One of my great-great-grandfathers first immigrated to Utah; I live in South Carolina now, but I’m originally from Utah. He immigrated from Scotland, and his name was Daniel, while his son was Alexander. His experience highlights how long a folklore story can last. There is a Quilt Walk Festival in a town called Panguitch. The story goes that Daniel was called by Brigham Young to settle in Utah, in a very small community. They got snowed in and were at risk of starving. Their only option was to take their oxen and try to reach the nearest town, 40 miles over a pass to Parowan, Utah.

A group of, I believe, seven men, including Alexander Matheson, set out for provisions and help. When they reached the foothills, the oxen couldn’t make it through the snow, so they continued on foot. Of course, trying to cross a mountain pass in Utah in the middle of winter proved nearly impossible, as they kept sinking into the snow. The men laid out quilts and sat to pray. After praying earnestly, they stood up and realized that the quilts didn’t sink in the snow. They placed quilt after quilt all the way to Parowan and back, carrying sacks of flour and food. It took them over a day to reach Parowan and return. They essentially saved their community, and now there’s a celebration in June that’s turned into a whole quilting festival—recounting this story for the past 130 years.