Historic Grave Markers

Grave #14 to the north of #13: Edward Meeks Dalton [(1852-1886), 14-02-06] was the only martyr for the institution of Polygamy in the LDS Church. His martyrdom was remembered with this 7+ foot monument purchased by the youth of the Church.  The message on it is truly a message of damnation for those who persecuted the Saints.  All should sometime stop and read this stone.

Grave #15: As we turn to the right, and head south, in the middle of the new row we see the gravesite of Amos C. Hatch [(1893-1985), 23-02-01], WWI Veteran, teacher, Parowan High principal, and accomplished potter who quarried clay out of our hills and sold huge amounts of Parowan Pottery through most of the 20th century.

Going west on the next row: Throughout the cemetery we can see names of families who were first pioneers and who wore out their lives working with incredible steadfastness. Among them are the names of Mitchell, Dalton, McGregor, Smith, Hollingshead, Benson, Robinson, Robb, Miller, Davenport, Durham, Adams, Gurr, Decker, and others.  So many made a great difference in this community over generations while others left the “Mother Town” to take their talents and spend their time building up what they saw as “The Kingdom of God” elsewhere.

Grave #16 on the right side of the row as you are headed west: Nathan Benson [(1826-1916), 03-09-03] is remembered throughout the region for his fine stone cutting abilities.  His monuments are evident throughout southwestern Utah and the Utah Arts Council said his work ranks as one of the finest, if not thefinest, stonecutters art in the region.  His wife [Ann Baybutt (1823-1889), 03-09-01] has an interesting history.  She longed for her homeland (England) her entire adult life but remained faithful to her family and died in what she thought was a harsh, forsaken land.

Grave #17: On the left near the bottom (west) of the row there is a very tall monument remembering Zachariah B. Decker (02-18-01), a Mormon Battalion soldier and one who is ften mentioned in town history.  He was at Sutter’s Mill when they found gold and returned with pockets full, turning it over to Brigham Young when he came home.  His wife, Nancy Bean, [(1827-1903), 02-18-02] is as interesting as Zachariah.  She had a 1st marriage in Illinois and he threw her out when she joined the LDS Church.  She left behind a child from that marriage which she never saw again. She was the wife of John D. Lee of Mountain Meadow Massacre fame.   She divorced him, the decree given by Brigham Young after she gave evidence of abuse, and then she married Zachariah Decker.  Over a lifetime she had 13 children, one from each of her first two husbands and eleven with Zachariah Decker. Nancy and Zachariah died 6 weeks apart.

GO UP THE NEXT ROAD HEADING EAST

Grave #18 on the left: Aunt Paulina Lyman [(Aunt Pliney), 01-21-01] filled books with birth records from Parowan and surrounding areas throughout her life.  She was a mid-wife and she kept records, filling at least 5 books mentioning the babies she brought into the world.  Her last deliveries were in the early 1900’s, but she was helping women in the 1850’s as well.  There was no such thing as retirement for this angel of mercy.  Her last book of records is the only one that seems to have survived and it contains about 500 names.  How many were the total, we do not know. 

As you look northward you can see all of the old cemetery.  In the 1950’s the cemetery was getting really crowded and it was decided that every other road would be taken out to make more room available.  You may have noticed that there are mid-to-late 20th century graves right down the middle of the rows, with the 19th century residents flanking them of both sides.

Grave #19:  At the top of the row turn right and go two rows up to the top of hill and then turn west:On the left as you move west we find J. Harold Mitchell [(1895-1990), A-04-04), a political powerhouse in the Utah legislature for many years.  He always remembered his roots in Parowan and served southwestern Utah well. He was very involved in getting our community two exits/entrances when they were putting in I-15.  He was also the personal friend of LDS Prophet Spencer W. Kimball and, in the mid-‘70’s, invited him to come and stay with the Mitchells and participate in the Parowan Birthday Celebration.