Selena Roper

Compiled from other’s writings by Keith fisher GG grandson

Selena was the fourth child of John Henry and Charlotte Elizabeth Mellor Roper. She was born November 23, 1862 in a place called Hogwallow. It was just west of where Gunnison, Utah is today. When the first settlers came to the area, they lived in dugouts that were basically a deep hole in the old riverbank with a dirt roof, a fireplace at one end, and a quilt over the doorway. The fireplace answered for a cook stove.

Henry Roper moved to Hogwallow in 1861 soon after they moved there, Henry planted a crop of oats and harvested it early in the fall of 1862, loaded it into a wagon and took it to Salt Lake to trade for supplies. Soon after returning he was greeted by his new daughter, a little girl with black hair and dark eyes. Selena was the third white child born in that part of the territory. One girl and one boy had been born earlier in the year.

Soon after they settled, one of the apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visited the place and suggested to the people that they move to dryer parts and higher ground and build a fort. They moved, and built a fort of high rock walls on four sides. They also built homes against the walls. The fort was four blocks in size and had a gate at one side. There were eight lots in one block with a main road through the center of each block.

The Ropers (like all the pioneers) were forced to make their own or do without. Bartering became the preferred method for getting things that were needed that couldn’t be made. Selena told of a neighbor who made earthen dishes. She described the dishes as more like a rock, Rough and crude.

One of Selena’s first memories was an errand to the little store. An old Indian wanted what she had and she said no. He slapped her, so she ran all the way home. After this event, a fear and dread of Indians remained with her all her life.

One of her errands, as a little girl, was to carry her father’s lunch to him, while he was standing guard against possible Indian attack. The defense of the town depended on the guard to sound the alarm then everyone would come to see what the trouble was.

Salena learned to make soap, cheese, butter, bread and all the home made products of the day. She was also taught how to make wax fruit.

Selena’s mother wore a pair of earrings all the way from England. They became the envy of her daughters who wanted a pair also, Selena told of her experience, "When I was about thirteen, I was living with the Madsen family in Gunnison, a lady by the name of Frazier came there. She made earring holes in the ear lobes of a lot of the girls. She used a needle and pushed it through a cake of soap then through my ear and into another cake of soap. She then turned it around a few times and pulled it out. This was repeated each day for four or five days, then she put a straw (like a broom straw) through the hole and left it there until the ear healed and the scab came off. I was then ready to wear my earrings".

As Selena started to grow up she caught the eye of an enterprising young man named George Martson Bartholomew. He was from Fayette and was about 10 years older than Selena. When he began to have feelings about settling down, Selena was too young. He determined to wait for her but during that time. He could still see her because she was staying at the metcalfs but then Her father took his family over the mountain to Emery County and George went on a mission with the church.

When George returned, Selena was of age so he courted her and won her heart. They were married in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple, November 1, 1883. This is a quote from their son Lloyd, "Father and Mother were devoted to each other. In case of a difference of opinion, it was talked out and a decision was arrived at. They talked over all business matters and were pretty successful in their ventures. They bought land in proportion to the livestock they could run, but their main investment was in their children."

Selena had 8 children and 5 lived to adulthood. They were all married in the Temple and became responsible people. To quote Lloyd again, Speaking of his mother and father, he said, "Their challenge to their descendants is to follow in our footsteps and do better."