Elison Line

ERICK ELIASON

Erick is Vonnie Elison Ellis’ great great grandfather

Erick is married to Anna Hansson (Nielson)

A complete history on Erick was never written, although he came to America and settled in Grantsville with Anders, living was not so easy for his family. They did not have the wealth that Anders had, and he had many of the struggles that the early pioneers experienced .
The following was copied from the Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah
Erick Eliason, born May 11, 1815 in Alingsas, Sweden, son of Elias Nordbloom and Beata Norman. He married Anna Hanson Nielsen, 1840, daughter of Hans Nielsen (Nils Hansen) who was born February 9, 1819.
Their children, all born in Sweden, were Andrew, born 17 November 1841, married Johanna Nielsen; Johanna born 1843 married Steven Worthington; Betsy born 1845 married Dyerre Asmussen; Charles born 1848 married Mary Worthington; Alfred born 1850 or 51 married Sophia Anderson; Augusta born 1854 married Ormes Eaton Bates; Frederick born 1857 married Eva Yeates.
Family was converted to the Church in Sweden in 1861 and came to the United States in connection with the John Royal Young Company and onto Utah with the same company. Family resided in Grantsville and Millville, Utah.
2nd marriage to Christine Anderson. Their children, Joseph born 1870 married Ester Yeates, Edith born 1872 married William Gray, Emma born 1874. Family home Millville, Utah.
He was a High Priest in the Church.
He died January 27, 1895 and was buried in Millville, Utah Cemetery January 29, 1895.
The following comments are by Zelda Elison Tidwell
Since his first wife Anna was buried in Millville also, it is assumed that he moved there before her death. His children by his second wife, Stina Marie Andreasson, were all born in Grantsville. Stina Marie lived many years in Oakley, Idaho with her daughters Edith and Emma. She died there in Oct 1904, and is buried in Oakley. She lived 9 yrs after Erick. He died at age 79 still living in Millville and was buried there. I am a great granddaughter of Erick, but have felt a closeness in doing these picture sheets and histories, so in my heart I feel as brother and sister to all of them. It has been a joy of fulfillment I shall never forget, especially being so far removed and being told it would be impossible to do. My thanks to Zetta Haight, Percie W DeLaMar, Charles Hansen, Phoebe Stringham, Joseph Eliason, and many others on the Anders line for their help, and to Gar Eliason our family representative of the Eliason organization. So climaxes 5 yrs of research. I hope it is enjoyed and that we all cherish our heritage and do all we can to keep it alive and active and the gospel forever an important part of our lives.

Sunday, 11 Sep 2005

Visit to Alingsas, Sweden---Home of Anders and Erick Eliason

Erick is married to Anna Hansson (Nielson)

Erick is Vonnie Elison Ellis’ great great grandfather

We left our rental home on the island of Ingaro (east of Stockholm about 30 km.) about 8:30 AM and headed for the city of Alingsas which we thought would take about 4 plus hours; actually it took a good 5 hours. It was a beautiful drive, similar to Karbenning and Badalunda, but more farm land, less forest (still lots of forest). However, it was the longest trip we had taken in Sweden. We wanted to attend Sacrament meeting in the Alingsas Ward, starting at 1 PM, but arrived a little late and sat on the back row of a pretty little chapel. Prior to arriving at the chapel, we had asked a stranger on the street how to find the street the Church was on. He spoke very good English and gave us specific directions which brought us to the chapel in about 5 minutes. There were only about 45 members in attendance, including the children. Of course the meeting was in Swedish so we listened primarily by the spirit; we were sorry we missed the Sacrament but were so pleased to be in attendance in this city where my Elison (Eliason) ancestors had been raised.
Paul Oscarson, our neighboring Stake Pres. and friend in Houston, had given us a couple of names for reference when we got to Alingsas. Brother Oscarson had been the Mission Pres. in this area in Sweden about 25 years ago. These references turned out to be a real gold mine. We met Sis. Percival Hulldin, a 7-generation Mormon and her family, husband Thomas. Their extended family comprised a good portion of the Ward: Sis. Hulldin's widowed mother (Sis. Percival), her 5 children and spouses, grandchildren and her brother Kent and his family. Her son was also serving as the Bishop.
When we mentioned the family name "Elison" and the family farm at Lindas they knew all about the Elison family and offered to take us directly to the farms of both Anders (Harold's great uncle) and his great-grandfather, Erick. After they helped us find rooms at the Grand Hotel and the Parkaden Hotel (next door), they agreed to come back about 5:30 PM and take us to the Elison family farms and tell us what they knew about the family. We settled in at the hotel and went out to look for a restaurant to get dinner. The only place open was a Chinese restaurant and we proceeded to eat a Chinese dinner in Sweden!! It was good food, but a little different than American Chinese.
The Hulldins met us at the appointed hour at the hotel and brought their son Mats, their daughter Victoria and her husband Christos and two young Sister missionaries, Sister Smith and Sister Stewart from Utah (Delta and Provo). We drove first to the farm, Lindas. This is where Anders Elison (Eliason) lived; the original home of Anders is now used as the barn. In another home close by on the property, we met an older lady in a wheel chair; she spoke only Swedish but Bro. Hulldin could translate for us. She was born there as was her father, and her grandparents lived there too. She reminded us of our Aunt Elsie Johnson Wortley. This farm was a beautiful place, up on a hill with forest in the background.
Brother Hulldin then said, "Have you ever heard of the Mormon stone?" We replied in the negative and he gave us the story. When missionaries came to the Alingsas area in the early 1850-1860's, they were not allowed to preach in the town. They picked out a clearing in the forest where a very large rock was located and invited their investigators to come to that spot. We parked our cars near Anders' old home and hiked off into the forest about 1 KM. In a beautiful spot in the forest, the missionaries would climb up on the rock and deliver the gospel message. In fact Bro. Hulldin easily climbed up on the rock (about 6 to 7 ft tall and equally wide) and demonstrated how it was done. The Mormon Preaching Stone was only used for a couple of years, but it is stilled used today to bring the youth of the Ward or the Scouts out for a special event or picnic, etc.
Brother Huildin mentioned that Anders, as the oldest son of Elias Nordblom, was a fairly well-to-do person for that period of time. Anders owned several large pieces of farm property in that area and was responsible for helping over 200 members get their emigration papers and make the trip to the Salt Lake Valley by donating to the Perpetual Emigration Fund established by the Church. The faith and commitment of these early Swedish saints is truly amazing. Between 1860 and the turn of the century, there were an estimated 15,000 Swedes who made the trip to Zion, the Salt Lake Valley.
Brother Huildin then said he would take us to the home of my great-grandfather, Erick Elison. This was about a ten minute ride from Anders property and around a small lake to the farm known as Ruthoffskarr. Once again it was great to have Bro. Huildin serve as a translator. We went directly to the home where a man by the name of Jonas was rebuilding the front porch of the home. The original foundation stones were exposed as were the roughly hewn logs which served as the structural support for the original roof, but now a second story addition. Jonas indicated that the windows were the original windows and that he thought the house was built about 1860. In fact Jonas said the original house was probably a log house. Later he brought out a picture album and showed us the picture of the house when he bought it about ten years ago. It was a one-story house, reddish-brown siding and white trim, very typical of many rural houses of that time. We think this was Erick's original home with some updating over the years. The Swedes generally do not tear down the old homes, but simply remodel and put on new siding, etc. In fact the reddish-brown paint is widely used as a preservative for rural farm homes in Sweden. We were absolutely thrilled to think we had walked around Erick’s and Anders' old farm homes.
We thanked Bro. Huildin and his family again and again, headed back to our hotel in downtown Alingsas under his direction, and then said goodbye to the Huildin family. It had been a truly great day.

Erick Elison remodeled home, Ruthoffskarr, Alingsos.

Anders Eliason home, Lindas, Alingsos.

History of Anders (Andrew, Andres) Eliason

Brother of Erick Eliason, great great grandfather of Vonnie Elison Ellis

Written by his granddaughter,Persie W. Delamare, Toole, Utah.

As the world progresses in knowledge, the people of today look back and wonder how the people of one hundred years ago made their way in life, and it is good for one to trace the ancestry from which they descend. Every one of us have good reason to be thankful for having been born of goodly parents. We have good reason also, to be fully aware of what those goodly parents for generations have done for us. Have we ever thought what our parents or grandparents further back went through to give us the heritage we have, our physical being, our good blood, our soundness of mind and our faith in God. We owe them much. Our thoughts naturally go out in love and gratitude to those who see and understand the gospel plan as much that they would leave their native homes and loved ones, give up their wealth and comfort, in fact their all and come to this land, choice above all others (but uncultivated) where we their children and grandchildren could be born in peace and enjoy freedom. It is a desirable thing to be well descended, but the glory belongs to our ancestors.
Ander, Andrew, Andre (all 3 spellings have been used) Eliason was born Feb 1st 1806, Alingsas, Alversborg, and died April 20, 1896 in Grantsville, Toole Co., Utah. He was the son of Elias Nordblom and Beata Norrman. On a vast estate called "Ennerkullan" near a beautiful lake in Sweden lived Anders Eliason and his three sons, Andrew Jr., Charles, and Gustave. His wife Annicka had died sometime previous and they had three sons. Anders often told how he would get in his boat and row across this beautiful lake to court Christina Carlson, a cousin of his wife Annicka who had passed away. Anders and Christina were later married and lived happily together at Ennerkullen. Christina was very kind to him and his three sons.
Their home was a massive structure and the homes of the people who worked at this estate were comfortable and most livable. Anders was most kind to his employees. Christina had heard the Mormon Elders and was converted to the Gospel. She had joined the church and tried to explain the gospel to her husband.
She would have the missionaries come to their home and explain their religion to him but Anders could not seem to understand until one night in a dream he was directed to read a passage in the Bible, unfortunately we do not know what that passage was, but he arose and read the scripture. A few days later the Missionaries again came to his home and in a simple manner told of the restored gospel, which he was now prepared to believe and understand. Thus at the age of 56 a new light came to his soul and he was baptized in 1861. Later his three sons by his first wife Annicka, came into the church. The estate Ennerkullen was always a haven to the Mormon Missionaries—here they were always welcome and could rest in peace and comfort. Christina being a gracious hostess and Anders a generous and kind host. Anders and Christina loved their religion, and taught their children to pray and be grateful for everything they had. The word of the Lord had gone forth to all nations, tongues and people and they were encouraged to emigrate to Zion, a distant and barren land. Oh, the power of that word to cause these firmly settled families to leave their ancestral homes, to become one with an unpopular and hated people. Anders had been called a philosopher and philanthropist by the church historians and rightly so. He provided the means for over 200 converts to the church in that area to migrate to Utah. Some of this money was returned a little at a time and some he never received. When the poor saints would come and ask Anders to migrate them to Utah, he would say, "If you are thoroughly converted to the truthfulness of the gospel, I will". My mother often told of talking to an elderly lady in Logan and she said "If it hadn't been for Anders Eliason I never would have been here, Oh, how grateful I am to him."
To Anders and Christina had been born 5 children in Sweden, one girl and four boys. John Alfred born 1854, August born Jan 19, 1856, Annie Christina born March 8, 1859, Claus born 1860 and Oscar born in 1862. Claus and Oscar died as children. (An account of their death and burial on the plains is told about later in this history, as were many others who died crossing the plains and were buried). Anders felt that the time had come when he and his family should join the saints in Utah so he began to make preparations for the journey. He sold everything he had and gave one tenth of the proceeds to the church as tithing. Ennerkullen was bought by a Lord Dixon of England. Arrangements being completed he, his wife, Christina, and five small children and Gustave, an elder son made preparations for the journey. They also took a servant named Peter and a maid whom they loved and these two later married in Utah and took the name of Eliason. Six chartered ships sailed from the old world leaving Sweden the latter part of April 1863 taking the Eliason family with them. These ships carried 4000 saints. A brother Erick Eliason and his wife Anna Hansson and six children, Andrew born 17 Nov 1841, Joahana born 13 Dec 1845, Charles Gustave born 9 Feb 1849, John Alfred born 22 July 1851, Augusta born 5 May 1854, and Frederick born 8 Aug 1857 all in Alingsas, one daughter, Betsey born 22 Oct 1846, died in Sweden at the age of 17. The rest of that family sailed to America with Anders. They bid adieu to their beautiful Sweden to go forth to a new land and prepare a home before the two elder sons should come. It had been difficult to leave such a beautiful estate and so many relatives and friends. They crossed the north sea to England arriving in Liverpool where under the direction of George Q. Cannon the Eliasons families united with 644 Scandinavians and British saints. They crossed the Atlantic on the ship B.S.Kimball (Two years later this ship sunk making the return trip.) Here they were under the direction of Elder Hans Christian Lund and his 2 counselors, Peter Beckstead and Christopher S. Wing. The ship left Liverpool May 8, 1863 and arrived in New York City Jun 14, 1863. They spent five weeks and 3 days on the ocean and experienced rough seas as well as calm. Many sleepless nights were encountered on this ocean voyage. The company continued their journey to Albany, New York and then went by railroad to Florence, Nebraska, the outfitting station for the L.D.S. immigrants. They stayed in Florence until July 17, 1863 then started their journey to Utah across the plains.
The company was in charge of John R. Young. They left Florence with 40 wagons drawn by oxen. This journey had its share of trials and heartaches. It was summer time and often stifling hot and dusty. At night they camped under the stars or under the lowering storm clouds. Their wagons were drawn up in a circle and the fire built in the center. In these encampments they enjoyed simple amusements of the Mormon Pioneer trains. Families would visit each and talk over the day’s trip and wonder what it would be like in Zion. One day a week was devoted to washing and drying the clothes and bed linens. In place of ironing, the dry wash would be folded and placed under the bedding to be pressed. The sunbonnets would be placed over a shaped piece of board to dry. During the journey on July 28th, the cattle stampeded and much damage was done and 1 man and 2 women were killed. When the oxen began to stampede, August the 7 year old, became excited and shouted "Hurrah, we will soon be in Zion now." During the journey Anders and Christina walked most of the way to let the children rid. During tips trek their 2 smallest children took the cholera and died. They were buried by the wayside in wooden boxes made by the saints. The little graves were dug extra deep to keep the wild animals from digging them up. Anders and Christina's servants later told my mother (when she went to see them in Logan) how broken hearted the parents were, and how hard it was to leave these little graves by the wayside. She also told of the hardships of the journey, but never a word of complaint escaped their lips. The trek through the Rocky Mountains was hard and hazardous. When Emigration canyon was finally reached, a prayer of Thanksgiving went up to God for they had come to end of their journey. They gazed upon the valley that was to be their new home. They saw cottonwood and sagebrush instead of the beautiful forests of Sweden. Their lakes were replaced by the salty inland sea. But this was to be their home, they were in Zion at last. Headaches were brushed aside, they had come here in true faith. They had hard work to do and intended to do it. They did not perish by hunger or by tomahawk of the Indians on the way but were preserved by Him whose commandments they loved to obey, and whose authority they were willing to honor.
They were led to the Rocky Mountains to work out a great destiny for themselves
and for mankind generally. To fulfill prophecy, to grow in strength, and numbers, to gain experience, so as to be fit instruments in the hand of the Lord for the carrying out of future problems to make the barren places fertile and productive to cause the desert to blossom as a rose, and to lay a foundation for a great commonwealth, the influence of which shall eventually be felt for good to the uttermost parts of the earth and shall save from total ruin, not only our own nation but all other nations as well, thru the maintenance of the elements of truth and virtue and principles of justice and unity which shall be adopted universally when that government of peace and righteousness which the prophets and saints of God have looked forward to with joy and hope since the fall of man shall be fully established on the earth.
The company arrived and planted their feet in the valley of the Great Salt Lake on Sep 12, 1863, after spending 2 months on the journey across the plains. They brought many treasures with them such as dishes, silver, linen, brass and elegant clothing, dreaming of another home as lovely as the one they had left. They headed for the shores of the great Salt Lake and settled in Grantsville, Tooele County, Utah. Here again they were near a lake, even though it was the dead sea of America. They arrived in Grantsville in September 1863. Zion had grown much since 1847 but it was still a difficult place to live sometimes when they were homesick and longed for the old life and more gentle scenes, still the spell of this vast rugged land got into the blood of these pioneers. Anders and Erick were as an advance guard to explore the new land and to write to their relatives, Anders two sons who were still in Sweden and others to tell them what they had found. Two years later the 2 sons, Charles and Anders II or Andrew II and their wives and children joined them in Zion. Anders was 60 years of age when he arrived in Utah and living among the Scandinavian people never did learn the English language. He was of small stature, very fair with blue eyes and brown hair, small feet and hands. He was a very kind and patient man. My Mother said she never heard him speak a cross word to anyone and he was always giving good advice where and when it was needed. He had been accustomed to having plenty of the luxuries of this life, and was always helping someone who was not quite as fortunate as he. I remember a red wooden box about 8x10 inches with a lock on it that he gave to my Mother, which he had used to keep his money in.
After the arrival of the Eliason families in Grantsville, Anders immediately began building a four room house which was a mansion in the desert before it was completed. A new baby was expected. On the arrival of this baby girl in 1864, it was raining and the roof was not yet on so Anders held an umbrella over his wife while she gave birth to their first child born in Utah (Clara). Their bed was wooden with curtains around the sides, the springs were rope and they had a straw tick. On completion of their house, the rooms were nicely furnished and kept spotlessly clean. The floors were always shining, the house was very comfortable inside, and outside Anders had flowers and a vegetable garden growing. He made rock paths all around the house and yard so when they went to the wood shed or the tool shed or any of the out buildings so mud wasn't tracked into the house. Herbs were planted alongside of the rock walks, everything was planted in the true fashion of Swedish style. Anders was equally as meticulously clean as his wife. Every garden tool was cleaned thoroughly after being used before it was put away in the tool house. In his wood shed all the wood was cut up or sawed up in lengths that fit the stoves and stacked up all around the wood shed. I know because one day Mother took me with her to Grantsville and grandfather was busy with the wood and I watched him. Weeds were unknown in his garden. "Remember God's house is a House of order", rightly so for this was truly a house and home wherein God's spirit dwelt and here peace and order was supreme. Anders raised cattle and they were well cared for. Two years after their first baby Clara was born they had another baby girl. This one did not live long and 2 years later Jan 1, 1868 on a cold winter day another baby girl came to bless their home. This addition to the family was my mother, Etta. They lived very happy with their families in this Swedish populated town of Grantsville. When this baby was 13 months old Christina caught a terrible cold and was very ill. They had no doctors in those days, only a lady midwife, she put Christina in a tub of cold water, thinking it would break the fever, but it worked contrary and on Feb 14, 1870 (Valentine’s Day) she passed away at the age of 44, leaving a 13 mo. old baby and a very sad and lonely husband to care for their little family. They only lived together 7 years in this humble home in Zion but acquired so much in such a short time. Anders did his best in trying to care for his family, but felt so helpless with the smaller children. One year after Christina's passing he married Sophia Johnson who was a very industrious and thrifty woman, but had no children of her own, so did not have the love for them she otherwise might have had. Soon 3 of the children left home leaving only the youngest son Alfred, and the youngest daughter Etta (my mother). Anders loved his children and was grieved when they left home to live with the oldest married sister. He did everything he could to make those who stayed home happy. He was so kind and good to them and when Sophia was away he would take my mother by her hand and together they would go over to his married daughters and his children who were living there.
Sophia was a hard working woman and would weave carpets and sell them. She would wash wool and spin it to weave into cloth and make dresses. She dyed rags with flowers and sage brush. She kept my mother well dressed. In 1880 Anders had a seven room rock house built, it still stands directly across the street north from the First Ward Church in Grantsville. It has been stuccoed over the rocks and looks terrible. Sophia kept this home lovely while she lived. She had a small house built east of the Eliason's where she lived but had her niece live in the Eliason home. They kept it spotless. Then when she died it was sold and neglected. Anders always taught his children to observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy and to keep all the commandments. He always attended Sacrament meetings even though he could not understand English and partook of the Holy Spirit there. The Sacrament meant so much to him. He did much temple work in the Logan Temple as well as being baptized for himself, wives and children who had passed on previously. He was also busy having all their endowments and sealings done. He did endowment work on May 20, 1885 and sealings for the dead on June 18, 1885, having both wives sealed to him, and part of his children. When grandfather came up to our home on "Whitehouse Hill", I was just a little girl 4 or 5 years old but I would tag long with him when he took his morning walk all around the farm which was a long and enjoyable walk. He was so kind to me and he would often give my mother money. When she and my father were he gave them sheep and a cow, furniture, tools, etc. Sophia wove a nice rag carpet for them and when that was worn another one was ready. Anders told about their trip here from Sweden and said when they landed in New York, the Civil War was still raging the east and the saints were hurried on to Utah.
Anders had always been a healthy, wealthy man. He gave much to his 3 sons to build homes and live in ease. One son lived in Logan and had a beautiful home there. The other 2 sons had nice homes near Logan. Anders had 2 homes built at different times for himself and family. At the age of 90 years he became ill, he said he was just tired, having no aches or pain he was overcome by an exhausted feeling. When asked how he was feeling he would answer "I feel like I have been on a long journey". Rightly so, he had been on a long journey and needed rest. He would look out of the window and see the weeds coming up in his garden and it worried him. After being bedfast for 3 weeks he was called home to his Heavenly Father, there to live and rest in peace. He had come to the end of a long journey. Once again another beloved Pioneer had passed on. He had done much for others and was loved by all who knew him. Bishop Wrathall said of him in speaking at his funeral, "I don't think there was a spot on his garments". He died on April 20, 1896 at his home in Grantsville. He had a posterity of over 350. Thus the Eliasons blended the old with the new, and while they loved their native land they also loved their adopted home. Anders passed away after a full and complete life. He was 90 years old. May his life be an example for all his posterity and his memory inspire them to so live that they may dwell with him in eternity. Anders and Christina had 8 children, 5 in Sweden. Anders and Annicka had 6 children in Sweden.
This history so beautifully written by Percie Whitehouse DeLaMare, Tooele, Utah has been printed as she wrote it. She is the daughter of Etta Eliason and Jerriah W. Whitehouse, Etta being the daughter of Anders. I visited her several times at her home in Tooele and wrote to her over the years, encourging her to get this history finished so that it could be reproduced and sent to the many descendents of Anders and Erick. This is a wonderful stalwart family. At this time 1 May, 1976, Percie is very ill and aging in a Tooele nursing home. I'm grateful I had the opportunity to know her briefly.

History of my Grandfather Andrew Elison
Andrew is married to Johanna Nelson Swenson
Andrew Elison is Vonnie Elison Ellis’ great grandfather
Andrew Elison, oldest son of Erick Elison and Anna Hansen Neilson, born in Alingsas, Sweden 17 Nov 1841. He came to Utah with his parents September 12, 1863 in the John Royal Young Company. His parents were converts to the Church in Sweden. Andrew was baptized there in September of 1861.
At the age of 22 he landed in New York and after spending several days getting lined up with the coming west, he, his parents and brothers and sisters joined the John Royal Company. Little is known of their trip to Utah but they must have endured many hardships as they traveled during the winter months. He and his family settled in Grantsville and it was there he met Johanna Swenson Neilson and they were married 16 November 1867 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. They moved to Ogden soon after that and lived in a small house and owned some 12 acres of land of what is now the center of downtown Ogden.
I have heard my Grandma Elison tell that Grandpa worked with his team of horses in helping some of the granite for the Salt Lake Temple and donated a calf for his assessment toward its building fund. He helped build the first railroad into Ogden.
After leaving Ogden, they moved to a little place called Lincoln and then back to Grantsville. Only one child was born in Ogden, Andrew born 4 October 1868 and died November 15 same year, a little over a month old.
They lived in Grantsville until when they moved to Oakley, Idaho. Five children were born in Grantsville, Johanna Josephine born 10 Nov 1872 died 18 Oct 1878 William born 8 April 1870, Frank born 12 Jan l875, Agnes born 10 April 1877 and Annie May born 10 Oct 1879.
After they moved to Oakley, being some of the first settlers they homesteaded south of the settlement. Their first house was a wagon box Grandpa converted into a house with the help of lumber and canvas. Later he built a two room log house with the help of his neighbors and boys. He was instrumental in the building of the Oakley dam and was one of the first to enjoy the fruits of irrigated land from this source.
Later years they moved to north Oakley and built a home on Water Street. They had five more children born in Oakley, Clara born 16 May 1882, George born 19 Nov 1884, Lewis born 24 Feb 1887, Freddie Wallace born Dec 17, 1889 and died two days later Dec 19, 1889, and Edna born 12 Jan 1892.
My recollections of him was a very humble and quiet man. I can remember as a child we always waited for him to say he had something for us on the table in the parlor and we knew it was peppermints. He was never without them. He used to come to our place and trim the raspberries and would always tease us with his Swedish talking, he would come to the back door and my mother would tell him to come in and he'd always say, my feet are too dirty. He would always either sit on the porch or by the kitchen stove and have something to eat or drink before he went home. I can remember the day he was buried. Dad lifted me to kiss his cheek. I'll always remember that and his peppermints the most. He died 21 March 1927 and was buried in the Oakley cemetery March 25 1927
Compiled by Zelda Elison Tidwell, daughter of George P. Elison, Farmington Utah

History of William Elison

William is married to Margaret Elida Callister Elison

William is Vonnie Elison Ellis’ grandfather

Father's life here was short. He lived for fifty-six short years, but he left six sons and seven daughters to carry on for him. In the short time he was with his family he managed to leave an impression of a wonderful father that has lived on in their hearts. He has been an inspiration to them in raising their families. The heritage he left his family was far more valuable than any amount of worldly goods they could have left. They taught their family to know the difference between right and wrong. His ideals were high. His faith was strong. His testimony of the Gospel was strong.
William spent the first eleven years of his life in Grantsville. He was born under the new and everlasting covenant and was taught the gospel in his home as well as in Primary and Sunday School. As a young boy he learned to play the harmonica and would often accompany the hymns in church with his playing.
In the year 1881 they moved to Oakley Idaho. His father homesteaded a place south east of Oakley. They were some of the earliest settlers in that part of the country. Their first home consisted of a wagon box and later they built a two room log house. The first light in the house were candles, later kerosene lamps were used.
William and his brother Frank worked with their father in clearing the land and running the farm. Later they sold the first land and moved in close to Oakley on what is known as Water Street and bought eighty acres of land. The boys helped their father and they also ran horses on the range. The country was wild and new. Every spring they'd corral those horses and then break them to work and to ride.
William was a good boy and he grew into a wonderful young man. He was good to his Mother and sisters. Always very kind and good to them. He often was their escort when they wanted to attend a dance or celebration in the community. He attended church and to his duties as he was advanced in the priesthood.
One warm evening in 1891 two sisters were walking through their new homestead chatting and viewing the beautiful scenery. They entered the Elison's yard just as two fellows rode up on horses. It was William and Frank. They had come home unexpectedly. Of course introductions had to be made and this was how Elida Callister met her future husband. She knew the minute she met William that he was the one for her. He must have felt the same way because he told his mother after the girls had gone that Elida Callister was the girl for him if she would have him. 1
The next Sunday Ina invited the Elison's to her home for dinner and Will asked Elida to go to a wedding dance with him on Monday evening. He asked her in June if she would go steady with him. He took her to church and to other affairs in the small community. He wanted her to marry him in August but Elida couldn't leave her Mother with all the work and worry of taking care of her grandmother Phelps. Elida's mother objected to Elida going with William Elison because he was Swedish, but grandmother Phelps liked him so she was on Elida's side in the matter. Grandmother said "Mary, we'll talk to the Bishop and if he says Will is a good boy, you let them alone, but if he isn't I'll talk to Elida and get her to quit going with him." This they did and the bishop said that William Elison was one of the best boys they had in the ward and wished there were more just like him. So Elida's mother had to finally consent to the marriage. However Grandmother Phelps took a turn for the worse and the care of her was too much for Elida's mother alone, so Elida had to help with this.
By January they were all worn out with taking care of her night and day. One evening Will came over and told Elida to go to bed, that he would sit with grandmother. Elida went to bed but at midnight she couldn't sleep any longer so she got up and went in to talk with Will. While they were talking, Grandmother called them to her bedside and asked them if they would consent to be married by her bed so she could see them married before she died. Of course, they consented to this. On February 3, 1892 at the bedside of grandmother Phelps they were married by Bishop John L. Smith. Grandmother Phelps passed away one month later.
Their first home was a little two roomed log house with a slant on the back for a kitchen. It was located on twenty acres of ground in Oakley. The rooms were white washed and they made braided rugs for the floors. These two young people were very happy in their little house.
On the 1st of November 1892 they were blessed with their first child, a baby girl. They named her Eva Elida. One year later on 19 December 1893 Elida gave birth to a baby boy who they named Marvin William. Then on the 13th of February 1895 another baby boy. His name was Horace Andrew.
When Horace was one year old Will and Elida decided to take a trip down to the Muddy to see her mother and to farm for one year. They traveled by wagon it was a distance of about 600 miles. They camped out at night and cooked their meals over a camp fire. It took them three weeks to make the trip. When they left Oakley, Grandmother Elison told Will and Elida that they would never raise Marvin, their oldest boy. She told them that they would probably bury him on the way down. After they left Oakley Marvin began to get better. He began to get fat and husky and he was all right.
Just before they reached their destination one of the horses died. Will chained one horse to the wagon and held up the neck yoke himself. They stayed down in Nevada that summer and farmed. The heat was terrific. They would get up early in the morning and get the work done before it got too hot, because you just couldn't work in the heat in the afternoons. The children went barefoot most of the summer, but it was so hot that they would play for awhile and then lay down flat on their backs with their feet kicking in the air to cool their feet off. They returned to Oakley that fall. They moved back into the little home they had left. They were so glad to be back. Will worked for the neighbors and took care of his own twenty acres. Will was active in church still, and took his little ones with him to Sunday School. They lived only a mile from the church so they would walk to the church. In the spring of 1898 they were blessed with another baby. A boy they named Orson Stanley. He was born on the 16th of April. This time things didn't go so well and shortly after his birth Elida was stricken with child bed fever. There had been several who had died with this that winter. Will was so patient with her. He had so much to do, with the farm work and three small children and a new baby to take care of. One night Elida felt especially bad. During the night her grandmother seemed to be standing by her bed. She told her to call the Elders. Which Will did and by the next morning she was sitting up and continued to mend. The next year in September came a girl Mary Johanna after her two grandmothers. The next spring they decided to move to Blackfoot Idaho. They didn't have enough water in Oakley for their crops and they had heard that the Blackfoot area was well supplied, so they decided to make the move. Will sold their place in Oakley for very little. About $600. At that he didn't get much cash, mostly merchandise. They moved in March 1900. It took 5 to 6 days to travel to Blackfoot. They took two wagons to carry all their personal belongings and the family. Marvin was only six at the time, but he drove one of the wagons. Will would hook the horses up for him and unhook them at night and take care of them. One exciting event that happened on their journey was little Stanley was in the back of the wagon when he became over balanced and fell out. The wheels of the wagon ran over his legs but he wasn't hurt because the sand was so deep. When they arrived in Blackfoot they homesteaded twenty acres of land about a mile west of Blackfoot at the time. They first moved into a little house on Meridian Street and later they built on the land they had homesteaded. Will made a living for his family by hauling rock to build buildings and hauling wood from the lavas. Each year he would go and sheer sheep. Will helped build the first church house that was built in Blackfoot. He'd also go and stack hay for the ranchers each summer. They would work for 28 days steady in the hay. When the Elison family arrived in Blackfoot, Mormons were very unpopular in the area. Will and Elida and their family were very active members of the hated church and according to the church records, Will took part in nearly every Sacrament meeting that was held by speaking or praying or administering the sacrament. I remember my father as a gentle, kind man. He loved his family and worked very hard to keep them in the necessary things of this life, spiritual and material. He was the steadying influence in the family. He was quiet and strong and loving. He believed in praising rather than punishing to get things done. His wife had quite a bad temper, but with the help of my father and a strong desire to overcome it she was able to do this. Together in everything they did, they set an example for their family.
On the 19 of January 1901 another baby girl they named Ina Reava blessed their home, and another girl in July 1902, little Agnes Emeral. During all this time Will and Elida had set a goal to go to the temple. Finally, November 1902 their plans worked out that they could go to the temple. They traveled by wagon again from Blackfoot to Logan. It was cold by that time and they had a small baby less than four months old but they just couldn't let anything stop them now. They felt that it was so important for them to get to the Temple. It took all day to go thru so it was hard to leave a tiny baby for that long. But little Agnes never cried at all.
Will and Elida were people who had lots of faith. They were especially blessed to have the Priesthood in their home and they used it a lot in raising their family. Many times when the
children would fever up at night and couldn't sleep Will would administer to them. The children would go back to sleep and be well by morning.
The children were taught to work at home. The boys had to help with the chores as their dad was often away from home. As a rule the work was always done and very well by the time Will got home and he was sure to praise the boys for a job well done. One night as boys will do at times, after the chores they started to play. They decided to build a fire in the clearing they had made in the middle of the barn. They did this and when Will drove into the yard all he could see was the smoke coming from the barn. He rushed down to see what was the matter, this was one night the boys got a whipping from their father and not the customary praise. In his freighting and hauling rock Will took his sons with him. Many a night they'd sleep together under the stars and cook their meals over a bonfire. It made them closer as father and sons, and the boys learned a lot from their father. He taught them to work with him and not for him. He would say “Well, it's a pretty good days work for a couple of little boys.”
When Ada was 10 days old they sold their farm in Blackfoot and moved to Groveland. Elida was called to be the primary president so along with raising of her family and work in Relief Society she did everything she could to serve and keep her family active in the church. Many a night after having had Primary she would load her buggy with all the children from her end of the ward and deliver them all safely to their homes. She would go on home to find a nice supper all ready. Will would do this for her because he knew how late she would be.
One of the first things they bought when they moved to Groveland was a piano. They thought the girls should learn to play and most of them did. Many a night at home was spent with Mary at the piano, Will with his harmonica, and the rest of the family singing, dancing or just enjoying the music. This was one family who played together as well as work together. Will and Elida would get out with the family and play ball and other games. Even in the summer when it was such a busy time, Saturday afternoon was their play time.
The family was so large that there was never enough money to take a vacation. One summer Dad decided to give them a vacation. He took them to see the place where he stayed when shearing sheep. They went in the white top buggy. They stayed in the old house that the men lived in when they were shearing sheep. The children fished and played and had a good time. Dad did the cooking while they were there so Mother could have a vacation too. The thing the family remembers as best was the sage hen Dad cooked for them.
Whenever Will went away and came home he always brought peppermints back to the family. In order to get this treat we had to have it pulled out of their ears.
It was natural for the boys to love their horses. Their father loved his horses very much so it is bred in them. When they were out working at noon they would play at pulling their horses to see who had the best horses.
When the children got older and began to date, the boys always had a nice buggy and good horses provided for them. Whenever the girls wanted to go and didn't have dates their dad would take them. After he got home he would wait up for the girls to get home and if they didn't come in when he thought they should he would open the door and say "alright girls it is time to come in." and in they would come.
In Groveland this couple had three more children. Golden, Bernell and Veleta. This completed their family of thirteen. One by one the familywere leaving home. They were beginning to build their own homes and start their own families. They were all married in the temple and were active in the church. It was about this time war broke out and Marvin was drafted. The flu also broke out. Elida was called on to help all over the community. Will and the girls took over at home.
In the spring of 1927 there were only five children left at home. The health of both Will and Elida was bad so they decided to move to Logan for awhile and give up farming and see if their health would improve. They didn't sell their farm at this time but rented it to Stanley. Again they moved all their belongings by wagon. Instead of getting better in Logan they both got worse. Finally the Doctor said Elida had a goiter and would have to have an operation. They were afraid Will had cancer. In August Will wrote to Marvin and asked him to look after the place and see that Elida was taken care of. He seemed to know that he wasn't going to live very long. The boys came down and Will revived a little while and showed them around but soon he lay sick in bed, he wasn't getting any better. They tried to operate on him but the doctors couldn't do anything for him. While he lay sick and dying he still loved music. He wanted the girls to play for him. They would play the hymns for him for hours at a time. His favorite hymn was Ere You Left Your room This Morning. He passed away November 8 1927. They took Will to Groveland for his funeral services and buried him in the Groveland Cemetery (in Idaho).

History of Horace Andrew Elison

Horace is married to Katie Louisa Hale Elison

Horace Andrew Elison is Vonnie Elison Ellis’ Father

I was born the 13th of February 1895 at Oakley, Cassia County, Idaho. My father was William Elison, born at Grantsville, Utah on April 3, 1870. My mother, Margaret Elida Callister was born at Filmore, Utah on August 5, 1874. I am the third in a family of thirteen children, six boys and seven girls. I lived five years at Oakley, Idaho then we came to Blackfoot. I was born in a frame house with two rooms in front and a lean-to on the back. Our farm consisted of twenty acres. I can remember when I was real young I went with my father to Grandpa Elison’s place where they had run in a number of wild horses. Father held me up so I could see over the corral fences. I put my hand through and touched one of them and Father told me I could have that horse. They would break and train the horses for farm work.
One time when my father went to the lime kiln, it was rather early in the morning, he didn’t wake us up to go but Marvin woke up in time to go. When I woke up I felt real bad that I didn’t get to go, so Mother promised me that I could go see grandma. She lived a little distance from us and I was only about three years old at the time. Marvin and I slept under the table that night just for fun. The lime was used for whitewashing the walls of their homes, also the cellars, where fruits and vegetables were kept. They also used it inside the chicken coops, it gave everything such a nice clean smell.
My father worked at many jobs to support us. One time when he was on a freighting trip an old Indian kept coming around looking in the windows. He came to our house one night and we were all so scared, but Mother told us just to be quiet and not move. The Indian was at the front of the house so Mother and uncle Nester went out the back door and ran to Grandpa’s for help. Uncle Walter Callister came and drove the Indian away. In the fall when the corn was good and ripe, Marvin and I went to the field with Uncle Louis Elison and Uncle Nester Holt. They would make a big bonfire, then we would gather ears of corn and roast them in the ashes, boy was that good. On the way back we had to cross a creek by crossing a pole, the rest of them got across all right but I fell in and got soaked. My uncles took my clothes off and I had to go to bed while they dried.
When I was four years old my Mother sent me to school, but I was only there two days when they sent me home. In March of 1900 we left Oakley and moved to Blackfoot. The only way of travel was by team and wagon. Father homesteaded 20 acres of land and started our new home. It was fall before it was finished. In the meantime we lived in a small two-room house. The house Father built had four rooms. About this they were building the Mackey railroad track and
they would set up camp along the way. The work was done with horses. My Father hauled provisions to them. Hay and grain for their cattle and food for the workers. He made many tripsto do this. I would go with Dad on these trips and one thing I remember was the sweet cookies, they were packed in big wooden boxes and wrapped in wax paper. We ate some of these as we journeyed along. They were so good. There was no way of keeping food fresh so there was mostly canned goods.
Our home was built on a small slope, we boys would play around back in the dirt making our own wagons out of wood, using logs cut for wheels. We would go down by the river and catch mag-pies and sell them for 25 cents apiece. The people taught them to talk. We had a large vegetable garden and we boys would go with Father to Pocatello to sell the produce. Father would stack at Lower Presto, north of Blackfoot. We would take 2 cows with us and stay there until the hay was stacked in the fall, then we would move back to Blackfoot and it was my job to drive the cows. I was not old enough to ride a horse so I had to walk. Father tied the 2 cows together and I would drive them down the road. I walked all the way and it was 17 miles. I was only 8 years old at the time. As I was walked down the road I found 2 fishing poles with reels onthem. I carried them a ways and then dropped them cause I was too tired to carry them on in to Blackfoot. When I was ten years old we put hay on the Sam Rich farm. We run three wagons and Marvin and I loaded the hay on the three wagons from the three pitchers and we worked 10 hours a day. We had to get up in the mornings and get the team brushed and fed and ready to go before breakfast.
The first Sunday School I attended in Blackfoot was held in the home of Bishop Edward Watson. The first church house built in Blackfoot was built where the 4th and 7th ward church now stands. My parents were not able to go to the temple when they were married. So they prepared to go in the fall of 1902, they traveled by horses and wagon from here to Logan and they were married and had seven children sealed to them. That was my first experience in the temple when I knelt at the alter and was sealed to my parents. I was seven years old. We enjoyed the trip coming very much We moved to Groveland in December of 1907.
When I was about 14 my Father would go shearing sheep for the sheepman. This one year I went with him and I tied the fleeces as each sheep was sheared. I would gather up the wool and tie it in a bundle and put it in a big wool sack. After that when Father would go shearing we boys would work the farm. We also helped father haul lava rock to Blackfoot to build basements for the homes on the east side of the tracks. Those early homes were built mostly of lava rocks.
I spent my courting days mostly in and around Blackfoot and Groveland. I met a wonderful girl Katie Louisa Hale, and three years later she became my wife. We were married when she was19 in October and I was 21 the last February. We chose the 15th of November to be married. That was the date Katie’s parents were married just 24 years earlier. Our first house was on the Groveland town-site on a acre and one-fourth lot. The house was two small rooms, a kitchen and a bedroom. No bathroom, a shanty at the end of the path served the purpose. To make a living I hauled rock from the head of the Riverside canal to build a dam. This was done with team and wagon and I also hauled cedar wood to Blackfoot and sold it for fuel. In the winter days we would work in snow waist deep.
As years passed and to fulfill some of the covenants we took at the temple, at our marriage, nine lovely spirits have come to bless our home. Our first son George Andrew, who we enjoyed only
nine months was taken at the time of the flu epidemic. He contacted pneumonia and passed away the 16th of October 1918. Then came Reava, Beth, Shelda, Rolland, Vonnie Mae, Katie Marie, William Delos and Gloria. All are very special children and we love them very much. They are a wonderful blessing to us. We have lived in Groveland all of our lives, expect one summer we lived in Aberdeen, Idaho. All through the years we have farmed and worked for wages along with rearing our family and working in the church.
About the year 1924 I was janitor of the school. I had an attack of rhumtism (rheumatism) in my hip joints, it was so bad I couldn’t get in and out of bed without help. I would sit on the side of the bed and Mother would lift my legs and swing them around in bed. When morning came and I got up I would walk to town and back just to limber up. The principal of the school gave me a ``book to read which he said might help. It said not to eat until you get hungry in the throat, and not to pay any attention to how you feel in the stomach. So I fasted all day and ate just before I went to do janitor work in late afternoon. For 60 years Mother has been my guiding light, bless her. Whenever I had to leave home for a few days, she would take care of the children, the
cows and the garden. People would tell us that with my poor health we should not have any more family, but Mother and I could never feel that we were the judge of that. I’ve wondered how I would feel when I get to the other side to see the other four children if we had not let them
come to our happy home. In 1919 we bought a 50 acre farm for $6,000. The place was about 1 ½ miles from the Groveland town-site. I traded our little home in the Groveland town-site and theastern 2 ½ acres with a three room house on it on this place. I planted ten acres of beets and they were so large that the leaves touched across the row and then the river went dry. I couldn’t get any water on the beets at all so the first crop of hay and grain was all I was able to harvest. I couldn't pay my payment on the farm so I went to the bank and borrowed money to pay the taxes. The man I got it from to the farm back and we got our little house back.
In 1920 James Yancey contracted the job to put in a new headgate in the Riverside canal. I worked for him hauling gravel and water for the cement work. I had a wagon with a water tank on it. I would back on the ice in the river and pump the tank full of water. I worked all winter at this job, at night we put course salt on the cement so it would not freeze. I also worked the nexsummer for James Yancey for $1 an hour. I worked with my team digging basements. Then after work I plowed garden spots for the people in the city. That summer I paid back the money to the bank so we could keep our little place. In 1925 I worked for the Riverside Canal Co, we hauled 25 cords of rock and piled them on the canal bank to be used later. In 1923 we rented the farm by the old Worthen house from Elmer Hansen. We lived there for one year and then we moved in to Katie’s fathers place and took care of it, as her folks were in Utah. In 1938 we rented an 80 acres farm out in McDonaldville. We raised beets, potatoes, hay and grain. We milked six cows to have milk to sell for our groceries. The first year we planted peas and potatoes and had a good crop. The next year we planted beets and the children did all the thinning, howing and topping in the fall. They also did the picking of the potatoes and it was darn hard work. The neighbors out there all changed work and helped each other, those were thegood old days. They all came to help in the hay and they all drank coffee at home so we felt should get some for them. Mother got ready to serve it and not one of them would drink it. They said if we didn’t drink it they wouldn’t either. So the coffee was poured down the ditch and it didn’t hurt anyone. I had a good team of geldings out there and hauled beets and potatoes for a lot of neighbors. The horses were named Duke and Prince. We lived there for 4 years and enjoyed it, then we moved back to our home on the town-site and farmed the Kluckhone place. I broke ten acres up that had been in hay and planted beets. The neighbors told me I couldn’t get a crop. I had two men come and plow, one had a small tractor and couldn’t plow very deep. He did 5 acres and the other man had a big tractor and plowed deep and really turned over the soil. The piece where the poor plowing was done only yielded 11 tons to the acrea and the piece where the big tractor plowed yielded 17 tons. The next year I raised 20 tons to the acre. The grain was so heavy they could only elevate one-half swath at a time. I planted 6 rows of rural potatoe seed on an 80 rod field and sold $120 worth besides saving 60 sacks for myself for seed. it was a good crop.
I have always been interested in the gospel and have served in several positions. I started as a Ward teacher when I was 15 years old. I am still serving as a Home teacher. I spent 20 yrs as Ward teacher supervisor from 1920 to 1940. During this time we had 100% ward teaching visitfor 4 years. On Oct 18, 1914 I was ordained an Elder and I served as Secretary of this quorumfor 12 years. And for one year I served as 2nd counselor in the quorum. This included all the Elders in the Groveland and Rose wards. In 1932 I was called to serve on the stake ward teaching committee and served here for 3 yrs. I spent 4 yrs teaching the Intermediate class in Sunday school, 3 yrs as teacher of the Gospel Doctrine class and 1 yr as secretary of this organization. I served on the Boy Scout committee for 2 yrs and then as a superintendant of thY.M.M.I.A. for 3 yrs. I also served as 1st counselor in the Sunday School for 3 yrs. In 1956 Iwas called as stake leader for the Special Interest and Mutual Marrieds and served here for 3 years and 8 months. I spent 6 months as home missionary in the Blackfoot stake and traveled with my daughter Reava, who had just returned from a mission in the Eastern states. I served 17yrs as High Priest group leader. I was ordained a High Priest July 16, 1933. I was president of the Special Interest class for 1 yr. In the fall of 1962 Mother and I were called to serve a mission to the New England states. So on the 5th of November we entered the mission home. I wascalled to preside over the Greenfield branch and Mother was Relief Society president. We returned from our mission on May 24, 1963. I also served as Era Director for 1 yr. In 1966 Mother and I were called to be Temple Officiators in the Idaho Falls Temple and served 8 1/2 years. I have taught the High Priests lessons for the last 5 years from 1971- 1976.
In civic duties I served as secretary of the town-site board for 20 yrs. This was concerning thwater assessments, the road repairs, bridge repairs ect. I was also chairman of Bingham County Health Board for 3 years.
I would like to write about a few experiences in regard to the power of the Priesthood in my life.When our fist baby was about 5 months old we were our on the dry farm and the baby was sickwith the ear-ache and screamed with pain for one hour, Mother did all she could to relieve the pain but nothing did any good. She asked me to give him a blessing so I administered to him and he was asleep in 10 minutes and didn't wake up until morning.
I would like to tell about a visit as ward teacher with Brother Herschel Coles. We were visiting at the Bert Smith home and they asked us to administer to their son that was about five years oand had never taken a step to walk. They had taken him to several doctors but they could do nothing for him. We had prayer with the family and I asked Bro. Coles to anoint him. We laour hands on his head and I gave him a blessing and sealed the anointing. When we left the place Herschel asked me why I promised that boy that he would walk. I told him that he wouldwalk for it was the Lord that promised him that, not me. The next month when we went back there the boy was walking all over the house and walked all the rest of his life.
Then when I was president of the M.I.A. I had to have a second counselor, so I met with the Bishopric and we talked for a long time but could not decide on a man so the Bishop told us to go home and pray about it. So I went home and prayed about it for 2 or 3 days. And as I coming home from town a voice spoke to me and told me who was the man for counselor. I went to the Bishop and told him what had happened to me and he agreed that was the man we should have sustained. He was a fine man for the job.
While mother and I were serving in the Mission field we went to visit a sick lady on Christmas day. During our visit she asked me to give her a blessing. I told her I would come the next morning and give her a blessing. So Mother and I went home and prayed about it and the next morning we took our oil and went over to her place. As I anointed her head I could feel the power of the Priesthood, and I asked Mother to lay her hands on her head with me. I sealed the anointing and gave her a blessing by the power of the Priesthood. While I was blessing her I could feel the power of the Holy Ghost go through my arms and hands and into her head. Mother said she could feel the power in her hands, and Sister Blanding, said, “I will be alright now, cause the spirit of the Holy Ghost came into my body.”
When we received our releases from our mission we went out to the Read home in Morman Hollow and while we were visiting with those people Brother Read went outside and I went out to see what was the matter, and he was walking up and down the lane and the tears were running down his cheeks. I put my arm around his shoulder and asked him what was the matter? He said “You people come here to teach us the gospel and we learn to love you so much, then you get released and we may never get to see you again.”
The day before Delos and Judy’s baby girl Rebecca was born we went out to stay all night with the children. Judy was in the hospital and about midnight she called Delos and told him he better come in because she was hemmoraging pretty bad. So he went in and when he got there the doctors were there and they delivered the baby by cecearean section and then they had to take her back to surgery, and do a hysterectomy to stop the bleeding. I went in as soon as we got the chores done and stayed with Judy while Delos went out to breakfast. While I talked to Judy she said “You gave me a blessing about 3 weeks ago and you told me the baby would be born okay and that I would get well and I haven’t worried about it since.” Judy had a lot of faith or she wouldn’t have lived through that last year. She had been in a car accident and had her neck broke and had laid in the hospital for about 9 weeks strapped on to a board. When she turned over the board had to be turned over to. Then after coming home she had a head brace on for a really long time.
I would now like to tell you about a little experience I had on Feb 19-20 1977. I had been thinking about what I could say to our High Priests group on Sunday morning. I had been asked to teach the class and I receive from the spirit what I should say to the class. I talked to the brethren concerning the dry season we were going through, I said I had never seen a snow storm that had stayed on the ground as long as this one had. I told them I thought the Lord was saving this to wet the ground so the grain would sprout in the spring. If they agreed I asked the brethren to join in a prayer and ask the Lord to send us some moisture that we would raise a good crop and gardens this spring. The spirit of God was in our meeting and the next day we got a good rain. In 1945 we sold our house on the townsite and bought a farm consisting of 50 acres down by the Snake river on the Riverside highway, for $8,300. The home consisted of 4 rooms. After the crops were planted that spring we did some plumbing and got the water in the house. We didn’t have room for our family so we dug a basement 14x28, back of the house, cemented it all up and built two bedrooms and a bathroom and a back porch on the top floor. We put new shingles and aluminum siding on the old part as well as the new. We remodeled the old horse barn and built a new lounging shed for the cows. We planted russet potatoes early in the spring and started digging them in July. We sold them to the grocery stores and the restaurants. At fair time I delivered 40 sacks to the food stands. The potatoes were real good and I made $1,000 an acre that summer. We planted a new lawn, bushes, flowers and trees and set out raspberries and strawberries. Our gardens were always good and we had a flock of chickens that helped out with the food. On the farm north of the house there was a row of McIntosh apple trees. We pruned, sprayed and took good care of them and sold many bushels of apples. The windfalls we made into cider and one fall we sold 75 gallons to the state hospital for their Halloween party. Wayne Bird was our neighbor and he let us use his cider press. While we farmed this place we rented 40 acres close by. After farming this place for 4 years we decided to sell so we took a 40 acre farm in the Rose area on the place and he took over the Federal loan. With this money we paid down on a 30 acre farm, which was the old Atteberry place on the Groveland road. While living there, the first year, besides doing my own farming I worked with John Bailey on the old Burton place, which our ward was renting. I worked for the church 105 hours that summer. The next year Delos took over the farm and I spent my time working on the church we were building. We lived here for two years and then listed it for sale because we wanted more land. Heber and Lucy Wells came by one day and we had a good visit with them and they bought the place. We then bought a 40 acre farm from Doris Herbst on the tressel road. Our crops were good here and we did much to improve the place. We dug out trees, filled in ditches and had a carry-all in to level it up. We built a large potatoe cellar and hog pens. The lumber used for this was from the old church in Groveland. The man who tore it down sold us what we needed. We milked cows and raised chickens to help with our living. These were good years, our crops were usually good, prices weren’t too good but we got along. In the spring of 1956 I went to work at the state hospital south. When Delos got home from his mission in May of that year I turned the farm over to him. In March of 1957 we decided to build a new home across the lane from the old home. We had a basement dug on the 11th of May. I worked early in the mornings and after I came home at night. We got Lavon Elison to come and help us put up the rafters, and we did the rest ourselves except the cabinets. A man from the state hospital did the cabinets. We did all the painting with the help of the married girls, Shelda, Vonnie, and Gloria. We landscaped with plenty of trees, flowers and lawn. We moved in to the new house in August. We enjoyed it, but it never did seem like home, because none of the children had lived there with us. We lived there for four years and then when Delos and Judy and Robyn moved out of the old home and moved to Taber we moved in. In 1961 I retired and we lived in a trailer, near them on the farm. I helped with the farm work and we would come back in home for Sunday. It was enjoyable out there in the wide open spaces. The next year we lived in home and would drive out occasionally to help on the farm. The year of 1971 we sold our home there and bought one from Ray Harker in by the side of the Groveland church. We are happy to be in close to church and not far from town. We had a lot to do to make it more liveable. Every place we have lived we have remodeled, built on or improved in some way.
I had many experiences in the lavas. One time my brother Wilford and our cousin Latheal Seamons and I went for wood. We were up in the north of Cedar Crest. It snowed on us all the
first day. At night we had to build a good fire and dry out our clothes before going to bed. The next day was the same and that night it was so cold we didn’t take the harness’s off the horses. They helped to keep them warm. The next morning the snow was 18 inches deep and was crusted so you could walk on it anywhere. I just had 25 posts on my wagon but we started for home. The lead team would break the road for a little while and then we would have to trade and put the other team in the lead. It took us 5 hours to drive 12 miles. There was a sheep camp on this side of the lavas so we stopped there for dinner. We didn’t arrive home until 8 that night and mother had a good hot meal prepared which we really enjoyed.
In our early married life, one November, Stanley, my brother and a friend Wallace Lindsay and I took off for the lavas for wood. We went over on the west side of Cedar Crest. That morning was really nice but shortly the wind began to blow. There wasn’t any snow but the dust was flying and it was so miserable. We slept in a tent that night so was quite comfortable but the next morning the wind was blowing so hard we couldn’t get a fire going to get breakfast. So with a half load of wood and no breakfast we started for home. The dust was so bad we couldn’t see ahead of us so I tied the horses lines to the stokes and turned the horses loose, they could follow the road. We walked on the side of the wagon opposite the wind. We traveled to Katie’s fathers dry farm, we went in the house, built a fire in the range and got us something to eat and some socks and sweaters to keep out the cold. We started for home and reached there about 9 at night. Our families were so relieved and I was glad for a good team to get us safely home. This team was Zet and Babe. It happened the same day that Bro. Hickenlooper, Mike Johnson and Charles Packam went out for wood too. They worked on the other of Cedar Crest. At night the only protection they had from the terrible cold weather, was a canvas stretched from their wagon to a tree, the wind went right through. When morning came Bro. Hickenlooper was so cold he couldn’t dress himself. His hands were frozen when they go home.
One time years ago, when we celebrated the 24th of July we planned to have a home town band, members of the Groveland ward. I had a flat rack on my wagon so that is where the band rode. They played music and I drove all over Groveland. It was good music and we usually went at five in the morning waking people up as we drove around. I had a really good team then named Darky and Net. When the music started they would prance to keep time with the music. I also drove a bay team named Babe and Dell one fall in the fair parade. I pulled a float for Simplot company. I used to take my team of pulling horses to Shelley for Spud Day. This team was a pair of blacks named Prince and Duke. Mother and the kids went with me and we took a picnic lunch in a bushel basket. I guess this was our vacation of the year and we really enjoyed it.
Written by Dad at age 82 in April of 1977. Typed by Shelda E. Belnap

Horace A. Elison

Recorded by Reava E. Stevenson, daughter

Horace is Vonnie Elison Ellis’ Father

Perhaps the last time my father visited with us in Oregon, before he passed away, we talked about his childhood and growing up years before he and mother were married. These are some of the interesting things he told me. Thought maybe you would like to hear them, too.
You know he was born in Oakley, Idaho and lived there until he was five. He, with his uncle Hester Holt and Uncle Lewis Elison used to roast corn with the husks on over a bon fire. They used to walk a pole over a ditch as part of their play. He and Uncle Marv used to sleep under the kitchen table because the home was quite small. They liked to go to Grandma Holt's and eat crackers and jelly.
He was sent to school before he was 5 years old and they sat on wooden benches. He said he liked a little girl and wanted to sit by her and the teacher sent him home and he couldn't go back.
In March of 1900, just after Dad turned 5 in February, the family moved to Blackfoot, Idaho. They traveled with their belongings in a covered wagon and after three days, they arrived in Blackfoot. The town itself consisted of one grocery store, 2 hotels, one flour mill, 5 open saloons, and a yellow building called a railroad depot. There were hitching posts along Main Street because the mode of travel was horseback or wagon. In the winter time the streets would be filled with mud 18" to 20" deep and in the summer time, it turned to dust almost that deep.
Since the Ft. Hall Indian reservation was very near to Blackfoot, the Indians were always coming to the homes to beg for food and so Dad said he would throw a rock on the roof of the house and when it rolled down, the younger children thought it was the Indians.
Grandpa William Elison used to peddle fruits and vegetables to many areas, some so far away as Nevada. He would load up the wagon with fruits and vegetables and stop along the way and sell them to whoever would buy. On one trip to Nevada, one of the horses died, so Grandpa William held up the yoke and walked along beside the horse who pulled the wagon.
While the family lived in Blackfoot, Dad helped his father haul lava rocks to build home foundations and they hauled cedar wood to use in the burning of white adobes that were used to
build homes. The burning of the adobes would turn them red like bricks. Dad would help his father haul bricks, too. They had two horses named Barney and Rock. In the summertime, while they were yet in Blackfoot Dad, helped his father put up hay in lower Presto. One day Dad drove two cows from Presto to Blackfoot which is 15 miles. He found two fishing poles on the way, but had to drop them before he got home, because he was too tired to carry them any further. He was almost 6 or 7 years old at this time.
Grandma Elison taught Dad from Uncle Marv's reader. So when he started to school in the 1st grade, he could read as well as the 2nd graders, so he skipped 1st grade. Attended the 3rd grade, went to the 4th grade 3 days and was promoted to the 5th grade and stayed in the 5th grade until December 1907 when they moved to Groveland and he was 12 years old at the time. Attended the 7th grade and spent 4 years getting thru the 7th & 8th grades. He spent one mid-winter course at Blackfoot High School. That would mean he was 16 years old before he finished grade school, but he only went to school during the winter because in the spring they planted crops and in the fall time harvested them. Their schooling was pretty sporadic.
He was active in the church during this time and attended M.I.A. as we knew it then. He gave an oration in M.I.A. and won 1st place. The other contestant kicked up a fuss and they were asked to compete again. Dad felt too confident and felt he didn't have to pray for help. So the second time he did not place 1st. He found out, he related to me, "You have to have the spirit no matter how well you are prepared."
He met Mom when she came out to visit Dad's sister, Mary. They were good friends. Their first date occurred when he asked to take her home from a wedding reception. They dated steady for a year and then Mom set a date with another guy, so Dad decided to give up on her. Later they met at a dance and neither one came with a date. Dad decided to try again and she agreed to let him accompany her home. They began dating steady again and became engaged when Mom was 17. They were married in the Logan Temple November 15, 1916 when Mom was 19 and Dad was 21.
When Dad was talking to me at this time, he paused and said "I thought I loved Mom all that was possible, but that love has grown deeper and deeper through the years."
One date they had while courting, they drove to Gentile Valley in a buggy with Uncle Wilford and Aunt Amanda Seamons who were married. They stayed overnight with Grandpa and Grandma Seamons in Logan, Utah and slept in the same bed, all four of them. Uncle Wilford and Aunt Amanda slept in the middle and Mom slept on the outside beside Aunt Amanda and Dad on the other outside by Uncle Wilford. They must have been pretty crowded with no queen or king beds in those days.
Most of their courting dates were spent dancing and attending and participating in M.I.A. 3-act plays. I asked Dad how he and Mom celebrated Christmas after they were married and when money was so scarce. They had Ward Christmas parties on Christmas Eve and parents would bring a present for each of their children. They served doughnuts, honey, candy, and popcorn. No matter how scarce money was, they managed to always afford oranges, candy, and nuts to put in the children's stockings. They would string popcorn and make paper chains to decorate the Christmas tree. They had silver and gold tinsel later and candles in holders that they would only burn for a little while. A homemade star was on the top of the tree.
Christmas dinner usually consisted of chicken and dressing, or roast pork, potatoes and gravy, suet puddings or squash pie. Later years celery was obtainable and other variety of foods.
So we have Reava to thank for this info about the "early" days. Wilf found this after her passing and typed it from her notes that was found while going through many of the wonderful things my good wife saved.
P.S. One Christmas when Mother was a girl she only got an orange and a nickel in her stocking, but was grateful for that. Her mother had gone to help care for her father, Grandpa Seamons. One of Horace and Katie's Mission experiences In the New England States November 5, 1962 to May 24,1963
Administration of Sister Blanding - Dad felt such a strong spirit and Sister Blanding said she felt the spirit of the Lord leave Dad's hands and go into her body. It was a wonderful experience and Dad said he had never felt the spirit of the Lord stronger.
One sacrament meeting Dad was asked to talk about confirmation. As he sat on the stand he prayed to know what to say. When he spoke he felt like he was standing above the floor. Sister Urban told Dad after word that if her son could hear Dad talk he would be converted.
Dad spent one whole day with him, and then sent the missionaries to him because Dad and Mom were to come home. After Dad and Mom were home 3 months, Dana & Jean Urban joined the church and they came out to Idaho and went through the Idaho Falls Temple. They stayed with Dad and Mom. Before they went to the Temple Dad gave them a blessing and he said the spirit of the Lord was here in rich abundance.

THE COURTSHIP OF HORACE AND KATIE

A MAN, A WOMAN
BOTH VERY YOUNG
THEY MET AT CHURCH
TOGETHER THEY HAD LOTS OF FUN
THEN THEY STARTED COURTING
HE HAD HER ON THE RUN.
BUT HORACE HAD ON HIS TENNIS SHOES
AND HE KNEW IT WAS KATIE HE WANTED
SO HE CAUGHT HER FAST
AND HELD ON TIGHT
AND OL'E HORACE WAS SO SURPRISED
WHEN KATIE DIDN'T EVEN PUT UP A FIGHT.
SO MARRIED WERE THEY
JUST A FEW YEARS AGO
ON A COLD NOVEMBER DAY
AND THEIR LIFE TOGETHER HAD STARTED
SEALED TOGETHER FOR ETERNITY
NEVER AGAIN TO BE PARTED
MARRIED LIFE WAS FUN
BUT THEY WERE JUST A BIT LONELY
THEN THEY HAD A LITTLE BOY
AND FOUND A LOVE THAT JUST WOULDN'T QUIT
SO THEY HAD EIGHT MORE CHILDREN
AFTER JUST A BIT.
SO AFTER THREE BOYS AND SIX GIRLS
THEIR LIVES WERE FILLED WITH JOY
THEY HAD SO MUCH
WITHOUT REALLY HAVING A LOT
THEY HAD LOVE TO TAKE THEM THROUGH THE YEARS.
NOW AS THE YEARS ZOOM FAST
WE MEET ONCE A YEAR JUST TO SAY HI
AROUND THE CAMPFIRE WE CATCH UP ON THE LATEST
AND REMINISE OF THE TIMES PAST
THEN GRANDPA LEANS OVER AND PATS GRANDMAS KNEE
AND SAYS, "MOTHER, THIS IS OUR ETERNAL GLORY".
LORI KAE BELNAP
.

Beth
She opened her book,
Picked up her pen,
and began life.
Onward and forward she went,
Never looking back,
And never erasing.
Page after page she filled,
Completing each one,
Before hurrying on to the next.
Filling them full of stories,
Of riding horses with Grandpa,
And traveling with Ruth.
So full of energy and ambition,
But always a quick hug,
And a smile for others.
Always ready to do the impossible,
With never a doubt,
That it couldn’t be done.
Never waiting for life
To come and find her,
She went looking for it.
But hearing the call from above,
She quickly ended the chapter,
And silently closed the book.
Lori Kae Belnap (Bair)
Niece

History of Beth Elison (Stringham)

Beth is Vonnie Elison Ellis’ Sister



Beth was born June 3, 1922, in Blackfoot (Groveland), Bingham County, Idaho, in a small frame house, about two blocks from the schoolhouse on the Groveland townsite. She was the third child of Horace Andrew and Katie Louisa Hale Elison, having an older brother, George Andrew who died as a baby at the age of nine months, on Oct. 16, 1918, and an older sister, Reava, who married Wilford S. Stevenson, Jr. She had the following younger brothers and sisters, Shelda who married Lyle E. Belnap, Rolland J. who married Leah Williams, Vonnie Mae who married Merthan G. Ellis, Katie Marie who married Marlowe Gardner and later R. Neil Baird, W. Delos who married Judy Ostegar, and Gloria Kae who married Don. C. Carter.

Beth was blessed July 2, 1922 by Andrew C. Jensen. She was baptized June 3, 1930 and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by her father, Horace Andrew Elison. This was her eighth birthday. Andrew C. Jensen was the father of the Bishop at this time and had been the Stake Patriarch.
Beth was happy that she could be baptized and confirmed by her father, because in times past the Bishops did not always allow worthy fathers this privilege.
When Beth was five or six, she and her sister, Reava used to sing together and whenever their Grandpa William Elison came to visit or they to his place, he would asked them to sing for him. One time before Sacrament meeting, he told them he would give them each a nickel if they would sing in that meeting, but they were too frightened even for a nickel, which would buy a big candy bar in those days.
Being a member of a large family, there was always plenty to do and as she grew older, joined in the work assignments and the fun activities. Beth loved to be outdoors and enjoyed working with the animals, especially the horses, more than doing household chores. She spent many hours helping her father with the farm duties, driving the horses on the wagon or other farm equipment and handled a team with expertise. These were pre-tractor days. She especially enjoyed horse-back riding and could ride with the best of them. After she left home, whenever she returned for a visit, she would go for a long horseback ride with her father or her brother, Delos.
When she was eight and a half years old, she helped Reava who was 11 and Rolland who was 5 with the cows and horses night and morning for several weeks, when her father lost his thumb and forefinger in a electric saw accident. Their mother helped them, too, until a neighbor took over until their father was able to resume those duties again.
Beth used to go to the lavas with her father and Rolland and Reava and help him get loads of cedar wood for the family use or to sell to help the family finances. When her father leased land to farm, she and Reava would thin beets behind their father as he blocked the beets. One field the worked in had gravel soil and their mother made heavy paddings for their knees since thinning beets meant they spent most of the time on their knees to get the job done. When she was older, she worked on her own thinning beets to help with the family’s needs. She was seven years old when the depression hit and was the recipient of the beautiful coasts and dresses her mother made over from larger dresses and coats given to her by friends, who no longer had children to use them. Her mother would take them apart and remodel them for the girl’s needs. Her first store bought coat was blue with a gray and white curly fur fabric on the collar and cuffs, and she wore it like a princess. Even though times were hard, the family never went without the necessities of life, and all their friends were struggling as they were during these times.
In her younger years, Beth’s summers were spent helping the family dry corn and apples, weeding the garden, canning fruits and vegetables. Any spare time, she enjoyed playing ball, swimming, and climbing trees.
She attended elementary school in Groveland, living there, except for four years in McDonaldville, until she graduated from high school in 1940. She was a good student, but athletics brought her the greatest enjoyment. She could outjump any boy in grade school, could run like a deer and play baseball and basketball like a pro. She brought home many firsts at school track meets. She played three years on the Groveland Elementary basketball team and they were county champions for 3 years and remained undefeated in all games played for 4 years, only to be defeated by one point in the championship game of the 4th year.
She was the best forward in the entire Bingham County. She always had the support of her parents during this time. Whenever the ball games were played in Groveland, after school most of the ball team would come to Beth’s home and her mother would prepare tomato soup or something light for them and they would rest until the games were to be played. Her parents would travel on the bus with the team when the games were out of town and during half time would rub her legs with alcohol to keep them in shape for the second half. Beth could have been a great player and could have gone far, if the schools at that time had not prohibited competition between schools in girl’s basketball and other sports in high school.
She did, however, play on what was called the Wapello-Blackfoot Softball team. They played teams from all over southern Idaho. A report from one newspaper read like this:
“Another score that will be well received in Blackfoot was the 11-8 victory of the Wapello-Blackfoot Softball Girls over the Idaho Falls Girls’ team. Reports from the northern city say that Beth Elison pitched a remarkably fine game and every player worked so hard at the plate that the Idaho Falls pitcher could not get credit for a single strikeout.”
While still in elementary school, she participated in many programs and was in the chorus of the operetta, Snow White, when in the 6th grade. She was like by all, had a good sense of humor, and loved to tease and kid people. Many of the boys envied her athletic prowess.
She participated in 4-H club and in church activities. When she was a Beehive girl in the Mutual program, she chose a wild rose as her symbol, which means great sense of humor and she indeed had that all of her life. She had a part in the opera, Martha, presented by the MIA, and participated in dramas, being the drama director for a couple of years and enjoyed it. She had a gift of helping people to do their best at whatever they attempted.
Many dances were sponsored by the M.I.A., some were held after Mutual during the week and others on Saturdays. This was before television and the other more recent ways to be entertained. If the girls weren’t asked to dance, they would dance together and Beth would teach some of them how to dance. Her second cousin, Delsa Barrus Campbell, credits Beth in teaching her the various dance steps.
While in high school, she availed herself of the seminary program and graduated from it in 1939. After graduating from high school in 1940, Beth sought work to maintain herself and moved to Blackfoot which was four miles from Groveland, but without a car, could be quite a long walk to work in Blackfoot. Perhaps her first job was at the Don Smith Dairy and then at Carl’s Barbecue. During the World War II years, she worked in Pocatello, Idaho as an airplane mechanic at Hickin Air Force Base. Later she moved to Ogden, Utah where she drove a bus for the Ogden City Bus Lines. She then moved to Portland, Oregon for awhile where she managed a Standard Oil Station. She was not afraid to go it on her own and had a sense of adventure in her and would tackle many a job that most girls would not try.
Sometime during these moves, she met Haven. J. Stringham and they were married at the home of her parents in Groveland on June 25, 1942. She had just had her tonsils removed and was not feeling her best. This marriage proved to be an unhappy situation for both and after several months in California where he was stationed, they separated and were later divorced. Not being too sure of the facts, but feeling it might have been this way, Beth stayed in California for awhile and lived with her cousin, Ora Latimer. Choosing to remain in California, she moved to San Francisco and with the war still going on, she drove a limousine for the Officers in the U.S. Marine Corp from the airport to Treasure Island where the Marines were based. She had the privilege of being chauffeur for Harry Truman once in the limousine. She also drove trucks and heavy equipment in convoy for the Marines. She received a safety award for her driving.
During her stay in San Francisco, she played on a girls’ softball fast pitch team in a city league. The team was managed by Joe Domaigio’s brother, who they called Dob. She injured her knee while playing, which forced her to cease playing for awhile, so she then managed a soft ball team in San Francisco.
Desiring to get away from the pressures and rush of a large city, she moved to Vallejo, California where she worked at the Benecia Arsenal where she made lens for rifles for the army. This was in 1950-51 and at the time, the Eldridge family lived next door. They had a daughter, Marguerite, who was better known as Maggie. She and Beth became good friends and later Maggie’s father became quite ill and her parents decided to move to Salt Lake City, Utah. Beth helped them make this move and stayed in Salt Lake only a short time because of a slow job market. She and Maggie returned to California and settled in Oroville, where Maggie’s sister, Pauline, lived. Here Maggie and Beth shared an apartment. Beth began working in a bakery and then as a desk clerk at the Oroville Inn and then for the Oroville Conservation Service office. In 1956-57, Beth started working for the Butte County library with the bookmobile, “the library on wheels”, when it first began. The bookmobile holds approximately 2000 books, most of which Beth knew much about, so she could recommend reading material for old and young alike. Part of her route took her to the golden Oaks Mobile Estates, a senior citizen complex. She spent time here helping them to select books, reading to those whose eyes were dim. She loved her work and enjoyed being of service to others, going the second mile for them. She worked for the Butte County Library for 11 years and received a certificate of honor in appreciation of 10 years driving without an accident. She also received an award pin. It was during this time also that she received a bracelet from the Grey Lodge Bunch with two charms attached to it. One was heart shaped and read “First in our hearts,” Grey Lodge Bunch. The second one was round and printed on it was “Thanks from the Grey Lodge Bunch” on one side and on the other side “For 10 years of service.”
In 1969, after 11 years of library service Beth moved to Pacifica where she met Ruth Moore. They became friends and shared an apartment there. While here, Beth worked as a clerk in a department store, having to do with shipping and receiving. It was here that Beth received a call from Joe Moore Becker telling her of a job in Vallejo as a bookmobile driver in Solano County. So in 1970-71, they made the move to Vallejo and Beth was again enjoying the work she liked best. For 5 years she lived here and suffered two very serious operations. In 1974, she was diagnosed as having a large tumor outside her stomach near the ovary. When removed, it proved to be cancerous. While being taken, it ruptured sending fluids around the other organs. The fluids were suctioned out and thought to be sufficient to stop the growth of future cancer cells. When she returned from the hospital, her sisters Shelda and Gloria flew down and stayed with her almost a week. This visit meant so much to her and her sisters. They got to know her better and to understand her feelings about life. In time Beth recovered and was able to resume her work at the library.
In the summer of 1975, Beth’s parents had scheduled a family reunion in Idaho and Beth had plans to attend. Just prior to this time, her father had had a postrate gland operation and had developed pneumonia. This same week, her sister-in-law, Judy Elison was involved in a car accident and broke her neck and two of her boys were injured with cuts and bruises. On Beth’s trip to Idaho, she and Ruth got as far as Fallon, Nevada, where Beth became very ill. There was no doctor there, so they drove on to Reno. The doctor there seemed to be more interested in her past history than her present pain, so Ruth drove back to Grass Valley and leaving the trailer there, drove on to Vallejo and directly to Kaiser hospital. Tests were run and not finding anything significant, she was sent home. When she could no longer endure the pain, Dr. Holister did an exploratory surgery and found her appendix in a large mass in her back area instead of the usual place. Because her appendix had ruptured, peritonitis developed. She hovered between life and death for several days and when she was at her lowest ebb, she related how Grandma Elison, who had passed on, came to her and Beth wanted to go with her, but Grandma told her, “Not now, child.” After much suffering and great patience, and many prayers from herself and Ruth and her family, she was blessed to recover. She had great faith in God and testifies that without this faith, she could not have endured three major operations in three years. While still working at the library, she moved to Fairfield, in 1976, which was still within Solano County and at this time, Beth was made supervisor over all Bookmobile units of that county. A new library was being designed and built in Fairfield. She designed the west end of the library, so the Bookmobile units could drive in one end and out the opposite end, instead of having to back in to receive their books.
While in Fairfield, she had a beautiful garden of vegetables and flowers. Beth enjoyed working with soil, and seeing things grow. She and Ruth worked toward having a year’s supply of food and commodities. Almost every place Beth lived, if there was soil available to her, she would see that it was used to produce flowers and food. Beth loved to oil paint and sketch. She would visit the ocean and beaches, combing them for driftwood and shells, that she would fashion into centerpieces, candle holders, and wind chimes. Many hours she spent in the mountains, appreciating nature and searching for wild flowers. She had a deep gratitude for God’s handiwork.
She was an avid reader and read some or scanned through countless books, so she could sincerely recommend them to her patrons. When she had the responsibility of ordering books, she had to be perceptive as she read the review to know from that limited reference, what books would be best to order. She was knowledgeable in many different subjects that made conversation with her interesting. While at Fairfield, she made the rounds of the rest homes, serving the elderly, helping them to choose books and taking extra time to be with them. They would reward her service with pies, cakes, bread and even casseroles. She would tell them, mostly widows, they couldn’t afford to do that on their limited income, but their reply was they wanted to spend their money that way because they loved to have her come.
In 1977, she underwent another operation. Scar tissue and adhesions had developed as a result of her 1974 surgery, and they had to be removed. Once again her faith and that of others healed and restored her body to health, through the skill of doctors and blessings from God. This third operation could have gotten her down, but she still held to her spirit of courage and faith and made it through. Even though her family was far away, she always felt their love and faith and support across the miles.
She remained as Supervisor of all the Bookmobiles in Solano County until July 1978. When Proposition 13 went through, the legislature, cutting property taxes to 1% she lost her job because of cut backs the library had to make to survive. When the library was forced to reduce its employees, they didn’t want to lose Beth because she was one of their most valued employees, but because she didn’t have a library degree, others of less value were retained because they had college degrees. This seems unfair, but that’s the way the system works and it hurts, as it did Beth.
Ruth was from Missouri and they had made a trip back to her home the spring of 1977 to visit her family and they both enjoyed the country and had given some thought of moving there. So in July of 1978, they decided to make the move after Beth lost her job. They stayed at Ruth’s brothers in Missouri until they found a place to live. Ruth found a job keeping books, but Beth never found a decent job. The climate did not agree with them and they had health problems, forcing them to make another change. In October of 1978, they headed back to California, after stopping in Idaho a few days. They lived in Oroville for a short time, where Beth went back to the Butte County library on a Cancer Educational Training Assoc. grant, but this was only a temporary job. They moved on to Redding, Calif., where Beth could get some training in Graphic arts. After she finished that training, there were no jobs to be had in Redding, Calif., so they moved to Redwood City, where they felt jobs might be a little more plentiful. Here she worked at Del Ray Productions. Long hours were required where she worked hard leaning over setting type and doing different things that demanded all her creative talents. She worked here from August 1979 until March 21, 1980.
On August 4, 1979, Beth and Ruth traveled to the Oakland Temple to meet Reava and Wilf and their family who was gathered there for the wedding of Perry and DanaLee Stevenson. They visited for several hours, first on the temple grounds and then at the wedding dinner. What a great reunion that was since Beth had not seen their children for many years. In retrospect, it meant more to them than they fully realized at the time, since Beth left this life nine months later. They were the last family to be with her except for Perry and DanaLee’s visit with her in Redwood City at Christmas time of 1979.
Near the end of March 1980, she had developed two lumps just below her collar bone and the xrays revealed two spots on the bone. She had been suffering more pain than she could hardly endure and this necessitated her quitting work. She was scheduled for a bone scan on April 7th. But this was not to be for on April 6th, Easter Sunday morning early, she was in so much pain and had difficulty breathing, Ruth called an ambulance and they rushed her to the Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City, where she passed away at 5:50 am of a heart attack. She had suffered so much pain for many years and it had gotten increasingly worse and that perhaps triggered the heart attack, which was a blessing, rather than to have suffered more and longer with the pain of cancer. Beth knew when they took her to the hospital that her time had come, for she told Ruth to please take her home to Idaho. She passed away on Easter Sunday and that would be significant to her because she knew there was life after death and that she would live again in the flesh upon resurrection day. Ruth abided by her wishes and her body was brought back to Idaho for funeral services and burial in Groveland.
She had spent 19 years in library work constantly serving the public and meeting their reading needs. She especially enjoyed helping the underprivileged children to get excited about reading and gaining knowledge. Whenever they came to meet the bookmobile, she always gave them candy along with their books. One day a little black boy grabbed ahold of her and said, “Hey Lady, have you got any books about snakes?” She enjoyed being with children, especially her nieces and nephews. They thought she was ageless, because she would run races with them and have grass fights on the lawn. She had many friends who loved and supported her as she did them. When she passed away, among the many cards and notes sent to her parents, was a card and check from the Solano County library expressing sympathy for the loss of a daughter and their loss of a very dear friend.
Beth had other talents in addition to her painting and creating things, she had written a children’s book, but had not perfected it yet. She wrote poetry and enjoyed reading it. Her mother has the original copy of this poem composed by Beth.
Thanksgiving
Dear Lord, we thank thee on this day of days,
For the blessings we have enjoyed of thy holy ways.
For leading us on righteous paths
And checking on us while in our wrath.
We’re thankful for our heritage
That was given us at birth.
The strife our forefathers suffered,
So that we may have joy and mirth.
They came forth to this new country,
So they could worship God at will
And weathered hardships, work and saved,
To give us that privilege still.
Now we are the future leaders
Of this great blessed earth.
Dear Lord, help us deserve the praise
Of our heritage at birth.
Two other poems found in her possessions might have been written by her, but not being sure, at least they were an inspiration to her.
Results and Roses
The man who wants a garden fair,
One small or very big
With flowers growing here and there
Must bend his back and dig.
The things are mighty few on earth
That wishes can attain.
Whate’er we want of any worth
We have to work to gain.
Life
Life is a gift to be used every day,
Not to be smothered or hidden away.
It isn’t a thing to be stored in a chest,
When you gather your keepsakes and treasure your best,
It isn’t a joy to partake of now and then,
And promptly put back in a dark place again. Beth loved her family and whenever her parents or brothers and sisters came to visit her, she was the ideal hostess. She always made her guests feel welcome and took time to show them the interesting sites in the area. She made trips home as often as possible and in between these visits, would keep in touch by letters and phone calls.
On June 9, 1981, her temple endowment was done by proxy by her mother, Katie Louisa Elison in the Idaho Falls Temple.
This history is sketchy at best because it wasn’t written by Beth herself, but at least it might help those who read it to have a little more insight into her life and the fine person that she is.
To conclude this history, it seems fitting to record some thoughts expressed by those who spoke at her funeral, April 10, 1980.
Three words that were most important to Beth were prayer, family, and friends. She had a faith so strong that she knew no fear and that faith gave her the courage to walk into the darkness and she knew God would be with her. Her family meant everything to her and each time she called any of them she would end the conversation with my faith and prayers and always with you. The last visit of her parents to Fairfield before she left for work, she would go to their bedroom and ask them to not have family morning prayers until she came home at noon and could join with them. She possessed great courage, integrity and wasn’t afraid of hard work. She had a deep desire for learning and to try new ideas. She looked for the good in everyone and this attitude drew many friends to her. She cherished little things and simple courtesies meant so much to her. She may not have appeared religious, but she lived closer to our Heavenly Father than most of us know. She was stately in life as well as in death and according to God’s plan, she is now busy in another sphere preparing books for the library, preparing flowers in the garden, and seeing that the ball parks are ready for the games to be played.