John S. Haslam, born at Bolton, England, was converted to the Church in his boyhood days in England by hearing the Elders preach the gospel. He was baptized in 1842 and immigrated in the autumn of 1842 on the same ship with Elder Orson Hyde on his return from a mission in Jerusalem when he dedicated that land back to the Jews.

Grandfather Haslam was nineteen years old when he came to the United States. He left all of his relatives for the gospel. He went to Nauvoo with Orson Hyde, and began looking for work and a place to live, where he ran across Samuel Hamer, who was a blacksmith. He needed a man to help so gave grandfather a job and he learned the blacksmith trade.

The Hamer family was very kind to Grandfather. The family consisted of Samuel Hamer, his wife Jane Thornley, his childrenMartha, Samuel Jr., Jane, Anna, James, and John. Grandfather became very friendly with the family, and later married Martha, the oldest daughter, March 4, 1845. Later their endowments were performed in the Nauvoo Temple in the year of 1846, the only year it was in use. While the Hamers lived in Nauvoo, Jane Ellen Hamer, older sister of Martha, worked in the home of Joseph Smith, and she learned to think a great deal of him. While living here Samuel, Sr. died. They remained in Nauvoo until the Saints were expelled in the fall of 1846, then they all moved to Winter Quarters. Grandfather was ordained a Seventy in Nauvoo and belonged to the 29th Quorum.

At Winter Quarters they built a one-room house of logs, and lived there several years while Samuel Hamer, Jr. and John S. Haslam helped the Saints carry supplies and immigrants across the Missouri River. They also did blacksmith work while living at Winter Quarters.

At this time they already had two children, Jane Ellen and John Joseph. Samuel Hamer Haslam was born March 2, 1851 at Winter Quarters. After the birth of the new baby, Grandfather and Samuel Hamer, Jr. went back to the Missouri River to work to get money to immigrate to Utah.

Grandmother Hamer was a midwife and helped a great deal with the sick while crossing the plains.

An interesting experience they had while crossing the plains is as follows: Food was very scarce at his time. They had eaten no supper, so they held family prayer in hopes that something might happen that they would get some food. Soon after they had prayed a rabbit was frightened and ran into their tent. The next day two men drove up in their wagon and inquired if John S. Haslam lived there. They replied: "Yes", and the men said, "He has sent you some bacon and corn meal. He was afraid you would be out of food. He will be home in a few days."

They knew the Lord had answered their prayer, as such experiences often occurred while crossing the plains.

They arrived in Utah in October 1851 in the OrsonPratt Company. At the time they arrived in Utah, Brigham Young had just opened up the Springville and Payson Territory to the settlers. So the Hamers moved to Springville while John S. Haslam stayed at Salt Lake City. Ten acres was allotted to each family. Here they built a home.

A short time later Grandfather was sent down to Panaca, Nevada to help settle that country. After this was done they returned to Salt Lake City. Grandfather worked for the Utah Central Railroad as a blacksmith for many years.

They had seven children born in Salt Lake City, they were:
 

Martha Ann Haslam, born Feb 13, 1853

Thomas Haslam, born Feb. 26, 1855

Elizabeth Haslam, born Sept. 14, 1857

Brigham Haslam, born March 21, 1860

William Haslam, born June 20, 1861

Mary Haslam, born April 25, 1863

Joshua Haslam, born Feb. 2, 1865 at Salt Lake City

Ruth Haslam, born June 6, 1867 (died an infant)

Grandmother (Martha Hamer Haslam) died from childbirth when Ruth, her baby was born. My father (Joshua Haslam) was 2 1/2 years old when his mother died. Some time later Grandfather Haslam married Mary Ann Kay of Salt Lake City. She had one child named Martha Jane Haslam. Grandfather and Mary Kay Haslam had two children, they were: James Haslam, born Feb. 16, 1871 in Panaca, Nevada, and Annie Haslam, born in Salt Lake City, on Feb. 20, 1878. Some time after this, Grandfather went blind and he died in 1883. Father (Joshua Haslam) was nineteen years old at the time of Grandfather's death. Father was working for the railroad as a fireman at this time. A few years later he took a trip to Vernal, Utah. While there he met Alice Southam and was married in the Logan Temple, and ordained an Elder at Vernal. He was baptized for two of his brothers, Thomas and William, in the Salt Lake City Temple. Father was ordained in High Priest in the L.D.S. Church. Father died August 4, 1934 at Vernal, Utah.