The Gandy and Robison Families Joined
Carson Valley
Emma Jean, second daughter of Isaac and Harriet, was born on the 9th of June 1863 when the family lived in Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada. When she was 17 years old she married James Henry Robison in Fillmore, Millard County in the fall of 1880. He was 21 years old.
James Henry’s (Jim’s) father was Peter Robison, born in 1817 in Lucerne County, Pennsylvania. He came west from New York. He joined the Latter Day Saints in Nauvoo, Illinois and accepted the principle of polygamy. His first wife was Celina Cheffee, a schoolteacher from New York. Peter married two other women – Sarah Kirby and Mary Ashley at Nauvoo, Illinois. They came to Utah in 1850 and were sent by the church to Millard County, where a little settlement was named Petersburg in his honor. The name was later changed to Hatten. Peter Robison was a cooper by trade, making barrels, churns and wooden buckets. He came to Snake Valley to make shingles in a canyon on the west side of the Snake Mountains. It became known as Shingle Canyon and the creek was named Shingle Creek. His sons Jim, George, Lester, Edmund and Almond were all early settlers of the valley.
Emma Jean and James had five children between 1881 and 1890: Isaac Peter, named after grandfather Isaac Gandy, Hattie (named after grandmother Harriet), Maud Estella (named after Emma’s two younger sisters Maudie and Estella), Vida Pearl and James Stanley (after his father).
Hailey Idaho, Snake Valley, Silver Creek, Garrison, Gandy
Emma Jean and James Henry lived in Hailey, Idaho for three years, where daughter Hattie died of whooping cough. They then moved to a ranch on Weber Creek in Snake Valley, a few miles from Osceola. Later they moved to Silver Creek and, after their last child James Stanley was born there in 1890, they moved to Garrison and lived there until 1901 when they bought the Warm Creek Ranch in Gandy (then called Smithville) from Emma Jean’s father Isaac Gandy. “They had a beautiful ranch with plenty of warm water, trees, fruit trees, farm crops, and cattle. Gardens, fruit, and crops grew well with the warm water.”
Their son Isaac worked for his parents on the ranch, living with wife Louisa Sorenson and son James Keith in a bunkhouse for five years. Father James Peter then deeded 60 acres to Isaac, who worked hauling water for the Marble Company, mining in Marble Canyon. In 1911 they sold the ranch and moved to Long Beach, California, but the buyer (Marble Company) defaulted on the payments a year later so they moved back to the ranch again. They sold the ranch to son Isaac in 1930 and moved to Delta, Utah. Later, when son Isaac traded their ranch and moved to the Simonson Ranch on Hendrie Creek in 1933, they joined him and lived in the Meecham house. Isaac was the Gandy postmaster for 20 years.
Read more about the Robison family here.
JAMES H. ROBISON OBITUARY
“James Henry Robison died suddenly at his home in Fillmore Tuesday morning Feb 16. He would have been 78 years old on May 27 1937. Although his health had not been good for some time, the end came unexpectedly as he was leaving the house after breakfast to do his chores.
Mr Robison was one of a family of fourteen children. His father Peter Robison was the leader of the party sent out by Brigham Young to establish the town of Fillmore. James H Robison was one of the earliest settlers in the Snake Valley country going there as a boy of fourteen and his home has been made there ever since until in 1933 he returned to Fillmore with Mrs Robison so as to spend the remaining years of their life. During the years spent in the Snake Valley Mr Robison has owned and operated one of the largest ranches there as well as other properties. He prospered and was also interested in mines and mining. He has had many good alfalfa seed crops and other successful ranch products. His ranch at Warm Springs was very well known for the prosperity there and the fine orchard and also for the hospitality of the Robisons.
Mr Robison was married there over fifty seven years to Emma E (J) Gandy, and they had four children Mrs Vise (Vida) Robison of Fillmore, J Stanley Robison of Ely and Mrs Maud Cameron and Isaac P Robison deceased. He is survived by his wife, his children, twelve grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren. Also four brothers George Robison of Baker, Ed and Lester Robison of Spring Valley and Allie Robison of Ely.
Funeral services were held in Fillmore Wednesday and services will also be held in Garrison on Friday afternoon. Interment will be at Garrison.
Mr Robison made many trips into Delta during his many years in the Snake Valley trading here and living here one winter. He made many friends here as he did wherever he went and their sympathy is extended to his bereaved family. His old friends and neighbors in Snake Valley mourn the loss of a fine and true friend and a good neighbor.”
Millard County Chronicle 1937-02-18
JAMES HENRY ROBISON FUNERAL SERVICE HELD
“Funeral services were held in the Fillmore Ward Wednesday at 3:15 o’clock for James Henry Robison who died at his residence here early Tuesday morning, following several weeks’ illness.
The speakers were James A. Kelly and Peter L. Brunson with Bishop Brunson conducting. J. Blake Davies offered the opening prayer and Frank Robison pronounced the benediction. The choir sang “Shall We Meet”, “Sometime, We’ll Understand” and “Abide With Me”. Miss Marilyn Brunson sang “I’ve Grown So Used to You”.
The body was taken to Garrison Thursday, where it was planned to hold services Friday, to be followed by burial in the Garrison Cemetery.
Mr. Robison was born in Fillmore and married his wife Emma Jean Gandy here. He has lived here at various times since, and has also resided at Hatton and Garrison, where he had extensive ranch holdings at one time. He was a pioneer in every sense of the word; leaving this valley when the frontier moved farther west and going into the Garrison-Burbank country to break up new acres and tame a new section of the desert country. He had many friends who loved him for his happy disposition, his friendliness toward people when they were in need of help.
He is survived by his wife who has been very ill, one daughter who lives in Fillmore and a son whose home is in Snake Valley.
Among those from out of town who attended the services were: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dearden of Garrison.”
Millard County Progress 1937-02-19
Emma died just a month later. They were survived by only two of their five children (Vida and Stanley), many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
EMMA GANDY ROBISON DIES AFTER HUSBAND
“Mrs Emma Gandy Robison widow of James H Robison who died about a month ago died at the home of her daughter Mrs Vida Robison at Fillmore last Saturday.
Mrs Robison was 78 years old, the daughter of Isaac and Harriet Parsons Gandy. She was married to Jas H Robison about 53 years ago and lived most of her life in Snake Valley and Fillmore.
She is survived by the following: Stanley Robison Ely Nevada, Mrs Vida Robison Fillmore, Mrs E M Smith and by 13 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren
Funeral services were held at Garrison.”
Millard County Chronicle 1937-03-18
Acording to Emma Jean’s Death Certificate she died of pneumonia, but had suffered from cancer for several years. Informant on Death certificate was Vida (Pearl) Robison, her youngest daughter.