History of Johnathan George Biggs and Sarah Catherine Steele
(transcribed from the original written by Gertrude Foutz. Note: there are also some additions that were
taken from another article that was presented at a reunion in 1984. They will be in Italic.)
Johnathan George Biggs was born in Provo, Utah, May 27, 1861 to Thomas Biggs and Syrina Billings
Piercy Biggs. He was their sixth child.
While just a lad, the Biggs family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. His father was a boiler maker. He and
other members of his family worked on the railroad, at the salt mines, and at farming.
In the year 1877, they were called to go with the Dan Jones Company to settle Lehi, Arizona. Johnathan
was then nearing his sixteenth birthday. While at St. George, Utah, Brigham Young advised the young
men to have their endowments, because they were having trouble with the Indians. He was endowed
January 11, 1877. That was my father’s first experience of that kind.
While living in Lehi, Arizonia, he was ordained an elder by F.F. McDonald and later married Sarah
Catherine Steele.
Sarah Catherine Steel was born 2 February 1864, to Jesse Pierce Steele and Frances Evaline Alexander
Steele at Springville, Utah.
We don’t know why Grandfather left Utah, only someone said that he said it was getting too crowded for
him. He liked settling new places anyway. They left Utah when Sara Catherine was fifteen. They arrived
in the Salt River Valley on Christmas Day.
We don’t know too much about their courting days, but they married on 18 February 1883, Lehi, Arizona.
They made their home in Lehi, Arizona. While there three children were born: Eva, Jess, and Pearl. They
were not able to go to the temple for their sealings until the winter of 1889. Then they went to the Manti
Temple.
Father returned to Lehi leaving Mother at Mapleton with her sister. The following spring he returned and
moved his family to Jackson, New Mexico, to a small community in the La Plata River area. They lived
there for thirteen years during which time four more girls were born: Mabel, Maude, Grace, and Ruth.
Their family of nine lived in a three room house on a hundred and eighty acre farm. He said that is was the
best land that he ever owned in all of his life.
When Maude was a baby his appendix ruptured, and he as a very sick man for six weeks. Father and
Mother both said if it hadn’t been for the Priesthood, he would never have made it. He was also blessed
with good neighbors who took care of his farm.
In the summer of 1889 Father moved his family to Mancos, Colorado. The crops had failed because of lack
of water. By this time Grandpa Steel had left Jackson and moved to Kirtland. He persuaded my father to
move to Kirtland too. They moved on 2 May 1900. Kirtland was then know as Oleo. They moved in a big
snowstorm. They moved to the Coolidge Ranch first where the Beavers live now. Then Father bought an
acre or two of land and three room rock and mud house down by the river from Orville Roberts.
Now this is where I came in. On the eleventh day of October 1900, I was born. I’m sure Daddy could have
pulled all of his hair out. I can hear say, “Just another girl” But I must have looked cute to them for they
blessed me and gave me the name “Gertrude”.
After two of three years Father bought thirty-seven acres of land from Bishop Ashcroft. This land joined
the land he had bought from Brother Roberts.
Father and Uncle Elmer Taylor decided to make bricks and build themselves some nice homes. Father
made the dobies on his own land on top of the hill where Smiths live now.
Uncle Elmer was the brick mason for both houses, and Daddy was the stone mason. He made the
foundations and did work around the windows. Both families worked hard to get their new homes. Our
home is where Dean and Boon now live.
I was five years old when we moved to that new home. Then shortly after Zetta was born. She came along
on her brother’s twentieth birthday, 11 Dec 1905. She had red hair like her brother. We all made a big fuss
over her. Uncle Elmer’s house was where Daisy Jones now lives.
We all helped to make our home pretty, and it was always a happy one. We always enjoyed each other.
Our mother always kept a neat and clean home. She loved to take care of the milk and butter, and kept the
cupboards neat and clean. We never missed a Saturday in washing cupboards and windows. Our father
was fussy about the house, also. He was also careful with his tools, and had a special place for them. He
loved his horsed, and kept them well groomed and curried. He’d call us early in the morning. We knew
our hair must be combed, and that we must be completely dressed. I can hear calling now. “My lightening
it’s time for prayers! Get down here!”
Father was a good man in all his dealings with his neighbors. He worked hard to take care of us. He had
lots of pride in his appearance, and wanted the rest of us to look the same way.
Our mother was very small. She never had to worry about her daughters wearin her shoes or clothes. In
her later years, she wore a size 3 shoe. She was a quiet and very patien person. I don’t believe she ever
said a mean thing about anyone. I don’t know of anyone that had more faith in the Priesthood, and wanted
to pay an honest tithing more than she did.
Father also served in the church well. He was called on ashort term mission in Utah. He was in the area of
Kanab, Parowan, and other places. At this time his oldest daughter was in love with a young man,
Rudolphus Eaton. They were married the thirteen of March 1903 in Farmington, New Mexico.
Then time went on when Jesse thought he was big man. He married the first of January 1906 to Helena
Bloomfield. Her parents lived where Kleo and Alice Biggs now live.
Pearl comes next. She and George wanted to marry. She was eighteen, but Daddy didn’t think whe was
old enough. So they waited till 1 December 1917. They were married in Miami, Arizona.
Then it was Mabel who found love at a young age. She married Alma James Palmer the twenty-ninth of
May 1909. Father didn’t like that too much, but they did have his consent, and were married at the Biggs’
home. They left immediately to go to the temple in Salt Lake City, Utah. It took them four days to get
there. They had to stay overnight in Durango and Telluride, and that is why they were encouraged to marry
before leaving for the temple.
Time went on and things hadn’t changed too much for the Biggs girls. Then Maude and Grace decided
they were all ready for married life. They asked Father if they could be married at the same time at home.
Maude was married to Henry Miral Bond on the seventh of July, 1916, and Grace was married to Bert Lehi
Foutz at the Biggs’ home in a double wedding ceremony.
Still Mother and Father had three of us left, but Ruth didn’t hold out too long after Maude and Grace were
Married. She got the wild notion to get married, also. On the tenth of July 1919 she was married to Karl
George Ashcroft at the Biggs’ home before leaving for Salt Lake City, Utah, to be married in the temple.
I sure did kick up a big fuss about her leaving home. Even when she and Karl were waiting for Bishop E.
F. Taylor to come to marry them, I tried to get her not to marry. I believe she would have done it if it
hadn’t been for all the people who were there waiting for the wedding.
Well, that left Zetta and I at home. We enjoyed each other for quite a few years.
Then Roy kept after me to get married. He asked Mother and Daddy three times. They didn’t want us to
get married because of his smoking, and we couldn’t go to the temple.
Karl and Ruth were out at Sheep Springs store working for Tom Dustin. Roy was going with a load of
produce to Gallup to sell. He asked me to ride out to Karl and Ruth’s while he went to Gallup. So Mother
ley me go. On our way he persuaded me to go on over to Gallup with him. We were married by a Justice
of the Peace on the thirteenth of October 1922.
Then left Zetta and Mother alone most of the time. Daddy worked away. He did cement work on the
reservation making troughs for sheep and cattle. Uncle Elmer did the brick work and Daddy cut the stone
for those buildings. While Daddy was away working, he had some trouble with his heart. So he quit the
hard work and stayed around home. He got some chickens and some sheep to care for and to have
something to do.
Zetta was called to the Spanish American Mission in Mexico and Texas the twenty-fouth of March 1927.
She served two years.
One Sunday morning Father went out to do his chores. When he came back to the house he laid down on
the lounge. Mother thought he was just tired and wanted to sleep. So she went on to Sunday School. She
and Jesse walked home together. When she went into the house, she could see it wasn’t natural sleep and
called Jesse. They could see he was in a coma. They called the doctor, but he couldn’t wake him. He
passed away Monday at 1:00P.M., 31 March 1930.
Mother and Zetta went on to Utah and visited with Aunt Eva and Aunt Lyd, her sisters for a while in Provo,
Utah.
On 23 February 1932, the family circle was saddened by the death of Mabel Biggs Palmer in child bearing.
She lived five days after her baby, Bruce, was born. She was the second one of the family to depart this
world, as a stillborn sister had preceded her on 30 September 1908.
In the meantime Zetta met Wilford Brimhall. They married in the Mesa Temple the twenty-ninth of
November in 1933. Tabby, as nickname for Wilford, and Zetta lived with Grandmother for sometime to
care for her. Two of their children were born there.
Mother’s last birthday dinner was at my home. She had had ill heath for sometime. There was always
trouble with her lungs. She died from flu and pneumonia the sixth of March 1939.
Since that time, other family members have departed this life to join their Father and Mother in the Spirit
World: Jesse Biggs on 8 November 1949, Eva Biggs Eaton on 11 January 1966, and Maude Bond on 7
February 1970.
The family consisted of nine girls and one boy. All the children of the family have had temple marriages
and sealings.
Gertrude Foutz.
----(The following is an extract for a presentation made on the Biggs reunion 1984)
-----
Evaline was born Nov. 1, 1883. Eva started school at the age of 8 at Kirtland. She had schooling
equivalent to our 8th grade. In those days there were no grades. At the age of about 14 years she went out
to work. It took everyone to help support a large family in those days. At the age of 19, she married
Wallace Rodopphus Eaton, March 13, 1903, at Farmington. At that time no marriage license was required.
Eva’s greatest pride was her children, two born in Kirtland and 8 born in Kline, Colorado. Their children
are Darrell, Lillian, Ray, Erma, Jessie, Randy, Oren, Franklin, Johnny, and Flora. She was always a devout
mother. She always did what was asked of her in the church. No matter what kind of home was provided
for her, there was never any words of complaint and she always kept it clean.
She died Jan. 11, 1966 at age of 82. She left 58 grandchildren, 101 great grandchildren and 1 great great
grandchild. Several have been added to her posterity since.
Jess Biggs, second child and only son out of ten children of Johnathan and Sara, was born Dec 11, 1885.
When he was just big enough to wear a pair of pants with pockets in them, he was also old enough to pull
those cute boyish pranks. It seems he just loved those little toads and his pants pockets were perfect to put
them in . It didn’t thrill anyone, but his dad thought it was the cutest thing he had ever seen. He did like to
tease all his sisters. I bet they did him too.
After his dad suffered sunstroke they had to move from Lehi to a cooler place. Being down sick with
diphtheria Jess was quarantined at home while his father looked for a new place to live. The family moves
to Jackson on the LaPlata in 1890, when Jess was five. They lived on the LaPlata, back and forth to
Mancos and Oleo, finally settling for good in Oleo. Jess helped his father with chores and with making
adobes.
On Jan. 8, 1906, in the home of his parents, Jess Biggs married Helena Bloomfield. A few days later, by
wagon, they left for Mancos, where they took the train to Salt Lake City to be married in the temple. They
had a fine family of 11 children. Their children: Zella, Theion, Kleo, Vivien, Paul, Horace, Wilford,
Bonnie, Clair, and two infant boys who died in infancy. Helena passed away in 1937 leaving five children
yet at home with him. Jess married Sarah Pearl Nelson Gallagher, she having two children at home
herself.
Jess lived right next door to his parents and he was always thoughtful of them. He and his sisters like to
play cards. He was asked once about playing cards with a bunch of women. His response was “lived
around them all my life. It don’t bother me.” They didn’t gamble. It was just for fun.
When Jess was in the bishopric, he came home and said, “They’re all talking about us playing cards.” The
sisters got a little concerned that he might stop playing with them. But he didn’t see what they did for
entertainment was any more wrong, than playing ball or anything else. So he continued to enjoy his card
games.
(they show a slide of Jess Biggs and sons.) This is the only family group picture we have of Jess and part
of his family. Of course we always recognize Kleo with his head down. He hated to have his picture
taken.
(Show slide of Jess Biggs) While sorting apples for his Indian friends, on the 8th of Nov 1949, quite
suddenly Jess passed away. He is buried in the Kirtland Cemetery with his wife Helena, baby boys, son
Vivienne, daughter Zella, and his son Kleo, in the year of 1983.
(Show slide of Pearl at age 16)
This is Pearl at age 16. She entered the home of Johnathan and Sarah on March 21, 1888. She was three
years old when the family moved to Jackson. While living at Jackson she had four little sisters born. They
were Mabel, Maude, Grace, and Ruth. It was while they all lived here that their dad and Elmer Taylor, Lou
Burnham, Clark Roberts, and many others decided to build a reservoir to store water for their crops. It is
now know as Jackson Lake. Earl remembered walking from home to take dad’s lunch to him. Shortly after
Ruth was born the family moved to Mancos, Colorado, where they lived for two years. Pearl and Jess were
both baptized on the same day at Mancos. Jess was 11 and she wass 8. Jess couldn’t be baptized sooner
because there was no water. When the family moved to Oleo, now know as Kirtland, Eva and Jess walked
all the way driving the stock.
Pearl left home to go to school at Provo at the BYU Academy. She lived with several families and worked
for her room and board. She really enjoyed school in Provo and graduated from the 8th grade. She stayed
there for three years then returned home and worked at different places.
(Slide of George and Pearl)
She met George Lee when all the families moved from Tuba City, Arizona to here. They went together off
and on for 15 years. When George wrote and asked her to marry him, they hadn’t seen one another for
seven years. He sent her the money to go to Globe, Arizona. She told her father she was going to marry
George, so he went with her and they married 1 Dec. 1917. They lived in Globe for four months then
moved to Kirtland where they made their home.
(slide of George and Pearl family)
To their union were born four children; Clyde, Marian, Faun, and Faye. George worked on the Reservation
quite a bit so they spent a lot of their time on the reservation, while the children were young.
Pearl loved to quilt and made a quilt for each of her grandchildren as well as some of her great
grandchildren.
Her and George labored many years as missionaries with the Lamanites.
Pearl lived longer than any of the family members for 94 years. She saw many changes in her lifetime.
She left this life Nov 26, 1982.
(slide showing other half of family group sheet)
Now lets talk about the remaining children on the sheet. First there is Mabel, Maude, Grace, Gertrude, and
Zetta.
Mabel joined the family on a warm summer day 25 July 1891. She was born in their frame house that was
shaded by a large cottonwood tree, near the river, on their 180 acre farm at Jackson. Johnathan said that
was the best land he ever owned but the were not able to supply enough water.
Aunt Ruth recalled many things about Mabel. She said Alma (I think instead of Alma, it should be
Mabel.)has a disposition a lot like her mothers’.
When Mabel was a teenager, she and a group of girls were walking, talking, and laughing along the road.
A young man, two years their senior, cam prancing along on his pony and grabbing Mabel by the hand ran
her up the road to ask her to go out with him.
Al and Mabel enjoyed good times together, but the other kids teased them so much they decided to quit
going together. About a year later they began their courtship in earnest. Aunt Ruth remembered the day
Mabel got married. Loncey Tanner, her friend, came over to help Mabel get ready. Aunt Ruth, who was
eleven sat on the bed and watched her comb Mabel’s hair, cinch up the corset and help her get into her
dress. It was the prettiest white dress Ruth had ever seen. Mabel’s whole marriage wardrobe cost her only
$15.00.
Mabel always loved her family and was concerned about everyone’s welfare around her.
(slide of Al & Mabel and family)
Al and Mabel had 8 children. Mabel suffered greatly with each birth. After her fourth child the doctor told
her to not have any more. (Name of the family members: Leon, Madge, Elmo, Lyle, Alma, Dale, Jack.
There are not in this picture are: Dale, Jack, and Lyle.
When baby Bruce was born, Mabel lived only 5 days. She was buried in the Kirtland Cemetery, Feb 25,
1925.
(Slide of Maude Bond)
Maude Syrina was born 27 July 1893, in Jackson. I would imagine by the time she came along, here father
would have liked another son. Maude married Henry Miral Bond. To their union were born four sons and
one daughter.
(Slide of Maude and Miral and family)
Their children: Dean, Rees, Clayton, Theo, and Winifred.
Maude was a devoted mother and housekeeper. Her love was great for her children. A good example of
this was when Reese was run over by a pick-up and broke his hip and leg. For six months he was in a cast
and you know the trouble an eleven year old boy will be in this condition, but Maude never lost her
patience with Reese.
She taught her family to serve the country. Reese was killed while fighting in World War II. Dean spent
five years in the World War II. Clayton served on the front during the Korean War, and Theo served four
years with the Navy. Her daughter Winifred, worked in the war plants during this time in Los Angeles.
Maude was kind and kept a clean house. She took the time to stop and talk and joke with you. She was
straight forward and knew her mind. She passed this life on Feb 7,1970.
(slide of all children of Johnathan Biggs)
Grace was born into the family 16 Nov 1895. She is now the oldest living descendent. We are thankful she
is here with us today.
She started to school when she was six. They had to walk two miles to the old white schoolhouse in
Fruitland. It was also used as a church. Her first school teacher was Miss Martin. She was baptized by
H.T. Stolworthy, in the San Juan River, down by the old flour mill.
She went to work in different homes as a housemaid. She also picked and packed apples. She married Bert
Foutz on July 7, 1916. It was a double wedding with Maude and Miral Bond at home.
(Slide of Bert and Grace’s family group.)
They had nine children. Two children died while very young. Children: Murry, Renold, Velma, Reed,
Allen, Vyrl, J.B., Bernice, and Maureen.
Grace and Bert were hard workers. She is fine mother and always has a warm greeting.
(Slide – a baby picture of Murray)
This is Grace nad Bert’s first-born, Murray. Wasn;t he a beautiful baby! He served a mission for the
church and as other sons served the country in the service.
Bert and Grace were fortunate to have many years of companionship. They were married for 59 years at
the time of her beloved husband’s death.
(Slide of Aunt Ruth at age 17)
On January 26, 1898, there came into the home of Johnathan & Sarah Biggs another chosen spirit. They
called her Ruth. On that day it was probably a cold day. There was no Dr., no electricity, no telephone, no
TV. The hardships of life were there in that home. The crops had failed two years,. And a new home had
to be found for the family. This was the heritage and the spirit of the home when Ruth came. Yet she was
welcomed with open arms.
This picture was taken of her when she was 17 years old. Wasn’t she pretty.
When she started to school and her and the other children had to walk to school. She was always afraid that
the Indians would hide in the tall weeds that grew beside the road. The Indians crossed the river on
horseback and would go right by their corral so she didn’t play out much of the time and she hardly dared
gather the eggs. She never was rid of this fear even though she spent a great deal of her life on the
reservation.
(Slide of Ruth and Karl)
After the return of Karl Ashcroft from the war, they married, they then left for Salt Lake City to be sealed.
This was a thrill for her to get married and then go to a big city on their honeymoon. This was the first
venture for her into a city and she really enjoyed it.
Karl was a sheep trader and trading post man all his life. So they were on the reservation much of the time
with him but they did make Kirtland their permanent home and Karl traveled back and forth.
They were blessed with children: Kay, Gordan, Lavonne, Stewart Van, and Lamar. While living at
Greesewood Springs, Arizona, they lost their third child Stewart Van at 4 months old.
Ruth’s life revolved around her family. She held many church positions. She was always cheerful and
was a good neighbor and friend to those around her. She was great for going and visiting her sisters and
friends who might need a lift.
Ruth always had a strong testimony of the gospel. She left this life just over a year ago to join her husband,
Stewart Vann, Lavonne, six sisters, one brother, and her parents.
Father and Mother Biggs moved their children to Oleo (Kirtland) in the middle of a big snowstorm May 2,
1900. They moved to the Coolidge Ranch where the Beavers line now. Then later Father bought an acre
or two of land and a three room rock and mud house down by the river from Orville Roberts. This is where
Gertrude came into the picture, on 11 Oct 1900.
After two or three years Father bought thirty-seven acres of land from Bishop Ashcroft. This land joined
the land he had bought from Brother Roberts. Father and Uncle Elmer Taylor decided to make bricks and
build themselves some nice homes. Father made the dobies on his own land on top of the hill about where
the Smiths live now.
Uncle Elmer was the brick mason for both houses and Johnathan was the stone mason. They both worked
hard. This slide is their new home. Bonna Bond lives in this home now. Elmer Taylor’s home is the one
Daisy Jones lives in now.
(Slide Gertrude at age 16)
Gertrude or Trude was five when they moved into the new home. They all worked hard to make their
home pretty and clean. Trude was a delightful child and still is lots of fun to be around. As a child her
daddy used to tell her that she didn’t fear anything.
When she was 14 Johnathan bought the family a new ford. He gave them a book to read all about it’s parts.
So she thought they could fix anything. After their work was done, they would all go out to the car in the
barn and study the book. They did learn how to change tires, spark plugs, and crank. Ha! Ha! :Crank”.
They all broke their backs on that Ford, including their nephew Theone Biggs.
Trude was always up to something including plowing up the front lawn without Daddy’s knowledge, then
worried such over what he dad would say because he had just planted new trees. But she was tired of
waiting for grass and flowers to be planted so she went right to work.
Aunt Trude married Leroy Foutz on 13 Oct 1922. He had asked for her hand before but Mother and Daddy
said no. They did go ahead and get married in Gallup however. To their union was born Eleanor, Keith,
Phil, Cal, Catherine, and Arliss.
She has had a good rich life, full of laughter, story telling, giving readings, and service in the church and to
those around her. We are happy she is here with us today.
(Slide of Zetta when young)
Zetta was born 11 Dec 1905 at Kirtland in the new brick home. She is thankful she was permitted to be
born into this wonderful family. Another girl was also born after her but she was stillborn.
At the age of 8 she began her school days in the old red brick chapel at Kirtland. She graduated in 1924
with a class of two. The other one was May Bloomfield. They held their graduation exercises with the 8th
grade class. Kleo Biggs her nephew and Rex Bloomfield.
After she was out of school, she spent much of her time on the reservation with Ruth and Getrude. She was
called on a Mexican Mission in Texas in 1927. Ruth and Trude supported her financially on her mission.
She is thankful for that.
On the 31st of March 1933, Lois Palmer and Hathe Foutz came after her at Pearl’s. They said Daddy had a
stroke. Before they could arrive home he had passed away. She then stayed home with mother.
Zetta married Wilford Lawrence Brimhall known as Uncle Tabby, on 29 Nov 1933.
After five long years of hoping and praying, they were blessed with children. Lavan, who lived for only
about 10 years, Ralph, Rosalie, Marva, and here twin brother, Marvin who lived only a day.
Slide of Rosalee, Ralph, and Marva Brimhall.)
Mother Sarah passed away nine years after father Johnathan.