinances that were practiced in the LDS Church during the middle and latter part of the nineteenth century and at times even into the twentieth century.

105 Drivers of ox-pulled wagons had their own specialized vocabulary. The "LEADER" or lead ox was the most important animal of the whole team. The lead team had to respond to the voice commands of the" BULL PUNCH" [oxen team driver]. "NEAR SIDE" was the right side of the team. 106 WHEELER was the last yoke of oxen next to the load. This expression was common with both bull and horse teams. It was their duty to hold the logs or wagon back. 75

Rebaptisms

Rebaptisms were very common after the Saints arrived in Utah. The act seemed to symbolize a rededication and recommitment to gospel principles. However, rebaptisms were even practiced during the days of Joseph Smith in Nauvoo. In William Huntington's journal he wrote on 11 April 1841: "Joseph and Sidney baptized [rebaptized] each other for the remission of their sins as this order was then instituted in the Church. Accordingly, on the 27th of April, I was baptized for the remission of my sins."

In his article "The Practice of Rebaptism at Nauvoo," Michael Quinn lists several reasons why people were rebaptized, including a) as a sign of reformation and for remission of sins, b) as part of the ordinance of baptism for the dead, c) for health, and d) as part of the plural marriage process107. Currently, the doctrine of rebaptism is no longer practiced. McConkie, in Gospel Doctrine, states unequivocally: "There is no need for and no ordinance of rebaptism in the Church." Nevertheless, McConkie acknowledges that many were baptized a second time after they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. He makes no reference to the rebaptisms alluded to by William Huntington during the Nauvoo period.

What is surprising about Lucy's statement is that rebaptism was recommended prior to doing temple work.108

107Michael Quinn, "The Practice of Rebaptism at Nauvoo," BYU Studies, 18, (Winter 1978) pp 226-32. Regarding baptism for the dead one certificate stated: Catherine Fory renewed her covenant with the Lord, and was baptised in behalf of ... An example of rebaptism for health was when Joseph "baptized his wife Emma twice in the Mississippi River on 5 October 1842 because of her serious ill health." Another wrote: "I have confidence that if I can be Baptized in the font I shall be healed of a hereditary disease I am, and ever have been laboring under." Finally, records show that on 11 May 1843 Joseph "6 A.M. baptized [blank spaces] Sisters Snow, Louisa Bemen, Sarah Alley &c." These are names of sisters Joseph had taken in the celestial marriage covenant. 108 Counsel and advice regarding preparation to receive maximum spiritual benefit from the temple experience has changed from time to time. In the early days, the Saints in St. George were also encouraged to abstain from intimate sexual activity prior to attending the temple: "Special Instructions to the Bishops. Brethren: We herein embody a few instructions which we wish you to strictly enjoin upon the brethren and sisters who come to the [St. George] Temple in [error: "to"] officiate for themselves or their friends .... Before the brethren or sisters go into the Temple to receive their endowments, they must wash themselves all over, perfectly clean, so as to enter the Temple clean. Men and women should have no sexual [activity] for a week or more previous to their going into the Temple to receive their endowments. Diary of James Goodson Bleak, Book B, Part 2, copied BYU Library, 1960, p. 514

76

Adoptions, i.e. sealings

Lucy's curious phrasing "I was also adopted to my Father and Mother" calls attention to another nineteenth century LDS practice called the "Law of Adoption." This was a kind of sealing that was practiced in the LDS Church from about 1842 until 1894. This sealing, often referred to in LDS literature by high church officials as "adoption," was usually practiced between adult men, but if the new son were married, it included his wife (or wives, since the church at this time permitted polygamy) and their children.

At this early stage in the church's history the membership was dominated by adult converts, whose new religious beliefs and westward migration with the Saints often estranged them from their birth families. Intra-church adoption in some measure compensated for this. The great majority of these adoptions involved high church officials as adoptive fathers, and some had large numbers of men sealed to them.

In a Church General Conference address on 6 April 1894, Wilford Woodruff stated:

“I have not felt satisfied, nor has any man since the Prophet Joseph Smith who has attended to the ordinance of adoption in the temples of our God. We have felt there was more to be revealed on this subject than we have received … and the duty that I want every man who presides over a Temple to see performed from this day henceforth, unless the Lord Almighty commands otherwise, is let every man be adopted [i.e. "sealed"] to his father.” Thus, as of 1894, the practice of the law of adoption ceased in the LDS Church.109

Second Anointings

Lucy alludes to an infrequent practice in the Church when she comments: "We recieved our second Washing and anointing they said as we were coming a way so far we could recieve them but they never had given them to any one so young we also recieved them for Williams Father and Mother"

The "first anointing" refers to the washing and anointing part of the Endowment ceremony in LDS temples, in which a person is anointed to become a king and priest or a queen and priestess unto God. In the second anointing, on the other hand, participants are anointed as a king and priest, or queen and priestess. When the anointing is given, according to Brigham Young, the participant "will then have received the fullness of the Priesthood, all that can be given on earth."

Thus, the second anointing differs from the "first anointing" in that, the first anointing promises blessings in the afterlife contingent on the patron's faithfulness, while the Second Anointing actually bestows those blessings. According to Bruce R. McConkie, "these are they who have their calling and election made sure and "receive the more sure word of prophecy,

109 Wikipedia: LDS Law of Adoption 77 which means that the Lord seals their exaltation upon them while they are yet in this life. ... [T]heir exaltation is assured."

After the trek to Utah, the LDS Church did not conduct further second anointings until late 1866. Beginning in the 1870s, second anointings were performed vicariously. In the 1880s, John Taylor was concerned that too many second anointings were being performed, and he instituted a series of procedural safeguards, requiring recommendation by a stake president, and a guideline that the ordinance "belonged particularly to old men". In 1901, President Lorenzo Snow further limited accessibility to the ordinance by outlining stringent criteria for worthiness.

By 1918, over 14,000 second anointings had been performed for the living and the dead. During the administration of Heber J. Grant in the 1920s, however, the frequency of second anointings was dramatically reduced. Stake presidents were no longer allowed to recommend candidates for the ordinance, that privilege falling only to members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. By 1941, a cumulative total of just under 15,000 second anointings had been performed for the living, and just over 6,000 for the dead. By 1949, the practice had been "practically discontinued" by the LDS Church, though in 1981 it continued "to be performed-- albeit on a small scale".110 Lucy apparently recognized the special honor that was being bestowed on her and William when they received the ordinance of a second anointing when they visited the temple in 1877.

On to Arizona

William and his family returned to Beaver and made last minute preparations for the departure. On November 19th, 1877, they rolled out in their specially equipped wagons. Compared to other pioneers, they were extremely well prepared. However, Lucy wrote:

Well we left our home on the nineteenth of November went and stayed all night with Mother my baby [Roberta] just three months old she was quite sick that evening the teachers came to Mothers that evening I felt so discouraged I asked them to administer to my baby they did so it incouraged me they talked to us a long time and when they left I felt beter it was so late in the season and my baby so young was dredfull uneasy for fear I would loose [lose] her we had a stove fixed up in the wagon had a carpet over the wagon then a cover had projections on the wagon bed and had thing[s] fixed up the best we could . . . we had a very hard trip (Lucy, p. 23)

110 Wikipedia: LDS Second Anointings 78

An act of kindness that ends badly for the Flakes

We don't know the exact route the Flakes followed in their journey to Arizona. Roberta gives perhaps the most details and tells of an incident that had serious consequences:

We had to travel slowly. The roads at best were only blazed trails. Often we had to stop the outfits while the men got out and with pick and shovel made them passable. Because of the scarcity of water and feed we did not travel with any of the other emigrants who were on the road. When we caught up with them or others overtook us we waited for them to get out of the road. The water was usually in small seeps, springs or streams, and sometimes it would take half a day for it to furnish enough water for our stock. When we got to Buckskin Mountains111 we saw a wagon standing by the road and a man pacing back and forth. In the wagon was the wife, weeping like her heart would break. On her lap was their year old baby, dead. The poor mother was helpless in her grief. We camped nearby and I [Lucy] went over to see what I could do. The little body had to be washed and prepared for burial. I had never touched a dead person before except my own precious babies whose little graves I had left behind. I shrank from the task but someone had to do it. William took a board from one wagon and one from another wagon box until he got enough to make a little box to bury the child in.

That act of kindness on my part almost cost the lives of my two older daughters. Mary took sick first with a terrible sore throat. I used all the remedies I could think of, such as having her gargle with vinegar, salt and pepper, and binding a piece of fat meat on her throat, but she kept getting worse. Jane had to sleep with her and she took it [i.e. Jane got sick]. We kept them in a wagon by themselves and I did everything I could for them, but it looked as though they would choke to death. I prayed constantly that they might be spared. God heard my prayers. He provided a physician in the person of a dear old blind lady that we afterwards learned to love and call affectionately, "Aunt Abbie." These travelers overtook us and when they found we had sickness, Mrs. Thayne, Aunt Abbie, came to the wagon where the girls were. None had described their ailments and though she was blind, as soon as she put her hand inside of the wagon cover she sniffed and said "Diphtheria" Then she went to work. In her wagon she had medicinal herbs for every disease and in her head had the knowledge of their use and our darling girls were saved through her administrations. One of the things she did was to put poultices of grated carrots on their lungs. Dear Aunt Abbie. What a God-send you were to all the pioneers who settled Northern Arizona. I had never been around diphtheria before and had not known that the little body I had prepared for burial had died of this disease. (To the Last Frontier, pp 57-58)

111 Buckskin Mountain is located 28 miles east of Kanab, Utah. It is on BLM land in northern Arizona near Vermilion Cliffs at the Utah Border. 79

Prudence: bouts of asthma

The Flakes continued their arduous journey south. Lucy stated succinctly: "the Winter was dredfull cold cold [sic] colder then it had been for years there was a great meny on the road and William helped most every familey some he let have oxen some horses to work" (Lucy p. 23) Roberta added: "Poor Prudence was sick most of the way. She had three severe attacks of quinsy,112 and hardly left her wagon during the trip." (To the Last Frontier, p. 58)

Washing clothes in the snow

The journey continued through the bitter cold of winter. Roberta wrote, as if she were Lucy:

I shall never forget the 14th day of December, 1887. We had only made a mile and a half that day. The wind and sleet were terrific. "There is no use. The teams will not face this storm. Find as sheltered a place as you can and pull in." William's voice rang out above the wind as he delivered this message to each of the teamsters. . . . To make a fire was an utter impossibility so we ate parched corn, dried meat, cheese, crackers and cookies which we had made before we started. . . . The wind blew so strong all day that it seemed the wagons would be overturned. Each member of the party seemed to feel the responsibility of making the best of a bad situation. William came to the wagon where I and our three month baby girl slept. I motioned him to silence so as not to wake baby, and fully dressed. I lifted the wagon cover and crept out into my husband-lover's strong arms. He carried me over to this warm dried-out spot in all this white vastness. He put me down, then with a sweeping gesture that would have done justice to his chivalrous ancestors, assured me that though he was not so good at menial tasks, there were half a dozen male members of the company who would do my bidding. Early in the morning the men folks had cleared away the heavy snow from a large space, built a fire to dry out the ground. Then the fire was moved to one side, it was here that William brought me. . . . The sun came out beautifully bright and reasonably warm as though old Mother Nature, ashamed of her antics on the day before was taking pity on us poor wayfarers.113

112Quinsy is a medical condition characterized by "an abscess in the tissue around a tonsil usually resulting from bacterial infection and often accompanied by pain and fever." Actually, what Prudence suffered from was an acute asthmatic condition. Common symptoms of asthma include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing. Symptoms are often worse at night or in the early morning, or in cold air. (Wikipedia) The cold winter air only exacerbated Prudence's condition. During the next twenty years until her death in 1896, Prudence became progressively more and more debilitated. 113 It is with such sentences as this one that Roberta gives free rein to her literary imagination. Lucy, in her 1894 memoirs, describes this event in two rather prosaic sentences: "we had five men besides our own familey to do for most all the work feel [fell] to me I stood and washed clothes when the snow was very deep all day (Lucy, p. 23) 80

With plenty of snow to be melted into the softest of water and plenty of clothes to be washed, it was decided that the company remain in camp another day. So with my wash-board and tub, I rubbed the soiled clothes. I knew those in the wagons were helpless to assist, so to show them I was happy I sang. (To the Last Frontier, p. 60)

1878

Another death and burial

The Flakes pushed on in their effort to reach the newly established Mormon settlements on the Little Colorado River. Roberta wrote:

Another heavy snow fell just before we reached the Little Colorado River. The weather was so cold the ice on the river froze to a depth of 8 inches. The menfolks had to chop through that to get water for the cattle. It was fortunate for us that this extreme cold did not strike us on the desert. We would have frozen to death as wood was so scarce most of the way. It was the coldest winter in 30 years. (To the Last Frontier, p 60)

When they arrived at Black Falls they were quite near their destination. Black Falls is located in the general proximity of Flagstaff, Arizona, but to the northeast, on the Little Colorado River. There, they came across another family that was suffering:

At Black Falls we found another family whose child, an eleven year old boy, had died. Again I [Lucy] prepared the body for burial. The water was so cold that it froze on the body as I washed it. Whether or not that gave the poor grief-stricken parents the idea, or whether they could not stand the thought of leaving it in a lonely grave, they let the corpse freeze, wrapped in a sheet, and hauled it to the first settlements which were 8 days away. (To the Last Frontier, p. 61)

A new baby, 1st grandchild

On January 10th, 1878 James' wife, Nancy, gave birth to a little boy. They named him William Jordan Flake in honor of his grandfather. About the time the child was born, Lucy fell ill:

81

after this [the birth of the grandson] was all over and so much anxiety and care and leveing Charles 114 hard work and constant strain on my nerves and strength I took down sick and was several days could not get out of bed. we traveled on 15 of January we reeched the first setlements on the little Colorado Brigham City & sunset the People here were living in the United Order and was eating at one table it looked very strange to me (Lucy, p. 24)

The Little Colorado Settlements

No real effort was made to push colonization in Arizona for three years after the 1973 debacle. Finally, in early 1876 another somewhat smaller group of missionaries was called. The original plan called for four settlements of fifty families each. The four leaders called were Geo. Lake, Wm. C. Allen, Jesse O Ballinger and Lot Smith. The Lake company was recruited from Cache, Box Elder and Weber Counties, in Utah. The Smith Company came from Davis, Morgan, Summit and Wasatch Counties. The Allen Co. was from Utah Co. and the Ballinger Co. was from Sanpete and Juab Counties. After a difficult trip, they arrived at the Little Colorado where they established four small settlements--and agreed to abide by the principles of the United Order. The four settlements were within a 25-mile stretch and were named: Ballinger's Camp (Brigham City), Allen's Camp (St. Joseph), Sunset Lake's Camp (Obed or Camp Obed). (The names of the settlements were changed within a short time to those shown in parentheses.)

Life was very challenging in each of the four colonies. During the first year, only Sunset produced a harvest, and it amounted to only about 75 bushels of grain and a few melons. Attrition of settlers was frequent and soon it was necessary to call additional missionaries to fill the depleted ranks. Most of those that were called in April of 1877 in the St. George Conference were sent to these settlements on the Lower Colorado River115. William Kartchner records his journey to Arizona as follows:

We were called to the Arizona Mission by Daniel H. Wells at the Spring Conference and started on the 15th of November 1877, arriving at Sunset on the 22nd of Jan. 1878. Sister Kartchner was sick the entire route.116

114 The decision was made to leave Charles and another man at Black Falls while the livestock recruited. It was several months before Charles reunited with his family. 115 Some, like Woodruff Freeman, were called initially to the East Verde and Tonto Basin area of Arizona. 116 Life and Times of William D. Kartchner, written by Ron Freeman, privately published, p. 72 82

A new settlement: Taylor

William and family stayed Ballenger's Camp (later Brigham City) less than a week. No one knows what prompted him and Prudence's extended family, the Kartchners, to go elsewhere to create a community of their own. Perhaps the amount of land suitable for farming and grazing was limited at Ballenger's Camp. Or maybe the Flakes and Kartchners didn't like the type of United Order that was being practiced. Whatever the reason, on about January 20th, William J. Flake and family, William D. Kartchner and sons-in-law and James Gale and Joseph Knight set out to search for suitable land upriver.

the next day we started on went twenty miles up the little Colorado there concluded to make a home put all we had in the United Order and commenced to work the men went to work on a dam after building two rooms one to eat in one smaller to cook in (Lucy, p. 24)

In his 1912 interview, William mentioned:

"He [Lot Smith] took us to a place about five miles below St. Joseph and located me with about twenty-five families. He appointed John Kartchner presiding officer, with me for first councilor and A.Z. Palmer second councilor. He organized us under the United Order. He sent us a lot of Arkansas men whom we had to support. We ate at the big table for five months - forty families. (Augusta Flake, p. 6)117

Roberta added a few more details, including the awful water they had to drink and use for bathing and washing:

The men cut cottonwood logs and built a kitchen and dining room. We lived in our wagon boxes set down on logs or large stones. The main concern was to get water for the land for spring planting so the men all went to work putting a dam in the Little Colorado, clearing and preparing the land. William was appointed to take charge of the stock. That was no small job as the food was scarce, and then there was the terrible quicksand in which the weary and unwary cattle mired, and unless help came in time, were entirely sucked under. His duties kept him riding most of the time. We were near the reservation and whenever a Navajo needed a good beef he would help himself to our stock if they were not guarded.

117 McClintock wrote the following about Taylor, the small encampment Flake and others attempted to settle: "Taylor was a small settlement on the Little Colorado, about three miles below the present St. Joseph [Joseph City], and should not be confounded with the present settlement of the same name near Snowflake. This first Taylor was established January 22, 1878, by eight families, mainly from Panguitch and Beaver, Utah. In the United Order they built a dining hall, a quarter-mile back from the river and organized as a ward, with John Kartchner at its head. But there was discouragement, not unnaturally, when the river dam went out for the fifth time. Then in July, 1878, members of the settlement departed, going to the present site of Snowflake on Silver Creek. There had been little improvement outside of the stockade and dining hall, and for most of the time the people lived in their wagons." (McClintock, p. 148) 83

. . . When we first stopped at this location it looked like it would be an easy matter to dam off that sluggish, muddy, slowly moving stream, but the first dam of brush, rock and clay was hardly finished when a flood came down and washed it out. Nothing daunted, the men began again, and again the dam washed out. This continued each month for five months. It was very discouraging. The water was so laden with mud that nothing we tried settled it. We would fill our barrels with it then put in charcoal, lye made with ashes, buttermilk, anything we ever heard of to settle it, but at best there would only be three or four inches on the top of the barrel, after it had stood overnight. This we could dip off carefully and use for cooking. I [Lucy] had always been used to clear, mountain streams and this filthy water was a great trial to me. Our clothes became red and murky, and after a bath I felt dirtier than before. (To the Last Frontier, p. 64) Providing for others

William took his responsibilities seriously, not only for his immediate family, but for the entire th settlement. For example, William Kartchner's journal entry for Marth 18 stated: Flake arrived from St. John with 7,000 lbs. wheat. Osmer added:

In the Order, others were chosen as leaders, but the responsibility was on his shoulders to feed the multitude. When flour became low, he took his son James with three yoke of oxen and with a four horse team went to Nutrioso, one hundred miles away, to buy wheat. There was none closer; he got two loads and traded for more. Late in May he went back for the other wheat and took some cows he had promised with him (William J. Flake, p. 71)

Teaching Spanish

In May the Flakes went to the settlement of Sunset to attend conference. Once conference was over, William set out for Black Falls where he had left his 15-year old son, Charles, and another hired man to look after the cattle and allow them to graze. He took advantage of the trip to try to teach some of his boys a little Spanish:

William had lived in California and learned some of the Spanish language. He wanted to keep the boys busy, so he started to teach them Spanish, saying that there were a number of Mexicans in the country and it would come in handy. He would give each one of them a sentence of ten or fifteen words to memorize. When he awakened them in the morning, they had to be able to repeat all he had given them the day before, or they would have to get up and build the fire, or wash the dishes, or go after the horses. If they were able to repeat all he gave them then he had to do all of the chores. It so happened that he never did have to do all the chores on the whole trip. (William J. Flake, pp 63-64) The cow incident

William was used to helping people and making decisions on his own. That's how he was able to be so successful in Beaver. The rules and regulations of the United Order chafed on him at 84 times. Both Roberta and Osmer tell of an instance where his independence got him in trouble with the collective mind of the Order:

There were many trying things that we had to endure in this United Order, but I think one of the hardest ones was when Will was called to account for a transaction he made with a poor family who was going through. One of their oxen died and they had only one left to pull their load. William traded him a four year old stag, for a fine two-year old heifer, and the man gratefully went on his way. The man who had turned the stag into the Order made a fuss about the Superintendent of stock trading without consulting the "Board." When William was questioned about it he told them it had always been his custom to help people who were in trouble and that if the traveler had had nothing to trade, he would have given him the stag. He was told he was now in a Company and was not at liberty to dispose of property without consent. "Then," said William, "I am in the wrong place. My motto has always been to help those who need help. My mission out here was to build up the country, and I am going to find a new home where I can be free." He came and told me [Lucy] about it. I gloried in his spunk and told him to go and whatever he did I was with him. (William J. Flake, p. 65)

Some may feel that the cow incident was what prompted William to leave the Order, but probably a more paramount concern in his mind was the lack of progress in taming the river and creating a livable environment:

they had built five dams and just as they thought the watter would run out away would go the dam a little freshet would come and the dam would go like a spider web he told the People he was going to hunt another place we were eating up and wareing out all we had some was tired with this and said he was going to postitise he went. (Lucy, p. 25)

William explained his decision to look for land elsewhere in a slightly different way:

We put a dam in every month for five months. Every time we put in a dam, there would come a flood down the river and take it out. There was a spring off about two miles but the water was not very good. We had to use the river water but it was very muddy. I tried to get the men to go with me to find a new place to settle but could not so I told them I was going to withdraw from the Order and go by myself. When the dam went out the fourth time I told them I would help once more and then quit. (Augusta Flake, p. 6)

William goes exploring . . .

When William decided to look for a new place, he didn't exactly strike out on the trail blindly:

Bishop Hunt and Henry Tanner had come out a year before I had. When he heard that I was dissatisfied he sent word for me to come to Savoia where he was and we would go and buy Bluewater. 85

Palmer and I struck out horseback in June. We went and got Bishop Hunt and Minnerly and when we got out the other side of Wingate we met the man who had owned Bluewater, but he had sold it. We went over to Apache and didn't find anything that suited me. Came down here got to where Shumway is on the 4th day of July in '78. (Augusta Flake, p. 6)

Death of another son

Lucy reported that her 3 year old son, George, had taken ill in May of 1878 prior to the conference in Sunset. He was apparently still sick when William and A. Z. Palmer saddled their horses in mid-June and rode out of the encampment in search of a more suitable area to colonize. They were gone 3 weeks. Unfortunately, George's condition worsened day by day:

George was sick some times he seemed better some times worse I [Lucy] did all I could with medicen and also with faith my prairs did not seem to be herd but several times each day I went away from my wagon in secret and prayed our wagons was our home often had the Elders administer but it seemed they had no faith I was sad indeed away from home and kindred and my Husband a way my Dear sons James and Charles was willing to do all they could and for a long time I did not blow out the candle at night and the boys would tell me when I wanted them they would stay with me I was so tired out they did stay with me one at a time through the night on the morning of July 6th 78 I was so deep in sorrow it seemed I could not bare it any longer I went out in some brush out of site and asked my Father in Heven to take him [George] home for I could not bare it any longer my burden was hevier then I could bare that prair was simple but from my hart I wint to him he breathed a few times and passed a way so sweetly my own hands made his clothes dressed him fixed some paint and painted his coffin in one hour after he passed away his Father came had been gone three weeks had not herd from us or us from him I truly was thankfull when he came the next day we took him to the nearest settlement and that was St. Joseph five miles from where we was and buried him118 (Lucy, pp 25-26)

William's trip: hope for the future--Silver Creek Ranch

After George was buried, William sat down with his family and reported the results of his exploratory trip:

118 Osmer added: "Never had a child endeared himself to a family more than he [George] did in the three short years he remained to bless our home. He knew every horse and ox by name and as he sat on the horse riding around the herd, when they were hitching up the teams, if they could not see the animal they wanted, they would call, "George, where is ______" and call the name, and he would point them out." (William J. Flake pp 65-66) 86

Our family sat down together and I [Lucy] asked William what of the future. With his arms about Prudence and me he told us how he first went to Savoia, New Mexico, then to St. Johns, a little Mexican and Jew Town, up to Fort Apache, an Army post among those Indians, returning the Corderuoy and Silver Creek. On all his trips he had seen but one suitable place and that was a ranch on Silver Creek owned by Mr. James Stinson. William said he was struck with the beauty and possibilities of it as soon as he saw it from the distant hills. He rode up to the house, was met and given an hearty welcome by Mr. Stinson. After the horses were unsaddled and turned loose in grass knee deep, the Mexican cook came out to tell his patron that supper was ready. The two hungry men did justice to the tortillas and frijoles. Their host asked them what their business was and William told him that he was out looking for a place to settle. "Have you found one?" asked Mr. Stinson. "Yes," answered William, "but I don't think there is a chance in the world of getting it." Mr. Stinson then inquired, "Where is this place?" William told him it was his [Stinson's] ranch. Mr. Stinson said he would sell, that he would take $12,000 for it. Telling him he would see what he could do about raising the money, William and Mr. Palmer left for home the next morning. As soon as my husband got to the place where he said the owner would sell, I made up my mind that we were going to own that "Rancho de la Plata." I told William that we were going to own the Rancho Rio de la Plata. He said, "Why, Lucy, all that we own would not bring half that amount." And then I said something that probably sounded foolish then: "I will do the man's washing and mending and cook for him to help pay." But at least it showed that I was willing to do all I could. William tried to get the other men in our company to help with their means but only met refusal, criticism and discouragement. We were all alone, but we stood together. James and Charles told their father to buy it, we would pay for it some way. Thus encouraged and by my urging him, he saddled his horse again and started for Silver Creek Ranch. Just the name Silver Creek or "Rio de la Plata" as the Mexican servants of Mr. Stinson called it, sent thrills through me and a longing to go where there was clear water. Mr. Stinson would not come down on his price. He had a good crop of barley, corn and beans. William told him it was too late to grow another crop that year and we wouldn’t have anything to eat. Mr. Stinson said he would give him the corn. "How much is it worth? asked William. "One thousand dollars," promptly answered Mr. Stinson. "All right," said William, "I will take it and turn $1000 on the purchase price." Mr. Stinson had made the price so he had to pay it—thus we only owed him eleven thousand. We had to pay $500 down and 150 head of [Utah] cattle a year for three years. He was only to retain what few cattle he had and his personal belongings. He was to be allowed to use the machinery to harvest his crop. There was a thresher, mower (or dropper), a wagon, six mules, harness, etc. The most valuable thing next to the land was the water right to the entire Silver Creek. (To the Last Frontier, pp 66-68) 87

William described the terms of the purchase in slightly different language:

When I reached Stinson's ranch he wanted five hundred head of cattle for the place. I did not think I could reach it. Two hundred head of cattle down, one hundred seventy-five in one year and one hundred seventy-five in two year. I told him I couldn't let him have two hundred down because [other settlers] had come up with me when I moved up and I had to feed them. He said, "Well they can milk my cows if they will just take care of the calves". When I reached home my little boy, George had died one hour before I reached there. He was the smartest child I ever knew. . . . . My wife said she could stay there [at Old Taylor] no longer. She said, "Go and buy the place and I will take in washings until we pay for it." I came up again, bought the place and we moved up twenty-first day of July '78. (Augusta Flake, p. 6)

Flake made the purchase of the Stinson Ranch. However, it quickly caught the attention of many of the other settlers at the Sunset-Taylor etc. encampments. On July 19, 1878, the Flakes, together with the families of Jesse Brady, James Madison Flake (William J. Flake's oldest son), Alexander Stewart and Thomas West, left the United Order settlement of Taylor. They arrived at the Stinson Ranch two days later, on July 21st. Their joy at finding such an oasis in the high desert was described by Roberta--as if she were Lucy-- in the following way:

As far as the eye could see, the rolling hills were covered with waving grass. One large house and a line of small adobes nestled in a brown patch among tasseled corn and ripened bearded barley, in the center of the valley below. A few cottonwood trees and willows fringed the banks of the silvery stream that gave it its name. Smelling the water, the hot, tired, thirsty horses and cattle almost stampeded getting to it. They drank their fill, then began feeding on the luscious green grass. We were almost as eager as they, but it took us longer to get there. Our wagons had to wind around to get down the hill. When we reached the bottom and stopped to let our team rest and drink, we women folk climbed out, and kneeling down on the mossy banks, bathed our faces and drank to our hearts' content of the first clear water we had seen in months. (To the Last Frontier, pp 68-69)

Although the Kartchners had been reluctant to share with W.J. Flake the initial purchase of the Stinson Ranch, they quickly decided that where Flake had gone was a far better place than where they were in Taylor. After all, son-in-law Alma Palmer had already seen the Stinson Ranch when he made the exploratory trip with Flake. Consequently, on August 6th, just three weeks after the Flakes left, William Kartchner and his extended family headed out for the Stinson Ranch.119 This effectively ended the existence of Taylor as a United Order settlement. Of the family's move, William Kartchner wrote:

119 One reason the Kartchners delayed 3 weeks was because their eighth child, Mary Marinda (Mindie) was expecting her first child. That child was born August 4th and the family left 2 days later for Silver Creek. 88

On the 6th of August, we moved from Taylor. . . . Arrived at Stinson's August 10. August 11th, we bargained with W. J. Flake for one-fourth part of the Stinson place and to be the upper part. We moved to the upper part, east side of the Creek. (Life and Times of Wm. D. Kartchner, p. 74-75)

Actually, the land distribution policy was a little more complicated that Kartchner indicates. Roberta wrote:

William had made it plain to Apostle Snow that he had bought the Silver Creek Valley for colonization and that he wanted no advantage but would take his land as the others did. Three men were appointed to make calculation on the amount of land to be divided. They were to assess it and place the valuation so that we would be repaid for the purchase price. They decided that each family should have one city lot, or if a man had two wives he was to have two lots, at thirty dollars, making a total of sixty dollars and ten acres of second class at sixty dollars, making a total of two hundred dollars that each man had to pay for a city lot and twenty acres of land. This was perfectly agreeable with William, who drew, as the others did, for his land, reserving nothing to himself. He insisted that a block be kept in the center for a public square. It mattered not that the person didn't have any money or stock. He drew for his land and paid "in chips and whet stones" or maybe not even that. Once a year William would go through his book of the ones who owed him and throw it in the fire, and as it blazed up he would smile and say, "Well, them accounts are settled. We are now ready to begin a new book." (To the Last Frontier, p. 74)

Settling in- Snowflake: the early years

The next two months were busy ones for William, his family and the rest of those who arrived at the Silver Creek Ranch. Osmer described some of the activities in the following way:

There were no other improvements in the valley except little over a mile of canal and 300 acres of improved farming land. Flake had a number of men, and they were mostly destitute for food and clothes. He asked Stinson to let his Mexicans go, and he would gather the crop. Stinson said they [the Mexicans] would harvest the crop for a dollar an acre. William Flake took the job at that price, except the corn.120 It needed irrigating and working, and Stinson gave him one third of that. He then let all the Mexicans go but Apetacio who he kept for many years. He turned over everything and went up the creek a couple of miles and built a small cabin in which he lived until paid off.

120 Osmer's statement about the corn raises questions about what Roberta said in an earlier quote. Apparently, Stinson gave Flake the corn, but then Flake "sold" it back, unharvested, for $1,000 off the purchase price. So when Stinson gave Flake one-third of the corn later for working it, he was doing Flake another big favor. 89

Mr. Stinson said, "Now, Mr. Flake, there is just enough water here for this small farm. If you will keep the place for your family alone, you will have a fine place, but if you let anyone else in, you will all starve." Flake said, "You could not give me the place if I had to live here that way. I am going to have a town, and farm all of the land." Stinson then answered, "You won't have enough water. I use it all, and then don't have enough in the dry season." To this Flake replied, "When the Mormons come, the water will increase." Shortly after that the rain came, and it kept coming. [It rained for 26 days.] They had a hard time gathering the barley and beans, and lost some on account of rain. Stinson said, "I wish the hell the Mormons had stayed away until I had my crop gathered." (William J. Flake, pp 74-75)

Roberta described the dwellings, or buildings that came with the ranch:

The buildings on the ranch were four rooms in the big house, and a row of six rooms. The house had two rooms on each side of an open court. Only the two on the north had roofs, these [on the south] were flat mud ones. As soon as possible William had a gable roof put on the south rooms, and a clapboard roof over the court. The walls were eighteen inch adobe, were cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The string of low adobe rooms had been used as store rooms, harness and saddle rooms. These were cleaned out and as many of the families as could be were housed in them. (To the Last Frontier, p. 70)121

Very quickly, William J. found himself "overrun" with people anxious to settle on Silver Creek. Not only were families anxious to leave the Lower Colorado settlements, but they came from Utah and even the southern States:

. . . Hardly a week passed until the destitute families came drifting in, and by Winter there were fifteen families besides his [William's], living in the rooms I have described above.

121Lucy added that no sooner had they taken possession of the premises, William "went off a great distance 100 miles for lumber." (Lucy, p. 26) With the lumber, they put down a wood floor in the dwellings and finished the roof, in addition to beginning work on other houses.

90

Strong men pleaded for work, so that their families could eat, and have something to wear. Some food could be obtained, but there was no place to buy clothing. Mother cut up wagon covers to make clothing for the women and girls and seamless sacks to make pants for the boys. I have worn them myself, for we all lived like one family.

To add to her burden, she had to provide for the traveler, for there was no other place for them within miles. She had Photo of the "restored" Stinson place. but two rooms for her and family of eight, (Quite different from the picture on the beside[s] the hired men to cook for. Yet they previous page.) provided for all who came. Many Army officers, going to or from Fort Apache, stopped with them. Travelers from every station in life partook of their hospitality, and for ten years, they fed the stranger from their own table, more than it took to feed their large family, and never charged a cent. Although the greater majority were strangers they had never met before, they often supplied whole families for long periods of time. Don't ask me how they did it. I was there (part of the time) but I do not know. A quilt on the floor was our lot. In a year or two when we had more room, and I could sleep on a bedstead (homemade), they often brought in a stranger to share my bed. Sometimes when there were many of them, I was told to put on my clothes and go up and crawl in bed with the Hunt boys.

. . . In 1876 a large company of converts from Georgia, Alabama, and Arkansas came West with Elders Boyle and Beebe. They had ox teams and little wagons. They were poor people to start with and were on the road nearly a year. When they ran out of means along the road, they stopped and worked until they got enough to go on a few hundred miles, then they would stop and work again. They reached Sevoia, New Mexico in the Winter of 1876 and 1877. The small pox broke out in the company, about the time they reached the home of John Hunt, who had moved there from Utah, a short time before. He was a great help to them. Several of them died from the disease. When Spring came, they traveled on into Arizona. When they reached the settlements on the Little Colorado, all the people were living in the United Order. They settled in St. Joseph, Sunset, and Brigham City. There, they were chafing under the restraint, new conditions, new ways, and bound down with restrictions they had never known. It was too much for them, but there was no way out; a new country, no work, but what they could provide. They stood it for about a year, and when Flake bought the Silver Creek, they quickly made a rush for his home. He was a Southerner. They did not care that he was branded as an apostate; they had also heard that he was a friend to men. They knew they could stand their present condition no longer, and they started for the Stinson Ranch and fast as they could. Two or three still had their small ox teams; others begged a ride with passers from one town to another. Some could not come for a year or two, but they came, until all had made the trip. 91

I [Osmer] was a boy of eleven. In 1879 Father sent me to Sunset with a grist, that being the only mill in the country. I was camped near the town when a man came out and asked me to take him to Flake's ranch. I told him I had a load and he said the babes of one and three years, and thirty or forty pounds would be all I would need to haul. He, his wife, and the three other children would walk. I asked about his things, and he said, "I have nothing." I told him to be at the camp in the morning to start. When they came, man, wife and five children, the Mother carrying one, while he carried a small sack about as big as a fifty pound flour sack. I asked, "Where is your food and bedding? We will be three days on the road." He said, "We will sleep on the ground by a fire, and do without food." Tears ran down his face as he said, "This is all I have." I went to Lot Smith and told him I must have food for those people, and he gave me an order to Joseph James who had charge of the commissary, and he let me have food to take them to Snowflake. Most of the families that came were little better provided than this one. (William J. Flake, pp 75-76, 73)

The Corn Harvest

With so many hungry people arriving in Snowflake, William felt even more keenly his responsibility to provide for them. It was a difficult, time-consuming task:

When bread got scarce, William Flake bought wheat from ranchers in Round Valley or Nutrioso. When there was no more wheat to be had, he bought barley, and we all ate barley bread together, some of it was ground on coffee mills, some on a small stone mill owned by a Mexican East of us, and the other at Sunset, seventy miles North-west. He had a chance to buy two thousand pounds of flour brought from Albuquerque, New Mexico. It cost twenty dollars per hundred. There were so many people to feed, it only lasted two weeks, and then we went back to the barley. Flake was to have one third of the corn. When it came in roasting ear [time] he asked Stinson to divide the crop. "Why?" asked Stinson. "It is not ready to gather." Father said, "These people have but little to eat ; they like corn, and when I let them go in for it, I want to use my share. They will eat it up in roasting ears." Stinson said, "What do you take me for? Turn them loose, and if they eat it all, we will divide the fodder." Our cattle were poor because of the long trip and not climated, and he asked Stinson if he would trade him something [cattle, hogs, etc.] that would do to kill. Stinson said, "I have some wild cattle out here, just like deer; we can do nothing with them, but shoot them down. I'll go out and get you some." Next day we heard some shooting south-east of town, and Stinson rode in and told us he had killed two head of cattle up there, so the men went and got the beef. That was the kind of man the old frontiersman was.122 (William J. Flake, p. 76)

122 Stinson discovered Silver Creek when he made a trip from Colorado to Arizona to receive a herd of Mexican cattle. He agreed to take possession of the cattle on the "south bank of the Little Colorado River." When he reached Silver Creek, he thought it was the Little Colorado, but later realized his error. He was so impressed with the Silver Creek area he said to himself "I'm going to come back and make a home in this little valley." That

92

A confrontation over horses

Both Osmer and Roberta tell of a disagreement William had with one of the Barth brothers in St. Johns. They don't give an exact date, but the suggestion is that it occurred right after Flake's arrival at Silver Creek:

To get the means to pay for the place was now our greatest responsibility. William traded thirty cows and the same number of mares to a Jew123 in St. Johns. When he went to make the delivery there was a dispute over one of the mares. The Jew got mad, pulled his gun and, pointing it at William, said, "A colt 44 makes all men equal." William gave a disgusted sniff and answered, "A gun don't make a man out of you. You will find that I was not born in the woods to be scared by a coyote." Just then a younger brother of the one he had been talking to, told the other to behave himself, that "Mr. Flake was living up to the contract." They had other deals after that, but the Jew didn't try any more bluffs." (To the Last Frontier p. 72)

September 1878: On the road again, to Utah

Ever the planner, William decided he should return to Utah to gather the cattle that would be needed for the next year's payment on the loan. There was much that still needed to be done in Silver Creek, but William also had a load of wool that he wanted to take back to the Beaver Woolen Mills. Lucy wrote:

William was obliged to go back to Utah for more stalk I was so home sick he said I could go with him and take all the children for he would have to take all the boys124 but James

was in 1875, three years before Flake's arrival. ("The Founding of the Stinson Valley," an interview with S. Eugene Flake on Sept 9, 1971.) Within a year, Stinson fell in love with a Mormon woman, Melissa Flanigan. When Melissa's parents received the news of the marriage proposal, they begged their daughter not to marry Stinson since he was not of the faith. Melissa told them she loved Stinson and was going with him. Her parents told her they wouldn't give up her children (Melissa was a single mother with 3 children). Melissa chose Stinson and they were married 22 May 1879 by Joseph Fish, Justice of the Peace. Melissa was one month shy of 27 and Stinson was 40. They settled temporarily in a small cabin about 3 miles from her parent's home. Melissa went there frequently to see her children.("A Sketch of James Stinson, First Settler of the Snowflake Valley," by a great, granddaughter, Melody Ackerman, Snowflake Historical Society Wagon Trails, June 1975, pp 1-2) 123 The Barth brothers were rather unsavory characters. A reviewer for Amazon.com wrote: "There is no doubt Sol Barth had a large impact on the development of St. Johns, Arizona. He used every gambler's trick of the trade to swindle the Hispanics out of their land and cattle, and as soon as he invited the Mormons to settle in the area, he cultivated a strife between the Mormons and the Hispanics to keep them constantly at odds with each other. In this book, Mr. Wolf mainly [presents] accounts from the stories passed down through the Barth family. There are no proper citations, no bibliography, no substantiating facts. Also, Mr. Wolf leaves out quite a bit of the dirtier deeds of Sol Barth (and his brothers), which are documented in territory newspaper and legal paper archives. " St. Johns was first settled in 1873 by the Barth Brothers. They were bought out in 1879 by Ammon M. Tenney. 124 William needed the boys to help drive the cattle on the return trip. 93

he would have to stay and take care of things at home we started fifteenth September we took a load of wool we were just our own family125 we had such a nice trip the grass was so nice there had been so much rain. (Lucy, p. 26)

September meeting with Erastus Snow

Lucy, somewhat surprisingly given her normal understatement of events, provides considerable detail about a meeting that took place while they were en route to Utah, between Erastus Snow, the LDS apostle in charge of southern colonization, and William J. Flake;

we met Brother Erastus Snow a few miles below Brigham City he had a number of Brethern with him when he met us he said Brother Flake I want you to report what you have been doing out in this country126 William got up on his carrage steps and told him all after he got through he [Erastus] blessed [him] William said every one but his Wife tried to discourage him he told Bro Snow a dreem he had when he felt troubled he thought he met President Young and told him about buying this place He thought President Young ran his hand in his pocket as if to pull out money [William] said [to] Bro Young I don’t want money I want to know if I done right then he woke up Bro Snow said that was all the council you kneed William said now Brother Snow I can pay for the place I want you to organize us tell us how to work in the order or how [to live as a community]. Bro Snow said the Lord don’t care how meny table you set he said would you make a good Bishop he [William] said no sir Bro Snow said who do you want for Bishop William said John Hunt he [Erastus] said Who would you like for President William said Jessey N Smith or Brother Hinkley they were both in his carrage Bro Snow sent some grapes and Apples in our wagon for the children he blest William over and over bid us good bye and Went on we felt so thankfull to know the step he had taken was approved of (Lucy, p. 27)

125 Perhaps I am reading more into this than Lucy intended, but "just our own family" apparently did not include Prudence. She remained in Snowflake during this trip to Utah. Lucy's memoirs rarely mention Prudence. Polygamy must have been difficult to live in the best of circumstances, but over the years there seems to have developed a certain cordial coolness between Lucy and Prudence. This restrained politeness may have had several explanations: William taking Prudence with him to the summer range for grazing cattle during 1874- 76—and leaving Lucy in Beaver with the children, Prudence's inability to have children during the first 10 years of marriage—while Lucy was producing children regularly, Prudence's health condition that kept her from doing her share of the cooking and washing. It is possible, of course, that I am totally mistaken in this observation. 126 Osmer tells the story in a much more colorful way: "About 4 miles NW of Brigham City, he met the first of the authorities that came to Arizona to see what was going on. The Company was headed by his old friend Erastus Snow, who had heard of Flake's apostacy. He said "Get up on this seat and tell me what a bad boy you have been." William got up and told him the whole story even of the vision, then he turned his shoulders to Apostle Snow, and said, "Now, lay on the stripes." President Snow patted him on the back and said, "Thank God for Brother Flake. I wish we had more like him [you]." (William J. Flake, p. 79) 94

Meanwhile, in Silver Creek . . .

The Flakes had left Silver Creek on 17 September. However, things continued to get organized in the emerging community. William D. Kartchner kept a journal in which he wrote:

On the 23rd of Sept., Myself, Orin, Aaron went to make adobes. We received a letter from Pres. Lot Smith notifying us that Apostle E. Snow and Elder Nuttall, Jesse N. Smith, Ira Hinkley, Ed Nobel and Allaphant would preach at Sunset Sept. 21st. My son John and wife went to meet them and return with them. On the 26th at 5 P. M. Elder Snow and Company held meeting at our camp. Apostle Snow gave liberty to all who wished to withdraw from the Order, and after supper he sat up with us at the campfire till after midnight. Said this way of running the Order was not right, for the stock was the common stock of the devil. Said the Lord cared no more about the way we ate our food than he did how the squirrels ate their acorns. He answered questions freely. A profitable trip127

The Kartchners have the distinction of probably having constructed the first log cabin in Silver Creek, once the Mormon settlers arrived. After reaching Silver Creek, Kartchner, his sons and sons-in-law set off almost immediately to cut logs for cabins. Within a short time, he had the largest gathering place in town. It was there that Erastus Snow held the first official meeting of the Saints in Snowflake, on September 21st. Snow's secretary, L.J. Nuttall described Kartchner's place in the following way:

There are 5 men, 6 women, 9 boys and 5 girls, total 25. Since being here in August last, they have cut and hauled logs and hewed them for a house 29 x 19 feet, with a kitchen attached, 18 by 16 feet, and built the same, except four logs high to the square, also broke several acres of land preparatory to next year's sowing and planting. (Life and Times, p. 76)

It was while Erastus Snow was in the area that he came up with the name for the new settlement: "Snow Flake" which was, of course a combination of his and Flake's surnames. Initially, the name was two words, separated, but eventually the words were combined into the current "Snowflake."

The Flakes' journey to Utah, continued

While things were getting organized in Snowflake, William was on the road, and having what was to him a major problem: a toothache. Osmer wrote:

"The only time I ever knew Father to suffer bodily pain was on this trip; he had a tooth ache and it was so severe that he camped, and would not try to go on until the next day. At times it seemed to be more than he could endure. Two days later, we met a company going

127 Life and Times of William D. Kartchner, p. 75-77 95

South. He asked if they had a dentist in the outfit. They said, "Yes, and a good one too." He was out rabbit hunting, but soon came in and went after the tooth. He pulled and worked until the sweat stood out on his forehead, but the tooth stayed there. He [William] had no more ache, but as soon as he arrived at Beaver, he went for the dentist, who worked long and hard, finally getting the tooth. Father asked him what he owed. The dentist said, "Nothing, only I want to keep this tooth." He did. (William J. Flake, pp 80-81)

When William arrived in Beaver, he immediately set to work making arrangements to dispose of the wool he had brought, and to acquire new livestock. Lucy, in turn, was delighted to spend time with her widowed mother and brothers and sisters. She wrote:

"we went on to Utah had a good trip found my people all well and so thankful to see us we were there six Weeks We left our Daughter Jane with Mother she was eight years old we came home had very good luck considering we had so much stalk to drive we had to travel slow we got home the day before Christmas (Lucy, p. 27) Roberta and Osmer mentioned a few more details that Lucy skipped over:

Because of William's reputation for square dealing he had no trouble getting cattle. He went to a lifelong friend, M.L. Shephard, and traded sheep for the stock sufficient to have the required number to make his payments on the ranch, from the increase. . . . We didn't have enough sheep to pay for the cattle, but knew where we could get them on shares, and have enough to deliver when Mr. Shephard wanted them. (To the Last Frontier, p. 75)128

In 1912, William summarized his 1878 trip back to Utah in the following words:

In the fall of '78 I went back to Utah leaving James to take care of things. I was the bluest man you ever saw--fourteen families looking to me for food and none backing me but my own family. I went on into Utah and went to see Brother Shepard and told him I'd give him a thousand sheep for three thousand dollars in cattle. I didn't have any sheep but I'd take them on shares and I'd give him five hundred head a year for three years. He said alright he'd trade. I went back and bought four hundred head of cattle and five hundred dollars worth of clothes for the boys [i.e. other settlers.] (Augusta Flake, p. 7)

128 Osmer also stated that when the family reached Beaver William sold his wool to the Beaver Woolen Mills and also turned in his 500 shares of stock. He used the money to buy cloth with which to clothe the people in Snowflake that were depending on him."(William J. Flake, p. 81) 96

An even swap: a cow . . . for a dog

Before William J.'s departure for Utah, William D. Kartchner, his father-in-law, asked a favor of him that resulted in quite a humorous story. Marshall H. Flake tells it in the following way:

In the fall of 1878 William J. Flake planned to go back to Beaver, Utah, to get cattle to pay Stinson for the Snowflake Valley. His father-in-law, William Decatur Kartchner, had left a four-year old steer with a family in Utah when he first came to Arizona. He asked Bill if he would get the steer for him and bring it back with the rest of the herd. He gave Flake a paper authorizing him to get the steer from the person who had been taking care of the animal. After William had arranged for the cattle in Utah and started to drive them back to Arizona, he passed the farm of the man who had Kartchner's steer. It was nearly noon time and, leaving the herd with his boys, he rode to the farm house to get the animal. As he rode into the place, he noticed how poverty-stricken it appeared to be. Introducing himself to the farmer, he presented the note Kartchner had given him and asked the man if he had the steer. He was answered in the affirmative and the farmer suggested, as it was noon, that they eat first and then he'd get the steer for Flake. Recounting [the incident] Bill said that the meal proved to him just how poor the family was, and he felt that they needed that steer for a work ox to help them survive. However, the meal over, he said he'd have to be on his way, so if the man would have one of his boys bring in the steer, he'd leave. The man just sat there and said not to mind. There was a black dog lying down under the table and he told the dog to go get the cattle. They continued to talk and a few minutes later the dog arrived, bringing in the cattle. Brother Flake was quite impressed by the ability of the dog to carry out the command, and feeling that the steer was vital to the farmer, offered to take the dog in trade for the ox. The farmer replied that it wasn't a fair trade; no dog was worth as much as a steer. However, when Flake said he would give him a receipt that he had received payment in full, the farmer consented and the deal was closed. On returning to Snowflake, as the herd was being driven in, Brother Kartchner was there. He looked over the herd and remarked, "I don't see my steer." Flake pointed to the dog and exclaimed: "There it is!" Then he explained to his father-in-law what he had done, and told him to pick any steer from the herd to replace him. Upon hearing this, Kartchner said, "Bill, you're a darn fool." The following year Flake bought grain from Mr. Coulter of Nutrioso. He [Coulter] asked why he [Flake] didn't buy the Nutrioso place and raise his own wheat. A deal was made for the Nutrioso ranch and the agreed-upon price was 300 head of cattle, delivered at Nutrioso. Flake had the cattle gathered and had his son, Osmer, herd them. The first day they nooned at Concho Flat. Osmer and the dog were herding the cattle and Coulter and Brother Flake were riding in a wagon. After lunch, the boy was sent back to town for some reason. Coulter protested that the deal was that the cattle would be delivered and he couldn't see how that could be done without the boy. However, Flake called the dog to bring on the cattle. Coulter was amazed that a lone dog could handle the herd so well. As they progressed towards Nutrioso, he [Coulter] got so he wanted that dog more than anything. He offered to buy him, but Flake would not sell. Finally, after much urging, a trade was made: a young milk cow and calf for the dog. After the cattle were delivered, Flake 97

took the cow, tied a rope on her and tied it to the rear of the wagon and proceeded to return home. The calf, of course, followed behind.129 When he arrived in Snowflake, there was William Kartchner who wanted to know where the dog was. Flake pointed to the cow and calf, and said, "There he is." Whereupon Kartchner said, "I knew there was one darn fool, but I didn't know there were two of them" (Kartchner, pp 78-79)

Homecoming

When the Flakes returned home to Arizona on Christmas Eve, 1878, they found all well with Prudence and James. In addition, several changes had been made ecclesiastically. A ward was organized on September 24th, 1878, with John Hunt as bishop and W. J. Flake and John Kartchner as counselors. Jesse Smith was the Stake President. The town had been surveyed and some houses had been constructed. (William J. Flake, p. 81)

This clock was purchased in the fall of 1878 in Beaver. After getting things started in Snowflake, William took all the family except James and Prudence back to Beaver, Utah, to buy cattle. He brought the clock back just before Christmas and gave it to James M. , his oldest son, for taking care of things while they were gone, and for a wedding present (although James had been married a year by that time.)

1879 Busy: projects, births, . . .

As the new year began, William directed all his energies toward making Snowflake a fit place to live for everyone:

As soon as the weather broke, Flake started out to hunt work for the Southern men. They were willing, but knew nothing about getting along [i.e. providing for themselves]. He found the Government wanted coal at Fort Apache, and he took the contract to furnish it. They [the southerners] knew something about that kind of work, so he fitted them out and let them take the job and have all they could make out of it.

129 In his 1912 interview, William indicated that the swap of the dog was associated with another land acquisition: "I bought a place at Nutrioso and paid three hundred head of cattle for it, one hundred calves, one hundred cows, one hundred yearlings. I bought another place - one hundred sixty acres for forty head of cattle. I paid him right down : thirty- nine cows and one dog" (Augusta Flake, p. 8)

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He went to Felix Scott130 and took a contract to haul freight to Fort Apache. He bought a number of big Texas steers from him to make into freight teams, and he gave them [the southerners] all they made, besides going to the expense of fitting them out for the work. There was but one thought in mind, to get them self sustaining.131 (William J. Flake, p. 82)

Roberta added:

One of the big things William had done during 1879 with help from some others, was to buy the sawmill at Mormon Lake, and bring it to the forests south of Snowflake to a place we called Phoenix Park. The mill cost us $2300. It was worth many times that to us because now we could put roofs over our heads, floors under our feet, much needed furniture, barns for our stock and hay, and granaries for our crops. Some of the people built frame or sawed- log houses. A large school house of sawed logs was built during the winter of 1879 and 1880. (To the Last Frontier, p. 85)

Southern hospitality

In addition to the usual visitors and travelers, on occasion the Flake home even served as an "assisted living" facility. Osmer wrote:

One morning in 1879 a man past middle age drove in on a horse, with a burro with a pack on his back. He told Father that he was sick and had come from the mines around Globe, trying to make his way to Denver, Colorado. He was broke and too sick to travel, and asked if he could stay a few days and rest up. Of course he could. He was too weak to unpack, or unsaddle. We unpacked the burro and Father fixed some warm food, but he partook very little. They learned that he was a very sick man, and he kept to his bed for more than a month. Mother looked after him as though he were a member of the family. After he had been there some time, he gave her what we called a money belt. It was a double belt just wide enough so that twenty dollar gold pieces would slip into it. It was full of gold. Then he told his story: C. Cooley, a friend of ours living twenty miles South, a great joker, finding that he knew nothing about Mormons, told him that all the people around there were Mormons, and would rob him of everything he had, and if they knew he had any money, they would kill him for it, and might kill him just for the horse and pack outfit. He advised him not to go near the small towns, but to turn out a few miles around and hit the road again North of the towns. He tried to do this, though he was too sick to go on. It took him a long time to get the pack on, and he came in to our place to die rather than die in the hills. The old man stayed with us three months before he was able to leave. The morning he was to leave Mother gave him his belt, and he asked what his bill was. When she told him there was no bill, the tears ran down his old weather beaten face, and he tipped the belt, so

130 Felix Scott and another fellow were the first men to settle in the area of present-day Woodruff, Arizona. They arrived in about 1870. 131 Osmer puts the purchase date for the sawmill in 1880 and Lucy dates it in 1881. 99

that some of the gold twenties rolled out on the table. Without a word, he turned and walked away, packed his burro, saddled his horse and left. A month or so later, we received a letter saying he had reached home safely, and expressed the greatest appreciation possible, and said, "Forgive me for not coming in to say good-bye, my heart was too full for utterance. I did not know there were such good people living as you showed yourself to be." (William J. Flake, pp 84-86)

The old miner wasn't the only person William helped. A John C. Tyler wrote:

My father's family landed in Woodruff, Arizona in December 1879, along with many other settlers, to make homes. All were short on flour or anything to make bread with. My Father went to Snowflake to W. J. Flake for help. They had never met. There was no wheat to be had in the country. Brother Flake told him he would give him an order for one thousand pounds of barley in Round Valley, so Daddy got the barley and had it ground. It made pretty good bread, and we had plenty of good milk that we got from Flake's cows. Most everybody milked his cows. He was God-Father to nearly all of the people who emigrated to Arizona, from 1874 [error: 1878]-1885. He saved the day for most of us. He helped many people; some paid him, others did not. He was a strong man in a pioneer country, loved by everybody, and a rock in his hand was as good as a gun. (William J. Flake, p. 156)

Apache County created

In Lucy's memoirs for 1879 she omits any mention of the change in the political structure of the area. Roberta and Osmer, however, record the event: the creation of Apache County:

Snowflake was the first County Seat in Apache County.132 The first court was held in our front room. There were at least fifty persons attending that term of Court. Some brought beds

132 On February 24, 1879 the Tenth Territorial Legislature created Apache County out of Yavapai County, one of the four original Arizona Counties. The newly created county encompassed all of the present day Navajo and Apache Counties as well as parts of Graham and Greenlee Counties. Snowflake was designated the first County Seat. After the first election in the fall of 1879, the County Government was set up in St. Johns. In 1880 the County Seat was moved to Springerville. In 1882 St. Johns again became the County Seat and has remained so until the present time. Wm. D. Kartchner wrote in his journal: "The 10th of April a county convention was appointed at Snowflake, the County seat. Snowflake was the first county seat of Apache County."

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along, but we furnished the meals. William was one of the first Supervisors of Apache County and Mr. Stinson was first Probate judge. Our home served for Church, Sunday Schools and all public services. It wasn't large enough for Conference when all the Stake met together so seats were built out in the patio. (To the Last Frontier, pp. 77-78)

Land and Town acquisitions

One would think that after extending his resources so precariously in the purchase of Silver Creek/Snowflake, William would have backed off to allow time for his finances to strengthen. Such was not the case. During the first eight months of 1879 William purchased three additional towns and loaned cattle to protect the purchase of another.

The first area that became available was Nutrioso133. We have seen that William purchased wheat from a Mr. Colter at Nutrioso. Osmer tells the story of how William became owner of the place

In the Spring of 1879 he [William] had gone to Nutrioso to buy more wheat. Mr. Colter had asked, "Why don't you buy the place and raise your own wheat?" Flake liked the idea, and in an hour or so the trade was made. He was to have the place, machinery and everything there, for three hundred head of cattle to be paid in November of the same year.134 He returned to Snowflake

Apache County has the most land designated as Indian reservation of any county in the United States. The reservations are, in descending order of area within the county, the Navajo Indian Reservation, the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, and the Zuni Indian Reservation, all of which are partly located within the county. In 1895, Apache County was split to form Navajo County, the place where Snowflake is located. 133James Colter from Wisconsin is said to be the first English-speaking settler in Nutrioso. Arriving in 1875, he grew barley and sold it to Camp Apache to feed cavalry horses In 1879, Colter sold the land he had worked to William J. Flake, who parceled out the land to several other Mormon settlers. Two forts were built to shelter Mormon families-one in lower Nutrioso and the other on Lookout Hill in upper Nutrioso. The first post office was in use by 1883, with John Clark as postmaster. By the late 1880s, Nutrioso had a brick kiln, sawmill and a tannery. The earliest solid houses in Nutrioso were built by Miles Romney, grandfather of a future governor of Michigan. (Wikipedia entry for Nutrioso, AZ) 134 Fred Eberhart adds: "Flake bought a ranch from James G. H. Coulter 32 miles south east of St. John. He then parceled the land to eleven good farmers who formed a small community we call Nutrioso today. (From White Mountain Eagle, Show Low Chamber of Commerce Report, by Fred Eberhart.) 101

and sent four men, Albert Minerly, Adam Greenwood, George Peck and John Burke to plant the crop. These men came with him from Utah, except Peck. That year they raised 2100 bushels of wheat and barley. There was plenty of chance to sell at high prices, but he kept it all for the people who were in need. He refused all cash offers, and just opened his bins to the needy. He sold the place to the men who were working it at the price he gave, and took grain for his pay. One very prominent Brother came and wanted to get an order for a load of wheat and sent his teams after it to Nutrioso, and he would pay the cash as soon as they got back. Flake told him to go to Round Valley, where they had wheat to sell, but he needed all of his for people who had no money, and were unable to buy. The Brother made out an order and signed William's name to it, and sent and got the wheat; he [William] could have sent the man to jail for the forgery, but he would not do it. (William J. Flake, pp. 83-84)

William's next purchase was in Round Valley, now known as Springerville135. One of the best farms belonged to a Mr. York. William gave 80 cows for the place and let William Atcheson go there and Atcheson eventually bought the place.136 Of this purchase Fred Eberhart added: "Again, Flake that same year 1879, gave 40 cows to help colonize Springerville and a part of the purchase later became Union (later named Eagar after three Eagar brothers)."

Concho represented another, albeit minor purchase for William.137 A fellow named Bate

135 Springerville was situated about 35 mi. SE of St. Johns. Springerville is in an area known as Round Valley, in the foothills of the White Mountains. The town, on the banks of the Little Colorado River, grew around Henry Springer's Trading Post. It was established in 1879. One publication noted: Around it is a fine agricultural country where grains, fruits, vegetables, etc., are grown in profusion. 136 Roberta includes fond recollections of Bill Atchison in her book: There was another generous man that many have cause to remember and that was Bill Atchison. Careless and indifferent as to religion, yet with a heart as big as his body. Mr. Blanchard, the merchant at Holbrook, wanted Bill to haul some goods for him from Albuquerque. Bill agreed to do it if he be allowed to haul some goods for himself. It was agreed upon and Bill bought a lot of flour. He was offered $20 per hundred if he would sell it, but Bill said, "No, the folks of Snowflake were about out of dumplin' dust when I left so I'm going to let them have this," and he did, loaned it out and took flour back at $6 a hundred. The first winter in Snowflake he planted a big patch of carrots on the east side of the creek. It was a mild winter so the carrots were left in the ground. Every so often he would go down and plow out a row or two and send them to the neighbors. One of Bill's chief pleasure was chasing mavericks with his brother, Bud, and Jimmie [Flake]. When one of these wild animals was killed it was brought to town, and like his carrots was divided around among the pioneers. Bill was never known to take a cent for any of his liberal gifts. (To the Last Frontier p. 80) 137The Mexican town of Concho is quite old. It was named for the "shell"- like basin in which it was located. In his book Mormon Settlement in Arizona, James H. McClintock says that Bateman H. Wilhelm was the first of the Mormon setters to arrive in Concho in March of 1879. He was followed by others and before the end of the year there were 30 souls belonging to the saints in the place, among whom were Jesse J. Brady and Wm. J. Flake, both Mormons, who purchased the main part of the valley in the spring of 1879. Brother Flake paid for his half interest eight cows, one mule, one set of harness and a set of blacksmith’s tools. Jesse J. Brady settled on the land purchased by Wm. J. Flake in 1879. George Killian and George G. Curtis, formerly residents of Brigham City, on the Little Colorado River, arrived at Concho August 7, 1879, and moved into empty houses in the Mexican town.

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Wilhelm approached William for help in buying Concho. He [William] paid 40 cows for half the place and put Jesse J. Brady on that place. "Brady was a fine man; he came from Georgia, but never was able to pay for the place."138 (William J. Flake, p. 86)

Prudence becomes a mother.

On May 21st, 1879 Prudence Flake gave birth to her first child, a girl. She was given the name of Sarah Emma Flake. In a way, Emma's birth (she went by her middle name) was something of a miracle. Prudence and William had been married more than ten years and Prudence had waited anxiously, hopefully.

Prudence's greatest desire was to have a family of her own. At the dedication of the St. George Temple, back in April of 1877, she asked that she might have a special blessing. She received one and in it she was given the promise of a son. Now, two years later, that blessing had been fulfilled—partially. Emma later wrote:

Having been promised a son, Father would jokingly tell me I was a disappointment, but it only assured them that they would have at least two children. I trust that I have redeemed myself by becoming the mother of seven grandsons for him.139

Actually, Emma's birth was a bit touch and go. Perhaps because it was Prudence's first pregnancy, and given her health condition, for a time it looked like neither she nor the baby would make it. Emma later reflected:

So long and arduous was the suffering that the members of her [Prudence's] family were called to her bedside, and Father [William J.] told me many times how there was not a dry eye in the room, except for that of our poor dear mother. Someone suggested that Elick Stuart be called. Although a very unpretentious character, with tobacco juice running out the corners of his mouth, a typical Southerner, he possessed valuable medical knowledge. He was called and came, and our dear mother said he saved her life and also her baby's life. Father said my cry was the sweetest sound they had ever heard. (Biographical Sketch of Emma F. Freeman, p.4- 5)

The saints at Concho were organized as a branch of the Church, March 14, 1880, with Bateman H. Wilhelm as presiding Elder. He presided until September 26, 1880, when the Concho Branch was organized as a ward named Erastus with Sixtus E. Johnson as Bishop (taken from Andrew Jenson, in the Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) 138 Of this purchase, Eberhart wrote: " Again that same year William J. Flake and Jesse J. Brady purchased a valley 16 miles west of St. John. Brady's share was 8 cows, 1 mule, a set of harness and some blacksmith tools. Soon 31 families moved into the valley and Concho became a village." 139Biographical Sketch of Sarah Emma Flake Freeman (1879-1972), compiled by Ron Freeman, printed privately, p. 5.

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Emma also wrote: "Soon after, Father had built for our mother, a two-room house on the west corner of the block. James built a small log house on the northeast corner of the same block." (Biographical Sketch of Emma F. Freeman, p. 5).

Above: Prudence's cabin

Right: Plot map of Snowflake, date unknown. Shows the location of the homes of many of the early settlers. The quarter block labeled

"Home Flake" was the small two room dwelling that William built for Prudence and where she lived until she died. It was next to the "Stinson- Flake" home William occupied with his wife, Lucy.

Conference, 1879 In November of 1878 John Hunt arrived in Snowflake. Jesse Smith came in the spring of 1879. They were the new bishop and stake president respectively. Thus when Wilford Woodruff arrived in June things were organized—sort of—for a conference of the saints. Lucy was her usual laconic self: "in June 1879 we had our first conference here last part We had no Meeting House and it was held in our House President Woodruff was here preached a number of times he Ordained William High Preast 28 of June 1879” (Lucy, p. 28)

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Roberta, on the other hand, focused on all the preparations needed in advance and during the conference. Naturally, her remarks reflect a woman's common sense point of view:

In our Church, quarterly conferences were held every three months. All of the members who could, came from far and near. They came by the wagon load and they stayed at least three days. We had had as high as seven wagons full at our place at once. Usually they brought their bedding. Some even brought a little hay in the bottom of the wagons for the children to sit on. If our feed were [was] scarce, as it usually was in the spring, they might let their horses eat what they had brought. Some who came brought a pound of butter or cheese, a chicken, or if in the fall, a few vegetables, and those who lived in Joseph City or Woodruff brought watermelons and cantaloupes. For days before these conferences we cleaned house and cooked, so that we wouldn't have to spend all of our time cooking and waiting on our friends, and not have time to visit with them or attend the meetings. When we got well enough off to have chow-chow, pickles, preserves and mincemeat in five gallon crocks, and dried squash and fruit to make pies, it was not such a worry as to what we would feed them We have baked up to twenty or twenty-five pies at a time, cakes, rice puddings, baked beans, roast ham or beef, bread enough to feed an army, and then everyone was welcome. At night beds were made all over the floors for the women and children, and in the hay and wagon-boxes for the men folks. (To the Last Frontier, p. 82)

Wilford Woodruff's counsel . . . and later change of mind

Just about the time conference ended, William and Lucy invited Wilford Woodruff to their home for a meal.

Brother Woodruff asked me if William wasent improversing his own family by purching so meny places I [Lucy] said the Lord had blessed us so since we came here I dared not complain I said he wants to do all the good he can this was in a privet conversation President Woodruff said sister Flake I will take super with you if you will have bred and milk then he said to Brother Flake you have done enough buying up country we don’t want you to distress your self before he left our house that evening he asked William if he [Woodruff] got in a pinch if he would lend him 100 head of cows on the St Johns purchis which he did140 (Lucy, p 29)

140 Osmer gives a clearer description of what transpired between William and Woodruff: "When William came in later, President Woodruff said, "Brother Flake, you have done enough buying up country. We don't want you to distress yourself." That same evening Bishop D.K. Udall came in from St. Johns, saying that they were about to lose the place and all they had paid on it. In order to save the place it would require the payment of one hundred cows in ten days, and either Flake or Tom Greer to guarantee the next payment. Apostle Woodruff came later the same night and asked William to go to their rescue. He [William] said to Uncle Tom Greer, "You lend them the cows and I will sign the note, or I will lend the cows and you sign the note." Tom Greer said, "You lend the cows and I will sign the note with you." Early next morning we went into the hills to gather the cows.

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Another trip to Utah

With all the land and town purchases and the loan of 100 cows to the Church, one wonders where William was getting all the livestock. Perhaps even he wasn't quite sure. However, he knew where there were more cattle and his reputation was solid. In addition, an ex-soldier from Fort Apache wanted to go into the cattle business. He advanced money for William to buy a large herd of cows and calves and he promised the calves to William for bringing the livestock from Utah. With little to lose, William prepared for another trip to Utah and left on 28 August, taking Lucy and her children, plus James M. and his wife and children with him.141 Lucy summarized the trip in a few words:

we started 28 of Augest went to st Joseph stayed there two days for conference then went on James and his family went also I was very anxious about Jane [Lucy's daughter who had spent the previous year in Beaver] but she was all right our people was well and glad to see us this time William took the Coop herd of Beaver on shares142 Brought all the stalk they could find we stayed in Beaver five weeks and all started home we had lots of cattle and a lots of men to drive them it was a long tedious trip but we all arrived home safe a few days before Christmas143 (Lucy, pp 29-30)

A school . . .

One other noteworthy event—the creation of a school--, took place in 1878-79. Roberta states:

"Miss Annella Hunt taught our first school. The south room of the adobe stables was cleaned out for the school room. That was during a few

The note was signed, and late in the Fall he got back a hundred poor cows, just [in] from a long trip. Some died during the winter and as in all his deals, he suffered the loss." (William J. Flake, p 87) 141 To the Last Frontier, p. 84. 142 Lucy errs a bit on this point. Osmer explained: " Philo T. Farnsworth of Beaver took 1400 of the Beaver Co-op cattle and 300 horses on shares, and started with them for Arizona. When he got as far as the Black Falls on the Little Colorado, he became discouraged and left a few men to look after them and went back to Beaver, and asked that he be relieved of his contract. It was done, and they immediately got in touch with Father and got him to take the cattle on shares, where they were. . . . The Co-op cattle were left where they were until Spring. When we went back for them the feed was so short, that many died. All of them were very poor, and when we got them home, there was less that 900 head; the horses had fared better. (William J. Flake, p. 89) 143 William D. Kartchner wrote in his journal: "December 14th, 1879, W. J. Flake arrived from Utah ahead of the [cattle] train." Life and Times of William D. Kartchner, p. 81. 106

weeks the first winter we were there."144 (To the Last Frontier, p. 78)

That would suggest that the school began during the winter of 1878-79. In fact, according to William D. Kartchner's journal, Bishop Hunt "visited Snowflake on Nov. 4th 1878 and picked his lot and contracted with N. Miller to build him a log house." Kartchner continues: "Nov. 29 Brother Hunt, two boys and two girls came. On the 16th of Nov. Sister Hunt and three girls, Bell, Nettie and Lois arrived."145

The question arose as to how the community would pay the teacher. And William K. Flake provided the answer:

William solved this in a unique manner. During the fall roundup there was a big, fat heifer caught; she had never been branded and didn't have a mark on her. It was customary among cowmen that the one having the most cattle and paying the expenses of roundup was considered the owner of those mavericks. When this one was brought in, William asked what should be done with it. The men told him it was his to do what he wanted to. He felt that it did not belong to him, so he sold it to the highest bidder for sixty dollars. When the roundup was over he took the money to Miss Della Fish, a very intelligent young lady who had lately arrived with her father, and told her to teach school as long as that money lasted; and thus three months of school was given to our children during the winter of 1879. (To the Last Frontier, p. 78)

In the fall and winter of 1879 a large school house was built. Osmer stated:

"Father hired Della Fish to teach school there, and opened it free to all. They were the first free schools in Arizona, and the first schools of any kind North and East of Prescott. The school house was on the block north-west of Flake's Block." (William J. Flake, p. 89)

A daughter of Anella Hunt provides additional information about the first school--among other things:

They [Anella's father, John Hunt and family] rested two days [28-30 Apr 1877] then resumed their journey, and after another two weeks travel they reached the little Mormon settlement of San Lorenzo, in New Mexico. Remained three weeks, then decided to locate in Savoia Valley, 15 miles to the NW, where the town of Ramah now stands. Two Indian missionaries, with their families lived there, and one or two other Mormon families. They

144 Annie Hunt wrote: "I taught the first little school in Snowflake, in one of the adobe rooms used by Mr. Stinson for stables. I had some trouble with unruly boys, but the parents were very kind and good to help me. And I was paid by them. Wherein they failed, Bro. Flake paid me, with money obtained from selling mavericks (unclaimed cattle.) (Annie Hunt Kartchner, "Snowflake Beginnings, p. 3, no source given, but a copy is in possession of present writer.) 145 "Life and Times of William D. Kartchner, p. 78. 107

spent the time they lived there surrounbded on all sides by Navajo and Zuna Indians and some Mexicans, but they were all very friendly, and the girls did sewing for the Indians who paid them cash for it. The sewing machine was a great wonder to the Indians. During the summer [1877] mother [Anella Hunt] taught a little school under a bowery, having some of her own brothers and sisters and the Boyce boys, whose father gave her a new dress in payment for teaching his boys. In September [1877] a company of Saints from Arkansas came into New Mexico, having been four months on the way, and very destitute. They camped in an old house on which was written "SMALL POX," but they needed shelter, and the whole company had a long, severe siege of small pox, many of them dying. Grandfather's family took turns sitting up and nursing the sick, the parents and three older girls being immune from having been vaccinated nearly 15 years before. In the fall of 1878, Snowflake was bought by Wm. J. Flake, and Grandfather Huynt was called to be Bishop. He moved his family here in Dec 1878. Mother [Anella Hunt] taught the first little school in Snowflake in the early months of 1879, in a little stable on Bro. Flake's lot, which had been cleared out and cleaned for the use of the people for all public meetings. During the winter of '80-81, mother [Anella Hunt] taught the first school in Taylor. She taught school another winter each in Snowflake and Taylor, then left her home on the 19 of Sept 1883, with my father, Orrin Kartchner, for St. George, Utah, where they were married in the Temple on 11 Oct 1883.146

1880

The year began in a cold way. Kartchner wrote: "Jan. 27th snowed all day and all night. The snow was eleven inches deep on the level and turned cold. The thermometer stood at 20 degrees below zero and for three weeks snow remained, good sleighing." (p. 81)

A debt is paid

July would mark the end of the three years Stinson had stipulated when Flake bought Silver Creek. William had made the two previous payments and with the influx of Beaver Coop cattle, he was ready to make the final payment. It is interesting that Lucy makes no mention of the payoff in her memoirs, but Osmer and Roberta give a very detailed account of that momentous occasion:

We were the happiest people in the world when three months before it was due, we made our last payment on the Ranch, which was now Snowflake. Mr. Stinson came to our house, tied his mule outside and came in. After they had talked a while, William asked Mr. Stinson if he was satisfied. The latter answered, "Yes, you have complied with the agreement to the letter." They walked outside as they talked. "Then," said William, "I want my mule. Pull off your saddle."

146 Sketch of Anella Hunt by her daughter. The sketch is part of a family history book located in the Snowflake Family History Center. 108

Mr. Stinson looked at him but made no move to unsaddle. "Go ahead," continued William, "that was the agreement when we made the trade. I have lived up to my part of it and as an honorable man I expect you to do the same." "I can't part with this mule, Flake. Pick out five of the best cows I have, but let me keep my pet." "No, I don't want your cows. The mule is mine," said William. His [Stinson's] strong face was full of pain. "Take anything I have but let me keep old Si," pleaded Mr. Stinson. "A bargain is a bargain," William reminded him. Seeing there was no changing his [William's] mind, Mr. Stinson slowly pulled off his saddle and bridle, patted the mule's neck, rubbed its nose affectionately, then blinked to keep the tears out of his eyes, but he could not keep his chin from quivering. He walked over and handed William the end of the hair rope which he always kept on his mule. William could stand it no longer. He went over to his friend and said, "Stinson, we have done a lot of business during these last three years. In it all you have shown yourself to be a man. You have not only lived up to the contract we made, you have always been willing to go more than half way. From the very first you proved yourself to be a true friend. You helped feed the poor people who came here. You have done many things like that, for which you were not obligated. These many acts of kindness on your part were a financial loss to you. For a long time I have wondered what I could do for you to show my appreciation for what you have done for us. I am glad to present this mule to the squarest man I ever met." This was a long speech for William. As he finished, he handed the rope back. Mr. Stinson re-saddled his mule, mounted and rode away without a word. That was him, all right. When his heart was full it was so big it closed his mouth. When we took possession of the ranch, Mr. Stinson had taken up a small place and had a house built about two miles above us. After we paid him the final payment he was ready to leave for Pleasant Valley,147 so William bought out all of his holdings and what cattle might still be on the range, after all that could be, were rounded up. We paid him four saddle horses. It was with the best of wishes and warmest friendship that we bade good-bye to Mr. Stinson. (To the Last Frontier, pp 88-90)

Relief Society

On the 12th of July 1880 the Relief Society was organized in Snowflake. For those unfamiliar with the LDS Church, the Relief Society might be described as a social, charitable and service organization exclusively for women. In the days of Lucy, it was even more independent of male monitoring than it is currently. Mary J. West was called as the President of the Snowflake

147 Pleasant Valley was a lovely place in 1880, with a population of only eleven individuals. The first significant amount of cattle was introduced into the valley by James Stinson in 1881. The next year the Grahams and Tewksburys arrived and trouble began. In 1882 Graham purchased 200 head of cattle from William J. Flake. (Snowflake was about 50 miles NE of Pleasant Valley.) The Grahams and Tewksburys started rustling cattle and violence erupted. Within a 100 day period, 13 deaths—none natural-- occurred in that area. Eventually, Stinson sold out and left that area. 109

Ward, with Lucy H. Flake and Margaret J. Kartchner as counselors. Over the next several years, the sisterhood Lucy felt within that organization was a great source of solace to her.

Another son for Lucy

On July 21st, 1880 Lucy gave birth to her eleventh child, a boy they named Joel White Flake. Lucy wrote: "July 21 1880 Jeel [Joel] White Flake was born my first baby since we left Utah we had just been here two years that day we was thankfull for another son he was a fine large helthy babe" (Lucy, p. 30) By this time, Lucy had six other living children ranging in age from James, 21, to Roberta, 3. At the time of Joel's birth, Lucy was 38 and William was 41.

The Railroad, and the school

Kartchner noted in his journal that railroad construction was under way near Snowflake and provided local men with much needed employment.

June 26th and 27th conference John W. Young represented railroad business. July 5th Orin and Aaron started to the railroad to work for J. W. Young and Jesse N. Smith. (Life and Times, p 82) Roberta stated that by 1881 the railroad line was within 28 miles of Holbrook, which in turn is about 30 miles from Snowflake. (Unfortunately, the railroad didn't reach Snowflake until 1918.)

Regarding the school situation, Kartchner wrote in his journal:

August 7th., Bishop Hunt caused the trustees to start two schools with his two daughters as teachers, one at Snowflake with thirty dollars per month, and one at Walker with twenty five dollars per month; thus depriving the boys on the railroad and also the boys on the farm from sharing the benefits of school money, appropriated on our school district quota for 1880 by commencing before fall or winter (as the funds are exhausted in September.) The flies are uncommonly numerous and very annoying in the harvest fields. (Life and Times, p. 82)

September Conference . . . and a special request

As fall approached, the people of Snowflake got ready for conference. This time they were going to have a special treat: Francis Marion Lyman was the apostle who would be in attendance and he was William's boyhood pal. Lucy wrote:

Apostle Lyman came to our September Conference he asked us in the morning of the day he was going to leave here Sep 27 to let our son Charles go with him to Provo to school as we had such poor chance for the last three winters we had been on the road and what school there was here was poor he was now past seventeen his Father said he could 110

go and William was going as far as the Black falls with Apostle Lyman so I had to stay from Meeting and fix his clothes so he could go the notice was so short it seemed like my hart would brake and William going at the same time it was dredfull Brother Lyman took him to Provo and put him in school with his own son Merion [Marion] Charles is a little the oldest William and Bro Lyman used to be like Brothers William is six month the oldest Charles wrote to us every week and we paid his schooling and expences he lernt fast he got ther Nov 18 1881 [error: 1880] (Lucy, pp 30-31)

1881

After the hectic, hurried pace of the previous 3-4 years, 1881 turned out to be almost uneventful. In Lucy's memoirs only three things are mentioned: 1) a surprise visit by her aunt Mary Savage, 2) the railroad was being built and it was "quite lively", and 3) William purchased a sawmill (but the exact year that happened in uncertain.)

Roberta says little more than Lucy. She mentions that a new home was built for Prudence (that probably happened the previous year), the railroad had nearly reached Holbrook and was providing good employment, and her brother came home from Brigham Young Academy in May.

Osmer gives a few more happenings. He is the only one who mentions that Prudence gave birth to a second child on December 2nd, 1881.148 They named her Lydia Pearl. (She went by her middle name later in life.) He also mentions that Stinson settled in Pleasant Valley, but in just a few years cattle rustlers "stole about all he had." He also told how William sold cattle to men who wanted to start ranches. For example, he sold "100 yearling heifers to John and Tom Graham which they took to Pleasant Valley." He also sold another 50 steers to Andy Pringle and that prompted Joseph W. Smith to write the following article:

In the days of the wide open range, the horse thief and the six shooter, William J. Flake was more or less a prominent stockman in North Eastern Arizona. At the time of this incident which, to be exact, was during the year 1881, he had a contract to deliver fifty steers to Andy Pringle, at the Chimney Crossing of the Showlow, at a date agreed upon. The cattle were gathered, and the men were in camp ready to "cut out" the ones selected for the sale, but the purchaser had not arrived, and no word had been received from him. In those days the mails were slow; there were no telephone or telegraph lines. Automobiles were unknown, and a carriage or saddle horse was the quick way of travel.

148 Emma wrote: "Three years later, another fair-haired girl was born. Lydia Pearl was born Dec. 2nd, 1881, and although mother questioned why the promise was yet unfulfilled, Father assured her that she would yet have a son, and that now they were sure of having three children." (The Life of Prudence Kartchner Flake, p. 13) 111

At breakfast on the appointed day for the delivery of the steers, the main topic for discussion was a query as to the cause of Mr. Pringle's delay, and what would be done if he failed to come. But before the meal was over, a man rode into camp, dismounted, and made himself known as the person they were so anxious to see. The formalities of greeting and a few questions about the business in hand were barely exchanged, before two more men rode in sight, and stopped on the hillside not very far away. They unsaddled their horses and prepared to make camp. It seemed rather unusual that they should come so close, and yet not come into camp. To explain this, Mr. Pringle said, "Gentlemen, those fellows out there are robbers. They have been following me ever since I left Globe. They knew I had this money, and they were after it." So saying, he handed to Mr. Flake a sack which he said contained $2,000 in gold. "I am now turning it over to you, but I warn you that those men intend to get it if possible. I have had to leave the road, and change my course frequently in coming here, to avoid them." Flake soon formed in mind a plan of action. He turned to his son, a mere boy at the time, and said, "Osmer, go and saddle up your mare." This done, he handed the sack to the boy and said, "Now take this and give it to your mother at home in twenty minutes." Pringle said, "Ain't you going to count it?" "No," said Flake, "It's all right if you've counted it." Osmer said: "I took the sack and tied it securely on my saddle; I mounted the mare, and rode slowly to the top of the hill, all the time watching the robbers, who were also watching me. When I got over the hill, I put spurs to the horse, and intended if anyone overtook me he would have to ride fast. I don't think it was much more than twenty minutes before I was at home and delivered the sack to Mother." The distance was some seven miles. The would be robbers saw, and heard most of what was done, and evidently concluded that the boy would have such a start before they could saddle their horses and follow him, that it would be useless to try to overtake him. So, after resting a while, they left, and nothing further was seen of them Thus, a little forethought and quick action prevented possible serious trouble, and disappointed a couple of rogues. (William J. Flake, pp 93-95) 1882-83

!882 and 1883 were two more "light" years in Flake family history. In May 1882 Charles returned home from Brigham Young Academy for summer vacation—much to the delight and comfort of Lucy and the eligible young women of Snowflake.

In July, William made yet another trip to Utah, promising if at all possible to bring Lucy's mother back with him. Lucy wrote: "he arrived home 27 of August I was so disipointed that she did not come they wrote she could not come but we did not get the letter (Lucy p. 31)

A daughter marries.

In the fall of 1882 Mary Agnes, Lucy's oldest daughter married Theadore W. Turley. They left on October 11th to make the trek to the St. George Temple along what became known as the "Honeymoon Trail." The trail was over four hundred miles through the desert, winding 112 through steep canyons, crossing barren plateaus, and passing by rivers and pools of undrinkable water. At one point, it crossed the Colorado River near the mouth of the Grand Canyon.

Surprisingly, this route took on the unlikely nickname of the Honeymoon Trail. In 1989 H. Dean Garrett wrote the following description of that trip. (Only portions of his article are cited.)

For over two decades, it was the slender thread that connected the LDS settlers in northeastern Arizona with the St. George Temple The first trip took place in 1881. Alof Larson saved enough money to buy a span of mules to take him and his fiancée to St. George. Roberta Clayton, who has researched the lives of many pioneer women in Arizona, wrote: “That fall these mules were on their way to Utah, drawing one of five wagons making the trip over Lee’s Ferry. This was the first wedding party from Arizona to go north to a Utah Temple, but so many future ones were taken across this ferry that the road was dubbed by Will C. Barnes, ‘The Honeymoon Trail.’ ” The travelers took twenty days to reach St. George. The round trip sometimes took as long as six weeks, yet couples embarked on the trip willingly and gladly. A review of some of the journals of travelers who used the route gives us a good idea of the challenges they faced in reaching the temple. When a couple decided to make the trip, they first procured a wagon and a team of hardy mules or horses. They either married civilly and then made the trip to St. George to have the marriage sealed, or they invited chaperones to go with them and waited until they reached the temple to be married. If the couple was from Snowflake, they would travel through Holbrook to Joseph City, where they might spend a day or two visiting with the Saints. From Joseph City, they passed Brigham City and Sunset, continuing northward up the Little Colorado, where they would arrive at Grand Falls, a spectacular landmark. Further on, they would reach Black Falls, where they veered north and left the river. Ironically, the biggest problem in traveling along the Little Colorado was water. The river was unpredictable—some stretches dried up in summer, yet those same stretches would at other times be a torrent of high, rushing water. When there was water in the river, it was muddy and salty. Joseph Fish, traveling along the river in July 1879, wrote: “We found but little Grass and no water to speak of, occasionally there was a little in holes along the bed of the river but it was so salty that it could not be used. We dug near the mouth of some of the large washes that came in where we found some water that was a little better. … On the 30th we found enough at Grand Falls to fill a ten gallon Keg. At Black Falls we found a little but it was not fit to use as the fish had died in it and it smelt very bad, like carrion.” Forage for animals was hard to find. If rain or snow fell, the trail became muddy and hard-going. 149

In October of the same year, 1882, Lucy's mother finally arrived. A man named Shephard reached Snowflake from Beaver with the assignment to sell the cattle belonging to the Beaver Cooperative. William had taken shares with the Coop and was keeping and fattening the

149 H. Dean Garrett, "The Honeymoon Trail," The Ensign, July, 1989, p. 23. Can be accessed via the internet by entering "honeymoon trail".

113 cattle. Lucy wrote: "they sold the stalk for money and settled up and Bro Shepard went home we did not know Mother was coming and it was such a surprise." (Lucy, p. 31)

Another son born to Lucy

At the end of December 1882, on the 28th, Lucy gave birth to another son. They named him John Taylor Flake in honor, obviously, of the then president of the LDS Church. He was Lucy's 12th child and lived a long life, dying in 1973 at age ninety-one.

Charles → Southern States mission

The big event of 1883 was when Charles was called to serve a mission in the southern States, the area where his father was born and his grandfather had settled. Charles had been attending BY Academy that academic year and, rather than returning to Snowflake and then leaving for his mission, he left Provo to go directly to Salt Lake City and then on to the mission assignment. Lucy wrote:

Aprial 5 1883 our Dear Son Charles Love Flake was called on a mishon to Misisippia had to start on the 10th without seeing us but we felt thankfull that he was worthy to be called to spred the truth he is Noble and I hope he will be blest my prars will asend to our Hevenly Father in his behalf (Lucy p. 32)

Of Charles' missionary experiences, Roberta wrote the following:

It was not an unusual occurrence for the elders to receive threatening, unsigned letters giving them so many days or hours to leave the country. . . Charley got one of these threatening letters and this is what he said of it in a letter to me [Lucy], --"My companion got his release and had gone home leaving me alone until another arrived. Just before he left we found the following notice, tacked to a tree. –'C. Flake and the rest of the Mormon Elders: The best thing you can do is to leave this country. There is a great number of men that are just waiting to see if you will take the hint. I tell you they will treat you rough. You had better take a fool's advice and leave the country. You had better be in Utah with your wives and then you would be better off. You can listen to this if you want to, or you can let it alone, but you had better heed this warning. I warn you again, you had better never be seen in this country again. This is a plain hint.' no signature. . . . Of course I worried about the persecution. I didn't realize how really serious some of these mobbings were until after his return after over two years in the service of the Master. When I was unpacking his trunk I came across one of his coats. As I lifted it out I discovered it was covered with a black, hard substance. I called Charley to tell me about it and this is his story: "It was in a little town in Mississippi. The missionaries had met with much opposition but had gone on their way rejoicing that with the Savior they were called to suffer persecution. The President of the Conference was coming for a series of meetings. Charley was on his way to meet the train on which he was to arrive, when he was overtaken by a mob of 114

masked men. They caught him and poured a bucket of warm tar over him. One of the men said he would look pretty with a coat of feathers, but another protested saying he wasn't worth tearing up a good bed for. It was getting almost dusk. Charley's main concern was that he should miss the train. As soon as he could get away from his tormentors he hurried on, reaching the station just as the train pulled in. President Jolley came down the steps shook hands with Charley, and started to put his arm around him. His hand came in contact with the sticky mass. In surprise he asked Charley what he had on his coat. "Dew", answered Charley. "Why, that isn't dew", said the President. "Well, that is the way they do it in Water Valley", laughed Charley, and he laughed again as he told me about it. (To the Last Frontier, pp 94-95)

New Church

Snowflake had been settled only four or five years when the settlers decided they needed a suitable house of worship. Therefore, in 1883 a fine brick and stone edifice was completed.

Photo of the younger Flake children, taken probably in 1883. L →R: Joel (b. 1880), John T. (b. 1882), Roberta (b. 1877). Pearl (b. 1881), Emma (b. 1879)

115

1884-85

In an 1882 journal entry, William Kartchner mentioned that Congress had passed the Edmonds Bill. On the first day of May, I was called upon to unite in matrimony David V. A. Talley and Sarah Raseltine West. I did so, having authority as Justice of the Peace for the Snowflake Precinct, Apache County, Ariz. About this time what was known as Edmonds Bill became a law in the U. S. whereas all polygamists were considered criminals and subject to both fine and imprisonment on conviction and George Q. Cannon was denied his seat in Congress as Delegate for Utah Territory. (Life and Times, p. 90)

The Edmunds Act targeted one group, the Mormons, just as the infamous "Executive Order 9066", issued by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, February 19, 1942, authorized the internment of only one group of United States citizens-- those of Japanese descent. The Edmunds Act was signed into law on March 23, 1882. It declared polygamy a felony and in addition to legalizing incarceration of polygamists, deprived them of the right to vote, serve on juries and hold political office. More than 1,300 men were imprisoned under the terms of the Edmunds Act. It appears that women were not prosecuted, being seen as victims of the practice and not willing participants, although a number refused to testify against their husbands and some were jailed for their refusal.150

Roberta tells of the impact of the Edmunds Act on life in Snowflake and one humorous incident: The persecution spread to our little town. Many of our men fled to Mexico for protection, while the polygamous wives went to visit their people or hid out to avoid humiliation. One incident happened that afterward often furnished us with a hearty laugh. Every stranger was looked upon with suspicion. We were holding conference when a stranger came to the door. The men with more than one wife who still remained, made a break for the back door. The man in charge of the meeting had a heart of gold, but never had much education and was entirely unaccustomed to presiding. He got up and went down to meet the well-dressed stranger who introduced himself as Seymore B. Young, whom we all knew by reputation as one of our leaders from Salt Lake City. In his excitement, Brother Mann wildly waved and shouted, "Sit down, brethren, it is only Elder Seamless B. Young." (To the Last Frontier, pp 96-97)

150 Wikipedia, "Edmunds Act." It is difficult for some in Twentieth and Twenty-first centuries to realize how pervasive was the anti-Mormon, anti-polygamy sentiment in not only the United States but also in Europe during the 1870-1890 period. Flake was jailed in 1884-85 and polygamy was officially discontinued in 1890. In 1887 Arthur Conon Doyle published his first Sherlock Holmes mystery, A Study in Scarlet. Mormonism, polygamy and Brigham Young were presented in the worst possible light. Many years later, Sir Conon Doyle spoke in the Salt Lake Tabernacle and apologized for his negative portrayal of Mormons. (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Vol. New York: Barnes & Noble:2003, p. 622, endnote #12) 116

Lucy added:

. . . as soon as the other Brethern that was in Poligamy heard of these men going to prisen they just started for Mexico every one but Woodruff Freeman he was all the Poligmis that stayed at home eight or ten men Went and took part or all of thir famileys and that made it seem lonely in a little place a bout forty five famileys (Lucy, pp 34-35)

William's aid to fleeing brethren

Although William was not willing to flee to escape the long arm of the law, he helped others who needed to get away:

At the time of the religious persecutions in 1884 Joseph Fish asked his help to get away to Mexico. He [Fish] said he had only one team, and the boys had to have that to tend the farm, and they were not suitable for the trip anyway. He wanted to leave that night. Father sent a man to harness a pair of mules, while he got wagon bows and cover and fixed up the wagon for the trip. Fish drove it off that evening. He could not buy any, as he had barely enough to take him to Mexico After a year, Fish decided to return. When he reached home, he unloaded the wagon, and drove down to our home. He turned the outfit back, thanked Father for the use of them, and the bill was settled. While he [William] was in the Penitentiary, a neighbor (John Hunt) came to our home, and said the Marshall was after him, and asked if we had a horse that could get him out of the way. We saddled a brown horse we called Baby, and told him to ride. No horse in Arizona could overtake him. He was not wanted for prosecutions, but strictly for persecution. (William J. Flake, p 149)

Emma Flake, Prudence's daughter, recalls that her mother was sent to a remote area to keep her safe and away from persecution:

[During this time] Our delicate Mother and three children, myself (Emma), Pearl and Frankie151, who was just large enough to sit alone, were taken by team and wagon, by John Kartchner, to Round Valley, where lived Bud Atchinson and Bill Lytle, two of Father's friends that he had helped in the early days of Snowflake. We stayed several weeks, not being allowed to go out during the day, being kept out of sight, as some of the officers lived in that locality, and Mother might have been called as a witness, but in the evening we were permitted to go out and run and play.

151 William and Prudence's third child, and promised son, Joseph Franklin, was born Jan. 7th, 1884. This crowned their lives with joy. He was the idol of the family. As soon as he could walk, he had to have a strap on Pearl's arm, as his pony, true to Flake fashion. But the family's joy did not last long, as Joseph was taken from them, by death, when but a year and ten months old. This was a terrible blow to have their hopes thus shattered. (Life of Prudence, p. 12) 117

I remember well an experience I had during that stay. We had started to go from Atchinsons to Lytles, and in going, we had to cross a narrow footbridge over the deep stream that ran the mill. I, being ahead of Mother, looked back to see if she was coming. I became dizzy and fell into the stream. Mother was carrying Frankie and had a hold of Pearl's hand. She rushed across the bridge and sat Frankie on Pearl's lap, giving her instructions to sit quiet, and then she called to the mill hands. Pearl was crying as she always did when anything happened to me. Mother ran back and succeeded in pulling me ashore by going down to a clump of willows, which she held on to by one hand and hauled me to shore with the other. It was none too soon, as she told me later. I had sunk twice. (Life of Prudence… p. 18-19)

William → Prison

It was simply a matter of time before "the law" came looking for William. He would not run. He had no desire to flee to Mexico. His home was Snowflake, Arizona. All three of William's chroniclers devote a great deal of description to William's prison experience. Surprisingly, Lucy's account is quite detailed--quite unusual given her usual brevity. Osmer and Roberta include many examples of how William coped with prison life, improving it for all with whom he associated.

When Charles returned from his mission a few months before William was released from prison in June of 1885, he would ask Pearl (Prudence's daughter), "Just why did your Daddy have to go to jail?" and she would answer,"'Tause he has too many folkses. "152

Custody, Free on bail, the trial, incarceration

Lucy wrote: "W J Flake was arrested for Poligamy Sep 15 1884 by Marshel Doniven and taken to Prescot the Marshel sent him Word two weeks before he came [error: should be "said" instead of "came"] he was coming in order that he [William] might leave the country after arresting him the Marshel told him he could be at Holebrook the next day at two oclock left William to come next day when he came William asked him in to dinner I felt so bad I left the room would not see him after dinner he [Donavan] went back to Holebrook next morning early William started for Holebrook got there in time the Marshel treated him very good took him to Prescot William gave bonds then came home and stayed till November 11th then Went back with six other Poligamy brethren (Lucy, pp 32-33)

Roberta gives a much clearer picture of how the trial went:

Ammon Tenney of St. Johns was tried first, and declared guilty. He was taken at once and thrown in jail—a dirty filthy hole filled with criminals of the worst kind. William was

152 Life of Prudence, p. 18 118

indignant, begged for his friend to have the liberty of the grounds, and offered his head as a guarantee that Mr. Tenney would be there when wanted to be taken to the penitentiary in Yuma. His pleading did no good. Ammon was seized and forced in where the prisoners were cursing and shouting. The jailer remarked that "he would be all right; we are all humane men." "Yes, Hell is full of just such," shouted William, who went out and did not stop until he found some of his friends and had Brother Tenney out of that dungeon. Two more of our men were convicted without evidence. Our Gentile friends were doing all they could to keep William out of the penitentiary. They wanted him to plead guilty. He said he would if the complaint was changed from "unlawful cohabitation" to Plural Marriage. The indictment was so changed and he and dear old Brother Jens Skousen plead [sic] guilty. As soon as Mr. Stinson heard of William's arrest he came from Phoenix to Prescott to help him. By this time, Mr. Stinson had identified himself with public affairs, had plenty of friends, money and influence. With some of his friends he determined to free William and told him not to say a word and they would. [Stinson said] that the full extent of the law was to be given [to the other polygamists], that was eight years in the House of Correction in Detroit, together with a fine of one thousand dollars each. William said, "I am as guilty as they are. I won't go free and see them go to jail without trying to help them. If Judge Howard sentences innocent men to that fate, it will be his damnation and I am going to warn him." We had known Judge Howard in Utah where he had done all he could against our people Shortly before they were to be sentenced, William walked into the Judge's office; there he made a strong plea for our friends. "You know they are not criminals," said William, "so why treat them as though they were?" The Judge was silent so William continued pleading for these men who were honest, honorable citizens. Especially did he recommend leniency for Brother Skousen who was an old man. When it was time for them to return to the courtroom, the Judge said, "Flake, this visit will cost you six months in Yuma and $500 more, but I will cut off three years from the prison terms of the others and reduce their fines one half." "Give me another six months and $500 more, and reduce their sentences again," pleaded William. They were now at the door. As he went ahead, the Judge shook his head. The sentences were given as he told William they would be, only that Brother Skousen's was the same as his. Thus on the fifth day of December, 1884, our husband was sentenced to serve a prison term for marrying two wives and providing for us and our children… Just as William was getting in the waiting stage to be taken to Yuma, one of his acquaintances153 came up and begged him to go his bond. "I am a convict; I cannot go your bond," William answered. "You have friends who would if you would ask them to," he begged. "I haven't a friend here, and will have to lay in jail six months waiting for my trial if you don't help me." William turned to Mr. Stinson and asked him to go the bond. "It will require two bondsmen," answered Mr. Stinson. Another of William's friends came up just then to bid him good-bye. William asked him to sign with Mr. Stinson.

153 Osmer gives the man's name as Miles P. Romney of St. Johns. 119

"I will," he answered, "if you will insure against loss." "I'll do that." William's word was as good as his bond. He afterward had to make it good as the fellow jumped his bond and skipped out to Mexico.154 (To the Last Frontier, pp 100-101)

William's prison experiences

Lucy neglects to mention anything about William's prison experiences, but Roberta and Osmer described several of them.

Arrival Flake's experience at Yuma, if written, would fill a book. We will just put in a small part. Prisoners were all shaved clean and their hair clipped. The Warden took a pair of shears and clipped just a little off his [William's] long beard, and did the same to his hair, and said, "That will do." When he brought in the first letter he said, "We are supposed to open and read all letters either going in or out." Father said, "Read them, every word, and they will either save you or condemn you." Captain Ingalls opened the letter, and handed it to him; he did this with all of the letters that came.

Labor by contract

The prison was in a continual turmoil, the snake den [solitary confinement] had been full for months. One man was loading and wheeling dirt, and had a big ball and chain on his ankle. He would haul it in the wheel-barrow when he moved places. He wanted to escape or be killed. Father worked with the men, loading dirt a day or so. The guards cursed, and the men would not work, but were kept at it all day to get three cars of dirt out. William soon got the confidence of the men and wanted them to get the dirt out by contract. They were to agree to put out four cars a day and have the rest of the time to do as they pleased. He promised them, that if they would back him in four cars a day, he would assure them they would have no more trouble. They said that if they put out four cars, it would be increased to five. He promised them that it would not be increased. He went to the Captain, and asked him to take the guards away, and let them have the time to themselves, if they would put out four cars of dirt a day. "Sure," said the Captain. "I would be glad to do it." From then on, they had their work finished by ten each morning, and were able to be out of that hot Yuma sun; no more quarreling and cursing the guards.

154 Roberta added: "William's name did not appear on the bond, but that made no difference to William. His friends who had gone the bond at his request should not lose a cent. He went immediately to Prescott and asked to be allowed to deliver the man. He was told that the man was in Mexico, and they could not get him. "We don't want the man, we want the money," said the Judge. He did grant us a little time to raise the money. Money was scarce and interest high. We got it, however, and sent it. It took us seven years to square that $2,000 and the $1500 we had to raise for William's bond, etc. (To the Last Frontier, p. 107) 120

The incorrigible convict

The Captain said, "Flake, we have a Mormon in here from Nevada. He is our worst problem; he has tried to kill me and has tried to kill some of the other Guards. If one of us went near him and he had that shovel in his hand, he would try to kill us. He declares that he will fight us until either we kill him or he gets away. He tries every time we give him the least liberty to get away, and has gotten out two or three times, but there is no chance to get away on this desert.155 Can you do anything with him?" Father went out and tried to talk with him. He would not stop his work, and said, "I have to keep going," but Father said, "Sit down, I assure you, you will not be punished for it." He asked where he was from, and if he had a family. He said his wife was dead and that his people were fine people, and he did not want them to know anything about what became of him. For two hours he could not be touched. He had said he had two little girls. When William asked if he would not like to see those little girls, he broke down and said, "It would be the greatest joy life could bring me." Father said, "If you will promise to behave yourself and give no more trouble I will promise you that when I get out I will get you a pardon." He asked, "Can you do that?" "Yes," was the answer and the promise was soon given. William went back and told the Captain to cut off the chains and he would have no more trouble with Kerby. The Captain was delighted, and had Kerby come at once to the blacksmith shop and cut off the chain, and told him to take it easy until he got his strength back. However, he [Kerby] said, "I want to work or I will go crazy." Father suggested to the Captain that he put him in the bakery. He did, and Kerby did the best job they had ever had and stayed with it until he was pardoned, which was done as soon as Father got out and wrote a letter to the Governor. The Captain approved it and Kerby went back to the little girls. Several years later, he brought them to our home for a visit. (William J. Flake, pp 105-106)

Rotten meat.

The big complaint with the men was that they were fed spoiled meat. In that hot country and no refrigeration, meat spoiled quickly. Father said, "I don't eat much meat, but when you get a piece that is spoiled just hold it up on your fork so I will see you and I will see that it is corrected." They told him if he complained he would be sent to the Snakes, but he did not fear that. The next day one of the men held up a piece of meat, and Father reached for a cut, smelled it and called a guard, and asked him to call the Captain. When the Captain came and asked what was the matter, he said, "Captain, this meat is not fit to eat; it is spoiled." The Captain said, "Eat what is put before you and no complaints." William said, "Warden, I am a citizen of this State and a heavy tax payer. I have broken no law of the State. You can punish me, but you can't keep me here very long. I have a lot of friends, and when I get out of here, I

155 Actually, there were 26 successful escapes from the Yuma Territorial Prison from 2876 when it first opened until it closed in 1909. The prison housed a total of 3,069 prisoners, including 29 women, during its 33 years of operation. (Yuma Territorial Prison-Arizona State Park brochure) 121

will turn this place upside down. We pay for good fresh meat, and we are going to have it or know why." The Captain ordered the meat to be taken off, and other food supplied for the meal. Then he said to William, "If you ever find spoiled meat on the table again, let me know." (William J. Flake, p. 106) Gone fishing

The Captain had two young boys and no other children to look after them; they wanted to go fishing, but the Captain was afraid they would be drowned, and he worried about what to do with them The prison was on the bank of the Colorado River. He did not want to make them stay home all of the time. Father told him that Skousen liked boys, and to let them go out with him, and they would be as safe as with the Captain himself. From then on until he was released, Brother Skousen spent every day out with those boys, often taking a lunch and staying away until dark. He was in charge of the small gate, and the boys would come there and call for Skousen any time they wanted and he went. (William J. Flake p. 107)

Let's change the cook

There was a tremendous waste of food from the table. Father asked Captain Ingles, the Warden, if it could not be stopped. Wheel-barrows full were dumped into the river after each meal. The Captain said that he had tried every way he knew, but was unable to stop it. President Robinson of Mesa had been sent to the Penitentiary for polygamy a short time before. Flake said, "Give President Robinson charge of the kitchen, he has had experience, and he will stop it." It was done immediately. A month later the Captain told Flake the food bill had been cut in half. (William J. Flake, pp 107-108)

An unexpected visitor

He [William] was called into the Captain's office one day to meet a visitor. When he went in, a big broad shouldered man grabbed him in his arms. It was the friend of his youth, of his young manhood, and of his whole life, Francis M. Lyman. He, with more of the leaders, were in Arizona, visiting the Saints, cheering them up and trying to help them bear their burdens. He had left the others and come to visit his friend in "Prison." The Captain gave them the best room available and gave them the entire day to themselves. The brethren gathered in the room, and enjoyed a real feast. They asked the Warden for a pitcher of water, a plate and a slice of bread (for they were going to have the Sacrament). He came with the things asked for, and told them they could have anything at the prison. A fine meal was prepared especially for them at the conclusion. The Apostle of the Lord gave each of them a wonderful Blessing, and left with just time to catch his train. (William J. Flake, p. 108)

122

Letters from friends and family

While William was in prison, he was not forgotten. He received many letters, and wrote some, but his neck condition made writing difficult. Included here are two letters, one he wrote to William D. Kartchner, his father-in-law, and one he received from Charles, his son who was on a mission to the Southern States.

Yuma Prison, Dec. 25th 84 W.D. Kartchner Dear Bro

Your welcome letter found me yesterday well & was glad to get a letter from my home & from one that felt to give me a place among his friends. We are feeling very well considering the circumstances under which we are placed. We feel to console ourselves for God has said that those that will serve him must suffer persecutions, but woe to them by whom they come. Our Savior, the Prophets that were with Him & the prophets of the latter days & many a good saint have been imprisoned and suffered death for trying to establish the kingdom of God here upon the earth and why should we take upon us the name of Christ and expect to get off without suffering the same persecution? We have everything to live for and nothing to discourage us. If we are faithful and keep the commandments of God, we have nothing to fear. It will be well with us, but if we turn aside and lose our souls and walk in the broad road that leadeth unto death, then we will lose all that we have worked for. It is the Kingdom of God with me or nothing. I started with the intention of being exalted in the Kingdom of God and nothing short of that will suit me. If it is registered that I should be put in prison, all right. Father is at the helm & if I had to suffer death, I can say, "God forgive them for they know not what they do. They are only filling up the cup." The Lord has said that those that dwell on this continent they should serve him and as soon as their cup is full, He will sweep them off; therefore we want to look to ourselves & see if we are keeping the commandments of our Father. If we are, all right; if not, we had better be rounding up & trying to keep all the laws that are given for our exaltation. Therefore I feel to encourage all to do to one another as we would like to be done by, and try to help one another. Encourage my family to do right. Tell the children that they must take care of their mothers & keep things running for I will be back in the Spring and hope to find all of the saints living as they should. I am sorry to learn that your eyes are worse.156 Osmer said that Prudence had another of her spells. I hope she will be better after returning home. I dreampt little Pearl come to my cell and said, "Father, I am cold." I took her in my arms and woke up.157 Give my love to all of my friends and tell them not to fret for me, for I am treated well by all and have no complaints to make. We are in the hands of our Father and He will take

156 William D. Kartchner eventually lost his eyesight entirely and was blind the last several years of his life. 157 Emma added: "Next morning he wrote James and asked him to go see if the family had what it needed." (The Life of Prudence, p. 18) 123

care of us if we do our part. When any of you write, direct your letters in care of Capt. Ingalls. May God bless you all is my prayer. W. J. Flake158

***************************************** Serepta, Calhoun Co., Miss. Feb. 4th 1885 William J. Flake Yuma Prison, Ariz.

My Dear Father: A letter from Mother reached me yesterday with your address as I hasten to write you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along in my mission labors. My health had [has] been good and I have enjoyed myself among my southern friends far better this year than last, and with far better success. The news of your trouble has given me much pain, and, for the first and only time, made me wish that I was home. After I thought it all over I concluded all was for the best, and that when I had finished my labors here I would be released by the same power that called me, so labored on, until a few days ago I recieved [sic] a "letter" from President John Morgan which caused some peculier[sic] feelings to come over me. Perhaps you can guess what it was, but I will quote a part of it for I think it will interest you. He writes: "You are honorably released to return home with the company of saints leaving Chattanooga on the 19 February, after performing a mission that has been entirely satisfactory to your Father in Heaven, and your brethren of the Priesthood. You can now return to the association of the saints, the joy and comforts of home, blessed with the knowledge that you have performed your duty. Too much cannot be said in praise of the faithful elders who have labored humbly endeavoring to bring men to the truth. We deeply sympathize with you and your Father's house hold in the hour when the hand of persecution has laid heavily upon him, and can only say that God will give him grace sufficient for his day, and that in the end it will all be well with him and his." Now I feel at liberty to go, without this I would rather leave my bones to bleach in the Southern Sun. When I was called I determined to do all in my power to do a work that I would be proud of and I believe I have, but haven't made the advancement in speaking that I thought I would in two years, still I have endeavored to improve my time as best I could. Sister Youngblood will go with me, also Brother Leggitt and folks and maybe two more families. Brother Hunt sent me $145 to emigrate Sister ______with and Bro Morgan wrote me that he would assist me when I got to Chattanooga if I did not have enough. So you see everything is working out for the good of them that try to do good. Quite and [an] effort is being made to get the poor saints out of here, and the feelings seem to be universal among the Elders that we have done our part to the gentiles. How much longer the work will continue here I am unable to say, but it won't be long. My labors have been confined to this field for almost 22 months. When we came here there were no saints or friends, and just now and then a house where we could get to stay, now we have many friends and a fine number of Saints. I have baptized 24, and Bro.

158 Life and Times of William D. Kartchner, p. 90 124

Call baptized 12 after we began laboring together. There are a few others that want to be baptized before I go and quite a number that I think will come in before long. Most all there is in the state is in this field for the others are closing in. Prospects for the future appear quite encouraging, but we can't know what day a drunken man will run us all out. My present companion is Fredric R. Lyman, a brother of Apostle F. M. By the way I got a good letter from brother Lyman the day he visited you. I tell you it cheered me up. Uncle Charley White sent me $5 for a Christmas present and Grandmother says the Church is going to pay my way home. Don't know how she found out. I haven't heard anything about it. I am now on my last round, and I expect it will cause many a tear to fall to tell the folks goodby for we have been associated together so long that they say I feel like home folk. I have a large trunk and am going to take home seeds of almost every kind that I have found in my travels. Father I would like to get a good long letter from you when I get home so I will know what to do. Bro. Lyman wrote me that you are getting to be quite a letter writer, so let me have one. I hope you feel to acknowledge the hand of the Lord in your confinement. I do, and feel to rejoice that you are counted worthy to suffer in His name. (See Acts 5:41). As for me I am proud of it, and hope I may be worthy to follow in your footsteps. For I know that tho Hell may array herself against this work it will prosper and that those who stand firmly up to their covenants will be crowned with immortality and eternal life. On the other hand, those who tremble with fear, and neglect their duties because they fear man, will sink to oblivion and shame. The eyes of the world are upon you, and the prayers of the people of God are for you to sustain you, and I know you are as firm today (tho surrounded by prison walls) as you ever were. [The remainder of the letter is missing; it was written by Charles Love Flake]

William's own prison diary

William kept his own record of the time he spent in prison—at least for part of the time. Curiously, he mentions absolutely nothing that was included in Osmer's narrative. This is not to say, of course, that Osmer invented his material. Perhaps William was reluctant to "boast" or draw attention to himself in his journal. It is most likely that William told his son of his prison experiences at other times, around campfires while rounding up cattle, or even at the dinner table or in the evening after the work was done.

William kept a journal for only about two of the six months he was incarcerated. His first entry was made on 5 December 1884 and his last on February 8th, 1885. In a way, it is remarkable that William kept an account of his imprisonment for even that long. It should be remembered that he had great difficulty writing, due to the swimming accident he had suffered as a teenager in San Bernardino. Included below, are samples of William's journal entries:

[5 Dec] On the 5th of December at six o'clock we were taken to a tavern for our meals. While in jail [in Prescott] we ate with the prisoners. There were nine spoons for fifteen 125

men. We, being strangers, had to look on or dip in with our fingers, for we had nothing else. [8 Dec] The 8th we started for Yuma. Stayed at Bumble Bee and had a house to ourselves. The next day we drove to Phoenix. The Marshal took us home with him and introduced us to his wife and we enjoyed their hospitality.

[11 Dec] We arrived at Yuma at two o'clock on the morning of the 11th and were taken to the pen. It had rained a good share of the time for the last three days. We were put in a room with the guard. They gave us two beds and told us to lie down and they would give us some blankets in the morning. We were so cold that I told the guard we would freeze if we did, so we would stay up and walk the room if he would let us. He said we could stay up but could not walk around. We sat there a while and got so cold and Brother Skousen coughed so bad that I told him to lie down on one bed and I would put the other over him. So he did. The beds were about twenty inches wide, so you see they would not cover him very well. I sat and shook until day, when the relief guard came and let us go into the kitchen by the stove William J. Flake, 1884-85, Yuma where we got warm. Territorial Prison. . . . we were given a suit of clothes: two shirts (striped about one and a half inches wide), two pairs of socks, one bed, one pair of blankets, two sheets, two towels, two handkerchiefs, one pair of shoes and one hat. . . . There are 140 prisoners all striped, most all young men, in for different crimes.

December 13—Went out and got wood and cut it up to cook dinner. Have not done any other work. The officers treat us kind. We are the only men allowed to have our [own] quilts and coats.

December 15—Sunday. All the prisoners were shut up until two o'clock. We were let out. Brother Skousen and I had two meals and one piece of pie. It being Sunday, all the boys were allowed pie. The hall is about 150 feet by 12 feet. Brother S. and I loafed around our cell and had a good bath in the bath room. The rest of the prisoners danced and played checkers. No card playing allowed. The cells are all kept clean and neat. The prisoners are made to change their sheets and underclothes every week and are required to bathe every week. The prison is kept clean and clear of lice and other insects. 126

Sunday we receive our mail. Our cell mates were R.C.Thaxton and W. Hutchinson. They were very nice men. The men were all good to us. Four Mexicans in the next cell to the east. Nothing but the iron between us bolted together, six to twelve inches apart. Bunks for six in each cell, three on each side, one over the other. The size of the cell was seven by nine feet, walls five feet thick. East wall of the fort is timber, north is lumber, two-by-six, twelve feet high. West is nine feet doby half way, the other hard bank. South wall as hard as cement, fifteen feet high. Started to learn the Spanish alphabet. The Negro cook and a Spanish cook had a fight. They put the Mexican in the snake den. The den is an eight-by-ten iron cage. [He was] stripped to [his] drawers and shirt and chained to a ring on the floor and fed on bread and water. Brother S. went to the kitchen to help do the cooking. He had the pleasure of being near the fire. He was bothered with rheumatism so that he had to walk the cell at night without a fire. We have not been near a fire since the first night.

. . . December 16—Worked one of the [ore] cars [which ran on tracks to haul quarried rock]. Worked all day. One man got his foot hurt with a rock. Brother Skousen still in the kitchen.

December 17—Worked one of the cars. Four men got pardoned out and it appeared to put new hope in all the prisoners. Three men that had worn the ball and chain had them cut off. We have had good provisions and very well fixed up. We had plenty and the guard treated us well.

. . . December 19—Worked on the car. Took out twenty-five cars of dirt . . . The boy that was in the snake den for fighting the cook was let out. We got another talking to. Some of the prisoners had been stealing socks and clothes that were not marked. Got two letters from home: one from C.L. [Charles Love Flake, his son who was on a mission] and mother [his wife, Lucy], the other from B.J. Hunt [Bishop John Hunt].

. . . December 23—Worked on car. Weather fine. All well.

December 24—Car. Weather fine. All well. We are guarded by ten men at a time with guns, besides the guards inside, three of them. They are punctual, on time, and if a man attempts to run it is all day with him I received a letter from W.D. Kartchner today. Folks all well at home.

December 25—Christmas found us in the jail with all kinds of men accused of all kinds of crime. When I look around me, it causes me to reflect on what I am here for. What have I done that we must be locked up with all kind of mean men? We are in here for believing that God has revealed his Gospel for the last time and for keeping His commandment. My only desire [is] that we may keep his laws, that we may be found faithful in all things, that we may walk in the narrow path that leads to life eternal. Is the outside world so good and pure that we are here? NO. They are as full [of] wickedness as an egg is of meat. I am thankful to God that my parents obeyed the word. Come out of here, O my people, that you do not partake of her sins nor receive of her plague, for they are coming on more and more every day. I am thankful to my 127

Father in heaven that my children are not raised . . . outside of the church, for wickedness is running without check, and may God save the righteous. Rained last night. Received the Orian. Wrote to WDK [William D. Kartchner].

December 26—Run the car. Nothing of importance.

December 27—Run the car in the afternoon. Played sick in morning. All well.

December 28—Sunday laid in our cell. Had my first shower bath.

December 29—Pushed the car. Rotten bacon for dinner.

. . . January 1, 1885—We did not work. Fast day. Brother Skousen and I fasted until three o'clock. The Captain said the government paid the Territory $1.67 each for taking care of us. It is the first time in my life that my old uncle [Uncle Sam] ever took any interest in me. He furnishes me with board, clothes and bedding, lights all night and a man to go around so that if any of us fell out of bed to wake us up so that we wouldn’t catch cold. He thought we were among thieves and robbers, so the men had to guard us so that they could not hurt us. He placed ten men on the wall and kept the gates shut and locked so that we would not go to the creek [Colorado River] and fall in and drown….

January 3— All well. Worked on car. Brother Skousen worked in the kitchen. We gave a Chinaman twenty-five cents a week to wash our clothes and iron them. I bought a box with 1290 pieces in it for six dollars. [Here Flake refers to a sewing box made from pieces of inlaid native wood.] It was not finished. If it had it would have cost twenty-five. One of the cooks was sick.

January 4-- . . . I have been studying Spanish for three weeks. Am getting along very well.

. . .January 6—Well. Fifteen or twenty convicts sick

. . . January 8—Sick all day. Did not work.

. . . January 20—Well. Worked outside unloading the cars. A very good job. The cook put in den. Tagget put in kitchen. Our meals are regular and very good. Brother S. let out of the kitchen by his own request.

. . . Sunday, February 8—Received one letter from P.J. [Prudence Jane, his 2nd wife], one from brother Musser. The officers are very kind to us. We have more privileges than any of the convicts. Some of the cons think it is worse to have more than one wife than it is to kill.

The February 8th entry was the last one William made. For the next four months he simply fulfilled his prison assignments and did what he could to alleviate difficult living conditions. However, from the above, it is evident that William's entries were quite prosaic and without any detail as to his positive influence in the prison. 128

Charles returns home

One bright note while William was in prison was Charles' return after serving an honorable mission. Lucy noted his return in her journal:

Charles was released and came home 25 February we then felt thankfull to our Hevenly Father for bringing him home safe to us he brought Sister Youngblood and four children home with him she was a widow a good laterday Saint . . .Charles went to work [got?] holled of some old tumbled down adoby houses and planted our lots to gardens he blistered his hands the first day he worked he made a nice garden he raised enough beens to last several years that August after he got home he took CristaBell Hunt back to St. George and they ware Married (September 16 1885) they visited in Utah then returned home they were Married in the Temple in St George (Lucy, pp 35-36)

Picture of Snowflake taken in 1884. The only brick building is the church house, seen center right

Release from Prison, hero's welcome

William was scheduled to be released from prison on June 5th 1885. Osmer tells the circumstances of his release and welcome home:

The prisoners all loved him; he had made life easier for them. They gave him some wonderful presents, one lady's inlaid work box, made of twenty-four hundred pieces of native wood. (He [William] gave the box to Sister Lyman, the woman who had raised him and his younger Sister and Brother). Before leaving, the Warden said to him, "I do not want to keep you from your family, but I hate to see you go. You have done more for this prison, and the people in it than all of 129

the others combined. It is a better prison and the inmates are better men because of you and their association with you. I wish you the best of luck, but hope this prison will not be without a Mormon as long as I am in charge." His time was up, but because of the slow mail service his money to pay the fine had not reached him. The prisoners had some money on deposit with the Secretary. They drew this and loaned it to pay the fine, so he would not be delayed. He started for home on June 5, 1885. The money came in the next mail and was sent to him at Mesa, and then returned to pay the bills. (William J. Flake, p. 109)

Lucy told of the welcome William received when he arrived home in Snowflake:

William came home 11 of June he was very fleshy and looked well he was greatly blessed he got letters from dozens of people both Brethern and sisters he kept a journal while in the pen which is very interesting he came home horseback next morning was Conference . . . Osmer was now sixteen and larger than his Father he had bought him a new pair of Pants for Conference then he had to go over to St John on business and did [not] get back till after his Father came next morning William went to fix up for Meeting he had got so fat so he had to ware Osmers Pants Osmer came home on Sunday at noon thinking he could go to meeting but his Father had on his Pants and the store was closed we had lots of fun with William getting so fat he could not ware his clothes his birthday 3 July and the Relief Society got up a grand surprise they was three weeks getting it up sent invertations to all the setlments around had such nice picknick esays songs speeches a sketch of his life everything so nice and had it in the Stake House at the first tap of the Bell all the People went with ther food at the second tap the Bishop Was to come and bring Brother Flake with him when they steped on the steps the band commenced to play and all the People was there you never saw a purson so surprised in your life it was Just grand all the parts was so good and the picknick was so good also the musick (Lucy, pp 33-34)

Death of a child

By 1885, Prudence had 3 living children, Emma, 6, Pearl, 4, and Franklin, 1. Unfortunately, Frankie took sick and died on 3 October of that year. Roberta wrote:

When the promised son was sent to Prudence, we all joined in her happiness. She was a very proud mother, indeed. Her plans for him occupied her thoughts when her asthma would not let her sleep. He would be big and manly like his father. He would be her joy and comfort in her old age. The happiness she enjoyed was almost pathetic. He was never out of her sight a minute, scarcely out of her arms only when she was seized with a paroxysm of coughing. 130

It was well that she enjoyed him while he was spared to us, because at the age of ten months159 Death's angel took him from her. For days we feared for her life but she finally rallied. (To the Last Frontier, p. 108

Perhaps to be of aid to Prudence in her time of sorrow, newlyweds Charles and Belle went to live with Prudence when they returned from their trip on the Honeymoon Trail to get married in the St. George Temple. "We are going to live with Aunt Prudence for a while, her health is so bad. Don’t know how we will get along."160 They resided with Prudence only 3 months. Charles' 26 Jan 1886 journal entry states: "We moved to our own house, on our own lot."

1886

The year was a sad one in the Flake family. The major events were the birth and death of three Flake children.

Twins for Prudence.

On 7 June 1886 Prudence gave birth to twins. She named them Mark Augustus Flake and Margaret Jane Flake. Unfortunately, they lived only a few minutes before passing away:

On June 7, 1886 our first pair of twins were born to Prudence. She had them named Mark and Margaret. They were very frail and both died within a few hours after birth. Only the knowledge that she would have the privilege of raising them during the Millennium, when there shall be no more sickness, sorrow or sin, sustained her in this loss. (To the Last Frontier, p. 108)161

Pinedale, and a last child for Lucy

In the spring of 1886 William went to Pinedale Arizona, a site about 20 miles SE of Snowflake, to operate a lumber mill. It was part of his effort to recoup the financial loss he had suffered from his 1884-85 incarceration. Lucy, who was seven or eight months pregnant, and her children went with her husband.162 Of the family's sojourn in Pinedale, Lucy wrote:

159 Actually, Franklin was about 21-22 months old when he died. He was born 7 Jan 1884 and died 3 Oct 1885. 160 Nov. 11th, 1885 entry in Charles L. Flake journal. 161 Interestingly, Lucy makes no mention of these births in her journal. 162 Pinedale is at an elevation of 6500 feet and is part of the Mogollon Rim mountain range. It was first settled in 1879 by a man named Mortenson. By 1888 the settlement was called Pinedale. 131

we moved up in the forrest to the Sawmill where we spent the summer William was running the saw mill and my self and Familey went to be with him the 24 of July Charles first son was born he called him Merion Lyman to show his great friend ship for that good man who was his great Friend the 28 of July we had a Daughter born a butifull child it was my last and thirteenth 13 child we called her Melissa after my sister she was Born at Pinedale the place is now called just a little over one year after my Husband came from Prison oh how happy we was for this butifull child we was now paid for all our trials of the Prison and separation in Augest 29 we moved home to Snowflake we was thankfull to get home on the 28 of October our sweet babe was taken a way the Lord knew what was best for us she was sick three weeks everything was don that could be done but she did not come to stay was just three months old so pure and sweet the 3 of Augest sister Adeline Freeman163 My nearest neighbor when at home had a baby boy and [she] Died just after its birth my Husband came down to snowflake he brought the baby up for me to nurse it was just one week younger then mine so I nursed them both when my babe took sick they kept thir baby away then I had so much milk my brests gethered and broke for the first time it seemed so bad to loose my sweet babe then to have to suffer so much (Lucy, 37) Of the sawmill enterprise, Osmer wrote:

He had bought it to help people out with their buildings and fencing. It is questionable whether he ever received pay for more than half the lumber hauled off from the mill, but no man was asked whether he could pay. (William J. Flake, p. 111)

1887

Three important events happened in 1887. First, due to rustling and thievery, William set out on a long journey to retrieve stolen horses. Next, in June Prudence gave birth to another baby, a third girl. Finally, the oldest Flake son, James M., was called on a mission.

Horse thieves and cattle rustlers

With the arrival of the railroad in the vicinity of Holbrook, one would think that civilization had finally come to northern Arizona. Such, however, was not the case. The third largest cattle company in North America was called the Aztec Land and Cattle Company and they purchased 1,000,000 acres of former railroad land for 50¢ an acre. The ranch stretched for 650 miles. Next, the company bought a Texas cattle company that was going broke and shipped 33,000 head of cattle and 2,000 horses to northern Arizona. The cowboys that came with the herd

163 Sarah Adaline Freeman was the wife of John Woodruff "Wood" Freeman. Her first child, John Albert Freeman, would later marry Emma Flake, Prudence's first child. 132 were a rough lot and immediately violence, rustling and stealing began to rise. Osmer described the sorry state of affairs in the following way:

Shortly after the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad came through Arizona in 1882. The Aztec Land and Cattle Company bought the odd sections of land from Woodruff west to about the Flagstaff county. These had been given to the Railroad as a bonus for building the road. They brought 40,000 head of Texas cattle in and turned them loose on the range south of the river. While there were some good men with them, a large number were gun men and outlaws. There was a lot of stealing and by 1886 they were well organized, and were stealing hundreds of cattle and horses from our range. We knew they were being stolen, but could not find where they were being taken. We learned that the Blevins and Grahams had begun working together. Both had been stealing for a long time, and in fact it was largely the Grahams who had stolen Stinson's stock and driven him out of his range. They grew more bold; the Blevins family just moved into Canyon Creek, where a man named Adams had built a house, and had a small bunch of cattle. They stole nearly all of his stock and ordered him to leave or they would kill him. They were gun men, and he was not; there were six of them and he was alone, so he left the country. Large numbers of horses and some cattle were being taken out of the country. In early Spring of 1887, the best team of horses in Snowflake were taken out of Charles H. Ballard's barn, and a fat brown mare out of the Minerly stable. C. H. Ballard took a few men and followed the tracks to the Canyon Creek country; it was a rough bad place to get into. The whole of Pleasant Valley which lay just South-west of there, was hemmed in by the roughest kind of country on every side. They returned saying that they lost the tracks and could not follow them to see where they went.

The following morning, Father saddled a good horse and said that he was going to see where the stock were going before he came back. He told Mother not to worry, if she did not hear from him for a week or so, and rode off alone. He spent ten days searching the country, sleeping on a saddle blanket, with little food but a lot of determination. The first sign he found, were the bones of a dead animal at the foot of the Reno, just where the trail leaves the Tonto Creek. The hide and flesh were gone, but he knew the animal from the horns, and felt he had hit a hot trail at last. The country was new to him; he rode up the trail a mile or so and found a cabin in which a young couple were living. He talked with them for a long time to get their confidence, and they told him they were afraid to talk. If it was known that they had given any information, their lives would not be worth a cent, because they lived right on the trail. He told them that the bones at the foot of the trail was an ox of his, gave the color, brand, and about how long he had been gone. The man decided he could trust this stranger, so he told him about the same men who went over with each bunch, and named some of them. Father asked about the two horses and the mare. The man saw them pass about ten days before, and had seen them in Joe Gibson's stable at Phoenix, from which he had just returned. Father roundly thanked the man and told him he would never have any trouble over anything he had said. He started for Phoenix, determined to reach there next morning before the thieves could, if they learned that he was on the way. The horse had been ten days with very little feed or rest, and as he urged him along, he knew the horse could not carry him all of the way. 133

He urged him along as fast as he could, and as he was passing a little boy, driving some cows on foot, the boy called out "Hello Brother Flake." Father said "Who are you?" "Hunsaker's boy. I used to know you over at Snowflake." The boy said that they lived down the trail about a mile, and that his Father was there. He also said that he had a horse in the corral. Father knew that a fresh horse would carry him on the forty or fifty miles that lay ahead. He hurried to the ranch and said, "Brother Hunsaker, put my saddle on your horse, while I eat a bite. I am nearly starved and I am in an awful hurry." Hunsaker said, "That is why I kept the horse up. I went to turn them all out, but something said, 'You had better keep one', so I kept this one up" Very little explanation was necessary; the change made, he was soon on his way. When he got to the river, late in the night, it was wide and swift. He had never been there before, and it looked dangerous. He gave the horse his head saying, "You know the road, I don't." The horse went into the river, turned up the stream, wound around keeping on the shoals, until he got across, and then he went back to the trail and on to home. He knew this was the horse's home, so he put him up and fed him, and slept until daylight. Then he was in the saddle again, and on his way to Stinson's Ranch. He told him [Stinson] why he was there, and wanted him to go to Phoenix with him. They rode at once to Gibson's stable in Phoenix. The owner stepped out and said, "What can I do for you gentlemen?" Father said, "You can give me that bay and brown team in the last stall." Gibson replied, "Not by a damn sight. I just paid two hundred dollars for them last week." To this Father replied, "I can't help that, they were stolen out of a barn in Snowflake little more than two weeks ago, also that brown mare with those horses in the corral." Gibson then stated, "You'll have to go to Court to get them" Father immediately said, "All right. Stinson, get the Sheriff. " I will not take up room to tell how they threatened to mob him, and the Sheriff refused to go any farther, after a dozen had been claimed. Stinson said, "Sheriff, I am here to back Flake with twenty thousand dollars, if necessary, and you take everything he points out, or I'll make trouble for you." Suffice to say that before he [William] went back to Stinson's Ranch that night, he had turned over to the Sheriff thirty-five head of horses that had been stolen from him and neighbors, and sent a wire to his son James to bring Ballard, Palmer, Bushman, Huning and Scott to Phoenix in order to prove their stock. It was a hard rough trip across the trail, and they had but four days to get to Phoenix. They rode almost day and night to make it. Father hunted the valley over, but did not find any more stolen stock. People who had purchased horses from that outfit hid them or sent them away to keep from losing them, and the only horse found after that was being ridden down the street by a Mexican. James saw him and ran out and grabbed the bridle reins. The Mexican put up a little scrap, but when he found how the land lay, he just threw his saddle over his shoulder and left. That was the day of the trial. When Gibson lost his case all the others gave up without further trouble. On the way home across the trail, Father was riding out in the hills looking for more stolen stock, when he met three men. He only knew one of them, Louie Parker, a nephew of 134

the Grahams. They asked him what he was doing. He said "I am looking for more of my horses that were stolen." Parker asked if he had found any more. He replied, "Yes, you are riding one of them" They laughed and asked, "Do you think you will take him?" To this Father replied, "I guess not. You are all armed, and I am not, but we (looking at Parker) may meet again." He rode off, but never saw either the horse or the man again, but I [Osmer] did, when they ran from the Sheriff's party, which will be mentioned later.

Sheriff C. P. Owens of Apache County walked up to a house in Holbrook, where the leader Andy Cooper with three others of the gang were. All were armed and intended getting the Sheriff, but he was too cool and too quick for them. When he walked away, he left three men dead and one lying with a hole in his breast made by a slug from Commodore's gun. Two or three scrapes in the valley had cut down the number of outlaws, when they tried to drive the Tewksberrys out of the country.

In October of the same year, I [Osmer] went into the Valley with Deputy Sheriff Joe McKinney following three men who had robbed a train near Navajo Springs. We met Sheriff Mulvernon from Prescott, John Francis from Flagstaff and Glen Reynolds from Globe. We did not know they were coming in, but met Jim Houck on the trail and he took us to the camp. They had come to clean up the Valley. The next day John Graham and Charley Blevins were killed. Tom Graham, Louie Parker and Adams, who were watching from the Block House, jumped on their horses and left the Valley. About eighteen others were arrested. There was no more trouble in the Valley except Al Rose. When he got back in the Valley, he was found with two bullet holes through his body. Tom Graham was ambushed and killed near Tempe. The others left the country, and thus peace came to the Pleasant Valley, and safety on the Apache County range. (William J.Flake, pp 113-118)

Prudence: another child

On July 7th, 1887 Prudence gave birth to her sixth child, another girl. They named her Wilmirth East Flake after a close neighbor and friend. Fortunately, no complications surrounded the birth and Willmirth lived a long and productive life. This child's birth meant that Prudence had three living daughters and three children who had died.

Prudence's health had been precarious for many years. Even when Franklin was born in 1884, Prudence was so fragile that she rarely left her home. Emma described her condition:

Unfortunately, Prudence's health had gradually worsened. She had been house- bound since the birth of Joseph [Franklin] in 1884. She could no longer dress herself and had to stand behind the door when it was opened to avoid a draft of cold air. During this time, several friends and relatives came to her assistance. Aunt Sarah Miller would come with her little family and help Mother. One day Father said, in a joking way, as he came in the house: " Do I have to feed all those little 135

Millers?" Aunt Sarah took it seriously and picked up all her little family and went home, but soon forgot and was again there to help. Aunt Lizzie Kartchner, Grandfather Kartchner's second wife, did our washing for 50¢ a week, and would come and get it and bring it back home, at which time she would usually sit and talk to Mother for quite a while... Our half-brother, Charles, and his lovely wife, Belle, lived there after their first son, Marion, was born. Aunt Nancy Mann worked for her [Prudence] and 'twas thus that Uncle John Kartchner became acquainted with her and took her as a plural wife. Uncle Aaron, Mother's half-brother, also got in some courting as Maggie Blythe, an English convert, lived with us for some time. Uncle Aaron later married her. Ain Knight was another girl who worked for Mother, and Becky Stuart, who later became the wife of Mother's half-brother, Uncle Culver Kartchner. All Mother's brothers and sisters were very kind to her and tried to help her in every way they could during her illness and suffering. At times the sacrament was brought into the home and administered to so that Prudence could have that privilege. . When Prudence would have an asthma attack, she would have to sit propped up in bed day and night as she could not breathe lying down, and at times the sound of her raspy breathing was so loud that it would be heard at the gate. Bobbed hair was very unpopular in those days. Mother's hard breathing and fits of coughing from asthma would cause her to perspire until her hair would be wet. Then, if she got in a draft, she would take cold very easily. Therefore, she had her sister, Sarah Miller, cut her hair. Aunt Sarah was very handy; she could do anything. She was family barber, shoe repairer and everything. Mother's fight for breath was so severe at times that she told us that there was no pain she had been called upon to suffer that compared to that--and we must keep in mind that included the birth of seven children without a doctor or anesthetics. One child was even born after she had a paralytic stroke. At times when the spells of asthma were the worst, she was confined to her bed for several days and naturally we wanted to be very near the bed, and she would kindly request us to stand back so that she could get more air. At other times she could not lie down, and we would place a chair at her back to help sustain her and as a rest for her weary body. (Life of Prudence... p.13, 14 ,22.)

A second son called on a mission

In August of 1887 William's oldest son, James Madison was called on a mission. He was the second son to be a missionary, but there was a big difference between James and Charles, the other missionary son. Whereas Charles was single, James was married and had children. In fact his wife gave birth to their seventh child just ten days before James left on his mission. Lucy wrote:

in Augest of that year James was called on a Mishon to Europe he had to go to Utah by team so my self, and Jane Roberta Joel and John went with him he had a Daughter born last day of Augest we started September 10th leaveing his babe ten days old his Wife and 136

six children we had a very hard trip it rained nearly all the way on us164 we was twenty days going to Beaver it was dredfull mudy we got in Bever 29 September found all well Mother had money saved up for me to go to salt Lake to Conference on the Cars the terminous was thirty miles from Beaver James Mother and myself went that was the first time I was ever on the cars we went to Conference visited our relitives stayed in Salt Lake eight days then I had to part with my Dear Son he to go across the Ocian in a strange land with all strangers to him I to return home he took Mother and myself down to the Depo helped us on the cars took us by the hand but our thoughts was to deep for words no sound was herd I think that was the greatest trial of our lives it seemed more then we could bare for the time we was all willing for him to go and preach this gospel and think it an honor for any man to be called to this important Posision but the parting at such times is dredfull (Lucy, pp 37-38)

1888

This year was a busy one in some ways. William and Lucy received their patriarchal blessings. William and Osmer delivered Church sheep to Mexico. Lucy celebrated her 46th birthday and the Snowflake Academy opened in December. Oh, in addition, William had an encounter with a bunch of vigilantes who had just hung some cattle rustlers.

Patriarchal blessings.

In June 1888 conference was held in Snowflake. Both William and Lucy received their patriarchal blessings. For William, it was his second blessing. He would receive yet another blessing in 1893. (The 1883 patriarchal blessing for William will be included after these 1888 blessings of William and his wife.)165

Brother William in the name of the lord jesus Christ and by the othority of the holy preasthood I have placed my hands upon your head and seel upon you a Patrircal Blessing

164Roberta tells of one rain-caused incident: "One night Jimmie unhitched the horses and had them staked out for the night. The children had gathered brush to make a fire to cook supper. We had part of the bedding out, when I called to Jimmie and told him to bring the team and lets cross a dry wash that was a few rods ahead of us. He wanted to know why we should go to all that trouble. I didn't know, only I felt that we should cross that wash. Always obedient to me, he harnessed the horses; we loaded the things in again. The children carried the brush and wood, and we camped again within a hundred yards of where we had stopped before. The ground wasn't as level as the other had been and I felt like maybe I had been mistaken in my premonition, but toward morning we were awakened by a roar of rushing water and found when we got up that the gulch was running from bank to bank with muddy water. We would have been delayed possibly a day or more and then had to make a crossing had we not heeded my warning. All Jimmie could say was, "Mother that sixth sense of yours is positively uncanny." To the Last Frontier, pp. 112-113) 165 William and Lucy would receive yet another patriarchal blessing in 1893 when they made the journey to Utah for the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple. Those blessings will be included later. 137

be comforted therefoure for the lord is well pleased with the integrity of thy hart His eye has been upon you your gardian Aingle has Watched over you and presurved you from the hand of the distroyar even death your Father obtained prommises concerning you His prairs have been answered and you have been spaired to rais up his name and from hence fourth your whole life shall be devoted for the spred of truth and the building up of Zion and to council and advise your brethren and to give succor and support to your Sons and Daughters for behold thou are of Ephriam and I seel upon your head all the Blessings of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and for your obedience and sacrifise you shall be rewarded an hundred fold and come up to your exaltation of your increece there shall be no end I seel upon your head the spirit of prophisey and discernment and say unto you be of good cheer for your name is cronicalled as being a pioneer in opening up the resorses of this Deseret land you have been inspired. the Aingles have been on your right and on your left you shall be prospered and your flocks in your basket and in your store and shall live to see Zion free and accomplish a great and good work in your day and your name shall be honored with the leaders of Isreal and your posterity shall cary forward the work of redemption For you came upon the earth to become a Saivour unto meny of your departed dead I seel these with all your former blessings upon your ordinations and indewments that you may make your Calling and election sure through faithfullness through Jesus Christe Amen Recorded Book A Page 395

Dear Sister Lucy in the name of Jesus of Nazereth I have placed my hands by the authority of the Holy preasthood upon your head and seal upon you a Patriarchal and a Fathers blessing lift up your head and rejoice for your a mother of Sons and Daughters to whome has been committed many choice gifts and are called unto high callings and to be the companion of Brother Flake with Whome you have labored and recieved meny choice blessings washings and annointengs your prairs have been hurd you have been guided by the inspiration of the all mighty Continue to sustain your Husband Exercise your faith in behalf of your sons and Daughters and your name shall be held in honorable rememberance through all generations The Aingle of death has been turned a side and your life spared to be a witness of the good things of God Your words and admonitions to your Sisters shall be a sorse of strength and conciliation to them your hospatiality and kindness to the survents of God has entitled you to great blessings the prairs of the Widows and Fatherless have asended in your behalf you covennented in the spirit World to come to this earth in this dispensation to take part in the great pioneer work to be the Mother [of] Prophets and chosen men who shall bare the Priesthood honor your guarden angle has Watched over you from your cradle to this day Your name is also recorded in the Lambs Book of life continue in humility and it never shall be blotted out you are through 138

the loins of Ephraim and I seel upon you all the blessings of the new and everlasting convenent you shall live as long as life is desirable and you shal be coequel With your Husband in all the ordences to prepare you as a Saviour for the redemption of your dead It is the Will of the Lord that you shall reed your Blessings with a prairful heart and with great humility and your mind never shall be darkened and you shall be exalted as a Queen and Preastess in connection With your Husband and come fourth in the morning of the first Reserrection I seel these blessings with your former Blessings in the name of Jesus Christ amen C L Flake scribe Recorded by Osmer D Flake book a page 396 (Lucy, pp 39-41)

William's 1883 Patriarchal blessing

Patriarchal Blessing on the head of WILLIAM JORDAN FLAKE, son of James Madison Flake and Agnes Love, born in Anson Co., N.C., July 3, 1839. Blessed by William McBride, on March 9, 1883, in Snowflake Arizona. Brother William, in the name of the Lord Jesus I place my hands upon thy head and by the authority of the Holy Priesthood I seal upon thee a Patriarchal Blessing and I confirm upon thee all thy former blessings and ordinations, for thou art of the lineage of Ephraim and it is thy right and thy privilege to stand as a savior to your Fathers house for their salvation and their exaltation both to the living and for the dead and thou shalt lay the foundation for them and teach thy children and thy children's children to build upon the same that the work for the salvation of thy progenitors shall be completed both to their living and for their dead for unto this end thou wast born. Thou shalt yet proclaim the Gospel from land to land and from sea to sea, for thou shalt hunt up Israel and lead them to their homes, and administer ordinances unto them and to thy fathers house in the Temple of the Lord and shall stand a savior on Mount Zion and shall judge the house of Esau and shall bear thy portion in bringing about the restitution of peace of the earth and see that the power and policy of the government shall fall into the hands of the just that all men shall be free to worship their God according to the dictates of their own conscience and none will dare to molest or make them afraid. And by obedience to the new and everlasting covenant, thou shalt receive an everlasting inheritance for thyself, thy wives, thy children, thy relatives and thy friends and a crown of eternal life is laid up for thee. I seal the words of this Blessing upon thee in the name of Jesus, Amen. (Lucy H. Flake, scribe.)

Church Sheep

With the passage of the Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887 the LDS Church was, for all practical purposes, disenfranchised: 139

The act disincorporated both the LDS Church and the Perpetual Emigration Fund on the grounds that they fostered polygamy. The act prohibited the practice of polygamy and punished it with a fine of from $500 to $800 and imprisonment of up to five years. It dissolved the corporation of the church and directed the confiscation by the federal government of all church properties valued over a limit of $50,000. The act was enforced by the U.S. marshal and a host of deputies. (Wikipedia, "Edmunds-Tucker Act")

To avoid the confiscation of all the Church's resources, leaders approached Flake with a request that he take possession of 2,000 Church sheep:

The Church was able to get some of the property from the Territory to keep it from the United States Marshal. They sent a band of two thousand sheep from Southern Utah to Arizona. They asked Father to take them on to Mexico, and he was to have one year in which to deliver them. He was to get the wool and the increase for his work, for the year, I relieved [received?] them at Old Sunset corral on Christmas Day 1887. It was bitter cold, the snow was deep, so we kept them in the lower country until the weather got better. Lot Smith turned over twelve hundred more, so that we had thirty-two hundred to deliver. We delivered them in October 1888. We were thirty-two head short, for which we paid. When we first delivered them at Sunset, we sold five hundred weathers166. (William J. Flake, p. 23)

Actually, it was Osmer, not William, who delivered the sheep to Mexico. En route, he had an interesting encounter with an old rancher:

His [William's] generosity did not start in Arizona. When I was going to Mexico with the sheep, I stopped for lunch on the bank of a small canal in a patch of musket [mesquite]. I did not know there was a wheat field near by and when I went for my team, I had to go to a ranch house for them. The farmer was mad, and said that I could not take the horses, and was going to give me all the trouble he could. It was Sunday, and I had to wait until Monday before we could have the damage appraised, he said. Finally, when I went to take the horses by force, he stood at the bars; as I was tying the ropes on the horses, he noticed the brand and asked where I got the horses. I said that we had raised them. He asked then who the brand belonged to and I said, "My Father." "What is his name?" he questioned. When I told him, he said, "Bill Flake of Beaver, Utah?" When I answered in the affirmative, he rushed in and grabbed my hand. I asked if he knew him. He said, "I never saw him but once. I lived in San Pete County; about thirty years ago, I was on my way from St. George and camped just north of Beaver, and one of my horses died. I had no money. I went into town and tried hard to borrow a horse or buy one on time. No one would let me have one, and I started for camp not knowing what to do.

166 A castrated male sheep is called a wether. Wethers are less aggressive than rams. 140

As I passed a place near the edge of town, I saw a man in the yard. I stopped and told him my trouble, and asked him if he would let me have a horse. I had no money, but would either send him the money or return the horse. Without any hesitation, he said that there were four horses over in the barn, and for me to go take one of them. I asked him which one I should take. He said it did not make any difference, that they were all about the same. I took one of the horses and drove home. Six months passed, and I did not get the money. A neighbor of mine was going over to Beaver, and I sent the horse by him and twenty dollars to pay for his use for the six months. When the man returned, he handed me the twenty dollars and said that the fellow refused to take a cent, but said, "It was an honery [sic] cuss that would not help a traveler out when he was in trouble." That man was Bill Flake. I never met him but the one time, but have always wanted to." He asked a lot of questions which I answered the best that I could. I finally told him that my sheep had gone on, and I must get the wagon and follow up, and asked him what the damage was on the wheat and I would settle it and go. He said, "There is nothing to settle, if they had eaten the whole crop it would not cost you a cent." He begged me to come by and stop with him on my return from Mexico and rest my team up before starting over the mountain. Many of the old settlers who he [William] had so kindly provided for in the early days lived up the river. They overwhelmed me with kindnesses; hardly one of them but would divide the last thing they had with me, and felt it an insult if I insisted on paying for grain or food to last me on the way home. Bud Donahue was with me, and stayed with the sheep from the time we received them until they were delivered. (William J. Flake, p. 153)

A Lesson in discipline

By 1888 Prudence had 3 living daughters: Emma, 9, Pearl 7 and Wilmirth 2. They were good girls and usually did not need much correction. Prudence never needed to raise her voice. Emma recalls, for example, that at times she and her sister would get distracted and forget to do their chores:

Sometimes we would be doing things so interesting that we would forget to come back, and we, upon returning, we might find Mother lying down, with her clothes on because she could not take them off by herself, but she never scolded. Wilmirth remembers her saying "If we do not have a clean house, we cannot ask the Lord to stay with us." (Life of Prudence, p. 17)

On one occasion, however, Prudence felt the girls needed more than a gentle reminder:

None of us remembers Mother ever spanking us or slapping us. She always remonstrated if ever a child was struck on the head. She always said that Lord made a place especially for that. She never raised her voice when speaking to us or correcting us and our greatest punishment was to see her shed tears. I remember one time after Primary, Pearl and I got in Jim's wagon and rode down with him to his house at the mouth of the canyon--without first asking permission. Mother 141

got Uncle Orrin to come and get us. He took Pearl on the horse with him, but I had to run along the side of the horse. When we got home, Mother ask Father to punish us, but he did such a thorough job, with a locust limb, that she told him she would never ask him to punish us again. (Life of Prudence… p. 16)

Lucy's birthday party

Lucy had a surprise birthday party when she turned forty-six years old, and the party turned out to have a surprise of its own.

On my forty-sixth birthday, August 23, 1888, a number of my friends got up a surprise party for me. My daughters and daughters-in-law knew about it but I "never smelled a mouse" until the house was filled and all the ladies in town were there. They brought picnic with them and such a variety and quantity. They had a program arranged of original numbers, each one seemed to be trying to say something nicer about me that the others had. I felt so unworthy of all their praise, but was glad to think I was held in such love by my friends. Just as we were in the midst of our celebrating, here came William, bringing a young man who had shot himself in the heel. We made him as comfortable as possible, but the party broke up, and the ladies all left. The boy was new in the West and unaccustomed to firearms. He had left the ranch where he was visiting, about seven miles away, and was riding along on his horse when he saw a jackrabbit. He pulled his pistol out of the scabbard and tried to shoot the rabbit, but the cartridge stuck and did not go off. As he returned his gun it was discharged and shot him through the heel. It was ten days before we would let him go, and then we missed him very much. He was so interested in everything we did. His people were wealthy167 and he was used to better things than we were able to give him, but he was welcome and seemed in no hurry to leave us. Of course we would not take any pay for keeping him, but he and his mother were very appreciative for what we had done. (To the Last Frontier, p. 114)

The Law of the West

In 1888 he [William] received a letter from Mr. Fott of Pleasant Valley telling him that there was a mare of his in the Valley, and he went after her. At Heber, he learned, there had been some men hanged up on the Mountain near the trail. As he rode toward the Valley the next day, he saw James Scott, Jimmie Scott and Wilson all hanging in trees, where a mob had left them. When they were removed, he went on to the Valley, and all the ranches were deserted.

167 Osmer includes the same story in his book, but with one major difference: "Father brought in a boy, Roy Coldbath, who had accidentally shot himself. He nor any of his people had ever belonged to the Church, but he was an orphan and needed help." (William J. Flake, p. 126) 142

Seeing a man, with a band of horses, across the Valley, he rode over. The rider, heavily armed, asked what he wanted. He asked for Mr. Fott. He saw two more men riding toward him, armed to the teeth. They asked his name and he said "Flake." One asked, "Do you see anything there belonging to you?" pointing to the band of horses. "Yes, that brown mare over on the far side is mine." [The fellow said] "You will find Fott with the crowd just over the hill." He [William] said "I seem to be a prisoner, so take me over." There he met the men who did the deed. Of course they did not tell him they were the ones who did the hanging, and seemed very much surprised when he told them. He knew a number of the men, but they would not talk about it, but he was determined. He wanted to know whether Jim Stott showed the "white feather" or died a brave man. They finally told him enough, so that he knew they had hanged the other two, and then had tantalized [taunted] Stott. He cursed them to the end, and tried every way possible to fight them or give him a break. They even put a silk handkerchief around his neck, saying that they did not want to hurt him. Then they would draw him up on the limb, hold him there a little, then let him down. They took pleasure in tantalizing him While we were all glad to get rid of Stott, we did not approve of mob law, and worse still was to torture the victim. Stott was educated and kept books of all his transactions. When the property, horses, cattle and ranch equipment was sold by the administrator, Flake bought it and in this way got hold of the books, which told from whom the stock was stolen. Later on, the Father, Mother and Sister came out from Boston. They, of course, felt awfully bad and kept repeating, "They killed an innocent boy when they hanged our son Jimmie." Flake did not want them to go back feeling that way, so he took the books, and asked Mr. Stott to go with him and when they arrived at a place where there would be no disturbance, he gave him the books and said "Now sit down here and see for yourself. I don't want you to go away feeling that innocent men can be murdered here without the people doing something about it." In a couple of hours, he [Mr. Stott] came in and gave the books to Flake and said, "I will never say that again, but he did not need to do what he did. I am wealthy and sent him money every time he wrote for it, and the books show just what money I sent him." Flake said, "I was sorry to do this, but I wanted you to know the truth, but do not tell his Mother or Sister. Let them think of him as innocent." (William J. Flake, pp 125-26) Snowflake Academy

Education had always been important in Snowflake, despite the relative isolation of its inhabitants. As mentioned previously, the very first winter after the arrival of the first settlers, Annie Hunt was hired as a school teacher. Later, a school house was erected and other teachers added. The country was raw and untamed when Mormon pioneer families began to settle Silver Creek Valley 130 years ago. However, the struggle of surviving in a harsh environment did not make them forget the value of education. Within months a school for the lower grades was established.

143

In 1888 the Snowflake Stake Academy was established to provide education beyond the 8th grade for all who cared to attend. Later a brick building was erected and enrollment grew. Much, much later, a public high school was created and the Church leased the former Academy building to the State of Arizona for ninety-nine years, at a dollar a year.

Osmer Flake, it turns out, had a significant role in the operation of the Academy during its first year: On December 21, 1888, the Snowflake Stake Academy was organized. E. M Webb was the Principal. He said that he could not run the school without assistance, and they could not afford an assistant, so they were about to give up, when Father came to their rescue, and told them that he would furnish the necessary help free. I was in New Mexico following the horse thieves, but arrived home to start with the second week, and taught seven classes a day for the school year, with no remuneration.168 (William J. Flake, p. 123-24)

1889

Only Lucy makes mention of events in 1889. Osmer, Roberta and Emma's sketch of her mother do not include anything about what happened that year.

Jane's first child, medical complication

Jane (Lucy Jane) was William and Lucy's seventh child and second daughter. She had married Peter Wood in 1887. In 1889 she gave birth to her first child:

February 4, 1889 Peter Wood started from here to go to Mexico that is Janes Husband so she had to leave us 89 in May 5 Janes first baby was born a boy when he was three months old she had a gathered brest and they was afraid it was a cancer so he sent her home to us on the cars to have it doctored but it proved onely a gathered brest169 (Lucy, pp 43-44)

168 Osmer's half-sister, Emma, was one of the first students: "In 1889 at age ten Emma became the youngest student at the Snowflake Academy that opened for business on January 21st of that year. Fifty-one youngsters comprised the student body. Previously, Emma had studied in the little log school located close to her home. Even later, as her mother's health deteriorated Emma continued to attend school and to learn all that she could." (Biographical Sketch of Sarah Emma Flake, p. 13) 169 "Gathered breast" is a nineteenth century medical term for an infected or abscessed breast. One 19th century description of the condition states: "Taking cold, from carelessness in not covering the breast while nursing, is a frequent cause of gathered breast...The first symptom of severe gathered breast is a decided chill; the more severe the gathering, the longer the chill lasts. Sharp, lancinating pains accompany the shivering." Another expert added: "Inflammation of one or both breasts, with a manifest tendency to suppuration, is apt to be of frequent occurrence in nursing women. And in some persons this difficulty, originally arising from constitutional predisposition, becomes almost a confirmed habit, since they seldom or never can nurse a child without experiencing the exceeding distress and annoyance of a gathered breast." 144

James returns

The most joyous event of 1889 was return of James from his mission to England. His mother was ecstatic, as can be seen by her following comments:

Our son James labored in Scotland the first year in England the next he greatly enjoyed his labors he kept a journal he was released and returned home Oct 88 [error: 1889] we sent some means and he furnished the rest brought a young girl with him Novemberr, 8 James 30 years of age We cooked him a birthday dinner at my house we invited Bishop Hunts family his youngest Daughter by his Wife Lois was fourteen the same day her name is Lois we had a splendid time was so thankfull Our son was home and had filled an honorable mishon he found all his family well he saw considerable of the old world he went to paris to the great Exabition (Lucy, p. 44)

1890-91

William was still recovering from the financial loss incurred as a consequence of his imprisonment, so he began a freighting business:

In the Fall of 1890, he [William] had acquired quite a few work horses that he traded [for] preparatory to starting a freight outfit. . . . Freighting was good from Wilcox, on the Southern Pacific to Globe. He went there and freighted all Winter. The contractors had a farm and a bunch of Indian horses near Mesa. They wanted him to go to see what he could do with them; they were losing money on the place. He rented his teams out to other parties and went to Mesa. He put Will Burton on the place, and returned to Snowflake in May 1891. (William J. Flake, p. 126)

A brief reacquaintance with an old family servant.

In 1887 Charles still was unsure about what he should do to improve his lot financially. In January he wrote in his journal that he was going to "farm father's land on shares." However, by late February 1888, he obtained a U. S. mail contract that paid a generous $7,000 per year. From that point on, Charles did well financially. He even took in his brother James Madison as a partner when James returned from his mission in 1890. In that year he wrote:

During the last two years I have cleared a good deal of money. Consider that I am well worth $9,000. My business proved a success Have visited California—went Los Angeles-Sanbernardino—and many of the other cities visiting Bells folks and old Nigger Liz170. She treated me first class, and loaded me down with oranges pictures and good wishes for the folks.171

170 The modern reader is shocked and offended by Charles' use of the word "nigger." However, perhaps we should not judge him too quickly. The word was freely used in earlier centuries without an automatic negative connotation. For example, many official place-names contained the word "nigger." Examples include Nigger Bill

145

Osmer marries

Osmer, age 23, was the next of the Flake children to marry.

March 11th 1891 Osmer was Married to Elsey Owens of Woodruff he was Married at Charles House by Bishop Hunt we had a Weding this is the first one of our Familey that married at home all went to the Temple he went to the Manti Temple afterwards and tendid Salt lake Conference his Father was still on Salt River (Lucy, p. 45)

Breaking horses

Even though William was getting older (he was 52 in 1891) he still had sought-after skills when it came to horses. Osmer wrote:

The Waters Cattle Company had a number of wild horses they wanted to break. He contracted to take one hundred to Mesa and break them, and keep them all Winter, for two dollars a head for pasture a month, and eight dollars each for breaking them He took the horses down in August. Mother took the younger children down, traveling with Bishop Hunt, and intended to stay until Fall. (William J. Flake, p. 126-27)

Canyon, Nigger Hollow, and Niggertown Marsh. In 1967, the United States Board on Geographic Names changed the word nigger to Negro in 143 specific place names, but use of the word has not been completely eliminated. A popular children's rhyme"Eenie Meenie …" once contained the word nigger for tiger. Among the classic novels of Joseph Conrad is The Nigger of the 'Narcissus' (1897). Some modern publishing houses have changed the n-word for another less offensive to the modern reader. Agatha Christie's novel, Ten Little Indians, originally appeared as Ten Little Niggers. Rudyard Kipling's Just So Story "How the Leopard Got His Spots" tells of how an Ethiopian and a leopard, who are originally white, decide to paint themselves for camouflage. The story originally included a scene in which the leopard, who now has spots, asks the Ethiopian why he doesn't want spots as well. The Ethiopian's original reply, "Oh, plain black's best for a nigger," has been changed in many modern editions to read, "Oh, plain black's best for me." Randall Kendall, a Black Harvard law professor, has studied the history of this racial slur. He observed that the word "did not originate as a slur but took on a derogatory connotation over time." (p. 4) He added that "by the end of the first third of the nineteenth century, "nigger" had already become a familiar and influential insult." However, he also quoted from a well-known Black musician "If you grew up in the South, whites called you nigger from the time you were born." (p. 18) (Randall Kendall, Nigger, New York: Vintage Books, 2002) Charles was a product of his times and had lived in the southern states for two years. The word "nigger" was probably the most often used term he had heard when referring to Black people. In summary, then, given Charles obvious fondness for Liz, his grandparent's and father's faithful, devoted family servant, it seems very unlikely that he used the term in a pejorative way. He was just using a word he had heard all his life that designated Black people of African descent--but he should have picked another more complimentary term of endearment. 171 Journal of Charles L. Flake, 1881-1892, July 1st, 1890 entry, p. 65 146

Prudence suffers a stroke

Prudence was nearly an invalid due to her asthma, but to add to her misery she suffered a stroke in the fall of either 1891 or 1892. The exact year seems to be open to debate. Osmer and Roberta state that it happened while William was breaking horses in Mesa and when he got the news, the family hurried home. Lucy makes no mention of the event in her journal. On the other hand, Emma, Prudence's oldest child, gives the very specific date of November 18th, 1892:

On November 18th, 1892, she [Prudence] awakened me, telling me something was tragically wrong, as she couldn't move her head enough to see the clock nor move any part of her left side. She said to run and get Uncle Nowlin, who lived a block away. I was so excited I could scarcely tell him what I wanted. He came at once and they Prudence's 3 girls: Emma, Pearl administered to her and did everything they could and Wilmirth, about 1890-91 do for her comfort. For some weeks she had to be fed, dressed and bathed, just like a helpless babe. It was a stroke that had affected her left side. Since she was left-handed, it was a real handicap. In this hour of trial, Aunt Lucy's older children extended untiring service to Mother, proving their love and respect for her. James and Charles sat up nights with her. . . It seemed impossible to think that a human could go through the suffering she had to go through. Gradually, by persistent effort, she could take care of her own needs . . . (Life of Prudence... p. 19)

Lost in the snow

When William got the news of Prudence's stroke, he and Lucy quickly packed and set out for Snowflake. Although he had made the trip many times, somehow in the snow of winter, they lost their way:

We prepared to leave at once. We had a most terrible trip, for though we started back December 3, we ran into some dreadfully cold weather. One night it snowed about two feet. When we awoke the next morning it was all a vast sea of whiteness. There we were, lost for three days because the sun did not come out for that long and we did not know the direction. To make it worse, Roberta had been run over by the wheels of the wagon she was driving. Her shoulder was broken and she had other internal injuries, her face was skinned, and she was in much pain. We were in luck to be where there was lots of wood, and kept a fire day and night. We had plenty to eat so she could have been worse off. However, I [Lucy] did lose my patience for a moment and said a swear word that my family had never heard me use. It was 147

Sunday morning. Roberta was seated by the fire, in a spring seat. Will and the boys were gathered along around her to keep the blaze from burning her face. They could turn around when they got too hot on one side. There they were singing at the top of their voices such songs as "Come, Come Ye Saints," "We thank Thee Oh God, for a Prophet," and others by the dozen. Finally I said, "If anyone should come along they would say, 'look at those damn Mormons, lost in the snow and sitting there singing their heads off.'" I suppose it had all gotten on my nerves or I wouldn't have said such a word. I hated slang even, and would have been shocked to have heard William swear like that. They were not shocked; they laughed and laughed until the two little boys fell down in the snow. The weather moderated that night and the next morning the sun came up and we knew where east was, so continued our journey by the aid of blazed trees. We were eighteen days getting home. (To the Last Frontier, pp 117-118)

1892

A tragic death

When Charles returned from his mission, he began immediately to improve his situation financially. Within a few years he had a solid mail contract and had begun two stores. Lucy wrote: "Charles got the mail contract through this country in order to pay his drivers he bought a few goods and built a little room for store he was greatly blessed in all his labors" (p. 42). When James returned from his mission, Charles took him in as a partner and they began work on a new Flake Brothers store in Snowflake.

Lucy described some of the events that occurred prior to that fateful day of December 8th, 1892:

July Charles commence to build a large brick store on our block or the Flake block he kept lots of men at work as he was in a hury to get it done as the Store he has was so small he promised Bell he would go to Salt Lake to conferance but he got so buisy he wanted to put it off but Bell thought she could not go the next fall she did not feel satisfied to give it up so they went they left thir two oldest children with me her sister Anney took care of the babe James second son is deaf and dum they took him with them and put him in the deaf mute school they had a splendid trip they went on the cars Bell saw meny butifull sites as it was her first trip on the cars when they got home found all well they [had] to hury up the new store . . . the Store is two storys high the upper room a large dancing hall (Lucy pp 46-47)

After providing the above background, Lucy told in great detail what happened next:

December 92 eight my Dear Son Charles was murdered or fately shot Charles recieved a telegram asking him to arest a bad man just came to our town he red the telegram to James he said all right they went 148

Charles went home got his pistol went to the place where the fellow was stoping got in a conversation with him James came up said to the stranger I have arthority to erest you The fellow steped back James caught his arms behind him he[the outlaw] pulled out his pistol shot over his sholder shot James through left ear filled his eye and cheek with powder then turned on Charles shot one bullet though left side of his neck as his bullet struck Charles one from James pistle struck him it sounded like one shot James shot two bullets in him he stagered as the first one struck him and the other struck him before he fell then James raised Charles head on his arm put his thump [sic: thumb] in the place to stop the blood said to his Dear brother you are going have you any thing to say Charles opened his eyes and smiley [smiled] so sweet but never moved his lips it was quite a little while before any one came he laid Charles down and told some one to go after the Elders to administer to him the Bishop Hunt went administered to him then came and told us the brethren put Charles on a door and took him home on the same block he lived one hour and half or two hours but never spoke he did not suffer any pain all the time he lived the people Brethern and sisters was praying for him to live Poor James he was covered with blood and did not know where he was shot till they took Charles home then he went to examining himself a great meny men said great credit was do James for his shooting some said it did not look posiable one eye full of powder and shoot as he did but he was assisted by a power from on high James is very cool and has great nearve the fellow was nineteen had killed seven men before the last offence had held up seven men and robed a bank had killed his brother when he was thirteen years old could shot with both hands was a splendid shot he was killed dead thir feet lay together James said it seemed half hour before any one came there he was did not want to leave his brother it was just dinner time people was eating thir dinner it is no use to try to tell of our sorrow how our harts did ache no one but our Hevenlly Father will ever know we could not eat or sleep poor James would stand by his Brother and say oh if you could have lived and me been taken he would be so glad it almost killed him his injureys were very bad but hart trouble was worse he said if I could give that poor fellow his fife [life] back how gladly he would do it he said he thought he would be the last man that would shed another mans blood but it he had not killed the fellow his own life would have been taken and meny more he [the outlaw] was well mounted had two belts of cartridges and every thing in order we felt to acknolege the hand of God in spareing James life Bell was so noble she said if one had to go it was beter for Charles to go he died thursday two oclock we kept him till Saturday night most sundown & he never turned one might no bad smell he was just as White and pure as could be I don’t thint there was one drop of blood left in him his funeral was in the Stake House every thing good was said of him all the People morned the schools was stoped all the work was stoped the poor Indians came to see him and shed tears all morned Outsider and Mormon no other person would not be missed more or caused more sorrow then did his death Mr C E Cooley sent a very feeling Teligram to us expressing his sympathy Brother and Sister Bushman both sent letters of sympathy Uncle R T Burton wrote a butifull letter 149 we got letters from meny friend and kinsfolks and from California I will copy part of Brother Lymans letter

Dear Brother and Sister We are all broke up over the teruble calamity that has come upon your family in the violent death of your devoted Son Charles L it don’t seem posiable that it can be true He was good enough to die but oh I cant see how you can reconcile your selves to such a loss My hart bleeds for you and his Loveing Wife and tinder children and for Bishop Hunt and family It is a serious loss to your Ward and Stake This is a serious Shock to James who is woonded & left alone in business affairs Pleas give my love and blessing to every member of both famileys I love you and condole with you all in your sad bereavement The Lord only can make up to you this great loss I am pleased I saw Charles and his wife here last October I am now writing at Merion juniurs and have just been looking over the pictures of Charles and his wife and two children and Bells two sisters Charles has finished his work his earthely work has fought the good fight and kept the faith has erned eternal life Our sorrow is not for him but those left behind . . . God bless you all for ever Francis M Lyman P S you have the hart felt sympathy of the first Presidancy and Twelve who have sorrowed over your trouble this day and offer you thir blessings.

James was almost beside him self till we got this letter he could not rest night or day he suffered great pain all the time he seemed heled after we got this letter the next morning after the shooting James said if ever he prayed in his life he praid last night for the poor man he had killed he said I praied as humble a prair as he knew how to pray asking God to forgive him that his blood might atone for the sins he had committed Osmer recieved thir Mail and wrote letters clirked in the store and done most all the business for a long time James was not able the Plasters was plastering thir Store room they Just finished at noon was eating thir dinner herd the shooting that morning Bell went to the store Charles had her go over to the new store and climb up a ladder to see the upper room he was anxious about the new house he could hardly sleep he told her how he was going to have it fixed and that was thir last talk the last time I saw him just before he went to arrest the man he was carrying a hod of mud on his sholder I said poor boy he is willing to do any thing that is honorable to get his store done that was the last mud put on the looer part the poor man always told his wife he would not live long he wanted to make her as comfortable as he could while he did live he built a butifull brick House the finest in this place and furnished it nicely a butifull organ a very nice large barn and every thing one would wish all this besides his store when he came home from his mishon seven years befor he did not have a dollar (Lucy, pp 47-51)

150

Given the brevity of Lucy's usual comments, her lengthy, meticulous description of Charles' death seems almost loquacious. It clearly reflects the emotional impact the tragedy had on her.

1893

A business sold, a near robbery

In February William decided to sell the freighting business he had started down in the Gila area of Arizona. On his way home, he had an "interesting" experience:

On February 28, 1892172 Father went to the Gila to sell his freight teams, and settle up all of his business there, and collected all that was coming to him. With a team of horses and wagon he started home. The second day out, he saw two men riding in the cedars, out from the road. He knew at once that they were after his money. He drove on, and one of them finally rode up by the wagon and talked. Father told him to tie his horse to the side to get in, which he did. The fellow did some questioning, and he [William] told him everything. He told him that he had been down to Wilcox to settle some business and sell his freight teams, and then to Safford, where he had finished up and gotten his money. The fellow said, "You got a good roll of money out of it then." "Yes," said Father. "I was going to bring it along with me, but my friends would not consent, and said that there were too many robbers, and that some of them would know I had collected a lot of money and would follow me, and that I had better send it home by express, and I would be sure of it when I got there, and I thought it was very good advice." The stranger rode a half mile farther, and then said, "Well, I guess I will get out and ride on." So he got on his horse and went ahead down the road, and was not seen by William again. They had been in Safford, and knew that he had received a lot of money. (William J. Flake, pp 129-130)

Salt Lake Temple dedication

When William reached home after selling his freighting business, he wanted to celebrate:

He reached home the last of February 1893, and paid all of his debts, and felt like a free man. He did not owe a dollar, and had money to go on. It was the first time since buying Stinson's Ranch in July 1878. He said, "We will take a pleasure trip, and go to Salt Lake City to the Dedication of the House of the Lord." Aunt Prudence was not able to make the long trip by team, so he arranged for her to wait and come by train, with James, in time to meet him there. (William J. Flake, p. 130)

172 This date is apparently an error. On the very next page Osmer says William returned home at the end of February 1893. Roberta also places this event in February of 1893. Lucy states that "our Dear Husband and Father started 29 of December for the Glia [Gila] on buisnesss" (P. 52) 151

William and Lucy took with them their two youngest sons, Joel and John. Several others joined them for the twenty-one day wagon trip. Lucy mentioned "it snowed and blowed and was very bad" (p. 52). When they reached Beaver, they rested a day or so, then left the boys with family and "took the cars" (railroad) the rest of the way.

Lucy described the events in considerable detail:

. . .the next morning we took street cars went to the Tabernacle to conferance as soon as we got in the Tabernical I saw Uncle Joel he got up gave me his seet by Aunt Francis he went with my Husband and found another seet they took me to dinner with them My Husband Wanted to see the Apostles and did not go with us . . .when meeting was out I could not find any one that was going to my sisters so I took the street care [car] and went when I got there My Son James had come on the cars was so glad to see him the next morning all went to Conference . . . there was so meny they held meeting in the assembly Hall we went there Apostal Lyman Presided it is grand after being absent from Salt Lake so meny years to go to that Grand Tabernicle and here that great Organ it brings tears of joy to my eyes . . . we ate super then went to the Rileaf Society meeting in social Hall Aprial 6th at ten my husband went to the Great council meeting we fasted my husband James and me I went in my sisters bath room had a butifull bath put clean clothes on preparatory to go to the Temple at Twelve oclock after we got redy my oldest Brother Orson Jame s and myself visited the deef and dumb mute shool whare James son Albert goes to school the superentendant and his wife were very kind to us the Wind blew fearefuley and while we was there it commenced to rain trees were blown down in great numbers small houses turned over one child blown a way and killed cars blown of[f] the track it had been perdicted the Devil would howel and shure enough he did after it quit raining a little we went to the Temple we had to wait out the Wall near two hours it commenced to snow just as hard as it could Snow and Hundreds of people standing there in the Snow wating for the doors to be opened173 Arizona and Beaver went in at the same time with meny out lying Wards of my People that was there was my Husband oldest son James my sixth son Joel . . . also Prudence and the old lady that went with us . . . the Temple was grand and butifull its description has been given to meny time[s] for me to describe it or even try but it is beyond description butifull in every part . . . Aprial 8th . . . at seven my Husband James and Prudence went in the great New Temple to do some work Prudence went to be blessed for her helth my Husband James and myself dressed in Temple clothes James and his next Brother was adopted to us174

173More than 2,250 people crowded the large Assembly Room on the fourth floor of the temple for the first of twenty-three dedicatory sessions that continued over almost three weeks. 174 Lucy used the word "adopted"—as she did in 1877--, to mean sealed. In today's LDS Church, the ordinance would be unnecessary since Lucy and William were sealed 9 Oct 1861 in the Endowment House and, according

152

President Joseph F Smyth officiating when he got through he said Brother James your names will go down on the great record as the first work in this new Temple then he said isent that nice Brother Flake yor names Will go on the record as the first work done in this Temple that is a great credit to you Brother F D Ritchards F M Lyman was there and two or three more of the Twelve was there if we had not been very deer Friend of Brother Lyman we could not got this great blessing but through him we got it after we put our clothes on Brother J F smith took us in several different rooms showed us around and explained many things to us Brother Lyman blessed Prudence gave my Husband James and my self Temple cards to go again next morning . . . Aprial 11th seven oclock in the morning we bid my dear sister and her Husband and children good by and took street car for depo Brother F M Lyman was on the street Car he paid our fair and bid us good by and blessed us James took leave of us as he would leave next day Prudence and him went all the way on the cars home . . .on 18 of Aprial we [William, Lucy and two boys] started home [from Beaver, by wagon] . . . we came home in fifteen days found all well

Additional Patriarchal blessings

While in Beaver, William and Lucy received additional patriarchal blessings:

Patriarchal blessing upon the head of William Jurden Flake by Patriarch Danial Tyler.

Brother William Jurden, son of Ephrium, I seal upon thy head, a patriarchal blessing. Thy name is written in the Lames [Lamb's] book of life. A celestial crown was prepared for thee before the corner stone of this earth was laid. Thou hast had many trials, but they were comparatively light unto thee, because in them all thou hast seen the invisible hand of our Heavenly Father. Thou hast acknowledged him in calling thy dear beloved son to labor in a higher sphere. Thy posterity shall be very numerous, among them shall be Apostles, Seers and Revelators. also ministers to the house of Isreal, and strong pillars in Zion. Through thee and thy posterity thine ancesters will be redeemed back to the early ages of the world. Nothing that would be for thy good shall be with held from thee; Thou shalt have power to heal the sick, even an increase of that power with which thou was born into the world. Nothing of the spiritual gifts shall be with held from thee when wisdom would dictate their use. The blessings of the earth shall be increased unto thee, because thou hast trusted thy Father and administered to the wants of the poor with a liberal hand,. As thy years increase so shall thy joy increase in the Lord. to current LDS policy, all children born to that union are automatically sealed to the parents, "born in covenant." As mentioned previously, the sealing policy of the Church was changed by Wilford Woodruff in 1894—a year after this visit of William and Lucy to Salt Lake for the temple dedication. 153

In a simple and easy way thou shalt obtain thy Geneology to a numerous host. thou wast ordained before the foundation of the world to the Holy Melchesedic Priest hood, and many blessings, which thou art now enjoying. The Heavens are full of blessings for thee to be bestowed in every time of need. Thou shalt live as long as life is desirable; meet the Savior when he comes to reighn on the earth and dwell with him. I seal thee up to eternal life with thy numerous posterity, with thy adopted ones who will be numerous. This I do with all the blessing that pertain to the first resurrection, with Eternal increase, In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Blessing no 237 p. 226

Sister Lucy Hannah Flake I lay my hands upon thy head and seal upon the[e] a Patriarchal or Fathers blessing Thy linage is of the house of Ephram and thy life has been hid with Christ our Redeemer to come forth in the dispensation of the fullness of time and in connection with thy companion preside over a numerous host a crown also awaits thee to rule and rain as a Queen and Preastus forever Because of the goodness of thine hart good shall be awarded thee an hundred fold for every kind of act and comforting word administered to those who needed aid and comfort Thou will be numbered with those to whom it will be said I was hungry and ye fed me I morned and ye did comfort me and in meny ways thou hast done good by which thou hast laid up tresures in Heaeven Thy posterity will be united with thee and stand with thee in the great family union with thousands upon thousands of thine ancesters in the Resurection of the just Thou hast been willing to forsake all for the sake of the gospell The labors of thy martyred son will add to thy glory a thousand fold Thou shall be a leeding among thy sisters and the wisdom of thy councills shall be a proverbe in Isreal Thou shall continue to comfort thy sisters in distress Thou shall also have power to heal the sick in thy family also to wash anoint and lay hands upon thine afflicted sisters and in the name of Jesus restore them unto perfect helth Thou shalt live to accomplish all that was designed by our Heavenly Father in thy coming into this world no good thing shall be with-held from thee whether spiritual or temperal I seel the [thee] up unto Eternal life to come forth in the morning of the first Resurrection and in connection with thy companion rule and reign in the house of Isreal forever in the name of Jesus amen Blessing 241 Book B

Summer of 1893: farm life

After returning from Salt Lake City, William and Lucy moved out to "the farm" on May 8th. They stayed there all summer and returned to town in October. They would follow this 154 pattern of summers on the farm and winters in town for the next several years. Roberta described in detail all the preparations needed to make the trip back and forth:

As soon as school was out in the spring we moved to our summer home, the Homestead. We always enjoyed it up there. It was so cool and quiet. . . . There were the days of preparation. The rooms all had to be freshly whitewashed, the windows and woodwork cleaned, and floors mopped, fresh clean straw to a depth of four or five inches put down, then the homemade rag carpet stretched over it. Stretching the carpet was the worst job, and had to be done when one of the menfolks could be spared from the harvest. It was the man's job to lie down on the floor and stretch the carpet and hold it until a tack could be pounded in the edge to hold it down, then on to the next, all the way around. Many a "darn it' or "dogonit" were said as a hammer hit "the wrong nail" or someone laughed and let the carpet slip and all that pulling and tugging to get it in place had to be done over again. The muslin window curtains, and the valences around the bed, to conceal the trundle bed in the daytime, had to be washed, starched and ironed and put up. The hearth in front of the fireplace had to be mopped and then marked off in squares, diamonds, or some other design, with slate or chalk. When the house was cleaned from floor to ceiling, though tired, we were thankful and happy. There was always leftover straw to be swept into the fireplace, and as we sat on the freshly laid carpet, and the younger ones tumbled around on it, and the flames danced up the chimney with a crackle and roar, we would not have changed places with royalty (To the Last Frontier, pp 130-131)

December: another baby for Prudence.

Although Lucy makes no mention of the birth of Prudence's seventh child, both Osmer and Roberta include the event in their books. Emma, Prudence's daughter, describes in detail the circumstances in which Prudence gave birth to her last child:

Prudence made a remarkable, albeit partial recovery to the extent that by April of 1893 she had recovered sufficiently to travel to Salt Lake City for the long-awaited dedication of the Salt Lake Temple. William J. Flake and his first wife, Lucy, made the trip by buggy, but due to her delicate condition, Prudence was allowed to make the final portion of the journey by train.

WPrudence & her 4 girls: Back, L→R: Pearl, hEmma, Willmirth, i Front: Prudence, AnnaBelle (insert) l

155

While in Salt Lake, Prudence requested a blessing for her health, and in it she was promised another child! December 28, 1893, just eight months after the blessing, Prudence gave birth to a tiny premature baby. They named her AnnaBelle. (Life of Sarah Emma Flake Freeman, p. 17)

1894-95

1894 passed without a great deal of major happenings or, thankfully, tragedies. William went to Phoenix—on horseback--, to be a witness at a murder trial. Going on horseback was, according to Osmer, almost an inborn trait for his father: "Mother used to say that if she asked him to gather the eggs, he would saddle his horse." (William J. Flake, p. 132)

Lucy, on the other hand, mentions several items of family interest. In January an Apostle and his wife came for a visit. Apparently, such visits were frequent and the guests usually stayed with the Flakes. In February Andrew Jenson, another visitor from Salt Lake, arrived with the following advice:

the last of February Brother Andrew Jenson Chirch Historian came here to snowflake for church history he incouraged every one to write a jurnal I had wished a great meny times in the last twelve years that I had commenced to write a Jurnal he incouraged it so strong that I have made this feeble effort (Lucy, p. 60)

Thus it was that in 1894 Lucy sat down to write her remarkable life history. In her first notebook, she summarized the first 52 years of her life. Near the end of her first notebook, Lucy wrote: my Husband will be 55 years old the third of July I am 52 we had thirteen children and 25 grand children my Husband 20 children in all we have passed through some trials the Lord has blest us in all our trials and we don’t feel to complain we have had meny times of rejoiceing in this country (Lucy, p. 60)

From about March 1894 until her death some six years later, Lucy made almost daily entries in her journals. Many—most—are very prosaic, simply a grocery list, in a sense, of her daily activities. Only occasionally does she reflect on the significance of the events, or open the window to her innermost feelings. Shown below are some of her 1894 entries:

June Fourth 1894 we moved on our farm my Husband bought from brother Fish it is on the main roode there is considerable travel and it is very plesant place to live . . . this is the 25 of June I have been to sunday School every sunday this month and performed all my parts . . . July 21 this is Joels Burthday he is fourtten today we killed a chicken and made nudles my Husband came home from saw mill all right with a load of lumber . . . July 29 sunday went to sunday school and meeting We are living in our Farm it is quite a plesant place one and half mile from town on the main roode our house had three rooms in it we have just had another room built 156

. . . Augest 11 th . . .Brother Godard asked all under twenty five that did not drink tea coffee drink Whiskey or beer to stand up and all over twenty five that did not use it to stand up and then he asked all that did use it to stand up or if they would try and quit it stand up there was a great number stood up I with the rest Brother Godard said the time would soon come when every one would have to quit the use of these things . . . Augest 19th Roberta is Seventeen today we all went to Sunday School but William he stayed and took care of things . . . Aug 20 William commenced a brick house for Prudence Brother Curby is masan he is getting a long fine Well this ends the Book and I hope to do better in my next s/s Lucy H Flake

. . . September 19 Wensday we are washing been cutting off corn to dry William Osmer and Joel are branding stalk. they branded 56 hed today thursday 20 went to sisters meeting there were 21 Sisters there I quilted also grated off corn for starch Friday 21 My husband went off today after stalk to be gon six days . . . Wensday 26 we are all well I am working at the beens Sister West just came up and brought some green tomatoes for me to make sweet pickles William came home all right brought some cows and beef stear . . . Friday 28 made my sweet pickle the men folks fished with thir new sain [sic: seine net ] and caught thre Hundred at one hall they caught a dredfull lot of them William took most of them down to Snowflake and distributed them with all our folks and meny of the neighbors Saturday 29 William holled Prudence a lood of wood I [f]ed the ducks cleaned the cellar out cleaned the floor and was[hed]

William and Lucy stayed on the farm beyond their normal time since William was busily engaged in finishing a new town reservoir. He had been assessed $1100 toward the project which he paid mostly from his labor:

Thursday 11 October 1894 Went to Snowflake with cousin Joseph White met James he asked me to cook for his hired men that commenced work on the Reservoy he has to work out three hundred dollars on the land purchis his Father has to work out eleven hundred dollars on the land purchis

Finally, in December of 1894 news arrived that Lucy's mother had passed away in Beaver. In her journal, Lucy wrote a considerable amount about what an educated, patient, loving person her mother had been. And her mother's death put Lucy in a nostalgic, sorrowful mood:

Sunday 9 [December] . . . my Dear Mother passed a way She Died at her home in Beaver December 2 six o clock Monday Morning She passed a way with out a struggle Sat up in bed fifteen minutes before and ate a little then laid down and went to rest. She was one of Gods noblest Daughters pure as could be Noble in all her acts in life my pen is to feble to tell of her goodness but her work is well done She was 76 the last day of Augest if I could onely make the record she has oh how thankfull would be My Father had four Wives besides my Mother there was thirteen children Mother had five sons and four Daughters one son and two Daughter past a way before her Monday 10 I feel blue and sad to day William is working on reservoy children all gon to school the wether is stormy and cloudy snowed a little. (Lucy, p. 81)

157

1895

Osmer did not include any information about 1895. Roberta mentioned several things, husking corn during the winter, the fact that Lucy was still in the Relief Society Presidency and had also been called to be the Primary President. And, the most traumatic event was the death of James' wife, Nancy in March. Lucy continued making daily entries in her journal.

Husking corn

When my children were small, I [Lucy] used to think that when they got older I would not have so much to do, but find I am busy as ever. This winter, 1895, has been an especially busy one. On Saturdays and evenings after school I often go to the barn with the boys to husk corn. They work so much harder and more willingly when I am there. We sort of make a game of it, a contest like, to see which can shuck the biggest pile in a given time, or who can husk the first colored ear. Of course there were prizes. For instance, the winner might take some eggs and go to the store and buy some candy for us. He could have a lump of candy for each dozen ears we shucked. Sometimes each of the boys could have every tenth ear they husked. This they shelled and took to the store to buy some shoes or other article of apparel. I didn't mind those "huskin' bees." They gave me a chance to get out of the house, and an opportunity to get closer to my sons. There were so many things I wanted to teach them—loyalty to themselves, their family, their country and their church. I wanted to tell them of the wonderful things their ancestors had done. I wanted to teach them purity of thought and action, to shun the very appearance of evil, that crime never pays, that a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. Then there were the fables I heard from my Father which always had a good moral to them. The boys would listen, gladly, to keep me out there with them, if for nothing else. (To the Last Frontier, pp 139-140)175

Death of James' wife

Roberta described the passing of Nancy, the wife of James, in the following way:

We were preparing to move [to the farm] the first of April, when Nancy took seriously ill. She was very sick for four days and then at 2:30 on the afternoon of April 6, 1895, her gentle spirit took its flight. She was called to a better home. She was all right. She had done her work and done it well, but poor Jimmie and their nine motherless children. It seemed so pitiful The next day, Sunday, was a sorrowful day for all of us. The family all came for dinner as usual, but everything seemed so strange. To think that Nancy, who had never seen

175 As usual, Roberta interjects a lot into Lucy's rather sparse journal entries. Lucy's journal entry was a simple "this afternoon Roberta John and myself husked corn and finished it all I feel so glad it is all done" 9 Feb 2, 1895 entry, p. 90) 158

a sick day in her life, not even when her children were born and we had all we could do to keep her in bed the required nine days176, should be snatched away so suddenly. Nancy was not one to make a great show. She was not a society person, courted no one's favor, was a companion to her husband and children, was a home body, yet, at her funeral, which was attended by people for miles around, beautiful tributes were paid her by the leading men of the communities, who were the speakers. Each tried also to bring comfort to the family After it was over we went about our tasks as before, but, oh, how we missed Nancy. (To the Last Frontier, p 142)177

1896: Another Death: Prudence passes on

1896 was another pivotal year in Flake history; it was the year William's plural wife, Prudence, died. She had been battling her asthmatic condition for years, gradually weakening and becoming more and more house-bound. Her daughter, Emma, provides the most details about Prudence's passing:

After the birth of AnnaBelle, Prudence was bedfast all the time. Nothing could be done to relieve her suffering. The least little thing brought on a terrible spell and she would have to sit propped up in bed for days and would wheeze so that she could be heard outside the house. Of course, the girls had the major responsibility for the care of the baby. After two more years of suffering, Prudence had weakened to the point where she no longer desired to live. She had wanted two things: to remain mentally alert until the end, and to live until her girls could take care of themselves. Since Emma was now sixteen, Prudence must have felt that she had stayed in mortality long enough. On February 8th, 1896, Prudence asked for a blessing. She said: "Tell the Lord my work is done and I'm ready

176 Earlier medical theory stressed postpartum confinement and "lying in" i.e. confinement to bed, for a long period after giving birth. A 1932 publication referred to lying-in as ranging from 2 weeks to 2 months. It also suggested not "Getting Up" (getting out of bed post-birth) for at least nine days and ideally for 20 days. This prolonged time of staying in bed after birth may also be called "lying-in". In the 19th century it was not uncommon for women in western Europe to spend 40 days in bed and/or house confinement. 177 Again, Roberta writes expansively and changes Lucy's much more restrained and direct way of describing events. Lucy's actual language was: "Friday 5 Nancy is worse it seems she gets no better We have the Elders quite often but she don’t get better the Wind blows the hardest to day we ever had it blow and from the north Nancy is so nervious very nurvious I don’t think ever saw any person so bad before we think the wind makes her worse and it is dredfull cold Nancy talks at random a great deal Saturday 6 James sent for me at three this Morning She is graduely getting weeker She has dredfull hard work to swallow She never shut her eyes all day yesterday or last night Just kept them Wide open all the time She don’t seem to know us and cant talk at eleven o clock we washed her and changed her clothes fixed her bed and made her more comfortable but she graduley grew weeker and twenty minutes past three her gentle spirit took its flight . . . Mon 8th this is the day for the Funarl the children are all to fix and decay has set in I went put on her apron and cap and girdle and saw her put in the Coffin and the lid fasened down then we came to dinner than fixed for the Funeral there were a great nunber from Taylor it is a nice day but all seemes like a dream I did not mention the speakers at the funeral President Smith Pall Smith Woodruff Freeman Bishop Decker and Bishop Hunt and William all spoke well of the departed one thir remarks was comforting and good (Lucy p. 101, April 5-6, 8th 1895 entries) 159

to go." She lay down and rested a few minutes, then asked her husband to dedicate her and let her go. He did so and she passed away "like a baby going to sleep." Prudence's death marked a change in funeral procedures in Snowflake. Prior to that time, the deceased was placed in a coffin and remained in the family home while loved ones went to the church for the funeral. Inquiry was made to Church authorities as to whether it might be permissible to have the deceased taken to the church for the funeral service. The request was approved. Thus starting with Prudence, subsequent funerals in the church in Snowflake at least, included the deceased in his or her coffin in the meeting house. (Life of Emma . . . p. 19)

Roberta, citing from Lucy's journal, gives a slightly different account of the last moments of Prudence: Several members of the family had been with her all night, and everything was being done for her relief. Just before she passed away she looked up and asked Mary, who was standing nearest to her, "Mary, don't you think my light is going out?" Then, closing her eyes, she went to sleep as peaceful as a babe and our Prudence had left us. (To the Last Frontier, p. 144)178

Actually, Lucy wrote a great deal more about the event than Roberta included:

Friday 7 . . . in the evening went in to see sister Prudence she is very low and week I fear she will not recover Saturday 8th Prudence was very low all night William Sister Miller and her daughter and Emma set up all night this morning they sent for James to go and lay hands on her he asked her if he should anoint her she said yes and tell the Lord if my work is done I am willing to go that is the first time that she has seemed willing to go he laid hands on her after which she laid down and rested for an hour then Pa dedicated her and she Passed away like a babe going to sleep it was half past nine when she breathed her last Mary and her father and her own girls was all that was there We would have gladly kept her longer for her childrens sake but she has been a great suffer for meny years it seems our Father was very Murcifull to take her from her suffereings last Thursday the Sisters continued thir fast and all prayed for her but it seemed her time had come to day is sunday school review a nice warm day Sunday 9 We spent most all day at Prudences did not go to meeting or rview Monday 10th We was permited to take the dead to the meeting House for nearly five years the dead have been left at home while the people all went to the funeral When

178 Roberta also included a short essay Prudence had written in honor of Lucy on her 46th birthday: "Written in honor of the forty-sixth birthday of Lucy H. Flake which we have assembled to celebrate. Her years have been spent in the cause of Zion, she has held different positions of trust and honor, and has filled them with untiring faithfulness. May her years be many and be filled with usefulness as have the past. She had launched her barque on the sea of life and has endeavored to live up to the laws of our Great Creator, as they have been brought forth in the dispensation of the fullness of times. She has passed through many trials, has watched over the sick, by way of being a comfort to them, as well as in her own family. She had laid away a number of little ones to await her coming in the Spirit World, and when she reaches there may she meet them and receive the crown and exaltation of the just with all its joys and happiness is the prayer of her Sister, Prudence J. Flake. (To the Last Frontier, p. 145) 160

Apostle Lymon was here in November I asked him if it was right for our dead to be left at home while the friends went to the meeting house he said no take them to the meeting House every time he seemed very much out of patience I feel like that little talk done much good the funarl everything passed off so nice the singing was grand and the surmonds was very good and full of comfort very meny good things was said of Prudence the coffin was carried on a bear[bier?] by Orin Kartchner Alma Parmer Ninon Millar James Osmer Joel and Theadore Turley to the grave the Relief society young Ladys young men and the morners primary and others Marched to the grave twenty wagons and carrages all followed the remains to the grave Brother Smith Rodgers dedicated the grave with prair (Lucy, pp 161-162) Emma added:

Mother's passing seemed more than we could endure. She had been so near and dear to us. So patient and understanding. Not only were we left to manage the household and care for ourselves, but also for a very delicate baby sister who did not even walk, though two years old. Had it not been for our kind Heavenly Father's tender care, it would have been impossible. After the funeral we were taken to Aunt Sarah Miller's for a day or two. I shall never forget the kerosene light shining dimly from the window of our once happy home. Oh, the heartache caused to think of going back to it and our Mother not there. But the family, neighbors and friends tried to comfort and help us and we prayed to our Father in Heaven and as He has promised, we received blessing and strength for the added responsibilities and burdens.

To lose one's mother at age sixteen is difficult enough, but when that death shifts the burden of motherhood on that same eldest daughter the result can become a truly weighty responsibility. When Prudence died, Emma was sixteen and nine months. Pearl was fifteen, Willmirth, nine and AnnaBelle, two. The latter represented the biggest challenge for Emma and Pearl. AnnaBelle was 26 months old, frail, and had never walked a step alone. One good woman said to Emma: "I guess you know you will never raise that child, she will soon follow her mother." Emma's quick response was "I am going to do my best." And so she did. (Life of Emma . . . p. 20)

For the next four years Emma and her three sisters lived pretty much independently in Prudence's little cabin. Since it was necessary to take care of AnnaBelle, Pearl and Emma alternated keeping house and going to school with Willmirth. Emma's routine revolved around taking care of AnnaBelle and Willmirth, cleaning the house, fixing meals, alternating with Pearl in school attendance, and even working a certain number of hours in the Flake Brothers General Store. Emma later wrote:

As previously mentioned, Mother had kept us in school regularly in spite of how very much she needed our help. Now, after her passing, it was necessary for us to take turns caring for our baby sister, AnnaBelle, and keeping house and going to school with Wilmirth. Thus Pearl and I completed the grade school. 161

In the summer we were taken to the ranch between Snowflake and Taylor, where we would milk cows, make butter and cheese, etc. Fish were seined out of the reservoir back of the house. These needed to be cleaned and taken to all the neighbors far and near. Never were they taken until they were cleaned. Twice a year the moving to and from the ranch was a big job. But it was good training. Many anxious hours passed [during those years with] Pearl and Wilmirth, now going with boyfriends, and no dear Mother to counsel and safeguard us. Many tears were shed and sincere prayers offered and our kind Father in Heaven never fails to answer such prayers. The Amusement Hall was next door, which proved to our advantage, as we could get AnnaBelle to sleep and then drop over occasionally to see that everything was all right. (Life of Prudence, pp 20-21)

It is a bit surprising that Prudence's husband and first wife did not take the four children into their own home. True, William J. Flake lived in a home just to the east of Prudence's cabin, on the same block. He was close enough, therefore, to give immediate aid should the girls need it. In addition, Lucy was quite busy helping her son James with his large family. James would marry again in the fall of 1896, but he called upon the services of his kind mother many times during that year prior to his remarrying. As a consequence, Prudence's girls more or less raised themselves from 1896 until 1900-1901. Lucy Flake kept a detailed journal during most of that time and, curiously, rarely mentioned "the girls."

Miscellaneous Flake activities, 1896

Osmer detailed several of William's activities during 1896. In January William spoke in church for over an hour. Later, he was called to jury duty. He had a cabin built for a widow who had come from Mississippi with Charles in 1885. She and her four children had been without a home and had no prospects of being able to acquire one. "He gave her a half acre of land, adjoining the town on the East and moved a two room log house on it and gave it to her." (William J. Flake, p. 137)

In addition, Lucy mentions the fact that William spent a great deal of time freighting to Fort Apache. The trips would last from nine to fourteen days each. It seems that William, despite his age (57) was always looking for ways to improve his lot financially. The trips must have been arduous, but rewarding from a monetary point of view.179

179 Typical of Lucy's Fort Apache journal entries were the ones for March 9th, 10th and 23rd , 1896: "William and John are fixing to start for a pache again…. all well William and John have started for Apache this morning the winds blows cold from the North. . . . Monday 23 all well William came home from apache last night and I was so glad to see him he had been gon 12 days this is a butifull day and we are moveing to the farm" (Lucy, p. 166) 162

Roberta marries

Roberta, age 19, got married September 9th, 1896:

She matured early and had had about six years of young ladyhood. There seemed to be an epidemic of marrying as there were nine couples from our little town contemplating matrimony in the fall of 1896. Roberta had been keeping company with a young man for quite a while and while we did not approve of her choice, we consented to the marriage. (To the Last Frontier, p. 146)

Roberta's wedding Two days after the wedding, Roberta and her husband, together photo, 1896 with another couple, started by wagon for Salt Lake City. Her brother, James, had lost his wife the year previously and found it hard to care for his nine children and also take care of business. He soon met and courted a suitable young lady and when Roberta and company left by wagon, he and his bride-to-be took the comfortable train and met the others in Salt Lake City.

Wood Dance

According to Osmer, William began a tradition in 1896 that continues even until today. It is known as the "Wood Dance."

On December 18, 1896 he gave a dance and supper to all of the people who helped him with the houses or hauled wood for the widows. The town has since followed that custom for many years. (William J. Flake, p. 137)

William: babysitter

The newly established tradition of the "Wood Dance" was not the only dance that occurred in Snowflake in December. Between Christmas and the New Year, several dances were usually held. While Prudence was alive, she even loaned out her things to Roberta and the older girls:

I recall when shoes were scarce. Of course Mother's, worn only indoors, would be free from wear and tear [and] were slick on the bottom and nice to dance in, and were always well cared for. After she retired, or when she was compelled to stay in bed, Aunt Lucy's girls, Mary, Jane and Roberta, might come and borrow her shoes for a dance or some special occasion, such was their love and good feeling for her. (Life of Emma . . . p. 21)

When Prudence died, Emma and Pearl were old enough to attend the holiday dances. The problem arose, however, as to who would care for AnnaBelle while the older girls were at the dance? It appears from time to time, Grandpa William was enlisted. For example, Lucy 163 recorded in her journal entry of 25 Dec 1896: "Brother Flake stayed with Aney [Anna] Belle while the girls went to the dance". (Lucy, p. 214)

However, even before Prudence's demise, Emma and Pearl had to adhere to certain rules:

Pearl and I recall that at times we were fortunate to have a new dress for the Christmas holidays. At times during the holidays they danced more than just every Friday night, especially when there were not theatrical performances. Just such a thing happened on one particular occasion. There was a dance Christmas Eve, and although the buttonholes were not in our new dresses, we didn't mind saving them for the Christmas dance. So we wore our old ones to the Christmas Eve dance. However Christmas night, just as we donned our new frocks and were ready to leave for the dance, Father happened on the scene and ask: "Didn't you go to a dance last night?" We answered faintly, "Yes". We knew well the unbreakable rule that we were never allowed to go to two dances in a row. "Well, that's enough" he replied, and we knew that was final. Not one of his Emma & Pearl, circa children ever tried to win him over, though John T. and I used to think that Pearl and he sometimes got Father to concede to their wishes. We 1901 sometimes resorted to them in our crisis, to intercede for us. This time, however we did not wear our new dresses that night. (Life of Emma . . . p. 21)

1897

Quite a number of noteworthy events happened in 1897. The town decided to build a new Snowflake Academy and William offered to pay twenty percent of the cost. Joel turned sixteen and was given the customary first "store-bought" suit. On a more serious note, James' daughter, Lucy, died after having been burned severely in an accidental fire.

In July the town celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the arrival of the pioneers in Utah and that same month, archeologists uncovered rare Indian artifacts in digs around Snowflake.

In September, William and Lucy made a two-week missionary trip as far as Tuba City, Arizona. And on December 24th, Osmer Flake began a mission to the Southern States. In addition, Lucy wrote of the wonderful modern inventions that made life so much easier for women and men.

A child dies

In October of 1896, as mentioned previously, James M. Flake married Martha (Mattie) Amelia Smith in the Salt Lake temple. After the wedding, James returned to Snowflake, but Mattie remained in Salt Lake City to further her education a bit. Thus James alone had the responsibility of caring for his nine children. On January 2nd, his mother, Lucy, was relaxing in her home when one of her grandchildren burst through the front door: 164

As I sat by the fire I was at peace with the world. Two days old was the New Year and my resolutions still intact. As usual I had a hard time to get in my reading, but I could do it now. Just then I heard a child screaming and before I could get my glasses off and get to the door, Love (Jimmie's second daughter) broke into the room screaming, "Oh, Grandma, come quick, Lois is burned." I tied my handkerchief over my head, grabbed my shawl from the foot of the bed as I passed and ran as fast as I could to Jimmie's The sight I saw I will never forget. There sat Theresa [another of James' daughters] with her arms cooked to her elbows holding her baby sister, her clothes burned off her, on her lap, and all the children standing around crying piteously. James got there almost as soon as I did, with some medicated cotton and linseed oil. He had a drug department in the store. We went to work as fast as we could. One of the boys was put on a horse and sent for the doctor. It seemed that Lois had been upstairs where Theresa was making the beds. She complained of being cold so Theresa told her to run down and warm herself before the fire. The poor little girl went into the room where the fireplace was and a draught of wind sucked her little dress into the flames. Theresa almost fell down the stairs when she heard her screaming. With her bare hands she extinguished the fire. It seemed a miracle that anyone would have the fortitude to keep fighting fire till the flesh was burned off her hands. It was dreadful to think of. The baby was so badly burned that we had her administered to four or five times. Also Theresa [was administered to], and ten of the Sisters met and had a prayer circle and all was done that could be for their comfort, but after all, our darling babe had to go. She died eleven hours after the accident at about 4 o'clock in the morning. It was a comfort to know that a heavy sleep spared her the suffering she would otherwise have endured. Poor Theresa was so badly burned that the flesh came off the lower part of her arms and hands. She was delirious for days and was only spared through the best of care and faith and prayer. (To the Last Frontier, pp 149-50)180

Osmer's mission call to the Southern States . . . and an unexpected encounter

In his book on his father, Osmer didn't give many particulars about his mission. Perhaps he did not want to detract from the focus on William. However, Roberta provides a detailed description of an incident that occurred early in Osmer's mission and that gave the entire family cause to rejoice:

Our third living son, Osmer Dennis, started on his mission to the Southern States on December 6, 1897. Although he had a wife and three children and Elsie was expecting another within a month, when his call came to report in Salt Lake at a certain time to go with a consignment of other missionaries, he did not hesitate about accepting the call . . . [When he left Salt Lake City] He felt he could not afford a sleeper so sat up all the

180 Lois was born in 1893 and was the ninth and last child born to James and his first wife Nancy. 165 way . . . Through the night Osmer made himself as comfortable as he could in a chair car. The train stopped at a town the next morning and a good looking young man entered the rather crowded car. Osmer made way for the newcomer to sit beside him. "Good mornings" were exchanged . Then the other said, "You are from the West are you not?" To which Osmer answered "Yes." He then asked where Osmer was going. He [Osmer] told him. "I get off at Meridian. If you have time on your hands and would like to come, we would be glad to have you spend a week or two on the plantation. We have plenty of horses and dogs and the hunting is good." Osmer thanked him for the invitation and told him he expected to be in the South quite a while and if he were ever in that part of the country he would be glad to accept the invitation. Then the young man handed him a card which bore the name "John J. Flake, M.D." When Osmer saw the name on the card he looked at it in amazement and said, questioningly "Flake?" "Yes, Flake—what is so strange about that?" "Just this," answered Osmer, "It is my name, too, but I have never seen or heard it before, except in my Father's immediate family." "It is not a common name," said John, "and neither are the people who bear it." This [he said] with a twinkle in his eye and a chuckle in his voice. Then continued, "and you are a Flake? I am glad to hear it. You qualify, if size is an indication of character. Now the invitation I gave you to come and see us goes double." While John J. Flake was talking, Osmer was going through his wallet getting out one of his cards and wondering all the time if the situation would be as agreeable when Doctor Flake found out that this Flake from the West was a Latter-day Saint. The people of the South were particularly bitter against our Church because of the lies that had been circulated against us. Dr. Flake took the card with Osmer's name and address on one side and our Articles of Faith on the other. He looked at it. "Huh! Mormon," he said in disgust and threw the card in Osmer's face. "I am not so sure of the relationship now," he said cuttingly. "The Flakes I know are all too intelligent to be deluded by a false prophet." "Neither am I so sure of our relationship," Osmer said as calmly as he could. "All the Flakes that I know are too broadminded to try to measure other people in their own half bushel. My Grandfather James Madison Flake is as far back as we know, but we have a tradition in our family that the Flakes came to this country to find freedom to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience, and that they fought to perpetuate that principle." Silence reigned between these two Flakes so strangely brought together. As the train neared Meridian John J. turned to Osmer and said, "As a kinsman, I am sure my Father would be glad to welcome you to our home. Don't let him know you are a Mormon or he will burn your literature and drive you off the place." Osmer told him he would be stationed at Jackson for a while and that probably would be as close as he would go to the Flake plantation, adding "Like Paul of old, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ and don't intend to masquerade." They shook hands as John got off the train. The rest of the journey, Osmer could think of nothing else, only that he had found some long-looked for relatives only to lose them 166

again. He was surprised a few days after reaching the office to receive a letter from William J. Flake, the father of John. This gentleman told him the same as his son had, that he would be very glad to see him as a relative but not as a Mormon Minister, adding, "Mormonism don't go at per [?] around De Kalb County. Promise you will not mention your religion while on my place and we will give you a hearty welcome." About this time our beloved Apostle, F.M. Lyman visited the conference where Osmer was. They were both delighted. Osmer showed "Uncle Marion" the letter. Marion knew our anxiety about William's people and the chance that this might offer to get our genealogy, so advised Osmer to agree to the terms and make them a visit. Permission was given by the Conference President. Osmer wrote that the stipulation of the invitation would be met, and that he would be there a certain day. When he reached the Flake home he was warmly welcomed. What was his surprise when he found this other William J. Flake was about the same age, size and complexion and build as his Father. There wasn't a pound's difference in their weight. "There is not nearly as much likeness between some twins as there was between these two men," said Osmer, in talking about it afterward. "The main difference I saw in their habits was that 'Uncle' William was fond of walking, while if Father had to go out and gather the eggs he would saddle his horse and ride after them." Each had sons William, Charles and John, and the strangest of all, the wife of each man was named Lucy. The similarity between these two W. J. Flakes was so pronounced, their characteristics and habits so alike, that their relationship could not be doubted. It afterward developed that they were first cousins. . . .Osmer had an attack of homesickness the next morning after arriving for his first visit. The menfolk all went outside to show him around. A pig got out of his pen. William J. reached down, picked up a rock with his left hand and hit the pig, which went back squealing to its pen. Osmer said that motion was so typically his Father's that he could hardly keep the tears back. (To the Last Frontier, pp 159-161)

Inventions

Roberta wrote a lengthy essay about modern inventions that Lucy has witnessed in her life. As we have seen in some other instances, no such information appears in Lucy's journal. However, at some point in her life Lucy may have spoken with her daughter about such things, thus prompting Roberta to mention them:181

These are marvelous times in which we live. As I [Lucy] went about my work this morning I thought of all the things that have been invented within my time, to make life easier. There is the sewing machine to take the place of long, tedious sewing by hand. Factories do away with the spinning wheel and loom. No more cooking over the fireplace.

181 Lucy's only journal comment about modern inventions was a March 4th, 1897 entry: "this afternoon I went to a Lecture for woman onely a Doctor Wicks from California also went at night and heard Phonograph music for the first time in my life it is very nice" (Lucy. p. 225) 167

We have coal oil lamps, although I find candles cheaper and easier to carry from room to room and to use where one does not need a bright light, like the bedroom. I thought of that as I finished filling my candle box which holds forty, with the ones I made yesterday. Then there are the mowing machines and they take the place of scythe and sickle. The reaper to cut the grain. Instead of the flail, now machines thrash it. Photography was practically unknown in my childhood. . . . there were a few washing machines. You filled them with hot suds, put your clothes in and worked a lever back and forth. That was a backbreaking job, and besides the clothes were not clean. These machines were expensive and I liked my copper washboard and tub best. All of these machines had been to lighten labor, but I saw one yesterday that was purely for pleasure. There was a traveling doctor here, lecturing to women only. Women in our town have never had much to do with doctors, and the fact that he had something to tell them that their husbands weren't supposed to hear, would not have been sufficient to draw them, but he had a machine he wanted to show. I went in the afternoon, out of curiosity, and again tonight, as he promised us a real treat, and a treat it was. He called it a gramaphone. There are small black cylinders that he slides on the machine, winds it up, places a sharp instrument on it and sets it going. As it goes around it plays music and songs. There are tubes that go in the ears, then you can hear it real plain, band music and even the human voice. Only one person could hear distinctly at once. I didn't want to be selfish so I didn't get much, but it was nice what I did hear. It is a marvelous invention. I wonder what they will get up next. (To the Last Frontier, pp 151-52)

Family discord

In April of 1897 the family prepared to make their annual relocation to the farm for the summer. However, this year, a problem arose: "the girls" i.e. Prudence's daughters, balked at living on the farm with Lucy:

Thirsday [April] 1 [1897] Last Tuesday Brother Flake moved the Girles up to the farm the Girls say they don’t want to live there if I do so I will stay here at home in Town it will be lonely but will do the best I can live in Town that is no hard ship but living a lone is no plesant thing for me to have my Husband and sons gon (Lucy, p. 210)

For the next month or so, Lucy's journal entries reflect her sadness and loneliness:

[Apr] 3 . . . this evening I am all a lone the folks are all to the farm [Apr ] 9 My eyes are too bad to sew or reed and I am lonely [Apr] 10 the time seemes long When one is a lone [Apr] 19 Joel stayed all night with me ate his breakfast then went to the farm as I thought in afternoon Brother Flake came home and said he did not go to the farm but went to Conshow no person knows the sorrow in my hart but my Father in Heven he a lone knows I will not try to describe my feelings it would be useless for me to attempt [Apr] 21 . . . this cloud of darkness that I am passing through seemes more than I can bare [Apr] 23 the wind blew hard yesterday and to day harder and it seemes so lonely 168

[May] 8 I made soap ten boxes of ly to day the Incubator has been set nineteen days to a day and one chicken is hatched I am lonely and try to work to pass of [off] the time

Apparently, by June family differences had ameliorated to the point that Lucy moved out to the farm with William and the girls: [June] 2, Joel came to move me the farm During that month and for a period of time, Lucy mentions the girls quite frequently in her journal. A year later, in April 1898 Lucy wrote: "[April] 5, [1898] Tuesday Emma and the girls are kind to me and asisted me a little." (Lucy p. 298)

1898

This year was a relatively uneventful one for William and his family. Lucy noted that he weighed 188 pounds. The principal events for the year were the building of the Snowflake Academy, and Joel's Mexico adventure. In addition, Lucy was busy as ever with her chores and duties as a wife:

Saturday 19 *February, 1898+ I have so much to do don’t know what to do first done all my house work White washed fireplace made cake and pie killed and cleaned two chickens made nudles Peeled potatoes We have company (Lucy, p. 291) Snowflake Academy

At a Church conference the latter part of February, the issue was raised about building a Snowflake Academy. Heretofore, the Academy classes had been held in various building, the Church, the Flake Brothers Store, etc. The Academy was a private high school sponsored by the LDS Church and gave classes from the 8th grade and higher. In 1898 the Board of Education, of which William J. Flake was a member, met and voted to raise funds for an Academy building. Lucy recorded in her journal that $3700 had been subscribed to the effort by March of 1898. However, differences of opinion delayed construction and the building was not completed until 1901. Lucy wrote:

Saturday 30 May [1898] . . . the People cannot agree on the place for the acadamey the Bord of Education had it staked off once and a few objected to it President Smith Wishing to please the People called a meeting to day We all came down and went to the meeting but there was few people there and could not deside Brother Flake has done more to get an Acadamey built then any other three men in this Stake put together and he and James have been treeted very shaby to say the least James was chose as one of the commity they have treeted them very unkind or some of the People not Wishin to mention names (Lucy, p. 303) 169

Joel → Mexico

Joel, according to his own memoirs, was in and out of trouble in his youth. In her journal, Lucy mentioned more than once that Joel was a problem: ". . . for O am sorely tried with the way Joel acts" (September 18, 1896 entry), "I feel bad the way Joel acts he has quit going to Sunday School and meeting and smokes I feel like I could not endure it to day" (December 7, 1896 entry) Perhaps some of it was not Joel's fault; he and his father did not communicate well. Joel tells of a curious incident that involved him, Prudence's daughters and William182.

[After Lucy's death] . . . I went to the ranch, John and my 4 half sisters were with Father there. Pearl and I had always got along fine but I was too mean for one of the half sisters to like. I decided to see if I could make her like me; so I watched and kept plenty of wood cut and carried in water from the spring so we could have plenty of cold water to drink. I thought things were getting along fine when one day Father said, "You will have to get out and find you a job. You are too good to the girls." That hurt, but I went then . . . 183

To return to 1898: Lucy wrote the following in her journal:

Tuesday 17th [May 1898] I washed we have concluded to let Joel go to Mexico on the cars. . . . we think it a good chance he is not contented he wants to go we think he will learn to apriceate his home and Parents he works a few days good then goes off and spends a few days doing nothing and it makes us feel bad I have fasted and prayed much and I feel to acknowledge the hand of the Lord in this . . . so he starts tomorrow after I got done washing Ironed his clothes cooked his food and mended his coat and done the best I could (Lucy, p. 307)

Joel went to Mexico, but soon discovered that life was much easier for him in Snowflake and vicinity.

1899

Lucy kept up her journal during 1899. Little did she realize it would be her last year of mortal existence.

Not a great deal happened of consequence during the year. William hunted horses, worked on a new dam, herded sheep all summer and took care of his cows and pigs on the farm. He turned sixty years old in July and weighed 181 pounds.

For her part, Lucy had all her teeth extracted and borrowed money to pay for the dentures. (It is a bit surprising that William didn't provide the money for the new set of teeth.)

182 The incident actually occurred about 1901, but illustrates the communication problem between Joel and his father. 183 Joel Flake, Out of Darkness into Light, p. 12 170

Friday [June] 9th *1899+ I got my new teeth they are very nice teeth they don’t hurt my mouth but feel awfull strang when I try to eat Friday 16th [June 1889] I borrowed the money from Belle and paid for my teeth

It appears that Prudence's girls did not live with William and Lucy on the farm that summer. However, relations seemed to be amicable between the girls and their "Aunt Lucy:"

Monday 8th [May 1899] I got no chance to come home [to the farm] so had to stay all night [in Snowflake] I slept to Elsies [Osmer's wife] I ate supper with Emma and Perl and the little girls we had a nice visit Sunday 2th [July 1899] after Sunday School was out I went to my other meeting then to the Publick meeting then ate Supper with Emma and the girls (Lucy, pp 360, 367) Lucy's last weeks

Lucy kept working and serving right up to the end. In October she purchased a new sewing machine. In November she and William moved back into town and for Thanksgiving she baked 21 pies. However, her last daily entry was December 7th, 1899. Thirteen days later she wrote that she had been very sick and for the first time been examined by a doctor. For a few days, she rallied. On the 22nd she did her chores and made bread. On the 28th she noted in her journal the birthdays of John (17) and AnnaBelle (6). On December 31st, 1899, Lucy made her final journal entry:

Sunday 31th I went to Sunday School this is the first time since Conference I invited Samuel Smith and John Rodgers home with me they came and we had good visit and went to meeting this closes this year with all its cares and sorrows and its Joys we will say good bye. (Lucy, p. 391)

Lucy died twenty-seven days later, on January 27th, 1900.

1900

Roberta's description of Lucy's passing

The Flake family was understandably shocked and upset by Lucy's rapid demise. She had always been there, a tower of strength and an indefatigable worker and caretaker. Even Joel expressed his sorrow:

I was a wild boy of 19 years when my mother died. Her death was a very hard blow, as she was my best friend. We were standing by her casket when my father said he could look after the rest of the family but I would never have a home until I made it myself. (Out of Darkness into Light, p. 12)

171

Roberta provided the most details regarding her mother's death:

Jan 31, 1900 How shall I begin! By saying that my beloved mother has left the remainder of her beautiful life's story to be finished by her erring daughter. And I earnestly pray His guiding spirit to be around me while I am thus engaged, that it may be acceptable to Him and also to my dear Mother. As she has already written she was very ill at the beginning of last month, but became well enough to enjoy with us the joys of the holidays, but shortly afterward, she again was taken very sick with the same complaint and after suffering untold agony her beautiful spirit left this vale of Tears at 7 P.M. Sat. Jan 27th. The Doctor did all in his power; she was administered to repeatedly, while the prayers of her family and the community ascended unceasingly to the throne of grace, and everything that could be done was attended to by loving hands. But her work was completed, and Our Father took her home to Himself where there are no sorrows, sin or care. And my great desire is that we may everyone live to be worthy to be received by our angel mother when our task is accomplished. The clothes were made by Amelia C. Frost, Nellie M. Smith, Elizabeth Lindsey, Elizebeth Kartchner Elsie and Mary. And I never saw nicer clothes. They were so prettily and neatly made. Emma L. Smith made the slippers, and the stockings were given to her many years ago by Grandpa Wansley. She had her apron and cap made and linen on hand for hers and Pa's clothes. The coffin was made by Father Ramsey and Joe, and trimmed by Joe and Mother [Ramsey?]. The funeral took place at the Stake House at 2 P.M. Jan. 29th. It was the largest assembly I ever saw at a funeral. The Choir sang from pg. 231 in the Hymn Book. Prayer offered by Paul Smith. Singing from pg. 58. Pres. Smith preached the funeral sermon. Read from the 42 Sec. of the Doc. and Cov. Also from the 28 Chap of 3rd Nephi. Bishop Hunt spoke of the goodness of my mother. Singing, "Sweet Hour of Prayer." Benediction by Father Ramsey. The congregation viewed the remains. The Primary Dept. presented a lovely wreath of white flowers and green leaves. The corpse was carried on a pall by John A. Freeman, Lewis Hunt, Francis Hulet, Niels S. Hanson, Walter Smith, Wilford Freeman, Hyrum Smith, Lewis Freeman, Holister Rogers and Ira Willis, preceeded by the Priesthood, and followed by the family, Pa and Annebelle at the head. Then came the Primary Dept., the First Intermediate, then the Second, then the Theological. The Primary carried a banner. They very touchingly sang "Did you think to pray." The Dedicatory Prayer was offered by J. H. Willis. Jos. Cooper, H. B. Smith, Owen Freeman, Davis Rogers and Byrtle Kartchner dug the grave. It was the largest funeral procession I ever saw. People came from Pinedale, Taylor and Woodruff. (Lucy, pp 393-394)

172

And life continues: William's life as a widower

For the next 32 years, from 1900 to 1932, William J. Flake lived as a widower. Initially, he still had immediate parental responsibilities because Lucy's death left him with two unmarried sons from Lucy and four unmarried daughters by Prudence. As time went on, William's family depended less and less on him, but he still kept his place as honored patriarch of the clan.

As mentioned previously, Joel was nineteen years old and after his mother's death he lived more or less on his own. He did reside with William and the girls for a brief period of time, but misunderstandings and miscommunication between him and William prompted Joel to seek lodging and work elsewhere.

1900 Census

The 1900 Census for Snowflake showed the following information:

Flake, William head WM July 1839 60 WD N Carolina N Carolina N Carolina Farmer --- Emma Daughter WF May 1879 21 S Arizona N Carolina Utah at school --- Lydia P Daughter WF Dec 1881 18 S Arizona N Carolina Utah --- Willmirth Daughter WF July 1889 12 S Arizona N Carolina Utah at school ---Annie Bell Daughter WF Dec 1893 6 S Arizona N Carolina Utah at school -- Joel W Daughter WF *July 1880 18 S Arizona N Carolina Utah at school --- John T Daughter WM Dec 1872 17 S Arizona N Carolina Utah at school *[obvious error]

173

Emma wrote:

But on January 27, 1900, Aunt Lucy passed on. So Grandfather and two of Aunt Lucy's boys, Joel and John, and the four girls lived together until the fall of that year.184 (Life of Prudence. . . p 27)

The reference to "the fall of that year" was in regard to Pearl who was eighteen years old at the time. She married Frank McLaws on September 27th and promptly moved to St. Joseph, the town in which her husband grew up. Thus for next six months, from October 1900 to April 1901, Emma was the principal caretaker and homemaker in William's household.

1901-02

Emma marries

In January or February of 1901, John A. Freeman began courting Emma and within three months, he proposed to her and took her to Salt Lake City where they were married in the Temple. Emma was twenty-two and John A. Freeman, forty-one, and like William, a widower with dependent children.

New housekeepers for William

The marriage of Pearl and of Emma six months later, posed a bit of a problem for William J. Flake. Since Emma now had primary responsibility for nurturing the five unmarried daughters of her new husband, John A. Freeman, she would have been hard pressed to keep house also for William J., John, Wilmirth, and AnnaBelle. Therefore, arrangements were made for Pearl and her husband, Frank, to return to Snowflake and assume the duties of caring for the Flakes.

Of her new responsibilities Pearl Flake McLaws wrote, much later:

We made our home in St. Joseph until March 1901 when we came to Snowflake to make our home in Mother's [Prudence's] old home as Father Flake gave us this home if we would come and take care of him and two little motherless girls. The girls lived with us until they were grown and then both were married in the temple to good men; we still take care of Father.

184 William was 60, Emma 21, Pearl 18, Wilmirth, 12, AnnaBelle 6, Joel 19, John 17. 174

. . . We homesteaded 40 acres of land on the hill above town in 1911; lived there six years . . . In 1919 March we bought the Angus Willis ranch at Linden for $6,000 where we will make our home in summer time. I have worked at various work such as carpentry & garage work, farming, stock raising and tried hard to live above debt.185

Of the changing family situation Emma also wrote:

He [John A. Freeman] had a family of motherless girls, so it was impossible for me to care for my two sisters and Father (Aunt Lucy having passed away leaving two unmarried boys.) Father persuaded Frank and Pearl to come and take over the old home and care for him and the girls. This they did until the girls found companions. Wilmirth married Joseph S. Willis [in 1905]. AnnaBelle married S. Lorenzo Rogers April 2, 1913. (Life of Prudence, p 21)

Pearl and Frank were very faithful to this trust. Frank was a patient, service–oriented son-in- law. He was good to William. He and Pearl stayed in the old Flake home until the children were all married and Grandfather Flake passed away.

William visits his ancestral area

In the fall of 1901 William was living with Pearl and her husband, and his son John and daughters Wilmirth and AnnaBelle. Someone may have suggested that he take a trip back to Mississippi, to visit the area where his own father had lived until 1844, and to renew family ties with the Flakes in that region—possibly some of whom Osmer had met while on his mission.

Prior to his departure, William received the following blessing:

Blessing upon the head of William Jurden Flake priar to his departure for a mission to the Southern States, November 17, 1901. Given by President Jesse N. Smith, reported [recorded?] by O. D. Flake. Dear Brother Flake, In as much as you have felt disposed to look after your kins people in the Southern States and obtain facts pertaining to the geneology of your people, and have recieved the sanction of the first presidency to go forth as the missionary in this behalf to the Southern States mission. We your Brethern, by instruction of the First Presidency, place our hands upon your head and in the name of the Lord say unto you, "Go in peace and return in safety, and the Angels of the Lord will watch over you and you will be preserved from every danger. You will triumph over every opposition, sickness shall have no power over you and you shall be able to bear a faithful Testimony to your kindred, and many others. It is the Lords will that you should stand at the head of your house and kindred, and perform the work for them in the House of the Lord. Your testimony shall be quick and powerful. You shall enjoy his spirit and inspiration of the Latter Day Saint Missionary. Your

185 Life Sketch of Frank McLaws taken from a family group record book in the Snowflake Family History Center. 175

tongue shall be loosened and your memory strengthened. Your heart shall rejoice and you shall be satisfied with the work you shall be able to do among your kindred." We seal these blessings upon you with all that will be for your good in the authority of Jesus Christ. Amen.186

We have little information regarding William's trip. He left Snowflake on December 10th, 1901. After spending some time in Mississippi—of which we have no details--, William returned by way of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, where he visited his daughter Jane. It was the only time William ever set foot outside the United States. While there, he met a young man who had been called on a mission and who was married to one of William's granddaughters. William offered to take care of the man's family financially during the mission period and also paid the fellow's missionary expenses.187

1903-04

Purchase of Show Low

In 1903 William completed his last land purchase. For years Mormon settlers had attempted to purchase the area now known as Show Low.188 However, Henry Huning, who had obtained the ranch in 1888 from Corydon Cooley, had been reluctant to sell. In fact, he had extended his holdings north and east of the Show Low Valley. According to Fred Eberhart, Huning's ranch eventually covered 640,000 acres.

However, in about 1900 the federal government started cracking down on overgrazing. Huning was notified he had fenced sizeable parcels of government and railroad land. The government took the land back and made those parcels part of national forests. Huning became discouraged and defiant. He decided to sell his ranch and move out of the area. Osmer tells what happened next:

He [Huning] had held the Showlow Ranch and controlled the country around there for more than twenty years, . . . He had closed out all of his cattle interest, but still held large bands of horses, together with the ranch and all the machinery, many buildings, etc. The Ellsworth Brothers, (Abner and Frank), Whipple Brothers, (Willard and Edson), John H. Willis and J. C. Owens came to Father and wanted him to go in with them on the deal

186 Typed copy of blessing in possession of present writer. From documents prepared and collected by Emma Flake Freeman. 187 1901 chronology notes prepared by Osmer D. Flake in June of 1957. 188 The story of how Show Low got its name is an interesting one: "According to the legend, the city was named after a marathon poker game between C.E. Cooley and Marion Clark. The two men decided there was not enough room for both of them in their settlement. The two men agreed to let a game of cards decide who was to move. According to the tale, Clark said, "If you can show low, you win." Cooley turned up the deuce of clubs (the lowest possible card) and replied, "Show low it is." The stakes were a 100,000-acre (400 km²) ranch. Show Low's main street is named "Deuce of Clubs" in remembrance." (wikipedia: "Show Low") 176

and take one fourth of the property. He had not intended to buy any more places, but he wanted his people to get the Showlow so badly that he decided to go with them and see what they could do. When they went to Mr. Huning and told him what they had come for, he said, "All of you leave but Mr. Flake, I will deal only with him." They withdrew and the deal was soon made. Twelve thousand dollars took everything, and the payments, some down and the balance in a short time. The place was to be delivered in April 1903. There had been times when he [Huning] could have sold easily for twice that price. The other partners did not have the money to pay their share. He [William] had to raise over half of it, so for the first time in all of his dealings, he applied to the Church for a loan, which was quickly allowed; the bill was paid on time and Mr. Huning left the country. Louis Johnson [a sort of foster son to William] had been called on a mission; Father had not only paid a big part of the expenses, but he took care of Johnson's wife, Theresa, while Louis was away. He took Theresa to Showlow to cook for him.189 They [William and the other buyers] divided the property satisfactorily, and then he [William] said. "The next thing is to build reservoirs to store up the water, so that they can take in more land." He went with men and teams and put in the reservoir at Lakeside, and then over on Porter Creek for another. During all of this time, he took the lead, and it took most all of his time until he closed out three or four years later. (William J. Flake, pp 145-146) Fred Eberhart added a few more details:

It was the definite intention of the six men who purchased the ranch to make Show Low a city—not a ranch. They immediately hired W. D. Rencher, an eastern engineer, to survey a town site and lay out a city. Streets were marked, public and private sections were designated, school lands, parks, and church sites marked. A city was born. Although the survey and most of the detail work required was not completed until July, it is safe to say Show Low was born in April 1903. In looking at Show Low's city map, I find no streets named after the actual founders: Flake, Willis, Owens, the two Elsworths and Niels Hansen. I find Huning, Clark and Cooley Avenues and this is good, but I find nothing which has honored the actual founders of Show Low. (Eberhart, p. 2)

189 Fred Eberhart states: "Some say William J. Flake moved to 'White House" that month [April 1903]. Whether true or not it appears quite certain he was the first one to move into Show Low, other than the ranch owners." 177

Family picture

William J. Flake and children, grandchildren. Pictures of the two wives in front. This photo was taken about 1903-04. On front row, seated two adults in from the left, are John A. Freeman and wife, Emma Flake Freeman. John is holding their firstborn, John A. Freeman [b. 1901] and Emma has Blanche [b. 1903] on her lap.

1903-1906

After Lucy's death, for a few years William was in and out of Snowflake and contact with the McLaws. As indicated previously, as soon as the Show Low purchase was completed, he moved onto the ranch and was cared for by Louis Johnson's wife. The McLaws remained in Snowflake to care for Willmirth and AnnaBelle and perhaps occasionally, John. Osmer tells a little of William's activities during the 3-4 years William lived in Show Low:

In the division of the Showlow purchase, he [William] traded with the others, and got all of the horses. There were large bands of them running East of the Showlow. Some of them were wild, and had not been rounded up for years. Huning had bred two Norman Stallions. Some of the young stock was so wild that we never did get them, but he [William] was a horseman. He had owned range horses continually since trading his San Bernardino property for horses in 1857, and knew how to handle them. Range horses had gone down in price so much so that bands could be bought as low as two dollars to five dollars each. He sent me with forty-six saddle horses or partly broken, down through Pleasant Valley and the Tonto in late July [1904] to sell. I sold the bigger part of them. Joel W Flake accompanied me. Robert Scott of Showlow had the finest band of horses in the country, but he could do nothing with them. He came to Father in the Spring of 1905, and wanted to sell them. Of course Father took them, as he always did to help out a friend. James M. and I joined in the buy, each taking one third. A number were sold to farmers around Mesa, Arizona. Five car loads were sold to a Texas buyer, and shipped to Colorado City, Texas. Two car loads were 178

shipped to Aberdeen Mississippi in 1906, and four more in 1907. That took about all of the horses. When we gathered the rest and divided them, each got sixteen head. (William J. Flake, pp 146-48)

1908-1931

With the death of Lucy, Roberta ended her book, To the Last Frontier. She did add one more chapter that detailed the circumstances and events surrounding her father's death in 1932. But that meant that Roberta skipped over the last 31 years of William's life.

Osmer was nearly as brief. He did provide information about William's purchase of Show Low and events for 2-3 years thereafter, but he, too, ceased to chronicle William's life from 1908- 1932. Thus, we of later generations know very little about the 30+years William spent as a widower. Pearl and Frank's oldest daughter, Prudence, later wrote some of her recollections of the many years she lived in the same home as her grandfather, William J. Flake: "Memories of Grandpa Flake" Grandfather would arise early in the morning and after eating a good breakfast prepared by Mama and later by Prudence and then Emma190 with his dog Carol and would ride out on the range to look after his cattle. He would ride most all day. He always carried a roll of "bitter bush" in his pocket. This bush grew wild out on the hills, especially between Snowflake and Holbrook. He was able to renew his supply regularly without any cost. He would break off a small piece of a branch and chew on it as if it were gum. It had the most bitter taste, which seemed to satisfy his hunger. He would ride all day without carrying a lunch or water and only jerky to munch on. There was some medicinal ingredient in the bitter bush which left the mouth feeling sweet and refreshed afterward. In the spring time Grandfather would tie a bunch of the fresh bitter bush on to his saddle and bring it home. He had mother steep a large kettle of the bush which had a really pungent odor. She would strain off the juice for bitter bush tea. It was usually sweetened with honey or molasses. Then he would line all six of us up191 and insist we take a dose of that tea. It was "gross" as the saying goes. If one of us tried to get away, he'd take the crooked end of his cane and hook it around our leg and bring us back to get our share. He believed that it was a good blood cleanser and would keep us from getting sick. He said our blood was thinned during the winter. It must have been a good medicine for I don't remember of Grandfather being sick while I was a girl at home, except for a cold now and then. He always said he wanted to live to be 100 years old, but I think that in his late eighties he began to think differently. His health began to fail him and he lived to be 93 years,

190 "Mama" was Pearl Flake McLaws. Her oldest daughter, Prudence, was the writer of the vignette. She was born in 1903. Emma was the 5th child born to Pearl and Frank, in 1911. Thus Prudence is recalling a pattern in William's life that lasted probably from 1905-1930. 191 The seven McLaws children were Francis Earl, Prudence, William Lawrence, Marlin Jordan, Emma Sophia, Harold DeLaMare and Gilbert. William Lawrence died young. Gilbert was born in 1920, so Prudence is speaking of the period of time between 1922-1932. 179

one month and 7 days. He lived in Mama and Daddy's home 32 years.192 Some cold winters he spent a short time in Phoenix at Aunt Roberta's. Grandfather had a large one-room building moved by the old home, which he used for his sleeping and resting abode. He had one certain chair which seemed to be the best sleeping tonic, for soon after relaxing in it, he would fall asleep and noises didn't bother him. Due to an old habit Grandfather did one of his daily dozen in the little room behind the old Flake Store. One day when he opened the door he found an occupant in there who was really enjoying a cigarette and smoking up a storm. He said, "Young man, I like you and you are a good fellow, but I don't like what you are doing." After Pearl and Emma got married Grandfather was left with Wilmirth, 6 years old, and Anabell, 2 years old. Pearl and Francis (Frank) McLaws were married only 6 months and had settled in a little home. Land was being bought from Howard Randall when Grandfather, who was left with several children, especially the two small girls, and two boys,193 went to Joseph City and asked Pearl and Frank to move to Snowflake to take care of him and the girls. They pulled up stakes and moved to Snowflake. Grandfather said they could have the old home if they'd take care of them. It was made mostly of logs. One end of a big room was partitioned off and made into a bedroom and kitchen, with a large bedroom, pantry and porch in back, and a porch on the front was added on. When it [the porch] was first built, it had a fireplace at each end of the room. (That was before my day.) These were taken out and stoves put in. Mama and Daddy started their family of two little girls after 6 months of married life.194 They raised two families. Grandfather took over the head of the house responsibilities, which wasn't the best for a newly wedded couple. Rather than cause any trouble my dear Father, Frank, found any work that was available to help provide for the family. He did carpenter work in Holbrook, Winslow, or wherever he could get work.195

192 Prudence may have been exaggerating a little. William spent part of a year on a mission to Mississippi in 1901 and also lived 3-4 years in Showlow after its purchase. However, it is probably safe to say that after Lucy's death and Emma's marriage to John A. Freeman, William spent most of the remaining years of his life sharing his home with the McLaws. 193 Prudence is a bit off as to the ages of the children. Wilmirth, born in 1887, was 14 years old in 1901 and Annabelle was 8. John was 17 and Joel was living and working elsewhere by 1901. Pearl and Frank married in September of 1900 and Emma married in April of 1901. 194 The two girls referred to are Wilmirth and Annabelle. Wilmirth married in 1905, so within a short time Pearl and Frank had only Annabelle, John, and William to look after--in addition to their own children. 195 As seen in the above photo, Frank began an auto repair business in 1912. Curiously, he also sold ice cream in one end of the building. One local historian observed: "Frank McLaws used to have a garage on the south side of Flake's Store where he repaired Model T. Fords. In one corner of his building he had a small ice cream and soda pop parlor. Often he had to run them both. Sometimes he'd hurry out of the garage and give someone an ice cream cone that had grease on it. He had a sorghum mill and vat where he cooked it. He had rabbit pens and chicken coops. One kid said he dabbled in everything but the wash dish." (The Life and Times of Snowflake, 1978, p. 16) 180

Grandfather's one hobby was raising chickens. He would have Frank leave his work and build coops for the chickens. One time Daddy had fixed a real nice one for Grandpa. When it was finished, he was real proud of it. But Grandfather said, "I think it ought to be changed in a place or two." Father tore it down and then built it over. It seemed Grandfather was never satisfied. He always had big ideas which sometimes were inconvenient for others. It was the custom for Grandpa to have beef distributed to all the widows in town for Thanksgiving. We children would stack as many bundles as we could in a little red wagon and go all over town delivering the meat. Sometimes it was so cold we'd nearly freeze. Sometimes it took more than one beef. One summer the rains didn't come to replenish the water in the old Flake reservoir, between Snowflake and Taylor, at the ranch. The reservoir had hundreds of large bass and carp which were dying because the water was evaporating so fast. The men took 5 gallon cans with both ends cut out and we all would put a can over the fish and were able to reach in with our hands to catch it that way. Also pitch forks were used to spear them with. They were then taken to town where we'd scrape off scales and clean them, then it was another round of visiting widows with fish. Grandfather had a large sore on the back of his leg, located above his shoe top, which was later diagnosed as a skin cancer. He had it as long as I can remember. After riding all day, with the stirrup rubbing against it, it would become so red and inflamed Grandfather would remove his shoe and then call for one of us to bring his old fashioned remedy of egg yolk mixed with table salt. A poultice of this was put on. It makes me shudder to think of it, even now, but Grandfather never flinched. It would relieve it until another time to ride. Grandfather believed in attending to his church duties. We had to be very sick if we stayed home from Sunday services. When Duard and Prudence got married [1927] Grandpa went to the Flake Store and got a broom and an axe. He said, "I don't want to ever see Prudence use the axe nor Duard use the broom." It didn't always turn out that way later on. Prudence learned to use both. I always enjoyed listening to Grandfather's stories of the olden days and to have him tell his life history. When he would get to thinking he'd say, "Come on, Prudence, it's time to jot down some more experiences." I'd take a pencil and paper and sit on a footstool by his side and write while he dictated. Sometimes he'd get ahead of dates and say, "That isn't right. I'm tired and we'll continue tomorrow." The next day he would change some dates. Grandfather's eyesight returned in later years so he could read without use of glasses. It was a miracle for he had a very serious burn to his face when he was but a very small lad. Some big boys were playing with gun powder around a camp fire. They gave him some and told him to throw it in the fire, which he did. It caught fire and made a big blaze which burned his face real bad. He had to wear a mask--a greased rag with holes cut out for his eyes and nose, for many weeks to let his face heal.196

196 "Memories of Grandpa Flake," by Prudence [McLaws] Fyffe, The Flake Roundup, Jan 1993, pp 10-12 181

1913 Picture of William with great-grandchildren. Back row: Prudence McLaws, John A Freeman II, Arthur Freeman, Francis McLaws, Blanche Freeman Middle row: Leo Freeman, Eudora Willis, William J. Flake, Marlin McLaws, Martha Willis Front row: Gladys Willis, Joseph Freeman, Emabel Willis (on lap) Reid Freeman (on lap) LeRoy Freeman, Emma McLaws

Several photos have survived of William in his later years. Osmer reported that toward the end of his life, William experienced a partial loss of hearing. His oldest son, James M. went blind, so for several years William was James' eyes and James was William's ears.

William became a sort of dignitary as he aged. He was honored at old folks gatherings and in 1918 was chosen to drive the last spike signaling the completing of the railroad between Holbrook and McNary. 182

Photo of William J. and his surviving children, date unknown, but probably 1910-1915. Front row, L→R: (Lucy) Jane Woods, (Lydia) Pearl McLaws, Annabelle Rogers, Roberta Clayton, (Sarah) Emma Freeman, Wilmirth Willis Back, L→R: John Taylor Flake, Osmer Dennis Flake, William Jordan Flake, James Madison Flake, Joel White Flake.

183

1920 Census

William's name is the very last one on the page, beneath the names of John A. Freeman— William's son-in-law—and children. William is shown as head of household, but no dependents are included as living with him. By this time, the last two Flake children had married, John in 1910 and AnnaBelle in 1913.

1925-30 Memories of a grandson

Another grandson, William L. Flake, was asked by an editor of The Flake Roundup to write a few memories of his grandfather. Since William L. was born later, his childhood memories are of a much older William J. Flake:

While Grandpa was not in the mainstream of my life, I had been fortunate, Grandpa stayed with us many times. I guess he liked to come back to the place that had been his homestead, yet it was not the conventional Grandpa-Grandson relationship. This did not diminish the love or consideration. It merely sets it as a situation of awe and reverence on my side... 184

When I first came to Snowflake back in 1915 he was one of the first to attract my attention at Church. I liked to watch him, and [was] interested in the way he always went up to the front bench at a certain place so he could hear the speaker as he "cupped" his ear to catch every word. He looked so clean and calm and dignified with his white "locks" of hair brushed neatly and long white beard, so white, I thought. In the summer he brought a freshly cut sprig of locust or sweet smelling cotton-wood with enough leaves left to serve as fan or fly-swatter. Fred was taught by his grandfather, to keep from getting thirsty while riding the range, to cut a small twig or cedar or bitter-bush, and with the bark peeled off, to suck on [it]. [It] was sweet to the taste, kept the saliva flowing and relieved the thirst. If a twig was not available, then a nice smooth pebble. Bitter-bush tea also was a favorite tonic for almost any ailment, especially as a blood tonic in the spring. Our children well remember the annual "blood cleansing" process by first getting a generous supply of nice freshly-leave branches from the bushes that grew on our "East Hill", pouring hot water over them, and let it stand overnight. You had a brew bitter enough to cure any ailment. I will never forget "Grandfather Flake" for that.197

1927 Birthday greetings for William

Richard R. Lyman, son of Francis Marion Lyman, always had a tender spot in his heart for William J. Flake since Richard's father and William considered themselves brothers. Therefore, on William's 88th birthday, Richard Lyman sent the following letter:

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints The Council of the Twelve Salt Lake City, Utah June 29, 1927 Mr. William Flake, Snowflake, Ariz.

Dear My-Father's Brother: Sunday the 3rd, as I remember it, is your birthday. It would be a joy to me to be present at the reunion of the Flake family which is to be held on that occasion. You may not be with us another hundred years. It is such a joy to me to see you and to talk with you and to hear your messages that I want to be with you as much as I can. Of all those original pioneers who were really great, you alone remain. Your stability, your clear cut views, your marvelous memory and intellect, your high ideals, your grand character and outstanding nobility are thrilling to me like the beauties of these rock-ribbed, everlasting hills. You and your associate pioneers are among the great men not only of our own people and our own country, but of the world. You have no comprehension yourself, in my opinion, of your own strength, your own character, your own leadership, your own greatness. If you want to get a glimpse of what you really are, and of what the generations are going to think of you and other pioneers like you, read the article entitled, "The Mormon

197 The Flake Roundup, Jan 1993, p. 5 185

Empire," by John Steven McGroarty of the Los Angeles Times, as it appears in the July number of the Improvement Era. His words will tell you something of the glory that is to by yours, the glory that is to be heaped upon the grand stalwart pioneers of this Western country by the generations that are to come. If we who are your sons and daughters, we who are the descendants of these splendid early stalwart pioneers, can be but worthy sons and daughters, we need have no fear of the future. But having been born into a new world and a different world, being surrounded by this modern life of temptation and rapid movement of every kind, I am wondering if it is possible for us who are the sons and daughters of these great pioneers, to do our work, to resist the temptations which are ours, to carry forward courageously as you and your associates have done, the work that was placed upon your shoulders. To you, and to your kindred, I send love and blessings and best wishes, with a hope and a prayer that like the great giant oaks of the forest, you may stand among us yet many years to come. I am, faithfully and affectionately, Your brother Marion's son Richard R. Lyman

1930-31 An application for a loan

Osmer mentioned an incident that occurred three or four years before William's death:

Of the days immediately preceding Flake's death, there is little to be said. Earlier, he had thought he wanted to live to be one hundred years old, but the Depression came on in 1929, got worse in 1930 and 1931, and he saw men losing their homes, farms, stock, all because no one was willing (and able) to help. When they came to him to sign their notes, so that they could hold on another year, he did. When the year was up, they were no better able to meet the bill, and he had to meet it. Cash was short with him and he went to the bank to borrow one thousand dollars. "Yes," said the banker, "we can fix you up." He got out a paper and began asking questions about what he had, and what he owed. Flake said, "What is all this for?" The cashier said, "We have to know this to fix up the mortgage." Flake said, "I never signed a mortgage and never will, even if you gave me your whole bank," and he walked out. When he got home, he worried more and more over the condition, and said to the family, "I don't think I want to live any longer in a world like this is getting to be. When people who made the country and are just as honest as the day is long, are losing their homes, farms, stock and everything they have just because they are not able to meet their accounts promptly, and a person, in order to borrow money, has to mortgage his soul and all with it. I am ready to quit." (William J. Flake, pp 168-69)

186

1932 William's ninety-third birthday

On July 3 1932 William J. Flake celebrated his 93rd birthday. He was still spry enough to sit astride a horse, as shown in the accompanying photo. His good friend, James Stinson, had died six months previously and they had been associates for more than 50 years.

Left: Stinson and Flake

In honor of William's 93rd birthday, he received many letters and telegrams, two of which are shown below:

Wm J. Flake Snowflake, Ariz

Love Blessings Congratulations and best wishes to you and our Flake kindred and others assembled on your birthday. We are all proud of your record as a Father, Statesman, patriot, church leader, colonizer and empire builder. Appreciate invitation to attend celebration regret greatly that cannot celebrate with you. Richard R. Lyman

Executive Office. State House Phoenix Ariz. July 7, 32

Dear Mr. Flake. I wish to extend my felicitations to you on rounding the ninety third milestone. Our State owes a great deal of gratitude to such sturdy Pioneers as yourself. Through your courage and foresight the foundation was laid for the civilization which has arisen in our State. I hope you will live to enjoy many more birthdays at which your many friends & relatives can gather to extend you the tribute of honor which is your dues.

Very sincerely, G. W. P. Hunt, Gov.

187

William Jordan Flake died on August 9th, 1932, just one month and six days after he celebrated his 93rd birthday.

Death

Both Osmer and Roberta gave many details of William's passing, but Roberta's is the most immediate since it was taken from her journal.

The Account of Father's Passing as given from the diary of Roberta

Sunday, July 31, 1932 Dear old Father had a chill about 2 o'clock this morning and had such a time waking any of the family at Jim's as he is the only one who sleeps downstairs, so I went down and coaxed him to come up here and stay. I've tried ever since I came home but he wouldn't leave Jimmie, but now I think I have him as he is too weak to get back, and has pulled off his clothes and gone to bed. We are all pretty worried because the flu is going the rounds and a chill is the first symptom.

Monday, August 1, 1932 Daddy had another chill yesterday afternoon and one this morning. Dear old Jane stayed last night and is here tonight, she is so efficient in times like these and it is such a joy to have someone to take the responsibility off of my shoulders. She is a born nurse and always knows just what to do. I hope she will stay as long as Daddy lasts.

Thursday, August 4, 1932 John T. came down and took Daddy, Jane, the babies and I up to his place to spend the day. Daddy said he would not be here long that he was going over to the other side and help build bridges. Jane told him there would be no pioneering to do over there. John told him old Sport would be over there waiting for him. He said, "If all the horses he had lost were there he'd have a 1,000." John said he would have to have him come to break some of them for him. He answered that John Steward would be there to do that. I told him to save Kitten and Johnnie for me. Jane said we laughed and joked over that as though we were going to a circus. I shall be broken hearted when he is called.

Monday, August 8, 1932 Daddy seemed worse today than yesterday so I did not leave him though I had planned to go gleaning today. He got up and dressed and took his meals in room. The will was brought over and in the presence of Tom Tanner and Owen Freeman he signed it, joked with them and asked if that wasn't pretty good writing for a man 93 years old. He is bequeathing his property to a fund for temple and missionary work. After the witnesses were gone he named Virgil administrator of his estate, he to have two assistants to be selected by the family, one of whom Father says is to be a woman. One or both of us—Jane and I, were at his bedside all day. I'm lying down a little while as Emma and AnnaBelle are staying till midnight. 188

Tuesday, August 9, 1932 Father was restless last night until Jane, Pearl, Winnie and I had prayer circle and each prayed for him. We are all reconciled to his passing, we only plead with the Father not to let him suffer. I fed him his breakfast and dinner as he is very much weakened. We thought at about noon that he was going but he rallied, and during the afternoon told us a lot of his experiences in the early days with a clear firm voice, also most of the time he has slept.198 Bless his dear patient heart, he never complains, though today he said he ought to be ashamed for being so cross. We have sat by his bedside all day and held his precious hands. Most beloved of fathers everyone is so anxious to do something for him. The girls are here most of the time, his six daughters.199 Belle and Carrie come every little while. Poor old Jim, one could hardly tell which is older of the two.

Wednesday, August 10, 1932 The vigil is over—the book is ended and "finis" is written on the last page. Tonight at 10 minutes after 10 my beloved Father's spirit was released and took its flight to join his loved ones who have "Crossed the Bar."200 Less than a week ago he asked the blessing on the food and as was his custom he offered up a short prayer ending it with "When we've answered our probation bring us to dwell with thee," as he always did. And now he has gone. It is too soon—just a little more than an hour ago, for me to fully realize his loss—every hour will bring that knowledge. We six girls, Jim, Belle, Marion, Marsh and their wives, Lorenzo, Francis and several grandchildren were present. I let them take him to Jimmie because his home is nicer.

Thursday, August 11, 1932 Well one of the days of readjustment is past. These are going to be very trying. After the folks left last night—all but dear faithful Jane—she and I sat up until midnight writing, she letters to her children, and I a letter to our Richard R. [Lyman] and in my journal. I wanted Jane to go to Belle's last night where she has been staying because I knew she needed to be where she could rest but she would not leave me—and I was glad she didn't. Many of our friends have been here to offer condolence, and help in any way.

198 Marshall Flake added another detail of William's last day: "On the last day he ate a good dinner. When he got up about 2 P.M. he walked out on the porch. He called back to Roberta, "You had better have the little boys get the cow; it is getting dark and they won't be able to find her unless they get her very soon." His sight was passing. (William J. Flake, p. 157) 199 The six living Flake daughters were (Lucy) Jane, Roberta, (Sarah) Emma, (Lydia) Pearl, Wilmirth and AnnaBelle. The other three Flake daughters were Mary Agnes, Margaret Jane and Melissa. Mary died in 1901 at age 43. Melissa died in 1886 at age 3 months. Margaret Jane also died in 1886 shortly after birth. 200 Of William's final hours Marshall Flake also wrote: "About ten thirty, we were all in the room just preparing to go home. All at once his breath stopped; we felt for his pulse and his heart was still beating as strong as ever. After about a minute he stopped breathing again. We sent for all the older members of the family that were available. He stopped breathing about four times, but each time his heart kept on beating as strong as ever. This went on for about thirty minutes. The last time he stopped breath, his heart just beat a little slower and slower until it stopped. There was no spasm or struggle, he just went peacefully to rest." (William J. Flake, pp 169-70) 189

Fourteen men are assisting with his grave, so eager is everyone to do something for the grand old man. Jim wired Bro. Lyman, only an airplane could bring him in time, so we may expect a message instead. Jane is staying with me again tonight.

Friday, August 12, 1932 The five flags in town flew at half mast, as did the one on the Capitol in Phoenix. All the stores were closed. Pearl Willis, whom I hardly knew, sent me a bouquet of beautiful flowers. The precious little girl who brought them said, "They are the prettiest ones we have for Grandfather Flake." I went down early, and in the seclusion of his room bade my father goodby and on my knees by his bedside prayed for strength to carry on. Never but once before, and that was when Aunt Lois Hunt passed away, has the bell tolled. The whole center of the Stake House was reserved for the family. The first song was "Till the Resurrection Day." Prayer by Bishop Elijah Thomas. Bishop Smith said, "This occasion is one that only happens once in the history of a community, when it meets to pay honor to its founder."

The Funeral

Roberta gave a detailed description of William J.'s funeral:

The funeral services for William Jordan Flake were held at Snowflake, Arizona, August 12, 1932. During the services Mel Flake and Leone Fulton sang a duet entitled "Face to Face." President Samuel F. Smith spoke in part as follows: I deem it a great honor to stand and express for you our mutual sentiments for this great man, in whose honor we have met this afternoon. Here lies a great Pioneer, a great colonizer, a man who loved the right and stood for it his life through. We should pay homage today to our founder and namesake. The Flakes came from the aristocracy of the South. I was personally acquainted with one of them. His short period in Illinois made it possible for him to carry a cherished memory of the Prophet Joseph. The vicissitudes of Pioneer life robbed him of his Father, a hard thing for any boy. When in his early teens, he had crossed a continent and was in California laying the foundation for Mormonism on the West Coast. Before long he was also deprived of his Mother but he met all heroically, this tended to make him the vigorous, stalwart colonizer that he was. He never sought honors but like Bryan201, he took a stern stand for the right always, and this earned for him the title of the Great Commoner.

201 President Smith was apparently referring to William Jennings Bryan (1860 – 1925), an American politician in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. He was a dominant force in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, and a devout Presbyterian, a supporter of popular democracy, an enemy of gold, banks and railroads, a leader of the silverite movement in the 1890s, a peace advocate, a prohibitionist, and an opponent of Darwinism on religious grounds. With his deep, commanding voice and wide travels, he was one of the best known orators and lecturers of the era. Because of his faith in the goodness and rightness of the common people, he was called "The Great Commoner." 190

He was a man who preached the gospel by his life, he lived it. He was constantly anxious that his descendants all went into the mission field. He loved the Lord, loved religion, light and truth and his fellowmen, and sought to serve them. He was glad of the opportunity to serve his friends and the oppressed, he loved them all. His history and life stand out as an impeachable testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was a great exampler [sic] of the right, careful to live strictly to all the requirements of the Church. He did not need the encouragement of an office to live his religion, but like an ordinary man, which he never was, he did the things we all should do. The Lord bless the memory of William Jordan Flake.

President Alof Larson said: I feel honored to say a few words, but as I would in speaking at my own Father's funeral. It was in 1878 when I first met Brother Flake, when we were all coming out to this country. At the time, I admired the way he handled his outfit, as he had several hundred head of cattle and horses, and seemed to know just how to handle the situation. I don't think we have appreciated him as we should, and doubt if his own family have fully appreciated him. It is not a time for mourning, as he has truly done his full part in this world. He was the most unselfish man I ever met. When he first came to Snowflake there were a lot of Southerners here, who were stripped of clothes and food, and Brother Flake divided with them all; he cut up his wagon covers to make clothes for them, and seamless sacks were used to make pants for the boys. Brother Flake had brought flour enough to last a year or more, but he divided with the poor, and when they ate bran and barley bread, Brother Flake and his family ate the same. In early days, I herded sheep for him. He supplied the food and I never wanted for something to eat, even though I had to eat barley bread at times. He was not selfish, but would divide to the last. One time when he needed money badly, and nearly every man in the community owed him I saw him go over his account book. He had a long list of names which he read off, and as he came to the various names, he would say, "Well, he can't pay," and would scratch his name off of the list. As far as he was concerned the debt was cancelled. He let men pay what they wanted to, how they wanted to, and when they wanted to, and if they never paid, nothing was ever said. He lent me work horses any time I wanted to and when I got tired of one, I could exchange for another one any time, and he never charged me a cent of the use of them. Brother Flake would give me anything I wanted, if he had it. He was just like a Father to me. May the Lord bless his memory, may we appreciate what he has done. His own affairs were always secondary, he always thought of others first. God was first and foremost. To help the Church was ever his aim. We will miss him, but we are glad he went in peace.

President D. A. Butler said: It hardly seems possible that it was just last Sunday that I shook the hand of Brother Flake right here in this room, and said "How are you?," and he said, "Just fine." And how many of us have heard him say any different. He set a wonderful 191

example in that thing. We have gone to see him, and could tell from his looks that he was suffering, but he would always say he was just fine. This is a trait of the family. They are always just fine. You do not know down in their hearts what they are going through. They always make us feel that everything is all right, they have spread cheer rather than discouragement. I can certainly endorse all that the other speakers have said. At times like this we are inclined to take inventory of the individual who has passed on, and in taking inventory of this man I found many fine qualities. Outstanding among these is their family devotion, love, good fellowship and respect, and devotion for each other in my mind is the outstanding virtue. They have shown an appreciation that will leave an example in my mind worthy to follow. Brother and Sister Flake set this example before their children. Their optimism was felt. He showed a determined fight during his sickness. It reminds me of a noted character in the United States, who on his death bed would not give up. He stayed on and on, even when doctors said it would be impossible. But when his researchers returned and brought him their favorable findings it was only a few hours until he was gone. Brother Flake, through his determination lived until his son returned. All his children were here Sunday, and he jokingly said to me when he spoke to me, "Just a few years ago there were only two of us, now we fill two benches". He appreciated having them all with him.

Bishop J. Clark Owens said that . . . He wanted to endorse all that had been said, and felt it would be impossible for him to do justice to this position. Far and near Brother Flake had been known for his integrity and for his unselfishness. Had he put his mind to become rich, he could have been the richest man in the country, but instead, he used his talent for the aid of others, by being a great colonizer, being next or equal to Brigham Young as such. He spoke of his connection with him, especially in buying Showlow. They had an appointment with Mr. Hunning, and when they went to his home, he dismissed all except Brother Flake, saying, "I want to do my business with him." After arrangements were made and the property turned over to Brother Flake, they divided the property and they never had any trouble over the division of horses or machinery, houses or land. I have nothing but praise for this man, and I am thankful that the family had such a worthy exemplary. Brother Flake was so self sacrificing, doing unto others as he would have them do and more. He sought only for the good of his fellowmen, and a reward in Heavens above. May the Lord bless his posterity, that they may revere his memory.

Bishop William C. Smith said that he was extremely pleased to speak on this occasion: Throughout history God has raised up men for the occasion—God raised up a man for our colonizer. This character is of great importance. His integrity was above reproach, and to know him was to respect and admire him. His posterity are a credit to his worthy name. Sometimes, on such occasions, speakers feel inclined to give advice to the posterity, but in this case one does not feel to do so. I am glad to know the family and appreciate their faith in the gospel inherited from their grand old sire.

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The beautiful and impressive services were closed with the singing of Father's favorite hymn, "Come. Come ye Saints."

Wm. J. Flake headstone in Snowflake, AZ. Photo courtesy of

Margo Clouse

Tributes202

On hearing of the death of William Jordan Flake, friends and acquaintances, business associates and common folk from all walks of life sent letters of condolence and support to the family. Both Osmer and Roberta ended their books with a sampling of such expressions of love for William: (telegram) Salt Lake City, Utah August 11, 1932 James M. Flake Snowflake, Arizona President Grant and other General Authorities join in sending sympathy to the family of William Jurden Flake. He has been a great man, a great colonizer, a great empire builder. Sterling work and great visions have been his. To his posterity his successful life and example are a rich heritage. Richard R. Lyman Apostle of Church of Jesus Christ of L.D.S.

202 One of the greatest secular tributes given to William was his posthumous induction into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1959. According to an article that appeared in the Deseret News Church Section, 21 Mar 1959, "Elder Flake joins three other prominent Church leaders, Brigham Young, Anthony W. Ivins and Jacob Hamblin. Those voted to the Cowboy Hall of Fame are selected on the basis of their association with the livestock industry, their part in development of the West or for their work in perpetuating the traditions and ideals of the West." 193

President James M. Flake Snowflake, Arizona Dear Brother. Your telegram announcing the death of your father came yesterday. I conveyed the information at once to President Grant who instructed me to telegraph the sympathy of the General Authorities which I did. Enclosed herewith you will find a copy of the Morning Tribune and of "Yesterday's News," containing a brief sketch of your father's life and an announcement of his death. The tribute paid to him by Larry Foster, in his famous book Larry, is certainly greatly deserved. Your father was a strong man of sterling worth. Anyone is fortunate to have his splendid blood flowing in his or her veins. I hope you received the telegram before the funeral today. I am to leave here by automobile just as the funeral begins for the Garfield Stake. With sympathy and kind regards and real affection for all who are dear to William J. Flake, I am affectionately your Friend and Brother Richard R. Lyman Of the Council of the Twelve

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints The Council of the Twelve Salt Lake City, Utah Dear Roberta: Your good letter of August 10/, advising that your father closed his earthly career at 10:10 p. m. that day I find upon my desk this morning after a four days trip to Escalante to attend the Garfield Stake Conference. James M. telegraphed August 11. In reply I sent by wire the sympathy to all who are members of that great Flake family. I also prepared some notes for our daily papers, including quotations from Larry concerning your distinguished father. I sent these clippings to James M. If the Girls preserved the original notes I wrote in haste from which the papers could gather a brief story of his life, I will send these notes to you herewith. The visits I have had with your father during the last fifteen years since the death of my own father have been a source of great joy and satisfaction. I have had in my mind that another very happy interview was in store for me since I anticipated telling him details concerning the unveiling recently of a monument erected by "Laguna Parlor No. 241, Native Daughters of the Golden West." I have thought all the time of having the pleasure of talking these matters over with your father. Talking them over with him, my father's brother, would be almost like talking them over with Francis M. Lyman. You had a great father. He was a great pioneer, a great empire builder. He had highest ideals. He lived strictly in accordance with these ideals. He had clear vision. He had the daring and courage to act in accordance to his convictions. His character, his sterling worth, his determination, his great, broad view of things are the richest legacy he could leave to his large family, his worthy descendants. I am going to send enclosed a reprint of an article entitled, "A Positive Religion," by Dr. Thomas Nixon Carver, professor of political economy, Harvard University. This article refers to the Mormon people and their characteristics as he viewed these at the end of the 194

first one hundred years of the Church's existence. I'll not only send a copy of this article to you herewith and with one particular paragraph marked, but under separate cover I will send a roll of them, so that each branch of your father's splendid family may have a copy. No man is more entitled to the commendation given by this great educator than your distinguished father. His children and his children's children should have and should understand this article and should know that of the great men produced by the Church, your father was one of the foremost. With thanks, dear Roberta, for your letter written so promptly and for the details contained in it and with a hope that I may see all soon. I am your Affectionate Kinsman, Richard R. Lyman August 12, 1932 State Capitol Phoenix, Arizona

James M. Flake Snowflake, Ariz.

I have learned with extreme regret of the death of my old Friend William Jordan Flake. I feel a deep sense of personal loss in his passing. He was one of Arizona's most distinguished and honored pioneer citizens. To men and women of his pioneer type our state owes a heavy debt of gratitude of their courage, faith and industry, which made the foundation for our present day civilization in the west. George W. P. Hunt203 Governor of Arizona Executive Office State House, Phoenix, Ariz. Aug. 12, 1932

Dear Friend. With the death of William J. Flake Arizona has lost one of its most illustrious citizens and a man who has played a leading role in laying the foundation of our great state. A man who through the years has with unfaltering courage, devoted his life's time to advancing Arizona's interest. I have watched the activities of this fine and noble man for many years and am happy to be able to say in all earnestness that he has always commanded my most intense

203George W. P. Hunt was elected to the Territorial House in 1893 and 1895 and to the Territorial Council in 1897, 1899, 1905, 1907 and 1909. He served as Council President during his 1905 and 1909 terms. He was President of Arizona's Constitutional Convention of 1910. While President of the Convention, he supported the inclusion of the initiative to make Arizona a state of the Union. Elected governor in December 1911, he took his oath of office February 14, 1912-- the first day of statehood. Arizonans re-elected him six more times. President Wilson appointed him the Minister of Siam during the years 1920-1922. Upon his return, Hunt again served as governor from January 1923 to January 1929 and a final term from January 1931 to January 1933. Previous to his defeat in the 1932 primary, Hunt had won the Democratic nomination in every primary he had entered. He lost the Democratic primary again in 1934. He died in Phoenix on December 24, 1934.

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admiration and respect. The courage and remarkable resourcefulness he displayed on so many occasions set him apart as an able leader of me. Through the many long years that come and go, the memory of many of our worthiest leaders will be erased, but the name of William J Flake will ever by synonymous with progress in Arizona. Though there is much I should like to say in praise of my friend, I know it is needless for me to enlarge upon the long list of glowing accomplishments he leaves behind. They speak more eloquently than my poor power permits. But it is with a deep sense of pride that I am able to say, "He was my friend." Very Sincerely Yours, George W. P. Hunt, Governor

Arizona State Senate State of Arizona Tenth Legislature Winslow, Arizona August 25th, 1932

Mr. James M. Flake Snowflake

Dear Mr. Flake. I have just learned that your Father passed away. Mrs. Nelson and I offer our deepest sympathy. I read very carefully of his life. He deserved a rest after such an active and useful life. He went to a home prepared for him by the Prince of Peace. We all regret the passing of this colorful figure. Kindest personal regards from Mrs. Nelson and I to you and your family Yours very Truly George W. Nelson P.S. Mrs. Nelson and I were on the Pacific Coast when Mr. Flake passed away, and we have just returned.

124 South Las Palmas Ave Aug 23rd, 193 Los Angeles, California,

Dear Mr. Flake It is with sincere sympathy that I send these few lines, in the passing of your dear Father. You have the consolation of the noble old age to think upon, and the realization that he has been much beloved in life and be greatly missed by many of his old friends like me. I have known him a great many years, and he had always been a good friend to me as well as to the Schuster Company. Yours Sincerely, Adolph Schuster204

204 Two Jewish brothers, Adolph and Ben Schuster, had a prosperous general merchandise store, A & B Schuster Co., in Holbrook, Arizona from before 1890 until after 1920. 196

Deseret News, 11 Aug 1932

Pioneer Leader of 1848 Dies at Snowflake Home Word of the death of William Jordan Flake, 93, a pioneer of 1848 Wednesday evening at his home in Snowflake, Ariz. was received Thursday by Elder Richard R. Lyman of the Council of the Twelve. Mr. Flake, known throughout Arizona as "Father Flake," was one of the outstanding colonizers and empire builders in the history of the Church. The name Snowflake given the town in which "Father" Flake settled and which was his home for many years, is a combination of the names of Erastus Snow and William J. Flake. Both of these men were pioneers of that section. Mr. Flake was born in Anson county, North Carolina, July 3, 1839, a son of James Madison Flake and Agnes Love Flake. When he was three years of age his parents moved to Mississippi where they joined the Church. They traveled to Nauvoo in the spring of 1844 where William J. Flake received a patriarchial [sic] blessing at the hands of Patriarch Hyrum Smith, 15 days prior to the latters [sic] martyrdom.205 The family lived in Winter Quarters for one and one half years, then came to Salt Lake. From that time on William Flake was brought up in the home of Amasa M. Lyman. Francis M. Lyman, father of Richard R. Lyman, with Mr. Flake, as boys went with Amasa M. Lyman and Charles C. Rich to settle 100 L.D.S. families in southern California. This was is 1851. In 1857 he was married to Lucy White of Cedar City. In 1877 he was called by President Brigham Young to help settle in Arizona and was advised to leave nothing behind to look back to. He bought the Stimson [sic] Ranch where Snowflake is now located. People, most of them poor, soon flocked into the valley and were sheltered and cared for by Mr. Flake. He served for 40 years in the bishopric of Snowflake and has been a stalwart leader and counselor to the people of the Church settling in that section. Funeral services for Mr. Flake will be held Friday at 2 p.m. in Snowflake, according to word received by Elder Lyman.

Lewis P. Cardon:

My first impression of William J. Flake was formed when I was a boy of about eleven years old and it stayed with me throughout our association, and comes very clearly to mind now as I think of him and his splendid character. It was not only his ability to handle men, but his great skill in handling pioneering problems. I look upon him as one of the greatest of pioneers.

205 This information is obviously incorrect. It was William's father who received his patriarchal blessing from Hyrum Smith. William was only 5 years old in 1844. Other errors in the article are the year when William became a ward of Amasa Lyman (1856, not upon his arrival in Salt Lake in 1848,) and the year William and Lucy married (1858, not 1857.) 197

John C. Tyler, of Los Angeles:

My Father's family landed in Woodruff Arizona in December of 1879, along with many other settlers to make homes. All were short on flour or anything to make bread with. My Father went to Snowflake to W. J. Flake for help. They had never met. There was no wheat to be had in the country. Brother Flake told him he would give him an order for one thousand pounds of barley in Round Valley, so Daddy got the barley and had it ground. It made pretty good bread, and we had plenty of good milk that we got from Flake's cows. Most everybody milked his cows. He was God Father to nearly all of the people who emigrated to Arizona from 1874 to 1885. He saved the day for most of us. He helped many people, some paid him, others did not. He was a strong man in a pioneer country, loved by everybody, and a rock in his hand was as good as a gun.

Blanche B. Flake:

Grandfather had the keenest sense of justice of anyone I ever knew. When I was worried or in trouble, Grandfather could always administer that soothing quiet balm that his sense of justice and right always carried with him. His memory can never die, but live as a guiding star to lead his children to the right path.

Emma F. Freeman:

When Emma was in the St. George Temple, one of the workers found out that she was the daughter of W. J. Flake, and said, "Brother Flake had a way of expressing sympathy. One day Brother Talley's house burned down and many people were there expressing their sympathy. Flake stepped up and handed him twenty-five dollars and said, 'I am sorry for you that much.'" Money was scarce then and this meant more than one hundred dollars would now.

Marshall Flake:

When Grandfather was about ninety years old, the town decided to buy a home for a widow. I was on the committee to raise the money. I asked him for five dollars. He asked "Why do you say five dollars?" I said, "Because I think that is enough for you to donate." He then asked me how much I had donated, and I said, "Twenty dollars." To this he replied, "Well, I won't be outdone by a young whippersnapper like you," and he gave me twenty silver dollars. I saw the Bishop hand him a tithing receipt, and I asked him to let me see it. He did, and I looked at it and told him that his income for the year did not justify that amount of tithing, and he said, "Well, it is not a very profitable servant of the Lord that does not help His work along."

John Accony

San Francisco, CA., February 12, 1932 I couldn't help to take a keen liking to Mr. William Flake because he had everything that makes a man. He had the frame of a giant and his ensemble gave me a sensation of power and self confidence. To such physical form a man can do away with the little tricks and 198 cunnings that little men have to use to survive in the brisk fight for a living. His figures was venerable and had a dash of hycratic [?] majesty, which excited a great charm on me, especially because his every act and movement were so natural. But the moral man attracted me by far. He was pervaded by a profound sense of honesty, complete absolute honest without a tinge of compromise between his own interest and the other fellow's; by a keen sense of true justice and a generosity without limits, and I point especially on this last characteristic, his generosity, to show his noble soul and the should Christian moral principles underlying his code of ethics. In his tales, told without a hint of boasting, but also without the reticence of a false modesty, one could make out the Man, the Pioneer, the fearless but patient fighter all summed up in him, wonderful specimen of true Americanism. For these reasons I couldn't help to like him, respect him from my innermost, and be fascinated by his personality. I keep his memory vivid within myself because I know it will help to make me a better man, and thank my luck to have met him and enjoyed his conversation, his optimism and his kind, wise, paternal suggestions.

Fred A. Turley,

Aripine, Ariz. 9 Feb 1933 "In Appreciation of William J. Flake, my Mother's Father" In expressing my appreciation for Grandfather, I must place it under five headings; #1 As a Man: He had that ruggedness of manhood, which is of primal importance to a leader, the honesty of character which assured his followers, the temperate habits that command respect, fearlessness in right that insured faith and loyalty, cheerfulness and joy in life which made him a pleasing personality. #2 As a Pioneer: He was a man of common sense and good judgment, just in every transaction, either to friend or foe, charitable to the weak or unfortunate. He never shirked where principle was involved, and had the requisite vision for a successful pioneer. His organizing ability was enhanced by fidelity to duty. #3 As a Stockman: His love of livestock and long association with the range coupled with remarkable eyesight and memory, made him an authority. Just before his ninety-third birthday, he accompanied three stockmen under forty, to look at the pride of Sundown Ranch, "Cloudy," our pinto stallion. "Cloudy" had a slight limping gait. Grandfather noticed this which neither of the younger stockmen saw. When asked what he thought of the stallion, he answered with a chuckle, "Oh, I 'd just as soon have a good burro." #4 As a Companion: Because of his grand sense of humor and radiant cheerfulness, all classes of men enjoyed his association at home and abroad. I have heard old men, young men, good men, careless men, Mormons and outsiders remark that his presences never became tiresome. #5 As a Latter Day Saint: He was the personification of faith, and a positive exponent of the Word of Wisdom as well as a living example of its reward. His staunchness upon the principle of tithing was inspirational. 199

Each of these phases [traits?] were related and correlated to such a degree that one enthusiastically exclaims, "He was a man, a man's man, yes God's Man."

E.S. Clark:

I arrived at Albuquerque, New Mexico as a health seeker in March 1880. I soon became acquainted with various people from Utah who had settled somewhere in that country now comprising Apache and Navajo counties in Arizona. From them, I learned of a community of Mormon people who had developed farms there, and had named one of their settlements "Snowflake." The name intrigued me and upon inquiry of those who knew of the circumstances, I found that it was formed by combining the surnames of the then Apostle of the Mormon Church, Erastus Snow, with that of Wm. J. Flake, the founder of Snowflake. I was stationed in Apache County, Arizona, early in 1882, owing to my occupation on the Navajo Indian Reservation, with headquarters at Fort Defiance. From that time on I met Mr. Flake occasionally and after the fashion of those days, we soon became well acquainted, and eventually an enduring friendship sprang up between us. I also knew several members of his family, and when I visited Snowflake, I usually found time to call on Mr. Flake. He was one of the earliest of Arizona pioneers, having first come here in 1851 [error: 1873, 78]. He was a sturdy, upstanding man, whose code was hard work, the golden rule and the tenets of the Mormon Church. Invariably during my visits he would turn the conversation to the doctrines of Joseph Smith as contained in the Book of Mormon. He had studied this religious subject deeply and was also well versed in King James Version of the Bible. In all our discussions "he spoke as one in authority." Those were boisterous days in Arizona, when the six-shooter was usually the last word in authority. Nevertheless, in his quiet but resolute fashion, Mr. Flake tilled his farm and rode his range, serene in the respect and esteem of all citizens, law-abiding and lawless alike. The story of his life in Navajo and Apache counties would make a saga of the deepest interest. What I knew of some of his perilous contacts with cattle rustlers, horse thieves and gunmen in general, I heard largely from others. If he ever mentioned any of them to me, it was merely incidental to the general conversation. The sum and substance of these conflicts was that "he always stood his ground." Naturally a man of his character and attainments had a host of friends—and some enemies. This was demonstrated when a century had passed from the time of his birth, and not long after his death. On that occasion, his relatives, friends and neighbors from all over those two counties assembled at Snowflake in the largest gathering of people, I believe, that ever came together anywhere in that part of the country. The program was devoted solely to tributes of Wm. J. Flake, their distinguished former leader and exemplar. I attended that celebration, for such it was, in truth. It was something that harmonized with a remark made by a President of the United States on what he termed "rugged individualism." It has been used by American leaders for over a half century in eulogy of those God-fearing men and women of honesty whose stamina and character and fearless assertion of rights led them to make their own way in life. For Mr. Flake was in the highest sense a rugged individualist, yet a man whose example and precept rang true to the high standards of Christianity, patriotism and the sacred ties of the domestic circle.

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William's life in perspective

William's life can be divided into four major periods.

The first period was his formative years during which he lived in several places and literally crossed the American continent. He was born in Anson Co., North Carolina in 1839 and with his family moved to Mississippi in about 1842. Two years later the family relocated to Nauvoo, Illinois. Two more years passed and they were on the road again, this time crossing the plains to Utah. After William's arrival in Utah he spent 3 years living in Cottonwood, about 8 miles SE of Salt Lake City. In 1851 he, his brother and sister accompanied their widowed mother to San Bernardino, California. Thus in a period of twelve years, William had crossed the breadth of this great country and lived in six different towns or settlements, four of which he or his parents had begun to settle. After his mother's death in 1855, William stayed two more years in California, then moved to Cedar City, Utah where he lived until his marriage to Lucy Hannah White in December of 1858. Thus ended the first major, formative, period in his life.

William's second major period was the 20 years he lived in Beaver. He arrived there three years after the first settlers, but soon became one of the most respected and well-to-do members of the community. During William and Lucy's sojourn in Beaver they produced ten children, only six of which lived to adulthood:

James Madison 8 Nov 1859 William Melvin 20 Jan 1861 died 20 Mar 1861 Charles Love 18 Oct 1862 Samuel Orson 27 Oct 1864 died 21 Dec 1864 Mary Agnes 16 Feb 1866 Osmer Dennis 6 Mar 1868 Lucy Jane 13 Mar 1870 Wilford Jordan 12 Sep 1872 died 24 Sep 1872 George Burton 16 Apr 1875 died 6 Jul 1878 (Taylor, AZ) Roberta 19 Aug 1877

In addition to increasing his family by ten children, William also added a second, plural, wife, Prudence Jane Kartchner in 1868. However, during the nine years Prudence lived in Beaver, she was unable to have children. That would change once she arrived in Arizona.

Aside from family, William also increased in wealth and community stature while in Beaver. He eventually owned and worked some of the choicest farm land in the area. In addition, he owned cattle in the hundreds and a wide variety of other livestock. By any measure of the day, William would be acknowledged as a prosperous, even wealthy man. It might be said that William's focus while in Beaver was primarily his family, with some—even considerable— outreach to the community. He used those twenty years to establish himself financially and to secure a comfortable way of life for himself and loved ones.

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The third period of William's life began in 1877 and lasted until the death of his wife Lucy in 1900. In some ways, it was his most challenging time since he assumed responsibility not only for himself and immediate family, but, literally, for an entire town and gathering of individuals who depended on him for direction and stability. A careful examination of William's life during that pivotal third period reveals that he accepted the challenge of caring for communities and carried it out magnificently. Although he was a caring neighbor and friend prior to 1877, he now opened himself and his talent for organization to countless others. In essence, he took upon himself the responsibility for making a success of the Church pioneer effort in northern Arizona.

The fourth and final period of William's life was the thirty-two years he lived as a widower. We do not know why he never remarried. Nevertheless, he did not withdraw from interaction with others. Early on, he visited kin folk in the southern States and then engineered the purchase of Show Low--and the accompanying transformation of a ranch into a bustling community. As during other times in his life, William kept busy, kept active. His grandchildren described how he stuck to a routine, riding out each day to check on his cattle and even building dams and barns at an advanced age. One grandson, Joseph Flake, wrote:

When pastures were fenced and there was less need for much riding to look after cattle, that man who could not be idle did the hard and dangerous work of removing the roof and taking out all the timbers from the two story Rock House at the canyon mouth, and with salvaged lumber built a barn on the Turley land at [the] north end of the Ramsey Lane, and also built several large coops to shelter the interesting pens of chickens he raised on the White House lot. With concrete block which he cemented together he made a small pond for ducks. When the faithful old white work horse, Deck was too old and worn out, Grandpa made dried jerky of the flesh and patiently cut [it] into thin pieces for the laying hens. Some of the grandsons found that the horse jerky was not only tasty for chickens and came asking for chips of that meat as that patient man sliced it off. We recall him at his poultry yards drawing nails from salvaged lumber, straightening them and reusing in the buildings he put together. One of his axioms which he sang: Waste not, want not, is a motto I would keep. Put your shoulder to the wheel and practice what you preach.206

Despite his advancing age, he continued to provide counsel and guidance to his family and service to others in the community.

206 Joseph M. Flake, " Notes from the Long Useful Life of William Jordan Flake." 202

Conclusion

Osmer D. Flake concluded his book on his father with a four page summary of William's character and accomplishments. Earlier, however, he included comments he had overheard William make regarding his philosophy of life and his personal goals:

Long ago I was relieved from my work that I had been called to do, that of settling the country, but as long as the Lord spares my life and gives me opportunity, I think I should help the work along. The lives of good men have influenced me and I have tried to live up to the expectation of my parents. After joining the Church they consecrated their all to help in the building up of it. I have always tried to do good to others, that the world might be better for my having lived in it. I have always had a great desire to get the genealogy of my people, and have their work done for them. In 1919 Osmer went to Canada, then to the Eastern States and Southern States. He got the genealogy of hundreds of our people, living and dead. We now have a woman in North Carolina working on the genealogy of our family. I hope to get it and have the work done for them, before I leave this existence. I have always followed counsel as near as possible, whether it was for or against me, and have taught my family to be obedient to the Priesthood. The Lord has helped me so that I have never had to ask for help from any source but what I was able to pay it back. Although I have paid out thousands of dollars for land to settle the people on, I never charged more than I paid; I have never charged interest on accounts due me, neither have I ever forced any man to pay, and many of them never did. (William J. Flake, p. 154)

Such was William Jordan Flake's way of looking at life and his own responsibilities. He tried to live as he believed, as he was taught by the example of his own father. When Osmer completed his book in 1948, he stated that there were 631 living descendants and 72 who had passed away. In addition, there were 188 living and 16 deceased in-laws. By 1985 when another survey was made—just 35-40 years later--, Flakes descending from William and his sister Sarah totaled more than 7,000.207 Currently, the number of Flake descendants could easily be more than 20,000 and all of us owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to William J. Flake and his parents for their sacrifices and commitment to what they felt was God's Church, restored in modern times.

As we reflect on the life of William J. Flake, we should remember his counsel: "The lives of good men have influenced me and I have tried to live up to the expectation of my parents." He accomplished his goal; may we follow his example.

Ron Freeman

207 Descendants of William Jordan Flake, December, 1985, privately published. No editors mentioned by name. The 7,000 included in-laws. 203

Partial List of Works Consulted

Augusta Flake, 1912 transcription of oral recollections of William J. Flake. Dictated to Augusta by William J. Flake. Augusta is the oldest daughter of James M. and Martha Smith. She was born in 1899 and died in 1993. She never married and she took care of her father's home until her death. (It should be remembered that in 1912 William was 73 years old and consequently, he may have erred as to the exact years when certain events took place. Also, in 1912, his transcriber, Augusta, was only 13 years old--which may have also contributed to certain inaccuracies.) Osmer D. Flake, William J. Flake-Pioneer-Colonizer, privately published, (1st ed. 1948) 181 pages Roberta Flake Clayton, To the Last Frontier, privately published, 1976, 199 pages Joel W. Flake, Out of Darkness into light, privately published, n.d. 87 pages Journals of Charles L. Flake, unpublished typewritten copy, 72 pages Diary of Lucy Hannah White Flake, edited by Chad Flake and Hyrum Boone, preliminary draft, Provo: BYU Library, 1973, 396 pages The Life of Prudence Kartchner Flake, written by her daughter Sarah E. Flake Freeman, reformatted, with pictures and additional material by Ron Freeman 2006-2007, privately published, 67 pages Biographical Sketch of Sarah Emma Flake Freeman 1879-1972, by Ron Freeman, 2010, privately published, 78 pages James Madison Flake, 1815-1850, by Ron Freeman, 2011, privately published, 70 pages Life and Times of William D. Kartchner, by Ron Freeman, 2009, privately published, 121 pages James H. McClintock, Mormon Settlement in Arizona: A Record of Peaceful Conquest of the Desert, Phoenix: Manufacturing Stationers Inc., 1921 The Flake Roundup, numerous issues dating back to 1970s.

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