I almost didn't exist!?! (bishop, miracle)

[jonny]

I was going through some family history the other day and I came across this story about my Great-Great-Great Grandfather Freeborn Merril and his brothers Ira and Solyman. Freeborn was around ten and the story was from 1859.

At Sacrament Meeting it was decided to celebrate the coming of the pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24th. This fell upon a Tuesday. The men were organized into committees to work out plans for the celebration. It became the duty of Ira and Solyman Merrill to haul wood for boughs and poles from Main Canyon for the purpose of building a bowery under which the events of the celebration would be held. By daylight these two young men hitched their horses to a wagon and set out to cut timber for the bowery.

In the meanwhile, a band of Indians of the Shoshone Tribe had camped near the present site of the Smithfield Roller Mills. It was reported that one of the tribes men had stolen a pony from Richmond. As a result of the theft, the chief had been arrested and taken to the home of Bishop John G. Smith, located one block south of the “Tabernacle Square.”

When their Chief did not return to the camp in a period of two or three hours, five young braves went to rescue their Chief. A lone scout went to the house and talked with the Chief. He instructed the Chief to escape with them. As the Chief made a motion to get-a-way, the white guard ordered the Chief to halt. The Chief went right on. The guard fired, killing the Indian Scout. Upon hearing the shot four braves rushed the cabin to enter the fight. It was during the shooting that Samuel Cousins received a wound in the breast. The Indians sought cover in the brush along the creek-bed, while six white men gave chase in pursuit. John Reed and A. Cowens from Franklin, Idaho were camping for their noon-day meal near the East entrance of the Tabernacle Grounds when the Indians came upon them. They shot both these men killing John Reed and wounding Mr. Cowens. The Indians fled to the top of the hill above the present site of the Waterworks reservoirs, they met Ira and Solyman Merrill, who were returning with their load of wood. The Indians fired their guns upon them. Ira was killed and Solyman was wounded twice in the right arm, and the second bullet passed through the abdomen. The Indians rushed to the wagon in an attempt to scalp Ira. Solyman sensed their motives, dragged the body of his brother under the shelter of the wagon tongue behind the dead horses and placed himself between Ira and the Indians. He managed to keep the Indians away by throwing rocks with his left hand until rescuers arrived. The Indians then fled up the main canyon for protection among the brush and rocks.

The banging of muskets and Indian war hoops sent all the settlers to their homes, most of the men banded together in a chase of the Indians.

Laura Wilder Harris Merrill watched anxiously from the doorway of her cabin. The procession was leading to her home. Her husband was half carrying a wounded man. She ran to meet him. She directed the men into the cabin and helped to dress the wounds of Solyman. Then the corpse was brought in. The men washed and laid the body out on a board. Laura slipped out of the door and ran toward the creek. People thought she had lost her reason from shock, so sent her husband after her.

When Austin caught up with his wife, he demanded that she return to their house. Tearlessly she faced her husband and cried out, “Freeborn went with the cows this morning. I know the welfare of two of my sons. How can I rest until I know where Freeborn is?” Together they hurried up the cow trail by the creek and cautiously called their son. Half a mile up the path in deep brush they found the boy. He had herded the cattle into the deepest brush he could see, and lay quietly until the Indians had warhooped past him, then he began his way crawling on his belly toward home. He recognized his parents hushed call, and ran into their arms. It was then the flood of tears came giving relief.

The pioneers sensed the need of keeping together lest the Indians return. A guard was placed to watch both day and night. A council was called to decide how to protect themselves. It was decided that as soon as this emergency was over, they would follow the advise of Brigham Young and build in Fort formation.

For some reason after I read this it occured to me if the Indians had found him and killed him I wouldn't exist. I realized that it is a miracle that I even exist today. Imagine how many decisions people made throughout the centuries that could have ended up with you never existing.

It then occured to me that the decisions I am making now could also influence the lives of people for centuries to come.

Life really is a miracle.

[Pussyfoot Mouse]

That was really interesting. Thanks for sharing!

[painted wolf]

now if people didn't act so rude to one another to begin with imagine how many other people would be around.

"chiefs" and "braves".. oi vey....

wa:do

[Luke Wolf]

Stuff like that does get you thinking. I sometimes wonder just how differently things would have been if fate had decided to not let me survive birth (When I was born, I was blue, going on black. The doctor thought I was already dead, until I made a slight noise). What if I would have been put into the oxygen tank too late? Or, when my mom went into shock from thinking she gave birth to a dead son, what she didn't make it?
It's kinda fun, and a bit scary, to think about potentially fatal what-ifs.

That is an interesting story. That must be scary thought knowing your very existance depended souly upon someones hiding abilities.

[jonny]

Originally Posted by painted wolf

"chiefs" and "braves".. oi vey....

What can I say - it was a different time. I'm not sure when the story was recorded.

[jonny]

Originally Posted by Luke Wolf

Stuff like that does get you thinking. I sometimes wonder just how differently things would have been if fate had decided to not let me survive birth (When I was born, I was blue, going on black. The doctor thought I was already dead, until I made a slight noise). What if I would have been put into the oxygen tank too late? Or, when my mom went into shock from thinking she gave birth to a dead son, what she didn't make it?
It's kinda fun, and a bit scary, to think about potentially fatal what-ifs.

That is an interesting story. That must be scary thought knowing your very existance depended souly upon someones hiding abilities.

Wow! I'm glad you made it. I wonder if you knew that you needed to make that sound to get the attention you needed - it's hard to tell what babies are thinking. Write your story down and in 150 years maybe someone will say - holy crap! I almost didn't exist.

[Luke Wolf]

I wonder if you knew that you needed to make that sound to get the attention you needed

I think I knew I would go out of this world silent, so I will come in silent as well. Like Mark Twain came in and out with Haley's Comet. I think it was Haley's.

[Bishka]

That's awesome. I have stories that I'd like to tell, just have to get them in computer format.

[jonny]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

That's awesome. I have stories that I'd like to tell, just have to get them in computer format.

I spent two years putting about 600 pages of biographies into an electronic format (if only the computer had been invented 200 years ago). Good luck! It's worth the time. My advice is to get a scanner and a program that converts it from the image to text. You'll have to do a lot of double checking and retyping, but it'll save you from getting carpal tunnel!

[kreeden]

Originally Posted by painted wolf

"chiefs" and "braves".. oi vey....

Easy Wolf , it is only a story . I'm sure that even a blind settler could follow the trail that a herd of cattle leaves ...

But yes Jonny , it does make a very interesting point . Thank you for sharing it .