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| Grandpa in his farm clothes |
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| Grandpa taking a nap |
James Orson Talbot
Started by Orson in 1976 and continued by Judy (with the help of mom and other family members
I was born October 2, 1900, in Paragonah, Utah, in the house that William Williamson lives in now. My father and mother, Robert Dennis Talbot and Elizabeth Watts Talbot, originally owned it.
My father owned a farm and a ranch located nearly six miles north of Paragonah. We called it the "Five-Mile Ranch." I spent my boyhood days working with father on the farm and the ranch. My brother, Robert Walter, had a ranch in Bear Valley, and I spent a lot of time there helping him fence and take care of father's sheep. I also herded sheep for different men after I graduated from school. I herded on the desert, in Beaver Mountains, and in our own mountains.
I attended school in the big schoolhouse that was on the square where the tennis court now stands. I attended the first year school was held there.
I first met my wife to be on the square in front of the old school house, which had been turned into a store at that time run by Joe and Merrill Lund. We went together off and on after that and then were married October 18, 1927. When first married, we lived at Sulphurdale, north of Beaver near Cove Fort. I worked at the sulphur mine and mills. We moved from there in April 1928, to Paragonah where we bought our home from George Hanks. It was known as the Hanks home and has been our home ever since. I rented farms for quite some time and my father gave me some farm ground.
I was placed on the town board of Paragonah on January 6, 1930.D. Amasa Stones went in as mayor. Milton L. Dailey, Joseph J. Jones, Richard h. Land, and myself were board members. I served as a board member for two years and I was reelected board member again and went in office January 3, 1938. I was reelected board member again in 1940, 1942, and 1944.I took the job of reading and collecting on the light meters from Herbert Topham on April 1, 1956. On January 8, 1966, I took the job of reading water meters from Homer Boardman. I held both jobs until August 1, 1974. I was put in as Street Supervisor in the spring of 1956.
I was Second Counselor in the Paragonah Ward Bishopric with Bishop Gilbert Robinson and Victor Robinson as First Counselor from May 1, 1951 to May 1, 1953. Then I was Second Counselor in the Paragonah Ward Bishopric with Bishop Victor Robinson from May 1, 1953 to 1959. I was set apart as High Priest Secretary on September 1, 1966.
(The above history was written by Orson. The history given after this point was compiled by Annie and Judy until Annie passed away and by Judy with the help of other family members after that time)
I, James Orson Talbot, was born on October 2, 1900, in our family home in Paragonah, Utah, with the assistance of a midwife, Liza Barton. I was the seventh of twelve children. My father was Robert Dennis Talbot and my mother was Elizabeth Watts Talbot. After all the children were born, there were six boys and six girls. See Family History sheets.
I liked to play with my friends of the same age when I was young. Some of those I remember were: Gene Davenport, Nathan Bozarth, Buress Barton, Nolan Openshaw, Arnold Barton, Rulon Barton, Elbert Robinson, Merlin Hunt, Clifton Stones, June Topham, and Lowe Barton. We often played baseball and stick horses. We would also pretend we were hauling freight by tying twine on cans and dragging them. In the winter, sleigh riding was very popular.
The 4th and 24th of July were also big events. The committees in charge of these events would collect donations around town to pay for the prizes for the races and sports which were held on those days and which were my favorite part of the activities. A program was always held in the chapel with the sports and races in back of the chapel. Food was served following the sports and races. On the 24th, a parade with covered wagons, buggies, horseback riders, and a band was held prior to the program. Gunpowder was collected and a heavy anvil was placed on top. When the powder exploded, it would make a loud noise because of the heavy weight. "Shooting the Cannon," as it was called, was done before the program. I also liked to watch the horse races held on these holidays on the old dirt road to Beaver north of town.
When I had grown big enough to help, my chores were to feed the pigs the pigs and chase the calves while Dad milked the cows. I also fed the chickens and gathered their eggs.
In the evenings at home, we played games - usually checkers. Mother and father would also read stories to us. Occasionally, we would have prayers together before going to bed.
Mother and father expected obedience from me and the other children and disciplined us when we didn't obey. Mother always attended church and made sure we were there, too, even though father didn't attend. Much of his time was spent at the Five-Mile Ranch north of town on Sundays, plus he would sometimes be away hauling freight from Milford to Paragonah for the "Peoples' Union Store which stood where the cur rent: "Shopping Corner" store is located. Father just wasn't very active at attending church.
Father always used clean language and expected his children to do the same. He kept the Word of Wisdom and taught us to be respectful to him and mother. Also, he was always kind in his treatment of the animals in his care.
Shortly after his marriage, father bought a lot in the northeast corner of Paragonah, and he and mother built a two-room log home on the property. To accommodate the growth of their family, father built another log room on the east side and later added a two-story building. William Williamson currently lives in the original two-story portion of our home.
Father and mother were both natives of Paragonah with their parents being among the first to settle in the valley. My grandfather, Benjamin Watts, and his wife, Grandma Ellen, lived in a home where Errol (Bub) Lamoreaux has his house at this time. Mother would walk to their home to visit and would take us along. Grandpa Watts passed away while I was still quite young. After his death, I would occasionally stay with Grandma Ellen overnight.
I also remember my father's dad, Robert Talbot, and his second wife, Betsy. His first wife, Jane, died before I was born. Grandpa's two-room home was located where the Robert Watt home currently stands. I was more familiar with my Talbot Grandparents because I stayed with them more often. I would stay overnight with them and go to school from their house. I remember Grandpa Talbot as being a short, heavy-set man with a full beard. He was kind-hearted and pleasant.He would often go with Dad us to the field and the Five-mile ranch. We always called Grandpa's second wife, Aunt Betsy.
I received all of my schooling in a two-story, four-room brick building located on the church square on the southwest corner (about where the fire equipment building now stands). The first year I attended was the first year school was held in this building. My Dad hauled gravel and sand with a team and wagon to help in the building of the school.
My teachers were: Maggie Owens, Ethel Stones, Nim Olerton, and Fred Fawcett. I started school in 1906. Three grades were, taught in each of three rooms: Beginners, first, and second in one room; third, fourth, and fifth in another room; and sixth, seventh, and eighth in the third room. The fourth room was used for books and supplies. I loved school and did well enough to finish two grades in one year. I believe it was the fifth grade that I skipped. Math was one of my favorite subjects.
A wood stove in each room during the winter heated our school building. The teachers and students kept the stoves going during the day and a janitor did at night. Our restrooms were two out houses behind the building. Each classroom performed a program during the year. Parents were invited to attend and watch us recite poems and do other things. I walked home each day for lunch.
During the summer breaks, I worked with Dad in the field and at the five-mile ranch. When we weren't busy, I played with friends in the street by our house. In later years, the new owners, Joe and Merrill Lund, converted the school building into a store.
We were kept attending our church meetings by Mom. We always walked to our meetings, school, and other things in town. When we needed to attend meetings in Parowan, Dad would take us in a buggy pulled by a team.
Dances were held at least four times a year in the Town Hall located on main street on the corner of the second block north from center street. Everyone attended the dances. Some dances were held in the afternoons following primary for the children. The Town Hall was a large frame building with windows on the north and south sides. The front faced Main Street. Inside the hall, there was a stand for the band located on the north side. Seats were located under the stand and on the south side. Two wood stoves in the east corners heated the hall.
Schooling in Paragonah continued only through the eighth grade. When I was thirteen years old, I graduated from the eighth grade and my schooling ended. Father could not afford to send me to Parowan or Cedar where advanced schooling was available. Most other parents were in the same situation at that time. I have a large certificate signifying my graduation from the Paragonah School and the eighth grade. I borrowed books from some of those who were going to high school in Parowan and Cedar City. Some of those who continued on were: Nolan Openshaw, my cousin, and Rulon and Lowe Barton.
I remember my baptism, which was held on Saturday, the 6th of March in 1909. Even though my birthday was on October 2, it was a practice at that time to wait until several baptisms could be done at once. Therefore, my baptism was delayed until March and the following people were baptized with me: Clifton Stones, Merlin Hunt, and Nathan Bozarth. I was baptized in a ditch across the street from Homer Boardman's home (1st south near main street). The ditch was damned off with a canvas so the water would back up making it deep enough to baptize. Thomas Robinson, a member of the bishopric at that time, baptized me. My dad hadn't done it much and it was the usual practice for the bishopric to do it. I dreaded the baptism somewhat but remember it as a special experience. I also remember that the water was cold, but the weather must have been good then because I walked to Aunt Betsy and Uncle High Robinson's home (Betsy was a sister to my mother) to change. They lived where the Errol Lamoreaux home is now.
Alfred W. Lund confirmed me on Sunday, March 7, 1909. Those being confirmed set on a bench near the front. The confirmation was performed on the stand at the front.
After graduation from school I spent most of my time working on the farm in the big field and at five mile. I hauled hay to five mile by horse and wagon, especially in the fall in preparation for winter. After the snow covered the ground, I would go with other boys in the sleigh pulled by a team. We would go there three times a week to feed. While there, if the pond was frozen, we would ice skate. During good weather, we rode our horses to five-mile. We owned four horses - two riding, "Flax" and "Smoker'," and a team, "Dick" and "Roan."
Later, I was able to get work doing shepherding. I herded for Doyle and Ren Robinson and Hyrum B (High B) Robinson. I herded for year round -- summers found Buckhorn flat and Bear Valley and winters on Buckhorn flat the north end of the valley. I stayed in a sheep wagon. I quite enjoyed sheep herding but did get lonesome. I stayed out herding from six weeks to three months depending on whether it was lambing season. Those who owned the sheep would bring a team of horses and move the wagon when it was time to move to another location. I saved some of my sheep herding money putting it in the Bank of Iron County. As I recall, I earned about $50.00 or $60.00 a month sheep herding.
Father taught us to work hard and do a full days work. Honesty was a trait that both mother and father insisted upon in the children. Quarreling and arguing were not tolerated. Unsettled disputes were to he brought to them.
I advanced regularly in the priesthood during my teenage years. My priesthood line is listed later in my history. I served as Assistant Secretary in the Sunday School from 1923 to 1925. Pamola Boardman and I served together in this calling.
I continued to herd sheep, even more so now, and work on the farm. I worked on the main road from Paragonah to Beaver. It was a graveled road. I worked in the gravel pits as well as on the road itself. During this time, a new brick schoolhouse was built east of town. As stated earlier, the old school building on the town square was converted into a store. Merrill Lund and his Uncle, Joe Lund, were the owners of the store. They turned one of the large rooms on the bottom into a general store. They called it the "Lund Store." However, this was not the only store in Paragonah. There was already a general store on the corner of center and main (where our present store and gas station stands). It was called the "People's Union Store." It was given this name because quite a few people in town owned stock in it. The People's Union Store was not in operation when the Lund Store was open. I believe my father owned stock in the People's Union Store. Our post office was in the home of Alice McBride directly east and across the street from the church.
The Lund Store was a common meeting place. On one of the occasions when I was at the store, I had the opportunity to meet Ina Topham and her friend from Beaver. I had dated Ina before and since we were acquaintances, she introduced me to Annie Gale, who was visiting with her. This was the first time I met the woman who was to be my wife. The yea r was 1925.
For the first while, our associations were only as part of the group activities. After meeting together like this for some time, I decided I wanted to see more of Annie and so I began dating her. This meant getting to Beaver, so I bought a Model-T Ford (for about $500.00, as I remember) with money I had saved from sheep herding. My Model-T was a two seater - black in color. It was the first car in our family. As I recall, I bought the car in Cedar City from Thorley Ford. I could drive it a swift speed of fifty miles an hour.
During the year, 1926, Annie and I dated quite often. I did some sheep herding in Beaver for Tom Gunn in 1926 which was to my benefit for dating Annie. My brother, Ren, drove my car a lot while I was gone, so in 1927, I drove my car to Beaver and stored it. Of course, the family wasn't too happy and blamed Annie for me taking the car. During the early part of 1927, it began to get more serious between us. We began to talk of marriage, and I gave Annie a ring during the summer. We then set our marriage date as October 18, 1927. There was never any question but that our marriage would be temple. The closest temple was in St. George, so our plans were to marry there.
I was ordained an elder during the summer. of 1927 before I talked to the Bishop about my marriage. I was serving as Assistant Secretary of the Sunday School at this time.
Annie, myself, my mother (Elizabeth), Jennie (Annie's sister), and Ernal (Jennie's husband) rode to St. George in the Model T on October 17. We rented rooms in the Arrowhead Motel for the night. I roomed with Ernal, Jennie and Annie roomed together, and mother roomed by herself. Jennie and Ernal had married civilly and were going to the temple with us to get their endowments and be sealed eternally.
On the morning of the 18th, we were to be to the temple by 8'00 a.m. Annie and I were married by the temple president, Brother Snow. Following the temple session, a tmple worker and good friend of Annie and Jennie (Will T. Morris ) took us up to the temple roof to look out over St. George. We had our picture taken while still on the temple grounds. We drove back to Paragonah to bring Elizabeth home. As we came into town, a group of friends was waiting to shiveree us. We drove up the north street and our friends drove down the next street south -- just missing us.
Dad told us our friends were looking for us, so we drove to Beaver with Jennie and Ernal in our Model-T Ford.
Our wedding night was spent in Beaver in Annie's parents home. We moved a bed into the parlor for the night. We wanted to go to Salt Lake for a honeymoon, but Annie's Dad had hurt his leg and she didn't want to be gone. His leg prevented him from attending the temple with us. A few nights later, we had a reception in Annie's parent's home.
Within the next few days, we moved to Sulphurdale where I had a job working in the sulphur mill. I had been working there about a month before our marriage. Sulphurdale is a small mining community twenty miles north of Beaver. I helped to process the sulphur from the tailings dumped in earlier mining.
We lived in the back part of the schoolhouse after first moving there (in October). Annie taught school in Sulphurdale for a year in 1925 so she was somewhat familiar with it. Our housing consisted of a two-room-area behind the room where school was held. One room was the living room and bedroom and the other was the kitchen.
I worked a night shift most of the time (4:00-12:00 p.m.). I rested during the day. Annie did handwork during this time. In the month of December, we moved into a house. We shared a house with another couple. We each had two rooms of our own. During March, the work slowed down and I came to Paragonah and checked into renting a farm. I made arrangements with the Hanks family to rent their farm. There was also a home owned by the Hanks family for sale. I was able to get a loan to buy this home and we moved to Paragonah in April of 1928. This home located on main street was to become our home for the rest of our lives. .
Nellie my sister, and her husband, Harvey, encouraged our move to Paragonah. They lived in a house on the east side of town (currently owned by Ren and Delsa Talbot). Nellie and Harvey owned a small store, "General Merchandise," located on Main Street just across the street from our home. Nellie would often eat lunch at our house because they lived so far up the street.
There were a few items of furniture in the house when we moved in, and we brought a few pieces with us. The very back room was our kitchen and our present kitchen was the dining room. Our living room was bare. Even the floor was bare board for the first year. Most of our money was spent on house payments. Annie was expecting a baby due in October.
We soon made friends with our neighbors: Joseph and Jane Jones (living in a house on the south), an older couple; Willie and Edith Davenport (living across the street and a little to the north). They were also older and had a large family of six girls and one boy. An old dance hall was just north of us on our block. Others nearby were: Ephraim Dalley's garage across the street and a block to the north; an adobe house across the street and to the south (next to the store) owned by Sarah Jones. (Clark now directly across the street, built Clark Lamoreaux's home, which is later.)
My parents came to visit us often, especially mom. She helped Annie with the bottling in the summer. Of course we visited at their home too. My brother Walt and his family also lived in Paragonah in a small frame home on the east corner of the block just north of us.
The Hanks farm was located north of Paragonah just west of where the Dalton field is now I farmed about 60 acres for the Hanks family for the first three years of my marriage. Our first summer in our home we planted a small garden The back yard and to the north was alfalfa so I had to work that up before I could plant a very big garden. I moved our granary from where the garage presently stands to its present location near the southeast corner of the cow corral. Our garage was part of the old town hall and was moved over to our yard when the hall was torn down in later years.
We started out with the following animals in our first year: two milk cows, "Daisy and Red," given to Annie as a wedding present by her Dad (it was his traditional wedding gift), some laying hens (also from Annie's parents), a horse, "Dick," purchased from Grant Jones and some wiener pigs given to us by my Dad.
In the late summer and early fall I hauled enough wood to make a large wood pile that stretched from the west end of the present clothes line all the way up to the granary. We had three wood stoves (living room, kitchen, and dining room) and therefore needed a lot of wood for winter.
My Mother, Elizabeth, was seriously hurt in a car accident as she was turning onto the highway just north of our home. She died on October 1, 1928. My sister Sarah who had not married lived with my Father and took care of him.
Our first baby, a girl, arrived on October 28, 1928. Annie went to Beaver to her Mother's home to have the baby. She did this so she could have doctor help with the delivery. I suggested naming the baby Beth. Annie had no objection so we did. Bishop Thomas Jones blessed Beth - I felt quite insecure for this first blessing.
Our first few Christmases and Thanksgivings were spent with our families. We either went to their house or they came to ours. We often had our Christmas tree on a round table in the center of the living room.
Our next baby, a boy, was born on March 1, 1930. He was born in our own home with the help of a midwife and neighbor, Edith Davenport, and the doctor from Beaver. The doctor brought Annie's mother along with him. It took us a long while to pick a name. We finally decided on Brenton Gale.
During the early thirties, I was called to serve in the M.I.A. Men's Presidency as second counselor. Ben Openshaw was president and Ernie Topham was first counselor. I served three years in this calling. During these years I continued to farm to support my growing family.
Our third baby was another boy who arrived on November 29, 1931. He was given the name of Gordon Leon. Gordon was blessed in our home by the bishopric and myself because he was sick at the time and we felt it best to not take him out. Gordon was sick often as a baby. He was sick with pneumonia before he was one year old. At nine months we noticed that he was not doing the usual things of babies that age. He was slow at sitting up and walking. He never learned to talk. Gordon demanded a lot of time because of his slowness. We thought at first his many sicknesses as a baby had caused his problems, but then decided he was handicapped from birth because the doctor used instruments during the delivery and placed them in the wrong place (on his forehead and the back of his head and neck). The doctor was also very drunk during the delivery,
I was worried about Gordon, but I loved him and helped to give him the best care possible. Annie took him to several doctors. We even traveled to Salt Lake City with him. The doctors didn't offer much advise or help. We took him home and did the best we could. Our county nurse insisted that Gordon should be taken to the American Fork Training School where he could receive special care. Annie didn't want him taken there, but I felt it would be best after talking to the nurse. It wasn't easy to raise Gordon with the rest of our family because of the time he demanded. It was very difficult to make the decision to take him to American Fork There were those who helped us make the arrangements, and we took him. He was about ten years old at the time. He still used diapers and was quite a handful. It was hard for me to leave him but was especially hard for Annie. After we left Gordon, she cried all the way home and for several days after; but getting back to the rest of the family and taking care of them helped. Thoughts of him were always on our minds however. Annie always carried the feeling that she wasn't doing her part as his mother by putting him there.
We tried to visit Gordon several times during the year. I had a blue Ford pickup that I drove on our trips to American Fork. In the summer the entire family would go to see him. We would spend a full day with him. We would pick him up and take him up American Fork Canyon for a picnic and the other children would play with him. He always knew us and would get very excited to see us. He always cried when we left him, and his mother always cried too. He was never able to talk and could only make noises while with us, but was able to communicate some by using his hands. Annie was always sad for several days after our visits. We mailed gifts to him between our visits. These visits continued through the years. Then in February of 1952, we received a call from the training school informing us that Gordon was very sick with pneumonia. They said we should come right away. Gordon passed away before we could get there. This was on February 3, 1952. Gordon was 20 years old. We were upset that the school had not called us sooner to tell us of his illness. The funeral was held in Paragonah where we also buried him
I served on the Paragonah Town Board for two years from 1930 to 1932. Amasa Stones was the Mayor, and the other board members were Milt Dailey, Jinkin Jones and Richard Lund It was tradition for our family, Martha (my sister) and Albert (Annie's brother) Gale's family and Ren (my brother) and Delsa (Annie's sister) Talbot's family to spend an Easter outing together each year. We did this until our families were grown. We traveled to such places as the Waterfall at the Five-Mile Farm also Leeds, Utah, and Iron Mountain, Utah. These were just a few of the places we went. Annie's parents would sometimes go with us. My dad was always involved with the farm.
It was also a tradition for Annie to take the children to Beaver to stay for a week with her mother during the summer.
Our fourth child, a boy, came on June 28, 1934. He was born at home with the help of a midwife and Dr. Burton. We named him Bobby W.
During these early years of our marriage, I made a living for my growing family by farming my own land and renting the Hanks Farm. I also raised and sold cattle. A team of workhorses, Dick and Mac, pulled our farm machinery. Pearl was our riding horse.
In the early thirties my father divided his farmland and deeded sections to his living sons. I was deeded land at the Five Mile Ranch and in the Paragonah Field as was Walt. Bill and Ren received land in the Paragonah Field. Dad continued to help us farm. Our winters were cold and snowy. Our house was kept warm by wood and coal stoves in the living room, kitchen and back room. Even though we had electricity, we did not yet enjoy the convenience of an electric range. There was a continuous need to carry wood and coal into the house and ashes out. Each fall, I would haul wood from the mountains to prepare a supply for winter.
I milked cows and raised chickens for our own needs. I shipped the surplus milk to a dairy in Parowan and later to the Brooklyn Creamery in Beaver. Pigs and cows were also raised to supply meat for our family.
Our next child, a girl, was born on November 20, 1935. This was also my father's birth date. We named her Anna Marie. She was born at home with the help of a midwife and the doctor. Our family had grown to five children.
During these years, Annie worked long, hard hours each day. The demands of family and farming were great and she often missed getting the rest she needed. In her run down condition she began to suffer pain in her joints. As the pain increased and we visited with the doctor, she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. From this time on she suffered a great deal with pain. Many remedies were tried over the years to relieve the pain. The best relief came from Cortisone (a drug that relived the symptoms of arthritis but had harmful side effects). There was no stopping the crippling caused by the disease. Her hands and feet became disfigured and she had difficulty walking and doing things with her hands. She had continuous pain. Our children Jim, Ardell, Neil, and Judy were all born after she developed arthritis. Annie said the arthritis didn't bother her nearly as much while she was pregnant. Over the years she developed a determination to withstand the pain. She became an example of cheerful endurance to others. By her example others gained courage to meet their trials. Eventually she was taken off Cortisone and given a high dose of aspirin because of the damage Cortisone could do to the body
Our next baby, a boy, arrived on July 15, 1938. We named him James Rex but called him Jim. He, too, was born in our home.
In May of 1939, my father passed away. He had been bedfast for a while prior to his death
In 1939, I was asked to fill the position of ward clerk. I held this position until 1947 and served under Bishops' Doyle Robinson and Leonard Topham. I also taught a class of adult Aaronic priesthood with Willard Lund during this time. Some of the men in the class were Horace Edwards, Cliff Stones, and Austin Barton. Many were older than Willard and me and had not advanced in the priesthood beyond the office of a deacon.
Our next child, a boy, arrived on February 27, 1940, We chose the name Ardell for him. He was born a month early and only weighed about five and one-half pounds. Annie had been working too hard causing the baby to come early. He was small in the beginning but soon caught up in size. The doctor and midwife were there for the delivery.
In 1940 I was again elected to the town board as a board member and was reelected for the next two consecutive terms (1942 and 1944).
In the early 1940's I made a bid to drive the mail between Paragonah and Cedar City. I was awarded the bid, which included mail pickup and delivery for Paragonah, Parowan and Summit Post Offices. I would pick up Paragonah's mail at 9:00 am and then pick up mail in Parowan and Summit dropping it off at the Post Office in Cedar City. I would then return with the days mail for these same communities. I would leave Cedar City around 11:00 am. I soon started carrying freight in my truck with the mail. A grocery supply store, Riddle, Inc., would send freight to the various stores in Parowan and Paragonah. I also hauled freight to these stores from the train depot in Cedar City. People from Paragonah and Parowan would often catch rides to Cedar City with me. I drove the mail route until about 1950. During this time I also continued with farm work on my own land and rented farms.
Our next child, a boy, was born on August 5, 1941. We named him Neil Dean. He, also, was born in our home with a doctor and midwife. This was a very hard delivery (see insert at back of history). Annie hurt from head to toe when it was over.
My farming was hard work and didn't supply us with a lot of money It was a struggle to make ends meet and there were times when I wasn't sure we were going to make it. Our circumstances were humble. Much of the food on our table came from our garden, fruit trees and animals. Our heat in the winter was still provided by wood and coal stoves. Annie made soap for use in her conventional washer. We milked three to four cows for our milk and butter and to help with our income. We put the milk in a large milk can and placed it on the front lawn to be picked up by the truck from the dairy.
There was always plenty of work for our children. The boys helped with the farming -cleaning ditches, hauling hay and grain, weeding, watering (in daylight and dark), milking, feeding, etc. The girls worked hard too. They had to help with the laundry, cleaning, cooking, ironing and bottling several hundred bottles of fruit in the summer. With five boys there were lots of shirts on the clothesline and in the ironing basket.
I purchased my first tractor from Annie's brother, Elmer, in the early 1940s. It seemed a real luxury after using a team of horses for so many years. My second tractor was purchased in 1952, and is still in use as I write this history.
In 1947 was called as a counselor in the Elder's Quorum Presidency. I held this position until May, 1951
Up until the birth of our son Neil our children had been born at two or three year intervals. After Neil's birth the years passed with no more children. It appeared that our family was complete. Seven years had gone by without a new baby. Then we learned there was to be one more. Annie thought the other children would be upset when they found out, but instead everyone was excited about it. This baby was quite unexpected. I would be forty-nine years old and Annie would be forty-six when the baby arrived.
On December 13, 1949, our last child, a girl, arrived. She was the first baby in our family to be born in a hospital. I took Annie to the hospital in Cedar City in the morning with the mail and the baby was born in the afternoon. Annie spent ten days in the hospital -- the usual length for hospital births at that time. The family discussed the name at length with the final decision being Judy. Our family now numbered nine children -- six boys and three girls with the arrangement being, a girl, three boys, a girl, three boys, and a girl.
In May, 1951, was called as second counselor to Bishop Gilbert Robinson. Victor Robinson was called as first counselor. In 1953 Victor Robinson was called to be the bishop. I was called to be his second counselor with Clark Lamoreaux being called as first counselor. I served in this calling until 1959.
From 1951 to 1955, I worked as the janitor of the Paragonah School. On April 1, 1956, took the job of reading the electrical meters on each home for the town of Paragonah. I also collected the money that was owed. Herbert Topham held the job previously and ask me to replace him. The small income from this work helped with our finances. This job made it possible for Annie to visit with the members of our town because most of them came to our
home to make their payments. Later on January 8, 1966, reading of the water meters was added to my position. I kept both positions until August l, 1974. I also served as street supervisor for a few years starting in the spring of 1956. This entailed keeping the streets in repair, mowing the weeds along the side of the road in spring and summer and snow removal in winter. Sometimes people who couldn't pay their power and water bills would work with me to earn money to pay these bills.
Dad remained active up until about two or three years before his death. He spent his time doing chores, raising a garden, keeping the yard free of weeds, and helping Bob's family and Judy. He remained a Home Teacher in the Priesthood and faithfully fulfilled this calling.
Dad died on October 15, 1986, and his funeral was held on October 20. He was buried in the Paragonah Cemetery.
