In the summer of 1997, I went on my first “Pioneer Trek”, the first of what later turned out to be many. As our Stake travelled to the location of this Pioneer Trek the caravans of Trekkers exited I -80 at mile marker 30 in Wyoming where we began our Trek. We travelled a few miles, and one of the leaders told us of a grave nearby where one of the Saints had died on the way to the Salt Lake valley and was buried. Since the grave was not near the camp, I didn’t give it another thought.
Fast forward to the year 2011. Where my wife Deb and I were on our fourth Trek. Because of our past experience as trek Ma and Pa , we were assigned to train other Mas and Pas. The leaders traveled to the site of the first night’s camp the Saturday before Trek, for the training. This was near the same area where we had camped in 1997. We loaded up our hand carts and traveled about a quarter mile to a grave site. There we listened as Kirsten Howard, a stake member, began describing the journey and death of Catherine Jones Bennett. We then went back to our campsite, showed all the Mas and Pas how to make a shelter, cooked and ate lunch. After we had instructed the new Mas and Pas on the wonders of cooking with a Dutch oven, we packed up and traveled the 2 hours back to Salt Lake.
With the adult leaders trained and prepared, on June 16, 2011 our Stake, embarked on another Pioneer Trek. The first night at camp, was cold. When we read 3 Nephi chapter 11 with the youth in our family, the Spirit warmed us. The next morning, we discovered there was 1/2 inch of ice on our 5-gallon water container. It had indeed been a cold night. After breakfast and games, we broke camp, packed our gear in handcarts, and headed out on the trail. At our first stop, we listened to Kristen Howard tell about the life of Catherine Jones Bennett. Here we learned that the Bennett’s descendants were buried in Holden, Utah, and that Catherine’s oldest son was; Captain John Bennett. My wife Deb turned to me and said, “isn’t that one of your ancestors?” I was unable to reach my brother to confirm this, but had a vague memory that Captain John Bennett was one of my ancestors. I found Kirsten Howard right after she spoke, and mentioned to her that I was pretty sure that we were related.
I later learned that there was an outpost named Muddy Creek at this location in 1860, and that John Bennett was indeed the oldest son of Catherine Jones and Benjamin Bennett II. John Bennett and his wife Jane Roberts had two children; Elizabeth and Samuel (Bennett). Elizabeth married my Grandfather’s Grandfather, John Davidson Hunter. His son John Edward Hunter was the father of my Grandfather Sydney Orzle Hunter. Sydney’s only son was John Poulson Hunter, my father. I discovered that Kristen Jackson Howard (who told this story at trek) was related to me through Samuel Bennett, John Bennett’s son ( Elizabeth’s brother), making her my 4th cousin. What a sweet experience to find this relative at this gravesite on our Stake Pioneer Trek, June 17, 2011.
Through our membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we have many opportunities to serve. This service often brings unexpected blessings into our lives. Through our service to the youth and leaders at Trek we had the blessings of connecting with our stake members, and were also able to connect with family members living and dead.
–Marc “Hutch” Hunter – TFHC Granite Stake