Jedediah Morgan Grant, Jr. (III)

1879 - 1930

J. Morgan Grant Jr. was born the 11th of August 1879 in Bountiful, Davis County, Utah to Lucy Fackrell and Jedediah Morgan Grant (II). Morgan was the second child. His sister Alfa was the first child. Morgan was blessed the 9th of January l880 by his father, J.M. Grant. The Grants were living in Woods Cross near Bountiful when a big east wind struck and blew the roof off their house. There were three children in the family at that time, Rosetta being the youngest.
Called to Settle in Randolph, Utah
It was not long after the roof blew off their house that the Grants and another family the Jacksons were asked to move to Randolph, Utah and help settle the area. The Grants went into the Cattle Business they lived on the North Fork of Otter Creek about 5 miles from town.
More children were born to the Grants, while they lived in Randolph Joseph, Henry, and Estella. And little Rosetta died at 6 years of age. Then two more girls were born to the Grants Jemima and Lita. Morgan was baptized on the same day as his sister Alfa, the 18th of June 1888 by Hyrum J. Norris and confirmed the next day by George A. Peart. Around 1889 the price of cattle dropped. The Grants drove their cattle to Salt Lake City to sell and when they got there the price of a cow plus a calf was $5.00. That price was much to low to take so they drove the cattle back to Randolph. At this time Morgan (II) was unable to make the payments on the ranch so they moved onto a 320 acre farm 3 miles closer to town.
Morgan went to school in Randolph, which consisted of mostly the three R's. School teachers were very strict if a child misbehaved they were whipped. Morgan's sister Alfa was just older than Morgan so if he was punished in school he knew he would receive a whipping at home. His mother expected the best from him. She believed that a child should be punished for their mistakes and that a child should always be kept busy. He and his brothers and sisters would walk to school when the weather was good. In the winter time they drove back and forth in an open sleigh.
Farming in Randolph
The farm the Grants moved onto had a heavy growth of sage brush on it. Consequently, after school and on Saturdays, the Grant children had to get out and help burn sage brush, especially in the spring of the year. The men would get the sage brush plowed up and raked into windrows, then at night they would burn all they could. Morgan (II) grew a lot of oats, so in the fall, the Grant children had to shock grain, help stack it, and during threshing time, work on the straw stack. In the winter time the children helped sack the grain to take it to market.

Fun on the Bear Lake
While living on the farm, Lucy and Morgan (II) used to arrange for the children to go over on Bear Lake and spend a few days every summer, either at Aunt Sis Sprouse's (Lucy's sister) in Garden City, or Aquilla Nebeker's in Lake Town. The children enjoyed that. To complete the Grant Family two more children were born, Austin and Wesley.
Cleveland Panic
In 1897 when the Cleveland Panic hit the country the Grants lost the farm and moved into town and when school was out, the boys who were old enough worked out. They worked 10 hours a day for 50 cents and their dinner. When summer came, a man who was raised in Randolph and with whom the Grants were acquainted, offered Morgan (II) and Morgan Jr. and Joe work at a big cattle ranch. Their acquaintance was the ranch foreman. They got three times as much pay as they were getting on the small farms, but the ranch was a rough place for a boy to work. At the ranch they operated three hay camps, so they put each of them in a different camp. Morgan (II) stayed about 3 weeks, the work was hard. He was rode a mowing machine. Morgan Jr. stayed about 6 weeks; he didn't get along with the boss. Joe stayed until September.
Business School
While they were living in Randolph, Morgan's parents sent him to a Business School in Salt Lake City. Morgan went for about one quarter. He enjoyed himself there. They had electric lights at that time and the boys would throw a stick up and hit the wires so that the lights would go out.
A Mission to Settle in the Big Horn Basin
In the spring of 1900, Morgan's father was called on a mission by President Lorenzo Snow to take his family, which included the five boys, and Lucy's brother William Henry Fackrell and go to the Big Horn Basin. They forded the Bear River and stayed the next night in Kemmerer. Many of the people that were going to the Big Horn Basin organized at Hams Fork into companies. Their company was #4. The captain was Alfred Nebeker, the Chaplain being Morgan (II) and the Hostler was George A. Peart. The Grants had 3 wagons, Morgan (II), Henry Fackrell and Morgan Jr. drove them. Joe tended to the cattle. They left April 27, 1900 from Hams Fork. While they were traveling on the way down South Pass it was so steep that they chained a log to the back of the wagon and rough locked the wheels to keep the wagon from running over the horses. They went up the Greybull River to Meeteetse and crossed the Shoshone River about 3 miles below Cody using the Corbett Bridge.
When they arrived at the Powell Flats there were lots of sage brush and antelope herds. They hadn't had meat for quite sometime and they were meat hungry. So a bunch of the men went off to get some antelope, but when they got back they didn't have any antelope. They went on down the river and arrived where the colony was camped on the 19th of May 1900 it had taken 3 weeks and one day to make the trip. The area was described as sand and salt sage. They could hardly prepare a meal that wasn't filled with sand before it was eaten.
Camped to build Canal
They and many others of the colony camped at the Howell place in tents for the summer. Every morning they would have Morning Prayer, they would sing a song "Come to prayer, come to prayer" in the morning. An irrigation system had to be set up so that the land could be used for farming; all the men went to work on building a canal, the Sidon Canal.
Answer to Prayer
By the 7th of September the colony was running out of money and getting discouraged. A special fast was called. And their prayers were answered, in that the Burlington Railroad was going to build a railroad into the Big Horn Basin and needed men to build the grade. The people were let off from the canal in order to build homes for the winter and get ready to work for the railroad. Part of the men worked on the canal and part at putting in grade for the rail road. The colony was able to finish the canal because of the money they got from the railroad.
Assigned to Raise Hay
The Apostle Woodruff asked Morgan (II) to rent a farm and raise hay for the colony. The Grants rented a farm east of Lovell from J.J. Marshall. It took them about two months to build a log house and haul firewood to last the winter. The farm was already being rented to a family by the name of Tracy. Then Uncle Henry, Joe and Morgan Jr. went into Montana to work on the railroad. When spring came the Grants started to raise hay for the colony. When they would haul it over to the colony President Session would have them hook their team up and drag the canal until it was too dark to see. At that time there were no bridges you had to ford the rivers.
The Grants hired the hay bailed the first year and then they purchased a hay bailer of their own, the old horse drawn type. Joseph & Morgan were sent to Bridger to get it. On the way back they ran into a storm. It was a real Wyoming Blizzard it was freezing cold. Morgan ran beside the wagon to help them keep on the road while Joe drove the wagon. When they finally found a farm house Morgan had a hard time getting Joe off the wagon. Joe was so cold he didn't want to move. They couldn't get their hands to close they were so frozen. So the farmer unhitched the team for them. This was one of the many stories that Morgan related to his son Nolan.
They raised hay for the colony for three years and farmed some of the land we acquired under the new canal in Cowley. They had 160 acres in Cowley 80 acres west of Cowley and 80 acres south of Cowley. Often they would entertain church and other dignitaries.
Called to Irish Mission
In 1903 Morgan was called on a Mission to Great Britain. On the 16th July 1903 Jedediah Morgan Grant Jr. received his Patriarchal Blessing in Lovell by George Crosby. On the 20th of July he departed for Salt Lake City where he visited relatives. On Aug 4th Morgan purchased his ticket to Liverpool. It was $67.00. He was set apart by Apostle George Teasdale. August 5th he received his endowments in the Salt Lake Temple. He left Salt Lake by train at 5:45 Aug the 8th. At Buffalo he boarded the Mayflower it departed shortly after 1:00. On Aug 22 he arrived in Liverpool, England.
He was appointed to the Irish Mission by Mission president, Apostle M. Lyman. He left for Belfast, Ireland on the steam boat Magic. It was a little over a month from the time he left his home in Lovell, Wyoming to reach his field of labor in Belfast, Ireland. The two years spent in Ireland was very special to Morgan through out his life. They had street meetings; this was one way of finding contacts to teach. Most of his mission was in Dublin and surrounding area.
I Have to Eat this Food?
Morgan found the food there to be his biggest problem, being as the Grants were always selective in their food habits. In the rural community in Ireland the barn and houses were in one building. They had cows, chickens and pigs. You could often see a pig in the house as they had the run of the house. When they milked they wouldn't take the cream off and they put the milk in a big 55 gallon barrel. Once this barrel finally got full they would make it into butter. This barrel had a really strong smell it was a dark gray color. The barrel had a foot pedal and the lid on the barrel would churn the butter when the foot pedal was used. They would roll up about a pound of butter in cloth and trade it for tea, salt, etc. When one went to the butcher for some meat he just cut some off. There weren't different cuts. They just thought meat was meat. But they had two types of butchers Hog butcher and Beef Butchers.
At night the missionaries would have to pick the cooties off of themselves, the sanitation was so bad. During the year of 1904 he spent total of $186.00.
Wesley bids Farewell
While Morgan was on his mission his youngest brother Wesley died of leakage of the heart. Wesley had been ill for about nine months but he wanted to see his oldest brother so he held on to life as long as possible. Morgan tells in his Missionary Journal of how Wesley came and told him goodbye while he was on his mission in Ireland. Morgan knew he was gone before he received the letter from home telling him the news.
Trip of Europe
Heber J. Grant was the Mission President at the time of his release. Heber had two nephews on a mission in Ireland one of them being Morgan and the other Walter Grant. He gave them both a trip to Europe. One of the places Morgan saw was Holland. On the way back to the U.S. Morgan rode the Lusitania on its maiden voyage. This ship was one of those sunk during World War I. Morgan was released from his mission on the 3rd of November 1905.
Courting Nellie
When Morgan got back from his mission he found that the May family had moved to Lovell, onto the old Cotner place. It was while attending MIA at one of the dances that he met one of the daughters Nellie Amelia May. He started courting her; sometimes he would ride a horse over to her home or sometimes walk on the rail road. When he walked on the railroad, he would have to cross the railroad bridge. Morgan was afraid of heights and he would have to crawl across the bridge.
In the year l906 was the first year the Grant family started to raise Sugar Beets. Morgan (II) and his sons had a lot of learning to do as they raised sugar beets.
Temple WeddingAfter about a year of courting they decided to get married in the Salt Lake Temple for time and all eternity. They rode a train to Salt Lake City it went around by Nebraska to Denver, Colorado. It took them about 3 days to get to Salt Lake City. John Winder May married Jedediah Morgan Grant Jr. and Nellie Amelia on the 6th of October 1906 in the Salt Lake Temple. Here they spent their Honeymoon. Morgan enjoyed introducing his bride to his many relatives living in the Salt Lake and Bountiful area. On the 18 May 1907 Jedediah Morgan Grant Jr. was set apart as a Seventy by Francis M. Lyman.
First Child
After their marriage they moved into the log house on the farm that the Grants had first built when they came to Lovell. On the 3rd of October 1907 their first child was born Jedediah Morgan Grant (the 4th). He was the first grandson in the Grant family and was loved and spoiled by all, but he wasn't permitted to stay. He was called home to his Heavenly Father on the 24th of March 1908, leaving an empty place in their home.
More Children
A few months later Nolan Grant their second child was born on the 27 Jan 1909. He was named after a family Morgan had met on his mission. Again the Grant family had another boy to pour out their love to.
Next came their first daughter Nelliemae born Oct 1, 1910. She was named after her mother Nellie May.
Fire
When she was very small another tragedy came to Morgan and Nellie. Nellie had built a good fire in the cook stove put her boiler of water to heat to do her washing. While the water was heating, Nellie took Nolan in his little red wagon, left Nelliemae asleep in the house and went to the Grants root cellar for a squash and some potatoes. The cellar was less than a block from their house, there was a row of willow's between their home and the cellar. Nellie hurried as she had dinner to prepare and washing to do. As soon as she passed the willows she could see smoke coming out of her house. She left Nolan crying in the wagon ran to the house opened the front door the room was full of smoke. Opened the back door the fire started there, this created a draft the fire spread. Running to the bedroom window she broke the glass and somehow managed to get in the window to get her baby daughter out. By that time some workers in the field had seen the smoke and arrived. They managed to recover a rocking chair and the trunk that had traveled with Morgan to Ireland and back. They lost everything else they owned but the clothes on their backs. The rocking chair was used to rock most of the Grant's children. (The trunk has been special to the family and Nelliemae now has it.) They moved to another house on the Grant farm.
September 2, 1913 Viva came to the family and then November 2, 1915 Donna.
Blessings
Nolan remembers having the croup a lot. He would say get the ipecac. Then when he was about to choke to death his Papa would administer to him and he would go to sleep and just be a little hoarse the next morning.
Land
Everyone was given the privilege of filing for 40 acres of land on the bench it was south and a little east of Lovell. Morgan filed on the land. Here they planned to build a home and raise their family but their dream was never realized. Morgan (II) asked his son Morgan Jr. to stay and help him with the farm instead of having his own 40 acres and that he (Morgan Jr.) would get to have 40 acres of his (Morgan II's) land. They found Morgan had a heart condition. The Dr. felt it had followed a bad case of measles.
Their family continued to grow. Their next and last son Wilson was born in 1917. He was born on the 4th of July and he was named after the United States President at that time Woodrow Wilson.


Flu Epidemic
When the flu epidemic came in 1918 Morgan spent many nights sitting with friends and neighbors that were ill. One night sitting with Olaf Jensen he went to sleep and fell off the chair. He wasn't hurt except skinned his head, the scar was visible the rest of his life. He never had the "flu" nor did his wife and children, but his mother Lucy passed away the January 11, 1919. Lucy was a hard worker, her grandson Nolan Grant remembers her saying "Idle hands are the devils tools, if you haven't anything to do, gather sticks and scatter them again.
DepressionAfter World War I Morgan and his brother Joe where planning to buy the farm. The price of land was high at this time. It was going to cost them about $60,000. The depression hit and many people were in debt. They couldn't afford to buy it. The drop in prices was so great that Morgan’s brother-in-law Victor Showalter, being a sheep man could have sold his sheep one day for 80,000 and the next day was 20,000 in the hole. Morgan bought 80 acres of the farm form his father Morgan (II) and his wife Pheobe for $10,000. Joe went to Utah to find work.
Wilson remembers them having a tractor. One day he wanted to cross the ditch (he was a little fellow at the time) and whoever was driving the tractor let him stand on the draw bar and backed the tractor up to the ditch and let him across. They had the tractor when Joe and Morgan were farming together.
On the 25th of January 1920 a Special High Council meeting was called with President Edward W. Croft presiding. The purpose was to discuss sending missionaries into the stake for 2 weeks labor. They were to distribute tracts, books, preach, teach and do regular missionary work. George Easton, Jedediah M. Grant and Charles R. Lyman volunteered to go when asked by the Stake Presidency. Morgan labored in Worland.
The FarmAfter Grandma Grant (Lucy) died. Morgan and Nellie moved into the Grant home and Grandpa Grant built a new brick house in town. On the 1 April 1920 Grandpa remarried a woman by the name of Mrs. Pheobe A. Steer Pidcock. She was a widow with two daughters. This marriage did not last long they were divorced the 8 Aug 1922.
Rosalia a dark haired little baby was born in this home on June 28, 1921. She was named for her Grandma Rosalie May but with an "A."
On the 15 Feb 1922 Morgan Jr. bought 80 acres of the farm from his father Morgan (II) and his wife Pheobe. The main crop on the Grant farm was sugar beets about 60 of the 80 acres. In 1925 the yield was 19.31 tons per acre. One thing that kept the crops so good was that they always had a herd of 15 to 20 dairy cows. The manure was used to fertilize the fields. They also raised a little grain and hay for the cows and horses.
Peas and the Mexicans
We had a labor house quite often no one was living in it. The field man for the Sugar Factory wanted Morgan to let some Mexicans live in it free for the winter, so we often had Mexicans in it in the winter. Morgan would often share milk and sometimes peas with the Mexicans. The previous summer, they had raised peas for the canning factory. These peas had gotten too ripe to sell to the canning factory so Morgan had thrown them up on the horse barn to dry out. He planned on feeding them to the animals. Morgan had noticed the Mexican taking a few peas from off the horse barn every now and again but it was only a few so Morgan didn't say any thing. One day the Mexican had a friend over and he and his friend came over and got a few peas off the barn and Morgan didn't say any thing to them it was only a few peas. Well the Mexican finally moved on. And then one day the Mexican's friend came and started loading the peas into his wagon. Morgan went over and asked him what he thought he was doing. The Mexican said that the Mexican that had lived in the labor house had sold him the peas. Morgan told him that they were not the Mexican’s to sell and that he had better put them all back on the barn.
Living on the Farm
They always had from 1 to 12 pigs and some chickens. Wilson remembers them selling the eggs for about 60 cents a dozen. He would trade one egg for a candy bar in at the store. Wilson remembers them butchering a pig about twice a year and having canned pork and beef. For a while the cows were kept up on the 40 acres on the bench and they would milk them their. Latter Papa signed a quick claim deed to Cyrus Robertson for the place for back taxes.
Papa and Nolan would do the milking. Viva would also do a lot of the out door chores. Mama would make butter from the cow’s milk. They would sell it for 40 cents a pound. The table would often be full of butter. They delivered the butter twice a week to their customers on their butter route and would sell some to the store. Wilson remembers packing water from the well in the corrals to keep the milk, cream, and butter cool in the summer. Nolan remembers this as being the time when they had the best living.
Papa had a bunch of horses. He was always breaking one. When they were colts he would tie them to their mother and when they were big enough he would put a harness on them, then he would work them between two other horses. It seemed they always had a bunch of young colts. Papa always had a good cultivating team to cultivate the beets and beans.
Nolan remembers his father getting up at 4:00 and going into the sugar factory and getting a load of wet beet pulp to feed the stock, then coming home and milking two cows. There was no open water on the place. Papa had to pump water with a pitcher pump for hours by hand, and then haul hay and straw. Nolan remembers the music that the iron tired wagon wheels make going on snow when the temperature was below zero. Nolan could tell when his Papa was coming home by the screech of the wagon tires. They would often feed other peoples cows the beet pulp on their land, so they could have the manure for fertilizer for the fields. Wilson remembers his Papa putting the frozen beet pulp in the silo to keep and slowly feeding it to the cows.
Papa would often fall asleep at the table after working in the fields. He would put his arm over the back of the wooden chair, put his head on his arm and fall asleep. Farming is hard work and long hours; this Papa did that he might support his family.
Once when Papa was coming home from town in the buggy in the dark a car ran into them. It broke the tongue off the buggy and the horses ran away. Nolan and Papa looked all over and couldn't find them. The next day the horses turned up at the house still hooked to the tongue.
Family Prayer
In the Morgan Grant Jr. home they would always have Family Prayer every morning and every night just before it was time to eat they would pull out their chair from the table, turn them around and kneel down and Papa would most always say the prayer. Then we would sit up to the table and one of us kids would say the blessing on the food. For breakfast we would usually have oatmeal, some kind of cooked cereal for supper and fried oatmeal for dinner.
Church
When we went to church Dad would hitch up the wagon and we'd go in the wagon. The buggy was too small for all of us. That old wagon would generally have had manure or beet pulp in it. It had been scraped out, but we all stood up in the wagon so as to keep clean. Once in a while we kids would walk into church. Rosalia remembers walking into town to the old White Church when the weather was good, with Papa and some of the other kids. Papa would sometimes carry Ruth and Rosalie on his shoulders when they got tired.
Gentle and Loving
Wilson doesn't remember Papa ever reading to the children but he generally would tell them stories. If he did it was usually raining. Donna remembers how her Papa loved children and was always very gentle with the little ones. Sometimes she would feel flustered when one of them would fall and he would say 'Come here and I'll pick you up" after all you'd already be up by the time you got to him.
Donna remembers how her Papa loved music but was completely tone deaf. She has heard him sing "Oh Ye Mountains High" and "Oh My Father" without changing a note up or down. On Oct l5, 1923 Ruth a light haired little girl came to their home.
The Cat
Rosalia remembers that on her 5th birthday Nelliemae, Viva and Donna gave her a party, one of her gifts was a yellow striped cat from Helen Robertson. She had had the cat for a while when it must have been bitten by an animal with rabies, as it went crazy. It came home one day screaming and yelling. It slipped into the house and tried to get into bed with Viva, Donna and her. Papa told them to kick hard and not let it near them. He caught it and thought he had killed it, but it came back. He killed it again or thought he did and put it under a wash tub until morning, when he found it, it was still alive. He killed if for the 3rd time and buried it deep. Donna remembers the same story but with a little different ending. "I don't know what happened to the cat, but I'd bet my bottom dollar that my father never killed that cat.
Wilson remembers one day when his Papa was going out to the hay field which was west of the house. Wilson wanted to go along. His Papa said, “Well then let's go.” So Wilson grabbed his shoes in one hand and an apple in another. When they got to the field Wilson still didn’t have his shoes on. As he was getting his shoes on his Papa was throwing some hay up in the wagon. It hit Wilson and he began to bawl. (I usually stomped the hay down.) Papa got me down and swatted me and told me to go home. I went off through the beet field. I found a bare spot and lie down and fell asleep. Next thing I knew Nolan was looking at me. They told me I had lost one of my shoes, we never did find it.
Nolan remembers that one of the most common meals in the Grant home was bread and milk. His father liked it and Nolan hated it. He remembers having to sit at the table until his bowl was empty. Donna remembers her father as being very stern and strict. Black was black and white was white most of the time, but there were really many sides to him.
New Car
In about 1925 things were going good Morgan had the farm paid off and he bought a brand new car an Essex, two door sedan. Wilson remembers of sometimes going to church in the car, if it wasn't broken down. Wilson remembers going in the car out to Kane to visit Aunt Lita and Uncle Lou Howe and Uncle Oliver May and Aunt Grace. He remembers once going out to two trees (east of Lovell not far from the base of the Big Horn Mountains, these two trees that the area was named for no longer stand) for a picnic. Rosalie remembers going in the car to the foot of the Mountains to take Uncle Henry Fackrell some things. They didn't recognize Uncle Henry as he had grown a full beard.
Next it was Faye's turn on the 21 Feb 1926. Nellie had problems after Faye was born. Alfa had her and the baby come stay with her in town until she recovered. Nellie had an abscess on her breast and didn't have enough milk for the baby. Aunt Grace May had just had a baby not long before and she had plenty of milk and so once a day she would come into town and give the baby a feeding. Morgan and the family missed her and were happy to have her return home.
Papa grew cucumbers one of the years when there was a pickle works near the depot in Lovell. Wilson remembers his Momma and Papa holding up the vines as the kids picked the cucumbers and picked the cucumbers, everyday they picked cucumbers. Rosalia remembers riding in the wagon when her Papa took the cucumbers into town.
Serious Illness
About the middle of October 1926 Morgan became seriously ill. For over a month he hovered between life and death. Dr. Croft told Nellie there was no chance for him to recover, his heart had enlarged to the size of a mans head. This was so hard on the family especially his wife. Rosalia remembers the Dr. giving up and saying there wasn't any thing else he could do for him. The Elders were called. While they were administering to him Aunt Alpha Grant Showalter was there and I remember she had us kids kneel and pray for Papa. It seemed like he started to get better then.
Wilson remembers all the family was farmed out except Nolan, Nell, the baby and maybe Viva. He remembers going and staying with Uncle Allen and Aunt Stella May and their new baby Bernice. He said it seemed like years but was probably only a month or two before he got to go home. At this time when Morgan was so ill he signed the farm over to his wife Nellie on the 4 Nov 1926.
Morgan's strength was gone he had to give up the cows. He hired a man, Fred Wagoner to run the farm the next year.
On May 7, 1928 Elizabeth (Betty) joined the family. Rosalia remembers Papa would take the kids into Grandpa and Grandma May's so they could look at her through Grandpa's bedroom window; they couldn't get near Mama and her as they all had whooping cough.
In 1928 Nolan did a lot of the farm work as his fathers strength had not returned. Morgan did some cultivating, a little irrigating and the beet lifter. Wilson always remembers his Papa as being the one to operate the beet lifter.
In 1929 Morgan's father had moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and he was out of money. Being as he had got a pretty good deal out of the farm he felt obligated to help his father out. He gave his father $2,000 more for the farm on the 10 Aug 1929.
Donna remembers a time when her Mother was very ill (later she realized she had a miscarriage) and in great pain." All the older brothers and sisters were gone. Papa and I took turns rubbing mother’s back for hours and hours until the doctor arrived in the wee small hours of the morning. But what I can't put into words is the compassion and love that father showed for my mother during those long hours. After the Doctor arrived Papa kissed me and sent me to bed. That was the only time I can remember father kissing me. But I went to bed with the certainty that my father truly loved my mother and his family."
Papa is DeadIn 1930 times all over were really tough, there wasn't any money. Morgan had been out looking over the fields when he came back in and suddenly passed away. Some of the children were coming home down the lane when they met Nelliemae running for Robertsons to call the doctor. She tossed them her apron and said, "Papa is dead." Nolan was in town when a neighbor told him his father had passed away. Morgan Jr., Papa, was of medium height and had curly hair. He died at the age of 50 years on the 5 March 1930 on his farm east of Lovell, Wyoming. He was laid to rest in the Lovell Cemetery.
Testimony
In J.M. Grant’s Missionary journal we find his testimony, 2 September 1905,"... I knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that all he said was true and I am going to bare my testimony to that effect as long as I live."
This history is a compilation of many sources; some are History of Joseph C. Grant, J. Morgan Grant Jr. Missionary Journal, information from sons Nolan and Wilson, remembrances of daughters.

Nellie Amelia May Grant
1885-1969



Rockland
Nellie Amelia May was born in Rockland, Idaho December 16, 1885, the daughter of Rosalie Elvira Perry and Jude Allen May. Many are the fond memories, she has related to her children, of her childhood years on the farm in Rockland. Nellie spent her childhood on a small farm where she was required to help with chores, housework and the care of the younger children in the family.
Baptized
When she turned eight years old on 16 Dec 1893, her father broke the ice in a creek about one mile from their house where he baptized her a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. One of the fond memories is of the family camping trips to the Snake River for fishing.
Big Horn Basin
In 1905 when she was 18 years old her parents moved the family to the Big Horn Basin which was being colonized by the Mormons. They moved in covered wagons traveling through the Yellowstone Park. All of her children had exciting dreams of the geysers and wild animals there, long before they even had the opportunity to see them for themselves as she was an exciting story teller, and was able to make her experiences live for others. Their first home in BigHorn was a Ranch in Cody, which is now covered by the Buffalo Bill Reservoir.
Handsome Return Missionary
About a year later they moved to Lovell she met and fell in love with Jedediah Morgan Grant (III), who had just returned after filling a mission in Ireland. On October 4, 1906 they were married in the Salt Lake, L.D.S. Temple, and returned to Lovell to make their home, on the Grant farm east of town. There they spent all the years of their married life. They had a fire that destroyed their first home. Nellie had gone to the cellar taking their small son leaving their baby daughter in the house asleep. Coming from the cellar she could see smoke. She rushed to the house but couldn't enter either door because of smoke, so she broke the bedroom window and got their baby out. They lost every thing they owned but a rocking chair and the trunk her husband used on his mission.
JedediahTheir first son Jedediah Morgan was born 3 Oct 1907. They were not allowed to enjoy him very long as the Lord called him home on the 24 Mar 1908.
Nolan
Nolan, their 2nd son, married Irene Assay. Nolan worked for Amoco Oil Co. until he was forced to retire in Jan 1973 because of ill health. Irene worked as nurse’s aid at the Powell Hospital she also had to retire because of ill health. Irene is active in the Relief Society and Nolan has held several positions in the Church. He has been one of the seven presidents of the seventies, YMMIA President, and has been in the superintendency of the Sunday School. They live in
Powell, Wyoming.
Nelliemae
Nelliemae, the oldest daughter, married Andrew E. Schow (Shorty). He worked for Big Horn Cannery until Aug 1942 they then moved to Layton, Utah. Here they were both employed at Hill Air Force Base. In 1971 both retired because of ill health. Both Nell and Shorty are active in the Church. Shorty has been in the stake Sunday School Superintendency; many teaching positions and is now working in the Ogden Temple. Nell has taught in the Sunday School, MIA and Relief Society, and has been Secretary in both the stake and ward YWMIA. All three of their boys have filled missions.
VivaViva, their 2nd daughter, married Horace H. Dove, (Toots). They lived in Deaver, Wyo. They were divorced. She then married Joe Frank Ellis. This marriage was not successful. She remarried Horace Dove the father of her children. They live in Lemon Grove, Calif.
Donna
Donna, the 3rd daughter, married Russell L. Dove. He was killed in an accident in Calif. She then married LaVern (Babe) Dove, Russell's brother. This marriage wasn't successful. She then married Bert Yogi he passed away 5 Dec 1969. Donna now lives in Riverdale, Utah.
Wilson
Wilson, their last son, married Marie McGonagle. They lived in Lovell, Wyo. then moved to Utah in 1942. Here Wilson was drafted into the Navy. Marie and the children moved to Powell, Wyoming to be near her parents. Wilson returned to Wyoming. Mobile Oil Co. transferred them to Big Piney, Wyoming, where he is still employed. Marie is a convert to the church. They are both active in the church. Wilson has served in the MIA as scout master. Marie has served in teaching primary and as Relief Society President. They are the parents of 11living children.
Amelia May
Nellie and Morgan had a still born baby girl on 2 Dec 1919.
Rosalia
Rosalia their 5th daughter married Wayne Sterner. They spent a few years in Wyoming before moving to California. Wayne works as a Machinist. They enjoy going to rabbit shows, Wayne acts as a judge. Rosalia was a Relief Society President in the Mt. View Ward. They now live in Menlo Park, California.
RuthRuth their 6th daughter married Allen Johnson. They made their home in Belflower until a few years ago they moved to Chino, California. Allen drives a milk truck picking up milk from dairy farmers. Allen is a convert to the church; both are active in church work. Al has been the ward clerk in every ward they have lived in. Ruth has worked in the MIA and helped Al with his clerical work. They have a son filling a mission in Argentina and one daughter living at home.
Faye
Faye their 7th daughter married Francis Robins. Frank is an electrical engineer for Boeing Air Craft. Frank and Faye are both active in the church. Frank has been a bishop in two wards in Seattle and the branch president in Huntsville, Alabama. Faye has taught in the Sunday School, Relief Society and MIA, and has been a President of the YWMIA. They have one son who has filled a mission and two sons on missions at the present time. There home is in Kirkland
Washington.
Betty
Elizabeth (Betty) was her last child. She married Ned Clark. They are now divorced. Betty has been active in the church. She has taught in the Sunday School and MIA. She has been activity counselor and President of the YWMIA. Betty worked as a key punch operator at Hill Air Force Base and Internal Revenue's Western Service Center. She also worked as a supervisor at both Hill and Internal Revenue until she was forced to take a medical retirement. Betty lives in Layton, Utah.
Church ServiceAlthough busy with her family Nellie managed to keep up an active church life working as a Sunday School Teacher, MIA Teacher and Relief Society Visiting Teacher for about 30 years.
Husband passed away
Nellie was no stranger to sorrow for she lost her beloved husband on the 5 Mar 1930. Her husband passed away with a heart condition leaving her with nine children to care for and support. She didn't have much time to grieve for her husband as it took all her time to find ways and means to feed and clothe her children. They had very little money but they did have a lot of love in their home. Her Testimony sustained her, and she was able to keep her cheerful disposition, while being both Mother and Father to her 9 (nine) children.
Busy and Singing
She was always busy and singing as she went about her duties. Her hands were never idle, when she rested they were busy crocheting, knitting, or embroidering, and many were the beautiful stitches she put into Quilts both for her family and the Relief Society. This she was able to do until the last few months of her life.
After her husbands death she moved her family into town living most of the time in her Dads old house. He and her mother were a great help to her during this time.
DonShe helped to raise her oldest grandson Don. He was a pleasure and a great help to her. In 1941 she moved to Layton, Utah, after most of her family had grown. She and her two youngest daughters and grandson moved to Layton, Utah to be near her daughter Nelliemae. Nellie worked at the Navel Supply Depot until it closed down.
Travels
She was able to do quite a lot of traveling and visited her children in California, Arizona and Washington. A highlight of her life was her trip to the eastern states where she attended the Pageant at the Hill Cumorah, Liberty Jail and Nauvoo along with many other church and national historical spots.
Nellie lived for a time with her daughter Nelliemae in Layton, Utah before her health became so poor that she was moved to the Nursing Home in Bountiful. Nellie passed away on 12 June 1969 in Bountiful, Utah at the nursing home. She was laid to rest next to her husband in Lovell, Wyoming.

In closing I would like to read a poem which she often quoted to her children:

Mama's mama, on a winter's day,
Milked the cows, and fed them hay,
Slopped the hogs, saddled the mule,
And got the children off to school.
Did a washing, mopped the floors,
Washed the windows and did some chores.
Cooked a dish of home dried fruit,
Pressed her husband's Sunday suit.
Swept the parlor, made the bed,
Baked a dozen loaves of bread,
Split some firewood, and lugged it in,
Enough to fill the kitchen bin
Cleaned the lamps and put in oil,
Stewed some apples she thought might spoil.
Churned the butter, baked a cake,
Then exclaimed: "For mercy's sake,
The calves have got out of the pen!"
Went out and chased them in again.
Gathered the eggs and locked the stable,
Returned to the home ant set the table.
Cooked a supper that was delicious,
And afterwards washed all the dishes.
Fed the cat, sprinkled the clothes,
Mended a basket full of clothes.
Then opened the organ and began to play:
"When you come to the end of a perfect day."
This Obituary was written by family members and was read by Jeri Clark

Jesse Thompson McGonagle
1888-1970

This is the history of Jesse Thompson McGonagle written by his daughter Marie Mae McGonagle Grant. Jesse Thompson McGonagle told this first part to Marie and it is written in first person just as he told it.
I was born July 18, 1888 in the house my family lived in. When I was 5 I went to the country school on the end of the place. Later I went to Deersville School. When I was nine we moved about two miles away, when I was twelve Pap bought the place and we moved back. When I was twelve I started doing all of the farming and only went to school in the winter because of farming in the spring and fall.
Horses

Pap gave me old Maude, but I couldn't sell her. I pensioned her when she was 33; Pap shot her when she was 40. When I was seventeen I started dickering in horses. Pap sold one of Maude's colts, Bell, best all around horse I ever saw, to the army when she was twenty eight; she looked ten. In 1908, 1909, 1910 I worked for East Ohio Gas Co. putting in big gas lines 18, 20, 22 inch.
Pennsylvania trip with one horse buggy

In 1911 I went to Pennsylvania and did farm work. On July 19, 1911 I started from Saxonburg, Pa. to drive to Deersville, Ohio or "home". It was 150 miles, made 90 miles the first day. That night it rained and the next day made 60 miles with muddy roads. The roads for most part weren't paved or hard surface. I was driving one horse to a top buggy. A boy from where I was working was with me on the trip. I remember we got home before sundown and the little horse was looking around for more things to see. A few weeks later the horse got his back broken. He was one of the best horses I ever owned. I was going to start to train him a little later for a race horse.

A neighbor and I bid on and got a contract to put in a piece of pike. That was putting in a rock road covering, twelve feet wide, one foot thick; 8 inches, 6 inches and less than 4 inches broken fine. All this was done by hand, rock hauled with a wagon and broken up with a sledge. We hired one guy to help break stone
Cozad
After this was done I headed for (Cozad) Nebraska. That fall I husked corn in Nebraska and worked in a flour mill. I went to parties. My friend Jim Meldrum was living in Nebraska and I looked him up and stayed with him.
Oklahoma
Around January 1, 1912 I went to Oklahoma and fed cattle on a ranch there and worked until first cutting of alfalfa. (I worked for Great Uncle Bill McGonagle.)
Then I went to Kinsley, Kansas for the wheat harvest and for thrashing. I stayed there till after the wheat was seeded then bought a motor cycle and rode it to Nebraska to husk corn again. Then in 1913 I shipped the motor cycle to Ohio and went to Ohio. I worked in the timber most of the time that year then I went back to Nebraska about Dec. 15 of that year. Ada and I were married Dec. 24, 1912.
The end of what Jesse told Marie
Wedding
Dad and Mom were married on Mom's twentieth birthday at Mom's home in the same room where she was born. They were married at five thirty in the afternoon. Mom's family was there but none of Dad's family was able to be there; Ohio and Nebraska are just too far apart.
They had a family dinner after the wedding at their home. Those attending were Carrie Birney, Blanche and Joe McKelvey and their children: Hazel 13, Ray 10, Ted 9, Wesley 6, Ethel 4 and Esther 2, Lizzie and Ed Wedge and their son Fred 9, Lida and Dick Johnson and their daughter Carolyn 17 months and of course the Bride and Groom. I do not know for sure but I think that Jim Meldrum was there, he was a good friend of Dad's and he lived with the Birneys in Ohio before they moved to Nebraska.

An interesting story that Mother told about the dinner is that there nearly wasn't a dinner. Everyone was ready to sit down; everything was on the table when Esther started pulling on the table cloth. Someone was quick and no harm was done.
Family
Jesse Thompson McGonagle's parents were Wilson Ellsworth McGonagle and Sarah Alice White McGonagle. Wilson Ellsworth was 26 years old when Jesse was born and Sarah Alice was 29 years old. Jesse, his parents and both of his brothers were all born in Harrison County, Ohio. Jesse had two brothers, Harry Lee and Melvin. Jesse was 2 years older than Harry was and nine years older than Melvin was.
JobsGrandpa was a farmer; Dad learned farming from him. I think that Dad liked farming. The part of Ohio where McGonagles lived is very hilly. Compared to Wyo. it is very rainy there, they do not irrigate, there is plenty of rain. Trees, shrubs and grass grow very lush. Dad tells of having a hard time grubbing sumac out. He didn't want Mom to plant it because it would spread too much. Mom planted it in Wyo. But it didn't spread at all there.
Education
Dad thought that an education was very important and that everyone should take advantage of every opportunity to learn. I remember seeing a report card of Dad’s; his grades were mostly 100's and 99's. He was really quick at math. He had the equivalent of a University education. Dad had a teacher’s certificate, he tried teaching in a country school but the older boys only wanted to play pranks they didn't want to learn. Dad had no patience with them, he wanted to bang their heads together and make them learn. He realized he didn't have the patience to be a teacher. I believe that he taught for two weeks. When we knew Dad he was very patient.
Religion
When I knew my Dad he was very religious. He must have received his religious training at home when he was young. He called his father Pap and his mother Ma. I understand that when they went to church, Pap and Jesse went to one church and Ma and Melvin went to another church. Harry went first to one church and then to the other church. I think that they walked to church. One church was at one corner of the farm and the other church was at the opposite corner of the farm. Dad said that when he was a boy he didn't wear shoes in the summer time, he saved them to wear on Sunday.
Poor Health
Dad's diet seemed to consist of meat, bread and coffee. I don't think that he ate vegetables and fruit very much. They called the meat drippings "sop" and used them as gravy.
Dad had asthma really bad. He could not lie down and sleep. He slept sitting in a chair. The Dr. said his asthma was so bad that he wouldn't live very long. I think the Dr. said about six months if he stayed in Ohio. The Dr. told Dad to move from Ohio. The Dr. prescribed brandy as a medicine for Dad so that he could breathe.
One day Dad realized he was working all day, using too much brandy to keep going, he was going to dances at night and getting into lots of fights. He decided he couldn't keep on this way.
Travels
He went to Nebraska in 1911 and husked corn and worked in a flour mill. Around Jan 1, 1912 he went to Oklahoma and fed cattle on his Uncle Bill's ranch, he worked there until the first cutting of alfalfa. He then went to Kinsley, Kansas for wheat harvest and thrashing. He stayed in Kansas until after the wheat was seeded. Then he went to Nebraska to husk corn again. In 1911 when Dad left Ohio he went to Nebraska and visited his friend Jim Melbourne. John and Carrie Birney practically raised Jim Melbourne. When Birneys moved from Ohio Jim was married and they stayed in Ohio. When Jim's wife died he moved to Nebraska and stayed with Birneys for awhile. By 1911 he was living in a place of his own. It was through Jim Melbourne that Dad met Grandma and Mom.
CourtshipWhen Dad and Mom were dating they went to parties, buggy rides and at least once a motor cycle ride. Dad took Mom for a ride on the back of his motor cycle. The road became very, very rough and Mom slid off the back. Dad went several miles before he missed her. He was really embarrassed over this and was really teased. Mom thought it was funny.
Dad went back to Ohio in 1913 to tie up all loose ends. He wanted to break the news of his forthcoming marriage in person. His family could not accept the fact that he could not live in Ohio because of his asthma. They would have liked him to marry an Ohio girl and live in Ohio. Mom took this fact personal as if they didn't like her. Parents just like to have their children near them. Dad went back to Ohio twice before his Dad died.
****************
Jesse Thompson McGonagle
Written to Wilson Mac Grant, Tuesday 7/19/66
Fifty five years ago today I started from Saxonburg, Pa. to drive to Deersville Ohio or "home". It was 150 miles, made 90 the first day. That night it rained and the next day made 60 miles with muddy roads. The roads for most part weren't paved or hard surface. I was driving one horse to a top buggy. A boy where I was working was with me on the trip. I remember we got home before sundown and the little horse was looking around for more things to see. A few weeks later the horse got his back broke. He was on of the best horses I ever owned. I was going to start to train him and a little later for a race horse.
So a neighbor and I bid on and got a contract to put in a piece of pike. That was putting in a rock road covering 12 feet wide and 1 foot thick, 8 inches, 6 inches and less than the top 4 inches was broke bine. All this was done by hand. We hauled the rock with a wagon and broke it up with a sledge. We hired one guy to help break stone.
After this job was done I headed for Nebraska. This is a short part of my time that I don't suppose you ever heard of. That fall I husked corn in Nebr. Around January 1 or 1912 I went to Oklahoma and fed cattle on a ranch there that winter and worked there until first harvest and thrashing. Stayed there till after the wheat was seeded then back to Nebraska to husk corn again. Then in 1913 I went back to Ohio. Worked in the Timber most of the time that year then back to Nebr. about Dec. 15 of that year and we were married December 24 of that year.
********************

A song written by Jesse McGonagleMY WYOMING HOMEI've seen all the states in the nation,
Sailed over the world's seven seas,
Now in the evening
I long for the Wyoming breeze.
In the springtime of youth I was a rover
In the summer established my home
Now in the fall I'm contented
To remain in my Wyoming home.

When the children have all left the root tree
And started life’s journey alone
In the winter I know we'll be content
Wife and I in our Wyoming home
Chorus
Oh, my Wyoming home in the mountains
There's the odor of sage I adore.
The antelope play on the hillside
The deer scamper close by the door.
********************

Jesse McGonagle, Early Day Resident, Buried Saturday
Funeral services were conducted Saturday from the First Methodist Church for Jesse Thompson McGonagle, 81, who died May 13 of an apparent heart attack.
Mr. McGonagle was born July 19, 1888, in Deersville, Ohio, the son of Wilson and Sarah McGonagle. He was married to Ada Birney Dec. 24, 1913 at Cozad, Nebr. The couple came to the Powell area in 1916 and engaged in farming.
The irrigation district employed Mr. McGonagle before his retirement.
Survivors include the widow of Powell; two daughters and sons-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Grant of Big Piney and Mr. and Mrs. Jay Wollam of Heart Mountain; two brothers, Harry and Melvin, both of Tippecanoe, Ohio; 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
The deceased was a member of the Methodist Church and a former board president. He was a Past Noble Grand of the IOOF and a former Farm Bureau president.
He portrayed Major John Wesley Powell during Powell's 50th anniversary celebration, and for several years was the oldest participant in the Park County Parade.
The Rev. Evan Brian of First Methodist Church and the Rev. Aram Phillbosian, of First Baptist Church officiated at the services, with burial in Crown Hill Cemetery under the Direction of Easton's Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Chet Hunnicutt, Ernest Good, Clyde Reynolds, Clarence Reid, Ted Borcher, and Frank Pyle.
****************
Notes on the life of Jesse McGonagle
• Farmer,
• Dairyman,
• Ditch rider,
• Teacher-6 weeks,
• Boxer,
• Barber,
• Raised Horses,
• Played Harmonica,
• Sawed logs,
• at 12 years old was a farmer,
• loved horse raising,
• He followed the harvest,
• went to Oklahoma to Uncle Bill McGonagle's,
• farmed Nebraska 2 years,
• farmed Wyoming until 1929, rent,
• move-Ditch-Mom 13 years old,
• Rent Dairy in 1936,
• Farmed Riverside farm,
• worked Sugar Factory in Lovell,
• 2 winters in Utah at Navy Depot, retired Farming - rode ditch –
• rented his farm,
• vacationed in Arizona,
• Rode Ditch until 81 years old,
• honest, easy going, friendly,
• put things off,
• liked to sing & whistle,
• Sang at Sylvia's wedding, Helen accompanied at wedding on organ,
• loved horses
• had horse, road Powell Parade as Grand Marshall for many years,
• member of rifle club,
• member of Farm Bureau,
• active church leader,
• Deputy-sheriff—Cody—Caroline Lockhart
• Bow legged.
• Loved and admired by grandchildren

Ada Lee Birney McGonagle
1893-1976
Ada Birney was born December 24, 1893 to Carrie Lee and John Wesley Birney at their farm home near Cozad, Nebraska. She was lovingly welcomed into this Methodist home by her parents and three older sisters: Blanche, Lizzie and Lida.

Ada received her schooling in a one room school house near her home. When she was sixteen her Father died. Her sisters were married and had homes of their own. Ada and her mother continued to live on the farm. Ada loved the farm; she was good with horses and could really handle a horse and buggy.

On December 24, 1913 Jesse Thompson McGonagle and Ada Birney were married at her home. Jess and Ada lived with Ada's mother for two years and Jess farmed the home place.

In the spring of 1916 Ada and Jess moved in an immigrant car to the Powell Flat in Wyoming and rented a farm. Soon Mother, Carrie Birney came to Powell and lived with Ada and Jess.

Ada and Jess had two daughters, Marie and Esther.

Over the years Ada and Jess farmed, he rode ditch, they operated a dairy and in 1937 they moved to the Riverside Community where they were living when Jess died in May of 1970. Ada lived on the farm a year after Jess passed on. She moved into the Rocky Mt. Manor in June of 1971 where she lived until September of 1975 when she moved into the Nursing home.

Ada was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was constantly doing for others. Ada was a very good cook. She grew a good garden and beautiful flower garden. She shared her flowers with others, bouquets and perennial starts. She enjoyed taking her friends places with her. She was active in the Methodist Church, Rebecca Auxiliary and Farm Bureau.

In 1963 Ada and Jess celebrated their Golden Wedding with an Open House. All of the family and many friends attended.

Ada died March 3, 1976 of a heart attack.

Written by daughter, Marie Grant*****************

Ada Lee Birney McGonagle

Funeral services for Ada B. McGonagle, an early settler of the Powell Flat, will be Friday, March 12 at 2 p.m. at the First Methodist Church in Powell with Rev. Jarrell Tharp officiating.

Mrs. McGonagle died March 3 at the Powell Nursing Home of an apparent heart attack. She was 82.

She was born Dec. 24, 1893, on a farm near Cozad, Nebraska, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Wesley Birney. She received her schooling in a one-room school house near her home. When she was 16, her father died and she and her mother remained on the farm.

She married Jesse Thompson McGonagle Dec 24, 1913. The couple lived with her mother until 1916 when they moved in an emigrant car to the Powell Flat. They moved to the Riverside community in 1937 where they lived until his death in 1970. She remained on the farm until 1971when she moved into the Rocky Mountain Manor. In September 1975, she moved into the Powell Nursing Home. She was active in the Methodist Church, Rebekah Lodge and Farm Bureau.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Marie Grant of Big Piney and Mrs. Esther Wollam of Cody, 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery.

Taken from the Powell Tribune, Powell, Wyoming
*************
Excepts of a letter written to Cindy Grant 3 July 1971 by Ada McGonagle.

My father John Wesley Birney was born in Harrison County Ohio My Mother Carrie Lee Birney was born in Carol Co Ohio My 3 sisters Blanche, Lizzie and Lida were born in Harrison Co. Not far from where your Grandfather was born but as far as I know the two families never met But the McGonagle family did know my father's sister Jane K Birney Pittis. In 1911 and 1912 Jesse decided he wanted to see the west. He knew James Meldrum when he (Mr. Meldrum) lived in Ohio. He was a very good friend of my Father and Mother. Your Grandfather worked for my sister Lizzie's Husband Edd Wedge, Shucking corn. My Father died August 27. 1910, and Mother and I lived on the farm 8 miles from town. Edd came to help dig a storm cellar and Jesse came too - a short time later I was at Edd's to get a load of corncobs that was what we used for fuel. Jess was shucking corn near the road. He left his team and wagon jumped the fence and asked me to go to church that night. We called it Revival Meetings. They lasted 2 weeks and I don't think we missed a night. I don’t think there were a dozen cars around there but a horse and buggy was much nicer any way Even if you could not go as far. We were engaged before Christmas and he went home to Ohio and came back in Dec 1913. Last night I got a box of his letters out and read some of them. Don’t have all of them. A few got lost and the mice got some before I put them in a little cedar chest. My father and mother and 3 sisters moved to Nebraska in 1890 or 1891 I hope this answers your question.


I was born and married in the same room. The home had 3 rooms. A new kitchen was later added. All of my sisters were born in Ohio. My sister Maggie lived about a year then she died of spinal meningitis.
My folks (Birney) practically raised James Meldrum. After his wife died he came to Nebraska and lived with us. Jesse McGonagle knew Jim in Ohio, he came to Nebraska to see the country and looked up his old friend and stayed with him.
I remember Jess walking away over the little hills when he went back to Ohio. I can still see him in my mind's eye, walking away. There was a cute little school teacher that set her cap for him, but she didn't make any headway.
*******************
Ada played dominoes and blind man’s bluff with her children.

Many of the Grandchildren have fond memories of Sunday visits at Grandma’s House. She and Grandpa would also take some of the children home to stay for various periods of time.

Nelada remembers a time that she stayed during the holidays and got very sick. Grandma sat up all night nursing her. She bathed her feverish head and body with a sponge throughout the night. She cared for her so very lovingly. When she was finally feeling a little better Grandma asked if she wanted to go home to be with her mom while she was sick. She said no she liked how Grandma took care of her.

Strawberries were a favorite part of summer visits to grandma’s. Also, they had a “box” (a small shed) where boxes of old clothing and hats and things were kept. The children were allowed to play in there.

There was almost always some kind of cookie in the freezer when the grandchildren came to visit. It might just be graham crackers stuck together with frosting. Whatever it was; it was a very welcome treat.