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Jan 1963 Jonas Family Photo

Sandra, Colleen, Jackie, and Doug Jonas in January 1963

As if the photo didn’t make it plain enough, this photo was developed in January 1963.  In our modern world, photos are data stamped and metadata stamped at the time of the capture.  Not in 1962!

I assume with the lush grass and flowers in the background, this is a photo from summer 1962.  It could have been an older roll of film, but 1962 would have turned Doug 10, Sandy 8, and Jackie 2.  If it was a more than the summer before January 1963, Jackie would have been less than a year, and she is too old for that in the photo.

I like the ruffles on Mom’s shirt.  The saddle shoes too.

It would be interesting to know where this photo was taken.  Also, what is Jackie pointing toward?

This month, this photo was developed 56 years ago.

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Burley High/Junior High School

Burley High/Junior High School

This is a picture of the Burley High School built in 1915.  I stumbled upon this post card early last year and picked it up.  This picture is from 14th street looking to the southeast.  This is the location of the jail or The Mini-Cassia Criminal Justice center, the southwest corner of Hansen Avenue and 14th Street.  The front doors would be facing the Family History Center to the North.

The interesting thing about this location is that the field to the right (or west) extended clear through the property that is now the Burley City Hall and the Cassia County Police Station.  Albion Avenue did not extend between 14th and 15th Streets due to the high school field.  The road was right behind the old Courthouse, virtually between the current Burley City Hall/Cassia Police Station and the old Courthouse.  If you look closely at this aerial photo, you can see the back of the school and its wings along with the field between it and the old courthouse.

Burley, Idaho about

This building was replaced by a new high school at the southwest corner of Park Avenue and 16th Street built in 1958.  This building then became Burley Junior High and operated as such until 1973.  That is when the building burned down.

Here is an article from the Times News about the fire.  The Weekly Mailer provides this article about the history of fires in Burley.  You can read the limited history of Burley Junior High from this obituary from its principal, Lovell Turner.

The current Junior High on the northeast corner of Park and 16th Street was completed in 1975 and remains the junior high to date.  The 1950’s high school at southwest Park Avenue and 16th Street has been replaced and is now the home of the Mini-Cassia satellite site for The College of Southern Idaho.

After the school burned down, the city realigned the streets and took Albion through the block so it is a full grid today.  The Police Station and Burley City Hall, as mentioned above, are now on parts of the field.  Cassia County School District still owns the south side of the block and maintains a service garage and other buildings on the site.

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Logan Canyon Snow Removal

Norwood Jonas, Logan Canyon, Dec 1947

What is written on the back of this photo is about all I have for detail.  Grandpa standing beside a blade, presumably for snow removal.  The back of the photo says Norwood, Logan Canyon, Dec 1947.  My first thought was the blade/grader/patrol looks new.  I don’t know if he was operator, stopped for a shot, maybe got stuck, who knows?  It is an interesting photo all the same.

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Sitting on the Steps

Sandra and Doug Jonas sitting on the steps of their home at 142 N State St, Richmond, Utah

Aunt Jackie stumbled on a stash of photos.  There are hundreds of photos.  I am scanning a few at a time and then process them over a few days, usually a weekend.  I upload them to FamilySearch and save them to my own archives.  Some of them take a while to name all the parties in the pictures.  Naming photos is getting harder as time goes on because those earlier generations are leaving mortality.  Having said that, I easily recognize Doug and my mother, Sandy, in this photo.

This photo captures my heart.  It captures the youth of a little baby girl excited about life and is at comfort with and loves the photographer.  There is innocence in this picture.  Doug is fuzzier, likely moving in the photo.  But the sideways glance also seems to speak in and of itself.  But even more, I also see my mother in my own children.  I could see this smiling face in all four of my children at one point in their young lives.  I see it in James now.  This photo isn’t just my mother, it is my children.

As much as I hate taking pictures, it is this sort of picture that somehow captures something more than just the physical.  There is emotion captured here.  It is beautiful.  I am glad this photo still exists.  This photo also tugs at the heart-strings for this little boy for his mother who is so emotionally distant it is as if she no longer exists.  It is poignant and causes yearning.

We all have those relationships that touch us deep down.  I would think every child feels it for a parent, a parent for a child.  I hope you enjoy this picture as much as I do.

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Headed West on Main Street in Burley, Idaho

On Main Street at Overland Avenue in Burley, Idaho early 1960’s

On the left, the first building is Thriftway Drug is on the corner, which is now a parking lot.  I particularly like the old International pickup parked on the side of the street.

Idaho Bank & Trust is on the far left intersection corner, which is now where the Keystone Realty Group and Fletcher Law Offices building is located.  It is interesting to contrast this photo with this earlier picture of Idaho Bank & Trust because this photo now has the massive marquee hanging from the corner.  You can see the support above, which I expect this sign did not last many years if it needed such a support system.

On the immediate right corner, you can see Sprague’s Sport Shop. This is the location of the current US Bank.

On the far right corner, the Burley National Bank building is still present. This is where Zions Bank is located now. You can also see the Burley Theater down the block with their marquee. I cannot recognize the tall building beyond the theater, I don’t know what that building is. You can also see the Simplot Factory Building that used to be much farther down Main Street.

This is when there were more individuals living downtown with the apartments and restaurants emblematic of a more vibrant downtown. The number of hotels within these few blocks is staggering.  Main Street was the main highway (US 30) through southern Idaho which means this was a thoroughfare. The construction of the Interstate pulled all traffic traveling through several miles to the north. None of these restaurants moved north, it was just Connors moving from downtown Paul that moved to be near the Interstate exit.

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Meredith Recovery of Support, Pulaski County

Another break-through in documentation on the Meredith family line.  As you can see in my 2006 post I was grappling with the Meredith families in the Pulaski County, Virginia, vicinity.  I ultimately started trying to piece together ever Meredith family in all Pulaski County, and outside if they were linked as well.  It was time-consuming and I stored/shared all the information in what is now FamilySearch.

By the time 2012 rolled around, I felt I could write the history of James Thomas Ross.  I was convinced by the information in that post that James Thomas Ross, aka James R Meredith, was the son of 1805 James Meredith.  Of course, this is not without its disputes.  But this latest discovery very much confirms that earlier belief of 1805 James Meredith as the father.  Sallie, James wife, indicates a bastard son by the name of James R Meredith.

First is this Court filing:

“To the Hon – John K Fulton

“Judge of Pulaski Cir. Court –

“Humbly Complaining

“Sheweth unto your Honor your Oratrix Sallie Meredith that in the year 1818 or about that time she intermarried with one James Meredith by whom she has had 7 children all of whom have long since married leaving your Oratrix and said husband living at the old homestead.

“Your Oratrix says she has always been a dutiful and affectionate wife true to her marriage vows and strictly observant of all the duties pertaining to her marriage relations.  That she has until afflicted by age and infirmities, always been a hard laboring woman often making a hand in the field besides doing her own housework.

“That after her love, continuance, and obedience towards her husband, he has been grossly negligent and brutally cruel toward your Oratrix who further charges that for about 15 years he has been continually and grossly guilty of adultery.  Your Oratrix further says that she is brought to this humiliating necessity of charging that for the greater part of the 15 years her said husband has treated her so inhumanly by harsh language, threats, blows, and more especially by bringing lewd women (for his own lustful designs) to your Oratix’s home, that she has been compelled to leave her own home and seek support and the protection of her children to whom she is indebted for the same.

“That she is aged and feeble and constantly requires especial help and support which her said husband refuses to give as he has long since threatened he would do.

“Your Oratrix further insists that it is very hard that she should be thus cast off and neglected in her old days after he has largely contributed by her labor and economy, in assisting her said husband in acquiring considerable property, which said property was conveyed in part to her son S. W. [Sebastian W] Meredith and in part (the Homestead tract) to one James R. Meredith a bastard son of her said husband, which said conveyances your Oratrix charges were Made and accepted with the intentions of depriving your Oratrix of any means of support.  See copies of several deeds filed herewith and and prayed to be taken as part of this Bill.

“She insists upon her own upright conduct as a wife, upon the brutal and adulterous of her said husband and upon the inhuman and collusive action of S. W. Meredith and James R. Meredith in an effort to deprive your Oratrix of any means or hope of support.

“Your Oratrix is advised that a court of equity will interpose and enter such orders as will give her such relief as she requires, beit to that end will set aside the deeds herein named.

“Being without remedy at law and remediable only in a court of equity where matters of this kind are alone cognizable, to the end that she may obtain relief your Oratrix prays that her husband James Meredith and also S. W. Meredith, and James R. Meredith herein named being made parties defendant in this Bill and be required to answer all its allegations fully upon oath.

“That because of your Oratrix age, and necessities your Honor will order the proper party or parties to pay to your Oratrix a sum of money sufficient to enable her to carry on this suit and also for her support and maintenance during its pendency.

“That your Honor will also make such decrees and orders as may be necessary to provide for her future support, and if proper, to discharge her indebtedness for her past support and maintenance during the time the same has been withheld by her husband, and if necessary set aside the deeds herein named.

“May your Honor grant the [not sure the word, looks like ‘Cmmn’s’, Commons?] Writ of [not sure, looks like Sfa or Spa] directed and grant all such further general and special relief as to equity belongs and the nature of the case may require.

“And as no duty bound your Oratrix will even pray be.

“Sallie Meredith by Cecil P [M or Y]

The outside of the paperwork is scanned:

“Cecil

“Sallie Meredith vs James Meredith et als

“Bill and Ex’s.

“September Rules 1882

“Bill filed De nisi

“Octo Rules Bill taken for confessed and cause set for hearing

Summons:

Summon of Sallie Meredith to recover property from James Meredith and James R Meredith

Another page of the case:

“Sallie Meredith vs James Meredith et als } In chancery

“All the matters in controversy in this cause having been compromised agreed and settled by consents of parties, it is adjudged, ordered, and decreed that this suit is dismissed and the cash of the defendants, provided in legal attorneys fee shall be taxed herein.

Then this affidavit:

“Sallie Meredith vs. James Meredith et als } Affidavit in Chy

“David C Meredith and Louisa Covey make oath and say that they have heard the Bill in the above named cause read and that the allegations herein contained are substantially true.

“Affiants further state that the Plaintiff Sallie Meredith is very feeble and is entirely dependent upon the charity for a support and that she is greatly in need of assistance.

“Sworn to before me by David C. Meredith and Louisa Covey this 8th day of Sept 1882

“Walter [Ssipton?] [N?] P. for Carroll Co. Va

Another affidavit:

“Sallie Meredith vs. James Meredith et all } Affidavit

“This day Willem [Witten] Cecil and John G. Cecil personally appeared before me in my County of Carroll and make oath and say that they have heard the Bill read and in the above named cause read and that the allegations therein contained are substantially true.

“Affiant further state that they live near said Sallie Meredith and know that she is aged and in feeble health and is greatly in need of assistance.

“W. H. Sunderland Clerk Carroll County Court.

Then attached are the deeds mentioned in the Complaint.  First is the one to S. W. Meredith of about 6 acres dated 28 July 1881.

Then the deed to James R. Meredith of 40 acres for $10 on 26 July 1881.  This deed also tells that it is part of a tract of 1,000 acres, so James Meredith Sr had quite a bit of land.

Then another deed to Sebastian W Meredith of about 60 acres dated 7 February 1870.

 

 

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Red Rock Pass

Aliza and Hiram Ross on the rock at Red Rock Pass in Bannock County, Idaho.

On a trip to Preston, Idaho, I stopped with Aliza and Hiram (the only two with me) at Red Rock Pass.  Stopping at Red Rock Pass was a stop that was regular when I was a child.  I dare say every time we drove past Red Rock Pass, no matter who was driving, we stopped.  I remember the long walk up those stairs, I remember trying not to take the stairs.  If Grandma was with me, we would always walk around to the little cemetery around the back.

Hiram and Aliza Ross climbing Red Rock Pass.

I remember Grandma telling me that when they would drive to Downata or up to Lava Hot Springs as a kid, they would also stop at Red Rock Pass.  At least a third generation now does the same.  Every time I drive past, even if alone, I like to stop.  I hike to the top and look around.  Even when I had difficult times at Utah State University and needed a drive, sometimes in the night, I would drive to Red Rock Pass and gaze at the valley around me.  It connected me to the past, nature, and perspective of the world I live.

Grandma taught me early on Red Rock Pass was the leak, the drain, the overflow spot of massive Lake Bonneville.  It was here that erosion eventually drained the lake and completely changed landscape of the Snake River Plain.  It was here that northern Utah completely altered as well.  This one place changed the face of the earth.  Even in geography I learned that Lake Bonneville was so large that it actually indented the face of the planet and the release of this lake also changed the mountains and valleys as the load of the water displaced to elsewhere on the planet.  Part of the basin and range moved not just by plate tectonics, but also by redistribution of weight.  There I would sit imagining the Bonneville Flood.

It is at the cemetery behind this large rock left in the middle of the valley that Jefferson Hunt and many of his family are buried.  An early pioneer of the church he was at Far West, Missouri.  He lived in Nauvoo, Illinois, and served in the Mormon Battalion.  He helped found many communities (San Bernardino, California; Huntsville, Utah).  He lived in Oxford, Idaho, just to the south at the time of his passing.

It was later in life that I learned I had a missionary companion who descended from Jefferson Hunt (he was adopted).  As if that wasn’t enough of a direct influence on my life, Garrett Smith also affected me in his death.

Red Rock Pass is a place of reverence for my history, the history of the world, and the ongoing effect we have on each other’s life in the future.  It would help me overcome vain imaginations and the self-doubt that come to us all.  I plan to continue stopping at this little reminder of our little place in this very big and ancient world and the long-lasting influence we can leave upon it.

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100 Years of Flanders

John William Ross tombstone

(I originally published this in 2008.  I edited it and updated it with pictures for today, the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice.)

I thought I would write a little in relation to Veteran’s Day.  For the most part, it seems this holiday is somewhat forgotten in the United States.  Really, American’s celebrate the same day on Memorial Day in May.  I can understand the European View of holding it on the 11th of November.  It is the day WWI ended.

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery, Nov 2005

I remember well the time I first experienced Veteran’s Day.  I sat in the Eccles Ward Chapel in Patricroft, England.  I sat there on 11 November 1999.  The services started at 11 AM.  We had the hymn, opening prayer, and a few comments by the Bishop until 11:11 arrived.  It was then we took two minutes to remember what was done.  Somehow those two minutes seared into my heart and soul.

Growing up in Idaho means we have little or no realization of any war.  There are small war memorials inside of cemeteries and an occasional one in a park to commemorate.  No war in modern days has taken place anywhere near Idaho.  Even the American Civil War means little to Idahoans.  My grandfather served in the Philippines during WWII but he spoke so little of it.  I had Uncles and Great Uncles who perished in WWI and WWII.  I have been to their graves but they are the dead, just like the other dead in the cemetery.  The idea of dying for one’s country meant very little to me.

Irwin John Jonas

One of my first memories of England is the day after we arrived.  We were taken into Altrincham Town Centre and there we proselyted for an hour on the way to the mission office.  I did notice the cenotaph.  I thought it rather oddly placed.

Arlington Cemetery

Arlington Cemetery, Nov 2005

While I served in Hyde, Cheshire one of the ways we knew where to turn in town was at the cenotaphs.  The same in Dukinfield.  When we arrived early at a member’s house we would loiter at the cenotaph to street contact until time for dinner.  Regularly I thought these things were oddly placed.  I knew they were naming those who died in the ‘Great War’.  For some reason or another I thought they doubled up on the names over the various cenotaphs.  It never occurred to me names are not typically duplicated on these things, or if they do, the intention is not to do so.

Ellis Seth Jonas

Suddenly I found myself sitting in a church meeting remembering.  These souls did not fight for my country.  However I felt come into my heart a gratitude for their sacrifice.  Could I do the same thing if called upon?  Somehow a dawning realization came upon me of the hundreds if not thousands of names I had seen on cenotaphs in my first year in England.  They were everywhere.  There were continuous reminders of the dead who fought for their country.

William Jr Military Pic

About a month later I found myself walking the streets of Runcorn, Cheshire.  There is a large cenotaph probably 15 feet tall.  The bus would drive by it every day.  I could not help but notice the little red, fake flowers on popsicle sticks stuck in the flower bed all around it.  The cenotaph meant more to me by this point but what were the little red flowers?  I noticed each of them had a name written on them and they appeared hand-made.

James William Ross

I asked what the little red flowers meant that were still scattered everywhere a month after the 11th of November.  I was then told about Flanders Fields and the poppies.  The poem was shared with me.  It made sense, I felt the poignancy of it.  I have a cousin, Harry Coley (1891 – 1917) who died in Broodseinde, Flanders, Belgium as part of the war.  His body was lost in the mud and potholes of the war and never recovered.

The imagery is intense while the poem isn’t all that catchy to me.  In fact, some of it still doesn’t make sense to me so I share only the first verse here:

In Flanders Fields the poppies grow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

David Delos Donaldson (back), John Edmund Donaldson (left), and William George Donaldson

Would I have this type of courage?  Would I be willing to go and serve my country so willingly?  Even if I was drafted, unwillingly?  To set aside all other hopes and aspirations to serve my country?  I did so to serve a mission for my church.  I would think I would be willing to for my nation.  While I am not entirely enamoured with my country at the present, would I still be willing to do it?  Probably.

Art and Golden Coley

Art and Golden Coley

In fact, I feel some desire to serve in the military.  My life hasn’t permitted the chance and my wife is against the idea.  I don’t think I will be making the decision to join.  But I wish to honour those who do and especially those who died in doing so.  Accordingly, when I saw my clock at 11:11 this morning, I stopped for 2 minutes to remember.  What does our future hold?  I don’t know.  But our past is nobler because of these good souls who gave all.  Not only to join, but they never returned.  We were on the side of right then, and our nation was preserved.  I hope and pray our nation continues on the side of right and we will yet be preserved.

Guarding the tomb

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington, VA, Nov 2005

An Wanner uncle of mine arrived in Whitney, Idaho a year after his death in WWI.  His remains arrived in a lead casket which was buried with great fanfare for the small community.  WWII repeated this scenario with another Uncle, another family line, buried in Richmond, Utah.  His body arrived months later and he was interred with great fanfare.  May we live our lives in such a way, regardless if dying for our nation, but let us die in such a way that the community wishes to come out and pay homage for your great sacrifice for the future of man, good, and our country.

Milo James Ross