Saturday, July 18, 2009
8-Room School House
Caribou county schools were consolidated and my
fourth grade was uptown in Grace, Idaho. I rode the
school bus. My teacher was Matilda Anderson. I remember well the bus rides to and from school.
The boys usually sat at the back of the bus and the girls in the front. The
high school age kids got the very back seats. One of the buses was a short,
little one we
called it the “Puddle Jumper”. It was the only bus that
could easily make the curves in the winding road that climbed to the top of
the hill in the ravine we called Sleepy Hollow. One day we wrecked coming
around one of the curves. No one was seriously hurt.
I used to catch the bus at the porch of the quarters building, the building where
employees would stay while they were there to overhaul the generators at the
plant. I remember a lot of bus rides in the wintertime and how the wind blew
and the snow would drift. There were big wooden-slat fences in
the fields,
parallel to the roads, so the snow would drift against the fence, trying to keep
the snow from drifting onto the roads.
There are three things I remember well about fourth grade: 1) A sign on the
wall that read “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”; 2) Winning the second
prize in the declamation contest April 1, 1949, by memorizing and reciting “The Gingham Dog and
the Calico Cat” (The room mothers presented me with Edgar A. Guest’s Rhymes of Childhood); and
3) Mrs. Anderson almost always, before writing on the blackboard, rolling the end of the chalk stick
on her tongue. She did that throughout whatever she was writing; it made the chalk wet and in turn
made what she was writing heavier and whiter on the board. As the writing became fainter, she
would lick the chalk again. She had beautiful handwriting and I loved to watch the letters and words
appear on the blackboard. I love to write with beautiful penmanship because of her, even though I
donI continued my fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades uptown in Grace, Idaho. My teachers were,
respectively, Beth Waldron, Frank Taylor, Mrs. Bassett, and J. Stanley Harrison.
In miss Waldron’s class I remember, before class work began, we always stood, put our hands over
our hearts, and repeated aloud the Pledge of Allegiance. We also had prayer each morning, then she
would read aloud a chapter of a book. These things happened every morning of each school day.
Miss Waldron was a tiny, petite person and I saw her from time
to time in later years in the Salt Lake
Temple and in Z.C.M.I. department store.
I remember Mrs. Bassett getting after me because she thought I had been running through the room
and hallway, which created a circle passageway perfect to do just such a thing. I really hadn’t and it
made me mad, so I sassed her. She pulled my ear and then I sassed her again and tore off to catch
the bus. I thought I was ‘big’ for doing that and it would win favor with the other kids as well. Even
if I was right, I knew I had no right to treat her that way and it was no way to get attention from
others.
Mr. Taylor owned and operated the Spudnut Shop in town, a favorite place for teenagers. I
remember more about the Spudnut Shop than about his class. I do, however, remember well going
through the lunch line. I always liked the school’s lunches and hoped the lunch ladies would give
me big portions. I remember especially how the honey and the peanut butter would be mixed or
whipped together. At recesses I liked to play hopscotch, jump the rope, jacks and marbles, climb on
the tricky bars, and play tetherball. I shied away from contact sports and activities.t all of the time because I am in too much of a hurry.Our grade school was a two-story building with a
basement. The main and second floor each had
four classrooms – one in each corner with the
center of the building open and a big, wide
staircase on the east and west sides that went
between the two floors. Each of the classrooms
had a hallway to hang coats and put our winter
boots.
The basement housed the furnace and boiler, as
well as a small, comfortable apartment for the
custodian, Freddy Greenwood. It was fun to
sneak down there and visit with Freddy. He was a nice, sweet man and he loved us kids. I liked him
too. He was from England and I liked his accent. He was also the Grace 1st ward clerk and his
signature is on some of my certificates of ordination.
I remember was sitting at the lunch table and Mr. Harrison sitting with us at our table. We had
soup that day. Somebody had loosened the cap on the saltshaker and it happened to be Mr. Harrison
that used the salt next in his bowl of soup. All of a sudden that prank wasn’t funny anymore. Mr.
Harrison was from England and a very proper man. His penmanship was beautiful and almost like
calligraphy. He was also our art teacher. I was proud of my RSH monogram he helped me do for an
art assignment in shading with a pencil. He wrote a book, of which I have a copy, titled This Way
but Once.
I had great respect for him. He was well read and displayed a lot of wisdom. He also taught an adult
Sunday school class in our ward.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
One Room School Houses
Written 10 Feb 1982
I started first grade, not having attended a kindergarten, at the one-room little grey schoolhouse at
Utah and Power and Light Company’s Oneida plant. The schoolhouse consisted of two rooms; two
chalk boards, a clock, an American flag and a picture of George Washington. There were 6 rows of
desks, one row for each of the first six grades.
The schoolteachers lived in a cottage next to the school. Their names were Lale G. Gailey and Adria
K. Forsgren. Each row of desks was a grade and so the teacher taught several grades
simultaneously. We learned more that way because we heard what was going on in the other
classes.
My second grade was at the same one-room schoolhouse at Oneida plant. My teacher’s name was
Della Atkinson. I remember finishing my work early and doing third grade work as well, with Kent
Backman. I would slide over into his seat and do the same work he was given. When the end of the
year came I was promoted to the fourth grade. I remember playing tag at recess and also climbing
out of the school windows.
The third grade was also at a oneroom
school, which was close to the
Utah Power and Light Company’s
Grace plant. It was called the
Telluride school. My teachers were
Connie T. McGregor and Mildred
Ashbaker. Mrs. McGregor had to quit
during the year because she had breast
cancer. We were sad.
Neil Ashbaker was one of my friends
and it was his mom who took Mrs.
McGregor’s place. She was also
nice. The schoolhouse was brick and
I still have one of the bricks from that schoolhouse, when it was torn down years later, and the brick
is now a welcome sign at our back door. I remember playing marbles, swinging high on the swings
and eating my sack lunch, sitting on the roof of the cellar that led to the coal bin.
In spite of my promotion to the fourth grade at Oneida, the teacher and my
parents determined that skipping a grade would not be in my best interest,
nor would it help to be with older kids rather than with my peers. I
remember starting out as a fourth grader at Telluride and being the only one
in that row of desks, as well as having a difficult time with geography. And
so I went back where I belonged…the third grade.
Memories of a Christmas and one of mom's projects
Mother always made things fun and better for us kids. We had a lot of fun helping her make a picnic-playground area in the back of our house.
A 1952 Birthday Party!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
The Story of my People - Leola Grace Scott Ferris
LEOLA GRACE SCOTT FERRIS
The Story of My Life and My People
Dictated by Grace Leola Scott Ferris
Spring of 1966
My parents were George Lawson Scott and Josephine Streeper Grow. They lived on Highland Drive, beyond 33rd South, on the opposite side of Wasatch Memorial Cemetery, in south Salt Lake City, Utah.
My father had a blacksmith shop near the home and he worked there a number of years for himself. Then he went to work for Germania Smelter in Murray; he drove back and forth to work. He was a heavy-set man with a very pleasant disposition and was kind. All of the children loved father and he was well liked by friends and neighbors.
Dad was “leaded” and had to quit the smelter. He sold the home and we moved on the north side of the cemetery. He had a blacksmith shop there until 1903. Dad died of pneumonia 3 January 1903. He was buried in the Elysian Garden in Salt Lake County.
My parents always attended church at the old Millcreek Ward about 39th South and 6th East. Dad was secretary of the Elders’ Quorum for years. He would take his books with him, and attend quorum meeting on his way home from work. Father always honored his priesthood. On different occasions we were administered to in times of sickness. When the ward teachers came to our home, father would say, “The house is in your hands.” We would have a song, and have prayer (we would stand up and pray). The teachers would give their message, and then they would ask each of us to bear our testimony each time they came to our home.
Our home was always a happy place. Father was strict in his training, but he was never mean to his family. Father loved to whistle. He sang one song about a little pig that I shall always remember. Mother read to us many times at bedtime. Mother never took an active part in church affairs until after father died.
My brothers and sisters were as follows: 1) George Grow, born 28 April 1871, died 2 November 1931; 2) John Lawson, born 26 March 1873, died 29 December 1924; 3) William Douglas, born 8 March 1875, died January 1879; 4) Josephine, born 14 October 1877, died 19 June 1913; 5) Earnest Easton (“Ern”), born 14 November 1880, died 27 April 1948; 6) Leola Grace(?) (myself), born 19 January 1885, died 19 October 1972; 7) Albert Adis, born 19 December 1888, died 12 March 1966; 8) Rulon Stephen, born 12 October 1892, died 2 October 1933.
We can’t find any records about my brother William. Mother said he was buried in the South Cottonwood, now the Murray Cemetery. We should check in the city recorder’s office in Murray on this.
My father’s parents were Ellen Easton and John Scott. Grandfather Scott came from Northumberland in Great Britain. He worked in the coalmines in Philadelphia. He was killed in a mine accident there, and his widow and one child came west.
My grandmother came with the Captain John Smith ox train. She later married William Douglas who was a blacksmith. My father learned the trade from him. Mother was seventeen when she was married. (This grandmother is Ann Elliott Veach).
My mother’s father was Henry Grow, Jr., who was born 1 October 1817. He was the youngest of seven children, five daughters and two sons. His grandfather emigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania before the American Revolution. This man, George Frederick Grow, fought in the Revolutionary War.
According to Edward W. Tullidge in his book The History of Salt Lake City and Its Founders, published 9 September 1889, the first convert of our family to the Church was Henry Grow, Junior. William Morton baptized him in the Delaware River, near Philadelphia, in May 1842. He emigrated to Nauvoo in March 1843.
(A book has been written called Tabernacle in the Desert by a professor of Brigham Young University, Spencer Grow, a grandson of Henry Grow, Jr.).
Grandpa Grow’s only living son is Pernell Grow, living in Sandy Utah (1966).
Henry Grow, Jr. This man was a bridge builder. I believe the following story about him is true. Brigham Young asked Henry Grow if he could plan a building to hold a certain number of people, which would resemble an umbrella in shape. He drew up plans for the Salt lake tabernacle. A man called Folsom claims he was the architect of the Tabernacle, but this is not true. It was built after the Remington style of bridge building, and Henry Grow, Jr., was the designer.
Henry Grow’s first wife was Mary Moyer; they had eight children. His second wife was a Mrs. Nancy Ann Elliott Veach. His Third wife was one of his own stepchildren, Julia Veach. They had fourteen children. “Aunt Julie” had a great sense of humor. She dressed very neatly. Her husband, Henry Grow, served time in the penitentiary during polygamy days for having marred another wife, Sara Rawlins. They didn’t have any children.
We hold a Grow reunion. It has been held for the past four or five years. Richard Grow, a great-grandson, is the president now.
Genealogy. My mother was very interested in genealogy. One of my aunts, Nellie Grow Forman (deceased) did some work, also. We haven’t been a very close family, and I don’t know very much about the family members. I don’t know what temple work has been done. (Very little research has been done – daughter).
I remember Grandpa Grow, mother’s father, visiting us when we lived on the hill by the cemetery. He walked with a cane. I remember talking with him. I never saw my mother’s mother, Ellen Easton Scott.
My mother was one of the first teachers of the “religion class” in Wilford Ward. This was a weekday religious class sponsored by the Church. I have a little sewing box or “memory box” which was made by mother’s counselors and teachers of the religion class. Their initials are embroidered on the lid. The note which is still in the box is signed by the following: A.T. Richens, Irene Saville, Ida Fredrickson, Eviline Horne, Irine Bailey, Edna M. Green, Wilhemine Pedersen, Ansine M. Peterson.
Here is a recipe for ‘dandy lion” wine, which I found among my keepsakes; it was a recipe of mother’s which I had written down. It might be interesting to you: 3 quarts dandy lion flowers, 4 quarts boiling water, 3 lb. sugar, 3 oranges, 3 lemons, put boiling water on flowers; let stand over night, strain, then stir in your sugar; slice your oranges and lemons and mix with the others; let stand fourteen days, then strain into bottles, but do not cork for five weeks.
I was taught to wash dishes, mix bread, make cakes and pies, and cook a regular meal. I could do this well before I was fourteen years of age. When mother had company, I would fix the lunch and then I could go to play.
We never could go anywhere until our work was done. We had to keep the house “spotless”. I used to like to read. When mother and dad would go to town with the horse and buggy, I would read until I thought it was nearly time for them to come home and then get busy and do my work.
I was never taught to sew. Mother sewed for her family and for other people. After my first two children were born, mother told me it was about time that I learned to sew. I had to learn the hard way—by myself. I sewed for my family – trousers and shirts for the boys and coats and dresses for the girls. I even made the under clothing from old “union suits”. Many time our wages were only about $75.00 per month, and I would have to make the money stretch for all our living expenses.
I had chickenpox, whooping cough, measles, and the usual childhood diseases. I had terrible, sick headaches during my teen years. My health improved after my first child was born.
I went to school, called the Old North School, on Highland Drive, near 39th South. I had to walk to school’ many times we walked home for lunch. It was an old-style school with two rooms, and a pot-bellied stove for heating. My first teacher was Nellie Cornwall; another was named Jesse Hoopes, and one was E.H. Drummond. Our closest neighbors were the Frederick Brown family. Their daughters were Ethyl, Florence, May and Rose. Ethyl and Florence were my playmates. The Budd Murphy family was our friends; they had a son Leslie.
I met my future husband while attending grade school. We were sweethearts during the last year of school. My brother would often tease me and say, Willie carried your books home today!” I passed eighth grade and attended L.D.S. Academy. William Sherman Ferris, Sr. and I were married 16 November 1904, in the Salt Lake Temple.
I had taken out my endowments just after my father’s death. My husband had to wait a year to get a recommend, so we could be married in the temple. A few months before our marriage, my husband’s mother died, after a serious cold or pneumonia. Will’s mother hadn’t wanted any thing to do with the Mormons. His father was a real “Gentile”.
My husband’s father was Franklin Samuel Ferris, born 12 January 1835, in Washtenaw County, Michigan; married 11 May 1874; died 21 January 1916, Salt Lake City, Utah. His mother was Celestia Dockstader, born 8 May 1858 in American Fork, Utah County, Utah, died 28 April 1904. His mother was a member of the L.D.S. Church but became inactive after her marriage.
William Sherman’s brothers and sister included: 1) Bertha Sevira, born 31 January 1875 in Cedar Fort, Utah, died 14 August 1879; and the following born in Salt Lake City: 2) George Franklin, born 30 January 1880, died 18 May 1898; 3) Cyrus, born 26 December 1881, died same date; 4) Herbert and 5) Hubert (twins) born 23 September 1883; Herbert died the same day, and Hubert died 20 October 1883; 6) William Sherman (my husband) born 4 January 1885; 7) Winfield, born 23 May 1887 (married Alberta Barton), died 29 September 1933; 8) Ella Charlotte, born 21 April 1893 (married George Raymond Fox), died 23 May 1957.
My mother was a widow, and we stayed with her a while after our marriage. Before Josephine, was born, we moved to Waterloo Ward where we lived about a year. Our first child, Josephine, was born 8 November 1905. Then we moved to Sugarhouse, where we lived on 11th East. Josephine was blessed in Wilford Ward. (Old Millcreek ward was divided into Wilford and Winder Wards).
My husband and I moved next to Emerson Ward in 1907 for about a year, and then back to Sugarhouse ward.
Our second daughter was born in mother’s home in Wilford Ward; she was named Grace, and was born 2 October 1907.
Our third child, William Sherman jr., was also born in mother’s home on February 19, 1910.
We moved to Sugarhouse into our own home behind the Sugarhouse Planning Mill (back of the present post office). We then moved to a home behind the old Sugarhouse Church (later Irving School was built here). George was born 1 April 1912, and Ellen was Born 22 November 1913 in this home.
My sister, Josephine Scott Brighton, lived near us.
Next, we moved back out to mother’s place for a few months. When Ellen was eight months old, we left for Blackfoot, Idaho. We were to stay with my brother “Ern” on the farm. We were there almost a year when Ern and his family moved out. My husband worked for the Idaho Sugar Company, and then for the telephone company.
My brother had moved to Wapello Ward (north of Blackfoot). We moved out there. My husband was away from home a great deal at this time.
On October 3, 1916, our daughter Jessie was born. We had sent for mother. Will applied for a job at the Railroad. He met mother on the train, and they rode home together. Jessie was born before they arrived. I had a doctor from Blackfoot. Jessie was born in Wapello. This is a rural route north of Blackfoot. The doctor put Blackfoot on the birth certificate, which read “female child” and is now corrected so she has her name.
My husband got a job at Montpelier. I wanted to go up there to live, but “Will said we couldn’t find a place to live. Then, one of the councilmen of the town let us live in his home until we could find another place. We were very poor; we didn’t have money to pay rent. The store manager there was bishop of the ward. We signed over our first check in order to get groceries.
The next year there was a railroad car of peaches condemned, and I got five bushels of peaches. I was busy bottling them when the Primary President came and asked me to work in the Primary. I accepted rather reluctantly.
In 1919 we had the severe flu that was going around. I was never quite the same in health after that.
We had lots of friends, and attended church regularly. We were happy there. We lived in Montpelier six years, living in a different house each year.
We moved to Nampa next. I went to Relief Society often and helped quilt. I worked in the Primary. After awhile I was asked to be President of the Boise Stake Primary. I acted in this capacity for about a year and a half. I enjoyed the work and was learning a lot.
We moved to Salt Lake in 1924. We rented a home on 3rd East and returned to Nampa in 1929, staying until 1931, when we returned to Salt Lake City.
We bought a place on 5th East between 1st and 2nd South. Jobs were scarce. We went to the Welfare to get a sack of flour. They asked so many questions that my husband became angry and walked out without the flour. We managed somehow. Josephine and her two children came to rent and board with us. They rented upstairs.
Will got a job with the State Road Commission. Later, we sold our home and moved to 33rd South and 8th West and bought a home.
I was so disappointed about leaving Nampa that I didn’t go to church for a year. We moved back to 8th East and 17th South in Richard Ward. I started going to Relief Society where I helped with the quilts all the time I was there.
I worked in the Whittier Ward Primary on 3rd East and Harrison Avenue for many years.
In 1942 we moved to Cudahy Lane and Highway 91. Later we bought a place on Orchard Drive, south of the Val Verda Arch, where we lived for several years. Next, we lived in Hillside Garden, where we owned a home. We have only rented twice in our life. My husband would buy a home and fix it up, and then sell it.
In 1952 we moved to our present home at 1577 South 2nd West, Bountiful, Utah. Will was away from home most of the time, and I had the orchard work to do. We had three and half acres of orchard on Sycamore Lane to care for. Our son George bought the orchard on Highway 91. We lived in the home on the property while building a new home.
We never stayed long enough in one place for me to make really close friends. I always stayed home with my family while they were growing up.
Grace Porter was my friend and neighbor after we moved on 2nd West. I have been active in Relief Society since living here. Mrs. Clair (Cleo) Breinholt was my friend when we lived at Hillside Gardens.
In 1943-48 I was a cook at the South Bountiful Elementary School for one hundred sixty-five students. I worked for five or six years. I was sorry I quit this job. My doctor told me that my blood pressure was too high and I shouldn’t keep working.
For the first couple of years, we had quite a struggle to keep the lunch program going. We had voluntary help for the first while. My helpers were Mrs. Don Beazer, Mrs. Phillip Schmidt, and Alice Winters.
More about our children – in order of their ages
Josephine has written the following about herself.
“The records state that I was born at 1910 South 4th East, Waterloo Precinct, on November 8, 1905, in Salt Lake City, Utah. I understand that I was a chubby crybaby. I had an eventful life, moving about from place to place, changing schools, friends, interests and scenery.
“First I remember grandma’s place. Seems we stayed there off and on lots of times. I remember my first Santa Claus; that was the night now stands.
“ I remember a birthday party for Grace. Papa bought some cookies, and we pulled taffy. It got stuck to our fingers. We dipped our hands in the ditch that ran in front of the house; then we were really ‘stuck up’.
“When the family moved to Blackfoot, I stayed with grandma for awhile. Then grandma and I came up there to Uncle Ern’s place where you were living. Once, when we were walking home from school, a rainstorm came up and Grace and I got ‘bloody red’, because our dresses faded. We were an awful sight! This was in Wapello.
“On the 3rd of October 1916, Jessie was born. That same day Grace was baptized in the icy cold water of the canal.
“Next, we moved to Montpelier, where we lived for six years. We lived in Nampa for a couple of years, and then returned to Salt Lake.
“I married Richard W. Kirkham on 6 October 1926. We had two children: Richard Ferris Kirkham, born 25 September 1929, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Leola Kirkham, born 17 November 1927, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“My divorce was final in July 1932, cancellation of temple marriage August, 1932. Leola married John Mervin Dennis, and has three children. Ferris married Bonnie Mae Dykman, and they have two children. He is president of the L.D.S. Business College.
“After my children were on their own, I went to vocation school, graduating as a Licensed Practical Nurse. During the next five years I worked, saved, and attended Weber College. I obtained my Registered Nurse License in Utah, specializing in premature baby care. Since then, I have lived, spent, both wisely and foolishly, cared for my own needs and paid for my home. It isn’t a mansion, but its ‘home’, free of debt. It keeps me warm, comfortable, and dry.
“Hospitals I have worked in: Bingham Hospital, Bingham, Utah; L.D.S. Hospital, Salt Lake General, Holy Cross, St. Marks, all in Salt Lake City, Utah; Dee Hospital, Ogden, Utah; Casia Memorial, Burley, Idaho; Presbyterian, New York. It is now 1966 and I’m not yet able to finish up my nursing career school education. In 1968 I retired and am a foster mother for the L.D.S. Church Adoption Center. I care for all newborns waiting to be adopted. I mean the sick, handicapped, and legally questioned cases.”
Josephine’s daughter Leola was about three years old when she separated from her husband. Her son, Richard Ferris, was only about a year old. I cared for her children until their mother went to work in Salt Lake City. She had them cared for in the Neighborhood House for some 7 years time. Whenever they were ill, I went and brought them to my home and cared for them. Josephine lived on Lake Street. When I would come there, Leola would say, “Mother, here comes Mamma”. They have always seemed sort of special to me, since I cared for them when they were young.
Grace. Josephine included something about Grace in her story. After she graduated from High School, our daughter Grace went down to California to stay with her brother Sherman. She got a job working for some Jewish people. Later, she met and married a Portuguese fellow named Joseph Costa who was a member of the Catholic Church. They have two children, Franklin and Joseph. They live in Manhattan Beach, California.
Sherman was always a serious-minded boy. He wasn’t interested in athletics, but was good in scout work. Sherman was always a religious boy. He liked to think for himself and make his own decisions.
A couple of time he tried to ‘run away’ from home. In his seventeenth year he had a paper route. One day I found a note on the piano, which read, “I won’t be home tonight. I’m going away and ___ is to deliver the papers”. We didn’t see him for two weeks. I thought he might have gone to Brighton to visit an Uncle. I asked the Salt Lake Police Officers to check for him. Sherman was at his Uncle’s place all right. His uncle always resented that we had sent the officers up there.
The first time he ran away, he went to Montpelier, Idaho. He was a boot black earning his own way and staying with a friend. We brought him home. Josephine recalls that Sherman tipped the cupboard full of dishes over on top of himself one day.
At one time we gave George and Sherman each $5.00 and a box of food and sent them on a pass to Yellowstone Park. When George became broke and hungry, he came home. Sherman went to work on a ranch and stayed there for the summer. He came home to go to school. Before long, he asked his father to let him go to Los Angeles, California and learn to be a machinist. We had saved some money. In Los Angeles, he got a job at the railroad, and then learned the undertaking business on the side. He later asked his dad to get him a leave of absence from the railroad. He stayed with the undertaker and his family and learned that business. He learned all the skills of the mortician’s work.
He got a job working for several years. The army turned him down so he went to Vallejo and went to work in a machinist’s shop. Next he went in the pest control business. Later, Sherman went to Medford, Oregon where he bought forty acres of ground and built a memorial park.
He married Pearl Florence Cubberly from Los Angeles. They have five children: Audrey, Katherine (Kay), Sharon, Claire, and Paul. Sherman has been on the stake high council for a number of years.
When George was born on April 1, 1912, I had planned to name him Paul. My sister, Josephine, had a son that same day. She had him blessed and given the name of Paul, just before he died, a few hours after birth. George had a really severe case of smallpox. He was broken out everywhere on his body, even between his fingers.
George joined the National Guard. Later he bought his way out. He joined the Air Force and was sent to the Philippines. When he returned he was sent from state to state for training and service. He spent twenty years in the service of our country. He lives in Sacramento, California, where he works at an air force base. He was married to Jeanne Catherine Crawford on 29 April 1945.
Ellen was always a good student. She enjoyed many sports. Once, she broke her ankle while hurdling. She enjoyed dancing, all kinds of ballgames, and skating. She won a coral necklace for dancing. Her partner told her that he liked to go with Mormon girls, but he would never marry one.
Ellen worked in the Z.C.M.I. clothing factory after graduation from high school. She went to California and stayed with Sherman and his wife and worked in an overall factory. She saved her money and returned and went to Beauty College in Salt Lake City. After completion of the course, she worked in the Z.C.M.I. beauty salon. She continued her beauty work after her marriage to Sterling King Hixson from Salt Lake City on 21 September 1937. She has worked part-time while rearing her family and then began full time work. The Hixson’s live in Bountiful where he works for Utah Power and Light Company. They have four children: Richard S., Judy, Robert, and Joan. Richard served a mission to Holland, also enlisted and served in the National Guard. Judy graduated from high school and beauty school and works in the Paris salon. Joan is in high school.
Our daughter Jessie fell out of a swing when she was about 7 years old. She made a swing out of some twine and fastened it on a limb of a tree. Then she climbed on a chair to get to the swing. It broke and she fell to the ground. Her back was hurt quite badly. Two or three months later, she began having headaches. She would have spells similar to an epileptic after this. When she was about fourteen years of age, we took her to Mayo Clinic. They told us they could do nothing for her. We were there about two weeks. We paid them part of what we owed. When the clinic sent us a bill, we told them we would start paying them as soon as we got the funeral expenses paid. They sent back a bill marked ‘paid in full’. I thought that was very generous of them.
After we returned from Mayo Clinic, we had to consider putting Jessie in the State Hospital at Provo. Our doctor advised us to send her down there, and we finally decided to do so. That was one of the saddest days of my life, when I had to leave her there and go home without her. She died the 29th of November 1931, at fifteen years of age.
I have had some experiences in my life, which greatly strengthened my testimony. My mother had a trunk, which she kept locked, and when I was quite young, I was supposed to take care of the key and put it away. One day, I couldn’t find it. Mother scolded me about losing the key. I prayed very sincerely that I would find it. After awhile, I walked into the dining room, and the key was lying on the table. I’m quite sure I didn’t leave it there. I have always felt that my Heavenly Father had something to do with that.
It was necessary for my husband to work on Sundays for many years. Consequently, he has not been as active as he might have been. This has caused me a good deal of concern; however, he is a good, honest, upright man, and a kind husband and good father.
My mother and father always believed in paying their tithing. Mother always said that it was the tithing we paid that gave us blessing so we always had enough to eat and to wear, even though we had very little money.
I have a strong feeling about the Church. I don’t care to hear anyone criticize the Church or the authorities. I know the gospel is true. I wish that everybody had that same feeling. I just feel that it is. I know the Lord blesses us when we strive to follow His commandments and live as we should. May our kind Heavenly Father bless each and every one of you in your righteous endeavors is my prayer.
(Re-typed for digitizing by Richard S. Hixson, April 2006.)
Grow Family History
GROW FAMILY HISTORY
The name “Grow” is very prominent in the history of the West. Our records show that the first known Grow was born in Germany. Frederick was his name. The year of his birth is not known. After he was married and had some children, he came to America, sometime before the Revolution. One of his sons, Henry Grow Sr., was born in the year of 1780. His wife was Mary Riter and she was born in 1785 but we don’t know where. The following report was taken from a book written by Edward W. Tullidge entitled “The History of Salt Lake City and its founders”.
Henry Grow, the superintendent of the Temple Block was born October 1, 1817 at Norristown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father’s name was Henry Grow and his mother’s name was Mary Riter.
His grandfather came from Germany and took up a large tract of land and made it into five farms of sixty acres each and divided them among his four sons and one daughter. The estate still remains in the family. His grandfather fought in the Revolution. The British army camped within a mile of his farmhouse. Henry was the youngest of 7 children. Henry served his apprenticeship as a carpenter and jointer in his native sate, after which he superintended all the bridges, culverts etc. on the Norristown and Germantown railroads both in constructing and repairing. He worked under the direction of George G. Whitmore an ex mayor of Philadelphia.
Henry was baptized in the Delaware River, Philadelphia, in May 1842 by William Morton. He immigrated to Nauvoo in March of 1843, arriving May 15th. His first work at that place was in building a barn for Patriarch Hyrum Smith. He also worked on the Nauvoo Temple until it was completed. He passed through all the trials of those days and was one of the members of the Nauvoo Legion. He remained with others in Nauvoo after the departure of the Twelve with the advance companies of the Saints for the Rocky Mountains.
It had been agreed that the Mormons were to be given ample time to leave Illinois, but before the vanguard of the Pioneers left on their journey west, the anti Mormons began to rise and the mob performed outrages on the remaining Saints. The mob marched on the doomed city on the 19th of September 1864, and what was to be known as the Farmers Battle began and lasted three days. Henry Grow fought in this battle. The mob had 2000 well-armed men with 13 pieces of artillery camped in front of his house about a block distant. The first night they were camped there, while lying in his bed, he heard a voice distinctly say, “Get up and get out of here in the morning”. He arose, hitched a yoke of cattle to his wagon, put in utensils, bedding, and tent, leaving every other thing he owned in the house. He got his wife and three children into the wagon and had moved about fifty yards from the house when the mob fired a ball into the house, which was of frame structure. He crossed over the river to Montrose, Iowa. His family lived in the tent while he went back and fought the mob throughout the battle. From here he traveled across the prairies to Winter Quarters, where they arrived late in the month of October 1846. Here he built a log cabin and then went to Kimballs, six miles above, where he built himself a house and settled for the year. In the fall of 1847, after the departure of the Pioneer Companies, he moved with his family down into Missouri on the Little Platte, twenty miles above Weston, where many of the old mobocrats lived. While there, he kept the saw and grist mill in repair and did other carpenter work for two years for Co. Estel, who later sold out to Holladay and Warner, Merchants well known in the early history of Salt Lake City. Mr. Grow worked for Holladay and Warner till the spring of 1851.
He and his family then again came up to the Missouri River, bound for the valleys of the mountains. He was organized in Captain James Cummings hundred, in Alfred Gordens fifty and Bishop Keslers ten. Orson Pratt commanded the other fifty. The Mormons still traveled across the plains at this date in the old Pioneer plan of organization of hundreds, fifties and tens.
On account of high water, the companies headed the Horn River and came on to the Platte below Laramie on the Sweetwater below Independence Rock. The company was surrounded by war parties of Cheyenne’s. Keslers ten got separated from the other tens, but they succeeded in sending a message to Captain Gordon who was camped with the remainder of his fifty at Independence Rock and he sent relief and they went up and camped with their company. Next day they met a thousand Snake Warriors waiting for the Cheyenne’s.
Henry Grow arrived in Salt Lake City on his birthday, October 1, 1851. He immediately went to work and worked for a year on the Public Works under Miles Romney, the first superintendent of the carpenter shop. In the winter of 1851, he worked on the old Tabernacle, which occupied the spot where the Assembly Hall now stands, and he worked also on building the Social Hall, the weather being mild that winter.
In 1853 he built the first suspension bridge in Utah across the Ogden River for Jonathan Browning. In 1854 he went to work at Sugarhouse to build the sugar works under the direction of Bishop Kesler, and in 1855, he worked in the building of the two saw mills in Big Cottonwood known as A and B.
In 1856 he moved a saw mill from Chases Mill in the big field up City Creek seven miles for President Young, and the same fall he went up to Big Cottonwood again and farmed and put up Mill D, sawed some logs and left on the 17th of December in company with five other men on seven foot of snow on snow shoes. It took them two days to get through the snow. It was a very dangerous trip and they had many narrow escapes on the trip.
In 1857 he went up and built Mill E at the head of the canyon near Silver Lake. In 1858 he went to Provo and put up all the temporary buildings of the “Nove” and he also built the suspension bridge over the Provo River.
In 1859 he tore the works out of the old gristmill at the mouth of Canyon Creek and placed the cotton and woolen machinery in its place. This was not used much and later it was taken to St. George, Utah, and used there where the growing of cotton was more successful.
In 1861 he built suspension bridges across the Weber and Jordan Rivers. These bridges were still in use after 35 or 40 years. When he built the Old Salt Lake Theater, he put up a water wheel on the water ditch to enable the working men to hoist heavy beams and principal rafters out of planks for the works and fitted up the footlights.
In 1863 and 1864 he did a great deal of millwork at the request of President Young at different places and in 1865 President Young called on him in regard to the construction of the big Tabernacle. He designed the shape, planned, framed, and put it up, and finished this Tabernacle on the fall of 1867.
In 1868 President Young called on him to build the Z.C.M.I. building. The plans were drawn by Obed Taylor and superintended by Grow throughout. From that time on until the spring of 1876, he had charge of the carpenter shop and work on the Temple Block. At this time he was called on to build the warehouse to the Z.C.M.I. building.
At the October Conference in 1876, he was called on a mission to preside over the Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland Conferences. He left Salt Lake City on the first day of November 1876, and during his mission he visited all his relatives and the old homestead.
He left Pennsylvania for Salt Lake City on June 12, 1877, and on his return he was immediately engaged to tear down the old tabernacle and build the Assembly Hall, superintending the practical work under architect Obed Taylor. It was completed in the fall of 1878.
Since that time, Mr. Grow has built two brick houses for President Taylor and superintended all the carpentry of the Church, including the scaffolding and hoisting apparatus for the Temple.
In 1880 he was called by President Taylor to go east to look at improvements to paper mills for the purpose of putting up a paper mill at the mouth of Big Cottonwood. Mr. Grow traveled through Chicago, Illinois, Cleveland, Ohio, Buffalo, New Jersey, Springfield, Mass., Albany, Holyoke, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburg and other cities to get all the information he could, relative to the building of the paper mill. This accomplished, he returned to Salt Lake City and drafted plans and commenced the New Deseret Paper mill at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon. It was completed and put in running order in 1883, being the first paper mill in Utah.
The foregoing busy record will show how extensively and constantly Henry Grow has been engaged in the building enterprises of Utah, and the making of a state for more than thirty years. He was known as a skillful mechanic and an experienced practical builder, who was well liked by all the hands who have worked under his superintending.
Among all his works, the roof of the big tabernacle in Salt Lake City, covering the largest hall in America west of the Chicago, is the most stupendous. The outside dimensions of the Tabernacle are: Length 250 ft., width 150ft. On the inside it measures 232 ft. by 132 feet, Height to ceiling is 65 feet. The roof rests on 44 columns averaging 20 feet high and is self supporting. The seating capacity is 9000 with standing room for fully 3000 more.
The inside measurements of the Assembly Hall is 116 by 64 feet. Height of ceiling is 36 feet. Gallery is 18 feet wide and extends around the building.
He served as city councilman with mayor Daniel H. Wells from 1870 to 1876 and died November 4, 1891, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The above report bears witness to the important part that Henry Grow played in the building of the Church here in this area. He had five wives, and of the children born to his third wife, my grandmother was one. Her name was Josephine Streeper Grow. She was born November 15, 1852, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The house she was born in was located where the Salt Lake Hardware now stands at North Temple and 3rd West. She lived her whole life in Salt Lake and attended the pioneer schools. Through her childhood she was happy and had a good life although her parents were very strict. The children all got along well with one another and it has been said that it was hard to tell which child belonged to which mother. The children were never allowed to read anything other than Church literature. My grandmother was like the average child and would read novels on nights in her room when the moon was full. Her father wanted her to marry a man in polygamy, but she refused and married a very fine man by the name of George Lawson Scott on May 17, 1870, in the Old Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Of this marriage 6 sons and 2 daughters were born. My mother was named Grace Leola Scott, and she was born on January 19, 1885, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The house she was born in still stands. It was made from the clay they had in their own yard. It has been remodeled and some of the shrubs are still growing in the yard that were planted when mother was a little girl. My mother was active in the Wilford Ward and attended the old North School on Highland Drive. They always had family prayer and had many good times such as sleigh riding during the winter. One of their neighbors by the name of Leslie Murphy built a sleigh and had a donkey that pulled them around. Mother was baptized in a creek close by her house. All the children in the family had to help around the house. She tells of when she used to have to mix bread when she was so little she had to stand on a chair to reach the table.
The family was well provided for until mother’s father died in 1903. From then on things were very hard. Grandmother took in sewing to get money for the family. She also in later years assembled radio headsets manufactured by the Baldwin Radio Works in East Mill creek. She did this in her home and I helped at times when I was young.
Mother had her patriarchal blessing from Edward White of the Wilford Ward. Mother’s sister married Dan Brighton, a famous figure in the early 1900’s. His grandfather built the famous Brighton resort up in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Mother married my father, William Sherman Ferris on November 16, 1904, in the Salt Lake Temple. I have written an account of the major events in their married life and will include more in my own biography. At the present time, mother and dad are still living and are enjoying a comfortable life close to where we live in Bountiful.
(Compiled by Ellen Ferris Hixson 1960.
Re-typed for digitizing by Richard S. Hixson, April 2006.)
Dockstader Family History
DOCKSTADER FAMILY HISTORY
Celistia Dockstader, the wife of Franklin Samuel Ferris was born in American Fork, Utah. Her father was George Dockstader and her mother was Lovira M. Dayton. At the time of this writing, nothing is known of any Dockstader beyond these two mentioned in this recording. We don’t even know when George was born or where. The fact that Celistia was born May the 8th, 1858 at American Fork, indicates that her father must have come to this area with the early pioneers. Research along this family line will have to be started. It is interesting, however, to note that the ancestors of Celestia have been traced back to England to the year 1275 on her mother’s side. Mrs. Leland Dayton who resides at this time at 2324 South 9th East in Salt Lake City has done extensive work on the Dayton line and names have been found 22 generations beyond myself. The Dayton name is found around New York as early as 1636 when Ralph Dayton came to America from England. His grandfather changed the spelling from “Deighton”. It is known that one Deighton was Lord Mayor of York and many were closely connected with royalty. Royalty owned some and it tells in the records where they gained a Freeman status during their lives. One was a collector of tolls and taxes.
It is to be hoped that someone of us can get busy on the Dockstader line and bring something to light.
(Compiled by Ellen Ferris Hixson 1960.
Re-typed for digitizing by Richard S. Hixson, April 2006.)
Scott Family History
SCOTT FAMILY HISTORY
The earliest known Scott at this time was born in England in the year 1728. His first name was John. No other dates are available and nothing is known about him. Among his children was a son by the name of George, who was born in Heartburn, England in the year 1788. We don’t know anything about George, but one of his sons by the name of John was born September 24, 1819 in Northumberland, England. He married in England and then came to America. His wife was Ellen Easten. They were married on January 24th, 1841. They settled in Pennsylvania and he worked in the coalmines. He was killed in a mine accident. They had 9 or 10 children but all died in infancy except one that was named George Lawson Scott. He was about 10 years old when his folks came to America. George was born in Ellington, England on September 21, 1848. After his father was killed, he and his mother came to Utah with the William Douglas Company. Ellen later married William Douglas but had no children by him. Ellen died in June of the year 1870, here in Utah.
George Lawson Scott married Josephine Steeper Grow on May 17th, 1870 in the old Endowment House. He was 22 years old and she was 17. Her father was Henry Grow, who built the great Tabernacle in Salt Lake. He wanted her to marry a man who had several wives in polygamy but she refused to do it. She and her husband were very happy and it was a successful marriage. They had four children, 3 boys and a girl. An epidemic of diphtheria started in the area and the youngest of the four died. The family had purchased some pork from a neighbor and they always felt that the family got the disease from this meat. The girl became very ill and her mother prayed long and hard for her recovery and her prayers were answered.
George Lawson Scott was a blacksmith by trade and had a shop at Murphy’s Lane and Highland Drive. In time he sold the shop and worked in the smelters at Murray. He was active in the Church and was secretary of his quorum in the Mill Creek Ward. While working at the smelters, he got lead poisoning. Pneumonia set in and he died on January 3, 1903 in Salt Lake City. My mother was born of this marriage on January 19, 1885. Her history will be included in the Grow report as well as the report of my own life.
(Compiled by Ellen Ferris Hixson 1960.
Re-typed for digitizing by Richard S. Hixson, April 2006.)
Ferris Family History
FERRIS FAMILY HISTORY
The earliest known Ferris that we have any record of was Samuel Ferris, born August11th,1754,possibly in the northern part of New Your State. This is assumed because some of themmovedover into Michigan and the decedents seemed to have that belief carried downfrom generationto generation by word of mouth. There are many families by the name of Ferris in the stateofNew York. Samuel married Phebe Sherman. Phebe was born in 1759 and died in 1840. Abouttwo years after, Samuel died. The date of his death is listed as December 3,1842. One of his sons was named after himself and he was born on April 19, 1800 and died April 4th, 1889 in Eaton Rapids, Michigan. This Samuel married Sally Spears Newell and it is known that they were homesteaders in Michigan. My husband and I made a trip through the eastern States in 1952 and found the cemetery where these Ferris’ were buried. We inquired from many people about the Ferris name. It is supposed that the Ferris wheel, so common at carnivals, was developed by these Ferris’ as so many of them mentioned it back there. In fact we ran into one that owned a Ferris wheel and his name was Ferris. The son of Samuel Ferris Jr. is my grandfather. His name was Franklin Samuel Ferris. He was born January 12, 1835 in Michigan and died in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 1st, 1916 just three years after my birth. His wife was Celistia Dockstader, born May8th,1858 at AmericanFork, Utah. She died in Salt Lake City April 28th, 1904.
Franklin came out west while still a young man, not long after the big gold rush in California. He came by boat. Many people at that time sailed down from the Eastern States to what is now known as the Isthmus of Panama, crossed the Isthmus by land and then sailed up the West coast to California. At one time he owned and operated a sawmill in northern California. Because of a flood, he was completely washed out and at that time decided to come to Utah. For some time he worked in the mines at Park City Utah, then sometime later moved to Salt Lake City. It was there that he met his wife and was married. Their marriage took place in what was known as the “Valley House” which stood on the Southwest corner of West Temple and South Temple streets. It later became a railroad depot and at the present time it is a large Trans Continental bus depot. Their marriage took place May 11th, 1874.
Franklin at one time helped to build the present City and County Building in Salt Lake City. He and his wife lived in a home that stood on the corner of 5th South and State streets. My father, William Sherman Ferris was born in Salt Lake on January 4th, 1885. While the family was living in Salt Lake, my father attended the old St. Marks School that was on First South Street, just east of State Street. At a later date the family bought a home on 33rd South, just east of Highland Drive, which had a good piece of property in connection with it. They raised all kinds of fruit and had several kinds of farm animals. My father has told me that they were considered to be well off and didn’t want for anything. In those days if one had a house and sufficient to eat, they were considered above the average. My father continued to attend the St. Marks school, even though from their new home he had to walk to 13th South, where he was able to ride the street car from there into the city. At a later date he attended the old “North School” on 39th South and Highland Drive.
The family sold the farm and bought a home on the corner of 27th South and Highland. At the present, a large home stands on that spot. It is called the Jensen Home. The Jensen family built it years ago as an investment. They lived in it and rented it out evenings for parties and weddings. Franklin was not a member of the Latter-day Saints Church but his wife Celestia was. She wanted her children to have all of the advantages that were available to the children in that day. She was a very ambitious person. She saw that my father took dancing and music lessons. He played the mandolin very well. His brother George and sister Ella assisted him and they were asked to perform on many programs.
My father tells of the time when he was small and had the urge to set fire to a haystack on the farm. He just wanted to start a small one and to watch it burn for a little while then put it out. When he got it started and it got to the stage where he should have put it out, he couldn’t control it. The fire spread until it frightened him and he ran into the house and hid under the bed. The fire destroyed the whole stack and several of the animals on the farm that were close to it. My father said he was not severely punished, his own father being a mild tempered man.
There were two or three Negro families that lived in the area. Some were members of the LDS Church. One lady by the name of Nettie James came to their house and did lots of housework for his parents.
Father attended the LDS College at one time and while there, met and married my mother. Dad was baptized and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on November 16th, 1904. Mother’s name was Grace Leola Scott. Dad worked for the local streetcar company, the telephone company and the intermountain electric company. He worked in many departments of these firms and when he left the latter company, he was district manager of the Garfield exchange. His starting salary was $65.00 a month and when he left he was earning $90.00 a month, which was considered very good then.
Dad moved his family to Blackfoot, Idaho. He decided to take up farming with his brother-in-law, Earnest Scott. He was mother’s brother. After that he went to work for the railroad company and lived in several communities in Idaho before settling in Salt Lake City.
At the time of this writing, Dad and Mother live close to my family here in Bountiful, Utah. Mother and Dad are in their 76th year and are enjoying better than average health. In the account of my own personal life, other events concerning my father will be included. Up to this time, this will conclude the general account of what I know about the Ferris name. It is my desire to seek out genealogy along this family name as time permits.
(Compiled by Ellen Ferris Hixson 1960.
Re-typed for digitizing by Richard S. Hixson, April 2006.)
Note: *See also Michigan Pioneering Family – Spear / Spears 1826, by Earl E. Spears