Hobble Creek Canyon, Utah Territory

In the spring of 1848, Oliver B. Huntington and Barney Ward, an old trapper, came to Utah County on a hunting and trapping expedition, and while encamped on the banks of the local stream, their bell mare got loose from her hobbles and the band strolled away and were captured near the mouth of Springville Canyon, hence the name Hobble Creek. In Huntington's diary he recorded the following:

"I moved temporarily into Hobble Creek Canyon, six miles from Springville, having taken up about 80 acres of land there. For company I shared the land with Levi Callaway and he moved there with me, where we spent the summer working jointly, cultivating what land we could clear and kept a herd also. We lost all the crops by the lawlessness of wicked men turning their stock into Our field, and by the frost, which came uncommonly early. We did save potatoes enough for the winter and twelve bushels of wheat. In September we moved our families down out of the canyon. Bears were so plentiful we deemed it unsafe to remain."

The above article is from Daughters of Utah Pioneers. An Enduring Legacy, Vol. IX - Utah Rivers, Utah Printing Company, 1978.
Above photo of Hobble Creek Canyon from utahmountainbiking.com.

The listing below is from Sons of the Utah Pioneers - Utah Pioneer Companies.

The following family arrived in Utah October 9, 1852:
Captain - J. C. Snow
Levi Callaway
Mary Callaway, his wife
Lucy Callaway, his daughter

These records of people coming into Utah were to be turned into Brigham Young upon arrival. Though many records were not turned in, between 1846-68 more than 15,000 records were accumulated.

Who was this pioneer, Levi Callaway? What were his beginnings? Family history indicates that about 1790, in the small settlement of Mayslick, Mason Co., KY, George M. Callaway was born. No proof of this has been found so far and nothing further is known about George Callaway's ancestors at this time. The only Callaway I am aware of in this area at this time is John Callaway (James, Joseph Callaway) who married Peggy Mitchell in Mason Co., KY on Feb. 9, 1796.

Records do show that a George H. Caloway married Lucinda Doggett on April 2, 1821 in Mason Co., KY. Lucinda was born in 1794 in Mayslick. Her parents, Elmore Doggett and Elizabeth Roberts had come from Lancaster Co., VA, where they had married on March 30, 1786. They were in Kentucky by 1794, as Lucinda was born there. Elmore Doggett was born in 1765 in Lancaster Co., VA and died in 1805 in Mason Co., KY. He served in the Virginia Navy during the Revolution, as noted from the records below:

History of Virginia's Navy in the Revolution, Richmond, VA, Mitchell & Hotchkiss, Printers, 1934.
Doggett, Elmore (Elmer), Hero Gallery, Feb. 13, 1778. NBJ. Tempest, Dec. 7, 1779.

Revolutionary War Records, Volume 1, Virginia. Washington D.C.: 1936.
Section II (17) [Document No. 43] A list of non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the VA State Line, and non-commissioned officers and seamen and marines of the state navy, whose names are on the army register, and who have not received bounty land for revolutionary service, Richmond 1835. John H. Smith, Comr, &C.
Doggett, Elmore, Seaman

George and Lucinda had a son, Levi Hamilton Callaway. He was born September 19, 1824 in Mayslick. He died on April 28, 1899, at the age of 74, leaving behind 12 children as his descendants. During his lifetime, he joined the Mormons, migrating across the country and ending his days in Manti, Sanpete Co., Utah.

Utah Cemetery Inventory
Name: Levi H. Callaway
Gender: M (Male)
Birth Date: 19 Sep 1824
Birth Place: Maysville KY.
Death Date: 28 Apr 1899
Cemetery: Manti City Cemetery
Grave Location: Lot 12 Blk 2 Plat A Grv 1
Relatives: Father Geo. Callaway
Mother Lucinda Daggart

It is not known for certain how Levi ended up in Iowa in 1850, but the 1840 census shows a head of household, George Calloway, age 50-60 in Louisa Co., IA. There is no George Callaway listed in KY in the 1840 census records. So it is possible that Levi's family left Kentucky and migrated to Iowa.

Levi married twice in his life. His first wife was Mary Frances Van Buren. She was born in Trenton, Oneida Co., NY, the daughter of Cheney Garrett Van Buren and Lucy Phillips. Levi and Mary Frances married on November 17, 1850 in Garden Grove, Decatur Co., Iowa. It is interesting to note on the 1850 census, taken only 2 weeks before Levi and Mary Frances married, that Mary Frances was living with her family in Decatur Co., IA, and Levi was working as a day laborer and living in Pottawattamie Co., IA. This is a distance of 115 miles as the crow flies and seems a great obstacle for a betrothed couple to have overcome.

As we know from the Mormon records cited above, Levi and Mary Frances left for Utah in 1852. It is likely that they were invited by followers of Brigham Young to go to Utah to help settle the new Mormon home, for they traveled there in one of the documented Mormon Companies. Times were very difficult for the Mormons. They were greatly persecuted during this time for their religious beliefs, and had been fleeing locations in Ohio and Illinois to escape the persecution. Brigham Young often used his own money to fund and supply these companies, in order to bring settlers to Utah. Levi and Mary Frances lost two children along the journey from Iowa to Utah; Lucy Elizabeth born Sep 20, 1851 in Garden Grove, Decatur Co., IA, died Sep 20, 1852 on the plains of Wyoming, and Lucinda Jane born Nov 7, 1852 less than a month after they arrived in Little Cottonwood, Salt Lake Co., UT, died a month later in December.

Levi and Mary Frances settled in Utah and lived in several different locations throughout the state. Levi was always listed as a farmer on the census records. They had 7 other children.
Mary Frances Callaway born Jan 31, 1854 in Little Cottonwood, Salt Lake Co., UT.
Levi Cheney Callaway born Mar 10, 1857 in Springville, Utah Co., UT. He married Caroline Adolpha Grange in 1880 and died Dec 29, 1925 in Panaca, Lincoln Co., NV.
George Washington Callaway born Feb 8, 1859 in Springville, Utah Co., UT. He married Raphine Sevine Nielsen and died Jun 8, 1928 in Richfield, Sevier Co., UT.
Julia Ann Callaway born Jan 24, 1861 in Springville, Utah Co., UT. She married twice; William Pratt Stephens, and Archibald McNeil, and died Aug 16, 1940 in Orangeville, Emery Co., UT.
Samuel Rollo Callaway born Jan 23, 1863 in Manti, Sanpete Co., UT. He was listed as a miner on the 1910 Utah census. He married Ida Keate in 1888. Ida's father was born in England, and her mother was born in Denmark. They had 5 children, two daughters and three sons; daughter, Georgia born 1889 in UT, son, A. Walter born 1891 in Utah, daughter, Nevada born 1895 in UT, son, Sheldon K. born 1901 in UT, and son, Robert Cecil born 1903 in UT. By 1920 they had moved to Los Angeles, CA. Their daughter, Nevada was a stenographer for a Moving Pictures company in Los Angeles. Ida and Samuel were separated by 1920 and divorced by 1930. Samuel died in Los Angeles, CA on Jul 31, 1939.
Silas Milton Callaway born Feb 7, 1865 in Beaver, Beaver Co., UT. He married Loretta Merriam on Oct 28, 1891. They divorced. She is listed on the 1920 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT census living with her daughter, Olive's family. Silas married a second time to Emily Louise Doolittle on Oct 28, 1908. He moved to Nampa, Canyon Co., ID and died Nov 3, 1945.
Ellen Ida Callaway born Apr 18, 1867 in Hebron, Washington Co., UT. She married William Wallace Crawford in 1886 and died May 9, 1940 in Ogden, Weber Co., UT.

Levi's daughter, Mary Frances Callaway, married Daniel Duncan McArthur, on Apr 10, 1871. He was born in Holland, Erie Co., NY, the son of Duncan McArthur and Susan McKeen. This McArthur family had come from Scotland and settled in New Hampshire by 1776. Mary Frances was his fifth wife. He was 34 years older. On the 1880 census, he is listed as having three wives at that time, Mary Frances being the third listed. Two of his previous wives had died by 1880.

There is an interesting story about Daniel recorded in, Utah, Our Pioneer Heritage, Volume 3, A Treasury of Indian Stories in Pioneer Days, 1996. "Daniel McArthur, a bishop in the pioneer settlement of St. George, was the owner of a field of corn and on several occasions discovered that a considerable amount had been stolen while he was presiding at Sacrament meeting. One Sunday he decided to catch the culprit so he hid among the stalks and waited. Before long he heard the sound of corn being pulled. He crept quietly toward the intruder and hit him over the back with a piece of wood. The Indian already had one bag full of plump ears and was proceeding to fill another when surprised by Bishop McArthur. He was asked why he took the corn and answered that he was very hungry. The Indian was then told to take the bags to the McArthur home where he would be given a meal, and that any time he was hungry to go there and he would be fed. He was a regular visitor, at least once a week, for many years. The Indian, Caboose was baptized by Mr. McArthur into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints some years after this incident, along with thirty-four other members of his tribe." - Emma Cottam McArthur

He was a devout Mormon and avid follower of first, Joseph Smith and then Brigham Young, and did much missionary work both in the United States and abroad. He also served in military positions as is described in, A Genealogy of James Bullock and Mary Hill, Latter Day Saint Pioneers, Kenneth C. Bullock, Provo, Utah, pg. 208, 1987. "At various times Daniel Duncan McArthur served to do military and police duty, notably during the troublous times at Nauvoo, Illinois. In Utah during the Walker, Ute, and Navajo raids and wars he took a part; also in the so-called Buchanan war. He served for some time as major under Gen. Daniel H. Wells, and was afterwards commissioned colonel of infantry by Governor Durkee. During the anti-polygamy raids he was hunted for six years. The officers succeeded in finding him in Apr. 1890. In order to save his family from exposure, insult and insolence of court officials, he pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful cohabitation, and was fined $321.00, which he promptly paid."

With his five wives, he had 22 children. Daniel died in 1908 and was buried in St. George, Washington Co., UT. On the 1920 census, Mary Frances is still living in St. George, with her daughter, Ellen, son-in-law, Hargis Anderson, Jr. and four grandchildren. She died in 1928 and is also buried in St. George.

On February 14, 1869 Levi's first wife, Mary Frances Callaway died. She is buried in Hebron, Washington Co., UT. Eight months later, on Oct 5, 1869, Levi married his second wife, Anna Elizabeth Hall. She was born in 1853 and was only one year older than Levi's daughter, Mary Frances. Anna Elizabeth's father was Job Pitcher Hall who was born in Belmont, Waldo Co., ME and was a Mormon by the time of his marriage to Mary Elizabeth Jones in 1848, in Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL. Nauvoo was the second Mormon settlement, the first being in Kirtland, Ohio. By the time he was 30 years old he had migrated from Maine to Utah, a staggering distance for that time period.

Levi and Anna Elizabeth had 9 children.
Gazchem Callaway (male) was born Jan 29, 1871 in Hebron, Washington Co., UT, and died at birth.
Anna Elizabeth Callaway was born Feb 26, 1872 in Panaca, NV and died Feb 21, 1887.
Mary Lovina Callaway was born Apr 1, 1874 in Panaca, NV and died Oct 12, 1892. She married Frederick Cheal, but died 4 months after the marriage.
Leva Lavina Callaway was born Mar 20, 1876 in Panaca, NV and died Jul 2, 1937 in Orangeville, Emery Co., UT. She married twice; Joseph Oliver Luke and Abinadi Olsen. She had seven known children.
Edna Rosella Callaway was born Aug 8, 1883 in Gunlock, Washington Co., UT and died Oct 23, 1962 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT. She married John Alma Winn and had five known children.
Effie May Callaway was born Nov 8, 1885 in Orangeville, Emery Co., UT. She married Leonard Asay and had seven known children.
Wesley Andrew Callaway was born Jan 27, 1888 in Escalante, Garfield Co., UT, and died in 1898.



Levi Hamilton Callaway was born Jul 28, 1878 in Panaca, Lincoln Co., NV, married Caroline Smith and died Oct 4, 1955. He spent many years in the state of Washington working as a cook at a logging camp. He had three known sons; Arthur, Leonard and Howard.

Above a photo of a logging camp in the state of Washington, circa 1921, courtesy of the University of Washington.

Eliza Frances Callaway was born Jun 2, 1880 in Panaca, Lincoln Co., NV and died Apr 27, 1962 in Panguitch, Garfield Co., UT. She married James Thomas Daly, Jr. and had one known son, James Laverne Daly.

The following biography of James Thomas Daly, Jr. from Utah Since Statehood, 4 volumes, S. J. Clark Publishing Co., Chicago, IL, 1919.

"James T. Daly, Jr., a jeweler and optician of Panguitch, where he has established a substantial business and has an attractive and well appointed store, was born at St. George, Utah, January 4, 1880, a son of James T. and Ellen L. Hale (Riding) Daly. He acquired a common school education in Panguitch and in 1904 entered the Stone School of Watch Making at St. Paul, Minnesota. The following year he pursued a special course in the Minneapolis School of Watch Making and Optics, being there graduated the same year. Returning to Panguitch, he established a jewelry and optical store in 1906 and as the years have passed he has prospered. He today owns a splendid brick business block and has a good stock of jewelry, optical goods, cut glassware and fancy goods. His sales have reached a substantial figure and his enterprise and close application are bringing to him very gratifying success. He is also a stockholder in the Social Hall Corporation.

On the 24th of November, 1897, Mr. Daly was married to Miss Eliza Frances Callaway, who was born at Panaca, Nevada, a daughter of Levi H. and Anna E. (Hall) Callaway. The father came to Utah in the early days. The mother was the first white child born in Paragonah, Iron Co., Utah. Mr. and Mrs. Callaway resided at Panaca, Nevada, and afterward settled at Orangeville, Emery county, Utah, while subsequently they removed to Manti, where the father passed away. The mother is still living in Panguitch. Mr. and Mrs. Daly have become parents of one child, James Laverne, born to them in Panguitch, November 25, 1900. He is now a student of Hile's School of Watch Making in San Francisco, California. Mr. and Mrs. Daly adopted Estella Hall, daughter of Charles and Sarah E. Babcock Hall, on the 23rd of June, 1908. She was born at Soldiers Canyon, Carbon county, Utah, July 23, 1902.

Mr. Daly holds membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is superintendent of the north ward Sunday school and member of the social advisory committee and has served as first vice president of the Utah Association of Optometry. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he has filled the office of town marshal, while at the present writing he is serving his fourth term as a member of the city council and is chief probation officer of Garfield county. His duties have ever been discharged with promptness and fidelity and his capability is widely recognized. In business circles, too, he has made an enviable name and place by reason of his progressiveness and thorough reliability."

The 1880 census shows that during the 1870s, Levi and Anna Elizabeth lived in Lincoln Co., Nevada. Several of their children were born there. The census also gives us one small clue about Levi's ancestors. It states that his father was born in NC. While this could just be a census error and nothing more, it could also indicate that his ancestors were in North Carolina at some point.

By 1883, when Edna Rosella was born, Levi and Anna Elizabeth were back in UT. Perhaps they traveled to Nevada while following the Mormon movement, or for a chance at better land and opportunity. For whatever reason, it seems not to have worked out and they returned to Utah, leaving behind one son, Levi Cheney Callaway, who married, had children and remained there the rest of his life.

It appears that only Levi's daughter, Mary Frances Callaway McArthur, in following the Mormon faith, practiced polygamy. All other members of the family, including Levi, chose to remain monogamous. Levi must have lived through some very harsh times, traveling across the country in wagon trains, settling a new land, and suffering persecution from his neighbors. Yet still a large, strong family emerged and descendants can probably be found today in what was then the Utah Territory. A testament to the strong pioneering spirit of a Callaway.

Article written for the CFA Blog by Donna Morgan, August 2004.