This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Downer, Gates Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/BOY.2ACIB/1123.1.1 Message Board Post: See the following which I believe is from "The Downers of America" by David Downer: 1928 LYDIA, b 12 July, 1810. Rem to Utah in 1852, and d at Wilson Ward, Utah, 11 Oct, 1896. She m 4 Feb, 1830, Samuel Gates, of Livonia. He b in N. Y. State, 14 Mar, 1804; d at Lynne, Utah, 7 Aug, 1877. The history of this family, as furnished by her nephew, Mr. Martin L. Downer, of Detroit, is of interest. Mr. Gates, with his family, crossed the Missouri River on their way to Utah 4 July, 1852. They made the journey by ox-team, and arrived at Salt Lake City 27 Sept, 1852. A few weeks afterwards they rem to a farm at Lynne, where Ogden City now stands. Mr. Gates remained there several years, laying out and grading the city under Brigham Young's direction. He finally settled in the Great Salt Lake Valley, two miles from the foot of the Watsatch range of mountains. Their house was the first built on that windswept desert. Mr. Martin L. Downer visited Mrs. Gates in 1892. He was the only Downer relative she had seen for forty-six years. He found her happy and contented on her 20-acre farm, which was always green, being irrigated by a nearby mountain stream. She was a Mormon, and a firm believer in their faith, and was much honored and beloved by all who knew her. Her descendants were numerous. A large number died previous to her death, but at the time it occurred therewere living 4 of her children, 33 grand children, 117 greatgrand children and 31 great-great-grand children-- a total of 185. In the Utah building, at the World's Fair, Chicago, were several views of her home, one of which showed her ! sitting under a box alder tree knitting. A copy of the same is given on another page.