The Lyman Zoo: February 2020

Friday, February 28, 2020

John Rio Larson

We have been volunteers at Bluff Fort for a few years. One of the stories we enjoy telling to the visitors who come to the fort is about a baby that was born on Grey Mesa during a snow storm, as the

pioneers traveled to the San Juan region. Following is the story that tells of that baby John Rio Larson, being born to Mons and Olivia Larson.

Mons Larson and
Olivia Ekelund Larson

By the fall of 1879 Mons was ready to bring Olivia and their children back to Arizona. On their way, Mons and Olivia joined up with another pioneer group that was traveling south. At the call of John Taylor, these settlers were taking a new route through a rough canyon, called the “Hole-in-the-Rock,” with plans to settle in the San Juan area. Silas S. Smith, who had been called as president of the San Juan Mission, and was responsible for overseeing the pioneers on their journey, was well acquainted with Mons. When Mons learned of Smith’s expedition, he decided to join the party, believing that their route would be the shortest and easiest in which to make his journey back to Arizona. The experience was arduous, even for the most seasoned pioneers. Road building occupied much of the travelers’ time, with some stretches being completed in narrow passes between steep cliffs. For the Larsons, the journey was filled with peril and adventure in many forms. Eight months pregnant, Olivia carried her two little boys down through the Hole, one in each arm. After they reached the bottom, and were in the process of crossing the river on log rafts, a young boy was knocked into the frigid waters by an ox. Mons dove in after him and rescued him from drowning. Then, as they continued past the river, winter snows descended upon the group as they plowed their way up out of the river bottoms. Mons’ and Olivia’s children, Moroni Mons and Lars Andrew, suffered severe frostbite, and Mons and Olivia had to lag behind the rest of the expedition to nurse them back to health.

Shortly after, on February 21, 1880, Olivia gave birth to another son, John Rio, on the top of Grey Mesa. A blizzard was raging, and the Larsons had just reached the top of the plateau opposite the Colorado River when Olivia’s labor began. As Mons struggled to pitch a tent in the bitter wind and snow, Olivia gave birth to a baby boy, while lying across the wagon seat. Thankfully, Seraphine and Jim Decker had stopped to help. Two days later, Olivia was back in the wagon with Mons and they continued on their journey. The Deckers offered to let Olivia and the baby ride in the back of their wagon, where a small stove could provide warmth, but Mons would not let his precious cargo ride with anyone but himself.

We were contacted by descendants of this baby, John Rio Larson, saying that his grandson, who was now an 88 year old man, wanted to visit the Hole In The Rock. He had heard stories about his grandfather being born along the trail, as the pioneers traveled to Bluff.

Arrangements were made and the grandson of John Rio Larson, David Larson, came with his daughter and grandchildren to visit the Hole In The Rock.