24 January 2012

Death info on Dale Huber

Dale Fielding Huber was the 5th child born to Roy and Vera.

According to these documents he was
BORN: 21 Jun 1934 (Lapoint, Uintah, Utah)
DIED: 18 Aug 1943 (Lapoint, Uintah, Utah)
He was 9 years old and died of cancer, before his last two siblings had even been born.


Vernal Express 1943, Aug 19, p.1

This is an excerpt from Vera's life history about it:
In January of 1943, our son, Dale, was taken ill and the doctors diagnosed that he had cancer. On August 18, 1943, he died and this seemed to be sort of a turning point in all of our lives. Dale was so patient and had suffered so much. He had developed a great faith in the Elders. When we were in Salt Lake, we stayed at my brother Ralph's home. Near his home lived a very wonderful, old, gentleman that we called Brother Knapp. Every night he came and gave Dale a blessing and then Dale could rest better. When we came home on May 30, 1943, after being in Salt Lake for a week or two, Roy had accepted the position as second counselor in the bishopric.

This is an excerpt from Roy's life history about it:
Our first sorrow was when Dale got cancer. Mom and I would go out every two weeks to Salt Lake and he would take treatments. Sometime in April the doctor told us to take him home and be good to him because he would only last a few more months. He died in August.


Vernal Express 1943, Aug 26, p.1

Obituary transcribed:
Funeral Services Held at Lapoint For Dale Huber
LAPOINT (Special)--
Funeral services were conducted Friday for Dale Huber at 3:00 p.m. at the Lapoint chapel with Bishop George Hacking presiding.
Barbara Rassmussen rendered a piano solo 'Oh My Father' and L J Walker offered the invocation. Irva Huber and George Bigelow accompanied by Orloa Reynolds sang a duet 'Sometime Somewhere' and a double mixed quartet sang 'Sweet Hour of Prayer'. Jarry Harrison made short remarks and Dorthy Caldwell sang a solo 'Perfect Day'.
President Archie Johnson was the next speaker, Hayden Foster offered the benediction.
Pallbearers were his brother Dean and five cousins Jean Nyberg, Merlyn, Marvin, and Glenn Huber.* Interment was in the Lapoint Cemetery with Bishop Elmer Huber of Midway dedicating the grave.
Dale was born in Lapoint June 21, 1934 and died August 18 after a seven month illness resulting from cancer. He is survived by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Roy Huber and three brothers and sisters: Dean, Larry, and Clayton, June, Rhea, and Doris, and a grandmother Mrs. Roxa Taylor.
(Punctuation and spelling corrected/included inasmuch as my knowledge allowed)
*Five cousins indicated but only four people listed... hmm...


Immediate family at Dale's funeral.


Photo of Dale's gravesite at the funeral.

Dale's headstone in the Lapoint Cemetery.
Photo taken in July 2012 by me.

Death certificate for Dale:



*All photos were copied from the personal album of Rhea Huber Merkley.

20 January 2012

Death info on Roxa Althea Anderson Taylor

Roxa Althea Anderson Taylor was Vera's mother.

(Photo is from the personal album of Rhea Huber Merkley)

Based on the following documents these are the concrete dates we know on her life:
BIRTH: 27 Mar 1876, Levan, Juab, Utah
(born to Rasmus Anderson and Zina Jensen)
DEATH: 8 Dec 1951, in Lapoint, Uintah, Utah
She was 75 years old when she passed away.

Death certificate:


Local obituary:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1951, Dec 13, p.1

Obituary transcribed:
Roxa Taylor Dies at Lapoint Of Long Illness
Funeral services for Roxa Anderson Taylor, 75, who died last Saturday after a lingering illness, were held today (Thursday) in Lapoint. The services were conducted by the ward bishopric, and the prayer at the home was given by Bishop Walker.
Prelude was by Donna Hartle, opening song, "Softly and Tenderly", chorus, prayer, Orville Swain; song, "Beyond the Sunset", Charles Gilnes, talk by Otto Stoker; musical selection, "Oh My Father", by Cora Hayward; talk by Coy Hayward, closing song, "Going Home" by Clyde Merkley, and Benediction by Jerry Harrison.
Granddaughters of Mrs. Taylor were the flower girls, and her four sons, Leslie Taylor, Rex Taylor, Sherman Taylor and Roy Taylor were the pallbearers, assisted by the two sons-in-laws George Nyberg and Roy Huber.
Burial was in the Lapoint cemetery, where William Dye gave the grave dedication.
Mrs. Taylor was born March 27, 1876, in Levan, Juab County, a daughter of Andrew and Zina Anderson. She was married to Roy Taylor in December, 1894. In later years they were remarried in the Manti Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The couple came to Lapoint in 1914. Mrs Taylor was a former bishop of Lapoint LDS Ward. He died about two years ago.
Mrs. Taylor was a member of the LDS Church and was an active worker in the Relief Society, having served as both first and second counselor in Lapoint Ward.
In addition to her four sons, she is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Doris Ross, Vernal; Mrs. Cora Hayward, Bountiful; Mrs Thelma Jensen, Bremerton, Wash; Mrs. Vera Huber and Mrs. Della Nyberg, Lapoint, 33 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
Arriving from out of town for the services were Mr. and Mrs. Coy Hayward, Bountiful; Mr. and Mrs. Roy Taylor, Bridgeland; Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Taylor and family, Meeker; Mrs. and Mrs. Jess Gray, Salt Lake City; Clair Jensen, Los Angeles; Mrs. Douglas Merkley, Heber; and Mrs. Annie Stoker and Mr. and Mrs. Otto Stoker, Bingham.

Salt Lake Tribune Obituary:

Salt Lake Tribune 1951, Dec 10, p.24

Obituary transcribed:
Roxa Anderson Taylor
LAPOINT, Uintah County--
Mrs. Roxa Althea Anderson Taylor, 75, died Saturday at 3 p.m. at her home after a lingering illness.
Mrs. Taylor was born March 27, 1876, in Levan, Juab County, a daughter of Andrew and Zina Anderson. She was married to Roy Taylor in December 1894. In later years they were remarried in the Manti Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The couple came to Lapoint in 1914. Mr. Taylor was a former bishop of Lapoint LDS Ward. He died about two years ago.
Mrs. Taylor was a member of the LDS Church and was an active worker in the Relief Society having served as both first and second counselor in Lapoint Ward.
She is survived by four sons, Roy Taylor, Bridgeland, Duchesne County; Rex Taylor, Lapoint; Leslie Taylor, Leeton, Duchesne County; and Sherman Taylor Meeker, Colo; five daughters Mrs. Doris Ross, Vernal; Mrs. Cora Hayward, Bountiful; Mrs. Thelma Jensen, Bremerton, Wash; Mrs. Vera Huber and Mrs. Della Nyberg, Lapoint. 33 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday noon in Lapoint LDS Ward Chapel by the ward bishopric. Friends may call at Vernal Mortuary Wednesday evening and at the family residence Thursday from 10 a.m. to time of services. Burial will be in Lapoint Cemetery.

(note: both obituaries state that her father's name was "Andrew" which was crossed out on the death certificate and replaced with "Rasmus"... hmm.... also, her daughter is referred to as "Thelma" instead of "Zelma" as other references have indicated... hmm, a typo perhaps?)

From the personal albums of Cheryl Murray
"Lea, Roy and Rex Taylor along with Jesse Gray, George Nyberg and Sherman Taylor are pallbearers at Roxa's funeral"
Headstone:
Headstone located in the Lapoint Cemetery, Lapoint, Utah
Photo taken by me, July 2012
From the personal albums of Cheryl Murray

18 January 2012

Death info on Roy Taylor

Roy Taylor was Vera's father.
(Photo from the personal album of Rhea Huber Merkley)

Based on these documents, he was:
BIRTH: 18 Feb 1872, Levan, Juab County, Utah
(born to Martin Taylor and Joan Hannah Jennings*)
DEATH: 26 Dec 1941, Lapoint, Uintah County, Utah
He was 69 years old.

Lots of other interesting things to look into by studying these out further.

Roy Taylor's obituary (click on image to enlarge):

(Salt Lake Tribune 1941, Dec 30, p.15)

Obituary transcribed:
Funeral Slated for Former County Official
Tribune Intermountain Wire

LAPOINT, Uintah County--
Funeral service for Roy Taylor, 69, former Uintah county commissioner and school board member, will be conducted Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the Lapoint LDS ward chapel by Bishop Harvey Hullinger. Mr. Taylor died suddenly Friday at home.
He had been afflicted with a heart ailment and asthma for some years.
Born in Levan
Mr. Taylor was born in Levan, Juab county, Feb 18, 1872, a son of Martin and Hannah Jennings Taylor. He spent his boyhood and young manhood in Levan, where he attended the public schools. After marrying Roxie Anderson in the Salt Lake LDS temple, he moved to Chester, Sanpete county.
Coming to Lapoint in 1915, he became actively engaged in farming and the livestock business in the Uintah basin.
For six years Mr. Taylor was a Uintah county commissioner, and for 12 years a member of the Uintah school district board, representing the western part of the county.
Served as Bishop.
Mr. Taylor served as bishop of the Lapoint LDS ward for 12 years. He was a teacher in the Sunday school and MIA of his ward.
Surviving, besides his widow, are six sons and five daughters,
Rex and Leslie Taylor, Mrs. Roy Huber, Mrs. George Nyburg and Mrs. Clarence Jensen of Lapoint;
Mrs. Keith Ross of Vernal,
Mrs Coy Heyward of Bountiful,
Roy Taylor of Bridgeland, Utah;
Ralph Taylor of Salt Lake City,
Sherman Taylor of Meeker Colo.,
and Martin Taylor of the U.S. air corps;
four brothers and one sister, Scyle, Hugh, and Nephi Taylor of Levan
and Heber T. Taylor of Blackfoot, Idaho,
and Mrs. Wayne Neilson of Provo.
Burial will be in the Lapoint cemetary.
Friends may call at the home in Lapoint Tuesday morning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

AND, here's obituary #2, thanks to the Vernal Express:


Vernal Express 1942, Jan 1, p.1

Obituary transcribed:
Funeral Held for Former County Official
Heart Attack Fatal to Roy Taylor at Home in Lapoint

Largely attended by friends and relatives with many school and county officials present were the funeral services for Roy Taylor 69, former Uintah county board member held Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the Lapoint LDS ward chapel with Bishop Harvey Hullinger presiding. Mr Taylor died suddenly Friday at his home.
He had been afflicted with a heart ailment and asthma for a number of years.
Mr. Taylor was born in Levan, Juab county February 18, 1872 a son of Martin and Hannah Jennings Taylor. He spent his boyhood and young manhood in Levan where he attended the public schools. After marrying Roxie Anderson in the Salt Lake LDS temple he moved to Chester Sanpete county.
Coming to Lapoint in 1915 he became actively engaged in farming and the livestock business in the Uintah basin.
For six years Mr. Taylor was a Uintah county commissioner and for 12 years a member of the Uintah school district board representing the western part of the county.
Mr. Taylor served as bishop of the Lapoint LDS ward of 12 years. He was a teacher in the Uintah school district board representing the western part of the county.
Survivng besides his widow are six sons and five daughters. Rex and Leslie Taylor, Mrs. Roy Huber, Mrs. George Nyburg, and Mrs. Clarence Jensen of Lapoint; Mrs Keith Ross of Vernal; Mrs. Coy Heyward of Bountiful; Roy Taylor of Bridgeland, Utah; Ralph Taylor of Salt Lake City; Sherman Taylor of Meeker, Colo; and Martin Taylor of the U.S. air corps. Four brothers and one sister Scyle, Hugh, and Nephi Taylor of Levan, and Heber T Taylor of Blackfoot, Idaho, and Mrs. Wayne Neilson of Provo.
At the funeral services the opening song was 'Sometime We'll Understand' by the Lapoint ward choir with the invocation by Jerry Harrison former Lapoint ward bishop followed by the choir singing 'Jesus Lover of My Soul'.
Principal Luke Clegg of the Alterra high school read a tribute paid the deceased by the faculty and students of the high school. Barbara Rasmussen rendered a piano solo 'Oh My Father'.
Speakers were H LeRoy Morrill bishop of the Tridell ward and Superintendent L O Noble of the Uintah school district. Closing remarks were made by Bishop Hullinger who is principal of the Lapoint school.
Other musical numbers were a Hawaiian harp solo 'Til We Meet Again' by Cora Hayward and a vocal duet 'Going Home' by Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Merkley.
The benediction was pronounced by C A Thompson.
Pall bearers were his sons Roy, Rex, Ralph, Sherman, and Leslie Taylor and grandson Dean Jensen.
Interment was made in the Lapoint cemetery under the direction of the Swain Funeral Home. Dedication of the grave was by Mr. Hullinger.

* This is yet another derivative on her name. She is often referred to as Hannah or Johannah in the records I have come across...

Headstone:
Headstone located in the Lapoint Cemetery, Lapoint, Utah
Photo taken by me, July 2012.

16 January 2012

Life History of Roy Huber- Part Two

I obtained this from.... hmm, I don't know. Likely my grandparents, but no interviewer is indicated on the copy I have. This is a transcript from my copy and the photos were inserted by me to illuminate the story a bit more.
Photos are from the personal albums of Clayton Huber and Rhea Huber Merkley.

Life History of Roy Huber (as dictated by him)
PART TWO

During that first winter I met Vera in front of the old post office where Gerry's store is now. I used to ride our little saddle horse, Mit, and I would pick her up and take her for a ride. After I dropped her off I would have five or six miles to ride back. I courted her for about two years and then we finally got married. I didn't have any money so I took a load of wheat into Vernal and got it ground into flour. Then I brought it back and sold it to Zack Kump for fifty dollars and I bought a ring and a license. That winter I went back to the Park Utah to work. Vera took June with her and we stayed with Mother. We got enough money that winter to buy us a few pieces of furniture, a stove, table, and bed. We lived in Lawrence Abbeglin's dirt roof cabin. I remember we had a heavy rainstorm after a dry spell and Vera went to check on June and we saw that there was a stream of mud and water coming straight down in her face. We lived in that cabin a year or so and then we moved up beside Frank and Ardith.
Frank holding Kathryn, Grandma Huber holding Rhea, Vera, Dutch holding Lynn, Roy with Darryl.

We were really happy the first years of our married life. We got a few sheep and some milk cows. The milk checks would be up to around eighteen to twenty dollars. The times were really scarce and most of our business was trading. We would trade beef for coal and so on. At first Frank and I batched it. Sometimes we had fifteen to twenty dollars a week and it would be divided up between Ardith and Vera. They would buy the groceries and sometimes ended up with a dollar or two left for the rest of the week. Even in the dirt-roofed cabin we had real happiness. After this, Mother passed away. Vera and Ardith would take turns taking care of Mother in Midway. Frank was in Colorado with his sheep there and I had taken over his here. We had about a thousand head of sheep here and Dutch had a couple of hundred. During that time the alfalfa seed came into being and we had one or two good crops. We bought a car and everyone thought it was crazy to live in a dirt-roofed cabin and buy a car, but we enjoyed having it. I remember Vera and Ardith went to town one day and one of them went to open the gate and the other left the door open. Anyhow, the door was taken off our first new car.
Vera on left, Ardith on right

When Frank came from Colorado he had a pickup and Mom and I were out there so we rode home with him. The front was too crowded so Mom and I rode in the back and I about froze to death. Eventually we pounded on the window and climbed in the front. Even if it was crowded we still kept warm. Finally we dissolved our partnership and I bought a fraction of the sheep. I ran sheep for several years. Because of this, I had to be away from the family too much so I sold most of the sheep.

Our first sorrow was when Dale got cancer. Mom and I would go out every two weeks to Salt Lake and he would take treatments. Sometime in April the doctor told us to take him home and be good to him because he would only last a few more months. He died in August. During his sickness I was called to be the second counselor to George Hacking, the Bishop. It was quite a change in my life but you can get no greater joy than working in the Church. After that I was put in as Sunday School Superintendent. I did that for several years until I asked to be released.

Several years after Dale died, Larry had an accident in December. I can remember Mom and I takingturns staying with him at the hospital in Salt Lake. He was there for several weeks. Finally he passed away with a blood clot. That was a period in my life that I never did get over. As good as Larry was and that he would be taken was a shock to me and was probably one reason why I quit going to church as much as I had been going. It seemed like when I went to church and paid my tithing there was always money to raise the family and keep Larry and Clayton on a mission. No matter how tough the times were, we always had a little money in the bank. I remember when Grandma Taylor was left a widow and lost her home so I bought her a house up in town. I got real pleasure out of seeing the happiness she got out of living in town in a house that had little conveniences. She had a bathroom and water in the house which was one thing she had never had.

I surely enjoyed the respect and love of the family for several happy years. Finally we had our golden wedding, which I wasn't very enthused about having. My health had been good until I had a little heart trouble and I'm still kicking around a little.

Life History of Roy Huber- Part One

I obtained this from.... hmm, I don't know. Likely my grandparents, but no interviewer is indicated on the copy I have. This is a transcript from my copy and the photos were inserted by me to illuminate the story a bit more.
Photos are from the personal albums of Clayton Huber and Rhea Huber Merkley.

Life History of Roy Huber (as dictated by him)

The first recollection I have is when I was a baby with curls, and I must have had curls until I was about four years old. I can remember one incident when Vern Probst came over to play with me and we did something wrong and mother took the dish rag (that was one of the weapons she used.) Instead of hitting me, she hit Vern. Vern felt pretty bad about that.

Little Leroy Huber... aww....

After I got five or six or seven, I was quite husky and fat and they gave me the nickname of "Fat" and I had that nickname for years and years until I came out to the Uintah Basin. After I got old enough to work we would always go to the ranch in the summer after we got the work done at our little farm. We would go up to the ranch and help Joe and Neph herd sheep, milk cows, tend the fish in the fishing pond, and herd pigs. I can remember one time the pigs kept getting in Brother Summer's field. Grandpa told me one time that if I could herd the pigs out of that field, he would give me twenty cents. I did herd them out and ran my legs off but never got the twenty cents pay.

Labeled as "Huber Milking Corral"

When we were at the ranch, Aunt Ida and Joe were quite the teasers. I had an inferiority complex and when they would tease me about anything I didn't like, I would slide under the table. They always teased me about that too. Grandmother was one of the most wonderful women that ever lived. She was kind and never laid a hand on the kids no matter what they had done. She would just say a word in German to scold them. Uncle Joe was one of the most princely guys (that) ever was around. He never would scold you if you did anything wrong.

In those days, money was very scarce. I can remember we would work in the neighbor's hay fields for a dollar and a half a day. I can remember one time we loaded and delivered potatoes for two days and received a five or six dollar bag of sugar. During the summer my dad and I would go up Snake Creek Canyon and get dry pine trees. Then we would saw them up and make cordwood out of them and sell them to the limekiln. That would be how we made our pin money.

The summers at the ranch were some of the most happy ones in my childhood. Nearly every summer all the aunts and children would come to the ranch for their vacation. Most of the time Dean, Frank, and I would have to work in the hay fields. We resented that because Vern and the other boys could play with the other kids all that they wanted. They just had to work when they wanted to. When we became teenagers and went to high school, we had a teenage gang. What game, trick, or mischief that one person didn't think of, someone else would. I remember Joe had a team and a buggy and when he came down we delighted in borrowing his team and taking all of the kids for a ride.
Roy tilling a field

In the grade school I was kind of shy but I always got pretty good marks. We used to have to ride to Heber in the cold in an overcoat. I remember I got so discouraged about riding over to Heber in that cold weather that I quit high school. That was a mistake. The principal came over and my parents tried to talk me into going back but I never did. After that I did get one semester at Utah State. Floyd Bonner, Neph Haueter, and I batched it. Herb, Joe, and Nephi Probst lived about a block away and we had some real wild times.

The only place that you could earn a dollar was in the mines. Dean and I went in November to work in the Cardiff mine. When we got there we only had fifteen cents. We worked there until April and we had all of our checks left except the first one. We had cashed the first one to buy postage stamps. We thought we were really in the money. When we got home all of our checks didn't last long. We went dancing and imbibed a little wine and beer. After that I remember I worked for Uncle Alex at the Reed's peak. Aunt Liza was the cook and she made some wonderful dried apricot pies. Being away from home I got homesick and I walked up the head of Cottonwood Canyon and down to the ranch. Elmer Dutch was running the place and he took me back on horseback. I worked in Lake City, Colorado, with a bunch of fellows from Midway and Park City.
Park City Mines (taken from an online source through Google images)

The word had gotten around that the Mormons were coming and they were planning on driving us out. We had two or three pretty tough miners with us and they offered to take them all on. We had been working there seven months and Dude Wilson and I were getting tired of mining so we took a tour of Denver and Cheyenne and we even had enough money to get to Evanston, Wyoming. We got a job in a steady outfit herding sheep. We had only been there about three weeks when Dude Wilson got his call for the army. We put together our earnings and he went home. I worked there a month or two and didn't want to go on in the summer so I quit and went home. Very shortly after that I was called to the army. It wasn't long after I got out of the army that my Dad died. After he died I ran the ranch for a year or two. I decided that I didn't like that and got a job out at the Park Utah Mine and Dutch took over the farm. After a year of mining in the winter of 1922, I took a visit to Lapoint. Frank was feeding cattle out there for W.K. Johnson and hay was three dollars a ton. He got three dollars for feeding and that shows the difference in prices that hay is today.

World War I photo of Roy (on right) and unknown buddy... handsome little devil that Roy was...


Roy's family: parents Henry Albert & Margaretha on far left. Brothers Elmer & Frank seated in front. I assumed Roy was the one clear in the back, but he looks younger than the boy in front of him (who should be his younger brother, Dean.) SO, I may need some more clarification on that...


To be continued in: Life History of Roy Huber- PART TWO

14 January 2012

Life History of Vera Taylor Huber- Part Two

I obtained this from.... hmm, I don't know. Likely my grandparents, but no interviewer is indicated on the copy I have. This is a transcript from my copy and the photos were inserted by me to illuminate the story a bit more.
Photos are from the personal albums of Clayton Huber and Rhea Huber Merkley.

Life History of Vera Taylor Huber (as dictated by her)
PART TWO

When I was thirteen years old, I had quite an experience. My girl friend and I had gone to town after the mail in a single buggy. The mail come only about twice a week and everyone would be there to get it as it had to be handed out. I told my friend to go in and get the mail and I would stay in the buggy and hold the horse. I noticed a strange fellow looking out the window and when he caught my eye, he would wink at me. I was quite bashful so I turned my head. Every time I glanced his way he would wink at me and grin. I think that was a joke with him but I was very embarrassed. I soon learned that his name was Roy Huber and that he was from Midway, Utah. Two years later, I started going with him. Most of our courting was done on horseback, that is to and from the dances or other places of entertainment. On October 22, 1924, we were married at Vernal, Utah by Wallace Calder.


Roy Huber on a horse.

The first few months of our marriage we lived in Midway, Utah, with Mother Huber. Roy worked in the mines at Park City and then in the spring we returned to Lapoint and lived in a two-room log house with a dirt roof. This was our home for about ten years and four of my children were born there. They were Vera June in 1925; Rhea LaVar in 1927; LeRoy Dean in 1929; and Doris Louise in 1931. During the winter of 1933 and 1934 we built us a new home and moved there on February 22, 1934. The following children were born to us after we moved to our new home: Dale Fielding in 1934; Larry Blaine in 1936; Clayton Shirl in 1938; Martin Taylor in 1947; and JoAnn in 1951. These last two children were the only ones that were born in the hospital.

Indicated as "House first built in Lapoint Utah, Dale and Larry posing"... and likely Vera's shadow being cast.

Although we enjoyed being in our new home, some of the happiest days we spent in our log house. We were engaged in farming and sheep raising. My husband's brothers, Frank and Elmer, and their families lived close to us and our children grew up together and were very close to one another . It seems that whatever was done, it was done in a spirit of togetherness. We all had good farms and we usually raised quite a large amount of grain and hay and always had a good garden. There were many times that we had hardship and encountered difficulties. I remember that for a period of about three years we suffered from severe drought. Each spring we planted our crops and didn't have anything to harvest when fall came. In spite of difficult times, it seems that we always managed somehow.

We, the three families, had many picnics together and many times Roy and I have taken the older children and have gone fishing in the mountains for several days. All the children had such good times together and at night they would play hide-in-go seek around the campfire. Their appetites seemed to increase when they were in the mountains and they consumed an enormous amount of food, but there was always plenty of fish to eat.

Mother Huber had been a widow for many years before Roy and I were married. She came to our homes and stayed many times. We always looked forward to her visits and were saddened by her passing on January 6, 1936.

Roy's mother, Margaretha, with grandkids Rhea and Kathryn (Huber cousin)

On December 26, 1941, I received the shocking news that my father had passed away from a heart attack. This was my parents' anniversary and I had spent the day with them and was so shocked when I received this news, for it seemed that I had just returned to my home after such an enjoyable day. Then on December 8, 1951, my mother died. She had been ill for some time and had suffered considerably. Della and I had been there and Della had just gone home and was going to come back so that I could go home to my family, for JoAnn was only about three months old. My mother died shortly after Della had gone and I have always felt grateful that I was able to spend the last day with both of my parents that they had here on earth. I feel that grandparents are important to their grandchildren for my two younger children have not had this association and have wondered why not and have always felt a little cheated.

Roy Taylor with grandkids.


Vera with mother Roxa holding one of her kids.

In January of 1943, our son, Dale, was taken ill and the doctors diagnosed that he had cancer. On August 18, 1943, he died and this seemed to be sort of a turning point in all of our lives. Dale was so patient and had suffered so much. He had developed a great faith in the Elders. When we were in Salt Lake, we stayed at my brother Ralph's home. Near his home lived a very wonderful, old, gentleman that we called Brother Knapp. Every night he came and gave Dale a blessing and then Dale could rest better. When we came home on May 30, 1943, after being in Salt Lake for a week or two, Roy had accepted the position as second counselor in the bishopric. He served as counselor to Bishop George Hacking and to Bishop L.J. Walker. Later he served as the Sunday School Superintendent.

The year following Dale's death, we received word that my youngest brother, Martin, was missing in action over Japan. The word was received on November 29, 1944, and my mother couldn't bring herself to accept this and always hung on to the hope that he may still be alive.

I have worked in the different organizations of the Latter-Day-Saint Church. I have worked in the Primary, Mutual, and taught a class in Sunday School. In 1953, I was sustained as President of the Lapoint Ward Relief Society. I served in this calling for about eight years. I really loved the work and I learned many things that have helped me in my home and with my family. I was released in October 1961. At this time, I was called to serve as an Indian Missionary and I am now the Relief Society President of the Bennett Branch of the Indian Mission. I have enjoyed this work here so far but it is a new experience and so different from my experiences in the ward.

In May 1956, our son Larry, was called to a mission in the Central States. We were all very happy and he went with our blessings. It was a wonderful experience for all of us. He returned home in June 1958 and we were happy to have him home again.

In July, the same year, Clayton received his call to go on a mission to the West Central States. Again we considered it a privilege to send one of our sons on a mission. I can truthfully say that the blessings of the Lord were with us while our boys were on their missions. When Clayton was released in September 1960, Rhea, Douglas, Roy and I went to the mission home in Billings, Montana, to get him. We had a nice trip and again encountered many enjoyable experiences. The meetings held at the mission home were some of the most spiritual and humbling and I don't know when I have enjoyed the Spirit of the Lord more.

At the present time (1986) we have 39 grandchildren and we love them as we do our own children. The twentieth grandchild arrived on my birthday and I really felt honored. My children have accused me of spoiling my grandchildren. Of course, this is strictly their opinion.

I believe the happiest day of my life was when we took our family to the Salt Lake Temple and had them sealed to us for time and eternity. This was on November 12, 1943.

I am so thankful for my good husband and my family. I am also very thankful for the testimony I have of the Gospel and for my parents and the teachings I received from them. I pray I might remain faithful until the end of my life.

Life History of Vera Taylor Huber- Part One

I obtained this from.... hmm, I don't know. Likely my grandparents, but no interviewer is indicated on the copy I have. This is a transcript from my copy and the photos were inserted by me to illuminate the story a bit more.
Photos are from the personal albums of Clayton Huber and Rhea Huber Merkley.

Life History of Vera Taylor Huber (as dictated by her)
PART ONE

I was born February 3, 1908 to Roy Taylor and Roxa Anderson Taylor at Chester, Utah. I was the eighth of twelve children, six boys and six girls, born to these wonderful parents. All my life I've been thankful to be a member of this large family and to be born of such goodly parents. It was my privilege to enjoy the many blessings of such a family, and I am grateful and thankful for the teachings and counsel given to me by my parents. My brothers and sisters are: Zelma, Cora, Earldean, Roy, Rex, Leslie, Sherman, Ralph, Della, Doris, and Martin.


(Roy and Roxa, Vera's parents)


The Taylor sisters, L-R: Della, Cora, Zelma, Vera, and Doris. (not pictured: Earldean.)
I don't have any photos of the brothers together... quite a shame.

When I was born one of the family had whooping cough, and when I was about two weeks old I also took the disease. Zelma told me this story about my father. She said I was very sick and my parents were afraid I would never survive the disease. This night they were working with me and my mother went to the kitchen for medicine. My father sat up in bed and prayed for me and from that time I began to get better. This was such a testimony to my parents that they began to prepare themselves to go to the temple. On April 14, 1909, they went to the Manti Temple and were sealed. From that time they were always active in the church, holding many important positions.

Manti Temple scene, painting by Al Rounds

My father owned a small farm in Chester, which included a large pasture. The Sanpitch River ran through this pasture, and was a favorite swimming place. My brothers and cousins really enjoyed fishing in this river. My father also milked cows and drove the milk wagon and gathered the milk around Chester and took it to the creamery. The products made were mostly butter and cheese.

(Image of the Sanpitch watershed on a map of Utah... right in the heart of the state! SOURCE: extension.usu.edu)

From our home in Chester, we could see the Manti Temple and I always thought it was the most beautiful building I had ever seen. Also the train would pass close to our home. I always remember the whistle and also the men that would come to our door poorly dressed and ask for food. My mother never turned on away without something to eat.

I remember going with my family to neighboring towns to visit with relatives. I always enjoyed visiting with Grandmother Taylor. She had a cane to assist in her walking and if we did anything wrong she would tap us with her cane.

We had a flowing well in front of our home. My folks raised the garden with this water and there was a watering trough for the livestock close by. My brothers had an old white pony and many times after riding her, they would tie her up at the water trough. I had always wanted to ride her but they wouldn't let me. One day while they were in the house, I found the horse tied as usual at the watering trough. After I had untied the horse, I climbed on the fence and got on the horse and started for the corral. The horse began to kick up her heels and I didn't know what to do to stop her. I kept putting my feet farther back to see if it would help but it only made matters worse, and I was finally bucked off. It created quite a bit of excitement and my mother was very frightened. I wasn't hurt but I was very frightened too. I never rode the hose anymore, but I was always out with my father driving the team whenever he would let me.

When I was six years old, I had the misfortune of being burned with hot, scalding water. I still have the scars from the burn on my neck and shoulder.

I had four brothers just older than I and I played quite a bit with the boys. The would call me "tom boy" and I didn't like that at all. For a day or so I would stay in the house, then the first thing I knew I would be out of doors again.

In October 1913, we discovered my sister, Earldean, had heart trouble. The doctor came often and tried to help her but there was little he could do. She grew worse and time passed and May 25, 1914, she passed away. This was the first death to come to our family and we were all very sad at this time. She was a good person and everyone loved her. She was a good musician and was organist and was always willing to help where and whenever she could.

In the spring of 1915, my father heard about the Uintah Basin or the Indian reservation being opened to the white people. He, along with some of the neighbors, made a trip to the Basin to see what kind of country it was. They all had boys and they needed more land. They returned well pleased and decided to sell out in Sanpete County and came to the Basin. My mother didn't want to leave our home, but she finally consented.

Map of Uintah Basin (SOURCE: geology.utah.gov)

My sister, Cora, was married to Coy Hayward on October 20, 1915, just a few days before we started for our new home. On October 24, 1915, we had several covered wagons loaded with furniture, bedding, food, and all our belongings ready to start on our journey. The men had the cattle rounded up and several of our relatives and friends were ready to help us move. My mother drove the white top buggy and the smaller children rode with her. We were twelve days traveling from early morning until late at night. I remember my father and the men did most of the cooking in dutch ovens and over campfires. I had a cat that I was taking with me and we stayed the first night in Mt. Pleasant. The next morning as we were about ready to start on our way I noticed my kitten on a board fence so I ran and got her and put her in the buggy. She got used to traveling and would come and crawl in the buggy and be ready to go. My mother was sometimes frightened of the rough roads and dugways we had to drive over. She also felt bad and cried about every day.

On November 5, 1915, we arrived at our new home. It wasn't nearly as nice a home as we left. It was made of sawed logs and the chinks were plastered. It had only three rooms but they were quite large. When my mother saw it she said to my father, "If I were taking you to a new home, I wouldn't take you to a place like this." The town was called Hayden and my mother, having the knack of homemaking, soon had our home looking clean and comfortable and very livable.

The people were friendly and welcomed us into their midst. That winter the married folks had a dance about once a week and the ladies would prepare lunch and a good time was enjoyed by all.

There were many indians living at Whiterocks, a town near Hayden, and they would pass our place every day. We were frightened of them and many times when a knock came at the door, we would run and hide under the bed fearing that it might be indians. Sometimes they would stop and want something to eat. My father always gave them something to eat and the indians learned to like him. At Whiterocks, once a month, there was an "Issue Day" where the indians were given food. One day our neighbor lady took me and her son about my age with her to the store. I had never seen so many indians in my life. Her boy was scared too, so he clung to one side of her skirt and I to the other side.

There wasn't any good farming ground in Hayden so we just stayed there during the winter and in the spring of 1916 we moved to Lapoint. My father bought eighty acres of farming ground and forty acres of pasture land. The farming ground had no home on it so we leased a house and farming ground for three years. During this time, we built a brick house on the eighty acre plot. This was the first brick home to be built in Lapoint. After the house was completed, we moved in, and this was where my parents lived until all their family had married. This home was the gathering place for many family get-togethers. All members of the family, including the grandchildren, have often remarked of the fond memories and enjoyable times they had there.


Lapoint, Uintah County, Utah

Sherman, always having an inventive mind, one day decided he had thought of a way to successfully fly through the air. He was trying his wings from a tall haystack and if he made it to the ground in fine shape the rest of us would try our luck. He tied some shingles securely around his arms and then jumped, flapping his arms. It seemed the faster he flapped his arms, the more swiftly he fell. When he reached the ground with no broken bones, the rest of us decided against taking our turn.

We had five families around our neighborhood and each had large families. The children rode horses to school and there was always a big group of us night and morning. We were always racing and learned to ride horses well. It was cold in the winter, but we were dressed warm and didn't mind the cold weather.


Vera on far right, likely with sisters or neighbor friends.

Our first schoolhouse in Lapoint was a one-room building with a curtain pulled through the center for a partition. It was very noisy and one had a difficult time trying to study. We also held our church meetings in this building.

On September 2, 1916, I was baptized in a pond on the old C.A. Thompson place. Brother Thompson baptized me and the following day I was confirmed by Jacob N. Lybberts.

My father, Roy Taylor, was sustained as first counselor in the bishopric, September 10, 1916, when the Lapoint ward was organized. On December 31, 1916, he was sustained as bishop of the ward. He served as bishop for twelve years. He was set apart by President George Albert Smith. He was ordained a high priest by Don B. Colton. He also served as county commissioner for six years and later as a school board member for nine years, during which time he and Russell Todd were instrumental in the building of the Alterra High School. He and Wm. M. Davis brought the first threshing machine into our community. This thresher was operated by steam. He did many things in helping to develop the Uintah Basin. During these years, my mother was doing her part in taking care of the home and children and keeping the boys at work on the farm. She was first counselor to three different Relief Society Presidents. The sisters made the clothing for burial and covered and lined the caskets and spent much time with the sick and needy.


The Lapoint Ward Chapel (courtesy of the Uintah County Library Archives)

My father always raised a large garden and the family all helped with it. When the vegetables were ready we prepared them to be dried. The vegetables we dried were mostly peas and corn. We canned tomatoes and fruits. We had a large family and it took a large amount of food to sustain life. We took a load of wheat each fall to the mill and brought home a load of flour, approximately enough to last until the next harvest. Dad always shared with the indians the fresh vegetables and other food and they always loved him and considered him their friend.

We were always busy with the housework, cleaning, sewing, cooking, washing, and ironing. We also washed the wool for our quilts. Each day in the afternoon, the girls would spend an hour or so pulling the wool so our mother could card it. Mother always had something nice fixed when we came home from school and we appreciated her very much.

We lived close to the river and during the summer we went swimming nearly every day. All the neighbor children would join in and we all had good times together. In the wintertime we went skating and sleigh riding.

To be continued in the Life History of Vera Taylor Huber- Part TWO...