Ross and Hemsley families at October 2025 General Conference
As each child has joined the church at the age of 8 years old, we have made it a goal to take them to General Conference. We took Aliza in 2018, and Hiram in 2022. There is something about literally sitting in the same room as the prophets that is different than listening later, watching from afar, or reading in a magazine. You cannot duplicate the spirit that fills the room when 21,000 people sing We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet! The Tabernacle Choir cannot be duplicated. Period.
It took months of planning, but with the help of family, eight tickets were obtained. We left early Sunday morning to drive down and listen to Sunday morning’s session in Kaysville (Aliza got some road hours for her driving permit too). Before that session was over, we changed into church clothes and drove to Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake Temple under renovation, 5 October 2025
We found our seats as soon as the ushers would let us in. We had a pretty sweet section.
Shortly before the Sunday Afternoon Session began, 5 October 2025
After getting our seats, we took the kids to see some of the sights in the Conference Center.
Jill Hemsley, Paul, Lillian, James, and Aliza Ross
Aliza, James, and Lillian Ross with President Russell M Nelson’s bust
We were surprised to find out President Nelson passed away the weekend before Conference. I found it very interesting to attend a General Conference during an Apostolic Interregnum. I reminded the kids they may never have that chance again.
President Dallin H Oaks and Elders Jeffrey R Holland, Henry B Eyring, and Dieter F Uchtdorf leaving after the Session
We were also fortunate to attend the only session President Oaks spoke. I am very thankful to hear the keys of the Priesthood speak in person. It was a very personal talk, more than I remember him speaking in the past. In the past 125+ years, the Apostolic Interregnum has been very short lived. The opportunity to hear the President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles also speak as the President of the Church in General Conference has not occurred in 74 years. Tradition always has the most senior Apostle being called, sustained, and set apart as the President of the First Presidency/High Priesthood with two counselors called to the same. That may happen today, 12 October 2025, if past precedent holds true.
Amanda, Aliza, and Lillian Ross with Jill Hemsley
I received my first testimony of a Prophet at Utah State University in 1997. I had joined the Logan Institute Choir. President Gordon B Hinckley was coming to speak at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. We had practiced multiple songs. One of which intrigued me, We Ever Pray for Thee. It was while singing that song that President Hinckley entered the arena. Wow. The Spirit overcome me. I have shared that experience many times, especially in the mission. My first testimony of a living prophet. It was as if every cell in my body jumped for joy and vibrated with excitement.
Bryan Hemsley and Hiram Ross at General Conference
My next prophetic testimony was related to Thomas S Monson. I have to admit, I always struggled a bit with President Monson. The story-telling and poems was too mushy for me, or something. I am not sure what gave me a bit of a burr, probably just personality. President Hinckley passed away and within the next week I was attending an endowment session in the Twin Falls Idaho Temple. I was in the prayer circle. It was then that the officiator included President Thomas S Monson in our prayer. As I repeated the words in the circle I felt the confirmation. The Spirit in that moment testified that President Monson was the Prophet upon the earth. I went away rejoicing and all my qualms with personality were lost.
Aliza and Hiram Ross excited to be in the Conference Center
President Monson also fell asleep in time. The next transition was to Russell M Nelson. After my experiences with Presidents Hinckley and Monson, I expected nothing less than another witness as to whether Russell M Nelson was the Prophet on earth. I prayed for the experience. In fact, Brigham Young taught us to expect to obtain a testimony of the Prophet. Well, in our own home watching General Conference in April 2018, we also participated in the Solemn Assembly. It was during that procedure that I again obtained a witness. No questions. In fact, President Nelson in his administration resolved some of my frustrations with church government and organization.
View of the rostrum from the farthest seats of the Conference Center before Sunday afternoon Session
Who will formally be set apart as the next President of the First Presidency? Tradition certainly would indicate Dallin H Oaks, and I expect the same. I also expect to obtain a witness that he is the Lord’s Prophet and Mouthpiece for the whole earth.
Paul Ross enjoying some light refreshments after Sunday afternoon’s General Conference
Since I really only began attending church regularly in 1997, President Hinckley was the only church president I knew for years. However, I will mention, my Grandma regularly spoke of my Great Grandmother’s connection to Ezra Taft Benson in Whitney, Idaho. Interestingly enough, when President Benson died in 1994, I spent the weekend of his funeral at Dustin McClellan’s home. I remember on Saturday, Dustin’s Mom, Bonnie, watching a funeral. I sat down and watched it for a little while. I remember the Tabernacle Choir. I asked her what it was and remember her telling me it was President Benson’s funeral. I felt something at that moment that made me more curious about the man. I still remember that occasion because the Spirit whispered to me. I have since also received a witness of President Benson. I have received one of every President since Joseph Smith.
Bryan Hemsley and James Ross enjoying Conference
Aliza recently attended a fireside in Rupert where President Emily Belle Freeman attended. I hope my children are gaining the golden strands in their testimony tapestry regarding the leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We were fortunate enough to rub shoulders with President Freeman again and Sister Amy A Wright on Sunday.
Emily Belle Freeman and Aliza Ross in Rupert, Idaho, 21 September 2025
I have two copies of the History of Plain City, Utah. The front indicates it is from March 17th 1859 to present. As far as I can tell, the book was written in 1977. At least that is the latest date I can find in the book.
One copy belonged to my Grandparents Milo and Gladys Ross. My Grandpa has written various notes inside the history which I intend to include in parenthesis whenever they appear. They add to the history and come from his own experience and hearing.
I will only do a number of pages at a time. I will also try to include scanned copies of the photos in the books. These are just scanned copies of these books, I have not tried to seek out originals or better copies.
History of Plain City March 17th 1859 to present, pages 44 through 57.
THE LIFE STORY OF MARY ANN CARVER GEDDES
SUBMITTED BY HER GRANDDAUGHTER
SELMA GEDDES SUMMERS
“SAND IN HER SHOES”
This is a task I have always wanted to do yet now I sit down to write the facts of my Grandmother’s life, I feel quite inadequate to do justice to her story.
There are some things about her life that even she has forgotten. There are other things I am sure she would ask me not to write just now. There are many things that should be written but that are difficult to put into this account. I will do then the best I can from my memory of her stories and from accounts written by others who have seen fit to write of her life.
“It’s a good world, but it takes a lot of grit to get along in it. Sometimes you just have to put a little sand in your shoes.”
Have you ever had Aunt Min tell you this? Then you are one of the lucky ones, for that means you are one of the lucky ones whose paths has crossed the path of a woman whose influenced must have made you a little better.
Perhaps you were fortunate enough to spend some time in her friendly old kitchen. Were you tired when you came, or blue, or a little discouraged? Even the sight of the old adobe house with its trim neat lawns and bright flowers must have mad you feel a little better and when her white head appeared (it’s been white so long) and both hands were stretched out to greet you, whatever burden you were bearing must have felt a little lighter. And while you were rested or unburdened yourself, Aunt Min bustled about and soon you found yourself sitting at a table loaded down with large pink slices of the most delicious ham you ever tested, tiny new potatoes cooked in milk with sprinkles of parsley and crusty slices of bread fresh from the oven and juicy thick wedges of black currant pie. One’s troubles are never as bad when the stomach is full she often said. And then she listened if you wanted to talk or she told you of experiences that were similar to yours that would help solve your own problems, then she told you of God and you left with a loaf of warm bread under the other, knowing that truly you been helped by a good woman.
And when you had gone, more than likely, she out her old blue sun bonnet on her white head, tied a bucket round her waist and went out into the hot sun to pick more currants and strawberries or apples, so that the next time you came she would be ready for you.
This remarkable woman was born on October 2, 1857, in Kaysville, Davis County, a daughter of John and Mary Ann Eames Carver. Her parents were deeply religious who left England and came to America because of love of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Her only recollection of her Kaysville home was her nightly prayer when she asked God to bless “the Weavers, the Carvers, and stubby legged Jones.”
When she was two years old, the family moved to Plain City. Here they lived in a dirt cellar furnished with furniture made by the father’s own hands—table, beds and even a little chair for little Minnie. The cupboards were a ledge dug in the dirt wall. At the side of a four-poster bed made of posts set upright and rawhide strips crosswise to support the tick was Minnies bed. Two poles placed horizontally one end resting on edge of Mother’s bed, one end driven in the dirt wall and rawhide strips on which the straw tick was placed. The blue and white calico valance was quite stylish as it hung in folds from the high posts and hid the boys’ trundle bed which was pulled out at night and hidden in the daytime.
She loves to tell the stories of her childhood, especially those she remembers of a beloved mother who passed away far too young. She tells of how her mother reared in England by parents who were considered in those days to be financially fairly well off, had the grit and determination to make a good life for her husband and children out in the wilderness. She likes to tell how her mother sold her beautiful dresses that she had brought from England to obtain food for her children and how her mother crawled to the cabin door to milk a cow to obtain milk for her children when she had a new baby, when the father had been delayed. Yet one of the strongest recollections in her life was the suffering of her mother during frequent child birth and it was one of the things which influenced her entire life.
Her early girlhood was spent much as all pioneer children. She helped make soap, starch, candles, she learned to spin cord and knit besides there was milking, churning, sewing, shoe making and cooking to be done. Most of the water was carried from the spring below the hill, but sometimes she would carry water from the well driven by Thomas Singleton because it made better tea than the spring water.
With the other children she helped gather greasewood for soap because ashes from this bush had more lye content that sagebrush.
From Aunt Rachel, her father’s second wife, she learned much of knitting and crocheting. Years later her children and many of her grandchildren’s clothes were made prettier and fancier by her spinner – it was always lumpy, but she knit her own stockings when she was ten years old. Her first crochet hook was made from the hard inner core of sagebrush, scraped with a piece of glass. Lucky too are her children and grandchildren who own one of the beautiful hand made quilts she has made.
Along with the other children she went to school under Mr. McQuire and took turns with what few books and smooth boards to write on that were available. In the winter there were shoes to wear made from leather from hides her father took to worn, but in the summer she and her brothers ad sisters went barefoot to save the shoes.
Her first pair of button shoes were purchased at a store owned by Jappa Folkman. It was in an adobe house that has since been destroyed. It was there too she tasted her first piece of peppermint candy which Mr. Folkman broke up and passed around for all to taste.
Some of her earliest recollections are of the days when the railroad first came in 1869. The school children saw the smoke rising from the engine stationed at the Utah Hot Springs. They mad one bound out of school, ran across to the Hansen’s and stood upon a shed to get a better view. On the way back, Mr. McQuire waited at the door and as the children filed past each received a crack on the hand. Next day, however, school was dismissed so that all could go to the Springs and see this new wonder.
Another exciting event was the day the smoke could be seen at Promontory where the railroads met and the golden spike driven.
She also likes to tell how the grasshoppers came and she says, “sharpened their teeth on the fence at night to be ready in the morning”. The grasshoppers plague lasted for about seven years. She says, “We drove grasshoppers when they were little, we drove them when they were big—from morning until evening with the exception of a few hours during the middle of the day at which time hoppers would rise, circle about in the air with a humming sound much like the noise of the airplanes you now hear overhead. They were in such numbers they shadowed the sun making a shady spot on the ground below. At night the group would light on fences covering boards until it looked black with their bodies. The settlers tried to plant fruit trees and bushes, currants, gooseberries and such to replace the natural shade the hoppers destroyed but it seemed almost a losing battle. She remembers covering a lone strawberry plant almost ready to bear in the morning the grasshoppers had crawled under the pan and eaten the entire plant. Broken-hearted she went to her mother who told her not to worry, God would take care of things and sure enough He did, she says.
When she was 12 years of age her mother died, leaving John, George, Minnie, Willard, Joseph, Parley and Nancy. Nancy passed away when she was 11 years old with inflammation of the bowels or appendicitis. Although Aunt Rachel was very good to the children it seemed that her brothers turned more and more to sister Minnie and continued to do so all the days of her life and she has lived to see them all pass to their reward.
At 15 years of age, she began her public career as a teacher in the Sunday School. John Spires was the First Superintendent, Mr. Boothe Assistant. The Bible, Testament, 1st and 2nd Reader were the text books used. She remembers her Father going to Salt Lake to buy books. He took with him a big barrel of molasses, corn and wheat which had been donated by townspeople to be exchanged for books. She taught Sunday School from 1872 until 1879, teach Book of Mormon and Arithmetic.
In 1875 the M.I.A. was organized in Plain City and she was among its first members. By this time she was a lovely young lady of 18 years and she had a great dramatic talent. The best entertainment of the day was the dramas enacted by the young people and in these she always had a leading part. Her eyes still sparkle when she gives small excerpts from these old plays. Another popular form of entertainment was the band concerts and the young neighbor of the Carvers, William Geddes took a leading part in these, William was a steady quiet boy who paid court to her in great seriousness. But there were other young men who took sought her hand and it wasn’t until she was almost 20 years old she decided that William was the man to whom she wanted to entrust her life. She married him in August of 1877 and went to live in Salt Lake where her husband was working as a stone cutter on the L.D.S. temple. This was a special mission and the men who received their call from President Brigham Young were required to stay there and only return home on special occasions. Her husband became an expert stone cutter. It was particular work done with a chopping knife and dust blown away until the desired shape was obtained. Some of the balls on the outside of the temple were made by William Geddes.
It was in Salt Lake that her first baby Elizabeth was born and in a few short months died. This too was another experience that was to have a direct influence on the activities of her entire life. Because of her mother’s difficulties in child bearing and her own difficult time at Elizabeth’s birth, she was always and forever trying to find ways and means of helping at the time of birth. It became a common thing in Plain City to “run for Aunt Min when a new baby was coming to town.” How many times she helped at the coming of a new life would be impossible to estimate. It has been said that she helped at the birth of children in practically every family in Plain City.
She was familiar to all the early doctors of Ogden and they came to rely on her to such an extent that many times before a doctor would make the long trip to Plain City from Ogden with horse and buggy, they would instruct patients to have Aunt Min come and see if the services of a doctor was necessary and then if she said it was essential, the doctor came.
After a short time in Salt Lake, she returned to Plain City to the two room adobe house her husband had built for her and here she has spent nearly three quarters of a century. Her home was built on the spot which had once been the camping ground of an Indian tribe, but the Indians gave them very little trouble now.
In 1879 she became Secretary of the Y.L.M.I.A. She was editor of the paper known as the “Enterprise” which was read at Conjoint meetings. After this position she became First Counselor in the same organization. In 1906 she became Superintendent of the Religion Class for one year and then became President of the Plain City Relief Society from September 5, 1907 until December 2, 1911.
At this time the Relief Society was an organization which was primarily interested in taking care of the sick and those unable to do for themselves. Aunt Min was one of the first women to see in this organization an opportunity for women to, as she said “improve their minds and further their education that they could become better wives and mothers”, and she was one of those who were instrumental in planning and beginning classwork in Relief Society.
In 1911, she was released from the Presidency of the Relief Society that she might spend more time with her ailing father.
In February 1912, she became an aid in the Stake Board of the North Weber Stake which position she held for 12 years.
In 1882 her husband was called to fulfill a mission for the church in Scotland. She was happy that he had this opportunity to serve the church and she took care of their home and little family while he was gone in cheerfulness and love. He returned in 1884.
If there were hardship in her married life or moments of discouragement, never have you heard her speak of them. Nothing but words of deep devotion, love and respect for every member of the entire family have ever passed her lips.
Fiercely loyal she has been to every one who bears the Geddes name, yet her own family would be the first to tell you that if they needed correction or chastisement they need look no further than home to receive it, for she has been one to council and advice, instruct and scold if need be, every member of her family even down to the third generation. Wise has been her council and direction. Never has she discussed the problems or imperfections of any member of her family with any other member.
She has had an almost Christ-life virtue of seeing some good in the worst of us. Intensely religious herself, she was always tolerant when she sought to understand the other fellows point of view.
After the death of her husband in 1891 leaving her five children and another little soul on the way, her need for the grit and determination she was born with was greater than ever, for it was not easy for a woman to make a living for a family in those early days.
She did much hard work and early trained her children that it was by the sweat of the brow that there was bread to be eaten. More and more she turned to the kind of work for which she was a natural and it became a common sight on the dusty roads of Plain City to see Aunt Min—in summer a blue sun bonnet on her head, in winter a knitted shawl around her shoulders—tramping from one end of town to the other, tending the sick, the dying, and the new born. Usually under one arm was a loaf of fresh bread, in her hand a pot of warm gruel, in her apron —– from a hot water bottle to a bottle of Castro Oil. Down the middle of the dusty road she trotted to bring comfort and aid to those who needed her. Morning, noon, or the dead of night, cold or heat, snow or rain made no difference to her and Aunt min became and “Angel of Mercy” to a whole community.
She labored long and hard to get the money necessary for her children’s living yet money for moneys’ sake has never meant a thing to her. She was as proud of the home her husband built her as had it been Buckingham Palace. The new things her children brought her in her later life meant more to her for the thoughtfulness in their hearts than the convenience it meant to her. She gave of her means as freely as she gave of her times and talents.
She has always been an admirer of others life herself who could take adversity and make of it a triumph, and she has always had an open heart and in any moral or spiritual sickness as well as physical illness.
Her natural sunny disposition has been lightened by a ready wit and a quick tongue. As a girl she was vivacious and her quick wit is best described by a story she tells of a conversation between she and her husband. He once said to her, “Minnie—You’ll have to admit I’ve been a good husband to you, I’ve never said a cross word to you in my entire life”. And then she answered, “Well, I’ve been a better wife than you have a husband then, for I’ve had to say lots of cross words to you”.
Nearly a century of living has dimmed her eyes and slowed her feet, but for you who would still find the time from the hectic living of this day and age to sit at her feet for but a few moments, you would find that you came away from her more akin with the Lamb for didn’t He say Himself, “Even as ye have done it unto the least of Mine, Ye have done it unto Me.”
So pause for a moment and lend an ear for there is much you can learn from she who has lived with—
Sand in her shoes,
Healing in her hands,
Wisdom in her head and
The love of God in her heart.
Second log cabin built in Plain City. Built by John Carver Sr. Restored [have to search for Carver Cabin in 1997 history] by Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Plain City Camp.
Andrew Peter Poulsen one of the early settlers of Plain City, Utah was born June 12, 1842 at Ronne, Bornholm, Denmark. In his late twenties, he was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and with his brother Hans left their beautiful land of Denmark and came to Utah in 1869.
They worked on the railroad from the mouth of Weber Canyon to Ogden and then on west of Hot Springs and north to Promontory Point.
Late in the fall of 1869, Andrew married Sena Henson and their first home was a sod hut at the northwest part of Plain City. They lived there until they bought land east of the center of town and built an adobe house. This was a project that relatives and friends helped with as all the adobe bricks were made by hand.
This house still stands today having been remodeled and extra rooms built after World War I by his son Hans Peter Poulsen. Today a grandson Bernard H. Poulsen lives in the home.
Andrew Peter Poulsen loved horses and took great pride in keeping them well groomed. He had two fine teams of horses, one a white team and the other one a dark pair. For years, he was active in church and community work and used his “long back” surrey and fine white team of horses to carry the deceased to the church and cemetery. He gave freely of his time and money for the building up of the church and the community. He died September 20, 1922 at his home of stomach cancer.
Andrew’s parents, Pedra Poulsen and his wife Karen Kirstine Rettrup also came to Utah from their native Denmark and settled in Plain City in the late fall of 1869. They brought their daughter Andrea Marie Poulsen with them. She later married Christine Olsen in 1872.
Andrew Peter Poulsen’s team of white horses pulling the “long-back” surrey.
Hans Peter Poulsen was born April 19, 1875, in Plain City, Utah a son of Andrew Peter Poulsen and Sena Benson. He was the second oldest and only son in a family of four children, three of whom lived to adulthood. He was educated in the Weber County schools and also attended Brigham Young Academy where he was on the first football team at that school. He fulfilled an L.D.S. mission to Denmark from June 26, 1901 to October 3, 1903. He left his wife and young son at home with her mother in Ogden, Utah.
Hans Peter or H. Poulsen, as he went by to distinguish himself from his Uncle Hans was a farmer and dairyman. He was one of the charter members and a director of the Weber Central Dairy Association. For years, he was a director in the Farm Bureau Association. Most of is life he was active in church and community work. He was a loving and devoted father and husband. For over 50 years, he was married to Ellen K. Maw and they were the parents of seven children.
Hans Peter Poulsen was the first constable of Plain City, from 1916 to 1920, and was also a Deputy Sheriff of Weber County. While he was constable one of his first jobs was to round up several young men for stealing cattle from the towns people and selling them to the slaughter house in West Ogden.
Traveling in those days by horse and buggy was much slower than the fast cars of today but within a short time, the young men were taken into custody and placed in the Weber County Jail which was located in Ogden between Washington Blvd. and Adams Avenue on 24th Street.
White team of horses owned by Hans’ father, Andrew Peters Poulsen
HISTORY OF THE DUMMY
Submitted by Ivy Skeen Carver
Between 1897 and 1910 one could buy a round-trip ticket from Ogden to hot Springs for 30 cents on a train called “The Dummy”. It left Washington Blvd. and 19th Street to Hot Springs via North Ogden.
This “Dummy” train line was extended to Plain City via Harrisville, in 1909. There was quite a celebration; Royal Carver remembered his uncle, Jim Carver, standing on the platform around the engine, pulling the whistle and ringing the bell. One of the engineers was William Clark, the conductor was “Moonie” Holmes, and other engineers were Charles Tracy of William Lane, Charles Lunt and others.
The “Dummy” would start grass fires along the line, with its twice a day trips. One fire was started in the grass on Charles Taylor’s home on the 4th of July, 1915, which burned his barn sheds, pig-pens the old sow and her brood. This disrupted the celebration in Plain City center as the ball team and other men went to Poplar Lane to fight the fire and save the house. The railroad was held negligent and they paid Charles Taylor $1500. After the fire in 1915, and before 1918, they electrified the “dummy” as a precaution to prevent other fires. One amusing tale of the Taylor fire was the Milkman, George Moyes, coming from the dairy with some of his cans full of sour milk and his using this milk along with water from the slough to pour on the fire.
Along the Railroad line from Harrisville to Plain City there were several wooden platforms for loading and unloading freight. There were two newspapers, Morning and Evening, which the “dummy” brought out to be delivered by boys on horses such as Royal Craver, Vern Palmer, Edward Kerr and Charles (Chuck) Skeen and others. The train was so slow that kids would out-run the train on their farm horses and even on foot, running until they gave out.
The “Dummy” worked as a freight engine. The road-bed was laid and rails set by residents along the line. They were paid by Script, which was good for a ride on the train.
More History of the “Dummy”
Submitted by Irene Skeen
In 1909 John Maw, Lyman Skeen and Mr. Skeen and Mr. Eccles, then head of Utah-Idaho Railroad company, negotiated for a railroad to Plain City. On Nov. 15, 1909, the first railroad was built into Plain City.
A big celebration was held in the adobe school, on the north east corner of the town square.
The tracks came along the side of the road through Harrisville and down Plain City to the cemetery, then north to the square. This railroad was used for produced, beet-hauling, lumber, coal and transportation. It was known as the “Dummy” by everybody in Plain City. It was one car pulled with the engine. The inside had a coal stove and kerosene lamps. The car was divided by a partition; one end for the men and the other for ladies. However, it was not restricted as such.
A foggy morning, in 1915, as they were on their way to Ogden and traveling on the old Harrisville road, the “Dummy” ran head-on into an engine pulling railroad cars full of coal. Naturally, everyone was thrown from their seats and some were injured, however, not seriously.
There were two houses nearly where the people went to keep warm. The ladies at the homes bandaged the cuts, where needed, and the people were returned to their homes on bob-sleighs.
Most of the passengers were students going to Weber Academy or to Ogden high School. The “Dummy” stopped at the depot located about one-half block west of the Post Office on 24th Street and the passengers walked to their destination or to Washington Blvd and caught a city street-car.
England’s Store
***
ENGLAND STORE
Merlin England’s grandfather, his mothers father, had a store in Logan. Mrs. Ellen England persuaded her husband to go into the business in Plain City. The store was located west of the England home. Mr. England left for L.D.S. Mission early in 1896, and left the store, coal-yard and farm for Mrs. England to supervise. Merlin England was 3 months at that time.
AGENDA OF THE 50TH CELEBRATION OF THE SETTLEMENT OF PLAIN CITY
MARCH 17, 1909
The citizens of Plain City met in the L.D.S. Church on March 17, 1909, at 10:00 am to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the settlement of Plain City.
Masters of ceremony: Bishop Henry J. Garner, Josiah B. Carver, James L. Robson
Singing by Choir: “Let the Mountains Shout for Joy”
Fred Kenley directing, Bertha Robson organist.
Prayer: Alonzo Knight
Ladies Quartet: Ruby Ipson, Pearl Taylor, Jessie Kenley, Sylvia Richardson
Speech: Lewis W. Shurtliff, First Bishop of Plain City
Song: Willard Lund
Reading of Poem: Peter M. Folkman, composed by David Booth
Speech: George W. Bramwell, Past Bishop
Josiah B. Carver announced that today work was begun on the railroad for Plain City.
Humor Speech: Charles H. Greenwell of Ogden
Singing by Choir:
Prayer: Charles Weatherston
All of the people went it the Adobe Hall to the banquet, the first day for the old people, and the second day for the children. About 1000 people were fed.
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE THAT APPEARED IN THE OGDEN STANDARD EXAMINER IN 1930 ENTITLED:
“HOMECOMING OF PLAIN CITY IS WELL ATTENDED”
ONLY SURVIVORS OF ORIGINAL SETTLERS IS GUEST OF HONOR
Twelve annual homecoming of Plain City, celebrating the seventy- first anniversary of the settlement of the town held Tuesday, proved to be a very enjoyable affair and was attended by a large gathering of residents and former residents from other Utah towns and Idaho and Oregon.
Lyman Skeen, 79, only survivor of the original settlers, was guest of honor and gave a brief talk. Mr. Skeen is a son of Joseph Skeen who built the first log cabin in Plain city. Other early residents of Plain City, now residents of Smithfield, who attended the celebration, were Mrs. Tillie Collette Merrill, 81, and her sister, Mrs. Julia Collette Cantrell, 79.
Plain City was founded on March 17, 1859, by a group of people from Lehi. A history of the founding of the town and many interesting incidents connected therewith were given by P.M Folkman.
A tribute to the pioneers of the town and to the pioneers of Utah was given by Miss May Taylor. A talk on community loyalty was given by Lawrence Jenkins. Wilmer Maw presided at the morning session. Invocation was given by Gilbert Thatcher.
March 17, the date on which Plain City was founded, was also the date on which the Relief Society of the L.D.S Church was organized in Nauvoo by the Prophet Joseph Smith and this subject was discussed by Mrs. Sarah Larkin of the North Weber Stake Relief Society Presidency.
Mayor Ora Bundy, City Commissioners Fred E. Williams and W. J. Rackham, and County Commissioners F. W. Stratford, Harvey P. Randell and I. A. Norris were among the distinguished guests.
Luncheon was served at noon. Dancing was enjoyed at night. Music and readings and other features were on the program which continued throughout the day.
Lyman Skeen
Lyman Skeen came to Plain City with his father Joseph Skeen with the original settlers on March 17, 1959 at the age of nine on his pony. He was the last living original pioneer of Plain City. He died in 1933.
ANNE CATHERINE HEDEVIG RASMUSSEN HANSEN
SUBMITTED BY HER GRANDDAUGHTER
LAVINA TELFORD THOMPSON
Anne Catherine Hedevig Rasmussen Hansen was the first wife of Hans Christian Hansen and was born October 1, 1823, in Millinge, Cavanninge, Svendborg, Denmark.
On October 7, 1849, she married Hans Christian Hansen in the Parrish of Horne.
Hedevig and her husband were among the first people in their community, Helsinger, to give willing ears to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were baptized October 25, 1851. She supported her husband in preparation for leaving their homeland and families and their immigration to America. They left Demark, December 20, 1852, and sailed for Utah on January 16, 1853 on the “Forest Monarch”.
Pioneering in Utah was not easy, particularly to one who has experienced the upper middle class level of circumstances since her marriage. After living a pioneer life in Utah for a little over a year, Hedevig was thrilled with the birth of her child and first daughter, Josephine.
During the next three years, they moved several times, first in Ogden, then to Bingham’s Fort and finally to Harrisville. It was there that her third son, Nephi, was born.
August 28, 1857 became a special day in their lives. They were sealed together in the Endowment House. The first born in the covenant and her second daughter, Anne Margarethe, arrived April 6, 1859, in Harrisville.
Early in 1869, a great challenge came into the home, when Hedevig’s husband was called to fill a mission in his native Denmark. Hedevig made a shirt for her husband from material of one of her petticoats. She dyed it in juice from bark and roots, and Hans wore it as he left for his mission.
The following was taken from Josephine’s writing:
It was known that mother could wait upon women in confinement cases. It was a natural gift with her. They came for her to go to Plain City to care for a lady there. This was four miles away. She did her work so well that the woman paid her $2.00 in silver. Her career was established and they kept coming for her to go around nursing. Two bushel of wheat was the price usually charged. Then the Bishop came to our place from Plain City and wanted mother to move down there so she would be nearer to wait on women in their confinement cases. They tore our log house down, moved it to Plain City, and put it up again. They also built us a dugout, and now we lived in a settlement and could go to school. Two or more children blessed Hedevig’s home in Plain City. Hans Christian was born August 14, 1863, and Chauney Ephrian was born May 8, 1866.
Hedevig lived a full life and was taken in death March 31, 1899, being buried in Plain City.
HISTORY OF PLAIN CITY FROM THE LIFE OF
CHARLES NEAL
I, Charles Neal, son of Job Neal and Harriet Smith Neal, was born September 7, 1834, in Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England. I was baptized August 10, 1849, at Stratford-on-Avon by George Smith, and confirmed by Elder John Freeman. About 1853, I was ordained a Teacher by Elder Weeks.
I, with other immigrants left England on the 22nd day of March 1857 on the ship George Washington with Captain Cummings in command. We arrived in Boston about April 12, then proceeded on our journey to Iowa City, which was the Western terminus of the railroad. There we had to wait about three weeks for the handcarts to be finished before we could start our journey across the plains. There were about 125 handcarts and 275 men, women, and children in the company. Israel Evans was Captain, and Benjamin Ashley, Assistant Captain. I was teamster most of the way. After a long and tedious journey on the plains, our food supply became exhausted so that we had to live four days on buffalo meat without salt. We arrived in Salt Lake City on September 11, 1857, from which I further continued my journey to Lehi.
On the 24th of September I returned to Salt Lake City and found Miss Annie England who came across the sea and plains with me. We were married the same day by Elder Israel Evans., Captain of our company and then returned to Lehi and went to work for him.
On March 10, 1859, a small company left Lehi in search of a new home. We were in that company which settled in the place now known as Plain City.
Upon arriving on March 17, we took up the arduous labors of fencing in the Big Field and making Plain City Irrigation Canal, besides fencing in our own lots and planting them. Being of an ambitious character, I carried stakes from the Weber River and fenced in the first lot.
The first year we lost our crop. I then went in search of work and got a job from President Brigham Young on the wall around the Eagle Gate in Salt Lake City. Two weeks later, my wife, Annie England Neal, followed me on foot to Salt Lake, and learning I was working for President Young, she obtained work in the Lion House in Brigham Young’s family where she remained for eighteen months.
When we were about to return to Plain City, Sister Eliza R. Snow, recommended that we have our endowments. Accordingly, before leaving, we were endowed and sealed by President Brigham Young on October 24, 1860. On the same day I was ordained an Elder by Elders J. V. Long and George D. Watt.
We then returned to Plain City where I was appointed with a company of three to oversee the water ditches, in which capacity I served about three years. I was then appointed watermaster in Plain City. I served one year with credit and satisfaction.
I was one of the first appointed Sunday School teachers in Plain City, and at the Sunday School Jubilee held in Salt Lake City in 1899, I received my badge for having been a Sunday School worker for thirty-five years.
From 1864 to 1899, I served as organist in the Sunday School and Ward.
In 1860, I helped to build the first school house, which was adobe. I also helped to build the second school house which was fifty by twenty-five feet. I was Chairman of the committee to construct the present meeting house. I was one of the school trustees for eight years and road supervisor for about nine years.
In 1866, I was called to go to the Missouri River with four yolk of oxen to bring some immigrants, which made my third trip across the plains. While at the Missouri River I met the two orphan children of my sister, Ellen Eggerson, who died and was buried at sea on July 4. Her infant baby died on the 21st of July in Nebraska and was buried there. I returned and brought with me my sister’s little son, two and one-half year old. When about four days out from the Missouri River, I was taken very sick and was not expected to live; in fact Captain Harden was about to leave me there with provisions that should I recover, I would be brought in on the stage. But I begged the Captain to bring me along with them, telling him if he would, I should recover. So they brought me along and after traveling for about three hundred miles, with good care, I was able to drive my own team and get back all right.
When home again, I assisted in starting the first martial and brass band in Plain City. We purchased a second-hand set of brass band instruments from the old Camp Floyd Band in Salt Lake.
I was Postmaster in Plain City for many years. The following was published by the President of Ogden in 1903.
“Charles Neal, the retiring Postmaster of Plain City, has a most enviable record of service. The post office at Plain City was discontinued today and that town will be furnished with rural delivery. Charles Neal, who has been Postmaster in Plain City for the past twenty-five years, retires from service with an enviable record. He has served continuously under five Presidential administrations and that is sufficient evidence of his ability. He has a record in the Government of which he may feel proud”
My first wife, Annie England Neal, died November 5, 1900. She was a faithful and devoted wife, and endured many hardships and privations in our pioneer days in this, our mountain home. She was a true and faithful Latter Day Saint. Having no children of her own, she raised my sister’s child, Emily Neal Eggerson, from two and a half years old until about nineteen. We raised my brother, Willard, from eight years old until he married at the age of twenty, and Sophia England, her niece, from three months old to about fifteen years old; also Ella Jerimah Neal, my niece, from nine until she was about nineteen. We also raised William Neal, my nephew, from two and a half years to about twelve when he went away with his sister, Ella, who married Thomas H. Cottle.
In 1901, I married Miss Myra Swingwood. About 1907, my wife’s sister, Annie Swingwood Brown, died, leaving two children-a boy and an infant baby girl. We adopted Myra, the baby girl, who is now six years old.
At present, I am the oldest handcart pioneer in Weber County.
(Dictated shortly before his death)
Thomas Singleton’s home now owned by Elmer Singleton
Amanda and I just returned from a 4 day visit to Utah/Idaho. It was like a breath of fresh air into my life. It was just what I needed. Sorry it has taken so long, but here is some of what we did.
We arrived at Norfolk, Virginia airport at 6:00 in the morning to fly out for Salt Lake. I am seriously considering if it was worth the $150 we saved to have two layovers. I thought I would die from the trip. We flew from Norfolk to Detroit, Michigan, then to Minneapolis, Minnesota on to Salt Lake City, Utah. I think on each flight I became motion sick. The layover would cause the sickness to subside and then we took off again. It was a form of torture. By the time I arrived in SLC I felt sick, weak, and irritable. We went to bed pretty early to combat jet lag and my feeling sick.
Friday dawned bright and early. I was up well before everyone else and was ready for the day before 7 AM even thought of rolling around. We had crepes for breakfast. The Hemsley family had a new crepe maker and it turned out to be a great purchase. They were good. I always liked the feeling of biting into a warm crepe with cold ice cream oozing between your teeth. We found our way to Salt Lake again to pick up Bryan and attend the Salt Lake Temple. I was really not feeling well and I ended up with a pair of pants that were far too tight. I am glad I switched them out. I am sure I would have passed out if I had kept them and not switched them for a larger waist size. The session went well and Sherise, Amanda’s cousin, was beautiful.
After the endowment session Amanda and I split up. Brad picked me up and we headed north for an evening of visiting and fellowship. I changed at the Hemsley house and went on our way. Our first stop was Lillian Talbot. Lillian is my mother’s father’s sister. I returned the three journals I typed up from 1961, 1962, and 1963. I was glad to return them. We visited for a few moments and went on our way. The next stop was to Lona Jonas. She is the sister in law to Lillian who we had just left. We had a good visit with her. She told us about her operation on her forehead and eye which came from a piece of glass working its way to the surface after 55 years! Our next step took us closer to the Wasatch Mountains with a visit to Jennie Britzman. She is my father’s mother’s mother’s daughter’s daughter (1st cousin to my Grandma Ross). We had an interesting visit. I discovered she had another husband I never knew about! Brad turned out to be very interested in learning about Jennie. He asked all the right questions and so I learned some family history things I hope I have not missed often in other family members. How in the world did I ever not ask or find out she had another husband? Brad really found her story fascinating and we enjoyed ourselves with a good laugh. It doesn’t seem that she is 90 years old. Her son Richard came home while we were there and we had a good visit with him as well.
We wound up the conversation and made our way to downtown Ogden to visit Mary Coley. Her relationship to me is two fold. She was married to my mother’s father’s brother, Irwin Jonas. He was killed in WWII and she went on to marry Arthur Coley, Irwin’s Uncle. It was an interesting story. I knew that I did not have her parents in my family history so I had some questions to pose. She answered them all with amazing clearness despite her being 89 years old. She grew up in Minnesota and met Irwin while he was in training for the military there. They were married and he went off to the war effort. He wanted her home in Richmond, Utah when he came back so she moved out there. She lived with Great Grandma Lillian Jonas (Lillian’s mother, Lona’s mother in law, Irwin’s mother). It was there she lived when Irwin was killed. At dinner with my Great Great Grandmother, Martha Coley, Art (Arthur) walked in one evening and asked where they had dragged up Mary. They were married shortly after. Anyhow, she does not remember her parents but was able to tell me their names. Her mother died when she was very young and she was raised by a foster family. She also gave me the names of her foster parents. So I have some research to do but have Mary’s lineage. She also told us of her conversion story to the church. That was very interesting as well.
We made our way to the home of Dave and Betty Donaldson after Aunt Mary. Dave is my Grandma Ross’ brother. We originally were going to stop at Grandpa’s but there was a man in a ten gallon hat sitting in his living room that we could see from the road. So we decided to come back. It wasn’t far since Dave and Betty live next door. We had a good little visit with Dave and Betty. Dave just had his knee replaced in the past few months. He feels more confident and strong in his new knee than he does his other. Plans are to replace the other probably this fall. After all, we would not want to miss a perfectly good summer or fishing laid up in bed at home. Next we found Abe and Caroline Gallegos home. Caroline, my Dad’s sister, had just stepped out of the shower. We visited with Abe for a while and Caroline emerged. We talked about her new found love of family history, viewed photos. Meanwhile Brad visited with Abe.
The night was running out and we had to be in our best shape for the long haul Saturday. After the Gallegos home Brad dropped me off at the Hemsley residence and went to stay with our old roommate, Mark Morris, in Salt Lake.
Friday turned out to be a long night. I had not recovered from whatever it was I had. I wanted to blame it on the flight, but the usual suspect of a cold sore (which I always get after flying) showed up before I left Richmond. I felt sick enough Friday evening Bryan made a run to the store for some Pepto Dismal (the correct spelling). It is the first time I remember in my life having PB and it sure seems to have done the trick. I awoke up at 1 AM in emergency situations. I went on to vacate my entire system of any remnants of food. I panicked after tossing the perfectly good hamburger in the toilet when it came up all red and pink. My brain kicked in to tell me it was only the evidence of PB. Before the night was finished, it felt I had puked every thought of food I had entertained for the past week. The rest of the system went on to winterize itself. By the time I went back to bed at 3 after a shower and a cleaning of the throne I was feeling much better about life. That constant sickness from the flight was gone.
Saturday dawned bright and early. We were headed off to Salt Lake City for the sealing ceremony. We were parked found our way through the temple maze for the sealing party and visited with friends and family for a while. Before long we were ushered up to a sealing room and we waited for the happy couple and sealer to appear. Travis and Sherise made their way in followed by Elder Bednar. It was your typical sealing except Elder Bednar gave some very direct advice before the sealing. Usually it tends to be a rather superfluous group of niceties which are showered on the couple. He gave the couple, and for those listening in the party, a direct sermon on several topics I don’t think this is the place to disclose. I do remember coming out of the ceremony thinking, “I wish they would teach that in General Conference.”
We waited outside in the beautiful spring weather for the couple to appear for photos. I made a few quick expeditions around temple square and even looking at deconstruction and construction sites bordering temple square. The flowers and grass didn’t look real. (They were as testing went on to prove) The couple made their appearance, we spent the next 45 minutes under the loose commands of a photographer and I made my escape.
Brad appeared and we made a quick venture to the Church Museum to see the exhibit on the Tabernacle. We trekked northward changing clothes at the Hemsley’s and pressing on to Cache Valley.
Our first stop upon arriving at in that blessed valley was in the city of Nibley. We stopped to visit Larry and Margo Anhder but they decided not to be home. We visited with Cynthia Farnsworth around the corner who Brad worked with at the city of Nibley. It was a good visit.
We left Nibley and headed into Logan to visit Sunshine Terrace. During school Brad and I used to go down and visit all the old luvs who were there. Brad only had one of hers still living, Thelma Freeman who is now over the 104 mark. She remembered Brad very well and even asked if he was off to spray lawns in Malad. It was a good visit with her. Even thought she is pretty well death and blind, she remembered quite a bit. She began to give Brad a rundown on all her grandchildren and I excused myself to go see if anyone I used to regularly visit was still alive. Nope, they were all gone. Even Eula Waldron who I thought would live for a good while longer had passed away last fall. Harriet Elison had passed away last summer. Apparently right after my last visit she passed. I felt kinda bad knowing every single person I used to visit while at USU was now dead. Good for them I suppose. I decided not to start up any new friendships with an old luv as I didn’t know the next time I would be around to visit. I went back to listen to Brad and Thelma talk about how she wasn’t going to die until Brad was married. She openly admitted she wants to die but the Lord just doesn’t seem to want her yet, or perhaps it was because Brad wasn’t married yet….
We left and wandered our way around Utah State University. Fascinating how quickly things can change. The new library is completed and we wandered its corridors. Don’t know if I think it was designed very well, but it was certainly interesting. The Merrill Library was gone with only the stark increase in the size of the Quad to mark its passing. We paid a visit to Dentist Office #6 to visit with Matt Geddes and Lucas Garcia for a good while. Justin Siebenhaar also showed up and we were able to visit with him too. We did not remain long before we headed out.
Ellis and Geri Jonas we found in their van. Brad and I did not figure out if they were coming and going. They said they were waiting for someone (who did not appear while we were there) and yet talked about dinner (so were they coming or going?). It was good to visit with them for a while. They gave us the scoop on Ron in Afghanistan, BJ in the hospital, Amie a new house, Jennie a nice guy who she might marry, Ryan and his wife, Julie with her leg, Dan and his job, and the whole story that went with the family. Geri is just so funny in how she tells it. Brad and I got a good kick out of it. Ellis seemed to be more with it than I remember him for the past 5 years. He has thinned down quite a bit which the Dr.’s wanted him to do anyway.
Allen, Marie, Kade, and Kallie Lundgreen were where we spent our next hour. Richmond, Utah seems like time is treating it well. Marie told us the entire latest saga for the city. The city is publishing a new history but nobody seems to like the author except a few who like to stir up trouble in town. There is a story unfolding about public records from the old North Cache High School that was torn down which now want to be taken back probably only to be destroyed or lost. We talked about some history and the story inevitably moved towards Mom. The best part, I offered Marie a Eureka vacuum cleaner from the 1950’s that I have been lugging around for over a year. I finally remembered to take it, had it where I could take it, and remembered to give it. All in all, we enjoyed the reunion and laughs. It was if I had never left. Brad sure got a kick out of it. He thinks we are all crazy.
Next we enjoyed the new highway in Southern Idaho from the Utah border to Preston. How nice. So totally cruisable now. We stopped at the home of Larry and Barbara Andra to visit. They were not home. Brad and I took a good look and tour of the new facilities Larry has set up and his new ride in delivering lawn spraying services. Those new guys have it good! He has a brand new truck with a new trailer and two 500 gallon tanks. He appears serious about this whole lawn spraying business!
It was as we climbed into the car we realized we really needed to get moving in order to make it to Blackfoot in time to even catch the last 30 minutes of the reception. We did a little speeding up the old highway past Winder, Banida, Red Rock, Downey, and Virginia. We had some good conversation. We decided we both really like Inkom and could live there some day. We rounded through Pocatello and made our way to Blackfoot in good time. We arrived 15 minutes before the reception was scheduled to end. We went through the line, did our hugs, ate some cake, and enjoyed the family meal in the kitchen. It was the close of a good day. We started with Travis and Sherise and ended with them too (not to mention frog eye salad!!!).
After the reception, we watched the fireworks and the send off. I have to admit, I can’t stand some of the cheesy traditions that accompany marriages and receptions. I am glad Amanda and I left most of them out. We loaded up some food for the road and made the way across Southern Idaho to Kasota. On the way Brad read some really good articles from the latest Summit Magazine from Brigham Young University – Idaho. We both decided that if we were going to school this fall out of high school, we would both choose YofI.
Sunday morning dawned far too early for us. We arose, had some wonderful country biscuits and gravy and headed to church. Church was quite enjoyable. I really enjoyed the completely humble tone in which the meetings took place. Elder’s Quorum’s lesson was on Testimony by President Kimball. Every single person shared some thought and all, except one, did it in a completely humble tone and perspective. I was not only impressed by the tone of those who participated but the fact that all participated. It was not even encouraged by the teacher. I don’t ever remember becoming emotional in Elder’s Quorum as it is usually the least spiritual of all the church meetings. Sunday school was by Sister Crane and she did well. Ted was totally shocked when he sat with his family to find us sitting with them. Sacrament was Fast & Testimony Meeting. I really quite enjoyed it. President Merrill bore his testimony and I very much enjoyed it. President King also bore his testimony which was powerful. I followed President King which was a bit intimidating.
After church we made a quick trip home before making our rounds for the day. The first stop of the day was at Sergene Jensen’s in Heyburn. This was Brad’s first meeting of Sergene and he commented that he could definitely tell she was an Andra. It was the first time I have seen her in probably 5 years. We had a good visit while there. Brad talked golf with Neil from Filer while I fixed Sergene’s computer, her cell phone, and chatted about her son Andy. She had a pacemaker put in last December which was a surprise to me. But she thinks it was a worthwhile investment as it has drastically improved her golf swing. Neil says he wants one now. It was a good visit.
We went to visit my Aunt Jackie afterwards. We found Willie, Jackie, and Jesse all home for the day. Willie was just leaving for work but it was a good visit. I visited with Jackie for a good while. Brad wasn’t feeling well so he went and took a nap in the car. We discussed a variety of things, none of which are worth mentioning here. Pretty much it boils down to she seems like a lost soul who isn’t willing to make the changes necessary to get her life back in order.
We went to visit a friend of Brad’s, Eli Hansen but he was not home. We did visit with Eli’s mother, Teri for a few minutes. We then attempted to pay a visit to Scott and Chris Horsley, but they too were not home. We stopped to visit Brad’s great Aunt Ora Barlow. We had a good little visit with her. I guess before she married Woodrow (Woody) she was married to a Jones. Her son Lenny popped in and visited with us while we were there too. It was interesting to hear some of the dynamics of another family.
We attempted another visit to the Horsley home without success and we headed to visit the Orton family. Kevin, Megan, Ryan, and Kegan were all there. I wanted to visit with them but had to so I could get a picture with Ryan and Flat Stanley. As you are aware, I helped with his Flat Stanley project (FS has his own album!). So chatted about Tran-Systems, Circle A, Ag Express, Washington DC, life in general, the positioning of the stars in the cosmos, and other various lowly conversations. The actual camera for the photo was at Kevin’s parents so we made the trip to Paul for that. Brad and I did a quick driving tour of Paul to see what changes have been made. It is still there, I can verify that. They are also getting a new city park across from the Stake Center and Harpers are finally subdividing the property next to the Stake Center. Paul, Idaho is on the boom!
Brad wanted to nap some more so I left him in the car to snooze. I went in and had even more interesting conversations. We discussed the lifestyle of the polygamist fundamentalists in Utah. Wow, I never knew all the ways you could cheat the United States Government! But the polygamists have it worked out to a ‘T”. Kevin’s mother became a polygamist and they are sure she is dead but will not report it so they can continue to collect the Social Security Checks. They mooch the system from the crib to death. If I didn’t believe in honesty I might be tempted to do the same. The conversation with Dennis and Derith Orton turned to other subjects until I received a phone call from my Dad wanted to know if I was still planning on dinner. Yep, the time had arrived and I did not even notice it. I had to end the conversations rather abruptly and made my way home.
Dad usually is very relaxed about food and eating times but I found out Andra was the instigator. She was all in an uproar for some reason and wanted to get out of there. She gave us some reason with Brian needing her somewhere but we could tell it was a lie. She left in a huff without saying anything for a good bye or even hello. In addition, she left the present that was intended for her. I am amazed at how easily people can treat their own family badly and think it is okay. Perhaps those who are closest to us we can just expect they will understand and we can be as selfish as we want. That was the extent of any real time with my sister.
Dinner turned out to be very good. Dad made the t-bone steaks in his usual fashion with the barbeque grill and sugar cure. It was very good. Made me wish we could afford a bit more meat to eat on the grill in Virginia. We had baked potatoes, steaks, salad and plenty more. It was good to sit down and eat a meal with Dad, Andra who ate only a little bit very quickly, Brad, and Jan. We talked health, Idaho, family, and a variety of issues. It was good quality time with the family. Brad finally decided it was time for him to crash. He asked for a blessing which we gave him and he crashed despite the fact it was only 8:30 p.m. I visited with Dad and Jan a little longer before I borrowed Dad’s truck and went to pay a visit to the Tateoka Family.
I roamed up to the top of the hill at Kasota and visited with Ted and Becca. We lounged around for a while as I told them about the events so far during the weekend. Ted was quite fascinated with the advice given by Elder Bednar and took the opportunity to pat himself on the back some. We had a good laugh. He went with me for a drive to AgExpress (I want to call it Circle A) and we filled up Dad’s pickup for him. We talked about life in general. He told me about his struggles in the Bishopric and some of the cases that are before him. I can sympathize and honestly hope I never serve in that type of capacity. It sounds like a nightmare in many ways. I know there are many blessings that come, and Ted openly admits those. We talked about marriage, women, work, and several other topics. In the end, he had to be home at a descent hour. I dropped him off and went home.
Monday again dawned far too bright and early. Brad arose and was feeling much better after about 11 hours of sleep. We got ready, loaded the car, said our good byes, and headed out. Ted wanted us to stop by for breakfast. We found him at his parent’s place and we had a great breakfast of ham, eggs, toast, and plenty more. We were stuffed. We spent some time talking before Ted had to go back to work on the farm.
We went to visit Dustin McClellan at his home. We found him in the work shop and we took a good look at the Old Dodge. She was covered in dust and bird droppings but still looked good. Dustin says he is going to clean her up and get her going again now that spring is here. Plus he has just finished doing his spring field work and had a week before his next phase. We visited for a while in his house and we looked around to see what he has done differently. Next, we stopped by AgExpress and visited with Dad and he introduced me to most of the people in the office. I knew Michelle and remember Sean. We said our good bye’s and headed off to Paul and Kathy Duncan’s.
Kathy had forgotten we were coming and we found her in her pajamas still cleaning up after the weekend. She quickly changed and we visited for a good hour. She insisted we eat lunch with her and started making food. Brad and I thought we would both pop if we ate more after a big breakfast. It turned out to be really good barbeque chicken, salad, and cheesy potatoes. Brad really liked the desert. Paul came home and ate with us and we had a good visit about farming, the dairy, and life in general. Their whole family is doing well and things are good.
We had to get moving once again and we took the old highway 30 out to the Raft River exit. We took the freeway and got off to head out towards Rockland. It was a beautiful drive with the stormy clouds, the scenic valley, and the crepuscular drama. We paid a visit to Leo and Rhea Udy a few miles of Rockland approaching Roy. It was a really good visit. I quite enjoyed our conversation. They have served several church missions. Two or three of them in helping with engineering projects in the building of temples. One was with Nauvoo and I think there was one or two more. They also served in Adam-Ondi-Ahman. They have known Jack and Janet Duncan since their days in Oregon. It was also interesting to learn about the Udy history. This was even more true in light of the Udy Lawn Spraying business my Uncle Larry has. Rhea is Brad’s great aunt. We spent our time there and needed to head out in order to be able to pay a visit to Grandpa and make it to Kaysville in time for a party there.
We left the Udy home and took the drive to Malad, Idaho. We took some time to stop at Twin Springs and a quick drive through Holbrook. It seemed strange to us to be able to drive through a town literally in the middle of nowhere and know many of the people who live in the homes and much history of the area. We crossed the pass into Pleasantview and talked about our crazy day recording cemetery tombstone names in Samaria. We finally arrived in Malad and took a look at all the lots that I am thinking of buying there. We took some pictures with the phone and left just as the rain was starting to come down again.
We caught I-15 south and got off to drop back into Plain City. We stopped by Uncle Dave’s again to drop the picture off we neglected to do the first time. That is another long story, but I have been trying to get that photo back to its owner for a good two years now. One person takes it, can’t deliver it, and it keeps coming back to me. At one point, so I would not forget it, I placed it on a desk in Provo so I would always see it. The weekend I went to take it back I forgot it because Brad, of all people, hid it because he didn’t like it sitting out. Anyhow, I hope it is the final step to finding its way back to Ed Telford.
We stopped and had a good visit with Grandpa. He seemed a bit down from the latest waves of death in his circle of friends. It was still fun to see him and spend some time with him. In the end he didn’t seem like he wanted to talk much so we said our good byes and headed out. We made our last stop at the Olive Garden in Layton in order to meet the Hemsley family. Brad and I discussed our weekend and figured out we really quite enjoyed ourselves. To top it off, we figured out we had reconnected, visited with, and spent time with at least 43 people since Friday morning together. That seemed like quite the group of people. We felt content in our activities. I came back with 4 pages of family history notes. Brad was able to see family he had not seen in about 2-8 years. Best of all, we just enjoyed the company and the sites of Idaho/Utah.
It was Scott Hemsley’s birthday and we ate out at Olive Garden to celebrate the event. Derek did not join us but it was a good dinner and we had some good laughs. They are a good family. I am happy to claim them as family and to have ties with them. We went back to their home (Brad left for Provo and did not eat with us) and watched The Terminal with Tom Hanks. It seemed highly fitting since we would again be spending a whole day in traveling by plane. Amanda’s grandparents came over and we visited with them some. Finally we crashed since we had to leave at 5 a.m. and felt we needed the rest.
The flights went okay. I don’t like riding in the very back because sometimes you feel every bit of turbulence. I think I regained my motion sickness every time we were on descent to the airport. The winds and tossing just doesn’t do much for my stomach. The last flight put me under and heater vent or something that blew warm air on me the entire flight. So I turned on my cold air nozzle to high and suffered with the torments of hot and cold air blowing on me.
We arrived at Norfolk, kissed the ground and went to the Odom home in Newport News. They fed us some Chinese (which was very nice of them!) and we went home.
There is the end of the narrative of the trip to Utah and Idaho. I know it became a bit of a laundry list of things we did. But I did not want to write it by hand in my journal and I type so quickly. Plus I know some of you would be interested. So viola, there you go!
The Sabbath has now passed. So I thought I would share a little update before we get going on the road today.
We ended up staying for sure with Andy and Becky Hughes. They have been more than kind to us. Keeping us up, visiting with us, and providing some wonderful food. Breakfast of waffles and such, with dinner of homemade lasagna. All very good.
Went to church in the Branson 2nd Ward. It was good to see so many old friends. We ran into Gary & Kathy Freeman, Sheila Dutton, Marty & Cindy Hughes, Ryan & Carina Hughes, Gary & Lena Hughes, Adam & Vikki Hughes, Merrill Osmond, Jason & Mara Hughes, Steve Arvig, Doug Lowe, and many others. It was great to be back in town. The opening hymn was absolutely powerful. All the hymns were sang in faith. What a refresher. The closing hymn was America the Beautiful, and most of the families have performed this show before so it came out in 6 part harmony in Sacrament Meeting. It is amazing how music changing the power of a meeting. It was Testimony Meeting, which was good, despite the usual missionary field-interesting ones. All of church was great, especially to see so many old friends.
After church we came home and dressed more comfortably and chatted for a while. We were scheduled for dinner with the Lowe family. We went over and had a wonderful dinner. The missionaries were there, one of which Amanda graduated from school with. Anna Badger, Lee and Korinne Hamblin, and Kayli also had a friend. Dinner was patriotic and tasteful. I ate way too much.
After visiting with the family, Kami Lowe, and Anna Badger we headed to visit with Terry McCombs. We ended up being there for several hours discussing physics, resonance, the build of the vocal instrument, and Zion. It sure was good to visit with him again.
We returned to Andy and Becky’s, visited for a few hours, and then crashed for the night.
Today we head off to Lexington, Kentucky. Hopefully all goes well.
Sagacity 