John and Sarah Grimmett
Information comes from the History of Bear Lake Pioneers by John Hoge and Edna O'Neal Shepherd
John Grimmett was born 5 Jan 1826 in Alderton, Gloucester, England, the son of George and Elizabeth Grimmett. Sarah Passey was born 24 June 1818 in Stensham, Worcester, England, the daughter of Thomas Passey and Margaret Showell. John was the only one of his family to join the LDS Church. After John and Sarah joined the LDS church they became enthusiastic workers in their new religion and desired to come to the valley of the mountains.
They finally set sail with their little family starting up the English Channel. The ship was jammed by another vessel and they were forced to return. Later they again set sail on a ship called the Charles Buck, this time going into the Atlantic Ocean. A terrible thing happened during the voyage, their little seven year old son, George was blown overboard while playing on the deck. John was frantic at the accidental death and had to be held from jumping overboard. However, sustaining influences helped them. This incident was testified to by a man who came on board the same ship. His name was John Bird.
The Charles Buck landed at New Orleans, then up the Mississippi to St Louis, then into the Missouri River to Atchison. Here they stayed until they started the trek across the plains. They had been eight weeks and four days on the ship. On the trek West they were under the leadership of Richard Ballantyne. It took three months and they arrived in Salt Lake in September 1855 and settled in West Jordan.
Children of John Grimmett and Sarah Passey
1. Emma Passey Grimmett b-1843 in Strensham,
Worcester, England;
2. Anne Passey Grimmett b-21 Jan 1844 in Strensham; d-1 Apr 1926 in Park City
Utah; m-Cunnington
3. George Grimmett b-11 Jan 1848 in Ripple, Worcester.
England; d-Jan 1855 drowned in the Atlantic Ocean
4. Orson Grimmett b-5 Mar 1850 in Ripple, England; d-18 Feb 1916 in Lander
Wyoming; br-Mt Hope Cemetery; m-Ella Jane Barnaby 3 Dec 1876 in Paris
5. Rosina Grimmett b-20 Feb 1852 in Persore England; d-2 May 1930; m-James
William O'Neal
6. Hyrum Grimmett b-6 Jan 1854 in Birmingham England; d-21 May 1934 in Moreland
Idaho; m-Emma Pomeroy
7. Sarah Jane Grimmett b-23 May 1856 in West Jordan Utah; d-31 July 1939 in
Cokeville Wyoming; m-Alfred Sparks
8. John Henry Grimmett b-16 May 1858 in Pond Town Utah; d-13 May 1923 in Paris
Idaho; m-Louise Neat
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Johnston's Army had entered the valley and the Saints were all ready to set fire to their homes and leave. The Grimmett family went south to Pond Town (Salem). Here John built a sort of "wickyup". The dwelling offered no protections from the elements. Sarah's chief food for days was pig weed. About two months later in July 1858, they returned to their home near Salt Lake. They moved to Missouri in 1860 but because of the Civil War returned to Utah in 1862. John now decided to move to Cedar Fort and here they lived until 1864.
In the summer of 1863 John Grimmett with Moroni Dayton hauled a load of freight to Boise, Idaho, a distance of six hundred miles. They returned home in September of that year and in October 1864, the family, with the John Passey family moved to Paris. They obtained two lots and built a log cabin and John and his son worked on the railroad which was building west. John and Sarah lived in Paris until 1867 when they obtained a farm on the east side of the valley, now known as Dingle, where they increased their herds and the children grew. It was here that Hyrum married Emma Pomeroy, Orson married Ella Barnaby and Jane married Alfred Sparks.
In 1878 through the persuasion of Mr. Barnaby, the whole family sold out and moved Lander Wyoming. It was here that Rosina met and married James William O'Neal in 1879. They were unaware of the cattle rustlers and soon lost most of the herd. This was so discouraging and after the death of Sarah, John decided to return to Bear Lake. Sarah died in Lander 3 Oct 1881. John then married Jane Parrish in Salt Lake City.
After their return to Idaho, Hyrum moved to Moreland and John Jr. settled in Paris, whey they spent their lives and raised their families. John and Jane returned to Lander for it was here that they adopted Grace Davidson. And again they returned to Idaho. After Jane died, he married a Mrs. Long. John Grimmett died 6 Mar 1895 in Bloomington and is buried there.
One of John's chief occupation in Utah was making molasses from sugar cane. in Idaho, he engaged in farming and stock raising. The first settlers passed a hard winter. John Jr. took an active part in all the pioneering activities. He attended the public school until fifteen years of age. This was considered a good education for this time. While living in Dingle he met an English girl who had recently emigrated with her family from England. John and Louisa Neat were married 21 Nov 1883. John was chosen counselor to Bishop Humphreys i 1884. He held this position for upward of sixteen years and was constantly engaged in church activities. He was also a county commissioner in 1896, probate judge in 1886 and 1918. He served two terms in the state legislature.
Children of John Hnery Grimmett and Louisa Neat
Sarah Louise Grimmett b-17 Oct 1884 in Dingle;
d-4 Feb 1967 in Paris; br-Paris Cemetery; m-Hoge
Bertha May Grimmett b-19 June 1887 in Dingle; d-21 Jan 1951 in Paris; br-Paris
Cemetery; m-Hoge
Orson Henry Grimmett b-16 Sep 1889 in Dingle; d-11 Feb 1978 in Paris; br-Paris
Cemetery
Mabel Rosina Grimmett b-4 Dec 1891 in Dingle; d-18 June 1987 in Los Alamitos,
Cal. m-Howell
Lillian Mary Grimmett b-Apr 1893 in Dingle
George Russell Grimmett b-20 Nov 1896 in Dingle; d-Aug 1906; br-Dingle Cemetery
Jennie Donnetta Grimmett b-15 Apr 1899 in Dingle; d-Feb 1995; m-Rich
John Lorenzo Grimmett b-b-30 Sep 1901 in Dingle; d-1 Dec 1976 in Idaho Falls; br-Rose
Hill Cemetery
Kenneth Neat Grimmett b-2 July 1907 in Paris; d-23 Feb 1907 in Paris; br-Paris
Cemetery
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John Henry Grimmett died 16 May 1923 and was
buried in the Paris Cemetery. Louisa Neat Grimmett died 23 Feb 1959 in Paris and
was buried in the Paris Cemetery.