JOSEPH ARNOLD AMES death

Joseph Arnold Ames
Died:  6 March 1933  Ucon, Bonneville, Idaho
Buried: 9 March 1933  Ucon, Bonneville, Idaho

Approximately 9 miles North East of Idaho Falls on the way to Rexburg, Idaho  is a small rural town named Ucon. Papa's paternal great grandfather, Joseph Arnold Ames was buried there 9 March 1933.

Special thanks to Rebecca Hulet that added this photo to 'Find A Grave' , thereby making it possible for us to see his grave stone without having to incur the expenses or take the time to travel to Idaho and find the grave. And also to Rhonda Durrant for the photo below of the cemetery itself.  Perhaps some day we can visit there.

Joseph Arnold Ames was the second son of 11 children of Clark Carter and Frances Jane (Beaven) Ames, stalwart Mormon pioneers that crossed America and helped settle the West.

He was born 28 July 1857 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

We have a few facts on some pedigree charts and family group records but know little of his life. There seems to be an abundance of cousins yet we know none of them.  Maybe it is time to start searching for some living relatives.

Hmmm - what might it take to find a cousin, or a parent's cousin?

Update May 2012: I happened on an image of a short history and a few photos.

Joseph Arnold Ames with his son Hyrum and his son

He was active in civic affairs and religious activity during his life and was much sought after in the community to locate wells and measure hay.  It seems he had a knack for telling where to cut it off for a ton. He had a severe case of small pox and nearly lost his life at one time. The final paragraph of this history states, "In the spring of 1919 he sold his farm and moved to Ucon, Idaho and bought 40 acres of land there. This he farmed until his health was so impaired that he couldn't go on. He died [there]."

SARAH SOPHRONIA SNOW death

Sarah Sophronia Forsyth nee Snow 
   Died: 5 March 1927, 
          Bountiful, Davis, Utah, USA

   Buried: 8 March 1927, 
            Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, USA

I found a copy of Sarah's death certificate on line here.

When we traveled to Salt Lake a few years ago to visit our son and his family, they lived in the 'Avenues' near the Salt Lake Cemetery. We took a walk through the well manicured graveyard and photographed some of the final resting spots of several ancestors. Although that day was quite warm we enjoyed the cool shade of the many large trees and the quiet peace of the open park. 

We discovered many Forsyth's listed there
and even knew where some fit onto family records.

We also visited the Sexton's office to review the records there. The Interment Books list every grave with locations identified on blocks, lots and tiers of plots.

For additional information about Sarah's husband George James see my blog post for his death. They died within a month of each other.

I am one one side of the room.  You can see my toes.
The silver metal in the picture is the other side.

We were given permission to take photos and spent an afternoon perusing the various huge books kept there in a tiny room. We were learning to use a digital camera so some photos are not clear and the exposures are odd.

Sarah Snow Forsyth's name is near the bottom of the page. 

I opened a cropped version of the page (above) that shows Sarah's interment in a photo editing program and added a couple red arrows to help identify her name.

We also photographed Lot 13 burial records and the Lot Ownership Record.

From 'The Life of Sarah Sophronia Snow Forsyth' * we read, "Sarah developed cancer, and suffered with it for many years. One time she said she was ready to go, if her husband died, but she had not wanted to die and leave him behind. Her prayers were answered in this. In the fall of 1926 George took ill and was hospitalized in Salt Lake, at the LDS hospital.

"At this time, Sariah Lott [a step-sister], a daughter of Lydia Leavitt and William Snow, came to stay a few weeks with Sarah ... Chloe, another sister, came to stay for a few days [also] ...

"On 5 February 1927, George [Sarah's husband] died. The doctor said that Sarah could not last very long, so Mary stayed with the mother, Florence lived nearby, and along with Tom, they nurse the mother with tender care. Neil, John and Frank came from Canada, Mary from California and Bell from Nevada [for their father's funeral]. They all showed their mother every kindness and although she may have suffered, she never murmured or made a complaint. One month later she passed away. She had said she wanted to die with George, and she came as close as she could. They had lived a full life, they had done the best they could. The Bishop of Bountiful, a cousin, Ed. Snow of St George and a lady from Wayne County all paid tribute to her.

"The last two stanzas of a poem read at her funeral are:

"Your heart has ever sought for truth and beauty
You've found them where others found but strife,
You've taught us how to dignify our duty
And love our life.

"You made the worst yield up its best in somewise,
So the fragrance of your youth clings round you still,
Your influence so sweet, yet strong and lasting
As a rock clad hill."

The 7 living children of George and Sarah Forsyth all attended their father's funeral. Sarah knew she would 'follow' her husband soon and asked those from great distances to not incur the expense of another trip to attend hers. They bade her farewell and granted their mother her express request. John, Frank, and Neil from Alberta Canada and Bell from Lund Nevada did not return when she passed away one month later. **



* 'The Life of Sarah Sophronia Snow Forsyth,' is a typed, single spaced, 3 page history. A copy in my possession  is stapled to a similar 6 page history of Sally Adams Snow. Neither document identifies its author. Both are clearly photo copies and were given to me before I knew that sources should be carefully noted.  


** See Neil Snow Forsyth History by Ruth Horne chapter 5 - 1919 to 1940, page 6.

SARAH SOPHRONIA SNOW history

Sarah Sophronia Snow

Born: 4 March 1852

Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, USA

My father's grandmother was born at a time and in a place when Polygamy was practiced. It was not illegal and to many people was not abhorrent. Her father took an active political, civic and ecclesiastic roll in communities where he lived.In 1848 in Iowa he was selected as one of the County Commissioners when Pottawattamie County was organized. . On 8 January 1851 her father was chosen as an Alderman in Salt Lake. On 8 September he was selected as a member of the Salt Lake High council.

Sarah's Father: William Snow (1806-1879)

son of Levi Snow and Lucina Streeter

Sarah's Mother: Sally Adams (1825 -1905)

daughter of James Adams and Betsy Leavitt

Sarah Sophronia Snow's father had six wives.Two, (Hannah Miles - md. 1832, d.1841; and Lydia Leavitt - md. 1842 d. 1847) died during a time of severe religious persecution. Several of William Snow's wives were destitute widows with small children when Sarah's father kindly 'took them in' by marriage (with their many children) as if they were his own, and provided for them.

His wives also kindly took care of the children. Sarah was born to a family with 3 older sisters - 2 of them step sisters. Sally raised a girl from each of William's previous wives as if they were her own daughters.

Among faded photocopied pages, passed through various family members, I find many 'histories' of William Snow and his families that shed some light on what Sarah's life as a child may have been like: none seem complete but most share many common sources. Other sources are obscured by time and carelessness. I will place quote marks when I type information from these records and give credit to the source when possible. If you are aware of sources please notify me - I would love to know about them.

Some information is readily seen to be quotes taken from a journal of William Snow. One record, posted in 2009 by Paul Price, credits some of his website history as 'Transcribed from a photocopy of William's diary - in the Harold B. Lee Library,  Special Collections (VMss 60) at Brigham Young University and provided by Robert B. Moosman.' He also notes, 'I am indebted to Wanda Snow Petersen for her permission to use excerpts from her book, William Snow, The first Bishop of Pine Valley. She is one of the few remaining granddaughters of William Snow ... still alive, as of end of Feb 2000.'
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One such source is clearly the Snow history written and self published in 1947 by Bess Snow, a granddaughter of William Snow and his sixth wife Ann Rogers. Most of the information I quote in this history seems to come from that record. It is difficult to determine if she quotes other sources or those 'histories' quote her. One source she included in her compliation quoted E.T. Fairbanks. I transcribe quotes here, from photo copies, that help us understand Sarah's childhood and growing years.

Bess writes "…William’s last four wives, worked together as peacefully as human dispositions could, cooperating with each other. [Sally Adams - md. 1846, Jane Maria Shearer widow of Ira Doty Wines- md. 1850 with 3 sons (Leonard, Norman, Ira Wines), Roxanna Leavitt widow of John Huntsman - md. 1853 with 2 daughters (Salina, Ellen Huntsman), Ann Rogers a girl, age 19, orphaned on the journey west and without family - md. 1853. Lydia, Sally and Roxanna were cousins, daughters of the respective siblings Jeremiah II, Betsy, and Nathaniel, Leavitt.]

"They taught their children to be loving and kind to the other wives who were not their mothers and whom they called 'Aunt'. Their children were taught to love each other, as full brothers and sisters the way their father had instructed them. Despite the usual squabbles of young children, these brothers and sisters developed a lasting camaraderie and devotion for each other which was manifested profoundly in their adult lives. William’s wives were good women who appreciated, served and loved this gentle man. Their backgrounds, struggles and faithful endeavors impacted his life and the lives of all members of his family, as well as cousins and friends. William Snow’s family was truly a family. …"

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Paul Price records, "William was a quiet man, a mild-mannered, gentle man, a kind-hearted man, a man who spread such loving care among his children that each of his daughters expressed at one time or another the certainty that she was his favorite child. Sariah (Snow) Lott said she always thought that she had received special attention from him because her mother Lydia had died when she was still a little three-year-old child.

 "…Sarah [Sophronia] Forsyth said she thought she must be his favorite child since she had always had poor health and he had done special services for her. Chloe (Snow) Gardner insisted that she knew she was his favorite child because of the many loving deeds of kindness he had showered on her.

"Jane Maria’s son Mason said that when the families lived ... in Lehi, all the children played together. He felt at home with his father’s other wives, calling them 'Aunt', and he loved his brothers and sisters. William always told his children that there were no such things as a 'half-brother or half-sister.’ He was the father of all his children and so they were all his, full brothers, full sisters. In his lifetime William fathered twenty-eight children, twenty-two of whom grew to maturity.

"[Sarah's Snow grandparents], Levi and Lucina Snow [nee Streeter], saw that their children received the best education obtainable at the time. ... Because of the drive for education from both the Snow and the Streeter sides of the family, hundreds of Levi's descendants achieved high degrees in education and science.

"Religious training in William’s families was not neglected. He and his wives all stressed the need for daily family prayers. The parents often quoted verses of scriptures to their children, which created in the children a deep love for the Bible."

This large family was assigned to help settle and build up the pioneer communities of first Salt Lake, then Lehi, and later Pine Valley, Utah [about 1865] on the Santa Clara River. History records many of the activities of the Snow family in that area lumbering, milling lumber, raising cattle and serving their church and community.

Paul Price continues,"The year 1856 was a very bad time in Utah. Crops failed and the Indians began making forays against the settlements again. The specter of famine hung heavily over the entire state. Besides that, the fateful (Martin and Willie) handcart companies were perishing on the Plains, and relief had to be sent to succor them.

"Sally often told her children about the near famine which had been caused by two years of drouth and an invasion of grasshoppers and crickets. Sally said her usual noonday meal consisted of greens without even any bread. She often went hungry herself to share her last loaf of bread with the starving children who came begging food at her door." See below for additional information.

Bess Snow's history informs us that when Johnston's Army [1858] caused the evacuation of Salt Lake Sarah's father, William returned from Fort Supply Wyoming where he was called to establish a station in 1854 to assist emigrants. He had taken one wife, Maria, and built a small one room cabin there. As they had no glass they used oiled muslin for a window. It was so cold that the vegetables froze hard as rocks. They had one cow to help out for food.

On their way back to Salt Lake, those returning from Fort Supply were advised to set fire to the grass to delay the march of the army by destroying food for mules and horses.

"William Snow's wives were much alarmed by the rumoured occupation. Most women and children were being moved southward. The Snow's stopped at Lehi. William's wife Roxana had a daughter (Melissa) and his wife Ann had a son (Jeter) born in the old mud fort there.

"The walls surrounding their hurriedly built log cabin living quarters were built of mud and sagebrush, being about 12 feet high and 6 feet wide at the bottom tapering to about 3 feet at the top. Supplies and animals were kept inside the fort because they were having trouble with the Indians.  The Snow families lived in this fort about 6 years. [There are some indications that Sally, and Maria Snow may have returned to live in Salt Lake for some of those years.]

"The  house was not weather proof and let in wind and storm. When Jeter was born 21 December 1855 the cold wind blew across the floor. The midwife warmed blankets at the open fireplace to wrap around the mother and baby. When morning came the wind had died down and the midwife swept a tubful of snow from the floor where it had blown in during the night."

After moving his families south, Sarah's father returned to Salt Lake City. He was one of the men left to set fire to the houses if the army tried to enter the city.

Sarah was a young girl of approximately 6-12 years of age during these years of upheaval.
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Paul Price writes, "William needed a way to provide a living for his rapidly growing family, so he obtained land in Lehi and began farming. He had a good water supply from a spring which was after­wards called “Snow Springs.’ The exact time he took up that farm is not known, ..."

Baptised: 5 May 1860

Another history records, "As the settlers became more numerous and the Indians more friendly, Grandfather decided to build a new home outside of the fort. He built a long log house with a roof of poles covered with willows, straw, and dirt. It held its own with the wind and sun but was no match for the rain and snow.

"Inside each wife had one large room and a small one. In the large one, was an open fireplace where the family meals were cooked, and where a cheerful fire burned to warm the house in cold weather. While living in this house, ... [Sarah's sister Maryetta was born to William and Sally Snow]."

"In 1861 three hundred families were assigned to settle the 'Dixie Mission'.  William Snow was called to help and preside about 1865. He taught school and again served the community and church in many capacities [such as County Commissioner, District Attorney, and even Probate Judge]. Of this place it was said that when Brigham Young moved the Mormons west that he said he was going to choose a spot that no one else wanted so that they could live unmolested and that when he chose the Dixie country that he certainly had succeeded.
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Sarah Sophronia Snow age unknown

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"On 6 July 1867, when Sarah was a teenager, about age 15, her father was ordained a Bishop, resident apostle and President of the Southern Mission for 12 years until his death in 1879. [source 'Under Dixie Sun page 208']"-
Bess Snow, in her book, describes the Utah Dixie Territory:

"Of all the territories colonized by the Mormon Church this Dixie Mission was by far the most difficult. Of all the God—forsaken lands that any human beings were eve[r] asked to carve a town out of, that Dixie country was it. It was a hole bounded on the north by red sandstone cliffs, on the east and west by hills of black lava rock, and on the south by the muddiest dirtiest river imaginable. A river that meandered its muddy lazy course part of the year and became a raging ferocious torrent, sweeping everything before it the rest of the time. The country was hot and dry. The temperature from April to October ranged from 80 to 112 and 116 degrees. The floor of the valley was red sand and alkali over which hot dusty winds blew. The only plant life was cactus, mesquite, and sage brush. The animal life was rattlesnakes, lizards, gila monsters, and the coyote."

Paul Price writes, "Many days of preparation were spent by the Snow families getting ready for the big move. It was decided that both Sally and Ann and their children would go with him. William had to harvest his crops and collect everything they would need in their new home. Two of Ann's sons, Willard and Jeter, husked corn for the neighbors on shares, and got enough to fatten the family pig. This saved the corn William would need to take along for seed in planting new fields, and also as feed for his animals.
-
"One item of great importance that must find a place in the wagon was William’s big chest of carpenter tools. Then for the health and comfort of the families, clothes must be provided and food for the trip prepared."

Another history (likely Bess Snow's) records, "A big jar of butter was put down, and a pig was killed, cured and salted away. These things with other provisions such as corn for the animals and seed for planting were placed in a wagon ... that was helping to move the family south. ... Grandfather, with Aunt Sally and her family headed the [wagon] train. Uncle Willard, who was just 12, followed with [Ann] and her family in another wagon drawn by an ox team and [the third wagon of Jode Cox a soon to be son-in-law that would marry Sarah's older sister Julia Marie] with his load of the heavier goods brought up the rear pulled by his strong team of mules. Uncle Jeter, a lad of 10, rode a horse and drove the cattle." Two wives, remained in Lehi to be moved later when preparations could be made.

Paul Price, whose quotes often resemble Bess Snow's (with varying details), records, "Ann received $200.00 from her brother John in Wales. He had sold some property and sent her share of money to Lehi. This was a godsend to the families who would be going where supplies were not available. Ann took the money to Salt Lake City to outfit herself and children. She bought a kitchen stove that lasted the rest of her life.
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"She bought a clothes chest and clothing for all her children, including shoes for Celestia. The little girl’s first pair of shoes had been made by a shoemaker in Lehi where Ann had her own shoes made. She had fashioned the tops herself from scraps of heavy denim which she used in making pants for her husband. The shoemaker made leather caps for the toes and cut a heavier piece of leather for the soles.

"Ann also bought scissors, needles and a complete line of sewing supplies. She pampered herself by buying a lovely new shawl, a good bargain because it lasted her fifteen years. She knew that with the shawl she could then make over her old coat into a cloak for Celestia. She also bought a cane— bottomed rocking chair for herself, a real luxury. (The first night out on their trip a horse ate the cane out of the bottom of the chair. What a disappointment’) In addition, she bought a large, colorful Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme book. All of her children as well as most of the neighborhood children would learn to read from that book as they stretched out on their stomachs on the floor in front of Ann’s fireplace.
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"William killed a pig, cured and salted it away in a box. A big crock of butter found a place in one wagon, while corn for the animals, seeds for planting, and household things were loaded into other wagons. William obtained flour as well as potatoes and other kinds of vegetables, and he took a cow along for milk.
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"Sally was making similar preparations for her children with the help of her daughters who were growing up. On the November morning in 1865, when the family set out for Southern Utah, William, with Sally and her six girls, (Julia Maria, Sarah Sophronia, Emma Lucretia, Chloe Louisa, Lucy Almira and Maryetta, ages sixteen down to two) were in the lead wagon. 
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[The 2 older girls - step daughters to Sally - were both married at that time. Sariah lived in Lehi and Abigail lived in Salt Lake City.]

"The weather was fine, and if they had gone on the day they planned, they would have been in good shape. However, in Sanpete they stopped over for ten days, waiting for Cyrus Reynolds who wanted to go along. He was afraid to travel alone because of the possibility of Indian troubles in those deserted areas they would have to traverse. This wait caused them to run into a snowstorm before they arrived at Cove Fort.

"In later years when Ann reminisced about that trip, she said that whenever she saw sun shining on the snow it reminded her of when they reached Cove Fort. They had come through cold and snow without a sign of settlement in sight. Between trying to help Willard keep the team on the road, hold Baby Frank on her lap and keep the other two children from freezing, as well as worrying about Jeter struggling through the snowdrifts while riding his horse after the weary cows, Ann thought she would lose her mind.

"As they came over the rise and Cove Fort appeared on the horizon, she saw the snow sparkling in the sunlight as if welcoming them to a place of shelter for the night. That evening they said many prayers of thanksgiving for a place to rest themselves and find warm shelter for their animals.

"At Cove Fort their caravan met the wagons of William’s brother Erastus who was heading for Salt Lake City. They camped together that night. It was said that Erastus, “who had the reputation of being able to ‘take in all facets of the situation at a glance,’ noticed that each wife had a two year old child on her lap, and that both were pregnant with another one. . . . He said: ‘William, when you get to Cedar City, don’t go on to St. George, but cut through the hills to Pine Valley. I have a house there where you can live during the winter.' "

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"One evening as they were camping, the younger children began running around and playing games. Lucy Almira [Sarah's younger sister], who was not yet five, didn’t watch where she was going, and in her enthusiasm she jumped over the campfire. The back of her dress blazed up, and had it not been for the quick action of Joseph Cox, she could have been badly burned. As it was he scorched his hands putting out the fire, and Lucy’s dress was almost burned off her back. It was so ruined that her mother had to make her another dress from an old red flannel petticoat.

"The caravan finally arrived in Cedar City for a one night stop over. The other families traveling with William probably went on to St. George, but William headed west and south for Pine Valley."

Bess Snow writes concerning the balance of that journey: "Because of the delay in starting, it was now late in December; it turned cold and began to snow. At Buckhorn Flat they nearly perished from the cold, but continued on. In two more days they came to Robert Richey’s Ranch near Pinto, where they were taken in for the night. They still had about twenty more miles to go, and the snow became deeper as they climbed higher in the mountains. Pinto Canyon was nine miles long, with snow so deep that by dusk the horses were too exhausted to go farther. William told Jade Cox to take the best horse and ride into Pine Valley to see if they could get help, which Jade did.

"That fall the Navajo Indians killed two men in St. George. They also made some raids into Pine Valley and stole a number of horses. The men and boys took turns at night guarding their animals, and it fell to the lot of Ann’s son Willard to stand guard duty. The nights he was away Ann and her children felt loneliness and fear. They offered many prayers for Willard’s protection and prayers of thankfulness upon his safe return home."

Paul Price continues, "Jode met William Gardner and Bennett Bracken, who on hearing the story hurried back into town and told people of the problems facing William’s company. They secured three teams of sturdy oxen and came to help the tired horses pull the wagons through the snowdrifts. When they got into town there were three feet of snow on the level.
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"Bennett Bracken was engaged to marry Marian Whipple and when Marian’s mother, Sister Whipple, heard of the problems, she and Marian set about at once to prepare a meal for those cold travelers. Ann said later that was one of the best meals she ever ate, and the little girls liked to recall the joy of sitting down to a table and eating hot food from real dishes set on a white tablecloth.
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"After supper William secured some pitch pine knots and logs and went to the house  Erastus had told him to use.  He built a  roaring fire  in the fireplace and then brought his families there to warmth and cheer. Sally declared that the most beautiful sight she had ever seen was the flame leaping up the chimney as the shivering children and women came in out of the cold.

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"Since that house had four rooms, two upstairs and two down, with fireplaces for heat, each wife had two rooms. They spread their bedding out on the floors and slept soundly from sheer exhaustion. It was Christmas Eve, and they awoke next morning to a glorious sunshiny day. William cleared a place off on the south side of the house, got out his trusty carpenter tools, and set to work making furniture for his family.

"A week later, on New Year’s Eve, “Jade” Cox was married to Sally’s daughter Julia. Her father performed the ceremony, and his two wives prepared a wedding dinner for them in the evening. A dance was held to which the neighbors were invited. As soon as the weather permitted them to travel, the newlyweds returned to Lehi where they made their home.
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Florence Forsyth Mercer, youngest daughter of Sarah Sophronia Snow Forsyth, at age 75 in 1965 wrote a life sketch of her parents. She summarized, "My mother Sarah was born in Salt lake City March 4, 1852. when Johnson's army came in 1858 William Snow and his family moved to Lehi. They were called to pioneer Pine Valley and left November 20, 1865, arriving 5 weeks later on Christmas Eve. They had encountered deep snow and extremely cold weather. At night the men shoveled snow and built camp fires and spread buffalo robes on which to make beds for all. They stayed in Uncle Erastus Snow's home till they were able to build their own.

"Their new home was built of lumber with 2 rooms on the ground floor and 2 upstairs. The ground floor housed Grandma Sally's family of 6 girls and one boy, and the 2 upper rooms were for another wife, Ann, and her family. ... In those days almost every home had a spinning wheel, a pair of carders, a reel for making yarn into skeins and a loom to make carpets. The wool was washed, spun into yarn, dyed and woven into cloth, then sewed by hand into clothing."
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Paul Price adds,"William obtained lumber from the sawmill and soon finished some furniture for his wives. He made tables, washstands, cupboards and two bedsteads. He mortised the bedsteads together and stretched ropes across from side to side and end to end to form a grid, making a surface on which to place the straw or feather ticks.
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"With the help of the boys, William got out logs from the mountains, and when spring came, he rented a sawmill and sawed lumber to build a house."

Bess Snow tells us, "He built the third house in the valley where the town now stands. [This area was know at the time as the 'lower townsite'. There was an upper townsite but most residents moved to the lower townsite about 1867.] He [William] built a six—room house and fastened it together with wooden pegs, since he could not obtain nails. He cut the pegs by hand. Both families moved into this house with each family having three rooms. This was the house which, with some remodeling and additions, Ann lived in the rest of her life."

Paul Price adds, "As soon as possible William bought from William Cowley what they called the pink house and moved Sally and her children there. He plastered this house and made it warm and comfortable."

Bess Snow records, " She [Ann] had been apprenticed to a tailor at age 12 in Wales and her needle stood her in good stead now. With her needle and thread her clothes were sewed until she had been in Southern Utah about twelve years [ approximately 1879] when Grandpa bought her a machine from Salt Lake City...So sewing was easier then.

"A group of the settlers owned sheep which they kept near Pinto. These sheep supplied the wool which she carded and spun, although she had a spinning wheel she exchanged work by sewing for others.
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"Aunt Sally [Sarah's mother] another of Grandpa's wives, did most of the knitting. Grandma had a carpet loom and made carpets for her home and it was loaned also to the neighbors. With this work [others] helped. Another thing they had to do was to make tallow candles."

From a source of unknown origin about Sarah's mother Sally I quote, "In those days almost every household engaged in home manufacturing. In Sally's home there was a spinning wheel, a pair of cards, a swift or reel for making yarn into skeins and loom for making linsey [a linen/wool fabric] and carpets. Three of the girls were large enough to help with this kind of work when the mother took the lead or directed it. The wool was washed, carded into rolls, spun into yarn, dyed and woven into cloth, after which the material was sewn by hand into clothing.”

We may surmise that Sarah knew how to help with all of the above listed activities and work. Her family had and used the innovative technology of the sewing machine but not until after she had married. She may have been able to use it because (as recorded in the history of her son Neil Snow Forsyth) the young couple lived nearby until they moved to Loa, Piute, Utah in 1880.
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It is also recorded that "Sally never had good health and was in bed a good deal of the time and was never able to get out and do rough heavy work..."

"As [Sarah's sister Maryetta] grew up she worried a great deal about her mother because Sally often had serious sick spells. Maryetta feared her mother would die. Then Eliza R. Snow and Zina D. Young came to Pine Valley to organize the Relief Society. When they stopped at William’s house, he told Maryetta to take a pan of apples out to the visitors.

"Maryetta says of the incident;

        ‘When I gave them the apples Sister Zina D. Young said to the driver, ‘Wait a minute, I want to talk to this girl.’ She said to me, ‘Don’t worry any more about your mother dying, for she isn’t going to die, she will live years yet.’ I believed every word she said and I knew she would live, and I didn’t worry any more.’ "

In 1868-9, while William Snow was in the Legislature, Sally lived with her daughter Julia in Lehi. (From history of Sally Adams of unknown origin.)

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Sarah's Spouse: George James Forsyth

Married: 31 October 1870

Pine Valley, Washington, Utah, USA

Sarah Sophronia Forsyth nee Snow Died: 

5 March 1927

Bountiful, Davis, Utah, USA

Buried: 8 March 1927

Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, USA

When Sarah's father died his son, Dr. William J. Snow, wrote:

"Thus passed from this earth one of the pure and faithful ones and him we now honor and reverence, honor as a father and revere as a trusted servant of the Master. The beauty of his life was in the living. He made no glittering show, he built no worldly monument of fame; he attained no glory on the bloody field of battle: but he lived what he did know and felt; he worked that others might enjoy; he comforted the sick and afflicted; he counseled the needy and destitute. Was anyone in distress? His was the hand to soothe. Did anyone need any help? He was the first to respond. His own wants were always last; the needs of his fellows first. 

Positively devoid of hypocrisy he could not tolerate or understand duplicity in others. Open and frank to a fault, he was sometimes cheated and deceived by others. Measuring his conduct and expressions of judgment only by the standard of right he sometimes gave offense to dignity and diplomacy. While he appreciated and wished the good will of all his fellows, he never sought to obtain it by the sacrifice of principle. The love and approval of God, and not the applause of men, was his strongest desire. 

Born in the heart of New England he inherited a craving for knowledge, being inclined to mathematics but his life being one constant whirl of activity, no opportunity for his scholastic desire was found.
He graduated at the close of his life with a character above reproach.”

I saw that same character in my grandfather, Neil Snow Forsyth, the son of William Snow's daughter Sarah Sophronia Snow Forsyth. He too was kind and frank to a fault and could not abide unkindness, duplicity or dishonesty. I think he learned his faithful diligence and kindness from his mother.


See other links about pioneer grasshopper/cricket problems here or:
Farming the Plains http://www.slideshare.net/DHUMPHREYS/farming-the-plains-problems
Kansas http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/grasshopper-plague-of-1874/12070
Minnesota http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mnbecker/ch31.php
Nebraska http://www.memoriallibrary.com/NE/Antelope/1868/nine.htm

OPENING DOORS

Columbia River Washington LDS Temple 

Papa and I work at the temple on Saturdays.
We get to do many things to help many people.
We are very busy and come home tired but it can be fun too.

Temple workers are always available to help individuals and families that come to the temple. Yesterday a family had two adopted children sealed into their family. I was able to be with these young children and an aunt while they waited in the vestibule for their parents.

Yesterday was a very busy day. It seemed like every room and hallway were full of people quietly coming and going. As patrons came to the doors, many with full hands, I opened the door for each one and helped to ensure it closed quietly behind them.

The young girl, about age 4, watched the process repeatedly and then finally asked me, "Why do you open the door for them?"

I told her that it is because they are so special and important.  God is our Father in Heaven. He is a king and we are his children. Every person is his son or daughter. That means they can be a king or a queen like their Heavenly Father.

I think it would be a privilege to help a king or a queen or their children. Some of the closest companions of kings and queens, princes and princesses are their servants.

As a king or a queen would you allow servants to open doors for you, especially when your hands are otherwise occupied? And would you say thank you to them?

I asked her if she knew she is a princess.  She wasn't impressed.  I think this little prima donna already KNOWS she is pretty central and important as the youngest and newest of 10 siblings.

Do you think she understands she is a child of an eternal being?
Do you know God is your father?
Do you know you are special and important?

GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES

February is known as a time for 'romance'.

Recently my Aunt Ruth Horne sent me what I think is a very romantic news article. It is also a special tribute to our ancestors. She said the news came from Paul B Skouson's second book 'More Amazing Mormon World Records'.  The children of my grandparent's set the record for the most siblings to see Golden Wedding Anniversaries.

I have a snapshot of the couples taken in 1994 at the Seattle Temple. They attended a session together as part of a celebration of the 80th birthday of the eldest living brother.  Do you happen to have a copy that is more clear?

I quote from the news article dated May 2011:
" The Neil and Chloe Forsyth family have set a remarkable record in LDS living. All 8 of our Great grandparents lived in Nauvoo in the 1840's. Our parents and grandparents on the Forsyth line all celebrated their 50th wedding anniversaries. All seven of Neil's [living] children celebrated 50th wedding anniversaries. This year (2011) 3 of them will have celebrated their 65th."

George James and Sarah Sophronia (Snow) Forsyth [my father's grandparents] were married 31 Oct 1870 in Pine Valley, Washington, Utah. He was 26 and she was 18. They celebrated 57 anniversaries. They died within a month of each other in February and March 1927. My father was born that year.

Neil Snow and Chloe Roseltha (Hatch) Forsyth [my father's parents] were married 20 Dec 1911 in Salt Lake, Salt Lake, Utah. He was 32 and she was 25. They celebrated 51 anniversaries. She died at age 76 in 1962 just prior to their 52nd anniversary.

The oldest son of Neil and Chloe, Rex, gave his life in World War II.
His wife Ruth [Chic] made the ultimate sacrifice.
Her husband died fighting for our freedoms.

Thomas Rex and  Ruth Elizabeth (Campbell) Forsyth were married 9 May 1941 at Magrath, Alberta, Canada. He died at age 32 just before their 3 anniversary.

Neil Scott and Gladys Boyce (Butler) Forsyth were married 14 Decemeber 1939. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1989.

George Kenneth and June Hartley (Hinman) Forsyth were married 12 May 1943. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1993, a 60th in 2003 and their 65th in 2008.

Mylo Wilfred and Matilda (Maier) Forsyth were married 12 July 1946. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1996, a 60th in 2006 and their 65th in 2011.

Duane H and Verna (Neilson) Forsyth were married 3 April 1945. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1995.

Robert [Bob] Martin and Ruth (Forsyth) Horne were married 27 December 1945.  They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1995, a 60th in 2005 and their 65th in 2010.

Garth Dean and Elna Jean (Campbell) Forsyth were married 14 October 1948. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1998, a 60th in 2008.

Byrce H and June Doreen (Volk) Forsyth were married 23 Feb 1955. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2005.

My mother's parents, William [Bill] David and Elna (Bohne) Campbell, were married 22 Dec 1926 in the Cardston, Alberta temple. He was 25 and she was nearing 18. They celebrated 63 anniversaries. He died at age 89 in 1990.

That is impressive - and romantic.
My parent's have been married 64 years this year.
They are an example to all of us.

The longest know marriage was an astounding 91 years. He was 12 and she was 14 when they were married. The longest marriage on record today is 87 years. The couple live in the United Kingdom. In New Mexico in the United States a living couple has been married for 83 years.

If you want to have a record breaking length of marriage you may need to live a LONG time. These people have all lived amazingly long lives.

There are some amazing World records for families having the most with the longest marriages.  I found such a record on a random blog when I was searching for some other links.  This family (non LDS) have a large family with 10 of their siblings all celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversaries.

Although many of my ancestors did not live long lives, all stayed married to their spouses. That is a decision. That is work, and tenacity, and determination, and love - love for each other, love for their posterity and love for God and His commandments.

FOX AND GEESE

Winter was short this year.

We had one fierce storm for a couple of days.

The snow lingered a few weeks and then was gone.

No children visited during that time. 

A pristine white expanse remained untouched for days.

I didn't even venture out for pictures.

I watched the birds and weather from my windows.

I missed my siblings. All ten of them.

I remember playing Fox and Geese with them. 

We loved the simple game when such snow came. 

We could play the game for hours - many days in a row.

Sometimes only a few played. 

Sometimes we played with many friends.

The more 'geese' in the game the better.

I found instructions while browsing the January 1990 'Friend' magazine recently. I am not sure this is exactly how we played the game. I think we made up our own rules and variations depending on the crowd playing.

I remember being able to run to the fox's lair and 'free' a trapped goose - seems like there was a rule that we had to run hand in hand together to the safe zone before the 'goose' was free.  Meanwhile watch out - if the fox tagged you then you couldn't be 'freed' until you counted - perhaps to 100.  

Fox and Geese

On a large area of untouched snow, trample paths according to the pattern that you see here. The Fox tries to catch as many Geese as he can. Both Fox and Geese must run only along the paths (no jumping across!). Only one Goose at a time may be in the Safety Zone. When a second Goose runs to it, the one already there must leave. When the Fox tags a Goose, the Goose must go to the Fox’s Den until the Fox decides that he has caught enough Geese for his family’s dinner. Then the first Goose tagged becomes the Fox, and the game begins again.

Did you ever play Fox and Geese? 

What were your rules like?

How many kids usually played?

PET HYGIENE

Spring is coming.

Mostly I like spring.
It has one downside.

This is why 'pooper scooper' laws were made

Snow hides some undesirably, noxious things.

I do not own a dog.
No one in my house owns a dog.
LOTS of my neighbors own dogs.

I do not own a cat.
I do not have any pets of any kind.
I do not have any desire to pet or pamper yours.

Don't get me wrong - I love animals.
I grew up on a farm. We had lots of animals.
They lived outside or in the barns.
We fed them and loved and played with some of them.
But they were not generally allowed in the house.

My mother kept our home very clean.
There was dirt and dirty dirt.
Manure was dirty dirt - filth.
It was not allowed in our house.

If you had it on your clothes or feet you were not allowed in the house either. 'Barn clothes' were stripped off and hung up in a small entry at the back door and regularly scrubbed clean - that was a lot of scrubbing. There were 11 children and 2 adults helping to care for the animals.

And we were all taught how to be clean.
Even barns have to be kept clean from filth.

If barns are not properly cleaned animals get sick and die.
And animals on a farm are your livelihood!

Do you think our neighborhood is exempt?
Do you think you are exempt from disease?
Should filth proliferate on lawns and sidewalks?
Studies say it may even contaminate the air in urban centers.
Who should clean it up?

I notice hyacinth tips pushing through thawing flower beds.
We got the debris cleaned off and plants uncovered yesterday.
What else is a holiday for?

We also cleaned up the neighborhood pet toliet - our yard!

Animal feces of all sizes, shapes, and colors from our front yard.
This collection represents approximately 10 weeks.

Disgusting - totally disgusting: sickening actually.

We are going to try a product we researched online.
It promises to help animals not 'deposit' where it is applied.
We applied it to every cleaned spot.
That required an entire bottle.
There were a LOT of spots!
It is only effective for one week.

Do you really not understand what constitutes filth?
I see your dog sniff where the last animal eliminated.
I see them roll, and grovel and dig in it.
I see your animals lick excrement and even eat it.
And then I watch you smile as they lick you child's face.
And give what you call 'kisses' on your mouths!

You can have all you want of that any time - come on over and get it fresh! Don't wait for your dog to bring it to you in such small amounts - there is plenty!

YUM!!

I think you are deluded!!

But please don't try to delude me.
Your dog doo is not welcome in your yard - or mine.

It is filth. 

Responsible pet owners keep their homes, yards, neighborhoods, and parks clean - especially free of the filth of feces.

When I step in or smell the wide variety deposited so many careless places the first words that come to mind are not clean. I work diligently at not saying such words.

Riddle me this - why are there laws about such things?
To help me with my language?
To make your life more difficult?

NOT!!!

And BTW - remember -  if you ever feel like licking or eating excrement come on over - you're welcome to any you find in my yard.

SING A PSALM

Hymns strengthen and comfort us.

They help us praise God, pray to him and express joy.

They help us draw nearer to him and feel his spirit.

I have many 'favorite' hymns. As I hear them I feel more - more calm, less distress, more comfort, less grief, more gratitude, less greed, more awe, less downtrodden, more aware, less ignorant, more confidence, less doubt, more love, less fear.

As I read or sing them I remember more of all good and less of all else. [see Hymn 125 and several on either side of it in the LDS Hymn Book.]

Many psalms are recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible. Psalms 145:9 teaches us "the Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works." As we remember blessings received it helps us through difficult times. 

A hymn may be thought of or referred to as a Psalm. 

2 Nephi 4:15-35 is often called the 'Psalm of Nephi'.

In this psalm or 'hymn' Nephi describes his despair at knowing that we all are 'fallen' and need the atonement of Jesus Christ.  He finds hope despite feeling 'encompassed about' by remembering how God has helped him in the past. 

Do you have a favorite hymn? 

Why is it meaningful to you? 

Do you sing or do you just listen?

Either may heal and lift.

In the February New Era David A. Bednar teaches about 'The Tender Mercies of the Lord'.  There is a 'tender mercy' journal suggestion.  It may help you to remember or discover ways God has blessed and helped you. It can be read or listened to.  Select the 'listen' link on the right side of the page link. You can print the journaling page in a variety of formats.

Elder Bednar teaches,

 “Some individuals who hear or read this message erroneously may discount or dismiss in their personal lives the availability of the tender mercies of the Lord, believing that “I certainly am not one who has been or ever will be chosen.”

 We may falsely think that such blessings and gifts are reserved for other people who appear to be more righteous or who serve in visible Church callings. I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are available to all of us and that the Redeemer of Israel is eager to bestow such gifts upon us ...

"God does not have a list of favorites to which we must hope our names will someday be added. He does not limit 'the chosen' to a restricted few. Rather it is our hearts and our aspirations and our obedience which determine whether we are counted as one of God's chosen"

... the Father’s work is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children. [Moses 1:39] Our work is to keep His commandments with all of our might, mind, and strength  [D&C 11:20] — and we thereby become chosen and, through the Holy Ghost, receive and recognize the tender mercies of the Lord in our daily lives."

What blessings might you call 'tender mercies'?

BROKEN GLASS

One careless moment, just one!

I have some water glasses.
They are every-day-nothing-special, for-the-table glass.
We keep them on the second shelf of the cabinet by the sink.
It is above the dishwasher.

This morning I was unloading the dishwasher in my typical routine.

My mind was churning out a million things to alleviate boredom and I certainly was not paying attention to the drudgery at hand.  Doing dishes is not among my favorite things - I don't hate it like when I was a kid, and I would sorely miss having dishes if they were gone (as disposables are also not among my favorite things), but dirty and clean dishes seldom, if ever, engage my full attention.

The cabinet door was just a bit less open than usual. As I lifted the last glass up it clipped the very edge of the door and smashed the top into small pieces that fell to the counter below.

My attention was riveted on the dishes now.

I was astonished.
 How was that even possible?
On the last glass?
Why not the first one or any other one?

Perhaps that riddle was what my attention was really on ...
but only for a second or two.

Suddenly I had half of a jagged edged glass in my hand.
I set it on the counter.

Experience with broken glass dictated several options of what to do next. If you are like me you know, absolutely know (with understanding of why), that you should never pick the pieces up with your bare fingers but I did it anyway and dropped them into the bottom half. Not in the slightest wise, certainly risk taking - ooohhh - can't you just feel the last cut you got that way? Whheewww! I did not cut my fingers, or thumbs. I was being quite careful though. I do remember the last slice I got by being so foolish.

Why do we take such risks?

Since you have likely broken glasses too, you also know that you will find pieces here and there for days (or even longer) in strange places. Knowing this I looked around and sure enough found several inside the dishwasher, on the floor, in the sink, and in the cabinet itself. Some were even so large I was surprised I had not initially seen them.

Experience also reminded me to not walk around in bare feet until the floor was carefully swept. I swept. I know how difficult it is to remove a glass sliver from a foot.

When I remembered that I decided to mop as well.

I finished the dishes and washed the counters. Over on the far right side of the sink, laying along its edge I quite unexpectedly found a pea sized square of glass. I really had thought I had looked around carefully and gotten them all - at least all the bigger pieces.

I ponder such things.

In just one moment a perfectly good glass was destroyed by careless neglect. It was not deliberate, but I took no thought.  I wonder how many other things in my day I do not take thought to regard. What other routines or interactions have become 'boring'?

Did I tell my husband I love him?
Do I act like I love him?

Did I talk with God?
Do I actually kneel and pray?
Every day? Do I pour out my heart?
Do I open my mind?

Did I tell him thank you yet?
Did I tell anyone thanks?

Did I listen - to anyone about anything?
Really taking thought?

Am I deciding - thoughtfully choosing what I eat, wear, say, make, accomplish or attempt? Or am I being careless and thoughtless?

A lack of balance may contribute to reduced mobility, obesity, and a host of other health problems that are exacerbated by our quick-fix-pill expectations. Mindless routines precipitate habits and lifestyles that damage self esteem and erode our abilities to perceive and receive counsel from God or man.

SMASHED marriages and families come from not 'taking thought'. The damage begins with one careless word or act.

Do we 'clean up' broken feelings as quickly as broken glass?

Perhaps they are easy to 'sweep under a rug' [push aside] in what we hurriedly decide for the 'short term." Later it seems to become progressively more difficult to gather up the pieces and not cause even more damage, yet a shard of glass laying unnoticed on the floor or inside the cupboard can never cause the harm of hurtful words or unkindness.

Sometimes we must 'clean up' repeatedly - even days, weeks or months after something is broken. Sometimes even years.

Did you ever find a piece of glass behind the frig or at the back of a shelf and remember what had been broken? Usually I just wonder what was broken or where it came from and how long it has been there. I am always glad if it can be swept up and disposed of safely.

Perhaps feelings are like that. Perhaps some shard lies in wait to hurt again when least suspected and I may  not even remember what or why. I do not study dust covered broken pieces of glass. I just throw them out so they can not cause anyone harm. Some old feelings ARE like that.

Do I have any feelings that need to be disposed of?
Taking thought to do so carefully will prevent more pain.
Maybe I need to mop out some nooks and crannies.

Perhaps I need to look again?
Have I swept carefully enough?

SARAH ISABELLE MCNICHOLL death

My husband's grandmother, Sarah Isabelle Shelton nee McNicholl died on 16 February 1955.

Death Certificate states Sarah died in Wenatchee, WA

My husband was a couple months old. His mother told him that he met her mother coming as she was going. I think it might have been very difficult to have my mother die when I had a new and nursing baby.

page from history of Clarence and Sarah (McNicholl) Shelton

We have a history a cousin, Patricia Shelton Erdmann, kindly compiled from memories written by Sarah's children, and the Bennett's - children of Sarah's sister. Sarah helped to raise the children and care for them after their mother, Lenora Bennett,  died 27 June 1927.

It helps us know many things about her life and character. What a marvelous thing for her children to have preserved for their children and grandchildren.

Program cover

Memorial Service program for Sarah Isabelle Shelton (McNicholl) 

She is buried in a Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery in East Wenatchee, Douglas County, Washington.