A History of the Old William and Helen Bell Robb Home in Paragonah

 "as recalled by Mrs. Alice Robinson, A granddaughter"

 (typed as written)

When the missionaries representing the church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, went to Grandpa William Robb and Grandma Helen Bell in Australia, they both had a store. They sent money to Salt Lake City with Parley P. Pratt to President Brigham Young who used the money to print church books.  This money was later repaid in full with livestock. 

They joined the church in Australia.  In Sydney Grandpa William worked at his trade, that of a carriage up-holster.  They soon engaged in the store business and were very successful in this undertaking.  Grandma Helen had a keen mind for business and had her own establishment - selling fancy things, such as beautiful china dishes and the like.  Grandpa William had his own store, too, and was just as successful in making money.  While living in Sydney a  number of their children, including my father, Alex were born.  Grandpa William married Susannah Drummond the Schottish girl they brought from Schotland with them to Australia.  Susannah had a sister, but when she heard of the Mountain Meadow Massacre she became frightened and left Utah.  She has never been found.

They left Sydney in the same company as the Gurrs and Gingles, traveled through San Pedro, California on to Cedar City in 1857 and then on to Paraghonah.  Grandpa William built two log houses on the lot in Paragonah, one for each wife.

They had not lived in Paragonah too long when Grandpa William received a call from President Brigham Young to settle in Dixie to help build up that country.  So he and his second wife, Susannah Drummond and their family moved away from Paraghonah to the little place known as Harrisburg.  It was this time that Grandma Helen and her three eldest sons, William, Thomas and John built the big brick home in Paragonah.  It was built on Grandpa William's lot but was built with Grandma Helen's money which she had from her stores.  They hired the Spillsbury Brothers from Dixie to help build the home.  Grandma Helen and her older boys took on the responsibility of providing and caring for the family.  They raised their own sheep, sheared them, prepared the wool for making cloth which was their clothing,; they raised a garden for their vegetables.  They owned cattle which provided their meat, milk, butter, and cheese.

The Spillsbury Brothers also built the rock house in Harrisburg for Grandpa William and Susannah Drummond.  It still stands with another close by only remains of buildings in that one area.  Susannah died giving birth to her seventh child.  She and two of the children are buried in the small cemetery a few feet east of the home.  The oldest child was only 13 and she tried to take care of that family.  Grandpa William traveled to Paragonah and told Grama Helen of the misfortune.  Although Grandma Helen was not at all well, she suffered from a cough and lung trouble, she was one who never shirked a duty or a responsibility, so she told him to bring his second family back to Paragonah and she would raise them with her own which she did.  Grandma Helen always said if he had only sent for her, she could have saved Susannah Drummond.

Grandma Helen was born in Schotland 30 June 1819 and (died) 11 April 1874.

The large brick house is still standing (June 30, 1975).  The woodwork and everything in it is just in perfect condition.  Materials, bricks, and wood, were bought from Salt Lake City by ox team.  The door casings, etc., were not put together, but they were all sawed and fixed ready to be nailed together in Salt Lake City.  We have heard Uncle Will say how many trips they figured they made to Salt Lake City for the materials.  The doors were so heavy that they had to be laid flat.  The brick was laid good, with plenty of good mortar and built well, that is why it has not deteriorted any.  The house was built with four rooms, 2 downstairs and 2 upstairs, with a big wide hall and stairs.  The stairs and all are still perfect.  The upstairs rooms were used as bedrooms and original handmade carpet is still on the south bedroom floor.  On the west upstairs, where the door opend out, there are hooks where they hung their meat.  The kitchen downstairs room had 2 big windows facing the west and a door to the east.  I remember they had a big fireplace in the southend and another fireplace in the northend.  The other downstairs room was the parlor.  As was the custom of that time the parlor was seldom used.  The door was kept shut, mighty few peeks were allowed into that room!  These two rooms were used as the place for Grandpa Robb's funeral.  I remember that planks were put between chairs and covered with quilts and I was boosted on to one by my mother, Ellen Benson Robb, since I was only three years old I cannot remember much more about his funeral.

A buttery was located under the large stairway.  There were good shelves in the buttery and the dishes, the fruit and the pickles and such were kept there.  It was as big as a room, almost.

There was a dirt cellar north of the house for root vegetables, apples, etc.  The dirt cellar on the south end of the house, east of the granary, was used to smoke their meat.  There were two or three log sheds covered with straw.  The garden was where Blaine Jones lived today.

Most of the children all lived there after they were married for short periods.  My father, Alex and mother Ellen Benson lived there for a little while after they were married until they could get a place of their own.  The second family continued to live there with his daughter Jane (from the second family) taking care of Grandpa William.  She earned that house and the house was deeded to her.

The families all got along just fine.  Grandma Helen did not favor one above another, the families were very close.

Grandpa William was the father of 19 children.  He died 26 September 1895, and is buried in Parowan.  Grandma Helen is buried in Parowan Cemetery also.

The home has always remained in the Robb family until its sale to Mr. Olsen, in 1975.  He has since reshingled it.

I would like all the descendants of Helen Bell Robb to know about the great honor that came to her as a young girl - she helped to embroider the beautiful gown Queen Victoria wore when she was crowned.

(The was written by Jean Hendricksen after first being recorded.   A Parowan High School Teacher. 1976)

Additions made in italic.

"Utah Guide, 3rd Edition" by Allan Kent Powell gives an account of the house.  Page 246 Section Southwestern Region:   

Helen Bell Robb House

"The most elaborate of Paragonah's pioneer houses, this large brick home was built in 1861 for Helen Bell, the first of William Robb's two wives.  She immigrated to Utah from Australia with her husband and used money she had earned in a successful Australian business to finance the construction of the house in Paragonah.  William Robb arrived in Paragonah in 1858, but in 1861 moved about 50 miles farther south, to Harrisburgh, with his second wife, Susannah Drummond.  When Susannah died after giving birth to her seventh child, Helen agreed that William could return to Paragonah with Susannah's children, who were raised by Helen.  128 N. Main."