Rupert

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Pearlie letter to Jim

This letter was shared with me by Erron Alvey. Erron and I are cousins descending from James Thomas Ross/Meredith and Damey Catherine Graham. I have written about them before. In 2020, I shared that some more photos of James/Jim were found and I hoped that more would be found. Erron is a descendant through Robert “Bob” Leonard Ross, brother to my John “Jack” Ross. Bob’s daughter, Mary, is Erron’s Great Grandmother. It appears that some of Jim’s possessions and photos have come through the generations to her. She provided some photographs and other documents for scanning, I scanned 215 documents in all. Among them, was this letter. Pearlie was married to James Thomas Ross/Meredith Jr. Envelopes suggest Jim was living in Winton, California. None of the letters have an address on them.

The letter is dated 1934. That is right in the depths of the Great Depression. During this time in California, Jim is planning on making his way to the Salt Lake City Temple. There he will make covenants only available in temples. His closest temple at that time would have been St. George. But he has family and friends in Salt Lake City. I don’t know if he made it to Vernal and Lapoint to visit James and Pearlie and their family. But this certainly gives some more insight into the ongoing conversations and relationships that existed. I will share the scans of the letter below. I will also share some of the stash of photos that have come over, unfortunately most are unnamed individuals. Jim was baptized and confirmed 17 April 1898. He received his endowment 20 June 1935 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Damey, who has passed away in 1933, also received her endowment vicariously on the same date. They were also sealed that same date. This letter is 11 months before Jim made the trip and received these ordinances.

Pearlie May Marshall was born 16 September 1892 in Gladesboro, Carroll, Virginia and died 17 September 1976 in Vernal, Uintah, Utah. She married to James Thomas Ross (1895 – 1964) 4 June 1913 in Laurel Fork, Carroll, Virginia. They divorced and she remarried to Ashley Bartlett in Vernal, Utah, 22 November 1938. James Jr and Pearlie had six children: Vesta Virginia Ross (1914 – 2007), Eugene Dale Ross (1915 – 1986), Iola Inez Ross (1918 – 1976), Ernest Howard Ross (1919 – 1922), Sydney Bea Ross (1922 – 2010), and Carma Ross (1924 – 2015). All but Sydney were born in Lapoint, she was born in Rupert, Minidoka, Idaho. Ernest died in Rupert while there.

James and Pearlie Ross

Lapoint, Ut

July 20, 1934

Dear Dad,

We were surely pleased to get your letter as we half been expecting one for some time.

How are you and what are you doing?  We are all well as usual and not doing much of any thing.

Are times getting any better down there?  Don’t seem to be any better here, besides the water situation is getting serious.

Just enough for gardens and maybe that won’t last.

No hay or grain raised if under the White Rocks Canal and not much under the Government Canal.

Glad you are coming to Salt Lake City to go through the Temple.

Nothing would please me better than to go through with you, but I haven’t a penny now and don’t suppose I will then, but if it is possible I will be there.

One of my neighbors used to work in the Temple.  She said you could get some one there to go through with you, but I will if I can get there.

I wish Tom would go and be sealed to you and have our work done but I’ve about given up all hopes.

You must be sure and come on out here whether I can meet you there or not.

It won’t cost much more and we want to see you so bad.  The children talk about your a lot.  Sydney and Carma are getting to be quite big girls now.  Eugene hasn’t grown much since you saw him.  Surely sorry to hear Jack had cancer of the stomach.  Hope he is better by now.

How are Fannie’s folks?

I wrote her 2 or 3 weeks ago but haven’t heard from her.  

Do you still stay with Florence?  How are her and her family?  Tell her to write and tell all about herself and kiddies.

Where is Orson?  How are he and his wife getting along.  Where does Mary live and how is her health now.

Dad and Mother are getting quite feeble.  They ask about you often.  Said give you their love.  All the rest are quite well.  The depression has hit them all.  

Irma and Bill are still here but would like to lie in Calif.

Well, Dad don’t wait so long to write us as we are always anxious to hear from you.  Be sure you make your plans to come on here when you come to Salt Lake.

Would like for you to come stay with us.  It was not cold here last winter so maybe it won’t be this.

Any way come for awhile.  I’ll meet you if I can.

Please write soon.

Love from all

Pearlie

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Early Heyburn Picture

Early Heyburn Idaho picture

This photo was recently shared on social media. I have written of Heyburn before with a photo of the train station. The above photo appears to have been taken before a train depot was built. It does show the old water tower for trains, but no depot nearby. The depot picture shared previously also does not show the tower. I do not know where the water tower or depot were in relation to each other. This photo does not appear to show the river, so this is likely looking to the northeast toward Rupert.

To the left of the water tower, you can see a taller building with a sloped roof but square facade. You can see the shadows of the facade. If you look at this photo below of the train depot, there is a chance the hotel in the photo is the same as that building left of the tower above.

Heyburn as a village was formally incorporated 18 January 1911 in Lincoln County. Minidoka County was not formed until 1913.

Heyburn was surveyed by Bureau of Reclamation 1904 and 1905.  The Oregon Short Line Railroad was finished to Heyburn in June 1905.  The photo cannot pre-date June 1905.

Heyburn’s first depot was a boxcar.  When the time came to build a depot, Heyburn had a brick plant operated by Barker and Sons. Heyburn told the railroad if they would build the depot of brick, Heyburn would furnish it free of charge. That is why you can see the depot is built of brick.

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New Minidoka Councilman

Mayor Julie Peterson swears in new Councilman Monique Hurst

Earlier this year, I wrote about the City of Minidoka having a new Mayor and Councilman sworn in to City service. At that time, Councilman Bridgett Frost was sworn in to service. She had to move out of Minidoka leaving a vacancy on the City Council. On 7 October 2025, Mayor Peterson appointed a new Councilman, Monique Hurst. Welcome Councilwoman Hurst! (State law calls it Councilman, state law also indicates that it is gender neutral)

The City has recently been in the news. The City has more work to do. The City Clerk and Treasurer positions are now open. The City has hired a new certified water operator, Cody Creek. The City is setting up a new accounting/budgeting/billing/utility software through Caselle. Updates and upgrades are being made to some of the electrical system. The City has achieved compliance with the Idaho Tax Commission and Idaho Controller Office in the past few months. Area of Impact has been assigned. Many more good things are moving forward for this little town. Hopefully the ball can keep rolling and gaining speed despite the odds against it. Many thanks to surrounding towns for their assistance: Burley, Heyburn, Paul, and Rupert.

So many things are moving that residents are becoming more awakened to their sleepy little town. The Mayor and all four Councilman positions were up for election in November. Two of the Councilman positions are for 2 years, the other two are 4 years. But every single seat was contested! Julie Peterson and Becky Ziebach were running for Mayor. Bulmaro Paz, Bonnie Hofmeister, and Mark Cartwright were running for the two 4-year seats. James Cook, Monique Hurst, and Jerry Tolivar are running for the two 2-year seats. That is 8 people running for 5 seats! Elections are healthy. Citizens are willing to work for the bettering of their community.

Julie Peterson will continue on as Mayor. Bulmaro Paz will retain his seat and Bonnie Hofmeister will join him for the 4 year seats. James Cook will retain his seat and Monique Hurst will continue on in her newly appointed seat.

Citizens are willing to work for the bettering of their community.

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General Conference October 2025

Ross and Hemsley families at October 2025 General Conference

As each child has joined the church at the age of 8 years old, we have made it a goal to take them to General Conference. We took Aliza in 2018, and Hiram in 2022. There is something about literally sitting in the same room as the prophets that is different than listening later, watching from afar, or reading in a magazine. You cannot duplicate the spirit that fills the room when 21,000 people sing We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet! The Tabernacle Choir cannot be duplicated. Period.

It took months of planning, but with the help of family, eight tickets were obtained. We left early Sunday morning to drive down and listen to Sunday morning’s session in Kaysville (Aliza got some road hours for her driving permit too). Before that session was over, we changed into church clothes and drove to Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake Temple under renovation, 5 October 2025

We found our seats as soon as the ushers would let us in. We had a pretty sweet section.

Shortly before the Sunday Afternoon Session began, 5 October 2025

After getting our seats, we took the kids to see some of the sights in the Conference Center.

Jill Hemsley, Paul, Lillian, James, and Aliza Ross
Aliza, James, and Lillian Ross with President Russell M Nelson’s bust

We were surprised to find out President Nelson passed away the weekend before Conference. I found it very interesting to attend a General Conference during an Apostolic Interregnum. I reminded the kids they may never have that chance again.

President Dallin H Oaks and Elders Jeffrey R Holland, Henry B Eyring, and Dieter F Uchtdorf leaving after the Session

We were also fortunate to attend the only session President Oaks spoke. I am very thankful to hear the keys of the Priesthood speak in person. It was a very personal talk, more than I remember him speaking in the past. In the past 125+ years, the Apostolic Interregnum has been very short lived. The opportunity to hear the President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles also speak as the President of the Church in General Conference has not occurred in 74 years. Tradition always has the most senior Apostle being called, sustained, and set apart as the President of the First Presidency/High Priesthood with two counselors called to the same. That may happen today, 12 October 2025, if past precedent holds true.

Amanda, Aliza, and Lillian Ross with Jill Hemsley

I received my first testimony of a Prophet at Utah State University in 1997. I had joined the Logan Institute Choir. President Gordon B Hinckley was coming to speak at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. We had practiced multiple songs. One of which intrigued me, We Ever Pray for Thee. It was while singing that song that President Hinckley entered the arena. Wow. The Spirit overcome me. I have shared that experience many times, especially in the mission. My first testimony of a living prophet. It was as if every cell in my body jumped for joy and vibrated with excitement.

Bryan Hemsley and Hiram Ross at General Conference

My next prophetic testimony was related to Thomas S Monson. I have to admit, I always struggled a bit with President Monson. The story-telling and poems was too mushy for me, or something. I am not sure what gave me a bit of a burr, probably just personality. President Hinckley passed away and within the next week I was attending an endowment session in the Twin Falls Idaho Temple. I was in the prayer circle. It was then that the officiator included President Thomas S Monson in our prayer. As I repeated the words in the circle I felt the confirmation. The Spirit in that moment testified that President Monson was the Prophet upon the earth. I went away rejoicing and all my qualms with personality were lost.

Aliza and Hiram Ross excited to be in the Conference Center

President Monson also fell asleep in time. The next transition was to Russell M Nelson. After my experiences with Presidents Hinckley and Monson, I expected nothing less than another witness as to whether Russell M Nelson was the Prophet on earth. I prayed for the experience. In fact, Brigham Young taught us to expect to obtain a testimony of the Prophet. Well, in our own home watching General Conference in April 2018, we also participated in the Solemn Assembly. It was during that procedure that I again obtained a witness. No questions. In fact, President Nelson in his administration resolved some of my frustrations with church government and organization.

View of the rostrum from the farthest seats of the Conference Center before Sunday afternoon Session

Who will formally be set apart as the next President of the First Presidency? Tradition certainly would indicate Dallin H Oaks, and I expect the same. I also expect to obtain a witness that he is the Lord’s Prophet and Mouthpiece for the whole earth.

Paul Ross enjoying some light refreshments after Sunday afternoon’s General Conference

Since I really only began attending church regularly in 1997, President Hinckley was the only church president I knew for years. However, I will mention, my Grandma regularly spoke of my Great Grandmother’s connection to Ezra Taft Benson in Whitney, Idaho. Interestingly enough, when President Benson died in 1994, I spent the weekend of his funeral at Dustin McClellan’s home. I remember on Saturday, Dustin’s Mom, Bonnie, watching a funeral. I sat down and watched it for a little while. I remember the Tabernacle Choir. I asked her what it was and remember her telling me it was President Benson’s funeral. I felt something at that moment that made me more curious about the man. I still remember that occasion because the Spirit whispered to me. I have since also received a witness of President Benson. I have received one of every President since Joseph Smith.

Bryan Hemsley and James Ross enjoying Conference

Aliza recently attended a fireside in Rupert where President Emily Belle Freeman attended. I hope my children are gaining the golden strands in their testimony tapestry regarding the leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We were fortunate enough to rub shoulders with President Freeman again and Sister Amy A Wright on Sunday.

Emily Belle Freeman and Aliza Ross in Rupert, Idaho, 21 September 2025
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As state loses small towns, Minidoka fights to stay alive

A lone pickup leaves the tiny rural town of Minidoka via Broadway Street on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. “The only time we get a crowd is at a city council meeting,” Mayor Julie Peterson told the Times-News.” Now that Minidoka has lost its post office, Peterson says she hopes the town can keep its incorporated status.

DREW NASH, TIMES-NEWS

City officials of the tiny town of Minidoka don’t want to end up like their counterparts in Atomic City, Hamer and Oxford.

All three of those Idaho cities have disincorporated over the past five years. Instead of a city council and mayor, county commissioners are now in charge.

“We are fighting,” Minidoka Mayor Julie Peterson said. “Actually, all four city council members, the mayor, and the attorney are doing everything in our power to stay incorporated and to stay compliant with all the government regulations.”

The rural community with a shrinking population sits on 64 acres on the eastern border of Minidoka County, just off Idaho Highway 24 — 13 miles northeast of Rupert and 50 miles southeast of Shoshone.

Idaho Highway 24 near Minidoka is seen Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Minidoka County. Travelers turn right onto Broadway to go into town or left to stay on Highway 24 to go to Shoshone, 50 miles away.

In the dozen or so years that the mayor has lived in Minidoka, she has seen a third of the town’s population disappear, dropping from 112 in 2010 to 75 now.

“Kids are growing up and moving away,” Peterson said.

And now, Minidoka’s post office in the Town Hall is moving out. Later this month, residents will switch to Rupert’s zip code of 83350.

The U.S. Postal Service determined that the Rupert Post Office is “able to fully serve the community,” and the contract post office in Minidoka “is no longer needed,” postal service spokesperson Janella Herron told the Times-News.

“We tried as a city to figure out a way to keep it open,” Peterson said, “but the post office powers that be decided they were just going to close it down.”

The Minidoka Town Hall is seen Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Minidoka County. Until later this month, the Town Hall serves as the tiny community’s post office.

Peterson said she uses the post office for her small business. When it shuts down, she will have to travel to Rupert instead of dropping off her mail in town.

“We’re losing our post office and I know from experience that’s a town killer,” Peterson said.

If the town gave up its incorporated status, she said, Minidoka County could take over the city-owned well and electric provider.

A water tower is seen Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, near Cherry and Broadway streets in the tiny town of Minidoka.

Eventually, “I think the citizens would lose their voice,” the mayor said.

State-imposed budget cap

Few in town “really know what’s going on behind the scenes,” Peterson said. “I don’t think they know the struggles the town is having.”

State law from 2021 is making it difficult for small cities like Minidoka to make plans to grow and pay for infrastructure projects, such as upgrading the city’s well or building a wastewater system.

“House Bill 389 has made it so our really small communities can’t survive and it’s been unfortunate,” said Kelley Packer, executive director of the Association of Idaho Cities.

Speaker of the House Mike Moyle championed House Bill 389 four years ago. The law imposes an 8% annual cap on budget growth for cities across Idaho.

Packer said HB 389 was intended to rein in big cities, but it has hurt small towns the most.

“(Moyle) will not let a solution be heard,” Packer said. “He does not believe the locals. He thinks they are just whining.”

Minidoka City Attorney Paul Ross said HB 389 has been a factor that has led to other cities disincorporating.

“Speaker Moyle and all these pushes that they’ve had to undermine some of these cities and their budgets are totally hammering these little cities,” Ross said.

According to data from Transparent Idaho, Minidoka’s city budget was $167,400 in 2023, with $103,000 in revenue from utility fees and $20,000 from property taxes.

With an 8% cap, the budget can’t grow more than $13,400 per year.

If the people of Minidoka make a strategic, thoughtful plan to grow their city, that cap might make those plans impossible, Packer said.

“One house takes them over that 8% cap now,” she said. “They can’t even — they can’t do it. And that’s what’s happening in these small communities.”

The struggle of a small town

Peterson walks the perimeter of Minidoka with her dog in the mornings.

She picks up garbage if it’s fallen out of dumpsters and uses a spade to pick up goat heads.

“I at least try to help beautify the city up a little bit,” Peterson said.

She was a city councilwoman last spring when the mayor had a heart attack. She became the acting mayor before officially becoming mayor.

The city’s finances were in a bit of trouble when she took over.

A backlog of audits goes back several years, Peterson said. Without an audited budget, cities in Idaho can’t receive state funding.

“They cut you off,” she said. “If you don’t do your audits, if a city doesn’t do their audits, then the state funding … your road tax gets cut off, your sales tax.”

In June, accounting firm Poulsen VanLeuven & Catmull released several years‘ worth of audits, going back to 2022.

According to the fiscal year 2023 audit, the city received a $125,000 USDA Rural Development grant with 3.25% interest for its water system in October 2021. As of September 2023, the remaining balance was $37,000.

That aging water infrastructure is expensive to maintain.

Peterson said the city increased electric rates by $3.50 per month, and the water bill went from $35 to $47.

“We had people coming to City Council saying they can’t afford that increase,” she said.

A mural on an exterior wall of the Town Hall depicts Minidoka’s railroad history, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025.

What keeps folks living here?

Most of the Minidoka’s residents work in local agriculture. Many are retired and living on Social Security.

Peterson said most residents own their homes free and clear, but they can’t afford to leave.

Besides, “who’s going to buy them out?” she said.

“We’re trying to keep our identity,” she said. “Minidoka doesn’t want to go away.”

Times-News Editor Mychel Matthews contributed to this story.

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2023 Legislative Session

Brandon Woolf, McCord Larsen, Paul Ross with Idaho State Capitol

This year I was more involved in the legislative process than in the past. There were a few bills I was particularly interested and closely involved. I even helped write a few.

On 3 March 2023 I traveled to the Idaho State Capitol with my friend and Cassia County Prosecutor McCord Larsen to testify on a particular bill related to Public Defense. While there, we took the opportunity to make a number of other calls and visits in addition to the legislators/legislative. This photo comes from one of those visits.

Brandon Woolf is the Idaho State Controller. More importantly he is my friend. He is always out and about in visiting communities and friends. I have run into him in Preston, Soda Springs, Malad, Burley, Rupert, and Boise. Not only do I respect and honor this friend, our families have been friends for generations. Brandon is from Preston, where my Andra, Nuffer, and Wanner lines are all from. I have ran into Brandon at That Famous Preston Night Rodeo, the Rodeo Days Parade (also in Preston), and even the Independence Day Breakfast in Preston. It has been a small world and an oddity that I run into this guy as much as I do.

He took us through and shows us the new Transparent Idaho website. He is pretty excited for this website to continue to be rolled out and outfitted with all information for Idaho government. That is not just state, but every taxing district from cities, to counties; from cemetery districts to school districts.

The highlight was catching up between old friends (and Aggies). For the occasion, we snapped this photo from Brandon’s office. Somehow it seems enchanting. My beloved state, a phenomenal Idaho Constitutional Officer, friendship, and a beautiful Capitol. My experience with Idaho is that we are in good hands.

As for the legislation we were working on that day, well it was a disappointment. Representatives Weber and Cannon apparently were more interested in passing a bill than getting it right. We have tons of clean-up, which is always harder the second or third year than at the beginning. I have many, many reservations on the bill generally and don’t think it cannot be cleaned up but for a rewrite. But they didn’t care about that either. For a state that is independent, local control, and willing to do things different, this bill flew in the face of all that. It centralized power, removed local stakeholders, consolidated processes, ignored processes, and all at the same time wildly underfunded. I hope I am wrong, but I think it will get worse before it gets better.

Other bills were introduced too late and didn’t get too far. Others passed through unmarred and become clarifying law. The updates of bankruptcy related law all seem to have failed. But we will try again next year. Too bad it does not pay, it is hard doing all this on your own dime and sacrificing your gainful employment.

We were able to do lunch with our local Representative Clay Handy and visit with Representative Doug Pickett. Senator Kelly Anthon was kind enough to introduce us and welcome us from the Senate floor. We were unable otherwise to meet up with him.

Idaho is still small. I hope we do not lose the small state legislature, the gentleman’s creed, and the ability to do business. Please like Brandon keep hope in government when it is sometimes hard to keep hope in such a process.

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Technology Students Compete

Minico technology students recently attended state competition. Pictured with their winning plaques and dreamhouses are (back, l-r) Instructor Marvin Scow, Paul Ross; (front, l-r) Brian Addis, Rachel Fennel, Aimee Aston, Kody Rathe, and Justin Coleman.

Minico technology students compete in state competition

By Dixie Lee Souza

The Minico Technology Student Association attended the state competition at Eagle High School March 7-9.

The students from Marvin Scow’s class did very well at the meet with the Dreamhouse Division. Justin Coleman and Kody Rathe placed first and Brian Addis took second. The students were presented with two plaques for their scale model homes complete with floor plans.

Competing in Architectural Drawing was Rachel Fennell, Aimee Aston, Nicholas Fletcher and Paul Ross.

In Extemporaneous speaking was Rachel Fennel and Aimee Aston. Again, Rachel Fennell along with Paul Ross placed in Job Interview.

Aimee Aston placed in Prepared Speech while Justin Coleman, Glade Boldt and Kody Rathe competed in Technical Drafting.

The Idaho Skill Championships will be held at Lewis-Clark State College on March 29-30.

The only thing I think I would add is that I remember this competition in the brand new high school in Eagle, Idaho. We got a tour of the new building. It was pretty shiny compared to our little Minico High School in Rupert, Idaho.

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Kelsey Note

This note was dropped at my office in Burley, Idaho several years ago. While I normally get Thank You cards in the mail, this is the anomaly. I believe it speaks for itself.

I was appointed to represent Delores Kelsey, Florence Delores Herron Kelsey, (1930-2017), in an eviction litigation. Some of her children were attempting to evict Bret Kelsey (1959-2020), her son, out of her home. It turned into a slog fest among a number of the Kelsey children/siblings. Brent Robinson defended Bret, Matt Darrington represented Paul Kelsey (1956-2018), Curtis Stoker was appointed as Trustee of the Kelsey Trust, and Peter Wells represented Curtis Stoker as Trustee. It took years of work. A Cassia County case, most hearings were held in Minidoka County. I think this case drove Judge Bollar to retirement faster.

Mr. Kelsey also took it upon himself to protest many attorneys over the years. I am fortunate to have also been in that club.

Matt Darrington had the honors of a protest sign

Matthew C Darrington

Attorney at Law

freeloaden off

“We the People”

Bret Kelsey with a Paul Ross protest sign in Burley, Idaho

Amanda was kind enough to stop and get pictures one day in 2016.

A better view of the protest sign of Mr. Kelsey

Paul N. J. Ross

Attorney at Law

taken advantage of the ELDERLY

We the People

Bret Kelsey with a Ross protest sign in Burley Idaho in 2016

Paul N. J. Ross

Attorney at Law

SKUM SUCKEN

Lien two-face

MORMON TRASH

Mr. Kelsey protesting Mr. Larsen as Prosecutor in front of Zions Bank

PROSECUTOR

McCord Larsen

is a TWO-FACE

backstabben

LYEN PUNK

It was years after it was over that the above love note was left at my office.

Mediel Justice Chronicle

*Bullyous Tyrant Mormons*

This short story was created by those whom in my opinoun became Bullyous Tyrants by abuseing their power in representing Dolores Kelsey’s – Trust n Concerns –

Is Brent Robinson – Attorney at Law – Mormon an “Angel of Darkness?”

Is Matt Darrington – Attorney at Law -Mormon a “Freeloader of People?” – Mormon

Is Paul Ross – Attorney at Law -Mormon “One Whom Takes Advantage of Elderly?”

Is Curtis Stoker – Trustee – Mormon A “Lying – Distrespectful – Dishonest?”

Is Peter Wells – Attorney at Law – Mormon   A “Pretender of the Truth?”

Unknowingly pierced by BEELZEBUBS dagger of darkness these Bullyous Mormons have become corrupted, there by extorting unjustifiable cruelties!!!! I leave you with a quote. “Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Bret Kelsey

A.K.A White Knight