Life Sketch of James C. Hansen

Only seven years after the pioneers landed in the Salt Lake Valley, my father and mother landed there too. My father was 34 years old and my mother was 10 years old.

Sixteen years later, when my mother was only 26, I happened on the scene on May 4, 1870 at Brigham City, Box Elder County, Utah, where my parents had settled, being some of the early settlers of that place. If I have it correct, I was the sixth child, one girl and four boys older. The year I was born, so they tell me was the year that the Utah and Northern Railroad was finished. Salt Lake General Conference was put off for one month so that the people from the north could go on the train, so when my father got back he found and increase in the family. My mother said I had been good the first two nights, but the night my father came home I kept him awake all night, and I have been a nuisance to people more or less ever since.

I suppose I grew something like other children. I always loved my mother very dearly; of course I loved my father, too, but I was always more or less afraid of my father in a way. Usually when I had gotten into a little trouble I would tell my mother. I always confided in her, and she stood by me and upheld me, and took me over many hard spots. And she stayed by me until her dying day. In fact, when she was on her deathbed and she had Lester and Peter there, she kept calling for me. I was married to my present wife at that time and had only been married a few months and was living in Randolph, Utah. The first thing she said to me and what seemed to worry her the most, she asked, "Was you married in the Temple?" I said, "Yes, of course." and that seemed to satisfy her. I can't imagine how she got the idea I would marry any other way.

I'm not telling much of my life so I guess I'll begin again. My boyhood life was spent a good deal like other boys, I suppose. My father was called by President Snow to Cottonwood Hollow to start the Brigham City Dairy. The old dairy buildings, some of which are still standing, are located south by a little west of where the old homestead was, where my daughter LaReve and Frank, her husband now live. After I became about seven or eight years old, I spent quite a lot of the summers at the old dairy, which I enjoyed very much. I learned to love those old hills. I don't think I could have been more than seven or eight when I began to ride and help herd the cows on those hills. I rode there quite a lot until I was about seventeen or eighteen years old. I sure used to like that kind of work.

I'd better get back to my childhood. I'm missing some of the things I would like to tell. I can remember living in the old adobe house in the Fourth Ward in Brigham City where I was born. There was an old Danish woman that lived in the house with us; she was sort of a family nurse. I learned to talk Danish and I suppose I could talk Danish before I could anything else.

(This is January 3, 1957. I'm not too happy, still the time goes fast, already January 3. Just think of it, three months I will be home, maybe, unless I should go to San Luis Obispo, which is not too likely. I went to the show last night. It was good and showed the Tournament of Roses on the screen. LaReve and Frank have gone tonight and I am alone and not very happy. I was going to write a little daily diary. but decided it would not amount to much. About all I'd have to do would be to write the first days of the month and ditto the rest of the month. Maybe I will write a few lines that has happened to me.) [1880 follows]

I was about nine or ten years old when my baby sister Annie died with diphtheria. Well, I took it but did not have it until after we moved to Collinston. I was pretty sick. Mother came in the room looking very sad and feeling for my pulse, etc. I said, "Mother, don't feel bad, I'm not going to die." I can remember it yet. I soon got better and here I am yet.

I have been here while all the wonderful things have taken place. I can remember when there was only one store in Brigham, one meat market, and it didn't have meat all the time. Old Brother Starks was the butcher. People would line up and Mother would send us kids. The big guys would force us kids out of the line and we would go home without any beef. I suppose likely they only killed one beef at a time.

I remember when the streets were covered with cobblestones, and so ruffled you could hear a wagon a quarter of a mile away, filing over the rocks. I was quite a good-sized boy before I ever rode in a buggy, and that only had these half springs. It was rebuilt from some kind of old carriage that had been driven across the plains. I remember when Brother Reeves died, who had lived just across the street from us. There were about 80 odd out to his funeral, and only one or two buggies, one to take the corpse, and the rest were wagons with the spring seats for the drivers, one or two with him, and the rest sat on chairs in the wagon or a board across the wagon box.

The courthouse that is in Brigham City now was built before I was born. It was a schoolhouse, a church, a theater, a courthouse, and a jail. I've been in many shows there. I don't know how they lighted it, but I know they did. They had good actors and they had some wonderful shows there. We used to pay our tickets with checks they called it, but they were printed bills, black on white paper. There they had another bill printed red on white paper that was legal tender and was handed like cash. It was made in 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents, and $1, $5, and $10 that would buy any soul in town, but the railroad wouldn't take it for tickets on freight. That I mentioned first, printed black on white, was only good for home produce, like shoes, clothing, and anything produced at home. Some things that used part import stuff could be bought with checks in black print. We always had checks in the house so we always went to the theater. Then something happened and Co-op broke up and the whole money was no more, and I saw them burning it on the square north of the courthouse. I felt very badly, as I remember, for it was several years before we had money so plentiful.

We moved to Collinston when I was about ten. Had always lived in town on account of school and education. I even had to go to Brigham. I ended up by marrying one of my educators, Miss Sadie Tanner, who came to Brigham City to teach in the Box Elder Stake Academy. She was a wonderful girl. I don't see what she seen in a chump like me. We had ten children, for me, very fine children.

1901-1919

From the journal entry 1901. Seems as though the last I wrote until 1933-34, so I went 33 years without writing. I guess not too pleasant years, I was living with my first wife Sadie Tanner, married her in 1888. I don't remember the exact date. The last I have written here is March, 1901. We had had a baby that died, then Orielle, Esmore, Myron, LaReve, and Lucille. The other three boys were born after that: Othello, Asael, and Colleen. I don't remember dates, I have them recorded, but they are not available at present.

Most of what happened along here is what happened when I was without a female guardian angel. I always got along flunk where I didn't have a woman to look after me. There was all those 33 years I guess a good deal happened that I can't remember. I had a pretty good time most of the time. There is about eight years swallowed here somewhere. I went out west for one year, lost time and money. Had a good layout out there, an entire section, 604 acres, good land, and I could not save that, just went away and left it.

The next summer I hit for Idaho. I took Myron and ten horses with me. I broke about twenty or thirty acres, broke more the next spring and summer, and the next. That would be about 1909. I had about 16 or 18 teams working. We put in over 800 acres. I raised 16,500 bushels of wheat and some barley. It seemed like I wasn't to make money, the more I tried, the further behind I got. I wasn't spending too much time on religion, nor was I doing anything really sinful, just careless, kind of looking for satisfaction which I never found. Then I finally sold out, but never got much of my money. I tried to have an auction sale, but it was a failure, too. I got some notes and promises, but I lost again.

Along about 1915, I bought a state land lease in Teton Basin. Hired Yul Tanner and a Dutchman named Bill. Got in a lot of debt again and never made anything as usual. I'd correspond a little with Aleen. I thought she was sweet then, but I never kept it up. Then I staked out here (Randolph). Oren Jackson showed up and persuaded me to go to Randolph and live with him and Orielle. When I'd been here about a year, I went to Newdale, Idaho to try and collect a little, but wasn't successful. While there I talked with Lester and Letitia, and I made up my mind I would win Aleen, if possible. It seemed it was possible.

(Talk about your checkered life, I had it. This is all for tonight. This is May 11, 1956. I am 86 years old.)

James C. Hansen was ordained a Seventy by George F. Richards, who was ordained April 5, 1905 by Joseph F. Smith. He was ordained July 1,1866 by Brigham Young, who was ordained by Martin Harris, who was ordained by Joseph Smith.

This is a resketch of events of 1933. This has been a very eventful year. Prices have been the lowest in history, cows selling as low as ten to fifteen dollars. Very hard winter 32-33, nearly all fruit frozen, butterfat from 18 to 25 cents a pound. All fruit quite scarce and high priced, $1.25 to $2.00 a bushel. Beets bothered with webworm had to be sprayed. Some people sprayed two or three times. We were not bothered. We did not have to spray at all. Seems we were blessed. Our cows did quite well. Were milking eleven.

We decided quite early in the season to have Nyron go on a mission, and worked to this end and made it. He left for his mission to New Zealand, Dec. 9, 1933. We were able to raise $350 toward getting him off, about $100 was donated by the ward and relations. He was married November 15.

I rode ditch for $47 per month, rode about three and one-half months. We raised about 140 tons of beets this year, got $4.20 per ton, first payment. This has been a very dry season here. Our crops were saved by the Echo Reservoir. We had rain in May, then no more to speak of until right now at the last of the year. There has been drought in many sections and flood in others.

Kidnappings by the hundreds by outlaw gangs almost running the country in leagues with the officers. Utah went wet, in fact being the 36th state to vote, her vote was the deciding vote, as it took just 36 to make 3/4 majority. It was the Stake Conference in Ogden when the election was talked about. Fear was expressed that Utah might go wet. I had never dreamed of such a thing until then.

A thought came to me, or you may call it inspiration or what you like. This was: It had been predicted that only about half of our people would stand the final test, and right here on this liquor question is when they began to divide, and where they began to separate the sheep from the goats.

I forgot to mention, horses had been dying by the thousands. We never lost any.

Will make a little prediction about my daughter Orielle. I hope it don't come true. She has broken up her home, left her husband, and taken the children, dragging them from place to place. Some day she is going to be one of the most sorrowful persons you ever heard of. She is out chasing bubbles, instead of working hard partaking of the bread of life, and I'm feeling very sorry for her and for Orin, too.

(This history continues now in 1934. This is more of a summary, not taking it word for word from what Dad has written here.) Seems as though the weather in January was real mild. In 1934, times were bad and Dad was attempting to find work and we'll now continue on word for word with what he has written in his journal.

Went to town to try to get on the government work, but not successful. Fixed wagon after I got home. We went to Mutual and had no class. Kermit and Melvin plowed all day. It has not frozen for several nights. Orin and Orielle called and got Kermit out of bed at 11 o'clock.

Wednesday, the third, it rained some this morning, did chores and plowed all day. Called about work. Did not get on yet.

Called up and sold some chickens. Got called to work. Went to town with ten hens, got 12 cents a pound for them, $5.28. Bought horseshoes and got my work order. Pitched shoes and shod horses after I came home and fixed harness. My poor wife was bothered with her face, did not sleep any.

Saturday the sixth, got up at 4:30, got ready and went to town. Hauled gravel for school basement. Got home at seven. My darling, bothered again with her face, did not sleep much.

Sunday, went to Ogden Stake Conference. Stayed for both meetings. Apostle Ballard was the visitor.

Monday, the eighth, went to Ogden to haul bricks for the Mound Fort School. Left home about 6:15. Throwed my hay and grain off at the barn where I camped and started for the Harrisville brickyard. Got out about 1 1/2 miles when my horses fell suddenly on slick pavement. Old Queen dropped on her side like she was shot. I unhitched them and got them up, but old Queen had knocked her hip down as they call it. I brought that load in with her but she was very lame, and I was quite discouraged, but what's the use. Got my brick unloaded and went downtown and called up T.R. Jones. Started for Jones afoot and got a ride. Got a young horse from him and started back to town, leading the horse. He was not very good to ride, but I rode him some. Went over 33rd, thought that would be a good place to ride. When I got to the railroad bridge, he would not go under, so I led him from there to Twelfth Street, about four miles. I was tired, and it was cold so I went to bed without my supper, tired out.

Tuesday, got up about 7 o'clock, had been up and fed horses before this. I was still tired and sore. Got my two loads of brick all right. Was in a hurry to get downtown before it got too late. I sent my insurance off and never had one cent left. I would like to have went to a show for a pastime, but I wanted to do some plowing. But I would sure like to have ridden back on the streetcar, but that time I felt I could sympathize with anyone that was broke. I trudged back very very tired. I'll bet I was getting some little experiences quite fast. Went to bed without my supper again.

Wednesday, the tenth, got up a little after 6, tended my horses, built a fire and cooked me a good square meal. After I had eaten, I began to feel like the world would continue to go around for some time yet. I only hauled one load, came home in the afternoon, brought the old mare, and came home around the factory and brought a load of pulp.

Thursday, the 11th, monkeyed around trying to find some hay until about 1 o'clock. Went after pulp in the afternoon. Went to Stoke's that evening for Genealogical meeting. We had a nice time. They served us lunch and ice cream.

Friday, the 12th, got out a little after seven, drove straight to the brickyard, got two loads, and got home a little after five. Went to the Emalia Home Dramatics. Saw a good play, "The Old-Fashioned Mother." Good house, went off fine. Bought 10 1/2 tons of hay from Bishop Green at $6.75 per ton. Brought load home.

Friday, February 23, went after pulp, rained on me coming home. Killed twenty-four chickens, took them in Saturday morning. Got eleven cents per pound for them, they averaged four pounds. Fixed washer and unloaded pulp in the afternoon. When we had been home a short time, Glen Jackson brought J.C. home carrying him in and frightened us very much. He had been at the meeting house working on the scout cabin, and had fell off the roof and had hurt his leg quite badly, but not serious.

Sunday, the 25th. J. C. did not rest very good. His mother did not get much rest either. Had to rush to get ready to go to Ogden by 9 o'clock for Genealogical Convention. Rode in with Brother Mayberry. Got home from Convention after 5 o'clock and had to hurry with the chores to get back for Genealogical Ward Conference. I was on the program to speak. My dear wife did not get to the Convention on account of J. C. She was just worn out this evening. They were all in bed when I came home from meeting. They got to bed soon after ten.

I heard my wife up making a fire. Got up and it was 12 o'clock. J. C. could not sleep, so she put him in on the morris chair where he has rested most of the time. I persuaded my sweetheart to go back to bed. I am still up. It is now 5:30 a.m. so the night is over. I hear the eaves dripping so it is raining outside and the storm period has lasted a week now. It has been more like summer rain than February. Nuf sed.

Sunday, March 25. I haven't written in here since the 8th or 9th. Got the rest of the hay from the Bishop. Decided we would harrow and plow. Lily Craythorne called in the evening and told us about her mother being sick.

Sunday, the 11th, we went down there. She had had a stroke. Found her sitting up and able to talk to us.

The 12th, we got a load of pulp on Lawrence's old style wagon. Only loaded two tons, about wore the horses out. Wouldn't have one of those wagons as a gift.

Wednesday the 14th, went to the Temple in Fowers' bus. Had a nice time. Twenty in the bus. Had faith if I went to the Temple, I would get along better with my work. Seems we have done more this week than any spring. Finished my plowing on large piece. Boys plowed and harrowed Saturday. Mama and I cleaned the meetinghouse.

Sunday, the 25th. Today we went to Priesthood meeting and Sunday School. Haven't written since last Sunday. Bartons came and took us to the Thirteenth Ward in Ogden to hear Elder Bennett who had recently returned from the New Zealand Mission. He told us some very interesting things about New Zealand. I am more pleased than ever that Nyron has gone there. Elder Bennett told us he had met Nyron and had worked with him a little. He had been there two weeks before Elder Bennett left.

Saturday, began disking soon after 7 a.m. Worked until 10:30. Finished disking and began harrowing. Aleen finished harrowing the four-acre piece. Poor sweetheart, she walked on about half of it. She fell on the harrow when she was riding, and caught her foot in the harrow and nearly broke her leg. She walked and harrowed half afterward. Brave dear, several of the neighbors passed.

I took Melvin, Carl Hadley, and Howard Fletcher to Salt Lake Temple for baptisms. Brother Hadley took us to the interurban depot and we went on the 12:30 car. Went to the museum on top Hotel Utah. Began baptisms at 4:40. Came home on the 5:30 car. Met Sy Allman, found out Orielle is living with Orin again in Salt Lake. Got home at 7:30.

This is April 23. Have not written since the first. Monday, the second, went after some pulp. Spoke to a sheepman about some lambs. On the fifth I got two lambs. I got five or six between then and the fifteenth. Sunday, then, the sheepman's wife brought us eight. Then we had fourteen. It turned cold with a north wind. The lambs piled in a corner and we lost two. Another died a few days after. It had been sick for about ten days, so now we have eleven, which I hope we can raise.

The night of Thursday, April 5, Bartons came and took us to Salt Lake to see the Genealogical pageant. Got home about 11 o'clock.

Monday, the ninth, went to Charles Green to apply for ditch riding. Did not get it. Bill Peterson got in the whole thing. On this day, or night I should say, as I came back from Green's, I saw cars coming and going to Peeks. The next day I found out that Tom Peek had died that night very sudden, but he had been ailing for some time. It was some heart attack.

Sunday, the 22nd. Fasted with North Weber Stake when they fasted and prayed for rain. A little fell during the next week, considerable more than here.

Monday the 23rd, harrowed. Tuesday drilled beets. Irrigated and drilled Saturday and harrowed.

Decided this week to go to the Salt Lake Temple for a week. Got up about 4:30, cultivated garden. Aleen milked alone. Went to Ogden with milkman, caught the 8:15 train for Salt Lake, went to the Temple and got the 9 o'clock session, also the 1 and the 3:30 sessions and stayed at Alma's that night. Tuesday, got morning session, did 20 sealings and caught the 1 and 5 sessions. Wednesday, went 4 sessions and stayed with Alma again. They were very nice to me. Thursday, went two sessions and done 25 sealings. Went home with Peter and had dinner. Went to Eph's for the evening and stayed all night and had a fine time. Sister Eliza and he and two children. Eliza sure looked fine. Everyone was sure nice to me.

Went to the eight o'clock session, then done 20 sealings. This is my birthday. I think I made the record this day. Enjoyed every minute. I sure appreciate the privilege of going to the temple this week. Forgot to say, I got left by the man who promised to let me ride to Ogden. Found Brother Malen in the Temple, got a ride with him. He brought me right to the Kanesville meetinghouse. Told him it was my birthday. He said he brought me home for a birthday present. He also said anyone who had done as much as I deserved a ride. I surely do enjoy meeting those good men that I meet there, Brothers Gibbs, Hale, Hancock, Hubbard, Pond, and many others.

I have felt since I came home that everything would be all right if I remember to do my part. I surely feel that way since I got home. I hope I remember and, when I get despondent, go to the temple and always trust in the Lord. We are poor and need money, but if I could and was offered money to obliterate this week I spent in the temple, I feel now that no sum would tempt me. I'm only praying to the Lord that this good feeling may continue.

Brother Hancock told me the last time I was down, when I told him I had a boy in New Zealand on a mission, putting his hand on my shoulder, "You will find that the best investment that you ever made." I jokingly said this time when I met him, the drought being so bad, he may have to make that promise good. Brother Hancock answered, "That promise still holds good, don't you worry." When I left this Friday night, he said, "You sure have done fine. You know your boy shall not want." When I came home and found all well and everything all right, I surely felt to thank and praise the Lord.

Thursday, the tenth, finished cultivating the beets, took cultivator home, got the old buggy ready; went to Hooper in evening in buggy to J.C.?s school play, Japanese operetta. Met lots of our old Hooper friends. Play was good. J.C. took part. A crowd in front of Tobe's store gave us the horselaugh.

Sunday, the 13th, 2 p.m. Have been to Sunday School, had a good dinner. It is still too cool in the house to be comfortable. Bartons are coming to take us to Ogden 4th Ward to meeting to hear Elder Fox, just home from New Zealand. Old Hardy calved just after we left, had a big heifer calf. We are going to raise it. Had a good meeting.

Young Brother Fox told us some interesting experiences and some quite assuring. Said he had always paid his tithing from all the money he got while on his mission, and he came home with more than he had when he went. Told an experience of his father. Said his father used to put his tithing money away and pay it all at once about the end of the year. He had $140 he was going to pay. He started for town to pay his tithing and met one of his neighbors on the road with a horse he had tried to buy several times. This time the man said, "Do you want to buy this horse now?" Brother Fox said, "What will you take for him?" The man said, "$140." Brother Fox said, "I'll take him." So he gave the man the money and started back home, quite pleased with his purchase, but feeling a little guilty. He went out and looked at his horse again before going to bed. Everything appeared all right. When he came out the next morning, he found his horse dead. When Brother Will Green heard this story, he said, "Of course! It was the Lord's horse so he took him."

Finished thinning beets Thursday the 25th, cultivated garden Friday morning. Went to Seymour's and Lily's in afternoon. Lily is feeling pretty good, but is still quite weak. Am very sorry to see Seymour's attitude toward the Church. He is on dangerous ground and is only kicking against the pricks. Went teaching in the evening.

May 30, Decoration Day, went to Brigham Cemetery and saw some old friends. Went on out to Collinston and Beaver Dam and had dinner at the old dairy. Had quite a nice time. Drove up the hills a ways up Cottonwood Hollow. We saw ground squirrels so thick that they were taking the grain. All the years, when I was around there, I never saw a squirrel. They said they have come in the last few years. Things look quite natural though. There were still many changes. Saw Myron and son, also Alma Ericson and family.

This is Sunday, July 8. Haven't written at all in June. The most eventful thing I can think of, it is very dry. The beets are about gone by the drought and the white fly. The drought really hasn't hurt them much if it were not for the insects. Went to the temple twice for endowments and once for baptisms during the month of June. Cut my barley the morning of June 23, Saturday. We had been picking fruit several days this month, cherries one day, and apricots about six days. We did not make much, but we made a few dollars besides getting our cherries and apricots, for which we are very thankful. So far we have a nice lot of fruit.

We had our last water turn June 25. Have caught a little for the garden twice, since a little drizzle was in the ditch. Our income is meager, but the Lord seems to bless us. We have not suffered from anything, but have sent money to Nyron every month. I still think he is going to continue to bless us. His blessings is all that we have to depend on.

The government is buying up the cattle in the drought sections. Kanesville has already sent one carload. We are feeding all our hay this summer, but I am still clinging on to our cows in hope we will be able to hold them. We are depending on the Lord to open the way, and I don't think we will have to sell them.

This is Friday, the 13th of July. Last Monday morning I took the cows up to Robb's, the old Noble place, and put them in his field, and the wild lettuce. They have already doubled in their milk. I feel the Lord directed me to it.

This is Sunday, July 29. The cows are still at Robb's. They have been doing fine while they have been here. Found old Zolda this morning with a bull calf. This will help our milk supply. I was in town the other day, saw the bacteria test sheet. Our test was only 5000. There were only two more as low and some ran as high as 2,500,000, so we will get 45 cents a pound butterfat on our base. We have A grade milk and have only been getting 33 cents up to date. We have had the most extraordinarily hot weather, hottest and dryest ever recorded in Utah. We sure have had a hard time to sleep nights. There has been a little water come down once in a while. We have been able to save the garden thus far. The beets are all gone.

While J. C. and I were up milking last Sunday evening, the Barton boys came over and told us their brother Alma had been drowned while in bathing in one of the sump wells used for irrigation. We went up in the evening to Bartons. They were feeling as well as could be expected. Wednesday, went to Alma Barton's funeral. The house was packed. Speaking was very good. Many cars went to the cemetery in Ogden. We rode in with Brother Visor. He brought us back to Barton's. We had lunch there, which the Relief Society in Roy had prepared. Mrs. Poulter was with us.

Thursday, arose at 3:30 a.m. Went to milk. Got back while there was yet a star or two shining. Was up at the highway at 5:45. Went to Logan to the temple. Went to two sessions, saw some of my old friends, Charles Gunnell, and May Whitten, who works here all the time. Brother Gunnell tells me that my brother Lorenzo, who worked seven years on building the temple, had never been there since he was married in the Endowment House.

I see I have not written in this book since August 9. Nyron became a father August 16 when Gerdie gave birth to a son and called his name Nyron Barton.

In August we went up to the canyon and got two loads of quaking asp dry, up head of Beaver, about twenty miles from Huntsville. Melvin went with me first trip and J.C. second. We got some good loads. Had a little tire trouble the last load and it rained some on us the second night. I enjoyed it quite well. It reminded me of old times. On the road up the second trip, we were stopped by the telephone men who were working in Ogden Canyon. They asked me to work in the afternoon, which we dragged wires with team. Made $4 for which we were very thankful and feeling that the Lord had helped us.

August the 12th, our very dear friend, Sister Martha Bartlett, John Bartlett's wife, died. She had been sick a long time with cancer. Had been there many times to administer to her. She was president of the YWMIA and Aleen was first counselor. Her funeral was held August 15. I was one of the speakers and they had the services taken by a recorder, and have it up in a little pamphlet now.

January 13, 1935. I see I have not written since September 15. I do not remember what has taken place in the last three months and a half. Bartons hauled nine loads of straw for me from Collinston. I went two trips with them and the rest of the time they went alone. My son Myron gave me the straw. Bartons trailed my wagon, gave me the wagonload and they took the truckload. I paid the gas, which cost me about $18. The straw has sure been a blessing to me. I do not know what I could have done without it. I have about half of it left yet.

The cows do pretty well by feeding them a little syrup and grain and just a little bit of hay. I only had about five or six tons to begin the winter and feeding nine cows, a bull, four yearlings, two spring calves, and two horses. We have three cows in Charley Thompson's field, and they have wintered there so far with no feed, only what they pick. They are getting a little thin. We will have to bring them home soon. We were dreading the winter some, but we are doing all right. The Lord is blessing us and helping to get through all right.

We have not burned any coal yet this winter. We hauled two loads of quaking asp from the mountains and one load of poplar from Orielle's, and have cut some green from the ditch bank along the road.

I have been to the temple and done 41 endowments in 1934. Set my mark at 50 but did not make it. We were so short of money, but if I had a little more faith I might have made it.

I just got my book out this evening. I have not written at all in 1935, only the once on January 13. I notice there I said we had a beet growers' meeting in December. We were told we would get $1 per ton for our 1934 crop. The money came the first part of February, but through some mistake mine did not come. I was very much disappointed and almost sick over it. I needed the money so badly and counted on it. I sure felt bad. We had not raised much of anything in 1934, as I have said before. Brother John D. Peterson offered me a loan of $15, which I accepted. It helped me out for the time being. I had gotten a little hay from Sam Fletcher and owed him for it. I don't remember just when I got the money from the government, but I did. It was along in May. I paid Sam Fletcher and Peterson some and sent some to the Federal Loan in Oakland. I got the 1933 payment from the government a little later, about $37. I sent in all about $250 to the loan.

Our cows are not doing too well, so we are not any too flushed with money, but scraping along as best we could. The Lord blesses me in the meantime, and opening the way when we get up against it. The radio is running so I will have to stop for tonight.

This is Sunday, January 12, 1936. It is sure hard to get writing. I was sure going to keep a daily diary this year, but it is no use. I can not get at it. I am so busy, I get up at 5:30 and at night I am too tired and sleepy. After I have sat down a few minutes looking at the paper I am dozing. I was going to write a little on the '35 history, but I can't remember, but it has been an eventful year.

Our crops were pretty good; beets did not do so well. We had 30 plus tons, first payment $4 per ton. We had 106 bushels of rye, 166 of barley, 66 of wheat. We are feeding most of it. We had about 30 loads of hay. Hope it will see us about through. We were not able to get but 30 tons of pulp so they tell us at the factory. We will soon have our thirty tons. Hope they will let us continue to haul.

The temple was closed from July until about the first of December, so we did not get to the Temple very much in 1935. Hope we will do better in 1936.

We have sent Nyron his money every month, and have gained instead of losing by it. The Lord has surely blessed us and is blessing us. Wish I was more worthy so I would be entitled to more blessings.

Took the children to the Logan Temple for baptisms. They were baptized for: J.C., 157; Lenore, 110; Melvin, 116. Lillian Potter was with us and she was baptized for 110.

I can't think of anything that I would like to write about. It is very hot this late summer. The water helped out pretty well. We got along with the work quite well. Have much more to do this next year, as we will be compelled to do quite a lot of building to comply with the new milk rules.

Strange, one cannot think of anything to write. There is very much unrest and fear in the land. One never knows what is going to happen next. Crime is terrible. A few people being killed doesn't make a stop in things. Automobile accidents are terrible, but still they go.

At present we are running our old Model T Ford 1926, so it won't do much damage speeding. We went up to Penrose to Aunt Lily's funeral. We rode with Bartons. The cortege went between forty and fifty miles per hour, so if you don't have a good car, you can't go to the funeral nowadays. We need another car badly, but we will have to get along with this old one. I must build the rest of my stable and fix up the house before I get a car.

I feel the Lord has been with us the past year and blessed us in so many ways. We have sent Nyron his money to New Zealand every month and gotten along about the same as usual. Time has passed quick. It is over two years now since Nyron left. He will be back in the spring. It doesn't seem possible.

We went to Lagoon with Bear River Stake. Saw several of my old Beaver Dam friends, Bishop Johnson and wife, Alma Ericson and wife, Cal Ericson and wife, Will Bowen and wife, Albert Simms and wife (she has since died), Joseph Johnson and wife, Jake Bigler and wife, and a few others. I heard Bishop Johnson had died lately. This was not so. It was sure nice to see them and have them act so pleased to see me as it was then.

Life seems monotonous; still there are very many changes when you look back over a period of years. It seems almost yesterday I was married to my darling Aleen. Now sitting beside me is my son, J. C., 16 years old, my baby, nearly 6, my oldest daughter, nearly 45. Esmore, my oldest son is getting a gray beard. Asael, an educated man with a doctor's degree, in the east some place near Washington for about seven years. I've never seen his wife. My other children are scattered here and there. Myron is at home with his mother. There he will be forty in May and not married. Nyron was a little fellow, six, when I came to the family. Now he is married, and has a son, and has been in New Zealand for more than two years, coming home in the spring. Golda was eight. Now she is married, lives in Arizona, has had three children, first one stillborn. She has two beautiful children now. I think I have twenty grandchildren now.

Gosh, the years are passing fast. I will be an old man in spite of myself. Gosh, I hate to get old. Life is quite interesting after all, if it does seem monotonous. I want to live to see what's going to happen next. Changes happen overnight nowadays. If anyone had went to sleep about forty years ago and had woke up at the present time, they would not believe their own eyes. I read of a man who had been blind for a long time. His sight was restored, and he was afraid to cross the street or hardly move, while, when he was blind, he would cross the street and not think anything about it.

January 2, 1937. I see I did not do any more in 1936. Joseph Decker and family came from Arizona, December 1936. Bought a place in Clinton from Brother Bonham. Joe and Golda and their three children are still living there, one son born here in June.

Well, here goes a few things I might remember for the year 1936. I've been expecting the world to come to an end ever since 1930, but it is about the same yet, so I have put it off indefinitely. I guess I'll come to an end before the world does. We've got along fairly well the past year. Milk came up to 47 cents the first of the year which is about as much again as it was two or three years ago. Seemed nice to have a little more to use, but still it did not go very far. We sold about $1500 worth of milk in 1936.

We done fine the first part of the year, 1936, but I got a little too arrogant or something. I lost out. It seems like I have to be so humble it's painful. If I am not, I am soon brought down in my conditions, that I cannot prevent, until it is a hundred times worse than it would have been in the first. I borrowed a little money. This seemed to make it worse. I don't know where we will get it straightened out again. My wife thinks all of our sorrow has come financially because of that loan. Well I have repented now and will try to keep as humble as a whipped dog.

Nyron came home from his mission April 20, 1936. We tried to get him a place with a money order to help him out on one, but we did not get together with anyone. Then we could not suit Gerdie or Bartons, so Nyron borrowed himself $200 for a car. We let him have a hundred dollars. He went to Elwood to work for Aldred Christensen, his cousin, but his wife would not stay there. Nyron came back to Roy August 1 and took Mart Barton's place which he had bought in the spring. Nyron is still on it and is trying to buy it. Made the payment this fall. Hope he can stay and make it all right. He is paying $5000 for it.

I bought a cow from Orielle in February or March, 1936. Paid her $55, but she had not paid for the cow, and the man she owed came and got the cow. So there went $55 of my borrowed money, and, of course, I'll never get it anyway, and I'll be surprised if I do.

Our grain crop did not amount to much and our beet crop was almost a failure, only had 21 tons on five acres. Thought we had enough hay put up, but it was not going to last us through the winter. But I suppose we will get through until spring some way.

1937. We are wintering 36 head, counting two horses. We have been milking thirteen all winter and haven't done too well. We had to cut out the grain because it was so high. We could not get pulp this year, only by buying someone's right, and that cost us 50 cents per ton besides the regular pulp price. We are still getting 47 cents for our milk. Don't know whether we can keep the market. The regulations are so strict. Inspectors were here yesterday, January 15. They found quite a bit of fault. Haven't heard yet how it effected us, but we are living in hopes.

We bought Oren Peek's pasture December 1935. Are to pay $1000 for it. We paid $100 down and $100 per year at 5 percent and the taxes. We have made the payment this year, all but the 45 dollar interest. We have all our taxes paid the first time for four or five years.

I have faith that if we keep plugging along and do the best we can, in three years we can be up with all our past due stuff, and interest. And fix the house up a little. We sure need it fixed up and a little furniture on the inside. We have been camping pretty much all the time since we were married. I say camping, that means we have not been living like civilized people should, but we are still living in hopes.

This is Thursday January 21, and it was reported to be 26 below. Gosh, it's cold. I'm trying to write once in a while but something or other disturbs me. Seems like there's always something interesting on the radio. Wasn't it wonderful when you think of it. If anyone ever reads this, they will not think anything of such a common thing as a radio. Well, it still seems like a miracle to me, because I remember when there wasn't even a telephone, and the speediest transportation we had for a short distance was the old horse. We thought that was pretty good, of course, and we could go on the horse even if we were going a distance. The trains ran from 12 to 25 miles per hour forty years ago. We thought that was going some.

I'm still driving the old Model T Ford, 1926 Model. I'm still living in the hopes of doing better in the future, but I may die in despair. My health is very good, and I am very desirous of living to get my debts paid and leave my family in a little better shape and have time to put a few years in the temple, and to do a little missionary work among my other family. It sure seems hopeless sometimes, but I guess if I keep the commandments of the Lord and pay my tithing, I will get out some time.

Had to sell old Queen the other day to the fox farms, and got a new horse. Traded Elaine's cow Cherry for it. It is a nice size light gray horse.

During the cold weather, about ten days ago, I forgot the water in the car. I guess she is pretty well cracked up. I haven't got the ice out of it yet, so we are afoot at the present. We need a new car very much, and we do not know when we will be able to buy one. It seems like things move kind of slow for us.

I'm not very happy. My wife blames me for all of our failures and troubles, and debts. I do not know how it will all come out. I think she does not love me very much. In fact she says that. I do know that if we get out of this, we must be united and pull together and live so we can have the spirit of the Lord with us. I sure feel discouraged sometimes. I guess I am a failure with the women. I've never willfully hurt anyone in my life. I don't mean that I have never hurt anyone, of course. I have, many many times, but I've never figured to do it. I have been misunderstood hundreds of times by my motives misconstrued and landed just the opposite from the way I intended. I haven't got much out of this world and if my wives both quit me for the next and then take the children with them, I had about as well never been born. One thing I believe: I have learned a man should never tell a woman he loves her if he does. She just delights in hurting him. It is my fault. I am very sorry. I just love to love and be loved.

There, my heart is light and I'm happier. Will that day ever come again I wonder. Maybe I shouldn't ought to have written the above, but I feel nearly the same yet.

This season hasn't brought us much. The cows haven't done too well and the beets only went about five or six tons per acre, so we are in about as bad a condition as usual. I see I wrote the first of the year a sort of a prediction we would get out of debt in three years if we kept the commandments of the Lord. That would give us two years yet. It's still possible and I haven't given it up.

The past year has brought us some satisfaction and happiness of course. We never meet our hopes and expectations, but our hopes for the future are all that save us and keep us from giving up all hopes. We always think we will be better the next year.

Today, December 26, 1937, over the radio, they gave us the review of 1937. It told about all the wars and the terrible strikes, etc. The world is all unrest with wars and rumors of wars.

I rented Theron Peterson's place in 1937. Have quite a nice lot of hay. Hope we have enough and that we have a better winter, not quite so cold and long.

We got an old Model A Ford for about $90 and it has done us pretty good service ever since.

It seems like I have a terrible time writing. My writing will be rather incoherant now I am afraid. Folks talking, some playing the radio, going all together. Your thinkbox isn't much good. Guess I'll have to quit for this time. It is about milking time and they are going to reorganize the Ward tonight, for which I am very sorry, but I guess we have to take the bitter with the sweet.

Sunday, January 2, 1938. Have been in the first Sunday school of 1938 and fast meeting.

More about 1937. It has been an eventful year in so many ways, wars and rumors of wars. The way they talked two years ago that there would have been a world war long before this, but it has held off. There has been a war of rebellion in Spain for nearly two years now. Also a war in China which is an undeclared war. The Japs just went to China and began fighting. They have been driving the Chinese and have taken the capitol and other cities. They have destroyed one American vessel and killed a few Americans.

Our health has been pretty good during the past year. My wife suffered for several years with a pain in the nerve in her face. It only used to come on at times, but finally it came and stayed. She said it nearly drove her crazy, so we went to Dr. Pincock. He injected alcohol into the nerve and it has not bothered her since. That was about September.

We went to the reunion of my wife's mother's people in September. Children and all went. We met at the Elwood meetinghouse and had a very nice time. Met many people I had not seen before.

Well I guess I'd better let bygones be bygones and begin the new year. This is Sunday, January 9, 1938. I am sitting in the Stake Tabernacle between meetings at Stake Conference. At this moment, President Grant, and Apostle David O. McKay are setting apart the new Stake Presidency and the new bishoprics, three in number. James H. Riley was put in as Stake President this morning, with Horace E. Garner and Julian Stephens as counselors.

We had some wonderful instructions from President Grant this morning, made me feel more determined than ever to do my duty and to do what I am asked to do, and also to overcome my mean little weaknesses, and try and stand as I should with my family and elsewhere. Our religion is wonderful if we live it as we should. It comprises the whole man. Our temporal work and all should be within the scope of our religion.

It seems nice to be here with all the family. Joe and Golda and their children are here too. Afternoon was Sunday School and Primary convention. We had a good meeting. President Grant and Elder McKay were not there this afternoon. Presidents Tanner and Mitchell spoke in the afternoon, also the new presidency. I think we're going to like them very much. I think the change went off beautifully. I think not a person going out of or coming into office has disappointed me, or any people I have talked to since.

Took my dear wife to Ogden to the doctor again. She is suffering with those terrible pains in her face again. Maybe I haven't mentioned it in this book, I think, so I will tell it now. She had her teeth out about ten years ago. Not long after she began to have sharp pains about like jumping toothache. She would have them for a spell, then they would quit for a while. But after a while return again. This kept on for a while, then she had a spell for about a year that she did not have one, and we thought she was cured. Then it came again and finally got to coming oftener. Then she would have a spell that might last nearly all the time for about a month. Finally last summer, 1937, it came on and never stopped. She did not get much sleep and could not eat much. We had been to Dr. Merrill a few times and he took a x-ray but discovered nothing, so we went and talked to another doctor. He referred us to Dr. Pincock who specialized in that kind of work. He told us it was nerve spasms and that the pain she had endured was almost excruciating, the worst pain he knew anything about. I felt like bawling when he told us that my poor darling had endured enough to have killed a man. And she had not complained much either. So when it returned a few days ago, my heart just sank, and I hope what he did for her today will last a little longer. Here's hoping.

This morning my dear wife is feeling terrible. She did not sleep last night. She broke down and cried, the pain was so severe this morning. I laid my hands on her head and blessed her. She got to feeling better and at this writing, 1:24, she is feeling better. But her mouth has been terribly sore.

Took her to the doctor again, Saturday the 26th. He said her mouth was doing all right. The soreness was not dangerous. Thought it would clear up soon. She has had a terrible headache for several days.

We had a good rain the first of the week, Monday the 17th and Tuesday. Aleen was feeling better. The Lord had heard our prayers.

Wednesday, went to Ogden, mother, J.C. and I. Mama is feeling punk. I wanted her to go back to the doctor, but she says he makes her suffer too much. She would almost as soon die. She went to Dr. Moffit, the manipulator or masseur. He seemed to be doing her good. She went again Friday and he wants her back again Monday. She is feeling much better. It looks like he will stop her pain. I hope he does, even if it does cost $2 a trip. It's cheap at that if he cures her.

Went to George Green's, Friday, to try and get some money to Brother Kingston. Did not succeed. The weather is beautiful again. It was a little cold the first of the week, but it warmed up again. It tried to snow yesterday and made the ground white, but the ground is already bare again.

January 30, my wife made two more trips to the scrubbing doctor. He said she should be all right now. I hope that he is right.

Esmore and his son, Jim Pratt, was here and stayed overnight with us a week ago tonight, February 5. I was glad to see him. He is trying to buy the place again that Orielle had in North Ogden. Hope he makes the deal. It would be kind of nice to have one of my other family near.

Elaine and three others were baptized by J.C., Jr. I'm glad they thought him worthy to baptize them. I confirmed Elaine. I enjoyed fast meeting very much. I bore my testimony.

Some of the things that have happened since I wrote last: I have bought a black horse for $60 from Les Stokes. It turned out to be a good one. We hauled about 25 loads of manure on Samuel Fletcher's beet land. It kept so stormy we had to get everything done. LaReve, my daughter, and her husband called here Monday evening, April 25. Sure enjoyed their visit. Had not seen her for about eight years. Had not seen her husband since a few months after they were married, which was shortly after I was married to Aleen.

I was thinking this morning how happy we should be for the blessings of the gospel, the peace and satisfaction it brings us in these times of turmoil and strife. If I could not have wealth and the testimony of the gospel, I would much prefer the testimony, as one cannot buy peace or contentment with money. So I thank the Lord every day for the meager testimony I have of the gospel and plan of salvation.

Had Melvin's horse Chub operated on Friday May 13. He is not doing too well. I will remember and hope the boys will never get another horse that needs any surgical work on.

The cows are doing fine. We are milking 15. Two or three were nearly dry. We sent four cans full this morning.

I see I have not written since May 18. This is July 3. I see I mentioned Melvin's horse Chub. The next Monday he died. It was just eleven days after the operation. We felt very sorry to lose him. I went to the sale in Ogden about June 1, bought a nice bay 6-year-old. Came from Wyoming, was hardly broke; paid $40 for him. Think he is going to be fine when we get him steadied down.

We hired our beets hoed for $2.50 an acre. Six Mexicans, they hoed them in 1 1/2 days, ten acres. We went fishing one day at Pine View Dam in Ogden Canyon. Went up to the sawmill to see about lumber. Fished a little while again on the way back. Left the car up on the road, and, while we were gone, someone stole my wife's handbag containing her false teeth, upper plate. She never did get them. Her new plate cost $20. She thought that was quite a lot. In this day, people don't seem to regard other people's rights very much.

I guess it is best to try and meet all the requirements made of us. If we are good saints, we will give all we possess and our very lives, if necessary, to the church for the establishment of Zion on earth. I sincerely hope I will not be weighed in the balance and found wanting.

I have two problems facing me at the present time, one to go on a visit mission to my scattered children and see and talk to as many as possible, see how they are feeling and maybe preach the gospel to them. The other is to fix up the house. If we are ever going to fix it up to do the family any good, the time is right now. I'm sure anxious to get at it. But I don't know whether I can make it on the trip, or the other I mention above. I do not yet know.

We owe Brother Charles Kingston $400 yet on this place. He offered it to us for $300. We paid $50, and the bank has an order on our beets for the $250. Hope the Lord will bless us so we can make it.

The Church has become very popular now. All persecution has stopped. I do not know which is best for the Church. I believe we need a little persecution from the outside to push us together a little so we will not get too much like the world. I wonder if that isn't one reason we are so popular. The Lord says if we are of the world, the world will love us.

Our beets turned out quite well in 1938. We had 96 tons on Sam Fletcher's, 63 on Theron Peterson's, 28 tons at home. The factory paid $4.40 per ton and government payment $1.78, made about $6.18 per ton altogether.

We got Kingston's mortgage cleared up all right and paid about all that was pressing most. Guess we are getting along as well as could be expected. Am not writing this until June 3, 1939.

We got a polled angus bull yearling in February for $90. He proved to be infertile, so we traded him and a cow for a larger one, making the larger one cost us $150. My idea is to put two calves on a cow and raise baby beef. Don't know how it is going to fare out, but I am still living in hopes at making something at it, but very often things do not go my way. In fact, most of the time they don't. Here I am 69, and still living in hopes, and I hope my hopes will yet be realized and I will not die in despair.

This is Sunday, November 26, 1939. My health has been very good the last year. Worked about as hard as usual. Started to work one morning milking at 6 o'clock a.m., took the water about 10 and watered until the next morning at 8, making about 26 hours without any sleep and no rest, only barely while I ate my meals. I did not feel so bad as I thought I would. In fact, I stood it fine. I'm always working from 5 or 6 a.m. to 8 or 9 in the evening.

We rented Theron Peterson's and Sam Fletcher's again this year. The boys had Sam's. There was only 80 tons of beets on Sam's this season. The government made me leave six-tenths of an acre, which I sold to Nathan Child. Four acres on Theron's made about 46 tons. I had 1.6 acres of cantaloupes, which brought me $110. They only paid us $4.10 for beets this year and are charging 50 cents a ton for pulp. If they do not pay us more before spring, I am going to plant a lot of cantaloupes, maybe ten acres. We had four acres of beets on our own and only raised 27 tons, so made nothing on them.

But the cows have come to our rescue and we are getting along pretty good. Think we will come out all right in the end, and I am not discouraged. We have about three tons of barley and a ton of bran this fall and the cows are doing pretty well. I believe we are going to be able to pay everything that is pressing us.

We bought a horse this spring for $55. I also traded two cows for two horses, for Nyron, so he has a good team. Very good for the price he paid.

This is the 26th of December, 1939. We will soon be writing 1940. It hardly seems possible. Time surely does fly. Christmas is just over. Was everyone in the family satisfied? J. C., Melvin, and I gave Aleen a nice desk. She liked it all right. I was about to have to take it back because we could not afford it. I guess if we only got what we actually could afford to pay for, we would have been starved to death long ago.

We had a fine Christmas. Everyone is satisfied. We all received good useful presents. When me and the boys gave Mama dear the desk for Christmas, we surely worked it good. Boyles were to deliver it Saturday, and I wondered how we could keep her from seeing it. Boyles' men did not bring it out until about 3 a.m. They hammered the door and got us up. I got the desk put away in the garage. I went back to bed. My wife asked me what was wrong, and I told her some men from Boyles were looking for Bell's, our neighbor. Told her I thought maybe they were drunk. She let it go at that and never suspicioned a thing. I got it all set up in the house with a nice little desk lamp on it before she ever saw it and was she surprised. I'm sure it made her feel good. She is always sacrificing so much for others.

Lenore has acquired a beau, and he has been bothering around for about three or four months. She is taking a business course at the LDS Business College. She has about three months more. She is doing fine. Hope she can get a job when she gets through.

J.C. was just made an Elder and is a very fine young man, very active in the Ward and is First Counselor in the Genealogical Committee, youngest in the Stake. He was 19 in July.

Melvin is a good boy, too, a wonderful worker for his age. He was 15 this fall, and has been Deacon's president for a year or two. He is old enough now to be made a teacher, which I suppose will take place before long.

Elaine is nine, will be ten next April. She got an accordion for Christmas. She is quite tickled and I think she is going to learn to play it. She is a very bright girl, doing fine in school.

Last summer passed about as summers do, with not too many events that made any difference to us personally. Of course, there have been plenty of things happen in the world, wars and rumors of war, fulfilling prophecies to the letter. About all the public talk nowadays is war. As yet, our country is at peace, only for strikes and such things. Am trying to live my religion, but no doing too well at it. I guess a man is always a boy and he never gets so old that he doesn't have some temptations of some kind.

We just started on the ward budget and I am on the committee, and I am to collect from 1/3 of the ward. I was quite successful. I collected $49.

1940. Our New Year began with a shock. Alice Fletcher came over about 7:30 a.m. with a phone message, said someone got killed in Beaver Dam. I called up and found it was my former wife, the mother of my nine children. She had called me up Friday before Christmas. First time I had heard her voice in several years. She wanted me to come up and talk things over, but we were slow in making connections. I hurried to Ogden and missed a train by two minutes, so I never got to see her again in this life.

I went up there Tuesday the 2nd. The funeral was Thursday. I came home Friday. This gave me a nice visit with my children. All of them were there, but Asael, who is teaching at Oxford, Ohio. The services were fine. Many wonderful things said about her, some I did not know. She was a wonderful woman, but peculiar in her ways, and I don't think any man living could have lived with her the last 25 years or so.

I got a black poll angus bull a year ago thinking to raise a crop or two of beef calves, thinking I would get them all black. He must not have been purebred, as they tell me all calves will be black from a purebred bull. I have four calves now, one jersey, one black, one red Durham, and one red and white, so I guess I was bit again. I've just traded for another black calf, but I am afraid he is only a grade, too. He is a very fine looking calf, too, and I hope for better luck, but I will not be satisfied until I get a registered purebred.

March 17, 1940. James C. Jr. went to the temple for his endowments in January. He has been several times since and seems to enjoy it very much. I am sure glad.

I told you, I believe, that Lenore has been attending the LDS Business College for six months, is nearly through now, and has been doing fine. She comes home nearly every Friday night, and she has a love affair that doesn't suit me very well, but she is quite persistent in having her way about it. His name is Brown. I hardly consider him in her class. He is quite a pleasant chap all right. I hope it is not serious, but we have to wait and see.

Melvin is a fine big fellow, about as tall as I am, and he is only 15. At present he is practicing a part for a school play, "Jo's Boys" to come off this Friday night.

We have contracted for 13 acres of cantaloupes, 2 acres on our own, 4 acres on Sam's, and 2 acres on Theron's place. J.C. has 5 acres on Bishop Green's. He has rented 11 acres from him for $150 for the year. They are still fighting the sugar company for the beet contract for 1940.

Joseph Decker and Golda lost out on their Bonham place in Clinton. Now they have bought a place, 20 acres at Warren, and have just got moved over there. I think it is a good place. Gave $1800.

This season we hope we can do some of the things we are so anxious to do, some of which are to have J.C. go on a mission, my wife go east for Genealogical work, maybe fix the house a little.

We got a car yesterday, a 1936 Hudson for $345. Hope we get it paid for all right. The idea did not please my wife very much. Am in hopes she will get to feeling better soon about it. It is a beautiful car and runs very well.

1942. I see I have not written any since crop time, June 30, 1940, nearly two years. 1940 is when we planted so many cantaloupes, but did not make much. We borrowed $200 in the fall to pay taxes, etc. J.C. went on a mission in December. We had raised about 13 or 14 calves, nearly all-full angus.

J.C. has been on his mission now nearly a year and a half. We still manage to send him $30 per month. He manages to get along on that. He is sure a fine boy, and is doing fine. He is in Norfolk, Nebraska now, was nearly one year in Craig Colorado. It's all in the Western States Mission.

We got along pretty well last year, tried a few cantaloupes again on Fletcher's. Our crop was not too good, the price poor, 38 cents, I think. Was cut off with an early frost, I think about the last of September. Crops were not very good on Sam's so I did not make anything. Got about 110 bushels of wheat, about 60 or 70 bushels of barley. Hay was poor.

Helped Nyron borrow $200 to save his place. He was to pay it back if he kept one section, but as it is he has only paid $10 cash. He fed some cows over the winter of '40-'41 and we got some hay. We will get the rest in hay this summer, so that's all right.

Last April, we decided, to save my dear wife, I would have to take her to San Francisco as that was the nearest doctor, nerve specialist. So on April 14, 1941, Monday morning, we left Ogden about 10 a.m. We got there about nine Tuesday morning and she was operated on the morning of the 16th. It was very successful, and she got along fine. I only stayed about two or three days, she about ten days.

I did not see how we could possibly do it, at first, but there wasn't much choice. I called up President Riley of the bank, Sunday, so we went in early enough to go to the bank first. We got $300. Went to the depot. My poor Aleen was suffering all the time. As soon as we got on the train, the porter made the bed right away and she lay down all the way. Good Sister Mayberry insisted we take the small bottle of consecrated oil. I drew the curtains of the berth and administered to her. She got easier, but suffered a lot most of the way.

Riding on the train is very much different from what it used to be. They used to treat you the same as a dog or worse if a dog's fare was paid. Today they treat you like kings. They have a hostess who is a trained nurse. She couldn't have been nicer if we had been her parents. We went on the Challenger. It took us 23 hours.

We went to the University of California Hospital. The doctor was Dr. Nafzigger, a nerve specialist. He operated April 16, Wednesday morning. He cut the sensitive nerve or feeling nerve and left the active nerves. She got along fine. We are sure happy it's over. She suffered off and on for about twelve years.

Melvin went to work in the canning factory in peas, worked about all of the time; continued through tomatoes. He did fine, made about $600. He wasn't out of work but a little while when he went to work for Ray Hamblin driving truck. He has worked about all the time, but a few days, ever since, and he is still working. He has made up to date over a thousand dollars.

J.C. came home from his mission two days before Christmas, after performing a very good mission. He has a very good spirit; has not tried to work away from home. The boys are renting John Peterson's farm for $1000 cash rent. They are paying $500 down and have bought a truck. It cost them $400 by the time they get the license, etc. And to help out, the boys were going to a dance last Wednesday night. The clutch went out on them and we just got it home today with a $27 bill against it.

It isn't all that's come. I just got called, a sudden call on a mission to the southern states. I guess some of my friends think I am crazy. I've wanted to go on a mission all of my life, but I am making it rather late. I am 72 now, and if the Lord will bless me, I will make it all right. It is quite an under- taking all right, but my health is good and I have good faith I will keep well and do the things I am going to do, and my loved ones will get along all right while I am away. I have two of the finest boys in the world, and they are more than willing to have me go. Melvin says he is going as soon as I come back. I can't write any more or anything serious with that blatherskite on the radio going.

This is a little mission history. I received my call Friday, February 5, 1943. I went to the Salt Lake Mission Home, February 15 and had classes the 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th. I was billed to leave Salt Lake on the 19th but did not have my things or money so was allowed one more day. I was interviewed by Apostle Merrill, Wednesday the 17th. Thursday the 18th we visited the church security plant. Friday the 19th, classes in forenoon, met with the authorities in the afternoon and was set apart by the Apostle Lyman. Received wonderful blessing. Got ticket after meeting, cost $40.87.

Went home Friday night and found my loved ones feeling fine. Had to leave them Saturday night at 8:30. Parting was quite hard. I decided I loved my folks very much, and I know I have as good a woman for a wife as any man ever had. J.C. stayed with me at the depot. Melvin went after their girls. Lenore and Jet came down. Lenore forgot our pictures and I did not seem to get my mission pictures so I got off without any pictures of anyone. Well, I bid farewell to all my loved ones, and how I do love them.

A Brother Teuscher was with me as far as Pueblo. He was a very fine fellow. We parted here and he went to the Texas Mission. I did not take a sleeper from there, had one however from Salt Lake to Pueblo, enjoyed it very much. There were some very nice people on the train. Left Pueblo about 3:30 Monday on the Missouri Pacific streamliner.

The train was crowded with soldiers. Everyone smoked. I met a lady after we had been on a little while. I asked her where she got on the train and she said Thistle, Utah. Of course, I asked her if she was a Mormon and she was. Then I told her I was going on a mission. She complimented me and said it was sure wonderful. I found out she was married to a soldier and was on her way with him to see his folks. She pointed him out. I asked her if she would like her man to sit with her. She said she would surely, so she motioned him to come back. I went into another car and found me some kind of a seat. When I came back in the morning, they were sure pleased and thanked me very much. I felt paid for my good turn.

Got to St. Louis at about 10 or 11 in the morning, and left I think about 2. Had to change once between St. Louis and Atlanta. Waited about one hour between trains. Arrived at Atlanta about 10:30 the next morning. Stayed there about 20 hours and came on to Jacksonville. Arrived there at 10 p.m. Went to the mission home and am still here.

Thursday the 25th. Went to the beach and saw the Atlantic Ocean for the first time, So I have now been across the continent.

Friday the 26th. Studied some in the a.m. and went with the Elders Pullam and Knight to Brother Boone's for dinner. Spent the evening there and had a very nice time. His wife is a Ruth Flake girl from Snowflake. She knows Joe and Golda. I think she is related to Joe.

Saturday the 27th. First took in town a little and went to a show in the afternoon.

Sunday the 28th went with Brother Starling to St. Augustine, the oldest city in the U. S. I am appointed to labor there with Brother Flake of Arizona. I am to go down there Thursday Morning. They say things are in bad shape down there and hard to fix up; but, if I depend on the Lord, I think I can do my part of it.

Well, this is Thursday evening, March 4, and we are here in St. Augustine in a small room in an old hotel called the Dixie Hotel. We are to only pay $1.50 per week each. I have been walking around some this evening. It is sure cold here. Suffered more with the cold in the last five days here than I did any five days all winter. Utah for me. Things are sure high here. Afraid our expenses will run high. This is some town, some of the streets are only eighteen or twenty feet wide from house to house, no sidewalks. The church population runs strongly to Catholic, so it is going to be a hard place to do very much.

Friday the fifth, we went and saw one member family and another nonmember who was a Presbyterian. She was nice enough to talk, but I don't think you could phase her. Her minister is the best in the world.

Saturday, when we awoke it was pouring rain. It rained until about 2, then we went and visited a place where the woman was a member but the man is not. No one asked us to dinner and it was Brother Flake's birthday, so we went to a restaurant for his birthday dinner and got about half we could eat for 45 cents. Came home and made our first weekly report. It took us until bedtime.

Sunday the 7th, we rose about 7:15, had our prayer, and read Romans and part of Galatians for about an hour and thirty minutes. Then we got ready for Sunday School, and of course, we fasted. It had a small Sunday School but a good spirit. Brother Sterling, who is the presiding Elder here, but lives in Jacksonville, was present. He always is. He brought a Sister Skinner, who is a good saint, and with Brother Sterling, she taught the Gospel Doctrine class, an interesting class. There were eight or nine in the class, and we had a good time. Brother Flake and I administered the sacrament in Fast Meeting. Nearly everyone in the house, children and all, bore their testimony. We had a missionary meeting at 5 p.m. I spoke there, also. Then at 6:30 we had evening services, and Brother Flake and I spoke again. A young lad about twelve gave a wonderful talk on the Word of Wisdom. We had dinner at Brother Kinser's home. This closed the day very nicely. Goodnight.

Monday, 8th, went to talk with a woman who had known the church for twenty years, so that it was all right, but other churches were about as good. However, got her to promise she would pray earnestly about it and tell us next time she saw us. Went on up to a Sister Dickey's place about two miles out. She showed us another saint woman's place. There are so many more women than men that belong to the church.

Tuesday night, went out about two miles to see a saint woman. Her sons and her husband are not members. On the way back we tracted, and was invited in two or three times. This was my first tracting and I would enjoy it, I believe, more if I was alone. Brother Flake criticizes the way I do things generally.

Wednesday the tenth, called on a woman and her two married daughters.

Thursday the 18th. Between now and the 10th, I can't remember everything. We had a cottage meeting on the 11th; I spoke on the personality of the Godhead. Got along pretty well. There were eight present besides us Elders. I led the singing. What do you know about that? We called on five members in the morning. Had tracted in the afternoon. Made 14 calls, invited in ten, loaned one Book of Mormon. Quite a successful day. Had cottage meetings at night. Visited three nonmembers and one member, tracted some, distributed fifteen tracts. On the 13th visited one member family, tracted some. On the fourteenth, Sunday, went to Sunday School, had a nice time. Went to Kinser's for dinner. Visited two families in the afternoon. Had missionary meeting at 5. I spoke a few minutes. Had Sacrament Meeting at 6:30. Brother Colbin, the local elder from Jacksonville, spoke, also President Boone and Brother Flake. Had a very good meeting. Elder Boone is local District President. This compares with our Stake President.

Monday the 15th, visited with members and nonmembers about six hours. Tuesday, visited, but did no tracting. Wednesday the 17th, we visited nonmembers and six members, did some tracting, held cottage meeting at night with family named Holquist. They have two daughters married, one only sixteen, and one about 22. They have both left their men, the young one running out with soldiers. This family are all members. The members seem to think nothing about marrying nonmembers. Half the women we meet here are divorced.

The nineteenth we were a little lazy; we visited one member who quit the church on account of contention in the branch.

Even some men who are not of us believe in us. I was in the hotel lobby the other evening, got to talking with a man. He wasn't drunk, but he'd had a drink. He smoked twice while I was talking to him. I told him we did not drink nor smoke; the Church condemned it. He thought that was wonderful wished he could live that way. In tears, he told me about his boy who was overseas and he hadn't heard from him for a long time, and he asked me if I would pray for him.

This is March 19, 1956. I don?t remember just when I left for my mission, but it was December 1942 [actually Feb 1943]. Spent my 73rd and 74th birthdays in the South. Came home in April 1945. My wife Aleen came out in December 1944 and was with me the remainder of the time. She was at the home and came out a full-fledged missionary.

Written March 26, 1956 at Orielle's, Long Beach, California. I'm sitting alone. Orielle is at one of her classes, The Great I Am. I am a little homesick and ready to start home any time. Am waiting, Orielle may go with me. If she doesn't, I'll start home about Thursday.

Well, I've seen California. After all, it's just another place. I enjoyed my trip to the temple, both viewing it and the dedication. Guess I wouldn't have got to the dedication if I hadn't run into the Stake President, Faun Hunsaker. He happened to call Maud's while I was there. They live in Los Angeles. He said if I had a recommend, he could fix me up. Faun came to Maud's Tuesday and took me to his place. Then I went with them Wednesday morning. Faun is Stake President. He gave the opening prayer that morning, so he sat on the stand. His wife, such a sweet darling she is. She took me right over. She took hold of my arm and stayed right with me all the way. They have four children, two boys on missions. They were two for only five months. One was due home now. They are a wonderful family. I feel I was very much enriched for getting acquainted with them. I stayed there until Saturday, and then Faun brought me to Orielle's, which I appreciated very much. It's surely a nuisance to get around when you have a heavy suitcase. That's one reason I was so glad to be taken right to her door. Faun is surely a fine fellow.

I thought I'd record a few miracles or answers to my prayers:

James C. Hansen died April 16, 1959 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, eighteen days before his eighty-ninth birthday.

TESTIMONY OF JAMES C. HANSEN

(Date of writing unknown)

This morning, after the first cold night of the season, I am up rather early. The cold night seemed to freeze up the clock. Anyway, it stopped. A belated moon in the last quarter came struggling above a small white cloud in the east and I thought it was morning. We always rise before daylight this time of year, so I got up, made a good fire in the heater, went up to my daughter's room to see the watch, and behold it was only 3:30. As I wanted to get up earlier than usual though, I would stay up, as my rest was broken anyway.

I could not think of anything I wished to read, so I let my mind go to medita- tion. We have had a very poor season on the farm and we are now facing winter without much income, and our taxes and Federal Loan interest and many other debts we should pay. And I asked myself the question, "Will the Lord provide?" and I answered it something like this. "I have had a family to keep for nearly forty years. I am a poor man and many times it has looked dark for me, as winter came on. But spring always came and found us well and happy with new hopes and prospects for another year." So I feel God has never forsaken me, and I answered myself, "The Lord will provide if we will but trust him." I often wonder how people who say they do not believe in God can endure these same conditions when they come to them. If they love their family, as I love mine, and things look as dark for them as they do for me sometimes and they have not God to rely on, how they can stand it.

We have always been poor. That is, not in dire want or poverty, but hardly all that might be called the necessities of life, and very few luxuries, but we have always had wonderful health and faith and hope, and a desire to live up to the precepts of the gospel. I often say and say it again, "Now if I could not stand prosperity any better than some people I know, the Lord is very kind to me by keeping me poor."

When I think of these things, I feel rich and feel the Lord has not deserted me, but has blessed me more than I deserve. He has given me a wife like I think few men have, full of faith, integrity, and love of the Gospel. And to do something for the cause of truth is her desire above everything else. I sometimes tell her she is too spiritual, if that could be. Now don't misunderstand and think she is fanatically religious, she is not in the least, but she is so consistent, and I think, a Latter-Day Saint in every sense of the word. She is the mother of six wonderful, bright and good children, and I am rich.