My father Kimball had never been to the little railroad town of Uintah up Ogden Canyon when we sought out on our adventure. I was determined to strengthen my bond with my Stoddard line and to come to know a little more about my great Grandfather Edwin Cleveland Stoddard, so I returned to his roots.
This small railroad town is easy to miss if you aren't looking closely. It is strange, but I felt such a connection to this place even though I had never been here before.
Edwin's Father Hyrum Franklin Stoddard was born at winter Quarters (Council Bluffs) on September 29, 1849. He arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 29, 1852- barely 3 years old. He was baptized in 1857.
Hyrum met Evangeline who had been working at a Dairy in the neighboring community in Fountain Green. Together, they had four children, Sophia Jane, Margaret Marion, Hyrum Franklin Jr. and Edwin Cleveland. Sophia Jane died when she was just 7 years old.
Hyrum was sealed to Evangeline Cleveland in the Salt Lake Endowment house on February 27, 1889 (My great grandfather Edwin was born just a few months later- June 2, 1889). Hyrum never lived to hold Edwin in his arms as he passed away on February 19, 1889.
Hyrum had been serving as a bishop of the Uintah Ward for four years when he passed away on February 19, 1889. He was just 40 years old.
Edwin never knew his father Hyrum. Seems strange to think that Edwin Grew up without his father (his mother however, did remary in 1896) and then in just 29 years he would marry the love of his life, Jennie Smith, only to bury her too and leave his two Children Ruth and Edwin without a father as well.
Time marches on, but history does truly repeat itself. I can only imagine his quiet pain when Leo and Marie offered to raise his children. What did this stoic railroad man feel?
I am still digging for answers, for the missing pieces. I found an Autumn leaf at Hyrum's grave. I treasure it. Next to it I have written the number of a Jim Stoddard- answers perhaps. Answers for the Stoddards and for those that bear the Stoddard name.
It's just a little railroad town, but it has become my railroad town, The home of the Stoddards
Beautifully written!
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