Gladys Huyck Grieve, A Lady of Extraordinary Depth.

Gladys Huyck Grieve

Gladys Grieve came to Sparks in 1910 as a new bride at age 19. Her husband, Curran Burr Huyck, worked for Southern Pacific Railroad. He died in 1937 in a horrific railroad accident.

 Before Gladys died at the age of 79, a lady of extraordinary depth, she accrued a variety of accolades that were listed in her obituary in 1971, some of which are listed here.

 “As an officer of the Sparks Civic Club, she led a successful campaign to replace old Cottonwood trees in Sparks with Chinese Elms.”

“She also aided a project to turn Dee Park from a camping ground into a park-playground.”

“In 1925, she was appointed registrar of the United States Land Office in Carson City, and was one of only three women in the United States hold such an office at that time.”

“She became Post Master in the Sparks Post Office in 1920 and at the same time ran an auto court in Sparks on Prater Way.”

“Six years later she sold the auto court and bought 176 acres of farm land. The land extended from Prater Way to the Greenbrae Shopping Center and east from Pyramid to Stanford Way.”

Annie Ashby was a dear friend to Gladys; they had known each other for decades. Being such a dear friend, Annie cared for Gladys toward the end of her life when Gladys became very ill. The two had time to reflect about Gladys life as Annie wrote some of the highlights for a life sketch.  After Gladys’ death, Annie related some of the things she remembered about her as well.

Gladys’ Memories

“I was born in Vernal, Uintah County, Utah on Dec. 19, 1891 or 1892. I was a honey blonde, and they called me a toe head. The Indians from the reservation came and they would yank and pull at my hair then discuss it.

There was an epidemic of Diphtheria which struck with only one doctor in town. He called it Membranus Croup or Sore Throat but one of our Mormon neighbors lost five children with it. Our family had it, my brother Burt, Sister Viola and myself. My sister Viola, four years old, died with it. By that time they sent for a doctor in Denver. He took cultures and was so rough with me I wouldn’t let him swab my throat because it was so sore. He gave me pills but I dropped them behind the bed.

Then [my folks] sent for two Mormon missionaries. One or the other of them would take care of us until we were able to care for ourselves.  They stayed right in our home.

Because I wouldn’t let them care for me, the Diphtheria ate the lining of the passageway from my throat to my nose so that it affected me throughout the years.

I went to school in DeBeque, Colorado. They were very bitter against the Mormons. We were studying the history of Utah. Someone said, “There are only Mormons living there.” Then the teacher said, “Oh, there are some white people.”

About this time there were two missionaries trying to work in town, but they couldn’t get in. They finally left and on their way out they heard the Devil talking to them. He said, “So you are giving up?” and he laughed at them.

I came to Sparks, Nevada with my husband as a bride in 1910. He worked on the railroad.

I served in the community as head of the Red Cross Sewing Center; making shirts, pajamas, etc., for the soldiers in the First World War, 1917-1918. I also worked for the Canteen Service, serving food for soldiers passing through on the train. I was privileged to sit on the stage at the Granada Theatre with President Woodrow Wilson.

I was appointed by Mayor Adams during the depression as chairman of the Welfare Committee, searching out the poor and distributing food for the families out of work, of which there were a great many.

When the government took over this work I was charged with distributing the first flour, then later came the clothing for those in need.

I started working for a Democrat Committee for Senator Key Pittman before I was old enough to vote. I helped organize a group of women voters into a club called, “The Silver Key.” I continued to work in the Democratic party and became a personal friend of some of the “Greats” during these years, Senator Pittman, Governor Schrugham, Governor Fred Belzar, Judge McKnight, Lester Summerfield and many others.

I worked in the Sparks Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under Branch Presidents Giles Vanderhoof, Leland T. Fife and Peter L. Ferguson. I was President of the Y.L.M.I.A. in 1926.

One winter about 1935 or 1936, while living in Sparks, Burr Huyck, my husband and I were working in Carson City. We took our three children, Viola, Phillip and Edwin with us. There was a snow storm so bad that morning that we had a hard time getting there.

We left home at 8 A.M. but didn’t arrive until noon. There were cars stalled all along the way and we helped others to get out. One car barely missed hitting us and went into the bank and stayed there for several weeks.

One man and his wife and child didn’t observe the detour sign and drove in anyway and got caught in deep snow. The man got out and left to get help, fell over a cliff and broke his leg. He was found a few weeks later, he had shot himself and was dead.

The woman kept calling for help. The only food she had was a little oatmeal which she fed to the baby. She would reach out of the car and get snow to moisten their lips with. Two men on snow shoes came by and heard her cries. They got help for them and took them to the hospital in Carson.

The day we got to Carson at noon we went right over and got a room. It was lucky we did for it was more than a week before we could leave.

That week other people, who were stranded, filled the homes and hotels and even the prison. Snow was piled high on the sides of the roads, fifteen and twenty feet. Plumbing was frozen in the homes in Sparks as well as in Carson. It was a terribly cold winter.

I helped to put on many dinners with the Relief Society in the Robinson Hall where we fed hundreds of people and earned money to build the new meeting house on C Street and Prater Way for the L.D.S. church.

My Testimony

I made myself some Brigham Tea and while drinking it one of the joints got caught in my throat and somehow went into my nasal passage. The pain was so severe I went to the doctor to have it removed. He couldn’t get it out without surgery. I went home and had the elders administer to me and the next morning the mucus was streaming from my nose and with it came the joint. It was 1 ½ long. The doctor said, “Gladys, you almost persuade me to become a Mormon.”

Sometime later I decided to take a trip to Europe, but I had this lump in my side. I went to this same doctor. He examined my side and asked his wife who was an R.N. to feel the lump. They decided that I would need surgery before I made the trip. I felt if I had surgery I wouldn’t be going, so I asked to be administered to and when it was done the pain left and so did the lump. I went to Europe and it didn’t bother me at all. The doctor was amazed.

In 1936, when I had surgery they didn’t think I would live. I was administered to by Peter L. Ferguson. During the operation, they said I repeated his prayer.

I know the church is true. There is a God, I couldn’t deny it, even if I were burned to my very death.

Annie Ashby’s Reflections

After serving big dinners, she would take the leftovers to families who had little children where the husband was out of work. I remember, personally, her bringing a big pan of turkey gravy to my home to feed my little ones when my husband was laid off from the railroad for nearly two years. She always shared what she had and you never left her home hungry.

She loved to entertain family and friends. Great crowds of people would come to parties she held in her back yard or in her home. She had a home at Lake Tahoe where she invited many to share her hospitality. Always big meals planned and all we could eat.

In our meetings when we first came to Sparks she led songs, played piano, taught speech and dramatics. No gathering politically, socially, or religiously was held wherein she did not assist. Not only did she assist her own church but other churches as well.

She served with Bertha J. Purdy in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. She later became the Captain and County President and worked very hard with all of us to get our papers sent into the Central Company. We had a large group of women who became members from her persuasion.

She was a friend to the needy and oppressed and helped in the homes where there was sickness.

I always felt that she was a very special person and a very special leader and organizer. There were times, I’ll confess, I envied her the energy she possessed.

I spent the last few weeks of her life taking care of her. I’m so glad I had the distinguished privilege of serving her as best I could until she passed from this life.

Bertha Purdy, Woman Ahead of Her Time.

OLIVER AND BERTHA PURDY FAMILY

More than anyone else Bertha Purdy was responsible for breaking down prejudice against Mormons in the community. Bertha was an amazing mover and shaker, in fact a woman ahead of her time considering a woman’s role in society during her era.   

Bertha was born February 18, 1884 in Beaver, Utah, not far from Ogden, in her grandmother’s log cabin. Many of her activities were chores that required feeding the animals at the proper time of day. She learned to saddle a horse and ride; to hitch a horse to a cart or buggy then drive the buggy.

Bertha records in her history, “In good weather we walked one mile to school where children from six years old to twenty years were all in the same room. The same adobe building was used for Sunday School. Sunday School, Primary and M.I.A. were always enjoyable.” 

“Because my mother was in such poor health between 1888 and 1894, I spent much time living at Grandmother Matson’s home. Before joining the church, she was a Swedish Lutheran.”

“I was thirteen when our family consisted of my father and five children, mother died while giving birth to our tiny baby sister Margaret.”

Her family moved to Ogden where the schools were an attraction as well as the church.  She graduated from eighth grade, attended Ogden High School one year then moved to Logan, Utah to take a business course for two years. 

Failure in the sheep business caused her father to call her home from school to take the place of the hired girl.  Bertha said, “This was a wonderful experience – a chance to put into practice some of my learning. Teaching a class of boys in Sunday School was the greatest challenge in my life.”

She met her future husband at a missionary farewell dance in 1904. She married Oliver George Purdy in the Salt Lake Temple the year after on June 28, 1905. Shortly after they married, Oliver and Bertha received railroad transfer orders to Sparks, Nevada. When they arrived, B Street was partly a board walk since the city had been not been incorporated yet. Jittery people passed ‘gossip’ around town the railroad would not remain in Sparks despite the obvious expense of building a roundhouse and transferring the whole rail town of Wadsworth. 

Their first child, Norman was born in Sparks in 1906. 

In her own words she said, “I came to Sparks as a bride in 1905.  I remember the little frame houses brought from Wadsworth that sat on wide, planned streets, dusty in the summer, muddy and rutted in the winter.” 

“In those days it was just as well not to mention to people that you were a Mormon. If it had not been for my landlady I don’t know what I would have done. I was terribly lonely and depressed. She was sweet and sometimes would invite me to attend her church with her.  Of course, it was nothing to compare to our Mormon teachings, but would cheer me and afford me a little social life; and social life was scarce in those days. Then we moved to Imlay in 1908 and I did not return to Sparks until 1916.”

In 1908, the Purdy family moved into a home in Ogden where Bertha took care of her Grandmother Purdy. Their daughter, Margaret was born in Ogden, Utah in 1908. Their son Paul was born in 1911, but died in Ogden as an infant of 15 months. Harlon, their son was born in 1913. 

When Oliver and Bertha decided to move their family from Imlay, NV back to Sparks in June of 1916, their three children, Norman, Margaret and Harlon laid on the floor and “howled in unison” at their plight. They did not understand why they had to leave Imlay.  Their sadness didn’t last long. The move to the new community of 607 people proved to hold many wonderful surprises. The couple’s last child, Donald, was born in Sparks on September 12, 1917.      

Bertha tells a story that when the Purdy’s were having their new home built at 916 F street in Sparks; the contractor told Bertha that she could purchase ½ of the neighbor’s land in addition to her own. O.G. Purdy was on a “run” so she made the decision on her own, to buy the land and widen the home by several feet. The neighbors told her she was foolish to put money into it.  “But, Mr. Purdy said we needed a house and we couldn’t buy one as good as we could build.”  The home was not complete when they moved in so the family lived for several weeks with a blanket for a front door. Great was their excitement to have a home with a real bath room, complete with hot and cold water, large spacious rooms and many other modern conveniences and comforts. 

Daughter Margaret wrote, “When we first moved to Sparks there were only 6-7 families in the Sparks Branch with us. Now at last we were able to attend a regular L.D.S. Sunday School and I could be baptized. On July 2, 1917, I was baptized in an irrigation ditch near White Bridge. We attended, first in the Engineer’s Hall on 9^th Street and later on, the second floor of the old Robison’s Hall. For years the dances were held here and for several years before it was condemned and torn down it was considered unsafe as it rocked and shook when the crowd started dancing.”

“During the years we were growing up, our lives were enriched by the elders, who were frequently in our home. For many, sometimes doing the laundry, and occasionally staying with us for brief periods. Many enriching experiences ensued. Once, mother nursed an Elder Meller back to health, who had complications from an appendectomy. It was only through faith, prayers and excellent nursing care that he survived.”

“When ten years of age, I started taking piano lessons from Miss Mckenna on Sierra Street in Reno.  Once a week, Clodile Allard and I rode the street car to Reno, walked three or four blocks up Sierra Street and took piano lessons for about two years.”

“Our favorite past time was to try to jip the street car conductor out of the fare of five cents and spend it on candy at the 5 & 10 Cent Store (Woolworths). Not always, but occasionally, we succeeded in holding out the fare on the way to Reno. We seldom had any money to spend foolishly, so I longed to buy some of the nick-nacks from the store besides. Oh, if only someone would forget and leave a package! Then one day, someone did. No one was around so I picked up a wrapped package that someone had left or forgotten. What was my disgust when arriving home and opening it - I found it to be someone’s extracted teeth. From then on I decided honesty was the best policy.”

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Bertha became a civic minded, service oriented citizen at a young age. She served in her husband’s lodge and became, “The grand lady of the G.I.A to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers” This organization had a membership of 22,000 throughout the United States. They work for the widows and orphans, as well as better conditions, insurance programs, higher pensions and other things too numerous to mention. In 1960 this efficient, grand lady, was awarded a forty-year pin from their national president. Her husband Oliver worked many years as an engineer for the railroad. Both he and Bertha were instrumental in the development of the Engineer Hall at 9^th and C Street in Sparks. 

Sometime after the Purdy’s came to Sparks, Bertha became an active supporter of the National Federation of Women who promoted and acted as the advisory council to the Sparks Parent Teacher Association founded in 1914. By 1923, she was voted in as president, in which office she served for thirteen years. Having taken a keen interest in the club’s work, she was elected president of the Nevada Federation of Women’s clubs in 1937 and served for three years.

During Sister Purdy’s term of office, the Sparks schools enrolled about 200 children in the junior high school, 100 in the high school, 325 in Robert H. Mitchell and about 135 in Mary L. Nichols, and nearly 100 in Kate Smith School. “Organizing a Parent-Teachers Association grew out of a disagreement on where money was to be spent. I called a meeting of the teachers and got them behind me. One of their complaints was that mothers never showed up at school unless Johnny was in trouble and we needed better relations between the parents and the teachers.” 

At the time Bertha was the president, there was only one P.T.A. organization in the city. Assisted by Mrs. Erickson of Reno, Mrs. Purdy organized separate units in each of the schools. Each school could then govern themselves and their finances to suit their circumstances. 

The club sponsored the state song, composed by Mrs. Martha A. Coleman then complimented each school with a medium-sized Nevada flag. 

The schools were short of supplementary reading material, so the foundation work was started for school libraries and a public library. Bertha Purdy was attributed with the power to pull off insurmountable odds to accomplish the goal. She corresponded with the Library of Congress, and U.N.R and the Reno library then more and more people became interested. When at last the library became a reality she spread out the compliments to include everyone. She said, “This project, like all of my life, has been what everybody has put into it.  It’s like fancy work or textile printing, there is always a new design. If anything on the subject of libraries appeared in a magazine, we wrote for it. It was like turning over every rock to see what was underneath. You could say that the library was brought about by the inception of progressive citizens who conceived the idea and started a library movement. I hung on to the idea, but I do not want all the credit.”

[The old Sparks Library is now the Sparks Heritage Museum on Victorian Avenue and Pyramid Way. It is a lovely building with twin stairs leading to the second story front door designed by Fred De Longchamps, who was the architect for the Washoe County Building on Virginia Street in Reno.  Inside was a unique circular staircase.]

At the time Bertha served on various other boards, she served as inspector of Election in and for Sparks 5 Election Precinct. Voting happened in the Purdy home at 916 F. Street.  The carpets would be rolled up in the front room and dining parlor to make way for the equipment to facilitate voting.

She was devoted to other positions and boards for community causes. She served as a member of The Board of Trustees for Washoe County Hospital in 1934. She was the vice president of Nevada Public Health Association in 1934.  She also served on the Sparks School Board for a term starting in 1935. 

One of the inspirational thoughts she clipped and kept in her scrap book reflects her sense of devotion to a community:

            It Isn’t the Town. . . It’s You!

            If you want to live in the kind of a town

            Like the kind of a town you like,

            You needn’t slip your clothes in a grip

            And start on a long, long hike.

            You’ll only find what you left behind,

            For there’s nothing that’s really new,

            It’s a knock at yourself when you knock the town,

            It isn’t the town – IT’S YOU!

Real towns are not made by men afraid

Lest someone else gets ahead,

When everyone works and nobody shirks,

You can raise a town from the dead.

And if while you make your personal stake,

Your neighbor can make one, too,

Your town will be what you want it to be,

It isn’t the town – IT’S YOU!

Proper protocol required a woman’s name be written or listed as her husband’s name with a Madame or a Mrs, indicating she was his wife.  It is rather antiquated to us now, in fact, odd or even sexist. Bertha was a well-known activist, but owing deference to her husband she insisted the newspaper refer to her as Mrs. O.G. [Oliver George] Purdy. 

When Bertha was elected as president of the Nevada Federation of Women’s Clubs, she was to attend the National meetings in Washington D.C. as a delegate. Local newspaper articles reported her schedule and who she would be meeting.  “Mrs. O.G. Purdy At Sessions In Washington”. . . . Mrs. Purdy left yesterday for Washington , D.C. where she will represent Nevada at the midwinter board meeting of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.  Headquarters for the sessions will be the Mayflower hotel. [Bill Clinton notoriety]  Following the board meetings Mrs. Purdy will attend the conference to be held on the “Cause and Cure of War” to be held in Washington.  [Hot topic even then.]  Members will also be received at the White House by Mrs. Roosevelt for tea. [She remembers Eleanor Roosevelt singling her out to know more about Reno as she had a child/children who lived in Reno for the required six weeks before getting a divorce.] It is expected that the president will attend the tea informally and talk to the guests at that time.  On Friday afternoon the board members will be conducted through the Federal Bureau of Investigation at the invitation of J. Edgar Hoover.” 

There is another honorable mention to bestow upon this wonder woman of yesteryear. Bertha was called to serve on the Grand Jury, a first for women. According to newspaper accounts, Bertha was called to the panel due to the fact none of the court attaches recognized her name to be that of a woman. Bertha says of the event, “I’ve never become involved in politics and I never earned a dollar in my life except on the grand jury. The men were embarrassed. They didn’t know whether they should take my coat, ask permission to smoke, offer me a cigarette or what. I told them I was a juror, not attending a social tea and I would get the same $4.00 a day they did. They relaxed.”  Since that time, judges have placed women on all federal juries.

FIRST STAKE RELIEF SOCIETY PRESIDENT

It was during a National Federation of Women Conference in Washington D.C. when Sister Purdy was called as the first Reno Stake Relief Society President. The first stake conference was held in February of 1941. Stake President Nathan Hurst sustained her completely without her knowledge. In that day, long distance phone calls were not usually done. She was not notified in any way until her return home. The Stake Relief Society board was organized by June 1, 1941.

Sister Bertha Purdy’s church service was well remembered best by those she taught in Sunday School and worked with her in Relief Society. Oliver Hansen, Vincent Keele were just a couple of the students she taught Evelyn Ainsworth and many other sisters accredited Sis. Purdy as their mentor.

FUND RAISERS

There are a couple of record books that reveal a fastidious side to Bertha. At a time when the funds of the church were handled on a local level, the R.S. maintained their own budget as well as donated funds to the general ward budget. These two notebooks identify how many hours of work were given to two events during the 50’s and 60’s.

The first notebook lists pages and pages of donation contacts Bertha called on for the Sparks Country Fair held as a fund raiser every year. The community embraced the affair, and according to the record book offered a generous amount of goods.  Business-like in nature, Bertha was the perfect emissary to gather both business and personal donations.  Since the first several pages are torn off the notebook, the first page is written on April 17, 1958, entitled the “Food Booth.”  She lists people, their phone numbers (in only five digits) and their donations.  It looks as if on occasion she asked people to donate something in particular instead of a random choice, at which she checked off the item.

Many of the names are familiar old timers: Sneddon, Schelin, Ainsworth, Collins, O’Mealy, Faragher, Inman, Nord, Bohman, Grieve, Hauder and Humphery, for example.

A sample of the local businesses that she contacted were:  Sierra Pacific, Sparks Fuel, First National Bank, Bakers Market, Boyd Stewart’s Flying A Service and Ross Photo.  The lists give insight into the working and dealings of well organized function aided by a devoted, faithful woman.

The second ledger deals fundraisers conducted in her home. She thoroughly enjoyed being involved in women’s handcrafts such as quilting. The Relief Society was well-known for their quilting expertise so Bertha turned it into a fund raiser. Not only did she sponsor quilting bees in her home for bazaars, the ladies took private orders as well. Her log demonstrates the number of hours each quilt required and the names of sisters who came through the week to donate quilting time. She recorded exactly who donated lunch and even those who offered rides to and from her home.

PURDY FAMILY CELEBRATES A CENTURY OF LIFE IN SPARKS/RENO

Bertha and O.G. had three sons serve in World War II – Harlon, Norman and Don. Their youngest, Don, was listed as missing in action 26 March, 1943. He had graduated from Sparks High and the University of Nevada and filled a mission to the New England Mission. 

Norman and Harlon returned from their service in the Navy and built homes in Sparks.  Norman made a career of bread delivery, driving all over the valley. Harlon returned to manage Baker’s Grocery.  He married Lillie Johnston and added Alan and Aaron to their family.

Daughter Margaret married a Sparks boy, Robert Baker, following her graduation from the University of Nevada.  Together they eventually built a home on 13^th and E Streets where they reared four children – Neil, Carma, Milton and Karen.  Margaret continued the tradition of church and community service. 

Robert and his mother Emma Baker purchased a small grocery store on “B” Street when Robert was a senior in high school. Baker’s was the primary grocery store from 1927 until 1966. Baker’s Furniture and Hardware joined the “B” Street business district in the 40’s.

Margaret, Robert and Karen were returning from San Francisco in their 4-place Navion airplane and seemingly lost their way; crashing into the mountain near Colfax, California in 1965. Their children Neil, Carma and Milton joined together to take care of the family home and businesses. All three graduated from Brigham Young University.

Neil developed Baker’s Interiors and moved the main operation from Sparks to Reno.  Carma and her husband Don Watts developed Executive Financial Services in Sparks, especially focusing on income tax preparation.

Milton served in the army and returned to the family operation for a time. He and his bride, Betty Nixon from Kansas settled in Orem, Utah where he pursued a career as an electrician.

Carma and Don were privileged to participate in the City Redevelopment committees-especially Don was treasurer to the Bicentennial Committee. Carma was a member of The Status of Women in Reno as well as the Citizen’s Policy Planning Advisory Committee to the City Council. She also served as Parent-Teacher President and sat on the Sex Education Advisory Committee for Washoe County School. In 1999, she served as the Reno Nevada Stake Relief Society President.

Two more generations of the O.G. and Bertha Purdy family descendants have continued to reside in Sparks and Reno. They carry on the tradition of church and community service. A great example set by their honorable ancestor pioneers. 

It has been most fortunate that Bertha Purdy kept a scrap book as well as numerous artifacts to collaborate historical research and family stories.   

Local newspapers documented much of her community service and served as a valuable resource material as well as family. A long article written from an interview of Bertha Purdy by Grace Cate from the Sparks Tribune in June of 1960 is entitled, “Sparks is Proud of Mrs. O.G. Purdy.” Bertha’s scrapbook is full of newspaper articles in reference to her great achievements and accolades.  

Women Were the Backbone: Linnie Higgenbotham Rossiter

                                                       Linnie Higginbotham Rossiter 

Samuel and Mary Higginbotham Family. Linnie is sitting right, front.

   Linnie was born June 21, 1882 in Ogden, Utah in the unity of a big family. She married James Joseph Rossiter, a man 8 years her senior, who was a member of the Catholic Church. Even though he a member of another faith, he was supportive of her church activity in the LDS church. She was 26 years old, he was 34 when they married. Directly after they married he was transferred to Sparks on the Southern Pacific Railroad as a conductor in 1908.

   Linnie gave birth to their first child, Robert James, on November 25, 1908. They affectionately nicknamed him, Robley. Five more  children would bless their home: John, Paul, Phyllis, Anna and Peery. Being one of the few big families of the branch, the children grew up mingling and associating with the stalwart members of that day. The family were present when the branch organized the first Primary and Mutual; their names have been recorded on attendance sheets preserved for future reference confirming their place in history.

   Relief Society, the woman’s organization of the church, was organized for the branch sisters in 1916. Linnie served as a counselor in the original presidency for several years.

   Health issues and disease were troubling concerns for families in the early days of the 20^th century. Not all would survive the dreaded diseases that plagued people without vaccines and medications taken for granted in future years. Such was the case for 14 year old Robley. A few days before his birthday in November, he contracted Diphtheria. Linnie watched as her firstborn son suffered the effects of the disease and died in her home. Only 2 cases had been reported in Sparks that year. Sadly, the vaccine for Diphtheria became available within months of his death.  

  Robley lay in state until a funeral service was conducted in their home located on the Sparks Reserve at Conductor Heights. A memorial service for him was held on a Sunday morning at the C Street chapel December 3, 1922.

   The Rossiter home was put under quarantine for a time. Regardless of the precautions, it is thought by the family that James, Linnie’s husband and father to four surviving children, died at age 50 from the same disease on February 11, 1923, just 2 ½  months after Robley. He had been transported to the Southern Pacific Railroad hospital in San Francisco in hopes he could survive. To make matters worse, Linnie was four months pregnant with their sixth child at the time of his death. His funeral was held in the Catholic church in Sparks.

   The loss of her husband and son in such a short time was a devastating loss. Within the framework of disease and trials, Linnie would take a few more trips to the railroad hospital with her son John who, two years after the death of his father, became ill with Typhoid Fever. John recuperated favorably well as he would later become a star athlete at the University of Nevada.

   As tragedy and loss were Linnie’s companions for a while; faith served as her inspiration to heal, never allowing the quagmire of sorrow overwhelm her responsibilities to family and church. Linnie moved her family to Reno in 1927 for a fresh start.

   Reno Branch slowly grew enough that by 1938 the church ran a pilot program in Northern Nevada. The mission district was sufficiently strong enough to make an independent district only in this case it was designated a Junior Stake. It allowed sufficient leadership training for the time when Reno could be organized into a full-fledged stake. During this transition, Linnie was called to serve as the Reno Branch Relief Society president. Not forgetting her roots, in 1938, Linnie invited both branches, Sparks and Reno, to the Relief Society annual birthday party to honor the society’s organization in March, 1842.

   At age 74, on a Tuesday, September 18, 1956, Linnie passed away leaving behind a legacy of solid roots in the gospel and strength in adversity.

    

  

A Woman Started it All: Sabina Larson Baxter.

Sabina Larson Baxter, Founding Saint

Sabina Baxter

The first name to be recorded in reference to the origins of the church in Sparks is Sabina Baxter. She officially inaugurated the momentum of the branch when she wrote mission President Robison to send missionaries to Sparks to conduct official business of the priesthood.

      There are two confirmed sources that give substantial evidence for Sabina’s historical status: the records of the branch, and Giles Vanderhoof who documented the origins with his presence and personal records. 

Not much is known about Sabina and her family. Given the fact this woman initiated the first Sabbath worship under priesthood authority, it would not be proper to leave her name as nothing more than a mention. Therefore, research of her life was undertaken through public records which afforded a fair amount of material for an introduction.

       Sabina was born in Sweden in 1882. Within 8 months of her birth, Sabina’s parents, who had joined the church, underwent transition from life in beautiful Sweden to the harsh reality of living in the Utah desert. She lived the greater part of her younger years in Ogden.

      Marrying a railroader was common for Ogden brides. Leroy R. Baxter, her sweetheart, was, according to his draft records, of medium height and weight, blue eyes and light brown hair. He fought in the short lived Spanish American war of 1898. By 1904, he was a fireman for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Sabina married him in Wells, Elko County, Nevada on May 13, 1905. By their wedding date, he had been promoted to locomotive engineer. He was 25 years of age, Sabina was 22.

     The couple’s first baby was born in Nampa, Idaho in 1908. They named him Alma. The first in a series of unfortunate life's events took place that day; for Alma died the day he was born.   

     In the divine course of events, shortly after their first child was born, Sabina and LeRoy were transferred to Sparks where they would have another baby in September of 1909. He was a healthy baby boy they named Blaine LeRoy.

     Obviously when the Baxters moved to town, Sabina found there were no missionaries or other organization of the church. She took it upon herself to request the missionaries.

       The census records of 1910 reveal the Baxter family rented their home along with a boarder. It also indicates the missionaries, Joseph Harris and George Esplin, were their neighbors. 

Most of the railroader homes in Sparks were small, especially compared to today’s standard homes. Regardless of size, the very first missionary cottage meeting was held in Sabina’s home with 30 people in attendance. It was the first of many to be held in her home.

Faithful Sister Baxter, attended worship services, bore strong, powerful testimony attended with her gratitude for the organization of the branch. She provided the missionaries with vital resources to function. Her devotion was duly noted but her husband’s was not.

Regardless of the fact that LeRoy was born in Utah from Mormon pioneer stock; he was never baptized as a child. Finally in 1914, at the age of 34, LeRoy was baptized, one month after their daughter Marjorie was born in Imlay, Nevada.       

Another transfer to Idaho brought the blessing of another birth in August of 1917. Harry Larson Baxter lived three months before he too died.

The last and final move for the family brought them back full circle. The Baxter family moved to Utah by 1922 where their little 7 year old daughter, Marjorie died and was buried in the Ogden Cemetery.

Trials of the day without modern medical intervention meant a closer look at death than current practice and procedures to sustain life. It is not known if the knowledge of being sealed as a forever family motivated them to enjoy the blessings of a temple marriage or not, but LeRoy and Sabina took their family to the Salt Lake Temple to be sealed together in June, 1920.

Sabina’s life was drawn short when she died of a stomach ulcer at age 49. Faithful to the end, her obituary stated she was a member of the Salt Lake Stake Genealogical Society.

Trouble followed three years after Sister Baxter’s early demise. In 1935, Blaine was employed as a motorcycle police officer in Salt Lake for six months before he died in a horrible high speed chase. While trying to stop an accelerating car in the streets of downtown Salt Lake, he swerved to avoid a car that turned in front of him. Blaine crashed into the wall of a building and died as a result of the injuries he sustained. At age 26, he was survived by a wife who only lived 2-3 years after him, one child, a sister and his father.

One year after Blaine died; there was another traffic accident fatality. LeRoy, Sabina’s husband, died at age 59 of a fractured skull and broken shoulder sustained from an automobile collision in Springville, Utah.

June, a daughter born in 1921, survived seeing her sister, mother, brother and father pass on. She remained single until later in life when she then married. Without having children, she died in 1977

Reunited as a family on the other side, they enjoy the full extent of their devotion to the gospel. More particularly, Sabina’s devoted enthusiasm to establish a missionary presence in the Truckee Meadows. 

  

Picture taken from Sabina’s obituary in the Salt Lake Tribune Aug. 12, 1932

Introducing Pioneer Saints: Giles and Artie Vanderhoof

         

Giles Vanderhoof.

Giles , with his wife, Artie Vanderhoof, and their family, have the distinct privilege of being present at the inception of the branch. Giles’ place in history as the first to be ordained a priest, the first Sunday School Superintendent and the first member branch president exalts him as a true pioneer saint. His wife, Artie was the first Sunday School Secretary, the very first convert and first Relief Society president. She served diligently for 12 years in that capacity. Their children were among the first to be blessed by the missionaries. Estella, their daughter was the first female of the branch to serve a mission.

Giles often spoke of the branch milestones as he bore fervent testimony during the next several decades. As time went on Giles’ insistent voice of reflective appreciation gradually faded. Today, the recollections of their names and contributions have been swept into the undertow of current events rather than being revered and honored as the initiates of the branch.

     In acknowledgement of their relevance as the founding saints of the church in 1910, a short history of the family is given to acquaint their contributions for all future generations.

  The following Vanderhoof information was taken from branch records, family records, journals, interviews and remembrances given by the family.

Giles Edgar Vanderhoof was born June 19, 1879 in North Ogden, Utah Territory with strong Mormon pioneer heritage.  He came from a large, tempestuous, ranching family.  His fifteen brothers and sisters grew up with strong opinions and didn’t defer those opinions even if it meant a heated argument or fists.

Young Giles was educated at the North Ogden “Common” school and graduated on June 16, 1884.  He had three years of high school and two years at Weber Stake Academy.

Giles is Second from the Left.

At age 23, Giles began his railroad career as a locomotive fireman in the Salt Lake Division of Southern Pacific.  He was the fireman on the second train to cross the new trestle work for the Lucin cut-off in 1903. [The Lucin Cutoff railroad line and trestle,  crossed the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Built by the Southern Pacific Company between February 1902 and March 1904 across Promontory Point, it bypassed the original Central Pacific Railroad route through Promontory Summit where the Golden Spike was driven in 1869. By going west across the lake from Ogden, Utah to Lucin, Utah, it cut off 43 miles and avoided curvatures and grades.] (Wikipedia information)

Artie's Graduation Picture

In May of 1903, he met a beautiful young woman working as a typist in the Ogden State Bank; her name was Artie Ethel Wilson.  She was born on January 10, 1882 in Frisco, Beaver County, Utah Territory.  When she was very young the family moved to Ogden where she lived a happy life and played the normal games of childhood. 

When she was old enough to attend school she was enrolled in Ogden’s Gordon Grammar School then went on to high school at Ogden City High, graduating June 4, 1857. She enjoyed parties, dances and occasional sweethearts.   

When Giles and Artie started courting, Artie’s family did not approve of the relationship. They felt that Giles, the cowboy, did not measure up to her family’s educational standards.  Obviously, her family held little sway. For the next two years, they had a wonderful courtship which culminated with their marriage on May 25, 1903.  Their first home was in Odgen, Utah.

It was while living in Ogden their home was blessed with a baby boy. Lee was born February 2, 1904.  Then a few months later in August 1905, a baby girl; but this one God called back to be with Him the next day. 

Giles was promoted to Locomotive Engineer on January 4, 1907 and sent to Sparks, Nevada to work the switch engine of the Southern Pacific. He made occasional trips back to Ogden to be with his young family; being separated disheartened them both.

It was during this lonely time apart, on April 30, 1907, Artie was sent a tiny girl they named Bernice.  Six months after Giles was transferred, Artie decided to make a home for her husband and unite their family again. She bade farewell to family and friends in Ogden and boarded the train for Sparks with a two-month old baby and a three year old at her side.

The family lived for three years in a little home at 1610 A Street where their daughter, Lucille Maud was born on October 10, 1909.  They would then move to 531 8^th Street, later named Pyramid Way, where four more children were born. 

Two months before the church membership of 30 people met in the Baxter’s home for the first time, Artie and Giles were blessed with a daughter they named Lucille. Her life was short, for she lived only 10 years.

The Mormon missionaries arrived in Sparks, December of 1909. The following month, January 4, 1910, Giles and Artie had their three children blessed by the elders.  In February, Giles would be set apart as the Sunday School Superintendent. The first Sunday School was held in their home. The missionaries proceeded to teach Artie the gospel, who embraced it with all her heart.  On March 12, 1910 Artie became the first convert baptism.  She was baptized in an irrigation ditch, near Oddie Boulevard, between 8^th and 9^th streets in Sparks.  Each month of their new church activity built stepping stones for a lifetime of service and devotion.

There were frequent changes of the presiding missionary elder during the next year making it a struggle to keep the branch going.   By March 26, 1911, Giles was given responsibility for the little group of saints as the presiding elder. Giles continued to be the Sunday School Superintendent, as well as the presiding elder until the branch had grown sufficiently strong to be reorganized in 1919 with Giles as the official branch president.  The branch included a vast area which not only took in the Reno area, but the territory from the California state line east to Wells, Nevada.  The area included Fallon, where he especially loved to work with the Indians – his beloved Lamanites as he referred to them.  President Vanderhoof baptized several during the early years of the branch.

Giles labored strenuously as he worked on his switch engine seven days a week (very few holidays or vacation times) yet never neglected any of his church duties.  Very early in the morning each Sunday, Giles would take his daughter Bernice and climb the steep stairs to the lodge room at the rear of the dance hall at Robinson’s Hall.  There, the pungent odor of stale beer and cigars from the lodge meeting the night before were so overpowering that it was difficult to conduct meetings.  The church members sat around big tin tubs that had the residue of beer and cigars inside and out of them from the previous night. Giles, with broom and mop, cleaned up the vile mess while little Bernice shivered in the cold air from the open windows necessary to air the place out.  Then he would hold Sunday School.

During this time there was no one to play the piano for the singing portion of Sunday School. One Sunday morning, the first counselor, Peter L. Ferguson, picked Bernice up and sat the little girl on the piano stool insisting she play for them.  He kissed her cheek and said, “Of course you can do it, kid!”  She was very frightened but without Pete, she said, “I never could have made it! I will never forget our first song that day ---‘Catch the Sunshine.’  “From then on, I covered that seat all my growing up years.”

Next to his little family, Giles’ greatest love was his church, his garden and his Rhode Island Red chickens.  He took great pride in his garden.  He always had early peas and new potatoes which Artie cooked to perfection; fresh green onions, lettuce, radishes, etc. They shared the produce with everyone, especially the hungry missionaries. 

President Vanderhoof so diligently studied the scriptures, that none could inquire as to any Biblical or other church subject matter and immediately be shown not only the page but have it quoted chapter and verse.  His study and knowledge of his religion was unequaled.

Giles was known to grab his Bible from home then cross the street to the Catholic Church.  He loved to talk with the priests about the scriptures until they grew weary of him and refused to answer the door when he’d ring. 

By September 14, 1911 another little girl was sent to the family.  This one was named Phoebe June, for Artie’s mother

Artie had been a member of the church about three years when she and Giles had the privilege of going to the temple on October 23, 1913 to be sealed to each other and their five children.  The last three children would be born under the covenant.

In the summer of 1914, Lee, the oldest child and only son at the time, was invited to spend the summer with his Vanderhoof grandparents on their ranch in Idaho/Utah. (The state line ran between their barn and house.)

Bernice remembers, “I was very small, and Mama had told me it was my bedtime.  But I kept walking around Lee until Mama had to tell me a second time.  I whispered to her, “But I wanna kiss him goodbye.”  Lee made a face and said, “Aw, I don’t kiss girls,” but Mama made him kiss me and I was so happy.  It is sad, because the next time I kissed him it was on his icy-cold forehead, as Daddy held me up to do so in the mortuary in Odgen, Utah.” 

On August 11, the family received tragic news that Lee lost his life in a terrible accident. As Grandpa Vanderhoof was building a new home that summer, he and Lee, made a trip to Tremonton, Utah, for building supplies. For their return trip they planned to stay overnight at the Dilly Ranch. Before arriving at their destination Lee was killed by three drunken men in an automobile. 

Grief-stricken, the family was grateful they had the gospel to comfort them and most grateful for the knowledge they would have the privilege of seeing their son again.

Later, little sister Lucile, nearly ten years of age was taken to Saint Mary’s Hospital in Reno with an acute attack of appendicitis.  A ruptured appendix, with antibiotics unknown then—and she, too, never returned home again.

On February 11, 1916, Giles and Artie were again endowed with another choice spirit, a baby boy whom they lovingly named Giles Leon. He, in return for their loving care and teaching, was a faithful and devoted son who magnified his Priesthood.  He later served in the bishopric in Sparks as well as in Reno.

On October 21, 1920, one more baby boy was given to Artie and Giles, this one they named Melvin, after a dear, beloved missionary they grew fond of.

On April 28, 1932, sorrow entered their home again; twenty one year old Phoebe had been called back by God. Now they had lost four out of their eight children.

All of the old-time missionaries knew the Vanderhoof home well.  Always dining with the family and sometimes living there as well. Artie seldom prepared dinner for her family only, they always had a guest, or guests. The missionaries loved her dearly, and vice versa.

Artie and Giles made the missionaries a “home away from home.”  They thrived on Giles’ big garden, his raspberry and gooseberry patch, from which Artie made delicious pies, jam, etc. . . She’d make a pie, along with the lightest of biscuits, as she prepared the main meal. Everyone loved her fried chicken.  Giles would kill two Rhode Island chickens every Sunday to have Artie’s “made to taste” fried chicken.  It’s a memory all of her children and grandchildren remember.

It was from their little home, on May 13, 1938, that the family joyfully sent their baby sister, Stella, on her California Mission and welcomed her home just before Christmas in 1939.   

Giles and Artie's 50th Wedding Anniversary

The Vanderhoof’s daughter, Bernice reflects about their home, “There was much laughter and gaiety in our home, parties and meetings galore.  My brother Giles and his wife Floral were married in the parlor by our father, Giles. The gala 50^th wedding celebration for the folks had the walls of that little old home bulging.  In days long gone, the folks had oyster parties, taffy pulls, charades and worlds of fun parties.  At one of them, coats were piled high on my bed and as I went to retire, there was still a baby there.  In the excitement, Linnie Rossiter had gone, but forgotten to take her baby!”

Bernice continues, “I remember when a very small, Sunday School was held in one of the various halls at Christmas time.  There was a beautiful fir tree with lighted candles included in its decoration –that was before bulbs were used.  I didn’t know my Daddy was the Santa until, as he reached across a lighted candle for a gift, the white cotton on the cuff of his suit caught on fire.  Oh, my, what a frightening hubbub!”                                                                           

Giles Vanderhoof and Missionary Companion

One by one all the children were married and Artie and Giles were left alone.  After 43 years Giles retired from the railroad. Then in October, 1945 Giles was thrilled to receive a call to serve an 18-month mission in Minnesota for the church.  Artie sustained him in his mission wholeheartedly.  At the end of Giles’ mission, using her Engineer’s Railway System pass, Artie went back to Minnesota to meet him. On the way home they enjoyed a visit with their Vanderhoof Michigan relatives and genealogy research.

As the years went by, Giles health began to fail rapidly.  Their son, Giles Leon and his wife, asked his folks to live with them so they could assist in their care. Residing for 50 years in one house made it hard to leave their home full of cherished memories. 

After enduring a long illness, Giles’ frail body succumbed on December 18, 1960. He passed away at age 81 to be reunited with friends and loved ones on the other side of the veil. Artie lived another twelve years. She died August 10, 1972 in Livermore, California.

Their footsteps can now be known and firmly planted among the stalwart pioneers and saints into perpetuity.  

      

        

        

Introducing the Founding Saints of Our Local Church!

                                                    THE FOUNDING SAINTS

Sparks Railroad Yard with Original Roundhouse

 Several families employed by the railroad were transferred from Ogden, Utah, to Sparks, Nevada in the early 1900’s when repair and maintenance shops in Ogden closed. At the time, Ogden was a fairly small railroad town with a large percentage of Mormon Church membership. As families were transferred and settled in Sparks, they felt a warm familiarity upon meeting other Ogden transfers. Ogden people either knew each other or they knew of each other’s families. The association and bond was gratifying since they generally had no extended family to associate with so far away from home.

   Unknowingly, the railroad was the medium whereby the church was established. A small nucleus of Ogden railroad transfer families became the heart of the formative branch and a new assembly of saints.

   Through turbulent times and joyous occasions, the little branch managed to thrive. For four years after the missionaries were transferred out of Sparks in 1911, things looked bleak.; then faithful members who persevered were blessed. Sunday School was reorganized in 1916 followed by the Relief Society and finally the branch was well enough established to consider construction of their own chapel building.

   California mission clerks and Sparks branch clerks kept a steady flow of information written in short form, not story form. From their references, we have enough information to investigate information from other sources. Personal interviews, histories, other church archives, history books, museums, and newspapers have given a story line to the noted subjects in the records.   

   Names of people were mentioned several times during the years of 1910-1911. We know that Emma and John Johnson moved in. Emma typified a church stalwart who regularly bore her testimony in gratitude for the organization of the branch. And, like a few other sisters, her husband was never mentioned after their records were received in the branch.

   In fact, Sisters Josephine Payne, Adelia Hafer, Lydia Anderson and Gladys Huyck were the backbone of the branch. They held positions, gave prayers and planned parties.  It appears their husbands worked long hours to provide for the family, yet were unable to attend church, having to work seven days a week. These valiant sisters did not stay home because their husbands were working. They did not let that hamper them from making the effort to attend and worship in the camaraderie of their fellow saints and sisters.

   Sparks had grown from nothing but a swamp to a thriving community overnight, however, there were very few public buildings for the membership to rent for Sunday Meetings. The records indicate the saints originally met for a “cottage meeting” in the home of Sabina Baxter. Then as time went on, meetings were held alternately between Sister Baxter’s home, the Robison [or sometimes written as Robinson] Hall and Raine Hall in downtown Sparks.

   It was common practice to work for a few years on the railroad with the intent to permanently move back to enjoy the fellowship of family and friends in Utah. Transiency has always been a predominant thread in Reno and Sparks; in fact, statistics show that only 30% of the local population who are born here remain for the duration of their lives.  Most of the founding saints defy the statistics with descendants that continue to work and live in the area as fourth and fifth generation natives.

The following, introduction posts are life sketches from a cumulative effort to invite this generation to become familiar with people who were never given due recognition for their part in promoting the growth of Zion.

Never Before Known Native American Stories by Bernice Vanderhoof McCarthy

                                Bernice Vanderhoof McCarthy and the Paiute Indians

Bernice, Mother Artie, Baby Phebe, Father Giles, Lucille, Lee

   Another source of historical value came from a very early railroad family who pioneered the church and raised their family in Sparks.The Vanderhoof family contributed a great deal to the early church and railroad community. Their daughter, Bernice Vanderhoof McCarthy, found great pleasure writing essays of her early memories concerning her family, friends and the church of her youth. 

   Her writings include people and places in early Sparks that led to its distinct nature including the nearby Paiute Indians. The following is written by Bernice.

The Thanksgiving Buck

   “When I was just a wee girl, I remember my dear little mama baking a Thanksgiving turkey that did not please her. She said that it just did not smell right, and in no way was she going to serve it for her family’s dinner.

   We lived at 531 8^th Street (now Pyramid Way) and the Paiute Indian Village was less than two blocks north and a few blocks east of us. It was just below the County Road (now Prater Way) and situated on the bank of a small ditch at about 5^th Street. Their cabins were on the north side of the ditch.

   My folks were kind and friendly to the Indians and very fond of some of the special ones. Mama knew that after its long hours of baking, there was really nothing wrong with that turkey—its odor just “turned her off.” So she called daddy in and asked him to take it down to the Indian Village.

I adored my father [Giles Vanderhoof] and literally walked in his shadow, so I went trotting along beside him to the Indian Village. It was late afternoon and almost dusk at that time of year.

   That turkey smelled good enough to me—and I remember how proud I was that we were giving our Indians such a wonderful gift! As we arrived with it, we saw a big buck Indian standing outside his cabin. Daddy walked over to him and proffered his gift saying, “My good wife sends this present over to our Indian friends.”

   I was disappointed at the lack of enthusiasm – he just accepted it with a grunt. In later years, I learned that is always their way—so stoic. I empathize with our Indians and realize why they are unable-and unwilling to show gratitude for our favors. Once, this was all theirs. I remember that I felt quite a letdown, but all the way back home, I happily skipped along at Daddy’s side, in the dusk, holding ever so tightly to his big, strong, hand.

Mattie, the Indian Squaw

   Once when my mother was expecting my younger brother, Giles, she had a very fat, nice squaw, Mattie, come regularly to assist her with the household chores. She was training Mattie so she would be familiar with all duties when Mama’s “time of indisposition arrived.”

   Giles was born the evening of February 11, 1916 at 9:15pm. The next morning Mattie made no appearance. Mama was very upset. Mattie had always been such a good and dependable person and mama was quite fond of her. How could she let her down at this imperative time.

   She sent Daddy over to the Indian Village on the bank of the little irrigation ditch, south of County Road, and a few blocks east of our house to find out why Mattie had failed her.

   As usual, I went along too, trotting along at Daddy’s heels. As we approached their cabin, we saw Mattie’s big “buck” of a husband loitering out in front of it. At the sound of Daddy’s voice, as he asked for Mattie, we heard footsteps running across the floor inside the cabin and plainly the locking of the door.

   At Daddy’s inquiry, as to why Mattie hadn’t come to work today, when of all days she was needed most, with the arrival of the expected baby, the big “buck” slowly and solemnly said, “Oh, Mattie catchum papoose last night!” We could hardly believe our ears and hurried home to tell mama. Mama was just flabbergasted and exclaimed, “Oh, poor Mattie, she was as much in need of help as I was. We were both expecting at the very same time, and there I thought she was just a fat squaw!”

Old Ida

   Mama was very kind to the Indians, and some of them used to come to our house for handouts and never once were they ever turned away. Our most frequent visitor was “Old Ida.” She was big and fat, axe handle wide across the seat, and we loved her dearly.

   We children used to giggle to ourselves as she seated herself in our back yard. She really did get up and down just like a big, fat cow, her shoulders first, then balancing her big bulk, the rest of her followed. She came silently and unannounced. Often, we’d look out and there would be “Old Ida” just sitting out there on the ground. Always, we each went over to greet and welcome her.

   Once seated, she would take out her basket weaving materials and begin her artistry as she waited. I can see her now, as she drew the willow through her mouth to give it enough moisture to make it pliable.

   If the weather was cold or bad, she came regardless. She was always brought in our home and seated in front of the kitchen range. The range was an old Star Estate, with a knife-sharpener on the front, a water reservoir on its right-hand side, from whence came hot water for our baths etc. That was before there were yet any other water-heating conveniences such as we enjoy today. Across its top front were two warming ovens (as they were called), with closing doors. Cut into the bottom, below the baking oven and the soot door was an open warming oven above the floor. There new-born chicks were placed to keep them warm.

   We would put the oven door down for Ida and she would sit there and get warm and dry out from the ice and snow. She always had a voluminous skirt that had scads of pockets. I can see mama yet, tying all sorts of goodies and necessaries into little packages that Ida could tuck into those various pockets. It was amazing how fast they disappeared.

   As she seated herself before the stove, I can hear now, the doleful little sing-song, she used to say to mama, “No gottee no soogar, no gottee no coppee, no gottee, no gottee.” And mama would be bustling around, sharing whatever she could with “that poor old soul.”

   Ida would always say, “Oh, you nicee goodee lady, someday I makee you nicee basket.” And mama would just smile her sweet, kind, smile, knowing there never would be a basket forthcoming, but appreciating the thought anyway.

   One day, lo and behold, the basket DID come, in Ida’s pocket, a small one about 6 inches across and a couple of inches deep. How it warmed mama’s heart when Old Ida brought it out from one of those mysterious pockets, saying, “See, I makee you nicee basket.” But then how angry mama became, only time I ever saw mama cross with Ol Ida, when Ida completed the sentence with, “now you givee me twenty cents.”

   Mama was insulted, not for the amount of money, but to think that she would put a price on this long-promised gift. Mama replied, “No, I will not give you twenty cents, shame on you Ida, after all the years I have been good to you, and so shared with you!

   Old Ida just looked sullen and thoughtful for quite awhile, then Looked up and said, “You givee me ten cents!” Indignantly, Mama answered, “I wouldn’t give you one cent!” You keep your basket!” which is just what she did!

Old Ida's Beans

   My father’s whole life was wrapped up in three things, and he willingly and uncomplainingly, traded many of life’s luxuries for them. First, his beloved wife and children; second, his precious Rhode Island Red chickens; and his big garden. Over all, of course, hovered the courage of his religious convictions, with all the time and effort he devoted to that.

   His garden had the first green onions, radishes, lettuce, etc. And he gladly shared it with all. When Old Ida paid her visits, she was always welcome to anything in season therein. I can see Mama giving her some of this and that, and Ida hunting a place to stow it, she left with arms laden, too.

One time Mama gave her some freshly picked yellow wax beans. The next time she came, Mama said, “Ida, I’ll give you some more wax beans that I have just picked, did you like them?” Ida gave a grunt of disgust, “Oh, No, --too itty bitty!” Mama immediately got the picture and could visualize that poor old woman trying to get the wee little inner beans out of those yellow pods.

   “Oh, Ida, she cried, “You aren’t supposed to try to shell the beans out of the pods. You break them up in inch long pieces, cook the whole thing, and eat it that way. Now I’ll give you some more and you try them like this, you’ll like them!”

   But with those beans, Ida had had it. No way was she going to have any part of them again. No amount of mama’s persuading could tempt her to even look at a wax bean again.

   Both Old Ida and Mattie, along with many other squaws, had the blue, indelible marking forever imprinted in a pretty blue color, down to their chins. We wondered if they were “grief markings” of some sad experience in their lives. We never asked them, such personal things were never even considered for discussion. We deeply respected those brown brothers and the right to have their own private rituals. We had heard that those marking s were inflicted on themselves in time of great sorrow.

Pyramid Lake Indians

   The Indians at Pyramid Lake, a desert lake north east of Reno, Nevada, always knew they had a market with my father for their huge Pyramid Lake Salmon. Daddy was a good friend to them and they thought highly of him. They would drive up in their small wagon, chat with him a bit, and then select their largest and finest Salmon Trout from beneath a heavy gray tarp. This they sold to daddy for the massive sum of “two bits!” Mama baked them in her oven with the aroma filling the air.

   Those poor Indians, as badly in need as they were for a little ready cash, and the punitive bit they derived from the sale of those few fish were resented and begrudged. So a law was soon passed prohibiting the Indians from selling their hard-caught catch. My father, realizing their dire straits and knowing how much that little twenty five cents meant to them, made them welcome. After working for their catch, they had to make the long, slow journey to find a customer in their little old horse-drawn wagon, over 35 miles of powdery, fine-dusty, corduroy jarring road, was no picnic for sure!

   A most law-abiding man, Daddy refused to recognize that law, with its injustice, and the Indians knew that he understood. So they continued to drive up in front of our house and lift a beautiful, huge Salmon Trout from beneath its wet tarp. Those original, natural Pyramid fish were really something!