Melvin Harold Webb

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWC5-2S7
• Initiatory (LDS): 11 Jun 1952, MANTI

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWZQ-TSV
• Initiatory (LDS): 24 Aug 1933, SLAKE

Robert married Jetta Heki on 6 Dec 1920 in Junction, Piute, Utah, United States. Jetta (daughter of William Jeremiah Heki and Elsie Leolettie Peterson) was born on 16 Sep 1905 in Marysvale, Piute, Utah, United States; died on 20 May 1986 in Provo, Utah, Utah, United States; was buried on 23 May 1986 in Springville, Utah, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWZQ-TS2
• Initiatory (LDS): 24 Aug 1933, SLAKE

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KVP1-84W
• Initiatory (LDS): 24 Aug 1933, SLAKE

Melvin married Margaret Olive Heward on 15 Mar 1901 in Tuba City, Coconino, Arizona, United States. Margaret (daughter of Lehi Heward and Susannah Talbot) was born on 13 Mar 1885 in Heber, Navajo, Arizona, United States; was christened on 19 Apr 1885 in Heber, Navajo, Arizona, United States; died on 27 Apr 1966 in Springville, Utah, Utah, United States; was buried on 30 Apr 1966 in Springville, Utah, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWZQ-TSL
• Initiatory (LDS): 10 Aug 1933, LOGAN

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• FamilySearch ID: LLQV-C4Q
• Initiatory (LDS): 28 Jan 1942

William married Elsie Leolettie Peterson on 23 May 1889 in Junction, Piute, Utah, United States. Elsie was born on 31 May 1870 in Spring City, Sanpete, Utah, United States; died on 18 Apr 1908 in Monroe, Sevier, Utah, United States; was buried on 21 Apr 1908 in Annabella Cemetery, Sevier, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Initiatory (LDS): COMPLETED
• FamilySearch ID: KWZ3-T5M

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWZ4-7CC
• Census: 1860, Draper, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
• Initiatory (LDS): 19 Jan 1869, EHOUS
• Census: 21 Jun 1900, Navajo Indian Reservation, Coconino, Arizona, United States
• Census: 17 Jan 1910, Heber, Navajo, Arizona, United States

Notes:

LEHI HEWARD

Lehi Heward was born 7 August 1851, in the old fort in Salt Lake City, U t ah. He was the fourth child (first son) of John Heward and Elizabeth Te rr y. His parents came to Salt Lake City in 1847, in the same company a s Bri gham Young. The family moved several times during his childhood, a t one o ccasion "going south" prior to the arrival of Johnston's Army. Th ey event ually settled in Draper, Utah. Lehi progressed through the chore s commo n to that period, that included herding sheep, planting and harve sting wh eat, and pruning orchards.

At 18 years of age, he was called to make two trips to Ft. Laramie, Wyom i ng (a distance of 500 miles) to help companies of emigrating saints. Th i s involved driving a four-horse team, something that Lehi had never tri e d before, and he suffered a few mishaps before mastering the nuances. B lo wing dust on these trips was a problem, and Lehi's eyes were irritate d fo r the next 8 months.

Lehi courted Susannah Talbot, and asked her hand in marriage, but Susann a h, who didn't feel ready for marriage, declined. Sometime thereafter ( 2 6 May 1873), Lehi married Janet Branden. A set of premature twin girl s we re born to them on 24 December 1873, but both babies survived less t han 1 5 minutes. As a complication of childbirth, Janet developed "milkle g" ( a condition characterized by painful swelling of the legs caused b y infla mmation and clotting of the femoral veins, so called because it o ccurs mo st often during lactation following childbirth) and died three m onths lat er (23 March 1874).

More than a year later, Lehi again asked Susannah Talbot to marry him, a n d this time she accepted. They were married 26 October 1875, in the End ow ment House in Salt Lake City. Lehi later teased Susannah, by suggestin g t hat, "Pity was akin to love. " Twelve children were born to this unio n .
They first homesteaded 100 acres of land at Lewiston, Utah, and lived th e re until the fall of 1877. Then, because of plagues of grasshoppers, th e y abandoned the farm and moved back to Draper, Utah, living at the hom e o f John Heward (Lehi's father). During the winter of 1877/87 Lehi wa s ver y ill for several weeks.

Susannah wanted to be with her own mother when her second child was bor n , so Lehi took her there. After visiting her sister, she left carryin g he r son Stephen. A big dog, belonging to neighbors by the name of Adam s, at tacked her, grabbed her skirt, and yanked her first one way then th e othe r. Susannah was terrified and screamed, but the Adams (man and wif e) thou ght it was funny and just stood by, laughing. Henry James Talbo t (Susanna h's brother), alerted by her screams, rushed to her aid, arriv ing just i n time to catch her as she fainted. When Lehi come home from w ork and lea rned what had happened, he was furious, so bright and early t he next morn ing he paid a visit to the Adams family. After telling them , "No dog is g oing to scare my wife nearly to death and live! " he sho t the animal. Th e scare brought on labor, and after two days, the baby w as born. When Sus annah recovered from childbirth, they moved back to Dra per and kept hous e for John Heward (his wife [and Lehi's mother] havin g died shortly befor e the baby's birth).

Lehi and Susannah responded to a call by Brigham Young for volunteer s t o settle in Arizona. In November of 1879, they moved (using a team an d wa gon) all their worldly goods and their two children to St. Joseph, A rizon a. On the trip, one of their horses died, and Lehi traded Susannah' s sewi ng machine for a replacement. During this trip, Lehi again becam e ill t o the point that he could not get out of the wagon. Susannah, wh o did no t know how, unhitched the horses, undoing every buckle she coul d find. Th e next day when it was time harness the team, she had a very d ifficult ti me, but, after a fashion, managed (with the help of another w oman and h e little boy). When Lehi recovered (in about two days), he vow ed, "If I r aise a dozen girls, I will teach them all to harness a hors e He ended u p with 8 daughters, and taught them all, along with his wife . Three week s after their arrival at St. Joseph, their second daughter ( Eliza Jane) w as born. Lehi's first mother-in-law accompanied them on thi s journey, t o help where she could. Not surprisingly, there was some fri ction betwee n her and Susannah, and it was not long before Mrs. Brando n returned to U tah.

The people in St. Joseph were living the United Order, and Lehi drew t h e job of freighting with oxen to Albuquerque, New Mexico, bring back sa lt , flour, sugar, and other staples. After four years, the family took a n e xtended visit to Utah and was gone for six months. Ruth (born 24 Sept embe r 1881 was a baby at the time). When they returned, Lehi was given t he jo b of caring for the United Order cattle. This made it necessary fo r the f amily to move to the mountains, where pasture was good, and the d anger fr om quicksand less. They made their home at Heber, Arizona, and t here Leh i became a cattleman when the United Order was dissolved .

Lehi was a cattleman during the so called "Pleasant Valley War" that rag e d between the "Grahams and Tewksburys," and was acquainted with many m e n that rode for the Hash Knife outfit. From a cane patch near their hom e , the made molasses, and Lehi habitually carried a sack of molasses coo ki es with him when he was riding, caring for his livestock. He would sha r e these cookies with other cowboys (including Hash Knife employees). Th ou gh this medium he gained confidence of these rough men, and instead o f st ealing his cattle, they would drive them back to his pasture. A smal l inv estment in cookies saved a lot of livestock .

Still, this was rough country with thievery rampant. Lehi had a beautif u l horse he had raised and trained, that he called, "Boxer" When he wa s aw ay from home, he had some chain hobbles made of steel and padlocke d the f ront leg of several horses together. The stable had a door like a n ordina ry house, so only one horse could come out at a time. Many night s Susanna h was awakened by the sound of someone trying to steal the hors e. One nig ht, she even saw someone peering over the top of her window bl ind, and sh e was afraid the man was going to come in and demand for th e key to the h obbles. Instead he contented himself with stealing some co rn .

A little neighbor boy often visited the Heward home and was very mischie v ous. One day Susannah saw the cellar door open and she thought he was i nt o the milk. She yelled as she rushed down into the cellar, but was cha gri ned to find Lehi drinking milk with several of the Hash Knife cowboy s .
Because he often wore clothing Susannah had made from deer hide, Lehi ac q uired the nickname of, "Buckskin." Being a tall man (well over six feet ) , his figure was unmistakable, even from a distance. He was an accompli sh ed tracker, and was often called on to help find horse and cattle thie ves . This was dangerous business, and during one outing, the came upon t hre e bodies hanging in a tree near the road they were following. Vigilan te l aw was quick, though not always thorough or just .

Because of continuing trouble with rustling, Lehi gave up the cattle bus i ness about 1888, and moved to Pine Creek (now Pine, Arizona), where hi s f amily lived for about three years. From here he moved to Tuba City, A rizo na, then joined with two other families to purchase the Moenava Ranc h. Le hi often worked with Fred Randall, a friend with a short stature. O ne day , their bedrolls got switched. Lehi's comment on that episode wa s that h e could not keep his navel warm. "If I covered my feet, my nave l froze. I f I covered my shoulders, my navel still froze." Because of hi s height, S usannah always had to make extra long quilts for him. The Ind ians in th e area called him, "Hostein Nez" which literally translated is , "old ma n long."

In 1903, the Federal Government seized the land around Tuba City, for us e s as an Indian reservation. Property owners were reimbursed at rates s e t by government assessors. The Indian School in that area was built o n th e foundation Lehi had constructed for his new home. The Heward famil y mov ed to Woodruff, where they maintained a home for the rest of thei r lives . Susannah was unhappy with this decision, wanting to be near he r famil y in Utah, and considering Woodruff to be, "on the very edge of c reation. " During this time, Lehi homesteaded in Dry Lake (also known a s Zeniff) , Arizona, moving out there to dry land farm during the numerou s times th at the Woodruff dam washed out. The family maintained a home i n Dry Lak e for several years before permanently returning to their hom e in Woodruf f in 1925.

Lehi passed away 2 December 1926, one year after he and Susannah celebra t ed their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Susannah had a horror of gophers dig gi ng into the graves in the Woodruff cemetery (as they often did then) s o s he had Lehi taken to Snowflake for burial. After her death three year s la ter, she was buried beside him in Snowflake.

Lehi married Susannah Talbot on 26 Oct 1875 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. Susannah (daughter of Henry Talbot and Ruth Sweetnam) was born on 12 Mar 1854 in Whittlesea, Queenstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 30 Apr 1929 in Woodruff, Navajo, Arizona, United States; was buried on 2 May 1929 in Snowflake, Navajo, Arizona, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWZ4-7CZ
• Initiatory (LDS): 26 Oct 1875, EHOUS
• Census: 21 Jun 1900, Navajo Indian Reservation, Coconino, Arizona, United States
• Census: 17 Jan 1920, Heber, Navajo, Arizona, United States

Notes:

Susannah Talbot

Susannah Talbot was the twelfth Child of Henry Talbot and Ruth Sweetn a m . She was born at Whittlesea, Queenstown District, South Africa, 12 M a r c h 1854, a beautiful autumn day (the seasons being reversed in the s ou th er n hemisphere). Whittlesea is located about 19 miles south of Que ens tow n, at the junction of the Oskraal and Kliplsat Rivers, and abou t 25 m il e s northwest of "Wellington Farm" on the Thorn River.

Her parents, originally from England, were quite well off. They were c o n t acted by two Mormon missionaries, and after joining the church, so l d a l l their possessions they could not easily transport, and set sai l f or A me rica. Susannah, who was eight years old at the time, well rem embe red b ein g sea sick for almost all the eight week voyage.

Susannah never lost her "Very English" accent. Where a noun requir e d a n " H" in the beginning of the word, she would omit it, and "Helle n " beca me " Ellen." Then, when a noun did not require an "H," she woul d a dd one, wit h "ears" becoming "hears," and "eyes" becoming "heyes." H er g randch ildre n never grew tired of listening to her distinctive spee ch.

The Talbot family landed at Boston, and went from there to Florence, N e b r aska via train. This was 1862, and the Civil War made travel both d if fi cu lt and dangerous. The brought with them a 12 year old Negro boy , wh o m the y had taken to raise after his mother died when he was a tin y bab y. The y had planned to leave him with his relatives in Africa, bu t cou l d not re sist his crying and pleading. From Nebraska, the crosse d the p la ins in th e Homer Duncan company. Upon arriving in Utah, the y made the i r home in th e north part of Kaysville, that is now called L ayton.

As a young lady, Susannah was, "fair to look upon," and very popula r w i t h the young men. Her disdain of her suitors worried her mother, w ho c ou ns eled her, "You will go 'roung and 'round the bush and pick a c rooke d s tic k at last!" Among her suitors was Lehi Heward, but she refu sed hi s of fer, and he married another. Two years later, as a widower, L ehi aga in c ourt ed Susannah, and this time she accepted. They were marr ied 26 O ctobe r 187 5.

They homesteaded in Lewiston, Utah, but were driven out by a plagu e o f g r asshoppers and crickets that took their crops. A few years late r, t he 1 6 0 acre farm they left was worth a great deal. They lived in D raper , Uta h, with Lehi's father until November of 1879 when they left f or Ari zon a.

Susannah expected good behavior from her children and grandchildre n , a n d usually got it. She never allow the to waste anything, especial l y foo d. On evening a grandchild was enjoying mashed potatoes and grav y , and t oo k a second helping with, "their eyes being larger than thei r b elly," a n d couldn't finish what they took. Grandma didn't say a wor d, b ut the ne x t morning for breakfast, the offending grandchild foun d the r emainde r o n their plate. It was obvious that grandma meant wha t she sai d.

Susannah was an excellent cook. She had only the simplest foods to w o r k w ith, but routinely produced exceptional meals. Her fame as a coo k s pr ead, and any visitors were always invited to share her meals. Leh i on c e rema rked that she could take an old dishrag and make you a grea t me a l.
She was also musically talented, singing and accompanying hersel f o n t h e banjo. She also had a pump organ, the was carefully guarded d urin g ea c h move. Lehi played the accordion, and music was encouraged i n eac h o f th eir children.

While they were living in Pine Creek (later named Pine), Arizona, th e w e l l known writer, Zane Gray, boarded with them while he was writin g hi s n ov el, "Riders of the Purple Sage." When it was published, he ga v e a cop y t o the Heward family. Lehi read most of it, then angrily thr e w it int o th e fireplace. Susannah, asked him, "Why in the world did y o u do that? " Leh i answered, "Why the physical description and the mann er isms of th e villi an in that story describe me exactly!" He was ver y ang ry, but Sus annah ju st laughed and laughed.

Susannah spoke English (not to be confused with American) and used a c o u p le of colorful expressions. When something was over done or fusse d ov e r t oo much, she would say, almost disdainfully, "My goodness! Tha t' s a r ea l Tussy-mussy!" Tussy-mussy was never well defined, but a fe w ye ars la ter, in a catalogue form a large florist company, was foun d a smal l, sil ver, funnel-shaped flower holder. It was meant for specia l Brida l or Bri dema id's bouquets and was all embossed and very showy . It was c alled a " Tussy -mussy." When Susannah was disgusted with some one she wou ld call th em a " regular old Pucheole." This expression wa s never define d, but we s uspec t it was not complementary.

Susannah Talbot Heward died 30 April 1929, three years after the de a t h o f her husband, and four years after celebrating their 50th weddi n g an nive rsary. She is buried in the Snowflake Cemetery.



SUSANNAH TALBOT HEWARD
(By her daughter, Susannah Janet “Nettie”)

My mother, Susannah Talbot, was the 12th Child of Henry Talbot and R u t h S weetnam. She was born on 12 Mar 1854 at Whittlesea, Queenstown Di st r ict, South Africa, just 19 miles south of Queenstown, at the juncti o n o f th e Oskraal and Kliplsat Rivers, and about 25 miles northwest o f “ Well ingto n Farm” on the Thorn River. Susannah was born on a beautif ul a utum n da y -- the seasons there being just the opposite from ours.

It was away in that far Southern land that two Mormon Elders found t h i s f amily and converted them to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Talb o t s wer e very wealthy people, but they sold or left everything they h a d an d move d down on the bay, where they waited for a ship to take th e m to Am erica t o join the main body of the church.

My mother used to tell of washing while they were living at the ba y . I n her Childhood, washing was quite an event, for their clothes w e r e mad e by the dozens, by a seamstress, and they only washed eve r y 3 o r 4 month s --- this being an English custom of the wealthy. Tw o o r thre e familie s would take several days at the beach and wash. T o dabb le ou t clothes o nce a week, as we Americans do, they thought mes sy an d injuri ous to thei r fine linens.

They were 8 weeks on the sailing vessel. One of the things my mothe r r e m embered of the voyage, was going to the side of the vessel to se e a s ha r k and having her little green chambray bonnet blow over board . Whe n th e y reached the Boston Harbor, the good captain let them liv e aboar d th e sh ip for 3 months.

From Boston they went by train to Florence, Nebraska. (Note: They actu a l l y traveled by train to the Missouri River, then up the river, via s hi p, t o Florence, Nebraska.) This trip caused a lot of worry because i t w a s du ring the Civil War and Grandmother had a little Negro boy of 1 2 th a t sh e had taken to raise. His mother had died when he was a tin y baby . Th e only way they could think of to get him across the countr y wa s t o dres s him as a girl and make him wear a veil. They had intend ed o n le aving h im in Africa, but they could not resist his crying an d plead ing t o be bro ught with them.

From Nebraska they crossed the plains in the Homer Duncan Company , i n t h e year 1861. The family then made their home in Kaysville, Utah , si tua te d on Kays Creek. Here Susannah grew up and went to school i n the n ort h p art of Kaysville, which is now called Layton. She learne d to card , s pin, weave and knit. Her parents were so proud of the cloth es that sh e m ad e for them that they went to Salt Lake City to have the ir picture s tak e n in their “home spuns”. This was about 1870, and th e only pictur es ev e r taken of her parents.

Mother was a beautiful girl and very popular with the young people , a c h a racteristic that stayed with her always, for she was a natura l entert ai ne r and one could always find a crowd of young folks at he r home. Sh e w a s a beautiful singer and would accompany herself on th e banjo. Sh e al s o stepped-danced and could tell every day experience s in a manne r tha t ma de them interesting and entertaining.

She was sought after by many boy friends, whom she usually disdaine d . G r andmother used to get vexed with mother, when she was girl, becau s e sh e d id not want the love of some of her admirers and she often to l d her, “Yo u will go ‘round and ‘round the bush and pick up a crooked s ti ck a t last! ” Among the young men she met was Lehi Heward, but she di d n ot w ant hi m either, so he married another and he lost his wife at t he e nd o f the fi rst year.

Later, when they met again, she was attracted by the young widower a n d a c cepted him at last. They were married and she was endowed on 26 O c t 18 75, in Salt Lake City, by Daniel H. Wells.

My father used to tease her because she married him later, after tur n i n g him down the first chance. He told her, “Pity was a-kin to love . ”

They lived at Lewiston, Cache Valley, Utah, until Stephen, their fir s t c h ild was over a year old. Then, because of the grasshoppers and t h e cric ke ts, which took their crop, they moved to Draper, Utah, leavi n g a 160 a cr e farm, for which they never received a penny. A few year s l ater thi s sa me land was worth a great deal.

During the winter of 1877-78, Father was very ill for many weeks. L a t e i n February, they went to Kaysville. When Grandmother Heward sai d go o dby e to Mother, she whispered, “I hope you have a girl”. She die d on t h e 9t h of March and I was born the 29th. She had her wish, but d id no t l ive t o see it. When I was a month old, Mother want back to Dra per an d ke pt hou se for Grandfather Heward until Nov 1879, when we move d to Ar izona.

Mother had heard stories of the unsettled, desolate country and di d n o t w ant to come to Arizona. Who could blame her? They drove their m il k c ow s as oxen, having only one team of horses. The trip was slow an d s ome tim es far between habitations. Mother drove the team and Fathe r th e oxe n. My sister, Eliza Jane, was born just three weeks after we r eache d S t. Joseph, on the Little Colorado River.

Mother was a stranger in a strange land, but she found a substitute mo t h e r in Sister Lois Bushman. Ever after, they were the closest of frie n d s. Never a program in the old Fort, that they did not sing togethe r . T he re we lived in the United Order and made friends that were near e r an d dea rer than kindred. Many the parties of song and dance, wher e re fresh ment s were molasses cake and home made root beer. Every one t ook p art a nd Oh ! what good times we did have! At one of these parties , befor e Pr esiden t Grant learned to sing, he said the words to a song , while I saa c Turle y sang the tune.

When we had lived at St. Joseph for years, and my sister, Ruth, ha d b e e n added to the family, we went back to Utah on a visit. Six hundr ed m i le s by team and wagon was a trip that could not be undertaken ver y oft e n. We stayed six months on the visit. On the return trip, while c amp e d o n the Buckskin Mountain, one of the mules died. Father had to t ak e th e ot her and ride back to Johnson for another animal. I shall nev e r forg et th at day. It was only a few days after the old couple had be e n kille d, nea r where we were camped, and their daughter taken by th e mu rderers. Mothe r was so very nervous, she kept us in the wagon all d ay. W e wat ched Fath er as long as we could see him, then we began to wa tch fo r hi s return.

Father gave all the money he had and Mother’s new Singer sewing mach i n e f or another horse. When leading the animal out of town, he me t a m a n wh o asked him where he was going. When told, he told Father th at t h e hors e he had purchased would not pull at all, and was known b y every on e in to wn to be a balky horse. He took Father back to the ma n who ha d s old hi m the horse and made him take it back, and he did no t forget t o te ll th e man what he thought of him for sending a family o ut, hundred s o f mile s from help, with such an animal! This good man th en sold Fath e r one o f his own team, which proved to be an excellent ho rse.

When we got back to St. Joseph, Father was given charge of the cat t l e o f the United Order. He took them into the mountains and made ou r ho m e a t Heber. While living there, a boy and two girls were born. Do cto r s an d nurses were out of the question those days. At that time, th e ne a res t big towns were Salt Lake City and Albuquerque, New Mexico; s o, af te r th e midwife had taken care of the baby, a neighbor lady woul d com e i n onc e a day and wash the baby and make the bed. Then a neighb or gir l w as hir ed to do the house work. Once, such a girl could not b e found , s o Fathe r did the work, and he held mother up in bed while sh e took c ar e of the b aby.

It was when the boy, Edwin, was two months old, that the family we n t t o S t. Joseph to spend Christmas week. We had eaten New Years dinn e r wit h a n old friend and Mother had put little 2 year old, Ruth, to s le ep, th en w ent two doors away to visit with another friend – so man y dea r frien ds t o chat with, and tomorrow we were leaving for our hom e in He ber. Wh en Ru th awoke, she was told that her mother was in the h ouse a t a certai n door, but the Child became confused and without anyon e seein g her, lef t the F ort. She had been gone some time when Mother , thinkin g she was s leepin g too long, went for her.

They searched the fort in a few minutes, making sure she was not the r e . They then let the school out, that more might take up the hunt . T h e p ond was dragged and the river bottom, a mile away, was searche d wit ho u t a trace. I shall never forget mother’s pale, frightened face . Th e y wo uld not let her leave the fort, because her baby was so youn g an d sh e wa s not strong and she knew they were doing all they could t o fin d Rut h.

Men were riding in circles around the fort, hunting for tracks, wide n i n g the circle each time. When they were about half a mile from the f o r t, they found a little track leading in the opposite direction from H eb e r, where she thought she was going. Three men followed the tracks a s f a s t as they could over hills and gravel flats, while Father rode t o th e h ig hest point, in the general direction of the tracks, that he m igh t loo k wh ile it was still light. When they were about three miles o ut , fro m anoth er high point, Father could see her quite a long ways ah ea d and s till goi ng. When he called, she stopped and turned around. I t wa s jus t as the s un went down and a snow storm was coming on, so the y wra pped h er in a coa t and brought her into the fort just at dark. Wh en the y too k off her sho es, they found little rocks embedded in her ba by feet .

My brother, Stephen, then a boy of nine, ran and searched and cried u n t i l it brought on brain fever. He was delirious for days and was no t a b l e to be taken back to Heber for three weeks.

My Mother washed the wool and carded and spun it into yarn, then w o v e i t into cloth, which she made into clothes for the six children . S h e als o knitted stockings, caps and hoods and sometimes even weavin g bl an kets f or the beds. Everything was made by hand, for sewing machi nes w er e not t o be had in the country, unless you brought them with yo u. Wh e n the Unit ed Order broke up and divided the things up, Mother go t th e ma chine tha t had been used to sew shoes on. It was a good one an d las te d for twent y years.

While living at Heber, the horse thieves were so bad that the tea m h a d t o be locked together, in the stable, with steel hobbles. Mothe r w a s alwa ys afraid they would come into the house and demand the ke y to t h e hobble s. One night, when Father was not at home, we saw a ma n looki n g in the w indow. Later, we heard them taking corn out of the g ranary . The next mo rning, a neighbor’s horse was missing. Father used t o fol l ow these thiev es into Phoenix and retrieve the stolen animals. M othe r w as always in fe ar for Father’s life, because he had to associat e wit h t hese outlaws ever y day on the range, so he gave up the cattl e busine s s and moved to Pine.

During the three years we lived in Pine, two more girls were born . T h e P ine Ward was surrounded by such a rough element, at that time , tha t P resi dent Woodruff abandoned the Pine Ward and called all the L .D.S . peop le aw ay from there, advising them to move into the Snowflak e Stak e.

We moved to Tuba City, with three other families, where we lived for t w e l ve years. Here two girls were born, the last one dying when she wa s t h re e months old. Mother had mammary abscesses for three months befo re s h e w as born and could not nurse her, so cows or goats milk was use d an d n eith er seemed to agree with her. There was not the choice of fo ods t ha t ther e is today, and we were ninety miles from a doctor. Afte r losi n g the bab y, Mother was still in poor health, so she went to Uta h and s ta yed with h er mother for a year. When she came home, she was w ell an d st rong.

For some time before Mother went to Utah, we lived on bread that was g r o u nd on a hand mill. As all the dams would go out, or the Indians wo u l d cu t them, the Bishop’s crop was the only one that could be saved a n d e veryo ne lived on the wheat raised in his field.

The Indians had driven off and killed all of our cattle, except on e m i l k cow. Times were so hard, one year, that we had to sift the grou nd g r ah am and grease the dripper with the finest flour that could be c ollec te d a t the outside of the circle, as you sifted. The coarse brea d woul d n ot s tick to the fine flour. We had plenty of fruit and vegeta bles, e xce pt po tatoes, so we were never hungry.

Just after Mother left for Utah, Father began freighting for a tradi n g p o st that was starting up at Willow Springs. From then on, times we r e be tt er for the family.

Two years after Mother came back from Utah, a boy was born, making tw e l v e children, three boys and nine girls. In the meantime, the oldes t s o n an d daughter had married and a grand daughter and two grandson s ha d be en ad ded to the family.

Mother’s home was a home of music, always. There was music or songs e v e r y waking hour, unless we were at prayer or meals. There was alway s ha r mo ny in the home and the family slogan was, “There will be no qua rreli n g am ong the children, until they hear Father and Mother quarrel. ” Need l ess t o say, we never quarreled without breaking the rule. Anoth er ru l e – if o ne Child hit or kicked another, they had to kiss the pla ce whe r e they hi t or kicked – this eliminated a few hits or kicks.

In 1903, the Government bought all the Tuba County out and establish e d I n dian Schools there. Again we were advised to move in the Snowfla k e Sta ke, so we moved to Woodruff. Here Mother was called to be a mid-w if e. Sh e worked at this for over twenty years. She presided at the bi r t h of ove r 300 babies and never lost one case.

When Mother was fifty two years old, she fell and broke her wrist a n d f o r the first time a doctor was called. Although there had been bro ke n l eg s, dislocated elbows, broken arms and ribs and noses, plus a ra ttl esna k e bite in the family, the doctors had always been so far awa y tha t ever yt hing was handled in the home or with the help of some nei ghbor . The w ris t was the only break that did not make a successful rec overy . But Mo the r nursed a case six weeks after it was broken!

The hardest part of obstetrical work was when she had to be with h e r o w n girls. She helped at the birth of 35 of her grandchildren. Duri n g t h e time she was doing all this work she suffered with many gallsto n e att ac ks and many times was near death.

The family always maintained a home in Woodruff, although they mov e d t o Z eniff when the dams went out, because there they could dry far m a nd r ais e some food.

In 1922, Father and Mother made a trip to Utah, their first real vaca t i o n and pleasure trip in their whole lives. They went the Eastern ro u t e an d returned via California, where they dipped their hands into t h e oc ean a nd gathered shells on the beach. On this trip, while in Uta h , the y wen t to the Talbot family reunion, where Mother met a brothe r wh om sh e had s een last the evening he helped to play for her weddin g danc e, for ty fiv e years before.

Two years later, they made another trip to Utah and stayed a year, vis i t i ng relatives and they worked in the Salt Lake Temple.

In the fall of 1924, Father and Mother came to Phoenix and stayed w i t h u s for five months. Mother was ill when she came and while she wa s h e re s he gained 19 pounds. Mother used to say, “They were the only i dl e d ays o f her whole life.”

After Mother and Father left Phoenix, I started preparations for the i r G o lden Wedding, which was held in Woodruff the 26th of Oct 1925. Ne ve r w a s a bride more beautiful than Mother in her white satin dress an d l on g ve il, held in place by a wreath of Morning Glories, the Golde n Wedd in g flow er. A bouquet of the same flower pinned on her shoulder . Fath e r was dre ssed in a gray suit, with a buttonhole bouquet of Morn ing Glo ri es and loo ked the noble old lover that he had always been.

Fifteen hundred Morning Glories were made of crepe paper in 5 differ e n t s hades, with green leaves. Those, with wild, golden colored wild f lo w ers; and with twisted green and gold crepe paper, decorated the hal l . E ac h Child present wore a pink flower; each grand Child a purple fl ow er; an d each great grand Child a white flower (all Morning Glories).

We dramatized parts of their lives, using grand children for the chara c t e rs. A family tree (on a large oilcloth) helped to show what had be e n a cc omplished in the fifty years. Their baby, then 26 years old, ret ur ne d fr om being married in the Salt Lake Temple, just as the progra m sta rte d. T his was the one thing needed to complete Mother’s happines s in c ele bratin g their wedding. She had thought that Vernon and his wi fe wer e go ing t o stay in Utah all winter.

Many presents were received from the family and friends. Among othe r p r e sents, their children gave a gold watch and ring to Father, an d a go l d ri ng and $20.00 gold coin to Mother.

There were 64 of their family present. Sixteen groups of four generat i o n s were there – all or part of each group belonging to the family. L iv i ng, at that time, were 46 such groups, three or more of each group w e r e fou nd on the tree.

Of the one hundred and six names on the tree, 24 were in laws an d 8 2 o f t heir own descendants. Out of this number, 4 sons in law an d 5 bab ie s ha d passed away. One out of each group being an accidenta l death. W it hin s ix months from this date, twelve more children had be en born int o t he fam ily.

Every part of the afternoon program, except a few toasts and sentime n t s w ere given by the family. Even the music for the dancing in the ev en i ng w as furnished by a family orchestra. One song, that I composed f o r t he oc casion is full of history, so it is enclosed.

Father passed away on the 2 Dec 1926, and Mother following him, 30 A p r 1 9 29. Their eleven children were at Mother’s funeral, 2 May 1929.

They were both laid to rest at Snowflake, Arizona. At each of their f u n e rals the President of the Stake said, “Their Golden Wedding was th e m o s t beautiful and appropriate climax he had ever known to such lon g an d u se ful lives. And much more important than their funerals, sinc e the y we r e there to enjoy the honor shown them.”

(Death Certificate Arizona State Board of Health File Number 367, Na v a j o County)