1861 - 1938 (77 years) Submit Photo / Document
Has 2 ancestors and 37 descendants in this family tree.
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Name |
Isabelle Maria Harris |
Birth |
15 Apr 1861 |
Willard, Box Elder, Utah, United States |
Gender |
Female |
Initiatory (LDS) |
8 Oct 1879 |
SGEOR |
FamilySearch ID |
KWCW-D6D |
Death |
31 May 1938 |
Provo, Utah, Utah, United States |
Burial |
3 Jun 1938 |
Provo, Utah, Utah, United States |
Person ID |
I167 |
mytree |
Last Modified |
25 Feb 2024 |
Father |
Charles Elisha Harris, b. 2 Jul 1834, Brownhelm Township, Lorain, Ohio, United States d. 3 Feb 1916, Junction, Piute, Utah, United States (Age 81 years) |
Mother |
Louisa Maria Hall, b. 30 Dec 1839, Exeter, Scott, Illinois, United States d. 6 May 1923, Provo, Utah, Utah, United States (Age 83 years) |
Marriage |
20 Apr 1855 |
Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States |
Family ID |
F176 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Family 1 |
Nels Lars Nelson, b. 25 Apr 1862, Goshen, Utah, Utah, United States d. 12 May 1946, Downey, Bannock, Idaho, United States (Age 84 years) |
Marriage |
1 Aug 1887 |
Logan, Cache, Utah, United States |
Divorce |
Yes, date unknown |
Children |
+ | 1. Estella Jean Nelson, b. 12 May 1888, Provo, Utah, Utah, United States d. 3 Jul 1943, Provo, Utah, Utah, United States (Age 55 years) |
+ | 2. Jessie Belle Nelson, b. 12 May 1888, Provo, Utah, Utah, United States d. 10 Oct 1971, Provo, Utah, Utah, United States (Age 83 years) |
+ | 3. Sterling Harris Nelson, b. 14 Sep 1889, Provo, Utah, Utah, United States d. 26 Nov 1984, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States (Age 95 years) |
| 4. Milo Alva Nelson, b. 5 Sep 1891, Provo, Utah, Utah, United States d. 12 Jan 1968, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States (Age 76 years) |
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Family ID |
F173 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Last Modified |
16 Jan 2025 |
Family 2 |
Clarence Merrill, b. 18 May 1841, Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States d. 21 Feb 1918, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States (Age 76 years) |
Marriage |
8 Oct 1879 |
St. George, Washington, Utah, United States |
Divorce |
Yes, date unknown |
Divorced |
1882 |
Sevier, Sevier, Utah, United States |
Children |
+ | 1. Albert Merrill, b. 16 Feb 1881, Richfield, Sevier, Utah, United States d. 18 Jul 1956, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States (Age 75 years) |
+ | 2. Horace G Merrill, b. 19 Jul 1882, Richfield, Sevier, Utah, United States d. 9 Oct 1970 (Age 88 years) |
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Family ID |
F174 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Last Modified |
16 Jan 2025 |
Family 3 |
Robert Albert Berry, b. 16 May 1867, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah, United States d. 25 Mar 1962, Provo, Utah, Utah, United States (Age 94 years) |
Marriage |
30 Jun 1915 |
Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States |
Family ID |
F175 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Last Modified |
16 Jan 2025 |
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Event Map |
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![Link to Google Maps](google_marker.php?image=006.png&text=1) | Birth - 15 Apr 1861 - Willard, Box Elder, Utah, United States |
![Link to Google Earth](img/earth.gif) |
![Link to Google Maps](google_marker.php?image=006.png&text=2) | Initiatory (LDS) - 8 Oct 1879 - SGEOR |
![Link to Google Earth](img/earth.gif) |
![Link to Google Maps](google_marker.php?image=006.png&text=3) | Marriage - 8 Oct 1879 - St. George, Washington, Utah, United States |
![Link to Google Earth](img/earth.gif) |
![Link to Google Maps](google_marker.php?image=006.png&text=4) | Divorced - 1882 - Sevier, Sevier, Utah, United States |
![Link to Google Earth](img/earth.gif) |
![Link to Google Maps](google_marker.php?image=006.png&text=5) | Marriage - 1 Aug 1887 - Logan, Cache, Utah, United States |
![Link to Google Earth](img/earth.gif) |
![Link to Google Maps](google_marker.php?image=006.png&text=6) | Marriage - 30 Jun 1915 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States |
![Link to Google Earth](img/earth.gif) |
![Link to Google Maps](google_marker.php?image=006.png&text=7) | Death - 31 May 1938 - Provo, Utah, Utah, United States |
![Link to Google Earth](img/earth.gif) |
![Link to Google Maps](google_marker.php?image=006.png&text=7) | Burial - 3 Jun 1938 - Provo, Utah, Utah, United States |
![Link to Google Earth](img/earth.gif) |
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Notes |
- To write a life story always seemed to me a desirable project, for oth e r s, but for myself, I hesitated, thinking that events which had bee n s o d ee ply interesting to me, would not be so interesting to any on e else . Ho wev er, I know that if I had historical material concerning m y grand paren ts o r other ancestors, such material would be priceless. T he Proph et Eno ch sa id: "And death hath come upon our Fathers, neverthe less we k now the m an d cannot deny, and even the first of all we know w as ADAM: f or a BOO K O F REMEMBRANCE we have written among us, accordin g to the pat tern give n b y the FINGER OF GOD, and it is given in our ow n language" . (Moses 6:4 3-46) The thought now comes to me that if the Pr ophets and o ther great m en ha d not written, we would not have the hist ory of races , or nations o r hav e Scriptures, or would not have known o ur destiny.
BIRTH PLACE AND EARLY HOME
My Father and Mother were living in a little ranch house, build of lo g s , about four miles from the nearest settlement. Junction, Piute Count y , U tah. This area is now covered by the Piute Reservoir.
There were ten children before me. Two had married, but the remaini n g e i ght must have taxed the capacity of the three room cabin, as wel l a s t h e fortitude of my wonderful parents. My Mother, (Louisa Marie H al l Har ri s) then in her forty fifth year has told me that she wept bit ter ly a t th e anticipation of another addition to this, already large f amil y. H oweve r, her faith and a loyal husband (Charles Harris) contrib ute d to he r cour age. I have no doubt as to the welcome and loving car e giv en th e new bor n, on July 27th 1884. Being very warm weather, my t hought ful F ather fel t it necessary to remove the "********" from betwe en th e logs t o allow mo re air for Mother's comfort.
There were not doctors available in those days and the closest midwi f e l i ved in Parowan, a distance of sixty miles. My older brother, JESS E , ma d e the trip with horse and buckboard and brought Sister Balis, t h e midwi f e who remained at the home several days, awaiting the adven t o f NUMBE R EL EVEN, who was later christened MERTIE ADELL.
When my brother JESSE heard the news he said to Sister Balis: "Wel l , n o wonder you were so fussy about your satchel if that is what you b r o ught !"
My memories of the ranch are very few. One of the most clear is of t h e t w o big tubs of warm milk. My mother placed a small quantity of ren ne t i nt o the milk to form the curd, which later was drained and presse d i nt o del icious cheese. The little bits of curd left in the empty tu b s I st ill re member as a special treat.
Often we played on the hillside back of the house, IDA and the smal l b o y s dug a well and rigged up a well-pole and tiny bucket attached w it h st ri ng in good imitation of our real well. We carried water up hil l a nd p our ed in it.
In the spring of 1887, my father (Charles) sold the ranch and move d t h e f amily into a canyon about fifty miles north of Bryce, this are a bei n g goo d feeding ground for the seventy-five head of cattle whic h were b ro ught. There we spent the summer. For this temporary home, fat her bui l t a sma ll cabin in a shady nook. Although I was but three year s old , I well rem ember that after the logs were laid for the walls, fat her p u t up a swing, fastened to the joist, to please the "small fry" . I remem b er him helpin g me into that swing.
Here Mother was busy taking care of milk and making butter. Father co n s t ructed some shelves for the pans of milk, over a cool stream of wat er , sh eltered from the sun with green boughs from the surrounding trees .
My brothers, quite attentive to my Childish fancies, made for me a t i n y c hurn out of a bottle. This was done by tying a string dipped in c oa l -oil, (kerosene) around the bottle. They would light the string an d af t er i t burned off, would dip the bottle in cold water which cause d i t t o crac k off so it would look like a jar. The dasher was made o f wood . O ne da y they took me for a walk in the shady woods, over log s and sho we d me a s kunk that someone had killed.
In the afternoons, my sister, IDA MAY, patiently sat in the tent, wh e r e m y brothers slept, taught us to sew carpet rags. Rags, no doubt, s e w n wit h the hope of adding comfort to the next home, which the Lord m ig h t see f it to bless this family with.
Upon leaving this beautiful canyon home, father traded his cattle f o r t w o pieces of land in the small town of JUNCTIN. On the forty acr e pi ec e w as a small frame house of three rooms; on the other piece, h e bui l t a lit tle house of new lumber. That winter we did not occupy ei ther , b ut wen t to live in Richfield, the purpose being that the boys m igh t atte nd scho ol.
It was here that my father met the sweet young girl who later beca m e a m e mber of our family. I recall that she and my sister, IDA MAY, w er e was hi ng dishes together while I was playing around. I was only fou r y ear s old. I will never forget about her baking a little pie for me , an d sa id, "W e will make this for our own special benefit". She wa s a patt ern o f kindn ess.
HAPPY ChildHOOD
Many fond memories linger around our little home in Junction. We u s e d t o wade in the ditches, walk barefooted on the pole fences, hunt p ol ly wog s and water snakes in the little stream. My companions in thi s spo r t wer e Delroy, Delilah andennie, children of my oldest brother C HARLIE , wh o lived with his family about a fourth mile east of us. Jenni e a n d I wou ld ramble through the barn yard and romp in the straw or ma yb e pl ay wit h toads in a dirt hole in the back yard.
Other loved companions were Hattie and Clara Morrill. We playe d i n t h e hay loft and hunted hen's nests, or sat on the floor and play ed " jack s". We made a store where we sold cloth "by the yard" and man y smal l it ems.
Their father, John Morrill, was our Bishop. Their home was a nice l a r g e brick house with carpet on the stairs. I recall AUNT ELLIE'S lar g e k it chen with a long table where there was room for her family of s i x an d fri ends. Aunt Ellie, hoever, was rather timid about entertaini n g th e churc h authorities when on one such occasion she prevailed wit h m y Mot her to e ntertain them when they came to take care of organizat io n at th e conferen ce. She said, "Sister Harris, I will let you have a nyt hing yo u want to fi x up your house". So, we got her nice dishes (an d be dding, I presume), a nd a carpet. The distinguished guests were Elde rs He be r J. Grant, Gran t Francis Lyman and George Q. Cannon. At the ta ble o n e of them commente d on our being comfortably provided for, whe n my bro th er EARL, who was ab out 12 years old, piped up with this brig ht remark : " By the way this i s a borrowed carpet." I can only imagin e the swee t fac e of my Mother.
Clarence Earl
My brother EUGENE brought home a little deer, a fawn, and gav e i t t o m e for a pet. One day my mother asked me to bring her a drin k of c oo l wat er from the cellar. It was an old fashioned dirt cellar w here w e k ept th e mild, butter and te jar of water which mother had dip ped fro m t he litt le clear stream which ran by the front of the house . On my wa y t o the ho use my gentle pet deer took a drink out of the cu p. I starte d t o go on bu t mother rapped on the window pane and calle d "You go righ t b ack and ge t me another cup of water".
Louisa and Mertie
OUR LITTLE HOME IN JUNCTION
Our little home consisted of two small rooms and lean-to kitchen. T h e f r ont room had a cozy little fireplace with chimney and stone heart h . O n e day in summer there was a colony of flying ants swarmed in th e ch imne y. They came down and cawled along our white floor and one by o ne, w e n t out of the front door.*****And there was a secret little mar k on t h e st ep which Father had made with his pocket knife to tell us w hen i t wa s on e o'clock.
Mother had made a lovely rag carpet for the tiny bedroom. She woul d c o l or the rags with blue viterol for blue, copperous for yellow an d som e w it h diamond dyes for red and green. Underneath the carpet wa s a thic k l aye r of straw which pufed up in the middle and crunched a b it as w e wal ked. The posts of the bed stead had been beautifully turne d on a la th e an d for springs we had rope stretched across both ways an d fastene d t o th e side pieces. Then there was a big thick straw-tick a nd mother' s f eathe r bed. Mother had saved feathers from ducks killed b y my fathe r an d brot hers when we lived on the ranch where I was born . (I still ha ve t he feat her bed and two large pillows.)
During my first year in school Horace (Belle's son) was with us . H e w a s a wonderful companion. We walked together, the long dusty roa d t o t h e little log school house, and carried our lunch. Sometimes w e wer e in te rested in looking at the water snakes and pollywogs in th e littl e stre am. He made especially good record in school. My schoolin g was int erru pte d three times before I was ten years old. Consequentl y I was del aye d in f inishing the eighth grade) Mother took me with he r to Addie' s whe n she w ent to assist her when each of her three littl e girls wer e born.
When I was twelve years old we moved to Provo. Mother had come to P r o v o to take care of my brother ALBERT in a serious illness. While sta y i n g with him at Belle's home, she decided to move permanently. My mot he r ' s purpose in leaving Junction was to give Aunt Lizzie complete opp ort un it y for happiness. She had no selfish desire. She brought nothin g aw a y ex cept a few common items which the boys could pile in the wago n. Wh i le w e were living in Richfield, Lizzie had come to like our fami ly an d w e ha d become close friends. One day she asked Mother if she co uld co me h ome w ith us. Mother said, "Yes, if you will marry my husband ."
I know my Mother was completely unselfish. She believed whole hearte d l y i n plural marriage and was willing to make every personal sacrifi c e i n mea ns and relationship so Aunt Lizzie could have a happy life. S h e ta ught u s to love the new brothers and sisters. Mother was aware o f t he t eaching s of our Prophet and had anticipated the time when she a nd m y Fat her woul d be partakers of the promised BLESSINGS. Earl's hist ory c ontai ns a mor e detailed description of the effort Father made t o make a dequat e provisi on for his two families in those hard times. Mo ther evid entl y accepted l and for repayment of the cash Father had borr owed whic h sh e had receive d from the estate of her Father, Benjamin K . Hall.
At the last day my Father (Charles Harris) will stand at the head of H i s numerous posterity. His two wives will be by his side and his FIF T E E N children will be gathered around. There will be hundreds of gra n d a n d great grand children who will add to his Eternal Joy. Our etern a l pr og ression will be measured by the extent of our RIGHTEOUS POSTERI TY .
OUR MOVE TO PROVO
I had been left with O.V. and Earl while they were taking care of t h e f a rm.
Ole Van and Clarence Earl.
They packed up our few belongings into a wagon and with two good hor s e s, we started for Provo. Mother's bed was on the top of the load. T h a t w as where I slept. We traveled over hills, hollows and some flat c ou nt ry, and finally after the tedious days we were welcomed by my Mothe r , sis ter BELLE and ALBERT. We lived in a little adobe house on thir d w e st an d fourth north, just two blocks from the Timpanogos School . Ente r ed sch ool in the fifth grade with George Powellson as the teac her. A.C .
Sorensen was the Principal. My mother and Belle went to them and req u e s ted that I be excused from taking singing because as they said, I c ou ld n' t carry a tune. The request was refused, so I had to learn to si ng . J.W. Boshard was our techer. He was one of the well-known Pine a n d Bos har d Quartette. We learned many beautiful patriotic and home son gs. I ha v e always loved music about as well as I have LOVED ART. I hav e b elonge d t o the ward choirs and once in a while, had been asked to d o a s olo . Eugen e taught me a little song when I was five years old, wh icHis til l rememb er.
During my teens I took a physical education class at B.Y.U. univers i t y a nd also PRIVATE LESSONS IN DRESSMAKING. We learned to draft ou r o w n patt erns. I made some nice clothes for myself including a gym su it , w hich wa s a cute sailor bloue with long sleeves and bloomers. I le arn e d to PAIN T "SPLASHERS" on oil- cloth and to make picture frames wi th s al t and star ch composition.
That year Albert took me to some nice occasions at the B.Y.U. particu l a r ly in my memory was the birthday observance for DR. KARL MAESAR. An n i e P ike read the poem she had composed in his honor, and the student s s ho were d him with colorfullowers.
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE IN TEMPLE WORK
In the early spring of 1902, my cousin B.F. Cummings II, (the secon d ) p r esented to Mother the most wonderful plan!!! He had been doing ge ne alo gi cal research and was anxious to see the temple work go forward . H e le t M other and I live to years in his little house at 390 Wall St reet . H e ga ve us the rent from the other half of the house to use fo r our l ivin g exp enses.
The first year we both attended the temple. At that time there wa s o n l y one session each day on three days of the week. Tuesday was bap ti s m da y. We went EVERY TUESDAY and were each baptized for twenty pers ons . Thi s was the HIGH LIGHTF MY LIFE!!! Being close to Mother (Louisa ) i n tha t sacred work was a most precious and unforgettable experience.
HIGH SCHOOL AND THE ART CLASS
Soon after we were settled my brother Earl came and brought his sweet- h e a rt, May Belle Booth. They were married in the Temple on June 25, 1 9 0 2. They went to Pocatello where Earl worked for our brother-in-law , M i l o Hendricks.
In the fall of 1903,I ENTERED HIGH SCHOOL AT LATTER DAY SAINTS UNIVERS I T Y. Mother was still working in the Temple. Earl came and went to w o r k o n the electric street car. I had TYPHOID FEVER and missed three w ee k s o f school (I recall Earl's kindness to me while I was sick). I h a d t o giv e up my Algebra class but I was happy to enroll in the ART CL AS S wi th Lou is M. Ramsay as the instructor. He has become distinguish e d a s a painte r of subjects chosen from Church History, such as "Jose p h Rece ives the Pl ates, and a portrait of the Prophet Joseph Smith." ( Al so enr olled in th e class were Richard L. Evans and J. Spencer Cornwa ll) . Othe rs of my fav orite teachers were John M. Mills, instructor i n Boo k of Mor mon; Bryant S. Hinckley, Old Testament; and John Henry Eva ns i n English.
The next year Mother went to Farmington for the Winter, so I roome d w i t h a girl in the home of my dearest girl friend, Bessie Mulhollan d an d w it h whom I had formed a sincere and lasting friendship while i n th e ar t cla ss. We worked off our school tuition, addressing envelope s t o paren ts o f delinquent or absent students.
MOTHER'S HOME IN PROVO
While we were in Salt Lake my brother O.V. managed to get Mother's li t t l e home built, so now we moved back to Provo where I entered B.Y. U . i n m y third year and enrolled in Church History where Edwin S. Hinc kl ey w as t he instructor. The thology class was under George H. Brimhal l , bu t MY C HIEF INTEREST WAS ART. And most of my time was spent in th e s tudi o.
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE IN TEACHING
In 1908 I went to summer school at the University of Utah, prepar i n g t o teach. In the fall I went to teach at the Spencer School out o n t h e Pro vo Bench, (now Orem Utah) it was a little two room log schoo l hou s e situa ted at the back of te main building. This was a very nic e bri c k buildin g with four good rooms, my room was sort o'squeezed i n betwe e n the big b uilding and the other log room where the beginner s and fir s t grade was ta ught by Mary Kitchen. One day I kept my proble m Chil d i n for just bein g ornery. Of course, he resented that and trie d to go . I sat down by hi m with my arm around his "middle" and held hi m fast, u ntil all the other s had gone out to play. I talked to him firm ly at f ir st and then with a l ittle butter and honey," After that he wa s no pro bl em.
In the fall of 1909 I returned to the BYU and registered for a cou r s e i n Normal Training for Teachers. I graduated in the spring, alon g wi t h th e high school class of 1910. This was a very enjoyable year . I rec a ll th e "Hay Ride" up Rockanyon, also the outing in Provo Canyo n. I h a d my KO DAK and made a few interesting snap-shots.
MORE TEACHING EXPERIENCE
In the fall of 1910 I went to Schofield where I taught beginners an d f i r st grade for two years. Earl and May were living there. Earl wa s i n b us iness selling men's clothing. I chose to stay by myself instea d o f wi t h them. This way I viited them often and usually had Sunday di nne r wi t h them. They had three wonderful children, EIroy, Wanda and Lu rlen e. EI roy was in my school. I loved them all.
In the winter Earl took us for a sleigh ride (in a bob-sleigh wit h t w o g ood horses) up in the canyon where the pine trees were high an d gro wi ng c lose together and draped with heavy snow. It surely was a " Winte r W onder land".
The first year I was teaching fifty-six children. After they were di s m i ssed I went into other rooms to give lessons in art. The next yea r w a s d ifferent. I prevailed with the principal to divide this big gro up a n d ha ve one grade comen the morning and the other in the afternoon . T h is pl an worked out very well.
We put on a nice program at Christmas. The tree was decorated with c h a i ns of cranberries, popcorn and colored crepe paper. Little girls c a m e i n with lighted candles to find their stockings hung on the fire p la ce. A t May Day my little bys and girls did the May-Pole dance beautif ul l y. O ne good little singer, in a green speckled costume, came hoppin g o n to th e stage and sang: "Oh Have You Seen The Froggies swimming Sch oo l wh ere th e Froggies Learn to Swim?"
In my tiny little apartment I cooked on a small coal stove an d u s e d a kerosene (coal oil) lamp. Sometimes a group of boys would co m e i n t o spend an hour. We would sit on the floor and tell stories o r re ad. O n Halloween we would havy candle light.
I formed a close friendship with the third grade teacher, Besse Bucha n n a n. We enjoyed long hikes into the foot-hills in back of Earl's
home. I carried my KODAK so Besse made a snap-shot of me in my hiki n g s k etching outfit. I enjoyed this Kaki dress but I thought the skir t w a s sh ockingly short.
There were sad goodbyes at the close of school. I returned to Pro v o a n d was warmly welcomed by Mother and relatives. This ended my teac hi n g ca reer.
After the close of my summer school at U of U and in Schofield, I c a m e h ome and was with Mother most of the summer. I enjoyed a fine vaca ti o n a t Provo Canyon. was with Jessie (Nelson Oaks) and one of her fri en d s. I did some sketching ad made KODAK views of the canyon also on e o f J es sie seated on her buckskin pony. We both rode horses down to O lmst ea d an d back to Wild-Wood. This was a new experience for me.
Later in the summer I went to Payson to visit with CHASTY AND ALBER T . T heir wonderful children were small and cute. It was a constant del i g ht t o be with them. I made KODAK pictures which I prize.
Just across the street there lived some wonderful neighbors, Fran k a n d R osa Tervort. There was a very warm and sincere friendship betwe en t h es e two families. So, one day they planned a picnic party in Pays on Ca n yon. They carried fishig tackle, a twenty-two gun and lots of goo d fo o d.
In a shady nook, a quilt was spread on the grass, and then a nice tabl e c l oth. On this was placed a variety of delicious food, prepared fro m fr e s h products of the farm.
It was here that I met DIXIE. He had come from North Carolina and w a s s t aying with Frank and Rosa and working on the farm. After lunch w e a l l hi ked up in the foot hills where we tried our skill at shooting . Alb e rt fo und a swarm of wild bees which, I think, he was tempted t o catc h an d carr y home. At that time Albert was keeping bees for the p roducti on o f honey. Dixie and I walked up to the Honey Comb Springs. Cl ose by t he re wa s a curious looking stone which in appearance resemble d honey co mb. This, no doubt, gave the spring its name. I made a KODAK p icture o f h im seate d by the stream.
From this time, on our friendship grew and I saw him often. Somet i m e i n the fall he received a call to go on a mission. I was sad an d I w a s gl ad. I was sure that it was the right thing to do!!!! I would n't ha v e des ired otherwise! I beleve the mission call fulfilled the se cret d e sire o f his heart. He had diligently saved his earnings up t o a few hu n dred do llars.
On January 15, 1913, Dixie left Salt Lake City to fulfill a missi o n i n t he Southern States. I am sure that he entertained the happy ant ic ipa tion s of loving visits with his parents and other relatives. I re cei ve d lett ers from him frequenly in which he expressed a high degre e of F ai th in t he work of carrying the GOSPEL MESSAGE to the people i n his na tiv e state.
In February I was offered the very special opportunity of caring fo r E a r l's three lovely children while he and May enjoyed their vacatio n . I e nj oyed them and made some KODAK pictures of the two little girls .
Later I was with Chasty and Albert for several weeks. It was a privi l e g e to be with them. They have always meant a very great deal to me . T h e y and their children have always been very dear to me.
In June, I went to Pocatello and lived with Addie and Milo for a ye a r a n d a half. Lowell Merrill was with them. They were all jovial comp a n y. The time for me passed pleasantly. I found many things to occup y t i me. I had a few music lesons, also attended dancing school and danc es . D on't forget, I also went to church and wrote many letters to the m i s siona ry.
I returned to Provo in the fall of 1914 and went to work in the Pro v o G e neral Hospital, as "Chief Cook and Bottle Washer". It was a nic e pl ac e a nd nice people to be with. The hospital was sponsored by fiv e lead in g ph ysicians; Dr. H. G.errill, Dr. Fred Taylor, Dr. Aird, Dr . Westwoo d, an d Dr. Robinson. The assistant cook was a good companion . We cook e d bi g roasts and baked lots of good pies. One day Dr. Aird s aid: "M a y I hav e another piece of pie, a fly got on my other piece." H a!
Time passed swiftly. Dixie wrote that he would soon be coming hom e . T h is was welcome news to us. However, he was distressed at leavin g hi s f ol ks and his true friends in the mission. There were tearful go od-by e s i n North Carolina. (Yeas after, his Father came for a brief vi sit) . Dixi e arrived in Salt Lake City, January 15, 1915.
From the beginning, ours had been a happy courtship.
What love is, if thou wouldst be taught,
Thy heart must teach, alone;
Two souls with but a single thought,
Two hearts that beat as one.
And whence comes love? Like the morning light,
It comes without a call.
And whence dies love? A spirit bright,
Love never dies at all.
Anon.
We planned to be married in February. Dixie had rented a little ho u s e a nd farm from Frank Tervort. It was just across the highway from A lb e rt, so we would have his wonderful family as our neighbors.
There was sadness to face in the news of my Father's (Charles Harri s ) i l lness. All of our family went to see him and were present when h e p ass e d away. February 3, 1916. I will never forget that occasion. M y Fat h e r was beloved by allf his children and respected by all who kne w him.
Notwithstanding this sad event, we decided to go ahead with our plan s , d ue to the urgency of the farming season. (We were married on Febru a r y 16, 1916, in the Salt Lake Temple). Dixie had worked many hours mak i n g th e kitchen furnitur, a cupboard, a washstand, shaving cabinet, et c . We b ought the other essential pieces of furniture, making the two l i t tle room s look very complete and comfortable. Rosa and Frank mad e a wo n derful li ttle dinner party for us at which we received many use ful gif t s to begi n housekeeping.
The summer and fall passed happily but with a lot of hard work for Di x i e. We visited frequently with Albert and Chasty and their family . I t w a s a joy to be near them. In the fall Dixie went to Eureka and w ork e d i n the mines. Sometimen March I went to Mother's at Provo. The f ir s t g rand event in our happy home was on APRIL 30, when OUR FIRST SON , M A RION, was born. Horace was my Doctor. He said to me: "You are the f ir s t t o occupy this beautiful new maternity home. You have a private r oom , a p rivate hospital, and two private nurses." After nine days in t h e h ospita l I was with Mother two or three weeks, then went to an apar tm en t in Pays on. In June, with my lovely little son, I went to Eurek a whe r e Dixie wa s still working. We found a good ward, good neighbor s and fr i ends, so w e were fairly contented for about five years. Thre e other ch i ldren cam e to bring joy and happiness. GENE WAS BORN DECEMB ER 23, 1918 , CLYDE, AU GUST 13, 1920, AND MARTIN IN NOVEMBER 8, 1921. Al l were bo r n in the Mate rnity Home at Provo.
Dixie's health was failing while working in the mines. At this t i m e w e borrowed money from George Finch, our very fine bishop in Eurek a . We b ought five acres of land across from Albert. Dixie managed th e b u ildin g of the little new hom. We also build chicken coops and orde re d 5 00 ba by chicks.
We launched into this new venture, full of hope and ambition, but suc c e s s did not crown our efforts. It seemed in the eyes of a wise provid e n ce, that success in this area just was not meant to be. Our future l a y e lse where.
INCIDENT IN EUREKA
I was rather timid, staying alone while Dixie was in Payson getti n g o u r house built. One evening as I looked out I saw the figure o f a ma n r is e up and vanish into the darkness. Next morning my neighbo r warne d m e th at I had better cary a gun. He loaned me his big forty-f ive an d ad vise d me to keep it by me. I was more afraid of the gun tha n bein g with out i t. However, I followed his council. I carried it an d slept w ith i t nea r my pillow. At least, I tried to sleep. The next m orning the re we re foo tprints in the snow on our front porch.
Both sunshine and sorrow graced out lives during this trying perio d . M y sweet Mother lived with us for a short while. Dixie enjoyed jok i n g wit h her. One day, Dixie said; "Grandma, do want to see a jas-ac k be h ind th e stayhack, eating aok of shodder?" Her wit matched his a s sh e a nswered, "Well, if that is what you are going to do, I'll come o ut an d w atch you."
Our beautiful baby, FARRAR, WAS BORN April 20, 1923. We were permi t t e d to keep him but a few short months. He DIED on January 11, 1924.
Through the years, Chasty and I had grown very close and true frien d s . Now, in my need she came with comforting words and with much need e d s e rvice. She made the clothing and prepared this delicate little fo r m f o r its earthly resting plae. At this time I knew that sometime w e w il l h ave him again. We missed him but our FAITH was growing.
In the month of May, at early dawn, we welcomed another beautiful li t t l e daughter. We called her DAWN. She had been a joy to us all the d a y s o f her life. I am proud of my lovely daughters.
During our financial stress, Dixie had taken some contracting of gu a r d r ail on the highways. Our five years on this little farm had not y ie l de d sufficient for the needs of a growing family. We gave up our pl eas a n t little home and movednto town. Dixie was having success with t h e c on tracting. The three older children had made good progress in sch oo l. Fo r a little while I had taken Gene to the Taylor School on Old Ma ud . (Onc e as we came home, I let Gene off at the porch and I attempt e d t o drive s ome stray cattle out of our lower field. The bull came af te r u s and gav e Old Maud a good severe bunt. She held her ground an d I he l d to the sad dle). Later in the fall Dixie had brought an old Mo del T . F ord, for $50. 00 and I had learned to drive it. No serious mish aps : A t a snails pac e I ran into a little boy, no damage. One day as w e ar riv ed at our drive way, Gene got tipped out into a ditch, - a dry d itch.
In Payson at the Lurwell Home there were various experiences. Mari o n w a s suffering most of the night with severe earache. I was doing w h a t I co uld and praying all the time. In the morning Marion reported t h a t he to o had been praying ad he said, "And then I went to sleep."
One morning while the children and I were picking raspberries, I wa s s t a rtled by a strange looking animal at my feet. I didn't know abou t por c up ines, but I thought I had to kill it. I got Dixie's automati c shot-g un, (I was more afraidf the gun than the strange animal) but som ehow t h e loa d went into place and I pulled the trigger.
After fourteen months here we moved to Provo, into a large brick ho u s e o n First West. The children got into school, Martin, in his spar e ti m e be gan selling candy. This was the beginning of his "business ca reer" . The re were two empty roms upstairs. In one of these rooms we sto re d s eve n or eight bushels of apples. Martin and Clyde were sent to so r t the m. I guess they had a happy time, throwing the soft apples at t h e whit e w alls.
We were here six months then the place was sold. The buyer had a b a t h t ub installed just before we left. We didn't even have a chance t o t r y i t out and see how it would seem to take a bath in something els e th a t a w ashtub.
From here we moved to the Vance home where we enjoyed, for the firs t t i m e, the convenience of a gas cook stove and a modern bath tub.
We rented two little rooms to Rhoda Burningham. She was glad to h a v e u s take care of her piano and use it. We recognized this as an opp or t unit y for the children so we let them all begin with music lesson s . I t ook a n art class at BYU.hortly after Christmas of 1933, Dixie st ar te d o n a trip to North Carolina to visit his parents. He had writte n ch ec ks t o cover our debts and went on his way, rejoicing. Right afte r Ne w Y ear s Day his visit was cut short. All of our savings were behin d th e cl ose d doors of the Spanish fork Bank. Many of our checks were n eve r clea re d and we had to redeem them.
We had paid Albert for a nice piece of ground on which we had anticip a t e d building us a good home and living beside Albert, Chasty and the i r wo nd erful family. But we had to start over. Dixie accepted a big co nt rac t i n Nevada to build to concrete bridges. He borrowed money to pu t o ve r th is job. He lost heavily on this contract and the choice piec e o f la nd ha d to be sacrificed, along with our beautiful dreams, to co ve r the l osses.
Dixie was very proud of the work on this job. He said, "These brid g e s w ill be a monument to me as long as we live."
He never gave up. He worked at various types of employment: concret e , s t one masonry, carpenter work. There was the W.P.A. and the C.C.C. ' s an d th e A.B.C.'s of GRATITUDE. There was a "food Line" much to th e em barr assme nt of many, but it helped. We got along fairly well throu gh th is c ritica l period. Marion and Virginia were married, June 21, 19 35.
We were happily surprised with a visit from Dixie's Father, and othe r l o v ed relatives from North Carolina. His Mother had passed away in 1 934 . F ather Hiatt brought us the beautiful bed spread which was woven f r o m hand -spun wool and also flax. The design is very beautiful and per fe c t. Th e colors are red, black and natural flax.
Soon after their visit we moved into the large house across from my si s t e r Belle. Martin installed his first printing press in one of the ro o m s o f the basement. Later when we moved over to the Avenue, he set u p h i s eq uipment in a small backroom. His business kept growing so fina ll y h e mov ed into the Startup Building with front on First West.
At that time we moved to 769 West Center Street. While living her e s o m e very important events took place. Clyde and Lois were married J un e 2 0, 1941. Gene had attended college three years, and in August, 194 1 , sh e w ent to Mexico to teah school. Dawn Nita, and Arnold were marri e d No vemb er 25, 1943. All of our sons went into the Army, one by one . Ar nol d Barn ey, my son-in-law, went into the Army in September 1944 . In Fe bru ary 194 5 he was assigned to go over seas. Dawn Nita persuade d me t o g o with he r to Fort Ord to see him off. We enjoyed the trip . I have a lwa ys been gl ad we went.
While living on Center Street, Dixie did carpenter work on the ho m e f o r Mr. Andy Anderson. He did concrete work on the post office, bui l t t h e Easter Cross, this was stone masonry. Also did carpenter wor k a t th e s teel plant when it was uder construction. His last job was a t Du gwa y wh ere he was stricken with a fatal heart attack. Upon receivi ng th e t elegr am I tried to maintain composure and put over the importa nt mes sage s. Ge ne came at once from La Point, Uintah County, where sh e was te achi ng. Cl yde and Lois, Marion and Midge came, Arnold was here . He wen t in to the A rmy three days after. My brothers also were here a nd my sis te r Addie. I appreciated all the kindness shown by all who kne w us.
The men where Dixie had worked only a week. gathered up some mone y t o t h e amount of $62.90 and sent it to me. All of their names were s igne d. T hey must have learned to like him a lot.
My children discussed with the question of planning and finding a ho m e . Dixie had religiously saved 1,800 (eighteen hundred dollars) whi c h h e s aid was intended for me to begin buying a home if any thing hap pe ne d to h im. I had never realied how very important his foresight was , u n til I w as faced with the REALITY. Martin too, gave me his savings . A l l of th e children volunteered a portion of their monthly earning s towa r d my supp ort and to meet payments on the home.
This little house was real easy to find. It was the first and onl y o n e w e looked at. We have been contented and happy. Dawn Nita move d i n w it h me right after Arnold went into the Army. We were kept busy . I h a d th e dead trees taken out and planted young trees and garden . I kn e w I ha d to find plenty of interesting things to do.
As I finish this history (June 1968) I am near 84 years old, the l a s t o f my Mother's children. Milo yet lives in Junction—the last of Au n t L izzi es's children.
HOPE IS NOT VERY SUSTAINING—BUT FAITH IS
MY PART WITH THE HIATT GENEALOGY AND FAMILY
HISTORY
Through the years I had collected records of my Father's descendant s . W ith Dixie, I had become very much interested in the HIATT geneal o g y and t emple work. He was the secretary in the Family Association . N o w they gi ve me that positio. Through visits and correspondence w e dis c overed Wil liam Perry Johnson, a Hiatt descendant who had collect ed te n t housand nam es. In 1947, I went with Martin to Los Angeles an d visite d Mr. Johnson. Step by step it was finally determined that wit h cooperati o n we coul d have a Hiatt book printed.
I went to North Carolina and met with Gene as she was to be release d f r o m her mission. I enjoyed a wonderful visit and collected genealo g y o f Di xie's Hiatt relatives.
On our way home we visited Palmyra, The Martin Harris Home, Niagara F a l l s, and some interesting spots in Washington D.C., etc. Meanwhile M r . Jo hn son was typing for the book, holding a job, taking a college cl as s an d "B atching". In the sumer of 1951, Mr. Johnson called me on th e te lep hon e inviting, in fact, insisting that I would come and help wi th th e in dex. To add emphasis to his plea he sent a check to cover a tw o-wa y bu s far e.
September 1, 1951, we came to Provo, having shipped the records; w e w e r e welcomed by willing workers. The officers of the Family Associa tio n h a d signed a note at the bank for money to buy the paper and othe r it em s. They had the shop cleaed; power turned on, and had rented an d inst a ll ed a Multigraph Press. Clyde had been employed to do the prin ting . H e p rinted evenings and Saturdays form September 5 to November 5 th . I wou ld l ike to tell you how we had more than a half ton of printe d s heets st acke d in my spare bedroom and how six or seven relatives sa t ar ound th e tabl e assembling and wrapping Ready for the bookbinding c ompan y and ho w a lin e of several interested ones came by the stacks o f print ed pages, placin g them in numerical order. At the first light sn ow fall , Gene an d I carri ed many arm loads of this precious material i nto th e house.
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