DuWayne & Helen Squire 65th Anniversary & LaVerkin's First Christmas

DuWayne & Helen Squire 65th Wedding Anniversary

Mom and Dad were married on December 10, 1947.  Dad was 19 years old and mom was 17.  Mom was a senior at Hurricane High. In August of 1947, DuWayne asked Helen's parents, Ed and Thora Gubler, for permission to marry my mom. After DuWayne asked, there was a long pause and he was worried about the answer, when finally the answer was yes.  Apparently, Ed had had a brain freeze and was running through the names of dad's brothers before he could retrieve the name, DuWayne.  Thora and Ed told my parents that they could marry when the St. George Temple reopened.  It was closed for renovations and was to remain closed for a year.  Well, in December it was announced that the temple would open for 2 weeks so that couples who were waiting to be married could have that opportunity.  So my parents said to my mother's parents, "You said that we could get married when the St. George Temple reopened." And the rest is history... Mom and Dad married and had nine children, Kirk, MJ, Krystal, Kim, Brad, Verlynn, Sheralee, Melodee, and Cyndee.

It was fun to get together with my siblings to honor and celebrate our parents' 65th wedding anniversary.  We enjoyed each other's company at the Mandarin Restraunt in Bountiful.  We missed MJ and Joan.  MJ was recovering from knee surgery.  We hope he has a quick recovery.  We also missed John, a fireman cannot pick and choose when he works.

Kim, offering appetizers.

Nancy & Kim

Jo Ann & Brad

Tom & Verlynn

Dean & Melodee & Sheralee

Bret & Cyndee

I shared the following story previously, but I thought it was appropriate to share it again.  I have added my relationship in parenthesis.

LaVERKIN’S FIRST CHRISTMAS  

by Sarah Wilson Sanders (paternal ggm)

The LaVerkin LDS Ward was organized on June 22, 1904 with Morris Wilson, Jr.(maternal ggf) as bishop. A rock schoolhouse, built in 1905, also served as a recreation hall and church building. A committee composed of Bishop Morris Wilson, Relief Society President, Hattie Woodbury, Primary President Sarah A. Sanders (author & ggm), and MIA President, Minnie Wilson (maternal ggm), planned the first LaVerkin Christmas party and program in 1904. Bishop Wilson hauled a cedar tree from the foothills. The butt of the tree was thrust into the hub of a wagon wheel, which served as a stand. The committee decorated the Christmas tree with threaded popcorn, popcorn balls, colorful homemade paper chains, and wax candles. They brought mosquito netting from the Isom store in Virgin City and made bags that were crammed with nuts and candy as presents for the children. They invited Jim Cornelius of Virgin City to ride down and act as old Santa. The people attending the first Christmas party were the families of Bishop Morris Wilson (ggf), Joseph Gubler (maternal ggf), Henry Gubler, William Sanders (paternal ggf), George Jones, William Hardy, Arthur Woodbury, George Judd, and Allen Stout. The eyes of the children sparkled when the candles were lit and the program was presented. Then Santa appeared to distribute the sacks of candy and nuts. His beard caught fire while he was removing the candy from the tree. Mrs. Joseph Gubler (Mary Hunt, ggm) began to claw the burning cotton from Old Santa and scratched his face. Although Santa lost his disguise, no serious injury was caused and everyone enjoyed the party like one big happy family.

Virgin & Hurricane City Cemeteries

Virgin City Cemetery

I love cemetery hopping and on Thanksgiving Day I had the opportunity to go grave hunting with my dad.  We were spending Thanksgiving at the LaVerkin home so in just a few minutes we were up at the Virgin Pioneer Memorial Cemetery.  My dad asked what names we were searching for and he was off. In no time at all he located Owen Isom and his wife, Elizabeth Howard, my paternal/maternal 3rd great-grandparents.  While I was taking pictures and writing down the inscriptions Dad was already off looking for the next site.  I could hardly keep up with him.  

Owen and Elizabeth were married in 1835 when Owen was 20 years old and Elizabeth was 13!  Their first child was born 5 years later.  Their sixth child, Sarah Elizabeth Isom, is my 2nd great-grandmother.

Owen and Elizabeth's tombstones, side by side, but facing opposite directions.

In Memory of Owen Isom
Born May 2nd 1814
At Greatworth, Northamptonshire
England
Died April 26th 1884

In Memory of Elizabeth, wife of Owen Isom
Born
 Sep 13, 1821
Died
Dec 18, 1898

Here lies one who in this life
Was a kind mother, a true wife:
She was by many witness blest
And piety among the rest.

Our next find was the joint tombstone of my paternal 2nd great-grandparents, Joseph Moroni Sanders and Hulda Charlotte Zabriskie.  In a previous pioneer post I noted the story of Hulda Zabriskie coming across the plains at the age of 7 and her family would hide her when they were in Indian territory because at one point the Indians were attracted to her beautiful white hair and had offered to buy her and had followed them for several days offering meat, guns and horses.  Hulda (age 16) married Joseph Moroni Sanders (age 23) on 20 August 1860.

(South Facing)
Hulda C Sanders
Born in Ambrosia County, Iowa
Jan 30, 1844
Died at North Creek, UT
June 11, 1908

(East Facing)
Gone But Not Forgotten

(West Facing)
SANDERS

(North Facing)
Joseph M Sanders
Born in Clay Co.
Missouri
Dec 25, 1836
Died at Laverkin, UT
Dec 24, 1916

Morris Wilson, Jr. married Minnie Ann Stratton and her parents and great-grandparents were also found in the Virgin Pioneer Memorial Cemetery.  James Albert Stratton, my maternal 2nd great-grandpa, had a joint tombstone with his wife, Emily Amanda Gardner.  They were married in 1864, when Emily was a few weeks short of being 15 years old and James was 20 years old.  They had a pioneer plaque mounted onto their tombstone.

James Albert
Jan. 14, 1844
Nov. 5, 1921
His Wife, Emily Amanda
July 19, 1849
Apr 10, 1911

James Albert Stratton's parents were found next to him with two humble plaques as follows:

Left Plaque - Harriett Ann Stratton 1826-1871 Spilsbury Funeral Home
Right Plaque - Oliver Stratton 1818-1879 Cannon Funeral Home

 When I had visited Thomas Wilson's grave in Junction, the woman I met told me that his wife, Nancy Adair Lindsey, was buried in a lost grave in Virgin.  The plot map at the cemetery listed the following:

WILSON  Nancy  (Lindsey) 29 Aug 1824, 24 Apr 1875 ? 
(The question mark is placed where the Block in which the deceased is buried should be listed.)

Nancy Lindsey is surrounded in mystery from her origins to her death.  The history that I received on Thomas Wilson showed the following in regards to Nancy Lindsey:

Nancy Lindsey was actually the daughter of Zadock Adair and a Cherokee Indian maiden.  Her father lived and worked among the Indians.  She was born 29 August 1824 at Perry County, Alabama and was raised by Morris and Nancy Rogers Lindsey. (She always went by their name instead of her father's.) She married her first husband, Edward or Edwin Lee in 1841 at Lauderdale County, Mississippi.  They were the parents of one child - Amanda Jane.     

I am grateful that at least Nancy Lindsey Wilson has her name listed on her husband's (Thomas Wilson) tombstone so that she can be honored and remembered.  

Hurricane City Cemetery

WILSON
Sarah E.
June 14, 1854 - Apr. 3, 1936
Morris
Nov. 24, 1845
Dec. 15, 1930

My paternal and maternal 2nd great-grandparents, Morris Wilson, Sr. and his wife, Sarah Elizabeth Isom, are buried in the Hurricane City Cemetery, which is on the north side of town.  If you have followed this blog at all you might have noticed that I have identified some of my ancestors as being both my maternal and paternal progenitors.  It is through Morris Wilson, Sr. and Sarah Isom that my parents are related.  They are my parents' great-grandparents.  Morris and Sarah Wilson had twelve children.  Their second child and oldest son, Morris Wilson, Jr. was my mom's grandfather (her mother's mom).  Morris and Sarah's third child, Sarah Amelia Wilson, was my dad's grandmother (his mother's mom).  

So my grandmas were first cousins, making my parents second cousins.  Now some people tease me when I tell them that my parents were second cousins, but that doesn't bother me at all.  If you know my parents, you know that they have the most pure and true love of all time...sorry Princess Bride, you have to take second place.  I honestly believe that my parents knew and loved each other in pre-mortal life and that our Heavenly Father was merciful to them and allowed them to be born in close relation and proximity so that they would not have to be apart from each other. 

I love you Mom & Dad.  Happy 65th anniversary tomorrow!

Married December 10, 1947

Thanksgiving 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

My profile states that my blog is dedicated to my family past, present and future.  Today I am going to focus on my present family.  You have been warned...only proceed if you care about the Gallacher Family of today.  My family had the wonderful opportunity of spending Thanksgiving in the Squire LaVerkin home with my parents.  On this short 3-day trip nothing went as planned and it will be one that I will always remember and love. 

On Thanksgiving morning I went on a walk with my two favorite men, Bret, and my dad, DuWayne.  Dad pointed out the following places of interest.

The cabin in the foreground is my great-grandpa Morris Wilson's home.  Morris was the first Bishop of the LaVerkin Ward.  My dad said that when visiting general authorities would come they stayed in that little cabin with the Wilson family.

The home behind the cabin is the home that Great-Grandpa Morris Wilson built later in life. My dad recalled that he was out shooting his pellet gun at birds and the bullet hit one of the windows.  He said that his great-uncle Morris felt pretty bad about the nick it left and dad felt awful about it.

Dad standing by the home of his grandparents, William and Sarah Amelia Sanders. He lived with them from the age of 6 to 13.

Dad and I standing outside of his first home that he bought with mom.  An addition has been put on the front of the house.  Dad said it used to have a beautiful porch.  Apparently there is a picture of my brother MJ sitting outside of this house.

We finished off with a brief tour of some of the LaVerkin home structures. 

My Grandpa Squire was very creative with wood and stone. He built this outdoor fireplace. 

Dad unlocked the door to the little room that my Uncle Don used to sleep in. Below this room is a food cellar.  Now it is full of spider webs and creepy things.

One of the two garages.

We had a mid-morning brunch and then Bret and dad went to work on the LaVerkin home.

Is there anything more attractive than seeing your man working?

Dad and I then went to the Virgin City Cemetery to find our ancestors buried there, which I will report on next week.

Dad then took me for a little drive just a street or two east of the cemetery to show me where the Sanders family did some ranching.  As we were heading south looking for the ranch, we passed it and discovered that you can enter the back side of Zion National Park for free and there are several trail heads branching off from this road. (Good to know for later adventures.)  Anyway, as we were heading back down the road we saw the ranch below.

Then our plan was to head to Chuck-A-Rama for our Thanksgiving feast.  We arrived in St. George at 3:30 only to find a line that wrapped around the entire building. No Thanks!  So plan B.  We went to Harmon's which was closing at 4:00 and grabbed what we could in our 15 minute shopping trip.  We substituted chicken tenders for turkey.  Dad fried the chicken, so you know it was the best!  Everyone helped out and it was a simple and delicious meal.

On Friday our plan was to hike a few of our favorite trails in Zion National Park.  I think all the people that were at Chuck-A-Rama the day before had the same idea.  As we neared the entrance with a long line of cars we could see a sign posted that showed that the parking lots were full and cars would need to park outside the entrance and take the shuttle.  That's when I told the family about my drive with dad and that we could hike the back side of Zion for free.  So we drove up the Kolob Overlook Road in Virgin. (At least that's what I think it is called.)  At the top of the road there were a few parked cars and we saw a family coming back to their car.  I asked them if there was anything of interest to hike there and they told me that it was a great hike and that if we followed the trail and hugged the rocks we would come to some Indian Hieroglyphics in a cave.  Awesome!  Let the adventure begin.

Not only did we hug the rocks...we crawled through them.

And over them.

AWESOME!!! Being able to walk into a cave and see Indian hieroglyphics with no other tourists was the best!

Sharlet & Kirk

Brooklynn

Derek & Krystal

Cyndee & Bret

In another off-trail random cave we found all these bones piled up on a rock...creepy.

Derek, King of the Hill

A visit to LaVerkin isn't complete without a visit to the cemetery to take a picture of Kirk and Krystal with their aunt and uncle namesakes.