I thought it would be appropriate to commemorate the 100th birthday of my Grandpa, Wilburn Norwood Jonas. He went by Norwood his whole life, or Nor to those closest.
Grandpa was born 15 May 1924 in Lewiston, Cache, Utah to Lillian Coley and Joseph Nelson Jonas. The fourth child of eight to his parents. He marriedColleen Mary Andra 27 September 1946 in Elko, Elko, Nevada. Three children were born to him and Colleen; Douglas in 1952, Sandra in 1954, and Jackie in 1960. He died 14 March 1975 in Burley, Cassia, Idaho and was buried 19 March 1975 in Richmond, Cache, Utah.
I was trying to think of a way to commemorate Grandpa. As linked above, I have written of him before. This week, I went through an old book I have that belong to Norwood’s dad, Joseph. Inside were some newspaper clippings and notes. One linked to Grandpa. I share it to show that research is ongoing and can be found anywhere! Just takes a little luck, heaven’s guidance, and you will stumble on them. I will wrote more on the book and other clippings inside later.
Park School was in Richmond. It was only razed in the past few years. Grandpa went to North Cache High School, although he did not graduate. This clipping also has Irwin written in to it. Which tells me he was missed or it is the wrong Jonas boy that was listed. Although, I do have a class picture of Irwin and Norwood together, so I am not clear if that tips it one way or the other.
“Name Graduates of Park School
“The Richmond Park School commencement exercises will be held in the Benson Stake tabernacle Thursday, at 8 p. m.
“The program follows: Processional; Invocation, Bishop J. M. Godfrey; salutation, Garr Christensen; music, school orchestra; talks, Norma Kaye Funk, Margaret Merrill; music, class; class history, Joyce Larson; presentation of class gift, Oral L. Ballam Jr.; awarding of prizes and the presentation of the class. Principal G. G. Merrill; awarding of certificates, Levi H. Allen; class song, class; adjournment to the community building for dancing; benediction, S. W. Allen.
“The list of graduates are: Ivan Anderson, Oral Ballam, LaMarr Carlson, Archie Carver, Garr Christensen, Don Hansen, Warren Hamp, [Irwin written in, referring to Irwin Jonas], Norwood Jonas, Robert Johnson, Glenn Mortensen, Junior Peterborg, Darrell Smith, Gail Spackman, Alvin Spackman, Allen Spackman, James Scott, Boyd Tripp, Olive Biggs, Dorma Anderson, Joy Erickson, Norma Kaye Funk, Bernice Frandsen, Ruth Hutchison, Nadine Johnson, Eva Kershaw, Virginia Kirstofferson, Elaine Lewis, Anna May Lawrence, Joyce Larson, Margaret Merrill, Dorothy Nielsen, Beth Rich, Afton Sorensen, Lyle Wilding.
Here is the class picture with many of these same names. It also includes Irwin and Norwood. I have written about it previously.
I have two copies of the History of Plain City, Utah. The front indicates it is from March 17th 1859 to present. As far as I can tell, the book was written in 1977. At least that is the latest date I can find in the book.
One copy belonged to my Grandparents Milo and Gladys Ross. My Grandpa has written various notes inside the history which I intend to include in parenthesis whenever they appear. They add to the history and come from his own experience and hearing.
I will only do a number of pages at a time. I will also try to include scanned copies of the photos in the books. These are just scanned copies of these books, I have not tried to seek out originals or better copies.
History of Plain City March 17th 1859 to present, pages 33 through 38.
Past Bishops of Plain City
Henry J Gardner 1906 – 1910
Back (l-r): Wilmer J Maw, George E Knight, Elvin H Maw, Charles L Heslop; Front: George A Palmer, Gilbert Thatcher, Henry T Maw
Wilmer J. Maw 1920–1926
George E. Knight 1949–1953
Elvin H. Maw 1944–1949
Charles L. Heslop 1936–1944 (Married Milo Ross & Gladys Donaldson April 1942)
George A. Palmer 1926–1936
Gilbert Thatcher 1913–1920
Henry T. Maw 1910–1913
(l-r): Charles L Heslop, Elvin H Maw, George E Knight, Merrill Jenkins, Lyman H Cook, Rulon Chugg, Wayne W Cottle, Orlo S Maw
Charles L Heslop, 1936-1944
Elvin H Maw, 1944-1949
George E Knight, 1949-1953
Merrill Jenkins, 1953-1959
Lyman H Cook, 1959-1964
Rulon Chugg, 1960-1965, 2nd Ward
Plain City Ward – Wayne W Cottle, 1964 –
Plain City Ward – Orlo S Maw, 1965
(l-r) Kent Calvert, Robert Sharp, Kent Jenkins
Kent Calvert, 2nd Ward 1971-1974, 3rd Ward 1974-
Robert Sharp, 2nd Ward 1974-
Kent Jenkins, 1st Ward 1971-
PLAIN CITY BRANCH OFFICER
1859 – 1977
Submitted by Roxy Heslop Gilbert Thatcher 1913 – 1920
PRESIDING ELDERS Wilmer J Maw 1920 – 1926
William W Raymond 1859 – 1863 George A Palmer 1926 – 1936
John Carver 1863 – 1866 Charles L Heslop 1936 – 1944
William W Raymond 1866 – 1870 Elvin H. Maw 1944 – 1949
Lewis W Shurtliff 1870 – 1877 George F Knight 1949 – 1953
FIRST COUNSELORS Merrill Jenkins 1953 – 1959
Daniel Collet 1859 – 1866 Lyman Cook 1959 – 1964
John Carver 1872 – 1877 Wayne W Cottle 1964 – 1971
SECOND COUNSELORS Kent Jenkins 1971 –
Jeppe G Folkman 1859 – 1872
~
PLAIN CITY FIRST WARD
John Spiers 1872 – 1877 FIRST COUNSELORS
CLERKS John Spiers 1877 – 1895
John Spiers 1859 – 1872 Abraham Maw 1895 – 1901
William W McGuire 1872 – 1877 Peter C Green 1901 – 1903
PLAIN City Ward Officers 1877 – 1977 Henry J Garner 1903 – 1906
BISHOP Peter M Folkman 1906 – 1910
Lewis W Shurtleff 1877 – 1883 James L Robson 1910 – 1920
George W Bramwell 1883 – 1906 George A Palmer 1920 – 1926
Henry T Maw 1910 – 1913 Elvin H Maw 1926 – 1936
Gordon F Thompson 1936 – 1944 Abraham E Maw 1936 – 1944
L Rulon Jenkins 1944 – 1949 Fred L Singleton 1944 – 1946
Minico technology students recently attended state competition. Pictured with their winning plaques and dreamhouses are (back, l-r) Instructor Marvin Scow, Paul Ross; (front, l-r) Brian Addis, Rachel Fennel, Aimee Aston, Kody Rathe, and Justin Coleman.
Minico technology students compete in state competition
By Dixie Lee Souza
The Minico Technology Student Association attended the state competition at Eagle High School March 7-9.
The students from Marvin Scow’s class did very well at the meet with the Dreamhouse Division. Justin Coleman and Kody Rathe placed first and Brian Addis took second. The students were presented with two plaques for their scale model homes complete with floor plans.
Competing in Architectural Drawing was Rachel Fennell, Aimee Aston, Nicholas Fletcher and Paul Ross.
In Extemporaneous speaking was Rachel Fennel and Aimee Aston. Again, Rachel Fennell along with Paul Ross placed in Job Interview.
Aimee Aston placed in Prepared Speech while Justin Coleman, Glade Boldt and Kody Rathe competed in Technical Drafting.
The Idaho Skill Championships will be held at Lewis-Clark State College on March 29-30.
The only thing I think I would add is that I remember this competition in the brand new high school in Eagle, Idaho. We got a tour of the new building. It was pretty shiny compared to our little Minico High School in Rupert, Idaho.
Julian Rodriguez, center, performs a 50’s dance step and song while surrounded by several female counterparts Tuesday afternoon in Rupert. Rodriguez joined several youngsters at Minidoka Memroial Hospital’s extended care facility during a Kids in Dancing and Singing (K.I.D.S.) performance for the area’s senior citizens. K.I.D.S. is comprised of 3-12-year-old age grounds from the Mini-Cassia region, said organizer Cindy Capson. Also pictured are: Kambree Franks, May Melycher, Holly Haynes, Alyce Rollins, Bridget Murray, Bekah Rich, and Jennifer Lewis.
Minico High School automotive and drafting students display medals taken at the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA) Skills Championships held March 27-29. Awards include: Technical Drafting, first place, gold medal: Glade Boldt; second place, silver: Justin Coleman; Architectural Drafting, first place, gold: Paul Ross; second place, silver: Rachel Fennell; Extemporaneous Speaking, second place: Justin Coleman; Automotive Skills, bronze: Oral Scott; Job Interview, silver: Justin Tate; New State Officer: Justin Tate. Pictured (;-r) are Nick Fletcher, Dustin McClellan, Justin Coleman, Lynn Brown, Glade Boldt, Oral Scott, Justin Tate, Corey McClellan, Rachel Fennell and Paul Ross, (seated on the floor).
I remember a few things about this trip to Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. It was a really long drive, or so it seemed to me. I got motion sick on the winding road to Lewiston from Boise. Multiple times we had to stop so I could throw up. I had let my hair grow longer than I ever had and it was a new sensation and some made fun of me because I kept messing with it. I remember just thinking Lewiston was a run-down town. Which must be saying something for the boy coming from Paul, Idaho!
Wilford Woodruff’s vision of the Founding Fathers requesting Temple Ordinances
We are moving soon, but the Burley 11th Ward gave me another chance to address them. Since I received a number of requests for a copy of the talk, which is really just a collage of various items I could find online, the Journal of Discourses, the Saints second and third volumes, and other various histories. Here is the text of the talk I wrote, that does not mean it is the talk I gave…
I first addressed the freedoms we have as contrasted in the Saints third volume related to Germany. I said the word Jew and Israel from the stand and did not fear reprisal. I listen to free radio anytime I want and even seek out British radio from time to time and there is nothing illegal. Lastly, we could congregate without the worry of those in our midst about what was said or in the actual act of meeting.
Then to the following:
Declaration of Independence – We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
George Washington: “The success, which has hitherto attended our united efforts, we owe to the gracious interposition of Heaven, and to that interposition let us gratefully ascribe the praise of victory, and the blessings of peace.”
Alexander Hamilton: “The Sacred Rights of mankind are not to be rummaged from among old parchments or musty records. They are written . . . by the Hand of Divinity itself.” “For my own part, I sincerely esteem it a system, which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests.”
Thomas Jefferson: “The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time.”
John Adams: “As I understand the Christian religion, it was, and is, a revelation.”
Benjamin Franklin: “The longer I live the more convincing Proofs I see of this Truth. That God Governs in the Affairs of Men!—And if a Sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid?—We have been assured, . . . in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House, they labour in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this;—and I also believe that without his concurring Aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than Builders of Babel.”
James Madison: “It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger of that Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolution.”
Samuel Adams: “Revelation assures us that ‘Righteousness exalteth a Nation’—Communities are dealt with in this World by the wise and just Ruler of the Universe. He rewards or punishes them according to their general Character.”
Charles Pinckney: “When the great work was done and published, I was . . . struck with amazement. Nothing less than that superintending hand of Providence, that so miraculously carried us through the war, . . . could have brought it about so complete, upon the whole.”
On May 4, 1842, he called to his side nine of the most faithful of his brethren—Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Newell K. Whitney, and others—and later their wives came with them to the upper floor of the Red Brick Store in Nauvoo.
Joseph was seeking to fulfill the promise from D&C 124, given in 1841, which the Lord would reveal to Joseph “all things pertaining to this house, and the priesthood thereof, and the place whereon it shall be built.”
He had started, “If it should be the will of God that I might live.” Then he corrected and said, “It is not the will of the Lord that I should live, and I must give you, here in this upper room, all those glorious plans and principles whereby men are entitled to the fulness of the priesthood.” He proceeded in an improvised and makeshift way to do so.
We have from Brigham Young that after they had received these blessings the Prophet said: “Brother Brigham, this is not arranged right. But we have done the best we could under the circumstances in which we are placed, and I wish you to take this matter in hand and organize and systematize all these ceremonies.”
Brigham Young later said, “I did so. And each time I got something more, so that when we went through the temple at Nauvoo I understood and knew how to place them there. We had our ceremonies pretty correct.”
While the Nauvoo Temple was started in 1841, the first endowments were performed in the winter of 1845 and into 1846. Baptisms had started in the Mississippi River prior to the temple and moved into the temple baptistery soon after it was completed and dedicated, well before the rest of the temple was done. Brigham, leading the church, was personally overseeing the organization and perfection of the endowment and other ordinances that started in Nauvoo.
After arriving in Salt Lake City, the church used the top floor of the Council House, starting in 1852 until the Endowment House was completed in 1855. It was in this building that endowments, prayer circles, some missionary training, and some setting aparts were conducted. The use of the Endowment House ended in 1877 with the completion of the St George Temple. That building stood until Wilford Woodruff heard that unauthorized sealings were occurring there and ordered it razed in 1889.
The St George Temple was the only one completed during Brigham Young’s 30 year tenure as President. It was dedicated on 1 January 1877 in three dedicatory prayers under the direction of Brigham. The baptistery by Wilford Woodruff, the main floor by Erastus Snow, and the sealing room by Brigham Young Jr. Wilford Woodruff served as St George Temple President from 1877 to 1884. Brigham had to be carried up the stairs, but he stood and spoke in the Assembly Room.
“When I think upon this subject, I want the tongues of seven thunders to wake up the people,” he declared. “Can the fathers be saved without us? No. Can we be saved without them? No. And if we do not wake up and cease to long after the things of this earth, we will find that we as individuals will go down to hell.”
Brigham lamented that many Saints were pursuing worldly things. “Supposing we were awake to this thing, namely the salvation of the human family,” he said, “this house would be crowded, as we hope it will be, from Monday morning until Saturday night.”
On 9 January 1877, the first baptisms for the dead were performed in the St George Temple. The first endowment for the dead was performed on 11 January 1877. Brigham and Wilford personally oversaw the ordinances being performed. Wilford began wearing a white suit, starting the trend that continues to this day.
All endowments to this point had been done and passed by word of mouth. It was in St George, far from Salt Lake City, that the ordinances were first written down. Brigham also wanted to make sure the record was preserved and that they were standardized. They were read to Brigham time and time again who would then approve or continue to revise the ordinances. Brigham went home to Salt Lake City in April 1877. He stopped and dedicated the spot for the Manti Temple on the way home.
Wilford Woodruff then wrote in his journal on Sunday 19 August 1877, “I spent the evening in preparing a list of the noted men of the 17 century and 18th, including the signers of the Declaration of Independence and presidents of the United States, for baptism on Tuesday the 21 Aug 1877.”
His journal entry for August 21 reads, “I, Wilford Woodruff, went to the temple of the Lord this morning and was baptized for 100 persons who were dead, including the signers of the Declaration of Independence. … I was baptized for the following names.” He then listed the names of one hundred men.
Elder Woodruff continued his journal entry: “When [John Daniel Thompson] McAllister had baptized me for the 100 names, I baptized him for 21, including Gen. Washington and his forefathers and all the presidents of the United States that were not on my list except Buchanan, Van Buren, and Grant.” (The work for these presidents has since been done.)
“It was a very interesting day,” Elder Woodruff continued. “I felt thankful that we had the privilege and the power to administer for the worthy dead, especially for the signers of the Declaration of Independence, that inasmuch as they had laid the foundation of our Government, that we could do as much for them as they had done for us.
“Sister Lucy Bigelow Young went forth into the font and was baptized for Martha Washington and her family, and seventy of the eminent women of the world. I called upon the brethren and sisters who were present to assist in getting endowments for those that we had been baptized for today.” (Wilford Woodruff’s journal, typescript, vol. 7, Church History Library; spelling and punctuation modernized.)
The first public mention of these events was made nearly a month after the baptisms were performed. In an address in the Tabernacle on Temple Square on 16 September 1877, Elder Woodruff first told publicly of the visitation of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
“You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we never apostatized from it, but we remained true to it and were faithful to God. (Conference Report, April 10, 1898; Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, pp. 160-61)
During the 68th Annual General Conference of the Church which was held in April 1898, President Woodruff recounted the sacred experience:
I am going to bear my testimony to this assembly, if I never do it again in my life, that those men who laid the foundation of this American government and signed the Declaration of Independence were the best spirits the God of heaven could find on the face of the earth. They were choice spirits, not wicked men. General Washington and all the men that labored for the purpose were inspired of the Lord.
Another thing I am going to say here, because I have a right to say it. Every one of those men that signed the Declaration of Independence, with General Washington, called upon me, as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the Temple at St. George, two consecutive nights, and demanded at my hands that I should go forth and attend to the ordinances of the House of God for them. Men are here, I believe, that know of this, Brother John D. T. McAllister, David H. Cannon and James S. Bleak. Brother McAllister baptized me for all those men, and then I told these brethren that it was their duty to go into the Temple and labor until they had got endowments for all of them. They did it. Would those spirits have called up on me, as an Elder in Israel to perform that work if they had not been noble spirits before God? They would not. (Wilford Woodruff, Conference Report, April 1989, pp. 89-90.)
“They waited on me for two days and two nights,” he said,
“I thought it very singular, that notwithstanding so much work had been done, and yet nothing had been done for them.” (Journal of Discourses, 19:229.)
I was also present in the St. George Temple and witnessed the appearance of the Spirits of the Signers….the spirits of the Presidents….and also others, such as Martin Luther and John Wesley….Who came to Wilford Woodruff and demanded that their baptism and endowments be done. Wilford Woodruff was baptized for all of them. While I and Brothers J.D.T. McAllister and David H Cannon (who were witnesses to the request) were endowed for them. These men… laid the foundation of this American Gov., and signed the Declaration of Independence and were the best spirits the God of Heaven could find on the face of the earth to perform this work. Martin Luther and John Wesley helped to release the people from religious bondage that held them during the dark ages. They also prepared the people’s hearts so they would be ready to receive the restored gospel when the Lord sent it again to men on the earth.” (Personal journal of James Godson Bleak – Chief Recorder of the St. George Temple.)
In 1986, some of the staff of the Family History Library’s LDS Reference Unit were assigned to compile and computerize all the existing genealogical data on the founding fathers, to identify their families, and to document completed temple ordinances for each. For purposes of the project, a founding father was identified as one who had signed one or more of the following documents: the Articles of Association (1774), the Declaration of Independence (1776), the Articles of Confederation (1778), or the Constitution (1787).
The library study of 1986 revealed that there were no sealings of children to parents performed at the time the baptisms and endowments were performed. As a note, the ongoing revelation related to sealings to parents was not revealed until 1894. It was then that the Law of Adoption, or sealing to prominent church leaders, was discontinued and we were encouraged to do genealogical work to compile the pedigree of the entire human family. It was then that the Utah Genealogical Society was founded that has snowballed into the fantastic work of FamilySearch and all its appendages.
He also recorded that George Washington, John Wesley, Benjamin Franklin, and Christopher Columbus were ordained High Priests at the time.
Temple work was performed on behalf of the following well-known and respected men and women in the St. George Utah Temple in August 1877.
Founding Fathers: William Hooper (NC), Joseph Hewes (NC), John Penn (NC), Button Gwinnett (GA), Lyman Hall (GA), George Walton (GA), Edward Rutledge (SC), Thomas Heyward Jr. (SC), Thomas Lynch (SC), Arthur Middleton (SC), Samuel Chase (MD), William Paca (MD), Thomas Stone (MD), Charles Carroll (MD), George Wythe (VA), Richard Henty Lee (VA), Thomas Jefferson (VA), Benjamin Harrison (VA), Thomas Nelson Jr. (VA), Francis Lightfoot Lee (VA), Carter Braxton (VA), Robert Morris (PA), Benjamin Rush (PA), Benjamin Franklin (PA), John Morton (PA), George Clymer (PA), James Smith (PA), George Taylor (PA), James Wilson (PA), George Ross (PA), Caeser Rodney (DE), George Read (DE), Thomas McKean (DE), Philip Livingston (NY), Francis Lewis (NY), Lewis Morris (NY), Richard Stockton (NJ), John Witherspoon (NJ), Francis Hopkinson (NJ), John Hart (NJ), Abraham Clark (NJ), Josiah Bartlett (NH), William Whipple (NH), Matthew Thornton (NH), Samuel Adams (MA), John Adams (MA), Robert Treat Paine (MA), Elbridge Gerry (MA), Stephen Hopkins (RI), William Ellery (RI), Roger Sherman (CN), Samuel Huntington (CN), William Williams (CN), and Oliver Wolcott (CN).
Note: Temple work was not done for John Hancock or William Floyd as it had already been completed previously.
Presidents of the United States: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James Knox Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, Abraham Lincoln, and Andrew Johnson. Temple work was not done for James Buchanan, Martin Van Buren, or Ulysses S. Grant.
Other eminent men baptized by Wilford Woodruff in the St. George Utah Temple in August 1877 include: Sir Edward Gibbon, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Oliver Goldsmith, Henry Grattan, Humboldt, Alexander von Irving, Washington Jackson, Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Johnson, Samuel Juarez, Benito Pablo Kemble, John Philip Liebig, Baron Justus von Livingstone, David Macaulay, Thomas Babington Nelson, Lord Horatio O’Connell, Daniel Peabody, George Powers, Hiram Reynolds, Sir Joshua Schiller, Johann Christoph Friedrich von Scott, Sir Walter Seward, William Henry Stephenson, George Thackeray, William Makepeace, Vespucci, Amerigo Webster, Daniel Wesley, John Wordsworth, William Parepa, Count Dimitrius, Martha Washington and her family, John Washington (Great Grandfather of George Washington), Sir Henry Washington, Lawrence Washington (Brother of George Washington), Augustine Washington (Father of George Washington), Lawrence Washington (Father of Augustine), Lawrence Washington, Daniel Park Custis, John Park Custis (Son of Daniel and Martha Parke Custis), and Martin Luther.
Eminent Women baptized include: Jean Armour (1767—1834) of Scotland, Jean Armour Burns (Wife of Robert Burns) (1759—1796), Jane Austen (1775—1817) of England, novelist, Mary Ball (1708—1789) of America, Mary Ball Washington (Mother of George Washington) (1732—1799), Sarah Bernard (1800—1879) of England, Sarah Barnard Faraday (wife of Michael Faraday (1791—1867), Charlotte Bronte (1816—1855) of England, novelist, Felicia Dorothea Browne (1793—1835) of England, Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806—1861) of England, poet, (wife of Robert Browning) (1812—18?), Martha Caldwell Calhoun (d. 1802) of America (mother of John Caldwell Calhoun) (1782—1850), Martha Parke Custis (1755—1773) of America (Daughter of Martha Washington) (1732—1802), Martha Dandridge Washington (1732—1802) of America (wife of George Washington) (1732—1799), Rachel Donelson Jackson (1767—1828) of America (wife of Andrew Jackson (1767—1845), and Abigail Eastman Webster (1737—1816) of America (mother of Daniel Webster (1782—1852), to name but a few. Temple work was performed for a total of 70 eminent women.
During most of our national history Columbus and the Founders were considered heroes with determination and foresight. Cities, rivers, and many other places were named after them. More recently there has been a wide spread effort, designed especially to indoctrinate young people, which slanders Columbus, the Founders and their accomplishments. Columbus is held personally responsible for centuries of mistreatment of Native Americans. The Founders are portrayed as being greedy and motivated by selfish interests. All of this is as astonishing as it is misleading.
From the Lord’s perspective among the most important events of the history of the world was the discovery and founding of America. 1 Ne 11-14. Nephi was referring to Columbus when he wrote: “I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land” 1 Ne 13:12. By the Founders “the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation…even on the face of this land.” 1 Ne 22:7.
Go on to life and history of George Ross of Pennsylvania, signer of Declaration of Independence.
I was working through some old mission photos and realized I have not shared many of those photos. I thought I might start out with the places in which I lived and what photos I have of those locations. This will be a little bit of everything of what I could find.
Our MTC District, I only know four of the 11. From l-r, #5 is Elder Olson, #9 Elder Scow, #10 Elder Young, #11 Elder Ross. The rest were going to Peoria, Illinois if I remember correctly.
Usually the first place a missionary stays is at the Missionary Training Center (“MTC”). I went to Provo for the MTC. I have written previously and shared other photos I have from the MTC. I thought this photo was interesting because the Provo Temple is going to be renovated and will look entirely different.
Once arriving in Manchester, England my first stay was in the posh Mission Home in Altrincham, England. Here is the only photo I have from that occasion. I didn’t go search my journals, but I believe we arrived in England on 22 December 1998.
President H Bruce and Cheryl Stucki, and Elder Paul Ross
My first area in which to serve was Liscard, England in the newly created Moreton Ward. At this point I am focusing more on physical locations. Here is a photo of my sleeping area/space on the third floor of our flat at 6 Belgrave Street, Liscard, Wallasey, England.
My study space, bed with used duvet, closet, and heater. The door on the left went down the stairs.
There were six of us in the flat on Belgrave Street. That wallpaper did not cause any nightmares that I am aware. My companion could not stand my wind-up alarm clock and so it was locked away. I am standing at the foot of his bed to take this photo. Some of my little Christmas presents from the Duncan family are on the shelf. My coat, backpack, it was frigid in that little room. I first read Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People cuddled in that duvet. My companion, Elder Harris snored loud, so I was often fully inside my duvet. I remember such irony that my little clock kept him awake, but yet his snoring must have kept up the whole flat.
Elder Ross, Elder Harris, Elder Mueller, and Elder Lewis at Belgrave Street flat, my transfer day
This is the same flat I arrived at days before Christmas to find more than a dozen boxes of reject Cadbury chocolates given to us by the members. We literally poured ourselves bowls of chocolate and would pour milk over them for breakfast. I still cannot stand mint or orange chocolate to this day. There were six in the apartment, yet only four are shown above. Here is a photo of the six of us going Christmas caroling in our whites.
(l-r) Elders Llewelyn, Lewis, Harris, Mueller, Ross, and Knight
Elder Bert Llewelyn, Lewis, Jeremy Harris (my trainer), Nathan Mueller, me, and Knight. Some day I will have to see if I have Knight and Lewis’ first names and update. Last, here is a picture of the house across the street from my third floor flat window.
1 and 3 Belgrave Street, Liscard, England
Then it was off to Dukinfield to serve in the Hyde Ward and Glossop Branch. Jumping across Liverpool and Manchester headed for the Moors.
Elder John Peters before 37 Dukinfield Road
There were four missionaries in this flat when I arrived. Elder John Peters, Christopher Giddings, and Elder Moreton. This apartment had problems. It was musky, moldy, and only had a bath tub. It had the water storage in the attic and nothing seemed to work right. When the buses drove by you could see the curtains move with the air. Sometimes even dust and such would fly. And the bathroom… Imagine four missionaries trying to bath in a tub presumably every day for years. No amount of cleaning would ever get it clean, and we did not try very hard. I don’t have any photos inside 37 Dukinfield Road. But I found this one that was on the canal walking to church that was not far behind our flat. Which, looking at Google Earth, is no longer a large factory behind our row of homes.
Elder John Peters moved on and both Elders Giddings and Moreton were shotgunned out. Elder Jarem Frye moved in as my companion and we were the only two in the apartment. He had some illnesses and missing limb, so it was a slower time. It was a great time for work though and in the mornings I was able to read the Book of Mormon more than once a month and the entire History of the Church in the downtime.
Elders Ross and Peters on canal between Dukinfield and Hyde England
My next flat was in Patricroft, England serving in the Eccles Ward. This one was in a fairly rough neighborhood. We had a number of issues we had to avoid and had a few run ins with yobs. I replaced a British Sign Language missionary and was paired with a BSL missionary (who was native Spaniard, which made for some interesting mis-translations). I was expected to learn BSL in addition to the more interesting learning some Spanish and Swedish.
Looking at our apartment of 24 Lewis Street, Patricroft, England
This photo is from St. Johns St looking at our apartment at 24 Lewis Street. Ours is the one with the old slatted windows, not the newer windows of those on both sides. This is the flat I learned about my Grandmother’s passing. This is the apartment that crazy kids fired fireworks in through the mail slot of our door on Guy Fawkes Day 1999. This is where we played an epic prank on greenie Elder Theobald. My first bedroom with a sink in the corner which I have desired ever since.
Elder Wood eating a famous kebab in our Patricroft apartment
There were four of us in this flat. I was first serving with Elder Jose Hernandez from Ibiza, Spain. Then my companion was Elder Jason Wood from Roy, Utah. Poor Elder Hernandez is the missionary who got really upset one night on the way home about always talking about the gospel so he sat by himself half way up the bus. I told him we still were supposed to sit together, even if he was upset. He still moved. Somewhere around Irlam a brick came through the window and knocked him out cold. Elder Wood was in love with the Spice Girls, particularly Sister Halliwell.
Elder Hernandez sorting through garbage
As you can see from the above picture, Elder Hernandez accidentally threw something away and thought he would bring the garbage in to sort through it. It stunk and we were not happy with him. I do not recall if he found what he lost.
Zone Meeting in Eccles. Sitting on the floor is Elder Cory Meehan. The four of us in the back are Elders Van Hensen Van Unigen, Klomp, Ross, and Jose Hernandez. Then sitting from Elder Van Hensen Van Unigen are Elders Matthew Dean (face partially hidden), Richard O’Dea, Mark Cutler, Jake Smith (Red), Nick Smith (Black), Jarem Frye, Tracy, and Mark Thatcher with Vicente Garcia kneeling before him.
We had a Zone Meeting in Eccles for some reason. However, we liked to do Zone Meetings in Levenshulme for the Pakistani kebabs there, so I do not know why they ventured up to Eccles on this occasion. My journal probably tells, but I have not spent the time to research it.
Another photo of me enjoying some Jello shipped in by someone from the United States.
Elder Ross eating stateside Jello
And a picture of one of my bruises after a good couple of punches in my arm with an idiot. But you can see the wallpaper at the top of the stairs.
Only real damage after a few punches with an idiot.
Here is a photo of me about to get a haircut by Elder Wright in the front room of our flat, downstairs. That mirror and location are the same in which we blessed a deaf man to be healed. We used the mirror so he could read our lips while blessing him. He began to gain hearing and then I was transferred and I lost contact shortly afterward. Wish I knew the rest of the story.
Elder Wright about to cut my hair over pages of the Church News.
Elders Thaddeus Wright and Viktor Johansson were together when I arrived. Elder Wright was replaced by Elder Brad Theobald.
Elders Johansson and Theobald
The next area was Runcorn for the Runcorn Ward and Northwich Branch. There we lived at 29 Handforth Lane, Halton Lodge, Runcorn.
Elders Ross and Hales at 29 Handforth Lane, Runcorn, England
This one has a couple of photos in it. Here is where we prepped and weathered Y2K. Also, my second Christmas in the UK.
1999 Christmas haul for Elders Ross and Hales. Also see our Handforth Lane kitchen.
Elder Brad Hales opening Christmas gifts at 29 Handforth Lane
This poor area had to put up with me for 7.5 months! Elder Hales for 6 months!
Elder Paul Ross opening Christmas present 1999 at Handforth Lane, still wet from the rains
Elder Paul Ross at Handforth Lane bus stop
The time serving in Runcorn and Northwich was a very prolific time of the mission. There was a time our District and Ward had baptisms every week with ongoing interviews and visits to companionships. We loved this Ward and we believed they loved us. It was a spell of excitement and growth in this area, both personally and for those we served. Very fond of my time here.
Elder Paul Ross and our flat after a heart attack. I still have all these!
Trying on Elder Hales’ present, a Royal Mail Postal Carrier’s bag and jacket
29 Handforth Lane, Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Last area of the mission was off to Scholes for the Wigan Ward. This flat was located at 2 Lorne Street, Scholes, Wigan. This flat was owned by the same owners in Runcorn, the Pass family. They took good care of us even though this flat had a number of issues. You can see the wall on the end had to be fortified and I understand the one that stood beside it had to come down, but I second guess that knowing our flat was #2. Who knows?
Elders Dean and Cutler in front of our apartment and the mission Vauxhall Corsa.
This was my last area. Initial memories was a bed bug problem for Elders Dean and Cutler just in their bedroom. My Romanian companion fighting off a cold with an entire head of garlic in one meal, Elder Gheorghe Simion. Training my last companion Elder Garrett Smith. Some pretty amazing personal revelations, of which both companions also were able to partake. Very blessed in this area.
Elders Wright and Smith goofing off in front room
Elder Gheorghe Simion pondering
Elders Dean and Cutler were shotgunned out the same day bringing in Elders Wright and Hulse.
Elders Ross, Dean, Cutler, and Simion in front of St. Catherine’s on Lorne Street, across from our flat
Here is another shot of our flat looking up the street.
Rose and John Byrom stopped by on their way through Wigan
For the last area of the mission, these 3 Elders became brothers to me. Closer than the other areas in which I had served. Like Runcorn, we engaged well with the Ward. One of the best kebab houses in the whole mission was located here, Kebab King. I tried to stop in 2008, but it was closed both days we stopped. Wasn’t sure it had been open for a while.
Well, there are all 5 areas of the mission. All the photos I could find of our flats in which we stayed. I will have to work on sharing and telling the stories of the other photos I have.
Ole and Constance Christiansen are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter Martha to Herbert Coley, son of Stephen and Hannah Coley. They were married in 1874 in Norway. While I normally like to start these historical posts as a wedding announcement, I trip up there. We do not have any histories that give us an actual marriage date and location. Knowing the period, it is not imagined they were not actually married. Their first child was born in 1875. Curiously, after their immigration to the United States due to their conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they not only went to the Logan Utah Temple to be sealed, but also applied to be married. As such, they were married and sealed in the Logan Utah Temple on 26 April 1893.
Martha was born the second of eleven children to Constance Josephine Eliza Jorgensen and Ole Christiansen on 16 April 1879 in Fredrickstad, Ostfold, Norway. I have not written their history yet, but as linked above, I wrote some limited information on Constance when we visited her grave first in 2018 and again in 2020. Ole was born in Trogstad, Norway and Constance in Drammen, Norway. Both Ole and Constance were baptized and confirmed into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 26 January 1876 in Norway.
What happens for the next few years is unclear on the reasons. Martha’s older sister, Walborg, was born 24 December 1875 in Fredrickstad, then Martha in 1879. We really have no records during this period and so I am unclear if there was another child, or two, in that period of time. Eivelda was born 20 October 1881 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. I have no clue why or what took the family to Australia. Their next child, Constance, was born 9 November 1883 also in Collingwood, then a suburb of Melbourne. Apparently Walborg and Martha were left in Norway while their parents went to Australia. Alice, Martha’s granddaughter recalls Martha telling of her sitting on the mountainside overlooking the fjord waiting for her parents to return and her missing them terribly. Martha’s first brother, Henry Owen, was then born 27 March 1887 back in Fredrickstag, Norway. Ole and Constance were back in Fredrickstag by March 1887.
I have been unable to find the immigration records for the Christiansen family between Norway to Australia and back. But the family was in Australia for at least 3 years, maybe as long as 6 years. They were not back in Norway very long as Rhoda was born in Richmond, Cache, Utah on 18 September 1890. Martha moved with her family to Richmond in the late 1880s. One record has it in 1887, another 1889, Martha was listed in the 1900 Census as immigrated in 1888. Either way, we now are in the vicinity of where she would have met Herbert Coley. Of Martha’s remaining 6 siblings, 5 were born in Richmond and 1 in Hyde Park.
Herbert was born the 5th of 9 known children to Hannah Maria Rogers and Stephen Coley on 12 February 1864 in Lutley, Worcestershire, England. It was while living in Lutley that the LDS missionaries first made a visit. We do not know the conversion story but Herbert and his siblings joined the church. Martha joined 23 August 1867, Herbert 1 June 1881, George 22 August 1881, and Frank 2 June 1882. The 1871 English Census has the family still living in Lutley and Herbert listed as a scholar. The call to gather in Utah was strong enough that these four children made the venture. We don’t know if Stephen and Hannah came begrudgingly or not, but they joined some of their children in Utah. Unfortunately, the other children left in England we do not know where they went or what happened to them.
Herbert shows on the 1881 English Census in Dudley, Worcestershire, England as farm labor for the Doorbar family. Herbert appears to have boarded the Nevada in Liverpool arriving 3 July 1882 in New York City, New York. I cannot see that any siblings went with him on the trip. Stephen, Hannah, and Martha all traveled in 1890 (with Letitia Lea Willetts and her daughter Clara, and two known Frank and Mary Coleys). Stephen Coley was baptized 5 January 1892 and Hanna 26 October 1892 (same day she was endowed in the temple, so either that date is wrong or the prior record could not be found and the ordinance was duplicated. Hannah died 22 October 1894 in Franklin, then Oneida County, Idaho and was buried in Lewiston.
I don’t know any of the details of how they met, but the stars seem to have aligned in Richmond. However it happened, Herbert and Martha were married and sealed 1 December 1896 in Logan at the Temple. Herbert was a diligent laborer who would acquire full ownership in their home by 1910. Martha was a strict and involved homemaker and mother.
Herbert and Martha maintained their home, large garden, and raised 10 children. Lillian was born 26 August 1898 in Lewiston (listed in the Coveville Precinct, which is now the area of Cove). The 1900 Census on 9 June 1900 lists Herbert as a farm laborer with his immigration in 1881 and Martha’s in 1888. By 1910, the Census finds the family in Wheeler (about six miles west of Lewiston) where the home was owned outright. We don’t know exactly where the family lived. Edna was born 23 November 1900, Wilford Herbert 1 Mar 1903, Carrie 20 April 1906, and Hannah Marie 3 June 1909. Ole Christiansen passed away 27 February 1900 in Richmond and was buried there. Carrie is listed as born in Richmond, but we do not know the circumstances how she was born there instead of Wheeler/Lewiston. Hannah’s birth certificate lists Herbert as a farmer and Martha as housewife. The 1910 Census on 26 May 1910 shows Herbert as a Laborer and that he “Works Out.” Whatever that meant in 1910.
All the remaining children were born in Richmond. As such, it is likely at this time the family moved to the cabin south and east of Richmond estimated about 2016 E and 9000 N. I have tried to pinpoint where the cabin remains are still located. Here is a photo of the cabin from the 1980s. The 1920 Census on 16 January 1920 lists Herbert as a Farmer and Teamster with the additional insight of “Hauls Milk & Farms.” This same Census also lists Wilford as having his own Farm, but still living with his parents.
Coley Cabin near Richmond, Utah
It was in this house that the remaining children were born. Ivan Stephan on 26 June 1912, Roland Charles on 20 July 1915, Oley Lloyd on 11 February 1918, Arthur Christiansen on 15 July 1921, and William Golden on 22 January 1924. In 2012 the home had collapsed to a pile of rubble. It was after Ellis Jonas’ funeral we visited as family (Ellis is Lillian’s son). Ellis had taken me there about 2002. Stephen Coley died 22 October 1913 in Lewiston and was buried by his wife.
The 1930 Census taker showed up 15 April 1930 and shows the family in Richmond with Roland, Lloyd, Art, and Golden still in the home. The 1940 Census on 8 April 1940 has the family still in Richmond with Art and Golden the only two remaining.
Herbert and Martha Coley in the garden
Over the years, the family kept busy with marriages. Lillian married Joseph Nelson Jonas on 6 September 1917 in the Logan Temple. Edna married Gerald Andrus 17 April 1921 in Richmond and after a short marriage, divorced, and remarried to Olof Alma Neilson 23 July 1923 in Logan, sealed 30 July 1924 at the Logan Temple. Wilford married Edith Dagmar Cammack 15 May 1924 in Logan, sealed 3 June 1946 in Logan Temple. Carrie married Joseph Lorus McMurdie 21 July 1924 in Logan, sealed 21 October 1926 in Logan Temple. Hannah married William Surgeoner Thomson 2 July 1927 in Logan, sealed 14 June 1972 in Salt Lake Temple. Ivan married Clara McMurdie 22 October 1930 in Buhl, Twin Falls, Idaho, sealed 10 February 1932 in Logan Temple. Joseph Jonas passed away 6 September 1932 in Ogden, Weber, Utah. Constance Christiansen passed away 10 December 1932 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon and was buried there. Roland married Veda Anderson 5 May 1937 in Logan Temple. Lloyd married Verda Anderson (twin sister to Veda) 23 November 1938 in Logan Temple. Arthur married Gladys Bernice McMurdie (his niece!) 10 September 1940 in Preston, Franklin, Idaho, that marriage lasted a short time for hopefully obvious reasons. Arthur remarried to Mary Elizabeth Popwitz (his nephew’s WWII widow) 3 May 1946 in Evanston, Uinta, Wyoming. Golden married Shirley Mae Hall 15 March 1946 in Elko, Elko, Nevada, sealed 11 May 1965 in Logan. Many grandchildren were born in these years as well for Herbert and Martha.
Herbert and Martha Coley (I have the original of Martha, but not of Herbert, so I know it is still out there)
Recorded family stories are fairly scant. Nobody wrote much down and that generation was gone before many were asking questions. Ivan Coley told his daughter Colleen that Herbert was a short, very English man. Apparently Herbert met Wild Bill Hickok at one point and shared that fact regularly.
In 1942, Herbert went to visit Ivan and Clara in Buhl. I will have to find out if Martha was there as well. While out in the yard, I have been told by a well, or a trough, he slipped and broke his hip. There was not really much to do for someone in that condition then. He was in terrible pain. He was taken back to Richmond and passed away later of pneumonia. He died 7 September 1942 at age 78 (obituaries all have 75) and was buried in Richmond Cemetery 9 September 1942.
Martha Coley and Hannah Thomson in a garden, dresses and even a brooch
Martha moved into town shortly afterward. Various family members lived in the cabin when they started out their marriages. Martha’s new home was somewhere near 400 South and 200 East. With the new homes I cannot tell as well, but I have tried to pinpoint the spot. She lived in this home until she needed assistance and went to live with Lloyd and Veda in Salt Lake City. When they could not care for her any more, she then lived in a care facility in Logan the last months of her life.
5 generations about 1959, Lillian Coley Bowcutt, Martha Christiansen Coley, Joseph Hebert Jonas, Robert Lee Jonas, Joseph Leland Jonas.
In 1948, Martha was honored for successfully Relief Society Teaching for more than 40 years. Here is a photo from that occasion. You can find more detail here.
Back (l-r): Lydia Leavitt, Estella Blair, Sarah Preece, Susanna Allen, Livinia Wilcox, Clara Wheeler. Front: Lavina Poulsen, Christensia Hansen, Martha Coley, Martha Lewis, Sarah Snelgrove.
Unfortunately I do not have a many more stories. But I do have a few more photos. We have these two photos of a gathering about 1950.
Back(l-r): Doreen Neilson, Martha Coley, Golden Coley, Edna Neilson, Unknown, Gloria Neilson holding unknown child, Olof Neilson. Middle: Shirley Coley, Joy Coley (baby), Mary Coley,
Mary (holding Joy), Shirley, Doreen, Unknown, Martha, Edna, Gloria
This wonderful family reunion picture from 1955. I have linked the other post sharing the other photo. That link also names everyone in the photo. Martha is sitting surrounded by her grandchildren and children.
1955 Coley Reunion, Richmond, Utah
Herbert’s obituary in the Salt Lake Telegram on 8 September 1942 reads:
“Richmond, Cache County – Funeral Services for Herbert Coley, 75, who died at his home in Richmond Monday at 7:45 a.m. following a brief illness will be conducted Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Richmond South L.D.S. ward chapel by E. M. Hicken, Bishop.
“Mr. Coley was born in England on February 12, 1867, a son of Stephen and Hannah Rogers Coley. In 1885, at the age of 16, he immigrated to the United States.
“On December 1, 1896, he married Martha Christiansen in the Logan L.D.S. temple. He was a prominent farmer in the Richmond district.
“Surviving are his widow of Richmond, 10 sons and daughters, Mrs. Lillian Jonas, Ms. Edna Nielsen and William Golden Coley of Richmond, Wilford Herbert Coley of Logan, Ms. Hannah Thomson and Lloyd Coley of Salt Lake City, Ms. Carrie McMurdie, Ivan, Roland and Arthur Coley, all of Buhl, Idaho, 37 grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Martha France of Richmond.
Lillian, Edna, Martha (sitting) Coley in the 1940’s
“Friends Pay Tribute to Richmond Man
“Funeral Services for Herbert Coley, 75, prominent Richmond farmer who died at his home in Richmond, Monday at 7:45 a.m. following a brief illness, were conducted Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Richmond South ward chapel by Bishop E. M. Hicken.
The rest of the article follows nearly verbatim what the Salt Lake obituary listed, then this line.
“Burial was in the Richmond cemetery under direction of the W. Loyal Hall mortuary.
Martha Christiansen Coley very small picture enlarged
Martha Coley and Scotty
Martha Coley serious
Martha Coley smile
Martha passed away in Logan at age 82 on 14 August 1961. Here is the language from her obituary and an article of the funeral. She was buried in Richmond 17 August 1961.
“Richmond – Martha Christensen Coley, 82, died at a rest home in Logan Monday of causes incident to age. “She was born April 16, 1879 in Norway to Ole and Constance Josephine Eliza Jorgensen Christensen. When she was eight years old she came with her parents to America. “On December 1, 1896 in Logan she married Herbert Coley. The marriage was solemnized in the Logan LDS Temple in 1900. They made their home in Lewiston and Richmond. She was always active in the LDS church, especially as a Relief Society block teacher. Mr. Coley died September 7, 1942. “Surviving are Mrs. Lorenzo (Lillian) Bowcutt and Mrs. Edna Neilsen, Richmond; Wilford H. Coley, Logan; Mrs. William (Hannah) Thompson and Lloyd O. Coley, Salt Lake City; Mrs. Lars (Carrie) McMurdie and Ivan S. Coley, Buhl, Idaho; Roland Coley, Mesa, Arizona; Arthur C. Coley, Ogden; William G. Coley, Hyrum; a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren. “Funeral services will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Richmond South Ward with Bishop Oral Ballam in charge. “Friends may call at Hall Mortuary in Logan Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and at the South Ward chapel Thursday from 11:30 a.m. until time of services. Burial will be in the Richmond Cemetery.
“Funeral services were held in the Richmond South Ward chapel Thursday for Mrs. Martha C. Coley with Counselor Quentin Peart conducting. Lloyd Coley gave the family prayer. “Prelude and postlude music was played by Reese Murray. The ward chorus directed by Mrs. Florence Lewis with Mrs. Billie Lou Bagley as accompanist sang “The Lord’s Prayer.” Ila Rae Richman and company sang “That Wonderful Mother of Mine.” Mrs. Florence Lewis and Mrs. Rebecca Lewis sang “In the Garden,” and Ronnie Lewis sang “Beyond the Sunset.” “Prayers were by William Thomson and Larus McMurdie. Speakers were Mrs. Leona McCarrey who read the obituary, Noel Stoddard and Counselor Peart. Pallbearers were her six sons, Wilford, Ivan, Roland, Lloyd, Arthur and Golden Coley. The grave in Richmond Cemetery was dedicated by Joseph Jonas. Flowers were cared for by the Relief Society.
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I have written previously about the video that came from the funeral and graveside service of Martha. In that post I walk through the video and the identified individuals. It also scans the 10 children standing in the cemetery. This photo below is of the same instant.
Art, Golden, Wilfred, Roland, Lloyd, Edna, Hannah, Carrie, Lillian, Ivan at their mother’s grave in Richmond, Utah
I hope some day I obtain more photos to share of Herbert and Martha.
Sagacity 