Zemira George Wilhelm

== Biography ==

== Biography ==

On [[September 8]], [[1872]], a son was born to [[Bateman Haight Wilhelm]] and [[Lydia Hannah Draper|Lydia Hannah Draper Wilhelm]].  He was named Zemira George after his grandfather Zemira Draper.  George was the 4th child of Bateman and Lydia.  His brothers and sisters were: [[Bateman Haight Wilhelm, Jr.|Bateman Haight, Jr.]], born [[June 27]], [[1865]]; Lydia Isora, born January 10, 1867/68; Clarissa Isabell, born Mar 27 1870; Amy Elnora, born Feb. 27 1876, died Oct. 29, 1877; Fanny Marilla, born Apr. 13, 1878 and John Benjamin, born Sept. 6, 1881.  All the children were born in Rockville, Utah save John Benjamin, who was born in St. Johns, Arizona.  George's father was a polygamist and George also had 6 half-brothers and sisters; Marion Lee, born Dec. 1870; Frances Viola, born Dec. 12, 1873; Susan Amelia, born Aug. 3, 1875; Lucy Louisa, born May 27, 1877; Independence Grace, born July 4, 1880 and Mary, born Apr. 1, 1882.

On [[September 8]], [[1872]], a son was born to [[Bateman Haight Wilhelm]] and [[Lydia Hannah Draper|Lydia Hannah Draper Wilhelm]].  He was named Zemira George after his grandfather Zemira Draper.  George was the 4th child of Bateman and Lydia.  His brothers and sisters were: [[Bateman Haight Wilhelm, Jr.|Bateman Haight, Jr.]], born [[June 27]], [[1865]]; Lydia Isora, born January 10, 1867/68; Clarissa Isabell, born Mar 27 1870; Amy Elnora, born Feb. 27 1876, died Oct. 29, 1877; Fanny Marilla, born Apr. 13, 1878 and John Benjamin, born Sept. 6, 1881.  All the children were born in Rockville, Utah save John Benjamin, who was born in St. Johns, Arizona.  George's father was a polygamist and George also had 6 half-brothers and sisters; Marion Lee, born Dec. 1870; Frances Viola, born Dec. 12, 1873; Susan Amelia, born Aug. 3, 1875; Lucy Louisa, born May 27, 1877; Independence Grace, born July 4, 1880 and Mary, born Apr. 1, 1882.

The family lived in Rockville until 1873, when they moved to a little town called Mount Carmel. George’s grandmother Clarissa Wilhelm and his oldest Aunt, Susan moved with them. They lived there until about 1874, when Bateman was called to help head the United Order at Orderville, which was about two miles from Mount Carmel. A little while after the move to Orderville a little sister was born to the family, she was named Amy Elnora. She lived until she was 21 months old and then according to her sister Clara, she died of indigestion. Clara said that her mother was unable to get proper food for her and that she was a sweet, little golden-curly headed doll like kid.  

The family lived in Rockville until 1873, when they moved to a little town called Mount Carmel. George’s grandmother Clarissa Wilhelm and his oldest Aunt, Susan moved with them. They lived there until about 1874, when Bateman was called to help head the United Order at Orderville, which was about two miles from Mount Carmel. A little while after the move to Orderville a little sister was born to the family, she was named Amy Elnora. She lived until she was 21 months old and then according to her sister Clara, she died of indigestion. Clara said that her mother was unable to get proper food for her and that she was a sweet, little golden-curly headed doll like kid.  

“Oh, yes I had a half-sister born while we living in the Order, too. It was my birthday and mother fixed us children a picnic and we walked down to Mount Carmel and when we came back, we had a little sister. They named her Lucy Luesa (Louisa). I was six years old then. While we were living there we got a pair of magpies. One of them got killed but we had the other one for a long time. One day, a little pup was out in the yard gnawing a bone and the magpie saw him and it went over to the pup and looked at it gnawing the bone. Then it walked around and got a hold of the pup’s tail and pulled at it. Then it would walk back and see if it had the pup pulled away from the bone and it would still be nibbling at it. It made ever so many trips that way before it gave it up. We thought it sure was a cute trick. It would steal thimbles and little things it could find. And it would also pick the horses sore shoulders and backs and we had to have it killed and it sure made us feel bad.”

“Oh, yes I had a half-sister born while we living in the Order, too. It was my birthday and mother fixed us children a picnic and we walked down to Mount Carmel and when we came back, we had a little sister. They named her Lucy Luesa (Louisa). I was six years old then. While we were living there we got a pair of magpies. One of them got killed but we had the other one for a long time. One day, a little pup was out in the yard gnawing a bone and the magpie saw him and it went over to the pup and looked at it gnawing the bone. Then it walked around and got a hold of the pup’s tail and pulled at it. Then it would walk back and see if it had the pup pulled away from the bone and it would still be nibbling at it. It made ever so many trips that way before it gave it up. We thought it sure was a cute trick. It would steal thimbles and little things it could find. And it would also pick the horses sore shoulders and backs and we had to have it killed and it sure made us feel bad.”

Brigham Young directed church members to feed the Indians, as it was cheaper to feed them than to fight them.  An Indian started coming to the Wilhelm house every night to be fed.  They would give him bread and milk or whatever they had.  One night he showed up drunk, he had been paid for work with a bottle of wine. When he didn’t get fed he got mad and climbed up on a big boulder with his bottle of wine and a big butcher knife and started cursing the Mormons.  He'd take a shot of wine and wave the knife and yell, "Gonna kill all the Wormons!"  George was scared to death and for many years after that had a fear of Indians.

Brigham Young directed church members to feed the Indians, as it was cheaper to feed them than to fight them.  An Indian started coming to the Wilhelm house every night to be fed.  They would give him bread and milk or whatever they had.  One night he showed up drunk, he had been paid for work with a bottle of wine. When he didn’t get fed he got mad and climbed up on a big boulder with his bottle of wine and a big butcher knife and started cursing the Mormons.  He'd take a shot of wine and wave the knife and yell, "Gonna kill all the Wormons!"  George was scared to death and for many years after that had a fear of Indians.

On George’s fourth birthday his uncle, George Draper, gave him a pocketknife.  He was out playing one day and was running with the open knife in his hand.  He tripped and fell, plunging the blade in full length just below his left eye. He jumped up and turned loose of the knife but it didn't come out.  He ran on to the house with the knife flopping and blood squirting everywhere.  His folks pulled out the knife and doctored the wound themselves, as there were no doctors around.  Word spread to the neighbors and they started showing up to help.  Their medical knowledge apparently included a strong dose of superstition because some of them helped take care of George and the rest took care of the knife.  They left the knife open and wrapped it in a greasy rag and put it behind the kitchen stove in a warm place to keep it comfortable. The wound became infected and for a time they thought they might lose him, but he was a strong boy and pulled through. When they were sure he was going to be all right, the folks in charge of the knife came and got it and buried it in a secret place on the back of the lot, rag and all.  Their mixture of superstition and medical skills must have worked because George's eye healed with no damage to his vision.

On George’s fourth birthday his uncle, George Draper, gave him a pocketknife.  He was out playing one day and was running with the open knife in his hand.  He tripped and fell, plunging the blade in full length just below his left eye. He jumped up and turned loose of the knife but it didn't come out.  He ran on to the house with the knife flopping and blood squirting everywhere.  His folks pulled out the knife and doctored the wound themselves, as there were no doctors around.  Word spread to the neighbors and they started showing up to help.  Their medical knowledge apparently included a strong dose of superstition because some of them helped take care of George and the rest took care of the knife.  They left the knife open and wrapped it in a greasy rag and put it behind the kitchen stove in a warm place to keep it comfortable. The wound became infected and for a time they thought they might lose him, but he was a strong boy and pulled through. When they were sure he was going to be all right, the folks in charge of the knife came and got it and buried it in a secret place on the back of the lot, rag and all.  Their mixture of superstition and medical skills must have worked because George's eye healed with no damage to his vision.

The Wilhelm family acquired a bunch of guinea hens as part of a trade.  The area they were living in was very temperate and the hens never made nests, they just laid their eggs all over the yard, the temperature was so warm and even that the hens didn't have to sit on the eggs to hatch them.  There were eggs and little guinea hens all over the place. George was quite impressed by this and often told his sons about it and always wanted to try guinea hens in Vernon, but was afraid it was too cold for them there.  

The Wilhelm family acquired a bunch of guinea hens as part of a trade.  The area they were living in was very temperate and the hens never made nests, they just laid their eggs all over the yard, the temperature was so warm and even that the hens didn't have to sit on the eggs to hatch them.  There were eggs and little guinea hens all over the place. George was quite impressed by this and often told his sons about it and always wanted to try guinea hens in Vernon, but was afraid it was too cold for them there.  

Around 1878 the Wilhelm family withdrew from the United Order and made the decision to move to Arizona.  B.H. made a trip to Arizona to look things over and it was decided they would settle in Concho.  Clara told about the move in her autobiography.  “My folks began to be quite dissatisfied and Apostle Erastus Snow was calling men to move to Arizona to build homes. He called father, so he went with Bro. Snow’s company to look for a place to build us a new home. There were 8 men; I think I heard them say. Edward Noble (Aunt Nancy’s father) was one of the company, Bro. John Nail (or Naegle), Wm. (Bill) Maxwell were others. So they all decided to move to Arizona. As Mother was in delicate health, he decided to take her down to her mother’s in Rockville, and leave her there for a year and take the other family to Arizona. So he drew his property out of the Order. Each one that joined the Order kept a list of the property that he had turned in and they had one in the Order. As I remember, father drew out 3 work teams, 2 farm wagons and one saddle pony and he and his mother drew 50 head of dairy cows besides some dishes and other things. They bought a nice lot of provisions, fresh pork, cheese, butter and other groceries. I thought I never saw anything look so good. Then father started with us down to Grandmother Draper’s.  I remember the first night we camped, Mother fried some of the fresh pork and when we were eating supper my brother George ate piece after piece of pork, and the grease fairly ran out of each side of his mouth. We were under-nourished and half-starved. The folks were watching him eat and mother was afraid that it would make him sick, but Grandmother said it wouldn’t hurt him, so they just let him eat all he wanted. He would eat a piece and say, “Please pass the poke!” Grandmother asked him if he wouldn’t like a little butter spread on it and he said he would, but they didn’t put any on it for him. I know that the folks didn’t know just how us children had suffered for something to eat, that is, food that would nourish our bodies, until we had left the Order and they had started to feed us at home.  Then father took the other family and grandmother and went out in to Arizona. He settled in a little town called Concho. I guess it ran him pretty short of money moving into a new country with such a large family to support. I forgot to state that he took my oldest brother Haight with him.”

Around 1878 the Wilhelm family withdrew from the United Order and made the decision to move to Arizona.  B.H. made a trip to Arizona to look things over and it was decided they would settle in Concho.  Clara told about the move in her autobiography.  “My folks began to be quite dissatisfied and Apostle Erastus Snow was calling men to move to Arizona to build homes. He called father, so he went with Bro. Snow’s company to look for a place to build us a new home. There were 8 men; I think I heard them say. Edward Noble (Aunt Nancy’s father) was one of the company, Bro. John Nail (or Naegle), Wm. (Bill) Maxwell were others. So they all decided to move to Arizona. As Mother was in delicate health, he decided to take her down to her mother’s in Rockville, and leave her there for a year and take the other family to Arizona. So he drew his property out of the Order. Each one that joined the Order kept a list of the property that he had turned in and they had one in the Order. As I remember, father drew out 3 work teams, 2 farm wagons and one saddle pony and he and his mother drew 50 head of dairy cows besides some dishes and other things. They bought a nice lot of provisions, fresh pork, cheese, butter and other groceries. I thought I never saw anything look so good. Then father started with us down to Grandmother Draper’s.  I remember the first night we camped, Mother fried some of the fresh pork and when we were eating supper my brother George ate piece after piece of pork, and the grease fairly ran out of each side of his mouth. We were under-nourished and half-starved. The folks were watching him eat and mother was afraid that it would make him sick, but Grandmother said it wouldn’t hurt him, so they just let him eat all he wanted. He would eat a piece and say, “Please pass the poke!” Grandmother asked him if he wouldn’t like a little butter spread on it and he said he would, but they didn’t put any on it for him. I know that the folks didn’t know just how us children had suffered for something to eat, that is, food that would nourish our bodies, until we had left the Order and they had started to feed us at home.  Then father took the other family and grandmother and went out in to Arizona. He settled in a little town called Concho. I guess it ran him pretty short of money moving into a new country with such a large family to support. I forgot to state that he took my oldest brother Haight with him.”

I remember while we were living at this place, mother left me with most of the housework to do. I always had the light bread to bake. The days were sure long. There would be just my brother George and myself, alone all day, and you can be sure they were long days.”

I remember while we were living at this place, mother left me with most of the housework to do. I always had the light bread to bake. The days were sure long. There would be just my brother George and myself, alone all day, and you can be sure they were long days.”

The census taken in June of 1880 lists B.H., Grace and children in Concho and Lydia and children in Rockville, Utah, so it took over a year to move the entire family to Arizona.  During the summer of 1880 Lydia and her family came to Arizona.  In her biography, Clarissa Wihelm says, “Haight came for his mother.  We had to wait until quite late in the summer because of high water. . . It rained on us most of the way to Arizona.  We had a hard time finding dry wood.  One morning all we could find were a few weeds.  I lit them under a ledge of rock and got breakfast.  The cattle were uneasy every night but we didn’t lose many.”  In her biography Clara said, “Then it came time for us to think about going to Arizona. As I have said before father took my oldest brother with him out to Arizona. We got a letter from father with $50 in it to pay for our move. Father sent Haight (my brother) back after the family. He was then 15 years old. There were two men came with him as far as Kanab. Their names were Edward Wild and the other was Curtis. The man Wild was counted to be wild in life as well as in name, hut he was a diamond in the rough and he surely had a big heart. The mules that my brother drove were not very trustworthy. This man Wild gave Haight a large ham, a nice big cheese, as well as a nice lot of canned stuff and then tried and tried to give his bed to my brother. As I guess his bed was none too good.  We will never forget his kindness.”

The census taken in June of 1880 lists B.H., Grace and children in Concho and Lydia and children in Rockville, Utah, so it took over a year to move the entire family to Arizona.  During the summer of 1880 Lydia and her family came to Arizona.  In her biography, Clarissa Wihelm says, “Haight came for his mother.  We had to wait until quite late in the summer because of high water. . . It rained on us most of the way to Arizona.  We had a hard time finding dry wood.  One morning all we could find were a few weeds.  I lit them under a ledge of rock and got breakfast.  The cattle were uneasy every night but we didn’t lose many.”  In her biography Clara said, “Then it came time for us to think about going to Arizona. As I have said before father took my oldest brother with him out to Arizona. We got a letter from father with $50 in it to pay for our move. Father sent Haight (my brother) back after the family. He was then 15 years old. There were two men came with him as far as Kanab. Their names were Edward Wild and the other was Curtis. The man Wild was counted to be wild in life as well as in name, hut he was a diamond in the rough and he surely had a big heart. The mules that my brother drove were not very trustworthy. This man Wild gave Haight a large ham, a nice big cheese, as well as a nice lot of canned stuff and then tried and tried to give his bed to my brother. As I guess his bed was none too good.  We will never forget his kindness.”

The following years were busy ones for the families.  B. H. settled his family in a beautiful area in Concho (this is now the Roman Candelaria farm).  Grandma Clarissa Wilhelm was appointed to run the coop store and until a building could be built, the goods were kept in her house.   

The following years were busy ones for the families.  B. H. settled his family in a beautiful area in Concho (this is now the Roman Candelaria farm).  Grandma Clarissa Wilhelm was appointed to run the coop store and until a building could be built, the goods were kept in her house.   

In the summer of 1881 (?), B.H. built a cabin in the mountains a few miles south of Vernon and moved his mother Clarissa, Lydia and Lydia's family up for the summer so they could make cheese. (Z. George told Roy that the cabin was at McKay Spring, however an official Government Survey map of 1884 shows the B.H. Wilhelm cabin about a mile north of Butler Mountain and this site shows evidence of early occupation. At the time they lived there George was only about 10 years old and may have confused the two meadows, which are similar.) (insert copy of map showing bh cabin)  

In the summer of 1881 (?), B.H. built a cabin in the mountains a few miles south of Vernon and moved his mother Clarissa, Lydia and Lydia's family up for the summer so they could make cheese. (Z. George told Roy that the cabin was at McKay Spring, however an official Government Survey map of 1884 shows the B.H. Wilhelm cabin about a mile north of Butler Mountain and this site shows evidence of early occupation. At the time they lived there George was only about 10 years old and may have confused the two meadows, which are similar.) (insert copy of map showing bh cabin)  

The Indian situation got worse and everyone in the outlying areas was told to go to St. Johns and bunch up there for safety.  The Wilhelms loaded up and about dark headed out for St. Johns.  George was pretty scared by this time and as the wagon drove along in the dark he started seeing Indians riding along beside them with their bows pointed at him.  He'd shake his head and the Indians would disappear for a while.  It was just his imagination.  Years later he told his kids, "if you peer hard enough you'll see what you're looking for."   

The Indian situation got worse and everyone in the outlying areas was told to go to St. Johns and bunch up there for safety.  The Wilhelms loaded up and about dark headed out for St. Johns.  George was pretty scared by this time and as the wagon drove along in the dark he started seeing Indians riding along beside them with their bows pointed at him.  He'd shake his head and the Indians would disappear for a while.  It was just his imagination.  Years later he told his kids, "if you peer hard enough you'll see what you're looking for."   

The family arrived safely in St. Johns and settled in.  A militia was formed and B.H. was elected captain of the guard.  Clara told about the accommodations that the family found, “We moved into a house that belonged to a man named Joseph Hingley, a white man with a Mexican wife. That was in the days of the open saloon and oh, the drunken men. All night it was tramp and tramp, tramp of the feet of drunken men, passing our house. Mother sure did suffer, not being well at all.  We lived here a while and then we moved to a house that belonged to Thomas Pares (Perez).”

The family arrived safely in St. Johns and settled in.  A militia was formed and B.H. was elected captain of the guard.  Clara told about the accommodations that the family found, “We moved into a house that belonged to a man named Joseph Hingley, a white man with a Mexican wife. That was in the days of the open saloon and oh, the drunken men. All night it was tramp and tramp, tramp of the feet of drunken men, passing our house. Mother sure did suffer, not being well at all.  We lived here a while and then we moved to a house that belonged to Thomas Pares (Perez).”

   

   

*Died Feb 25, 1933

*Died Feb 25, 1933

==Images==

==Images==

File:Z George and Naomi wedding.png|[[Zemira George Wilhelm]] and [[Nancy Naomi Gibbons]] Wedding portrait, January 1905

File:Z George and Naomi wedding.png|[[Zemira George Wilhelm]] and [[Nancy Naomi Gibbons]] Wedding portrait, January 1905

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[[Category:People|Wilhelm, Zemira George]]

[[Category:People|Wilhelm, Zemira George]]