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After much consideration and thought, it is my desire to write my life history.
My father, Walter Cowling, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 31, 1884. He was the son of Peter C. Cowling who was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England and immigrated to Utah. I never saw my grandfather and know very little about him.
My grandmother Cowling's maiden name was Janette Ann Pomeroy. She was born in Geneseo, Illinois. Later she moved to Utah with her parents.
Janette and Peter had four children--a girl and three boys. She died in Salt Lake City, November 2, 1892, leaving her husband to raise two sons who were Walter, my father, and his brother David. (A daughter and a son had died.) My father was eight years old when his mother died. His father had a coal and wood store up in the area where the Devereaux Mansion now stands in Salt Lake City. They lived northwest of this area.
My mother's father, Alonzo Smith, was born in Salt Lake City to Gilbert and Laura Scheimer or (Shimer). Gilbert left Laura before my grandfather was born, so he was raised by the Oscar Hunter family.
My grandmother's maiden name was Lola Lucinda Tidwell. She was born at Chicken Creek, Nephi, Utah. She was the fifth child of Thomas and Louisa Marie Tidwell. (Thomas' second wife)
I would like to give a little background on my grandmother because it was interesting. Her father had been sent by Brigham Young to start and settle Chicken Creek. By this time Thomas had married his second wife, Louisa Marie, and my grandmother Lola was their fifth child. The family of just Thomas and Louisa Marie numbered fourteen children. My grandmother was born soon after they settled in Chicken Creek.
The family first lived in dugouts. Louisa Marie and her children had a large one room dugout with curtains hung to separate it into compartments. This was in the south end of the dugout. Thomas' first wife and her children lived in the north end of the dugout. In later years Thomas obtained two of the nicest homes in Nephi with each wife making the decision which one she wanted. The two wives seemed to get along well.
All in all Thomas Tidwell had five wives and a big posterity. (Read his life history.)
As I have stated, Thomas Tidwell had been sent to Chicken Creek by Brigham Young so my grandmother, Lola Lucinda, remembered Brigham well. He would stop by for a few days to rest while traveling to other cities south of Salt Lake. My grandmother had sat on his knee as a child. Brigham Young gave her a copper kettle which is still in the family. My sister Leta has it.
Alonzo and Lola (Tidwell) Smith settled first in American Fork, Utah where my mother, Lola Pearl (Smith) Cowling was born June 1, 1887. Her father was a prominent sheep man in Utah County. He herded sheep as far south as Hobble Creek Canyon in Springville.
When mother was in her late teens her parents moved to Salt Lake City, and thereafter she met my father and was married 7 March 1906 in Salt Lake City. They left Salt Lake City for San Francisco for a honeymoon. While there the great San Francisco earthquake happened. It was a devastating experience for a young couple to witness.
My parents were not married in the temple until March 13, 1913. My father was not baptized until January 6, 1912. He always said that part of his conversion came about as he accompanied my mother to the ward choir practices and observed the beautiful messages of the hymns sung.
As noted above, my parents were endowed and sealed in the temple on March 13, 1913. By this time Walter, myself and Leta were born. I clearly remember the day when we were sealed to my parents. A midwife who had helped my mother at Leta's birth in January drove a horse and buggy from our home on 1050 Denver Street to the Salt Lake Temple. Walter and I sat side by side to Mrs. Lavanglower. She held Leta in her arms and controlled the reins to the horse. I remember being dressed in white. We entered, it seems to me, at a south or west entrance of the temple. All I remember in there was the beautiful spiral stairs that we went up to the sealing room.
To my parents were born eight children, which are:
Walter Smith Cowling, born 20 July 1907, in Salt Lake City. Married Zelma Ewer, 13 March 1926.
Ila LaVon born May 1, 1910, in Salt Lake City. Married John Oscar Trease on 22 June 1930.
Loletta, born 7 January 1913, in Salt Lake City. Married David Cecil Wood
Olive Pearl, born 8 January 1916, in Salt Lake City. Married Arthur O. Steffensen
Alonzo Norman, born 24 February 1918, in Salt Lake City. Married Katy Lela Bell Beets
David Earl, born 1 August 1922, in Salt Lake City. Married Pauline Bowden
Ralph Edwin, born 9 April 1925, in Ogden, Utah. Died (hit by car) 19 April 1930, Los Angeles, California.
Lola Janette, born 18 August 1926 in Magna, Utah. Died same day, being born premature.
2. CHILDHOOD
As noted, I was born May 1, 1910 in Salt Lake City, Utah at 1050 Denver Street. I was blessed July 3, 1910 by Elder Arthur J. Smith in the Liberty Ward, Liberty Stake, and given the name of Ila LaVon Cowling. (Reference: Ward Record of Children, Book A, No. 128)
On May 4, 1918, I was baptized in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. My grandmother Lola Smith took me as my brother Alonzo was a very young infant (about two and a half months old) and my mother could not leave him.
As I was the oldest girl, many responsibilities were mine as I grew up. I remember the birth of each sister and brother born after me. My young life was taken up in helping mother raise them. As a young child when I wanted to go out to play, I almost always had a younger sister or brother to watch.
My older brother Walter and I were sweet pals. When mother would go visiting, he and I would do the dishes and straighten up the house. Then we would crawl under the kitchen table and wait for her return. As she came into the house she would ask where her "Gold Dust Twins" were. This pleased us so much. We would come from under the table and say, "Here we are!"
My schooling began in Salt Lake City. I do not remember having a Kindergarten class in the schools in my day. The first school I attended was Liberty School.
The second school was Summer School, then Hamilton School. This school stands out in my mind vividly. I started there when I was in 4th grade. As my family knows, I am basically a left-handed person, but the teacher who taught me in 4th grade changed me to write right-handed which was difficult. In spelling tests and other class writing I would invariably change the pencil to my left hand so I could keep up with the class. Miss MacDonald would tap my hand with a ruler to let me know I was to use my right hand.
Also at Hamilton School they had a very unique way of entering and leaving school. No one was allowed to enter the building before 9:00 am. We would stay outside until a Mrs. Rosser would come out and ring a bell. Then all the students (by grade) would line up and the big wide sidewalk in front of the school, eight abreast. Then a marching record from John Phillip Souza's band would be played. Every student had to be in step with the music; then Mrs. Rosser would give the signal to march. As we entered inside the school there were two stairways going to the second floor which accommodated four students abreast. So we marched approximately fifteen feet, then entered the school, divided to four abreast and and up the stairs to the second floor where my class was. At the close of school each day we followed the same procedure by lining up in our classes then march to a designated center and march down the stairs, always keeping in step, and to the outside. Mrs. Rosser would pull any student who was out of step out of line. They would then have to march up and down the steps several times. This was embarrassing. My brother, Walter, was a "cut up" and was pulled out of the line a lot.
Also in telling about Walter--one day he had aggravated his teacher Mrs. Sudheimer so much that she took him out in the cloak hall and hung him on a coat hook by his trouser belt.
President Gordon B. Hinckley of the First Presidency of the Church also attended Hamilton School when I did and was in my class. Our church chapel was right over the fence from school. At that time the Church held both Primary and Religion class for children up to twelve years of age. In religion class we were taught stories of the Bible and Church history. President Hinckley attended those classes also.
Many years after and when John and I had moved to Springville, Elder Hinckley was sent to our stake conference as the general authority. I had a chance to speak with him after the conference, and I mentioned to him of his mischievousness at that age. He laughed and admitted he was an "active boy."
The other schools I attended were Roosevelt Junior High and then South Junior High in Salt Lake City.
In 1919 Papa went to Davenport, Iowa to attend the Palmer School of chiropractic. While there he became very ill with spinal meningitis. He returned to Salt Lake and entered the hospital. Many prayers were offered in his behalf. He left the hospital the only adult up to that time to have survived spinal meningitis.
At age thirteen my parents moved from Salt Lake City to Ogden, Utah. Again my father was faced with finding a job. He found work with the W.W. Browning Printing Company in Ogden.
There was of course another change in school for me. I went to Central Junior High. My first day at this school was humiliating. I was introduced to the English teacher, Dora Coffman. She immediately handed me a paper and pencil and told me to write down one of the most exciting experiences in my life, which I did. Then she had me read it to the class. She made fun of it, and I was near tears. I decided I did not like her, but through the years I was at Central High, I came to like her. She advanced me in English where I took two classes from her. (One more advanced than would be usual for my age.) Years after I was married and had Pearl and Jacquelyn, John and I were visiting in Ogden. I took my family to see her. She was quite aged by then.
While living in Ogden my father and I took many long walks together, even as far as Five Points, north of Ogden. I learned to know him quite well. He was such a quiet man.
On winter nights when the snow was right for tobogganing, many young people gathered on the hill, one half block from where I lived. (That was 20th Street) We piled on these toboggans, and it felt like we were flying down the hill. At the bottom the city had put cinders to stop the toboggans from going out on to Washington Street, the main thoroughfare through town. As we hit the cinders, the sparks would fly. Then all who rode that particular toboggan down the hill would help pull it back up the hill. This was great fun.
I was perhaps fourteen years old when my folks bought me a "banjo uke." (Jacquelyn now has it.) What fun I had with it. There were five other girls and myself that got together at each others homes and sang the popular songs of that era. Oh what fun we had! Annette Moore also had a banjo uke but not like mine.
Then I added playing a harmonica along with playing the banjo uke. I bought a Hohner Harmonica and a brace that attached to my shoulder and the frame held the harmonica close to my lips. This also made good music. (Jacquelyn also has my harmonica.)
At twelve years of age I began Mutual. There were three years of Beehive classes, then a Junior Gleaner year, then a Gleaner year. I lived in Ogden during my Beehive years. In these classes we were taught basic homemaking courses such as sewing and embroidery. It took three years to accomplish these things. I also had to do baby sitting (for three people), public service projects, do kind deeds, etc.
My goal was to become an Honor Bee, and this took much work. As we would accomplish any given project, we were given a seal to put in our Beehive Book. So in my third year I brought all my work and efforts to a climax. Each year for my public service seal I would get up very early (before sun up) on every national holiday and would meet my friends near the Ogden Cemetery (close to my home). Our group would raise the flag on the flag pole before sunrise. A boy scout would play "taps" on a bugle. Then we would all return at sunset and remove the flag from the pole.
I did reach my goal for Honor Bee. It was a special occasion in my life. The graduation was held in the old Ogden Tabernacle. Our names were called separately. As we went to the podium the Ladies Mutual President would pin this special pin on us. It looked like a bee made of gold metal.
Let me say here that I continued on in Mutual and received my Junior Gleaner pin which was a "J", also my Gleaner pin which was a "G" with a sheath of wheat cross wise of the "G". I was very proud of these pins as they represented much effort and work.
I had very nice friends, and we were all active in church activities except one friend, and she was of French descent and was a Catholic. But we all accepted each other.
My mother was also active in Mutual during the years I was in it. We were like friends, and she encouraged me to make goals and then work for them.
I will go back a few years when I lived in Ogden. Our stake was to do baptisms for the dead at the Logan Temple which was about fifty miles north of Ogden. We left in a Model T Ford which had seen its better days. When we came to Sardine Canyon, the Ford just could not make the grade. We children got out and pushed the Ford up the hills whenever it was possible. We made it to the temple for the baptisms. I had also done baptisms for the dead when I lived in Salt Lake. In all I had been baptized for seventy-two people when I was a young girl.
When I was fifteen, my father was again out of work, so he decided to go to Los Angeles to find work. He left about September or October of 1925. My mother was left in Ogden with six children. (My brother Walter had already married.) Times were very very bad for us financially. My mother solicited homes to try and sell Milk Tickets for Weber Dairy. She sold on a commission basis and not enough money was coming in to feed the family.
Mother had to go to the Welfare department. They agreed to pay our train fare to Los Angeles if and when my father found a job which he did. Mother sold every bit of her original furniture in one lump sum to a second hand store in North Ogden. How sad I was to see our furniture that I had remembered all my life carried out of the house. The house was empty on this certain day, December 4, 1925, when a person from the welfare office came in a car and took us down to the Reed Hotel which was across from the Ogden Union Pacific Railroad Station. We just had to walk across the street the next morning to board the train.
We left Ogden, Utah, December 5, 1925, for Los Angeles, California. It was a real experience. I had to help my mother with the children.
We arrived in Los Angeles on a Sunday morning. My father, my mother's sister Viola and her husband Bill met us at the train and took us to their home at 1444 West 90th Street, Los Angeles, where we had dinner. In the afternoon Uncle Bill took all us children to Redondo Beach. I immediately ran for the beach, took off my shoes and stockings, and ran out in the water yelling, "I am out of the United States!" I really thought I was for I was in the Pacific Ocean, but then I was told I had to go out ten miles further to be out of the United States. Thus began my life in Los Angeles, California.
Aunt Viola had helped my father locate a small furnished house a few blocks from her place, so it was ready for us to move in to the day we arrived in Los Angeles.
I did not return to high school as I had to take care of two younger brothers while mother tried to find a job which she did. It was selling Ladies Foundation Garments for Charis Foundations.
Another reason I did not return to school is that I had no school clothes needed for California schools.
When we first arrived in Los Angeles, of course we wanted to know where the ward was. To our surprise we found out it was on 25th Street and Adams Avenue up in Los Angeles. As we had no car, the family had to ride the "F" Street car. (We lived on 90th Street.) So the time it took to get to church and home was a very long time.
Eventually a new ward opened on Florence Avenue (approximately 76th Street). Then that ward was divided, and we were sent way out on 102nd Street and Broadway where we met in the Bradbury Hall. It was here that I became acquainted with the Joe Davies family and the Andersons who were Lora Davies parents, brothers, and sisters.
Some time in 1929 "we" (the membership of the Manchester Ward which was the new name given to us when we moved to Bradbury Hall) had enough members so were given permission to build a chapel. Most of the labor was furnished by the members. The men would go right from work to where the chapel was being built; then the Relief Society sisters made sandwiches and punch, and the young M.I.A. kids would serve the food. I was married in that chapel June 22, 1930, and was the first bride to be married there. Our wedding was the first one Bishop Joseph Davies had performed.
I taught a Book of Mormon class at age sixteen. I found out the children raised in California knew more about the gospel than I did, so it took much study for me to teach my class. This is when my testimony of the Book of Mormon began to grow.
Mother did help with finances at times as she took jobs of canvassing and selling items such as girdles, corsets, etc. But her health was not the best. She had a big goiter which at times would choke her.
While my mother worked, I took care of my two small brothers, David and Ralph. But because of mother's health, she could not go out every day and work, so I decided to find work. I did find a job with J.J. Newberry Company on 5th and Broadway in Los Angeles. This was a very long street car ride from Manchester (86th Street and Vermont).
I began as a stock girl. This meant that I marked merchandise in the stock room before it was sent down to be sold. About one month later, I started work at the hardware counter. I stayed at this store approximately two years. I helped lay out merchandise for new stores in surrounding towns on holidays so I could earn extra money. One of these stores was in Inglewood, California.
To my delight I was asked to transfer from the 5th and Broadway store to Inglewood. Again I worked at the hardware counter. Then I became a floor walker. These ladies would make change for registers, make out refund slips, answer questions, and made sure each clerk kept busy.
In less than a year I was asked to work in the office as cashier. I was delighted. I was assistant cashier for a short time, then promoted to head cashier. With this assignment I read registers, counted the money, and took it to the bank. I also wrote up merchandise orders and made the weekly pay-roll. I stayed with this job until after John and I were married.
One thing I did for myself was buy a saxophone. I took a few lessons from a teacher and learned the basics such as finding the scale in the low and high register, reading music, etc. Then I bought a $30 music course from the U.S. School of Music. I had fun with the sax and shall always remember two special songs which were the "Pagan Love Song" and "Sue City Sue."
Years later when we lived in Turlock, California, I borrowed a sax from the Denair High School and played the song "Sue City Sue" for an MIA adult talent night. Needless to say I shocked the membership. I was introduced as Rudy Vallee!
The reason I sold my saxophone was that when Jacquelyn was quite young she could not stand the sound of a saxophone as it hurt her ear drums. I did not want the pads on the saxophone to deteriorate, so I sold it. With the money I received, I sent to Sears for a nice "dress" watch.
I became acquainted with a girl named Lenore Whitmer. She worked in the jewelry department of the Newberry's where I worked. On February 14, 1930, she had a Valentine party at her home. She and her boyfriend Harry Rohrer had a friend they wanted me to meet and go to the party with. He was from the same home town (Wadsworth, Ohio) as Harry. (More will be written about this later.) This fellow's name was John Oscar Trease. At the party he was very quiet and reserved. I did not pay too much attention to him. I played my saxophone for a little bit.
I did not see John again until about March 10 when he again came to my home. Mother had gone to Utah to the Golden Wedding Anniversary for her parents. I had taken over cooking for my family and was yet still working in the office for J.J. Newberry. I had baked bread that day. When John went to leave, I sent a loaf of bread home for him to eat. He told me later that he bought a jar of jam to go with it and how he enjoyed the homemade bread! I found out later what a wonderful mother he had, how he had grieved her passing, and had missed having her homemade bread.
Mother returned home April 9, 1930 from Salt Lake. She had taken my youngest brother Ralph with her. On April 19 which was the day before Easter, Ralph who was just five years and ten days old was struck by a car in front of our home. He died a few hours later. The event of this tragic death and the days that followed brought John and I closer. He was at our home the same night of Ralph's death. John was such a comfort to me. The day of the funeral he was close by, even though my time and help was needed to assist my father, mother, sisters and brothers.
The next few weeks of April was a very important time in my life. John proposed marriage to me. He had every ideal I wanted in a husband, but he was not a member of the church. I did not know what to do. Because of the sweet companionship I had with my father, I decided to go and talk with him.
After listening to me, he said it was too great a decision for him to make and suggested that I fast and pray. I asked John to give me time to think of his proposal of marriage and for him not to come back for a week. I did as my father suggested and fasted for six days. I am sure my Heavenly Father both heard and answered my prayers. When John returned and wanted to know my decision, I told him I would marry him. As I said the words, there was no doubt in my mind. I felt so calm and peaceful inside. I knew beyond a doubt that John would join the church.
We went to my parents and told them of our decision. John asked my father if he could marry me. My father stepped forward and asked John how he planned to support me. He also asked John if he would be good to me. John gave my father the answers. Then my father put his hands on both John's and my shoulder and gave us his blessing for a happy married life. I can say here that John did offer me a good secure life and was very sweet and kind to me all our married life together on this earth. He fulfilled his promise to my father to the utmost.
On May 1, 1930, which was my twentieth birthday, John gave me my engagement ring. We set the date of our wedding for June 22. The days were full and busy. A bridal shower was given at the Manchester Ward in Los Angeles by my mother.
The day of our wedding arrived. Our dearest friends Harry Rohrer and Lenore Whitmer had also set their date of marriage for June 22. They were married at 10 am by the Reverend of their church in Lenore's home. John was best man for Harry and I was maid of honor for Lenore. John and I were married at 2 pm by Bishop Joseph T. Davies in the Manchester Ward, Los Angeles, California. Lenore was my maid of honor, my sisters Leta and Olive were the bridesmaids and my cousin Shirley Engleman was the flower girl. Harry Rohrer was the best man.
We had rented a lovely apartment to live in in Inglewood, California. I was still employed with J.J. Newberry. John was working for B.F. Goodrich in Los Angeles. My marriage and leaving home had an impact on my father. He new I was happily married, but he missed my presence in the home. Two months after we were married on a Saturday afternoon in August, we received a telegram from Wadsworth, Ohio. John's father had had a stroke and was in critical condition, and we were to come at once.
This also was a turning point in our lives for John wanted to be baptized before we left California. My prayers were truly answered. We contacted Bishop Joseph Davies on Sunday morning while at Sunday School. He said John could be baptized that same afternoon. A special service was held. My parents and brothers and sisters were in attendance. Bishop Davies baptized John, and Brother Lavan H. Boyle confirmed him.
(John was baptized August 24, 1930 at Manchester Ward by Bishop Joseph T. Davies. Recorded in Manchester Ward Record of Members, Book A, Line 610--Orson Tyler, Ward Clerk.)
The next afternoon on August 25, 1930, we started for Wadsworth, Ohio. My heart was full of sorrow for I had never been that far away from my parents, sisters and brothers. I had been the bread winner for the family for four years. I felt I was letting them down, but mama and papa said they would get along some how.
Our little 1929 Chevrolet was loaded to the roof with two cedar chests and all our wedding gifts. Our trip across the country was not without incident. Because of the terrible weight on the back end of the car, it rested down on the springs. The weight was also very bad for the tires. About the time we got to Needles, California (which is one of the hottest places in California) we had a flat tire. John patched it, and we started off only to stop again within a few miles. The temperature was 117 in the shade, and this caused the patch on the tire to just melt off. We ended up buying a new tire, but it also gave way. Our second night out we were way out in the wilderness. The tire gave out.
The car jack would not hold the car. We were near a railroad. John managed to find two ties. (What all it involved I cannot make clear at this writing, and John is not here to explain it to me.) He did get the car on to the railroad ties and off again. While he was doing this I heard the sound of horses' hoofs. It kept coming closer. As the person passed by I could see it was an Indian. Of course he wore the same type of clothes as the white man except for his hat. Soon after he passed then we heard the sound of the train whistle. I have never felt so lonely and home-sick in all my life. It took us seven days to make the trip to Wadsworth. We arrived on Labor Day, September 2, 1930.
John's father was very ill. After John arrived no one took care of father Trease but John. He lay gravely ill for six weeks and died October 6, 1930. I only got to talk to him once. He seemed such a sweet kind man and welcomed me as a daughter into the family. He dearly loved John for John had always been so good to his parents. They relied on him much as my parents did me.
In going to Wadsworth I was introduced to farm life. Even with all the work and inconveniences of farm life, as time and years have gone by, I will have to say that it was the happiest time in all our lives.
Our bedroom was upstairs. I shall never forget as I climbed the stairs and went into the room we were to have. There was a cherry wood dresser, big wooden bed, red carpet with big roses, a wash stand with a big white porcelain basin and water pitcher on it. There was an oval top trunk which had a quilt, two beacon blankets and a pair of pillows that belonged to John. His grandmother had made them for him. At the time I went to Wadsworth I did not know for sure that this particular house would become our home. After father Trease's passing, John decided to buy the farm from the heirs. He told me of his plans in running the farm and asked that I support him in doing so. I had great confidence in him so decided we would settle down and make this house our home.
7. OHIO, 1930-49
As it is almost forty years ago since I went to Wadsworth, I would like to describe the house. It was a seven room, two-story house with a good sized sun room, a buttery, a full basement, and three porches. On the north and south porches was a water pump. One was supplied by rain water and the other from a deep well. One of the first things John did when we arrived from California was to get a big dipper and have a good big drink of water for the water in California was very distasteful to him.The furnishings in the house were very different to what I was used to. In the kitchen was a big black coal burning cook stove with a water reservoir on one end. It had a warming closet on the upper part. There was a big square oak kitchen table and one small work table. In the corner was a deep red dish cupboard. In the buttery was a sink. It was only used to pour water down. There was an enamel wash basin in it. This is where we washed our hands. On the drain board the big water bucket and dipper was placed. In one corner was a small table. Two two quart size round pans of milk was brought in each morning and placed on it. At the end of the buttery was a big flour bin. The door leading to the basement was also at the end of the buttery. There was a good sized cupboard from floor to ceiling.
In the front part of the basement was the big furnace. In the corner under the stairs the coal was kept. In the back part of the basement, canned fruit, potatoes, lard, vinegar and eggs were kept.
The living room was a good sized room. It had, like the kitchen, a thirty inch wood paneling all around the room. A good carpet was on the floor, but fully covered with homemade rag rugs which were forever kicking up under our feet. There was also another big square table, wooden rockers, a black leather couch and a battery operated radio. In the sun room was a sewing machine and places for plants. The two bedrooms downstairs each had a bed and washstand in it. In father Trease's room was also a bookcase. The largest bedroom upstairs just above the living room had three big beds in it. John's oldest brother Clarence slept in the room. There were also two more bedrooms upstairs. We had four coal oil lamps and later on bought a nice Coleman lamp. Of course there was no bathroom. We had to trek down back of the garage to the little "out house." The house was of frame construction with slate roof. We had a nice garage. It had replaced an old summer house in 1927.
There was a big red barn which housed the cattle, grain, hay, horses,and farm machinery. There was also one big chicken coop, plus two small ones. There was a corn crib, hog pen and a cinder block milk house. This had a big water trough with a continuous stream of spring water flowing in. This is where the milk cans were kept and the milk was cooled.
There was a 100 year lease on this spring. It was located across from our farm to the east and up in the woods. This water was piped from the mouth of the spring, across the road and into the spring house.
In the nineteen years we lived on the farm, John carried hundreds and hundreds of gallons of water from the spring house up to the house. It was not only our supply of drinking water, but was used for cooking. And last, but not least, was the many, many gallons needed for washing clothes. I will describe "wash day" later on in this account.
The farm was located one mile west of the square of Wadsworth and just off Highway 224. It contained fifty-four acres. The landscape was of rolling hills mixed in with flat bottom lands. There was also an orchard of apple trees.
I was introduced to farm life very soon for silo filling time took place within the first two weeks of September. (We had arrived from California September 2.) Father Trease had hired a house keeper. Her name was Mrs. Blocker. I never shall forget the first time we met. She had known only farm life all her life, and I was fresh from the city. But we got along quite well.
The day for silo filling had been set. Mrs. Blocker and I prepared the dinner. She was a wonderful cook. The big table in the living room was opened up and six leaves put in, making it a long banquet type table. A special white table cloth was used. It was used each year for the threshers and silo fillers.
The morning of silo filling day, John took out two old chairs (minus the backs). On these he placed a wash tub which was two-thirds filled with water. Then he took the white porcelain basin from the buttery and placed it on a box near the tubs of water. These were placed on the north side of the house. On the north porch he hung a mirror and placed a comb for the men to use. On a wooden clothes rack was placed several hand towels.
About 12:15 pm the men started towards the house. There were usually about eighteen men. The water in the tubs was used for the men to wash and clean up before coming in to dinner.
It was at this time that John introduced me to all our neighbors. Needless to say I felt very out of place in the surroundings. John was kidded for going to California to find a wife.
After the death of Father Trease, the housekeeper, Mrs. Blocker, left and I took over the management of the home. John's brother and sisters had asked us to stay on until the Will was read and the estate settled. John wanted to purchase the farm from the heirs so an appraisal was made. When the Will was read, Father Trease had asked $15,000 for it. The appraisal value in 1930 was $9000. The heirs agreed to sell for this amount. Had we waited six months later, we could have bought it for $7000 as the depression was really setting in.
The Will was read in the living room with all heirs present. John was to be the administrator which proved a thankless job. After the reading of the Will, the family knowing we were going to buy the farm and all possessions, they asked the privilege for each one to have a piece of bedding and they asked to take what china and glassware they had given their parents. John and I agreed, but it was very disheartening to see the family strip the beds of the choice quilts and take the loveliest china from the cupboard. We were left without one nice quilt. The only quilt John had was the one made by his grandmother many years before. At this writing I still have what is left of that quilt after these many years.
We gave permission for John's oldest brother Clarence to stay with us the first winter as he had no place to go. It was a trying experience for he was just the opposite of John and very lazy. He seldom took a bath and only shaved once a week. Both John and I found it difficult to put up with Clarence, but we did until April 3, 1931.
The year of 1931 brought a wonderful event to John and I. From the day of our marriage we had planned to return to Salt Lake City, Utah, to be married in the Salt Lake Temple for time and eternity. Money was getting more scarce because of the deepening depression. The Spring brought much work. Besides planting our own crops of corn and oats, John plowed garden lots for people who lived in town. I would pack his lunch and after he got through with the morning chores and had breakfast, he would hitch up the team, put the plow and harrow in the wagon and leave for town, returning in the late afternoon to start his evening chores.
John was concerned about the horses as they could not work as fast as he felt they should. He decided to give each of them a haircut so that they would not get so warm. So he borrowed the hair cutting machine from his brother-in-law, Joe Beck. Early one morning John and I went out on the west side of the barn to give the horses a hair cut. The machine had to be run manually as it was not made for electricity, and of course we did not have electricity yet on the farm. John held the clippers, and I turned the handle to furnish the power to make them cut. We both worked very hard. About noon we noticed the horses were perspiring, and the clippers were catching. So we finished the next morning. Needless to say I was very tired, and every muscle in my body ached. But time heals all things. The horses were able to work better.
In Ohio in the Spring housewives houseclean the home. This means washing woodwork, cleaning wall paper, scrubbing floors, beating carpets (which were taken out on the lawn or placed over the clothesline to be beaten), and the washing and stretching of curtains. Even though John kept very busy, he found time to beat the rugs when he came in for lunch.
I found life very different. Three big meals were prepared each day. My duties went from Spring housecleaning into a Summer of canning and cooking for threshers and later silo fillers.
July arrived with its many tasks. The wheat and oats were cut and threshed. John had worked very hard to keep things on schedule so we could leave August 1 for our first trip west. Since our taking over the farm, the milk checks had only been about $35 per month. More money was needed for our trip west, so John sold some wheat and oats. The day before we left on our trip I helped him fill gunny sacks with the grain. He then loaded them in the wagon, harnessed up the team and left for the feed store in the south end of Wadsworth.
We made the trip west and went first to Los Angeles, California where my family lived. It was a joyous reunion. We stayed about a week. Upon bidding goodbye to my parents, my father placed his hands on both my arms, faced me and said, "Ila, never refuse a call by one who holds the priesthood." Little did I know these would be the last words I would hear my father speak. But they have been a guide to me since that time.
From California we drove to Magna, Utah, where my grandparents Alonzo Smith and Lola Tidwell Smith lived. On August 28, 1931, Grandma accompanied John and I to the Salt Lake Temple where we were married for time and eternity. This goal in my life had now been reached, and we were both very happy. We returned to the temple the next day to do vicarious work for John's parents and brother Carl. Our visit ended with Grandma and Grandpa, and we returned to Ohio.
Silo filling time was on us for the second time, and all responsibility was on me to plan and cook the dinner. Leona (John's sister) came out to help me. The men who ate my cooking for the first time were very gracious and complimented me on the dinner. This same procedure of feeding the men for threshing and silo filling continued through the nineteen years we were on the farm.
There were other duties of a farmer's wife in 1930. Every day there were milk buckets and a big strainer to wash. Lamps had to be filled with kerosene and lamp chimneys washed. I was one of the fortunate housewives to have a friction driven vacuum. This required pushing the vacuum quite hard to get friction in the wheels, then place it on the floor and it would take off across the room picking up threads and soil. It seemed like all work was to create muscle!
We did not have a washer until 1933, so our clothes were either washed on the washboard or stomped. John's overalls got very dirty and required a lot of stomping. The big items such as sheets and table covers were taken to the laundry.
The ironing was done by stove irons which were heated on the stove. I had no real ironing board. Just a plain board had been covered and was placed on the back top of a kitchen chair over to the table edge. I kept four irons going on the stove. Needless to say ironing days were hot days.
In 1931 I was also introduced to canning of foods. There were a lot of empty jars to be filled. Each year the number of filled jars increased. New jars were purchased and my canning increased from a few hundred jars to many hundred jars each year. Along with canning went the picking of apples for cider, vinegar and the making of apple butter.
In the late fall, John and I would go out in the orchard to get the apples. He would get up in the trees and shake the limbs to make the apples fall. It kept me busy picking them up. My first year to help with the job has never been forgotten. John had picked a nice big ripe apple just for me. He called to me to let me know he was tossing the apple to me. As I looked up, the apple came sailing down and hit me on the bridge of my nose causing it to bleed profusely. But all ended well.
After the apples were picked, John would load them in the wagon, along with the vinegar barrel and the many crocks needed for the apple butter. He used the big spring wagon and team of horses to take the apples and crocks to the cider mill. He took all this over to Loyal Oak which was about eight miles northeast of Wadsworth. Here the apples were put through the press. The cider was put into the barrel. The apple butter was made at this same place which we would go to get several days later.
John would bring the cider home the day it was made. It was a great treat to have a fresh made glass of cider. We were told how to prepare the cider so it would stay sweet all year. We followed the instructions and found the cider did remain as sweet as the day it was made. We followed the same procedure year after year and had plenty of sweet cider all year to go with the wonderful popcorn John raised. The eating of popcorn became a Sunday evening ritual all our married life.
The year of 1932 was a real struggle. John had kept potatoes over the previous fall hoping prices would be better, but they were worse. The highest price he could get was twenty-five cents a bushel. Eggs were twelve cents a dozen. We had taken over full control of the farm, but more money was needed to pay the heirs.
The banks were not loaning money. In Louisville, Kentucky, a Loan Bank had started up. To get a loan from them a person had to have the best of references. One of our neighbors, Herman Brenner, was on the examining board. He knew John and his integrity and steadfastness. John approached him. Mr. Brenner took it up with the other board of directors in Medina, Ohio. John was granted the loan. He never defaulted and even paid it off ahead of maturity. Because of the small income and so much money needed for farm operating expenses, we did not have much money for anything else. There were times when we did not have one cent to rub against another.
Also in this year of 1932, my father died. His death was unexpected and very sudden. Approximately two weeks previously I had written to my parents to tell them that John and I were thinking about starting our little family. My father was so happy about our decision. He had written a letter to me in answer to my letter. He had also written a letter to my oldest brother, Walter, who lived in Evanston, Wyoming. We were the only two children away from home.
Papa had walked to the drug store to mail the letter. He began to feel ill so returned home, and told my mother how ill he was. He lay across the foot of the bed, and before the doctor could get to the house, papa died. His death occurred July 1, 1932 at Huntington Park, California. The telegram came by way of a phone call to notify me. I wanted to go home for the funeral so very much for I dearly loved my father. John's harvest time of wheat and oats were upon us. I was really torn as to what I should do. Again, along with John, I knelt before the Lord and asked for his guidance. Prayer has meant much to me all my life. Later that day John called me to him and made the suggestion that if I felt I could not make the trip alone that we could send that money to mother and have her come to us in Ohio. We felt we would be helping her in her grief.
One of my fears of traveling to California alone was that I would have to change trains in Chicago and go by bus to another railroad station. In my day Chicago was known for gangsters and Al Capone. I had never traveled alone and to have to travel clear to the west coast frightened me. I am sure my prayer was answered in John's suggestion. Mother did not come immediately as she had decided to move to Magna, Utah, to be near her parents and family.
On March 15, 1933, President Roosevelt ordered all banks closed, and all savings were frozen. Our money to send for mother was in the bank. But it turned out we were able to get the amount needed for her fare. In April of 1933, she and my youngest brother, David, arrived in Wadsworth. Her visit served two purposes, for by the time she made the visit, I was expecting my first child. It was a comfort to have my mother with me at this time.
On May 28, 1933, our first child, a lovely nine and a quarter pound baby girl,was born. She was born at home. Dr. Johnson was our family doctor. I worked very hard in bringing her into this world. I shall never forget the wonderful feeling I received when my baby was placed in my arms for the first time. I looked down at her and realized she was my very own. I thanked my Heavenly Father for her. Being married in the temple, knowing that each precious child we would have would also be ours in eternity if we but lived this blessing, was a great joy to me. We named our first daughter Pearl Ella. She was named after both grandmothers. I had promised my mother that I would name my first daughter Pearl. I then felt we should use John's mother's name which was Ella.
Life with a baby in the house made more work for me. John and I went to Polsky's Department Store in Akron and bought our first washer. It was a gasoline motor Maytag. This meant John would start carrying buckets and buckets of water from the spring house which he would continue to do for many years. During the summer and fall, the washing was done on the big south porch. In the winter the washing was done in the kitchen. John would pull the washer from the porch into the kitchen the night before wash day so the motor could warm up.
The water was carried up from the spring house the day before, so I would have enough for two tubs of rinse water. The water for the washer was placed in a copper boiler on the stove to be heated. I would then dip buckets full and pour into the washer. The exhaust pipe from the motor was put out the kitchen window. By stepping on the gas pedal the motor would start. The noise of the motor going was nerve wracking, but because we had no electricity, this was our only means of having a power washing machine. In the winter time, John would plan his days so he could stay in and take care of Pearl while I did the washing.
John and I were both active in our church callings. We had been active from the day we located the Akron Branch. Services were held in the WBA Hall on West Market Street in Akron. We were just a handful of members. Anyone from the west was given a church job right away.
We enjoyed the missionaries very much. Over the nineteen years on the farm, we had many come to our home. We were the only farmers in the branch, and many of the missionaries were from the farm. They loved to come to our place where they could milk cows, help haul hay, and some even helped thresh. They knew they could come in any hour of the day, and a meal would be prepared for them.
Our life centered around Pearl. She was but two weeks old when she was first taken to church. I resumed teaching my class. I placed Pearl on a big pillow, and she slept all the time I taught the class. Pearl developed and became more fascinating each day. When she got old enough to know who daddy and mommy were, it was a joy. We bought a baby swing which could be hung in a doorway. We placed it between the kitchen and living room.
When the weather was nice, we had a place to hang the swing on the porch. She would watch the chickens out in the yard. When she saw her daddy coming up the hill from the barn, she would start bouncing up and down in her swing. When John got to the porch he would ask her how big she was, and she would raise her hands away over her head. She always clapped pat-a-cake for him too. John would get washed up and then hold Pearl on his lap until I got dinner or supper on the table.
When Pearl was two years old, we made a trip to Utah. While in Salt Lake she became quite ill and would not eat. We took her to the doctor. He gave us medication for her. It did not seem to do much good, so we decided to go back to Ohio before she became worse. The day we arrived home and Pearl walked into the house, she went straight for her doll and buggy and familiar toys. From then on she began to eat and sleep better. We always felt most of her trouble while in Utah was home sickness.
Life went on with its many responsibilities. Then on August 16, 1937, our second precious little daughter was born. She was also born at home with Dr. Johnson as our doctor. She weighed 9 1/2 pounds and a beautiful fat little baby. My sister Olive had come from Utah to be with me at this time.
The decision for a name for this baby was different than for Pearl. We felt quite sure our second baby would be a boy so had not made any decision for a girl's name. A few days before this baby was born I had read a book. One of the characters was named Jacqueline. She was such a kind girl and always doing for others. So when Dr. Johnson wanted a name so he could make out the birth certificate, I asked John if the name Jacquelyn would be all right. He liked the name. So she was named Jacquelyn LaVon. As she grew up her friends called her Jacque but her daddy and I always called her Jacquelyn. The morning after Jacquelyn's birth, Pearl was told about her new baby sister. She went and got a small doll and put it in the cradle with Jacquelyn.
Jacquelyn was about three weeks old when again it was silo filling time. John and I were so proud to show the men our beautiful little daughter.
Pearl and Jacquelyn were two precious children to us. Jacquelyn was much company for Pearl and helped take up some of her time. When Jacquelyn was old enough to ride in a car seat, many times we would put her in the car seat, and she would ride to the mill with John. Pearl would also go along. A few years passed and Pearl was ready for school. She was a good pupil and liked school. Miss Kuhn was her first teacher.
Jacquelyn was proving to be an outdoor girl and enjoyed going out with her daddy in the fall to husk corn. She would play all day on the big wagon among the corn that John would husk. In the summer after she became older she would ride the binder and trip the oats and wheat for her daddy. She drove the neighbors' tractors as needed on threshing day. She was also the water girl which meant that she carried water out to the field for the men to drink. She also drove the horses when bringing in the hay. John would be on the back of the hay wagon to place the hay being brought up by the hay loader, and Jacquelyn would drive the horses. After getting the tractor, Jacquelyn helped more at threshing time.
The above events take in years from two to perhaps twelve years of age for Jacquelyn. She entered school at six years of age. I shall never forget the day for I went to school with her. Soon Miss Kuhn asked all mothers to leave, and I wept after leaving the room for both of my girls were now in school.
Throughout both their years at Centralized School, I was active in the mother's club which was about the same as PTA. We sponsored various projects to earn money for the school.
In the early years of our girls' lives, both John and I had trouble with our health. Pearl was about two years old when John became very ill with his kidneys. The illness became so bad he could not sit nor lie down in comfort. He was in continual pain.
We finally got him to the Cleveland clinic where they told him of his condition. It required a very strict diet which included drinking rain water. We would draw it from our pump on the back porch and boil it to kill whatever germs might be present. Then I would strain it through a cloth. He lived on rain water and milk for two weeks. No solid food at all. During this time it was corn harvest time, and he would cut and shock corn all day besides milk cows. He lost a lot of weight. Gradually food was added to his diet. Through determination and steadfastness he overcame this bad kidney infection. For the rest of his life, he refused to eat candy and ate very sparingly of cake and pie. Because of his illness we did not know if we should have more children. He was limited in his strenuous activity because of the pain in his back. We did not know whether he would ever earn a living for the support of his family. In about a year we could see great improvement in his condition.
World War II had begun. A call came for blood donors. I felt this would be a way I could be of service to my country. I went to the designated place to donate blood. When the nurse took my blood pressure, it registered 225. She told the attending physician. He asked me to sit quiet for a while, and they would take another reading. The second reading was much the same. I was told I could not donate blood.
From this event I was notified to get a doctor which I did. At the time of his examination he located a growth on my liver. I entered the hospital for surgery November 13, 1943. I had a hematoma on the liver. They could not remove it because of the danger of hemorrhaging. This tumor remained for many years, and about 1958 it could not be located.
My blood pressure remained in the high readings the rest of my life up to the time that I now write this history of my life.
In retrospect I would like to go back to the years of Pearl's and Jacquelyn's childhood as long as we lived on the farm. They both achieved in school and brought home exceptionally good grade cards. They achieved at church and gave many two and one half minute talks. Pearl had taken piano lessons and became the Branch pianist. She also taught a class in Primary.
Jacquelyn started on the clarinet at Centralized School. She became very good in playing it and followed the playing of her clarinet through high school. In Covina, California she occupied first chair. She marched in parades in California such as the Santa Claus parade in Hollywood. She also participated in the All Southern California Band.
Now back to the farm and the highlights of Pearl's and Jacquelyn's lives on the farm. Many times on nice summer evenings I would walk up the road with Pearl and Jacquelyn. We would sing songs and chatter about this and that. Jacquelyn loved to throw rocks, so would keep a pace ahead of us and throw rocks at targets she would spot.
On some winter afternoons I would go out and sleigh ride with the girls. We would slide on the hill south of the barn. We had to lean way back on the sled in order to go under the barbed wire fence.
My girls grew up in the years before a vaccine for polio had been discovered. Each year we lived in fear of this crippling disease. During the polio season we kept the girls home from church, so one Sunday John would go and the next Sunday I would drive to Akron to church.
Our Christmases were very simple, but yet spiritual. Family traditions were established then that both Pearl and Jacquelyn are carrying on with their families today.
We made Christmas cookies (Jacquelyn still uses the same recipe for her Christmas cookies for her family.) The girls made colored paper chains for the Christmas tree. On Christmas Eve we gathered around the tree. I read the Christmas story to them. As they got older we read from both the Bible and the Book of Mormon the account of the Savior's birth. The girls would then hang their stockings on a hook on the front door and then go to bed.
Christmas morning was very special for John's participation. He always had to get the milking done and wait for the milk truck to come get the milk before he could come up to the house. Pearl and Jacquelyn knew of this and were very obedient in waiting for their daddy to come up to the house.
The tree and gifts from Santa were in the living room. In order to get to the kitchen from their bedroom, we had to go through the living room. So on Christmas morning the girls would close their eyes and let me lead them to the kitchen. Here they would dress and eat a small breakfast. Then they stood at the window, looking towards the barn so they could see when their daddy started up the hill. They were happy when he finally got to the house. He would wash his hands. Then he would go into the living room, turn on the tree lights, and then Pearl and Jacquelyn went in. There was always much excitement. When the girls played with dolls, of course doll clothes had to be made. Many nights before Christmas after the girls were in bed, I would sew doll clothes.
One year John made a cupboard out of orange crates. It turned out really nice. He had to work on it after he got through with evening chores. Jacquelyn now has it.
As I stated before, our Christmases were simple, but spiritual. All the years that our daughters were growing up, we observed Christmas Eve by reading the account of the Savior's birth from the Bible and Book of Mormon.
8. CALIFORNIA AND IDAHO, 1949-
In 1930 when John and I decided to take over the farm, John made the statement that he wanted to retire in 1950. We had also decided we would move back to California when we retired. We both worked towards that goal even though we experienced a bad depression and World War II. We had some very lean years and some good years.
When World War II came along, prices went up. Money and employment was plentiful. John made the best of this time and income. We paid off the mortgage on the farm. We then ventured into other real estate and bought two houses and a duplex. It was risky, but we made it and were soon out of debt.
Instead of retiring in 1950, we retired from the farm in 1949. Again there was a little recession, and we could not find a buyer for the farm, so we leased it for a year. We had a big public farm sale and sold all the livestock, machinery, and many items from the house.
After this was over we started to pack to get ready for the big moving van. After nineteen years in one place, we had accumulated many things.
Finally the big day arrived and the van came. It took most the day to load it. After the big Allied Van left, a feeling of sadness came over all of us. We did not know what was ahead of us in California. We stayed that night with John's sister Leona, and left the next morning for California. It took us five days to make the trip.
We had been invited to stay with our friends Martha Freeman in Covina, California, until we found a house to live in. We wasted no time in locating and buying a little house in Covina. We were able to get all financial matters completed and possession of the house by the time the Allied Van arrived with our furniture.
This little home was the first home to have a bathroom for us to use. We had never put in a bathroom on the farm, so we thought to have a nice bathroom was great. I thought it was wonderful to have a lovely new gas stove to cook and bake on. After carrying coal for so many years, I loved the convenience of a gas stove.
I would like to mention here that we arrived in Covina about the time school was to start. John and I took Jacquelyn to the Citrus Grammar School and Pearl to the Covina High School to enroll them. They of course stayed for the class work.
As I went back to the car, John stood with a smile on his face and said, "What would you say if I told you I had a job and am to start this afternoon?" His new job was at the Valencia Heights Orange Packers. He worked there until the orange packing season was over. Then the workers began packaging dates. This job lasted until the last of April. Soon after this job ended, the owner of the packing company came and asked John if he would like a job as caretaker of Covina Park. As John liked outside work, he accepted the job. We had become well settled and enjoying a new way of living.
I enjoyed being able to go for nice walks. I could even walk to town to do my shopping. We had become acquainted at the Baldwin Park Ward. Our first Sunday there proved quite momentous. As we entered the church, I noticed Bishop Joseph Davies. He was the bishop of Manchester Ward in Los Angeles when John and I got married. He performed the marriage ceremony and two months later baptized John. This was in 1930. Nineteen years had gone by and here we met again. John and I introduced our two daughters to him. As he met Pearl he made mention that he had a son who was Pearl's age. As we as a family know, in a short week or so, Pearl became acquainted with Tom Davies and soon they were going steady. (More about this as time goes on.) Jacquelyn seemed very happy in school and ward activities.
June arrived and we planned a trip to Meridian, Idaho to visit some former friends from Ohio. His tales of the wonders of Idaho, the climate, nice gardens, etc., seemed to whet John's desire to make a move to Idaho. After arriving in Meridian, John and I set out to find a home to buy. We located and bought one of the nicer homes in Meridian. Our life was again to make a big change. We returned to Covina, leased our home and began plans to move.
August 12, 1950, we left Covina, California. This move was sad for both girls, especially Pearl, as she and Tom had been going steady. She was to enter her last year of high school. But this move was made. Even though we had a lovely home, it was not where I really wanted to live. John was happy and contented. He had a small barn, cow, chickens and a nice garden. The air was much cleaner than in Covina. Both the girls became acquainted at the ward and at school.
Pearl graduated from Meridian High School May 17, 1951. On May 14 we attended "Senior Night" at the high school, and Pearl received a certificate for being on the honor roll and was made a life member of the National Honor Society. Jacquelyn graduated from the 8th grade. She was an avid reader and had read every available book from the library. She also played her clarinet quite a bit in school activities and town parades. She had been placed in the high school band while in grade school and participated in several activities: football game and parade at the Boise Junior College and at a few concerts. Jacquelyn also served as the student body president of Meridian Grade School.
Our living in Meridian lasted only a year. On August 17, 1951, John and I left for California to locate property. We left Jacquelyn in Meridian to take care of the house and garden. Pearl had already left for California. We located a nice home at 238 Walnuthaven Avenue in West Covina. The deal went through fast and we returned to Idaho. The money from our home in Meridian was delayed. We decided John would stay there until all transactions were completed. Jacquelyn and I left September 7, 1951 by bus for California.
Pearl, Jacquelyn and I lived in an empty house for over a month. All we had were three army cots, a card table and a black steamer trunk. We three decided to have a TV brought out on approval. We sat on the bare floor with our backs to the wall and watched our programs. This was our first TV, and we really enjoyed it. After a month living like this, John and I decided on having the furniture sent to West Covina. It was wonderful to again have furniture in the home. But this left John in Meridian with nothing but a hot plate to cook his meals on, a borrowed bed and a box to sit on.
On October 31, 1951, John arrived in West Covina. We were so happy to all be together again. By this time both the girls were pretty well settled. Pearl was working at the Covina Bank and Jacquelyn was enjoying her friends and school. Jacquelyn became quite active in the school band. Because of this, she went to many football games and marched in various parades. One of the better known was the Santa Claus Parade in Hollywood. Several students from the band went to the University of Southern California to try out for the All Southern California High School band. She and four other students were selected from Covina. They played several concerts after many weeks of rehearsals.
On August 5, 1952, we took a family trip to Yosemite National Park. On our way we stopped in Turlock, California to eat breakfast. While there both John and Pearl noticed they could breathe much better than in Southern California. We drove around Turlock and thought it was a nice town. (I will mention more about this town later as it played an important part in our lives.)
Pearl decided that she wanted to go to Brigham Young University. So on September 18, 1952 we took Pearl up to BYU at Provo, Utah. We got her settled and returned to California. We traveled the northern route so we could visit Turlock again. We spent two days in this town and seemed to like it. Pearl stayed at BYU for just one quarter. She and Tom had decided they wanted to get married. On February 17, 1953, John and I, along with Tom's parents Lora and Joe Davies, accompanied Pearl and Tom to Mesa, Arizona Temple where they were married. They were married less than three months when Tom left for service in the Navy. Thus our lives made a change. Now there were three of us at home.
On June 19, 1953, John, Jacquelyn and I left for a trip back to Wadsworth, Ohio. We were gone a month.
John had not forgotten Turlock. We made another trip us there and looked around for a piece of Real Estate. We made no decision and returned to West Covina for a few months.
On January 6, 1954 we sold our home in West Covina. John and I left January 8 for Turlock to locate a place in which to live. We had previously met Mr. Greybiel. They wanted to go to Europe for five months and offered to lease us their home while they were gone. We signed a lease and left for West Covina.
On February 1, 1954 we bid goodbye to West Covina and moved to Turlock. Jacquelyn had enjoyed living in West Covina. She was very active in school activities and especially band. This was a sad move for her. But she made friends quickly both at school and church. She graduated with honors from Turlock High School on June 13, 1955. She was second in her class and was made a member of the California Scholarship Federation.
But to return to the year 1954--Pearl came to live with us March 2. It was a year that made another change in our lives. Our first grandson was born May 15, 1954. As Tom was in the Navy, Pearl went to Castle Air Force Base to have Kim. John took us over, and I stayed the day with her. It was a long day. We had arrived at Castle Air Base at 6:15 am and Kim was not born until 7:23 pm. He weighed 9 pounds 13 ounces. We had brought a Trease heirloom with us from Ohio. It was the cradle that John and all his brothers and sisters had slept in as babies. We had painted it a pretty light blue. Kim looked so cute in it. We all doted over him for he was our first grandchild, and this made Jacquelyn an aunt. So we all changed titles that year.
We had purchased a building lot on Berkeley Avenue, and on February 18, 1954, ground was broken for our new home. This would be our first home to be built as we wanted. Much time and work went into this home. It was truly lovely. I had part in selecting carpeting, linoleum, colors for the rooms, light fixtures, etc. We moved into our new home on June 22, our 24th wedding anniversary.
We lived in this home for six years. At the time we were building our home, a new chapel was also being built on the same street as our home (Berkeley Avenue). John spent much time helping with the building of this chapel. He put in more time than any other non-paid member in the San Joaquin Stake. So building a new home and helping build a chapel really took all his time.
Soon after we moved into our home, Mr. Markley who owned the dairy across the street from us, came and asked John if he would accept the job of feeding the calves night and morning. John loved this kind of work as it had been part of his life's work, so he accepted the job. He continued with the job until we left Turlock.
Life went on as a family. All of us were busy with church activities. Our ward under the leadership of a Sister Lorna Birchall served Mexican dinners and turkey dinners to help the building fund. Our ward had the job of preparing dinner for as many as 600 people when the Turkey Growers would meet for a convention. I most always helped prepare the meal. John, Pearl, and Jacquelyn would be among those who would serve the meal. There were no automatic dishwashers, so all the dishes were done by hand. It was a monumental task.
On November 18, 1954, Tom arrived from the Philippines. He saw his little son, Kim, for the first time. On November 21, Tom, Pearl, and Kim left for southern California. This was truly a sad day for us. We had become so attached to Kim. He was at a cute age. The house seemed empty when he left. But on February 22, 1955 Pearl and Kim came back to be with us again as Tom had been sent by the Navy to Kodiak, Alaska. He returned to Turlock on August 1. On August 13 Pearl, Tom and Kim left for Millington, Tennessee. (More on this later.)
Jacquelyn had been working most all summer. On Friday, September 16 she left by Greyhound bus for Provo, Utah to attend Brigham Young University. This was the beginning of the five years she would spend at BYU. Life was different for John and I for now both our girls were gone from home.
We decided to take a bus trip back to Ohio, Florida, and into Millington, Tennessee to see the children. So on October 3, 1955, we started on this trip. We went by way of Tacoma, Washington and visited with my brother Lon and his family. Then we went down to Meridian, Idaho where we used to live. Our little home there was not being taken care of as it had been when we owned it. We stayed there two days, then left for Utah. We visited with all members of my family including my brother, Walter, and his family in Ogden and also my grandmother who was 91.
The best stop was with Jacquelyn. She was at Knight Magnum Hall at BYU. We visited for two days with her. We then caught the bus and traveled back to Ohio to visit in Wadsworth. We visited with Leona, John's only living sister. We were there until November 1. We again left by bus and traveled to Florida where we visited with Harry and Lenore Rohrer, our old time friends. On November 12 we arrived in Millington, Tennessee. We truly enjoyed being with our children and especially Kim. He turned eighteen months old while we were there. We had Thanksgiving dinner with them, and then left the next day for our return to Turlock. We stopped in New Orleans, Phoenix and Covina before getting home. We arrived home December 2, and very glad to be home again.
Jacquelyn came home for the holidays. She arrived December 17. The year 1955 was drawing to a close. I have mentioned several events that took place. John and I also celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary this year. (I got new living room furniture.)
Our new chapel was dedicated. Many, many hours of free labor were put in on this chapel, and I had also donated time on it.
The year 1956 proved an interesting year. Jacquelyn entered her second year at college. We were blessed with our second grandchild, a beautiful little boy who was named Jeffery Brent. At this time Pearl and Tom were living in Hutchinson, Kansas. I left August 14 for Hutchinson and was with Pearl until after Jeffery was born on September 7. Jacquelyn also came out to Hutchinson. She arrived September 16. Then she and I traveled back to Utah where she returned to BYU for another college year. I returned home to Turlock.
The year of 1957 was one of change and travel and plans were forming to move from Turlock to Utah which was against my desire. On March 27 we bought a new car. It was a flashy car for us. It was a red and black Catalina Pontiac with light grey upholstery.
It may seem unusual to write about a car, but our 1947 car was used for so many events in our lives, I feel I would like to mention them. In 1947 it was difficult to buy a car. World War II had been over just a short time. Factories had been used for war supplies and were just beginning to convert back to making cars. Waiting lists were long.
We did not get the car we really wanted, but were fortunate to get the one we did. It was equipped with more things than we needed, so of course it cost more. John could see how badly I wanted the car, so he paid the dealer cash for it, and we rode home from Rittman in it. I said at the time that I felt like a queen riding in it.
Here are some of the events this car traveled to. Our first trip was from Ohio to Utah for the "Days of '47" Centennial held July 24, 1947 in Salt Lake City. In 1949 we moved from Wadsworth, Ohio to Covina, California. In 1950 we moved from Covina to Idaho. In 1951 we moved back to West Covina. In 1952 we took Pearl to BYU in Utah. In 1953 we took Pearl to Mesa, Arizona to be married. In the summer of 1953 John, Jacquelyn and I traveled back to Ohio for a visit. In 1954 we moved to Turlock, California. In May, 1954 our first grandson was brought home from the hospital in this car. It was the first car of ours that Jacquelyn drove. So the two toned grey Pontiac served us well.
I have been writing about the year 1957. I have failed to mention that my precious, wonderful grandmother Lola Lucinda Tidwell died at the age of 92 years, 5 1/2 months. She died in Salt Lake City at my Aunt Avon Smith's home and is buried in American Fork, Utah, Utah County.
I would like to mention a few things about my grandmother. She was not very tall. She had a keen sense of humor and loved to play tricks on her family. She was a devoted wife and mother, having had twelve children. She had known much sorrow. She lost five children in death from 1889-1898 from childhood diseases. Grandpa Smith, her daughter Naomi and oldest son Thomas had also preceded her in death but at a much later date than the first five. Grandma helped bring into the world most all of her grandchildren. She brought in all the children in my mother's family except my brother Ralph. Grandma loved to write poetry and verse. She was a marvelous cook, and we all loved going to grandma and grandpa's place.
Grandma accompanied me when I was married and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. She was a faithful Latter-day Saint and was an angel of mercy to many people. Time after time she helped deliver children and never charged a cent. Everyone loved her.
I shall now continue with events of 1957. Jacquelyn was attending Brigham Young University. In April John and I decided to go up to General Conference, visit with Jacquelyn and plans were to meet Pearl, Tom and our two grandsons, Kim and Jeffery in Provo. Before leaving Turlock, we had received word from Pearl that they would be unable to make the trip from Hutchinson, Kansas to Provo because they had no money. We wired them the needed money to come. They arrived in Provo, April 5 about noon.
Jeff was too young to remember us, but Kim remembered John and I. We all enjoyed conference, and it seemed so wonderful to John and I to have both our daughters, two grandchildren and Tom with us. John and I decided to travel back to Hutchinson, Kansas with Pearl and Tom. We left our car up on the BYU campus in the parking lot back of the Heritage Halls where Jacquelyn lived. We were gone about ten days, then John and I boarded a Greyhound bus for Provo. We visited a short time with Jacquelyn, then left for Turlock.
Besides the trip to Provo and Hutchinson, Kansas, we made another trip to Provo and on to Hutchinson, Kansas and Wadsworth. We left Turlock, October 1 and returned October 28. We wanted to visit with Jacquelyn as she had only come home for two weeks during the summer. She planned to work in Provo during the summer, but plans did not go as planned. She sprained her ankle and tore ligaments in her leg and had to have a cast put on.
After visiting with Jacquelyn we headed for Hutchinson to visit with Pearl and family. We decided to take Pearl, Tom and the boys with us to Wadsworth, Ohio where we visited with John's sisters, Beryle and Leona.
John and I took care of Kim and Jeffery while Pearl and Tom took our car and made a trip up through Kirtland, Ohio and on into Canada. After they returned, we made plans to return to Hutchinson. It was a trip I shall never forget. Between John and Tom and their driving, I threatened to get out of the car and ride the bus!
After leaving Pearl and Tom and the boys in Hutchinson, we headed on home to Turlock. We had traveled 6838 miles. It was so hard to leave our precious grandsons. We had become so attached to them. Kim was more overcome at our leaving than anyone else. But I shall say here that the joy of going to visit our families and the heart breaking sadness of having to bid goodbye became a pattern of our lives. At this writing, Jacquelyn and her family live in California, and so the pattern will continue I am sure for years to come.
Well, the year 1958 has begun. There were several important things that happened in the world and to us personally. January 31, 1958, the United States launched the first earth satellite called "The Explorer". Scientists indicate a new and exciting age. The Explorer circles the earth every 115 minutes.
On February 7 Tom was discharged from the Navy after serving five years. It is wonderful for Pearl, Tom and the boys. Pearl had lived with us part of the time and was with Tom in Port Hueneme in California, in Millinton, Tennessee, and in Hutchinson, Kansas. Now they could start making plans for their life ahead.
They came to visit us the last of February. We gave Pearl the nice chest of drawers that John had Paul Butts make. They left for Provo, Utah to make their home on February 25. Tom entered BYU. We enjoyed having our grandsons Kim and Jeffery with us for a few days. They were such cute little boys.
The last of March I received a telephone call from my brother Lon. He was an Army career man. He and his family were leaving for Puerto Rico for three years. Mother wanted to have a family reunion in Salt Lake before Lon left. They wanted me to come up to Salt Lake for the family had not been together for twenty-three years. As usual, John was very kind and encouraged me to go, which I did. This was the last we were all together. John stayed in Turlock. I went by Greyhound Bus.
June 18, John's sister Beryle Meeks died in Barberton, Ohio at the age of 64 years, 11 months.
We took Jacquelyn up to BYU for another year of college. She had worked at BYU during the summer and had come home for a visit before returning. We left September 18. Jacquelyn knew Ron by this time. (1958) After getting Jacquelyn settled, John and I bid goodbye to Pearl and family and left for a trip into Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and returned west via Iowa and Nebraska and back to Provo where we again visited with our family. This was the most leisurely and fun trip we had ever taken. We were gone close to a month.
On November 8, John and I went down to the Los Angeles Temple with a bus load of other members of the Stake. Our purpose in going was to have John's brother Earl and sister Cleo sealed to John's parents. John and I were proxies. This now made Carl, Clarence, Earl, and Cleo sealed. In the future we will have Beryle's work done. Jacquelyn came home for Christmas.
The year 1959 was quite an eventful year. On January 20 I entered the Emmanuel Hospital for a breast operation. Dr. Paulus removed a tumor the size of a golf ball. He had to cut deep. He also removed a small carcinoma on the left side of my stomach. (This incision broke open after I got home and had to be taped.) It took several weeks to begin feeling good again.
On March 4 we received a letter from my brother David telling us he and Pauline had gone through the Salt Lake Temple for their endowments. This truly made me happy. David had changed so after he joined the Army and had served in World War II. After his marriage he had no desire to go to church. On Easter 1958 their two children Linda Kay and David gave their parents a Triple Combination. This so shook David; he felt they were giving him a message. He started attending church, gave up his smoking, and the end result was his going through the temple with Pauline and had Linda Kay and David sealed to them.
While on our trip to Utah in June, John and I went to the evening session at the Salt Lake Temple with Dave and Pauline and Olive and Art.
Our trip to Utah at this time was to attend graduation exercises for Jacquelyn. She received her Bachelor of Science degree June 15, 1959 from BYU. She looked so nice in her cap and gown. We were very proud of her. Tom also graduated and received his Bachelor of Science degree from BYU.
Kim entered school in the fall of this year. Another trip to Utah in October. We left October 7 and arrived home October 24.
We visited with Pearl, Tom, and the boys. Jacquelyn was back in Provo. We got to visit with her as her time would permit. Ron had also come back to Provo. John spent quite a bit of time looking for real estate, mostly in the Pleasant Grove area. He had made up his mind to move to Utah. I was against the idea and was very unhappy with the idea, and as my history will show, the year 1960 found us moving to Utah. (More about this later.)
Christmastime was approaching; Jacquelyn and Ron arrived on December 22. Ron left that afternoon for his home in Southern California. Will enter here that Jacquelyn and Ron became engaged in December. I remember well when Ron asked John and I if we would give permission for them to marry. We gave our permission. John and I liked Ron the first time we ever met him. So 1959 was a busy year. One of the biggest changes to take place was the purchase of a Maytag Automatic washer. John had secretly shopped for it, then took me to the store for my approval. It was truly a big step in my life. How wonderful not to have to put clothes through a wringer, plus two rinses and using a stomper. I never again considered wash day as being hard.
On March 23, we received a letter from Jacquelyn giving us a few details of her coming marriage. She and Ron were married June 7, 1960 in the Manti Temple. John and I left Turlock May 24 for Provo. I helped her with her wedding announcements, also attended a shower which was given for her by Della Mae. On June 3, Ron arrived from Southern California. On the morning of June 7 we arrived at the Manti Temple for their marriage. Jacquelyn made a lovely bride and Ron a fine looking groom.
John and I felt our move from Ohio and our desire to have both Pearl and Jacquelyn married in the temple had been fulfilled.
On June 19, we held an Open House in our home in Turlock for Jacquelyn and Ron. Many people from our ward and town came. After the open house Jacquelyn and Ron left for Southern California. Our prayers were that they would be happy.
We had brought Pearl, Kim, and Jeffery back from Utah so they could be here for the open house. Kim and Jeff had the chicken pox. This made for extra care for all of us.
Pearl had written us in April that we were to be grandparents for the third time. The birth of Lori was an exciting time which I shall mention later on in the events of this year. The summer went on. We had many people stop by to see the house. I could not make up my mind to leave Turlock. I was happy in my ward activities and was teaching the theology class in Relief Society. I was also substitute teaching in the adult Sunday School class and involved in other activities. So each time a prospective buyer would look at the house, I resented it. On July 8 we sold the two acres of ground north of the house. We sold it to a Reverend Joseph. I understand there is a church built there now.
So this left just the house to sell. On September 20, a lady who had previously looked at the house decided she would buy it. She had to sell her house first, so no money was exchanged then. On November 4 the deal finally closed. We had been packing and making preparations for the big move to Utah for nearly a month. In reading my diary I recorded that I had many bad headaches that not even medication would stop. I know they were caused from sadness deep within me for having to leave Turlock.
Monday, November 7, the big Mayflower van arrived. They told us the van would be unloaded Thursday. This proved to be an anxious time for us. The van left our place at 5:30 pm. John and I spent the evening scrubbing, vacuuming, cleaning the stove, and whatever needed doing. Our neighbors, the Jordans, had us over for supper. John and I slept in the vacant house.
November 8 we bid goodbye to Turlock. I was so sad (also very resentful). I took the last glance through the house. (This was the first home we had ever built expressly to our plans and desires.) We had been active in Church activities. John had helped build the Turlock Ward Chapel, had spent more voluntary hours than any other person. John was ward finance clerk for several years. I had been theology teacher, Era director, and personal chairman to recruit help to prepare banquets at the Memorial Hall. But my health had not been good. I never did get my blood pressure under control and was plagued with headaches.
We were on our way to a new experience. We arrived in Provo at Pearl's on November 9 about 2:00 pm. We spent the rest of the day and evening looking for a home to rent. We had no luck. We left Pearl's at 8 am the next morning (November 10) to find a place. I am sure we were guided to a particular real estate place for we had exhausted every lead. At lunch time Pearl advised us our furniture had arrived and was to be unloaded that afternoon. The real estate man had a house he was trying to sell for some people leaving for Germany. They agreed to let us rent it as they had to leave within a week. This deal helped both of us.
The home was in Orem and cost $76 a month. The van was unloaded. Most of my furniture was placed in the breeze way as the owner had not moved yet. They did let me move in my dinette and bedroom sets. All other furniture was outside. My lovely corner table, bedroom vanity and refrigerator received bad damage in the van. My sad attitude towards the move and the damage of my furniture did not help the situation. By dark the move was made, then John and I went down to Pearl's home to have supper and stay there until we could get into our rental.
Now for another big event of the year. Pearl had been weary all evening and experienced pain. About 2:30 am she and Tom left for the Utah Valley hospital where Pearl gave birth to our third grandchild, a beautiful little girl. She was born at 4:40 am. How happy we all were. I called Jacquelyn to give her the good news. John was concerned about the birth and cried several times after Pearl left. He was always so tender-hearted about his daughters.
Life started off very busy in Utah. The Lord had blessed Pearl and ourselves in that Lori did not arrive until after we arrived in Utah and got our furniture unloaded, and then she made her arrival during the night.
John and I took care of Kim and Jeff. November, December, and January were very busy helping Pearl with Kim, Jeff and our new little granddaughter Lori. We were going down into Provo to help Pearl get her washing done, and then I would hang out the wash even on quite cold days. John and I decided to get her a new washer and dryer. It was a happy day for all when the washer and dryer arrived. From then on she did not need my help. We were so happy to lessen her work in this way.
John and I thought it was wonderful to have Pearl and our grandchildren come visit and for us to visit them and know we were only a few miles apart.
On December 8 John and I left for Garden Grove, California to visit with Jacquelyn and Ron. It was the first time for us to see their home. Jacquelyn seemed so happy to show us through the house. They had it furnished real nice. They had been married six months at this time. We returned back to Orem in time for Christmas with Pearl, Tom and the children.
The eventful year of 1960 was near an end, and this history tells the important events (which were many). But a very sad condition happened on my own side of the family. My brother Walter had had a nervous breakdown and had been admitted to the Utah State Hospital in Provo.
As a child growing up, people always referred to this hospital as the "crazy house." So to have Walter there made me very sad. John was so good to go with me often to see Walter during his first months there. He knew he was there, and it humiliated him. A big load was placed on my shoulders to try and console him. He and I had been close to each other as we grew up. At first our meetings were tense. He would become violent as he talked of what happened to him. We listened to him. We would go get him and take him to our home or for a ride. He loved that. Years went by. Walter was placed in rest homes in Orem, Salt Lake and finally St. George where he lived until his death on September 10, 1976. His life had a sad ending. Only I know what a wonderful person he was and how he loved his mother. It was his love for his mother and tension with his wife Zelma that helped bring on his nervous breakdown.
On March 15, 1961 we broke ground in Springville, Utah for our new home. I would like to relate the events leading to this venture. On Sunday, February 5, we had taken a drive over to Springville (at Pearl's suggestion). We had Pearl and the children with us. As we entered Springville on Main Street, there was a water fountain near the curb. John stopped to get a drink. The taste of the water pleased him. He remarked that it was the best tasting water he had had since leaving Wadsworth.
We drove around town and somehow got on Canyon Drive. We saw all the lovely big homes up there. There was one vacant lot which was for sale. I told John we would not fit in up there for we were farmers. But on Monday afternoon John and I drove back to Springville and looked over the area. We drove our car up on the vacant lot. As I looked out over the valley and saw Utah Lake to the northwest, I felt this was where we would build our new home. I became very excited and anxious to buy the property. We returned on Tuesday, went to the real estate office and met Brother Dillon Frazier. We made a cash offer for the property. Mr. Frazier got in touch with the owner to see if he would accept the offer. He accepted. So now we were on our way to becoming residents of Springville. From here on our minds and efforts were on building our first brick home, on a hill, overlooking a valley.
A dream we had talked about for so many years was coming true.
On March 15 the ground was broken for our home. Tom drew the house plans. John hired Verl Child as the builder. They changed the house plans from a flat roof and lots of windows to a peaked roof and less windows. We felt the house could be kept warmer in winter and cooler in the summer with this change. Bids were let out and the house grew. Each week it became more beautiful. John and I drove around Provo and Orem to find brick we liked. We saw a house in Orem built of the brick we finally decided on. We also found out the man who layed their brick lived in Springville. So we engaged him. We purchased the lovely antique gold, combed brick. We received many compliments over the years on our home.
John commuted daily between Orem and Springville. It was a great joy in selecting floor coverings, formica, stove and electrical fixtures, etc. On June 15, 1961 we moved into our lovely new brick home at 689 Canyon Drive. It was not completely finished, but we had to give up the house in Orem as it was being leased. Only our bedroom was finished. So the next few months we lived with the sound of hammers, saws and trucks coming and going, bringing supplies. After the builder moved out their saws and equipment, after plumbing was in, windows set in place, we closed out the public and began painting and finishing our home. We had Pearl, Tom and children here on July 4. It was the first Pearl had been in the house since we moved in. Tom grilled hamburgers out on the patio.
During the time that we were building our home, my mother had become quite ill. She had lost quite a bit of weight and gone into diabetes. We made trips to Salt Lake to see her. We would clean her house. Her husband Bob Janes was losing his eye sight. This presented problems when he cooked meals for he did not know one burner control from the other. They had an electric stove, and many times it was not completely shut off. It was a worry to me. We brought mother down to Springville with us for a few days. She missed her friends in Salt Lake City and wanted to return. On September 16, 1961 we moved her from her home on Second East to a to a home that Leta had picked out. It was on First South and Seventh East. It was not the type I would have picked out for mother. After all she was leaving her own home and should have been moved into a more cheery home. This move did not last too long. I could see mother's health failing. The same conditions existed with Bob not being able to see. I was at her place on New Year's Eve. Both she and Bob were quite ill. I returned back to Springville for a few days, then again went to Salt Lake to be with mother. She was taken to LDS hospital for a goiter operation. She was there several days before surgery. I was with her every day. John had returned to Springville. On February 2, 1962 mother was operated on. I shall never forget how ill she looked when they brought her from the recovery room to intensive care where they kept her for six hours. It was nip and tuck for several days.
My brother David, Leta, and I (Olive was in Alabama.) decided to move mother to Hill Haven Convalescent home when she was able to leave the hospital. Mother had been taken by ambulance from the LDS Hospital to Hill Haven. It was one of the nicest convalescent homes in Salt Lake. It was very modern and convenient. Then Bob decided to go live with his son in California. We got him ready to leave. Mother was very sad to see him go.
Then the job of moving all of mother's furniture, belongings, etc. to my home in Springville started. But all the family worked at it, and finally on February 10 we made the move. We had taken Bob to the train the night before for his new home in California. My heart ached for both of them, but it was the only decision that could be made.
John and I had mother's furniture placed in our garage. We then had a garage sale and disposed of everything and did quite well. We took the cash up to mother. John spent a lot of time repairing furniture and such.
Mother was quite unhappy about living in a rest home even though it was very nice. It was really a miniature hospital. There were two ladies to a room, nice surroundings, a big lounge with TV, piano and easy chairs where people could go to visit. There was a lovely serving kitchen. All food was brought to each room.
John and I made many, many trips to Salt Lake. We brought mother down to visit us. Leta also brought her to our place. Her diabetes became worse. It affected her eyesight, circulation and well being. One time when John and I were visiting her, she went into a coma. We rushed her back to the hospital. I thought she had passed away. We took her to emergency, and it was nearly 10 pm that night before the doctor admitted her to a room. John and I never left her until she was settled. She again was returned to Hill Haven. Her health kept failing. On April 14, 1965 she suddenly passed away and is buried in American Fork, Utah in the cemetery plot with her parents, Alonzo and Lola Tidwell Smith. I will mention that her husband Robert Janes returned to Utah and also lived in a rest home until his death.
I shall now return back to 1961 where our life continued to be busy. John planted lawn. It fell my lot to keep it watered as John started working for Tom on August 15. Tom was building a big home in Provo. He continued to help Tom into January 18, 1962. Besides working for Tom, John helped me can fruit and vegetables from our garden. Jacquelyn came home for a visit twice this year. John and I kept the road hot between Springville and Provo in going over to Pearl's. The children were such company for us.
Tom entered Utah Valley hospital October 31, 1961 with a collapsed lung. Pearl, Tom, and children and John and I spent Christmas in California. John and I stayed with Jacquelyn and Ron. Pearl and Tom had bought a Volkswagen before leaving for California.
Jacquelyn took Pearl, Kim and Jeff to Disneyland. I think this was their first visit there. I took care of Lori while they were gone.
The year 1962 had begun. Tom started for California January 20 by Trailways Bus. At Levan the bus crashed into a stalled oil tanker. The bus plunged twenty-five feet over an embankment and skidded seventy-five feet. Tom received a cut lip and taken to Fillmore hospital. John and I went over to be with Pearl. Our lives continued to be happy with Pearl's family. This was one reason to move to Utah, so that we could enjoy our grandchildren. Kim and Jeff were in school. Lori was such a cute sweet baby. But the heartbreaker came when Pearl and Tom decided to move to California. Now John and I would be left alone in Springville.
Sunday, June 3, 1962 was the day of parting. Jacquelyn had come from Garden Grove, California to help move them. Tom, Ron and Joe left on June 2 for El Monte with a truck load of furniture. Sunday, June 3, Jacquelyn, Pearl, Kim and Jeff and Lori left at 4:35 am in Pearl's Volkswagen. Jacquelyn drove it as Pearl had not yet started to drive a car. As they backed down the driveway, I said to John, "That car holds all we hold very dearly." Our hearts were breaking. My home did not appeal to me so much after my family left. About 9:30 pm we received a call from the girls telling us they had hit a deer near Fillmore. It had caved in the left front side of the car including the head light. They all got shook up, physically and mentally. They called El Monte to tell Tom and Ron. Tom and Ron drove back to Las Vegas where Jacquelyn had managed to drive the car that far.
On July 18 I was operated on for a tumor. About one third of my breast was removed. I was released July 20 and when I got home, here was Jacquelyn. She stayed until August 2 and was a great help. I was not allowed to do dishes or any housework for over a month.
On October 15 John and I left for Ohio. We went out by train on the California Zephyr. It was a delightful trip. We had to change trains in Chicago. This was really an experience. We boarded the Baltimore-Ohio train and arrived in Akron late at night on October 16. John and Leona were there to meet us. We visited family and friends for two weeks. This was the last time we saw our farm and home. The lady in the home let us go through and see it. Many changes had been made. It did not seem like we had ever lived in it. What used to be the pasture was now built up with lovely homes, streets, curbing, etc. We arrived back in Springville October 30 (1962). While we were gone, a new sidewalk had been put in. It was a wonderful improvement for the property.
On November 5 John and I left for California. This was one of many trips we would take to see our children. We spent Thanksgiving with our children. The dinner was at Jacquelyn's. At the end of the day we had to bid goodbye to Pearl and family as we were leaving the next morning to return to Utah. We were just getting acquainted with Lori, and she was acting so cute with us.
We bid goodbye to Jacquelyn and Ron the next morning. It had been a wonderful visit. We traveled up the freeway to Turlock to visit with our friends Fern and Glen Pope and other members of the Turlock Ward. It was such a joy to see our old friends. Everyone treated us grand. We attended Sunday School and Sacrament Meeting. A great joy for us. Our separation from our family was not for long. Jacquelyn and Ron spent the Christmas holidays with us.
We enjoyed the year living in Springville. We joined the Senior Citizens on March 19. Just a few senior citizens had formed a bowling group. This was an activity both John and I participated in. We looked forward to the weekly bowling sessions. Our group began to grow, and we formed many lasting friendships.
As my life history unfolds, I will mention Senior Citizen activities in our lives. The year 1962 drew to a close. We had been active in many ways and had two nice trips. As I have stated before, as I have kept a yearly diary, I am writing my history on a yearly basis. This way my family can refer to a particular year for some event. So now begins the year 1963.
This writing is out of sequence of my history, but I woke up about 5:00 am this morning and was prompted to get up and write this part of my history. It is now 8:15 am, December 1, 1980.
This writing is about John's death, and my reactions and life afterwards.
The day of July 5, 1967 began as any other day. John was repairing the lawn mower out in the garage. A day or so before, we had been discussing the idea of making a Will. I had attended a class on this subject at BYU Leadership Week. A Brother Clyde Sandgren had taught the class. Through him I obtained a copy of our Will. I had placed it on the kitchen cupboard on the morning of July 5. About 10 am or so, I went out to the garage to ask John to sign it. He said he would when he finished his job. I went back in the house. Then the idea of going to Provo to the bank came to me. I went out to talk to John about going to Provo to take care of combining our savings into one certificate. He agreed, so soon we left for Provo and got this done. (John never got to sign the Will.) John took care of the movie equipment at the Senior Citizen Center, so after arriving home from Provo, he left for the Center. He set up the equipment, but it so happened that the man who brought the film from Provo did not come. John put the equipment away and returned home. He had just come in the house when the phone rang. He was asked to help the High Priests to fulfill an assignment to haul hay at the Welfare Farm.
John never refused a call to help on a welfare assignment. He changed his clothes and left about 5 pm. About 6:30 pm I happened to look out the kitchen window. To my surprise I saw a police car parked in front of our home, but no one was inside it. In a matter of seconds the door bell rang. As I opened the door, I saw Bishop Mays Anderson and a policeman standing there. I looked at Mays and said, "What has happened to John?" Mays tried to smile, but I knew something was wrong. Then Mays said John had met with an accident. Mays asked that I go with him, Brother Lynn Houser and Fred Huff, which I did. I also asked that my Relief Society President Florence Lovell accompany us. As we left Springville, heading for Salt Lake, I asked Bishop Anderson to pull to the side of the road, so we could have a word of prayer for guidance and comfort. This was a deep spiritual experience for all of us.
As we neared Salt Lake, Bishop Anderson stated that he did not know which hospital John had been taken to and asked for my decision. I am sure the prayer we offered was a guide, for I asked that we go to the Holy Cross Hospital. None of us knew exactly how to get there, but we did find it. Bishop Mays Anderson and his two counselors were immediately taken to where John was and administered to him. Sister Florence Lovell stayed with me at the admitting desk where I gave the necessary information. We then took the elevator to the designated floor. Very soon a doctor came to tell me a brain specialist was on his way to the hospital. Down deep in my heart I felt John was seriously injured and felt I should call Pearl and Jacquelyn in California. In a short time I was notified John had passed away, never regaining consciousness. I cannot really describe in words the electric shock that went through me. I went very weak and was helped to a chair. I asked to see John. I had to wait for certain legal procedures, then was taken to where he was. They had performed a tracheotomy and he still had the plastic ring around his neck. I reached up and kissed his forehead. It was then the shock came to me that he was truly gone for there was a different feeling on his forehead. I then took his hand and wept quietly so others in the next room would not hear me. Soon I was asked to come out of that room.
I was taken to a waiting room. I asked to call Jacquelyn and then have her call Pearl, which I did. Jacquelyn and Ron had been making preparations to leave for Utah and had Brother Hobbs lined up to take them to the Los Angeles Airport. When they received my second call telling them about John, they then called Pearl, and then left for Utah. My brother David met them at the Salt Lake Airport.
Before leaving Holy Cross Hospital my sisters Olive and Leta, Olive's husband Art and brother David were notified of the death of John. They all came to the hospital to be with me.
About 11 pm I asked to be taken back to Springville. Olive, along with those who had come to Salt Lake with me, left for Springville. Leta left with David. Then David and his wife Pauline went to the airport about 2 am to pick up Jacquelyn, Ron and Allyson. My ever faithful brother-in-law Art returned to their home so he could go to work that day.
So many thoughts went through my mind as we drove home. But never then could I realize what my life would be--days,. weeks, months, and years ahead.
As we arrived home, Leah Stansfield, Mary Martindate, and Lorraine Davies, my good neighbors, were waiting for my return. It was decided Leah would stay with Olive and I until Jacquelyn, Ron and Allyson arrived. Pearl arrived about noon of July 6. She had come by plane. Tom arrived that evening by with car with Kim, Jeff, Lori, Mark and Douglas.
Pearl was seven months pregnant with Bradley Jon. (This story will be told later in my history.)
During the night hours of July 7, I could not sleep. I was disturbed about John's sudden death and wondered why it could happen while he was serving the Lord. I knew the answer could be found in the Book of Mormon but did not know just where. I went out in the living room to read. I know the Lord's spirit was with me for I opened the Book of Mormon to Alma, Chapter 40. I began to read. Beginning with verse 11 I was somewhat comforted, but I felt there was still more scripture, so kept on reading. In the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 29:42-44, and especially in Section 42:44-48, I found some promise and comfort.
The funeral was held in the Kolob Stake House, July 8, 167. John was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville.
John loved the soil and always loved having a garden. He left a monument to this love for out in the backyard there was corn, tomatoes, beans, carrots, and loads of raspberries growing. A picture was taken of his last garden. Jacquelyn got the job to pick raspberries. She needed a pan or bucket with a bail handle. As we opened the fruit cupboard door, we saw on the shelf a bucket that John had put a bail on. It was as if he knew we would need it.
As the harvest continued, the last thing to bring in from the garden was the crop of popcorn. Popcorn was as much a part of our lives on Sunday as was going to church. Every Sunday evening John and I popped a big pan of popcorn. This tradition started soon after John and I were married and continued to the Sunday night before he died. Pearl has continued on with this tradition and to this day she pops a big pan of popcorn every Sunday night.
As the days went on and I had to go into the garage or to the fruit cupboard, memories kept coming to me of how John helped me can and seal each bottle of fruit, vegetables or meat. I continually saw evidence of his handiwork and tools that he had used on the farm. Memories, memories, memories, which saddened me of his loss. Soon I felt in a sea of loneliness. I did not seem to fit in with married couples for I could not stand to see them show affection for each other. No one seemed to speak my language. Prayer was my source of strength. My daughters were a great strength. They too had suffered a great loss for they loved their father. But they will have to write their own personal feelings in their journals.
It took effort and determination to get the legal work done. Many a time as I was driving home from the court house, bank, etc., I would vocally thank my Heavenly Father for the ability to do these many things.
It takes a loss of a mate to realize how much they did in so many ways. Decisions were very hard for me to make. John was always the strong one in making decisions. The first winter was so lonely. I tried to keep busy. I refinished an antique table and two ladder back chairs that I still have in my living room.
I spent Christmas in California, but as I look back on it now, I certainly did not add to the spirit of Christmas with my families.
My neighbors were so wonderful and helped in every way they could. Brother and Sister Patten and Mary and A.D. Johnson were very close. Brother Patten was John's High Priest Group Leader. A.D. Johnson was a counselor and John was a counselor at the time of his death.
Mays and Orpha Anderson dropped in often to see me. Dell and Naomi Diamond also dropped in often, but no one could fill the void of John's passing. I longed for him. It was difficult to sit in the living room and see his empty chair. A time came when I had to remove his chair, but that certain corner of the living room was his. Most all our evenings (except for summer evenings) were spent in the living room, he in his corner and me in mine.
As I have written my history, I have not mentioned church assignments or other things I have done in the church.
At the age of sixteen, my parents were then living in Los Angeles, California, and in the Manchester Ward. I was called to teach the Book of Mormon in Sunday School. This was a great challenge for me, for I found many times the students knew more than I did. So I began to study more. Through this study I gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon. After arriving in Ohio, I was immediately given a Book of Mormon class to teach. The children in the mission field seemed more advanced in the knowledge of the gospel than the young folks in the west. So again, I had to devote more time to study.
The nineteen years I lived in Ohio I taught the Young Married class, the adult Sunday School class, taught the theology class in Relief Society. I only took time off long enough to give birth to Pearl and Jacquelyn. I would take them back to class on a pillow. They would sleep right on through the class. I loved to teach the gospel. One young man told me that the knowledge he had received in my classes helped him join the church. This meant much to me. (This was Steve Juhasz)
I also worked in the Relief Society. I served as president for just a few weeks while the Akron Branch was going through a change. I served as secretary for a short time, but this proved a hardship to the president in Akron as there were times she would need a check or some statistic, and I would have the books in Wadsworth. But this is where I began the love for secretary work in the church.
After moving west I taught the Book of Mormon to the Special Interest group in Turlock. I also was theology teacher in the Relief Society in the Turlock Ward.
After moving to Springville I became secretary of the Relief Society in the Sixth Ward. I held this job from August 1963 until September 1968. I could have held it much longer, but a desire to do genealogy work for John's ancestors became very vivid to me, and I asked for a release. These five years were very happy and satisfying years. I love secretary work. This led to perhaps the present job I now have for the senior citizens (which I shall mention later).
John was finance clerk in the Turlock Ward. I was allowed to help him in this work. We worked with the finances of the ward. We both loved the work.
I also served as Improvement Era Director and had this job for several years. I failed to mention that in Wadsworth, Ohio, I served a branch mission. My area was Wadsworth. I attended home meetings that were conducted by the United Brethren Church, Christian Missionary Alliance Church. I was the only Latter-day Saint. Attending these meeting gave me the opportunity to explain Mormonism. I know I planted some seeds of truth and thought among those people.
I would like to relate a story here that happened upon my arrival in Wadsworth, Ohio. At the time of our marriage, John had written to his father telling him of it and about me. John's handwriting was not the best and evidently his father misinterpreted a word. John was telling him my father was a "printer" (which he was) but John's father interpreted it that I was a preacher's daughter. I noticed right soon after arriving that as John and I would be walking in town that people who would see us (at a distance) would point to me. It was some time later we found out that the town people thought I was a Mormon preacher's daughter. Mormons were not liked in Wadsworth. This made no difference to me. I proudly declared my belief, even visited in the drug store and hardware store with the owners. I told them about Mormonism and even took the druggist copies of the Improvement Era. When he made a trip west he and his family visited Temple Square and were thrilled with it. I never did shy away from anyone because of my religion. I was very proud of it.
When we first went to Akron to church in 1930, the members were meeting in a rented hall. In the early 40's we bought a church building which had been used by another church. All our members cleaned it and made a lovely place to meet. On the day of its dedication there were approximately eighteen people from Wadsworth who came to the dedication. Not one of these people were Latter-day Saints, but from knowing John, our girls, and me, they came. I felt this was wonderful, for as I said before that when I went to Wadsworth, people pointed at me. Some even said John had gone wrong for he had married a Mormon.
I belonged to the Mothers' Club of the Centralized School. This is mentioned in my his