Albert Leroy Skidmore Sr.

Albert Leroy Skidmore Sr. was born Feb 22, 1898 in Richmond to Justin Albert and Agnes Emoret Stoddard Skidmore. Albert was a veteran of World War I.

History

"The first home that I can remember, was one still standing at 3rd East and Main Street, in Richmond. It is just three blocks east of the Richmond Bank. There were a few fruit trees on the lot, a garden spot, and the back yard was in alfalfa. There were three or four locust trees and on the northeast corner was a tall poplar tree. There were also some plumb bushes. At back there was a small adobe stable where the cow and one horse were kept. On the east side was a lean-to chicken coop and on the west was a buggy shed. The path to the shed passed the 'out-house'. 

"...I attended school first in Richmond. I began in the fall of 1904. Miss Ridges was my first teacher. She was tall, slender, and had red hair. I had to stand in the corner sometimes. One day I was playing with a small mirror --she took it and I never did get it back. The first word I learned was R-U-N. Wilford Merrill was my seat partner. Wilford was the son of (Apostle) Mariner Merrill and was one of my best friends. 

In 1905 the Skidmore family moved to Tooele County, Utah and founded Benmore.

"In the Fall of 1918, all males had to register for Military Service. I was just old enough and Father was just under the age limit, so we both filled out the papers. I was classed 1-A. Father was exempt, because he was a widower with children. I chose to enlist in Student Army Training, for High School Graduates and College Students at the U.S.U. The whole group signed up at the court house in Logan. We had been practicing drills, had not been issued uniforms, when the “Flu” epidemic began. Most of the fellows became ill and the main school building was turned into a hospital. Nurses and doctors from Logan were sent to care for the sick. Louis Jones, from Brigham City, one other fellow, and I were put to bed in bunks back of the curtain of the stage in the dressing room. For 2 days no one came to take care of us and we were really sick. No one remembered we were there. Finally, after the second day, we heard someone, so we called out and were finally helped. Six out of approximately 600 fellows died during this epidemic."

Epilogue