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Descendants of Thomas Waller


      115. Margery10 Wilkerson (Eliza9 Followwill, William F.8 Followell, Mary Elizabeth7 Helm, Elizabeth6 Calmes, Winnifred5 Waller, John4, John3, John2, Thomas1)71 was born November 16, 1832 in , Jackson County, Indiana71, and died December 14, 1870 in Fort Kanab, Kanab, Kane County, Utah71. She married Levi Stewart71 December 13, 1852 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah71, son of William Stewart and Elizabeth Van Hooser.

Notes for Margery Wilkerson:
In December of the year, 1870, came the tragedy that was to leave its scar on the lives of this family and almost disrupt the entire Kanab settlement. The Navajo and Northern Indians had been making raids on the settlements. The young men took turns guarding the cattle at night from a small dugout in the side of a hill. The other men took turns guarding the fort. Once Jacob Hamblin persuaded the Navajos to come to Kanab and hold a peace conference as there was always tension.

On the night of December 14, the guard who was to relieve Brother Pugh as guard at one o'clock did not awaken but seemed to be overpowered with sleep. He was roused once, then twice, and even started to dress. Brother Pugh went home and to bed, thinking all was well, but in some way the guard fell back over on the bed asleep, leaving the fort unguarded. At four o'clock, fire was discovered in the Stewart section of the fort. Little Lucinda remembers how her father rushed to see what he could do-how her mother quickly threw a spread around herself and rushed over to the burning portion. Their own room was safe as it was separate from the burning part by many feet-a space left for another room which had not yet been built and which was protected only by a row of wagons drawn together. These wagons were used as sleeping quarters for some of the older children. The kitchen roof was already ablaze so there was no hope of saving that part of the house. But in the bedroom next to it, the one on the corner, slept the boys, Margery's three, Artimacy's two, a hired man, and Levi, the youngest son of the first wife, Melinda. This room had no windows as did none of the outside rooms of the fort in order to make them impregnable to the Indians. The only exit was through the flaming kitchen. Levi and other men, knowing that this bedroom held stores of kerosene and powder, seized axes and started battering out the logs of the wall. They got two logs out and crawled though into the suffocating smoke-filled room. They found the beds empty and no one in the room. It was impossible to get into the blazing inferno of the kitchen. They knew that the smoking powder and kerosene might explode any minute, so they crawled back out. Levi ordered the others out and carried two kegs of powder already smoking and dumped them into the creek. Then the kerosene exploded and went up in flames.

Little did Levi realize what was happening on the other side of the kitchen. When Margery rushed out of their bedroom, she immediately took in the situation and knew that the only hope for the boys was through the kitchen. Her mother love was greater than her fears or her reasoning power, and unseen by any except her daughter Ella, who happened to be there from Pipe Springs, she rushed into the flames. Ella tried to follow her mother but was held back by the men. Once in the kitchen, Margery met Artimacy's boy Alonzo Lafayette and the hired man, Harvey Stout, who, blinded by the smoke, were groping around trying to find an exit. She pushed them through the door and turned to find the others. No one knows what really happened then. The explosion prevented anyone else from entering. They found the six charred bodies; the mother and three boys were found huddled in the immense fireplace as if she had been trying to lift them up the chimney. One was under the big stove, less burned than the others. They dug out the bodies and sadly buried them in one grave. Alonzo told afterward of how Levi had tried, when they found themselves trapped, to lift the sod roof of the bedroom, but it had been too firmly packed with grass and willows.

The funeral was heart-rending. Some of the neighbors tried to sing but it was no use. One after another, several brethren tried to speak but no words would come. It was the heartbroken father and husband who alone could control his emotions enough to offer his tribute to the beloved wife who had given her life to save her sons.

It is hard to imagine the heartbreak and gloom that enveloped the little settlement. Levi was crushed by the terrible tragedy, but still his valiant spirit held steadfast. When the other men said they wanted to give up the settlement-that they could not bear to live there longer-he begged them to stay and complete the mission President Young had sent them to perform. At last when they still wavered, he said, "Well, if you must go, God be with you, but as for me, I will stay if I have to stay alone." The other men remained. Levi never dared give way to his grief before others because he felt that as their leader he must keep up the morale of the disheartened people. Jacob Hamblin told of finding him one day way up the canyon pouring out his grief and praying for strength. His health gradually broke until five years later he begged to be released from the Bishopric.

As soon as President Young heard the news of the fire, he set out in his buggy for Kanab to offer what comfort and spiritual strength he could. He had greatly admired Margery and was always free in expressing his confidence in Levi and his admiration and friendship from him. He said, "Brother Levi, Sister Margery wen to heaven in a flame of glory." And indeed her memory has always been enshrined as a heroine in the hearts of her children and descendants. SOURCE: Some Incidents in the Life of Levi Stewart, Founder of Kanab, Utah; History of Kane Co, by Marjery Browne Cottam, p 547 Researcher: Georgenia Stewart

More About Margery Wilkerson:
Buried: December 16, 1870, Stewart Plot, Kanab Cemetery, Kanab, Kane County, Utah72
Cause of Death: Killed in a fire at Fort Kanab, Utah.73

More About Levi Stewart:
Buried: June 15, 1878, Kanab Cemetery, Kanab, Kane County, Utah74

Marriage Notes for Margery Wilkerson and Levi Stewart:
In 1852, a friend, Brother Wimmer, drove up with a company of emigrants. When Levi came across to see him he said, "Brother Levi, I have brought you a wife." Levi said, "Well, that's nice," thinking little of it. But a few minutes later a young girl not yet twenty stepped from behind one of the wagons and was introduced to him as Margery Wilkerson. A quick friendship between Levi and Margery developed into a lifelong devotion. They were married four months later, December 1852. SOURCE: Some Incidents in the Life of Levi Stewart, Founder of Kanab Utah, History of Kane Co, by Marjery Browne Cottam, p 545 Researcher: Georgenia Stewart
     
Children of Margery Wilkerson and Levi Stewart are:
+ 218 i.   William Thomas11 Stewart, Sr., born October 18, 1853 in Dry Creek, Salt Lake County, Utah; died August 22, 1935 in Alamo, Lincoln County, Nevada.
+ 219 ii.   Eliza Luella Stewart, born May 21, 1855 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah; died May 28, 1937 in St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona.
  220 iii.   Charles Courtland Stewart74, born February 08, 1857 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah74; died December 14, 1870 in Fort Kanab, Kanab, Kane County, Utah74,75.
  More About Charles Courtland Stewart:
Buried: December 16, 1870, Stewart Plot, Kanab Cemetery, Kanab, Kane County, Utah75
Cause of Death: Killed in a fire at Fort Kanab, Utah.75
  221 iv.   Margery Ann Stewart76, born September 24, 1858 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah76; died April 12, 193676. She married Albert Ensign Riggs September 22, 187377.
  More About Margery Ann Stewart:
Buried: April 1936, Alamo Cemetery, Alamo, Lincon County, Nevada77

  More About Albert Ensign Riggs:
Buried: Alamo Cemetery, Alamo, Lincon County, Nevada77
  222 v.   Heber Carlos Stewart78, born September 25, 1861 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah78; died December 14, 1870 in Fort Kanab, Kanab, Kane County, Utah78.
  More About Heber Carlos Stewart:
Buried: December 16, 1870, Stewart Plot, Kanab Cemetery, Kanab, Kane County, Utah79
Cause of Death: Killed in a fire at Fort Kanab, Utah.79
  223 vi.   Edward Lorenzo Stewart80, born February 23, 1863 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah80; died December 14, 1870 in Fort Kanab, Kanab, Kane County, Utah80.
  More About Edward Lorenzo Stewart:
Buried: December 16, 1870, Stewart Plot, Kanab Cemetery, Kanab, Kane County, Utah81
Cause of Death: Killed in a fire at Fort Kanab, Utah.81
+ 224 vii.   Lucinda Araminta Stewart, born January 06, 1864 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah; died November 15, 1941 in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada.
  225 viii.   Hyrum Smith Stewart82, born April 03, 1867 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah82; died April 03, 1867 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah82.


      116. Artimacy10 Wilkerson (Eliza9 Followwill, William F.8 Followell, Mary Elizabeth7 Helm, Elizabeth6 Calmes, Winnifred5 Waller, John4, John3, John2, Thomas1)82 was born October 05, 1834 in Rockford, Jackson County, , Indiana82, and died December 02, 1914 in Alamo, Lincoln County, Nevada82. She married (1) William Horace Cassaday March 15, 1850 in , Adams County, Illinois83. She married (2) Levi Stewart84 December 23, 1854 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, son of William Stewart and Elizabeth Van Hooser.

Notes for Artimacy Wilkerson:
BIOGRAPHY: Artemacy had eleven children but only five reached maturity. William Jackson Cassaday died at the age of 18, on 14 Nov 1870. Urban Van Stewart died at the age of 13 in the Kanab fire. Mary Artemacy Stewart died at 15 months. Seymore Alexander Stewart died at 18 months. Ellen Lenora Stewart died at 2 months. Benjamin Levi died at 25 years of age. She had three babies which all died at a very young age, the last being born just months before the Kanab fire which took the lives of her son Urban Van
Stewart. Her sister Margery also lost her life as well as Margery's three sons, Charles Courtland, Herbert Carlos, and Edward Larenzo. Also killed was Levi Howard Stewart, the son of Melinda Howard, Levi's first wife. Research: Georgenia Stewart

More About Artimacy Wilkerson:
Buried: December 06, 1914, Alamo, Lincoln County, Nevada85

Marriage Notes for Artimacy Wilkerson and William Cassaday:
The following is a copy of the divorce petition:

DIVORCE PETITION:
To the Judge of the Probate Court, Dec 1856, Territory of Utah, Great Salt Lake County, Utah.

The undersigned your petitioner would respectfully represent that she is the wife of William H. Casaday to whom she was married in Adams County, Illinois the fifteenth day of March 1850, and that in the year 1852 he removed with your petitioner from the State of Illinois to this territory arriving in Great Salt Lake City, on the 4th of October of that year(1850). And your petitioner further saith that in the month of April 1853 he the said Casaday left your petitioner and went to the state of California with the intention as your petitioner verily believed, of returning to his family again in the course of a year or thereabouts, as that was his avowed intention at that time. And your petitioner further saith that after leaving as before stated, he the said Cassaday continued to write to your petitoner regularly till the month of May last. After which your petitioner heard nothing from him till the month of November when she received a letter from him informing her that he did not intend to return to this Territory. But was going home to Illinois or into Southern California among the Spaniards and wishing that your petitioner would go to that Country to reside with him. Which she has no desire to do, and cann’t trust in his promises any more, and therefore comes and asks that a decree of the Probate Court for Great Salt Lake County may be made dissolving the bonds of matrimony existing between her and the said William H. Cassaday in accordance with the laws of this Territory and also that the custody and control of her son, William Jackson Cassaday aged two years the 8th day of July last, be given to her, and further asks for every relief in the promises that legally and equitably belong to her, as she is destitute of the means of support, the said Cassaday leaving her in a destitute situation and has sent her nothing since he went to California, though he promised faithfully to do so, at the time of leaving and has renewed that promise several times by letter, but has never sent her one cent in
consequence of which she is compelled to ask for the relief provided for by the State of the Territory of Utah in such care made and provided.
Her
Artemacy X Cassaday
Mark
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 29th of Dec 1854.
W. Smith
Probate Judge

BILL OF DIVORCE: The Probate Court for the Great Salt Lake County of the Territory of Utah, Dec 1854
Artemacy Cassaday
vs
William H. Cassaday
This case came on for hearing in the Probate Court for Great Salt Lake County, Utah on the twenty ninth day of December 1854 upon the petition of the plaintiff and upon the investigation of the eas??esparte, the defendant being a non resident of the Territory of Utah and hearing the testimony in the case being fully advised in the promises the Court ordered and decreed that the bonds of matrimony existing between the said Artimacy Cassaday and William H. Cassaday be forever dissolved. And it was further ordered by the Court that the Plaintiff Artimacy Cassaday shall have the custody and control of her son William Jackson Cassaday born July 8th 1853 until otherwise ordered by the Court and that the Defendant pay the cost of suit.
E. Smith
Probate Judge

More About Levi Stewart:
Buried: June 15, 1878, Kanab Cemetery, Kanab, Kane County, Utah85
     
Child of Artimacy Wilkerson and William Cassaday is:
+ 226 i.   William Jackson11 CasadayIII, born July 08, 1852 in Loupe Fork, , Nebraska; died November 14, 1870 in Green River, Emery County, Utah.
     
Children of Artimacy Wilkerson and Levi Stewart are:
+ 227 i.   Sarah Lucreta11 Stewart, born December 22, 1855 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah; died January 18, 1904 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah.
  228 ii.   Urban Van Stewart86, born December 30, 1857 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah86; died December 14, 1870 in Kanab, Kane County, Utah86.
  More About Urban Van Stewart:
Buried: December 16, 1870, Kanab Cemetery, Kanab, Kane County, Utah86
Cause of Death: Killed in a fire at Fort Kanab, Utah.86
+ 229 iii.   Alonzo Lafayette Stewart, Sr., born January 08, 1860 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah; died June 1932 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.
  230 iv.   Mary Artimacy Stewart86, born September 06, 1861 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah86; died December 07, 1862 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah86.
  More About Mary Artimacy Stewart:
Buried: Abt. December 1862, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah86
  231 v.   Seymour Alexander Stewart86, born April 13, 1863 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah86; died October 11, 1864 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah86.
  More About Seymour Alexander Stewart:
Buried: Abt. October 1864, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah86
+ 232 vi.   Brigham Freeman Stewart, born April 02, 1865 in Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah; died January 11, 1954 in Safford, Graham County, Arizona.
+ 233 vii.   David Brinton Stewart, born February 12, 1867 in Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah; died December 24, 1906 in Alamo, Lincoln County, Nevada.
  234 viii.   Ellen Lenora Stewart86, born December 19, 1869 in Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah86; died February 19, 1870 in Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah86.
  More About Ellen Lenora Stewart:
Buried: February 1870, Salt Lake Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah86
  235 ix.   Benjamin Levi Stewart86, born June 27, 1871 in Payson, Utah County, Utah86; died October 14, 189686. He married (1) Oliver Taylor Anderson86 Abt. 189686. He married (2) Ellen Anderson86 October 14, 189686.
  More About Benjamin Levi Stewart:
Buried: 1896, Salt Lake Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah86
  236 x.   Ethel Stewart86, born April 16, 1878 in Kanab, Kane County, Utah86; died May 22, 195786. She married Ranson Parley Henrt 1891-1923.

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