w

AUTOBIOGRAPHIES

OF THE SIX DAUGHTERS

of

CHARLES H. AND ADELAIDE H. ALLEN

Promoted and Compiled by

THOMAS AND JULIA WATKINS

\ I
 Chapter II

ADELAIDE

Part 1

I was the sixth child, and the first daughter of Charles Hopkins
111" and Elizabeth Adelaide Hoopes Allen, I was born at Cove, Cache
County, Utah, liarch 27, 187U.
It seems I was very active, for I was scolded much for getting into
mischief, even though I always wanted to do right and wondered why I
always seemed to do the wrong things.

At an early age I was taught to work so as to take care of my energy.

Perhaps I was made over, being the first girl, and teased a good bit
by my older brothers. For many years I waa accused of having a very
bad disposition.

We lived on a farm in Cove near the farms of my uncles, Father's

brothers, Andrew Lee Allen and Levi Allen. There were older brothers
and younger children and there was plenty to do. We had good times
and were happy.

My mother waa very systematic about all her responsibilities. She

waa a natural born teacher although she had very little school learn
ing.

Every child in our home, old enough to work, had a regular job to do,
like taking care of the dishwashing and sweeping. When one was large
enough she was to help with the cooking. The other would take care
of the baby. I being so full of energy, got the job of dishwashing
and sweeping. My sister, Clarinda, just younger usually tended the
baby.

My schooling began in Cove, Utah. "Hannah Goasland, my cousin, was

my first teacher. In her class I made a motto "God Bless Our Home",
which I still have. There wasn't time to do much work on my motto
during school hours so I would stay after school and Hannah would
help me, I remember this Incident . The school was on the side
of the hill about a mile from my home, I had stayed after school to
work on my motto and was late starting home. Because it was late,
I was afraid and didn't dare look to the right or left. Finally I
screwed up enough courage to look and beside me I saw a small black
animal with a white streak down its back and tail trotting along, I
didn't know what kind of an animal it was but thought it might be a
dog so I called, "Here puppy 1 Here puppy!" but the animal paid no
attention. So I said "Kitty, Kitty, Kitty!" But still it paid no
attention. It just trotted along beside me. By that time I was a-
long side Uncle Andrew's board fence so I climbed on the fence and
let the animal go by.

When I told Aunt Minerva, Uncle Andrew's wife, about it she said,
"Oh, that is what has been getting my chickens. It is a skunk."

On June 1, 1882, I was baptized in the Cub River by Bishop Christan

Monson and was confirmed the same day by Wallace Burnam,

During the summer of 1882 we decided to go to Arizona, My father waa

troubled with rhumatism and he had heard of the warm climate in Ariz
ona, and hoped to be benefitted. Father sold our farm and we pre
pared to move.
 2-2

We had two wagons with four horses on each. In these we loaded pro
visions to make the trip: beddin,53, clothes and household goods to
a tart our new homo.

It was fall by the time we started. Father, Charles, and Warner

drove the teams on the wagons taking turns. Sometimes one would walk
beside the wa[;on for exercise or to lighten the load.

We had a aurrey, we called it the White Top, In which mother and the
children rode. My brother, Seymour, drove the team pulling the
White Top.

This is one incident I remember on our trip to Arizona .

We came by way of St. George, Utah, and had to cross a river ever so
many times as it was very crooked. The wagons were ahead and had
made the crossing in one place then had to cross again near by. We
were behind in the White J-op and as we were crossing we could see the
wagons crossing the river again down the stream a little ways, Sey
mour got the idea of just driving down the river to where the wapons
were crossing and saving the bother of making the turn on the other
side. Mother thought it a good idea too, Seymour pulled on tho reins
and headed the team down stream and as they started they sank to their
bellies in quicksand. Father and the boys saw our plight so they im
mediately unharnessed the horses on their wagons and came back and
pulled us out of the quicksand.

One day we stopped by the roadside for lunch. While the men were
taking care of the horses and mother was getting things organized, we
girls wandered around nearby. We saw a funny looking burr we had
never seen before. We were wearing wool caps our mother had made for
us. Priscilla's cap was blue and Clarinda's and mine were red. We
found that the burrs would stick to our caps so we covered them with
burrs. Then we got the idea of putting them in Clarinda>s'hair. She
had beautiful long hair. When we were all decorated up we went to
show mother. You can imagine her consternation when she saw us, for
the burrs were cockol-burrs and what a time she had getting them out
of Clarinda's hair and out of our caps.

This incident happened as we were leaving a small settlement in South

ern Utah early in the morning, Priscilla and Elijah were riding in
the springseat of one of the wagons. Father was walking beside the
wagon driving the horses, I was walking beside father feeling quite
grown-up to be allowed to walk with him. The teams were fresh and
going at a good gait. We came to a small ditch unexpectedly. Vihen
father saw the ditch he shouted to the children on the spring seat to
hold tight. Priscilla held to the seat but Elijah reached for the
wagon bow overhead and missed it. As the wagon hit the ditch, Elijah
pitched forward and fell right in the wheel track. Father shouted
"Whoa!" and dropped the reins, threw his kneo against the wheel and
snatched Elijah from almost certain death. We all felt it was a mir
acle he was saved. His head was right against the wheel and in an
other instant the wheel would have crushed him. Mother was in the
White Top with Deborah, the baby. When she was told about Elijah,
she said, "When we passed that cemetary on the other side of the town
last evening, I thought, wouldn't it be awful if I had to leave one
of my children there."

When we came to the Colorado River, Priscilla, who was three years
old, exclaimed, "Take off my shoes so I can wade in it,"
 2-3

Our wagons and horses were ferried across the Colorado river on flat
boats. Father and the older boys went across with the wagons and the
White Top. Mother and we children went across in a row boat. It was
quite an experience.

At Kingman, Arizona we saw the first Mexican we had ever seen. He

traveled with us walking along be3ide the wagons. He didn't want to
cross the desert alone so asked permission to join us, .fie was friend
ly and came with us as far as Wickenburg.

We arrived at Mesa, November 13, 1882. We made the trip in six weeks,
which was considered quite a record, as most people had taken three
months to make the trip.

We found people here by the name of Hawks, Our parents had known
them in Cache Valley, Utah, so they invited us to camp near them for
a few days, until father could look around.

Father soon bought a house and lot. It was located on the corner of
what is now South Country Club Drive and First Avenue, We lived there
a short time, then aold that property and bought 160 acres from uncle
Henry Home,

This property was east of Mesa and was bounded by what is now Horne
Lane, East Fourth Avenue and Transmission Road, We owned that prop
erty for a good many years.

As soon as we were settled, I entered school. It was a one room

school house on the site of the present Lincoln School. I was 8-h yrs,
old and was reading in the second reader. We didn't have grades. We
had the primer, first reader, second reader, and the third and fourth
readers. This is how the school was graded, Jenny Bush was the
teacher and we loved her dearly,

I was new and everything was strange so I was happy when Tena Metz
waa nice to me and invited me to sit with her at her desk. The desks
were long so three children could git together. We sat on a long
bench,

Tena also invited Matilda Mier, a German orphan girl, who had come to
Mesa with the Kleinmans, to sit with us, V.'e became fast friends.

The following were my teachers, A. A, Wood, Annie S. HcCoy, Francel

Robson and George Lewis. Finally F. J. Netherton came to teach and
R, H, Smith taught the first seminary.

At the age of 10 years I was supposed to be able to fry meat, boil

potatoes and mako bisqults and gravy. This I could do and was con
sidered a smart girl, I could also iron, even the stiff front white
shirts the men wore in those days.

At 12 years of age, being large for my age, I went to work at ?1.50

per week. I worked for Hannah Miller, Delia Hibbert, Main Millet
and Sister Owen,

~ When my brother James was born, I took over all the housework at
home as well as the washing and ironing.

We had a wonderful mother, who was a natural disciplinarian and teac

her. She taught by example and by stories. She taught us to pray
and the value of prayer. She taught us morals that helped us not to
allow familiarity with boys. She also taught us to love and respect
Father and to seek his council and advice.

In our home, every child that was old enough, had regular work to do.
We worked in pairs, like, two to take care of the bedroom, make the
beds and empty the pots, etc. Two children did the dishwashing and
sweeping, When one was old enough she was to help with the cooking
and the other would take care of the baby.

The two oldest girls dressed alike and slept together. The next two
did the same and the next two the same. There were six girls.

We had fomlly prayers night and morning. Each child took their turn.
The two smaller ones leading one after the other. Since the family
was large their turns came more often.

Each child was taught to respect father, to keep his rocking chair
ready when he came into the house, and the newspaper ready to hand
to him. Mother herself looked after his every need in the home.

Father taught us Bible and Book of Mormon stories. We loved these

stories and were attentive listeners.

Mother often told us stories such as Aesop's Fables to make a point.

We were told the stories of "Sour Grrpes" and "Old Dog Tray" to help
us beware of flattery. She was on guard to teach morality. She
taxight us songs and at home evening meetings she took her turn as did
father. They sang songs and spoke pieces with us.

Mother had a rule that we must all be home by sundown everyday so that
she would know our whereabouts. On occasion, very few, when the
children were away after dark, she would start out to find them after
asking the Lord, in prayer, to direct her to them.

At the age of 13 years, I became a Sunday School teacher. I also

took dressmaking lessons and learned to take measurements and to draft
patterns. My girl friends were Fanny Peterson, Tennessee Sellers,
Deliah Sirrine, and Annie Phelps.

In November, after my 15th, birthday, mother passed away leaving a

baby five days old. The night she died, I was awakened by people con
versing in a way I knew she had or was about to pass away, I heard
one say, "Adelaide can take over and manage." It seemed to me it was
mother speaking. Then I knew the responsibility was mine and I must
not fail mother.

Many times when reading my Patriarchal Blessing, which says "You will
teach your sisters," I realized what my life's mission is and has
been, I pray earnestly that I have not let mother down. I am very
thankful that my sisters have measured up under the watchful care of
their Guardian Angel,

After mother's death, grandma Brady stpyed a month and helped me care
for my tiny baby brother. By that time she thought I was capable to
take over.

Father and my older brothers counciled and decided I could keep the
family together with their watchful care and help. Baby Joseph
passed away the next spring. No doubt frinds and neighbors wondered
 2-5
how we would get along but with the help of our Heavenly Father and
father and my older brothers we managed,

I remember one time when we went to Sunday School, just as the family
^_/ was getting out of the buggy, I overheard two ladles commenting,
"They are always clean when they come,"

when mother had been dead a year, I remarked to Father, while ho was
warming himself by the kitchen stove, "One year ago today." Father
said "Yes", while the tears streamed down his face, I resolved never
to mention mother's death again. I did not want to grieve him so.

More than a year after mother passed away, father went to Logan, Utah
and worked in the Temple there. When he came home he brought a wife,
V/e called her aunt Anne, She had a small son named Ira,

That summer Fannie and I had our hair cut and was razzed quite abit.
V.'arner went on a mission to the Southern States. Seymour took care
of ua and supplied means for food and clothing. He watched over us
and counciled us aright, until I knew he was next to Jesus as a per
fect person.

Father built a home on the east side of the ranch and moved thera
with aunt Annie,It was there aunt Annie raised her family.

At the age of 17 years I was councilor to Etta Pomeroy in the Y.L.M,-

I.A.

Mother had married at the age of 17 years, and she had often said,
"My girl must not have a beau until she is 18 years old,"

Our group of young people was known as the Desert Group, We had
such wonderful times riding in the White Top buggy behind a team of
horses, going in to Sunday evening meetings all holding handa so as
not to break the chain, often causing disturbances, etc.

Sometimes the city boys would dance with us girls and then the city
girls would pout,

My dressmaking lessons served me well. We six girls were always

dressed alike in pairs, myself and Clarinda, Priscilla and Deborah
then Rebecca and Julia, VJe slept together in pairs that way.

One style of dress we called "Jenny Josie Dress". The younger girls
had many made that way,

I cut and finished one in one e vening while a widower was calling on
me. He did not come again,

I made a good many dresses for Indian women for ^1.00 each while they
camped by the pasture, in grain gleaming season. We also traded
grapes to them for wheat.

On washday, we always baked bread, cooked beans and made rice pudding.
Sister Annie Metz sometimes took the sox home and mended them for us.
When any of the children were sick she prescribed for them with mild
teas of herbs. She took Priscilla to her home for a week to take
care of her hand which had a frog fellon in the center,

Warner came home from his mission. He fixed up the house with a
 2-6

rock foundation and plastered it outside. We had groups of young

people in for parties, A group of six Fuller boys came from Pine
and East Verde, Arizona. They were all of marriageable age,

— In the autumn of lB93, Warner married my girl frind, Fanny Peterson,

and took her to the St. George Temple and was sealed.

The 25th, of the next January, I was married to Horace G. Fuller by

Bishop William Passoy, He was in the butcher business with hi3 father.

We lived on South Macdonald St. noar the Alhombru Hotel until Horace
got a neat three room brick house built on East Second Avenue, There
our first child was born, Horace Ralph, the 26th, of November,

At the birth of Horace fialph, Ann Peterson, Annie E. Fuller, my

mother-in-law, and my husband were present. Labor was lingering so
in the middle of the night Horace went for my father. When he came
he administered to me. Labor continued to linger and about 9 a.m.,
father burst into loud and reverent communion with the Lord and asked
for Divine help. Results followed,

Horace had brought horses from the mountains for winter feed. He
took them back In the spring and worked there during the summer.
He finally closed out his butcher business and rented the Norton
ranch, southeast of Mesa for one year. Having bought interest In a
[(.0 acre farm with his father we moved there on South Mesa Drive, He
and his father's family had the measels. His mother and family were
living on the farm.

It was while living on South Mesa Drive that our first twins, Charles
and Elizabeth were born. We were living in tents at the time.
Charles died at the age of one month.

After farming with his father and milking cows for two years, Horace
bought 20 acres on East Fourth Avenue from Parley C, Sirrine, and
established himself independently in the dairy business. He also had
a hay crew and contracted during the summer. It was here the 3econd
twins were born and died. They were named Inez and Ivan,

Horace and I were sealed by Apostle Heber J. Grant, March 11th., 1897
at the home of Benjamin F, Johnson, who with David LeBaron were the
witnesses. Apostle John Henry Smith gave instructions and council
before we went in the room to be sealed.

One summer Horace took the family with Sister Priscllla to Flagstaff
where he worked with a logging company,

fle spent one summer contracting digging wells for people.

Because of the loss of our children, I realized my ignorance in car

ing for them, so I took a course In obstrectlcs and nursing from
Doctor Ellis R. Ship in 1900.

In 1901, John Seymour was born a fine healthy 15 lbs. We were so

{J happy.

In the Fall of 1901, we went to Logan, Utah to have the privilege of

going to the Temple, We had our Endowments on October 18th,, 1901.
Halph was sealed to us.
 2-7

While at the Logan Temple, I got instructions to make Temple clothes.

This was by request of my Relief Society President, With the in
structions of President Ilabel C, Hokes, I learned to make Temple
shoes and have made many for burial.

The following two years, a drouth came on. In 1903, Arin C. was
born. Tho following summer Horace took his and his father's milch
cows to Buckeye, Arizona, where they rented an acreage for feed. He
and Ralph stayed there to milk the cows and market the milk.

In August, the children and I went with grandpa Fuller to Buckeye

and spent a week with Horace and Ralph, Horace brought us home in a
heavy electric and rain storm. He knew what to do, and Ifelt no a-
larm. After that, they brought the cows hone. That autumn he talk
ed some of selling out and moving to Oregon,

In the winter he got sick with what we now know as flue and died the
9th. of December, 1901}., with pneumonia,

I was left alone with four children to make a living with Ralph's
help. We milked the cows, irrigated, etc, I went out sewing for
people, and nursing, I also delivered women in child birth.

I assisted my sisters with their sowing and they helped me with the
children. My brothers wore very kind to me.

Since 189U. I had been a Relief Society teacher as well as a Sunday

School teacher.

In 1901 I was made counselor to Laura Rappleye in the Relief Society

and served her until she moved away. 1 then sewed with Alice Richens
for two years,

Amy Dana was the next Relief Society President, I was a counselor
to her. I introduced the first course of lessons in Mesa Relief
Society while Amy Dana was President, from outlines prepared by
President Julia Richards of the Boxelder Stake, before the outlines
were published in the Relief Society magazine,

I served as a Relief Society counselor until 1912.

Part 2

In 1908, Charles Peterson buried his wife. That same year he began
to pay attention to me. He was a very desireable man. He was honest,
he had good judjement, and was a good Latter-day Saint,

With much opposition from his mother, mother-in-law, and family, he

still persisted. That summer, ■ myself and three boys arranged to go
to the white Mountains on a vacation along with my brother, Warner,
Bishop Home and John Home, with their families. Without informing
Brother Peterson. One the day we were to start, he learned of our
intention and he came and looked over my team of horses and wa^on,
He pronounced them safe enough. We started out Thursday p.m., and
camped three nights enroute, Sunday, we camped for Sunday School
when here drove up Brother Peterson and hio three unmarried children.
We spent two wks, in the mountains. On returning home, I decided to
go to school and finish grammer school, attend Hi school anr' college,
and teach. I finished the 8th. grade with my oldest son Ralph. That
fall Brother Peterson was very sick for two or three weeks, and fin-
 2-8

ally improved and got well. He continued to pay attention to me.

When I waa ask if I wag going to marry him, I said, "Ho, not as long
as his mother lives." She died in January. She even gave a word of
praise for me after I sat up all ni^ht to care for her, as a Relief
Society worker.

After school closed and I graduated, he ask me to marry him. I ask

for time to consider and pray, ry brother, Warner, came on Saturday
evening after a Peterson dinner and aaid, "For ^O-odncos nakos,
Adelaide, don't marry uncle Charley. I've never listened to so much
arguing and quarreling." Of course, that was an answer to my prayer,
because Warner was a member of the Bishopric, and did not know about
what had gone on between myself and Brother Peterson, The next mor
ning early, he came and said, "Sister, forget what I said last night.
Uncle Charley i3 a good man and did not take part in the fuss yes
terday. If you want him, go ahead and marry him." (And I did,) He
came to me at Sunday School and said, "How much longer are you fining
to keep me away from you?" We married vSeptember IB, 1909. He moved
his children to my hone. The children all went to school.

Kabel was born October 23, 1911. The next year he sold his home and
bought | section of land sou*h of Gilbert. He cleared it and moved
when he had built a home there. We moved out there in January, 1912,
and lived there eight years, during that time the Chandler Ward was
organized, I was made choir leader and directed the music in Sunday
School and H.- I, A,, and was a counselor to Barbara Openshas in Re
lief Society, Two years later, I was made President, During my
tenure, the Relief Society topped maze and ;;avo dinners to get money
to help build the meeting house. We have '■200.00 credit for wheat
at head quarters, yet from our efforts.

While living out there, Howard Peterson went on a mission, served in

the 1st. world war, went to L. A. to school, and married. Ralph,
hrin, Eva and Elizabeth all were married there.

After eight years spent on the ranch in the dairy business with reg
istered guernsey cattle, we sold out and moved to my former home at
liesa. During the time we had epant on this ranch, I was President
of Y, L, M, I. A,, choir leader and Sunday School teacher,

Ralph attended school at U. S, A. C, at Logan for one year and finish-

ed college at Tempe. Llizabeth finished High School in Mesa, and
college at Tempe,

John finished nigh School at Gilbert and graduated at the U. of A.

in Tucson. Orln C. finished High School in Mesa, and college at
Tempe and 3.Y.U, at Provo, and also filled a mission which he finan
ced by himself, Mabel finished High School in Mesa, she also
attended Tempe College and Lambson Buisness College, b~-3ides [<:oing
on a mission,

I was made counselor in Relief Society to Lucretia Pomeroy, tiien

President for three years in Mesa 2nd. ward, I was al3o counselor
to May R. Uriggs and Pearl Allen in Stake Primary, and President for
two years.

While Nabel was on her mission, her father's health failed, and he
ask her to cone home a month before her mission time was up. She
arrived home the 19th. of November, He died the 23rd. of December,
She married the following May to Earnest Skinner and moved to Idaho,
 2-9

John had married and taught school. That spring he went to Colorado.

It was a very lonely time for me. Orin had married Fawn Ellaworth
and lived on the North East part of the acres. I went over to the
Gila Valley end stayed a few weeks with Vilate Cordon's children.
When I came home, I had a new house built on the North West corner of
the 10 acres, and I have made my home there ever-since, I have spent
3£ years in stake missionary work, worked in the Temple laundry one
season, have been a teacher in Relief Society and Genealogy, and also
class theology teacher in Relief Society, Captian of the Temple Camp
D. of U, P, and county secretary to the same. I have helped for saven
years with the children who come to the Temple to be baptized. I
have done considerable research work until Gerald took it over. I
have done some endowment work in the Temple.

I made a eight weeks trip to the Los Angeles library, and have worked
in all the Temples but Hawaii, I have driven my car from Mexico to
Canada.

I am thankful for my heritage and their teachings, for my brothers and

sisters and what they have done for me. Above all, I am thankful to
my husband and dear children and the lives they have all lived so
far. Hay the Lord continue to bless them and keep them in the
straight and narrow way. May I be worthy of them and the blessings
the Lord has blessed me with. I am thankful for the gospel and my
testimony, August, 1953.

w
 PREFACE

Having been associated with the "ALL^N SISTERS" for

^ s ?n ac?ionT?here
mv?mr H-. ? me a dG3ire to have a rccord ^ those
do™ ™- ^S liaJ8 f°rmed thelr ct™cter3, and to have set
down in print the characteristics which, I think, have made for
the admirable qualities In their lives.

SnSiJ^ S f*10?* s-?tcn of thoir lives> " is done with the

thought of bringing the attention of their descendents, or of
any and all who may read and care to pattern from their lives,
the example they have set. For it la
la the
the belief
belief of
of those
those wh
who
?£Ve?C?Urafed the
?£n.??f th writlnG
itl off these pages that the lives of
the "Sisters" are worthy of imitation.

The lives of the "Sisters" have been filled with activities and
accomplishments which have drawn the attention of many in the
community in which they have lived. They have labored unselfish
ly in their homes, in the Church, and in the community, always
standing for the principles of honesty and justice for all. They
have all been homebuilders and have followed the teachings of the
Gospel.

In reading these pages you will note that they had ideals and
well planned cooperative lives. i':any a home has been mode hap
pier through their unselfish service.

It Is my hope that the rising generations may find some good

points in the lives of these six sisters that they may use to
advantage in their life struggles. May it be of help in the
raising of their families is the wish of us who have compiled
this short sketch.

think it well to devote chapter one to a few remarks on the

I have so much admired,

Thomas R. Watkins
 OHAPTEB ONE
The parents of tho

met and

and the

S?y were <*« parents nf?y Snd rePlenish

old. The father was alonf Jh?-Waa then fifteen

couid^tf
could get from L ^"SS^-Si^SiSi^iiS^rhS
the younger ones, did the service of mother.in fchoso
days there were no modern conveniences, and little education in oa>
i.ng properly for motherless babies. Consequently, the baby lived
only six months, although Grandna Brady did all she could to help
with its cars.

the kind Heavenly Father had his eye on the family, and through the
prayers of their father, and their own prayers for each other, they
were protected. (Who can say that the influence of their mother
With the Father in Heaven did not have weight?)

,UthouSh the children „.« left largely to ^selves for^^

ing, their father was within ^aching diatn.jj^fly reach?d when
family on another part of the rancn whenever he visited
needed He continued to tea h n h 1. gui't^.,,^, do t h?ppen
them. Among other W^ngs, ns "*"- k f all onei3 acts. Fe
just by chance, but there is a cause baoK ol a ^^ home
taught that the home is one's Jejven °" ®"tio^ t ie ideals the? had
members ofHowthenear
family ^^^^idell,, depends on the extent of
formed. one ^an reach his ia p order &n& QrA
his discipline. Without discipline tmer t

those
the

nities.
 The children of this home were also taught that the best and most
noble lives are those that have high ideals, then constantly strive
to reach them. Every day of one's life he is either building or
tearing down his home and ideals. There is always opposition, and
_ how well one can take the challenge depends on what kind of a nan or
woman he is; how one spends his time-—either in idleness and frivol
ity, or in constructive thinking and planning. One's religion usual
ly shapes his life, and how well he lives up to the standards of that
religion depends on the sincerelty of his conversion to his ideala.

They learned that the Lord showed us the importance of the home when
he placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and told them to multi
ply and replenish the earth. He instructed ancient Israel to teach
their children to keep the commandments He had given them; and if
they failed to do so, the ains of the children would be upon the par-

They also learned that one finds a happy home where the members of a
family are considerate of one another, and plan and pray together. A
home should be the most sacred spot on earth, and our government pro
tects that home to the extent that no one has a right to enter into
JlLEi
broken
?6 C05a!St °f the 0CCUPant^ unless the occupants have
some law of the government. A home is not built in a day, but
it takes years of toil and struggle. The home is the foundation of
all good Government and society. It is our heaven on earth and it
will continue to exist through all eternity, if we yield to God's
laws. One of His laws is love throurh service to others. The whole
structure of Rod's Kingdom is love. ' n Wnole

wm have no
With these true ideals to work fcOj this family strived and
embedded^ the^vT"3 Sff lar«81* °n "he ^uthshai'b en
emueuuea into tneir lives m their* vnii + h T-t- nan 14)— 4.i_.

start in a race They .ad an^ncnoSngV*Uet

an^ncnoSngV"*™Ue"t ft ft* hSf/
hS
i
qiestio's. hl th6n
° h£lP th "ak0 th6 rifiht *5iiim,
5 m
™ all important
The parents of these "Sisters" had been cooperative in teaohlna and
gws&esk hllk ssKg E«lSs3
taking turn in the family prayer evening and morning.
Perhaps the strongest principles inherited from the

ed to acquire names of his progenitors, to have their work done in

the Temple of the Lord. Up to that time he had not been able to find
the names and data, to but a few. So he called the family to fast
and assemble one day, that they might pray for success in finding the
information they wanted. Not too long after, ho heard from a Frank
Allen who lived in New Hampshire saying that quite by accident he had
found a newspaper containing the namo of Allan asking for information,
and that he could offer it. As a result, tho family obtained the
names and dates of seven generations on their direct line. Whenever
his children ever needed to be prayed for, the father was their first
choice, for they knew he had influence with the Lord, One day one of
the children had the cramps from eating green plum3 on an empty sto
mach. All day she had cramped and in spite of everything that was
done, she still cramped, until along in the night it became unbear
able. As the father lived about two miles away in another house with
a second family, he had to be sent for. When he arrived he adminis
tered to the child, then asked her if she felt like she could vomit.
After she vomited, the pain left and she went off to sleep.

Another time when his eldest daughter was in child-labor, and was
very ill, she chose to call her father to come to administer to her.
It was surely pleasing and comforting to know that she was relieved
right away.

The children gained faith through the teachings and example of their
father's life. They were taught by him to always take their problems
to the Lord, who would always help them. One time one of the small
daughters was in a "run-away". All the other school kids had fallen
from the wagon but this one, and she had lain down in the bottom of
the wagon and so did not fall out. The horses ran frantically, and
it looked as if the child would be killed. When she was finally res
cued and the father was told of the incident, he asked, "Did you
pray?" It made no difference how sack, or what kind of sickness, the
father's first act was to ask the Lord to guide aright in all things.
That teaching proved to be a true teaching, which has remained with
the "Sisters" throughout their lives. They learned early In life to
seek the Lord in prayer, then do whatever they are prompted to do,
"Faith and forks'' are a necessary team.

Throughout the years, the "Sisters" have clung together. If there

were any differences of opinion, it was talked over; a decision was
reached, and the question was settled justly and peacefully. They
were not the emotional type, but were calm and considered both sides
of the question. They did not gossip, and bitterness of heart and
ill feelings were beneath them.

The lives of these "fiisters" are only typical of any Latter-day Saint
family that lives the Gospel of Je3us Christ as taught by the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
 Chapter III

CLARI1IDA

Get a picture in your mind of a family of eight children ranging in

ages from two to fifteen years of age, being left in a home with a
few cows to milk and a few chickens to take care of rnd then told,
"Go on now and make your own living, take good care of yourselves
and see that you all get a good education and grow up to be noble
men and women,"

Just how responsible are children of those ages in preparing balanced

meals, in sewing and patching, in washing and ironing, in keeping
things picked up and in place and getting the cows milked on time to
send the milk to the dairy? (For that was our income for our living.)

Here are some ideals that we tried to carry out from the teachings
mother had impressed on our ninda:

Be honest with the Lord and with yourself.

Always treat your brothers & sisters with respect
as you would have others treat them.
You are as good as anyone if you do as good,
Your character is a precious gift, take good care
of it.
So live that you will not be ashamed for anyone to
know what you have said or done.
Do not be jealous of others success, rejoice with
them, and strive harder to do as well,

I got comfort from a statement mother made one day when the kids had
said unkind things to me, "It doesn't make it so, just because they
said it, you and the Lord know better."

Under Adelaide's tutorship, with the advice of father, Warner, Sey-

more, and the influence of our husbands, we are what we are today,

Ky schooling began in Mesa, November, 18-S2, after we arrived Nov

ember 13, 1882, from Richmond, Cache Co., Utah, Father had been
suffering with rheumatism and decided a warmer climate would help
him. His older brother, Elijah, had been through this part of Ariz
ona when returning from the Mormon Batalllon trek, and recommended
this valley as a good place to go. Also, Brothers Standage and
Stewart had settled here and liked it,

I was the seventh child and second daughter of Charles H, and Eliz
abeth Adelaide Hoopes Allen, born i-iarch '(, 1876, Richmond, Cache Co.,
Utah,

I remember very little of what happened in Utah except that it was

very cold in the winter and lots of snow and that we rode in the
sleigh when we went places and had our coat3 and hoods on besides
being covered with a quilt.

On the way down, just before we came to the Colorado river, we camp-
. ed a little longer that day for dinner and mother told us to go and
play, which we did. When she called, we marched back so proudly—
\^s ' Adelaide had made me a green cockle-burr hood and had a good start on
Priscilla's, for we could finish it later. You can imagine how mot
her felt when she saw us. She threw up her hands and cried, "Oh,
what shall I do, how can I ever get them out?" My hair hung to my
waist and mother wished to keep it long so she put coal oil and
 1-2

grease on, and pulled and pulled. After an hour or two she accomp
lished the Job, Priscilla's hair was not so long so she cut it off.

The first Christmas Eve in Mesa was in an adobe house about 30 feet
long and IJ4. feet wide, two windows and a door in front and a door in
the back. The bed ticks had just been filled with fresh straw and
placed in the east end of the house. We played "Wire Brier Limber
Lock" the one that was counted out would run ^nd make a hi-dive in
to the bed, and that was so much, much fun. had father and mother
been home, the bed would have had better treatment, but because mo
ther Peterson was sick, they had gone to visit him.

Father soon planted out a few acres of grapes and the same acreage in
fruit trees. Then planted his hay andgrain crops, after which he
built another room on the back of the house about Ik feet wide and
20 feet long, and put a partition in the front room making 3 rooms
for a family of 10. He had dug a well and pub a Ions r°Pe 0VGr the
wheel with a bucket on each end, so we had plenty of fresh clean
water.

One day, father and mother went to Phoenix to do some business. The
Indians came out on a rabbit hunt that day. The men were on horses,
the squaws and children were on foot. They would spread out a
quarter of a mile line and then the signal was Riven to start. Down
the country through the brush they would go yelling to scare the
rabbits out. After going a mile or ao, the rabbits would be caught
in a half corral, made of brush, where the Indians would gather their
lott and go home..

This day, we heard them coming and so we ran in the house, shut the
door and crawled under the bed. They surrounded the house and went
on, except a few of them hung around till the hunters came back.
After the noise ceased, we crept, to the window and peeped out but
remained in the house until f&ther and mother cr.me homo, shortly
after.

Later, however, we found the Indians here were not hostile and we
became real frindly with them. They would bring wheat to trade for
grapes, one bucket of "Pelica"--two buckets of "hoativas". Some of
the squaws would sit around and we would try to teach them to read
from the first reader, "I see Rosa, Rosa sees me."

I always loved to dance. I always thought Seymour was such a good

brother, sometimes he would let me ride behind him to the children's
dance. He smelled so clean (like castile soap). He would dance with
me too. Brother Joe Bond was the fiddler. To this day when I hear
a fiddle being tuned up, I still am thrilled all over.

If father and mother ever had any misundersbinding, I never knew of

it. I grew with the feeling that when I got married all would be
love, peace and understanding. I have been told that father and
mother had decided in early married life that when one was correct
ing a child, the ot> er would not interfere, and they stayed strictly
to that, only when father corrected us, he had the habit of thumping
us on the head with hi3 knuckles, and mother would say, "On the butt
Pa, on the butt." Later in life I decided that mother thought put
ting the punishment on the butt would not be so likely to injure
the brain.

Both mother and father were good story tellers, and they knew nlot of
 3-3

stories, one for every virtue they wanted to impress on us.

Father tried to finish his days work by sundown, and have supper over
before dark. Sometimes he would be in a little early and find mother
busy, the children cross and crying and supper not ready. I've seen
— him take the baby and sit in the rocker with the other little ones a-
round him telling them stories to keep them quiet for an hour till
mother finished her work and had supper ready. Then he would help
feed them and put them to bed.

Father's stories were mostly from the Bible, especially the Old Test
ament, I remember when I began teaching in Sunday School, Primary
and religion classes, that I was greatly surprised to find how fam
iliar I was with the Bible stories. Mother's were the nursery
rhymes, Aesops Pable3, and a few fairy stories, little songs, and
poems. We had home evenings, only mother called it "Play Prirary".
Baoh child would ^ive a part on the program, song, poem or a story,
duets, or choruses. We all sang, "Love at Home" and other Sunday
school songs,

I was sleeping in the east room the night mother died. When I awoke
I heard the Relief Society ladies talking, but could not tell what
they were saying. But I got the impression that mother was dead,
from the tone of their voices. The next thought I had was--"Yes,
yonr mother is dead, but every thing will be alright. Don't worry,
you will be alright; do not feel bad for you will be alright. That
feeling of "You will be alright" was so strong, I felt so comforted I
did not even cry. That is the first testimony I had that the Lord
takes care of His children in times of sorrow and I feel Ho has taken
care of us ever since, I was thirteen and a half years old at that
time.

Adelaide took charge of the family for the next five years, seeing
that we all got to 3Chool, Sunday School and all other duties that
a mother has to look after. Adelaide had told the younger girls
not to expect me to do much work as I had not been very healthy, so
when she married leaving me in charge, I got their cooperation in
full, I tried to continue on in seeing that the children went the
way Adelaide had started them.

As we grew up we encouraged each other in getting an education. We

wanted to be as smart as any other people, so later we all finished
the eighth grade, Priscilla went to Thatcher and took a kindergarten
course and came back and taught kindergarten two winters and went to
Logan and took a normal course. Deborah and Rebecca finished the
Normal at Tempe, but under quite trying circumstances, We had so
little finance. They did not have many changes of dresses as others.
It worried Deborah a great deal, .Sometimes shefelt like she and
Rebecca were two little black sheep wandering around trying to miss
the bunts of the white ones, I tried to encourage them by saying
"It's the intellect t at counts," "Hold your heads up and show your
brain, and no one will notice what you wear as long as you are clean,1

When Adelaide got married, it was a new life for all of us. She was
still "authority" on all questions of importance and Horace was a
very co-operative companion and helped to provide love, kindness
and physical substances. Not once did he hint in any way that we
were a nusiance or a burden to him. We felt very much at home there.
If we were hungry we were welcome to a handout any time. We were not
made conscious of the fact that the source of supply might run low
and It never did as long as he lived.

When Halph was about three years old, I stayed with the children
while Adelaide went to town, and when she came back, she brought
enouph lavender and white plaid cloth to make us each a dress, which
she proceeded to make up. When finished, we put them on and paraded
them before Horace, and all he said was "Yes, that looks pretty nice.'
That dress stands out in my life as the only pretty dress I had for
several years.

When Adelaide and Horace lived on the Fuller place below Shornick's
oranpe prove, they had the priviledge of gathering the little oranges
after the crop had been gathered, and they got a whole clothes basket
full I was glad to be needed at their place at that time. When the
oranges were gone, I was not needed so badly. My craving for oran
ges waa over.

The way Horace fried meat gave me a desire to visit them occasionally.
Just after they had finished breakfast, there was nearly always a
piece left, not enough for another meal, so I felt free to eat it.

School days were our social days. We got our share of fun out of
life We were united in our ideals and we all went in the same crowd.
(In unity there is strength). We made our own entertainment alot
In those days by giving parties, where we would ftog, recite, tell
stories, play games (indoors and out), we would even dance out on the
Eround, while Ike Rogers played the harmonica. Often Elijah was the
?amo leader and he could make us laugh with his wise cracks and make
us think we were having a good time. We always looked forward to the
Friday night dances in the "hall11. Those were wonderful times.

I remember our sitting around and talking over the ideals we thought
we ought to live up to; we would not keep company with boys that
smoked in our presence, no beau should stay later than 12:00, (if
the dance lasted until 12:00 or later the beau should not be invited
in, but go home Immediately,) not to dance with boys who were drink
ing. Usually our discussions were on Saturday mornings after a Fri
day night dance.

I think now that this was the time tnat the Idea of a sisters party
was originated, only we did not recognize It; we waited for it to
grow up, as it was quite some years later before we called them
"The Sister's Parties".

In May, 1898, father decided to spend the summer in Lo^an working in

the Logan Temple. He invited me and Priscilla to go along. He had
the mules, Jack and Ilollie, and the white top buggy. Our first mis
erable cold night was spent in Prescott. Then the weather was fine
until we got to Provo, and that was a terrible afternoon. Father
backed the buggy into a clump of brush off the road a short distance,
and we huddled in the buggie with the bedding to keep us warm. About
five o'clock we decided to eat a cold lunch, and at six o'clock the
cold sleet and rain were atill keeping up. Father was wondering
what we could do when all of a sudden we heard a man whistling like a
bird on a spring morning. His trousers were rolled up, rubbers and
slickers on and a rain umbrella over his head. He spied us and came
 3-5

there." After some conversation, he went on whistling up the road,

W 1 we ■ ot to his home, he had the gate open, saying, "Drive right
in here, please." He put the mules in the barn and fed them, and
we were taken by a warm fire and invited to supper, but wo declined
with thanks. That night we slept vory warm and comfortable. belore
father went to bed, he wanted to pay him for our lodging and for the
hay for the mules, as father wanted to be on his way before they were
retting up. He said there were no charges. He refused to take pay
and said that he would put more hay in for the mules. Next morning
at four, we were on our way, the storm had passed. Father said the
mules looked like stuffed toads. The first fill-up they had since
leaving home, as they ate wild grass.

We had nice weather the rest of the way. It took U3 25 days to go

from Mesa to Logan. ./e stayed all night with Aunt Susan, and I went
to Uncle Andrews the next day. Father was in the back of the buggy,
and I was driving and pointing to a few places I remembered. When
we came in sight of the old home, I knew it right now so we turned up
and sang the "Old Homestead". When we finished and looked around,
father was half sitting up and the tears were trinkling down his
cheeks. We felt very sorry for causing this emotion and began talk
ing about uncle Andrew and folks.

Father stayed with aunt Suzan and worked in the Temple spending the
week ends with uncle Andrew and uncle Levis, Priscilla and I spent
our time getting acquainted with aunts, uncles, cousins, and some
friends. In those day3, girls were supposed to be acquainted with
boys before going out with them. We went about with our cousins to
parties and dances. One boy asked Priscilla to see her home from the
farewell party given in Cove the night before we left. He stayed
and stayed until 11:00. Uncle Andrew got real nervous. P_ Uy he
called out, "George, don't you think you better go home now and come
back in the morning?" He went home, but he had not gotten back when
we left for home in the morning at 8:00 o'clock.

Deborah taught in Mesa 5 y£S.( j<obeccn taught in Thatcher one year and
Julia went to the Acaderry. On tne 13th, of September, 1905, -Rebecca
and Julia were married. All the £irls were on their own, self sup
porting now.

The fall of 190i(., I went to school with Jim, and we both finished the
eighth grade. My teacher, Mr. Dovis, was five years younger than I.
When we handed in our names and ages, I put "twenty". He became cur
ious as to just how old I was. On the play ground one day, he asked
Cobb, saying, "I won't tell anyone." Cobb said, "Neither will ? »
I never knew if he found out or not. lf

£
started to the Tempe Normal to ret In a^L m(\\ X came home **
one week. One day" when I came hnL ? Affz?nf "rtifieate. I went
waiting me. One was frU pTscilla saJnlS^"' X f0Und two let
ried and could not help me thrown sffl t"" £°inS to beThemar"
ou0n school as per agreement. other
 3-6

was from Deborah saying the trustees in Bluewater wanted ne to come

there and teach. I went to bluewater, Hew Hex. and taught,

I was invited to teach there again, but I had made other arrangements.
On October 2, 1912, I married Thomas F. Wilcox and a family of five
children, two boys and three girls,—Hay, Ferris, Alice, Hazel and
Belva. On August 5, 1915, my only child, a daughter, Judith, was
born.

The following is my married life as Alice, my husband's oldest daugh

ter sees it. She was 13 years old when I married her father. I am
pleased with it,

Clarinda, had been raised in a pioneer family and knew the hardships
of pioneer life. She was a real mother to the children and when a
new member, Judith, was born on the 5th. of August, 1915, all the fam
ily was very happy, vJherever she has lived she has endeavored to do
her part in helping to roll on the great work of spreading the Gospel,
and always has exerted herself to the discharge of her duty and to
help in building a home for the five motherless children as well as
for her own.

These parents taught their children to be industerious, upright and

truthful by the example they set.

I have never heard a slang phrase, oath or coarse expression pass

Clarinda's lips. She was always gentle, courteous and thoughtful or
others, and remarkably charitable in kind words and kindly deeds.

About a year after she was married, Hazel, then about 11 years old,
was very badly burned and would surely have died if she had not had
the best of care. But Clarinda not only nursed her to health but by
massaging the scars with oil they were almost entirely eliminated.

She never became excited either by shaking scorpins out of the dish
cloth or centipedes out of the bedding.

Thomas and Clarinda had high ideals of a clean body. They never en
tertained unclean remarks or allowed unclean books or questionable
pictures on their place,

I have often marveled at the faith they both had in the leaders of
the church and the divine calling of the ProPnet Joseph^Jth to re
organize the Church of Christ. They loved to tell the children the
Book of Mormon stories and relate the findings of ^nedpities and
Indian relics to prove its authenticity. They also loved to tell
of the spreading of the Gospel until it would fill the earth and Tern-
pies would dot the lands.

They were convinced that it is utterly impossible for a person to

retain the Spirit of God without attending regularly to prayer, be
cause by prayer, many times the mind is enlarged and the soul is made
to reioice with joy unspeakable. When the mind is cast down, and the
soul is povred forth in fervent prayer to the Almighty in secret. He
who seeth in secret fills the heart with joy and peace. They had
family prayer night and morning by kneeling around the table before
^ eating. *lso the hired men working for them or anyone visi Ch
the faWly whether they believed in prayer or not were invited to
" witn the family. However, some of the hired men not so payer-
,,»fn,rfid to remain standing by their chair until the prayer was
 3-7

finished rather than kneel.

When we moved to Chlno Valley there was not an organization of the

Charch there, toany parents might have become discouraged, neglectful
_ or indifferent, but they were faithful and preserving in what they
knew was right. They soon helped to organize Sunday School and when
more members of the Church moved in the community, other organiza
tions were made. Thomas was superintendent or assistant or teacher
of the ounday School and Clarinda was secretary, and often teacher
or chorister. Saturday night, or Sunday morning, the memory pern was
learned and the lesson leaflets studied. They always observed the
Church fast and taught the children to pay their tithing.

In 1918, Clarinda was made very happy because her baby, Judith re
ceived a silver knife, fork, and apoon as winner of the 2nd. priae
in the Yavapai Baby contest.

Clarinda was noted for her lovely home baked loaves of breed and her
delicious honey cakes. The Copies tic Science department of t he Tucson
University requested her receipt for the honey cake that she had nade
herself. She also received several prizes for home canned fruit and
long horn cheese at the f&ir.

entered into the spirit of cooperation with Thomas whether it was

a camping trip to the mountains, or the Grand Canyon or as supervisor
of the Apairy & Dairy Department at the Pair,

The family often popped corn or made honey candy.

For two or three years, the missionaries made their home with Thomas
and Clarinda, sjme of the time, using their car to go to Prescott
to do their tracting. One time two missionaries came into the house
while Clarinda was quilting a quilt. They watched her and then de
cided they could do that too. They then threaded their needles and
started work. They covered quite a space on the quilt In an hours
time. As soon as they were gone, Clarinda took out the scissors and
took out all of the stitches they had made. Post of the stitches
were about ■£■" long and some were even i" long. She didn't want to
hurt their feelings by refusing to let them help. And I doubt if they
ever knew their stitches were taken out.

Clarinda's oldest brother, Charles, who was not married, lived in her
home for many years. His last days were spent there with her to tpke
care of him until his death in 19 M±.

She became a widow December 21;, 193^-. °he helped with the laundry at
the Fes a Temple for five years to support herself. She often spoke
of the lovely association with the Temple workers. After she became
a widow she had a house built and furnished; trees and shrubs and
vines planted. She paid for the paving of the street in front of her
house with her hard earned savings.

The last few years she has spent some time cutting and piecing quilt
tops, also embroidering a great many dish towels. It is hard to
tell if she excells most in the lovely Temple aprons she has made, or
her hand made quilts.

Words fail in attempting to express tribute to such a gallant soul.

Her struggles cannot be appreciated by anyone as much as by herself.
She alone knows of the days of toil, anxiety in times of sickness and
 3-8

loneliness in succeeding years, yet she <->ust have experienced a thrill

of accomplishment when she thinks of someone she ha3 helped to devel-
ope the good within themselves.

Alice W, Lee

I have had 36 years of maidenhood, 22 years of married life and

19 years of widowhood. It all adds up to 77 years of valuable ex
periences. Life has been kind to me. I have had 30 -much help, kind
ness and love from my brothers and sisters and alao all my children,
that I am paid a hundred fold for what I have done. I still know the
gospel is true and that it pays to live all its teachings.

Yours Truly,

Clarinda Wilcox
 Chapter IV

PRXSCILLA ALLEN HANSON

Aa our sister, Priscilla, has passed away before this book was in the
making, it becomes necessary that her listers relate the activities
'—' of her life as they remember them.

Priscilla was the nineth child and the third daughter of Charles H,
Allen and Elizabeth Adelaide Hoopes, and she was born the 26th. of
December, 1979, in Richmond, Cache county, Utah.

Priscilla had beautiful blue eyes and blond hair. She was the only
girl in the family who had blue eyes like our father's. She had a
loving disposition, very mild and kind, with just enough "3punk" to
ward off those who would impose on her or her loved ones, She was
ever on the guard to protect her younger sisters ana urotner and to
always teach them the right way of life.

Priscilla was three years old when her father settled on their new
farm in Mesa, Arizona, and when she was five years old, she had the
typhoid fever, and was a very sick child. Through the blessings of
the Priesthood, the Lord spared her life.

When she was six years old, she started to school and her neighbor,
George W, Lewis, was her teacher. Whan she was in the fifth grade,
she went to the Church School, which was taught by Bernard kelson,
wo was a dramatics teacher. Through his inspiration, she studied and
became efficient in readings, and when her sisters would entertain
with songs, she would take her part in reading. The next year, James
L. Patterson taught in the Church School and after that term, the
Church School was discontinued.

Priscilla and her older brother, Elijah, were very chummy. In their
adolesence years he always liked to have her go with him whenever it
was possible. He would talk her into holding the calves by the tail
while he lassoed them. One day, he led a bronco horse into the yard
and asked, "Who would like to ride this horse?" All the sisters were
silent, then he said, "Priscilla isn't afraid", so he helped her on
the horse and he led it around the yard bragging how brave Priscilla
was; but inwardly she was very frightened. There was a race track
near the home and Elijah would get a horse for Priscilla to ride,
and one for himself and they would run races around the track as fast
as they could go, Elijah calling to her to make her horse run faster.
They had such good times together. Re always advised her which young
men she should go with and which onos weren't up to her standard.

Priscilla and Deborah were in Primary and the President asked Pris
cilla to give the closing prayer. Deborah was very sure that Pris
cilla didn't know hrw, and she felt embarressed for her. But Pris
cilla walked up in front and offered a nice closing prayer. On the
way home, Deborah asked her when she learned to dismiss Primary,
friscilla siad; "While going after the cows to drive them to the
corral to be milked,"

Priscilla worked in many of our friends' homes, to get money to buy

her clothes for school. She often helped buy clothes for the younger
w children. She worked as a clerk in Brother Alexander iiunsaker's Dry
Goods Store and while there she had a great desire to go to Thatcher,
Arizona, and attend the L.D.3. Academy. In 1^99, she went there, and
studied under Brother and Sister tfmll lieaser, and Brother John F.
Nash. She was graduated from there in the Kindergarten department of
 h-2.

Education in a two year course. At the close of that time, she cane
home and in the fall of that year opened a private Kindergarten Sch
ool at Mesa. The mothers of the children all seemed glad to have her
to teach their children. She would hitch the horse to the buggy and
gather the children up and take them to school then at noon she would
take them home again. She held the school only a half day. She
♦■■aught them two years. Desiring a higher education, she decided to
go to Logan, Utah, and attend the Bri&ham Young College. She and her
cousin, Hay McCarey, roomed and boarded with their aunt Susan Goas-
land.

Priscilla took a four year course and was graduated in three years.
She taught school two years in Logan and helped to keep her brother,
Jim, in the mission field, she also taught school at Richmond, "Utah,
and it was while there that Heber Hanson came into her life. They
courted and were narried October 27, 1910, in the Logan Temple.

They moved to Clifton, Idaho, where they remained seven years. Heber
was a prosperous farmer and had his farm well stocked with good hor
ses, cows, pigs and chickens. They had a very busy life living there
on the farm, rriscilla worked hard, helping with the milking, feed
ing the calves, and cleaning the barn. She looked after the 3tock
when Heber wa3 busy with other things. She wa3 a very neat house
keeper and everything was in order. Heber and Priscilla were very
generous in helping those in need. His nieces and nephews were strug-
ling hard at that time to get through school, and they were helped
much by the Hansons. Whenever neber killed a beef or a hog, they
always sent a quarter to the children at school and he was always
ready to do for them anything he could.

The winter of 1913 and 191^, Tom and Julia and their three sons spent
the winter with Heber and Priscilla. While there, Julia bore a baby
boy, and they named him Joseph Heber, in honor of Heber. The Han
sons had no children at that time.

On April 13th., 191if, their daughter blnora was born, and she brought
much joy into their lives. She was a beautiful child with blue eyes
and dark curloy hair.

Later they sold their interests in Clifton, Idaho, and moved back to
Freedom, Wyoming, Here on the 11th. of April, 1917, their second
daughter, Verda, was born. She was a sweet, delicate, child. When
she was two years old she contacted whooping cough and died the 23rd.
of December, 1919.

On the 29th. of Hay, 1920, their only son, Ronald was born and he was
a husky little fellow and they were so happy he came to them.

In 1925, Heber and i-rlscilla came to hesa and bought two and one half
acres on 3outh Mesa Drive where they built a nice little cottage, and
lived there during the winter. They returned to Freedom, Wyoming, in
the summers, and took care of their crops. For a few winters they
would live in Logan, attending the Temple sessions there, V/hen their
son, Ronald, was nine years old, he took diptheria and died the 29th.
of March, 1929.

By this time, Elnora was ready to get married. Her father had work
ing for hip. on the ranch, a nice young man by the name of D'Orr Child
er.d they decided they wanted to be married. So after the wedding,
the parents camo to "Mesa, renting the ranch to the young folks.
 Here they made their home permenantly. That was in the year 1932.
Their aim was to do work in the Arizona Temple.

Priscilla worked in tho Arizona Temple seven years in the linen and
laundry department under the Presidency of President Udall, President
Jones, President Pugh, anri President Payne. She was always so gra
cious to clean house for Sister Jones, and would do anything required
of her.

Heber then bought a oar and Priscilla loarned to drive it. Each sum
mer they drove up to Freedom to visit their children and to take them
beautiful gifts. Priscilla has written of a nice trip she took in
company with neber, Adelaide, Clarinda, and their brother, Charles
L. Allen. They decided to visit all the Temples in the West. They
went to Bluewater, new Hexico, to invite Deborah to go along with
them, however, business prevented her accepting the invitation.

After visiting the Temple in St. George, Manti, Salt Lake, and Logan,
they started for Canada. They went through the Yellowstone fark and
up through Montana, and the ("'lacier Park, then on to xielena, and on
to Cardston, Canada. They wont through the Cardaton Temple five
timeg, then President Wood took the company through the Temple sight
seeing, us explained the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God
which was very inspirational. After lerving there, they went to Wa-
terton, which was a very beautiful British resort. There were many
beautiful lakes and fine buildings. They returned by the beautiful
lake of St. Mary, crossed the Great Divide, and admired the charming
Lake McDonald, then traveled all forenoon along the bank of the Great
Flat nead Lake. They crossed the bay on the long bridge and drove
into Poison, and had a good meal there. They then traveled over the
high mountains and steep grades into Butte, Montana, (a place Pris
cilla had always wanted to see but throught she would never have the
opportunity to do).

Prom there, they went on to i;amoth Hot Springs and had dinner, then
on to West Yellowstone and stayed all night. Next dayj they drove to
Freedom, Vjyoming and visited with Priscilla'a children. On their way
to i'iesa, they visited Bryce' 3 Canyon, Zion's Park, and the Grand
Canyon of Arizona. Each agreed she had had a wonderful tine.

In 19'j.8, Priscilla closed her writings by saying: "At the age of

sixty-eight, I have been endowed in the Temples for l52h persons. At
this time, I am a Sunday School teacher, a Relief society block teach
er, and a member of the 5th, ward Genealogical commiteo."

Priscilla was very faithful in all her church duties. She taught
Sunday School while in her youth and as she grew older she was a mem
ber of the Stake Sunday School board. She has worked as a counselor
to the Presidents of the Primary, the Relief Society and the Y.W.M.-
I.A, She has taught in the different organizations in all the wards
and stakes where she has lived.

here are a few Incidents which happened in Priscilla'a life which we,
her sisters, remember:

— While living at Freedom, Priscilla became very ill with a ruptured

appendix, and when she was operated on, the doctor accidently cut
the intestine. She became so full of poison, that she bloated so
badly, the doctor said she could not live. The children of her Sun
day School class asked their mothers If they might fast and pray for
 their teacher. Then, in turn, the mothers referred it to the oishop,
who said they would make a ward project out of it, and all pray with
the children. So they did, and asked the Lord to spare her life.
The Father heard their prayers and from that hour she grew better.
The Dr. acknowledged that she was healed by a Higher Power.

When she was four years old, her sister Rebecca, was born, and as the
younger children had the chicken-pox, they weren't allowed in the
room where mother and Hebecca were. Priscilla crept into the room
while mother was asleep, and climbed on the bed and was enjoying her
first view of the new baby when mother hoard her say, "Dat'a MineJ"
--pointing at Rebecca,

After Priscilla was married and lived so far from her brothers and
sisters, she would get so homesick to seo them, and in order to choer
her up, Heber bought a phonograph and several nice records. One eve
ning while they were enjoying the recorded music, Heber put on the
record, "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen". Soon he discovered
that Priscilla, sitting way back in the shadows, wa3 crying, thinking
of how she would like to be with her brothers and sisters, HeberTs
heart was touched, and he promised to take her home.

fcarch, 1952, Priscilla was very sick and went to the hospital for an
operation, when tho Uoctor opened her side, he found her full of
cancer. They took her home after a few days, and Adelaide stayed
with her for awhile, and then Heber thought he could take care of
her. The sisters and brothers called each day, uer hair was long
and hard to keep in place, so she asked Julia to cut it and give her
a permenant. After her hair was cut, her niece, Vilate Cardon gave
her the permenant and she was happy to have it looking nice again.

As she grew constantly weaker, she wanted to go to Adelaide's home

and stay where Adelaide could look after her, and Adelaide was happy
to have her. After a week over there, it was deemed best to notify
her daughter's family of her weakening condition, and they arrived at
her bedside the day before she passed away, June 21, 1952.

Her life has been an inspiration to many. We know that she will be
happy there, and that if we live worthily, we'll have the privilege
of being with her, and continue holding the "Sisters Parties".

Written up by Julia

_
 Chapter V

DEBORAH

I, Deborah Allen Nielsen, am the tenth child and fourth daughter of

a family of fourteen children. I was reared in a home where parents
were loving and congenial. The standard of the home was the Gospel
of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and to that end the home was
managed. ly father was a very kind man. He was full of faith and
prr.yers, ne was a student of history and e specially interested in an
education for himself and for his family. He was a school director
in "esa for many years; using his influence for the highest type of
education. we loved the fine art3 of life and sang much in his own
homes, ly mother was a woman who loved childron and her home. She
always made each one of her family feel that he or she was wanted and
had his place in the home.

The first prayer that I said was at my mother's knee. At that time
the prayer was: "How I lay me down to sleep." Mother had great res
pect for father in the home as will show by the little poem she
taught me to say to him. It is as follows:

I'm papa's little helper,

I serve him don't you see.
I warm his slippers by the fire,
Before he co^ea to tea.
And I'm very sure my papa,
Couldn't think of sparing me,

Mother was a great hand to teach songs to her children also. I re

member of her teaching me to sing "Captain Jinks" as well as many
others. As I think over my childhood, after these many years, I can
appreciate the wonderful parents I had and the lovable home in which
I was reared.

hy mother passed away when I was at the tender age of eight years.
After her death my older brothers and sisters became my parents.
They were well schooled in the rules of the home so continued to fol
low them as they took over tho management.

Sister Adelaide was especially schooled as, even at her young age of
15, she wa3 well prepared to take on the responsibility. She kept
the home in tact, and saw that I was feed and clothed, that my pray
ers were said night and morninr:. She taught me to share with my bro
thers and sisters. I was to do my part of the work and help with the
family needs. She saw that I went to Sunday School and Teeting and
Primary and that meant sewing, washing and ironing and everything
that goes along with them.

As I grew older and kept company with the opposite sex, I was taught
to not keep company with an "out-sider". I must not sit on a boy's
lap, iie should not kiss me fjood-night when he brought me home. 1
must not invite a young man into the home after a dance as the hour
was too late. I was never to sit up with a beau in the dark, and I
was always to light the lamp and ait in the light. I was never to
allow a boy to smoke in my presence as one who did that had no respect
for a girl. V.'hanever liquors or tobacco were offered me, I was to
^ shun them. If ever in a home where coffee or tea were used, I should
never take it if offered to mo.

When I was along in my teens, our crowd used to meet often at our
 5-2

home. By that time, Sister Clarinda had teken over the management of
the home. She aj.so was well schooled in the standards of the home
and saw to it that they were kept with as she usually went places
with us as well as direct the parties in the home. For refreshmcnts,
she served milk ice cream, molasses candy or honey cookies. At one
certain time some of the boys who were new in our crowd and did not
know the rules of the home said they would like to furnish the re
freshments. To Clarinda's surprise, she learned it was to be beer.
Before the party started even Clarinda had put a stop to that and
such a thing was never tried again, I remember one time when some
"out side" boys moved close to our home and wore very anxious to be
in with "our crowd1. The slaters could be kind to them and drnce
with them at the dances but never, never go out with them.

My greatest happiness as a teen ager was when all of the 3 ingle brot
hers and sisters with Clarinda as chaprone, went out together as a
crowd, liany were the times, we rode out in the wagon or buggy with
the rest of the nice boys and girls on a bright moon-light night and
sang our songs as we went along. Sister Clarinda thought that was a
better way to spend the time than in "spooning" as it was colled in
those days.

All of my family were very appreciative of education and at any time,

one could give a lift or take himself some good type of learning, he
sure to do so. Because of this, my brothers and sisters became
educated, I alon^ with them, finished my normal course in June
of I9OJ4.. After which I began teaching in the Kesa school and remain
ed in that system for five years. It was pleasing to me to have a
position in my home town and felt very thankful for that opportunity
and tried hard to be 9 good teacher. I assisted in the church organ
isation as was called upon from time to time. I taught a Sunday
School class as well as work in the Mutual and Stake Sunday School,
T visited the different Sunday Schools in the Wards and taught the
School children the church song3.

While I was teaching school in Hesa, I was studying voice culture,

I loved to sing, so often sang at different functions such as church,
lodge programs and wedding3. I remember sinking when the new Union
High School was dedicated and Governor Kirby was the speaker. One
time I gave a full evening program and sang two songs in Italian,
I felt sure that I was on the road to fame, but my friends who were
at the program, felt very much let down as they preferred the English
words. I studied under several private teachers and then wont to the
Phoenix School of Music. My sister Rebecca and I used to sing duets-
together as well as sing in the choir under the direction of Sistor
Delia Phelp3. She chose us often to sing the solos and duets in the
choir and it made us feel so thrilled inside.

After I had taught five years in hssa, conditions changed. Sister

Adelaide, whom I had been staying with got married. Sister Clarinda,
whom I had been helping financially through school at Logan, finish
ed her schooling and was on her own, so I thought it now a good time
to £0 to Mew York and do some more studing of music.

Speaking of ideals which were taught in our family, one of them which
I forgot to mention was that, whenever we chose a companion to marry,
he must have credits for a temple marriage. All of my brothers and
sisters who had married before ne had lived up to that requirement,
so I felt that I must not fail.
 5-3
It was two weeks before I was to leave for iJew York that a nice re
turned missionary from the Western States i-'ilssion, whom I had been
corresponding with, came to Mesa. His name was Joseph Frederick
-Helson, from Bluewater, New Mexico, ite suggested that I marry him
iy> and move to bluewater instead of .^oing to New York. His arguments
were conclusive as I changed my mind. We were married in the- Salt
Lake Temple on October ls 1909 and went back to »luowater to live, I
did not forget my music however, for I had come to a community which
needed music very badly. The Bishop called me to organize a choir.
The response was wonderful, me not only sang the songs for the
church services, but after a time, we learned to sing anthems. The
bishop of Ramah invited us to bring the choir over there and a ing for
them. We were permitted to make a small charge. When we summed up
our balance, we had '"20,00 to the good. This sum was taken back to
Bluewater and given to the Bi3hop who in turn purchased song books
for the Bluewater Ward, When I first came to Bluewater, there wore
very few people who could play the organ or read music. Many of the
young boy3 and girls began to take organ lessons and it was not long
before there were several of the young folks who could assist in the
different organizations as organists.

As I had married a man with the same standards as our family, there
was no difficulty in the home as to the teachings, when our family
arrived. There was always family piayer said each morning end night
as well as the blessing on the food at each meal. Our oldest son
came to our home on March 25, 1911. when he was old enough he wes
taken to Fast neeting and blessed and given the name of Joseph
Frederick Nielson, Jr. tt wa3 a big surprise to me to suddenly learn
cf the happiness children bring into t.ie home, -- Oh my, but we both
]ovod that child.— I think one of the first differences ^red and I
had was ao to who should carry the baby home from the dance when he
was three months old. As soon as he could talk he was taught to pray
at his mother's knee. Hi 3 parents took him to Sunday School and Meet
ing to make sure he received an early start in the right way. He was
watched in all of his habits to make sure he was taught correctly.

I was happy to be a wife and mother even though I had no conveniences,

I did the washing on the wash board, cooked on a smokey wood stove,
ironed with the old sad irons, and helped to carry the water into
the house for house use, -1 am amused to this day when I bhlnlr of
how we all drank from the same, nice, tin dipper from the bucket of
water on the bench. It was not too long: before Fred bought me a hand
washer so he turned it and the washing was much easier.

When Joseph was one year old, I taught school .in bluewater because it
was hard to get anyone to come there and teach that was considered a
suitable teacher. As I was already there, they invited me to teach.
I was pleased to do so as our living was rather short and by teach
ing, things might improve.

It was on the lh.th. of May, 191'j-, that our second son came to bright
en our home. When ho wa3 old enough he was taken to fast meeting
and given the name of Allen Godfrey rtielson. We thrilled again at
having two sons in our home. I remember how anxious we were to have
-he boys grow up in the proper way, rte always kept in mind those
^ *deals, which by now were apart of us, and that we as their parents
should pass them on to the children that they might not deviate from
the straight and narrow way. when Allen was a yearling, Fred thought
to sell his holdings, such as cows and horses and take his family and
go to school as he had never finished his college schooling. So
 5-fc
accordingly he went to the University in Los Vegas, New Mexico. We
found a nice location to live and t he people seemed to be nice and
and sociable, but thore was no church organization of the Mormon
church which was very disappointing to us. As the children were
small, we felt to run the risk by teaching them at home. It wag not
long, however, before we contacted some Mexican missionaries who were
working there in Vegas under the Presidency of Ray L, Pratt. We in
vited them to our home. Often we held sacrament meetings as well as
gospel conversations. I tried to teach the boys our ideals as soon
as they could understand them. Fred would go with the missionaries
to hold cottage meetings when he had the time. All of this helped to
make it more pleasant for us.

The school day passed by in a pleasant manner and it was not long un
til my husband became a member of the faculty and taught agriculture,
biology and zoology. Our one and only baby daughter came to our
home while in Vegas. Oh! it was wonderful to have a daughter. As
soon as she was old enough her father blessed her and gave her the
.aane of Elizabeth himma Wielson. That was the prettiest name we could
think of for our first daughter. It was the name of her two grand
mothers. Along about this time, our oldest son, Joseph, turned eight
years of age and was old enough to be baptized. His father received
permission from the Bishop in Bluewater to baptize him there in Los
Vegas. So on his eighth birthday his father did it.

It was almost a year later that Fred graduated from the University
with a B.A., degree, and now we wero ready to move to some settlement
where the children could have the advantage of the church organiza
tions. We thought of Mesa, so came over and tried to find a place
to fit in. Things were in a terrible inflated condition. Cotton
was a dollar a pound and farms which had sold for ^2000.00 were now
selling for "[(.0,000.00. We soon found we had no place in Mesa, so
we returned to Bluewater, where we had a home and could have a house
to live in, at least.

Fred tried teaching for two years, but found.he would rather farm
where he could be with the boys and teach them to work as they were
showing the need of such training. It was not long after we got to
Bluewater that Fred was made Bishop. The old log church house was
in a very poor state of repair; so as Bishop, he got the people to
cooperate with him and built a two roomed lumber building. It was
painted and plastered when finished and looked rather favorable.
When Fred stopped teaching, he purchased the Nielson's holdings of
some 100 acres so as to have enough farming land to work with.

When my daughter was five years old, I began again to teach school in
Bluewater. The school was large enough to have two teachers by this
time, so I became the Primary teacher in the new Church building
which the people had just made. The children were all in school dur
ing the day, but in the evenings, and mornings the boys would help
their father milk the cows and other things which wore needed to be
done. As time went on and the village grew in population, it became
necessary to petition the County School Board in Los Lunas to have a
school house made in bluewater. Fred took the leading part in having
this movement come about so after awhile a nice four roomed red brie?.
building was built in the village. When it was finished, the school
children were moved over into the new building. It soon became an
outstanding school so many people moved into Bluewater to send their
children to school. From then on, the school grew and H rew until the
first year of high school was taught there. It was not too long
 5-5

after that, that the building was too small for the good of the
school, so a new high school building was built in Grants, some 12
miles east of Bluewater where our children could finish their high
school work.

Joseph was one in the first class to graduate from the Grants Iiigh
School with four of the other Bluewater children. Allen graduated
with the second class the next year. While Allen was in his last yr.
of school, Joseph was called on a Spanish-American mission with head
quarters in California and Ray L, Pratt as his President, Thines
were real hard at the time and we felt the pinch keenly. As we wor
ried through, the Lord blessed us, for which we were very thankful.
Joseph was on hia mission over two years while Allen stayed home and
helped with the work. I was teaching all of this time, Fred was
doing his beat with the farm and Elizabeth did her part also. As
soon as Joseph returned, j.llen was called to go to the Central States
mission with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, with i^lias Woodruff
as his President, While Allen was on his mission, it came time for
Joseph to get married. lie came to Hesa and picked the cream of the
town, so he said, until he found i';arian Pratt who said she would
marry him, i'hey were Married in the Salt Lake J-'emple; then came back
to oluewater to make their home. They had nine children but lost one,
They now have five daughters and three 3ona. Their parents agree on
the standards with which to raise them and are trying to impart it
to them. They are at present all under their parent's roof and it
is hoped that all will adhear to those teachings and remain faithful
to the end, I would like to say hero thpt I tauzht long enough to
have the privilege of teaching the first two of my grandchildren in
Bluewater,

Allen returned from his mission and had a desire to find him a com
panion so also cane to his mother's home land to find one. After
looking the girls over.ho choose for himself a newly returned mis
sionary Luolla Russell. They were married in the Arizona Temple
and returned to bluewater for awhile, rJot feeling satisfied with
his education, he took his wife and child and entered the university
of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico and romained there until he
received his degree in business Adminisration. He then moved to I<esa
where he still resides. Their family now consists of three daughters
and two sons, Allen and his wife both have the same ideals and are
trying to impart them to the children. It is hoped by their Grand
mother that they continue on the straight and narrow way.

Our daughter Elizabeth, after finishing her high school went to Al

buquerque to the university of New Mexico for one year when she
received a call to come to Kirtland, New Mexico and take a teaching
position in an Indian government school, VJhile there, she met a
civil engineer at a green and gold ball given by the mutual, who was
a graduate of the Agriculture College in Logan, Utah. After some
courtship, they were narried in the Salt Lake Temple, As he was a
government employee, they have lived at different places where his
jobs are. They are now living in *''arson, Wyoming. They have two
sons and one daughter whom they are trying to lead in the right way.

It was in the year of 19h5 that I retired as a teacher from the

V_y Bluewater schools. The c-.iildren had all married and '-one to a home
of their own. So that left Fred and me alone in the home. We felt
quite lonely without the children, but it wan a big satisfaction to
know they were all married in the right way and seemed to have good
companions, I would like to tell you at this time of the changes
 5-6

which cane about durin- the time I began teaching school in Bluewater.
I do not take all of the credit to myself but it was pleasing to see
the improvements which came about during that period. The first
school was in a one room log building which belonged to the Mormon
w people there in Diuewater. There were twelve pupil3 and all of the
eight grades were taught. As time went on and the number of pupils
increased the school was moved to the new church building with two
teachers. Thia situation continued on until the new brick school
building was made in 1915. It was not long until there were four
teachers employed with a one year hijjh school being taught. All
during this time there were outdoor toilets, no running water—the
children all drank from a common cup dipped in a bucket of water.
There was no playground equipment and each child had to furnish all
of his books as well as his paper and pencil. The teachers at first
did the janitor work because Lheir salary was so small they had to do
it to make enough to live on. Now that little village school is very
modern. There are four teachers now employed—two £ rades to a teach
er The school has a very good library at present and the pencils and
n-mer as well as the books are furnished the children. The salary
of the teachers is now inviting so that good teachers will come there
to teach. The building has electricity, running water, indoor toilets
telephone, modern individual desks for the children to sit in and an
oak table for the teacher's desk. There arf swings and slides as
veil as basket ball courts where the children can enjoy their play.
My soul thrills when I see how thoae little needful children in that
email village can now have all of these improvements to help them to
be good citizens. I forgot to mention that the children are now ser
ved with a warm lunch each noon.

After my retirement from school teaching, my husband and I beran to

look after the range cattle which he had built up while I was teach
ing school. rfa had also purchased several sections of land so ae to
make a large enourh ran£:e on which to run the stock. It was a new
life for me as I had never done that kind of work. At my age it seem
ed almost Lilly to try to do it. It was not long, however, before I
got used to riding horse-back and was enjoying it, I rode a very fine
cutting horse which was called Darkie. liy husband had purchased him
for that very purpose. As my husband's eyesight was not very good, I
had to do most of the cutting and this horse was a big help in time
of reed. All I had to do, when cutting, was to show him which one I
wanted cut, and he did the rest. He darted this way and that and was
always faster than any cow so would always get her. He rode the
range for several years. I remember the times when we let our horses
graze on the grass and rest while we ate our picnic lunch and rested
on the hill side. Every day durin;.; the summer as we rode over the
range, became a picnic to me as the hills were so beautiful and the
cattle good to look upon. Sometimes we would find a new calf in the
fartherest end of the field. When we did, my husband would put the
calf on the front of his saddle and take it to the home ranch v/here
the mother could £et a drink of water and feel that her calf was sa
Other times, while riding, we would find some nissing and would have
to hunt several days before we could find them. Sometimes we did not
find them at all. Once in awhile we would find a dead one. One time
I went to our section twenty eight and found a calf dead in the pond.
Fred tied a rope around the calf's neck and dragged it off. The
rounding up and branding time was the most exciting. All of the
Nielson family, from the oldest to the youngest would be there. We
took our lunch and spent the day in having fun.

When we grew older it became hard to ride on horses, so we made car

 5-7

roads over the different sections and cc.uld locate the cattle most
anywhere in the field, while riding in the car. One time, a strange,
wild calf got in on Section 32 and I had to et him out, let down
the gate while he looked at me; w'len I started after Yin on foot he
ran in the opposite direction so I got In the car and took after him;
The car did its part very well as it could go lonrer and not get out
of breath while the calf could not. When the calf got too tired, he
colmly welked out the gate.

We joined the Cattle Growers Association and was numbered among the
cattle ..rowers,

All went well until the year of 1950. My husbands health became bad
and he could no longer look after the stock so we sold them, rented
the ranch and moved to Mesa, Arizona to see if his health would im
prove. Wg purchased a lot and had us a new home built on it and
Fred started out into the buying business. H3 only lived six weeks
after we moved into our new home, leaving me alone to worry over the
situation and manage the best I could, I would like to say of him
that he made me a very good husband and a fine father for my child
ren, he was true to his Fatter in Heaven and kept every commandment
which he knew to be right. I will be happy to meet him af;ain nnd en
joy his companionship. Since the death of my husband, I have felt
the comfortin influence of my dear brothers and sisters. They are so
kind and good to me. I am very thankful for them now as well as when
I was a child.

VJhile I lived in uluewater, and away from them, I often grew lonely
for them and was very glad whenever they could visit me. Priscilla
was the first to call on me as she was on her way to 1'esa from Logan
to get married, Clarinda came next .nd stayed with us when our son
Joseph was born. She was so wonderful at that time. I cannot for
get the comfort which she brought to me as a young mother. Rebecca
and hei two children, Oma and Lewis came and spent the summer. I
remember with pleasure the rood time we had sinking together. We
sang together in church and~also pave a musicel in the c mrch house
one evening. After a while, Seymour end Warner made us a visit and
they both spoke in meeting. I can remember the feeling now of how
proud I was of them, Friacilla and ueber cane at one time as well as
Julia and Tom. They were all bright spots to remerber. Elijah and
his wife and family spent a week with us on their way to Salt Lake,
After awhile, it came to where it was pleasing to celebrate Rebecca's
birtnday at my place. 1 looked forward to those times. The sisters
would all come and we would have an enjoyable time. I remember one
time when they were here they all were invited to speak in church.
The presiding i^lder ask Fred to take charge of the meeting and call
on the sisters. As he did so, he gave a little history of each sis
ter. After they had all spoken they placed their arms around each
other and stood In a line; then sang "The Homestead". One of my
little grandsons was there and took it all in. "hen he rot home he
told his mother that he had five grandmothers and t hey were a 11 in
meeting,

I am now living In Mesa, Arizona in the yecr of 1953. * am trying to

do the best I can. I try to do my part in the church whenever I am
<s called upon. I am a Relief Society teec'ier at present and a teacher
In the Second Intermediate class in Sunday School.

It was in April of 1953 that I had the privilege of making a trip tc

Europe with a ;.roup from the Brigham Young university. It was a won-
 5-8

derful croup and we bad a very delightful tine. We visited nany

places on our way, as well as contacted important people. V/hile in
riome, I saw the POPE and received a "Pod bless you" from him, I
visited the temple site in Herns. I was in London during the cor-
— onation of Queen Elizabeth. I went to a grand opera while in Paris.
I sailed across the beautiful blue 1 editerranean See and r^any other
places which I cannot mention. I must mention the one which pave me
the greatest thrill of my life. It was while visiting in the Holy
■Land, I was privileged to walk on Mount Olive where the Savior told
riis deciplea of his second advent. I walked in tue Garden of Geth-
semane where lie ask His apostles to Witch while ho prayed. On the
temple site, I looked over Jerusalem and remembered at one time,
•Jesus looked over the city and exclaimed, "Oh Jer.-salem, Jerusalem,
How often would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens,
but ye would not..." I crossed the Sea of Galilee in a sail boat to
Capernaum and saw iIt. Hermon in the distance where it is believed
that the Transfiguration took place. I said the Lord's Prayer where
historians believe the ''aster had said it w'.ien he taurht *iis apostles
to pray. To have walked where He walked and stood where 'ie stood
made such a different feelin:, cone over me which I hope I will never
get over. I felt of His greatness and knew within my soul that lie
was the CHRIST; the Savior of the world. It is through Him that I
live and will be resurrected. Hy testimony j.s: That ue lives.
"He lives, my Jesus, still the same. Oh the sweet joy this sentence
gives. I KNOW THAT MY RTDEEMER LIVES."
 CHAPTER SIX

Episode I
In the year 1983, Mesa was little more than a desert--at least the
desert surrounded the one black-smith 3hop, one co-op general mer
chandise store and a few residences which had been built within the
very few years since the saints from Utah and Idaho had arrived and
settled.

On the "Charles H. Allen Ranch" of 160 acres, (east and south of the
main street, on what is now known as Fast Fourth Avenue), was an
adobe house constating of three rooms on the ground, and an attic
room, which was used for the children's bedroom. It was in this house
that I was born on the sixth day of July, IB83, and I was given the
name of Rebecca Hannah Allen, In the previous yeer, 1382, my parents,
Charles H. Allen and Elizabeth Adelaide Hoopes Allen, and their eight
children had arrived, and had bought this ranch from Henry J, Horn.

Across the street (which resembled a wide trail) was all desert land,
at my earliest recollection, and I recall that after four or five
years the Indians from the Salt River and Gila Reservations came and
built their summer camps in the desert just north of our house. They
did this in order to be near the wheat fields of the settlers, where
they could glean the wheat left in the fields after the harvesters
had finished. Then the Indiana would bring their wheat over to our
place and trade it to us for fresh grapes. Always it was "two buck
ets of grapes for one bucket of wheat".

We had ten acres in grapes, and how we children used to enjoy eating
them. But wa also had to help take care of the surplus. Our folks
dried them by the wagon loads, and we had thorn all through the winter
months. Many times I have helped to fill the wagon-box with the
grapes and then helped to spread them on the house top to dry, Rome-
times mother would have us pick alot of them for her to take to Ft,
McDowell to sell to the soldiers who were stationed there. She also
sold them butter and eggs. One trip 3he let me go along and I had
a wonderful time, Elijah was along too, and he made the trip very
pleasant for us all.

When our folks first took possession of their ranch or farm, as we

called It, it was only partly cleared of the desert bru3h, so the
boys had the job of clearing the balance of it. They sometimes took
me with them and I always looked to them and these experiences for a
good time, hlijah was especially thoughtful to take me along and he
would amuse me with hia witicisma.

It is little enough that I can remember of my mother who died when I

was six years old. Yet there are a few vital lessons ohe taught me
which I shall never forget. As I ponder on my experiences with her,
I conclude that surely she must have been a philosopher, and a great
psychollgist. Her methods of teaching were in advance of the general
methods used by the parents of that day. At-least so it seems to me.
Her "Play Primaries" were a forerunner of the later "Home Nights"
recommended by the authorities of tho church. If you have not exper
ienced living "with" your parents and brothers and sisters, you have
missed alot. To be considered one of the group to take part on each
week's program, gave ne a thrill that I have never forgotten. We
children were trainee to all live together as a whole, and not as sep
arate individuals. We were taught to respect each other's rights and
to take our turn, according to age, In all we were able to do. On tho
 6-2

programs, I took my turn with the others and was made to feel that I
was quite as important in my way, as any of the others.

Some lessons I had to learn by the stick—the popular method of teach-

ing in those days, and it was effective in that day as far a.s I was
concerned. One day, when I was about five years old, I '/as up in the
attic-room, where I found a hand full of matches which someone had
carelessly left. I thought of the fun it would be to strike them,
knowing all the while that that act was forbidden. Yet, no one would
see me, for I was alone and way upstairs, and I would throw all of
them out the little window and no one need ever know. Imagine my sur
prise, when mother called me to her and said she knew all about it
and spanked me to help me to remember to never repeat the act. It
seemed as though she knew everything. Later, one day I made a fire
out In the corral yard. I was sure that no one would ever know. This
time she did have to call all the children in to determine the guilty
one. I was sure she'd accuse one of the others, for I had told no
one, so no one knew. She had us children all stand in a circle and
said she would look in our eyas to determine the guilty one. We had
each denied having done it. I was determined there would be no fire
in my eyes. But when she had looked straight into my eyes, she must
have seen a flame, alright, for she right off picked me out and gave
me the usual remembering medicine. But with all, she was kind, ofce
used to teach me to sing and would brag on my efforts. Once I got
onery and when I was called in Primary at the church to sing my song,
for some reason I didn't want to do it and so refused. She was era-
barressed, no doubt, and tried in every way except force, to budge me,
I remained stubborn, and then she let me sit down with a promise of a
whipping when we should reach home. No more mention was made of the
affair and by the time we had arrived at home, I thought she had for
gotten the affair, and thought that if I should get out of her sight
she would not remember it. So a3 soon as the "white-topped" buggy
stopped at home, I quickly got out, ran into the house and crawled
under the table. Upon her approach, I peeked out to see if she was
remembering, and there she had the switch, all ready and I was called
out and received the punishment. She always kept her promises. An
other time I took a beautiful white china setting hen off aunt
Clarinda Phelps' mantle-shelf. I had wanted it, oh--so nuch--for a
long time. I had been playing with her daughter, my chum, Lottie
Phelps, during the day, and had time to make my plans to get away
with the pretty hen. When it was almo3t time to go home, "all the mem
bers of their family were outside in the back porch working on some
thing, so I silently slipped away from the group, passed into the kit
chen, thence Into the front room, looked around, saw no one, climbed
upon a chair, snitched the coveted treasure, tucked it under my arm
went quietly out the front door and on out into the road, where I
hr°! *?to* ™* a"d re^hed home with my prize. But my joy was
short lived. For when mother saw me hastily coming into the
 6-3

I recall the joy I received when we took rides in the "buggy" or hack.
Father would drive going to Sunday School and sometimes mother would
drive when father could not go. I recall one experience when ahe
drove to the "Tempo Normal School" at Tempo, to get our oldest brother,
^ Charles L. Allen. The team was a apan of little mules, and they were
not always trustworthy. As we were returning, we met a band of In- .
dians, traveling the road, and when the mules smelled them, they lift
ed their heads, snorted and broke into a run. It was all mother
could do to quiet them, after v/e had pasned the Indians. I am sure
that mother had a prayer in her heart and mind, for our safety, and
it was answered.

But mother was called to Hecven In l889» and our older brothers and
sisters assumed the responsibility of rearing and providing for us.
Strange how youth can accept circumstances as they are and never
question. It seemed the moat natural thing in the world for the
brothers to go on providing for our necessities, and for Adelaide and
Clarinda to be our mothers. For father had gone to Utah in the fol
lowing year, I89O, and brought back a new wife, whom he had built an
other home for on another part of the ranch.

We youngsters grew up carefree and in the open, strong and healthy,

never realizing that there was anything to worry about. True, VJarner
and Seymour taught us to do our part. When we grew older, we learned
to take responsibility. We learned from the older sisters to do our
share of the housework. As wo grew older we had learned enough to
"go out" working for other folks, to get money to help ourselves.
Some of the good neighbors accepted us for house work, occasionally.
Also, they used us for baby tending. Sister Home, our nei; hbor,
used me in her home during a few summers, to wash dishes, sweep floors,
and tend the baby.

I have always felt that the teachings given us were correct teachings.
Our faith in humanity and in our Heavenly Father has always given me
courage and comfort.

The girls always liked to see us made happy. I recall one May Day,
the year that I was about ten years old, Adelaide made me the happiest
I had ever been. I had been chosen and trained to be one of the
maids-of-honor to the May queen. But alas I We had no money with
which to buy the suitable clothes. Horace Fuller had married Adelaide
by that tir^e, and they came to my rescue. They were living in town
and I was permitted to be with them often, for she and Horace had
bought the material and she wa3 makin^ me an entire outfit for the
occasion. Ohl How thrilled! The anticipation of the event thrills
me even now] The evening before Hay Day morning I spent with her in
town. The brass band practiced, and I listened with thrills all over
me. I could hardly t-lose my eyes in sleep for thinking of the joy I
was to have taking part in the celebration, I think I remember the
anticipation more than I do the realization of that Fay Day, Rut it
wa3 one grand day and Adelaide had made it so. Since we couldn't ask
for two sets of clothing (Julia and I had always dressed alike) it
wa3 understood by me that after that wonderful day, 3he was to have
the "outfit". But I had had my day and was content. For several U1
cessive years we t;irls took part in the Fay Day celebrations. Amon':
— other kinds of work, we younger girls learned to do was "tromping
hay" for the boys during the haying season. They told ua it wouln
make us strong. One May Day, in the afternoon, Julia and I took part
in the foot races, each in her own age group. Sure enough, we each
won. Julia was so thrilled, and convinced that "tromping hay" had
 6-k

made her strong, that she held her beads, (the prize), high above her
head and exclaimed, "See what hay haulers can dol" Polks got a big
laugh, though our brothers were somewhat embarressed.

After Adelaide moved away to her own home, Clarinda assumed the re
sponsibility of mother. My own dear "Ollie"! iiow she did sacrifice
and work to put us through school. The boys, after having married
and established homes of their own, managed us a herd of cows to milk
and sell the milk to the creamery, thus to bring U3 in a monthly
check for our sustainence. We all learned to milk them and helped
while we were at home. When Deborah and I finished High School in
1902, we attended the then "Normal School", which is now the "State
Teachers College", at Tempe. We stayed over there during the week, in
a little one room house and did our own cooking, Clarinda and the two
younger children, Julia and Jim, would milk the cows, cook the bread
for us, make our clothes and encourage U3 when we often became dis
couraged. With "Johnny Roanny" hitched to the nilk wagon, Clarinda
would take us down to School in time for our classes Monday mornings,
ar.d come for us each Friday night or Saturday morning. For two years
she continued to work for us, until we were graduated in the spring of
190ij.. She made our Prom dresses and would have made our graduating
dresses, except that our dear friends, Delia Maeser and Calvin Phelps
asked the privilege of furnishing them for us, which we appreciated
very much.

In the summer of 19O3> Warner gave me the opportunity to milk 17 cows

night and morning to get money to go to school on, the following
winter. Deborah and I together were graduated from that Institution
in the spring of 190li, Of course the other girls worked out too, but
their experiences are other stories.

Our home was always a place of happiness to me--each one was kind,
thoughtful, and just. Very few are the quarrels we had with one an
other. I have often thought that the influence of father's prayers
on earth and the influence of mother up above, has gained favor with
the Lord, and He has provided guardian angels to guide us in the paths
of truth. And although our mistakes have been many, they are not ir
reparable, and if we keep on trying, we will eventually reach our
ultimate goal eternal life with the Father,

Lach of the girls has been an inspiration to me in her own way.

Priscilla was always ready to make us look nice. She was very neat
and anxious to have Julia and I look as nice as possible. The night
of the declaimation contest, Deborah and I took part. That was in '
our high school days. I had no suitable clothes for the part I was
to take. Priscilla came to my rescue, she took her own best shirt
waist and skirt and dressed me up, then took her hair switch and made
7yt?!iV;,° w?er? "r^:, Th5fc ni£ht Deborah took the first prize and
I tied with Winnie Hichina for the second. How happy the girls made

I have mentioned that Deborah and I went through our latter school
experiences together. All through our college d.ys, she was nv lean
ing post! She was brave-I was scared and shy. And when I w2nd ret
discouraged and cry, she would encourage me and make me laugh ag^f
then I would take hope. Often I felt that I would quit school the
I would remember all the sacrifices the girls and boys had nade for
me to get that far and I just could not fail them. Deborah heper.e
tZLmTy °f t?e Cri3S3 and J am «lad I «as not a "ou
those days we two grew very close together.
er". T^
 Julia and I have always been pals. We six girls were reared in pairs.
That is, Adelaide and Clarinda were near the same age, Priscilla and
Deborah were near the same age, as wa3 Julia and I near the same age.
Always in our youthful years, we played together and were) considered
by all the folks as belonging together. We were married the same day,
at the same place, and by the sane Elder. Our children came along
during the same years, ^ow, in our "grandma" days, we are still pals,
although we six feel at this time of life that we are all about the
same age, enjoying the same thing3, sharing each other's sorrows and
each other's joys, and loving each other more and more.

During my adolescent years, I had a beau or two, but Orson Phelps was
the only one I didn't tire of. We played together as neighbor child
ren all our young lives, and this compatability grew until love de
veloped, and we decided we could never live apart. So in the fall of
the year 1905, we made a trip, in company with Julia and Tom, Honry
Watkins and Caroline. We wore chaperoned by James and Hattie Miller
to the Salt Lake Temple, whore we were married Sept. 13, 190? by
Brother John R. Winder. We remained in northern Utah for a month,
visiting relatives, then returned to I;esa to make our home.

Episode II

Words fail to express the happiness experienced in our first own

little home. Lach of our fathers had given us a cow, and Orson
owned a horse and buggy which he had used when we courted, and a
sow and nine little pigs. To show his appreciation to Orson for his
faithful years of service on the ranch, his father, Hyrum S. Phelps,
helped us in a number of ways to get our homo started.He also gave us
$200. 'to go to Salt Lake on. rfe soon had a cozy little home composed
of a couple of tenta built on the northwest corner of grandpa's ranch.
The rooms were boarded up half-way and had lumber floors. They fac
ed each other with a space botween, forming a sort of hall. My fat
her had given me, as he had the other children In his family, some
stock in the co-op store which was sold about this time and which
brought me ^25.00. With this money we bought us a linoleum rug for
the kitchen and some other household furnishings. My folks gave me
the old rag rug from the old mansion, as our old house was then cal
led, for no one lived there since the single girls and Jim had gone
north to attend school at Logan. (Jim, Clarinda and Priscilla were
the single ones who had gone north, and Deborah was teaching school
in Mesa, living with Adelaide the while.) The folks had also let me
have the bed I had used at home and Gove had given us a 3tove as a
wedding present. Seymour and Vfarner and their wives had given us a
reception where we had received some very nice dishes. So, when we
were all fixed up to keep house we were very comfortable, When the
winter rains came, It leaked through the top of the tents, but it
failed to dampen our spirits. We would open the old umbrella and
place it over our heads to turn the drips of rain, our feet didn't
matter. Our two-tent home meant as much to ug, as a greater one has
to many others.

After having lived there about six months, we moved our tents on to
a twenty acre tract, a part of our old home place, which Warner and
Seymour let us have for assuming the mortgage and paying it off. For
^_, a few years we lived there on what is now known as South Horn Lane,
Orson managed to get a herd of cows to milk, the income from which
enabled him to keep up the Interest on the place and to make the pay
ments on the cows. Later he 3old the south ten acre3 to Tom and
Julia.
 6-6

The summer following our marriage, August 11, 1906, found us blessed
with a pretty baby girl, whom we named Oma, and Oh—how we loved herl
We were then happier than wo thought one could bo. Grandma Phelps so
unselfishly acted as my nur3e, and I have appreciated her services.

Later, we built a frame house to take the place of the tents, Orson's
father helped to build it, for Orson still helped his father during
the haying season. It was in this house where the first son, Lewis
Ashael, was born, in 1909, While he was yet the baby, we filed on a
homestead south of Chandler, were we moved one of the tent rooms. We
lived there off and on, until we had proved up on it, and got the
deeds of ownership. (Our third child, Genevieve, was born in the
Green house, as we refer to it) in April 9, 1911. She was a pretty
baby and had a singing voice when very young. As we would be coming
from the homestead to visit the folks in Mesa, a distance of perhaps
15 miles, 3he would sing, even at the age of one year, so that we
recognize the tune, We thought she was very smart, and still think
so.) However, water for the 160 acres was unavailable, so we moved
back to Mesa, sold our ten acres and cows, and rented what is known
as the Soloman ranch, on East tj.th. Avenue, It was there where Leon
was born, June 10, 19III.•

Our next move was to rent Adelaide's place, on East J|th. Ave., about
a mile west of the Solomon ranch, where we remained one year. Then
taking the cows we had acquired during the past two year3, moved onto
the Dudley Lewis ranch, on the same road, but two miles further east.
This ranch consisted of 60 acres, and we rented it with the privilege
of buying it. We made our payments, but the man to whom we paid it,
used it for other things than to pay off the mortgage covering the
place. So after a few years of struggling, we had accumulated,
{counting cows and calves), about one hundred head of stock, a pranc
ing team, a fancy surry, and what work horses and equipment it took
to run the farm. It was while there that we bought our first car,
and paid cash for it. It was a Chevrolet, Here our first blue-eyed
child was born, July 21, 1917. She had red hair like her father,
and we were 30 happy for her. We named her Elizabeth( because we
thought she was nice enough to be a queen, and also because both the
names of my mother and Orson's mother was Elizabeth,

In the early summer of 1919, when we began to bo crowded to pay the

mortgage, which the owner of the ranch had failed to do, we thought
it best to sell for what we could get, and try buying a ranch in
Chandler, It was a twenty acre ranch and we took what milch cows we
thought the place would sustain, selling the remainder and making a
down payment on the ranch. The owner of this ranch, Mr, Entrican,
also took the homestead as part payment on the place we wanted. It
was the time of the first World War, and prices were so high, espec
ially for cotton. After being on the Entrican property for about six
months, an offer was made to us of a large acreage of cotton ready to
be picked, and the price was $1.00 per pound. My, we thought we
could clear ourselves out of debt at that price. So we let ourselves
be persuaded to sell the Entrican ranch, and put all our money into
the "Case" place. But after a few weeks, the price of cotton went
down--the depression was onl Consequently, we lost the place, cotton
and all, and also the new car we had hoped to pay for, leaving us
broke. It was during this trial that Orson Jr. was born, a lively
little fellow who couldn't even wait for the doctor to arrive. He *raa
a half hour old when the Dr. came, and he has been hurrying ever
since I
 6-7

Tom came to our rescue by making it possible for ua to buy half his
property on the base line road, where we started all over again,
But the prices of produce raised on the ranch so far failed to match
our payments. We were forced to make another change in order to get
^^ started again. Then Elijah helped us to make a trade of the ranch
for a ten acre place on South Mesa Drive where we still live (1953).

Orson began soon after locating here, to haul gravel and sand for a
living. First he hauled with a team and wagon, then he traded for a
dump truck, and continued to haul for over twenty years. Of course
he had other trucks during that time to take the place of the wornout
ones. In order to get us ahead faster, and to be able to give our
children educational advantages, I secured a school in Chandler, and
spent the week over there, while Orson worked on at his hauling,
(He kopt tho four older children and aent them to school, and I
had the two younger one?,) We spent the week-ends together. For nine
and one half years I taught out there.

During these years, Oma married at the age of 18 years, and went to
California to live. We apent two summers over there where we could
visit her and alao work in the cannery.

As the children grew up, they each in turn finished high school.
While I was teaching, Orson was building ua a nice house on our place.
He worked hard at shoveling the aand and gravel into the truck, for
he did not have a loader as folks do now-a-days. He earned all the
money that was put into the building of the house. My money went to
educate the children, and send them on missions. They worked their
own way through school. In 1936, Lewis married Muriel Brimhall,
after having filled a mission (1928-1930), and had graduated from the
Flagstaff Teachers College in 1936. Genevieve was graduated from
the Flagstaff College, and taught school until she mot and married
Wallace Wilkins. Leon was graduated from the Gila College, and filled
a mission in Virginia and Kentucky, He now lives in Georgia with his
wife Selma, a Georgian, and their three children, Elizabeth gradua
ted from the Flagstaff College and has taught for a number of years.
She married John C. White, also a graduate of the Flagstaff College,
and they live in Mesa, where he is Principal of the Mesa Union High
School, They are building them a new house, doing the painting them
selves, and will be living in It within the next few weeks, Orson
Jr, graduated from the Ilesa High School, and married Lorraine Soren-
son. They have two very fine boys. He is working for himself and
has a fine home on his place,

July 2l|th,, 1953* Orson was called home after a brief illness, and I
am left to carry on without him. I recall the many good times we had
•fcb£>ethcr during our maxried lives and. particularly our days together
since our children have married and' we have been free to ; o places,.
'©■have been active in our. church activities all the while, ^rson
■apent two year3 aa a stake missionary in the San Tan-Indian !"i33ion
end learned to love the Indi-an people". "We have'danced, each week at.
the regular dances with our" groups. We 'have, all-the wtii-le, enjoyed
--olnc together to visit, our children and rcondchildren ynd watching
their growth and progression in their education, I thank the Lord
each nij-ht for the wonderful and happy forty-eight years we had to
gether here and am looking forward to the years weUl have together
throughout eternity.

The children are all very solicitious and helpful to me, I am ready
to dispose of the place where we have lived for more than thirty
 6-8

years, because It is too large for me to manage, and to have a small

er house built on a smaller lot where I'll be nearer the Church and
the Temple. I have been working in the Tenple since 193&» having giv
en up school teaching just prior to that time. I hope to remain
working here in the office for the years I have left hero on earth.
This day is the 12th. of August, 1953, and this record is finished
to this time,

Rebecca A. Phelps
 Chapter VII

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JULIA ALLEN WALKINS

Being a descendant of Ephraim, who waa the son of Joseph who was sold
into Egyptj I possess many of the traits of the Ephraimites.

I was the twelfth child and the sixth daughter of Charles Hopkins and
Elizabeth Adelaide Hoopes Allon, born Hay 23, 1885 at Mesa, Arizona.

Ky earliest rememberence of my mother (who died when I was four years

old) was when I was three years old. She sat nursing the baby Jim
and when he was asleep, she laid him down and took me on her lap.
She milked breast milk into my sore eye, and then offered me the
breast to nurse, I took a few draws, and I felt so embarrassed!

It was in the summer time of 1889 that mother, Elijah and I took a
viayon load of grapes to Ft. HcDowell where the U, S. soldiers were
stationed to keep the Indians on the reservation. When we drove up
to the Fort and stopped, I climbed out on the back x^heel to watch the
soldiers coming toward the wagon. As they surrounded the wagon, sam
pling the grapes, one of them ask mother if she would sell the little
girl standing on the back wheel, and mother said "Yes". As the sol
dier roached for me, I landed on all fours on top of the grapes craw
ling as fast as I could under the spring seat. Mother had put a pret
ty white dress on me that morning, and when she pulled me from under
the seat, I was juice from my head to my toes.

On our way home we stopped at Blue Point fountain by Salt river to

water and feed our horses, Elijah let me lead one horse to water,
while he lead the other. While the horses were drinking, he lay down
on his stomach and drank too. Seeing him drinking, I tried it, but
was not so successful, as I went down in the mud. I tot up, wiped
my hands on my dress—I can just h^ar mother say, "You dirty child'"
as she put me back into the wagon to go home. Tother died the follow
ing November.

Jim was younger than I and he was such a lovely child. Oh, how I
loved him, and bossed him. We had such good times together. When I
was about eight and he six years old, we found a loaded rifle that
some campers had left down in our field whore they had lived. The
bullet was lodged, and as they couldn't get it out they just left the
rifle. Jim and I took turns snaping the trigger while the otuer held
it upright. It didn't take long for the bullet to get hot, and the
thing exploded. (But as aunt Hinner Watkins would say, "The Lord
takes care of the Aliens.")

A traveling theatrical company cr.me to town, and a 11 the family were

going except Jim and me. They explained to us that we were too small
to understand the play, and they didn't have enough money to buy our
tickets, so we watched them drive away, and then we went beck to the
house. We were so lonely, and began to cry; soon I took Jim by the
hand and went into the bedroom and knelt down and told the Lord we
were lonesome and wanted to go to the show too, A little later, our
brother, Seymour, drove up in his cart from the Lewis ranch and esk
where the family was. We told him they had all gone to the show and
we wanted to go too, so he put us in the cart and took us along to
^_, the show.

itebecca was my bosom sister. We aaid our prayers together, slept

"spoon-fashin11 together, had dresses made alike, (mine pink, hers
blue). We played house and climbed trees together, rode calves and
 7-2

and walked to school together. And in our adolescent years, I always

depended on her faith and prayers to help me be a good girl. She
tried to teach me arithmetic, and to help me in my school work. She
was always patient and endured my nonsense.

We went to Thatcher, Arizona to school together. She taught and paid

my way, while I went to the L. D. S. Academy. The first dance we
went to in Thatcher, she played the piano while Sam Beard played the
violin, and I sat up on the stage with her. We met several of the
students and had a n?ce tirae,

Ws enjoyed our courtship dsy3 together. Our marriage and honeymoon

trip in Utah, and the reception our brothers and sisters gave us on
our return. Tonether we lived as neighbors, and reared our children
together. We would take them to Granet reef together for summer out
ings, and we always lived near each other.

Sister Deborah was always so inspiring. She taught me that whatever

I wanted to be I could be, if I put forth the effort, and if I would
try. I could learn to sing and play the new piano that 3he had just
bought and brought home. It was 3uch a luxury 1 She coaxed me to
take piano lessons from her. I did take a few, but who could sit on
a piano stool and peck on the little black and white keys, while the
sun ahone so bright out side, and there were butterflies to be chased
over the big fields of alfalfa, and calves tails to pull to see how
fast they could run and trees to climb and birds nests to rob? And
there was the old plumb patch, the best place of all to play hide-and-
go-seek. The plumbs were always ripe on ray birthday thus ended
my musical career.

Elijah was the brother of my dreams. He would have me show off,

which I enjoyed so much. Sometimes he would have mo stand Inside the
wheel of the cart and hold to the spokes while he drove the horse on
a trot around in the yard.

One day he was swinging mo in the big swing out on the ditch bank,
north west of the house. When he got me going real high, he told
me to jump out, and as I did so, I went bumping on across the road.
When I stopped, I beyan to cry. He ran and picked me up and said,
"Hirls that are eight years old don't cry.11, so I dried my eyes and
went limping into the house.

It wa3 such a happy time when Priscilla would let me go with her in
the spring of the year to help her cook for the headers and threasher
crew. She was the'best cook and everything she cooked, the men en
joyed. One man said he didn't know the Allen girls were such good
cooks, as they didn't have very much at hone to cook.

I was about sixteen and I was trying real hard to overcome my weak
nesses by being more pleasant and controlling my tempor. It was at
this time I learned a valuable lesson in self control. Priscilla^
was cooking for a crew of twelve men, and I was her helper. One day,
a young man about my age came and a3k the boss if he could get a job
on the threasher an the Allen girls were the cooks and he would like
to get acquainted with them. This amused the crow so very much. The
— boss's young son (Wallie), was a cartoonist and he drew a picture oi-
the back of an old tablet of a man, and a woman with a suit case .—-
jng to catch a train and under-neath he had written, "Julia and Hen.-y
Roing to Salt Lake Temple to Get married." Then he showed it to all
the men and each man signed his name on the back, except George
 7-3

Donaldson, and I will always love him for his thoughtfulness. Then
Wallie brought it to the cookhouse and laugiingly gave it to me. My
first impulse waa to wrestle him down, and punch hi3 nose, but I waa
sixteen and trying real hard to be a young lady, so I smiled gracious
ly, and took the thing and showed it to Priscilla, When she saw it,
she knew how the men would tease me, and she was so wise when she
said, "We will just tack it up here in the cookhouse where they all
can see it, and when they find out they can't tease you they will for
get about it," and I found it to be true,

Clarenda taught me, "That as I sowed so should I reap." And how

truely it came true. I was about 12 years old. She sent me to the
co-op store to buy some soap. As there was jU3t one clerk, I sat on
a box while the clerk and a customer went out into the ware-house.
While they were gone, a young buck Indian about seventeen or eighteen
years old came in wearing a five-gallon hat, and a pair of new over
alls. I thought he was rather cockle, and as he passed me, I spit on
him; as I did, he started after me. I ran behind the counter, but he
soon caught me and as I looked up at him, he spit in my face, I sure
ly received that which I had sown.

When I was seventeen, I received my first and only love letter from
a man I had met at a dance. While visiting Dora Barker in Buckeye.
It was a resl love letter with poetry, perfume, and love, I was so
surprised to got it that I took it to Clarinda and we read It toget
her. She said that men who Write letters to young girl3 like that,
don't mean what they say, and would load girlD astray, and for mo not
to answer it. This advice impressed me very much* as a year later
when a young man told me of his love for me and ask me to be his wife,
before I could answer yes or no, I had said, "You don't mean what you
have said," We didn't ask me again.

After mother's death, Adelaide bec_-me my mother; and her counsel and
teachings have always remained with me. No matter how rebellious
and stubborn I would get, her teachings always rang in my ears, and
guided me over many a rough place. When I was eight years old, she
married Horace C. Puller. We children thought him the best man In
the world. He was always very good to us. Their wedding feast was
spread at home, and there were so many good things to eat I had
never seen before, and such a beautiful wedding dress—the most
beautiful thing I had ever seen!

When they moved into their new home, I was so disappointed when I
couldn't go too. I think I must have been terribly spoiled when I
was little, because I always cried if I didn't have my way. Rebecca
and I would take turns staying with Adelaide and by crying I got
many more turns than my share. Adelaide always gave me good advice
in my love affairs as well as some teasing. She made my wedding
dress and helped us get ready for our wedding. She was truely a dear
mother to me,

My brother, John Seymour, was the deliveryman for the Co-op store,
and drove a horse named Geronamo on the delivery wagon. One morning
he sent me down into the lower field to catch Geronamo. I went with
out rope or briddle, only a stick to guide him with. I caught him
\.J in the further end of the field and climbed on and started for the
gate, which was closed, Now Geronamo had never been ridden without
a rope or briddle, and the closer we got to the gate the faster he
seemed to go and I couldn't stop him. Ke jumped and his feet caught
in the top wires, and we both went rolling together. Fortunately,
 7-k

I wasn1t hurt,

Seymour always supplied the family with groceries, and looked after
our welfare. In his counsel there waa ali^ays wisdom,

My brother, Warner, was always so tender-hearted and kind. He waa

.juat like a father to me, and he looked after us In our youth. His
teachings were always elevating and he waa a man every one loved.

My brother, Charles Lewis, wasn't home so much in my younger dnys,

but I remember the time he made me so happy. He had just been home a
short time, and all the girls were going to a dance. But I couldn't
go as my shoes were worn out. So he very graciously loaned me his
shoes and I wore them to the dance.

My father—bless his memory--was just like a dear grandfather bo me.

He was so full of the Spirit of the Lord to guide him at all times,
V.'hen Tom took him for a ride in order to ask him if he could "marry
his daughter", he said, "Yes, yes, when is Beckie and Orson going to
get married?" After I was married and had a family, whenever the
children got sick, I would take them to father and he would administer
to them, and they always got well. He was always anxious to leave
his blessings with us,

I thank the Lord for my parents and brothers and sisters, who have
labored so hard to help me to be what I am.

In August, 190U, Rebecca and I went to Thatcher, Arizona, she to teach

and I to attend the L. D. S, academy. We took the train in Tempe at
7 p.m. Our friends and sisters and Jim went to the depot to see us
off, Tom and Orson decided to ride as far as Maricopa with us, as
we had to change cars there for Bowie, The ride was very exciting as
it was the first long ride we had ever had on the train. We had re
ceived instructions not to talk to any strange men we met, and to act
like ladies. When we got into Maricopa (which was a desert town),
we waited and waited, but the train never came until the next morning,
so we walked the railroad tracks all night expecting the train any
time. Prom Bowie we rode a freight train into Thatcher where we made
our home with grandma, Emma Coleman, In May, 1905, school closed and
we were two happy girls to get home.

The 9th, of September, 1905, Rebecca, Orson, Kenry, Caroline, Tom

and I took the train at the north depot in Mesa, to go to Salt Lake
City to pet married. We were married the 13th. of September, 1905,
and the next day, Rebecca, Orson, Tom and I went to Logan, Utah, and
visited Clarinda, Priscilla, and Jim. They took us around to visit
our relatives. We had a lovely time. We stayed a month and when wo
came home, our brothers and sisters gave us a lovely reception at our
brother Warner's home.

In 1906, we bought a home on
first son, William Olen, was
moved to my old home {called
Warner and Seymour and there
In 1909, we bought a home in
<—'' third son, Warner Russell, was
south country club drive and there our
born. In 1908, we sold that place and
the "Old Mansion) and Tom worked for
our second son, Galen Hatch, waa born.
the lower Lehi Valley, and there our
born.

We had quite an experience raising chickens on this farm, as the

skunks and foxes were so bad to get them. Also the lice and ticks
were many. We had about two hundred chickens, and as they were real
 7-5

lousy. Tom decided one beautiful May morning to dip the chickens to
see if that would kill the lice. We had them all in the coop, and as
I would catch them, one by one, and hand them to Tom, he would dip
them in a tub of creso water he had prepared and then turn them out-
side. We worked fast, never looking behind us. V.'hen the last chick
en was dipped, we turned to view the success of our labors. There
they were; they looked like the remains of a hard fought battle. Some
I-tqtq lying on their sides with their lega stretched out stiff; others
grouped together in heavy chills, some with head and tail bowed, as if
in solemn memory for those who had died first. -Thus was our ex
periences in dipping chickens.

In November 1911, we sold our interests in Mesa and moved to Blanding,

Utah. It was here, In the year 1912, that our fourth son, James
Allen, was born. He died 19 months later. The winter of 1913 and
19ll\. we spent with Priscilla and aeber Hanson at Clifton, Idaho, and
while there, 1913* our fifth son, Joseph Hebor was born. We went
back to Blanding in the spring and I taught religion classes. In
September, 1915, we sold all our interests in Blanding, and moved
back to Mesa and bought eighty acres of land on tho base line to
raise cotton on.. It was there, 1915>» that our sixth son, Wayne Mien,
was born. The Gilbert ward was organized in 1916, and I was asked to
be a councelor to the President of the Relief Society and one year
later I was asked to be President, I enjoyed the work very much and
learned a great deal about Relief Society work. \le tore down the old
house and Uncle Ben McClendon helped us build a new one, Tom ran a
hay bailer. At this time, he and the five children had the whooping-
caugh. We moved into our new house In Autrust and here our seventh
son, Ancil Wed, was born, 1913.

In October, 1919, Tom was called on a mission to California. He

rented the farm and seven months later the renter turned the farm
back and he had to come homo. In May, 1920, our eighth son, Deliner
De Mar, was born. The depression came and times were hard. We sold
forty acres to Orson and Robecca, Later we traded our home for prop
erty in Los Angeles, California, We stayed there six months and sold
out and came back to Mesa, We bought a home on south Mesa drive,
Tom bought a milk route and three trucks for J"1700. cash. He and the
boys hauled the farmers' milk to the creamery. Real often our family
would get on the milk trucks and ride over tho valley with the boys
to pick up the milk in the evening.

In 1923, I was asked to be President of the Second Ward Primary and

I enjoyed the association of the teachers and children so very much,
I was President one year, and then in 192it, Tom sold the milk route
and rented 160 acres of land south of Chandler and we went down there
to raise cotton.

In February, 1925i Ton, Olen, and I went to San Uiego, California to

find work, I got a job as nurse, taking care of a lady with a brok
en hip, Tom and Olen got different jobs and six weeks later, they
went back to Mesa and I stayed until May 21st., and came home with a
check of ^19^*50. I got into Mesa on a ^:liS a.m train and walked
home by the school to see if I could see any of my children, as school
ha&VJtaken up. I was watching the children play, when a little voice
behind me said, "Hello, mamma!" I turned and fiere sat my four year
old baby boy. It was so nice to be home and with the children.

The next two weeks we worked real hard getting ready to go back to
California to work in the fruit and on June 6th., 1925* we started
 7-6

in company with Orson and Rebecca and our fanilies. Xta^Lhad a pick
up truck, trailor and touring car. Wo laft home about sundown, and
camped at the Han 3ayampa River. With the exceptions of five or six
flats, we had no trouble reaching Yuma the next day, When we got to
— Brawley, California, we had to detour. Part of us got on the wrong
road, but finally found the right road, Orson, Tom, Leon and Wayne
in Orson's pickup, stopped to get melons, and the rest of us went on
to Salton Sea thinking they would follow. They saw us Going on the
wrong road and tried to follow us. They went to Nylon and back to
Brawley, They traveled all night looking everywhere. At one time
they stopped to rest and Orson got out on a little hill and playfully
called "Beckie", but all in vain. We were all in bed asleep by the
Salton Sea, fifty-two miles away. Just at sunrise they came driving
in. We were surely happy to find each other!

We drove on to Onterio, California and pitched our fcents in Charles

Robson's peach orchard. The boys milked Charles' cows for our milk,
and the men and boys worked in the fruit. We also worked in the can
nery. We had a nice time together. June 12th., we packed up our
cars and went to Santa Monica and camped all night on the beach. The
children went swimming in the ocean and Genevieve and Galen were in
an undercurrent and were almost drown.

June lJj-th. we went on to Venture, fifty-two miles from Santa Monica,

finding the fruit was not ripe so we went back to Onterio.

The cannery closed down and Tom thoufht it best to go North to find
work so July 22nd. we bid Orson and Rebecca and family good-by and
went up to Delano, California, and worked in the grapes. We enjoyed
our stay there. We visited with A. A. DeWitt and family.

August 21at, we started for San Diego, down the coast route, and
lived in Calexico with Henry and Caroline Watkins. We enjoyed our
stay with them. Our children ;ot acquainted and had a good time to
gether. We entertained the missionaries alot that winter. They
held their Sunday School at El Centro and the two Catkins families
made $0% of the Sunday School attendance.

November 10th., Tom and I left for Mesa to attend an Allen reunion.
Wo took 100 lbs. of walnuts to them, which they enjoyed. Barbara
Allen wrote a little play called "True to the Faith", The younger
children put it on, and it was just fine,

Februray 1, 1926, we came back to Kesa. Tom worked on the Temple,

helping to lay the marble, and terricota. Sometimes I would go
help by holding the marble in place while he matched it. Sometimes
I would take a freezer of ice cream to the men in his ffroup. Tom
and the older boys worked on the Temple until April, 1925. Then
Tom, Galen and I moved to Tolleson to milk 100 head of cows for a
Mrs. Springer.

June 5th., 1926, we paid the mortgage off our place, and June 19th.
moved back to Hesa,

Tom wasn't very well. We went back to El Montie and Tom and the boys
- worked in the cannery until it closed, then we moved to Calexico and
worked awhile there. A gentleman offered Tom and the older boys a
large farm, equipment, and all the cows they could milk on shares.
Each was to get half of the profits. It was a worth-while deal to
be considered. We were going to accept his offer, but on our way
 7-7

we remembered our son^ were getting to the age where they were look- ■
ing for a lady companion. We knew there were very few L. D. S.
families living there, and the future happiness of our sons was what
we were living for, so we thanked the gentleman for his offer, and
came back to hesa where our sons could find L. D. 3, companions.
They had been taught to pray and take turns in family prayer night
and morning to ask the Heavenly Father to help them chose a suitable
companion for their lifes help-mate,

I had been invited to work on the Primary Stake Board, as Stake Guide
Supervisor, and I enjoyed my labors so very much, I labored there
four years.

The Temple was dedicated October 23, 1927, and we had the joy of
housing 27 friends whom we hadn't seen for years, and it was such a
heavenly time. The Spirit of the Lord was there in rich abundance,
and everyone seemed to have a portion of it.

Our son Warner Russell and Ida Perkins were married October 27th, the
first day the Temple was open for endowments, and our son, William
Olen and Mary Elizabeth Murray were married the following day, Dec-
embor 30, 1928, Galen left for a mission to the Southern States.
Tom was ordained one of the seven Presidents of the ninetieth' quorum
of Seventies and we enjoyed the association of the other seven Pres
idents and their wives.

On January 1931, Galen wrote and said ho would 3oon be released from
his mission and that on the 16th. of January, he would be in Semin
ary, Mississippi, Tom and I decided we would go get him. Tom, at
that time had a little milk route in Phoenix, and the day before we x
were to leave, Tom wanted ne to meet him in Phoenix to tend to a
little business, and have our car looked over before starting on our
long trip. As I was passing by the fourth ward chapel, I saw a neat
ly dressed man wanting a ride, so thinking him to be a Mormon mission
ary, I stopped and ask him to ride, but I soon discovered, by the
smell, he wasn't. As we passed through Tempe, we talked of our col-
lese town and off the bridge we had just crossed, suddenly I felt my
self being very fondly embraced. I looked up. As he .put put his
mouth down to kiss me, I was so surprised. All I could do was to
poke him in the stomach with my elbow and tell him to behave himself.
As soon as we got to a service station, where two men were, I drove
in and told him to get out. I believe it was a warning for us not
to pick up people on our way down south to get Galen,

We left I.esa, January 9, 1931, for Mississippi. We drove to Safford,

Arizona and stayed all night with Wallace Branch and family. From
there, we went through El Paso, Van norne, Del Rio, oan Antone,
and Huston, Texas, then on to Lake Charles, La. There we met lom's
half sister, Susie Watkins Stone, whom he had never seen, and also
his nephew and niece, Lem and Lula Watkins. They were real nice to
us! we stayed with them a night and a day, and then started on our
way about k:00 p.m.

We drove until 9 p.m. and stopped at a little town called Lottie^

and cot a room in a little resturent owned by "Pa Clines . Ine wear
hSr was real cold and we sat by the fire tc keep warm. Several men
o? the town came in to visit and find out our business. ' -hen ve
were warm we excused ourselves and started for our room. When Pa
Clines said ''You all seems like right nice folks, won't you all set
£ 2nd visit us a little longer?", we did. After the other men had
 7-8

gone, Pa Clines got his violin and his wife went to the piano and
they entertained us for about an hour.

The next morning we crossed the Mississippi river at Baton Rogue,

''^-/ It seemed to be the coldest place I had ever bson,

January 16, about sundown, wo drove up to the post-office at Semin

ary, and Tom went In to see if the Mormon missionaries had called for
their mail. While he was gone, I ask a little boy passing by if any
Mormons lived in this town, and he said he didn't know, but he would
ask the man at the garage. The gentleman from the narage came to the
car just as Tom came out of the post-office, and told us of Jial
Talber, a Mormon who lived one and one half miles on farther Tjent,
It was a most beautiful drive among the tall pine trees, as we came
to their farm. A young man coming from the field with a team of
horses told us that there were two Mormon Elder3, VJatkinr. and f-rinker-
hoff, had just come in that after-noon and were going to hold preach
ing at Judge baton's home back In town.

We ate supper with Mai and his family, and went back to town to the
meeting. We knocked on the door and a young lady opened it. We ask
if that was the place where the Mormons were having their preaching,
she said "Yes." We went In, and as we stood by the fireplace, we
could see Galen with his back to us, eating in the dining room, I
walked up behind him and put my hands over his eyes. He was very
unconcerned, ne set the food down that he was passing, and waited
until I took my hands off, then he picked up the food and passed it
again before he turned to see who was behind him, When he did look,
all he could say was, "Mother, Father!" as he embraced us both. We
enjoyed the cottage meeting they held that evening.

As we traveled on our way to Imion, Mississippi to visit Tom's great-

uncle, '>eorge Germany, and family, we inquired for Uncle George's
place. We were told he lived at the end of the road and by the time
we got there, some one had phoned him that he was having company
from Arizona. He stood holding the door open, and said, "Come in, I
don't know you, but we will get acquainted." He was a very handsome
old gentleman of seventy-five years, with white, curley hair and a
kindly face, Uis wife, Lottie, was like him in kindness and love.
They had a bif: family of married children, mostly boys. They all
came and spent the evening and we all had prayer toother. They
were very humble people, and had prayers often. Tom was invited to
do all the praying.

Uncle George had helped to mob the missionaries out of that part of
the country in 1885, He ask us to forgive him several times for the
rough treatment he had given Tom's mother and family while they lived
there years before. Galen got hi3 release and we started home by the
way of De Hidder, La. and visited Tom's sister-in-law, Dannie Uatkins
and her daughter. We visited relatives in Berkvill and Newton, Texas,
When we got home, we found our house all fixed up. Barbara and the
neighbors had papered and painted the house and made a nice clothes
closet,

April 5, 1931, Tom and the three oldest boys bought a new baler 'and a
new Chevrolet truck. They mounted the baler on the truck with an
engine to run the baler and fixed a trailor behind the truck to catch
the bales. It was the first traveling baler mounted on a truck that
was ever used in the valley. Tom's ideas were original. ihe baler
was successful. They by led hay all summer.
 7-9

February 16, 1931, all our children came horn*, and we had 0 spiritual
homo evening. After song and prayer, Ton born his testimony to the
truthfulness of the gospel, and also expressed his thankfulness Xor
his eight sons and his two daughter-in-laws and their babies. He
told his sons to pr^y to our Heavenly Father often, and especially
Jbout selecting a companion for eternity.

Galen, who had lust returned from his mission, said he was thankful
for the ooportunity of oinp on a mission and for the many blessings
he _ had received. 1 encouraged our sons to honor and respect their
Priesthood, ^len spoke of the many blessings they were en,ieying and
thfinked the Lord for them. Earner told of getting a latter from a
man cruising him for being" honest and hoped the Lord would bless him
for being honest.

Hebec snoke from the Doc. and Cov. section ^9:9 "Vherefore I say
unto you that I have sent unto you my everlasting covenant, even that
which was from the beginning." It was a subject be had talked on
while ward teaching. Uayne sang, "ft i.ormon ooy". i-ed told of the
many blessings he had to be thankful for. Deliner rave a reading.
Ida was thankful for her husband and thankful he was taught to be hon
est and to pray, foary \:a& thankful for all the blessings she was en
joying. Alter the closing orayer, we served honey cmdy. Grandma
ttatkins was sick and couldn't come. Jan. 30, 193^, Galen married Dor
is ot^ed in the Arizona Temple and we had the reception at Rebecca's
and Orson's home.

June 3) 1935) Heber left for a mission to the Central States. He was
in the mission field about four months when his appendix ruptured.
He was in the hospital at Kansas City, 1.0. for four weeks. President
'.oodruff called the Elders in for a special fast and prayer in Heber's
behalf. Heavenly Father heard their prayers and his life was spared.

December 20, 1935, Heber married Helen Kay in the arizona Temple.

February 9, 1936, Warner's apoen&ix ruptured and he was operated on,

and only through the blessings of the i,ord was his life spared.

liay 23, 1937, Tom and Galen bought a new bicycle for my fifty-second
birthday.

June 1937, Wed had his appendix removed.

September, 1937, 1 was asked to be the ..econd '.arc; Relief Society

Teacher Suoervisor. Irene Brown was the President I was Supervisor
for one year. I was then asked to be sunshine worker, and to fo
amon- the sick to visit and cheer them. I enjoyed visiting the sick
and the home-bound and those in distress, and to do a little mending
orwashingdiehea or taking them something to eat, and they appreci-
ated it so much.

October S, 1937, Wed married Flora -oil Brewer, our neighbor's daugh
ter.

January 10, 1938, l.ayne married Theutta rry at Gallup, New Mexico.
 7-10

In November, Ida was operated on for appendicitis,

June 37th., 19li.0, Olen was taken to the Sacr.-.mento Hospital with a
ruptured appendix. July 5th, he was operated on and on July 12th.,
we received a telegram telling us to come quickly, as Olen wasn't
expected to live. Warner, Ida and Ru3sell took U3 to Sacramento in
16 hours. We found Olen in a very critical condition. Tom and War
ner administered to him. That evening, Tom called all of our children
together that ware in Sacramento and we had a special prayer circle
in Olen's behalf. The next day was Sunday and the family fasted and
had another prayer circle and a family meeting. Tom, Heber and and
Warner told of the Lord's goodness to them. The Heavenly Father ans
wered our prayers and the prayers of His l.lders quorum and the Saints.,
and although the doctors said it was impossible for him to get wsll,
he was out of the hospital within six months.

I stayed in Sacramento to help care for the children while Hary work
ed. I stayed until August 30th, and brought their baby Joseph Russ
ell home with me. When I came home, I found Warner in the hospital
with a punctured eye, which had to be removed later.

In July, Delmer graduated from beauty school while I was in Sacra

mento.

January 19/j-l, was a very busy month. Thers were so many sick people
to visit and give comfort to. I also helped Tom at the school.

In August, Orson and Rebecca came and said "Lets go to Los Angeles
in the morning.", and of course we were happy to go. Ue had a lovely
trip. We stayed three days and visited our children and relatives.

Christmas was a gala time for us, Wayne and Theatta and family, Mr.
and rrs. Pry, Delmer and Erdene, Heber and Helen and family, Ned
and Flora Belle and family, and Warner and Ida and family, came home
for dinner. We had a wonderful visit, as usual. The Gospel was the
topic of conversation.

In 19k2, I was called as a Haricopa Stake Relief Society aid, and

acted in that capacity until 19'ili. when we sold our interest in rlesa
and went to Sacramento, California where our sons, Orion, Olen,
Heber and their families lived. We worked at the airfield and got
money to build a nice home. In 19US, we returned to ITeaa and I wawas

again asked to work on the Stake Board Relief Society.

When the Maricopa Stake was divided, I was called to work on the Mesa
Stake Relief Society Board being one of the charter members.
Tom and I entered the California mission home as mis-

Tom baptized five converts and

our sons decided to have a family reunion,

is a ^mily tradim.on^ & f&

TomkfpoSJ £ t^unity of the family and

 7-11

\_,- the right way to live as a family and how to guard our thoughts, as
we will be judged by what we think. Each of our sons bore his test
imony to the truthfulness of the Gospel, and each daughter-in-law
spoke of their appreciation and love for the family. "Each of the
grandchildren present spoke of their appreciation for the standards
their grand-parents have set for them to follow. All the boys sang
"Redeemer of Israel" and Ned offered the closing prayer, I was given
a beautiful orchid, the first and only one I had ever had, and Tom re
ceived a beautiful boutonniere. \e felt like a queen and a king for a
day.

In February, 1949) at a missionary report meeting, President J-icConkie

called us in the office and said we were going to be released, that
the Lord was pleased with our labors and the Lord was releasing us,
and not him. He told us to return home and do Temple work and work
in the Church wherever we were asked.

e came home in April and built a home on earner's lot in Phoenix,

and in June, '.ilford P. and Vilate Cardon gave us a small lot and a
one room cottage at 11+2 So. Pomeroy, I'josa. \\e were to build two
more rooms and a bath, and they furnished the material and we the
labor. \/e have a very comfortable home no'-;, where we can go to the
Temple often and can be near the school where Tom works. We enjoy
the Cardon family so very much and all our lovely neighbors.

w
October 8, 1949, Dtdmer and Helen Popa were married in the patio at
the Second Vard Chapel. They had a nice reception.

I thank the Lord for my dear husband. I'.'e have ridden life's stormy
seas together for forty-ei£ht years. Sometimes, it has been very
rough sailing, but we have managed to keep our boat right side up,
until we have found smoother sailing, lie thank the Lord for our
eight noble sons that have brought so much .ioy and happiness into
our lives, each in his ovn dear way. We love their lovely wives
they have given to us as daughters, and the thirty-one lovely grand
children and eight lovely great-fr&nd children. i-«ay the Lord ever
bless them with a desire to study the scriptures and r.ain a stronger
testimony that the Lord lives and Jesus is the Christ, and that the
true gospel has been restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph
Smith and by keeping the commandments we may dwell in the Celestial
Kingdom as a family in peace and love.

This is my desire,

Julia Allen '.atkins

 20 November 1953

My dear and beloved "Allen 3iatera";

Thank you for letting me into the treasure-trove of your

precious auto-biographies. They are something for the
ages!

In all the forty years of my so.iourn here, I have made

many friends, have learned to love many neighbors and
associates, but no family have I ever learned to admire
and rtgard as I do yours, laken individually or collect
ively | you are an inspiration, a soul lifting ideal for
old and young to emulate, '.ere I envious, I would envy
your sweet sisterhood, I who have but one sister and she
a thousand miles away.

I think often of that sainted mother of yours. Hov close

she has been to you, hov tenderly she must still watch
over you and yearn for that eternal "homing" that she so
nobly patterned here and which you have all so bravely
perpetuated.

God bless you and keep you is my fervent wish always.

Bertha