CHARLES WILLIAM BUTTARS AND ANGELINE VILATE STEWART marriage and family

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Married: 18 May 1892, Logan Cache Utah
Sealed: 18 May 1892, Logan, Cache Utah

Ruben David Buttars, a son, tells about his parents courtship in an 11 page history titled 'The Story of My Mother'. "Mother and Father grew up in the same town. He was three years older than she and began going out with mother's sister Julia Ann. As families do, they teased Julia about Charles Buttars and she said she didn't think she liked him well enough to marry him. Then mother said, 'Julia, if you don't want him, let me have him.' 
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"Soon after that he called and took mother buggy riding. At that time mother was only sixteen and Dad's friends used to tease him about robbing the cradle. He would answer, 'Well, I know I've got a good one. They went together for about two years ...
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"When they decided to get married her father said, 'Well Angie, one thing about it, he will always be a good provider.' 
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"For the first few months of their married life they shared a home in Clarkston with another couple. Then they bought a farm from Hans Dahle, one and one-half miles north of Clarkston, near her father's place. On the farm was a two-roomed log house. They carried their water from the creek about a block away from the house. They got their drinking water from a spring about a block and a half away. She did her washing on a scrub board, heating the water on a wood burning stove.
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" Father's farm at that time consisted of about 160 acres. He loved horses and had quite a number of them to raise, to sell or trade for others. He was a great horseman."

Sweeping world changes occurred during the lives of this couple and their family. Such things as photography, the telegraph, and railroads their parents would have known as innovative and newfangled were followed by many inventions that changed their everyday lives. Telephones, phonographs (and other audio devices), automobiles, X-rays, and airplanes, forever altered communication, transportation, entertainment, and even health practices.

 General historic events such as the sinking of the Titanic, labor disputes and strikes, polar exploration, the American Civil Rights Act, the announcement of the Theory of Relativity as well as Darwin's research, the advent of the Suez (and later the Panama) Canals, and battles such as Wounded Knee and World War I influenced American society and in many instances human history itself. Books like Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and War of Worlds were published, the Nutcracker premiered and Pissaro's impressionism transformed artistic expression.

A great granddaughter of Charles William Buttars, Lana Archibald, kindly provides descendants with access to much information and many photographs on a free website she maintains. She has compiled many records and writes, "Charles courted Angela Stewart on his pony. ... At the age of 21, Charles married Angeline Vilate Stewart in the Logan LDS Temple, sealed for time and all eternity. ... Angela was 18 years old.
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"They started their newly married life in a two-room log home on the ranch 2 1/2 rniles up the creek on the north side of Clarkston. Charles was granted this land under the Homestead Act, which required living on the land to redeem it. In this log home eight of their nine children were born. Their family consisted of 5 girls and 4 boys."
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Rueben's history of his mother records, "Their first child, a son named Archie [William Buttars], was born 28 July 1893 but died a few hours after birth. In the spring of 1894 her father and mother sold their place in Clarkston to [Angeline's older brother] ... Joseph [William] Stewart [1868] and with the younger children moved to Wilford, Idaho.
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That summer "5 August 1894, a daughter, Mary Vilate Buttars was born to my parents. Dad bought more land, and as he spent much of his time riding in the hills looking out for his horses, he hired a man to help with the farm work. This made extra work for mother as she had to cook for him.
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"One day when father was away the hired man was plowing quite a distance away over a hill. He was late coming to dinner, so mother decided to go see what had happened to him. When she got there she found him fast asleep lying in the shade of the horses."
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Lana Archibald's history of Angeline records, "They started their newly married life in a two-room log house about 2 ½ miles north of Clarkston, on a ranch of about 240 acres. It was a homestead ranch. The interior of the log house was lined with "factory cloth" which was kept whitewashed to be spotlessly clean and sweet smelling.
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"Angeline did the work of a pioneer woman, carrying water from the creek to do her washing on a washboard. She cared for her family efficiently. She cooked and cared for many hired men. She picked currants and gooseberries from the thorny bushes to put up her fruit. She also grew her own rhubarb and sageplant. She was a busy woman, a good manager, and a happy wife."
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Ruben records,"Many times Dad would leave at night just before dark to ride in the hills, to find his horses, and wouldn't get back until very late. This worried mother very much, and she would stay up until very late listening for his return. He always rode a very fine pony and mother could tell by the hoof beats and the familiar tune he whistled as he rode. when  he was coming.
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"Dad loved to talk and visit his folks and many times he wouldn't come home until morning. Mother told this story: -

One morning very early he was riding toward home. He passed another man out irrigating. The man said, "Charles where have you been”

"Oh", Dad said, "I've been out all night counting the stars."

"Well," the man said, "did you get them all counted?"

Dad answered, "All but about half an acre and then the sun came up."

Lana's Archilbald's web account informs readers, "One day [30 May 1899, Charles] took his fast team of horses and drove his cousin Mary Harmon, her baby and his mother to Logan. They went by way of the Benson Ward road. When they were about half-way across the Bear River bridge in Benson, it broke and the buggy, horses and all the people went into the water. A heavy timber fell across Grandma Sarah Keep Buttars, badly cutting her head. As Charles was trying to get the timber off her, he saw the baby floating downstream. Just before it floated under the broken bridge, he caught its clothing and saved its life. He needed help quickly, so he yelled for help loud enough for workers in a field a mile away to hear and come. Upon getting Grandma Sarah on the river bank, they felt sure she wouldn't live. The field workers came two days later to attend her funeral but found her very much alive."

A news story of the time stated:

June 1, 1900 - p. 5 under "Mrs. Buttars' Condition."

"Victim of the Bridge Accident May Die."

    "Logan, May 31.--A report came here today from Clarkston that Mrs. Butters [sic], who was injured on Tuesday by the collapse of the Benson bridge, died of the injuries received this morning.  The report cannot be verified, but the physician who attended Mrs. Butters say that her injuries were so serious that fatal results were probable.

    "It is prettey [sic] certain that a heavy damage suit will be planted against the county, as negligence was the cause of the bridge giving way."

      --Salt Lake Herald, June 1, 1900.

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Ruben continues "Five more children were born at this place [the farm/ranch approximately 2 miles north of Clarkston]: Lillie, Ben, Sadie, Lucy, and Amy. [These 5 children were, Lillie Pearlue Buttars - 26 August 1896, Benjamin Charles Buttars - 20 June 1898, Sarah Maud Buttars - 22 February 1900, Lucy Ann Buttars - 5 June 1902, and Amy Lavon Buttars - 8 February 1904.]

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Clarkston, Utah 1900 US Census Charles William Buttars family

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" There two more families living nearby, Uncle Joe Stewarts', and the James Clarks' family. They would take turns driving the children to school. They said they were always happy to ride with Dad because he had such fast horses." 
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Lana's history of Charles informs us that, "Charles' life was his family and his horses. Sometimes he held his children four or five at a time, because many days he rose so early and got home so late, he never saw them.
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"Charles loved his horses as few men do. He doctored them, put them in slings, and ruptured his own side doing it. His horses were beauties and understood his every word. He ran hundreds of head of horses on the range for other people, up in the mountains above Clarkston where they got summer feed. His own little pony "Little Bolly" he rode with pride, a beautiful bay who was eager to respond to the touch of his hand. The people of the town could tell when he was coming by the rhythm of his horse's footsteps. It took a lot of riding to keep track of and care for this many horses. He found it necessary to keep several hired men to assist him in his different tasks.

"He farmed well, an inherited characteristic of the Buttars family. Charles' home and surroundings were scrupulously clean and wholesome. 'The Buttars' were known as good citizens, good managers, hard workers, very progressive and loyal people to the community they lived in. They helped it to grow. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. He stood for what was right and honest to the core, regardless of the cost. He was cheerful in disposition and loved to talk and visit with people. He often would sing or whistle. He was always aware of others' needs and was on hand to offer himself or what he had. He was an advisor to many. He was a thoughtful husband.

"It was said that Charles always wanted to give his wife every thing she wanted, as near as it was possible. He was quick in thought and action. He saved Angie's life many times during asthma attacks. She was so proud of him, his physical stature, his love and kindness to her, and his good looks.

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Charles William Buttars 

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"He was a well-built man, six feet tall in his stocking feet. He had strong square shoulders, dark wavy hair and grey-green eyes.

"Charles' mother, Sarah Keep Buttars, lived in Clarkston, too. He was a very dear son to her. He often went to see her. She had many flower gardens around her home, and when Charles got ready to leave after a visit, she would tuck a sweet pea in his hat band." His father was there with them as well.
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Ruben's history of his mother informs us, "Mother's health wasn't too good. She had developed a very bad case of asthma and would wake up at night unable to breathe. Dad would hurriedly hitch up his team of fastest horses put her in the buggy and take her to the hills to a higher altitude so she could breathe again. Many nights she was unable to lie down at all.
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" I, Ruben, was born 5 June 1906. That fall they brought a ten acre tract of land just north of Clarkston to be nearer school and church. They bought a two roomed house and moved it onto the ten acres and Dad built two more rooms on it. This is where mother lived and raised her family.
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"30 May 1908, my youngest brother Earl [Samuel Buttars] was born, making a family of eight [living] children." 
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Lana notes in Charles history that,"He had a close call with death when lightening struck him at the barn door and left him unconscious. His watch crystal in his left shirt pocket was powder. Without the watch there to catch the lightening, he would have died.

"Charles was able to obtain more land as his family grew and needed more, giving them more of the comforts of life. When the time came for the three oldest children to go to school, they moved from the ranch to a lot by City Creek on the north side of town. This home was still just a two-room log house with a room in the attic. They walls were covered with "factory cloth" and were whitewashed to add thickness and cleanliness. 
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"On this house was added a lean-to on the west and one on the south (before he died Charles had lumber on hand to build the barn). From here the children still had seven blocks to go to school. The winters in Clarkston were harsh, with lots of snow and wind. So hitching up a team of horses to a sleigh was sometimes necessary to take the children to school."
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In Angeline's history Lana writes, "Their home in town was a two-room log house with an attic upstairs. ... It was about three blocks north of town, out by City Creek. During her childbearing years Angie contracted asthma, which was a detriment to her health. She would sit up most of the night sometimes, because she couldn't breathe when she lay down. Charles ... would hitch up the team and take Angeline to the mountains in the night because she could breathe better up there. This went on quite a long time. Then she decided to go to the temple and be given a prayer for her health. After that she improved gradually until she was relieved and cured. This was a faith-promoting incident to all of her children. They were so happy to have their mother well."

In Charles history Lana continues,"In 1908, at the age of 37, Charles began to feel pain and distress. He had a hernia. He blamed it on riding his pony after the horses so much. The horses were a good breed, lively prancing 'Percherons.' He enjoyed the speed they had when they went places and the time they saved.
 
"Charles was a good singer and spent much time rocking a couple of the children at a time and singing them to sleep. Ben well remembered him rocking and singing all the songs he knew to his children on the night before he passed away. In October [he] was stricken very suddenly and severely by an appendicitis attack. 
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"All that could be done was done to help him. It took 10-12 hours to get a doctor to Clarkston, and then when he did get there it was too late. The appendix had broken. Charles died that night of October 5, 1908 in much agony and pain. He was 37 years old. [In Angeline's history we read that the doctor was able to give him a pill to relieve the pain.]

"From that moment on was when the true character of his wife, Angeline was shown. Standing the shock, she took on the responsibility of raising [eight] children, all under the age of 14 years, alone. The oldest boy, Ben, was only ten years old. The baby boy, Earl, was only four months old. Angeline raised her children alone for twenty-three years and was a noble mother to them."
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1910 US Census for Clarkston, Utah shows Angeline,
widowed with 8 young children

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Ruben also tells about his father's illness and death. " The following fall [after the youngest child was born 30 May1908], a very sad thing happened. Dad had been riding in the hills all day hunting for his horses. Upon returning he complained of a pain in his side. But in spite of the pain, he followed his usual custom and gathered his family around and sang songs to them just before bedtime.
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" By morning he was very ill, and they sent for the Doctor. The Doctor had to come from Logan, a distance of about 20 miles with a horse and buggy. By the time the Doctor arrived, Dad was delirous. there wasn't much the Doctor could do, and at 10 O'clock that night he passed away. Later they figured he must have had a ruptured appendix. 
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" At the time of his funeral mother was so ill with asthma that she couldn't attend the services so they had some one take it down in short hand and read it to her. 
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" Mother was very devoted to father and was always telling us stories of his goodness and generosity, and what a wonderful man he was."
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Back row left to right: May Vilate Buttars, Earl, Ruben, Bennie, Lucy.

Far left - Father. Front row left to right: Amy, Lillie, Mother, Sadie

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Several years ago Papa and I visited Uncle Arlun Ames and his daughter Charlun, Papa's cousin, in the Seattle area. He graciously permitted us to laser photocopy several pages of his photo albums. On the lower left of a picture of Angeline with her adult children someone had attached a picture of Charles. The family is all there except the baby, Archie, that died at birth.

Lana Archibald, granddaughter to Ben Buttars, has compiled several records and summarizes the situation succinctly. "Angie decided to keep the farm and sell the horses to pay the debt. Somehow they got by. Ben [age 10] helped round up the horses and found all but eighteen. All were sold except a gentle team of trotters for the buggy, and a mare to raise colts. By the time Ben was sixteen, he ran the farm and provided for the family by himself."
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Clarkston, Utah 1920 US census. Angeline with children

Although some records briefly tell about this young widow raising her children, and managing the farm and livestock while struggling with her asthma and a later diagnoses of diabetes, only one records the passing of any loved ones. We know this was a close knit family that helped and depended upon each other. We also know that many of the extended relatives (from the Buttars, Keep, Stewart, and Clark families) lived in close proximity. Charles father, David Buttars, died 23 November 1911 at Clarkston. Angeline's mother, Mary Ann Clark Stewart died 7 December 1916 at nearby Teton City, Idaho.

Ruben tells us about the death of his sister. "18 August 1929 my sister Mae (Mary) died from complications following an operation, leaving five small children. [Wallace Will Ames, age 8 - Papa's father, is one of these children]. This upset mother very much."
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Back l-r Narva, Ruby, Mae (and her children), with Angeline,
her mother. Front l-r Arlun, and Wallace
Photo taken by Mae's son Charley Ames about June 1929.

[Angeline] was taken to the hospital, went into a coma and died 30 May 1931, the day her youngest son was 23 years old. She was buried in the Clarkston cemetery ... by the side of her beloved husband and infant son, survived by three sons, four daughters, her father, four sisters, and seven brothers."
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Lana's history of Angeline witnesses, "She had been given a blessing early in her life that she would live until the time her family was grown. When her youngest child, Earl, was 23 years old, she died on May 30, 1931, at the age of 57 years. All her children were married in the temple."


Special thanks to Lana Archibald and other family members for their work preserving, digitizing and publishing many documents and photographs of this family in ways that help those histories and photos to be available to all descendants.

FRANCES ALOIS HUCKINS death

Spouse: James Andrew McNicholl

Married 6 June 1890

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When the husband of Frances Alois Huckins died, 29 March 1910 in Grangeville Idaho, their youngest child was still a toddler. (Family records say that child Dora McNicholl was born 27 Oct 1906 making her about 2/12. The 1910 census lists her age as 1 year 7 months.)  Two daughters,  Cora age 10 and Georgia an infant preceded him in death.

Fannie left Idaho and went to live with her recently widowed mother in Pateros Washington. Her father, James Huckins, died only 8 months prior to her husband. On the 1910 Census she is head of household living with 4 daughters at the same residence as her mother, 3 brothers, and a nephew.
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The first name on the same census page is Roy Dougherity [also spelled Dougherty, Dougharty and other variations]. Fannie later married him and when she died they were living  in Oregon. Some sources say Fannie was living at Durkee, Oregon. Others say she died at Weatherby, Oregon. Both are tiny, mostly abandoned villages/camps in the Oregon high country wilderness where this family lived.
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Notes from Papa's first cousin, Pat Shelton Erdmann, say,
"Funeral record from Weatherby, Oregon.
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"Certificate of Death, Oregon State, Multnomah County of Fannie Dougharity, died near Weatherby, Baker, Oregon.  Was 44y 23d d 17 May 1918 of Valoular Insufficiancy. She had dropsy for 3 years.  She was married to Roy Dougherty (signature) at the time of her death.  Her father was listed as James Huckins born in Canada. Her birthplace was listed as Peoria, Ill.  She was buried at Malhure Ore. 20 Jun 1918.
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"Fanny was 44 when she passed away.  Her death record says she was born in 1874. ... The Huckins family history says that Fanny and Roy lived in Grass Valley, Oregon which is more north central Oregon than where they lived when she died.  They must have lived in Weatherby at least 6 months as the Doctor that attended her stated he had treated her from 26 Oct 1917."
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Hazel Bennett Berry (a child of her daughter Lenora McNicholl and Marion Allen Bennett) wrote, "the furthest back I can remember was when my grandmother died. In those days the body wasn't taken to a funeral parlor, but was kept at home until time for burial. I remember seeing the coffin in a room, my parents and Aunt Sarah [Isabella McNicholl Shelton] were there. 

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"This was a large two or three story house. This is the only time I can remember mama's sister Dora [McNicholl. Dora died one month later 13 June 1918 at Entiat, Washington, see note below]. She was about twelve or thirteen years old, and when grandmother died she ran across a creek and up a road to the neighbors to tell them what had happened. 
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" I was about four years old [born 24 July 1914 ]and this made an impression on my mind that was hard to forget. This all happened at a very small town called Weatherbee, between Baker City and Ontario, Oregon. My Aunt Sarah and her family must have lived in that house with us or close by, because she was with my older sister, Blanche, and I quite a lot."
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Notes from Pat Shelton Erdmann, say, "

Dora died of diphtheria. 

Washington State Death Certificate, 13 Jun 1918 #102  Both of Dora's parents died before she did so Clarence Shelton (her brother in law) listed her parents as Roy Doughartiy (step father) and Ida Snelson (his new wife). Place of burial on the death certificate is Sunny Slope, it also states she was born in Oregon.

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"Dr Coulter took care of Dora during her illness."

REWARDS

Several years ago, about the time I turned 50, realizing I might have only lived half my life I began to ponder if there might be things I could do to improve and maintain my general health.

I have always been somewhat physically active and I pay attention to what I eat. I don't always follow all the rules I know and learn but I do notice if I am or not.

My weight has stayed almost the same for nearly 20 years. I have believed if I could attain a more healthy weight, somewhat less that I now maintain, that I would be more healthy and able to do many things that are difficult for me at present. Nevertheless, though many strategies of activity and diet have been adhered to, I have seemed stuck on this plateau.

One of my favorite strategies has been to wear chocolate. Let me explain. Since I will wear it under my skin in the form of gained pounds if I indulge too often in too many sweets, chocolate being one of my personal vulnerabilities, I decided that each time I did NOT buy a chocolate bar (or other 'treat' item) that the price of it would go into a 'chocolate' fund.

My chocolate fund is spent on whatever I want whenever I choose- of course I have to have enough to cover the cost of what is purchased. That means I have to save it up. I tally and track it in the banks of my memory allotted to 'pleasure, I am worth it, and reward-me-I-have-been-good'. You have those files in your memory bank - right? If not create them and regularly add to them.

My inclination is generally to use the funds I save for clothes - something nice I wouldn't otherwise get or be able to afford. I can only enter the sum to my fund if I genuinely would have spent the money. I can especially enter the amount if I pick up the item and sometime prior to actually buying it talk myself into putting the price of it in my chocolate fund and leave it in the store.  (Sometimes I buy a smaller chocolate bar and only put in the difference.)

 One time I put back a case of my favorite bars at Costco in Canada knowing I would not be able to purchase any until my next visit to Canada - perhaps months away. I also knew if I bought them I WOULD eat them.I bought one small bar in another store later - and savored every bite of it - but it was only one bar!

chocolate sweater and pants

While shopping that week, yes in Canada, I bought a pair of pants and a sweater that were on sale. My chocolate fund happened to have the price from that case of chocolate bars recently added to it and I did not even feel a twinge of selfishness or frivolousness as I purchased my 'chocolate sweater and pants'. A girlfriend got a good laugh when I told her about this strategy - and took my picture.

A couple years ago, while recovering from a surgery to remove a massive 9x8x15 cm, nonmalignant tumour from my right thigh, I began to seriously consider ways that I might be able to prevent any occurrence of similar problems. I wondered if I have toxins in my environment or diet - or genetics ;). Would it be possible to remove or control risk factors? What might those factors be?

As I ate my hospital lunch I considered the food I had not been able to eat for a couple of days and relished the  food I was consuming. Portions were generous and the University hospital expects patients to order their meals in advance somewhat like a restaurant from an extensive menu. If you want to eat something, just order it and it will be delivered in about 45 minutes.

As I ate I wondered what changes to the things I eat might help my health and if there might be a food I could stop eating to improve my overall health. Immediately there came to mind a single item.  Ice-cream. I knew I could entirely eliminate such an item and not feel hungry or deprived.

I decided to do it.

I stopped eating ice-cream cold turkey, immediately, right there in the hospital. I found I seldom missed it and when I did and seriously considered picking up a carton at the store I often added the cost to my chocolate fund.  Inevitably my husband purchased more ice-cream to replenish his freezer stocks. I fully expected to have to fight with myself a bit to stay out of it. I did not. We had company over for dinner one evening and when I indulged in a single scoop I found I no longer really care for ice-cream.

My weight dropped about 12 pounds that year. It has stayed off for more than a year now. The only change I made in my life was to eliminate that one single food. I think on that a lot and have added another change. I began to walk more. I bought an inexpensive pedometer. I used my chocolate money. I make an effort to get to 3 miles every day. Nothing has changed. I often make it to 5 miles a day now spring is here. I am on another plateau.

I began to wonder what would happen if I gave up some other 'treat' - hmmm - what other change could I make? It would have to be so simple that it required minimal thought AND effort. I am basically lazy. What about chocolate, could I stop eating it? And I would need incentive. How might I reward myself? And if so what rewards might I enjoy as a 'fix'? I decided I will always call my reward funds 'chocolate money'. It is a good reminder.

This spring I am astonished to find that chocolate has 'pushers'. It is almost impossible to avoid chocolate. Why is it in so much food? Seriously - in Chili? That seems a bit excessive and silly! You all constantly have it and offer it and are hurt if I decline it. What? Are we all addicted?

It is amazing how much chocolate I now refuse and in a pinch throw away. Don't be offended. If I ate it wouldn't it still be gone?  I am determined to improve my health. I wasn't able to go cold turkey. I haven't even completely given it up. But I sure eat less of it than previously AND I find I crave it less and less. I AM AN ADDICT!!!! I must admit that much to myself.

Recently I was in an awkward social situation. The solution was to remind my husband he had promised to take me for ice-cream. He actually had promised that ... it is still his poison of choice. I don't remember what I did but he felt it was significant - and it was. We got in the car and went to the local ice-cream shop. I decided that one Tiger ice-cream cone wouldn't matter and it has been years since I relished the delicious orange licorice combination. They didn't have any. We left. He was relieved. He tends to be stunned by the prices of such places. I appreciated his offer though. And next time I see some I intend to enjoy it.

Next we went to the local home improvement store. We bought some plants for the porch and yard. That is almost as good as ice-cream - isn't it? Really it is better. Now I have to increase my activity to include their care. And so does he.

Today I did it again. I had been downtown on an errand. I was really craving something sweet, or salty, or maybe chewy, or even fruit like berries. As I drove along the street I decided where to stop and shop. Suddenly I remembered my resolve to improve my health. At the last possible second I swerved into a different lane and went another direction. Yes I shoulder-checked first. No one was behind me and I did not cause any traffic issues. Could have maybe but didn't!

I drove to the nearest home and garden center. I bought another plant I want. My mother said she lost a significant amount of weight by 'eating less food'. It might work. I am going to try. I wonder what other inducements I can invent. Do you have any you like?

QUICK TO OBSERVE invitation

A prophet, seer and revelator, President Boyd K Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles counseled ... "If all you know is what you see with your natural eyes and hear with your natural ears, then you will not know very much."

How can I see than with my eyes?
How can I hear than with my ears?
How can I feel other than with my senses?

I can see the existence of many things in the world surrounding me very well. I can see that grass is green. I can see your face. I can even see through the glass of windows.

Sometimes my eyes can deceive me. Most of us know about the distortions of water or optical  illusions. When my eyes do not tell the truth my brain and previous experiences may filter and even 'correct' the information I am getting.

I can also choose where I direct my eyes. I can choose to avert my eyes from graphic or inappropriate input or embrace it.   I may also be blind to a neighbor's needs or even deliberately refuse to acknowledge your existence but that is not like 'seeing through you' except they are choices.

People that wear hearing aids often complain that the hearing aid amplifies ALL sound and is not selective. I can sit in my yard and listen to a bird sing and not notice a car on the nearby street. I can hear my husband's voice or my child's cry or laugh even though I may not be in the same room and even when it must be filtered through other noise.

I can also choose to ignore the ringing of a telephone or rude words. And I can listen to how you feel and hear many things your words will never vocalize. I do that by observing your eyes and posture, hearing your meaning as well as voice nuances, and observing your general demeanor.

My existence revolves around smell and taste and touch. Flowers and food, rough and smooth, texture and tension, warm and cool - and my fingers and face have an ongoing love affair with fabrics and textiles.

So much good stuff so little time! So many opportunities to see and hear and feel and yet there is more. What does it mean to 'observe'?

I learned the word for grass in my native tongue as well as the word for it's color, green. I also learned the words for sky and heaven with their subtle differences and, although the sky may appear to be blue, that air has no color and can not really be seen at all.

I learned that I can avoid nausea and/or fainting by looking away when I have blood drawn. I have learned inhaling the sweet aroma of new hay makes some people sneeze and suffer from allergies. I have therefore even learned some suffering may be readily inflicted or alleviated. I have learned to observe with all my senses.

I have some senses that, like the wind, cannot be seen or heard but must be noticed by their effects. I cannot explain how I know it is my child crying out amidst the noise of a playground or why I feel a sudden urgency to talk with a family member and find out about sudden and exciting or sad events.

David A Bednar, another apostle, teaches that we should be 'quick to observe'.  He explains the dual meaning of the word observe is both to 'look, see, watch, or notice'; as well as to 'obey, attend to, or keep' - as in observing the law, or following a practice or habit.

Elder Bednar also teaches,"Being quick to observe is a prerequisite to and a preparation for the gift of discernment. We can hope to obtain that supernal gift of discernment and its light of protection and direction only if we are quick to observe - if we both look and obey."
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George Q Cannon, a counselor to four LDS church presidents taught, “One of the gifts of the Gospel which the Lord has promised to those who enter into covenant with Him is the gift of discerning of spirits—a gift which is not much thought of by many and probably seldom prayed for; yet it is a gift that is of exceeding value and one that should be enjoyed by every Latter-day Saint. …
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“Now, the gift of discerning of spirits not only gives men and women who have it the power to discern the spirit with which others may be possessed or influenced, but it gives them the power to discern the spirit which influences themselves. They are able to detect a false spirit and also to know when the Spirit of God reigns within them. In private life this gift is of great importance to the Latter-day Saints. Possessing and exercising this gift they will not allow any evil influence to enter into their hearts or to prompt them in their thoughts, their words or their acts. They will repel it; and if perchance such a spirit should get possession of them, as soon as they witness its effects they will expel it or, in other words, refuse to be led or prompted by it.”
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I can choose to discern repugnant influences. I can choose to repel and expel such things from my sight, hearing and feelings.
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I can choose to observe things that are good - things that are happy, healthy, of faith, kind, right, true, peaceful - all good things - in both ways.

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I have agency. I can make choices. Observing and discerning can help me make better choices - choices to be good - to have good in my life and to share it with my family and others, to be happy, healthy and kind; to be full of faith and have peace. 

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[ I ] believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, [ I ] say that [I] follow the admonition of Paul— [ I ] believe all things,  [ I ] hope all things,
[ I ] have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything  virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy,  [ I ] seek after these things. Article of Faith 13

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I hope you can see and hear and observe also.

I hope good things for you too. 

I invite you to join me.

Will you also 'seek after these things'? 

HENRY MAGNUS BOHNE death

age unknown

Died: 8 May 1957 Cardston, Alberta, Canada

Buried: 11 May 1957 Aetna, Alberta, Canada

Cardston News 16 May 1957

My mother's maternal grandfather died a couple years after I was born. His funeral was announced alongside another Cardston resident in the weekly 'Cardston News' after their funerals. Also in the same section of print we see his daughter and her husband, Magnus [and LuRay] Jensen from Hartley; my mother [a granddaughter], Mrs. Garth Forsyth; and his son, Hugh [and Zelma] Bohne from Lethbridge. 

Mary Hudson was the widow of Harold Hopkinson.

Her name is reported incorrectly in this article.

His biography and obituary were also published in the same 'Cardston News'. These news articles tell the names of many family members and friends. My father tells me that Mrs. Verona Merkley is in fact Veronica Merkley wife of Cal Merkley and that she taught dad Sunday School.

Whispering Hope  lyrics and music link below

The Teacher’s Work Is Done unknown lyrics/tune

 Hymn 142  Desert Sunday School Songs 1909

The grave of Henry Magnus Bohne lies between the graves
of his first wife, left-Laura Elizabeth Carpenter,
and second wife, right-Mary Hudson Hopkinson

I visited the Aetna cemetery in the late spring just after the flooding a few years ago. Many graves had heaved or sunk. Some had deeply hollowed pits 4 feet or more deep. My father and mother visit the family graves there regularly and help make sure the stones are set properly and not tipping. My father has often filled and smoothed graves or straightened monuments that needed to be leveled.

When my mother visited these graves with Aunt LuRay and the inscriptions were becoming illegible an inexpensive solution was suggested and implemented. Mother (at that time physically healthy and able) returned with her art supplies and carefully hand lettered in the shallow existing groove (with a brush) the names and dates in black paint. I remember helping take Aunt LuRay back to her father's grave to see the completed project.

Aunt LuRay lived in Cardston, near enough to visit her parent's graves when she wished. She was always pleased to know another generation was visiting ancestors last resting places. I heard my mother tell her mother about the graves and their condition several times. Grandmother, Elna Campbell [1909-2003], and her sister LuRay [1905-2001]were the last two living sibings. Grandma lived a bit further away in Hillspring and was not often able to make such trips.

When I ordered Great Grandfather's death certificate 50 years had not elapsed since his death and so on the photo copy I was sent (from the provincial archives) the cause of death had been 'blacked out' with a heavy marker. One day when I was sitting in the sunshine working on family history the light shone through the back of the certificate and I could read what had been written. It said the cause of death was, a) 'Hypo Static Pressure' 10 days [duration], b) 'Perforated bladder' 10 days [duration], c) Congestive Heart Failure 1 month [duration].

Whispering Hope 

Soft As The Voice Of An Angel
Breathing A Lesson Unheard
Hope With A Gentle Persuasion
Whispers Her Comforting Word

Wait Till The Darkness Is Over
Wait Till The Tempest Is Done
Hope For The Sunshine Tomorrow
After The Shower Is Gone

Chorus:
Whispering Hope, O How Welcome Thy Voice
Making My Heart In Its Sorrow Rejoice

Hope Has An Anchor So Steadfast
Rends The Dark Veil For The Soul
Wither The Master Has Entered
Robbing The Grave Of Its Goal

Come Then O Come Glad Fruition
Come To My Sad Weary Soul
Come Thou O Blessed Hope Of Glory
Never O Never Depart

CRUSTS OF BREAD

My mother baked 10 loaves of bread 3 or 4 times a week.
She raised 11 children. We ate a lot of bread.

photo courtesy of my daughter Kimber
she bakes a lot of bread for her family 

How many loaves do you think it would take to make 12 lunches most mornings (for dad and school)? And then give each of those lunch-eaters a 'snack' when they get home from school!

I love hot fresh homemade bread.
Let me rephrase ... I love homemade bread.
Being hot and fresh just makes it more edible.

By choice I would eat the crust in preference to the soft center. Many of my siblings feel the same way - too bad there are only 2 'heels' when so many vie for them. Mother taught us to share ... and take turns having the crusts at the ends of the loaves. I think she liked the middles - at least she sure gave her share away often enough ...

One way to share was to cut the crust in half; instead of one individual getting a large slice, two got a smaller piece. Another way to share was to 'gift' your part to someone. Mom instructed all of us about  the nobility of such an action - the giving of your piece (or turn for a piece) to someone else.

My spouse loves the soft, inner part of hot fresh bread. He prefers it to the crust. He likes crusts too, but when push comes to shove he chooses the inside. He has no contenders. I gladly 'sacrifice' and eat the crusts. If I insisted on sharing my crusts of bread he would be the one making the sacrifice.

I have one sibling that felt picked on if she was forced to have a turn eating the crusts. She never had to take her turn - she had lots of volunteers to pick from that were willing to trade. The real problem was only who she picked to 'exchange' her turn with and how often. Conversely another sibling only ate the middle after it was cooled a bit. He likewise never had any difficulty trading.

If I gave you the crust, would it be kind or mean? I most certainly would ask you which you want. I would be hoping you wanted the middle slices. At my grandmother's funeral some Uncles told about getting in trouble with their mom for opening the oven and pulling off the outside crust of the bread as it was baking.

Maybe a preference for crusts is genetic. I don't care for the soft inner center of the bread until it has completely cooled.

Bread from the store isn't quite the same. It is never warm and the crust is not very crusty ... usually more spongy. So in some homes it is the last slice eaten. I choose to eat it first.  It is at least as good as the other bread and I don't object. If you want to eat it I will gladly let you, however.

Is that a favor to you?
Or is it a sacrifice for me?

I asked my spouse that.
He waffled. He guessed it would depend our mutual desires.

He is correct, of course.
Our desires matter.

Desire motivates and inspires us to act - to love and hate; to share or shrug; to kindness or anger; to tact or cruelty; to laugh or cry at what we see, hear and feel; and especially to start or stop, endure or abandon, embrace or exclude given courses of action.

I think our perception matters as much, or perhaps even more, than our desire - if we think we 'have' to eat the crust or 'get' to enjoy it. If we feel we 'have' to share it or 'get' to give it.

How many other circumstances are like crusts of bread?
In what ways do I feel 'compelled'?
In what ways can I 'choose' to act?

Can I give you the benefit of a doubt? Can I believe you want to share the crust with me or do I think you are selfishly withholding it from me. Can I believe you intentionally sacrifice for my benefit when you give me the soft center because you perceive it as the best and most wonderful part? or do I think you are selfishly hogging the crust?

Can you believe that I ask if you prefer the crust or the middle not because I want the best part for myself but because I don't mind sharing?

And can you forgive me for sharing my 'crust of bread' - when you like the soft middle? And can you understand that sometimes I may only have crusts to offer?

Want to share a loaf with me?
It is all delicious!

TWO PETITIONS - BOTH NEED SIGNATURES

Preserve Marriage Washington

Washington Referendum 74 (R-74) 

signatures must be submitted by JUNE 6, 2012;
--
UPDATE:  These petitions need to be in by 31 of May so that there is time to tabulate etc and get them where they need to be BY June 6.

Protect Marriage Washington

Initiative I-1192

signatures must be submitted by JULY 6, 2012;

We, my husband and I, recently signed a petition to help maintain laws that preserve marriage as a relationship between 1 man and 1 woman by overturning the present governor's, (she who shall not be named) Marriage Equality LAW. 

We sought out a petition against the new law and signed it.
We patted ourselves on the back a little too soon.
Why is there always another wrinkle?
I suppose I should have realized it was too simple!

Yesterday we discovered there are two groups working towards the same outcome that do not seem to be associated with each other. For more details click links throughout this blog and read on ...  

At first we were confused ... are there two? [yes] had we signed both by signing one? [no] do both need to be signed? [yes]

There are other blogs and many other websites. Type in any of the titles or numbers to find your own links. I hope some of them help you learn more about these vital processes; opinions and responsiblities. 

I share below the reply to my husband from PROTECT MARRIAGE WA explaining the difference between the two:

Dear David,

Thank you for your inquiry. While we cannot speak for the R-74 people, basic marketing affirms that 2 are better than one. Having two similar items can actually build more interest as long as those in leadership support both. The synergy of two items can benefit both. We are actively supporting both petitions, R-74 and I-1192. Here is a brief [emphasis mine] explanation of the two pieces of legislation:

R-74 would allow us to vote on the same sex marriage bill that the Governor signed into law this last legislative session. When the signatures are gathered, the measure would be put on the ballot and we would vote to reject the legislation.R-74 is extremely important as it stops the same sex marriage bill until we have a chance to vote on it. If we do not get the signatures to get it on the ballot, we will have gay marriage in June.

 I-1192 strengthens the definition of marriage. It defines marriage as between one man and one woman and precludes everything else. The law previously has the definition as between a male and a female, which, unfortunately, in our present society is not a clear enough interpretation and we need language that specificl applies to human beings. Even if we did not have to fight the same sex marriage bill, we need the changes in I-1192. It also serves as a safety net should there be legal challenges to R-74 when it is passed.

Here are some differences between the two petitions:

First, Initiative 1192 was filed before the Governor signed the gay marriage bill into law... while the Referendum 74 had to wait to be filed until the gay marriage bill was signed.  Initiatives attempt to establish "new law", while referendums can only challenge existing laws. 

Second, both Initiative 1192 and Referendum 74 serve respective purposes.  1192 both strengthens our existing State Law as well as creates "new law" with the clarification in the language that will prevent gay marriage from being legal.  Ref. 74 challenges the same-sex marriage law with the intent to overturn it.  Ref. 74 also has the ability to suspend the gay marriage law (which is supposed to go into effect in June) until the voters have a chance to voice their positions in November.

Third, the language in Initiative 1192 has "positive verbiage"... in other words, it is clear to the reader that they are supporting (voting yes for) marriage to be between one man and one woman (based literally on the biblical model in Leviticus 18).  The language in Ref. 74, by law, must contain the wording from the gay marriage bill and will have "reject verbiage" in its description... for example, Ref. 74 might say something like "reject marriage equality and reject exemptions for religious institutions". 

In each case... we must clarify for voters that they simply need to remember to "VOTE TWICE for MARRIAGE" when they see 1192 and 74 on the November ballot.  Yes for I-1192 and Reject (R) for R-74

I-1192 was written by a lawyer and reviewed by the legal staff of several ministries and organizations. It was reviewed by the Secretary of State and met the requirements of Washington State before it could be distributed.

As soon as the R-74's were available, have had them at all of our events and encouraged everyone to sign both.

Fourth, the deadline for 1192 signatures is July 6th... the deadline for Ref. 74 is June 6th.

If you need any more information or would like copies of I-1192 or R-74,or if you need more information,  please feel free to contact us.


-Protect Marriage Washington

We will let you know if we learn anything new.
Watch for updates.

And please share any important information you know.

JOSEPH ARNOLD and JENETTE AMELIA AMES nee AUSTIN marriage and family

Joseph Arnold Ames
Jenette Amelia Austin

Married: 1 May 1882
Trenton, Cache, Utah, USA

Sealed: 9 November 1882
Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Utah

Joseph Arnold Ames family with all 9 living children. 

Circa 1904, William Henry Ames (Papa's grandfather)

 is on the back row at the far right.

Picture from Baron Family Web page - contacts not functioning

Papa's paternal great grandparents were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -[referred to herein as 'the church'] . They believed that life began before their existence on earth and will continue after their existence here.

Their parents, (Clark and Frances Ames, and William and Agnes Austin) and some of their grandparents, experienced the rigors of pioneer travel and settlement as they moved west and established homes and communities.

These people also believed that God, as a loving father, provided a way for all of his children to obtain and have genuine happiness as part of everlasting existence and that every person may have all the joy/happiness that they sincerely desire. Their core beliefs helped them accept and endure many privations and sacrifices as they were asked to help colonize new areas several times.

Assignments often included moving their families and beginning to build again in another frontier area. They were also expected to be at peace and work with the people that might already be in those areas, including the nomadic Indians that might be friendly or hostile.

The 1860 Utah US census, page 222, shows several Ames families (including Joseph's father and grandfather) living in Brigham, Cache, Utah. A few pages later on page 245 we see William Austin and his family in the same place.

The 1870 Utah US census shows both families have moved but are in the same general area. Joseph is with his parent's and 7 siblings at Portage, Utah as described in a short biographical sketch below, and Jeannett Amelia with her parent's, 4 siblings and a house keeper with the same surname, is at Bloomington, Rich, Utah Territory (now partly Bear Lake County, Idaho). See map below.

Some descendants from the Baron family share a short history online that tells us a bit more about the family, [From the Salt Lake area the Clark Carter Ames family moved into the southern Utah 'Blue Grass Country', and from there to Portage, which was in northern Utah.] "He lived there for nine years. Each year they planted crops but were unable to harvest them, except for two years, because the grasshoppers and crickets were so thick. They dug trenches and filled them up with dry straw or weeds to make a sleeping place for the insects, then got up real early and burned them and killed many of the insects.

"[Joseph Arnold Ames] met his future wife, Jennet Amelia Austin while living there as her parents lived at Trenton just a few miles away [about 20 miles southeast] ." 

In 1880 Joseph, age 22, lived with his parent's and siblings at Trenton,Cache, Utah. Note that the father's profession is a farmer and all the boys in the family have 'laborer' listed as their profession. Pioneer children shared the heavy labor of establishing homes and obtaining the necessities of life from the prairies and mountains of western America with their parents.

1880 Trenton, Cache, Utah US Federal Census

The Austin family are also at Trenton in 1880. The census taker recorded Jennett Amelia's name as Janet. Her age is given as 14 on the June Census. Her birthday later that year in October would make her 15.

1880 Trenton, Cache, Utah US Federal Census

The couple were married 2 years later. The biographical sketch mentioned above tells us, "They were married 1 May 1882, and went to the Salt Lake Endowment House and were sealed to each other 9 November 1882, traveling there by covered wagon, together with another young married couple, bent on the same mission. It took them several days to make the journey. They had two sons born to them while living at Trenton." [Joseph Austin Ames,18 April 1883 and Hyrum Clark Ames, 29 May 1885]

Latter Day Saints [LDS] believe that for their family relationships to continue after this life that their marriages and families must begin with a covenant and promises not only between the couple but also between the couple and God. Such marriages are called 'Eternal Marriages'.

Adherents of the LDS faith believe authorized representatives of God, who have proper authority, must preform these covenant marriage ordinances. This is referred to as being 'sealed' together. Usually the sacred covenants of Eternal Marriage may only be made in a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Sometimes when a temple was not available some (but not all) sacred ordinances could occur in another temporarily designated place.

When Joseph Arnold Ames and Jenette Amelia Austin began their family the nearest place an Eternal Marriage could be performed was in such a temporary structure, located in Salt Lake City 100 miles from the area where they lived. It was completed in 1855 and became known as the 'Endowment House'.

Salt Lake City Endowment House circa 1880

The nearest and only temple of the church was approximately 400 miles away at St. George, Utah. It was completed in April 1877. A temple in Logan, Utah ,only about 20 miles or a days journey, was under construction but it would not be complete until May 1884 - 2 years after they married. Another temple was being built in Salt Lake City, Utah, but would not be completed for another 10 1/2 years.

Temples were built with volunteer labor and donated materials for the most part. Men were assigned shifts to work. Women and children also helped in every way possible. On 18 May 1877 as work commenced on the Logan Temple, Church President Brigham Young is reported to have told the people at the dedication of the site, "We require the brethren to go with their might and erect a temple and from the architect to the boy who carries the drinking water and the men who work on the building, we wish them to understand that wages are entirely out of the question. We are going to build a house for ourselves and we shall expect the brethren and sisters, neighborhood after neighborhood, ward after ward, to turn out their proportion of men to come here and labor as they shall be notified . . ."

Another report states, "Roughly 25,000 people worked on the Logan Temple. Rocks and timber used for the temple were hauled from the Temple Fork area of Logan Canyon. As completion of the temple neared, women in the area were asked to make carpets for the temple, since commercially made carpet could not be bought in Utah at that time. The women spent two months working to hand make two thousand square yards of carpet."

Joseph Arnold Ames, Jennett Amelia Austin and their parents and siblings lived, worked, attended (and served in) the congregations of this place and era. We can be assured that they assisted in the work of these building programs. The names of Jospeh's father and mother, Clark Carter Ames and Frances Jane Beavans are inscribed on a memorial plaque to the pioneers of Bear Lake Valley inside the tabernacle at Paris Idaho.

A Cache County history tells us, "The construction of the [Logan] temple cost approximately $608,000.00. Of this amount the Church appropriated $37,000.00 and the people in Cache Valley and northern Utah donated the remainder in cash, labor and supplies. This was a great undertaking at that time and shows what can be done by strong determination and united effort. To construct the temple it took 1,000,000 feet of lumber, 256,000 cubic feet of rock, which weighed nearly 20,000 tons; 18,000 bushels of lime for mortar for the walls, 96,000 bushels of sand and 40,000 pounds of plaster of paris. 24,000 pounds of white lead for paint, 5000 pounds of rope to build and bind scaffolding, 24,000 pounds of nails, 13,000 pounds of metal for roofing and large quantities of glass for the windows were also used.

The Logan Temple will always stand as a monument of hard labor, sacrifice and sincere devotion to a cause of the early settlers of Logan and Cache Valley. Upon entering the Valley from any point it is the first object to greet the eye. It stands out in bold relief and at certain hours of the day when the sun’s rays strike it, it has a beautiful luster about it. Hundreds of tourists and strangers have praised its location and the style of architecture. It will always be … evidence of how well the early settlers in this section builded."

Frontier travel, whether 100 miles or 400 miles, was difficult and expensive, at best, and potentially fraught with many perils and hazards. A team of horses pulling a buggy or wagon usually traveled 15-20 miles per day. Note that this young couple made the arduous 100 mile trip to Salt Lake to solommize their marriage and be sealed together for time and all eternity 6 months after they were first married. Note also that November is after seasonal work such as planting and harvest, that families absolutely must attend to for survival, is complete.

In 1995 the Presidency of the church issued a proclamation to the world regarding doctrines about marriage and family. It states succinctly beliefs taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints throughout its history.

The proclamation says, in part:

"THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."

A historical event this couple may have experienced soon after forming their family was reported thus in a special to the 10 November 1884 Deseret Evening News in Paris, Idaho:"Six distinct earthquake shocks were felt here this morning. The first, at seven minutes before two, was terrific and lasted over half a minute. Five other shocks, comparatively slight, occurred at brief intervals afterwards; the last at twenty minutes after four. The shocks were felt through the valley as far as heard from. Considerable damage to houses is reported, and some moveable articles were broken, although nothing serious occurred. People were affected as if by sea sickness. The movements of the first were severe shocks from northeast to southwest, and then a swaying motion from north to south. The others were from east to west.

The Salt Lake Tribune 13 November 1884 gave a much more flamboyant account: "This small berg and surrounding country was thrown into a fever heat of excitement by a terrible shock of earthquake. It began at 1:56 a.m. by a low, rumbling noise, accompanied by a slight trembling, sufficient to cause a rattling of windows, stoves, etc., and was followed in about 10 or 15 seconds by a most terrific shock, throwing books, dishes, etc., from their shelves and rocking houses to and fro almost akin to a vessel at sea. This was followed at exactly 2 a.m. or about four minutes after the first shock, by another shock much lighter than the first, and again at 2:53 another shock was felt, but was so slight as to be hardly noticeable.

"As the election of our President has been the all absorbing event of the world for the past week, it is quite safe to attribute this subterranean disturbance to the glaring error of the American people, but if the mere possibility of Cleveland's election should cause such a revulsion on the part of Mother Earth, what must we expect on the 4th of next March?" [The day he would take office].

Grover Cleveland's predecessor was Chester A Arthur. He took office when James A. Garfield was assassinated in the fall of 1881. A journalist Alexander McClure would later write, "No man ever entered the Presidency so profoundly and widely distrusted as Chester Alan Arthur, and no one ever retired ... more generally respected, alike by political friend and foe." He declined to serve a second term. One of the central issues in 1884 appears to have been corruption in politics.

In 1884 women had the right to vote but Jennett Amelia Ames was only 19. Utah Territory granted women that right in 1870. It was the second territory to do so (Wyoming also) and no state allowed women this right. The right was revoked by antipolyamy forces in 1887 and not won again until 1895, after much campaigning.

The new law was adopted with a constitution that would see Utah become the 45th state in the union on 5 November 1895 with a provision that "the rights of citizens of the State of Utah to vote and hold office shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex. Both male and female citizens of this state shall enjoy equally all civil, political and religious rights and privileges." They won a right granted at that time only in two states, Wyoming and Colorado. Idaho granted women this right in 1896.

Map of Pioneer Communities in Utah and Idaho 

The third child to join this young family was born in Mound Valley, Idaho. The Baron family sketch again enlightens us about the Ames family and their move to Idaho,"They then went up into Idaho where land was open to homestead. [Joseph Arnold Ames] homesteaded 160 acres in a valley which was called Mound Valley because of the many mounds made by Indian graves. He gave his father 40 acres of this land and a part of it for a school house and a church house. He also sold part of it to two brothers by the name of Bennet and retained only 40 acres of this land for his own use. He built a log house on it and there his oldest daughter [ Marcia Frances Ames] was born 2 February 1888. Seven more children were born to them while living there.

William Henry Ames, Papa's grandfather, was born in Weston, Oneida, Idaho (later Franklin County) 4 June 1890. He is the 4th child and 3rd son in his family. Our records say all of his younger siblings are born in Mound Valley: Amy Amelia Ames 17 July 1892, Leroy Ames 14 September 1894, Elmer Azel Ames 24 October 1896, Althea May Ames 27 March 1899, Ida Ione Ames 11 August 1902. Ella Lorene Ames, the youngest daughter, was born 8 October 1905 and died one year and one month later on 4 November 1906. She is buried in Mound Valley.

Draft cards for both WWI and WWII for Elmer and Leroy both state they were born in Cleveland, Idaho now a ghost town.

1 Joseph Austin Ames, 3 we think  is William Henry Ames,
6 a descendant thinks this is Marcia Ames,  
9 Joseph Arnold Ames,
10 Jennett Amelia Ames nee Austin, circa 1942

"[Joseph Arnold Ames] was active in civic matters. Being clerk of the Board of trustees for the school for many years he had the responsibility of getting the school district free of debt, hiring teachers and all things connected with the school. He was Superintendent of Sunday School for many years and always active in church duties. He had many talents superior to most.

"He was able to take a forked stick, hold it tight in his hand and locate wells for everyone in the valley. He located wells for nearly everyone for 50 miles around. By grasping the stick tightly he would walk over the land and the stick would turn toward the ground. He could tell them how deep they needed to go to find water. He was much in demand for measuring hay as he could always tell within a few pounds just where to cut for a ton of hay.

"He had a severe case of small pox and nearly lost his life at one time. He was always friendly and well liked by everyone. A traveler always could find food and a bed when they came to his door. He could talk to the Indians in their own language and they were all his friends.

Joseph Arnold Ames, left, with his son Hyrum Ames and his son 

"He was a ward teacher to the end of his days, never too busy to stop whatever he was doing to go teaching whenever he could get his companion to go. 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 6 March 1933 and was buried in Ucon, Bonneville County, Idaho, on 9 March 1933.