Isaac Van Wagoner Carling

Photo:

Parents: John Carling  

  Emeline Keaton

Born: 30 Nov 1831

  Kleinesophus, Ulster, NY

Died: 24 May 1911

  Orderville, Kane, UT

1st Spouse: Asenath Elizabeth Browning

Marriage: 17 Nov 1854

  Ogden, Weber, UT

Children: Sarah Elizabeth Carling

  Asenath Emeline Carling

  Ann Elizabeth Carling

  Laura Malvina Carling

  Olive Charilla Carling

  Catherine Aurelia Carling

  Martha Jane Carling

  Phoebe Malinda Carling

  Isaac Van Wagoner Carling Jr.

  Mary Alice Carling

  Mariam Eliza Carling

  Barbara Amelia Carling

   
2nd Spouse: Miriam Elizabeth Hobson

Marriage: 27 Aug 1857

  Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, UT

Children: John Henry Carling

  Ellen Alvira Carling

  Lydia May Carling

  Jesse Hobson Carling

Historical Documents

From the John Henry Carling Book:

   Isaac Van Wagoner Carling & Miriam Hobson Story

      Miriam Hobson

      Patriarchal Blessing of Isaac Van Wagoner Carling

      The United Order

      Journal of Isaac V. W. Carling Crossing the Plains

Grandfather Carling: Be of Good Faith

Isaac Van Wagoner Carling

 
Isaac was born 30 November 1831 at Cline Esopus, Ulster County, New York, son of John Carling and
Emeline Keaton Carling. They were among the early converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints from the Quaker faith of North Carolina. (Isaac had blue eyes. Some of his grandchildren
described his eyes as "Laughing blue eyes," He had a quiet chuckle when he enjoyed a good joke).

During his early childhood, Isaac earned his spending money by catching bullfrogs and selling the legs to
the rich for their dainty dish. He also made clothespins by sawing birch willows about four inches long,
sawing a slit in the center about three or more inches, tacking strips of tin around the top to keep them
from splitting. He secured the tin by cutting old tin cans,

He got the tacks by burning old shoes then saving the tacks. When completed he sold the clothes pins
for 10 cents per dozen.

One day he was with his father at the docks near Kingston, New York while a ship was being unloaded.
The Captain threw away into the junk pile a violin that was broken. Isaac seeing it told his father that he
would like to have it. His father told the captain and he said, "Why that is no good now, it is all broken.
Isaac said he could fix it, he said, "My father always has a pot of glue on hand and I could glue the pieces
together." The Captain said, "Well, if you want it that bad my boy, take it and you are welcome to it." So
he took the pieces of broken violin home, he made new parts to replace the broken ones, and glued
them together and learned to play it. He spent many happy hours playing that violin. His father being a
music teacher tried to get him to learn the notes (so he could read music), but he said he didn't have
time now but might later. He played so well by ear and didn't make any mistakes, so he never took the
time to learn the notes.

In 1840 at the age of eight, Isaac Van Wagoner Carling with his parents, sister and brother made a trip
from Fishkill, New York to Nauvoo, Illinois. Before leaving their home in Fishkill, his uncle, who was a
sailor, gave them some sea-biscuit. The dough of the sea-biscuit had been mixed so that it could not be
spoiled by the dampness. It was very hard, and had to be pounded up and soaked before it could be
eaten. As they had not yet learned of the word of wisdom, they used coffee which the biscuit was
soaked in.

As a boy in Nauvoo, Isaac loved to watch the steamboats come up the grand old Mississippi river. Isaac
was nine years old when his father worked on the Nauvoo temple when it was being built. Isaac would
carry his father's dinner to him. It wouldn't be much, corn bread and molasses made from beets, and
sometimes fish.  He also kept the family's garden while his father worked on the temple.

While still a boy in Nauvoo, there was a lady teaching night school of embroidery work. Isaac's sister and
some of the neighbor girls wanted to go so his mother sent Isaac along with the girls as an escort. He
looked on so interested the lady asked him if he would like to learn to embroider. He said he would and
she told him if he would bring his own materials, he could look on and get all he could by watching and
he would not have to pay anything. He learned the art of embroidery and beading which proved to be a
great help to him in later years.

Persecution became so intense the leaders decided it was best to leave Nauvoo and their persecutors
who were determined to drive them out of the state on account of their unpopular religion. The
mobocrats had already killed a number of the church members and burned many of their homes and
destroyed much of their property. Conditions were getting worse as time passed. The Mormons had
earlier been driven from Kirtland, Ohio and Independence, Missouri. In their appeal to the government
officials for protection they were told, "Your cause is just, but we could do nothing for you," and so their
only safe course was to leave these free United States and seek peace in the wilds of the Rocky
Mountains where they could be free from mob violence and worship God according to the dictates of
their own conscience.

While the Saints were preparing to leave Nauvoo the enemy was very watchful to find out anything they
could against the Mormons and kept watch that no one worked on Sunday, so Isaac V. was stationed
outside to watch while his father was preparing shoes, etc. for the journey as he felt he had to work on
Sundays just before leaving that they might be ready to go, and if anyone passed by Isaac would give a
tap on the window so his father would lay down his hammer and all would be quiet within while they
passed.

During all these afflictions and hardships Isaac's mother, Emeline, died and left her family of three
children, Isaac Vanwagoner, Catherine Keaton, and Abraham Freer. Two others, Sarah Wildey and John
Warner Carling had died in infancy. Sometime after the death of Emeline, Isaac's father, John Carling,
married Ann Green Dutson, who had been the nurse to care for Emeline. Ann was a widow. It is believed
she had two children by her first husband. Her first husband was said to have gone on a voyage from
their home in England, being a sailor, and never returned. Anne Green was a very good, kind, step-
mother to Isaac and the other children. She later had two children by John Carling, Francis Caleb and
Joseph Matthew.

Isaac's Father, John Carling, being a wagon maker, along with his many other capabilities, was asked by
President Brigham Young to stay in Nauvoo, Illinois to make and mend wagons for others who needed
them for the trek to the Rocky Mountains.

When the saints started the move west, young Isaac stayed behind with his father to help build and
repair wagons. Mob violence became so great that they were all anxious to get away. Heber C. Kimball,
had promised them that if they would stay until all the saints were provided with good outfits, they
would not be harmed. Isaac V. noted this prediction and thought he would see if it came true. The
women were worried about staying longer, some vowed they would all be murdered. Nevertheless they
followed the council of their leaders. They were among the last to leave Nauvoo.

Living in Nauvoo at this same time was Jonathan Browning his wife Elizabeth Stalcup Browning and their
family. They were probably neighbors of the Carlings. They had a beautiful daughter Asenath.

Asenath Elizabeth Browning was born 17 November 1835 in Adam's County, Illinois. Her parents were
well educated, cultured and talented in many ways. Her father was a gunsmith by trade but was also a
farmer and civic leader and owner of real estate. Elizabeth loved artistic things and was musically
inclined having a lovely singing voice.
In the year 1842 Jonathan had moved his family from Adams County, Illinois to Nauvoo. The family had
been taught the gospel and accepted baptism and all entered into the spirit of building a new two-story
brick home not far from the Prophet Joseph Smith's home. They helped in the building of the temple
and with building Nauvoo as a city. Asenath knew the Prophet. She remembered him coming to her
father's home in Illinois, picking her up and kissing her and saying. "Who's pretty little girl is this?" She
thought this was a great honor. She with her family saw Joseph and Hyrum as he bid them goodbye as
he departed for Carthage; it was a sad hour for her and her loved ones.The Brownings endured the
hardships along with the rest of the saints. They shared their joys and sorrows alike. Often she saw her
brothers ride the Prophet and Emma Smith's horses to her father's blacksmith shop to be shod. The
horses were beautiful and high spirited and a joy to watch.

Asenath and Isaac became good friends during the perilous times their families shared. Much of the
work had to be done in hiding and under guard. Jonathan Browning was a gunsmith. He also received a
request to remain behind in Nauvoo and make improvements on guns and help make wagon wheels.
They along with the Carling family were promised protection in the name of the Lord, that not a hair of
their heads would be harmed.

The morning they were to leave, they were counseled to get to the ferry before the mobs were astir.
Upon arriving at the ferry the Captain hurried them onto the boat, and admonished them to be quick
because they could see the mobs coming. Some were on horses and others running, but all with guns in
their hands. They were cursing and swearing. As the saints left the shore, they could hear the leader of
the mob ordering his men to shoot. As the mob came to the shore they stood still. It is told by some that
shots were fired but they missed the people in the boat. Thus the hand of the Lord was with the saints
and they were protected. The prophecy made by Heber C. Kimball was literally fulfilled. This was a great
testimony to young Isaac as he related it to his children in later years.

Their caravan reached Unionville, Iowa, (later called Council Bluffs) and spent several years there while
preparing for their journey to the Rocky Mountains. Many hardships were suffered during the cold
stormy winters there.

During the long stay at Unionville, Isaac published a news-sheet called "The Union Star," in order (he
said) "to keep the hand busy and improve the mind." The sheet was done entirely by hand and
contained both poetry and pictorial writing as well as news, showing both ingenuity and skill. Several of
these news-sheets are still in existence among his numerous posterity and are treasured possessions.

In 1846 after leaving Nauvoo, Asenath Browning with her family, lived in Kanesville, near Council Bluffs.
Here she saw and met many prominent people such as Orson Hyde, Parley P. and Orson Pratt, Heber C.
Kimball and even Abraham Lincoln. Her father acted as magistrate of civic affairs and was known to
many as Squire Browning.

Being associated as neighbors with the Carlings, it is not strange that Asenath and Isaac V. Carling grew
to be good friends.

Isaac along with his family commenced their long journey from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Salt Lake City on
Wednesday 30 June 1852 in the Company of Captain Henry Miller. Their family consisted of Father John
Carling, Mother (Ann Green Carling), brother Abraham, sister Catherine (Kate), and Isaac Vanwagoner.
Isaac was now 20 years old.

Isaac and Asenath found much to enjoy in those trying times, as youth most always do. The two families
traveled in the Henry Miller company with Asenath's father as Captain. During this long journey across
the plains Asenath and Isaac's friendship ripened into love. She seldom spoke of the trials of that trek
such as having to make fires with buffalo chips (dried buffalo manure), but of the joy they had in singing,
dancing or just talking with other dear friends. It was a courting time for her.

Isaac kept a journal of their long trek across the plains (See journal at end of this history). He noted often
the weather and the good and plentiful feed there was for the animals, or the lack of it. The crossing of
the many streams and rivers having to be ferried across some. The storms they encountered, the dust,
wind and sand, the cattle wandered off and had to be hunted. He noted the number of miles traveled
each day. The sorrow they felt upon seeing graves upon the plains of those who had traveled the trail
before them. He noted two deaths and one birth in the company. The death of a grandson of Jonathan
Browning in the second company of ten and an older man. They had to stop at times to mend wagons
and set tires, hunt coal for blacksmithing. They rested on the Sundays and held meetings. They hunted
buffalo and dried the meat for food along the way. They saw Indians on their buffalo hunts and at other
times.

In young Isaac's diary is an account of his slaying a buffalo with near disastrous results. It had become
the habit of the hunters to cut off the tail of the dead animal and bring it into camp, both to show the
doubting others that they needed help to bring in the meat, and to prove that it was their own kill.

This time Isaac had shot a huge buffalo and as it lay seemingly dead, he prepared to cut off it's tail. He
had his knife out and the tail grasped firmly when the mortally wounded animal in a last frenzy of rage,
got to its feet and tried to charge its foe. Isaac held firmly to the tail while the buffalo went around and
around, striving in vain to reach him. He recalled that the pace was so swift that he was pulled
completely off his feet and swung at the tail's end until the enraged beast had used up its reserve energy
and staggering, collapsed and died. Then Isaac severed the tail from the carcass and took his trophy back
to camp with an almost incredible story to tell.

There were many, many days of buffalo hunting and many different experiences. Each of the stories
could be and probably are of different events on the long trek. One episode in crossing the plains, a
group of the boys were out hunting buffalo for food - probably bragging and daring each other, boy
fashion. A herd was sighted laying on a rocky knoll. Someone said they dared anyone to grab an old bull
by the tail and cut it off. Isaac accepted the dare. After sneaking carefully up on the opposite side of the
knoll and behind a big rock where an old bull lay, he quickly grabbed it by the tail and whacked with his
knife. The bull jumped up and ran, throwing Isaac onto his head in a pile of rocks. The herd stampeded
away. All Isaac had to show for his efforts was a hunk of hair in his hand and a sore head. It was a piece
of the tail at least.
After a long weary day they often danced to buoy up their weary spirits and bodies. As a boy Isaac V.
Carling had been given a damaged violin which he repaired, and which he now played to entertain the
Saints. He was one of three men in the company who had violins (fiddles in those days) and they were in
great demand of an evening to furnish music for the singing of hymns and ballads, and for dancing that
lightened the heavy hearts and gave a welcome release from the monotony the dreary days. Some
interesting notes in Isaac's journal comment on some of the dances held while crossing the plains. They
had for a short time it seems joined up with some of the other companies.

Friday 30 Jul 1852: Nooned at the big cold springs at the head of the Pawney Swamp and camped on
Carrion Creek and had a very interesting dance. Bro. Mathias Cowly, the Apostle's father was standing
guard that night and passing then crying the hours of the night said "Nine o'clock in advance, all is right
and Oh! how I wish I could dance with you tonight.”

Monday 23 Aug 1852: Traveled two miles beyond Deer Creek and stopped to set tires and mend
wagons. In the evening had a dance.

Tuesday 24 Aug 1852: Killed one buffalo while in search of coal to do our blacksmithing with. In the
afternoon burning coal and in the evening spent our time in dancing which lasted until eleven o'clock
with from three to four sets on the grass at once.

Wednesday 25 Aug 1852: Setting tires and killing buffalo. Two were brought into camp. One ox lost.

Thursday 26: Still labored at the hard work; then danced at night until 2 o'clock with from four to five
sets on the grass at a time.

Friday 27: August. Captain Miller together with Bro. Hyde, left with two tens. Then the sport was over
which left us in a lonesome condition.

Ten days before reaching Salt Lake City they passed a company of missionaries leaving to go on missions.

Isaac records that on Wednesday the 29th of September they traveled over Little Mountain and camped
in the canyon eight miles from Salt Lake City. He with others went to the City at 4:00 o'clock. The
following day 30 September the company arrived in Salt Lake City. The next morning the mountains
were covered with snow and there was snow in the city.

During the long journey the friendship of Isaac and Aseneth had ripened into love. But upon arriving in
Salt Lake City, Asenath's father was sent to help settle Ogden, Utah and he became a pillar of strength to
that community. Isaac's father was sent to Provo, Utah. What a parting of the way for these two young
people. They must wait until Isaac had a home before he could think of marriage.

After the Carling family arrived in Salt Lake City, President Young called a meeting of the Brethren who
had just arrived and said: "I want more people to help settle Provo, who will volunteer?" He wanted fifty
or more for safety against Indians. He said, "Brethren if you will go to Provo and stay till there is a
thriving settlement there, you can go to any of the settlements that are now settled and make your
home. I promise you that none of your children will cry for bread." So Isaac told his father he was willing
to go. He said although he wasn't married, he hoped to have children some day and that blessing was
worth working for.

On the 2nd of October, in spite of the rain and snow, the Carling family began another four day trip
south to settle at Provo, Utah. They arrived there on the 5 October 1852. Provo was much to Isaac's
liking and he bought a lot and had hopes of building a house. While at Provo in 1853 he wrote the
following letter (one of many) to Asenath Browning in Ogden, Utah. (His own spelling and punctuation).

Provo City June the 19th 1853

Dear Assenth, I again take up my pen to write to you a few lines. I received your letter on the 16th and
was very happy to hear from you and when reflecting upon the past I don’t wonder at your being much
surprised at my last letter though I did not write anything as it were concerning a subject which has long
been resting with great weight upon my mind but as yet never have been able to do justice to so
important a cause therefore I have thought much and said nothing concerning it until now and never
until this moment could I think myself worthy to make you an offer of my hand and heart if this should
be agreeable to your mind I hope you will pardon me for asking you the privilege to address your
beloved parents upon this subject.

if you should concent to my proposal you may rest assured that nothing shall be with held on my part
which is calculated to make you happy and comfortable I hope you will not think I mean to flatter you
for this is not my intention but hope you will give this a due concideration and give me an answer as
soon as posable that I may be satisfied until I can obtain means whereby I may accomplish my desire. I
hope you will excuse my bad writing, I have so much business to do for the public that I can scarcely get
time to write for myself at all.

having said so much I will patiently await your answer which I hope and trust will be favourable.

With this I remain your ever affectionate friend and lover

Isaac Carling

The family stayed in Provo about a year, then President Young decided the Carling family was needed in
Fillmore, Utah. Poor Isaac and Asenath could see the distance growing greater between them, but Isaac,
being single he must go with his father. He must wait until he had a home for her before they could be
married.

In Fillmore he became very discouraged and finally asked the Lord in prayer, to remove his downcast
spirits and teach him to be grateful for his blessings, that he might overcome the obstacles that kept him
from his sweetheart. God heard his sincere prayer and his spirits rose. He felt satisfied and contented in
this mission he had been called upon with his family. Isaac and his father John Carling had been called by
President Brigham Young to go to Fillmore City to help build the State House. Fillmore was the Capitol
City of Utah at that time. They were both excellent carpenters and their help was needed. So they
helped to build the Capitol Building in Fillmore, Utah.

Isaac succeeded in building a log house and started a home. He went to Ogden to prepare for marriage.
Can you imagine what Asenath had been doing all this while? She had been sewing and preparing to
become a wife. The joy and excitement was great at the thought of her Isaac coming to claim her as his
bride. They were married 17 November 1854 in the endowment house in Salt Lake City, Utah. For a time
they lived in Ogden and Isaac worked in Asenath's father's gun shop. It was after their first child's birth
that Isaac took Asenath and baby, Sarah Elizabeth, back with him to help finish their home in Fillmore.

Asenath was a homemaker. She followed the pattern her mother set for her in learning all the arts of
good homemaking and to be a good wife. She loved her husband, children and her home. She strongly
believed that home was not complete without children, good books, flowers and music. They bought
musical instruments, planted many kinds of flowers, and did everything they could to make their home
attractive. They taught by precept and example that home was the place for young folks to come and
enjoy themselves with loved ones and their companions instead of going away from home. She was a
good cook, a good dressmaker and tailoress, could cut patterns by measurement with a carpenters
square and tape. She taught her girls to do all kinds of sewing and some fancy work. All her children
were very artistic. When they needed to be taught something either she or Isaac could teach them,
except she could not teach notes of music. Asenath was high minded, never could bear to hear anyone
speak vulgar. Her patriarchal blessing said her children and grandchildren would rise up and call her
blessed.

Isaac Vanwagoner Carling worked at various trades. He held many public offices during his lifetime. He
was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a fine civilian and friend to all.

Isaac was given blessings at different times in his life. Here are some quotes taken from those blessings
given for his comfort and guidance by Patriarchs of the Church:

"The Lord is well pleased with the integrity of your heart and hath given his angels charge concerning
you. Your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life never to be blotted out."

"Thou shalt be blessed in thy family, and thou shalt have peace in thine house, for the Angel of Peace
shall dwell there. Thy table shall be spread with plenty and thy children shall grow up around thee
healthy and fair and they shall be numerous in the earth, even sons and daughters who shall magnify
the Holy Priesthood, and continue the work of redemption that thou has commenced, even unto the
consummation thereof."

You shall be blessed with power of body and vigor of mind to live until you are satisfied with life, and call
your children around you and bless them and not one of them shall be lost."

"Thy posterity shall rise up and call thee blessed and therefore they shall be entitled to the blessings of
those who honor their father and their mother. They shall become a multitude of faithful Latter-day
Saints."

"You are appointed to preach the gospel to the nations of the earth, and no power on earth can stay thy
hand." (This appointment is certainly being kept through his posterity. They are going out by the score
to fill missions. His posterity have reason to believe he is directing the work of his posterity on the other
side in this line as well. That he is personally fulfilling his appointment there).

..."You shall have a companion and raise a posterity that shall be mighty and extend their dominions to
the ends of the earth."

Isaac Vanwagoner Carling was a true son of his father John Carling in every way. He seemed to have
inherited all of his father's natural ability to make the best use of his many natural talents plus the ability
to use and improve them to the limit of usefulness to all. He certainly was a great help to the different
communities in which he lived. In fact people would come to him from distant settlements if they had
some very particular piece of work to do which required skill and precision. His children don't remember
ever seeing him or hearing of him make a failure in anything which he undertook to do. He did
everything in the best possible way. He would tell his children to always do everything that they had to
do in the best possible way. He said, "What's worth doing at all is worth doing well." He taught his
children to work and each child knew what they were to do. There was never any arguing or fault finding
in their home. He seemed to be master of all trades that anyone could achieve success in, outside of the
established organized houses of industry in the populous center of industry. His time was well spent.

In Fillmore they lived, worked and struggled, went through all kinds of hardships in hard times and
poverty, striving to rear their family, (eventually twelve childern), as best they could under the trying
circumstances that were common to all the pioneers. Asenath often told her children later, how she
would have to put them to bed Saturday night and wash, iron and mend their clothes to have them
clean for Sunday. Sometimes it would take most of the night to do this and at times there would still be
a little mending for Sunday morning. Asenath was sickly but she often fasted.

Annie Chamberlain Esplin a granddaughter tells this incident:

"He (Isaac Vanwagoner Carling) was always willing to share the last bit of food with his neighbors. One
time Grandmother was reluctant to scrape the last bit of flour for a friend whose baby had scurvy.
Grandfather chided her and said, "We will never want." Later they found a sack of flour on the porch. It
was a different kind of sack and they had the impression it might have been left by one of the three
Nephites."
 

This true incident in Isaac's life was published in "The Children's Friend," a publication for the children of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"It was storming outside, but the only sound in the cabin was Father's voice (Isaac Vanwagoner) quietly
explaining why he had given flour to those who had come by during the day. There was much sickness in
the little community and flour seemed to be the best possible medicine. (They used to always use raw
flour mixed in water and seasoned with a dash of black pepper, to cure the diarrhea).

"Patiently Father reminded the children that they had been especially blessed because none of them
had had the strange "Winters sickness." Even though the crops had failed in the fall, it had been possible
for him to get flour in trade for the wagons he had made for his neighbors, or for pioneers going through
Fillmore on their way to the West Coast.

"Early this morning Mother had said, "Please don't give away any more flour. We have only enough for a
few batches of bread and if you give that away you'll be taking food right out of the mouths of our own
children. They had wondered how this could be, but before they could ask, a knock had come at the
door, and a neighbor had begged a cupful of flour for his sick wife. Even the youngest child had been
touched by the look of gratitude on the man's face when Father gave the flour to him and had said, "Be
of good faith, the Lord will provide."

"But then, just a few minutes later there had been another knock, and when Father opened the door, a
young man standing there had hurried in. They had been sure Father would not refuse help when the
man had said, "Oh Brother Carling, my baby is dying! I must have some flour."

"Afterwards, Mother had started to cry and that was when Father had gently put his arm around her
and asked all of them to kneel with him in prayer. There was a special feeling of warmth in the little
cabin as he expressed thanks for their health and safety on such a cold November day. And then he
prayed that in some way it might be possible for them and their neighbors to get food, especially flour.

"As they rose from their knees, Father suggested that Mother take a spoon and try to scrape together
enough flour from the box to make a little gravy. How surprised she was to find there was plenty for that
and more left over.

“But an even happier moment came a little while later. As the family was eating there came still another
knock at the door. A man standing outside said he had heard that Father was a wagon maker and
needed his services. Then he added "I have 20 tons of flour here. I wonder if I could trade flour for
wagons?"

Another time when flour was hard to get, one morning Asenath asked her husband what she could do as
she had taken the last spoonful of flour from the bin and the bread was nearly gone and she could not
mix more. Before they had finished their dinner a man came to the door and asked Isaac Vanwagoner if
he would take flour on what he owed him. He told the man he would be glad to do that. The man went
to his wagon and unloaded several sacks of flour, one hundred pounds in each. Asenath was so glad she
threw her arms around Isaac and cried for joy. 

Miriam Elizabeth Hobson

In 1859 while in Fillmore, Isaac met and married his second wife, Miriam Hobson of Richmond, Cache
Valley. At that time plural marriage was taught and encouraged in the Church. It was a direct revelation
and commandment of God for members of His Church to live. In Fillmore twelve of Isaac V.'s sixteen
children were born.

Miriam was the fourth child of Jesse and Catherine Dougherty Hobson. She was born on 31 August 1843,
fourteen miles from Nauvoo, at Camp Creek, Hancock County. Illinois.

The older children could remember an occasional strange noise in the night, when their parents would
comfort them by telling them that Brother Joseph was staying with them. Later, they realized that
Joseph Smith was trying to escape his enemies. After Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith were martyred in
June of 1844, the Hobsons moved into Nauvoo where Jesse and other trusted men served as guards
against mob violence.

Miriam was with her family when her father was sent by Brigham Young to make friends with the
Pawnee and pottawattamie Indians in Nebraska. Then they moved Fort Vermillion, a government post
on the Missouri River. In the spring of 1846 the Hobson family went with about 300 other families to
Nebraska to make friends with other Indian tribes so that the Mormons would be able to travel safely
across the Indian lands.

In the spring of 1847 Brigham Young advised Miriam's father, Jesse Hobson, and others to go across the
Missouri River to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, for safety from the Indians. He built a home and lived
there for five years. They then went to Council Bluffs to meet the westbound emigrants from Nauvoo.

In 1852 Miriam with her family began the journey across the plains with the Benjamin Gardner
Company. Miriam was baptized in August of 1852, probably somewhere in Wyoming. They arrived in
Salt Lake City on 22 September 1852 and were soon sent to Farmington, Davis County, Utah.

Miriam was just 12 years old when her mother died on 14 December 1855. There were seven others in
the family. Shortly after her mother's death, her father Jesse Hobson was called on a mission to England.
Her father made arrangements for his children to be taken care of and Miriam and her brother, Henry,
were placed with a Brother John Dalton. Her other brothers and sisters were placed with different
families. Lydia her oldest sister was to be married soon and she was to care for the three youngest
children, Jesse 5, Mary Catherine nearly 3 years old, and Julia Christina eight months old.

The Daltons (where Miriam was placed while her father was on a mission) lived south of Salt Lake City.
The next information available, establishes that Miriam Elizabeth Hobson married Isaac Van Wagoner
Carling at the home of S. T. Hoot (Hoyt?) in Fillmore, on 27 August 1857. She was sixteen years old and
eleven years younger than Isaac. She was his second wife. How Isaac and Miriam got acquainted is not
know. Family lore says they met and married in Fillmore. Perhaps Miriam was visiting her sister Lydia.
Perhaps life at the Daltons was not as accommodating as her father had hoped. However it happened
Miriam and Isaac crossed paths, fell in love, and were married on 27 August 1857.

At the time of their marriage, although Fillmore had briefly been the capital of Utah, it was a harsh place
to live. The winter climate had horrible blizzards. The summer was hot and dusty. Isaac was an excellent
carpenter so his family had a decent house for the time and place but many things were scarce. The
family had little clothing. Laundry was done after the children were in bed so that their clothing was
clean and dry to wear the next day. The cheapest calico cloth was a dollar a yard. Eventually, Isaac made
spinning wheels so his wives could provide cloth for their children. It was reported by one of his
daughters that Isaac V. Carling made the first spinning wheels used in the Salt Lake Valley as well as for
the surrounding territory. He did this work at Fillmore. He made them in their entirety - head, spindles,
wheel, stand and all. He charged forty dollars for them. Two of his spinning wheels are in the museum at
Fillmore, Utah. He made a spinning wheel for Martha Turner Lovell, his son's mother-in-law.

Isaac purchased lots across the street from each other presumably so each wife could have her own
home. One house was built exhibiting his excellent craftsmanship, and was quite fine for its day.

Miriam was a good, kind lady. She and Isaac V. had four children, John Henry, Ellen Alvira, Lydia May and
Jesse Hobson. Their little girl, Lydia May was one year older than Martha, (the 7th daughter of Asenath).
As Miriam's home was just across the street from Asenath's home the children played together a great
deal. Isaac V. used to call Martha, and May his twins. Isaac treated each family as good and important as
humanly possible. All behaved toward each other as well as it could be done under the then existing
circumstances.

Although Isaac was a carpenter and craftsman, he also did some farming, Isaac had the most beautiful
flower garden in the country. He was never so busy but what he could devote a little time to tending his
flowers. The young people from all around came to admire his flowers. No doubt the entire family
participated in growing a garden, which included flowers as well as vegetables. Tithing was paid in
wheat, pumpkins or whatever else was produced, and at least once, Isaac hauled potatoes to the tithing
office.

He planted his fields and gardens "in the moon." He made many tests, and proved to his personal
satisfaction that it was wise to plant that way. People who sneered at the thought seemed to fail to reap
in abundance if their planting did not coincide with his - and they thought he was just plain "lucky." He
believed in slaughtering hogs "in the moon" too, and those who also believed found that by following
his advice the meat remained plump and tender - otherwise it would shrink a lot in cooking. He
understood a great deal about the influence the moon and stars exerted on the weather. As he read the
stars, he would forecast the weather accurately, not only for a day or two ahead, but sometimes even
into weeks. He knew many of the planets and stars and their position in the heavens.

Isaac was the first one to raise fruit in Millard County. He brought fruit seeds and pits from Nauvoo to
plant. When they moved to Fillmore, he got out his fruit seeds and was preparing the land to plant
them. Some neighbors called by and asked what he was going to plant and he told them. They told him
he just as well throw the seed in the fire as to plant it in that cold place, they would all freeze down
when winter and cold weather came. (In the early time the climate there was much colder than fruit
raising could stand), but Isaac told them he was going to plant a few and try it. He asked the all-wise kind
Father in Heaven to bless the seed and temper the climate so the people there could raise fruit; his
petition was granted and the fruit seed all came up, grew and thrived, so that county has been a good
place to grow all kinds of fruit. His trees, planted from the seeds he brought from Nauvoo, grew, and
produced delicious apples and other fruits for many years.

Miriam Hobson Carling died six weeks after the birth of her fourth child, Jesse Hobson Carling, on 22
June 1869 from complications of child birth. Jesse weighed only three pounds, but he survived. Miriam
was 25 years, 8 months and 22 days old.

Her obituary read:

Born at Camp Creek, Near Nauvoo, Illinois 31 August 1843, was baptized and immigrated with her
father's family to Utah in 1852. She was a faithful saint, and died in full faith of that religion she had
endeavored to live. She left four children.

Asenath being near confinement, with her eighth child, could not take the little six week old motherless
boy until after her own baby came, which happened in about two months. So Aunt Caroline Dutson took
care of him until Asenath's baby, Phebe, was about two months old then she took Miriam's baby, Jesse
Hobson, and nursed him right along with her own little baby as twins. With Asenath's eight children and
Miriam's four it made an even dozen to care for. Sarah the eldest child of Asenath's was thirteen years
old. Miriam's eldest, John was eight years old when his mother died. Most of them were not old enough
to help much with the work, it is a wonder how they got by. To think of their lives of sacrifice and
accomplishments, makes one very proud of them and makes them appreciate more than ever what they
did for their children.

Isaac made shoes also --he had learned the trade from a shoemaker at St. Joseph, Missouri where he
had gone with his father on an errand of business. Isaac told his children that his Carling Grandfathers all
the way back to the time of President Washington's army were all shoemakers and that his father John
mended boots for the army and President Washington included. One day he had used most of his shoe
tacks and of course there was no way to get more, so he set his brains to work and invented the shoe
pegs, as they called them, cut of hardwood, so he kept on half-soling shoes. In Utah he made up leather
on shares making up a "side" for a "side."

Before school started one fall, Asenath told Isaac V. the children needed dresses. He said, "I think we will
be able to get some, --there is money due." At mealtime a man in a covered wagon stopped at the
house. He had with him a quarter of a good beef. He wanted to know if he could pay it on what was
owing for two spinning wheels. He also had ten gallons of molasses, and asked if they would also take
some dry goods. He had a bolt of calico and a bolt of factory (muslin). The calico was a dark green color
with yellow flowers. My! how happy the children were. The factory was used for underwear for all the
children, the calico was made into school dresses.

While living in Fillmore, Isaac served a term as sheriff. It was during his time as Sheriff, that the family
experienced a real need for clothing. Isaac said as usual that the way would be opened. Two of their
cows had been lost for two or three years while being turned out on the range. One day a neighbor sent
a little boy running to tell Isaac his cow was being driven off in a herd that had been sold, and to hurry
over to the stock corrals before they got away. Isaac was the sheriff at this time. He told the driver not
to take that cow. The man said he had bought it, but Isaac said, "You leave that cow and go back to the
man who sold it to you and get the money you paid for it." He proved to the man that it was his cow.
The man left and Isaac took his cow to the Bishop and said; "Here is a pretty, lost cow, take it before I
use it." The bishop said, "But you need it." But I said, "I am owing tithing so take the cow." Then very
soon afterwards he found the other missing cow. He took this cow and sold her then gave the money to
Asenath and said for her to buy what she needed. She asked him to go and do the buying as he did
shopping so well. Isaac felt that he would not have found the second cow had he not paid the first cow
for tithing. After Isaac gave the cow for tithing and sold the other for money to buy clothes, the children
don't remember of ever being without the clothes they needed.

Isaac was a good violinist, and although he was always busy, he often played for dances. He played the
same fiddle he brought across the plains with him. After his days work he would get out his fiddle and
play while the children danced around his knees and had great sport. When he had grandchildren one
(Lucy Esplin) remembers, "One time Uncle Isaac, his son, played the violin while Grandpa and Grandma
danced together. They danced so beautiful and graceful that I shall never forget it. If there was a prize
for dancing she could have won it - (by placing a glass of water on her head, it wouldn't have spilt.)

He always welcomed people who came to visit him, and had a good story or joke to tell and a treat for
them. The treat was often flowers, vegetables, or fruits from his gardens or orchards.

The people of Fillmore were called upon to practice the United Order by assigning all their earthly
possessions to the Church. Isaac was willing, among others to do as the leaders had asked. Following is a
copy of a paper assigning his belonging to the Order, it is signed by Isaac V. Carling.

 
“Be it known by these present that I Isaac V. Carling of Fillmore City in the County of Millard and the
Territory of Utah, for, and in consideration, of the good will which I have for the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, give and convey unto Brigham Young, Trustee in Trust for the said church, his
successors in office, and assign all my claims to and ownership of the following described property to
wit: (Then follows a description of all his property, home, ten acres of farming land, a yoke of oxen, two
cows, one calf, one pig, household furniture, twelve bushels of wheat, six bushels of corn, four more
acres of land, and the evaluation of each, amounting to a total of $441.00) together with all rights,
privileges and appurtenances thereunto, belonging or appertaining. I also covenant and agree that I am
the lawful claimant and owner of said property, and will warrant and forever defend the same unto the
said trustee in trust, his successor in office, and assigns, against the claims of my heir, assigns, or any
person whomsoever.

Signed: Isaac. V. Carling

Witnesses -John Lovell, George, W. Catlin, Peter, Robison

TERRITORY OF UTAH -COUNTY OF MILLARD

I Thomas R. King, Probate Judge of Millard County, certify that the signer of the above transfer is
personally known to me, appeared this 17th day of April AD 1855 and acknowledged that he of his own
choice executed the forgoing transfer.

Signed: Thomas R. King, Probate Judge

The United Order did not last long at this time as the saints were experiencing a lack of spiritual strength
among themselves.

Isaac and his family made their home in Fillmore for upwards of twenty five years. On the 10th of March
1869 the Millard Stake was organized. President Brigham Young instructed the people of Fillmore how
to run a Co-operative store. He also told them to "cease tattling, have confidence in one another,
compute the money used break the word of wisdom and give that amount to the Perpetual Immigration
Fund."

In the winter of 1873-74, at St. George, Utah, Brigham Young, Orson Pratt and other L.D.S. Church
Leaders perfected a religious-economic order that was called, "The United Order of Zion." This was
Brigham Young's plan of overcoming the depression following the panic of 1873. The principles of this
order were proclaimed by Orson Pratt at the April conference, 1874.
Brigham Young on his way to Salt Lake City from St. George, organized the people in the various
settlements into the United Order. Said he: "Our object is to labor for the benefit of the whole; to
retrench in our expenditures, to be prudent and economical, to study well the necessities of the
community and to pass by its many useless wants, to study, to secure life, health, wealth and union."
Isaac viewed with interest the attempt at communal living underway at several localities and greatly
desired to join in the venture. He asked permission to join, and received it.

Isaac Vanwagoner and wives believed in living according to the gospel teachings and obeying all it's
commandments, they trained their children accordingly. So, when the Church again advised its members
to live in the United Order, and there were several of the settlements organized and attempting to obey
instructions, Isaac and Asenath wished to comply with this command or law of the Church. He visited
Orderville and found many dear friends who cordially invited the family to join them in this new way of
life, so they decided to move to Orderville, in Kane County, Utah.

About this time, Isaac V. Carling received another patriarchal blessing from Patriarch John L. Smith in
Fillmore.

A blessing by Patriarch John Smith upon head Isaac of Isaac V. Carling

son of John Carling & Emeline Keaton

23 April 1876

Brother Isaac: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth I place my hands upon thy head and agreeable to
thy request I seal upon thee a Patriarchal Blessing. Thy guardian angel hath watched over thee and
preserved thy life when dangers hath surrounded thee on every hand. Thou hast been greatly blessed
for thy prayers have been answered and the Lord will continue to grant thy prayers unto thee to thy
hearts content. Thy wives and children even a mighty host in Israel shall seek unto thee for counsel and
advice which shall ever be wise, for thy wisdom shall be unexcelled and thy power in the priesthood
unsurpassed and thy joy and happiness without end, and in thy habitations no lack. All former gifts and
blessings I renew upon thee with normal lives and every desire of thine in righteousness. Thou hast not
coveted riches but thou shalt have an abundance, have power in the priesthood to drive the destroyer
from thy habitations whithersoever thou wilt. Prophets and Prophetesses from thy household that shall
be mighty in assisting thee to redeem thy dead and link the chain together back to the days of Adam.
Riches honors, immortality and all thou canst desire in righteousness shall be thine. Brother Isaac, for
thy comfort, thy sins are forgiven thee, continue faithful and thy reward shall be sure for thou shalt
triumph and overcome all thine enemies.
In the name of Jesus thy Redeemer, Amen.

J. L. Smith recorder Vol 174, Pages 308-9

            Asenath and her family began preparing to move to a new home. It was a busy but exciting time,
not without some sadness of leaving old friends and being even farther away from her folks in Salt Lake
City and Ogden, Utah. But their feelings were mingled with joy, work and excitement of going to a new
place and pattern of living.

So Isaac and Asenath sold their home in Fillmore and August 4, 1876 found them on their way with their
large family. Three covered wagons rolled slowly southward from Fillmore, Utah, destination Orderville.
How thrilled the children were with the move. They had heard so much about it and their parents
teachings seemed to sink into their souls. They were very happy to go, and all were eager to do as they
were instructed by the authorities of the Church. The wagons carried John Henry age 15, Ellen Elvira 12,
Lydia May 10, and Jesse Hobson 7, all children of the second wife, Miriam Hobson, who had passed
away. The wagon carried also his first wife Asenath Browning, and her children, Sarah Elizabeth 20,
Asenath Emeline, 18, Ann 17, Laura Melvina 16, (Olive had passed away), Catherine Aurelia 11. Martha
Jane 9, Phoebe Malinda 6. Isaac Vanwagoner 3, Mary Alice 2, (she died four years later), and Miriam
Eliza age 1. Barbara Amelia was born two years after they arrived in Orderville.

The wagons also housed other precious possessions in addition to the necessary food, clothing and
bedding; a turning lathe, shop and carpenter tools, including a scroll saw; a violin and melodeon (which
he bought from President Partridge), rootstocks, flower and vegetable seeds of all kinds which the
children later counted out for distribution or sale; books, picture postcards, trinkets and keepsakes.

To give our readers an idea of the kind of life they were anticipating in Orderville and in the United
Order, an account of the workings of the United Order is included here.

The United Order

In the United Order they had all things in common, all shared alike, The Carling's teams, wagons and all
were turned into the United Order.

Taken from Utah Historical Quarterly, Vol. 7, No.4 - October 1939 and from other sources:
The principle of the United Order as understood by the people who lived and prospered under it at
Orderville was stated by Joseph Smith briefly as follows: "All people are literally sons and daughters of
God. The earth is His and all that it contains. He created it and all its fullness for His children and all,
provided they keep His commandments, are entitled to the blessings of the earth. Each person is simply
a steward and not owners of property that he has in his charge and is obliged to use it and his time,
strength and talents for the good of all.

To obtain membership in the Order, applicants were required to satisfactorily answer the following
questions:

1.   What is your object in seeking to unite yourself with this Company? Do you believe the Lord requires
you to take this course?

2.   Have you a family? If so what is the number? Are they one with you without exception in the course
you wish to take? What is your present situation in regard to food and clothing? Do you train your family
in the fear of the Lord? Do they seem to practice your teaching and walk according to your example?

3.   Are you in debt, or is there any person or persons that claim to have any pretext for claim against
you or yours? If so, what is the nature of the pretext or the amount of your indebtedness?

4.    Is there any encumbrance on any piece of property which you have in your possession?

5.   Are you willing for yourself and all you possess to be governed and controlled by the Board of
Management, or any person or persons authorized for them to act?

6.   Do you think that you could come and make your permanent home with this company of people,
and if necessary, put up with all the inconveniences that order members had and have without
murmuring or fault finding or become dissatisfied and wishing to withdraw from the company and
there-by putting the company to unnecessary trouble and inconveniences?

7.   Are you willing to practice economy in all the points and bearings, and try to content yourself
although you may think that your trials are hard at times?

8.   Do you use tobacco, tea, or coffee, or indulge in drinking intoxicating drinks?

9.   Are you in the habit of stealing or taking that which does not belong to you personally?

10. Are you in the habit of lying or backbiting, or slandering your brethren or sisters?

11. Are you in the habit of swearing or using profane oaths or taking the name of the Lord in vain?

12. Are you in the habit of using vulgar or obscene jests or conduct?

13. Are you in the habit of quarreling? If so, will you cease from this?

14. Are you in the habit of giving way to bad temper and abusing dumb animals? If so, will you cease
from such conduct?

15. Will you take a course when you find a brother or a sister out of temper to maintain the peace by
saying nothing to aggravate, and silently walk away if he or she shall not cease?

16. Are you willing to work the same as the rest of the company according to your strength and ability
and for the same recompense as your peers?

17. Are you willing to be subject to those who are placed over you and do as you are told cheerfully and
not sullenly?

18. Are you willing to conform to the general rule of eating your food in company with the rest of your
brothers and sisters?

19. Will you be diligent in trying to conform to the rules of good order in all things and not appropriated
to your use or the use of the company any tool or implement of husbandry or any kind of produce
without first obtaining the permission to do so from persons having charge of such tools, implements,
produce or other property?

20. Will you try to the best of your ability to maintain the peace and prosperity of this Order and as
much as lies in your power, deal honestly, impartially and justly in all transactions you may be called
upon to perform from time to time?

The following rules of order were also drafted:

1.  We will not take the name of Deity in vain, nor speak lightly of His character, nor of sacred things.

2.  We will pray with our families morning and evening and will attend to our secret prayers.

3.  We will observe and keep the Word of Wisdom according to the spirit and meaning thereof.

4.  We will treat our families with due kindness and affection and set before them an example worthy of
imitation. We will refrain from being covetous and quarrelsome, and we will cease to speak evil of each
other. We will cultivate a spirit of charity toward all. We consider it our duty to keep from acting selfish
or from covetous motives.

5.  We will observe personal cleanliness, and preserve ourselves in all chastity.

6.  We will observe the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.

7.  That which we borrow we will return according to promise, and that which we find we will not
appropriate to our own use, but seek to return it to its proper owner.
9.  We will as soon as possible seek to cancel all individual indebtedness contracted prior to our uniting
with the Order; when once fully identified with the Order we will contract no debts contrary to the
wishes of the Board of Directors.

10. In our apparel and deportment we will not pattern after or encourage foolish and extravagant
fashions and will cease to buy or import from abroad any articles that can be reasonably dispensed with
or which can be produced by combination of home labor. We will foster and encourage the production
and manufacture of all articles needed which are needful for our own consumption as fast as
circumstances will permit.

11. We will combine our labors for mutual benefit, sustain with our faith, prayers, and works those
whom we have elected to take the management of the different departments of the Order and be
subject to them in their official capacity, refraining from a spirit of faultfinding.

12. We will mutually agree that one tenth of the yearly increase of our capital and one tenth of our labor
shall be paid annually into the Lords storehouse for tithing.

13. We will honestly and diligently labor and devote ourselves and all we have to the Order and to the
building up of the Kingdom of God.

14. We the undersigned mutually agree of our free will and accord that one tenth of the yearly increase
of our capitol stock and one tenth of our labor shall be paid annually into the storehouse as tithing to be
used by the Board of Management or others empowered by them.

The United Order was brought about by the scripture, "Except ye are one, ye are not mine." There were
no individual property holdings; everything belonged to the group. The people had been on the move
for years. They were glad to work together for the common good of all. By working as a unit all together
they were able to increase their property value immensely, also their social spiritual and educational
values were increased accordingly.

For the first seven years of operation the only stock certificates issued were for material turned into the
Order. At the end of each year if a man or family were in the red, their debts were forgiven them by the
order of the Board of Directors. If they had earned more than they were charged with, they signed their
credit over to the United Order. This process succeeded in making the United Order wealthy. At the end
of the seven years the stock was worth 100 to 1.

In 1865 groups of Saints had been "Called" to colonize the Muddy River region in Southern Nevada. The
attempt proved not exceptionally successful and in 1870 the "Muddy Mission" was terminated. When
the Nevada Colonists were given a choice of returning to their former homes in Northern Utah or
settling in Long Valley in the southern part of the state, a majority, about 350, chose the latter course
and early in 1871 established homes at Mt. Carmel.

The first settlers of Mt. Carmel who were grazers and had been driven out by the Indians in 1868,
returned and claimed some of the real estate by right use. These people were not members of the
United Order. An organization was set up at Mt. Carmel on March 20, 1874. President Brigham Young
appointed John R. Young to conduct a meeting at one o'clock at Mt. Carmel to establish the United
Order. Conflicts arose immediately. With part of the community bound to the order and part free, it was
found that harmonious relations were impossible. The result was that early in 1875 those affiliated with
the Order withdrew to establish a colony of their own three miles farther up the river.

Logs for building were cut in the mountains and hauled to the site by ox teams and following the
erection of a few cabins and a community dining hall, Bateman Williams became the first to move his
family to the new quarters. Second to come were the Thomas Chamberlains. (Thomas Chamberlain later
married two of Isaac Van Wagoner's daughters, Ellen and Ann Carling) and within a short while, 20
families had taken up residence in the new settlement, originally christened Order City, it would later be
known as Orderville.

One of the first business transactions was the purchase of a piece of farm land from John Harris of
Glendale. Later John H. Esplin used his homestead right to acquire additional acreage which he turned
over to the order. With approach of the first harvest the colonists invested in a reaper and threshing
machine, and the first day following its arrival, saw six acres of wheat passed through its flashing blades.

More than 100 additional acres, situated south of the Virgin River, were subsequently purchased by the
Colony for the growing of cotton, to be processed at the Washington factory. Zemira Palmer was sent to
oversee the "Cotton Farm" as it was known and young folks of the colony were stuck with the not too
pleasant task of gathering the bolls.

By the close of it's first year-1875-0rderville had a population of 120 persons. By 1878 this number had
increased to 600 all members of the United Order, and the town was recognized as one of Southern
Utah's most prosperous centers.

Enclosing a hollow square were a large number of neat cabins, constructed mainly of logs or whipsawed
lumber, although adobe was fast coming into favor as a building material. Interiors were whitewashed
with lime from the colony kiln; locally molded tallow candles provided light and rag carpets covered the
floors.

In a few short years they acquired practically every spot of ground of financial value in the southern part
of the state. Listed are a few: Part interest in a church-owned cotton mill and control of the cotton fields
in Washington west of Orderville, grazing and water rights on the Arizona Strip from St. George to
Tropic, Utah; summer dairies at Castle Ranch, North Fork and Currant Canyon; fruit processing plant at
Toquerville, where raisins and other fruit were dried, and Dixie wine made; fruit ranch and molasses
production at Moccasin, Arizona; livestock holdings, including hundreds of cattle and sheep in House
Rock and the Kaibab Mountain, Towepe, Clayholes Wash, Bull Rush, and Pipe Springs; grazing privileges
for sheep and horses all over the Cedar Mountains, lumber mills, grist mills, carpenter shops, blacksmith
shops, tannery, shoe shops, truck garden, and very fertile fields near town.

Probably no town in Utah has a more colorful history than the small town near the southern boundary
named Orderville, because of the way of life there for a number of years. It is not distinguished because
of it's superior location, Orderville was founded by a people who were endeavoring to carry out the
principles of practical Christianity more perfectly in spiritual matters, in temporal matters than any other
community belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ernest men dedicated their lives,
property and sacred honor to the furtherance of practical Christianity. The earth was considered the
property of the Lord, and the people of earth but temporary stewards over its bounties. Membership in
the order precluded all private ownership

and surplus production not required for immediate family use, was dedicated the Church for benefit of
the poor.

Centering the square was a large community dining hall, kitchen and bakery, the hall also being used for
social gatherings, dances and religious meetings. Close by was the post office and a branch office of the
Deseret Telegraph, and just beyond the square was the utility area including blacksmith and tin shop,
cabinet and cooperage works, tailor shop, shoe shop, tannery and sugar cane mill. Stables lay against
the hill to the rear and spreading green along the creek were 20 acres of orchard and garden. Beginning
in 1881 the town even boasted a night school taught by E.M. Webb.

In the dining hall, six women and one man, to do the heavy lifting of sacks of flour, water and
vegetables, prepared the meals for all. This job was done on a rotating schedule so all had a turn.
Intervening weeks gave ladies time for home and community work. Everyone ate at the same tables,
served by twelve capable waitresses, also rotated by schedule. This released dozens of women folks to
weave cloth, make quilts and carpets, and care for the small children. The waitresses served in the
dining room. They set three long tables, received the food as it was passed through a slide from the
kitchen, helped to pass it during the meal, then cleared away the dishes when the meal was over and
passed them into the kitchen for dish washers. On busy days three senior waitresses helped with the
dishes. There were no table clothes so the tables were thoroughly scrubbed after each meal. The dining
room floor was scrubbed twice a week and benches when needed. Soap was too scarce to be used for
such cleaning purposes. White sand from certain places in the foothills was brought in for cleaning
purposes. It really cleaned better than soap. Sometimes it was sprinkled on the floor and left a day or
two. When it was swept up the floor was clean except for a few spots that needed extra attention.

On Saturdays the junior waitresses scoured the knives, forks and spoons. The three junior waitresses in
each shift were eleven and twelve year old girls. Each worked with an older girl and close friendships
developed between them. They like the cooks served a week then did other kinds of work until their
next turn.

They used large brick ovens outside, baking dozens of loaves of bread at once or large quantities of
squash, potatoes, meat, and occasionally pies, cakes and puddings baked there.

They had three large boilers in which vegetables were cooked and gravy was made. Three bushels of
potatoes cooked in these utensils. One whole boiler of hominy for supper. An ounce of butter was
allowed each person every other day. The butter was shaped in molds marking the ounces.
Menfolks worked ten hours per day. When night came they pulled their teams from the fields to the
town square. Some appointed boys took over, cared for the horses, fed and watered them and put them
away for the night. They also milked the cows. Each had his appointed task and when it was done, there
was ample time for community recreation, play, sports, and study. It was an ideal way of life, and was
enjoyed by an ideal type of people. It was well lived and to this day has left its mark of character on the
descendants of the Orderville United Order.

All men were credited the same wages, this was $1.50 a day for skilled or common labor, for old or
young. These credits were transferable for stipulated amounts of imported and home-made goods. In
the event that any unused credits remained in a family's account at close of the year, they were
automatically canceled, as were the debts of those less fortunate and everyone started the new year
with a clean slate. Boys eleven to twelve received a credit of .75 cents per day and girls from ten to
thirteen received credit of .25. Girls under ten were awarded 12.5 cents per day. The working days were
long, beginning soon after the 5:00 a.m. bugle call. The amount charged on the books for board
averaged about $50.00 a year. A man was allowed $17.50 for clothing per year, a woman was allowed
$16.50 allowance and for children clothing appropriately less. For work a span of horses, credit of .75
cents a day was given; for a yoke of oxen the amount of .60 cents. Lumber was valued at $1.50 per one
hundred feet. Milk .15 cents a gallon, cheese .10 cents a pound and wool .15 cents a pound.

When the Order was running at its best with a woolen factory, a shoe factory, a tannery, a cabinet shop,
a bucket factory, a grist mill, a bakery, a blacksmith shop, several dairies, cattle and sheep on fine range
land and all contributing to the united independent living of the people they felt they had an ideal life.

Parents were with their children, and all work and play were properly supervised. They educated their
own children and financed their own school system. They mingled freely together, worked together,
worshipped together for the common good of all, thus making uniform their social, educational and
religious levels.

The school house was one of the first buildings built, and the best teachers obtainable were employed.
Karl G. Maeser President of the Brigham Young Academy visited Orderville in 1882 and said the school
was the best equipped in the southern part of the state.

The summer of 1881 saw the colony's purchase of a steam sawmill; and with lumber from this mill was
constructed the Order's most important enterprise, a water-powered woolen factory situated in the
canyon six miles above Orderville. Thomas McClellan, an experienced millman from Panguitch, was
appointed as overseer. Four or five looms were delegated to the weaving of blankets; to other looms fell
the task of manufacturing cloth. For general use the people of Orderville favored "linsey" -a mixture of
cotton and wool, and only the better garments, such as the women's wedding dresses, were made of
pure wool.

Prior to its weaving, the woolen yarn was dyed in a variety of colors. To impart red, madder root was
used. Rabbit bush, set with alum, gave yellow; black was obtained by using logwood set with copperas; a
reddish-brown hue was derived strawberry bush, and blue was obtained through the use of lump indigo.
The hard work of washing, carding, spinning of wool, weaving, dying yarn and cloth, sewing, knitting,
tailoring, all this was arduous toil for the women. Factory employees lived near the mill in crude shanties
built of willows woven over pole frameworks and roofed with other poles and piled earth. Even in this
struggling frontier community, recalled Mrs. Mary E. Chamberlain, pioneer settler, "Man was not asked
to live by bread alone and beautification of wearing apparel was not only permitted but encouraged."

The general feeling the young people had for "boughten" articles was tremendous. (See story of "The
Pants Rebellion" in history of John Henry Carling). Store goods were divided by a committee and carried
to each family by boys and girls appointed for the purpose. To carry those "store goods" to the different
homes was a delightful privilege. The figured calicos in various colors and designs, gingham and
unbleached domestics for underwear and bedding seemed so sheer compared to the coarse home-
spun! And the shiny buttons, the neatly folded papers of pins and cases of needles, the spools of thread,
and best of all the store smell that went with the articles! To be permitted to help in this distribution
threw the children into heights of ecstasy.

As Orderville's "share the wealth policy" was ideally suited to men with plural wives and large families,
the town attracted far more than its normal share of polygamous marriages. In direct ratio it
experienced far more than its normal share of harassment by U.S. deputy marshals.

When government "polyg hunters" were known to be in Southern Utah, it was Orderville's custom to
station a sentry on a hill above town; this momentous but important post commonly falling to Henry
Chamberlain, then a young boy. Perching on the hilltop, day after day, the youngster would range his
eyes over the landscape in search of possible travelers. Everyone who neared the town, either by saddle
or wheel, immediately became an object of suspicion to young Henry, who thereupon would warn the
workers by waving a signal flag in the direction whence came the traveler. Even hay loads were duly
reported, as zealous deputies had been known to use even this lowly method of approaching their
quarry unobserved. With the lad's signal, all "wanted" men would flee for safety, oftentimes to a secret
room which had been incorporated into the attic during construction of the woolen factory.
Approaching roads, fortunately were far less heavily traveled in the 1880's than today, otherwise
Orderville's crops would scarcely have been harvested in time for the next planting.

After prolonged employment as a sentry, it was decided that Henry deserved a one-day vacation and
another boy was assigned to the post during his absence. It was on this fateful day that the deputies
slipped into town unobserved and arrested John Covington and Thomas Chamberlain (these were both
sons-in-law of Isaac V. Carling). Both were convicted of plural marriage and sentenced to terms in the
Utah State Penitentiary. John Covington served six months and paid a fine of $5.00. Mary E. Carling said,
that when they took these men to the pen, they were playing on their violins, "The Girl I Left Behind
Me." The "Deps" were shocked! (As both John Covington

and Thomas Chamberlain both played the fiddle, Isaac, V. said, the devil had a grudge against him and
paid him off with two "fiddling" sons-in-law.) Once when these men were hiding in the willows near the
creek, one of the marshals came so near Brother Covington that he thought it was Brother Chamberlain
moving about and was on the point of speaking when he saw it was one of the "Deps."

Brother Thomas Chamberlain had five wives. The first four wives lived in the "Big House" the house of
the leaders. When he was forty years old, he had forty children. One could never tell whose child
belonged to which wife, as the child needing care was given it by the first woman to see the need.

One time during a scare from the "Deps" Ann, Ellen and Chastie Chamberlain and May Covington with
their children took their beds and made them on the floor of the attic room of the factory. There wasn't
space enough in the "hiding room" in which to put their beds. They all slept in one large bed, that is the
children slept, it is doubtful if the mothers were calm enough to sleep much.

In some way one of the houses at the factory in which the Chamberlain family lived caught fire one
Sunday and burned. Sister Ann Chamberlain was on her way out of the house with a can of coal oil when
the flames cut off her way to the door. There was one other door where the fire had not yet reached but
it was locked and had been for sometime, and worse, the lock was jammed, so although they had tried,
no one had succeeded in unlocking it. Sister Ann went to the door and with a prayer for deliverance
tried to open the door and it opened at once and she was rescued from a terrible death by fire. Those
who were there saved everything they could.

***********

And so this was Orderville, and the Isaac Van Wagoner family fit right in upon arrival. Soon after they
were settled in Orderville Isaac V. was called to the Bishopric on 5 August 1877, first counselor to Bishop
Thomas Chamberlain and served for five years. He was released in 1883. He was also on the board of
directors for the United Order; first Vice President to Thomas Chamberlain. Thomas Chamberlain was
later Stake President. Politically, Orderville was governed by a board of directors and was divided into
eight working companies with a foreman over each.

There was always much need for Isaac's skilled work. He could make all kinds of furniture. He was very
good at turning the lathe. He did a great deal of scroll sawing. He was foreman of the carpenter shop
where all kinds of furniture was made, chairs, tables, desks, cupboards, cradles, bedsteads, dressers and
rocking chairs. He also ran the paint shop. He did a great deal of fancy scroll sawing, fancy trimming on
houses and furniture. He made a stand and sacrament table. He helped build the meeting house which
required a lot of scroll sawing. He and his sons Jesse and Isaac built the Co-op store in Orderville. He
could build a house from the foundation to the very top.

He made all sorts of tin-ware, milk pans, drippers, cups and tin plates. He made copper kettles, helped
make barrels, tubs and buckets and dash churns and rolling pins of cedar wood. He made trunks of all
kinds.

A granddaughter, Elda P. Mortensen, tells how Isaac made toys for his grandchildren but he had not
made anything for her. She said. "I had not felt slighted, but wanted something he made ever so badly.
One day I expressed myself to mother, wondering why grandfather had never made anything for me.
She said of course he had! But each little thing she mentioned that he had brought into our home had
been for one of the older children, or even the younger ones--(grandchildren) and she said, "I guess
you're right, but you mustn't feel bad, for he has so many to make for that he hain't realized that you
ain't had one." I could see he surely couldn't have time for me. But one day soon after that he said,
"Well, now let's see,--you're getting to be a big girl (and I was! for 9 or 10) --I think I'd like to make
something nice for you that you can keep to use instead of to play with." All a-flutter I asked what. But
he smiled and told me he thought I would like what he had in mind. It was the thrill of my whole
childhood when he came home one night carrying a little brown trunk on his shoulder! For Me!!! A trunk
that was large enough for all my little personal belongings, and, even my meager trousseau linens later
found room there. I still have it and cherish it greatly. To me it has always been a witness that
Grandfather Isaac V. would never knowingly hurt or slight "one of these little ones."

It seemed that there were no others that could do the work with the skill he did it. People from all
around preferred his work to others. He made fancy newel posts and railings. He made weaving looms,
spinning wheels, picture frames. He made watches and clocks and jewelry, rings, and broaches, he
melted silver coins and ran the liquid metal into molds. On some he put sets. When they were polished
they were beautiful. He made wash boards and brooms and many, many caskets. He also invented many
things to help run the Order including an invention to grind old potatoes to make starch. They used
starch to make puddings, and many other things.

Entertainment

A martial Band organized very early in Orderville came to be the best equipped and trained band in
Southern Utah and helped make holidays such as Christmas, May Day, the Fourth of July and Twenty
Fourth of July memorable occasions.

Christmas was an especially wonderful time for the residents and brought forth much ingenuity and
artistry. For weeks before Christmas the men in the cabinet shop were busy making toys, wagons,
tables, cupboards, doll cradles, tops and the like. Isaac V. Carling made many artistic articles including
wooden heads for dolls, their faces painted on and hair from pieces of animal skins made them very
attractive. The women made rag bodies, stuffed them with wool or sawdust to which the heads were
attached. They dressed the dolls from scraps from suits and mother hubbard dresses made in the
tailoring shop.

Isaac V. made dolls from plaster of paris, a white rock they got in the hills. They ground it up like white
flour and burned it good in an iron kettle then mixed it in a little water or milk and put it into doll molds.
Isaac also made the doll molds. He took a doll head, put it in a box and poured warm beeswax all around
it. When it cooled, he cut through the beeswax and it came off the doll head and the shape of the dolls
head was made in the beeswax. He then put the wax mold together leaving a little hole in the neck then
poured it full of plaster paris. While the plaster of paris was wet he inserted a nail in the neck part to
handle it with when it was set. It soon set. The beeswax mold then was taken off and there was a nice
doll head. The eyes and hair could then be painted on. The bodies were then made of cloth, stuffed and
attached to the head. The children surely enjoyed those dolls!

The women also made children's clothing at Christmas time. Many small overcoats were made more
attractive with collars and cuffs of wolf or coyote skins. There were busy hours spent knitting mufflers,
stockings, mittens, wristlets. The women also made straw hats for men and boys and for women and
girls in addition to the calico sunbonnets. All this was arduous toil for the women.

Honey candy and molasses candy, parched buttered sweet corn, pinenuts purchased from the Indians,
made Christmas treats as well as molasses cookies cut in shapes of Santa Claus, Christmas trees, birds,
stars and rabbits.

They had spelling bees, drama, dances and other types of entertainments. Young men paid the fiddler at
dances in "factory pay."

A Phil Robinson, an English Journalist in a book "Saints and Sinners," tells of a visit to Orderville in 1882
and gives some interesting impressions of the people. He says, "The men were stalwart and healthy,
that many of the women had refined faces, that the children were chubby and happy." He tells of
attending a meeting and notes that "The singing was good." He says: "The scene was as curious as
anything I have witnessed in any part of the world. The audience was almost equally composed of men
and women, the latter, most of them wearing their cloth sun-bonnets and bringing with them the babies
they were nursing. Through the proceedings the babies were contentedly being passed from mother to
neighbor and back from neighbor to mother. Others were being tossed up and down with the jerky
perpendicular motion which seems so soothing to our very young, but which reminded me of the
popping up and down of the hammer when the lid of a piano is lifted during a performance. The
apparent indifference of the men struck me as very curious, for I came from a country where one baby
will plunge a whole congregation into profanity and where it is generally supposed that two crying
together would empty heaven.

"Self-supporting and well directed, therefore the Orderville 'Communists' bid fair to prove to the world
that pious enthusiasm if largely tempered with business judgment can make a success of an experiment
which has hitherto baffled all attempts based upon either one or the other alone."

Mr. Robinson was interested in attempts at education in remote little Orderville. He says, "Among the
buildings the more interesting to me were those used for school. They were fairly well provided with
educational apparatus such as the rudimentary museums, where the commencement of collection of
the natural curiosities of the neighborhood is displayed. What this may prove unto when science has
had the chance of exploring the surrounding hills and canyon, it is hard to say for nature has favored
Orderville profusely with fossil strata and mineral eccentricities, a rich variety of bird and insect life and
a prodigious botanical luxuriance. Almost for the first time in my travels, too I found a very intelligent
interest taken in the natural history of the locality; but the absence of books, and of necessary
apparatus, as yet prevents the brethren from carrying on their studies and experiments to any standard
of scientific value." End of Quote.

Early Doctors and Medicines

The residents of Orderville during the period when the United Order was in operation and later lived
hygienically and were an unusually healthy community. Their food was wholesome and they ate
regularly, (children could not piece and be finicky about what they had to eat) all had plenty of exercise
and did not worry about losing their jobs. They had a purpose in life. Aside from a few epidemics among
children there was little sickness. In case of serious illnesses they had a faith in the Lord's healing power
and employed the church ordinance of calling in the Elders who, with the use of consecrated olive oil,
administered to the sick in a special prayer for the recovery the sufferers if it be the Father's will.

The early doctors in Utah were in the main, herb doctors, but many of them also believed in
"Administration." Orderville had one of the finest early doctors in pioneer times, Doctor Pridy Meeks. He
doctored with faith and with his tried remedies. He said, "I studied much to know what was my duty to
God and mankind and myself and family." Among his medicines were cayenne pepper, ginger, lobelia,
horseradish, cinnamon, horehound, tansy, catnip, penny royal, goldenseal and others, properly
administered. He healed many that other doctors had given up on.

**************

There was no room in Isaac's generous, charitable soul for selfishness. He had been a gunsmith but now
he planted orchards, gardens, vineyards, vines and flowers. He was a great lover of flowers. Wherever
he lived you could be sure of a profusion of flowers and shrubs. He raised garden seeds and flower
seeds. People came from St. George, Panguitch and other places to buy his garden seed. His children
remember sitting many nights until late hours making little paper bags in which to put the seeds for
marketing. He loved to dabble in horticulture; often obtaining great success in budding and grafting
numerous varieties of fruit on a single tree. A granddaughter remembers one tree that had peaches on
one side of the tree and plums on the other side. He also taught plant culture.

When a boy in Nauvoo he learned to embroider so well that he made many dollars after he was married
by making house slippers from buckskin which he tanned himself. He embroidered bunches of flowers
on the front and sold them when he had no other way to bring in money.

He loved art. He was a natural born artist. Isaac taught a class in drawing and also painting. In his school
they did chiefly drawings and paintings. It was all very informal. They sat at a table in his home and did
the tasks he set for them, then the work was compared and they were shown how it could be improved.
He also organized a night school. Those who desired could attend gratis, this was considered an
opportunity. This man was a genius. Decorative articles made by him were in almost every home.

He pointed out the beauties of nature. He had a field glass and microscope and would have the children
look at the moon and stars, also flowers and examine the rocks and the beautiful frost crystals and
snowflakes through this glass. It was very interesting and educational to the children. There are so many
beautiful things in nature which one is apt to pass by unless someone points them out.

Isaac was never so busy that he couldn't go visit his married children there in Orderville. He would get
up early in the morning during the summer time, go out into his garden to find some vegetables or fruits
to take to his children to help them out, and go see how they were getting along. He raised grapes,
melons, apples, cherries, plums and tomatoes all the best and sweetest.

He was such a faithful man, always attended church, and obeyed the counsel of the authorities. The
family was very obedient, humble and prayerful. He was always a very religious man. Back of his home
in Orderville near a hillside there was a large rock which he went back of every morning for secret
prayer. There was a path which he always took to go there. Sometimes little squirrels came out to greet
him. His love and respect for the Prophet Joseph Smith was a very real thing, as he would tell his
grandchildren how well he remembered him as a boy in Nauvoo. He always took the Deseret News and
kept in touch with the times.

Isaac V. Carling was honest, trustworthy, honorable, no deceit about him. The grandchildren loved to sit
on benches under the grape arbor on a hot summer day. They said, "Grandpa's patience with us had no
end - it was because he had such a deep love for children." One old man, a life long friend of Isaac V.
made this remark about him. "I would be willing to trust Brother Carling with uncounted millions of
money." He seemed to have the full confidence of all who had dealings with him. He was loved by all
who knew him. He was never heard to speak an untruth nor misrepresent anybody or anything. In the
mind of the writer, "There never existed a truer man than he." He told his children "Always do all the
good that you can, and as little harm as possible." Some of his other saying were: "A thing worth doing
at all is worth doing well, is a very good rule as many can tell" "A stitch in time saves nine." "Early to bed
and early to rise, make a man healthy, wealthy and wise." "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again."
"Sing at your work." "Haste makes waste." "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today."

He taught his children to love God, not fear Him. He was a true and faithful man. He always called his
family together night and morning for family prayers, and to sing beautiful songs. He was a man of
GREAT faith. When he was in need of anything he would call his family together, in fasting and prayer,
and their prayers were always answered.
He donated liberally to the building of the St. George temple and also the Salt Lake temple.

In Orderville, the ward choir members met at Isaac's home to practice. They sat around a large fall-leaf
kitchen table with their song books on the table and a coaloil lamp in the center of the table for light,
the best light they had in those days. The grandchildren enjoyed listening to their singing; all the family
were good singers.

Isaac V. experimented with dry farming in the Cove, raising crops, vegetable and grains without
irrigation. He had been farming along with many kinds of other necessary work but at that time there
was much good land lying idle because it was too high to get water to it, or there was not enough water
available for it, so he determined to try experimenting to see if he could grow crops on this vacant land
without irrigation. He fenced a small plot on a hillside, prepared the ground well for the seed, then
planted some wheat. He gave it good care, kept weeds out. He did not have the success that he had
hoped for but enough encouragement to try again the next year. He kept on trying and experimenting
for several years and finally succeeded in raising a medium good crop. Some people when they first
heard of his efforts in this plan, said of him, "There's Brother Carling trying to raise crops without
irrigation. As intelligent a man as he is wasting his time in that way, he must be crazy." But after he
succeeded in harvesting a good crop of wheat without irrigation, and the news spread, then the talk was
of a different strain and there was a rush by men to take possession of every acre of waste land that
could be cultivated, even on the hilltops and sides where they were not too steep to cultivate. So
farming was increased in a great measure from that time on. His dry-land seed wheat was used for
seeding the dryland farms in the north of Utah and all over the country. It is believed that the
Agriculture College at Logan was experimenting with this project of dry farming at about the same time
Isaac V. was doing his experimenting, if so Isaac V. had heard nothing of it. Maybe they had heard of his
success before they tried it, it is not known.

Along with all his other talents, Isaac wrote poetry. Following are some verses composed by Isaac V.
Carling for his 79th birthday

In 1831 down near the sea, came a little boy they said was “me.”

Now that little boy has traveled far, through years of peace and times of war,

And traveled the continent almost o'er, worked many years, but can work no

more.

I have worked in the shops and in the fields, I have built houses and made

spinning wheels,

I have listened to the Prophet's word to prepare for war and use the sword.
I have been in the army under command; I have been in the battle; and played

in the band.

Another thing I must tell of too, Is the mob that drove us from Nauvoo.

Go we must, but knew not where -- They point their guns and curse, and swear.

Brigham Young was our guiding star, he led us to a better land by far,

Where there are no mobs our peace to mar.

I was hungry times, there in Winter Quarters, and there were many hungry sons

and daughters.

Well, - that time now has passed away. Since then we've seen some happy

days.

When we came to Nauvoo, we rode on ship and steamer 2000 mile.

When we came to Utah, we had to walk most all the while.

Well, tonight I am here, at the end of my 79th year.

And our family numbers 207 --

Part on earth and some in heaven. And I hope all that two hundred and seven,

Will follow that straight and narrow path that leads to Heaven.

United Order Discontinued

The United Order was lived longer in Orderville than most of the other places. One circumstance that
had a decided effect in dissolving the organization was the fact the Federal Government trying to stamp
out polygamy, was threatening to confiscate all Church property and even dissolve the Church. The
people had worked hard for the property they had accumulated and had no desire to have it taken away
from them by hostile government that was making life difficult by disturbing their family relations.

After counseling with the General Authorities, the First Presidency admired the spirit, the hard work of
the Orderville people who had made the project so successful, but by the middle 1880's it was realized
that Orderville might be prospering morally and spiritually, but politically it was going on the rocks. Men
who had entered the Order with the sincere intention of living it's precepts for the remainder of their
days found themselves like ships becalmed in a back eddy, while around them surged an uproarious
river of free enterprise.

Utah's silver camps were then booming and Saints outside the Order were profiting richly from that
boom--both through wages and sale of produce. Fashionably dressed in "store-bought" clothes with
money jingling in their pockets and good horses to ride, these "free" Saints were prone to ridicule the
folks of Orderville, still garbed in their crude straw hats, their homespun and clodhoppers.

The fact that Orderville controlled an inordinate amount of land and other property also led to jealousy
outside the group and eleven years after its inception Church officials at Salt Lake City advised
abandonment of the United Order at Orderville.

In 1884 when the abandonment of the system was certain, the town was surveyed and the people drew
lots applying their credit on the books for payment. The top price was $70.00 per lot. The following year
the fields were surveyed and sold to the stock holders, the men bidding on each piece of land. In 1889,
the remaining stock holders bought the livestock and ranches.

Officials of the Order had kept accurate record of each family's property turned in at the time of
affiliation and with sale at auction of the various chattels, the proceeds were divided accordingly. Last of
the sheep flock was sold in 1889 and abandonment of the prized woolen mill was made four years later.
By 1900 all assets had been liquidated and the books closed.

An outstanding celebration was held on the 14th of July 1900, the twenty fifth anniversary of the
founding of the United Order. Invitations were sent to all who had been in any way connected with the
Order and to as many of their descendants as could be located. The results were very satisfactory as
people came from many states for a three-day celebration. Many left Orderville after the Order was
through, going back to their former homes.

But for a few old pioneer journals, a few relics and official records in the archives of the Church all
evidence of the noble experiment is gone with the wind.

********

Asenath Elizabeth B. Carling passed away at Orderville, Utah on 3 January 1898, and Isaac V. was left
without his sweetheart but with many of his family around him. He stayed in Orderville. He kept his
place clean and everything in its place. He had a place built for all of his tools, machinery and things he
used. He had a wood-house where he kept all of the wood he hauled and he spent all his spare time in
sawing and splitting the wood, up to the time of his last illness, he said "He did it for exercise." Then he
would stack the wood neatly in the wood-house where his wife, before she passed away, and daughter
could have plenty of dry wood anytime they needed it as they depended entirely on wood in those days
for fuel and for cooking.

They didn't have any kind of cooling system in those days either so he built an underground cellar next
to their kitchen and rocked the sides, except for the doorway and put a board roof on it which he
covered with straw and dirt to keep it cool for storing milk, which was kept on shelves which hung from
the ceiling with wire. This prevented the mice from getting on the shelves and into the milk and food.
When the cream would rise to the top of the milk they would skim it off and churn it into butter, then
drink the milk. They had an 'up and down' churn which Isaac made and the grandchildren liked to help
churn the butter. The dirt floor in the cellar was kept sprinkled with water to keep it damp and cool in
the summer time. The steps from the cellar led into the kitchen. The cellar was used for storage of food
in the winter also. The foods kept in the cellar did not freeze during the winter.

Isaac V. built a fireplace in his home. It was the best drawing fireplace ever, it threw out a good amount
of heat and never smoked. He made everything as convenient for his family as he could.

Mary E. (Mamie) Neves (daughter of Isaac Van Wagoner Jr.) tells of this incident:

“We arrived in Orderville on Grandfather's birthday in 1910. He had been ill, and said he had had a
dream one night and that he had climbed a mountain where he could see into a beautiful valley on the
other side, but there was a high fence with all the bars down but two, and Grandmother Carling came
and told him he couldn't go through yet until those two bars were let down, then he awoke. When we
came he said that was the meaning of the dream. He said his time hadn't come yet until he saw us two
grandchildren.”

Isaac Vanwagoner Carling lived to be eighty years old. He died on 24 May 1911 at the home of his
daughter Laura Porter, in Orderville. Taken from the Kane County News, it states:

"Isaac Vanwagoner Carling died May 24, 1911 at 2 p.m. of kidney trouble. He had been ailing for some
time but kept on as usual at his work, expressing a determination that his life would end "worn out and
not rusted out." He was confined to his bed May 15th and suffered continuously until death. Five
daughters were with him in his last hours, the others being too far away to get there."

The funeral services were held May 25, 1911 at the Orderville meeting house. Much credit was due the
club who decorated the house so beautifully. Brother Carling's favorite flower, the Sego Lily, being the
main flower in decoration, the wreath on the casket was artificial Sego Lilies. The singing was very
appropriate. Two of the songs sung were "Sweet Friend of the Needy." to the tune of "Sweet Afton,"
and his favorite song: "Softly Beams the Sacred Dawning." Members of the choir were so emotionally
choked up that the singing took on an almost ethereal sound. The speakers were Fred W. Heaton, H.G.
Spencer, Bishop Hans Sorensen of Mt. Carmel, Alfred Meeks, David Esplin, Melvin Luke and Bishop
Henry W. Esplin. At the funeral services Bishop Henry W. Esplin said, "Brother Carling has been the
means of greatly increasing the wealth of the county by teaching the farmers to do dry-farming, as well
as all of his other good works. All spoke of the sterling qualities of the deceased; of his nine daughters
and two sons living.

I.V. Carling proved faithful to the end, always bearing a strong testimony to the youth of Zion. It was his
privilege and pleasure to meet and get acquainted with every president of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter..day Saints, from the Prophet Joseph Smith to Joseph F. Smith. He heard many prophecies. Both
his wives and five children passed on before him. He was the father of 16 children, 84 grandchildren, 63
great-grandchildren with a host of friends; also one brother and one sister.

The towns people and his descendants counseled with him and thousands today claim him as an
ancestor worthy of imitation. He was mild and cheerful in temperament, artistic, gentile, generous and
kind to all.

His daughter Lydia M. Covington wrote a poem honoring him:

He was a friend to the poor and needy, an aid to the rising youth:

A comfort to all who knew him; an earnest lover of truth.

His joy was helping others to learn the peaceful way. -

To leave the thorns and choose the roses, and gather while we may.

His motto was "Keep Ideals High, " though in unpretentious way,

A lover of art and music, and flowers with colors array!

He loved the pure refinement which many of his progeny show,

He has filled a noble mission while on this earth below.

Obedience was a strong characteristic of his nature firm and true.

He never shirked a duty he thought would aid him through.

His advice is but to follow the straight and narrow way.

To be not satisfied with life 'till we've nobly gained the day.

But few have lived the blameless life, but few the joy has gained;

But few have seen the guiding star by which the light's obtained;
But few have stood the test of life, unwavering to the end,

As has this dear beloved one --To one and all a friend.

Material for this history was taken from:

·       Laura Melvina C. Porter, Lucy E. Esplin and others as given to Elda Mortenson for the Isaac
Vanwagoner Carling Family History book.

·       History of Isaac Vanwagoner Carling by Martha Carling Webb Porter. History of Kane County.

·       History of the Beginning of Orderville, Utah, by LeGrande C. Heaton.

·       Orderville, Utopia's Ghost, by Nell Murbarger.

·       Materials sent to Carling Whetten by Alice C. Spillman.

Included here is Isaac’s Journal of Crossing the plains for those who may be interested in his day to day
account and also to preserve his writings for posterity.

Journal of Isaac Van Wagoner Crossing the Plains

July 1 1852: all well and in camp; fine weather and good feed.

2nd: Cool and cloudy with a light shower of rain.

Sat. July 3rd: We started for the upper ferry on the Missouri River. Traveled within

seven miles of the ferry and camped.

Sunday July 4th: Fine weather and herded cattle in the forenoon. In the afternoon
traveled to the ferry.

Monday July 5th: At 4 o'clock p.m. we started across the river with the first load, continued until six
o'clock then stopped.

Tuesday 6th: In the morning there came up a very hard storm and after it cleared off they took the other
wagons across the river, then we traveled as far as Miller's camp and there we waited for the other part
of the company.

Wednesday July 7th: Another heavy shower.

Thursday July 8th: Organized our company and started for the Elkhorn river. Traveled

eight miles.

Friday July 9: We came to the Papyo Creek and stayed in a shower.

Saturday July 10: Drove to the Elkhorn River and crossed over and camped.

Monday July 12: Traveled four miles the fore part of the day and saw four graves; in the

afternoon to Timber Island.

Sunday July 11: Traveled from the Elkhorn to the Liberty Pole.

Tuesday 13: Traveled to Shell Creek, and took dinner. In the afternoon we traveled six

miles farther to a spring.

 
Wednesday 14: Traveled on to the river within ten miles of the Loopfork; and ate our

dinner, and saw three graves. In the afternoon we traveled six and one half miles within

three and one half miles of the ferry on the Loop Fork River.

Thursday July 15: Arrived at the Loopfork at about ten o'clock in the morning. In the

afternoon crossed over the river.

Friday 16: Passed Snow's Company and started on our journey again. We traveled

eight miles and camped on the river banks.

Saturday July 17: Traveled from the river around the Bluffs and over the small bluff and

camped one mile from the river on the east side of the sand hills.

Sunday 18: Stopped until the afternoon, then traveled on to the last camping ground,

on the Loopfork. There camped within twenty miles of the Prairie Creek.

Monday 19: Traveled sixteen miles over the bluffs.

Tuesday 20: Traveled over the sand hills and camped on the Prairie Creek.

Wednesday 21: Nooned on the Wood River and camped on Hiland Prairie.

Thursday 22: Traveled 18 miles and camped near Grand Island on the river.

Friday 23: Traveled ten miles and nooned six miles beyond Fort Kerney and camped.
 

Saturday 24: We buried one child, my sister in law's (Sarah Galiher) child, a grandson

of Jonathan Browning, out of the second company of ten. Then traveled on and nooned at Elm Creek. In
the afternoon traveled on and forded Buffalo Creek and camped within four miles of the river.

Sunday 25: Traveled to the river and stopped to rest where we saw a number of buffalo.

Monday 26: Traveled eight miles and killed two buffalo.

Tuesday 27: Traveled eight miles and stopped to mend wagons and dry buffalo meat at

what we called Indian Island.

Wednesday 28: At setting tires and washing, but no buffalo dried.

Thursday 29: Traveled nine miles and nooned at Sandy Point and camped at Skunk Creek, six miles east
of the crossing. Friday 30: Nooned at the big cold springs at the head of the Pawney Swamp and camped
on Carrion Creek and had a very interesting dance. Bro. Mathias Cowly, the Apostle's father was
standing guard that night and passing then crying the hours of the night said "Nine o'clock in advance, all
is right and Oh! how I wish I could dance with you tonight. "

Saturday 31: Killed two buffalo and divided them out among camp, then took up line of march. Nooned
at the river, camped two miles west of Mud Creek.

Aug. 1, 1852: Sunday morning Traveled six miles and came to the first sand hills and nooned on the bank
of the Platte River. Took a new cut-off and saved a distance of two and one half miles through the sand.
Passed Curtis' Company and drove on to a small creek and camped.

Monday August 2: Traveled six and one half miles and then came to heavy sand bluf~ a distance of two
miles heavy sand. Passed over and traveled on. Passed a number of springs and streams and saw heaps
of hail where there was a tremendous hail storm. Passed Goose Creek and camped on Sandy Creek.

Tuesday August 3: Started in sight of four companies, traveled fourteen miles and nooned on the river
bank, passed cedar bluffs in the afternoon. Traveled nine miles and camped on the bank of the Platte
River within one mile of the third sand hill, three fourths mile west of Pond Creek.

Wednesday 4: Crossed over the sand hill and drove about six miles and stopped to noon on the bank of
the Platte. In the afternoon passed Watch Creek and camped on Castle Creek near Castle Bluff and left
Captain Wemor (of the fifteenth company) in the rear.

Thursday 5: Traveled eight miles and nooned on the river. In the afternoon traveled seven miles and
camped on the river.

Friday 6: Traveled eight miles and passed Crab Creek and nooned at Rocky Bluff. In the afternoon passed
four dry creeks and cobble hills. Camped at Ancient Bluffs Ruins.

Saturday 7: Traveled over eight miles of sandy road and nooned on the river. In the afternoon passed
the eighth, twelfth and thirteenth companies and camped on the river opposite the Court House Bluff.

Sunday 8: Rested and had meeting in the afternoon. Had some sickness and one death. Bro. William
Mayson of second Co. passed us.

Monday 9: Nooned on river bank and camped opposite Chimney Rock.

Tuesday 10: The Fifteenth Co. passed us before sunrise. We passed on and nooned at

the river then camped at Scotts Bluffs.

Wednesday 11: Passed the Fourteenth Co. and Capt. Walker & Co. Nooned at Spring
Creek and camped on the bank of the Platte River in sight of Laramie Peak.

Thursday 12: Passed about two hundred Indians on their way eastward on a buffalo

hunt. We traveled over sandy road and nooned on the river. In the morning we left

Browning's ten behind to mend a wagon. We camped on the river that night.

Friday 13: Raining in the morning very hard, went through heavy sand. Nooned on

timber. Passed a number of Indians and 8th and 12th Companies. We camped near an

Indian village, six miles east of Fort Laramie.

Saturday 14: In the morning some cattle got scattered among 2nd Co's.

Sunday 15: Camped 4 1/2 miles west of Laramie, then laid by until in the afternoon, then

drove up to the upper Ford two miles above and crossed over on the south side.

Monday 16: Left the river and traveled over a very rough and rocky, hilly road; nooned

near the Lime Kiln Spring. In the afternoon traveled seven miles to Bitter Cottonwood

Creek and camped.

Tuesday 17: Traveled on some more hilly road and nooned on the river north of Rock

Springs. In the afternoon traveled on to the Horseshoe Creek and camped.

Wednesday 18: Traveled eight miles and nooned on the Platte River again, then

traveled eight miles, passed a number of Indians.

 
Thursday 19: Crossed over the Platte River on the north side again and traveled 8 miles

and nooned near the river. Killed one buffalo, found no feed. In the afternoon traveled

eight miles and camped on the river. While corralling, a wind arose and got very

cloudy, much signs of storm but no rain fell.

Friday 20: Traveled about twelve miles over tremendous bad, hilly and rocky road.

Struck the river and formed a corral and stopped to rest and sent out some hunters for

buffalo; killed three but none were brought into camp.

Saturday 21: Shoeing cattle and setting tires until noon, then started on and traveled 8

miles through dust, wind and sand, then camped in a grove of trees on the river.

Sunday 22: One buffalo was killed and I shot one which was left. After the drying of the

meat we traveled on within four miles of Deer Creek and nooned on the south side and

camped within two miles of Deer Creek.

Monday 23: Traveled two miles beyond Deer Creek and stopped to set tires and mend

wagons. In the evening had a dance.

Tuesday 24: Killed one buffalo while in search of coal to do our blacksmithing with. In the afternoon
burning coal and in the evening spent our time in dancing which lasted until eleven o’clock with from
three to four sets on the grass at once.

Thursday 26: Still labored at the hard work; then danced at night until 2 o/clock with from four to five
sets on the grass at a time.

 
Friday 27: August. Captain Miller together with Bro. Hyde, left with two tens. Then the sport was over
which left us in a lonesome condition.

Saturday 28: We all started to travel. Left one cow behind. Nooned at the grove. In the afternoon
traveled 8 miles, camped on the banks of the Platte; good feed.

Sunday 29: Drove within 3 miles of the ferry and nooned on the river. In the afternoon crossed over to
the north side again and camped two miles ahead.

Monday 30: Killed one buffalo but it was too old and poor to use. Traveled 9 miles and nooned on the
Platte where the road leaves it. In the afternoon traveled twenty four miles to Spring Creek, camped late
in the evening and no feed.

Tuesday 31: In the morning no cattle, hunted until noon then found them. Started on, passed Prospect
Hill and camped on Sage Spring Creek. Very cold and windy, rain and thunder.

September 1 1852: Wednesday. Passed Grease Wood Creek, and the heavy sand and stopped on Sweet
Water near Saleratus Lake. Gathered our supply of Saleratus then traveled one mile past lllndependence
Rockll and camped. Air cold and heavy frost.

Thursday 2: Sun shone hot. Passed the Devits Gate and Traveling Post, then traveled eight miles and
nooned on the banks of the Sweetwater. In the afternoon separated the two remaining tens and
traveled alone. In camp formed a corral of sixteen wagons.

Friday 3: Traveled over very heavy sand and hard road. In the evening camped on good feed and met
some brethren coming back to meet the poor, one of which read to us a letter from the Presidency
concerning commencing a settlement in Green River.

Saturday 4: Traveled seven miles and nooned on the stream. In the afternoon traveled between two
chains of mountains. Crossed the Sweetwater three times and camped on the north side near where the
road leaves and turns around another mountain.

Sunday 5: Passed the fourth crossing of the stream. Passed the Ice Spring and the 16 mile prairie and
camped on the fifth crossing of the Sweetwater. Poor feed, and cattle scattered in the morning.

Monday 6: Traveled six miles to good feed and camped for today. Night cool and frosty.

Tuesday 7: Passed over the "Winding Cablehills" and three alkali lakes. At noon was caught in a very
heavy wind storm and a little rain. In the afternoon passed Swamp Creek and Strawberry Creek and
camped on Willow Creek. No feed.

Wednesday 8: Started out before daylight to the last crossing on Sweetwater where we lay all day and
let the cattle feed.

Thursday 9: Again took up the line of march across dividing ridges and through South Pass and camped
that night on Pacific Creek.

Friday 10: Traveled eight miles and nooned on Pacific Creek among alkali and sage brush but no grass. In
the afternoon traveled till night and camped on a dry creek. Drove the cattle over the hills

to feed and water.

Saturday 11: Traveled again and nooned on the sand without water or feed. It was very hot. After noon
camped on Sandy.

Sunday 12: Team passed again. Struck the main road to seven miles and nooned on Big Cottonwood. In
the afternoon traveled 8 miles and camped where the road and Sandy come together.

Monday 13: Nooned on Green River at the ford. Afternoon traveled to where the road leaves the river
and camped.

Tuesday 14: Passed a big drove of sheep on the hillside. Traveled seven miles and nooned on the hills. In
the afternoon we had a very heavy wind storm just as we started. Traveled on through the dust and
wind till we struck Blacks Fork and camped where we had a hard rain storm.

Wednesday 15: Afternoon started out after a hard storm and traveled 2 miles and stopped for a hard
storm. After it was over we started again. Traveled to Fanes Fork. Crossed over and camped on Black's
Fork, and cold.

Thursday 16: Traveled 14 miles. Crossed Black's Fork and camped on the stream.

Friday 17: Crossed Black's Fork. One birth. One oxen lost. Traveled 2 miles and

camped on stream to let our cattle rest, and to bake.

Saturday 18: Very cold and a little snow. In the evening we met together and had a

feast, then had a meeting which went off very well.

Sunday 19: Again started on. The snow shone white on the mountains but the day was

fine and warm. Traveled 12 miles and nooned at Bridger. Afternoon traveled over top of

mountain and camped.

Monday 20: Passed Clear Creek and mountain and nooned on Muddy Ford where we

met a nice number of brethren on their way to the States. Traveled over the hills and

camped on a mountain.
 

Tuesday 21: Clear and cold. Passed over one high mountain and met a company

going on missions. Passed Sulfur Creek. Camped on Bear River.

Wednesday 22: Cool and rainy. Traveled 9 ¼ miles and nooned on Yellow Creek.

Traveled over the summit and camped at Saint/s Cove.

Thursday 23: Traveled 15 miles and camped under a very high peak of mountain, at a

cold spring.

Friday 24: Traveled 10 miles and over very bad roads and a high mountain, after this we camped on
Weber.

Saturday 25: Employed at mending wagons broken the day before.

Sunday 26: Crossed Weber ford and nooned at Pratts. Afternoon passed camped on a small creek 8
miles from the Big Mountain.

Monday 27: Traveled 10 miles up Canyon Creek, a very rough road and camped on the same near Fool
Mountain.

Tuesday 28: Climbed the IIBig Mountain ll and met Henry Nelson near the summit and camped at the
foot of IILittle Mountain. II

Wed 29: Traveled over Little Mountain and camped in the canyon 8 miles from

(S.L.City) and I in company with others went to the City at 4:00 o’clock.
 

Thursday 30: Stormy and cold. We hitched up and drove down to Bro. D. Spencer’s and stayed that
night. In the morning the mountains were covered with snow and it was snow in the City.

October 1, Friday: Rained all day, snowed in the mountains.

Saturday October 2: Started out for Provo City. Traveled 8 miles and camped.

Sun October 3: Rained in afternoon. Traveled to Dry Creek and camped on Jordan.

Mon October 4: Passed the hot springs and camped on American Fork.

Tue October 5: Camped in Provo City.

Grandfather Carling: Be of Good Faith

The Children’s Friend, November 1970

It was storming outside, but the only sound in the cabin was Father's voice quietly explaining why he
had given flour to those who had come by during the day. There was much sickness in the little
community and flour seemed to be the best possible medicine.

Patiently Father reminded the children that they had been especially blessed because none of them had
had the strange "winter sickness." Even though the crops had failed in the fall, it had been possible for
him to get flour in trade for the wagons he had made for his neighbors, or for pioneers going through
Fillmore on their way to the west coast.

Early this morning Mother had said, "Please don't give away any more flour. We have only enough for a
few batches of bread and if you give that away, you'll be taking food right out of the mouths of our own
children." They had wondered how this could be, but before they could ask, a knock had come at the
door, and a neighbor had begged a cupful of flour for his sick wife. Even the youngest child had been
touched by the look of gratitude on the man's face when Father gave the flour to him, and had said, "Be
of good faith; the Lord will provide."

But then, just a few minutes later there had been another knock, and when Father opened the door, a
young man standing there had hurried in. They had been sure Father would not refuse help when the
man had said, "Oh, Brother Carling, my baby is dying! I must have some flour."

Afterward, Mother had started to cry and that was when Father had gently put his arm around her and
asked all of them to kneel with him in prayer. There was a special feeling of warmth in the little cabin as
he expressed thanks for their health and safety on such a cold November day. And then he prayed that
in some way it might be possible for them and their neighbors to get food, especially some flour.

As they arose from their knees, Father suggested that Mother take a spoon and try to scrape together
enough flour from the box to make a little gravy.

How surprised she was to find there was plenty for that and some left over.

But an even happier moment came a little while later. As the family was eating, there came still another
knock at the door. A man standing outside said he had heard that Father was a wagon maker and
needed his services. Then he added, "I have 20 tons of flour here. I wonder if I could trade flour for
wagons?"

A true story retold by Lucile C. Reading

Illustrated by Jerry Harston