Prince Alexander

Information for the following was taken from the News Advocate dated Thursday, March 13, 1924, page 8

Former Negro Preacher Breaks Down Prejudice

One of the miners killed in the Castle Gate Mine explosion, known as Prince Alexander, was a well educated black man, formerly a preacher, who came to Castle Gate in 1914. He was always smiling and jolly but dignified. He was at first the butt of much "kidding" when he came to work in the coal camp on account of his faultless manners and never failing politeness.

When the flu epidemic hit the camp in 1919, and the vain cry for nurses went out, Prince Alexander proved himself one of the Saviors of the camp. Night and day, without thought for himself, he spent his strength nursing the sick who would otherwise have been without help. After that episode the Prince's courtesy was no longer the subject for joking in Castle Gate.

At that time there was much prejudices among the coal camps and black men were not buried inside the cemetery when their life was complete. Prince Alexander due to his Christ like character and service earned the right to be buried inside the Castle Gate cemetery after his death in the Castle Gate Mine explosion.

Thanks to this Christ like man my grandparents lives were saved and enriched by his association and compassion. They were among the many inflicted with the flu. Prince Alexander cleaned their home, gathered their wood and coal and brought them water. He was very good to them. I look forward to meeting Prince Alexander in the eternities!

Written by Betty Jo Hartley, August 24, 1997


James Henry and
Lenora Ward Zobell

Jim and Lenora Ward Zobell were married in 1890 on the Provo Bench and had three children born to them before moving to Castle Gate. They made home the first house on the left side going toward Willow Creek before Coke Oven Row. Jim took care of the furnaces in the hotel, the hospital and the amusement hall. He also cared for the filter plant, did plumbing and other fix it jobs for the company. In 1940 the family left Castle Gate and headed for Salt Lake.

Information donated by Jack Zobell.

The home of James and Nora Zobell - location first house below the tipple about 1929. Jack Zobell is in the center.

The back yard of Jack Zobell and family - in the area called the rows.

Dog owned by Jack Zobell. The Zobell home is on the left and the Jones house is on the right.

Lenora Ward Zobell in front of the school.


Rudolph Zobell

The Sun - 17 Jun 1921
Private Zobell is buried at Castle Gate, Saturday

Impressive services were held for Private Rudolph Zobell at the community hall at Castle Gate last Saturday afternoon. The body arrived at that place from overseas on Thursday of last week. Castle Gate post of the American Legion had charge. The funeral, however, was under the direction of Bishop Morgan D. Evans of the Latter-day Saints church. Number were rendered by the local choir under the leadership of Glenn D. Reese and the speakers, C. H. Madsen of Price, and Dr. C. E. MeDermid of Castle Gate, paid tribute to the courage and patriotism of the deceased in leaving his wife and family - he had two children - to fight for his country. The Castle Gate band and members of the American Legion walked to the cemetery, where full military honors were accorded to the departed soldier.

News Advocate - 16 Jun 1921
Body of Hero Now Resting at Home

The body of Rudolph Zobell, son of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Zobell, who died in France after an attack of the flu, was buried in Castle Gate Saturday. He left a wife and two babies to serve his country and had been under fire in the front line before he was taken ill. His wife re-married and is living in California and was not present at the funeral. It was the most impressive ever held in Castle Gate. Engineer Clark of the bureau of mines rescue car which is now in the county was a comrade of Zobell in the army and he spoke feelingly of the service rendered at the front by the young Castle Gate man. The principal addresses were made by C. H. Madsen, formerly of Castle Gate, and Dr. C. E. McDermid. Both paid high tribute to the soldier who made the supreme sacrifice. The amusement hall was crowded with people who desired to show honor to the memory of Rudolph Zobell and fifty members of the American Legion marched in uniform under the command of Lieut. L. W. Kelly. Bishop M. D. Evans had charge of all the service but the Legion accorded the departed soldier full military honors. Pall bearers were three soldiers and three sailors in uniform.

Information received from Jack Zobell.



John & Hariett Elizabeth (Lizzie) Ward Stagg

When the mine blew up in 1924 John Stagg was working just across the canyon at the gate house where the miners checked in and out of the mine. The doors of the mine were blown across the canyon to the same side as he was on. He was one of the first to go into the mine to try and rescue people and to bring out and help identify the dead.

The photo on the right is the Castle Gate Meat Market owned by Utah Fuel Company. John Stagg was a butcher at this meat market until he got into a disagreement with his boss over getting a new slicing machine and the ice box fixed. When the boss wouldn't do it John quit.

John was also standing on the porch of the Meat Market and watched Butch Cassidy rob the Castle Gate payroll in 1897. He always said he watched Butch rob the payroll and he was smart enough to let him do it and not interfere and get himself shot or anything else.

Information donated by Mary Kauer.

Frank Stagg son of John & Lizzie Stagg
Albert & Frank Stagg sons of John & Lizzie Stagg

Frank E. and Julia Smith Family

Frank E. and Julia Smith were married in Loa, Wayne county, Utah on May 4, 1897. They moved around quite often and spent some time in Joseph, Vernal, Myton and then to Price in about 1900. Frank did not have a regular job but worked where he could. Family lore says that he drove a wagon up Nine Mile canyon to Myton when it first opened along with the outlaws on the trail. He also dealt cards at the Savoy Hotel and Saloon with Matt Warner and was a very good friend of his. Nothing is known about him before he married and very little after. It was said that he was not in good favor with the law.

Julia was the daughter of George Monterville Ames who was the son of Ellis Ames who was in the Brigham Young company when they left Winter Quarters. Her other grandfather was Niles Haskell who was in B company of the Mormon Battalion. She was a very small lady but a friend to everyone. This is a picture the house that we called a tent house. The floor was of hard packed, dirt so hard that she could sweep it just like a wooden floor. Then in 1938 Frank built a new house up closer to the road and it still stands at 500 South and 400 East. Where he got the funds to build it is still a mystery.

Frank E. and Julia Smith are both buried in the Price City Cemetery with other family members.



Funeral Held Yesterday for 81 year old resident
Jan 25, 1945 - Sun Advocate

Lou Smith Family home

Funeral services for Frank Smith, 81, who died at his home here Monday, were held in the Mitchell Funeral chapel Wednesday afternoon under direction of the Seventh Day Adventists. Burial was in the Price city cemetery.

Mr. Smith was born January 1, 1864, in Detroit, Michigan. Names of his parents are not known. He had resided in Price for the past 25 years. Surviving are his widow, Julia Smith; two sons, Clarence Smith, Price; and Corporal Lawrence Smith, France; and two daughters, Mrs. Nora Stoffos, Hiawatha; and Mrs. Golda Olsen, Orangeville.

Smith family

on right:Smith family home from 1937 to 1940. The house is east of town on main street just before you got to the hill that we called Niggerson Hill. There are three houses on the right hand side that where built at the same time and are deserted now. We lived in the one in the middle.

If you have any information concerning this family please contact Lou Smith



James Gilbert Austin

nickname - Gib

This picture was taken in 1938. The man standing on the Scofield Dam is James Gilbert Austin (Gib). He and his brother, Web, were the owners of what was then called the Austin Ranch about three miles south of Price. Gib was born in Payson, Utah in 1880. He married Mildred Irene Ostler of Springville. Gib and his brother owned 250 acres and were instrumental in the growth of the canals. He was one of the early ditch riders. As a young man I got to go with him. It was fun for me but grandpa had to work.

When they were able to have water they where the first to start raising sugar beets. He was also the biggest contributor to the building of the sugar beet tipple down by the old stock yards.

He had the biggest water wheel in town and with the use of flumes was able to plant 200 acres. There is a page written about him in the Centennial Echoes from Carbon County.

After he was hurt walking behind a plow he sold out and moved to Washington state where he lived out the rest of his life. He died in 1960 just after he had seen his first granddaughter. His wife, Irene, died in 1948. They are both buried in Seattle, Washington.

Written by his grandson, Loren Lewis Smith, native of Price now living in Washington.



Jon (John) Hreinson

John Hreinson was born 21 Jan 1858 in Brandshusi, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. His parents were Hreinn Jonsson and Sigrid Olafsdotter. He married Christine Gudmundsdotter, the daughter of Gudmund Arnasson and Gudney Arnasdotter, on the 17th October 1879. They became the parents of two daughters and three sons.

In 1892 he and his family immigrated to the United States arriving in New York City on July 10th and made their home in Spanish Fork, Utah. On Thursday, May 26th, 1910 Christine died in her home after a long illness. She was buried in the Spanish Fork, Utah cemetery.

John eventually made his way to Carbon County working at Winter Quarters for awhile and finally settling in Castle Gate and worked for the Utah Fuel Company. In his spare time he would do shoe repairing. On the 26th of June 1914 he married Elizabeth Ward in Price, Utah. He retired in 1937 at the age of 79 years old.

In his later years John became blind and unable to live on his own. He had cataracts on both eyes. One eye was operated on but it was unsuccessful so they wouldn't work on the other one. For six months of the year he would live with his son John Sigurmunder Hreinson and the other six months of the year he would live with his step daughter Ann Downy.

On the 7th of October 1948 he died in Castle Gate, Utah at the home of his son. Funeral services were conducted by Bishop Fay Thacker in the Castle Gate Ward Chapel. John was a member of the Lutheran church. He was buried in the Spanish Fork cemetery.

The picture shown here of John Hreinson was taken by Darrell K. Downey of Helper, Utah. It appeared in the August 13, 1942 Helper Journal. It is one of the three prints judged as the best in the July photo show of the Pueblo Camera club. It was to be included in the traveling salon which the Pueblo Club was to exchange with other clubs in the nation.

If you have any information concerning this family please contact Kathy Hamaker



John Sigurmunder Hreinson

The following story was copied from a newspaper article entitled, "Two Castle Gate Employees Due Holmes Safety Awards Tonight". Newspaper and edition unknown.

John S. Hreinson of Castle Gate and Frank Mangone of Helper are to receive the Holmes Safety certificates of honor at the regular meeting of the Eastern Utah District Council of the Holmes Safety Association at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Thursday) at the Helper civic auditorium. John Hreinson

Mr. Hreinson will receive the framed certificate for working in and around the coal mines of Utah for 44 years without having a lost time accident. Mr. Mangone's certificate for working 47 years without a lost time accident will be presented to his son, Bennett Mangone, in lieu of Mr. Mangone who is critically ill at the Dragerton Permanente hospital.

Donald Newberry will present the certificate to Mr. Mangone. Tom Bendall, superintendent of the Castle Gate mine will make the presentation to Mr. Hreinson.

Mr. Hreinson was retired a year ago. Mr. Mangone is an employee of the coal company.

Mr. Hreinson was born August 21, 1887. He began work as a box car loader in 1905 at Winter Quarters. In 1906 he left to work at the quartz mines at Eureka. After laboring there for two years he was employed for three years as a rock driller on the Strawberry tunnel, a goverment reclamation project. Ethel Singleton

In 1811 he married a Springville girl, Ethel Singleton, and came to Castle Gate looking for a job in the coal mine. "I went in and asked for a job and I hoped to goodness he wouldn't give it to me," reminisced Mr. Hreinson. However, Superintendent Bob Williams was needing rock drillers and he hired Mr. Hreinson at once. "Then they found out I could drive mules, too, so I drove mules to pull the coal. That would try anybody's patience. Mules are stubborn, especially when a fellow wanted to accomplish something."

In 1913 the first cutting machine in Utah was brought into the Castle Gate mine and Mr. Hreinson found running it more to his preference than driving mules.

"Then I decided if I was to work in the coal mines, I'd better study up." He took extension courses and within a month had acquired his fire boss certificate.

The following year he was made a foreman in the mine. In 1916 he was sent as fireboss to the Clear Creek mine where he remained for a year before being sent back to Castle Gate. From August 17, 1920, to mid April of 1921, Mr. Hreinson did "helmet work." In this case the helmet work was fighting the Sunnyside mine fire. On the 1st day of May, 1921, he was appointed as foreman at Winter Quarters, where he stayed for a year before being transferred to Sunnyside to serve as foreman in re-opening the mine. He worked at Sunnyside until 1924 when the explosion at Castle Gate killed 172 men. Mr. Hreinson assisted in removing the bodies and clearing the mine. Since 1924 he has been at Castle Gate as fire boss and shot firer until he retired in October of 1955.

He attributes the playing of "hunches" to saving his life on different occasions.

The Hreinsons have reared six children - Hubert, Fern, Paul, Lois, Anita Mae and LaRue. At the present time Mr. Hreinson is a member of the Castle Gate LDS ward bishopric.

If you are related to this family please contact Kathy Hamaker.


Fern Hreinson

Fern Hreinson Sullivan

FERN HREINSON SULLIVAN was born 19 Oct 1914 to John Sigurmunder Hreinson and Ethel Singleton. She was the second of six children. She was the daughter of a coal miner and moved back and forth from Castle Gate, then Clear Creek, back to Castle Gate, Winter Quarters and Sunny Side. On March 8, 1924 there was a mine explosion at Castle Gate killing 172 men. The Hreinson family returned to Castle Gate to help with mine rescue. They then remained at Castle Gate, Utah to raise their family.

When Fern was almost five years old she was playing with her friend Arthur Christensen. They were running on opposite sides of the old push lawn mower that Duane Christensen was using. She stuck her fingers into the lawn mower cutting her finger off to the knuckle. Duane and Arthurs sister carried her to the doctor, screaming and yelling with blood spurting all over. Her father was called out of the mine to care for her.

She tells the story of when she was five her mother had left her and her baby brother Paul in the front room while she did the washing. Paul began to fuss and cry so she picked him up and sat in her little rocker to rock him. It wasn't long before he was fast asleep. When her mother returned she said, "What did you do that for? Look how dirty his face is." Apparently he wasn't suppose to sleep with a dirty face.

On 10 March 1938 Fern Hreinson married James Harold Cousins in Provo, Utah, Utah. They ended up in Watonga, Oklahoma where a son James Hubert Cousins was born on 18 July 1938. It wasn't long until she returned to Castle Gate to be with her family never to see James Harold Cousins again.

On the 12 October 1942 she married Eddie Nutter and moved to Denver, Colorado. Upon arriving in Colorado Eddie disappeared. Fern remained in Colorado and worked at Lowry Base. Here she met Ira Mack. He was in the Air Corp. and stationed at Lowry Field. They had a short relationship and he was shipped out. He would never know that he was the father of a beautiful baby girl named Terry. Fern then returned to Castle Gate where she worked in the Company store. She missed Colorado and her friends she had made there. She was able to return a couple of times to visit with them.

On the 9 March 1954 Fern married John Sullivan and moved to Orem, Utah, Utah. She has lived there since. They had three children Paul, Kathy and Don born to them. They shared 23 years of their lives together. There was bad times but there was a lot of happy times and experiences. On May 6, 1977 John died of a blood clot and bronchitis. He is laid to rest in the Orem Cemetery.

Daily Herald - Provo, Utah

OREM - Fern Hreinson Sullivan, 85 passed away in her home Sept. 8, 2000.

Fern was born Oct. 19, 1914 to John and Ethel Hreinson in Castle Gate. She married John Sullivan on March 9, 1954.

She attended schools in Carbon County and graduated from Carbon High School. Fern enjoyed many kinds of needlework, including crocheting and needlepoint, and created many beautiful pieces of art throughout her life right up to the time of her passing. She shared these gifts of love with many and her pictures hang in many homes and are treasured by all.

She loved to read and when her eyesight failed, her love of reading led her to enjoy books on tape. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and her happiest time in life was when she served for many years as a temple worker in the Provo LDS Temple.

Fern is survived by children, sister, 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m. at the Geneva Heights 2nd LDS Ward Chapel, 590 N. 900 West, Orem. Friends may call at the church one hour prior to services. Interment, Orem City Cemetery under direction of Sundberg Olpin Mortuary.

Ira Mack

Our family is very interested in learning more about Ira Mack. If you are related to him or have any other information about him please e-mail contact Kathy Hamaker.


It is believed that Henry Herman Rolapp is the "Henry H. Rolapp" that purchased the mine at the town of Cameron in 1917 or 1919. If anyone has any information to prove or disprove this belief please e-mail Larry Rolapp.

Henry Herman Rolapp

Henry Herman Rolapp oldest son of Fredrich and Anna (Thiesen) Rolapp was born in Flensburg, Germany on March 22, 1860. He attended the German St. Petri School, Copenhagen. He joined the Mormon Church November 11, 1877 and left for England on a mission for the Church on May 18, 1878, remaining there until the spring of 1880. After his release he came to America and settled in Salt Lake City, arriving on June 20, 1880. He entered the mercantile business and began the study of law. Later he moved to Montpelier, Idaho where he was admitted to the bar and practiced law for a short time.

In the fall of 1882 he entered the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor and graduated in 1884 with an LLB degree. In November of 1884 he entered a law partnership with Charles C. Richards in Ogden Utah.

On December 9, 1885 Henry married Martha Horrocks in the Logan Temple. They had five children, all born in Ogden:

  • Henry Karl, born October 21, 1886-1905
  • Franklin Horrocks, born October 9, 1888-1975
  • Martha May Belle, born May 18, 1892-1985 (married Serg Frederick Balliff, Jr.)
  • Catherine Marquirete, born August 24, 1896-1904
  • Walter Horrocks, born July 31, 1898-1977
  • In November of 1895 he became Judge of the Supreme Court, Utah Territory and on January 1, 1896 became the first State District Judge at Ogden, Utah, a position he held until January 1, 1905. Upon retiring from the bench in 1905 he became General Counsel and Manager of Amalgamated Sugar Co. which he retained until the death of David Eccles when he succeeded him as President. In 1914 he was elected President of the U. S. Sugar Manufacturer's Association. In 1915 he became General Counsel for the Great Western Sugar Company and moved to Denver, Colorado.

    Upon the outbreak of World War I the government placed him in charge of the Food Administration Sugar Distributing Committee. He held this position until 1919 when he returned to his former position in Denver. In 1921 he was again elected President of the Amalgamated Sugar Co. and moved to Utah.

    From 1907 to 1916 he was a Regent of the University of Utah. In 1905 he organized the first Parents Class of the Church; in 1908 he became a member (later chairman) of the Church Auditing Committee; in 1910 he was appointed a member of the Deseret Sunday School Board.

    He died in 1936.



    Franklin Horrocks Rolapp

    Franklin H. Rolapp born and raised in the community of Ogden, Utah, the son of Henry H. and Martha H. Rolapp. Here he spent his young life enjoying athletics and won a medal for his record high jumping. During his school years one of his teachers was Emma Ray, who was being courted by Church President David O. McKay. He was chosen to run love letters between the two of them.

    As a young man he was called to serve in the German Mission, where he served under Serge Ballif and Thomas E. McKay.

    He assisted his father over an eleven year period in carefully analyzing and studying the scriptures which are accepted as such of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Out of this experience together came a book which is standard in any great Latter-day Saint library. It is called Gospel Quotations by Rolapp.

    After his return from a mission he entered into the coal business, which took him many places, including Logan, Utah where he met Louise Thatcher. They were married in the Logan Temple and their marriage kept them together for 64 years. They were proud parents of H. Thatcher Rolapp, Ralph T. Rolapp, Franklin T. Rolapp* and Edgar T. Rolapp.

    In 1918 the family moved to Salt Lake City, after acquiring his own coal mine, which he ran successfully until 1928. Just before the market crash, he sold the mine and moved to California where he went into the mortgage business. He also entered into the oil business. A number of his productive years were spent as receiver for Julian Petroleum Company. He was appointed by the Federal Court of Los Angeles. This position brought him a great deal of prominence in Los Angeles.

    He later went into subdividing of real estate and construction. He loved to compose music and was an expert fly fisherman and sportsman.

    Devoted to the Church, he held many positions and supported the Church leaders. He died in Los Angeles in 1975.

    If you have any information about this family or would like to know more please e-mail Larry Rolapp.



    The Wilsons

    In the Winter Quarters mine explosion there were five Wilsons that lost their lives. I have had several inquires about them and who is related to who. This is the information that I have learned about them.

    In the book "History of the Scofield Mine Disaster" by J.W. Dilley, page 91-94 it lists these Wilsons as dying in the explosion.

  • George Wilson - listed as being from Scofield. He is listed in the Price Family History Library Cemetery records and his parents are John D. Wilson and Anne Robinson.
  • Henry Wilson - listed as being from Scofield. He is listed in the Price FHL cemetery records and his parents are Father: Sylvania Wilson and Mother: Elizabeth. His birth date is 16 Mar 1858 in PA. He is the great great grandfather of Bob Murphy. Please, e-mail him if you are interested in this family.
  • Alexander Wilson Jr. - listed as being from Salt Lake. Father: Alexander Wilson Mother: Isabella Law Born: 9 Jul 1877
  • James Wilson - listed as being from Salt Lake. Father: Alexander Wilson Mother: Isabella Law Born: 19 Jan 1886
  • William Wilson - listed as being from Salt Lake. Father: Alexander Wilson Mother: Isabella Law Born: 20 Mar 1881
  • In the same book, in a biographical sketch of the John Wilson who was injured in the explosion it states: "...His brothers James, Willie and Alexander lost their lives while his father is confined to the hospital, he having sustained serious injuries."

    In the "History of the Scofield Mine Disaster" page 49 we read: "...we hastened to the mouth of the mine, where one horse was found dead but his driver could not be seen until someone looking down the gulch saw the form of someone, supposed to be the driver, John Wilson. A few of the men hurried to his side and found that life was not yet extinct, although he had been blown eight hundred and twenty feet, by actual measurement. He was tenderly picked up and conveyed to his home where it was found that the back part of his skull had been crushed, besides a stick or splinter had been driven downward through his abdomen. he was in a critical condition and no one supposed he would live to be carried home, but, strange to relate, he has recovered rapidly and although he will never be able to do a day's work again he is up and feeling quite well at present."

    George Law Wilson

    In the Castle Gate Mine explosion of 1924 there was also a George Law Wilson who was on the mine rescue team from Standardville. He was the brother of John, James, and Willie Wilson. His father was Alexander Wilson. In the book "Next Time we Strike" by Allan Kent Powell it says: "...As rescue work began, one of the workers discovered he had a faulty breathing apparatus. George Wilson, captain of the Standardville team, attempted to bring the man out of the mine. Struggling for breath, the miner accidentally knocked Wilson's nose clip off causing him to inhale deadly gas. The rescue team took the stricken man from the mine and sent in another team for Wilson. Wilson had begun his mining career at the age of fourteen in the Clear Creek mine and was no stranger to disaster. He had lost three brothers and had seen his father and another brother suffer injuries in the Winter Quarters disaster. Although the rescue workers reached him and had him outside the mine in fresh air within five minutes, George Wilson died bringing the total dead to 172."


    AN IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL SERVICE
    The Victims of the Mine Explosion Laid Away

    A VERY SAD SPECTACLE

    Immense Throng of People Assemble in the Inclement Weather to Attest Their Love and Sympathy

    The overmastering grief that has hung over ill-fated Scofield for nearly a week, was extended into a few Salt Lake homes, and yesterday the victims were buried, amid the most solemn ceremonies.

    The commodious Sixteenth ward hall was filled to overflowing by those who had come to sorrow with the afflicted, and express their heartfelt sympathy for the bereaved.

    The obsequies were over the remains of the three Wilson boys - Willie, James and Alexander. The young men were members of the Twenty-fourth ward, but Bishop Ashton, realizing that his meeting house was much too small, secured the more capacious building, but it was not adequate to accommodate the congregation.

    The room was draped in white, and a wealth of potted plants and cut flowers literally covered the pulpit and the three caskets. The services were conducted by Bishop Edward T. Ashton, and there were on the stand: President Angus M. Cannon, his counselor Charles W. Penrose, Bishop George R. Emery, and counselors of the Sixteenth ward, W. J. Newman, E. F. Parry, Elder John Nicholson, and the pall-bearers.

    The speakers were Pres. Angus M. Cannon, Elders C.W.P. Penrose and John Nicholson.

    Elder John Nicholson, the concluding speaker, delivered a most excellent discourse, his words and sentiments striking responsive chords in the hearts of his hearers. He was a personal friend to the family and had crossed the ocean with William Wilson twenty years ago, and he knew him to have been a kind and generous young man, whose hand was always extended to the needy.

    After further eulogizing the young men and testifying to the worth of the family, he spoke on the subject of sympathy, characterizing it as the grandest of all qualities; that the man who has no sympathy has no power, that he is wrapped up in himself and is a center without a circumference.

    The services were closed by the choir singing, "Oh, My Father," and Elder W.J. Newman pronounced the closing prayer. The flower laden coffins were borne to the hearses by the following pall bearers: A.W. Chiverall, R.E. Currie, Thomas Marnane, Hyrum Myers, F.D. F. Gray, J.W. Sugden, for the local I.O.O.F. lodge; A. Wilson, J. and James Barrell, Charles Dalton, Otto Kurt and R. Norman; J.H. James, E. Fletcher, J.H. Selley, Stephen Ried, Andrew Benson and James Davis, the sextettes bearing respectively the remains of Alex, James and Willie Wilson.

    A long cortege followed the remains to the city cemetery, where the graves were dedicated and a quartette, consisting of G.W. Timpson, Alma Vincent, Joseph Winter, and C.J. Winter, rendered a beautiful hymn.

    Included in this photo on the left is Joe Cauldwell, bottom left. Second from the left, top row is Peter Douglas Lawson. He married the Wilson boys' sister Elizabeth Wilson. The photos of James Wilson, George Wilson, Peter Douglas Lawson, the Wilson memorial in the Salt Lake Cemetery and the obituary for the Wilson funeral have been donated by Liz McCleery Fullerton. If you are related to this family or would like to know more please contact her.



    George Wilson

    From a June 1975 Wilson Family History prepared by Leah Perry Wilson

    Born 2 December 1874, Leicestershire, England. George followed in his father's footsteps as a coal miner. He married Sarah Pugh 13 Nov 1895 at Scofield, Utah, a coal mining town. They were blessed with three children. George was killed in the Scofield mine disaster of 1 May 1900, leaving a struggling widow and two youngsters (the youngest, Joseph, passed away 16 Apr 1900, just two weeks before his father's tragic death). You can imagine the bereavement of this mother. George and his cousin Thomas ("Tug") Wilson married sisters: Sarah and Mary Ann Puch. After George's death Sarah married James Smith 7 November 1901. When she died, 13 November 1904, her children were reared by their Grandmother Pugh.

    CHILDREN:
    Mary Ann (Annie) Wilson born 10 December 1895.
    William John Wilson born 28 March 1898.
    Joseph Wilson born 12 March 1900, died 16 Apr 1900 (infant).
    All were born in Winter Quarters, Utah, a town near Scofield.



    The McCutchen Family

    The McCutchen family from Divide, Colorado.

    Joseph White McCutchen, Jr., of South Carolina and Harriet Minnie Margaret Martha Raymond McCutchen were the parents of 16 children. The McCutchen's had lived in Nebraska and Colorado. They had lived in Colorado until circumstances forced Mrs. Harriet McCutchen to come to Utah (about 1913) and adopt (or possibly sell) her children. The older children that were married and could care for themselves stayed behind in Colorado.

    Mrs. McCutchen and her children were living in a tent in Hiawatha. She had put the word out she was giving her children away. There were many of the McCutchen children that found homes . There are some we have found and some we have not. We are so very grateful to the wonderful families who took the children in as their own and provided wonderful loving homes for them, the Barney’s and the Larsen’s and the Jensen’s.

    We do not know what ever happened with Harriet. We know a few years after she came around to visit some of the children again... but do not know whatever became of her after the last visit possibly took place in 1915.

    The following are children that were adopted or possibly sold.

  • Nellie B. McCutchen b. Nov 11, 1891- Lived with a Jensen family for a short time. Then her mother came and took her and sold her to a Greek man for marriage.
  • Ida Anne McCutchen b. August 1897
  • Alice Ethel McCutchen- married Harris Alexander Montgomery; lived in Helper and surrounding area... had some children born while living there. Then they moved to Salt Lake City. Harris worked for the railroad.
  • Mary Irvin McCutchen b. March 11, 1901
  • Alma Rose Renee Alida McCutchen b. Jan. 2, 1903- adopted by Mr. & Mrs. Llewellyn Walter Barney-- Name changed to Rene BARNEY
  • Theodore Roosevelt Sadler McCutchen b. Nov. 1, 1905- adopted by Joseph Orson Barney and Elizabeth Jane Prows Barney and was renamed Verl Carl Barney.
  • Herbert Everett McCutchen b. August 11, 1907- we know he was crippled... was adopted but we do not know by whom.
  • William Howard Taft McCutchen- we know was lovingly raised by the Larsen family in Cleveland, Utah. He was know as Howard Larsen.
  • We are so very grateful to any of the people who came into our relatives lives and opened their hearts and homes to them. We know they became better people because of your kindness and love. If you have any information we would greatly appreciate you sharing it with us.


    newspaper article about McCutchen family

    3 Members of Family Meet After 40 Years

    Three member of a large farm family separated 40 years ago when their widowed mother became ill were reunited Thursday.

    Meeting a sister and brother for the first time since 1915 was Mrs. Mary I. Graham, Phoenix, Ariz., who arrived Wednesday in Salt Lake City.

    Participating in the reunion were Mrs. Renee B. Harward, 626 Harmony Ct., and Carl V. Barney, Tooele.

    Their mother, the late Mrs. Harriet Minnie McCutchen, was left alone with a large family in the ranching community of Divide, Co., 40 years ago.

    When she became ill, she was forced to give up her children and place them in adoption in various homes.

    "We all grew up under different names and separated." Mrs. Harward explains, "We tried to contact each other but without success."

    Mrs. Harward and her brother Carl V. Barney (Barney is his adopted surname), kept in touch with each other since they were adopted by brothers.

    Two years ago Mrs. Harward returned to Divide, Colo., and learned that two of her brothers were residing in Colorado-- one at Colorado Springs and another in Denver.

    These brothers meanwhile had learned that a sister, Mrs. Graham, was residing in Phoenix.

    The sisters, Mrs. Graham and Mrs. Harward, began corresponding. And this spring, Mrs. Graham and her husband decided to use their vacation time to come to Utah and meet the sister and brother she hadn't seen in four decades.

    Howard Larsen (birth name was William Howard Taft McCutchen) The Larsen family in Cleveland adopted him.

    Mary Ervin McCutchen

    If you have any information concerning this family please contact
    Joanne Montgomery.


    The Samuel James Montgomery Family

    Samuel James Montgomery of Janesville, Wisconsin and Amanda Jane Mead of Spanish Fork, Utah were married November 10, 1889 in Price, Emery County, UT.

    Samuel worked for the railroad. He was an engineer. He died 8 Sept 1901 in Aguascalientes, Mexico. It was the railroad center for New Mexico.

    Amanda being left with 3 sons to raise, later married John O. Thompson and Henry Checketts. Amanda is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Amanda was the daughter of Orland Fish Mead and Lydia Aby Presley.

    The family of Samuel and Amanda consisted of 3 boys:

  • Harris Alexander Montgomery born February 13, 1891 in Sapinero, Gunnison County, Colorado. He and Alice Ethel McCutchen were married March 26, 1914 in Price, Utah. Alice was not old enough to marry so her mother signed for her to marry Harris, who was a good and loving husband to her.
  • Harris worked for the D & RG Railroad.

    Their children Ruth Fern Montgomery (1915) and Florence May Montgomery (1916) were both born in Helper. Evelyn Amanda Montgomery was born in 1918 in Kenilworth, Carbon County.

    The family then moved to Garfield, Salt Lake County, Utah where they continued to have children and raise their family.

    Alice died at the young age of 37 years old. Leaving behind a family of 9 children. Harris and Alice are both buried in the City Cemetery in Salt Lake City, UT.

  • George Samuel Montgomery born March 22, 1892 in Cimmaron, Montrose County, Colorado. He married Katherine Elizabeth Betty Simmons and later Mary Glenn.
  • George and his wives never had any children.

    He worked as a Customs Agent. He is buried in Salt Lake City, UT.

  • Burt Reckless Montgomery born August 9, 1893 in Salida, Chaffee County, Colorado. He married Minnie Elinora Christensen and then Ferrel Huntsman Christensen, in Price, Carbon County, Utah.
  • Burt and his wife had 2 children. Burt and his second wife are buried in Ferron, Emery County, UT.

    Harris and Alice Montgomery with three daughters born in Carbon County

    If you have any information concerning this family please contact
    Joanne Montgomery.

    Howard Edward Perkins

    Sun Advocate - 4 Oct 1960

    Funeral services were conducted Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Dragerton Second Ward chapel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for Howard Edward Perkins, 64, who died Saturday at the Carbon Hospital after a long illness.

    He was born May 3, 1896, at Mt. Pleasant, to Daniel H. and Martha Ericksen Perkins. He married Ruth Grames October 9, 1938, at Price. The marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake City LDS temple. He had been employed as store manger for the Spring Canyon - Standardville Coal companies and the Union Supply Company at Dragerton. More recently he had been a car salesman.

    Surviving are his widow, sons and daughters; 15 grandchildren, a brother and sister. Burial was in the Price City cemetery.

    Information about this family donated by Diane Perkins.



    Maude Larsen Perkins

    Sun Advocate - 26 Mar 1936
    Standardville Woman Buried Tuesday

    Funeral services were held Tuesday for Mrs. Maude Larsen Perkins, wife of Howard E. Perkins of Standardville, in Price tabernacle. Mrs. Perkins died Saturday. She had been a resident of Standardville for the past seventeen years, being born at Castle Dale, May 11, 1910, a daughter of Hyrum S. and Dora Acord Larsen. Bishop C. I. Reid conducted the services. Survivors are her husband and mother, five sons and daughters and the following brothers and sisters.

    Information about this family donated by Diane Perkins.



    William Keddie Douglas

    William Keddie Douglas was a son of Thomas Greig Douglas, born 1831 Dysart, Fife, Scotland and Margaret Keddie born 1833 Markinch, Fife. He was one of 10 children. Five of his siblings died young ie John, Alison, James & Catherine and one other. His father was a Flax Worker in Fife. Two of the older children, Isabella and Thomas, stayed in Scotland while three left for America with their parents for a new and hopefully better life. They were Elizabeth Fyfe Douglas born 1861, Coalsnaughton, Tillicoultry, Fife, Janet Keddie Douglas born 1863 (as above) and William Keddie Douglas born 1867 Beath, Fife. He also was a Flax Mill Worker in Kinglassie, Fife. William married Hannah Jane Small Robertson born 1874 in Jarrow Durham, England. They married in 1891 in Utah. They had children Thomas Greig born 1892 in Spanish Fork, George Robertson born 1893, Chase Turnball born 1895 and William Wallace Douglas born 1897. Only the last two boys survived to a ripe old age with descendants. Hannah went on to marry twice following the death of William. Elizabeth Fyfe Douglas married Henry Harrison Wilson born 1858 Scotsdale, Pennsylvania. Their children are John Henry, Lewis Carson and William Douglas. After the death of Henry, Elizabeth, married William L Mathews. William Keddie Douglas and his brother-in-law were both killed in theScofield Mining Disaster of May 1, 1900. The father, Thomas Greig Douglas, died in Spanish Fork in 1917 and Margaret died in 1898 in Scofield, Carbon, Utah. They probably never saw their remaining Scottish family again.

    Information about this family donated by Fiona



    Ernest Felix Bruno

    Birth: Mar. 25, 1925
    Enlisted in WWII: 8 Oct 1943
    Death: Dec. 29, 1944
    Service: Company 1 3rd Battalion 502 nd Parachute Infantry, 101 St Airborne Division
    Killed in the Battle of the Bulge

    WELLINGTON, Carbon County- The body of Pvt. Ernest F. Bruno, 20, Wellington, paratrooper killed in the battle of the bulge in France Dec. 29, 1944, has arrived in Price.

    Holy Rosary will be recited at the Mitchell Funeral home in Price Monday at 8 p.m. Requiem mass will be celebrated at the Notre Dame Catholic church by Rev. Thomas F. Butler at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

    Pvt. Bruno was born at Price March 25, 1924, a son of Ernest Felix and Carmela Pagona Bruno. He enlisted in the army at Fort Douglas in November, 1943. He received his basic training at Camp White, Cal., and his paratroop training at Fort Benning, Ga., from where he went directly overseas.He was a graduate of Carbon County high school and was engaged in the livestock business at the time of his enlistment.

    He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Carmela B. Galsone, Biggs, Cal.; four brothers, Michael Bruno, Price; Leonard Bruno, Salt Lake City; Jesse Bruno, Salt Lake City, and Felix Bruno, Price; two sisters, Miss Betty Bruno, Gridley, Cal.; and Miss Beverly Bruno, Biggs, Cal.

    Burial will be in the Price city cemetery.
    -The Salt Lake Tribune, June 5, 1949

    Recently a helmet belonging to Ernest Felix Bruno was found in the south of Carentan in Normandy. It is believe that Ernest Bruno lost the helmet between June 9 and June 13, 1944 in Carentan. Photos of the helmet were donated by Arnaud BRIDELANCE.



    Merrill C. Newren

    December 31, 1925 - January 16, 2011

    Merrill C. Newren passed away due to complications from heart disease on January 16, 2011 in his home in Holladay, Utah at the age of 85. Merrill married Marjorie Keyte of Mona, Utah. Together they are the parents of three children. He graduated from the U of U, survived WWII; he retired from the U. of U. Medical Center. He was active in church positions, gardening, golfing and table tennis. He loved being part of family and family activies. He always had a desire to learn and improve.

    He is surived by his wife of 62 years, his younger brother, 3 children, 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Viewing will be held Friday, Janaury 21, 2011 at the Holladay Cottonwood Mortuary, 4670 So. Highland Drive, Holladay, Utah between 6 and 8 p.m. Services will be held Saturday, 11:00 a.m. at the East Millcreek 2nd Ward, located at 3750 So. Hillside Lane (2500 East). There will be a viewing one hour prior to services.



    Harmon Harry Day & Bessie Louise Johnson

    Harmon Harry Day was born May 17, 1901 in Butler, Tennessee to Mr. and Mrs. John Day. He married Bessie Louise Johnson on May 11, 1934 in Colorado. Harmon was a coal miner and settled in the coal mining town of Dragerton, Carbon, Utah. On Monday, May 3rd, 1965 after a long illness he died in the Carbon County Nursing home. He is buried in the Price City cemetery.

    Bessie Louise Johnson was born on April 13, 1915 in Tres Piedras, Taos, New Mexico, to Dugger Johnson and Eliza May Campbell. She died at the age of 56 in the Price hospital following an illness. She is buried in the Price City cemetery.

    Information donated by Joan Banner.


    Leland R. Wattis

    Utah Since Statehood, Historical and Biographical, Chicago-Salt Lake The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1919, pgs 44-45 with picture

    Leland R. Wattis, head of many business enterprises which feature as factors in the material development of the state, is a native son of this commonwealth, where he has made a most creditable name and position. He was born at Ogden, Utah, May 26, 1882, a son of Edmond 0. and Martha A. Wattis, both of whom are natives of Utah, the father having been born at Uinta, while the mother's birth occurred at Riverdale. Their prespective parents were among the pioneer settlers of the state, having crossed the plains with ox teams during the period of early colonization here. In young manhood the father turned his attention to live stock raising and later with his brother, W. H., formed the Utah Construction Company, of which he is vice president and general manager. This concern has handled some of the largest contracts in the west. The firm is also very extensively engaged in stock raising, operating ranches in Utah, Idaho and Nevada. E. O. Wattis is president of the Wattis Coal Company, director of the Lion Coa1 Company and director of the Amalgamated Sugar Company. He and his wife reside in Ogden, where they occupy a large and attractive residence. They became the parents of eight children, one of whom has passed away, while those living are: Leland R., of this review; Mrs. William Harris, of Ogden; and Mrs. Ethel Kimball, Mrs. E. A. Littlefield, Mrs. Margaret Dumpke, Mrs. Ruth Williams and Paul, all of whom are residents of Ogden.

    Leland R. Wattis received his education in the public and high schools of Ogden, after which he entered business college. When his textbooks were put aside he became an employee of his father in railroad construction work and acquainted himself with the various phases of the business in the six years in which he was connected with his father's company. He then resigned his position and organized the L. R. Wattis Construction Company, of which he has since been the president and manager. This company concentrates upon railroad building. The extent of their contracts necessitates the employment of many men and their energies are most carefully and wisely directed, bringing substantial success. Leland R. Wattis is also the president of the Caldwell Construction Company; president of the Hieslet Construction Company and, in addition to his operations along construction lines, he has become equally well known as an operator in the coal fields of the west. He is vice president and general manager of the Wattis Coal Company and was also one of the organizers of the Carbon Fuel Company. The mines of these two companies are located in Utah and are now being extensively operated, the production of coal being very large.

    On the 16th of January, 1900, in Oxford, Idaho, Mr. Wattis was married to Miss Helen Crandall, a daughter of Mrs. Emma Crandall of that place. They have one child, Edmond 0., who was born in Ogden, Utah, in 1902 and is now attending St. John's Military Academy.

    Politically Mr. Wattis maintains an independent course nor has he ever been an office seeker. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and in fact is a well known and prominent Knight Templar and thirty-second degree Mason as well as Shriner. He also belongs to the Benevolent Order of Elks and to the Alta Club of Salt Lake.



    Edna May Reese Hardee Sorensen

    A Brief History of the Life of Edna May Reese Hardee Sorensen - Written 1980-1981

    I was born in the town of Castle Gate, Utah (in Carbon County) to Thomas Levi Reese and Margaret Ann Davis (Davies) Reese on May 1, 1905. My mother and father were born in Wales. My father came to settle in the United States. He then sent for my mother, whom he married after her arrival here. They were married in Emery County near Price, Utah. They lived in Winter Quarters, Utah for a short time and then settled in Castle Gate.

    My father was a coal miner. He told of his father carrying him on his back to help him the mines in Whales. He was only eight years old at the time.

    My mother and father had seven children. Glyndur Davies, Theodore, Levi, Annie, Thomas, William, and Edna May. My brother, Glen, was the first baby born in Castle Gate. He was born in a tent, as they had not yet built homes there. My brothers, Levi, Thomas and William died at an early age. Levi fell from a load of hay and his neck was broken. Thomas had a heart condition and William died from complications caused by and infected tooth.

    I can't remember my sweet mother. She died when I was two years old on July 12, 1907. I have been told that she may have had leukemia. I went to live with my Aunt Mary and her daughter, Vannie. They took care of me until my sister, Annie, was old enough to take over the responsibilities of the family. They have told me how much they loved me and how hard it was for them to give me up. My sister took the place of my mother and gave up so much to help raise all of us. I loved her very much.

    I have faint recollections of living in Wyoming as a child. My aunt tells me that we lived there two different times. My brother, Levi, was killed there and my sister, Annie, was born there. She was the only on in our family that was not born in Utah.

    My father was a kind, loving man. He did all he could to keep us together after the death of my mother. He spoiled me terribly.

    The members of my family have all passed away now, but I have many happy memories of them. Mine was a happy childhood in the small town where I grew up. I remember the band and orchestra my brother, Glen, directed. He was such a fine musician. My father played the flute and piccolo. My brother, Bill, played the trombone. My brother, Theo, played big base and Glen also played the trombone. My father and Glen directed a choir in our church. They all sang so beautifully. I remember the bandstand in the middle of town. We had a band concert there every Sunday. The ladies would serve cookies and punch to everyone. We had a dance in our big hall every Saturday night. People would come from all over the county to attend. I remember on Halloween when we had a costume ball. Everyone was supposed to make his or her own costumes. I made a dress and called it "Night". It was black and had a net overskirt held out at the hips by a hoop with silver stars and moons sewed on the net. I wore a big silver crown with a big star on it, with net hanging down my back from the star. I won first prize! I also won first prize for a dress I made for another contest. It was brown satin, hand embroidered in silk thread on the skirt and sleeves. It was so pretty. I have always loved to embroidery, crochet and knit.

    In the summer of 1923, my sister Annie, was sent to Wichita, Kansas on a mission for the LDS Church. She was unable to finish her mission as my father was killed in an explosion at the Castle Gate mine, along with 173 other men. This happened on March 8, 1924. It wiped out almost every man in town.

    My father had married Hannah Philips of Spanish Fork, Utah just the year before this happened. He had taken me to Spanish Fork to go to High School and live with her in her home there. They had known each other for many years. She was a beautiful seamstress and she made me such beautiful dresses. After the explosion, she moved back to Spanish Fork to live with her married daughter.

    After my father was killed, I was sent to Salt Lake City, to go to beauty school to learn how to finger wave and pin curl. After I finished, I went back to Castle Gate to open a beauty salon. It was at this time that I started to go with Welber Hardee, a hometown boy who had helped save me from drowning in the Price River some years before. We were married on December 22, 1925 in Price, Utah. We have had six lovely children. Margaret Elaine, Dorothy May, Joyce Ann, Wilbur Clydell, Deanna Gwendolyn and Douglas Reese Hardee. My two little boys passed away when they were just babies. Clydell at seven months and Douglas at 5 days. They were such choice spirits of our Father in Heaven. I hope that I might live my life to be worthy of raising them in Heaven as we are promised.

    In 1959, I had a mastectomy and a nervous breakdown.

    My husband died on August 12, 1964 in the Dragerton Hospital. He had cancer of the pancreas. A year later, I took out his temple endowments and we were married for time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. I hope he will accept this work.

    I became more active in the Church and held offices as Relief Society chorister, Mutual counselor and Relief Society visiting teacher, a position I have held for 40 years.

    In November of 1968, I sold my home in Castle Gate and moved into an apartment house in Salt Lake City as all of my children had moved here. I was again asked to be the Relief Society chorister and a visiting teacher. I also joined the Welsh Ladies Auxiliary, as I am full blooded Welshman.

    I have lived in the same apartment house for 19 years. They call me the "decorating lady" here. I decorate my door in the hallway and windows for each holiday of the year. I have learned to make pretty roses and other kinds of flowers and put them in flower arrangements.

    Here, I met and married James P. Sorensen on December 12, 1973. He was a good, kind man and very handsome. He had many health problems caused my diabetes. He passed away on January 27, 1980 after many operations and much time in the hospital. At the time of his death, he had both legs amputated and was confined pretty much to a wheel chair. He loved my family and they loved him very much.

    All of my daughters and their families live nearby. Elaine married Bruce Johnson. Dorothy married Mike Vlamakis. Joyce married Boyd Newbold and Gwen married Henry Coleman, but was later divorced.

    Never has a mother been shown so much love and kindness by her family as I have. I hope that some day my family might have a desire to serve the Lord and keep His commandments so that we might all be together again in Eternity.

    I love you all very dearly.

    Story donated by Julie Withers.



    Jack Watson

    watson3.jpg
    Possibly Jack Watson
    watson4.jpg
    Possibly Jack Watson

    Utah Territory had its share of bonafide, shoot-em-up gunfights. In 1890, for instance, Price was as surprised as lawman Jack Watson when Watson was gunned down in broad daylight on its main street. He had had a colorful career. As a Confederate soldier he sustained a wound to the instep that gave him a lifelong limp. Despite this, he became a cowboy and then a Texas Ranger. In 1884, after a drinking bout, Watson shot up Montrose, Colorado, and a $600 reward was posted for him. No long afterward he was free and working in Crystal, a Colorado mining camp. There he knifed a man, apparently for cause, for he was arrested but acquitted. Crystal's sheriff had worked with Watson as a cowhand and hired him as his deputy. Watson served faithfully.

    By 1890 Watson was in Price, Utah, acting as an undercover agent among horse and cattle rustlers. He must have been successful, for eventually, his cover blown, he had enough enemies that a gunman named Ward was hired to kill him. One day Watson turned up as usual in a Price saloon. Ward waited for him behind a high wagon on the opposite side of the street. When Watson came stumbling out, Ward aimed and fired. The lawman fell, badly wounded. As he tried to crawl back into the saloon to get his guns, Ward fired again. It was the end for Jack Watson.

    Source: Bill O'Neal, Encyclopedia of Western Gun-Fighters (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1979). Copied from the Utah State Historical Society History Blazer - available on CDRom.

    The following information about Jack Watson is also taken from a newspaper article date 14 May 1898 entitled "Bandit Leaders Killed" and is about Butch Cassidy and Joe Walker.

    ...Joe Bush was in the Price party, having left here last Sunday for the purpose of taking the trail with Sheriff Allred. Along with him was Jack Watson, who has spent the greater part of his life in running down criminals in Colorado, and who bears the scars of eleven bullet wounds sustained in the hazardous calling." ...

    The following is a transcript of a letter written by Jack Watson to his brother.

    W.C. RICHMAN DEALER IN FRESH DRUGS AND MEDICINES
    Surgical Instruments, Appliances, and Electrical Apparatus, Toilet Articles, Cigars, Paints, Oils, Stationery, Price, Utah.

    May 29, 1898

    Mr. Vesta Watson
    Dear Brother,

    I received yours of May 1 and was glad to hear from you yet sorry to hear of the death of our parents still I knew of Pas death soon after it took place. But was calculating to see ma again before she died though I can't. well Vesty I suppose you know by this time what I am doing and I have bin in the detective business 8 years. I killed about six 6 men since I rote you at Crestel (Crystal, Co.). But a few years ago I rote you and I was going to Alaska. That was after a Desparado I got. Since I got your letter ave got 4 killed 2 and 2 alive. I have them here in jail waiting trial will come of in about 2 weeks then I am going to quit the bisness for a while any way. Well Vesta you said you had some money for me if you will send it to me I will come home and stay a while you will have to send it by express no more at present your Brother.

    J.A. Watson

    Ps I got a letter from S.M. to day.

    (Letter is from J.A. Watson to his brother Benjamin Franklin Sylvester Watson in Hardin County, Tennessee. He must not have been in touch with his family for sometime because his father had died in 1893 and his mother in 1897.)

    Watson Epitaph

    In July 2004 a monument will be unveiled at the Price City Cemetery and dedicated to Jack Watson. The following is the epitaph that will appear on the monument.

    Jack Watson, a native of Hardin County, TN, joined the Confederate Cavalry in Texas and was wounded twice. He later joined the Texas Rangers, and worked as a blacksmith, a stock detective and a bounty hunter. He was rescued from the wrong side of the law by Sheriff C. A. "Doc" Shores and became a deputy sheriff and a deputy US marshal in Colorado. He was hired as a stock detective by Preston Nutter and single-handedly curtailed the rustling in the Nine Mile area. Jack served on the Carbon County posse that stopped outlaws Joe Walker and Johnny Herring. While waiting for the reward, he got in feud over irrigation water rights and was severely beaten. When he recovered, he challenged his accuser and was shot and killed in a gunfight on the streets of Price by the county attorney, JW Warf.

    Also see this webpage for more information about Jack Watson: John A. "Jack" Watson - Soldier, Blacksmith, Texas Ranger, Outlaw, Lawman, Private Investigator, and friend to Cyrus "Doc" Shores...a man to cross river's with.

    If you are related or have any information concerning Jack Watson please contact Jane Helvering.


    watson1.jpg
    watson2.jpg
    watson5.jpg
    Artist, James P. Miller
    version of Jack Watson
    using family portraits.


    CHRISTIAN NELSON

    by EUGENE H. HALVERSON

    Christian Hansen was born 20 October, 1866 in Laasby, Gern, Skanderborg, Aarhus, Denmark. The last child of Marie Kisten Jensen Pelsen and Hans Nielsen Herning. In the spring of 1877 Chris age 11 with his two brothers, Niels 22 and Jens (James) 17 immigrated to America with the help of Mormon Elders. Niels was listed as lost at sea. Chris, it seems, arrived in Richfield and lived with the family for a time but left home as a young man to live in the Spanish Fork area. The Denver and Rio Grand Railroad had bought the Calico Railroad from Milan Packard and was building a regular gauge railroad in its place. The D&RG already owned the Pleasant Valley Coal Mine at Winter Quarters. The railroad was called the Pleasant Valley Railroad and Chris worked for it from building it to running it.

    While he was living in Spanish Fork he met and married Louisa Mary Mead. They were married 24 January, 1887. Their first child, Verne Orlando Nelson was born in Provo, Utah 17 January, 1888. Other children were born in various other railroad towns where they worked and lived. Hans Herning Nelson was born in Clear Creek in 22 December, 1890. Christian Herning Nelson was born in Price 20 April, 1892, Emron Monroe Nelson was born in Spring Glen in 16 December, 1895. Chris had saved and bought a large farm and house here at Spring Glen. Two years later he was transferred too a job at Thistle, Utah for the next several years. Where four more children were born; Della Larue 23 February, 1898, Norma Presley Nelson 1900, Chester Louis Nelson 1902, and Kisty Gwendoline Nelson 24 May, 1903. Henry Mead Nelson 30 May 1907 and Helen Louisa Nelson 1908 were born in Provo, Utah.

    Chris asked his brother, James Nielson to leave Richfield to live and run Chris's farm in Spring Glen until Mary decided to let her family run it. Chris was quite successful and worked himself up to a high position on the railroad. Ella Nielson Boothe said, "I had an Uncle Chris. You should hear about him. He is a famous guy in my life. He was the head of the trains. His office was way up high in the store. When he would come over he would put me in his arms and love me and give me a book or something. I remember standing up on the hill when I had the mumps, waving at the men on the track. When Uncle Chris came they would throw out lumps of coal for us and we would go and get it."

    Chris remained the "the head of the trains" for the D & RGW serving the Carbon County coal companies until he moved from Provo to Salt Lake City. The Bingham Canyon mines were mining ore faster than the D & RGW could ship the ore to the Magna mills. Two or three new lines were constructed but this was not enough, so, they built the Bingham & Garfield Railway (the B & G) from the bottom of the Utah Copper Pit directly across the mountain to Magna. It was a 20 mile railway built high up on the steep mountain side high above the town of Bingham. It was a major project with three huge steel trestles across three canyons and four tunnels totaling almost a mile long. And Christian Nelson was the roadmaster, "the head of the railroad". Quite a step from a poor emigrant boy to the head man of the railroad that served both the coal and metal mining industries of Utah.

    I have yet to find a family member of the Nelson family to talk to. A newspaper article and what Ella Nielson Boothe tells about her famous Uncle Chris is all that I know about him. Chris was killed in my home town, at Bingham Canyon, Utah on the 19th of March, 1935.

    Newspaper Headline; Falling Trolley Pole kills man at Highland Boy Christian Nelson, 68, of 154 West North Temple Street, roadmaster of the Bingham & Garfield railroad, was killed at 10 a.m. today (19 March, 1935) at Highland Boy. Mr. Nelson was killed when a crane on the wrecker struck a trolley pole crashing it down on him.

    Mr. Nelson was born in Denmark, 20 August, 1866. He had resided in Utah for the past 55 years and had been connected with the Denver and Rio Grande, Salt Lake & Utah, Southern Pacific railways prior to his last position with the Bingham and Garfield railroad.

    Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Louise Nelson, Salt Lake; five sons, V. O. Nelson, Norman P. Nelson, Chester Nelson, Henry Nelson, Salt Lake; Mrs. Kisty Williams, Winnemucca, Nevada; Mrs. Helen Hade, California. (three children missing)

    Mary died in Salt Lake City on the 8th of May, 1948. They are both buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

    Obituary of Christian Herning Nelson; (son of Christian Nelson) Christian Herning Nelson, 82, 5504 Elaine Avenue, died 14 March, 1975, at a son's home here after a lengthily illness.

    Born 20 April, 1892 in Price to Christian and Louise Meade Nelson. Married Ella Driggs. She died in 1947. Former engineer. Member of LDS Church.

    .

    Survivors; sons, Raymond C., Salt Lake City, Spencer K., Maywood, California; brother and sisters, Verne O., Norman P., both Salt Lake City; Chester L., Sacramento, California; Della Malcolm, Helen Marlowe, Watsonville, California.

    Funeral, Monday noon, 260 East South Temple where friends call one hour before services. Burial Salt Lake City Cemetery.

    Obituary of Raymond Chris Nelson; Raymond Chris Nelson, age 81, passed away 4 May, 1998 at the home of his daughter.

    He was born 16 October, 1916 in Salt Lake City to Christian Herning and Ella Ann Driggs Nelson. He married Helen Gladys Winkelkotter on 11 August, 1941. She preceded him in death.

    Raymond was an avid outdoors man who enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family and friends. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, retired from Interstate Brick and was a member of the LDS Church.

    Ray was the father of three and is survived by his daughter, Kristine Blue; son-in-law, David Blue; Grandsons, David R. Blue and Ryan Blue. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Claire, and his son, Wade. Buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery.

    If you are related or have any information concerning Christian Nelson and his family please contact Gene Halvorson



    Aaprami & Kaisa Luoma

    The following story is a translation from Marjatta Pulkkinen's article printed in "Keskipohjanmaa" Paper on Sunday, May 1st, 1988, by Terttu M. Härönoja, Golden, Colorado.

    Abe & Kate

    On the 20th of December, 1850, the farmhand ("renki") Aaprami Aaprami's son from Tikkakoski, was wedded to the aristocratic farm daughter ("talontytär") Katariina Juho's Daughter Finnilä who had just turned fifteen. The couple was not addressed with these fancy names, and from here on we shall also call them just Aapa and Kaisa. The last names changed often, and after several phases, they ended as the Farm Lesse ("torppari") in the Paster's House ("pappila") in Veteli, first in the Haka Cabin and then in the Isoluoma Cabin. Ten children were born out of which two died very young. Once adults each child left home to become a farmhand ("renki") or a maid ("piika") or a farm lessee ("torppari") - until the travel fever hit and dreams about better future conquered their minds.

    Abram Luoma

    The oldest of the children know as Jussi Jännikangas, escaped the travel fever and remained in Finland. Aaprami and his wife Anna Liisa Tofferi first traveled to Pietari (St. Petersberg) and then departed for America with their four children. Tilda, my grandmother, went along as well. They left the prefix of the Isoluoma last name off and were know as the Luomas. Heikki Vihtori from the Villiage of Liedes in Halsua, became the son-in-law, and left from there with his family. So did leave Matti Leanteri with his wife Marjaana Isoaho of Reisjärvi and their children. Kusti and Ales were bachelors when they left. When Viljami left, he took then the parents, Aapa and Kaisa with him. Viljami's Marja, maiden name Pasila, a daughter of a shoemaker from the Village of Patana in Vetelli and her two children and 9 month old twins were left behind to wait for the tickets which never came.

    Aapa and Kaisa traveled to join their children to Scofield, Utah. Then about 300 Finns lived there. A temperance Society and a band were founded and actively functioning amongst them. Majority worked in the coal mine owned by Pleasant Valley Coal Company. Everything looked promising until the 1st of May 1900. The trying fate had so arranged that Aapa and Kaisa had to be there and in person to experience the horror and agony when the mine exploded. Their family had six sons and three grandsons left in the depths of the mine.

    Luoma home

    Isoluoma Family's Grief

    Journalists in America told about Aapa and Kaisa as follows: "There are many moving tragedies but perhaps none as tragic and touching as the one with the Luoma Family. Abe Luoma and his wife had seven sons and three grandsons who had left their homes in Finland and immigrated to America eventually ending up to work at the Winter Quarter Mine. Children had wanted their parents, 70 and 65 years old, respectively, to come and spend their last years together with them. The parents were told that they don't have to work anymore because the sons earn more money than they had ever had in Finland. Abe Luoma and his wife arrived in Scofield three months before the accident. Six sons and three grandsons were killed in the explosion. Five sons and two grandsons were married. Only one son, Matako Luoma did not perish in the accident". Most Likely their son-in-law, Tilda's husband Aleksi Vänäkangas from Toholampi was also accounted as a son.

    Included here are a few pictures of the Luoma family in Scofield, Utah. Click on the picture for a larger image. If anyone can identify the members of the family in these pictures or are interested in seeing others please contact Doug Kero or Kathy Hamaker, Carbon Co. coordinator.

    Luoma family Luoma family Luoma family Luoma family Luoma family


    Faddis, Thelma Beth

    Here is bits and pieces on Spring Canyon

    I was born in Spring Canyon November 5, 1928 at home. Dr. Himes was the attending physician. At age eight weeks I had emergency surgery for a hernia and strangulated bowel. It was performed at midnight my mother wrote, just as the bells were ringing and the whistles blowing announcing the new year. The doctor was Dr. Tuttle. I was blessed and given the name Thelma Beth Faddis just before the surgery. My father was Samuel Emilton Faddies (later changed to Faddis). He was a carpenter and worked maintaining the company homes. His brother Robert Karl Faddis was injured in Spring Canyon when his leg was run over by a railroad car. It had to be amputated, but he died of blood poisoning March 14, l918 at age 21, just one day before he was to go into the army during World War I.

    Samuel Emilton double cousin (their fathers were brothers and their mothers were sisiters), Eleanor Faddis Hanna writes of when their family lived in Spring Canyon. She says the school was made of brick and was built next to the church. She was in first grade in 1916 and her teacher was Esther Powell. The State Mine Inspector was John Pettit. Her father, Samuel Joseph Faddies was overseer of all the tracks that were laid to run from the mine. He later was made foreman of the tipple - the tipple being where the coal was dumped from the mine cars, sorted according to size and grade, weighed, then loaded into railroad cars to be shipped out to Helper. Eleanor's second grade teacher was the same lady, but she had married so her name was now Mrs. Withouse.

    In May of 1918 a flash flood went through the canyon, flooding the homes as water ran in the hillside built homes in one door and out the other. It took out a large section of the railroad,also, which took until July of that year to repair.

    On October 9, 1918 La Rue Faddies was born in Spring Canyon (Eleanor's sister) November 11, 1918 the Armistice was signed and towns people celebrated. The mine whistles blowed, and people cried with joy and shouted, waving flags and singing songs. Everyone was out on Main Street. Eleanor's 4th grade teacher was the same lady, but now, having been divorced and remarried, her name was Mrs. McBeth. The winters brought lots ot snow, so the kids could coast on their sleds from home to school without stopping. The only shopping was at the Company Store, except what you ordered from a catolog from Sears, or Montgomry Ward. Frank T. Bennett was the Chief Clerk at the mine office at the Company Store.

    Eleanor's sister, Erma Marie was born December 24, 1919 at home in Spring Canyon. In November 1921, the day before Thanksgiving, Samuel Joseph Faddies was at work as tipple foreman showing the train engineer where to place the railroad cars needed to fill with coal that day, and as he walked backward, motioning to the engineer with his hands raised above his head, he came in contact with the high voltage power lines. His body went up in a ball of flame, then fell to the ground. He was taken to the small hospital then put him on the train to Salt Lake to the Holy Cross Hospital. He died December 1, l921 at age 41 leaving his widow and five young children still at home. After the school year the family moved to Provo and took in BYU students as boarders to sustain them.

    Information submitted by Beth Allred.



    John Newbern Butt

    1890 Castle Gate

    This picture that is in the museum in Helper of six miners at the Castle Gate Coal Mine taken in 1890 ---the fourth man from the left is my Grandfather John Newbern Butt. He was 28 years old at the time of this photo. He also served as County Sheriff's Deputy during the time of strikes and racial trouble in Castle Gate. He chased Butch Cassidy and his gang along with other outlaws which they succeeded in capturing at times. My cousin has his badge and his gun which he used. He was born March 14, 1862, the day of the battle of Newbern in which his father was fighting during the civil war. Thus his name John Newbern Butt. He was born in Ohio.

    John Newbern Butt

    The photo is a picture of the badge, watch and gun of John Newbern Butt. He was sheriff deputy in Castle Gate and City Marshall in Lehi, Utah. Click on images for large pictures.

    Information submitted by Beth Allred.



    Arnel S. & Pearl Hamblin Milner

    Beth Milner Raynes

    My father worked at the Castle Gate mine. He went with an inspector and the inspector told him there was gas in it and it was dangerous but evidently not enough proof to close the mine. My father said he quit and talked a coworker into moving his family with he and his family to Sunnyside. (That was where I was born Aug. 29, l925). Both he and his friend had to take a much lower wage with the move. His friends name has long since been forgotten and my Father is dead so I can't find that out.

    It was difficult for the families to live on the lessor wage. My father said his friend was upset that he had listened to my father because he had really liked Castle Gate and now they were in a difficult circumstances because of the move.

    When the explosion happened he came to my father, threw his arms around my father and wept and thanked him repeatedly for saving his life.

    My father was raised in Wellington and his father, Mother, his mother (Emma Thayne Milner) father and mother (Thayne) and numerous aunts,uncles,cousins,etc. are buried in the Wellington cemetery.

    My Mother and Father moved from Sunnyside when I was a baby and built a new house in Wellington. A short time later their house burned to the ground. I remember them saying the piano fell into their basement. They said that they stood by the burned out house, me in their arms and daddy said, "I've lost my sheep (his livelihood) and our home... We can live anyplace we want to. Mama replyed," Provo,I want my children educated."

    They did and we are.

    Information donated by Beth Milner Raynes



    Samuel Bert Bunnell

    Retired Price Auto Dealer Dies at 80 After Stroke
    FHL film 1421806 bk 16 pg 7
    Special to the Tribune

    Price - S. Bert Bunnell, 80, retired Carbon County automobile dealer, died Thursday at 7:30 a.m. in a Price hospital after a stroke.

    Mr. Bunnell started business in Price in 1920 as a partner in the Alger Auto Co. He started his own automobile business in 1926 and in 1930 moved his company to Helper. In 1946, he moved back to Price and formed a partnership with his sons, who now own and operate an auto company here.

    Serves on Council

    Mr. Bunnell was a member of the Helper Kiwanis Club for 25 years. He served on the Helper City Council from 1940 to 1945. He once was a director of the Helper Merchants Baseball Assn.

    Mr. Bunnell attended Emery Stake Academy and served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1908 to 1910. He was a former Sunday school superintendent in Castle Dale, Emery County, and was a high priest in the Price Fourth LDS ward at the time of his death.

    Mr. Bunnell was the father of State Sen. Omar B. Bunnell (D-Carbon County.)

    Born in Emery

    He was born Aug. 5, 1885 in Lawrence, Emery County, to Samuel David and Marietta Moore Bunnell. He married Louise Kofford, April 5, 1911, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. She died Feb. 27, 1956. He married Grace Roberts in June 1958, in the Salt lake LDS Temple.

    Survivors include his widow, Price; sons, Sen. Omar B. Ross, Kay, Louis, Boyd, all of Price; 15 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, stepson and stepdaughters, Robert Roberts, Denver, Colo.; Mrs. Harold (Fay) Harding, Mrs. Vernon (Bonnie) Merrill, both of Kaysville, and a sister, Mrs. Nellie Young, Bountiful.

    Rites Saturday

    Funeral Services will be Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Carbon LDS Stake Center. Friends may call at Mitchell Funeral Home in Price Friday from 7 to 9 p.m., Saturday at the stake center one hour prior to services.

    Burial will be in Price Cemetery.



    Clyde & Amanda Pace Roberts

    Amanda Pace Roberts taught school in Columbia. She was the wife of Clyde Roberts a personnel director at the Columbia Mines. In an article written by Gerald Evans that appeared in the spring 2002 Carbon County Historical Society Journal it says: "The first school was held in a tent and began September 7, 1923. There were 29 pupils who experienced a thrill of holding school in a tent with new desks, supplies and even a new teacher with children who had never been together before. Even the town was new."

    "There were seven grades in one tent. Eight children in the first grade which was the largest. Later in the year one eighth grade pupil came, making eight grades in the tent. By hard work of the teacher and pupils a space large enough for a ball diamond was made. In the bright fall days the tent became too hot, then pupils and teacher went out under the cedar trees to continue classes, rocks and logs providing the seats. Mrs. Amanda Roberts was the first teacher. She is still a resident of Columbia and the wife of chief clerk in the office, Mr. Clyde Roberts. Mrs. Roberts recalls that the first janitors were the pupils. Ventilation was difficult. When the stoves in the middle of the tents became hot the tent was hot, if the fire went down a little, children got cold but even so school was held in the tent two years. The third year school was held in a beautiful new building which is an honor to the town."

    Amanda and Clyde had two children, one died at birth and the other, a boy named Carl, was raised in Columbia. He attended high school at the Wasatch Academy in Mt Pleasant. Carl eventually received a advanced degree in geology and worked for an oil company in Houston, Texas. He was married to Rogene "Jeannie" Cullen and they had two daughters.

    If you are related to or would like to have more information about this family please contact R. Wayne Pace.



    Edwin Thomas Jones

    Carbon County News 8 Aug 1912
    Man Killed at Spring Glen

    Edward T. Jones, a farmer and ice maker living about a mile west of Helper, was almost instantly killed a few minutes before midnight Saturday, while crossing the D. & R. G. railroad tracks at Spring Glen. Jones had been to Kenilworth on business and was on his way home when killed. He was driving a horse and single buggy and was struck by the 2nd section of passenger train ____4, due into Price from the west at 12:14. The body was found at 12:30 by people coming from " ___ench'ys" park, south of the track near Spring Glen, where a dance had been in progress during the evening. The heart was still beating when the body was found, but the neck had been broken by the impact of the engine striking the body. The horse and part of the harness was carried to this city on the cow catcher of the engine.

    County attorney Hoffman went up to Spring Glen from this city Sunday morning to investigate the killing but decided the cause of death was so obvious that an inquest was not necessary, and none was held. Dr. Dowd of Kenilworth had also examined the remains and was of the same opinion.

    Mr. Jones was 54 years of age and has been a resident of Carbon county for about twenty years. He is survived by a widow and seven children, now presiding in this county, the children being Mrs. Bertha Montgomery, Mrs. Pearl Davis, Ed. L., Fern, Ruby, Elden and Clarence Jones, all grown except the last three, who are 14, 6 years and 18 months old respecfully.

    Funeral Services were held at the Spring Glen meeting house at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Bishop ___ officiating, and the body was laid to rest in Spring Glen cemetery. ___ H. Brown and family of this family attended the funeral, Mrs. Brown being a niece of the deceased.



    The Rizzi Families in Carbon County

    @2013 Allen E. Rizzi

    The story of the Rizzi families in Carbon County, Utah began in 1891 when a young Eugenio Stefano Rizzi left his native Tirol for the promise of America. At 17 years of age, he boarded the SS Bretagne and sailed from Havre, France to New York, arriving at Ellis Island on December 7, 1891, He travelled with several of his friends from his native village of Cloz, Austria (now Italy). In his company were Modesto Rauzi 18, Felice Anselmi 34, Basilio Zanoni 17, Giovanni Rauzi 30, Pietro Zanoni 23, Alfonso Floretta 21 and Stefan Angeli 26. There eventual destination was Rock Spring, Wyoming where many Tiroleans had already settled.

    After working for a couple of years as a coal miner for one dollar a day, Eugenio bought a bar with several of his countrymen. It was called the Fountain Saloon and was located across from the train station in Rock Springs. It was often the first destination for newly arrived Tiroleans from the old country. Business was good and the young Eugenio built a comfortable life in Rock Springs, travelling to and from his native Tirol. Three children were soon born in Rock Springs: Rosalia in 1898, Rinaldo in 1901 and Girogio in 1905. Eugenio parlayed his earnings into a sheep ranching business with several other men from the Tirol’s Val di Non. However, this good life was short lived. After falling through the ice during a winter roundup of stray sheep, Eugenio fell ill and returned to Austria. On September 11, 1912, he had a fatal heart attack at the age of 38.

    Eugeneio’s wife, Anna Maria Flor of Brez in the Val di Non was pregnant with the couple’s fourth child and travelled to the village of Tret to have her baby with the help of her sister Armida Flor. On April 1, 1913, Eugenio Valentino Rizzi was born some seven months after his father’s death. Nine months later, Anna’s daughter Rosalia died at age 14 from heart failure. Anna lived in Meran, Austria until World War 1 and finally left her new country of Italy for the United States in 1921. She settled in Rock Springs, Wyoming before moving to Price, Utah to join her son Giorgio in 1922.

    Giorgio Rizzi married Lena Flaim who was born in Castle Rock in 1899. Together they managed the Newhouse Hotel in Price which was owned by Fedele “Fred” Paternoster and his wife Giuseppina Larcher. Fred Paternoster owned many businesses in Price and built whole block of the city in the 1920s and 1930s. Fedele Paternoster was Lena Flaim’s uncle. In addition to running the hotel, Lena also taught school on the Hams Fork after graduating with a teaching certificate in 1920.

    Rinaldo “Roy” Rizzi moved to Price two years after the rest of his family after a successful business career in Meran, Austria. He married Gwendolyn Fenn of Rock Springs and was a successful businessman in both communities. He worked for his uncle Giovanni Rizzi in Rock Springs at the Mercantile Company. He later owned a company in Price called Neon Creations along with his brother Giorgio Rizzi and their aunt Virginia Flor Mengoni. They specialized in neon sign advertising. However, like his father he died at 38 years of age due to heart disease. It is said that Roy told his mother, “I don’t want to die now” and then fell dead in his mother’s arms in his hospital bed in Salt Lake City.

    Eugenio Valentino Rizzi also lived in both Rock Springs and price with his mother. The younger Eugenio took up the violin at age seven and attended schools in Price at Southside Elementary and Harding Jr. High. He studied violin in Price under Professor Eugene Hansen and Alvin Duke. From 1922 to 1927, he played with the Price Orchestra and at many social events in the city. In 1927, Eugenio left Price to study violin at the Neues Wiener Konservatorium (New Vienna Conservatory) in Vienna, Austria. He graduated as concert master in 1932 as the youngest graduate in the history of the school. He returned to Price in 1932 and proceeded with a music career in both Europe and the United States.

    In 1938, Eugenio returned permanently from Europe as the German anschluss had obliterated most music in pre-war Austria. In the same year, Eugenio and his mother moved to San Francisco, California and later to Hollywood, California where Eugenio became an actor in such films as The Outlaw, To Be or Not to Be and Crash Dive.

    Giorgio remained in Price until he was drafted into military service during World War II. After the war, he returned to Price and lived there until the death of his wife Lena in 1950. He then joined the rest of his surviving family in North Hollywood, California.

    The Rizzi family, like many fellow Tiroleans, helped build the cities of Rock Springs, Kemmerer and Price into the cities they are today. They were hard working, creative and unflinching in their desire to make their new home in America a better place to live.


    Anna Maria Flor Rizzi
    Euegenio S. Rizzi
    Rosalia Rizzi
    Rinaldo Rizzi
    Giorgio Rizzi
    Anna Maria Flor Rizzi
    Euegenio S. Rizzi
    Rosalia Rizzi
    Rinaldo Rizzi
    Giorgio Rizzi


    Young Violinist of Price Returns After
    Studying in Europe

    News Advocate - 28 July 1932 RizziGenePriceViolin1922.gif

    Eugene Rizzi, a gifted young violinist, son of Mrs. Anna Rizzi, has just arrived in Price after a five year sojourn in Vienna, Austria, where he has recently graduated with high honors from the Neue Wiener conservatory (the New Vienna conservatory), with the title of concertmaster. Mr. Rizzi who is now but 19 years of age, was the youngest student ever to finish at the conservatory, which is considered one of the finest in Europe.

    The young concertmaster studied originally with Professor Eugene Hansen and with Professor Alvin Duke of Price. With the ambition to continue his musical study under the best foreign instructors, he went abroad five years ago. Taking some preparatory lessons with Professor Erich Graf, who is one of the first violins of the Vienna opera, he was able to pass his entrance examination with ease, and entered the concertmaster class under Professor Heinrich Schwarz, one of the greatest violinists and teachers of the violin in Europe. Also taking private lessons with Professor Schwarz, Mr. Rizzi was enabled to finish his studies in less than the usual period.

    At the same time he was studying harmony and music history with Dr. Robert Conta. He played first violin in the symphony concerts given by the conservatory under Professor Rudolph Nihus (or Nilius), one of the orchestra leaders at the opera, and made a public appearance with the graduating class, a small class of four members finished with him.

    If his plans materialize, he will make a concert tour during the winter season.

    Eugene Rizzi & Price Orchestra 1922

    Price Orchestra 1922
    Eugene Rizzi is seated second from the left. The man in the center is either
    Professor Alvin Duke or Mr. Eugene Hansen (both of Price).

    If you are related to the Rizzi family or would like to know more please contact Allen Rizzi. You may also be interested in two other books that are available through Amazon's Kindle store. They deal with the roots of the Tiroleans who settled in Utah and Wyoming: Our First Year and In the Shadow of Saint Stephen.


    Albo, Dominick

    5 Sep 1919 - The Sun pg 5

    Dominick Albo of Helper, who has the honor of being the first man in Utah to volunteer his services when the United States declared war on Germany, reached home last Tuesday evening, coming from the East. He was a member of the marines and was in most of the important battles in which the 'devil dogs' took part. He returned to the states on board the George Washington, which brought President Wilson home from the peace conference at Paris.



    Ariotti, Jennie

    1 Nov 1921 - The News Advocate pg 1

    Double Rock store fire of 1919. Jennie Ariotti lost her case for damages against Mike Bergera Tuesday when a verdict of no cause for action was given. This automatically ended the several cases brought by the members of the Ariotti family against Bergera as result of the falling of the wall of the Double Rock store after the big fire of the summer of 1919 in Helper. One of the walls of the burned building fell over on the building occupied by the Ariott family, doing considerable damage and causing some personal injuries. Price and Fouts were Bergera's attorneys.



    Berg, Josephine Thomas

    15 Apr 1927 - The News Advocate page 1
    Native of Scofield Dies at Scofield

    Funeral services were held today at Provo for Mrs. Josephine Thomas Berg, native of Scofield and a relative of numerous Helper and Scofield residents. Mrs. Berg died suddenly Tuesday following a short illness. Mrs. Berg was born in Scofield, Jan. 6, 1892, the daughter of T. H. and Eliza Holley Thomas. The family moved to Salt Lake in 1902 and later to Springville. Surviving are her husband, one son, Max Berg; two daughters, Marian and Jean Berg; her mother, Mrs. E. H. Thomas, Helper; one brother, Lee S. Thomas, Scofield, two sisters, Mrs. Herbert Robinson, Salt Lake, and Mrs. J. C. Kavanaugh, Helper.



    Bergera, James J. (Chokey)

    death - 30 Mar 1975

    age 67, born June 25 or 27, 1907 Diamondville, Wyoming. Parents: Dominic and Mary Ferpatto Bergera. Died Sunday, 30 March 1975 in Price Hospital. Burial Thurs. 1975 Helper, UT. Married Grace Hreinson, 22 Dec 1931 in Castle Gate, Carbon, Utah.



    James J. "Chokey" Bergera

    The Salt Lake Tribune - obituary
    Special to the Tribune

    HELPER, Carbon County - James J. "Chokey" Bergera, 67, Carbon County businessman, died Sunday in a Price hospital after a short illness.

    Mr. Bergera was chairman of the board and past president of Helper Mercantile Inc., a member of the board of directors of Zion First National Bank, Price, and director of the Rocky Mountain Beer Wholesale Assn.

    He was also past president of the Carbon County Country Club, director of the Western Senior Golf Assn. and a member of Stella D' America, No. 33, Helper and Price Lodge No. 1550, BPOE.

    Mr. Bergera was born June 27, 1907, in Diamondville, Wyo., a son of Domonic and Mary Ferpotto Bergera. He married Grace Hreinson Dec. 22, 1931 in Castle Gate, Carbon County.

    He is survived by his wife; two sons, Dr. Jerald J., Ogden; Clifford H., Carbonville, Carbon County; two grandchildren; two brothers and three sisters, Frank, Ogden; Nick V., Glendora, Calif.; Mrs. I. R. (Rene) Crandall, Las Vegas, Ne.; Mrs. J.J. (Mary) Devinenzi, Martinez, Calif.; and Mrs. A.N. (Calyce) Dillsaver, Mill Valley, Calif.

    Funeral Mass will be Thursday 10 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Helper. Holy Rosary will be recited Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Chapel, Price, where friends may call Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday before the service. Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery, Helper. The family suggests contributions to the Easter Seal Fund.

    If you are related to this family please e-mail Kathy Hamaker



    Bergera, Lucy

    death - 8 Aug 1918 - News Advocate page 4

    Died at the home of a son Dominic Bergera, at the age of 71 years. Born in Italy. Lived in Helper many years. Funeral Helper, Sunday. Born 1847.



    Bergera, Mary

    death - 24 Apr 1953

    Born 11 Jul 1882 in Cuorgne, Province of Tarino, Italy. Parents: Lodovico Farpotto and Madelina. Died at Ogden Hospital. Burial Tuesday, 28 Apr 1953 in Helper, Utah. Husband was Dominic Bergera. Came to the U.S. with her husband in 1900. Settled in Castle Gate. Permanent resident of Helper since 1909.



    Beveridge, Thomas

    20 Oct 1981 - Salt Lake Tribune page D5

    Born 2 November 1904 Ketty, Fifeshire, Scotland. Parents: Archie and Euphamia Penman Beveridge. Married: June 1, 1930, Mary Dalpiaz, Price, Utah. Died: 18 Oct, 1981, Price, Utah. Buried: 22 Oct 1981, Helper, Utah. Retired: Helper Businessman



    Bianco, August

    27 Mar 1941 - The Helper Journal page 1

    Killed by falling rock in Royal mine. Widow: Caroline Bertoglio Bianco, one son and five step chilren, two brothers, both in Italy, one sister, Helper.



    Bianco, Pete

    13 Nov 1930

    Funeral services were conducted at the Catholic Church in Helper Wednesday at 11:00 a.m., age 42. Died in Kenilworth 8 Nov 1930 of labor pneumonia, buried Helper. Born 19 Jun 1888 in Camania, Italy. Son of Bernardo and Maria Bianco. Wife, Demoneica Bianco survives.



    John James Bianco Sr.,

    FHL film 1421809 bk 8 pg 5

    Sun Advocate
    HELPER - John James Bianco Sr., died October 4, 1981 in a Provo hospital following a short illness. Born September 9, 1916 in Kenilworth, Utah to Barnardo and Antoinette Bianco. Married Freda Hreinson November 8, 1937 in Castle Dale, Utah. Member Catholic Church. Lifelong resident of Carbon County. Served U.S. Air Force, World War II. Retired Postal employee, 11 years service Price Post Office. Former manager of Bonnie Lanes, owned and operated Jonnie's Club in Helper, member Helper Post American Legion, Helper Italian Lodge Stella D'America.

    Survivors: wife, children, John J. Jr., Michael B. O'Shea all Helper; Marsha B. O'Shea, Price; nine grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Geno (Katie) Ori, Mrs. Tony (Edith) Tonc, Mrs. Carlyle (Netta) Burton, all Helper. Preceded in death by a daughter, Sahron Heath.

    Mass of Christian. Burial Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. St. Anthony Catholic Church. Holy Rosary will be recited Tuesday at 8:00 p.m., Mitchell Chapel, where friends may call Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday prior to services. burial, Mountain View Cemetery, Helper.

    If you are related to this family please e-mail Kathy Hamaker



    Nick Bikakis

    Memories of Nick's Club by Don Butler

    I have many memories of Nick's Club operated by Nick Bikakis. He was the first in East Carbon to have a TV....about 1954 or so....required an antenna tower about 75-100 feet up with an antenna aimed toward Salt Lake City.....I remember watching the '54 world series there.....Cleveland Indains and New York Giants.... Willie Mays famous centerfield catch at the Polo Grounds......the place was packed......I was 11 years old, there with my dad, but remember a huge crowd........all watching.a little 19 inch black & white round screen with a snowy image up on a shelf......Nick sold a lot of beer that day!..

    TV finally came to everyone in East Carbon in 1956 when a receiving transponder was installed on the mountaintop above Sunnyside....we had our own little cable system....cost about $4 a month per house....and was a goldmine for the Miner's Trading Post in Sunnyside....who not only ran the cable system, but sold most of the TVs that were purchased..... Back to Nick's....he had a nice little dance floor in the back with a little bandstand....and had a live orchestra on Saturday night twice a month....the place was always jumping....I play the piano, and played there several times with a little combo when I got a little older.....(also played at Nick's on the Hill....up above the Elite).......Nick's Club was the only place in town to get a decent steak...he always grilled great T-Bones and Porterhouses......Rotary & Kiwannis Clubs had their meetings there...always with a steak dinner....I remember as a kid playing piano solos for both those groups and getting myself a steak dinner out of it every time...



    Bonza, Vince

    5 Jan 1979

    Age 67, died 5 Jan 1979 in a Price hospital after a short illness. Born 8 Mar 1911 in Helper, Utah to Louis and Olive Luigia Nava Boonza, married Elizabeth Migliaccio, 27 Feb. 1935, Price. Member of Methodist Church. Was elected Helper City Councilman for twelve years. Retired manager of Utah State Liquor store after 29 years.



    Bosone, Reva Beck

    The Sun, Price, UT pg 3 - February 5, 1931

    Mrs. Reva Beck Bosone, a graduate of the University of Utah, has started the practice of law in Carbon County with office in Helper. She is the first woman lawyer in this county and the second one in the state to set up practice. Her husband, Joseph Bosone, is now completing his studies at the University of Utah and will join his wife in the spring.

    She passed the state bar examination a year ago, the eleventh woman to do so in the state, and has received her B.A. degree from the University of California, Mrs. Bosone is the fourth woman to receive L.L.B. degree from the University of Utah. Before taking up law study, Mrs. Bosone was supervisor of public speaking and dramatic arts at the Ogden high school for five years. She had the distinction of being the first president of the Phi Delta Delta, international legal woman's fraternity, when it was organized in Utah. Mrs. Bosone will specialize in divorces and personal injury suits.



    Boweter, William Sr.

    Oldbury, Bilston, England to Benjamin Rowley and Fanny Boweter. wife Emma Beddoes. children: (1.) Fanny born 2 June 1866 in Windhill, York, England. married: 10 Aug 1885 Frank Merriweather. Died; 21 Feb 1951. (2.) Emma (3.) Sarah married William Reese. (4.) William Benjamin. The father came to U.S. Oct 21, 1881 on the ship "Abyssinia", #217 page 388 Wm Boweter, 41, Leeds conference. Settlement, expects money in New York, acting as a ship steward. The wife and children sailed 29 Aug 1883 on the ship "Nevada".

    ...man found in mine...and although sitting among the dead, was found to be alive, although hardly conscious. After being assited to his feet he walked out, with slight help...taken to Salt Lake hospital.

    William was in the Winter Quarters Mine when it exploded May 1, 1900. He was badly burned and taken to a Salt Lake hospital. In the 1920's he told Stanley Harvey this story: Men working in a room near him came to William and said that they were ready to set off some powder, but they had misgaged the thickness of a wall. When the powder exploded, it came through the wall, exploding coal dust which then was like a ball of fire as it went from room to room. Mr. Harvey asked William why did he never tell this story. The reply was that no one had asked him.



    Buchanan, --

    ...a miner, placed an immense amount of black powder in a hole he had drilled for a shot, at the bottom of the coal vein, intending to blow out all the coal from the bottom of the vein to the top. When the shot was fired the jar or concussion was felt from one end of the mine to the other. The coal dust flew from the discharge to the mouth of the mine, and the only reason the men were not killed by an explosion of dust at that time, was the fact that the company kept the dust on the floor of the entries sprinkled.



    Burch, Art

    Killed in a cave-in at Helper. He had the contract for putting in the bridge across Price river just back of the Tom Fitch residence and was filling in an abutment. The gang had just gone to work after dinner when three or four wagon loads of dirt and boulders caved in from the side of the hill burying Burch underneath. Art Burch came to Price with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Burch, 35 years ago.



    Chamberlain, James Burton

    The Eastern Utah Progress - 28 Jan 1943

    NEW MECHANICS TEACHER DIES: HERE SHORT WHILE

    Death claimed a member of the Carbon College faculty last Thursday as he was asleep in his room in Price. A sudden heart attack being reported as the cause of death for James Burton Chamberlain, who came here in January.

    Mr. Chamberlain was teaching vocational training for war production workers at the University of Utah before coming to Price on January 16 to begin work in the automobile mechanics department.

    Funeral services were held Tuesday in Salt Lake City, where the body had been shipped by the Mitchell Funeral Home.

    J. M. Naylor and Dr. A. E. Jones attended the services as representatives of the college faculty.



    Tom Chinaman

    Carbon County News, June 27, 1912 page 5

    Old Tom, the aged "Chink" who carries the mail between the Post Office and the depot at Helper, and who has been a resident of that city for more than 20 years attempted to stop 2nd No. 5 Saturday afternoon at that place by the simple expedient of getting in front of it. Marvelous to relate the engine butted him off the right-of-way without injuring him in the slightest degree.



    Colacito, Angelo Tony (Cinders)

    2 Jun 1969 - The Helper Journal

    Born 23 Jul 1927 in Spring Glen, Utah. His nickname was given to him from falling into a cinder pit while working as a call boy for the D&RG RR. He was a barber in Helper, a veteran of World War II, receiving the medal of valor for saving lives in a barrack's fire. He was a team manager for Pony League. He died 1 Jan 1969.



    Curtis, James P.

    ...was born in Hampshire Co., Massachusetts, April 1862, and has served his country in the army for eight years. At the last election he was elected Trustee for Scofield Town by a handsome majority. He is also chairman of the Joint Board of quarantine. being a past grand, he was the first D.D.G.M. for Scofield, and was one of the charter members. He is much admired by the members of Scofield Lodge No. 32, for his sterling qualities. Having been an Odd Fellow for many years he is able to give good advice in the councils of the lodge. he served as representative from here at the last session of the Utah Grand Lodge. He was outside foreman at number four when the explosion occurred and labored night and day with his men, sending material etc. into the mine for the use of the rescuing party.



    Steve Pallas (Telios Palloudakis)

    News Advocate - 26 Mar 1925

    Mr. and mrs. Pavlos N. Palloulakis of Crete will receive $1000, less $150 attorney's fees, as benefits from the death of their son, known as Steve Pallas, in the Castle Gate mine disaster on march 8, 1924, according to a decision of the state industiral commission at Salt lake Saturday. The parents were presented at hearing by another son, who established that the man now dead had made contributions from time to time to support his father and mother.



    Thomas Topping Lamph

    copied from - Lamphs: They came for Markethill
    by: Francine Lamph Berrett

    Thomas Lamph was superintendent of the National Coal Company at the National Mining District in Carbon County. he is a native of England, but has lived in Utah since boyhood. The business in which his experience and his inclination have made most expert has been mining. He was born at Workington, England on 14 May 1872, the son of Daniel and Eleanor (Topping) Lamph. His father was an iron worker in England and after coming to the United States established his home in Utah.

    Thomas Topping Lamph attended school in England and at the age of thirteen came to Utah. after arriving in Utah with his father, he completed his education at the age of fourteen. In 1886, being employed in a quarry, later in the mines. He lived in Salt Lake from 1888 to 1890. He lived in Castle Gate from 1890 to 1906. For one year he was street inspector in Salt Lake City. In 1907 he went to Dawson, New Mexico installing a check system for a mining company and subsequently was made mine foreman for Phelps Dodge Corporation. Returning to Utah in 1910, he became mine foreman for the Kenilworth Coal Company in in 1912 was sent to Hiawatha as safety foreman and explosive inspector. His next commission of responsibility was to open the Standard Mine at Standardville in 1914. In 1917 he opened the Wattis Mine for Mr. T. Rains and in 1918 was made mine superintendent at Rains. In 1919 he was operating a mine of his own in Straight Canyon. In 1920 he worked at Standard as mine superintendent. In 1924 he was appointed to reopen the Castle Gate Mine after a destructive explosion had occurred there.

    In September 1927 he was sent to Gordon Creek District as superintendent of the National Coal Company and his duties have kept him there for the past four years.

    He was very active in many public affairs and during 1903 to 1907 served as County Assessor of Carbon County. He married in 1894, Sarah May Eden of Braidwood, Illinois. Their children are: Edna, Annie, Thomas E., Lucille, and Elizabeth Mae. Probably no man in Utah has done more of the supervisory and constructive work in the development of Carbon County coal mines than Mr. Lamph. He was ordained High Priest which he held at the time of his death. Mr. Lamph retired in 1932 moving to Orangeville, Utah. While in Emery County he worked as foreman on road projects. Mr. Lamph passed away at the home of his son, Thomas E. Lamph, in Price, Carbon, Utah on 25 February 1947.



    Franklin Marion Ewell

    The News Advocate - 27 Dec 1923 pg 1

    FUNERAL OF F.M. EWELL TAKES PLACE AT PROVO

    Franklin Marion Ewell, for many years a resident of the Spring Glen community of Carbon county, died Monday morning after a lingering illness at his home in Provo. He left his county some twenty years ago, since which time he has lived in Provo. He was born at Payson February 6, 1862.

    He is surivived by his wife, Kate Thompson Ewell: five sons, William Marion Ewell of Mammoth, Lawrence T. Ewell, Roy Ewell, David Ewell and Arthur Ewell, all of Provo. Three daughters, Mrs. Alice Chadwick of American Fork; Mrs. Merling Jolly of Provo and Miss Dorothy Ewell of Provo also survive. He is also survivived by seven grandchildren, three brothers, Lorenzo Ewell of Provo, William Ewell of Salt Lake City and Permit Ewell of Payson, and two sisters, Mrs. Sarah Pratt of Salt Lake City and Mrs. Laura Dennis of Myton.

    Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock in the Third ward chapel. Interment was in the Provo city cemetery.

    The Sun - 28 Dec 1923

    OLDTIME RESIDENT OF CARBON CALLED BY DEATH

    Another of the oldtimers of this locality passed away last Monday when Franklin Marion Ewell died up at Provo after a lingering illness. He formerly lived at Spring Glenn, but left this county nearly twenty years since. He was a native of Utah, born at Payson almost sixty-two years ago. His wife, five sons and three daughters survive, all living in Utah at Provo, Mammoth and American Fork. Many of the family connections of the same name are still at Spring Glenn, the name of Ewell as applied to the community being from this source.

    Information received from Barry Ewell.



    George Ruff

    News Advocate - 31 Jan 1935 pg 1

    Death Ends Long Career of School, Civic Leader
    Former Bishop, Board President Dies in Salt Lake

    After a long and useful life, filled with service to his church, his community and his county, Bishop George Ruff, 85, who retired January 18 as a member of the Carbon board of education, a position he had held ever since the school district consolidation in 1915, died Sunday in a Salt Lake hospital, one week following the death of his third wife.

    The passing of Bishop Ruff marked the end of a long career of service equalled by very few men in the history of Carbon county. For almost 35 years he had continuously served in one capacity or another, and since coming to Scofield in 1900 had been closely identified with the social, industrial and educational progress of the county.

    He was appointed bishop of the Scofield L.D.S. ward in 1902 and held that position continously for 27 years. He was a member and president of the Scofield town board several times, served as a community school trustee before the organization of the Carbon school district and took an active part in all civic affairs.

    Although his interests in community activities were many and varied, Bishop Ruff's greatest interest was given to the education welfare of boys and girls. While a member of the Carbon board of education, he was elected vice president several times and in 1931 was elected president of the board, a position he held at the time of this retirement.

    When his term ended, Bishop Ruff was the oldest school board member in the state, both in age and length of service. On the board of education he saw members come and go. He worked harmoniously with five different superintendents, and board members and superintendents alike regarded him as more than a board member. To them he was a freind and counsellor, and friendships started in school work continued long after the professional relationships had been terminated.

    Bishop Ruff's illness prevented him from attending his last meeting as a member of the board of education. The session had been changed from the regular date so that it could be held on Bishop Ruff's eighty-fifth birthday anniversary. However the beloved board member became ill several days before the meeting and was remvoed to a hospital. Death was attributed to ailments incident to age.

    Bishop Ruff was born in England on January 18, 1850, a son of James and Elizea Medlock Ruff, and came to American in the fall of 1878, settling at Coalville, where he was employed as a blacksmith for a number of years. In 1898 he returned to his native land on a mission for his church, and served in the capacity until June, 1900, when he was relased.

    With his family, he moved to Scofield in the fall of 1900 and for nearly 30 years was employed by the Utah Fuel company as a blacksmith at the Winter Quarters mine. Although he continued to claim Scofield as his home, Bishop Ruff for several years had maintained his residence in Salt Lake City.

    Four sons and one daughter by his first wife, Sarah Grayson Ruff, survive him, namely, George Ruff and Mrs. Mary Emma Jones, Salt Lake City; Joseph H. Ruff, Standardville, and William E. Ruff and Wilford Ruff, Price, all of whom were with him at the time of his death. Also surviving are 17 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

    Bishop Ruff's second wife, Mary Hood Johnson Ruff, died in May, 1929, and his third wife, Elizabeth Wilding Burdett Ruff, succumbed at the family residence on January 20 of diabetes. Funeral services for her were conducted Wednesday of last week.

    Funeral services for Bishop Ruff were conducted Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. in the Deseret Mortuary chapel at Salt Lake, with burial being in the Coalville cemetery.

    Family representative Judith Taylor.



    William Edward Ruff

    Sun Advocate - Sep. 7, 1950

    Father of Carbon Woman Killed In Train-Car Crash

    W. E. Ruff, Springville garage owner, father of Mrs. John Crawford, Columbia, and brother of Wilford Ruff, mine machinery salesman, who travels extensively in Carbon county, was killed Tuesday when a fast passenger train crashed into his stalled truck west of Springville.

    Witnesses said that Mr. Ruff stepped from his truck on the side away from the approaching D&RGW deisel train, apparently unaware of its approach. The force of the impact threw the cab of the shattered vehicle against Mr. Ruff. He was at one time employed as a mechanic in the mine at Scofield.

    Funeral services have not yet been announced.

    Family representative Judith Taylor.



    James Irvin Doss

    The Sun - 27 Oct 1932

    PRICE MAN KILLED IN FALL FROM CLIFF

    James Irvin Doss, 33, was instantly killed about 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon three miles northeast of the Carbon County Country club when he fell approximately 300 feet from the top of a cliff.

    He and his father had climbed to the top of the ridge of cliffs earlier in the day to cut wood. They threw the wood off the cliff and were returning for a wagon to haul it home. It was on the return trip that the son is thought to have had a fainting spell and toppled off.

    He suffered two factures of the skull when he hit his head on the rocks below. An inquest this (Thursday) morning set the death as accidental. At the inquest the father told of the fainting spells his son had experienced on the way up and said that on the way home he was in front of his son, the latter carrying the axe used in cutting wood. The two were crossing an especially dangerous section. The son was cutting foot holds for he and his father when the axe fell from the son's hands and he tumbled over the cliff.

    The Doss family have lived in Carbon county for approximately two years. The dead man was born September 10, 1899, in Edgewood, Tex. Surviving are his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. John W. Doss, and the following brothers and sisters: Velma and Vivian of San Francisco, Calif; Mrs. Effie Chisum, Trout Dale, Ore., and Mrs. Ralph Winn of Price.



    Danella Sivley Doss

    Sun Advocate - 4 Feb 1937 pg 9

    PRICE WOMAN TAKEN BY PNEUMONIA ILLNESS

    Mrs. Danella Sivley Doss, 68, died at her home Thursday of pneumonia. Funeral services were conducted in the L.D.S. tabernacle Monday afternoon, and interment was in the local cemetery.

    Mrs. Doss was born at Crowton, Alabama, May 7, 1868. Her husband, John William Doss, survives. Also four daughters, Mrs. Effie Chisum, Graham, Oregon: Mrs. Essie Winn, Price; Miss Vivia Doss and Miss Velma Doss, San Francisco; two sons, Benford Doss of Los Angeles, and John B. Doss, Price; two brothers, Eugene and James Sivley of Alabama, a sister, Mrs. Nettie Waddell, Alabama and eleven grandchildren.



    Guiseppi Tangero

    The Sun - 30 Sep 1927

    Guisseppi Tangaio, aged 44 years and a native of Italy, died from injuries received shortly before noon Tuesday when a large amount of rock fell on him in Mine No. 1 of the Utah Fuel company at Castle Gate. He died several hours after the accident. Tangaio, whose home was in Price, is survived by his widow and nine small children, thses ranging in age from 2 month to 12 years old. The body was prepared for buiral by the Flynn Funeral home.

    News Advocate - 30 Sep 1927

    Falling slate snuffed out the life of Price, Loses Life When Rock Ralls; Leaves Wife and Family

    Falling slate snudled out the life of Guiseppi Tangero Tuesday at Castle Gate in the number two mine of the Utah Fuel company. Tangero was liberated by fellow workers, and taken to serious, that he never recovered consciousness, passing away a few hours later.

    Tangero is survived by his wife, Rosa Tangero, and eight children, ranging in ages from 13 to ten months. The following children survive: Katherine, Frank, John, Tony, Jane, Mary, Velin and the infant daughter.

    Guisseppi Tangero was born in Italy July 23, 1890. he came to the United States fifteen years ago and has resided here ever since. Most of this time has been spent in Price.

    High requiem mass was said over the body by Monsignor A. F. Giovannoni at 10 a.m., Thursday at Notre Dame de Lourdes. Interment was made in the Prce City cemetery.



    Frank Tangaro

    Sun Advocate - 6 Mar 1941

    Frank Tangaro, 26, of Price, was killed early this morning in a coal cave-in at Hiawatha. Mr. Tangaro, Ivel Lambson and two other men, whose names are unknown at this time, were working at a loading machine when the roof caved in on them. The other two men were said to have escaped with injuries but Mr. Tangaro was killed instantly.

    The accident occurred this morning at 2:00 a.m.

    Mr. Tangaro was born at Sunnyside on November 29, 1915, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Tangaro. He attended public school and high school here and was very active in sports mainly baseball.

    He is survived by his step-father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. James Randazzo of Price, four brothers, John Tangaro of Bingham, Tony, Jay, and Joe Tangaro, all of Price; one half brother, James Randazzo, Jr.; and four sisters, Mrs. Katherine Fratto of Price, The Misses Mary, Velia, and Anita Tangaro.

    The body was taken to the Mitchel Funeral home at Price. No funeral arrangements have been made.



    Carl H. Valentine

    The Sun - 18 Dec 1925 pg 1

    ANOTHER CALLED - Man Who Built First Residence in Price Answers Summons

    Carl H. Valentine, a widely known Utah man with hosts of friends and business associates in the Intermountain West, died a few days ago at Latter-day Saint Hospital at Salt Lake City. Since leaving Price he had been a traveling salesman in the Rocky Mountain territory for some twenty-five or thirty years. Deceased was 53 years of age, having been born in Brigham City August 10, 1867. He was a member of the Knights of Pythius and Wasatch Lodge no. 1 (Masonic) at the state capital. He is survived by his widow, who lives out at Stockton, California and five children, Houston Valentine of Oakland, Robert Valentine of Stockton, and Mrs. W. J. Berryman, Mrs. C. Peterson and Mrs. D. S. Spencer, all of Salt Lake City. He is also survived by two brothers, C. C. Valentine and August Valentine, both of Brigham City, and three sisters, Mrs. Leo Holst and Mrs. S. C.; Nixom of Brigham City and Mrs. W. Marcroft of Oakland. He built the first residence in Price, later known as the Reuben G. Miller home, and now the property of Mr. and Mrs. Orson T. Brooks on North Eighth street this city. He was Price's first school teacher, boarding at the time with Mrs. Ella Branch. The latter was in the pioneer days a telegraph operator at St. George, when Brigham Young built the first line from Salt Lake City to Dixie.



    Thomas Gilbert Owen

    Sun Advocate obituary

    Sunnyside - Thomas Gilbert Owen, 38, East Carbon City, died here Dec. 13, 1982 of injuries he suffered in a mining accident.

    He was born Sept. 18, 1944 in Dragerton, Utah, to Thomas Festin and Marjorie McDougall Owen.

    He married Betty Joan Brown May 1, 1965 in Dragerton. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. She survives.

    An employee of Kaiser Steel Corp., Sunnyside Mine, he was chairman of the safety committee. He was on the board of directors for the Kaiser Credit Union and a member of United Mine Workers of America, Kaiser Local.

    He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had served as Elder's Quorum president and as a Seventy.

    In addition to his wife, survivors include three daughters and two sons, his parents, two brothers and two sisters. He was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Gilbert Owen Jr.

    Funeral services were at noon Thursday in the East Carbon City LDS Ward chapel. Burial was in Price City Cemetery. mitchell Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

    Sun Advocate, Price, Utah - Wed. Dec. 15, 1982

    SUNNYSIDE - Thomas G. Owen, a 36-year-old East Carbon man, was killed here Monday in an accident on a conveyor belt at kaiser Steel Corp.'s Sunnyside Mine preparation plant.

    Brett Harvey, mine manager, said Owen had been employed by the mine since 1971.

    Harvey said the mine will be idled temporarily while company and Mine Safety and Health Administration workers conduct an investigation.

    If you are related to or would like to know more about this family please e-mail Lori Jo Owen-Bunck.



    William James Hill

    Eastern Utah Advocate - 29 Dec 1910 pg 5

    William J. Hill, an old and respected citizen of Wellington and aged 76 years, passed away at his home last Monday. He leaves a wife, Mrs. Henrietta Hill, and a family of sixteen living children. The funeral occurs today from the family home, internment being in the Wellington cemetery. Deceased had been a resident of his home community for twenty-eight years, locating in Castle Valley from his former home at Ogden. He was a native of York State and with other pioneers of Utah did his full share towards the settlement and upbuilding of this state.

    If you are related to or would like to know more please e-mail Shauna Foster.



    Theodore Thomas Reese

    Documentation: FHL film 1421806 bk 19 pg 123 - Sun Advocate obituaries

    HELPER, Carbon County - Theodore Thomas Reese, 74, Helper, died Jan. 13 at home after a short illness. Born Sept. 11, 1892, Castle Gate, Carbon County, to Thomas Levi and Margaret Ann Davis Reese. married Jane Wallace, Nov. 2, 1914, Castle Gate. Member LDS Church. Member United mine Workers of America, Spring Canyon Local. Survivors: widow; son, daughters, 12 grandchildren, one great-grandchild; brother, sister, both of Salt Lake City. Funeral Thursday 1 p.m., Helper Ward LDS Chapel. Friends call Fausett-Etzel mortuary, Price, Wednesday, 7-9 p.m. Thursday at chapel one hour prior to services. Burial, Price City Cemetery.

    Information about this family received by Kay Kissell Black and Susan D. Reese and Jodi Richards



    Jane Wallace Reese

    Documentation: FHL film 1421807 bk 48 pg 162

    HELPER, Carbon County - Jane Wallace Reese, 81, 645-13th East, Salt Lake City, long time resident of Helper, died June 30, 1974, in a Salt Lake nursing home.

    Born June 20, 1893,Winterquarters, Carbon County, to Andrew and Margaret Anne Cox Wallace. Married Theodore Thomas Reese Nov 6, 1914, Price; he died in 1967. Member LDS Church.

    Survivors: son, daughter, 12 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; brother, sisters.

    Funeral Tuesday 2 p.m. Faucett Mortuary, Price, where friends call hour prior to services. Burial Price City Cemetery.

    Information about this family received by Kay Kissell Black and Susan D. Reese and Jodi Richards



    Henry Fiack

    Sun Advocate, Price, Utah June 10, 1937 pg 3
    DEATH TAKES HENRY FIACK, WELL KNOWN PIONEER OF PRICE

    Former Meteorological Observer for this Vicinity Dies in Hospital Tuesday.

    Henry Fiack, 71, well known resident of Price for close to a half century and former United States meteorological observer for this vicinity, died at the city hospital Tuesday morning after an illness of three weeks. Until his illness he served as city building inspector, a position he held for a number of years.

    Born in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg on January 4, 1865, he came to the United State at the age of 14, residing in Chicago before coming west. He came to Price approximately 45 years ago.

    He was cooperative weather observer for the United States government for about 25 years, serving until 1936. Late in the nineteenth century, Mr. Fiack served in the United States Army, fighting in the Indian wars in the Uintah Basin country.

    He is survivied by his widow, Mrs. Sarah Fiack, Price; three sons, Phillip Fiack, Castle Gate, Linden Fiack, Price, Sheridan Fiack, Price; four daughters Mrs. Frank Christensen, Heiner; Mrs. Lloyd E. Perigo, Price; Mrs. Dolores Dickenson, Los Angeles, an Miss Josephine Fiack, San Francisco.

    Funeral arrangements will be announced by the Wallace mortuary.

    Sun Advocate - 17 Jun 1937 pg 9
    SERVICES FOR HENRY FIACK HELD FRIDAY

    Funeral services for Henry Fiack, former federal weather observer and city building inspector here, were conducted Friday afternoon in the LDS tabernacle, with Bishop Roson officiating. The Wallace mortuary had charge of interment in the Price City cemetery.

    Mr. Fiack died in the Price City hospital June 8 following an illness of three weeks.



    Hartford G. Clarke

    News-Advocate - June 3, 1916 pg 1
    Clarke Succumbs to Long Illness

    H. G. Clarke, well known in Price because of having twice been in the hotel business in this city, died in Salt Lake Tuesday after several months of illness. He ran a hotel here in the early days when the business section was in what is now the west part of town and across the tracks and just recently conducted the Tavern. He was closely connected with the history of the basin for over twenty-five years.

    In the spring of 1894, just after the world's fair in Chicago, Clarke came to the Indian reservation. His uncle, Colonel Randlett, was agent, and he was given a job as clerk at Ouray. Prior to that time he had been in the U.S. army sixth cavalry. He saw much service fighting Indians in various parts of the west. He was at the famous battle of Wounded Knee. After he quit his job as clerk at Ouray his career here was checkered. About the time of the opening of the reservation he was chief of the Indian police in Whiterocks. He was the first white business man in Myton, then called Duchesne Bridge. He conducted an indian trading store and was at one time associated with W. S. Henderson, now of Vernal. Henderson, who hailed from Quincy, Ill., was a tubercular. Clarke induced him to come out here, declaring that this salubrious climate would destroy the tubercular germ. It did.

    Clarke sold out his business to Haydo Calvert and for a number of years was in the real estate business. At one time he was justice of the peace. For a year or so he was engaged in the horse business with George H. Mulvey and they shipped out hundreds of Indian ponies. For about two years in the early days he was in the hotel business in Price. In 1909 he acquired a ranch on Lakefork but soon disposed of it and went back to Myton. Around 1915 he was in the real estate and hotel business. In 1916 he was town marshall. One night he corraled a pony belonging to a harness maker by the name of Williamson. The harness maker got drunk and decided he would cut down the corral. Clarke attempted to arrest the drunken man, who threatened the officer with an axe. Clarke killed the man. He was acquited on the grounds of self defense.

    Two years ago the family moved to Salt Lake. They went to Price and conducted the Tavern hotel, but the work was not satisfactory and the moved back to Salt Lake.

    In 1894, Hartford G. Clarke and Miss Pearl Calvert, a daughter of Haydon Calvert, were married. There are two children. Calvert is 24 and Hanna is 17.

    Deceased was 52 years old and was born in South Carolina. He is survived by the wife and children and by two sisters, one in New York and one in Boston. The remains will be buried in Salt Lake.



    McClure Grinder Wilson

    Sun Advocate - 26 Aug 1937 pg 11
    PIONEER RESIDENT OF CARBON COUNTY SUCCUMBS AT 74

    Funeral services for McClure Wilson Held in L.D.S. Church Sunday

    McClure Grinder Wilson, for forty years a resident of Carbon county died Thursday, August 19, at the age of 74.

    Funeral services were held in the L.D.S. tabernacle here Sunday afternoon at 5:00 o'clock. Interment was in Price cemetery under direction of Wallace mortuary.

    Mr. Wilson was born in Mount Pleasant, Henry county, Iowa, October 24, 1862. Moving to this state in 1897, he engaged in the grocery and butcher business later doing some farming in Carbon County.

    In later years he served two terms on the Price city council, and was an elder in the L.D.S. church here. He had been ill during the past year, finally succumbing to an heart ailment.

    Surviving him are his widow, Mrs. Nellie Draper Wilson, and nine children: Alred, Carbonville; Harold and Robert C., Price; Horace M., Chicago, Illinois; Mrs. Maud M. Willits, Long Beach, California; Mrs. Mable Caruthers, Butte, Montana; Mrs. J. P. Smith, San Jose, California; Helen Wilson, Los Angeles, California; and Ruth Ann Wilson, Price. Also surviving are 20 grandchildren.



    George Carlos (Don) Johnstun
    Written by Blanch Anderson Johnstun, wife of Jesse W. Johnstun

    George Carlos (Don) Johnstun was born 20 September 1847 in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. He moved to Utah with the pioneers and married 9 November1867 to Melissa Taylor, in Manti Temple, Sanpete County, Utah. He died 30 September 1930 in Price, Carbon County, Utah and is buried in Price, Utah.

    George Carlos is the son of George Givon Johnston and Mahaley Dudley. George Givon died while crossing the plains during the Mormon trek to Utah in 1850. George Givon was born 11 August 1815 in Washington County, Pennsylvania. His mother, Mahaley Dudley was born 5 June 1822 in Wolf Creek, Harden, Kentucky. She is buried in the American Fork City Cemetery.

    George Carlos (Don) had one brother, David Lewis Johnstun, born 27 March 1849; a sister Sarah Sophia Johnstun, born 18 April 1850 at Silver Creek, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. She married George Braithwait and died 9 October 1916.

    George Carlos (Don) and Melissa Taylor were married in the Manti temple and lived in Manti for many years and reared a family of eight children. First child, Emily Maretta Johnstun born in Spanish Fork, Utah County, Utah, 10 November 1868. She married Joseph Bunce, 14 December 1883; died 28 March 1926 at Myton, Duchesne County, Utah.

    Other children were: Cyrenus Carlos Johnstun, born 5 October 1870 in Manti, Utah; married 28 September 1897 to Maud May Babcock; died 21 December 1939 at Roosevelt, Duchesne County, Utah.

    Royal A. Johnstun, born 5 October 1875 at Manti; died 5 April 1898 at Price, Utah.

    Jesse W. Johnstun, born 26 December 1877 at Manti; married Anna Blanch Anderson on 5 June 1903 in Price, Utah by Bishop Ernest S. Horsley; died 20 September 1953 at Castle Gate, Carbon County, Utah.

    Jared Almon Johnstun, born 3 August 1880 at Manti; married 3 August 1903 to Hannah Anderson, Price, Utah; died 20 November at Price, Utah Charles William Johnstun, born 8 August 1882 at Manti; married Cecelia Downard 22 December 1906 at Price, Utah; died 28 February 1955 at Provo, Utah.

    Lenora Johnstun, born 21 August 1886 at Sterling, Sanpete County, Utah; married David Franklyn Housekeeper at Nine Mile, Utah; died January 1958, at Sandpoint, Idaho. Her husband, David Housekeeper died January 1957 at his home in Sandpoint, Idaho.

    The forgoing remarks introduce the family of George Carlos (Don) Johnstun and his parents as much as is available at present.

    The family moved to Price, Emery County, Utah about 1883. The ward had been organized just one year earlier by the Emery County ward and stake officers from Salt Lake City, Utah. Several years later Price and adjoining camps and towns were named Carbon County.

    The Johnstuns built a large two-room log house and added a lean-to kitchen on the property 2nd North and 2nd East where the brick home of Royal Frandsen now stands. A wilderness country with ten families to grade and level, fill gullies, and deep washes through the main townsite. Sage brush, greasewood, prickly pears and coyotes dominated the entire country around about.

    Don Johnstun, as he was known in Price, hauled freight, as many other settlers did, from Price to Fort Duchesne, White Rocks and Vernal, or Ashley, as it was then called. By this method, all household and farm equipment, food and supplies were transported by heavy wagons. Four, or sometimes six, horses and two wagons constituted a freight outfit.

    "Freighting" was a profitable occupation and was the only means by which most of the settlers were able to make a living.

    Don Johnstun was an ambitious man, well built, wavy brown hair and blue eyes, wore a mustache and had a fine sense of humor. As his six sons grew to manhood, they too, acquired their own freight outfits.

    While Don was a small boy living in Manti or nearby, an episode took place which lived long in his memory. He was about nine years old and he and his boyfriend played hooky from school to attend some excitement that was disturbing all the citizens of Sanpete County. An Indian tribe was selling children they had stolen from another Indian tribe to the whites. In the meanwhile they were abusing the children, which was causing an angry stir between Indians and whites.

    One Indian girl about Don's age was sold for one pig, to a Mr. Beal. Don often related the incident in a humorous manner in later years. The girl had adopted the name "Martha Beal" and proved to be a great helper to families with children.

    After Don was married and his family growing up, a baby daughter was born to them making eight children. Mrs. Johnstun was in poor health and needed assistance in rearing them. Martha, the Indian girl, was recommended to her. She became one of the household and moved with the Johnstuns to Price where she became known as Martha Johnstun until she was in her middle age.

    Notes written on back of photo:
    Taken in December of 1925. taken in Nine Mile at Grandpa Don Johnston, by Bill Lines, by the Big Barn Corrals, against the ledge. He (Grandpa Johnstun) was giving a big party (Christmas), started Christmas Eve and go on until New Years Eve. "A Funny old man but a good man."
    Left to right:
    Crystal Barney holding baby, Gale V. Barney; Big black hat - Virgil D. Barney; back, Arvell Rich, front, Colton Rich; back, Miryan Russell, middle, Pearl Rich, front, David Rich; (These people lived at Carl Johnsons place next to Grandpa Don Johnsons place.) In back is Charlie Rich, kids dad, in front is stocking hat little boy Earl Rich and next to him is Mrs. Rich the kids mom looking down at younger boy that we can't see. Next is Marthie Brown, large Indian woman. She was scared to death of Indians. She had been stolen from Indians when young. Far right: Black hat is Al Thompson, Crystal Barney's Dad.

    This story was donated by Ralph Johnstun.




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