By RUTH MALAN

Standard-Examiner correspondent

SUNSET - Robert Christian McQuarrie sat in his chair admiring a gun that once belonged to his grandfather, Robert McQuarrie. His feeble hands shook as he lovingly stroked the antique that has been in his family for several generations.

Being sensitive to his children's feelings, instead of leaving the gun to one of them he decided to donate the gun to the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden.

Several family members would like to inherit the old pistol, so to keep them from quarreling over it, he decided to have it placed where many people could enjoy it and read of its history.

The 91-year-old McQuarrie's health isn't very good and he doesn't know how much longer he will be here on earth, so taking care of the gun is a top priority for him.

The decision wasn't an easy one. The old pistol, a Navy Colt 44 caliber, six shot black-powder cap and ball, is a family heirloom with lots of history behind it.

Before donating the gun to the museum it had to be unloaded, but no one wanted to shoot it. It had black powder and a ball in it for many years. Some of his family say it could have been loaded for 100 years. The family found a mountain man who knew about that type of gun, to unload it for them.

"One fellow who had fired it said he would never do it again as it had a horrible kick," McQuarrie said.

He learned through journals that his grandfather had arrived in Ogden on Sept. 22, 1857 and found that people engaged in military drills, getting ready to meet Johnson's Army as it made its way to Utah.

After his arrival, he joined the militia and when it was known that Johnson's army was coming, his family moved south as far as Payson. But Robert McQuarrie remained in Ogden with the 180 men detailed to guard the property and take care of the crops.

The army was a threat to the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so the church officials requisitioned firearms and issued them to the men. It was at that time Robert McQuarrie received the gun. In July, 1858, the families returned to

"We are guessing the church acquired used ones. Dad, Grandfather or Great-grandfather never used it," said Elaine Kerivan, a stepdaughter.

"The way they loaded it was to put in black powder, a cloth and lead and used the ram-rod to ram it down. Then it would be sealed with wax or a cornmeal mixture, then they would put the cap in," said Jack Kerivan, Elaine's husband.

Although there are six cylinders it is a single action Colt. The lead that was removed from the gun was saved and is on display in the case the gun is mounted in. The gun weighs approximately 1.5 pounds and is 14 inches long.

"It had been kicking around in the family for a number of years. It is kind of an heirloom. A lot of people would like to get their hands on it," McQuarrie said. "My earliest recollection of having seen Grandfather's pistol was when I was about five years old. It was hanging in its left-handed engraved leather holster on a nail in the granary. I never could quite reach it, even though I tried."

Ships are engraved on the cylinder, but have faded with the years. The U.S. patent number can still be read as can the serial number and the patent date of September 10, 1850.

The McQuarrie family built a home in Ogden and Robert McQuarrie became involved with the community. He was bishop of an Ogden ward for 40 years and he was also water master of Weber Canal, school district trustee, county treasurer, county commissioner, Ogden City treasurer, a councilman, an alderman, stake tithing clerk and treasurer of Weber Academy, which is now Weber State University, for 10 years.

"While he was with Weber Academy, he carried a note for them and paid teachers out of his own pocket," Elaine Kerivan said. He was also one of Ogden City's first police officers and he helped to get the road through Ogden Canyon.

The Colt gun was left to Robert McQuarrie's son, Robert Summerhayes McQuarrie, father to Robert Christian McQuarrie.

"I suppose it was because he was the oldest boy," McQuarrie said. When his grandfather died, the gun was found in his possessions.

He called the pistol left-handed because the holster is a left-handed holster.

"It's still our family's history," said Marilyn McQuarrie Kekacs, one of R. C. McQuarrie's daughters, who along with her sister Irene McQuarrie Conover, are happy to see the gun go to the museum where it will be placed beneath a the large photograph of Robert McQuarrie which is already hanging there.

The gun and holster is housed in a hand-made box constructed by Jack Kerivan especially for display.

To contact correspondent Ruth Malan, leave a message at 776-4951.