Happy Father's Day-Alma Jones. Your five kids are still alive and kicking, but they may not look the same as they did in this photo from either the late 1860's or 1960's.

It is kind of hard to figure out the exact year of this photo, which show Gary, Hal, Jaynette, Kent and Weston Jones. It is difficult, as in those years; three of the four boys were serving LDS Missions, or three of the four boys were in the United States Military, and all five knew what a college campus looked like, so not sure how Alma and LaVon Jones were able to get their five kids together at one time for this Fred Chapman cheese deal. Perhaps Jaynette knows, as she didn't mind being the little sisters of her big brothers, as we tried to protect her from all sides.

It won't be long until the Ute Stampede will be back to Nephi, Utah, so make sure you get your hat and boots dusted off and look as good as this young buckeraoo.

Perhaps it was guys like Ross Garrett to help bring professional rodeo to Juab County, as the photo of Ross on the pony was taken before the Ute Stampede started. The second photo is of his brother-Joe Garrett. The Garrett family remain an important legacy of the rodeo ideals known with the Ute Stampede.

Let's pretend your are in Nephi, Utah, and it is the night before Father's Day in 1960; all the food stores are closed; you need eggs for breakfast..what ya goin do?

Let's go back in time.....there were the food stores in Nephi including the Myer's place, IGA; Ralph's; Allen's and Lynn's Market, but they were not open after supper time. Your father wants his bacon and eggs for Father's day. You already got your side of pork from Bosh and Bosh, but what are you going to do without eggs! Well, if you didn't have your own chickens and eggs, you could easily knock on the doors of Earl Warner or Alton Gadd, and they would sell you a dozen, regardless of the time. Alton may not have smiled  about it, but his wife-Lucille Gadd, would do it in a heart beat. Earl Warner was locally born and raised, but had more interests than discussing which came first-the chicken or the egg, but he would logically discuss it with you. He was a graduate of Nephi High, then the Agricultural College(USU) in Logan. He loved education and very involved with his first wife's-Alburta's teaching career. But down deep, his real love......was....hold on....being a member of the "Nebo Knights". They were a musical group, and he loved playing in that and the organ at many weddings. He was also fond of Juab County, having been the County Clerk for several years. The first photo is of the always smiling Earl. The second photo is of Lucille Gadd, the wife of Alton, and the go-to-gal to get the eggs, even if it was midnight. She never hesitated to help anybody. She too was born and raised in Nephi, her mother's family being from the original Foote family. Lucille knew how to drive a horse; and did so like she was at the Derby. She worked in various clerical and secretarial capacities, and as such, became friends with LaVon Jones, who is the woman in front of the Gadd home in the third photo taken with top notch 1960's camera. If you look closely at that photo....yup, she is carrying eggs. The home is still there, and in those days, Alton would let us shoot pheasants in his back pastures, as there were no homes in the back yard then and the pheasants ate his chicken feed. The home is still there, at about 2 3/4 blocks above the Nephi City Cemetery, on the north side....yup, right there, you got it.

If you are from Juab County, you may know a member of the Pexton family, or somebody that used to work for Pextom Wholesale Company.

Starting from a one man operation in 1924, J.N.C. Pexton, Pexton Wholesale Co. flourished and it it's hay day with an average of 30 full time employees, supplying food from Springville on the North to St. George and Kanab to the South. I remember how important that business was to the Nephi area when I read of the passing of Blanche Pexton, the Matriarch of the family. Blanch was born in Levan as a Christensen, then exchanged rings with Harlow Pexton in 1940. Harlow not only became the President of Pexton Wholesale, but was the Mayor of Nephi almost fifty years ago, then I recalled him being appointed as a Nephi Justice of the Peace. In addition, one of their sons-Leon also became a Nephi Mayor. Pextons were not only supportive of Juab High students, but they provided a lot of jobs to local people including Ted and Don Jones. So as we say good bye to Mrs. Pexton, we say thanks, not just because she was a friend of my mothers, but she was a class act and one who was an important part of the success of Pexton Wholesale.

What happened in Juab County during the year 1947! I have the top news, courtesy of The Times News, but have my own history box and that is scary.

The front page of the Times News of Jan. 9, 1947 tells everything you want to know about the going's on in Juab County. The great news is the Proclamation submitted by H.C. Crane, the Mayor of Nephi. The welcomed broadcast is we finally have infantile paralysis under control, which was the greatest scourge since 1916!  Additional news is of the Nephi Kiwanis new officers. In reading of those people, you have to recognize a name or two, and we didn't even mention Fred Gadd, Ray Powell, Eugene Ostler, C.R. Lomax, James H. Ockey and Ray Worthington. Now for the very scary news, and it gets me more nervous every day. During 1947, many WWII boys had just came home, and as such, many of them got hitched, and hence forth and forever, babies were brought in by a herd of Storks. Normally, that would be a flock, but because of a stork genetic malfunction, it  became a herd! The babies of 1947 brought those kids to graduate from Juab High School in 1965, and back then, it was the biggest class JHS had ever seen. I am not listing the exact number but it was dang close to a hundred. We don't like listing the exact number as we still counted one of our beloved classmates who died shortly before graduation, and counted her as a graduate. Also, we still have one still working on his final Algebra exam, but we considered him one of us. Are you ready for the real bad news!  Although we have lost some of our family classmates to Viet Nam, Cancer and wheelchair malfunctions, the remaining Class Of 65 are planning a reunion in Sept. The more news I get the more nervous I become, and believe that all residents of Juab County should be put on notice. They are planning a hay wagon event; football game, and a parade. I have voted to not proceed with the bikini contest. If you feel that we really didn't get rid of infantile paralysis in 1947, please send your objections to the Health Dept. or to the Class Officers pictured, including Craig Coulson, President; Mike Morgan, Vice President; Ann Hall, Historian and Marilyn Christensen, Secretary. Some of the other classmates are still out among us, including, but not limited to: Dean Bailey, Bruce Beal, Verna Butler, Ann Carter, Doug Court, Tom Fowkes, Clyde Gowers, Lynn Greenhalgh, Gloria Jean Gustin, Ron Harper, Ann Hall, Betty Jo Greenhalgh, Cliff and Carl Howard, Sue Ingram, Judy Jackson, Annette Johnson, Nancy Mangelson, Don Johnson, Tom Johnson, Beverly Myers, Jerry Mangelson, Carol Ostler, Robert Painter, Jerry Stephenson, Bob Shepherd, Claudia Smith, Bert Paxman, Dennis Truscott, Cheryl Williams, Kent Worthington, Morris Wright, Carol McPherson, Terry Stephensen, then there was old what's his name.

We know who two of the people are-Will and his brother Ed Jones, but unsure of the others, but thought to be a part of the Nephi, Utah Tolley family from the 1880's.

This is another one old photo that was buried in a family historical box from several years ago.

As noted by the writing below the photos, the one on the front row, far left is William Jones, and his brother is Edward, II, who is on the far right. Those brothers married two sisters of the Nephi Tolley family of Wm. Fisher and Sarah Warren Tolley. The reverse shows the writer may be unfamiliar with the Tolley family, only because they didn't spell Tolley correctly,  or perhaps that person was not a writer or speller, as a handwritten note doesn't go through s spellchecker well.  It is difficult to read, but the reverse has pencil markings at the top, showing the photo may have belonged to Erma Jones Garrett, the daughter of Wm. Jones and wife of Robert Garrett of Nephi. It reads
" Mrs. R.P. Garrett  Nephi, Utah
PO Box 374
R. Bk. house on N.W. Corner Str.
8 13th No. 1 Blk E. PO"

This photo will eventually be donated to either the Daughters of Utah Pioneers of Nephi or to the LDS church.

I have heard and saw written rumors of the Ute Stampede returning to Nephi, Utah once again. Here is some hard evidence of why it is what it is.

A strong building becomes solidified in it's strength, based on a good foundation. Such is the case for the Ute Stampede. When it was established, it was built by individuals who not only liked rodeo, but loved Juab County, and wanted to see the annual event thrive, which it has. As nearly as I recall, it all began with the Blackhawk Encampment, then joined forces with the Ute Stampede. As a kid, I recall the main rodeos of America  being in Nephi; Madison Square Garden; the Cow Palace: Pendleton Roundup; Cheyenne Days and the finals in Oklahoma. I came to appreciate the Ute Stampede as the best of all as we could see our friends; have great hamburgers and see a Carney up close and personal. When I think back, I recall Florence Chapman as the Queen of both the Blackhawk Encampment and the Ute Stampede. In the early days, a lot of people put their heart and soul in the making of a good rodeo, which included Dr. P.L. Jones, the Mayor of Nephi, June Kendall, A.B. Gibson, Art Pyper, Gilbert Bailey, Russell  Hawkins, P.B. Cowan, A.L. Garbett, Pat Whittington, Russell Stuart, J.E. Robertson and Dr. F.H. Beckstead. Another Doctor-J.C. Sorenson provided the rodeo stock in the early days. The folks I remember are Kemp Motes, who was a consistent rodeo participant. He made his home in Nortonville and Nephi, after surviving hand to hand combat in World War II. Other notables were Dona Jones, who along with her husband-Harold, were often heard riding around town announcing the rodeo. Dona was an accomplished horsewoman and helped teach many young people how to ride the arena while holding a flag. Joe Garrett and his family continue to show the true rodeo spirit of the Ute Stampede, as did Earl McPherson, a former Ute Stampede Committee member. Jack Brough, Ray Jackson and E.C. Sherwood may be remembered by most as the local law enforcement, but they spent countless hours volunteering their efforts to make the Ute Stampede an excellent rodeo.

It is voting time! Which photo of these three blondes is the most stunning-brought to you by Painter Motor Company from 1965, then one in 2015.

Although I don't consider myself a gentleman, it seems I prefer blondes and had a difficult time choosing which of these three blondes were the most stunning. 

The photo from 1965 shows a pretty blonde gal with a pretty blonde colt. We put a second shot of it to show how large the calendar is, which is nearly three feet by a foot and half. 

The second photo of the blonde corvette was taken from yesterday's advertisement in the Daily Herald and she is pretty dang purty.

Although the purpose of this entry is to show the history of Nephi and Juab County, in a way, it may be considered an advertisement, although not an official one. If a family can maintain a business for 60 years, they would have to have integrity or customers wouldn't support it.  It is also an advertisement for Nephi, as like the calendar says, the garage is "In A Good Town".

As a side note of historical significance-is what my niece is pointing to on the 1965 calendar. I recognize the handwritten note of a call that was taken from Weston Jones, who like many others was called to duty during a war that few even knew the country of Viet Nam existed. Airman Jones was calling her saying he was transferred to another base and was going off to war.