Dad's Burton cousin reunion was held at Antelope Island this year because
the Island was first settled by Fielding Garr, Dad's great-great grandfather.
We had the privilege of taking Grandma Kenison with us that day. (8/2/14)
She is the only living member of her generation on that side of the family.
Antelope Island was an island ranch and continued to be one of the largest
commercial cattle operations in Utah until it became a state park in 1981.
The salt beds along the causeway looked like ice!
This shot was taken out the van window, across Great Salt Lake, as we neared
the north end of Antelope Island. In Fielding Garr's day, all animals and
supplies were brought across a well marked sand bar near the southern end
of the Island on dry years and by rafts and swimming on wet years. :)
This is a map of the island. The Island is 15 miles
long and 4.5 miles wide. That's 28,022 acres!
The reunion was held at the old Garr Ranch.
Outcroppings was white rock, Tintic Quartzite, were an interesting feature of the island.
We were told there are antelope, mule deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes,
bobcats, badgers, and birds of prey, but we only say a herd of buffalo. 12 buffalo
were introduced on the island in 1893. There is now a herd of 500-700 animals.
This is Frary Peak, the highest point on the island at 6,596 feet above sea level.
Here is the old Garr Ranch. Although Kit Carson and John C. Fremont
explored the island in 1845, Fielding Garr established the first permanent
residence. A brick mason by trade, the home he build is the oldest
Anglo-built structure still standing on its original foundation in Utah.
It was clear from the moment we arrived that Grandma is loved
and admired by all her nieces and nephews. It was one of the sweetest
pleasure of the day to see each come and greet her personally.
A potluck lunch was the first order of business.
This are all Dad's first cousins and their spouses.
You can tell Grandma enjoyed this part of the day as much as anyone.
These are some more of Dad's first cousins and spouses.
This is Ethelene Cornaby checking on Grandma. (I loved her hat!:)
Austin Burton is the in blue shirt. His wife, Kay, is wearing
glasses. Sherry, Ralph Burton's wife, has her back to the camera.
Dad is talking to Ralph and Austin Burton. Ralph and Austin are brothers.
The only children were Clyde's grandchildren.
Twins, Joan and Jane are enjoying their brother, Niel Burton's, stories.
Neil Burton is calling the gathering to order.
Each cousin attending gave a brief report on their family. Clyde(green shirt),
Austin (blue shirt) and Ralph (tan shirt) are all brothers. Their dad is
Grandma's oldest brother, "Uncle Mack."
This is Allen and Joan Stott.
This is Vada and Adolf Huber.
This is Clyde Burton's grand daughter.
This is Debra and Larry Mackay.
The main event was hearing a report from Grandma about her memories
of her parents. (Notice the old farm house, built by her great-grandfather in the back ground).
Later, the group started asking Grandma questions about her
brothers and sisters. (Their parents :) Her answers were spontaneous,
concise, and sometimes entertaining. Her memories are still crisp and clear.
What we learned about Antelope Island.
The ranch is located by Garr Springs, one of more reliable of the 40 springs found
on the island. Fielding arrived in 1848 on assignment from the Church to
establish a strong hold for the tithing herds. This church herd helped finance
the Perpetual Emigration Fund which helped European Saints to cross the plains.
Fielding died in 1855. Other men were assigned by the church to continue operations.
Most of the homesteads issued by the Federal Government failed.
John Dooly Sr. bought the whole island for a million dollars. He introduced
the buffalo. His son later expanded the sheep operation to more than 10,000 sheep.
There was no electricity on the island until 1950. (Dad was born that year!)
A big gas-powered generator provided enough power for all the buildings.
Up until then, horses and people took care of all the work. By the 1970's
the inhabitants of the island had all the modern conveniences found in
other homes in Utah. A huge solar panel provides the power today!
It was during this time period that my Dad,
Carl Marvin, worked as a ranch hand breaking horses on the island.(1945/46)
He was in the 8th grade and Arnold Haskell was the ranch foremen.
The bottom fell out of the sheep market in the 1950's
and the ranching operation returned to mainly cattle.
What the ranch looks like today. (August 2014)
Most of the horses there today are just for "dudes" to go for a ride. $50 per hour!
This is the old Spring house. It was built in the 1880's, before refrigeration was available,
as part of the dairy operations. It helped keep the milk cool until it could be made into cheese.
The left half of the farm house is the portion build by Grandpa
Fielding Garr. The other half was added through the years.
The half Fielding built has been restored as it might have been during his
era. This fireplace was the only source of heat in the winter.
The flooring is not accurate, but the dresses were similar to those worn by the Garr Girls.
The bedroom featured the rope weave design bed mattress common
in the Garr's time, as well as a hand pieced quilt.
The wash room preserves evidence of the changes through the years on the Garr Ranch.
Visitors at the ranch can try pumping water by hand,
they way the Garr children did from the spring.
The history of the ranch spans the evolution of hundreds of farming
implements and machines and then their becoming obsolete. There
are several large pieces of old equipment found on site today.
This old adobe bricks are housed in the old shearing barn, built in the 1920's.
This is where the sheep were sheared for many years by hand .
A blacksmith shop came to the island in the 1880's. It made
it possible for the ranchers to make various tools and
repair them as needed. Making horse shoes was critical.
repair them as needed. Making horse shoes was critical.
The gift shop had a tiny doll representing each of
Fielding Garr's daughters who grew up on the ranch.
A simple apron had a pocket for each one.
Sarah Anna is Dad's great grandmother. She married Robert Taylor Burton.
Their son, Austin Garr Burton is Grandma Anna's father. :)
The original buildings and corrals were built of natural
materials. Here is where the old, meets the new.
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The day of this reunion, Jason and Laura were in Utah from Washington
to attend the temple wedding and reception of Emily Hayes.
This is the newly married couple.
Laura and Jason give last minute hugs before they head to the airport to fly home.
