While the five kids of Alma and LaVon Harris Jones were alive, our Dad used to take us all for a little history trek. One such ride was on a dirt road known only to our Dad. Years later after they were both elevated to our real home, we put our thinking caps on and realized that our dear mother was a hard working Secretary for the local Juab School District, then had to come home and fix supper for our tribe. Dad knew when she was about to split a vessel, and took us kids for a picnic, but don't remember anything other hard tack candy that had been rolling around in Dads Coat. Each year on our Dad's birthday or near it, we would head out to Utah, Idaho or Nevada to dig into the history our grandfather made taking food supplies to the outskirts of the Utah Territory. I had already did some trips in advance of our Jones Trek, and had a few surprises up my sleeve, and not sure how many went on this trek, but normally it was 20 to 30, and as soon as we left a place, the LDS Church would buy the place that we did archaeology digs on or the place we will take you on today.
Weston, Hal, Kent, Gary, Jaynette Jones Feb. 3, 1999
The time for the Alma C. Jones trek is upon us. The dates are set for Mar. 13 & 14, 1999. We will collectively meet at the previously set place in Salt Lake City on March 13, 1999 at 0700 hours. We will then proceed to the Crossroads Cafe in Tremonton, Utah, where we will have breakfast. After that, we will head North, then take an Easterly cut-off just out of town. That will take us on a back road, heading toward Cache Valley. Along the way we will make two stops-both will be at cemetery's, one of which is hidden, and listed as the oldest in Utah. We will then keep going, then take another back road heading North. I don't know where we are going, other than from a foggy guess. We made it to Clarkston, Utah, and visit the grave of Martin Harris, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon. We will then wander back on the roads less traveled, upon which I will start shouting from memory The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. We are now in Preston, Idaho and at the site of the Bear River Battle, but if you knew all the stuff I knew, you would agree that the US Army slaughtered every Indian they came upon including men, women and children, which was about 400 from previous visits there. All family members were briefed that we could dig anywhere as directed, but not to touch any weapons or parts there of, so I could draw a map and list what we discovered. We had permission of the property owner, and although he said we could take anything we found, it was not ours to remove, especially since I knew that the Shoshone Indians were working to regain custody of the area. They are real Shoshone Natives, but when the Mormons came through, they called them "Blackfeet" only because they often didn't have shoes to wear. The Governor of the Utah Territory was asked to stop the Indians from stealing from homes their cattle and mail. Now remember, that it was first the Trappers that invaded the Indian lands, then the Mormons, and the Latter Day Saints liked their steaks, but the cows ate the Sego Lilies and roots the Indians relied on, so hope everybody understands the whys and what for's are. History books are written to make money, not necessarily to give you proper history lessons. Brother Brigham sent a note to Colonel Connor and he brought the US Army that was stationed at Fort Douglas, where the four Jones boys got their physical from Uncle Sam. The soldiers were considered Volunteers, but paid, and they were said to have a real itching to kill Indians, and that should have been the guys they wouldn't want. That was in 1863. I recall a previous visit to the Tragic site, and could see how they brought in their cannons and well prepared for their slaughter. That was the main purpose of the Trek, but we left that area and headed to Cache County and once in Logan, we decided between going to a movie; taking in a Temple Session where Wm. & Liz Jones were weded or do some bar hoping, or go to Cousin Dr. Richard Wm. Jones and have supper he cooked under ground. It was great, and went back to Weston's place where we had plenty of rooms and a nice warm swimming pool. We then could hear what sounded like Santa was coming but it was just us old folks snoring. Sunday morning came and we headed to Sardine Canyon(where Hal gets his Sardines from) which used to be called Hell's Canyon. We saw some of the Elk that migrate down for free hay, then took in the private ranch where the Clydesdale horses of the Budweiser church group of St. Louis kept part of their herd. We then went to Brigham City to have lunch there. We can eat at a local and famous restaurant, but if they are closed on Sunday, we could pick up plenty of fruit that was left on the road and although they are all flattened by traffic, they are still tasty with white pepper on them. We will proceed toward Ogden and have a steak dinner built like the old west, or we can stop at Hill Air Force Museum and let Weston feed us a bullshit story about all the Sorites he flew over Nam while he wasn't there. I have no idea how many are going on this trip, so let me know a general number by March 1, 1999, so we can have a general idea of transportation and motel rooms. The Alma Coyn Jones Trek is open to anybody, as long as the invited person keep the attributes and principles of Alma(in other words-no cussing dam it; no spitting, farting or arguments). I will enclose a stamped envelope, which you can mail back to me indicating the numbers of folks you did wanten ta brung, and if you have an extree mobile.
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