Frank Frazier's journal account. The week of July 24, 1947. Woodruff, Utah.

Grandpa Frank Union Frazier's 1947 Diary/Journal is explained in this earlier post and his biography begins here.

I turned back to the journal yesterday to see how Grandpa Frazier, and the Frazier's in Woodruff, Utah, celebrated Pioneer Day in 1947. This post included Grandma Frazier's birthday that year.

Tuesday, July 22, 1947 

Emily Birthday – 61 years old – we all went up to Delora for supper – Gordon – Aunt Maud came their after supper – Elmer – boys went to show – rain today Arthor I put a bridge across the little creek.

Wednesday, July 23, 1947

204^th day – 161 days follow

May – Gordon – Maudis came down and stayed all night it was good to see them we finished with the hay on the 4^th Island we finished Mowing up in the West field.

Thursday, July 24, 1947

The folks went home this morning. I think they are going to Salt Lake today. Charley V. work in the hay field today – Bruce, Delora, Frankie, Sherley, Mark, went to Ogden to the Rodeo –

Friday, July 25, 1947

Had quite a lot of breake down push rake teeth and the derrick, but we put up quite a lot of hay – Elmer started to mow the big flat below the house – Mary – Harvey brought the boy in last night, he is going to be a fine boy – red hair –

Saturday, July 26, 1947

Fixed up both push rakes and fixed derrick – but finished the field up about the barn

Jim McClure and a Mr. Jensen came to see us –

Sunday, July 27, 1947

The old gan[g] went up to Montie Cristo for the day – had dinner.

Their was Marsh, Lyla, Jake [Rufi], Lottie [Rufi], Albert, Effie, Joshua [Ashton], Sophia [Ashton], Frank, Emily, Aunt Annie [Frazier], Shelby, Lavier, Neville   

As for my group of descendants, we're headed to the parade here in Salt Lake City, with fond memories of earlier gatherings.      

Helen and Winnie Rex reaped President George Albert Smith's promised blessing.

Helen and Winnie Rex, Randolph, Utah, 1936.

I read a statement from last week's Relief Society lesson from the Teachings of President George Albert Smith that was very familiar and reminded me of the P. H. and Bessie Morgan Rex family of Randolph, Utah, and some of their letters that I've been posting here.

The following statement from "Doing Our Part to Share the Gospel," pages 141-142 (1935 conference report) reminded me of the Rex's support of their missionary son Harold during his 1936-1938 mission to Brazil. Daughters Helen and Winnie contributed a portion of their salaries to their brother's support in the mission field. There is no doubt they reaped the promised blessing.

"A plea has been made ... that we send our sons and daughters into the mission field. ... It has been a joy to me to see men and women economize and plan in order that their children may go into the world. Within the last few weeks a young man ... left to go into the mission field, and his two sisters ... are sending him part of their small salaries that he may enjoy the blessing of a mission. He is the first of a large family of children to go into the mission field to disseminate the truth. ... I know the joy that will come into the hearts of those two fine women who have faith to give their means to their brother in order that he may serve the Lord in the field. They will receive the blessing that comes from teaching the Gospel, as far as it is possible to receive it without personal service."

Bessie Morgan Rex - letter December 21, 1936.

Bessie Morgan Rex, 1936.

Randolph, Utah

Dec. 21, 1936

My dear,

Our shortest & your longest day of the year, isn’t it? Hope your day is as moderate with heat as ours is with cold. It is quite a lovely day. Just three more & then Xmas. It took Helen the whole day yesterday to fix Glenn’s & Winnie’s boxes. Of course she made popcorn balls & candy & wrapped each present up so. I only wish we could send you one. She went to Evanston Sat. & saw Clara. Clara was to meet Elder Hunger yesterday morning. We are waiting for a card from her now. Helen & I are sending her some hdkfs [presumably handkerchiefs].

The kids are home from college. Daddy heard Alto telling Arch he had to study much harder at the B.Y. than at A.C. he likes it very much tho’.

Received a picture of Wayne for Xmas. He is rather thin I think.

We have painted Flora’s cabinet & it is surely cute. Morg. Is making Winnie a small cedar chest, just for handkerchiefs. He does well with wood work.

The building is nearing completion. It will be very fine, but I’m afraid rather expensive to run. It is so large. Allen Hatch is home now.

A large airliner went down last Tue. Somewhere in Southern Utah. They haven’t found it yet. 7 people on board.

These are strange times. So much happening. And we get word of everything so quickly.

Does Winnie tell you of her experiences in the hospital. She has some great ones.

Oh my dear, your mother is the limit. Here it is the day before Xmas & this letter isn’t off. Hopeless, I am. Well I’ll get this off this morning. Xmas eve, and what an air there is around this house. Flora is on her toes. She wants to make a present for everybody. Maeser just doubles into a knot when we start talking about what he is going to get. “On hushes don’t talk about it” he will say.

Helen is rather sad. She hasn’t heard from Glen very often, & she is afraid he is having rough sledding.

We talked to Winnie night before last. Bro. Hunger was going out to see her yesterday.

The Bishopric distributed about 30 baskets yesterday. I think everybody will have a nice Xmas. I’m surely hoping somebody is kind to my boy below the equator. We found it would cost 50 [cents] a word to send you a telegram. The money comes in better doesn’t it.

Rec’d a card from Bro. & Sis. Burdett yesterday. You mustn’t feel so hard toward Clara & remember she is a little bashful. She was thrilled to think she was going to meet Elder Hunter. She is a lovely girl, I think.

Rec’d greetings [see below] from Vash Young. Remember me telling you about him. He is a millionaire insurance man, author & old friend of mine. Hm. – with a slight cough.

I must send Winnie a line. Morgan made her a little cedar box, & it is late so must tell her about it. Helen has a beautiful cedar chest.

Well my dear, I have a big day ahead. I think Xmas is going to be a merry one, & you may be sure you will be in our thoughts. Love & best wishes from all, and may the Lord bless & help you.

Lovingly, Mother

Everybody is singing Stille Nach, Heilige Nacht.

Letter from Vash Young is from Bessie's scrapbook.

Trip to Lake Point, Utah concluded.

The Benson Gristmill was built in 1854 under the direction of Ezra Taft Benson, an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. The mill served the surrounding communities and wheat growers as a commercial flour mill until 1939.

Continued from here.

The next day we again drove west from Salt Lake to the Benson Mill. We discovered on our first trip there that you need a good map to guide you around the area. The pamphlet we picked up at the mill was perfect, but I had to spend an evening studying it to finally discover the course we needed to take.

E. T. City Historical Buildings and Homes in Lake Point, Utah explained that there are two sides to Lake Point today. The busy Interstate 80 and State Road 36 interchange, and the other that begins immediately south of the interchange. There the landscape quickly switches from asphalt and lights, to green fields and small, quiet lanes. Without the tour map you may entirely miss it. We had the preceding day.

There are remnants of John and Mellie Morgan's times in Lake Point and at the Benson Mill. Called "Lake Point" today, E. T. City was originally settled by Mormon Pioneers in 1854. The settlement was named after LDS Church Apostle Ezra Taft Benson. The name "Lake Point" was later taken from the resort that was built on the nearby southern shore of the Great Salt Lake in the 1870's posted here.   

The area surrounding the mill is filled with cabins and buildings that have been moved or built there, reminiscent of earlier times.

Restored wagons were a close up reminder of rugged uncomfortable travel.

I couldn't resist the kitchens and implements that filled them. These separators brought back my own childhood memories. A stainless steel version of the one to the left stood on my Grandmother Frazier's back porch while we lived with her in 1949-50. She washed it after each use, and left the parts to drain on her kitchen counter.

This enamel front coal range was probably a Cadillac in its day. I wonder how many homes in this area actually enjoyed one of these.

Across the highways and closer to the mountains was the Lake Point Cemetery. The town was founded in 1854, undoubtedly the cemetery was also. Horses grazed in the field across the lane from it.

Information from the pamphlet mentioned above.

John and Mellie Morgan. Garfield and Lake Point Resorts. 1884.

Garfield and Lake Point Resorts

 DUP Marker

Erected 1954

Last week my husband and I drove to Lake Point, about 24 miles west of Salt Lake City. We were headed to the Benson Mill, and stopped here on our drive west. 

 The Great Salt Lake looking north from the marker.

 Antelope Island in the distance.

Garfield and Lake Point Resorts

Daughters of Utah Pioneers, No. 115, erected 1954

From 1881 to 1893 Garfield Beach was the most famous and finest recreation resort on the shores of Great Salt Lake, with its railroad station, lunch stand, restaurant, bath houses and pier leading to the dance pavilion, and with the pioneer steamboat “City of Corinne” exhibited at anchor. Lake Point was located 1-1/2 miles west, a three story hotel erected there by Dr. Jeter Clinton became a stopping place for overland stages, the boulder used for this shaft was taken from “Old Buffalo Ranch” one half mile west.                                                Tooele County

John Hamilton Morgan frequently traveled with family members to the Great Salt Lake during the heat of the summer months in the 188o's. I was reminded of his times again as I read this plaque.

While in Salt Lake on July 19, 1884 John Morgan wrote, "Met a number of parties on school matters. At 5:10 p.m. boarded Utah and Nev. Train for Lake Point, accompanied by brother J. H. Parry and Annie."                                                      

July 28, 1884, “ Did some writing and looked after the work being done at the School House and at 5:10 p.m. in company with Mellie went to the Lake and had a fine bath. “

The Great Salt Lake, Lake Point, and Tooele County has changed much in the last 128 years. My interest in John and Mellie Morgan's life made me wonder if I could find any remnant of their times remaining just around the lake's south end in Tooele County.  

I discovered this drawing at the Utah State Historical Society's online data base. It was donated by John and Mellie's son, Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan. He presumably commissioned it's drawing after studying his father's journal. 

(To be continued...)