2016 – LaGrande, OR
Cazier Family Newsletter 2015 (PDF)
2016 Cazier Family Reunion
The 2012 Cazier Reunion was held in LaGrande, Oregon on June 24th and 25th. It was hosted by Claire Averett and held in LaGrande, Oregon, where Rosannah Cazier, the last child of William and Pleasant Drake Cazier, and her husband, Edcil lived out the remainder of their lives. Rosannah and Edcil Elmer had 11 children, some of whom died young. Edcil & Rosannah are buried in the Summerville Cemetery in Union County, OR.
We had such a great time, and we made so many new friends in the family that we have to thank Claire Averett and her family for the great effort they put forth to show us such a wonderful time. Claire is a descendant of David Cazier and was raised in the LaGrande area. Some pictures that were taken are at the end on this section of the newsletter. I apologize in advance if I have mislabeled any of the photos. Please let me know of any necessary corrections.
Edcil and Rosannah Elmer have a great family and we even got to know family that we didn’t know about. Marlene Ferrell from Minneapolis, Minnesota, traveled for 16 hours on a bus to come to the reunion.
Friday Gathering June 24th 2016
On Friday we met at the LaGrande Oregon Stake Center for a “Getting Acquainted” meeting and then a light supper of meats & fruits & vegetables finger foods. Sharon Kolstak was our guest speaker from the local museum. She spoke to us and told us about much of the history of the area.
Saturday, June 25th
On Saturday we met again at the Stake Center and then went on a tour of the Summerville Cemetery where Rosannah, Edcil and other of their descendants are buried. We also visited various other historical sites around Summerville. We returned to the Stake Center for a luncheon. Claire Averette also had pictures on the walls, and as handouts, showing Rosannah’s family members.
Marlene Ferrell, from Minneapolis, Minnesota is the 2-Great-granddaughter of Edcil & Rosannah Cazier Elmer and was researching and trying to find Cazier relatives when she discovered our website at www.cazier.org. There she found the information about our reunion and emailed with questions on arrangements. I forwarded her questions to Claire as she was more familiar with LeGrande – and the rest is history.
Genealogy Meeting
We then had our genealogy meeting with Carol Reynolds giving a history of William Cazier’s family. During the genealogy meeting, cousin Kathy Dell Cazier Tracy from Layton, Utah came to join us. She was unable to attend on Friday. Kathy is a descendant of Charles Drake Cazier.
Also, Claire Averett’s father popped in to say hello, then back to the farming. They raised their family in the LaGrande area for many years. It was the haying season and he is still actively involved in the farm work even though he is 97 years of age. His wife Camille is 92 and helped Claire make arrangements for our wonderful reunion this year. What a great time we all had. Thank you Hawkins family.
Executive Meeting
Our Executive/Past President’s Meeting was held while the others continued to mingle and get to know each other. Secretary/Treasurer Marilyn Manwill read the minutes and gave the financial report. It was decided that we will send newsletters and other announcements to the family by email only from now on. The cost of postage has gotten too expensive to warrant postal mailings. Everyone pass the word & keep us updated with any email address changes.
For some time, it has been considered within the family that it would be nice to have a memorial plaque placed in Council Bluffs, approximately where Pleasant Drake Cazier is buried. Since the exact place of her burial is not known, her son David’s journal is the main source of our information on her burial. In it he states that they arrived at Council Bluffs (Winter Quarters) and moved into a grove of timber.
“Now at this time my brother Benjamin, mother and myself took sick [with scurvy]. I was not very ill, but my mother died in a hay shed crying out for vegetables. There were none to be had . . . . There being no coffins to be had, my father and neighbor cut one out of a solid log. There was no funeral service and there wasn’t any flowers. Oh! How forlorn! Mother died a martyr for the truth.” (from the Journal of David Crockett Cazier)
We do have access in Idaho Falls for stone from the quarry that the new Nauvoo Temple took stone from when it was built. If the family is still interested we can start a fund for the purpose of placing a small plaque or stone in the nearby Council Bluffs Cemetery. If you would support this project please let Dee Cazier know and he can set this up.
Pre Reunion Information
Cazier Family Newsletter 2015 (PDF)
The Cazier Family Organization 2016 Reunion will be held June 24-25 (Fri & Sat) 2016. It will be hosted by Claire Averett and held in LaGrande, Oregon, where Rosannah Cazier, the last child of William and Pleasant Drake Cazier, and her husband, Edcil lived out the remainder of their lives. Rosannah and Edcil Elmer had 11 children, some of whom died young. Edcil & Rosannah are buried in the Summerville Cemetery in Union County, OR.
History of LaGrande
For thousands of years, Native Americans were drawn to the Grand Ronde Valley to hunt, gather food, and graze their horses. During summer months, several tribes lived together in harmony in what they called “The Valley of Peace.” Settlers passed through the valley while traveling along the Oregon Trail in the early 1840s. By the 1860s, farms and settlements had been established. With the discovery of gold, the valley prospered and settlements thrived.
Caziers in the Grand Ronde Valley
Rosanna Cazier was born in Brownsboro, Kentucky. She crossed the plains with her family in 1851 at age 10. They traveled with the Morris Phelps Company. After a short time in the Salt Lake Valley they were called by Brigham Young to help settle the Salt Creek (Nephi) area in southern Utah. Here she eventually met and married Edcil Elmer in May 1857 – she was nearly 17 years old. They had eight of their eleven children while living in Salt Creek (Nephi). They later lived in Kansas, Nebraska, and California. They finished their lives in Union County, Oregon. Edcil and Rosanna, and many of their children, are buried in the Summerville Cemetery in Union County and the Wallowa County Cemetery.
Reunion Schedule of Events
Friday, June 24th
3:30 – 8:30 p.m. We will meet at the Island City LDS Church Building Pavilion at 1100 McAllister, Island City, Oregon (Island City is a suburb of La Grande). We will get acquainted, eat a light picnic dinner and hear from a historian who will talk about the history of the area and its role along the route of the Oregon Trail. The historian will talk about events that might have attracted Rosanna and Edcil Elmer to the area.
Saturday, June 25th
9 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Meet at the church (see address above) for a tour of the Summerville Cemetery where Rosanna and Edcil as well as a number of their children are buried. Tour other Rosanna family sites.
11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. On your own (See “Fun and Educational Things to Do” below).
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Back at the church. Family History presentation by the Cazier Family Organization.
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Executive & Past President’s Meeting Softball and Socializing.
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Due to the uncertainty of registration numbers, we will eat in the banquet room of the Local Harvest Eatery & Pub and order off the menu. Address: 2104 Island Avenue, La Grande Oregon. To review the menu, go to https://www.facebook.com/LocalHarvestEateryandPub/. There is a salad bar for $6, Pizza from $8-$24, sandwiches for $8.50 and of course, desserts and a kid’s menu from $3.50.
Fun Things to Do in the Area:
The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center: This 509-acre site features exhibits and artifacts to recreate the experiences of Oregon Trail emigrants. Located at Flagstaff Hill on Hwy 86, 5 miles east of Baker City. Open daily: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Website: www.blm.gov/or/oregontrail/
Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/p9VnT42pqM32
The Union County Museum is home to the “Cowboys Then & Now” exhibit featuring the history of cowboys and cattle in America. Kids love to try on cowboy duds and see what it feels like to be a “real” cowboy. Step out back and tour the Livery Station and the Agriculture, Transportation and Timber building, and the pioneer cabin as well as the General Store. Located on Main Street in the town of Union. Open Fri & Sat: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Website: www.ucmuseumoregon.com
Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/u6RyevHSdVU2
The Oregon Trail interpretive Center at Blue Mountain Crossing features a paved, easily accessible trail that takes you alongside some of the best preserved and most scenic traces of the Oregon Trail. Experience the Oregon Trail as the pioneers did! Walk among stately Ponderosa pines that still bear the scars made by passing wagons over 150 years ago. Meander on a footpath next to wagon-wide depressions. Enjoy the sweeping view that met the emigrant’s eyes long ago. Living history is offered during summer weekends.
Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/wallowa- whitman/recreation/recarea/?recid=52097
Pendleton Blanket Mill. Tour the mill that has woven famous Pendleton blankets since 1863. 1307 SE Court Place, Pendleton Oregon.
Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/ne2RdPf7k232
Mt. Emily Recreation Area. 3,669 acres of outstanding forest recreation just two miles from downtown La Grande, Oregon. Enjoy trails dedicated for ATV, ORV, bicycle or hiking trails.
Website: www.Union-county.org/public- works/parks/mera/
Valley of Charms Treasure Hunt. Stop by the Chamber and Visitor Information Center at 207 Depot Street, La Grande, and pick up your starter charm bracelet and map, then head out into the valley to collect all of the cute pewter charms at various shops and businesses around Union County.
Website: www.unioncountychamber.org
The Eagle Cap Excursion Train offers scenic trips through the land of the Wallowas. The train follows the Grand Ronde River downstream through rugged cliffs and timbered ridges, then travels up the scenic Wallowa River. Departs from the Elgin Depot, 300 Depot Street, Elgin, Oregon.
Website: www.eaglecaptrainrides.com
Warm Springs Pool at Cove. An historic landmark in Eastern Oregon, geothermal springs have warmed the Cove pool continuously for more than 75 years. Springs are gathered in a well- designed, concrete pool, providing nearly perfect 86 degree water. The pool, measuring 60’ x 65’, is constantly refreshed by the flow of sweet mineral water at a rate of 110 gallons per minute.
Website: www.coveoregon.org/cove-warm-spring-pool/
Lodging Options in La Grande:
Super 8 LaGrande
(541) 963-8080
2407 East R Ave, La Grande, OR 97850
Best Western PLUS Rama Inn & Suites
(541) 963-3100
1711 21st St, La Grande, OR 97850
Rodeway Inn
(541) 962-7143
402 Adams Ave, La Grande, OR 97850
America’s Best Value Sandman Inn
(541) 963-3707
2410 E R Ave, La Grande, OR 97850
La Grande Rendezvous RV Resort
(541) 962-0909
2632 Bearco Loop, La Grande, OR 97850
Contact Information
Anyone who has changed their email or mailing address recently needs to notify our secretary, Marilyn Manwill so she can get a newsletter to you. Her contact info is: email – [email protected]; mail – 5611 S. Ralph Dr., Taylorsville, UT 84129-2334.