TIME FOR ANOTHER SCHOOL CLASS FROM AROUND 100 YEARS AGO

This photo is of classmates when they were in 5th or 6th grade. The gal on the right of the teacher is LaVon Harris who was born in 1910, and the graduating class of Nephi High of 1928, so that is why we figured the photo to be about 1920 or so. The class is standing in front of the Main entrance to the Old Central School on Track Street, below where the Ralph Chase family lived. The Second floor was where the High School was first held until they finished the new one where the Complex of Juab Building is now. The west side of the Central School was changed to become an auditorium and the Bell Tower was taken down, and that Bell sits on the northeast corner of the Town Square Park where it has been sitting for three years to be placed within the Park........when Nephi City gets A Round 2 it! And look at all the Bib overalls on the boys. They went to school the hurried home to help work the farm or help their mother get more wood for the fire in the kitchen and front room.

TODAYS HISTORY STORY IS OF THE HEBERVILLE SCHOOL OF 1897

 In order to get a full understanding of the who's and where's of the make shift school of 1897, we submit foundational information. This photo copy and a previous panromantic photo of Heberville was presented in a blog a few weeks ago. Those photos were provided by Kevin Ockey, son of Jimmy Ockey Jr., a son of James H. Ockey Sr., the son of Heber Ockey, the son of Ed Ockey, who was friends with Wilford Woodruff and Brigham Young when they got together by Ole Miss., in Nauvoo, prior to the Mormon Trek to the barren Territory, now called Utah, but overloaded with Invaders who want to ruin our farms, history and culture! When you read this, please have patience as the notes I took was an all day discussion with 91 year old Jimmy Ockey, and his memory recall was a lot sharper that my pencil or mushy brain was. It was very fascinating to listen to such a smart; spiritual and former teacher at the Central School of Nephi, and who used to live not far from me in Nephi, where my father and I would often visit his family of which their was the solemn son-Kevin, and four young but vibrant blonde sisters. They grew up to be as pretty as their mother and Aunt Ann Carter Keyte. The main objective with my chats with Jimmy was to get information about the kids that used a cattle shed for their school. That photo was taken on Dec. 23.1897. My Maternal Grandfather(Evan Harris) and his wife-Eliza had their home in the enclave below where the Ockey Campground was. Their home was to the South of Salt Creek and I recall my mother showing us kids where her family lived and worked before she was born. Evan or Ev, as he was called-had a sawmill by the home, and I have been to the area and viewed the remains of it. Ev additionally had a sawmill off the Mt. Nebo Loop Rd. and the Canyon is still called "Sawmill", and to the west is still called "Evans" Ridge. Several years ago, Juab County went to Federal Court to reclaim the dirt road down to where the Sawmill was, but they lost the fight, and gall dang it, the Feds took custody of my Map, which was submitted as evidence, along with my testimony. That's another affirmation to me- that you can never trust any Politician within the United States, and on 3 occasions I swore to uphold our Constitution. I did, but most don't. Back to the story. My focus was to help Rachelle Humble-a Nephi Harris Kin, whose family is putting together a Genealogy and Historical Book on the Nephi Harris Family and their trek from the UK to Nephi as the third LDS Wagon Train to Utah. Now back to Heber who Homesteaded 160 Acres up the Canyon at the fork of Highway 132 and where it turns left up to Dad and Sons. If you don't know where that is, ask a true Nephite, not the Forest Service! Rachelle lives in the "real" town of Greenacres, Washington. If you know any of the school kids in front of the stack of hay, send Rachelle a note on Facebook. According to Jim Ockey, he recognized two sisters that were the Vickers Family a little up the canyon where Hops Creek comes under the road. I thought the taller older boy on the left looked like one of the Harris sons, as Ev had some working for him. Andrews Canyon had men working the Red Sandstone Quarry and the Coulson Family had Salt Mines there, so get your thinking caps or contact your grandparents. Ed Ockey had 3 wives in Polygamy and as Ed was considered a "Worthy" Mormon man! One of Ed's wife was a Jones, so Jimmy and I are related which blends the Good and the Bad! Ed is buried at Vine Bluff. Above the "Petti Coat Cliffs", the Jenkins family ran a farm there, which can be reached by going up the road by the Cattle "Garage". The pond below was named after that family, but Jimmy thought they left the area when Forest Rangers kicked them out! As a Mormon, where do I find an "Unworthy" wife? And another By-The-Way thing. A few weeks ago while on a visit with Jimmy, I spoke to Jim's brother-Steven Ockey, of Juab High Fame who now resides in the Northwest.

TODAY WE PRESENT TWO GROUPS OF LADIES

 We are not really sure if the two groups are just from Nephi or if it is Juab County gals. I do recognize my mother-LaVon Harris(Jones) in both, but in her dates of youth or at least before a string of hellions came along right after WWII, she was active in various County, Church and Civic Activities so hope some of the local folks can identify more before all of the outsider folks move in and we loose track. In the first photo, LaVon is seated on the front row to the far left. Sitting next to her is Hazel Bean (then married Bert Jones) and then dumbfounded on the others but their was a time I knew.

Then we enter the gals from what we will call the "Hat Club" and I know that local folks will recognize a lot of them. The photo appears to be in the DUP Museum. On the second row starting row from the right is Rheta Sperry; then LaVon Jones and can't see as well, but the first row I recognize Pearl Cowan; Gladys Tolley and up on the top row I see Mrs. Smith but the photo is too small for old eyes so the reader can do better than me. Have fun and make sure you fill in the names for the future.

WHO IS THIS BABY PICTURE OF?

We think we know who this baby picture is of, but not really sure. I have the original somewhere, but the easy was is to ask it here. We believe it is Norma Jones Kay of Mona, daughter of Wm. and Liz Tolley Jones of Nortonville. So if the family or Mona recognize her, let me know and we will send it to you. My memory is good other than it fades and fades and fades and what was the question again?

PHOTO OF VIC HARRIS IN FRANCE DURING WORLD WAR ONE

No, it isn't Armistice Day; Veterans Day; Memorial Day or even Decoration Day, but since Victor Harris of Nephi, Utah was having some fun with one of his War buddies, and we just came across it, we thought we would put it on here for a little historical purposes and to show that "Happy Harris" of Nephi was always having a little fun regardless of the battles he encountered while "Over There". In the local paper of The Time News, one of his Vic's war buddies sent a note to the paper telling the local folks they should be proud of their town hero as he was always keeping the soldiers smiling even though they were going through hell. Vic made in back to Nephi in safety and with metals for his heroic maneuver's. He ended up passing through the Veil when I was a small kid. I recall it as my mother-LaVon Harris Jones traveled to California for the funeral, and while she was gone, our still standing Jones home caught fire, via the coal stove in the front room, and our slow talking neighbor-Don Sperry came over to say in a loud but slow manner "Alma, Alma, your house is on fire". We put it out with the hose from the outside, when the fire embers caught the curtains on fire. Thanks Don. Several years after Vic Harris passed away, I was on a work detail near Disneyland, and stopped in to see the widow of Vic Harris. She was living in a small but  comfortable Trailer home. She became totally blind, but had been practicing for that day and could find her way around pretty dang good. She had good neighbors who would fetch her necessities' and daughters not far away. When I found this photo that was addressed to Vic's parents-Eliza Hitesman Harris and Evan Harris of Nephi, At the time, they were living in a home I remember well, which was down next to Salt Creek, where the old County Jail which has been turned in to the Food Bank. That was close to where the Harris Boys had their Livery Stable and the busy street was then referred to as Depot Street even though it was legally  Center Street. I thought I should put it here before I lose it. Also Rachelle Humble can use it for the book her family is using to put a book together on the Nephi Harris family. On the back of the photo, Vic wrote "This is me and a buddy practicing with wood sticks". Thanks to this great Harris couple. They remain a great Nephi family.

A NORTONVILLE TOLLEY HOME THAT WAS MOVED TO ST. GEORGE

The art drawing of the home below was photographed by a lot of tourist's coming along Highway 91 long before Interstate 15 was built to the east side of Nortonville, which was built in Pioneer time-after Nephi was founded in 1852. The Norton brothers were the first to farm there, as it was much like Mills and the Broadhead Ranch, located south of Nephi or what was originally called Salt Creek. Nortonville only needed small wells for culinary water and Birch Creek had the most pure water coming directly from the melting snow of Mt. Nebo. That kind of sufficient water kept the Aquifers high enough that farmers could easily obtain two crops of Alfalfa hay on Dry Land. The Norton Boys didn't enjoy the hardships of ranching, so they sold out to the Tolley and Jones families who did well until The Great Depression hit, and some lost their "Shirts". The final straw came when a newcomer to north Nephi had the government training and the money to dig a deep well, and as such, the giant Aquifers of Nortonville along with Mat Howards prize orchards were hurt and other farmers getting water from nearby Ord Springs. The art drawing Tolley home was carefully taken down and put back together for use in a St. George Tourist area. The last standing Nortonville Home sits alone at the intersection of Nortonville. The property there and below the tracks was where Ron Jones was born, and he showed me where the home was when he was 90 years old. The still standing home was built by Lee and Anna Tolley using discarded railroad ties, which could be picked up free of charge. Then Allen and Mary Tolley purchased it and had a herd of pretty gals grew up there. Now back to the drawing of the other Tolley home. That was where Elmer and Rex Tolley grew up. In the early 1960's while working with Rex Tolley, I asked if he would like to go back there to live. He responded by saying "Hell No" and then expounded about the convivences of modern day bathrooms rather than outhouses! The Two Holer Point was well taken! By the way, Elmer Tolley married Fonda, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. McPherson on Jan. 21st, 1918. We will try to squeeze one of the first Nortonville Homes and the folks there are left to right Elmer Tolley; Susie Downs; Alma Jones; Bert Jones(on the pony); Edward Jones; Jack Downs; Rodger Downs; Lizzie Jones; Wm. Jones; Emma Bryan.

 

HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY ALMA JONES OF NORTONVILLE

In earth years, Alma would be 121 Years old today. Pictured below should be the Nortonville log home he was born and raised in and then a second photo shows the 7th North Jones Family home he passed away in. In the Nortonville home, Alma is the taller kid standing in front of his brother-Bert Jones on the pony, and standing next to Uncle Edward Jones. The reader should also be able to see the obits of some of his friends, but I really don't recall anybody that didn't like "Cash" Jones who was called that by friends. He and his siblings were darn good people, and although his own five kids may be biased, we believe he came from a long line of good people on both sides of his parents-Wm and Liz Tolley Jones. Dad was a hard worker and taught each of his kids good work ethics as well. The other photo is of the Nortonville School which was also was used at the LDS Nortonville Church with Will Jones as the Church leader there, and kept a journal of the tithing that was brought it by the local farmers, which consisted of grain, animals and things of that sort. A few years ago, I took that Journal and other items including papers that belonged to Brigham Young when he passed through, and donated them to the LDS church as it belonged to them. I had to retell the story of how I had accumulated all the things that I had saved when a variety of family members came to the 7th North Jones home in their final years.

THIS IS THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A MODERN DAY TRAPPER

Gale Floyd Allen has passed through the Heavenly Veil nearly 14 years ago, so I felt it was reasonably safe to shed some light on his life on earth. Other than the time he spent driving a train during World War Two, he spent most of his life earning a living as an honest to goodness Trapper in Utah and spent months as a Federal Trapper at Juab's Fish Springs. When it was spring and illegal to trap, he would hunt. Nothing seemed to scare him, and perhaps that came from driving a Train in the heart of enemy Germany, carrying armaments' to the Allied Forces. That was scary enough, but he followed orders and drove as fast as the Steam engine would go and with out and lights on. On his return to Utah, that made it easy to trap a Bear; Cougar or Bobcat. I visited him a few years ago and examined some of the Trophy Deer and Elk he shot and listed in the Boone and Crockett book. He did feel bad when he was skinning a Skunk at age 85, and to keep warm, he was using a lantern which tipped over and burned his barn down that held all of the trophies in it. Vegans and Vegetarians may find it offensive, but skunk urine contains an important chemical to make perfume with. Maybe that is why I found it gross smelling the ladies I met in Paris years ago! And once upon a time, working in law enforcement, I was asked to do some undercover work and join an animal rights group. The leader wasn't too smart, as they sent out a letter to make sure the participants were to wear Leather Gloves when they traveled to release farm Minks from their cages. I suppose they didn't realize what Leather gloves were made from. And they had so much difficulty undoing the latches, they just burned all of the mink sheds down. Yup, cops were already in place and arrested them. Mink Fur is still popular in Europe, as it is warmer if you are camping in Russia! Mink and Raccoon often kills for sport, and that is one of the reasons we no longer have pheasants and a lot of chickens around. If you study about Jim Bridger or Peter Skene Ogden as famous Trappers, now you have learned about Gale Allen as a modern day Trapper of Utah.

INVADERS OF YESTERYEAR; INVADERS OF TODAY

Although I haven't watched a TV News program for over 45 news, I listen to people talk and hear of things of going on in America, and it appears that our USA Leaders are permitting illegal aliens to invade our country, causing more crimes than just the illegal entry. If that is true, equally insulting is the billions of hard earned tax dollars of hard working Americans who are paying for their entry, while our own citizens are being kicked out of their schools or homes for the illegals. Remember, the Federal Government doesn't earn money, it is the Taxpayers that are forced to fund the Feds, as they believe us common folks can't govern it. If that is in fact happening, we could put at least part of the blame on we the registered voters who permitted those leaders for placing them there. Having worked with State Legislatures and on a City Council, I have the inclination that many of those folk's at the top could have first got away with their misdeeds on a local or State level. Most of us have been an eye witness when a government employee will be involved with being a part or voice to hire their neighbor; family or even a business partner to further their income or expect to be hired by helping to get a higher paying job with the company they voted to get a contract for. It used to be referred to "I will help you if you will help me process or a 'Tit for Tat" term use in lawsuits. Even in rural areas, we hear of leaders in charge of voting who are at least being charged with mishandling the Election or Money process. Then we see where government gas cards are not just used for government vehicles but personal vehicles. The blister problem goes deeper at the higher level one is elected, even to the point of a State position; then to Congress and even those "Selected" leaders. It festers and festers til we have no idea of the Billions of dollars that go to enemy countries, or even give them the armaments' to invade and destroy us within. Remember, America is not really a Democracy! We are a Constitutional Republic! In my 46 years of being a public servant, I have personally seen the United States Constitution violated on a State level. When I first blew the whistle, I was transferred to another law enforcement agency, but when the matter was investigated, it was discovered the Governors selected leader was soon given a discharge. I love the American Constitution, and the final interpretation of that is up the United States Supreme Court, but in the back of your head, remember that even those brilliant "Legal Beagles" were appointed by a Politician. For the sake of our future kids and kin, please study each and every person you vote for to preserve our Country with its Culture and History. It is sad that so few people visit our local museum to even get a hint of those who worked and fought for freedom. On a personal basis, I believe with all my heart the USA is in DISTRESS. Please choose wisely. If you don't know who the Judge is that you vote to Retain, study and learn, even by attending a Court Hearing.