Ada Rex Jackson writes of her family.

We stopped to take this picture while driving north to Randolph, Utah about ten years ago. My husband carried our grandson over to see the cattle behind the fence. Those are, I believe, the Crawford Mountains behind them.

On Thursday, March 24th, I read this interesting post at Genealogy's Star and followed the link to the BYU Historical Books Collection. I searched for family histories with the surname of Rex, and found the History, Descendants, and Ancestry of William Rex and Mary Elizabeth Brough of Randolph, Utah, of which I have a copy. They also have a copy of the history of William and Mary Rex’s daughter, Ada Rex Jackson and her family of Montana. There I found some interesting stories about the children of William and Mary Rex. Their history is here and here.

Ada Estella Rex Jackson wrote: Of our family. Mother had two girls and a little boy nearly six years old pass away before I came along, so you can imagine what a reception I received with a family of six brothers. They loved me but they teased me a lot. I had a favorite little bowl I liked to eat my cereal out of. My brothers were always hiding it from me, but I would manage to find it or Mother would make them give it to me. One time I couldn't find it for months, and then one day I found it in the bottom of the flour bin. They had put it there when the bin was almost empty and then filled the bin with flour. Needless to say, I watched that bowl closely the next time the flour bin was filled.

My earliest recollection of our old home, a log cabin, was of a large cottonwood tree out in the yard where we had a big swing. We used to swing high up into the branches of that tree. Our brothers would push us high. I had a sister, Freda, who was four years younger than me. My cousin, Leone, Aunt Hanna's daughter lived just across the road. We spent many hours in the shade of that tree swinging. We made a play house in the trees along the side of the lot. We had many happy times together playing there. When we played dinner together we would send Freda to the house for something to eat, because we knew that Mother wouldn't refuse her.

Freda, Percy, and Ada Rex

Following are two letters I received as a child:
Hobard, Tasmania Nov. 16. 1899

Dear Little Sisters Ada and Freda, It is with pleasure that I again write you a few lines to let you know how I am. I am well and hope these few lines will find you all the same. Enjoying good health and able to eat three meals a day. I wish I was close so you could come in and wash dishes for me and sweep the floor and make the bed, but be good little girls so when I have finished my mission and come home you will be able to come and see Agnes and Will and have dinner with us. Say your prayers every night, then our Heavenly Father will like you and keep you from harm and getting sick. Be good to Agnes and then she will like you. I always remember you in my prayers.

Goodbye. Your loving brother.Will Love and Kisses xxxxxxxxxxxx

Note: Ada’s oldest brother, William Thomas Rex (1875-1962), served a mission to Australia. He left Randolph on March 1, 1899, six weeks after he married Agnes Hellstrom. He was gone for three and a-half years.

(To be continued.)Picture from Helen Rex Frazier collection.