Four months to solve a mystery debated for over 100 years, write and publish a book. Could I do it? Then I missed my flight! How could I make it to the bicentennial in time? Amazing coincidences? Or, was someone helping me?

This is how and why I wrote my book Run Chamberlain, Run- Solving the 200-year-Old Mystery of Runaway Pond. It is much more than a story about a flood. It is an incredible interaction between six generations of the Chamberlain/Phillips family to correct a mistake and defend the truth.

 

Our family history, as I remember it at age 12

When I was twelve-years-old, I was fascinated by family stories that my mother told me. Ironically, all of these stories were from my father’s side of the family. My Grandfather Harry Chamberlain told them to my Grandmother Annie. Mother became a captive audience to my grandmother for an hour or two each month after our family dinner. My mother then repeated these stories to me. Third hand tales of events that happened over a hundred years ago, what could go wrong?

This is how I remember Chamberlain family history from when I was twelve.

Our family descended from John Chamberlain who fought a duel with the Indian Chief Paugus.  John got off the first shot by priming his rifle with a thump on the ground. The chief’s bullet grazed John’s hair. The duel would decide the victor of the battle at Lovewell’s Pond. After this heroic event he became known as Paugus John Chamberlain.

Paugus John had a son or grandson, also named John, who married an Indian named Winona. They named their son Spencer Chamberlain.

Spencer lived in Glover, Vermont and married Millie French. Her mother was against the marriage because Spencer was half Indian. No record can be found of the marriage since the court house burned down and marriage records were destroyed. Spencer’s mother-in-law undoubtedly set the fire.

One day Spencer hiked  with a group of men to a lake near town to provide more water to run the mill. The water broke loose and the whole lake began rumbling down the valley taking out trees and anything in its path. Spencer Chamberlain was a champion wrestler and runner as fleet as a deer. The men realized the miller’s wife was working in the mill in the valley below. She was in the direct path of the roaring water. They quickly summoned the young athlete, “Run Chamberlain, Run!”

Spencer ran with all the might and strength he had. He got ahead of the flood rushed into the mill and pulled the miller’s wife out of the mill and up the hill.  The flood washed the mill away. The miller’s wife and Chamberlain were caught up to their waste in water.

Were these family stories true?

When I was twelve year’s old these stories of family heroes were magical and mythical, almost sacred. But were they true? Did they actually happen?

The story of Runaway Pond was 144 years ago when I was twelve. Certainly, I thought, no one will ever know if the incredible run of Spencer Chamberlain ever really happened.

When I was much older, (in about the year 2001), our family received some exciting information. My cousin Bruce Chamberlain learned that each year the town of Glover, Vermont had a race that celebrated the run of Spencer Chamberlain. Also, there was a poem that told the whole story of the Runaway Pond.

One verse of the poem seemed most remarkable:

Chamberlain’s the man for that long chase,
A half-blood of the Indian race!
With Chamberlain’s name the hills resound:
“Run Chamberlain, Run!” He gives a bound.

Wow! The story was really true!

Family invitation to the Runaway Pond bicentennial celebration

In 2008, I bought the book “Runaway Pond: The Complete Story” by Wayne H. Alexander from the Glover Historical Society. Joan Alexander, secretary of the GHS, included a small sample of the quicksand collected from Long Pond with my book order.

Joan was always very helpful with my questions, and in a later email she invited me and the Chamberlain family to come to the Runaway Pond Bicentennial celebration, a three day event planned for June 2010.

In July 2009, there was a Chamberlain family reunion in Salt Lake City, Utah, for my Aunt Lois Chamberlain Roos’s 90th birthday. During this event, Bruce Chamberlain told the story of Runaway Pond. Many younger members had not heard about Spencer Chamberlain. Everyone was intrigued to hear that there was a Chamberlain Run race each year in Vermont.

I extended the invitation to attend and began coordinating the effort.

Bruce and I had sold the Chamberlain family on a legendary super hero who was about to be honored in a bicentennial celebration. So much so, that about twenty excited family members planned to make the 2000 mile journey to attend the three day event. These included four generations of Chamberlains ranging in age from six months to ninety-four years.

Sumberg’s blog “Runaway Ponders”

Meanwhile back in Glover, Vermont, Jack Sumberg bagan to raise questions about the historical events of 1810 in his blog named “Runaway Ponders”. His post of January 7, 2010 began:

“Writing to the local paper about the events at Runaway Pond on June 6, 1810 is an old custom in Orleans County and since 2010 brings us the bicentennial of that famous day I would like to open the floodgates once again…. There are smoldering questions still to be answered, and maybe a few yet to be asked.”

Some of those smoldering questions came in 1860 after Rev. Pliny H. White gave the address, at the fifty year anniversary. When he mentioned the story of the heroic runner, he said that the man who ran ahead of the flood was– “Solomon F. Dorr.”

Sumberg’s blog expounded on White’s interpretation of the heroic runner:

“I would note that Rev. White did not call Spencer Chamberlain the hero. In fact, the one mention of him in the speech is for conduct not exactly ‘heroic’.”

After the 50th Anniversary speech by White, the people of Orleans County suddenly realized there were some huge contradictions among them. What happened on that day?

Everyone had heard the story over and over again from the witnesses of that day, their parents and grandparents. Each of these stories were from a different perspective.

In one old timers opinion, the whole story of a heroic runner was a “humbug”. Sumberg’s blog points out that synonyms from the dictionary are “a hoax”, “a fraud”, “a sham”.

More poetry than truth?

Sumberg gives the poem written by Harry Alonzo Phillip’s much of the credit for capturing the hearts and minds of Glover. The Bread and Puppet Theater presents a puppet show each year which follows along the lines of the poem.

Harry Alonzo Phillips is the great-grand son of Spencer Chamberlain, and the third generation to defend the Spencer Chamberlain version of the story. The alternate version of the story is told by the Willson and Dorr families.

Sumberg surmises that the Phillip’s poem may be the predominant reason that Glover favored Chamberlain rather than Dorr:

Can we conclude that that it was the power of poetry that ultimately caused the Chamberlain-Phillips version of the story to predominate in the public mind? If the Willson-Dorrs had fathered, or mothered, poets would the battle for the hearts and minds of Glover still rage today? Could a new film or TV docu-drama succeed in overthrowing the triumphant story?

Overthrow the triumphant story?

What if Sumberg should succeed in overthrowing the Spencer Chamberlain story? Or, what if he persuades the town that there was no runner at all? In either case, Spencer Chamberlain would be considered a fraud and the story of his heroic run considered a hoax!

One can only imagine what our reception in Glover might be.

As strangers to the town of Glover, we were not sure how literal was “the battle for the hearts and minds”, nor how much “rage” it might stir. My young niece, when learning of the controversy inquired, “Are they going to shoot us?”

Runaway Pond: The Complete Story

I had read Runaway Pond: The Complete Story (second edition) by Wayne H. Alexander, which is a compilation of all the information about Runaway Pond collected since the event. In the preface Alexander wrote:

“We have tried in this book to keep the material as close to its original state as possible with all its period misspellings, capitalizations and inconsistencies. We hope that in a particular twist of grammar or awkward turn of phrase, some scholar may find a new window on some of the historical problems created by the pond that ran away.”

In this compilation there are massive contradictions between the many reports and there are many questions to answer. However, Alexander’s collection of material was exactly what was needed. I don’t consider myself a scholar, but his preface seemed to be an invitation to look for that new window.

Sumberg was also searching. He said he had been plowing through the old accounts of Runaway Pond for the last year or so. “I had hoped to unearth some ancient nugget”, Sumberg wrote, “that when brought forth into the clear air of the 21st century, it might spontaneously burst into flame and illuminate some dust-bunnied corner of humanity’s Gloverian history.” He called this his impossible dream.

Questions began to flow into my mind, “Can I find Alexander’s new window?”  “Would I be able to find answers to the many questions and write a book?”  It was the middle of January 2010. I had four months.

Time to write

Our house needed some painting and it was time to plant the garden. Also, I had volunteered for some time commitments at church. I really didn’t have time for another major project. Then something happened that changed everything.

One day as I was riding my bicycle home from town, the wheel struck the curb. I stuck my foot out to prevent a fall and broke a bone in my foot. The doctor gave me an orthopedic boot to wear and a pair of crutches. He told me to keep off my foot and to keep it elevated.

Anyway, I couldn’t paint, garden or participate in certain volunteer projects. Doctors orders! Almost the only thing I could do is sit in front of my computer with my leg elevated and write.

Sometimes I felt like there was an ancestor or someone who really wanted me to write that book, and was trying to “help” me.

Editing, printing and publishing

Everything seemed to go incredibly smooth. My sister Deanna Grant was editor and gave technical  support. My aunt Louise Chamberlain proof read my manuscript. Joan Alexander in Glover also read it. She made sure I didn’t say something too stupid, since I was writing about a place where I had never been.

I had previously published a book with American Book Publishing in Salt Lake City and was familiar with the quality of their printing company. I wanted to them also to print my new book.

When I called the owner he said, “Sorry, we don’t print books for authors, only for publishing companies.”

I told him that I own Mount Olympus Publishing Company registered in Yolo County, California. He was quite surprised, but said, “OK then, we can print it for you.”

After winning a dispute with American Book Publishing, they returned to me all rights to my first book. In 2005, I paid Yolo County $10 to set up Mount Olympus Publishing Company in case there was a need for a second printing. There never was a need, but in 2010 when I was ready to publish Run Chamberlain, Run!, I owned my own publishing company.

The Cover

The cover is a masterpiece by artist Seth Hippen. It depicts Spencer Chamberlain in action as he bounds through the air just ahead of the flood. Seth created this from the description of Spencer and the story of the flood, and also a photo of Spencer’s son Alonzo Chamberlain.

Seth, a cousin on my mother’s side, accepted an affordable offer. This book would not have a professional cover without his help. At that time he was looking for work as an animation artist. He soon landed a job at Blue Sky and then Disney. Seth worked on Epic and other movies including Encanto which is to be released at Thanksgiving 2021.

Defending the Legacy

Jeanette Chamberlain Phillips, (daughter), Alonzo Chamberlain Phillips (grandson) and Harry Alonzo Phillips (great-grand son), defended the heroic run of Spencer Chamberlain beginning in 1860 until Harry wrote his poem in 1929.

It was humbling to me that this third-great-grandson was now continuing what they had started. I would be the fourth generation to defend the legacy of Spencer Chamberlain. It was a position that I had never sought, but one for which I was completely prepared.

Sometimes it seemed as tough someone was helping me along. I began to wonder, “After all these years, was this something that was still important to them?”

Solving the mystery

I sat down with my copy of Wayne Alexander’s compilation of resources and a topographical map of northern Vermont and went to work.

In Pliny White’s address in 1860, the runner and hero of the day was Solomon F. Dorr. Many of the reports supported this version of the story.

Ironically, the runner’s stop for a drink of whiskey along the way gave us a huge clue. The location of that house and the mill were important pieces of the puzzle. As well as which side of the river the runner traveled. Was it, as some say, on the east side? Or as others believed, was it on the west?

These clues could prove the true runner.

I studied this problem for several days. When I finally realized the actual path of the runner, my mind lite up and my eyes filled with tears. For that brief moment, I could see him running and feel his pain.

Five hundred copies

Everything seemed to fall in to place and by May 19. Five hundred copies of Run Chamberlain, Run were printed. This was way more than needed, but the price per book was much better at this quantity. The printer sent the books to my home in California.

I immediately sent out twenty-eight pre-ordered books to family and friends, plus nine complimentary copies to all who had helped with the book. This included one to Jack Sumberg who’s questions inspired me to write it. In return he sent me his publication of Runaway Pond, an illustrated pamphlet of Harry Alonzo Phillips’ poem with drawings by Peter Schumann.

Eight promotional copies were sent to newspapers and and media stations in Vermont.

A full case of sixty books were sent to the Glover Historical Society Gift Shop which would be made available in Glover for the bicentennial on June 4 through 6. This seemed like more than enough for Glover, Vermont population 1100.

Missed flight to Vermont

The day arrived, June 3, 2010. I got up early in the morning and drove to the Sacramento Airport. Unfortunately, the time to take a shuttle from parking and get through security was more than expected. When I finally got through, it was too late. There was no way I could get on that plane.

I couldn’t believe it. I had missed my flight!

The next flight from Sacramento to Houston was full, but there might be some cancellations. I gave it a try and got on the standby passenger list. It was my only chance.

Houston was the first of three segments from Sacramento to Burlington Vermont. I planned to arrive that evening in Burlington and catch a ride to Glover with my sister and her husband.

I waited in the Sacramento airport for the next flight.

Boarding began and ended. They then began calling standbys, one by one. Finally, they called “Chamberlain”. And I really mean “finally.”  I was the last one called, but I was now on my way.

I was soon in Houston, Texas. However, by that time I had missed my flight to Newark, New Jersey. The next flight wouldn’t leave until the next morning. That flight was also full. So, once again, the standby passenger list was my only chance.

I slept that night in a chair in the very quiet Houston Airport terminal. This gave me some time to think. “What could I do for the week-end in Houston.” At least I had tickets for a return flight to Sacramento on the June 8.

The next morning boarding began and ended for the Newark. They then began calling standbys, one by one. Yes! I was the last one called, and I was now on my to New Jersey.

I arrived in Newark and quickly signed up on the standby passenger list for the next flight to Burlington, Vermont. Now, much better off than when in Houston, I could rent a car and make the seven hour drive to Glover. Oh, how I hoped I wouldn’t have to do that.

I waited. Boarding began and ended. They began calling names from the standby list. It was a long list. Twenty names, or more it seemed. Then they began calling the same name over and over again. Every few minutes they would call that same name. For about twenty minutes, the same name over and over again.

I prayed he wouldn’t show up.

It was now time for take off. “Chamberlain!” they called. As soon as I entered the airplane, they closed the door and started the jet engines. When my plane arrived in Burlington, my sister Deanna and her husband Chuck were there and ready to take me to Glover.

After contemplating this experience, I came to the following conclusions. Someone was helping me, and they wanted me to know they were helping me. And, whoever that might be, they have a warped sense of humor.

Graveyard Ghosts

No pun intended. This was the actual title of the program that was in progress when we arrived in Glover, “Graveyard Ghosts Remember Runaway Pond”. It was a delightful show put on by the Glover school children who were dressed in costume and portrayed 1810 residents sharing their memories.

It was held in the school gym. However, a night performance was planned for 9 pm in Westlook Cemetery, with path lit with luminaries. This was a fitting location for the spirit of the occasion, where markers designated the current address of the original cast of characters.

Small town hospitality

The town of Glover went all out to make the twenty-one Chamberlain family members welcome. They put on a Saturday morning Chamberlain descendant breakfast at the Runaway Pond Cafe for our whole group. They provided us with great food and live entertainment. A local singer/song writer played a number of songs about the Runaway Pond of a folk/bluegrass venue.

We were also invited to be part of the Glover Village parade. My father Ernest, uncle Robert and I rode in the cab of a horse drawn carriage. My son and his wife walked behind with two children in a stroller. Robert’s family followed each wearing a white tee shirt embossed with the Chamberlain coat of arms. These were made special for the occasion. My two sisters and their families were more modest than the rest of us and blended in with the spectators.

Some of Roberts family participated in the Chamberlain Run race from the lake bed to the village.

On Sunday, June 6 the activities were held in the Long Pond dry lake bed. These included picnic lunch, the Bread and Puppet Theater puppet show, unveiling of the road side marker, remarks by Governor Douglas and others, and many more activities and fireworks.

The main event of the Sunday activities was the firing of the cannon at the moment the event occurred in 1810.

Three days of fame

Four news articles about my book and the runner controversy hit the stands a couple of days before our arrival. This buzz made me a short term celebrity author.

On Saturday, after the Chamberlain breakfast, a reporter for Seven Days found me for a television interview. This was for their state wide series called  “Stuck in Vermont.”  I then went to the Glover Town Hall which was adorned with beautiful home made quilts on special display for the celebration. There, I enjoyed talking to local residents while signing books.

While I was at the book signing, other family members took a guided bus tour of Runaway Pond. The guide mentioned that the oldest living descendant of Spencer Chamberlain was on the bus. This was my dad, Ernest M. Chamberlain age 94. Many jumped up from their seats and ran back to have him sign their copy of the book.

By Sunday the books sent to Glover were sold out. During the activities at the dry lake bed one young boy shouted, “Look dad, there’s one!” He pointed to someone carrying a copy of my book. It was the first time he saw one.

On Sunday, I met the son of Wayne Alexander. He asked me what I did for a living and seemed interested in how I wrote my book. “Oh, how I wish my father could be here,” he said. “He would be so tickled to see you Chamberlains here in Glover.” He told me he bought my book yesterday and couldn’t put it down until he finished it at 1 am. Then he called his son over and introduced me. “I want you to met Mr. Chamberlain who wrote the book”

I have never felt more honored in my life.

The heart of the fathers to their children

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers. (Malachi 4:6)

The Old Testament Prophet Malachi implied that in the last days there would be important interaction between the fathers and their children. Latter-day Saints believe that it is important for us to connect and record our kindred families through genealogical research.

A message from Alonzo Chamberlain Phillips

My grandfather Harry Ellis Chamberlain was researching our family genealogy in the 1920s. Alonzo Chamberlain Phillips, in Glover, Vermont, was the one who answered his many questions and helped him in this effort.

Ironically, in 2008, I did the research and compiled the genealogy records for Alonzo C. Phillips and his immediate family. As I did this, I felt a close connection to Alonzo Phillips.

Alonzo C. Phillips was the grandson of Spencer Chamberlain, and a strong defender of his run. In 1927, he sent a message to my grandfather Harry Chamberlain which he addressed: “To my family in the West”. He told of the controversy still raging in Glover:

I now wish to correct a mistake that was made by White at the 50th anniversary of the letting out of the pond… This mistake was what caused my mother (to write) her piece giving her father the dues that rightfully belong to him.- Alonzo Chamberlain Phillips- 1927

Thank you, I got your message.- Dennis Chamberlain- 2010

Important Links

How to order my book, or see more photos of the Runaway Pond Bicentennial.

Seven Days 5 minute video “Stuck in Vermont.”

“What Could go wrong?” What was true, and what were the misconceptions in my age 12 memories of Chamberlain family history

© Copyright Dennis D. Chamberlain, All rights reserved. The Chamberlain Story, 2021.

When my father, Lieutenant Ernest M. Chamberlain, told me his stories of Officer of the Guard many years after the war, he broke into uncontrollable laughter. His experience at Fort Lewis Washington in 1942 tell us a lot about him. He was very serious about his work and put his whole heart into every project. Nevertheless, things didn’t always go as planned.

Lieutenant Chamberlain arrived at Fort Lewis on January 2, 1942 and was sent to Officer Training School in the US Army 76th Field Artillery Brigade. He completed the Officer training course on February 15, 1942 and returned to Field Artillery headquarters. The next morning, the 76th Brigade was ordered to perform guard duty for all of Fort Lewis.¹

Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii only two months earlier. This west coast military base was very vulnerable. Guard duty was not merely a training exercise, they were actually defending the fort against a possible attack.

There were two groups of guards, each with two officers. Each group had a tour of 48 hours on duty and 48 hours off. Ernest’s partner officer was called away, so Ernest did double duty as both Officer of the Day and Officer of the Guard. He was in charge of about 160 sentries.²

During the first 48 hour tour, Ernest inspected all 18 posts. Some of his observations bothered him. He therefore called for a meeting with his guards. Ernest stressed the importance of doing what’s necessary in event of emergency.

“Scare the Hell out of Lieutenant Chamberlain”

One post was especially vulnerable to sabotage. Trees and dense foliage surrounded the water tanks on a hill.

“On that post after dark,” Ernest instructed his men, “do not march around that fence like a tin soldier! Be innovative and vary your routine. If I see and challenge you before you challenge me, you are not walking your post in a military manner. And if I leave your post without being challenged you will have plenty of explaining to do”.¹

Ernest didn’t realize what he was creating.

The next night was cold and dark. As Ernest conducted his inspections, he came to the post he hated most, the water tower. The thought of his guards with little experience and live ammunition added to his anxiety.

His jeep slowly ascended the narrow winding dirt road toward the tower.  Suddenly, from the the darkness behind, cracked the command, “HALT!”²

The driver slammed on the brakes. Ernest hurled toward the windshield. They stopped the motor and shut off the lights as the guard commanded. Ernest got out of the jeep. “I shook my leg to see if anything would fall out of my pants”, he wrote.²  They then marched along the road as instructed. Suddenly, from the bushes ahead, a light flashed into their faces.

They had now identified Lieutenant Chamberlain.

The guard then stepped out of the bushes and came to “Present Arms” as a salute to the officer. The young guard looked like a boy scout, no bigger than his rifle with its attached bayonet. Now that Lieutenant Chamberlain was identified another guard fifteen yards ahead emerged from the shadows. “They certainly had me covered”, Ernest wrote.²

On later inspections, Ernest left the jeep and walked up the trail to try to surprise them. Invariably, as he walked along the fence, a guard with a rifle almost in his back would shout the challenge, “HALT!” It was in a different place each time.¹  “I was right proud of my boys”, Ernest wrote, “but so help me it was a real thriller diller.“²

Later, one guard told Ernest that everyone wanted that post “so they could scare the hell out of Lieutenant Chamberlain.¹

An air alert and black out

During the 48 hour guard duty tour of February 25th and 26th Ernest inspected every post two or three times. By 11 pm of the second day Ernest was exhausted. When he returned, he told the Sergeant of the Guard not to wake him for anything but an emergency.¹

At 8:00 am the sergeant shook Ernest awake.

“The Post Headquarters Adjutant wants to see you in his office immediately”, he said. “Did you know there was an air alert and blackout last night?” the sergeant asked as they rushed toward the jeep.

“I heard some sirens but quickly fell back to sleep”, Ernest replied.¹

The Officer Family Barracks

Ernest arrived at headquarters and entered the office of the Adjutant, Major Garver.³

Major Garver: “Lt. Chamberlain, did you know there was an air alert last night?”¹

Lieutenant Chamberlain: “Yes sir.”

Major Garver: “Was it your guards who were guarding the Officer Family Barracks?”

Lieutenant Chamberlain: “Yes sir”.

Major Garver: I have received numerous complaints about the action of your guards. After the sirens sounded the guards pounded on each door with the butt of their rifle and shouted “Come out immediately or I’ll come in after you”. They didn’t give them time to dress but rushed them out in their night clothes. When everyone was out they herded them to the 3rd Division Parade Ground and forced them to lay on the grass in spread eagle position!

“What do you have to say about that?” the major demanded¹ 

“Spread eagle on the Parade Ground?”, Ernest gasped. “That does seem rather excessive.”

Ernest grasped and groped for words. Finally he said, “Well sir, I am only thankful that I am here to account for this possible over action rather than a lack of action with a lot of dead people in a bombed out barracks.“¹

The Union Pacific Railroad

The Major stared straight ahead without expression or comment. He  then continued: “Last night were the guards at the warehouse under you?“¹

Lieutenant Chamberlain: “Yes sir”.

Major Garver: I had two calls, one from Union Pacific Railroad and one from the Engineers Union. They claimed that when one of their engines crossed the Olympia-Tacoma highway and slowly entered the warehouse area, a guard stood in front of it and flagged it to a halt.^1,4

The guard said, “This is a black out, turn out your head light”. The engineer refused. The guard said, “Either shut it off or I’ll shoot it out”. The engineer continued to stall. The guard marched around to the front and raised his rifle. The engineer hit the switch in time to save the light. The train remained there until the “All Clear Signal”.^1,4

The engineer was very unhappy. The train was late and not allowed to move without its light. Also the railroad cars were blocking the highway and traffic was backed up half way to Tacoma on one side and half way to Olympia on the other.

What do you have to say about that?^1,4

A very nervous Lieutenant Chamberlain: “Well sir, I do not know of any instructions we have received pertaining to trains. However, our instructions pertaining to vehicles were that all vehicle lights other than cat-eyes were to be turned out during black outs”.¹

When Ernest was dismissed, he felt sure he would soon be released as Officer of the Guard. Nevertheless, as he walked out of the office he believed he heard the major chuckle.¹

They did not release Ernest. In fact, he never heard any more on the subject.¹

Other Links for Ernest M. Chamberlain

Lieutenant Chamberlain, Officer of the Guard and Dad’s Hope for Our Best Christmas Ever  (a family Christmas Story) are two short stories derived from Chapter 29 Ernest and Fay Chamberlain During WWII 1942

Chapter 26- The Early Life of Ernest M. Chamberlain

Chapter 27- Fay Barney Chamberlain: Dating and Marriage

Chapter 28- Ernest M. Chamberlain after Pearl Harbor

© Copyright Dennis D. Chamberlain, All rights reserved. The Chamberlain Story, 2021.

References:

1- Ernest Chamberlain, “World War II, Ordered to Active Duty – Guard Duty”, unpublished autobiography

2- Ernest M. Chamberlain, Letter to his wife Fay Barney Chamberlain, written March 22, 1942

3- Ernest Chamberlain, unpublished autobiography. Major Garver was not mentioned in this incident. However, he was the IX Corp Adjutant Officer in January, 1942  Ernest wrote about earlier.

4- Fay Barney Chamberlain, Letter to her husband Ernest M. Chamberlain, March 9, 1942

Alexander and Jeanette, in Cache County, 1864-1869

The beautiful Cache Valley extends fifty miles from Paradise, Utah, north to Preston, Idaho. Alexander and Jeanette moved to Logan, Cache County, Utah about the time of their marriage in February 1864. He began at once to build a log cabin for his new bride where they were very happy in their humble home. They were both lovely singers and would sit and sing together by the light of the fireplace.³⁴ Alexander bought one of the first stoves in Logan for Janetta. She gladly shared it with her neighbors to bake bread.²

In 1865, priesthood leaders created the LDS Logan 5th ward. Members of the ward, including Alexander and the Izatt families, built a ward community center during the winter of 1865-66. Even school boys helped the men get logs from the canyon. The center consisted of one room sixteen by twenty feet. It served as a church meeting house, amusement hall and school. It was soon too small, so in 1868, they doubled it’s size.²

Jeanette gave birth twice in 1866. She had a baby boy in February who died at birth. Later that year on December 21, 1866 their first daughter, Agnes Izatt, was born. On November 4 1868, their son Alexander Williamson Izatt was born, but he died just two days later. Their second daughter, Ellen Spowart Izatt, was born on October 21, 1869.

Jeanette contracted tuberculosis and died on December 9, 1869. It was devastating for Alexander to lose his sweetheart, and the need to care for a new baby and a three-year-old child was overwhelming.

The Angel of Providence

William W. Low moved to Providence, Utah in 1868. He became the Postmaster there. Jane Angus moved to Providence with the Low Family.³⁶  There, she reacquainted with her old friends from Scotland, Little Sandy Izatt and Jeanette Williamson Izatt. They lived in Logan, just a few miles north.

When Jeanette died, Alexander’s health declined. He had heart problems, leaking heart valves, believed to be caused by the trauma of crossing the plains and working many years in the coal mines. It became so bad, he could not do a days work.⁵ Jane consoled and comforted him.

He told Jane he had to regain his health so he could take care of his two girls, and that he didn’t want to have his neighbors carry his responsibilities. He didn’t give up, and soon became strong enough to go back to work.⁵

Little Ellen Spowart Izatt was seven weeks old when her mother died. It was a constant struggle to find the proper foods for her. She would not eat and at one time they thought she had died. However, under Jane’s constant nursing and care she was restored to health and gradually grew stronger.⁵

Alexander Izatt and Jane Angus were married in Salt Lake City, on January 31, 1870. He told his family many, many times how grateful he was that Jane accepted him in his poverty, and the two small babies.^1,8

Alexander’s dream of the Logan Temple

In 1860, the population of Cache County was recorded at 2,605. More than 800 of those were children who were born in Utah.^35b Hundreds more children, who were living in the county, arrived in Utah with their parents between 1847 and 1860. Therefore, close to half the population of the valley at that time was under the age of 13.

During a visit by President Brigham Young, on August 22, 1863, Elder Wilford Woodruff spoke to the young people of the valley. He told them that “the day will come… when you will have the privilege of going into the towers of a glorious Temple built unto the name of the Most High, east of us upon the Logan bench, and from there “your eyes will survey this glorious valley filled with cities and villages, occupied by tens of thousands of Latter-day Saints”.³⁷

One day Alexander S. Izatt told his wife that he saw the Logan Temple in a dream “built on a sandhill”. He saw the plan of the structure and the brethern laying out the plans, many years before the temple was begun.⁸

Building the Cache Valley Tabernacle

In December 1864, Apostle Ezra T. Benson called a special meeting to discuss the proposed construction of a tabernacle. Benson pledged $1,200 himself, and others in attendance pledged $26,450. In 1865, the apostle authorized the project and work began on the 60 foot by 106 foot building. The basement was soon dug and a cobblestone foundation completed. Then, for reasons unknown, the project was suspended.^35a

When Logan was connected by the railways in 1873, Brigham Young believed it was time to resume work on the tabernacle. However, he wanted the foundation enlarged to 65 feet by 130 feet. He also wanted the railroad extended from Smithfield, Utah to the sandstone rock quarries in Franklin, Idaho.^35a

In the winter of 1873-74 teams and sleighs brought rock from Green Canyon, and the Utah Northern Pacific Railroad brought sandstone from Franklin. Work on the Tabernacle began again in 1874. They removed the old foundation and built a larger one.^35a

A mission to Saint George

Alexander was a master stone mason and church leaders called him on a service mission to build a temple in Southern, Utah. His group arrived in Saint George, Utah on November 23, 1874. The first thing they asked them when they arrived was: “Are there any masons along with you?”  They were happy to hear that there were quite a few stone masons in the company.

They worked for five months on the Saint George Temple. Alexander, in a letter to his wife Jane said he liked the work well, and that he believes it will be a beautiful building when completed. He liked the winter weather but thought it was not a good place to to live because of alkali soil, lack of water and poor water quality.

After he finished his assignment, he received $12 and a pair of half-soled shoes. When he arrived home, his clothes were worn out and his family was in need. He got some work and received for pay a large piece of cloth big enough to make him a coat.⁸

Working on the Cache Valley Tabernacle

They then asked Alexander to work on the tabernacle for pay of donation furniture or store script. One day he went for his pay and found there was nothing at the store for him. So, he did not return. Instead, he went to Logan Canyon to work on getting ties for the railroad. They soon offered to pay him if he would return to work on the tabernacle.⁸

They completed the basement and outer walls of the tabernacle in 1876. The tabernacle was excellent training for a larger project- building the temple.

In August 1878, before there were seats for the choir or in the balcony, the church held its first conference in the building. In 1881, the uncompleted tabernacle tower was roofed over and work ceased so work could go forward on the temple.^35a

The Logan Temple

The temple was the Church’s highest priority. Once the stone work of the tabernacle was finished, the temple excavation began May 28, 1877.

On September 17, 1877, they laid the cornerstones under the direction of President John Taylor.³⁸ Alexander S. Izatt played in the band for the cornerstone laying occasion.⁸

He worked with the masons until the temple was built up to a square. Brother Card then placed him in charge of building the temple annex and cook rooms. The names of masons who worked on the temple were placed on the cornerstone.⁸

When the temple was completed, it measured 171 feet long by 95 feet wide and 86 feet high at the square. The east tower was 170 feet tall, which was five feet taller than the west tower. True to the prophecy of 1863, it had four octagonal cornered “towers” crowned with battlements. The towers were 100 feet tall.^35c

The Logan Temple was an amazing pioneer achievement. The temple district made up of Cache Valley, Bear Lake, and Box Elder Stakes provided a work force of 144 men and 45 teams. This number included masons, carpenters, quarrymen, tenders, teamsters and lumbermen.

Most of these men were also farmers, who had to balance their immediate family survival with the promised riches of eternity. Some of their labor was donated, other times they received compensation in goods or wages.^35c

Numerous members of the Shoshone nation from Washakie, near the Utah-Idaho border, also helped build the temple. They worked in the rock quarry at Franklin, or with the Box Elder crews living in a camp near present day Romney Stadium.^35d

President John Taylor dedicated the temple on May 17, 1884.³⁸

Completing the tabernacle

After their work on the temple was completed, the skilled carpenters and wood craftsmen returned to finish the intricate and ornate interior of the tabernacle.

Brother Erastus and brother Cole built four steeples. The first one went on the courthouse, the next two went on the temple while the last one completed was placed on the tabernacle tower in 1886.

They then made dramatic changes to the exterior. The outside flights of stairs were removed and enclosed passages constructed. Twenty-six years after the first foundation was laid, the tabernacle was finally completed. President Wilford Woodruff dedicated the structure on November 1, 1891.^35e

Alexander “Big Sandy” Izatt, “The hardest thing I ever had to do”.

“Big Sandy” Izatt was also a stone mason who worked on the temple and tabernacle and many other projects.  When building didn’t provide enough work during the winter, he worked in the coal mines in Wyoming.

One winter, he had only been working in the mine for two days when he was strongly impressed to leave his work and go out of the mine. He stopped his work but then thought, “How foolish, I need this money to support my family.” He went back to his work. Once more a voice came to him and told him to leave the mine. “No, I cannot go!” he protested. The third time, it seemed he had no power to resist until he got out of the mine. He went to the cabin where he was staying. An explosion that night killed every man in the mine.³⁹

In 1886, there was an explosion at the Almy #4 mine in south-western Wyoming. The Deseret Evening News, very accurately describes the event Alexander told about to his family.

The night of January 12 about 25 minutes to 12, the people of the vicinity were startled by a loud report as of thunder, and for a few seconds the sky was illuminated for miles like a bright-yellow sunset. The noise and light, proceeding from the No. 4 mine, was caused by an explosion of gas, the force of which was so terrific as to blow all of the building’s above-ground into kindling wood, sending great timbers and rocks three-quarters of a mile. Miners’ houses were’ struck and pierced, but the people in them were not seriously injured. Two miners riding down the slope in a trip of empty cars had got down to the 3d level when the explosion broke the cars into fragments and shot them out as from a cannon. The two bodies were blown to pieces and were found a considerable distance from the portal. Eleven men and two boys were said to have been in the mine, and all were killed.⁴⁰

Alexander often said, “The hardest thing I ever had to do was to leave that mine”.³⁹

“This house was not built right!”

In addition to Big Alexander’s work on the temple and tabernacle, he worked on the old ZCMI, the First National Bank in Logan, the meeting house annex in Paradise, the McMurdy Dairy and various homes. He was also superintendent, for a while of the Green Canyon rock quarry.⁶

These projects kept him very busy and often took him away from Logan. It seemed to his wife Elizabeth that Alexander was always prompt enough when he worked on other people’s houses, but could never get around to build his own house. It was during one of these absences that Elizabeth lost her patience and had the house built.

Their grandson tells the story: “There were words, grandfather never got it out of his system. To his dying day there was nothing right about the stairway to the foundation, not to mention a few other things. Personally, I think he had some justice on his side too.”⁶

Cache Valley Square Dance

Elizabeth loved to dance. Alexander (big Sandy) didn’t dance, but that did not stop Elizabeth at all. They went to dances in the old rock school house, church, and community center. Alexander would have to carry one child on his back and one in his arms and Elizabeth would pack the baby.²⁷

Some dances started at sundown and lasted through the night. They opened and closed with prayer. A violin, an accordion and harmonicas struck up the music as the caller called out the square dance instructions.  The women served dinner at midnight and the left overs were put out for breakfast. Children slept through the din on benches lined against the walls. Christmas and New Years were always celebrated with a dance.²

Alexander and Elizabeth had ten children, 2 boys and 8 girls. They were Mary 1866, Grace 1868, William Boyle 1870, Elizabeth 1871, Jeanette 1873, Margaret 1875, Jane 1877, Annie 1879, Alexander George 1881, and Georgina 1883. The first two died in childhood.

Alexander Spowart Izatt, Sr.

Alexander Spowart Izatt, Jr. described his father as dark complexioned, wore a chin beard, medium height and weighed about 145 pounds. He was cheerful and jovial and people loved to have him at parties. Alexander and Jane were part of a group in the Fifth ward that had a party at each other’s house almost every week.⁵

In the 1870s, Bishop Hyde called him to be Sunday School Superintendent. He didn’t have any nice clothing, so he used money he was saving to buy a horse and bought a large piece of cloth to make a beautiful suit.⁸ He served in that calling for about twenty years.

Music was dear to his heart and he loved to sing. He had a beautiful voice and was often invited out in the community to sing and was very popular. His favorite church calling was leader of the ward choir.

One night he was not feeling well and stayed home to rest. Because of his absence, the bishop ask him to resign as choir leader. Alexander was hurt and offended and would not attend church for a while. Jane persuaded him to attend meetings at the tabernacle. Several other men tried to lead the choir but were not successful. Finally, the bishop came to Alexander and told him he was needed for the choir. He happily accepted the position.⁸

They taught their children to be industrious to obtain and enjoy the necessities of life. And to have a spiritual home, to keep the commandments of the Lord and to take an active part in church. They were also very civic minded. Alexander was elected to the city counsel for a while.⁵

Alexander “Little Sandy” Izatt returns to coal mining

In addition to his work on three temples and the Logan Tabernacle, Alexander S. Izatt helped build the rock mill at Franklin, Idaho and many concrete and rock homes in Cache Valley. He built his own home at 331 North, Fourth East for his growing family. It was made of the same stone as the temple.⁸ He often had to leave home for work during the winters to provide clothing and other needs for the family.¹

In November, 1883, he once again braved the dangers of coal mining in Rock Springs, Wyoming. In a letter to his wife he told her he had not seen daylight for a week. He said the work there was a sudden change “but all right if I can accomplish what I came here for, praying our Father in Heaven to preserve us all in good health, also from accident and danger.” He also advised her of his health condition, “My breast had not grumbled since I came here although the work is pretty hard for new comers.”⁴¹

At home in the winter

In the winter of 1883, Jane cared for the small children at home. Alex was 10, Jeanette 6, Margaret 5, and Catherine was a baby. They had a three room home and all the children slept in one room with chairs placed in front of a couch or sofa for part of a bed.¹

The three oldest girls had to arise early in the morning to help with the work before going to school. Agnes was 17, Ellen 14 and Mary 13. They would feed and care for the animals and chop wood in the cold, deep snow of Cache Valley winters. They washed and prepared the wool and took it to the carding mill so they could make their own fancy dresses and stockings. Ellen liked to knit, so her assignment was to knit stockings for the smaller children.

Nevertheless, it was a happy time when families worked together. They had parties in the homes to sew carpet rags, pop corn, make homemade molasses candy and play games. They had about one hour a day to skate or sleigh ride. Oh how happy they were when their father brought them a new, home made sleigh so they could coast down the hills with the other children.

All the children looked forward to Christmas and the night Santa Clause would come. They always hung up their stockings by the old chimney. In the morning, they found in them a nickel, an apple, an orange and a small bag of candy and nuts. Each of the girls also received one new dress and a new pair of shoes which had to last the entire year.¹

Sugar Cane production in Cache Valley

Alexander and Jane Izatt owned twenty acres and had a team of horses, a cow, chickens and other small animals. They had a huge garden with fine soil where they grew vegetables, berries and fruit trees.^5,8 They were blessed with good crops each year.¹

At planting time, the children would drop the seeds in the furrows while their father did the plowing. Then came the hoeing, weeding and watering. This was followed by the picking of cherries and berries and harvesting of the wheat. “Then the cutting of sugar cane and hauling the bundles to the mills for grinding into molasses.”¹

Sugar was scarce in Utah in the 1880s and molasses was the substitute. Many settlers had a small cane patch. They squeezed the juice from the sugar cane to make molasses.⁴² Samuel Clark, Sr. made hundreds of gallons of molasses in the Cache Valley every year.⁴³ His horse walked around and around to power the mill.⁴⁴ Fruit was dried or boiled and stored in five-gallon jars without sugar but sweetened with molasses.⁴³

Grandmother Williamson

Agnes Leatham Williamson Lawson owned a small notions store in Wellsville. Little Agnes and Ellen called her Grandmother Williamson. When Ellen was about thirteen, she went to live with her and help her in her store.

In the winter months, many men made her store their headquarters where they would gather around the warm stove, smoking and telling stories. They often left a mess which Ellen had to clean up. She asked her grandmother why she put up with such things. Grandmother Williamson told her that they bought candy and nuts and other things which helped her business. She said she preferred being independent and wanted no charity.¹

Children of Alexander and Jane Angus Izatt

Alexander and Jane Angus Izatt had nine children: Mary M. Izatt 21 November 1870, Alexander S. Izatt Jr. 16 March 1873, Jeanette W. Izatt 8 July 1877, Margaret A. Izatt 18 March 1878, John Izatt 2 September 1880 (died at birth), William R. Izatt 10 February 1882 (died at birth), George J. Izatt 17 April 1887 and Angus J. Izatt 6 January 1890.

When Angus Izatt was born Jane became very ill and was not expected to live. Alexander worried about her as he was trying to finish the home he started building for his family during the summer. It was bitter cold in the Cache Valley and he caught a cold. Jane recovered, but Alexander died two weeks later.⁸ He was 45 years old.

Jane outlived all her Scottish peers

William Izatt died in Logan in 1873 and his wife Grace lived with her son Alexander for a while. She died in 1890. Their daughter Janet and James B. Gallacher had marital problems. Judge Elis Snow granted Janet custody of the children in 1881. James Gallacher died in SLC in 1885. Janet Izatt Gallacher in Logan in 1895.

Grandma Agnes Leatham Williamson died in Wellsville, Cache Valley, Utah in 1888. She was 81.

Elizabeth Boyle Izatt, Alexander (Big Sandy’s) Izatt’s wife,  died in Logan December 20, 1887. Her eight children were between the ages of 4 and 19. Alexander raised the children by himself and they later wrote that he was a wonderful father and took good care of them.²⁷ He married Mary Legg in 1904. Alexander lived well into the twentieth century. He died in Logan on January 21, 1913 at age 69.

Jane lived for almost another quarter century.

The match maker

When her husband Alexander Spowart Izatt died in 1890, Jane was left to raise the young children by her self. Her oldest son, Alexander Jr, finished the house and she used her beautiful new home to take in students attending the Agricultural College as a source of income.

The home that A. S. Izatt built at 331 N. Fourth East⁴⁵ was a great match maker. Many students lived there with the family and studied in the Izatt home. Some of them married into the family.

One of her boarders, William Beers, married Jeanette Izatt in the home parler on Christmas in 1902. Catherine (Kate) Izatt, who was a singer and soloist like her father, married boarder David Edmond Stevens on June 9, 1906, and George Izatt married Charlotte Stevens, also a boarder and David’s cousin, on September 27, 1908.³⁰

When Jane was about sixty-five she returned to her native Scotland. She came back to Logan with names of her family, parents, brothers, sisters cousins, aunts and uncles. Unfortunately, she was unable to find many names in her direct ancestor line of her own family. For many years she enjoyed walking from her home up the hill to the temple. She served there regularly as long as her health would allow.³⁰

She was mindful of her community and served in numerous ways and was an assistant to Dr. Budge on many of his calls to the sick and assisted in the delivery of many babies.

Women could vote in Utah in 1870 and she always exercised her privilege. Even when she was blind at age 86 she found a way to vote. She requested her son George come from his work out of town to give her a ride to the voting place.³⁰

A tribute by her granddaughter

When her Aunt Mary was away. Eva Faye Izatt would often care for and read to her grandmother. The following was taken from a tribute written by Jane’s granddaughter, Eva Faye Izatt.

Jane Angus Izatt at 86 years old is a sweet, white haired woman whose countenance radiates the love, understanding, hardship, friendliness, and mirth that has accompanied her through the years. She is small in stature but stalwart of character, brave and valiant all the days of her life.

She now sits quietly, either knitting stitches into a sock for one of her grandchildren or just twiddling her fingers over the arm of her favorite old Morse chair. Her eye sight, now dimmed with cataracts, she needs a reader. She loves to have one of her family read from the Bible, and also certain sections of the daily news paper.

Those who know her can recall many pleasant hours spent listening to her deep and thoughtful philosophy, her rambling tales of old Scotland and her early girlhood, or best of all her love of the Gospel and the Bible. She speaks with a quick, concise, yet lilting Scottish brogue of her native land, delighting us all and we love her dearly.³⁰

Jane Angus Izatt died on January 17, 1937. She was 91-years-old.

James and Agnes Izatt Adams

Alexander and Jeanette’s oldest daughter Agnes married James Hugh Adams in Logan on January 7, 1885. His father James Adams and uncle Hugh Adams also joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Scotland before their trek to Utah.

Their children were: James I. Adams 1885-1955, Jeanette (Netty) Adams Williamson 1887-1962, Margaret (Gretta) Adams Christensen 1890-1966, Alexander I. Adams 1893-1910, Livonia Adams Barney 1898-1951, George L. Adams 1903-1973, Lyle I. Adams 1904-1968, Jessie I. Adams Ross 1907-1972, and Ernest I. Adams 1913-1977.

They build a home and raised their family at 603 E., 500 North in Logan one block from Agricultural College campus. Like Jane Izatt, they also boarded students in their home.

Archie and Livonia Adams Barney and the birth of Fay Barney

Archie F. Barney came to the Cache Valley to the Utah Agricultural College (now Utah State University). There he found board and room in the Adams home. He there met 18-year-old Livonia Adams. They were married in Logan on September 26,1917.

The great war was in progress in Europe and Archie Barney was enlisted and left for Camp Lewis, Washington on May 25, 1918. He was on his way to France on July 11, 1918 when their first daughter Agnes Fay Barney was born in the back bedroom of the Adams home in Logan.

The family cut a lock of the baby’s long black hair, tied it with a pink ribbon and sent it in the letter announcing the birth of his daughter. As he was sitting in a park reading the letter a young girl snatched the pretty pink ribbon off Archie’s knee before he had a chance to enjoy it.⁴⁶

Argonne offensive, September 26, 1918

It was Archie and Livonia’s first anniversary, the morning  of September 26, 1918. The great Argonne offensive in France had begun. A heavy artillery barrage had ousted the enemy from their trenches. Archie, with his comrades were waiting for the order to go “over the top”.

The order given, they scrambled out of their trenches through the barbed wire entanglements toward the enemy trenches. Their business was to locate and eliminate or drive back German machine gunners concealed in the trees and brush.

Thinking they could make better time, they entered a large opening in the brush and woods. The lieutenant with Barney and three others went a head. A gunner, hidden in the brush, opened fire. They immediately dropped to the ground for cover. There was little protection to be had, however, as the machine gun spit several hundred balls per minute toward them.

Only a moment on the ground and one slug hit Archie in the left side of his neck.  It coursed its way down between his spine and his lungs. It was quite an injury. He was stunned and completely paralyzed below his arms. The bullet remained inside below his right arm pit. “In an instant more, (he wrote) my throat and lungs started to rattle. My breathing came hard and I thought perhaps it was my turn to fertilize the poppies. Within a few moments more, however, I had overcome the first shock of my experience and had perfect confidence in a speedy recovery from my injuries”.⁴⁷

This assurance came to him as he lay helpless on the ground, still under fire from the machine gun. He distinctly remembers several balls striking the dirt near his head and of others cutting the blades of grass near by.

They were not held for long under this intense situation, however, before some of the Americans located and silenced the machine gun. Upon being relieved the boys of his company jumped up to continue their pursuit of the enemy.

He was injured at about 9 am and laid there on the muddy ground through the day. As he listened, he could hear the noise of battle receding into the distance as the Americans continued their advance. He laid there with the dead all night. The next day some medics collected the wounded together and covered them with blood-stained German garments to keep off the evening autumn chill. The following morning Archie was taken to a field hospital where he received excellent care from the doctors and nurses.⁴⁷

After being in several hospitals in France he sailed for the USA, debarking at Ellis Island on November 18, 1918. He was sent to a hospital in Cape May, New Jersey, where by February, 1919, he had recovered sufficiently to walk in the halls. After November 11, 1919 (Armistice Day) he was discharged from the Army.⁴⁷

Archie and Livonia Barney Family

Archie’s disability rating at the time of his discharge was 75% permanent disability. However, he persevered until he could walk with a cane and he was able to drive an automobile.

He returned to Logan and graduated from the Utah Agricultural College in the class of 1920. That autumn he moved with his family to Ithaca, New York and registered in the graduate school. He studied genetics, plant breeding, plant physiology and soil technology and received his Doctorate Degree from Cornell University.

They moved back to Utah and he got a job on May 1, 1925 as a field agronomist at American Smelter and Refining in Salt Lake City. It was satisfying work with a very good salary. He worked there for 30 years and retired in 1955.

Archie Barney was born on July 4, 1892. This year (2021) his grandchildren and their families will gather to continue the tradition of celebrating his fourth of July birthday, Granddad Barney’s 129th birthday.

Archie and Livonia had four children: Fay born in Logan, Utah, July 11, 1918; Ellen born at Ithaca, New York, October 4, 1921; Dean was born at Logan, Utah, on February 12, 1925; Carol born in Salt Lake City, Utah, January 11, 1928.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CChapter 27- Fay Barney Chamberlain: Dating and Marriage  (Fay Barney is a great-granddaughter of Alexander Spowart Izatt)

Summary Page 4- Alexander Spowart Izatt Family History

© Copyright Dennis D. Chamberlain, All rights reserved. The Chamberlain Story, 2021.

References:

1- Ellen Izatt Stoddard, A Brief Sketch of My Life. Personal family record

2- Marva Lawrence, History of William Izatt (1812) and Grace Adamson Izatt (1811) Familysearch.org, memories.

5- Jane Angus Izatt, My Dear Children, A History of Our Coming to Utah, Familysearch.org.

6- Early Mining History, http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/8.html

8- Jeanette McNeil, A Sketch of the Life of Alexander Spowart Izatt, Familysearch.org, memories.

34- Jeanetta Adams Williams, Grandmother and Grandfather Izatt, Handwritten by granddaughter, 1952.

35- F. Ross Peterson, The History of Cache County, Utah State Historical Society, 1997.

35a pages 109-112
35b page 40
35c page 114-115
35d page 116
35e pages 112-113

36- Providence History Committee, Providence and Her People, Keith W. Watkins and Sons, Inc, 1974

37- Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Logan Utah Temple, https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/logan-utah-temple/

38- Latter-day Temples. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1972/01/

39. Alexander Izatt, Compiled by Marsha Ann Lloyd Howell

40- Almy Wyoming, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almy,_Wyoming Deseret Evening News.

41- Letter from Alexander S. Izatt to wife, Jane Izatt, December 2, 1883, Rock Springs, Wyoming Territory.

42- Franklin and Whitney Idaho, http://docshare04.docshare.tips/files/4147/41475065.pdf

43- Samuel Clark, Sr, (1798-1885) https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Clark-30879

44- Whitney, Idaho, http://franklin.idgenweb.org/franklin_county_towns.htm

45- Obit. of Jane Angus Izatt, Memories, FamilySearch.org.

46- Ernest & Fay Chamberlain Personal Histories, Recorded 25 June 1984 in England by Lyle Brent Chamberlain.

47- Selected Journals of Archie F. Barney, compiled by Deanna Fay Chamberlain Grant, pages 20-22.