HOMES or HOME SITES OF CATHARINE HOUTZ BOYER & HER SIX CHILDREN (Numbers correspond to the map.)
1) “In April, 1856, she [Catharine Houtz Boyer] and her family moved to Springville, bought and located on the lot now owned by her grandson’s widowed wife, Mrs. H. [Harlan] Lee Boyer. At that time there was a small adobe room and one log room for housing them.” (Written 3rd June, 1932.) “During the winter [of 1861-62] it snowed and rained almost incessantly until the snow was piled up very deep … even in the valley as late as May 1st. … About the 10th of June the flood reached the climax, … but it was not until the Fourth of July that the creek could be forded with safety. The first ford was in front of Catherine Boyer’s home where the waters had spread out almost a block.” (Don Carlos Johnson, “A Brief History of Springville, Utah,” pp. 60-61) “When I was five years old [1908] my father, Harlan Lee Boyer, built a beautiful two-story house for my mother, Rosey Alice. … Standing on the property was an old dilapidated adobe house built by the early pioneers. … Bricks were made from the old adobe pioneer house. …The upstairs had two large bedrooms. The front bedroom, which was painted blue, was mine, and had a large bay window [which] overlooked the street, and I could see the Mormon Church and the flour mill on the corner. … I have fond memories of our family home; the wide front porch with the tall smooth pillars, the sidewalk where Father engraved our initials.” ( Written by Ruth Boyer Spink, found in “Early Springville Homes” Compiled (with pictures) by Marie Whiting, Springville DUP Museum) The home Harlan Lee Boyer built still exists at 94 West 100 North.
2) This location presently is only a neglected vacant lot, but “in the 1870s, Philip Henry and Sarah Ann [Sanderson] Boyer bought a lot on the northeastern corner of the intersection of 100 [West] and 300 [South] in Springville. On this piece of ground, they constructed the Boyer Hotel. It was conveniently located one block west of the business district. … After Philip and Sarah Ann Boyer decided to leave the hotel business, they leased the building to J. F. Covert, who continued to run the hotel for a number of years. Several families ran it as a boarding house until Frank H. Celventra bought the building in 1917. He converted it into apartments. Tenants occupied it until 1965, when it was deem too old and run down for human occupation. Workmen razed the building in 1967.” (D. Robert Carter, “Mysterious fires plagued Springville’s Boyer Hotel,” The History Page, Provo Daily Herald, April 2, 2006, p. B3) Many of us who grew up in Springville will remember this old, carelessly used apartment building. The story of the “Mysterious fires” is extremely intriguing, interesting, informative, and strongly recommended reading.
3) John Sell Boyer and his sons built this home which still exists. They traded farm produce and commodities for building materials which apparently caused the property tax assessor to estimate the home’s worth at more than the stated cash cost. John Sell Boyer’s descendants gathered here at Christmas for many years – until Julia Ann Crandall Boyer, John Sell’s wife who was crippled, said the crowd and the work was too much; she just couldn’t have everyone together on Christmas any more.
4) Jean Boyer Bowen, the youngest daughter of William Amberly Boyer, submitted a picture of the home at 14 South 100 West to the Springville DUP Museum (apparently in April, 1997). The notes with this picture state that it was built about 1878-1880 and indicate that it was the Francis Christian Boyer home. Jean Boyer Bowen was the Historian of the Springville DUP Museum from 2002 to 2003.
5) Catharine’s oldest daughter, Emma Elizabeth Boyer Huntington, was married to William Clark Huntington for only 9 years. Only 2 of her 6 children lived beyond 13 months, and she died at age 30 at the birth of her 6th child. I have not been able to learn exactly where the Huntington family lived, but William Clark Huntington was granted one-fourth of the block from Main Street to 1st East and from 2nd to 3rd South. Emma’s daughter, Elfie Huntington Bagley, together with Joseph Bagley opened their first photography “shop for themselves on the east side of Main Street by the Harrison Hotel – between 2nd and 3rd South [on] Main [Street].” (“Pictorial History of Springville and Mapleton,” Vol. 2, compiled by Springville/Mapleton DUP, May 1997, p.2) Perhaps this first photography shop was located on the William Clark Huntington property – or even in a Huntington home?
6) Lydia Maletta Boyer Johnson married Don Carlos Johnson in 1866. The very large home of Aaron Johnson, Don’s father, is mentioned repeatedly in the history of Springville – to accommodate church services, school, socials, lodging for travelers, etc. “The site [144 North Main Street] … was first occupied by the polygamous home of Aaron Johnson, the first colonizer …. In the early 1880’s this huge structure was replaced by the fancy dwelling of his son, Don Carlos, who added on the front duplexes about 1910 for himself and his son Gus Johnson.” (Rell G. Francis) Pictures of Lydia’s and Don’ “fancy dwelling,” in which they probably lived for more than 40 years, are available at the Springville DUP Museum.
7) The Mariah Catharine Boyer Mendenhall and Richard Lovell Mendenhall home still exists in Mapleton although the old home is now two rentals at 1351 and 1365 West 800 North in Mapleton. Catharine spent the last several months of her life in this home. “Her [Catherine’s] health not being good, she went in the Fall of 1893 to Mapleton to visit and spend the winter with her youngest child, Mariah C. B. Mendenhall. There she was made welcome and as comfortable as was possible, and in the Spring when the earth had taken on again its beauty, she passed quietly and without fear to her reward on May 5, 1894.” (Written 3rd June, 1932.)
HOMES or HOME SITES OF CATHARINE HOUTZ BOYER & HER SIX CHILDREN
- Catharine Houtz Boyer, northeast corner of 1st North and 1st West
- Philip Henry Boyer, northeast corner of 3rd South and 1st West
- John Sell Boyer, northwest corner of 2nd North and Main Street.
- Francis Christian Boyer, southwest corner of Center Street and 1st West
- Emma Elizabeth Boyer Huntington, in the block Main to 1st E & 2nd to 3rd S
- Lydia Maletta Boyer Johnson, had a large, lovely home at 144 North Main
- Mariah Catharine Boyer Mendenhall, 1351 & 1365 W 800 N, Mapleton, the home still exists.
EVERGREEN CEMETERY GRAVESITES FOR CATHARINE HOUTZ BOYER, HER CHILDREN, AND GRANDCHILDREN
Information gathered from “Burial Search” on www.springville.org and other sources
* Catharine Houtz Boyer monument – see map for location.
* Philip Henry Boyer and his wife Sarah Ann Sanderson Boyer (pointed round) monument – located about 10 ft. northeast of Catharine’s monument. Immediately to the south is a military headstone honoring Philip for his service in the Utah Territorial Militia in Indian Wars. About 8 ft. north of Philip’s and Sarah’s monument is a monument for Lulu Boyer Alexander, Catharine’s granddaughter (Philip’s oldest daughter) which mentions hers and two or her children’s deaths in a panic fire in a Chicago theater. (See the series of articles by D. Robert Carter, “Mysterious fires plagued Springville’s Boyer Hotel,” Provo Daily Herald, which began April 2, 2006, p. B3) The second and third headstones to the north of Catharine’s monument are the headstones, respectively, of Sadie Boyer Payne and Harry Guy Boyer, Catharine’s grandchildren (Philip’s children).
* John Sell Boyer and his wife Julia Ann Crandall Boyer monument – located about 15 ft. west of Catharine’s monument.
* Francis Christian Boyer monument – located just northeast of John Sell’s monument. The two monuments north of Francis’ monument are for his first and second wives – respectively, Elizabeth M Devenish Boyer and Colista Ann Perry Boyer. Directly west of the monument for Francis’ first wife is the monument for Lillian Eliza Boyer Gleason and beside it to the north is the monument for Marco D (Devenish) Boyer. Lillian and Marco are Catharine’s grandchildren (Francis’ children).
Note: Catharine’s oldest daughter, Emma Elizabeth Boyer Huntington, is buried in the Springville Historic City Cemetery – on 400 South at 200 West – as are Emma’s two daughters who lived to adulthood. Look below the cemetery map for more information.
* Lydia M (Maletta) Boyer Johnson and her husband Don C (Carlos) Johnson monument – located just southeast of Catharine’s monument. Immediately to the north is the headstone for Catherine Johnson Hines, Catharine’s granddaughter (Lydia’s daughter). Immediately to the south is a military headstone honoring Lydia’s husband, Don Carlos, for his service in the Utah Territorial Militia in Indian Wars. The next headstone to the south is for Catharine’s grandson Harlan Lee Boyer (John Sell’s son). Immediately north of Catharine’s monument is a military headstone honoring Don Carlos Johnson, Jr. (Catharine’s grandson) for service in the Spanish American war.
* Mariah Boyer Mendenhall and her husband Richard Lovell Mendenhall monument – located about 15 ft. north of the monuments for Francis’ wives. Immediately south is the headstone for Richard Lovell Mendenhall, Jr., Catharine’s grandson. The second headstone north of Mariah’s monument is for Irena Boyer Mendenhall Jenson, Catharine’s granddaughter (Mariah’s daughter.)
* Ernest M. Boyer, Catharine’s grandson (John Sell’s son) headstone – located southeast across the road from the Harlan Lee Boyer headstone (between two small evergreen trees). The Ernest M. Boyer, Jr. (a great-grandson) headstone is directly west.
* John Selvoy Boyer and his wife Susanna Bailey Jarrett Boyer monument – see map for location. John Selvoy is Catharine’s grandson (John Sell’s son). A little to the northwest is the headstone for another of Catharine’s grandsons, Dell Delos Boyer (also John Sell’s son). Several others of Catharine’s great-grandchildren are buried nearby.
* Charles Boyer monument – located significantly northeast of the John Selvoy Boyer area beneath a very large pine tree; see map for location. Charles is Catharine’s grandson (Francis’ son). Others of Catharine’s great-grandchildren are buried nearby.
* William Amberly Boyer monument – located significantly northeast of the Charles Boyer area near a scraggly juniper tree; see map for location. William Amberly (frequently called Berl) is Catharine’s grandson (Francis’ son). Others of Catharine’s great-grandchildren are buried nearby.
* Myron Augustus Boyer monument – located straight south of the William Amberly Boyer area across the road near the south center of the B Section; see map for location. Myron is Catharine’s grandson (John Sell’s son). Others of Catharine’s great-grandchildren are buried nearby.
* Julia Ida Boyer Porter monument – located 30 yds. straight north of the Myron Augustus Boyer area; see map for location. Julia is Catharine’s granddaughter (John Sell’s daughter). Others of Catharine’s great-grandchildren are buried nearby.
SPRINGVILLE CEMETERY GRAVESITE
EMMA ELIZABETH BOYER HUNTINGTON
* Emma Elizabeth Boyer Huntington (Catharine’s oldest daughter) monument – see map for location. Immediately north is the headstone of Lucia Viola Huntington, and immediately east of Lucia’s headstone is the headstone of Elfie Caroline Huntington Bagley. Lucia at age 2 and Elfie at age 5 went to live with their Grandmother Catharine after their mother died.
GRANDCHILDREN OF CATHERINE HOUTZ BOYER
Ten of Catharine’s grandchildren plus one great-grandson – that is, ten first cousins and one cousin once-removed, all are buried in the same lot. Most died as infants or young children. See map for location.
* John Franklin lived 3 days; Philip A lived 18 days; Katie or Catherinia G lived 2½ years; Louisa May lived 13 years (all are Philip’s children).
* Ray lived 3 days; Franklin O lived 32 days (both are John Sell’s sons).
* Augustus lived 6 days; Edith Marie lived about 11 weeks; Reno lived 11 months; Francis C lived 17 years (all are Francis’ children).
* Guy Sanford lived 4 days – great-grandson (Dell Delos Boyer’s son).
How superb!
ReplyDeleteWhat a treasure to have this information permanently available!
Thank You!