CORRECTION: THIS IS NOT David D Williams and Gwenlliam Jordan, it is Joseph Willard Horsley and Erma Busenbark.
I am a bit disappointed to announce that this photo is not as we had believed. This photo was in a stack of Donaldson photos and I was told it was a photo of David D and Gwenlliam Jordan Williams. David and Gwenlliam is the parents of my Great Great Grandmother Mary Elizabeth Williams Donaldson.
We had no other photos of David and Gwenlliam in which to compare the photo. I posted the photo on FamilySearch in 2013, it is now removed. At the time, I had a hunch the photo was not them. Since the time of the photo, my Grandpa has passed away, Aunt Betty has passed away. I don’t know where the photo went that had writing on the back (and I didn’t scan the back).
I was contacted by another lady who indicated the photo is actually of Joseph Willard and Erma Busenbark Horsley.
Here is another picture of Erma. To me it is easily the same lady.
Erma Busenbark Horsley Oram
The fact that this lady is related to Betty Oram Donaldson and that I think she had the photo above, I am not concerned we had the wrong names. However, I wish I could see the back of the photo.
But I am convinced enough to remove it as David D and Gwenlliam Williams.
I received a number of envelopes, documents, and photos from some cousins living in Arizona. Patricia Trimble and Twila Lemmons are the daughters of Golden Rulon Andra, brother to my Colleen Mary Andra.
As I worked through some of the photos and papers I came upon this document. It is the original. A thick vellum like paper with the handwriting written on it. I sat down and stared at it for a very long time. I tried to imagine the day. I imagined which of the sealing rooms in the Salt Lake Temple this sealing took place in 1920. I don’t know. But 10 March 1920 was a day a long life and large family formally began for William “Bill” and Mary Andra. They would both live for another 70 years. 12 children, 46 grandchildren, and many more descendants. Most of those years were spent near Preston and Whitney, Idaho. Both are buried in Whitney.
Alvin Fielding Smith (1874-1948) was the sealer, son of Joseph Fielding Smith (1838-1918). Peter James Sandberg (1852-1921) and Thomas Biesinger (1844-1931) were the witnesses. Interestingly, online, in October the same year, both were the witnesses with the same Sealer. Not sure if witnesses were also a calling then or not, but more than six months later all these men performed the exact same act as they did for Bill and Mary. I understand that their Bishop while living in Salt Lake City/Sugar House was LeGrand Richards (1886-1983), he was Bishop from 1920-1925, so very likely a true recollection.
Bill and Mary Andra Family. Back (l-r): William Fredrick Jr, Golden Rulon; Middle Row: Sergene, Mildred “Millie”, Colleen, June; Front: Donald Wanner, Larry Eugene, William Fredrick, Dale, Mary Louise, and Ross Leslie Andra.
This photo was also included in the photos. I understand from the family that Millie was pregnant in this photo in 1946. Gary was born in January 1947, so that seems to fit. Grandpa Andra always joked this photo made it look like he had flowers in his hair. It does look like that. This photo is a constant memory of my childhood, always sitting on my Grandmother’s vanity. She mentioned it to me often, I probably asked about it to start the conversations. There was an obvious fondness. I believe it is for those reasons that I also hold a fondness for it. I never had a very good scan of the photo and even online the copies were pixelated. I am happy to report this one is scanned and uploaded to FamilySearch in its highest quality.
There are so many little moments in life that I wish we caught more and recorded. Not necessarily in photos, but just that they were preserved. I am also cautious about what and how much I share on an open blog due to privacy concerns.
I pulled out my camera at a little birthday dinner for Aliza with Amanda’s parents, Bryan and Jill Hemsley, on 6 November 2020. (I know, we missed Guy Fawkes…) I don’t know what they were looking at on the cell phone, but this just showed how much these kids love their Grandma! Shout out to great food at Denny’s in Burley, Idaho. A regular favorite due to their clearly telling us what is gluten free on the menu. Oh, the joys of having Celiac in the family.
James, Lillian, Aliza, and Hiram Ross surrounding Jill Hemsley
The other photo I captured of the night is the attempt of James to drink root beer and milk simultaneously.
James drinking root beer and milk at the same time
Back (l-r): Milo Ross, Willie Melycher, Doug Jonas, Brook Jonas; Middle: Sandy Ross, Jackie Jonas Melycher, Colleen Jonas; Front: Paul Ross, Andra Ross
I have mentioned earlier that I was given scores of Andra photos. I have been scanning them all, preserving them, and uploading them to FamilySearch before I divvy them out to family members. In those photos, I stumbled upon this one. I remember this day, 23 July 1988.
William Francis Melycher Jr and Jackie Jonas, my Aunt, were married at my Grandmother’s home in Paul, Idaho. First time I ever wore a tuxedo. I got into trouble for making the 2 liter containers of ginger ale blow up in the driveway. Of course, shaking and throwing them into the air to see which way they blow up when they finally explode. That was after the festivities…
It was a fun day for us as kids. But I think this is one of the best family photos I have for my own family as well as my Grandma’s family.
Dad just looks so huge. Everyone commented on how big Dad is/was. To me he was Dad and he was always that size.
Mom looks so thrilled. A look she regularly had throughout life.
Jackie is stunning.
Grandma is beautiful.
Andra and I have such blond hair, just like Jackie.
What a happy day it was and this photo reminds me of it.
My Grandma kept a beautiful home and yard. This photo gives a small glimpse of the pride she took in it.
Earlier this summer we took a little family get away to Lake Palisades. A family friend let us use their family cabin for the weekend. We very much appreciate their hospitality and friendship. We took the opportunity to also do some limited traveling. Above you can see the Star Valley Temple in Afton, Lincoln, Wyoming. The temple is shuttered due to Coronavirus. Amanda will have to share pictures of the Star Valley Tabernacle.
Blevins Family Cabin
We visited in middle of July. We also took the chance to drive over to Alpine and Jackson, Teton, Wyoming. Of course we had to get a picture with the famous elk horn arches. Somehow the picture makes it appear very few people were around. But in the middle of tourist season, and despite Coronavirus and mask mandates, the place was crawling with tourists. We got nearly all our state license plates in Jackson for our road games.
Ross Family in Jackson, Wyoming, 17 July 2020, mandated masks and all
We took some time to go play with kayaks on Big Elk of the Palisades Reservoir.
Amanda, Hiram, James, and Aliza RossHiram, Aliza, Lillie, James, and Amanda Ross on Big Elk of Palisades ReservoirLillie and James Ross fishing at Palisades Reservoir
Grandpa and Grandma Hemsley drove up on Saturday and joined us for all day Sunday.
Breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa Hemsley. From Grandma clockwise, Jill and Bryan Hemsley, James, Amanda, Hiram, Lillie, and Aliza Ross
It was a fun weekend. Maybe we will have to impose ourselves and ask to use the cabin again sometime.
Looking north over Overland Avenue near Main Street in Burley, Idaho
When I saw this photo it caught my attention. I don’t recall the topic of the book this photo was in, but I took a picture of it.
I am guessing this is the late 1910s from the top of the Mayfair Building, I don’t recall the name on the building.
Of particular interest is the old flour mill in front of the grain silos. I don’t know when it came down, I don’t have any memories of it in the 1980s.
The truck was not yet in production, or widely available in Burley, for shipping commodities as these are all wagons. I cannot tell if they are waiting to go to the mill or if something else is going on. The line appears to keep going past Main, but not quite sure it goes all the way to the silos.
I recognize the two story buildings on the right as they are both still there. The building to their left, the old Thriftway Building was taken down about 1990 and is now just a parking lot.
None of the buildings between Main and the flour mill, including the mill, are still in existence.
I cannot quite tell if we are seeing the impounded water from Milner Dam in the background. Milner predated Burley so it is very likely the wide open space is Milner Lake.
I was thinking the flag could tell me a time frame but I cannot see the stars to any degree to tell if this is before or after 1912. This is likely the 48 star flag from 1912-1959.
I received a copy of an old book that belonged to my Great Grandfather and Grandmother, Bill and Mary Andra. My Uncle Larry had the book and was looking to have it translated. I knew there were some German speakers I knew in the area and was put in contact with David Badger of Rupert. He does these types of projects, this one tested him. He completed it and did a great job.
This is a copy of a book that was originally published in 1735. We knew it was believed to be related to my Great Great Grandmother’s family, Regina Frederike Nuffer Wanner. Our family has been linked to these individuals. I have some reservations as to accuracy of those connections.
Below is the pdf with all the pages of the book in black/white. David Badger’s translation, in pdf, includes some pages in color. I attach some of the language and some of the photos below.
Johannes Neifer (1556-1632)
The cover is below. Here is the translation by David Badger.
Sagacity 