WHILE USING DRY WIT, WE WILL SHOW DIFFERENT NAMES OF THE SAME BANK.

In the beginning, we are all actually related. Even if you are from England, Wales or Ireland, you may all need a shot of Scotch before you understand that all of us Humans, descending from Adam and the gal in town we will refer only to as Eve. But don't panic, their are some of us Mormon folks that had the same great grandfathers but different great grandmothers. In the Tolley family, we can all say that in one way or another we have "Just Cause" to yell out "HOLY HANNAH". But this blog is about banking business that were all at the same location on the corner of Depot Street in Nephi. There was Merchants Exchange Bank; Nephi National Bank; First National Bank: First Security Bank, and now it is called Wells Fargo Bank. I found all these bank slips together with a photo of my father-Alma Coyn Jones and a photo of him with a young grass skirted gal from Feb. of 1978. Now the question is, which bank should I use to withdraw "Cash" to get my Dad and Mother-LaVon Harris Jones back together, and what is a good bank in Waikiki, Honolulu. Ken Nyman isn't even listed in the new telephone book!

SECOND BLOG REGARDING 1926 WEDDING INVITATION.

 On Oct. 18, 2022, we put a blog together regarding a newly discovered wedding invitation from 1926. We knew it had to have been sent to either Wm. or Alma Jones of Nephi, but wanted to donate it to either the McPherson family or the Vogt family and hoped to have received more information amount who it all involved. Now we know, thanks to a woman from outside Utah who secretly follows our blog, but didn't want to share her exact name and family ties, other than to say she is a "Tolley Twig". She has saved me from drowning on many occasions, and she put two and two together for me on who is what on this. A better scan of the invitation is attached and here is the new information. Hannah McPherson was the daughter of John William McPherson McPherson, who lived on the north/west corner of 7th North on Nephi's Main Street, on the land that was later occupied by Premium Oil Co. and now a metal building business. The home was unoccupied when I was a kid and later removed. Hannah McPherson's mother was Mary Jane Jones, as noted in the invitation. Walter and Hannah had 5 daughters, the youngest being Rosemary, who passed through the earthly veil in June of this year. She had married Larry Goble and he died in Oct., 2021. Going back to Hannah, she had a sister by the name of Fonda(who I remember)who married Elmer Tolley(a brother to Charles Ross Tolley).  One of Hannah's brothers was named Alma Jones McPherson, and married one of the Norton boys. So, to make it even more confusing, their were two men named Alma Jones that lived on 7th North, East and West 100 years ago and related. Hannah was named after her mother-Hannah Pendlebury, the first wife of Edward Jones the first who arrived in Nephi in 1852. Now you see why some of us Mormons like to have some Scotch with our water., even though we are from England. Holy Hannah!

IT WAS SUNDAY THREE DAYS AGO, AND THREE OF US DIDN'T MAKE IT TO CHURCH.

It isn't just Christians who pray to what they believe is a Supreme Being. Many people of various denominations or sects believe in an after world of some sort, hence they go a building to hear people or pray for unseen things or subjects of which they may not have accurate knowledge. It is all about Faith and nothing right or wrong about any of that. For me as a young kid, growing up in what used to be a rural town of Mormonville, Utah, I was born and raised in a Mormon home. Officials of that religion like to refer themselves as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Although I am still a believer in that faith, I don't follow all the specified rules and find it easier to enjoy some minor sins, such as the coffee I am presently drinking, just so I can see what I am typing and enough energy to get through it. In fact, I have done so much research of things around the world, some local folks say I am the most knowledgeable about how the Juab Valley was settled. Well that aint true, but believe what you may. I do have papers and journal's, many of which belonged to the LDS Church, and to Brigham Young, which he left when stopping in Nortonville, to speak to my grandfather, who who is charge of keeping records at the church there. The one thing I have learned is the importance of PRAYING. I have always been taught that and do so on a regular basis, and I have learned that it is important to not pray for things that may be wrong, such as we win this war or that one, and not to pray to win a game of sports, as that may not be the prayer that is being offered by the basketball team of North Sanpete. I  have learned that ONE MUST BE CAREFUL TO PRAY, AS YOU JUST MAY GET WHAT YOU ARE PRAYING FOR. As people are imperfect, we will always have Bullies! Some are in Washington D.C.; your Legislators, and I have sat with them on a local level. God knows who is what, and I believe one has to rely on Him. As a kid, we collected Halloween snacks in our pillow cases and if we started early, the Jones Boys could hit every house in Nephi. And that was when  Developers and Nephi Leaders didn't want to build another career or build things for their own greed. The candy we collected lasted until Christmas. Back in the 1950's and early 60's I knew of only three bullies in town. The first one confronted me in front of the old Juab High School, and stole by pillow case full of candy then drove off laughing. I knew him well, but wasn't sure what to do when I got home, other than to pray, as that is what I was taught. I prayed that God would somehow take the life of that bully. A few weeks later, the same Bully confronted me while I was standing in front of a school urinal doing my personal business, when he came in. He pushed me hard and I flipped flopped in the urinal and kicked me down with a threat if I told anybody I would get more. I didn't want to confess being a victim in front of school officials, although I respected them. So that night, I called on God in Prayer that somehow his life could be taken. A couple years later, it appeared that God did answer my prayer, as this guy was killed in Viet Nam, serving our country. I again sought prayer to confess, as I prayed the wrong way. The same thing happened later on, when another Nephi Bully purposely ran his sleigh into my brother, breaking both of the bones in his forearm. Hal didn't cry, but I carried the bones and the globs of flesh home, where he was repaired. I told my parents, but they said it all could have been an accident. Once again I prayed, and sure enough, a couple years later, that Bully died of an unknown death. Since that day, I have learned a more proper way to pray. Last Sunday, before three of the Nephi Jones kids went on an all day trip to research the Ancient Indians that came through Juab Valley, I knelt down in humble prayer, that we would all travel in safety, and feel the spirit and souls of those that had gone on our way thousands of years before. That prayer was answered, at least the way I thought I had asked for. I would soon find out that God is one hell of a lot smarter that I was, and that things would work out and the only thing I should be doing is thanking Him for what I have received in abundance from Him, and pray for things- IF WAS TO BE HIS WILL AND THE BEST FOR ALL. It seems to work out better. And the three Jones kids made it home safe, as I prayed and I think each of us could feel the presence of those Ancient Ones that traveled through the sacred grounds of Juab Valley. The sign I received was ONE Ping on my old phone. Praying to God is as mysterious of how our cell phone works. Regardless of how many pings are going throughout the world, God will hear your direct call and consider all things for the benefit of all. That is the end of a true story. We felt the people this way come, but  my eyes are weak and so is this dam coffee.

HERE IS YOUR WEDDING INVITE FROM 1926 IF YOU DIDN'T GET YOURS.

We know it is a little late, but that happens when we have collected photos and family artifacts since 1852. I now my grandfather-Wm. Jones went on an LDS Mission to England with a man by the name of McPherson from Nephi, but without going through the many boxes, it is hard to identify who is who and what is what. So here is your invitation from almost a hundred years ago. It is hard to read at least on my old computer, but is says something the effect that Mrs. J.W. McPherson announces the marriage of her daughter Hannah to Mr. Walter W. Hogt Wednesday, March the Seventeenth Nineteen hundred twenty-six Pocatello, Idaho. Hard to read because of oldest and went they used to write fantasy.

 

SEE IF YOU RECOGNIZE MEN IN THE PHOTOS- ONE FROM LEVAN AND ONE FROM HUNSTSVILLE

I wonder who taught who when it comes to truth, as both of these men I had met face to face and encountered both as truthful people. And no, you don't have to be a Mormon to have believed the miracle that happened on a street corner in Colorado, where they both served on LDS Missions at the same time, but it can cause one to ponder. As you may gather, Elgin Gardner was from Levan, and worked as an honest gas and oil distributor on Nephi's Track Street and was easy to find at home as he lived across the street. He then became a Commissioner for Juab County, and my conversations with people that worked and dealt with him felt they could have just have well been dealing with David O McKay, who grew up to be Mormon President, as both were honest as the Sun would shine in the Morn. Pres. McKay is in bottom photo and the middle tall Elder. Notice the high boot laces on the boots at the time of the 1920s and I about froze looking at the photo of the one getting baptized in the nearly frozen over river in Colorado or New Mexico. They often traveled by horse and lived with members of the church, then helped earn their keep by helping with chores. They both learned true work ethics and kept it til the end of life on earth. Three cheers for honest policitcans and a Prophet who I met as a kid when he stayed up the street with Ross Garrett, the Juab Stake President at the time. Brats we may have been, but he treated us as human as we were.

JUAB HIGH-CLASS OF 65-WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

There was nearly a hundred of us that graduated from Juab High School, which was located in Nephi, Utah, across the street from the Uwanna Drive-Inn. So where are they now. We lost some to Viet Nam and a war that we thought was good for freedom, but now find out later-we are buy more goods from them that we are from China. Some we lost just before graduation because of some technical reasons, then some accidents; cancer, and like life, each of us must cross that line sometime. In talking to a fellow graduate today, we no longer talk about future girlfriends; possible colleges or kids, but we talk of the ails we both have and it appears related to age, but we will still blame it on Covid and the Chinese who some have said gave it to us for the 19th time. But we both agree that we can't sue China for the Virus, especially since China owns the USA. For some reason, we are as old as our parents and grandparents were when they were old. Just ain't right. Oh well, it is just a test, only a test. See if you recognize us old Elephants. After forty years living in other big cities, I came back to Nephi, only to find that the new comers want to make Nephi just like the ugly cities they left to come here. So enjoy it while you can.

DOES AMERICA HAVE A FUTURE IN FARMING

 In the 1960's, it was considered an honor to be accepted in the FFA Mt. Nebo Chapter at Juab High School in Nephi, Utah. The Advisers were Jim Anderson, and then after his farm accident, Jay Dalley was the backup and took over. Both knew the history of agriculture, and knowledge of how to farm the modern ways, at least as they were decades years ago. Both of those respected teachers helped the Chapter bring home various trophies for winning State Championship in Welding; Public Speaking; Meat Judging and even Parliamentary Procedure. To this day, I often chuckle at the inability of Counsel Members; a Mayor; State Legislatures and Congress of how they abuse Roberts Rules of Order, as they didn't learn the proper procedures in FFA as a kid. And more dismay came when I found out when they built a new Juab High School building at a different location, there was not enough room for displaying the many FFA Trophies, so they were quietly taken to the junk yard. Those things are  heart breaking, but time's change. As they do, my thoughts turn to how we will procure the necessary food for our future. Utah is the second driest State in the Union, yet political leaders continue to direct thousands of people here, for purposes of money, but no ability to provide the water to assist those newcomers in their need of food. As a former policitcan, I heard that if we get more money "we can always drill wells for more water". It appears those folks haven't yet taken any or absorbed any of the FFA classes, or they would know if we have a thousand straws in a barrel of water, it will soon go dry. Without the knowledge of our past, we must think of the future, and not the power of greed when we take from the Indigenous Americans or even present day Senior's. I don't consider myself a professional in any area, but have studied Anthropology and been on digging excursions with Archeologists. I am no Margaret Mead, but have some knowledge the Ancient Ones of America, such as the Fremont and Anasazi, who may have died from lack of food, enslavement, diseases and/or ethic cleansing. In a dig in the four corner area of Utah, we discovered the Ancient Ones were eating Beetles at the end, which makes the movie "Beetle Juice| more of a real movie of tomorrow. What is our future for food and water? Will FFA students learn new ways to "make" water or food with less water, or just continue to purchase from foreign countries? If we don't prepare and learn from our past, we will have no future for our kids. We know that Data should be honest and straight forward, but science is determined  by people, who are Never Either.