Written by Ron Carlile

George Giles and Mary Greenwood – A Heber Fort Family. Their cabin was located on the Northwest corner of the fort on 5th North and 4th West (next to John Crook on the East and Zemira Palmer to the South).

George Giles was the second oldest of 10 children born to William and Sarah Huskinson Giles. Born on May 19th, 1823, in the village of Epperstone, Nottingham, England. George, along with his other siblings had good educations along with solid social foundations that were made in the home. During his formative years, George began to develop an interest in blacksmith work that he would pursue later.

George married Mary Greenwood at the Mint-lane Chapel in Lincoln, Nottingham, England on January 25th, 1847, the same day that George’s sister, Elizabeth married Thomas Rasband. Mary was from nearby, Lincolnshire having been born in Owmby-by-Spital on March 24th, 1823, to George and Elizabeth Greenwood. Mary was the 2nd of eleven children.

George’s parents and other siblings became aware of and were receptive to the message of the restored gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. George and Mary were both baptized on September 2nd, 1850.

Soon after their baptisms George and Mary immigrated to America along with his sister Elizabeth, her husband Thomas and their little family, on the ship “North Atlantic”. The group arrived in New Orleans in the late fall, of 1850, and they spent the Winter there.

The following year, George and Mary took a steamboat up the Mississippi to Burlington, Iowa, where they lived for the next 5 years. It was here that George developed the trade of Blacksmithing that would provide a livelihood for the remainder of his life.

During their time in Burlington, others of George’s family made the immigration to America, including George’s parents. The extended family stayed in different locations along the Mississippi from St. Louis to Quincy, Illinois and up to Burlington, Iowa, where George and Mary lived to earn money and gather supplies for their eventual trek across the plains. In the Spring of 1856, the extended Giles family left their various locations heading for Florence, Nebraska, the staging spot for those crossing the plains. On June 5th, they all left Florence with the Philemon C. Merrill company arriving in Salt Lake City on August 16th, 1856, with the expedition taking just over 10 weeks. Two days later the group moved to Provo, Utah.

In 1859, George along with his brothers Thomas H., and Fred, as well as brothers in law, John Crook, James Carlile, Thomas Rasband, and Charles N. Carroll all entered the Upper Provo, or now Heber Valley to claim property and plant crops as an initial effort to start new lives. Other extended Giles family members soon followed, thus making this extensive family a true backbone to this valley. The Giles family legacy lives on today with the countless descendants that followed.

On November 19th, 1859, George and Mary returned to Salt Lake City to be sealed in the Endowment House building upon their marriage established back in England. Later, after building a home in Heber City, George built a blacksmith shop just south of his home, and affectionately called it “Uncle George Blacksmith”. His trade as a blacksmith was essential to support the burgeoning agricultural needs of the valley.

On February 22nd, 1898, George passed away shortly after having a stroke. He was 74 years old and had lived a full life being a very respected member of the community. The funeral was held at the Stake Tabernacle followed by impressive burial services at the Heber City cemetery.

One day after her 90th birthday, Mary Greenwood Giles passed away on March 25th, 1913, after a life that spanned two continents, two centuries, and 90 years of vast experiences and associations. Her children and posterity were at the forefront and those that remained after her leaving cherished memories and a long-lasting legacy. Following her funeral at the Stake Tabernacle she was laid to rest beside her husband George who had preceded her in death over 15 years before.

George and Mary’s eight children:

Elizabeth Giles – born on October 28th, 1849 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire England but passed away as an infant of three weeks old.

Mary Elizabeth Giles – born on July 30th, 1852, in Burlington, Iowa. She was born during the family’s immigration to Utah. Married Thomas Moulton and they had 9 children: Sarah Elizabeth married William Smith, Joseph married Nettie McMillan, Thomas married Elizabeth Anderson, George was born in Heber City and died at the age of seven years old, Charles did not marry and lived to be 91, he had mental limitations from an injury he sustained in his youth, John married Susanna McDonald, Alma married Ada Moulton, Brigham married Mathilde Stuve, and Mary married William Clegg.

George William Giles – born on October 1st, 1853, in Council Bluffs, Iowa during the family’s immigration to Utah, He apparently died during his infancy.

John Joseph Giles – born on November 6th, 1854, in Council Bluffs, Iowa during the family’s immigration to Utah, He also died during his infancy.

Heber John Giles – born February 23rd, 1857, after the family immigrate to Utah. He married Mary Witt and they had five children: Lafayette lived to the age of 79 and passed away in Los Angeles, Della married Alphonzo Davis, Susa married Moroni Winterton, Merlin married Vera Shimmin, and Ernest married Leona Long.

Thomas G Giles – born July 11th, 1860, after the family immigrate to Provo, Utah. He married Rachel Cummings, and they had ten children: Thomas married Martha Buys,

Elizabeth married Rudolph McKnight, Sarah married George Clift Jr., Delile was born in Heber City and died as an infant, George married Ada Cummings, Mary married Alexander Calderwood Jr., Marguerite married Walter Young, Isaac was born in Heber City and died as a newborn, Pearl married Major Forman, and Stella married Merrill Reese.

Sarah Jane Giles – born on April 15th, 1864 at Provo, Utah. She passed away during childhood in 1867.

Charles William Giles – born Sepember 3rd, 1865, in Heber City, Utah. He married Grace Aird, and they had two children: Douglas married Jennie Luke, and Ralph married Nola Shannon Allison.