George Pectol Born: December 17, 1805; Sullivan County, Tennessee Married: Sarah Reasor Died: September 28, 1869; Washington, Utah Immigration Date: August 26, 1850 by wagon train

Sarah Reasor and George Pectol

Sarah Reasor, daughter of Frederick Reasor and Sarah Kester was born April 8, 1810 in Shelby Co., Ky., died Jan. 7, 1861 in Manti, Utah. She moved with her father and family from Kentucky to Floyd County, Indiana on Nov. 2, 1828.

She married George Pectol, son of Peter Pectol and Elizabeth Lidica (Lidikay). The ceremony was performed by the bride's father, who was a Baptist minister. George Pectol was born Dec. 17, 1805 in Sullivan Co., Tennessee. He moved to Floyd Co., Ind., where he met and married Sarah Reasor. For the next five years they lived in Indiana, and they then moved to Madison Co., Missouri, where George owned and ran a store. While running the store, George secured a Book of Mormon and became interested in Mormonism. He and his wife made a trip to Nauvoo, Ill., to hear the Gospel of Mormonism preached by Elder Serine. On Mar. 29, 1846 they heard Elder Serine preach the Gospel and both were baptized in the Mississippi River, with many others. On Mar 29, 1846, they started for home and on the way became acquainted with Augustine Fordham, a Mormon elder, who induced George to be ordained a Mormon Elder at St. Louis, Mo. From St. Louis George and Sarah took a boat to St. Genevieve, Mo., and from there they walked to their home in Missouri and he preached the Gospel, but did not disclose to his neighbors that he was a Mormon. However later, it became known that he was a Mormon and persecution began. In 1848 they decided to leave Madison Co., Missouri, and the last night they were there they held a meeting at their home which was largely attended. A mob of eight men, led by Henry Shock, a former friend, hid in a thicket nearby and intended to horsewhip George after the meeting was over, but seeing the Pectols had so many friends, they did not molest them. The Pectols moved to Jackson Co., Mo., baptizing Win. Corrett, a son-in-law on the way.

There was considerable persecution in Jackson County and the Pectols moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where they remained until June 2, 1850, when they started for Utah with 100 wagons and ox teams. They arrived in Salt Lake City on Aug. 26, 1850 and moved south to Manti, Ut., arriving there Sept. 6, 1850. Many cases of healing occurred on this trip. The first winter in Manti, they lived in a dugout, and where bothered with snakes in the spring. In May 1851, according to the engraving on the fireplace, they completed a comfortable home. George was the first city clerk of Manti, and a member of the first High Council. He won a first prize for having the finest field of grain in that part of Utah. Pres. Brigham Young called him to take charge of the Experiment Station at St. George, Utah, by reason of his ability and experience as a cotton grower.

In 1850, George built a number of houses in Manti that were still being lived in after 85 years.

George made the headstone that marks the grave of Sarah at Manti. Sarah was an industrious and ambitious woman, who raised a successful family. After her death, George moved to Washington, Utah, where he married again, a Mrs. Blazzard with whom he lived until his death on Sept. 28, 1869.

Copied from The Trunk of the Tree: It's Roots and Branches, compiled by Verlean Davis Brewster

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