ANYBODY REMEMBER THE JOE AND ELLEN GARRETT FAMILY OF NEPHI, UTAH

• If you are a newbie to Juab County, you outta make an effort to learn about this family. If you are an Oldie Goldie, you will remember Joe & Ellen and their kids, and if you kick in your Medulla Oblongata, you will also remember the parents of Ellen of Moroni, then Nevada, but always knew great music and great horses. Joe's parents were Rob and Erma Garrett of "The Serv" in Nephi. With the help of brain scrambling with the old man I saw in the mirror, I wanted to put their names up, as it is fun to look at the computer and watch the Rural Utah Cowboys excel in the genuine sport of Rodeo, and our rodeo will be here quicker that Charles Lindbergh's flight to Paris! Joe was born on the Garrett Farm, in the old cabin that still remains. When Joe headed to Moroni as a young Stud, he caught the attention of Marian Anderson, and Joe -who always had a joke or a line for your smile, saw this Sanpete beauty, he stood like a paralyzed Buck staring in headlights. I am trying to remember the dancing facility, as my Dad used to hang out there, and it may have been called the Bungalow, but it is "brain fog" hour, so not sure. Anyway, they got hitched and moved into the farm cabin when Rob and Erma moved up to the motel type shacks behind the Serv. Ellen put her foot down(yes she knew how to control Joe when needed) and took their baby Marian and started walking the two miles up 7th North. Joe finally went and brought her back on the Tractor, and fixed up the Chicken Coop of Bishop A.E. Smith, and with stepped up improvements thereof, that is where they stayed until Joe was hit with a painful Cancer and passed away, with the small close knit town that Nephi used to be-it was a very sad time. It was Joe, his son Bob and other local guys that worked their hind off for the Ute Stampede with no tax dollars. Ellen didn't miss church, and if Joe went to Church or a wedding reception, he would put on his new pair of Bibs. Ellen held on til she made it to 100 years old, and she was ready to be beamed up, I found joy to visit her and fetch her last supper. She wanted a small cone of ice cream tipped upside down in a cup and I helped her with it. I could feel it was the last time, and I told her it wouldn't be long, and sure enough after her daughter-Marian and Bob visited, she said her final good byes. As she grew up with music, attending about every Concert, Opera and program in North Sanpete, Ellen's mother would indoctrinate her with music and Ellen became the Sunday School Organist for church at age 12 years old, then continued in the LDS North Ward, then the 3rd and 4th Wards. That first day she played in the Moroni Church may be remembered for ions of time. The old pump organ they had coughed and wheezed, emitting a few notes from the hymn book and from other places unknown! Ellen didn't stop, but kept it up and soon became a great organ and piano player at church; weddings and funerals. While she was doing all of that she also worked for J.C. Penny of Nephi; Thermoid and then at the Agricultural Stabilization Conservation Office, which was in the offices above Parkin Motor(in their old place). With her help, it was citied as the best run AC office in Utah. Their daughter-Marian came along in 1935, but she was first called "apple blossom baby" but later legalized as Marian. She liked men in Uniforms, so when that Fountain Green Mikkelson Army guy returned from the upfront soldier of the Korean War, Gene wanted to attend every Ute Stampede, and at first, he was coming over to visit her and Joe said "Hey, the Ute Stampede is only once a year not evert dam weekend! Joe eased up when Gene and Marian got married and started to help Joe with farm work. They had a baby girl, but she soon died and I was too young to figure out that even us humans died. My parents tried to explain it, as I had a hard time with it. I thought it only happened to non humans! Joe was heavily involved with civic matters including the Ute Stampede and Nephi City Council, and his son Bob did both of that, but could sound out the truth a little louder than what Bob or I could, but somewhere along the line, we couldn't make good sense out of stupid nonsense.  We will have the Spirits of Cotton Rosser and Joe Garrett to entertain us at the Ute Stampede. Yes, the 4 nights is for you and your Kin. Just don't ask for use of the elevator, as it doesn't have brakes and you may find yourself floating on the soft, puffy clouds above. But always be ready, and able to rise when your bell rings, and enjoy the great Steeds of Joe Garrett of  yesteryear.
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LIKE IT OR DEAL WITH IT AS BEST YOU CAN-IT IS VOTE OR NO VOTE TIME.

Yesterday, I  had a delightful discussion with a candidate for re-election as a Juab County Commissioner. It was after my brother Hal and I returned from fishing in American Fork Canyon, so it was a good break. And that Canyon is still beautiful, but had as many stupidos speeding up and down there, it was almost like trying to drive up Track Street for a slow "Bish Belliston" drive! If you are new to Nephi or Juab County-for Hell Sakes, get to the DUP Museum and get to know your new area, or just go back to where you came from. No, I am not a part of the "Welcome Here Committee" and when I  was called upon years ago and asked if their was in fact plenty of water in Juab County, I told them "Never has been" as they had been told by  "selected" local leaders their was plenty of water here!  Anyway, I told yesterday's visitor he had my vote, as he is one of the few of any politicians in D.C.  or right here in Ute Stampede County, Utah that are worth anyone's vote. I told of how most of the Politician's I have dealt or worked with over 46 years are giant liars who are NOT interested in local citizens, but only themselves as they are in love/lust with money and hiring friends or family, but I re-informed this present Commissioner I truly admired him when I was on the Nephi City Council, as I thought their was only one other Council Member that was honest, and regardless of how I said "Out Loud" that we have Liars among us. After a little pushing on my part, I soon realized I shouldn't have taken over as a "Tricky Interrogator", like what I used to do for 42 years, I immediately sensed that Marty was as I expected-one honest man with respect for those Pioneer Forefathers buried at both of our cemeteries'. He told me how he went against the grain and voted "NO" on a matter, and "Voted to Table" on another. I quickly told him if a politician is going to vote Yes on everything, they are not doing any good as a politician. He knew that and after I said I would vote for him, even if he didn't take some fish home. He asked if I would still vote for him and I said "Dam Rights, because I could feel your honesty and integrity". He passed my test well enough, that whoever reads this.....I give my total support for Marty. When I was on the Nephi Council back then, three other Council Members- seldom voted along with me, as they often had what appeared as gross "Conflict of Interest" and on one occasion the City Attorney agreed with me, as it involved himself representing Nephi City and Juab School District, as that was during the time the School and the City were joining forces to build the "Hive", which now has become a sore spot for the residents nearby, as Hive visitors have been parking where they shouldn't and moving cars and trash barrels repeatedly. I informed the folks that spoke to me to have all of them go before the City Council as it was their job to take parking into consideration, then if that doesn't work, make a joint lawsuit against the City and the School! Often times, Council folks and Commissioner's rely on whatever the Manager/Administrator tells them, but often times those people-unlike what President Teddy Roosevelt did - he went out and talked, worked with and saw what other people did. He was one tough character, being shot once in the chest on the campaign, and although bleeding, that "Bull Moose" continued his speech.

                         

                                                            MARTY IN THE MIDDLE

IT IS NOW JUNE 1, 2026, WHICH IS NOW THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER!

ACCORDING TO THE NORTONVILLE, UTAH FARM GAZETTE, TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER IN UTAH. SO IF YOUR APPLES, PEARS AND CHERRIES FROZE, NEVER FEAR, AS WE HAVE PLANTED SOME NORWEGIAN WATER PLANTS THAT CAN GIVE YOU A POCKETFULL OF FLAVOR. IN A WAY, WE DON'T LIKE TO SEE MAY PASS US BY, AS IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE OUGHT TO DO MORE DEDICATION TO ALL WHO SERVED IN ANY CAPACITY IN OUR MILITARY. SO IF YOU THINK AS I DO(WHICH IS DANGEROUS), I HAVE THREE FRIENDS WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO YOUR LIST OF HERO'S. WE ARE NOT SURE WHOSE HOME IS BEHIND THEM, SO DIG DEEP IN YOUR PAST AND LET THE WORLD KNOW. THE PHOTO WAS BORROWED FROM THE FAMILY OF KEN ZABRISKIE. KEN'S WIFE WAS RUTH ZABRISKIE, DAUGHTER OF UNCLE HY TOLLEY, WHO WAS THE SON OF GUN AND ALSO THE SON OF WM. FISHER TOLLEY. IF MY BRAIN WILL WORK FOR A FEW SECONDS, ELDEN WAS ONE OF THE NEPHI COAL VENDORS LIVING DOWN BY THE DANGEOUS BRIDGE BY THE FOOD BANK, AND WHERE THE EVAN HARRIS FAMILY LIVED,  AND YES NEPHI CITY HAS BEEN WARNED AND WARNED THAT IF ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT OCCURS THERE, THE CITY "COULD AND WOULD" BE HELD LIABLE. WE ARE NOT REALLY SURE THE WHO AND THE WHERE ABOUTS OF JAY OLDROYD, BUT THAT COULD BE RELATED TO GOLDEN OLDROYD, WHO WAS FROM FT GREEN, AND TRIED TO TEACH SCHOOL TO SOME OF THE WILD KIDS IN GRADE SCHOOL AT THE CENTRAL SCHOOL. HE AND HIS NEW WIFE ALSO RAN THE MOTEL THAT IS NOW HIDDEN FROM VIEW, BUT SOMEHOW HAS FOLKS THAT CAMP OUT THERE. TRACY BOOTH WOULD TELL US THAT ELDON SPENT A LITTLE TIME IN FRANCE DURING WORLD WAR TWO AND FELL IN LOVE WITH A "UNE BELLE FILLE" AND BROUGHT HER HOME TO NEPHI, OR SO WE HEARD. JAY AND KEN APPEAR TO BE IN ARMY TYPE CLOTHING. SO FILL IN THE BLANKS IF YOU ALL KNOW, AND NEVER, EVER FORGET OUR VETERANS, EVEN THOSE GALS THAT WENT TO WORK BUILDING THE ARMS AND AIRPLANES. SELDOM DO WE GIVE CREDIT TO THE THOUSANDS OF WOMEN THAT DID THE WORK, AND FROM WHAT GARY B. JONES TOLD US YEARS AGO. " YOU WON'T FIND ANY GUY THAT CAN KILL AND CLEAN A TURKEY BETTER THAN RUTH TOLLEY ZABRISKIE" AND THE ONLY SON OF KEN ZABRISKIE SINGS FOR THE HAPPY CAMPERS AT THE LAUREL GROVES ASSISTED LIVING IN NEPHI. 

ONE MORE STATISCAL POINT IF YOU ARE IN THE MOOD. I DON'T KNOW WHERE ALL THE COMPUTER HITS COME FROM, BUT AS OF TODAY, WE BROKE OUR OWN MONTHLY RECORD FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT OPENED A BLOG. AS OF YESTERDAY, WE HAD 26,326 THAT OPENED A HISTORY BLOG AND SINCE WE STARTED TEN YEARS AGO, WE NOW HAVE 363,723. NOT SURE HOW LONG IT WILL LAST, AS THE COMPUTER "LORDS" KEEP THREATING TO SHUT ME DOWN IF I DIDN'T ADD SOME ADS, BUT AIN'T GOIN  DO IT. I CAME INTO THIS WORLD NAKED AND PENNILESS AND INTEND ON LEAVING THE SAME WAY!

THROUGHOUT HISTORY, A VARIETY OF NAMES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH "TOILETS"

 I choose not to go back to the time of the Garden of Eden, but will show a real life toilet used by myself in Great Britain a few decades ago. Nowadays, the Brits call the ones on the streets as (PC's) which stood for Public Convenience's, and they were along the streets in large cities such as London. They went straight down on the other side of where the underground trains traveled.When I was a kid in Nephi, we went up to ride the calves at Joe & Ross Garrett, but weren't allowed to use the indoor plumbing if President David O. Mckay was coming down, as it was standard procedure he stayed with the Stake President who was Ross Garrett. So, the inside restroom was spotless as their were four gals in the family, and Blake and us roughnecks had to use the outside "two holers" and couldn't use expensive toilet paper, but "Unworthy" newspapers! We still hung around the home of Ross Garrett, as to us young kids David O. McKay was the President of the LDS Church, and we had always been taught as youngster's that he was the only man on earth that was gifted with the power to directly communicate with God Himself. After a few years of walking the straight line, I began to falter, and finally arrived at this point in my stumbling, that unless I Repent with sincere effort, I just may join a never ending life of burning like the tumbleweeds we used to burn during agriculture burns, but that is another story. Back to the outdoor PC. Like my grandfather(Wm. Jones) who served on an LDS mission in the British Isles, I had his journal, and seemed to follow his footsteps, and I was now perplexed on how in the world I could flush this toilet type contraption. Before I came up with some of my own thoughts, I wondered how my brother-Medic Hal Jones survived such things on the front lines in Viet Nam, taking the place of Blair Wilkey of Nephi, who was killed a few days before. Those guys had to "improvise" and I tried to figure out the same. The TP they used was waxed paper, much like what my mother fixed our school lunches with. I was always a great believer in prayer, but thought their was more important issues to pray for. That same brother is undergoing heart surgery in the morning, so I am going to finish this story, so I can get in a more respectful place to pray for "Doc Hal" instead of this true, but unholy predicament. If you or a family member was in the 9th Infantry, if bullets from Sniper enemy didn't get them, a Pumjoi stick may. They were set up by the enemy and once a GI tripped the string, a stick covered with dog or human excrement would spring up and take them down. Medics like Hal could detect them and the foot soldier would follow his medical advice more than a Lt., as they didn't learn Viet Gong Guerrilla warfare in Officers School. At the "One Holer" I finally found a chain which I pulled and down the pipe ran rain water and opened the trap door. That was not like home, but better than going to a Viet Nam Outhouse, where there was one hole like an "Outhouse" where one would lean up against the wall; bend the knees and let it fly. I stood at the doorway for females to protect the privacy and then gave the person a squirt of disinfecting cleanser. The guy who invented the pictured toilet is "Sir John Crapper" and thus we get the nicknames. Okay, now go flush!

WE ARE ABOUT HALF WAY BETWEEN MOTHERS AND FATHERS DAY.

THE FIVE NEPHI JONES KIDS ARE HALF WAY BETWEEN FATHER AND MOTHERS DAY, SO WE THOUGHT WE WOULD CELEBRATE THE WEDDNIG DAY OF TWO GREAT PARENTS WHO TAUGHT FIVE RENEGADES THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING WORK FUN; LOVING AND RESPECTING EACH OTHER; RESPECT; PRAYING AND HELPING OTHERS, INCLUDING STRANGERS; OLDER AND LONELY PEOPLE AND I WILL NEVER EVER FORGET BOTH PARENTS SAYING HOW CRITICAL IT WAS TO ALWAYS VOTE FOR THE BEST PERSON RUNING FOR ANY POLICTICAL OFFICE AND AS FAR AS I KNOW WE DID, INCLUDING THE DIFFICULTY I HAD BEING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, WHICH REQUIRED A LOT OF HEADACHES TO DO, BUT DID AS OUR GOOD FOLKS ASKED. NOW THAT ALL OF US "CHILDREN" ARE OVER SEVENTY AND HAVE KIDS AND THREE OF THOSE KIDS HAVE A TRUCK LOAD OF GRANDCHIDREN AND GREAT GRANDKIDS, WE CAN TELL OUR GUARDIAN ANGELS WE DID THE BEST WE COULD AND THEY ARE NOW ON THEIR OWN, BUT PROUD OF WHAT WE TRIED TO DO. THIS IS AN OLD VALENTINE CARD THAT HAS THE SAME MEANING AS WHEN IT WAS PREPARED AND WRITTEN BY KENT JONES IN 1956 AND ADDRESSED ON THE BACK TO "FATHER AND MOTHER" FROM KENT JONES BUT THE REAL LOVE WAS FELT BY WESTON, HAL, KENT, GARY AND JAYNETTE BACK THEN AS WELL AS EVEN MORE TODAY.                                                                           

                                                                       

                                    

IT'S TWO MONTHS AWAY, BUT TIME TO PREPARE FOR UTE STAMPEDE

 WHEN THE JONES KIDS OF NEPHI-THE ONLY THING THAT WAS CONSTANT ON OUR MINDS WAS THE JULY EVENT OF THE GREATEST RODEO IN AMERICA. WE KNEW THEY HAD BIG TIME RODEO'S AT THE COW PALACE IN SAN FRANCISCO AND AT YANKEE STADIUM, BUT NOT AS GOOD AS IN RURAL NEPHI, UTAH. EVERY MORNING, I HAVE MY COFFEE AND KEEP TRACK OF THE GREAT WRIGHT BOYS OF BEAVER COUNTY, AS THEY ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO JUAB COUNTY TO CLAIM THEM. YEARS AGO, IT WAS THE THREE FULLMER BROTHERS OF WEST JORDAN, WITH GENE FULLMER BEING THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD IN MIDDLE WEIGHT, AND I BECAME GREAT FRIENDS WITH HIM AND DROVE HIM TO OGDEN TO SPEAK AT A LAW ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE. GENE PUT ON SOME WEIGHT AND HIS NOSE WAS AS FLAT AS A WALL, BUT STILL WAS TOUGH AS NAILS TILL HE DEPARTED WHEN HIT DEADLY WITH DEMENTIA. NOW WE GET TO FOLLOW SEVERAL UTAH COWBOYS WHO ARE NOW KICKIING THE BUTTS OF THE TEXAS BOYS. THE RODEO SEASON IS SLOW RIGHT NOW, AS THEY ARE AT THE RANCH IN MILFORD HELPING THEIR SISTERS WITH THE RANCH WORK AS THE GALS KNOW HOW TO BRAND AND DOCTOR THE CATTLE BETTER THAN THE BOYS. RIGHT NOW STETSON WRIGHT IS THE ALL ROUND CHAMPION IN LEAD AND FIRST PLACE AS THE SADDLE BRONC, BUT BROTHER RUSTY WRIGHT IS IN SECOND IN THE WORLD AND THEY ARE BOTH TOUGH, BUT HELP EACH OTHER AS WELL AS THE OTHER WRIGHT BOYS OF RYDER, STATLER; SPENCER; JESSE,JAKE AND THEIR TEACHER CODY AND . THEIR ARE MANY OTHER UTAH BOYS FIGHTING TO STAY IN THE TOP FIFTEEN THAT GO ON TO VEGAS FOR THE FINALS, WITH JOSH FROST TAKING FIRST PLACE IN BULL RIDING IN TEXAS. AND NOW ADAYS, THE VEGAS STRIP FANS GOT USED TO THE JONES BOYS WEARING THEIR COWBOY HATS AND LIKE IT! WHEN THE BLACKHAWK ENCAMPMENT SLOWED DOWN IN 1951, THAT WAS WHEN DR. P. L JONES WAS THE MAYOR AND HE GRAPPED OTHER GUYS TO PUT THE UTE STANPEDE TOGETHER, BUT WE DON'T GET MANY OF THE AMERICAN NATIVES TO JOIN US AS THEY ARE  DECLINING. FIRST RODEO COMMITTE WERE COPS OF E.C. SHERWOOD; JACK BROUGH, THEN RAY JACKSON; A JUDGE AND A DOCTOR, SO THEY KNEW HOW TO MAKE PEOPLE "VOLUNTEER". FLORENCE CHAPMAN WAS THE QUEEN OF BOTH THE BLACKHAWK ENCAMPMENT AND THE UTE STAMPEDE AND DR. J.C. SORENSON BROUGHT IN THE STOCK UNTIL OUR GREAT HERO-COTTON ROSSER TOOK OVER AND WE STILL LOVE HIM AND ANNOUNCER CHUCK PARKINSON. THEY NOW GET TO RIDE  "SPIRITUAL STEEDS". BUT FOR NOW LONG LIVE ALL THE GREAT COWBOYS OF UTAH AND IT IS NOW A FOUR DAY EVENT. I FLUNKED MATH AT JUAB HIGH, BUT IF YOU ADD UP WHAT THE WRIGHT BROTHERS HAVE EARNED SO FAR THIS SEASON, THEY HAVE GOT ABOUT A HALF MILLION DOLLARS SO FAR, AND IT AINT EVEN SUMMER TIME, BUT THEIR GREAT WIVES CAN HOLD THEIR MONEY TO PUT UP HAY FOR THE CATTLE. FIRST PHOTO IS OF COTTON ROSSER THEN SOME OF THE RIGHT WRIGHTS. OTHER UTAH COWBOYS ARE MASON CLEMENTS; HAYES WEIGHT; DEAN THOMPS0N (injured);COOPER BENNETT; COOPER JAMES; TYLER BINGHAM; CASH ROBB AND SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE WRIGHTS TEACHERS-CODY AND BILL WRIGHT AND THEIR MEDICAL DIRECTOR-EVELYN (MOM TOO)-AND SHAREE, MOM OF RUSTY, RYDER, STETSON AND STATLER, WHO JUST MAY GET SO CONFUSED, SHE JUST MAY SAY "HEY YOU" LIKE MY FOLKS DID WITH FOUR SONS ABOUT 10 MONTHS APART! THEN CAME JAYNETTE, WHO COULD OUTRIDE A HORSE  OR HARLEY ANY DAY BETTER THAN HER BROTHERS,  

                                                                                      

                                                                             

WAS IT PROPER TO SLAVE TRADE ON BLACKBOY HILL AT WHITE LADIES STREET

I LIVED IN ENGLAND FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS, THEN WENT ON TO THE LAND OF WALES TO DO RESEARCH ON MY MOTHER'S HARRIS KIN WHICH CAME TO AMERICA TO JOIN THE MORMON CHURCH IN 1855. AS I WALKED AROUND, I DECIDED TO PUT SOME MONEY IN ONE OF THE LARGEST BANKS IN THE BRITISH ISLES. IT WAS CALLED MIDLAND BANK AND I DEPOSITED 5 DOLLARS AND THREE CENTS, THEN WHEN I DEPARTED, I THOUGHT I WOULD WITHDRAW THE MONEY, AND TAKE MY TEN DOLLARS OF "SHILLINGS", BUT KEPT THE ACCOUNT BOOK WITH ME. I ASKED SOMEONE WHY THE BANK WAS LOCATED ON "BLACK BOY HILL" AND I  WAS DIRECTED DOWN TO WHITE LADIES STREET FOR ALL MY QUESTONS. A POLICE TYPE GUARD WAS POSTED THERE AND I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE HUNDREDS OF PRISONER TYPE CELLS WERE  FOR. IT WAS A QUESTION THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR, BUT FINALLY GAVE IN. THERE WAS A WATER WAY NEAR BY AND HE INFORMED ME THAT IS WHERE THEY BROUGHT ALL THE BLACK SLAVES FROM AFRICA TO BE SOLD IN AMERICA AS (FREE) SLAVES! THERE WERE HUNDERDS OF CELLS FOR MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN, BUT HADN'T BEEN USED FOR A HUNDRED YEARS, IT WAS A PITIFUL SIGHT, AND IT WAS CALLED WHITE LADIES STREET, BECAUSE THE BUYERS WERE WOMEN WEARING ALL WHITE AND THE SLAVES WERE KEPT BY THE BUYER AND IN MOST CASES SHE WOULD USUALLY SPLIT THE FAMILY UP IF SHE OR HUSBAND DIDN'T APPROVE OF THEM. ABE LINCOLN FREED THE SLAVES, BUT IT TOOK A HUNDRED MORE YEARS BEFORE THE MIDLAND BANK WENT BROKE, WHO HELPED THE SLAVE OWNERS. I QUICKLY ASSUMED THAT ALL HISTORY BOOKS (LIKE MOST POLICIANS) NEGLECT TO TELL THE TRUTH; THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH!