Thursday, July 25, 2013

History of Van der ploeg

Excerpts from letters written by Uncle Tom to Mary Bingham.  (Read at reunion, Bear Lake, Aug 4,5,6, 2011)

          Like most of the people we knew who migrated from Holland, our parents and especially our grandparents were so glad to be in America, they seldom ever spoke of their early days in Holland. 
          Grandfather, Thomas vander Ploeg, a farmer, and wife, Naatje List, moved from Den Helder, Holland in 1890 with their son and daughters and migrated to Paterson, New Jersey.  Maternal grandfather, John de Man and wife, Neeltje Kattestaart, and family left Dirksland for Passaic, New Jersey in 1880.  Grandma de Man told of long and unhappy voyage as “steerage” passengers—the crowded quarters, sick and crying children plus the bad stench.  Those in the bottom of the boat were not allowed to go up on deck.  The ship had motor trouble and when conditions were good, sometimes a sail was used.
          Grandfather vander Ploeg (Thomas) and family lived in a 2-story house on a small truck farm of 10 to 20 acres.  In 1920, he left for California with son, Peter, orphaned grandson Bill, son Jacob (my father) and family.
          Grandfather de Man (John) & family lived in the basement in a row of houses in Passaic then moving to Paterson where he worked in the building trade.
          As was the custom in those days, I was named after my paternal grandfather, Nell after our maternal grandmother, Netta after paternal grandmother and John (2nd son) after maternal grandfather.
          Having no electricity, telephone, automobile, indoor privy or water heater, but we did have gas for cooking and lights but the family kitchen stove was mostly used burning coal.
          Our big event of the year was the annual Sunday school picnic—riding on a summer time street car to a part at the edge of town.  The other looked forward to event was a visit to country Grandpa’s and on occasion riding in their small truck farm in their surrey.
          We didn’t feel poor as most of the neighbors in our Dutch community with children were not any better off.  Like most kids in the neighborhood we did a lot of “barrel picking”—going to the more affluent part of town for better loot.  That is how I got my fist bicycle, first an old frame, wheels but never had tires or a good chain or seat.  Mostly one used leg power.  My allowance was 4 cents/week—2 cents to spend and 2 cents to save.  Ice cream cones were 1 cent, 2 cents for one heaped high using a regular kitchen spoon.   One summer I had a job shagging fruits and veggies from the peddle wagon to the customer’s back door for 25 cents and sometimes would get the left over’s to take home.  Big pay --  big deal!
During the year, I worked delivering milk before school and twice on Saturday for $2.00 a week.  The milk farm was 1-2 miles from our house so I had to get up at 3 a.m. to get there in time by walking.
          Once boys came of age 14, they were expected to have an 8-hour job ready.  I worked as an apprentice at one time where my Dad worked—The National Silk Dyeing and Finishing Co. in East Paterson.  My Dad was a millwright and in charge of all “belting”.  I was very proud of our Dad who could take a loosed belt, flip it up and over the pulley on the shafting 8-10 or more feet high.
          Both mother and father were the first of their families to wed.  Sisters Minnie, Katie and Lena made my mother’s wedding dress.  That was in 1902 at the Holland Baptist Church on Hillman St., Paterson New Jersey where both families were in attendance.  Grandfather Thomas van der Ploeg and family drove in from East Paterson by horse and surrey.
          My mother’s lot was not easy having seven children.  No modern conveniences, no telephone, inside bathroom or electricity.  However, we did have gas for lights and a stove but hot water came from a tank attached to a coal burning stove.  We did have cold water and a sink.  Upstairs lived Dutch people named Broers.
          After Elmer was born, Mother’s health was not good and as time went by it became worse.  She had a goiter and other complications.  Not then, but later I often thought of the dull and painful life she endured until at the end of the nation-wide influenza epidemic, she passed away at the age of 38 in 1919.  She lies in the de Man family plot in Cedar Grove Cemetery along the Passaic River on River Road close to East Paterson.”
          In 1920, after the death of my Mother, Jacob, my Father, left New Jersey along with his 7 children, his parents, his brother Pete and a nephew, William van der Ploeg, and traveled by train to Pasadena, California arriving July 4, 1920.  All twelve of us lived in a small house for a year until larger quarters could be obtained.  There Jacob lived out his life.  His health was not good and he felt California would be a healthier place and offer more opportunities for his children.  He converted to Jehovah’s Witness faith before moving to California and did much missionary work.  His three oldest children, Tom, Nell and Netta had to quit school to help support and family and to care for the younger children. 
          There was love in our home, but like the custom of the day, people we knew never said the words, “I love you.”



          John Van Dell.  How do we ever say thanks to John, or show by actions our appreciation.  Perhaps no one will ever know how John in various ways helped and did for so many people.

Mary Louise Bingham Personal History

Mary Louise Van Dell (Van der Ploeg) Bingham

Born 2 June 1935 in Bell, California to John Van Dell and Annie Louise Alderman.  I have one older brother and one younger sister.   My parents liked the name Mary and Louise is after my mother and maternal grandmother.
          When I was about 4 years old my aunt married to my Dad’s oldest brother came up with a new surname and the family must have liked it enough to change from van der Ploeg to Van Dell.  The reason for the change is the name was hard to pronounce I was told.  My nicknames were Memmel by my father and his clan and also bug.  Once in a while it was jitterbug.  I was a child that could not sit still for more than a few minutes.
Father came to California from New Jersey as a child because his father thought the family would be healthier and have a better life.  My grandfather was a widow with 7 young children.  His parents, a brother, Pete, and a cousin my Dad’s age, Bill, came with him by train.  My mother born in Georgia came to California from Alabama as a young married woman with her first husband who was in the US Navy.  I understand she married this man hoping for a better life.  They came with her older sister, Elizabeth, and her husband who was also in the military.  My mother did not have a good life losing both parents at an early age and living in poverty.
I don’t remember the first couple of houses we lived in around Bell, California.  The first one I really recollect was a housing complex in East Los Angeles.  There were approximately 8 two story apartments in each complex and we lived in one second to the end.  We had a kitchen, living room, two bedrooms and one bathroom for the five of us.  We had modern plumbing and electricity and later a dial telephone. We moved to Richmond, California when I was 10 years old and got our first TV.  I lived there until my last two years of high school when we moved to El Cerrito, California but still in the Richmond School District.  This home was quite a nice home.
After high school graduation (1953) my family moved to Pasadena, California where I lived for  three years.  I graduated from Pasadena City College (1955).  I had worked part-time in a insurance office and after graduation worked full time for an insurance agent, Charles L. Arthur.  In the spring of 1956, I took a trip to Hawaii with a PCC friend, Barbara Keyston.  We took the cruise ship, the Luraleen, over and flew back home.
Shortly upon my return I met my eternal companion, Gerald Bingham, at an engagement party.  I worked with the bride’s Mom and Jerry worked with the groom.  The following March 9, 1957, we were married in the Chapel of the Roses in Pasadena.  I was not raised with religion and Jerry was not involved in this church at that time.  A minister of my uncle David Van Dell married us.
We first lived in Huntington Park and about a year later purchased a home in Bellflower, California.  I quit my job as a secretary for the assistant purchasing agent at Thermador Products when our first child was born, Janet Louise, 18 May 1959.  Eleven months after our second child Michael John, 10 April 1962, was born we moved to Pleasant Hill, California.  In the summer of 1969 we moved to Fresno, California where we were in partnership with my Dad, a jewelry and giftware store.  I worked part time helping to get it set up and going.  In July 1972 we opened up our own jewelry and giftware store in Stockton, California (lived in Lodi, CA) but closed it down due to competition in 1985.  We then purchased an existing durable medical supply company (Lodi Sickroom Supply) where I worked for the first few years.  In June of 2001, we moved to Alpine, Utah due to inspiration we received to do so.
I do not have many early childhood memories and I believe it is partly because there were things that were not positive and I did not want to remember except those are some of the things I do remember most.
My father was domineering, outgoing, intelligent, impatient, ambitious, and a hard worker.  I guess he would be called a workaholic as his job was his life and his social world.  He often gave someone a nickname.  He loved is family including his siblings and was generous to them.  In fact, he was generous to any who was honest, fair and loyal to him.  Once he took a job that was not very promising because of his loyalty to his boss.  He did not graduate from high school but was very successful in the business world with Snap-on Tools Corp.  He was very devoted to my Mother when she became seriously ill and tended to her every need which is something he did little of before.
My mother was insecure, lacked self-esteem, and had problems with depression.  She loved her family and was a very devoted mother and wife.  She loved babies and liked animals, music and had a good singing voice.  She was small, only 5 ft. tall but quite brave when it came to things such a trying to kill a snake and rescuing a woman that was attacked behind our house.  (My Dad was in the house for the last one.)  My brother John Edwin (2 plus years older) was outgoing, intelligent, confident and a nice person.  He was patient particularly with his wife.  My sister Helen (5 yrs younger) is more reserved, not as outgoing and more like my mother in many ways.  She is very generous, loves her children and saw to their needs as a single parent.  She also loves animals.
I waited for the day I could play poker with my parents and aunts and uncles on Saturday night in Pasadena.  I watched them play from the time I was very young.  Our whole family really didn’t play any games together but poker and a little bingo.  As an older child, our family went high school football, to the midget auto races and some pro football games like the SF 49ers. During this time, we also would dine out.  In younger years, I played some with my siblings like Monopoly, and with playing cards.  I liked to color, play with paper dolls and as I got older was a fan of a number of movie stars.  I liked to go to movies, play with neighbor friends.  I remember putting on plays and musicals and playing softball and kick the can.  I also like to play store and be the cast register.  They always said I was a fast runner as a child.  I was a Brownie Girl Scout and took piano lessons until I thought I was too busy as a teenager to practice.  
The chores I did mostly were the dishes, cleaning my bedroom, cleaning up after our dog and some cleaning house.  I know my brother and I both wanted to wash the dishes and would fight over it.  I did not like to iron but my least favorite was cleaning up after our dog, Smudgy.  I always shared a room with my siblings and later just with my sister until I was 18 years old. While living in Richmond (I was age 10 to 16) our bedroom was at the back of the house.  We lived in a neighborhood where some tragic things scary things happened so either my sister or I wanted to be the first to go back there after dark.  My Dad was more cautious than my Mom when it came to hearing noise outside at night.  I remember many times turning all the lights out so we could peek out better.
I was a good, obedient student who never wanted to get into trouble.  My best subjects were math, spelling, art and physical education.  I did not like science as not all subjects were easy for me.  I always felt my brother and sister had more of my Dad’s intelligence but I was more like my Mom, with much less.  I had a speech impediment that gave my voice a nasal sound and I was very conscious of it and this made be very shy.  In grammar school I had to go to special speech classes which I did not like that did nothing for me. It wasn’t until I was in junior high that it was discovered why I talk nasal.  I have no uvula and my palate is paralyzed.  Therefore, I hated current events and would take a ‘F’ rather than get up in front of the class.  I attended grammar school at Dakota St. in East Los Angeles, and for two years in Richmond, Ca.  At the time we moved to northern California, my teacher considered my skipping a grade which later could never understand why.  My middle grades 7 through 9 were at Longfellow Jr. High School and Richmond High School, again in Richmond.  I graduated from Pasadena City College with an associates’ degree in business.  I did not participate enough in any extra circular school activities to mention.  I was in the senior play as a dancer.
I almost always wore bangs that were short in earlier days and in style.  I never had very long hair.  In high school we wore at triangle scarf on our head with the tie at our chin.  Also, small scarves tied at our neck.  We curled our hair with bobby pins.  I always did my mother’s as she thought she could not do it herself.  I worn white suede shoes or brown/white saddle oxfords (Spaulding brand) with socks rolled down to our ankles.  Skirts length was below knee and little on long side.  We never wore pants or shorts to school.  
I don’t recall any high school heroes but did collect pictures of movie stars.  In fact, I wrote to a number to receive an autograph picture.  I never sang because of my bad voice although my mom had a rather good voice.  I liked many of the popular ballads and rock and roll music.  I always loved music and often listened to it.
Our first family dog was a red chow named Tootsie.   We then had a mongrel dog named Smudgy who looked like a shaggy sheep dog.  We found her in a vacant field near our house.  We tried to have a kitten a time or two but they did not last long.  My dad did not like cats.
I remember two childhood friends named Wendy and Courtney when living in the apartment complex.  Typical of three friends, we did not always get along well.  Darlene Durflinger who I met in junior high became a very close friend to this day.  I have kept in touch with several other high school and college friends.
I had no religion growing up and never attended church with my family.  My parents knew an old widow, Laura, who took my brother and me to church a few times when small.  I went a couple of times with a friend as an older child.  The religion was Methodist.  Because I married an LDS man, I was contacted at  different times by missionaries.  Finally in 1967 I was ready to receive them and baptism followed in Walnut Creek on 1 April 1967, the same year our daughter was baptized.  It took me several years (and Jerry too) to be converted to full activity.  We were sealed in the Oakland Temple in 29 July 1972 with our three children.  I have never been without a temple recommend since then.  My membership in the church along, with my family, are my most prized possessions.  Over the years I have served some in Relief Society, more in Primary but mostly in the Young Women Program, about 20 plus years.  In all three organizations it was almost always been in presidencies.  In February 1998 we left for the Philippines Manila Mission to serve as senior missionaries.  It was one of greatest and most rewarding experiences we have had.  We would have served another mission if it weren’t for me being diagnosed with cancer in 2002.  For the past 8 years I have been heavily involved in family history work and receive great satisfaction from it.  I have seen that temple work has been done for thousand of my ancestors, mostly my Dutch line.  I have over 25,000 names in my personal ancestral file.



Thursday, July 18, 2013

Grandpa Jerry's Obituary

Gerald "Jerry" Bingham
12/4/1928 ~ 7/14/2013
Gerald "Jerry" Bingham of Alpine, Utah, passed on peacefully at his home surrounded by family on July 14, 2013 after a short, courageous battle with cancer. Jerry was born on Dec 4, 1928 in Benjamin, Utah to Monroe and Priscilla Bingham. He married Mary VanDell on March 9, 1957 in Pasadena, California.
Jerry grew up in Benjamin, Utah, graduated from Spanish Fork High School, and obtained a Bachelors Degree in Marketing from Brigham Young University. He served with distinction in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant. After his marriage to Mary, they lived in Southern California, the Bay Area, and in Lodi, California. After retirement in 2001, they moved to Alpine.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Mary, their three children, Jan Scoffield of Alpine, Utah, Michael (Danielle) Bingham of Eagle, Idaho, and Paul (Corey) Bingham of Alpine, Utah, 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Jackie Bingham (Jim). Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Lavinia Pickeral, and his six brothers, Lee, Pat, Blaine, Alph, Kenneth, and Jim.
Jerry loved spending time with and supporting his children and grandchildren. He truly devoted his life to selfless service of his family and fellow man.
Jerry was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Among other service, he was a Bishop and Stake President in Lodi, California, and a temple ordinance worker. His greatest joy in church service came when he and Mary served together as missionaries in the Philippines Manila Mission.
Funeral services will be held Friday, July 19, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Alpine North Stake Center, 1125 E. Alpine Dr, Alpine, Utah. Family and friends may visit Thursday evening, July 18, 2013 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 187 S. Main St, Spanish Fork, Utah, and on Friday morning, July 19, 2013 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Benjamin City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the General Missionary Fund of the LDS Church.
Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.walkerobits.com

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Grandpa's Airforce Picture


This is a picture of Grandpa Bingham in his Air Force uniform. He served from August 1950 - August 1954 and was in Germany for 27 months. 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Joseph Eckersley


Joseph Eckersley  (GGGGF, 1809 -1869, from The Journals of Joseph Eckersley which is held in the possession of Mary Ellen Eckersley Stoddard of Salt Lake City, Utah and as recorded by Paulene Anderson, 1996 ) -

 

     Born on January 5, 1809 in Unsworth, Lancashire, England the 5th of 6 children born to George Eckersley and Alice Haywood.  Joseph had 3 sisters and 2 brothers, he being the third boy.  His father and family were weavers.  With no child labor laws in England, Joseph, like the other children of that time were kept busy working in factories.  Joseph worked in a silk weaving factory.  Despite the hard work, there was also time for fun.  Joseph was a typical boy having grown up like most boys in England at that time. 

     Joseph first came into contact with the LDS Church thru a friend named George Hulme.  Extracts from Joseph’s journal give a clear picture of his participation in the church:

 

“August, 1841 - George Hulme brought the Latter-day Saint works to me to study.  I was baptized on August 22, 1841 by Elder Parson in the river adjoining Salford.  I was confirmed by George Hulme.

September 5, 1841 - A branch of the Church was organized in the home of George Hulme at Simister Lane Little Heaton, Lancashire, England.  George Hulme had been a member of the Methodist Church.  After his conversion and baptism he was severly persecuted by his old church members throughout his town.

October 17, 1841 - George Hulme was ordained an Elder and his son Uri was ordained a Priest at the same time.

November 28, 1841 - At a meeting in George Hulme’s home I spoke in tongues and Uri Hulme interpreted it.

May, 1842 - Uri Hulme and I preached in open air in Rooden Lane.

October 20, 1842 - I, my brother Matthew and Uri Hulme and his wife moved to Middleton because of the terrible persecution.

1842 - Elder George Hulme had many open visions to his astonishment, in regards to conditions that would come to the Church saints in Nauvoo, Illinois.

1843 - Elder George Hulme opened Rhodes as a preaching place.

1843 - Elder George Hulme baptized Peter Ogden at Middleton.  [Ogden, Utah was named after Peter Ogden who colonized this area of Utah after he came to Zion]

September 5, 1847 - I became an Elder.  Elder John Banks and Amos Fielding ordained me.

September 9, 1849 - We baptized 4 girls.  Elder George Hulme became President of Middleton Branch.”

 

     At a young age, Joseph, served as the clerk in the Middleton Branch in England where he and his close friend George Hulme served as the BranchPresident.  His handwritten recordings of ordinations (in beautiful script) can be seen today upon the early English records of the Middleton Branch of the LDS Church still available on Church microfilm. 

     Joseph met the daughter of his good friend George Hulme (who had brought the gospel to Joseph and been instrumental in his conversion). 

     Alice had been married to a John Haslam and had 3 children, 2 boys and a girl, thru this first marriage.  Her husband, John Haslam, apparently died (from what and exactly when he died is unknown) and left her a widow.     

     Joseph, now age 36, married Alice Hulme Haslam, age 30, on November 23, 1845 in Lancashire, England.  Joseph and Alice would have 7 children before they would immigrate to America and migrate west to be with the saints.  While making preparations to go to America, Alice’s mother Anne Barlow died in 1853 leaving her father a widower.  He would later travel to America in 1857 and later died with many of the Willie Handcart Company in Wyoming.

 

 

Elizabeth Marie Hansen


Elizabeth Marie Hansen  (GGGGM, 1827 - 1895, as recorded by Paulene Anderson, 1996) -

 

     In 1814, Denmark was separated from Norway.  Denmark, much like Norway is a country dominated by water travel due to their many islands.  Much of Denmark’s trades and industry related to sailing and shipping.  The Danes had sufferd much during the war with England.  Lisa Marie Hanson was born into a time of new felt progress and recovery from that war.  The peasants were making agricultiural progress and their intellectual movement was just dawning.  War time shipping was being replaced with commerce and industrial shipping. 

     Lisa was born on October 13, 1827 the only child of Hans Jensen and Anna Jacobson in Ostbirk, Skanerborg, Denmark.  She was born the child of her mother’s first husband, and it is thought that she may have been born out of wedlock.  Danish people are known as having a great sense of humor and being quite affable.  They have always been preoccupied with the here and now of everyday life and with little concern for preparation for the future.  She was 25 years of age when she married Anders Christensen on December 3, 1852.

Anders Christensen


 Anders Christensen  (GGGGF, 1823 - 1899, as recorded by Paulene Anderson, 1996) - 

 

     Little is known about Anders.  He was born on April 22, 1823 to Christen Madsen and Kirsten Marie Pedersen and lived in Tyregod Vejle, Denmark (the large island of Denmark’s 500 islands).  This small town was located about 1/3 the distance up from the German border.  He was born the 5th of 6 children.  His family were simple peasant farmers during Denmark’s rennaisance.  Much of Denmark’s trades and industry related to sailing and shipping.  The Danes had sufferd much during the war with England but were now transforming their small country into a successful industrial nation.  Anders was 29 years old when he was married Elizabeth Marie Hansen on December 3, 1852.  He lived his entire life in Denmark.

Ida Ann Clark


Ida Ann Clark  (GGGM, 1888 -1979, as recorded in The Thomas Griffin Family book, pages 190 - 191, published in 1997, History of Ida Ann Clark given at her funeral by Milton Anderson in 1979, History of Sarah Godfrey Clark, John Godfrey of Worchester, England Ancestry and Posterity (red book), pages 494-497, 1980, and from her oldest grand-daughter, Paulene Anderson, 1996) -

 

     Ida Ann was born November 10, 1888 in Clarkston, Cache County, Utah.  She was the fifth of eleven children born to William Henry Calrk and Sarah Godfrey.  She was greeted by one brother, William Henry, and two sisters, Mary Ellen (Nell), and Effie Marie.  One brother, Joseph John, died at the age of one.  Six other children were born into the family.  They were Sarah Malinda, Arthur Benjamin, Amelia Emma, Raymond Aubery, Andrew Leslie and Marjorie.  [Thus, Ida had five brothers and five sisters.]

     Prior to Ida’s birth, her parents moved to Rockland, Idaho where William operated a farm.  However, the farm was not successful and they didn’t enjoy the hot, dry weather, so when Sarah became seriously ill, they moved back to Clarkston, Utah.  They lived with Sarah’s mother (Ida’s grandmother) until they could buy a small home of their own.  Mary Godfrey’s house was a one room with a stove, a table and a cupboard on one side.  In the corner sat a box with a curtain around it, which Mary called a “toilet stand.”  Across the other end of the room were two beds; the heads of each bed were against opposite walls but the ends nearly touched.  Catherine (Ida’s aunt) and her daughter had moved home with Mary after her husband’s death.  That made 4 adults and 3 children living there.  [It must have been very difficult at times.]  After Sarah and William’s fourth child was born [the next child older than Ida] in May of 1886, they moved into a home of their own.  Ida was born there in November of 1888.

      The spring after Ida Ann was born, the family moved to the farm [three miles] south of Clarkston and homesteaded 160 acres of ground.  [Their home was across the street from the church.]  They built a two-room house here.  The floor consisted of bare boards which Ida’s mother scrubbed on her knees.  There was no water on their farm and so water had  to be carried from a spring on a nearby neighbor’s farm.  The whole family was expected to work and help with the new farm.  The Archibalds were their closest neighbors.  Ida and the children had to walk three miles to school.  They ussually carried their shoes and stockings until they were almost at school, then stopped and put them on.  This kept the shoes from getting so dusty and scuffed and they not only looked better but lasted longer.  Snow and cold weather prevented them from walking far in the winter, so they attended school in the spring and fall.  In the winter the Archibalds and Clarks took turns taking the children to school in a horse and sleigh or buggy.

     There was plenty to do at home.  Ida’s mother, Sarah, made all their clothes, made the soap they used, knitted stockings and mittens, made butter, preserved and dried chockcherries, apples and peaches.  They grew most of their own food, kept chickens and milked cows.  [As a child she learned to help with the turkeys, chickens, pigs, cows and other farm chores.  She helped with the barnyard chores because most of her brothers were younger than she.] 

     Ida’s parents taught their children to help while they were young.  Ellen, Ida’s older sister, was sewing when she was almost too small to reach the treadle of the sewing machine and Effie was knitting stockings before she went to school.  They used to knit stockings and trade them with a neighbor for butter.  Will, Ida’s oldest brother, was only 15 years old when he plowed up 10 acres and put it into grain.  Milk was poured into big pans on the cupboard or in the cellar.  After the cream rose to the top, it was skimmed off and put into separate containers.  Butter, eggs and chickens were traded regularly to the co-op store for staples. 

     When Ida was about 6 her family moved to the edge of town.  They stayed in a cabin with a sod roof until the log house on the farm could be torn down, moved to the new property and rebuilt.  Ida’s younger sisters were born there.  Things were more prosperous at the new location, although they still had to carry water about two blocks from town.  In the summer they moved the stove out to the “shanty” behind the house and did the family cooking and dishes there.  The house was delightfully cooler with the stove outside.  In the first year of the new century, they completed the new house next to the old one.  It had four rooms and a pantry, an upper story for bedrooms and a big porch that extended across the front of the house.  There was a cellar near the house where crocks of pickels , fruit and vegetables were preserved.

     Ida’s father worked for other farmers harvesting and repairing fences in addition to managing their family farm.  Twice a year Ida’s mother and father went to Logan for a few things they could grow or make.  

     Ida’s mother’s life was one of hardship and hard work.  Sarah had no formal education and never learned to read or write, not even her own name.  Yet she could “figure” in her head with amazing speed and accuracy.  She kept her large family clean, warm and comfortable, although they didn’t enjoy many luxuries, they all learned the value of hard work and resourcefulness.  Ida’s mother was a religious woman and strict disciplinarian.  When the table was set for breakfast, the chairs were turned with the backs to the table and everyone knelt by his or her chair for family prayer.  If the chidren were boisterous, she corrected them in no uncertain terms. 

     One-tenth of everything they produced was set aside for tithing.  Ida remembered how each fall the chickens were shut up in the coop and the trap door opened.  As the chickens came out one at a time, the children counted them and the tenth one was caught and put in a sack for tithing.  Each tenth dozen eggs were also taken to the Bishop’s storehouse.  Ida’s mother also served in Primary and YW MIA.  [There was no doubt of her testimony of the gospel or her devoted obedience to living the commandments.] 

     [The strict religious environment of Ida’s childhood is reflected in the circumstances of her baptism.]  Ida was baptized when she was eight years of age.  [It was important to be baptized upon turning 8 because she was baptized on her birthday on November 10th despite having to break the ice covering the city creek in order to be immersed in the water.  Milton recalls her telling him how cold the water was.]  She was baptized by William J. Griffith in City Creek north of Clarkston.  Each Sunday they made the three mile trek to church meetings.  Ida sang in the choir when she was twelve years of age because her father had an outstanding tenor voice and he took Ida with him when he went to choir practice.]   

     Ida attended eight years of school in Clarkston.  [She graduated the eighth grade and once received a prize at school because she never came to school with a button off or broken lace.  Ida learned the household chores and jobs from her mother.  To cook, sew and care for a house.  She had a close relationship with her brothers and sisters and described her childhood as a happy one.]  She was active in church and enjoyed singing, dancing and playing soft ball.  She attended school with Albert, [who was 1 year older] and they enjoyed doing things together [even as youngsters.]  [She and Albert courted after it was discovered that Albert’s heart condition would prevent him from serving a mission in England.]

     On October 22, 1908, Albert William Griffin, age 21, married Ida Ann Clark, age 20, in the Logan Temple by Pres. William Roskelley.  After Albert and Ida were married, they lived with Albert’s parents while their home was being built.  [Memories are still vivid in the minds of her grandchildren who recall her as a grandmother batting the ball at family reunion softball games and letting them run the bases for her.  They all loved eating her honey ginger cookies which she baked for them to eat and take a few extra home in a little brown bag.] 

Albert William Griffin


Albert William Griffin  (GGGF, 1887 -1919, as recorded in The Thomas Griffin Family book, pages 189 -192, published 1997) -

 

    Albert William Griffin was born in Weston, Franklin County, Idaho on February 1, 1887.  He was the first child and son of the nine living children (6 boys, 3 girls and a stillborn daughter which would have been Albert’s older sister) born to Thomas Griffin and Ruth Emma Maughan.  Albert’s mother was the second wife of Thomas Griffin.  In addition to the 8 younger brothers and sisters, Albert also had 9 half brothers and sisters [3 boys and 6 girls, who lived about a block away from his home thru his fathers first wife Martha].  Albert’s father, Thomas, would spend one night at Martha’s home (his first wife) and then the next at Ruth Emma’s home (Thomas’s second wife and Albert’s mother).  This was done by Thomas to be as fair as possible to both sets of his children.  

     Albert’s father, Thomas was a farmer.  He farmed east of Clarkston, Utah near the old reservior.  He had cows, horses, pigs, and chickens and raised mainly on hay and grain.  His father, Thomas, spent the summers of 1886 and 1887 in Montana avoiding law officers who were arresting men that were practicing polygamy.  This was near the time Albert was born.  When Albert was two years of age, his father turned himself in for breaking the Edmunds Tucker Polygamy Law.  He was fined $300 and sentenced to serve six months in the Utah State Prison which he did.  In 1897 when Albert was ten, his father was elected manager of the Clarkston Co-op, a small store.  After many years Thomas bought all of the stock and became owner of the store.  Thomas still farmed as well as managed the store.

     Albert’s early childhood was similar to other children living at the time.  He helped with the animals, farm chores, and took care of his younger brothers and sisters.  As he got older, he helped with the hay and harvest, and helped haul groceries from Cache Junction to the family store.

     Albert (Ab, as he was nicknamed), attended the first four years of school in the old rock school and the remaining four years in the red brick school house.  In 1903, the year his brother, Joseph Donald was born, Ab [age 16] was afflicted with rhematic fever which often damages the heart.  He overcame it and had no apparent after effects.

     Albert was an active young man.  He enjoyed sports, amd was a good athlete.  He loved playing baseball.  He was the catcher on the town baseball team, and a pretty fair hitter.  He was quiet.  He wasn’t one to pick a fight, but he wouldn’t back down from one.  It took a pretty good man to whip him.  He took part in ward dances and other activities that young Latter-day Saints his age were involved in.  Saturday night dances and church on Sunday were the main social gatherings.

     In 1906, at the age of 19, Albert was called to serve a Church mission to England.  He bid farewell to his family and set out for Salt Lake City.  He was set apart as a missionary by Heber J. Grant.  His ticket for England was already purchased when it was discovered during a [routine] physical exam that he had a weak heart.  Because of this, he was unable to fill a mission and returned home very disappointed.  His bout with rhematic fever that he had earlier in his life may have contributed to his heart problem.  He had looked forward to serving a mission in England, his father’s homeland.  [His release from his called missionary assignment was a great disappointment to both he and his family.  He returned to Clarksron to farm.  He eventually married a young lady, Ida Ann Clark, whom he had attended school with when he was younger.

     On October 22, 1908, Albert William Griffin, age 21 married Ida Ann Clark, age 20, in the Logan Temple by Pres. William Roskelley.  He bought and farmed in a place called “Dirty Head” in Idaho.  His health problems continued until he died at the young age of 32 from a flu epidemic, being survived by his wife and five children].

 

Alice Eckersly


Alice Eckersly  (GGGM, 1860 - 1950, as recorded from Grandmother Anderson, from Life History of Alice Anderson by Alice Griffin, from the personal history of her sister Emma Eckersly Stoddard and A Brief History of the Life of Hans Jacob (Michael Anderson) -

 

     Alice was born the youngest of 10 children on March 4, 1860 in Lark Hill, England to Joseph Eckersly and Alice Hulme.  Alice’s mother was previously married to John Haslem, by whom she had 3 children, one daughter and two sons - William and Henry.  Joseph and Alice had 6 daughters and one son all born in Lancashire, England.  

     Her father, Joseph, was a weaver by trade and so were most of the children who worked in the factories to support the family.  The family lived in the poorest of conditions.  Most of the children had no opportunity for education.  Alice’s oldest sister never attended her first day of school.  At the age of 8 most of the children began working full time.  Alice’s eldest sister, Emma took employment nursing small children from the time she was eight until she was twelve.  The family weaved cloth in their home for extra income and most of the children eventually worked in a local silk factory. 

     Alice’s parents and the 3 children from her mother’s previous marriage all joined the LDS Church in England before the birth of their 7 children.  Alice’s father, Joseph, was very involved in the administrative duties (serving as a clerk) in the Middleton Branch of the LDS Church.  The family soon decided to emigrate to America to be with the saints.  Her two oldest brothers went to America nine years before the rest of he family to earn money to help pay for the rest of the family to come to Utah.  The brothers in Utah worked hard as farmers and sent most all their money to the rest of the family in England. 

     Alice was 2 years old when her family left Liverpool (in May of 1863) bound for New York City on the ship SS John J. Bye.  The trip by ship took 4 weeks.  Her family then travelled by train for 2 weeks.  In order to afford the train trip, they booked the least expensive passage which consisted of riding in a car so filled with people that she couldn't lay down but had to rest on benches for the entire 2 week ride to St. Joseph, Misssouri.  Her older sister Emma recalls seeing a camp of Indians for the first time.   Next her family went up the Mississippi River by steamboat.  During their trip they picked berries along the river bank for food.  They eventually reached Florence, Nebraska (later known as Winter Quarters).  Soon the teamsters came from Utah with their oxen teams.  It then took 9 weeks traveling by oxen team to reach Salt Lake City in 1863.  The older children walked most of the way.  They camped in tents for a week until one of her older brothers (William) came from Wellsville with a horse team and conveyed them to Wellsville.  It had been 9 years since they had seen him.  Ironically, the team and wagon belonged to Alice’s older sister Emma’s future husband 

     They then traveled with all their belongings 90 miles to the town of Wellsville, camping by roadside at night.  The 9 year separation made for a thrilling reunion.  The younger brother Henry was soo poorly dressed it made their mother cry.  Both brothers were tired and nearly destitute owning no more clothing than what they had on.  Her family had exausted all their life savings but had accomplished their task without the loss of a single member of their family.  The now reunited family of 12 settled in Wellsville.  They children all were put to work farming (mostly picking potatoes) and building a home.  They gathered enough supplies to weather the first winter in Wellsville. Alice’s older brother played the cornet for dances and earned enough money to buy a winter’s supply of flour.  Alice’s father built a loom and they began weaving cloth and rugs made from wool.  They were hard working souls and attended school as much as time would allow.  Living conditions were very bad and the winters were very cold.  Alice remembers snow drifts as high as the their windows.  The entire family lived in a one log room until most of the girls had married.

     Some 6 years later her father would die leaving the family destitute.  She recalls being so poor that most of the children's shoes had no soles on them.  Her feet were so cold they nearly frozen during the winters.  She recalls that almost as soon as you were old enough to “work out” you were expected to earn their own living.  At the age of 25, she and her Aunt Sarah Stoddard traveled to Evanston, Wyoming where the two of them began working as cooks for the railroad crews.  There she met a man who was the section or “gang boss” for the railroad.  A short time after they met he began getting serious, but although she had taken a liking to him from their first meeting, she did not encourage him because he did not belong to the LDS Church.  There was a large room where they danced and Michael loved to dance.  They would start dancing early in the evening and dance until one o’clock as hard as they could dance.  The dances he liked the most were the Waltz, Danish Tucker, French Four, Finger Polka, Sextour and the Virginia Reel.  He promised her that he would join the church if she would marry him and 11 months after they met, they were married.  The were married on Christmas Eve December 24, 1887  in Aspin, Wyoming.  He was 29 years of age and she was 25. 

     The family that Alice was now working for were LDS and threw a big dance for them the night before they left for Salt Lake City, Utah on their honeymoon.  They stayed at a hotel called “Cliff” for 3 days.  Then they came to Wellsville and spent the rest of the holidays with her family.  They danced nearly every night.  Alice, his new bride, recalls having to sit out some of the dances because she couldn’t keep up with him. 

     After their honeymoon, they reurned to Aspen, where they made their home.  Their nearest neighbors were 25 miles away.  They travelled by foot and train because Michael didn’t own a horse and buggy until after they moved to Utah.  Shortly after their marriage, Alice became very ill with “arisipilis” and nearly died due to their remoteness from medical care.  She recovered, but while in a very weak physical condition, she contracted typhoid fever and was again very ill and near death for several weeks.  Michael decided  he wanted to do something other than being a boss of a railroad crew, so  they decided to move to Wellsville, Utah where Alice could be closer to her family.   

Hans Jacob Michael Anderson


Hans Jacob “Michael” Anderson  (GGGF, 1858 - 1929, as recorded in A Brief History of the Life of Hans Jacob (Michael Anderson) -

 

     Hans was born on March 9, 1858 in Horsense, Skandburg, Denmark.  He was the second son and fourth child born to Andres Christensen and Lisa Marie Hansen.  Not much is known of his childhood except that he came from a large family (it is believed that Hans had 8 siblings.  Records from Denmark indicate only 8 recorded births in their family, however the last child was a girl and may not be recorded since the family moved from Horsense.  Hans’s children recall him telling stories about his childhood chores and the different jobs he did.  They recall him working many types of jobs and walking many miles on errands to earn just a few pennies.  He attended grade school in Denmark for about 6 years.  He was confirmed into the Lutheran church when he was age 14.  After coming to America at age 18, he decided to change his name from Jacob to “Michael” and to use the American suffix “son” instead of his “Andersen”.  He spoke no english when we arrived in America and so it is likely that at his entry thru customs his name was recorded based on how it sounded to the person doing the recording.

     His home town of Horsense was the home to much of the areas trains.  He had a fascination and deep love for trains.  Oddly enough he had a deep love for horses too and had a tremendous gift for handling them.  His love for both horses and  trains lead to his employment on the railroad and his lifelong pastime of having horses.  He enjoyed life and was high spirited.  He spoke with a Danish accent.  He settled in Aspen, Wyoming.  While in Aspen he began working on the railroad.  He eventually was made  “boss” of a section gang for the Railroad in which he oversaw rail work.  He had Chinamen which worked for him.  He made $35 a month.  He eventually met Alice Eckersly while he was in Wyoming working for the Railroad as a cook. 

     Alice and her older Aunt were working as cooks for the railroad crews.  A short time after they met he began getting serious, but although she had taken a liking to him from their first meeting, she did not encourage him because he did not belong to the LDS Church.  There was a large room where they danced and Michael loved to dance.  They would start dancing early in the evening and dance until one o’clock as hard as they could dance.  The dances he liked the most were the Waltz, Danish Tucker, French Four, Finger Polka, Sextour and the Virginia Reel.  He promised her that he would join the church if she would marry him and 11 months after they met, they were married.  The were married on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1887 in Aspen, Wyoming.  He was 29 years of age and she was 25. 

     The family that Alice was now working for were LDS and threw a big dance for them the night before they left for Salt Lake City, Utah on their honeymoon.  They stayed at a hotel called “Cliff” for 3 days.  Then they came to Wellsville and spent the rest of the holidays with her family.  They danced nearly every night.  Alice, his new bride, recalls having to sit out some of the dances because she couldn’t keep up with him. 

     After their honeymoon, they returned to Aspen, where they made their home.  Their nearest neighbors were 25 miles away.  They travelled by foot and train because Michael didn’t own a horse and buggy until after they moved to Utah.  Shortly after their marriage, Alice became very ill with “arisipilis” and nearly died due to their remoteness from medical care.  She recovered, but while in a very weak physical condition, she contracted typhoid fever and was again very ill and near death for several weeks.  Michael decided  he wanted to do something other than being a boss of a railroad crew, so  they decided to move to Wellsville, Utah where Alice could be closer to her family.  They soon moved to Newton and bought a farm and started a family.   

Sarah Maude Griffin


Sarah Maude Griffin  (GGM, 1913 - 1967, as recalled by Paulene Berge her daughter,

1996 and as recorded in the Thomas Griffin Family book, pages 196 & 197, published 1997) -

 

     Sarah was born April 16, 1913 and raised in a small Mormon farming community called Clarkston in Cache Valley, Utah (located at the western base of the Rocky Mountains).  She was the third child and only daughter born to Albert William Griffin and Ida Ann Clark.  She had two older brothers and two younger brothers.   

     She was raised in a strict home of English parents and much was expected.  Many relatives lived in Clarkston on both her father and mother’s sides of the family.  She grew up associating with many aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents.  Sarah’s Grandfather Griffin had two wives and so there were many relatives from these marriages.  She had many cousins about her age on the Griffin side of the family.  Many of them became close friends and the bonds of friendship continued throughout their lives.  In particular Sarah had numerous girl cousins with whom she had many girl parties.

     Albert, Sarah’s father was a farmer.  He had cows, pigs, chickens and horses.  He also had an interest in a dry farm located about 5 miles north of Clarkston.  This area was called “Dirtyhead.”  During the winter of 1919, a flu epidemic broke out in Clarkston, and Sarah’s father became ill and died on January 13, 1919.  Albert’s funeral was held on the front porch of his parent’s home because of the contagious nature of the flu.  Very few people attended.  Sarah was six years old at the time of his passing.

     Ida, Sarah’s mother, was left with five young children under the age of ten to provide and care for.  She was a very industrious, hard working, talented woman.  She was an excellent cook and made a meager living by cooking, sewing and running the farm.

     Sarah attended Clarkston Elementary School, and was a fun loving, athletic energetic individual.  She was friendly, outgoing, daring, enjoyed people and loved to have fun.  Sarah’s cousins were here best friends.  Her Aunt Phoebe and Aunt Rhoda were extra special.  They had daughters her age, and she spent a lot of time in their homes.  She was also very close to her Uncle Dewey who took a special interest in her after her father died.  Times were hard in her youth and growing up in the 1920’s was a challenge with meager finances.  With so many relatives and family members in the community, life was more fun and enjoyable.

     Work was to be done before play.  Sarah was taught to cook and sew as well as help out in other ways.  Sarah and her brothers delivered the Deseret News to the people of Clarkston for many years.  They had a horse which her oldest brother La Mont rode to pick up the newspapers in Trenton (about 5 miles away) and then Sarah and her two younger brothers would canvass the town delivering the papers.  Sarah being the youngest delivered her papers on horseback while the boys walked.  When ever there was someone hard to collect from, Sarah was the one that could get the money owed them.  Sarah was taught to sew by her mother and showed a natural ability as a seamstress.  

     Sarah went to live with relatives in Logan to finish high school.  She lived with the Malmbergs just west of Logan High School.  She graduated from Seminary and had a great interest in swimming and diving while attending Logan High School.  She didn’t complete high school but went to work as a clerk at Squires Laundry and Dry Cleaners in Logan.  Sarah learned well how to iron shirts and loved to iron which she did throughout her life.     

     Flapper style clothing was the in-thing.  After all, this was the Roaring Twenties.  Sarah had dark, black hair and brown eyes and was average build and about 5’ 6” in height.  She wore her hair in a bob.  She was naturally athletic as a teenager.  She was the fastest girl runner in all of Cache Valley.  Sarah attended at North Cache High School during her freshman and sophmore years.  During one winter, the people in Clarkston were snowbound for several weeks.  Milk couldn’t be taken out or mail and supplies couldn’t be brought in except over the top of the snow.  The high school students missed several weeks of school because of the snow.   

     Sarah’s daring and adventuresome nature continued throughout her youth.  When she was 16 (prior to moving to Logan), she and a bunch of her girl friends and cousins took her brothers car without his knowledge or permission.  Their joyride ended when she lost control of the car, totalling it at the bottom of the steep Trenton hill.  She wrecked the family car and several girls were seriously injured.  She spent time in the hospital and carried a dramatic scar on her wrist and arm the rest of her life.  Her mother had a difficult time earning a living and eventually moved to Logan where she could work too.

     Sarah’s best friend in North Cache High was Martha Peterson, who was Mariners niece.  Martha introduced Sarah to her Uncle Mariner.  She was 20 when she got married to her best friends Uncle Mariner “Luke” Anderson, age 30, on June 7, 1933 in the Logan LDS Temple.