Sunday, May 25, 2014
Elizabeth Ericksen (1842 - 1891) 52 Ancestors #20
This is my Memorial Day tribute to my 2nd great grandmother, Elizabeth Ericksen Nielsen,who I know very little about. I'm enjoying learning how to make these videos using Adobe Voice.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Andrew B Nielsen (1835-1913) 52 Ancestors #19
For this week's post, I decided to use my iPad and the new Adobe Voice app to create a video for my 2nd great grandfather, Andrew B Nielsen. It was really fun and easy to do, once I had gathered all the pictures and figured out what I wanted to say. I even got my son to narrate it for me. I can't get the embed code to work on this blog, but below is the link to the video.
Video Link: http://voice.adobe.com/v/GT5WLrnCJJt
Video Link: http://voice.adobe.com/v/GT5WLrnCJJt
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| Andrew B Nielsen |
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Finnetta Ann Williams (1860-1943) 52 Ancestors #18
Born: August 30, 1860 in Hyrum, Utah
Died: December 22, 1943 in Hyrum, Utah
Parents
William Williams (1827-1902)Margaret Pettigreen Hope (1833-1897)
Spouse & Children
Albert J Allen (1855-1932)Albert Silas Allen (1878-1952)
Ivy May Allen (1881-1954)
Victor Jay Allen (1883-1983)
Truman Allen (1886-1887)
Sylvia Floss Allen (1888-1957)
Asael Lucian Allen (1891-1917)
Pearl Keziah Allen (1894-1974)
Russell Gayle Allen (1897-1975)
Fern Hope Allen (1901-1909)
Biography
My father was only a toddler when Finnetta passed away, but he can still remember crawling around on her floor. He remembers that she was a very nice lady. Here's what others have written about her:
Finnetta Ann Williams Allen was born August 30, 1860, in Hyrum, Utah, to William Williams, Jr. and Margaret Pettigreen Hope Williams. She was the first white child born in Hyrum after it was founded, and was the third of 9 children. Her father was a polygamist and had one other wife, so Finnetta had other half-brothers and sisters.
Finnetta received very little formal education in her life. As a child, she and her sister alternated attending school after paying a single tuition, because her family had very little money. Although her education was meager, she did much to educate herself by reading good books and acquainting herself with current events. As a child, she worked hard to help her parents by gleaning wheat, digging sego roots for meals, and mnaking lye from ashes that was used to make soap. She also gathered wool from off the brush and fences, which was then washed, dried and spun into yarn.
Finnetta married Albert J. Allen on Feb. 5, 1877, at the age of 16, in the Salt Lake Endowment House. They had 9 children:
Albert "Silas" Allen (1878)
Ivy May Allen Liljenquist (1881)
Victor J. Allen (1883)
Truman Allen (1886)
Sylvia Floss Allen Peterson (1888)
Asael Lucian Allen (1891)
Pearl Keziah Allen Hughes (1894)
Russell Gale Allen (1897)
Fern Hope Allen (1901)
Finnetta was a petite woman and always cheerful and pleasant to be around. She has been described as being loving, modest and charitable. She loved flowers and gardening and often shared her flowers with her friends or with someone sick or lonely. As a young woman, she learned many homemaking skills from her mother. She became a beautiful dressmaker and seamstress and also enjoyed making many quilts.
Finnetta was a religious woman and was always willing to do what she was asked to do. Her church callings included Primary President, counselor in the Relief Society presidency twice, and Relief Society President. Finnetta loved to go to the temple. Even with the distance she had to travel to get there in a horse and buggy, and with her large family to care for, she completed 715 endowments in the Logan Temple during her lifetime.
After their 7th child, Pearl, was born, Albert was called to serve a 2-year mission to the Northern States. While he was gone, Finnetta cheerfully and willingly cared for her young family with very little money to live on. After Albert returned from his mission, they had 2 more children.
Finnetta had a beautiful singing voice and sang in her ward choir for more than 55 years. She was also the first president for the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers in Hyrum.
She died on Dec. 22, 1943, at the age of 83. Her last words to her children, who were at her bedside when she died, were "God bless you, and always keep the faith." At her funeral, one of the speakers said, "No cleaner hands ever entered into death, and no sweeter woman ever lay down in final sleep."
Albert J Allen (1855-1932) 52 Ancestors #17
Most of this was taken from Albert's Find a Grave memorial:
Albert J. Allen was born April 26, 1855, in Cedar City, Utah, to Ira Allen & Keziah Benson Allen. He was the second of 7 sons in his family. His father, Ira Allen, was the founder of the city of Hyrum, Utah, and was also a polygamist with 3 wives, so Albert or "Ab" as he was often called, had many half-brothers and sisters as well.
Ab was 6 years old when he moved to Cache Valley with his family. At the age of 15, he learned from his father how to be a shoemaker. Later he acquired skills in carpentry, electrical work and plumbing. He was a hard worker and very industrious. He even raised colts for awhile and also tried his hand at mining in Arizona for a short time. As a young man, he played the bass drum in the town band.
At the age of 21, he married Finnetta Ann Williams on Feb. 5, 1877, in the Endowment House at Salt Lake City, Utah. She was only 16 years old at the time.
They were blessed with 9 children:
- Albert "Silas" Allen (1878) (my great grandfather)
- Ivy May Allen Liljenquist (1881)
- Victor J. Allen (1883)
- Truman Allen (1886)
- Sylvia Floss Allen Peterson (1888)
- Asael Lucian Allen (1891)
- Pearl Keziah Allen Hughes (1894)
- Russell Gale Allen (1897)
- Fern Hope Allen (1901)
For many years, Ab used his carpentry skills to make many of the coffins for the people who died in Hyrum. He became expert in planing and sawing all shapes of fancy wood ornaments and turning and grooving posts. He had a large wood shop built behind their home where he did much of his carpentry work. As a rule, he received 15 cents an hour for his work, and usually worked 10 hour days. He often smelled of freshly cut wood that he worked with.
Ab and his son, Silas, were recognized as two of the three main carpenters for the new Hyrum First Ward Chapel, which was finished in 1905.
People who knew him well described him as being religious and exacting; often times quite stern. Others described him as being strong and steadfast.
Ab never owned an automobile. Along with that, he refused to have an indoor toilet put in his home; he said that toilets did not belong in the house.
He was ordained to the office of Seventy in the LDS Church and was sustained as one of the presidents of his quorum before being ordained to the office of High Priest.
He enjoyed raising a large garden and was very proud of his cantaloupe and watermelon crop.
Towards the end of his life, Ab suffered a stroke and spent much of his time resting in bed. Though he was confined to bed, he could always find a peppermint in his pocket for his grandchildren when they came to visit. Some of his grandchildren called them his "high-priest mints."
Albert died on April 14, 1932, just before his 78th birthday.
Hazel Bryce (1897-1985) 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #16
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| Portrait of Hazel Bryce Ashton |
Hazel Bryce Ashton ("Nana" as we knew her) was the only great grandparent of mine that I can remember. She passed away on May 13, 1985, a few months after my grandpa Allen passed away. I was a senior in high school at the time.
Hazel was the granddaughter of Ebenezer Bryce, Mormon pioneer from Scotland, who built the Pine Valley Chapel and the namesake of Bryce Canyon National Park. She was born in Henrieville Utah, but moved to Price, Utah shortly after she was born (by 1900 Census, age 2 or 3). She married Clarence Ashton in Roosevelt, Utah on October 10, 1916 and spent most of her life in Roosevelt. Her husband, Clarence owned a a hardware store in Roosevelt and several family members, including her father, William Bryce, son in law Bennie Schmiett, daughter Evelyn, and granddaughter Linda worked there.
Hazel and Clarence had a daughter, Helen who was born and died on February 27, 1919. Their only other child, Evelyn Hope Ashton, was my maternal grandmother.
Some time after her husband Clarence passed away, she moved to Salt Lake City and had a condo at Three Fountains East. I remember going to visit her there and they had a duck pond behind the condo that my sister, Wendy and I liked to walk around. I remember as a child, I always thought that Nana looked really old (she was). Her skin had a lot of wrinkles and her voice was shaky. But she was a pleasant woman and I liked going there to visit.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Clarence Llewellyn Ashton (1891-1971) 52 Ancestors #15
I was only five years old when my great grandfather, Clarence Ashton passed away, so I don't remember much about him, other than we knew him as "Pop" and that he was a smoker (a chain smoker, according to my mom). Clarence was the eldest of the three sons of the entrepreneur Leslie Ashton of Vernal, and owned a hardware store in Roosevelt, Utah. At one time they sold groceries as well, but it was primarily a hardware store. Several family members worked at the store at one time or another (his father in law, William Bryce, son in law, Bennie Schmiett, his daughter, Evelyn, and my mother).
Clarence and Hazel Bryce were married October 19, 1916. They had two children, but only my grandmother, Evelyn lived to adulthood.
In addition to being an entrepreneur, Clarence was very active in civic affairs. He served as the postmaster, the mayor of Roosevelt for two terms, and was appointed state senator in 1951. He was well-educated and was a graduate of the University of Utah and the Law School of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Clarence was a Former Master Mason of the Basin Lodge and a president of the Roosevelt Lions Club.
He is buried in the Roosevelt City cemetery in Roosevelt, Utah.
More Information
Hester Abiah Beckstead (1890-1938) 52 Ancestors #14
The subject for this week's blog post is my maternal great grandmother, Hester Abiah Beckstead.
Hester Abiah Beckstead was born August 21, 1890 in West Jordan, Utah to Hyrum Beckstead and Abiah Russell Robbins Beckstead. She was the 6th of nine children born to Hyrum and Abiah.
I know very little about Hester or her family. She met a baseball player from California (Ben Schmiett) and they were married May 12, 1914 in Salt Lake City. My grandfather (Bennie Schmiett) was born January 30th, 1915. I'm not sure if my grandfather was born a little early, or he may have been conceived out of wedlock. In any case, I'm sure that the Beckstead family (devout Mormons) were not all that excited that their daughter was marrying a gentile baseball player from California.
After Hester and Benard were married, they lived for a short time in California, where my grandfather was born before moving back to the Salt Lake Valley near Hester's family and settled in Midvale, Utah. I have a letter written by Hester to one of her brothers back home, where she talks about meeting the LDS missionaries in Los Angeles and Ben's folks not being very excited about her blessing my grandfather in the LDS church, but he did give her permission because that was what she really wanted.
Ben and Hester raised three children: Bennie (my grandfather), Fay, and Stan. Ben was a moisture foreman at the U.S. Smelting plant, and played on and managed the baseball team there. Hester passed away at a young age (48) of chronic endocarditis and myocarditis in 1938. Ben passed away 11 years later of a heart ailment at the age of 60. Ben and Hester are both buried in the Midvale City Cemetery.
Hester Abiah Beckstead was born August 21, 1890 in West Jordan, Utah to Hyrum Beckstead and Abiah Russell Robbins Beckstead. She was the 6th of nine children born to Hyrum and Abiah.
I know very little about Hester or her family. She met a baseball player from California (Ben Schmiett) and they were married May 12, 1914 in Salt Lake City. My grandfather (Bennie Schmiett) was born January 30th, 1915. I'm not sure if my grandfather was born a little early, or he may have been conceived out of wedlock. In any case, I'm sure that the Beckstead family (devout Mormons) were not all that excited that their daughter was marrying a gentile baseball player from California.
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| A Photo of Young Ben & Hester Schmiett |
Ben and Hester raised three children: Bennie (my grandfather), Fay, and Stan. Ben was a moisture foreman at the U.S. Smelting plant, and played on and managed the baseball team there. Hester passed away at a young age (48) of chronic endocarditis and myocarditis in 1938. Ben passed away 11 years later of a heart ailment at the age of 60. Ben and Hester are both buried in the Midvale City Cemetery.
Benard Schmiett (1888-1949) 52 Ancestors #13
The subject of this week's blog post is my maternal great grandfather, Benard "Ben" Schmiett.
Benard Schmiett was born October 5th, 1888 to Antone (or Anton) and Marie Utzinger Schmiett in or around San Antonio, Texas. His parents immigrated to the United States in the early 1880s from Alsace-Lorraine, France/Germany. Benard had at least 5 siblings (Mary, Kate, August, Ferdinand, and Irene) and one half-sister, Louise Fox Staughton.
Benard was born in Texas, but moved sometime in the late 1880s or early 1990s to California. It seems they lived for some time in the San Bernadino area, but were in Los Angeles by 1900. Benard's father, Antone, was out of the picture by then. I'm not sure if he died or what happened to him. I found a newspaper article that indicates that a person with his name was accused of poisoning his business partner and would likely be sent to San Quentin, but I'm not sure if this is the same person or what actually happened to him.
I don't know much about Benard's life growing up, other than he was a baseball player, and his occupation is listed in various census records as "peddles fruit", butcher, and blacksmith. Ben was a baseball player in the Utah Copper League, which may have been where he met his future wife, Hester Abiah Beckstead. They were married May 12, 1914 in Salt Lake City. My grandfather (Bennie Schmiett) was born January 30th, 1915. I'm not sure if my grandfather was born a little early, or he may have been conceived out of wedlock. In any case, I'm sure that the Beckstead family (devout Mormons) were not all that excited that their daughter was marrying a gentile baseball player from California.
After Hester and Benard were married, they lived for a short time in California, where my grandfather was born before moving back to the Salt Lake Valley near Hester's family and settled in Midvale, Utah.
Ben and Hester raised three children: Bennie (my grandfather), Fay, and Stan. Ben was a moisture foreman at the U.S. Smelting plant, and played on and managed the baseball team there. Hester passed away in 1938. Ben passed away 11 years later of a heart ailment at the age of 60. He is buried in the Midvale City Cemetery.
My mother was young (about 6 1/2) when he passed away, but she does remember him and that he would wave goodbye to her by putting his thumb to his nose and waving his fingers to her.
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| Two pictures of Benard Schmiett |
Benard was born in Texas, but moved sometime in the late 1880s or early 1990s to California. It seems they lived for some time in the San Bernadino area, but were in Los Angeles by 1900. Benard's father, Antone, was out of the picture by then. I'm not sure if he died or what happened to him. I found a newspaper article that indicates that a person with his name was accused of poisoning his business partner and would likely be sent to San Quentin, but I'm not sure if this is the same person or what actually happened to him.
I don't know much about Benard's life growing up, other than he was a baseball player, and his occupation is listed in various census records as "peddles fruit", butcher, and blacksmith. Ben was a baseball player in the Utah Copper League, which may have been where he met his future wife, Hester Abiah Beckstead. They were married May 12, 1914 in Salt Lake City. My grandfather (Bennie Schmiett) was born January 30th, 1915. I'm not sure if my grandfather was born a little early, or he may have been conceived out of wedlock. In any case, I'm sure that the Beckstead family (devout Mormons) were not all that excited that their daughter was marrying a gentile baseball player from California.
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| A Photo of Young Ben & Hester Schmiett |
Ben and Hester raised three children: Bennie (my grandfather), Fay, and Stan. Ben was a moisture foreman at the U.S. Smelting plant, and played on and managed the baseball team there. Hester passed away in 1938. Ben passed away 11 years later of a heart ailment at the age of 60. He is buried in the Midvale City Cemetery.
My mother was young (about 6 1/2) when he passed away, but she does remember him and that he would wave goodbye to her by putting his thumb to his nose and waving his fingers to her.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Anna Hansine Petrea Albretson (1885-1960) 52 Ancestors #12
I'm way behind, but I'm going to attempt to catch up with my writing. This will be a very abbreviated outline, with links to other sources for more information. The subject of this entry is my paternal great grandmother, Anna Hansine Petrea Albretsen in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge from Amy Johnson Crow.
Born: December 12, 1885 in Copenhagen, Denmark
Died: November 17, 1960 in Hyrum, Utah
Carl Christian Albretsen (1857-1928)
Ernest Andrew Larsen (1882-1960)
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| Anna Albretsen Larsen in 1952 |
Died: November 17, 1960 in Hyrum, Utah
Parents
Carl Christian Albretsen (1857-1928)
Anne Bergette Andersen (1859-1939)
Spouse & Children
- Garnel Ernest Larsen (1904 – 1992)
- Iver Lavon Larsen (1905 – 1987)
- Oda Juanita Larsen (1906 – 1993)
- Mabel Lucille Larsen (1908 – 1963)
- Melvina Elizabeth Larsen (1910 – 1994)
- Lloyd Odell Larsen (1912 – 1988)
- Effie Cecilia Larsen (1915 – 2000)
- Marie Kathrine Larsen (1917 – 2001)
- Donna Bell Larsen (1920-1995)
- Ila Mae Larsen (1923-2008)
Biography
More Information
FamilySearch Person PageTuesday, March 25, 2014
Ernest Andrew Larsen (1882-1960) 52 Ancestors #11
My paternal great grandfather, Ernest Andrew Larsen is the subject this week in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge from Amy Johnson Crow.
Born: July 8, 1882 in Hyrum, Utah
Died: August 23, 1960 in Hyrum, Utah
Caroline Christena Jensen Larson (1859 - 1942)
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| Ernest Andrew Larsen (1882-1960) |
Died: August 23, 1960 in Hyrum, Utah
Parents
Andrew Larson (1852 - 1893)Caroline Christena Jensen Larson (1859 - 1942)
Spouse & Children
Anna Hansina Petrea Albretsen (1885 – 1960)- Garnel Ernest Larsen (1904 – 1992)
- Iver Lavon Larsen (1905 – 1987)
- Oda Juanita Larsen (1906 – 1993)
- Mabel Lucille Larsen (1908 – 1963)
- Melvina Elizabeth Larsen (1910 – 1994)
- Lloyd Odell Larsen (1912 – 1988)
- Effie Cecilia Larsen (1915 – 2000)
- Marie Kathrine Larsen (1917 – 2001)
- Donna Bell Larsen (1920-1995)
- Ila Mae Larsen (1923-2008)
Ernest was the eldest son of a Swede (Andrew Larson) and a Dane (Caroline Christena Jensen - born in Utah to Danish parents). He had an older sister (Agnes) and a younger sister (Effie) and two younger brothers (Archie and Amos). His childhood nickname "Ernst" stuck with him throughout the rest of his life.
Ernest's father died in a farming accident on March 6th, 1893, when Ernest was only 11 years old. As the eldest son, was forced to become the man of the house and took care of the family farm after his father passed away. Because of his responsibilities at home, he only completed the 4th grade in school.
Ernest married Anna Hansina Petrea Albretsen December 1st, 1902 in Hyrum, Utah. They were blessed with 10 children, all of whom lived to adulthood.
After a long and prosperous life, Ernest passed away on August 23rd, 1960, leaving his wife, 10 children, 49 grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren behind. His wife, Anna died a few months later and both are buried in the Hyrum Cemetery. I wish I could have met my great grandpa Ernest Larsen. He died six years before I was born.
More Information
FamilySearch Person PageMonday, March 17, 2014
Albert Silas Allen (1878-1952) 52 Ancestors #10
For this post in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge from Amy Johnson Crow, I'm writing about my paternal great grandfather, Albert Silas Allen.
Born: September 13, 1878 in Hyrum, Utah
Died: November 1, 1952 in Hyrum, Utah
Finetta Ann Williams (1860-1943)
Albert was the eldest of nine children of Albert J. Allen and Finetta Ann Williams, born in Hyrum, Utah on September 13, 1878. His son (Wendell Gayle Allen) and great grandson (me) were both born the day after his birthday on September 14th. Albert received a common school education in Hyrum.
Albert married Margaret Maria Nielsen in the Logan LDS Temple on February 5, 1902. Later that year, Albert's eldest son (Albert Merlin Allen) was born on December 30, 1902. Three years later, my grandfather (Wendell Gayle Allen) was born on September 14, 1905. A third son (Andrew Thayle Allen) was born July 14, 1907, but he got pneumonia as an infant and passed away on December 8, 1911. A fourth son (Alton Clain Allen) was born August 11, 1914, but he also contracted pneumonia and passed away as a child on March 24, 1921.
Albert was called to leave his family and serve a mission to Great Britain 1915-1918 and labored in the Scottish and and Manchester conferences.
Albert's eldest son, Merlin never married, but served in the army and operated a service station in Hyrum. He had diabetes and had to have his leg amputated later in life.
Albert's 2nd son, Wendell Allen (my grandfather) married Oda Juanita Larsen on November 29, 1933 and they had 5 children (one of them my father).
Albert Silas Allen was the third bishop of the Hyrum 1st Ward and was a carpenter by trade. He also worked as a custodian at South Cache High School.
Albert Silas Allen passed away suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 74 on November 1, 1952. He had been invited to speak at a funeral and got up to speak and said, "Brothers and Sisters, I'm happy to be here today." Those were apparently his last words, as he had a heart attack and died.
Margaret passed away five years later at the age of 82 on September 27, 1957 and is buried in the Hyrum City Cemetery next to her husband. Their four sons are also buried close by in the Hyrum City cemetery.
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| Albert Silas Allen (1878-1952) |
Born: September 13, 1878 in Hyrum, Utah
Died: November 1, 1952 in Hyrum, Utah
Parents
Albert J Allen (1855-1932)Finetta Ann Williams (1860-1943)
Spouse & Children
Margaret Maria Nielsen (1875-1957)- Albert Merlin Allen (1902-1988)
- Wendell Gayle Allen (1905-1985)
- Andrew Thayle Allen (1909-1911)
- Alton Clain Allen (1911-1921)
Albert was the eldest of nine children of Albert J. Allen and Finetta Ann Williams, born in Hyrum, Utah on September 13, 1878. His son (Wendell Gayle Allen) and great grandson (me) were both born the day after his birthday on September 14th. Albert received a common school education in Hyrum.
Albert married Margaret Maria Nielsen in the Logan LDS Temple on February 5, 1902. Later that year, Albert's eldest son (Albert Merlin Allen) was born on December 30, 1902. Three years later, my grandfather (Wendell Gayle Allen) was born on September 14, 1905. A third son (Andrew Thayle Allen) was born July 14, 1907, but he got pneumonia as an infant and passed away on December 8, 1911. A fourth son (Alton Clain Allen) was born August 11, 1914, but he also contracted pneumonia and passed away as a child on March 24, 1921.
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| Albert Silas Allen Family |
Albert was called to leave his family and serve a mission to Great Britain 1915-1918 and labored in the Scottish and and Manchester conferences.
Albert's eldest son, Merlin never married, but served in the army and operated a service station in Hyrum. He had diabetes and had to have his leg amputated later in life.
Albert's 2nd son, Wendell Allen (my grandfather) married Oda Juanita Larsen on November 29, 1933 and they had 5 children (one of them my father).
Albert Silas Allen was the third bishop of the Hyrum 1st Ward and was a carpenter by trade. He also worked as a custodian at South Cache High School.
Albert Silas Allen passed away suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 74 on November 1, 1952. He had been invited to speak at a funeral and got up to speak and said, "Brothers and Sisters, I'm happy to be here today." Those were apparently his last words, as he had a heart attack and died.
Margaret passed away five years later at the age of 82 on September 27, 1957 and is buried in the Hyrum City Cemetery next to her husband. Their four sons are also buried close by in the Hyrum City cemetery.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Evelyn Hope Ashton (1920-1993) 52 Ancestors #9
This week, in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge from Amy Johnson Crow, I'm writing about my maternal grandmother, Evelyn Hope Ashton.
Born: February 17, 1920 in Roosevelt, Utah
Died: September 20, 1993 in St. George, Utah
Hazel Bryce (1897-1985)
Evelyn and Bennie lived in Roosevelt, Orem, Salt Lake City, and finally St. George, UT, where Evelyn passed away on September 20, 1993.
Wikispaces Site for Evelyn Hope Ashton
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| Evelyn Hope Ashton |
Died: September 20, 1993 in St. George, Utah
Parents
Clarence Llewellyn Ashton (1891-1971)Hazel Bryce (1897-1985)
Spouse & Children
Bennie Schmiett (1915-2004)- Female (living)
- Female (living)
- Wendy Rae Schmiett (1952-1998)
- James Clare Schmiett (1957-2002)
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| Evelyn & Bennie Schmiett at their home in Salt Lake City, 1970s |
Biography
My maternal grandmother, Evelyn Hope Ashton, was the only living child of Clarence Llewellyn Ashton and Hazel Bryce Ashton (one other sibling, Helen only lived 1 day.). Evelyn was born February 17, 1920 in Roosevelt Utah. Her father, Clarence owned a hardware store in Roosevelt, and he was mayor of Roosevelt for two terms. She married Bennie Schmiett in Roosevelt August 6, 1939 and together they had four children.Evelyn and Bennie lived in Roosevelt, Orem, Salt Lake City, and finally St. George, UT, where Evelyn passed away on September 20, 1993.
Links
Find a Grave MemorialWikispaces Site for Evelyn Hope Ashton
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Margaret Maria Nielsen (1875-1957) 52 Ancestors #8
This week, in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge from Amy Johnson Crow, I've chosen to write about my paternal great grandmother, Margaret Maria (Nielsen) Allen.
Margaret Maria Nielsen was the fourth of six children born to Andrew B. Nielsen and Elizabeth Ericksen. She was born June 7, 1875 in Hyrum, Cache, Utah. Both of her parents were of Scandinavian heritage, her father being born in Denmark, and her mother was born in Illinois to Norwegian immigrants.
As far as I can tell, Margaret lived her whole life in Hyrum. She had a younger sister pass away when she was 10 years old (Emily Christine Nielsen on July 18, 1885). Two of her older sisters were married (Mary Elizabeth Nielsen and Anna Melinda Nielsen) when Margaret was age 14 and 15. Then her mother, Elizabeth (Ericksen) Nielsen passed away when Margaret was 16 years old on October 4, 1891. After her mother passed away, Margaret was the only girl left in the home, with her father, her elder brother (Andrew Henry Nielsen - age 22) and younger brother (Joseph Ilard Nielsen - age 9). Margaret likely took over her mother's role in the home until her father remarried (Helen Maria McBride) on April 9th, 1896, when Margaret was 20. Three more children were born to this marriage (Aleda Neilsen in 1897, Rulon Harlum Nielsen in 1899, and Harold Marriner Nielsen in 1902).
Margaret married Albert Silas Allen in the Logan LDS Temple at the age of 26 on February 5, 1902. A month later, her younger brother (Joseph Ilard Nielsen) passed away on March 29, 1902. Later that year, Margaret's eldest son (Albert Merlin Allen) was born on December 30, 1902. Three years later, my grandfather (Wendell Gayle Allen) was born on September 14, 1905. A third son (Andrew Thayle Allen) was born July 14, 1907, but he got pneumonia as an infant and passed away on December 8, 1911. A fourth son (Alton Clain Allen) was born August 11, 1914, but he also contracted pneumonia and passed away as a child on March 24, 1921.
Margaret's eldest son, Merlin never married, but served in the army and operated a service station in Hyrum. He had diabetes and had to have his leg amputated later in life.
Margaret's 2nd son, Wendell Allen (my grandfather) married Oda Juanita Larsen on November 29, 1933 and they had 5 children (one of them my father). I know very little about Margaret, but I asked my dad what he remembers of her and he said that she would make really good raisin-filled cookies. My grandmother mentions that she and Margaret would go to the temple together.
Margaret's husband, Albert Silas Allen (who was three years her junior) passed away on November 1, 1952. Margaret passed away five years later at the age of 82 on September 27, 1957 and is buried in the Hyrum City Cemetery next to her husband. Her four sons are also buried close by in the Hyrum City cemetery.
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| Margaret Maria Nielsen (1875-1957) |
As far as I can tell, Margaret lived her whole life in Hyrum. She had a younger sister pass away when she was 10 years old (Emily Christine Nielsen on July 18, 1885). Two of her older sisters were married (Mary Elizabeth Nielsen and Anna Melinda Nielsen) when Margaret was age 14 and 15. Then her mother, Elizabeth (Ericksen) Nielsen passed away when Margaret was 16 years old on October 4, 1891. After her mother passed away, Margaret was the only girl left in the home, with her father, her elder brother (Andrew Henry Nielsen - age 22) and younger brother (Joseph Ilard Nielsen - age 9). Margaret likely took over her mother's role in the home until her father remarried (Helen Maria McBride) on April 9th, 1896, when Margaret was 20. Three more children were born to this marriage (Aleda Neilsen in 1897, Rulon Harlum Nielsen in 1899, and Harold Marriner Nielsen in 1902).
Margaret married Albert Silas Allen in the Logan LDS Temple at the age of 26 on February 5, 1902. A month later, her younger brother (Joseph Ilard Nielsen) passed away on March 29, 1902. Later that year, Margaret's eldest son (Albert Merlin Allen) was born on December 30, 1902. Three years later, my grandfather (Wendell Gayle Allen) was born on September 14, 1905. A third son (Andrew Thayle Allen) was born July 14, 1907, but he got pneumonia as an infant and passed away on December 8, 1911. A fourth son (Alton Clain Allen) was born August 11, 1914, but he also contracted pneumonia and passed away as a child on March 24, 1921.
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| Margaret Nielsen Allen Family |
Margaret's eldest son, Merlin never married, but served in the army and operated a service station in Hyrum. He had diabetes and had to have his leg amputated later in life.
Margaret's 2nd son, Wendell Allen (my grandfather) married Oda Juanita Larsen on November 29, 1933 and they had 5 children (one of them my father). I know very little about Margaret, but I asked my dad what he remembers of her and he said that she would make really good raisin-filled cookies. My grandmother mentions that she and Margaret would go to the temple together.
Margaret's husband, Albert Silas Allen (who was three years her junior) passed away on November 1, 1952. Margaret passed away five years later at the age of 82 on September 27, 1957 and is buried in the Hyrum City Cemetery next to her husband. Her four sons are also buried close by in the Hyrum City cemetery.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Oda Juanita Larsen (1906-1993) 52 Ancestors #7
This week, in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge from Amy Johnson Crow, I've chosen to write about my paternal grandmother, Oda Juanita Larsen.
Oda Juanita Larsen was born November 27, 1906 in Hyrum, Cache, Utah. She was the third child born to Ernest Andrew Larsen (Swedish heritage) and Anna Hansina Petrea Albretsen (born in Denmark). She had two older brothers (Garnel & Lavon) and seven younger siblings (Mabel, Melvina, Lloyd, Effie, Kathrine, Donna, and Ila Mae).
When Oda was only three weeks old, she had pneumonia and was very sick. The Elders administered to her and she recovered fully.
Grandma never liked her name. Oda was named for a Danish opera singer, and her middle name (Juanita) was for a girl in a novel that her mother had read.
Just before her 18th birthday, Oda and her nine brothers and sisters were sealed to their parents in the Logan LDS temple (November 14, 1923). That must have been quite a sight to see a beautiful family with ten children dressed in white to be sealed together in the temple that day.
Oda worked as a telephone operator for several years at the telephone office in Hyrum, Utah. In 1932 she went to Logan to work as a telephone operator and stayed with her sister, Mabel and her husband, George.
Oda married Wendell Gayle Allen in the Logan LDS temple on November 29, 1933. They lived in a home on Center street in Hyrum east of the town square until 1952, when they moved two blocks south.
Grandma enjoyed going to the Logan LDS temple to do temple work. She recalls going to the temple with her mother-in-law (Margaret Nielsen Allen) and spending all day there, going through two sessions.
Oda and Wendell had five children (3 boys and two girls), all of whom are still living except for their eldest daughter (Gayle), who died in 2008.
Grandma was a quiet woman and never wanted to impose on anyone else. She never had a driver's license, and would always leave the driving to her husband or one of her children. She kept a diary, which contained very short entries on most days, but is fun to read. She also wrote a short life history, which contains a few more details and stories from her life.
In her later years, she had dementia and lived with her daughter, Gayle in West Valley, Utah. I remember that she would sometimes think my dad was her elder brother, Lavon.
I remember going to grandma's house in Hyrum and she would make really good homemade rolls. After dinner, she would often say "Did you get what you could eat?". When it got to be late at night, she would say "It won't be this in the morning."
My grandmother Oda Juanita Larsen Allen passed away July 14, 1993 in West Valley City, Utah at the age of 86 and is buried in the Hyrum City cemetery.
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| Oda Juanita Larsen (1906-1993) |
Oda Juanita Larsen was born November 27, 1906 in Hyrum, Cache, Utah. She was the third child born to Ernest Andrew Larsen (Swedish heritage) and Anna Hansina Petrea Albretsen (born in Denmark). She had two older brothers (Garnel & Lavon) and seven younger siblings (Mabel, Melvina, Lloyd, Effie, Kathrine, Donna, and Ila Mae).
When Oda was only three weeks old, she had pneumonia and was very sick. The Elders administered to her and she recovered fully.
Grandma never liked her name. Oda was named for a Danish opera singer, and her middle name (Juanita) was for a girl in a novel that her mother had read.
Just before her 18th birthday, Oda and her nine brothers and sisters were sealed to their parents in the Logan LDS temple (November 14, 1923). That must have been quite a sight to see a beautiful family with ten children dressed in white to be sealed together in the temple that day.
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| Oda in her younger years |
Oda worked as a telephone operator for several years at the telephone office in Hyrum, Utah. In 1932 she went to Logan to work as a telephone operator and stayed with her sister, Mabel and her husband, George.
Oda married Wendell Gayle Allen in the Logan LDS temple on November 29, 1933. They lived in a home on Center street in Hyrum east of the town square until 1952, when they moved two blocks south.
Grandma enjoyed going to the Logan LDS temple to do temple work. She recalls going to the temple with her mother-in-law (Margaret Nielsen Allen) and spending all day there, going through two sessions.
Oda and Wendell had five children (3 boys and two girls), all of whom are still living except for their eldest daughter (Gayle), who died in 2008.
Grandma was a quiet woman and never wanted to impose on anyone else. She never had a driver's license, and would always leave the driving to her husband or one of her children. She kept a diary, which contained very short entries on most days, but is fun to read. She also wrote a short life history, which contains a few more details and stories from her life.
In her later years, she had dementia and lived with her daughter, Gayle in West Valley, Utah. I remember that she would sometimes think my dad was her elder brother, Lavon.
I remember going to grandma's house in Hyrum and she would make really good homemade rolls. After dinner, she would often say "Did you get what you could eat?". When it got to be late at night, she would say "It won't be this in the morning."
My grandmother Oda Juanita Larsen Allen passed away July 14, 1993 in West Valley City, Utah at the age of 86 and is buried in the Hyrum City cemetery.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Wendell Gayle Allen (1905-1985) 52 Ancestors #6
This is the sixth post in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge from Amy Johnson Crow. So far I've been focusing on ancestors on my mother's side of the family. I'm going to be a lot more systematic about my writing from now on. This week, I've chosen to write about my paternal grandfather, Wendell Gayle Allen.
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| Wendell Gayle Allen (1905-1985) |
Wendell Gayle Allen was the second of four boys born to Albert Silas Allen and Margaret Maria Nielsen. He was born September 14th, 1905 in Hyrum, Cache, Utah. I share a birthday with him and he was very proud that I was born on his birthday. I am also his eldest grandchild. Wendell had an elder brother (Merlin) and two younger brothers (Alton and Clain), both of whom died of pneumonia in childhood.
I don't know much about Wendell's childhood, but it must have been hard on him and his family to see his younger brothers get sick with pneumonia and die. Andrew Thale Allen (age 2) passed away in 1911 (Wendell was 6), and Alton Clain Allen passed away in 1921 at the age of 9 (Wendell was 15).
Grandpa's elder brother, Merlin, never married. He would often come over to see us when we came to visit grandpa Allen. I remember he always used to bring soda pop for us. I always liked to drink a bottle of Sprite that Merlin had brought us at grandpa's house. I remember that Grandpa and Merlin seemed to argue a lot. Merlin picked up some bad habits (alcohol) in the service, but I didn't know about it until recently. Merlin operated a gas station in Hyrum at one time, and my dad tells me about a time that he worked for him and saw him very drunk. This is a side of him I never saw. I do remember that his house was very cluttered and full of junk, and that he used to swear a lot (damn and hell).
Grandpa Allen was quite different from Merlin and maybe that's why I remember them arguing a lot. Grandpa was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints all his life. He served a mission to Germany. I don't know much about his mission, but I do remember that I loved the cuckoo clock at his house. I assume this came from Germany. It had a little bird that came out and would "cuckoo" every hour on the hour. It looked something like this:
Here's a picture of Grandpa Allen as a young man, probably about the age of a missionary:
After grandpa returned home from his mission, he married Oda Juanita Larsen November 29, 1933 at the age of 28 in the Logan, Utah LDS temple. Wendell and Oda had three boys and two girls, all of whom are still living except his eldest daughter (Gayle), who passed away in 2008.
Grandpa was a manager over custodians at Utah State University and he operated the sewage treatment plant at Bushnell Military Hospital (later the Intermountain Indian School) in Brigham City, Utah. He was also a temple worker in the Logan, Utah LDS temple.
One thing I remember about grandpa as a child was that he would firmly grab my leg above the knee and say "You've got a stick of wood!". He would also take his grandkids on his knee and bounce them and sing the "Hansa Dansa" song. I think this came from Denmark (through Grandma's family), but I remember him singing it.
He would also do this thing with our toes. He would grab each toe one by one (calling them by name) "Icky Pee, Penny Rue, Rudy Whistle, Mary Hostle, and Old Tom Bumble." Then he would do the toes on the other foot like this: "Tom a Tot, Slick a Pot, Long a Mon, Gulabron, and littly bitty Spielamon" (perhaps this was German?).
Grandpa had a nice home in Hyrum with a big wrap-around porch. He had a large yard and a big garden. I remember grandpa liked to watch the Lawrence Welk Show on TV (I could never understand why). I actually lived in grandpa's house one summer as I was attending summer term at Utah State University before I was married.
I remember going up to Hyrum with my dad to help mow the lawn in his later years (lots of grass to mow). Grandpa passed away at the age of 79 on March 17, 1985 (St. Patrick's Day). I was a senior in high school at the time. He is buried in the Hyrum City Cemetery.
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| Oda and Wendell Allen |
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Ellen Elizabeth Croxford Ashton (1848-1932) 52 Ancestors #5
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| Ellen Elizabeth Croxford |
For this week in the 52 Ancestors Challenge, I've chosen to write about my 3rd great grandmother, Ellen Elizabeth Croxford. Ellen (or Nellie, as she was also known) was born December 22nd 1848 in Kingston, Oxfordshire, England to William Croxford and Ellen Loader. Ellen was the eldest of her siblings (Arabella, Estella, Ernest, and William).
Ellen's parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in England in 1854 and as a 6-year old, Ellen and her parents emigrated to New York in 1856 on the ship John J Boyd. The family eventually made the trek westward to Utah in 1862 with the James Wareham Company.
Ten years later on February 6, 1866, Ellen married William Ashton in Pleasant Grove, Utah. William and Ellen lived in a home that William had built for her in Pleasant Grove (the historic Ashton-Driggs home, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places). Six children were born to William and Nellie in this home (Kate Maria, Leslie, William Stanley, Lynne, Reece Llewellyn, and Grace Ellen) before the home was sold in 1880 to Olivia Pratt Driggs, the eldest daughter of mormon apostle Parley P. Pratt.
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| Ashton-Driggs home in May, 2012. Built by William Ashton in 1865. |
In 1880 the Ashton family moved to Ashley Valley (now Vernal, Utah), where the Ashtons became prominent pioneer settlers.
William and Nellie had three more children in Vernal: Ethelyn, Clarence, and Winnie Hazel.
After William's death in 1909, Ellen moved to Los Angeles to live with her daughter, Hazel (Ashton) Robinson. Two other daughters (Ethelyn (Ashton) Smith and Kate (Ashton) Brown) also lived near their mother in the Los Angeles area.
Ellen passed away at the age of 84 on November 24, 1932 at the home of her daughter, Hazel in Los Angeles. She is buried in the Inglewood cemetery in Los Angeles.
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| Final resting spot for Ellen Elizabeth Croxford Ashton in Los Angeles |
From Ellen's obituary published in the Vernal Express:
The deceased fitted in well with the early pioneer conditions and was always helpful to her scattered neighbors in their times of stress. She became active in church and other activities along with her many duties as wife and mother. Her one great desire was to see an honorable family reared, which she successfully accomplished. Her pleasing personality won for her many friends among all classes of people.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Bennie Schmiett (1915-2004) 52 Ancestors #4
My maternal grandfather, Bennie Schmiett was born January 30, 1915 in Los Angeles, California to Benard Schmiett and Hester Abiah Beckstead Schmiett. Bennie was the eldest of three children born to Benard and Hester Schmiett. Bennie’s sister, Fay Schmiett (Dimond) was two years younger and his brother, Stanley Wallace Schmiett was four years his junior.
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| Picture of Bennie and siblings courtesy of Sherry Anderson, granddaughter of Fay Schmiett Dimond |
The first name on Bennie’s birth certificate appears to be Bernard or Benard, but he was always known as “Bennie”. A letter from Bennie’s mother to her sister indicates that she named him Bernard Schmiett “after his daddie.”
Although Bennie was born in Los Angeles, he spent most of his life in Utah. Bennie’s father was a minor league baseball player in California and Utah. Before Stan was born in 1919, the Schmiett family moved to the Salt Lake City area (Midvale).
From his youth, Bennie was a leader and enjoyed serving in public offices. He was the student body president at Jordan High School in 1933, and later served in several other public offices, including Roosevelt City Council, Duchesne County Democratic Party Chairman, Board of Trustees at Utah State University and Southern Utah State College, Utah State Legislature (1959-1961), Utah State Senate (1961-1962), Orem City Manager (1962-1964), Executive Director of the Utah League of Cities and Towns (1964-1980), and President and Treasurer of the Ridge Homeowners Association in St. George, Utah during his retirement.
Bennie attended Brigham Young University and graduated in 1937 with a BA degree. Bennie was a musician and played the trumpet at BYU and enjoyed playing in a band for dances and other events. After graduating from BYU, he taught instrumental and vocal music in Uintah, Duchesne, and Jordan school districts.
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| Bennie Schmiett (on far right) playing the trumpet at BYU in 1936 |
Bennie married Evelyn Hope Ashton in August, 1939 in Roosevelt, Utah. Bennie and Evelyn had four children: Linda, Leslie, Wendy, and Jim. Bennie and Evelyn were married for 54 years when Evelyn passed away in 1993.
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| Bennie and Evelyn Schmiett at their home in Salt Lake City |
In addition to teaching music and serving in various public offices, Bennie worked as an assistant manager of the Leslie Ashton and Sons store in Roosevelt, Utah for 25 years.
Since grandpa Schmiett lived the longest (and I lived in St. George at the same time as him), I feel like I knew him better than my other grandparents. I remember grandpa always being very cheerful and upbeat, even when my grandmother could be quite demanding. He had a great condo at the Ridge in St. George with a beautiful view of the red rocks and the temple in St. George. I loved coming down to St. George to visit my grandparents during my teenage years.
Shortly after Grandma (Evelyn) passed away in 1993, Bennie married Cleo Allen Mohlman (years earlier they played together in a band at BYU), but she only lived a few years before she passed away in 1997 and he was left alone again. After Cleo died, he didn’t remarry again, but joked that he needed a “nurse with a purse.”
Grandpa had a great sense of humor, and my mom always said that I was like my grandpa when I would laugh at some silly movie. I remember grandpa telling me that there was a picture or a plaque showing him as a Utah legislator, and he was listed as “D. Bennie Schmiett” (the “D” was for “Democrat”). People would ask him what the initial “D” was for and he would joke with them that it was for “Darling”.
Grandpa would often take us to the Chuck a Rama buffet when we came to visit in St. George. One time he took us there (in his later years after Evelyn and Cleo had passed away) and a lady who was sitting at the table behind him accidentally bumped into grandpa as she was getting up from her chair and profusely apologized. He said, “That’s OK. I quite enjoyed it!”
Grandpa had a firm handshake, and he would always tell me that I ought to get into politics with a handshake like that (he should know). I was always impressed with how sharp he was for his age. It was only in his last few years that he was stricken with Alzheimer's and he was not the same person he once was.
Bennie passed away in Ogden, Utah on January 11, 2004 at the ripe old age of 88. He was preceded in death by his wife Evelyn in 1993, his wife Cleo in 1997, his daughter Wendy in 1998, and son Jim in 2002.
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