John Cranmer Dalton was six feet tall, weighed 225 pounds, and had steel g ray eyes and light brown hair. He was a jolly, affable, good man and an e xcellent athlete, especially in boxing. His intelligent mind and warm dis position made friends in religious and political circles. Hardly a pers on in Manassa, Colorado, ever heard a disrespectful word from other religi ous faiths. Manassa was a mecca for polygamous families from Utah. No no n-Mormon ever attempted to prosecute or arrest one of these polygamous fam ilies.
John belonged to the so-called "political gang" of Colorado. Three govern ors, one United States senator, and the presiding officer of the Colora do State Senate were elected from this small, predominantly Mexican Conej os County.
Dalton, John C., Bishop of Manassa, San Luis Stake, Colorado, was bo rn at Parowan, Iron county, Utah, Jan. 9, 1857. He grew to manhood on t he farm and ranch, and received a limited education in the district schoo l. May 1, 1876, he married Hannah D., daughter of Jesse N. and Emma Smit h. In December, 1878, he was called to accompany Pres. Silas S. Smi th on an exploring mission through Arizona and northern New Mexico. He sta rted on this mission the following April, returning in September. Soon aft er his return home, he was chosen a counselor in the Y. M. M. I. A. of t he Ward. The year following he was called into the Stake presidency of t he Y. M. M. I. A., laboring in that position until May, 1882. In Februar y, 1882, he was directed by Apostle Erastus Snow to again accompany Pre s. Silas S. Smith to the small colony of Saints in Colorado. May 17th he b ade farewell to his relatives and friends, and, leaving the home of his ch ildhood, started on a life's mission. On the 22nd of the following month h e, with his traveling companion, A. F. McGregor, arrived in San Luis valle y, where the Colorado Saints had established three small settlements. In O ctober he was joined by his wife, and they together labored to build a ho me and fill the mission to which they had been called. He was ordained a B ishop by Apostles Brigham Young and Heber J. Grant and Pres. Silas S. Smit h, and set apart to preside over the Manassa Ward in February, 1883, wi th Silas S. Smith, junior, and Samuel Sellers as his counselors. Some ti me afterward, Bro. Sellers moved away and Martin Christensen took his pla ce in the Bishopric. Side by side they have labored to build up the War d. Bishop Dalton has represented the people in various State and county po sitions, and has always been zealous and energetic in the discharge of eve ry duty enjoined upon him.
Source: Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 1, Biographies.
Next is a story that mentions John Cranmer Dalton, he being the Bishop Dal ton in the text. (RD)
TRACES OF THE PAST
Riverton's First Settler
by Mel Bashore of Riverton, Utah
Timothy Gilbert, born August 27, 1834 in Wiltshire, England to John Timot hy and Maryann Lancaster Gilbert, was converted to the LDS Church by missi onaries in England. He was the only one of his family to do so and was di sowned by his family for this. After coming to America, he worked a dai ry farm in upper New York State where he milked 40 cow a day, by han d, to acquire the railroad fare to go to Salt Lake. After reaching Uta h, he married a widow, Anne Bradley Rogers, who was born February 26, 180 2, in Dodderill, Worchester, England. They were married for 16 years b ut had no children. Anne died on March 7, 1893.
Timothy also married Johanne Margrethe Stouts, born December 27, 185 2, in Hedegaard, Hyllested, Denmark. When she joined the Church, she t oo was disowned by her family.
Timothy and Johanne had four children born in Riverton, Utah: John (di ed in infancy), Anna Johanna (Chirstensen), Mary Georgine (Jackson), and H arriet Josephine (died in infancy), Anna Johanna (Christensen), Mary Georg ine (Jackson), and Harriet Josephine (died in infancy). Timothy was call ed to serve a mission in England in 1884 and 1885. While there he was una ble to convert any of his family, but did convert a family named Cartwrigh t, who followed him back to Salt Lake. Timothy married Ruth Elizabeth Ca rtwright, born March 13, 1858 in Lye, Westchester, England. Their only chi ld, Sarah Priscilla died in infancy.
Timothy was called with others to come to Colorado in 1888 to settle a col ony to be called Sunflower, which was southwest of Romeo and close to t he foothills. Other members who came with him were the Drapers, Nells, Ki dd, Crump and their families. This group traveled by train to Romeo whe re they were met by Bishop Dalton and others who took them to Manassa, whe re they lived for a short while. Polygamy had been practiced but there w as a lot of hiding and trouble for Timothy since he had three wive s. He had to choose the wife with the most children which was Johanne a nd leave the other wives in Utah. He believed they would be well cared fo r. He later learned they were destitute and being mistreated, so he journ eyed back to Utah and brought them to Colorado. The Mountain View Branch w as organized early in 1889 and Timothy was set apart as Presiding Elder a nd served until September, 1891. The family then moved from Sunflow er to San Rafael.
Four more children were born to Timothy and Johanne; John Timothy who w as born in Manassa, and Louvina Rasmine who died at age 16, and twin boy s, Henry and George who died in infancy. Shortly after this Ann died. Tim othy raised hay, gardens with lots of produce, may ducks, geese and chicke ns which she peddled in Antonito and Conejos. She was a small but industr ious lady.
Bishop Dalton acquired a contract cutting railroad ties for the railroad b etween Antonito and Santa Fe. These were cut up in the mountains and haul ed down to Antonito by wagon. This was too far and too slow, so the ti es were cut, then floated down the Conejos River in the spring where th ey were taken from the river at San Rafael at the Gilbert ranch and then h auled to Antonito. Bishop Dalton had a small commissary there in the spri ng of 1895. Schooling was very poor for the children in San Rafael, so t he Gilbert family moved to Manassa.
Timothy's health was failing and he was unable to farm. Johanne continu ed peddling the produce, butter and poultry which helped sustain the famil y. Timothy had severe varicose ulcerations on his lower leg which caus ed severer constant pain. he asked the Elders to administer to him, b ut to anoint his leg instead of his head. They did this and he was promis ed relief from pain and a complete recovery. He recovered and he and Joha nne were able to go to Salt Lake Temple where they did work for their de ad relatives. After Timothy's death on May 13, 1914, Johanne went to li ve for a time with her son, John and his family in Salt Lake where she d id more temple work. While there, one morning on her way to farmer's mark et, she was struck by a car. She suffered many injuries, including a brok en hip. She recovered, but one for her legs was shortened and she h ad to walk with crutches, but with her great determination she overcame th is handicap. She then came back to Manassa where she lived with her daugh ter's families, the Will Jacksons and the Nephi Christensens. She was we ll loved and long remembered by here family and many friends. The stro ng testimony and faith of Timothy and Johanne have been a source of pri de and have added to the testimonies of their numerous posterity1.
1 Carleton Q. Anderson, Betty Shawcroft, and Robert Compton, eds., The Mor mons: 100 Ye
1857 - 1906 (49 år)
