Redd Alert Fall 2008

The Reprint of The Utah Redds and Their Progenitors.

Carol and Jim Yee bought Redd books for all of their children last year for Christmas. You needn’t be green with envy…bring redd into your home Christmas morning by ordering the “family bible” today. Lura Redd’s “The Utah Redd’s and Their Progenitors” updated book with CD are available for immediate shipping. Visit http://reddfamily.org/ and order your copies today using the secure PayPal over half of the cost of each book helps support ongoing Redd family history research. Get your copy today for $79.95 + shipping. (Ask about special rates for bulk purchases.) The Utah Redds and Their Progenitors CD-ROM can be purchased by itself for $20 plus a shipping & handling fee of $3.50. Add shipping to your book orders: * Eastern USA $17.50 * Central and Western USA $12.50 * Canada $18.50 * International $22.50service or mail payments to: Family Ties Research Avoid shipping fees by picking up your orders if you live along the Wasatch Front: Salt Lake area call Carol, 801-518-7499 . Jan, 801-598-4035, Provo/Orem area call Pam, 801-796-0109

New Family Search Recommendations

The LDS church is releasing an updated version of the familysearch web site. It is a free source of records and information for family historians searching out their ancestors. Over the past several years efforts have been made to make the research process easier and cut down on duplication. This ongoing effort is evident in the updated website which is currently available to those living outside of Utah. After glitches in the program get worked out it will be made available to everyone.

Brother Moon, a trainer at the Family History Library, advises “Make sure the pedigree and summary accounts look correct along with ordinance information and then leave it alone. Each name found on the new site seeks to combine every record the church has for that particular person. It does not try to establish accuracy or correct mistakes. That is our duty. One item that is currently on the program is a DISPUTE option. Brother Moon warns against using that option since it will lock up the ability to modify or even correct the dispute in the future. Once a dispute is on an item only the person that placed the dispute there may make any change.

“If you have placed a dispute on any item find it and remove it,” Brother Moon said. Simply make the corrections you can and leave the rest alone even if you know it is wrong. As long as we can see accurate information in the pedigree and summary screens and we know that the ordinances are complete leave it alone.”

Redds in New Harmony Cemetery

Pioneer graves abound in the pretty little cemetery with arguably the prettiest, biggest view in the West. Gerald Prince, a BYU history major has dedicated 14 years to compiling “New Harmony Cemeteries” now in its second edition. Originally from New Harmony, Gerald recalls a conversation long ago that has driven him to dedicate his time to this work, “When I was 7 or 8 years old my grandmother told me, ‘Gerald, you live in the most special place in the world. Preserve the history.’ I thought I had a purpose in life.” Gerald works with Rolaine King, another champion of New Harmony to preserve the history of this beautiful pioneer town. You can follow their efforts at http:/newharmonyheritage.com/

Redds	Birthdate	Deathdate	Row
Amos Thornton	25 Aug 1868	20 Aug 1870	2
Amos A	3 Aug 1873	12 Dec 1873	1
Belle (triplet)	8 May 1890	15 May 1890	2
Benjamin Franklin	6 Apr 1868	19 Sep 1870	1
Benjamin Jones	20 Jun 1845	16 Sep 1887	1
Benjamin Jacob Jr	15 Feb 1878	27 Mar 1878	2
Clarissa A	8 Oct 1849	18 Jan 1874	1
Elda Grace	16 Oct 1886	28 Jul 1890	2
Harvey Cornelius	7 Aug 1884	10 Jan 1885	2
Keziah Jane Butler	28 Feb 1836	15 May 1895	2
Loraine Edward	1 Dec 1873	6 Jul 1874	2
Moriah Vilate	14 Sep 1867	19 Dec 1867	2
Myrtle (triplet)	8 May 1890	15 May 1890	2
Nancy Rebecca	25 Oct 1885	11 Oct 1887	2
Nancy W	2 Apr 1860	20 Mar 1931	1
Verena (triplet)	8 May 1890	11 Jun 1890	2
Wilford Solomon	22 Jun 1869	24 Jun 1869	2

New Harmony Visit

On a recent family excursion, we stopped at the old family homestead in New Harmony. This is the site where tales were recorded of a lone pine tree where the children of Lemuel Hardison Redd would gather to play. The drive to the homestead which is located on the south west side of the town is a quick one. We passed the cemetery where ancestors, including the triplet girls, are buried. Also we passed by the cute home of Lemuel’s son William, which is still occupied (but not by his son!). As we left town, numerous fields were around us with cows raising their heads to see the curious minivan pass by. After parking the van we began our quest for the pine tree. The terrain was not to rough, but was thick with growth from sage brush, scrub oak, cactus, and various wild grasses which grow abundantly. Small trails meandered in various directions, and are maintained by the livestock and other wild animals which use the trails now more frequently than people. We could picture in our minds little feet making their way up the same paths that we took. The air was crisp and clean and carried the scent of sage. We quickly arrived at a grand specimen only to realize after closer inspection of its girth and height it could not be the one mentioned in the book. We realized the tree for which we were searching was no longer a “lone” pine tree. With about five more minutes of exploring the “real” lone pine tree was in view. As we approached we were struck by its immensity. It had the feel of the eldest patriarch watching over his dominion. Evidence of a fire or lightning strike was visible to one side. But the old tree, though battered by the elements, is still standing true and tall. We lingered under its branches and inspected its unique and curious bark. Pine cones were thick around its base and spread some distance attesting to the progeny within the area. Here also we could almost picture gatherings of children playing within the shade of the stately pine. On the ten minute walk back to the car we thought of a father returning to home after fetching his children from their playground beneath the shelter of the great pine. One was struck that this patriarch’s family has grown considerably just as the “lone” pine tree’s family has. As we curved around a scrub oak tree, suddenly into view came a grand sight of the fingers of Kolob canyon blazing red in the afternoon light. The sight stirred the heart and made ones thoughts turn to the Father of us all who has given us such grandeur. If only pictures could truly capture such beauty! Back near the van we saw a freshly plowed field. At its southern edge we found a treasure of several old and weathered adobe bricks – probably the last remnants of the homestead. Oh, what stories these could tell! All in all, the little hike was a worthwhile adventure renewing ties to our ancestors by the simple task of walking the trails they walked and spending a few moments on their ground.

Hymnal Donation

This early LDS hymnal owned by Verena Bryner Redd is a Brigham Young Edition. It was donated by Alma Mendenhall for placement in the future New Harmony museum. Funds from the Ursenbach family allowed for the hymnal’s repair.

Another gift from the Redds for the museum is Jessie Redd Ursenbach’s painting of “The Lone Pine Tree” contributed by Merne Livingstone. The tree is one of the significant landmarks in New Harmony. In the Utah Redds and Their Progenitors you can read the story of how It divided the flood waters saving the Redd family and their home in 1889. It is written that the children loved this old tree and would hold hands trying to encircle its trunk but it was so large they could not do it. It was the only tree of its kind in the valley. Both items are being held at the office of Jan Garbett in Salt Lake City at the request of Gerald Prince until the museum is established.