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Summarized by Kent Larsen
Mesa, Arizona Buy's Mormon Pioneer Homestead
MESA, ARIZONA -- The city of Mesa authorized the purchase of the Crismon
farmstead last week, including a four acre land plot and one-bedroom house
built by Mormon pioneer Charles B. Crismon about 1890. The city will pay
$243,455 to buy the property from the Crismon family, descended from Charles
Crismon, Sr., one of the four Mormon pioneers that founded Mesa.
The city hasn't decided how the preserved farm will be used, but Charlie
Crismon, former director of the Mesa History Museum and great-grandson of
Charles B., is thrilled anyway, "It would make a great interpretive history
site to show old farm life."
Charles B. Crismon's father, Charles Sr., joined the LDS Church in Kentucky
in 1845, changing his name to Crismon from Christman at that time because
his father didn't want his name going into "Mormondom." Crismon traveled
west with the Mormon pioneers and was called in 1877 to colonize Arizona.
Arriving in the Mesa area, Crismon claimed a 160 acre homestead, including
the 4 acres purchased by Mesa, bringing 3 of his five wives from Salt Lake
to live there. In all, Charles Crismon, Sr. had 36 children and has at least
6,000 descendants today. His son, Charles B. built the one bedroom
homestead, living there with his wife, Irene Pomeroy, until his death in
1965. The family published the memoirs of Charles B. and Irene in 1962.
Source:
Tribute to farm pioneers
(Phoenix) AZ Republic 8Aug00 D6
By Betty Beard: The Arizona Republic
Mesa buys historic land, house owned by Crismons
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