POSTCARDS TO AND FROM HOME

While we looking for something from the various binders we have, three Postcards from the past fell out in front of me. The first one we previously wrote about, which was from Bish Belliston to our father-Alma Jones. The second one is dated in 1941 from Louise to Mrs. Elizabeth Jones on North Main in Nephi. I am not a hundred percent sure, but the last name could be the name of Broadhead, as I know that our family is related, so  take a look and send your thoughts. The third postcard is from downtown Benjamin, Utah to Mr. and Mrs Wm Jones, with no address other than in Nephi, Utah. When it was sent on Dec. 22, 1934 was a time when we didn't need a zip code or even an exact address as our postal people knew where everybody lived or dwelled. That last post card shows it is from Alma, Ruth and family. I remember going through a herd of photos about forty years ago, seeing if my Dad recognized who they were.  Alma Jones said that Ruth was a half-sister to Elizabeth Tolley Jones. That was during a time when Brigham the Young said more than one wife was okay. That was back then, so good thing the LDS received a message from the Heavens or a lot of women sending letters saying "Hell No". Smile while you read. 

TODAY WE WRITE ABOUT "BISH" BELLISTON OF NORTONVILLE

When we are young, it appears we can be mean at times. Some of us get over that, and develop the Christlike attributes' of respecting all people of the earth. So this apology comes late, but wanted to write it to somehow make it up to him and his family. My father is Alma C. Jones, who was born and raised in Nortonville, Utah, then later moved in with his mother and father and cooked for them at their Nephi home on the corner of 7th North and Main. However, his mother died, and her husband-Wm was invited to stay with his daughter and her husband-Erma and Rob Garrett. Will Jones passed away just before this writer was born and proud to carry his name as my middle name. In  the Depression Era of America, farmers were hit as hard as the big city folks didn't have the property to have gardens and cattle. Wm and Liz appeared to be allergic to hoarding money, as they gave their money and food to others in dire need. I found that concept trickled down to my father, who was a mason and plaster expert who learned his trade from the honest man that built Nephi High School on Main Street that is now the Juab  County Complex. That school was guaranteed to last a hundred years, but that was surpassed, but local officials didn't want to celebrate it. As a kid, I remember helping mix the "mud" in a wheelbarrow or a long mixing trough for my Dad. He would often do touch up jobs, like what he did on the foundation for Zora Booth who lived on the corner of 8th North and second East. My dad fixed it and charged her only five dollars. Zora was tickled pink. After we left, my Dad pulled over and gave me the five dollars for helping to mix the mud and do touch up. I told my Dad Thanks, as that would make a down payment on a lawnmower I was going to buy from Ross Garrett at the Utah Poultry. But I asked my Dad why he didn't charge her more as the bag of cement cost more than I received and Alma didn't get a plug nickel. In a kindly fashion, my father of fathers gently explained that Zora was less fortunate and she just couldn't afford it, and that if we didn't fix the concrete stairs, she could fall and really get hurt. I learned much from that small but great reasoning and found out his father was the same way, who had lost two sons and his wife was pregnant with who would be Vic Jones. Even with all of that, he accepted a mission call from the Prophet of the LDS Church. He and Liz prayed about it, and they received their answer. They would sell part of the farm below their log home in Nortonville, and ask the relatives and good neighbors in Nortonville to take care of the farm. I felt blessed to have been called on a mission where my grandfather went and for some miracle beyond my senses, people had seem to be waiting for another Jones to appear. Now I have explained my foundation and now the rest of the story. Leland Belliston purchased the lower part of the farm, and it was me and the other Jones brothers that would hitch a ride out and pull the Rye from the grain. Leland was his real name but most folks just called him "Bish". Now the apology! When I became a teenager, like others of that age, our brains were not in sink with the Souls deep within all that was given to us by God. Bish had a large car, but he was a very slow driver, and we mistakenly called him "Hazard", as all young whipper snappers' drove like a bat out of hell, and only now that I am old do I see and hear that. When we picked Rye for Bish, I started to see what a great man he was and would make sure we kept liquidized. It wasn't until he sent letters to my Dad saying how much he enjoyed their friendship and how much he didn't want to have to live with his sons up north, as he enjoyed driving around the Nephi area and up the canyon to see the fall leaves. Well Bish, you can enjoy the beauty of the heavens above, as their is beauty beyond belief. And I remember your friend Alma telling us kids that you were the star of the high school basketball team, and the fastest player on the Court. So I for one, feel sorrow to have called you a Hazard driver, as the young dumb drivers call me the same now a days.

IT'S CHRISTMAS, 1996

 Dear Weston, Hal, Gary and Jaynette                                                   Dec. 25, 1995

I thought this may be a great time to send my Christmas cards, as I ran out of the 10 cent stamps. The good thing was that there were no lines at the Post Office; no fighting the lines in the store; no dodging Salt Lake Traffic, and no good football on TV, and it seemed like yesterday I was cheering for Y.A Tittle, the greatest Quarterback their would ever be. I will try to decipher some of the information I heard on the gossip line. Our younger brother-Gary B. is alive and well. He has been living out of a suitcase, but may have finally settled down(for a little while) living on Yellow Stone Rd. in Fairbanks, Alaska, and no, it is not called that because of all the gold that ain't there anymore, but "creature's" in the night. He said me may not be down for Dad's Birthday, but will try to make it for the Alma Jones Trek in March, 1996. If everybody is in an agreement, I will lead you down to Cedar City and that area for the weekend. Those who are traveling to Nephi, we could stay the first night in the Bates motel here in Nephi on the first friday in March, 1996. No, Judge Robertson isn't running anymore, so it has dropped a few levels, but we can fit about 6 family members to a room, with one bathroom, but just east of it, they still have a two holer John, so bring your own bug spray; TP and nosepin, unless you want to catch a death disease. The next day, we need to get up as early as John Wayne did in the big screen, as Weston sat with him on a plane to the Philippine's to make a movie about Viet Nam, and got to "get rolling as daylight is burning". We can choose what we want to do, but if you leave it up to me(by dam you better), we will stop at Cedar to gas up and eat those left over Spam and eggs you had for supper last night. Then we will pick up my buddy-Bill Loader and take a tour of the Iron Mission State Park, where they loaded the iron ore and shipped  up to Ironton on the old road to Salt Lake. As I do part time work at Antelope Island, I have a group pass to take as many people as I want through any State Park in Utah.We will then go west young man, and stop at the Parowan Gap, which is where the Native Indians (Fremonts) would write their history on the giant cliffs there. I am only an artificial Archeologist, so I have contacted a friend that lives in Parowan,who will tell us all about the truth of what the "Ancient Ones" did there. I was able to figure out some of the circles and "horses with ears", but he will tell you the truth that they are deer. And remember he is a good guy, so Kami, keep Brayden from asking him if they are just Jackasses of a thousand years ago!  We will then cut across to the south and find a road to where an Indian Massacre occurred during the early days of the LDS Church. Most of the ground around where the large sign showing it is sacred area is owned by my friend, so we can do some digging to see if we find sione if the implements of the wagon train that was heading from Salt Lake to Santa Clara, which was the Southern Home of Brigham the Young. If we find a bone of any kind, we must leave in there and figure out who is offer a prayer for those that were slaughtered and by whom.The truthful thing is that a herd of bad guys were coming up from the South, and one of the Apostles was Parley P. Pratt, and they yelled at the LDS wagon train saying they are the gun slingers that killed Parley Pratt, then strung him up. Them Mormons sent a fast horse to Salt Lake saying "should we defend ourselves or what?" Brother Brigham Young didn't get the message and so the facts may be that the Mormons sought the help of local Indians and the Pale Faces ;painted up and killed most of the adults on the Mormon Wagon Train, To me and to Bill Loader, we made up our own minds after we did a lot of research there, and found where John D, Lee took the blame and shot while sitting, then the family re-buried him in Panguitch. I think I am out of space so stay tuned to the Nortonville Gazette for the next edition whenever it strikes me.

                                                Kent, son of Alma, from the land of Nephi

                                                                       Parowan Gap

HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY-ALMA COYN JONES OF NORTONVILLE, UTAH

Pretend it is March 10, 1903 and Nortonville, Utah is a busy place this time of year. Shires and other Plug horses are busy getting the fertile fields ready for planting. In those days, their was in fact plenty of water under the ground, but it went dry for all inhabitants when an outsider came to town after he found out how he could dig a well a lot deeper than regular farmers, and needless to say, he wasn't one of the Jones/Tolley/Ingram or others that settled with the pioneers, but the only ones that say their is plenty of water under Juab County, just may be Politicians, or so I have been told. Wm. Jones, who died just before I was born, was a great man, who temporarily gave up farming there, and went on an LDS Mission to the British Isles, leaving his brother-Ed Jones and a pregnant wife-Liz Tolley Jones, to take care of the farm and the church, and they did good from what I can tell from all the journals I have read. I know that I can never live up to my grandfather, who would often say  "If you can't say anything good about somebody, then don't say anything at all". As I spent 46 years listening to DAM politician's just for the love of money for themselves rather than the taxpayer...... I better find that bar of soap my mother left me for cursing. I will go back to praying, as our Heavenly Father can do more Kick Ass than I can, but I just may pray for that great President Trump, who in my mind, is one of the top leaders we American's have ever had, and proud to say I was a true American that voted for him each time he ran, and saved the letter he sent back the first time, but I knew some folks I worked with that were angry of that. Anyway, thanks Dad for going after LaVon Harris and together, you both knew how to work hard; cook great, and taught us how to play while we were working. That was back then, and  Nephi will never ever be the same. Don't worry Mom, I will repent........ next week, or maybe April 1st ???? And while we you are planting spiritual sugar cane in the clouds, thanks for praying that your three Viet Nam Era Sons came home, while me and Jaynette were racing each other on the barrel racing. Rheta, Alene, Maple and Don Sperry voted our little sister as the real winner and now she has a bedroom all to herself when her brothers were away traveling the world fighting for freedom.

ALMA C. JONES FAMILY TREK OF 2000

On or about the birthday of Alma Jones of Nortonville, Utah, his family kids would often take a trip of a day or two regarding where any of us traveled to or from, including ones that his father-Wm. Jones took railroad supplies to Pioche, Utah Territory that is now in Nevada. In Pioneer times, the railroad only came to the area by Dr. Steele Ranch, so Mule Skinners like Ed and Wm. Jones would take supplies to Caliente and Pioche, which in those days  were settled as Mormon towns. After "Cash" Jones passed away in 1984, his five kids and their kids would keep up the habit of travel on old dirt roads if we could find them and learn history the fun way. If we did this the write way or even the wrong way, you will

have to figure it out. Sorry, don't know how to make this attached whatmacall it bigger to read.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR TROY COYN JONES OF NEPHI, UTAH

HE DOESN'T HAVE A COMPUTER OR A PHONE; NOT EVEN A CAR, BUT HAS A FAMILY THAT LOVES HIM VERY MUCH. AFTER HIS HERO AND BROTHER TOOK HIS OWN LIFE FOR MISSING ONE ALCOHOL CLASS AND THE WEST JORDAN J.P WOULDN'T LET HIM GO TO THE BATHROOM TO CLEAN UP OR HE WOULD KILL HIMSELF. HE DID.TROY'S PAIN WAS MORE THAN HE COULD BARE, AND ALL OF THE COUNSELING MONEY'S DRAINED ME DRY, TROY'S  ANGER ROSE TO A LEVEL AGAINST POLICE, WHO  OFTEN APPEARED TO ENJOY SENDING THEIR K-9 UNITS TO TEAR OPEN HIS ARMS AND LEGS AND REFUSED TO RETURN HIS CLOTHES AND FOOD VOUCHERS. I WAS AT WIT'S END. I WASN'T SURE IF TROY'S ANGER WAS DIRECTED AT THE POLICE OR AT ME FOR MY 42 YEARS OF SERVICE  IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. YESTERDAY WAS FRIDAY THE 13TH, SO WE STOPPED OUR VEHICLE AND GAVE HIM A HUG AND TOLD HIM WE LOVED HIM AND BOUGHT SOME CLOTHES AND FOOD, BUT REPORTS THAT THE FOOD STAMPS OR THE CARD ARE STOLEN BY FEDERAL OFFICIALS. AFTER 20 YEARS OF THIS REPEATED STORY, I GAVE UP ON CONTINUED LOVE BUT GIVING COMMON SENSE INFORMATION. HOWEVER, WE BOTH AGREED THAT JAIL TIME IS BEST, BUT OFFICERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO KEEP HIM PENNED UP AND AGAINST THE JAIL COMMANDER. I HOPE AND PRAY FOR HIM. GOOD AND BAD GUYS WANT TO KILL HIM.

                                               

                           WE TURNED HIM LOOSE IN WEST SALT LAKE COUNTY. 

HERE IS A PHOTO OF THE FOUR NEPHI JONES BOYS FR0M 1994

OUR MOTHER -LAVON HARRIS JONES WAS GIVEN NOTICE BY AN ACCLAIMED DOCTOR WHO NEW EVERYTHING ABOUT CANCER. ALTHOUGH SHE HAD CANCER OF THE COLON, WE THOUGHT ALL OF IT WAS REMOVED 7 YEARS BEFORE. BUT SOMETIMES THOSE LITTLE DEATH CELLS HIDE AS HERS DID. ALL OF THE GRANDKIDS AND GARY STAYED WITH HER NIGHT AND DAY, AND THE THREE BOYS' HUNTED DEER, BUT ONLY SORT OF, AS WE WANTED TO BE CLOSE TO THE FAMILY HOME WHICH WAS BUILT IN 1885. IT HAD 5 ENTRY WAYS AND SO DIVIDED FOR FOUR FAMILY RELATIONS TO LIVE THERE, WITH THE WEST DOOR ON THE PORCH AS A FAMILY ROOM, THEN ONE ON THE LEFT WHICH MY DAD AND I ADDED ON FOR A WALK IN CLOSET FOR MORE CLOTHS. THE MOTHER OF ALMA JONES DIED THERE, AS WELL AS ALMA AND LAVON, AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. OUR FAMILY VOTED AGAINST GAS COMING IN, AS IT IS AS LOT CHEAPER, AND FOR FAMILIES THAT WANT GOOD HEAT, THEY KNOW WHERE TO COME FOR A GOOD WOOD FIRE.WOOD FIRES KEPT US CLEAN PROVIDING HEAT FOR THE BATHTUB AND WOOD HANGERS IN THE WINTER AND ALWAYS GREAT HOT BREAD ON TUESDAYS, WHICH MADE US ALL RUN HOME FROM SCHOOL ON TUESDAYS, AS THAT WAS BREAD AND ROLL COOKING DAY.          .

NOW BACK TO THE FOUR BOYS. I BELIEVE THAT PHOTO WAS TAKEN IN 1994 DURING THE DEER HUNT. IT APPEARS ALL HAVE MUSTACHES EXCEPT HAL.HE WAS NOT USED TO THOSE THINGS ON THE FRONT OF A KILL ZONE, LIKE HE WAS IN VIET NAM, HE NEEDED THAT SPACE AGAINST AGENT AGENT ORANGE OR TO STOP INFECTION TO THE WOUNDED. WE DO KNOW THAT HE MAY HAVE A BAD LEFT SHOUDER AS HE IS HOLDING HIMSELF UP AS MAY THE OTHER GUYS,  ALL OF THEM LOOK LIKE THEY GOT THEIR THUMBS IN THEIR POCKETS. AND STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT WES IS HIDING BEHIND HIS BACK WITH HIS LEFT HAND! I ALSO NOTE THAT GARY IS THE TALLEST AND KENT IS THE SHORTEST BUT BY DAM HE HAS THE BIGGEST GIRTH. WE ALL LOOK QUITE GRUMPY, AS OUR GOODLY MOTHER WAS ABOUT TO TAKE THE WARP SPEED ELEVATOR  AND AT TIMES EACH OF US FEEL HER NEARBY. NOW TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHICH NEPHI MOTEL WE WERE IN. GARY HAD A LONG TRIP FROM ALASKA BRINGING IN A HALF TON OF SALMON AND HALIBUT TO THE NEEDY. AND WE GOT THEM DELIVERED AND IT MADE OUR MOTHER HAPPY.