Nibley

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Jonas History: William Nelson Jonas

William Nelson Jonas

This is another chapter of the Jonas history book compiled by Carvel Jonas. “The Joseph Jonas clan of Utah (including – early Jonas family history; early Nelson family history)” This one is on William Nelson Jonas.

John, Joseph, and William Jonas

“William had the same name as his great grandfather, William Jonas, although he never knew it in his life.  Most likely he was named after his Uncle William Jonas.  William Nelson Jonas, the second son and fifth child of Joseph Jonas and Annette Josephine Nelson, was born 2 December 1889, He was called “Bill” by his friends at church and “Willie” by his family at his home.  His parents had, two years before his birth in 1887, sold their property 3 miles south of Ellensburg, Kittitas County, Washington State.  But the family must have stayed in the area because William went to the public school in Ellensburg his 1st, 2nd, and 3rd elementary grades.  The family then moved to a little town named Bristol, which is northwest of Ellensburg.  When he was in his 4th grade the family was living in another town named Thorpe and he attended the school at Thorpe.  Thorpe is another town northwest of Bristol.  Sometime during this time William and his two brothers went to a neighbor’s place and swiped some apples.  The kids also helped themselves to their cousin’s watermelon patch.  in 1895, he went with his family to pick hops in Yakima.  The 1900 census tells us that William and his family lived in another town which also is northwest of all the other towns mentioned.  It is called Cle Elum.  The family was renting a house in this western city.  As far as we know the family always rented. 

“William arrived in Crescent, Utah with his entire family 3 July 1901.  He attended the public school in Jordan School District for the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.  He graduated 8 grade in Sandy.  He was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 10 January 1902, the same day his two brothers were baptized.  When he was baptized he had just turned 12 years old by a little over a month.  Up to that time he had been raised a Catholic.  He was baptized in the Jordan River in South Jordan by his Uncle, Nels August Nelson.  He was confirmed a member the same day by William Fairfard.  There were no records found for William at the St. Andrew church in Ellensburg, so it is likely that his baptism was performed elsewhere.  Shortly after he was baptized he was ordained a deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood.  He remained a deacon until 6 January 1908 when he was ordained an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood by Bishop James P. Jensen.  He was never ordained a Teacher or a Priest, which are the two offices traditionally held by young people in the Mormon Church before they are ordained an Elder.  While he was a deacon he was called to be the secretary of the quorum.  He was also the President of the deacons quorum for a few years.  Perhaps after being raised in another church it was good training for William to remain a Deacon a little longer than usual.  He belonged to the 7th Quorum of Elders in the Crescent Ward in Salt Lake County.   

“During his stay in Crescent from 1901 to 1908 when he moved to Richmond, Utah, William helped his Uncle August on the family farm.  According to August’s life story William and his brothers worked hard.  It was understood that William and his brothers were to be given some land for the work they did on the Nelson farm.  But the farm wasn’t given to anyone else because much of it was sold.     

“William knew many of his cousins on his father’s side of the family until he was 12 years old.  After July of 1901 he became familiar with all of his cousins on his mother’s side of the family by living with the Nelson family.  William’s mother and this Uncle were the only two siblings in the Nelson family who had children of their own.  One of his cousins from his mother’s side, Virgil Homer Nelson, wrote in his autobiography, “They (Rosa, John, William, and Joseph) gave me plenty of companionship.  Our chief amusements were swimming, playing baseball, and skating.”   

“William had a lot of farm land to discover.  Virgil, August’s son, wrote that their farm, “…extended a mile along the east side of State Street and far to the east…a thousand acres of land in East Crescent and into the hill there.”  On one occasion when William was in the area he found a dead man laying in a ditch.   

“In the school year 1907 William went to the L.D.S. College, his first year in High School before moving to Richmond, Utah.  William and his two brothers left Crescent and went to live with their only living sister, Rosa Jonas Andersen.  When William had just turned 19 years he made this trip.  One cold, snowing day in 1908 the three boys finally arrived at their sister’s home in Richmond, Utah.  William worked four years for an August Larson in the summer and went to Brigham Young College at Logan for five years.  Each year he received a sports letter in baseball.   

Loretta Merrill, William Nelson Jonas

“On 19 September 1909 he was ordained a Seventy by Charles H. Hart, the same day his brother, John, was also ordained a Seventy.  He remained a Seventy for over 40 years.  On 1 May 1908 he received a Normal Diploma at Logan, Utah, Brigham Young College.  2 June 1911 he graduated from the BYU College and received a General High School Diploma.  Two years later he received a college diploma.  On 4 September 1913 he received a Grammar Grade County Teacher’s Certificate for Public Schools of Utah.  His graduation diploma states that he “passed an examination satisfactory in writing, arithmetic, pedagogy, physiology, reading, drawing, orthography, English, grammar, U.S. History, geography, nature study, psychology, and history of Education.”   

William Jonas “To Father”

“The following post cards have survived since 1912.  This is the year prior to his graduation from the college and gives a few insights into his personal feelings and activities.  All the cards are written to Karen Marie Thompson whom he later married.   

“Logan, 4 October 1912  “Dear friend, The first dance will be given Friday night.  It was announced in chapel this morning.  I do wish you could be here.  I’ll be up Sat. noon and we’ll go, if not say so.  I have a fine place to stay, with aunt Felelia and my cousins.  With best wishes Wm. N. Jonas.”   

“Logan 240 E. 3rd North.  Oct 11. 1912 “Dear friend: School is fine and full of life.  How is work, school and everything in particular?  There will be an oration given this morning, you ought to hear it.  I’ll not be up Sat. would certainly like to, but–  Wishing you an enjoyable time.  Your Friend William”   

“Logan240 E. 3rd N Oct 18, 1912 “Dear Friend: I would like to come up Sat. but as I have work and a class entertainment Sat.  It is impossible.  Then too I’ll be up a week from tonight.  I wish you could be down here tonight, a lecture and a dance.  Work Sat. and have a dance.  Have a good time, Don’t be angry.  With best regards and wishes as ever, your friend, Wm”   

“Logan, Oct 30, 1912  “Dear friend, Hoping you a most happy birthday and many good wishes.  There is a dance tonight, a lecture Thur. night and another dance Fri.  Always something doing in Logan.  Tell everybody hello.  as ever your friend Wm. N.”   

“Logan, Nov 7, 1912  “Dear friend, Congratulation on Nilson and the De.  We had a good conference here Sun.  Joseph F. and his son Hyrum will speak.  How are all the folks?  We are all fine.  How is the candy mouse?  Well, how is school life and activities…as good as ever here.  With best wishes from Wm. N”   

“Nov 19, 1912  “Dear Friend, your card was only rec’d.  Hope the best of health for your Pa.  I won a quarter on the game between 1st and 2nd yrs R.H.S. Sat or Fri.  We have a couple of excellent Musical recitals the last week at the Logan Tab and Nibley Hall.  Wm N.  How do you like the house work for a change or are you a hallo kid?”   

William Nelson Jonas, sitting middle, President of Wisconsin or Minnesota Conference, 1915 or 1916.

“William graduated from college soon after the above post cards were written, when he was 23 years old.  4 September 1913 when he received a Grammar Grade County Teacher’s Certificate for Public Schools.  During 1913 he taught school at Lewiston and was principal of Wheeler School District.  During this first year of teaching he received his endowments 22 May 1914, in the Logan Temple.  After teaching for one year he was called on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He served for 27 months in the Northern States Mission.  His only grandson who served a full time mission was called to the same mission about 60 years later.  The mission was called the Minnesota-Wisconsin Mission in 1973.  William was first given a minister’s certificate which was dated 2 June 1914 and was signed by the First Presidency of the Church.  Several months earlier 16 April 1914, he had been called to the Switzerland and Germany Mission.  He was to prepare to leave by 1 July 1914 and had a meeting with the Prophet at 9:00 A.M. that first day.  However, he never went to Europe on his mission because of the First World War.  He was then reassigned to the Northern States Mission, which had it’s mission headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.  While he was on his mission he was called to preside over the Wisconsin Conference, 23 September 1915.  He was next called to preside over the Minnesota Conference.  10 January 1916.  While serving on his mission he lived at 2707 Clarke St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 31 South 5th Street  La Crosse, Wisconsin; 247 North Gretto Street, St. Paul, Minnesota, and no doubt visited the mission home at 2555 North Sawyer Ave, Chicago, Illinois.  He was released from his missionary service 20 August 1916. 

William Jonas, seated with girl in white standing in front of him.

“After his mission he went to Cowley, Wyoming and served as a school principal.  There were 18 graduates from the school that year.  During the summer of 1917 he went to Provo, Utah, for 12 weeks of summer school.  About this same time William went to Richmond, Utah for his father’s funeral.  William was the person who gave the information for Joseph Jonas’ death certificate.  He then went back to Wyoming and on the 28 February 1917 he registered in Big Horn County to teach school.  Soon after that in the beginning of the school year of 1917 he accepted an offer to become coach of baseball and basketball teams at Dixie Normal College in St. George, Washington County, Utah.  We have several pictures from the Dixie College School yearbook which was called “The Dixie”.  Also, the following tributes from the same book.  “Drafted (Class 1 A) It was under Coach Jonas that Cedar met their match in the Dixie basketball team.  Favors the “Windsor Tie”.”  And this one which was entitled “First Years”.  “In September 1917, the D.N.C. found on hundred and five First Year’s invading it’s halls, with bewildered excitement.  We did not remain in this state of unrest, however, for Father Jonas and Mother Watson soon had us under their protecting care.  With their willing aid and the help of every Freshie, we came off the field on Founder’s Day, flying one blue ribbon and two red ones.  The loyalty of our First Year Class was made evident by our purchase of a $100.00 Liberty Loan Bond and $75.00 in Thrift Stamps.  We are justly proud of a Freshie lad who is a member of the D.N.C. debating team.  Our class part early in December was very successful.  If you do not believe us, As Jonas, Jr., and his partners.”   

William Nelson Jonas WWI uniform

“The following 20 May 1918 William was inducted by the draft into the Army.  On 25 May 1918 he was in a training camp.  He went to camp Louise and then to Camp Kearney in California.  On August 16, 1918 he left for France.  Before he left he expressed to members of his family that he wouldn’t mind serving in the service if he didn’t have to kill people.  To his relief he was a member of the medical detachment 145 artillery.  He stayed five months in France.  His army serial number was 3,127,617.  He was a resident of St. George, but was inducted in Cache County.  He was in Btry A 145 Fa by July 15, 1918.  He went overseas from August 16, 1918 to January 4, 1919.  He was honorable discharged January 24, 1919.  He remained a private during his short stay.  His Military records tell us that he was 28 8/12 years of age when he was inducted.  He had brown eyes, brown hair and medium complexion.  He was 5 feet 8 1/2 inches tall.  He received paratyphoid shots 10 June 1918 for typhoid and was not wounded while he was gone.  He is character was considered excellent.  He was paid 24 dollars and 40 cents 24 January 1919 and was given travel pay back to Logan.  During the voyage home William was so sick that he thought he might die.  So he promised the Lord he would do whatever He wanted if his life would be spared.  And he was faithful to that promise all his life.   

“While William was in France he sent letters and post cards.  One that still survives was sent to his cousin, Hubert Jonas, who lived in Washington State.  The following is quoted from that card.  “Camp DeSavage, France November 24, 1918.  “Dear Cousin and Family, A Joyous Christmas from France.  notice our gun ‘4 point 7’.  1898 date.  The Regiment was organized 1916 on the Mexican border.  1918 France from the Beehive State Utah.  had six weeks work in the hospital, am well near Bordeaux.  Expect to move soon may be ‘over there’ too.  Sure tickled.  Best wishes and Love W. N. Jonas Sanitary Det. 145 FA Am. Ex. France.”   

“While William was gone to war his older brother, John Jonas, died.  John died 19  December 1918 and William arrived in New York 4 Feb 1915.  He missed seeing his older brother for the last time by a little less than two months.   

William Nelson Jonas and Karen Marie Thompson

“Two years after he got back from the Army he married Karen Marie Thompsen, 6 January 1921.  They were married in the Logan Temple.  Karen Marie was born 31 October 1892.  She went to school in Richmond for eight years.  She started when she was 8 years old and graduated at 15 years old.  She had passed the sixth, seventh, and eight grades in two years.  She worked in the Utah Condensory called Sego Mile, which canned milk.  She worked for 13 years.  Part of the time in the factory and part in the office.  The company had an office in Logan in which she worked most of her 13 years.  While she was working at Logan she also went to New Jersey Sewing Academy for nine weeks at night.  On 9 March 1920 she received a patriarchal blessing.  While she lived in the Murray area she was the quilt chairman in Relief Society for many years and went visiting teaching for many years.  She loved flowers and had a flower garden most of the time.   

“Mary, as she was called, was blessed by William G. Plonallsen 5 Jan 1893.  She was baptized by Clarence L. Funk 1 September 1901.  She was confirmed by Wallace K. Burnham 1 September 1901.   

“Mary’s mother was named Jensine Caroline Christensen.  She was born 11 April 1864 in Aarhus, Denmark.  She joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1890 and came to America 6 July 1891.  While she was sailing she met her husband, James Thomassen, who later changed his last name to Thompsen.  They were married 24 December 1891.  James Thompsen was never a member of the Church.  He was immigrating to Richmond, Utah, to be with his older brother, John, and his younger sister, Johane Caroline.  His brother, John Thomassen had joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 10 February 1869.  He later immigrated to Utah to join the Saints.  He was endowed 12 October 1875.  John must have immigrated to America about that same year.  It took his brother, James, about 16 years to follow his older brother to Utah.  Caroline was converted to the Church by August S. Schow who was from Richmond Utah.  That is one very important reason she moved to Richmond.  Their children were the following: Karen Marie born 31 October 1892 ; Ebba born 31 April 1894; James born 6 September 1896; Alta born 12 August 1902; Leland and Stella were both still born April 1898; Michael born 13 July 1906.  Caroline was a milliner in Denmark.  She sold her hat shop and paid her ticket across the Atlantic to America.  James was a carpenter and died at the age of 59.  He was bitten by a pig and was poisoned.  He suffered a great deal for four years before his death.  James was born 19 August 1854 in Vildmose, Denmark and died 8 January 1913 in Richmond, Utah.  Caroline died 17 July 1951 at 4:30 A.M. at daybreak on a Tuesday in Salt Lake City.   

Vaughn, Gaylen, Karen, Maynard, William, and Delwyn Jonas with Alta, James, and Caroline Thompson

“William and Mary lived in Richmond, Utah, when they were first married.  They went to the Benson Stake of the L.D.S. Church.  In August of the same year (1921) they moved to Franklin, Idaho, so William could teach school.  Mary worked checking ledgers for the Milk Condensory in Franklin, Logan, Richmond, and Hyrum during her life.  By September of 1921 they moved to Thatcher, Idaho.  They went to the Thatcher 2nd Ward in the Bannock Stake of the L.D.S. Church.  William, his brother Joseph and his sister, Rosa with their families tried farming.  William tried farming from Sept 1921 to Jun 1923 when they moved back to Logan.  Apparently discouraged with farming William went to Park Valley, Utah, so he could teach school for one year.  After school was over they moved back to Logan for a short while and then to Avon, Utah, for another teaching assignment.  September 1924 William took an examination at West High School for the Post Office.  He rated 3rd in his class with 93% – he got 5% for being a veteran.  In August 1925 he started work for the post office.  He worked there for 33 years and accumulated many days for not being sick.  He worked the afternoon shift and would take the trolley car to town.  He retired in 1958.  His work consisted of being a supervisor and worked with the public weighing packages.  His hours were from 3:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.   

“L.D.S. Church records show that they moved into their home at 120 West Burton Ave in Salt Lake City the same month he was hired at the post office, August 1925.  Mary’s mother also lived on Burton Ave.  They were in the Burton Ward, Grant Stake.  After they had lived on Burton Ave. where their son, Vaughn, was born they moved to 1854 East Clayborne in Salt Lake City in 1928.  About 1931 they moved to 906 East 39th South in the Murray area.  Then the family moved to 2964 South 9th East (where Carvel was born) in 1933.  They lived there from 1933 to about 1942-43.  Then they moved into the new home next door at 3974 South 9th East.  When William first bought land in the Murray area he purchased 6 1/4 acres.  William and his brother-in-law, Christian Andersen, built the home at 3974.  Then they moved again to 3954 South 9th East in 1951.  All three of the homes on 9th East were next door to each other.  The home at 3954 was originally an Army barracks which was moved from Kearns and later remodeled by their son, Maynard.  On 29 April 1962 they then moved to 1005 East 4025 South which was still in the Murray area.  There they lived until each passed from this life to the next.    

“William and Mary were the parents of 6 sons.  The last son, William Thompson Jonas, was born what has been called a “blue baby”, and lived only 31 1/2 hours.  He weighed 6 1/2 pounds and is buried in the Elysian Burial Grounds in Murray, Utah.  He was blessed by his father the 22 October 1937.  Their 3rd son, Gaylon Thompson Jonas, was killed 19 September 1944 on Peleliu Island in the Pacific Ocean.  He had enlisted 19 August 1942 with the 2nd Mormon Battalion.  He was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Navy Citation Award, Pres. Citation, Navy Unit Cit., American Theater, Pac. with 3 stars.  He was killed by a Japanese sniper’s bullet while removing a wounded man.  He was killed while he was helping the fourth man that he helped that day.  He had volunteered for the assignment.   

“William blessed all six of his sons.  He also confirmed 5 of them after they were baptized.  Delwyn was blessed 2 April 1922 and confirmed 1 February 1931.  Maynard was blessed 14 March 1925 and confirmed 3 December 1933.  Vaughn was blessed 7 November 1926 and confirmed 4 November 1934.  Carvel was blessed 17 September 1934 and confirmed 2 May 1943.  William also ordained several of his sons to different offices in the Priesthood.  Gaylen was ordained a Teacher 29 January 1940.  Carvel a Deacon the 22 September 1944 and a Teacher 30 October 1949.   

“William was actively involved in work for his Church all his life.  He was Superintendent of the Sunday School of the Mill Creek Ward for 2 1/2 years.  He served as Stake Supervisor of the gospel doctrine classes.  During his gospel doctrine classes he would compare Catholic point of view with the L.D.S. view quite often according to his neighbor who attended his class.  He also served as one of the Seven Presidents of the Seventy in his stake.  He was a leader of the cottage meetings.  And taught the genealogy class for many years and became one of the senior teachers of these genealogy classes.  He was baptized for some of his dead ancestors and his wife’s dead ancestors.  He served as a ward teacher for many years.  He did all of the above including serving a full time mission for the Church before he was 50 years old (1940).  After that on 20 Mary 1943 he received a missionary call from the Mill Creek Ward, Cottonwood Stake for a stake mission.  He was set apart 26 March 1943 in the stake office at about 8:00 P.M.  Afterwards he received another stake mission calling (this was his third mission).  He and his wife Mary, were both called.  William was set apart 12 May 194?.  One of grandpa’s neighbors said that grandpa was considered a scriptorian by those who knew him in their ward, and that he had a hard time understanding why people didn’t recognize the truth in the scriptures.  He was set apart Wednesday May 18, 1944 in the stake office at 176 Vine Street for this third mission.  While William was on this stake mission his son, Gaylen, who was killed in World War II appeared to him twice requesting that his temple work be completed.  His wife, Mary, was set apart 31 August 1949 so they could serve on a mission together.  They received honorable releases from their stake missions 3 June 1951.   

“When William was called on his second mission he wrote a letter which was printed in the Millcreek Courier, which was the ward paper.  The following is quoted from that letter written March 1943, the same month he was called on his second mission.  “Faith Unshaken  Greetings to the boys in the service from Mill Creek; Recent events have not shaken my faith in the ultimate triumph of freedom and justice, for I was reared in a church where faith in God and belief that right will triumph eventually is too deeply ingrained in me to doubt its final victory.  As long as we have faith at all in God, we must know that his is All-Powerful.  That his will for the world is Justice and Right, and that eventually His purposes will be established here on earth.  Good emerges slowly, but we must not doubt its victory.”   

“”As to our country, my faith is our America, in its people, and in the American Way of Life, is unwavering.  The United States is the greatest country on the earth, not because it is our country, but by comparison.  It’s founding I believe to have been divinely ordained and that God had a mighty mission for the United States among the nations of the world.”   

“”America was founded by our forefathers in prayer, in faith, and in the heroic spirit of sacrifice.  Lives of comparative ease in their old country might have been theirs had they been willing to surrender their  convictions.  They chose the Hard Right rather than the Easy Wrong, and were ready to lay down their lives for freedom to worship God according to the dictates of their conscience.  No matter what lies ahead, we must carry on to the best of our ability, doing our utmost from day to day, each in his own niche.”   

“”After the Hard War No. I was over and the happy Peach had come, I experienced the most wonderful day of my life.  February 4, 1919 we first saw the light reflections in the distance, then the lights, buildings, the land.  Oh the shouts, “America”, “God’s country”, “Zion”, “Home Sweet Home”, ect.  Believe me the statue of Liberty certainly faced the right way–in fact everything we saw was just O.K.”   

“”I am now praying for a second great day to come soon, when this Hard War No. II is over and happy Peace is declared and my sons, Delwyn of the Army, Maynard of the Navy, and Gaylon of the Marines come marching home.  Parents, fill in the names of your sons, and my God grant the day soon.  Sincerely, William N. Jonas.”   

“On 17 December 1950 William was ordained an High Priest making  little over 40 years that he was a Seventy.  He was ordained by Verl F. McMillian of the Mill Creek 2nd Ward in the Cottonwood Stake.  After he was ordained an High Priest he was asked to teach the High Priest class for many years.  He also became interested in doing the Jonas genealogical line.  Around 1960-65 he wrote to places where his grandparents, Hubert and Mary Jonas lived after arriving in America.  On 26 October 1960 he received a returned letter from the research department of the L.D.S. Church.  He had paid people to help in the research.  From this letter we were able to learn about the 1880 census of Nebraska where the family had lived.  Another letter was received 13 April 1961 from the Register of Deeds, Monroe County, Michigan, written by the Genealogical Society research department.  In behalf of William many land records for Hubert and Mary were then found.  William wrote to the Texas State Department and Historical Society of Wisconsin hoping to find more information about our family.  Also, he had driven to his place of birth, Ellensburg, Washington for some research and visited his cousin-in-law, Regina Jonas who was living in Vancouver at the time.  The following is a quote from a letter he had written which shows the sincerity of his desires.  “…this seems to be asking a lot.  However, I will be glad to pay for services.  Have you someone who is available for such work?  I shall try to come to Ellensburg this summer if necessary.  I thank you.  William N. Jonas.”  Many attempts were made to find out where the Jonas family had lived in Germany.  Unfortunately, William never was able to discover that genealogy.  But because of his efforts there were many clues for the author to use in what eventually lead to the discovery of the Jonas genealogy pedigree, and also this history book.   

“The following are some observations about William that his children and friends have told me.  William liked to garden.  During hard economic times, and especially during the Great Depression, they always had a large vegetable garden.  Although we don’t have the exact figures it was close to an half acre.  They were able to provide for their family and also provided for a neighbor and his family who were experiencing financial difficulty.  He enjoyed excellent, physical health all his life.  He was in a car accident when he was older, about 1953-54.  During the car accident the gear shifting know of a late model Cadillac punched his side.  The knob was shaped like a tear drop.  He was a passenger and had slid across the seat with his left side hitting the knob.   

“After some of his children got back from their military service they thought they were in better physical shape than their father, who was in his 50’s.  They oldest thought he could out arm wrestle his dad now.  But William won the match.   

“While he worked for the post office he played for the baseball team on the Industrial League.  He was a good baseball player and had large knuckles on his left hand from catching baseballs.   

“William was instrumental in helping his oldest son to get a job at the post office.  He also helped his younger brother, Joseph, financially so he could go to college.  William paid for the first month rent for his son, Carvel, when he was first married.  Also, William and his wife, Mary, both visited Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Clayton and took pictures on several occasions of their grandson, Carvel Lee Jonas.   

“William, when he lived on 9th East raised chickens, pigs, had a cow and an horse.  Their children had pigeons and also dogs.  They had an orchard of mostly apples, and grew hay and grain; potatoes and lots of vegetables.  They had a chicken coop that was heated with a kerosene heater.  On one occasion the chicken coop burned down and they lost all the chickens (perhaps as many as an hundred).  While the chicken coop was burning William and his son, Maynard, tried to removed the heater and William was burned.   

“One time William had bought a new pitch fork.  He was able to carry so much hay at one time that the weight of the hay broke the handle of the new pitch fork.   

“When William would read or study a book he would read with a pen or pencil and underline and make notes in the margins.   

“A neighbor of William’s for over 25 years, Otto Hansen, said the William was very helpful in getting him a job for the post office.  William had told him about the civil service test, and encouraged him to try and pass.  This neighbor and his wife said that William and Mary were good neighbors and would do anything they could to give a helping hand to someone in need.  They considered them to be very honest people.  A story that they remember was when William was teaching the gospel doctrine class.  Apparently, for a practical joke Mary would remove William’s notes that he had prepared to teach class with from his book.  They said that they remember Bill saying, “Mary’s done it again.”  Then he was left to use the scriptures and rely on memory and past study to make up a lesson on the spot.   

“William died 14 April 1972.  He suffered from senility for a few years before he died.  Grandma had a neighbor put locks on the doors to keep grandpa Jonas from leaving without knowing where he was going.  Even when he wasn’t at his best at the end of his life his thoughts were to go to the Church welfare farm and work.  William had received an award for doing over 100 hours of volunteer work for the Church welfare farm in one year (1962), which made him 72-73 years of age.     

“Even with the differences in personality of his sons, the one thing that they all agree on is that they had a very good father.  Gaylen before he was killed in the war told his friend, “Blondy, I want you to (meet) my folks when we get a furlough, they are the best parents a guy could want.”  His sons don’t agree on many things, but they all agree about how lucky they were to have such a wonderful father.  That in itself is one of the finest tributes that a man could have.   

“Merlin Andersen told me that he always had admired William’s language.  William spoke as an educated man who had a firm grasp of the English language.  William loved kids.   

“Once William and Merlin were walking and they came to a creek.  Merlin was wondering how he was going to cross because he didn’t feel like he could jump across and make the other side.  Merlin was a young boy, but he remembers that William grabbed him and threw him easily to the other side of the creek.

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Paris, Idaho

Paris Idaho Tabernacle and James Ross

One year ago I took the four kids to go on a sightseeing tour. Amanda did not feel up to the trip and I just needed to get of town and reduce cabin fever. We went on a trip to various locations, but here are some pictures from 25 July 2020.

I had not been to Dingle, Idaho, where my Grandmother is buried for quite a while and none of my children had memories of being there, so that was our first stop.

One of our first stops was at Register Rock State Historic Park. It is located near Massacre Rocks State Park outside American Falls, Idaho.

Hiram and James Ross at Register Rock State Historic Site

On the way we stopped at Teuscher Square in Bancroft, Idaho.

Lillie, Aliza, and James Ross at Teuscher Square, Bancroft, Idaho.

We found our way to Dingle and took a picture with my Grandmother’s grave in Dingle, Idaho.

Lillian, Hiram, James, and Aliza Ross with tombstone of Colleen Mary Andra (1928-1999) and Ivan W Lloyd (1919-2011) on 25 July 2020.

Then we stopped in Paris, Idaho. I took a picture of the Bear Lake Court House but apparently the photo didn’t save. I am disappointed as it has now been torn down. But we snapped some pictures with the Paris Tabernacle.

Lillie Ross beside Paris Tabernacle
James, Lillie, and Hiram Ross beside Paris Tabernacle.
James and Lillie Ross goofing off on north steps of Paris Tabernacle.

Afterwards, the kids had to play on the playground at the Paris Elementary School, just east of the Paris Tabernacle.

Hiram and James Ross at Paris Elementary playground.

We traveled through Logan Canyon and stayed in Logan, Utah, that night.

James, Hiram, Lillie, and Aliza Ross at Bear Lake Overlook.

I previously wrote of our visits to the Logan Cemetery to visit family and notable graves. Those include our Nelson, Wanner, and Andra relatives. Also, graves of Benson, Thatcher, Nibley, Parker, and Maughan.

Then we bedded down for the night for the trip through Cache Valley and home on the next date.

Hiram, James, and Lillie Ross already fast asleep in Logan, Utah.
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2020: The Year of the Dead

This wasn’t intentional.  Not sure why or how it happened, but it did.

Anyone who knows me knows that I stop and visited deceased people and ancestors anytime I am in the neighborhood.  Kinda like stopping in to visit any other cousin or friend when you are driving through, are in town, and have some time.  Ancestors are very accommodating whenever you want to stop in and visit.  Maybe COVID-19 just gave us more time.

I have the following ancestors who are buried somewhat nearby, western United States.  I will link each ancestor I have written about previously if you want additional information.  Here are my ancestors and where they are buried.

As of this writing, I see there are two ancestors that I haven’t stopped and visited in the last few years and got pictures with the kids and the tombstone, Christiana Andra in Salt Lake City and William Sharp in Ogden (I now have the goal to get it done before the end of the year).  I also have a couple of known ancestors without tombstones, David and Gwenllian Jordan in Ogden, Utah, Hubert Jonas in Ellensburg, Washington (but we got pictures at the grave), and Damey Ross in Olivehurst, California (who we visited after hours and couldn’t even locate the grave).  We should remedy that but we may just have to stop and get pictures with their grave locations.

I also cheat and use the 2016, 2018, and 2019 photos with three ancestors, Johanna Benson in Spring City, Utah in 2018, John William Ross in San Bruno, California in 2016, and James Thomas Ross/Meredith in Fresno, California in 2019.  I could do a 2020 photo for Johanna, but I am not going to California just to redo a tombstone photo with the two Ross ancestors.

Grandparents

Milo & Gladys Ross – Plain City, Utah

Lillian, Paul, Aliza, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Gladys Maxine Donaldson (1921-2004) and Milo James Ross (1921-2014) on 23 May 2020.

Norwood Jonas – Richmond, Utah

Hiram and Aliza Ross with tombstone of Wilburn Norwood Jonas (1924-1975) on 26 July 2020.

Colleen Lloyd – Dingle, Idaho

Lillian, Hiram, James, and Aliza Ross with tombstone of Colleen Mary Andra (1928-1999) and Ivan W Lloyd (1919-2011) on 25 July 2020.

Great Grandparents

John Ross – Golden Gate National, San Bruno, California

Paul Ross with tombstone of John William (Jack) Ross (1890-1948) on 24 May 2016.

Ethel Ross – Plain City, Utah

Hiram, Aliza, and Lillian Ross with tombstone for Ethel Sharp Ross (1898-1925) on 23 May 2020.

Delos & Dena Donaldson – Ogden, Utah

Aliza Ross with tombstone for Berendena Van Leeuwen (1898-1959) and David Delos Donaldson (1894-1953) on 28 June 2020.

Joseph & Lillian Jonas – Richmond, Utah

Hiram and Aliza Ross with tombstone of Lillian Coley (1898-1987) and Joseph Nelson Jonas (1893-1932) on 26 July 2020.

Bill & Mary Andra – Whitney, Idaho

Lillian (in background by Wanner tombstone), James, Aliza, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Mary Louise Wanner (1901-1991) and William Fredrick Andra (1898-1990) on 26 July 2020.

Great Great Grandparents

James Ross/Meredith – Belmont Memorial, Fresno, California

Paul, Aliza, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of James Thomas Ross (aka James R Meredith)(1869-1951) on 10 May 2019.

Damey Graham Ross – Sierra View, Olivehurst, California

Damey Catherine Graham Ross doesn’t have a tombstone, but we visited her grave in 2016 in the evening.  No photo.

Milo & Lillie Sharp – Plain City, Utah

Aliza, Paul, Lillian, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Mary Ann Bailey (1828-1913), Mary Ann (Lillian “Lillie” Musgrave) Stoker (1861-1935) and Milo Riley Sharp (1857-1916) on 23 May 2020. Mary Ann Bailey is the mother of Milo Riley Sharp, don’t confuse mother Mary Ann with spouse Mary Ann. We shorten our Lillian’s name to Lillie’s spelling in her honor.

William & Mary Donaldson – Ogden, Utah

Aliza Ross with tombstones of Mary Elizabeth Williams (1869-1951) and William Scott Donaldson (1865-1913) on 28 June 2020.

George & Minnie Van Leeuwen – Ogden, Utah

Aliza Ross with tombstones for Hermina Jansen (1860-1921) and George Henry (Gerhardus Hendrick) Van Leeuwen (1856-1932) on 28 June 2020.

Joseph Jonas – Richmond, Utah

Tombstone of Joseph Jonas (1859-1917) on 26 July 2020.  The S is a mistake put there by someone.  Some have put his mother’s maiden name “Schumacher” there, but we have yet to find any evidence of that middle initial or name.

Annie Jonas – Crescent, Sandy, Utah

Lillian and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Annetta Josephine Nelson Jonas (1864-1907) on 11 July 2020.

Herbert & Martha Coley – Richmond, Utah

Lillian Ross with tombstone of Martha Christiansen (1879-1961) and Herbert Coley (1864-1942) on 26 July 2020.

Christiana Andra – Wasatch Memorial, Latona Section, Salt Lake City, Utah

Aliza Ross, Jill Hemsley, Lillian Ross with tombstone of Christiana Wilhelmina Knauke (1869-1957), widow of Friedrich Theodor Andra, on 6 September 2020.  She went by Wilhelmina in the United States and married Johann Wendel, as I have written previously.  The other grave is her daughter-in-law and grandson, Rebecca Emelia Christensen (1904-1931) and Otto Carl Andra (1929-1929).

George & Regina Wanner – Whitney, Idaho

Hiram and Aliza Ross with tombstone of Regina Frederike Nuffer (1869-1942) and John George Wanner (1870-1947) on 26 July 2020.

Great Great Great Grandparents

William Sharp – Ogden, Utah

Lillie, Paul, Aliza, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of William Sharp on 27 November 2020.  This was the first time I had ever been to William’s grave.

Mary Sharp – Plain City, Utah

Aliza, Paul, Lillian, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Mary Ann Bailey (1828-1913), Mary Ann (Lillie Musgrave) Stoker (1861-1935) and Milo Riley Sharp (1857-1916) on 23 May 2020. Mary Ann Bailey is the mother of Milo Riley Sharp, don’t confuse mother Mary Ann with spouse Mary Ann. We shorten our Lillian’s name to Lillie’s spelling in her honor.

William Stoker – Plain City, Utah

Hiram, Paul, Lillian, and Aliza Ross with tombstone of William Edward Stoker (1827-1899) on 23 May 2020.

David & Gwenllian Williams – Ogden, Utah

Aliza, Lillie, Paul, James, and Hiram Ross at the graves of Gwenllian Jordan (1842-1900) and David D Williams (1832-1911) on 27 November 2020.  Neither have a tombstone. 

Hubert Jonas – Holy Cross, Ellensburg, Washington

Lillian Ross with tombstone of Emma Schriber Jonas (1855-1898), wife of William Jonas on 5 August 2020. William and his father Hubert both do not have tombstones and are buried next to Emma.

John & Annie Nelson – Logan, Utah

Hiram, James, Lillian, and Aliza Ross with tombstone for Agnetta Benson (Bengtsson)(1832-1873) and John Nelson (Johann Nilsson)(1827-1902) on 25 July 2020.

Stephen & Hannah Coley – Lewiston, Utah

Aliza Ross with tombstone of Hannah Maria Rogers (1832-1894) and Stephen Coley (1830-1913) on 26 July 2020.

Olle Christiansen – Richmond, Utah

Lillian Ross with the tombstone of Olle Christiansen (1853-1900) on 26 July 2020.  This tombstone notes his wife’s burial in Portland, Oregon.

Constance Christiansen – Multnomah Park, Portland, Oregon

Paul, Aliza, and Lillian Ross with tombstone of Constance Josephine Eliza Jorgensen Christiansen (1857-1932) on 8 August 2020.  Portland apparently isn’t watering their cemeteries this year.

John & Anna Wanner – Logan, Utah

James, Aliza, Hiram, and Lillian Ross with tombstone of Anna Maria Schmid (1849-1929) and John George Wanner (1845-1922) on 25 July 2020.

John & Eva Nuffer – Preston, Idaho

Aliza, Hiram, and Lillian Ross with tombstones of Eva Katharina Greiner (1835-1893) and Johann Christoph Nuffer (1835-1908) on 26 July 2020.

Great Great Great Great Grandparents

John Williams – Ogden, Utah

James, Lillie, Aliza, Paul, and Hiram Ross at the tombstone of John Williams (1797-1876) on 27 November 2020.

David & Margret Jordan – Brigham City, Utah

Paul, Aliza, Lillian, and Hiram Ross with tombstones for Margret Watkins (1816-1902), David Jordan (1820-1893) and Thomas Jordan (1857-1880) on 23 May 2020. Thomas is the son of David and Margret.

Johanna Benson – Spring City, Utah

Paul, Aliza, Hiram, and Lillian Ross with tombstone of Johanna Johannsson Benson (Bengtsson)(1813-1897) on 7 September 2018.  I know I am cheating, it wasn’t 2020.  But it was recent.

Olavus & Hanna Jorgensen – Richmond, Utah

Aliza Ross with tombstones of Hanna Mathea Christensen (1831-1900) and Olavus Jorgensen (1830-1904) on 26 July 2020.

Others visited this year.

Garrett Lee Smith – Weston, Oregon

Paul Ross with tombstone of Garrett Lee Smith (1981-2003) on 9 August 2020.  Garrett was my last missionary companion.

Eli Benjamin Stoker – Mullan, Idaho

Tombstone of Eli Benjamin Stoker (1870-1952) on 3 August 2020.  Eli is the half-brother to my Mary Ann Stoker Sharp.

Mary Nelson Jonas – Holy Cross – Ellensburg, Washington

Aliza Ross with tombstone of Mary Nelson Jonas (1885-1899) on 5 August 2020.  Mary is the sister to my Joseph Nelson Jonas.

Ezra & Flora Benson – Whitney, Idaho

Aliza and James Ross with tombstone of Flora Smith Amussen (1901-1992) and Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) on 26 July 2020.  Many know Ezra as the 13th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Secretary of Agriculture under President Eisenhower.

Spackman Plot Marker – Lewiston, Utah

Aliza Ross with the Spackman Plot Marker. She recognized and wanted a picture with the Pacman tombstone on 26 July 2020.

Walter Theodor Andra – Logan, Utah

Aliza, Hiram, and Lillian Ross with tombstone of Walter Theodor Andra (1896-1967) on 25 July 2020.  Walter is brother to my Bill Andra.

Charles Wilson Nibley – Logan, Utah

Aliza, Hiram, James, and Lillian Ross with tombstone of Charles Wilson Nibley (1849-1931) on 25 July 2020.  Charles is known for various positions and business interests, but most will know him as a member of the First Presidency (non-apostle) to President Heber J Grant of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Moses Thatcher – Logan, Utah

Lillian, Hiram, and Aliza Ross with tombstone of Moses Thatcher (1842-1909) on 25 July 2020.  Moses is known for various positions and business interests, but most will know him as a an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Allison Ann Parker – Logan, Utah

Tombstone of Allison Ann Parker (1976-1997) on 25 July 2020.  Allison is a friend and brother of my high school friends Ryan and Russell Parker.  She passed away after a tragic accident driving back to Utah after our Senior Prom date night in 1997.

Peter Maughan – Logan, Utah

James, Aliza, Lillian, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Peter Maughan on 25 July 2020.  Peter is known for various positions and business interests, as one of the founders of Cache Valley, Utah.

Ezra Benson – Logan, Utah

Aliza, James, Hiram, and Lillian Ross with tombstone of Ezra Taft Benson (1811-1869) on 25 July 2020.  Ezra is known for various positions and business interests, but most will know him as a an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Nels Nelson – Crescent, Sandy, Utah

Hiram and Lillian Jonas with tombstone of Nels August Nelson (Nilsson)(1857-1935) on 11 July 2020. He is the brother to my Annetta “Annie” Jonas.

Stanley Spatig – West Warren, Utah

Tombstone of Stanley Hazen Spatig (1940-2013). Son of Eva Virtue Wanner Spatig, sister to my Mary Louise Wanner Andra.

Joseph & Ann Wayment – West Warren, Utah

Bryan Hemsley, Amanda, Aliza, and Hiram Ross with tombstones of Ann Reed (1852-1931) and Joseph Wayment (1844-1931). Amanda’s Great Great Great Grandparents on 24 May 2020.

Louis & Martha Hansen – West Warren, Utah

Bryan Hemsley, Aliza, Amanda, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Sarah Eveline Judkins (1886-1943), Louis Alma Hansen (1876-1951), and Martha Ann Wayment (1877-1908) on 24 May 2020. Louis and Martha are Amanda’s Great Great Grandparents.

Walter & Myrtle Hansen – West Warren, Utah

Bryan & Jill Hemsley with Aliza, Lillian, Amanda, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Myrtle Thompson (1902-1959) and Walter Wayment Hansen (1904-1995) on 24 May 2020. Walter and Myrtle are Amanda’s Great Grandparents.

Evan & Lona Jonas – Lindquist Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, Ogden, Utah

Aliza and James Ross with tombstone for Lona Rae Jensen (1930-2012) and Evan Reed Jonas (1928-1999) on 23 May 2020. Evan is the brother to my Norwood Jonas.

Spencer & Jimmie Jonas – Lindquist Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, Ogden, Utah

Aliza Ross with tombstone of Viola Amelia (Jimmie) Cole (1920-1996) and Spencer Gilbert Jonas (1919-1988) on 23 May 2020. Spencer is the brother to my Norwood Jonas.

Melvin Thompson – Lindquist Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, Ogden, Utah

Amanda, James, Aliza, Lillian, Hiram Ross, Bryan and Jill Hemsley, and Alyssa Smart with tombstone of Melvin J Thompson (1925-2018) on 23 May 2020. Mel is Amanda step-Grandpa.

Merle & Belle Hemsley – Lindquist Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, Ogden, Utah

Bryan & Jill Hemsley, Hiram, Lillian, Aliza, and Amanda Ross with tombstone for Belle Sarah Peterson (1917-2003) and Richard Merle Hemsley (1912-1962) on 23 May 2020. Merle and Belle are Amanda’s Great Grandparents.

Ellen Weller – Hooper, Utah

Tombstone of Ellen Watton Weller (1828-1894) on 23 May 2020. I stumbled upon this tombstone in Hooper. I was walking around, felt inspired to walk over, and looked at this one knowing there was a link. Name looked vaguely familiar. Half-sister to my Hannah Maria Rogers Coley. Didn’t know she was buried in Hooper, FamilySearch didn’t have it either. Her and Joseph Weller are now documented and updated.

Dee Hemsley – Hooper, Utah

Alyssa Smart, Bryan and Jill Hemsley, Aliza, Lillian, Amanda, and Hiram Ross with tombstone of Richard DeLece Hemsley (1936-2013) on 23 May 2020.  Dee is Amanda’s grandfather.

William & Martha Wayment – Plain City, Utah

James, Amanda, Lillian, Aliza, and Hiram Ross with tombstones for Martha Brown (1823-1905) and William Wayment (1822-1883) on 23 May 2020. William and Martha are Amanda’s Great Great Great Great Grandparents.  The tombstone above Aliza’s head is William Edward Stoker mentioned above, my Great Great Great Grandfather.

Lorenzo Snow – Brigham City, Utah

Hiram, Lillian, and Aliza Ross with tombstone for Lorenzo Snow (1814-1901) on 23 May 2020. Lorenzo Snow is known as the 5th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

David & Ruby Haight – Wasatch Memorial, Salt Lake City, Utah

Aliza & Lillian Ross, Jill Hemsley, with tombstone of Ruby Olson (1910-2004) and David Bruce Haight (1906-2004) on 6 September 2020.  David Haight is known as an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I previously interacted with him regarding marriage.

Charlotte Sharp – Ogden, Utah

James and Paul Ross at the tombstone of Charlotte Elizabeth Earl (1816-1907) on 27 November 2020.  Charlotte married my William Sharp (1826-1900) after she was widowed of her first husband Charles James McGary (1808-1875). 

Lorin Farr – Ogden, Utah

Paul Ross with tombstone of Lorin Farr (1808-1907) on 27 November 2020.  Lorin Farr was the first Stake President of the Weber Stake which covered all the territory of all my ancestors in Ogden and Plain City.  He was also the first Mayor of Ogden.

Thomas Marsh – Ogden, Utah

Paul Ross with tombstone of Thomas Baldwin Marsh (1800-1866) on 27 November 2020.  Thomas Marsh is known as the first Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who had he remained faithful, would have been President before Brigham Young.

Sergene Sorenson – Pleasant View, Burley, Idaho

Lillie, Hiram, Aliza, and James Ross with tombstone of Sergene Sorenson (1932-2013) on 2 January 2021. Sergene is the sister to my Grandma Colleen.

Scott Sorenson – Pleasant View, Burley, Idaho

James, Lillie, Hiram, and Aliza Ross with tombstone of Scott Sorenson (1951-2001) on 2 January 2021.
Lillie, Hiram, Aliza, and James Ross with tombstone of Bert Sorenson (1924-1991) on 2 January 2021.
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Brigham Young College 1915 Crimson Yearbook

I am a member of a Cache Valley Group on Facebook.  After some people posted a number of old photos, I asked if anyone knew if Brigham Young College had yearbooks and if someone had one for roughly 1915.  Within a day, Jennifer Johnson, a cousin of mine had found a copy of the Brigham Young College Crimson yearbook and made it available to me.  Here is a copy of the full 1915 Brigham Young College Crimson Annual if you are interested.

Sure enough, there on page 31 is my great-grandfather, Joseph Nelson Jonas (1893 – 1932).

Joseph Nelson Jonas’ Brigham Young College yearbook picture

Here is the full-page.  This is page 31 of the pdf.  The front of the yearbook says Crimson Annual 1915.  Page 4 shows that it includes the classes of 1915, 1916, 1917, and 1918.

Brigham Young College Crimson yearbook, page 31

Here are two copies of his diploma.

Joseph Jonas graduation diploma from Brigham Young College in Logan, Utah

 

I also found Joseph’s 1st cousin, once removed, Paul Ernest Nelson (1888-1970), was one of the teachers at BYC.  An interesting side note is that the page below states he, “Likes his Ensign.”  He and Martha Eunice Ensign were married 19 August 1914 in the Salt Lake Temple.  It also states he “[e]xpects to be a professor in psychology.”  Their first son, Paul Ensign Nelson, was born 26 June 1916 in Berkeley, California while he was attending school.

Brigham Young College yearbook, page 26

Here is a dedication to the Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Charles Winder Nibley (1849-1931).

Dedication in 1915 Brigham Young College Crimson Annual to Charles Winder Nibley

Charles W Nibley was the Presiding Bishop from 1907 to 1925.  He was a kind benefactor to Brigham Young College and as Presiding Bishop was involved with the school.  Bishop Nibley was released in 1925 and became a counselor to Heber Jeddy Grant until his death in 1931.  He is one of the few people to serve in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who was not an Apostle.

Charles Winder Nibley (1849-1931)

Brigham Young College was located in Logan, Utah.  It was founded by Brigham Young shortly before his death.  The college was meant for individuals from Northern Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.  When The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints closed all its academy’s in 1926, except Brigham Young University, it suffered the same fate.  The buildings were sold and became Logan High School.

As records become more and more available, who knows what else we may find of our ancestors.

 

 

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TV’s and such

It seems to be one of those weeks where there isn’t necessarily a whole lot to tell.  So to make an entry, and anything with a little length, I will offer a smattering of thoughts from all over the spectrum.
A big Happy Birthday to Chris Horsley and Amanda Smith on the 14th.  I sent them both e-mails and wished them the best.  It is my Aunt Jackie’s birthday on the 25th, so Happy Birthday ahead of time.
Tuesday night Amanda and I went to pay a visit to Doris Coley.  She lives over in Laurel Fork area.  Amanda has worked with her for some time at Macy’s.  She lured Amanda over there in pursuit of a free TV and DVD player.  I really don’t care if we own either and would actually prefer not to.  That is just a little more weight I will have to worry about moving in a year and another distraction to take away some of what little time we mortals have been given.  Somehow I had come to believe it was a venture where we would go over and pick up the newly acquired property and head back home.  We made an evening of it.  We chatted about the nice lovely pleasantries of the life at Macy’s.  Conversation turned to life in general and school.  Of course I did a full analysis to see if her Coley line could in any way be related to mine (Hers is several hundreds of years in North Carolina making at least that long of a connection seeing how mine came directly from England).
She had a nice little piano in her living room that also became conversation.  She invited me to play it and before long I was in my own land while the women pondered paths I didn’t care to walk.  Before the night had ended we sang some hymns and even ended in a discussion about religion.  I ended the evening with giving her a copy of the Book of Mormon and basically a first discussion.  Sometimes I feel I am not as bold as I once was.  Honestly, it seems that one relies upon their companion so much to bear testimony and Amanda had no clue of the missionary ways that I think that is the only reason it felt pretty weak.  Sadly, I think both of us relied on trying to convince too much rather than just bearing testimony and letting the Spirit drive it to the heart.  Amanda left thinking we had been too bold and I left thinking we had not been bold enough.  She called us a few days later and made sure we were still planning on coming back.  Either way, we don’t seem to have offended.  I look forward to a return visit and whether or not she read any of the newly introduced sacred scripture.
Tonight I paid a visit to the Family History Library outside my normal working hours.  We had a pretty severe thunderstorm this evening and the two ladies working inside decided to go watch the storm for a minute.  Sadly, they left their keys in the library.  I rushed down thinking I would find two drowned older ladies.  Luckily enough they had only locked themselves out of the library, and not the building.  So I spent some time visiting with them about the Merrick’s of Maine/Massachusetts.  They decided to leave early so I played the piano and practiced some singing until a member of the Stake Presidency appeared to practice basketball.
Tuesday night at the library also proved to be interesting.  For the second week in a row a young man who is a recent convert came into the library to do some research.  He appeared with his laptop last week with PAF newly downloaded.  He started putting in his family.  He is preparing to go to the temple and wanted to do some of his own names for baptisms in about two weeks.  He never even knew who his Dad was last week.  This week he came back with dates and places and interestingly, was able to link him into the Cosby line.  Once we did that we were able to take him back to Jamestowne and even followed the line back 1,000 years.  He comes from a noble line in England.  He was amazed to find ancestors on both of his lines whose temple work had been done.  Some as early as 1932 in the Mesa, Arizona Temple.  I look forward to seeing him this coming Tuesday when we run these names through TempleReady.
Last Sunday we had our Stake Priesthood Meeting.  We were introduced to the new Mission President, President Millburn.  I prefer him much more than the last one.  He seems much more humble and able to connect with an audience.  In addition, he gave a great talk on fishing.  He is an expert at it, that is for sure.  Who else uses a stomach pump on a fish?  President Mullins (who interrupted my singing and playing tonight) gave a talk about various topics.  One was that individuals in the stake are not carrying their weight in fast offerings.  I thought that was interesting.  None of the other talks I remember.  However, the power in the singing was easily felt.
Today I was branded again at work due to a broker’s dishonesty.  A man gave me a complete sob story about why an appraisal was sufficient.  He manipulated my inexperience in working someone else’s loan, added with the other person not recording what they had done, and my not being thorough enough to catch the little red flags has now cost the bank a loan which is considered a risk and investors will not buy it.  Due to my approving of an updated appraisal, that wasn’t really updated, and the bank always standing by their word somebody got away with money that probably would not have been approved.  Like speeding tickets with points, I have now gained my first and hope they will wear off over time…  It is a good thing I no longer have access to that broker’s information for I would surely give him a phone call and let him know how sorely disappointed I am in him.  At any rate, “Let God choose between me and thee and reward thee according to thy deeds.”
Terry McComb’s funeral is going to be this coming Saturday.  I so wish I could be there.  Alas, we can’t do everything we want in life.  His obituary appeared today in the Times News.  I looked at it this morning at work.  I am looking forward to having my own clipping from the newspaper for my records.  I guess I will just have to pay a visit to the cemetery next time I get back to Idaho.  I so planned on spending a day or two in Branson on the way home for a lesson or two.  I guess I won’t now, at least stay for lessons.
We are headed up to Washington, DC again this weekend to attend the temple.  I am very much looking forward to it.  I have very much felt my faith increase this week and my soul feeling greatly nourished after some experiences in the scriptures.  2 Peter 2 and Ether 12 were powerful this week.
We received the Church News today and I read the parts about the new Brazil Temple.  I was thinking how excited President Faust must be to have the temple dedication coming up and realized he had passed away.  I guess he will be there at any rate, but not with a mortal body.  I wonder who will be called next.  I surely hope it is someone independent from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  I certainly think tradition and order are a good thing but it is always nice to shake things up from time to time.  Too often people get so rigid about the way things should be done we forget the role of inspiration being mixed in the bag.  I would really like to see a President of the Church not be the most senior Apostle.  How would that be for shaking things up?  We need more John Winder’s, Reuben Clark’s, Jedediah Grant’s, Hyrum Smith’s, and Charles Nibley’s in the world.
Lastly, I will end on a political note.  I haven’t had a political candidate really catch much of the sympathies of my heart.  They seem so canned and stale I can’t stand it.  However, Obama gave a comment this week about opening up government.  Boy, if reading an article ever stopped my heart, that was one of them.  A candidate willing to give full disclosure to the public?  If that becomes his whole purpose in life, I will most certainly vote for that man.  Well, that is only after he drops universal health care.  After my experiences in England,  will never support government ran health care.  But open disclosure?  How refreshing.  That requires more effort.  That requires doing things you know the whole country can be privy to.  Where would Bill Clinton be if he had known that?  How would things be different with Bush?  Either of them?  Watergate?  Iran-Contra?  New Deal?  War?  How would the world be different?
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Laundry list of escapades and visits

Amanda and I just returned from a 4 day visit to Utah/Idaho.  It was like a breath of fresh air into my life.  It was just what I needed.  Sorry it has taken so long, but here is some of what we did.

We arrived at Norfolk, Virginia airport at 6:00 in the morning to fly out for Salt Lake.  I am seriously considering if it was worth the $150 we saved to have two layovers.  I thought I would die from the trip.  We flew from Norfolk to Detroit, Michigan, then to Minneapolis, Minnesota on to Salt Lake City, Utah.  I think on each flight I became motion sick.  The layover would cause the sickness to subside and then we took off again.  It was a form of torture.  By the time I arrived in SLC I felt sick, weak, and irritable.  We went to bed pretty early to combat jet lag and my feeling sick.

Friday dawned bright and early.  I was up well before everyone else and was ready for the day before 7 AM even thought of rolling around.  We had crepes for breakfast.  The Hemsley family had a new crepe maker and it turned out to be a great purchase.  They were good.  I always liked the feeling of biting into a warm crepe with cold ice cream oozing between your teeth.  We found our way to Salt Lake again to pick up Bryan and attend the Salt Lake Temple.  I was really not feeling well and I ended up with a pair of pants that were far too tight.  I am glad I switched them out.  I am sure I would have passed out if I had kept them and not switched them for a larger waist size.  The session went well and Sherise, Amanda’s cousin, was beautiful.

After the endowment session Amanda and I split up.  Brad picked me up and we headed north for an evening of visiting and fellowship.  I changed at the Hemsley house and went on our way.  Our first stop was Lillian Talbot.  Lillian is my mother’s father’s sister.  I returned the three journals I typed up from 1961, 1962, and 1963.  I was glad to return them.  We visited for a few moments and went on our way.  The next stop was to Lona Jonas.  She is the sister in law to Lillian who we had just left.  We had a good visit with her.  She told us about her operation on her forehead and eye which came from a piece of glass working its way to the surface after 55 years!  Our next step took us closer to the Wasatch Mountains with a visit to Jennie Britzman.  She is my father’s mother’s mother’s daughter’s daughter (1st cousin to my Grandma Ross).  We had an interesting visit.  I discovered she had another husband I never knew about!  Brad turned out to be very interested in learning about Jennie.  He asked all the right questions and so I learned some family history things I hope I have not missed often in other family members.  How in the world did I ever not ask or find out she had another husband?  Brad really found her story fascinating and we enjoyed ourselves with a good laugh.  It doesn’t seem that she is 90 years old.  Her son Richard came home while we were there and we had a good visit with him as well.

We wound up the conversation and made our way to downtown Ogden to visit Mary Coley.  Her relationship to me is two fold.  She was married to my mother’s father’s brother, Irwin Jonas.  He was killed in WWII and she went on to marry Arthur Coley, Irwin’s Uncle.  It was an interesting story.  I knew that I did not have her parents in my family history so I had some questions to pose.  She answered them all with amazing clearness despite her being 89 years old.  She grew up in Minnesota and met Irwin while he was in training for the military there.  They were married and he went off to the war effort.  He wanted her home in Richmond, Utah when he came back so she moved out there.  She lived with Great Grandma Lillian Jonas (Lillian’s mother, Lona’s mother in law, Irwin’s mother).  It was there she lived when Irwin was killed.  At dinner with my Great Great Grandmother, Martha Coley, Art (Arthur) walked in one evening and asked where they had dragged up Mary.  They were married shortly after.  Anyhow, she does not remember her parents but was able to tell me their names.  Her mother died when she was very young and she was raised by a foster family.  She also gave me the names of her foster parents.  So I have some research to do but have Mary’s lineage.  She also told us of her conversion story to the church.  That was very interesting as well.

We made our way to the home of Dave and Betty Donaldson after Aunt Mary.  Dave is my Grandma Ross’ brother.  We originally were going to stop at Grandpa’s but there was a man in a ten gallon hat sitting in his living room that we could see from the road.  So we decided to come back.  It wasn’t far since Dave and Betty live next door.  We had a good little visit with Dave and Betty.  Dave just had his knee replaced in the past few months.  He feels more confident and strong in his new knee than he does his other.  Plans are to replace the other probably this fall.  After all, we would not want to miss a perfectly good summer or fishing laid up in bed at home.  Next we found Abe and Caroline Gallegos home.  Caroline, my Dad’s sister, had just stepped out of the shower.  We visited with Abe for a while and Caroline emerged.  We talked about her new found love of family history, viewed photos.  Meanwhile Brad visited with Abe.

The night was running out and we had to be in our best shape for the long haul Saturday.  After the Gallegos home Brad dropped me off at the Hemsley residence and went to stay with our old roommate, Mark Morris, in Salt Lake.

Friday turned out to be a long night.  I had not recovered from whatever it was I had.  I wanted to blame it on the flight, but the usual suspect of a cold sore (which I always get after flying) showed up before I left Richmond.  I felt sick enough Friday evening Bryan made a run to the store for some Pepto Dismal (the correct spelling).  It is the first time I remember in my life having PB and it sure seems to have done the trick.  I awoke up at 1 AM in emergency situations.  I went on to vacate my entire system of any remnants of food.  I panicked after tossing the perfectly good hamburger in the toilet when it came up  all red and pink.  My brain kicked in to tell me it was only the evidence of PB.  Before the night was finished, it felt I had puked every thought of food I had entertained for the past week.  The rest of the system went on to winterize itself.  By the time I went back to bed at 3 after a shower and a cleaning of the throne I was feeling much better about life.  That constant sickness from the flight was gone.

Saturday dawned bright and early.  We were headed off to Salt Lake City for the sealing ceremony.  We were parked found our way through the temple maze for the sealing party and visited with friends and family for a while.  Before long we were ushered up to a sealing room and we waited for the happy couple and sealer to appear.  Travis and Sherise made their way in followed by Elder Bednar.  It was your typical sealing except Elder Bednar gave some very direct advice before the sealing.  Usually it tends to be a rather superfluous group of niceties which are showered on the couple.  He gave the couple, and for those listening in the party, a direct sermon on several topics I don’t think this is the place to disclose.  I do remember coming out of the ceremony thinking, “I wish they would teach that in General Conference.”

We waited outside in the beautiful spring weather for the couple to appear for photos.  I made a few quick expeditions around temple square and even looking at deconstruction and construction sites bordering temple square.  The flowers and grass didn’t look real.  (They were as testing went on to prove)  The couple made their appearance, we spent the next 45 minutes under the loose commands of a photographer and I made my escape.

Brad appeared and we made a quick venture to the Church Museum to see the exhibit on the Tabernacle.  We trekked northward changing clothes at the Hemsley’s and pressing on to Cache Valley.

Our first stop upon arriving at in that blessed valley was in the city of Nibley.  We stopped to visit Larry and Margo Anhder but they decided not to be home.  We visited with Cynthia Farnsworth around the corner who Brad worked with at the city of Nibley.  It was a good visit.

We left Nibley and headed into Logan to visit Sunshine Terrace.  During school Brad and I used to go down and visit all the old luvs who were there.  Brad only had one of hers still living, Thelma Freeman who is now over the 104 mark.  She remembered Brad very well and even asked if he was off to spray lawns in Malad.  It was a good visit with her.  Even thought she is pretty well death and blind, she remembered quite a bit.  She began to give Brad a rundown on all her grandchildren and I excused myself to go see if anyone I used to regularly visit was still alive.  Nope, they were all gone.  Even Eula Waldron who I thought would live for a good while longer had passed away last fall.  Harriet Elison had passed away last summer.  Apparently right after my last visit she passed.  I felt kinda bad knowing every single person I used to visit while at USU was now dead.  Good for them I suppose.  I decided not to start up any new friendships with an old luv as I didn’t know the next time I would be around to visit.  I went back to listen to Brad and Thelma talk about how she wasn’t going to die until Brad was married.  She openly admitted she wants to die but the Lord just doesn’t seem to want her yet, or perhaps it was because Brad wasn’t married yet….

We left and wandered our way around Utah State University.  Fascinating how quickly things can change.  The new library is completed and we wandered its corridors.  Don’t know if I think it was designed very well, but it was certainly interesting.  The Merrill Library was gone with only the stark increase in the size of the Quad to mark its passing.  We paid a visit to Dentist Office #6 to visit with Matt Geddes and Lucas Garcia for a good while.  Justin Siebenhaar also showed up and we were able to visit with him too.  We did not remain long before we headed out.

Ellis and Geri Jonas we found in their van.  Brad and I did not figure out if they were coming and going.  They said they were waiting for someone (who did not appear while we were there) and yet talked about dinner (so were they coming or going?).  It was good to visit with them for a while.  They gave us the scoop on Ron in Afghanistan, BJ in the hospital, Amie a new house, Jennie a nice guy who she might marry, Ryan and his wife, Julie with her leg, Dan and his job, and the whole story that went with the family.  Geri is just so funny in how she tells it.  Brad and I got a good kick out of it.  Ellis seemed to be more with it than I remember him for the past 5 years.  He has thinned down quite a bit which the Dr.’s wanted him to do anyway.

Allen, Marie, Kade, and Kallie Lundgreen were where we spent our next hour.  Richmond, Utah seems like time is treating it well.  Marie told us the entire latest saga for the city.  The city is publishing a new history but nobody seems to like the author except a few who like to stir up trouble in town.  There is a story unfolding about public records from the old North Cache High School that was torn down which now want to be taken back probably only to be destroyed or lost.  We talked about some history and the story inevitably moved towards Mom.  The best part, I offered Marie a Eureka vacuum cleaner from the 1950’s that I have been lugging around for over a year.  I finally remembered to take it, had it where I could take it, and remembered to give it.  All in all, we enjoyed the reunion and laughs.  It was if I had never left.  Brad sure got a kick out of it.  He thinks we are all crazy.

Next we enjoyed the new highway in Southern Idaho from the Utah border to Preston.  How nice.  So totally cruisable now.  We stopped at the home of Larry and Barbara Andra to visit.  They were not home.  Brad and I took a good look and tour of the new facilities Larry has set up and his new ride in delivering lawn spraying services.  Those new guys have it good!  He has a brand new truck with a new trailer and two 500 gallon tanks.  He appears serious about this whole lawn spraying business!

It was as we climbed into the car we realized we really needed to get moving in order to make it to Blackfoot in time to even catch the last 30 minutes of the reception.  We did a little speeding up the old highway past Winder, Banida, Red Rock, Downey, and Virginia.  We had some good conversation.  We decided we both really like Inkom and could live there some day.  We rounded through Pocatello and made our way to Blackfoot in good time.  We arrived 15 minutes before the reception was scheduled to end.  We went through the line, did our hugs, ate some cake, and enjoyed the family meal in the kitchen.  It was the close of a good day.  We started with Travis and Sherise and ended with them too (not to mention frog eye salad!!!).

After the reception, we watched the fireworks and the send off.  I have to admit, I can’t stand some of the cheesy traditions that accompany marriages and receptions.  I am glad Amanda and I left most of them out.  We loaded up some food for the road and made the way across Southern Idaho to Kasota.  On the way Brad read some really good articles from the latest Summit Magazine from Brigham Young University – Idaho.  We both decided that if we were going to school this fall out of high school, we would both choose YofI.

Sunday morning dawned far too early for us.  We arose, had some wonderful country biscuits and gravy and headed to church.  Church was quite enjoyable.  I really enjoyed the completely humble tone in which the meetings took place.  Elder’s Quorum’s lesson was on Testimony by President Kimball.  Every single person shared some thought and all, except one, did it in a completely humble tone and perspective.  I was not only impressed by the tone of those who participated but the fact that all participated.  It was not even encouraged by the teacher.  I don’t ever remember becoming emotional in Elder’s Quorum as it is usually the least spiritual of all the church meetings.  Sunday school was by Sister Crane and she did well.  Ted was totally shocked when he sat with his family to find us sitting with them.  Sacrament was Fast & Testimony Meeting.  I really quite enjoyed it.  President Merrill bore his testimony and I very much enjoyed it.  President King also bore his testimony which was powerful.  I followed President King which was a bit intimidating.

After church we made a quick trip home before making our rounds for the day.  The first stop of the day was at Sergene Jensen’s in Heyburn.  This was Brad’s first meeting of Sergene and he commented that he could definitely tell she was an Andra.  It was the first time I have seen her in probably 5 years.  We had a good visit while there.  Brad talked golf with Neil from Filer while I fixed Sergene’s computer, her cell phone, and chatted about her son Andy.  She had a pacemaker put in last December which was a surprise to me.  But she thinks it was a worthwhile investment as it has drastically improved her golf swing.  Neil says he wants one now.  It was a good visit.

We went to visit my Aunt Jackie afterwards.  We found Willie, Jackie, and Jesse all home for the day.  Willie was just leaving for work but it was a good visit.  I visited with Jackie for a good while.  Brad wasn’t feeling well so he went and took a nap in the car.  We discussed a variety of things, none of which are worth mentioning here.  Pretty much it boils down to she seems like a lost soul who isn’t willing to make the changes necessary to get her life back in order.

We went to visit a friend of Brad’s, Eli Hansen but he was not home.  We did visit with Eli’s mother, Teri for a few minutes.  We then attempted to pay a visit to Scott and Chris Horsley, but they too were not home.  We stopped to visit Brad’s great Aunt Ora Barlow.  We had a good little visit with her.  I guess before she married Woodrow (Woody) she was married to a Jones.  Her son Lenny popped in and visited with us while we were there too.  It was interesting to hear some of the dynamics of another family.

We attempted another visit to the Horsley home without success and we headed to visit the Orton family.  Kevin, Megan, Ryan, and Kegan were all there.  I wanted to visit with them but had to so I could get a picture with Ryan and Flat Stanley.  As you are aware, I helped with his Flat Stanley project (FS has his own album!).  So chatted about Tran-Systems, Circle A, Ag Express, Washington DC, life in general, the positioning of the stars in the cosmos, and other various lowly conversations.  The actual camera for the photo was at Kevin’s parents so we made the trip to Paul for that.  Brad and I did a quick driving tour of Paul to see what changes have been made.  It is still there, I can verify that.  They are also getting a new city park across from the Stake Center and Harpers are finally subdividing the property next to the Stake Center.  Paul, Idaho is on the boom!

Brad wanted to nap some more so I left him in the car to snooze.  I went in and had even more interesting conversations.  We discussed the lifestyle of the polygamist fundamentalists in Utah.  Wow, I never knew all the ways you could cheat the United States Government!  But the polygamists have it worked out to a ‘T”.  Kevin’s mother became a polygamist and they are sure she is dead but will not report it so they can continue to collect the Social Security Checks.  They mooch the system from the crib to death.  If I didn’t believe in honesty I might be tempted to do the same.  The conversation with Dennis and Derith Orton turned to other subjects until I received a phone call from my Dad wanted to know if I was still planning on dinner.  Yep, the time had arrived and I did not even notice it.  I had to end the conversations rather abruptly and made my way home.

Dad usually is very relaxed about food and eating times but I found out Andra was the instigator.  She was all in an uproar for some reason and wanted to get out of there.  She gave us some reason with Brian needing her somewhere but we could tell it was a lie.  She left in a huff without saying anything for a good bye or even hello.  In addition, she left the present that was intended for her.  I am amazed at how easily people can treat their own family badly and think it is okay.  Perhaps those who are closest to us we can just expect they will understand and we can be as selfish as we want.  That was the extent of any real time with my sister.

Dinner turned out to be very good.  Dad made the t-bone steaks in his usual fashion with the barbeque grill and sugar cure.  It was very good.  Made me wish we could afford a bit more meat to eat on the grill in Virginia.  We had baked potatoes, steaks, salad and plenty more.  It was good to sit down and eat a meal with Dad, Andra who ate only a little bit very quickly, Brad, and Jan.  We talked health, Idaho, family, and a variety of issues.  It was good quality time with the family.  Brad finally decided it was time for him to crash.  He asked for a blessing which we gave him and he crashed despite the fact it was only 8:30 p.m.  I visited with Dad and Jan a little longer before I borrowed Dad’s truck and went to pay a visit to the Tateoka Family.

I roamed up to the top of the hill at Kasota and visited with Ted and Becca.  We lounged around for a while as I told them about the events so far during the weekend.  Ted was quite fascinated with the advice given by Elder Bednar and took the opportunity to pat himself on the back some.  We had a good laugh.  He went with me for a drive to AgExpress (I want to call it Circle A) and we filled up Dad’s pickup for him.  We talked about life in general.  He told me about his struggles in the Bishopric and some of the cases that are before him.  I can sympathize and honestly hope I never serve in that type of capacity.  It sounds like a nightmare in many ways.  I know there are many blessings that come, and Ted openly admits those.  We talked about marriage, women, work, and several other topics.  In the end, he had to be home at a descent hour.  I dropped him off and went home.

Monday again dawned far too bright and early.  Brad arose and was feeling much better after about 11 hours of sleep.  We got ready, loaded the car, said our good byes, and headed out.  Ted wanted us to stop by for breakfast.  We found him at his parent’s place and we had a great breakfast of ham, eggs, toast, and plenty more.  We were stuffed.  We spent some time talking before Ted had to go back to work on the farm.

We went to visit Dustin McClellan at his home.  We found him in the work shop and we took a good look at the Old Dodge.  She was covered in dust and bird droppings but still looked good.  Dustin says he is going to clean her up and get her going again now that spring is here.  Plus he has just finished doing his spring field work and had a week before his next phase.  We visited for a while in his house and we looked around to see what he has done differently.  Next, we stopped by AgExpress and visited with Dad and he introduced me to most of the people in the office.  I knew Michelle and remember Sean.  We said our good bye’s and headed off to Paul and Kathy Duncan’s.

Kathy had forgotten we were coming and we found her in her pajamas still cleaning up after the weekend.  She quickly changed and we visited for a good hour.  She insisted we eat lunch with her and started making food.  Brad and I thought we would both pop if we ate more after a big breakfast.  It turned out to be really good barbeque chicken, salad, and cheesy potatoes.  Brad really liked the desert.  Paul came home and ate with us and we had a good visit about farming, the dairy, and life in general.  Their whole family is doing well and things are good.

We had to get moving once again and we took the old highway 30 out to the Raft River exit.  We took the freeway and got off to head out towards Rockland.  It was a beautiful drive with the stormy clouds, the scenic valley, and the crepuscular drama.  We paid a visit to Leo and Rhea Udy a few miles of Rockland approaching Roy.  It was a really good visit.  I quite enjoyed our conversation.  They have served several church missions.  Two or three of them in helping with engineering projects in the building of temples.  One was with Nauvoo and I think there was one or two more.  They also served in Adam-Ondi-Ahman.  They have known Jack and Janet Duncan since their days in Oregon.  It was also interesting to learn about the Udy history.  This was even more true in light of the Udy Lawn Spraying business my Uncle Larry has.  Rhea is Brad’s great aunt.  We spent our time there and needed to head out in order to be able to pay a visit to Grandpa and make it to Kaysville in time for a party there.

We left the Udy home and took the drive to Malad, Idaho.  We took some time to stop at Twin Springs and a quick drive through Holbrook.  It seemed strange to us to be able to drive through a town literally in the middle of nowhere and know many of the people who live in the homes and much history of the area.  We crossed the pass into Pleasantview and talked about our crazy day recording cemetery tombstone names in Samaria.  We finally arrived in Malad and took a look at all the lots that I am thinking of buying there.  We took some pictures with the phone and left just as the rain was starting to come down again.

We caught I-15 south and got off to drop back into Plain City.  We stopped by Uncle Dave’s again to drop the picture off we neglected to do the first time.  That is another long story, but I have been trying to get that photo back to its owner for a good two years now.  One person takes it, can’t deliver it, and it keeps coming back to me.  At one point, so I would not forget it, I placed it on a desk in Provo so I would always see it.  The weekend I went to take it back I forgot it because Brad, of all people, hid it because he didn’t like it sitting out.  Anyhow, I hope it is the final step to finding its way back to Ed Telford.

We stopped and had a good visit with Grandpa.  He seemed a bit down from the latest waves of death in his circle of friends.  It was still fun to see him and spend some time with him.  In the end he didn’t seem like he wanted to talk much so we said our good byes and headed out.  We made our last stop at the Olive Garden in Layton in order to meet the Hemsley family.  Brad and I discussed our weekend and figured out we really quite enjoyed ourselves.  To top it off, we figured out we had reconnected, visited with, and spent time with at least 43 people since Friday morning together.  That seemed like quite the group of people.  We felt content in our activities.  I came back with 4 pages of family history notes.  Brad was able to see family he had not seen in about 2-8 years.  Best of all, we just enjoyed the company and the sites of Idaho/Utah.

It was Scott Hemsley’s birthday and we ate out at Olive Garden to celebrate the event.  Derek did not join us but it was a good dinner and we had some good laughs.  They are a good family.  I am happy to claim them as family and to have ties with them.  We went back to their home (Brad left for Provo and did not eat with us) and watched The Terminal with Tom Hanks.  It seemed highly fitting since we would again be spending a whole day in traveling by plane.  Amanda’s grandparents came over and we visited with them some.  Finally we crashed since we had to leave at 5 a.m. and felt we needed the rest.

The flights went okay.  I don’t like riding in the very back because sometimes you feel every bit of turbulence.  I think I regained my motion sickness every time we were on descent to the airport.  The winds and tossing just doesn’t do much for my stomach.  The last flight put me under and heater vent or something that blew warm air on me the entire flight.  So I turned on my cold air nozzle to high and suffered with the torments of hot and cold air blowing on me.

We arrived at Norfolk, kissed the ground and went to the Odom home in Newport News.  They fed us some Chinese (which was very nice of them!) and we went home.

There is the end of the narrative of the trip to Utah and Idaho.  I know it became a bit of a laundry list of things we did.  But I did not want to write it by hand in my journal and I type so quickly.  Plus I know some of you would be interested.  So viola, there you go!

by

Visit from Grands

This week brought some happy differences from the mundane run.  Not at all to give the impression that life is mundane though.  The longer I live, the more I realize it is just like beauty, all in the life of the beholder.  There are those people wandering their lives thinking they are a nobody and with nothing great in their character or soul.  Then there are those people who find fascination, excitement, and life in all there is about them.  They are a different breed.

Somehow, I feel like in Richmond, I walk through a load of people with no excitement in their lives.  Life is a labyrinth for them to wander and walk.  There are so few who are in it for the game, and the experience.

The great Samuel Clemens, a fascinating man.  One who watched the every move of those about him with great detail.  Their every movement captured their personality for him.  That is one of the things that made him such a great writer.  He was able to take those little details and wind them into a story and make the characters that much more real. 

Suppose it would be the experience of the riverboat pilot which would teach you even more closely to watch the details of the water.  The slightest quiver could mean life or death.  Just his assumed name of Mark Twain shows a certain yearning.

Earlier this week I was able to pick the brain of a man who I found to be very fascinating.  A silent man in the past, but who gave voice this week.  I wanted to hear his story.  So I started to inquire and found some wonderful stories.

Having William Borah fresh on my mind, I was thinking of the honour of the President of the United States coming to visit you in your home state.  Senator Borah toured with him and introduced him to all audiences that he was presented before.  For some reason this has really lingered with me the past weeks.  President Roosevelt paying one of the greatest honours to a man of the opposite party.  President Franklin Roosevelt went to Republican Idaho and toured with its Senator.  It also showed the distinction of Senator Borah.  This really has hit home with the latest election.

So it was with greatest delight that I wandered through the mind and history of Mel Thompson.  Learning he moved with his family to Nyssa, Oregon in the mid 30’s.  They moved up there and basically homesteaded a new territory.  Knowing many of my own family would move to that same area within the next 10 years I really sought to pick his brain. 

Family history and my delving into history met ironically in the mind of Mel.  He told of the experience when he was still in school that the President of the United States came to town.  Yes sir, little Nyssa, Oregon welcomed the President.  I knew who one of the men was who traveled with him, the same Senator Borah.

These stories come to life for me when I can go to the places these events happened.  But they come so much more alive when I know a person and can learn from firsthand experience.  Like sitting on the porch of the Price home in Malad, Idaho where Senator Borah visited with Helen Daniels Price’s father.

Having been to Nyssa several times in my life, the latest just in 2005 when I traveled out there with a visit to Parma.  The Amalgamated Sugar Factory, with which Dad was closely tied for a good 25 years.  Cannot forget the Sharp family members who moved, and some of which still live in Malheur County.  The Fort Boise replica is not far away either.  Oh, and the elusive Rhoda Christensen Davenport Pappas Halan who wrote letters from there, but that is the end of the story.  I have found no more.

All truth can be circumscribed into one great whole.  That truth certainly extends beyond the theoretical.  That truth engulfs us into it as well.  Funny thought, to consider ourselves the truth, but in essence all things are truth.  Whether we like or live it or not; even our lying is in truth and will be treated as such.  Our lives mingle, intertwine, and are very much related to each other.  How could one ever conceive that their actions don’t affect another?  President Roosevelt, Senator Borah, and in the school yard where the children were let out from class to go out to the street to see the President’s motorcade prove that point.  One of those children had a face, had a personality, and had the name of Melvin J Thompson.

Last weekend, we went to Washington to attend the temple, to see Amanda’s grandparents, and to witness of a baby blessing.  It was a great weekend, but turned even better when Amanda’s grandparents came to stay with us for an evening.  An honour I would be willing to give a lifetime to do with one of my sets of grandparents.  (I suppose I am giving a lifetime to do so!)  It will yet come to pass and I will cherish that day.

We attended the Washington Temple Saturday morning.  Amanda and I were asked to be the witness couple for the session.  That was our second time.  Shanna just thought that was something else.  I wish I could have done an endowment with any of my grandparents, living I mean.  It bothers me even still today my Grandfather, my only living grandparents, chose not to come to our sealing.  For what reason I do not know, and probably prefer not to know.  There again, how woven our lives are together.  That the mere presence, or absence thereof, would so affect me.  What if Mel Thompson had not been in the audience that day?  Who would ever have known?  Nobody would have known, but now I do.  Somehow it rings a siren to my soul and brings back me back to the reality of the past.  It seems so far distant sometimes.  But now that nameless face has altered my life some 70 years later.  Even further, all those who read this will be altered to one degree or another, by this events significance.  That says nothing of all the other individuals present that day.  How many of them told that experience later in life, how many wrote it down, how many family members recall that event today.  I would venture that at least one somewhere, somehow, even if from a recorded record.

Our families were tied a little more closely that day in Washington and the following convo.  The drive back to Richmond brought out the stories of childhood in Pingree, Idaho; Nyssa, Oregon; and Ogden, Utah.  The stories included excursions to the Pacific and World War II and running into Mel’s brother at Pearl Harbor from Air Craft Carrier #77 to his training at Farragut in northern Idaho.  His missing attendance at the Laie, Hawaii Temple by one day was told followed by his bouts in learning telegraphy for the railroad.  Even those appear to be the most ordinary have a life to tell.  Sadly, it is in the eye of the storyteller that plays just as much of a role as that of the listener.  The listener has to seek and find connections, living what is true empathy.  In return, the speaker has to give of himself in such a way for the other to experience it. 

Is it any wonder the gospel works the way it does?  Not only does one have to be prepared to receive, but the giver has to be prepared to give.  Otherwise neither will give nor receive and both will most certainly not be edified.  One side operating just doesn’t work.  It falls on deaf ears, or is droned out before even arriving at the other party.

Too often there are those who are giving for the wrong reasons make it strained.  Those who seek it for the wrong reasons ruin the experience.

Anyhow, it was a fascinating lesson, and I was able to come and grasp some more of the 60’s.  I have really struggled coming to understand the 70’s and 70’s.  I just cannot tell why.  Even though I was born in the late 70’s, there seems to have been some type of disconnect.I have been fully engulfed in Richmond, Utah in 1961 and 1962 through the eyes of Lillian Coley Jonas Bowcutt.  The lifestyle of a lady in her 60’s though just does not seem to portray the era.  Especially this is true in a community which was still very rural and in some ways behind the times.  I just cannot seem to get the culture of the time.  50’s, 40’s, 30’s, I feel like I have a very good grasp, like experiencing through proxy.  In stepping backwards farther, I struggle to back further and feel it is due to the 60’s and 70’s.  Honestly though, I have not much desire for that time.  I don’t know why.  So I push further back into the 20’s and 1800’s without it. 

Anyhow, I never really got to pick Shanna’s brain much.  I got Mel on such a roll that he was not about to give up his shine.  We both were so enjoying it while the others just slept, knitted, or did something else.  So I regret not picking apart Shanna’s past, which I am sure holds many interesting experiences and stories.  Perhaps another day, with the right experiences will open that book.

They spent the night, and we had breakfast together before Amanda went to school and I went to work.  Mel, Shanna, Dennis, and Gwen toured the Museum of the Confederacy and St. John’s Church.  We invited them for dinner, of which they accepted.  We made white chili for their dinner.  They loved it, we put it over rice with corn.  In the end, games and conversation were out as Dennis seemed not very desirous to stay.  So we bid them adieu and wished them well on their drive home.

It was an experience I will not soon forget.  It is a rare thing such experiences happen.  So much has to align for such events to occur.  A man I had viewed as so quiet proved to be very perceptive, keen, and wise.

I don’t like the tone of this little blog, so I think I will be leaving.  I feel like I am condescending or portraying some type of sage.  Which I am not attempting, but failing.  I am so weak at words it is frustration.  What I would not give to have the power and verse of Mark Twain or Hugh Nibley.