Whitney

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Wilford Woodruff and Founding Fathers

Wilford Woodruff’s vision of the Founding Fathers requesting Temple Ordinances

We are moving soon, but the Burley 11th Ward gave me another chance to address them. Since I received a number of requests for a copy of the talk, which is really just a collage of various items I could find online, the Journal of Discourses, the Saints second and third volumes, and other various histories. Here is the text of the talk I wrote, that does not mean it is the talk I gave…

I first addressed the freedoms we have as contrasted in the Saints third volume related to Germany. I said the word Jew and Israel from the stand and did not fear reprisal. I listen to free radio anytime I want and even seek out British radio from time to time and there is nothing illegal. Lastly, we could congregate without the worry of those in our midst about what was said or in the actual act of meeting.

Then to the following:

Declaration of Independence – We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

George Washington: “The success, which has hitherto attended our united efforts, we owe to the gracious interposition of Heaven, and to that interposition let us gratefully ascribe the praise of victory, and the blessings of peace.”

Alexander Hamilton: “The Sacred Rights of mankind are not to be rummaged from among old parchments or musty records. They are written . . . by the Hand of Divinity itself.” “For my own part, I sincerely esteem it a system, which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests.”

Thomas Jefferson: “The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time.”

John Adams: “As I understand the Christian religion, it was, and is, a revelation.”

Benjamin Franklin: “The longer I live the more convincing Proofs I see of this Truth. That God Governs in the Affairs of Men!—And if a Sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid?—We have been assured, . . . in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House, they labour in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this;—and I also believe that without his concurring Aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than Builders of Babel.”

James Madison: “It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger of that Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolution.”

Samuel Adams: “Revelation assures us that ‘Righteousness exalteth a Nation’—Communities are dealt with in this World by the wise and just Ruler of the Universe. He rewards or punishes them according to their general Character.”

Charles Pinckney: “When the great work was done and published, I was . . . struck with amazement. Nothing less than that superintending hand of Providence, that so miraculously carried us through the war, . . . could have brought it about so complete, upon the whole.”

On May 4, 1842, he called to his side nine of the most faithful of his brethren—Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Newell K. Whitney, and others—and later their wives came with them to the upper floor of the Red Brick Store in Nauvoo. 

Joseph was seeking to fulfill the promise from D&C 124, given in 1841, which the Lord would reveal to Joseph “all things pertaining to this house, and the priesthood thereof, and the place whereon it shall be built.” 

He had started, “If it should be the will of God that I might live.” Then he corrected and said, “It is not the will of the Lord that I should live, and I must give you, here in this upper room, all those glorious plans and principles whereby men are entitled to the fulness of the priesthood.” He proceeded in an improvised and makeshift way to do so.

We have from Brigham Young that after they had received these blessings the Prophet said: “Brother Brigham, this is not arranged right. But we have done the best we could under the circumstances in which we are placed, and I wish you to take this matter in hand and organize and systematize all these ceremonies.”

Brigham Young later said, “I did so. And each time I got something more, so that when we went through the temple at Nauvoo I understood and knew how to place them there. We had our ceremonies pretty correct.”

While the Nauvoo Temple was started in 1841, the first endowments were performed in the winter of 1845 and into 1846.  Baptisms had started in the Mississippi River prior to the temple and moved into the temple baptistery soon after it was completed and dedicated, well before the rest of the temple was done.  Brigham, leading the church, was personally overseeing the organization and perfection of the endowment and other ordinances that started in Nauvoo. 

After arriving in Salt Lake City, the church used the top floor of the Council House, starting in 1852 until the Endowment House was completed in 1855.  It was in this building that endowments, prayer circles, some missionary training, and some setting aparts were conducted.  The use of the Endowment House ended in 1877 with the completion of the St George Temple.  That building stood until Wilford Woodruff heard that unauthorized sealings were occurring there and ordered it razed in 1889. 

The St George Temple was the only one completed during Brigham Young’s 30 year tenure as President.  It was dedicated on 1 January 1877 in three dedicatory prayers under the direction of Brigham.  The baptistery by Wilford Woodruff, the main floor by Erastus Snow, and the sealing room by Brigham Young Jr.  Wilford Woodruff served as St George Temple President from 1877 to 1884.  Brigham had to be carried up the stairs, but he stood and spoke in the Assembly Room. 

“When I think upon this subject, I want the tongues of seven thunders to wake up the people,” he declared. “Can the fathers be saved without us? No. Can we be saved without them? No. And if we do not wake up and cease to long after the things of this earth, we will find that we as individuals will go down to hell.”

Brigham lamented that many Saints were pursuing worldly things. “Supposing we were awake to this thing, namely the salvation of the human family,” he said, “this house would be crowded, as we hope it will be, from Monday morning until Saturday night.”

On 9 January 1877, the first baptisms for the dead were performed in the St George Temple.  The first endowment for the dead was performed on 11 January 1877.  Brigham and Wilford personally oversaw the ordinances being performed.  Wilford began wearing a white suit, starting the trend that continues to this day. 

All endowments to this point had been done and passed by word of mouth.  It was in St George, far from Salt Lake City, that the ordinances were first written down.  Brigham also wanted to make sure the record was preserved and that they were standardized.  They were read to Brigham time and time again who would then approve or continue to revise the ordinances.  Brigham went home to Salt Lake City in April 1877.  He stopped and dedicated the spot for the Manti Temple on the way home.

Wilford Woodruff then wrote in his journal on Sunday 19 August 1877, “I spent the evening in preparing a list of the noted men of the 17 century and 18th, including the signers of the Declaration of Independence and presidents of the United States, for baptism on Tuesday the 21 Aug 1877.”

His journal entry for August 21 reads, “I, Wilford Woodruff, went to the temple of the Lord this morning and was baptized for 100 persons who were dead, including the signers of the Declaration of Independence. … I was baptized for the following names.” He then listed the names of one hundred men.

Elder Woodruff continued his journal entry: “When [John Daniel Thompson] McAllister had baptized me for the 100 names, I baptized him for 21, including Gen. Washington and his forefathers and all the presidents of the United States that were not on my list except Buchanan, Van Buren, and Grant.” (The work for these presidents has since been done.)

“It was a very interesting day,” Elder Woodruff continued. “I felt thankful that we had the privilege and the power to administer for the worthy dead, especially for the signers of the Declaration of Independence, that inasmuch as they had laid the foundation of our Government, that we could do as much for them as they had done for us.

“Sister Lucy Bigelow Young went forth into the font and was baptized for Martha Washington and her family, and seventy of the eminent women of the world. I called upon the brethren and sisters who were present to assist in getting endowments for those that we had been baptized for today.” (Wilford Woodruff’s journal, typescript, vol. 7, Church History Library; spelling and punctuation modernized.)

The first public mention of these events was made nearly a month after the baptisms were performed. In an address in the Tabernacle on Temple Square on 16 September 1877, Elder Woodruff first told publicly of the visitation of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

“You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we never apostatized from it, but we remained true to it and were faithful to God. (Conference Report, April 10, 1898; Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, pp. 160-61)

During the 68th Annual General Conference of the Church which was held in April 1898, President Woodruff recounted the sacred experience:

I am going to bear my testimony to this assembly, if I never do it again in my life, that those men who laid the foundation of this American government and signed the Declaration of Independence were the best spirits the God of heaven could find on the face of the earth. They were choice spirits, not wicked men. General Washington and all the men that labored for the purpose were inspired of the Lord.

Another thing I am going to say here, because I have a right to say it.  Every one of those men that signed the Declaration of Independence, with General Washington, called upon me, as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the Temple at St. George, two consecutive nights, and demanded at my hands that I should go forth and attend to the ordinances of the House of God for them.  Men are here, I believe, that know of this, Brother John D. T. McAllister, David H. Cannon and James S. Bleak.  Brother McAllister baptized me for all those men, and then I told these brethren that it was their duty to go into the Temple and labor until they had got endowments for all of them.  They did it.  Would those spirits have called up on me, as an Elder in Israel to perform that work if they had not been noble spirits before God?  They would not. (Wilford Woodruff, Conference Report, April 1989, pp. 89-90.)

“They waited on me for two days and two nights,” he said,

“I thought it very singular, that notwithstanding so much work had been done, and yet nothing had been done for them.” (Journal of Discourses, 19:229.)

I was also present in the St. George Temple and witnessed the appearance of the Spirits of the Signers….the spirits of the Presidents….and also others, such as Martin Luther and John Wesley….Who came to Wilford Woodruff and demanded that their baptism and endowments be done. Wilford Woodruff was baptized for all of them. While I and Brothers J.D.T. McAllister and David H Cannon (who were witnesses to the request) were endowed for them. These men… laid the foundation of this American Gov., and signed the Declaration of Independence and were the best spirits the God of Heaven could find on the face of the earth to perform this work. Martin Luther and John Wesley helped to release the people from religious bondage that held them during the dark ages. They also prepared the people’s hearts so they would be ready to receive the restored gospel when the Lord sent it again to men on the earth.” (Personal journal of James Godson Bleak – Chief Recorder of the St. George Temple.)

In 1986, some of the staff of the Family History Library’s LDS Reference Unit were assigned to compile and computerize all the existing genealogical data on the founding fathers, to identify their families, and to document completed temple ordinances for each. For purposes of the project, a founding father was identified as one who had signed one or more of the following documents: the Articles of Association (1774), the Declaration of Independence (1776), the Articles of Confederation (1778), or the Constitution (1787).

The library study of 1986 revealed that there were no sealings of children to parents performed at the time the baptisms and endowments were performed. As a note, the ongoing revelation related to sealings to parents was not revealed until 1894.  It was then that the Law of Adoption, or sealing to prominent church leaders, was discontinued and we were encouraged to do genealogical work to compile the pedigree of the entire human family.  It was then that the Utah Genealogical Society was founded that has snowballed into the fantastic work of FamilySearch and all its appendages. 

He also recorded that George Washington, John Wesley, Benjamin Franklin, and Christopher Columbus were ordained High Priests at the time.

Temple work was performed on behalf of the following well-known and respected men and women in the St. George Utah Temple in August 1877.

Founding Fathers: William Hooper (NC), Joseph Hewes (NC), John Penn (NC), Button Gwinnett (GA), Lyman Hall (GA), George Walton (GA), Edward Rutledge (SC), Thomas Heyward Jr. (SC), Thomas Lynch (SC), Arthur Middleton (SC), Samuel Chase (MD), William Paca (MD), Thomas Stone (MD), Charles Carroll (MD), George Wythe (VA), Richard Henty Lee (VA), Thomas Jefferson (VA), Benjamin Harrison (VA), Thomas Nelson Jr. (VA), Francis Lightfoot Lee (VA), Carter Braxton (VA), Robert Morris (PA), Benjamin Rush (PA), Benjamin Franklin (PA), John Morton (PA), George Clymer (PA), James Smith (PA), George Taylor (PA), James Wilson (PA), George Ross (PA), Caeser Rodney (DE), George Read (DE), Thomas McKean (DE), Philip Livingston (NY), Francis Lewis (NY), Lewis Morris (NY), Richard Stockton (NJ), John Witherspoon (NJ), Francis Hopkinson (NJ), John Hart (NJ), Abraham Clark (NJ), Josiah Bartlett (NH), William Whipple (NH), Matthew Thornton (NH), Samuel Adams (MA), John Adams (MA), Robert Treat Paine (MA), Elbridge Gerry (MA), Stephen Hopkins (RI), William Ellery (RI), Roger Sherman (CN), Samuel Huntington (CN), William Williams (CN), and Oliver Wolcott (CN).

Note: Temple work was not done for John Hancock or William Floyd as it had already been completed previously.

Presidents of the United States: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James Knox Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, Abraham Lincoln, and Andrew Johnson.  Temple work was not done for James Buchanan, Martin Van Buren, or Ulysses S. Grant.

Other eminent men baptized by Wilford Woodruff in the St. George Utah Temple in August 1877 include: Sir Edward Gibbon, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Oliver Goldsmith, Henry Grattan, Humboldt, Alexander von Irving, Washington Jackson, Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Johnson, Samuel Juarez, Benito Pablo Kemble, John Philip Liebig, Baron Justus von Livingstone, David Macaulay, Thomas Babington Nelson, Lord Horatio O’Connell, Daniel Peabody, George Powers, Hiram Reynolds, Sir Joshua Schiller, Johann Christoph Friedrich von Scott, Sir Walter Seward, William Henry Stephenson, George Thackeray, William Makepeace, Vespucci, Amerigo Webster, Daniel Wesley, John Wordsworth, William Parepa, Count Dimitrius, Martha Washington and her family, John Washington (Great Grandfather of George Washington), Sir Henry Washington, Lawrence Washington (Brother of George Washington), Augustine Washington (Father of George Washington), Lawrence Washington (Father of Augustine), Lawrence Washington, Daniel Park Custis, John Park Custis (Son of Daniel and Martha Parke Custis), and Martin Luther.

Eminent Women baptized include: Jean Armour (1767—1834) of Scotland, Jean Armour Burns (Wife of Robert Burns) (1759—1796), Jane Austen (1775—1817) of England, novelist, Mary Ball (1708—1789) of America, Mary Ball Washington (Mother of George Washington) (1732—1799), Sarah Bernard (1800—1879) of England, Sarah Barnard Faraday (wife of Michael Faraday (1791—1867), Charlotte Bronte (1816—1855) of England, novelist, Felicia Dorothea Browne (1793—1835) of England, Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806—1861) of England, poet, (wife of Robert Browning) (1812—18?), Martha Caldwell Calhoun (d. 1802) of America (mother of John Caldwell Calhoun) (1782—1850), Martha Parke Custis (1755—1773) of America (Daughter of Martha Washington) (1732—1802), Martha Dandridge Washington (1732—1802) of America (wife of George Washington) (1732—1799),  Rachel Donelson Jackson (1767—1828) of America (wife of Andrew Jackson (1767—1845), and Abigail Eastman Webster (1737—1816) of America (mother of Daniel Webster (1782—1852), to name but a few. Temple work was performed for a total of 70 eminent women.

During most of our national history Columbus and the Founders were considered heroes with determination and foresight.  Cities, rivers, and many other places were named after them.  More recently there has been a wide spread effort, designed especially to indoctrinate young people, which slanders Columbus, the Founders and their accomplishments.  Columbus is held personally responsible for centuries of mistreatment of Native Americans.  The Founders are portrayed as being greedy and motivated by selfish interests. All of this is as astonishing as it is misleading.  

From the Lord’s perspective among the most important events of the history of the world was the discovery and founding of America.  1 Ne 11-14.  Nephi was referring to Columbus when he wrote:  “I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land” 1 Ne 13:12.  By the Founders “the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation…even on the face of this land.” 1 Ne 22:7.

Go on to life and history of George Ross of Pennsylvania, signer of Declaration of Independence.  

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History of Wilhelmina Wanner Bodrero

Another history given to me from the collection of Golden Rulon Andra. “History of Wilhelmina Wanner Bodrero” with the subheading “Our Mother” by Laura Bodrero Nungesser.

LaMont Call, Wilhelmina Wanner Bodrero, Barbara Bodrero Call

“Our mother, Wilhelmina Wanner Bodrero, was born in the last summer of 1887 on September 12th in Atzenweiler Neckarkreis Wuerttemberg, Germany.

“Wilhelmina is a daughter of Johann George Wanner and Anna Maria Schmid. Mother was the tenth child of the ten children born to the family of five boys and five girls.

Wanner Family about 1895, Wilhelmina is the youngest.

“A small baby, mother was told that during her first year of life she was continually sick. A neighbor lady also had a little girl about the same age as mother. Her baby was always healthy. Each day the neighbor lady would come to see how mother was doing and each visit she would tell mother Wanner that her baby would never live. But sadly, the neighbor’s child died when she was about a year old, while at this time mother is still well and healthy at the young age of ninety-five.

“It is difficult for mother to remember her life in Germany because she was very young, but she remembers what her mother has told her. Mother’s father was a road supervisor and owned a little land. He also acquired a few chickens and some cattle in which the whole family had to tend to. Their life in Germany was very hard, and they were also poor.

“Mother was nearly four years of age when the missionaries came to their small home in Germany one day. it was not too long after being taught by the missionaries that the family, grasping the truthfulness of the gospel, became converted. Her brother, George, was the first to be baptized and soon after came to America with two missionaries. Nearly two years later the rest of the family was able to come to America. Mother was baptized in America August 1896.

“Mother remembers the journey to America. The first experience was riding for some time on an open train, then boarding a small boat. This small boat transported their family and whatever few possessions they held with them to a large ship, accommodating a very large deck. During the long watery voyage, mother and a young brother, Gottlob, would play on the huge deck and one day they found big, heavy barrels filled with juicy cherries. These were the first cherries she remembers eating.

“Mother was told that the journey on the ship lasted two weeks before the shores of New York finally brimmed the horizon. They stayed in New York City two days and nights before boarding a train for Chicago. When they arrived in Chicago, they lodged for a day and night, then journeyed by train westward until they reached the small f arming community of Franklin, Idaho. It was at this place, the final end of their migration, where mother’s brother George, along with horse and buggy, met them at the train stop. Accompanied by George’s employer, Fred Nuffer, they loaded into the wagon and drove off toward the Idaho community known as Glendale. Since George knew a lot of people such as the Nuffer family in Glendale, they too decided to establish their residency there.

“Within a short time they were able to purchase a little land with a small rock home. The rock home had one large room. Adjoining the house was a root cellar with a floor on top of it. This is where the children slept under the roof made of dirt. The large room in the rock home served as living quarters for the family and also as a bedroom for mother and father Wanner. Mother’s brother George worked in the rock quarry and as time went on, he helped his father add two more rooms to the rock house. This was a welcomed addition indeed!

“As the youngest child in the family, mother had a lot of time to play for the first two or three years in Glendale. Gradually, though, she had to start helping more around the house and farm. Father Wanner would cut and rack the hay and afterwards mother would follow the wagon and gather up the hay that the rack hadn’t caught.

“Mother attended school in a one room school house in Glendale. As with many schools in the early 1900’s, children of many ages met together and were taught by one teacher. Very little individual help was given. Every day mother would walk to and from school. At times in the winter, her father would take her to school by horse and buggy. Mother and her family also attended school in Glendale.

“For a couple of years, mother helped her father trap squirrels. In the mornings, her father would set ten to twelve traps in the brush bordering the fields. The government, upon seeing the ears for proof, would pay so much per pelt. One year they made $14.00.

“Life was hard on the farm. They had no refridgerator so a small addition to the rock home was built for the purpose of keeping things as cool as possible. Water was packed from the spring nearby in every season. The milk was also carried into the house and poured into large pans. While other chores were attended to the milk would set and later the cream skimmed off and churned into butter. The butter and the eggs gathered from the hens, were taken tot he market store in Preston and exchanged for other food. Later, mother Wanner bought a separator to separate the milk and cream. The separator had to be turned by hand everytime the milking was done. It was mother’s job to help turn the separator and churn the cream into butter. Mother also picked red raspberries from their raspberry patch. These juicy, plump berries were also taken to market and sold for a dime a quart.

“When mother was eleven years old, her sister Christine gave birth to another baby. mother walked two miles every day to help care for Christine and the tiny newborn. She would bathe the baby as well as feed and tend the other children. Each day she recalls running fear past badger holes along side the road, for everyone she knew had said badgers were very mean. To her relief, the badgers remained in their deep, dark caves each time she quickly passed. For two weeks she cared for her sister Christine and her new baby. For this sweet service she was given a tiny china cup.

“Father Wanner bought a farm in Whitney, Idaho when mother was in her early teens. She rode a horse to Whitney from Glendale, a seven mile trip, to help in the sugar beets and to lead the horse on the hay derrick. Then she would return to Glendale to do her given chores. Once, while herding the cows, she was riding a bridled horse without a saddle. The horse jumped a big ditch and mother fell off, hitting the ground hard. She law there a long time before she could regain her strength. The horse, sensing her helplessness, did not move but stood by her side until she could manage to get up onto his back and ride him home. This terrible fall hurt her hip severely and has given her a lot of trouble and pain for many years.

“When mother was around seventeen her father sold the Glendale farm to her brother Fred and the Whitney farm to her older brother George. She and her family moved to Preston where her father had a new home built and waiting for them.

“While living in Preston, mother attended the Oneida Academy for one year and took a sewing class. Every Sunday, her family and other German families met in each other’s homes to hold their church meetings. During the week, mother did house work for several neighbors. She did her best and worked hard. Before too long, mother was asked by a certain man from Logan, who had helped plaster their new home in Preston, to come and care for his wife when their baby was born. She did; and also worked for Mrs. Beech, who had a grocery store on Center and 4th West (by the canal) in Logan. It was later known as the Canal Grocery.

“One day the circus was coming to Logan and father Wanner decided he would like to see it very much. So mother and her parents boarded the train and traveled to Logan to see the circus. It was during this holiday that she formally met Moses Bodrero, whom she had seen a couple of times, as her sister Louise was married to his brother Jeffery. Not until this time, however, had they been properly introduced. Moses went to the circus with mother and her family, and after this first meeting they began to date. Mother continued to live and work in Logan for two or three months until she was called home to Preston when mother Wanner became very ill and needed her. mother and Moses corresponded with each other. Moses even rode the Bamberger to Preston several times to see mother. Their courtship lasted almost a year, and then on a cold winter day, December 18, 1907, they were married for time and eternity in the Logan Temple.

“They established their home with father’s parents on 3rd North and 5th West in Logan. This home was very small. It did not have any electricity or indoor plumbing. It was hard work caring for father’s parents as well as her other household demands. A very special occasion was near that would also keep mother busier than ever. A year after their marriage, they were blessed with a newborn son. They named him Earl. Their next baby was a healthy girl and they decided to call her Mae. As years followed, they were again blessed with two more sons, Floyd and Kenneth. During this time, father and mother continued living in their father’s parents and taking care of them, but when Earl was a year old, Father’s dad passed away. This was a sorrowful event and mother Bodrero remained in the home with them for she needed special love and care.

“After living in the little old home for twelve years, father decided to tear the home down and build a larger one. Before the new home was finished, mother was expecting her fifth baby. Since the new home was not completed in time for her delivery, she gave birth to their little daughter int he shanty (a small shed). Father and mother named this new baby daughter, Hazel.

“This long-awaited new home was larger and modernized with electricity and indoor plumbing. Life was easier and better for mother and her growing family. Sometimes mother would have a neighbor, by the name of Millie Shaw, come and help her take care of the babies. Following her little girl, Hazel, two more daughters were born, Clara and Laura. And later still, another sweet daughter and son joined their family. They named this new baby girl Barbara and their son was blessed and given the name Ivan. This made a total of nine children they happily received into their loving care.

“In the year 1910, mother and father Wanner moved from their home in Preston, to a home in Logan. Mother was now able to see her parents more often and they, in turn, became better acquainted with their grandchildren. Sadly though, int he year 1922, during the cold month of February, father Wanner passed away.

“When our sister, Clara, was six years old, she came down with Diphtheria and was not expected to live. However, with the good, faithful love and care from mother and father, she overcame the disease. Meanwhile, the older children stayed with their grandmother Wanner so they could continue going to school.

“Mother and father were one of the first in Logan to purchase a table radio and it was enjoyed a lot by the family. Together they would sit at night listening to the programs and music.

“After working seventeen years at the sugar factory, father had acquired by this time some land. So he left the sugar factory and became dedicated to the farm with the help of mother and the children.

“Mother recalls having a couple of sleeping babies in the baby buggy and helping father in the farm when a loud whistle suddenly blew, announcing to everyone the end of World War I. It was a happy day for all!

“Mother worked very hard in those early years, helping on the farm, caring for the children, cooking meals and caring for the house and mother Bodrero. Mother Bodrero had lived with them for twelve years following the death of her husband but then decided to move in with father’s sister. She was cared for by father’s sister a few months and then quietly passed away.

“When the new home was built, chicken coops were also constructed and each spring mother and father would order hundreds of baby chicks. Often mother would be found late into the night and early morning caring for these little chicks. Mother also loved to work in the vegetable and flower garden. She would gain joy and satisfaction through bottling a lot of fruits and making jams and jellies. For many summers, she and father and the smaller children would pile into the Essex (the family car) and go to Honeyville or Deweyville to pick or purchase ripe melons and other fruits.

“Among the other activities mother loved doing were sewing strips of rags together and making throw rugs. She was constantly quilting in her spare moments. The quits were framed and set in the dining room ready for her eager handiwork throughout each day.

“Mother also had made many friends around the neighborhood and she would visit them often. One family in particular, by the name of Mr. and Ms. Fred Speth, had come from Germany and had settled in College Ward. Mother and father became close friends with them and would visit them frequently.

“Mother was a dedicated visiting teacher in the ward and she, father and the children would attend all meetings on Sunday. She and father also attended the temple periodically, doing the work for the dead.

“Mother remembers in those days there was not a variety of events to attend, but they did go to some silent movies and German socials. They would visit heir relatives as often as possible. Mother’s sister, Mary lived in Ogden, Louise resided in Logan, Fred in Glendale, George and Christine in Preston and her youngest brother, Gottlob, lived in Inkom, Idaho.

“These good years swiftly flew by and when Earl turned twenty-one, he was called on a mission to the mid-western states. He served three years in the mission field. Missionaries served two and a half years at the time he was called, but he was given the duties of District President, therefore he continued to serve an extra six months. When he was released, he wrote to mother and father asking them to arrange things so he could meet him in Denver, Colorado. From there they would take a little tour through the Black Hills of Dakota, and on through Yellowstone Park and then home. They were able to do this, taking their youngest child Ivan with them.

“Father was able to buy a piece of land two blocks north of their home on Fifth North and Fifth West. He began making plans to build a new home on part of this land. In the spring of 1942 this dream was accomplished and mother and father moved into their second new home. At the time of this move, most of the children were married and had moved into homes of their own.

“Mother had more time to do other things so she became interested in embroidery. She would spend many hours embroidering pillowcases, scarfs, and quit blocks and soon became very good at this hobby. The handiwork is beautiful, and much of the work has been given as gifts to her children and grandchildren.

“Inspite of the fact that mother was very sickly as a child, she has enjoyed a very healthy life. There was a time in her early sixties, however, that an operation was needed, and during this trying illness her life was nearly taken. Our comforting Lord was with her as well as the faith and prayers of her loved ones and her life was spared.

“A few years later, when most people mother and father’s age would be retiring, they instead decided to be adventurous and investigate the possibilities of buying some land in the state of Washington that the government was issuing. This territory is situated near a small rural community called George; also not far from the little town named Quincy.

“Taking along their son, Ivan, they took a trip to Washington and purchased enough land for a productive farm. During the next few years they would spend the summers in Washington and winters in Logan. This was a very happy time for mother and father. Suddenly though, during the winter of 1962, father became very ill and passed away on December 19, 1962, one day following their fifty-fifth anniversary.

Bodrero Family in 1957, Front (l-r): Moses, Wilhelmina, Clara; Back: Laura, Mae, Floyd, Kenneth Ivan, Earl, Hazel, Barbara

“Mother became very fond of the farm and land in Washington, and decided to continue the work there with the help of Ivan and Clara. A circumstance in the fall of 1967, however, took the life of Clara, another sorrowful event in mother’s life. To keep herself busy, she decided to stay on the farm in Washington and help Ivan around the home and care for a small garden. For the next few years she would occasionally visit her sons and daughters and their families in Utah. These visits were always a great pleasure for her and them as well.

“Fourteen years following the death of her dear mate and nine years after the passing away of Clara, she again bereaved the loss of her eldest son Earl, who was taken from this life on December 10, 1976. Because of her strong testimony in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and in the hereafter, she remained very faithful and upheld her strength during these difficult experiences, and therefore has continued with her life. Mother has had a very strong testimony of the Gospel and faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and in there hereafter all of her life.

“At this time, mother is fairly well. her interest in life never diminishing, she spends most of her time embroidering quilt blocks and has also joined a lapidary (rock collecting and polishing) club. The club has monthly meetings and annual festivals that she attends. She still gardens and cares for a thriving strawberry patch. These are a few of the activities she enjoys most.

“Mother still owns the home in Logan on 5th North and 5th West, but she spends more of her time in George, Washington. mother’s brothers and sisters have passed away many years ago, but she remembers them through her many nieces and nephews. Along with her 7 surviving children, she is a grandmother to 43 grandchildren, 110 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren.

“In loving tribute, Mother exemplifies in her pioneer spirit an indominable character who loves to be doing something all of the time. True to her faith, she honors the Lord and His commandments. Alert, busy, and enjoying the work she does; this is how we will always remember our Mother.

Mary Andra, Unknown Couple, Verna Wanner, Bill Andra, Willard Wanner, Norma and Kenneth Bodrero, Wilhelmina Bodrero
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Biography of John George Wanner Sr

Wanner Family about 1895

Biography of John George Wanner taken from a hand written history which was in a box of Genealogy material of Clara Bodrero, now in possession of Elaine Ricks (unknown dates), author unknown.. I have written a history of John George Wanner Sr previously. I updated location and names to their proper spelling.

“John George Wanner, son of John Frederick and Anna Maria Marquardt, was born Oct. 18, 1845, at Holzgerlingen, Germany. He had two brothers, namely Michal and Conrad. Grandfather was the youngest child. [He wasn’t a very large man about 5 feet 6 inches tall. He always looked well dressed, clean and very nice.]

“He was member of the Protestant Church. At this church the members graduated from Sunday School at the age of 18.

“In those days children didn’t get very much schooling and grandfather was no exception.

“Grandpa while in Germany worked on the roads and was the road overseer. he also worked in the Black Forest and fought in the Civil War in Germany in 1865 and the War of 1870-71.

“He was married to Anna Maria Schmidt on June 6, 1870. [She was about 5 feet 4 inches and had a good shape. She always fixed her hair so beautiful, she looked nice and well dressed. I can remember this beautiful black knit winter dress she had and she always wore gloves] From this union was born to them five sons and five daughters. Before his marriage he served in the Civil War in Germany and again after his marriage in 1870 & 71 for quite a while.

“After his marriage he worked in the woods. In 1873 they moved from Holzgerlingen to Gruenkraut, Wuerttemberg, where they bought a little home and farm. He also worked in the gravel and woods on this side. In 1880 he got a job on a big highway and worked on it until he came to America in 1893.

“In the month of May 1891 while working on the Highway two men came along and talked to him, giving him a Tract. They were members and missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They visited his home telling him and his family of the gospel and the Lord’s work. They made their visits often, and in July 1891, John George, the oldest son was baptized and came to America with a missionary by the name of Terrell from Providence, Utah.

“In October 1891, grandfather, his wife and some of their children were baptized by the Elders. (Grandfather was the only member of his father’s family that joined the Latter Day Saint church.

“In May 1893, they prepared to come to America. [They rode the train for a day and then got on a ship and went up the Rhine River. This took them three or four days. They then rode the train another day and got on a ship on the North Sea that took them to England; the sea was very turbulent and they had a rough voyage.

“They went to Liverpool, England from Germany on a small ship. From Liverpool to New York they came on a big ship and were on the ocean 13 days. They arrived at New York City and stayed in a Hotel 20 stories up for 1 or 2 nights. They took the train to Chicago where they stayed 1 or 2 nights. Then they took a train and came to Franklin, Idaho arriving on Sunday June 18, 1893. They were met by their son George and Brother Fred Nuffer, the man George was working for. They met them with a one seated buggy and a wagon. Grandfather Wanner asked for a drink of water after getting off the train. “You’ll have to be on your stomach by that stream”, George spoke up. This made Grandfather Wanner so discussed that he walked back to Logan over 20 miles, with a determination to go back to Germany if he had to drink from ditches. The next day he reconsidered and again returned to Franklin, Idaho. They went to Cub River to Fred Nuffer’s place where they stayed for almost one week Then they purchased the farm of John Nuffer in Glendale, Idaho. [It was during this week that Grandpa took his daughter Mary and they walked to Bear Lake County seeking a farm and a home and to see what was available there. They slept on the ground at nights and saved some of their read to feed the bears so they wouldn’t bother them. They had to take off their shoes as they forged streams. It as a rough trip.

“[The first Sunday they were in Glendale, Grandpa and Grandma went to church with these five beautiful daughters and two sons. One day, William Addison Wagstaff was the ward clerk and mother, Mary, had on a red dress; dad looked down at her and winked. You see, dad was well past 30 and not married. I bet he though here is my chance. Of course there were other nice gals available, but he hadn’t married and we were happy he chose mother.]

“[Grandma soon joined the Relief Society and in the minutes of the meetings that I have, tell of her bearing her testimony often and donating eggs, wheat, calico or whatever, when asked to do so. They had a strong testimony and remained true to the Church and were ardent Temple Workers till their last days on earth. ]

“John Wanner took up more land after a few years and built a log cabin to claim the land. Cleared quaken aspens from his farm to have more land. One day his All slipped from a stump and cut a deep space i his hand. It was necessary for the doctor to put in several ditches as the farm work advanced he built a barn and bought addition cows.

“Mother Wanner made and sold many pounds of butter a week to George Benson Store in Whitney, Idaho.

“The Wanners also picked and sold number quarts of currants, gooseberries and raspberries. Gooseberries were about 20 quarts for a dollar, the raspberries sold for about 10 or 12 quarts for a dollar. These were delivered price.

“About that time 2 additional rooms were added to a rock house that was on the place.

“They bought the John Nuffer’s farm at Glendale, Idaho, now Franklin County. Later he bought the Jed M. Blair farms in Whitney and started to raise sugar beets.

“[They later moved in 1910 to Logan, Utah and ] while living at Logan, Utah [to be near the Logan Temple where they could go often. In Logan, they lived at two or three different places, but I wasn’t able to find out for sure. The places I distinctly remember was their home on 3rd North and two or so blocks East and their last home in Logan was a lovely home they built located on 4th North and two blocks East. they did a great deal of Temple work for the dead having got many names from Germany. They also did a lot of work for other people. While in Logan, Grandpa always had a lively horse, a good looking single black buggy and a real snazzy buggy whip. This one place they lived on in Logan had an extra lot where he grew hay for his horse and he’d cut it with the scythe. They also always had a nice garden and beautiful flowers. As I remember this home was on 3rd North and a few blocks East.]

“[They were hard working, thrifty people and handled their affairs very well. They really made hay while the sun shone and were able to retire at a reasonable age and had enough to live on plus an estate they left. ]

“February 16, 1922 after a short illness of pneumonia he died and was buried in the cemetery at Logan, Utah.

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Andra Marriage Certificate

Bill and Mary Andra Marriage Certificate

I received a number of envelopes, documents, and photos from some cousins living in Arizona. Patricia Trimble and Twila Lemmons are the daughters of Golden Rulon Andra, brother to my Colleen Mary Andra.

As I worked through some of the photos and papers I came upon this document. It is the original. A thick vellum like paper with the handwriting written on it. I sat down and stared at it for a very long time. I tried to imagine the day. I imagined which of the sealing rooms in the Salt Lake Temple this sealing took place in 1920. I don’t know. But 10 March 1920 was a day a long life and large family formally began for William “Bill” and Mary Andra. They would both live for another 70 years. 12 children, 46 grandchildren, and many more descendants. Most of those years were spent near Preston and Whitney, Idaho. Both are buried in Whitney.

Alvin Fielding Smith (1874-1948) was the sealer, son of Joseph Fielding Smith (1838-1918). Peter James Sandberg (1852-1921) and Thomas Biesinger (1844-1931) were the witnesses. Interestingly, online, in October the same year, both were the witnesses with the same Sealer. Not sure if witnesses were also a calling then or not, but more than six months later all these men performed the exact same act as they did for Bill and Mary. I understand that their Bishop while living in Salt Lake City/Sugar House was LeGrand Richards (1886-1983), he was Bishop from 1920-1925, so very likely a true recollection.

Bill and Mary Andra Family. Back (l-r): William Fredrick Jr, Golden Rulon; Middle Row: Sergene, Mildred “Millie”, Colleen, June; Front: Donald Wanner, Larry Eugene, William Fredrick, Dale, Mary Louise, and Ross Leslie Andra.

This photo was also included in the photos. I understand from the family that Millie was pregnant in this photo in 1946. Gary was born in January 1947, so that seems to fit. Grandpa Andra always joked this photo made it look like he had flowers in his hair. It does look like that. This photo is a constant memory of my childhood, always sitting on my Grandmother’s vanity. She mentioned it to me often, I probably asked about it to start the conversations. There was an obvious fondness. I believe it is for those reasons that I also hold a fondness for it. I never had a very good scan of the photo and even online the copies were pixelated. I am happy to report this one is scanned and uploaded to FamilySearch in its highest quality.

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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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German Branch of Oneida Stake

Necia Seamons article at Oneida Stake Academy

In 2018, I took the kids over to Preston, Idaho because there was a display on some of our Nuffer ancestors at the Oneida Stake Academy.  Necia Seamons has been good to write history of the area and do various research projects.  The Academy continues to be restored and progress is being made.

I thought these pages deserved their own entry for the history as well as reference to family.

“On April 19, 1896, the Oneida Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized a German speaking branch based in Glendale.  Both John Nuffer and Charles August Nuffer served int he branch’s leadership, as did Joseph Moser, Mr. Kern, Alma Moser and William Addison Wagstaff.

“The first branch president was Jacob (Ira) Naef, who was Swiss.

“They gathered every two weeks, at first in the homes of members, and sometimes traveled as many as 20 miles for services from the towns of Glendale, Preston, Mink Creek, Whitney, St. Joseph and Franklin.

“‘The branch existed for 20 years, until Oneida Stake President Joseph S Geddes, in 1916, asked Charles August Nuffer, then branch president, to not hold meetings due to contentious sentiments toward the German speaking people.’

“‘During the latter part of the war, some of the people of Preston made it very hot for the German-speaking people, yet most of them were Swiss but that did not make any difference.’

“‘After the war, many of the German people moved away, so we never started to hold meetings anymore,’ said Charles August Nuffer.

“At the end of WWI, Preston resident gathered outhouses into the town square, what is now Benson Park (above), and called it the ‘Schitty of Berlin.’  They whooped and hollered and burned the mock city down.

“Willard and Austin Nuffer sons of John and Louisa Zollinger Nuffer, served the U.S. in WWI.  Willard also registered for WWII.

Necia Seamons article at Oneida Stake Academy

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William Christoph Wanner

William Christoph Wanner

As part of Memorial Day this pandemic year, I thought I would memorialize William Christoph Wanner.  He served and died as part of World War I, but didn’t die in France from the war but the dreaded Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918.

William Christoph Wanner was born 9 November 1899 in Mapleton, Franklin, Idaho along with his twin Willard John Wanner.  The first children born to George and Regina Nuffer Wanner.  Children after were Mary Louise (1901), Golden (1902), Eva Virtue (1904), Rulon (1905), and Serge (1908).

Wanner Twins, Willard (l) and William (r) about 1901.

The Wanner twins in about 1900 or 1901. I don’t know the year, but the family moved from Mapleton down to Whitney before 1910.

Regina with William and Willard in the back and then Golden, Mary in the middle, holding Serge, then Rulon, then Eva about 1909 or 1910.

This following photo is at the Whitney farm.

John George & Regina Wanner Family about 1912, Eva, William, Golden, Serge sitting, George, Regina, Rulon, Willard, Mary.

Here is what I received from William’s medical records.

Served: United States Army
Service Number: 1640542
Dates of Service: 5 Aug 1917 – 1 Dec 1918
Rank: Private
Assignments: Supply Company, 145th Field Artillery, American Expeditionary Forces
Decorations: WWI Victory Medal with service clasp; WWI Victory Button (Bronze)
Place of Entry: Preston, Idaho
Place of Separation: Camp Gebicart, France
Place of Birth: Idaho
Date of Death: 1 Dec 1918
Location of Death: Camp Begicart, France

The military records have his death location incorrect.

He died in Camp Genicart, Gironde, France.  He died of the dreaded influenza that fall instead of of something related to the war.  Except for the amount in which the influenza was related to the war and transported as part of those processes.

His body arrived in Whitney in a lead lined casket and he was buried 11 November 1920 in Whitney.

Sadly, his brother Golden died 26 November 1918 in Salt Lake City while a student from Influenza as well (death certificate says it was natural??).

Rulon died 26 February 1924 in Logan while a student of an ear infection (acute meningitis caused by acute otitis media).

Serge died 5 October 1929 in New Zealand as a missionary.  Cut himself shaving, got infected, turned deadly.

All four brothers are buried beside each others in Whitney.  Their parents are just to the east of them.  Their sister Eva just north (married Spatig), Mary just west, Willard is there in Whitney too. The whole family is buried all within 50 feet of each other.

by

Jacob Friedrich Wanner

I received this history a few years ago.  I will provide it as it is written (only minor edits).  I have written before regarding Fred’s parents Johann George (John George) Wanner and Anna Maria Schmid.

Back(l-r): Eva, Carma, Bert Wanner; Front: Lyman, Fred, Eva, Stanley Wanner

“(This History is written by Jacob’s daughter – Eva June Wanner Lewis – with the information sent in by Brother Fred, and Sister Mary Ann, and  her own sweet memories as well as information from Histories of Brothers and Sisters.)

“Jacob Friedrich Wanner was born January 14, 1881, in Gruenkraut, Germany, the 7th child of Johann Georg Wanner and Anna Maria Schmid.  They had a large family consisting of five boys and five girls.  They were quite poor so Grandfather went to work as a road overseer.  This left the farm work to Grandmother and the children.  They used the milk cows to do the farm work and then would milk them morning and night.  They also got wood from the forest for fuel.

Back(l-r): Mary, Christina, George, Pauline; Front: Anna, Fred, Louisa, Wilhelmina, Gottlop, John Wanner

“It rained a lot in Germany so the out buildings were connected to the house.  One time Grandma went downstairs to get some fruit.  She reached over and touched something hairy – she thought it was the devil!  It was a cow that had wandered down from the barn.

“Dad didn’t talk much about his life as a child but he did say he got a drum for Christmas and then it would disappear about New Year’s Day and he would get it for Christmas again the next year.  He may have been joking.

“The family belonged to the Lutheran Church and was very religious.

“In the summer of 1890 the Lord sent a man along the street in Gruenkraut where Grandpa worked.  He was a missionary from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  He talked to Grandpa a long time and showed him the Book of Mormon.  He spoke in German.  When it came dinner time Grandpa took the missionary home and said,  “We’ll see Mother.”  From that day the missionaries stayed in their home and the family was soon converted.  They joined the church in 1891.

“Uncle George was baptized in July 1891 and went to America with one of the missionaries, Brother Terrell from Providence, Utah.  Brother Terrell helped him find a job to provide for himself.  He got a job with Fred Nuffer in Glendale.  Grandfather and Grandmother and the three oldest girls were baptized in October 1891.  Louise and Pauline were baptized in June 1894, Gottlob in June 1895 and Wilhelmina in August 1896.  Dad was baptized in Preston or Franklin, Idaho, on June 7, 1894, by Lars C. Larsen and confirmed a member of the church by Austin I. Merrill on June 7, 1894.  He was ordained an Elder by George C. Parkinson on September 27, 1903, and was married by Thos Morgan on September 30, 1903, at the Logan Temple.

“The family left Germany to come to America so they could worship the way the pleased.  It was a long, uncomfortable trip.  They took the train to the Rhine River and then boarded a boat and traveled up the Rhine, a journey of about 3 or 4 days.  Then another train took them to the North Sea where a ship sailed them to Amsterdam, Holland, and then on to England.  At Liverpool they boarded a ship and were on the ocean for 13 days.  Dad was 12 years old when they crossed the ocean and told us of the rough sea.  He had to hang on to his bunk with both hands to keep from being thrown to the floor.  He said he sure got sick of eggs.

“They arrived in New York and stayed there for 2 days.  Then they went to Chicago for a day and a night.  They then rode a train straight through to Franklin, Idaho, which took six days.  They arrived the 18th day of June, 1893.

“Uncle George and Fred Nuffer (the man he worked for) met them with a buggy and wagon and took them to Fred Nuffer’s place in Cub River.  They stayed for a while with the Nuffers and purchased a farm from John Nuffer in Glendale.

Gpa Wanner

“When Grandpa and Grandma moved to Whitney they sold the farm to Dad.  I don’t know if Dad or Grandpa build the sandstone house.  It had a kitchen, two bedrooms and a pantry.  It had a hand pump that pumped water from a spring.  Mary Ann and some of the children were born there.

“Dad met and married a lovely young girl, Mary Elizabeth Carter on September 30, 1903, in the Logan Temple.  They lived in Whitney, Idaho, until they bought the farm.  They worked hard to improve their farm and many times she helped him in the fields.  They built a three bedroom brick house that stood for many years until fire destroyed it years later.  Dad had a Delco generator in the garage so we had our own electricity.

Fred and Mary Elizabeth Wanner

“They had a lovely family, five girls and three boys:  Laverna C., Fredrick D., Lorin C., Florence E., Joseph J., Erma C., Mary Ann and Grace C.

“IN 1923 – Elizabeth died leaving seven children.  The youngest was almost 2 years old.  Laverna got married so that left Erma and MaryAnn to take care of the baby.  Erma would go to school one day and MaryAnn the next.  It was hard.  They tried to leave her with Aunt Ethel Barrington in Riverdale, but she got so lonely and cried all day so they went and got her.  Then Dad hired Eva Christensen to come and work as a housekeeper.  As time went on Dad and Eva (my mother) fell in love and was married June 26, 1925, in the Logan Temple. They had five children:  Carma C., L. Bertus, Eva June, Lyman G., and Stanley C.  We had a happy family life and dad always saw to it that we went to church and did what we were suppose to do.  He went when he could.  He always paid his tithing and other offerings.  He was honest in all his dealings.

Fred and Mary with (l-r) Laverna, Fred, Lorin.

“Dad was the first one in Glendale to buy a car.  We children were used to horses so we would say,  “Gid up, Gid up” when we got in the car.  About this time Dad was struck by lightening but was not harmed.

“Dad owned or had a share in the thrashing machine.  They would go around to all the farmers in Glendale and thrash the grain.  Then we would fix a big meal for all the men.   It was a real fun time for the children but a lot of work for the adults.  Dad worked as an oiler or on the thresher and had part of his finger taken off.  When we were little he told us a fox bit it off!

“Dad was a good farmer.  He took pride in all his work.  He raised hay, barley and wheat.  He always had 10 or 12 dairy cows.  He also had horses, pigs and chickens.  For many years we separated the cream from the milk in the old separator.  Then Dad took the cream to Preston to sell it along with the eggs.  In later years we had the milk truck come and pick up the milk so we didn’t use the separator anymore.  He also bought a grain chopper and prepared his own feed for the animals.  We had a big raspberry patch and used to sell raspberries for 8 quarts for a dollar.  Dad always had a big garden and a big potato patch.  He had a root cellar to keep potatoes, carrots, squash and apples over the winter.

“In the early 1930’s Dad bought silver foxes.  He built a high fence so they couldn’t get out.  He took great pride in his fox furs.  They were always excellent quality!  I remember watching him cure the furs and he took great care to make sure they were done right.  Dad always kept his barnyard as well as the rest of the farm in good repair and very neat.  His fences were always mended.

“Dad always took time out of his farm work to go to Franklin to celebrate Idaho Day on the 15th of June.  We would take a big picnic lunch and spend the day.  We rode the carnival rides and had a good time.  He always took us kids to Downata to go swimming when we finished first crop of hay.

“Dad liked a good joke… I remember how he would laugh.  He loved the radio and his favorite programs were Gang Busters, The Old Ranger and of course the news!  We all had to be quiet when the news came on.

“Dad was very active and was always working except on Sunday – there was never any work done on Sunday except chores.  He loved the Sunday paper.  He always bought the Denver Post.  It was a real shock to us when he had his heart attack because he was so active.  It happened one day when he was working in the barn.  We were all frightened and I called the neighbors to help us get him to the house.

“After that he had to be very careful so he sold the farm and moved to Preston.  They lived just down the street from MaryAnn.  He seemed to miss the farm and would putter around the yard.

“He died at the age of 74 on August 25, 1955.  He was buried in the Preston Cemetery.