EARLY SETTLERS OF FORT HAMBLIN REMEMBERED

Forty-six grateful people gathered at the Hamblin Pioneer Cemetery the morning of September 16, 2000 for the purpose of honoring the early settlers buried there and to dedicate the Hamblin Pioneer Cemetery Historical Monument No. 95 provided by the Cotton Mission Chapter and approved and supported by the National Society, SUP. Those gathered were composed of descendants of those buried there and members of the Cotton Mission Chapter. The surnames of the 25 pioneers buried there include: Canfield, Day, Emett, Hall, Spencer, Truman, and Winsor. One of those, Jacob Mica Truman, was a member of the Mormon Battalion, Company C.

The service included a welcome and remarks by Chapter President Harold Monson; the singing of "Come, Come ye Saints;" a prayer by Dean Terry, Chairman of the Chapter Trails and Landmarks Committee, a history of Hamblin by Gary Berglund, Project Director; and the dedicatory prayer by Mason Jones, President of the Enterprise Stake. Introductions and comments of attendees revealed close ties felt by descendants of those buried in the cemetery and of Jacob Hamblin.

The historic Fort Hamblin Village and Cemetery are located a few miles northeast of Mountain Meadows, a little north off the Pinto Town Road in Washington County. The site received its name from the famous Indian peacemaker and missionary, Jacob Hamblin, who established a cattle ranch on the meadows and built a home near the upper springs, a short distance from the cemetery, in 1856. Descendants reported that from historical writings in the early days of the ranch the grass there reached a horse's belly.

Action to establish a monument at the Hamblin Cemetery was taken at a Chapter meeting two years prior to the occasion of the dedicatory services. During this period, members of the Chapter and its Trails and Landmarks Committee gathered history and records relating to the village and cemetery. Gary Bergland was particularly effective in organizing and pursuing the project. The marble monument holds engravings on both sides. Engraved on one side is a brief history of Hamblin. On the other side is a list of those buried at the site whose exact grave plots are unknown.

The National Society, SUP, was represented by Blair Maxfield, National Area Vice President Elect for Southwest Utah (representing John O. Anderson who was unable to be in attendance).

By: Heber Hall, Chairman Public Relations Committee and Lerue W. Winget,

Chapter Historian