(Two separate Headshot pictures. One a man and the other a woman-possibly John Cavelor and his wife Rebecca Dennis Arbon) 

John Cavelor Arbon was born 8 October 1813 in Gravely, Cambridgeshire, England. He was the fourth child of James and Elizabeth Newman Arbon. John was raised in Gravely where he did his part in tilling the soil along with his parents and twelve other brothers and sisters. Schooling and opportunities for education and for becoming economically independent were almost non-existent, however, two significant changes were beginning to come into their lives and they finally had two choices for leaving Gravely. One was the lure of the “factory” jobs in the more concentrated areas of London and Liverpool and the opportunities for settlement in America and especially the territory of Utah in the United States of America. Through the LDS or Mormon missionaries the offer of a new religion, known to them as the “restored gospel” in the free America with its limitless land and economic opportunities was an irresistible opportunity. 

John and his wife Rebecca Dennis Arbon were among the first of their people to catch the vision of the changing times and their two sons George Dennis and Charles courageously accepted the challenge and departed to America, 17 May 1862. John Cavelor and his wife Rebecca had nine children, the last Elizabeth Rebecca in 1856, and of this number five had died so that there was but (1862) only the two girls, Esther and Elizabeth and themselves remaining in Gravely. Before George and Charles departed for America the family had committed themselves to undertaking the long journey to America and to the Rocky Mountains for George and Charles had promised to send them the means to come to America within a year of their 17 May 1862 departure. 

Mother Rebecca was not a well person but her new faith and love and devotion to two wonderfully courageous sons was an irresistible inner drive that moved her against unbeatable odds to put every earthly possession and prospect on the altar of sacrifice and with her husband and two daughters leave her beloved England forever that spring of 1864. John was now almost 60 years of age and Rebecca almost 59. Esther was 17 and Elizabeth almost 8 years. The trials and the tribulations for people of this age were harsh and difficult as they headed out to sea and as they made their way through the treacherous miles over the endless plains. July very hot and choking dust storms; August some relief as they climbed the long pull up the Platte River; September the beginning of exhaustion and great anxiety as Rebecca became weaker and weaker and then before the Platt was left behind the cruel but merciful act of death that 14th day of September 1864 took Rebecca home. Her fondest wish “if only I can set foot on the soil of America before I die” was not fulfilled. But more than America had been attained for there would be added to her estate hundreds and hundreds of wonderful people because of her. On the morning of 15 September her remains were laid to rest in a shallow grave. John Cavelor, Esther and Elizabeth would carry on. But tragedy was to strike once again in less than three weeks. John Cavelor, weakened at his older age, found the final miles, some 100 from Salt Lake City and his goal, beyond his earthly strength to conquer. On 4 October all mortal trials and tribulations came to an end. He was buried that same day in a hastily dug shallow grave. What more can a man and a woman give than this and what more can a man or woman have to their honor and eventual glory if they have a family and the true gospel of Jesus Christ? Bless their memory this is what they had and death and the grave were robbed of their sting. Esther 18 and Elizabeth 8, George and Charles must now carry on, and they truly did as the story of their lives reveals. 

(picture of a metal frame of a wagon wheel as the headstone -words written on it- under the picture it says, Buried on the trail).