Hannah Emorette (Retta) Wixom Tippets
by her daughter Lucile Bassett
20 February 1985
I will try and write a life story of my mother, Emorette (Retta) Wixom Tippets. She was born September 15th, 1889, at Sharon (Liberty), Idaho, Bear Lake County. She was the fifth child of Joseph Morgan Wixom and Elvira Sarah Ricks Wixom. She was born at Liberty, Bear Lake County, Idaho, at the farm owned by her father at the mouth of Emigration Canyon near Ovid and Liberty. He was a farmer, rancher and worked in the canyon where he cut logs for a sawmill up that canyon.
Grandpa (Joseph Morgan Wixom) built a large home at Sharon, Idaho on the east side of the road. I remember the home. There was a large kitchen, with the door to the south. There was a door on the northwest side of the kitchen where we went upstairs. I was never allowed up there, as that was where the boys slept. There was a long hall, which went from the kitchen south to the bath and north to front room and to the girls’ bedroom on the north.
Also on the west from the kitchen was the entrance to a hall, which led to two large rooms. The one on the north was the girls’ bedroom and the one on the south was the living room. That was where all the activity went on. I don't remember if there was another bedroom, probably was, for I don't remember any beds in that room, but there was a heater, I remember. This house was considered to be one of the biggest and best homes in Bear Lake County. There were many parties and activities held there. Everybody loved to come there to eat fried chicken, baking powder biscuits and huckleberry pies, as Grandma (Elvira Sarah Ricks Wixom) was a very good cook and Grandpa was a good provider, jolly, and generous, too.
Mama (Retta) went to school at Sharon, I guess she either walked to school with her brothers and younger sisters, or they may have ridden horses. There was no school during the winter months. There was too much snow, blizzards and bad weather. As she grew older, while the boys worked, it was Retta's duty to ride a horse to Liberty to get the mail two or three times a week. I've been told she would race anyone who gave her a challenge. I'm sure she attended as much school as possible.
I really don't know much about her young life, but I know she was a grown lady when my Dad, Maurice Tippets, went to Sharon from Georgetown to bale hay for Grandpa (Jody) Wixom. Papa (Maurice) owned a baler and horses and did custom baling. It was then he courted and married my mother at the Logan L.D.S. Temple on June 17th, 1908. I'm not sure but Papa must already have had a two room house or soon built it. I don't remember either one of them saying.
I suppose Papa's father, Joseph William Tippets, owned his farm south of Georgetown, Idaho. Because he had been shot in the lung when a young man he was never able to do much work; so as soon as Papa, his oldest son Maurice, was old enough, he had to take over. He must have been a pretty good provider. He not only, by this time, had to provide for his own father's family, but also had a new wife and home to take care of. In June of 1909, I (Lucile) was born, so he had two families to keep. He had a chance once from his Bishop to buy a binder for cutting grain for his farm and to do custom binding for others to help pay for the machine. I don't know how long he had this machine.
Mama (Retta) was a hard worker, too. She always had a garden, and chickens to care for and to help supply food. She could kill, dress and fry a chicken quicker than most people could. She often had one of her sisters stay with her.
Maurice and Retta had three daughters, Lucile, Nellie and Maurine, then twin boys that they named Ray Maurice and Reed Joseph born on May 12th, 1916. They were tiny and delicate. They weighed 5 1/2 and 5 pounds. Reed would pass right out if he cried much, so Mama always had one of her sisters to stay with her. I was only 7 years old so couldn't be much help.
At this time my parents were building a big new home close to the two-room home. That made it better for all of us. We each had our own room if we wanted. All went along well at this time.
In 1918 and 1919 the World War I came and it was hard to get good flour, but they managed. Also came that bad epidemic of flu where most families had it and many died, (including two brothers, Frank and Roy), who were married and each with families; also a sister Ruby, age 16 years of age, died. Grandma came to stay with Uncle Roy and when he died she came out to our home to stay with Mama, who was very sick with the flu. The Bishop, who was Harrison Tippets, Papa's uncle, came and administered to Mama and she was promised she would live to raise her family, which she did until Lewie, her youngest son, was 16 years old. She also had more family, of which Lewis was last. Retta and Maurice had a total of thirteen children, including two sets of twin boys. There were 8 boys and 5 girls.
Sometime in these years Papa (Maurice) bought a threshing machine and went around to the different farms threshing their grain. Nellie, Maurine, and I walked to school. Then when I was twelve years old, Papa built a small sleigh and I drove a team of horses to our school two miles from home. We unhitched the horses, fed them hay and put them in Grandma Tippets' barn at Georgetown. About this time, Reed and Ray started to school, too.
After this I always drove the team until I was driving the fastest horses Papa owned. When I got old enough to drive the car, I often drove the car to school, so as to help in the field.
While Papa (Maurice) was away doing threshing his brothers sometimes came to take care of our farm. Then their family came to our house to live. They were not much more help to Mama than us kids were, but there was always that much more work, washing, preparing meals, providing food and cooking, for Mama to do. I don't know how she did it, and never complained; but what good would it have done anyway? I know I heard her say when asked by Grandma Tippets, "Don't you ever get tired?" she said she was so tired, never did a question hurt her so bad. This was at a time when Grandma Jeanette, Rhea and maybe Aunt Kate were all at our home all the time. Us kids were still not old enough to help like we should either.
Our family used to go to Sharon to pick huckleberries. All of us couldn't go at the same time, so I usually stayed home to tend the kids. Mama, Nellie, Maurine, and the twins went to pick berries; Papa went, too.
For a few years Papa planted a big strawberry patch. Mama thought we couldn't grow them. But he dug a pond to the west of our home, and filled it with water for the plants. Mama told him that if he could fill the mixing bowl full of berries once she would be convinced they could grow them. They filled it the first summer, so he planted a big patch. That was a lot of work! We would pick as many as a hundred (100) quarts of berries at times. We'd pick, go in and eat strawberries, with sugar and separated cream, go back out and pick the rest of the day. I was a teenager by this time. Papa helped pick berries also.
Papa got a job working on the highway going past our home, so he couldn't pick with us too much of the time. The workers kept their horses and machinery at our home and also pitched their tents and stayed right there. Nellie, Maurine and I were all teenagers then.
We always had a telephone and electric lights when they came out for use. Only one winter, I remember the folks must have had a hard year and couldn't pay the light bill. They cut our power off. I don't remember going about with lamps, but I do know I felt so sorry for Mama because she didn't have the power for the washing machine. Papa did build a handle so we could run the washer, so it didn't have to be done on the scrubbing board. Mama always had a hard life. She was always willing to do what she could for anyone, anytime. I never heard her complain. She was always doing something for someone.
When the twins, Ray and Reed, were nine years old another set of twin boys was born, May 6, 1925, named John and Joseph. These babies too were premature six weeks, and weighed John 4 1/2 pounds and Joe 4 pounds. Joe was so tiny and weak and got cold and blue, Dr. Ashley didn't expect him to live until morning, but Mama put him close to her skin and once he got warm he had the energy to survive. All four babies grew to manhood and served in World War II. All of them came home without any injury. Ray was already married and had five children; still they called him into the service. He worked in the place where they made gunpowder and he breathed too much of that powder and was never very healthy after he came home; but he lived to raise his family with love and honor. Six of Retta and Maurice's sons and one son-in-law served in the military service during World War II, I think all at the same time.
During the Depression of the 1930's, the folks lost their farm, cattle, horses, and all, for Papa couldn't raise the money to pay the debt he owed. So the folks, children, and all moved to Ogden, Utah. Lucile, Maurine, and I were the only ones married. It was now even harder for Maurine and I to go see them at Ogden, Utah, than it had been at Georgetown, Idaho. But occasionally they came up and some times we went camping up Grey's River or just visited, which was always a very happy time.
Almost every time either Maurine or I had a new baby Mama would come and stay with us while we served our ten days in bed. She said it was a pioneer custom that the mothers always stayed with their daughters, and the sons’ mothers did likewise with their daughters. I'm sure we both were very happy when she could come. I surely appreciated her, and oh how I loved to sleep in my feather bed after she stirred it up every night before bedtime. She would have me sit in a chair while she made my bed.
Mama was always busy. I don't remember her resting very much, but I know she did sometimes. I've heard her say if she could just lay down for 20 minutes, then she could get up and go again.
I don't remember her going out in the field to work, but there was always bread to bake, washing to do, garden to plant, weed, water, and take care of, berries to pick and can, meals to prepare for many and all those dishes to do. It makes me tired to think of them and all she had to do, and always extra mouths to feed besides her own large family.
Papa was always good to buy the modern conveniences, such as washer, electric stove, radio, and television when they were available. But Mama was not there for TV. They liked so much to turn their TV on for me, when I came home. I liked it too, but I was always so homesick, I would rather just visit the short time I was home.
Papa and Mama both taught us songs and poems. Papa taught us "Napoleon" about a horse. Mama taught us "The Crocodile Song." Papa taught the boys a song I had never heard him sing when I was home.
Mama used to go to Relief Society while we were at school. Most always Papa would make doughnuts and put fudge frosting on them. Us kids thought that was a great treat.
Mama learned to drive the car when we were small. But then she ran over a puppy, who followed her once, so she didn't drive for years. After I was married and Papa bought a new Chevrolet car, she must have tried it again, for I know she and Aunt Louisa drove out to Bear Lake for a convention or something once. I guess she by then had too many children old enough to drive, too.
We always lived by the highway. There were many tramps, they called them then, who needed a meal. They were always fed and went on their way. Some times they would chop wood for their meal. A few times Indians went past, but I don't remember them stopping. Once some gypsies stopped. Mama had just killed a couple of chickens and they lay on the doorstep. The gypsies wanted the chickens; but Mama told them they wouldn't want them for the chickens had died. Well, they had. So the gypsies said, "No."
Papa and Mama always took us to the circus or carnival when they came to town. We always went to Montpelier, Georgetown, Soda Springs, or Bear Lake for the 4th and 24th of July. One year at Soda Springs Nellie and I ran a 3-legged race, and were ahead of everybody, but we didn't keep far enough ahead, so another couple won.
Papa and Mama used to go to Sharon to see Uncle Lee and Aunt Ida Prescott. If us kids wanted to go somewhere, we'd hurry and get the milking done and then ask them to go to Aunt Ida's. Then us kids would go picking wild flowers that didn't grow on our farm. We still stop up Emigration Canyon and pick some of those flowers.
Retta died in November 1949.
Retta Wixom Tippets
Hannah Amorette Wixom was born 15 Sept 1889 in Liberty, Bear Lake County, Idaho. Most everyone called her Retta. Her parents were Joseph Morgan Wixom and Elvira Sarah Ricks. Their large home was at the mouth of Emigration Canyon. She had four older brothers, Benjamine born 13 April 1881 and died that same day Joseph Leroy born 6 Jan 1883, Lewis Ezra born 6 Feb 1885, and Frank Solomon born 6 June 1887. She was the first daughter. Others that later joined the family were Ira Allen 17 Feb 1892, Esther Elvira 31 Aug 1893, Jesse Earl 1 Dec 1895, Nora Ellen, Ida Lucille, Ruby Mildred 19 Aug 1902, Vera Orena 3 Apr 1905 and Clarence Ricks 12 Jan 1909.
Her parents were hard working pioneers in the Bear Lake County. Her father was a farmer. He was also a woodsman who cut trees for a sawmill. There wasn't much that he couldn't do. Her mother was a well-read woman and taught her children to love to read. She was a good cook. Everyone especially loved her baking powder biscuits and huckleberry pies. She raised chickens and had a big garden.
There were many visitors that came to their home, often spending the night before heading through the canyon to head for Logan. They stopped there after traveling through the canyon from Preston. There were lots of cousins living in the surrounding area. They all played and worked together. Many parties were held in the home. They had a large living room that made their home a natural gathering place.
Retta grew up on the farm. She worked in the fields when her brothers got work at other places. Some jobs she could do as well as her brothers. She drove a team of horses and often raked hay. She would harness up the horses and hook them to the wagon or machinery. She was an expert horse rider. She would ride in to Sharon for the mail a couple of times a week. Retta would ride the horse to Liberty to get groceries for her mother. She was one who was willing to race any challenger, most often winning. She learned to milk cows, separate the cream, and make butter. Often times she went with her mother, sisters, and cousins, to the mountains to pick berries. She had the reputation of being the fastest picker. They picked choke cherries, elderberries, huckleberries, serviceberries and others. These she learned to make into delicious jams and jellies. She learned how to kill a chicken, pick, clean, and cook it in a short time.
She attended church in the Sharon ward. Many times she drove the team that took the family to church. She also attended school in Sharon. She went with her brothers either on horseback or in a wagon or buggy. In the winter months there was no school. There were too many snow blizzards and weather was bad.
When she was about 19 she met Joseph Maurice Tippets. He had come from Georgetown to her father's farm to bail hay. He fell in love with this tall young lady with dark brown hair and pretty brown eyes. Maurice courted her from September till June. They were married in the Logan temple 17 June 1908. His parents and her mother went with them. They drove a white top buggy belonging to her father. They had a short honeymoon to Brigham City, traveling by train. When they arrived back in Liberty, a dance and party was held in their honor. Maurice hired the Neibaur Family to play for the dance. They received nice gifts including a quilt and clock from the Sharon Ward.
Our Pioneer Heritage. Vol. 14. p.492
Sharon. In 1875 the first water-lowered sawmill in Sharon, Bear Lake County, Idaho, was built at the mouth of Mill Canyon. Walter Hoge, Walter C. Cole and Charles C. Nibley were the owners. They paid their men with "scrip," which could be exchanged at their department store in Paris, Idaho. The mill had an 850-foot water flume, or race, with a six-inch pipe. The water was later used for irrigation. William G. Smith was manager until 1884, when he took over as owner, later taking Samuel E. Hymas as a partner. The mill was the main source of employment for the men in the surrounding area as loggers, sawyers, etc. Elizabeth King Smith served as cook. Among the loggers were Bert Orr; Richard Orr, William Lyon, William Smith Jr., and others. They received $5.00 per thousand feet for the logs. Philemon Lindsay, Peter Bech, William G. Smith, V. Hansen were sawyers. In the early part of the mill’s operation there was an earthquake, which shook a large pile of logs loose and they rolled into the row of bunkhouses, causing much damage. The mill was abandoned in 1925. —Camilla Lyon
Andrew Jenson, Encyclopedic History of the Church, p.588
NORTH LIBERTY BRANCH. See Sharon Ward, Bear Lake Co., Idaho.
Andrew Jenson. Encyclopedic History of the Church, p.789
SHARON WARD, Bear Lake Stake, Bear Lake Co., Idaho, consists of the Latter-day Saints residing in a farming district embracing the extreme northwest corner of Bear Lake Valley. The center of the ward, where the meetinghouse stands, is about 11 miles northwest of Paris.
Andrew Jenson, Encyclopedic History of the Church, p.769
Sharon Ward is an outgrowth of Liberty and was known originally as North Liberty. John Thomas Lyon was the first president of the branch, which was organized on 4 February 1897, and named (p. 790) Sharon, in honor of the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith: Sharon, Windsor Co, Vermont. Bro. Lyon acted until 1899, when he was succeeded by Samuel E. Hymas, who acted as presiding Elder until 1910, when the branch was organized as a ward, with Samuel E. Hymas as Bishop. He presided until 1926, when he was succeeded by John Gambling, who acted as Bishop of the Sharon Ward Dec. 31, 1930.
Andrew Jenson, Encyclopedic History of the Church, p.790
The total membership of the Sharon Ward on Dec. 31, 1930 was 140, including 31 children; the population of the Sharon Precinct was 146.
Printed from the Pioneer Heritage Library in the LDS Family History Suite. 1996. Provo, Utah.
Osmond, Wyoming
February 20, 1985
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today I will try and write a life story of my mother, Emorette (Retta) Wixom Tippets, as I can remember. She was born at Liberty, Idaho, Bear Lake County, on September 15th, 1889. She was the fifth child of Joseph Morgan Wixom and Elvira Sarah Ricks Wixom. She was born at the farm and ranch of her parents, owned by her father, at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, near Ovid and Liberty, Idaho. Besides being a rancher and farmer, he was also water master and worked in the logs and ran a sawmill.
Grandpa was a wise man and he always owned a fast team of horses. It was a sad race for anyone who would try and challenge him for a race.
He was also clever in his business. One year he contracted to keep the sawmill in sawing timber. If not, he was to pay the other workers their wages. One day in the canyon his oxen broke their yokes and he would be responsible to get them repaired. It was Saturday. So before he left he had a big log put on the skids. It took those sawyers so long to get that log out of the way that he had time to repair the yokes. He did not have to pay their wages.
Grandpa built a large home at the mouth of the canyon on the east side of the road. It was considered to be one of the best homes in the valley at that time. I remember the home and will try to describe it as I can remember. The front of the house faced the south. There was a door there and inside was a big kitchen, the stove on the east wall. On the north was a long table, with a long bench behind. On the west wall was a north door that led upstairs. That was where the boys slept, and I was never allowed up there. Also on the west was a large hallway that went clear to the west end of the house. I remember the snow up against that window. On the north in the hall was a large bedroom where the girls slept. On the south of the hall was the front room, I guess. That was where a heater was, and all the activity was. I guess there was a bedroom there too, for grandpa and grandma. I never remember of going into it, but I can't see a bed in that room.
This was the largest house around, so there were many parties and activities held there. Also everybody loved to come there to eat chicken, baking powder biscuits and huckleberry pies, as grandma was a very good cook and grandpa was a very good provider, jolly and generous too. Bert Butler used to tell many stories of fun.
Mama went to school at Sharon. I guess she either walked to school with her brothers and younger sisters, or they went on horseback or drove a team. There was no school in winter months. There were too many blizzards, snow and bad weather.
Aunt Nora said as mama was the oldest girl in the family, and the boys worked, it was mama's duty to ride a horse to Liberty two or three times to get the mail. She said mama would race anyone who gave her a challenge. I'm sure she attended school when possible.
I really don't know about her young life. But I do know she was a grown tall young lady, with dark hair and eyes, when my dad Maurice Tippets went to Sharon from Georgetown, Idaho, to bail hay for Grandpa Wixom. Papa owned a hay bailer and horses and did custom bailing for other people. It was here that he met, courted and married my mother at the Logan Temple on June 17th, 1908. I may add here too, that the hay was stacked in haystacks in sunnier and bailed from the stacks in the winter, that's when they met.
I'm not sure, but papa must have already had a two-room house built on the farm about 2 miles on a different road from his parents’ home, when they were married. I don't remember either one saying.
I suppose Grandpa Joseph William Tippets owned his farm two miles south of Georgetown, Idaho. Because he had been shot in the lung in an accident when a young man he was never able to do much work, so as soon as Papa was able, being the eldest son, he had to take over the running of the farm. He must have been a pretty good provider. He now by this time had not only his father's family to provide for, but also his new wife and children as they came and his home too.
One time somewhere along now, his Bishop gave him a chance to buy a binder, a machine for cutting grain for his farm and to do custom bailing for other farmers to help pay for the binder. I don't know how long he had the machine. Mama was a hard worker too. She always had a garden to care for, chickens, and milked cows to help supply food. She could kill, dress and fry a chicken quicker than most people could. People were always fed when they came to our house.
They had three daughters, Lucile, Nellie and Maurine. Then on the 12th of
May 1916 came twin boys, named Ray Maurice and Reed Joseph. They were premature, tiny and (weak) delicate. They weighed 5 and 5 1/2 pounds. Reed was so weak he could pass right out if he cried much. So Mama always had one of her sisters stay with her. Aunt Nora told me recently, she was the one who stayed with her much of the time. I know both Aunt Ruby and Aunt Vera stayed too. I remember Aunt Vera spilt hot tea on Maurine as she poured it for Grandpa. I think Papa or Grandpa scolded her and I felt so sorry for her. It wasn't much spilled.
At this time the folks were building a big new home close to the two-room home. This made it better for all of us. We each had our own rooms if we wanted. All went well at this time, as far as I remember.
Then in 1918 and 1919, World War I came and it was hard to get good flour, but my folks managed. Also came that bad epidemic of flu, called influenza. Most families had it and many people died. Included were two married brothers of mama's. They were Uncle Frank Wixom who had a family of five small children and his wife, Esther. He lived at Glenwood, Utah. Uncle Roy lived In Georgetown, Idaho and he had wife Hedvig Hansen and three children and one born after Roy’s death in 1920. Also, Aunt Ruby, age 16 died at Preston, Idaho, after Grandma had moved from the ranch and Montpelier, Idaho.
After Uncle Roy died, Grandma came out to our home to stay and help Mama to get better as she was sick with the flu. Papa had the Bishop, who was his Uncle Harrison Tippets come out from Georgetown. We lived two miles from town, and he and papa administered to Mama. She was promised she would live to raise her family, which she did until Lewis, her last, was 16 years old. The twins Ray and Reed were just babies, not 2 years old, I think. I remember Mama was so weak she couldn't lift them to her bed. She could not talk above a whisper either. She had several children after this. Lewis was the last one.
Sometime in these years, Papa bought a threshing machine and engine and did his own threshing grain and went around to different farms threshing their grain. While Papa went threshing, some of his brothers, Claud and Aaron -- I don't know if others did -- came to take care of the farms. They were in different places. They weren't as efficient as Papa was.
Us kids, Nellie -- I’m not sure about Maurine -- and I walked to school. Nellie and I also did stay at Grandma Tippets' and went to school all week and Papa came and got us Friday afternoon. Then when I was twelve (12) or about there, Papa built us a small sleigh, put canvas on it, two seats, a door with glass for seeing, two holes for the horses’ lines to go through and we drove the two miles to school and back. We unhitched the horses, took the harness off -- it consisted of the horse collar, straps, belly band and tugs. Then we'd walk from Grandma's house - a block - to school. About this time, Ray and Reed started to school too. Papa gave me his slow trusty team at first, but as I grew older each year I wanted a faster team, until I was driving the fastest horses Papa owned. They used to gallop as soon as we shut the door and on the road. One year I wanted Papa to let me run them in the winter rodeo, but he wouldn't let me. He said they would race any team to come up to them, which wouldn't be safe for us. When I got old enough to drive the car, I often drove it to school, so I could get home earlier to help get the crops in. I was his oldest help.
Some of the time Grandma Tippets and her unmarried children stayed at our home for months at a time. I remember Grandma used to always be singing. I thought she sang a different song every day. I guess she did. But of course this always meant more work, more washing, ironing and cooking and dish washing. I don't think I was much help, nor was anyone else. I don't know how she did it and never complained, but would it have done any good anyway. I know I heard her once say when Grandma asked her, "Don't you ever get tired?" She said she was so tired, never did a question hurt her so bad. There were Jeanette, Rhea, Grandma, I don't know about Aunt Kate. Us kids were still not old enough to help much.
Our family used to go to Sharon to pick huckleberries. All of us could not, so I usually stayed home to tend the kids. Papa, Mama, Nellie, Maurine, and the twins went to pick the berries.
Then for a few years, Papa planted a big strawberry patch. Mama thought they couldn't grow them. Mama told him if he could grow enough to fill the mixing bowl about 2 quarts, full she would be convinced. The first summer he did. So the next spring, Papa dug a pond out west of our house, put the dirt for a bank and walk and filled it full of water from our electric well pump, and planted a big patch of strawberries south of our house, the other side of the garden and the plum trees.
That was a lot of hard work! We would pick as many as a hundred quart of berries at times. We'd pick berries, go in and eat berries, with separated cream and sugar, go out and pick berries the rest of the day. I was a teenager at this time. Papa helped us, as well as Mama and all who could.
Then one year Papa got a job working on the highway going past our home. Then he couldn't pick with us so much of the time. The workers kept their horses and equipment at our home; they used horses, not engines. They also pitched their tents and stayed right there. Nellie, Maurine, and I were all teenagers by then.
Our parents always had a telephone and electric lights when they came into being. Only one winter, I remember, the folks must have had a hard winter or year and could not pay the light bill so their power was shut off. I don't know how long. But I can't (see) going around carrying a lamp. But I do know I felt so sorry for Mama, because she did not have the power for her washing machine. But Papa did build a handle, so we could run the washing machine. It didn't have to be done on the scrubbing/wash board. But Mama has always had a hard life. She was always willing to do what she could to help anyone anytime. I never heard her complain. She was always doing something for someone.
When the twins Ray and Reed were nine years old, another set of twin boys were born of May 6th, 1925. They named them John and Joseph. These babies too, were six weeks premature and so tiny. John weighed 4.5 pounds and Joe weighed 4 pounds. Joe was so tiny and weak and got cold and blue. Dr. Ashley said he didn't expect him to live until morning. But Mama put him close to her skin and once he got warm he had the energy to survive. All four babies grew to manhood, and served in World War II. All of them came home without any injuries. Five sons served which included Gene Wixom Tippets - born December 26th, 1921. *Info added: //Gene died in 1985 at age 64.//
Ray was already married and had five children; still the government called him into service. He worked in the place where they made gunpowder and he breathed too much of that powder and wasn’t ever very healthy after he came home. But he lived to raise a big family with love and honor. He passed away when lie was 57.
During the Depression of 1930 and after, the folks lost the farm, cattle, horses, and all for Papa couldn't raise the money to pay the debt; the bank sold their good animals for a song. The bank then took the farm too. So the folks took their children and all moved to Ogden, Utah. //May 1934// I, Lucile, was the only one married at this time. Now that the folks had moved to Utah, it was so much harder for both Maurine and I to go see them, for Maurine was married shortly after this. It was farther to travel than Georgetown.
But occasionally the folks came to see us and we would go camping up Grays River and fishing or just visited, which was always a happy time. Mama always came to stay with us when either Maurine or I had a new baby as long as her health would let her. Mama said it was the pioneer custom for the girl's mother to stay with her daughter while she stayed ten days in bed. The same with the son’s wife's mother to stay with her daughter too. I hope I made that clear here.
We were both very happy when she could come. If she couldn't come, Ammon's mother always helped me. I really appreciated her and oh how I loved to sleep in my feather bed after she had stirred it up every night before bedtime. She-would have me sit in a chair while she made my bed.
By the time Melvin, Ronald and Mary Jean were born, Mama's health was too bad to come. Mary Jean was only six weeks old when Mama passed away on November 23, 1949 at Ogden, Utah. Mary Jean was only three weeks when Ellen Bassett, our first grandchild, son Dean and Donna Cole's baby, was born. She was Papa and Mama's first great grandchild to be born. We were so proud of her too; so were they.
Then Alan Reed, our last child was born on May 13, 1955 on a Friday. Melvin was born at home as were all of our other children. But when Ronald was born, I went to the hospital. So were Mary Jean and Alan born in the hospital at Afton, Wyoming. Dr. Treloar was the doctor for all our children from Nellie on down. Only Melvin, we had Dr. West again as he came to our home and Dr. Treloar didn't.
Mama was always busy. I don't remember of her resting very much. But I know she did sometimes. I've heard her say if she could just lay down for 20 minutes, then she could get up and go again.
I don't remember her going out in the field to work, but there was always bread to mix and bake, washing to do, garden to take care of - plant, weed, water and prepare, berries to be picked, can, meals to be prepared, all those hungry mouths to feed and all those dishes to be washed and the separator. Also those extra mouths to feed for a large family. (I have also done likewise in my life too.)
Papa was always good to buy the modern conveniences such as the washer, electric stove, radio and television when they came out he bought them. Mama was not there for television, I don't think. They liked so much to turn the radio on for me to hear, when I was there. I liked it too. But I was always so homesick, I would have rather visited the short while I was home.
Papa and Mama both taught us songs and poems. Papa taught us "Napoleon" about a horse. Mama taught us "The Crocodile Song." Papa taught the boys a song I had never beard him sing when I was home.
Mama used to go to Relief Society some of the time while we were in school. Most always Papa would make doughnuts and cover them with fudge frosting. It was a great treat for us kids.
Mama learned to drive the car when we were small. But she ran over a puppy once, who tried to follow, so she didn't drive again for years. But after I was married and Papa had bought a new Chevrolet car, she must have tried again. For I am quite sure she and Aunt Louisa McCammon drove out to Bear Lake for a convention or something once. By that time she also had many children old enough to drive too.
At home at Georgetown, we always lived on the State Highway. There were always tramps, as then called who always needed a meal. They were always fed and went on their way. Some were willing to chop wood for their meal. Sometimes Indians drove through too with horses and buggy. I don't ever remember of them stopping. Gypsies used to stop and beg too. Once Gypsies stopped and Mama had just killed a couple of chickens. They lay on the doorstep. They wanted them, but Mama told them the chickens had died. They didn't want them. But the chickens had died, when Mama's axe hit.
Papa and Mama always took us to the circus or carnival when they came to town, Montpelier. We always went to Montpelier, Georgetown, Soda Springs, or Bear Lake for the 4th and 24th of July celebration. One year at Soda Springs, Nellie and I ran the three-legged race. We were way ahead of everybody when we slacked up, and a couple ran ahead of us. We got second prize. But I ran in several races that day and did the champion race. The Soda girls pointed their fingers at me all the rest of the day. I used to win at Georgetown too.
Papa and Mama used to go to Sharon (Idaho) to see Aunt Ida and Uncle Lee Prescott. If us kids wanted to go someplace, we'd hurry and get the milking done and then ask them to go to Aunt Ida's. Then us kids would go picking flowers that didn't grow on our farm. Ammon and I still stop in Emigration Canyon and pick some of those flowers.
During World War II was a trying time for our parents too. Five of their sons, both pair of twins, Gene, and two sons-in-law, Lester Gomm and LeRoy Brown were called and did much dangerous fighting. But all seven came home. Ray sickly, but he lived many years. It was hard on Papa, but was more strenuous for Mama's health. That was when the effects of her flu heart started to bother her. Her body got so tired of all the many people she had at their home during those years she never recovered. Besides her own family, she had nieces, brother-in-law, Uncle Claud, and Marvin Vale there. Mildred was married but had asthma so bad she couldn't stay in her basement home very long at a time and Lester was overseas. Besides, Kenneth, her son, got sick, so there was so much worry. No wonder any one could be happy. Gas and sugar were rationed, also tires. So there could be no unnecessary travel. After the war was too late for Mama's health to improve. Still she and Papa came over to Star Valley as often as they could.
Then Mama got so sick she had to go to the hospital. That was in November 1949. Her daughters took turns sitting with her in the daytime, her sisters at night. She had to have oxygen all the time. Then one night the Doctor said she was so much better, he removed the oxygen and told all they could go home. The first time the nurse went in she had passed away. My feelings were hurt most for those last hours she could have had her family with her instead of alone. But we can all remember what wonderful parents we have had, also brothers and sisters. Papa lived alone for 22 years. He came to see Maurine and I my times to bring fruit or dresses. He at last came to Star Valley to Maurine's and passed away that winter on January 23, 1971 at the Star Valley Hospital at Afton, Wyoming. Sons and daughters were present.
(copied March 17th, 1986) Lucile Tippets Bassett
April 18th, 1986
I forgot to tell about our player piano Papa bought after World War I. They, Papa and Mama had bought Liberty Bonds during the war. I guess after the war they «ere able to cash them in, and Papa bought a player piano. 1 was going to school and staying with Grandma Tippets all week. So I was so glad to go home to listen to and play it. I thought Nellie was so smart. She'd have me play the record, she'd go in kitchen and she could tell me the name of the tune. Up until this time we had had very little music in our home, only singing. Both Papa and Mama used to sing songs to us. We all did enjoy that piano. Perhaps Mama got tired of it, but I can't hear her complaining.
When company came we'd play it and Papa would have us kids sing. We were always shy. But now I wish he had made us sing more just when we were there. I may have been a better singer. But many people enjoyed our piano.
Then before the bank took our place, Papa brought that piano over to me, as I was married and had our two-room home. We were very pleased, although I don't think the piano records played so good then. I don't remember getting the records.
Then a few years later Papa came and got it and took it to Ogden. Then he sold it to Marvin Vail, who boarded at their home. His wife, Elva, both played and sang.
Us kids took some music lessons; I, from Fanny Munk, Nellie and Maurine from Nora Hess. But it was hard to take time out from farm work to take us for lessons.
I might also add that Papa taught us how to swim in the pond, by laying on a board and paddling our hands and feet. Eventually we learned to swim without the board. I still can't swim any better than at that age, before I was a teenager. But we did a lot of wading in that pond.
One day, Uncle Less and Aunt Ellen Prescott were just coming to visit. Uncle Less saw something in the water; ran and rescued Gene, who had slipped away. He would have drowned soon. I think Mama was working on the back porch, so he was being watched, but just that minute, Mama's back was turned. We kids changed our clothes under the porch and sometimes left our wet dresses there. We had no swimsuits. The water was cold too. Sometimes we showed others how we swam.
Ogden Tenth Ward, North Weber Stake
March 22, 1942
A blessing given toy Elias Peterson, Patriarch, upon the head of Retta Wixom Tippetts, daughter of Joseph Morgan Wixom and Elvira Ricks Wixom, born September 15, 1889, in Liberty, Idaho.
Sister Tippetts, by virtue of the Holy Priesthood in me vested, 1 pronounce upon thee a Patriarchal blessing and in so doing I depend upon the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, for of myself I am unable to do this work, for it is from the Lord. It is His work and I am only a humble servant depending upon Him in all things.
Sister, the Lord is pleased with thy desire. Thou art a member of a noble race--those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Be-cause of this instinctive desire they have come out of the World and accepted the plan of salvation. Thou art born an heir to the blessings of the Holy Priesthood and through its power thou hast been sealed to thy husband under the Holy Spirit of Promise and thy child-ren are thine for eternity and as long as you are faithful and they serve the Lord there is no power that can separate you. This life is only a span in the eternity. What the Lord has done under His Priesthood is everlasting. All these things, sister, are essential to salvation for the Lord does not deal with non-essentials and every law He has given us is for our own good and happiness. Under His holy laws we are our own makers. We have the power to rise to the highest possibilities. Sister, thy righteous ideals of today will come true in the future and by the help of the Lord there are no righteous dreams that are too great to come true. The Lord has great blessings in store for those who are faithful, for the Lord has revealed that this is the work and glory of God to bring about the immortality and eternal life of man. Sister, we cannot conceive the full meaning of these promises, for it further says, that eye hath not seen nor ear heard the blessings which the Lord has in store for His children. Therefore, sister, live up to the privileges of thy birthright. Continue true and faithful to the covenants which thou hast made, and thy calling and election shall be made sure.
Sister, thou hast had many experiences in life. Thou hast test-ed the promises of the Lord. Thou hast found that He hears and answers prayers and grants the righteous desires of His children. With that experience thou hast found consolation in prayer and in doing the things which thou hast been called to do. Slater, do not tire in thine activities. Be faithful and true from morning until night and at all times throughout thy life. Thou shalt have no cause for doubt and melancholy, for the Spirit will up hold and strengthen thee, and thou wilt always realize that this life is only a stepping stone to a higher existence where there will be no such fears and disappointments as confront us here in mortality. There is no death. The body alone is laid away for a short time, but the spirit lives on, and will reunite with the body in a glorious resurrection. Why should we fear death as long as we serve the Lord and have this faith?
Sister, thou hast found joy in thine activities and the more you give in this way the more you receive, until you receive a fulness of joys. Sister, thou hast a duty to perform with thine own pos-terity. In your kind and loving way you shall have the power to influence all those around thee. Thy Church activities shall be a pleasure to thee and in this service thou shall grow and develop. The greatest blessing will come to thyself. Sister, there are those on the other side who have left this mortal sphere who are looking to thee to help them and in thine activities and learning their identities thou shalt be able to do much good. Thou shalt receive the information which will be necessary to do a vicarious work for them and deliver them from the bondage in which some of them have been waiting for deliverance for a long time. Sister, thou shall find exquisite joy in this work and thy health shall be preserved and thy life lengthened in doing that work. Seek after the Lord in humble prayer in all thy work both temporally and spiritually. Thou shalt not fail in thy righteous desires. Thy home shall be one of harmony and love for where the spirit abides the adversary has no power.
Through thy continued faithfulness and unswerving determination I confirm these blessings upon thee and seal thee up to come forth in the First Resurrection with the Church of the First Born to meet our Lord and Redeemer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Elias Peterson