A couple more wedding invations that are late, but still valid, and especially with Bud Hammond of the Nephi Drug who will still take contributions for his daughters wedding gift.

If you don't remember how beautiful Georgia Haymond was, this photo from The Times News may  refresh your memory. As I recall, she was also pretty dang smart and active in Juab High student stuff. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George D. Haymond Jr.  A few blue moons ago she wedded Bruce A. Thompson, a nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Ludlow of down town Benjamin, Utah.

The second wedding invitation is from 1905 and sent to relatives in Nephi, Utah. It is to announce the wedding of Annie Theresa Stevens to Mr. Edward Jackson. The ring exchange was at Empire, Nevada, and they made their home at Tecoma, Nevada. If you look closely at this aged document, you can see the similar rust stains that are in Empire and Tecoma, as they are both now ghost towns. In their hay day, they were the towns to be in, with Empire being an important mining town for gypsum, and Tecoma being an important layover for train passengers, and yes, before that-stagecoach folks.

If you are a farmer from Juab County, you know how important irrigation water is. This is what it cost to make a cement headgate for ditches in the late 1940's

Utah is the second driest state in the Union, and as such, water is a critical factor to the farmers which built Juab County and sustained it for the past 164 years. In the old days, we used canvas to block the ditches for "our turn" to "water". We would shovel clods of grass or dirt on the sides to hold it in place. It was a weekly chore, often in the middle of the night, but that is how all farmers did it. Then came Alma Jones of Nephi, Utah, who by trade new cement. In the 1950's he devised a system where he could make reusable wood forms to build the head gate, then re-use it for the next water user that called him. This is his receipt book and two of the receipts for Eugene Pay and Art Scott. As a youngster, I recall helping him take up the forms and place them in another ditch. We thought we were going to make millions on this non-patented idea. The dam broke when they started to put in cement ditches, and then in the city-they put the water in pipes underground, as it conserved water. Well that is progress I guess, but I miss the hot summer days when I could float my boat down the ditch all the way down from the head gate of Ross Garrett down 7th North to our place.

Here are three more orignal photos thought to be a hundred plus years old, but we know not whom they are.

In the first photo, we at least know the happy child is from Nephi, as on the lower part of the border is stamped "F.C. Chapman Photography   Nephi, Utah".

The second happy kid photo has the reverse side showing it was by way of the "Fox and Symons" photography of Salt Lake City, Utah.

The third photo is a size I haven't seen before, which is 7 X 10.  I am not sure who they are, but suspect they may be one of the Tolley families who went to California a hundred years ago to build roads and buildings.

It is just an assumption, but worth your consideration. Perhaps the two photos of the youngins are smiling because they stayed in Juab County, and the other folks are not so happy as.....they moved to California. Those of you from California....take it easy...it is just a passing thought.

These two vintage photos are the orignials that were sent to Sarah Warren Tolley of Nephi.

The first photo is thought to have been taken at least a hundred years ago.  On the reverse side is written "To Grandma from George & Mede little Fay".  As this photo was in the same collection of items belonging to the Nephi, Utah family of Wm. and Sarah Tolley family of the late 1800's we assume it may have been sent from her son, George Tolley.

On the reverse side of the second photo, it has written "To Aunt Louise from your Nephew Allen B. Christy Jr."

This is the program showing the main speakers in an LDS Sacrament Meeting on June 28, 1970 in Nephi, Utah.

Is this really possible, or was it a misprint!  What in the world would these two Jones boys be doing in a church together, and giving a speech without the chapel being hit by lighting.

Boxer Jay Fullmer was laid to rest today, He was the youngest of the famous three brothers who made Utah proud during the 1950's and 60's

During the 1950's, West Jordan, Utah was put on wide world of sports map. Those were the days when the main sport in Utah was hunting, fishing and boxing, with the Fullmer brothers being the boxing sensation of the world. I have never met Jay, but I did become friends with his big brother-Gene Fullmer, who became the Middle Weight Champion of the World. I felt impressed to go to the funeral of Jay today, just to pay respect to this famous family who were hero's not only to Juab county people but all of Utah. Years before, Utah was proud of Jack Dempsey, who was known as the "Mormon Mauler" and we had the same pride for the Fullmer's. I met Gene when a co-worker introduced me to him at his home and farm near 9200 South and 2200 West in West Jordan. The three brothers and their families lived side by side, and their mother in the home behind them where they grew up. Gene was trying to sell a horse trailer and I was trying to buy one. He presented me with a challenge. He said I could pay him whatever price he set, or I had the chance to punch him once in the gut. If he didn't groan, winch or made another body noise, I would pay double, but it was free if I could hurt him. That was 25 years ago, and I was in good shape, but he didn't like he was. While considering this option, I recalled a time when Juab High School students took a trip to Salt Lake, and the bus driver diverted to Redwood Road so we could stop at the home of Marv Jensen, where there was an outside boxing ring. Marv was the trainer for the Fullmer brothers, and we were thrilled to watch Gene workout. I became familiar with his training, as he would invite kids to jump on his gut to make his stomach as hard as steel. Gene didn't have a long arm reach, so he let the opponents continue to smack him until his face was beat up, then after the other boxer tired, Gene would give the knockout punch, and became the champion of the world. I remembered that, and knew how rock hard his stomach may still be, so needless to say, I didn't gamble. We became friends, and gracious to let my family view his home where his basement was covered in murals of his bouts. I later took him to various places as a motivational speaker for some down and out people. His brother Don came close to being a World Champion, but died just three years ago from the same leukemia that got Jay. Brother Jay fought good and hard for four years, starting in Madison Square Garden in 1956 and won several until 1960, until his career was cut short when he sustained an eye injury. He then opened the Fullmer Brothers Boxing Gym in West Jordan, where he helped to turn thugs in to good men. At todays funeral, his son asked for all fighters who were taught by Jay to stand up, and I was taken back by the many that did. Like his brothers, Jay was an all round good guy. Of the thousands he taught boxing to, he had only three rules-no smoking, no drinking and be respectful to your mother. He lived by that, and devoted to his family. Jay worked for Kennecott for 31 years, then a gun toting Salt Lake County Sheriff's Bailiff for thirteen years. Boxing was in his blood, so he also spent 50 years as a boxing referee and Judge. Although the sporting world of today's looks at other athlete's, to the young men of Juab County and Utah, these brothers were the real deal. No artificial phoniness, just stalwart good fighters.They didn't have to look mean or dance around the ring, they just stood there and fought hard. In talking to a family member after the funeral, my heart sank even more when I discovered they were not expecting Gene to live much longer, suffering from Alzheimer's and Dementia. None of us will make it through life, but it is sad when we start loosing the Fullmer brothers. As a youngster of 13 years old, I wanted to be just like a Fullmer, so I signed up for boxing, but fought only once. I won with a TKO, but it was against one of my best friends-Vard White, and I was not about to punch another friend. That was on March 1, 1961 in Nephi, Utah. The ring photo was courtesy of the Salt Lake Tribune showing left to right; Don Fullmer, Jay Fullmer, Gene Fullmer, Marv Jenson, Kade Fullmer and Ellis Gross.

Between 1914 and 1918, Nephi's Arlington was considered one of the top theaters around.

The two photos were taken from the book "They Left A Record", which shows a great history of Nephi, Utah. It has a photographic description of one of the finest theaters around for live productions. The Juab County Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum has an excellent photo of the inside, which shows it luxuriousness. In case you missed the Nephi High School Alumni Mid-Year Ball of 1916, I have a ticket if you are willing to pay the ticket price of  75 cents, but that seems to be a lot for way back then. Now who did the ticket belong to. Let's pretend you were a 23 year old man, who is tall; good looking and college educated and just returned from World War One, where you were severely injured, but welcomed home to Nephi as a War Hero. There was a lot of pencil scripting on the back of this ticket, but it appears he repeatedly wrote the name of the finest woman around, and Vic Jones would marry Alberta Blackett in 1920, as she had been his love of life.

Here are four vintage photos, with two being as old as 1860, as they had belonged to the Nephi, Utah Tolley family.

We have no idea who these photos are of, but we can speculate until somebody has a better guess than me. These original photos belonged to Wm. and Sarah Warren Tolley who were Mormon pioneers, first helping to establish Sanpete County, then coming to Nephi, Utah to help build roads with Wm. being in the Blackhawk War and local Marshall. The first photo has the identifying photographer on the back, which shows Anderson of Ephraim, although the other ink marks are unreadable. As Wm. and Sarah had been in Ephraim in the late 1850's, we wonder if all these folks had been a part of other Mormon settlers in Sanpete or of the original Tolley family. The four women on the top row kinda like the men they are putting their hands on. The last two photos are of a different era, and we have seen dates on similar postcard type photos, which are only about a century old. These are ones that we may ship off to the LDS Church who can then make it available to the millions who will have computer access to them for identification purposes. If you know who they are please contact your local pioneer office!

A short history lesson of the Levan, Utah LDS churchhouse, then some insight in to the add on of the building next door.

Many travelers by pass Levan, Utah and as such they miss out on a grand view of the LDS Chapel. It is a beautiful ward house for the worshipers of Levan, and information shows it was constructed in 1904, at a cost of $16,000.00  The building was later dedicated by Joseph F. Smith, the President of the Mormon Church and five hundred people came to watch. The high ceiling was designed so they could put a balcony in later, but it never was. I am not sure of the exact year, but I am guessing it was in 1960. That was when the building next door had the interior walls put in. I recall it well was I was hired at age 12 to be the cement mixer. The boss was my father Alma Jones, and he often hired other people to assist him, but I was the mixer, using a hoe and a long trough type box. Alma kept track of the amount of fibered plaster he used; the sand, then the bags of lime for the final coat. The bib overall size notebook shows others who helped, including Gerald Carter; Edgar Christensen; Glen Christensen and Lloyd Stephenson. During the several week job, I recall we would splurge at times and have a great lunch at the café, which still stands, but just verily. It all brings back good memories, not only of the café, but the first real job and was able to meet other kids my age in Levan.

This is a never been seen before(at least by me) of the Golden Wedding Anniversary photo of Dell and Zelda Vest Jones of Idaho Falls, Idaho

This photo had been placed in a letter sent to Alma Jones of Nephi many years ago.  The photo was taken for the Golden Anniversary of Dell and Zelda on Dec. 10, 1967.  Although Dell(Warren Bardell Jones) was born in Eureka in 1896, he grew up in Nortonville, the son of Wm. and Elizabeth Tolley Jones. Unlike his brother-Vic who was tall, Dell was short, but very thick. After returning from World War I in France, he traveled to Idaho to work potatoes, and stayed with his "Idaho Tolley" cousins. He was built like a brick, and had the reputation of being able to pick up a hundred pound bag of potatoes and throw one on each shoulder and load in the truck.

My invites to these wedding's came late, so thought I better let everybody else know in case theirs were late too.

I keep forgetting to notify the Post Office whenever I move, so sometimes it takes awhile for letters to catch up with me. Although that strategy has not been effective with bills, it seems to be with wedding receptions. These three are about forty seven years late, but you can still donate money at Nephi Drug.

 

 

Here they are...the final list of Juab High School graduates, which includes the one the school wanted to leave off and banish.

The year was 1965, and the place was Juab High School in Nephi, Utah. The Viet Nam War just got started and people were starting to demonstrate throughout the United States and the world. Little did most folks know that eighty nine teenagers were about to do their own sit down demonstration. School officials were not going to let Number 90 graduate. As most of us had grown up together from Kindergarten on, we were not going to let that happen, so the word was put out that none of us would walk unless they let our friend graduate and walk with us. Most parents and local officials were distraught, as were school big wigs. We knew the student did all the required work, but somebody threw a dirt clod in to try to stop it. We didn't sit around and smoke joints, but we were still going to throw everybody in a tailspin, unless they let him graduate. Our school administrators were good people, and they listened to reason. He did walk with us and his name is right here on this here aged program. Sometimes, we just want our case to be heard fairly and back then, it was. The Class of 65 was family, and we always stuck together.

We know who the one person is, but not sure of the other that has three people in it.

We are reasonably sure the first person is Cloe Tolley of Juab County, as that is the handwritten and older cursive name on the back. The second photo shows no names, but we think it may be people of the same Tolley family, as the photos were found together, and both have the same hard cardboard frame. Both have the same photographer of Anderson of Springville, Manti and Nephi, Utah.
If you know who they are, we would appreciate any help. We estimate the photos are 125 years old and belonged to Sarah Warren Tolley who died at 15 East 7th North in Nephi, Utah, USA in 1916.

What wisdom would a 93 year old Nephi man share with the young folks of Juab County. This is the notes from interview today with Ronald Jones.

Ron Jones was born in Nortonville, Juab County in 1921. Interesting enough, that was the same birth year of another cowboy named John Wayne. Ron Jones was the real cowboy of Juab County, enjoying riding his horse up the Nortonville lane to his Uncle Will Jones' place, who provided local grown sugar cane to both Ron and his brother Harold. It took some time, but Ron finally admitted he was the younger brother of his twin, but not by much. Ron is the son of Edward Leonard Jones, or who they called "Len" as there was so many other Edward Jones in the family tree. Ron and his family moved in to Nephi when he was six years old. When in Nortonville, their home was a no longer standing home north of where Russell Jackson and his family lived. He married Barbara Winter of Levan and they had three kids, including Mona Lee, who has passed away, and the two singing sons of Mark Jones of Nephi and Merrill Jones of Pocatello, Idaho. In visiting with Ron at his home today, it was quite clear this was a man of high work ethics. He worked for Juab County for 38 years, and could handle any piece of road machinery they put him to work on. Although that was rigorous enough, he was a little bored on the weekend, so for those two days, he worked for Evan Blackett at the Premium Oil. He did that every weekend for 36 years. I am not good at math, but that sounds like he did 36 straight years working every single day, but still kept a great marriage together and produced great kids. Although he is 93, he takes care of himself; recalls people; places and offers enormous wisdom. He said he was happy and grateful for his life; his family and wouldn't change a thing in his life. He expounded on the importance of working, just plain working. It keeps the mind and the body in tune. To young people of the world, he thought it was important to know how they are going to pay for a home, a trailer or other toy before they found themselves in debt. The people of the Ute Stampede thought he and his brother Harold were such great horsemen, they made them dual Grand Marshalls, as they wouldn't do it without the other. This Jones boy is one all of Nephi and Juab County can be proud of. He is a home grown good guy.

Back in the day, Mona had a good basketball team and when "Church Ball" was played, they were rough with little brotherly love.

These clippings were taken from the weekly paper of "The Times News", printed in Nephi, Utah, of the USA. Back in 1966 when this edition came out, Church Ball had some mighty fine basketball players, but I recall, it was very rough and tumble. These Mona boys did well however. I would also include what people of Mona were doing and who they were visiting during the winter of 1966.

"The Key Of Promise" was the title of the Pageant Commerating the anniversary of the Relief Society of the LDS church. These are the stars of that Juab Stake Production of 1958.

It may be difficult to read the names of the stars of this production, as they are hand written in pencil on the right side, so I will attempt to help. The Prophet was played by Dick Chase; Woman in White was Alberta Bean; Woman in Black was Jane Bean;  President was Mrs. Richard Sudweeks; First Counselor was Bessie Tolley; Second Counselor was Mrs. Fred Chapman; Secretary played by Ida Beck and the two Visiting Teachers were Georgia Carter and Julia Bills.  I didn't include the whole script, but will hang on to it. Since I had some information about Ruth Chapman, I scanned that for your late night reading entertainment.

Should I continue to safekeep these itens for historical purposes or can I chuck them.

Western Airlines was considered the "Champagne" of commercial air travel and when they went out of business with Delta buying them out, I thought to keep one of their cheap clothes bags and other memorabilia. That was the same mentality with the ZCMI bag when the LDS Church put a halt to their  department store operations, selling out to Macy's, even though it had been going strong since Brigham Young days. I also put my Gold Strike Stamp book away just in case of a dire emergency and they came back strong. Well, none are re-surfacing in Fortune 500, so is it okay to discard them. I am going through my boxes titled "Potential Antiques".

I am still confused...should I buy a brand new Mercury Comet at Parkin Motor or go for the gusto of an Impala from Steve Greenwood.

I picked up a copy of Nephi's The Times News today, but come to find out, it was from the Feb. 10, 1966 edition, so not sure we can still buy that new Comet for the asking price of $2,320.00. It is still fun to look at those cars, especially the Comet which is completely equipped with heater; back-up lights and emergency flasher. They had it all back then
.

Most of us known that we have to pay some taxes to keep the government helping us, but what are these taxes in Juab County in 1963!

In 1963, the Juab County Treasurer was Ada A. Sperry. As such, it was her responsibility to send out Tax Notices for folks that had local property. We don't want the government to overtax us, most can accept that it is each of our responsibilities is to pay our fair share of road maintenance; schools and such. Different eras bring different situations, and it was interesting to check the tax levy in 1963. As noted, we paid for a State Bounty Tax; Tubercular and Bang's Tax; Inspection Tax and Predatory Animal Control. In checking things a little closer, we find that Predatory Animal Control was for sheep and goats; range horses and cattle, then the Bounty was for sheep and turkeys. The Inspection Tax was on sheep and goats.  I think I recall that Tuberculosis was a widespread concern back then, but haven't had enough guts to look up what "Bang's Disease" was, but hopefully we got it wiped out.

With the passing of Norman Bangerter, we wll pay respect, and in doing so, we take admiration of he and others that married well.

Most folks that knew Norm Bangerter liked him, as I did. Just prior to the attached photo being taken of me and Governor Bangerter, he had been late showing up for a proclamation signing. To pass the time, I sat at the Governor's desk and in doing so, the Governor walked in and caught me red handed. I jokingly ask him to take a photo of me at his desk, and without a blink he did so and we joked about it. I found him to be very down to earth, as was wife-Colleen Monson Bangerter. His passing got me thinking about what it takes to make a great man greater. I answered by own question, and thought of two other Utah men who became leaders of millions, and perhaps, just perhaps, a part of it was because of who they married, as those women were from Nephi, Utah. Scott Matheson became a Utah Governor in 1977and re-elected in 1980. I liked him so much that I bought his working desk and using it right now. More important was he married well, getting hitched to Norma Warenski, who was the daughter of Nephi Doctor Warenski, and Nephi was her home town until her father wanted to become even a better Doctor, so the family moved to Philly and San Francisco, then came to rest in Salt Lake. To me Matteson was a Governor for all Utah people and didn't speak with a forked tongue. Norma still is respected by all, and should be, as she is a Nephi gal after all. The second great leader was Gordon B. Hinckley, who became the President and CEO of the Mormon Church. I had an occasion to spend a few minutes of time with him in his office many years ago, and thought then, he had good character,  just as a human being. He also married well, in joining matrimonial forces with Marjorie Pay, who was born and raised in Nephi, Utah in 1911. She was the first child of Phillip Leroy and Georgetta Paxman Pay. Most commoners often remarked what a very gracious woman she was. So I pay my respect to all the good women, that made their men great, the Nephi way.