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| Henry Holyoak |
The Holyoak family had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints June 24, 1841 and like all the saints, lived for the day they could accumulate enough money to come to America, sailing in February 1854, and landing April 1854. They came immediately on to Utah, arriving in October 1854. The trek across the plains was hard and also saddened by the loss of Mother Sarah and sisters Mary and Anne. Henry settled in Parowan, Utah, with his father and sisters. In 1863 and later he made three trips back East with ox-team for freight and immigrants.
In 1865 on January 29, he married Sarah Ann Robinson, daughter of English Immigrants. She was born in Nauvoo, Illinois December 22, 1842, and came to Utah with her parents settling in Paragonah. [Sarah Ann Robinson Holyoak, who was JR Robinson’s half sister. His son JR Robinson Jr. was also called to San Juan. Her mother & father were married on the ship to America in 1842, Alice Coupe Robinson died in Pottatattamie County, Iowa May 30, 1847, and left Sarah and her brother Richard. J R Robinson Sr married her sister Jane, at his first wife’s request, who was traveling with them, on August 24, 1847, They had 15 children, including the two from her sister. ]
They later went to the temple when it was ready for sealings and had their work done. It is interesting to note that all their children have been married in the temples; also the big majority, if not all of their grandchildren.
Children of this union are Alice Jane (Thomson), Henry John, Mary Luella (Young), Eliza Ellen (McConkie), Albert Daniel, Richard James, and Sarah Ann. (died at 13 years of age). James died at 8 years of age. The other five have contributed to the 29 grandchildren and over 200 great and great, great grandchildren.
When the church called colonizers for San Juan, the Henry Holyoak family were among those who were called from Parowan, 1879-80, (probably the 69th quorum of seventies) [According to J R Robinson's story, at the quarterly conference of the Parowan Stake, held Dec. 28 and 29, 1878 Holyoak was one of the names called to serve as a missionary "to settle where directed." Others who went from Paragonah were William Robb, James R. Robinson Jr, James Dunton.]
Sarah Ann drove her own wagon most of the way. She had a bed in it as well as a stove to keep her young children comfortable, the baby being very young. Henry John and Alice Jane drove the livestock, (which consisted of about 100 head of cattle, a yoke of oxen and some horses, at the time they moved on to Moab). The calves were tied up at night and in the morning the dairy cows were milked. The milk put in the barrel churn on back of the wagon would, by night, supply the family with fresh butter as well as milk. Many others shared in these dairy products (Carlile History).
The four years spent on the San Juan were wasted so far as crops were concerned because the rising river ruined the farming land, also took out the water wheel and washed it to the other side of the river. This left them with no way to get water onto crops not washed away.
"The Holyoak family moved to Bluff for a short time, but much of the land at Bluff had been washed away also, and it seemed there was no place for them. They decided to accept the mission release, and search for a more hospitable location. This would be their seventh move in just over four years. The wagon they brought through the Hole-in-the-Rock had been their home, much of the past four years.
During October of 1884, the Holyoak family followed the tracks left by the eight wagons, which, just a few weeks earlier, had carried the Harriman and Davis refugees north. They camped for a few days east of Blue Mountain near where the town of Monticello is now located. They then continued their journey past the spot where the Old Spanish trail intercepted Coyote Wash and finally to the location now called Kane Springs. The old wagon broke a wheel, and they were stranded. This was probably the low point for the Holyoak family. They were out of food; the wagon had serious damage; and they really didn’t even know where they were going. Fortunately, they still had a few cattle left from the fine herd they had brought from Parowan.
Henry left his family at Kane Springs, and rode all the way to Castle Dale in search of food. This trip took two weeks and the family hunted and ate rabbits until his return. He had procured some pig feed, with the chaff, bran and all, mixed together, which was the only thing he was able to buy. Henry went to work repairing their wagon. Near the end of February, they arrived and pitched a tent at a place a little east of the present town of Moab.
Henry traded nine cows and ten steer to Lester Taylor for eighty acres of land in an area, which appropriately became known as Poverty Flats, and still carries the name to this day. They had found their permanent location and there would be no more moves other than local ones. Things gradually began to improve. The Holyoaks were among the first settlers in the area. Someone said they were the seventh family to settle in the area. They helped build the town of Moab.
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| Holyoak Family at Batchelor's Hall, Moab, Utah 1898 |
Left to right: Henry Holyoak, Richard Leroy Holyoak-child being held by Hattie Elizabeth Lutz Holyoak, Mary Luella Holyoak Young, Marion Thomson-child behind dog. (The dog was named Bob), Eliza Ellen Holyoak McConkie-inside cabin, Alice Jane Holyoak Thomson- center of doorway, James and Henry Thomson-children in basket, Sarah Ann Robinson Holyoak, Gurtie Thomson, Robert Thomson, Davenport.
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| Henry John Holyoak and Henry Holyoak 1890 Photo from Hole-in-the-Rock Remembered |
"The Holyoak history tells of the Indian friends they had made while living at Montezuma occasionally visiting them at Moab. There would be a happy reunion when they arrived, and Henry would kill the fatted calf and put on a feast. The friendship the Holyoak family had with the Indians was genuine. This is truly amazing, when considering the fact that just fifteen miles from the Holyoak place, there are graves of at least ten white cowboys, who were killed in a fight with those same Indians during the Pinhook War."
Henry Holyoak was a counselor to Bishop Stewart, first Bishop of Moab Ward. Sarah Ann was counselor in the Relief Society and later became President. Sarah Ann died on November 20, 1921 at Moab. Henry died on January 23, 1926 at Ogden, Utah and was buried at Moab. They were wonderful pioneers, who lived valiant lives, facing all their tribulations and adversity with faith and patience. They left a very impressive posterity.
Henry was a young man at the time of the Hole-in-the-Rock expedition. Following is an interesting excerpt by Holyoak concerning the first part of their trip, heading towards Escalante.
While crossing the mountain snow fell until it was up to the axles of the wagons. I drove the loose stock, and got my feet frozen. While crossing the divide my mother drove one of the wagons, with a team of horses, while my father drove the wagon drawn by an ox team.
Holyoak remembers this about Cottonwood Hill;
The road was steep and the chain broke and the wagon turned over, the tongue went up in the air and lit upside down in the road so we had to take it to pieces and pack it up on top so we could put it together. We had a hive of bees and had to wait till we could sack the bees before we could start packing the pieces of the wagon and the load up the hill. That took a lot of work to get things together.
Taken from a Short History of Henry Holyoak. Author Unknown
Henry Holyoak was a counselor to Bishop Stewart, first bishop of Moab ward. Sarah Ann was counselor in Relief Society and later became President.
They took a prominent part in getting things started to build up the community, schools, and church. They were considerate of others and shared their food, but stood for their own rights. Squatter's built a shack over night, on part of their land in Moab while Henry took a trip by team and buggy to Salt Lake City to get title to the land. Sarah Ann held the squatters of with an old gun, not loaded (and probably wouldn't have shot anyway), but said, Mr. Loveridge, years later, "We moved when she said to get off because we knew she meant what she said."
The blessings given Henry and Sarah Ann on the same day in 1875 must have been an inspiration tot them and they lived for them and fulfilled them, and surely will be inspiring to all who read them, so are being added to this history. All who knew them well will tell you they were good, respected citizens, well loved by all, "Naturally of a kind disposition." They fed the hungry and had plenty to set before their friends as Sarah Ann's blessing said. They were friendly with the Indians and were able to feed them by the dozens when they passed through Moab.
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| Holyoke Coat of Arms |
In his declining and lonely years after the passing of his good wife, Henry was very desirous that some one carry on the genealogy work he had pursued. He was a life member of the Genealogical Society of Utah and sent money repeatedly for research work. When on a mission to England in 1893, he searched for genealogy and he also secured the Holyoak Family Coat of Arms and placed it in the Society. he always went to church and bore his testimony on fastday [sic]. Said he, "Even though I cannot hear, my presence will be there."
Henry Holyoak:
Birth: Mar. 5, 1839
Death: Jan. 23, 1926
Sarah Ann Robinson Holyoak:
Birth: Dec. 22, 1842
Death: Nov. 21, 1921
Burial:
Grand Valley Cemetery
Moab, Grand County, Utah, USA
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| Sarah Ann and Henry Holyoak monument Grand Valley Cemetery, Moab,Utah |
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(A Blessing given by Levi W. Hancock, July 2, 1875, upon the head of Henry Holyoak, the son of George and Sarah Holyoak. Born March 5, 1839, at Worstershire, England.)
Brother Henry, I place my hands upon thy head and give thee a patriarchal blessing, which is a fatherly blessing confirmed upon the heads of the sons of men, who belong to the house of God. That they may look upon the same and claim the blessings that are recorded. That they may be handed down from generation to generation for the benefit of the whole family branch, that shall spring from them trhough all their generations.
Thou are one of the sons of those that were counted wise in the counsils [sic] that are among the Gods. Thou has come in the time appointed to be one with thy brethern [sic] in this age of the world to help them promote the cause of truth, peace and prosperity among the offspring of Adam, the father of us all. To be counted with him in the ties of friendship and love to bind the hearts of the children to the fathers and the fathers to the children: that virtue and truth may prevail. Thou are the pure blood of Ephriam [sic] and much of thy time should be spent in the pursuit of Manassa [sic] by encouraging the young me and the middle age and also those of thine own posterity to deal kindly and truly with the Lamanites. That they may be brought to the knowledge of Christ, their Redeemer and learn to be one with Him. That his spirit may rest upon them and commence binding their affections to each other, and cease hankering for blood.
Tough are capable of doing great work for the benefit of the House of Israel, not so much because of a great flow of words, but because of the uprightness of thy walk and proceedings. From this time give thy mind to study and wisdom shall be given from on high.
And when thou hath been sufficiently tried as Abraham was thou shall have intelligence concerning the second comforter which thou has not as yet comprehended but in part. When He comes thou will know it. It will be a sudden impression upon thee and it will continue to instruct thy mind from hence forward. Let thy heart be joyful. Let the revibrating [sic] strokes of the sudden emotions of thy heart stimulate thee to work in the service of thy God. And as for the riches of the world, thou shall be in possession of enough to make thee comfortable all thy days. And thine offspring, with a numerous host of others of the different branches of the family of man, will give thee much honor. Mind not what opposers [sic] may say. Keep a straight onward course. Do good for evil, remember the Son of God has set the pattern and they shall overcome all evil and have right to the tree of life in the Paradise of God.
These are the blessings that I seal upon thy head, and the blessings of Eternal Life, even so, Amen.
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Sources:
Find a Grave
Hole-in-the-Rock Remembered
Short History and Blessing of Henry Holyoak
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