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Tales From Life On The Farm: Lester Nelson May, Sr. I was the sixth and last child of Percy Lynn May (1884-1935) and Ruth Stevens Goodloe (1888-1984) and born on March 4, 1923 (see later correction) in the family farm house located in Northeastern Albemarle County, Virginia. March 4th was then the Presidential Inauguration Day every four years so Mother tied my birth date to that easy reminder.

George Washington Hoskinson 1 & Lucy Burlingame Bosworth. Research had established that the first Hoskinson to have migrated from England to the Colonies in the New World was a Thomas Hoskinson who did so in 1700. It was also known that Thomas Hoskinson was the son of John Hodgkinson, Jr. and his wife, Mary Birchall, of Preston, Lancashire County, in England. When Thomas Hodgkinson made the move to the Colonies, his last name was changed to Hoskinson.

Mernice Bailey Bates. I was born January 1, 1919, in Monticello, San Juan County, Utah, the third child of Elmer Bailey and Alberta Perkins. My sister Maxine was four and a half years older than I and brother Jerald three years older. My brother Kirk was three years younger. Today I live in Nemo, South Dakota.

Steven Michael Selig Born in 1960 in Buffalo, New York, along the shores of Lake Erie, his family moved to Phoenix, Arizona when he was eight. He developed a love for adventure among the rugged southwestern deserts and canyons, he has trekked across jagged peaks, desolate deserts and snake infested jungles, rafted raging whitewater, explored ancient civilizations and helped discover the lost tomb of two early Christian saints.  He had an extensive career in telecommunications with AT&T.
 
Virginia Carlson Parker. Born in Logan, Utah, in 1923, Virginia obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University. She has Masters' Degrees in Library Science from the University of California at Berkeley and American Studies from Utah State University.

James Bernard Kaiser. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1935, he grew up in his grandmother's home, attended Catholic schools, and married Bonnie Van Gilder. He worked for Paine Webber for many years, achieved significant success, and retired to Arizona.

Tabby-To-Kwanah, Man of Peace, Chief of Ute Indians, lived at the reservation in the Uinta Basin in 1867, an area that developed into Tabiona, Utah, and Hanna, Utah.

Dr. John E. Osguthorpe was awarded the Superior Service Award for outstanding contribution in carrying out the objectives of the War on Hunger to help bridge the growing worldwide gap between population and available food resources, and for outstanding initiatives and imagination, exceptional efforts in developing policies, directing the procurement of fertilizer, insecticides, and seeds.

Ruby Leona Hoagland (Buchanan-Martin) This story about our mother is dedicated to our mother, Ruby Leona Hoagland. She was not a famous person who will be remembered in our history books, she was not a socialite or a philosopher but rather a down-to-earth woman who struggled through life’s everyday problems and survived to teach through her own example and to entertain by recounting stories of her childhood to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Jacob and Mary Ann Chapman Epting. This book is more like a scrapbook of letters, stories, drawings, photographs, and a few court house records. The stories were written by and about the descendants of Jacob and Mary Ann Chapman Epting, who raised their own children in the Dutch Fork section of South Carolina in the second half of the 19^th century. More than 180 black and white photographs of Jacob and Mary Ann’s descendants and some of their actual children and their spouses have been gathered for this volume.

Mary Denman Hankins was born in Oliver Springs, Roane County, Tennessee, on January 31, 1930. She grew up in Middle and East Tennessee, and has lived in Greeneville, Tennessee, since her marriage in 1951, with the exception of eight years, from 1987 to 1995, when she lived in Cedar Hill, Texas. Her parents were Lela Emaline Cox and Elmer Hoyle Denman. Lela Emaline Cox, b. May 1, 1904, died June 12, 1972; Elmer Hoyle Denman, b. July 21, 1903, died March 27, 1991.

T.W. Brock, FBI communist informant in WW2 wrote and documented twenty years of life serving her country, along with her husband. The children they raised never knew. 

Irving J. Schaffer was born in Amsterdam, New York, and served in World War 2 as a B-25 combat gunner, radio operator, and aerial photographer. He kept a day to day diary during the war. He now lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Willard Boulter Enniss was born 8 June 1857, a native pioneer of Draperville, Utah (formerly called Sivogah, then South Willow Creek, then Draperville, and finally Draper). He was the fourth child and second of two sons born to John and Elisabeth Boulter Enniss. Willard was the first born in the covenant, as John and Elisabeth were sealed in the Salt Lake City Endowment House on 26 March 1857. The Draper Fort was begun and partially completed by1854, but gates were never hung in place, The settlers had followed the counsel of Brigham Young in building the fort. He wanted them to be protected from the Indians who were losing their domain to the settlers, and were naturally becoming warlike over the matter.

Darwin Knudsen's ancestors came to Utah from Denmark in 1864. His great grandfather Rasmus Christian Knudsen, after building various mills for Brigham Young, and others, built his own flour mill at 27l5 East, 6200 South, in l878 in Cottonwood. His son Rudolph, being of an enterprising nature, established "Knudsen’s Grove" about one half mile southeast of the corner at 6200 South, Holladay Blvd. in l912.

Rowena Morris Newton Torok was born in 1905 and grew up in Medina, Ohio. Rowena passed away at the age of 94 on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2000 and was buried in Medina, Ohio. Rowena’s mother, Cornelia Spitzer Newton, was also born in Ohio and grew up in Medina. Rowena, her grandmother, grandfather, and sister, as well as Cornelia and Ernest were all graduates of Medina High School. Upon graduation, Cornelia Spitzer married her high school sweetheart, Ernest James Newton in 1889. The Spitzer’s and Newton’s believed in the benefits of education for men and women, and since Cornelia graduated from Lake Erie College, both Rowena and her sister, Evelyn, attended Ohio schools by graduating from Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Rowena received her Master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and taught nursing.

Barbara Osiander Epting immigrated with her husband Johan Adam Epting from Germany to S.C. in 1749. As a widow, she was involved in a complicated and most interesting land transaction in S.C., and she donated supplies to the Americans in the Revolutionary War. Discover how neighbors like Abraham Chapman and Henry Schwartz fit into the Epting picture, and enjoy reading about newly identified Epting men and early Epting women who have been unable to claim their Epting heritage until now.

Luke C. & Victoria Tedder family of North Carolina is a family book of stories and photos mainly by their children. Other contributions were made by grandchildren and cousins. Some stories are written in the dialect of the era. All reflect some of the writer's impressions and recollections of the most important events and family members in his life.

Echo Hawk as a child was named Big Crow. Traditionally, Pawnee elders watched a male child as he grew up and then gave him a new name. The Hawk is a very good hunter and one of the very few birds that does not sing. As the Elders watched him become a strong warrior, a good hunter, and one who never talked of his many good deeds, they named him Echo Hawk.  

Annie Easton Hood was born at Wallace Stone, Sterling Shire Scotland, September 26, 1874. Her mother was Janet Witherspoon Easton. Father was Alexander Easton. Read more in this fascinating history of a family who emigrated to Wyoming.

Charlie D Fabrizio & Rosie Defa Fabrizio of Torricella Pelligna, di Chieti, Italy 1900s, immigrated with other family members to Utah in the next few years. Many stories and photos Italy and Utah.

Clarence Cummings & Jessie Irene Saville  and all their family back to 1600s. Stories and photos by Florence Youngberg, noted Utah historian.

Klem Irad Schneider The flight arrived in Saigon about 9:00 AM Vietnam time on July 12, 1971. The sky was cloudy, and after the airplane descended through the clouds, we were low enough to see clearly the trees in the jungle and to see the rice paddies.

Betty Burton Stohl  My feelings about my darling husband are explained in the writings of Duff Cooper, "You have set a crown of roses on my youth, and fortified me against the disaster of our days. Your courageous gaiety has inspired me with joy. Your tender faithfulness has been a rock of security and comfort. I have felt all kinds of love for you at once. I have asked much of you and you have never failed me. You have intensified all colours, heightened all beauty, and deepened all delight..." Duff Cooper, 1918.    

John Donnell  I resolved then that I would in my later years...write an account of my life for the benefit of my grandchildren. What I did not appreciate so many years ago is the benefit to the writer of such an effort. It has given me considerable pleasure to bring back to mind many activities and thoughts I had many decades ago. 

Axel Nielson and Ane Sophie Larsen Nielson. Axel Nielson was born on the 20th of March in Helsingor, Frederick, Denmark. He was put in an orphanage when a child. He was confined there until he was 15 or 16 years old. He was adopted by Johanna Nielson who took him out of the orphanage and gave him the name of Nielson. 
    Grandma Sophie Larsen Nielson could speak no English and it was a terrible trip for her. She carried their clothes in sacks and a home-made trunk.... Victor said he thought it took six weeks on the boat, and to cross the States to Salt Lake about fifteen days. Then one day to Juab, then on a buckboard to Elsinore.

Peter Nielson and Edna Snow Nielson. Peter [Nielson] was born on June 7, 1881 in Copenhagen, Denmark, a son of Axel Nielson and Anna Sophia Larsen.  When Peter was 5 years old, he came to the United States of America with his mother. Peter received his higher education at the Brigham Young Academy in Provo. 
    Edna Snow Nielson. [Edna Snow] was born December 12, 1879 in Pine Valley, a daughter of Willard Snow and Mary Melissa Meeks. Edna was six months and her sister Mary was one and a half years old when they moved to Thurber with her parents. Her father drove a team of oxen and her mother drove a team of horses and took care of her two children. 

Willard Snow and Mary Melissa Meeks Snow  When they arrived in Thurber, he built two log rooms with a roof of poles, bark and mud. The Snows brought cattle and chickens so they could have their milk, eggs, cheese and butter. Willard Snow and his brother Charles took up two sections of land to homestead. Some of the fences that Willard Snow built are still standing.

Erastus Snow  A granddaughter’s portrayal and dramatized account of the life and times of her illustrious grandfather—against a backdrop of the American Revolution, birth of the Mormon Church and polygamy, the westward trek to Utah, development of Southern Utah, and finally Erastus as a lonely fugitive traveling incognito, evading U.S. Marshals.

George Washington Hill  George had a red beard, so the Indians gave him the name which means "red beard" in their language— "Inka-Pompy." It is a name by which he is known today among even the descendants of his Indian friends, Indians who have never seen his red beard, but who had been told by their parents and grandparents about Inka-Pompy, their beloved friend and teacher.

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Harriet Kidd Banner  Her story is of a woman (in Idaho) whose daily acts expressed unbelievable commitment to family and neighbors but whose reticent nature seemed to not allow her to say to them, "I love you." Her life was an example of softness of soul and length of love. Yet her mind was steeled so strongly against sorrow and adversity that few people ever witnessed tears welling or wetting her cheeks.

Henry Eyring & Mary Bommeli   One day in the last days of July, both elders sat talking; Elder Ritchey hugged a blanket around him for he chilled even in the boiling sun, and Henry drove.
    "I wonder how much farther it is to Omaha, Brother Eyring. Maybe we can get some quinine there. I thought when we left the Nation we would be free from this-this-this awful fever and st-st-stop shaking." 
    In the days when Mary was in Berlin earning her way to Zion, there were no large factories weaving cloth, no fine stores where lovely materials could be bought nor suits and dresses bought already tailored.

Lillian and Harold Putney  Their story begins in Hartwick, Iowa about 1912. Harold grew up and became a minister for the Lutheran Church.

King Family of Boulder Utah  Cattle was a big industry for Boulder, Utah. "I should estimate," said John King, "that Boulder cattle at that time (1890 to 1900) numbered around 12,000 head. We drove about 1500 steers out to sell every fall. Of course in those days, we kept the beef steers until they were three, four, and five years old." Cattle rustling by the Robbers Roost Gang was a problem.

Northcutt Genealogy  A 538 page book beginning with the evolution of the Northcutt name from Northcote manor, England, in 1103, through its many variations to present day. It follows William Norcut from the 1810 censuses of Adair and Green counties, Kentucky, the subsequent migration to Missouri, and a record of many of the families that married into the Northcutt line

Parley Pratt  On the morning of July 22, 1847, two groups of Pioneers entered the valley which lay east of the great salty lake and west of the Rocky Mountains. The first ones to enter that day were Pratt, Orson Pratt, George A. Smith, and seven other horsemen. The purpose of their expedition was to make a reconnaissance of the valley and determine the best place to locate and start planting seed, etc.

Reuben Hill & Theresa Snow Hill  As the young lady returned, Reuben handed her books to her saying, "Theresa, I live over in Springville and I peddle my bicycle to and from our farm each day, but this evening I must remain until seven for chorus practice. May I walk home with you? I would like to talk over tomorrow’s lesson with you."

William F Rigby  Factory worker and farmer, pioneer and missionary, civic leader and religious leader, prisoner and statesman, William F. Rigby lived in a world of contrasts. An energetic worker who never put off any task however daunting it may seem, Rigby’s list of accomplishments are impressive. He helped established over 44 communities in Utah and Idaho.

General Sterling Ralph Ryser  The original plan was to dock directly in Hamburg. However, this round-about route was made necessary due to a single political activist who was flexing his muscles at the time—Adolf Hitler. Finally, on December 18, 1936, at 1:30 p.m., they arrived in Hamburg. Sterling and Allen were met after some delay at the train by the missionaries. They were greeted by the message to go to Hanover to language school.

Grandma Rose Daniels   Grandma was not born a Ute. She was born on the Navaho reservation, living near what was known as Lee’s Ferry. Grandma Rose Daniels was a very old woman, nearly a hundred years old, and she looked it. Her face was deeply creased, and her toothless mouth was drawn in. She stood only about five feet tall, because she was stooped with age. About once a week, she came to spend a day with her daughter, Mentora, who worked at the hotel. She rode into the Fort alone, mounted on her great gray stallion, and seated on a beaded blanket instead of a saddle. Also read about    Phoebe Lister   

Wong Sing.  Wong Sing's Trading Post

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James Jeppsen and John Manson  After using candles and kerosene lamps for about forty years, Monroe, Utah, was about to get electric lights. Two men, James Jeppsen and John Manson decided that the old Bertelson Grist Mill located up in Monroe Canyon might be a good prospect for getting electric power inasmuch as it had run the Grist Mill successfully by water. They obtained the mill pond and water turbine. Soon they were able to install a generator. Then they strung power lines into Monroe. 

Teacher Juanita Clegg  Most of the boys wore overalls and had straight hair. All of the girls wore dresses and had straight hair (excepting pretty Miss Clegg who had curly hair) Slacks for girls were unheard of (1927), and so were permanent waves.

Martha Spence Heywood  Martha Spence Heywood is given credit as the first school teacher in Washington City, Utah. She died on February 5, 1873.

Early pioneers of Draper Utah. A majority of the pioneers came from Europe, England, Canada, isles of the sea, and other beautiful parts of the world, leaving comfortable homes, traveling by sailing ship, ox-drawn covered wagon, handcart, on horseback, and many of them walking, being led by a modern-day prophet. They gathered in the Utah desert, including South Willow Creek (Draper), hungry, tired, and weary after their arduous journey from their homelands. With faith and fortitude, these sturdy, God-fearing pioneers helped build an empire and made the desert blossom.

Early Pioneers of Southern Utah  See list of many people.

Early Pioneers of Salt Lake City  See list of many people.

Jacob Hamblin  In the summer of 1854 Jacob Hamblin and four other men were sent on a permanent basis to settle on the Santa Clara River.

John D Lee & his wives.  John D. Lee, after being shot, fell back into his coffin. His boys came forward immediately and claimed the body. His body was taken to Panguitch, Utah, where he was buried. His grave is marked by a headstone.

Harriet Annah Kidd Banner Harriet Annah Kidd Banner was born April 30, 1882 to Annah Staley and John Bickmore Kidd in Herriman, Utah.  The year she was born, the map of the United States labeled Utah as only a territory. Also still in territorial status were Idaho, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. 

Harold & Lillian Putney of Iowa Ralph Putney's farm near Ocheyedon, Iowa, is Harold's birthplace in 1908. See photos. 

Cornella Hill of Utah married Lee Packer who died. She then married Mac Novak and after he passed away, she married Herb White. She was the daughter of Reuben Lorenzo Hill & Mary Theresa Snow. Read excerpts of her book as a Child Development Specialist.

Christian Andreas Hansen of Denmark & Annie Larsen of Richfield married and moved to Boulder Utah. But after eight children, Christian developed lung disease from working in the Delamar Nevada gold mine and died.

More to come. . .

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