James Hennefer Jr. & Sarah Ann Hulks

James Hennefer Jr.

James Hennefer Jr. was born: June 2, 1820 at Wardsley, Staffordshire, England.  He died on August 22, 1897 at Henneferville, (later Henefer), Summit County, Utah.

James Hennefer Jr. is the son of James Hennefer Sr. (1791-1862) of Worcestershire, England, and son of Charlote Hicken Hennefer (1793-1832) of Walsal, Stafford, England.

On August 30, 1846, James married Sarah Ann Hulks (1823-1880). The couple had twelve children, including a set of twins and a set of triplets (the triplets died as infants). James and Sarah died and are buried in Heneferville (now Henefer), Summit County, Utah.

In the year 1853 two brothers, William Hennefer and James Hennefer, received a call from Brigham Young asking them to take their families to start a settlement along the Weber River in the valley, which was then known as Indian hunting grounds.  Upon the advice of Brigham Young, they gathered their meager belongings together, placed them in two covered wagons and made the hard journey over the mountains into the little valley now known as Henefer. They took up forty acres of land on the sage-covered flats and lived in their wagons and fortified themselves against the Indians while they cut and prepared logs to build their cabins. Each night one of the men would keep the fires burning to frighten away wild animals or unfriendly Indians. The first cabin finished, which consisted of one large room and a lean-to, was occupied by both families until a second one could be built.

They brought with them two cows, two pair of oxen and different kinds of seeds. At this time the valley was covered with sagebrush and a great deal of hard work was required to prepare the soil for planting. The Hennefer families endured many dangers, sacrifices and hardships. Often they would find a brown bear in the lean-to of the house calmly licking the cream from the milk or eating wild honey, which the men had gathered.

During the next few years, two more children were born to William and his wife Rebecca, and three weeks after the birth of Edward, the second child, his wife passed away from complications of childbirth.

On January 13, 1854, when Summit County was organized, William Hennefer was appointed a Selectman of the county.

After the death of his wife, William Henry Hennefer returned to Salt Lake City where he was employed on the City Police force. It was at the time that Johnston’s Army was quartered at Camp Floyd and it was a difficult job to keep the peace in Great Salt Lake.  On one occasion the soldiers made a great disturbance and some shots were fired at the policemen during the fracas. Assistant Surgeon Edward N. Covey and other men were arrested by William Hennefer for riot and assault upon the police.

William Hennefer

In 1861, William Hennefer returned to Henefer and was chosen by Brigham Young as Presiding Elder of the Henefer Branch, with James Hennefer and Abraham Hays as counselors.

On one occasion William Hennefer, accompanied by his brother James, made a trip by oxen and wagon to Evanston, Wyoming on business. Two days were required to make the trip, so they camped about a mile east of Castle Rock in Echo Canyon.

Johnston's Army Marching in the Streets of S.L.C.

Johnston’s Army was in the process of evacuation at this time and by an act of fate the same Dr. Covey and his party of soldiers was camped near by. Some of the soldiers recognized William, the ex-policeman, and under the command of Dr. Covey they tied him to a wheel of his wagon.  Dr. Covey then with a heavy riding whip - such as was used in the west at that time, - the handle of braided raw hide strips with four strands two feet in length and knotted - proceeded to inflict a hundred or more lashes upon the bare flesh of his victim, "each stroke with all the force he could exercise - the suffering man all the while uttering loud cries of anguish and pleading for mercy." Hennefer fainted after about seventy lashes had been administered, but the brutal shipping went on just the same, varied only by the beating him over the head with the but of the whip.
Lieutenant Gay, who was also arrested previously by Hennefer, several times suggested during the whipping that their victim be shot.  But no one being willing, apparently, to act upon what would have been, under the circumstances a merciful act, he called upon two army mule teamsters standing in the crowd with their long, heavy mule whips, "give him two for me."  Which order was obeyed (Americana Volume 9, pg. 91-92). Stripped and bleeding, he was then driven from camp to die. James, although innocent, except for being a brother of William, was beaten, kicked into a stream of water and nearly drowned, but he escaped. He walked a distance of several miles to a mail station at the entrance of Echo Canyon to get aid for his brother. William was near death when they reached him. Pieces of his clothing were soaked out of his wounds with sagebrush tea and whiskey. He was very ill for a long time. Their wagon and oxen were recovered by a friendly soldier who had been treated kindly by the Hennefers earlier in his travels.

Ena Hennefer Mitchel wrote:

A Young Sarah Ann Hulks

I feel I should tell you a little about my grandparents who were adventurous and courageous individuals, each taking their place in helping to develop our great country in its early years, going through danger and many hardships, as other great Americans in our country did. My grandfather, James Hennefer, was born in 1821 in England and was baptized into the church when he was 23 years old. He married Sarah Hulks who was born in London, England in 1823. To this union 12 children were born, including one set of triplets and one set of twins. They endured many hardships crossing the great Atlantic Ocean and coming to Zion to make their home in Utah.

My grandfather, James Hennefer, and his brother, William Hennefer, were called by President Brigham Young to take their families and start a settlement along the Weber River in the Valley that was then known as an Indian hunting ground. Upon the advice of President Young, they gathered their meager belongings together, placed them in two covered wagons and made the hard journey over the mountains into the little valley now known as Henefer. They took up 40 acres of land on the sage-covered flat and proceeded to organize a make-shift home. It was necessary for them to live in their wagons to fortify themselves against the Indians while they cut and prepared logs to build their cabins. Each night one of the men would keep the fires burning to frighten away wild animals or unfriendly Indians. The first cabin finished, which consisted of one large room and a lean-to, was occupied by both families until a second could be built.

They brought with them two milk cows, two pair of oxen and different kinds of seeds. At this time the valley was covered with sagebrush. The Hennefers endured many dangerous sacrifices and hardships. Often they would find a brown bear in the lean-to of the house, calmly licking the cream from the milk or eating wild honey they had gathered. In 1861 my grandfather’s brother, William Hennefer, was chosen by Brigham Young as Presiding Elder of the Hennefer Branch, with James Hennefer and Abraham Hays as counselors.

Sarah Ann Hulks

The Hennefer brothers planted and thrashed the first grain in the Valley. They used oxen and the grain was cut with a sickle and they thrashed it out with sticks on a large canvas. Sarah Hulks Hennefer, my grandmother and the wife of James Hennefer, was a schoolteacher, seamstress and glove-maker. She made the first American flag by hand that was raised in Henefer. Mrs. Jessie Foster helped her put the stars in the field of blue. My grandmother made gloves for the officers in the Army and for the Indians. The Indians paid her for making the gloves by trading her buckskin and beads. She made beautiful beaded designs on the gauntlet of the gloves. (I saw these patterns for her gloves still in the Hennefer Family Bible in 1941 when I took my mother Rachel and sister Mae to Henefer.)

Grandfather Hennefer gave the land for the Church house to be built. This land still belongs to the Church and they are using it. Grandfather Hennefer was a blacksmith by trade and always had a shop he worked in.

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In the year 1853 two brothers,William and James Hennefer, received a call from Brigham Young asking them to take their families to start a settlement along the Weber River in the valley, which was then known as an Indian hunting ground.  Upon the advice of Brigham Young they gathered their meager belongings together, placed them in two covered wagons and made the hard journey over the mountains into the little valley known as Henefer.  They took up forty acres of land on the sage covered flat and proceeded to organize a make-shift home.  It was necessary for them to live in their wagons and fortify themselves against the Indians while they cut and prepared logs to build their cabins.  The first cabin finished, which consisted on one large and a lean-to, was occupied by both families until a second one could be built.
   

James Hennefer Jr.

William Hennefer

           They brought with them, two cows, two pair of oxen and different kinds of seeds.  At this time the valley was covered with sage brush and a great deal of hard work was required to prepare the soil.

Chief Washakie of the Shoshone Nation

During the early settlement years Indians camped along the river bottoms and sometimes as many as fifteen hundred of one tribe would be camped there.  Chief Washakie of the Shoshones was the best-remembered and helped to do away with troubles between the Indians and the settlers.

Charles Richins arrived in Henefer with his wife Louisa and one child in 1860.  They built two rooms of adobe brick above three dugouts.  This was the first home made of material other than logs.

In 1867 Hennerferville citizens purchased eighteen sections of land from the Union Pacific Railroad.  Other settlers on the Weber were forced to rent such land from them at an annual rate of fifteen dollars per section.  In 1868 locusts destroyed most of the crops of the entire county.  A few potatoes, peas and beets were saved.  In 1869 grasshoppers destroyed all the grain crops of Henneferville, Croydon and Porterville.  Anything that had to be purchased was expensive.  Furniture was crude and there were no matches so fires had to be banked at night.

The women worked as hard as the men to provide food and clothing for their families, but in spite of their hardships the people enjoyed themselves.  They shared joy and sorrows together.  Sickness and disease of many kinds came upon the.  The worst calamity of all was the diptheria epidemic.   No help was to be had nearer than Salt Lake City other than the two local women who doctored with herbs.  In three weeks time 17 children were buried and there was great sorrow among the people.

Taken from:  Henefer our Valley Home  Compiled by Fannie J. Richins and Maxine R. Wright

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The following was taken from http://www.heneferutah.org/

Mountains above Henefer - Summit County

            Henefer is located in Summit County with a population of about 720 people.  The Town of Henefer was incorporated in 1938, and is the only incorporated town on the Mormon Pioneer Trail.  The Pony Express route also runs through Henefer.

Henefer Post Office

            Henefer has a Mayor, Council form of government with 5 elected officials.  Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month.

            Henefer boasts a post office and a general store located on Main Street.  Each Year Henefer hosts a Fourth of July Celebration.  It starts at 7:00 a.m. with a 5K race, and bike-a-thon.  Breakfast is served at 8:00.  The day continues with local entertainment, games for kids ,young adults and adults.  Ten cent ice cream cones are served.  A parade is held down Main Street in the afternoon and in the evening dinner and entertainment is available.  The day ends with a fireworks presentation.

Welcome to Henefer!

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By Gerry Avant

Church News editor 

Published: Saturday, July 26, 1997

Elder M. Russell Ballard commemorates the town of Henefer and its founders William and James Hennefer.

Rest and music fortify trekkers for final stretch of long journey

The only town in Utah that the Sesquicentennial Mormon Trail Wagon Train re-enactment passed through en route to Salt Lake City was Henefer, population 750. The wagon train paused here for a two-day rest July 16-17 before tackling the steep climbs and treacherous downgrades of East Canyon and Big and Little Mountain leading to Emigration Canyon, the final stretch on the 1,070-mile journey that began April 21 at Winter Quarters, now part of Omaha, Neb.

Elder M. Russel Ballard

Some 10,000-plus visitors descended upon the small town of Henefer to greet the wagon train and participate in a bevy of activities held in conjunction with the historic re-enactment. A highlight of the stop in Henefer was an outdoor meeting at which Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve spoke to a huge crowd gathered in the town's park the evening of July 17. After Elder Ballard spoke, the Utah Symphony performed crowd-pleasing musical selections aimed at remembering the pioneers. Using as a resource the book Henefer - Our Valley Home, by Fannie Richins and Maxine Wright, Elder Ballard recounted some of the history of the town. He noted that on July 19, 1847, with Orson Pratt and Erastus Snow in the lead, the pioneers traveled through the present site of Henefer. During the first year of the trek, 13 pioneer companies, totaling 2,095 Latter-day Saints, traveled over the trail here.

The town's history records as early as 1848 Quincy Knowlton and a 19-year-old companion herded a few head of cattle at the site. In 1853, two brothers, William and James Hennefer were called by Brigham Young to take their families to start a settlement along the Weber River. (For some time, the town was called Henneferville. The Hennefer family and the town of Henefer have different spellings.) In 1861, Brigham Young called William Hennefer to serve as presiding elder of a branch at the site.

"In 1868 locusts destroyed most of the crops of the entire county," Elder Ballard said. "A few potatoes, peas and beets were saved. Then in 1869 grasshoppers destroyed all the grain crops in Heneferville. In these early days everything the people needed was expensive to buy. Flour was $25 a sack and sugar was $10 for 14 pounds. Needles were scarce as steel at that time was almost unknown. At one time there was only one needle in the entire settlement. It had to be guarded with care and passed around from one neighbor to another.

"These early Saints shared joy and sorrows together. Sickness and disease of many kinds plagued them. The worst calamity of all was the diphtheria epidemic. Children were taken suddenly ill and in a few days died. In three weeks time, 17 children were buried, and there was great sorrow among the people."

Elder Ballard said, "There are literally hundreds of . . . stories of sacrifice and faith from among our pioneers. It is fitting that we honor them through the replication of the trek."

During the concert that followed Elder Ballard's remarks, the Utah Symphony performed special arrangements of LDS hymns and American folk tunes that hark back to the 19th century. Directed by associate conductor Kory Katseanes, the symphony performed LDS hymns, pioneer songs and anthems. Featured soloists were Mary Hall and Michael Chipman. The orchestra's brass section played selections that served as fitting tribute to William Pitt's Brass Band, which was formed in Nauvoo and provided music for pioneers of 150 years ago. The popular Deseret String Band was featured on the program and, at one point, it and the orchestra joined in performing old-time tunes. Many in the audience were moved to clap hands in time with the music; others were prompted to stand up and dance "hoe-down" style.

The wagon train left Henefer the morning of July 18 and made its way into East Canyon, where it camped during the weekend, July 19-20. Thousands of spectators visited the camp, getting an up-close glimpse of history being recreated.

Elder Joe J. Christensen of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Hugh W. Pinnock of the Seventy visited the camp Sunday, July 20 and briefly addressed the modern-day pioneers.

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Rachel Hennefer Richins

By Rachel Hennefer Richins - Granddaughter of James and Sarah Hennefer:

            When Mother was seven years old, the Reorganized Church or the Josephites established their organization in Henefer. At this time Charles Richins was the Bishop of the Ward and to the sorrow of many, half of his ward joined the Reorganized Church. The Elders of this church were men by the name of Brand and Winter. James and Sarah Hennefer and their family were among those who joined the Reorganized Church and Mother was baptized into this church when she was eight years old. James then took his family and went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, which the Elders said was the land of Zion.

            The family lived in (Iowa) and often went to Church. The children were very unhappy with their new religion and told their father that there was nothing to that religion. They had won, by lottery ticket, a house and vineyard in Council Bluffs but it turned out to be a small shack with a very small yard and only a few grapevines growing in it. They stayed part of the year and made do with what they had while they investigated their new religion further. They decided it was a farce, and since James and Sarah and the children were all homesick for the little valley in the mountains of Utah and for the true gospel, they all returned to the place they had left so many times before, Henneferville. This was the last move James and Sarah Hennefer made. Mother remembers crossing the Missouri River in a steamboat and also of seeing some big fish and fishing boats.

            After their arrival in Utah, Grandmother (Sarah) Hennefer was very sick. She now had palsy and was becoming more helpless every day. Mother and her sister, two years younger than herself, took complete care of their mother and the rest of the family. After the family had been back in Utah for two years, Mother’s sister asked their father if she could be baptized into the LDS Church; he said he would talk to the Bishop and see if all of them could be baptized. This announcement brought joy and happiness to the family. James Hennefer gave the ground for the first Mormon Church that was built in Henefer. When Mother was twelve years old she was baptized by Robert Jones, the father of President Jones, who at one time was President of the Mesa Temple.

            When Mother was a little over twelve, her oldest sister got married and moved to Grouse Creek. This left all the work and the care of a sick mother on the shoulders of the two younger sisters. When Mother was fourteen her older brother Lehi's wife died and left six children. Four of the children came to live with their grandparents, so Mother and her sister took care of them for three years and seven months, at which time their brother married again.

            By now Grandmother (Sarah) Hennefer had been sick for nine years. In the last few years she had become so helpless that it was necessary to feed and dress her. Mother was eighteen at the time her mother died, and although they missed her they were glad that God had seen fit to call her Home because she suffered so very much and for so many years.

References

The biography was obtained from: http://mikeandrhondafamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2011/04/james-hennefer-jr-biography-by-lucy.html  Compiled by Lucy Brown Archer and edited by Ryan Spanos.

Source: Moorman, Donald R. and Gene Sessions, Camp Floyd and the Mormons, The Utah War, University of Utah Press, 1992.