Andy, Many thanks for your information. My William Brewer was clearly not he who was involved with organ - mine died in Nov 1878! He made the journey, with his wife, from Boston to Utah in 1857, so I guess they may have joined a handcart company or tagged along with a wagon train. I'd better visit your web page - 'surfing the net' is not one of my strong points! Have to wait till next weekend (when telephone calls are cheaper). I'm sure I'm not taking full advantage of all that is available - born too soon!! ~(8-] You said "...in Portsmouth again..." how come??? Hope its getting cooler for you Best wishes George In message <35AED2B1.52952543@usa.net>, Andy E. Wold <wold.andy@usa.net> writes >George, > > Handcarting took place (for LDS immigrants) from 1856 until 1860, >LDS wagon pioneers were from 1847 until about 1869 -- when the >transcontinental railroad was completed, making the trip much easier and >faster. > > I found a James P. Parks on the company list for the 1857 Christian >Christianson Handcart Company on my page at: > > http://www.inovion.com/~aewold/_Companies/hand_Handcart07.html > > but could not find a Brewer in any of the lists. Have you checked >the "Crossing the Plains Index" or the "Crossing the Ocean Index" -- >they will usually give the pioneer company that they came with. > > I don't believe the William Brewer in the Henefer article you cited >was the same William Brewer who died in 1878. Another article on the >"LDS Family History Suite CD-ROM" states: > > > > "Summit County" > > Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 16, p.98 > > Henefer. Joseph E. Foster, pioneer of 1860 is credited with instructing >the first Sunday School in 1864. It consisted of 16 pupils of various ages and >was held in a one-room log dwelling. The house was purchased by the people in >1865 and it was used for all public meetings for a time. On December 25, 1870, a >regular Sunday School was organized with Robert Jones as superintendent. A >reorganization took place September 6, 1896, with Thomas F. Dearden as >superintendent, George Judd and William Edgeworth as assistants. Later William >Brewer, who had been an assistant under Robert Jones, was again selected to >assist in the presidency. He was affiliated with the Sunday School for a period >of more than forty-eight years, during which period he served as Superintendent, >assistant, secretary and organist. Upon his release from his long, devoted >service to this organization he was presented with a beautiful picture of the >Good Shepherd on which was a card that read: "From the Henefer Ward to William >Brewer, our retiring Sunday School Superintendent, with our love and gratitude >for your long service. June 1915." Maxine Wright > > >Hope that helps, > >Andy E. Wold >wold.andy@usa.net > >p.s. -- Wish I were in London or Portsmouth again -- especially at this >hot time of the year. :) > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > -- George Brewer