History Detectives Sought To Help Find The ‘Lost Pioneers’ Of Hole-In-The-Rock

    Over the past 130 years since pioneer families were called to settle San Juan County, Utah, smatterings of journals, letters, and histories have been compiled by professionals and family historians, yet there still remains nearly 100 names whose complete story has not been told. Many of those are children who were with the original party of approximately 250 people who came through Hole-in-the-Rock. (Forty percent of those on the trek were children.) Others who are “lost” are those who made the trip to Bluff, then moved on to other places for various reasons, and though the names are known, the “rest of their story” isn’t. Families by the names of Barney, Lillywhite, Goddard, Harris, Jensen, Steele, Larson and Johnson moved on to various places in Arizona.
   In an effort to help the Hole in the Rock Foundation (http://www.hirf.org/), San Juan County Historical Commission and local researchers, a blog (http://trekholeintherock.blogspot.com/) has been created which features profiles of the early pioneers in the first group who arrived in Bluff on April 6, 1880, as well as the vanguard pioneers who went the southern route and settled in Montezuma Creek in July 1879. A second site featuring the children who came through Hole-in-the Rock is in progress as well (http://childrenoftherock.blogspot.com/). Stories about what happened to these children are solicited along with photos. Please check the two sites above and see if you may be related.
   Families who may be descendants of any of these pioneers are encouraged to submit missing stories and/or photos via e-mail to jwilcox42@gmail.com. Please document where the information came from or provide links to where it can be found online. Your help and detective work on this project will be greatly appreciated.
   Renewed interest in these histories has been recently triggered by Gerald Lund’s expansive story of their trials in “The Undaunted.” Much credit for what is known goes to David Miller’s pivotal history, “Hole in the Rock,” which is now in its eighth printing through the University of Utah Press.
   The Hole in the Rock Foundation is actively working on the restoration of the Bluff Fort. In fall 2009, they held a dedication of a memorial statue of John Taylor, who was the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the San Juan Mission years. Many new cabins have been built this past year, and several more are planned for 2010. Volunteers and donations to the project are always welcome. Contact HIR Foundation, P.O. Box 476 Bluff, Utah 84512, or e-mail inquiry@hirf.org.