Mary Ann (Annie) Bayles
Born: 22 September 1881 at Bluff, San Juan, Utah, USA
Parents: Ole Hanson Bayles and Mary Ann Durham
Married: (LDS Sealing) 8 April 1903 at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, USA
Died: 27 October 1947 at Monticello, San Juan, Utah, USA
George William Perkins
Born: 22 January 1879; Cedar City, Utah
Parents: Hyrum Perkins and Rachel Corey
Died: 21 May 1937 at Salt Lake City, Utah
Pioneer Heritage
George William Perkins was born in Cedar City, Utah, on January 22, 1879, to Hyrum and Rachel Corey Perkins. Both Hyrum and Rachel Perkins were Latter-day Saint pioneers to Utah. Hyrum was born in Wales, and came to Utah as a youthful convert aboard the "...steamship Minnesota, with a company of Saints numbering 534 persons for New York from Liverpool" on Tuesday, June 30th, 1868. With him were his brothers, Benjamin and Joseph, and sister, Naomi. They traveled west to Laramie by rail, and then by wagon to Echo Canyon where the boys stopped to work on the railroad. When sufficient funds had been raised, Hyrum returned to Wales to bring the rest of the Perkins family to Utah, departing Liverpool again on June 2, 1869. In October 1869 the extended Perkins family left Salt Lake City to join Hyrum's brother, Thomas, who had settled in Cedar City shortly after his emigration in 1862. By 1878, Hyrum had begun courting Rachel Corey, a young woman born in Cedar City of English descent. Her parents were early settlers there after living in Canada and then Provo, Utah.
George was born about the time plans were in the works for a settlement along the San Juan River. He was just eight months old when the expedition to the San Juan began. They were camped at Hole in the Rock when George celebrated his first birthday. It was a bit of a trial for his young mother, Rachel, to keep him safely in her arms as they journeyed to Bluff. George was eagerly learning to crawl and then to walk during the trek, and naturally wanted to test the boundaries of his independence. But Rachel held him in her arms as best she could while the wagons crept along over the rocky terrain. Finally they reached San Juan County and established a home in Bluff. In time, the family began raising livestock and became prominent members of the community.
Similarly, Annie’s family were early settlers of Iron County, her father born in Parowan, and her mother born in Paragonah. However, they had not yet married when the original company of colonists in the Hole-in-the-Rock expedition reached Bluff. Ole Hanson (Hanson) returned to Parowan to marry his sweetheart in late 1880, and returned with her to Bluff where Mary Anne was born in September 1881. The families were close neighbors and co-workers in Bluff for the next twenty years. Mary Anne's mother had died in childbirth in 1888 and her father, his mother, and the women of the little town, provided for the young family's needs, including construction of a beautiful stone home. During those same years, George's parents completed a grand home, as well. Both attended what school was available in Bluff and participated in community dances and church activities.
Life in San Juan County
Both of their fathers invested their resources and energy in raising cattle. From a young age George worked on his father’s ranch and “literally grew up in the cattle business.” George was always very committed to the Latter-day Saint religion, and as a young man left Bluff to serve a mission in the Southern States. When he returned, George married Annie. After their marriage, George made livestock his career, working alongside his brothers and father. During their early years of marriage, George and Annie likely lived in one of the pioneer cabins at Bluff, most likely that of George's parents, and they had their first two children there: Louven and Earl. Then, in 1906, George was called to serve a mission in Portland, Oregon. However, rumors of local Indian uprisings in Bluff necessitated George’s return home after only a few months.
Life in Bluff was good for George and Annie. Annie was a talented vocalist and gave voice lessons to young women in Bluff. She was known for her stirring performances and enjoyed singing for church services and community events. Local residents remembered George as a “very good-looking man . . . [who] always wore a good looking hat.” George liked to wear his hat crooked, and this became his trademark. Everyone enjoyed George’s optimism and good sense of humor. Eventually, three more children were born to the couple in Bluff: Anna Marie, Clarence and Ray.
The Perkins family lived in Bluff until 1916, when George moved his family to Blanding. George went to work building a nice home, a large barn and a granary. In Blanding, three more children were born: Carl, Emma and Don, who passed away in infancy. Although George and Annie had to care for a large family, they always opened their home to people in need. Since there were few accommodations in Blanding, travelers were often directed to the Perkins place. George and Annie were known for their hospitality. They were also well known among the Indians for their kindness. It was common to see Indians eating home-cooked meals on their front porch. It is also said that the Indian Jess Posey, son of Chief Posey (the Indian often blamed for uprisings in 1916 and 1923), always brought his family to the Perkins’s property to spend the winter.
By the early 1920’s George’s health began to decline. He sold his stock in the family ranch operations to his brothers and got out of the cattle business. Because he was unable to work like he used to, George threw his energy into supporting his community and church. He served for several years as a county commissioner, worked as the town marshal, and was a part of the Blanding Stake High Council. Local histories recorded that “Mr. Perkins [had] been a citizen of marked progressiveness and [had] given loyal support to measures and enterprises projected for the general communal good.”
George and Annie spent their final years serving and caring for others. Annie was known for her kind service and hard work ethic. In May of 1937, George traveled to Salt Lake City to have his appendix removed and passed away during surgery. After George died, Annie continued her involvement in the community and as the matriarch of a large family. George Perkins was a devoted member of the Bluff and Blanding communities. His enterprising spirit and charitable attitude helped the communities of the San Juan succeed.
Modified from:
Researched and written for the Hole-in-the-Rock Foundation by:
C.S.M. Jones LLC, Family Heritage Consulting.
Right-click [Mac Control-click] to open full-size image:
Hyrum and Rachel Corey Family
George William Perkins on mission
Mary Ann on her father's lap
Hanson Bayles and children
Mary Ann Bayles
Wedding Photo
Mary Ann (Annie) Bayles
Construction of Hanson Bayles Home in Bluff Annie in white behind baby carriage