The Story of Edward & Mary Ann Burgoyne
This story was condensed for Ancestry.com and originally comes from Helen Williams Besselievre in the History of Bear Lake Pioneers.
Edward Burgoyne was born in Crickhowell, Wales, 22 Feb 1835, the son of Thomas Burgoyne and Sarah Strong. His father was a blacksmith by trade and owned his own shop. Edward's parents died at an early age, leaving him an orphan at seven years of age. He was apprenticed to a weaver and in time became an expert. At the age of 18, Edward was baptized into the LDS Church at Pontallenfurth in May of 1853 by Elder David D Jones. He continued to work at his trade part time, serving as a missionary in Wales.
Mary Ann Eynon was born 16 Feb 1837 in Llanshipping Wales, the daughter of Richard Eynon and Sarah Morse. She was baptized into the LDS Church in May 1846. As her parents were poor, she was apprenticed at an early age and left home to live with a couple who owned a confectionary store where she learned to make fancy cakes and candy and became an expert at candy making. Gradually, she worked into the business until she became assistant manager and was making good wages. She married Edward Burgoyne on 15 Mar 1860.
With both of them working, they were able to save enough money to finance the journey to America. They were advised to bring plenty of clothes, so they purchased what they would need for the trip as well as for several years after they arrived. Mary Ann bought a number of dresses for herself and a complete layette for her baby. They left for Liverpool and boarded the Manchester 13 Apr 1861. At Florence, Edward and Mary Ann joined an independent company to make the trip to Utah, known as the David Cannon Company, and Thomas George was in charge.
Mary Ann wrote in her life sketch: "I walked most of the way to Omaha and although I expected to become a mother, I cooked for fifteen persons over camp fires every night. At Omaha we changed companies and went with Samuel Wilcox and Mr. George never made it to Salt Lake taking with him all the clothes we had purchased for our journey. Edward was born at Fort Bridger in a prairie schooner. His first clothing was a petticoat donated by Mrs. Wilcox."
The Burgoyne family remained in Salt Lake for two weeks and then located in Willard. In 1862, they settled in Logan where Mary Ann's sister, Martha Eynon Reese, lived. They had just become fairly well settled when the call to settle Bear Lake came. They reached the site of Montpelier 12 June 1864. Edward built a temporary house, then got logs out of the canyon and built their first home.
Mary Ann Eynon was born 16 Feb 1837 in Llanshipping Wales, the daughter of Richard Eynon and Sarah Morse. She was baptized into the LDS Church in May 1846. As her parents were poor, she was apprenticed at an early age and left home to live with a couple who owned a confectionary store where she learned to make fancy cakes and candy and became an expert at candy making. Gradually, she worked into the business until she became assistant manager and was making good wages. She married Edward Burgoyne on 15 Mar 1860.
With both of them working, they were able to save enough money to finance the journey to America. They were advised to bring plenty of clothes, so they purchased what they would need for the trip as well as for several years after they arrived. Mary Ann bought a number of dresses for herself and a complete layette for her baby. They left for Liverpool and boarded the Manchester 13 Apr 1861. At Florence, Edward and Mary Ann joined an independent company to make the trip to Utah, known as the David Cannon Company, and Thomas George was in charge.
Mary Ann wrote in her life sketch: "I walked most of the way to Omaha and although I expected to become a mother, I cooked for fifteen persons over camp fires every night. At Omaha we changed companies and went with Samuel Wilcox and Mr. George never made it to Salt Lake taking with him all the clothes we had purchased for our journey. Edward was born at Fort Bridger in a prairie schooner. His first clothing was a petticoat donated by Mrs. Wilcox."
The Burgoyne family remained in Salt Lake for two weeks and then located in Willard. In 1862, they settled in Logan where Mary Ann's sister, Martha Eynon Reese, lived. They had just become fairly well settled when the call to settle Bear Lake came. They reached the site of Montpelier 12 June 1864. Edward built a temporary house, then got logs out of the canyon and built their first home.
Continued below...
Edward had brought his weaving machinery with him and during the winter months worked at his loom, making cloth to trade to his neighbors for food and other necessities. For a number of years, he put in long summer days trying to farm, but with little success. His success in trading with neighbors and Indians influenced him to establish a small store in one room of his log home, located on the SW corner of Garfield and 4th Streets. With the Indians and settlers he traded merchandise for their furs, butter, cheese, eggs and other products. The supply of these products soon became more than he could sell in the community. In time, this exchange of produce and furs for merchandise [evolved] into a freight business. Before the coming of the railroad, much of the freighting was Lorenzo's responsibility.
Mary Ann made candy, which she displayed in the window of her home and sold to neighbors, travelers on the Oregon Trail, and the Indians. The business soon required as much as 300 pounds a week. She also began making butter and traveled with Lorenzo to Ogden to buy supplies. About 1881, the business had outgrown the room in the house so a new store building was erected on the same location, known as the "Edward Burgoyne-General Merchandise."
During this time, the railroad was being built, and Edward had contracts for the construction of several miles of the grade on both sides of the town. The first train passed through Montpelier 24 July 1882. In 1883, he built a two story frame mercantile store on the west side of 4th street. The business now resembled a department store with a big stock of merchandise. The family all worked in the store; Mattie made and trimmed hats, Sarah helped with the bookkeeping, and Lorenzo handled the freighting. In 1887, Edward bought the Coop Store and absorbed it into his business. In 1896, he also purchased the building next to the store from William Driver of Ogden. He participated in many civic and church activities, organizing Montpelier's first theatrical group. When Montpelier became a city and elections were held 4 Apr 1893, Edward became the first mayor.
He passed away 20 Mar 1902. Mary Ann survived him 20 years and died 21 Nov 1922 in Salt Lake City.
Mary Ann made candy, which she displayed in the window of her home and sold to neighbors, travelers on the Oregon Trail, and the Indians. The business soon required as much as 300 pounds a week. She also began making butter and traveled with Lorenzo to Ogden to buy supplies. About 1881, the business had outgrown the room in the house so a new store building was erected on the same location, known as the "Edward Burgoyne-General Merchandise."
During this time, the railroad was being built, and Edward had contracts for the construction of several miles of the grade on both sides of the town. The first train passed through Montpelier 24 July 1882. In 1883, he built a two story frame mercantile store on the west side of 4th street. The business now resembled a department store with a big stock of merchandise. The family all worked in the store; Mattie made and trimmed hats, Sarah helped with the bookkeeping, and Lorenzo handled the freighting. In 1887, Edward bought the Coop Store and absorbed it into his business. In 1896, he also purchased the building next to the store from William Driver of Ogden. He participated in many civic and church activities, organizing Montpelier's first theatrical group. When Montpelier became a city and elections were held 4 Apr 1893, Edward became the first mayor.
He passed away 20 Mar 1902. Mary Ann survived him 20 years and died 21 Nov 1922 in Salt Lake City.