RECORDS AND DIARIES KEPT BY AMY ANN COLLIER GARDINER
Dated: July 30, 1899--June 5, 1921.
July 30, 1899. Naples Ward. Willie is ten days old. Will goes to the Indian Agency to work a
month.
Oct. 9, 1899. Monday. We have found out that we are not going to get our own house built,
and we have lived with my parents for a year. So we have now decided to rent a house near our
own place, and move to our selves. This morning Will was going to repair the house, but fell from
the horse and hurt his hip, which may lay him up for several days.
Oct. 13, 1899. Friday. Will has suffered much from that fall, but is getting better. We are
going to Brother Watkins farewell party to night at the Merrell Ward school house. This is the
second party we have been to since we have been married.
Oct. 14, 1899. Saturday. To night we are going to a party to Brother Watkins’ house. He is to
start for England, Monday 16th. And today is the first snow, it snowed quite a little but melted as
fast as it fell.
Oct. 16, 1899. Monday. It is just a week today since Will got hurt, he feels much better but not
near well. We made a new start today. We went to Corns (Karrens) got a grist for the year. Ran in
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debt to the Store $6.80, that with what we had, made enough to start keeping house. We have one
horse, two cows and a calf and three hens and two pigs one large and one small one.
Oct. 17, 1899. Tuesday. Today
we took one load of things in the
morning, then Will stayed to daub
and white wash the house, while I
went back for another load. It took
me until almost night to get back and
Will just got half the house done but
we piled in and this was our first
night alone. Then it took all the rest
of the week to get straightened up.
Oct. 23, 1899. Monday. Will
starts to the coal mine this morning
to work for all winter. His back is
worse, again, but he thinks he will
try. One of Will's sisters are going to
stay with me at nights.
Oct. 26, 1899. Pa has got word
that his mother is coming to see us, to stay all winter and today he starts to Price for her.
Nov 12, 1899. Sunday. Pa got home Friday from Price with his mother. We went to see her
today. She looks just the same as she did when I saw her last, nine and a half years ago. I cannot
see as she looks any older. I don't see a white hair in her head. She is sixty six years old and has
never used glasses, yet. Grandma brought me a new woolen quilt. Willie is her first great-grand
child.
Nov. 27, 1899. Monday. Today Will killed our pig, the first we ever had and he had a dickens
of a time to kill it. When he went to get it out of the pen the rope came off from the pig's foot. And
down the Lucerne patch he went and Will after him with the gun and run him back to the house.
There he took a shot at his head but he didn't fall, then he dropped the gun, grabbed the knife, and
after him he went, but he couldn't catch him and up and down the gulch they went. Finely he got a
rope on him and to the house they went. Will tied him to a post and grabbed the gun again. And
took another shot at his head. I guess he got close enough to him this time not to miss killing him.
Then he didn't have any barrel to scald him in. He just had to pour water on and get off what hair
he could. I told him never mind cleaning the feet, I didn't want to cook them any way, and cut off
the ears and tail cause they ain't any good. Then he couldn't get the head clean, so I told him we
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would skin that. Will thought it would weigh about 175 pounds. Will says next time he has to
clean a pig this way, he won't at all.
Nov. 30, 1899. Thursday. We went out to Pa's and had Thanksgiving dinner with them.
Dec. 6, 1899. Wednesday. Today is the first snow to make the ground white. Just about one
and a half inches of snow fell in the night. The sun has come out warm, I guess it will soon be
gone.
Feb. 12, 1900. Monday. Today Willie has cut his first tooth and he is nearly seven months old.
In the winter of 1902 we moved into our own house, a brick house of two rooms. First year of
our married life we lived with my parents. Then we rented until our own house was finished.
In the summer of 1903 I was sustained a Sunday School teacher in Naples Ward. Acting as
teacher continuously until Aug. 1908 when I was honorably released as I was not able to continue
on account of delicate health and many family responsibilities.
In the fall of 1907 I took very sick. I made a birthday party for Will, Sept. 28. I was not well
all that day and from that day I grew ill, my sick spell lasting about six weeks. In that time we had
some very severe tests of our faith.
About the third evening of my sickness I had a vision. First I heard heavenly choirs singing
hymns, they sounded like grown people. Next I saw a Heavenly Being clad in white robes with a
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cap and veil like woman wear in the temple, the face being veiled, who told me to listen. As I
listened I could hear choirs singing near and others singing which sounded far away. Next my
gaze was directed toward a Sunday School Class which were going through their exercises. I was
given to understand that if I came there at that time I would help teach the children. I thought it all
sounded so Heavenly that I wished to go there and I was given to understand that I might make my
choice.
I almost decided to go when I thought about leaving my children and I spoke of it to the
messenger who reminded me of my baby boy who was there. And immediately that child came and
cried, "Oh Mamma," and embraced me. I saw at once that he was very brilliant and I was much
impressed that he was being well taken care of. I felt at once that I could not leave the other
children in this world of wickedness with out a mothers care.
I was a Sunday School teacher at that time and in all that I saw and heard, I was led to compare
the difference in Heavenly and Earthly things. It all seemed so peaceful and such a restful
influence that I felt very much tempted to leave my earthly home, as my spirit felt sorely tried by
earthly things for some time and I wished that I might not have to remain here. I felt that any of
our relatives could raise our children as well as I could until the time came when I had to make my
choice.
After seeing and hearing things above mentioned, I found myself in our Meeting House at my
own funeral. I saw my relatives sitting as mourners, heard the hymns sung by the choir, and
thought how inferior to that heavenly singing which I had just heard. When the services were
through, I saw my husband go to the casket and lift little Cecil, who was then baby, up to see his
mother. And I saw how sad my husband and children were. Then I saw the funeral procession
march out. My heart was so full of sorrow for them that I thought I must live and give my children
a mother's care and try to be a good wife.
I wished at that time that Will could see the things which I saw, and prayed while I was
witnessing the Heavenly things that he might see and hear what I did and above all feel that
Heavenly influence. I was given to understand that I might live if my husband in particular would
exercise enough faith in my behalf for my recovery. I told him of what had been made known to
me, in part, that I would be very sick but if he would be humble and exercise much faith for my
recovery, that I would live.
I cannot write what experience we passed through, but I feel that we had the trial of our lives
with the evil power and I sincerely hope that we may never have to contend with the evil power
exhibited so strong and in so many startling ways again.
By the blessing of the Lord manifested through His Priesthood I was permitted to live. I had
wanted Brother Richens to administer to me but he was away from home. We had many Elders
administer to me but it seemed that they had no faith in my recovery. And I thought if Brother
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Richens came that he would understand my condition and have faith along with my husband that I
might be healed.
He was on the mountain with his sheep. We prayed that he might come home and he was
impressed that he was needed in the Valley for something, and came home. He was not ready to
come home, but came through the prompting of the spirit, to return two days after. He administered
to me, but I was unconscious when he did so. I soon began to recover slowly.
Some time after this, brother Richens son-in-law went up to the mountain. When Brother
Richens inquired about me, Mr. Charles Batty said I was not any better and he thought I would be
dead before they came down. Brother Richens said, "She is not going to die and when I go down
home she will see me coming and come holding out her hand to meet me." This prophesy was full
filled to the very letter, and it was the first time that I had walked away from the house since I had
been sick.
Will and myself both gained a great testimonies through this trying time, which if we try to do
right, will last us as long as we shall live. I have lost two little babies, both boys, since that time.
Daniel, born March 7, 1910; Leon Francis, born Feb. 5, 1911. Both died at birth. (They were called
Blue Babies, as their heart valves wouldn't close. R.H.)
Cecil Gardiner
Jan. 1911. In this year and month, my Mother's health began to
fail. She had always been a very healthy, hard working woman, and
looked very young. The family moved to the Green River Ranch to
live, as my Father thought he could do better there than on the old
place, so he rented the old place. In March of that year, she became
worse. Her heart became very bad and dropsy set in. She went out to
Dragon in the early part of June or latter part of May to stay with my
sister May and husband for awhile. She came home just before the
24 of July and, oh what a change! She was changed from a young,
rosy cheeked woman to a poor, feeble, broken down, old looking
woman. How our heart ached and how she must have suffered. She stayed with me and was under
the Doctors care for some time.
When she thought that she had been away from her family as long as she could stand it, she went
home and they soon moved from the river. She was administered to in Fast Meeting while staying
with me, and gradually became better. But her heart was so bad that there was not much pleasure
left for her. She expressed herself many times that if she could not get well enough to work she
would rather not live.
As spring came on she felt and looked much better, but in May she took a Paralytic Stroke and
died May 25, 1912. Leaving a family of fourteen living children, two having gone before her, little
Docia and Dan. Six married children and eight unmarried, Ray the youngest, seven years old.
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Nov. 12, 1911. I was set apart as an Aid in Naples Ward Relief Society by Bishop's Counselor,
A. A. Haws.
In Dec. 1911 I was chosen and sustained as Religion Class Teacher in Naples Ward.
Sept. 1912. My Father and I went out to Salt Lake City, to do some work in the Temple. I had
not been sealed to my parents as they were married when the Old Endowment House was closed,
and the Temple not finished. We did that work and I was endowed for my Aunt and my great
grandmother on my Father's side. We also attended the General Conference. We went out in the
wagon and visited all the relatives in Salt Lake, Provo and Sanpete. We were gone six weeks and
enjoyed our selves very much. While I was away our Relief Society President, Sister Rachel
Bascom died of cancer.
Dec. 19, 1912. I was chosen and set apart as President of the Relief
Society in Naples Ward, with Sarah Adell Hunting as first, and Lydia
Shaffer second counselors, Leona Manwaring Secretary, Maggie
Remington Assistant, Almira Harrison Treasurer, Margaret Watkins Class
Leader.
Jan. 1 1913. WARD DIVIDED. The Naples Ward, formerly Merrells
Ward, was divided.
Jan 24, 1913. I was honorably released as Religion Class Teacher, on
account of my many labors in the Relief Society since being called to be
President, to that organization.
July 1, 1913. I am going to try to keep record of the number of dead which I help to lay out,
dress, and make burial clothes for. Have helped to make eight burial outfits, helped lay out one,
helped dress three dead people.
July 6, 1913. Sunday. I was sustained as Sunday School Teacher in the Primary Department of
the Naples Ward today.
July 14, 1913. President Emmiline B. Wells and Sister McCune visited our Valley and attended
Relief Society Conference. President Wells told us of her acquaintance with the Prophet Joseph
Smith and of many of his characteristics. I also heard Brother Moorey tell of his acquaintance with
the Prophet a number of times. I have also heard Sister Alice Bascom talk of being at the Prophet's
house and sitting on his knee. Her Father was one of the body guards to the Prophet, so she had an
opportunity of getting well acquainted with him.
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July 22, 1913. Tuesday. Today some of the Relief Society sisters met at the home of Maggie
Remington to assist making clothes for the children of her daughter which she has taken to care for.
Their mother, Malley Reynolds, having gone insane and was taken to the Insane Asylum recently.
July 24, 1913. The Relief Society has decided to build a meeting house for them to meet in, on
a piece of land owned by that organization in this Ward. They have lately bought combination wire
and posts to fence that piece of land. The Brethren are going to donate their work to fence it. We
are doing all we can as an organization to raise means to commence to build. We have bought 189
pounds of wool to make quilts to sell. Have seven quilts on hand at present.
On account of not having any suitable Amusement Hall in this Ward, for the young people to
gather in, the Bishopric have obtained consent from the Authorities to dance in the Meeting House,
until this Ward can build an Amusement Hall. Our Ward is in debt $1,000.00 dollars on the
Academy which was completed in the Fall of 1912. Because of helping to build the Academy and
other large calls for means from this Ward, we have not been able to build a hall yet. Tonight will
be the first dance in the Meeting House since it was dedicated. The Relief Society are going to sell
ice cream for the benefit of building the Relief Society House. This Ward celebrated the 4th of July
but not the 24th.
Aug. 3, 1913. We have two stands of bees. We caught a
swarm two years ago. Last year we got another swarm from them
and I hived them while Will was away. That was my first
experience with the bees, as I have always been very much afraid
of them. I have decided to work up a bee business for my sons,
commencing with Willie's help, that we may have employment
for them at home, also to raise our own honey. Willie is fourteen
years old now. He and I have decided to divide our two stands
and make four out of them. I hope we will be successful with our
bees.
Last Thursday our Relief Society made two more quilts. (It is
a job to clean the wool and card it to make quilt bats, but with so
many helping it can be done. R.H.)
Sept. 18, 19, 20, 1913 was the big Uintah Basin Fair held at
Fort Duchesne and three sessions of Conference held on the 21st.
Our Relief Society made two quilts to send to the Fair. We
received 2nd prize on the best cotton patch work quilt and a
Medal. Will is working at Roosevelt now.
January, 1914. The Guides, or outlines for the Relief Society Organizations were prepared by
the General Board for 1914. Previously they were prepared by the Stakes. The main study for 1914
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is Genealogical and Temple work, this work being laid on the Relief Society Organization to
perform.
January 26, 1914. My sister Clara and husband William Richardson who were married March
26, 1913, in the Salt Lake Temple were presented with a baby daughter Jan. 26. Sister Mattie and
husband gave birth to a daughter, their third child.
March 7, 1914. Sister Nellie was married to George Richardson at the Court House by Stake
President Don B. Colton.
March 8, 1914. I was released as Sunday School teacher on account of my many duties in the
Relief Society, and delicate health.
April 8, 1914. Our Relief Society gave a concert last night to help raise means for a building
fund. We are trying to raise means to build a Relief Society House. The Relief Societies have been
advised to raise the New Zealand wheat and fill their bins with it and sell off the mixed wheat that
has been gathered. Our Relief Society have shipped in from the Agricultural College in Logan, five
bushels of New Zealand wheat and are going to raise it to sell for seed wheat first to help raise more
to build up a supply, as there has never been any of this kind of wheat raised here before. The
Experiment Stations recommended it as being the wheat best adapted to Utah. Some of the
Brethren have rented land to the Relief Society and others are putting the grain in for us. We
cleared $18.45 at our Concert. I will add that it is my first experience in anything of this kind.
Through sickness of others helping, I was left to manage alone. But we made quite a success and
feel that we will be able to do something better in this line in the fall.
Bill, Ruth, Reed Gardiner
July 5, 1914. Sunday. Our little son Reed came to bless our
home and he was very welcome indeed, as we had lost our two last
babies. About July 30, I became very sick of nervous break down
and heart trouble. And soon after our little Reed broke out with
eczema. We had him administered to and with home nursing he
was healed before he was three months old.
I had a very serious time, nearly lost my life, but through the
Power of the Priesthood and the goodness of the Lord my life was
spared. I was told by a messenger during my sickness that the
Lord was not particular at that time were I to remain here or go
beyond, just as long as he knew that my heart was His. And I took
it that I was to continue in helping build up the Kingdom, as well
as rearing my family and making a home. I was also told other
things by the messenger, they were these: That the Lord was
displeased with the daughters of Zion, because of the thinness of
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their dress, because they could not be protected from the diseases that were coming upon the earth.
During the time I was sick, the children were sick. Willie was very sick and we did not know
what ailed him. We had two of the older children administered to and I was told by the same
messenger, that if I wanted to keep my children well, I must dress them warmer and that was in the
month of August and the boys were going without underwear and Ruth was dressed very thinly.
After having them administered to and dressing them warmer, they soon became well.
I felt very much bowed down in spirit at this time on account of my own sickness which was
very severe. Also the sickness of my children and my little baby had been sick also, besides having
eczema. I had tried so hard to do right, both in my home and in working in the Church and I
wondered why we had to be tried so hard. Also our friends and neighbors, some of whom I felt
sure were striving so hard to live righteous lives. Some of these were tried so severely I wondered
and asked why it was.
In answer to my question I was given a glimpse of the other side where the spirits were hurrying
with all possible speed and was told they were preparing for the Great and Dreadful Day of the
Lord, as spoken of in the scriptures, and the trials that were coming upon the Saints on earth were
to prepare them for that same time. That the Lord wished to marshal together the hosts of Heaven
to come up against the wicked in that time and all had to be tried that the Lord would know that
they would stand the test when that day came. The ones of the Saints who were living nearest the
Lord would be tried first and they would be more easily proven than those whose hearts were
farther away from Him. But they would all be tried to the test, eventually. This was just at the
beginning of the Great World War.
Fall of 1914. During the fall of 1914 our Relief Society raised a
good crop of New Zealand wheat and sold it to the farmers for seed
wheat, realizing quite a sum of money for it. The Bishop advised all
organizations in our Ward to not build or undertake anything of a
financial undertaking until the Ward paid it's debt or apportionment of
the Academy Building.
Spring of 1915. In the spring of 1915 our Relief Society sold off the
old grain which had been in the old granary, bought a new large steel
granary and replaced the wheat that the sisters had gathered over the
year, with new clean wheat the next fall. Did all we could to assist in
paying off the indebtedness of the Ward. We bought two good sewing
machines for the Relief Society. One, new Singer Sewing machine and one second hand sewing
machine. We had planted and raised two good crops of beans on the Relief Society ground and also
bought fencing and a steel gate and had the place fenced good.
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June 18, 1918. Today I went to Relief Society Meeting and was sustained as a Relief Society
Teacher, also as a Class Leader for the Genealogical Class. I have already made a visit each of the
last three months with Fannie Richens as Relief Society Teacher and now I am appointed to labor
with her as a Visiting Teacher. I have knit three pair of socks for the Red Cross, also sewn one pair
of pajama suits and a number of smaller articles. I have not been strong or I would have done more
sewing for the Red Cross and our soldiers. I have also spent two afternoons cutting out clothing at
the Red Cross Office.
June 19, 1918. Today Willie went to Dragon Gilsonite Mine to work. The first time he ever
went away from home to stay at night. I went to the milk demonstration given by a lady from
Washington by the Government. She demonstrated principally on Cottage Cheese. I think if we
profit by her lessons they will be very valuable to us in this war time. Will has been working on the
Vernal Second Ward Chapel about nine days.
June 22, 1918. Saturday. I went to Brother Joseph H. Gardiner's and took a beehive and
fastened a Hive Escape on his house to catch a swarm of bees which were under the floor of his
house.
June 23, 1918. Sunday. Sister Marian Manwaring came to our house and I helped her get her
family records copied into Family Record Book which she had gathered. We got her record well
underway so she could finish it.
June 24, 1918. Monday. I received a Family Record and
Temple Record Book, combined, about six weeks ago to copy
the record of the Gardiner families which I have been gathering
for nearly three years. I commenced copying my record about
the 26 of May 1918. I am very pleased to be able to do this
record work, although I have appointed myself to gather and
write the Gardiner Family Record as there is no one very
interested in the family in making a Family Record , and
nothing has been done along this line, up to the present except
that which I have done. I have nearly all of the record of the
relatives which live in the County complete, up to date and as
much of the record of dead relatives as the living can tell me. I
am longing for the time to come when there will be enough
interest awakened in the family that we can have a Family
Organization and can get access to the records of relatives
living in other Counties. I am also very anxious to be able to
get names of dead relatives and have the way opened up that we may be doing Temple work for the
dead.
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Today was Will's Mother's birthday. We went as families of her children and spent the evening
and served ice cream and cake and enjoyed the evening visiting and the grandchildren playing.
June 25, 1918. Tuesday. I have made two little corduroy shirts for Belgium children to be sent
by the Red Cross. I am going to sit up with Rose Hunt tonight as she is very sick. She has taken a
back set after confinement. I sat up with her once before since she had her baby. She has a lovely
little son. Her husband, Samuel Hunt, was killed by falling from Calder's Ice House as he was
getting out ice for delivery. He fell on his neck and shoulders and broke his neck and back. He
died the 2 of May 1918, after a few days illness. Her brother Fred left for War in May.
June 26, 1918. I have just had the last of my little chickens come off today. I am trying to raise
at least 100 chickens to eat as meat is scarce and high priced. I have had about 150 hatch, so I think
I will raise over 100 chickens. We have thirty old hens. I am starting to put eggs away now in
water-glass for winter.
July 2, 1918. Sister Rose Hunt passed away this morning about three o'clock. Brother and
Sister Abner Richens and myself were immediately summoned, but on arriving we were informed
that the attending nurse, Mrs. Bird, had laid her out. We were requested to purchase the burial
clothes, and in connection with the Relief Society to make the clothes. She was buried in the
Vernal Cemetery, the 3rd of July 1918. She requested that her sister, Maud Young, was to take the
little son to raise, and her Mother, Mrs. Hodgkinson, take Venis the little five year old daughter to
raise.
RUTH
July 7, 1918. The little baby of Rose Hunt was blessed and named
by Bishop A. G. Goodrich at Naples Ward today. He was named
Samuel Iven Hunt.
July 10, 1918. Will just bought $60.00 of War Saving Stamps.
The quota for the Red Cross work for our Ward from July 1st to
September 1st is: 140 pair of socks, as many sweaters as possible and
70 each of the following articles: Bed shirts for soldiers; house
dresses and chemise, for women refugees; petticoats and dresses for
children refugees. Material for petticoats to be furnished by the people
of the Ward, also pajama suits etc., that are called for regularly. (The
girls in the Ward are knitting sweaters, Ruth has made several also.)
July 13, 1918. I have just finished picking the Red Currants today. I also took Ruth to see the
doctor as she had complained a good deal of not feeling well for some time. After a physical
examination the doctor prescribed some medicine for her nerves and advised that she lie in bed for
two or three weeks and rest to ward off nervous trouble which she felt sure would follow unless she
was built up before school started in September. Last Sunday, July 7, a swarm of bees had lit on
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one of our trees by the house and Will and I captured it. We have just taken a swarm of bees from
under Father Gardiner's house by means of a hive excluder and expect to get another swarm from
there. I would like to have enough bees to furnish the honey we need.
August 18, 1918. Reed has been exposed to the Whooping Cough, and we think he is coming
down with the disease. Lewis Gardiner's children and Junie's boy, Clay have the Whooping Cough.
September 10, 1918. Willie has just come home from Dragon where he has been working.
September 17, 1918. Tuesday. Today my Father passed to the great beyond. He worked in the
bees all day up at Fourth Ward where he had bees rented on shares. At the close of the days work
he and my brother, Ray, started for town as they were living with my sister May. When they
stopped to close the gate to the bee yard he became dizzy and faint and swayed so that he could
scarcely sit in the buggy. He gave the lines to Ray and told him to drive to town. On arriving there
father went in the Drugstore where he found Doctor Christy, who got some medicine for him and
then took him to May's in his car. May was away from home at the time as she had gone to
Roosevelt for a visit of a week. Father was placed on the bed on arriving home and he requested
Charles, May's husband to put up a stove in the front room as he said he thought that he would set
up most of the night as he didn't feel good lying down.
Charles sent for Nellie who was living near and Mable was also there. The girls stayed near for
a time and father said he was better. Nellie feeling that there was no immediate danger went back
home to be gone for a short time, as she had left her children. Soon after she had gone, Charles was
putting the stove up and Mable was staying with Father when all unexpected he had another spell of
heart trouble come on. Mable ran to tell Charles, he came and worked with him and brought him to
consciousness and he asked for the Elders to administer to him. Brother Belcher and Hanson came
and performed the ordinance after which he said he felt much better and stated that he thought he
would be all right as he had had several such spells before but thought that was the hardest attack
that he had experienced.
Charles and Mable were near him most of the time and he dosed off once and on awakening said
he had either been asleep or had been some where, but he felt better. Soon after, as Charles was
sitting conversing with him without any seeming change, he said, "Well Charley give me your
hand," and after gripping his hand passed away quietly, without a struggle.
Speakers at the service were: President Don B. Colton, Thomas Caldwell and Florence Willis.
His friends paid him many compliments at his funeral service. Among the noble things said of him
by those who had dealt with him in business capacity, that he was honest and a man of his word,
who could be depended on, that he visited the sick, assisted the widow, the orphans, also any
worthy poor, who ever asked for help, none were ever turned away empty handed. He went from
house to house to assist any who would ask him to assist them in preparing their family records and
all the pay he asked that they give him his dinner when he was there at dinner time. He told the
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people publicly in both Naples and Davis Wards that he would assist any one who wished him to
assist them with their family records on these terms.
Sister Florence Willis said, on being called to speak at his service, that he was a member of the
Davis Ward Relief Society and had assisted the sisters by instructing them along the lines of their
lesson work, also that he had done a great deal of charitable work and how he had always been a
servant to the public in the district school, Sunday School, and Mutual, assisting in lesson work, in
singing, record work, as secretary and janitor work, or any thing that he could do to assist in
educating the young and making it pleasant and comfortable at the house of worship or the school
building. She also said that she contributed the prosperity of the Davis Ward to Brother Collier
who had labored faithfully in so many capacities among the people.
All of Father's children were present at the funeral. Our Father had labored ever since the death
of my Mother in 1912 to save means to do Temple work and gather records of the dead relatives.
He has done some Temple work but was just beginning to get his affairs in shape that he could soon
have done a greater work for the dead if he had lived a few more years. His children gathered, after
the funeral, at the home of Charles and May and voted unanimously to use all of the share of the
property which would be awarded to all above the minors, to do Temple work on Father's line of
the family.
We also formed a family organization on the following evening, September 22, Sunday with
officers as follows: Amy A. Gardiner President, Hannah May Carpenter Vice President, Walter
Collier Assistant Vice President, Joseph Collier Secretary and Treasurer, James Edwin Collier head
of Genealogical Committee, Mable Collier Winward head of the amusement committee. Joseph
Collier was chosen to be administrator for the Estate.
All of the unmarried children decided to rent a house in connection with Nellie and her husband
in Vernal as Nellie's husband was usually away with the sheep, he being in the sheep business at the
time.
September 23, 1918. Brothers Edwin and Karl went to Dragon to work at the mine. Ed to be
gone all winter, his family to live in Naples near her father John Palmer, while he was away.
September 25, 1918. The Spanish Influenza has broken out in the training camps among the
soldiers, and on examination is reported by the physicians and Health Officers to be in 26 States
and is spreading rapidly. It is called, 'The Flue'.
October 12, 1918. Word was sent from Salt Lake City, today that the State of Utah was under
quarantine for the Flue, as it is called, to abbreviate. All schools and public gatherings are stopped
until the Flue is banished from our midst. People have attended the General Conference and the
State Fair in the Capitol and have returned home with the Flue. But, after these people have come
home sick and the Doctors became acquainted with the nature of the disease, they reported that the
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disease had been here since July but that they didn't know what it was, and in the warm weather it
had not been so serious as it became as the fall with the stormy, weather came on.
October 18, 1918. Nellie and her baby are sick and the Doctor has pronounced it the Flue.
They think Mable had it in a light form as she has been ailing. About October 21, Nellie's husband
has come home and their little girl Gladys is sick. Theodore was the next to take the disease, all
were quite sick but not dangerously ill.
October 26, 1918. George, Nellie's husband has been home five days and has the flue. All of
the others are better. Nov. 3, George is very sick, he has pneumonia. Joe has gone over to Vernal
to assist in caring for him. George was so very sick and they needed more help so decided it was
best to take him to the Hospital, which they did on that day.
November 4, 1918. Monday. Brother Joe and George's father were taking care of George at the
Hospital and he passed to the great beyond near noon of that day, leaving sister Nellie with three
little children. William, Gladys and Clyde. I feel very sorry, as do all of the other members of the
family. As it is not wise for us to go there to visit and give help and comfort in that terrible disease,
we can only do and help on the out side. I with the assistance of Sister Fannie Richens bought and
made George's burial cloths and wish that I might do more to help relieve my sister.
Many are the hearts that are sore and bereaved because of the victims which death has claimed
from the ones who have had that terrible disease.
All of the men at Dragon mine have been having the Flue, brother Ed among the others. Four of
the boys from here have died out there. Many new graves are being made lately, and I think we are
having as few deaths here as any where from the disease. People are dying by the thousands in the
East. One place I heard of, there were 400 on the cemetery at one time. The number of deaths
were so great that graves could not be dug fast enough, and they used a steam shovel to make a
trench and filled the trench with the dead.
Sister Amy Cook has been very low with the Flue, but is better now. She has been living with
her mother, Sister Remington and they have all been sick at once. They had to have help and I and
Ruth have gone in to help with the house work. Willie and I have gone over to Shaffers to help
them also. I've felt that the Lord would protect us where we were needed so badly, and he has done.
November 11, 1918. Today the Germans signed the Armistice for Peace. Great was the
rejoicing when the word was telegraphed all over the world, that the war was at an end. Word
reached Vernal about 11:00 A. M. of November 11. Young men got on their horses and rode all
over the Valley shouting that, "The War is ended!". Immediately the people of Vernal began to
celebrate. Bells rang, whistles blew, guns were fired and people shouted. We could hear the noise
to our house 2 1/2 miles away. A parade was planned for the afternoon. A dummy Kaiser was
hoisted on the Flag Pole and riddled with bullets then dragged behind a car through the streets in the
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parade and then burned on the bon fire at night on the Main Street. Truly this is one of the greatest
days the world has ever known.
November 14, 1918. I am sad to write of the death of Amy Remington Cook who passed away
last evening, November 13, 1918. She became worse Monday afternoon of the 11th. She leaves a
Mother, a brother Fuller, and a sister Agnes, a husband Mark Cook, and two little children, a little
boy, Morris about four years old and a girl baby, Leah about three months old. I went with Sister
Marion Manwaring today to get her burial clothes and we will, with the help of Sister Fannie
Richens, make them.
When I went to town today, I learned that Charles Carpenter had the Flue and my brother John
Collier is waiting on him. There is an increase in the number of cases of Flue. It seems that quite a
number of new families have it. Our boys went for wood today, they have already hauled three
loads of good cedar wood this fall.
November 15, 1918. Today I attended the funeral services held on the cemetery for Amy Cook.
It was a cloudy day and during the service we had quite a hard shower of rain, but before the
people left the cemetery the storm had cleared away. The services were conducted by Bishop A. G.
Goodrich. A mixed double quartette sang three hymns. Brother Abner Richens and Bishop
Goodrich were the speakers. Brother Richens spoke of the faithful and virtuous life of the
deceased. Bishop Goodrich spoke of the trying times that we were passing through, saying that we
would all be tried and exhorted all to be faithful Latter-day Saints and try stand firm and perform
our duties so that when we are called not found wanting.
November 16, 1918. Saturday. Mrs. Robbins called and stated that her brother Warren Slaugh,
had lost his wife with the Flue and asked me to assist her in making the burial clothes. I made the
Temple robe and Veil for her.
November 17, 1918. Sunday. Today Grandpa and Grandma Gardiner came and ate dinner with
us and spent the afternoon. After they had left I went to Laura Evans to phone to see how Charles
Carpenter was. May answered the phone and said he was a little better, that the fever had broke.
Brother Ed is staying there and helping them. She said that our sister, Mattie Chivers, her child
Eva, and the baby all have the Flue, and sister Mable has gone to help them. She said Mattie's
husband, Nate Chivers was away and when he came home, Mattie would not let him come in.
November 18, 1918. Monday. The Deseret News paper which came today told of the
demobilizing of the U. S. Armies both at home and in France. Also stated that the boys at the
training camps will begin to arrive at their homes in about two weeks. The boys in France would
soon begin to sail home beginning with the sick and wounded. It wouldn't have been long till
Willie would have been in.
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November 19, 1918. Today Joseph F. Smith, President of the L.D.S. Church died after being ill
for some time.
November 20, 1918. Wednesday. Today brothers Walter and Karl came over from their Coal
Mine on Brush Creek bringing Harold Cook and wife who were very sick with the Flue, also their
infant babe (daughter) which had died of the Flue. I am going to assist Fannie Richens to make the
burial cloths for the little one in the morning. Walter said his family and Brother Franks family are
all down with the Flue, at the mine. Sister Nellie went over last Monday to visit with them as she
has had the Flue she thinks she will be safe to help take care of the others who are sick at the mine.
Brother Joe washed and laid out the little baby of Harold Cook as there seemed to be no one else at
hand who would attend to it. Brother Ed went back to the mine at Dragon to work at the mine.
Nov. 18, after recovering from the Flue and assisting May to wait on her husband Charles
Carpenter, he is recovering from the Flue and Sister Mattie Chivers and her children are all down
with the Flue, but are better. Mable and John are taking care of them. Today Old Spot, our cow
had a new heifer calf.
November 22, 1918. Brother Walter and Frank have the Flue.
November 23, 1918. Karl came over to bring Nellie home from the mine as she was worn out
waiting on the sick and Karl was coming down with the disease. When he came over he went back
and went to bed and was real sick the next day.
November 25, 1918. Monday. I baked some bread for the sick at the mine and in the evening
Willie and Clarence Palmer went over to the mine and took the bread and some other food which I
had prepared, also some medicine and other supplies. The Doctor and trained Nurse had been over
to the mine in the afternoon and said all were getting along alright except Walter and he was in a
very serious condition, as he had taken a back set from getting out of bed the day before. I started
to white wash and clean house today.
November 26, 1918. Willie went to brother Joe Collier's to deliver a message from the sick at
the mine. He volunteered to go over to the mine and do the best he could at cooking as they could
not get anyone to go over to cook and do the outside chores. His services were gladly accepted.
Brother Ed Young took him over there immediately, as they were very much in need of help.
Today I finished whitewashing the house and we have changed about, taking the kitchen for the
front room and bed room for kitchen, as we think it will be more comfortable for winter. I see by
the paper today, that Heber J. Grant, President of the Quorum of the twelve has been sustained by
the Twelve Apostles to succeed President Joseph F. Smith who recently passed away.
November 28, 1918. Thursday. Thanksgiving Day. We stayed home and had a Thanksgiving
Dinner, all the family being present but Willie. Walter was taken to the Hospital yesterday. All the
relatives with the Flue are better.
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December 1, 1918. Sunday. I went over to Vernal and spent the day with Charles and May
Carpenter. Walter Richardson, Sister Nellie's brother-in-law, died last night from Pneumonia
following the Flue. She feels very broken up over the loss of her husband and his brother.
December 3, 1918. Tuesday. Willie and Lewis Gardiner went to the mountain for lumber.
Today the children and I picked and cleaned 12 chickens and I fixed the pork which we had just
killed.
December 4, 1918. Wednesday. Will went to the school house to act as one of the judges of
school election. The children and I cleaned 20 chickens today.
December 5, 1918. Brother Joe's family is coming down with the Flue, Myrtle is quite sick.
December 6, 1918. Friday. Willie came home without his lumber as the wagon wheel broke
down.
December 7, 1918. Saturday. Will went up to the mountain to get the lumber that Willie had
left.
December 9, 1918. Monday. Will got home with his lumber yesterday and today he put the
roof on the new log building. We were very glad to have the building roofed in as we have slept in
there up to now with just a wagon cover to shelter our beds.
December 13, 1918. Saturday. Will just finished daubing the new building today. With the
little stove it is nice there now.
December 14, 1918. Sunday. Today I went to Vernal to see Sister Clara Richardson. She is
going to Dragon soon as her husband is out there to work at the mine. All our relatives are over the
Flue who have been sick.
December 17,1918. Wednesday. Today we as a family all went to the photographer to have our
family picture taken.
December 18, 1918. Today Will went to Vernal and got material to make a large gate to put at
the entrance of our place and nearly completed making it. I have been doing some cooking and
candy making for Christmas, today. We are having lovely weather, no snow to lie on the ground
yet.
December 22, 1918. Sunday. We just got the photographs of our family, today. This evening
Lewis Gardiner, Laura, Ivy and LaVell Manwaring came and spent the evening with us. The time
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was spent in singing hymns and talking of Lewis's missionary experience in England and the
teachings of the Gospel, and also the signs of the times.
December 23, 1918. Monday. I went to town and called on my sisters, May and Nellie.
December 24, 1918. Tuesday. Another sad death has occurred in our Ward from the Flue,
James Allred, son of Martin Allred. He leaves a wife and five small children.
December 25, 1918. Wednesday. We celebrated Christmas at home. Grandpa and Grandma
Gardiner ate Christmas dinner with us. We feel that we have much to be thankful for as we are all
well, and there is much sickness around us and many are called to part with loved ones from the
dreadful disease of Flue that is among us.
January 1, 1919. New Years Day. Sister Nellie Richardson's children came out to spend a few
days with us. We had a nice and enjoyable visit. My Brother Theodore also ate New Year's dinner
with us.
January 13, 1919. Monday. The District Schools which has been closed since October 12,
1918, are commencing school on the Home Study and individual reporting plan. The children will
report individually every second day, to the teacher for the period of thirty minutes and have the
teacher assign new lessons each second day.
Will has just filled the ice bin with good thick ice blocks from Calder's ice pond, frozen from the
piped City water so we will have plenty of good drinking water for the summer.
January 27, 1919. Monday. Today we mailed a $40.00 order for Bee Boxes and frames so that
we may build up our bees. We had nine stands last fall.
January 29, 1919. I went to James Marshall's, a bee man to see about getting some wax
foundation for our bee box frames. He is going to ship our bees wax with his to have it made into
foundation. I also took my Genealogical note book with me and gathered some more records for
the family record from two families while I was out. I have gathered nearly all of the Records of
the living members of the Gardiner family who live here in this County, also some from other
places.
February 3, 1919. Monday. Today Sister Marion Manwaring came to our house to have me
assist her with making her family record. This is the second day that I have put in on her record and
she has it nearly up to date. Today we got word that the wife of Bert Richens had just died with the
flue. She went by the name of 'Sis Holmes', her given name being Mary, before she married Bert
Richens.
February 4, 1919. Tuesday. I assisted Fannie Richens and Marion Manwaring in making the
burial clothes for Bert Richen's wife. We have only had just a few little light snows fall yet, none to
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keep the ground covered, only in small patches. We have had just the nicest winter weather
imaginable so far this winter, but never before in all our lives has there been so much sickness and
death. The cemeteries are being covered with new graves who are the victims of the flue. Richard
Fowler whom Will has worked with in the mason business died Sunday, Feb. 2, 1919, of the Flue.
His death is likely to make quite a difference in Will's work, as Mr. Fowler was the contractor on
the brick buildings.
February 7, 1919. Friday. Joseph Rich Jr., husband of Will's sister Flossy Gardiner Rich, died
of the Flue and pneumonia, leaving his wife and three little children, Don G., Wilma and Josephine.
His family are all very sick at this time.
February 6, 1919. Swen Anderson of the Naples Ward died of the Flue and I attended his
funeral services on the Vernal-Naples Cemetery, Saturday, Feb. 8.
February 9, 1919
. Sunday. We attended the funeral services of Joseph Rich Jr. which were held at the VernalNaples Cemetery. A quartette was rendered by Ben A. Critchlow, Anton H. Strebble, Mina Davis
and daughter of David Bennion. Prayer, quartette, remarks by John N. Davis and Bishop Hyrum B.
Calder, quartette, prayer, and dedication of the grave.
February 15, 1919. Saturday. Flossy and the children are getting better from the Flue, as well
as can be expected. Sister Nellie Richardson came to visit us with her little children for a few days.
February 16, 1919. Sunday. Today Will went to Vernal this morning and brought back the
news that Sister May Carpenter gave birth to a little daughter this morning. Grandma Southam had
been to assist sister May in her confinement. She called as she was going home to tell us the news
and took dinner with us.
February 17, 1919. Monday. Today I went to take Sister Nellie home as she had promised to
nurse sister May and her baby. They were getting along nicely. While I was at sister Mays I read a
letter from my sister Clara Richardson who with her husband and family are living at the Dragon
Mine. She said they were just recovering from the Flue. They had gotten along nicely with out
being very sick.
February 18, 1919. Tuesday. Today Sister Amanda Remington came to see us with her two
little grand children who had lost their mother a few months ago with the Flue. She is very sad over
the loss of her daughter.
Yesterday the Flue Ban was lifted from all the amusement houses and the dances and picture
shows commenced.
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February 20, 1919. Thursday. Today when we arose there was about 3/4 of an inch of snow on
the ground and it snowed some until noon, but was nearly all melted by tonight. There has not been
enough snow lie on the ground to make it look white all over for two days together this winter.
Brother Frank and family called and ate supper and spent the evening with us tonight.
February 22, 1919. Saturday. Today I planted the second lot of tomato seed in the boxes. The
first lot I planted on the 14 of February, and they are up now. We just got the bee frames that we
ordered a few days ago. Today Will and Nellie just finished nailing and wiring the 200 frames for
the bee boxes.
February 26, 1919. Wednesday. Will went to Green River to haul some logs for a Mr.
Johnson. On the night of the 26th, there was a fall of snow of about three inches. That is the most
snow that we have had at any one time before this winter.
February 28, 1919. Friday. Today is the last day of February and although there is a little snow
on the ground now, there will not be long as it is melting fast in the sunshine. Flossy and her
children are over the flue now and Brother Joe Collier moved them out to his place Tuesday the
25th.
March 2, 1919. Sunday. Today all of the Church gatherings commenced again, now that the
Flue ban has been lifted. Myself and husband attended Sacrament Meeting. Myself and the
children attended the Mutual in the evening. Brother Ashley Bartlett was present and sang a solo,
also gave a very interesting talk.
March 4, 1919. Tuesday. I attended the Relief Society Meeting and Will attended the Farmer's
Meeting after which we went out to Brother Joe Collier's to see Flossy as she was suffering in bed
with rheumatism. She was administered to for her relief. After leaving Joe's we called on Will's
sister Junie and husband Robert Allred.
March 5, 1919. Wednesday. Will and I went to town and I called on sisters May and Nellie.
March 6, 1919. Thursday. Today Will and Rob Allred went to Leaton with a load of coal. I
went down and took care of Flossie all day. She is some better.
March 7, 1919. Friday evening there was a welcome home entertainment for the boys of the
Naples and Davis Wards who had returned home from serving our country in war. The meeting
house was well filled with people from both wards. We had a nice program and 10 soldier and
sailor boys were there to be honored. Refreshments were passed after which there was visiting and
shaking hands.
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March 9, 1919. Sunday. Will did not get home from Leaton until evening, so I did not have
anyway to ride to meetings and was not able to attend. I studied my lesson in the, "Sir Name
Book", for Relief Society most of the afternoon.
March 11, 1919. Tuesday. I attended Relief Society Meeting and gave the lesson in Genealogy.
March 18, 1919. Will has gone freighting to Watson, he left today. I went up to Sister Fannie
Richens to ride with her to Relief Society Meeting, but on reaching her house found she had gone.
So I borrowed a horse and went to town and brought Sister May and her children to visit.
March 19, 1919. Wednesday. May went home as she wanted to get ready for Conference
which would commence Saturday following.
March 20, 1919. Thursday. Willie and I did the washing. After we got through he went with
Theodore to take a letter of importance to Walter from Ed.
March 21, 1919. Friday. I ironed the cloths, done the house work and wrote to Clara who is
out at the Dragon Mine. I expected to attend Conference the next day but Saturday, March 22, I
was sick and had to remain in bed.
March 26, 1919. Wednesday. Today is Ruth's birthday. She is fifteen today. Willie left home
for Dragon to work in the mine. On arriving in Watson he met his father in the store there. Will
and those men freighting with him left home on Tuesday and had to lay over at Green River on
account of the ice jam and damage done to the Ferry, until the next Monday.
April 15, 1919. Tuesday. I have been sick over three weeks but am able to sit up a little. I sent
for Brother Abner Richens today and had Will and him administer to me. I kept Ruth out of school
for the first week and a half, since then she has been to school in the forenoon and she and her
father have kept house. Today Will moved the bees down from where they were at the further end
of the field. He put them up here above the granary where it will be more handy to take care of
them. We have six stands alive this spring.
April 23, 1919. Wednesday. I have just finished transplanting my tomato plants, except two
boxes of later ones. I have over 2000 of the earlier plants. I have had Will and the children prepare
the boxes and the dirt and every time I could I sit up a little while during the time I have been sick, I
would transplant a few plants. Will has fixed the hot beds and set the boxes of plants out there and
they would look fine.
April 25, 1919. Will has plowed the garden this week and planted the early potatoes, beets,
carrots and onions. We have nine hens set now. The children set four while I have been sick.
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April 27, 1919. Sunday. Today is a cloudy cold day with threatening rain. We have been
having some very nice spring weather. The apricots have been in bloom for a week, just as full of
blooms as they can be. Frank and Rowena came to see us for a little while today. Ivy and LaVell
went to Brush Creek to live for the summer a few days ago. Laura went with them and just
returned home today. She has never stayed alone since the death of her husband. It will be very
lonesome for her and her two children there, alone. We will let one of our children stay with her at
nights. The children finished school this week, all three, Ruth, Cecil, and Golden finished their
grades and were promoted to the Eighth, Seventh, and Fifth Grades.
The boys who left to serve their Country in the World War are continually coming home now.
Every few days or weeks we hear of some more of our friends and acquaintances coming home and
some are still in France.
May 1919. Willie came home about the middle of the month for a visit, from the Dragon Mine,
and went back again about the first of June. My sister Mable was married to Alphonzo Winward
about the last of May at Vernal, Utah, at the home of our sister Nellie.
June 1919. About the last of June I was very unwell. I had been under the doctors care for a
month and had grown worse. When I went to see the Doctor last June 28, the Doctor told me to go
home and go to bed. He changed the medicine and said I must have a nurse. This was Saturday. I
went to bed and sent for sister Nellie to come and help me. She came Monday morning. The new
medicine nearly killed me. When Nellie came I was in such a bad condition I could scarcely get my
breath. I sent her to phone the Doctor about the way the medicine acted. He said to discontinue the
medicine until I got relief, then to take the full amount prescribed. Previously I had only taken half
the dose with such bad results. When Nellie came and reported the Doctors orders I had her destroy
the medicine for I felt that if I took any more it would surely kill me. I decided that the Doctor
could not do me any good and I would put my trust in the Lord and if He did not see fit to help me
there would be no help for me. I sent for Elders Lewis S. Gardiner and Abner Richens in
connection with my husband they administered to me. I began to improve from that very hour. My
breathing became easier immediately. I was in bed for three weeks. Nellie stayed with me two
weeks.
Willie came home from the Dragon Mine about the first of July. He went with some of my
brothers, Joe, John, and Theodore, to fish on the mountain. They went to the Lakes. Were gone a
little over two weeks and came home with a half of a two bushel sack of trout apiece. They salted
and partly dried the fish.
August 31, 1919. My brother Karl Collier was married today to a Dry Fork girl, Miss Faun
Caldwell, at the home of her parents at Dry Fork, Uintah County.
Nellie and Jim Richardson, her brother-in-law, have sold their Brush Creek Ranch and a farm in
the north east part of Naples Ward, and sister Nellie has gone to live with her husband's folks.
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September 1919. We have extracted the honey from the bees and found that every hive but one
swarm had a sprinkling of foul brood, a bee disease. We had prepared new Langstroth hives with
full sheets of foundation in them. When we found the foul brood we just shook the bees into the
new hives and melted all of the old combs up, as the disease is carried in the wax. We previously
had had the bees in the American hives and wished to change them, so thought this would be a
good time to get rid of the foul brood, and get them in the new hives. We had to feed them some
dissolved sugar as it was getting late and we have had drouth so there is not much honey for them to
gather.
About the first of September, Willie decided he would go to Dragon and work for a few weeks
and try to go to High School and finish the fourth year. He had thought he might work instead of
going to school but we persuaded him to go to school and try to finish High School at least. All of
the other three children commenced in District School when it opened about the 8th of September.
October 1919. We have had a very serious drouth in the Valley this summer. Our garden is
almost a complete failure. We have had very few vegetables, no grain and very little feed for the
stock, also a little fruit. We had a late frost in the spring that took nearly all of the fruit and tender
vegetables. I have put up enough fruit to last for my family for a year with what I already had left
over from last year.
Will has been blessed with steady labor and good wages all summer at the Mason work, laying
brick, working under Ward White. He has been very kind and good to Will.
I am feeling much better, have been slowly improving in health since July.
We have had quite a change in the Naples Ward. Bishop Albert G. Goodrich has been called to
the Stake Presidency as 2nd Counselor, Fuller R. Remington is our new Bishop with Lewis S.
Gardiner and William Merrill as Counselors. We have changes in nearly all of the organizations in
the Ward. Those that haven't been changed will be.
October 19, 1919. I was called to work in the Genealogical work in the Ward Committee. This
is a new move in our Stake. There is a Stake Board and a Ward Committee in each Ward,
comprised of both men and women.
December 1919. Our Ward Conference was held and our Relief Society was reorganized with
Sister Mary Kay as President, Sisters Emma Hullinger and Inez Rasmussen as Counselors and Lucy
Lind as Secretary and Treasurer. Lydia Iverson and myself as class leaders. I was also retained as a
Relief Society Visiting Teacher.
December 31, 1919. Wednesday. I finished visiting my district that was given to me to do
Genealogical work on for the first time. I visited a third of the Ward alone and took the Line Cards
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to gather Genealogical data from each man and woman on my district. It will take several calls
before I can get the cards filled completely.
January 1920. In the first week of January, Will had a bad spell with a lame back. He was in
bed and on the bed for a week or more. He and I both had a bad cough and cold and were very
miserable. Will worked for Ward White until he got sick.
We are having the coldest weather and the most snow that we have had in a good many years.
There is very little feed to be had for any price for the animals or fowls on account of the drouth last
summer. Hay is $45.00 per ton, corn and oats 5 cents per pound and scarce at that. Most of the
corn is shipped in to the Valley. Many stock and fowls are dying. The winter started in with a
blizzard in November so early that no one was prepared for it. And it remained extremely cold all
after that. Food stuff is awful high, for instance: flour $6.75 to $8.50 per hundred, potatoes $2.00
per bushel, butter $.65 a pound, whole milk not to be bought, separated milk $.05 per quart.
My sister Mable Winward has a little baby girl, born I believe on the 7th of January. Sister
Mattie Chivers had a baby girl born in the fall, about October. Her little girl Eva has been sick all
winter with heart trouble.
February 5, 1920. Thursday. Our little niece, Wilma Rich, six years old came to make her
home with us. She has lived with her Grandmother Rich and her mother's sister Laura, most of the
time since her Father died a year ago with the Flue. Her mother has to work for her support. She is
Sister Flossy’s child.
February 14, 1920. Saturday. I went to help make the burial clothes for Sister Alice Karren
who died yesterday. She has been an invalid for eight years. She is the wife of John Karren. Her
family have the Flue. Sunday, February 15. she was laid away at the Vernal Cemetery. The
services were held at the grave side.
February 15, 1920. Sunday. Meetings were discontinued on account of the Flue spreading.
The Flue has become a serious thing in most of the big cities.
February 23, 1920. Monday. The District School will commence the Group System until the
Flue conditions are improved. There is much Flue here in this Valley, but very few serious cases.
The High School U.S.A. will close for two weeks then will commence and continue until closing
time in the spring.
February 29, 1920. Sunday. We have the Flue among some of our relatives and many of our
neighbors around us. The families of Arthur Gardiner and Robert Allred have the Flue. The dread
disease has also entered the family of Lewis Gardiner. None of our relatives have been seriously
sick, yet. There has been a few deaths from the Flue in the Valley.
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The snow is melting very fast. The children can play out doors some now. The fields are
beginning to show bare spots where ever the snow has been disturbed. The past week we have had
some nice sunny weather with a light fall of snow twice. The latter part of the week preceding, we
had quite a rain storm.
We came very near losing one of the horses of our team about ten days ago. Our animals are
very weak and poor from scarcity of feed and the cold hard winter. Old Star got tangled in his rope
and thrown down during the night and when we got up he was nearly dead. He was so weak that he
could not get up alone for nearly a week. But I am very thankful to say that he has recovered and is
getting stronger again. Will is feeding him and Old Sailor, the other horse some corn every day.
Hay is very scarce and $45.00 a ton when it can be found for sale. I planted the tomatoes in the
boxes here in the house again.
February 26, 1920. Thursday. Last year I planted the tomatoes on February 23rd. I received
$43.00 for last years plants besides the ones we planted in our garden. I done most of the
transplanting in the boxes when I was only able to sit up from one to two hours at a time. Will and
the children would put the dirt in the boxes on the table for me. I also raised over 200 little
chickens, so I did some thing although I was sick all summer.
We got a letter from Will's brother, Fred, in Panguitch, Garfield Co., Utah. He said the Flue is
raging all around them. We are thinking of forming a Family Organization among the Gardiners.
When Will wrote to his brother Fred he told him that we were going to form a Family Organization
for genealogical purposes and Temple work and he promised to assist us by giving us the record of
his family and he endorsed the move in connection with a family organization.
March 7, 1920. Sunday. The Flue ban was lifted from all public gatherings and the week
preceding it was lifted from schools.
March 8, 1920. Monday. Will went to the reservation to haul hay for Eaton and I commenced
to clean house. Willie calcimined the kitchen for me. The week following Will calcimined the
front room and assisted in cleaning it. This is the first time we have used Calcimine to paint the
walls. We like it.
March 21, 1920. Sunday. I attended Stake Conference. No visitors present.
March 23, 1920. I planted a second lot of tomatoes. The first planting are doing fairly well.
The night of March 25 and the day of 26th, it snowed about two inches of snow.
March 28, 1920. Sunday. Today is Sunday the 28th and there is yet enough snow left to give
the landscape a wintery appearance. This storm has made the roads very muddy again.
25
April 13, 1920. We started the Genealogical Class again, as it had been discontinued on
account of the Flue.
April 17, 1920. Saturday. I planted a third lot of tomatoes also some cabbage seed in the house.
Willie and I went down to Father's old Bee Yard and got a lot of supplies. We have rented the
Bees belonging to the Collier family. They have foul brood and will need lots of care. There is
twelve stands at present and others to be got yet, from Mark Batty.
April 18, 1920. Sunday. Willie and his Father went down to my brother Ed's and brought the
bees home. They had to go for them on Sunday as that was the only time we could get the team.
Our own team being too poor and weak to drive, from the terrible winter that we have had.
It blowed very hard both yesterday and today and was some of the coldest weather that I have
ever experienced at this time of year. We are having the coldest spring and the most backward that
I ever remember having. It may truly be called the hard winter with an equally hard spring
following.
April 21, 1920. Wednesday. This week finishes High School for Willie. Tonight is his class
graduating exercises. Will and I would like very much to have attended the graduating exercises but
we had no way that we could ride, so had to miss being there.
Last night was Tuesday, April 20th, we held our Genealogical class. One week ago Lewis S.
Gardiner was released as chairman of the class on account of being chosen to be second Councilor
to the Bishop and now being chosen to be Scout Leader. First Councilor to the Bishop, Franklin
Merrill was appointed as chairman of the class. Ada Cook was also released on account of having
too many church duties to act as secretary. We have no secretary yet. Ruth and I drove down with
the Bishop and walked home.
April 30, 1920. Friday. Willie graduated from the High School course given by the Uintah
Stake Academy.
May 1, 1920. Willie left home for the Gilsonite Mine. He worked first at the Country Boy
Mine, things were not satisfactory there and he went to work in the Temple Mine near Watson.
Next we heard from him he had gone to herd sheep for the King Brothers. He wrote that letter
dated May 17th post marked at Watson May 19, said he liked his job fine.
May 22, 1920. We received a pair of shoes for Ruth from William Gardiner sent from Provo.
He and my brother John Collier are together and conclude they are going to travel to see some of
the world. John went on just such a trip last summer, just stopping to work a week or two in a
place to get means to go on with. Going farther each time until he landed in Oregon near the coast.
26
One day when it was getting near winter he surprised us by coming home. But he had such an
agreeable time and experience that he wished to travel again this summer.
I spent the day distributing Genealogical blanks and explaining the work.
May 24, 1920. Monday. I spent the afternoon with the people gathering information to put on
the genealogical blanks and distributing more blanks. Tuesday I went to Relief Society Meeting.
May 26, 1920. Wednesday. I spent the afternoon with the people on the Genealogical work.
May 28, 1920. Friday. I worked at home until late afternoon then I went on my district and
gathered some of the Genealogical Blanks in.
May 31, 1920. Monday. Karl and his wife came to see me. He had come in from the Gilsonite
mine to move his wife out there. He said Willie and John had got enough of sight seeing and had
returned to the Rainbow gilsonite mine to work. They visited Provo and Salt Lake while they were
away.
June 1, 1920. Tuesday. Tonight I went to the Ward Teachers and Officers Meeting. Will is on
the mountain for lumber for Hent Eaton. I expected him home but he did not get home tonight.
Ruth went to work for the family of Faulks, today.
June 20, 1920. Sunday. I went to Stake Conference today. Attended a Band Concert of the
Vernal Central School at the City Park and brought Ruth home to spend the evening from Faulks
where she is working. When we got home, we found Willie had come home from the Rainbow
Mine.
June 23, 1920. Wednesday. I went out on my District allotted to me for Genealogical work in
the Naples Ward. We have a new set of blanks to be filled out called, The Genealogical Survey of
Uintah County. I have about thirty families on my District. I made this trip to complete this work
which I started a month ago. I'm grateful that I don't have to walk.
June 24, 1920. Thursday. Sister Catherine Southam came with her Genealogical Record Book
and information to commence her Family Record working on it all afternoon. I kept her book to
continue the work for her telling her that I would do all I can to help her to get her Family Record in
good shape. She is such a dear friend. She is a Mid-wife and has helped me a lot.
June 25, 1920. Friday. Will came home from another trip from the mountains for Hent Eaton.
He expects to commence cutting Laura's hay Monday and putting it up on shares then put up our
own.
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July 3, 1920. Friday. Today Sister Catherine Southam come again with more information for
her record book. I spent the afternoon working on her record.
July 4, 1920. Sunday. I spent the afternoon working on Sister Southam's family record.
July 5, 1920. Vernal had a Celebration gotten up by Vernal's Social Committee to pay off some
indebtedness of the Stake. There was a parade with all of the Wards participating. A program held
at the Tabernacle. Sports at the Park for the children, then both older and younger children had
races, then a ball game and other sports at the ball ground for the older people.
July 6, 1920. Tuesday. Flossy left for Watson without telling any of us who were keeping her
children, or without seeing her children, or without telling her parents. She is thinking of taking a
trip to Salt Lake City, for pleasure with some of her friends, then she and Mary Johnson intend
taking over the Boarding House for the Ute Oil Co., for a year if all proves satisfactory.
July 10, 1920. Saturday. Today the first airship arrived in this Valley. Roosevelt sent for an
aviator with his airship to help entertain the people on July 5th from Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Vernal saw their first airship. He took passengers up in the air for about a six minute flight for
$12.50 each, two passengers at a time. He took passengers up for two days at Roosevelt and one
day in Vernal. He took in several thousand dollars in three days.
July 11, 1920. Sunday. Ruth had to quit her job at Faulks as it was not an agreeable place to
work. She has been there six weeks and says she cannot stand it any longer. Today Will went to
Lapoint to work at mason work. Joe took him over in his car for $5.00. We all went for the ride.
Karl has bought Walter's car and Frank has bought a second hand car. Raymond and Theodore
have just come in from the gilsonite mine lately. Lucy Gardiner and Lewis have a new baby born
June 28. Brothers Walter and John have gone to Slaugh's Mill to work for the summer.
July 15, 1920. Thursday. Willie went to the Gilsonite Mine to work again.
July 26, 1920. Monday. Will came home Saturday night from Lapoint to be home over
Sunday. While he was home I talked with him about buying us a milk cow. We have had no milk
or butter except that which we bought for more than a year, and will not have any for at least a year.
We decided that I should look for a cow. There was two ads in the Express of cows for sale. Will
went back to Lapoint Sunday about 4:00 P. M. I hitched the horse to the buggy and went to look at
Powell's cow Sunday evening. And this morning I called Brother Reid up on the phone and went to
look at his cow in the afternoon. He wanted a hundred dollars for his cow. Powell wanted $90.00
for his cow. I decided to buy Mr. Reid's cow if Will was willing. I have some money in the Bank
which I earned in the spring raising tomato plants for sale. I wrote to Will and told him about the
cow and offered to pay $50.00 if he would pay the other $50.00, he consented. Ruth went to work
for Lucy Lind on Monday July 26.
28
August 2, 1920. Monday. Will came home again to spend Sunday. He gave me the $50.00 to
help pay for the cow and I took Cecil this morning and went and bought the cow and he brought her
home. When we got home we went to Bascom's and got a little pig paying $5.00 for it.
August 10, 1920. Tuesday. Ivy took very sick, cramping Tuesday night. Will is home this
week.
August 15, 1920. Sunday. Sister Ivy is very sick. Will went to Lapoint this afternoon to work
again. Jennie Southam died August 11. She has been very sick for five months and was nothing
but a skeleton. My brother and her sister, Walter and Lizzie, rode from the sawmill on the
mountain, horseback, the night she died, arriving after she had passed away. There was a large
number of people attended the funeral services.
September 6, 1920. Monday. Ivy has almost recovered from her sickness. Laura and Ivy went
to Brush Creek this morning to cook for the hay hands. Laura left Viola, her little girl, with me as
the District School will commence in the morning.
September 7, 1920. Tuesday. The District School started today. Reed is six years old and I am
going to let him go to school. I took him to the store to get him a new pair of shoes. Tomorrow he
will commence to go to school. This evening about 6 o'clock the children were playing on the
lawn. Reed fell down and Wilma fell over him breaking her left arm above the wrist. I took her
over to the office of Dr. Rich immediately. He gave her chloroform and set her arm and we were
back home by 9:00 o'clock. Cecil went with us.
September 9, 1920. Will completed his job at Lapoint and came home this evening.
September 11, 1920. Ruth came home from Elmer Lind's where she has been working. Willie
came home also from the Gilsonite Mime for a rest.
September 15, 1920. Wednesday. Today the Relief Society gave a party for the old folks. Will
has gone to manage the dance this evening. It is late and I am very tired. Charles Carpenter
commenced to manage the Naples Store today. The Co-op Store have Elmer Lind out (a little store
in Naples) and hired Charles, my brother-in-law, to manage the Naples Store.
September 20, 1920. Monday. We took Ruth to the Drs. Office this morning and had her
tonsils and adenoids removed. Dr. Rich performed the operation, Dr. O'Donnel administered the
chloroform. It was a successful operation. Conference was held in Vernal yesterday and Saturday.
September 22, 1920. Will went to help Ward White build Indian houses on the Reservation at
Moffet.
29
September 27, 28, 1920. The County Fair was held in Vernal. The District School children
made some articles of wood in the school for the Fair. Golden made a book rack for the Fair and
won second prize on that kind of work, competing with all the school children of the County. The
prize was $2.00 in cash. His book rack was also taken to the State Fair.
September 27, 1920. Monday. Ruth commenced school at the First Year in the Uintah
Academy. She was a week late, on account of her operation. I went with her on the first day to
help her get registered. The U. A. has a new Principal this year following Lorenzo Reed. His name
is Jacobson. Ruth finished the eighth grade in the district school last year at Naples School. The
courses she is taking is: Theology--teacher, O. N. Olsen; General Science--teacher, Theodore
Johnson; Typewriting--teacher, Mr. Jackson; Vocal--teacher, O. N. Olsen; Quire (choir)--teacher,
O. N. Olsen; English--teacher, Mrs. Parker.
October 4, 1920. Monday. Will and I went through the bees and extracted the honey. Will
came home Saturday night and went back to Moffet to work this morning. I took him over to Ward
Whites and he went with him, in his car to Moffet.
October 7, 1920. Thursday. Flossy came in from Watson on a visit with her suiter. She has
been out there since in July. She seems quite satisfied with the care that we have given Wilma in
the eight months she has been with us. Wilma's arm that was broken on Sept. 7, is getting along
fine, we will be able to leave the cast off all together soon. Her arm is straight and looks fine.
October 11, 1920. Sunday. I was not feeling very well today. I stayed home all day. I have
had so much to do and so little rest. Last Sunday Will and I went to meeting and then out to Bro.
Joe Collier's. They have a new baby girl, born Sept. 25, 1920. Two weeks ago today, I went out to
grandma Southams to get genealogical information for her record as I am writing her Family
Record for her. We had quite a hard wind and rain today. We have had the nicest kind of Fall this
year. So warm and sunny.
October 31, 1920. Sunday. When we got up this morning the ground was all covered with
snow. About four or five inches of very wet snow. It snowed and melted all day and it looks like
winter has set in, in earnest. Today Wilma left us to stay with her mother. She has been nine
months, lacking five days, with us.
November 3, 1920. Wednesday. The boys, Cecil, Golden and myself, have just gathered the
carrots and cabbage yesterday and today, with a little help from Will yesterday, and Mr. Mortensen
helped the boys plough them out today. We had three wagon loads of carrots when they had been
topped. We had quite a time gathering them out of the snow and mud.
November 4, 5, 1920. Thursday and Friday I made a coat out of Ruth's coat for Wilma. On
friday the 5th, Flossy was married at the Court House by Ervine Eaten, to Herman Hursch, a man of
twenty five years of age. She became acquainted with him at Watson, Utah. He was working for
30
the Gilsonite Company. They are going to live at the Harrison Mine, at Watson, Utah. He has had
a house built out there, for them to live in. She will take all of her children with them. They had a
wedding supper at brother Joe Collier's. I went to their wedding party. They only had Flossie's
parents, brothers and sisters and their families. Will, Lewis, Fred and Junie were not here, as they
were out of town.
November 17, 1920. Our son William left home and went to Sunnyside, Carbon County, Utah
to work at the coal mines. My brothers John, Theodore and also Walter with his family were out
there to work.
November 19, 1920. Sister May Carpenter, gave birth to a girl, Nov. 12. All are doing well
with Grandma Southam taking care of her and the baby.
December 18, 19, 1920. Stake Conference was held on these days. Ruth and I attended both
days. Will went on Sunday to build a vault for some woman who was dead. He has been working
down at Jensen on a bridge for two or three weeks and will have to go back to finish it soon as they
had to wait for cement. After being to Conference Dec. 19, I went over to see sister May for a few
minutes, and found that sister Nellie was going to be married to the brother of her dead husband.
His name is James Richardson. They were going out to Sunnyside Mine the next day, to find work.
Sister Mable and husband, Karl and wife, also Frank and family have gone out there to work. I
waited to see them married and acted as a witness. When she got married the first time she did not
ask anyone to her wedding and I just happened to come on the scene in time to act as a witness of
her marriage. President Don B. Colton married them at May's house.
December 25, 1920. Our son William, sent me $20.00 for myself and the children for
Christmas. Also a little fire engine for the children to play with. We all spent Christmas at home
except William. Will and I went to the Picture Show and took the children in the evening. They
showed "Evangeline". I made our candy, both for this Christmas and last Xmas and had very good
success. Candy is very high priced these days, and can be made much cheaper. Quite a number of
people I know of are making their own candy this year. Wilma has broken her arm again, much
worse than it was before.
December 26, 1920. Sunday. I remained home and worked on the Genealogical Record which
I am making for Grandma Southam.
December 31, 1920. This is the last day and the last hour of the old year. I have been out
canvassing a part of the Ward two days this week collecting some food and money for our worthy
poor. Will just got through with his job on the bridge down at Jensen, and came home today. We
are still having nice weather with just enough snow to make it look wintery. The clock says ten
minutes more and the old year will be gone. Will and Ruth went to the dance at the Meeting House
tonight. All of the other children are in bed, long ago. It seems that the evening after the children
31
are in bed is the only time I have that I can call my own to read, write, or think, and do any other
little jobs which I wish to do, but cannot find the time through the day.
January 1, 1921. Well, here is the beginning of the first hour in the New Year. May we all live
through this year of 1921 and improve this year physically, mentally and spiritually and morally,
that when 1922 arrives we can look back on the past year of our lives and feel that it is an
improvement compared to other years of our lives. Will and Ruth will soon be home so I will slip
off to bed leaving them a fire and a light to come home to. Sister Clara Richardson sent up word
that she has a new baby boy born on the 29th November and has named him John Thornton. They
are out to Dragon to work. Clara has been acting as Postmistress. Her husband Will Richardson is
working at the mine.
January 6, 1921. Thursday. This was the evening that a farewell party was held for Lynn
Richins as he is leaving soon for a mission to the Northern States. Will and I and some of our
children attended the party. The entertainment consisted of a program in the form of a Street
Meeting, as they are conducted by the missionaries out in the Field, led by some of our returned
missionaries, also songs and speeches by others. After the program dancing was participated in.
The music for dancing was a four piece jazz band. The Meeting House was full of people. I have
never saw a larger crowd there on any occasion.
January 8, 1921. Saturday. I was 43 years old today. Lynn Richens left here for his mission on
that date.
January 13, 1921. Today I did my washing. We are having the nicest kind of weather for this
time of year. There has been a very little snow on the ground, just enough to say we had snow for
Christmas but the ground is bare now where the sun shines.
February 11, 1921. Friday. The Uintah Academy students and teachers have been getting an
Opera prepared. Tonight they are going to put it on at Jensen.
February 12, 1921. Saturday. The Jensen people were well pleased with the Opera, called,
"Gypsy Rover", played by the U. A. last night. The students played in Vernal, Saturday afternoon
and evening. It was pronounced by people who attended to be the best that the U. A.(Uintah
Academy) have ever given along a theatrical line. Ruth took part in the play.
February 13, 1921. Sunday. We were shocked to learn that my sister Mattie Chivers had just
lost her third child Juanita. We heard last night for the first time that she was sick. No one, not
even the doctor, or her parents thought she was seriously sick. Two of the other children of the
family had been sick and recovered with the same ailment. Juanita seemed to be much better on
this day after being sick for four days. A change took place suddenly this afternoon and she passed
away very quickly in just a very few minutes after the change took place. The doctor was sent for.
He made a thorough examination of her body and took a test of the spinal fluid and after consulting
32
the other doctor they pronounced it to be Spinal Meningitis. She was buried Tuesday, Feb. 15. It
surely was an awful cold, windy day. The services had to be held at the Vernal Cemetery. The
weather had been just like spring for days previous.
February 15, 1921. Blanch Chivers, cousin to Juanita Chivers died very suddenly with Spinal
Meningitis, making it doubly hard for the Chivers family.
February 17, 1921. Thursday. Sister Mable Winward lost her thirteen month old baby, Lela
Faun. She had whooping cough and measles. They were out to Sunnyside, Carbon Co., mines to
work. Brothers John, Theodore and Walter came home and brought Nellie and Mable and her
husband in to lay their little child away in the Vernal cemetery. The services were held at the
cemetery, Saturday Feb. 19, 1921. They having arrived home at five o'clock that morning. They
left Sunnyside at one P. M.
February 18, 1921. All of the relatives children that are out to Sunnyside have been having
whooping cough and measles, but are getting better now. I received a letter from our son, who is
out there and he tells us he has bought a motor cycle and that he is doing well financially. He says
he has a new job every two or three weeks and is getting lots of experience. The relatives give good
reports of him. He is sending his tithing home to the Bishop.
February 20, 1921. Will and I met tot sister May Carpenters with others of our brothers and
sisters to visit the relatives that had come in from Sunnyside. We took dinner with May and her
husband and then Walter and Charles took us out to see Sister Mattie and Nate. They have another
child with Spinal Meningitides, Ashel. He came down with the disease this forenoon. They asked
me if I thought Brother Richens would administer to their child. I have heard Brother Abner
Richens say that if he was sent for, to administer, that he would go no matter what the disease was,
because he felt that the Lord would protect him and that he would not carry the disease to anyone
else. They sent for him and he went and administered to Nate and Mattie's boy, Ashel. We went
from Nate's and Mattie's home to brother Ed's house and spent the evening.
February 21, 1921. Monday. Sister May and children came and spent the day with me. Sister
Nellie was also visiting me, while she is in from Sunnyside.
February 22, 1921. I went to Nate's and took them some food which I had cooked. They had
another child, Eva, coming down with the disease and Ashel was very sick.
February 23, 1921. Wednesday. Brothers John and Theodore also sisters Nellie and Mable
came out and took dinner with me. Mable stayed and visited me while the others went out to see
how Nates sick children were getting along. They were improving so the folks thought they would
return to Sunnyside the following morning, which they did.
33
February 24, 1921. Thursday. I looked through the Bees and found that they had capped
Brood and had wintered fine. I also set a hen. It is so warm that a stream of red water came down
the canal from the melting snow. We never had such a nice winter here before, I think.
February 26, 1921. Saturday. Great Basket Ball game played by the Uintah Academy with
Carbon Co. boys. The winning of this game by the Uintah Academy boys entitles them to go to
Salt Lake City to play the boys of the High School for the Championship of the State. We have
cause to feel proud of our U. A. boys
.
February 27, 1921. Sunday. I heard from Nate's family last night. They think their children
are out of danger now. We feel to give thanks for the Lord that there has been no more deaths in
their family. We also were thankful that this terrible disease has not spread any farther.
March 8, 1921. March 8 was the date the anti-cigarette bill was signed and approved. May the
good work and sentiment along this line grow until we have a nation wide anti-tobacco law in this
nation.
March 10, 1921. The U. A. boys lost the game with the Salt Lake team.
March 18, 1921. I am interested to note that the L.D.S. Church gains 13,000 members during
the year 1920. The total Membership is given for 1920 was, 452,797.
March 19, 20, 1921. The quarterly Conference was held here. Melvin J. Ballard one of the
twelve Apostles was in attendance to speak to the people. I attended two sessions Saturday and one
Sunday afternoon. I have never been to a meeting of any kind when the Spirit of the Lord seemed
to be manifest as it was at that Conference. I have never before heard such powerful sermons.
March 22, 1921. Tuesday. I attended Relief Society Meeting. After meeting I went to see
Grandma Southam who is still ailing from the operation for cancer. She is very fragile and lonely,
living by herself with her little nine year old granddaughter for help and company. Also I went to
see my sister Mattie's children who are sick. They are all getting along alright but little Ashel. He
is very weak and sick yet. He has been sick thirty days and the whole time has been a very serious
one for him. He is just about as poor as a human being can get and so weak that he hasn't control of
his mind. He is improving slowly and we hope to see him much better, soon. I heard that brother
Walter and family left Sunnyside to come home two days ago.
March 30, 1921. Wednesday. I went to see little Ashel Chivers. He is so much improved since
I was there a week ago. His mind has brightened up and we are all thankful to our Heavenly Father
that his life has been spared and that his mind is bright, and that he has not been left crippled from
such a severe illness as many thought he would be. I also called on Grandma Southam while I was
out that way.
April 9, 1921. Saturday. Will came home to stay from working on the road.
34
April 12, 1921. Tuesday. Our son William came home from Sunnyside with some of my
brothers and sister Nellie and family.
April 24, 1921. Sunday. When we got up this morning there was at least six inches of snow on
the ground. Everything looked as much like winter as it did any time during the winter. The
apricots were all out in bloom. I think we will not have many apricots after this storm. We have
two missionaries who have just returned home to our Ward. Alvin Haws and Harold Hullinger.
Both spoke in Priesthood Meeting today. Sister Clara Richardson and family were moving from
Dragon where they have been to work for over two years, to their home on the Reservation some
distance from Roosevelt. They came here on the evening of Thursday, April 14, 1921. It was
stormy weather, so they stayed here till Saturday morning. The morning was fine and they
continued on their way. Will has sown Bromus Grass seed on the pasture, barley and lucerne seed
in the field. And we have our early garden in, so this snow storm that we have just had on April 24,
will be just the thing to start all of it growing.
May 1, 1921. Sunday. I was very much surprised to have three brothers and their wives and
three of my sisters with their husbands come to see us this afternoon. We had some music from my
organ and mandolin, also singing. I enjoyed their visit very much.
May 7, 1921. Saturday. It was very stormy and covered the ground with very wet snow, but
melted off before night. It has rained two or three days.
June 4, 1921. Our old Jersey cow had a heifer calf born today. That will give us some good
milk, cream and butter.
June 5, 1921. Brother Sowards, the Stake Patriarch came down to Naples in behalf of our
Genealogical Ward Board. We have been disorganized for more than a year. All of us old
members were retained, and the Bishop was instructed to install a secretary and one more male
member that we might get started to work, again.
CONTINUED BY HER DAUGHTER RUTH:
July 30, 1921. The writer of the foregoing Journal, Amy Collier Gardiner, had been ailing for
about two and a half years, but she never complained. She had had so much sickness, but always
tried to be cheerful. This summer she has gradually grown weaker, till finally the last two months
she spent most of her time on the bed. She was always able to get up and take care of herself. She
gradually spent more and more of her time on the bed. Then Friday July 22, she went right to bed,
but didn't confine herself strictly to bed till Sunday the 24th. Monday the 25, we knew she was a
very sick woman. Father stayed with her while I went to the program at the Naples Ward House as
I was in a girls chorus. I came home immediately afterward to find Mother decidedly worse. She
35
had a great difficulty with her breathing. I stayed with her till about five o'clock. I came back about
seven and then as Arthur Harrison whom I've been going with a year and seven months, wanted me
to go with him to the dance, I went. Mother had said for me to go.
July 27, 1921. Wednesday. Both Father and I had just stepped out leaving Mother with Aunt
Laura, who had just come down when Mother called us in. She asked father if he would let her go,
as she felt too weak and sick to make the fight to live. Father, of course, couldn't answer her. I sent
Reed and Golden after Brother Abner Richens and Uncle Lewis. They came and Brother Frank
Slaugh came with them. We had Circle Prayer. Mother told Brother Richens that she had been
expecting to go all summer, which she had, as she frequently spoke of the fact that she wouldn't be
here long. But how COULD WE KNOW?? OR REALIZE?
She then said that her life had been spared three times now to be with her family, by the
Priesthood, that the Doctors had never helped her. She then kissed us all "Goodbye", and told the
boys to never smoke or swear, to be virtuous and be good, staunch Latter day Saint men. She had
my promise to care for Reed and look after the others. She gave me instructions for her
Genealogical papers. She again asked Father to let her go and he told her if the Lord would accept
the sacrifice, he would give her up. She thanked him and Laura, Lewis and Brother Richens for
their friendship. She then said she was a little easier after Father had said she could go. Then she
told us she wasn't going just yet, for a little while.
July 28, 1921. Thursday. The next day Mother grew much worse, again about eleven o'clock I
was alone with her, as Father had gone to find Doctor O'Donnell. He came back about twelve
o'clock. About three, sister Manwaring and Aunt Laura came back. They had set up with her the
previous night. Mother steadily grew worse. Before anyone came Father and I had carried her out
doors, never realizing that she would be carried back, dead.
The Doctor came about five and saw how things were and of course couldn't do anything.
Mother left us about seven o'clock. We were all present with just Sister Manwaring and Aunt
Laura. Sister Martinson and Brother Richens and Uncle Lewis came in a few minutes.
July 30, 1921. Saturday. We buried her this Saturday. She left a family of five: William
Joseph age 22, Amy Ruth age 17, Cecil Albert age 14, Bryon Golden age 12, John Reed age 7. She
was only 43 on the 8th of last January. She is with her four little babies that have gone on before,
and her parents.
I'll always try to remember what she told Daddy one day when we went to the Cemetery to put
flowers on the Baby's graves. She said, "Will, when you come here to put some flowers on my
grave, remember, remember, I'm not here."
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AT BEGINNING OF ONE OF THE DIARIES.
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William John Gardiner. Born Sept. 28, 1875, Pleasant Grove, Utah. Parents, Joseph Gardiner
and Annie Watts Gardiner. Baptized by Joseph H. Gardiner. Confirmed by Joseph G. Gardiner,
Sept. 20, 1884, in Merrell Ward, Uintah Stake. Ordained a Deacon Jan. 6, 1890. Ordained a Priest
April 13, 1898 by James M. Shaffer in Uintah Stake. Ordained an Elder Sept. 17, 1898 by Joab
Collier in Uintah Stake. William John Gardiner and Amy Ann Collier married in the Salt Lake City
Temple for Time and All Eternity by John R. Winder, Sept. 30, 1898. Witnesses George H. Taylor
and John C. Cutler. Called to be a Ward Teacher Jan. 22, 1913 and set apart by Bsp. Cons. Albert
A. Haws.
MOVED TO VERNAL FALL OF 1883.
Amy Ann Collier Gardiner. Born Jan. 8, 1878, at Provo, Utah. Parents Joab Collier and
Theodocia Keeler Collier. Baptized by John B. Meldrum, confirmed by Joseph H. Keeler Sept. 25,
1886. Blessed by John E. Booth April 4, 1878. Married William John Gardiner Sept. 30, 1898, in
the Salt Lake City Temple, by John R. Winder, witnesses George H. Taylor and John C. Cutler.
FIRST CHILD
A son born July 20, 1899, on Thursday, at 12:30 P. M. Weight 8 3/4 pounds. At one week old,
9 pounds. Named and blessed Sept. 3, by Joseph H. Gardiner. Name given him: William Joseph
Gardiner. Born in Uintah County, Naples Ward. Set apart to the office of Deacon, Aug. 11, 1911,
by Bishop James M. Shaffer. William called to act as Secretary to the Naples Ward Deacon's
Quorum Jan 27, 1913, by Bishop's Coun. Lewis S. Gardiner.
SECOND CHILD
Harold Leroy born Monday, May 6, 1901. Blessed and named May 7, by Joseph H. Gardiner.
Died May 7. Buried May 8, in Vernal Cemetery. Born in Naples Ward Uintah Co., Utah. Weight
8 1/2 pounds.
THIRD CHILD
Amy Ruth born Saturday, March 26, 1904. Blessed and named by Joseph H. Gardiner. Born
and blessed in Naples Ward, Uintah Co., Utah. When born weight, 9 1/2 pounds. When two
months old weighed 14 1/2 pounds.
FOURTH CHILD
Cecil Albert Gardiner born Sept. 9, 1906, on Sunday. Blessed and named, Oct. 7, by Bishop
James M. Shaffer. Weight at birth, 9 pounds. Born and blessed in Naples Ward, Uintah Co. Utah.
FIFTH CHILD
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Bryon Golden Gardiner born, Friday Aug. 21, 1908. Blessed Oct. 4, 1908 by Joseph H.
Gardiner, in Naples Ward, Uintah Co., Utah. Weight at birth, 9 pounds. Record in Naples Ward
Record Book of children: B. N. 254.
SIXTH CHILD
Daniel, born March 7, 1910. Blessed and named by Abner Richens at birth. Born on Sunday
about 5:00 o'clock and lived about 30 minutes. Buried March 8, 1910 in the Vernal Cemetery.
SEVENTH CHILD
Leon Francis born Sunday Feb. 5, 1911 at 12:30 P. M. and lived about 2 hours. Blessed and
named by Brother Abner Richens. All three children buried in Vernal Cemetery. Buried Feb. 6,
1911.
EIGHT CHILD
John Reed born July 5, 1914, in Naples Ward, Uintah Co., Utah. Blessed and named Aug. 2,
1914, by Lewis S. Gardiner. Born on Sunday, P. M.
NINTH CHILD
Docia Gardiner born on Sunday Dec. 23, 1917. Born about 4:30 P. M. Blessed and named
Dec. 23, by Brother Abner Richens. Just lived a few hours and died Dec. 23, 1917. Buried in the
Vernal Cemetery, Dec. 24, 1917.
These four babies were what is called "Blue Babies". The heart valve wouldn't close.
Descriptive memories of uncles and aunts, by Jean H. Rogers, granddaughter.
William J. dark nearly black hair, blue eyes, Chest size 44 inches, Height 5 ft. 8 in., weight 198
lbs. 1922. Was heavy all his life. Wore bib overalls. Had salt and pepper hair at death, enough hair
to make a curl over his forehead that he always wore. Occupation brick maker and builder, rock
mason, farmer. Disposition: very happy, cute chuckle, loved to tell tall tales, loved life.
Amy Ann: Auburn hair, grey eyes, Health fair, Build small frame, weight 145 lbs, chest size 38,
height 5 ft. 2 1/2 in. 1917 at age 39. Died at age 43. Occupation, house wife, church positions,
genealogy, Relief Society and set apart to prepare the dead.
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Bill: hair light brown, (not bald) eyes gray, health good, abt. 5 ft, 9 in., stocky build as an adult
weight about 190 lb. Occupation, farmer, grocery store owner. Disposition: quiet, pleasant, not
talkative.
Ruth: abt 5 ft. 2 in., weight about 175 lbs., last 10 years weight about 150 lbs., hair dark brown
almost black, hazel eyes, shoe size 5 1/2, chest size about 38, health fair, small frame. Occupation:
House wife, Church teacher, Missionary, genealogy, scripture quoting, temple worker. Disposition:
very talkative, always positive, very knowledgeable, pleasant, friendly, musical, many hobbies.
Cecil: about 5 ft. 10 in. tall, weight about 140 lbs, slender all his life, red blond, curly hair turned
auburn in later life always wavy hair.(not bald) Health good until later life, heart problems.
Occupation Air Plane Plant Manager. Disposition: very happy, cute chuckle, talkative, smart, most
like his father.
Golden: about 5 ft 11 in. tall, brown hair, (not bald) about 180 lbs until lighter weight in later
years, slender build, health good. Occupation Air Plane Plant Manager. Disposition, not talkative,
very serious, smart, happy, temple worker.
Reed: black curly hair, very wavy as adult, (not bald), slender build, weight about 150 lbs, health
fair. Occupation Baker. Disposition, happy, cute chuckle, medium talkative, well poised,
missionary, very handsome.
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