STORY OF WILLIAM S. MUIR
My father, Stephen Muir, was born in Westfield, Clackmannan Shire, Scotland. His mother’s name was Marion Bain(?). I have no account of my grandfather on father’s side.
My mother was born in Tullihadrv, Clackmannan Shire. Her mother’s name was Ann Morrison and her husband’s name was Blackwood.
My father, Stephen Muir, married Elizabeth Blackwood. They moved from Clackmannan Shire to Stirling Shire, here my father worked at farm service near Cowie. In the act of moving a plow that was frozen in the ground he took a pain in his hip which laid him up in bed from March until harvest. The keeping of one of his legs in one position made him lame for his natural life.
He left the farm and worked at a tanning yard for four shillings per week, afterwards going into a dye house for eight or nine shillings. He did finally receive as wages eleven shillings per week.
My mother bore twelve sons and daughters; eight sons and four daughters. James, my brother died at the age of sixteen. He was buried in St. Louis on his way to the valley. David, George and the twin brothers all died young. David was quite a young man, George younger. Stephen was an engineer on a steamship between New York and Aspinwall. He married an Irish lady but died and was buried in New York. Robert, the eldest, married a Highland lady and was on the public force in the city of Glasgow. He died leaving one son and two daughters. My sisters, of whom three are alive, while I am writing this account, Ann married Charles Shire of St Ninians, Stirling Shire, Elizabeth married Thomas Smith also of St Ninians. My sister Mary came to the valley with my father and mother and married Robert Ure, a Scotchman. I was born in Bannockburn on the 19th day of July 1822 in Stirling Shire Parish of St Ninians. I here insert pages 1 to 4 and 5-6-7-8, the story of the lost gold.
On my way to the Missouri River in company with seven others, I had entrusted to my care, two sacks of gold which together with what I had of my own was carefully wrapped up and sewed up in a mountain sheep skin safely tied on behind my saddle. Before I got to the Weber River my mule being very (At this point something was deleted from the story and I couldn’t make sense out of it. AHT) round the saddle and rider slipped right off the mule and the mule put right off his own account. When caught the gold sacks were loose suggesting to me the propriety of letting Mr. Perkie carry the gold in his pair of sashes for me. The old steady mule that was entrusted with this job was traded off for an Indian mare that was rather wild and had to be watched at night. In consequence of this Mr. Perkie came up to me one evening on the Platte River about nine o’clock, I think all the boys had lain down to rest, and said, “Muir, here is your gold.” Looking at him I said, “Just throw it down on the robe.” My buffalo robe had been spread out on the ground. He then told me that he had concluded to sleep alone and to watch his mare. He was my bedfellow. When I went to lay down, I caught my robe by the two corners and shook it to remove the dust and in doing so I shook the two bags of gold off also. I hunted around a little on hands and knees but could not put my hands upon it. I concluded to lay down and sleep which I did. I found the gold laying where it had fallen in the morning. I asked Thomas Dunn one of our party to give me a thong of leather of which he had a small supply. I set to work and sewed this roll of sack and skin up into one corner of buffalo robe, thinking that if I lost it I could find the robe much easier than I could find the roll containing the gold.
In the meantime, Mr. Perkie having his mare tied close to him all night, he was first saddled in the morning. Having put his all on the animal and calculating to walk some of the way and give his animal a much needed rest, he turned her loose while he saddled his mule. Melitan Hatch looking over one of horses which he was saddling said, “Perkie, your horse is going off” and so she did.
Mr. Perkie started after her on his mule but his mule proved too slow for the mare went on out from the river towards the bluffs on the left. As we got to the river the bottoms and bluffs were at that time covered with buffalo far and near. As the mare approached the buffalo the buffalo ran and so did the mare. She had been an old hand at hunting them. Mr. Perkie returned to the camp just as we were all on the move getting ready for the day’s march. Mr. Perkie said, “boys she is too quick for my mule. Will some of you not come and help me catch her?” A number of the boys started with Mr. Perkie to bring the truant mare back to the proper fold, but the farther and faster the boys rode after the mare the faster the mare went after the buffalo. The buffalo went until everything was lost in the sand hills. The mare true to her training followed the buffalo and they in turn until everything was out of sight. The boys returned with Mr. Perkie, he having lost everything he had but the things that he stood up in, while I had just finished the job of sewing up the bags of gold in my robe, which I got safe to Council Bluffs. Crossing the river among much ice on a skow which we found in readiness all safely landed.
I proceeded up to Harvey Creek where I had learned that my wife was living. I left her in Nauvoo in June 1846 and it was now November 1, 1848, making two years and five months that I had been away from her. I am now busying myself with preparing a fit out for returning to the valley with my wife. She having laid our two children to rest, Elizabeth the eldest and Stephen the babe.
About the first of June of 1849 we started for Salt Lake. After weary traveling we arrived in the valley in the month of September. On the 14th of October our son William S. Muir was born. We lived at this time in the Third Ward near as I can remember. I purchased from Isaac Morley a piece of land in Davis County which I have resided upon from that time to the present. In the winter of ’49 and ’50 I went to Provo during the Indian War. Had a very cold time of it but this put an end to this short war. In the fall of 1853 I went to Bridger on what was called then the Fort Supply Mission among the Indians. I returned home the following summer in August 1854 spending the winter at home.
In the spring of 1855 I went with seven others to England. I was sent down to Scotland where I arrived in September. After laboring in Scotland for a few weeks, I was called to the Manchester Mission, England where I remained one week having been further ordered to proceed to Birmingham where I remained two years and two months. My mission was many times a great pleasure, traveling with many different men, forming new acquaintances in new towns, hearing different dialects, preaching, teaching and advising people and laboring with the Elders. I had a new field to operate in, being 70 miles in length, taking in Wales and Midland Counties of England, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and many other great manufacturing centers, embracing nearly all trades, rail iron to sewing needles, from engines to the smallest buttons.
It was the greatest rest for me to go from my home and to do this work. It seemed natural and easy for me. I worked hard to bring many to this great land so that they could get homes of their own and so that they could be one with their people in Utah. I traveled much in country and village, saw many strange ways and doings, yet withal a good and honest people. Take the mission all told, I feel well over it. It gave me confidence with myself, with my brother and also with the Lord. Many times I have been thankful to Him for all his blessings poured out upon the human family at home and abroad.
I visited in Scotland a number of times. My friends or my old neighbors cared nothing for the message I had. In fact we Elders were considered deluded and led astray. The religious people did not want any other God, only the one they had imagined in their brain, a harmless God with no body or parts. This seemed to be all they wanted at any and all times.
My journey to New York by sailing ship was of weeks duration. Nothing of note occurred only it seemed long. We took the train from Chicago, thence to Burlington and from there we went to St. Louis, thence up to Missouri, to Florence, waiting here for ponies from Canada where some of the brethren were purchasing horses. Some of the Elders made the journey on foot, many got a ride now and again and in this manner we wore out the journey, arriving at Salt Lake, June third a few days ahead of the army. We passed them between the head of Echo Canyon and Bear River. In other words we went around, passing their trappers and miners, 115 in number as near as I can remember, at this late date. We were miraculously led across the plains. The Lord covered us with clouds, rain and snow and also sunshine when all was over. We went out of the main road at times. Take the journey all and all we did well but would not like to go the same way again.
When we arrived at Salt Lake the people were moved South so we had to go in search of our friends, wives and children. I found mine located at the lake shore, Southwest of Pleasant Grove. After remaining a few days the order was given for all to return home. Early in July, 1858 we returned to Bountiful where with taking care of crops and making improvements, time went on. In the year 1864 I traveled to the North, South, East and West. President Brigham Young furnished the last journey from St. George about the last day of September. This years travels were quite an experience to me, enlarging my views concerning the territory and its resources.
In 1868 when the railroads were coming to our country I engaged with Sharp and Young to purchase supplies, until 1869 when I attended to the farm and folks, building and improving. All this time children were born to me, the kind and date must be mentioned hereafter, in their order.
In the year 1887 I started to go for my wife Jane S. Robb in the city of Charleston, South Carolina, from there to New York. It was decided in the St. Dennis Hotel that I should go to Scotland, which I did, going to the City of Edinburgh first. At different times I left the lawyer there in disgust and engaged one in Sterling. When I left to return home I took from his hand a letter which stated that I had left no stone unturned. This writer’s name was John Archibald, office at 53 Port, Sterling.
I took passage on the Steamship Wyoming. The same ship carried me safe back to New York, landing me there on my 65th birthday July 19, 1887. I visited many people, friends and others, making my way from here to Charleston, South Carolina, from this point to St. Louis where I visited four days returning through Independence, Kansas City, Denver, Cheyenne and Salt Lake City, arriving home August 30, 1887.
On the 12th day of October I was sentenced to the pen for six months which time I faithfully served. This being in fact the only rest I had ever had in all my life. I had many chances to come and go and do. April 12th I went to Salt Lake City and received the congratulations of my friends.
I went North to a place called John Days Lake, now called Greys Lake, Bingham County, Idaho. I came back to Greys Landing November 1, 1888. Returning I started South with my wife to visit old time friends returning in February 1889 having spent 51 days. We had cold weather but we enjoyed ourselves very much.
This year I went North visiting Woodruff, Randolph and many settlements in Northern Utah and Southern Idaho, visiting sons and daughters and playing with grandchildren. On this trip I took Abe my youngest son. He was quite a bother at times. His mother coming up with Leo took him home. I stayed till late returning to attend Fair and Conference at Salt Lake City. I had many good visits with my old friends, in fact I was well taken care of.
After spending the winters of 1889-90 and waiting till June I started for Montana, returning by Idaho, passing East into Wyoming and seeing my daughter Ellen. I returned to Greys Lake thence to Soda Springs, Logan and home in August 1890 to Woods Cross.
(This story was written by William Smith Muir, father of Margaret Muir Hatch, according to a hand written note by Margaret Muir Hatch that was on the type written account. AHT) History of William Muir.