Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Phillips Camp Biographies, Allen to Barton

page 13

SKETCH OF JOHN B~IR My great-great-grandfather, John Bair, was born in Somerset County I Pennsylavania, 25 November, 1810. He was the son of Adam Bair, born 12 March 1785--Pennsylvania, and Catherine Bowermaster, barn 5 February 1785--Pennsylvania. Great-great-grandfather Bair built and operated the first ferry boat in Utah on the Bear River. He also built the first sawmill in Davis County in Bair's Canyon. He settled in Richmond in 1859. He took part in the Echo ·canyon War. He was a Righ Priest, Indian War Veteran, farmer, lawyer, shoemaker, stock-raiser, and storekeeper. He had eight children by his first wife, Lucinda Owens. She was a school teacher. She taught school in her own home. They taught the children to make their letters in the sand while crossing the plains. The Indians respected John Bair and called himt:•Bear John"•, as Bear is an Indian name for a brave man. One time the old Fort in Kaysville was surrounded by Indians. All the families were in the old Fort, including Mr. Bair's. Finally the ·Indians withdrew and the men in the Fort called for someone to go out and scout around for Indians. John Bair volunteered and taking two pistols went out and circilied the Fort but saw no Indians. The next day an Indian friend came to see tJtrBear John'fl as he called him and said, u·Bear John, don't ever come out of the Fort again with just two little guns. I , had a hard time keeping the other Indians from shooting you as they were hidden watching you. I told them you were my friend and your name was Bear John and Bear is a sacred Indian name'! An Indian came one time and sat on a bench with John Bair and pushed him off. This Indian had his tobacco wrapped in a white baby's skin. Even the nails showed. Great-great-grandfather Bair crossed the plains twice. I have heard it said that they had to move his bo.c}y and found it petrified and turned to stone. He died October 11, 1884, at Richmond, Utah.