JULY 31, 1969 WAS HONOR NIGHT FOR MIA MAIDS AT LDS 4TH WARD IN NEPHI, UTAH

HERE IS THE LIST OF THOSE THAT WERE A PART OF THE HONOR  LIST WHEN THEY WERE TEENAGERS AT THE LDS 4TH WARD. BOTH FIRST AND SECOND YEAR. I WOULD THINK ALL THE GIRLS THAT WERE TAUGHT WOUILD THANK THE TEACHERS THAT ASSITED THEM.

We acknowledge the work and devotion of Minnie Jane Depriest Smith

It is 80 Years late, but we think it is time to acknowledge her! A few decades ago, most residents of Wayne or Juab County, Utah would quickly recall the name of A.E. Smith of Nephi, Utah. We was a highly respected and recognizable figure in Utah. He was not only the North Ward Bishop of the LDS Church, but the local Agriculture Agent for the United States Department of Agriculture. In the 1940's and 50's, local agriculture was an important ingredient as what made Juab the "Key" County of Utah. Not so much any more, as politicians have permitted that to go astray. When A.E. Smith came from Wayne County, LaVon Harris was delighted when she was called to be his secretary. I recall fondly that my mother-LaVon, not only cherished her Boss, but his wife-Minnie, who was not only the main support for A.E. but they adored her, much like they did the two foster kids they took in. Back in those days, a woman was not always called by their first names, but a Miss or Mrs. and then the rest of their husband names. So today we give a hearty thanks to Minnie for her time and devotion, not just to her husband, but for her work in her church in Primary; Organist; Relief Society, but the work she did in the 4-H. That was at a time when volunteers did most of the work around town, not at the taxpayer expense like they do now. This Minnie Was A Mighty when it came to Head to clearer thinking; Heart to greater loyalty; Hands to larger service and Health to better living! She was all of that in going through my mothers history collection. And thanks to all the 4-H Leaders everywhere. The handbook of Minnie was given to the Juab County Extension office for their Collectors section. It may be old, as one of the National Officers of the 4-H was named "Moses". 

WILL AND LIZZE JONES AND THEIR ADULT KIDS

When we get around to it, we will put more information about these folks, but for the time being, we will put the photo on here and the reading glasses of Elizabeth Tolley Jones. I have used these as a back up when I couldn't find my own reading glasses. She passed away in the early 1940's,but glasses still work fine. If I look at Will Jones and his mustache and receding hairline, I figure that is why my middle name is named after him-William Jones, but many folks that came from the British Isles had that name, but not yet conquered anything.

The Sperry Family-Original Settlers of Salt Creek/Nephi

It is interesting to listen to people, especially local politicians, that claim to have lived in Nephi since it was settled in 1851. Although Brigham Young had sent Scouts out to find places where the early Mormon Pioneers could find water and feed their animals, we have already named the original 17 families who actually spent the first night here. One family was the Sperry Family, and if you look and talk to folks, you will often see or meet one of the Sperry Family Members from way back. Today, we honor three Sperry members who I personally knew, and thought the world of them. They were all special God sent servants who would do anything for their neighbor or anyone else in our rural area. Rheta Sperry was my across the street neighbor who made a deal with her sisters. Alean and Mable would teach school; while Rheta would clean the house and cook and all of them including brother Don would do what work he could find and nobody took care of their rose garden better than them. I list some of Gods special people, one of which pushed me to write this. My guess it was K.J. who gave me good advice when he was my LDS Bishop such as "I should kick you in the butt" but his loving but stern words were enough. And yes, the stolen ink blotter was returned to Kay Carroll, daughter of Miles Anderson yesterday, and with interest. It appears we "accidently" stole it 75 to hundred years ago, when we needed to blot the ink on a sign in book at a funeral after turning it over on it its felt back. I will blame it on George A. Sperry, who was former Principal of Nephi High and back then he was permitted to use a ruler on the top of your head, and if you didn't have a brain, he would hit your ass and parents would back him. Or maybe it was Don Sperry, who we locked in our barn when we were young and stupid. Lot better than being old and stupid I guess.

THIS AND THAT-VARIOUS ITEMS AND PHOTOS OF THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS

When one starts going through thousands of historical data and photos, it could take a lifetime to finish it all, but have been trying to do that for the past five years that I have been retired and dug up some of the treasures of the past. Some are a hundred years old and some not so old. With the one that is Stock bought my grandfather from a man who I think was a Nephi Mayor, is it too late to collect the millions that may be set aside by whoever has possession of it? Look at the photo of me doing my first parachute jump over Alta Airport before Developers forced us out. That is when we climbed out on the wheel and jumped and pulled the rip cord. Is that grim on the face show what happens when your anal spinster lost control control, or when I was trying to impress the gal I was with? Us Men will do anything to impress a Woman! The two guys on the horses! If I had Joe Garrett and Ron Jones around, they could identify the horses before the riders. Not sure of the house behind them, but it looks like many Postcards that were around during World War One Era. Have fun before you bloat on Christmas Candy!

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF B.H. ROBERTS-AN EARLY MORMON LEADER

 After Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the folks back in Illinois and Missouri had a hatred for the Mormons and even political leaders opposed them and many of them were slaughtered for their Constitutional Right of Religious Freedom. After Joseph and his brother were murdered, Brigham Young took leadership, and headed for "No Man's Land" which is now Utah. But even today, Anti-Mormons continue to harass them and did that in Arkansas of 1857. Prior to that, the name Parley P. Pratt were considered the pinnacle of leadership in the Mormon faith, with Parley exploring parts of the west prior to the arrival of the first Mormons here. His job was to seek out livable places where streams flowed. Although famous trappers had informed the Church Leaders the land was like a Deseret, but it did in fact "blossom like a rose" as Brother Brigham had predicted. First Mormons that entered the Valley came down Immigration Canyon, but then Parley found church volunteers to build a road down "Parley's" Canyon, which was easier to do. In my early studies of Brother Pratt, it appeared that some of his dealings may have touched on possible "misuse" of Church Members and their money, like some politicians do the same with your tax dollars. Parley charged non Mormons to come down his toll bridge that were on their way to find Gold in California, while others belief the money should have gone to the church. At any rate- even today, Parley P. Pratt's name is synonymous with his vast knowledge and leadership of  LDS church, which he joined at age 23, after reading the Book of Mormon. Another such brilliant historian was a man named B.H. Roberts. He was also a theologian, scholar and Church Leader. He defended the Book of Mormon, and said the book could withstand rigors, academic scrutiny. But he was also considered quite complex in dealing with people, as he often played the Devils Advocate to outwit his opponents that another world existed outside the realm of the Middle East where Jesus traveled. As Mormons believe in sending missionaries' throughout the world to seek out faithful people to join the church, two had gone to Arkansas, but were murdered there by Anti-Mormons, one of which was Parley P. Pratt. The bad guy was full of hate, his name being Hector McLean. Pratt was stabbed and shot and before he died his request was that his body be shipped back to Utah for burial. Behold in comes riding B.H. Roberts who is always dressed fine and dandy like the Church leaders are, but not when going to Arkansas. He was dressed as a Hobo, and he was able to get the body out of that state and back to Utah. Newspapers throughout America applauded the murder of this Mormon, and the killer was never criminally charged. Our family has lots of photographs and journals that we had already returned to the Church when Brigham Young and others would past through Nortonville, where a branch of the LDS church was. Those items were left in the Nephi Jones Family til recently. I had the copy of the original photograph of the bum look alike and a copy should be attached. Although a Church Historian said it was worth a lot of money, to me it belonged to the LDS church, which it was given, as well as various other journals and papers of Brigham Young. In talking to Church bigwigs, we found inside information that Parley Pratt was going back to assist Elanor Macomb who was an estranged husband Hector, and Pratts 12th Plural Wife. That was at a time, when Pologamy was a functional part of early Mormonville This writer may be a little complex, but now you know.......the rest of the story.

HERE IS YOUR LIST OF FOLKS THAT SPENT THE FIRST NIGHT IN NEPHI

Historians have a rough time trying to tell who was the first person to do this or that, or who really was the first settlers in present day Nephi, Utah. Nobody knows for sure, but needless to say the Mormon settlers may not have been the first, but an entire book could be written on that. My history lessons are here to push a little interest so anybody can find what they believe is the truth. For now, this is the first few people that were Salt Creek Dwellers, or what is now Nephi. In addition, we have put a copy of a map of who live where years ago. It is kind of fun to print a copy and see if you can find the old hollow and who lived where. Some of the Pioneer family names are still here. Then if you go into the Nephi City building and look at the photo to the north, you may find a photo of the old gate that was a part of Salt Creek Fort. I am still trying to find out if it was the gate on the North or the South, but maybe somebody else can do that project. Have fun.

THE BOOKLORE CLUB OF JUAB COUNTY WAS AN IMPORTANT GET TOGETHER

During our World Wars, it was often the men who were the upfront fighters for freedom. We praise them, but often don't recognize that many of our soldiers left their wives and children at home. And they weren't just home bodies. They often filled in the gap to work the steel mills; farmers and put war machines together back in the USA. When and if the guys made it back home, such as my parents, they got hitched late and didn't waste any time to have kids(must have been the potent Nebo Water). So the women often stayed at home while their men went to work. That is just history, not a mans point of view. But those unemployed or unpaid moms and wives often found other noble things to do such as women's clubs. They didn't sit around and shoot the bull, but often were assigned volunteer duties as Daughters of Utah Pioneers; Toys For Tots and taking care of the Rose Garden in Nephi. Now adays, things are so expensive, it often takes two to work and bring home the bacon. My mother was in the Booklore Club, and now I understand how important that was, but didn't as a kid, as it was "Women Only", so even us young boys were told to get the Hell out of Dodge when the women came to our house. And it was one of those times we had to make sure our 1885 log house was in tip top shape, and it still is-owned and operated by Jaynette Grimard, one of the Jones "Boys" in a skirt, but can outride any of her brothers on a horse. Anywho, the gals would talk about a book that was written and discuss how it would relate to them at the time. I had a lot of respect for those women and always looked up to them as hero's who had to fight their own battles at home while their men were fighting other battles in Europe and Pacific Rim countries.