Sacred

to the memory of

Michael. Garbis.

departed this life

October 3, 1880.

Aged

48 yrs. & 9 mos.

Native of Cornwall

England.

Dying is but going

home.

Death thou art, but another birth,

Freeing the spirit of the clogs of Earth.

Erected by his son, Michael.

Cemetery: Protestant Pioneer – Silver Reef, Utah

I found the following quote in the book: Ghost Towns of the West, by Lambert Florin, Copyright 1970, 1971 by Superior Publishing Company and Promontory Press pg 392

Silver Reef experienced the usual murders ex­pected in an unrestricted mining camp (some de­scribed in Boot Hill). One is commemorated by a beautifully carved tombstone in the camp’s ceme­tery, placed on the grave of Michael Garbis by his son, Michael Jr. The father was slain by a discharged employee who was tried in St. George and found guilty, the execution thwarted by a mob that snatched him from the jail and hanged him at the edge of town. The hanging rope was tied to a bush so that the body was left swinging on the tree. Passing the spot the next morning, the town wag was reported to have said, “I have observed that tree growing there for the last 25 years. This is the first time I have ever seen it bearing fruit.”

I found the family in the 1880 census index at Family Search, listed as Carlis, but all the other records seem to have the name as Carbis, including the 1841 census of Cornwall, England at find my past. But the author of the book above and I see Garbis on the Tombstone.

In 1880 Michael was 48 and a Miner, with his wife Mary Ann Odgers 44, and Michael Jr. 20 a Blacksmith, born in California, as were the other two kids, Minnie 15 and Bertie 12.

Here we have two children buried side by side. The first is, Baby West, died in 1879, the second was William West, died 1888. I looked for the “West” family in the 1880 census of Silver Reef and found 18yr old Nettie West and her husband 29yr old Wright, and was saddened to see that they had no children. He is listed as a grocer and I would say from these fancy headstones that selling groceries was profitable in this boomtown.

Baby West

Born & Died

Nov. 28, 1879

Rest Baby Rest

Cemetery: Protestant Pioneer – Silver Reef, Utah

William Shelton

Son of

S.W. & Nettie West

Born

Jan. 28, 1883

Died

Oct. 9, 1888

Little buddie thou art

Gone but not Forgotten

Cemetery: Protestant Pioneer – Silver Reef, Utah

It took me awile, and I thought that I wasn’t going to be able to find anymore about the couple, but I found Silas West in Salt Lake City in the 1900 census. His wife is listed as Marie A. West, but I am pretty sure with the ages and length of their marriage, and their parent info that this is the right family. They have 7 children and a nephew living with them. A happy ending, for Christmas, Oh. . . and Silas’ occupation in 1900, Shepherd.

James H. Huston

Died

April 2, 1889

Aged

? . ? . ?

Parted friends again may meet

From the toils of nature free

Crowned with mercy, O how sweet

Will eternal friendship be!

Cemetery: Protestant Pioneer – Silver Reef, Utah

I found James H. Huston in the 1880 census, Occupation: Keeps Livery Stable. He was living alone nextdoor to the Clarks John, Hester and James from a previous post. He was born in about 1826 in Ohio. His mother and father were born in Pennsylvania.