Walker

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Freemasonry Picture

Here is a photo that I took in 2016. My Grandpa, Milo Ross, had this photo in his collection. We do not know if he picked up at a flea market or knew anyone linked with it. I have tried to do some research on it over time. Initially, nobody could read or decipher the signature.

Here is what we could read

“To my Friend

“Bro. Fred P. Robison. P.M.

“[Illegible] – 33

“D.D.G.M. 1915-1940

Bro. is short for Brother, the term used for all masons. P.M. means past master, a former presiding officer of his lodge, indicating rank in service.

The 33 after the signature denotes he received the 33 degree in the Scottish Rite, an optional side group that Masons can join. The 33 is a significant honor within that organization, but doesn’t really denote rank or authority in most cases.

The D.D.G.M. usually refers to District Deputy Grand Master, a regional officer of the Grand Lodge of the state. They usually oversee several lodges in an area on behalf of the governing grand lodge.

Later, Dad uncovered this tag on the back.

W Harr Walker 6-1-40

This really gave us what we needed to determine who this guy was!

Bellefonte, Central, Pennsylvania is not a large town.

W. Harrison Walker was a lawyer in Bellefonte and served as the town’s Burgess (now known as Mayor) in 1923. He specialized in general law, collections, and estate settlements. An old business directory lists him with the following references: First National Bank of Bellefonte, First National Bank of State College, First National Bank of Howard, The Pennsylvania Match Co, Montgomery & Co, M. Fauble & Son, and Joseph Bros & Co.

Here is more detail about William Harrison Walker. Born 30 August 1874 in Selone, Clinton, Pennsylvania and died 29 October 1951 in Bellafonte, Pennsylvania. Married Caroline E Hoffman (1875 – 1907) 26 March 1891 in Uniontown, Fayette, Pennsylvania. Married Charlotte Robb (1885 – 1971) 30 August 1912 in Greensburg, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania.

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Stacey Jo Jonas

My grandfather, Wilburn Norwood Jonas, had an older brother named Joseph Herbert Jonas (1917-1993).  I don’t have any memories of Uncle Joe, except his funeral, although I remember hearing stories about him.  Uncle Joe married Hilma Grace Erickson (1918-2000).  I also do not remember Aunt Hilma.  Again, I heard the stories, and also about nearly all their children.

Joe and Hilma Jonas younger

Joe and Hilma had 7 children, Joseph Leland (1937-alive), Hilma Maxine (1938-2002), Earl Reed (1944-1988), Nancy Lee (1946-alive), Evelyn (1948-2017), Ellen Lynn (1951-alive), and Helen (1956-alive).  I mentioned above that I remember his funeral.  I remember it being at Myers Mortuary on Washington Avenue, almost North Ogden, Utah.  I remember the line for the viewing, my mother’s shoes and jeans, and sitting in the outskirts of the chapel to the northeast.  There, for the first time in my life, I was haunted by the strains of O My Father.  First time I ever heard the song and it penetrated my soul.  So much that I wanted to learn it more.  My Grandmother, Colleen, a short time afterward showed me it in her old Richmond, Utah hymnal.  I taught myself how to play it and the words to the song.

Joe & Hilma Jonas older

As those who know me know, I do a little family history.  I had reached out and got to know Joseph Leland Jonas’ daughter Debra.  I had e-mailed some of Lee’s other children.  But I had never met any of them that I recalled.  Lee lived in Yakima, Washington.  I had taken a job in 2008 working in the northwest for Inland Environmental.  I was going to be in the Yakima area working and so I made a few phone calls.  Lee suggested I call his daughter, Stacey, who lived in Moxee not far from them.  I called her up to visit with her and told her I was going to be in the area.  She not only insisted that I visit, but also that I stay at her house.

I got to know this second cousin of mine on that occasion.  We chatted, talked about family history, she took me to visit her parents, I met her family, and had a great experience getting to know each other.  It wasn’t planned, but she had quite a few questions about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  In the course of the night, we covered nearly every single topic in all the six missionary discussions.  I gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon and some other pamphlets.

The next morning we talked some and we separated our ways.  I went on with work and eventually to law school.  She had some marital issues and normal life.  Then I found out she was attending law school in Mesa, Arizona.  We stayed more in touch.  Then one day, we were talking on the phone and she dropped a bombshell for me.  She asked me to baptize her a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!  I told her I would be thrilled and honored to do it.

Stacey Jonas and Paul Ross, Mesa, Arizona

These are pictures from the day she was baptized.  We orchestrated it so I could fly down and attend the baptism and confirmation over the course of the weekend of June 25-27, 2016, in her home of Mesa.  Once again, she insisted I could stay with her rather than finding a place to stay.

Stacey Jonas, Paul Ross at her baptism in 2016

It was a great weekend.  She also let me steal her car and I made a trip over to the Mesa Arizona Temple.  I made sure to snap a picture while I was there.  Unfortunately you see some of the reflection of the console in the window of Stacey’s car, fun little Jaguar!

Mesa Arizona Temple, 25 June 2016

Stacey later attended the Gilbert Arizona Temple to receive her endowments!  Not surprised that she did it, but surprised that I could say I helped her in some small part along the way.

Stacey Jonas and her friend Melanie Walker attending the temple

It is remarkable the bond and friendship I have built with Stacey since we first met, that I recall, in 2008.  She has visited us here in Idaho since, some day we will have to make it back her direction to visit again.  I am grateful that I could help her in her spiritual growth and striving since we first met as well.  In some ways I felt bad we stayed up late that night conversing.  I don’t know how much actually links to that night, but I feel a deep sense of appreciation for Stacey and the kinship that we feel, both since we are related, and also spiritually.

I am also aware that I am posting this on 6 September 2020.  The 104th anniversary of Lillian Coley and Joseph Nelson Jonas.  A date that has held happiness and sorrow for the Jonas family.  I can only imagine they are pleased that their Great Grandchildren are associating and helping each other improve.

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1895 Plain City Student Body

Back (l-r): Eva Edwards, Ada Skeen, Isabell Skeen, Unknown Rogers, Cecile Richardson, Grace Draney, Aseal Ipson, Beatrice Cottle, Ethel Garner, Josie Bramwell, Edna Garner, Unknown Rogers, Amanda Olsen, Rachel Garner, Freda Wheeler, Murald Hodson, Alfred Skeen. Middle: Frank Vause, William Knight, Clarence Richardson, Grant Hansen, James Hunt, Delwin Sharp, William Skeen, Chester Davis, Ace Draney, Lee Boyd, Eli Lund, Richard Bates, Alfred Coy, Parley Hansen, Edward Folkman, Jesse Lund, Charles Bramwell, Stella Hodson, Etta Lund, Ella Hodson, Luman Green, Walter Maw. Front: Charles Maw, Ruby Stoker, Annie Cottle, Edna Hansen, Susie Boyd, Gertrude Knight, Hazel Spiers, Rose Liljenquist, Nellie Maw, Martha Hansen, Mabel Ipsen, Maude Marriott, Daisy Coy, Alminda Lund, Joseph Skeen.

Here is a picture of the Plain City, Weber, Utah school student body in 1895.  Apparently this was the entire student body and this photo was reproduced in the 15 March 1959 copy of the Ogden Standard-Examiner.  I have a couple of relatives in the picture and that is probably why my Grandpa and Grandma Ross pulled it from the paper and have kept it with their possessions.  The names all come from that same paper caption although both of the unknown Rogers just have Miss.  If anyone knows where to get a clearer scan of the photo, I would appreciate it as this 60 year old paper isn’t the best version.  I do not think the school in Plain City had another name besides the Plain City School.

I looked up the information for each individual.  I found most of them, except for a couple whose names were just not in Plain City or they must have only been there a short time.  Sometimes with those old clippings whoever gave them the names might have put a married last name rather than a maiden.  Hopefully someone can correct the rest of the names.  The two principals I could not nail down because of the difference in age I could not define and there were so many with the same name within 30 years of the age of most of these students.  I put the one I think is most likely but welcome corrections.

Eva Edwards (?-?)

Ada Myrtle Skeen (1885-1977) married Daniel Popple Williams (1881-1919) and Edsin Byrum Allred (1881-1960).

Isabell Electa Skeen (1889-1963) married Thomas Etherington Charlton (1887-1956).

Unknown Rogers (?-?)

Cecile May Richardson (1888-1975) married Robert Clyde Hellewell (1887-1967).

Grace Elizabeth Draney (1887-1972) married James Burt Atkinson (1880-1935).

Aseal Andrew Ipson (1889-1981) married Lucy Isabell Knight (1883-1989).

Mary Lew Beatrice Cottle (1887-1971) married Claud Leslie Kimball (1885-1958).

Ethel Garner (1886-1968) married Ephraim William Manning (1884-1970).

Josephine “Josie” Trena Bramwell (1887-1973) married Joseph Herman McCowan (1886-1964).

Mary Edna Garner (1888-1948) married Horace William Wayment (1885-1969).

Unknown Rogers (?-?)

Amanda Christine Olsen (1888-1968) married George Daniel Moyes (1889-1958).

Rachel Ann Garner (1889-1980) married George Leo Sandberg (1887-1949).

Freda Wheeler (?-?)

Murald Vinson Hodson (1887-1970) married Elda Herriot Barnett (1895-1979).

David Alfred Skeen (1885-1969) married Bertha Kerr (1885-1976).

Francis “Frank” Freedom Vause (1883-1974) married Vera Jaquetta Child (1885-1961).

William Thomas Knight (1881-1973) married Eliza Alzina Taylor (1886-1963).

Clarence Richardson (1883-1976) married Louie Marie Rawson (1881-1982).

Martin Grant Hansen (1883-1925) married Alice Maud King (1881-1951).

James Hunt (?-?)

Delwin Sharp (1884-1969) married Violet Grieve (1881-1964).  Obviously related to my Sharp line.

William Delbert Skeen (1884-1940).  Not sure this is the right William Skeen, but pretty sure.

Chester Davis (1883-1948) married Nellie Clark (1891-1950).

William “Ace” Hamilton Draney (1885-1979) married Ethel Skeen (1883-1979) and Vera Ann Toombs (1895-1977).

Levi “Lee” Alfred Boyd (1883-1972).

Eli Edgar Lund (1884-1955) married Mary Millie Hutchins (1882-1947).

Thomas Richard Bates (1884-1969) married Dora Evaline Taylor (1885-1981)

Alfred Jonathan Coy (1882-1957) married Mabel Adella Ipsen (1885-1954).

George Parley Hansen (1886-1968) married Criesta Zenobia Anderson (1889-1979).

George Edward Folkman (1885-1914) married Florence Evaline Maw (1888-1969).  Florence’s mother was a Sharp.

Jesse Leander Lund (1886-1918) married Myrtle John Hawkley (1895-1960).

Charles Bramwell (1885-1971) married Annie Myrtle Shupe (1888-1968).

Estella Dora Hodson (1887-1981) married Parley Paul Taylor (1886-1974).

Etta Letitia Lund (1887-1968) married Robert Alfred Witten (1873-1937).

Ella Doris Hodson (1887-1968) married James Earl McFarland (1889-1951).

Luman Peter Green (1886-1980) married Veda Jane Walker (1888-1981).

Walter Maw (1887-1912) married Della Neal (1888-1961).

Charles Maw, I think this is Charles Edward Maw (1875-1950).  Principal.

Ruby Stoker (1885-1965) married George Angus Spears (1878-1943).  She is a relative through our Stoker line.

Annie Jane Cottle (1881-1974) married Joseph Pierce Stock (1878-1954).

Edna Rebecca Hansen (1884-1958) married John Elmer Robson (1884-1930).

Susan “Susie” Emma Boyd (1885-1969) married August Steiner (1874-1949).

Gertrude Knight (1886-1970) married Hyrum Ezra Richardson (1886-1962).

Hazel Spiers (1885-1941) married Austin Tracy Wintle (1884-1977).

Rose Liljenquist (?-?)

Millie Maw (1884-1951) married Charles Joseph Buckley (1884-1959).

Martha Catherine Hansen (1887-1963) married Henry Merwin Thompson (1885-1976).

Mabel Adella Ipsen (1885-1954) married Alfred Jonathan Coy (1882-1957).

Maude Marriott (1880-1972) married Wallace Ridgeway Bell (1881-1947).

Daisy Louise Coy (1884-1968) married Hyrum Parley Hogge (1883-1941).

Alminda Drucella Lund (1881-1966) married Harold Waldermar Johnson (1888-1967).

Joseph Skeen, I think this is Joseph Lawrence Skeen (1857-1915).  Assistant Teacher.