Residents of Rocky Ford Settlement Pottawattamie County, Iowa
Residents
The Rocky Ford Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized on May 20. 1848. David D. Yearsley was President with George G. Redden and Elias Hamer as Counselors and John Van Wagoner as Clerk.
It was suggested that Rocky Ford Branch and Shirts Branch combine. On September 3, 1848, a place for the meeting house was chosen at or near where the Shirts Road intersects Mendenhall’s Valley. On April 22, 1849, it was recorded they met at the meeting house. Jacob Zundel was nominated to be clerk of the Branch by Brother John Halmagh Van Wagoner.
Upon the death of David D. Yearsley on October 12, 1849, it was necessary to choose a new Branch President. On October 28, 1849, Elias Harmer was nominated and elected with unanimous voice. George Grant Redden was First Counselor and William Meeks as Second Counselor.
The Branch was reorganized on July 28. 1850. Elias Hamer was President with George G. Redden as First Counselor and William Meeks as Second Counselor. Jacob Zundel was Clerk and Joseph Godfrey and William Mendenhall were teachers
Some the residents were mentioned in the minutes of the Rocky Ford Branch (1). The original spelling of the names has been corrected and family members added. Those appearing in the original record are in bold type.
Isaac Busenbark, Elder (came west with the David Wood Company in 1852)Abigail Manning Busenbark (wife)
Sarah Jane Busenbark
Louisa May Busenbark
Mary Busenbark
Henry Daniel Busenbark
Harriet Abigail Busenbark
Margaret Alice Busenbark
Lucinda Busenbark
Elizabeth Busenbark
Martha Matilda Busenbark
Willliam Isaac Busenbark
Annie Eliza Busenbark
Isaac Busenbark, Jr.
(Note: moved to Honey Creek)
Emma Lucinda Campbell (living with Phillip Klingensmith family) (came west with the Howard Egan Company in 1849)
Jacob Cloward (came west with the Jedediah M. Grant/Joseph B. Noble Company in 1847)
Catharine Ann Pluck Cloward (wife) (the rest of the family came with the David Wood Company in 1852)
Catharine Ann Cloward
Charlotte R. Cloward (Married Elias Harmer)
David Henry Cloward
William Henry Cloward
Thomas Poulson Cloward
James Mason Cloward (Seventy)
Jacob Cloward, Jr. (married Susannah Mendenhall)
Albert Wilson Cloward (died 1831)
Hannah Jane Cloward
Eliza Ann Cloward
Thomas Poulson Cloward (came west with the Brigham Young Vanguard Company and then brought his family in the David Wood Company in 1852)
Mary Ann Page Cloward (wife)
William Henry Cloward
Daniel Henry Cloward, Seventy (came west with the David Wood Company in 1852)
Ruth Bailey Logan Cloward (wife)
Joseph L. Cloward (died 1843)
Catharine Emma Cloward
Daniel Henry Cloward, Jr.
Heber C. Cloward
Jacob Cloward (came west with the Jedediah M. Grant/Joseph B. Noble Company in 1847 and again in the Benjamin Hawkins Company in 1850))
Elizabeth Yearsley Cloward
Frances Caroline Cloward (born February 16, 1850)
William Cloward, Seventy (appointed postmaster in branch on July 14, 1849) (came west with an unknown company in 1852)
Rebeca Ann Searle Cloward (wife)
Lenora Mariah Cloward (born April 22, 1850)
George Coleman (Private Company A Mormon Battalion) (died 1846)
Mary Reeves Coleman (wife) (Note: gone away) (came west with an unknown company) (married Joseph Godfrey)
Moroni Coleman
(moved to Honey Creek to live with the John Van Wagoner family)
Ellis John Coleman
Elizabeth Andrews Coleman (wife) (came west with an unknown company)
Margaret Coleman
Samuel Coon (joined the RLDS church and lived in Galland’s Grove)
Lilly Ann Rogers Coon (wife)
Eli Coon
Mary Ann Coon
John Myron Coon
Sarah Jane Coon
Jacob Coon
Lane Coon (died 1846)
Lucinda Ellen Coon
Joseph W. Coon
Susannah Coon
John Meeks Davis, Seventy (came west with the David Wood Company in 1852)
Elizabeth Abshire Davis (wife)
Martha Jane Davis
Margaret Elsie Davis
Anne (born October 2, 1851)
Joseph Godfrey, Seventy (came west with the David Wood Company in 1852)
Ann Eliza Reeves Godfrey (wife)
William Reeves Godfrey
Albert Godfrey (died 1846)
James Godfrey (died 1845)
Eliza Jane Godfrey (died 1847 and buried at Winter Quarters Cemetery)
George Godfrey
Elias Harmer, Seventy (came west with an unknown company in 1851)
Mary McMenemy Harmer (wife) (died 1843)
Edwin Harmer (died 1844)
James Harmer (died 1844)
Baby Harmer (died 1843)
Charlotte R. Cloward Harmer
Albert Wilson Harmer
Joseph Elias Harmer (born May 4, 1849)
Isaac John Hill, High Priest (came west with the Aaron Johnson Company in 1850)
Mary Elizabeth Bell Hill (wife) (died 1835)
Nancy Ann Moore Hill
Elisabeth Hill
Lucinda Hill
Mary Hill
(Note: gone to the Salt Lake 1850)
Eliza Wright Hill (wife) (came west with the Aaron Johnson Company in 1850)
Baby Hill (died 1837)
William M. Hill
Isaac Hill (died 1845)
Lemoni Hill (died 1847)
Phillip Klingensmith, Seventy (came west with the Howard Egan Company in 1849)
Hannah Henry Creemer Klingensmith (wife)
Sarah Ann Klingensmith
Mary Klingensmith (died 1845)
Moroni K. Klingensmith
Hannah Henry Klingensmith
George Brinton Matson (died 1827)
Ann Pierson Matson (wife) (came west with the Abraham O. Smoot Company in 1847)
Elvina Matson (died 1845)
George Washington Matson (died 1828)
Wesley Matson
Georgiana Matson (died 1840)
George Brinton Matson, Jr. (came west with the Abraham O. Smoot Company in 1847)
William Meeks, Seventy (came west with the David Wood Company in 1852)
Mary Elizabeth Rhoads Meeks (wife)
Harvey Henry Meeks
Henry Rhoads Meeks
Mary Elizabeth Meeks
Mary Ann Meeks
William Meeks, Jr.
Joseph Meeks
James Mendenhall, Elder (came west with the Samuel Gully/Orson Spencer Company in 1849)
Eliza Ann Hoopes Mendenhall (wife)
Thomas Hoopes Mendenhall
Girl Mendenhall (died 1833)
Mary Elizabeth Mendenhall
James Hoopes Mendenhall
Lydia Ann Mendenhall (died 1844)
Sarah Mendenhall
Caroline Mendenhall
Joseph Smith Mendenhall
Emma Smith Mendenhall
(Note: gone to the valley)
Thomas Mendenhall (came west with the David Wood Company in 1852)
Mary Ann Sinex Mendenhall (wife)
Susannah Mendenhall (married Jacob Cloward, Jr.)
George Madison Mendenhall
Lewis Henry Mendenhall
Edmond Mendenhall (died 1845)
Thomas Mendenhall, Jr.
William Mendenhall, Seventy (came west with the David Wood Company in 1852)
Sarah Lovell Mendenhall (wife)
Mary Frances Mendenhall
Thomas Lovell Mendenhall
Abraham Mendenhall
Richard Lovell Mendenhall
John Mendenhall
Elizabeth Wells Mendenhall
George Grant Redden, High Priest (came west with the David Wood Company in 1852)
Adelia Higley Redden (wife)
Return Jackson Redden
William Harrison Redden
Larue Ann Redden
Margaret Louisa Redden
Sarah Redden
Nancy Ann Redden (Note: gone to valley)
Adelia Ellen Redden
George G. Redden, Jr.
Marion Louisa Redden (daughter of Return Jackson Redden and Laura Louisa Trask)
Helen Jeanette Egan (Note: gone to valley) (daughter of Major Howard Egan and Nancy Ann Redden)
John Halmagh Van Wagoner (came west with the David Wood Company in 1852)
Eliza Jean Smith Van Wagoner (wife) (died 1840)
David Van Wagoner (son of John Halmagh Van Wagoner and Eliza Jean Smith)
Mary Van Wagoner (daughter of John Halmagh Van Wagoner and Eliza Jean Smith)
Clarissa Tappen Van Wagoner (wife)
Ephraim Van Wagoner (son of John Halmagh Van Wagoner and Clarissa Tappen)
(Note: moved to Honey Creek)
David D. Yearsley, Seventy (came west with the Benjamin Hawkes Company in 1850)
Mary Ann Hoopes Yearsley (wife)
Elizabeth Yearsley (married Jacob Cloward)
Lavenia Elizabeth Hoopes Yearsley
Nathan Yearsley
Mary Jane Yearsley
George Hoopes Yearsley
Emma Smith Yearsley
David Dutton Yearsley, Jr.
Heber Chase Kimball Yearsley
(Note: gone to the Salt Lake 1850)
John Jacob Zundel, High Priest (came west with the David Wood Company in 1852)
Sarah Forstner Zundel (wife)
Magdalena Zundel
Abraham Zundel
Emma Maria Zundel
Isaac Eberhard David Zundel
Jacob Zundel (died 1843)
Matilda Josephine Zundel
Nathaniel Zundel
Daniel Zundel
John Penotus Zundel, Sr., High Priest (came west with the David Wood Company in 1852)
Anna Christina Lautenschlaeger Zundel (wife)
Philip Zundel (died 1833)
John Zundel, Jr.
Thomas Zundel
Gideon Zundel (died in 1838)
Julia Ann Zundel
Margaretha Zundel (died 1840)
Justina Zundel (died 1841)
Henry Zundel (died 1845)
Joseph Zundel
Amelia Zundel
Christina Ann Zundel
Mary Ann Melanie Zundel (born November 26, 1849)
William Osborn Zundel (born January 28, 1852)
The 1850 U. S. Census of District 21 Pottawattamie County, Iowa began the enumeration of the Rocky Ford residents with dwelling #1206. The enumeration began on November 21, 1850 and was continued on November 22, 1850. Some dwellings in Shirts Camp were visited at this time as well. The following listings are as they are written on the Census with occupation and age. Corrections to the names are in parentheses and bold type.
Dwelling #1206
Louis Harmer (age 36) wagon maker (Elias Harmer)
Charlotte (age 34)
Albert (age 4)
Joseph (age 2)
Dwelling #1207
Mary Yearsley (age 40)
Elizabeth (age 19)
Lavenia (age 16)
Jane (age 12) (Mary Jane)
Nathan (age 10)
George (age 8)
David (age 6)
Emma (age 4)
Heber (age 2)
Benjamin Roberts (age 24)
Dwelling #1208
Isaac Hill (age 45) (blacksmith)
Sarah (age 50) (Eliza Wright Hill)
Elizabeth (age 22)
Lucinda (age 18)
Mary (age 15)
William (age 10)
Dwelling #1209
Ann Watson (age 51) (Ann Matson)
Dwelling #1210
William Cloward (age 28) (farmer)
Rebecca (age 20)
Maria (age 6/12) (Lenora Mariah)
Dwelling #1211
Jacob Cloward (age 60) (farmer)
Ann (age 50)
James (age 24) (farmer)
Jacob (age 22) (farmer)
Hannah (age 16)
Eliza (age 13)
Dwelling #1212
Daniel Cloward (age 30) (farmer)
Ruth (age 31)
Catherine (age 6)
Daniel (age 3)
Dwelling #1213
Thomas Cloward (age 28) (cordwainer)
Mary (age 25)
William (age 2)
Dwelling #1214
William Meeks (age 31) (farmer)
Elizabeth (age 30)
Harvey (age 10)
Henry (age 8)
Elizabeth (age 6)
Mary (age 4)
William (age 2)
Joseph (age 8/12)
Dwelling #1215
John Sundler (age 58) (wagon maker) (John Zundel)
Christiana (age 30) (Christina)
John (age 15)
Thomas (age 13)
Julia Ann (age 12)
Joseph (age 6)
Amelia (age 5)
Christiana (age 3) (Christina)
Melenia (age 1) (Mary Ann Melanie)
Dwelling #1216 (not listed on Branch records, may have moved into a cabin vacated by those who left for the Salt Lake Valley)
Thomas Wooley (age 44) (none)
Mary (age 38)
Reuben (age 19)
Thomas (age 12)
Lucinda (age 8)
Abigail (age 6)
Elizabeth (age 2)
Nancy Michell (age 2)
Dwelling #1217 (not listed on Branch records, may have moved into a cabin vacated by those who left for the Salt Lake Valley)
Julia Michell (age 24)
Lavina Wooley (age 24)
Joseph (age 6)
Brigham (age 4)
Abigail (age 6/12)
Dwelling #1218 (not listed on Branch records, may have moved into a cabin vacated by those who left for the Salt Lake Valley)
James Sanderson (age 28) (Labourer)
Elizabeth (age 22)
Thomas (age 3)
Mary (age 1)
Dwelling #1219
Isaac Boozenback (age48) (miller) (Isaac Busenbark)
Abigail (age 43)
Mary (age 20)
Henry (age 18)
Harriet (age 16)
Margaret (age 14)
Lucinda (age 11)
Elizabeth (age 9)
Martha (age 6)
Ann (age 1)
Dwelling #1244
George Redding (age 62) (none) (George Grant Redden)
Adelia (age 58)
Adelia (age 22)
Dwelling #1245
George Redding (age 20) (none) (George G. Redden, Jr.)
Louisa (age 19) (Marion Louisa Redden)
Dwelling #1246
John Redding (age 70) (none) (John Redden)
William Mendinhal (age 35) (William Mendenhall)
Sarah (age 32)
Mary (age 11)
Thomas (age 9)
Richard (age 6)
John (age 3)
Elizabeth (age 6/12)
Dwelling #1247
Thomas Mendinhall (age 45) (laborer) (Thomas Mendenhall)
Cathern (age 45) (Catherine Barton Mendenhall)
Susannah (age 16)
George (age 14)
Louis (age 11) (Lewis Henry Mendenhall)
Thomas (age 6)
Dwelling #1248 (not listed on Branch records, may have moved into a cabin vacated by those who left for the Salt Lake Valley)
Saml Mendinhall (age 46) (laborer) (Samuel Mendenhall)
Lilia (age 42)
Eli (age 21)
John (age 17)
Sarah (age 15)
Jacob (age 12)
Lucinda (age 8)
Joseph (age 3)
Fanny (age 1)
Dwelling #1249
Joseph Godfrey (age 45) (farmer)
Eliza (age 33)
William (age 9)
George (age 3)
Dwelling #1250
Jacob Zundle (age 51) (farmer) (Jacob Zundel)
Sarah (age 48)
Malena (age 17) (Magdalena)
Abraham (age 15)
Amy (age 12) (Emma Maria)
Isaac (age 11)
Matilda (age 6)
Nathaniel (age 2)
Possible Births
Those in bold print were recorded in the Rocky Ford Branch Records
| Name | Father | Mother | Birth Date |
| William Meeks, Jr. | William Meeks | Mary Elizabeth Rhoades | 18 Feb 1847 |
| Elizabeth Mendenhall | Thomas Mendenhall | Mary Ann Sinex | 27 Feb 1847 |
| Hester Van Wagoner | John Halmagh Van Wagoner | Eliza Jean Smith | 28 Apr 1847 |
| John Mendenhall | William Mendenhall | Sarah Lovell | 7 Sep 1847 |
| Nathaniel Zundel | Jacob Zundel | Sarah Forstner | 1848 |
| Christina Ann Zundel | John P. Zundel | Anna Christina Lautenschlaeger | 6 Feb 1848 |
| George Godfrey | Joseph Godfrey | Ann Eliza Reeves | 20 Jul 1848 |
| Heber Chase Kimball Yearsley | David Dutton Yearsley | Mary Ann Hoopes | 27 Sep 1848 |
| Emma Smith Mendenhall | James Mendenhall | Eliza Ann Hoopes | 20 Oct 1848 |
| Margaret Elsie Davis | John Meeks Davis | Elizabeth Abshire | 18 Mar 1849 |
| Joseph Elias Harmer | Elias Harmer | Charlotte R. Cloward | 4 May 1849 |
| Daniel Zundel | Jacob Zundel | Sarah Forstner | 25 Jul 1849 |
| Annie Eliza Busenbark | Isaac Busenbark | Abigail Manning | 7 Sep 1849 |
| Mary Ann Melanie Zundel | John P. Zundel | Anna Christina Lautenschlaeger | 26 Nov 1849 |
| Joseph Brigham Meeks | William Mendenhall | Sarah Lovell | 8 Jan 1850 |
| Frances Caroline Cloward | Jacob Cloward | Elizabeth Yearsley | 16 Feb 1850 |
| Elizabeth Wells Mendenhall | William Mendenhall | Sarah Lovell | 3 Apr 1850 |
| Anne Davis | John Meeks Davis | Elizabeth Abshire | 2 Oct 1851 |
| Mary Jane Meeks | William Meeks | Mary Elizabeth Rhoades | 2 Dec 1851 |
Possible Marriages
From the Pottawattamie County Marriages, the following individuals were listed as coming from Rocky Ford (2). The ones in bold type were also listed in the Rocky Ford Branch records.
| Groom | Place | Bride | Place | Date |
| Anson Pratt | Ann Miller | 2 Mar 1849 | ||
| Jacob Cloward | Rocky Ford | Elizabeth Yearsley | Rocky Ford | 24 Mar 1849 |
| George Cottrell | Mary Busenbark | Rocky Ford | 15 Apr 1849 | |
| William Points | Rocky Ford | Catherine Allred | Rocky Ford | 15 Apr 1849 |
| Thomas Mendenhall | Rocky Ford | Catherine Barton | Kanesville | 27 Mar 1850 |
Bibliography
- Rocky Ford Branch (Iowa). Rocky Ford Branch record, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/34cc25c6-f07b-4982-9a80-8686fbef4259/0/0 (accessed: September 12, 2022)
- “Pottawattamie County Marriage Records,” Pottawattamie County Genealogical Society, 2000.