Looking north over Overland Avenue near Main Street in Burley, Idaho
When I saw this photo it caught my attention. I don’t recall the topic of the book this photo was in, but I took a picture of it.
I am guessing this is the late 1910s from the top of the Mayfair Building, I don’t recall the name on the building.
Of particular interest is the old flour mill in front of the grain silos. I don’t know when it came down, I don’t have any memories of it in the 1980s.
The truck was not yet in production, or widely available in Burley, for shipping commodities as these are all wagons. I cannot tell if they are waiting to go to the mill or if something else is going on. The line appears to keep going past Main, but not quite sure it goes all the way to the silos.
I recognize the two story buildings on the right as they are both still there. The building to their left, the old Thriftway Building was taken down about 1990 and is now just a parking lot.
None of the buildings between Main and the flour mill, including the mill, are still in existence.
I cannot quite tell if we are seeing the impounded water from Milner Dam in the background. Milner predated Burley so it is very likely the wide open space is Milner Lake.
I was thinking the flag could tell me a time frame but I cannot see the stars to any degree to tell if this is before or after 1912. This is likely the 48 star flag from 1912-1959.
Milo Ross, Bill McBride, Leon Taylor, Freddy Cox Eagle Announcement
The newspaper clipping from 1956 includes the following:
Awarded Highest Honor in Scouting
These four Plain City Boy Scouts from Troop 42 of the Pine View District received their Eagles badges at a recent Court of Honor. They have earned a total of 84 merit badges. Left to right are Milo Paul Ross, son of Mr. & Ms. Milo Ross; Bill McBride, son of Mr. and Mrs. Keith McBride; Leon Taylor, son of Mr. & Mrs. Everett Taylor, and Freedy Cox, son of Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Cox. The Ross youth also attended the Boy Scout National Jamboree at Valley Forge, Pa., last summer.
I quote from the article above, but Dad pointed out that Freddy’s last name is Coy, not Cox. But the newspaper has it incorrect.
Eagle Scout
I made this photo available earlier. I assume from the same occasion. I didn’t scan it so I don’t know if that is the original quality, even with the blemishes.
Milo in his scouting uniform about 1954
This is from their old home in Plain City with a few merit badges yet to go before receiving his Eagle rank.
Here is the clipping of my own announcement.
Newspaper clipping from the South Idaho Press.
I have written on my Eagle before, but I will include this picture too.
Dad shaking my hand afterward for a photo shoot.
I certainly looked younger in 1993, I had just turned 14 years old.
Another old photo of Paul, Idaho. To the left, center of the photo is the Paul Train Depot. The depot was located about half way between Main Street and 1st West Street on the north side of West Railroad Street and south of the tracks. This photo was very early on, probably before 1917 as the Amalgamated drainage ditch does not appear in to be running through the photo. Also, the buggy in the front and no parked cars elsewhere provide some hint.
Immediately behind from this view and across the tracks is the Watson Farm Supply Building.
Watson Farm Supply
Looking east down Idaho Street you can see the back side of Merrill’s Food Market. On the following photo, you can see the north side of that building on the right side of Main Street before the bricked Adams Building.
Main Street near the tracks looking South in Paul, Idaho
If you look out to the very far left of the photo with the depot, you can see the first school in Paul. That school was located on James Ellis land. I don’t know when that school was built or when it was replaced with a school virtually in the block behind where this photo was taken.
This wasn’t intentional. Not sure why or how it happened, but it did.
Anyone who knows me knows that I stop and visited deceased people and ancestors anytime I am in the neighborhood. Kinda like stopping in to visit any other cousin or friend when you are driving through, are in town, and have some time. Ancestors are very accommodating whenever you want to stop in and visit. Maybe COVID-19 just gave us more time.
I have the following ancestors who are buried somewhat nearby, western United States. I will link each ancestor I have written about previously if you want additional information. Here are my ancestors and where they are buried.
As of this writing, I see there are two ancestors that I haven’t stopped and visited in the last few years and got pictures with the kids and the tombstone, Christiana Andra in Salt Lake City and William Sharp in Ogden (I now have the goal to get it done before the end of the year). I also have a couple of known ancestors without tombstones, David and Gwenllian Jordan in Ogden, Utah, Hubert Jonas in Ellensburg, Washington (but we got pictures at the grave), and Damey Ross in Olivehurst, California (who we visited after hours and couldn’t even locate the grave). We should remedy that but we may just have to stop and get pictures with their grave locations.
I also cheat and use the 2016, 2018, and 2019 photos with three ancestors, Johanna Benson in Spring City, Utah in 2018, John William Ross in San Bruno, California in 2016, and James Thomas Ross/Meredith in Fresno, California in 2019. I could do a 2020 photo for Johanna, but I am not going to California just to redo a tombstone photo with the two Ross ancestors.
Lillian (in background by Wanner tombstone), James, Aliza, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Mary Louise Wanner (1901-1991) and William Fredrick Andra (1898-1990) on 26 July 2020.
Aliza, Paul, Lillian, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Mary Ann Bailey (1828-1913), Mary Ann (Lillian “Lillie” Musgrave) Stoker (1861-1935) and Milo Riley Sharp (1857-1916) on 23 May 2020. Mary Ann Bailey is the mother of Milo Riley Sharp, don’t confuse mother Mary Ann with spouse Mary Ann. We shorten our Lillian’s name to Lillie’s spelling in her honor.
Aliza Ross with tombstones for Hermina Jansen (1860-1921) and George Henry (Gerhardus Hendrick) Van Leeuwen (1856-1932) on 28 June 2020.
Joseph Jonas – Richmond, Utah
Tombstone of Joseph Jonas (1859-1917) on 26 July 2020. The S is a mistake put there by someone. Some have put his mother’s maiden name “Schumacher” there, but we have yet to find any evidence of that middle initial or name.
Annie Jonas – Crescent, Sandy, Utah
Lillian and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Annetta Josephine Nelson Jonas (1864-1907) on 11 July 2020.
Herbert & Martha Coley – Richmond, Utah
Lillian Ross with tombstone of Martha Christiansen (1879-1961) and Herbert Coley (1864-1942) on 26 July 2020.
Christiana Andra – Wasatch Memorial, Latona Section, Salt Lake City, Utah
Aliza Ross, Jill Hemsley, Lillian Ross with tombstone of Christiana Wilhelmina Knauke (1869-1957), widow of Friedrich Theodor Andra, on 6 September 2020. She went by Wilhelmina in the United States and married Johann Wendel, as I have written previously. The other grave is her daughter-in-law and grandson, Rebecca Emelia Christensen (1904-1931) and Otto Carl Andra (1929-1929).
Lillie, Paul, Aliza, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of William Sharp on 27 November 2020. This was the first time I had ever been to William’s grave.
Mary Sharp – Plain City, Utah
Aliza, Paul, Lillian, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Mary Ann Bailey (1828-1913), Mary Ann (Lillie Musgrave) Stoker (1861-1935) and Milo Riley Sharp (1857-1916) on 23 May 2020. Mary Ann Bailey is the mother of Milo Riley Sharp, don’t confuse mother Mary Ann with spouse Mary Ann. We shorten our Lillian’s name to Lillie’s spelling in her honor.
Aliza, Lillie, Paul, James, and Hiram Ross at the graves of Gwenllian Jordan (1842-1900) and David D Williams (1832-1911) on 27 November 2020. Neither have a tombstone.
Hubert Jonas – Holy Cross, Ellensburg, Washington
Lillian Ross with tombstone of Emma Schriber Jonas (1855-1898), wife of William Jonas on 5 August 2020. William and his father Hubert both do not have tombstones and are buried next to Emma.
Hiram, James, Lillian, and Aliza Ross with tombstone for Agnetta Benson (Bengtsson)(1832-1873) and John Nelson (Johann Nilsson)(1827-1902) on 25 July 2020.
Paul, Aliza, and Lillian Ross with tombstone of Constance Josephine Eliza Jorgensen Christiansen (1857-1932) on 8 August 2020. Portland apparently isn’t watering their cemeteries this year.
Paul, Aliza, Lillian, and Hiram Ross with tombstones for Margret Watkins (1816-1902), David Jordan (1820-1893) and Thomas Jordan (1857-1880) on 23 May 2020. Thomas is the son of David and Margret.
Paul, Aliza, Hiram, and Lillian Ross with tombstone of Johanna Johannsson Benson (Bengtsson)(1813-1897) on 7 September 2018. I know I am cheating, it wasn’t 2020. But it was recent.
Aliza Ross with tombstones of Hanna Mathea Christensen (1831-1900) and Olavus Jorgensen (1830-1904) on 26 July 2020.
Others visited this year.
Garrett Lee Smith – Weston, Oregon
Paul Ross with tombstone of Garrett Lee Smith (1981-2003) on 9 August 2020. Garrett was my last missionary companion.
Eli Benjamin Stoker – Mullan, Idaho
Tombstone of Eli Benjamin Stoker (1870-1952) on 3 August 2020. Eli is the half-brother to my Mary Ann Stoker Sharp.
Mary Nelson Jonas – Holy Cross – Ellensburg, Washington
Aliza Ross with tombstone of Mary Nelson Jonas (1885-1899) on 5 August 2020. Mary is the sister to my Joseph Nelson Jonas.
Ezra & Flora Benson – Whitney, Idaho
Aliza and James Ross with tombstone of Flora Smith Amussen (1901-1992) and Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) on 26 July 2020. Many know Ezra as the 13th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Secretary of Agriculture under President Eisenhower.
Spackman Plot Marker – Lewiston, Utah
Aliza Ross with the Spackman Plot Marker. She recognized and wanted a picture with the Pacman tombstone on 26 July 2020.
Walter Theodor Andra – Logan, Utah
Aliza, Hiram, and Lillian Ross with tombstone of Walter Theodor Andra (1896-1967) on 25 July 2020. Walter is brother to my Bill Andra.
Charles Wilson Nibley – Logan, Utah
Aliza, Hiram, James, and Lillian Ross with tombstone of Charles Wilson Nibley (1849-1931) on 25 July 2020. Charles is known for various positions and business interests, but most will know him as a member of the First Presidency (non-apostle) to President Heber J Grant of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Moses Thatcher – Logan, Utah
Lillian, Hiram, and Aliza Ross with tombstone of Moses Thatcher (1842-1909) on 25 July 2020. Moses is known for various positions and business interests, but most will know him as a an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Allison Ann Parker – Logan, Utah
Tombstone of Allison Ann Parker (1976-1997) on 25 July 2020. Allison is a friend and brother of my high school friends Ryan and Russell Parker. She passed away after a tragic accident driving back to Utah after our Senior Prom date night in 1997.
Peter Maughan – Logan, Utah
James, Aliza, Lillian, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Peter Maughan on 25 July 2020. Peter is known for various positions and business interests, as one of the founders of Cache Valley, Utah.
Ezra Benson – Logan, Utah
Aliza, James, Hiram, and Lillian Ross with tombstone of Ezra Taft Benson (1811-1869) on 25 July 2020. Ezra is known for various positions and business interests, but most will know him as a an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Nels Nelson – Crescent, Sandy, Utah
Hiram and Lillian Jonas with tombstone of Nels August Nelson (Nilsson)(1857-1935) on 11 July 2020. He is the brother to my Annetta “Annie” Jonas.
Stanley Spatig – West Warren, Utah
Tombstone of Stanley Hazen Spatig (1940-2013). Son of Eva Virtue Wanner Spatig, sister to my Mary Louise Wanner Andra.
Joseph & Ann Wayment – West Warren, Utah
Bryan Hemsley, Amanda, Aliza, and Hiram Ross with tombstones of Ann Reed (1852-1931) and Joseph Wayment (1844-1931). Amanda’s Great Great Great Grandparents on 24 May 2020.
Louis & Martha Hansen – West Warren, Utah
Bryan Hemsley, Aliza, Amanda, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Sarah Eveline Judkins (1886-1943), Louis Alma Hansen (1876-1951), and Martha Ann Wayment (1877-1908) on 24 May 2020. Louis and Martha are Amanda’s Great Great Grandparents.
Walter & Myrtle Hansen – West Warren, Utah
Bryan & Jill Hemsley with Aliza, Lillian, Amanda, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Myrtle Thompson (1902-1959) and Walter Wayment Hansen (1904-1995) on 24 May 2020. Walter and Myrtle are Amanda’s Great Grandparents.
Evan & Lona Jonas – Lindquist Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, Ogden, Utah
Aliza and James Ross with tombstone for Lona Rae Jensen (1930-2012) and Evan Reed Jonas (1928-1999) on 23 May 2020. Evan is the brother to my Norwood Jonas.
Spencer & Jimmie Jonas – Lindquist Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, Ogden, Utah
Aliza Ross with tombstone of Viola Amelia (Jimmie) Cole (1920-1996) and Spencer Gilbert Jonas (1919-1988) on 23 May 2020. Spencer is the brother to my Norwood Jonas.
Melvin Thompson – Lindquist Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, Ogden, Utah
Amanda, James, Aliza, Lillian, Hiram Ross, Bryan and Jill Hemsley, and Alyssa Smart with tombstone of Melvin J Thompson (1925-2018) on 23 May 2020. Mel is Amanda step-Grandpa.
Merle & Belle Hemsley – Lindquist Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, Ogden, Utah
Bryan & Jill Hemsley, Hiram, Lillian, Aliza, and Amanda Ross with tombstone for Belle Sarah Peterson (1917-2003) and Richard Merle Hemsley (1912-1962) on 23 May 2020. Merle and Belle are Amanda’s Great Grandparents.
Ellen Weller – Hooper, Utah
Tombstone of Ellen Watton Weller (1828-1894) on 23 May 2020. I stumbled upon this tombstone in Hooper. I was walking around, felt inspired to walk over, and looked at this one knowing there was a link. Name looked vaguely familiar. Half-sister to my Hannah Maria Rogers Coley. Didn’t know she was buried in Hooper, FamilySearch didn’t have it either. Her and Joseph Weller are now documented and updated.
Dee Hemsley – Hooper, Utah
Alyssa Smart, Bryan and Jill Hemsley, Aliza, Lillian, Amanda, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Richard DeLece Hemsley (1936-2013) on 23 May 2020. Dee is Amanda’s grandfather.
William & Martha Wayment – Plain City, Utah
James, Amanda, Lillian, Aliza, and Hiram Ross with tombstones for Martha Brown (1823-1905) and William Wayment (1822-1883) on 23 May 2020. William and Martha are Amanda’s Great Great Great Great Grandparents. The tombstone above Aliza’s head is William Edward Stoker mentioned above, my Great Great Great Grandfather.
Lorenzo Snow – Brigham City, Utah
Hiram, Lillian, and Aliza Ross with tombstone for Lorenzo Snow (1814-1901) on 23 May 2020. Lorenzo Snow is known as the 5th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
David & Ruby Haight – Wasatch Memorial, Salt Lake City, Utah
Aliza & Lillian Ross, Jill Hemsley, with tombstone of Ruby Olson (1910-2004) and David Bruce Haight (1906-2004) on 6 September 2020. David Haight is known as an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I previously interacted with him regarding marriage.
Charlotte Sharp – Ogden, Utah
James and Paul Ross at the tombstone of Charlotte Elizabeth Earl (1816-1907) on 27 November 2020. Charlotte married my William Sharp (1826-1900) after she was widowed of her first husband Charles James McGary (1808-1875).
Lorin Farr – Ogden, Utah
Paul Ross with tombstone of Lorin Farr (1808-1907) on 27 November 2020. Lorin Farr was the first Stake President of the Weber Stake which covered all the territory of all my ancestors in Ogden and Plain City. He was also the first Mayor of Ogden.
Thomas Marsh – Ogden, Utah
Paul Ross with tombstone of Thomas Baldwin Marsh (1800-1866) on 27 November 2020. Thomas Marsh is known as the first Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who had he remained faithful, would have been President before Brigham Young.
Sergene Sorenson – Pleasant View, Burley, Idaho
Lillie, Hiram, Aliza, and James Ross with tombstone of Sergene Sorenson (1932-2013) on 2 January 2021. Sergene is the sister to my Grandma Colleen.
Scott Sorenson – Pleasant View, Burley, Idaho
James, Lillie, Hiram, and Aliza Ross with tombstone of Scott Sorenson (1951-2001) on 2 January 2021.Lillie, Hiram, Aliza, and James Ross with tombstone of Bert Sorenson (1924-1991) on 2 January 2021.
Many years ago, 2007, I was able to flesh out some of one of Robert’s daughters, Beulah Ross Duncan. Then in 2017 I was able to obtain and share some photos.
Then, early July, I finally stumbled on more information for Robert Leonard Ross.
He married Rose Anna Clawson (1893-1956), widow of Hyrum Peter Sanders (1890-1918) on 18 February 1919 in Burley, Cassia, Idaho. Then he just disappeared. Well, I found out why. He decided to act illegally in Minidoka County and spend a decade as a resident of the Idaho State Penitentiary in Boise, Ada, Idaho. A certain irony knowing that his brother-in-law was the local probate (magistrate) judge in Minidoka County.
Idaho State Penitentiary Intake for Robert Leonard Ross
I like the fact they called him Slim.
Pardon of Robert Leonard Ross
He spent the 1920s doing hard time. The world was just waiting for him to make it in 1929 and through the 1930s. I am still trying to pin down his remaining years. I assume Rose divorced him, but I haven’t located those records yet.
1930 he was in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
1935 he was in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
1940 he was in Redding, Shasta, California.
Still trying to confirm, but apparently he died in Bend, Deschutes, Oregon in 1944.
I believe his daughter Mary Elizabeth Ross died in Avenal, Kings, California.
Beulah Estell Ross died in Toppenish, Yakima, Washington.
Annie Adeline Ross died in Grundy, Buchanan, West Virginia.
Orson Lee Ross died near Klamath Falls, Klamath, Oregon.
Sergene Andra on the front of the Preston Night Rodeo program for 1949 with Trigger Jr.
My Uncle Larry Andra provided these two photos as part of a group of photos. I hadn’t seen these photos before. I thought they were interesting enough I would provide them separately.
The first is the front of the 1949 program for “That Famous Preston Night Rodeo.” The photo has Aunt Sergene along with Roy Rogers’ Trigger Jr. There is quite a bit of history on the That Famous Preston Night Rodeo, but there is much more history available on the internet of Roy Rogers and Trigger Jr.
This second picture is of Sergene as the Rodeo Queen and stands in the middle between her 1st and 2nd Runner Up. The horse was owned by Mr. Peterson who lived on the corner of 1200 East and Oneida in Preston. Sergene ran on a whim and won. I do not know which year, I assume this is at Preston.
This is another chapter of the Jonas history book compiled by Carvel Jonas. “The Joseph Jonas clan of Utah (including – early Jonas family history; early Nelson family history)” This chapter relates to Rosa Nelson Jonas. Reviewing this information in FamilySearch shows some changes and updates to some of the information presented.
The following story was written by Rosa and is typed from a hand-written copy in the possession of her daughter, Verla Jonas Andersen Lythgoe.
“The story of Mrs. Rosa Jonas Andersen. Miss Rosa Nelson Jonas was born in Ellensburg, Kittitas County, Washington, on 5 Sep 1886, the third daughter of Annie Josephine Nelson Jonas and Joseph Jonas on a farm.
“Being Catholic, when about two months old, mother took me to church to be baptized, which was done by mother holding me in her arms, while the priest poured a few drops of water on my forehead. (St. Andrew church records this date 26 Sep 1886) In the meantime two persons stood by her side, one on each side of her, a man and a woman, they are called the God mother and father, they are to become your guardian in case anything happens to your parents.
“When I was about four years old, I followed a cousin of mine to school. Not understanding the rules of school, I would talk out loud and go from one seat to another, so the teacher asked me if I hadn’t better go home, my mother may need me. I told him oh, no she has got some more kids home. I said it so loud the whole room began to laugh. That got me, I was so hurt at being laughed at I never went back.
“The fall of 1895, we went to Yakima to pick hops. Although only nine years of age, it was a very interesting trip. People came from all parts of the country.
“One family in particular which attracted my attention was a family traveling in a covered wagon, which had on the outside “Olympia, Washington or bust.” While picking hops they turned their chickens loose, and every night they would go to roost in the back of the wagon, they had a place fixed just on the outside of the end gate. They stayed during the hop season, which lasts about a month or six weeks.
“We were paid one dollar a box and it took four, forty gallon barrels or what they called flour barrels to make a box of hops. The hops were grown in large fields like we grow beets which was one of the prettiest sights I ever seen, to see the way the hops grew. The rows were far enough apart to cultivate between with a cultivation horse. Large poles were even so far apart with strong wire over the top to which a strong cord was tied and fastened to a peg driven in the ground, the hop vine would wrap around this string as it grew. The hops were between six and nine inches long. The most interesting part of this occasion was the Indians, whose camp was just across from where we made our camp.
“We were afraid to go too close so we stood off at a distance and watched them put up their tents. The women or squaws as we call them, did all the work.
Rosa Nelson Jonas
“After we had been in camp about a week, while strolling through the bushes we came upon a squaw making a bed for a new baby, she dug a great big place in the ground, put a layer of rocks in it and made a fire on the rocks. Of course, we didn’t know what she was making but I did know she didn’t want us standing around watching her, and would make motions with her hands for us to go away. I told Mother and she said for us not to go around there any more, because the poor woman was sick.
“Well, we didn’t but one morning before sun up and the ground was white with frost, my sister and I went down to the river and to our great surprise we saw that same squaw that was sick with a tiny baby. We watcher her undress her baby and in the cold water she dipped it. We run home and told mother to come quick that an Indian was drowning her baby. She laughed and told us she was giving her baby its morning bath.
“Now in the Catholic Church the Sunday School has two classes, one that they call the catechism and the other the Bible. They are not allowed to go to Communion or partake of what we call the sacrament, until they graduate from the catechism (spelled Katakismn in her story) class. The day before you go to communion the whole class has to go to confession, which is quite an affair. I’ll try and describe how it is done. They is say, a large closet with a partition running through the center making two average sized closets, with dark maroon draperies hanging in each door way. You go to the right little room, and you’ll find a small bench, to the left, you kneel on it and you find a hole in the partition wall, that comes about to your chin, looking through that you see the Priest sitting in his nice comfortable overstuffed chair waiting to hear you confess your sins, which is done by your saying, “Father forgive me for telling a lie,” or whatever you done that was wrong since you went to confession last. Your punishment is if you haven’t a rosary to get one. It has from 25 to 20 beads each having a different design, each bead means a certain prayer. I had to get one of those beads and say six hail Mary’s every night before retiring and every morning before dressing and two Apostle Creeds so I must have been one of the worst, I thought well, I’ll just show you Priest-I’m not going to freeze my toes saying that while I was kneeling by the bed side, so I’d get up in the center of the bed, cover the quits over my head and bury my face in the pillow and start praying just as fast as I could, sometimes I’d skip a bead and sometimes two, but that did not make any difference because I was covered and no one could see me, and that old Apostle Creed it was too long to say once, say nothing about saying it twice, not me, I didn’t see any sense in learning prayers out of a book when I wanted something because I thought the Lord wouldn’t understand what I wanted.
“Well the next day at Communion all the girls wore white dresses with veils and wreaths on their heads, and boys in black. Up to the altar or railing covered in white you kneel down, put your hands under this white cover that goes over the railing, close your eyes, put your head back, open your mouth, put out your tongue and the priest will put this Communion on your tongue, don’t let it touch your teeth, close your mouth, bow your head. When he had given each one in the class a Communion you all arise and go to your seat. This Communion is about as large as a small sop cracker, I guess that is what it is from what I could see just partly closing my eyes. I wanted to see what he was going to give me anyway and I did. He took it out of a goblet with his forefinger and thumb and layed it on my tongue and stood there and drank the wine it was soaked in.
“In the year of 1901 July 3, I came to Utah. Feb 6, 1902 I was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by N[els]. A[ugust]. Nelson who took a pick and broke the ice in the Jordan River in South Jordan, Salt Lake County, and was confirmed the same day by Bishop James P. Jensen. In the year of 1903 I spent a week in the Salt Lake Temple being baptized for relatives and had my endowments and went through for those I was baptized for and had them sealed. This made me sixteen years of age when I had my endowments.
“In April 1902 I had my patriarchal blessing which (is) a great comfort and help to me because of the wonderful promise of temple work, and of the great relief it would be for those I did work for. It sure is a great comfort to go and read it and reread it. The more you read it, the more it means to you. “So girls, don’t miss getting your Patriarchal Blessing.”
“The following is Rosa’s blessing.
“A blessing given to Rosa Jonas, daughter of Joseph and Josephine Nelson Jonas born in Ellensburg, Kittitas Co, State of Washington.
“Sister Jonas in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the power of the priesthood conferred upon me, I confer upon your a patriarchal blessing. In as much as you desire to know what God requires of you. If you are faithful you shall never be deceived. You have a knowledge that God lives and your prayer will be answered in those things that will be for your good.
“You are of Israel and are entitled to the blessings which the gospel imparts, and although young, God will increase your testimony. If you are humble, your heart will be fully satisfied. Be careful of the company that you keep. Be modest and careful in the selection of your companionship or you may be deceived. There is much for you to do in the Temples of the Lord, and many of your ancestors names will be presented to you and they will bless you for the labor that you performed for them in the flesh.
“God will give you judgement to select a man of God for a companion, who will lead you back into the presence of God from whence you came.
“Cherish virtue more than your life. Never allow yourself to step from the paths of truth and virtue for I seal this blessing upon you with all your born blessing and I seal you up unto Eternal Life, promising you that none of these blessings shall fail if humble on your part in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”
“Rosa lived with her Uncle August Nelson and did housework for her room and board. She wasn’t very tall and some of her children have said she would measure to their arms if their arms were held out horizontal with the ground. A guess she would be a few inches above five feet tall. She had thin brown hair and brown eyes. When she was young she had white hair, until it grew darker as she became a young woman. All her siblings had white hair when they were children. Her hair was probably thinned because of the typhoid epidemic which killed her older sister, Mary. At that time Rosa’s hair fell out by the hand full. Since Mary died 21 Sep 1899, Rosa would have been 13 years old when she lost her hair. Rosa was the only left handed sibling. I am told that Rosa would argue about religious doctrines with her brothers and would hit the stove with a pan to give emphasis to her point of view. Apparently these siblings would argue and defend their point of view vigorously for a few hours at a time. However, after their debates they were affectionate with each other and were able to be good friends after any discussions. They were very loyal to each other.
“A land record in Logan tells us that on the 8 Nov 1905 Rosa and her husband, Christian Andersen, first bought their house in Richmond, Utah. It was located at 137 East 1st South. They bought lots 2 and 3 for $500.00. They lived there until 2 Jun 1920 when they sold their house for $2400.00 and then moved to Thatcher, Idaho. While they were living in Richmond two of her brothers would live with them from time to time. William and Joseph would stay at her home when they came back from the Brigham Young College at Logan. She also lived within about a block of her other brother, John, who had bought a home. She was very helpful to her brothers by washing their clothes and given them a place to sleep when they came home during the weekends. Joseph, her youngest brother, often sought her for advise, and often would take the advice of his sister in substitute of the parental advice he missed. She lived in Thatcher, Idaho, with her two brothers on a far and after a short few years moved back to Richmond, Utah. Later (about 1922) the family moved to Preston, Idaho at 295 West 4th South, where she died years after. The following is quoted in the life story of her husband, Christian Andersen, and was written by their daughter, Mabel.
“Father met my mother, Rosa Nelson Jonas, about a year before they were married. One night (Christian) was singing and playing a lively song and mother and Aunt Delia walked into the dance hall and there sat father playing the accordion and singing this song. Mother took one look at him and said to Aunt Delia, “I should think he would be ashamed of himself.” She thought him repulsive at first. But later on in years she rocked his little kids to sleep and he sang these very same songs to us. Mother did not mind in the least. Aunt Delia and Grandma Andersen decided that Christian and Rosa were meant for each other, so Aunt Delia gave a party and invited the Andersen boys. They were a lively bunch and had a good time that night.”
“…Rosa made a nice cream cake with plenty of whipped cream on it. (Christian) came to see her that evening in his rubber tired buggy so he could eat it, batched by himself… On the way home father put the cake on the floor of the wagon so it would be safe. The high spirited horse became frightened and started to run away. Father pulled back on the lines and raised his foot up and set it down right in the middle of the cream cake! When he got home he cut around his foot print and ate what he could of the cake. As a result of these meetings father and mother were married on 29 Jun 1904 in the Salt Lake Temple.”
“Rosa wrote a letter to her oldest sister, Margaret, to apologize for not writing her until after she was married about her marriage. Joseph Jonas, her father, wrote back and said that Margaret would forgive her because she had died.
“Rosa became the mother of Christian’s two children, Pearl and Ivy, who were from Christian’s first marriage. “Rosa was strict and so was Christian.”
“Rosa and Christian moved into a house in Richmond, Utah. Christian added one room downstairs and two rooms upstairs and a bath. He made a stairway and maintained a “well groomed house and yard.” “We had a shanty or summer kitchen where “Rosa and her daughters” did the canning of fruit and washing. The shanty was a couple of rods from the backdoor. We had a cement sidewalk and a big stone rock for a step…” Their “home had the first running water in it to come out of the wall hot… We had the first electric light in Richmond.”
“Rosa and Christian had six children. The first five were born in Richmond. The last was born in Lewiston. They are the following children: Mabel Rosetta, born 23 Oct 1905; Cyrus Christian, born 21 Dec 1907; Cleone Annetta, born 24 Nov 1909; Merlin Jonas, born 19 Sep 1913; Verla Jonas, born 16 Mar 1917; Arvie Jonas, born 31 May 1921.
“I remember moving from the ranch at Thatcher to Lewiston. Mother was expecting Arvie and she rode in the back of the wagon on some hay. The meager furniture was loaded into the wagon drawn by Jupiter and a bay horse named Sailor. Verla was bundled up in blankets and quilts, also Merlin and I (Mabel). Snow was on the ground, it was cold. While we were pulling the dugway by Riverdale where it was icy and slick, ol’ Jupiter fell on his right front shoulder. This turned the front wheels of the wagon causing it to tip. But quick as a flash Jupiter was on his feet and gave a lunge throwing the wagon the other way. Sailor pulled his line and up the dugway we went. I always felt that I owed my life to Jupiter because if the wagon had gone over it would have dumped the stove on top of me…” Another night during the trip they stayed at a range house and they fixed breakfast for them. Joseph Nelson Jonas was driving the wagon.
“Rosa and Christian had one of the most beautiful homes. (They) had a beautiful garden bed of tulips; and beds of gladiolas…(their) lawns were nice and green with no weeds…In Richmond and Preston they used to have large raspberry patches. We girl used to get up at four in the morning and pick the berries before it would get too hot. Then again at five in the afternoon when it was cooler we would again go into the patch and pick berries. (Rosa) sold many of the berries to people living near.”
Rosa & Christian Andersen
“In the winter when the snow was deep a group of people would get together and decide to have a surprise on some member. The women would open the door and yell SURPRISE!!! In they would go and take all the furniture out of their room and take up the rug or carpet and start to dance. Christian would be there with the accordion. He would take a chair and sit in the corner and play all night. About midnight they ladies would give the rest of the people lunch. They would eat and dance some more. After the dance was over the men would carry the furniture back into the house again.”
“The following information was taken from the obituary of Rosa Nelson Jonas. “Preston-Mrs. Rosa Jonas Andersen, 64, died in a Preston hospital at midnight Tuesday. She served as president of the Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association in the Preston Sixth Ward, as a Primary teacher, and for eight years was captain of the Hiawatha Camp, Daughters of Utah Pioneers. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday noon in the Preston Sixth Ward Chapel by Bishop A.C. Lundgreen. Friends may call at the family home Friday evening and Sat. until time of the services. Burial will be in the Ogden Cemetery under the direction of the Webb Mortuary of Preston.”
Sagacity 