Bessie Morgan Rex - letter December 7, 1936.

Harold Morgan Rex 1936

Randolph

8 p.m. on the 7th [December]

My dear boy,

Procrastination—thy name is “mother”—with apologies to some great writer. And it is surely too bad when my son is the victim. Simply must get this off in the morning. Don’t think we have forgotten you. We look at your picture & talk of you everyday. And what a picture. I am very proud of it, and very happy to see you enjoying such good health. You certainly look fine. Where did you get that marcel from. Well, keep up the good health.

I am afraid you will think we neglected you for Xmas, but when we didn’t hear from you for three weeks, we decided the strike had tied up the mail, and decided even a cake wouldn’t be safe. We sent a little extra for you, last month & will do the same this. Hope you had a very nice Xmas. Did the missionary arrive with your garments? And Clara’s parcel. I hope so. Didn’t hear if he even got away.

Elden Rex's wife came over before the strike, and now she cant get back (to Honolulu, I mean). She may go on the Clipper.

Today we are all excited, of course, about the King of England. Poor king—What is it? “Heavy is the head that wears a crown.” Be thankful you aren’t a king.

Broadcasts come every day from S.A., but they are from Argentine. Thank heaven, this western hemisphere is at peace. I would be sorely worried if we were ready to fly at each other’s throats the way they are in Europe.

I’m afraid Helen has told you all the local news, so I shant repeat.

Morgan is very busy making Flora a cabinet for Xmas. I surely like that shopwork at school. Flora is doing fine in school. She brings home the best reports. Well, she brought your letter from the P.A. It is of Nov. 7. Just one month. Wish this heat could be divided up a little. It is a shame for you to be so warm and us to be so cold. Do you only get mail once a week? Am glad you enjoy tracting. I imagine

It is rather discouraging to not be able to convert those people. I suppose indifference is the drawback to spreading the Gospel.

So far, I haven't seen anything in the paper of the Brazilian Mission. Will watch for it tho'.

I’m glad you feel nearer home. Sometimes I forget how far it is, but when somebody asks how far it is, I gasp at the thought.

I imagine there are many Catholics there, although as a rule Germans aren’t Catholics. But one usually things of S.A. as Catholic.

The family came in last night & so I didn’t get my letter finished. Now I have one to write to Winnie. I’m afraid this is hardly going to be Xmas this year. Nobody’s coming home. There is a skitter of snow on the ground & it is cold. Helen is lonesome & even Win can’t come up. Does she write as interesting letters to you as to us. We surely get a kick out of them.

“San Francisco” is here next Fri & Sat. I must get to see that. It is good.

I have two boys putting on their overshoes to go to the corral. Sometimes I wonder if boys were made to quarrel. Those two can’t be in the same room five minutes, together.

I am simply bewildered sometimes with them. Talking, scolding—nothing phases them—Remember? Oh dear. Just outside. It has warmed up & black clouds are drifting overhead. Snow, probably. I hope it is for Xmas.

Well sonny, I have run out of gab—it isn’t news.

I like the tone of your letters & I’m sure you are “growing up.” Your ideas are changing, about life, aren’t they. I surely hope the influence of these two years stays with you through your life.

Fred is coming home next week. I’m a little afraid his success as a missionary has gone to his head. He is just a small spoke in a big wheel, tho’. There are many good missionaries in the field.

Isn’t your correspondence lagging a little. Why don’t you write to the bishop sometime.

Well, now it’s Win’s turn. Here’s hoping your next year will be as successful as your last. Did I wish you Mery Xmas. I hope I did. But I’m forgetful. As soon as this strike is over we will send you a cake. Love & kisses from all. Our prayers are always that the Lord will bless & help you.

Gluck Ouf. Some marks needed but I don’t know where.   Mother

Cousin Mark Frodsham and the Mormon Yankees. 1956.

The Mormon Yankee article on today's Mormon Times front cover, pictured cousin Mark Frodsham, as seen in these clippings. Each time I hear reference to the Mormon Yankees I plan on pulling out my scrapbook. Today I did.

He was pretty famous in Rich County, and my vintage clippings add to today's article.

There is an interview with Mark in the following article.

         Note: Mark Frodsham is Frank Union and Emily Rufi Frazier's grandson.

Sarah Jane Smith Sanborn gravestone.

Looking east towards the Wasatch Mountains from the George Benjamin and Sarah Jane Smith Sanborn grave sites,  in the Ogden, Utah City Cemetery.

George Benjamin and Sarah Jane Sanborn 

biographies are posted here; Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

On January 15, 1940 Sarah Jane Smith Sanborn passed away and was buried here in the Ogden City Cemetery next to her husband, George Benjamin Sanborn. Her two sons are buried on the far side of the plot (shown in this 2009 picture). I hate to think Sarah Jane was forgotten afterwards, but it appears she was. There may not have been enough money to order a gravestone at the time of her burial. And if ever there was, Sarah Jane was no longer there to see that it was done. 

Sanborn family descendants have added this gravestone to mark her grave near her husband's.

It's not quite the same as those of her husband and sons. There are new cemetery requirements, that require it be placed in cement.

Marlene Sanborn Silotti

November 22, 1931 – July 12, 2009.

Sanborn family descendants had the gravestone set for Memorial Day this year. 

And as a tribute to great grand daughter, Marlene Sanborn Silotti, who would have wanted it done.

Bessie Morgan Rex - letter written November 1936.

P. H. and Bessie Rex's west side yard. 

I wonder if it looked like this when "winter is in full swing."

[undated November, 1936]

My dear boy,

This is the kind of paper I need. Then I can get a lot on one page. My dearie, we missed writing you last week so are sending you this airmail. I wonder if our letters are as irregular as yours. We miss 2 weeks and then get two. I can’t understand. But then—we are delighted to get them when they come. It is cold & snowy this last day before election. Our lovely fall days are past—but then I wouldn’t hold them for when winter is in full swing. I know one year has passed. We saw Helen Kennedy Sat. She looks fine; and says she will have time to write to you. Mrs. Johnson has gone to Detroit to meet Dallas.

Now for the family—Helen is down with asthma today. Mr. Anderson is here. He is having a time with his reports, and Helen is getting him straightened out. Morgan is sitting on the big chair. He is [has] a bad cold. Maeser is out cow punching & his mother is worried sorely about him. It is so cold out today. Daddy is working on the amusement hall. Oh it is a beautiful building. If we can get a picture of it we will send it to you. The whole corner is occupied. I am on the finance committee. You would be surprised to see the way they raise money these hard times.

Well – politics The day before election. Things are hot right now. Landon is running Roosevelt a close race. All there is to do is wait & hope for the best. Vera Pearl & I went to S. L. [Salt Lake City] Saturday to a Rep. women’s tea – we drank coca my dear. Winnie was fine. She hadn’t heard from you either. It must be the boat.

There are two or three boys in the mission home who are coming to Brazil. We are sending your garments with one of them. They quizzed your daddy Sat. when he went up there. Your picture was in the Sat. News, with a story of the man who came from Germany & found the church again.

My dear, we sent you only $20.00 the other

Day but will send some more on the 15^th.

High school is just out. School kids still file down that hill & my fourth one will be thro’ before I know it. Morg will be a man when you come home. We saw Mr. &; Mrs. Balls Sat.

Well here I am with a blank mind. It seems I have told you all I know.

Next morning. Received your letters of Oct 3 & 10. Isn’t it funny that they come together? Well, we are delighted to get them, so never mind. So Clara hasn’t written for some time. Never mind, she isn’t chasing out. Roy called Margaret J. on the phone from Great Falls, Mont. She goes steady with another fellow, I hear. Dottie was asking if you got Roy’s card sent for your birthday. Say, your correspondence isn’t caught up very well. Delighted to know your German is coming along. Willa takes it at the B. Y. [Brigham Young University] Write her a letter for practice. I want to see your name heading something in your Brasiloniare is that right? Just as well be at the top.

Oh the Aggies beat the U. a week ago, but the U. beat the Y. Did Logan celebrate?

Helen is still in bed but we have some medicine now. Glenn has gone to Cal. [California] & I hope she will be able to go in the Spring. Life isn’t very encouraging with such poor health.

Maeser came in last night half frozen. It had been a bitter cold day, but I believe he stood it better than some of the men.

Certainly hope you are transferred to Joinesville. It is larger with more opportunities. I also hope you acquire the name of a studious missionary. Just talking doesn’t get you any place.

You seem older? Your pictures seem to indicate your hair is thinning on your forehead. That makes one look older. Never mind, it is better to act older than younger.

I must hurry. Daddy will be in The boys [illegible].

Forgive them this time for not writing & I shall round them all up for the next. It keeps your father busy with working & trying to take care of his stock cattle, milk cows, etc. You remember how you used to write letters?

Today is election. The radios have been hot & last night was the finale. Here’s hoping.  They haven’t picked the new missionaries. We will send you $30 this month. I’m afraid it was only $25 last.

Must get this off now. Will send it airmail. We do talk of you every day & every body asks about you. I know the Lord is helping or we could not keep you there, I’m sure. Love & kisses from every one. Will write again in a day or two & make this family set up too.

Lovingly, Mother. 

#3 Beryl Burt Sanborn. Concluded.

Continued from here.

In 1976 Beryl joined the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers (DUP), Hanauer Camp.

She was proud of her ancestors and cherished her pioneer heritage.

 It is evident from this well-used list of ancestors,

 she turned here frequently to keep track of family members, and their names.

After Pete's retirement, they frequently vacationed with friends, 

Harvey and Veda Danks (Harvey must have taken the picture).

In 1962 Richard, Beryl, Pete, with Ringo.

Beryl enjoyed playing the slot machines whenever they vacationed in Nevada, 

and she liked to win!

In 1979 their children invited friends and family to celebrate

 Pete and Beryl's fiftieth wedding anniversary.

Elizabeth is her youngest grandchild, and is shown here in 1984 near Beryl

with the family kitten on her lap. 

Beryl was always the care giver. In the last few years of her life, Beryl's family had the opportunity to reverse roles with her. She lived in her daughter Marlene's home, until she passed away on December 22, 1986.

Pete passed away the following September 21, 1987.

After Beryl began receiving Social Security she had a little money to call her own. She did with it whatever she chose, and tithing was on the top of her list. She was a great one for stashing money in a “safe place,” and sometimes had a difficult time remembering where it was. 

A pile of books from Pete and Beryl’s house was headed to “good will” following their passing and the sale of the home. Their son Richard rifled through the pile, retrieving a few he could use, a good dictionary in particular. Months, or a year or more, later one of her grandchildren picked up that dictionary to look up a word, and out fell a hundred-dollar-bill. Forever after they searched through anything that came from their grandparent’s house—looking for one-hundred-dollar-bills.                          

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Bonus picture here

John Morgan Gravestone Project completed.

Thank you to everyone who encouraged my efforts and contributed to the John Morgan Gravestone project. The engraving on the east side of the stone in the Salt Lake Cemetery was completed in time for Memorial Day. I think it looks beautiful!

Having John Morgan’s wives recognized on the blank side of his gravestone has been a pet project of mine for a couple of years. In order to solicit $money contributions$ from my cousins I sent them the following explanation:

“I've felt compelled to see that the two women who whole-heartedly embraced the teachings of the Church at that time (1880’s), laid everything on the line, married this good faithful man, had his children, and were good and faithful to the end need to be acknowledged with his first wife (our great grandmother) on his monument.”

Helen Melvina “Mellie” is buried next to John Morgan. The cemetery coordinates for his other wives gravesites are now on the monument. A visitor would need to get a copy of the cemetery map from the sexton’s office to go to their gravesites.

It took SL Monument an entire day and one-hundred pounds of sand to sand-blast the new lettering into the gravestone.

Contributions for this project continue to be welcomed. Send me an e-mail at: I see the creamery (written all together) @ Comcast [dot] net for a mailing address.

2012 Springtime Visit to Manassa, Colorado. Concluded.

Continued from here.

The only railroad running during the week of our trip to Manassa was the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Prior to Memorial Day, the trains from Alamosa, Durango, and Antonito, Colorado keep an off-season schedule.

When the transcontinental rail link was completed in Promontory, Utah on May 10, 1869 the line bypassed Denver. The Union Pacific chose the gentler grade to the north, through Cheyenne, Wyoming. The following year they built a 106-mile spur south to Denver that was completed June 24, 1870. Thereafter they aggressively developed an extensive narrow gauge network throughout Colorado.  I’d have to do a lot of hunting through John Morgan's journal to determine whether or not he traveled the Durango to Silverton leg we took.

The narrow gauge train from Durango to Silverton ran The High Line, and traveled half-way to Silverton and returned. The single day adventure was great fun, the weather was beautiful, and I felt it was an excellent example of the late 19^th century Colorado trains John Morgan rode.

The 45-mile extension of track, originally called the Silverton Branch, was constructed by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway in 1881-82. It followed the course of the Animas River.

Narrow gauge track in Colorado was laid at a width of 3 feet between rails, instead of the 4 feet-8-1/2 inches of separation with standard gauge rail. It was capable of making sharper curves, and thus more suited to the mountainous terrain found in much of Colorado. The track weighed one half that of standard gauge track at the time, and D&RG was able to operate lighter, less expensive equipment on its narrow gauge lines.

An 1886 John Morgan Journal account of a similar train that was detained for days because of inclement weather and blocked railroad tracks is posted  here.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

America’s Railroad, The Official Guidebook by Robert T. Royem, 2^nd edition 2007, pg 17.