28 October 2013

Henry Albert Huber written history

Henry Albert Huber was LeRoy's father.
The following is his written history, author unknown but likely a direct descendant of his.  This document was found in the personal albums of both Rhea Merkley and Doris Sessions.
Photo has been inserted by me.

"Henry Albert Huber"
Found in the personal albums of Rhea Merkley
Biography of Henry Albert Huber

Henry Albert Huber was born in Midway, Utah, October 7, 1867, the third child of John (Johannes) Huber and Maria (Mary) Magdalena Munz.  He was blessed November 17, 1867 by his father.

His father immigrated to Utah in 1863, leaving his native country, Switzerland, on May 3rd.  The ship, Antartic, carried 300 passengers and was on the ocean 49 days.

His mother, also a native of Switzerland came to the United States in 1863.  They were both with the Peter Nebeker Company arriving in Utah October 13, 1863.  Just a few days later on October 18, 1863 they were married at Payson, Utah at the home of John Diem by Bishop Fairbanks.  In the Spring of 1864 they moved to Provo Valley locating in the upper settlement of Mound City.  To them were born fives sons and five daughters.

It was on the Huber ranch at Snake Creek that Henry spent his early years.  He was baptized by John Watkins on August 8, 1880.  Henry was a handsome man of medium build.  He was 5’10” in height and weighed 150 pounds.  His eyes were blue his hair was brown and he sported a 42” chest.

Henry Albert and Margaretha (Maggie) Abegglen were married in the Logan Temple, December 9, 1891.  They resided in Midway where five sons were born to them.  Elmer the oldest was born September 19, 1892; Henry Lyman March 1, 1894 and lived seventeen days before his death.  He was buried in the Midway Cemetery.  Frank Ervin was born June 1, 1895, LeRoy April 1, 1897 and Albert Dean January 11, 1899.

Many Swiss families settled in Midway.  Albert’s elder brother, John, married Elizabeth Gertsch, a first cousin to Margaretha.  These two families along with Susie Probst, Elizabeth’s sister and her family often had Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners together, taking turns in the preparation of the meals.  These families enjoyed this particular tradition and looked forward to coming to Uncle Al’s and Aunt Maggie’s home.

Al had a big bear skin which intrigued the children and he often entertained them by putting the bear skin over his body and giving them rides upon his back.  Sometimes he placed the skin over his head and the children screamed and scampered as he tried to catch them.  They always enjoyed the tasty meals prepared by Aunt Maggie on these special occasions.

The Hubers had a fine apple orchard to the east of their home between them and the Mohlman family home.  There was a big hay barn located on the northern perimeter of their lot.  Along with other buildings in the lot was a rock chicken coop which attracted Roy and Dean.  They robbed the nest of the eggs, concealed the eggs under their hats and hurried to the store just a block away where they traded the eggs for candy.

He owned between 30 and 40 acres.  One plot joined the lot on the north where their home was located.  Another acreage, some distance away known as the “Dutch Field” was of fertile soil and raised excellent crops.  He also had a forest permit on the mountain west of Midway for around 30 head of cattle besides a few milk cows.  The animals were put to graze in an area known as Bonner Holler.

Each year an acre or so of potatoes were planted at the “Dutch Field” or at the ranch at Snake Creek.  They boys were sent to pull the weeds from the potato patch.  The Berkinshaw Creek or Snake Creek streams were near by and the boys usually found those streams more inviting than pulling weeds, so a fishing they would go.  This seemed to meet the approval of the parents as long as they took home a good mess of fish.  Many times after the potatoes were harvested in the fall, a wagonload of potatoes were taken to Park City and for their pay they received a hundred pounds of sugar.

Albert always had a good team of horses that he handled with expertise.  As money was hard to come by, it seems that he worked at whatever was available.  He worked at many jobs and he worked hard to whatever he did.

During the summer, dry timber was hauled and split and sold in cords for winter use.  Timber was also cut and hauled to a lime kiln located near a limestone quarry.  “The lime rock was quarried by blasting it into chunks.  Twenty-five tons of rock produced 8 tons of lime.  Three days and three nights of 12 hour shifts steady burning at top-heat were required to burn out the lime.  It cooled 48 hours before being removed. Lime was used in mortar plaster and for white washing.”[1]

“White pine wood was used to keep the fires going.  Coal was used but proved unsatisfactory, since the heat from the coal stayed too close to the bed of coals and did not penetrate through the line rock.”[2]

Albert worked in the mines at Park City, Utah.  Many who worked in the mines were leaded, which caused serious health problems.  The working conditions were hazardous and the pay around $5 per day.  After he quit the work in the mines, he hauled hay to Park City for the men employed at the mines for $8 to $10 per ton.  This trip usually took the entire day.

He was the dance hall manager at the town hall for eight or ten years and for several years after that was Marshall in Midway.  He also served on the Midway town board.

He served as a road supervisor and assisted in building bridges.

Albert was an excellent fisherman, a trait inherited by many of the Huber family as they have fished the various streams and mountain lakes.

From a letter dated August 1, 1910 written by John Huber to his son Joseph E., who was serving a mission in Germany: “Albert and Maggie are well.  They boys are with us except Elmer, who is working for the Stachele boys at Evanston.  Albert had a mishap when he had one of his spells, fell from the wagon and had a wheel with a new tire on pass over his head and neck.  (Roy was with his father when this incident occurred on their way to Heber.  He recalls that as he fell from the wagon he held the reins in his hand, causing the horses to turn just right so that the wheel ran over his head.  Roy jumped from the wagon and tried to move him bout couldn’t.  George Bonner came along in a buggy and helped him into his buggy and took him home.)  He looked awfully done up but has now again recovered.  He will not take care of himself in spite of all our warnings.  He has been remarkably preserved thus far; but if he does not heed a warning he must expect a terrible fate.  They boys are good and help us out.  Especially Frank, who is as good as a man on the farm.  Roy is a good boy and Dean is the same whistle trigger as yet, but he can work when he wants to do so.”

Albert suffered ill health for about 10 years.  He had several minor strokes before suffering a more severe one which caused his death.  He died May 20, 1920 at the age of 52.

His posterity is numerous.  His wife, Maggie, often said that she would never have any grandchildren because all her boy except Dean took their time about getting married.  As of this date they have twenty grandchildren, ninety-seven great-grandchildren, one hundred twenty-four great-great-grandchildren and one great great-great-grandchild.



[1] “How Beautiful Upon the Mountains” p. 1139
[2] “How Beautiful Upon the Mountains” p. 577

15 October 2013

Little Huber cousins

The following are a smattering of photos of the children of Roy Huber, and Roy's nieces and nephews belonging to his brothers Frank Huber and Elmer Huber.

Identifications given in label below image
From the personal albums of Kathryn Walker
"Lulu Margaret and Clayton"
From the personal albums of Rhea Merkley
Frank & Roy's families
From the personal albums of Martin Huber
"Kathryn, Rhea, June, Darryl"
From the personal albums of Martin Huber
"Just Posing- Kathryn and Rhea on a double date"
From the personal albums of Rhea Merkley

10 October 2013

Taylor family holding babies

The following are a bunch of photos of Vera's Taylor relatives holding babies.  There sure were a lot of them.

"Della, Loa, and Gene"
From the personal albums of Rhea Merkley
"Les Taylor holding Allen Nyberg
and his daughter Maxine"
From the personal albums of Cheryl Murray
"Doris Taylor and baby Gene Nyberg"
From the personal albums of Della/Gene Nyberg
"Ralph holding Allen Nyberg"
From the personal albums of Cheryl Murray
"Daun holding a puppy, Roxa holding Ray, Rex, Cynthia, Loa"
From the personal albums of Cheryl Murray
"Loa with Alan, Daun with Jake Ross, Leslie holding Maxine"
From the personal albums of Gene/Della Nyberg
"Doris, Jerrie, and baby Steve?"
From the personal albums of Clayton Huber
"Audrey with baby Maxine and Della with baby Loa"
From the personal albums of Cheryl Murray

"BACK Stanley & Loa Hoopes, Doris Ross holding Marlene Hoopes, Ralph Taylor, Gene & Della Nyberg
FRONT Roxa Taylor with Doris' boys: Jake, Bryce, and Terry"
From the personal albums of Cheryl Murray
"Roy Huber holding June, Rhea sitting, Althea Jensen standing"
From the personal albums of Rhea Merkley

08 October 2013

More photos of Grandma Maggie Huber

The following are additional photos of LeRoy's mother, Margaretha A. Huber, or Grandma Maggie.

"June, Darryl, Lynn, Rhea, Grandmother Maggie, Kathryn, 1920s"
From the personal albums of Rhea Merkley
"Maggie Huber with grandson Marvin, 4 mos"
From the personal albums of Shirley Jensen
"Maggie Huber with baby"
From the personal albums of Shirley Jensen
"Grandma Maggie Huber in coat"
From the personal albums of Kathryn Walker
"Grandma Maggie Huber with
Dean, Kathryn, Rhea, Doris in the wagon"
From the personal albums of Kathryn Walker

03 October 2013

Recollections on Vera Huber

The following is a transcribed written history about Vera Johannah Taylor Huber, written by her daughter, Rhea (date unknown).  It was found in the personal albums of Rhea Merkley in July 2013.  Images of the original scanned document can be found a the bottom of the transcription.  Spelling and punctuation has been adjusted in some places by me.  Photos throughout were placed by me to accentuate points of her life history.

Vera and her daughter, Rhea
Found in the personal albums of Clayton Huber
My Recollections of My Mother and Her Life
by Rhea Huber Merkley

My mother, Vera Johannah Taylor was born February 3, 1908 in Chester, Sanpete County, Utah.  The family later moved to Hayden, Uintah County, then to Lapoint, where she grew up.  Vera was the eighth child of twelve children- six boys and six girls.

Mom was very athletic, being able to outrun most boys her age or older.  She was a good swimmer and spent summer day swimming in nearby Clear Creek.  She loved cats and babies and was always mothering one or the other.
Vera holding a great-grandbaby
From the personal albums of Clayton Huber
In her teen years she accompanied singing at church, nearly always playing by ear.  She also played piano in an orchestra for the local dances.  J.C. Hacking too the responsibility for Mom and her friend, LaVaur Mullins, seeing that they got safely home after the dances.  One night they wanted to go home with a couple of young men after the dance, so they threw their coats out the window, to the boys waiting below, then slipped out unnoticed.  Hacking was pretty upset, and wasn't long in contacting her parents.

Vera had thick long braids and one day while waiting in a buggy while they were getting their mail at the Lapoint post office, a homesteader in the area, Roy Huber, was attracted to this young miss.  After she grew a year or two, he began courting her, mostly by horseback, the main mode of transportation.
When they were married, Roy sold a load of grain for $50.00.  My grandmother thought he was very well off to have that much money.

When the returned for visits, her mother was not proud of the job my Mom had done in patching Roy's overalls, and quite frankly said so.  Mother cried; she didn't know how.

My Mom and Dad began their early years in a little cabin under the hill, near the old Abegglen place.  From what she's told me, it was a very humble dwelling, one room that leaked when it rained.  Still, it was some of their happiest moments.

After a time, they moved to a two-room dwelling on Poverty Flat (so named for those early years when the going was tough.)  Roy's brother, Frank and his wife, Ardith, had a little three-room cabin in the same lot.  On the south side, a little ditch ran through the property, shaded by a row of willow trees; it afforded many hours of play for the children.  A swing hung from the trees and we never wondered 'what to do'.
"Vera and Ardith"
From the personal albums of Clayton Huber
Looking back on those early years, the cabin behind Frank's house held many memories.  Such as the Christmas that the tree was at the foot of my cot in one of the two rooms.  Dad kept coming in and putting things under the tree, which awakened me.  Then from the kitchen I kept hearing him quietly ask 'where is Dean's gun?'

We played alongside a small ditch under the willow trees, waded in the same ditch, glided back and forth in (p2) the swing hung from one of the trees, and had plenty of kids to play with, (and fight with too, I might add) as our cousins were next door.
"Kathryn, Glen, Lynn, Kenneth Maybe, Darryl- 1940s"
(Frank and Ardith's kids- the cousins)
From the personal albums of Rhea Merkley
Between both families, a large garden was planted and oft times when Mom wanted to go week while the baby slept, she would ask the older ones to listen for the baby.  One year, Dean and his cousin Glenn got down in the melon patch with a small saw and went through a good portion of the patch, trying to find a ripe one.  When their activities were noticed, Mom was waiting for them when they returned.  She dressed up like an old Indian, and touched their faces with stove black, telling them they were turning into Indians for their mischief.  The tears did fly, but I don't know if it kept them from getting into trouble again.

Bottled fruits and jams were stored in an underground cellar, Ardith having the shelves on one side and Mom on the other.  June and Lynn raised havoc one day when they went into the cellar and set the fruit off the shelves onto the floor, mixing them up good.  Not being labeled as we would now, they had a hard time dividing them up, and knowing for certain which was theirs.
"Someone in the Huber cellar"
From the personal albums of Clayton Huber
Earlier on Mom had an old hand wringer washer.  I remember it standing outside.  Later, she had a gas washer, with an exhaust that had a hose with a metal ball on the end which had to be outside when the washer was in use.  Dad had cut a hold in the wall large enough to put the metal ball through when she did the wash.

Since we didn't have indoor plumbing, I can remember Mom hiding in the out-house when she was caught out in the yard as the Raleigh man came down the lane and she did not want him to find her at home.  He might have had an idea she was there, for one time I was with her, and he walked around and about for quite a long time whistling and waiting.  He finally gave up and left, and we exited out hiding place.

Mom and Ardith and Della Nyberg would take us swimming at Clear Creek, not far from where Mom was raised.  They jumped right in with us.  In fact, they were good swimmers.  They also took us down in that same area to harvest Buffalo Berries.  They would beat them off or cut off the branches full of berries onto a tarp. We were the baby tenders.  
Della with baby Loa, Vera with baby Dean
From the personal albums of Della/Gene Nyberg
In the even of a new arrival, we older ones were usually sent to Aunt Irva's or Aunt Ardith's.  I do remember one time, wandering around the yard, up near a brick pile, and the Dr. walking about and smoking as he waited for things to progress.  Kathryn and I were delivered by Mrs. Swain, a midwife. She had just a bit of chloroform, and when I was born, she wouldn't give Mom much relief from the pain because she was saving the rest for Aunt Ardith, who delivered just six days later.  Mrs. Swain's likeness is displayed at the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers building in Salt Lake, the youngest looking one there.

When Doris was born, Dean and I were sent to Aunt Irva's while Mom and June, (who was in first grade), went to Nana Taylor's for the birthing process.  June could catch the bus (p3) from there.  Aunt Irva was so good to us, baked us little cakes, etc., but I was still homesick for my mother. 

The year I was in first grade, we moved to the house Abe Warburton built for us.  I came home from school and no one was there.  No phones, so I hustled through the field to our new home.  Since we had no phones, we walked through the fields, along the lateral, or on the dirt roads to get to our neighbors, most of them cousins.

"Martin and Lois Kay at Huber home"
From personal albums of Martin Huber
Mom would go over over to Whiterocks to pick raspberries at Fern Houston's, and one of us older girls would tend Dale, as he was the baby at that time.  We soon had raspberries of our own.  There was a time when Aunt Della and others would come to pick, and I loved listening to her and Mom visit.  It made the picking go much faster.  Later years, June and I were the designated pickers, and we would pick berries every day for a month.  We picked half of the patch one and and the rest the next.

To me Mom was a pretty woman.  I thought she was so beautiful when she got dressed up in one of her long dance dresses.  She had three or four.  Also, at one time, she wore a hat when she went to Vernal, or to a funeral, etc.  She looked so nice.  Also, there was a time when the school bus would double back at night and pick up the parents to take them back to town for a dance.
"Vera and Roy- photocopied photo"
From the personal albums of Rhea Merkley
They also got some reprieve from the hard work when Mom, her sisters-in-law, and some neighbors or family members would get together for a quilting.  Mom had a pair of wool corders to cord the wool from our sheep with.  You only see them now in museums.

In the 30's Dad had bought a pickup truck.  Mom would take food and supplies back to Paradise Park, where Dad would meet her and we would have a grand picnic, play and hoot firecrackers.  How they would echo in the park.  Dad would return to his sheep camp and we would return home, where Mom did all the things necessary to keep the farm and garden going.  On about our first trip to the park Mom was traveling on the straight of way, and June exclaimed, "Look, you're going 30 miles an hour!"

I shall never forget shearing, threshing and haying times.  Big meals were prepared, and Ardith, Irva and Mom were good at helping one another at such times.  Especially the threshing of the grain, and the shearing of the sheep.  We managed the hay crews, and meals were big and filling and on time.  And when the hay crews moved on to the other families, we were relieved not to have to cook, and were glad to just have a sandwich or just plain old break and milk.
"Aunt Ardith with chickens at her home"
From personal albums of Rhea Merkley
Mom always had a hot meal for us when we arrived from school.  As soon as we'd eat, she would say, "Dad needs you in the field."  Especially when it was time to harvest the potatoes, we always heard those words.  At planting time, too.

There was a time when we had a long siege of sickness.  First, we had whooping cough.  Then we got red measles.  We had sick kids for many weeks.  A neighbor through the field (p4) came in some and helped.  Also, Mrs. Lambert dropped in at time to lend a hand.  Mrs. Lambert had some nurses training.  Mom was a good cook, and anyone who was on the premises come meal time was invited to put his feet under table and enjoy good food.  It didn't matter if it was a salesman or who it was, they were welcome.  Once in a great while she would leave one of us girls to finish up and serve a meal for the workmen, but not often.  We had some interesting experiences doing that.  She was a master at feeding people, and we had big shoes to fill.
"Vera peeling in the yard"
From the personal albums of Clayton Huber
One time when we had been left to feed the men what Mom had prepared, we looked out and saw the men coming in from the field.  Knowing how she valued having meals on time for the men, we put on soup on whether it was completely done or not.

As our family grew in size, we no longer joined the Taylor family on Sunday and on holidays down at the family home.  There were enough of us to make our own fun.  I did miss the music of her brothers, for they all played several instruments, whether it be mandolin, guitar, or banjo, they all played an sang.
"Vera, Clayton, June, Roy (with back turned), Rhea, Doug, Loris"
From personal albums of Martin Huber
Some great losses were suffered through the years.  The illness of Dale, his suffering and death, was hard for my mother.  Also, when her brother Martin was listed as missing in action in World War II, then later assumed dead, was a blow to her and her parents, brothers and sisters.  Not too long after that, her father died from a heart attack at age 60.  He was dearly loved and his death so unexpected. Doctors had told him just the day before that his death would never be caused by his heart.

As her family grew older, Mom did find time to serve and devote herself to callings in the church.  I remember her working in MIA, Sunday School, and Relief Society.  After serving as President of her ward Relief Society, she and her sister Della were called to serve in R.S. of the Indian Mission, in Whiterocks.  Her cooking skills, again, were enjoyed by many of the sisters.

During these years of Relief Society service, Martin and Joanne were small, and Mom felt they should be first, yet many times her service to others took her out of her home.  She also had two teenagers at home during these years.

Martin and Joanne were a great blessing in her life.  Her family was always her greatest possession, and she gave of herself in so many ways, sharing whatever she had with any and all who came to her home.
BACK: Dean, Larry, Clayton, Roy
FRONT: Jerri, June, Doris with Martin, Vera holding Joanne
Dated April 27, 1952
From the personal albums of Rhea Merkley
ENDNOTE: Joanne married Brad Nelsen when she grew up, Martin married Sue Wong Wang from Thailand.  These two would live with my parents until their death.  Dad passed away Sept 21, 1988, and mother died May 5, 1990.





01 October 2013

Leslie Taylor in photos

Leslie Taylor was one of Vera's brothers.
The following are a handful of photos of Leslie in his younger days.

"Leslie Taylor and girlfriend Marie McConkie"
From the personal albums of Della/Gene Nyberg
Young Leslie Taylor
From personal albums of Rhea Merkley