Son of John Cavalor Arbon (Arborn) And Rebecca Dennis 

(picture of a couple. Woman standing and man sitting. Description under the picture says: Charles and Martha Thomas Arbon.) 

Charles Arbon was born March 29, 1842 at Gravely, Cambridgeshire, England, a son of John Cavelor Arbon and Rebecca Dennis Arbon. His parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but Charles was not converted to the faith at that time. Oftimes he heard his mother pray that something might occur that would impress his mind with the truthfulness of the restored gospel. It was not long after the pleadings of his mother were made that he was taken very sick and the Elders were sent to administer to him. They asked him if he had faith in the ministration of the priesthood and the Elders. His answer was an emphatic “yes, you bet I do.” In three days he was up and around. It was considered a miracle by his neighbors and friends. 

He was baptized at night because of the bitter opposition to the LDS faith. It was the night of March 10, 1862, by Elder George Cooper. Charles was just 19 days from being 20 years of age. 

After joining the LDS Church and faith, his mother’s greatest desire was to join the saints in America. She became afflicted with cancer of the breast and often said, ”I can die content if I can just set foot on the soil of America,” and she earnestly prayed to her Heavenly Father that she might be granted this privilege. 

On May 17, 1862, he and his brother George, left Liverpool for America, the land of promise. He often repeated the parting words of his father, John, to the two boys, “Boys, you are going to a strange land, among strange people, all I ask of you is that you be good boys,” This request and its subsequent promise was kept throughout his life. It served as a guide and incentive to him and his brother George to put forth the effort to live a good and a helpful life. These two stalwart sons resolved and promised that inside a year they would send for the family to join them in the land of America. 

They left England in the sailing vessel “Brown ” under captain Johy Boyd, arriving in Castle Gardens, New York. They came on to Florence (Winter Quarters) where they stayed for 6 weeks. From Florence they went on to Salt Lake City, arriving in October that year. From Salt Lake City they went to Willard, Utah with Elihu Pettengil and made their home with him. 

Charles and George kept their promise to their father and mother and sent for the remainder of the family in 1863. The family, consisting of their father and mother and two sisters, Esther and Elizabeth, all embarked for America. Charles went to meet the immigrant train when it began its movement into the Wasatch mountains, meeting it at Echo Canyon. The joyous hope of seeing his father and mother again turned into an empty dream and a sad experience as he discovered that both his parents had paid the supreme sacrifice on the journey. His mother, Rebecca Dennis Arbon, had died September 14, 1864 up on the Pole Creek on the Platte River and was buried there where she had died. She had died in the evening and was buried the next morning. God had granted her dearest wish to reach America. As the company struggled west through the difficult mountain terrain, his father John became ill and died 20 days after the death of his beloved wife Rebecca, October 4, 1864 on the Muddy in what is now the state of Utah. He was within a hundred miles of his goal, Zion (Salt Lake Valley). He was buried where he died a few hours after his death and his company of faithful men and women moved on toward their final goal. It was two heartbroken children that Charles met as the painful trek of the wagons were moving down Echo Canyon. His father had died at daybreak and was buried that same day a few hours after his death. And so he met the frightened and sorrowing Esther, 18 years of age and Elizabeth Rebecca, age 8 years, his sisters, the remainder of the family to survive the 1,000 mile trek from Missouri. 

Charles met and married Martha Ann Roberts at Willard, Utah, who was a young vivacious convert from Wales. They were married January 12, 1865. They remained in Willard for a few years and then moved to Malad and from Malad, Idaho, they moved to Snowville, Utah and made their home for the remainder of their lives. They arrived in Snowville in the spring of 1871. Here they endured all the hardships of the pioneer life of a brand new country and reared 10 children. 

Charles and his brother George made the first trip with freight wagons from Kelton, Utah to Boise, Idaho, breaking the first road and establishing the first freight route. It required six weeks to make the round trip. Charles helped to build the west side canal from Stone, Idaho, into the lands on the west side of the creek that divides the town of Snowville. He engaged in sheep raising and later cattle ranching. In his later years he did a great amount of prospecting for metals and had a strong belief that the area contained precious metals and deposits of oil and coal. Charles served two terms as school Trustee for the Snowville School District during which time the grove of English elm trees were planted in the rock school and meeting house area in the town. 

(A log cabin with family standing in front of it, and a man on a horse-with the description below it: The Charles and Martha Roberts Arbon home in Snowville, Utah about 1902. Left to right-Charles G. Arbon (son), Grandpapa Charles Arbon, Viola, Howard, and Doll Peterson (children of Jane Arbon Peterson and Hyrum  Peterson who had recently lost their mother), grandmother Martha Roberts Arbon, Mary Annetta Arbon (later married to James W. Cottam), John Arnold Arbon, on horse Maroni Arbon “on the way to see his girl, Ila Cottam” at the time.) 

Charles was sustained and set apart at Elwood, Box Elder Stake of Zion as first president of the second quorum of Elders of the Snowville District. He was a home missionary for a number of years. Held the office of a High Priest and ward teacher. He was a diligent ward teacher at the time of his death. He was ordained a High Priest May 2, 1908 by James Olson. 

At the time of his death he was survived by four daughters and four sons, seventy-six grandchildren, ninety-six great grandchildren. His wife and two daughters have preceded him to the Spirit World. He passed from this life of action March 29, 1925, and was interred beside his wife in the Snowville cemetery. He believed in the future of this valley and was extremely anxious to have his grandchildren secure a good education. One of his well remembered statements, made in the closing years to his grandchildren, was to get a good education, and the most important things in life were to know, “Mathematics, Evolution, and Chemistry.”  

(A pedigree chart of pictures and information of Charles and Martha Ann Roberts Arbon family-this is located on the back of the first page of this history.) 

This is a copy from the notes kept by Aunt Marion Arbon, wife of John Arnold Arbon, son of Charles and Martha Roberts Arbon. 

Charles Arbon 

Snowville, March 24. . . (Special) . . . Funeral services for Charles Arbon were held Friday afternoon in the Snowville ward chapel which was filled with relatives and friends. Floral tributes were profuse. 

Bishop Joseph L. Cutler presided. Speakers were Patriarch J. J. Larkin, A. L. Peterson, William Robbins, William Hurd, W. J. Harris, President Colon S. Sweeten, Counselors Willard Smith and Newel Cutler. A biographical sketch was read by Hyrum Peterson. Letters were read from Patriarchs George Larkin and Joseph S. Larkin of Ogden. Music was furnished by a mixed double quartet with closing song by grandchildren. William J. Larkin offered the invocation and A. L. Fuller the benediction. The grave in Snowville cemetery was dedicated by A. N. Robbins. 

Martha Ann Roberts Arbon 

At Snowville, On January 29, 1911, Martha Ann Roberts Arbon, wife of Charles Arbon, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her husband and family. 

Deceased had been an invalid for more than two years and for many months had been confined to her bed, her condition being such that the end might be expected at any time. She bore her sufferings with patience and fortitude, and death came as a happy release, permitting her to pass to a well earned rest. On February 2, funeral services were held in the ward hall. Bishop Jonathan C. Cutler presided at the service, and the speakers were William Hurd, Ellen Robbins, Joseph S. Larkin and Jonathan C. Cutler, each of whom paid a high tribute to the faith, integrity and sterling worth of the departed sister. Marth Ann Roberts, daughter of George Roberts and Martha Thomas, was born at Lambston, Sutton Mountain Parish, Pembrookshire, South Wales, February 20, 1843. At the age of 10 years she embraced the gospel, being baptized in March 1853. In May, 1863, she left her native land and arrived in Utah on October 4, of the same year, and the only member of her family to come to Zion. She settled at Willard, Box Elder County, where she was married to Charles Arbon January 12, 1865. In 1869 she, with her husband, moved to Malad, Idaho and in 1871 came to Snowville where she has since resided. She was preceded to the other side by two daughters and is survived by her husband, four sons, four daughters, 61 grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren, who well may emulate the saintly life of their faithful companion and mother. The only member of her family to come to Zion. She was a close friend through her life to Evan Stephens- the noted Welsh musician.