Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Henry Criddle 1814 - 1866



In Oct 1862 George Criddle and his family and his sister Sarah Ann arrived in Utah, the gathering place of of the L.D.S. Church.

After his arrival he wrote to his father at Taunton, England and advised his father to come to Utah, too. So 4 years after George emigrated, Henry Criddle, his wife Mary Bull Criddle and 4 children, Jane, Charlotte, Selina and Charles sailed on the ship, Conelius Grinnel, which set sail from London 30 May 1866. There were 26 persons under the charge of R. Harrison.

What ports the Conelius Grinnel docked at is not known or at what port this Criddle family embarked on the ship is not known but the ship sailed to the New York harbor. From New York they went to Nebraska. Kenesville, Iowa was where most of the outfitting was done for the overland wagon trains going to Salt Lake Valley after Winter Quarters was evacuated. Other stations used were Keokuk, Iowa; Kansas City, Mo; Mormon Grove, Kansas; Iowa City, Iowa; Florence and Wyoming, Nebraska. Florence, Nebraska was established for outfitting about 1858 and Wyoming, Nebraska about 1864.

The Henry Criddle familywere in the company of Josehp S. Rawlins which left Wyoming, Nebraska 2 Aug 1866 and arived in Salt Lake Valley on Oct 1866. There were in the company about 400 people and 65 wagons.

When half way across the plains between Nebraska and Utah, Henry became sick. As the company continued on to the Salt Lake Valley, Mary Criddle with her 4 children and sick husband remained behind at a temporary camp. After the death of Henry on 16 Sep 1866 and his burial on the lonely plains, the wife and children joined another company who were going through to Salt Lake. So the Criddle family did not arrive in Salt Lake Valley when their orginal company arrived, but came a few days later. Sad was the meeting of the son, George and his sister Sarah Ann who had preceded this little mother to Utah whn told of the lonely unmarketed grave on the plains, which was the haunt of the wild Indian, buffalo and coyote.