In 1849, Alexander Beckstead moved his family from Illinois to a dugout south of Salt Lake City. He likely never imagined his great-great-great-great-grandson, Niko Fillmore, would write about him in a school essay.

“He founded South Jordan,” Niko said. “There’s a road named after him and his family dug the first ditch, ‘The Beckstead Ditch,’ to bring water from the Jordan River to their land so they could farm. It’s behind city hall and the library now.”

Niko was one of eight fourth-graders in Karrie Wardell’s class who entered the Jordan River chapter of the Sons of Utah Pioneers’ essay contest.

Addy Anderson won first place and $50 for writing about her great-great-great-grandmother Emma Hardcastle, who lost her father and sister while immigrating from England.

“Her sister Jane was sickly and rode in the wagon so Emma would pick flowers for her to help her feel happy,” Addy said about the woman who opened Utah’s first millinery shop in Midvale and learned to read and write from the Bible so she could vote in every election—even at age 93. “I went to her gravesite in Midvale. I found her to be inspiring.”

Sienna Nimtz took second for her essay on Isaac Turley, a Canadian immigrant who once cared for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints founder Joseph Smith’s horses in Illinois before settling in Beaver, Utah.

“Once there, he helped bring peace with the Native Americans during the Black Hawk War,” she said.

Third-place winner Josette McCleary wrote about her ancestor Jane Rowley, who crossed the ocean and pushed a handcart at age 8. 

“They didn’t have any food,” Josette said. “While her dad went to look for food, they prayed. Then, her mom remembered she had two biscuits left, but they were too hard. She put them in a Dutch oven and prayed. When they looked over, it was overflowing with food. She was brave. I’m 11 and I can’t imagine doing her journey.”

Nyssa Rasmussen chose her third great-grandmother, Nancy Maria Badger.

“She went through a lot of hard times, but she got through them,” Nyssa said. “I’m impressed how much I can learn from my ancestors.”

Ruby Eldredge profiled relative Severin Nielsen Lee, a 12-year-old Danish immigrant who became a furniture maker and Brigham City choir and band director for 32 years.

“Learning about him and writing it down brings him more to life to me,” she said.

Ava Richardson focused on her fifth-great-grandfather, James Brown, a captain in the Mormon Battalion. During a storm, his men survived by boiling saddle leather and drinking it, eventually delivering seeds to plant in what was the town he founded, Brownsville — now Ogden.

“I hope I can be like him by always doing the right thing,” she said.

Hazel Fordham honored her third great-grandmother, Mary Goble Pay, who lost three siblings and her mother as well as all her toes from frostbite on the trek to Utah.

“She just taught me to never give up, and that’s something I can respect,” Hazel said.

Two Bingham High seniors, Erin Grimshaw and Jason Peterson, also received $1,000 scholarships for essays on pioneer values.λ