Jonas

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1980’s Grandma Christmas

Christmas about 1986

As we celebrate Christmas once again, one cannot help but remember the Christmas past. I scanned this photo in the last month and it brought back many memories.

My Grandma was then named Colleen Elliott (1928-1999), married to Evan Kay Elliott (1934-2007). This was their home in Paul, Idaho.

There are quite a few presents around that tree. But what do I remember?

I remember my Uncle Doug, Aunt Linda, and cousin Brook Jonas that Christmas. They moved to Alaska in 1987. I think this was the same year Brook accidentally broke my nose. I think that year or next Grandma and Evan were divorced.

I remember getting a harmonica that Christmas that I loved and played for many years. It disappeared after my Grandma passed away while I was on a mission in England in 1999.

I remember my Uncle Willie and Aunt Jackie Melycher. They were married in 1987 in this house.

The house evokes more memories than the Christmas. Although I do recognize and remember some of the balls on the tree.

I remember loving the big dinners at Grandma’s house. I think I remember this Christmas dinner, or maybe it was Thanksgiving. It was a feast as usual. Homemade coleslaw was amazing, still do not believe I have tasted one like hers since.

Part of the meal was the homemade pies. Lemon meringue was my favorite. The pie crust cookies were the best!

I remember the guys talking in this room during the morning. I remember napping in the front room after the meal on one of the couches.

I remember building fires in the fireplace. One time the window shattered outward and made a mess.

Is it strange I want to walk through the house again? But like a funeral viewing, it gives a new memory that I think I would rather not have.

Now, back to the present. I am grateful for my family. I hope they remember Christmas fondly in the future. I hope they have pleasant memories. I hope they remember! Perhaps a photograph for them will conjure a flood of pleasant memories and feelings too. May the joys of the season remain and be recalled.

This doesn’t mention the ultimate reason for the season. But we celebrate his birthday by bringing our family close.

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1962 Pontiac Bonneville

1962 Pontiac Bonneville in Richmond, Utah July 1963

I previously wrote about a 1958 Pontiac Bonneville in Preston, Idaho. That car belonged to Donald and Phyllis. Fast forward a few years to July 1963 (at least that is when the photos were developed) and you have this car.

This car was new to the Norwood and Colleen Jonas family. I recall seeing these photos when I was a young kid and that my Grandma mentioned that she loved this car. But that is the extent of my memories. I don’t know how long they had it, when it went away, why, or what replaced it.

1962 Pontiac Bonneville tail light
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Jonas Girls Photo

Andra and Sandy Ross (back), Colleen Lloyd (center), Jackie and May Melycher

I first saw this picture this month. I don’t know the occasion and I don’t know why it was taken. But it captivates and surprises me.

This is my Grandmother, Colleen Andra Jonas Elliott Lloyd (1928 – 1999). She is dressed up a bit more than usual, so it must have been an occasion.

I had assumed the photo was taken after I had moved away to attend Utah State University in 1997. But that would put May around 8 years old, she looks more like 6 years old.

I visited with Andra, she thought it was taken at the Burley Elks Lodge when she was about 9th Grace, which would put it about 1994. That fits about right for May’s age. Andra also thought it was some occasion at the Elks and that is why Grandma is dressed up.

This is my mother, Sandy Ross, and my Aunt, Jackie Melycher. They are sisters. Andra is my sister, May my first cousin.

Whatever the occasion, it was a surprise to see a somewhat formal photo of my Grandma, Mom, Sister, Aunt, and Cousin. We as a family did not really do photos together so it was a treat.

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Jeremy and Kaidince Spencer Baptisms

Paul Ross, Jeremy Spencer, and Kaidince Spencer

On 19 October 2019 I was invited to the baptism of Jeremy Spencer in Filer, Idaho. Jeremy and my cousin May Melycher, are the parents of Kaidince Alexander Spencer. I have stayed in contact with Jeremy and Kaidince even after my cousin went her own way.

In 2008 I drove to Twin Falls nearly ever week to take Jeremy, May, and KK to church. During that time we blessed KK as a baby and we worked on Jeremy and May getting married so they could get to the temple. Fast forward 11 years and Jeremy was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some things take their own time frames.

John Powlus and Jeremy Spencer

A year before, on 20 October 2018, I was happy to see Kaidince get baptized in Twin Falls. He is my first cousin, once removed.

Kaidince Spencer and Paul Ross

Jeremy had invited me to perform the baptism. He had been working toward it but just was not there yet and Kaidince did not want to wait anymore.

Kaidince Spencer, Jackie Jonas Melycher, and Milo Ross

Dad was pretty excited to come over from working in the temple to see the little boy he had blessed in 2008 become a new member of the church.

Jeremy, Kaidince, and Stephanie Spencer

The trip was very worth the effort. What a great day. I could not help but wonder which ancestors were thrilled to be watching to occasion.

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Class Picture, Ogden, Utah

Dave Donaldson class picture (back row, sixth child from right)

I know David William Donaldson attended Lincoln School. I have another photo I will share that has a school banner behind him. Initially, I did not think this photo appeared to be in front of that school. However, I was able to confirm with another person, cousin Nancy Jonas Howard, who also attended the same school, albeit 20 years after Dave, that these doors were on the Lincoln School.

Here is a picture of Lincoln School that I could find. It was apparently built in 1891 and tore down in 1970. I understand it was located east of Washington Avenue just north of 3rd Street. Knowing that the family lived in 8th Street, Five Points is not that far.

Five Points School, later known as Lincoln School

I do not have tons of information on this class picture. David William Donaldson was born 25 November 1928 in Ogden, Weber, Utah. I am guessing he is somewhere around 10, which puts the photo somewhere around 1938.

29 children in the photo. 2 teachers?

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Lost on the Handcart Trail

Jonas negative taken in early 1960s on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah

This article is from Pioneer magazine, 2019 Vol. 66, No. 4. This is actually a reprint from the October 1937 Pioneer magazine. This article was entitled Lost on the Handcart Trail and was written by D. J. G.

“Sarah Goode Marshall displayed courage and mother love typical of the early pioneer women of our state. She was the mother of six small children whose father died during the preparation of the family to immigrate from Great Britain to America. Saddened, but not discouraged at the loss of her husband, she left her native England with a company of Mormon Immigrants, arriving in the State of Iowa in the spring of 1845, just as the first handcart companies were being organized.

“Mrs. Marshall prayerfully raised her tear filled eyes to Heaven and asked God to be her guide and protector to her little ones, and comfort them through their long journey to an unknown land, among a company of strangers. All she owned was placed in a small hand cart. She then began the long trek over the plains with her six children.

“Their journey through the State of Iowa was very difficult, but they must become accustomed to hardship and exhaustion which comes through overwork and little nourishment. Alone, she, most of all, must become accustomed to being the one who must sacrifice, the one who must endure patiently, the one who must have explicit confidence in their captain. She must learn to submit to his will and obey company regulations without questions.

“One day after their journey had been resumed, following a short rest and lunch, Mrs. Marshall missed one of her little girls. She became frantic and sick with fear for her child. A search among the children of the company was hurriedly made. Inquiries were made regarding the child and her disappearance, but no information could be gained. It seemed no one had missed the child. Mrs. Marshall then appealed to the captain of her company and asked for permission to go back over the trail in search of her baby. The captain was stern and exacting. He pondered and stared at her and then said, ”You must not leave the company, too much time has already been lost and all must be on their way.” Her heart was filled with anguish, her sorrow and anxiety was almost more than she could endured. Sympathetic mothers in the company wept and tried to comfort her. They uttered silent prayers for her and her babe. She obeyed the captain and slowly she pushed her little cart along the weary trail. Every step separating her farther and farther from her child.

“At last “Halt” was called and their day’s journey ended. Her great mental anguish and suffering made her ill, but after a scant supper had been eaten she carefully tucked her five remaining children in their camp beds and then she waited patiently for darkness to fall. She knew all would then sleep soundly in camp. When all was quiet and she was alone she slipped away, back over the trail which she had just traveled. Hoping, praying, listening, weeping, she often called aloud to her child only to be mocked by the echo of her own voice and dead silence of the prairie. She plodded wearily on, but her fear was consuming her hope and the faith that she would find her little girl became weaker. Her strength was failing, and she was almost exhausted. It seemed  that she would fail, she was lost, alone, weary and sick, she staggered on, and then out of the shadows of the night she came upon her babe lying on the trail. Then came the realization that she was rewarded. Her little one lay exhausted at her feet. Mrs. Marshall knelt beside her sobbing, sleeping little child, and on that lonely prairie trail thanked God. She knew that the prayers she had uttered during that day and night had been heard and answered.

“She hugged her babe to her. She could hear the howls of the wolf and the hoot of the owl. After a very short rest she nestled her sleeping baby’s head to her breast and began once more plodding back over the trail to the hand cart company. Just as the company was about to start on the day’s journey Mrs. Marshall appeared in camp, baby safe and a heroic mother feeling that she had rescued her babe from the perils of the wilderness.

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Joseph Nelson Jonas Photo(s)

Joseph Nelson Jonas (1893-1932)

Here are two photos that came into my possession just in the past month. One from an unknown person on FamilySearch, the one above, and the whole Jonas family photo below found by my Uncle William Melycher in Jackie’s possessions. I have written of the Joseph and Lillian Jonas family before.

I am somewhat unsure what to make of the photo above. It is a colorized version of another photo I do not have. I have this one which appears to be a blurrier version.

Joseph and some friends at work after a game of shoes

It is obviously the same photo as the strange reflections and shapes in the window behind Joseph are in the colorized photo above. But whether they have another photo or the computer has somehow tried to enhance the one above, I don’t know. I am somewhat skeptical of the colorized photo above. For example, the dimple in his chin for which he was well-known is missing but you can see it in the photo where they are holding the horse shoes. It obviously messed up his temples and hairline.

However, some of the characteristics the photo pulls out, like his lower eyelids, is not in the blurry photo but can be seen in some degree in his Brigham Young College photo.

Joseph Nelson Jonas’ Brigham Young College yearbook picture

The photo is familiar to me, it seems to be mostly accurate, but I don’t know how it was done. Fascinating. I wrote on Joseph before, but he was born 19 November 1893 in Ellensburg, Kittitas, Washington and was electrocuted 6 September 1932 in Ogden, Weber, Utah.

He married Lillian Coley 6 September 1916 in Logan, Cache, Utah in the Logan Temple. They had the 8 children, the last just before his untimely death in 1932.

Joseph Nelson Jonas and Lillian Coley family, Joseph Herbert, Spencer Gilbert, Irwin John, Wilburn Norwood, Ellis Seth, Evan Reed, Lillian Annetta, LeReta Mary
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Late 1950s Montpelier, Idaho

Washington Street, Montpelier, Idaho late 1950s

The first time I saw this picture I grabbed it for a number of reasons.

First, that looks like my car on the front right of the photo. That is clearly a 1956 Dodge car on the right in the same yellow, charcoal, and white as my car. Although when my car was repainted about 1984, the top and inside the fins around the taillights was also painted charcoal so that there is not any white on it at present. Mine is a Coronet. Looking closer at the photo, that car is likely a higher model as the chrome stripe goes up before the bumper, where the lower models went down. So it must be a Custom Lancer or Custom Royal. Here is a link to the different models and nuances of the 1956 Dodge lineup.

Aliza and 1956 Dodge Coronet

Second, I have been to Montpelier dozens of times in my life. Beginning in the 1980s with my Grandmother, Colleen Jonas, selling insurance. I came to love the town. Soda Springs and Montpelier both had the viaducts which stuck out in my mind. I immediately recognized the town.

Growing up in and near Burley, Idaho, I am familiar with the history of the King’s Variety Store chain. On the left is the M. H. King Co. Who in southern Idaho is not familiar with Milton Herman King and his variety or discount stores? I went looking and can see on Google that the King building in the photo is no longer present in Montpelier. However, the rest of the buildings on the north are still there, but some with some pretty drastic facade alterations. Even though King’s has now closed, Google still has one across the street on this picture. Apparently with the buildings the Dodge is parked in front of all gone.

Third, the red car in the picture appears to be the only 1958 model, I think. The rest all look like 1956 or earlier, so that red one might only be a 1957. This picture is likely in 1957 or 1958.

Fourth, my Dad, Milo Ross, spent quite a few summers in Montpelier growing up as my Great Uncle Chauncey De Orr Michaelson was born in Montpelier in 1922. He was married to my Grandma Gladys Ross’ sister, Dena Dorothy Donaldson. Richard Michaelson and Dad ran around Montpelier probably during the same time period as this photo. When we lived in Leefe, Wyoming, once and a while the family would have to come in or through Montpelier as well.

Fifth, my Grandma Jonas married Bud Lloyd who haled from the Montpelier area. Grandma and Bud met in the early 1990s while she was working in the Montpelier area. They dated and were married in 1998. Unfortunately she passed away in 1999. They are both buried in Dingle, just south of Montpelier.

Deer Cliff Inn 1998

Lastly, Montpelier has an announcement for a temple. This modern view will have a temple spire in it down the road, probably above that truck that looks like a garbage truck. Montpelier on the right side has a beautiful school that has been kept. I hope it continues to be kept and maintained. Bringing a temple to downtown Montpelier will do much to help rejuvenate the downtown area that seems to have struggled.