MARGARET ESTELLA HENRIE, 10 The following histories of Margaret Estella Henrie and Alma Johnson were written by their eldest child Alice (Johnson) Nielson:
Margaret Estella Henrie was born in the old rock house just off Union Street to the south on 2 Margaret was born and reared in a polygamous family where thrift was the keynote and home production of everything needed in the family was the rule. By nature she was home-loving and so all the arts and skills she learned were those pertaining to the homemaker. She learned to do well all the things a pioneer L.D.S. girl considered important in that line, such as washing wool and carding or spinning it into thread or wool, weaving cloth, sewing, mending, knitting, cleaning, cooking, soap making, nursing the sick, etc.; but above all also she loved to tend her sisters’ babies and as they grew up she sewed for them and dressed them up and mothered them. One niece of hers, Mrs. Lavern Funk Larson, relates how on her tenth birthday Margaret dressed her up and then desired to present her with a pair of gold circular ear rings. Lavern, while she enjoyed being dressed up, refused to have her ears pierced so Margaret’s plans for that day were not entirely carried out. Her love of children thus showed itself early in life and became more pronounced as she grew older, until it became the dominant feature of her life. She became an excellent mother, loving and ambitious for her children, and she was influential in seeing that they had more chances for education, public work, and improving of talents than she had had herself. She became the mother of ten children, three of whom passed away in early life. The thought of restricting her family was never a part of her philosophy of life.
As a small child, one of the earliest experiences of her life had to do with her being the tenth child. Her father used to tease her about giving her “in” for tithing. That was in the days when tithing was paid “in kind” and she learned of the importance of that principle so well that she always obeyed it.
She remembers of being baptized when eight years old in the creek which ran through the center of town. She was a member of the first Primary organized here and later on she attended M.I.A. She always attended Sunday School [p. 133] and Sacrament meetings, though she never did any teaching in the organizations or, indeed, any sort of public work.
Margaret went to school regularly and feels sure that Sally Parsons was her first teacher. They went to school in her teacher’s mother’s home, in a long room filled with benches that had no backs. Later teachers were Alvira Coolidge (Cox), William Anderson, George Scott, Will K. Ried, John Bench, Wallace Billings, and perhaps others. She attended school in different buildings: a small house by the creek in the south part of town, in the old Council House where the library now stands, a small rock building north of the old courthouse, a small upper room in the courthouse itself, etc.
She grew up learning to do well and finding a pride and satisfaction in it all. She tells how, with her sisters, she traveled out to the warm springs to wash their wool. They would do the work in baskets without the help of soap and softeners, depending only on the soft warm spring water, which was very effective. After the wool was clean it was brought home and put in the sun to dry preparatory to spinning and carding.
She learned to spin the wool into yarn and then knit all sorts of things: stockings, fascinators for the head, and even to weave the wool thread. She states that she made only one dress for herself of this homespun but she made two “linsey blankets” for her trousseau. Apparently those linsey blankets had cotton thread for warp and wool for the woof or “filling” as she called it. She did not do a great deal of weaving or spinning, as manufactured goods soon became easy to get as she grew up.
She learned to crochet and did numerous pieces of that work, both small and large, some of which are still in use.
She learned well the art of quilting and did much of it in her home and also for the Relief Society all of her working active life. Several of her daughters have picked up the art where she left off, though it looks as if it will become a lost art in the third or fourth generation. She says her father brought one of the first Singer sewing machines which came to town. She was about thirteen years old but she soon learned to use it and became an excellent seamstress. That also is one of the fine arts she taught her own daughters.
As a young lady her social life was restricted, since home work in those days took up most of the time. She was not socially inclined but she did enjoy dancing, being like her father in that respect. When she began keeping company with Alma Johnson she went to all the dances, but since he played a horn in the orchestra she did not get to dance with him very much.
Being such a home body she did not get as much experience working out as hired help for others as did her sisters, though sometimes she took their places for a short time. She also did washings for some families who badly needed help, but she found it very hard work to do by hand on a washboard a washing for a large family. She had married brothers and sisters living out of town who sometimes induced her to work for them, but she would very soon get homesick and have to leave if she could get home. As a result she remained at home much, helping her ailing mother and being content to have a smaller trousseau than the average girl of her day. She had two or three cotton pieced quilts, the two linsey sheets described above, a nice feather bed, and numerous crocheted pieces. She had made for herself and husband-to-be temple [p. 134] garments and also her wedding dress. It was of a silk and cotton material, blue in color, made with basque waist, and a draped or polonaise affect on the skirt. The wedding picture shows her to be very beautiful and well dressed.
Her wedding day had been set for Thanksgiving Day November 25, 1886, just a month before her twentieth birthday. So early in November her father took her and her sweetheart out to the warm springs and re-baptized them. In order to be married in a temple it was necessary to travel to Logan. They traveled by team to Moroni, which was as far south as the train came at that time. There they stayed overnight with her married sister Myra Olson, leaving by train for Logan the next day. That trip took more time than our present mode of travel, but it was well it did for it provided a sort of short honeymoon which they would not otherwise have had.
There were four couples from this section married that day—two from Manti and two from Ephraim. The other Manti couple was Jody Madsen and wife. One of the Ephraim couples was Martin Isaacson and wife, who were thereafter life-long friends of the family, and the parents of Thorpe B. Isaacson.
After their marriage they lived in two rooms of his father’s big rock home on the bank of one branch of the creek on Third North East. During this time Alma bought a lot farther east on the same street and had a small adobe home built, where they soon moved. This became the nucleus of the large family home which still stands and where they lived ever after, and here the ten children were born and reared, and the house enlarged and remodeled as needed.
This same niece, Lavern Larsen, to whom we are indebted for some of the facts of this history, tells that during the two years while Margaret lived in the Robert Johnson house, Alma went away to work, to haul supplies to the mines, to work on the railroad, etc., to earn a little cash on the side from his farm work. At such times Lavern enjoyed spending the nights with Margaret who was always more or less nervous at being alone. This same nervousness was evidenced later, afer she had moved to her own home while Alma was away on his mission to England. The writer was only five years old but remembers how upset she would get when the hired man had nightmares and shouted and swore when he lived over again the day’s problems.
The mission which Alma filled in England came after three girls had been born; one, the second, had died at the age of eighteen months and the third, Kate, was eight months old. Alice was 5. Thus, Margaret was left with two little girls, a hired man to run the farm, certainly a test of courage and faith, for not only was there a young family to care for but also sacrificing in order to provide the means necessary for Alma in his missionary work. But she never complained about her added responsibilities; she accepted it as her privilege as well as duty.
After Alma’s return home the first child born was a son, Alma Henrie. This caused a great deal of rejoicing in the family because of the prospect of a future farmer. But fate arranged it otherwise, for when the boy was five years old, during a period of quarantine for some contagious disease, he asked for permission to go up onto Temple Hill to gather some round pebbles for his flipper and sling. In doing so he fell off the cliff and was killed. The place from which he fell was in direct view of the front room window, and all the rest of her life Margaret suffered anguish every time she looked at the cliffs. [p. 135]
The next four children were girls, Estella, Vera, Eve, and Ruth—the old joke of a farmer having all girls. But the last two children were boys, Robert and Evan. However, these boys were so far down the family line that it left the job of helping the father with chores and farm work to the older girls of the family, more especially to Alice and Kate. So here again the real hardship was on the mother, for normally she should have had the older girls to help her with the family and housework. Alma became heavily involved in debt by adding more acres to his farmland and there was not the means to hire all the help needed on the farm, so the girls helped. It was not considered out of the ordinary for girls to help this way, tho some of them protested, and even Alice who had the brunt of it felt herself torn between two loyalties.
To do all the necessary things pertaining to a family of growing children, cooking, cleaning, mending, nursing the sick ones, really taxes the strength and patience of a woman. But Margaret weathered it and even found time to encourage them in church and school work and also in developing musical talents.
One thing which gave the children pride and satisfaction was that their mother became a very excellent cook, probably while she was living in the Robert Johnson home. She became so expert in making English plum pudding that her mother-in-law ever after insisted that she make it to serve at their many parties for the crowd. This crowd was made up of the early converts to the church who had come here from England, Scotland, Wales, and had early formed a very happy group of contented and jolly people who participated in much social contact with each other. Some of the best remembered parties were those held in honor of grandparents’ birthdays and other anniversaries. These are considered among some of the family’s fondest memories, jokingly and happily spent in entertainment of a high type, far excellent some of the time-wasting present-day trends in entertainment.
Margaret’s vacations, if she ever had any, consisted of a camping trip in the mountains where her husband could check on the cattle and grazing conditions, or get out poles and wood, or a trip over the mountain to Castle valley to visit relatives. There were occasional trips to Salt Lake City to conference and missionary reunions. Her social life was restricted mostly to family relationships and close friends.
She never did much public work nor had any desire for it, but she was careful and particular in seeing that her husband and the children were clean and well dressed for their duties in church and school. She not only backed up and supported her husband in his mission, but later on helped her daughter Stella to fill a mission also. Two of her daughters have college degrees and four of them became school teachers. She has never been much of a talker, but like her father was a do-er of deeds. And her actions have convinced all of her faith and belief in the gospel.
She has been a Relief Society member and done her part in its progress. She has been a tithepayer; it is remembered when tithing was “paid in kind” and she diligently paid hers in butter and eggs. She attended Sunday School and Sacrament Meeting whenever possible, but never did have the privilege of doing temple ordinance work due to health conditions. If providence had been only a little more kind she might have enjoyed with her husband the joy of temple work for the dead in her later life. But three serious illnesses left her in such a weakened and handicapped condition that she has been denied this privilege. [p. 136]
During the summer of 1924, she felt ill. When fall came her condition became acute and an operation for appendicitis became necessary. It disclosed a serious condition of gangrene involving about one-fourth of the abdominal cavity and intestines. That was before the days of penicillin and sulfa, etc., so her case was considered hopeless. But surprisingly enough, she recovered after many weeks of suffering and uncertainty. To medicine science of the day, her case was considered a miracle, because she never needed another operation. Her family could appreciate and understand it, for she has always lived a clean, wholesome life, and her time was not come. Two years later she had a serious accident which added to her weakness. She was making soap and some of the mixture splashed into her right eye. Her youngest daughter Ruth administered first aid to the best of her ability and summoned Dr. G. L. Sears, who took care of it from then on for three months. He said it was improving, but time proved otherwise for it became badly inflamed, and painful. She was taken to Salt Lake City and a specialist found it necessary to remove the eye to save the sight of the other one. Well does her daughter Alice remember that day’s significance, for it happened on December 6 At the present time (1953), Margaret at 87 and Alma at 95, her sight impaired, memory gone as well as hearing, she lives very quietly in their old home, a home which harbors so many memories of a family coming, growing up, and leaving to make homes of their own, many memories both sad and sweet—she the last survivor of her father’s family and her husband the last of his. They find satisfaction in lives well lived and children and grandchildren to carry on in name and deed. They seem to be at peace and content to be together performing the simple tasks around them and enjoying visits from children and grandchildren, reminiscing of the early days and feeling that they are just waiting for the final call which comes to us all.
History of Alma Johnson written by his oldest daughter Alice J. Nielson, with the assistance of her father, the family and other friends, her husband, and Alice K. Hatch who wrote a short history twelve years ago:
In the early days of the church’s proselyting, a young family heard the call of Mormonism in far off England. That family was Robert Johnson, his wife [p. 137] and two small children. They immigrated to the United States, landing in New Orleans after a hard voyage. Little is known of their trip up the Mississippi River, but they crossed the plains in Capt. Brown’s Company, arriving in Salt Lake City in 1853. Next year, they went to Manti to establish a home. They withstood privations and trials, for times were hard and they were in poor circumstances. Robert Johnson had been a factory worker in England, and so coming to a new country with new friends, new religion, and new work, it was a severe test of faith and courage. At first he made adobes and did other things. It was said that he could make 1,000 adobes a day with nothing to eat but buttermilk (sour milk) and frozen potatoes. He took up land for farming, and tho he knew little of the work or the handling of animals, yet he learned by doing the hard way. He was the father of Alma Johnson, who married Margaret Estella Henrie.
Alma was born 2 Dec. 1859, nine years after the settlement of Manti, in a small one-room adobe house in the center of town, near the creek somewhere on the block where the Manti Lumber Company now stands. He was 8 Before many years had passed Robert Johnson moved to the lot one block east of Main Street on Third North, along the bank of one branch of the creek which flows past the temple. At first they lived in a small house while he built the large rock building which became known and loved as the family home and which still stands and is owned now by the Ernest Braithwaites. Alma recalls that the first night spent in the big house was on his birthday, tho he does not remember how old he was.
He grew up under hard pioneer conditions and there were Indian troubles besides. In the very earliest days a fort with bastions had been built in the center of town as a protection against Indians. He remembers the fort and also the affair of the nine Indians who escaped from the jail of the old Courthouse and the excitement of their recapture by killing. He was too young to take part in any of the hostilities, however.
As a youngster, and indeed all his life, he was very bashful. His mother told of a trip they made to an adjoining town to visit friends. They took Alma, who was quite young, and tho they stayed sometime, overnight at least, they could to persuade him to get out of the wagon and had to carry food out to him there.
He took up land and worked with his father at farming. Later he added the raising of livestock, and still later he took up bee keeping on the side. At first he had only a few acres of land and worked with his father and brothers, but it was not too long before his younger brother wished to sell out and go to Idaho to seek his fortune. Alma bought him out. And still later when his own father wished to retire from active life he bought his land; also he brought the inheritances of land from his sisters, until he had acquired all the land which had belonged to the Johnson family and which made up many acres. He, along with other farmers, had good and bad years. Sometimes crops were poor because of drought. There were other threats to crops, such as the [p. 138] grasshopper plague. Everyone available in town turned out to fight these pests and were successful, in saving part of the crops.
Farming was hard work and Alma worked at it early and late, but he loved it and seemed not only to get satisfaction out of producing food stuff, but it was his recreation as well. Indeed, he was a true “son of the soil.” Nevertheless, he could take time out in the summer for camping trips in the canyons with his family, where he would get out poles or wood, or posts, and also Fish Lake, or even a visit to relatives over the mountains in Castle Valley. Always these trips were by team, which to us of today seems very slow travel, but it gave to them a chance to relax and commune with the out-of-doors. Alma could do that and be jolly and sing along the way. These trips constituted some of the family’s happiest memories.
In the early days Alma never worked on the temple, but he took care of the farm work and allowed his father to work on the temple. He told the family that the bishops considered this an unselfish act on his part, so they gave him credit for having helped out.
Farming provided food for people and livestock, but not much cash, so the young men had to resort to other jobs to get a little money. He worked in the mountains getting out logs, using an ox team. He had a very fine team and he enjoyed working with them. But when his sister and her husband (Francis M. Cox) received a call to go into Arizona to live and colonize under the United Order, his father felt that they should help them out by letting them have one of the oxen. The one they got to replace it was so wild and unruly that they had to leave the yoke on it overnight in order to be able to catch it in the morning.
Alma also went on trips to the mining camps as a freighter, hauling flour and grain and receiving cash in exchange. He was not very old, fourteen or fifteen, and people marveled that he should undertake such a hazardous occupation, as sometimes the freighters were robbed. But he was not worried. Sometimes he had an older brother along and he was lucky enough to escape being held up and robbed.
By this time he was using horses for teams. Later on he worked on the railroad with teams and scraper for $3.50 per day. He also went over into Castle Valley, grading on the Buckhorn Flat. Here he received better pay. And still later, afer his marriage, he hauled props to the Park City mine. At this venture he was paid well enough to save and bank some money.
As a young man he became a member of Brother A. C. Smythe’s choir, and he always considered that leader an outstanding musician. As a member of the choir he sang at the dedication of the Manti and also the Salt Lake Temples. Alice remembers those choir days; although she was very young, she can remember leaving her mother in the audience and walking up to the choir to sit on her father’s lap. He was blessed with a fine tenor voice and he loved to use it in praise to his Heavily Father. He sang the hymns and choir songs as he busied himself in the early mornings, building fires, and helping the children get dressed. Later, when Alice became a choir member herself, she knew all the old songs from having heard him. He must have been a member of the choir for about sixty years and under several leaders. [p. 139]
Alma grew up partaking of the amusements of the time, which consisted mostly of dancing, at first in private homes such as Christopher Madsen’s and his own father’s home, and later in the Old Council House. He with the Hansen brothers, Jody and Jens, and William Lowry and the Westenskows, furnished music for the dances with horns, violin, flute, and bass. James Crawford and Hans Larsen did the calling for the quadrilles. He played a cornet in the regular brass band of twenty pieces which rendered music for many years for the benefit of the public. They also serenaded the town on holidays, both with instrumental music and singing.
Alma was also an outstanding hunter and fisherman. The family remembers well the game he brought home. one bird in particular, brought into the kitchen, had an enormous wing spread. He also possessed great skill at wrestling. He was robust and strong, and enjoyed any outdoor activity or sport.
An old journal tells of Alma’s attending a church seminary and lists some of the topics discussed. He went to school only in the winter time and he remembers such names as John P. Squires, John Bench, Sister Alvira Coolidge (Cox), a Billings, and William T. Reid as teachers. He went to school first in private homes—viz., the Coolidge home, the Billings home, and the Squires—where they sat on hard home- made benches without backs and no desks in front and which had to be moved out in some places while the family had meals. Later on they held school in the upper room of the Court House, in the Council House, and then in a little North Ward schoolhouse which stood on the Court House block. At this time some of his best friends were Amasa E. Merriam and Savin Jack. The latter became quite well known as a painter.
Alma tells of an experience with Gavin Jack in school. One day they were sitting together, and as was usual with Gavin, the desk was covered with drawings. Coming up from behind, the teacher saw the boys and the drawings and became angry. He took the boys by the hair and bumped their heads together to see if he could teach them some sense that way. Drawing pictures was frowned upon as nonsense in those days. They concentrated on the teaching of the “3 R’s.” Apparently Gavin did not become discouraged; he kept on drawing and as evidence of his talent we have the beautiful painting “Among the Lowly” which he gave to the ward and which now hangs in the chapel.
As a young man Alma kept company with a number of girls, but finally made a choice of Margaret Estella Henrie. They made preparations to be married in the Logan Temple.
After the first three daughters were born, Alma received a call in 1894 to go on a mission to England. As a companion on the journey he had George Scott, who went to Scotland. Alma filled that mission with credit to himself and family. Alice remembers trying to write letters to her father and of his answers to them, one of which she kept for years till it was completely worn out. She had gone to school the morning he returned fro his mission and a cousin was sent to bring her home. There was much excitement for Alice and her sister Kate when their father unpacked some dolls which English sisters had dressed for them. All the clothing had been made by hand and the girls prized them very highly. Alice still has in the family the doll her father brought her from England. She was very proud of her father as a returned missionary and when he attended Sunday School in the Old Council House and sang the song, “The Sword of Bunker Hill.” Later on the family came to know [p. 140] some of the fine friends he made among the missionaries, such men as John W. Ord and John Belliston of Nephi, Nathan T. Porter from Bountiful, and Brother Smith of Salt Lake. The last named was also a fine singer and he and Alma did a lot of singing together, both in the mission field and after their return.
After his mission he settled down to family life and farming again. He continued as a farmer until after he was 80 years old, although of course he had turned the management over to the two boys. After he retired from active farming he labored for several years in the temple, doing names of anyone he could get until he was able to get names on his own family lines.
In November 1936 Alma and Margaret celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at the family home, with all their living posterity present except one grandchild. In 1948 the family celebrated their wedding anniversary and his 90 He was backward and bashful about his public work and has never been a preacher, but he did his best at it, and what he lacked in preaching he made up in singing, for the Lord blessed him with a splendid talent in music. He has sung his testimony most of his life and still does.
As far as is known, Alma has answered all the calls made upon him through the church. He has come up through the Priesthood and its offices and callings. He has served as a ward teacher and been a member of the Stake High Council for many years. one time he served as a city councilman. He has been a full tithe payer all his life and a very good donater. He always remembered his neighbors and the needy when he butchered a beef in the winter time. He always backed up the missionary cause not only in his moral support but by substantial financial aid. Besides his own mission, he sent a daughter and was willing and ready to send more, and has been pleased to help two grandsons who have served and two who are now serving.
Now in the twilight of his life he and Margaret live quietly in the old home which holds so many memories, both sad and happy. They have been married 64 years. They work in the garden, fuss with a few bees and other chores. He reads some, thinks and talks of the days, and some of the time he sits and sings the old songs. He has been blessed with excellent health and lived a long, active, useful and Christian life. He has dedicated it to the building up of the Kingdom of God on the earth and other early blessings have been added. He prizes his testimony above everything else and it grows stronger with the years. His greatest satisfaction comes from seeing his children and grandchildren grow up in the “Faith of their Fathers”—the faith that his mother espoused in England against the wish of her parents because of it. Truly the writer feels very grateful for her wonderful parents and for her heritage in this church. One marvels to realize that nearly all the trees, houses, the fences, and everything that goes to make up Manti as it is today have come within the span of his life. One could almost say he personifies the spirit of Manti, the spirit of work, of progress, and of faith. We hope and pray that the family can dedicate their lives to the same eternal principles which have guided his life. [p. 141]
Children of Alma & Margaret Estella (Henrie) Johnson, all b. in Manti, Utah, 10:
ALICE JOHNSON, eldest child of Alma & Margaret Estella (Henrie) Johnson, was b. 7 May 1889, Manti [bapt. 7 May 1897, end. & S.to H. 1910s]; m. 1910s, Manti (L.D.S. Temple), to John Rudolph Nielson, Jr., s. of John Rudolph & Jensine Martha (Jensen) Nielson. He was b. 21 Jan. 1888, Manti [bapt. 3 Mar. 1896, end. 1910s]; he d. 1950s, Manti, and bur. there Apr. 7. [p. 142]
Alice Johnson won a scholarship in high school and was valedictorian of the graduating class. She taught school two years at Manti, and attended summer school at the University of Utah. In church she was active as a secretary of the Sunday School for nine years and worked as a teacher, counselor to the Y.W.M.I.A., theology class leader and block teacher of Relief Society. She made many quilts and buckskin articles. She often said, “If I am known outside of town it is because of the buckskin coats which are scattered all over the country.”
John R. Nielson Jr. was born of Norwegian parents who immigrated to Utah to be with people of the L.D.S. faith. They had a difficult time in a new country, learning a new language and new customs. The children learned early how to help support themselves.
At the age of twelve, John R. drove a four-horse team and loaded wagon to Nevada, where he lived with a family while proving up on a homestead entry. His education was interrupted before finishing high school, as he was compelled to go out to work. Much of his teen-age was spent in Nevada as a sheep herder for his brother-in-law. He was called from there to fill a mission in Norway, the land of his ancestors. When his son filled a mission in Norway forty years later, friends and converts spoke of his fluent speech and the wonderful sermons he preached.
After his marriage to Alice Johnson he became a grocery store partner to C. G. Braithwaite for about three years. He was not satisfied with the grocery business and decided he wanted to teach school. This necessitated returning to high school, and before the course was completed he was asked to take an emergency position as teacher, and remained with the profession for nineteen years. College credits had then become a first requirement for teachers and he had to quit. He had a natural talent for teaching along with a good mind.
In civic life he was city councilman, city recorder and mayor. He supervised the extension and increase of the culinary water system, using W.P.A. labor. He took a farm census of southern Utah. He worked with youth on the N.Y.A.; was clerk of the O.P.A., and was one of the organizers of the Utah Poultry Producers.
In church affairs he was active and capable. He was superintendent of Manti North Ward Sunday School, stake superintendent of M.I.A., counselor to the bishop of North Ward, and teacher of parents’ class in Sunday School.
He was one of the first men of his community to build a mountain cabin for summer use. He was honored, loved, and respected as a teacher, always a friend to the down-trodden and poor. Above all he was a teacher of righteousness and never tired of explaining the gospel. Few men were blessed with so keen a mind, sympathetic understanding, and faith.
John R. and Alice had 7 children, all b. in Manti, Utah:
KATE DIANTHA JOHNSON, 3 MAURINE MASON, eldest child of Royal Lionel & Kate Diantha (Johnson) Mason was b. 1910s, Plymouth, Box Elder Co., Utah [bapt. 1920s, end. & S.to H. 1950s]; m. 1930s, Brigham City, Utah, to Kai Aage Brockman, s. of Magnus & Agatha (Hansen) Brockman. He was b. 11 Dec. 1909, in Denmark [bapt. 1910s, end. 1950s]. They had 5 children:
RUTH RENEE MASON, b. 1920s, Plymouth, Box Elder, Utah, 4 Clair and Karen Anderson are children born to Ray Hunsaker Anderson and his first wife Gladys Wheatly, who were divorced. These children were sealed to Ray and his second wife, Ruth Renee Mason, on 2 Jan. 1946 at the Logan (L.D.S. Temple),.
CLAIR LIONEL MASON, 5 Clair Lionel Mason volunteered for service in the Army Air Force at Ft. Douglas, Salt Lake City, 8 July 1944. He was called into service 3 Mar. 1945 and was sent to Amarilla, Texas; Wichita Falls, Texas; Las Vegas, Nevada; and from there to Scotts Field, Illinois, where he received overseas shipping orders and was sent to Greensborough, So. Carolina.
He reinlisted for another year and was sent to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. In April 1946 he boarded a troop ship for Cairo, Egypt. He landed at LaHavre, France, and was flown from Paris to Cairo, where he was assigned to duty at a U.S. Air Base on British soil. He and several other airmen were given guardship duty at the base. While here he contracted rheumatic fever and was sent to a British hospital for several weeks. He received an honorable discharge 22 Nov. 1946, having served in the Army Air Force for 21 months.
In Oct. 1947 he again volunteered to enter Cadet School in the Army Air Force and was accepted 22 Feb. 1948. He received training at San Angelo, Texas, and was sent on to Williams Air Force Base at Chandler, Ariz. While here he learned to fly fighter planes, P-51 and F-80. He graduated and on 25 Feb. 1949 received his wings and was commissioned 2 Clair Lionel & Linda Lou (Burton) Mason had 2 children:
ESTELLA JOHNSON, known as Stella all her life, was the 5 Stella was one of five girls in the family. She graduated from Manti High School with the smallest class ever to pass the examinations, seven girls and one boy. She did not attend school the following year as she wanted to study piano under Lida Edwards. She attended Summer School 1919 at the Brigham Young University and lived in the basement of Professor Boyle, across the street from the University. Nora Nielson, of Manti, was her room mate. In 1919 and 1920 she taught the first and second grades at Fayette, Utah. Brigham McCallister was Principal and Leah Wintch had charge of the 3 In the spring of 1920 she received a call to fill a mission in the Central States, with headquarters at Independence, Mo., arriving there in Sept. 1920. Cecelia Dredge of Malad, Idaho, and two boys from Salt Lake City were her traveling [p. 148] companions to the mission home. She stayed in independence only a few days, when she and Sister Dredge were transferred to Kansas City, Mo. She remained there one week and was sent to Wichita, Kans., St. John Conference. The first missionary meeting she attended she was asked to take charge of the singing, and directed it or played the piano for every meeting while in the mission field. Her entire time was spent in Wichita, Kans. She says, “I loved the city, the people, and my missionary work. It was a wonderful experience and one I shall never forget and shall always be thankful that I had this opportunity. Pres. Bennion called me back to Independence to get a companion, Grace Larson, from Roosevelt, Utah, who was in ill health. She improved sufficiently and was able to finish her mission. After I had received my release I went to St. Louis to meet Sister Dredge. We visited Nauvoo and Carthage and then stayed in the mission home a week. We returned home with Pres. Bennion, missionaries, and saints coming to the October Conference at Salt Lake City. We had chartered a pullman car and had a pleasant and enjoyable trip home. Mother and Father met me at Salt Lake and after the conference closed we returned home to Manti, arriving Oct. 1922.”
She again taught school at Manti for three years. in the early part of 1925 she became engaged to James Chapman and they were married in June of that year. They were the first couple to be married in a Tuesday evening session of the Manti Temple. Evening sessions had not been previously held. As both James and Stella had received their endowments, they took a new for the dead, and their marriage ceremony was performed after the session had passed through the temple. Her parents were in attendance to witness the ceremony.
They began their married life in an old pioneer, rock house which James had bought during the summer. Here they lived for 19 years, then moved to the Edward Parry home, three blocks south of the temple. It had six large rooms, three upstairs and three on the main floor, with a bathroom on each floor. They loved every minute they lived here. At present JoAnn is the only child home. It is too large for the family now but the married children love to return to it for occasional visits.
In early life Stella was made assistant secretary on the Stake Primary Board, and served till her call came to fill a mission. She worked in the same field after returning home and until her marriage. She also served as North Ward Chorister; was first counselor to Ludeen Cox in the Manti North Ward Relief Society from 1949-1951; after being released from this position, she was made Magazine Agent for Relief Society and is presently serving in this capacity. When her children were old enough to attend school, she taught the Zions Boys and Girls in Primary for several years.
James Chapman worked on the farm with his father. After he completed public schools he began to earn his own way. He worked in a bakery for Adolph Peterson, of Gunnison, Utah. He and his father rented a large farm in Gunnison. He also took training under A. D. Lowery to become a barber, but he decided he did not like the work well enough to take the examination and procure a license to practice.
James worked at Manti Cheese Mfg. Co. with Paul Smith, and then in the Manti Grocery Store before his marriage and remained there till the spring of 1933 (eight years). His health was not good and he was advised to quit the store. He bought a farm near the race track, from his father, but had to give [p. 149] it up during the depression of the 1930's. Later he purchased the Madson farm located by the river. His father and brother had previously owned the farm and surrounding acres earlier in his life. Then he purchased some land on the south from J. J. Jensen. The land was run down and required a lot of hard work, and by herding turkeys of Evan Johnson’s, on the place, it was made productive. With the help of his two sons he was able to pay for it. After the oldest son, Corless, returned from his mission, he and his father built an A-Grade Serge milk barn and are presently engaged in dairy farming.
James was ordained an Elder several years before his marriage; received other Priesthood ordinations as he advanced in the church; acted as assistant Scout Master to Philo Farnsworth, and after his marriage assisted N. J. Axel Nielson in the same work.
James and Stella (Johnson) Chapman had 4 children, all born in Manti:
ROBERT GLEN JOHNSON, 9 Robert Glen & Maurine Montez (Borg) Johnson had 5 children:
EVAN M. JOHNSON, 101. Alice Johnson, b. 7 May 1889; m. John Rudolph Nielseon.
2. Elizabeth Johnson, b. 19 Jan. 1891, d. 12 Aug. 1892.
3. Kate Diantha Johnson, b. 3 July 1893; m. Royal Lionel Mason.
4. Alma Henrie Johnson, b. 19 Jan. 1897, d. 18 Apr. 1902.
5. Estella Johnson, b. 5 Oct. 1898; m. James Chapman.
6. Vera Johnson, b. 14 Nov. 1900 [bapt. 7-17 Nov. 1908, end. & S.to H. 1930s; m. 1930s, (Logan L.D.S. Temple), to Edward S. Mills, s. of Francie & Lydia Elizabeth (Allen) Mills. He was b. 26 Jan. 1872, Prince Edward Island, Canada [end. 1930s]. They had 2 children:
(1) Evalu Mills, b. 1930s, Brigham, Utah.
(2) Madeline Mills, b. 1930s, Brigham.
7. Margaret Eve Johnson, b. 30 Mar. 1902, d. 15 Feb. 1904.
8. Ruth Amanda Johnson, b. 14 Mar. 1904 [bapt. 1910s, end. 14 Feb. 19033, S.to H. 1930s'; m. 1930s, Manti (L.D.S. Temple), to Henry Earl Peterson, s. of Lawrence Samuel & Cora Alice Whimpey) Peterson. He was b. 6 Oct. 1902, Lehi, Utah [Sept. 1 Aug. 1912, end. 1930s]. They had 4 children:
(1) Amanda Gae Peterson, b. 10 July 1040, Bisbee, Cochiss Co., Ariz. [bapt. 1940s].
(2) Carla Lee Peterson, b. 1940s, Bisbee [bapt. 1940s].
(3) Franklin Lawrence Peterson, b. 1940s, Burley, Idaho [bapt. 1940s].
(4) Carol Robin (Robyn) Peterson, b. 1940s, Rupert, Idaho [bapt. 1950s].
9. Robert Glen Johnson, b. 1 July 1906; m. Maurine Montez Borg.
10. Evan M. Johnson, b. 5 Apr. 1909; m. Mildred Peterson.
1. Alma Errol Nielson, b. 1910s [bapt. 1920s, end. 1930s]; m. 1940s, Wyoming, to Elsie Bowler, dau. of William Weaver Thomas & Lulu Mildred (Quivey) Bowler. She was b. 1920s, Independence, Ore. [bapt. 1940s, end. & S.to H. 1940s]. He received his early schooling at Manti and Snow Jr. College. [p. 143]
He loved outdoor life and became a taxidermist in his teens, and became an Eagle Scout and Scout Master. He received his B.S. and Master’s Degrees from the Utah State Agricultural College at Logan in “Wild Life Management.” He worked one year on a fellowship in the “Study of Deer.” He passed with the highest grade in a Civil Service test. He taught Sunday School class before going into the California Mission for the L.D.S. Church (1939- 41). After his return he entered army service for four years and gained the rank of Lt. While in the army he married Elsie Bowler, a non-member of the church who later became a convert. He worked in the Idaho State Fish & Game Dept. with the official title: “Big Game Biologist.” Is a member of the Seventies Quorum; is gifted in many fields and can do most anything he tries. Alma Errol and Elsie had 4 children:
(1) Lorre Nielson, b. 1940s, Ft. Warren, Laramie, Wyo., d. 1940s [S.to P. 1940s].
(2) Susan Nielson, b. 1940s, Logan, Utah [S.to P. 1940s].
(3) David Errol Nielson, b. 1950s, Nampa, Idaho.
(4) Becky Nielson, b. 1950s, Boise, Idaho.
2. Eve Nielson, 2
3. Rudolph Lynn Nielson, b. 1910s [bapt. 1920s]; unmarried. He attended Snow Jr. College. Later he served in the army four years, mostly in the South Pacific where he worked as radio-man, later chief of communications. He won a Bronze Medal for service over and above the call of duty, but is very modest over this honor as he says his helpers did as well as he. After his return he went to Logan to the Utah State Agricultural College, where he received his degree. He worked in the Utah State Fish & Game Dept. in the “Birds Division.” He worked part-time and received his Master’s Degree in “Conservation of Wild Life.” He is now serving a mission to Samoa and will likely go into teaching upon his return as a taste for it has come to him during his mission. he seems to have inherited his father’s talent for fluency of speech and ability to hold audiences.
He has taught in the Deacons Quorum and Sunday School; was a very active Scout and lover of the out-of-doors; came up through the Priesthood to calling of Seventy. He is what the family terms a “perfectionist” and “plodder.” [p. 144]
4. Martha Alice Nielson, 4
(1) Stanley William Duncan, b. 1940s, El Paso, Texas.
(2) Ruby Alice Duncan, b. 1940s, Gunnison, Utah.
(3) JoLynn Duncan, b. 1940s, Gunnison.
5. Margaret Nielson, b. 1920s, Manti [bapt. 1930s, end. & S.to H. 1940s]; m. 1940s, Manti, to Albert Henry Peterson, s. of William Henry & Mary Christine (Jensen) Peterson. He was b. 1920s, Manti [bapt. 1930s, end. 1940s]. Margaret attended Snow Jr. College for one year, then quit to help her ailing father in O.P.A. She married Albert Peterson while he was serving in the Air Corps. He attained the rank of 1
(1) Drew Allen Peterson, b. 1940s, Salina, Utah.
(2) Chad Albert Peterson, b. 1940s, Provo, Utah.
(3) Mary Peterson, b. 1950s, Mt. Pleasant, Utah.
6. John Henrie Nielson, b. 1920s, Manti [bapt. 1930s]. He attended Snow Jr. College and left to serve in the Army for 1½ years. He attended Utah State Agricultural College one year when he was called to go on a mission to Norway. There he found people who remembered his father who had been a missionary there forty years before. His father died before he was released from the field. When his mission was completed, he toured part of Europe: Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, and France, and sailed home from England. He then entered Brigham Young University, but a change in his major has delayed his graduation and degree. He is a member of the choir, a Scout Master, a Wad Teacher, and a Seventy.
7. VeLois Nielson, b. 1920s, Manti [bapt. 1930s]; unmarried. She graduated from Snow Jr. College and Brigham Young University with a degree in Education. She accepted a position at Snow College as Librarian for two years, also acted as Dean of Women there. She teaches Sunday School and is also chorister; a member of the Manti Choir; M.I.A. Dance Director. Her greatest talent is singing—soprano. At present she is guest soloist for the Los Cruses Ward in New Mexico, for a cantata. Like her brother Lynn, she is a perfectionist. [p. 145]
1. Maurine Mason, b. 1910s; m. Kai Aage Brockman.
2. Wanda Mason, b. 1910s, Plymouth, Box Elder Co., Utah [bapt. 1930s]; m. 1930s, Salt Lake City, Utah, to Ivan Thomas Lloyd s. of Thomas & Viola (Mitchell) Lloyd. He was b. 6 Apr. 1908, Salt Lake City, a non-member of the L.D.S. church. They had 3 children:
(1) Darlene Lloyd, b. 1940s, Salt Lake City [bapt. 1940s].
(2) Thomas Mason Lloyd, b. 1940s, Salt Lake City [bapt. 1950s].
(3) Richard Ivan Lloyd, b. 1940s, Salt Lake City.
3. Carol Mason, b. 1920s, Manti, d. 1920s.
4. Ruth Renee Mason, b. 1920s; m. Ray Hunsaker Anderson.
5. Clair Lionel Mason, b. 1920s; m. Linda Lou Burton.
6. Lloyd Mason, b. 1920s, Plymouth, Utah [bapt. 1930s, end. 1950s]; m. 1950s, to Rita Joy Breagger, dau. of David W. & Grace Raid) Breagger. She was b. 1930s [end. & S.to H. 1950s]. He enlisted in U.S. Armyu Air Force 3 Jan. 1951 and received his basic training at Lackland Air Base, San Antonio, Texas. He then went to Sheppard Air Force Base at Wichita Falls, Texas, to enter an Airplane Mechanic School, from which he graduated Oct. 1951. Later he was sent to Williams Air Force Base, Chandler, Ariz., to service planes. He was given an honorable release 23 Jan. 1952. They had 1 child:
(1) Dawn Mason, b. 1950s, Brigham City, Utah.
7. Emma June Mason, b. 1930s, Plymouth, Utah [bapt. 1940s]; m. 1950s, to Henry Madsen Jensen, s. of Rudolph Jensen. They were m. in Plymouth.
8. Alma Mason, b. 1930s, Plymouth, Utah, d. 1930s.
9. Hal Johnson Mason, b. 1930s, Plymouth, Utah [bapt. 1940s]. [p. 146]
1. Jay Kai Brockman, b. 1930s, Lewiston, Cache Co., Utah [bapt. 1940s, S.to P. 1950s].
2. Peggy Brockman, b. 1930s, Elwood, Box Elder Co., Utah [bapt. 1940s, S.to P. 1950s].
3. Leo Magnus Brockman, b. 1930s, Plymouth, Utah [bapt. 1940s, S.to P. 1950s].
4. Jerry David Brockman, b. 1940s, Trenton or Fremont, Utah [bapt. 1950s, S.to P. 1950s].
5. Ellen Maurine Brockman, b. 1940s, Santa Anna, Calif. [No record of S.to P.].
1. Ruth Anderson, b. 1940s [bapt. 1940s, S.to P. 1940s].
2. Glen Mason Anderson, b. 1940s, d. 1940s [S.to P. 1940s].
3. Owen Anderson, b. 1940s [bapt. 1950s, S.to P. 1940s].
4. Camille Anderson, b. 1940s.
5. ElRay M. Anderson, b. 1950s.
1. Katheleen Susan Mason, b. 1950s, Denver, Colo.
2. Michael Clair Mason, b. 1950s, Ogden, Utah.
1. James Corless Chapman, b. 1920s, Manti [bapt. 1930s, end. 1940s]; m. 1950s, Manti (L.D.S. Temple), to Carol Gene Allen, dau. of Luris Porter & Dena Antonia (Winkel) Allen. [She was S.to H. 1940s]
As a child, James Corless was rather delicate, fine-featured, and quiet, with dark auburn hair and hazel eyes. A very dear neighbor used to look at him and say, “You made a mistake, he should have been a girl. Another neighbor said, “I’d like to see him dirty once.” He was very dainty and clean and even as a baby had a keen sense of the beautiful. All through his life he ha been interested in the finer things, especially music. In high school he played a trumpet and was one of the two leading soloists. he took voice training one summer from Jay McAllister and showed remarkable development. He has a fine tenor voice and a keen ear for tone. He can listen to symphony music by the hour. He won a scholarship in music while at Snow College but was unable to use it as he had received a call to go on a mission, in the East Central States. After he returned from his mission, he enrolled at Brigham Young University for four quarters, went two quarters each year.
He was ordained one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies of the 47
His wife, Carol, also has a fine voice, sings both alto and soprano, and they sing beautifully together. They had 2 children:
(1) Christene Chapman, b. 1950s, Mt. Pleasant, Utah.
(2) Craig Corless Chapman, b. 1950s, Gunnison, Utah.
2. Keith Johnson Chapman, b. 1920s, Manti [bapt. 1930s]; not married. He was a sturdy, blue-eyed, curley haired red headed child, who developed into a forceful, dynamic young man. He had a good voice but could not take time to cultivate it or sing in the choir; there were too many other things he wanted to do. He loved all outdoor sports and anything that provided a means for action. However, he did play a baritone horn in Manti High School band and did so well that he won honors in solo work at musical festivals. He developed his love and appreciation for music while in Uruguay on his mission and brought home with him a guitar. He learned many [p. 150] songs those humble, simple country people loved to sing, and shared with his family many happy hours, singing and playing his guitar. His mission to Uruguay lasted 2½ years. When he was released in 1951 he flew most of the way home, stopping over to visit 12 Central American countries. His route took him via Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia. He traveled by train to Lake Titicaca, crossed it by boat and then entrained to Cuzco Peru. Short stops were made at Guay Aquil, Equador, and Panama City; then on to San Jose by plane, Costa Rico; then to Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala. He arrived in Mexico City 23 Nov. 1951, where his father and mother met him. They all went through the Mesa and St. George temples on their way, arriving in Manti 6 Dec. 1951.
Keith joined the Intelligence Reserve and went to school at Brigham Young University for two quarters. In July he volunteered to go into active war service. In Jan. 1953 he left for Japan and since has been serving in Korea.
3. Ruth Chapman, 3
Vaun graduated from Salina High School and attended two quarters at Branch Agricultural College in Cedar City. He then worked for Tulluride Co. Until he joined the Air Force.
4. JoAnn Chapman, b. 1930s, Manti [bapt. 1940s]. After graduating from Manti High School, she went to Wisconsin to visit her sister Ruth. While there she worked in the candy department of J.C. Penney Co. After returning home, she was employed at the Carlisle Manufacturing Co. She loves piano work, to cook, sew, knit, crochet, and to be busy at some constructive labor. [p. 151]
1. Sharon Glen Johnson, b. 1930s, Salina, Utah [bapt. 1940s].
2. Norma Lou Johnson, b. 1930s, Salina [bapt. 1940s].
3. Lynda Johnson, b. 1940s, Manti, Utah.
4. Steven Robert Johnson, b. 1940s, Manti.
5. Aaron Paul Johnson, b. 1950s, Manti.
1. Yvonne Johnson, b. 1930s [bapt. 1940s].
2. Janett Johnson, b. 1930s [bapt. 1940s].
3. Evan Phillip Johnson, b. 1930s [bapt. 1940s].
4. Carl P. Johnson, b. 1940s [bapt. 1940s].
5. Camille Johnson, b. 1940s.
6. Faye Johnson, b. 1940s.
7. Evalyn Johnson, b. 1950s, Gunnison, Utah. [p. 152]
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