Tragedy for the Puzeys

Joseph Henry Puzey (1828-1896)
(descendants line: Henry William / Frederick/ Frederick Elmer)

While Joseph Henry Puzey's life was full of amazing experiences(working on the miniature carriages for the royal children of Queen Victoria and crossing the plains with the Saints to settle in the Utah valley), he also experienced much sadness (leaving home at the age of 15, leaving his wife and almost all of his children behind in Southampton when they chose not to follow him in his faith and emigration, never seeing his family back in England again, outliving his one son (Henry William Puzey) who had joined him in Utah). But it was his family that experienced this at his tragic end.  Until recently all I knew about how he had passed was from a small paragraph in the history written by Ila Puzey Peterson hinted at something more.

"He suffered a severe stroke in 1894.  On May 7, 1896, he was found dead by W.C. Dunbar.  He was buried May 9, in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.  Services were held in the twentieth ward meeting house."

So my assumption was that he had passed away at home, possibly due to a second stroke and that a neighbour or friend had discovered him as they came to visit. "Found dead" is the clue to his passing alone.  But I had no idea of the extent of what actually occurred until I was exploring some of the premium resources available by visiting a family history centre. 

One of the subscription sites which users of the centre can access is a newspaper database. I always like to try out a few of the less common names when I first visit a new resource and Puzey has often been a profitable one to try.  When you search in one of these databases, you generally will see a few words from the text to help you identify if you want to read more.  The words that first grabbed my attention were these.

"The unknown body found in the creek..."

I wondered if there had been a mystery in the neighbourhood, if a Puzey had been quoted talking about the incident. I never expected that the body was, in fact, my 3rd Great Grandfather.  

The text of the news report is copied here for you to know of the tragic end of our Pioneer father, Henry Puzey.  This is from the Salt Lake Tribune, Saturday May 9, 1896, page 5.
https://newspaperarchive.com/salt-lake-tribune-may-09-1896-p-13/
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PROVED TO BE HENRY PUZEY.

THE FORT DOUGLAS BODY IS IDENTIFIED

Supposed to Have Become Bewildered in His Effort to Reach Home - - An Old and Honored Citizen

The unknown body found in the creek back of the Fourt [sic] Douglas guard house on Thursday evening was identified yesterday morning as that of Henry Puzey of this city.

                Puzey lived with his wife and family at 236 D street. He has always been of a social nature, and since his retirement from business has been in the habit of frequently visiting his neighbors.  Thursday afternoon he made a call on an old friend, leaving him at 2 o’clock.  Thinking him still at the neighbor’s house, Puzey’s family were not alarmed until 6 o’clock when one of his sons went to bring him home, only to learn that his father had four hours before left the house. A search was at once begun, but beyond the fact that he had been seen walking rapidly, almost running in a southeasterly direction, nothing was learned.  The police also were notified, but they were unable to get trace of the lost man.  Late in the evening a man was reported as having been found drowned in the creek at the mouth of Red Butte canyon, near Fort Douglas.  This was believed to be Puzey, but afterward denied.   Yesterday Edwin Puzey went to Fort Douglas, and in the lifeless form lying on a cooling board in the dead house recognized his dead father.

                The body was removed to the city and taken to Joseph E. Taylor’s undertaking establishment, where it now is.  The funeral will be held tomorrow in the Twentieth ward meeting-house.

                Two years ago Mr. Puzey had a severe attack of paralysis from which he never fully recovered. Not only was his speech affected, but his mind was deranged.  Up to the time of that illness he was jovial and fun-loving, but since then he has not been himself.  His suffering made him morose and suspicious and inclined to live within himself.

                His family believe that after leaving the neighbor’s house, Puzey started out for a walk and became lost. Then in his bewilderment, hunting his home, he wandered out to the canyon back of the post and fell exhausted into the stream.  As he was in only ten inches of water when found, he must have been stunned by the fall, otherwise he could not have been drowned.

                Mr. Puzey was 67 years of age. He has lived in Salt Lake City since 1866, when he crossed the plains. He was a carriage builder, but has not worked at his trade for several years, not since the boom, when his shop in the rear of the Co-op Wagon and Machine company became too valuable for that use. His wife is quite ill, being prostrated by the shock of her husband’s sudden death.

                Mr. Puzey was a highly respected man. He is described by a friend as modest and unassuming, and one who never heralded the good he did to the world. During Bishop Sharp’s lifetime he was one of his counselors.  He was very charitable and generous, being willing to extend credit time after time. An instance of this occurred yesterday morning, when a woman called to pay a debt of $75 contracted in 1875.  Her husband, who is out of town, had sent her the money, and until she reached the house she did not know her husband’s debtor was dead. 

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I was glad to learn more about Henry's character. He has been a struggle for me knowing he left a wife and children behind in England. I've wondered what kind of man he was. It is difficult to understand knowing that his wife eventually ended up in a poor house in Southampton. But this is not the man that I imagined as he is described here and I'm happy to learn more of this respected man who tried to do good and help others.  

The 20th Ward Meetinghouse in Salt Lake

Interior of the 20th Ward Meetinghouse

When I was in Salt Lake City this past summer, I did some driving around in the Historic Avenues, looking for Henry's home and hadn't realized I would also find the chapel just a short distance away. I was lucky enough to get permission to enter and tour the building. It is worth a visit. Maybe next time I can attend Sunday services there. 

I also visited Henry's grave in the Salt Lake City cemetery. Most of the other graves I have visited of my ancestors in Utah have been large impressive stones. But Henry's grave marker is simple and those of his second family (wife and children) that line up beside him are equally unremarkable and even difficult to read as they have sunk into the ground and are partially grown over. 

 I hope to continue to learn about this family as I research and connect with others interested in the Puzey line.