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The Pioneer Story of
John Hoyle Chew and his wife Mary Eliza Metcalf Chew

Vernal Express Newspaper 17 July 1941

Pioneer Couple Celebrate 60th Anniversary at Historic Pat’s Hole

In the picturesque setting of the wild rugged beauty of their ranch home at Pool Creek near the junction of the Yampa and Green rivers whose canyons are the marvel of America, Mr. and Mrs. John H. Chew celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary July 9, where they have lived for the past 31 years, fifty miles northeast of Jensen.

Parents of twelve living children, grandparents of twenty-five children and great grand parents of eight children, the aged but spry and happy couple enjoyed the association of 46 guests including sisters, sons, and daughters, grand children and a few friends, in what is probably the most unique and beautiful setting of any ranch home in the west.

The day was more complete with gladness because of the presence of five aged sisters of Mrs. Chew’s who made the trip from distant points in the state to honor them. For all of them but one it was their first trip into this section. Six of their twelve children and their families were present.

Following the bounteous feast with the huge wedding cake served in the old ranch house there followed an impromptu program of anecdotes and stories interspersed with songs and music. Douglas Chew who was born on their 21st wedding anniversary was master of ceremonies. Dancing was enjoyed. Both expressed the hope of celebrating many more anniversaries.

Up until last year, most of the travel into the Pat’s Hole country was by horse back and pack train. The entire section is snow bound for about five months each year.

In April 1910 Mrs. Chew rode in the first wagon ever to go down the steep rugged canyon into what is known as Pat’s Hole and thirty years later in April 1940 was honored when she was privileged to ride in the first automobile ever to come to a stop at the ranch home. All of the party arrived in automobiles at the celebration.

As they began the descent into the gorge canyon and the automobile arrived in which Mrs. Eliza J. Kerns, 83, Mr. Chew’s sister was riding, she looked over the precipice of 2500 feet or more and could see the place which would be their final destination she offered the driver Lawrence Merkley of Jensen $20 if he would turn around and go back. After the gathering on her way home she stated she would be willing to pay him $20 for completing the journey.

The next day when the aged folk were taken to the junction of the two almost inaccessible rivers and they gazed as few ever have on the undescribable beauty of the Yampa Canyon, Green River Gorge, and Steamboat Rock, saw the ever changing colors of the high layers of massive walls, each expressed wonder at the place their brother and sister had spent so many years.

Relatives and friends attending were Harry Chew, Craig, Colo.; Mr. and Mrs. Mark Chew, San Francisco, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. James Robinson, Craig, Colo; Mr. and Mrs. Rial Chew and children, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Chew and daughter, all of Pat’s Hole; Mr. and Mrs. Douglass Chew and children, Jensen; Mrs. Opal Behunin and son; Mr. and Mrs. Hoyle Robinson; Mr. and Mrs. Duff Swain and daughters, all of Vernal; Alexander Beck, Centerville, Utah; Mrs. Florence Kelly, Vernal; Mrs. J.A. Lattner and sons, Salt Lake City.

Mr. Chew’s only sister, Mrs. Eliza J. Kearne, Gunnison.

Mrs. Chew’s sisters, Mrs. Clara Ludwigson, Gunnison; Mrs. Sylvia Caldwell, Mrs. Melissa Nay, Centerville; Mrs. Anna Brown husband and granddaughter, Springville; Mrs. Jane Neilson, daughter, son, and grand son, Salt Lake City. Mrs. Chew’s mother living in Gunnison was unable to attend.

John Hoyle Chew, rancher and stockman, was born at Blackburn England August 12, 1852 and came to the United States with his mother, sister and grandparents in 1863. Getting as far as a little town on the Platte river in Wyoming, he walked all the distance to Nephi, Utah the same year.

Here he worked fro ranchers and stockmen in central and southern Utah until 1881 where he met Mary E. Metcalf of Gunnison and was married on July 9th. He then decided to enter the stockraising business for himself. Mrs. Chew was born October 15, 1863 at Springville, Utah and moved with her parents to Gunnison when small.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Chew moved to Axtell, Utah where they resided for twenty years. They then moved to Brown’s Park, Colo. in 1901 and into Pat’s Hole in 1911. They also owned a ranch at Jensen where the children could attend school during the winter.

The Vernal Express Newspaper 28 Aug 1952:

Jack Chew Enjoys 100th Birthday At Home In Ashley

John Hoyle Chew celebrated his 100th birthday anniversary on August 11, is living at present with his daughter, Mrs. Jean Chew Robinson, at the mouth of Steinaker draw, north of Ashley. Mr. Chew enjoys visiting with friends and relatives who frequently call, and on his anniversary talked over early days in Ashley Valley with many old time friends who called.

Mr. Chew was born in Sabdin, England, a suburb of the city of Blackburn, August 11, 1852. He was the first child and only son of Phoebe Hoyle and William Chew. His parents made a living as weavers in the cloth mills of Blackburn. His early recollections include the fireplace where all cooking was done and warmth for the household provided, “infants school” where all small children were cared for while parents worked; His grandmother Chew who weighed 90 lbs. was red headed and ruled with a rod of iron, required him to read a chapter from the bible every afternoon, no matter what other children might be doing.

John Hoyle, his maternal grandfather, left England in 1858, came to Utah and started a store in Nephi. In 1864 he sent money for his daughter’s expenses and begged her to come to him. As the money was insufficient to take the whole family, the Chew household was in a state of turmoil for weeks. In the end, Phoebe Hoyle Chew embarked from Liverpool with 30 families of mormon converts, and taking along her son and youngest daughter, left behind the two middle daughters and her husband. They sailed May 3rd and docked at Castle Garden, N.Y. June 4th. In New York they were joined by another band of converts and made their way by boat, by train, by over-land conveyance to the Mississippi river.

From the Mississippi all able bodied folks walked and the wagons were drawn by ox teams with extra oxen driven along to replace any that died or were injured. He remembers that a man named Bishop Warren was in charge of the 32 wagons and that he drove a team of horses.

John Hoyle took his daughter and children into his home and a few months after John Chew was “farmed out” (as he calls it) with a neighbor to learn farming and care of stock and incidentally to earn his living. In 1867 Phoebe Hoyle Chew died very suddenly after a short illness, probably appendicitis. At 15 years John Hoyle Chew began making a living for himself and his sister and he is still grateful to many kind people of Nephi who helped him when he needed aid.

He remembers Brigham Young when he came to Nephi and Levan. “We had something in common,” says John H, “at this time I was crazy about horses and Mr. Young could spot a good one a long way off. He singled me out and spoke of my horses which didn’t belong to me – but I was so pleased I never forgot to say so.”

By the time he was 29 he was making a living breaking and training horses and raising a few cattle. July 9, 1881 he married Mary E. Metcalf and this marriage lasted 71 years. Mrs. Chew died Dec. 17, 1950. For 20 years they lived in Sanpete county and in 1900 started to Colorado with 1000 head of cattle belonging to O.B. Berglund and 150 cattle and 200 horses belonging to Chew. He arrived in Vernal in the fall, and taking 500 head of the strongest cattle and most of the horses, he went on to Brown’s Park where he turned them loose on the range. Returning to Vernal he bought 600 tons of hay from Louis Kabell and fed the rest of the cattle thru the winter. This hay ran out in March so he bought 150 tons from Wm. Gibson to finish the winter.

In the spring he moved the cattle onto Diamond Mountain, down Sears Canyon to Green River, and thru Browns Park and across the divide to Snake River. Here he separated his stock from the Berglund outfit and left them behind. He took the Berglund cattle to Slater where the owner sold out to the Green Cattle Co. and John H. returned to Browns Park with his own stock, took up a homestead on Douglas Mountain and continued his stock business there until 1911. Then he bought Pool Creek ranch just above Echo Park, sold out his holdings on Douglas Mtn. and continued his business on Blue Mountain and Pata Hole. About 1920 he decided to retire, sold out his holdings to his sons, Rial and Douglas, and spent the next 14 years traveling and visiting among his children.

In 1936 he became blind and since that time has stayed in one place or another. He fathered 14 children 12 of whom are living, made quite a lot of money and spent most of it. He says he has no regrets and only one hope at present: that the first hundred years really are the hardest else the 2nd hundred is going to be pretty tough.

Mary Elizabeth Metcalf Chew’s Obituary:

The Vernal Express Newspaper 21 Dec 1950

Mary E. M. Chew Funeral Services Held in Jensen

Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Eliza Chew who died Sunday evneing in the Uintah county hospital in Vernal following a stroke, were held Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Jensen ward chapel with Orvel Dudley of the Jensen bishopric in charge.

Opening prayer was offered by Lloyd Dudley; closing prayer by Moroni Moon, with Joseph Dudley dedicating the grave. Speakers were Victor Wilkins and H. Walter Woolley of Vernal with remarks by Orvel Dudley. Musical numbers were “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” by Vernal Second Eard Choir with Lila Ashby accompanist; “In the Garden,” vocal solo by Carwin Snow with La Von Wall accompanist; “Beyond the Sunset” 2^nd ward choir with Lila Ashby reading.

Pallbearers were six sons, Harry, Reine, Rial, Ralph, Burton and Douglas. Burial was under the direction of the Swain funeral home in the Jensen cemetery.

In charge of the flowers were Mrs. Vera Ainge, Mrs. Rebecca Stewart, Mrs. Thebble Moon and Mrs. Ella Ainge.

Mrs. Chew was born Oct. 15, 1863 at Springville, Utah, one of 15 children of Anthony and Eliza Metcalfe. She married John H. Chew in Gunnison, Utah, July 9, 1881, where they resided until 1901, when they came as pioneers to Brown’s Park. In 1911 they moved to Pat’s Hole where they lived until about 1915 when they came to Jensen. Since that time they have resided at Vernal, Jensen and Pat’s Hole.

Surviving are her husband who is 98 years old; seven sons, Mark, Wadsworth, Nev; Harry, Craig, Colo; Bert, Berkley, Calif.; Reine, Santa Ana, Calif.; Douglas, Ralph and Rial, Vernal; five daughters, Mrs. Enola Burdick, Torrance, Cal.; Mrs. Ethel Jefferson, Denver, Colo.; Mrs. Avvon Hughel, Phoenix, Ariz.; Mrs. Viva Smith, Longview, Wash.; and Mrs. Jean Robinson, Vernal; four sisters, Mrs. Emma Brown, Springville; Mrs. Jane Nielson, Salt Lake City; Mrs. Ina Nielson, Thistle, Utah, and Mrs. Sylvia Caldwell, Centerfield; 27 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren. Her children were all present at the funeral with the exception of Mrs. Viva Smith, Mrs. Avvon Hugel and Mark Chew who were unable to make the trip in time for the services.

From The Daughters Of The Utah Pioneers:

Here is a history of John Hoyle Chew

Source is Utah, Our Pioneer Heritage; transcription online at Ancestry.com; Original data: Internation Society, Daughters of Utah Pioneers. Our Pioneer Heritage. Salt Lake City, UT

John Hoyle Chew was born in Sabden, England, a suburb of Blackburn, August 11, 1852, the first child and only son of Phoebe Hoyle and William Chew. His parents made a living as weavers in the cloths mills of Blackburn. They both worked all the time, leaving the children in the home to the care of his grandmother, a tiny red haired woman. His earliest recollection is of climbing on the table to reach some bread in a high cupboard shelf. This he ate with his sister, Mary Ann, while they both sat on the hearth with their bare feet in the ashes. When old enough, he attended infant's school, and by the time he was seven or eight, he could read fluently. In 1864, his mother left his father and taking John and her youngest daughter, Eliza Jane, with her, joined a group of Mormon converts bound for Utah, where she arrived late that year. There she married a Scotchman by the name of Berry; and two years later, started with her family for Nevada, where gold had been found. She had with her a new daughter, eight months old, and Eliza Jane, now about nine. When they reached Goshen, Phoebe took suddenly ill, and died at the early age of thirty-three. John H. had been placed with a family named Parmer several months before, to earn his keep by herding cows. He lived at Chicken Creek. When he heard of his mother's death, he felt concerned for the happiness of his sister, Eliza Jane, and rode forty miles to rescue her from their in-laws, who were making her a nursemaid. He took her to some kind people in Nephi where she remained until he sent her to the B.Y.U. in Provo. As John grew to manhood, he decided that he was more interested in the cattle business than in any other; and for the rest of his life, he punched cows and herded horses for various outfits in Utah and Colorado. July 9, 1881, he married Mary Metcalf; and they had fourteen children. They settled near Payette in 1900, moved to Colorado with a very large herd of cattle; then to Brown's Park. There he sent his children to school for four or five months each winter. Later, he moved to Vernal and Pool Creek. In 1922, he turned over his ranch and stock to his wife and sons for the sum of $1.00 per day for as long as he lived. This arrangement continued until the winter of 1940-41, when the old house at Pool Creek completely burned down. They also lost their old papers, books and treasures they had cherished for sixty years. They moved in with their son, Rial, and his family until spring when they went to Vernal. Jack applied for an old age pension, and Mrs. Chew already had one, so they lived here and there with the boys taking up the slack between their pensions and their living expenses. At this time, Mrs. Chew deeded the Pool Creek property to Rial and so passed from Mr. and Mrs. John Hoyle Chew all right and title to any real property they had accumulated over years. Douglas took his mother to live with him where she continued to stay, with short visits among her family, until she died December 17, 1950. John moved from one place to another, mostly among the family. He is over one hundred years old now and his hold on life and its many memories is fast ebbing away.

Files of Daughters of Utah Pioneers

Here is an interesting history of John Hoyle Chew's mother, Pheobe Hoyle Chew

Source is Utah, Our Pioneer Heritage; transcription online at Ancestry.com; Original data: Internation Society, Daughters of Utah Pioneers. Our Pioneer Heritage. Salt Lake City, UT

Phebe Hoyle Chew was born July 15, 1833, in Haslingden, Lancashire, England, the second daughter of John and Mary Davis Hoyle. At age 17, she was living away from home in nearby Newchurch, where she was employed as a weaver in one of the fabric mills. It was here that she met William Chew, over-looker in the same mill, to whom she was married on April 25, 1853, in the Particular Baptist Church, Blackburn, Lancashire. They became the parents of four children: John Hoyle, Mary Ann, Maria and Eliza Jane.

In all likelihood, Phebe joined the L.D.S. Church at the insistence of her father, John Hoyle, who was already in Utah, and who wanted her to join him. She was first scheduled to sail on the Monarch of the Sea, April 25, 1864, but for some reason transferred her reservation to the General McClellan which sailed from Liverpool on May 21, 1864. She was accompanied by two of her children, John Hoyle, not yet twelve, and Eliza Jane, age five and one-half. The General McClellan arrived at Castle Gardens, New York, June 23, and after a rather hostile trip across the United States, the company of Mormon emigrants arrived at Wyoming, Nebraska July 3rd. Part of this journey was by boat up the Hudson River to Albany, then by rail to Lake Erie after continued by boat and train to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Soon after leaving Wyoming, Nebraska, July 19, Phebe, ill and despondent, attempted to throw herself into the Platte River. Her son John, later to become known as Jack, was able to prevent this serious catastrophe, and thereafter she rode in someone's wagon for the balance of the trip.

The William S. Warren Company reached Salt Lake City October 4, 1864. Soon thereafter, Phebe and the two children joined her father, John Hoyle, in Nephi where he had a store of some sort. From the time of her arrival in Nephi until the late fall of 1865, Phebe stayed with her father and assisted with the store chores. The Salt Lake Temple records show that December 2, 1865, Phebe Hoyle was endowed and sealed to James Warner Bossnell, a man of nearly sixty-three years and older than her father. Apparently she didn't like the arrangement, and according to her son Jack, she soon returned to her father's abode, and within a short time had formed an alliance with a man near her own age. Son Jack remembered the first man as Berry and the second one as Scotty. No record has been found of Phebe's divorce from Bossnell, or of her subsequent marriage, but there was a female child born to her in late 1866.

In the meantime, Phebe's father was embroiled in difficulties of his own; marital, financial and legal. He had departed from England under some stress, leaving a wife and two daughters and a grocery business. He sailed March 28, 1853, on the Falcon, a Mormon convert ship which docked at New Orleans May 18th. The fact that he was fleeing his native country and had a natural instinct for opportunism, he quickly became a convert. It is assumed that he was a good church member. Sometime after he arrived in the United States, he married a widow, Mary, who had several children, and quite likely, a bit of property. The first record to be found of him is in Nephi on September 21, 1863. Where he was in the intervening ten years is obscure. On this date he was in the Juab County Court complaining about his taxes. Around this time, he married a young woman, Mercy, by whom he had a child. This didn't set well with wife Mary and she sued for divorce in the Probate Court, receiving an equal portion of the property. John must have talked her into making up, for there was a reconciliation, but then Mercy sued for divorce, child support and alimony. This action took place in the Probate Court March 18, 1865. On September 30th, Mary obtained a second divorce. By this time, John was pretty well cleaned out, and sometime during 1866, he pulled up stakes in Nephi and left for parts unknown.

Phebe stayed on in Nephi until late summer or early autumn of 1867, when she, with a group of five or six families, headed west to either California or Nevada. It is possible that this move was not approved by Church authorities. Jack Chew was fifteen that summer and according to his own statement, unruly and belligerent, so he was not included in his mother's plans and remained behind in the vicinity of Nephi. Phebe was accompanied by her daughters Eliza Jane and the eight-month-old infant, and quite possibly the infant's father. The party had been on the road only a brief time when Phebe became acutely ill and died. She was buried near the campsite, about four and a half miles south and west of Levan. It was sometime later when Jack Chew learned of his mother's death, and he was greatly concerned for the well-being of his sister Eliza Jane to whom he was devoted. He went horseback to the campsite and literally kidnapped her, taking her back to Nephi and putting her in the custody of Sam Cazier, Sheriff. Although the other families stayed on for a while at the campsite, it is believed that they eventually disbanded and returned to nearby communities because both Jack and Eliza knew that Phebe's baby had died within the year.

The 1867 Assessment List of Juab County shows property in the name of Phebe Chew in amount of $720, which included land and improvements of $550; 40 head of sheep and goats valued at $120, plus $50 (probably cash) which would seem to bear out Jack's opinion that his mother left Nephi with a reasonably adequate outfit. What became of her property is a moot question, for neither Jack nor Eliza Jane received any of it, including keepsakes, pictures, letters, etc. Whatever the marital entanglements of Phebe Hoyle Chew, the Assessment Lists of Juab County indicate that throughout her sojourn in Nephi, she maintained property in her English married name, "Phebe Chew."

After more than a hundred years since her death, it is difficult to even try to picture Phebe Hoyle Chew from the bits and scraps available to her posterity. Jack Chew described her physically as a small woman with cream-colored hair. She was a hard-headed realist, and obviously, she had plenty of grit in her make-up, abrasive and otherwise.

Postscript: John Hoyle Chew and Eliza Jane Chew Kearns both lived into the year 1954. Eliza Jane was the mother of five children and Jack the father of fourteen. Of the family remaining in England, only a few details are available. In 1898, her son William Chew emigrated to this country and spent his remaining years with the Jack Chew family. He died May 24, 1911, and is buried in Brown's Park, Moffat County Colorado.

Enola Chew Burdick

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