Growing Up in Carbon County
A Short Story taken from the
JOURNAL of LENA THORPE WADE

My name is Lena Thorpe Wade. I am the daughter of John Thorpe and Eva Hall Thorpe. My parents had 8 children: our names were Lena, Agnes, a stillborn baby, Mary Jane, Tom, Hilda, Alice and Jack. My sister, Agnes and me were born in Higham, Yorkshire, England.

My parents told me they were planning to come to America. I got the measles, then pneumonia; that held them up until I was better. They sold all the furniture and everything. When we got on the ship, the captain asked my parents if I could walk. They told him I could. If I couldn't, he said we would have to get off the ship. They put me down and I walked from one parent to the other parent. We stayed on the ship. My mother was pregnant. She was seasick all the way. My dad had to take care of us.

We went to a mining town called Winter Quarters in Carbon County. Mining was all my dad knew. He quit school when he was 12 years old and worked in the mine with his dad.

My dad was bald-headed on the top of his head. When we were kids, we asked him how come he was bald-headed. The only answer we got was that he pushed the loaded coal cars with his head.

Winter Quarters was located 1 1/4 miles up the canyon from Scofield. The altitude was very high. The houses were on one side of the canyon. On one hill, there was sage brush and sarvis berries. They were good to eat. The other side was pine trees, aspen trees, timber, lilies and forget-me-nots that grew wild. There was the hillside, houses, road, railroad tracks and the creek. It was cool in the summer and cold in the winter.

We got the first snowfall in October. You never saw the top of the fences until spring. We had dirt roads and no snowplows to clear the snow off. The train would have a plow on the front of the engine to clean the tracks. I have watched two trains together to clean the tracks off. The snow was so high.

We had no electricity in the houses. We used kerosene lamps. We had one in each room. When I was about 9 years old, they put electricity in the homes. My grandmother wouldn't let them put the wires above the ceiling out of sight. She was afraid they would set the house on fire.

My grandparents and most of the family joined the L.D.S. Church in England. My mother was 15 years old when she was baptized. The missionaries converted them. My mother said she did the laundry for the missionaries every week. My grandparents had the missionaries for a lot of meals. My grandfather and one son came to America first. They worked in the mine and saved their money for a year, then Grandma and the rest of the family came to America. We came a year later.

I loved to go to my grandparent's home. Grandma always had something for us. I was the first grandchild. She always gave me a handkerchief on my birthday.

My grandpa worked in the fan house that pumped the air in to the mine. It made a lot of noise. It made him quite deaf. Grandpa died after my mother's sister, Florence May Hall Nielson died. She had 6 children, one a baby six months old. Grandma took the baby (Jim) and raised him until he was 7 years old. It was hard for her because her health wasn't very good.

I remember the first year I went to school. My teacher was Miss Walton. I liked her very much. I used to try and walk like her and wear my coat like she did. When I was in the second grade, I forgot to put my dress on. When I took my coat off, there I was in my slip. The teacher wouldn't let me go home and get my dress. After that I always looked myself over to see if I was dressed. My mother had 5 babies in 6 years, so we had to do some things for ourselves.

Another time I put my tongue on a frosted wagon wheel. When I tried to get it off, the skin came off, too. For a while I had a sore tongue. And another time I put my foot between the spokes of a wagon wheel. The man came back and started to go. I did some fast moving to get out of there. I was always doing some dumb thing.

It was in the first grade, my Uncle Tom used to come to our house on Saturday nights, after we had our baths in front of the kitchen stove in a round washtub. When we had gone to bed, he would come in and get us up. He always had something for us, either an ice cream cone or fruit, a banana, orange or an apple. We thought that was great. A little while after that, he was killed in the mine.

My grandparents lived next door to the schoolhouse. I would go over there and see them during recess. They had a fence around their yard. One day I went to see her and the gate was locked. I didn't know it. I as running. I pushed on the gate. It bounced back and hit me on the nose and made it bleed. My grandma came out and took care of it. I always made sure the gate wasn't locked after that.

Another time, I knew she had some apples. I wanted one. I didn't like to ask for one, so I started to sing, made up the words as I went along. As I sang "Apples, Apples, I sure would like an apple," she heard me. She said, "Do you want an apple?" I said, "Yes." She gave me one, then she asked, "Why didn't you ask for one?"

Another time when I was about 5 years old, it was in the wintertime. We had a storm. Some of it had melted. There was a lot of ice. Some of us decided to chop some ice. A boy had a pick. I bent my head over; he hit me one on the top of my head with the pick. My dad fixed it up. I had a sore head for a while. I still have the dent on my head.

Another time, I was taking care of the baby, Tom. I put him in the buggy and took him to our next door neighbor's house so I could play on the lawn. We didn't have any lawn around our house. They had a picket fence around their place. I parked the buggy on the outside of the fence, then jumped the fence to play on the lawn. The baby started to cry. I started over the fence. My slip got caught on a picket. While I was twisting and turning and pulling to get loose, I tipped the buggy over. The baby fell out and it made his nose bleed. Then mama came and picked up the baby and got me off the fence. My slip had a big hole in it. I was sent to bed without my supper. She gave me something to eat later.

I used to stand on a stool and wash the dishes. We didn't have a sink, so we washed the dishes on the kitchen table. On a Saturday, I thought I would never get through washing dishes. She did a lot of baking on Saturday.

We always had a baby to take care of. We would just get one to walk when another would come along.

Mama was a very good seamstress. She made all of our clothes. She would sew all summer so we would have clothes for school. We never had a lot of money, but there was plenty of love in our home.

I was baptized when I was 8 years old in the creek. The boys had made a swimming pool in the creek. That's the only place we had for baptisms. After I was baptized, I had a terrible headache. When I was confirmed, my headache was gone.

When I was 9 years old, my dad was transferred to Sunnyside to be the mine foreman. Sunnyside wasn't near as pretty as Winter Quarters. The town was much larger. The scenery wasn't as good. When my brother was 8 years old, he got the flu. That was in 1918. He died. Nobody would come to your house if someone had the flu. There was one friend that came and helped to dress him. My dad took the body to Scofield. The rest of us stayed home. We were all so uptight and scared to sleep in the bedrooms upstairs, so we slept in the kitchen on the table, floor and chairs until my dad got back home.

One time, my sister and I were slapping each other. Our house had two doors in each room you could run form one room to the other in a circle. She started running, me chasing her. On the way, I picked up the hairbrush. She dashed out the kitchen door. When I got to the door, I saw someone. I thought it was her. I hit him--he was a salesman! Was he startled! And so was I. He took off; he didn't say anything. That was the end of this slapping.

When I was 12 years old, I spent the winter with my grandparents. Grandma had rheumatic fever. She was in bed all winter. When she was better, she had to learn to walk all over again. I tried to help out.

I took music lessons on the piano for two winters. I was ward organist in three different wards.

I graduated from the eighth grade while in Sunnyside. We lived in Sunnyside for about 9 years. Then my dad was transferred back to Winter Quarters to be the Mine Superintendent.

We had to walk 1 1/4 miles to Scofield to go to school. Mr. Allred was the principal of the eight grades and taught the 9th grad. One day a book salesman came in our class. The teacher asked 10 of us to get up and each one of us to put an algebra problem on the board. I was given the first one. I did mine and sat down. He asked me to get up and explain the problem, which I did and sat down again. Then he asked me to get up and explain the problem and give all the rules. I got up and got half way through; I forgot the rest of the rules. The salesman was sitting on the front seat. He was whispering the rules. I couldn't hear him and started to laugh. The teacher got so mad, he made all of us sit down. By then it was noon. Some of the students went out in the hallway to get their lunch. (We had to take a sack lunch to school.) That made him madder because he hadn't dismissed the class. It was 12:30 before we ate our lunch. That only gave us a half-hour for lunch.

The salesman left and that afternoon, he [Mr. Allred] made us turn in a copy of every subject for the day. We were late getting home from school. In the meantime, we asked Mr. Allred if we could have a party on Friday after school. He said, "No." They had a parent teacher's meeting the night before and they had some refreshments left. We thought if we could have a party, we could eat the leftovers.

The next day, we decided if he was going to be so nasty, we would give him a licking! There were 11 girls in the class. The boys had gone home. We went in his office and dragged him out. He started running. He lived next door to the schoolhouse. He ran home. We went in the front door and pulled him out the back door. He ran back into his office and locked the door. We climbed through the window and pulled him out again. He ran around the building. On the corner of the building was a sheet of ice. He missed jumping over it and went flying on the ice of his rear end. We all jumped it. By then, we had torn the shirt off his back. We decided that was enough. We got home at 7:30 p.m. When we got home, Mama asked us where we had been. We told her what we had done. She said, "Don't tell your Dad!" We never did. We knew what we would get if he found out. The next day, we went to school. He was as nice a pie. He let us have a party every Friday. He could have flunked all of us, but he didn't. He quit teaching school and worked in a grocery store. A few years later, I saw him. He said it was the best year he ever had teaching school.

One morning we walked to school, it was 38 degrees below zero. We had frost on our eyelashes, also on our clothes. When we got there, they didn't have any classes. They couldn't get the building warm enough. So we hugged the radiators to try and get warm before starting for home. We always walked down the railroad tracks to school and home on the road. They always had so much snow and no plows. The roads were snowpacked. They used sleighs pulled by horses in the winter. So if a sleigh came along, we would hitch a ride home. If there was no room in the sleigh, we would stand on the runners. It was fun.

The only plows up there were to keep the tracks clean. I have seen the snow so deep, it would take 2 trains together to clear the tracks off; when it was so cold, the coal cars would freeze to the tracks. One time it took 5 trains together to get them loose and up to the mine.

While we were in Winter Quarters the mine went on strike. There was no union at that time. Some of the men got mean, especially the ringleaders. They would try and stop the train by getting on the water tank and shooting at the engineers. It got so bad they called the National Guard from Provo to come in. We were under martial law for months. Every body had to be off the streets by 10 p.m.

Maxine Dougherty and I chummed around together. We got acquainted with a couple of fellows from the National Guard. Somebody told my dad about Maxine and me. He hit the ceiling. His eyes were as red as fire, he was so mad. I didn't know what the trouble was until I asked Mama. She said someone told Dad something about us. He was so mad he wouldn't sleep in the same bed as Mama. He slept on the couch; that went on for a whole week. In the meantime, Chuck gave me a big box of candy. I asked Mama if she would like some. She said no; she had enough of the National Guard. I stayed clear of my dad. I didn't offer him any candy. At the end of the week, he found out the truth; nothing had happened. They were all lies, so he calmed down. He bought some ice cream and made all of us a banana split to smooth thins over. On the weekend, they had a dance. I didn't dare ask if I could go. After a few months, the strike was over. They got rid of the ringleaders; the rest of the men went back to work.

We had been in Winter Quarters a little over a year then Dad was transferred to Castle Gate to be the mine inspector. Castle Gate was a pretty nice place. That's where the Castle Gate rock used to be, before they took part of it away to make the new road. I went to high school in Price. We had to ride the school bus. The driver would never let us stay for any school activities. If you wasn't on that bus, you had to find another way to get home. It was 12 miles to Price. I had a science teacher in Price that I was afraid of. He used to upset me all the time. I had a nervous condition. The doctor took me out of school for over a month. When I went back to school, he wouldn't let me take that class.

A few years went by. The mine started to slack off. They didn't get as many orders for coal. Some of the members of the ward were moving out of town to find more work. As each family moved, they would give them a going away party. It got so too many were leaving so they decided to give a farewell party for the whole town. Members of the Ward and non-members--everybody was invited in a mining town. Everybody knew everybody. They had a dance and refreshments. There was a big crowd there. They all had a good time.

EVA'S DREAM; It was about that time Mama had a dream. She saw streams of light come down on so many houses. She didn't know what it (dream) meant. We always went to Church on Sunday. They had a speaker from Price. He talked about the different planets. After the meeting, she told the bishop about her dream and asked him what he thought of her dream. He said he didn't know. It was still bothering her so many of her dreams came true. Sometimes I would take off because I didn't want to hear it (her dreams), but this time I stayed to hear what she had to say. About a month later, there was a mine explosion that killed 172 men. Some families had 2 or 3 men in the mine. At the entrance of the mine, there were the big steel doors. It blew them clear across the canyon. As it hit the doors, the gas went back into the mine. What it didn't kill on the way out, it got them on the way back into the mine. Some had their heads blown off. Others were in running position and others were badly burned. This was on Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

My dad was the last man in the mine and the second one to be brought out. We knew if anyone had the chance to get out, he would. He studied mining for years through correspondent courses and worked his way up. He didn't have the chance. They found him at the side of one of the coal cars that brought the coal out of the mine. He was burned as black as coal from the waist up. They could only put his pants on. If they had tried to put a sheet on him, his arms would have fallen off. Mama didn't know what to do. Then President Heber J. Grant came down. She asked him what to do. He said, "Lay his clothes beside him and on resurrection morning, he will get up and dress himself." So that's what she did.

I had heard Dad say that one half of one percent of gas would kill a man; there was 5 percent of gas in the mine. They didn't know what triggered it off.

That was my mother's dream. Where each light or stream came down, there was someone killed in that house. It was a sad town. They had a big building called the Amusement Hall where they had dances and picture shows. They cleared that all out and put all the bodies in there as they were identified and taken care of. After it was all over, there were 72 babies born. The town doctor took care of each one free of charge. It was strange because the doctor's wife had a baby; it died. All the other babies lived.

There were 6 children at home at that time. Dad made $325.00 a month. After the explosion, Mama got $64.00 a month for compensation. I quit school and got a job to help out. They had a pool table, library, barber shop and restrooms downstairs. I made $40.00 a month. The company took out $1.50 and that entitled the whole family for doctor's care if anyone of us got sick. My take home pay was $38.50 a month. I worked there for over a year and a half, then quit my job and got married. My boss didn't even say thanks. He said, "I guess you have been a damned fool long enough."

I married a man from Price (Ernnie Wade). He didn't belong to the Church, but never stopped me from going to church. Somebody told Judge Hammond we were going to get married, so he stayed at the Court House until we got there. I wouldn't get married until I asked Mama if it was all right. We were married at 10 p.m. We lived in Price for a while. He drove the stage line from Price to Castle Gate.

I met him at the soda fountain where I worked. In the meantime, I was going with a fellow from Rolapp [Royal], a mile from Castle Gate. Every time he took me to the dance, he would get drunk. They would have to take him home and put him to bed. He could never take me home after a dance. It got around Christmas time. He said he was going to give me a diamond ring. I told him if he did, I wouldn't accept it. Then he said he would come to our house for coffee and a party.

I got tired of his drinking. I had a date with him for New Years' Eve. I married my husband on the 30th of December. That took care of that! Somebody told him I was married. He got drunk for a week. When I saw him later, he said he would congratulate me but not my husband.

We lived in Price for a while, then we moved to Salt Lake City, then we lost our first baby. 3 years later, Bill was born. My husband got a job driving a bus for Pickwick Greyhound. He worked there for 3 years. They sold the bus line to another company. It put 1100 men out of work in the Western States. He couldn't find another job so we moved back to Castle Gate. He got a job working on the outside of the mine. While we were there, Bill had his tonsils out. Then there was no more work there so we moved back to Salt Lake.

They later closed the mine in Winter Quarters. Everyone had to move out. They got rid of all the houses. They dismantled the schoolhouse, which was made of brick. The company store was built of rock. They blasted that. My grandma's house was a frame building. It was sold for 75 cents for the wood. That town is no more.

A few years ago, they sold the mine in Castle Gate to another company. They moved all the houses to Helper, Utah, so that town is no more. My brother (Jack) was the Bishop of that ward at that time. He is now in the High Council.

Lena Thorpe Wade was born 4 December, 1904 Higham, Yorkshire, England a daughter of John and Eva Hall Thorpe and died 11 February, 1987. She married Ernest J. Wade, 30 December 1925, Price Utah. Ernest died 27 September, 1956

This story was donated by Eugene Halvorson. iIf you are related to this family or would like to contact them please e-mail him.



Growing Up in Hiawatha, Utah
During the 1920's

by Jack Kirkham
Arthur Jesse Kirkham

I was born in Lehi, Utah on June 16, 1918. My father was in charge of the Salt Lake and Utah Railroad depot in Lehi. At that time they called the train the "Orem." My fathers name was Arthur Jesse Kirkham. Most of the Kirkham's where from Lehi and some are still there.

Kirkhams 1st home

In 1921 he moved our family to Hiawatha and took a job as chief clerk to the superintendent of the Utah Railway. Hiawatha was growing fast and I believe there where about 2000 people in the town at that time.

The first home we lived in was designated as #217 upon arriving in Hiawatha. There was no fence or lawn. The side walk was yet to come.

The second house we lived in was two houses east of the first one. This home had central heating, full plumbing, electricity and phone. The phone was an eight party line and the furnace was hand fed. It was real classy! We lived here from 1927 thru 1929.

2nd home of the Kirkhams

My early memory was of a team of horses and men cleaning rocks etc. from our yard. Eventually grass and trees where planted and white picket fences put in front of all the homes on the main street, after once crossing the tracks entering east of Hiawatha. We also had cement sidewalks clear to the school. Homes on one side of the street where the same on the other side.

Jack Kirkham 1926

I went to school through the third grade. It was a fine school and excellent teachers. Miss Funk was my first and second grade teacher and Miss Hardy was third grade. Both teachers where young women that lived in the dormitory that was adjacent to the school. There was about 25 students in the third grade class I was in.

I have good memories of a fun and relaxed atmosphere during those years.

The delivery man for the company store was Henry Newgary. He delivered groceries etc, and would pick me up often. He had a team and wagon and I'd get a ride all over town.

If I was out by the crossing that entered town and the "switch engine" was making runs up and back, once in awhile, the engineer would let me ride in the engine and blow the whistle or pull the throttle.

Tramway in Hiawatha

The tramway coming from the mine ran just east of the school. One day the cable broke on a load and I saw the cars explode through the tipple. It happened about 11:55. Another five minutes and we kids would have been going to lunch and going right under the tipple. Since we all went home for lunch by passing under the tipple, we would not be around today!!

We also went to Price often and sometimes we wouldn't have a flat tire enroute.

Moving to Martin in 1929 was the beginning of not as good of a life. The depression had hit and we all felt it.

Kirkham familyKirkham family

The picture on the left is Mrs. Kirkham, Arthur, Jack & Keith the day they left Hiawatha. The picture on the right is Ruth, Mrs. Kirkham, Jack and Keith taken July 30, 1925 at the first home in Hiawatha.

This history was written by Jack Kirkham.

Jack Kirkham

Jack Kirkham founded Utah outdoor store, created tent
By The Associated Press, Published: June 21. 2008

SALT LAKE CITY — The founder of a South Salt Lake outdoor store and creator of the Springbar tent, Jack Kirkham, has died. He was 89. Kirkham died Sunday at his home in Sandy, one day before his 90th birthday. A cause of death was not immediately available. Born in Lehi, Kirkham served in the U.S. military during World War II, working as a draftsman in a Long Beach, Calif., shipyard. He returned to Salt Lake City in 1944 and bought the AAA Tent and Awning company, launching a thriving business later known as Kirkham’s Outdoor Products. Son Jack Kirkham Jr. called his father an “ingenious inventor,” who was “never really was much of a camper. Still, the senior Kirkham experimented with tent designs and patented the canvas Springbar tent at a time when recreation was becoming popular. “The Springbar definitely simplified things. The simplicity really made camping more accessible to a lot more people,” said his son, who took over the business in 1990. Kirkham eventually held eight tent patents, including one for developing the modular concept of adding tent “rooms” to fit a family’s size and needs.



Outdoor retail's Kirkham dies at 89
(Salt Lake Tribune, The (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jun. 20

Jack Kirkham helped transform camping with his creation of the Springbar tent. Not bad for a guy who "never really was much of a camper. He did some. But he was more of an inventor really, just a pretty ingenious inventor," said his son, Jack Jr., who took over for his dad in running Kirkham's Outdoor Products in South Salt Lake. The elder Kirkham passed away at his Sandy home on Sunday, one day shy of his 90th birthday. He leaves behind a legacy of a thriving family business, begun in 1944, and of a sturdy tent that made car camping easily doable -- even comfortable -- at a time when outdoor recreation just started appealing to the masses. Through the early '60s, "most tents came from sheepherders or ranchers or whatever they were using in the military. There were lots of poles and lots of ropes," Kirkham Jr. said. "The Springbar definitely simplified things. The simplicity really made camping more accessible to a lot more people." Born in 1918 in Lehi to Arthur and Nettra Peterson Kirkham, Jack Sr. was a South High School student when he got a job working for a relative who had an awning business. After a stint as a draftsman at a shipyard during World War II, he returned to Salt Lake City and bought AAA Tent and Awning. "He just really like the atmosphere of being around the shop and the sewing machines," said his son. "He had a real desire to do something independent. And he really loved creating things." Starting with two employees in a 1,200-square-foot building on 200 South, Kirkham eventually secured at least seven patents on tent designs, including one for his trademark Springbar tent and another for developing the modular concept of putting together "rooms" to fit a family's size and need. Profiled in The Salt Lake Tribune in April of 1973, Kirkham said he came up with many ideas by setting up tents in his yard and figuring what worked and what didn't. Kirkham also said he did not believe camping was just a craze or a fad, contending people had a "fundamental" need to "meet a physical challenge against nature." And he could help, he added, because "the need for portable shelter will never disappear." All kinds of tents are on the market now. But so is the Springbar. "The Springbar tent remains an iconic tent here in Utah for family camping, for car camping. It's just a unique, innovative tent in its design," said Peter Metcalf, chief executive of Black Diamond Equipment Ltd. And, he added, "Kirkham's remains to this day one of the leading stand-alone outdoor retail specialty shops in America. There's not many stores of that caliber left." Kirkham also designed a canvas luggage carrier for the top of vehicles before retiring in 1990, spending much of his leisure time since then riding horses, fishing and painting outside of the family cabin above Woodland. He is survived by his son, and two daughters, nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elna Mae Jensen Kirkham, and two brothers. Services are scheduled at 11 a.m. Saturday at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Chapel, 4760 S. State St. Friends may call there from 6-8 p.m. today. He will be buried in Murray City Cemetery.


The following information is a collection of obituaries and newspaper clippings from the Hunter family. Information was submitted by Barbara Howell.

Hugh Hunter

Robert Hunter

Salt Lake Tribune, May 4, 1900 -Friday morning

Brother of Dead man heard -
"Hugh Hunter testified he was at Winter Quarters at 12:30; that he was a brother to John Hunter. He did not go to the scene of the accident but saw the body of his dead brother at 8 o'clock that same evening. In life his brother was a strong able bodied man. As the testimony of Hugh Hunter was given, tears silently fell from his eyes and his voice was low and husky, revealing mental anquish and deep emotion for the fatality had wrought awful havoc in the homes of the Hunters and immediate kindred.

Hunter family gone:
The selection of the remains of John Hunter over which to hold an inquest awakins new interest in this unfortunate family. Beref of all male representatives, save one, (Hugh); two brothers John and David Hunter; one nephew William Patterson; two brothers in law, Richard Stewart and Alex Wilson; father-in-law, Robert Hunter and two sons John A. and James C, one cousin, Adam Hunter and his son John; an uncle Francis Strang and Francis Strang Jr., the untimely and of who are causes sufficient to make even a strong man, like Hugh Hunter bow his head in sorrow, humbled, broken hearted by this exercise of the will of providence.


Dave Hunter

Salt Lake Tribune, May 4, 1900

"...The death of Dave Hunter, a young man of 28. He was betrothed to a young lady who is now enroute to America from the old country. She is accompanied by her brother and it was expected that the marriage would take place in Scofield next week. --"


Christina Wanless Hunter

Ogden Standard Examiner & Deseret News - Nov. 15, 1934

Ogden, UT. - Christina Wanless Hunter 81 died at the family residence, 319 Thirtieth St., Wed. 4:20 p.m. following a six months illness. Born in Scotland, Aug. 21, 1832, daughter of James and Margaret Nielsen Wanless. She came to the U.S. in 1877. Her first husband, John Hunter was killed in a mine accident in Almy, Wyoming in 1886. She married his brother, Robert Hunter, in 1890, Robert Hunter was killed in a mine accident in Scofield, UT on May 1, 1900. She had been a resident of Ogden since 1900. She is a member of the LDS eleventh ward.


James Strang

Salt Lake Tribune - May 4, 1900

James Strang, a cousin of the Hunters, is a lad of 17. He was in mine no. 1 driving for a force of thirty workmen. Realizing that an explosion had occurred, he stopped the horse and rushed back to warn the unsuspecting men. As they passed the car on their mad flight to the entrance, it was observed that the horse was nearly blind and fast suffocating. The men escaped and James Strang is a hero although he does not know it."


Margaret Allen Hunter

Margaret Allen Hunter

The Standard Newspaper, Ogden, UT, Friday Dec. 14, 1900

Margaret Hunter was born February 7, 1820, at Clackmannan, Scotland. Emigrated to Utah May 15th, 1877. Resided two years in Riverdale, then moved to Kanesville. She was the mother of eleven children, five sons and six daughters and had sixty-six grandchildren, and twenty five great grandchildren. She lived and died in the hopes of a glorious resurrection. She was a faithful and loving wife and mother and an agreeable pleasant neighbor. In the Scofield mine disaster last spring she lost two sons, five grandsons and three nephews.


Margaret Sneddon Hunter

Ogden Standard Examiner - Jan. 2, 1929

Widow of Mine Victim is Dead - Margaret Sneddon Hunter died on Tuesday afternoon at 1:10 o'clock at the residence, 146 27th street. She was born on June 20, 1859, in Oakley, Scotland, and came to Ogden when 23 years of age as an LDS convert. She was married to Adam Hunter on Aug 10, 1882 in the Salt Lake Endowment House. They lived in Riverdale and later moved to Scofield, Carbon, UT. Mr. Hunter and one son were killed in the disaster there on May 1, 1900. Mrs. Hunter and the four children, the eldest 15 and the baby nine months old then moved to Ogden, where they have since made their home...

Information was submitted by Barbara Howell.


Bryan Johnson

Following is part of a letter written by Louisa Meletiah Johnson to her cousin Jennie Whiting of Clitherall, Minnesota on May 14th probably 1924. Louisa was the mother of Bryan Johnson who was killed in the Castle Gate mine explosion.

Dear Cousin,
I have just passed through an awful experience in the death of my dear Bryan, our baby boy in that wicked explosion, at Castle Gate. He was a choice son, so affectionate, and kind, always good natured, and smiling. His wifes folks lived there and that was the reason he was up there, when he should have been farming. They came down the canyon 50 miles in there car on a short visit a week before the explosion, and I told him to leave off coal mining and he was tired of it and had concluded to move down in a month.

Returning he worked Friday, then Sat. morning, just as the 172 men had got in their places, the explosion occurred. His wife phoned us and two car loads, his father and I, three of his brothers and two of my daughters sons went up as soon as possible. Such a sad place, such sorrow and anxiety, the mourning of wives and children, for all were married men, who were trapped. Hazel, his wife and I stayed up all night in the mine president's home where there was a phone leading into the mine, tho' the air was so full of poisonous gas that they couldn't go far one man, died of the poison which it was almost impossible to pump out due to the air pipes being torn out. We waited up there six anxious days before they reached our boy. He was two miles back and up on a rise, out of the main entrance. We had great hopes of the men in that section, yet the mine offials knew that all life was extinct in an instant after the explosion occurred. Those were six days of plain Hell. I went among the pregnant wives trying to cheer them and I didn't think any one could live through such hours of anquish, yet we did. Some were badly mutilated but our dear boy was not. We brought him home as soon as they placed him in his casket then in a strong box and buried him the next day.

His wife receives $16.00 per week for herself and Cecil the baby, compensation, same as the others do, covering a period of 6 years, also $150.00 funeral expenses not counting the casket or other expenses attached. She has been with us till now, and will go into her own home near us which two of my boys have built for her, Frank and Leland. Cecil the little boy is very bright, and calls for his Daddy, to come home. Of course, no one could see the dead except the father or a brother, and then they were not permitted to see the face, only to identify by the clothing. This baby doesn't understand death never having seen anyone and he has got the idea that the sun when it goes down is going to fetch his daddy. As the sun sinks out of sight on the Oquirrh Mountains, west of Utah lake, he cries to it in a loud tone to hurry and fetch his Daddy".

This story was donated by Kathy Castillo.


[Francis] Gorley sentenced to Term in Prison

28 Jan 1926

Francis Gorley was sentenced Saturday to serve from one to 20 years in the state prison for grand larceny, the sentence being given by Judge George Christensen of the seventh district court. Gorley was found guilty of stealing a heifer belonging to Norman Asay of Castle Dale. The verdict was brought in at 3 o'clock Friday afternoon. The evidence brought out that he killed the animal in Minnie Maud canyon in the Nine Mile district northeast of Price, and that he gave part of the meat to a local mechanic on an account which he owed. Deputy Lee Bryner and June Bryner found the animal's hide and a quarter of the meat in a cabin on the old Thompson ranch in Minniemaud canyon and traced the theft to Gorley, who was near the place at the time.

The jury brought in a directed verdict of "not guilty" in the case of Charles Gorley, who was charged jointly with Francis Gorley on the Grand larceny count.

The convicted man will be held in the county jail in Price by reason of a grand larceny case pending against him in the Emery County court, in which he is charged with the theft of a saddle from George Westwood. Gorley is said to have served time on previous occasions.


Helen Koval Peters

by Wilfred Peters

Helen, born the 19th of April 1912 in Stockett, Montana was the 4th of 9 children.

Helen (mom) met Oliver Peters (dad) at a dance at Rainbow Gardens. Dad was working for a wheat farmer Richard (Dick) O'Day whose farm was near the Rainbow Gardens. They dated going to dances and movies and were married on the 18th of September 1933, by a Justice of the Peace in Great Falls Montana. After their marriage, dad worked at the Black Eagle Smelter and then both mom and dad worked at a Dude Ranch near Hamilton, Montana. Mom said they were never paid at the Dude Ranch and ended up working for only room and board.

1936 finds the family with Eino, Oliver's brother, in Clear Creek, Utah, a coal mining town. Mother and dad had rented a two bedroom company house at the top of Finn Canyon. During this time dad's sister Julia and her husband joined the group. The five adults and me (a two year old all lived in the house). Around the 1938/39 time frame dad and Eino decided to go back to hard rock (gold) mining and we moved to Eureka, Utah. Here mother had to set up household in a two bedroom shack. One bedroom wall had separated in at the corner so bad that rags were stuffed in the crack to keep the air out. The only water was a outdoor cold water faucet, so all water had to be carried inside and hot water was heated on a wood burning stove.

It was during the spring of 1942 that dad was jailed for a period of time as an illegal alien. Mother said the day they took him to Salt Lake City to jail, I was sick with 103 degree fever. He was later released and had to validate his legal entry.

In the summer of 1942 mother and dad had moved to Scofield Utah. Oliver's sister Julia and her husband Alfred had moved from Clear Creek to Scofield where they purchased a two story house with an outside stair way leading to the top floor. Mother and dad lived for a period of time in the upper story of this house. In the period of 1942/44 they lived in three Scofield houses eventually ending up in the old rock Binns store. In November of 1943, my brother Sam joined our family.

While living in the Binns' store mother was a 4H leader, she took in two boarders, temporally, during the school year. Johnny Erkkila, and Marilyn Zuba from Clear Creek, who had to go to school in Scofield. She also provided evening meals for construction workers from Price working in the area during this war time period. The workers would give mother their meat and sugar ration stamps and dad always provided us with plenty of deer meat, which the workers enjoyed as beef.

In 1945 we moved back to Clear Creek Utah, into a company house on the side hill at the intersection of Finn, and Ball diamond canyons. Starting as a maid at the mining company hospital, mother was soon working as a nurse's aid for Doctor Hardy. Although not Latter Day Saint, The LDS Relief Society ladies Clear Creek House continually had her involved in their projects, such as handwork (mother loved to crochet), quilting, and food requirements.

Mother and dad raised Sam and I in this Clear Creek house. After high school I went to college, married, and into the Navy. After high school Sam went into the Navy and married. So by 1957 mom and dad were pretty much by themselves, except for the summer vacation periods.

In 1964 dad was killed in an automobile accident near the Scofield Reservoir. Mother died in Layton, 23 June 2008 at the age of 96 and is buried with dad, in the Peters plot at the North West side of Scofield, Cemetery.

If you are related to the family and would like to have more information please contact Wilfred Peters




Ana Juliana Peters Tokoi

by Wilfred Peters

Ana Juliana Peters was born the 15th of November 1900. Julia was the second child and oldest girl of only two girls. She therefore took the brunt of the house work. She became the second mother. Later in life this early childhood experience dampened any desire she may have had to have a large family. The family raised sheep and one of her chores was to card the wool and spin it into yarn then knit clothing for the family. All the family could knit, I viewed some of the knitting Oliver and Ed did and it was very uniform and tight. Even though there is a picture of Julia in the Waldheim school photo, her daughter Helen says that Julia only had two or three years of schooling, yet she was an avid reader and writer all her life. One of my better memories of Aunt Julia was serving me Mormon tea (hot milk and water) and Finn caraway biscuits before or after our regular Saturday night sauna at her home in Scofield, Utah.

About 1926/27 after the farm was sold, Rosa and the family moved to Red Lodge where Rosa had a brother and two sisters. Then around 1928 Rosa moved to Blairmore Canada. Julia didn't go back to Canada with the family; instead she stayed with Rosas' sister Selina Paavola Jackola.

In Red Lodge she worked for a mortician and related one prank she pulled. She got into a coffin and when the mortician came up to it she rose up. The prank backfired a bit because the mortician had some acid in his hand and as he was startled he spilled some on Julia. Not a serious injury.

While working at a boarding house in Butte Montana she met her husband to be Alfred Tokoi. Julia and Alfred show up together (with their birth names) in this boarding house in the 1930 US Census. They lived in Mohrland Utah for a spell, then with Oliver and Helen Peters in Clear Creek, Utah in 1937/38. When Oliver and Helen moved to Eureka Utah, Alfred and Julia took over the rent of the company house in Clear Creek, for a period and in 1940 moved to Standardville, Utah and then to Scofield, Utah..

Alfred and Julia purchased a home in Scofield Utah. In 1942 when Oliver and Helen moved from Eureka to Scofield they stayed with Alfred and Julia until they could find a house to rent. In 1946 during a 4th of July celebration in Clear Creek, Alfred and Julia's house in Scofield burnt down and they had to rebuild. Alfred died in 1962 in Scofield.

Julia died of complications related to kidney cancer on the 20th of Aug 1973 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is buried beside Alfred in the Scofield Utah Cemetery.

If you are related to the family and would like to have more information please contact Wilfred Peters


Olavi (Oliver) Mikael Peters

by Wilfred Peters

Olavi (Oliver) Mikael Peters was born the 24th of January 1908. I can only remember a few stories that dad related about his childhood in Canada. He said that at the age of ten he was out hunting with Frank and while tending camp a Moose charged him (dad's version). He jumped into the back of the wagon (buck board) grabbed the 30-30 and killed the moose. He also said that Frank always thought the boys were to work the farm, school was secondary, so there were many times that the Mounties came to the house and rounded up the truant Peters' boys.

Oliver Peters (dad) met Helen Koval (mom) in Great Falls at a dance at Rainbow Gardens, Dad, Eino and Ed had found employment at a wheat ranch north of Great Falls run by Richard (Dick) O'Day. Mother and Dad dated, going to dances and movies and were married in September of 1933 by a local Justice of the Peace.

Dad, his brother Eino and Mom moved to Clear Creek, Utah around 1937 and tried their hand at coal mining and then about 1939 they went back to gold and silver mining at Eureka Utah. While in Eureka Utah, Eino, Dad and a third party entered into a prospecting venture and were grubstaked for $5000. The venture didn't pan out, Eino went into the Army Air Force, the other fellow died and dad was left with the debt, ending with him taking out bankruptcy. In addition, about this time the FBI showed up and put him in jail in Salt Lake City as an illegal alien. They held him a week or so then released him finding out that his mother (Rosa) was a naturalized US citizen.

Starting the 1940s' dad returned to work the coal mines of Carbon County Utah. Working in the towns of Scofield, Clear Creek, Latuda, Sunnyside, Standard, and Rains. Dad finally settled and raised our family in Scofield and Clear Creek. In 1964 late one night dad missed a large bend at Scofield Reservoir, was thrown from the station wagon and killed. Dr. Hardy signed the death certificate and said that the lack of blood at the accident indicated that a heart attack might have happened but it was not confirmed by a autopsy. Dad is buried in the Scofield Utah cemetery.

If you are related to the family and would like to have more information please contact Wilfred Peters


Eino Wilfred Peters

by Wilfred Peters

Much of Eino's history has already been related since he and dad were together during their early years.

Serving in the Army Air Force from 9Mar42 to 25Oct45, Eino was a Flight Engineer (Sgt) on B-17 bombers. He did his training in Hobbs, New Mexico and was state side for the full duration of the war.

After the war Eino returned to Scofield Utah and married a widow, Elsie Soumi, in 1947. They lived there for several years. Eino was working in the Clear Creek coal mine and taking mechanic classes (1951/52) under the GI bill at Carbon College in Price Utah. After completing that education, Eino obtained employment in Salt Lake City as a mechanic working for General Electric on large railroad engine electric turbines. Eino died in Salt Lake City on the 14th of July 1972 from complications of alcoholism. He and Elsie are buried in the Scofield, Utah cemetery.

If you are related to the family and would like to have more information please contact Wilfred Peters


Lola Nelson

Lola Nelson was born in Sunnyside in 1909. She died this year and I ran across her personal diary of 1924. She was 15, so most of it was about girlfriends and boyfriends and such. She was attending Price HS in that year, so the Castle Gate disaster was close to home.

The following are excerpts from your diary made following the Castle Gate Mine Explosion.

March 8, 1924
About 10:00 we hear about terrible explosion in Castle Gate. 173 bodies in the No. 2 mine none expected to live. Dan Morrison and Kenneth Avery in it. Go up to see it. It was sure a terrible sight. The explosion happened about 7:30 in the morning.
March 10, 1924
Go to school and hear more about Castle Gate. Gee it's terrible. Can't study or anything all day long. They haven't found Dan or Kenneth yet.
March 11, 1924
Castle Gate is all you hear. They found Dannie Morrison's body but not Kenneth Avery's.
March 12, 1924
They started having funerals today.
March 13, 1924
More funerals. Dan James and Mr. Morrison's funeral this afternoon. . . . See dead bodies at city hall. Junior Prom here postponed.
March 14, 1924
More funerals. Ken Avery has been found. They identify him by his hair.

These journal excerpts were donated by David Hudson. If you are interested in this family please get in contact with him.


Henry G. Mathis

Henry G. Mathis was born in Plain City, Utah on May 2, 1961. His family was called to St. George with the original company in the fall of 1861. He spent his youth there leaving the area in 1882, going to Mexico to help build the railroad from El Paso, Texas to Mexico City. He stayed there until March of 1884, leaving to come back to Utah. He traveled by rail to Price where he stopped to see his sister, Barbara McIntire. His older brother, John Mathis (The first man buried in the Price cemetery) was also there. I think he really planned to go on to St. George eventually but he never left Price. He died in 1959 at the age of 97 and was very well known in the area being a teacher, sheriff, and business man. He started a farm supply store called the Farmers Exchange and Implement Co., selling farm equipment all over Carbon and Emery Counties.

This information was donated by Frank Mathis.



Martin Ahlin

Martin Ahlin Josephine Travnic Ahlin Family Coalminer

Martin Ahlin came to this country from Malo Mlacevo, Yugoslovia, when he was 17 with only a fourth grade education. His brother Joseph, brought Josephine Travnic with him from Yugoslovia to Utah in 1920. She and Martin Ahlin were married on December 29, 1920 in Price, Utah. Witnesses were Joseph Ahlin and Helen Colzani. Josephine Travnic died on December 26, 1933, leaving three young children, Josephine, Martin Ignasius and Mary Agnes. Josephine Ahlin, born in December 24, 1921, in Hiawatha, Utah would have barely turned 12 the day before Josephine Travnik died. Martin Ignasius Ahlin, born 1923 in Kenilworth, Utah would have been 10 and Mary Agnes Ahlin, born on December 28, 1925 in Kenilworth, Utah turned 8 three days after her death.

Martin Ahlin

Martin Ahlin never remarried and raised these three children by himself in the coal mine town of Kenilworth. He was a fire boss in the coal mines. Coal mining was the only job he had his entire life in the USA. One funny note I remember, is mom talking about the last kitten she was allowed to have. I guess it pooped in Grandpa's coal mining hat! No more kitties after that!

Martin Ahlin lived the remaining years of his life, alone, in Helper. He didn't drive. Tony and Caroline Skerl were good neighbors on one side. The Rogers were good neighbors on the north side. I can remember being a small child and walking down the block to the corner grocery store with him. Grandpa's grocery lists were wonderful! Spagetti was "spaditti", pancake flour was "Nigger Lady Flour" ( due to Aunt Jemima's being on the packaging) Grandpa would read the newspaper and talk about the bad guys as the "dirty buggermen". He loved to play Canasta and he especially liked to WIN! If he was losing, he would scowl, then light up what he called his "lucky" smoke to bring the jokers and wildcards his way If he was winning, he had a wonderful grin on his face!

Ahlin wedding

As children, he would tell us the story about a "Devil Dog" with flashing yellow eyes, and in imitating the sound of this approaching dog in the story, he would pound his large hands on his legs...and in the background, ...we ...the frightened children could hear the howling of the wolves,coyotes or ... "Devil Dogs?" ...coming from the mountains near Helper. He had very few teeth in his older years, a very hunched back, but he could still play polkas and magnificent music on his harmonica! In his later years, he had an arrangement with the Skerl's, that he would open his kitchen blind every morning so that they would know he was okay. Sadly, he did have a stroke, paralyzing him on one side making a nursing home mandatory. He died December 29, 1970 in Provo, Utah. He is buried next to his wife, Josephine Travnik Ahlin.

Information was donated by Sharon Becker.



Richard B. Cormani

HELPER, Carbon County - Richard B. Cormani, 72, died March 29, 1981 in Price hospital.

Born June 8, 1908 in Helper, Utah to Joseph and Clementine Re Cormani. Married Veda Engelbert October 18, 1928 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She died March 30, 1978. Member Catholic Church, retired engineer, Denver & Rio Grande Western. Life long resident of Helper, Utah.

Mass of the Christian Burial in St. Anthony Catholic Church in Helper, Wednesday ten a.m. Holy Rosary will be recited Tuesday seven p.m. at the Mitchell Chapel in Price where friends may call Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday one hour prior to the service. Burial, Mr. View Cemetery in Helper.

Family representative is Sharon Webb.


Veda Engelbert Cormani

HELPER - Veda Engelbert Cormani, age 74, of Helper died Mar 30, 1978, in Price hospital after a short illness.

Born July 11, 1903 in Joplin, Missouri, to Adolphus and Leona Brent Engelbert. She married Richard V. Cormani, Oct. 18, 1928, Las Vegas, Nev. Member Catholic Church. Life long resident of Helper.

Mass of the Resurrection, Monday 10:00 a.m. St. Anthony Catholic Church, Helper. Holy Rosary will be recited Sunday 7:00 p.m. Mitchell Funeral Chapel, where friends may call Saturday, Sunday and Monday prior to services. Burial, Mt. View Cemetery, Helper.

Family representative is Sharon Webb.


Leona Brent Englebert

HELPER, Carbon County - Leona Brent Englebert, 85, died of natural causes Nov. 26 in a Price rest home. born July 11, 1883 in Sedalia, Mo., to James and Amanda Taylor Brent. Married Adolphus Englebert, 1901, he died Oct. 28, 1949. Funeral Saturday 11 a.m., Mitchel Funeral Chapel, Price, where friends call, Friday, Saturday prior to services. Burial Mountain View Cemetery in Helper.

Family representative is Sharon Webb.


Robert Cormani Sr.

Robert Cormani Sr., 91, died March 31, 1990 in a Price nursing home.

He was born July 20, 1898 in Castle Gate to Joe Cormani and Clementine Re. He married Mary Gianini, Feb 15, 1919 at Price. She died Jan. 7, 1988.

He was a member of the Catholic Church and partner in the Spring Canyon Stage Line of Helper prior to moving to Salt Lake City in 1942. He was a member of the Boilermaker Union #182. He worked on various construction projects in the area and was later employed as a supervisor for Remington-Arms, Salt Lake City prior to retirement in 1974.

Funeral mass will be Tuesday, 10 a.m. at St. Anthony Church in Helper. Burial will be in Mr. View Cemetery, Helper.

Family representative is Sharon Webb.


Mary Gianini Cormani

SALT LAKE CITY - HELPER - Mary Gianini Cormani, died January 1988, Price, Utah.

Born February 26, 1899, in Prateglione, Canavese, Italy, daughter of Steve and Margaret Carrera Gianini. Married, Robert Cormani, Sr., February 15, 1919, Price, Utah. Member of the Catholic Church; former resident of Helper. Retired from J.C. Penney Co., Salt Lake City. Member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Salt Lake City.

Mass of the Christian burial was held Monday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Helper. Holy rosary was recited at the church on Monday prior to Mass. Burial Mountain View Cemetery, Helper.

Family representative is Sharon Webb.


Adolphus T. Engelbert

November 3, 1949 - Sun Advocate

Funeral services for Adolphus Theodore Engelbert, 71, Helper, who died last Friday, were conducted Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of the Mitchell funeral home under the direction of Rev. William McFadden of the Price Community Methodist church.

Mr. Engelbert was born on January 8, 1878, in Fredonia, Kansas, a son of Christian Fredric and Sara Jane Haley Engelbert. He was a retired coal miner.

Family representative is Sharon Webb.


CASTLE GATE HISTORY OF
AUGUST THOMAS (A.T.) JONES AND FAMILY

August Thomas Jones Margaret Evans A.T. Jones & sisters Vern & Dorothy Jones Don Child

August Thomas (A.T.) Jones and his wife Margaret Evans Jones moved to Castle Gate around 1928, along with their three children - Margaret Ellen, Dorothy, and Vern August. A.T. had been an accountant in Salt Lake City with the Wasatch Fuel Company, when they asked him to relocate to Castle Gate and become the General Manager of all the general merchandise stores in coal camps operated by the Wasatch Store Company. At that time, they had stores in Castle Gate, Sunnyside, and Clear Creek, Utah, plus two more in Delcarbon and Somerset, Colorado. A.T. managed those stores until he left the company in 1947. Not too long after that, the coal mines became almost extinct in Carbon County. Castle Gate as a delightful small town was completely removed, part of it becoming a second Castle Gate in North Helper, Utah. The townsite was then taken over by Utah Power and Light Company, which built and currently operates a large electrical plant there.

Life in Castle Gate was typical of all the small mining communities in Utah. The auditorium ("hall") was the place where most public events took place - shows, dances, weddings, funerals. There was an especially sad time in the early 1924 when a massive mine explosion took place, killing almost 172 workers. There were very few families that did not lose at least one member. An old photo shows the mass funeral held in the hall, showing row after row of coffins.

Margaret, Dorothy and Vern all attended the Castle Gate school, the free shows, visited the ice cream parlor across the street from their home. Dorothy and Vern played in the school band. Vern spoke often of what an excellent tennis player his Dad was, teaming up with Dr. Robert Long, Principal Earl Acord, and Vern. A.T. also umpired ballgames and helped with any social event he could, always with his wife Margaret probably doing most of the work. It was an annual event for many years to visit the Jones home on Christmas Day, where A.T. and Margaret held Open House for the whole town, making what were claimed to be the best Tom and Jerries in the world. Vern related how they would have Christmas early in the day, then prepare for the party. They usually went through at least two cases of eggs for that occasion (12 dozen eggs to a case).

A.T. Jones was also a talented violinist and often was asked to play, especially at funerals. One incident recalled by family was when the folks were leaving a movie theater in Helper and met a lady acquaintance. A.T. asked how her husband was, and she replied that he had died the past year. When the lady left, wife Margaret scolded him a bit, reminding him that he had played for the man's funeral. But A.T. said he played for so many, he could not recall all their names.

A.T. Jones died in Boise, Idaho in 7/80. His wife Margaret died in Pocatello, Idaho in 1/58. Margaret Ellen married Leslie Reid, lived and died in Helper, Utah - Margaret in 6/77 and Leslie in 7/81. Dorothy married Donald Child from Price; they always lived in Salt Lake City. Dorothy died in 6/94. Vern August married Mary Ahlin from Kenilworth, Utah. They lived in numerous towns in Colorado and Utah, then settled in Idaho. Vern died 12/31/95. Mary still resides in Idaho."


Vern JonesA.T. Jones army picture

Vern Jones. The water color mural sketch
that was later painted on a building at Fort
Douglas Military Base in Salt Lake around 1943.

The history and photographs of this family was donated by Mary Ahlin Jones and Sharon Becker.



Funnon Ottis Barker

Sun Advocate Newspaper

PRICE - Funnon Ottis Barker, 60, Sidney, Neb., formerly of Price, died of a heart attack Oct. 17, 1974 at home.

Born July 3, 1914, Fairview, Sanpete County, to LeRoy and Mary Peterson Barker. Married "Alpha Haycock" March 11, 193-, Price. Member, LDS Church, American Legion, VFW, UMWA. Retired miner.

Funeral Tuesday 2 p.m., Fausett Mortuary, Price, where friends call Sunday, Monday and one hour prior to service Tuesday. Burial, Price Cemetery.

If you are interested in this family contact Ted A. Jones.


Mary Peterson Barker Edur

Sun Advocate Newspaper

WELLINGTON, Carbon County - Mary Barker Edur, 84, died April 23, in a Price rest home.

Born Jan 16, 1892, Moroni, Sanpete County, to Julius and Emely Behunin Peterson. Married Leroy Barker, April 19, 1909, Manti, Utah. He died Nov. 25, 1919. Married Theadore Edur Oct. 2, 1952 Salt Lake City. He died Nov. 3, 1959. Member LDS Church.

Funeral Monday 1 p.m., Wellington 2nd Ward Chapel. Friends call Fausett Mortuary, Price, Sunday 7-9. Monday one hour prior at ward chapel. Burial Wellington Cemetery.

If you are interested in this family contact Ted A. Jones.



Theodore Edur

Sun Advocate Newspaper

SPRING GLEN, Carbon County - Theodore Edur, 76, died Tuesday in a Price hospital after a long illness.

Born Tartu, Estonia, Jan. 1, 1883, to Christian and Liza Edur. Married Rosalie Resin March 14, 1904, at Tartu, Estonia. She died July 13, 1952. Married Mary Barker, Salt Lake City, Oct. 2, 1952. Came to Scofield in 1906. Farmer, rancher, groceryman.

Funeral Friday at 1 p.m., Mitchell Funeral Chapel. Friends call Price Mortuary Thursday afternoon. Friday prior to services. Burial, Price cemetery.

If you are interested in this family contact Ted A. Jones.


Roy Mervin Barker

Sun Advocate Newspaper - 10 May 1976

WENDOVER - Roy Mervin Barker, 64, died May 5, 1976, in Wendover, No., after a short illness.

Born Jan. 8, 1912, Fairview, Utah to LeRoy and Mary Peterson Barker. Service station operator. member, LDS Church.

Funeral Monday 11 a.m., Wellington 1st ward. Friends call Fausett Mortuary, Price, Sunday 7-9 p.m., Monday an hour prior at ward chapel. Burial, Price City cemetery.

If you are interested in this family contact Ted A. Jones.


Leonard Roundy

Leonard Roundy 85, of Spring Glen, died Nov. 21, 1992 in Ferron.

He was born Sept. 2, 1907 in Mapleton to Samuel H. and Eugenia Elmyra Taylor Roundy. He married Selma Alice Edur July 5, 1927 in Provo; later solemized in the LDS temple.

He was active in the LDS Church, where he served as bishop and in numerous other callings for many years. He worked for the county and state road departments for 32 years. He loved fishing, hunting and most especially he loved his family.

He is survived by his children, eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren. Also survived by one brother. He is preceeded in death by his wife.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 25, at noon in the Spring Glen LDS Chapel. Friends may call Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Fausett Mortuary in Price and one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be in the Price City Cemetery.

If you are interested in this family contact Ted A. Jones.



Robert, Thomas & Thomas Jr. Farish

Robert Farish Jr.

My paternal grandmother, Manilla Dewey Farish, is the last surviving child of one of the victims of the Scofield Mine Disaster. She is 101 years old! Her father, Robert Farish, died in the Scofield Mine Disaster, along with his older brother, Thomas Farish, and Thomas Farish Jr., who was one of the boys who died in the explosion.

Manilla was born on July 9, 1898. Thus , she was nearly two years old when her father perished in the explosion. Her mother, Mary Evans Farish, was left a widow with six children to raise. Her father, Robert Farish, was originally born in Ohio, and her mother was born in Wales. The six children of Robert Farish and Mary Evans were: Robert, Fannie, Hazel, Margaret, Manilla and William.

Manilla says that her father, Robert Farish, would have survived the explosion, if resuscitative measures would have been performed on him, because, she states that his heart was still beating when he was removed from the mine. He was overcome with the afterdamp gas and stopped breathing.

Robert's older brother, Thomas, exited the mine after the explosion. When he realized that his son, Thomas Farish, Jr. , did not come out of the mine, he went back inside to rescue him. Tragically, the son was found on his father's back, as his father tried, in vain, to carry him out of the mine. Both were overcome by the afterdamp gas and perished.

So, the following are my three relatives who died in the Scofield Mine Disaster on May 1, 1900. My great grandfather, Robert Farish, is buried in the Scofield Cemetery. His grave is marked by a large stone oblisque. Both Thomas and his son were buried in Cleveland, Emery County, Utah.

One other important story about Thomas Farish. One miner, who survived the Scofield Mine Explosion of May 1, 1900, related this story: "I stopped to wait for the mine cart to take me to the surface when I came upon Thomas Farish. He informed me that the cart would be another 30 to 40 minutes before it would arrive. So, he suggested that I walk out, which I proceeded to do. I was walking over the hill when I heard the explosion. I formed part of a rescue team and carried out the man who saved my life, who was Thomas Farish."

This information was received from Gary Ungricht. If you are related to this family please contact him.


Joseph J. Powell

KILLS HUSBAND

Supposed Accidental Killing of Husband At Dinner Table

The Sun, July 31, 1925

Joseph J. Powell, see note 47, a bridge construction expert, was killed last Tuesday evening by accident when his wife Alberta, 36, threw a knife at him across the dinner table. The knife struck the cartilage above the heart and entered the right ventricle, killing the man instantaneously.

Apparently Mr. and Mrs. Powell had been having a bit of a family tiff. He reached out and slapped her in the face. As he leaned back, her hand grasped the nearest object, the knife, and she threw it. The doctors said that it was only one chance in a hundred that the blow could have brought death, as the knife was a dull one used for cutting flowers, and it was not thrown with much force.

A friend of the family, Carl Jackson, entered the home in time to see Powell slap his wife, then the knife thrown. Powell rose unsteadily to his feet and dropped dead without a word as Jackson and Mrs. Powell rushed to his side.

Mrs. Powell was taken to the county jail, where she is prostrated with grief. Friends of both say that they had never known of any trouble between them. Mr. Powell had been a resident of this city for twenty years. He had in his pockets tickets for himself and bridge gang who were to go to Grand Junction on work for the Denver and Rio Grande Western. Mrs. Powell was to go to Salt Lake City.

An Autopsy was performed Tuesday night and an inquest was held the next day.

News Advocate - August 6, 1925

Mrs. Alberta Powell will Stand Trial on Charge of Manslaughter

Mrs. Alberta Powell was yesterday bound over to the September term of the district court to answer to a charge of voluntary manslaughter with regard to the killing of her husband on the night of July 28. In the original complaint she was charged with second degree murder by reason of stabbing him with or throwing at him a butcher knife that penetrated into the right ventricle of the heart, an immediate hemorhage and death ensuing.

The charge was lossened against Mrs. Powell at the time of her hearing before Justice of the Peace A. Ballinger. When the state failed to show justification for the original charge, being unable to prove malice and defendant's Attorney R. Vern McCullough of Salt Lake made a strong plea for at least a manslaughter charge, the stigma of alleged murder was removed.

Jury Returned a Verdict of "Not Guilty"
- Oct. 9, 1925 - The Sun

The jury in the case of the state of Utah against Mrs. Alberta Powell, on a charge of killing her husband, returned a verdict of "not guilty," in the district court Thursday evening. The trial had consumed the greater portion of two days. Arguments were concluded in the afternoon and the case given to the jury at the close of the session.

Mrs. Powell was charged with the killing of her husband, J.J. Powell, on the evening of July 28th, while at the supper table in the W. F. Olson home at Parkdale. On the stand she testified that she threw the knife that killed her husband, but justified the act in the statement that she "was in great bodily fear," and that her husband struck her in the face. She said that he had "beaten her up before on several occassions." Other winesses for the defendant were Carl Johnson and Julia Wendell, and for the prosecution, Sheriff Ray Deming, Deputies Sam Garret, Mack Olson and Lee Bryner testified. R. Vern McCullouch of Salt Lake City represented the defendant and O.K. Clay, county attorney, appeared for District Attorney F.W. Keller.

*The newspaper states that the man killed was "James J. Powell" instead of Joseph J. Powell.

There are other newspaper articles concerning this trial. This information was submitted by Charlotte Lewin.


Oscarina Lena Veltri

The Sun Advocate - Thursday, November 6, 1941

Funeral services for Oscarina Lena Veltri, 27, who died in the Price City hospital Saturday of a heart ailment, were conducted at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday in the Notre Dame de Lourdes church with the Reverend Thomas F. Butler officiating. Burial was in the Price City cemetery under the direction of the Mitchell funeral home. Holy Rosary was said at the Mitchell funeral chapel Monday morning at 8:00 p.m.

She was born at Sunnyside on February 22, 1914, a daughter of Guiseppe and Victoria Maio Veltri. She had resided in Price City nine years.

Surviving are her parents; four brothers, Louis Veltri of Columbia, Albert Veltri, now attending the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Frank and Angelo Veltri of San Francisco; two sisters, Mrs. Eugene Falsetti of San Francisco and Josephine Veltri of Price.


Matthew Plautz

Sun Advocate - Thursday, March 3, 1960

Utah RR Engineer Services Friday In Provo Chapel

Funeral services for Matthew Plautz, 64, of Helper, who died in a Salt lake City hospital Monday of Cancer, will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Barg Drawing Room Chapel, Provo.

He was an engineer employed by the Utah Railway. He was president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers Union of Myton. He was a veteran of World War I. At the time of death he was residing with a niece, Mrs. Geroge R. Smith, Salt Lake City.

He was born July 22, 1895, in Provo to Matthew and Elizabeth Ward Plautz. He married Isabell Cowley in1920 at Castle Gate. She died in 1954.

Survivors are a daughter, Miss Dorothy Isabell Plautz, Los Angeles; two sisters, Mrs. W. S. (Elizabeth) Grossbeck, Salt Lake City; Mrs. D. K. (Aann) Downey, Helper.

Internment will be in the ....

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


Charles E. Petitti Sr.

PRICE, Carbon County - Charles B. Petitti, 93, died Jan. 13, 1979, in a Price hospital.

Born April 10, 1885, Pavon, Trino, Italy, to Juiseppi and Anna Cobetto. Married Mable Owen, Jan 12, 1912, Terre Haute. She later died. Member LDS Church. Worked in Carbon County area coal mines for many years. Retired rancher and farmer.

Survivors: sons and daughters, al Price: 22 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; preceeded in death by a daughter, Pauline Riley, and the following brothers, Frank, John, Joseph, Dominic, Andrew, and John Arronoco.

Funeral services Wednesday, 2 p.m., Mitchell Funeral Chapel in Price where friends may call Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday prior to service. burial Price City Cemetery.

Information was donated by Peggy Chappell and Charleen Jensen.


Effie Lucille Morris Petitti

PRICE - Effie Lucille Morris Petitti, 63, died Dec. 22 (1970) in a Price hospital of natural causes. Born March 19, 1907, McAlester, Oklahoma to Bolin Green and Sarah Elizabeth Christen Morris. Married Thurman Pruitt, ___________ divorced. Married Charles B. Petitti, October, 1956, Price. Survived by husband; son, stepsons, step daughters all Pirce; 25 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; brothers, sisters. Funeral Saturday 10 a.m. Mitchell Funeral Chapel, Price, where friends call Thursday, Friday, Saturday prior to services. Burial Price City Cemetery.

Information was donated by Peggy Chappell and Charleen Jensen.


Minnie Hall Brown Petitti Sherman

HUNTINGTON, Emery County - Minnie B. Petitti, 80, Huntington, died after a long illness Feb. 9, 1974, in a Provo hospital.

Born Oct. 9, 1893, Escalante, Garfield County, to Charles and Sarah A. Bobcock Hall. married John W. Brown, Castle Dale, Emery County, Jan. 1, 1910; divorced. Married Gerald Sherman; he died. Married Charles B. Petitti, Aug. 5, 1971. Price.

Survivors: hsuband; sons, daughters, 31 grandchildren; 72 great-grandchildren; 2 great, great-grandchildren; brothers, sister, Mrs. Estella Pitts, all Salt Lake City.

Funeral Tuesday 1 p.m., Huntington 1st LDS Ward Chapel. Friends call Fausett Mortuary, Price, Monday 7-9 p.m. at the chapel Tuesday hour prior to services. Buried, Huntington Cemetery.

Additional information by grand-daughter Peggy Chappell

Minnie Hall was born Oct. 9, 1893 in Escalante, Garfield County, Utah. When she and her twin sister Maud was around three years old her family moved to Nine Mile Canyon and had a stage stop. The canyon Minnie Maude was named after these twins. see Minnie Maud

Minnie Hall married John William Brown the 1 January 1910. They had 10 children and divorced when the youngest child was about two months old. John William Brown continued to live close to the family and helped out and was part of the kids lives all the time they were growing up. They were always good friends and never acted like divorced folks often do.

Minnie married a second time when she was 52 to Wesley Thomas but divorced him a year later. She then married Charlie Petitti. They later divorced and when Minnie was 72 she married Gerald Sherman. They were married until Gerald died in the 28 Jul 1970. After the death of Gerald she reunited with Charlie Petitti and were together until her death in on Feb. 9, 1974.

Information donated by Peggy Chappell and Charleen Jensen.


Gerald Sherman

HUNTINGTON - Emery County, Gerald Sherman, 74, died July 28 in a Roosevelt rest home after a long illness. Born Aug. 19, 1895, Huntington, to Albey William and Eliza Ann Pugson Sherman. Married Minnie Hall Brown, Aug. 25, 1966. Price, Member LDS Church. Rancher, farmer. Survivors: widow: stepsons, stepdaughters. Funeral Saturday 1 p.m., Huntington First LDS Ward Chapel. Friends call Fausett Mortuary, Castle Dale. Friday 7-9 p.m.; Chapel Saturday 1 hour prior to services. Burial Huntington City Cemetery.

Information donated by Peggy Chappell and Charleen Jensen.


Hans Mogensen

Funeral services were conducted yesterday at 10 a.m. in the Wallace Mortuary chapel for Hans Mogensen, 54, Price, who died Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in the Carbon Hospital after a short illness.

He was born August 18, 1906, in Denmark, to Soren Christian and Johanne Catherine Christiansen Mogensen. He married Evelyn Lewis October 16, 1941, at Preston, Idaho. He was the owner of the Silver Grill Drive-In, Price.

Surviving are his widow, two sons and stepson, brothers and sisters, Henry, Peter and Vance, all in Denmark; Mrs. Marie Jensen, Racine, Wisconsin; Miss Caren Mogensen, Denmark.

Burial was in the Heber cemetery.

If you are related to this individual or would like to know more please e-mail Antonie Kristensen


Helen Mogensen

WEST JORDAN - Helen R.J. Mogensen, age 62, passed away July 5, 1983, in a local hospital of respiratory failure. Born March 11, 1921, in Saskatchewan, Canada, to Adolph and Carrie P----tz. Married Donald R. Mogensen, March 11, 1981, in Elko, Nevada. She was a nurse and a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church. Survivied by: husband, West Jordan, daughter, son, stepson and two step daughters; seven grandchildren, 11 brothers and sisters. Preceded in death by a grandson, Scott Mills. Graveside services will be held Thursday 11 a.m., at Redwood Memorial Estates, 6500 South Redwood, where friends my call one hour prior to services. Funeral directors. Memorial Estates Mortuary.

If you are related to this individual or would like to know more please e-mail Antonie Kristensen


Marjorie Ruth Locke Mogensen

Marjorie Ruth Locke Mogensen, 59, died Dec. 23, 1980, at home after a long illness. Born Jan. 7, 1921, in Salt Lake City, to George W. and Mary Mullins Locke. Married Donald R. Mogensen, Sept. -0, 1938 in Bountiful. Survivors: husband, Salt Lake City, son, two daughters, 13 grandchildren; three brothers, four sisters. Graveside services will be held Friday 11 a.m. in Murray City Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday 6-8 p.m. at Memorial Estates Mortuary, 5850 900 E.

If you are related to this individual or would like to know more please e-mail Antonie Kristensen


Salvatore Bruno

Spring Glen Carbon County - Salvatore "Sam" Bruno, 74, Spring Glen, died Nov. 7 in a Price hospital after a long illness. Born Sept. 2, 1898, Calabria, Italy, to Gabriele and Rosaria Rena Bruno. Married Mary Nicolavo, Castle Dale, Emery county. Member Catholic Church; Brotherhood of Railroad Carmen of America; Moose Lodge. retired employee, Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. Survivors: widow; sons, daughter, Rudolph, Thomas, both Spring Glen; Gabriel, Elko, Nev.; Salvadore, Tacoma, Wash.; Gary F., Ventura, Calif.; Mrs. Natale (Rosaria) Bruni, Komloops, British Columbia; 16 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren. Requiem mass Saturday 10 a.m., St. Anthony Catholic Church, Helper, Carbon Couny. Holy rosary Friday 7 p.m., Mitchell Funeral Chapel, Price, where friends call Thursday, Friday, Saturday prior to services. Burial Price City cemetery.


Reuben Naylor Tucker

Reuben Naylor Tucker, 53, Scofield, Carbon county, died in a Salt Lake hospital Tuesday at 1 a.m. of coronary occlusion. Born in Fairview, Sanpete county, Oct. 24, 1891, a son of George and Mary C. Madson Tucker, he was a machinest for Utah Fuel Co. and a member of the L.D.S. church. Survivors include his widow, Gussia, Scofield; two sons, Donald E. Tucker, U.S. Army, and Blaine G. Tucker, Army Air Forces: four daughters, Mary and Jean Tucker, Salt Lake City; Mrs. Doris Pasour, Rio Tinto, Nev., and Mrs. Emile J. Cances Jr., Bastrop, Tex.; three half brothers Frank Tucker and Fred Christiansen, Fairview, and William Christiansen, Spanish Fork; two half sisters, Mrs. Anna Van Noy, Los Angeles, and Mrs. Hettie Helm, Byron, Wyo., and two grandchildren.

Obituary submitted by Wilfred Peters.


Oscar K. Kakola (Hakola)

Scofield - Oscar K. Hakola, 72, life time resident of Clear Creek, died early Thursday at Mohrland according to word received by relatives here. Mr. Hakola was a resident of Clear Creek for 34 years and was employed as a miner in the local mines. He is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Susie Malaska, Clear Creek; Mrs. Ina Kudi, Mohrland; Mrs. Siame Staley, Scofield and Mrs. Pearl Jones, Castle Gate; one son, Jake Hakola, Kenilworth and ten grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at Scofield Sunday at 2 p.m. with burial in the city cemetery. Friends may call at the Wallace mortuary in Price until the day of services.

Obituary submitted by Wilfred Peters.


Martha Harkness

Scofield, Carbon County - Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 10 a.m. in Scofield ward chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for Mrs. Martha Harkness, 87, who died Sunday at her home. Mrs. Harkness was born May 19, 1861, in Medina, Kan., a daughter of William and A. Creek Fitzsimmons. She had been a resident of Scofield for 67 years. Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Katherine Madsen, Mrs. Gussia Tucker and Miss Ruby Harkness, Scofield and Mrs. Millie Morley, Springville; a son, H.K. Harkness, Walnut Creek, Cal., nine grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. In charge of services will be Thomas Biggs, bishop of the ward, and Rev. William McFadden of Price. Friends may call at the family home from 6 p.m. Thursday until time of services Friday. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet cemetery, Salt lake City, directed by Mitchell Funeral home, Price.

Obituary submitted by Wilfred Peters.


John W. Somppi

obit: Thursday, February 2, 1956

Funeral services were conducted this afternoon, Thursday, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of the Mitchell funeral home for John W. Somppi, 69, who died at his home in Helper Sunday night folloiwng an illness. He was born at Ylistaro, Finland, December 8, 1886, a son of Jacob and Susanna Karhhu Somppi. He was married to Emilia Eilo in Ylistaro October 7, 1907. He came to the United States 37 years ago and had been employed as a coal miner. Survivors include his widow, two sons, August Somppi, Portland, Oregon; Bill Somppi, Inglewood, California; a daughter, Mrs. Annie Ramsey, Salt Lake City; 10 grandchildren, and a brother, Matt Somppi, Fairport, Ohio. Burial was in the Mountain View cemetery at Helper.

Obituary submitted by Wilfred Peters.


John E. Judi

Sun Advocate, Price Utah - 14 Sep 1946
Funeral Services Here Yesterday For Hiawatha Miner

Funeral services for john E. Judi, 55, Hiawatha miner who died at the Price City hospital on September 14, were conducted yesterday in the chapel of the Mitchell funeral home at 4:30 p.m. with Bishop Carlos Larsen of Hiawatha officiating. He was a hoistman at the Hiawatha mine. Mr. Judi was born in Finland on March 28, 1891. Survivors include his wife, Ina, Hiawatha; one daughter, Selma Judi, Price; one son, Jack Judi, Hiawatha; two sisters, Mrs. Sophia Heikkila and Mrs. Mary Olilla, both of Fairport, Ohio and one granddaughter. Burial was in the Price City cemetery under direction of the Mitchell funeral home.

Obituary submitted by Wilfred Peters.


Joseph Podbevsek

Funeral services are being conducted today at 4 p.m. in the Scofield chapel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for Joseph Podbevsek, 73, who died Monday at his home at Scofield following a lingering illness. He was born at Podmil, Yugoslavia, July 17, 1882, a son of Joseph and Johana Podbevsek. He had been a resident of the United States for 48 years and at Scofield for the past 29 years. He was a retired coal miner. Surviving are his wife, Veronica Parrish Podbevsek, Scofield; four daughters and four sons; Mrs. Mary Strang and Mrs. Alice Schmidt, Scofield; Mrs. Veronica Haycock, Spring Glen, and Mrs. Frances Elzey, Melbrae, California; Joseph Jr., Frank and Stanley Podbevsek, Scofield, and Louis Podbevsek, Glenwood Springs, Colorado; two brothers, Jack Podbevsek, Rock Springs, Wyoming, and Frank Podbevsek, Walsenburg, Colorado; two sisters and a brother in Yugoslavia. Burial was in the Scofield cemetery under the direction of the Mitchell funeral home.

Obituary submitted by Wilfred Peters.


Wayne Tokoi

Salt Lake Tribune
Inquiry Called Into Deaths of 32 on Ship

OSLO, NORWAY, Sept. 18 (UP) - Charges that a lack of emergency equipment was responsible for the loss of 32 lives in the sinking of the American freighter Pelagia were being investigated Tuesday. Vice Consel Michael Newlin planned an offical U.S. inquiry into circumstances of the sinking of the iron ore carrier. An embassy spokesman here refused to comment on charges made by Lawrence T. Redless of Central City, Colo., that rescue equipment was insufficent to save the lives of 32 crewmen. Redless was one of only five men who survived. He said he planned to sue the owners of the ship.

SCOFIELD, Carbon County - One of the crewmen believed lost in the sinking of the freighter Pelagia is Wayne Tokoi of Scofield. He listed his permanent address as Scofield although he has been in the Merchant Marine for 20 years. A brother, Alfred Tokoi, Scofield, said the missing crewman recently had written a letter saying he was coming to the United States aboard the Pelagia. Mr. Tokoi has three sisters and two brothers. A second brother lives in Australia and his sisters live in Finland.

Obituary submitted by Wilfred Peters.


Mary Sophi Nisula

Funeral services were held Sunday for Mary Sophia Nisula, 56, who died at Spring Canyon Friday after an illness of broncho pneumonia. Interment will be made at Scofield under the direction of the J.E. Flynn Funeral parlors. Deceased was born in Finland, but there is no record of the date of birth or the name of her parents. Her husband, Oscar Nisula died five years ago. She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Elsi Mary Suomi of Spring Canyon.

Obituary submitted by Wilfred Peters.


Frank Walter Suomi

Funeral services for Frank Walter Suomi, 54, who died (4 May 1946) at his home in Scofield Saturday, were conducted this afternoon at 1:30 in the Masonic Temple. Burial will be in Scofield tomorrow under the direction of the Mitchell funeral home. Mr. Suomi was born in Finland on January 29, 1892 and had been a resident of Scofield for the past 13 years and had been employed as a miner. He had been in the United States 34 years. He is survivied by his wife, Elsie Suomi of Scofield and brothers and sisters in Finland.

Obituary submitted by Wilfred Peters.


Ralph Yenzi

May 27th, 1949
Fall of Coal Kills Worker In Carbon's Royal Mine

Royal, Carbon County, May 27 - A falling 150-lb. piece of coal killed Ralph Yenzi, 50, 612 Canyon St., Helper, Carbon county, while he was working at the Royal Coal Co., mine here Friday at 8:15 a.m. Mr. Yenzi and a co-worker, Robert Green, Royal, were filling in newly laid track at the mine, according to C.E. Pauley, operations manager; Ire Hileman, foreman; Ray Woodard, mine superintendent, and S. A. Dobbs, state mine inspector, who investigated. Evidently Mr. Yenzi had shoveled away coal supporting the piece that struck him in the head, they reported. An attending physician said Mr. Yenzi died instantly of skull fractures. Mr. Green suffered a minor foot bruise. The mine will be closed until Tuesday, Mr. Hileman said. According to information available late Friday, Mr. Yenzi was born in Pietranala, Italy, in July, 1898. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Frances Yenzi, Helper; two daughters: Kristina Yenzi and Mrs. Rose Furano, Salt Lake City, and three brothers: Leo Yenzi, Crockett, Cal: Lawrence Yenzi, Butte, Mont., and Fred Yenzi, Italy. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Mitchell funeral home, Price.

Obituary submitted by Wilfred Peters.


Ena Maude Carlson Carey

PRICE - Mrs. Ena Maude Carey, 48, Scofield, Carbon County, died Sunday at a Provo Hospital after a short illness. She was born Aug. 21, 1906, in Blaenavon, Wales, the daughter of Walter and Hannah Regan Carlson. She was a widow. Survivors a daughter, Mrs. Ena Eileen Krebs, Los Angeles; two sons, Robert Vernon, Price; Roland Alfred, with armed forces in the Pacific. Funeral Sunday 2 p.m. in Mitchell Funeral Home Chapel by Monteh Snow, Bishop Price Fourth LDS Ward. Burial Price Cemetery.

Obituary submitted by Wilfred Peters.



Axel Linholm

Wife Left in Familly Car Waits for Thirteen Hours
Cass City Michigan Chronicle, Friday March 2, 1951

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah---Axel Lindholm of Scofield, Utah, willl tell you that a woman can be patient. Lindholm parked his automobile in downtown Salt Lake City and his wife said she'd wait while he got a snack. He forgot where he parked the car. After an all-night search he asked police to help. They soon located the automobile and Mrs. Lindholm, who was sitting patiently in the spot where her husband had left her 13 hours before. "I knew he'd come back," she said.

Story submitted by Wilfred Peters.


Norma-Denice Ranta Warren

The Sun Advocate, Price, Utah
Will Leave for New Home in California

Mrs. Leland Penn Warren, who was Miss Norma-Denice Ranta before her marriage on August 31, plans to visit friends in Carbon county before leaving on December 27 for Van Nuys, California, to join her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Warren are former students of Carbon High School. the latter graduated in 1934, then continued her education in Salt Lake City, where she has been employed for the past five years. Mr. Warren, who has been a resident of San Francisco for several years graduated from the welding department of the Western Electrical college of Salt Lake City, and is now affiliated with an aircraft company in Van Nuys. After their marriage, they made a brief honeymoon trip to Fish Lake. They plan to establish their home in Southern California. Mrs. Warren is the daughter of Mrs. Emil Lindholm of Aberdeen, Washington. Mr. Warren is the son of Mrs. George Wakefield of Spring Canyon, and a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Seren Olsen of Price. By Courtesy of the Tribune.

Story submitted by Wilfred Peters.


Robert Hammond

Sun Advocate
Letters From the Boys

From Tunisia the voice of one of our own Carbon Boys in the service echoes the sentiments of thousands of other soldiers and of civilians, too, about the recent coal strikes which have been slowing down wartime production.

Sergeant Robert Hammond, son of Mr. and mrs. J.W. Hammond of Price, very ably expressed the opinion of our soldiers on farflung shores and distant outposts, as they read and hear of the stoppage of work at home, while they go on fighting without asking for a raise in pay or better hours.

The letter reads:

Dear Mother and Dad:
Well, the heat from the battle here in North Africa has calmed down, but believe me, Old Sol has come out in all his glory and the heat is really getting terrific. I would give anything for some of that rain that we had so much of this winter. I recently wrote Theresa telling her that since the African campaign was finished we were allowed to give just a little more of the details.

I was in the initial invasion, landed on a beach in the Oran sector, and it was pretty exciting to say the least. The first night we were bivouacked I almost met my end. Of course everything was really blacked out. The vehicles were scattering around hell bent for election, and as I lay asleep in my pup tent, an American half track came so close that he ripped up three of my tent pegs. After the assault of the invasion quieted down, everything was nice until we received our orders to fly to Tunisia.

Immediately upon our arrival in that sector things were really hot at times. For some days bombings and strafings by the enemy planes were as regular as our meals. It was in that sector that we started living in fox holes, and believe me, they are one grand investment. During the rainy season I was flooded out of more than one fox hole, but it didn't take me long to dig another. Of course I could go on telling you of some of my experiences, but would rather wait and tell them to you first hand. But you can rest assured that I have had some really thrilling experiences, to say nothing of the rough existence.

I know one thing for sure - it is really heart breaking to hear over the radio, after some of the things we go through, that bushy-eyed John L. Lewis and his coal miners are out on strike. I guess they want us to stay over here forever. I can't hink of any punishment bad enough for them.

I am really getting anxious to see Brit, Jr. I surely hope he isn't in college before I return, but if Lewis keeps up with his strikes, he probably will be.

We are in a pretty nice place now. We at least get to see a picture show once in a while, and are able to take a good bath often. I went for a very nice swim in the Mediterranean the other day, and man, did I enjoy it."

Story submitted by Wilfred Peters.


Gusta Fabia Kumpulainen Helsten

HIAWATHA MINER KILLED, 2 INJURED BY POWDER BLAST
Gus Helston Fatally Hurt By Discharge; Others Rushed to S.L. Hospital

A powder discharge which had failed to explode claimed the life of one man and seriously injured two others in the King Mine No. 1 at Hiawatha about 4 o'clock Monday morning. Gus Helston, 31 was instantly killed and Mat Rauhaula, 50, and Arne Main, 21, his companions suffered severe bruises and cuts around the face and chest. Rauhaula was taken to Salt Lake by J.P. Russell, safety first engineer, Monday afternoon, while Maine was taken in Monday morning. His condition was so serious he could not be moved sooner.

The men were working in the main tunnel, a mile and a half within the mine, when they picked into the powder, which evidently had been placed there some time ago by workmen while blasting. All of the men were badly cut by the explosion.

Deceased was born in Brohesda, Finland January 20, 1898 the son of Moses and Henrietta Thompson Helton.

Helston is survived by his wife, Amy and three children, Jack, 5; Amy, 4 and Colleen, 2. He had worked around the mines in Scofield, Clear Creek and Hiawatha practically all of his life. Funeral arrangements have not been made. Remains are in charge of the J.E. Flynn Funeral Parlor. At the time of her husband's death, Mrs. Helston was visiting with relatives in Scofield.

Rauhaula is married and is survived by six children, while Maine is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Maine of Scofield and is unmarried.

Story submitted by Wilfred Peters.


John C. and Amy Staley


Henrietta Helsten
John C & Amy Staley

John C. & Amy Staley
1951 - 50th wedding anniversary

John C. Staley and Amy Staley on 50th wedding, Scofield. John came to Scofield in 1886, and was the barn foreman at Winter Quarters when the mine exploded, He was working outside. Amy Staley is the second Amy in a line of at least 4 Amy's she was born in England 1879 to John and Amy Pitman the family first went to Canada the arrived in Winter Quarters about 1885. Amy Staley's mother Amy Pitman died three years later when Amy Staley was nearly 10 years old, leaving her father with five small children to raise. At 19 yrs Amy, married Edwin T. Street, they had two girls and she was carrying a third child when the Winter Quarter mine exploded killing her husband Edwin, father John, an uncle and some cousins. The mine exploded in May and though they were able to find the others they didn't find the Father (John Pitman) until August. In August Amy also lost her second girl, and gave birth to the child she was carrying in October. She married John C. Staley 17 Feb 1901, so the photo is taken in 1951.

Autna Arnason

If you are interested I could tell you about my great-grandfather Erlindur Arnason....and my grandfather Autna Arnason and my aunt Stana Arnason (Thomas)...they lived in Winter Quarters and Scofield. Elrindur's had these first kids by Johanna. Erlindur was a miner in Clear Creek. Stana worked in a boarding house in Winter Quarters. Autna worked at 17-18 years old bringing the horse teams out of the mine at Winter Quarters with the cars of coal. He feared the underground environment of the mines. While doing this in late February 1900 he threw a snowball at some Finnish miners who were considered lower on the social or racial pecking order. Superentendent and LDS bishop saw this and fired Autna on the spot. Aunta then went down to the Spanish Fork with his half brother Gil Bearnson to get an early start in shearing sheep on the bench above Spanish Fork. When they heard of the disaster, they got on the special rescue train heading for Scofield. Autna told me in the 1970's of seeing the dead being brought out in the cars that would normally haul the coal out of the mine. He said one of the managers of the mine was on the mine's mouth when a carload of bodies were being taken out. One of the bodies had mucus and blood coming from his nose and mouth. The manager stopped the car and took out his linen handerchief and cleaned the fellow up. My grandfather cried when he told this story. I found out that the young man who took over my grandfathers job of hauling the coal cars out of the mine was blown across a draw and had a hole put in his head. He had a plate put in his head and was never quite the same. My grandfather apparently had enough of the coal industry....he developed a later, successful career in the postal service out of SLC and California. Without the disaster he probably would have stayed in Carbon County.

This information was provided by Tony Arnason. If you are related to this family please contact him.


Guy Frederico (Federico)

Remains of Guy Frederico, 22, digger, were shipped by the J.E. Flynn Funeral Parlors to Grand Junction, Colorado, Sunday, where double funeral services for him and his brother, Orlando, were held. He was born in New York City, January 11, 1907, the son of Frank and Rosa Cottilina (should be Catalina or Catalano) Frederico. Surviving him are his widow, Addie Frederico, one child, Dolores, 1, and his parents.

Orlando Frederico

Remains of Orland Frederico, 21, digger, brother of Guy, were forwarded by J.E. Flynn Funeral Pralors to Grand Junction, Colorado, Sunday for double funeral rites. He was born in Grand Junction, November 19, 1908. He issurvived by his parents.

BROTHERS MEET MINE DEATH ARM IN ARM

Two brothers, Guy and Orlando Frederico after being inseparable companions for twenty years met death together in the explosion which raked the Standardville mine Thursday evening. Rescuers who penetrated into the slope No. 2 of the Mine No. 1 tunnel reported finding the Fredericos with their arms around each other, and each with a wet towel over his face indicating that they knew "their time had come."

Orlando was almost twenty-two months older than Guy and ever since childhood had not only been brothers but were real pals, as their fellow workers expressed it. The former was born in New York City and came with his parents to Grand Junction at the age of two, where Guy was born. Since that time they have worked and travelled together with no lengthy separation. The bodies were forwarded to Grand Junction, Colorado where the pair grew into manhood and where their parents, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Frederico now live. Guy is survived by a nineteen year old wife, Addie and a small daughter, Dolores, 1.

The information received about the Federico family has been donated by Debbie Haining. If you are related to or if you are interested in more information please contact her.


Forrest Sloan Dunlevy

LAST RITES HELD HERE FOR FORMER ENGINEER OF CITY

The News Advocate
September 10, 1925
Price, Utah

Forrest Sloan Dunlevy who died at Provo on Thursday, was laid to final rest in the Price City cemetery Monday afternoon. Interment followed services at the Price Community church that were conducted under the direction of Joppa Lodge No. 26, F. and A. M. of Price.

A form of epilepsy brought about Dunlevy's death. He first had a stroke two years ago. Following treatment, he apparently became his normal self again. He is believed to have made the mistake of plunging himself too deeply into his business affairs, with the result that a recent second stroke laid him low.

For the two years past Dunlevy had been consulting engineer for the city. Before that time he was engineer when L. A. McGee was mayor, and was county road agent for six years.

Dunlevy was born at Kansas City on December 7, 1885. He was graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in the Year 1908. He was elected to receive the degrees in masonary in Trinidad lodge No. 89, A. F. & M., Trinidad lodge No. 89, F. and A. M., member of the local Joppa lodge, being the first treasurer. Dunlevy had been a resident of Price for about 12 years.

The deceased was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Dunlevy, now residing at Berkley, Cal. He is survived by his widow and two small daughters, Marion, 10, and Helen Grace, 6. At Berkley beside his parents also reside a sister, Mrs. Clifford A. Templeton. A brother, Joe H. Dunlevy, lives at Indianapolis, Ind.

"The Sun"
September 11, 1925
Price, Utah

Funeral Services for F.S. Dunlevy, Engineer

Funeral services for F.S. Dunlevy, a local civil engineer, were held last Monday at the community church in this city under the direction of Joppa lodge (Masonic). He passed away at Provo on Thursday of last week after but a very brief illness. He was born December 27, 1885 at Kansas City, Mo., and came West when a very young man. During his residence in Carbon county he was employed by several different coal companies and by the city and county.

Surviving him are his wife, Mae Dunlevy, and two daughters, Marion Hazel and Helen Grace; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Dunlevy of Berkley, Cala., one brother, Joseph Dunlevy of Indianapolis, Ind., and a sister, Mrs. Mabel Templeon, also of Berkley. Burial in the Masonic plot of Price cemetery.

A family representative for the Dunlevy family is Patricia Provenzano.


Samuel H. Gilson

Jan. 1913, The News Advocate, Price, UT reads:

Samuel H. Gilson

S.H. Gilson, famed as the discoverer of gilsonite and also as one of the pioneers in the art of serial navigation, has invented a new type of flying machine, a handsome working model of which is on exhibition at Salt Lake City. The Gilson machine is a monoplane, designed to navigate the air and also capable of floating on water.

Gilson's interest in flying machines dates back more than half a century. He first began to consider the question of emulating the flight of birds in 1855 and since that time has perfected sixteen models of aeroplanes. His latest creation embraces some new principles which may make the navigation of air as safe as locomotion on land.

Gilson sprang into national prominence years ago when he discovered the hydrocarbon used so largely in the arts and known the world over as gilsonite, after its discoverer.

"History of Carbon County" by Ronald G. Watt says:

"The Gilson Asphaltum Store, the Emery County Mercantile, and the Price Trading Company had transportation contracts with Uinta Basin entities. In addition to controlling some of the freighting, they sold goods to the people of the Price River Valley and also to the towns of Emery County and the Duchesne area. A good example of the different products in stock was included in a 1891 Gilsonite Asphaltum store advertisement which lists hats, boots, groceries, tea, coffee, syrup, molasses, vinegar, flour, cornmeal, dried fruits, canned goods, confectionery items, tobacco, hardware, patent medicine, and many other items. If the stores did not have a needed product in stock, they depended on the railroad to transport the item into the area in a relatively short period of time. In April 1891 Gilson Asphaltum advertised that it had received a large shipment of clothes. The whole community must have been waiting, for in just two days the store sold over 300 pairs of pants. Sam Gilson was heavily involved with his gilsonite business in Uinta; therefore, in a few years he sold his store in Price to Price Trading Company, giving it the competitive edge in Price. Alpha Ballinger was the successful manager of Price Trading. Emery County Mercantile continued for another fifteen years before leaving Carbon County."

This information was submitted by Mike Glenn.


Sarah Blain Warren

The Sun-Advocate, Thursday, February 6, 1947, pg 14 "Centennial Stories" of Six Oldest Women in Price as told to Irene Cloward O'Discoll

I was born in Sanpete county, a daughter of William and Sarah Allred Blain. My mother died while I was still a child and I was reared by my grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Allred. We came to Price in 1883 by ox team and lived in a dugout for the first three years. That same year I was baptized in the Price River by George Downard, which was the first baptism in the community.

My grandfather raised the first garden in Price and in order to irrigate it he plowed a ditch from the Price River above the garden and we children dipped water out of the ditch with buckets twice each week and poured it down the garden furrows. In spite of this makeshift method of irrigation the garden flourished.

In my early teens I hired out to a family of twelve for fifty cents a week which was considered a fairly good wage at that time.

The nearest stores were located at Scofield and Castle Dale. Sunday school was held by Mr. Sorensen at his cabin, and sacrament being passed in a tin cup and after the bread was passed the same cup was filled again with water and passed around again. Eight people made up the congregation.

Coyotes were so numerous that our neighbors, the Rob Powell family, took their pig into their dugout each night where it slept in a corner safe from the predatory animals.

I have seen Price grow from a wilderness to the beautiful city it is today, and although I am a "daughter of the pioneers" I have never joined the splendid organization.

If you are related to Sarah Blain Warren please e-mail Teresa Peterson.


Sarah J. Warren

The News-Advocate, Price, Utah
September 19, 1918 pg 1

PIONEER WOMAN GONE

Death claimed one of Carbon county's pioneer women Sunday when Mrs. Sarah J. Warren passed away at the age of 78. She was the widow of the late William J. Warren who met his death several years ago in a fall from a cliff in Nine Mile. In recent years she had made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Dessie Hoy, most of the time in Salt Lake but during the past year at Cameron. The decedent was born in Hancock county, Ill., and came to Utah with the pioneers in 1882. She knew all the hardships of early life among the Indians and of reclaiming the desert. She and her husband were large factors in the early life of this section. She leaves two daughters, Mrs. Mary Morrison of this city and Mrs. Dessie Hoy of Cameron, and three sons, Parley, Hubbard and Franklin. Two sons, William J. Jr., and Lois are dead. Funeral services, conducted by Elder E.S. Horsley, were held in the tabernacle Monday afternoon and burial was in city cemetery.

If you are related to Sarah J. Warren please e-mail Teresa Peterson.


John Dennis Fitzgerald

John D. Fitzgerald

John D. Fitzgerald was born in Price, Carbon, Utah on February 3, 1906. His father was Thomas Fitzgerald and his mother was Minnie Nielsen Fitzgerald. He was the fourth child to be born to this family.

John spent his growing up years in Price and graduated at the age of 17 from Carbon County High School in 1923. While in High School he was the senior class president and athletic manager. After graduation he and some of his friends formed a jazz band and spent their summer playing for different occasions.

In 1924 he began to move about the county. He spent time in Idaho, Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago to name a few. He also began his writing career. He is the author of the adult books, "Papa Married a Mormon", "Mama's Boarding House", and "Uncle Will and the Fitzgerald Curse." Some of his childrens books are: "Me and My Little Brain", The Great Brain at the Academy", The Great Brain Reforms" and "The Return of the Great Brain."


Walter E. Schoenfeld

Syracuse - Davis County - Walter Emil Schoenfeld, 62, Syracuse, died on arrival at an Ogden hospital, March 7, 1972 of a heart attack.

Born March 12, 1910, Winter Quarters, Carbon County, to Carl and Gertrude Joswig Schoenfeld. married Bessie Wilcox, 1936, Salt Lake Temple. School teacher; veteran WWII; graduated for USU; member Syracuse First Ward; high priest; member Lions Club.

Funeral Friday, 2 p.m. North Davis Stake Center. Syracuse. Friends call Lindquiest Kaysville Mortuary, Thursday, 7-9 p.m. and Friday at the chapel, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Burial, Farmington City Cemetery.

If you are related to or interested in more information about this family please e-mail Brenda Schoenfeld.


Gertrude J. Schoenfeld

KAYSVILLE - Gertrude Clara Joswig Schoenfeld, 90, Kaysville, died Nov. 19, 1975, in Milhausen, Germany, of causes incident to age.

Born Jan. 6, 1885, Milhausen. Married Carl Robert Schoenfeld May 15, 1909, Salt Lake City. He died Nov. 10, 1964, Lutheran. Came to America 1909. Former resident of Winter Quarters, Schofield, Castle Gate, all Carbon County. Lived in Provo 48 years. Member Pythian Sisters.

Funeral Friday 11 a.m. Berg Drawing Room Chapel, Provo, where frineds call before service. Burial Provo City Cemetery.

If you are related to or interested in more information about this family please e-mail Brenda Schoenfeld.


William J. McCombe

Helper was called upon last Thursday night to mourn for the first one of its boys to lose his life in France. William McComb, 23, was drowned while on duty at the front with the Thirty first engineers corps of which he was a member. He was a son of Mrs. James McComb of Helper and a brother of Mrs. John Buchanan, Mrs. Charles Dougherty, and Mrs. Edward Howe of Helper. He had two other sisters living outside the state. Young McComb began working for the Rio Grande as a helper when he was but 15 years of age and at 19 was a full fledged machinist. He is most highly spoken of by all his acquaintances as a clean, manly young man, devoted to his mother and respected by everyone. He secured permission from the local board in April to join the engineers and within a short time was in France in active service. His mother was deeply affected when she received the sad news and required the services of Dr. Slopanskey to restore her to normal condition. The most sincere sympathy of the entire county goes out to the mother who has so nobly given her only son to the cause of humanity.

Liberty theatre of Helper was crowded Sunday afternoon with friends of the young man and the family who gathered to honor the memory of the young soldier who had given his life. Fitting addresses were made by Julius Shepherd, secretary of the Y.M.C.A., Mayor F. R. Slopanskey, Reverend A. F. Giovannoni and Claude Brown superintendent of the L.D.S. Sunday School. Music was rendered by Mr. and Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Wilstead and others.

HELPER SOLDIER DIES IN FRANCE - William J. McCombe killed while on duty with U.S. Engineers.

Salt Lake relatives of William James McCombe, 23 years of age, of Helper. He enlisted April 20 of this year and was among the national army men who elected to take a vocational course at the University of Colorado at Boulder. From Colorado he was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas and thence abroad.

Helper was stricken with sorrow yesterday evening when a telegram reached here from Washington stating that William J. McComb had been drowned in France. The telegram stated that he was drowned on August 13th and that the body was recovered. There were no particulars. Will McComb was born in Helper about 23 years ago and lived here all his life. On April 17 he enlisted in the Engineers corps and in one month was sent to France. He is the first boy from Helper to lose his life while in service overseas.

October 15, 1918
Mrs. House:
My dear Mrs. House, I wrote to your mother the day after your brother was drowned but evidently the letter miscarried. I regret very much to have had to write to the relatives of many of my men a death notice and especially the death notice of a man who never gave me any cause for complaint.

He was in all ways a model soldier, prompt in obedience and cheerful as well. He never missed a roll call nor was he ever late to a formation. He always worked hard when given a task to do. In fact, I considered him one of the most capable of the young soldiers and would shortly have recommended him for his first promotion.

We were hurrying the construction of our camp and he had been on the detail, that was, getting sand out of the River Loire. The Loire is not so very deep but is very swift with a shifting sand bottom. The River at this point is about 1/4 a mile wide. Your brother worked a double shift in order to get off this afternoon. Before he went to camp he decided to take a swim. On the far side of the river there is a whirlpool and he had the misfortune to swim into this. He shouted for help and the other men immediately went to his assistance. He had been sucked under and was in the water only 15 minutes. The doctors were waiting on the bank when the men brought his body ashore but they could not resusicate him. His knees were drawn up under his chin when he was taken from the water seeming to indicate he had had a cramp. The body is buried in the cemetery at the town of Saumur and will be shipped home to you at the Government's expense as soon as possible.

I have had a picture taken of the grave and as soon as they are developed and printed, I will mail you one.

A soldier expects to lose his life in action and when so lost it is accepted as war's fortune but I regret very much to lose a man accidently.

His personal effects were shipped a short time ago. If you do not receive them let me know and if there is anything I can do I will be pleased and more to do it for you. It is the least that can be done to reward service; honest and faithful, character; excellent and O.K.

John Roberts
Casu. Co. F. 31st Engineers R. Tc
A.P. O 718 A.E.F.


Guy Thomas

Boche Bullet Ratal to Guy thomas, Son of Price

The News Advocate, Price, Utah
8 Aug 1918

The reality of war came home to Price Monday when the news came that Guy Thomas had died on July 25 in a hospital in France. He was shot through the hips on June 6 in an encounter with the hunsa and the only word received from him a letter that date was a letter written on June 22 and received by his mother on July 15 say that he was recovering from the wound. the government did not notify the parents until July 27 that he had been wounded and his name appeared the next day in the casualty list. Soon after his mother received word of Guy's death in a letter came from him dated in May. Just before time for the News-Advocate to go to press, Mrs. Thomas received another letter written by Guy on July 8 saying that he could stand and take a few steps but that his wound pained severely when he was lying or sitting. It was at that time not doing as well as he thought it should. Expressions of sympathy and of honor for the youth who died for humanity have been heard from citizens of all classes. The young soldier was born near Iloa, Kansas in 1895, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred J. Thomas.


Oliver Phelps M.D.

HELPER - Lifetime resident of Helper, Oliver Wendell Phelps, M.D., pass away March 10, 2000.

He was born Sept. 2, 1921 to Alfred James and Elizabeth (Walker) Phelps in Spring Canyon.

He attended grade and high schools in Carbon County, worked in local coal mines and for the rialroad as a young man. He began his college career at Carbon College, which was interrupted by World War II. At that time he volunteered for the United States Navy, where he served as a pharmacy mate in the South Pacific Theater for four and one half years. Following the end of the war he returned to the Carbon County area to resume his college plans at Carbon College. From there he was accepted into Creighton University, Omaha, Neb., and later into Creighton School of Medicine. While in Omaha he met and later married his wife, Terry. He graduated as a medical doctor in 1953. He completed his internship at Saint Mary's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich. and University of Michigan in 1954. He then returned to Helper, to begin his general family medical practice. He remained in practice there until March 1997.

During his distinguished medical career he gained his Fellowship in Family Practice from the University of Colorado. He was active in community activities during which time he served as Chief of Staff of Carbon Hospital; member of the Board of Trustees for Hospital Corporation of America; member of the Utah State Medical Examiners Board of Trustees appointed by Governor Calvin L. Rampton; member of College of Eastern Utah Institutional Council appointed by governor Scott M. Matheson; Utah State Delegate Democratic Committee, member of the Knights of Columbus, and was the first Grand Marshal of the Saint Patrick's Day parade to be held in Carbon County. He was proud to be from Helper, Carbon County, and to be an Irish Catholic.

He is survived by wife, one son, six daughters, grand-children. Preceded in death by parents; brothers and sisters, Clark Phelps, Beatrice Jensen, Lola (Dude) Robertson, Irene Wilstead, James Phelps and Walker Phelps.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in celebration of the life of Dr. Phelps will be celebrated by the Reverend Erik J. Richtsteig, Wednesday, March 15, 10 a.m., St. Anthony's Catholic Church Helper. Vigil service Tuesday evening March 14, 7 p.m., St. Anthony's Church. Family will be at the church Tuesday and Wednesday one our prior to services. Committal services, Mountain View Cemetery, Helper, under the direction of Mitchell Funeral Home.

In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Helper, Utah.


Stanley Litizzette

HELPER - Stanley Victor Litizzette, age 73, died Feb. 21, 1994 in a Price hospital.

He was born Aug. 25, 1920 in Helper, the son of Victor E. and Vera A. Bottino Litizzette. He married Edith Breznick June 16, 1966 in Helper.

He was a member of the Roman Catholic Church and a lifelong resident of Carbon County. He graduated from Notre Dame University magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree, class of 1942. He then graduated third in his class with a doctor of juris prudence degree from Georgetown University in 1949. He was affiliated with the identification division, Federal Bureau of investigation, Washington D.C., 1942. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1943-1945. He was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar and the Utah Bar in 1949.

That same year, Stan opened a private law practice in Helper and was Helper city attorney from 1954-1976. He was a member of the Southeastern Utah Bar Association, serving as president in 1953, 1968 and 1974. He was general counsel for and a member of the board of directors of the Helper State Bank, 1955-1978. He served as chairman for the board of trustees for the Price River Water Improvement District from 1960-1978, and was PRWID's attorney from 1978-1994; he was also a member of the board of directors for the Carbon Water Conservancy District in 1966. He was chairman of the College of Eastern Utah Institutional Council in 1986 and a member from 1983-1987. He received an honorary doctorate degree in 1981 and an Eagle award in 1993 from CEU. He was chairman of the Carbon County Planning Commission from 1968-1972 and a member of the Utah Columbus Quincentary Commission, 1989-1992. He published A Catholic History of North Carbon County in 1974. He was also a member of the American Bar Association, Stella D'America lodge #77. Helper Post American Legion and was an honorary life member of the Price Elk's #1550 and had many other civic, fraternal and business affiliations.

He is survived by his wife, Helper; a son and spouse, three grandsons, and a sister.

Funeral Mass will be Saturday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Helper. Vigil service will be Friday evening at 7 p.m. at Mitchel Chapel. Family will be at St. Anthony's on Saturday one hour prior to Mass. Committal service, Mounatin View Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, family suggest contributions to St. Anthony Catholic Church, 5 S. Main, Helper, UT, 84526.


Elizabeth Jensen Bass

Sun Advocate - Thurs. December 17, 1953

Elizabeth Jensen Bass, 69, Price, died Tuesday at her home here following a long illness.

She was born on January 13, 1887, in Moroni, a daughter of Andrew and Julaine Jensen Jensen. (see note #1) She was married to Walter Scott Bass who preceded her in death by several years.

Survivors include two daughters, (see note #2) one son, seven grandchildren; three sisters, and two brothers.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of the Mitchell funeral home under the direction of ...

note #1- Elizabeth's father was Adreas Jensen, born May 3, 1841 in Heden, Denmark. He died July 1, 1927 in Ferron, Utah. Her mother, Julianne Marie Jensen, was born June 11, 1852 and died August 2, 1932 in Wellington, Utah.

note #2 - Eleanor Marie Bass Trower, daughter of Walter & Elizabeth Bass, was born August 20, 1920 in Price, died December 27, 1991 in Orem, Utah. She was cremated and her ashes scattered over West Desert.

This information submitted by Connie Cartwright.


Walter Scott Bass

Sun Advocate - Thursday, December 8, 1938
Walter Bass Dies Here on Thursday

Walter Scott Bass, a resident here for 45 years, died at his home last Thursday afternoon after a 15-months illness. He was 57 years old.

Funeral services were conducted Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the L.D.S. tabernacle here, interment being in the Price cemetery under direction of the Wallace mortuary.

Mr. Bass was born February 7, 1881, in Kansas, a son of Joseph Church and Harriett Tucker Bass. For 16 years of his 45 years here, he had been a painter. He was also engineer for Carbon High school for a time.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Jensen Bass; four sons and daughters, one brother, and two sisters.

This information submitted by Connie Cartwright.


Annie Krissman

Helper Journal - Thursday, May 5, 1955

Funeral services for Mrs. Annie Krissman, 61, who died Saturday after a short illness at her home, were held Tuesday at the Mitchell Funeral Chapel in Price.

James Charlesworth, Helper, member of the North Carbon Stake High Council, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officiated at the services.

Mrs. Krissman was born at Corenci, Yugoslavia, March 7, 1894, a daughter of Peter and Katherine Krizmanich. She married John Krissman, a long-time resident of Carbon county.

Survivors are her husband; three sons, a brother, and two brothers and a sister.

Burial was in the Mt. View Cemetery, under the direction of the Mitchell Funeral Home.


John S. & Anne Krasevec Krissman

Helper Journal - Thursday, April 7, 1960

Mr. and Mrs. John S. Krissman, former long-time residents of Helper, will observe their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday, April 10, with an open house at their home, 840 West 1850 North, in Provo. Friends and relatives are invited to call from one to eight p.m.

The honored couple were married April 9, 1910, at Price, Utah.

Mr. Krissman was born in Gorenci, Yugoslavia, April 13, 1890. He came to Utah, entering Helper for the first time in 1906. He was employed by the mining companies in Sunnyside from 1907 to 1910.

Anne Krasevec Krissman was born in Ironwood, Michigan, January 10, 1892. During her childhood she spent several years in Europe, then came to Carbon County in 1909. After her marriage to Mr. Krissman, they moved to Hiawatha to work in the mines there.

In 1916 the family moved to Montana. An injury sustained in a mine mishap there forced Mr. Krissman to leave the mining industry. They returned to Carbon County in 1931 and opened a shoe shop in Helper. They made their home in Bryner Street and later lived at 404 Canyon Street. Mr. and Mrs. Krissman served as secretary and treasurer of the Croation Fraternal Union 282 for 20 years. For several years Mr. Krissman was president of the Bryner-Ploutz Ditch Company. In 1955 they retired and moved to Provo, Utah.

They have four daughters,they have eight grand children and six great-grandchildren. The entire family will be in Provo to honor the couple on April 9 and 10.


Anne Krasevec Krissman

Bountiful - Anne Krasevec Krissman, 85, of 1145 South Westwood Road, died July 3, 1981 at the Bountiful Convalescent Center.

Born January 10, 1892 in Ironwood, Michigan to Matt and Mary Ramuschak Krasevec. Married John S. Krissman April 9, 1910 in Price, Utah. He died October 31, 1967. She lived in Bountiful for the last ten years and her previous residences have been Roundup, Montana, Helper and Provo, Utah. member Croation Fraternal Union #282 in Helper.

Survivors: four daughters, nine grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at noon at the Lindquist Bountiful Mortuary, with Rev. Don Proctor officiating. Friends may call at the mortuary one hour prior to the service. Interment: Provo City Cemetery.


Paul Krissman

EAST CARBON CITY - Paul Krissman, 65, died May 13, 1980. Born July 1, 1914, Sunnyside, Utah, to Frank and Katherine Fisher Krissman. Married Lillie May Hampton, Dec. 24, 1937, Price. Retired coal miner. Member, UMWA, Horse Canyon Local 8003. Survivors: wife, sons, daughter, nine grandchildren; and three brothers. Funeral services Friday, 1 p.m., Fausett mortuary Chapel, Price, where friends may call Thursday, 7-9 p.m. and also Friday prior to services. Burial, Price City Cemetery.


John Krissman

HELPER, Carbon County. John Krissman, 89, Helper, died January 12, 1977 in Orem rest home. Born January 1, 1888, Gorenci, Yugoslavia, to Martin and Marila Krizmanic. Married Annie Krissman, July 22, 1912, Hiawatha, Utah. She died April 30, 1955. Married Anna Kosmack, 1957. She died December 13, 1976. Retired UMWA coal miner, local No. 1682, 50-year member, SNPJ Lodge No. 2196. Survivors: two sons. Preceded in death by son, three stepsons, two stepdaughters, thriteen grandchildren, six great grandchildren and a brother. Funeral services Friday, 1 p.m., Mitchell Funeral Chapel, Price, where friends may call Thursday, and Friday prior to service. Burial, Mt. View Cemetery, Helper.


Anna Sodia Kosmack Krissman

HELPER, Carbon County - Anna Frances Kosmack Krissman, 73, Helper, died Dec. 13, 1976 in a Price hospital after a long illness. Born Aug. 3, 1903, Crested Butte, Colo., to Joseph and Mary Stulic Sodia. Married Antone Kosmack, Nov. 4, 1920, Price. He died Jan. 10, 1952. Married John Krissman, 1957 in Price. Member Catholic Church, SNPJ Lodge and American Fraternal Union. Survivors: husband; sons, daughters, step daughter, a daughter, Katherine Snyder, preceeded her in death; stepsons, 13 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren; and sisters. Funeral mass Thursday, 10 a.m., St. Anthony's Church. Holy Rosary will be recited Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Mitchell Funeral Chapel, Price, where friends may call Wednesday. Burial, Mt. View Cemetery, Helper.


Lorna Nyman Krissman

PRICE - Lorna Nyman Krissman, 56, Price, died October 19, 1976, in a Price hospital following a short illness. Born March 26, 1920, to Fritz and Edith Kesler Nyman. Married John Krissman, April 12, 1943, Pasadena, California. He died March 3, 1971. Member LDS Church. Survivors: parents and sister. Funeral services, Friday, p.m. Mitchell Funeral Chapel, Price, where friends may call Thursday, and Friday prior to services. Burial Mt. View Cemetery, Helper.


John Krissman

Krissman, 57, died March 3 in a Los Angeles hospital of a long illness. Born Sept. 16, 1913, Mohrland, Emery County, to John and Annie Krissman. Married Lorna K. Nyman, April 12, 1943, Pasadena, Calif. Veteran WW II. Plant manager, Bermite Powder Corp., Los Angeles. Survivors: widow; father, and brothers. Graveside services Saturday 2 p.m. Mountain View Cemetery, Helper. Frinds call Mitchell Funeral Home, Price, Saturday prior to services.


Rudy Paul Krissman

DRAGERTON - Word was received at Dragerton yesterday of the death of Navyman ECN2 Rudy T. Krissman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Krissman, Santa Clara, Calif., who was killed in Vietnam in a truck accident. This was his fourth tour of duty in Vietnam. No other details were available at this time. The Krissmans are former residents of East Carbon and the victim was a native of this county. Funeral services will be held in Price, the date to be announced.

DRAGERTON, Carbon County - funeral services for Rudy Paul Krissman, 29, Dragerton will be held Friday 2 p.m. Fausett Mortuary Chapel, Price, Carbon County. He died July 10, 1968, in Vietnam from injuries suffered in an accident. Born Sept 18, 1938, Price, a son of Paul and Lillie Hampton Krissman. Served three tours of duty in the armed forces. Member, LDS church. Survivors: parents, brothers and sisters. Friends call Thursday evening and Friday before services at mortuary. Military graveside services Price City cemetery.


John S. Krissman

PROVO - John S. Krissman, 77, Provo died of natural causes Oct. 30 in a Salt Lake Hospital. Born April 13, 1890, Yugoslavia, to Peter and Katarina Severenski Krizmanich. Married Anne Krasevec, April 9, 1910, Price, Carbon County. Member Croation Fraternal Union 282, Slovene National Benefit Society. Retired shoemaker. Former Helper resident. Moved to Provo, 1955. Surivors: widow; daughters; 9 grandchildren; 8 great-grand children; and a sister. Funeral Thursday 1 p.m., Berg Drawing Room Chapel, Provo, where friends call Thursday after noon. Burial Provo City Cemetery.


Samuel Coombs

Eastern Utah Advocate 13 August 1915
OLD TIME COAL MINER IS DEAD

With Utah Fuel Company for more than thirty Years

Samuel Coombs, Sr., Buried from the Twenty-Fourth Ecclesiastical Ward at Salt Lake City Wednesday of the Present Week - Had Worked at Scofield, Sunnyside and Castle Gate

Funeral services for Samuel Coombs Sr., who died Monday last at his home in Salt Lake City were held Wednesday afternoon last from the Twenty-Fourth Ward chapel in that city. Interment, followed at City cemetery. Deceased was 66 years of age at the time of his death which resulted from dropsy, after an illness of about three months. He was one of the pioneer coal miners of Utah, having been in the employ of the Utah Fuel company for more than thirty years. He was actively engaged during the period of opening and developing the mines at Castle Gate and other Carbon county coal properties. He was a native of South Wales and came to Utah in 1878, since which time he has resided in this state continuously.

Decedent is survived by his widow Mrs. Mary Coombs three daughters, Mrs. Mary Decker, Mrs. James Courtney both of Salt Lake City, and Mrs. H. W. Mallard of Black Hawk, three sons, John, Samuel, Jr. both of Salt Lake city, and Lewis of Black Hawk.

Samuel Coombs, Sr., was born in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, June 20, 1849 and was united in marriage to Mary Dolling in 1871. They came to the United States in 1878 with their two children and settled in Wales, Sanpete County.

From there they moved to Scofield in 1881, following the occupation of miner until about three months prior to his death.

He went from Sunnyside to Salt Lake City in 1904

This information was submitted by Lorna Coombs.


Mary Elizabeth Farish Coombs

Mary Elizabeth Farish Coombs, 89, 3556 - 27th East, died March 26, 1973, in a local nursing home of natural causes. Born February 26, 1884, Lehi, to Thomas and Ruth Whimpey Farish. Married John Coombs, August 20, 1903, Sunnyside. He died July 7, 1969. Member East Millcreek Ninth Ward. Survivors: son, daughter: John H., Mrs. Edgar W. (Mary) Barron, both Salt Lake City; seven grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren. Graveside services Thursday, 1 p.m., Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Friends call Wednesday 6-8 p.m., at 260 East South Temple.

This information was submitted by Lorna Coombs.


Katherine Evans Padfield Craig

The Sun Advocate, 29 may 1941 pg 7
Castle Gate Woman Dies in Hospital; Services Yesterday

Funeral services for Katherine Evans Padfield Craig, 62, who died in the Price City hospital Sunday at 12:20 a.m. were conducted yesterday in the Castle Gate public hall at 4:00 p.m. with Bishop W.D. Stapley officiating. Burial was in the Springville cemetery under the direction of the Thomas Funeral home of Price. Mrs. Craig died of pneumonia following an illness of 10 days. She was born at Mountain Hare, Merthys, South Wales, September 1, 1878, daughter of William Thomas and Mary Ann Lloyd Evans. She came to this country with her parents who were L.D.S. converts. The family settled first at Winter Quarters in 1889. Following the death of her first husband in the Winter Quarters ........ to Castle Gate in 1928 where she had lived since. She was active in Castle Gate LDS church work and has been an officer in the LDS Relief Society. Mrs. Craig is survived by her husband; four sons, Cleon Craig, Willard Craig; Jack Craig of Castle Gate, and Floyd E. Craig of Cedar City; three daughters, Mrs. Clyde Burnett of Salt Lake City, Mrs. John I. Holley of Mapleton and Mrs. R. L. Durrant of Castle Gate; three brothers, Talley Evans of Castle Dale, and John Isaac.



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