Rowney Family Tree

*** CHRISTOPHER LAYTON ***

In the Old Testament book of "Genesis," and in "Moses" in the Pearl of Great Price, reference is made to there being "giants in the land." As we study the history of the men and women of the original Battalion, we are impressed by this fact: Although they were not giants in physical stature, certainty there were, among the brothers and sisters involved, those who were giants in what they accomplished. One such individual would have to be Christopher LAYTON. Born in Bedfordshire, England, in 1821, Christopher seemed destined to spend his life as a farmer - an occupation he began at the age of seven. Fourteen years later, working as a foreman for a wealthy farmer, he joined the Church (1842) and was promptly fired. Having married Mary MATTHEWS, they prepared to come to America early in 1843. On the way, a son was born, but he died before they reached St. Louis, Missouri. Arriving in Nauvoo in April, 1843, he and Mary experienced all the momentous events that occurred there for the next two and a half years. While attending an elderly woman suffering from typhoid fever, Mary became ill and died, leaving Christopher to care for their 13-month old daughter, Elizabeth. With his daughter, Christopher crossed the Mississippi with the first exiles from Nauvoo in February, 1846. It was while they were at Mt. Pisgah that the call came for volunteers for the Mormon Battalion. Leaving Elizabeth in the care of a childless couple, Brother and Sister William B. SMITH, Christopher enlisted as a private in Co. "C." He endured all the hardships and trials that are connected with the Battalion's historic march to California. In Tucson he was given the privilege of raising the Stars and Stripes over that Mexican town. He was discharged from Co. "C" in July, 1847. Obeying the counsel of Brigham YOUNG, he, with the others who felt that the could do so, remained in California and worked for the next two and one-half years. As a ranch foreman the last one and one-half years, he found that he could buy horses for $1.50 a head and gave them to Yerba Buena (now San Francisco) and sell them for $100 each. After depositing a large sum of money with the Bank of England, he sailed for England, arriving in March, 1850. Here, he paid his tithing, then returned to his old home, where he learned that his mother had died just 3 months earlier. Here he met and marveled Sarah MARTIN and prepared to return to Utah. Finding that there were many Saints wishing to come but lacking sufficient funds, he paid all or part of the passages for 66 persons, including several members of his family. They sailed for America in October, 1850. Arriving in St. Louis, he was advised by Eider Orson HYDE to tarry there. In the Spring of 1852 he led a company of 52 wagons to the Salt Lake Valley, arriving in September and bringing with him a new threshing machine (one of the first in the valley) and about 100 head of stock, some of them blooded Durham cattle. For the next 45 years both his family and his influence grew. He used his ability to make the most of every opportunity to improve his situation. For example, from 1843 to 1897 he built or bought more than 24 homes in some 18 different locations in five different states. He obeyed every call from his Church leaders to help establish the saints in a new area. During His entire life, he continued to be involved in farming. He was responsible for bringing alfalfa to Utah. He was a pioneer in dry-farming wheat, and for five years he cared for 7-8,000 head of Church sheep on Antelope Island. He pioneered the use of modern farm machinery and equipment as it became available. He brought thoroughbred farm animals into the Territory to upgrade the livestock, and he also found time to be involved in the raising of bees.

While heavily engaged in his many agricultural pursuits, he also found time to build and operate grist mills, a saw mill, at least four butcher shops, a milk house, and an ice plant. He was elected twice to the Territorial Legislature. He helped build railroads, wagon roads, and canals. In his inter years in Arizona, he contracted with the Government to supply flour to the San Carlos Indian Reservation. He was active in the Nauvoo Legion in Utah, and was commissioned a Lt. Col. in 1866. He did not neglect his Church assignments either-- serving at various times as Bishop, High Council member, a counselor in the Stake Presidency, Stake President, and Stake Patriarch. Needless to say, in all these pursuits and activities he was ably assisted by his large and very supportive family. Certainly, we can look upon him as a "Giant among men" and an able representative of the caliber of the men of the original Mormon Battalion, truly worthy of having his name held "in honorable remembrance." --by Col. Grant DALTON.

(From Christopher LAYTON by Myron W. MclNTYRE and Noel R. BARTON, published by the Christopher LAYTON Family Organization, 1966).

The city of Layton, in Davis County, Utah, is named in honour of Christopher LAYTON.