Random Rambler: July 2025

The Union Pioneer Memorial Cemetery is a seriously old cemetery located in what was the town of Union, which has now been incorporated into the city of Cottonwood Heights. I first learned of the cemetery doing the Big Cottonwood Trail and have been wanting to find it since. We tried a few months back, but ran out of sunlight. So, since we got a little bit of an earlier start than usual today, and we had more daylight after dinner, we decided to give it another try. It was accidentally the right time of year to do it though.

Quick Details:

Length: Its about 200 x 150 feet so how much you wander within that.
Trail Type: Wander
Difficulty: DR3. It’s flat, but lumpy grass.
Elevation Gain: NA
Restroom: No.
Dogs? No. Posted on fence.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

Take i215 to the Union Park Ave exit heading south. Go about 8/10th of a mile and turn left on Creek Road. Go about 8/10ths of a mile and it will be on the left, just for a Mormon church.

The Trail:

The sign is a little bit more… fancy than most cemeteries.

Starting with the information plaque:

“Rufus Forbush buried his wife Polly Clark at the spot on 22 August 1851. in 1852, after several victims of a black smallpox epidemic had been buried here, he contributed the land for use as a pioneer cemetery and many of the prominent early citizens of the union were buried here. All official records are lost but the restorers of the cemetery have been able to identify the graves of 48 adults, 72 children, and 20 persons of undetermined age.

Union Fort Camp - Salt Lake County”

Compare that to the oldest grave in the Salt Lake City Cemetery at 1848. Just a few years prior. Wow.

”In memory of the brave men of the Mormon Battalion who died along the trail from Iowa to California in 1817 - 1819 and lie in unknown graves”

It looks like there was a correction from 1816 - 1848 that is kind of neat to see a correction carved in stone! Also, it looks like it was broken in half at one point. Sad.

The back side.

A guide to all of the persons buried here. I am surprised with all of the missing markers they know where they all are.

We noticed that this marker has signs of drill marks. I wonder if it came from the Temple Quarry Trail.

Broken markers.

It is a small cemetery, and a lot of the markers appear to be missing.

Since it was so small I decided we could just walk up and down the rows. We started with I and ended with A.

Olaus Johnson Family.

The Olaus Johnson (Nordstrand) and Anna Helena Dyresen Amundson Family:

*John Alfred Johnson, 31 October 1864
Olof Johnson, 4 September 1866
Annie Melvina Johnson, 19 April 1870
*Theodore Johnson, 15 May 1873
Thorwald Johnson, 20 October 1875
Samuel Waldenmar Johnson, 7 September 1878
Clara Charlida Johnson, 8 July 1861
Charles Arthur Johnson, 29 October 1885

The Olaus Johnson (Nordstarnd) and Paulina Thomasen Family:

*Ludwig Theodore Johnson, 8 March 1868
Caroline Johnson, 26 July 1870
Mary Ann Johnson-twin, 21 February 1873
*Janet Johnson-twin, 21 February 1873
Henry Edwin Johnson, 13 May 1875
Hilda Marinda Johnson, 13 May 1877

*Indicates those buried at Union Cemetery

I am just going to skip the long family history bit. I started transcribing it but meh. It's a bit much.

Plaque donated by Olaus Johnson Family Organization, 1987

Green Flake is all I can make out.

According to wikipedia, he was 1 of the 3 first black slaves that came into Utah.

And here is another not so fun fact. Due to the Mormon Pioneers, Utah is the only western state that had African slaves. They sure don’t teach that in Sunday school.

Hark Lay Wales 1824 - 1887 African American Pioneer

It looks like this marker has been replaced as well.

According to wikipedia, he was was also one of the first 3 African slaves. I don’t think that he was a pioneer, more of a forced pioneer. o.O

Large patch of missing markers. I took a picture of each one that is left and I don’t even have 140 pictures from here today. So there are definitely missing markers.

Overgrown grave. Spooky me wants to imagine something supernatural is going on here. Logical me thinks the groundskeeper doesn’t want to go under the low hanging pine tree.

Heck I struggled to get a picture with the tree haha.

Elizabeth McClenahan 1809 - 1893 Wife of Silas Richards

Is it just me or does that seem quite long lived for back then?

It also has one of those little pioneer cards we saw in the Salt Lake City Cemetery,

Silas Richards First Bishop of Union. 1807 - 1884

Notice how it does not say Husband of Elizabeth.

Looking back towards the front as we head down row H. You can also see quite a few more blank areas.

Sarah Ann Osborn born 28 April 1852 Norwich, Norfolk, England. Dies 1857 Union, Utah. Daughter of Daniel Osborn & Susanna Rebecca Tillet of the Willie Handcart Company

This one definitely looks like it was replaced as well.

Morrell

Elizabeth Jane 9 July 1853, 7 May, 1854 - Mary Frances 13 Dec 1858, 26 Sept 1859 - Martha Ann 25 May 1863 - 5 Dec 1866. Daughters of William Wilson & Sarah Jane Richards.

Another one that has obviously been replaced. In fact, so far there has only been 1 that does not appear to have been restored/replaced. I know LD$ folk are obsessed with family history, but I find it to be a little silly the lengths they go with it.

Father Silas Marion Brady July 3 1857 - Apr 10 1888

Another large blank patch. I guess for some of these, if no ancestors have come forward to replace the marker, it doesn’t get replaced, so I guess I kind of get it. As much as I love history, I don’t think that is something us taxpayers should have to fund.

Brita Catharina Bergenholtz 1808 - 1887

Johan August 1839 - 1889

Gustaf Henning 1873 - 1901

Oh. First one to make it into the 20h century.

Now I believe we are on row G… but it is starting to get a little fuzzy.

George Carson July 17, 1794 - Dec, 20 1851 Pioneer of 1851

This is the first one that was alive in the 18th century.

Corilla Egbert Carson 1820 - 1854

Corilla is not listed on the key, George is, but at the time the plaque was printed it was not known where his grave was. So… I don’t know what is happening here haha. But I imagine someone figured it out.

Pioneer Mother Susannah Hahn Egbert 1786 - 1857 M. John N. Egbert 1809

Also not on the key. I was trying to figure out if I was on the row I thought I was and am not having any luck so far.

Charles Nowlan Family.

I did not think to look at the other side of it, but I discovered later that some of these are double sided. oi.

Okay, this tells me we are now on row F. The key tells me there are 8 persons in the Nowlan Family buried here.

F6 Nowlan, Charles 1811 - 1895.
F11 Nowlan, Charles Edward 6/15/1872 - 9/1/1874
F9 Nowlan, Eliza 3/16/1881 - 3/24/1881
F13 Nowlan, Elizabeth Stallond 1815 - 5/9/1865
F10 Nowlan, George 1809 - 1894
F14 Nowlan, Jane 9/12/1876 - 10/20/1876
__ Nowlan, Jane 1812
F8 Nowlan, Janey 9/9/1882? - 10/7/1882?
F12 Nowlan, Mary Smith 9/15/1847 - 1891
__ Nowlan, Zanma Rogers (Adult) (no dates)

Brady

Warren Leroy Dec. 10, 1892 - Feb 10 1894 - Marion Andrew Dec 22, 1894 - Jan 4 1895 Children of Lindsay A and Ellen C A Brady.

The key says we are now on row E, and this is the first one.

Charles Williams b. 28 May 1805 Hindford, Shropshire. d. Sept 1860 Union, Utah.

2nd wife Rachel Jones Williams 14 May 1789 9 Mar 1877

And Daughter Sarah Williams Bennion 17 oct 1834 1854.

1989

I am guessing this might have been restored by descendants of Rachel and/or Sarah.

I might have jumped ahead, cause the key puts us back on row F for the next few…. I do squirrel quite a bit so yeah.

William P. Smith 1810 - 1893 Mary Grimshaw 1815 - 1856

James Smith 1864 - 1864 Infant son of Wm. P. & Anna Bengston.

Smith Twins - 1867 Isaac and Sarah Children of Sarah Pidd Griffith Smith.

Louisa Amelia Charles Bork 1839 England Died 1868 Union, UT.

Back on row E.

The cemetery again, with another patch of blank spots.

Robert Burrows Pate February 27 1801 - October 28 1875 Mary Greenwood Pate May 14 1804 - November 21 1890 Son Ezra Greenwald Pate March 4 1844 - November 4 1875

Mary Ann Brady Jan. 29, 1887 Dec. 6, 1888

Possibly another original marker! Unfortunately I cannot read it. I want to say this is more Brady’s, but I am not at all sure so… don’t hold me to that.

The cemetery again.

Now on row C.

Walker

Daughter Olivia Lovenia Apr 6, 1872 Aug 18, 1872 - Mother Elizabeth Griffiths July 25, 1843 - Apr 17, 1872

Griffiths

Ann Roberts Apr 28, 1819 Dec 26, 1895 - Joseph Jan 18, 1816 July 20, 1860.

ENDOWED IN THE NAUVOO TEMPLE JOSEPH AND ANN MET THE PROPHET JOSEPH WHEN THEIR RIVER BOAT MOORED IN NAUVOO. THE NEXT DAY THE PROPHET INSTRUCTED THE COMPANY THEY ALSO VIEWED HYRUM AND JOSEPH AFTER THE MARTYRDOM WAS IN THE LAST COMPANY POOR CAMP HEADED WEST.

…. oooookaaaay. I thought I might be having a stroke so I asked Landis... it doesn't help that it is in all caps. He added a few periods that made it make more sense, but its still weird sounding.

Endowed in the Nauvoo Temple Joseph and Ann met the prophet Joseph when their river boat moored in Nauvoo. The next day the prophet instructed the company(.) They also viewed Hyrum and Joseph after the martyrdom(.) Was in the last company poor camp headed west.

Note, I have zoomed and zoomed, I do not see the periods Landis added.

Karen Van Valkenburg April 2 1942 - April 5 1942 Daughter of Wells and Wilma

Cole

James Jacob 1899 - 1899 Rufus Elmer 1900 - 1901 Francis Alonzo

Looks like we are on row B now.

Middleton

Thomas B. 1851 - 1880. Lydia Ann 1877 - 1877 Sarah Alice 1880 - 1880 Richard Pool 1829 - 1891

Smart

Elizabeth Bayless Smart 1798 - 1870, Heber Orson Smart Infant - 1868. Sarah Ann Morgan Smart 1826 - 1868 Lucy Smart Infant - 1872 Mary Ann Ramsay Smart Infant - 1874 Mary Ada Smart 1869 - 1874 Ellen Woodburn Smart 1840 - 1873 John Thomas Smart Infant - 1884 Franklin Smart Infant - 1873 Smart Boy Stillborn 1887

Elizabeth Cotterell Wilkinson Cantwell 20 Mar. 1819 - 2 Apr. 1858 Beloved Wife of James Sherlock Cantwell 24 Nov. 1815 - 4 Sept. 1887 Buried: Smithfield, Cache, Utah Grandma lies buried within the confines of the cemetery.

The back side shows the children.

Virginia Turpin Fox 1848 - 1876

Tufus Francis Forbush Jr. 1818 - 1901 Sarah Beckstead Forbush 1823 - 1852

Rufus Forbush Sr 1788 - 1825 Polly Clark Forbush 1789 - 1854

Just a quick refresher, Polly is the first person to be buried here, so that marks the oldest grave here.

Hill.

Daughter Ada May 1, 1872 - October 1872 Mother Cordelia Freeman Feb, 12 1849 - Aug, 1 1872. When the dawn breaks

This puts us on row A.

Big marker for the Forbush family.

Rufus Francis Forbush Sr. Born in Iowa Apr, 3 1849. Died May 14, 1882.Sarah Ann Forbush Born Oct, 10 1853 Died Nov, 6 1939. Rufus Francis Forbus jr. Born June 9, 1882 - Died Oct. 31, 1911

The back side.

Another rather overgrown grave. This one I cannot explain away with low hanging branches. Just maybe the groundskeeper missed it? But it does seem weirdly perfectly coffin shaped. O.o

Philinda March Loveridge Terry Born 6 October 1792 Deerfield, MA Dau. of Abner March & Dorothy Dana married Ambrose Loveridge 30 June 1815 Children Alvin Nelson Alford, Phlinda Sylvia, Fanny Marilla, Fanny Marilla, Alexander Hamilton, Married Otis Terry 1847 Died 29 April 1883 Fort Union, UT

This is the only marker that referenced Fort Union. All previous markers reference Union.

Well, that is the final marker on row A.

Looking back at the cemetery.

Neat old tool.

At the front is this stand with super old grave markers on it, which is super cool. I wish there was an information sign though as I wasn’t sure if these were from here specifically or just old markers from around the area that were brought here to display? After we looked at some of them we concluded it must be the latter as some of them are older than when the first grave came in.

They are super neat though!

Closer.

In Memory of Oren Jeffords. Died March 7th 1869 in his 68th year.

I can only make out a few words after that. He is located here.

C or G? Williams Daughter. Quite faint.

Really old markers.

Mary Smith Born Mar 15 1811 Died Dec 14 1856 WM P. Smith Born Jan 22 1811 Died Nov 12 1893. Rest In Peace.

All I can make out is Dec 20 1869.

Father.

Wow, this one is neat.

I can’t read it, but the little card says Memory 1869 Eliza Wife of ___ Volla.

Is this one wood? It is wood! Holy crap! I cant believe it is hanging on!

Pete Van Valkenburg April 12 1812 - Feb 18, 1847

That is before the 1st Pioneer Day. Huh, the key says he is here as well. He must have been moved since he dies after the cemetery was started.

This one is hard to read, but both dates look like 1872.

Some various grave marker pieces.

Wow, this one is neat too.

You know, this is a really great display, and whoever built it should be proud, but I feel like it should be protected from the elements a bit more than they are. I mean, most of the markers are super weathered and hard to read, but I just think they should be protected from further weathering.

Geo W Oborn Dec 12 1882 Dec 14 1882

I think it that is a typo and it says 1883.

Amos Oborn Apr 21 1880 Feb 12 1881

Well, these 2 are buried here. So now I am confused again haha.

In Memory Joseph Griffiths Died July 20th 1860 Aged 43 years 6 Months _ Days

He is located here as well.

I guess they are mostly graves from the cemetery, if not all. But I am still open to the possibility some of them are not haha.

Well, WOW! This was a fascinating little graveyard with way more history than I anticipated! (Some that I had to seek outside of what they want to tell you). But, still fascinating all the same. As far as cemeteries go it is a super neat one. 10 out of 10 squirrels.