James Carlile

James Carlile and Emily Ann Giles Heber Fort Residents written by Ron Carlile

James Carlile and Emily Ann Giles James Carlile and Emily Ann Giles - A Heber Fort Family. Their cabin was located along 5th North between 2nd and 3rd West. At the age of 88 years 7 months and 9 days, James Carlile was the oldest man in Heber City having lived a full and active life, his body finally gave out as he passed away at the home of his daughter, Emily Barzee. Like others of his generation, James had emigrated from England, was one of the original settlers of Heber City, and worked for many years to establish life in this new and thriving valley. James was born in the remote village of Misson, Nottinghamshire, England, on January 31st, 1829, to Robert and Christina Spouncer Carlile. He was the fifth of seven children, with two older brothers dying in infancy, leaving the oldest sister followed by four boys. James grew up loving and caring for horses and other livestock. These talents would prove beneficial throughout his life. Thereafter, plans were made. along with other recent converts, to immigrate to the Utah Territory. Travelling to Liverpool, Carlile’s boarded the ship “Zetland” in October 1849, headed for New Orleans. After a 69-day voyage, they arrived on Christmas Day, 1849, and from there took a crowded steamboat up the Mississippi River to St. Louis. After a couple of months there, they continued their journey along the Missouri River to Council Bluffs, Iowa. The extended Carlile family remained in Council Bluffs for the next 2 years (1850-52). While there the Carlile men worked jobs earning money for supplies, wagons and cattle for the nearly 1,000-mile trip to Utah Territory. In 1852 James and his extended family secured a place in the 7th company under the direction of Captain Henry JM Jolley. By this time, James had purchased an ox team, trained the team and drove one of the Carlile wagons across the plains. After arriving, the Carlile’s travelled to Provo then to a new settlement, south of Utah Lake, named Palmyra. In 1856, they moved to nearby Spanish Fork to take up residence. During this period, they suffered greatly because of problems existing with the startup of the Walker War coinciding with the grasshopper or “Mormon Cricket” infestation that destroyed crops for so many. Eight years younger than James, Emily Ann Giles was born in Sterling England on June 6th, 1837 to William and Sarah Huskinson Giles. Emily, later known as “Emma” to distinguish her from another Emily, was the eighth of ten children. Following the family’s move to Lincoln, family members became aware of a new religion from missionaries from America. The message of the restored gospel was what the Giles family was looking for with many members of the family being baptized in 1849. Emily was baptized on January 27th, 1852. Thereafter, plans were made to immigrate to America and join other likeminded saints in Utah Territory. Having an appointment to set sail on May 4th, 1854 eldest brother Thomas and his wife took the other family members to the docks in Liverpool. William and Sarah had some last-minute items to tend to and promised they would be there on time to board. The ship captain was punctual and kept his word that they would depart at the appointed time, having the boarding plank pulled and off they sailed without the parents. This must have been heart wrenching for 16-year-old Emily, as well as the rest of the family. The next eve, at about sunset, a sailing vessel was seen approaching the ship. Happily, William and Sarah were among those that had been left behind the previous day but were now on board. It was a happy reunion for sure. The ship “Old England” arrived in New Orleans two months and two days after departure. From there the family took the steamboat “St Nikolas” up the Mississippi to St Louis arriving May 11th, 1854. From there the family continued up the Mississippi to Quincy some of them on to Burlington, Iowa where family members obtained work to save money and purchase supplies for crossing the...