Book Description

Beneath the majestic beauty of Blue Mountain, lays a small peaceful town, full of the hopes and dreams of a God fearing people. They came on horseback, in wagons, and on foot, enduring numerous hardships. What brought these great people to this untamed country? They came seeking a place of refuge, a place to raise a family. Mostly they came in answer to a Prophet’s call. Many of these righteous, courageous people left comfortable homes, friends and family. Some of which came from the south-west though the treacherous hole-in-the rock which predicted to take 6 weeks, took more than 6 months of mountainous, dry, rocky, and seemingly impassable terrain. They were hungry, tiered, and cold. Yet, their hearts were full of faith, and determination to heed the prophets call. Their mission, called the San Juan Mission was to tame both the people and the land. They were to make friends with the Natives, establish peace, and try to live off a land that brought hardships and little food.

They Came to Grayson is a historically rich book full of biographies written by their descendants. The highlight of this book comes not only from the histories, but from the beautifully realistic, detailed, and life-like paintings that accompany each story. The artist, Kelly Pugh, has created these painting after reading biographies looking at old photographs. He is also a native of San Juan and was thus intrigued to illustrate a book about an area and people he has loved all his life. Paintings include Jens Nielson, Lemuel Redd, Kumen Jones, Ezekiel Johnson, Albert R. Lyman, Posey, Platte Lyman, John Adams, Hanson Bayles, Mancos, Jim, Hyrum and Rachel Corry Perkins, Peter Minnerly and Mary Elizabeth Johnson Shumway, George Hurst, OscarHurst, Joseph Harris, Walter and Elizabeth Stevens, Joe and Freda Hunt, Azariah and Sarah Brown, Roy Northern, Parley and Ruth Redd, William Morley Black, Navajo Oshley, Sylvester Bradford, Jim Mike Cowboy, Will and Becky Palmer, Will Guymon, Nancy Harvey.