Pioneers John Lunn & Harriet Cookson Lunn

In lieu of Pinoneer day, I refreshed my memory of who each of my family pioneers are. I will continue to post of each of their stories, but will began with John Lunn. This history is written by my grandmother, Verla Birt Barton. Interestingly enough, each of the four pioneer couples on Grandma Barton's side are from the same generation, her great grandparents.

John Lunn: 20 Aug 1829-16 Oct 1905

By Verla Birt Barton

Great grandfather John Lunn was born 20th of August 1829 in England. Not much is known of his early years, but he was associated with a group who were attempting to raise and mature silkworms. While still in England he married Harriet Cookson, date unknown. They were contacted by missionaries from the Mormon Church. They emigrated from England, reaching New York August 20, 1866. There were 4 children in the family at that time, Sarah, Eliza, Martha, and John William. They stayed in New York for 2 years. While they were in New York, another son, Joseph Henry was born to them. This son didn’t live long, as he died before they left New York to come to Utah.

They came to Salt Lake in 1868, stayed there only a short time, and then moved to Farmington Utah. John engaged himself in farming to support his family. While they lived in Farmington, 2 more sons were born to them, Fred and Walter. They moved back to Salt Lake City about 1871. Around this time, Brigham Young had established a spinning mill in Provo, Utah. When it was learned that John had been associated with this silkworm project in England, he was asked to help. He first had to plant and grow mulberry trees for the worms to live on. It was found that the larva thrived better under cover in this country, so a large hot house was built on John’s property. The larvae were kept in this hothouse until they reached the cocoon stage and were then transferred to the Mulberry trees. The skill of transferring these cocoons was taught to the 2 eldest daughters Sarah and Eliza who did this chore thereafter. They also gathered the adult cocoons which were then sent to the spinning mills.

These mills operated for many years, but the spinning and weaving of silk was found to be uneconomical so the project was dropped.

John also worked at the tithing yard as storekeeper. His duties consisted of taking in and storing grains, potatoes, fowl, livestock, and various other farm and field products the church members brought in to pay their tithing.

While he was in England working on the silk worm project he had learned how to produce artificial gas.

Now here in Salt Lake City, the materials being at hand, such as coal, peat, piping and the ability to improvise, John produced and installed gas lighting around the tithing yard. This lighting lasted until the city was light by gasworks built where the fairgrounds were later built.
John also had a large grape arbor and raised a large garden each summer. There was one more daughter born to them, Mary Ellen, making a family of 8 children.

John Lunn died in Salt Lake City 16th October 1905.