It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from this/these transcript(s) must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collection Coordinating Committee. William Griffiths Reese Journal #10, 13 Dec 1925 – 4 Jan 1929, and 1 Mar - 7 June 1938 MSS 1952 [journal is handwritten in ink; any pre-printed text indicated by bold font; notes by transcriber are within brackets] [inside front leaf] Journal of W. G. Reese [reverse of inside front leaf is blank] 1 Benson, Dec. 13 – 1925 Up to date we have had a very fine fall, the first snow that has fallen was yesterday after- noon and then there was only a little. The weather is fine today. Yesterday , (Sat) Carrie and I attended the Cache stake quarterly conference. Apostle Geo. Albert Smith was present and occu- pied a portion of the time of each meeting speaking of the blessings enjoyed by the Latterday Saints. Wm. & Winnie came home with us this evening or we would have gone to conference this a.m. The bishopric asked Gordon two weeks ago if he would go on a mission and he said he would so he has been examined by Dr. D.C. Budge who says he is O.K. with the exception of a heart-murmer; however he has to have his tonsils and adeoids removed, which we have arranged to have done next Tuesday. Arvel says he will stay home from school to do the chores this winter. 2 1925 Naoma is in S.L. City again with little Venice who is afflicted in her limbs with tuberculosis. She is a sweet little girl and it is very sad to have her thus afflicted Dec. 14 – Went to Priesthood meeting tonight as a family there being present of the family Roland, Gordon, Arvel, & Self of the priesthood – and Carrie as a primary teacher also Ruth. The attendance tonight was large Carrie Roland and I did not stay to the show. The day has been clear and beautiful. Dec. 15. Carrie and I took Gordon to the Utah-Idaho hospital this morning We got there about 8 o’clock a.m. and after a little girl was operated upon for the removal of her tonsils by Dr. T.B. Budge, Gordon had his tonsils & adenoids removed by the same Dr. We went down town to do some business among which was the taking up of a $700 note with $14 interest by giving $214 and a $500 note. Took dinner at Ione’s. At 2-45 we went up to the hospital for Gordon but as he had bled a good deal the Dr said we better leave him until night. We came home as Newel & Ione said they 3 would get him. Carrie, Roland, Norma and Arvel went to M. I. A. meeting The weather is beautiful, just cold enough to be pleasant. Dec. 16. Gordon staid in Logan today “ 17. Went to Logan today for Gordon; he is getting along fairly well. We went to a ward gathering in the eve- ning. There was a large gathering, the purpose being to raise money with which to buy dishes to use at gather- ings of the ward where meals are served. Nearly $100 was taken in by admittance charges of 10¢ & 15¢, and the sale of punch, popcorn, pies, hot-dogs furnished by the ward organizations also the sale of articles donated by different persons. Dec. 18. This has been a nice day but tonight it threatens storm. Gordon is getting along as well as can be expected. Yesterday he got his call for a mission to the Eastern states. A very sudden death occurred today at the U.I hospital, that of Jesse Hancy of Hyde Park through the removal of a car- buncle from the back of his neck. 4 Dec. 19 – It snowed a little last night and has been cloudy today Carrie, Norma, Ruth, Lowell, Cecil and I went to Logan today. The streets of Logan were filled with people; and the stores were well patron- ized. I have felt rather blue today as Howell, my nephew un- derwent an operation for stomach trouble and the doctors found that his a

pendix had to be removed. Dr. T. B D.C. Budge performed the oporation and says it is one of the worst he has ever had. His case is so serious that there is consider- able ap

rehention in regard to his recovery. John & Annie came down and spent the night with us last night. Gordon has suffered a good deal with his throat today He and Arvel spent the day at home except that Arvel went for a load of pulp. 5 Sunday. Dec 20-1925. The day has been fine & thawing. We attended S.S. and tonight we attended the Relief Society conference Had a splendid meeting. The visitors present were Mrs. Merrill Pres, and the following aids Mrs. Joseph E Cardon, Mrs. Jas. Anderson and Mrs. Stephens. Bro. Anderson came as driver. Howell Reese is in a precarious condition yet. Gordon still suf- fers from sore throat as it has not yet healed up. Mon. Dec. 21. Attended the funeral services of Jesse S. Hancey in H.P. Several speaker spoke in highest terms of praise of Bro. Hancey. His death was due to an operation at the Utah-Idaho hospital for the removal of a carbuncle from the back of his neck. Went to priesthood meeting at night Carrie, Gordon, Arvel, Lowell & Ruth were also there. We attended the picture show after the meetings. The attendance was slim. 6 Tues. Dec 22 – Carrie and the boys. went to Logan with me. We spent the day in looking at the fine displays of Christmas goods. There was a large number of people in Logan. We bought several dollars worth of presents. Wed. Dec. 23 – Sent of a lot of Christmas cards this morning to our friends, also some presents. It is thawing with a drizzling rain at times as was also the case yesterday. Dec. 24. This is a beautiful morning. No sn[ink blot] snow and the day is fine, and temperature above freezing. Wanda & Leland came down last evening. Leland gave me a pair of nice cuff buttons. Christmas. Many nice Tokens of love passed between us in the shape of nice presents. We ate Christmas dinner at the home of Willis and Andrea, Andrew & Naoma and Leland & Wanda and children were also there. Had a nice dinner. I took the children over to the danc[-] 7 in the afternoon. Ruth staid in H.P. with Barbara tonight. Arvel, Norma & Lowell have gone to Smithfield, so that leaves mother, Cecil and me alone at home. Sat. Nothing unusual happened today The day was beautiful. Sunday Dec. 27 – Went to Sunday school as a family. After S.S. Carrie, Cecil and I went to Logan in answer to a call from Newel and Ione and had dinner with them. Leland, Wanda, Barbara, and Ruth were also there. Had a very nice dinner. I went up to the Utah-Idaho hospital to see Howell. He was very ill. I as- sisted Bp. Evans, Richard Yeates and T.H. in administering to him. There were many afflicted ones in the hospital one of which was a woman from Hyrum who was in an Auto wreck in Hyrum last Friday in which two were killed and this lady was not expected to live, The driver did not see the approaching train and had the front wheeles on the track when he was hit – thus the tragedy. 8 1925 Mon. 28. The day has been fine. Warm and clear – no snow – like Sept. Roland and Arvel have been hauling sand. Gordon went for Pulp and I have trimmed the Cow’s tails and washed my car. Mother & Norma have put out a big washing. Meeting tonight. I received a nice letter from Bro. Taylor today. Howell was re- ported as being better this morning. Tues. 29 Killed a pig today. and Roland hauled two loads of sand. Wed. 30 Went to Logan in the afternoon. Carrie & Norma also went to attend the primary meet ing. Bought mother a beautiful coat. Came home, had supper & went back to Logan to see the show in the Capital and hear the Welsh singers led by Dr. Bowen. It was very good Thurs. 31 – Howell died in the hospital at 2 30 p m. today. The Dr. performed an operation on his stomach and he did not survive the ordearl sufficiently to regain conscios 9 ness and died under the influence the ether. His passing was a great trial to his parents, brother and sisters and especially his wife. The poor young man has undergone a siege of 6 ½ weeks in the hospital. He had his stomach opened and it was found that he had ulsers of the stomach and his diet for the time he was in the hospital was milk and he could not digest even milk His passing causes much grief to those who had formed a love & friendship for him. He had the name of being one of the most patient of patients that was ever in the hospital according to the special nurse that waited on him. Darwin’s wife (Blanch) is in the hospital with a fine baby boy – Carrie and I went to Logan and so did A.J. & A.V. with us as soon as we learned of Howell’s demise. Arrangements were made for the funeral services Sun. 12 in. in the Logan 3rd wd. Tab. 10 1926. Jan. 1. Andrew & Naoma and their children Reese & Venice, Newel & Ione and their children Cleve, Marydine, Veda May and Reneè, Leland & Wanda & Barbara Wm. & Winnie and Will. G. and Willis and Andrea and their children Blain & Laree were here with us = 20 besides our own family at home making 27. John & Annie and their children, Weldon, Evelyn and Aletha were not with us as Evylin has mumps. Roland & Gordon were not here either We had an enjoyable day togeth[-] and Carrie prepared a fine dinner. Will. G. & Barbara staid with us tonight. The weather is beautiful no snow and clear sky with a temperature just below freezing. Jan. 2. Beautiful day, warm and somewhat cloudy. Might storm soon. Carrie & I went to Smithfield and spent a few hours with Walk & Mary Seeley – had dinner with them. They were well. 11 We went from there to Logan and arranged for flowers and then went down to see T.H. & family. Howell’s body was there in a very beautiful casket. The family seemed quite reconciled – to their loss of Howell feeling that his great suffering was at an end. O how he had suffered in the hospital! Sunday Jan. 3. The funeral services of Howell T. Reese were held in the First Ward Chapel of Logan yeste today. at 12 o’clock with the Benson ward bishoprick presiding and the Benson ward choir led by Bro. M. Jensen Falslev presiding. Bros. Nathan Doan and Lawrence sang each a solo. Doan sang There is a land and Bailey sang – Come Unto Me. Bro. & Sister Geo. Brown sang by special request, Jesus Lover of My Soul. The speakers were Dr. D.C. Budge who waited 12 on him in the hospital Said he was the most patient consistent person he had ever waited on Howard Reese, Cyril Munk, H.W. Ballard Sen. Henry E. Hancey Bp. Wm Evans, Pres. C.M. Christianson N. W Merkley, J.B. Holman, Bp. H.W. Ballard jr Pres. Joseph E. Cardon offered the invocation and Silvan Peterson pronounced the benediction. A large mum- ber of Automobiles followed the remains to the hospital and W.G. Reese pronounced the benediction, rather dedicated the grave. The floral offer- ings were very beautiful. After the funeral we went to Torgesen’s Studio and had a family group photographed My thirteen children were present thus making 15 of us. We were fortunate in all get- ting together. 13 Jan. 4 – Spent the day in writing and reading. Went to priesthood meeting at night. I was mouth in ordaining Gordon an Elder. Jan. 5 wrote to the papers. Journal (Sentinel) “ 6. Weather continues beautiful “ [-] The farm bureau gave a dance and served refreshments. Carrie Arvel, Norma and I attended. Had a good time E. Bergensen of Utah H. Parker and B. Wrigley who is Co. agent were in attendance Jan. 7. Gordon went through the Logan temple for his endowments Carrie and I also went through. There was quite a large crowd Bro The Peterson of Hyrum gave a nice talk and Pres. J.R. Shepherd gave a most inspiring talk on the divinity of Mormonism. He showed the absurdity of the claim of some that man evolved from a lower form of life and bore a strong testimony that man is a son of God. When we came out of the temple we went to Newels and Ione served us to a nice dinner. 14 Jan. 8 – Spent the day home doing chores as Arvel had gone to Ogden to see the Livestock show. He went down with Lile & Leon & Emma Reese He returned about 6 oclock. Wm, Winnie and Will G. called to see us in the evening and took supper with us. They could not stay overnight as they had Bro. Foster’s car so they left about 8 o’clock. Jan. 9. This has also been a beautiful day. I spent the most of the day fixing up around the barn & place. Arvel got a load of pulp. Gordon went off to Logan with Dean Reese. He spends very little time home now. Roland is working over at Honeyville hauling gravel on the road. Miss Alta Turner was operated on this morning for appendicitis. Sun. Jan. 10, Attended Sunday school and meeting in the evening. Jan. 11. Went to Logan today to some business for Gordon but could not find him. Went to priesthood meeting at night Did not stop to the show. The weather continues very fine. 15 Tues. Jan. 12. Went to Logan. The Farewell dance in the evening for Gordon was well attended and a purse of $128 was raised for his benefit. We had a very pleasant social[-] time – Newel & Ione, Leland & Wanda, Willis & Andrea, were among those pres- ent. Inis Thain & her daughter Inis Bingham were there; they came down with Newel in his sedan. After the dance several of Gordon’s young friends came up and spent a few hours. Luncheon was served by mother assisted by Andrea who staid with us until the 15, to help in taking care of things while we went down to S.L.C. with Gordon. Jan. 13. We left home about 10 a.m. and drove to Logan where Gordon deposited the money taken in at the dance and got two drafts on the Thatcher Bros. Bank. About 12 o’clock we left Logan for S.L.C. and arrived there about 3-30 p.m. We went at once to the Semloh Hotel and secured rooms. I put my car in the social garage. After lunch Carrie & I went to bed as we felt weary. 16 Jan. 14. about 9.30 a m. Carrie & I went with Gordon to the mission home at 31 N. State street where we were given a hearty welcome by the ones in charge. Gordon was registered and shown to the room which he was to occupy in company with another young Elder during his stay until the 21, in S.L.City. We were told that 70 missionaries were leaving the Home that day and 45 were coming in that day. The young men in charge at the Home are certainly examples of true courtesy, especially LeRoy C. Snow the head man there. Carrie and I went to the Church offices and spent some time in the genealogical room where we were shown long shelves of book on geneology by a lady, Mrs. Bert. We decided to come home and about 12 oclock we left S.L.C. & got to Logan about 4 oclock after taking dinner in Ogden. In the evening I took all the family to the show by the Y.M.& Y.L. associations 17 the title of the play was: That <”An> Old Sweetheart O’ Mine” Jan. 15. Spent the day in choring and writing to The Journal. Took Andrea and her children to Hyde Park in the afternoon. Came home & helped with the chores. Jan. 16 – Spent a bad night coughing and ruffering from head-ache. The boys Arvel & Lowell did the chores. I wrote to Gordon and also did some other writing. There seems to be an epidemic of a light form of Flu. among children. The weather is beautiful but rather cold after a light fall of snow on the night of the 14. Jan. 31 – I have been unable to get out yet, in fact I have spent most of my time in bed. Carrie has proven to be an excellent nurse. Gordon wrote to us from Chicago saying the Co. spent Sun. there and went to church about 10 mi. on the elevated R.R. Had a good time. Yesterday Elvira Ricks was buried funeral services were held in the Benson Chapel. The passing of this dear sister was one of the saddest events in our wd 18 Bro. Andrew Munk, Bro. Howard Reese and A.J. & Libbie called to see us this afternoon, which was very kind of them. Brother Munk staid with us quite a while and we enjoyed his visit. The weather has been rather cold but it is milder now. Feb. 1 – 1926 I am slowly recovering from my illness, but feel rather weak yet. The weather is mild but cloudy. Arvel went for pulp today. Lowell is not feeling quite O.K. Carrie is sending an account of the funeral services of Elvira Ricks to The Journal today. Roland is still working in Logan for Nelson. Feb. Wed – 3. Leland, Wanda, Willis, Andrea and children came down and spent the day with us. Cleve & Maridine came down with Roland and spent over night with us. The weather is mild but there is an occasional sleet. I am getting better. I wrote to Gordon. We received a letter from Gordon yester- day; he had reached Brooklyn and been assigned to Boston. He was well. Feb. 4. It is mild this a.m. We are all able to eat our meals. I am getting along O.K. I wrote a letter to Naoma this morning. Ione came down & spent the night with us. 19 Fri. Feb. 5 – This is a beautiful day. Ione & Maridine went home this morning with Roland. I wrote to Gordon – sent his bank statement showing a credit of $70.45 for him to draw. Arvel took mother to Smithfield to day to see her sister Mary. She found her feeling quite well which was a happy surprise to her as the last time she heard from her she was bedfast. I wrote a long letter to cousin Sarah Ann Prout Davies. In the afternoon, A.V., R.O. & Frank came up and spent awhile with me. The weather continues beautiful. Sat. 6. I was not feeling quite as well this morning but am feeling better now but am so weak that the least exertion tires me. We learn by yesterday’s papers that there has been a bad storm on the Eastern seaboard also in Calf., It is estimated that it will cost N.Y. city one million dollars to clean the streets of snow. Boston too is blanketed with snow. We are still having beautiful weather. I have done a lot of bible reading today or rather Hullberts Stories of the bible Hulbart’s 20 Feb. 11 – Wrote a letter yesterday to Wm G jr and today I wrote to John James. Last night and today there has been a light fall of snow. Arvel took Dolly and Duke to Smithfield to get shod also the manure spreader to get fixed. Feb. 12. Fri. It snowed quite a lot this a.m. Arvel has gone for pulp. The weather is quite warm. I have spent a long time today reading letters I wrote from Aust. to The Journal. They are interesting to me as they call up past experiences. Feb. 15 Today has been a mixture of sun, sleet & snow. Expected a letter from Gordon today but none came. My health is improving but I still feel rather weak, There is several families that have sickness in their homes. Sun. Feb. 21 All the folks went to S.S. this morning and have gone to meeting tonight with the exception of Lowell & Cecil. I have been home all day as I do not go out yet. I have not felt quite as well today as I do some days. On the 16 we received an encouraging 21 letter from Gordon and I answered it at once. Yesterday Carrie sent him a box of candy she made. On thurs last I sold two cows and a heifer for $150 to Joseph Waite & Matkins Snowsilide at Bingham & other places caused great distruction and loss of life. Gov. Dern has asked the state to furnish several thousand dollars aid. Benson is asked for $3000 In regard to the meeting tonight the students of the Seminary of the North Cache H.S. is to furnish the program Norma is to give a talk on Seminary work and be accompanist on the piano for the singing. As far as we know all the family are well except little Venice who is now afflicted with chicken pox. Feb. 22. It was cold this morning but it has been thawing today. Roland drove my car to Logan this morning to get gas for me. I have written a letter to The Journal to- day. I have done a good deal of reading today from the book Containing extracts from the sermons of Brigham Young. 22 Feb. 24 – The day has been squally, sometimes sunshine, sometimes snowing blowing As night came on the wind was strong. Feb. 25. Today is our ward reunion. The morning is clear but cold. I intend to get out today the first time in nearly 6 weeks. We have had a very enjoyable time today. There was a large crowd at the Ward reunion and a splendid banquet was served and we had an enjoyable program. Andrew King of the Stake board of the Old Folk’s Committe Said we had an enjoyable program. Carrie gave a comic paper that made a lot of fun. I read a few stanzas of poetry I composed for Elvira Ricks. Mar. 5- We have had quite good weather up to date with the exception it has been rather cold nights. May 6, Went to Logan today and took Carrie, Andrea and Norma. Met Andrew, & Naoma Reese & Venice; should say called at our place on their way to Logan. Did some business. Wm & Winnie & Will – G. came down to see us and spent the night with us. 23 Sunday Mar. 7. All went to S.S. mak- ing a crowd of thirteen from our home The day is beautiful. Willis came down in the afternoon and took Andrea and the children home. Wm. & family went home also. Mon. 8, Weather beautiful. Carrie, Cecil and I went to Smithfield. Visited Walk & Mary Seeley. Walk and I went through the pea factory. It is certainly a fine building and has many car loads of canned peas and beans. Went to priesthood meeting in the evening all the family except Roland went. We stayed to the show. Thurs. Mar, 11- I have written a letter to The Journal today and one to our son Gordon, who is now in Ba- tucket Rhode Island and a short letter to his companion Elder Bailey of Idaho I also trimmed some of the raspberries Carrie, besides doing her housework has done considerable cleaning up in the lot. The day has been beautiful, This is a beautiful night. Arvel, Norma and Lowell have gone to Mutual meeting in my car. I have been reading The Gospel by Roberts where he deals with Church organization 24 Cecil is not feeling very well tonight, he has quite a feaver; his mother has given him caster oil and poulticed his chest with a mustard plaster. Leland says Barbara is not well and they have the doctor there to see her. Dear little Venice is in a very critical condition. Mar. 24 - Cecil and Barbara got alright and Venice seems to be better. Naoma took her to the temple were Pres. Shepard and others ad- ministered to her. My health is not perfect by a good deal as I am afflicted with a severe cough. However I think I am improving and hope to be able to assist in putting in the crop. The beautiful weather we are having is rapidly preparing the ground for cultivation. Yesterday (Mar. 23) Wm Purser came down and I contracted with him for the thinning, hoeing, irrigating, topping and loading of my crop of sugar beets for 1926. Last Sat. & Sun. Carrie and I attended the Cache stake quarterly conference Apostle Rudger was pres. Sat. & Chas. H. Hart was pres. Sunday. 25 Mar. 27 – The day has been cold with occasional squalls of snow that lasted only a few minutes. Thur. <&> Fri Willis and Delbert Purser assisted in hauling ma- nure. Willis & Arvel hauled today; so that work will not last much longer. This afternoon I took Ma, Naoma & Lowell to Logan. We called to see Anna at the U.I. hospital where she gave birth to baby girl. She and babe were looking fine. We met A.P. and Naoma there with Venice. When we got home we found a letter here from Gordon in which we learned a lot about his travels; he was feeling fine in his work, and being blessed with good health. My health is improving I am glad to know Farmers are arranging to put in their crops, as the ground is drying. Mar. 29. Did a little work in helping make ditch on the south side of my farm. Got very tired and crippled in my limbs. Mar. 30. Fine morning but be- gan snowing later. Wrote to The Journal. 26 Mar. 31 – Stormy most of the day. Last night there was about 2 in. of snow fell. About noon the snow had mostly gone. The weather is cold and disagreeable. Apr. 1. This a.m. there was quite a fall of snow again. and the day has been cold and squally. The Riverside school children chased around in the cold today and did not go to school. The teachers tried to get them in but failed. I have almost overcome my cough but still I have trouble in my limbs and do not feel very well, due partly no doubt to the disagreeable weather. No doubt the moisture we are having will prove very benificial to the crops. We learned today that my niece, Ella Cantwell had lost her baby boy about 4 year’s old. We all feel sorry. Annie and babe are getting along nicely at the U.I. hospital. Willis was better this morning when we heard of him Apr. 4. Carrie & I attended the funeral services of The little son of Milo & Ella Cantwell held in the 2nd wd Tab. I was called upon to dedicate the grave. Ione, Naoma, Wanda & Andrew were there. Ione 27 took the others in Newel’s Car. The services were good. Carrie & I visited Walk & Mary and took supper with them. Apr. 5. It has rained today. We went to meeting in the evening. Apr. 6- I rained heavy nearly all night and there have been several heavy showers through the day. We intended to go to Logan but it stormed too heavy. We received a nice letter from Gordon yesterday and Ruth received one today. Apr. 7. It rained in the night but is trying to clear today. The people of Benson who went to Conference got home last evening. Last Sunday sister Munk told me that the Relief Society sisters are going to have a program next Sat. in honor of Sister Kinnie B. Caine in honor of her for the work she has done as Pres. of the Cache Stake Relief society, and that Benson was called upon to furnish a poem for the occasion and expressing a wish that I write it. I have succeeded in writing a few lines. in compliance with the request. 28 Apr. 7 – Carrie and Cecil and I went to Logan this afternoon. We first went to the hospital to see Anna and found her and babe feeling fine. Evelyn was there. We went down town and did some business and then came home. It showered several times quite hard. It is cloudy & dark tonight and gives evidence of more storm which apparenty is not needed, in fact rather harmful in deferring the putting in of crops. Apr. 8 – spent the day at home. The weather is improving. Apr. 9. Today in the anniversary of Mary’s birth. Had she lived until now she would have been 61 yr. old. 9 31 yr. ago today I bought this place and 41 years ago I bought a place in Logan. The weather is brightening up and it looks like we may have fine weather now, which we so much need. Annie left the U.I hospital last evening and went home to Weston. A number of doctors examined Venice yesterday and gave little hope of her recovery. Naoma’s health is very poor. 29 Benson. Apr, 25- We have been to S.S this morning. Intended to go to Weston to see Jno. & Annie this afternoon but have only enough gas to take us to Smithfield so I shall go up and get gas this p.m. and perhaps go to H.P. We have been very busy lately getting our land ready and in putting in crop. We have been working 10 head of horses Lowell and I have been working three each on the sulky plows and Arvel has been working 4 on the harrow and leveler. F[-]I I disked the 5 a. in the farther field and Arvel harrowed it and Fri. I planted it to barley and Alfalfa. Yesterday I planted sugar beets east of the pump ditch so now we have 16 or 17 a planted to beets, 8 acres. to alfalfa & barley. We have been having beautiful weather. lately but the nights are rather too cold. My health is somewhat improving. Mary 14. Today was Benson day in the temple and Carrie & I at- tended two sessions, one at 8 a.m- and one at 2 p.m. There were 16 Benson people present in the morning and 25 in the afternoon. 30 We have recently had several wet day and much moisture fell. which was worth millions of dollas to Utah. saying nothing about the surrounding states which also had heavy rainfalls. On Black and White day at Rich- mond, Arvel, Lowell & I prepared the grandpa land for beets and the next day I planted. We had the ground in fine shape Arvel and Lowell worked on the piece by Mr. M’s and the next day I plan- ted that to beets. We got our pota- toes in before the rain. I went over the patch with a Cultapacker- and surely got them in good shape. Roland and Arvel finished fen- cing the lucern patch in the further pasture. We got the water in the ditch north of the house yesterday I am thankful to say we are all well. I am getting to feel quite well, Last Sat. T.H., A.J. R.O., A.V., M.M. and I met in the Chamber of Commerce and decided to have a Reese Reunion on father’s birthday, May 27. I had in- vitation cards printed on Wed. last. 31 Sunday. May 23. The past week. I have been busy cultivating and mulching the beets. The weather has been very beautiful and everything is growing fast except some beets that were crusted after the rain and farmers h[-]ve been put at their wit’s ends to know what to do to make them grow. I first cultivated my crop and then went over the beets with a cultipacker and they are looking good. Yes. Sat. Carrie and I and the children went to Logan. Had my bat- tery fixed as the terminal was eaten out by the acid. Arvel made a deal yesterday for a new touring Ford car. Got $50 for his old one. We received a nice letter from Gordon yesterday. He was at the Elder’s school in Brooklyn where Pres. Robert teaches the Elders the scriptures. Pres. Grant has recently paid that mission a visit Last week several Elders including Gordon visited the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith and had a pleasant time. Gordon said it cost him $5.50 to make it 32 May Thurs 27. Today the Reese reunion is to be held – expect a good time. Yesterday Purser began thinning my sugar beets. We are having rather cold weather and rather drying winds. A rain is much needed. At the reunion today there were 107 present and 25 of the family were unable to be there. We had a splendid dinner and after the dinner was over we had a very interesting program. In the eve- ning we had a dance to which the ward was invited. The Hyde Park archestre furnished the music. It surely made me feel happy to have the privilege of seeing so many of my sons and daughters with their families present and also those who are not married. Friday and Sat. 28-29- I spent most of the time cultivating beets. Sun. 30 – After Sunday school carrie and I went to Logan and attended the concert given in the Tab. by the 17 ward choir of S.L. city. Bro. Taylor was with them & recited it was very good 33 Mon., Carrie, Norma Cecil and I went to Smithfield cemetary and decorated the graves of Grandpa & grandma Andersen. As it was decoration day there were hundreds at the cem- etary. From Smithfield we went to Hyde Park and placed flowers on the graves of father & mother and also a basket of flowers on the graves of dear Mary’s parents. From Hyde Park we drove to the Logan cemetary and placed flowers on the grave of dear Mary and some on the grave of brother Charles The flowers we used were raised by dear Carrie through her pre- paring and planting, She has certainly done a great deal of work to get the beautiful flower bed we have. We spent a while with Naoma and had a nice visit. Ruth staid with her, Tues, June 1, I went to Smithfield in the morning and got some sulky rake shafts. In the afternoon I mowed hay while Arvel raked hay that he mowed yesterday. 34 June 2 – I have been cultivating sugar beets today; some for the 3rd time and some the second time. Lowell has been mowing & Arvel raking. Roland is thinning sugar beets for A.V.’s boys. Cleve is staying here with us and having a good time riding his sheltland pony and my sorrel mare. Newal, Ione & Naoma came down for a drive this eve and staid a short time. The weather is fine, and many are cutting their alfalfa. We received a nice letter from Gordon yesterday in which he tells us he has recovered from an pretty bad case of blood poison He had been at the mission head- quarters and at the home of Pres. B.H. Roberts where he was very kindly treated at both places. June 5. Boys have been hauling hay the past 3 days from upper field where they got [--] <1/2> loads and on the piece by trees, where they hauled 5 loads Yesterday I cultivated beets in the forenoon north of the hous[-] and in the p.m. I raked hay 35 1926 June 5 today I cut hay on the grandpa land and I never cut heavier hay- This evening I took the folks to Logan The weather is hot and dry but things are growing good nevertheless. I received a letter from Bro. Taylor today in which he refers to the trip to Logan last Sun. and ex presses regret that he did not get down to see us. June 12 – Been to Logan today after working awhile in the potatoes. The boys finished getting in the first crop of alfalfa. I watered the barley Although it has been rather threatening it has not done so. Tonight it looks favorable for rain, which would be a great blessing to the country. However some have their crop of alfalfa cut & ready to haul. July – Cecil was very much ela- ted over a cake made for him and ten candles set in it which he lighted at the dinner table. He is very happy to think of his being five years old. Still it keeps dry; we have had no rain to speak of for many weeks. 36 The beets are growing fairly well however insect pests are doing them some damage but I believe we shall have a fairly good crop. The second crop of alfalfa is beginning to blossom. Tomorrow being the “Fourth” there are some settlements celebrating today and Smithfield and some other places Mon. I had the misfortune to fall while getting on a horse yesterday & hurting my back so I am unable to do anything today. It has been about 10 days since we received a letter from Gordon. Then he and Elder Rigby were on a trip without money to test the generosity of the people. They had just spent the night in a park and came nearly being arrested. Last Sunday, June 27, we had the following guests to dinner. Mr. & Mrs. R.W. Seeley, and sons R.W. jr & Sern & their wives, Andrew & Naoma <& children Reese & Venice>, Jno. & Anna & children. Evelyn, Weldon, & Aletha, Leland and Wanda & Barbara, William, Winnie, and Will. G. Andrea and Will[-]s were in Pocatello and Newell & Ione in Oregon. Newell & Ione have got home from their trip to the dental convention at Portland. 37 On the evening of the 29th Carrie and I attended the bundle shower of Gladys Reese McCann. There was a large crowd present and many beauti- ful articles were given her. Her hus- band is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Jos. McCann Benson. July 12. Yesterday I attended the funeral services of Phebe Woolf Gibson held at Hyde Park. I was one [blot] the speakers. There was a good service of songs, talks &c. Met a lot of old time friends. I went up with A.J. We have had a lot of rainfall lately which has done much good in moistening the beets. but some harm has been done by hail that came Fri. afternoon. Word came yesterday morning that Cousin Thirza was dead and would be buried tomorrow. I may go up with Tom Aubray & wife. Heber & Maggie are going with them too. Naoma gave a birthday party for her little daughter Venice last Fri. There were a large number of the family present. 38 Tues July 13. I went with Thos. R. Obray and wife and so did T.H. & Maggie to Pocatello today to attend the funeral services of cousin Tirzah Griffiths Iverson. She had made a request that I speak at her funeral She was spoken of as being a good wife, an ideal mother, a true L.D.S. and an excellent community builder After the funeral services we made a quick home trip. I went to Logan Where I met Roland and after supper at Ione’s we came home. The day has been ideal except that we had a heavy shower a few miles out of Pocatello. The names of the children are B.W. Iversen, Hans Iversen, George H. Iversen all of Pocatello, Richard Iversen of Arbon; Mrs. Sarah A. Mathews of Arbon; Mrs. Martha Thyberg of Pocatello; Mrs. Insam- ger of Crystal. All the boys too were married. July 14. Beautiful day this. Started mowing 2nd crop alfalfa. I have written two letters, one to William & one to R.B.T. Taylor. 39 1926 Sunday - July 25. We have been to S.S. this morning. A fairly good attendance A son of Apostle Ballard was there; he recently returned from a mission to Germany. He spoke a short time. Yesterday we all went to the big 24th celebration in Logan and spent an enjoyable day. We were nearly all at Naoma’s for dinner i.e. Jno. & Annie & children, Leland & Wanda & Barbara Wm. & Winnie came after they had lunched with Chas. & Georgia. Ione left the hospital on the morning of the 24th We – Carrie & I -spent a little while visiting her & Newel. She was feeling pretty good. Thurs. & Friday we irri- gated my sugar beets. The weather is fine but there is some indications of a storm- The letters we receive from Gordon inform us that he is getting along alright and feeling well in his work. I spent last Thurs at the Farmers 40 encampment at the U.A.C. and listened to some good talks. I took Norma & Irma Funk and Ruth, and Barbara Reese. Came home about 10 p. m The boys finished hauling 2nd crop alfalfa about noon today. July 24 – Attended with my family the celebration in Logan which was very good. Nearly all our family had dinner with AP. & Naoma. There was a fine parade. I went to meeting which was fine. In town there were horse-racing, base-ball games and wrestling & boxing matches but I did not go. Carrie, Norma, Ruth & Cecil came home and did the chores. Arvel had been home and done some of the milking. Carrie & I and the children went to Smithfield in the evening & called on Walk & Mary. Sun. July 25 – Went to S.S. and meeting in the evening. Had a good meeting. I consisted of Readings, songs an address by J.V. Adams & a short talk by Elders Leander Jones & Richard Yeates. Carrie read a beautiful 24th program. 41 Mon. July 26 – Did work around home. Roland helped A.J.’s boys with their hay and Arvel helped Leon haul hay. Aug. 5- We finished getting up our hay in the meadow on July 31. and on Aug. 2 I run the buck-rake on T.H’s meadow. Lowell drove the derrick for us and for Heber; he is helping him today Aug. 5. We had a rain Fri. night that prevented work in the hay. Yesterday we attended the funeral of Sally Hyde in the Logan 7th ward. Roland is helping Milton Jorgensen put up alfalfa in Lewiston today. The weather is fine today Arvel and I shocked up the barley today. Wanda & Andrew came down to visit with us this afternoon. Sun. Sept 5- This is a beautiful day. We have had beautiful weather for some time. We have kept our work well done up. Last Fri. we cut our lucern seed. a week ago next Tues. We went to Dewey and got 6 bu. of peaches. On Wed. Carrie I went up Logan Canon with R.W. [-]e[-]ley & Aunt Mary and spent a most pleasant day. We were invited by Aunt Mary to go up and take dinner with them in honor of the 65 birthday of uncle Walk. 42 There has been considerable aggitation going on in the ward with respect to the grading of the Benson schools by having the primary grades attend school in West Benson & the higher grades attend in the Riverside school house, There are some who favor it and some who bitterly oppose, The transportation of the pupils seems to be the chief concern. At a meeting held in the Benson chapel last Mon. night a committe of three viz. John Ricks, J.V. Adams and my wife were appointed by chairman of the meeting Bp. HW Ballard jr according to a large majority vote. This committe met with the Board of Education yesterday afternoon and reported the needs of the transportation proposition. I was invited to express my opinion on the matter and I claimed that it would be a fine thing to have the schools graded. In letters we get from Gordon we learn that he is getting along nicely, especially are he and his companion, Elder Barker succeeding well in the sale of the Book of Mormon having sold 83 coppies last month. Bro. R B.T. Taylor phoned up last evening saying that 43 he and his wife were coming up today to visit us, so we are looking for them. At 1.30 p.m. Bro. Taylor & wife and their neices Zenia & Bessie Neal arrived at our home and found dinner ready of which they heartily partook as they had not had anything to eat before today In the evening I took Bro. & Sister Taylor to H.P. & Smithfield. The company spent the night with us and next mor- ning they left for Bear Lake and then to return home ready for work Tues. Sept. 9, Today is Arvel’s 20th birth- day. It is a beautiful day; we have been expecting Joseph Waite down to thresh our alfalfa seed but he is waiting for a riddle for his thresher. We have had nice weather for a long time but it is getting cool especially in the morning, almost freezing weather. We are still under quarantine for measles but none of the folks have them now, if in fact, they ever had them. Norma has been well and at work all the time except- ing two days. Roland & Arvel have just watered the sugar beets as Purser was unable to do so. 44 1926 Tues. Sept. 17<14>- Arvel and three of his chums. Reese & Elvin Jorgensen Fred Homer and Harald Balls left this morning for a trip north in Arvel’s Ford. They expect to get work for a few days to pay their expenses. Roland is helping with the work Sept 16 <&> 17 The Democratic Convention was held in Salt Lake city. I was invited to go as a delegate, but as there was a trial pending between A.J. & Wm Anderson I could not go. as I was wanted as a witness. Sat. 18 – The trial began. The pro- ceedings began by Wm. A. being put on the witness stand. He had the the following witnesses put on the stand for A. Fredericksen of Weston and two other relatives, Laura Chris- tensen – Johathan Smith, Andrew Munk, J.C. Jorgensen Abe Jorgensen, Geo. Cowley, John Munk, For rebuttal A.J. was put on the stand and was submitted to a very close severe test by attorney A E Bowen his atty. & J.C. Walters & atty. Perry attys for Anderson. The afternoon past without finishing the case and it was postponed until Mon. 45 Sun. Sept. 19 – Ruth was ill so Carrie had to stay home and take care of her. I went to Conference in Logan. Howard Reese & Lavon went with me. I called in to see the corps of Bro. Eliason then drove to the Tab. I attended the morning session, then the funeral services held in the Tabernacle at 12-30 and Conference in the afternoon. Apostle Jos Fielding was the principal speaker; he gave a fine discourse of the authority of the priesthood and the blessing that come through a strict observance of the commandments of the Lord. Mon. Sept. 20. Went to Logan today in connection with my brothers to be at the lawsuit, but a message from judge Matherson stated that he was ill and unable to be at court, so all our plans were upset; however I spent a pleasant day visiting Annnie & Ione. had dinner with Ione. Arvel & his pals came home this evening Sept. 25- In the case of A.J. Reese against W.J. Anderson the case came to a close this morning with a decision of the judge in favor of A.J. Reese. Costs of court and $25 damages were charged the defendent. 46 Oct. 1, We have had a beautiful rain yesterday and the day before, but it spoiled the last day of the Fair, which closed yesterday. Before the rain we had a heavy frost 3 nights said to be the worst in 50 years at this season of the year. Much damage was done the sugar beets, potatoes and especially the apple crop spoiling many carloads for the market. Orders had been placed with fruit growers for several car loads but these orders had to be canceled. Apples are now being offered for 25¢ per bushel, that are only slightly damaged. Sat, Oct. 9. On Thur. I began plowing out sugar beets on the grandpa land and the Purser boys began tapping Fri. & today Arvel has been hauling. We have nearly finished the 6 acres. The weather is beautiful. The recent rain has made digging much better than it would have been otherwise. The beets are better than the tops indicate We are all well at present but Carrie has passed through quite a severe spell of sickness. Recent letters from Gordon say he is feeling fine. 47 Sat. night Oct. 16. We are having beautiful weather and beet-digging is going on fine. The beets are large and the tonnage would be good were it not that there are so many missing beets due to a fly that has killed so many beets. I am thankful to say we are all well Roland came down from Whitney where he has been hauling William’s beets as Wm is weighing at the factory. The reason Roland came home was that Wm’s t\oappers quit to go to a football game in Logan and they are pract- cing ball-playing today. It is strange that some young men can feel satisfied go off to ball games these busy times. There is quite a stir now about politics. Reed Smoot has been nominated for the fifth time to succeed himself as U.S. Senator from Utah by the Repub- lican party. Ashby Snow has been nom- inated by the Democratic party for the same office and there is a hot contest going on between them. I have been appointed as one of the judges of election in the Riverside precinct The school board have decided to put in a preasure tank to supply water for the 48 children attending the Riverside school Two men have been working at the job the past 3 or 4 days, but are not getting very good results so far. Oct. 23 – We got through today with our beet harvest. Arvel hauled four loads today In the afternoon I took mother. Norma, Lowell, Ruth & Cecil to Logan Last Mon. night mother and I attend a shower on Pearl Falslev at which there were 54 present and had a good time. Thurs. Carrie & I attended the funeral services of John Plowman a cousin of Carrie. In the evening we attended a shower at the home of A.V. on Dean & wife there were 75 present – Had a fine time. The weather continues beautiful. Nov. 13, Until last evening the weather continued fine and the hauling of sugar beets from the pile has continued until last evening so now there are only a few in the pile is nearly gone, but today the loads were too muddy to haul. Last [ink blot]ning the Stake Primary was held in the Logan High. Carrie went up with Parley & Emma and Ruth & Lowell went with Bro. Jensen 49 as he took up a load of Primary people and charged 10¢ each – cheap enough. Yesterday I sold Beauty to W.J. Peterson, During the past week I have been rather poorly in health- I recently received a Life Insurance policy from the Aetna Co. for $1000. I was successful in passing the doctor’s examination. Chas. McNeil is the agent. Letters from Gordon convey the good news that he is well. The recent election held on the 2nd inst resulted in a victory for the Republicans. Mrs. Rilla Smith, Wm Toombs & I were the judges in the Riverside Dis I took a heavy cold the evening of the election as we were so late getting through with the count as there was so much scratching of tickets Arvel has been hauling beets from the pile Nov. 1 and has hauled ever since until today. Roland is still working in Whitney as he has been employed hauling Wm’s beets & then hauled for Fosters and since finishing the job of hauling he has been plowing for Foster. The School Board are having a water system installed in the Riverside S. house. 50 Fri. Nov. 19 - It rained most of the night just passed and interfered some- what with hauling beets. Arvel hauled 3 loads yesterday and one today Andrea came down to visit us Wed. and went home today. Carrie made a coat, hat and dress for Lareece out of used material and they looked nice Carrie surely knows how to put things together to look good. We received a letter form Gord yesterday. He said he was feeling fine – had been out tract- ing. was booked to speak in Boston that day, Sunday. We got our beet check on the 15th inst. I paid Purser his share $645. Pd. his notes at the bank of $200 & inst 5.50 which I had signed. with him. I pd. the Cache Valley Banking Co. $239.22 on note & $577.50 to Thatcher Bros. Banking Co on note. I was very glad to be able to lift those notes. I pd. $41.30 to Hatch Agency on five Insurance policy, $80.55 to Arvel for hauling the beets to pile. Pd. several other small bills. I made me happy to get these bills paid. 51 I know owe $150 at the Smithfield Bank and some on the pumping plant equ- ipment of the King Irrigation Co. I hope to soon have all my obligations cancelled. We have surely been blessed in not having doctor bills to pay. We are a blessed family in being healthy. The Lord blesses us greatly in many ways I wrote a letter today to my friend of many years – John James of S.L. city who is Vice American Consel for the Intermountain States. He says it was I who prevailed on him to come to Utah for which he is very grateful Dec. 8. We have had a lot of rain lately but this morning there is a small scamming of snow and it looks like it will clear up. There have been very destructive storms throughout the East and other parts of The country even in Bear Lake there are several inches of snow, also in Nevada, Idaho & Wyoming. Roland and Arvel hauled out manure yesterday and cleaned up the yard. We are all well & word from Gordon says his health is good. We sent him $60 this month. rather last mo. 52 Benson. Dec. 9 – Arvel and I were working on the barn. Roland has not been home since yes. noon. He had a telegram from S.L. City in regard to employment and he might have gone down there to see about it. Lowell broke out with measles last night, so he has been housed up today. Dec, 12 Quarterly conference of the Cache Stake was held today in Logan. Carrie & I went up. A.V.& Rhoda went with us. It snowed on us on the way up making it rather difficult driving. The conference was one of the best I ever attended Apos- tle M.J. Ballard was the principal speaker at the morning & afternoon sessions; he also spoke in the eve ning meeting but we came home. The weather turned out cold. Mon. Dec. 13. It snowed most of the day. Arvel and I had put up doors on the West end of the barn making it much warmer. I did some repairing on the barn in the forenoon and Arvel & Roland also did some work on the barn. 53 Dec. 14. It was very cold last night and today. I helped milk this a.m. but have not been out since as I have not been feeling very well. and Roland & Arvel insisted that I stay in. I have done a good deal of reading and wrote a letter to The Journal and the Smithfield Sentinel today. A letter from Gordon yesterday stated that he was feeling well and en- joying his work. 1927 New Year’s Day. Andrew, Naoma, Reese and Venice are here with us today; they came last evening. They are well and Venice is able to walk around although quite lame on one leg. Mother has been bedfast since before Christmas, but I am thankful she is better now and is around again. Norma is getting as well as ever after over three week of illness preventing her attendance at school We are having bracing weather but rather too cold to be comfortable. The sun is shining today and warming up. The cows are doing quite well. Arvel has been rather poorly in health 54 Jan. 21 – At present we are all quite well except Ruth and she is very much improved in heatlh although she is still bedfast. She has been afflicted with pneu- monia and appendicitis and it has taken very careful nur- sing and the attention of Dr Rees to bring her through. Arvel had a sick spell that kept him in bed a week and house fast two weeks. Carrie was also very ill about 10 days and Norma was house-fast about 18 days, Cecil is the only member of the family that has kept well. Roland has been afflicted with a heavy cough and a short attack of billiousness. We have had a beautiful winter with only a few days of very cold weather. We have had several entertain- ments in the ward this winter the best of which was last Wed night when the S.S. put on the play Mary’s Castles In the Air. Norma was in the play and took her part well as all the others did too. 55 1927 Benson – Feb, 1. The month of Jan. was in all a good month so far as weather was concerned but there was a good deal of sickness in the ward and in other settlements. An explosion in the church at Turner, Idaho on the evening of the 26 ult. while there was a basket-ball game on caused the death of six per- sons and the injury of many others. Those killed were James and Brigham Mc- Cann and two sons of James McCann, A Bro. Lowe of Franklin – a school teacher at Turner was also on who was killed. I wrote to The Journal today telling of the dairy intersts of Benson. Feb. 2 – This is a beautiful spring-like morning We are all well at present. Ruth is helping with the house-work, but has not returned to school yet after her serious illness; however we think she will be able to start again Mon. I received a letter from William yester day stating that he is well again after an illness lasting several days. Ione’s children have measels. Wanda is gaining strength after her operations. Anna says the Dr told her she has cataracts on her eyes 56 3 - Roland went to Logan today for Ann Eliza who came down with her babe and Aletha and spent the day with us. Roland took them back tonight. We have had a beautiful springlike day. This evening I got into a meditative mood and penned the lines in the back of this book 9 – Beautiful day, all well. Weather cold. I wrote out the Primary record for mother. Arvel went for syrup, Roland for hay. I read a good many chapters in the book written by Enos. A. Mills entitled Wild Life in the Rockies. Feb. 10. Last night was one of the coldest we have had this winter except on Dec. 24, 25. There has been a cold wave pass over the Country from N.Y. to Calf. Today the sun is shining brightly and it appears that the weather may get warmer. This morning I finished reading, Wild Life On The Rockies by Enos A. Mills. It is an instructive interesting book. The writer is quite poetical. He has certainly gained a wonderful knowledge of Mountain Conditions 57 1927 Last night we bought a vacum cleaner called the Super royal from a young man Ehlers. price with attachments $7500 Feb. 21 – This is a nice day after the stormy weather during the most of the past week. There have been very heavy rainfall along the Pacific coast especially in Calf. where there have been very destructive floods doing millions of dollars damage and causing many deaths. Thousands have been rendered homeless through the floods washing away their homes. There have also been several earthquakes lately causing distruction of property and loss of life. I have been poorly in health during the past week from lung trouble. Am better today. All the family are well now. This is the first day we have heard the geese. Last week I wrote several letters to the papers giving ward news and about the dairy interests of Benson. Today I wrote a letter to cousin Ethel Mayo in Scranton, Penn. Gordon continues well and is enjoying his labors in the mission field. 58 Feb. 25 – I wrote to Gordon this a. m. Carrie & I were invited to the Ward re- union in H.P. today but my health was too poor. Carrie & Arvel & Norma went to Logan this afternoon. I have done a good deal of reading today as usual. The day has been somewhat raw and cloudy. The Utah Legislature passed the Bill repealing the Race-horse law which has been in operation the past two years causing much gambling and mischief in the state. A bill known as the McNary- Hangan Bill recently past both houses of congress. The senate voted 47 to 39 and the house 214 to 178 in favor of the bill. It is feared by those in favor of the bill that Calvin Coolidge will veto the bill. It is claimed that it will provide relief for farmers. Mar. 2 – This has been a beautiful day. I went to Logan today. A.J. & Libbie went with me. We took our checks received from Amal. sugar Co. as bonus to the bank I had a little visit with Wm, & he & I took dinner with Ione. 59 Benson Mar. 19[-]7 11. On the morning of the 9, we found about 7 in. of snow on the ground. It rained all day on the 8, and as the snow was wet we have had a lot of moisture. There is a lot of snow in the mountains. There have recently been destructive earthquakes in Japan, and over 2000 people were killed and several cities destroyed. One disaster follows another in rapid succession. The sun is shining today and it looks favorable for good weather. I wrote to Gordon today. I sent to The Burton seed house at Denver for seed corn 100 lb - $5. besides freight[-] Mar. 26 – It is showering today but the weather has been beautiful for several days. This morning I sold 6 heifers to a Mr. O B. Olsen of Monroe yesterday I sold Jess to Joseph Waite and Matkin of H.P. Roland & Arvel hauled manure yesterday forenoon & Thurs. Tues. last the funeral services of Mrs. Pearl Munk was held I the Logan 4th wd. The account of the services appeared in the Logan Journal – as furnished by me. 60 April 10 – On the first of the month, I went to S.L. City to attend conference. I went down on the interurban and arrived in the city at 6 o’clock p.m. Went to Bro. R.B.T. Taylors where I received a warm welcome by him & his wife also their sisters Janie & Ada. During three of the days in the city I slept at their home where I also ate breakfast. Fri. evening I took a ride with Bro. & sister Taylor in their Auto to take Sidney and his wife and three little daughters home which was quite a distance from the Taylor home. Spent most of the evening listening to the radio at bro. T. & Sidney’s. On Sat, I called on J.A. Langton, John James and met many other friends. At 5 p.m. Bro. James called for me at the Hotel Utah and took me home with him where I had dinner after which he took me to the Pantages where we saw an interesting show. After the show he took his wife & me to the candy kitchen and treated us to an ice-cream soda. I went on the street car and listened to the radio & talked with any friends there until after 12 o’clock Sunday I spent the day in [--] conference 61 which I enjoyed very much. Slept at Bro. Taylor’s I intended to go home Mon. evening, but met Bro. Allen N. Tanner and decided to stay over[-] At night we went to Priesthood meeting and slept together at the hotel. Tues. morning we went together to the conference session and had most ex- cellent instructions. Left 1145 <11.45 a.m.> for the train. Bro. Tanner went with me and when I wished him goodby he shed tears. He is sure an affectionate true friend. On the way home Bro. Passey and I had a most pleasant visit. At Logan I met Chas. L. Reese and wife and came home with them where I arrived at 5 p.m. found Lowell ill with mumps from which he had been afflicted and bedfast since Sat. I am thankful he is getting better fast. On the 6th inst. Darvi[-] Reese had the misfortune, while hauling milk to the condenser at Richmond of being hit by a truck upsetting his vehicle nearly cutting his arm off and spilling the load of milk. 62 I plowed Wed. & Thurs. but Fri. & Sat. it rained, but this (Sun) morning it is clear and gives evidence of fine weather which we & hall much appreciate. The Primary conference takes place in our Chapel this evening. Yesterday Carrie, Norma & I went to Logan in the forenoon and in the afternoon I took them & several others to the meetinghouse to practice for conference Roland came home from Whitney where he is working for Bro. Geo. Foster last evening. Sunday Apr. 17 – The past week has been stormy and we did only two part days work on the farm. I broke up lucern and Arvel harrowed 1 day. There have been millions of dollars damage done by floods throughout the country and hundreds of lives lost the past week. Due to the heavy precipitation we shall have a late spring. Feed is getting scarce in fact there is no[--] for sale. It has been selling for $7 & $8 per ton. During the day our cows are put in the farther field and the horses are also there during the night & also day when not at 63 Benson, Sunday May 8 – We are having quite a rain that started last Fri. night. Yesterday morning to disk the grandpa land which I began doing the afternoon before, and I had gone only one round and began the second when it rained so heavy that before I got a- round I was wet through. Arvel came down in his car to help me unhitch and to take me home in his car. It was well for me he did as the storm was fierce. Last Wed. I finished planting sugar beets. On Thurs. afternoon I attended the funeral services of sister Mary Anderson Hobbs. who died in childbirth last Monday in the Utah-Idaho hospital. Her passing was one of the saddest things that has happened in Benson for a long time Roland came home last night from his work out from Idaho Falls about 25 mi- where he went last week to do road work. We are all well. Gordon writes to say that he is getting along nicely on his mission. The grass & alfalfa are growing fast and the spring grain is coming nicely. If weather conditions continue as favorable during the summer as to date we shall have good crops. 64 May 13 – There was a big parade in Smithfield today of the school children of Smithfield, Amalga, Riverside, Benson and North Logan. Lowell & Ruth were in the parade Gov. Dern was up from S.L. city and he & the Smithfield city officials & the school Board were in the parade it was an interesting affair. May 14 Ruth spent a bad night and was quite miserable all day. May 15 – Ruth suffered a good deal the fore part of the night and a 1 o’clock we called up. Dr. Reese and he came down and said she had appendicitis – we took her to the Budge Hospital. 15 – About 5 oclock Ruth was operated on for appendicitis Drs. Scott M. Budge & Dr. Rees did the operating & Dr. Haywood administered the ether During the day Ruth suffered a great deal Mother spent the night with her. Mon 16 Ruth is not getting along very well We feel much concern about the dear little girl and her friends also feel anxious I spent a good deal of the day at the hos- pital. 17 We felt quite encouraged with Ruth’s condition today. 65 Wed. 18. Ruth is not so well this morning she had a bad night. I called up twice this morning and the first time very discouraging report came from her mother but about 10-30 he condition was somewhat improved. Lowell is cultipacking beets as I am so anxious about Ruth that I am going to the hospital I do hope and pray that she may recover, Her many friends manifest considerable interest in her. She is a dear girl and it would be heartrending to part with her. I think she will be spared to us.. 1[-]- When I got to the hospital I found Ruth was not feeling t all good and as evening approached she became dangerously ill. Pres. Jos. R. Shepherd of the Logan temple and I administered to her and she began to get better. Andrea & Norma were at the hospital and they were quite distressed as was Carrie & I, so when she began to improve we were very happy. I intended to stay all night but as she got better I de- cided to drive home and when I told Norma who had come home with Uncle A.J. she was made very happy & so were Arvel & Lowell who we frightened by Norma’s report. Our phone was kept hot by enquirers about Ruth. 66 Thurs. I went to town and found Ruth on the improve Newel said Venice was also getting better, Naoma has her at the L.D.S hospital. Lowell graduate exercises were held last night for graduates. Fri; 20 Report says Ruth is better. I sent $50 today to Gordon & a short letter. We had a fine rain last night and it snowed awhile this morning. It was much needed as the ground was dry. May 27 – Ruth is getting along OK. and may soon be out of the hospital. We have had quite a raing period. The crops are coming fairly good but warmer weather is needed. Yesterday we started on our chicken coop B.W. Seeley is in charge of the work and we are helping him. May 29 – Today has been a day of anxiety as the doctors had promised that Ruth might be taken home and later they said she better stay a day or two longer. We went to the hospital and found Ruth feeling fine and very anxious to get home so I called up Scott M. Budge and after some parlying he said we might do as we chose so I finally got my brother Moses M to take her home in his closed car 67 She stood the trip fine and we were all very happy to have her home with us again. Decoration Day. Ruth spent a good night and is feeling good this morning for which we all feel very thankful The hospital expense was as follows. Dr S.M. Budge Operation - $56.25 Dr. G.L. Reese assisting in operation &c 56.25 Operating room 10.00 Lab fee 2.00 12.00. Dressings 3 00 Special nurse $21.60 24.60 Belt 6 00 Hospital fee <14 d $70> 14 days 76.00 Dr. J.C. Hayward anesthetic 10.00 $235.10 Discount on Drs. fees pay down 12.50 $247.60 We feel that every consideration that could be given for the restoration of our dear little daughter was given by Dr. Rees, the general nurses and especially by the special nurse, Miss Agnes Thompson. We feel that the skill of the doctors, the care of mother, the faithful attention of the nurses and especially the administration of the Elders, especially Pres. Jos. R. Shepherd of the Logan temple are the cause of the restoration of our dear little girl. 68 Benson, July 7 – 1927. Since last writing in my journal many things have happened. We have been very busy culti- vating sugar beets, getting up the alfalfa crop, &C. I did most of the cutting and raking and Arvel, Lowell & Cecil did the hauling with the exception of 1 da’s work by A.P. The lads certainly did fine. I have done all the cultivating of the beets & corn so far. I finished the third cultivation of the beets last Tues. and am cultivating the corn now for the 2nd time. The first cul- tivation I did with A.J.’s corn cultiva tor, but Arvel has arranged the knives & duck-feet on the beet cul- tivator so it does better work than the corn cultivator in cutting out weeds. Logan had a big celebration on July Fourth which we all attended Roland, who is doing road work as the operator of a rock crusher near Ririe in Idaho came home the night of the 2nd and remained until the morning of the 5. Gordon is laboring as a missionary in P-a. 69 There has been destructive storms throughout the country quite recently but at present we are having beautiful weather. July 17 – We all attended Sunday School this a.m. I was teacher in the Parent’s class Last evening I took the folks to Logan as Norma and Bernito were anxious to go to the dance. Carrie, Ruth, Cleve Munk, who is staying with us on a few day’s visit and Lowell went to a picture show. I finished cultivating the corn yesterday and the sugar beets the day before. The beets are growing fine Our pump was started last Mon. We have had no rain for some time but we are having beautiful weather. The days are quite warm but the nights are cool. In the East the weather has been so hot recently that many deaths have occurred as a result of the heat The political, social, and moral con- ditions of the world and the disasterous happening of the earth speak loudly of the fulfillment of prophecy pertaining to the conditions of latter days preceed- ing the second coming of the Savior. 70 July 22 – The weather is beautiful this morning. Yesterday R.W. Seeley finished cementing the cow barn, and Arvel & I cemented a piece east of the barn door. We received a letter from Gordon yester- day stating that he was well. He was in Pittsburg, Said the weather had been dreadfully hot. On Tues. and Wed. evenings I took the family and some of the neighbor’s young folks up to the Farmer’s en- campment and we all had a good time. Got home OK. about 12 m. The Jap. I. Shimiza who has my beets is irrigating the beets today & yesterday. We have had no rain to amount to anything for a long time. I sprinkled last evening. Aug. 2 – Last week we cut our second crop alfalfa and got it ready for hauling. but on Fri. night & Sat it rained. I took the folks to Logan Sat. night and [---] & Erma went with us. several of us went to the show. The girls went to the Palador dance hall. Sun. Leland & Wanda took dinner with us. Sun. evening Bro. Wm. Pilkington 71 was the speaker at evening service, he related the associans he had with Martin Harries and the testimonies Harris had borne to him of the visit of the Angel in testimony of the Book of Mormon. Mrs. George Lemon and her sister Ann Thomas sang to us and her son Melvin rendered several selections on the organ and the piano. He is a very fine player and his mother is a sweet singer. Yesterday we hauled hay in the after- noon and the boys turned it over in the forenoon so it would cure, This is a beautiful morning and we are going to haul hay. We received a letter from Roland yester- day. He said they are working 16 hrs per day as they want to get the job done by winter. He is running the crusher preparing rock for the road up by Ririe, Idaho. Aug. 25 – Have been very busy lately Last Sat. Arvel, Lowell and I finished putting up a new fense around the stack of meadow hay which we finishd getting in on Fri. Uncle T.H. help us in payment of Arvel helping him. 72 Aug. 25 – We finished hauling & stacking our wheat crop this forenoon The primary officers are putting on a program & bazaar this evening. As president, Carrie feels quite anxious for its success; she has worked very faithfully to make it a fine affair and deserves much credit for her labors. Her aids have worked diligently with her. Received a letter from Gordon toay Sun. Sept. 4 - We are all well this beautiful morning. I have been considerably troub led the past few days from a cold making my breathing quite labored The country seems to be going wild over the[-] ai[-] traveling between Europe and American & Hawaii. Four airships were recently lost on a trip to Honolulu. and it appears that there is another lost on the Atlantic, with a princess as one of 3 passengers. A lady school teacher was lost on the Pacific journey. We are getting along quite well with our work. Threshing is done; we had 364 bu. of wheat off 6 acres. I put about 100 bu. in the Thatcher mill to draw from 73 Word comes from Gordon that he is well with the exception of a boil on his eye. Roland came home last Sat week but he had to take a large truck back last Sun. He says they are kept very busy on the road. On Thurs. last, being the anniversary of the birth of R.W. Seeley Aunt Mary invited us to go with them up Smithfield canyon and spend the day which we did. We ate two fine meals up there and greatly enjoyed the scenery of the moun- tains. There were present R W Seeley & Mary Andrea and Blain & Laree, Carrie and I and Arvel, Norma, Lowell, Ruth and Cecil. The day was ideal. We are quite concerned about getting our corn cut; it appears that 4 or 5 of us will have to buy a corn binder which we feel we can hardly afford to do. Sept. 17- Last Mon. we began putting in our corn silage at Funks. Arvel ran the binder which we secured from the College ward Co. As it rained there was not very good headway. Thurs. & Friday The filler finished Funks corn and put up. A.J. and moved to Howard Reese’s Arvel has done all the cutting, but he 74 has suffered a good deal while doing so with a lame leg the result of a kick by “Tom” Fri. morning while helping Arvel on Jack I was quite badly hurt as Jack jumped and as Tom and Duke were tied to Jack one on. each side I was knocked down and my side and leg were severely hurt and I had a hard time raking alfalfa seed in the forenoon and had to go to bed in the afternoon and have not been able to do anything since. After the rain on Sat. Sun. & Mon. we are having beautiful weather. A frost was feared but have not had one Last Sat. evening Bro. & Sister Taylor came to see us on Sun. afternoon Bro. Taylor drove us over to Clarkston to see The Martin Harris monument. Sept. 30. This has been fair week but while Tues. was a beautiful day, and there were thousands at the fair, Wed. & Thurs. were stormy and the attendance was small and there were no races, which was a disappointment to many and a big loss to the race horse men. The exhibit of horses & cattle was fine. 75 There were three bulls from Benson which took first in their class, viz, Bp. H.W. Ballard, Robert Reese and A.J.’s bull which took sweepstake, and was sent by the Co. to S. L. fair as was also Rob. Reese’s My colt jack took second and I was offered the team that took second for Jack & Tom. I drove them home on Thurs. evening, going up town through the crowds of Autos. They behaved like old horses. I brot home my beet digger which I took up. Mon. to have repared We have the 3rd crop of alfalfa on the grandpa land out in all this storm and we have not yet threshed our alfalfa seed. Today we received fine letters from Roland at Ririe & Gordon from Phel- delphia – rather Pittsburg. Oct. 1 – I wrote to cousin Ethel Mayo and sent a check of $10630 to the Etna Life Insurance Co. to pay on my policy The day has been cloudy and damp but it has not rained. There are signs of clearing tonight. 76 Oct. 28 – I have been so busy and tired that I have been neglectful about jotting down what has been going on since the first of the month. We commenced harvesting our beets on Oct. 10. The toppers and loaders are Chas. Carlson, Roy Dahle & Harmon Spenet. – all middle aged men without having had any previous experience at the job but they had done quite well. Arvel has done the hauling and also helps in loading I have done all the plowing out with the exception of a few rows by Lowell whose time during the two week’s vacation. has been occupied in hauling beet tops to the cows and doing other chores. We are nearly through now. I have six more rounds to plow and the toppers will be nearly through tomorrow. It rained Wed. so they could not work or we should have been through alright. The weather has been ideal for beet digging and the previous rain prepared the ground nicely for digging. Norma is working for the Sugar Co. at the Logan Factory for $8000 per mo. 77 Nov. 3 – Sold the alfalfa seed this morning @ 12½¢ per pound. Brot $112.85 We are all well. The weather is fine but there are signs of storm. The states of Idaho, Mont. Colorado & Nevada have had snow, but we have not except on the mountains even down on the foothills. Last Sun. Arvel got through hauling beets about noon. Wanda is not feeling well so this p.m. Norma is going up to help her this afternoon as she got through at the factory last Sat. There is a lot of alfalfa seed being shipped out of Benson this afternoon I received the highest price paid to any one for my seed. A lot of money comes into Benson for seed. Sat. Nov. 5 – Paid one of the beet toppers Roy Dahle as he was so much in need of his money that he could not wait until pay-day, Nov. 15 – He offered to pay inst – but I would not charge him. I went to Logan today and had my car brakes lined and my side curtains repaired – ie- had new isinglass put in so it is now almost as warm as a sedan. 78 Andrew & Naoma and Reese & Venice staid with us tonight. Our brother Soren Anderson phoned to us from Smith- field saying he would be down in the morning to see us. Sunday Nov. 6. Attended S.S. A.P. & Reese went with us so the ones who went from our home to S.S. were A.P, Arvel, Norma, Lowell, Ruth, Reese, Cecil and myself. R.W.Seeley, Mary Seeley, Soren Anderson, Willis, Andrea & Blaine & Laree, Andrew, Naoma, Reese and Venice were here to dinner with us today. We had a very nice dinner and an enjoyable day. The weather is beautiful, but rather threatening for rain. Nov. 22 – Yesterday was so stormy and the road so wet from the rain Sun. night that the beet haulers did not work, but they are doing a little at it to- day. I went to Logan Sunday (20) & attended a religion class convention. We had good meetings but I was not feeling very well as I have had a heavy cold on my lungs for some time. I have not been out for two days 79 and my faithful wife is doing all she can as a Dr. & nurse for me, so I think I shall be O.K. soon. I wrote to my absent sons – Gordon who is in the mission field and Roland who is doing road work near Ririe, Idaho We have had a beautiful fall, with plenty of moisture for fall grain and the grass which is getting a start for spring There have been many disasterous storms lately in the Atlantic State especially in N.Y. R.I., N.H: and Penn The disasterous conditions that preval throughout the land lead one to think the perelous times of which the Savior and the Prophet Joseph Smith spoke are at our doors. At any rate we are very thankful to be located in these mountains of Ephraim. On the 15 inst. we received the beet checks. We had 357 tons. On the 16, I went to Logan and settled with Ishimizu – the Japp who had my beets and with the topper. 80 On Sat. Carrie, Norma, Lowell Ruth, Cecil and I went to Logan I bought an overcoat for Lowell and myself at Howell Bros. $50 & $27.50 being the prices paid minus a small discount allow us. Nov. 26 – Still I am housefast but to- day I have been up quite a while & had a nice dinner. Andrea & children and Aunt Mary Seeley took dinner with us. Arvel is hauling beets as are several others. The day has been fine but clouds are gathering. Day before yesterday we received a nice letter from Pres. Leland A. Clark under whom Gordon has been labor- ing under for some time in the West Penn. conference, in which he tells of the splendid work Gordon is doing. Nov 28 – Received a letter from Gor- don today and a birthday present for mother. He is O.K. I wrote a letter to him and one to The Journal and did considerable reading. Nov. 29 – Received a letter from Roland today. He is well & says he will be home soon. I wrote a letter to The Smithfield Sentinel. I am slowly improving, but still I cough much 81 Sun. Dec 4. This morning I felt very miserable when I got up, but as the day advanced, I got to feeling better, however I did not go out. All the family except Arvel. Cecil & I went to S.S. and Fast meeting. As the Amal. people were anxious to get their pile of beets cleared up as soon as possible the haulers worked today. so Arvel hauled. Last night Arvel went to Logan with Elvin Jorgensen and as Elvin came home without him, Norma and Lowell did the milking and then Norma drove the car to Logan for Arvel. The day has been rather cold which has been better for the roads. Ruth is better from her cold & sore neck and throat. She & Barbara & Blanck Reese are to sing and play their guitars at the M.I.A. meeting tonight. They have been practicing here this afternoon. We have beautiful fall weather There has been no frost to speak of yet. Dec. 6 – Wrote to Naoma & Wm. today. This is a very cold clear day with a brisk North Wind The beet haulers have to walk & run to keep from freezing. I have been housed all day. Dec. 7. Cold but mild Beet haulers expect 82 1927 to finish hauling today. Carrie & Norma are going to Logan today. I have been out doing a few chores. Feel better. Today I took up a $150. note $2 inst at T Bank Later, The folks got home about 5 p. m. Carrie bought several articles of knit goods such as sweater-coats. One for me one for herself, one for Ruth & one for Cecil. Dec. 9. The young people put on a Play this afternoon and evening in behalf of the Relief society. Norma was one of the characters and the Co. made a fine success. All the family went but me and I did not think it wise to be out at night. as it was rather cold. We had Plumber Crookston down to- day to fix a leak in the escape pipe of the upstairs fixtures. Dec. 19. I took Carrie, Norma, Lowell, Ruth & Cecil to Logan the afternoon. The day was clear & beautiful but rather cold. We bought a few things. Sunday, Dec. 11, Cache stake Conference so there are no public gatherings in the ward. We expected to go to conference but the morning was too cold to get o[-]t but the sun is shining brightly. 83 -1927- Wed. Dec. 14. We are having cold weather so far this week with 3 or 4 inches of snow. Arvel got 1½ tons of coal today from Smithfield @ $8 per ton He also got Billy and Dude sharp shod. He got the coal on bobs. I sent a $50 check to Gordon yester- day. we rec’d a letter from him yester- day & one from Roland today. They were both well. I am think- ful that we are all well at home, but Wanday was taken to the hospital today for an attack of Albumin. The doctors think they can clear it up in 24 of 36 hours. I hope she will soon recover. Thus. Dec 15 – Spent most of the day fixing up the barn, against the cold, as it is getting cold weather. Roland surprised us about 8 o’clock when he came marching in the house, hav- ing come from Ririe today, the weather up there being to cold and blustery to work He is looking and feeling well. Dec. 16. Very cold – Had the ‘phone moved today. from the hall into the dining room – Cost $300 84 Dec. 17. Went to Logan in the afternoon & Carrie & Norma went too. The day was very cold and the snow road was very slick. We made a few purchases. Dec. 18. So cold we staid at home all day. Wanda had a baby daughter at the Wm. Budget Memorial Hospital. She is getting along alright Leland says. We had a nice dinner today. Roland, Arvel, Norma Lowell, Ruth and Cecil were home with us to dinner. 19 – Still cold All well. Received a letter from Gordon – He was well. Dec. 20. All well – Still cold. Read most of the day – Mostly in the Book of Mormon. Wrote to A.P. & Naoma inviting them to take Xmas dinner with us; also to Wm & Winnie. We ‘phoned to the other members of the family to take dinner with us on Xmas. Roland went to Logan. I paid ofmy last note at the Thatcher Bros. Bank of $150 00 The last note we now owe is $150 at the Smithfield bank. Sent check to Bro. R.B.T. Taylor in payment for a typewriter he had arranged to buy for us. 85 Wed. Dec. 21- Bro. Taylor ‘phoned from S.L.C. this evening saying he could not get a used Underwood type writer but that there was a Remington in fine condition I could get. I told him to order it sent at once. Thurs, 22 – Went to Logan, saw Wanda she is doing fine but the babe sleeps too much to suit. 23.Fri. Carrie & I went to Logan and bought several presents. The type writer had not come. 24 Went to Logan and got the type- writer and did some other business Called to see Wanda; she is getting along nicely but the babe sleeps too much. Called to see Annie. Came home and spent a pleasant evening. Andrea & Willis & the children came in about 7.30 p.m. feeling well & happy. Had a nice little visit. They left about 9.30 Later we learned that when they were on their way home they found Bro. Funk and wife near the Hyde Park lane; they had struck a car with out a light that was on the road & bro Funk got hurt, so Willis took him to the Budge hospital. Cannot learn how 86 badly he is hurt but he has been put to bed at the hospital. I am thankful, indeed, that we are blessed with good health as a family, and the best of feelings ex- ist in our hearts toward all in the family for one another, and toward all our neighbors Oh! how much we have for which to be very thankful. We have been able to pay all our obligations and have some left to buy the necessaries and many of the luxuries of life. Good words comes from our son Gordon in his missionary work. Naoma ‘phoned this evening say- ing they cannot come down as the weather is too cold and the road is unsafe out of the valley. We re- gret it is so as we should be glad to have them with us for Christ- mas dinner. Christmas Day 1927. Dr. and Mrs. N.E. Munk & family, Jno. F Reeder and Annie, Weldon, Aletha and Rowena, William, Winnie and Will. G. were with us for dinner; so was Barbara 87 Ashcroft. Our other children Roland, Arvel, Norma, Ruth and Cecil were also with us. We had a very nice dinner We are very much concerned about Leland & Wanda’s baby as she does not take any nourishment and sleeps most of the time. Leland is staying at the hospital most of the time as he & Wanda feel so concerned about their babe. Last evening, while Bro. Funk and his wife were driving to Logan ran into a car that was standing on the road without a light while the owner was fixing a tire and was quite badly hurt. Willis[-] Lamb who was returning from our place took Bro, Funk to the Budge Hospital. When Willis came back to the place of the wreck, he was run into by another Auto, and his car was badly damaged and Willis was hurt but not seriously The heavy fog last night made it very bad for driving. 88 Mon. Dec, 26. <1927> Today has been set apart as the Christmas holiday. Leland ‘phoned this a.m. saying that their baby can live only a short time Carrie and I are going now to the hospital. The babe died shortly after we arrived at the hospil. Arrangements were made im- mediately for its burial, Tues. 27 – We went to Logan early and made ready to go to H.P. with the baby, but Leland took the babe up to the hospital so the mother might see it. He went with Willis & [-]uel in their father’s Sedan in which Leland came down from Hyde Park. I rode out to H.P. with Newel in his sedan, as the day was quite cold Carrie staid at the hospital with Wanda as she was feeling so distressed. Services were held in Leland’s home which was filled to capacity. The first speaker was George Pond, a brother in-law of Leland, He made a nice appropriate talk. Geo Ashcroft & Bp. Seamons also spoke. The singing was good furnished by a quartette. Leder Arthur Peterson. 89 Wed. 28 – Spent the day at home – Wifewashed- Thurs. 29. Carrie with her aids, had a Primary play in the meeting house Wm. & Winnie called for us about 7-30 pm and took us home with them. The ride was pleasant in their closed car but the night was cold. We had a nice supper and sat up until after midnight listening to the radio and to Wm sing & play. and also had a nice visit. Fri. 30. Wm. took up up to the Foster home where we had a short but pleas- ant visit; when Wm & Winnie took us to Preston where we took the U.I.C. for Logan. We surely had an en- joyable time in Whitney. The reason we did not stay longer Carrie had to be at a Primary officer’s meeting & a general meeting. While Carrie was at meeting I spent most of my time with Wanda at the hospital. At 5.30 p.me we arrived home. Sat, 31 – Spent most of the day reading & writing. At 2-30 p.m. I went to Logan for flour. Jan. Sun, 1[-] Attended S.S. meeting. Foster Reese spoke at meeting on the life of Joseph Smith in a very interesting discourse 90 Mon. Jan 2 – 1928- Today has been a legal holiday and all business houses have been closed. Carrie & I went to Smithfield this p.m. to see Aunt Mary Seeley We had a nice visit – Walk was at the garage so we did not see him. This has been a nice warm day. Roland went off this morning on a visit to his friends. Said he was going to Ogden & perhaps to S.L.C. Arvel & Norma went with Leon & Berneta to Logan tonight to a dance. On thing has been a source of grief to me in con- nection with the holidays and that was the giving of dances in the Palador and other dance halls in the Co. after 12 o’clock Sunday night. It appeared to me that the managers of dance halls were more concerned about getting money than they were about the health and the morals of the young people both of which are endangered by late hours, which lead to dissipation. My heart is grieved when I hear & read of the wickedness & sin that is passing through the land as a great tidal wave. 91 Sat. Jan 9- Today the stock- show in Ogden opens. It promises to be very fine. I should like to go but Roland is off, Lowell has a cut finger so he cannot milk and there are too many cows for Arvel & Norma to milk especially as there are so many chores to do. The wea- ther remains beautiful just cold enough to keep things braced up; however it would be better if we had more snow so bobs could be used instead of wagons to haul pulp and hay. Yesterday I went to Logan & Carrie & Norma went with me. I took the letters which I had written the past year to The Journal and I re- ceived $38.60 for compensation. After doing our business in Logan we drove to Hyde Park to see the folks. Wanda was feeling fairly well physically but rather distressed in mind due to the death of her babe. She & Leland had taken a baby-boy but Wanda could not take kindly to it as yet. It is a fine looking boy. 92 Jan, 7- Day beautiful but getting cloudy tonight. I have spent the day in reading and writing. Wanda is feeling quite a bit better. I have written to cousin Ethel Mayo today. Sun. 8. All the family at home attended Sunday School and nearly all meeting at whitch Bro. C.J. Myers gave an interesting talk Peace as this day was set apart as Peace Sunday. Jan. 9 - We received a letter from Roland today from San Francisco. saying he expected to be home in 10 da. We also received a nice letter from Gordon saying he was well and feeling fine after his trip to the New England states. He expects to spend the rest of his time in Pittsburgh It is nice weather but there are signs of a storm- no doubt snow. The stock show is on in Ogden Jan. 13- Andrea came down to our place yesterday from the Hospital where she had been two d[-]ys. Roland came last night from Calf, The weather is beautiful today; Roland & Arvel killed a pig today. I am not feeling very well today. To Page 100. 93 Trip to London Jan. 10, 1884. Taken from an account I wrote in a little scrap book. I took the 12.40 p.m. train at Merthyr for Brystol viz Pontypool road and Newport. In the last named place I had to wait 2 hr. At 5.40 p.m. arrived in Brystol and soon found my way to the home of the father of N.M. Hodges where I was kindly received by sisters Susie, Pattie, Catie & — Hodges. In the evening I met with the brethren and Saints in meeting. Sat, Jan. 12 – left Bristol at 9-35 a.m. Ticket cost 9/10 ½ or 9 shillings, 10 pence (20¢) half penny [-] ¢ Arrived in London at 10.40 a.m. at the first station where an Elder met me A stop of 10 min was made here and then I was on my way again accompanied by the Elder who met me. On Sun I met with the Elders and Saints in conference. Pres. J.H. Smith of the European mis- sion was in attendance & took charge 94 There were 14 Elders present in- cluding Pres. Smith whose names were as follows. E.H. Nye (Pres) Brady, Bent, Clawson, Stainer, L.P. Lund, Harris, Hemsley, Gibbons, Atkin, Denny, Reaves, Angel, Heber John Richards, and myself. We had an interesting time at our priesthood meeting at which all the above named Elders gave a brief account of their labors. Pres. Smith gave much valuable instructions to the Elders. On Tues. night Bro. Hemsley & I slept at the home of Bro. Garner’s Pres. of White Chapel Branch. Jan. 15, After breakfast, we took train for Sloan square & thence to the office. Bro. Bench & I went to Crystal Palace. We went up the tower and saw many sights in the Palace which were very interest- ing. Spent the evening at the office. Jan 16, I had spent the night with the Brethren at Sutherland St We all felt well & happy. After break- fast at the office tavern I intended 95 to take a boat to Greenwitch but the fog on the Thames was so heavy that boats could not run, so I went to Charing Cross and took train, to Greenwitch hospital I saw the blood-stained coat <& vest> that Lord Nelson wore when he was wounded in the battle of Trafalgar. After spending some time in going through the buildings I walked to Blackheath to see cousin Eliza Lloyd. Spent quite a while there Eliza was one of five servants and she was lady’s maid. I walked back across the heath to the Greenwich station although Cousin warned me that it was dangerous as roberies frequently occurred on the way[-]ver the heath. I took train to Charing Cross and walked to the office. It was 11 p m when I got there. Slept at office. Jan. 17. Elders C.E.Angel visited South Kensington Stadium and in the evening we went to the Adelphia Theatre. Fri. 18. I went through the zoological Gardens and saw many interesting sights In the evening I saw Madam Tousauds waxwork which was very interesting. 96 1928 Jan. 19 – Bro. Angel and I visited the Par- liment buildings, where we saw the House of Commons & the House of Lords. and the Throne upon which many of the kings & queens of England sat. At the time of our visit Queen Victoria was reigning and W.E. Gladstone was the Prime Minister. We also went through West Minister Abby in which many leading characters in England were entombed. In the evening we went to the Royal Theatre. Sun. Jan. 20 – 1884. I attended the White Chapel meetings & spoke in the after noon & evening. Cousin Eliza Lloyd was at the evening meet ting. Several strangers were also in attendance Cousin had to leave before the close of meeting so I went with her and saw her on the train for Blackheath, I took train to Bro. Garner’s and by invitation I spent the night at their home. Jan. 21. Took the train to the office. Five of the brethren were there. I wrote home after which Bro. Angel and I took a walk together 97 Came back to the office <& spent the time> reading & writing In the evening I went to Charing Cross station to meet Cousin Eliza Lloyd as she was coming over to be baptized, but I missed the train so Cousin walked to the office. We could not find a place where we could do the baptizing. I saw her on the train to Black Heath and went back and slept at the office. Thurs 24 – Bro. Stainer & I visited the Dore Art Gallery and the Royal Music Hall. Jan. 25 - Spent most of the morning at the office and in the evening I went to Blackheath to see Eliza Lloyd. Had spper with the five servant girls. Cousen asked me to say grace which I did before & after supper After my visit I took train to Charing Cross & bus to Minister which was near the office. I slept at the office. Sat. Jan. 26 – Bro. Stainer & I visited the Tower of London, St. Pauls Cathedral where service was going on. We went through the fish market. We then went to Bro. Crosses and spent a pleasant eve, and then took train to the office. 98 Sun. Jan. 25 <27> 1884. I attended meeting in the North London branch. I spoke in the after noon & evening. Had dinner with Bro. & sister Cross, Elders, Stayner & Clawson were also there to dinner. Jan. 28 Bro. Lund and I took a walk around to see some of the Saints. Had dinner with sister Bradford. In the afternoon we went to the British Museum. In the evening I went to the Drury Lane Theatre where “Cinderilla” was played. Bro. Jos. A. Smith & I met at the office; he, too, had been to the D.L. theatre. We slept together Jan. 29 – Saw Bro. Smith off for Dover on his way to Germany. Spent the forenoon reading & writing. In the after noon Bro. Leo. Clawson went to Black heath to make arrangements to bap- tize Cousin Eliza Lloyd. which we did in the evening in a pond on the Common. A lady friend was with Eliza Bro. Stayner offered prayer and I bap- tized & confirmed her a member in the church of Jesus Christ of L.D.S. After which we returned to the office & I reported to Pres. E.H. Nye. 99 Jan. 30 – 1884 - I took the 11-20 train to Pad- dington and the 12 m. train to Brystol. Elders. Green, C H Rheese met me at the station and I spent the night with them. Jan. 31 – at 11-10 a.m. I took train to Cardiff where I arrived at 1-45 p m, & walked to the Taff Vale 1 ½ mi. & had to wait until 3-45 and took train to Pontypridd. I went to Bro. Veal’s & remained there until meeting time, Bro. Veal & I went to Bro. Hughe’s to meeting. Pres. Lewis was there and we had a splendid time. After Pres. Lewis took train to Myrther & I staid with Bro. & sister Veal. 100 [page is blank] 101 Carried from pg. 92. Jan. 14 – The weather is mild but clowdy and looks like snow. Today Arvel & I took a ride with Clarence Neeley, M[-]r. of the Cache Hardware Co – which sells the De Laval milking machine as far north as Franklin, The object of our going was to see milking machines. When we got back home I placed an order with him for a De laval milker of two single units. Arvel and I thought it the best machine we had seen or heard about by the dairy men whom we visited. Roland and Lowell have been putting alfalfa in the barn out of the stack. Andrea is here with us but she is suffering badly from back- ache. Laree is also here. The schools and all public gatherings in Logan have been suspended due to an outbreak of spinal meningitis from which there have been a few deaths in Logan & Smithfield. Jan. 17. Cloudy and indicates snow in fact there are a few flakes falling. All are well at home. Andrea is about as usual- Blain is alright, we learn from Willis. 102 Jan. 21 – The weather is cold after a light fall of snow on the 18 & 19. We now have our milking machine running. Finished putting it in last evening & milked the co[ink blot] last night & today. Think it will be a good investment. Arvel made the room for the punp & motor and helped the sales-man. Clarence Neeley in the instalation of it Jas. C. Hill. did the wiring and the pulling in of the switch. Andrea is here with us yet and so is Laree. Blain has been ill so he could not be moved down We have not received a letter from Gordon for some time. Due to an outbreak of spinal mengitis in some quarters the schools of Logan and all pub- lic gatherings have been suspen- ded and to have our public gatherings and there were so few pupils going to schools that our schools have closed too. There is no case in Benson however. 103 1928 Jan. 23 – It snowed last night [---] this forenoon so now the sleighing is quite good. Roland got a load of coal from a car of E.A. Parson it came to $11.38. We got a card from Gordone today stating that he would be released on the 27 inst. We are all well including Andrea. This morning Arvel & I milked as he ran the milker & I did the stripping Jan. 25- John B. Thatcher came this afternoon to test our cows as he is the cow tester of the association of which I am a member. Carrie and I went to H.P. today to attend the funeral services of the 6 yr. old boy of Mr. & Mrs. Lorin Lamb. There was a large attendance and a beautiful service. There were several speakers and good singing. Prof. South- wick and Hess each sang. Carrie & I had dinner with Leland and Wanda. Leland had the loss of three fine sheep last night by dogs. Andrea went up with us but she did not come home with us but Willis brought her down later. 104 Jan. 26. Carrie and I went with Lile Reese to the funeral of an in- fant babe of Geo. Reese & wife. The services were held in the home. A.V. Reese & Cyril Munk were the speakers Geo. Done & Mr. Lunquist rendered two duets. The house was packed with sympathising relatives & friends. The interment was in the Logan Ceme- tary. We went. John Thatcher finished testing my cows this morning. A letter recently from Pres. Gordon said he rec’d a letter recently from Pres. H.H Rolapp releasing him on the 27, inst. I finished reading the Book of Mormon through just before writing the above. I have found great con- solation in perusing its pages. It is surely a wonderful testimony of the Divine Mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The clearness with which the principals of salvation are set forth and the punishment that follows a wicked and rebellious life are surely evi- dences of the truthfulness of Divine Origin[-], 105 Jan. 27- Went to Logan today and bought a suit for Lowell and for self at Howell Bros. Mother stocked up with groceries and bought an electric iron which carried with it a life guarantee. The weather continues good. Jan 28, It froze hard last night and it is foggy this a.m. Arvel ran the milker as usual and I stripped the cows. Roland hauled out a load of hay to the animals in the field and Lowell fed the cows & horses in the barn. Andrea <& Laree> are here with us us yet. She seems to be getting stronger & better. I received a letter yesterday from John James, Wm Purser died night before last. Jan. 30- A telegram from Gordon said he was in St. Louis and that he would be in Salt Lake [---] morning at 11. a.m. Jan. 31- All well – Went to Logan in the afternoon and got some lime and a sprayer from the Condenser to whitewash the barn. Wrote a letter to The Journal, Roland, Arvel, Norma, Lowell, Ruth and mother went to meeting and stayed to the picture show. Andrew, Laree, Cecil and I staid home. The weather is fine but rather cold at night. 106 1928 Feb. 1. Foggy and cold this a.m. All the family were able to eat breakfast, including myself. Fri. Feb 2, Went to Logan; i,e. Carrie & I Spent a short time with Ione and then went to see Annie & family. All well. Sat. 4 – Leland, Wanda, Barbara, Norma and Blaine came down and spent the day with us. Gordon came home about 3.30 p.m. He surely looks fine and is very interesting to listen to when relating his ex- perience and telling some of his stories. It is fine to have him home with us again. Sun, Feb, 5- Gordon spoke in Sunday school, Fast. meeting and also occupied all the time in the M.I.A. in the evening. The attendance was large at all the ga- therings. Many spoke to me in higih praise of the talks Gordon gave. Mon. Feb, 6- Day fine Wrote to The Journal. Tues. 7- went to Logan. Tues. morning Andrea was not feeling well so we ‘phoned to Willis and he came down in his father’s sedan and at 9.30 took Andrea to the Budge hospital. Carrie went too. At a little after 10 a.m. Andrea had a baby girl and got through alright 107 Wed. Feb. 8- The Ward Reunion was held there was a large crowd and a big dinner was served. Roland & Norma were among the corpse of waiters Pre. Cardon of [ink blot] Cache was present also the Committe Abe Jorgensen, Andrew King and Geo. Ha[---]. A program was given after dinner. We went to the dance at night. Had good music and an enjoyable time. A short program was given. Gordon gave a very interesting amusing part. The dance was a farewell party for Louis Neeley who leaves Sat for a mission to the Southern States. Thur. Feb, 9, spent the day at home with the exception of a short trip to see Wm Johnson and to Bp. Ballard’s as Gordon wanted to get a recommend to go to the temple tomorrow. We learn that Andrew is getting along I.K. Fri.10- Carrie went through the temple with the Relief Society Gordon also went through the temple. I attended the Old Folk’s party in Hyde Park and had a very nice time.- Sat. 11th Went to Logan in the afternoon. Andre and babe were doing nicely. 108 1928 Sun. Feb. 12 – Had ward conference. Mother, myself, Roland, Gordon, Arvel, Norma, Lowell, Ruth and Laree went to S.S. & also to meeting except. Roland, Ruth, Cecil & Laree. We had two sessions of conference Pres. Lindquist & Elder W.A. Noble were visitors in the afternoon and at night and Elder J.H. Anderson was also with us at night. Mon. 13, All well – Roland left this morning with E.A. Parson for Ririe to work on the road. Gordon and Arvel hauled out fertilizer. The morning was cold but as the sun was able to warm up the day. Tues. Feb. 14 – Went to Logan that my wife might have her eyes tested for glasses. Dr. T.B. Budge tested her eyes – she must go twice more before she has glasses. Called up to see Andrea who is getting along nicely and so is her baby. I had my car all greased at the Blair Motor establishment. Wm. & Winnie called around in the eve- ning and spent until about 11. p.m. with us 15 Very cold North wind today; but the sun is shining brightly. 16 Feb, Warmer today but still cold in the shade. I whitewashed the barn. 14- Funeral of Mrs. Deborah Tarbet today 109 A very large number attended the funeral services in the Benson Chapel with Bp. H.W. Ballard jr in charge. Interment was in the Smithfield Cemetary. Andrea came down from the hospital to stay with us for awhile. Her babe is fat and healthy. It is cold this evening – Feb. 18 – This a.m. I wrote the account of the funeral services and an Obituary of Mrs. Tarbet. Went to Logan in the afternoon. Wm. <& Winnie> came down to see us in the eve- Feb. 19. All the family are well and all except mother went to S.S. & to meeting Mother staid home to care for Andrea. J.B. Thatcher came in the afternoon to test the cows. Feb. 20 – Beautiful morning after a cold night. Thatcher is with us. Feb. 28 – Since writing the above many things have happened since writing the above. among which were the funeral services of Mrs. Maggie Barrett, and Jno. A Woolf. Auto. dealers are on my trail thick and fast notwithstanding my protests. Moses my brother, and Lee Reese, my nephew were with us a couple of hours last evening talking Pontiac and Oakland. 110 1928 On Sat. last a dairy-stock sale was held at the Fair grounds. Many animals were sold, mostly grade and purebred Holstein cows. We are having rather unsettled weather with a light fall of snow frequently. Feb. 29- Stormy today, but Gordon and Arvel went to Logan as G. was in- tending to take singing lessons from Alf Farrell and Arvel thought of arranging for lessons on the piano. Carrie and I are arranging to go to Hyde Park to see the folks in our New Sedan (Buick) which I bought yester- day from the Blair Motor, the cost of which was $1690. I turned in my used 1923 Buick in part payment. It was in fine condition and I would have kept it had it been a Sedan. Mar. 7- This is a beautiful day after the heavy showers we have been having the past several days mak- ing the roads in a sloppy condition. As I was recently notified by the Sheriff that my name had been drawn as a juror to appear on Mar. 6, I went to Court yesterday morning and was soon 111 empanneled as a juror with 7 others on a case, but as the prosecution wanted more time the case was postponed one week so I must be in court next Tues. at 10 a.m. Today I am intending to go to the fune- ral services of a 9 mo. old girl of the Izatt family. Later, I was at the funeral. Harvard Reese & wife rode home with me. Sun, Mar. 11 - It has been a very stormy day but we all went to S.S. including Norma who came home with us Fri, also Barbara Ashcroft came too as the girls wanted to attend the Drama put on by the Riverside school. Ruth was in the play and took the part of Cyclone Sally and did so very well The other four girls and four boys did well too. Sat. We went to Logan. Gordon went up to take his singing lesson. He did not come home with us. Arvel & Norma went to the dance in Logan in the evening. The stormy weather makes the roads sloppy. Gordon has not come home yet. Mar. 12 – Boys and I fenced in chicken yard 112 Mar 13 – As I was on the jury case of trial between a Man who had failed to come through with the Co. for the payment of a lighting plant which he claimed was no good and therefore would not pay. The case was again postponed, but I was chosen as a witness Juror on a case be- tween Hansen, et al on one side and a Richmond Irrigation Co. on the other where- in the farmers. Hanson, Mack, & Hillyard refused the Plaintiffs, the officers of the Richmond Canal Co. the construction of a canal through their land. It took nearly one day to empannel a jury. Wed. 14 – The trial was still on. Arvel & a number of Benson teams & men went to Logan and hauled dirt on the Tab. sq. It was a very cold day. When I got home Carrie was ill so I went to H.P. and got Norma who was up there helping Andrea. Thurs. 15-Carrie was better. I went to the trial and had a rather tiresome day Had dinner with Annie and I did yes- terday also. she urged me to come up. Had a nice dinner. Wife was feeling well when I got home. The day has been fine but coldx All are well at home tonight There has recently been a terrible flood in Calf. 113 Fri Mar. 16. Attended court in the trial between the Richmond irrigation Co and the Hanson Bros., Mack and Hillyad It was decided that the jury, accom- panied by the sheriff and the surveyors T.H. Humphreys & Tchaub go to the farms under consideration. By request I drove my car. We went over the ground. The farmes show a good quality of land. The defense witnesses claimed that the construction of the canal would depreciate the value of their holdings from $4 00 per a. value to $300. per a. The case is surely dragging along x The weather continues beautiful. Carrie went to Logan with me and spent the stay visiting Anna, Howard & Annie Reese went with me. Gordon & Arvel spent the day hauling out fertilizer. Sat. Mar. 17. Court again today. Sun. “ 18 Went to conference in Logan. Geo. A. Smith was the speaker in connection with several others. Had dinner at Newel’s & Iones. Bro. & sister Munk were also there. Gordon & A.V. & wife went with Carrie & me. 114 Mar. 19 – Mon. Court again today. Gordon worked 8 hr. and Arvel 5 hr. on the Spring ditch. We had a tiresome day in Court as the prosecution in case put on a number of witnesses. Tues Mar – 20 – Had a tiresome day in Court. The lawers argued about 45 min. each and at 5 p.me. the case was turned over to the jury. I was elected foreman. At 6 p.m the sheriff took the jury to the B.B. for supper. After considerable vot[-]ng as to the damages done by the con- struction of the proposed canal we prepared our decissions by 9. p.m and returned to the court room and handed over our findings to Judge Math[-]erson. Our rewards were as follows. $300 per. acre for the canal right-a-way and estimated damage to the other adjoining land which was a total to Hillyard of $1680; to Mack $1100. and to the Hanson Bro. $950. I drove home. O Arvel worked 4 hr. & Gordon 8 hr. on the Spring ditch. 115 Mar. 21. Gordon hauled gravel on the road. Made $500 Arvel worked 8 hr. on the spring ditch. I did the chores and in the afternoon mother and I went to Smithfield to see about some carpenter work and then drve to H.P. to see Wanda and Andrea. Mar. 22 – Fixed the chicken yard. Gordon and Arvel worked on the ditch Mar. 23. It rained heavy about half the night and during the forenoon. In the afternoon Gordon and Arvel worked on the spring ditch and I and Carrie & Norma worked in the raspberry bushes. The rain will be very beneficial to vegetation. On the evening of the 22 the Riverside school took “Cyclone salt to Trenton. Mar. 24. It rained hard most of the night but this morning it is clearing Sun. 25 – Went to Sunday School and in the afternoon I went with Foster Reese to Logan to the Religion Class convention. The day was stormy, Lowell was ill & Arvel did not get home for chores so Gordon and I did the chores. None of the family except Arvel went out Sun. night A.J. & Libbie came home from their long trip. 116 Mon. Mar. 26. The day is stormy and all we did was the chores. Lowell is still ill. Tues. 27- Had a heavy snowstorm during the forenoon. W.A. Bair jr. of St. Anthony bot Jack & Tom from me today for $300. Wed 28 – Stormy Arvel took Jack and Tom to Richmond and Gordon went up in Arvel’s Ford to get him. Thurs. <29> Went to Smithfield and got Dolly and Molly shod and two shoes on Brant. Fri. 3[-] <30> Fixed the cesspool pipes – and went to an entertainment given in the meetinghouse by the Y.L.M.I.A. which was very good consisting of a one act play and singing and games & dances Sat. Mar. 31 – After spending the forenoon in fixing around the place and Gordon and Arvel fixing fence, Carrie, Gordon, Norma Ruth and I went to Logan. I went to the Democratic convention in the Courthouse where 36 delegates & 18 alternates were chosen to attend the Democratic Conven- tion in S.L.C. next mon. to elect delegates to go to the National convention to nomin- ate a candidate for the Pres. of the U.S. There is great commotion throughout the land in anticipation of the coming election Mon 117 1928 Sun. Apr. 1 – All the family at home except Lowell attended S.S. and mother, Norma & I we staid to meeting, Gordon went to H.P. by request to bless Wanda’s baby boy. The day has been fine but the wind is whisteling and clouds are gathering. Andrea & Willis had their babe blessed today and named her Beth. Apr. 2 – Beautiful warm day. Bot load of hay from Allen Ricks. Gordon and a Nelson lad whom I had hired, hauled fertilizer for Jno. Mathews. Arvel and I went to Smithfield to get some extras for the spreader and mother went with us. In the afternoon Arvel & I got the load of hay and hauled manure. Apr. 3 – When we got up this morning we were surprised to find about 3 in of snow It snowed about an inch more during the morning and then cleared. I read a sermond –by M.J. Ballard Sub. The Responsibility of the Church to preach the gospel to the world. Tuesday. April 10, The weather is cold and has been threatening for snow but to- night I think it will clear off. Last Friday I took Carrie, Norma and Deviva Munk to S.L. City 118 We left Logan at 10.05 at drove to Ogden where we stopped 15 min and at 12-55 we were at the Semloh Hotel where we took rooms which we had reserved for us. A.V. took his wife & T.H. and Maggie down the day before in his new Oakland Sedan. I went to conference in the after- noon and to the pantages in the eve as the folks wanted to go. Sat. I took the women folks in- cluding Maggie & Rhoda around to see the city. We went to the Park, to the University grounds, the cemetary and to the Capatol building. I took the folks to Taylor’s where we were treated to ice- cream and cake. I called on John James and had a short pleasant visit with him As my health was so poor, Carrie & I staid at the hotel. I had a hot bath and went early to bed. Sunday morning I took my car which Gorden left in front of the hotel and drove up to a meeting of the Religion Class officers & teachers which conveined at 8 o’clock. When it was out I went to the general conference. In the afternoon we drove home found all well. 119 1928 Tonight the folks have gone to meeting. Ruth & I being on the sick list staid home Lowell & Cecil also staid home as they usually do. There is quite an epidemic of illness around in the form of cold in the head and pain in the lungs. Coming back to conference will say that there were many thousands in attendance and the speakers delivered very earnest powerful discourses. Pres. Grant and Pres. Ivins & Pres. Nibley seem as active as ever and a strong in their speaking powers. Wed. Apr. 11- Stormy – Ruth is ill today Thurs. “ 12. Took mother to Logan to Primary gathering in the afternoon. The forenoon was cold and stormy but Gordon & Arvel hauled fret Norma went with us. Ruth is still unable to go to school. Cecil is ill Fri. We are all better today. The boys are hauling manure. I have just written a letter to The Journal. While I feel weak and cough a good deal yet I feel better today. The sun is shining but there are some evidences of more storm in a day or two. We are all getting anxious for fine weather 120 Sun. Apr. 15- Attended Sunday School as a family. In the afternoon I went to the High Priest meeting in Logan. Howard Reese and I rode in with A.V. In the evening we held our Religion Class conference and had a good meeting. The visitors were Roy West and Edwin James of the Stake Board. The quar- tette singers of the 9th ward were present and rendered four selections. Had a good atten dance 33 1/3 % of the ward population Mon <16> Stormy during the forenoon. I went to Smithfield and got the plow sh[-]rs sharpened I sold 4 little pigs to Bro. Jensen, the black- smith for $20 in work. Fri. Apr. 20 - Stormy today with snow driving from the North. We have done nothing yet along the line of farming; but some have been doing some plowing. Several days ago two Germans and an Irishman left Ireland in an air- plain from for New York as their des- tination but they encountered such bad weather that they were driven Northward from their course many hundred miles and were fortunate enough to land on Greenly Island situated in the Stre[--]t of Belisle where they were cared for and are having their plain repaired. 121 Sun. Apr. 22, We all went to S.S. this morning, Roland came down from Rigby Fri. night as he is going out to Wyo. to work on the road Mon. for the same contractor, Olof Nelson and he gets a raise in his wages. He is look- ing well. He went to Logan yesterday forenoon and has not come home yet. We are having a beautiful day today. and trust it may continue so as it is getting time for the planting of our crops. Wanda Ashcroft spent a couple of days in Ogden last week as a member of the H.P. Literary club; she was down here yesterday having brot. Norma home as she had been taking care of Wanda’s babe and keeping house Wanda said she had a good time in Ogden 122 Mae 1, 1928. Last week Gordon, Arvel and I were busy plowing, har- rowing, spring-toothing our land ready for planting sugar beets. We worked 8, 9- and 10 horses. We worked Willis’ team and broke an animal for Mr. John Mathews as he had a runa- was with three horse on a plow so he got Gordon to take the animal and gentle her so he could handle her. At this writing she is gentle. Yesterday I planted the 3 a. up by Mothers to beets and today I am planting the tract north of the house & West of the Canal. The weather has been threatening for rain several days. I and doing the planting of the beets, using Bell and Brant and they are fine. We are all well but I am not any too strong, however I have no cause to complain, but to feel thankful for my condition at any age of lifex I finished drilling beets north of the house & slackyard today. May 2 – I drilled in the corn this forenoon with Bell & Brant. 123 Gordon & Arvel are plowing & preparing the land West of the Spring ditch for beets. It is rather too damp to be in first class condition. The weather is fine but quite cold, as we all had to wear coats this a.m. May 10 – Finished planting potatoes today the seed for which I got from E.S. Roundy (Russetts) and from John Matkins (Bliss triumph) In the afternoon mother Norma and I attended the funeral servi- ces of Phylis Munk, or Gibbons. Wed May 16, Today Heber, U.J. & I have been to the Hyde Park Cemetary and fixed up the graves of father & mother and the other graves in the lot We also pulled out a large lilac bush at the head-stone of Uncle Tom and cleaned the weed off and around his grave. Mother and Norma went up with me and we had dinner with Andrea. Wanda <& Barbara> wa[-] also there. We have had a very beautiful rain lately which began last Fri. night and has furnished plenty of moisture to last for awhile. 124 There was a big concert in the Logan Tabernacle last Sat. eve. given by the associated Clubs of Utah containing 250 voices. My friend, John James and his wife came up and Sun. morning I went to Logan and brot them down to dinner Willis & Andrea were also here. Wm. & Winnie called in the afternoon. I took the folks to Logan at 3.30p.m. Last Fri. evening a Danish entertainment was given in the Benson meeting house consis- ting of dancing & a program. By invitation Carrie & I were present We had an enjoyable time. Cash Smith is very ill, as he has a ruptured appendix. Two doctors were with him today. May 22 – 1928. This evening we have had a very heavy rain, com- ing from the east. The thunder and lightning was fierce. never saw it worse and there was some hail with the rain. In about ½ hr. there were ponds of water in the field. Expect to hear of some damage done by the storm. 125 Today and yesterday I have painted some of the farm tools. We are endeavoring to get some of the odds and ends of things done up before the the rush of beet thinning begins. Yesterday I sent a letter to cousin Tom Roche who has recently come over from Wales and is in Penn. He thinks of coming to Utah. May 28, 1928- The weather is beautiful today. Gordon & Arvel be- gan thinning beets this morning & thinned until noon. Arvel finished cultivating the beets Sat. noon. But thinning is now in full force, There is much activity going on among the Reese people getting ready for the Reese Reunion tomorrow. I have suffered a great deal of pain during the past three days and nights from inflammation of my left eye. At times the pain has been intense. 126 June 2, 1928. I have been bed- fast since Thurs. evening when I came home from Logan suffering intense pain in my left eye. Dr. T. B. Budge examined it and prescribed a treat- ment that made it necessary for me to go to bed. Naoma & A.P. & Venice are here with us Gordon, Arvel & Lowell are busy thin- ning sugar beets. The weather is beautiful, Sat. June 11 – Mother, Norma, Ruth and I went to S.L. City to witness the Pagant. It was a grand affair. There were 10000 children in a grand procession that marched seven blocks down Main street and thence east. At the U. of U. Statdium there was a wonderful Pageant that lasted several hours. We spent the night at the home of Bro. & sister R.B.T. Taylor. Sunday, June 12. Bro. Taylor took us and his wife to Provo and up Provo canyon. We had a very pleasant trip. There were a lot of people pick- ing strawberries around Provo, When we returned to S.L.C. a nice dinner 127 had been prepared at Bro. T. by Janie White & Ada Cannon at 2 o’clock. At 4 p.m. we started home where we arrived about 7 oclock and after lunch we went to meeting where Gordon and Earl Jorgensen were the speakers. It began raining at 3 p.m. Sun. and continued until Mon. night. Tues. 14, Lelf Logan with A.P. Anderson for Fillmore and after a very pleasant ride we reached Fillmore at 10 p.m. having left Logan at 12 oclock. Wed. 15 A.P. took his sister, Mrs. Hunts- man & her little daughter and Reese WG III & myself on a trip to Manti to see Andrew’s mother. We had a very enjoyable day as we traveled through a very interesting country. In going we went by way of Scipio and passed through the towns of Springville Spanish Fork, Pason, Spring Lake, Santiquin, Mona Nephi, Lavan, Juab, Scipio to Fillmore, and on the way to Manti we went back over the same road as far as Scipio and then through a pass in the of the Pavant Mountains. 128 to Salina and on through many villages & towns including Gunnison where is located a sugar factory. and reached Manti about 12 m. Here I spent some time looking at and round the temple and the country around which may be seen for many miles. After a few hour’s visit we drove back to Fillmore by another route that took up through the Clear Creek pass where the scenery was thrilling & grand. We stopped at the old Fort built in 1860 by Ira N. Hinckley under the di- rections as a protection against the Indians by Pres. Brigham Young. We arrived in Fillmore at 8 oclock. Thurs, June 14. Andrew drove us to his farm, thence to the flowing well section where large streams of water through 6 in. pipe[-] flows that furnished irrigation for many acres of good farm land. We were also taken to other farming sections which were not so well watered. We spent the night in Fillmore. 129 Fri. June 15. We went to Delta and there spent a little time looking around the removed sugar factory sigh which gave evidence of a lot of labor lost. This is a section that produces a lot of Alfalfa seed which is its chief resource We traveled through a lot of fertile country where farmers were busy harvesting their alfalfa crop. We took a different road on the return journey that took us through some nice nowns and country farm homes. When we got back to Fillmore and had a little rest & lunch we went to the old Capitol building of the Territory as Fillmore was the capitol of Utah in the early days. Sat. 16 – Left Provo at 9 a.m. and after a most pleasant ride arrived in Logan about 7.30. A.P. & Naoma took me home to Benson. I stood the trip fine & wrote three letters to The Journal while on the tripx While away the boys were unable to work at the hay as it rained every day doing much good to the crops but harm to the alfalfa that had been cut but not hauled. 130 Sun. June 17. Attended conference in Logan, Apostle F M. Lyman was in attendance and gave excellent discourses. It rained hard in the afternoon but cleared off in the evening. Mon, June 19, Nice day. I have been weeding the corn & potatoes in the garden lot. Gordon & Arvel worked on the pump ditch during the forenoon but are hoeing beets this afternoon, they also worked on the pump ditch last Sat. Wed. June 27. The boys are nearly through with the alfalfa first crop. On Sat I cut 2/3 of the alfalfa on the grandpa land and on Sat. the boys raked it. Mon. I finished cutting it and Tues. I raked it while the boys hauled. Today mother & I went to Logan in the forenoon to get some supplies. The boys have hauled hauled hay all day and this p.m. I have been fixing fence. We had the mason down today to do some repair plastering in the kitchen. The weather is beautiful. The Democrat Convention in Houston Tex is in session. 131 On Tues. we received a letter from Roland stating that his arm that he had broken some time ago is doing as well as can be expected. He had just driven a truck to Kemmerer, to get supplies, with one arm in a sling. While there the Dr. examined his arm, changed the bandages and put the splints back on his arm & then sent Roland to the photographers to get his picture taken. June 30. Arvel is cultivating beets for the fourth time and Lowell has cul- tivated the corn today. Yesterday he cultivated the potatoes. The weather is very fine. I have suffered a good deal the past few days with my left eye. that also affects my other eye. At the Democrat Convention at Houston Texas Alfred E. Smith of New York was nominated as President and Joseph T. Robinson of Arkansas as Vice President. 132 1926. July 16 - The summer is passing along and the crops are growing but a hailstorm recently hit the beets so hard that they were quite badly damaged but are recovering We have hoed the corn and yesterday the boys watered the grain on the grandpa land and we watered the lawn, flowers, fruit trees and bushes. On Sat. July, 14, a very fine exhibition of the four stakes’ primary was given, at the U.A.C Stadium, in the form of a Pageant. There were about 1000 children participated. I recently went on a trip with A.P. Anderson (-son-in law) to Fillmore and from there we took trips in various directions to see the country, visiting Manti, Delta and places in between. It was a very instructive in- teresting trip. I wrote two letters to The Journal telling of the conditions as I saw and learned about them in the places visited. 133 Tues. July 17 – Lowell & I have hoed one patch of potatoes this a.m. Gordon and Arvel are hoeing Reynold’s beets. He has six acres, and they are to get $800 for the job. The boys say they are very weedy. Ruth is up to the Girl’s camp with the Beehive girls; they went yesterday and expect to be home tomorrow. Florence Slax is in charge. The weather is fine. Howard Reese & wife are at Lava to see if the baths there will cure the rheumatism from which Howard has been afflicted for some time. We were told last evening by A.V. that he is improving which was very gratifying to us. The Farmer’s Encampment at the U.A.C. began today. I was going up but decided that Lowell & I better hoe the potatoes. Benson, July 31 – 192[-]- This has been a month filled with interesting public events in I[-] including a big 24th cel- ebration [ink blot] also on the 25 in Logan 134 There was a wonderful parade at 10 o’clock on the 24th including about 200 indians. At night there was a wonderful display of fireworks at the U.A.C. Sta- dium. On the 25 there was a successful meeting in the Tab. consisting of singing, instrument- tal music and a fine talk by Elder Levi Edgar Young. One of the most interesting things to me was the meeting of so many old-time friends. Yesterday I began cutting sec- ond crop alfalfa & Gordon & Arvel went out to drain the meadow Today it has looked threatening for rain so I did not cut hay. The boys raked what I cut yes- I wrote a few lines to Roland. A few stanzas of poetry that I wrote In Memorium of H.E. Hatch appeared in yesterday Journal It was on the Editorial page. Ruth & Cecil are visiting in H.P. The beets are looking fine, and the grain is good some have started cutting & threshing. 135 Fri. Aug. 3 – Carrie and I drove to Whitney and spent the night with Wm & Winney. Aug. 4, Wm, Winnie and Carrie & I started about 8.30 for the Yellowstone Natl. Park. We had a pleasant trip as the day was cool and the roads were mostly good We drove to Island Park and camped in the grove opposite from the residence of Chas. Pond. A.J. & wife & A.V. & wife also drove there. They staid with Pond’s- Aug. 5. After breakfast we drove to Big Springs, said to be the head waters of the Snake river. It was a pretty place to the Park. Paid $300 to enter and proceeded on our way. We drove to the Madison river junction and had lunch after which we drove to Old Faithful, however we spent some time in looking at the numerous geysers on the way and thought them very wonderful. We camped at Old Faithful, and there were many hun- dreds did the same thing. Aug. 6 After looking around the many fine attractive features at Old Faithful and watching the g[-]eysers here 136 started for our next station which is called West Thumb of the Yellowstone lake. The drive for many miles was through great forests of trees, and along a stream some parts of which was covered with water lilies. We arrived at W. T. about 10 a.m. and after seeing the bears and other interesting things we star- ted on our way traveling several miles by the lake shore and took a short stop at Lake Junction. and then drove to the next place and lunched. We then drove to Canyon junction and were greatly interested in the wonder- ful sight among which was the great falls of the Yellowstone river From here we drove to Tower Junction and pitched our tent for the night. There were some bears, around the camp but they did not molest us, but when Carrie washing the dishes a large bear came up within a few feet of her but he was docile. -7- After breakfast we started on our way to Mammoth Junction and after 137 an interesting drive of several miles we arrived at this place. We went through the museum and saw many interesting relics among which was an old stage coach which was used in early days in the Park Six horses were used in puling the Coach at high speed going 13 mi. per hr. Many notable characters had ridden in this coach. There are many interesting sights in the vicinity of Mammoth. The drive out through a canyon was very interesting, and took us into the Norris geyser basin. which is truly a land of wonder. We continued our journey homeward and drove about 60 miles out of the Park and camped near the end of the canyon. We found the climate much warmer here than at Old Faithful or Tower Falls. Aug. 8. After breakfast we proceeded on our homeward journey. The drive was delightful and as we had a long trip we traveled at a pace of 35 & 40 & 45 mi per. At St. Anthony I saw Bros. Fred Mason 138 a missionary companion in Aust. Our short visit was very pleasant. We also saw Bro. & sister W.D. Williams and had a nice visit with them for a few minutes. We drove to Idaho Falls and saw the Falls here then we drove to Pocatello and spent some time here and had lunch, after which we proceeded on our way. We lunched at Downey. We reached Whitney about 5 p m. where we spent about an hour & then drove to Smithfield and spent about an hr. at the Seeley home & got home bout 8 o’clock where we found everything alright. Aug. 9. Carrie & I attended the gathering of the Cache Stake Old Folks at Birch Glen and had a very pleasant day. There was quite a large crowd and the committe had prepared an abund- ance of good things to eat. An interesting program was rendered. The precarious condition of brother Howard Reese detracted much from the pleasure of the day. 139 1926 12 14 Aug. 13. We finished putting up our meadow hay. I drove the Buck-rake Allen Richs & Nelson did the stacking and forking. Gordon & Arvel were irrigating beets. Lowell, Cleve & Reese took turns driving the derrick horse. Lowell did some raking. Aug. 14. I took the Buick to Logan to get one of the doors repaired that got damaged when I was driving in the garage as it was not properly fastened and came open. I had to leave the car there over night and A.P. drove me home. I had dinner with [---] and it was a good dinner as usual. 15 Today is the 71 birthday of myself and the 24th anniversary of Gordons birth. We are all well and expect some of the folks here this afternoon. Later – Those who came to our home to commemorate the 71 anniversary on my birth were as follows according to age. Naoma & husband and two children – Reese and Venice; Anna & her husband and her children, Evelyn, Aletha and Row[---] (Weldon did not come as he had to stay hom 140 Ione and her children, Cleve, Maridine Veda May and Renēē; Wanda and her husband and Barbara & babe Harry LeRoy; and Wm. G. & wife and Will G. III; Andrea and her children Blaine, LaRee and Beth. The children home were Gordon; Arvel, Norma, Lowell, Ruth, and Cecil, making in all, including my wife and myself 34. We had a very nice luncheon including Ice cream & cake. We spent a very pleasant eve- ning and I surely appreciate the kind consideration of mother and my daughters who planned and provided for the gathering. It being the twenty-fourth anniversary of the birth of Gordon the affair was also in his honor. Roland is at Big Piney and was too busy at road work to get home. Newel was off on a hunting trip and Willis was at work &C. Aug. 16. Arvel & I went to the meadow to fix the Buckrake for uncle Heber. Gordon left for a trip to Blackfoot and other points. 141 1926 Sept. 2. Beautiful weather still pre- vails but a rain is threatening and would be of much benifit to many who are short of irrigation water. Bro. R.B.T. Taylor has been with us since Sat. night. He left this afternoon. We had a nice visit with him. On. Sat Aug. 31 Aunt Mary Seeley gave a birthday dinner in honer of her husband R.W. Seeley up Logan Canyon. Carrie, Ruth, Cecil & I were her guests. We had a nice dinner and a lunch later on in the day. We were at the City Park just above the fish hatchery. Roland came home Fri. night or rather Sat. morning from Daniel Wyo. where he is doing road work. He drove nearly all night to make the trip On Fri. last I went with A.V. on a trip of sugar beet inspection ar- ranged by Co. agt. R.W. Rigley and the sugar factory officials. Several beet fields were visited. Had a nice lunch at the U.A.C. given by the Sugar Co. and a meeting was held at the mechanics building at the College. 142 Sept. 20 - The Cache Co. Fair opened on the 18, but as there was a Democratic Convention and Carrie & I were delegates we did not go but the children did. On the 19 – Norma, Ruth, Lowell Gordon & Arvel and I were at the Fair. The weather is fine to- day but yesterday it was blusterous & we had a little shower. We have our silage in, and the 3rd crop alfalfa cut. The children – Lowell & Ruth to the N.C.H. & Cecil to the district school. All are well with us. Sept. 30 – All well; beautiful weather, Seed alfalfa on 5 trucks ready to thresh. Boys started on potatoes yesterday. The crop is good. The weather is beautiful, but rather too dry for the good of the country especially for fall plowing. Oct. 4 - I am plowing today on the corn stubble. Gordon & Arvel are digging potatoes. We had quite a rain last evening – Still cloudy. Sent a letter to Roland today. 143 Oct. 11- There was a heavy fall of snow last night and now at 4.45 p.m. it is nowing fast. We started digging beets yesterday: Gordon & Arvel topping and Lowell hauled a load of 8800 to the pile. <(I plowed out)> but about 4 o’clock it began raining so hard that we had to quit work and it soon began snowing. The storm will do good if it does not continue too long as the ground was hard and dry and the beets were too dry. We recently laid in nearly 20 bu. of apples that we bought from J.A. Balls of Hyde Park. He has a very large crop and is selling very cheaply. Norma started last [--]es to work for the Amal. Sugar Co. in the office at the Logan factory. She is running the adding machine. Nov. 3 – The boys are finishing up the beet harvest today. They have been con- siderably delayed during the week on account of stormy weather. There has been a heavy fall of rain and the ground is soft and this makes it hard to haul the loads off the land. I have done all the Norma quit work at the sugar factory Oct. 31 as the harvest was so nearly through that the management felt they could not afford to keep her longer. Howard Reese is in a discouraging con- dition as his life is nearly ended. 144 1928 Nov. 7 – I have bee[-] to Logan to- day and took Norma up to stay with Ione’s children as she & Newel were going to Ogden on a pleasure trip Carrie went to Smithfield to visit with her sister. I went around that way and bro’t her home. It has been snowing nearly all day. Yesterday was election day and I was one of the judges Rinda Parson and Rilla Smith were the others. Riverside went over twice the No. Democratic. But the nation went Republican by a very large majority Hoover & Curtis were elected as Pres. & Vice-Pres. respectively. I looks like Dern for Gov. & Kin for Senator has been elected on the Democratic ticket. There may be others on the Dem. ticket elected as the returns have not all been received yet. Nov. 10. Brother Howard Reese died today at 1.30 p.m. at the Wm Budge memorial Hospital. He has been a great sufferer sinc about last Apr. and for a long time he has been in Logan several weeks of which time he was at the hospital. 145 1928 In the afternoon, Carrie, Ruth and I were in Logan. We came home and in the evening we took Norma up to the dance. When we arrived home we were grieved to find Brant, a beautiful fine mare dead she died from colic. Arvel had taken three loads of beets over to the factory today with Nell, Brant, Billy & Clip. Sun. Nov. 11 – Went to S.S. and evening meeting Mon. I finished writing a poem about Bro. Reese that I started yesterday and in the afternoon I took Carrie, Libbie & Rhoda to Logan to see sister Howard Reese. We spent a while visiting her and then went to Lindquist to see the Remains of Bro. Reese. In the evening Carrie & I attended a party at the Falslev home where a shower was given Edith who is to be married Wed. to Melvin Fullmer of Logan. There were 56 at the party. Tues. All our family attended the funeral services for Bro. Howard Reese which were held in the 4th wd. meetinghouse with Bp. H.W. Ballard jr. in charge. A.V. Reese, Ephraim Bergensen, Joseph Quinney and Pres. W.M. Cuer- ton were the speaker. Bp. B. also spoke a short time. Bro. Geo. Baugh, Bro. & Sis. Bailey and Chas Reese [---]ing. I read a poem I composed. 146 The meeting house was filled to capacity. The speakers spoke very splendidly telling of the many beautifully traits of character Bro. Reese possessed. and the warm attachment they had for Howard; especially was this the case in regard to A.V. I received many kind compliments for the piece I composed. I dedicated the grave Nov. 15 Received sugar beet check from Sugar Co. which was $1721.56 which I divided 50-50 between me & Gordon-Arvel. Went to Logan and deposited my check and took up the note I had given in payment for my Buick Sedan. It has rained part of the day but it cleared off in the evening and began to freeze. Nov. 16. Clear this a.m, but the clouds gathered toward evening and gives evi- dence of a snow storm. I chopped down a white ash tree on the West side of the house today as it was so cracked that it was rather unsightly especially as a recent snow-storm had broken some of the limbs. Arvel hauled two loads of sugar beets. Gordon went to Logan yester- day and has not yet returned. 147 Nov. 21- We are having beautiful weather. Sugar beets are being hauled to the factory very fast these as there is a string of haulers including two trucks. Thatcher, the cow tester came last evening and left this evening. I worked too hard Mon. in the cold and took a severe cold and have been housed up the past two days. All the other members of the family with the exception that mother has a lame back. Nov. 23. Beautiful day but storm threatening Mother and Norma went to Logan to attend pri- mary and did some business. Got home safe. Went to A.V.s in the evening to a shower on Harriet. There were about 70 present and many beautiful presents were given the coming bride I have been housed all day but have enjoyed reading Ellens Hubba[--] and church liter- ature. Nov. 24. By 12 [--] Arvel was on his way with his 3rd load of beets. The storm clouds are gathering. The papers tell of great dis- asters at sea and on land. Recently many million dollars have been destroyed by floods I am still housed up. So is the King of Eng. George IV. Too bad we are not nearer together so we coul[-]d comfort each other by visiting tog[--] 148 Nov. 27 – Stormy, went to Logan and paid my taxes $357.24. Borrowed $500 at the Thatcher Bros. Bank. I never have the least trouble to borrow money. I and pleased to know. in fact bankers are glad to loan me money. That is the advantage of having a good name It has been too stormy today to haul beets besides the road is bad; however Arvel took a load over in the morning which he had loaded up the day before Nov. 28. Cloudy- rather bleak, about 1 in. of snow on the ground, rather hard on the animals that are out. Gordon went to S.L. Roland came home in the evening. Nov. 29. Andrew & Naoma came down from Thatcher, and had Thanksgiving dinner with us. Arvel went to S.L. City with Elvin and Leone. The weather is rather blusterous. Nov. 30. Naoma & Andrew, Reese & Venice & baby as still visiting with us. A.P. went to Logan came home in the evening and took Carrie, Norma, Lowell, & Reese & Ruth to a party given in the meetinghouse in honor of Aletha Saunders who leaves today for a mission. Andrea & family came down & spent the day with us. Roland, Gordon & Arvel are still away so Lowell has all the chores to do. The weather is still unsettled & blustery. 149 Dec. 1, Folks are still here. Weather rather cold By request of the parents, I blessed the little daughter of Andrew & Naoma assisted by A.P. The name given the sweet babe is Gwen Marie. Before the naming there were many opinions ex pressed as to what she should be named. She is a fine healthy, sweet tempered child The folks left for Logan about 11.30 and at 2.30 they left Hyde Park for Thatcher. About 2 o’clock it began snowing and kept on until evening. Arvel got home about 4 p.m. Roland came home about 12<.30> p.m. Alta Turner came with him. Sun. Dec. 2. All went to S.S. but mother & I. Newel & Ione & 2 children took dinner with us Roland & Alta left after dinner for Corinne. The day is fine but cold. Mother, Norma, Ruth & Cecil went to Smithfield to see Aunt Mary Seeley who is ill. Mr. Monch called to see about Norma going to the Hennegar business College. Mar. 4. Arvel went to Logan today to see about taking a course at the U.A.C. He registered and began his studies. Mar. 5. Arvel went to the U.A.C. Gordon assisted a little by Roland did the morning chores excepting the milking which Arvel & Lowell did. 150 Gordon went for pulp. Roland went to Corrine to get Alta as his partener to a party given by Pres. Jos. Quinney for the missionaries and their partners who had labored under him when he presided over the Canadian mission. I had done a good deal of read- ing today, including Elbert Hubbard’s biogra- phy of Alfred Tennyson, Robert Burns and John Milton. also Pres. Coolidges Message to Congress which is a very able document Dec. 6- Gordon got 27. pump today. The weather is cold. Gordon & Lowell went to the Pantages this evening. I read Samuel Johnson, Thos. B. Macaulay Lord Byron. Dec. 7. I wrote a brief history of the Grandma Seamons family of Hyde Park The day is beautiful but cold. There is only a light layer of snow on the ground. Now at 1 p.m. Roland is not home yet. Dec. 8 – Mother, Norma & Ruth went to Logan today. Norma drove the Buick The folks took the car to Blain and had intifreeze put in the radiator and also had engine oil put in, the battery tested & gas put in the car The day is cold. Gordon & Lowell took the young stock & the spare horse & the colts to the meadow. My health is improving. I spent most of the day reading from Great writers by Hubbard 151 1928 Sun. De. 9 – Cold this morning. Quarterly Conference in Logan has been posponed due to an epidemic of “flu”. There is no S.S. [--] meeting in our ward today Jno. & Anna came down this evening & so did Evelyn, Aletha & Roenna. Dec. 10. Roland came home this morning from Corrinne. Rather cold today. I have spent the day reading mosly Hubbard’s works. Carrie & Norma went to a trousau party on Deviva Munk who gets married Wed. Roland went to Corrinne- Dec. 11- Cold weather, but the sun shines. The folks went to Logan tonight to a M.I.A. Green & Gold ball. Arvel & Norma are among the dancers. Ruth and Barbara are to be the Pages. Gordon went to town this afternoon and Arvel came to help. Lowell milk. Gordon drove the Buick up and Arvel brot it home to take the folks up. Tonight I find that among the reading I have done today, I have read a sketch of the lives of John Ruskin W.E. Gladstone J.W.[-]. Turner and Jonathan Swift Dec, 12 – Spent the day reading from Hubbards book on Good Men and Great. Those of whom I have read are Victor Hugo, Wm Wordsworth, Wm M. Thackery. It affords a great deal of satisfaction in reading of the lives of great men and for what they stood. 152 1928 Dec. 14. George bro’t a Radio to our home last evening for us to try out. It is an Everready and seems to be a good ma- chine. Last eve. we did not get much satisfaction out of it; but today and this evening it is better. Mr Johnson and George Thain just now came in and stayed until 10 o’clock during which time we heard many interesting numbers, We decided that we had better not purchase at the present time. Dec. 15 – Rec’d the beet check today which amounted to $236.38 half of which went to Gordon and Arvel with the exception of 58.50 water tax on pump. I have spent the day in writing for the Xmas Journal in compliance with a request of The Journal people. Mr J.B. Thatcher came this afternoon as the cow-tester. Dec. 21 – Weather still continues cold. Roland came over from Corrinne this forenoon. Gordon left with Robt. & Don Reese for S.L.C. in Robs. Oakland. Arvel hauled out feed for the animals at the meadows & brot a load in on the bobs. Wed – 19 mother went to Logan to get a little Xmas shopping done. I do not go further away than the barn & not often there. Not because I’m sick but for fear of getting sick as there are a good many ailing. 153 1928. Dec. 22 – Last night was the coldest we have had yet this winter. I think it would be about 15o degrees below 0o Today Carrie has quilted a large quilt for Andrea, with the help of Norma & Ruth. It has been a heavy job and required a good deal of persistency. Roland to Corrinn this afternoon. Norma has gone to H.P. this eve. Arvel has gone to town. Sun. Dec. 23 – Wm & Winnie & Will. G. came down today and had a little visit with us. They took dinner with us. Gordon is in S.L.C. & Roland is in Corinne. The weather keeps cold. We are all feeling quite well, but I do not go out yet as I am afraid of taking cold as I have’nt very strong resistive force The last word from London says the king is getting some better. Dec. 24 – Cold day again. Mother, Norma, Ruth & Lowell went to Logan, Arvel & Lowell went to the meadow and fed the horses & heifers. Arvel also went for pulp. Arvel did all the chores tonight. Leland & Wanda & Barbara and Willis & Andrea & children came down from H.P. to see us and John, Anna, Weldon, Evelyn Aletha and Rowena were also visitors this evening. Naoma called up from 154 1928 Christmas day. Snowing this morning. Gordon came home sometime in the night. Each one was remembered with a nice present. Newel, Ione & children came in to see us this morning. Weldon staid with us all night. Wm. & Winnie called in a few minutes to see us on their way to take Xmas dinner with Chas and Georgia. The day is more mild than it has been for several days. The Xmas Journal had a poem and Benson News and a short Xmas story and a short historical sketch of the Seamons family in it. The Smithfield Sentinal also had the poem & Benson News which I wrote to it. How very thankful I am that we are all so well. While I am not able to do any thing, yet my health is good. This is a time when we have occasion to feel very happy and thankful, which we are especially that there is no sickness among any of our children, nor in the ward that is very serious. So far as I can learn there are none who lack the necessities of life. 155 Dec. 26. Beautiful morning; the weather is much warmer than it has been lately. Dec. 27 – The weather is fairly mild. Yester -day afternoon mother and I went to Smith- field to see Aunt Mary Seeley. We had a nice visit with R. W. & Mary. I stood the trip O.K. Roland came home about 9 a.m. feeling quite bad as he had the misfortune of slipping and falling & run a rustly nail in the palm of his hand. Mother had him soak his hand an hr & more in water as hot as he could stand. She put Lysol in the water. He went to bed with his arm wrapped & was feeling perfectly easy. This morning he soaked his hand in hot water & Lysol & is getting along O.K. I wrote a letter to The Journal today. Andrea & the children came down this evening . They were all well. Roland went to Logan this afternoon. Arvel got a load of pulp. Gordon fed the animals in the meadow & Lowell fed the cows & cleaned out the barn the boys are now hauling hay into the barn. Mr. R.L. Wrigley called to see me today about joining the cow-testing association again this year. I signed up for 16 cows for $400 per. mo. 156 Dec. 28 – Raining this morning, very cloudy and wind blowing. may snow soon. All well this a.m. boys all home. Mother is washing this morning. Dec. 29. Went to Logan. Gave a check for payment in full for Washingmachine. Weather quite warm. All well. Roland went to Corinne Alta came down to see us yester- day afternoon. Sat. Went to Logan and settled with The Journal people. My writings since last Feb amounted to $3600 Sun. Went to Logan in the afternoon and listened to very fine discourse by Apostle M.J. Ballard. By request of The Journal Editor I wrote a synopsis of the discourse in the evening. I also wrote a piece about The Journal staff. Mon, Dec. 31 – Mother a I went to Logan. I took up the letters I had written the evening before. I bought two tires and tubes for my car. We went to a show in The Capitol which we enjoyed. We got home about 6-30 p.m. 157 We had only driven a short distance south of the school house when we slid off the grade and Frank [-]ethen took Robert Rees’es team with which a man was hauling fertilizer and pulled us out No harm was done. The past year has been very a good year to us as we have had no serious illness and have had plenty to eat and suf- ficient to eat and have realized many seasons of enjoyment. While I have spent several weeks housed up, yet I have not suffered much pain the most trouble being difficulty in breathing and part of the time having a severe coughing spells. Why I have shoul find difficulty in breathing, I cannot say as my lungs seem alright. I do not remember a holiday time when all the members of our family have been as well as at the present time. I wonder what the coming year has in store for us. 158 Jan. 1 – 1929. The New Years comes to us as a kind friend, bringing beautiful weather and every member of the family feeling well. All the members of the family have been to see us during this holidays except Andrew & Naoma & children and Naoma ‘phoned and reported all well. Jan 2. Mild weather. Spent the day reading and writing. Wrote a brief sketch of the life of Bro. Hurren Father Hurren was a fine old gentlemen. Jan 3. Fine day but there was quite a fall of snow during the night of the 2nd Roland came home from S.L.C. in the evening. He was feeling well Jan. 4. Roland cut down the big pop- lar tree today. Mother spent a good deal of the forenoon and part of the afternoon making up a report of the Primary – I helped a little. In the afternoon (430) mother & I went to Logan as mother had to go to a primary meeting. We were shown through the Cache Valley Bank with hundreds of others It is sure a fine buildingx 159 Benson. Mar. 1, 1938. Many years have come and gone since I last wrote in this book. I am 80 years old. Aug 15, 1936 I have overcome some of my infirmities and with the Astma interfering with my breathing I would be in a g od healthy condigion. Dear. Carrie is ver con- siderate of me and to her I give credit for the good I health with which I am blessed. At present all the So far we have a very mild winter. The light falls of snow from time to to time has soon disapeared. Last fall we had a light covering but a good deal of rain so we feel that we shall not lack sufficiant moisture to furnish moisture for this year’s crop. Arvel and Lowell who have had my farm of [-[ shares and they did consider able fall plowing. 160 Mar 1, 1938 Robert and Norma have given up the doing of chores as they think they have a better job working for Bishop Harper of Amalga They are now moving and staid with us last night and this morning they left their two girls, Karen and Eilaine are [---] with us. It rain d during the night Lowell took his wife and [-]rs. Pitcher – his mother to S.L.C to see a special doctor. Norma, Robert & children and Bob and Norm spent last night with us. The two children are her with us today As it is raining today I will disagreeable for them and also for Mrs Pitcher and Lowell and Helen also for Mrs. Pitcher who as above is going by the ad vice of Dr. Randall who is their family physican. I hope they return Alright. 161 1938 Mar 2. Robert’s & Norma’s children staid with us last night, and will probably stay with us a few days. After a storm of rain it is fine today. Gordon is still with us. Norma left her girls here with us. Mother is busy sewing for the girls. The boys Arvel and Lowell are busy. Hauling fertilizer on the land is their principal job now, The sun is shining after a shower. While I am improving I am quite a long way from home, by which I mean from good health. June 6, 1938. Gordon is here with us as the Company Olof Nelson & Co. have not begun their job, to any extent yet. Carrie and Helen went to Smithfield this morning; Helen to visit her mother to visit with some of her friends. Carrie went to visit with her sister Mary. The boys have finished thinning their beets, i.e. Arvel, Lowell and Cecil 162 1938 June Tues. 7. This is a fine pleasant day the boys., Arvel, Lowell and Cecil have finished the thinning of their beets. Blain Lamb and Gordon helped them We have had a long dry spell after the rainy season proceeding. The irrigation canal, carrying water from bear rive[-] is now in shape to carry water to our farm but as there are some who have not paid their previous assessments yet the water has not been turned in The long dry spell makes it very desirable for irrigation water Gordon is still with us as he is expecting a road job and feels quite anxious for that work to begin. 163 [page is blank] 164 Father While we sing in praise of mother We must not forget another Whose solicitude and love for us is strong Who would give his life to save us From the snares that would enslave us And to keep us out of danger of the wrong -2- Father’s love will never fail us When our enemies assail us And would drag us down to misury & death He will face the greatest danger Know to sailor or to ranger To protect us he would give his latest breath -3- Night and day he’ll work to bless us And have nothing sore distress us That his never failing vigil can withstand He will stem the raging torrent Or the biting blast abhorent On the deep and restless ocean or on land -4- Should misfortune overtake us Father never will forsake us But will freely render all the aid he can Though his income may be meager all the same be eager He will help you prove yourself an honest man To help you prove yourself an honest man. 165 -5- He would sacrifice all pleasures. That the loved ones whom he treasures, May have all the joy and comfort of this life; He will pass through tribulation To secure a higher station, For his offspring and his dear beloved wife. -6- Father’s cares are often many, And his leasure time, if any, Is filled with thoughts of how he can remove Every obstacle impeding That would keep them from succeeding, In obtaining glorious blessings from above -7- Many battles have been fought, That to mortals may be brought Noble standards leading to a higher life By the fathers of the nations Both of low and higher station That all shackles may be broken that obtain. -8- Give to father due attention And when mother’s name you mention Let their honored names be ever placed at par For they struggle on together During bad and pleasant weather, _________________________________ To provide for us all blessings that they can To make of us the people that we are 166 Mother There is a word so musical, so dear, That every normal soul is thrilled to hear, A word so pregnant with celestial fire, It raises mortal man to levels higher. -2- When clouds as black as Egypt’s night appear And make life’s pathway very dark & drear There is a word that shines with luster bright, A[---] drives away the darkness of the night. -3- “What is that word,” you anxiously might ask, “That has the strength to do so great a task?” You’ll recognize the term; there is no other So stamped upon the soul – ‘tis that of mother. -4- When far away from home on foreign strand The letters, penned by Whose loving arms so tenderly caressed And drew you closely to her thrilling breast As did your mother in your hour of grief, And soothe your aching heart and gave relief. -5- When far away from home on foreign strand The letters penned by a fond mother’s hand, Give strength & courage, and a strong desire To climb and climb to altitudes much higher 167 -6- And should you fail to fully stand the test, Whose opens arms will clasp you to her breast, Though deepest anguish many not let her speak And scalding tears may trickle down her cheek? -7- That dear forgiving soul will still prove true, And do her best to make a man of you, While all the world regard you with disdain From mother’s eyes the tears will fall like rain. -8- Should mothers fail to reach the lofty height By God decreed as their inherent right, To serve as guardian angels of the race Where are the substitutes to take their place -9- There are no dangers mothers will not face To save their precious offspring from disgrace The mother love has saved more souls from hell, Then all the preachers of whom volums tell. 168 [page is blank] 169 To My Son – Selected Do you know that your soul is of my soul such a part. That you seem to be fibre and core of my heart? None other can pain me as you, dear can do. No other can please me or pain me as you. -2- Remember the world will be quick with <(its blame> If shadow or stain ever darken your name “Like mother “like son,” is a saying so true, The world will judge largely of mother by you. -3- Be yours then, the task, if task it should be To force the proud world to do homage to me Be sure it will say when its verdict youve won. She reaped as she sewed, lo this is her son. –Selected. 170 Two and fifty years ago today. My Carrie, dear, first saw the light of day ‘Twas far away across the deep blue sea, Four thousand miles or more away from me, How marvelous it was that we should meet And, therefore make each other’s life complete By being joined in wedlock’s holy bond, Both for this life and for the life beyond. And so for nine and twenty happy years We’ve shared together many hopes fe[--] By heaven’ly Father’s blessing we’ve been given, Eight of the choicest gifts of earth or heaven, Three precious daughters & five noble boys That give to us our greatest earthly joys. Which ever fills our souls with bliss complete And makes life’s labor ever passing sweet – Not only has my ever patient dear, Been mother to those whom I’ve mentioned here, But to dear Mary’s loving children too She has been kind, devoted, loving, true. May she be spared through many a coming year To give her aid her comfort and her cheer. United, may we ever be inspired, To guide our offspring in the path desired. That when their mortal life shall reach its close In Father’s mantion, find they, sweet repose, In the Celestial kingdom may they dwell Beyond the evil powers of Earth and hell. 171 [page is blank] 172 Benson. Feb. 3 – 1927. How very thankful we should feel, For friends who treat us kindly, Who help to make our burdens light With cheer and aid when timely. 2 Sometimes we feel a twinge of grief, Because we think our neighbors Are not in harmony with us. In life’s required labors. 3. When age and illness weigh us down And life seems not worth living, Then come our relatives and friends Their aid and comfort giving. .4. Thanks! thanks! to those who strive to <(make> The load of life seem lighter By kindly words and loving acts That make our pathway brighter. -5- As much of ones success in life, Comes from his help by others, It thus becomes each one of us To likewise help our brothers. 173 .6. Those are our best and truest friends, Who show to us our failings And indicate the course to take To find much better sailings 174 I wrote the following liens in commemoration of Elvira Ricks, which I read at the ward reunion Feb. 25-26 I do not have the least desire to cast a cloud <(of gloom> Upon the splendid gathering assembled in this room But yet I think it proper that we should call to mind A sister who has passed away, who was so good & kind. 2 Oh how we miss Elvira Our faithful sister dear, Who always gave her generous aid When we have gathered here In all our ward reunions. So full of joy and mirth. That help to cheer us onward, On our journey here on earth. -3- We know that all are well with her Her tasks of earth are o’er And that in time we’ll meet her On the great Eternal shore But when loved ones are taken They leave an aching void, That try as hard as e’er we may Our pleasures are alloyed. 175 -4- Our hearts are full of sympathy For our kind brother John, Who misses more than any one, The dearl soul who has gone One who was always stantch & true, Assisting in life’s work, Who never, during all her life, Was ever known to shirk. -5- Sorrows come and sorrows go And pleasures take their place, As on through life we wend our way Striving to win the race, But it behaves each one of us, To bravely bear our cross, And blessings as they come, And patiently our loss. 176 [page is blank] 177 Money sent to Gordon-Missionary wk Mar. 16. 1926. $50.00 Apr. 50.00 May 50.00 June 50.00 July 50.00 Aug 50.00 Sept. 50.00 Oct. 50.00 Nov 50.00 Dec 70.45 Jan. 50.00 Feb. 50.00 $520.45 178 Important events. Jan 4 – 1926 Gordon was ordained See p. 13 - An Elder by Me (W.G. Reese) Jan. 7 Gordon went through the Logan temple for his endowments. Carrie and I also went through and did work for the dead pg 13 Jan. 13. Gordon left for S.L.C. for his missionary 16 Mar. 26. Annie Reeder gave birth to a girl Dec. 6 – 1926. Lowell S. Reese was [ink blot] ordained a teacher by Bp. H.W. Ballard jr Dec. 18 – 1927 Sarah Wanda gave birth to a baby girl at the Budge hospital. Dec. 26. Leland and Wanda lost their babe. Feb. 7 – 1928- Andrea gave birth to a baby girl at the Budge hospital Apr. 1. Willis & Andrea had their babe blessed. “ 1. Leland & Wanda had their adopted baby blessed by Gordon named Harry LeRoy Dec. 1 – 1928. I blessed the little baby girl of Andrew & named her Gwen Marie Dec. 8, 1872 Charles Reese (Father ) was ordained a High Priest by Thomas McNeil Logan Nov. 10 – 1928 Howard Reese died in the Budge Hospital. 179 On New Year’s Day 1926 the de- cendants of Chas. and Sarah Reese, my dear parents who are living were as follows – Sons – 6 living and 6 dead. Grand-sons 22 “ “ 6 “ Grand daughters 24 “ “ 7 “ Gr. “ sons. 30 “ “ 3 “ Gr. “ daughters 20 “ “ 4 “ Totals - - - 120 “ - - 26 W.G. Reese on the above date has living sons 6 – dead none. daughters. “ 7 “ none Grand sons. living 5 “ 2 “ daughters “ 8 “ 2 Total - 26 “ 4 Mar 26 grand- 1 Names and ages of sons – Wm. born Sept. 22 – 1895 Roland “ Oct. 7 – 1900 Gordon “ Aug. 15 – 1904 Arvel “ Sept. 9 – 1906. Lowell. May 24 – 1912 Cecil – July 3 – 1921. Naoma. Feb. 6 – 1886 Ann Eliza Nov. 9 – 1887 Sophronia Ione Oct. 17- 1889 Sarah Wanda Apr. 29 – 1892 Over Andrea born Oct. 29 – 1902 Norma Marie born Dec. 31 – 1909 Ruth Maurine “ Nov. 2 – 1914 Cecil Everet July 3, 1921 180 Feb. 5 – wrote to Gordon sent Statement $70.45 Dear mother was born Feb. 15, 183[-] <(1833> Dear mother died May 3, 1918 [181] [page is blank] [182] Our cemetary lot in Logan city cemetary is # 14 Plat 22