John Ockford BUTLER

                   John Ockford was 12 years old when he climbed up the rigging on their sailing boat when they came to America. The Captain told him to get down or he would break his neck. The family - Argent, Sarah, Henry, Anne, and John and his wife Elizabeth Archer arrived in Salt Lake in 1852. John at some owned a lot in the Salt Lake 20th Ward. He began freighting from Jules Berg to Salt Lake driving  a twenty mule team with a jerk line. He made two trips in a year hauling clothing, groceries and other merchandise.

He helped to haul logs for the Salt Lake Tabernacle organ from Parowana by ox team. Once he was half way home and discovered that a log was crooked and he had to go back. He also hauled granite for the Salt Lake Temple. The granite was moved by swinging it on chains strung between wagon wheels pulled by oxen. His time like others was donated.

When will was about two years old Brigham Young called them to settle at Bear Lake. On the way they were caught in a terrible blizzard and John was nearly frozen to death. His wife saved him by feeding him a little brand and rubbing him with it. Henry was born there. The bitter cold caused them to move to Soda Springs where he Homesteaded .

About this time a story is told of John's kindness to the Indians. There was Indian war going on at the time. Two wounded Indians came to the house. Dad took them in and cared for them until they were well. (The soldiers were not told of these Indians.) To show their gratitude, these Indians would come every summer with a gift of buckskins for John and herbs for Mary Ann.

The family moved to Gentile Valley but returned to Soda Springs. At about this time he was working for himself freighting flour and other goods. He hauled from Salt Lake to Helena, Montana. They used to cross the Snake river at a freighting station belonging to the Anderson Brothers. It was called Eagle Rock, now Idaho Falls. It was necessary to boat their freight across the Snake River.and reload the freight in order to journey on.

When Aunt Francis was seven yearrs old a diptheria epidemic broke out. John, her father, went out helping the families and nursing the sick children. All winter he was out doing what he could to help. He would come home to go to bed for a while to rest and to get a change of clothes. Not one of his family became ill with the disease.

Joseph Nielson, Mary Elizabeth's husband and our grandfather inlfuenced the Butlers to move to Swan Valley. Later they bought a  place in Canada but did not stay long. They moved back and bought a home in Idaho Falls where they stayed until they were unable to take care of themselves. Their daughter Francis brought them to Garfield near Rigby. Mary Ann died of heart failure. John died two years later from a paralytic stroke in 1923.

(Research):Joseph was the sixth child born to Anders Nielson and Dorthea Poulson who were members of the Church. He was born in January and they left in May for America. After sailing to Liverpool, England they departed for the 34 day sea voyage. From New York they traveled in a cattle car by train to the Mississippi  and then up the river to Winter Quarters. Anders purchased a yoke of oxen a yoke of cows.