Leslie Alfred Harrison
Leslie Alfred Harrison was born on 2 May 1906, at Osmond, Wyoming. He was the second of nine children born to Otto Alfred Harrison and Fannie Chivers Henderson Harrison. Most of his life was spent within half a mile of where he was born. He lived for brief periods of time at Grover, Wyoming; Laramie, Wyoming; Logan, Utah; and the last three years with his children in Salt Lake City, Utah and Honolulu, Hawaii.
He attended schools at Osmond, Afton, University of Wyoming, and Utah State Agricultural College. He qualified to be a schoolteacher and taught school for two and a half years at Fairview, but had to stop teaching because of eye problems. Leslie's right eye was injured when he was 18 years old, and he lost most of his sight in that eye then.
He grew up on the farm and knew the benefit of work. He was always a hard worker. He worked at various jobs at the same time that he kept up with farming. He farmed with his father for many years. He enjoyed seeing things grow. He always had a few dairy cattle, as well as horses, pigs, sheep, and chickens over the years. When he sold the last of his dairy cattle it was a major change in his life. He had been milking cows for well over 50 years and the shock of not having that responsibility was one he had to learn to live with.
Leslie married Alice Maurine Tippets on 15 August 1933, in the Salt Lake Temple. To them were born eight children, two sons and six daughters. Leslie had the house built and ready to move into when they were married. That same house was home to him ever since they were married.
He had various jobs over the years. He worked for the highway department for years. In 1942 Charlie Call asked him to work for a week at Call's Hardware while someone was away, and Leslie stayed and worked there for the next 22 years. He enjoyed his association with people he worked with and those who came into the store. After leaving Call's Hardware (later Hastings) he did custodial work at the Lower Valley Power and Light Company and later at the Post Office in Afton.
Leslie had a very keen mind and could figure out solutions to many problems that arose. He had the ability to figure math in his head better than many of us could on paper or with calculators. Many times he would go to bed with a pressing problem, such as how to repair or build a machine, and by morning he had the solution. He had the ability to picture how it would work.
Leslie had many friends, some from his youth throughout their lives. He enjoyed being around people and being of service to them. He was genuinely interested in them and in their accomplishments.
Leslie had a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He held many positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was called to be a bishop in the Osmond Ward (following his father who had been bishop) at the age of 30, which position he held for 8 years. He then served as Stake Clerk (at the time when one clerk did all of the duties of clerk), for about 7 years. He later served as a counselor in the Osmond Ward bishopric. Other church positions he held included Ward Clerk, Sunday School Superintendent and Ward/Home Teacher.
He was interested in genealogy and was anxious to have temple work done for his ancestors.
Leslie and Maurine and their family could accomplish almost any task needed with all of them working together. Theirs was a close family while growing up and has remained so throughout the years. Leslie and Maurine were always pleased and proud of the accomplishments of their children. They encouraged their children to get a good education and assisted them to accomplish this. They must have trained them too well, because all of their children moved from the area when they left home.
Leslie served on the Board of Education for 5 years, part of this time as Chairman of the School Board. He was also on the Board of Directors for the Star Valley Swiss Cheese Company for several years.
He was skilled and knowledgeable in many areas. He could repair most things. Under the tutoring of Charlie Call he became an electrician. He went to the canyon for wood for many years.
Leslie was soft-spoken, but what he said was well thought out. He was never one to complain about anything.
After the death of his wife, Maurine, he lived alone for about 11 years. His health became a problem living alone; so against his choice, he went to live with some of his children for the last three years. He didn't appreciate living in Hawaii, he would rather have the snow and cold of his home in Wyoming.
He passed away in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, 29 March 1989, following a lingering illness.
He is survived by the following sons and daughters: NaDee Davidson, Honolulu, Hawaii; Darlene Jones, River Falls, Wisconsin; Marilyn Fluckiger, Salt Lake City, Utah; Virden Harrison, Modesto, California; Adele Cook, Salt Lake City, Utah; Dennis Harrison, Brigham City, Utah; Vicki Cutler, Earlville, Illinois; and Karla Harrison, Salt Lake City, Utah.
The following are his brothers and sisters: Almon (who recently passed away), Albon, Merettie Leavitt, Alta Hillstead, Dona Hoopes, Doral (who died shortly after birth), Ernest, and Thede.
Leslie Alfred Harrison
Taken from his handwritten diaries
April 23, 1949 - Thede started ploughing project. Went to High Priests’ party.
April 24, 1949 - Sunday - Sunday School, Priesthood meeting. Sacrament meeting in evening.
April 25, 1949 - Ploughing today with tractor.
April 26, 1949 - Ploughing with tractor and team. Leslie Allred disked project. Hauled rock in evening.
April 27, 1949 - Ploughing with team and tractor, finished ploughing. Hauled rock in evening.
April 28, 1949 - Leveled and hauled rock.
April 29, 1949 - Dave leveled outer field. I hauled rock and fenced yard.
April 30, 1949 - Drilled on project and five acre patch in field.
May 1, 1949 - Fast Sunday. Sunday School. Leadership meeting in Afton.
May 2, 1949 - Drilled all day on 14 acre patch. Didn't quite finish.
May 3, 1949 - Finished drilling my grain today. Cleaned up yard.
May 6, 1949 - At Store. Leveled for Thede in evening.
May 7, 1949 - At Store. Drilled for Thede in evening.
May 8, 1949 - Sunday School program for Mothers’ Day. Sacrament meeting in evening.
May 9, 1949 - At Store. Ploughed for Thede in evening.
May 10, 1949 - At store all day. Creamery meeting in evening.
May 11, 1949 – Harrowed early in morning for Thede. At Store all day. Stake Presidency meeting in evening.
May 12, 1949 – Drilled for Thede early in morning. At store all day. Doctored bull calves, sheared sheep, and leveled garden in evening. Home evening.
May 13, 1949 - Worked at store. Dug post holes around garden.
May 14, 1949 - Worked on Welfare project - planting potatoes. Fenced Garden in afternoon. Turned water on pasture.
May 15, 1949 - Sunday School, Priesthood meeting. Sacrament meeting in evening.
May 16, 1949 - Started to rain today. Rained off and on all day. Audited Bishop Erickson's books in evening. Helped Bishop administer to Delbert Erickson’s baby.
May 17, 1949 - Rained hard most all day. Had cottage meeting here in evening.
May 18, 1949 - Still raining today. Went to Arthur Burton’s funeral today.
May 19, 1949 - Still storming.
May 20, 1949 - Rained quite hard today again. Folks went to High School commencement.
May 21, 1949 - Still storming. Helped Mr. Call run cement in afternoon. Went to Stake Conference in evening.
May 22, 1949 - Attended Stake Quarterly Conference all day. Stormed quite hard today.
May 23, 1949 - At store. Made deliveries to Etna, Freedom, & Bedford. Transferred Bishop Gardner's books & properties to Bishop Harold Papworth.
May 24, 1949 - Quite frosty last night. Sun shone most of the day today.
May 25, 1949 - Made a delivery of cement to Auburn. Helped run cement in Mr. Call's home in afternoon.
June 12, 1949 - Sunday School. Priesthood meeting. Sacrament meeting in evening.
June 13, 1949 - Working at store and irrigating pasture early & late.
June 14, 1949 - Started irrigating alfalfa today.
June 15, 1949 - Irrigating alfalfa today. Made head ditch through the grain - used Thede's tractor and Hunsaker"s ditcher.
June 16, 1949 - Finished irrigating alfalfa today. Mother watered while I wired Mr. Call's home.
June 17, 1949 - Wiring Mr. Call's home today. Did some ditching in evening.
June 18, 1949 - Wiring Mr. Call's home today.
June 19, 1949 - Sunday School. Priesthood meeting. Sacrament meeting in evening.
July 1, 1949 - Irrigated 5 acre patch grain in outer field. Finished all but two or three turns.
July 2, 1949 - Irrigated grain on project today. Finished north side.
July 3, 1949 - Sunday School. Stake Leadership meeting. Went to Hospital to see Mary.
July 4, 1949 - Finished irrigating grain on project. Went to rodeo in afternoon.
July 5, 1949 - Worked for Mr. Call wiring his home. Thede started mowing for me. Mowed 10 acres.
July 6, 1949 - Laid up with a bad foot. Cow tromped it. Thede finished my mowing.
July 7, 1949 - Raked my hay here & Vearl & Thede came in afternoon & started stacking here.
July 8, 1949 - I mowed & raked for Thede while he and Vearl stacked for me. Finished mine.
July 9, 1949 - Mowed all day. Finished on Mom's place and started on Thede's.
July 10, 1949 - Sunday. Visited all school buildings in Lower Valley with rest of School Board. Sacrament meeting in evening.
July 11, 1949 - Raked hay for Thede all forenoon. Bucked into stack in afternoon Had runaway with Side delivery.
July 12, 1949 - Mowed in forenoon on Thede's & bucked into stack in afternoon.
July 13, 1949 - Worked on rake part of the day. Stake Presidency meeting in evening.
July 14, 1949 - Mowed in forenoon, bucked into stack in afternoon for Thede.
July 15, 1949 - Mowing & stacking on Thede's.
July 16, 1949 - Raking & stacking. Finished first crop today.
July 17, 1949 - Sunday School, Priesthood meeting.
July 18, 1949 - Fenced most of day. Went to Turnerville on School Board Business.
July 19, 1949 - Started irrigating grain out by the hill today. Went to Ward project to weed potatoes in evening.
July 20, 1949 - Irrigated grain all day. Stake Presidency meeting in evening.
July 21, 1949 - Irrigated grain until way late at night.
July 22, 1949 - Finished irrigating grain late in afternoon and turned water on pasture.
July 23, 1949 - Irrigated pasture in forenoon. Went to 24th celebration in Fairview in afternoon. Sold white team today.
July 24, 1949 - Went with School Board to inspect school buildings in Upper Valley. Sacrament meeting in evening.
July 25, 1949 - Mowed grain on project. Fixed machinery & set up stacker.
July 26, 1949 - Mowed & raked on 5 acre patch & project. Stacked some on project in afternoon.
July 27, 1949 - Stacked all day. Finished project & finished on 5 acres across creek.
July 28, 1949 - Stored machinery in shed. Sent heifer & steer to market. Steer is to be given on new church house. Fenced yards. School Board meeting in evening.
August 4, 1949 - Started working in logs above old mill in Dry Creek. Need to build chicken coop, granary, & hog house.
August 5, 1949 - Working in logs.
August 6, 1949 - Working in logs.
August 7, 1949 - Sunday School. Sacrament & Priesthood leadership meeting.
August 8, 1949 - Working in logs.
August 9, 1949 - Working in logs.
August 10, 1949 - Finished logging and brought load of wood home with team. Welfare meeting in evening.
August 11, 1949 - Ploughed ditches in grain.
August 17, 1949 - Hauled gravel for cement.
August 18, 1949 - Run first section of cement for granary & coop.
August 19, 1949 - Hauled a load of gravel & then went to Sunday School Centennial Program. Went to dance in evening.
August 20, 1949 - Run another section of cement & hauled gravel.
August 21, 1949 - Sunday School Priesthood meeting. Sacrament meeting in evening. Started with facial paralysis in afternoon.
August 22, 1949 - Hauled gravel & slabs.
August 23, 1949 - Finished running cement and set post around yard.
August 24, 1949 - Hauled logs from canyon, Almon helped me. Went to High Council trial.
August 25,1949 - Finished hauling logs out of canyon to mill & hauled some lumber home. Worked for Mr. Call in afternoon.
August 26, 1949 - Hauled two loads of lumber & three loads of slabs. Went for adjustment from chiropractor.
August 27, 1949 - Went to chiropractor. Spent rest of the day at fair.
August 28, 1949 - Stayed home from Sunday School on account of a bad cold & trouble in my face, partly paralyzed.
August 29, 1949 - Worked on new building the next few days.
September 13, 1949 - Working on grain bin. Started combining in afternoon.
September 14, 1949 - Working on grain bin. Combining all day.
September 15, 1949 - Combining all day. Finished toward evening. Had 250 bags barley.
September 16, 1949 - Worked on building.
September 17, 1949 - Fenced most all day. Went to Conference in evening.
September 18, 1949 - Went to Stake Conference all day.
September 19, 1949 - Started to work in the store again today.
September 20, 1949 - At store.
September 21, 1949 - At store most of day. Did some wiring for Mr. Call.
March 11, 1950 - Ward reunion.
March 12, 1950 - Sunday School, Sacrament meeting, priesthood meeting.
March 13, 1950 - Went to farewell party for Frank Merrill & family.
March 15, 1950 - Stake & Ward Welfare Committee meeting in Stake House.
March 16, 1950 - Went to Teachers Banquet in Stake House.
March 17, 1950 - Relief Society party in evening.
March 18, 1950 - Went over home for a while in evening for a family party for Thede.
March 19, 1950 - Sunday School, Priesthood Meeting. Went to meeting in Bedford with School Board to discuss school problems.
March 21, 1950 - Went with School Board to visit & inspect school building in Cokeville.
March 22, 1950 - Went to Idaho Falls Temple today. Went with LaVere & Deon and Bishop Papworth. Had a very nice time. Mother went also.
March 24, 1950 - Worked at warehouse most of day.
March 25, 1950 - Went to play presented by Smoot here — real good. Stormy most all day.
March 26, 1950 - Stayed home from Sunday School with Adele. Went to Turnerville to close out accounts and transfer them to Bedford Ward. Quite stormy.
April 2, 1950 - Sunday School - Fast day meeting. Stake Leadership meeting in afternoon.
April 4, 1950 - School Board meeting in evening. Voted to centralize Junior High School in Lower Valley.
April 6, 1950 - Funeral services held today for Arch Gardner.
April 13, 1950 - Mother & Darlene went to Ogden today and back in evening.
April 20, 1950 - Started ploughing in afternoon.
April 21, 1950 - Finished ploughing & harrowed some.
April 22, 1950 - Harrowed and hauled rock.
April 23, 1950 - Sunday School. Priesthood meeting, Sacrament meeting in evening.
April 24, 1950 - Harrowed until school was out then hauled rock.
April 25, 1950 - Hauled rock all day. Dave started to level. Sheared sheep.
April 26, 1950 - Had seed cleaned and got seed all mixed ready to drill. Stormy today. Snowed really heavy late in afternoon.
April 30, 1950 - Left at 6 o'clock for Farragut, Idaho on School Business. Traveled a little over 600 miles & stayed in Spokane that night.
May 1, 1950 - Went out to Farragut to dispose of buildings owned by School. Spent all day dealing on buildings.
May 2, 1950 - At Farragut again today. Sold two buildings. Left Farragut for Missoula, Montana. Real stormy. Stayed at Missoula.
May 3, 1950 - Traveled from Missoula home today. Had a very nice trip. Mother & I went with Floyd Bagley & wife. Went to High Council Meeting.
May 11, 1950 - Stormy since the 25th of April and the land is just now dry enough to level again.
May 12, 1950 - Dave finished leveling today. I started to drill about 4:30, drilled 5 acres alfalfa & grasses and 7 acres barley.
May 13, 1950 - Began drilling about 6, drilled alfalfa & grasses in 17 acres by 2 p.m. Went to store in afternoon.
May 14, 1950 - Mother's day. Went to Sunday School. Went over home a while. Sacrament meeting in evening.
June 16, 1950 - Irrigated on alfalfa today.
June 17, 1950 - Finished irrigating alfalfa today.
June 22, 1950 - Baptized Adele today.
June 27, 1950 - Attended School Board meeting in evening.
June 29, 1950 - Irrigated on pastures today. Girls did irrigating while I did wiring on Warehouse today and also on 30th.
June 30, 1950 - Irrigating grain on the Project today. Irrigating with high water yet. High Council meeting in evening.
July 1, 1950 - Finished irrigating project & pasture. Went to Tippetts Reunion at Allred Flat.
July 2, 1950 - Sunday School. Sacrament meeting. Priesthood leadership meeting. I confirmed Adele today.
July 17, 1950 - Mowed all day.
July 18, 1950 - Mowed all day.
July 19, 1950 - Mowed & raked, stacked some.
July 20, 1950 - Finished stacking alfalfa.
July 21, 1950 - Stacked a few weeds & wild oats today.
July 22, 1950 - Went back to store today after haying.
July 23, 1950 - Sunday School. Priesthood meeting. Sacrament meeting in evening.
July 24, 1950 - I irrigated grain in outer field all day.
July 25, 1950 - Irrigating grain.
July 26, 1950 - Irrigating grain second time on project. I was voted chairman of School Board this evening.
July 27, 1950 - Finished irrigating grain second time.
August 7, 1950 - Mowing all day.
August 8, 1950 - Mowing all day today.
August 9, 1950 - Raked and stacked grain hay today. Stake Welfare Committee meeting in evening.
August 10, 1950 - Stacking grain hay today.
August 11, 1950 - Finished stacking grain hay today.
August 12, 1950 - Back at Store today. Went to Street meeting in evening.
August 13, 1950 - Sunday School, Priesthood Meeting. Went to Smoot to Choir Practice. Was main speaker in Sacrament Meeting.
August 14, 1950 - At Store - On deliveries nearly all day.
September 6, 1950 - Started combining late in afternoon in outer field.
September 7, 1950 - Finished combining in outer field & started on project. Rain stopped us about 2:30.
September 8, 1950 - Combined on project until rain stopped us. Only about 1/2 hour left.
September 9, 1950 - At Store. Stormy nearly all day.
September 10, 1950 - Sunday School. Went to Ed Archer Funeral. Sacrament meeting in evening.
September 11, 1950 - At Store all day. Cold & stormy.
September 12, 1950 - At Store all day, rained during night.
March 17, 1951 - Came down with flu.
March 18, 1951 - At home with flu for next two weeks.
March 31, 1951 - Just getting around a little from flu. Real weak.
April 1, 1951 - Set Mother apart as President of Primary in Osmond Ward, Lucile as teacher. Priesthood Leadership meeting in afternoon.
April 2, 1951 - Still weak from flu. Chored around home what I felt like.
April 16, 1951 - Started Ploughing today in outer field.
April 17, 1951 - Ploughed on Project today.
April 18, 1951 - Finished ploughing on Project & ploughed in field.
April 19, 1951 - Snowed during night, real stormy for several days. So went back to Store.
April 22, 1951 - Sow had five pigs today. Went to Sacrament meeting in evening. April 23, 1951 - Attended funeral services for Annie Pendleton in afternoon. April 25, 1951 - Stake Presidency, High Council meeting in evening.
April 26, 1951 - Unloaded truck at Bedford then went to Montpelier for Sheetrock. Sow had 10 little pigs in afternoon.
April 27, 1951 - Went to Montpelier at 5 a.m. for Sheetrock. At store rest of day. April 28, 1951 - Ploughed sod all day. NaDee took part on Radio Program today.
April 29, 1951 - Sunday School, Priesthood meeting, Welfare meeting in Afton. Sacrament meeting.
April 30, 1951 - Stormy all day. Worked at Store.
May 1, 1951 - Stormy - Six inches of Snow during night. Went to Thayne & Bedford with freight.
May 2, 1951 - Still stormy.
June 29, 1951 - Irrigating pasture east of Creek.
June 30, 1951 - Irrigating pasture & grain in Project.
July 1, 1951 - Irrigating grain in Project. Stake Leadership meeting.
July 2, 1951 - Irrigating grain in center field.
July 3, 1951 - NaDee irrigated 5 acre patch of new hay in center field.
July 4, 1951 - Celebrating Fourth in Afton.
July 5, 1951 - Started mowing out against Hill.
July 6, 1951 - Mowing & raking. Dave mowed in afternoon.
July 7, 1951 - Dave mowed all day. I raked in forenoon & Vearl bucked. We stacked in afternoon.
July 8, 1951 - Sunday School, Priesthood Meeting.
July 9, 1951 - Stacked in outer field & started stack in center field.
July 10, 1951 - Mowed all day on Mom's place for Dave.
July 11, 1951 - Stormed during night so I irrigated all day in outer field.
July 12, 1951 - Raked & stacked the balance of my hay, started on Mom's.
July 13, 1951 - Stacked all that was ready on Mom's.
July 14, 1951 - Raked & stacked balance of Mom's hay.
July 15, 1951 - Sunday School, Priesthood meeting, Sacrament Meeting in evening.
July 16, 1951 - Raked & Stacked on Thede's place. School Board meeting in evening.
July 17, 1951 - Finished on Thede's in afternoon and brought machinery home.
July 18, 1951 - Went back to work at store today.
July 28, 1951 - Went on School business to Rexburg & St. Anthony.
July 29, 1951 - Sunday School, Priesthood meeting.
August 15, 1951 - Met with Stake Presidency and Bishopric & Secretaries of Freedom Ward in Session of Ward Conference.
August 16, 1951 - Went to Idaho Falls with Bob & LaVere to a Fuller Paint meeting.
August 20, 1951 - Met with Stake Presidency and Bishopric & Secretaries of Grover Ward in Ward Conference Session.
September 8, 1951 - Met in Ward Conference Session with Presidency & Bishopric & Secretaries in North Ward.
September 15, 1951 - Stake Quarterly Conference in evening.
September 16, 1951 - Stake Conference.
September 21, 1951 - Combining in afternoon, have about an hour left.
October 18, 1951 - Mother & I went on excursion to Idaho Falls Temple. Did two endowments each & helped with sealings.
October 20, 1951 - Cold & stormy today.
May 8, 1952 - Harrowed 16 acres of hay land today. Snowed some part of day.
May 9, 1952 - Worked at store part of day. Then seeded ten acres in alfalfa & clover in outer field.
May 10, 1952 - Finished seeding alfalfa and seeded grain.
May 11, 1952 - Sunday School, Priesthood Meeting.
May 12, 1952 - Leveled all day on Church House project at Allreds’. Leadership Meeting in evening.
May 13, 1952 - Harrowed & leveled on 6 acre patch in outer field.
May 14, 1952 - Took 26 pages of testimony at Trial of J. O. Tolman & Fairview Pipeline Co. Meeting. Started at 7:30 Wednesday evening and lasted until 6 A.M. next morning
May 15, 1952 - Went to Temple. Harrison & Hunsaker day. Did two names.
May 16, 1952 - At store.
May 17, 1952 - At Store.
May 18, 1952 - Sunday School, Priesthood Meeting.
June 17, 1952 - Irrigated 5 acres in center field.
June 18, 1952 - Finished center field & irrigated pastures.
June 19, 1952 - Spent next three days in Yellowstone Park. Had a very nice time.
June 22, 1952 - Sunday School, Priesthood meeting. Sacrament meeting in evening.
June 23, 1952 - Started irrigating hay against hill.
(Transcribed by Darlene Harrison Jones from 5-year diary of Leslie Harrison covering years 1949-1952.)