Percy Harold Rex. Letter to his son August 2, 1937.

Visiting Rex family members - the hay-field, Randolph, Utah

about the time this letter was written

Percy Harold Rex 1940s

Randolph, Utah

Aug. 2-37.

My Dear Son,

(I added some punctuation to make the letter easier to read.)

I will try and write you a few lines to let you know we are still alive up here in the land Northward. All the rest of the family are in bed except Helen she went to Evanston this afternoon with Uncle Will. He is talking of getting another new car. Don’t you wish it would have been you. Do you still hear from the young lady up there.

Winnie will be home Sat for 2 weeks if will be nice to have her here for a while again. In another year we will be counting [on] both of you coming home for a while. Afton and Ben are going to be married on Sept. 2 and I think Dallas J. and a Lady Missionary are to be married this month some time. Helen and Glen have it rather Bad and I think it will happen with them before so very much longer.

We celebrated the 24 of July or rather your birthday we had some time. There was a parade in the morning and also a program in the afternoon, foot races, soft Ball game between the girls and men. Rodeo and horse races.

Your little brother won a dollar with old Louie, she isn’t what she used to be as one hind leg has gone bad and she can’t start [on] cue [to] go as well. Even then she beat a sorrel horse Earl Wilson used to have. J. Thornic has him now and it sure got a. w. and Kays goat to have the old mare beat them because they are so important. We are going to have a fair and rodeo Sept 14 & 15. You will just be getting this letter about the time we will be celebrating, your spring will be coming and our autum.

We are just going to start on our hay tomorrow. We helped Monroe Smith with his alfalfa, it took us the best part of two weeks up there and it seems like it takes a long time to get started. It wont take so long as the boys are bigger and better men, and we have two mowers now so we can cut a piece down and then put it up.

There is quite a lot of work around here this year, they are building the road between here and Woodruff ready for oiling another year, and the mutual creamery is going to build a new cheese factory out south of town on the little hill just North of the Big Creek

Where the pioneers camped it is to cost between 6 & $10,000.00 so it will be quite a nice Building and a credit to our town.

Mary and Eldon have been here. They are on their vacation and are they fat. Eldon can put his brother to shame for fat and Mary was always quite plump. They are the same Jolly good sports so different from Freddie, but he will be different when he gets older. Leland and his Family live in the front two rooms of Mis Kennedy house so we have them for neighbors, but you don’t see a lot of them.

Bishop Johnson and his wife had a car reck [sic. wreck] two weeks ago and almost died. Mrs. Johnson was broke her collar bone again and has all three ribs and Bruised him up quite badly. She is still in Bed part of the time, But he has been going all the time outside of a day or two. He has been to Chicago to see if he could buy the Shield ranch and put some colonies down there, he want [s] to get a part of the Range land and the church is more or less behind the movement.

I have about run out of talk and it is after 10 p.m. and we have to get up quite early to get anything done in the hayfields. By the time we go out and milk and eat our breakfast and get to the field it is late. We have just received one letter from you in the last three weeks and I think it was just two pages.  If you could, send us a few pictures of the country. Have you ever run on two any of the old Nephi Ruins in your travel, and by the way I think you Promised Sister Clawson a letter when you got in the mission field. I was talking to her not so long ago, she hinted you owe her a letter so write one to her. She would like to go down to Peru and see the natives of South American. 

Aunt Gail and Uncle Jack [Picture of Jack and Gail Morgan Clayton here at the bottom.] are going to bring Winnie home Sat. and visit over Sunday. I am out of paper so I had better close now praying the Lord Bless you in your labors in accordance with your needs is the prayer we so ask for you.

With lots of love your Daddy

Please excuse the pencil. 

Grandfather Percy Harold Rex at work about the time this letter was written.

Percy Harold (P. H.) Rex. Letter to Harold April 18, 1937.

Picture of the P. H. Rex sons; L-R, Maeser, Morgan, Harold, 1930.

Note: The note across the top of this letter reads: Being chief cook and bottle washer along with going to work is some job. I do think of you lots. Will write a big long letter this week. Love, Helen

Randolph, Utah.

April 18 – 37.

My Dear Boy,

Just another Sunday night and time to start a few more lines to the little Boy down in the South. We are all pretty well up here. We did not get a letter from you last week but the week before we received two. It seems that is the way your letters come lately, every other week  two at a time.

We sure get a jack out of your letters and look forward to the time when we receive them, to know you are well and enjoying your labors, which I hope you do every minute of it.

We took mother to Salt Lake City last Tuesday to the Basic Food Clinic and she is still in the city. He gave her a diet and keep [kept] her there to give her treatments. We had a letter from her last night and she is feeling fine and able to eat better than she has done all winter. They treat her just well at Aunt Gails, but she said she is home sick I wonder if you know what that

is. I hope you never have it very bad.

To think that by the time this reaches you you will have about half of your time behind you, the last half will not seem so long, I hope. But to look back it does not seem so long in a way since we said good bye that morning when the wind was blowing so hard. I don’t think I will ever forget it.

We have spring now but there has not been any farm work done as yet, it is so wet. We are sort of catching up a little on moisture as the ground is so wet, and the snow melting, that it has the river out of its banks, the creeks are all full of water too. It washed out several hundred yards of the railroad over here in Nugget Canyon going to Kemmerer last week, and they had to send there trains by Ogden, but they have it fixed up now.

Helen is here writing to some you can guess very early she is quite thrilled she has her lay off or vacation coming up the 15 of May and is going down to Calif, to see that fellow from Woodruff. We had Sunday school union meeting here today and Miss Burdett was down today. Helen was there and saw her in fact. Miss James came up here with her and say [said] if Ben did not take a fresh notion for her, he is pretty slow, as she sure looked very nice in her new spring outfit.

Last Sunday we had the Evanston choir down to sing for us and the Bishop to speak. We always like to have Harold talk and the choir sing. John Nielson always has them Pretty well trained and timed. They put on an Easter cantata but they don’t seem to have the same kind of music and melody that the good LDS Hymns do--at least to me.

May be mother has told you we were thinking of make [making] a change in the house so we can have an apartment upstairs to rent. We have to parties wanting it now, so this steam Heat is popular  in this cold country. I had better hurry and fill this side of the paper as it is time I was in bed as it is past ten o clock. The boys are going now, Maeser has been asleep on the couch. They are pretty good boys. They have done the work the past two days, as Friday when I came home from Feeding  I felling [fell] and hurt my back so I have been unable to help since. But feel pretty good tonite and hope to be able to get out in the morning and get at the chores, as they have to go to school and I will have to feed the cattle and take care of the milk Cows. Morgan is getting to be quite a man, he has grown quite a little this winter. I will be drawing to a close again asking our Father in heaven to continue his choicest Blessing on you, that you may ever become more of a success in your labors in his work is my Prayer for you, with Love Daddy

[written along the top left side] Excuse the mistakes and pencil.

Note: I added some punctuation to this letter.

Percy Harold Rex letter to his son Harold. March 22, 1937.

P H Rex standing in front of his wife, or his mother's, flower garden in Randolph, Utah. About 1937. It had to be a Sunday!

 

Randolph, Utah
March 22 - 37.
My Dear Boy,

I will try and write you a few lines again it seems these weeks  roll around before we know it and two weeks go by before we get a letter off to you it is almost shameful the way we treat you by not getting a letter off each week. I understand you are getting a letter from Evanston real often now so that may help to break the time up a little that we fail.
I hope you are well and continue to enjoy your labors as in the past we are all fine up here with the exception of Mothers stomach it still bothers her some she feels just fine at times then others she is not so well. Grand mother Rex is pretty good for her age, I wonder if you have ever written to her and sent her a picture of yourself she would think it very nice of you if you can spare the time to do so as I think she has enjoyed a letter from some of her other grandsons and I think my son one of the finest boys she has. I hope that neither of them ever do what some of the other Grandsons do. I think if you could see the way these little fellows crawl out in the morning when

 

I call them you would be rather ashamed of the way you were in the morning at getting up [on] time. I think you will remember me telling you to get on the U.S. Government Payroll well I managed with a tip from the Bishop to get on and did my first days work to day at $5.00 per day not so bad for a man on the shady side of fifty.

We are having some real March weather  snow, wind and slop around the yards. I think that if I had money enough to travel one month out of the year it would be March as it is so hard on the face and lips I would go to the warmer climate.

We had stake conference here yesterday a spiritual feast we had apostle Merril up and he gave us 2 very fine talks it was just grand to sit in the new Building every thing clean and nice some 428 people there and room enough for 125 to 175 more we have been using it for everything since we got into it to save the expence [sic] of heating the other up.

Clair E. Carrel Johnson and Blain Marshall are out in the mission field by now and Sheldon K. and William Smith go in the Mission Home on the 29 of March but they will be out in field by the time you get this. If you ever get down in the mouth because you are so far away you had better read an article in the Feb Era written by Brother [illegible words] I had better close now asking the Lord to let his richest Blessings be with you at all times to inspire you to greater work are the Blessings we ask for you [illegible]

Note: I didn’t add punctuation to this letter of P.H. Rex’s, but enjoyed its lack thereof as he wrote his thoughts to his son.

Bessie Morgan and Percy Harold Rex Letters - February 17, 1937.

 This card to P.H. Rex was in his wife, Bessie's scrapbook or boot box. 

I scanned the card, but didn't note which son sent it to him. 

My guess is Harold.

P. H. Rex about 1937

Randolph, Utah

Feb 17, 1937

My dear son,

I really am ashamed of myself for being so indolent when I know a boy way down below the equator is waiting for a letter. Days come and go so fast, I just can’t keep up. Winnie was home last week and just for a day or so. It was short, but it did seem good to have her here. Of course it took some of my time trying to get straightened up. I am so slow. But she is going to send me some iron. That is what I need.

We are all feeling quite sad here this week. Delbert Fackrell died last Sun. and is to be buried tomorrow. Everybody liked him, and now everybody can see his good points.

I have been quite busy this last week with a Relief Society lesson and a Mutual lesson on Shakespeare. There is always plenty to do.

We received your letter of Jan 15 last evening. Am so glad you are enjoying your work. Now you are in for another scolding. I do hope our letter[s] have had 

Some effect on you. I mean, in regard to Clara. Don’t be so mean to her. She is a lovely girl and she waits for a letter from you. We know she is going with nobody else. Did I ever dream one year ago today that I should be scolding you now for not writing. How fickle men are anyway.

We had a terrible blizzard here last night. The snow [plows are kept busy. However we haven’t as much snow this year as last. It has been cold though. It is clouding up again now. I hope it is a good day for the funeral tomorrow. Bishop is down to the legislature & may not get home. He is some busy man.

Morgan has made me a nice magazine rack. Here it is next morning & daddy has written you a long letter. So I will close with this. Daddy told you not so much wind. Well it has surely been howling the last two days. Snowdrifts aren’t so deep either. Well enough for now. Love & kisses and our constant prayers go with this.

Lovingly, Mother

Give my regards to Mrs Duke.

I am so thankful for funds raised up to help my boy.

Randolph, Utah.

Feb. 17, 1937

My Dear Boy in the Land of the South,

I will try and pen you a few lines again to let you see that I have not lost the use of my right hand, although it does cramp some when I write. We received your letter of Jan. 15, Monday Feb. 15. It seems we always get your letters on Monday nite. And we always look forward to your letters & I am sorry you don’t get your mail, you should as there are more letters written than you get. We are all well and happy at the thought that you are out in the world as an ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is where you get the real joy out of life, is in his service. And from your letters you seem to be receiving your share of His Joy, and may you continue to receive more as you become more efficient in your labors. As time goes on and you study and become older in the service, you will receive this.

We are having some real winter again this year, about the same amount of snow as we had this time last year or more, but

hardly as much wind and I don’t think that it is in hardly as big piles here in the valley as a year ago, but I think we have as much or more moisture in the ground as last year. I think the Lord has us in the hollow of his hand, so to speak, when we look around and see what other people have. They are just getting fixing up after the floods down the Ohio and Missi. Valleys. It must have been terrible there the water was so deep it covered up houses in places. We saw some pictures in the paper where the water was up to the eves of the homes all down the street. And on one street corner where they had the red and green lights, the water was up to the light. It would be awful in a condition like that.

Bishop Johnson is in Salt Lake now in the legislature and it sort of leaves the ward more or less with Willard and myself. We have to conduct the Funeral services for Delbert Fackrell tomorrow, he died Sunday morning in the Hospital in Montpelier Idaho. He died of Gangreen or infection of the naval and bowels, he had had the flue and had not been very well after it, but was sick only about six days before he died. This leaves us

with another widow in our ward.

We are using the new Amusement Hall for church and amussements [sic] too, as we can warm it up so nice. We have the Basement [presumably at the Church] all torn up, and it makes the upstairs harder to warm up, so we are saving fuel by using the Hall.

It’s sure some place you would think you were in some place much larger than Randolph. I say it is the Best Hall this side of the Coconut Grove in Salt Lake City. If I told you this before just skip this as we are so thrilled with it we may tell you the same thing twice.

Winne was home over Sunday she sure is some lovely girl if I do say it myself being her dad, but I am real proud of my 3 oldest children, I think any parent could be proud of children of the same type as you are. I hope that the 3 younger ones will follow in your footsteps. I hope you will always bring joy and happiness to us, as it will be a pleasure to you to do this, if you continue to live for it.

Morgan has become more or less

Neglectful of his duties in the church. Maybe if you gave him a little sermon it may help a little. He is a good boy, any other way. He helps to run the picture machines and makes him a little money. He is here reading about the fellows who are going to skie jump next Sunday at Ecku [perhaps Echo] Hill.

He bought him a new pair of skis and has been giving them a coat of wax here tonight. He said to tell you he jumped 21 feet on them. He was off last Saturday doing it and was so stiff Sunday, he could hardly move.

We are sitting here writing to you and waiting for the 10:30 news over the radio as there has been a prize fight in the East and we want to hear who beat in the fight.

I think you had better take time to write your grandmother Rex a few lines that she may read, she is showing her age some, but has pretty good health for here.

I will close now asking the Lord to let his choicest Blessing attend you in all that you do in righteousness, is the prayer of your Father with Loads of Love.

P.H. Rex

[I added some punctuation to Grandpa P.H. Rex’s letter.]

Percy Harold Rex - letter written November 15, 1936.

Randolph, Utah

Nov. 15-36.

My Dear Son,

Just a few lines to let you know we are still living up here in the states at home, we are all pretty well and having some of the nicest weather for this time of the year.

I guess you think your father is a very poor letter writer. I guess this is the mark he would get if it were put to the test.

We sold the cattle the other day in fact it was a week ago yesterday. We received 6 ¢ a pound for the steer,  12 in number, and 3-1/2 ¢ for two cows, and 4¢ for four cows. They brought a fairly nice little check if we had a few more to sell it would make things worthwhile.

We have most of the cattle in now and it looks like a pretty good calf crop, and some very fine calves.

There has been some fellows out this last week over the divide gathering up the tail end and got about sixty head.

Since I wrote you last we have gone through one of the most bitter campaigns in the history of the nation and I guess you have heard that Pres. [Franklin D.] Roosevelt was selected and he surely has a good opinion of himself, and he surly got a very large majority of the votes. It went strait [sic] Democrat throughout the nation. The republican elected Bishop Johnson to go to the State Legislature and Wm. Reese for a four year county commissioner, for which we were greatful [sic] , both very good men for the offices they hold.

Last week the Randolph ward choir and Bishopric went to Kemmerer [Wyoming] to sing and do the Preaching for sacrament meeting. We had Helen Kennedy and Dalles Johnson, also Bishop [Lawrence Johnson, 1888-1968] for speaker, and they were very good. Helen is as good a lady speaker as you will hear in a long time.

As I read your letters you must be getting something in the back of your head to be able to speak 30 or 35 minutes in German.

Mr. Will Wimmerer and Worth were here the other day and ask how you were getting along, and when I told [them] you could speak 30 minutes in German they said how wonderful, and that was equal to 3 years of college.

College reminds me that U. S. A. C. [Utah State Agricultural College] has the Rockey [sic] Mountain championship in football under their belt for 1936, defeated U of U [University of Utah], 12 to nothing, in fact they have not been scored against this year, which is remarkable.

You will see by this picture of the building that we are getting along with it, by the time you get this I hope we are in it. I don’t know weather [sic]we will have it all paid for or not, but a very big share, as we are having pretty fine success in raising funds.

By the time you receive this letter it will be nearly Christmas again. The time surely does roll by, the first thing I know I will be an old man and nothing to show for my life work, not having had the opportunity of going out in the world to preach the gospel and convert souls into the kingdom of heaven.

I hope you will be able, with inspiration of the Lord, to accomplish your desires in righteousness and fulfill an honorable mission.

I was down to Salt Lake two weeks ago and met a young fellow by the name of Stevens who is coming down to your mission and he will bring some things for you. He seems to be a very nice young man. There is also a young man from Midway, where Rubbie is from, going with him, so you will be more or less acquainted when you meet, if you have the chance.

I see I am getting near the end of my paper so I had better close now, asking God to ever bless you in your labors for good and the spread of his gospel and shield you from harm and sickness, is the prayer of your father, with Loads of Love.

P.H. Rex

Note: I added some punctuation to Grandpa P.H. Rex’s letter.

P. H. and Bessie Morgan Rex - letters written October 4, 1936.

Color plate from Ernst Haeckle’s Kuntsformen der Natur from Wikipedia

[The letter is not dated. Written with a pen at the top is:] Didn’t see any of the [Clara] Burdetts in Evanston. They had gone to Kemmerer.

My dear boy,

I have searched the house down for the pen and can’t find. I know I wont have a better chance to write than now, so here goes, with a pencil.

I have been going in high the last few days & I am all in today. We had the National Committee woman for the Rep. party & another woman here overnight. Mrs. Cannon the Com. Woman had a son who had been on a mission in Germany with Pres. Howell. Tonight is choir practice. We sing in Evanston Sunday night. Come & sing with us. Going up tomorrow for R. Society conference. Just received a letter from Winnie. She thot your last letter was rather blue. Keep a stiff upper lip my dear. Hope you have received your money, all right. I worry about you & your living. How is the eating down there.

It is cloudy & stormy looking here. The frost took nearly every thing the first of the month. The cold winds are blowing & fall is here for

Sure.

Daddy is working down at the corner. They are bolting the steel girders together now.

Morgan likes school very much. You know they are putting up a shop room. Maeser likes Glen R.  for a teacher, and Flora—well of course all girls like school.

Goodness, this is the last sheet of paper I have. I must send off with Helen’s tho’. Do your ears burn. We talk about you a lot. Maybe I can tell you a secret. It will be over by the time you get this letter. Don  [Donald Smith Rex 1913-1996] & Mabel [Mabel Sarah Cook 1913-1989]are going to be married sometime this next month. At any rate he came in to coax Helen into making it a double. Of course Helen declined. Glenn is leaving for California.

Aoh the wind is howling & it looks like snow. I always think of the night you left when it snows. I hope your homecoming will be much more pleasant. Well dearie I must close this. Take good care of yourself. Keep smiling. [Now writing with a pen.] Have been politicing [sic. politicking] since I wrote this. Will write soon. Love & kisses & the Lords blessings on you my dear.

Lovingly, Mother

Oct 4, 1936.

My Dear Boy.

Another week has passed but we did not receive a letter from you and we were somewhat disappointed as we look forward to a letter from South America to hear how you are in health and your labors. We are just fine.  Mother looks and feels lots better than she has for two years.

Morgan is here Building another plane he is getting to be quite clever at it, he has several around now.

We have listened to General Conference today over the radio we heard Myron Hillston, conference President speak he has just come home and he surely speaks Swedish and is 75 years old.

Ruby Rex [1907-1999] told mother tonite that there is a boy from Midvale coming down to Brazil on a mission so maybe we will be able to see him before he leaves and send a message of some kind.

We are working on the amusement hall we have the floor down the steel girders up and masons are laying the Brick it sure is going to be some Building if we can just get the money to put it through so we can have it for winter.

Do you ever see anything from the U. S. such as newspapers or manufactured goods. They would cost more than home made articles. It is getting nearly bedtime so I think we had better close for this time. I am afraid I am more or less of a failure in the art of letter writing.

I was in Evanston the other day and a chance to talk to Clara. I called for her father she answered the phone and wanted me to come up and have dinner with them but I was in working clothes and was with Ray Johnson so we were after some kind of a hoist to lift the steel girders that span the Building. I guess you would have enjoyed it very much but I got quite a thrill today when the Mission Presidents were telling of the good the boys were doing in the world. To think I had a boy worthy of being called to represent such a Church as we are members of, as there is no doubt it is the true Church of God, or it would never may [make] the gains it has and stood the test of more than a hundred years of the hardest kind of a test. Do you have any converts down there. I haven’t heard you say anything of Baptisms.

Mrs. Rachel Wilson asked me if you ever saw any orchids, if you do could you get some and press them and send them home. I don’t suppose you could send any seed up here, if you can please try it. As you know she is quite a flower lover. I will close asking God to continue his choicest  Blessing on you as ever. Loving, your Dad.
        P. H. Rex

Note: I don’t know what the radio the Rexes gathered around to listen to General Conference on looked like in 1936. I’m convinced that this 1933  Sunday Evening broadcast is the kind of program Grandma Bessie would have enjoyed listening to. And the radio pictured reminded me of their home.

Percy Harold and Bessie Morgan Rex - letters written Sept. 15, 1936.

Old South Rich High School.  Completed in 1916, the old high school served for 32 years. Though aesthetically beautiful the building suffered severe mechanical difficulties. Randolph a Look Back, pg. 173. 

Randolph, Utah

Sept. 15, 1936

My dear Missionary Boy,

I am sitting in front of the stove with my tale on my knee. Rather familiar position for me, isn’t it. But really, it is cold. Last night came a blighting frost. It took nearly all my flowers. One mustn’t complain, however, as this has been a beautiful summer, & winter must come some time.

We received your letter of Aug. 15 yesterday. It took it a week longer to get here, or else you held it a few days. We were so glad to get it tho’. Note what you say, about your money. We send it every month around the 28^th. Can’t understand how it is you waited a whole month for one payment. I’m afraid $20 is hardly enough, and I shall try to see that you get more. Money is like goodness in the world. There doesn’t seem to be much of it. Daddy & Jack McK are working out at the field today. They ran the cement into the frames for the new

It took nearly two years to complete the old high school, shown here under construction. 

Randolph, A Look Back, pg. 172.

building last Sat. & are waiting for it to dry. The two boys are in school. Morgan is very much in earnest & is not going to get a C this year. I think Maeser is going to like Glen very much.

Must tell you – the Ward has helped some – but I am not sure how much – with your expenses. I’m sure tho’ that your father will have to get some this month as Helen has pain her dues for this month & that is what we usually send to you. Will let you know how much.

We didn’t go on our trip, dearie. Maybe it is just as well. Such trips do me up so. But I should certainly like to get out in the world all right.

I am so glad you are getting along so well with your German. Helen says, however that you mustn’t burden us with too much Scripture reading when you come home.

Mutual opening was last night. Helen says it was a success. Sis. Norris has asked her to be in the Stake Board. I think she will for this winter but next Spring she goes to California.

There was a boy here from Evanston, running the mixer, which they borrowed from Evanston – ‘Bob Hill. He thinks Clara is a very nice girl & thinks there are quite a few boys in Evanston who think so too. We laughed & said “That’s what Harold is afraid of.”

Listen, before you write to the girls, have you written to Bro. Larsen; Matilda Jones—did I tell you she came in with a dollar for you?—and don’t you neglect your sister in S.L. She is a darling girl, and loves to hear from you. She writes the nicest letter home, so I know she does the same to you. Aunt Gail wrote and told me they surely like her at the hospital & she hoped Gail got along as well as Winnie.

Dear me,  I have about run out of gab. Nothing much happens in this old town. Tomorrow is a Stake excursion to the Logan temple & Uncle Will wants us to go, but I’m afraid we can’t Daddy is so busy & I have 7 to cook for.

I think it is a good idea to write to Mr. Murray. I do hope you go back to school. Did we tell you Mal Pickett & Alto & Willa are going to the B. Y. [Brigham Young University] Reed K. is going to the A [Utah State Agricultural College]. Helen says she is sure you could get something to do at school.

The boys showed their calves at 4H Club day last Sat. Morgan’s came first ahead of Ross Jackson. Maeser’s needs fattening. There will be no fair this year. They thot it better to not have one. And it is just as well, with this building program on. 25 men worked there Sat.

It is the next morning. We received your other letter last evening. You see, you registered one and not the other. It takes a week longer when you don’t register them, but dearie, they come all right. You better not spend the money.

I could grin at the difference in your ideas and some others. What is it? Country & city ideas I’ll wager.

Tell us, can we send American money all right. We have been holding a dollar to send for Mrs. Jones. I’m afraid old Lu won’t win anything for you this summer.

I wish we could send the money for a typewriter. I know you need one. You do need practice with your handwriting too. No insinuations, my dear.

Will hurry & get this off this morning. It froze hard last night. We surely have a nice crop of potatoes out here tho’.

I think I told you last week that Helen was going to write. She is still saying it so—well I think she will so expect one right after this.

Mr. Murrays Name & address: D. P. Murray. Extension Service. Utah State Agricultural College. Logan, Utah.

Well, dearie, daddy will write a few lines on the other side. And now I shall finish. Take good care of yourself and make good use of your time. We always are thinking of you & praying for the Lord’s blessings on you.

Love and kisses from all

Auf Wiedersehen, Mother.

My Dear Boy in the Land of the sunny South. I hope you are well as it leaves us at present.  I enjoy your letters very much and Pray you may have the spirit of the Lord in your labors. It is beginning to feel like fall up here now the flowers have all frozen the last two nights.

I had better close now as I have to be at work on the Building in a few minutes. I will write more next time we have the hay and part of the grain cut. May the Lord Bless you at all times is the Prayer of your Daddy.                                

P. H. and Bessie Rex - letters of July 16, 19, 1936.

P. H. Rex and others working a derrick in about 1936 near Randolph, Utah.

Randolph, Utah

July 16, 36

My Dear Son Harold,

Just a few lines to let you know how we are up here in the land of the north. We are all fine at present with exception of Winnie. She had her appendix cut out Monday evening, 13 of July. She came up to see us on Sunday in just the pink of condition but when she got up on Monday morning, didn’t feel well and the operation is what developed. Uncle Will took Mother and I down Monday evening. We got there while they had her on the table, but Uncle Jack [1] and Aunt Gail [2] and Gail [3] were with her. And she came out in very good shape. Her pulse and temperature were normal on Tuesday evening and she was having the best of care and lots of company, so we came home and we haven’t heard from there since. But I am sure she is O.K. or else we would have,  from someone.

We are having some little sun here now. Flora is trying to get her second tooth out. You know Mother she can’t rest until there is a loose tooth out.

She doesn’t want her mother to pull [it] out, she is trying to get it herself.
  

The boys are out on the lawn having a little fun. We have Darwain [Darwin] Clayton [4] here now so I have three boys now, and one in South America. We have started haying. We sure have some good crops and not nearly so many fox tails. We have been having some of your rains up here. We had one of the grandest rains Sat night and Sunday we have had in a long time

.

We received the cards you sent to Winnie, also the picture of your four boys from your last letter. You have something to bother you sometimes, but my advice to you is to keep your angry passions down and don’t argue with a fool are [or] a drunk person as you couldn’t change their mind.

We haven’t started to build the opera house as yet but we expect to before long but it is going to be hard to get men for a while, until part of the hay is up

. 

I had better close now as my paper is nearly full. I wish you could send us a roll of those pictures of your country. Is it all as badly broken up as it is around that harbor? May the Lord ever bless and inspire you in your labors, is the prayer of your Father. P. H. Rex

P.S. Helen is a little bit jealous of my writing to you as I never wrote to her. [Bessie’s hand] Helen said she is not.

Flora got her tooth out, so she has the bottom front two out.

[letter written by Bessie]

Randolph, Utah

July 19, 1936

My dear darling boy,

Really, son, I mean it. I would give much to give you a good big hug right now, but never mind—time is flying isn’t it. I must write a few lines tonight, tho’ I’m so tired. We went to Evanston to Pres. Baxter’s [5] funeral. He had a very nice funeral. Pres. [Rudger] Clawson, of the twelve was up. It was so hot tho’, I’m all in. Well, I also saw a lovely little girl. She looked very sweet and her mother said she had received an airmail letter. I suppose Winnie has  told you they were down last week and brot [sic] Winnie. They were shocked when I told them about her being operated on. She will soon be home now.

Bishop would like us to go on a trip thro’ Yellowstone Park and up to Billings, Mont. With them. I should love to, if we can scrape up a little money.

Before I forget, I saw Bp. Larson [6] today. He wanted your address, so I shall send it to him. He would like to hear from you and he will write. H was very nice today.

It is Mon. morning and I must hurry this off. Rather cloudy and oh so warm.

Must tell you about Dallas. He has developed ulcers of the stomach. Do be careful about your eating. Keep your stomach in good conditions. He is quite sick and miserable, and folks are worried.

The men are haying. Darwin is here with us. Big hay crop this year. Had plenty of water. We went up to see the church gardens. They look pretty good.

Do hope you keep well. I sometimes wonder about that climate. Your picture looks good tho’. We are jealous. I told Clara Winnie had a picture of you. Everybody asks how you are. Hope your hay fever has gone. Take care of your chest and lungs.

I had much more to tell you but I can’t think fast enough.

Remember, we are always thinking of you, my dear. I am glad you enjoy your work. And will you learn Portugese too. My, some linguist with three languages.

I must close, We are having Winnie come home on the through bus, I guess, and we must get these letters off. Love and kisses and the Lord’s blessings my dear. I know he will be with you.

Lovingly Mother

NFS New Family Search
[1] John "Jack" Clayton (1882-1974)
[2] Gail Morgan Clayton (1888-1984)
[3] Gail Clayton (1919-1968)
[4] Darwin Spencer Clayton Sr (1921-1997)
[5] John McKinnon Baxter  (1859-1936)
[6] Oluf Larson (Randolph Bishop 1922-1929)

Grandpa P. H. Rex used long sentences in this letter. I added some punctuation to make it easier to read.

Percy Harold Rex - letter written June 14, 1936.

Randolph, Utah

June 14-36

Dear Son,

My Dear Boy we received your letter of May 17 last night and was [were] very glad to hear from you and to know you were well and enjoying your labors. We are all in fine shape up here. Winnie has been home here for the past ten days and we sure enjoy her company, she is a wonderful daughter.

You ask about the river, it got so high that it ran over the road on the other side of the bridge in Uncle Alfs pasture. We have plenty of water although it is some what lower now it was quite cold here for a few days so that is the reason it fell down, but I think there is enough snow left yet to make it come up again.

I traded with Louie  Molouf the Jew a week ago and got a bay mare, she is a lot like the old Dot mare that I let the D.L. and L.S. co. have on the old sheep, I quite like her. I guess by the time you get this letter we will be getting ready to put up the hay again. We are working

On the Church Building program. We have torn all the old wood floor and wainscoating [sic] out of the basement and he [in] the opera house, soon to the windows in the blocks. When you come home we will have the new ones all broken in.

We had a farewell last Wed. nite for Wayne, he is in the mission home now. (he is so thrilled as Aunt Bess would say), he goes down to the Southern States. He will be home now before you are. I was talking to Don Mc. Roy is in Montana now, he is enjoying his labors very much.

Bob Wamsley is [in] the state of Kentucky, his father said he had had the pleasure of sleeping in an old school house. He said he nearly froze before morning came. Dallas has been put in as District President.

Quite a few of the people are down to June Conference so we had a very small meeting, it was held in the evening. We need to come out in the mission field and get a new flock. I must close now, asking the Lord to Bless and inspire you so you may fulfill and [an] honorable mission and be a credit to yourself.

With lots of Love,

Your Father P.H. Rex

Picture from Randolph, A Look Back, written and compiled by Steven L. Thomson, Jane D. Digerness, MarJean S. Thomson, 1981.