George Reid 1795-1869
History of George Reid, Sr.
By Grace Reid Russell
Facts taken mostly from the Family Genealogy kept by a son, John G. Reid. George Reid was born 20 Oct. 1795 in Dennyloanhead, Denny, Stirlingshire, Scotland. His father was George Reid, born in the year 1763, in the parish of Mayboll, Ayreshire, Scptland, and his mother was Margaret Jervis.
When a boy George was apprenticed to learn the trade of a plaster, a vocation by which he earned a living for his family.
On the 15th of Dec. 1820, at New Gray Friar, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland George Reid married Miss Euphemia Blackie or Blakey. She was the daughter of Peter and Helen Cowen Blackie or Blakey. At the time of her marriage she was 22 years old, having been born 23 Sept. 1797 at New Gray Friars, Edinburgh Midlothianshire, Scotland.
They eventually became the parents of 10 children, namely: Helen, Margaret, George, Elizabeth, Peter, Euphemia, Grace, William M., John Greig, and James Greig. Elizabeth, Peter, Euphemia and William died when babies, Margaret died at the age of 15 and Helen met a tradgic (sic) death going up the Missiouri (sic) River on her way to Utah in 1852. Here is the story published in the Deseret News, (it will be greatly reduced for this history.)
Helen Reid was baptized a member of the Church 7,July 1842, she married William Dunbar and left for America early in 1852 with their two little children, Euphemia and Franklin. The Dunbars had arrived with a company of immigrants at St. Louis, Missouri. Elder Ross, the agent told them he had engaged passage for them to go from St. Louis to Council Bluffs on the Missouri River on an older, slower boat, the "Saluta" which was cheap to ride on. They had come up the Mississippi River on the Isabel but was transfered to the Saluta when it stopped for repairs at Lexington Mo.
The damaged paddle had now been patched and the engineers were stoking up the roaring fire under the boiler located directly below the spot where Mrs. Dunbar was stirring the breakfast oat meal.
Unawear (sic) that the boiler was nearly empty, the boatman obeyed the signal to start the engine. The big wheel slowly began to turn. This activated pumps which forced a stream of icy water into the red-hot boiler. Whoom, the blast tore the "Saluta" apart, hurling wreckage and human bodies high in the air. Helen and the 2 children were killed and William was badly hurt. When he recovered he made his lonely journey on to Utah alone.
Now let us return to the early lives of the Reid family. George and Euphemia were very poor and had to work very hard for a living. They were a good relegious (sic) people having the blood of Isreal (sic) in their veins. Consequently when they heard the true gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints explained to them it made a great impression upon there.
George went again and again to hear the gospel message preached by these humble Morman (sic) Elders. Then on 19th Sept 1841, he was baptized. It took a little longer for Euphemia to make up her mind to be baptized. However, she was baptized 6 March 1842. Their oldest son, George was baptized a few days after his father, on 26 Sept. 1841. He left for America and Utah. in 1848. All these years, George Reid and his wife and children Grace, John Greig and James Greg, had been faithful members of the Church in Edinburgh. They worked toward the time they would, have enough money to emigrate to Zion.
Their dreams were realized on Feb. 28, 1853 when they boarded the ship "Falcon", and were counted among the 324 Mormon Saints, with Cor Bagnall as their leader. The latter part of the voyage was anything but pleasant. They ran short of water and food, and heavy storms pledged them.
They finally landed at Hew Orleans, and started up the Mississippi River to St. Louis. From St. Louis to Council Bluffs, on the Missouri River, they were all bowed down with grief remembering, that just a year before their daughter and sister, Helen and her two little children had met their tradgic (sic) and untimely death.
Because they were almost the next to the last ship leaving Liverpool, they were the next to the last company to leave Council Bluffs (Kanesville).
These 200 souls were fortunate to have such a fine Captain as Appleton M. Harmon to guide them over the plains and mountains. The 22 wagons were loaded with the camp supplies and the few things the people were allowed to bring with them. This company, the 11th of 1853, left Kanesville on July 14th and arrived at their destination on Oct. 16th.
Family members say the Reid family settled in the 16th Ward in Salt Lake. The book, "Tales of a Triumphant People" gives the information that the Sixteenth Ward was located between South Temple and Second North, and ran from Second West on the east, to the Jordan River on the west. A large part of the land was lowlands and covered with water, but after the turning the three channels of City Creek into one channel in 1856, and conveying the water along North Temple Street directly to the Jordan River, most of the lowland near the river was reclaimed and settled. Later this area was designated as the State Fair grounds. I mention this because George Reid was apart of and interested in the doings of this area.
Food was very scarce in the Valley when George and his family arrived, but there was plenty of gold dust which had been brought in by members of the Mormon Battalion from California.
No doubt the Reid family were among those assembled in Big Cottonwood Canyon to celebrate the 24th of July of 1857 when word came that the army of the United States was as far west as Wyoming. They were marching to Utah to destroy the Mormons. It had been erroneously rumored that the Mormons were defying the laws of the Government.
The decision was made for the people to move South, leaving their homes to be burned and leave the City desolate rather than let it be inhabited by the enemy.
John G. writes that his parents went south to a place called "Salt Creek (Nephi). After taking part in Echo Canyon, he went to Nephi and helped his father to built a house there. President Young counciled with the army leaders and negotiated agreeable terms, so that the soldiers would march peaceably thru the City, not molesting anything. So, the people moved back into their homes and their life went on as usual.
George's trade of a plaster was much sought after in the City. He plastered many of the dwelling houses, as well as working on the Salt Lake Theatre building, which was finished in 1862. The Tabernacle, Temple, Council House and City and County building, were projects that needed a skilled tradesman, such as George Reid.
From what family members can remember hearing, George Reid was a faithful Latter-day Saint all of his days. It meant much to him to be with the Saints in Utah, and he did not miss an opportunity to up- built his community, in Civic betterment projects as well as those of a Church nature.
This noble pioneer and devoted church member died at the age of 74 on Dec. 16, 1869 in Salt Lake City which had been his home for 16 years.
His wife Euphemia Blackie Reid lived on until the 21st of March 1875, when she died in Salt Lake City at the age of 78 years.
When a boy George was apprenticed to learn the trade of a plaster, a vocation by which he earned a living for his family.
On the 15th of Dec. 1820, at New Gray Friar, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland George Reid married Miss Euphemia Blackie or Blakey. She was the daughter of Peter and Helen Cowen Blackie or Blakey. At the time of her marriage she was 22 years old, having been born 23 Sept. 1797 at New Gray Friars, Edinburgh Midlothianshire, Scotland.
They eventually became the parents of 10 children, namely: Helen, Margaret, George, Elizabeth, Peter, Euphemia, Grace, William M., John Greig, and James Greig. Elizabeth, Peter, Euphemia and William died when babies, Margaret died at the age of 15 and Helen met a tradgic (sic) death going up the Missiouri (sic) River on her way to Utah in 1852. Here is the story published in the Deseret News, (it will be greatly reduced for this history.)
Helen Reid was baptized a member of the Church 7,July 1842, she married William Dunbar and left for America early in 1852 with their two little children, Euphemia and Franklin. The Dunbars had arrived with a company of immigrants at St. Louis, Missouri. Elder Ross, the agent told them he had engaged passage for them to go from St. Louis to Council Bluffs on the Missouri River on an older, slower boat, the "Saluta" which was cheap to ride on. They had come up the Mississippi River on the Isabel but was transfered to the Saluta when it stopped for repairs at Lexington Mo.
The damaged paddle had now been patched and the engineers were stoking up the roaring fire under the boiler located directly below the spot where Mrs. Dunbar was stirring the breakfast oat meal.
Unawear (sic) that the boiler was nearly empty, the boatman obeyed the signal to start the engine. The big wheel slowly began to turn. This activated pumps which forced a stream of icy water into the red-hot boiler. Whoom, the blast tore the "Saluta" apart, hurling wreckage and human bodies high in the air. Helen and the 2 children were killed and William was badly hurt. When he recovered he made his lonely journey on to Utah alone.
Now let us return to the early lives of the Reid family. George and Euphemia were very poor and had to work very hard for a living. They were a good relegious (sic) people having the blood of Isreal (sic) in their veins. Consequently when they heard the true gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints explained to them it made a great impression upon there.
George went again and again to hear the gospel message preached by these humble Morman (sic) Elders. Then on 19th Sept 1841, he was baptized. It took a little longer for Euphemia to make up her mind to be baptized. However, she was baptized 6 March 1842. Their oldest son, George was baptized a few days after his father, on 26 Sept. 1841. He left for America and Utah. in 1848. All these years, George Reid and his wife and children Grace, John Greig and James Greg, had been faithful members of the Church in Edinburgh. They worked toward the time they would, have enough money to emigrate to Zion.
Their dreams were realized on Feb. 28, 1853 when they boarded the ship "Falcon", and were counted among the 324 Mormon Saints, with Cor Bagnall as their leader. The latter part of the voyage was anything but pleasant. They ran short of water and food, and heavy storms pledged them.
They finally landed at Hew Orleans, and started up the Mississippi River to St. Louis. From St. Louis to Council Bluffs, on the Missouri River, they were all bowed down with grief remembering, that just a year before their daughter and sister, Helen and her two little children had met their tradgic (sic) and untimely death.
Because they were almost the next to the last ship leaving Liverpool, they were the next to the last company to leave Council Bluffs (Kanesville).
These 200 souls were fortunate to have such a fine Captain as Appleton M. Harmon to guide them over the plains and mountains. The 22 wagons were loaded with the camp supplies and the few things the people were allowed to bring with them. This company, the 11th of 1853, left Kanesville on July 14th and arrived at their destination on Oct. 16th.
Family members say the Reid family settled in the 16th Ward in Salt Lake. The book, "Tales of a Triumphant People" gives the information that the Sixteenth Ward was located between South Temple and Second North, and ran from Second West on the east, to the Jordan River on the west. A large part of the land was lowlands and covered with water, but after the turning the three channels of City Creek into one channel in 1856, and conveying the water along North Temple Street directly to the Jordan River, most of the lowland near the river was reclaimed and settled. Later this area was designated as the State Fair grounds. I mention this because George Reid was apart of and interested in the doings of this area.
Food was very scarce in the Valley when George and his family arrived, but there was plenty of gold dust which had been brought in by members of the Mormon Battalion from California.
No doubt the Reid family were among those assembled in Big Cottonwood Canyon to celebrate the 24th of July of 1857 when word came that the army of the United States was as far west as Wyoming. They were marching to Utah to destroy the Mormons. It had been erroneously rumored that the Mormons were defying the laws of the Government.
The decision was made for the people to move South, leaving their homes to be burned and leave the City desolate rather than let it be inhabited by the enemy.
John G. writes that his parents went south to a place called "Salt Creek (Nephi). After taking part in Echo Canyon, he went to Nephi and helped his father to built a house there. President Young counciled with the army leaders and negotiated agreeable terms, so that the soldiers would march peaceably thru the City, not molesting anything. So, the people moved back into their homes and their life went on as usual.
George's trade of a plaster was much sought after in the City. He plastered many of the dwelling houses, as well as working on the Salt Lake Theatre building, which was finished in 1862. The Tabernacle, Temple, Council House and City and County building, were projects that needed a skilled tradesman, such as George Reid.
From what family members can remember hearing, George Reid was a faithful Latter-day Saint all of his days. It meant much to him to be with the Saints in Utah, and he did not miss an opportunity to up- built his community, in Civic betterment projects as well as those of a Church nature.
This noble pioneer and devoted church member died at the age of 74 on Dec. 16, 1869 in Salt Lake City which had been his home for 16 years.
His wife Euphemia Blackie Reid lived on until the 21st of March 1875, when she died in Salt Lake City at the age of 78 years.
