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Reunion
News and Report
President's Message
It's been nearly
two months since our reunion in St. George. I believe it was a wonderful
time for all that were able to attend. At our next reunion we will plan
for a full day. This year it was sandwiched in between Mountain Meadows
activities.
The Reunion in St George
- We enjoyed hearing
from the great grandson of Isaac Morley. He talked about his relationship
with John D. Lee. They worked together at Farr West, Nauvoo, and at
Summer Quarters. Isaac had also given John his patriarchal blessing.
- Jackie Coleman,
a great granddaughter of Aggatha Ann, portrayed Aggatha. She told
of having their cabin burned while John was helping at Farr West.
How she and her daughter, Sarah Jane, had survived under a quilt for
several days in November. They didn't know if John was alive or dead,
and then the happy reunion, when John rode back to find them.
- Joan Landes
thrilled us with her portrayal of Rachel. Joan is a great granddaughter
of Rachel. We all laughed and enjoyed her story. It was the highlight
of the afternoon.
- Renee Durfee
and Stella Shamo gave an update on our family geneology research.
- Lyman Platt
was our keynote speaker. He lives in New Harmony. He and his wife
Karen are spearheading the re-building of Old New Harmony Fort. Also
they plan to have a museum there with artifacts of John D. Lee and
others that lived at the fort.
- The Lee family
donated eight pictures of family members for the museum. We
need more of the pictures of some of the wives and of the children
born in New Harmony and Kanarra.
- Stella Shamo
plans to give several antique furniture pieces to the museum. If you
are interested in helping with the building of the museum or in donating
artifacts, please call or write to me.
New
Harmony
Monday, September 10, 2007 we met at the New Harmony Library located
just north of the foundation of Fort Harmony. At this time there is
an archaeological dig being done by BYU at the Fort. If the money can
be obtained from grants and donations the fort will be rebuilt. Also
the museum will be built there.
- After touring
the fort area, we then drove the five miles into the town of New Harmony
and went to the LDS church. Several ladies from New Harmony put together
a lunch for us, we had chili with all the trimmings and hot, home-made
bread and rolls. Rolaine King had displays for us in the cultural
hall.
- Rolaine King's
group is also planning another small museum in the town of New Harmony.
As a Lee family we will want to donate money and artifacts for their
museum also.
- We then had a
tour of John D. Lee's farm. It is much like it was 150 years ago.
The corral is in the same place. The houses are gone, but the bricks
are still being plowed up in one field. We were all able to either
bring home a brick or part of a brick made by John D. Lee.
- We saw where
their houses would have stood. We saw where they baptized and also
where the fishing pond was. The mulberry trees and wild roses that
John planted are still there.
- We then went
to the old cemetery where Aggatha Ann is buried. Caroline's children
that were killed when the fort caved in are buried there too..
There were 80 of
us that took the tour. We were all thrilled with what we were able to
see.
The
Statue of John D Lee
Also the seven foot bronze statue of John D. Lee was bought by several
family members. It now belongs to the Lee family. The statue is in storage
at this time. When the museum is built it will be placed there.
Again
we do ask for family donations to help put together this museum which
will honor our grandfather, John D. Lee.
Checks should be
made out to the Lee's Ferry Foundation. Include which museums that you
want your donation to go to, Lyman Platt, or Rolaine King.
Address the checks
to my address:
Leslie
Moon
241
N. Vine St. #1102 West
Salt Lake City, Utah 84103
Donate
for the next Lee Reunion
It cost the Lee Ferry Foundation $800.00 to put together our reunion
in September. We will probably not send out flyers for the next reunion
in two years. The postage was our largest expenditure.
We
would encourage a $10.00 membership fee from each family
to be used for future reunions.
- Checks should
be made out to the Lee Ferry Foundation.
- We need your
e-mail addresses so we can keep you updated on what is happening.
Please send e-mail addresses for other family members you are aware
of. We would love to hear from you with your ideas for the John D.
Lee family.
Leslie Moon - President
of the Lee Family Organization.
e-mail moonpower@peoplepc.com
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