Welcome to the Dunkerley-Tuson Family Website!

"More than a century ago the city of Oldham, Lancashire England was justly proud of her thriving cotton mills, factories and coal mines, but quite unmindful of the thousands whose labor had made her great, as usually is the case where pomp and wealth dominate the masses.

It was amid the clang and clatter of these busy industrial cities that a child was bom, Oct 24, 1843 to a poor laborer, Edmund Buckley and his wife Harriet Dunkerly [Dunkerley].

The wee girl was called Harriet in honor of her mother [link to Harriet Dunkerley]. They little dreamed of the important role this mite of humanity would play in the building of a great commonwealth. Three other children were born to the Buckley's, Henry, just older than Harriet, Molly [Mally], and Jane, who were younger.^[1] Mrs. Buckley also had two children by a former marriage.

When Harriet was but eight years of age, her father died leaving members of the family to shift for themselves. Mrs. Buckley found work for herself and her children who were old enough. Since no English Law forbid child labor in those days, little Harriet was given a job in a fabric factory, going to school only part of the day.

Her dresses opened down the back as was the fashion and fastened with many buttons. Older members of her family being at work when she dressed for the factory the little miss found herself in a most embarrassing situation, she could not get her dress fastened. But she was not baffled for long. Putting the garment on hind side a fore she buttoned it easily enough. On reaching the factory she changed it about and asked some obliging laborer to fasten it for her.

Her first task at the factory was threading bobbins. This she did until she was 12 years old, when she began weaving on the looms. While still in the bobbin department she became acquainted with a friendly brown-eyed boy whom they called Joe. His father had left his mother and several small children, so he like Harriet must spend long tedious hours at the factory to help out. Their similar situations in life were a strong bond between those fatherless youngsters and a beautiful friendship developed. It was Joe's chore to carry the large bobbins up a stair to the weaving room. We may well assume that a smile from the shy young Harriet was needed to make Joe's day perfect.

The Buckley family was among those who accepted the teachings of the Mormon missionaries. Harriet was baptized July 1855 at the age of 12. Joe was baptized into the L.D.S. Church the year previous on the 20th of August, 1854. These youngsters often
sang for the Elders at their gatherings.

Harriet continued working in the factory as long as she remained in England. When 20, she married her girlhood sweetheart, Joseph Ball Higham, the son of James and Ann Ball Higham. They were married in Oldham on the 6th of June, 1864. In all probability an Elder of the L.D.S. Church performed the ceremony for the happy pair.^[2] The couple had saved sufficient funds to make the Journey to America. The exact day of their leaving England for the United States is not known but it is assumed they left soon after they were married.^[3] The trip was anything but tranquil, Harriet suffered with seasickness the entire voyage. They disembarked at New York, but made their way to Philadelphia or Manyunk.

Harriet's mother had made the trip with the young couple, but she grew homesick for her native England and returned as soon as she conveniently could, or at least before the Higham's came west.^[4]

The first eleven years of their married life was spent in Manyunk. There they worked in a large fabric mill and saved for the day they would be able to come to Utah. During their stay in Manyunk two daughters were bom. Drucilla, November 1869 and Mary Alice, December 26, 1872. This was the period following the Civil War. It was 1875 before the long journey to Utah was attempted. They came by train and first settled in Provo. Joseph, skilled as he was in the manufacturing of cloth found employment in the Provo woolen mills.

Harriet's older brother Henry came to America and traveled from Philadelphia to Utah with the Higham family, but like his mother was disappointed and returned at length to England.^[5]

Upon arriving in Utah, Harriet and Joseph lost no time in going to the Endowment House where they received their endowments and were sealed for time and all eternity May, 1875. Drucilla and Mary Alice were sealed to their parents in 1889 in the Manti Temple when Drucilla was married. On August 20, 1875 their third child was born, a girl. She was given the name Harriet, being named for her Mother and Maternal grandmother. The family remained in Provo a little over two years. Joseph decided he wanted to farm.
He was tired of spending his days in a stuffy factory. Somehow he learned of the fabulous crops raised in the Gunnison Valley and chose to settle there. They came to the valley in the early autumn of 1877. Joseph rented a one-room adobe house from A. J. Tuft. It stood on the present Alva Lund lot. No doubt this humble dwelling looked forlorn and forbidding to the family, but they were thankful for any shelter against the approaching winter.^[6]

Joseph bought a team of oxen, both red in color. That winter he rustled enough logs to build a house for his family. This he built in the section of the valley then known as the fields. This sturdy one room dwelling is still standing as the south wing of the Annie Jones home. The family, however, did not move into that the new house until the next April, as twins were born Feb 22 1878, they were named Rebecca and Joseph. The tiny boy died some three hours after birth.

The next spring Joseph, using the oxen, farmed a piece of land some three miles south of Gunnison which he obtained by squatters rights. This land is the east fork of the Chas. S. Hansen farm.

A few homes had been built in the field so the Highams were not wholly without neighbors. Gunnison was their nearest town. It was there they did there trading, received their mail, attended church, and mingled with the people socially. Both Harriet and Joseph were excellent singers. Her voice was a clear soprano while his was a strong bass.
Their talent was a great asset to the community and their rich voices were heard in choirs and many early day gatherings.

In 1880 Joseph joined the first organized band in Gunnison Valley. It was a twelve-piece affair directed by James Fjeldsted. Joseph played the bass fiddle and also the bass horn. This music was very popular and was played not only for the local celebrations and dances but in the neighboring towns as well.

September 1, 1880 a daughter whom they called Josephine was born the [to] Higham's in the log home in the fields. By 1881 quite a number of families had built houses and moved in the district. The distance to school in Gunnison was considered too great for small feet to walk, thus it was arranged that Harriet teach a small group of students ranging in age from 5 to 12, during the warmer months, by moving the dining table aside she made room for the boxes and planks that formed the seats. There being only a few students no more than a dozen, Harriet could give them individual attention. They were taught to read, spell, write, and very simple arithmetic Harriet was paid in produce for her service.

The next year 1882, a log building used for school, church, and all public gatherings was erected and private schools were no longer conducted. Shortly after the completion of the log building the Primary association was organized and Harriet was chosen as the president. Harriet held this office for many years. She was loved by many children with whom she associated.

Not because of inclination or desire but of necessity every early day mother must know something of nursing and the use of herbs in order to bring their children safely through the diseases of childhood. At nursing Harriet was a natural, she loved it. Mrs. Buezet, a French lady, who lived in a dugout on the Charlie Nielson lot, taught her the different herbs and their many uses in illness. Harriet's advice and aid was greatly appreciated, each summer she and her daughters gathered peppermint, wormwood, yarrow, catnip, smart weed, and horehound which grew wild. These were washed and dried and carefully stored. When Utah was young often a few herbs and a lot of faith had the effect of remedies administered by a skilled physician.

A son, whom they named Albert was born December 1st, 1883, being a boy his coming was especially appreciated.

The General Relief Society presidency came to recognize the dire need of trained efficient obstetricians throughout the state especially in the less populated section. Pregnant mothers too often had to depend on some unskilled neighbor, any one who was brave enough to assist at the time of the confinement; this practice often resulted in the death of the child or mother and sometimes both. To alleviate this grave situation each Relief Society Organization was asked to send one or more eligible women to an obstetrical school for a period of three months. As a result of this action Harriet was sent by the Gunnison Relief Society to a school in Ephriam, supervised by Dr. Olsen. The fee
was $35.00.

Because of the distance it was necessary for Harriet to stay in Ephraim during her training. During her training, she took Alice to care for the baby, Albert, who was two years old at the time, 1885. Joseph and the three girls managed at home very well.

Harriet's first case after returning was a memorable one, choked with fear and adventure. Joe Gribble who lived in Dover came thundering up to the Higham's home in a wagon. His horse all a lather. The household was soon aroused and his wants made known. In a matter of minutes Harriet was ready and in the wagon beside the worried husband. Time was all important and Harriet held on for dear life while Joe urged his horses to a gallop over the rutty dusty road. There were no bridges and because of the unfavorable condition of the Sevier river they crossed it on an improvised raft Joe had built and waded the short distance to the house. That they had arrived in good time was gratifying, but Harriet's steady hand and calm voice relieved the great tension of fear that welled with in her as she proceeded to make this her first delivery. That all went exceeding will bolstered a much-needed confidence in her ability as an obstetrician. The Gribbles [were] very proud of their fine girl who they named Mary (May) [and] cheerfully paid her $3.00 fee for bringing the baby and the ten subsequent visits. The next two births at which she assisted were that of Mrs. Verd Anderson and Mrs. Hannah Jensen Anderson.

No chloroform was administered in those days. Quite a number of confinement cases were handled by Harriet before she acquired a professional assurance. Many hair-raising episodes became part of her career. One night a man from Mayfield called for her. The team became frightened and ran into a telegraph pole. Harriet was badly bruised and shaken up but never the less hastened on and assisted the mother in question.

Once she took a fast and perilous ride to the Beaver Dam up Willow Creek canyon with Jack Chew when his wife Mamie demanded immediate attention. Bud Gribble was left with the ailing mother and feverishly counted the minutes until Jack returned with Harriet. She made the trip alone the ten succeeding days.

Joseph, using buggy wheels rigged up a cart in which Harriet rode about when nursing. She drove a gentle bay mare called Bess. Harriet is credited with the bringing of 1,411 babies into the world, besides assisting Dr. Hagen with many more.

In 1899 Joseph traded his farm to Peter Christen Hansen for the latter’s four-room rock house and the adjoining twenty acres. The old home was sold to Eric Peterson. It was not strange that Joseph had felt lost without a loom having been used to one so much of his life. He bought one and began weaving carpets and rugs for housewives of the valley for fifty cents.

In 1897 the Centerfield ward was organized and Harriet was chosen as president of the Relief Society. The obligation of the Society was much more numerous than today and Harriet and her officers were kept busy discharging their many duties such as preparing bodies for burial, making burial clothes, and gathering wheat. Harriet was president for almost twenty years.

When the rock schoolhouse was built about 1900, Joseph was given the school janitor job. This he continued long after the student population had out grown the old building and moved into the new one in 1911. He was very jolly, always ready for a bit of fun. The children and teachers liked him immensely.

After their children had married and they began to feel the weight of the years, they sold the old rock home and built a new three room house a short distance from the school lot. Joseph continued being janitor until a year or so before his death.

Due to a heart condition he was forced to quit work. He was tenderly cared for by his devoted wife and children during his last illness. He died February 12, 1923 after much suffering from a heart disease. He had had been very generous with his talent, singing in the Centerfield ward choir since it was first organized and playing his musical instruments whenever asked to. He was truly a gentleman in every respect and was
honored in his community.

The Highams were a very devoted couple and his passing left Harriet depressed and lonely. She passed on four years after a short illness, Jan 18, 1927 and was laid beside her husband in the Centerfield cemetery.

The last baby Harriet delivered was her grand daughter Florence Higham on May 30, 1923. She is best remembered in the valley for the patient, untiring service rendered during her career as nurse and obstetrician. When she lacked for knowledge she relied on devine promptings, which never failed her, and many were the hearts that were deeply
touched at her passing and many were the lips that murmured in deepest gratitude.
GOD BLESS HER"