Hettie Mina Staker

Hettie with her husband Peter and children.

History written by daughter Mabel Myrle Johnson Halbert

Hettie Staker Johnson, daughter of Alma and Elizabeth Young Staker, was born at Mt. Pleasant, Utah December 23, 1896. Her early life was spent there and she attended schools there.

She was a vivacious child and seldom took time to walk. The teacher said to her one day “There you go again Hettie, skipping up and down the aisles.”

Discipline was strict in school in those days, and one day for a mischievous prank the teacher gave her little girl friend a hard spanking. Then he came down the aisle to get Mother, but her older brother, Alma, rose up in his seat and said “Don't touch her!” The teacher backed off, but Mother always felt badly about her friend.

She was often required to stay with her Grandmother Young at night. She called her “Granny Young.” Her Grandmother was fond of telling ghost stories after they went to bed, and sometimes Mother would slip out of bed after Granny had gone to seep and run home, about three miles across Mt. Pleasant. The next morning Granny would have to go and see where she was, and give her a good scolding.

My personal knowledge and recollection of her, of course, begins when I was very small. She was one of the finest Mothers a girl could possibly have had.

Always interested in what her family did and anxious for their welfare and education, she gave her life for her family. She had a capacity for understanding, and a wise and just solution to every problem.

When I needed money for tuition or books it was always forthcoming. I often wondered how she managed so well.

She often said “I can read a person like a book,” and she had an almost uncanny judgment of character.

When I was a child on the farm she would hitch the horse to a one horse buggy in the spring and go out and locate the carcasses of dead sheep, who had died on the range while foraging for grass. In early fall when there was nothing remaining except the bones and wool she would go out and get the wool, scour it with soap and lye and when perfectly clean and pure white, would sit during the winter evenings and card it into beautiful bats for quilts.

She knit nice sweaters, wristlets, and stockings for the family. I couldn't wear the woolen stockings because they were “itchy.” During WWI she spent many hours knitting for the Red Cross.

I was constantly by her side, interested in what she said and did, and I learned a great deal from constant association with her.

Her family was always well dressed as she was a good judge of material and a fine seamstress. She was an immaculate housekeeper, an excellent cook, and canned and preserved fruit of every kind. They held open houses the year around, and relatives and friends always found a welcome in their home.

Hettie with her surviving siblings. Hettie is on the far left.

She had high ideals for her family and wanted them to “amount to something.” She was determined that her family should have an education and each in turn had an opportunity to go to school as long as they would.

She had a keen interest in the arts, music, literature and everything of culture and refinement. Our house was never without an organ or a piano and our bookshelves were packed with the finest books. We girls were all given piano lessons.

I have seen her washing dishes when she looked so tired, rather than take me away from my homework. I have often wished since I had washed the dishes for her.

She was deeply religious and lived the principles of the Gospel. Her health prevented her from attending Church the last few years of her life, but her faith did not falter. She was faithful to the end.

She was ingenious and could seemingly meet every emergency. One tie I asked her if I could have a party. She mad a non-committal answer, so I proceeded to invite the whole school at Farnum to our house to a party. They all came, two sleigh-loads of them, and the surprise was on Mother. She rose to the occasion and made a nice dinner for all of them. I can still remember the hot rolls and other good things she served. Everyone had a good time.

She pioneered by Father's side, making a home for her family under all conditions. They lived at the coal mine and it must have been there that she, accompanied by me, of course, looked into a boarded up tent where a tea kettle was steaming on the stove. I remember thinking it was Satan's abode. She undoubtedly knew who lived there.

The summer of 1920 Father had a plowing contract for the Carabou Land Company at Soda Springs. He took his tractor, his teams and machinery, with a herd of Holstein Dairy cows out there and did a great deal of plowing, but the company went bankrupt and he did not get anything out of it. He finished the season putting up hay for a cattleman nearby.

About 1909 or 1910 they sold the dry farm and bought a big farm adjoining the city of St. Anthony. He and Hugh Davis divided the land and Father farmed his part, but Hugh rented his out. They lived there for several years, and finally in 1923 they moved to Pocatello where they bought a nice new house at 118 So. 13.

It was here that Mother passed away April 12, 1931. She is buried in Mt. View Cemetery in the family plot.

Her face was like an angel,

Her hands were gnarled with pain,

Her ideals every upward

I hope we meet again.

*We have another 3 page handwritten account of Hetta by one of her children, dated 6 Mar 1955. We also have a 16 page account of Hetta by her granddaughter Ila Gertrude Smith Gilbert, daughter of Ethel Matilda Johnson Smith.

Peter Alvin Johnson

History Written By daughter Mable Myrle Johnson Halbert

(Gloria says to read this with the idea that it is only half true. Aunt Mabel wanted to glorify everybody, and make things overly “beautiful.”) [Note in Glory Lynn's handwriting]

PETER ALVIN JOHNSON, the second son of John Martin and Marie Matilda Oman Johnson, was born at Mt. Pleasant, Utah, October 4, 1866.

His early life was spent in Mt. Pleasant, where he attended school. He and his brother, John Martin Jr., were taught to work at an early age. I have heard him tell of the two of them going with their ox team to the canyon to get out wood. He said many times their mother would meet them quite some distance from home when they were late coming in with the load of wood.

He was devoted to his mother, and said he never heard her speak an unkind world to anyone. She was always patient and kind. His mother was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and his father was born in Osterriar, Norway.

His family consisted of the following brothers and sisters: Johnny, Delena, Annie, Lauritz, Erick, Lottie, and Hannah. His mother died when the last named girl was a few days old and he was about 16 years of age.

On February 7, 1887, he married Hettie Mina Staker, a local girl, whom he had known since childhood. Their first child was born in Mt. Pleasant, but soon after, they moved to Lawrence, Emery County, Utah, across the mountains from Mt. Pleasant, and settled there. They built a house, planted trees and an orchard in Lawrence, and lived there for several years.

His father, and sister Delena, made their home with them for some time. Here, five more children were added to the family.

He worked in the coal mines at Schofield during the winter months, but in 1903 decided to move to Idaho. Always a pioneer, new fields beckoned. So with his family and some nephews, the long journey began.

When he reached Idaho he had to take out his own homestead, file on it, and build a house for his family. It was necessary to live on the homestead for five years before it could be proved upon, but in the meantime, he built a substantial house, had a deep well drilled, added other buildings as needed, planted an orchard, fenced his fields, and raised good crops.

Always religiously inclined, he was instrumental in getting a nice cement-block church built about four miles from the farm which all the family attended regularly.

He was a scholar, and although he did not have an opportunity for extensive education, he wanted his family to go to school. He provided fine books for the home library, and on the wall of our living room hung a picture of John Milton dictating a poem to his daughter after he lost his eyesight. Father told me the story of that picture when I was a little girl.

 Young Peter and Hettie Johnson family.

The Johnson's home in St. Anthony, Idaho, which burned down.

As people began moving to Idaho from Utah they stayed at our house until they had a place of their own. Uncle Johnny and Aunt Millie, with their four children, Martin, Olie, Tillie, and Nell, lived at our house for quite some time, until shortly before Aunt Millie died.

Father loved horses, and took great pleasure in breaking broncos and training them for work or travel. He was always able to bring the most recalcitrant horse to obey.

I used to watch him shoe the horses, harness them, and grease the wagons and other machinery, getting ready to work about the farm. He was always so kind; it was a pleasure to be around him.

Sunday morning he would hitch a team to the white-topped buggy (a two-seated affair) and we would all go to Church. I enjoyed Sunday School, but would get sleepy during Sacrament Meeting, and usually went to sleep with my head in Mother's or Daddy's lap, and it was a welcome sound when they would sing the closing hymn.

Father marked out homesteads and settled many families in the Farnum area. Earl and Arthur Day and Ernest Miller, and Uncle Ether Staker settled there.

In about 1910, he and Hugh Davis bought the Hoff place near St. Anthony, Idaho, and divided the land between them. He sold the dry farm later to help pay for this place.

He was honest in his dealings with his fellowmen. I never knew him to take advantage of anyone, and he expected other people to do the same.

One time, he bought a load of hay from an Indian at Fort Hall, after they moved to Pocatello. He paid the Indian in advance, and the hay was never delivered. He was quite disappointed, and said, “I never knew an Indian to break his word before.”

Father loved music, and had an excellent tenor voice. He sang the tenor to “An Angel From On High,” beautifully. We used to gather around the piano—Daddy, Devere, Veda and I, and sing almost every night. He sang in the choir in St. Anthony, and I always had someone to take me to choir practice.

One time, I remember when in about the 4^th grade, I brought my report card home to be signed. It had an “X” on it—which is equivalent to an “F.” I cannot remember what it was in [what subject], but was I ever embarrassed! I slipped it into Daddy's hand when he was eating and asked him to sign it. He signed it without comment, so I never knew whether he noticed the”X” or not.

He took a load of grain to Ashton one time, and when he came home he had clothes for every member of the family. Mother was flabbergasted! He had picked them up at a sale and they were not the kind of clothes she would have selected at all. The coat he bought for me was blue, with brass buttons, and to this day I do not like brass buttons! Mother was busy for months trying to make something suitable out of those things. That was the last shopping he ever did.

Father loved to read and study, and he had many fine Church books in his collection. He bought a set of books, “The History of the World,” which I would have loved to have, but Hazel got them, and it is in Bud Davis's house now.

He was a wonderful father, and he did the best he could possibly do for his family. He was deeply religious and faithful in his beliefs. He was very lonely after Mother died, and about a year later, he married a woman from Salt Lake, Mrs. Hattie Horne.

Below: Peter Johnson and children at their mother's funeral, April 14, 1931. Left to right: Devere, Florence, Hazel,

Peter Alvin Johnson, Mable, Veda, Ethel and Pete.

He died April 23, 1946, in Salt Lake, where he was making his home at that time. Shortly before he died, he reached for someone whom no one else could see. He is buried in the family plot in Mt. View Cemetery in Pocatello.

He was honest, true, and faithful,

And when the bugles sound,

His name will stand with honor

On the roll in the great beyond.

Abigail Lodicia Tanner

Abigail around 1874

 A Recollection of Grandmother Thompson

by James L. Gwilliam, Sr., A Grandson (cousin of Gloria Thompson Foster)

ABIGAIL LODICIA TANNER, born 18 March 1858 at Farmington, Utah, daughter of Nathan and Persis (Tippets) Tanner. Married 23Decembr 1872 in the Endowment House at Salt Lake City, Utah to Frederick Christian Thompson, son of Neils and Karen (Nielson) Thompson. He was born 27 June 1847, at Copenhagen, Denmark. She died 21 May 1938 at Salt Lake City, Utah. He died 10 August 1923 at Farnum, Idaho. Source: “Descendants of Nathan Tanner, Sr.” published by the The Nathan Tanner Family Association 1968 p. 558 16-B.

 Abigail and sister Hattie as children.

Abigail as a young woman.

My first actual recollection of Grandma Thompson was in the early Fall of 1918. My mother had taken me from Park City, Utah to Southern Idaho, hoping to avoid exposure to the dreaded influenza epidemic raging at the time.

The grandparents with their grown sons were operating a large dry farm on the rolling hills between Farnum and Chester, Idaho. The Fall River and the Snake River were nearby but none of the water was available on the high rolling hills. Their home was an unpainted two-story frame house – two rooms upstairs (kitchen and living room, called a parlor) two bedrooms upstairs connected by a steep stairway as narrow as a ladder. The kitchen had a large cooking stove which provided the only heat for cold weather except a small kerosene-burning heater which could be carried from place to place to provide some small comfort, but much smoke, on cold days or nights.

The landscape was bleak. No trees or grass grew in the yard. The grain fields extended right up to the house. This was a pioneering venture. The Thompson's were of pioneer stock capable of meeting the rigors of cold, wind, snow and summer heat. The First World War was coming to a conclusion. Because of the war, grain prices were good; therefore, an element of prosperity was evident as the harvest began.

Grandmother prepared meals for ranch hands, fed chickens, gathered eggs, and did the laundry out in the yard using tubs, buckets, and an old-fashioned scrub board. Water was hauled by wagon from the river. Wooden barrels were placed on the wagon bed to be hauled into river. The water was dipped into the barrels. This process required the efforts of two or three people, and took the greater part of a day. Usually, time was taken to catch fresh trout from the stream to supplement the food supply at the ranch.

Abigail in center with daughters. Rose is on left.

I was present to witness the threshing “bee” in the Fall of 1918. The huge iron-wheeled, self-propelled steam engine rumbled into the yard, pulling the separator, or thresher, a wagon loaded with tools, equipment, and fuel, followed by a large wooden water tank. This was all in tandem, like a train. The separator was positioned between the stacks of bundled grain, the engine some distance away, with a wide leather belt connecting them to provide the drive power. The threshing was a cooperative project. Each rancher provided workers to assist with the work at each farm until the harvest was complete. Grandmother provided meals for workers during the week it took to complete Grandpa's crop. The sons (my uncles) then moved along with the crew, to repay for help received, in kind. The owner of the machinery took his pay in a percentage of the grain as it was threshed. No money changed hands in the process, but everyone made a gain.

It seems that all the men were glad to sit at Grandma's table, because of the abundant and delicious food she prepared.

Following the harvest, the “boys,” including my brother Russell, dug a well near the back of the house. This was dug by hand, with the dirt hauled to the surface by windlass and bucket. It was a call for rollicking fun when the water started to appear. The boys scuffled with grandmother, and insisted she be lowered into the hole to dip the first cup of water. With much laughter, she finally stood in the bucket, held onto the rope, and was lowered down to touch the water. When she was back to the surface, she threw cups of water into the faces of her tormentors.

The days of the long haul each week to the river was ended.

My family moved from Park City to Cottonwood, south of Salt Lake City, in the spring of 1920. Grandmother came down to visit early that summer, which gave me an opportunity to get more closely acquainted with her. During this visit, she made me aware of the small adobe house where she was born. This was located on the northeast corner of Vine Street and Thirteenth East in South Cottonwood. She told me of the large holdings and the several homes her father had built in South Cottonwood, including a large structure known as Tanner Hall. Grandmother also related to us, and especially to me, the efforts of Grandfather Tanner to develop the Tanner Ditch Irrigation Co., and the dairy, livestock, and lumber industries in the canyons east of the valley.

My father had purchased a small pigeon-toed horse, and light buggy. Mother and Grandmother decided to go on a shopping trip to Murray some three or four miles West of our home. Taking along a supply of fresh eggs, and several pounds of sweet cream butter (Mother's specialty), they started on the journey. Both these women were quite buxom, nearly twins as to size. As they stepped into the carriage, it tilted almost to the point of capsizing until they balanced their weight on the seat. All apparently went well on the trip into town, but when they started home, the poor little pony refused to budge. The women had to dismount, lure the horse forward with candy, and finally had to lead him the entire distance. The two blond, fair-skinned women were hot, sunburned, and weak from laughter at their own misfortune. A hearty chuckle, a smile, and hearty laughter, were characteristic of Grandma Thompson and her oldest daughter.

Aunt Rose Lindsay (daughter), Lodicia, Aunt Mel Morse

After Grandfather's death, Grandmother liver with her daughter, Amelia (known to all of us as “Aunt Mel”). This home was on Commonwealth Avenue, near Fifth Easts in Salt Lake City. This made it possible for me to visit many times with her, and have her recall her earlier life experiences. She recalled her early marriage and the new family's efforts to make a living in a pioneer environment. They were farming in Granger, in Salt Lake Valley, and also were operating a ranch at Parleys Park (later Snyderville) near Park City, Utah. Grandfather would leave some time ahead of Grandmother. Later, as spring progressed, she would load a wagon with supplies, hitch up the team, and drive with her children the thirty miles or so through Parleys Canyon to the meadow ranch lands near Park City.

Apparently, this happened for several years, until they decided to enter business in Park City, to take advantage of the economy in the booming mining camp. The time was in the early 1880's.

She told me of the disastrous fire in Park City in 1898, which wiped out their business. The building, stock, and money was all burned in the fire. For several years my Mother had a melted ball of gold and glass which was said to have been the remains of Grandfather's gold watch, all that was left of a thriving business.

My sister Mary (Mary Brunyer) has vivid and fond memories of our grandparents during the Park City era. A snapshot is in her possession, showing Grandmother on the porch of a large home with some of her children. The fire disaster did not deter them from re-establishing themselves in business. Mary also describes clearly the departure of our grandparents and their family to re-establish themselves in Southern Idaho. The journey was made in a large, white canvas, covered wagon, loaded with household goods, food supplies, and their children. Such a journey, taking most of the day in an automobile today, would surely have used up an entire week, or more, at that time, with the necessity of camping along the way for rest and meal preparation. It was at their ranch that I came to know the Thompson Family personally when I was but six years old.

Shortly after the death of Grandfather, I had occasion to go with Grandmother and my mother to visit with Grandmother's ailing brother “Uncle” Stewart Tanner. He was very ill, confined to his bed, hardly able to speak. But one could tell from the increased rise in spirit, and sparkle to his eye, that he was delighted to see his sister, “Dicy.” As they were talking with each other, the grandmother expressed the hope that she would never become so enfeebled or infirm as to become a burden to someone else. Uncle Stewart clasped Grandmother's hand, and in a quiet but firm voice, said to her, “Dicy, have no fear, you will never taste of death.” I guess I was much too young to catch the significance of such a statement, but it did remain in my memory until a later event brought it fully to mind.

In about 1931, the Park City Relief Society was arranging for the anniversary of the founding of the Park City Group. Knowing that Grandmother had been the first president, and knowing that Sister Mary was a granddaughter, they asked her to review her history. Mary asked me to write something from which she could make such a presentation.

I made another special trip to visit with Grandmother in Salt Lake, and during the course of the interview, I learned that she was not only the organizer of the Park City Relief Society, but had also organized and become the first President at Granger, and also the the Primary Associations in each community.

Mary and I regret that we did not retain a copy of this valuable information as Grandmother told it to me. Otherwise, it would not be necessary to make this belated recall of fading memories.

To conclude this brief recollection of Grandmother Thompson, I extract a short portion of my own life story in a Chapter entitled, “Some Women in My Life.” Included in this listing, along with my mother, a surrogate mother, Grandma Bagley, and my wife Alice, is the following resume regarding “Grandma Thompson.”

“The second woman in my life was Grandmother Thompson. Depending on which generation was referring to her, she was 'Mother', 'Aunt Dicy', 'Grandma', or 'Toppy'.

“I guess my mother inherited many of her traits from her mother, for Grandma Thompson possessed the same virtues as Mother.

Aunt Hattie, Aunt Sarah and "Dicy"

“From her I learned the story of Grandfather Thompson, who had begun life as a Danish Cabin Boy, sailing the seas. She told me of his ability to swim completely around his ship holding a brick in each hand. But, mostly from her sweet attitude toward life, I learned something of patience and forbearance.

“Grandma was of the pioneer era. She could harness and drive an ox team, or a team of several horses. She was a helpmate to her husband. They made and lost several fortunes. She lived to see many of her children (including my mother) pass to their graves ahead of her. She had known hardship and ease, she had seen much of sorrow and death, but at no time was there an expression of remorse or bitterness.

“I recall, as she was living with a daughter named Aunt Mel, she would find her way by streetcar around Salt Lake City, calling on her 'girlfriends,' as she called them—women younger than she, who had grown old, and were homebound or ill. Grandmother always seemed to find a way to get to them and cheer them up.

“When we called on her on the occasion of her eightieth birthday, she said to me, 'Oh, how I would like to live another eighty years! I have seen so many good things happen, it would be wonderful to stay another eighty years!' Such is representative of her attitude and philosophy of life: 'All things are good.'

“She feared only of getting old and sick, as to be a burden to someone in her old age. She was spared this fear, as one morning, as was her custom, she went to the front door, brought in the morning paper, spread it on the table to read, and as she sat down in her chair, she lowered her head to the table, and in the flash of a second, transpired to a realm somewhere, to a joyful reunion with loved ones, and to a just reward for a lifetime of hard work, service, and devotion to her Christian ideals.

“My life has been richer, in that she was spared long enough to transmit to me her philosophy of life, and to aid in assuaging the loss of my mother.

“ 'She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.' [Proverbs 31:26]”

*More details available by grandson Keith Thompson.

Frederick Christian Thompson

 Frederick around 1874.

 With wife Abigail in their wagon.

 Frederick with sons, including handsome Stewart Henry Thompson (far right).

 Frederick and Lodicia Thompson

Probably written by his grand-daughter Gloria Foster

Grandfather, Frederick Christian Thompson was a Danish Sailor. His mother had told him to go to Utah and marry a Mormon girl. He joined the navy for four years or so, in order to do it. When he was in South America he was bitten by a scorpion. A native sucked the venom from his leg, then asked for whiskey. He drank some and suffered no harm from the bite.

When he was a kid in Denmark, he said they used to put their peas on a knife and suck them off the knife, running their knife from one side of their mouths to the other.

He said there were thousands of little black snakes there, and they would get in the houses. He was not afraid of them but played with them all the time.

He used to ice skate from Denmark to Sweden or Norway, because the North Sea froze over.

He would sing to his children in Danish. “Oh, Tannenbaum” was one. He also sang “Danskepagan” (Danish Maiden). When he married Abigail, she wanted only English in the home. His English improved, but he always had a Danish accent.

He had a farm in Cottonwood. He had a bar in Park City which burned when the city burned.

Left: Photograph of Frederick with sons. Top: About 1874.

Mother said he was a wonderful husband and father. (He payed tithing and ran a bar—figure that one out if you can. It must be said, though, that the Word of Wisdom was not emphasized before about 1920. A lot of the men still smoked and drank until then.)

When he came to Utah the church asked him to Americanize his name. It was “Thomsen” in Denmark.

*We have a copy of his original patriarchal blessing.

*More details on him are available in the writings of Keith Thompson, Grandson.

Mary Eliza "Mamie" Coon

Mamie came from a great pioneer heritage, the daughter of pioneers Mary Worthington and James David Coon. In the fifties, we (Marsha and family) would visit her from Bountiful almost weekly at her house north of South High School, just off State Street in Salt Lake City.

She and John were called “Mom and Pop” by everyone in the family. Edrie, who never married, and a grandson, Raoul, lived with her. (Pop died while we were in Alaska.) She still played the guitar on request, which stood in a corner when not in use. Juggling pins sat in another corner.

The mild smell of root cellar vegetables came from the basement, in an otherwise spotless, dustless house with hardwood floors. “Mom” told of earlier times when, as a child, her family lived in Pleasantville, and Indians would stop, as they passed by on the dirt road, and ask for food. They always shared their food. The Indians were not begging. It seems they saw this as “rent payment” for the use of their land.

 "Pop" and "Mom" Thomas at Liberty Park. Sunday August 26th, 1944.

John Phillips Thomas

John Phillips Thomas was an exceptional juggler, but also worked much of his life at the Morton Salt Company, and raising and selling chickens to provide for his family. He was a handsome man, with good features. His father was one of the founders of the Salt Company, and his son-in-law Arthur Henry Foster worked there as well. He encouraged his daughters in Vaudeville and performing, until they reached an age when he no longer wanted them around the company of boys that would hang around Vaudeville shows. We have videos of him juggling as an older man, and a photo of him holding Marsha Foster Jay as an infant at Saltair. See the video we have of him juggling! He was also a spiritual man and wrote the following Hymn. He is pictured below with his brother Coslet and some of their juggling equipment in 1898.

A Hymn

Farewell, all earthly honours

I bid you all adieu;

Farewell, all sinful pleasures

I want no more of you.

I want my union grounded

On that Eternal soil

Beyond the power of Satan

Where sin can ne'er defile.

I want my name engraven

Among the righteous ones

Crying Holy Holy Father

And wear a righteous crown.

For the sake of so pure riches

I'm willing to pass through

All needful tribulations

And count them my just due.

I'm willing to be chastened 

And bear my daily cross 

I'm willing to be cleansed

From every kind of dross.

I feel a fiery furnace

I feel it's piercing flames,

The fruits of it are heavy

The Gold will still remain.

All earthly tribulations

are but a moment here.

Then Oh, if we prove faithful

A righteous crown we'll wear;

We shall be called Holy,

And feed on Angel's food,

Rejoicing in bright glory,

Before the THRONE of GOD.

There, CHRIST HIMSELF has promised

A mansion to prepare

For all who serve HIM faithfully,

The Cross a crown shall wear;

Bright crowns shall then be given

To all the ransomed throng,

And Glory, Glory, Glory

Shall be the congrous song.

John Phillips Thomas

(A Juggler.)

Above Standing: Le Nora, Edrie (in doorway), John, Coslet (brother of John)
Sitting: Mamie and Mathilda (Coslet's) wife.

Alice Catherine Getz

With Grandson Arthur Glenn Foster, in uniform

Marsha never knew this great grandmother, but she inherited a quilt that was made by Alice as a wedding gift for her son Arthur, and his bride Le Nora, for their wedding day in 1919. It is patchwork, in the wedding ring pattern, with the interlocking ring design. She was born March 24^th, 1868 in Warwick, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and died January 7^th, 1952 in Biola, California.

*We have several letters written to her son A.H. Foster, and her funeral program. Below: Alice with grandson, Glenn Foster and daughter Myrtle Foster (Curtis). Left: Letter to children 1946.

Daniel Foster

From “Seedlings of William Foster,” Bk II, pg. 44, by Flavius Foster

Daniel was born June 23, 1866 in Brown County, Kansas. He married Alice Catherine Getz on March 19^th, 1888 in Warwick. At some point they moved their family to Southern California from Kansas. He died September 16^th, 1943.

Daniel, 4th child of Robert & Sarah Ann Foster was born in Brown Co., Kansas, where his parents resided for a short time. For some unknown reason, Daniel went to Warwick, Pennsylvania, where he met and married Alice Catherine Getz. They lived in Osborne Co, and in Haddam, Kansas, then moved to Fresno, California. Daniel & Alice C. Foster are buried in Fresno, California.

1870 Census, Mill Creek, Washington, Kansas

Robert Foster age 36, b. Indiana, farmer, land $300

Sarah age 35 b. Illinois

Clarissa age 10 b. Kansas

Malinda age 8 b. Kansas

Daniel age 4 b. Kansas

Harrison age 2, b. Kansas

1900 Census Adell, Sheridan, Kansas

Daniel Foster age 33 b. Kansas/

His Father b. Illinois/ Mother b. Illinois

Alice age 32 b. PA/Germany/PA

Minnie b. Mar 1889 Kansas, age 11

Elmer b. May 1891 Kansas, age 9

Arthur H b. Mar 1893 Kansas age 7

Joseph E b. Jan 1895 Missouri age 5

Robert A b. Dec 1896 Missouri age 3

Chester E b. Apr 1899 Kansas age 1

Above: Daniel Foster and Alice Getz wedding photograph. We have the original on a small piece of tin.

Photograph of Daniel, Alice and some of their children taken at their Golden Wedding Anniversary, about 1938.

Elizabeth Young (Mormon Pioneer)

Birthdate: 29 Mar 1837 Whitby, Ontario, Canada.

Death: 13 Jun 1912 Lawrence, Emery Co., Utah

Parents: James Young and Elizabeth Seeley/Seely

Pioneer: 29 Sep 1847 Edward Hunter Wagon Train

Spouse: Alma Staker

Married: 7 Feb 1856 Pleasant Grove, Utah,

CHILDREN:

William Alma, 7 Jan 1857, Elizabeth Jane 22 Aug 1858, Martha Ellen, 24 Sep 1860, Anna Staker, 21 Nov 1862, Mary, 22 Nov 1864, Sarah Elnora, 22 May 1867, Hetta Minnie, 23 Dec 1869

Lona Bell, 26 Sep 1872, Joseph Ether, 5 Jan 1876

Elizabeth, the fifth child, was born March 29, 1837 in Whitby, Ontario, Canada. She left Canada with her parents in 1838 when they became members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She suffered with her family from the trials and tribulations at the hands of the mobs in Missouri until they were ordered to leave the state. They settled in Franklin Township, Des Moines County, Iowa, across the Mississippi River from Nauvoo, Illinois. They began their journey westward to escape the persecution that existed toward the members of their church in the spring of 1846, living briefly at Pigeon Grove, Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

On June 17, 1847 they left from Winter Quarters, the outfitting station, to begin their arduous and difficult journey to the Great Salt Lake Valley, arriving on September 29, 1847. They were members of the

Edward Hunter Wagon Company. They experienced the sufferings and hardships of the Saints in upholding their beliefs.

 The Old Woman in this photo is thought to be Elizabeth Young Staker

Elizabeth and her family were sent to settle Pleasant Grove, or Battle Creek as it was known then. She met and later married Alma Staker on February 7, 1856 in Pleasant Grove. A few years later they moved to Mount Pleasant, Sanpete County, Utah.

They moved in 1884 to Lawrence, Emery County, Utah, where her husband ran a sawmill, farmed and raised cattle. Elizabeth passed away on June 13, 1912, in Lawrence and is buried in the Lawrence Cemetery. She was a noble woman, mother and member of her church and community and loved and respected by all.

From the book: “Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude” Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

*We have her patriarchal blessing. Also see her biography and photograph in the Seeley Book.

Alma Staker (Mormon Pioneer)

Obituary of Alma Staker

Alma Staker, 95, buried in Utah

AGED PIONEER OF UTAH AND IDAHO DIES AT ST. ANTHONY, CHURCH WORKER

St. Anthony, Jan. 23—funeral services for Alma Staker, 95, pioneer of Utah and Idaho were held Saturday afternoon in the Yellowstone stake tabernacle at St. Anthony with Bishop Severn Swensen of the Second Ward officiating. Music was furnished by the Second Ward choir with Delmont White as conductor and Yerda Mason at the organ. The body was taken by rail to Lawrence, Utah, for burial, accompanied by Mrs. Eleanor Fullmore, a daughter and Mrs. David Larson, a granddaughter.

Alma Staker was born July 15, 1837, at Kirtland, Ohio. When a boy of six, he became acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith. In 1847 the Staker family started west with a company of saints. On account of poverty and adverse circumstances they were forced to remain a Winter Quarters, Iowa, for a few years. In 1852 the company again started west with Henry Miller as leader. They were members of the memorable body of Saints who crossed the Missouri River on ice.

Their wagon which contained all their earthly belongings was made entirely by Alma Staker, then a boy of 15. After many hardships and trials the company reached the Great Salt Lake Valley. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Young in 1857. In 1859 they moved to Sanpete County where he enlisted in the Utah State Militia and served in the Black Hawk Indian War. He served as a Minute Man from 1865 to 1867 in the George Tucker Company. In 1869 he moved to Mount Pleasant and helped lay out the town.

In 1912 the Staker family moved to St. Anthony. He is survived by four children: Mrs. Elizabeth Day of SLC, Mrs. Martha Miller of Farnum, Mrs. Eleanor Fillmore, and Nathan Staker of St. Anthony. He is also survived by 35 grandchildren, 105 great grandchildren, and six great, great grandchildren.

*We have his patriarchal blessing.

Maria Mathilda Petersson Oman (Mormon Pioneer)

Maria was born April 10, 1847 in Algustrum, Kalmar, Sweden. She married John Martin Johnson on October 24, 1863 in Mt. Pleasant, Utah at age 16. They were the parents of nine children. On February 25, 1882 in Mt. Pleasant she gave birth to Johanna Johnson. The new baby girl lived, but Maria died a week later in Mt. Pleasant.

John Martin Johnson (or Larsen) (Mormon Pioneer)

Testimony of John Martin Johnson

I will tell you of my experiences, how I got a testimony of the gospel. I had been sailing to France, England, Germany and Denmark. [When] I came home my Father and Mother had embraced the gospel, and they [told] me that God had revealed himself to a man named Joseph Smith. I said, “That cannot be, for we have the Bible, and Martin Luther brought it [forth] for us to use. One day my Uncle, my Mother's brother, was going to be baptized. He lived on a little farm across the harbor. Father [and] Mother, with two Elders and myself, sailed in my Father's boat to my Uncle's home. My uncle got baptized and my parents got me to be baptized. When we were sailing home I was thinking I had done a wrong thing. When we got to our house they said “We have got to go to a meeting.” I said “What for?” They said, “You shall have the Elders hands laid on your head for the gift of the Holy Ghost,” and I told them to go and I would go the next time. 

 

Well, it was a fine moonlit night. I took and lit my lamp. The table was standing between two windows. I took the Bible and the Book of Mormon and put them on the table to read. As I read, a voice read after me, [bothering] me. I thought it was eavesdroppers. I went around the house [looking] everywhere, and [could find] nothing. I went into the center of the room [with] the books. I stood and cried, and wished I could pray and get to know if this church was right. I turned to see if anyone was outside, and to the East Father had a frame building for wood. Against the wall stood a man. Such a homely man I had never seen. He was covered with hair. I immediately knelt down to pray—being so frightened. It felt like something leaped on my back and was about to press the life from me. The spirit within me told me he was the devil. I prayed with all my heart for deliverance and understanding if this church was true. I cared not for anything of this world but wanted wisdom and understanding. Then came a voice from where I had stood and read, and it said “You have asked for nothing but wisdom and understanding. Secure all kinds of good books and you shall go to the West and you shall be tried hard.” There he stopped, and I turned myself around to see, and there stood a man, a white cap on his head, white shoes, apron on him, and a robe hanging from his shoulders. The Gospel is true, believe me or not. [It says] in the Bible that some shall have dreams and visions and visitors. Some believe and some do not believe.

John Martin Johnson was born 4 Sept 1835 in Risor, Norway. He was in Winter Quarters in 1856 and 1857. He went back for saints in 1863. He died March 20^th, 1913 in Chester, Freemont County, Idaho.

*He recorded many spiritual dreams in a diary that we have copies of. We also have his Death Certificate.

Persis Tippets (Mormon Pioneer)

Persis Tippets was the second wife (in plural marriage) of Nathan Tanner, and mother of Abigail Lodicia Tanner. She was born May 15, 1821 in Lewis, Essex, New York. She married Nathan on April 10, 1849 in Salt Lake City. She died on July 6, 1903 in Granger, Utah.

Nathan Tanner (Mormon Pioneer)

Nathan Tanner, Senior, was the son of John tanner and his second wife, Lydia Stuart Tanner. He was born in Greenwich, Washington County, New York, May 14, 1815. The early life of Nathan as a boy, was very closely associated with that of his father who imposed upon his son a variety of responsibilities. He was among the first to receive the gospel in this dispensation. At the time of his death, he was perhaps the oldest L.D.S. Church member, having lived eighty years from the time he was baptized.

At one time he was the only member of Zion's Camp. He traveled with the Prophet and assisted Zerubbabel Snow of the Commissary Department. He was with the Prophet on one occasion when the latter was wrapt in vision, and saw in vision the future of the country over which they were traveling. When a boy, he filled a mission with his brother-in-law, Amasa Lyman, in the Eastern States. At the old home in Bolton, he married Rachel Winter Smith in 1836.

He suffered from mob violence that tried so severely the Saints both in Kirtland and in Missouri. After occupying a prominent position among those who were driven to Nauvoo, he was chosen by the prophet Joseph as one of the explorers to accompany him to the Rocky Mountains. With his brother John and Loyal Souls, he was among those awaiting the Prophet on the night of June 22, 1844, when they crossed the Mississippi River preparatory to proceeding westward. Joseph and Hyrum returned to Nauvoo and their martyrdom followed.

He lived in Adams County, Illinois, for about one year, then moved to Montrose opposite Nauvoo until the exodus.

In 1848, Nathan moved south of Salt Lake City about ten miles on what was then known as the Lyman survey. He was one of the first to bring water from the Little Cottonwood stream for irrigation purposes.

In the fall of 1849 he was called on a mission to explore southern Utah, with Parley P. Pratt and others. In 1852 Nathan started out on a mission to the Sandwich Islands. He went south to San Bernardino, thence north to San Francisco and from here he set sail with a number of elders that were on their way to India.

At his funeral, held in the Granite Stake Tabernacle, President Joseph F. Smith, who was the chief speaker, said that his fidelity to the Prophet Joseph Smith would alone assure him of a place among the worthy in the celestial kingdom.

He died in December, 1910, at the home of his son Stewart in Granger. He was a few months under ninety-six years of age at the time of his death.

At the funeral services of Nathan Tanner, President Joseph F. Smith spoke of the history of this good man which he said had been closely woven with the history of the Church. He said that he had regarded the life of Nathan Tanner as an example for his life. In conclusion, President Smith urged the children and descendants of this man to follow in his footsteps, leading a life of truth and righteousness.

*See the book “descendants of Nathan Tanner (SR.)” for “Incidents in the Life of Nathan Tanner Written by Himself on the Occasion of the Tanner Family Reunion Held in Payson in 1895.” (11 pages).

Neils Thomsen & Karen Nielsdatter (Mormon Pioneers)

Neils Thomsen was born September 21, 1815 in Sanden, Albaek, Hjorring, Denmark, and was christened the next day. He met and married Karen Nielsdatter (or Nielsen) on October 23, 1846 in Kobenhavn, Denmark.

They had several children together, including Frederick Christian. Karen (also called “Carrie”)was born March 29, 1823 in Herslev, Kobenhavn, Denmark and died November 8, 1867 in the same city. Neils died November 8, 1873.

Mary Worthington (Mormon Pioneer)

An account of Herself 82 years old on

7 February 1932

The wife of James David Coon, Mary Worthington, daughter of James Samuel and Eliza Clark Worthington, born at Macclesfield, Cheshire, England on 7 February 1850.

In March 1857 Mother and I left for America. Mother joined the Church of Latter Day Saints of Jesus Christ and it was because of this that Mother and I left England. My Father and all of Mother's Family turned against her. The scriptures state that “there will be one of a family and two of a city flee to Zion.” The Steamship that we sailed on was “The Washington.” We were lost at sea and were on the Ocean seven weeks. We landed in Boston in May of 1857, and stayed there for three weeks.

My Mother married a man named Edward Horrocks, His wife had died and left him with five daughters. Mr. Horrocks prepared to come to Utah; He Procured two wagons and two yolk of oxen. There were nine in the Family. We started on the long journey to Utah over the plains. When we arrived at the Platt River, the men were told not to stop there, or their oxen would sink into the quicksand. All the people who were large enough to walk did so because it was necessary to lighten the load. We would hold on to the backs of the wagons and wade through the River, the water was deep. I remember that I had started to laugh and let go and went under the water; this frightened my Mother. They were able to help me out and everyone was happy.

At night the mend would take all of the wagons and place them in a circle to make a corral for the oxen. One morning the oxen and cattle became frightened at something and stampeded; They ran over one of our wagons and broke a wheel off, killing one man and a girl. For lack of any other material the men took the wagon box and made coffins for the man and the girl. Thus we were left with only one wagon and nowhere to pack in our provisions. Finally one of the men in our party said we could place our goods in his wagon. My Stepfather then let him take a yolk of our oxen; we all had to walk after this unfortunate accident. We walked day after day in the hot sun, we had very little water, sometimes drinking out of the puddles by the roadside. I had walked so far that it finally made me ill; I lay down beside the road and when I felt better I would hurry to catch up. One night when they camped I was missing, I had been unable to keep up, being so tired I had laid down and fell asleep and failed to waken. I was very ill for three months after this with an illness called mountain fever, caused by the long walk, bad water and all. It was really hard on a little seven year old girl.

We arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah in September 1857. Before winter we moved to Ogden. We did not have much to eat; Bran mush and squash for fruit. I well remember one winter, my Mother thought she should make something different so she made what we call Apple Dumpling, except she used onions instead of apples. It tasted really good.

We lived in Ogden Valley for a good many years. After I was 12 years old I earned my own clothing, working for people. I did housework, milked cows, made butter and cheese; My wages were $1.50 per week. Shoes cost $5.00 per pair; I worked all one summer for one pair shoes, two woolen dresses and yearn enough to knit two pairs of stockings for winter.

When I was sixteen years old I was married to James David Coon. On 10 March, 1866; We lived in Ogden Valley for Eight Years; we then moved to Salt Lake City and later to the mountains West of Salt Lake City, to what was known as “Coonville.” I helped to Pioneer this place. We did not have a Bishop, but Brother Hurst was The Presiding Elder. We helped to build the first Meeting House; I was a teacher in the Relief Society for thirty years and in the Primary for a good many years.

Left to right: Mary Worthington, Mamie Coon, LeNora Thomas, Arthur Glenn Foster

I did all of my sewing by hand, for my Husband, myself and eight children by candlelight. I made everything we wore because we could not buy a piece of clothing ready made. It was after I had my eighth child that I was able to buy my first sewing machine. I would sew until two or three o'clock in the morning.

I did all of my washing by hand or on the wash board until after my tenth child came. The first washers were turned by hand.

On Feb. 7^th 1921, my Husband died of Asthma and pneumonia. He is buried in the Pleasant Green Cemetery, high upon the hills above the town.

I still live in the old home that we built together. I am the Mother of sixteen children. Six Daughters and ten Sons. There are eleven children still living; one Son, Alonzo, is still at home with me. I am able to do my own work, except the washing; my Daughter-in-law, Walter's wife, Ruby Kancock Coon does this most of the time.

I was eighty two years old 7 February 1932. I have fifty-three grandchildren, forty Great Grandchildren; my health is fairly good. Still being able to read, write and am slightly hard of hearing.