Utah's 19th Century Stone Quarries, by William T. Parry

Check out this new book, Utah’s 19th Century Stone Quarries, by William T. Parry. Bill is a direct descendant of ELP and a professor emeritus of geology and geophysics at the University of Utah. ELP is standing among others on the front cover of the book.

Joseph Parry Biographies

To download a PDF of the Joseph Parry biographies, click here.

Samuel Brooks (1789-1856), friend of Edward Lloyd Parry

This video shows the lighthouse at the Point of Ayr in Talacre, North Wales, where Samuel Brooks (1789-1856) worked as its lighthouse keeper from 1825 to 1856, prior to migrating to Utah as a Mormon pioneer. 

When Samuel Brooks and his wife, Emma Blinstone Brooks (1807-1856) joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1848, their life would never be the same. Determined to be with their fellow saints in Zion, including their friends Edward Lloyd and Elizabeth Evans Parry, Samuel and Emma and their three children (Mary Elizabeth (1839-1919), George (1845-1930), and Francis “Frank” (1849-1913)) left their life in Wales behind and migrated to Utah in 1856. When the family arrived in Winter Quarters, Nebraska, Emma died of illness. Now a widower, Samuel continued on with his children, who joined the Edward Bunker Handcart Company. On the day he and his children entered the Salt Lake Valley on October 5, 1856, Samuel also died, orphaning his three children in a strange new land. 

Samuel’s three children were farmed out to other families in Utah, with then 11-year-old George being adopted by fellow Welshmen Edward Lloyd and Elizabeth Parry.

ELP sites in UK and Wales

Just last month my family and I toured a few sites in England and Wales that pertain to the history of Edward Lloyd Parry. Most notably, we were able to find the little village of St. George, Denbighshire, Wales, where ELP was born 25 August 1818. There is a parish church there, which is the highly probably spot of his christening. 

In addition, we visited the city of Chester in England, where ELP married Elizabeth Evans in 1846. 

Finally, while touring the town of Abergele, we came across the meeting house (now the Bull Hotel) on Chapel Street where ELP served as a branch president in 1851. All of the aforementioned is presented in this video that I filmed and narrated:

More Pictures from the ELP Reunion

Here are more pictures taken from the ELP Reunion last August 25th. Enjoy!

Parry Brothers Quarry - More Pictures

A couple of weeks ago I posted about how to get to the Parry Brothers Quarry in north Ephraim. Here are some more pictures of the actual quarry and vicinity. (Click on the first picture to enlarge and then scroll through the rest.)

Parry Brothers Quarry: How to get there

My brother visited the Parry Brothers Quarry (near Ephraim) after the reunion on August 25, 2018. Here is how you get to the quarry:

1. Head north on 89 leaving Ephraim.
2. Turn right on Little Pigeon Hollow Road (about 1.3 miles past Walmart)
3. Follow road until "Black Hill Wildlife Management Area" sign.  If you drive past the sign, you will be on gravel road.
4. Turn right, through a cattle grate and on to dirt road. (NOTE: For this point on it is heavily rutted dirt road.  Your vehicle will need some extra ground clearance.)
5. Follow the road for almost a mile (.9).  Stick with the main road and wrap around the hill.
6. At the .9 mile fork, turn right.
7. Follow road up the little canyon as far as you can.
8. Stop and walk up the road to the path that turns right along the side of the cut hill.
9. Walk about .25 mile to the derrick tower (wooden post with cables and pulleys)

 Here are some pictures leading to the quarry: