Hyrum Jerome Judd

1847-1898

Hyrum Jerome Judd was born February 7, 1847, at Kanesville, Hancock County, Iowa, a few months before his father was released from military duty with the Mormon Battalion.

His father, Hyrum Judd orphaned at the age of 16, went to work for Lucious H. Fuller in Warsaw, Illinois, where he met and married Lisania Fuller, in 1844.  Hyrum Jerome was two years old when he crossed the plains with his parents and baby sister, arriving in Salt Lake city in the fall of 1849.  They settled in Farmington, Utah, until 1857, when his father was called to help settle southern Utah at Santa Clara, Washington County.

Here he lived his boyhood days in a nice little home his father built and he helped get the young orchard planted and growing nicely, except for the need of more water. A new dam was built on the Virgin River with a canal carrying water to the new townsite. This project was finished on Christmas Eve, of 1861.  The day the ditch was finished the rain began to fall and continued for more than a month; clothing and bedding couldn’t get dried.  The dugouts and other shelter gave poor protection, even with all the pots and pans employed to catch the dripping water.  Food molded, fires were hard to keep burning and harder to start if they went out.  It was a month of misery and suffering for all.  Then came the big flood, in the dark of night in January, 1862.  They were forced to flee to higher ground with what belongings they could take with them, while their home and land were washed away.

The family then moved to Meadow Valley and were busily engaged in the dairy business, when his father received another call to help settle the community of Eagle Valley, Nevada, in 1865. Hyrum Jerome Judd married Sharon Boyce, daughter of Benjamin and Susanna Content Boyce, April 28, 1866 in the Salt Lake Temple (Note Salt Lake temple wasn’t finished until 1893).  While living there, five, children were born to them: John Jerome in 1866; Susan Content in 1871; Lisania in 1872, Hyrum 1870; and Arza Hugh who died in infancy, in 1874. During this time Jerome worked on the Salt Lake Temple.  They moved to Panguitch, Utah where his father had settled.  Here Benjamin Boyce was born in 1876.  Jerome helped his father fence land near Lake Panguitch, where fishing was good.  Ira Leroy was born in 1877 in Salt Lake City. 

Hyrum Jerome Judd followed his father into northern Arizona in 1877 in company with his sister Jane and her husband Joe Knight, with all of their household goods and livestock, traveling slowly in order to find the best route for water and grass.  His father left a letter for him in a split stick at Black Falls.  They made a fine crossing of the Colorado River and up over Lee’s Backbone, the worst piece of road a wagon was ever taken over.  They arrived at Sunset, Arizona, in early 1878, the most desolate place he had ever seen.  He and his father joined the United Order and helped establish Sunset, Brigham City and Joseph City, all three camps practicing the United Order.

Joe Knight decided against joining and went across the river with the Kartchner’s and other families to a little community called Obed.  Joe became ill and Jerome brought him into Sunset for better care, but he died where she joined the Order and later married Israel Call.  The Judd’s, along with the families of William C. McClellan, Levi Savage, James McNeil, Joe James, Israel Call, Hubert Burkle, Freehoff Neilson and Samuel Garnes stayed with the Order, while others came and went.  Jerome and Hubert Burkle had charge of the range cattle and horses of the Order, and the Judd family made all the cheese at Mormon Lake near Flagstaff.  His father was Presiding Elder there.  Wilford Woodruff Judd was born to them at Sunset 1880.   

There Hyrum Jerome Judd took a second wife, who was Sarah Garn.  They were married in the St. George Temple on October 18, 1880.  Their first child, Paralee America was born October 6, 1881 at Sunset.  The United Order disbanded in 1882 and he moved to several different places in Arizona and New Mexico, taking some land in Smithsville (Pima) where Elizabeth was born to Susan in 1883. Lois Dianna and Ann were also born to Susan at Ramah, New Mexico in 1884 and 1886. Lois Dianna lived only a few months.  Mary Aliza (Mae) was born in 1886 to Sarah at Ramah.

Jerome moved his families to Mexico in 1887, settling in Colonia Juarez.  There he lived with his families for several years, making a living for their support by freighting and serving as cook on long cattle drives.  They made several drives to Fort Apache, Arizona.  Susan’s last child, Heleman, was born in Colonia Juarez in 1890.  To Sarah were born Don Carlos on October 7, 1887, Samuel Garn on October 8, 1890 in Colonia Juarez, and Lucinda Jane (Jenny) October 26, 1892.

Colonia Chuhuichupa was settled in 1894 and Jerome moved his families there where he engaged in farming and cattle raising.  Edgar Riley was born to Sarah in Chuhuichupa on January 13, 1898.  Jerome’s health was not good, so he went back to Colonia Juarez where he could get better medical care.  Sarah spent part of her time taking care of him there.  He received his Patriarchal Blessing from William R.R. Stowell on August 12, 1898 and died of cancer of the throat August 30, at the age of 51 years.  He was laid to rest in the east cemetery at Colonia Juarez beside his father who had preceded him in death by two years.  He was survived by two wives and 15 children.

Compiled by Earnestine Hatch from material furnished by Elva Judd Stevens, and a family history written from memory by Daniel Judd, son of Hyrum Judd and brother of Hyrum Jerome Judd.

Stalwarts South of the Border, Nelle Spilsbury Hatch, page 380