Book Review: The Santa Fe Trail

The Santa Fe Trail by Linda Thompson, Rourke Publishing Co, Vero Beach, Florida, 2005.

Ths book is part of a juvenile series, Expansion of America.  Santa Fe Trail is different than the Oregon, Mormon or California Trails in that it was mostly a commercial trail rather than an immigrant trail.  It started in independence Missouri and ended in Santa Fe New Mexico.  For the most part it followed Native American trails, which in turn followed animal trails.  However use of the trail was limited by politics.  When the area was controlled by Spain the government insisted all products go through the Port of Vera Cruz, so tariffs could be collected.  The journey from Vera Cruz to Santa Fe was 2000 miles.    The Spanish soldiers would arrest any traveling from the United States and confiscate their goods.  This included beaver pelts.  As a result products were very expensive in Santa Fe.  When Mexico won its independence in 1821 this all changed.  William Becknell established the first trading post in Santa Fe with goods from America.  he is credited with being the father of the Santa Fe trail.  The merchants and those transporting good were able to make significant profit.  Transport was by horse, mules, ox carts and ox drawn wagons.  

The Santa Fe Trail was also important during the Mexican American War as a way to transport troops and supplies.

Biographical Book Review: Charles Lindbergh: American Hero of Flight

 The People to Know Series, Charles Lindbergh: American Hero of Flight by Virginia Meachum, Enslow Publisher's Inc., Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, 2002.

This is a very good biography and tells many things about Charles Lindbergh that I did not know.  Of course it starts with his early days, and how he got into flying.  He was working as a mail pilot when decided he could fly across the Atlantic, which we all know he did becomeing the first person to do so.  

I did not know he was such a prlific author.  He won a Pulitzer for his book Spirit of St. Louis.  His wife Anne was also an author and pubished many books.  Before WWII he took an isolationist position and struggled to keep America out of the war.  A speech he gave in this regard was considered by some to be racist.  Lindbergh did serve in whatever way he could during the war.  He was not in active combat but was allowed to fly a few missions when he was a consultant.  His knowledge of aviation was very valuable.  He taught how to get better fuel mileage from the planes.

  He worked for TWA and Pan Am in establishing plane transportation work.  For TWA it was mostly across the U.S. and for Pan Am it was international flights.  

When he was older he worked to protect the environment and was on the board of the World Wildlife Fund.  

He was also a scientist and worked on an artificial heart.

The part that makes this book difficult to read is the kidnapping and murder of his son.  Charles jr was a year and a half when he was kidnapped for ransom.  The criminal who kidnapped young Charles apparently dropped him off the ladder and he fell on his head which killed him.  He still collected the ransom.  It was good to know that the man did not have the intent of killing the baby.  Lindbergh partially blamed this on the terrible amount of publicity and lack of privacy from his life of fame.  They lived in England for a time as a result.

Johann Daniel Bommeli AKA Daniel Bonelli

 Johann Daniel Bommeli was born in Switzerland, 25 Feb 1836.  His family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1854.  After joining the church he changed his name to Bonelli and went by his middle name instead of his last name.  He served for a short time as a missionary, and attracted many converts.  However he was ordered out of the country for preaching to the Swiss people.

He immigrated to America in 1860.  He traveled on the ship George Washington.  He traveled with the James Darling Ross Company.  This was a down and out company where the church sent a wagon team to collect the incoming saints.  He traveled with the wagon company from Florence to Utah.  He had to learn how to handle an ox team.

The Swiss Saints were assigned to southern Utah.  Brigham Young indicated the single members should marry before they headed south.  He had met Ann Haigh on the trip, on the ship or in the wagon company.  They were married in the Endowment house in Salt Lake City 25 Oct 1861.  

In southern Utah they were tole to raise figs, grapes, sugar cane and tobacco.  A group of saints from there were called to settle along the Muddy River.  From there they settled in St. Thomas along the Colorado River.  This is where the Virgin River flows into the Colorado River.  It is now covered with Lake Mead.  Daniel established a far raising fruit trees.  He also planted many cottonwood trees.  When Brigham Young visited in 1870, he turned around and called the country desolate and decided the saints should move back to Utah.  He may have been influenced by flooding in addition to heat in the area.  There was also confusion about what sate they were in and whether they had to pay taxes to Nevada.  Daniel Bonelli and his wife did not leave while everyone else did.  He said he did not leave the church, the church left him.  Others later moved to the area and the town of St. Thomas was established as well as Overton, upstream.  Daniel Bonelli established a ferry across the Colorado River.  He is credited with naming Temple Bar along the Colorado River thinking it looked like the Mormon temple in Salt Lake.  He passed away in 1903 due to a stroke.  He was buried in St. Thomas.  When Lake Mead flooded the area his grave was moved to Mountain View Cemetery in Kingman Arizona.

He is the father of George Bonelli who built the Bonelli House in Kingman which is a living history museum in Kingman.  It in on the list of National Historic locations.

Book of Mormon External Evidence: Documentary Review: Hidden in the Heartland (2016)

This is a series of ten episodes over two seasons.  It starts each episode with the statement that if you peel back the archeology of the Americas you just might find the Book of Mormon.

Episode 1: Who Are the Mound Builders.  This episode points out that the time line of the Hopewell Mound builders matches the timeline of the Nephites of the Book of Mormon.  hey start in as early as 600 B.C. in Florida and then disappear in upstate New York in 400 A.D.  There are significant number of sites which include religious sites, burial mounds, and fortifications.  There are up to a million mound sites in North America, but many have been destroyed, plowed under, or not yet identified.  Wayne May, Rod Meldrum.

Episode 2: The Origin of the Central American Model.  How did we become convinced that the Book of Mormon took place Central America.  This points back to an article in the Times and Seasons which was edited by Joseph Smith.  However questions exist as to his actual involvement of this article.  This is compared to his and Oliver Cowdery saying things happened in North America.  Jonathan Nelville

Episode 3: Manifest Destiny.  This presents the claim that the U.S. government and the Smithsonian Institute under the direction of John Wesley Powell deliberately destroyed evidence or called any evidence outside the narrative fraud.  Any artifact before Columbus had to be fake.  This was to justify the concept of Manifest Destiny and the idea that the Native Americans were savages.

Episode 4: Hebrew in America.  Artifacts with Hebrew have been discovered in North America.  The Bat Creek Stone was discovered and thought to be ancient Cherokee.  However a linguist turned it up side down and said it is ancient Hebrew.  Scholars consider it a fake.  The Los Lunas Decalogue Stone is claimed by some to be the ten commandments in Hebrew.  Again this is refuted.  There is another Decalogue stone with the ten commandments written on all sides of it in Hebrew.  Lastly there is a mound which was recorded but then destroyed, which shows a menora and an oil lamp.

Episode 5: The Great Earthquake of 1811-1812.  Centered around New Madrid, Missouri along the Mississippi River there were a series of earthquakes which created events which mimic the destruction in the Book of Mormon at the time of Christ's death.  There was darkness, the Mississippi flowed backwards, lakes were drained and lakes were formed, there were sand geysers, there was fire and cities destroyed.

Episode 6: America the Covenant Land.  George Washington talked about America as the covenant land, and Abraham Lincoln checked out the Book of Mormon from the Library of Congress.  Joseph Smith had been assassinated while running for president on an abolitionist platform 16 years prior to Lincoln being president.  Tim Ballard explains the idea of America being a covenant land.

Episode 7: The Kinderhook Plates.  Joseph Smith was presented with some plates people said they found in a mound.  Joseph Smith at first glance said they were authentic; however he never translated them.  These plates disappeared, but once has since been found.  However this plate does not match any of the etchings made of the plates.  It is now said to be a great hoax.

Season 2

Episode 1: Crossing the Seas.  It has now been shown that ocean travel was possible using ancient means.  Phillip Beale constructed a boat using ancient tools and materials after the pattern of the Phoenicians.  He was able to circumnavigate Africa; however in his journey he almost landed in America, close to Florida.  He later did travel to America from the Mediterranean.  

Episode 2: The 2-Hill Cumorah Theory.  This episode confronts the impracticality of the Book of Mormon taking place in Meso America, but the plates being found in the Hill Cumorah in New York.  This movie documents that people have taken artifacts from the Hill Cumorah area for years and years.  Bucket loads of arrow heads and other artifacts have been hauled away.  There is a book store in Palmyra with a small museum of artifacts.  

Episode 3: Archeoastronomy.  In this episode we see comparison of the mounds to Stone Henge, which has been shone to have astronomical properties.  The same is true of the mounds, incuding the Serpent Mound.

This series is narrated by Scott Christopher.  It is available on LDS Scriptures.  I really enjoyed this series.  Of course a true testimony comes through the Holy Ghost and applying Moroni's promise.  However it is good to know that evidences to the Book of Mormon are more and more prevalent

Joseph Fielding Smith Doctrines of Salvation: Book 3 chapters 11-12: A Prophet Testifies of the Book of Mormon

 Doctrines of Salvation Volume III. Sermons and Writings of Joseph Fielding Smith, Compiled by Bruce R. McConkie, 1956.

Chapter 11: Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon

Chapter 12: A Voice from Cumorah: Witnesses of Book of Mormon

In this chapter the first point made is that a testimony of the Book of Mormon comes through real intent, faith, prayer and the witness of the Spirit.  Even if we had the gold plates those who are natsayers would still be naysayer and there would still be contention.  The Lord said we would provide as many witnesses as seemed good.  WE have 12.  Four who saw angels and 8 who only touched and saw the plates.  Through the Spirit all men may be witnesses.  He also provides witness that Cumorah amongst the Nephites and Ramah amongst the Jaredites and the Hill Cumorah where Moroni gave Joseph Smith the plates are in fact the same hill and Ripliancum or the many lakes and waters refers to the Great Lakes and the Finger Lakes.  He then refers to early brethren who verify this: Oliver Cowdery with Joseph Smith's approval, David Whitmer, Joseph Smith in the Glad tidings from Cumorah section of the Doctrine and Covenants.  The story of Zelph as reported by Heber C Kimball indicates northeast U.S. was Nephite territory.  

The Legend of Mount Timpanogos: Native American Legend

 Growing up I heard the story of Mount Timpanogos differently that what is being presented on the internet.  The mountain traditionally was the territory of the Uintah Utes, who have since been moved to the Uintah and Ouray Reservation to the east.  I heard (probably from my father who spent considerable time with the Ute Native Americans as they were the topic of his thesis) that Chief Timpanogos died on the mountains and the mountain took his shape as witnessed by the one side of the mountain looking like a war bonnet.  His wife also died on the mountain and the other side of the mountain took her shape.  She is harder to see but with imagination you can see her.  Of course the heart of Timpanogos in the Timpanogos Cave is a symbol of their undying love.

Now as I read there is no indication there ever was a Chief Timpanogos.  Instead there is a story that comes from about 1920 from a BYU professor Eugene Lusk "Timp" Roberts.  There was an annual hike to the top of the mountain and he told this story as part of a day before the hike at the Timp Hike bonfire.  So if the 1920 story is a work of fiction or a legend he had heard I do not know.

Timpanogos is the name of the god of the mountain.  For some reason he had become angry and caused a drought to come upon the land.  The fish dried up in the waters.  The medicine men tried everything they could to appease the god.  But Timpanogos wanted the sacrifice of a maiden.  As the maidens took the stones, Timpanogos touched the stone picked by Utahna, the most beautiful maiden and daughter of the chief.  All were heart broken; but in order to appease Timpanogos, the chief determined to sacrifice his daughter.  Four braves took her to where the waters bathed the feet of Timpanogos.  She was to climb into the mountain and find the Great Spirit of the mountain.  She had to travel alone for only she could walk on the sacred ground.  She dutifully climbed the mountain.  As she traveled she passed a strange tribe that was dancing.  She thought it odd they should trample the sacred ground.  She skirted around them.  Red Eagle, a brave of the tribe followed her.

She made it to the top and could see the cliffs descending away from her.  She thought she could see her people and hear their desperation.  When she got to the top, Red Eagle followed.  She chanted a cry of appeal and sacrifice.  Just as she was ready to throw herself to Timpanogos Red Eagle spoke to her.  

She was confused and thought he the Great Spirit.  She threw herself at his feet.  She accepted him as a god, and followed him down the mountain.  He lead a different way then their ascent.  He came to a mountain wall, but spied a bear leaving a cave and lead her into the cave.  The great wonders in the cave convinced her he was a god.   He would leave the cave  nd hunt game and bring back berries from high in the mountain.  She wondered how he nneded to eat if he were a god.  But it seemed he hunted without weapons.  One day he was attacked by a bear, and grabbed his bow and arrow from a bush.  The bear wounded him before he could kill it.  She nursed him back to health, but in his fever revealed he was not a god.  

She realized she had been deceived.  She prepared herself her her final sacrifice.  One day when Red eagle returned from hunting the cave was empty.  Red Eagle realizing what was happening hurriedly ascended the mountain.  He he got to the bottom of the glacier he saw her on the top of the mountain.  He yelled to her but his yells were carried by the wind.  He saw as she leaped from the cliff and her mangled body came to rest not far from him.  He gathered her up and took her back to the cave, no longer leaving to hunt or take food.  He joined her in death.  Timpanogos accepted their sacrifice, took their hearts and made one of them which still resides in the cave.  The mountain took the shape of the maiden Utahna.  What looks like a head dress is in fact her hair coming off her neck.

Jerry Tarkanian "Tark the Shark" at UNLV

At the UNLV stadium Thomas and Mack Center, is a statue of Jerry Tarkanian chewing on a towel, and his history at UNLV in the background.  The Aggies use to have a hard time with them as they played in the same league.  His UNLV team went to four final fours and won the championship in 1990.  His history is available in the pictures.  He ended his career as the winningest coach in history.

history in general

History with UNLV

The Platte River Trails: Oregon, California and Mormon

 Inside the Kearney Archway is a museum which tells the story of the pioneer trails, starting with Fort Kearney and traveling west.  The California and Oregon trails approached this point from the south, while the Mormon trail came from the north side of the Platte River.  There is a great deal about the Mormon handcarts

From the ruins of Nauvoo to Zion in the west

Fort Kearney

diorama of a famous handcart painting

Mostly from the California trail Humbolt area where many loads were lightened to make it across the desert.  The handcart pioneers also lightened their load in Wyoming.

Clara Brown, an early pioneer and former slave, who landed in Colorado as the first African American to settle in the state.  She brought many relatives to Colorado, which eventually included her daughter.

"This is the place" said Brigham Young; not a place of ease but of hardship to build a people.

The last spike, coming of the railroad

Westward mural: presents mountain man, river rafting, meeting with Native Americans, wagons, handcarts, gold panning, laying telegraph line and stage coach.

Kanesville Memorial vs Kanesville Tabernacle

The replica tabernacle which stood in Kanesville (Council Bluffs) is no more as of 2022.  The original tabernacle was built in late 1847 as a hasty construction so they could hold a conference.  They tried to hold conference December 3, but the room was too small and the crowd too large.   The meeting was postponed umtil a more comfortable arrangement could be found. Brigham Young and the apostles had been talking about reorganizing the first presidency of the church.  For the past three years the church had been run by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles with Brigham Young as president of the quorum.  Those apostles in Kanesville, which included most of them finally felt the inspiration to reorganize the first presidency.  On the fourth day of a general conference held in the tabernacle the reorganization of the presidency was sustained by the crowd.  This was Monday December 27, 1847.  The first Presidency included Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards.  A pattern was thus established for succession in the first presidency which includes the apostles agreeing (receiving revelation), and then the church sustaining by the uplifted hand.

The tabernacle was made of green cottonwood which shrunk and caused the building to be unsafe.  They also found it was built on a spring.  It was torn down a couple years after it was built.

There is now a memorial and a visitor center.  The replica tabernacle built in the 1990s was made of cottonwood as was the original.  This was subject to shrinkage which again made the building unsafe.  It was torn down in 2022 after being closed a couple years.

POther important events that happened in Kanesville were the muster of the Mormon Battalion and the return and rebaptism of Oliver Cowdery after he had been excommunicated a few years prior.

When we visited the visitors center had just reopened.  So our look was a bit premature.  

The new first presidency: Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards

City of Kirtland Historical Town

 Historic Kirtland has many important sites to church history.  In Kirtland many revelations were received.  Joseph lived in five homes in Kirtland, and received revelations in each of these homes.   At the Whitney home the Whitneys provided a downstairs room for the Smiths as Emma was pregnant.  They moved from there to the Morley farm which had been built for them.  While living here Emma's twins were born, but passed away soon after birth.  They also adopted the Murdoch twins.  When the Morleys sold their farm to travel to Missouri, Joseph and Emma moved in with John and Elsa Johnson in Hiram, Ohio some 50 miles south of Kirtland.  It was while living here that Joseph Smith was dragged from his bed and tarred and feathered.  One of the twins, their son, died shortly after this due to exposure.  Joseph and Emma then took up residence in the upper story of the Whitney Store where Newel Whitney had prepared a room and office for them.  The school of the prophets was established first in the Witney Store in an upper room; and later upstairs in the temple. 

There were several thriving industries in Kirtland, including potash production used in the making of soap.  There was also a lumber mill and workshops for making items for the temple.

Many of the cherished revelations were received during this period.  Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith saw the savior while working on the translation of the Bible.  The word of Wisdom was also received.  These revelations have touched me and shaped the manner in which I live.

Newel K Whitney Store

School of the Prophets

office

potash operation

Construction of temple pews

A couple paintings from the Visitor Center

The Kirtland Temple

Ute Legend: Skinwalker

The Ute legend or myth of the Skinwalker is shared with the Navajo Tribe.  The skinwalker is a half man half animal (wolf, coyote fox or bear).  They may be shape shifters, changing their form.  I assume I heard this story from George Glines, a coworker in Roosevelt and native to the basin.  It seems sightings of the Skinwalker were quite frequent.  These would generally start in the north, White Rocks, follow the White Rocks highway, Fort Duchesne, Randlett, and then Ouray.  The sightings would vary in time making it seem like the Skinwalker was on the move.  I never heard stories of their attacking anyone.  

As I look online it indicates the Skinwalker is a Navajo phenomena.  However there is talk of the Navajo putting a curse on the land, or the Utes placing a curse.  At any rate there were bad feeling between the two groups.  This may have been how Skinwalker Ranch was started.  They say the Utes avoid this area.

Book Review: Time-Life Books: The Old West: The Texans

 Time-Life Books: The Old West: The Texas with text by David Levin, New York, 1975.

Moses Austin had a dream of populating Texas.  He would obtain land grants form Mexico and plot out communities.  This was 1820.  At first his son resisted joining the enterprise, but after a year joined in.  That is how Stephen F. Austin became the "Father of Texas."

Moses was successful in obtaining a land grant and excitedly returned home to Missouri.  His goal was to sale plots at a profit.  however in his excitement he contracted pneumonia and died.  It was his son who would carry out the venture.  

This book starts with the Austins, but the book is dominated by Sam Houston and ends with him.  Houston became a hero during the Texas war for independence.  

No book about Texas would be complete without and extensive retelling of the Alamo.  Sam Houston became the commander in chief of the Texas military.  Most people were disappointed in him at first as he kept retreating from the enemy.  He was abiding his time, waiting for the right opportunity and to extend the supply lines of the Mexicans.  The time to attack came at San Jacinto.  There in a battle lasting only 18 minutes the Texans under General Sam Houston routed the Mexican forces under General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana and won their independence.

Sam Houston became the first president of the republic.  The fortunes of Texas were tied to their becoming a part of the United States.  This did not happen for some time.  However Texas had a large debt form the war which they would pay off by giving land of which they had plenty.

This book also talks of the economics in Texas, ranching and farming; cattle and cotton mostly.  And their eventual entrance into the United States.  Sam Houston had a second term as governor.  He married a younger bride and had a family.  During his second term Texas became part of the Union as a slave state.  This lead to the Mexican American War where Texas, with the rest of the nation, won concessions from the Mexican government.

Ute Legend: The Basket Lady and the Man with the Hat

When working in Duckwater, I worked some with the school kids to physical education and other activities.  We presented the story of the Basket Lady and the Man with the Hat.  This was a Ute legend.  The story was a precautionary one about minding your manners and not being too loud.  Mom and grandma have to be away and tell the children that they should be good and not make too much noise or the Basket Lady will get them.  Of course they are too loud, and the woman with a basket gathers them all and puts them in the basket.  Apparently she is taking them home for a nice dinner.  However the man with the hat rescues them.  He tosses his hat at the witch which captures her.  He rescues the kids and they return home much better mannered.  This is the picture of the Basket Lady.  

Joseph Smith Kirtland Home

 The Joseph Smith Kirtland home is through the cemetery from the temple.  It was not where he lived originally which was the Whitney home.  He actually lived in four homes previously, Whitney home, the Morley farm, The John and Elsa Johnson home in Hiram, Ohio and the Newel Whitney store.  They moved into their own home in 1833 and would live there until 1838 when Joseph would leave Kirtland.  In this home Joseph would translate the book of Abraham, and Emma would compile a book of hymns.  Joseph Smith III was born in this home.  Several revelations were received during this time.  The home has recently been restored and is available for tours.  Also much church business was conducted here.

This home for the most part was a place of peace.  It was the home in which Emma and Joseph would reside the longest in their marriage.  

View from the Joseph Smith home

Shoshone Legend: Water Baby

 

Indian Legends: Water Baby and Stone Family

Dan Millett was a tribal elder at the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe when I worked there.  A couple times he came by my office just to talk.  One time he told me the legend of the water baby.  I wish I had been able to take notes, or record them as the story was fascinating.  In the case of his version of the "water baby" you could easily see how this would encourage a young mother to take good care of her babies.

Being from Duckwater, this has a local slant.  The water baby is a kind of spirit creature that inhabits the water, in this case the Duckwater ponds which are formed by the springs.  It is the custom in Duckwater to put babies in a cradle board.  The cradle board raps them up tight, which is very soothing to babies.  However in can lead to a mother being lazy.  They might hang the baby in a tree, where the wind will gently rock the baby.  However, if left in the tree, the baby may be inhabited by a water baby.  This is most likely to happen if the baby is fussy.  If a baby is inhabited by the spirit of the water baby, then it will also inhabit the mother while nursing.  If this happens the mother becomes a zombie like creature--half alive and half dead.

Many of the Great Plains tribes have similar legends.  The water baby or Paakniwat, is a protector of the water.  They are beautiful babies with fish tails.  Sometimes the make baby like noises in an attempt to lure someone into the water.  They can be an omen of misfortune.  Ute, Paiute, Washoe, Shoshone and several California tribes have water baby legends

Book of Mormon External Evidences: Video Review: Dead Sea Scrolls PROVE the Book of Mormon is TRUE! | (You Can't UNSEE This Evidence!🤯)

 Can the Dead Sea Scrolls provide evidence of the Book of Mormon?  This video from Rise Zion contends it does, based on variants between the Book of Mormon and the Bible.  About 40 percent of the Isiah verses in the Book of Mormon differ from the King James version.  These variants often match the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Isaiah Scrolls dated to 100 B.C. or the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Bible from about 200 B.C. Neither of these sources were available to Joseph Smith when he translated the Book of Mormon. The creator of this video presents six examples of where the Book of Mormon is different from the King James version but matches the ancient manuscripts. It would seem this verifies that the Book of Mormon comes from an ancient source translated by the power of God as Joseph Smith said.

Native American Biographies: Sisters Sophie Allison and Irene Mike

When I was in Duckwater, Sophie Allison and Irene Mike were already part of the Senior Center program.  However they were both still very active.  They were respected as community elders.  They were sisters.  They were faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and were some of the few who actually attended the Lund Ward on a regular basis.  The Lund ward was 50 miles away.  When we started a branch in Duckwater, they were very active.
One of the most impressive things about Sophie Allison was her basket weaving.  I feel, in her own right, she was keeping a vanishing tradition alive.  I visited her one afternoon while she was preparing willows for weaving.  She gathered the willows from along creeks.  The Currant Creek had a large patch of willows and this was a favorite spot for gathering.  She would keep the willows in water until she was ready for them.  She would take a willow from the water, and then hold it in her mouth.  With her fingers she would peel the bark away.  In this manner she prepared the willows for weaving.  Sophie was adept at making cradle boards.  They had a different design on the hood for boys and girls.

girl

boy

 She also made baskets.  Mostly she would make baskets to assist in the gathering of pine nuts.  I remember she would make cone shaped baskets for this.
This is a skill that was important to the original Shoshone.  I don't know who is carrying on this tradition now that Sophie is gone.

Sophie in the middle and Irene on the right

Many of the children from the reservation looked to these two women as Grandmother.

Borax Mining in Death Valley

 The Harmony Borax Mine is a National Historical Place inside of the Death Valley National Park.  Borax deposits were discovered by Aaron and Rosie Winters in 1881 and the mineral rights were acquired by William Coleman.  Production of Borax at the works began in 1883.  Coleman had unique wagons designed to carry the Borax to the nearest railhead in Mojave California.  It could get up to 130 degrees in the desert and Mojave was 165 miles away.  This made for a hard journey.  20-mule teams were used to haul two box cars and a water tank.  They were in service from 1883-1889; but their legacy ives on through marketing.

Coleman ran the operation until 1888 when his business collapsed.  It was then taken over by Frank M "Borax" Smith.  The company became the Pacific Coast Borax Company with the brand: 20 Mule Team Borax.  Mining continued at the site until 1907.  Since then a larger mine in Boron has supplied the need for Borax.  Borax is used in soaps.