Sunday, 5 May 2013 by Sagacity

Williams-Williams Wedding

I am sharing this life sketch of David Davis Williams and Rebecca Price Williams. The original version was written by William Jenkin Williams and found in the records of Eliza Williams Rees with insights from her granddaughter Betty Mifflin Bushman taken from family interviews and her own experience. For the most part I will stick to the original history. I do not have any photos to share, but since I have the history, I wanted to make it available.

Before I jump into the rest of the life sketch, I think it is important to connect these individuals to my family history. I have previously written of the marriage between David D Williams and Gwenllian Jordan. David D Williams had a brother named John Haines Williams. David Davis Williams is the son of John Haines Williams.

I will provide more family information after the life sketch.

“David D. Williams was born in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales on June 19, 1852, a son of John Haines Williams and Sarah Jane Davis. He came to the United States with his parents, settling first in Pennsylvania in 1858. In 1860 the family moved to Ogden, Utah, crossing the plains with in a handcart company led by Captain Elias Morris. It was the second ox team to land in Ogden. From there the family went north to the Malad Valley where they settled in Muddy Creek, living in a dugout where some of the children were born. They later moved to Gwenford.

“Rebecca P. Williams was born on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1857, at Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales, a daughter of Jenkin Williams and Eliza Price. She was baptized (LDS) in Wales on December 11, 1867 by her father, Jenkin, and confirmed by John Thomas. With her parents, she came to this country for the gospel’s sake, settling in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After living there two years, they went to the Malad Valley in the year 1872.

Younger Rebecca Price Williams

“On Rebecca’s birthday, December 31, 1877, she and David were married in St. Johns, Oneida, Idaho by Justice of the Peace William H. Waytell in the presence of Benjamin Waldron and Mary Ann Daniels.

“David was baptized (LDS) 8 March 1878 by John Evan Price and confirmed by Samuel D. Williams.

“He and Rebecca took up a farm in Gwenford where they lived for about twenty years. During this time David operated a freighting business between Kelton, Utah and Helena, Montana, a trip that would take him about three months. He served as a deputy sheriff, was the first Chief of Police of Samaria, Idaho, and even worked as a blacksmith. Later he went into the confectionery business and operated a business and general store, D.D. Williams Candy Kitchen, with Rebecca in Samaria until his death June 27, 1927. He was a man, it is said, who could not be idle. His daughter, Eliza, described him as a wonderful husband and father. His granddaughter, Mae Rees Mifflin, remembers him with great fondness also. She named her first child, Darla Dean, after her grandfather. It is a wonder that Darla was not nicknamed Dee Dee too.

David Davis Williams

“About him, a grandson, Ray Earl Rees, told the following story: Their daughter, Eliza (Ray’s mother), had a washing machine. In order to help her elderly parents, she would do their laundry. Every Monday morning Grandpa David would drive his buggy the few miles to Malad with a bundle of clothes for her to wash. Grandpa would drive the team around to the north road and enter the farmyard by the back way. About the time he was expected, Ray would wait out by the gate to open it for his grandfather. Then he would climb up in the buggy with him and ride up to the house. Always Grandpa Williams had a sack of candy for Ray. He could depend on that treat and waited eagerly for it each Monday morning.

“When the family would visit their grandparents in Samaria, it was a treat to go in to the store and see all the candies on display behind the glass counter. Rather than give the children candy, Grandpa Williams would give them each a nickel and let them do the choosing. They were not allowed to go around the counter, but while he smiled encouragement to them, they would stand before the counter and choose their treat.

“He was the sweetest man who ever drew a breath, Ray said about his grandfather.

“David was always a prominent figure in our childhood stories about family as our mother was said to be his favorite. He even appeared to her to tell her goodbye after his death.

“It seemed so romantic to my sister and me that he and Rebecca married on my favorite holiday of the year, New Year’s Eve. That day was also Rebecca’s twentieth birthday. Her present was our handsome, nice great-grandfather. What a perfect party time to have a wedding anniversary.

“Rebecca is remembered by her daughter, Eliza, as a wonderful mother and homemaker, never being one to go away from home. She had a wonderful alto voice and when the children were small, she would often gather them around and sing to them.

“After her children grew up and married, she helped her husband in keeping the confectionery store. Many remember stopping there as youngsters on their way to Mutual to share a soda and socialize. They were always reminded not to be late for their church meeting by Rebecca, who would usher them out the door at ten minutes ’till. Later the teenagers would reunite there to pick up where they had left off.

“Her daughter, Eliza, described her this way, Rebecca P. Williams was loved by all who knew her. She was kind to everyone and did not have an enemy on earth.

“Great-Grandmother Rebecca was always a colorful figure to my sister and me. As the youngest surviving child in her family of eleven children, we loved the story of how when the family came from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, she was assigned to carry a beautiful crystal bowl for her mother. With it wrapped in a shawl, fourteen-year-old Rebecca later carefully tended it all the way to Idaho. Through interesting circumstances, that bowl was inherited by our grandmother, then Mama, and finally Darla. Since Darla also inherited Grandma Rees’ beautiful china closet, it seemed quite natural that the Welsh bowl would always rest inside it. At any rate, I never ever expected it to be mine. One day when I was picking up Darla to bring her to my house for a day’s visit, her daughter, Alyce, walked out to the car with us. In her hands, Darla was carrying something wrapped in a piece of fabric. She handed it to me with a smile saying that she had a present for me as a little thank you gift because I was so good to her. With Alyce looking on and smiling too, I turned back the cloth to see the Welsh bowl. Ignoring my protests that it was hers and that I could not accept it, she said she knew it would be safer in my home, that I would take good care of it and always treasure it. Alyce said they had talked it over and both felt that it should be mine. How I love to hold and admire that bowl. Made of clear glass in a square shape, scalloped edging runs along its rim and base. With a small pedestal and lion heads at each square corner, it is truly a work of art and indeed a special item. I love knowing of its history and importance in our family. When we would look at it as children and hear its story, it was always viewed in quiet awe or discussed in hushed tones. Never, ever, did I think it would be mine. I felt amazed, quite honored, and a bit afraid of the responsibility.

“David died on 27 June 1927 after an illness of eight months.

“Later Grandma Rebecca moved to Malad where she resided just across the street from her daughter, Eliza. I remember Grandma carefully preparing a plate of dinner each evening for her mother. It was usually the job of Uncle Ray to deliver it with a caution to hurry so it would be hot for his grandmother. When I was around, he would often grab me by the hand and together we would dance across the street as he deftly carried the napkin covered plate in one hand and dragged me along with the other.

“I remember her as a frail little lady, a bob of white hair on top of her head, wire-rimmed glasses perched on her nose as she looked us over. Books and magazines were plentiful in her small apartment and always a deck of cards. In addition to reading, she liked to play games, playing Solitaire to entertain herself when no one else was around.

“Rebecca died on March 30, 1936 at the age of 84, a few months before my fifth birthday.

Rebecca Price Williams

“Both are buried in the Samaria Cemetery.

“Thirteen children were born to David and Rebecca, five boys and eight girls: Sarah, William Jenkin who died in infancy, Mary, David, Phoebe, Jenkin, Eliza, Margaret, John, Catharine, Beatrice, Frances Orenda who died as a baby, and George.”

Some more family history information.

David Davis Williams born 19 June 1852 in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales and died 27 Jun 1927 in Samaria, Oneida, Idaho. He was buried 30 June 1927 in Samaria.

Rebecca Price Williams born 31 December 1857 in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales and died 30 March 1936 in Malad, Oneida, Idaho. She was buried 2 April 1936 in Samaria.

David and Rebecca were married 31 December 1877 in St Johns, Oneida, Idaho.

Their children are:

Sarah Elizabeth Williams born 22 August 1878 in Samaria and died 31 February 1968. Buried in Draper, Salt Lake, Utah. She married James Benjamin McGuire (1872-1952) 30 September 1900 in Samaria.

John Jenkin Williams born and died 23 September 1879 in Samaria. Buried in Samaria.

Mary Jane Williams born 10 April 1881 in Samaria and died 14 January 1975. Buried in St Johns. She married John Nelson Hill (1872-1913) 22 February 1899 in St Johns.

David Joseph Williams born 26 February 1883 in Samaria and died 4 April 1973. Buried in Malad. He married Ester “Essie” Katherine Munsee (1888-1967) 25 March 1908 in Ogden.

Phoebe Ann Williams born 12 December 1884 in Samaria and died 15 March 1942 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. Buried in Riverton, Salt Lake, Utah. She married Thomas Charles Jones (1883-1922) 4 July 1903 in Samaria.

William Jenkin Williams born 24 Jul 1886 in Samaria and died 5 Jun 1963. Buried in Samaria. Married Mary Mae John (1901-1989) 26 February 1921.

Eliza Mae Williams born 10 February 1888 in Samaria and died 6 July 1967 in Ogden. Buried in Ogden. Married Gomer Vaughan Rees (1883-1971) 24 November 1904 in Samaria.

Margaret Rebecca Williams born 25 November 1889 in Samaria and died 9 November 1980. Buried in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas, Ohio. Married Walter Russell Ripley (1895-1979) 13 December 1913 in Malad.

John Haines Williams born 31 May 1891 in Samaria and died 25 February 1957 in Malad. Buried in Malad. Married Eleanor Jones (1899-1975) 29 March 1916 in Malad.

Catharine Zina Williams born 14 August 1893 in Samaria and died 19 Oct 1988 in Salt Lake City. Buried in Malad. Married Elijah R van Ables (1892-1961) 12 December 1920 in Malad.

Beatrice Estella Williams born 30 July 1894 in Samaria and died 9 December 1976. Married Carl William Jones (1892-1958) 4 April 1913 in Malad, later divorced. Married Allen John Keehn (1888-1957) 16 November 1938 in Elko, Elko, Nevada.

Frances Orenda Williams born 6 May 1897 in Samaria and died 10 September 1897 in Samaria.

George Thomas Williams born 22 February 1901 in Samaria and died 24 June 1962 in Pocatello. Buried in Restlawn Memorial, Pocatello, Bannock, Idaho. Married Theona Withers (1906-1990) 4 October 1924 in Malad.

Sunday, 14 April 2013 by Sagacity

Apostolic Brush

Ruby and David Haight, Paul Ross, Rose and John Byrom

Ruby and David Haight, Paul Ross, Rosie and John Byrom

I stumbled upon this picture the other day and thought maybe it was time to share it. This picture has an interesting story behind it.

On the far right are John and Rosie Byrom. Rosie is mostly in the shadow so it is difficult to make her out. I served in the Runcord Ward from around December 1999 to around August 2000. John served as Ward Mission Leader and Rosie as a Ward Missionary. (The Byroms have since separated and divorced). I served in the ward for a long time and they remained in their callings for the entire time, so we built a friendship which, I feign to believe, still exists to this day.

I returned home from my mission in December 2000. It was not long into 2001 that I learned the Byroms were planning on visiting Utah. Of course, I invited them to spend some time in Idaho.

During the majority of time I served in Runcorn I had a companion by the name of Brad Hales. Also in our district was a senior sister companionship of Meriel Peterson and Patricia Kleinkopf. We were all native Idahoans and were in close proximity of each other. It was natural that the Byroms also wanted to visit each of them while they were in Idaho.

This particular day we drove to Oakley, Idaho to visit Sister Peterson. We had an enjoyable breakfast and conversation. Sister Peterson decided she wanted to give us the tour of Oakley because there were some architectural gems that she thought the Byroms would enjoy. I grew up near Oakley so I was familiar with many of these local landmarks.

We all piled into my little Camry and away we drove. We had not made it very far driving down some of the streets of Oakley when Sister Peterson announced, “Wait, David is home, he will want to meet you!” She had me turn around and we pulled into a little home in Oakley.

I had no clue who David was and I was not familiar with the home we were now pulling into the driveway. We all exited the car. In the yard there was a man trimming his hedges with a large straw hat and a large set of sunglasses that you only see older people wear.

Since Sister Peterson indicated that David would want to meet the Byroms because they were from England, I remained at the front of my car in the driveway and leaned back against it in the hot, summer, morning sun.

I have to give a little bit of background on the month prior. We are in the latter half of July 2001 at the point of this picture (I recollect it was the 21st, but may be wrong). I had just spent considerable time in Hawaii with family at the beginning of the month. During that time I picked myself up a shirt and a shell necklace among other items. As you can see in the picture, I am wearing my red shirt (not the blatant Hawaiian design you regularly see). For years I thought I was in a pair of board shorts too, but this picture corrects my memory on that tidbit. But I had continuously wore my new puka shell necklace since the trip to Hawaii.

Back to the story, I am leaning on the front of my car watching the Byroms enter the back yard through the hedge and approach this old man in a large straw hat and holding an electric hedge trimmer. The man stopped trimming and turned to greet his trespassers. Curiously, after what was a short couple of moments, probably no more than 20 seconds of conversation, this man leaves the Byroms and Sister Peterson and headed my direction.

My first reaction was that I was doing something wrong so I looked around to see my misstep. Alas, not seeing I had done anything wrong I waited and met the man within feet of my car. He had set down his trimmer before arriving to me and he pulled his hand out of his glove to shake my hand. I shook hands with him and with his free hand he reached up and took off his hat and glasses and asked me my name.

My first thought was something along these lines, “Boy, this David fellow sure looks familiar.” He asked my name and I gave it. He asked about my Ross name and whether or not it was Scottish. I informed him it was my name but not the name of which my ancestors carried. He then informed me that Ross was a common name in Scotland where he had served as a Mission President.

He then grew quiet and he sidled up closer to me and put the hand with the hat and glasses in the small of my back while still holding my other hand in a handshake. He was now close enough that his face was in my shadow (and he was considerably shorter than me). He then broke the handshake and with that hand reached up and touched my puka shell necklace.

“What is this?”

“My necklace?”

“I am disappointed that you have fallen from the principles of the gospel that we teach as missionaries. We teach than men and women have separate and distinct roles and this is confusing the two.”

My first impression was, “How did you know I served a mission?”

This man then turned to walk away back to the Byroms and Sister Peterson. As he walked away, the thought occurred, “You have just been rebuked by an Apostle.”

Then it dawned. David was David B Haight, one of the twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This was an individual I recognized as a Priesthood Leader and on my first meeting with him, I had been rebuked.

I stood there reeling from what had just happened. It stung. David went to the back door of his house and summoned his wife Ruby. Ruby appeared and they all stood 25 feet away from me chit chatting about England, Scotland, and whatever else they were talking about.

What seemed like an eternity was likely only several minutes or so, if that. I remember reaching up and taking the puka shell necklace off and holding it in my hand. I dwelt on what was really an unintended and probably unwanted visit that was a bother to me and this old man. Sister Peterson just commented he was home and a few lines of dialogue just ended up potentially affecting my eternities. According to him I was already on the path, so I guess it did not matter what he said except to correct my backsliding ways.

Next thing I knew, the distant conversation between the Haights and Byroms had stopped and this Apostle was returning to me. He again held out his hand as if to invite another handshake. I held out my hand with the necklace in it and he cupped his hand to receive whatever I was offering. I dropped the necklace into his hand and once he realized what it was he let it drop to the ground.

He held out his hand again inviting mine in a handshake and I clasped his again. He sidled up close to me again, put his other hand in the small of my back, and was close enough to be in my shadow and that I could smell the salt in his old man sweat, and he continued…

“Where did you serve your mission?” (I remember thinking that was an ironic question since the Byroms were from England, Sister Peterson served in England, and he asked where the fourth member of the party served his mission?)

“England Manchester Mission”

“How long have you been home?”

(After a quick mental tally) “Nine months”

“Elder, you hold the Priesthood. You have a duty to uphold that Priesthood. You should have been married by now.”

He released my hand, pulled his hand from the small of my back, turned, and walked away. Maybe 4 steps later he turned around and said, “When it happens, I want to know about it.”

He returned to a conversation with Ruby, Sister Peterson, and the Byroms.

I stood there while they chatted for a few more minutes. I do not recall hearing anything of the conversation between them, even if I was close enough to have heard.

Rosie had a picture taken of the occasion. Sister Peterson sacrificed herself in the moment to take the photo that now memorializes this occasion.

I shook hands again with Elder David Haight and Sister Ruby Haight and we headed on down the road to see some other homes. I ended up driving many more hours that day to Boise, Idaho City, Stanley, and elsewhere chauffeuring the Byroms through some of the sights of Idaho. Rosie Byrom teased me about the moment the rest of the time I was with them. After all, it is not every day that you get rebuked by an Apostle. I cannot recall if they overheard the conversation or if I told them about it. I cannot imagine that they overheard the conversation due to the close proximity in which David and I spoke that day.

Oddly enough, it weighed on me for a long time. It became the butt of jokes as time went on, especially as David continued to age. He was already over 95 at the time of my meeting him. Roommates and friends would indicate that I better hurry or else I would not fulfill the rest of my duty to let David know when it happened. I will not lie, it became a great story to tell people. People loved to hear about my rebuke by an Apostle.

I regularly tell the story to individuals I am close to and that wear a necklace. Missionaries I worked with I regularly told the story, especially if they wore a necklace. I admit, I never wore a necklace or bracelet of any type since that date. I know a number of missionaries who have “fallen from the principles we teach as missionaries” and forsaken their evil ways. Honestly, I do not know that the story is one that should be heeded by others. But for the deep effect it had upon me at the time and the power in which he spoke to me, I recognize it was for me. Others should be careful about applying revelation of others to themselves. But I do believe there is a principle here that we can learn, I just don’t know that I can very clearly articulate it. I know the principle clearly for me, but don’t know how narrow or general to make it in application to others.

I remember Rosie reminding me that if I properly repent, I would be married within another 9 months. Boy if that did not apply a little pressure!

As a side, I did pick up my little puka shell necklace and ended up giving it to a friend when I returned to Missouri later in August. I don’t believe she has any clue what that little necklace meant to me.

There is more to the story.

On the following Monday, I believe 23 July 2001, I was in Salt Lake City with the Byroms. After an endowment session, Rosie announced we were to go to the Church Administration Building. She did not tell us why and I thought she just wanted to see the sights from the Church Office Building. We walked in the Church Office Building and after Rosie talked to the man at the desk, she said we were in the wrong building and we needed to go to the Church Administration Building. I informed her that the Church Administration Building was not really open to the public. Rosie announced that we had an appointment.

In light of my experience a few days before, I was not really thrilled about our appointment in the Church Administration Building. We walked around to the front door of the Church Administration Building and walked in. As we approached the man at the security desk he asked,

“Are you the Byroms?”

Rosie responded, “Yes.”

“We have been waiting for you.” (Never a very heartwarming phrase, whether the morgue, jail, CIA, bank, or Church Administration Building)

The man then responded, “You will need to leave your bags here, take the elevator to the fourth floor, take a right, and it is the last door on the left. I will let them know you are coming up.”

We entered the elevator and headed to the fourth floor. Rosie then turned and commented to me, “John helped provide security and drive for Elder Ballard while he (Elder Ballard) was in England for the Preston Temple Dedication. He told us that if we were ever in Utah to stop and pay him a visit.”

Suddenly the realization came to me that I was going to visit with my second Apostle in less than a week. I am a fairly laid back guy but felt some apprehension after the experience just days before. We turned the corner and there stood M Russell Ballard in the doorway. He invited us in to his office, introduced us to his secretary, and then ushered us into his office. Across from his desk, I think, there were two nice wing-backed chairs. Another chair was already there for me, or we pulled up a chair. Elder Ballard left the office for a moment and then reappeared pushing an office chair toward me. We were already all seated and he asked,

“Where is your wife?”

“I am not married.”

“Oh, that is something you will have to fix.”

He turned to push the little chair back out the door. I heard Rosie chuckle and comment, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses…”

Elder Ballard returned and took his seat and we had a nice conversation that probably did not take more than 15 minutes. Once again, Rosie had a picture taken.

Paul Ross, Rosie and John Byrom, Elder Ballard

Paul Ross, Rosie and John Byrom, M Russell Ballard

That was the extent of the interaction and I felt some sting from the second witness of my duty to uphold the Priesthood. But it was a pleasant experience. Rosie reminded me often after that, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”

Well, time passed and eventually Elder David B Haight did pass from this veil of tears at the end of July 2004, three years after our encounter. Fortunately, Elder Haight and I did have an opportunity to talk again regarding our first interaction that lessened the blow of the occasion. I was invited to drive him on an occasion. Nevertheless, roommates and many friends called after Elder Haight’s passing to let me know how dire my situation was now that the revelator had passed and I had not fulfilled my duty.

Rosie commented to me that I could fulfill my duty by reporting my marriage to Elder Ballard when the time came.

Well, forward a few more years and I became enamored with a little red-headed girl from Kaysville, Utah. She came to enjoy her time with me and after a while we would end our walks with a little dancing on the porch of the Alumni House at Utah State University. It became a regular thing to end our walks and evenings out with a dance and closing conversation on the porch of the Alumni House. I dare say we danced on the porch of that building more than 60 times. It was on the porch of this little Alumni House that I made an unofficial proposal to Ms. Hemsley. It just seemed like the right place.

Months later, Amanda and I returned to Logan under the guise of visiting some friends. While on the campus I took her to that little porch of the Alumni House and there after midnight, now on 4 July 2005, I fell to my knee and proposed to her. Of course she said yes and we danced and kissed there on the porch of the Alumni House. Interestingly, before we left that night, I caught sight of a huge portrait hanging inside the doors that open to the porch that had become an important part of our courtship. As I looked closer, I could see the familiar sight of a man whose face I knew. As I got a little closer to see in the dark the portrait lit only by fire escape signs it dawned on me it was a portrait of David B Haight.

If that was not a little coincidental, and perhaps a little creepy, I do not know what is. Elder Haight’s portrait had actually witnessed some of the most personal moments of my courtship. The building I had only known as the Alumni House is properly named the David B Haight Alumni Center. Somehow it seemed the whole experience had just came full circle.

We sent a wedding invitation to Elder M Russell Ballard with a short note explaining that due to Elder Haight’s passing I was sending the note and invitation to him to fulfill my duty. He responded with a card thanking me for my note and invitation and suggested I consider my duty fulfilled. He also apologized for not being able to attend our reception (which I am glad about, surely some further duty might have been laid upon me if he had!)

There is my story for the above photo with the Haights, E Ballard, and Byroms. Maybe some day I will tell my story about Elder Hales (the Apostle, not my missionary companion)…

Sunday, 7 April 2013 by Sagacity

Notice!

I had to share this picture. I saw it in a restroom in Hansen, Twin Falls, Idaho. Enjoy!

Sunday, 24 March 2013 by Sagacity

Rattlesnake Station

I recently drove from Mountain Home, Elmore, Idaho to Fairfield, Camas, Idaho. Along the route, I stopped at the old Rattlesnake Station location off Highway 20. Rattlesnake Station was on the Overland Stage Line in Idaho. After the Oregon Short Line railroad came through the valley the Post Office was dragged down the hill to be closer to the railroad. The Post Office was later renamed to Mountain Home. But this pictures gives a glimpse of how barren the landscape is in the area (look beyond the highway).

Rattlesnake Station looking east, 2013

Sunday, 10 March 2013 by Sagacity

Biography of John Christoph Nuffer

I have updated this 2012 article because I recently came in possession of a photo of Eva Greiner Nuffer that we didn’t have before. I left the old colored picture in to show the contrast. How amazing is it to have an actual photo. Plus you can contrast the imperfections and weaknesses of the colored photo as contrasted with the less than stellar photo copy, but it is so much better than we had before.

This is the biography of John Christoph Nuffer written by Alma Katherine (Kate) Scheibel Naef, granddaughter of John Christoph Nuffer. Kate’s parents are Jacob Schiebel and Regina Friederike Nuffer. I will type it exactly as it is found in the book, “We of Johann Christoph Nuffer, also known as: Neuffer, Nufer, Neufer,” The book was published in April 1990 by Dabco Printing and Binding Co in Roy, Utah.

“When grandfather Nuffer was still in Germany, he was a dress goods weaver, did truck gardening, and also had a grape vineyard.

“At that time his family consisted of my grandmother, Eva Katherina Griner Nuffer, his second wife, my mother, Frederika (Regina), her two brothers Charles August and Adolph, and two sons, Fred and John, from his first wife, Agnas Barbara Spring Nuffer, who died in Germany.

“Their home was on Main Street and was made of lumber and rock.

“They belonged to the Germany Lutheren Church, and were visited by mormon missionaries who came from America to preach the Gospel to them. This made their hearts rejoice and in 1879 they were converted to the mormon church or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder John Theurer of Providence, Utah, U.S.A. was the Elder that preached the gospel to them and later baptized them.

“At the time there was a canal or mill race that ran close to the back row of houses. They had planned to do the baptizing at night so they would ot cause any disturbance around the neighborhood.

“At the time there was a family who had an upstairs in their house and they watched through the upstairs window and saw grandfathers family go out the back way into the canal. As soon as this family saw them, they rumored it around the neighborhood, and before morning the whole neighborhood knew that the Nuffer family had been baptized into the mormon church and of course, persecusion started.

“After having been baptized, they had the desire to come to America, the promised land, to be with the main body of Saints.

“My grandmother, Eva Katherina Griner Nuffer, was a woman of great faith as I have heard my mother and Uncle John Nuffer speak of many times. Uncle Fred said in his history that she was a good woman as well as a good mother.

Eva Katharina Greiner Nuffer

Eva Kathrina Greiner

“They left Germany in 1880. While coming across the ocean, the children had the measles so it was not a very pleasant journey.

“They arrived in Providence, Utah about 15, May, 1880 where they lived for three years. It was while here that Mary (Maria) was born.

“Grandfather and family left Providence and moved to Mapleton or Cub River, which at that time was called St. Joseph. At the time they put the Post Office in, there was already a St. Joseph in Idaho, so they had to give it a new name. They named it Mapleton and it could well be called such for it was in the mist of so many beautiful maples. The hills and canyons were loaded with these maples.

“The Nuffer ranch or homestead was located on the north-west of Mapleton which the Lord had well provided for the pioneers with black, furtile soil.

“Grandfather’s farm was cut in half by the main traveled road.

“On the east side was the land where his homes, stables, and orchards were located.

“The orchard was on a hill side a little north-west of the second house. The orchard contained applies, different kinds of plums and prunes, cherries, pears, peaches, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, and currents.

“On the side there were also many shade trees which furnished shade in the summer months for the buildings. Some of those trees are still standing and are about 80 years old or more.

“On the west side of the road was a meadow. A creek ran through this area. The creek was loaded with bushes and willows which were used in making the fence which surrounded the homestead. Uncle Charles August ad Adolph helped Grandfather make these fences. Also they would help Grandfather with his farming.

“Also on both sides of the creek grew Timothy and Red Top which Grandfather used for hay.

“On a steep hill side to the west of this hay was a grove of Quaken-asp trees which were used for making fence posts.

“To the south of this meadow land was a pasture. Besides being covered with short meadow grass, it had many wild violets and Johnny Jumpups.

“The many colors of violets resembled a beautifully spread carpet.

“This farm from one end to the other was a beautiful place, but, as time went on the hand of man destroyed this beauty.

“The first winter they lived in an unfinished log house. The floor joist was in the floor, but winter came before they could get the lumber to finish it. This was a very uncomfortable winter, and they were snowed in many months at a time and could not get to town for supplies, so they had to live on what they raised on the farm.

“Many times when sugar was not available, Grandmother would roast sugar beets in the oven and squeeze the joice out of them for sugar to keep her yeast alive and also for other sweetening purposes.

“When flour was scarce, they would grind wheat in the coffee mills to make their bread.

“The Germany people liked hot drinks, so they would roast barley or wheat and grind it to use for hot drinks.

“Since bottles and sugar were so difficult to get, they would dry many of the fruits and vegetables which they raised and also wild fruits such as Chokecherries and Serviceberries.

“They would also use wild gooseberries which grew along the creek and sweet them with honey when they were in season.

“When coal oil was not available for lights, they would make a wick out of cloth and soak it up with grease and let it burn.

“Grandmother would catch rain water in a barrel and put wood ashes in it to make the water soft when ther wasn’t any soap for washing.

“They made brooms out of fine willows to clean their shoes off with.

“I remember seeing these willow brooms leaning against the door.

“They also made baskets from small willows for cloths baskets or for whatever the need would be.

“It was in the house by the orchard on 20, February, 1893, that my grandmother, Eva Katherine Griner Nuffer died of pneumonia.

“I don’t know just how long Grandfather lived in this house when he married his third wife, Anna Elisabeth Weirman Nuffer. She had three children, Fred, Ida, and Jake Weirman.

“Later they moved back to the first house they built in Mapleton.

“Later Grandfather built a one room log house a few rods west of the first house.

“Grandfather sold his ranch to the Hull Brothers of Whitney and moved to Preston.

“The home in Preston was a two-room frame house west of Uncle John’s rock house which was located in the south-east part of town. That house is still there, but has had more rooms built on to it.

“The next place he moved to was Logan, Utah. It was here, 1, December, 1901, that his third wife, Anna Elisabeth Weirman Nuffer died.

“While still living in Logan, Grandfather married his fourth wife, Maria Alker Nuffer.

“After living in Logan for some time, they moved back to Mapleton where Uncle Charles August Nuffer built them a one-room log house in his orchard.

“Uncle Charles August’s house was just over the ridge and not far from the old Nuffer home. His house could be seen from Grandfather’s orchard.

“I don’t remember just how long they lived there before they moved back to Preston.

“Uncle John Nuffer and some of his boys built them a two-room rock (or cement) house. It was across the street, south, and a little east of Uncle John’s old frame house.

“It was here in this house that Grandfather died 12, April, 1908.

“Grandfather had poor health the later fifteen or more years of his life. He had terrible headaches, kidney trouble, and other such ailments as stomach and liver. All these and more made him suffer a great deal. Just before his death, he was nearly blind.

“I am grateful for my pioneer grandparents and the heritage they have given me.

“Prepared and arranged June 1961 by Laurine and LaNada Hancock daughter and granddaughter of Katherine (Kate) Naef

–

I wanted to add a couple of notes.

There appears some debate who had the middle name of Christoph, some believe it was only Sr, others only Jr.

Eva Katherine Greiner is the proper spelling.

Anna Elizabeth Weirman is Anna Elizabeth Reber who was a widow of Gottfried Weierman (some sourches Weiermann).

Maria Alker is Maria Anna Alker who was a widow of Conrad Schaub.

Sunday, 3 March 2013 by Sagacity

Camas County Courthouse

The other day I found myself in Fairfield, Camas, Idaho. It was the first time I remember being there, although I know I was there as a kid. Since the County Courthouse seemed different from the others I find myself in, I snapped a picture.

In visiting, apparently the Court has been here since 1935. The Courtroom is on the second floor. The Courtroom will take you back to a much simpler time.

Camas County Courthouse, 14 Feb 2013

The building was original a bank. The bank didn’t do well and failed. Its manager apparently spent time in prison for the failure of the bank.

Sunday, 24 February 2013 by Sagacity

Sergene Andra Sorenson Jensen

With Aunt Sergene’s passing, I thought I would make some of the photographs I have of her and her life available. I am wrapping this around the language of her obituary.

Sergene was born 2 February 1932 in Preston, Franklin, Idaho. She is the sixth of twelve children born to Mary Louise Wanner and William Fredrick Andra. My Grandmother, Colleen, is the fifth and was four years older than Sergene.

Sergene standing, Ross, Donald, Jon Wanner, unknown, Kay Wanner all kneeling, and Larry, Dennis, Sharon Johnson, and Dale Andra

Sergene in school

Colleen, Larry, Ross, Dale, Sergene about 1945

Sergene graduated from Preston High School in 1950. She was a cheerleader and the Preston Night Rodeo Queen where she was pictured on Roy Roger’s horse, Trigger Jr., on the cover of the Preston Rodeo program in 1949.

Sergene in High School (I only have a scan of a copy, hopefully some day I can have a scan of an original)

Andra Family Portrait, 1947; back (l-r): Bill, Golden; middle: Sergene, Millie, Colleen, June; front: Don, Larry, Bill, Dale, Mary, Ross.

Immediately after high school she married a guy from Malad who turned out to be quite abusive. Sergene defended herself and quickly had the marriage annulled.

Sergene married Bert B Sorenson 22 August 1950 in Nampa, Canyon, Idaho. Two children were born to the marriage, Scott B Sorenson (1951) and Andrew S Sorenson (1953). Bert worked for Mountain Bell.

June, Millie, Mary, Colleen, Sergene, about 1956.

Sergene, Scott, Bert, Andrew Sorenson in Preston about 1957

1959 Andra Reunion, Phyllis (Don), Utahna (Golden), Sergene, Mary, Colleen, Millie, Edith (Bill).

Bert, Andy, Jackie Jonas, Sergene about 1964

Bert, Sergene with Jackie Jonas in front, and Andy Sorenson about 1964

June, Millie, Colleen, Sergene mid 1960’s

Andra Reunion, 1967, Sergene, Colleen, Millie, June, Mary.

Sergene purchased The Wig Wam in Burley in 1969. She purchased the Ponderosa Beauty Salon in 1973 and the Merle Norman Cosmetics store in Twin Falls in 1976. She only purchased the businesses, not the buildings in which they were located. The Ponderosa closed in the 1980’s and the salon with it. I don’t know when she sold or gave up the Twin Falls store. She ran the Burley location until she retired from it in the early 1990’s. It was a sort of forced retirement as the restaurant next door caught fire and Sergene not to make the repairs to her building but just close shop.

Times News, 18 May 1976

Sergene with her parents in the late 1970’s

Colleen, Millie, June, Sergene, 1977.

Sergene and Bert in the early 1980’s

Millie, Colleen, Sergene

Sergene had a knack for golf and bowling. She participated in the Idaho State Amateur Golf Tournament for 53 consecutive years. She was honored as the Burley Municipal Ladies Golf Association champion from 1956 to 1986. She regularly participated on the Idaho Women’s and Chapman couple’s golf circuits. She also served as a member of the Idaho Couples Golf Association.

Bert and Sergene in the late 1980’s

Bert passed away 4 March 1991 in Burley, Cassia, Idaho.

Sisters at a funeral, 9 March 1991, Burley, Idaho, Colleen, Sergene, June, Millie.

Sergene and Colleen in San Diego

Sergene married Harlan Brent Jensen 13 November 1991 in Elko, Elko, Nevada.

Harlan and Sergene Jensen in the mid 1990’s

Millie, Sergene, and puppies

1998 Andra Reunion, Milie and Vance Beck, Sergene Jensen, Colleen Lloyd.

Harlan passed away 4 February 2002 in Burley.

Sergene then spent considerable time with her dear friend and companion Edward Neil Dean from that point forward. They were close friends and golfing buddies.

Sergene, Neil, and Vance Beck in 2007

Sergene and Neil at Lava Hot Springs in 2008

Ross, Don, Larry, Sergene, Neil Dean at 2010 Andra Reunion

Sergene passed 14 February 2013 in Lake Havasu, Mohave, Arizona.

Saturday, 2 February 2013 by Sagacity

Wanner, John George, Jr. and Eliza Sterling/Regina Nuffer

I found this biography written by Mary Louise Wanner Andra of her parents. I will write a separate history for them in the future, but I thought I would make this one available unadulterated by me (typed completely as written in the book, although I added the photo).

This biography was published in Whitney Centennial 1889-1989: Whitney’s First 100 Years. It was published in 1991 by the Whitney Ward, written and edited by the Whitney Ward Centennial Book Committee.

John George Wanner Jr Family abt 1912. (l-r): Eva, William, Golden, Serge (sitting), John, Regina, Rulon, Willard, Mary.

Our father, John George Wanner, Jr., was born in Holzgerlingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg 29 October, 1870. His parents were John George Wanner and Anna Maria Schmid. He was the oldest in the family of five boys and five girls.

His father had a small farm and some cattle. He was also a road overseer. So dad, his mother and brother and sisters did most of the farm work. They also got wood from the forest for winter fuel.

Dad’s parents were very religious people and belonged to the Lutheran church. They were very hard workers and tried to teach their children correct principles. Dad tried hard to follow in their footsteps.

His parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1891. They made sure all their children were baptized as they became of age. His parents could see that it was the only true church on the earth, and they wanted to go to America, where they could worship as they wished. They also felt it would give their children a better opportunity in life.

His parents were the only ones in their respective families who joined the LDS church. Our dad was baptized in July in 1891, and came to America with one of the missionaries – a brother Terrell who was from Providence, Utah. Brother Terrell took good care of him and helped find work for him to do and provide for himself.

Dad got a job working for brother Fred Nuffer in Glendale, Oneida County (now Franklin County), Idaho. In 1893 his father, mother, and his brothers and sisters came to Cache Valley from Germany. Dad and brother Nuffer met them with a wagon and buggy in Franklin, Oneida County, Idaho, June 18, 1893. I am sure he was happy to see his family again, as it had been almost two years since he had seen any of them.

Dad met a lovely girl from Providence, Utah, by the name of Eliza Sterling, and this relationship blossomed into marriage in 1894. They were blessed with two sons, George and Earl Wayne. This marriage was not a very happy one and they were divorced.

On the 31st of August 1898, dad married Regina Nuffer who was a sister of our uncle Charles August Nuffer. [Daughter of the marriage of Eva Katherine Greiner and Johann Christopher Nuffer] On 9 November 1899, they were blessed with twin boys, William and Willard. As time went on they were blessed with more children, a total of five boys and two girls.

John & Regina Wanner

Dad went on a mission to Germany in the fall of 1907, leaving a wife and six children. On March 8, 1908, their son Serge was born. Mother and the family were living in a home John Nuffer built for dad. It is a rock house on East Oneida Street in Preston, Idaho. This house is still standing and is in good condition at this writing – June 1979.

When Serge was a few months old, mother took all the children and had a picture taken and sent it to dad so he could see the new baby.

Regina with William and Willard in the back and then Golden, Mary in the middle, holding Serge, then Rulon, then Eva.

While Dad was in Germany, he met William Andra’s mother and family and baptized the eldest daughter Freda.

In 1910, Dad’s mother and father sold their home and farm in Whitney to Dad. This is the farm Lawrence Bodily now has. Dad built a red barn that is still in use on the farm. After grandpa and grandma sold their farm to dad, they moved to Logan, Utah.

In 1913 dad’s parents, brothers and sisters had a family reunion at their home in Whitney. There was a large crowd and we all had a good time.

We all had to work hard and dad relied on his daughter Mary for many hard farm jobs. However, on Saturday nights he would take us to the picture show and give us each 25¢ to spend on the show and treats.

In 1917, I begged to take the sewing class at the USAC in Logan, as I wanted to learn to sew. However, I was only there a short time when dad brought me home to work on the dry farm. I have always felt bad about this as I wanted to learn to sew.

My brother, William, enlisted in the Army on August 5, 1917. He was with the 145th Light Field Artillery, Battery C. He left Salt Lake City for Camp Kearney on October 11, 1917. He left for France August 2, 1918. William contracted the influenza and died December 1, 1918. His body was brought home November 11, 1920, and interred in the Whitney Idaho Cemetery.

Just a few days before they got the sad news of William’s death, their son, Golden, died November 26, 1918 in Salt Lake City from Influenza.

On January 8, 1921, dad sent his son Willard on a mission to New Zealand.

Dad and mother were to face still more sorrow when their son Rulon died February 26, 1924, in the Logan hospital.

Dad believed in missionary work with all his heart and soul and on December 15, 1925, he went to Tennessee on a six month mission.

In 1928, Serge went to New Zealand on a mission and died there October 5, 1929. His body was brought home for burial. The funeral was held in the old opera house in Preston, Idaho. These were trying times for our parents. Losing four sons, and all their bodies returned home in a box. This left them with only one son and two daughters.

On April 7, 1930, dad sent Eva on a mission to California. Dad was not a stranger to hard work. He raised crops and took good care of his farm animals. He took pride in having things looking neat and clean around the farm and yard.

When Dad operated his farm in Whitney, he was always up early in the morning and usually was the first to get to the beet dump in the morning. The story is told about some of his neighbors who decided to beat him to the dump. They got up extra early to get a head start. Before they got to the beet dump, they could hear George Wanner going down the road ahead of them. They could hear him saying to his horses, “Gid up–gid up–gid up.”

When dad sold his farm in Whitney, he purchased 40 acres nearer to Preston and built a beautiful home on it. Part of it is where the Oakwood School is now located. When he retired he sold his farm and home to his daughter Mary and her husband William Andra.

Dad was successful in the various undertakings he engaged in. He was one of the first in Preston to have an automobile. When he brought it home he did not know how to stop it. He yelled “whoa” when he got in the garage, but before he got it stopped he had gone through the end of the garage.

Dad built the two little homes on the west side of second east and first south in Preston, Idaho. He also built three homes on first south and the south side of the street in Preston. Dad and mother lived in one of them until she died in 1942. Mother was ill for quite a while before she passed away. Dad cared for her the best he could and would take her for little rides in the car. She was unable to walk and dad would carry her on his back from place to place as they went visiting.

As many of you will remember, there was a humble side to dad. I have seen him cry when bearing his testimony and when he was grieved over the death of a loved one, a relative, or friend. He wanted to leave this world a better place than he found it, and I feel sure he made some contributions and brought this desire to fulfillment.

After mother died, dad remarried and went to live in Salt Lake City, Utah. This marriage was not successful and they were divorced. Later on he remarried again and was living in Florida. He became ill and wanted to get back to Preston. My son William went to Florida to bring him home, but when they got to Chicago, he was too ill to go on. So, William put him in the hospital where he passed away on January 5, 1947.

Regina Nuffer was born January 26, 1869 at Neuffen, Germany, a daughter of Johann Cristoph and Eva Katharina Greiner, she came to Utah with her family after they were converted to the gospel. She married Jacob Scheibel July 15, 1889, in Pleasant Valley, Carbon County, Utah. Her first child, Alma Katherine Scheibel Naef, was born, September 27, 1889. When her child was six months old, she and her husband separated and she moved back to Mapleton, Idaho, where she stayed with her parents on their farm. During this period, she would help people when they were sick, and her mother would take care of her child.

In about 1893, after the death of her mother, she moved to Weber County, Utah, and worked for the Will Taylor family in Farr West and the Bowman family in Ogden. She again returned to her father’s farm. On her way home, she stopped in Logan and walked out to Providence to visit a friend. While eating lunch, she happened to think that she had left her new coat on the train. She went back to Logan to the train station and they sent out a tracer. In a few days she got her coat back. After returning to Idaho, she worked for several people in Franklin and Preston. She lived in one room of her brother John’s home in Preston. Her brother was on a mission in Germany at the time.

On August 31, 1898, she married John George Wanner in Logan, Utah. That winter she lived on his ranch in Worm Creek or Glendale, Idaho. In April she moved with her husband, daughter, and step son, Wayne, to the Bancroft flat, a little west of where Grace is now.

She was known as a fine, well mannered woman. Her niece, Athene Hampton, said that toward the end of her life her health was not very good and she had a hard time speaking. When Athene and Louisa Nuffer would visit, they would converse by writing notes to each other. She died on March 10, 1942, in Preston, Idaho. Her funeral in Preston was very well attended.

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