|
Henry Willard Brizzee Jr. 1854-1927 Compiled by, Arlene Hepworth
Henry Willard Brizzee was born 29 April 1854 in Sacramento, Sacrament County, California, to Henry Willard Brizzee and Emily Amanda Rockwell.
Little is known about Henry’s childhood. He must have spent time with both his mother and his father who were divorced. He met and married Esther Ann Catlin in 1878 in Panaca, Lincoln County, Nevada. They made their home, near Esther Ann’s parents, in Pioche, Lincoln County, Nevada where three children were born: Emily Brizzee born and died 21 February 1879, Lulu Belle Brizzee 15 March 1880, Etta May Brizzee 11 May 1882.
Henry and Esther moved to Grouse Creek, Box Elder County, Utah possibly to be with Henry’s mother, Emily Amanda Rockwell Tyrell, who was a prominent rancher in that area. Four children were born to them while they lived in Grouse Creek: Raymond Henry Brizzee 21 December 1884, Viola Lorana Brizzee 13 August 1886?, Laura Edna Brizzee 1891, Grace Melissa Brizzee 13 June 1893 (perhaps this child was born in Tecoma, Lincoln County, Nevada, while visiting her family there).
In about 1895 Henry went to Arizona with a band of horses to sell. While in Arizona his relatives, (his father and family) persuaded him to stay and settle in Arizona, the country that President Brigham Young had asked Henry Willard Brizzee Sr. to settle. He moved his family to Arizona. Later they moved to Bisbee, Chochise County, Arizona where Henry worked for the Copper Queen Mining Company.
A fire destroyed their home in 1898 and they moved to Lowell, Arizona and lived with a married daughter and husband until land was bought and a new home was built. The new home had five rooms.
A son, Robert Edward Brizzee was born 31 May 1899 in Bisbee Chochise County, Arizona. Within a few days tragedy again struck this family and their baby, Robert Edward, died on 3 June 1899. Another daughter, Eleanor Alice Brizzee was born 9 April 1901 in Bisbee, Chochise County, Arizona.
In about 1904 Henry and Esther moved back to Grouse Creek, Utah where Henry managed the ranch of Emily Amanda Rockwell Tyrell, who was widowed. He had fields of hay, grain, potatoes and a vegetable garden. After being in Utah for just two years Esther Ann became sick and was advised to return to the warmer climate, so back to Bisbee they went. For a time they returned to Utah in the summer to run the ranch.
Some time later they moved to Superior, Arizona where Henry worked for the Magma Copper Company, working in the capacity of a mine carpenter.
On 1 April 1924 another tragedy struck their home when their daughter Grace Melissa died.
Henry Willard Brizzee Jr. died 20 June 1927 in Superior, Pinal County, Arizona. His obituary stated that he was typical in every way of the “grand old man”. He died at his home from a stroke at the age of 73.
This biography was compiled by Arlene Wilcox Hepworth, great grand daughter of Henry Willard Brizzee Jr.. Information was taken from the biography of Henry Willard Brizzee Sr., and the sketch of Emily Amanda Rockwell, and from the autobiography of Laura Edna Brizzee White Lee, and from the obituary of Henry Willard Brizzee Jr.
September 20, 2005
“Band of Horses”
Arlene Hepworth, writes to, Donna Brizzee Ford
I checked my grandmother’s (Laura Edna Brizzee Lee) autobiography and it said:
“My health was good until I contracted pneumonia at the age of 2 years. After that, until my marriage I suffered with poor health. When I was 4 years old my father went to Arizona with a band of horses to sell. His relatives persuaded him to stay and settle in Arizona. Thinking that the warm dry climate would be good for me, he sent for us to join him. So leaving Utah behind we headed for a new adventure in a warmer country. I was 5 years old when we arrived in Mesa, Arizona, the county that Pres. Brigham Young had asked my grandfather to colonize. We met many of our relatives here and we liked living here.”
September 25, 2005
|
