Franklin Demarcus Haymore

Franklin Demarcus Haymore’s grandfather, Daniel Haymore, Sr., emigrated from Virginia to Stony Creek, North Carolina and later to Mt. Airy, North Carolina.  He married Mary Schockly on 16 February, 1799. They had the following children:  Britain, Blumming, Jermaine, William, Polly, Tibithy and Daniel, Jr.

Daniel Sr. and Daniel, Jr. were blacksmiths by trade they also did cabinetry and carpentry work.  They had 160 acre farm on which they operated a tannery end mill.  Daniel, Jr. Married Martha Hall on April 30, 1840. They had the following children: Darius Benton, Mary Catherine, Lucay, Elizabeth, Franklin Demarcus, the Messier Francis, and Mildred Ellender.

During the rebellion between the States, Daniel Jr. and his son Darius made wagons for the government. They not only did the iron and blacksmith work, but the one carpentry work as well, so that the entire job on the wagons they completed themselves. They had a higher demand and paid him a bushel and a peck of corn a week.

They do not have slaves, but hired negro boy who was raised with Franklin Demarcus.  Many years later when Franklin returned to North Carolina he met the Negro and they were very happy to see each other again.

Franklin DeMarcus only had an eighth grade education. However he was at the head of his class and was especially good in spelling and used the “old blue spelling book.”  He played the accordion and violin for dances, although his mother objected to this form of recreation.

Franklin met Adeline Taylor whose father had a farm and sawmill on Stony Creek three or four miles from the Haymore farm.  He often said she was a prettiest girl in North Carolina, and would have followed her to the ends of the earth if need be to win her.

Henry G. Boyle, a Mormon missionary preaching the Gospel in the South, gave Franklin copy of the Voice of Warning which helped to convert him to the LDS Church.  His parents did not join the Church, but all the rest of the Taylor family did.  A company of 39 Saints under the direction of Elder Boyle were planning to migrate to Utah.  The Haymore’s were very much upset that their son should want to join this new religion and plan to move away from them. He was 19 years of age and they would not give there can sent to such act. However he did marry Adeline Lucinda Taylor on March 2, 1869.

His love for Adeline helped make the decision to go West. His parents offered him the farm and only possessed if he would stay. But his mind was made up and he left with the group from Mt. Airy, North Carolina on June 12, 1869. They went to Norfolk, Virginia and by boat to New York. Then they took an immigrant train to Ogden, Utah where they arrived on July 21, 1869.  The coach cars had crude benches along both sides of the car and down the center.

Franklin, Adeline, and the Taylors were baptized in Payson, Utah during February by breaking the ice.  The young couple moved into a home they shared with the family name Daniels. Franklin Edgar was born to them on February 19, 1870. The second son, Daniel Benjamin, died.

Franklin D. bought blacksmith tools and made a bellows, and with his trade earned his living. He bought land in Payson on West Mountain with Freeman Tanner as a partner. After buying a city lot from Jim W. Memmott, Franklin went into the mountains in the winter with snow up to his armpits and cut logs to build a home. Billy Griggs was given a span of forces for framing up the house on the lot. The townspeople thought young Haymore must have money to put up such a nice home, but it was only by hard work and careful planning that he was able to complete it. He had only about $20 cash when he started to build. The home still stands in Payson and is in very good condition.

Franklin continue to do blacksmith work, earned enough to buy a new wagon and cows which he later turned in as trade on an 80 acre farm. It was a hard winter and the cows were turned back to him for their feed. His farm was at Spring Creek, 3 miles west of Payson. In the spring he planted alfalfa and harvested hay.

Martha and was born February 5, 1874.

On his 80 acre farm there was an old shack and Franklin went in to investigate and found a miners giant powder cap. He probed it with a nail and it exploded, taking off the end of his thumb and forefinger on the right hand.

Just before Darius Wilburn was born March 6, 1876, Franklin was called on a mission to help settle Arizona, but after the Church found out his wife Adeline was expecting a baby they allowed him to remain in Payson. Franklin was called on a mission to the southern states just after Arthur Samuel was born on February 1, 1878.

While Franklin was away, Adeline wove carpets on a loom Franklin had made for her and sold them to neighbors. She also had a nice garden and sold vegetables. Her boys also sold vegetables for their pocket money. She made butter and sold it, being a very thrifty woman, and an excellent manager.

She made her boys’ shirts out of black sateen which buttoned down the back, as was the style, and when they went swimming their friends had to button them up. She had just finished making Arthur and Darius new shirts when they decided to visit relatives in Salem, North Carolina. The shirts were made to button down the front instead of the back, which created very much interest at the time and has been the style ever since.

Franklin returned from his mission after about two years.

Polygamy was preached and practiced by the Church.  Franklin Demarcus married Elizabeth Lant on 22 March, 1888 in the Logan Temple. Because of this practice Franklin was called on another mission to Chattanooga Tennessee. While he was away, David F. was born on April 6, 1889, the first son of Elizabeth Lant, at Payson, Utah. Because of his plural marriages, Franklin was indicted by the government authorities. Franklin remained on his mission. Adeline would send letters addressed to President Spry and insight would be a letter for Franklin D. which would be forwarded to him.

The authorities were watching the Haymore family so that when the boys went to mail the letters in the post office, which was located in the Douglas Mercantile Company, they saw the letter addressed to President  Spry and went after him, thinking that they had the right man on the polygamy charge. He couldn’t convince them otherwise and they brought him back to Utah only to find out it was Haymore they were after. One of his missionary companions, Elder Shelton, called on Adeline and her family and sang a song:  “I’ll remember your love in my prayers.   I’ll kneel by your bedside and pray.”

Wilford Woodruff, as President of the Church, wired Franklin D. that the authorities were after him and for him to flee to Mexico or Canada. Mexico was the nearest so he went there, arriving at Colonia Diaz. He met Ammon Tenny (sic) who was looking for a good blacksmith and they went to the sawmill at San Pedro. He worked hard for $35 a month in pesos.

Franklin D. worked at the sawmill with John Loving for a year or two.  He rented a farm at San Pedro.  Darius came down and stayed a year in about 1890.  His father had been away so long and had grown a beard and Darius didn’t know him.  Darius had grown so much his father didn’t know him either.  He took Darius to one side and after questioning him about his mother decided he had the right boy, that he was his own son. 

Darius decided to go back to Utah and Arthur came to be with his father. The boys met on the way at Diaz at Ammon Tenny’s (sic) home in 1891.  Lizzie decided to join her husband and brought David F. with her.  Arthur helped make a comfortable home.  On June 15, 1891 Mildred was born.   Adeline made a short trip to the San Pedro Ranch.  Later Franklin went back to Payson to give himself up.  Veda Adeline was born January 6, 1894.

Franklin D. pleaded not guilty so he could remain in Payson for the summer and wait for the court session in the fall, then plead guilty.  In the meantime he worked on the farm. 

In the fall Arthur drove his father to Provo with clothes enough to last him six months or a year while he served in the state penitentiary.  In the meantime the attorney had two of the charges withdrawn and when the judge pronounced sentence it was for one day and court expenses, which amounted to $42.50.  He was turned over to the deputy who said he would not take him to Salt Lake City for just one day.  He did not have the money with him so the sheriff was going to Payson the next day and would collect it then.  Imagine the joy and surprise of his family when he returned and did not have to be separated from them.

Franklin returned to Payson and sold out there, putting the money into property in Mexico.  When he returned to Mexico, Darius, Jan, Ed and Lil came with him.  A year later John and Martha Haymore Douglas joined him.

Franklin D. and Patrick C. Haynie decided to form a mercantile company, each furnishing one thousand dollars.  John Douglas was the first clerk.  Later, Millard clerked in the store, then went to Colonia Juarez to school and John Andrum took over.  Several years later Millard opened a store in Colonia Dublan.  Ade opened one at San Miguelito after the flood in Colonia Oaxaca damaged about half of the merchandise in the store.

Franklin D. married Pearl Melissa Wilson and to them were born two girls:  Emma Julia on July 18, 1899; and, Centenna on October 6, 1901.  More land was purchased and several stores opened.  Some of the boys rode the range and others helped in the stores.

On November 19, 1907 Pearl passed away.  The two girls were small so Franklin D. married May Ellen Wilson Cluff.  Records show that Pearl had six girls, but only two lived, Emma and Centenna.  Mary or Mazie had four children:  Demarcus, born August 6, 1910; Franklin R. on July 24, 1912; David W. on August 29, 1914; and Ellen on January 18, 1916.

In 1912 the Revolution started in Mexico and the Church ordered all Latter-day Saints to go to the United States.  The Haymores lost much in the leaving their property, including homes, stores and cattle ranches.  However, a store in Agua Prieta on the Mexican border near Douglas, Arizona had been opened with Millard as the manager.  Later the other brothers helped out after leaving the colonies.  Franklin D. remained president of the firm several years, then the boys took over.  He lived in Douglas, Arizona with his family at 1139-8^th Street, and later brought property and a home in Mesa, Arizona.  He divided his time between these two places.  In 1924 he had a serious operation at El Paso, Texas from which he never fully recovered.  After a lingering illness of several months he passed away on July 8, 1931 at Douglas Arizona.  His wife Mary Ellen preceeded him in death by one month, June 7, 1931.

Franklin D. was very affectionate and was known as a peacemaker.  He had a very kind, patient, loving disposition.  He never used a slang word, much less a swear word.  He remained faithful to the Latter-day Saint Church, a religion he had given up so much for in his young life.  But perhaps it was the teachings of this church that helped him to be the kind of man he was.  He always bore a fine and convincing testimony, despite all the trials and hardships he had endured during the 82 years he lived.  His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren honor and rever the memory of this good and noble man.       

Arthur S. Haymore, son,

As told by Leah Haymore Kartchner

Stalwarts South of the Border, Nelle Spilsbury Hatch pg 263