Vera Huber funeral address

The following are pages of the funeral address given at Vera's funeral in 1990, by her son, Clayton.  It was found in the personal albums of Doris Sessions.

As it's rather lengthy I won't transcribe it here, but feel free to click on the page images and read it at your leisure.

p.1

p.2

p.3

p.4

p.5

Vera Huber written tribute poem

The following is a Tribute written about Vera Huber at the time of her death.

The writer is unknown, but it was found in the personal albums of Doris Sessions.

Not transcribed but still easily read by clicking on the image.

George & Della Nyberg history

Della Taylor Nyberg was one of Vera's sisters.

The following is a personal history, written by Della, found in the personal albums of Gene Nyberg.

Scanned pages of George & Della Taylor Nyberg history.

As there are still individuals in the document that are still alive, I will not transcribe the record at this time, but I have a transcribed copy of it ready to go, so when the time comes I will post it here.

George and Della Nyberg, 1944
From the personal albums of Gene Nyberg

Coy Hayward newspaper profile

Coy Hayward was Vera's brother-in-law, married to Vera's older sister, Cora.

Coy Hayward
Found in the personal albums of Gene Nyberg
Image cropped from a larger photo

Coy and Cora never had any living children, but they were definite movers & shakers in their community of Bountiful, Utah in the mid-20th century.

The following is a local newspaper clipping of a personality profile, focused on Coy Hayward, his history, and his impact on the community.  As it's rather lengthy I won't transcribe it here, but it should still be fairly legible to those interested in reading it.

Part One:

SOURCE: Davis County Clipper 1969, Jun 6, p.18
Found in the personal albums of Gene Nyberg

 Part Two:

SOURCE: See indication above

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 3^rd.  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

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.

Life History on Roy Taylor

Roy Taylor was Vera's father.

The following is a transcribed history of his life, as written by Roy's sister, Mrs. Wayne Nielson, and later rewritten by Roy's granddaughter, June.  The scanned copy I'm transcribing from is the image directly below.  Some punctuation and spelling changes have been made by me in the transcription.  Photos/documents have been inserted by me.

From the personal albums of Doris Sessions

Life History of Roy Taylor

Roy Taylor, son of Martin VanBuren Taylor and Joannah Smith Jennings was born on the 18th day of February, 1872 at Levan, Utah.  Joannah "Smith" Jennings was named Smith because she was born in 1844, the year that the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred.  Martin Van Buren Taylor was a polygamist and had four wives and when Roy was 12 years old his father moved his four families to Freedom, in Sanpete, Utah.

When he was 17 years old he left Freedom and went back to Levan where he worked for relatives or anyone he could get a chance to work for.  In 1894 he moved with his mother to Juab where he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad in the round house.  Later he was a fireman on the train running to and from Milford.  He worked at Delamar, Nevada and worked in the mills, and dust from the mills caused him to have a lung weakness, from which he suffered in later life.  He later went to Levan to live, He farmed in Levan during the summer and went to work in Eureka in the winter.  He married Roxa Althea Anderson at Juab, Dec 26, 1894.  Elmer Taylor performed the marriage ceremony.  They were later endowed and had their family sealed to them at the Manti Temple on April 14, 1909 after the birth of their 8th child.  At this time they were living at Chester, Utah.  He was a member of the school board in Chester serving in this capacity from 1908 until 1914.

"Roy Taylor with machinery"
From the personal albums of Cheryl Murray

To this couple was born 12 children; Zelma Helen, Cora Louise, Earldean Taylor, Roy LeGrand, Wilmar Rex, Sherman A., Leslie Duke, Vera Johannah, Ralph, Adella Francis, Doris Althea, Martin Verdon.  All of these children grew to maturity except Earldean who died at the age of 15 in Chester of a dropsey heart condition.  Mart Verdon was the only child after the family had settled in Lapoint.  He died in action over seas, Nov 29, 1944 during a bomber flight mission over Japan, in World War II.

In November 1915, the family moved to the Uintah Basin.  The first winter they lived at Hayden, Utah in a two-room log house.  The next year they moved to Lapoint and cleared the land and build the old brick home which was later bought by Della Nyberg.

"Our dad, Roy Taylor getting ready for the day's work.
With team, Daisy and May.
Ploughing was done with a hand plough, walking all day"
Photo & caption from the personal albums of Gene Nyberg

When the Lapoint Ward was organized, he was sustained on September 10, 1916 as counselor to Bishop.  He was ordained a High Priest by Don B. Colton, August 28, 1916.  On Dec 31, 1916 he was sustained as Bishop of the Lapoint Ward.  He served in this capacity for 8 years and 3 months.  The Lapoint Hall was build during 1920 while he was bishop.  This hall served as a place for the church gatherings and recreation such as dances, etc.  This building was later condemned and some of the material salvaged to build the present ward chapel.  He was set apart as Bishop by George Albert Smith who later became the President of the Church.

Certificate from the personal albums of Cheryl Murray

He served as a county commissioner for 6 years and in a new county there were many roads and bridges to be built and many hardships were encountered.  He was also elected as a school board member in 1930 where he served for 8 or 9 years.  During this time the Alterra High School was built.

After being released from the Bishopric he later served as first counselor in the Sunday School where he served for 5 years and was then called as a counselor to the bishop.  After 6 months he was released on account of poor health.  Many of his children can remember the family going to church in a white top buggy, and it was usually an all day affair on account of the traveling distance of most of the members of the ward.  He blessed a number of his grandchildren and was active almost to the end of his life as he went Ward Teaching only a few days before his death.

"Doris, Ralph, Vera, Della, with Bishop Taylor and Roxa in back- off to church"
From the personal albums of Gene Nyberg

He died of a heart attack on December 26, 1941, which was his 47th wedding anniversary at Lapoint, Utah.  He was buried at the Lapoint cemetery on December 29, 1941.

He died as he lived, a good latter-Day saint and was a friend to all who came in contact with him.  Many people received hospitality at his home and he was a true friend to the Indians and many enjoyed the tasty meals prepared by his wife.

"Frank Ninance and Roy Taylor.
Our dad was a real friend to the Indians"
Photo & caption from the personal albums of Gene Nyberg

Roy was a man who never passed man, woman or child, black or white that he did not speak or wave his hand, or shake hands with those he met.  Many people came to him for advice and council, not only the white settlers but the Indians too.  He was so thoughtful and looked after the welfare of everyone.  He never said anything bad about anyone, it made me think of the saying, "your name is safe with me".

(Taken from 2 copies of life sketches written by Mrs. Wayne Nielson, sister to Mr. Taylor.  Rewritten by Vera June Huber Wooley.)

Photo from the personal albums of Cheryl Murray

More on Ralph Taylor

This history is about Ralph Taylor, one of Vera's brothers.  

It was found in the personal albums of Doris Sessions (and has been transcribed with indications of punctuation or spelling corrections.)  I do not know WHO wrote it or WHEN it was written, although clues throughout it suggest it was likely compiled by one of Vera's sisters who had interviewed or spoken with Ralph's widow, Ruth, before her move to Colorado in 2000.

All photos have been added by me and are from the personal albums of Althea Gray, unless otherwise stated.

Clippings and additional visuals have also been added by me, with added source material.

Ralph Taylor was born on January 13, 1910 in Chester, Sanpete, Utah.  He was the 9^th child in a family of 12 siblings.  He was a quiet and reserved individual.

Ralph (about 1940) went to Barber School in Colorado.  This is where he met his wife, Ruth Eva Nichols.  She had been married before and had a daughter about 5 years old named Pat.  Pat told her mother after they were married that Ralph had never been married before because he didn’t know how to talk to children.  Ralph and Ruth went to Barber School together, and after they were married, they went to live in Salt Lake City.

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1936, May 28, p.4

As Ruth tells it, Ralph was quite a cracker jack (whatever that means).  She says there was nothing she would have ever changed about Ralph, that he was a gorgeous man.  Ralph was always admired by his fellowmen.  Ruth tells it that she was bossy, and he always kind of liked that.  He would always ask her what she wanted to do about something, and they could decide together what to do.

Anything I wanted I got and anything I wanted him to do he did and he would like me to go fishing with him and things like that.  We would make a lunch and go up in the canyon, we would take Pat and we would go do different things.  Ralph loved to go fishing.  Ralph also had a beautiful voice and could really sing.

Ralph and Ruth worked up at Ft. Douglas cutting the hair for the enlistees.  Ruth ran the beauty shops, and Ralph ran the barber shops.  We were just like we were at home, we were right together all the time.  At night he would help me clean up my shop, and I would help him clean up his shop.

We had been married quite awhile before he went into the service.  In April 1944, my niece and I, her husband was in the service and mine was too, flew to California and spent the weekend with them.  Ralph took me over to the island, Catalina and showed me the things over there and we just had a wonderful time.

Ralph Taylor's military card
SOURCE: ancestry.com
(see source info on image for more details)

1940s postcard image borrowed from www.hometownarchive.com 

While Ralph was in the service, Ruth bought the house where she still now resides [as of this writing].  Ralph was released and came home and told Ruth that they couldn’t afford a house or a car until he got a job.  Ruth had bought the house and care and they were all paid for.  She also told him that she had a job all lined up for him.  He then went back to Fort Douglas where he had worked before he went into the service.

Thea Taylor, Ralph’s niece, had come to live in Salt Lake.  Thea in the meantime had met Jess [Gray] and she could not find a home to live, so I said where our house is big down here so just move down in with us.  As soon as Thea and Jess located a home in which they would live, they moved out.  Thea and Jess would come down to visit Ralph and Ruth every Sunday and have dinner with them.  Sometimes Jess (Thea’s husband) and Ralph would go out and [do] things in the yard but Thea and Ruth would always talk a lot.  Ruth and Thea became as “thick as thieves”.

Ralph and Ruth outside their home

Ralph, Ruth, Bob's wife, Bob (good friend?), Althea kneeling
Outside their Holladay home

Ralph and Ruth's yard- wow.

Next to our house, Ralph and Ruth had a little orchard planted.  Ralph wanted to take out some trees that were in the orchard.  So on July 8, 1950 they took to the orchard to do this project.  They always worked together and loved it.  They were out in the orchard and some of the neighborhood boys, 2 of them lived right next door, came and said they were thinking of going fishing.  It was the opening day of fishing and Ralph said he would love to go with them as he really enjoyed fishing.  He was undecided as he wanted to get the trees finished and everything.  Ruth told him that they could do that later, and to go ahead and go with the guys fishing.  They left the next morning and while he was gone one of Ruth’s nieces from Colorado came in and she was doing her hair.  Ruth had baked a cake and was hurrying around because he was due home at any time.  She was almost finished with her niece when she saw the car coming back up the street.  She said “Here comes my fisherman”, and set everything down and ran out to meet them.  Ruth could see Ralph lying in the back—seat.  She told the other guys that if he couldn’t stay awake until he got home, that they would have to find another fishing mate.  She was just joking, when Neal (one of the guys) came up to me and put his arms around me and said, “Ruth, a terrible thing has happened.”  Ruth asked him [what] was the matter and he said that Ralph was dead.  Ruth would not believe him.  She sent the guy for a doctor and told the other one to help her get him into bed.  She told them that he was alright and didn’t believe them.

The story went that Ralph was fishing and got his hook caught on the branch of a tree.  He climbed up the tree to get his hook out when he fell out of the tree.  He was alive on the way to Salt Lake, and they wanted to take him to the hospital.  He told [them] No, that he wanted to get home and he’d be okay.  On the edge of town they told him they wanted to stop and call Ruth.  He told them no, that Ruth would know just what to do when he got home.  Before they got him home, however, he died.  They figured that he had had a heart attack and died.  They Taylors were all known for their bad hearts.

Cropped from a larger photo from the personal albums of Gene Nyberg.

Roy history, written by sister-in-law

The following is an excerpt from the document, "History of Leroy and Vera J. Taylor Huber" found in the genealogy albums of Della/Gene Nyberg in May 2012 (author and date written is unmentioned, but I'm assuming Della wrote it.)

"... Roy was born April 1, 1897, at Midway, Utah, to Henry Albert and Margaretha Abegglen Huber.  He had three brothers, Elmer, Frank, and Dean.  His mother was born in Switzerland and immigrated to this country at the age of two.  His father was born in Midway, but both of his parents were also natives of Switzerland.

Roy’s grandfather Huber had come to Utah at the age of twelve and returned to Switzerland about 1860 to fulfill a mission.  In 1863 he returned to Salt Lake City with a group of saints who had been placed in his charge.  One of these, Mary Magdalena Munz, later became his wife.  He assisted in translating the “Book of Mormon” to the German language.  He also helped in building the Salt Lake Temple.  He homesteaded in the Western boundaries of the Heber Valley at Snake Creek, Wasatch County.  For three generations the “Ranch” at Snake Creek has been home for all of their descendants.  This property is now part of the Utah State Park.

It was in these mountain streams at Snake Creek that Roy learned to fish, a sport he has enjoyed and excelled in throughout his life.  After moving to the Basin, Whiterocks and Dry Fork Canyons have been his favorite fishing areas along with many lakes and streams in the mountains where he took his sheep herd to the summer range.  Through the years, members of the Huber families, friends and neighbors have enjoyed fishing and canoeing trips at these various locations.

Much of Roy’s early life was spent in working for other farmers and stockmen around Midway.  After he was older, he worked in the mines at Park City, Eureka, and other places.

Roy, Elmer, and Frank were all in the army during World War I.  Roy was stationed at Camp Kearney, California.  His artillery unit was scheduled to embark for overseas when the Armistice was signed; ending World War I.

His father suffered a stroke and died May 22, 1920.  Also in March 1922 his brother, Dean, died of pneumonia.

Roy came to Lapoint in January 1922 to visit his brother, Frank, who had taken over the ranch homesteaded by their uncle, Joseph Abegglen.  This visit actually proved a lengthy one, lasting fifty-eight years or more.

Roy and Vera were married October 22, 1924 at Vernal, Utah by Wallace Calder.  To them were born nine children; June, Rhea, Dean, Doris, Dale, Larry, Clayton, Martin, and JoAnn.  The last two children were born at the Roosevelt Hospital; the rest were born in Lapoint..."

Vera history written by sister

The following is an excerpt from the document, "History of Leroy and Vera J. Taylor Huber" found in the genealogy albums of Della/Gene Nyberg in May 2012 (author and date written is unmentioned, but I'm assuming Della wrote it.)

"...Vera was born February 3, 1908 to Roy and Roxa Althea Andersen Taylor at Chester, Utah.  She was the eighth of twelve children, six boys and six girls.  The brothers and sisters are Zelma, Cora, Earldean, Roy, Rex, Leslie, Sherman, Ralph, Della, Doris, and Martin.

When she was born one of the family had whooping cough and when she was about two weeks old she also took the disease.  Zelma related this story about her father.  Vera was very sick and the parents were afraid she would never survive the disease.  One night they were working with her and her mother went to the kitchen for medicine.  He father sat up in bed and prayed for her and from that time she began to get better.

When she was six years old she had the misfortune of being badly burned with hot scalding water.  She still has the scars from the burn on her neck and shoulder.

The eventful day of October 24, 1915, was when the family left Sanpete headed for the Uintah Basin.  They arrived at Hayden, Utah, November 5, where they stayed until the next spring.  They then moved to Lapoint where she has resided for the remainder of her life.

She attended school at Lapoint and later stayed with her sister, Cora, and attended high school at Kaysville.  The school at Lapoint was a one room building with a curtain pulled through the center for a partition.  It was very noisy and it was difficult trying to study.  The church meetings were also held in this same building for awhile.

There were five families around their neighborhood and each had large families.  The children rode horses to school and there was always a big group of kids night and morning.  They were always racing and learned to ride horses well.  It was cold in the winter, but they dressed warm and didn’t mind the cold weather.

On September 2, 1916, Vera was baptized in a pond on the old C.A. Thompson place by Mr. Thompson.  The following day she was confirmed by Jacob Lybberts.

The family lived close to Clear Creek and during the summer they went swimming nearly every day.  All the neighbor children would join in and all had a good time.  In the winter they went skating and sleigh riding..."

Vera's life, written by Doris

The following is a history of Vera's life, written by her daughter and transcribed from it's paper form by me.  (The original paper version was found in the genealogy book belonging to Rhea Merkley). Images have been inserted to illustrate the text, with original sources below them.  Punctuation and spelling have been adjusted as well.  

Vera Johanna Taylor

Vera Johanna Taylor was born on February 3^rd 1908 in Chester, Utah, the 8^th child of 12 children born to Roy and Roxa Taylor.

In the Fall of 1915 they moved to the Uintah Basin that had been opened up to the white people for home-steading.  At first they lived in Hayden, and moved to Lapoint in the Spring of 1916.  Grandpa Taylor bought 80 acres of farmland and 40 acres of pastureland.

Roy Taylor home in Lapoint
Photo from the personal album of Clayton Huber

There were lots of Indians in the area that passed their home everyday.  The children were afraid of them, and when anyone knocked on the door the kids would hide under the bed for fear it was Indians.

Local Indian sitting with Roy Taylor
(apparently Roy had a friendly reputation with the Indian population)
Photo from the personal album of Clayton Huber

Mom said Tom Hackford stopped by their house and asked if she was a Mormon.  And she said, “No, but I’m gonna be!”

They rode horseback to school.  Grandma Taylor said it got pretty hectic getting getting them off to school with everyone trying to find their bridles, saddle blankets, etc.

When she was in High School she lived in Bountiful, Utah with her sister Cora and her husband, Coy.  Cora was very good to her and sewed many clothes for her.

She said the first time she saw Roy, she and her girlfriend Renna Stoker had gone up to the store in Lapoint in a horse and buggy.  She waited in the buggy, and Roy was standing by the window inside the store.  Every time she looked at him he would wink at her.  She would turn her head away, but when she looked up he would wink at her again.  He said he made up his mind that day, she was the girl he was going to marry.

They were married on October 24^th 1924 in Vernal, Utah.  She was 16 years old, and he was 27.

Dad took a load of wheat to Vernal to the mill and had it made into flour, and sold it to Zack Kump, who ran the store in Lapoint for fifty dollars.  That is how much money they started married life with.

Their first home was a small log cabin with a dirt roof.  The ceiling was a heavy canvas, and when it rained it sagged and dripped water, so we had to put pans around to catch the water.

While living in this cabin June, Rhea, Dean and Doris were born.  They hired Abe Warburton to build them a new house made of sawed logs.  It had a kitchen, living room, dining room, and one bedroom.  Later they added upstairs bedrooms.  We got electricity about 1938 and in 1947 they added another bedroom, bathroom and laundry room.  That is when we finally got running water and indoor plumbing.  What a blessing that was.

"First House Built in Lapoint" with likely Vera's shadow casting onto 2 children.
Photo from the personal album of Clayton Huber

They only moved one time in their married life, from the log house to the new one.

They were blessed with nine children, five boys and four girls; June, Rhea, Dean, Doris, Dale, Larry, Clayton, Martin, and JoAnn.

Dale died of cancer when he was nine years old, during a terrible electrical storm.  They couldn’t get Bessie Swain, the mortician, on the phone, so they wrapped him in a sheet and Mom, Dad and George Bigelow took his frail little body to Vernal.  He died on the 18^th of August 1943, and we had to bury him on August 20^th, as his body was in such poor (condition) and since it was so hot.

Dale Huber
Photo from the personal album of Rhea Merkley

Larry had only been married 8 months to Theda Houston, when he was injured in an automobile accident December 14, 1964 on his way to work.  It was a very foggy morning and poor visibility, when a horse crossed the highway and he hit it.  His spinal chord was severed, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down.  He was rushed to the L.D.S. Hospital in Salt Lake, where he died on January 30, 1965.

Larry Huber
Photo from the personal album of Clayton Huber

Mom was very good natured, always singing, humming or whistling as she worked.  She had a lot of natural musical ability, and play the piano by ear, the guitar, and had a beautiful alto singing voice.  She loved to sing and dance.

She was a very compassionate person, always taking meals to people when they had sickness, or a death in the family.  She served as president of the Primary, MIA, and was Relief Society president for 8 years, and also served on an Indian Mission for 4 years.

Vera Huber being silly with a family member or neighbor.
Photo from the personal album of Clayton Huber.

Both Mom and Dad were very industrious people, and very hard workers.  Dad was an exceptionally good farmer and livestock man.  He ran large herds of sheep in the mountains, and was gone from home a lot.  This placed a great responsibility on Mom, taking care of all the chores, and keeping the farm running.  As a result, all of us kids had to learn to work hard at a very early age to help her.  They always raised a big garden, strawberry and raspberry patch, apricot and apple trees.  We sold raspberry for 2.50 a crate, they had to be picked every other day.  Oh, how I hated that job.  It was so hot and tedious.  They were very generous with the produce from the garden, sharing it with anyone that came along or that wanted or needed it.  No one ever left their home empty handed.

Roy tilling field
Photo from the personal album of Rhea Merkley

Chet Dalgleish (left) and Roy Huber (right)
Photo from the personal album of Clayton Huber 

They raised all of their own meat, eggs, milk, butter, fruit and vegetables.  The root cellar was filled with potatoes, carrots, cabbage, squash, onions, apples, and sauerkraut that she put in 5 gallon crocks.

The other cellar was filled with all kinds of bottled vegetables, fruit, jam, jelly, pickles, and grape juice.

Dad always took a grist of flour to the mill in Roosevelt and got our flour, germade cereal, pancake mix, to do us for a year.

Baby Clayton sitting on top of the root cellar
Photo from the personal album of Clayton Huber

We had an ice house that we stored big squares of ice in, and it lasted until almost August.  We raised practically everything we ate.

Dad was a great fisherman.  When he went fishing he had no intention of stopping with his limit.  That was the only law that I ever knew of him to break.  The fish never went to waste as he shared them with everyone in Lapoint that he knew liked good fresh trout.  And they were so good!!!!

Dad and mom always took us fishing up Whiterocks Canyon on the 4^th and 24^th of July.  This was to only time we ever had pop.  They would buy a case with 24 bottles, that was really a treat for us kids!

Dad’s brothers Elmer (Dutch) and Frank and their families lived on farms within a mile of each other.  They each had 5 children, and we played games together on summer nights such as “Hide and Go Seek”, “Kick the Can”, and “Run Sheep Run”.  In the winter we played cards, and a game of “Fox and Geese” which we played in the snow, went sleigh riding, ice skating.  We had such fun times together.

Many of the Huber cousins together as kids.
Photo from the personal album of Clayton Huber.

Uncle Dutch was severely crippled with arthritis and was bedridden and on crutches, so Dad always helped his boys get their crops in, and they all worked together during haying season and at harvest time.

Written below: "Hay Crew during War years"
Uncle Frank far left standing, Roy directly below him sitting.  Remaining boys are all Huber cousins.
Photo from the personal album of Rhea Merkley

Mom was an exceptionally good cook, and cooked big meals for thrashers, haymen, corn men, sheep shearers, besides all the meals she cooked for her large family.  No one ever left her home hungry.  That was the first thing she asked when anyone came to her home was, “Are you hungry?”

Vera with her famous rolls
Photo from the personal album of Chris Merkley

She had a way of teaching us kids to work and making us think it was fun.  I still love to work.  It was hard to see them grow older and not be able to do the things they had always done.

Older Vera and Roy
Photo from the personal album of Clayton Huber

In August of 1988 Dad caught a cold that seemed to linger longer than usual, so Martin took him to the doctor in Vernal and he admitted him to the hospital on August 28^th.  He steadily went downhill from there.  He said he wanted to go home to die, so I took him home on Sept 1^st.  He got so he couldn’t eat and soon dehydrated.  We took turns staying with him so mom wouldn’t be alone, as she wasn’t able to take care of him alone.  There was someone there 24 hours a day.

Doug and Rhea were serving a mission in Fair Oaks, CA and were given permission to come home and see Dad.  They arrived about 9:30 a.m. on September 21^st.  Rhea went in by the bed, and said, “Dad, it’s Rhea, I’m home”.  He opened his eyes, smiled, and nodded his head like he understood, and went into a deep sleep and peacefully passed away at 1:40 p.m. that same day.  He was 91 years old.

Mom developed sugar diabetes in her later years.  She scratched her leg somehow, and it got infection in it, developing into a massive sore that the doctors couldn’t heal.

We took her to the doctor in Vernal on February 28^th 1990.  She was in and out of the hospital and the care center from then until May.  This was very hard on her as she was so confused, not knowing where she was most of the time.  We took her home, and everyone took turns staying with her, and helping take care of her.

Clayton had a friend in Provo that was a specialist in the Burn Center at Utah Valley Hospital, and asked Clayton to bring her out there and see if he could heal her leg.  We took her out there and he tried very hard, but there had been so much damage done to the blood vessels that he couldn’t do much for her.  He told us they would have to amputate the leg up to her knee.  She begged us not to let them take her leg off.  All of the family held a special fast, and went to the temple together.  This was a very spiritual day.

The doctor had scheduled the surgery for May 8^th for the amputation.  But on May 5^th a wise and gracious Heavenly Father called her home and she didn’t have to suffer anymore. We were all grateful that she didn’t have to endure any more suffering.

Dad and Mom had been married for 64 years, and only moved one time.

Roy & Vera & Larene Jensen (wife of a nephew) sitting on porch
Photo from the personal album of Clayton Huber

I have always been grateful to our wonderful parents for the great example they were to us kids, for all of the sacrifices they made for us, for teaching us honesty, integrity, and good work ethics.

They also taught us to love our Heavenly Father.  Dad didn’t get active in the Church until Dale died.  After that we went to the temple and were sealed together as a family in the Salt Lake Temple on November 12, 1943.

We had a happy, secure childhood with many loving memories of both of our parents.

This brief history was written by a daughter, Doris Huber Sessions at the request of our cousin Daun Taylor DeJournette.