Treasured Heirlooms

What can you find out from heirlooms?

Toys and other collectibles:
Memorabilia can remind us of what was popular and the attitudes of the times. What did grandma play with?

Jewelry, silver and metalwork:
These items can signify social status, or they may be engraved with names or initials and dates. Sometimes these are given as awards, or may signify  an important event such as a birth of marriage.

Clothing:
A wedding dress or military uniform can show you your ancestor's size. Were they tall, thin, plump or short?

Keep a Research Log

From the moment you start searching for information it is important to have a method to track the sources and information you find.

If you don't you will probably find that you look in the same sources more than once. It happened to me repeatedly when I first got started. I was searching so many different places, but many of them sent me to the same primary source.

A research log is a form  that will be specific for one person, and you will write every source you look at for a particular person. Write the library call number or microfilm reel number. Write the name of a book, the location, etc.

You think you will remember what we looked at, but as we get deeper and deeper into a project, it becomes hard to remember all the sources.

Always carry your research logs with you, even if you think you are only going to just research on one person.  It seems like inevitably, you find information about other relatives - and you need a place to record that information.

Another option that someone suggested was to write a person's info on the front of an index card, and tuck it in your pocket to take with you.  Record all sources searched on the back of the card.

This sounded like a great idea, so I tried to get creative and use all pink cards for ancestors on my mom's side, and all blue for those on my dad's side.

I found them too small to record everything I needed, and they were too easy to lose so it was back to the Research Log.  Be sure to make many copies of the log so that you have one for each person you will be searching for information.

What was Happening in 1949?

1949

This is the year that my mother, Glenna, met my father, Allan.

What else was happening that year?

• Minimum wage is set at $.75 an hour
• South Pacific , a musical by Rogers and Hammerstein
• Records cut- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; Ghost Riders in the Sky; Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend; Mona Lisa
• New radio show - Dragnet
• T.V. shows - The Life of Riley; the Lone Ranger
• The New York Yankees defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers to take the World Series
• Silly Putty is introduced
• Tokyo Rose goes on trial

It helps you put things in perspective to see what was going on around family members as important personal milestones where happening.

William John Davies . . . continued

William and Sarah moved onto a farm in the Starline district with their five children and in 1910 Victor was added to the family and in 1916 Mary was born. Mary died in young childhood at the age of eleven and a half.

William Davies bought and farmed several parcels of land in the Starline district and was a very successful farmer from 1908 until his death in 1935.  Sarah and sons Glenn and Charlie farmed a few years, then Sarah moved to Claresholm, then on Christmas day in 1945 she passed away after several years of failing health

Janie married Harry Taitinger, a son of Nick Taitinger. George married Carrie McMurray of Cardston. Ivan married Rachel Lepard of Claresholm.  glen remained unmarried.  Charlie was married to Zelpha Newby of Lethbridge and victor married Mabel Johnson of Claresholm. There were nineteen grandchildren.

Ahnentafel Numbers

Ahnentafel - a German word that means "ancestral table".

It is quite easy to prepare an indexed list of all your ancestors by using the ahnentafel numbering system.

To do this you will assign each ancestor a unique identification number and move backwards in time.
If  you are the subject of the pedigree then assign yourself number 1, and your father will be number 2, your mother number 3, your paternal grandfather will be number 4, and your paternal grandmother will be number 7, etc.

The males are always assigned an even number. 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.
Identify the father by doubling the ancestor's number, then add one to that number to identify the mother.

By listing all numbers sequentially, you can prepare an index to your entire pedigree.

If you are using one of the many genealogy software programs they can compose the ahnentafel from the information you key in.

William John Davies

On November 25, 1896 William John Davies and Sarah Amanda Nowlin were united in marriage. They farmed in the Shelton district in Idaho, their nearest town being Idaho Falls, Idaho.  Mr. Davies was born in Wyoming in 1872 and Mrs. Davies was born in Utah in 1878.  Their were five children born to them in Idaho, Janie, George, Ivan, Glenn and Charlie.

In March 1908, Will decided to sell his farm and come along to Canada along with several other families, brother and sisters of Will and Sarah.  In early March all their belongings, such as machinery, household effects, livestock and, yes, the family, were loaded onto a train and headed out for Canada.

However, upon arriving in Great Falls, Montana, they found all their livestock had to go through inspection and had to be put through disinfection, so there was a delay of several days.

All the women, with the children, went to a hotel.  There were five or six women and somewhere around eighteen children in one hotel, so the children had a hilarious time, lots of noise and excitement with lots of mad patrons in the hotel.

One man was so mad because George Davies and Leland Nowlin knocked on this door; he opened the door and said he would kill them if they didn’t stop, so they went out on the street looking for a policeman.  While they were looking they ran into Charles Nowlin’s family, who had left a few days later and were looking for the group. They returned to the hotel with the boys.

In a few days however, it was discovered that Charlie Davies, seven months and Harold Nowlin, four months, had chicken pox. The babies were wrapped in their shawls, and all the women and children left for Claresholm by train with Jabus Nowlin, as leader and protector.

Upon arriving in Claresholm, the group was met by a brother of Sarah and Ernest Nowlin, from Carmangay, so the two men with the women and eighteen children marched from the station to the Wilton Hotel, with all who were able, carrying bags, suitcases, etc. As we went along the street, we heard people say, “There goes a bishop and his family”

To be continued . . ..

Thomas Fowler ---- Handcart Pioneer

My paternal great-great grandfather...

Emigration - Thomas Fowler was on the very first Perpetual Emigration Handcart Company (the Edmund Ellsworth .Co. of 1856).
He responded to the following call from the First Presidency of the LDS Church to "Come to Zion" from Worcestershire, England.  He submitted his one pound note as a deposit to the Church Elders (which her received back once arriving in the Utah Territory), and signed on the sailing ship "Enoch Train".

Thomas Fowler - my great, great-grandfather

Father: Samuel Fowler (12 March 1813 - 24 Dec 1893)
Mother: Ann Linton (21 Jun 1811 -  30 June 1891)

Individual Facts -
Birth - 28 May 1837 in Droitwich, Worcestershire, England
Baptism - 11 May 1853 in Droitwich, Worcestershire, England (age 15)
Emigration - 22 Mar 1856 in Liverpool, England (age 18)
Emigration Ship - 5 May 1856 in Enoch Train (age 18)
Pioneer Company - 26 Sept 1856 in Edmund Ellsworth company (age 19)
LDS Endow - 7 Aug 1857 in Fort Heriman, Utah (age 20)
Patriarchal Bl - 12 Feb 1858 in Fort Heriman, Utah (age 20)
Death - 14 Feb 1901 in Lehi, (Utah). Utah (age 63)
Burial - 16 Feb 1901 in Lehi, Utah County, Utah (age 63)
Obituary - 16 Feb 1901 in Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah (age 63)

Occupation - Law Enforcement (1871 to 1900)
Description - Medium sized build with dark hair and a large handlebar mustache most of his life.

George Davies --- by Caroline Davies

This was page 405 of an unidentified book.  I only have a copy of this page.  But since my grandma wrote it, I have to include it, even without the source.

The George Davies family came to Carmangay district in April, 1928.  We had two daughters, Shirley Maxine, two years old, and Glenna Elaine, three months. We bought the Stanley Robinson farm of three quarters, seven and one-half miles west and south of Carmangay. It was a real struggle the first few years -- so much wind and the soil was so light, so had lots of soil drifting and I guess that's why they called it the dirty 30's.

1930's tractor

We farmed with horses for a number of years, later we were able to buy another quarter section joining our south quarter from Jack Gillespie. We were able to sell our horses (although many tears were shed) for a second-hand tractor and later a Johnson blade and that was the answer to soil drifting.

Russian thistle

Grasshoppers were terrible for a number of years and took so much of our time spreading bait. Russian thistles were also a menace and we used to burn them in the spring.

grasshopper

We had to haul out drinking water in a stone-boat in barrels, baling it by hand for our own use and the livestock, later getting a pump.

gopher

Gophers were plentiful too -- the municipality offered one cent a tail so we bought traps and I trapped for days.  Earl Blaine was teaching school at Prairieville and boarded at our place -- he used to shoot the gophers and let me have their tails.  I made $7.50  -- so that was quiet something!

We took in the Christmas concerts at all schools for miles around and also went over to the Starline every two weeks to dance to Mackie Russell's orchestra.  We didn't have a babysitter those days so we took the girls tucked in the bottom of the buggy.

Glenna went to Burwash School when she was five years old to help keep the school open as they needed six pupils.  Miss Hazel McAllister was the teacher.  Pupils at that time were Pearl Russel, Eileen and Phyllis  Simmons, Helen Anderson, Shirley and Glenna. After the school closed the girls went to Ryckman.  Josie Hubka was teacher. They went to Rykeman for a number of years and then were vanned to Carmangay.

During the country school days dances were held in one school or the other every week, and those were the best times ever.  Everyone was welcome. Ladies brought lunch and everyone enjoyed themselves.  We had the best stampedes at Carmangay for years and people came from many miles away. Agricultural Fairs were an annual event, also Bobbie Burns concerts.

coal bucket

On January 31, 1939 our only son, Murray George came to our house and our family was complete.  We hauled coal from east of Carmangay and Champion as we had only coal stoves and furnaces.  What a treat when we could finally afford a wind-charger, 32 volt electric plant.  We got plenty of wind and could really enjoy some of the comforts of living.  Had my first power washer when I was 46 years old. Later we got Calgary Power. First telephone June 4, 1945.

Why Should You Tell Your LIfe Story -

Paper and Pen

By writing your story you find what has real meaning in your life.

Laptop

Struggles and hardships, as well as our achievements and blessings teach us our life lessons.  Together with your experience, your strengths and your weakness and all your hopes and dreams help to make a unique story that is "YOU"!

Manual typewriter

To share with others who you are and what you are all about, and especially what you believe in is passing on some very valuable personal history.

Caroline McMurray Davies

I found this short bio on my grandmother- I don't know what it was written for, but it is just a short, concise piece:

Caroline McMurray was the 9th child of James S. McMurray and Sarah Orr. She was born on march 11, 1902 in Orton, Alberta, Canada. Her parents and seven siblings moved from Idaho in march.  It was cold and windy, they had no house, and lived in a tent for a few weeks.  Being very windy in March many times her parents and older brothers would stand outside and hold down the tent poles.

Carrie, as she was called, also had a younger sister named Lila. They were the only ones born in Canada.

When Carrie was nine her mother died of a rare disease. Lila was only four months old. Carrie was very sad and lonesome. Her older sisters helped take care of her and little Lila. Before her mother died, Carrie would stand at her side with a fan to help keep the flies from bothering her.

She attended school to sixth grade. She lived with some of her older siblings to help take care of their children. Late she worked for several different families helping with housework.  While she was doing that kind of work she met George Davies and they were married.

About 18 months after George died in 1957 she attendend Nursing School in Calgary and became a successful Nursing aid and worked at three different hospitals until she retired.

She died June 1, 1981 after being ill with Parkinson's disease.

Technology for Family History

Went to a Family History Fair yesterday in Elk Grove, California.
In the class on technology, Mr. Weber taught that the only technology you need to be successful is a pencil and paper.


But- with the enhanced technology starter kit it makes it a lot easier:

Family Group Sheet

Research Log

Pedigree Chart

• Pencil
• Blank Family Group Sheet
• Blank Research Log
• Blank Pedigree Chart

 

 

This is really all you need to get started!  AMAZING!

Last Names - Middle Names

John Stevenson 1806-1862 - married to Mary Vickers 1814-1867
father of
Elizabeth Stevenson 1838-1914 - married to James Hutton McMurray
mother of
James Stevenson McMurray 1863-1948

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

John McMurray 1798-1853
husband of 
Mary Hutton 1801-1896
mother & father of
James Hutton McMurray 1829-1919- married to Elizabeth Stevenson   
father of
James Stevenson McMurray 1863-1948

Friday Family Story...Embroidery

Beginner stitches

Some intermediate stitches

Grandma Caroline McMurray Davies -

My grandma taught me embroidery stitches.  She gave me some fabric, and embroidery hoop, some needles and some embroidery floss. With the exception of the hoop, it all fit into a Whitman chocolate box. She taught me some basic stitches, and then got me started on my first project, a pink toaster cover with a picture to embroider on the side. I did pretty good - I thought, but when I needed to take out a stitch I ended cutting into the fabric, so the little bear on the side had to have a patch job in the middle of his nose.  The rest of the embroidery was quite good for a beginner. Later I learned more stitches, and did embroidery work on some pillow cases, several table clothes, and even some pictures for the wall.
It was really special to learn from my grandma as my mother didn't do much handi-work. She did her creating with her sewing machine.(I am glad my mom taught me to sew with a machine)

.

Douglas Bradshaw Fowler - A Photography Hobby

Grandpa Fowler took and developed his own photographs. I always thought of it as just a hobby he had.  However, when I read his life sketch that he wrote it tells of how he first started to develop film.

" In 1912, at age 14 he commenced as an apprentice in Pharmacy. An apprentice was only paid $10 a month. He had to find some way to pay his way through University.  He took on the extra job of Night Operator on the telephone exchange that was in the drug store.  He opened the store at 8 a.m. and got an hour for lunch and dinner and closed the drug store at 8 p.m., and went on the switchboard at 9 p.m. until 7 a.m.  .  He had a cot by the switchboard and could get some sleep between 1 a.m. and about 5 a.m.using a buzzer on the board to wake him up for calls. After he gave up the switchboard, he fixed up a dark room at home and developed and printed the films that were left in the drug store - often working in the dark room until 2 or 3 AM.  In this way and with some help from his  parents he was able to complete his University and graduated with the second class that the University of Alberta graduated.  He was then a Registered Pharmacist at the age of 18."

One of his philosophies of life - "one can accomplish anything one makes up their mind they can accomplish".

Pony Express Rider - Thomas Owen King Jr.

My father: Allan King Fowler     1928-1971
His mother (my grandmother): Louise King     1898-1987
Her father (my great-grandfather): Thomas Owen King     1869-1946
His father ( my great-great-grandfather)  Thomas Owen King Jr.   1840-1921

Experiences of Thomas Owen King Jr.

Pony Express Rider

In March 1860, T.O. King was employed to ride the pony express.  The first work he performed was with several other men distributing horses to the stations for one hundred miles east of Salt Lake City.  He was left at the mouth of echo Canyon to ride to Bear River -- forty miles distance -- when the rider from the west reached that point.  

He started on his first trip 7 April, 1870.  He was 20 years old that year.  Mounting his pony at 12 noon, he rode twenty miles, when a yell brought out a man from a station with a fresh horse.  He went five miles further and encountered a heavy snow with only a narrow path.  He lost the path, but recovered it and got through on the scheduled time. George Leonard, the next rider had given out and King had to double back.


"My longest ride,"  he writes, was from Salt Lake to Hanis Fork, 140 miles and return the next day; making the trip in 13 hours and I remember I went out walking that evening with my best girl.  I don't know how far I could have ridden in those days, with just time to eat a little.. I never tired."

When the semi-weekly express was put on, I rode from Salt Lake to Bear river -- 80 miles -- and opposite me rode Henry Worley, going and coming in the night.  Often the hostler would ask me where I met Worley, and I would say I hadn't even seen him.  It was the same with him; we were both asleep when we passed each other but our horses were going the same old gait.

The Pony Express, a system of transportation which employed ponies in relays, was started by private parties in 1860.

The ponies employed in the service were splendid specimens of speed and endurance.  There were fed and housed with the greatest care, for their mettle must never fail the test to which it was put.  Ten miles distance at the limit of the animals pace was extracted from him and he came darting into the station flecked with foam, nostrils dilated and every hair reeking with perspiration while his flanks thumped at every breath.


The case of letters carried made a bundle no longer than an ordinary tablet.  Twenty pounds was the limit of weight of mail carried.

The pony rider was usually a little bit of a  man, brimful of spirit and endurance.. No matter what time of day or night his watch came on, and not matter whether it was winter or summer, raining, or snowing, hailing or sleeting or whether his 'beat' was level straight road or crazy trail over mountain craggs  and precipices or whether it lead through peaceful regions or with hostile Indians, he must always be ready to leap into the saddle and be off like the wind!


There was no idling time time for a pony rider on duty.  He rode 50 miles without stopping, by daylight, moonlight, or the blackness of darkness.


The riders dress was thin, and fitted close; he carried not arms - he carried nothing that was not absolutely necessary for even the postage on his literary freight was worth $5.00 a letter.  His horse was stripped of unnecessary weight also.  He wore a little wafer of a racing saddle with no visible blanket.  He wore light shoes or none at all.


The stage coach traveled about 100 to 125 miles a day (24 hours), while the pony express riders about 250 miles.

Sidetracked by Douglas Bradshaw Fowler

Sidetracked by my Grandpa Fowler

I spent a long time planning which ancestor I would research first.  I chose to do my first family history search about my maternal grandmother, Caroline McMurray Davies. She was a young, girl who grew up in southern Alberta, Canada,circa 1930.  Her family was of Scottish descent, and she married a young man whose family ancestors hailed originally from Wales.

I have enjoyed my memories of my dear grandmother, but as I search, I remember more. Questions come to mind, some I will have to research.  Luckily, I can still ask my mother for some of the answers, and I need to do that while her memories are still accurate.

However, today I got a little sidetracked.  I was moving some journals from one shelf to another and came across a wonderful picture of my paternal grandfather, Douglas Bradshaw Fowler. I knew him as my grandpa, but he was also a family doctor in southern Alberta, Canada.  The untold story is that he went to Pharmacy School at University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Alberta to become a Pharmacist, but after doing that work for a while, he left his wife and young family to go to Ontario to go to medical school and later returned as a Doctor.

I need to do some more research  to get all the details, so I will try to not get too sidetracked, but I need to find out all about it.

A Book of Family Stories

I think it would be wonderful to have a book full of family stories that could sit in the living room on a table to be picked up and read at any time.  These stories could remind us of the sacrifices that our ancestors made through their lives.

Sacrifices they made, moves they endured,  hardships that helped them become the people they became. Those who joined the Mormon church against the wishes of their parents, those who walked across the plains as part of a handcart company.

Family ancestors who moved their family to Canada and then lived in a tent for two years- and it is cold in Canada. Ancestors who were in Nauvoo, Illinois  and met Emma Smith shortly after her husband was martyred.

Nauvoo, Illinois

A I sat here tonight reading many stories, I feel blessed that my mother gathered many of these stories and typed them up and then they were duplicated on a mimeograph machine (now days they can be typed on a computer, and saved or set up in a desktop publishing system and produced into a book).

This is why I started my quest for family history  and stories and why I call  it a "gold mine". Nothing could be worth more to me than this as it helps me know where I came from and what my family sacrificed for the truth of the gospel.

As time goes on, these stories will also be made available on this blog for all to read and appreciate.

Saturday Shop ... Supplies

Like many we work all week and only have Saturdays to do the shopping. I can see that this family history search project that I am starting on will need a few more supplies.  So, today I bought some hanging file folders and some tote bins to start keeping everything organized.

Hang out at a Cemetery?

You can find so much information on a visit to a cemetery. Some folks like to plan their vacations around checking out cemeteries for birth and death dates.

You may want to pack a lunch and have a picnic surrounded by your ancestors. Let your kids see how special this can be, not morbid at all.

Once again I suggest having a tote bag already packed for the occasion.  Make sure this tote bag is a bright color- just not green or brown.  Why? You will probably get so distracted as you go from grave marker to grave marker that you will leave your tote bag somewhere and if it is brightly colored it will  be easier to find.

Another suggestion is to have it waterproof so the contents will be protected if the ground it wet or snowy.

• notepad, pens and pencils
• research notebook with pedigree charts and family group sheets
• apron with pockets for carrying items as you go from tombstone to tombstone
• knee pads like you use in the garden- I always have to kneel down closer to see something on the tombstone
• garden shears to cut away overgrown grass
• little whisk broom to remove dirt and grass
• sunscreen- you will always end up staying out there longer than you planned
• bug repellent
• wet wipes- to wash your dirty hands before you eat
• digital camera
• spray bottle with water- you might need to wet the stone a bit to make the image show better for photographing

Gravestones are historical artifact. Don't do anything to harm them, and don't try to clean them.

Don't forget to take your camera!

Grandma Davies Sugar Cookies

Recipe for Grandma Davies Sugar Cookies

3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter
1 egg
1 cup sour cream

Mix the dry ingredients together.  Work in the butter like pie crust (use a pastry cutter or two knives).  Make a well in the center and drop in 1 egg, add 1 cup sour cream. ( may need a little more, but just enough to make a soft dough.  Roll 1/8 inch thick, cut, sprinkle with sugar.
                 
Bake 8 to 10 minutes in 375 degree oven until light straw color. Cool on counter.

I Had a Grandma Who Baked

It totally goes without saying that if I am going to research and report about my Grandma Davies I have to tell about her fabulous, famous, Sugar Cookies.  Maybe they were only famous with her grandchildren, but to us they were (and still are) the only true sugar cookie.

She rolled them out on the counter and cut the big round cookies with her cookie cutter...but one time when she was visiting us and she didn't have her cookie cutter with her, she took a can of fruit (we ate the fruit), took the top and bottom off the can and made sure there were no sharp edges and then she used it for her cookie cutter.  She told me that before she got a cookie cutter she had always used a can for cutting out the cookies.

Oral History Interview

When you are planning a trip to visit relatives and you want to do some oral history interviews here are a few tips that worked for me. I like to have a bag all packed and hanging inside the front coat closet, then I don't have to look all over for the things I need and run the risk of forgetting something very important.

• digital or cassette tape recorder (bring a microphone it there is not one built in)
• AC cord
• supply of cassettes if using a tape recorder
• labels for the tapes
• extension cord
• extra batteries
• notepad and pens
• list of questions, or a book on oral history with sample questions
• address book to note relatives' names and addresses the person you interview may give you
• a research notebook with pedigree charts and family group sheets
• watch or cellphone so you don't overstay your welcome (one hour is a good amount of time for an interview)
• photocopies of any documents you've gathered to show the relative- they may be good conversation starters
• photographs that your need to identify
• magnifying glass, in case the relative needs to have the picture amplified
• cell phone or other digital camera to take picture of items or documents that cannot leave that home

A lap-top is also really good to have when you go to an oral history interview.

James Stevenson McMurray 1863-1948

James Stevenson McMurray - my great-grandfather, was married to Sarah Ann Orr.  She was the third child of Richard and Caroline Orr.

My mother, Glenna Davies had these memories of him: "Grandpa McMurray made cedar chests for his daughter Carrie and Lila and for some of his granddaughters.  He didn't come to Carmangay very often, but one time he came and built some steps on the front porch ... before that time we had had quite a struggle to get up on the porch. Grandpa was a quiet man, but was always up early. He liked to exercise and he tried to eat healthy and nutritious food."

In 1946, Mable McMurray Hull helped Grandfather McMurray by scribing this short history.  These were his words:

"I was born at Grantsville, Utah, U.S.A., 13 July 1863 and lived with my parents until 1870 when they were called to settle Bear Lake Co. at Liberty, Idaho.  I also lived there with them.

In 1901, I moved to Canada.  There was an impelling feeling that prompted me to come to Canada.  Josiah Orr and family, Alfred Sillitoe, George Sillitoe, and J.T. Derricott all came together. We sent a delegation to Cardston- to Stake President Card and he told us there was not better place to settle so we got busy and settled where Orton is today. I had three quarter sections of land and had a struggle to pay for them.  We had good crops till  1909, and in 1910 it was very dry and only summer fallow was worth cutting.  I figured on 12,000 bushels and got 1,200.  In 1911, it was very wet, froze and rusted.  All my children except for my two youngest were born n the United States.

I buried my first wife, Sarah, on 28 August 1909. she died of blood poisoning brought on by Erysipelas.  Lila was the baby, just 4 months old. Lottie was about 17 and the oldest living girl.  She helped by looking after things.  There were 9 children at home."

. . . more later

The Move to Canada

Richard Orr and Caroline Derricott Orr

After 8 years of farming and railroading in Sanpete County they moved to a farm at Liberty, Bear Lake Country, Idaho, located on a land later called Sharon.  While they were here, two more children were borne: Mary Rebecca, born  November 9, 1883 and William Ernest born April 19, 1886.

While in Liberty, Idaho they became more active in the church and had 5 of their children baptized on the same day - June 3, 1883.

In the 23 years they lived in this area they raised sheep and cattle, grew some grain and lots of hay.

Then they moved to Canada where some of their sons had moved a few years previously.

Sailing on "The Monarch of the Sea"

In 1861, Richard Orr and Caroline Derricott sailed from England to the New York harbor. They were married on board the ship in the harbor, June 18, the day before they docked.

  A ship similar to "The Monarch of the Sea"

There are several first-hand  accounts from other passengers on "The Monarch of the Sea".  When I read them I try to visualize what it was like for them as they traveled.

"At Liverpool we embarked on the Monarch of the Sea, a very old and rickety ship and entirely unseaworthy.  The sea was so rough and stormy that the waves washed over the top of the deck. When the people were frightened the captain said. "We'll land in New York all right.  We've got Mormons on board and we always get through when we have Mormons."  On its return voyage The Monarch of the Sea, loaded with cargo, sank, but the captain and the crew were saved.

We were on the ocean six weeks.  All of the Mormon families traveled in the steerage. the voyage was very rough.  I can remember the chest sliding and banging from side to side across the wooden floor and all of the other chests and trunks with it.  I can also remember my mother sitting and clasping her hands, praying that we would get to America in safety.  She was a very devout and courageous woman.   We slept in bunks on the sides of the boat.  In the center we children played during the daytime and ate our meals.  Our food consisted of hard tack and a little bacon and coffee.  We used our chests and trunks as tables when we ate our food.  Sometimes the captain would be kinder than usual and send down a little soup."

From -
Alma Elizabeth Miner Felt. Journal, An Enduring Legacy. Volume 7. Salt Lake City: Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, 1984

Sanpete County and the Sanpete Valley Railroad

Circa 1877

Richard and Caroline Orr moved their family to Sanpete county.  They homesteaded two miles east of Moroni and the boys ran the farm while Richard ran a freight train on the Sanpete Valley  Railroad.
three more children were born here: Oliver, January 1, 1875, Joseph, January 8, 1877, and Bertrand Oscar, April 28, 1880.

At this time the nearest church was at Moroni, Utah, and the family didn't get there too often.Caroline began to worry about the children growing up without the benefit of the gospel which she and her husband had left England to keep.  They began to make active plans to get the family closer to church activities and family relations.

When the 10th child arrived, Arthur, born July 13, 1882, they sent a letter of announcement to one of Caroline's brothers (Charles Derricott) in Liberty, Idaho.  He wrote and advised them to come to this area as there were several church in the area as the church had been colonizing this part of Idaho along the Bear River.

still more to come...

Salt Lake City, November 1862

Richard Orr and Caroline Derricott Orr arrived in Salt Lake City in November 1862.  After a year they moved to Morgan county in Weber Valley and rented a farm and went into farming.  By now, they had 2 children.  Thomas Charles Orr, January 16, 1863 and  Elizabeth Caroline born on June 1, 1865.  Three more children were born in Morgan; Sarah Ann Orr, December 29, 1867 (my great-grandmother), Rosa Lee Orr, January 28, 1869, and Josiah Orr, September 11, 1870.  He worked for Union Pacific Railroad, and then the Utah Southern Railroad.

Richard was the engineer on the train that hauled rock from the quarry into Salt Lake City to help build the temple. They moved into Salt Lake again where the sixth child was born, Richard Orr on September 30, 1872.

President Brigham Young called him to go down to Kanab.  It was about this time that their surname was changed from Hoar to Orr by Utah Legislation for the good of his daughters growing up.

more tomorrow...

Sarah Ann Orr, born  December 29, 1867  was my great-grandmother.

The "Monarch of the Sea" and beyond...

Caroline's parents wanted their children to go to Zion as they already had one daughter in Zion who had gone across the plains with a handcart company.

In May 1861, Richard and Caroline set sail for America on a sailing vessel called the "Monarch of the Sea".  They were married June 18, 1861 the day before they landed in New York Harbor.  they were married by Elder Jabus Woodward; he had presided over the group on this voyage. they stayed a year in New York to make some money for their journey to Zion.  In spring 1862, they made their way to Winter Quarters, Florence, Nebraska. In May 1862, they hired out to Wagon Master John R. Young.  Richard was to act as teamster to four yoke of cattle wagons of merchandise from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake city for the John R. Murdoch Company.  Caroline also had to drive a team.

more to come....

Caroline Orr's parents - 
Charles Derricott 1803-1885
Mary Ashley 1805-1885

Richard Charles Orr's parents - 

Charles Hoar 1813-1887
Elizabeth Webb 1816-1841

Caroline Derricott - Grandmother to my Grandmother

Caroline Derricott, was born October 1, 1843 at Oakengates, Shropshire, England.  She was from a family of 12 children.  Her father was Charles Derricott who was born in England in 1806.

Caroline was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when she was a young girl.  Those who joined the Mormon church at that time were baptized at night because the people were so bitter against those who joined.

The family moved to Neuslain, Willinghall, England due to persecution.

She met her intended husband Richard Hoar, when she was about 18 years old.  Richard was considering going to America to Zion so he got consent of Caroline's parents to go with them and they would be married in Zion.  At this point in time it was not possible to marry anyone outside of your own class or title and so he would not have been able to marry Caroline in England.

My grandmother- Caroline McMurray 
Her mother - Sarah Ann Orr  (my great-grandmother)

Her grandmother - Caroline Derricott (my great-great grandmother)


to be continued...

Sickness and other Health Conditions

Thinking about my grandfather having diphtheria as a child caused me to think about other health conditions that my parents or grandparents had to deal with during their lives.

My grandpa Fowler (Douglas Bradshaw Fowler) died of leukemia in 1965. He suspected and diagnosed it in himself.
My grandma Fowler (Louise King Fowler) died in 1987- I don't know why.

I remember my grandma Davies (Caroline McMurray Davies) had Parkinson's  Disease, that eventually landed her in a care home where she lived until she died in 1981.
My grandpa Davies (William George Davies) died in 1957 when I was 4 years old. I think he died of a heart attack- I better check my facts.

Illnesses of my Mother - I remember hearing about some bad rash she had on both hands and she had to be taken to the doctor in Lethbridge for treatment, and had both hands bandaged and it was a really problem when she needed to use the washroom.

Illnesses of my Father- (Allan King Fowler)               

Diphtheria in 1930's

In the early 20th century diphtheria outbreaks evoked fear around the world. Until the 1930s it was one of the most common killers of children in Canada and the United States.

I found this quote on the site from the Canadian Medical Association and talked to my mom to see if she knew anyone who had diphtheria. It jogged her memory and she told me that she remembered hearing that her father, William George Davies had had diphtheria when he was a child and even missed a year of school to recover. Her dad was very close lipped about many things so she had not heard this from him, but it was shared from her Aunt Sis (her dad's sister). She wished now that she had asked more questions.

Canadian Medical Association

"When the folks went to town..."

This was a story about  my mom, Glenna Elaine Davies.   This story takes place when she was a young girl, but old enough to stay home alone when her folks had to go to town.

Occasionally, George and Carrie Davies would go to town and leave the girls home. One time Glenna was trying to keep herself entertained and was doing a little snooping around.  Her house didn't really have any closets or built in cupboards either upstairs or on the main floor. 

However, in the living room, there was a window with a window seat. Many parts of the year the family didn't even use the living room as it was too cool or cold.

A "store set" similar to this.

She went in the living room and decided to lift up the window seat lid to see what was there. Inside the window seat she found an amazing site. An entire little store set, very authentic and, just like you would find at the store. There was even a little cash register to ring up sales.

This was an absolute treasure!

For the next few months, every time her folks went to town, Glenna would go into the living room and play with the little store set. There was never any thought in her mind about why they were there or whose they were, it was just a huge bonus to have them there to enjoy.


A few months passed, and then it was Christmas morning.  

Her folks were so excited as they had saved and scrimped to be able to purchase a store bought gift of a little store set. Glenna  was not very excited at all, by now these were well-played with and there was no novelty about this gift. 

Friday Family Story . . . What is a "Beef Ring"?

My Grandpa Davies (William George Davies), had several brothers. I only knew one of them, Uncle Glen. When I was a little girl growing up in Edmonton I remember Uncle Glen coming to visit us. .
But this story takes place way before my times. 

I asked my mom how they had meat in the olden days when they didn't have a fridge. She told me that  when she was a kid she saw her mom can meat, just like when she canned vegetables- except that it took at least three hours to get it processed correctly. 

Her mom also had a 20 gallon crock with salt preserving the pork or ham. If she needed a bit of meat she just lifted the lid and pulled out the leg and sliced off a hunk.

Another way they got meat was through a "beef ring".   A "beef ring"  consisted of several farmers who raised beef . Uncle Glen would butcher a cow that belonged to one of the members of the ring. He would cut it up and all those in the ring came by his place to get a share of the beef.  Sometimes if my mom's family were visiting  he would give them a roast or some stew meat.

Killiing Turkeys for Market - Carrie and George Davies

"Every year we had some turkeys, and usually about ten survived the skunks and coyotes. We would usually keep one for Christmas and then decide when we could take the others to Lethbridge to sell.  Two days before we would go to sell them, George would slit their tongues to kill them.  They were then hung by their feet so all the blood drained out.  Then they were laid out on the kitchen table to get all the feathers out.then we laid them on some newspaper on the living room floor. There was no heat in the living room, so it was pretty cold in there. Over night they would freeze.  The next day we took the frozen turkeys to market to sell them."

Write on . . . Wednesday?

McGill University

I love lists and projects so this is what I decided to do today- I am going to make a list of high schools and colleges that any of my ancestors attended.

Then I want to write or call at least one of the institutions to  find out what I need to do to get a transcript.

I think it would be really cool to actually have a transcript from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada where my grandfather (Douglas Bradshaw Fowler) went to Medical School.

University of Alberta, Edmonton 

Or a copy of my dad's transcript from University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Canada where he (Allan King Fowler) went to Pharmacy School.

Let's see what I come up with. . . 

Tuesday Task . . . . . Note Taking

You will find yourself taking notes as you start researching and discovering new and exciting info about your family and their history.

If you notice that you are actively writing stories, and gathering  information and facts about your family - then that's the time to start paying attention to your notes.  You should develop consistent and systematic note taking methods, and be sure you are using the right materials.

It is only natural to grab whatever is handy to start taking notes when an occasion arises that you can get some family information.

 I did it all wrong - I phoned my mom with every intent of asking her many questions about her mother. I wanted to know what it was like in the day-to-day. I guess I wasn't sure how much information I would  get and how many questions I would ask. I didn't even really have a set of questions to ask. I just planned to let the discussion go wherever it was going to go .  I didn't even have a notebook or pen handy.  Once she started to talk I had to grab a used spiral notebook (bad, bad), and a pen that kept skipping,          

Learn from my mistakes - Don't use a spiral notebook, Don't use an old "Big Chief" tablet - they have too much acid and it is good to try to use acid-free or alkaline-based paper. Don't use the back of old envelopes or other scratch paper, stick with good quality 8 1/2" x 11" paper.
Don't use metal clips or rubber bands in with the material you will be keeping for a long time, and don't use transparent tape.

TASK .... Think about note taking and where and how you are going to file your notes:

• only write about one family member on a sheet of paper
• note your source first
• at the top of the page write the name of the family that the notes will pertain to 
• if notes need to go in more than one file, photocopy them to make a second page or put a cross-reference note in the second folder
• since you may need to photocopy your notes it is good to use black ink or s soft-lead pencil (blue ink or hard-lead pencil may not photocopy well)

Monday Mine Cart - Glossary A - B

Here is a little mine cart - bringing you some information---

Let's get started with some Family History terms- it will make it easier if you become conversant with these definitions:

• Abstract - summary of important points of a text of document
• Administrator - person appointed to manage or divide the estate of a deceased person, especially one who died without a will, feminine: administratrix
• Alien - noun: a foreigner, citizen of another country; verb: to transfer property to another
• Ancestor - person for whom you are descended; a forefather; a forbear
• Ancestry - all forebears of a person, from parents backwards in time
• Archives- records of a government, organizations, institution, the place where such records are stored     
• Attest - to affirm: to certify by signature or oath   

• Banns - public announcement of an intended marriage
• Bequeath - to give personal property to a person in a will, noun: bequest
• Bond - a binding agreement to perform certain actions or duties or be required to pay a specified sum of money as a penalty; at different times rewired of estate administrators or executors, grooms, certain elected officials. A bondsman, often a relative, acted as surety.
• Bounty land - land promised as reward or inducement for enlisting in military service

Roses for Glenna

According to a book about flowers-

ROSES: The person who loves roses is sentimental and good-hearted. They will hold onto cherished memories and share stories of the past with children who always seem to look up to them.  Because of this, elders respect that person and the characteristics of what you have become, and what you stand for.  That person will  have an active imagination and will love the natural beauty of the things around them .

My mother, Glenna, loved roses, and she is my inspiration for holding onto the cherished memories, and for wanting to share the stories of the past.

When I was born, my dad, Allan King Fowler brought a water globe with some fresh roses in it to the hospital for my  mom - I guess that was instrumental in the subconscious passing of  the love of cherished memories and family stories to me.

Saturday's Story . . . more about Carrie & George

When George and Carrie Davies moved to their own farm it was their great adventure. They bought two sections of land - there is 240 acres to a section.  He was going to be a dry-land farmer and grow wheat. (as a dry-land farmer you count on rain to water your crops)

The house was two miles south and five miles west of Carmangay. They said the house faced east, but actually east was the direction they came out of the house because they came out the kitchen door. The house was small, but there was a barn with a fenced corral, and a shed and a chicken coop.

Carrie was very excited about the chicken coop.  George told her that she could sell any eggs over what they needed  and use the money any way she wanted. She would also be able to sell the extra cream and butter.
Another opportunity for Carrie to earn some cash money was to trap and kill gophers, the government paid a penny for each gopher tail.

Looking off her back porch Carrie could see the chicken coop about half a block away - she called the chickens "her girls".

She made plans for a garden down the west side of the house, along the edge of the road.  She was going to plant beans, peas, cucumbers, beets, carrots, corn, dill weed and lots of potatoes. George would dig a potato pit which would to store the potatoes. A potato pit is dug down deep and the pit is then lined with boards and a there is a ladder for climbing down into the pit.  The pit is covered by boards and will store many bags of potatoes to keep them fed through the long, Canadian  winter.

Carrie really enjoyed working in the garden early on the summer days, before it got too hot. After working in the garden for a few hours she would come into the house and make breakfast for George.  His favorite breakfast was a steak, bread and milk gravy; but most times his breakfast was hot cereal, usually oatmeal and hot chocolate.

Caroline - the Garden and the Chickens

Carrie loved helping Mrs. Davies with the garden and with the chickens. She enjoyed weeding the garden early in the morning before it go too hot.  She could be alone outside, and could daydream about George, and how wonderful it was when he kissed her. She daydreamed about the possibility of George and her having a place of their own someday.

She took good care of the chickens and also learned how to chop off the head and pluck the feathers and get that chicken in the pot quickly.

The Davies seemed to all be waiting and watching to see how quickly she learned everything and before you could "shake a stick"   they were getting married; George was 27 and Carrie was 23. They lived in a two room house north east  of Claresholm for a few years until they could buy a farm.

Friday Family Story . . . Carrie McMurray - Working

After staying at her different brother's homes and having the opportunity to see different ways of doing things she was feeling rather grown-up and felt she was ready to be out on her own.

Growing up in southern Alberta there were not  many jobs available for a young girl who wanted to earn some money. Many girls hired themselves out as a helper to a farmer's wife. A hired girl could be the one taking care of the children, or doing the laundry, helping with cooking or even taking care of the animals.  They could usually count on making about one dollar a week.  During this time a dollar of cash money was worth a lot.  It meant they could use the money for the necessities of life instead of going without or using credit. No one ever really wanted to go into debt because there was too much chance that they would not have the money to pay when it came due.

Carrie got a job on the cook wagon for a threshing crew.  She had to provide three meals a day for a bunch of hungry men.  This was really hard work, but she learned a great deal and then was ready for another new adventure.

The next opportunity/adventure came in the chance to work on the Davies farm located east of Claresholm in the Starlight District in southern Alberta. The work on that farm was just as hard as at my own home, but the Davies boys were all so handsome: George, Ivan, Glen, Charlie, and Victor. the older sister, Janie had moved away and little Mary was too young to help.  Mrs. Davies really needed help.  the boys were all big enough to hlep, but they were always our helping with the farm, so she really needed my help.  i certainly never dreamed that one day she would be my mother-in-law.  Maybe she knew, and that was why she was so nice to me. She was kind and patient and made sure I knew how to fix all the family favorites. She taught me many different ways to serve potatoes, and how to make a nice flaky pie crust so I could make a chicken pot pie or a fruit pie.

... to be continued

Thursday Thoughts . . . . Caroline McMurray

Happiness does not just happen; you have to work really hard for it, and still it comes in its own time.

In 1909, when Caroline McMurray was a young girl of seven, she saw her mother die from errasipitus. She remembered fanning her mother to keep the flies off her up in her bedroom in the days before she died.  Her little sister, Lila was 4 months old, so she really missed having a mom, as did the four older brothers and four older sisters.

After a while(1914) her dad married a young girl from England just two years, who was to be the new stepmother. There was lots of work to do marrying into a family with so many children, and she made them all work hard.

She didn't teach, instead just yelled at the kids to get the work done. Carrie would have loved to be taught how to make bread, grow a garden, keep a tidy English home and take care of the chickens, but instead she resented Elizabeth trying to take her mother's place and wanted to get away.

She wasn't very nice to the kids, so Carrie quit school early and went to stay and help out at some of her older brother's homes.  Eventually she felt like she had worn out her welcome and that she needed a new place to go.


...to be continued.