Introduction:
This is a history of Robert Carlile KWJW-YS4 and Christiana Spouncer Carlile LYY8-6LJ compiled from histories from the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum in SLC, Utah, and from details found in Family Search.
Robert Carlile, son of John Carlile and Annie Maria Foster Carlile, was born April 23, 1789 at Coleby (or Cowley), Lincolnshire, England. Christiana Spouncer was born February 1, 1797 at Bigbey, England. They were married about 1816 in Misson, Lincolnshire, England, and most of their children were born there. Although Robert Carlile lived in Heber only a short time prior to his death, his family and posterity have had a major impact on the Heber Valley. His extended family include names familiar to all of us Carlile, Jeffs, Buell, Winterton, Giles, Carroll, Daybell, Hurdsman, Barzee, Rasband, and Moore.
In 1848 they heard the gospel preached by missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After careful consideration, study and prayer, their entire family – (four sons and one daughter) Isaac, John (named the same as brother who died), James, George and Mary were baptized and joined the Church. They started making preparations to come to America to be with the main body of the Church. Their only daughter, Mary, did not come to America. She was married to Joseph Cooper and stayed in England.
Robert owned no land of his own, but hired out to work for those who did and he taught and encouraged his boys to be tillers of the soil. The family was large and money was hard to come by, their children were taught to look out for themselves and to do all they could to help the rest of the family. They were taught to be honest in all their dealings and to respect the rights of others. They were a happy family that worked and planned together.
During the summer of 1849 the family along with Elizabeth Williamson, who had married their son John, made preparations and set sail for America in late October. Following a voyage of 69 days they arrived at New Orleans on Christmas Eve. They were in good health and grateful to be on land again. They traveled up the Mississippi River to St. Louis where they spent two months then moved on to Council Bluffs, Iowa and remained there until the spring of 1852 (about 2years).
This was a farming area and the Carlile boys were good workers, so they were able to earn money and buy wagons, cows, oxen, food and clothes, and other necessities for the journey. They left Council Bluffs in the spring of 1852 with the Henry B. M. Jolley 7th Company. The trip was hard and tiresome but without bad incidents.
At night they put the wagons in a circle and went to bed on the hard ground where they hoped to get a good night’s rest to be ready for the next day. They met several bands of Indians but they were friendly. As they traveled on toward the west fording rivers, climbing hills and traveling over roads that were scarcely more than mere trails.
They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in October 1852 and went on to Provo. It had been more than five months since leaving Council Bluffs. After one month in Provo they moved on to Palmyra, later known as Spanish Fork. They built homes. They broke up as much land as possible. Life was hard at this time. Food was difficult to get and their diet consisted for roots, bulbs, and very little bran bread because of the “grasshopper plague” destroying their crops and the problems with the Indians which eventually developed into the Walker Indian War. Chief Walker and his Indian band were raiding the farms of central Utah, killing people and driving off their stock. While living here Robert had the misfortune of being knocked down by a steer and broke his leg. This left him lame and he used a cane the rest of his life.
In the spring of 1859 their three sons, John, James and George went to the Upper Provo Valley (now Heber Valley) to plant crops and build some dwelling to live in. They were among the 18 families that spent the first winter there. (More detail of this trip is in John’s history.)
In the spring of 1860 their sons moved Robert and Christiana to Heber. On reaching the valley they lived in a one-room house in the center of the block on Second North and between First and Second West. There were no doctors or mortuaries in those days and when sickness came everyone was willing to help. When death came some kind neighbor stood by to tend to the last kindnesses and prepare the body for burial while others were digging the grave. Robert Carlile died on October 23, 1861 following a short illness and then joined his son John who was the first man to be buried in the Heber City Cemetery. After the settlers moved from the Fort, Christiana’s home was a little log house on the corner of second north and second west where the George Nelson home was eventually built (now the Heber Second/Fifth Ward building). Her home was later moved to the East Corner where the Buell apartments now stand. Christiana was often seen walking over the stubble ground in her bare feet with her shoes under her arm. In this way she could save her shoes, as shoes and money were very scarce.
For a number of years the small community took turns holding their meetings in their homes. School was also held in their homes for a few months each winter. The children were required to pay a small tuition, which they did in produce or wood. The teachers were local people from among the pioneers of the valley.
For several years Christiana lived alone in her little home and, as she was a very kind and friendly little lady, she gathered about her many of those pioneers and helped to make their lives brighter with her kind words and ready smiles. She also did work for her kindred dead in the Salt Lake Endowment House and in the St. George Temple.
Later in her life she became blind, and when she could no longer take care of her little home she went to live with her son, James. When James’ wife died she went to live with her son, George. She always seemed very happy, always encouraging those who came to see her and never complained of her blindness. She was very apt in caring for herself and did not want to be waited on more than was necessary. She was always known as “blind Grandma” as she was blind many years before her death.
Martha Giles Erickson remembers her well. “My sister Ann Averett and I used to go and do her dishes and clean her house. She always thanked us. She appreciated everything that was done for her. She seemed to get comfort from her cats as there was so little a blind person could enjoy. She was kind to everyone and was a very nice lady. She sat on her east porch much of the time. She was a woman of very few words, quiet by pleasant. She wore a cap around the house and when she went out she wore a little black bonnet-shaped hat with black lace around the front. She was a very tiny woman. I remember leading her over to my mother’s home quite often.”
On Thanksgiving Day, November, 1891 she requested that all her near relatives come to the house for dinner and insisted that they set the table in the room where she lay in bed, for she said, “I want to know that you are all getting a good dinner.” They had a very nice visit with her and a few days later on November 30, 1891 she passed away and was laid beside her husband in the Heber City Cemetery.
Children of Robert and Christiana Spouncer Carlile:
Mary Carlile KWJL-6H3: Brief Life History of Mary
When Mary Carlile was born on 11 June 1818, in Goxhill, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom, her father, Robert Carlile, was 29 and her mother, Christiana Spouncer, was 21. She married Joseph Cooper on 10 May 1842, in Misson, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 4 daughters. She lived in Yorkshire West Riding, England, United Kingdom for about 10 years and All Saints, Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom for about 10 years. She died on 9 November 1893, in England, United Kingdom, at the age of 75.
Isaac Carlile KWJL-6H6: Brief Life History of Isaac
When Isaac Carlile was born on 15 August 1820, in Butterwick, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom, his father, Robert Carlile, was 31 and his mother, Christiana Spouncer, was 23. He married Jane Priest on 6 November 1845, in Misson, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom. They were the parents of at least 7 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in York Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States in 1870 and Norwalk Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States for about 20 years. He died on 5 November 1900, in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States, at the age of 80, and was buried in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United. Isaac and his wife came to Utah but later returned to Council Bluffs.
John Carlile KWJL-6HM: Brief Life History of John
When John Carlile was born on 16 September 1822, in Misson, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom, his father, Robert Carlile, was 33 and his mother, Christiana Spouncer, was 25. He was buried in Misson, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom.
John Carlile KWNV-C37: Brief Life History of John
When John Carlile was born on 25 May 1825, in Misson, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom, his father, Robert Carlile, was 36 and his mother, Christiana Spouncer, was 28. He married Elizabeth Williamson on 21 January 1844, in Misson, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 5 daughters. He died on 16 September 1859, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 34, and was buried in Heber City Cemetery, Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States. He died of injuries from an accident. In his Short History is the following information, “In 1859 he left his family and went to Heber to plant crops. He soon ran out of food and decided to return and get some more. The river was very high and nearly drowned the horse kicked him while struggling to get out, of which he never got over the accident and it was part of the cause of his death.” “July 24, 1859 he moved his family to Heber, and only lived to the following September16, (1860) and was first man to die and be buried in the Heber Cemetery. His wife was left with five children the oldest only 11 years old and youngest six months old, who died six months later.” His wife continued to live there and raised their family there.
James Carlile KWNP-MBG:
Born January 31, 1829 at Misson, Lincolnshire, England, He came to Utah with his parents and married Emily Ann Giles October 30, 1857. They were among the first families that settled Heber City in 1859 Emily Ann Giles died in 1891. Upon her death he married Fannie Lee Chatwin, whom he later divorced. He then married Eliza Hallet Durnell Lowden. (Her name is listed as Eliza Mallett Durnell Carlile in “How Beautiful Upon the Mountains.”) After her death in 1901 he married Annie Rachel Nageli Mosier who survived him and lived until age 104. He died on 9 September 1917, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 88, and was buried in Heber City Cemetery, Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
Robert Carlile KWJL-6HN: Brief Life History of Robert
When Robert Carlile was born on 28 June 1832, in Misson, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom, his father, Robert Carlile, was 43 and his mother, Christiana Spouncer, was 35. He was buried in Misson, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom.
George Carlile KWJZ-MJY:Brief Life History of George
When George Carlile was born on 11 April 1836, in Misson, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom, his father, Robert Carlile, was 46 and his mother, Christiana Spouncer, was 39. He married Laura Ann Moore Giles on 25 October 1856, in Provo, Utah, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 3 daughters. They were later divorced and he married Susannah Daybell Pollard. He lived in Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States in 1850 and Utah, United States in 1870. He registered for military service in 1853. He died on 29 January 1909, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 72, and was buried in Heber City Cemetery, Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States. For additional information see KWJZ-MJY History of George Carlile.
