In 1861, when John was 24 years old, he took his journey to America. He and Edward met again and they decided that if only one could afford to go to Utah, John should go first and Edward would follow. The brothers were closely associated all of their lives and were the only two of their family to join the church and come to America. John hired out with E.R. Wright Freight lines and came to Utah. He found employment in the Bountiful area through the winter. 
 

At April conference the next year he met two men he had crossed the plains with, George Palmer and William Paxman. They invited him to come to American Fork with them. He records that his former employer told him that American Fork was the worst place he could go for the land was nothing but sand. However, he did go to American Fork where he established his lifelong home. 

He married Jemima Berry Henson in December of 1863. In 1869 he married Elizabeth Jane Ginger and in 1870 Kezia Keys became his third wife. There were many difficult years, struggling to build a home and provide for his children. John was a hard worker and worked in many different enterprises. 

In 1862 the Edmunds bill introduced an amendment to the anti-bigamy law to include those who practiced polygamy. The penalty was set at a $500 fine and five years in prison, or both. They were also denied voting rights and the privilege of holding elected office. As a result of this, anywhere from 12,000 to 14,000 polygamous Mormons were disenfranchised. And raids began with spotters to determine where and when to find the husband and father.

In 1886 John was sent to the Penitentiary and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment and a $100 fine. While there, John began writing the history of his life. A picture of him in his prison attire is on record that shows him serving his time with George Q. Cannon among others.

In 1888 he was again arrested and served an 18-month sentence. The history and minutes of the Utah Penitentiary School indicate the degree of religious freedom which Mormon inmates had while serving their sentences. They maintained an active lesson time and studied gospel principles.

It was in 1889 during the last period of confinement that John built the little chest that you see here. The only material he had was a vegetable crate and his only tool was possibly a pocketknife. At the top of the chest he carved the date 1889. A lovebird is shown on each side with three hearts in between depicting the three wives that he dearly loved. There are three drawers; one for each of his three wives.

A son, John Henry, later wrote, "I was taught from the beginning the importance of being born under the everlasting covenant and that it was a blessing to have parents that knew the gospel teachings. 

A group of us were having a discussion a while back and the question was asked, "Are the generations of today physically smaller or larger than they were in past generations?" Obviously, with the advances of medicine and preventive health measures each generation is improving in good health and longevity. We are becoming stronger physically and we certainly have the opportunity to become better educated in secular as well as spiritual matters.

And so as we discussed this question I wondered, "What is the measure of a man?" My father, Clarence Henry Durrant was a large man, 6'2" weighing well over 300 pounds; my grandfather, John Henry Durrant was smaller in frame but about 5'10 inches tall in his later years. According to the record, John Durrant, my great grandfather was 5'4 œ" tall and weighed 150 pounds. So different in physical appearance, but the one thing they had in common was a love of the gospel, a desire to serve the Lord and dedication to principal and integrity. This to me is the true measure of a man. The physical attributes we receive from our ancestors are not as important as the spiritual strength we receive as we see their courage in overcoming challenges, their desire to serve the Lord and remain faithful to their beliefs regardless of trials and persecution. 

John Durrant was a small man, but he left a great posterity. I am sure that he was striving to follow the admonition of Paul to the Ephesians that we should come to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. In closing I would ask, 'what manner of men or women ought we to be'? Certainly, if we follow the pattern set by our faithful grandparents we will be followers of Christ. 

Carolyn Calkins

December 4, 2002

I am grateful to Morris Pulley for his efforts in preserving this beautiful chest. His grandmother was a daughter of Elizabeth Jane Ginger Durrant. The chest was in an old shed and he retrieved it and refinished it. He was very gracious as we visited with him and we enjoyed listening to his stories of his grandparents. I appreciate his willingness to allow me to take pictures of the chest and let others know a little more about our great grandfather. Remembering our ancestors and learning more about them gives us a standard to live up to. 
 

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