Elizabeth Abbott (1816-1896)

Elizabeth Abbott

 My nephew's request for an ancestor's picture, sent me to my "pictures and notes I haven't yet identified pile." This lady isn't the picture he was looking for, but I'd just seen her on an old picture family pedigree chart. Then I understood who she is. She is Elizabeth Bott Brough's mother. Number 55-Elizabeth Abbott Bott on the bottom of my blog face page.

Elizabeth turned her daughter, Elizabeth, away from her home after she courted and married a Mormon, Samuel Brough. After her baptism she was never again welcome at her Mother's home.

I enjoyed the backside of the picture as much as the picture. 

And Mother's (Helen Rex Frazier) hand identifying her picture warmed my heart.

John Morgan Rex's B24 Liberator

Uncle John Morgan Rex’s B24A Liberator #40-2374 (in peacetime markings)

Unexpected good things:

"All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner." 

I took that statement printed on the inside cover of Broome's One Day War; The story of the Japanese Raid on Broome, 3rd March 1942, seriously, and wrote for permission to use some quotes from the pamphlet in my recent post about John Morgan Rex.

I wrote to the Broome Historical Society in Western Australia, and a gentleman sent me a picture of my Uncle John Morgan Rex’s B24A Liberator #40-2374. Thank you so very much! 

He too is on a search--and is confident that he and his colleague will find that lost aircraft.

I wonder what markings changed when the aircraft was assigned to war?

Isn't this search into the past fascinating?

Bessie Morgan Rex. Letter written June 29, 1937, concluded.

 The front walk gate into P. H. and Bessie Rex's Randolph Home (about 1941).

(continued from here)

Well, this is the next morning, and I must finish this letter. Daddy and the boys have gone out to milk, so I have some time to write. Soon after I had quit quilting last night, Helen brought in your two letters. Did they make me feel good. I had been a little blue about you, but they cheered me up just fine. I cant understand you not getting a letter for three weeks. We have never missed over one week. I mean, if we haven’t written one Sunday we have the next or a day or so after. THIS bunch around here all think they are so busy. I am so glad you have ideas about going to school. Keep them right in your head all the time. We laughed about you playing basketball. Now feature that. Did you beat Joinville? Well, if you cant preach the Gospel one way, you can another. Something is the matter with this “r” [Note: it didn't print, I have filled them all in]. It doesn’t always hit right.

It is the most glorious morning here. Everything is so green and beautiful. And the sun is so warm. Things should just spring up.

You spoke of conditions over in Europe. I cant see how people outside of Germany, whether they are Germans or not, can think anything good of Hitler or Mussolini. I wish I had saved some of the articles I have read for you, but I shall watch out from now on, and send you something each week. We are all very much interested in the strikes here, and so I am sending you a piece by one of the leading columnists of the country. People over the whole country fear this John L. Lewis. He has quite a bit of power. Heaven hope he never gets much farther or we would have a dictator like those in Europe. We take Colliers and there are usually some fine articles in it, so I shall send you some of them.

We went to see “The Main of Salem” last night. It is a story of witch-craft, and people were all saying how terrible it must have been to live in those days of such ignorance. Well, sometimes, I think we can show just as much ignorance. I am afraid you will be appalled at the number of girls smoking, when you come back to the states. It is terrible. And repeal of the prohibition law hasn’t helped the drinking out any. It is getting worse all the time. But even at that, we haven’t a man at the head of the nation who is thirsting for more power and territory. We are at least broadminded enough to get along with our neighbors. And we certainly don’t want their lands. I am sure the U.S., is still far ahead of Europe.

Do those [German] people down there think that U.S. was responsible for the burning of the Hindenburg. I think the German investigators who came over, were satisfied with the investigation. I heard a man over the air not many nights ago, say that it was caused by hydrogen gas leaking from the cells, and becoming ignited. I think the fault of the U.S. lies in the fact that they had held helium gas at such a high price. They are planning to sell it much cheaper now. I shall look up an article I read on that and send it along too. Of course it was terrible, but Germans must remember that the ship had never been near U.S. soil when it exploded. If anything had been done to the ship, it must have been done before it started out from Germany.

Say, and I am convinced that England is the most levelheaded of the nations in Europe right now. I only hope they can keep peace over there. It is said that the fight in Spain is not for control of Spain but for ideas of the different nations of Europe. Nazi-ism and Communism are the two big forces at work. And they are being fought out on the battlefields of Spain. It is a terrible thing.

I am glad you have your eyes and ears open. Get all you can. After all, that is all that counts in this life. Well, I must be closing. It is 7:30, and I must get this off. Keep up your good work. I hope things will look a little better, and we can get some things off to you. The Lord is surely helping, or I don’t know how we would ever manage. Be a good boy. We all send love and kisses. Write a nice long letter like the two last again. I just love them.

Lovingly, Mother

Note: [I have learned more about my Grandmother Bessie Morgan Rex than I ever imagined I might since I began copying her letters. She was an incredibly intelligent woman, and sought the stimulation she received studying and conversing about important world affairs. Her son Harold’s last two letters, undoubtedly about current world events, met her need, and she hungered for more.]

Bessie Morgan Rex letter. June 29, 1937.

Bessie and P.H. Rex's Randolph, Utah home about 1941.

 

1 of 2 parts of a long typed letter.

Randolph, Utah, June 29, 1937.

My dear boy,

Helen would laugh at me if she could see the way I am using up all the space on this piece of paper, but then, maybe I can get somebody else to write a line this evening.

It is a dark stormy afternoon. We have had a lovely rain. It has been grand this year. Everything this year is growing fine—now it has warmed up. We haven’t had a letter for over three weeks, and I can’t help wondering what is the matter with you. You seem so far away anyway, you shouldn’t neglect us this way.
 

We got a letter from Winnie saying there were two missionaries at the home going to Brazil, but dearie, your daddy is kind of flat in his pocketbook. It is rather hard to keep everything going, when one needs so much to farm with. I suppose you need those shirts too, don’t you? Well, maybe we can get them to you before you come home. You see, with Winnie needing some every month, and a family here to keep—well, it keeps one going.

Elma and Claude are having their wedding reception Friday, and we must go to that. Flora is on the program. There is also a Brough reunion out at Lyran Saturday, but don’t think we shall go.

Daddy is working for the government today, and is up to Wasatch. I suppose he will be wet, for the storm seems quite general. Morgan and Maeser are out building fence. Morgan helped me this morning, digging up more grass for flower beds. I wonder if I shall ever get enough flowers.

Helen said she thought Wimmers had sold their place to Uncle Will’s boys—Charles, Ben and Bob. Glen is going to school and teaching. I rather think he will have the fullest life after all. I have decided that ranches are just back breakers. I sincerely hope you can go on to school, and find something worth while to do. Leland said he had been offered two positions—one for $2400.00 and one for $1800.00. You don’t make money like that on the ranch, and you don’t kill your wife off either trying to do it. Leland is going to school too. I think they will make out fine. Fred is home now from school, but he is such a conceited egg. I hope you don’t get conceited. Glenn Frazier hasn’t located anything permanent yet, but I hope he soon does. Helen is so discontented. I hope they can locate in California. If he just had a few years of college. I have come to the conclusion, that after all, this life is to be happy in as you go along, and I can’t think the way to do that is to nig your life out for some--in years to come. Your father and I don’t agree on this point, but he must realize it, for his life is done for when it comes to ranching. There is too much to see too, to stay in a little place like this all your days.

So many things are happening in this world today. Of course I shouldn’t care to be out in it to live. Labor troubles are terrible, and they keep us in constant fear of war in Europe. I surely think Satan is having his turn at things.

Flora is going down for the mail, and here’s hoping there is one from you. Winnie said she had not heard from you for some time either. You must be very busy. My, the letters I do miss. I am practicing blind typing. Maybe I can get a job. Ha ha. Well, this page is nearly full, so I shall stop for a little while and probably I may think of something more inspirational when I finish.

P.S. Vera Pearl has a baby girl [Written in long hand at the bottom of page.]

(to be continued)

Hair, Hair Everywhere--Whose Is It?

The History Room at the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum in Salt Lake City holds an interesting framed work of Hair Art. It’s a collection of hair samples from early prominent Church leaders fashioned into a Weeping Willow Tree. I like looking at it, besides my Great Grandfather John Hamilton Morgan’s hair makes up branch 22.

Last year’s DUP History Lesson on “Pioneer Hair Art” explained that Weeping Willow Trees were often created at the passing of loved ones. The colors in this one are faded. The legend beneath the tree identifying the people whose hair was used, has become difficult to read.  

I walk by it each time I go to that department and decided to purchase a copy of it for myself.  A newer, easier to read legend, was recently made by a volunteer.

Hair samples from prophets and colleagues of John Morgan are included in the tree—the same people he writes of in his journal.

Cousin Karen M. gave me the following picture of Great Grandmother Helen Melvina “Mellie” Groesbeck Morgan’s hair collection. Widow of John Hamilton Morgan, she created her own hair collection. It appears to me it began with a sample of hair she probably received from her mother-in-law, ElizaAnn Hamilton Morgan. The card has a swatch of hair from John Morgan’s father, Garrard/Gerrard Morgan--affectionately known as, “Pa.”

Auburn

All hair samples on the card, including those that are now missing, are  Auburn (probably). That may have been the reason Grandmother Morgan gathered them together. The other swatches are from a son and her grandchildren.

Junior Morgan, N. G. Morgan (son Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan)

John Morgan hair (husband)

John Morgan whiskers (husband)

Gerrard E. Morgan Jr. (grandson)

Dorothy Morgan (granddaughter)

Monuments to John Morgan Rex (1920-1942)

John Morgan Rex 1941

 Marker in Memory Grove, Salt Lake City, Utah. 

North side of the Meditation Chapel below.

Meditation Chapel, Memory Grove
 is a space set apart for quiet reflection.
 Mr. and Mrs. Ross Beason built the chapel in 1948
 as a memorial to their son, Ross Beason, Jr.,
 and all other Utahns who died in World War II.

The War Memorial in Broome, Australia is pictured here and here.

John Morgan Rex's involvement in World War II

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii bombed December 7, 1941

“Well it looks as though we are in the war at last.”

USS President Polk AP-103 Transport—Voyage to New Zealand

Broome One Day War

Donoho Account