home that night, that we still had our little brother.

Transcription

1 JULIA LOTT ROBINSON In e little town of Beaver, Beaver, Utah, 11 July 1896 Julia Lott was born into e humble home of my parents Adelbert Franklin and Susan Jane Farnswor Lott. I was e 6 child or e middle one for ey later had 5 more. Their names were Clara May, Amelia Jane, Adelbert Peter, Margaret Ann, Docia, Julia, John Taylor, David Alonzo, Lareen, Franklin Leroy and Aene. One of my earliest memories was when moer was very ill wi smallpox. The doctor came to see her and told her e family should be vaccinated. This was in e spring of 1901, when is serum was little known to us. Amelia, e second girl, was very frightened and she begged moer to have one vaccinated and if it killed e one, not to have anymore done. Moer suggested Amelia be first. The family was vaccinated, noone died and only moer and faer had smallpox. This happened one mon before my broer, Alonzo, was born. Alonzo had a number of pox marks on his body. I must have scratched mine or got infection, as I had scores from hand to my shoulder. My memories are still unpleasant of e hot water soaks I endured. I was pretty young, when moer grew good radishes and sent my sister, Docia, and I to sell em. We sold a lot of em to a lady who fed boarders. She was kind to us and oh how happy we were to take e money home. We must have had some choice neighbors, how I did like to play wi Lenore Baldwin and e Hodgets girls. My parents moved back and for from Beaver to Frisco a number of times. Faer hauled cord wood for e mines in Frisco. Some of my sweetest memories of my faer were when we children went wi him after wood. As e old wagon went slowly along, he had time toi tell us stories and happenings of e past. Clara and Amelia worked in a boarding house by e mines, ey earned money and helped faer and moer buy our first organ. What a treasured instrument it was. I ink chords were about all any of us played on it, but we all learned to sing and chord to our songs. Moer had a beautiful clear voice, I ought, and I loved to hear her sing. I ink her happiest times were when her family gaered around e organ wi one of e girls playing chords and we sang songs dear to our hearts. My first school year was in Frisco wi cousins, Edi and Myrtle Farnswor as teachers. We walked quite a distance to school. I remember e galley filled wi fog so heavy we could hardly see our way rough em. One time moer s sister and family came to visit us. We children went over to town, where e stores, school and oer places of entertainment were to a children s dance in e afternoon. One cousin was left to care for my broer Alonzo, who was a baby 2 or 3 years old. As we were coming home we saw a man, who worked at e mines, carrying a child and walking toward our home. He was on his way home from work, when he found Alonzo asleep on e railroad track, just a few minutes before e train was due. There was much rejoicing in our

2 home at night, at we still had our little broer. My sister, Docia, and I earned quite a little money carrying lunches from e boarding house to e miners. They paid 5 cents a day for is service, at ey might have hot lunches. Two older sisters were married by is time, Clara to John Covington 5 Oct. 1904, and Amelia Jane to Clyde Messinger 30 Aug Moer s half-broer, Philo Taylor Farnswor, was president of e Horne Silver Mine and owned his own private railroad car. I was privileged to go in is car wi cousins and watch e negro help and also ride over to town as e car returned to Salt Lake. Of course, we had to walk back, but we didn t mind at. I was fearful of a building we had to pass on our way to town. It was called e Red- Light place and had red covers on e windows. Moer told us never to go close to it. I suppose it was e minerals at caused e water to be bad, so we had to buy our water at 5 cents a bucket from a man, who drove a white horse and barrels of water from e mines. We were living in Frisco, Utah, when my sister, Amelia Jane Messinger got her first child, Clyde Leroy, Jr. Born 11 July Moer was called to Beaver to help care for her. The baby died 12 July 1905 and Amelia Jane died 21 July She must have had a blood clot hit her heart and she passed away. Faer took e family back to Beaver for e funeral. We had a home in Beaver, so e family remained ere. LeRoy was born 23 Sep. 1905, 2 mons after Amelia s dea. When LeRoy was 3 mons old faer sold our home in Beaver and bought a home in Joseph, Utah. While faer was transacting e sales we lived in a tent and also some small homes. My childhood years were happy ones, wi a large family, many cousins and friends. My little sister, Lorine, born 26 April 1903, had Scarlet Fever at e time of Amelia s dea. She developed a heart condition and passed away 12 Nov Aene was born 22 August 1908, she was e 11 member of our family and was a very welcome member. My moer got Idaho Fever. One of her faer s wives lived in Rexburg, Idaho before is time and I ink ese half-broers and sisters gave her e urge. In March 1910, we sold our home in Joseph and started for Idaho in a covered wagon wi a pair of young colts just broke to harness. It took us 3 weeks to get to Rexburg. Moer s broer, Alonzo, and family joined us, ey had lived in Richfield, Utah. We had many happy times on e road as ere were plenty of us to play games dear to e hearts of children, when e wagons camped at night. I sometimes wonder how our parents managed like ey did, cooking our food over campfires. Faer rented a farm nor of Rexburg from John Thompson. I have never forgotten e night we landed ere. It was too late to buy groceries and moer put her family to bed wiout any food. I ink it was a sad night for moer. The next morning faer went to e neighbor and borrowed flour and oer food to feed us. This neighbor proved a very choice one.

3 The furniture was scarce as we only brought one metal bedstead, a Singer Sewing Machine, a carpet, moer wove before we left our Utah home, bedding and food. We cooked on a campfire until we found an old stove in Rexburg. Faer bought lumber and made a table. Docia, Taylor, Lon and I inned beets for a Japanese farmer and bought our first chairs. The house we moved into was a large rock one wi plenty of room. Our family was happy, all willing to work, and we found our church and schools. As time went on we worked and bought ings to go in e home, each of us giving some of our earnings toi helpo. Wi our choice parents I never felt poor. We enjoyed each oer. I always remember love and understanding was strong in at humble home. Our sister, Margaret married Sam Winters 29 Nov and Docia married John Harvey Woolf 6 June On 23 Aug my broer Adelbert, passed away on his 24 birday. He was preparing for a mission. He went on a camping trip wi friends and contacted typhoid fever and later pneumonia. I was 18 at e time and is was very hard for me. He was always so good to us. The following winter our ward Bishop asked me to take a missionary course at Ricks Academy. (The name at e time) My people bought a farm in Ucon and moved at fall. I remained in Rexburg living wi an aunt. I enjoyed my school very much. When e school finished, I joined my family in Ucon. I worked in many homes, where I was needed, mostly where moers had new babies and I felt I learned much from e good people. I met Oliver Robinson, while we attended Ricks Academy. He was going to High School at e time. I later helped in his home, where his moer was ill. We got better acquainted and our courtship started and it was sweet and lovely. We were married in Salt Lake Temple 5 April I ought him e best looking groom in e whole group. We moved to a small 2 room home on one of his faer s farm East of Ucon. Our people lived alone so we had many happy times togeer. I loved my in-laws and ey were very good to me. I also loved to go to my moer s home and be wi my family. 2 Aug a little black-haired girl, Virginia, came to our home. She was a very welcome guest. In 1918 a bad flu epidemic hit is part of e Lord s vineyard. My sister, Docia, passed away 23 Oct 1918, leaving 4 little boys, one was a premature one born on 21 Oct. Just before she died. He was named Joseph Hyrum Woolf after e 2 prophets. Moer Lott took care of e little one, until Harvey married a year later. I also had e flu a short time before our next baby was born. Moer Lott was at my side nursing and giving me wonderful care. Dr. Cline was called in and as he left e house he tapped on e door and said anoer one. So many expectant moers died at fall. I recovered and e following 16 Jan a little boy, Eli, came to our home. He wasn t a strong baby and we had him under e doctor s care alot. The doctor said it was because of my condition before he was born. Aunt Sara Jane Simmons and anoer Robinson were at my side to helpo. Dr. Clind was engaged, bit he was out of town at e time.

4 Our 2 room home was small, as 2 more rooms and a basement or cellar were added. In Nov we moved to anoer of faer Robinson s farms sou of Ucon. In Jan we moved into Oliver s birplace. Oliver s parents bought and moved into a home in Ucon. On 6 Feb anoer baby boy, Aaron Lott, came to bless our home. In 1921 Dec. 20 my faer died and e following 22 May 1922 my sister Clarissa May poassed away. This was real hard for my moer. She still had Taylor, Alonzo, LeRoy, and Aene at home. She worked hard, nursing and caring for e sick, also boarding school teachers to provide for eir needs. Her family was good to get jobs and help. 18 March 1923 anoer baby boy, Lee, came to bless our home. The snow was so deep at winter and e road was closed, so we traveled rough e field. It had awed and frozen and when Dr. West came up e road we were all surprised. 15 April 1925 a little blue eyed girl, Donna, came to us. Oliver was a very good faer and we welcomed each as ey came and gave anks to our faer in Heaven. We worked hard on at good farm, tilling e ground, milking cows, separating milk, churning butter, feeding calves, and growing gardens to help take care of our needs. LaRue was born 5 March 1931-our next addition. She was a tiny baby. Sometimes I wondered if we were going to keep her. 16 Sep a lovely baby boy, Dell LeRoy, came to our home. Emily Cramer asked for him to represent e Christ Child for e Christmas program. His faer made a small manger and he slept on e hay during e program. The family were all so happy about him. In Jan. He took ill wi e flu and later pneumonia. We took him to e hospital and ey worked hard to get him better, but he didn t respond to treatment and 22 Jan 1934 he went back to his Heavenly home. It was a sad time, when we took e little bundle of his cloes back home, wiout our baby. Marie, a sweet little girl, was e next to be welcomed to e family 4 Sep We ought is was e last, but 5 Nov 1939, Joseph was born. The family grew and matured. Virginia taught school in Meadow, Utah and found her Romeo and was married to Von Reay 11 April Eli went into e Armed Forces in WW II. Aaron to e mission field, Lee to college and Donna into nurses training. I felt like our home was near empty. We had sorrows along wi our joys. When we took Eli to e bus and we knew he was leaving for Germany, where e war was in its last stage. It was a real sad parting. Aaron returned from his mission and went into e service of his country also. Lee remained at home to keep e plow going. As soon as e two older boys returned, Lee went into e mission field. They all returned healy. One by one ey found mates and were married: Eli married Blanch Duncan 23 Nov 1948 Aaron married Be Robison 26 June 1944 Lee married Thora Birch 9 Feb Donna married Harry Woodland 3 Sep LaRue married Terrell Clark 6 Sep. 1949

5 Marie married Gar Morris 1 July 1955 Josepoh married Darlene Tidwell 30 Dec My life was filled trying to care for e family and working in e church. I never worked out of my home and left e family for someone else to care for. I have been ankful rough e years I have done is. I was first a Primary teacher in Rexburg First Ward. When I joined Ucon Ward, I was made a Sunday School teacher. As years have gone by I was counselor in Mutual to Emily Cramer and Fanny Hill, and en I was President. I was Jr. Sunday School coordinator, taught Beehive girls e first year of its beginning. I have also been a Primary teacher, also Glean teacher, and Relief Society teacher. I was counselor to Elva Andrus in Relief Society and later president. I was assistant in girls organization in e stake and a stake work leader in Relief Society. I was In-Service teacher in Primary one year. I am now a district teacher and have been quilt chairman in Relief Society for 5 ½ years. We have been told to meet togeer often & teach one anoer. I am truly grateful for e good ings e church has taught us. I am most ankful for my church membership & my testimony is my greatest possession for I know at Jesus is e Christ and at Joseph Smi was called to organize God s church on ear. I was e Relief Society president, when our Ucon Ward Chapel was built. It took one year from e time it was started until it was dedicated on 24 May Spencer Jenkins was e bishop at called me to is job. Later Karl Devenport was made bishop so I worked under bo of em. Our bishopric & auxiliary heads traveled to many churches to learn what we wanted in our building. As we took e first shovels of dirt to start e foundation, I had one corner & my son, Lee, who was Sunday School Supt., had one corner. As you look at e church you ll see at many people were helping. The good sisters of e ward took refreshments each afternoon to e men who labored. After it was so far along e sisters were called in to help. While in e early stages e sisters made cook books, food sales, and many ings to make money to help out. When a group of sisters met wi our bishopric to decide about e Relief Society room, our Bishop suggested it be oval wi e corners used for closets. Some disagreed, but most went along. I have always been grateful for at beautiful room. It is almost a sacred spot to me. The night it was dedicated, my son, Aaron, told me later at as he walked into at room he was awed, he watched many oers as ey entered, ey also were awed. I have loved every part of at building and love to go ere. In e early years of our school system, Oliver s faer, Lee Robinson, was a school board member for 27 years. Later, Oliver, was a member for 9 years. He was clerk for e board also. Many of e teachers were at our home for jobs and interviews. I mixed a lot wi em and made many tripos to Idaho Falls to help. I also worked in e first PTA Org. In our school. Our family was such a part of at school. I worked in e Home Demonstration Council in Bonneville Co. And went to a number of conventions in Idaho. I associated wi many fine women. I have been grateful for ese privileges. Oliver wasn t able to farm longer, so we bought e building at was used for Seminary

6 near e Ucon School and moved it onto a foundation in Ucon. We added 2 bedrooms and a garage and moved into it 16 Dec It was difficult to leave e farm and home at I loved so well. We sold e good ear at we were privileged to use so long to Lee and Thora. I was glad to see one of e family take it. This piece of land has been e Robinson family since it was homesteaded. Our home is our castle and we bo love it. We have choice neighbors, many children and a good life. We had a very pleasant surprise in Feb. 1971, when we were chosen sweeearts at a lovely Relief Society party. Most all of our family are active in e church. 1 March 1977 I must write some more in is history. Oliver and I are still togeer for which I am moist ankful. He was 82 2 Oct I was July Many ings have happened since I wrote is history. Our 12 grandchild is leaving for Japan on his mission. Michael Woodland filled his mission in Denmark, Brent Robinson-Holland, Ronald Clark-Australia, Bruce Robinson-Mexico, Marina Clark-England, Kent Morris-Belgium, Lynn Woodland-Japan, and Reid, Val, Creed, Kevin Robinson and Myron Clark filled missions in e United States. My patriarchal blessing tells me I will have joy in my advanced years by eir faifulness unto e Lord. I can t ink of anying at will give me more joy an seeing my grandchildren stay close to e Lord and help in building is kingdom on ear. My blessing has nearly been fulfilled, it tells me I will have hopes undaunted, I have realized many times is, even in little ings around e home. We celebrated our 50 Wedding Anniversary in our home in Then in 1976 we celebrated our 60 at e Ucon church. We now have 43 grandchildren and 23 gr grandchildren. The day we celebrated our 60 e Teton Dam broke 5 June The upper country was badly flooded, homes and oer buildings washed away, many places completely destroyed. We had decided to celebrate our anniversary in June because it was a better time of e year for e family to travel and get togeer. April 1977 I give anks to my Lord every day many times for e good heal I am blessed wi. I also give anks at e Lord saw us as fit parents, to send us such a great family. They are real good to us. I would like to write my testimony. I know our Faer is in Heaven, at Jesus is e Christ, at He gave his life for us, at Joseph Smi was a true prophet and at he helped to restore e Gospel. How do I know is? I have tried in my weak way to build e Lord s Kingdom here on ear. I have studied e scriptures, especially e Book of Mormon. I have read it many times and love it, I have also said many prayers. My blessing tells me I ll have hopes undaunted. I have enjoyed is all rough my life. I am grateful at Oliver and I have been privileged to live togeer as long as we have. Life is good and I am most grateful for it. I ink I am a bit like Moroni of old, when he lived longer an he ought he would. I ought I had finished my history wi my testimony, but as many ings have happened of late at I want to add more. A lady and man came to our home from e local newspaper (Post Register) and said to me Get your hat and bow and come to your beautiful garden. They interviewed me asked many questions and took many pictures. A full page of pictures and a write-up was put in e paper. This page had rated me many good letters and cards, telephone calls and many visitors.

7 A number of e Ucon Second Ward people and close friends have asked me to come to nd eir ward and give my testimony. The week before e 24 of July a counselor of e 2 Ward Bishopric asked me to give a talk and tell how we celebrated e 24 in my early years. I did is and is gave me a chance to give my testimony. My sister, Margaret, passed away 26 May I had e privilege of giving her history. Two nephews asked me to give it to em after e funeral, I didn t have it written down, only in my mind. 4 came to my home later wi eir tape recorders and I gave it to em. I give praise and anks to my Lord, I know e Holy Ghost directs my pas. (OnJulia and Oliver s 69 Anniversary e Post Register again featured em. They put pictures of eir marriage, 25 Ann., 50 Ann., and eir 69 Ann. Such a nice write-up on em. As we have visited wi Aunt Julia and Aunt Aene we have taped some of eir experiences. She has shared pictures, histories, and stories wi us. Joe and I do appreciate, Aunt Julia. She always was so kind to us. Many times when we went to e last home, she would have a quilt on. I have helped her quilt some. Always keeping busy. She had a big garden for most of her years. She would sit on a stool and pull weeds. She always had such kind words to say about everyone. She was indeed, a very special person in our lives.) Kaleen Jardine Woolf-typed into Computer on 9 October 2002.