charles gurney and charlotte brown: a midway fort family
Charles Gurney and his wife Charlotte Brown and their family were Midway Fort Residents. Very little is know about this family other than what follows below.
Researched by Jason Moulton as part of the Midway Fort Project
Heber Valley Heritage Foundation.
Charles Gurney KWJN-GW2 was born on 17 March 1817, in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom as the son of Thomas Gurney and Mary Campling. He had at least 2 sons and 1 daughter with Charlotte Brown. He lived in Norfolk, England, United Kingdom for about 10 years. He died on 27 October 1899, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 82, and was buried in Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
Charlotte Brown L7NC-8LH was born on 25 July 1819, in London, England as the daughter of William Brown and Elizabeth Watson. She had at least 2 sons and 1 daughter with Charles Gurney. She lived in Norfolk, England, United Kingdom for about 10 years and Bermondsey, London, England, United Kingdom in 1881. She died on 19 November 1895, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 76.
Wasatch Wave | 1895-11-22 | Page 2
Children of Charles Gurney and Charlotte Brown
Mary Ann Gurney L7NC-Z66 was born on 24 August 1841, in Norwich, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, her father, Charles Gurney, was 24 and her mother, Charlotte Brown, was She married Lewis Leonard Polmanteer about 1860. They were the parents of at least 1 son. She immigrated to Utah, United States in 1856 and lived in Utah, United States in 1870 and Cohoes, Albany, New York, United States in 1880. She died on 23 November 1919, in Stockton, Tooele, Utah, United States, at the age of 78, and was buried in Stockton, Tooele, Utah, United States. From all indications she married prior to the Midway Fort and was having children in Salt Lake, Fort Douglas, and Stockton Utah during the period of the Midway Fort.
Joseph Gurney 9QLT-FTP was born in 1843, in Norwich, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, his father, Charles Gurney, was 26 and his mother, Charlotte Brown, was 24. He lived in Norfolk, England, United Kingdom in 1851. He is listed with his parents when they departed Liverpool England via ship. He likely traveled to Utah with his family but I could not find any evidence of him living in the Midway Fort.
William Gurney L7N4-Z22 was born in 1848, in Norwich, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, his father, Charles Gurney, was 31 and his mother, Charlotte Brown, was 29. He lived in Norfolk, England, United Kingdom in 1851. He died before 4 May 1856.
A review of ship records shows that Charles, Charlotte, and Mary Ann traveled by ship in 1856 from England to America. The list of passengers list Charles Gurney occupation as a “Mechanic.” Upon arriving in America they joined the Willie, Hand Cart Company in July 15, 1856 and arrived in Utah approximately Nov 9. Many of the Willie Hand Cart members later settled in the Heber Valley.
We don’t know much about the Gurney family until the name of Charles Gurney appears on the list of families in the Midway Fort. Their family cabin was located on the East side of the Midway, Utah Fort sandwiched between the cabins of Harvey Meeks and Abigail Shelton. Charles Gurney name is included on the list of those involved in the incorporation of Midway, Utah as a city on June 1, 1891.
The following article printed in the Wasatch Wave 9/24/1997 edition mentions Charles Gurney serving in the Joseph McCarrel Cavalry Company during the Black Hawk War.
The following article was reported in the Wasatch Wave Nove 3, 1899 reporting the death of Charles Gurney.
From Page 636 in the Book How Beautiful Upon the Mountains is the following:
“No history of Charles Gurney is available. Mrs. William Alder (Jean Coleman) remembers Mr. Gurney and his wife. Charlott. They lived in the Fort String and were true pioneers. Mr. Gurney was a good farmer and took pride in his many fine fruit trees and in his splendid garden. Both he and his wife were civic minded. Mrs. Gurney was a president of the Relief Society in Midway for a number of years.
Mr. Gurney sold his house and property to William Alder in 1892. it is still owned by Mrs. Alder and is her home.”
Charles Gurney was granted two homestead of 160 acres each depicted below in the dark orange. This property is south of DRGW railroad.
The second homestead adjoined the other parcel just north of DRGW railroad right of way including what is now Tate Lane.
In the December 23, 1938 the Wasatch Wave is a mention of Hugh B. Wentz being appointed as the administrator of the Charles Gurney Estate.
Hugh V. Wentz KWCY-C8Z a Provo attorney is believed to be identical to Hugh B Wentz referred to above. He likely was appointed as the administrator of the Charles Gurney Estate as his homesteaded properties were adjacent to what is now the Deer Creek Reservoir. It started being constructed beginning in 1938. From his own story is the following.
“I took the Utah Bar Exam and passed it and was granted my Utah License. Both the Illinois Bar Exam and the Utah Bar Exam entailed four days of eight hours each of examination; the examination was very extensive. So, with two bar exams under my belt, I felt I was ready to hang up my shingle. My first office was in with A. V. Watkins, practicing attorney in Provo, Utah. The agreement was that I would do work for him for which he would furnish me my own room in his office and pay me the sum of $25.00 per month. My principal duty the first few months was to serve Summons throughout Wasatch County in connection with Condemnation suits that Mr. Watkins brought in behalf of the Deer Creek Project. The land that was acquired by these Condemnation proceedings was that which is now covered by the Deer Creek Reservoir up Provo Canyon.”
Heber Valley Heritage Foundation