History > The Story of Albert Bailey Dunford

by Rosemary Gudmundson Palmer^[1]

Albert Bailey Dunford, the eighth child of Isaac and Leah Bailey Dunford, was born Nov. 19, 1857, in St. Louis, Missouri.^[2]  Several years earlier, his parents had joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then sailed to the United States from Trowbridge, England. They lived in St. Louis until 1856, when they made their first trek across the plains to Utah with the John Banks Company. ^[3]  In the early spring of 1857, they traveled back to St. Louis by way of Cache Valley, Utah, Soda Springs, Idaho, the north end of Bear Lake to the Oregon Trail and Missouri. ^[4]  On this return journey, Mother Leah was pregnant with Albert, and she gave birth to him at their residence on First Street between Washington and Carr after their arrival in St. Louis.

During the next seven years, the family moved several times within the same area of the city.  In September, 1859, they lived on First Street between Carr and Biddle where Albert’s sister Eliza was born. (See the map of St. Louis which shows the approximate birth places of Moroni, Albert, Eliza, Parley, and Oliver.) ^[5]  By 1860, Albert’s family lived “on what was then called broadway, one of the principal streets in St. Louis & above what was then called the hat & horses,” ^[6] where Albert’s brother Parley was born in 1861. The Hat and Horses was most likely the shop Albert’s father managed for Mr. William H. Keevil. The store was located next door to another men’s mercantile establishment owned by Uncle George Dunford, Isaac’s brother. To compete with his former salesman who helped build up his first business, Mr. Keevil opened a second store “on the South of mine,” said Uncle George,

and in that additionull Store he Engaged a Brother of Mine to take charge of it for him . . . so that costomors seeking for My Store would call into that Store and if it wase Mr Dunfords in that case they would buy what they wanted. ^[7]

At this time St. Louis was caught in the throes of the Civil War. “It is simply Impossibel to describe those Fearfull Four years,” Uncle George Dunford wrote.

I still Continued in Business for simpley the reason that I could not get out . . . . I sopose that I did as well as the other Merchants did but those dreadfull years it seemed often as though that War Would never end . . . . In the first year in Business in St. Louis we had the Fearfull Financheal Crisis of [1857] and then in the year [1860] the Breaking out of the War . . . . The Terribell War still continued and as Missouri wase one of the States operated by Slavery and St. Louis was the Greate Comercial Capitol we had to suffer all most all the sorrows of a beseiged cuntry. ^[8]

Uncle George’s daughter, Lydia D. Alder, said, “At times the outlook was very dark in St. Louis. Missouri was a slave state, and was only saved by a few votes in her legislature from seceding from the Union. When this critical affair was settled, St. Louis became a fitting-out point for the Union forces, which increased the business situation to almost a boom.” ^[9]

Young Albert was probably intrigued with the sights and sounds of the Civil War in St Louis and, although he didn’t write about his early childhood experiences, his brother Moroni mentioned walking home from the Ninth Street School, “this being the time of the war (the rebellion) I was compell to wait on one corner of the street while a large regment of soldiers march by. This was quite a sight & many such sights I seen during that war.” ^[10]

In 1862, Albert’s family moved from their home above the Hat and Horses to one on Second Street between Florida and Mullanphy where, in 1863, brother Oliver was born. “This place of liveing was a beautifull place,” Moroni wrote,

& the building was a very large one three stories high & suitable for some eight or nine families. When we first moove there we lived on the second floor soon after--we mooved to the third floor  this was a nice place to live having three rooms kitchen & a back porch, this building being situated on or close to the banks of the Mississippi river, our back poarch was an excilent place to sit & view the river & its many boats & steamers landing & pasting too & from, & during the war Many many gunboats & steemboats with other boats loaded with Soldiers & men of war with war impliments would pass up & down dailey which would make it interresting to look at from our poarch. At this place we live during the year of 1863 & till the summer of 1864. ^[11]

Albert, sixteen months younger than Moroni, probably shared some of his brother’s experiences in St. Louis. Several of Moroni’s early recollections were:

Many large fiers have I seen while in St. Louis, three steamboats were burned to ruins one Sunday morning, & other disstruction would have been dun, had not other boats been run off that were near. Also many large houses, dwellings & homes have I seen destroyed by fier, & large fier company & fier men runing to the seens of disstruction.One of my greatest trouble was the last few years in St. Louis to shun & keep out of the way of kinnappers, as they use to tell us they were men that were around after dark & pick up little boys or girls that would be out late at night or after nine oclock & would carry them off & at times when I would happened to be out a little late at night on little errand for My Mother & so on I would rush myself to get home-- & sometimes I would go a block or two out of my way thinking that there would be one down that street or one down the other, & sometimes I would stand on a corner & wait till somebody pass & I have ask if they would go a little ways with me. Sometimes I would be left a crying till another person would pass, when I could get noone to take pity on me, I would run, crying with fear untill I reached home.While we lived on Second Street a large Shiveree party geathred across the stree(t) about nine oclock at night with many kinds of instruments for some purpose but I know not, they created a great noise for sometime, & appear to have a jolley time. Untill the police or nighwatchmen came & interfeared  Made them go home & stop their fun.At the front door of the hall down stairs, many young men & girls would geather at times & sing tell riddles play games & etc. Many times I have listened to them. . . In our backyard we had quite a nice play-ground & a very large swing with a flyendutchman or whorley-gig many of these sports I have taken great part. . . & also the time we used to have a coasting in the alley not far from home, & on the street north of where we lived, we would coast down the street to the river which was some two or four blocks.Summer time, many hours I have spent in the evenings with other boys catching lightening bugs & puting them in large clear glass bottles, when they would light one & all would make quite amusing sight. ^[12]

Although Albert may have been too young to notice much of the war about him, his Uncle George Dunford observed,

In the Latter part of . . .  [1863] Signes of the War seemed to be drawing to an End but it seemed a terrebill War for a long time   the Steeme Boates at the landing wase turned into Hospitales to acomodate the Sick and Wounded Soldears and the Boates thus used would extend along the Warfe for Several Blocks   those ware times that tried Mens Bodeys as well as thair Soles War and War Preperations wase everyware in the City and in the Cuntry and the State and in the Whole Nation nothing But War Everyware. ^[13]

Finally the war drew to a close, and Albert’s father and uncle decided to make their second trip to Utah. Moroni remembered that on June 18, 1864, “we moved from our home to the steamboat on the Mississippi river not far from where we lived (see map of St. Louis for their last place of residence and its proximity to the river), the next day our steamer, Kate Kinney, left the banks of the river.”  The steamer also left behind “our Father & older Brother, on account of our boat leaving sooner than was expected. . . . So bad did my Mother feel that I seen her cry. At the first landing place up the river before we stoped, I seen my Father & Brother there waiting for us.”^[14] Because steamboats moved upriver more slowly than transportation on land, Albert’s father and brother were able to reach the next landing ahead of them.

Happily reunited, the family continued up the Missouri River to Wyoming, Nebraska, the “jumping-off” place where pioneers now embarked on their wagon journey to Utah. Albert’s  parents were already familiar with the trail, because they had made the trek seven years earlier, although this time they had seven children instead of three:  William (age seventeen), Alma (almost fourteen), Moroni (age nine), Albert (age six), Eliza (age four), Parley (age two), and Oliver (seven months). On this journey, however, William and Alma were old enough for adult responsibilities.

By 1864, civilization had altered the trail somewhat from when Albert’s family had crossed in 1856. Bridges or ferries spanned more rivers; the telegraph provided faster communication; army forts, a few settlements, and stage or way stations offered supplies and animals to barter or buy. Also, freight companies moved their goods back and forth all year long, and the Montana gold mines enticed emigrants. ^[15] But additional dangers threatened the journey this year:  high water flowing in rivers, men and soldiers escaping the war, Confederate guerrillas causing trouble along the trail, and retaliatory Indians attacking small wagon trains. This was the year of the Plum Creek Massacre west of Fort Kearney and the massacre of the Kelly family and capture of Fanny Kelly by Sioux Indians east of Glenrock, Wyoming. ^[16]

In a letter which Albert’s brother William sent to his Uncle Levi Bailey, he recounted their trip across the plains seven months earlier. He didn’t mention the dangers noted above, but he did discuss the internal problems of Captain John D. Chase’s independent company with which they traveled. ^[17] On April 13, 1865, William wrote,

I arrived in this City Sept. 20th. My parents arriving 5 days afterwards. I will now give you a few items:  We started from St. Louis, June 19th. had a very nice trip up the river and arrived at wyoming [Nebraska] June 26th just 7 days after leaving St. Louis. staid at wyoming 3 days & then started on our journey for G.S.L. City. we started with 28 wagons--with a bro: Chase as Captain. Father had 1 wagon with 4 oxen. I had charge of a bro: Hall’s wagon he having 3. July 16th passed Fort Kearney. The day after 4 of our Company turned back on account of the pursuasion of some dane apostates which we met by crowds returning. --July 23rd at Ofallons Bluff. 350 miles from Wyoming [Nebraska]. Uncle george [George Dunford] & his wagonmaster Nash could not agree.--(uncle george had 7 wagons loaded with hats, caps, Sugar, Tea, Coffee, Tobacco &c &c.)--Uncle said he would go no further.--with such men & actions  said he would pay them off & let them go ahead & he would stay behind. Nash & his men wanted provisions--uncle refused when Nash ordered his men to take them--uncle said he would shoot the first man that did--  Nash went for his revolver,-he--was kept back when he got raving mad.--Cursed-swore-& called uncle every but a gentleman.--rushed up to--uncle for to take his pistol from him when quite a scuffle ensued. they were seperated however without any further damage.--finally they came to an agreement--uncle paid them off & they were divided among the Company. --July 24th drove out and left uncle and family. ^[18] July 26th crossed the South Platt. had to raise the wagons 6 in. & put 10 & 12 yoke of Cattle on each wagon. --Aug. 9th Passed Fort Larimie. Aug 14th  8 miles this side of Horseshoe Creek    Burgess cashed 2 wagon loads of goods & left the wagons on account of loosing so many Cattle by desease called the Bloody Murrian. --Aug 17th at Deer Creek 100 miles west of Larimie 1 of fathers oxen died by the same desease which was a great loss to him on account of being so heavelly loaded ^[19] Aug 18th 3 of our Company drove out and went ahead   Aug 24th father bought a cow to take place of his ox that died    Aug 31st  3 more of our Company turned out and went ahead.--Sept 10th at green River the Captain, Hall, & a dane drove out and went ahead & left the remaining 5 wagons viz:  Burgess, 3, Dr. Newton, 1, Father 1.--I went ahead with Hall--(I having--charge of his provision wagon)--he saying that he would drive about 6 miles & then wait until my Parents came up & that was the last I seen of them until Sept 25th  we--(the Captain, Hall, Dane man & I)--drove on an arrived in this City Sept 20th after a journey of 93 days from St. Louis & 83 days from wyoming. on arriving I met with a Bro:  Henry W. Naisbitt who would have me go to his house to live   I went & am living there still. My--Parents & the rest arrived Sept 25th being 98 days from St. Louis & 88 day from Wyoming,--They were all well & a very little the worse for wear. as father was--coming in the City he met a bro: Hart a old acquaintance of his who said he must go and live with him: until the could get something better--so my parents went and lived with him. About 30 head of cattle died of  the disease called the bloody murrian out of our little Company. a boy got his arm broke by being thrown of a horse, but thank God we had no worse an accident. ^[20]

After they reached Salt Lake City, William explained,

Father went to work for a bro: Jenning’s Merchant 2 days after arriving. I went to work at my trade at the same time for a bro. E.R. Savage the only gallery in the City. father staid in the City until Nov 3 waiting for bro hart to get ready to start to Bear River, Lake, Valley, or--Richland County over 100 miles from here. To live & then started for that region. Mother was opposed to going up there & said she would not go. but it was as I said if father would only make a start Mother would be sure to follow.--  I received a letter the 10th of last February which was dated the 14th of Jan:  stating that it took them just 1 month to go up there & then they had to live--with a brother Nelson for about 6 weeks the most miserable time the ever spent but thank our Creator they was all well & enjoying good health. ^[21]

Why did Albert’s parents move to the Bear Lake Valley?  They had been raised in the factory town of Trowbridge, England, and lived in the city of St. Louis for ten years (1853-56, 1857-64), both places providing limited farming experience. Moroni suggested that his father

having an idea that he would like to go out on a farm as he have been having city life for so many years, Brother Hart advise him to take his familey & go with him to Bear Lake valley as he was going there to settle and plenty of land could be got there by takeing it up and fencing for it & etc. During this time James H. Nelson, acquaintance of Fathers & a nephew of Brother Hart, came down from there, stateing the location of the valley the advantages & so-on. ^[22]

So the two families traveled with James Nelson to Bloomington, Idaho, by way of Cache Valley, Utah. At the “big dugway” the group separated. Albert accompanied his father, brother Alma, and Brother Hart through Soda Springs, while the others traveled over the mountain through Emigration Canyon. They all arrived in Bloomington just before Christmas. For a time--William’s letter said about six weeks--Albert’s family shared a 14 by 18 foot cabin with the Nelson and Hart families, then Moroni said,

Soon after [that] we got a room that was not quite finished, My Father finishing it as far as he could with what material was in the country, for the rent of it during the winter, this place was little better than camping out, altho we had no floor in it nor any door, hay & frosted straw we used for a floor, & a piece of carpet for a door, this house or place was of logs with a dirt roof, here like this we spent the first cold winter in this valley. . . . The following Spring we built a house on our corner lot on the main road north side of the town, fence in one lot & put in some garden seeds, we also put in some land in the field in wheat thinking to raise our bread. ^[23] In September, 1865, we moved from canyon Street down on the State-road, in our own house & land, this the first time in our life having a place of our own. ^[24]

The first several winters in Bloomington were severe, especially the winter of 1864-1865. Many cattle died from lack of shelter, and by spring many pioneers were living on frozen wheat ground in coffee mills, frozen wheat bread, and boiled wheat. After such a harsh winter, some of the settlers gave up and moved to other parts of Zion. ^[25] Albert’s parents chose to remain in Bloomington, even though their winter cabin had been “little better than camping out.”

Basic survival and religion became number one priorities in this new settlement, and education for the children soon followed. “The first winter there was no school,” ^[26] Moroni wrote. “The second winter Mrs Huckfield taught school, & my Parents sent me to her. In the summer time Albert Aland taught. . . . All this summer [1865] I attended school.” Most likely Albert attended school with his older brother. By now he was eight years old and had been baptized by James H. Hart  and confirmed by George Osmond in Bloomington, September, 1865. ^[27] “The schooling of those days wasn’t very much. . . . [Albert] got all he could.” ^[28] According to one record, his schooling commenced in Bloomington. ^[29] He might have received some education in St. Louis because many young children in the early to mid-nineteenth century accompanied older siblings to school to give their mothers time to care for smaller ones at home. In St. Louis Albert had three younger siblings; in Bloomington another brother (James) was born January, 1866. ^[30]

Although the winters in Bear Lake Valley were harsh, the summers were no better with early and late frosts, grasshoppers, crickets, and potato bugs. Moroni noted that the family did not plant a crop in 1867 after losing “a couple of them” from frost. The family’s hopes increased when Uncle George Dunford arrived in Utah from St. Louis with “twenty-one or twenty-two wagons” and teams to pull them. He gave Albert’s father “a yoak of oxen & a wagon . . . with other things, to pay for them as soon as convenient which he did.” ^[31]

The year 1869 “opened upon us with a little brighter prospects, with our team we went to work puting in our crops;” also Albert’s youngest sibling (Leah) was born in April. ^[32] But, in 1871, grasshoppers hatched “by the millions,” potato bugs caused “a great deal of trouble,” and Albert’s sister Eliza died on Sunday morning, June 18. After her burial, the family “went about our daily labor, still fighting the grasshoppers trying to raise a crop but all in vain,” Moroni wrote. “During this winter I attended school at home, with two or three of my Brothers [most likely Albert, Parley, and Oliver], Mr. Gooch our teacher.” ^[33]

Albert learned at a young age about hard work, trials and tribulations, life and death, and faith in God. He also experienced ”animal cookies and red topped boots for Christmas . . . the frigid winters, and the roaring blizzards; also the merry social parties that were held during those tempestuous nights.” ^[34] In 1870, when Albert was twelve and Moroni was almost fifteen, his older brother wrote about spring happenings they shared on the farm:

                        Moroni Dunford

Bloomington, March, the 15. 1870.

the increase of the year.  1870. 

the first was A. lamb born.  Feb. the 5.

and the next. was A lamb. born March the 9.

and the next, was A colt. born March the 12.

and the next was A calf born March the 15.

the next was 2 twins lamb born March the 25

next was A lamb Albert’s born March the 29.

next was A lamb Moroni’s born April the 5.

next was 2 twins lamb born April the 6.

next was A colt born April the 7.

next was  A calf [crossed out] born April the 15 [crossed out].

next was A calf [Alma written in] born April the 21.

next was A calf born. may the 2.

next was A lamb born may the 8.

next was A lamb born may the 9.

next was A lamb born may the 12. ^[35]

Almost a year later Moroni wrote again:

Moroni Dunford

Bloomington                  January 25th 1871.

the increase. of the year 1871.

the first was A calf born january the 1. on A new year morning

and the next was A lamb. born jan the 16.

and the next was A lamb Moroni’s. born jan the 25.  M.

and the next was A calf Albert’s born March the 2.   A.

and the next was A calf born March the 17.

and the next was to twins born.  April the 1.

and the next was A lamb born April the 15.

and the next to twins lambs born April the 17.

and the next to twins lambs Albert’s born April the 19.  A.

and the next was A lamb born April the 22.

and the next was A lamb born April the 22.

and the next  was A lamb Moroni’s born April the 24.  M

and the next was A lamb born April the 24.

and the next was two twins lambs Moroni’s born May   M ^[36]

As youngsters Albert and Moroni worked closely together on the family farm. “Sometimes my Brother Albert would help me & we taken tarabel good care of the sheep,” Moroni wrote,

So Father gave us one nice yoe between us [in 1874] . . . we could tell her among the flock as we watch her a great deal   So at a time we thought she was not going to have any lamb or lambs we traded her to Father for two yoe lambs mine was a black one, Albert’s a white one, these we taken great care of finiley they begin to increase with us & we done well. ^[37]

When one brother had trouble, the other came to his rescue. In 1875, Moroni was transporting his stock to Eden on the east side of Bear Lake,

they being very hard to drive got down to the pastures by the lane . . . there being ice in the lane my horse stepping over the fence which was about three poles high he sliped & fell over the fence on the ice, falling his whole weight on my rite knee & leg, for sometime I thought my knee was out of joint, paining me very much. I soon got on my horse & with the help of my Brother Albert drove them to eden, all along on the road my knee troubled me. at indian creek we stoped for dinner there bathing my knee with cold water, soon after drove on to eden.... ^[38]

Albert also assisted his father and younger siblings. Oliver, six years younger, remembered, “When I was about eleven or twelve years of age, ^[39] I accompanied my father and my brother, Albert, to Salt Lake City.  Our wagon was loaded with produce. We were taking down a cow for Uncle George Dunford, also a pair of black mares named Kate and Liz that we had been using. They also belonged to Uncle George.

It was my task to ride one of those mares and drive that cow.  This I did from Bloomington to Salt Lake City. . . . Our journey proceeded tediously enough until we reached ‘Long Hollow’ many miles south of the Hardware Ranch, when a wheel broke down.  We piled our load by the side of the road, placed a wagon cover over it, used a pole in the place of the wheel and proceeded on to Huntsville thirty miles away.In Huntsville we were entertained by a Mr. McKay [probably President David O. McKay’s father] who let father take his wagon to go back after his load which took two days.  I was left at McKay’s while they were gone. . . . When father and Albert returned Mr. McKay insisted that we take his wagon on to Ogden where we could have ours repaired. . .  Reaching the city, we left the cow and team with Uncle George, who entertained us.  We visited also with Alma, who with Susie his wife, was living in Social Hall lane.  James, then about nine years old, had been with Alma all winter.  He had attended school for a while.  We remained in the city a number of days . . . . On our return home, Daisy, the eldest daughter of my brother William went with us to spend the summer. ^[40]

On the farm Albert’s father needed help from his sons who lived at home.  Oliver wrote,

For several years after the first settlement hay, for livestock was cut with a scythe; and grain was cut with an implement called a cradle. . . . As a wielder of the cradle in cutting grain Moroni was second to none.  He would cut the grain, and by  dexterous swing of the cradle place it in an even windrow with all the heads even in one direction.  It was my task to rake the grain into bundles then Albert and Parley would bind it into sheaves and we would all shock it. . . .

For years oxen were our motive power, the teams with which we did our work, and excellent teams they were. . . .  The main objection to them was -- they were slow. . . Day after day I have plowed with old Buck and Roudy, or old Pete and Broad, or old Brin and Saxe. . . Harrowing with oxen was not so easy, because the driver had to walk near their heads in order to guide them.  Thus walking in the soft soil with no lines to hold to was extremely tiresome.  . . . Our father purchased a pair of mules.  They were named Jin & Jule.  They were a good team, and served us for years, but they were no good in mud or sloughs . . . . In time we abandoned the use of oxen as being too slow. We traded off the mules as they were growing old and resorted to horses, which have since been our beasts of burden. ^[41]

During 1875, the family started making preparations to build a two-story brick house, “the grasshoppers and frost troubleing us for so many years was not able to get enough ahead to try to build sooner.” ^[42] In 1876, the work began in earnest, with Albert and his brothers pitching in, eager to provide a better dwelling for the family.  While digging and building the cellar, an accident occurred with one of the heavy red pine logs.  Moroni “had a holed of the big end & was walking backward two of my Brothers Albert and Parley was carrying the small end getting it nearley to where we wanted it the boys dropped their end to quick & the jar of the log & the weight of it came on me, this hurt me very much cross my back.” ^[43]

This home

proved to be the first two story building in the community.  Father, being very precise had Joe Rich, a surveyor, lay off the foundation with his instruments, so it would be exactly true to the compass, north and South.  Moroni and Albert got out the logs from the timbers from which the lumber was made by the old mill . . . “In due course of time our new home was completed and all the spacious, immaculate rooms ready for occupancy.  The old [log] house that had been our abode for years, was forsaken, and later demolished.  It was not without tender emotions that we saw the dear old house taken out of the picture. . . ^[44]

Besides assisting with house building and farming, Albert and his brothers helped their father freight goods north and south of Bloomington.

In the early days before the opening of the Bloomington Coop Store, . . . the nearest place where groceries and other supplies could be had was Evanston, Wyoming.  The coal mines at Almy also furnished quite a market for produce. . . . The people in these communities would freight their produce to Evanston and the mines, & purchase needed supplies for the family in preparation for the long winter ahead. ^[45]

In the year 1876 “we raised a good crop of grain & etc  done some freighting north, of our own grain, & grain from the Store. As this was our main place to get a little money.” ^[46]

After a “splendid harvest” in September, 1879, Albert went after a load of timber from the canyon and Moroni, on his way to Salt Lake City, rode with him on the wagon to the sawmill, where the brothers bid each other goodbye. Albert returned home to help his father, little realizing that two weeks later his father would be dead.  On October 4, 1879, Albert’s parents, brother, James, sister, Leah, and niece, Leah, were going to General Conference by way of Blacksmith Fork Canyon when a wagon accident occurred.  James wrote, “As we started to travel up faster, father was singing that splendid Mormon hymn, ‘All is well. . . .’  It was perhaps half an hour after that we [James, Leah, and Leah] were all three awakened by the shaking, bouncing rumbling of the wagon.  I was the first to look up and discover that both father and mother were gone.” When the runaway horses “reached an up grade portion of the road and rather sandy,” James stopped them.  In the darkness the children “joined hands and ran back as fast as breath would allow us.” ^[47]  They found their father dead and their mother wringing her hands in despair.  When she saw the children safe, she exclaimed, “The Lord is good.  We still have so much to be thankful for!” ^[48]

Their father’s body was returned to Bloomington.  On “Sunday evening, October 5, the birthday of Parley also of Alf Osmond, they, with a number of others, were at our home, planning to celebrate the event, when a rap came to the front door.  Albert opened the door and greeted Bishop Tuft, who thus broke the dreadful news to us.  ‘Prepare yourselves boys!  Your mother is here, the children are here.  They are safe, but your father is a corpse in the wagon.’” ^[49]

Albert and his brothers were stunned by the death; but “there being five of us boys at home after father’s demise, Moroni, Albert, Parley, myself [Oliver] and James, we were fully able to take care of mother and sister, Leah, and to manage the farm, livestock, and all other business matters.” ^[50]

Life went on, and Albert moved to a new phase of life.  In 1877, the grounds had been dedicated for a temple in Logan, Utah, and the Saints in the Cache, Bear Lake, and Bear River Valleys began seven years of volunteer labor and financial sacrifice to build it. ^[51] According to Albert’s granddaughter,

Grandpa Albert Bailey Dunford was called on a work mission to help haul the rocks and timber which was used in the Logan Temple building at Logan, Ut.  He would leave home in Bloomington, Idaho for Temple Fork, twelve miles from Logan, go down through Meadowville and Round Valley down through the right-hand fork then on to the Temple Fork.  Here he would stay all winter working, cutting and loging timber.  When it was cut and sawed into timber they would drive the oxen or horses, and bring it to Logan to be used for the Temple. The food and provisions were provided for all the workers.  This was given to them by the saints of the wards.  The people in the wards of Bear Lake, furnished their own bedding and bunks were made in the camp, one on top of another.  Grandpa was about 22 or 23 years of age when he was called to work there.  Each person was called to work for a certain length of time donation his work and time and released by those in charge.  These were long hard cold winters, spent in hard labor, wading in snow and there was plenty of it them.  He worked there two winters.  Grandfather was not married when he was called for this work.  Grandma or Mamma D, as she was affectionally called by her grandchildren, was a cook when Granddad was laboring there.  She with many of the others women of that time helped see to the men comfort as could be had. ^[52]

Albert’s niece, Lillie Dunford Mecham, noted that “Albert probably spent more time there than any of the brothers.  Mary Martina Nelson was one of the cooks who served at the mill, and while she and Albert were on this Temple mission, their interest in each other increased.” ^[53]

In the early days of Bear Lake settlements other forms of entertainment brought young and old together, including frequent dances during winter months. ^[54] A letter to Albert from Mary Jane Beverland, a girlfriend from Logan, illustrates the types of activities--and romantic feelings--of young people in the early 1880s.  Mary Jane may have written this letter in 1883 since it mentions Albert possibly getting married.

                                                                                    March 14

Logan City

Mr albert Dunfort  my dear friend I take great pleasur in answering your kind and welcom letter wich i receved to day and i was very glad to here from you and to here that you was all well as this leavs us all the same    well albert i wood like to bee there to go to a dance  i was with you folk so long it sems funy to bee here now   i have been to too dances since i come home   i only stayed a little while to one of them  all the boys and girls said they gused that my bare lake feller woodbee mad for me going to the dances   i told them that was just the reason   albert there was lots of the folks wished me much joy when i com (p. 2)

home and they asked me where my husband was   i told them i left him in bare lake till spring

i wood liked to have stayed over there till spring but all the folks was tired of me   i though i was emposing nelsons folks to much so i though i come home   i trie to make every body beleave that i am sory for comming to logan  every thing is so dul here  i had just as good a time in bare lake as i have had here  i have had one slayride since i come home and i want to a very nice theather satadar [Saturday] night and to a consert in the fift ward we are going to have another consert here just about the time you are comming over here so i hope you will bee here in time to go to it(p. 3)

Albert we had plenty of walees[waltzes] in both of the dances i want to   every time i got on the flor to wals i though of you and wished that you was here to wals with me and the rest of uswhen you see edgar alred you give him my kind redgards and all the mill boys and all of your brothers and give my love to your motherand tell willam that i exceped of his love and that I return the same to hime   when he comes over here i will bee glad to have him call and see me and when you come over here i will bee very glad to see you   you must bee shure and come here  you can easy find out where i live  i often wish i could see you and have some fun with you(p. 4)

well albert i gus your ar going to get marid in the spring but you must not think about it   well is that so that is funny  well albert you know me  you  know my nonces [nonsense?] albert when you write let me know as nere when you will bee over as you can so i can perpare for you. albert you said that you hoped i was happer then i was when i was thair   i was happy when i was thair  i enjoyed my self very much  when i was thair with you and the rest  i am alys teling my mother how kind you folks was to me  i wish i had stayed to have the rest of the fun with you  when you come over i will have some funwell albert i gus i will close my letter for this time  hooping to here from you again all the girls sends thar(p. 5)

here is a kiss for you  x x and one for will an excuse my cheekyness but you dont care do you albert   i wish i could come over to the dance   albert i am going to the conjoint metting tonight  i wish you was here to go with me(p. 6)

this is from your true friend  Mary Jane Beverland

excuse all mistacks and bad speling  i hate for you to see my writing  it is bad but then you must not think about it  rember me to mornia    well albert  i gus you ar tird of hearing my noncens but you could not ask any more ^[55]

Mary Martina Nelson Dunford

1864-1941

Hello Everybody:  This is Mary Nelson Dunford at Logan--Utah, February 27--1941.  I was born 11 August 1864 at Hyde Park, Utah.  My father Nels C. Nelson and my mother Katherine Jensen came to Utah with the Handcart Company of 1857.  They settled in Hyde Park Utah, where I was born, then in 1865 they were called to help settle Bear Lake valley in the town of Bloomington, Idaho.  There they lived and died. ^[56]

Mary’s parents, Nels Christian Nelson ^[57] and Catherine Jensen, ^[58] had joined the church in Denmark and sailed for America in December, 1855, on the ship “John Boyd.”  Their infant daughter Christine N. Nielsen died at sea. ^[59] On the same sailing vessel were Mary’s paternal grandparents, Soren and Christiana Nelson, and their children Soren Christian, Charlotte, and Ottene. ^[60] One passenger described their voyage,

Many of us became seasick . . . our vessel was not equipped for so many people, being over crowded, we suffered many disadvantages.  We had tiers of Bunks around the sides and boxes in the center for us to sit upon.  We were all compelled to eat off the boxes we had to sit on. . . On December 19th a terrific storm came up . . . . Again on the 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and 25th, Christmas day, these storms continued, and on January lst.  it was so terrific that one of our masts was split and was wrapped with chains, and all the sails were taken down.  The Captain became so discouraged over the unsatisfactory results of his voyage that he forbid any of us to sing or pray upon the vessel, but this did not prevent us from fasting and praying in secret . . . . A few days after the heavy storm we came on to a vessel which was drifting about on the sea with broken masts and sails.  We soon neared the same and our life boats were lowered . . . . The sailors taken on board were of great assistance to us as our sailors were about worn out.  A day or so later the emigrants and those on board the vessel were frightened by a fire which broke out under the Captains Cabinet.  The smoke poured in upon the Emigrants in the lower deck almost suffocating them . . . Our rations were very coarse and simple and our water became very low owing to the long time of our journey.  There were six grown people and about fifty children who died on our voyage and were buried in the watery sea.  The principal cause of death among the children was from measles, causing much sorrow and anguish among the parents . . . In New York we stopped at Castle Garden two days and then took a train for St. Louis, crossing the Mississippi River with ferry boats and arriving in St. Louis March lst. 1856.  None of us could speak English and it was very difficult for us to get along. ^[61]

The Saints on board the ship consisted of Danes, Norwegians, Swedes, Icelanders, Italians, English, Irish, and Scots; and church meetings were held in Danish, English, and Italian. When they reached Chicago, the company divided into three groups and went to Burlington, Iowa, Alton, Illinois, or St. Louis, Missouri. ^[62]

Soren and Christiana Nelson, Mary’s grandparents, and their younger children continued on to Utah in 1856 with the Canute Peterson wagon company, ^[63] the same year Albert Bailey Dunford’s parents crossed the plains the first time. One emigrant in the Peterson train wrote,

Some of our Oxen were wild and we did not know how to handle them and consequently did not make much headway the first day. The following day we traveled along, making good headway.  It became very hot and our oxen became very tired. . . . We were compelled to leave some of our supplies, owing to our heavy loads . . . . After a few weeks journey we reached the unsettled wild west, where the Buffaloes were raging about in great herds.One day there came a stampede and our oxen became frightened and they rushed together, one outfit crashing into the other.  The women and children became frightened, some of the wagons were broken and a few of our number were hurt and one man killed.  This caused a gloom to pass over us and a formal funeral was held. . . . A few of the Buffalo were killed, dressed for beef and divided up among our company. Now and again the savage Indians would be seen roaming about  . . . and on occasions they would come to visit  us and . . .  we would oft-times give them some of our supplies and provisions . . . Sundays we had meetings and regular services were conducted . . . Sometimes we would have dances upon the green grass and enjoyed ourselves as best we could.  During the days while journeying along, nearly all of us would walk except those who were sick and the smaller children.  Offtimes we would go along laughing and singing the songs and hymns of Zion. . . . Not a house was seen from Elk Horn River, near Omaha to Salt Lake City, except a Government Post at Laramie, Wyoming, also a trading post about twenty miles therefrom and Ft. Bridget also in Wyoming. ^[64]

Another member of the Peterson company wrote,

Many times our oxen were stampeded.  The man that I drove for was run over and picked up for dead.  He came to, but was laid up in the wagon most of the balance of the way.  At another stampede a man was run over and died on the spot . . . . Then the oxen began to give out and get tender-footed and had to be shod.  Some died and folks had to unload their things on the plains, and I saw some who were even emptying the feathers out of their feather beds . . . . When we came to the Sweetwater there was snow on the ground and it was cold. . . . The English half of the company was left at Laramie, Wyoming, because there was not enough grass for such a large company.  The Danish part of the company went on to Salt Lake Valley with their leader. ^[65]

Although Mary’s grandparents traveled to Utah in 1856, her parents, Nels Christian and Catherine Nelson, remained in Council Bluffs making handcarts until the summer of 1857. They crossed the plains with the Christian Christiansen handcart company. ^[66] C.C.A. Christenson, the L.D.S. artist who created the handcart paintings, was in the same company.  He wrote, “We were only allowed to take with us fifteen pounds in weight for each person. . . . Our train consisted of between thirty and forty handcarts” with an average of five people to each cart.  Christensen told about a blind lady from Norway who laughed crossing streams, the difficult fording of Loup Fork with Indians ferrying some of the young girls across on horseback, great herds of buffalo “that could have totally annihilated us if they had been startled,” a woman who gave birth to her baby in the bushes, a girl with a wooden leg, many deaths along the trail, Johnston’s Army on its way to Utah, an old man who killed a skunk and brought it into camp to cook, and a poor supply of provisions and water.  “One of the most important questions every morning . . . was, ‘How far is it to water today?’ . . . Only one single night did our captain make a mistake with the directions, and we found it necessary to stop when darkness fell without water. . . . But as soon as daybreak came we broke camp and found water a few miles further along our way and soon forgot the privation of that night.” ^[67]

During the 1,000 mile journey pushing handcarts, Catherine was in her last trimester of pregnancy.  Granddaughter Hortense Allred Hanson wrote,

Many times the company had to stop along the way to bury someone who had died.  The dragging of the two wheels with a box between that carried their provisions, was a continual strain on the people.There would be several miles between places where water could be had.  One day they walked and tugged the carts fourteen hours without water.  With the night coming on they were forced to stop.  Catherine walked up a small rocky, secluded hill, to pray fervently, for the Hevenly Father to lead them to water.  She was so exhausted she lay down on the hill to rest and her hand rested on a flat rock.  As she arose her weight moved the rock and a spring of water came from it.  The whole company was supplied with water from this source. ^[68]

Handcart pioneer C.C. A. Christensen also remembered,

Greatest of all was the loss of many dear relatives and friends, who died along the way. . . . Perhaps many would have suffered an even worse fate if President Brigham Young had not established provision stations where flour could be obtained, and the first of these stations was about 400 miles east of Salt Lake City. Afterwards we were met by wagons with flour and fruit, which benefited us greatly, but particularly since these wagons picked up the weakest and sickest among us. . . None but those who have experienced such a trial of patience, faith, and endurance can form an idea of what it meant to pull a handcart . . . lips half eaten up by saleratus dust, and clothed in rags, with almost bottomless shoes on their feet. ^[69]

Another emigrant, Lars C. Christensen, burned the Danish diary he wrote while crossing with this company.  Later, he sketched the trip in English, leaving many parts out because “I don’t wish to remember too much of that journey and this helps me to forget before I die.” ^[70]

The handcart company arrived in Salt Lake City on September 13, 1857.  One month later in Provo on October 14, Catherine gave birth to their daughter Charlotte. The family moved to Goshen, Utah, where Soren and Christiana had already located.  Nels Christian was born there February 14, 1860. That year both families moved to Hyde Park, Utah, where James was born May 2, 1862. ^[71] Because Nels was a farmer and knew how to handle teams, he made three more trips across the plains as a teamster to bring Saints to Utah. On one of his trips, ^[72] he accidentally shot a young Danish woman named Inger Kristine Petersen with his gun. After reaching Utah, she became his polygamous wife on Oct. 3, 1863. ^[73]

Mary Martina Nelson was born August 11,1864, six days after Inger, her father’s second wife, bore her first child, Andrew Jennings. ^[74] One of Inger’s descendants wrote,

The families of Niels Christian Nelson were among those called to colonize Utah’s Dixie in 1865. When he had moved Inger and her baby down, he returned to Hyde Park for the rest of the family and household goods but winter intervened and he was unable to return to Dixie. Inger lived in a hastily prepared dugout all winter, cared for by kind neighbors.  When spring came her husband moved her back to Cache Valley and later with his first wife took her and her small son, Andrew, to Bear Lake Valley. ^[75]

Mary said, “My father was called to help settle Bear Lake Valley in the year of 1865. We settled in the town of Bloomington, Idaho.” ^[76] Soren and Christiana, Mary’s grandparents, and their children had moved to Bloomington in 1864 and

lived in wagon boxes on Bloomington Creek until they could get out lumber to build a house. A son, Soren Christian, helped saw lumber and shingles for the first house built in Bloomington, Idaho. Soren Nelson continued his shoemaking trade in this country. He wore wooden shoes around the house. He fed cows by filling a basket made of willows with hay for each cow. He put out one eye while chopping wood; he was breaking mahogany by putting it been two blocks of wood and hitting it. He and his wife  . . . retained their Danish way of life in both dress and speech. ^[77]

Mary’s family spoke both English and Danish in their home. ^[78] Her father’s two wives  lived near each other in Bloomington, and Mary associated with siblings and half-siblings until the late 1880s when anti-polygamy laws forced Nels to move Inger’s family to Star Valley, Wyoming. Ten children were born to Mary’s mother and nine to Inger, with both women having babies at the same time. Mary and Andrew, born in 1864, were six days apart.  In 1867, Inger gave birth to Martha on March 26, and Mary’s mother bore Catherine Jane one month later on April 26.  In 1869, Inger bore Soren Christian on June 20, and Anna Christiana was born to Mary’s mother on Sept. 11. In 1871, Inger gave birth to Joseph on Oct. 16, and three months later on Jan. 2, 1872, Sarah Miranda was born to Mary’s mother. Mary was eight years old when her brother Martin Louis was born Feb. 18, 1873, and died the same month. The next year Inger bore Jacob on April 3, 1874. Mary’s mother gave birth to her last child, Warren Thomas, on March 16, 1875, when Mary was ten. Then Inger bore four more children:  Inger (Dec. 9, 1876), Mary Ellen (Sept. 29, 1879), Sarah Christiana (May 26, 1882), and John Thomas (June 3, 1885). ^[79]

Catherine, Mary’s mother, was a trained nurse and midwife, the only one in Bloomington during the early years. One account describes Catherine’s service as a midwife:

It was 71 years ago tonight [October 16, 1940], the 16th of October, the ground was covered with snow, the wind was howling and the snow drifting, when a knock came on the Nelson door. Catherine lay in bed with a six-day-old baby girl. ^[80] The man--James Hart--entered. He said his wife was sick and wanted her to accompany him to his home at once. She hesitated . . . he gave her a blessing. He promised her in the name of the Lord that no harm would come to her or her baby. ^[81]

Catherine arose and dressed, bundeled the baby up, rode behind this man on his horse.  Her faith in his promise never wavered. The little old pioneer house, one-room, dirt-roofed was reached.  That night a baby boy was ushered into the world. He was named Arthur William.Every day for nine or ten days Catherine carried her baby to the Hart home washing, dressing and caring for the mother and baby Arthur.  Not the slightest harm came to Mrs. Nelson or her baby.” At the time Catherine had five other children at home, with Mary being five years old and Catherine Jane two. Perhaps Charlotte, who was twelve, took care of them when their mother was gone. Later, Catherine trained Sarah Greenhalgh to be a midwife, and the two women delivered many of the town’s children, sometimes separately, sometimes together, with Catherine delivering 512 babies, including many of her grandchildren. ^[82]

Granddaughter Hortense Allred Hanson wrote,

It was taken for granted that when a grandchild was born that grandmother should be in attendance.  My mother told me I was the last baby she assisted with.  Grandmother said on that occasion [1903], ‘Miranda, if you have anymore babies you will have to depend on someone else to take care of you.  I am getting too old and the distance is too far for me to travel.’  She was 70.  We lived at Fairview, Wyoming at this time. ^[83]

In addition to her services as a midwife, Mary’s mother was a counselor to two Relief Society presidents for twenty-five years.  One of the duties of the Relief Society was performing services for the dead, such as making burial clothing.  So besides helping with births, Mary’s mother cared for the dead and dying. ^[84] Mary was eight years old when her mother accepted her Relief Society calling, and she probably learned much from her mother’s example.

Nels Christian Nelson, Mary Martina’s father,

said he left the old country for America for the gospel sake.  He was never sorry because he was able to rear his family in pleasant surroundings and in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Father was a counselor for style='font-size: 11.0pt'>several years to Bishop William Hulme of the Bloomington Ward. While Bishop Hulme was away on a mission, father had full charge of the work for the ward and he performed his duties well. My father and Mother were the proud parents of four boys and six girls.  The oldest daughter died and was buried at sea. ^[85]

Nels “was a farmer by which trade he supported his family well.” He had been raised in the northern plains of Denmark in Hjorring County, a farming section of the country. In addition to farming, he operated a general merchandizing store in Bloomington “where the children assisted and learned the essential parts of salesmanship.” ^[86]

Mary was baptized by Emanuel Long on Sept. 27, 1872, and confirmed by Christian Madsen Aug. 14, 1872.  “When I was old enough to get around I soon made friends with all. . . .  Playing, working, etc.” ^[87]  When she was thirteen years old, her schooling commenced in Bloomington, Idaho.  Mary said, “My childhood days were happy ones.  I received all the schooling that was given in those days which was just a little of Reading--Writing--Arithmetic.  I was taught to crochet, an art, I have used all my life making many beautiful pieces.”  Her granddaughter Ella added, “The only schooling she had was at Sarah Huckvale’s school where she was taught the Alphabet, the numbers and crocheting.” ^[88] Sarah Huckvale was a well-educated pioneer who loved poetry and literature.  But books, magazines, and newspapers were scarce in the village of Bloomington, especially during the winter months when mail was carried over the mountain on snowshoes. ^[89]

During Bloomington’s early years, the settlers struggled to provide the essentials for their families.  “President Joseph Shepherd[‘s] father William Shepherd made Grandmother her first pair of shoes.  She was then thirteen years old.” ^[90]  Mary

remembered when as a girl, sitting down to nothing but a pan of sour milk for a meal, and they were lucky to add salt and pepper for flavor. Her mother did the milking until her brother grew up to be able to; as her father lived alot of his time with his second wife in Afton, Wyoming, and she was left alone to provide and take care of her family. . . . Grandma Mary remembers many times of grinding barley and wheat in there coffee mill. ^[91]

Living in polygamy brought struggles and frustrations to both families. With two wives and nineteen children, Nels’ time with them was spread thin, especially after his second family relocated in Wyoming.  The wives were forced to shoulder parental and economic responsibilities. Although the information above says that Nels spent much of his time with his second family, accounts by Inger’s family state that Nels lived with his first wife and favored her family. Inger and her children

lived on a farm [in Bloomington], while the first wife lived in town; and the proceeds of the farm helped support the family in town. Inger milked cows and sold butter. She would gather wool from the fences and sagebrush after herds of sheep had gone through, wash, card, dye and spin the yarn to make stockings and mittens for her children. Then on her loom she would weave wool into cloth for clothes . . . Due to increasing trouble with U.S. Marshalls who harassed polygamists continuously in Utah, Inger and her nine children were removed to . . . Star Valley, Wyoming--the father remaining with his first wife in Bloomington.  Here she continued to work as hard as ever, this time as both father and mother. The time was in 1888, the place a farm up Tin Cup, northwest of Freedom. . . . Indians were always a source of fright  . . . . To her innumerable tasks, she added the art of making rag rugs and nursing. In fact she was known as a skilled mid-wife. ^[92]

The wives and children of the two families got along well together, but Inger and her children developed ill feelings toward their husband and father because he neglected them.

Grandpa brought his second family to Freedom and located them up Tin Cup located in caribou county area. Leaving her and children to shift for herself she did everything possible. She was a mid wife but receiving but small things for her help.  But, grateful for anything that the family could use in foods, materials, etc. . . . Mother remembered the last time Grandpa Nelson came to Grandmother Nelson she stood with her hand on her hips and told him in her broken accent.  These words. ‘Never come again you devilish ting.’ Through the fathers neglect of this family.  The sons here refused his presence in there homes. But, he did visit his married daughters occasionally. ^[93]

Nels’s granddaughters from his first wife (Catherine) remembered him living with them in Afton after Catherine died. ^[94]

Still, Mary remembered a happy childhood and pleasant counting days. “Grandmother lived one winter when a girl at Logan with her brother Nels C. Nelson, she cooked for the temple workers with Margaret Adams of Logan.”   Mary told her granddaughter,

When I was just a young girl in my teens, I went to Logan, Utah, to visit with my brother Nels [four years older]. After a pleasant visit, we, Nels, Joe Morris, and I wanted to go back to Bear Lake. So we equipped ourselves with snow-shoes and walked through Logan Canyon all the way.  Bearing the hardships of cold blizzard’s--of winter’y days. It took us two days and one night.  But we had to make good use of every minute. We didn’t ‘loter’--either--by the way.  My brother Nels was a carpenter. He was called to work on the Logan Temple, that being the reason we were in Logan. ^[95]

Their Lives Together

“On October 4th 1883 I was married to Albert Bailey Dunford in the End. House at S. L. City” by President Joseph F. Smith, as the Logan Temple would not be dedicated until the next May. ^[96] Mary was barely nineteen; Albert was almost twenty-six. They settled in Bloomington near both sets of parents, and Albert became a farmer and “a teamster in the freighting enterprises between the valley and Evanston, Wyoming.” He was the first of the Dunford sons to establish a home in Bloomington. ^[97] Mary’s mother Catherine knitted socks for Joshua Jarvis, the owner of a sawmill in the community, “and that brought her first load of wood or lumber for her home. Grandfather [Albert] hauled the wood.” ^[98] (See the map drawn by Nadine Dunford Nelson for the location of the homes of Albert, his parents, and his siblings.)

On the afternoon of October 26, 1883, three weeks after Albert and Mary were married, Albert met Alma and Moroni in Logan to bring new tombstones his brothers had purchased for their father’s and sister Eliza’s graves. They returned to Bloomington and

fenceing our lots, or while doing so we had Mr Nelson the Sexton & another hand to dig the graves in the new plot, & make ready for removeing the remains of our Dear Father, and Sister, which was done verry nice considering & after finished us five boys [probably Alma, Moroni, Albert, Parley, Oliver] felt well pleased with our work after finished we taken Mother up and Shown her what we had done, & She also thought it was verry good. ^[99]

Albert and Moroni had developed a close friendship while growing up, and as adults they continued their association. In his journal Moroni noted times the brothers wrote letters to each other when they were apart. ^[100] Albert wrote the day before Mary gave birth to their first child,  Florence Mae Dunford, on April 29, 1884. She “only weighed 4 lbs. at birth, and was a 7 month baby.” ^[101] Florence later said,

I was just about as big as a minute, with a round red face, and a good pair of lungs, which I exercised a great deal.  But my parents were very happy, ‘cause they knew time would change all that.  You see I was the first little one to bless their home. . . . Bishop William Hulme blessed me July 3 1884.  My baby days were pleasant ones as only a baby’s can be.  I grew fast and when I was eight years I was baptized and confirmed a member of the L.D.S. Church. ^[102]

On their farms Albert and Moroni helped each other with crops and animals.  They rode to conference together and to nearby communities; they spent evenings and holidays together, often eating meals and enjoying music at Albert’s home.  On December 16, 1884, Moroni wrote,

Walked to Alberts to help him fix his manger stolls in his barn.”  The next two days he wrote, “At Alberts all day helping him put in his stolls manger & c” and “All day at Alberts and his barn.”  On December 31 and January 1, 1885, he wrote, “Even at Bro. Alberts” and “Afternoon at Alberts  took dinner, then had a Sleigh-ride. ^[103]

Two years after Florence’s birth, a second daughter, Savina, was born to Albert and Mary on March 22, 1886; and Albert and Moroni continued working together on their farms. ^[104] On September 7, 1886, Moroni wrote, “Most of the day helping Bro. Albert hawling hay and Stacking it . . . . Even. took Supper at Alberts & home & retired.”  The next day he wrote, “After dinner Bro. Albert & I my wheat in lots. & his Barley in his lots.”  The next two days he wrote, “Bro. Albert & I hawling grain togeather, hawled 6 loads of oats to My place from my 5 acres South field” and “All day hawling oats for Albert  from South field while unloading the last loads I never experienced Such a feeling of hunger & faintness as I eaten but little dinner, going to Bro. Alberts house got some biscuit & so on.” ^[105]

Moroni, still unmarried, described doing “uncle” tasks for Albert’s daughter: “Took the little fellows rideing  Isaac Carless & little florance; taken Supper took a walk up St. then called in to Alberts for a few Minutes.”  While on his mission in the Southern States, he remembered his niece as well. “A short time around fireplace chewing Syrup Cane.  Thoughts of home & the little folks.  With Southern newspapers rapt up a joint of Syrup Cane with a newspaper & will send it to Little Florence Alberts little Girl.”  In another entry he wrote, “Rec.  A letter from Bro. Albert, which was comenced by his wife Mary, & a little peace in from little Florence [age four].” A third entry stated he was sending, “Alberts little girl a songbook, with five little pictures in it.” ^[106]

Albert’s family continued to grow, and on October 10, 1888, their first son, Grover Cleveland, was born. ^[107]  But on November 15, 1888, their young daughter “Savina Dunford was killed while playing with a bottle dressed as a doll  She fell while going outdoors on a rock. The glass pierced her heart and she bled to death in a few hours. This was a dreadful shock to grandma [Mary] of which was hard to recover.” ^[108]

On February 10, 1891, another son, Albert Bailey, Jr., was born. Albert’s mother, Leah died, on Dec. 6, 1892; and four months later a son, George Moreland, was born on April 3, 1893. ^[109] Albert went to Montpelier in May to meet Moroni, his wife Sarah, and daughter Letha at the train station. It was a muddy spring season and to avoid the mud Albert “took a short cut across the ‘bottoms,’” Moroni’s daughter wrote.

When he came to some bullrushes at midnight, he mistook them for dry road, drove into them, and soon found he was in the middle of the slough. Mother sat in the wagon with sister Letha on her lap, while the men went up into Ovid for help. They stayed that night with the Bishop of Ovid.  In the morning Father and Uncle Albert went to get the wagon out, tipped it over, and upset the trunks and a reed rocker (wedding present) into the slough.  However, nothing was seriously damaged. ^[110]

But Albert did have a serious accident in Bloomington which a granddaughter recorded.

Granddad had a shed built on the West side of the house, where Grandma used to wash during the summer months, and many things were kept there. One day Granddad was going into the shed and a can of lye, which had been sitting on a ledge above the door, fell as he was entering, spilling it’s contents over Granddad, causing him much pain and suffering and the loss of an eye. ^[111]

A pleasant activity for Albert was playing the accordion for the “good old time dances” while Moroni “did the prompting, or calling.” ^[112]

Granddad [Albert] was a member of an early orchestra which played for dances throughout the Bear Lake Valley. . . . Granddad played an accordian for dances for the mutual parties and old-folkes parties, both in Bloomington and in Logan. In Bloomington my mother Florence, played the organ to accompany him. . . . In Logan Uncle George and Leah played the piano for him.  Granddad always took time out and danced with grandma at the dances. They were among the first to purchase a piano and have their children study music.”

In addition to accompanying for dances,

Granddad with his brothers participated in the ward dramas, as Edward Patterson a fellow drama lover painted a drop curtain and scenery to be used. Granddad used to pull teeth for his family and many of his friends.I still have the forceps he used. ^[113]

Over an eight-year period Albert and Mary experienced more family births and deaths.  On June 18, 1895, their daughter Ella Jane was born.  Almost a year later Mary’s grandfather, Soren Nelson, died on April 8, 1896.  In 1897, daughter Harriet Daisy was born on July 28 ^[114] and  Mary’s grandmother, Christiana Nelson, died on August 21. ^[115] Two years later, on May 5,  1899, their four-year-old daughter Ella Jane died of whooping cough, ^[116] and on August 29 their son Don Nelson was born.  William was born January 7, 1902, but died that April.  Child number ten, Lester James, was born August 23, 1903; ^[117] and Florence attended college in Logan, Utah, and waited on tables at the dormitory to pay for board and room. ^[118]

Then on October 12, 1904, Florence married Albert Edwin Jarvis in the Logan Temple. “The folks went to Logan in a wagon. Dad [Albert E. Jarvis], Mother [Florence], her father and mother [Albert and Mary] and a brother, Grover, taking another wagon. They went through Blacksmith Fork canyon.” It took two days to reach to Logan. For a wedding present Albert and Mary gave them a cow, and when the newlyweds arrived home, her parents had a party for them. ^[119]

Before Florence’s marriage “she worked with her mother [Mary] at home. Doing housework and tending children.  At times she would help her father [Albert] outside.” ^[120]

“Mother was always her dad’s favorite, his ‘Flossie.’ Her childhood days were happy and hard ones, mixed with pleasure and pain. Being the oldest she had many a pleasant task to do, helping her Dad in the field or barnyard, and her mother indoors.” One time “Mother’s brother George dared her and said she couldn’t put him in the ditch. But mother said without any trouble she picked him up and planted him headfirst, much to his chagrin. He knew better after that than to dare her.” ^[121]

During the same years Florence was bearing her daughters, Mary bore her last two children. On July 3, 1905, Mary’s eleventh child, Lyman, was born and died the same day. ^[122] Five days later Mary’s first grandchild, Mary Mae Jarvis, was born on July 8.  Like her mother, Mae was a seven-month baby.  She weighed three pounds and seven ounces and, because she was not expected to live, was blessed and named the same day by grandfather Albert. ^[123] The problems accompanying the births of Lyman and Mae and the death of Lyman must have been traumatic to Mary and Albert, yet Mary helped with Florence and her new baby. ^[124] Florence’s second child, Ella Margaret, was born on Oct. 6, 1906. Then Mary’s twelfth and last baby, Leah Mary, was born Dec. 28, 1907, and Florence gave birth to Ida on July 7, 1908. ^[125]

Leah remembered, “The white house I was born in still stands on the corner in Bloomington. All twelve children were born in that small three room house, With the help of a midwife Dr. Hayward delivered me, my Mothers first man Dr. (Dec. 28, 1907)” ^[126]

My father was in his 50’s when I was born. I remember him as not having the best of health. He was a hard working farmer, having fields in Bloomington and Paris, Idaho. Always a choice garden. He was seen in his barn one Sunday and was reported to his bishop that he was working on Sunday. He had to get up in church and apologize. I can remember how nervous he was. Dad use to have a beard at one time and when I was about four years old he shaved it off.  I crawled in bed with mom and dad one morning and he looked over mom’s shoulder and I ran and cried, ‘there’s another man in bed with mother.’ ^[127]

Mother was 43 years old when I was born.  Mother was a hard working women living on a farm in Bloomington, Idaho with no modern conveniences, she had to wash the clothes on a scrubbing board, carry water from a ditch, heat the water on a coal stove that burned wood, boil clothes in a big boiler to make them white, hang everything out doors to dry on a clothes line after she wrung them out by hand.  She made dad’s and her own Temple garments. In those days they wore long sleeves, long legs, with ties to fasten in the front. She did all the cooking and baking on the coal stove. Heat all water on top of the stove for washing and bathing. We would take turns bathing in a round galvanized tub. ^[128]

Albert’s brother and friend, Moroni, died January 29, 1910, then another tragedy beset Albert’s family when their daughter Daisy died on May 15. “Daisy was nearly 13 years old and died of bumping her elbow and Erysipelas set in.” ^[129] Later that same year, on Nov. 6, 1910, Albert was ordained a high priest by William L. Rich ^[130] and a major change occurred in their lives. “We lived in Bloomington many years but in the year of 1910 we moved to Logan-Ut.” ^[131] Daughter Leah added,

We moved to Logan when I was about three years old, so that five of my brothers could go to school. My parents bought a house at 361 E. 3rd No. . . . However Mother and Dad were hard working farmers in Bloomington and before moving to Logan they had a lot of sorrow. They had 5 children die--3 girls and 2 boys all buried in the Bloomington Cemetery. ^[132]

After Albert and Mary moved to Logan, they kept ties with their Bloomington family. Daughter Leah remembered,

My oldest sister Florence was married so she remained in this farming town. She had three daughters, the youngest one being my age. . . .  My grandparents [Nelson] also lived there at that time. The other grandparents [Dunford]) deceased. Dad & mother and myself would make trips in horse & buggy to visit. We would always have to sleep on the ground or in the buggy for one night from Logan to Bear Lake, we couldn’t make it in one day.I was always anxious to get to my sister’s house, because we four girls would have so much fun riding push rakes--jumping on hay stacks & riding horses etc. Their names--Mae, Ella & Ida.  When we went with Burt, my brother-in-law, in wagon’s from one ranch to another we would always sing songs, he was always teasing or doing something to make us laugh. I liked to go to grandma’s house [Catherine Nelson] because she always had some home made Root Beer.  What a treat.  I will always remember her, as sitting by her spinning wheel--Spinning yarn.  Her hair combed straight back into a little bun. ^[133]

Ida remembered similar pleasure when her grandparents and Leah came to visit.

In my younger days and during the summer months my dad, Albert Edwin Jarvis and his brother George was haying up on the Jarvis Ranch in Bloomington Canyon; we always camped for the time we were there. And my Grandparents always came from Logan to camp with us. What a joy to have a bonfire at night, toasting marshmellows, munching on nuts or candy, and to surround the fire singing with my parents, Uncle George, my grandparents, Uncle James and Aunt Eliza Dunford, Uncle Oliver and Aunt Ida Dunford and others coming up to enjoy the evening on the Jarvis ranch, many an old song floated in the air, of which I learned to love.We slept in the white canvas tent with the beds built up on rocks using bed springs and new mown hay, and eating under an aspen grove near a creek at our favorite camping spot. When my grandparents would visit us in Bloomington he loved to sit by the fire and put his feet on the oven door, or on the reservoir as he loved to do when he lived there. . . . Granddad was a very conservative person, and worried about the lights being left on in a room when no one was using it. I see him drinking warm water, with a little cream and sugar.  And always at the end of a meal he would start to pile up the dishes and then tell one of us four to hurry and get busy at them. ^[134]

When the family moved to Logan, Leah noted that her mother “took in boarders (college students) to help keep some money coming in.  It was a long time before they could afford to buy house hold things they needed.  Years later they built a nice home at 376 No. 3rd East in Logan, Utah.  She shared her generosity with her children right up to the day she died.” ^[135]

Albert’s and Mary’s older children entered high school and college and “enjoyed their school work in Logan. They were very good students. Grover, was secretary, one school year, at the U.S.A.C. He attended the University of Utah for two years, but was a graduate of the U.S.A.C. He went back to the “U,” and was secretary for a number of years before moving to California where he has been a successful manager of a Fertilizer Plant. ^[136]

“Bailey attended two years of College. When in his third year he was called to South Africa on a mission.  He spent three years there.  On his return home he was called to the ‘World War.’

George was attending the A.C. when the ‘World War,’ broke out. He was one of the first group sent over seas to fight.  He was a ‘first Lieutenant.’ His group went ‘over the top,’ three or four times.  The last time, a good half of his group was captured by the enemy. He was in the enemies prison camp when peace was declared.  Imagine, if you can, the over joyed, happy parents, as well as the boy, when that day of ‘peace,’ came.  ‘Twas a day indeed to thank our Heavenly Father for sparing ‘his life,’ as well as the lives of so many more of our ‘American Sons.’ ^[137]

“The other children were successful in their school work too.  They are all married and have happy families.  Three of the boys are in California, one in Boise, one boy and daughter in Logan and the baby girl in Salt Lake.” ^[138]

On June 30, 1915, Grover “was married to Mary Alice Parkinson in the Logan Temple.  They purchased a home in Logan, Utah, expecting to make their residence in that city,” but he obtained a job at the University of Utah and moved to Salt Lake. ^[139]

Leah remembered growing up in Logan, “a beautiful little college town and we always felt safe there. Even though we had Indians & Gypsey’s around begging for food or whatever we would give them. Mother always cautioned me to keep away from them.” ^[140] She also remembered,

Dad had the most beautiful team of horses, wagon and everything needed to help beautify Logan. He plowed roads on main street between Smithfield and Logan. He plowed the Logan Temple grounds the college grounds and most of the cemetery grounds, and many big lots east of main street. I would take his lunch to him so many times. ^[141]

Albert’s granddaughter remembered trips to Logan from Bloomington to visit her grandparents. 

Granddaddy owned a farm up on college hill, where we used to go pick cherries and watch him milk the cows.  We always left with our arms full of vegetables.  We had lots of fun with Leah and Lester, playing among the apple trees or under a shade tree. . . . One 24th of July when we came to Logan for the celebration, Grandad and Grandma Dunford marched in the parade along with other pioneers, in pioneer costumes.  Granddad had grown a beard for the occasion. ^[142]

“Granddad used to have many accidents, such as run away horses, falling off a hay wagon.  Leah remembers her Dad saying he would have been killed many times if it hadn’t been for his garments that protected him.” ^[143]

 Mary Martina’s mother, Catherine Jensen Nelson, died Sept. 11, 1918, in Bloomington; ^[144] and Mary’s daughter Leah wrote, “Then in 1918 a terrible epidemic of Flu--came--Nearly every house hold was ill with this decease [disease].  So many relatives & close friends died.  We had it too.” ^[145] Grover and his wife contracted the disease, and his wife died in 1920.  Grover’s small son Park stayed for a few years with Albert and Mary after his mother’s death, then his father married Hazel Weaver Dunford in 1925. ^[146]

Another tragedy occurred late in 1920.  “In the year of 1920,” Florence said, “on the 29th of November our home and all furnishings burned to the ground.  My husband and oldest daughter Mae were very badly burned.  For months they fought for life, and through the prayers and good care their lives were spared, a blessing we have all been thankful for.” ^[147] In another account she explained,

I was in bed with my first son who was just a few days old.  But I had to awaken my sleeping family as it was eleven o’clock at night . . .  My oldest daughter, Mae, was trapped in the house. I screamed to my husband who went in to rescue her. He saved her after a hard struggle and did so very heroically. In doing so he was badly burned. My daughter was burned very severely. Nearly beyond all recognition. Her wounds were very deep on nearly every part of her body. ^[148]

Florence’s daughter Ida added,

What a shock to my grandparents [Albert and Mary] in Logan as they were called during the night to tell them our tragedy.  When they came, everyone tried to explain and get Grandpa not to go in to see Daddy and Mae on account of his bad heart. But he said he was prepared for the condition they were in. But he wasn’t, and he nearly collapsed at the shock. They were worse than he expected. And when he came to Uncle Oliver’s place to see Mother, Albert [Florence’s new baby], and me, he had a doll under his arm, which he gave to me--one that was Leah’s, I believe, of which I prized all my life. ^[149]

“Father and Sister Mae were bed fast for two months,” Ella wrote, “and ‘twas spring before they could get out and around again very much.  Mae had to learn, all over again, how to walk.  With this fire we lost everything, home, clothing, and furniture. Even an old pet dog and cat.” ^[150] Then in the spring of 1921, Mary Martina’s father, Nels Christian Nelson, died March 4  and Florence’s baby boy died April 24.  Both were buried in Bloomington. ^[151] Also during this time, two of Albert’s and Mary’s sons were married.  On March 28, 1921, Albert Bailey, Jr., married Phyllis Dunkley and George  married Florence Barrett in 1923. ^[152]

Albert did farm work until he was stricken with heart trouble at age sixty-five. ^[153]

This was a big handicap to him as he couldn’t do manual labor as he had always done.  From this time on up until death he was a daily worker in the Logan Temple. His life was prolonged through working there.  He loved the work and often said he was thankful that he was able to go to the Temple each day.  Because there were no better inspirational meetings held. ^[154]

Leah wrote that her parents “bought a house at 361 E. 3rd No.,” and later they “built a nice home at 374 No. 3rd East.  Here is where I lived during my fun days in High School.” ^[155] By this time she was dating.  “When I was in my teenage years and dating she [Mary] would always wait up for me until I came home.  I remember telling her about a date I had and said, ‘he wanted to kiss me,’ she said ‘I’ll never let you go out with him again.’  She was very polite and courteous, and she always wanted me to act like a ‘lady.’” ^[156]

Daisy Allred Tew recalled that “in 1920s we moved to Logan where Ted and Hortense (bro. & sister) entered B.Y.C. I loved Aunt Mary, Uncle Albert and their family.  Thats when I knew Leah so well.  I remember their phone no. was 777 W. Aunt Mary was so pretty.” ^[157] Leah said her mother “was a dear sweet women, who was always willing to help others and cook for neighbors who were ill.” ^[158] Granddaughter Ida remembered that

Grandma always was an excellent cook, and was hard to beat, especially at bread making using the liquid yeast, made from potato water, sugar and a start from the previous bread mixing. Many a tasty dish found it’s way to a sick friend or neighbor in Bloomington or in Logan, Utah.” Ida even kept a copy of her grandmother’s bread recipe, and it was in her grandmother’s handwriting:  “1 1/2 cups Scalded Milk, 1 l/2 cups boiled water, 1 Table Spoon brown Sugar, 3 Table spoon lard, 1 Red Star yeast cake, 6 cups brown flour, 1 1/2 cups white flour, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt. . . [Mix? can’t read] sugar and lard into [can’t read] add milk and water  add yeast cake.  when [can’t read] and add flour .  let rais about 2 hours.  Mother D.  This makes 8 loves. ^[159]

Only three pieces of Albert’s writing have been identified so far. One is a letter to his oldest grandchild, Mary Mae Jarvis Gudmundson, four years before he died:

Logan Nov 22, 1925

to my oldest granddaughter   in answer to yours that I received yesturday

was pleased to here from you and to here that you were all well thankful to say

that we are all well.  very pleased with the lovely fat chicken that we received

yesturday also.  we will have it for dinner to day and Ella is here to help us eat it 

          Leah and Ella are at sunday School now.  was sure glad to here your mothers voice

over the Telephone   would of like if you all could of stept in and had supper with

us  we had a very plesent evening togather.  I recived a nice little letter from our

oldest grandSon the other day and I had to write to him   they seem to be getting

along fine  I supose you folks here from them once in a while  hope so. 

Ella is looking fin and think do well in school   hope so   she stayes with us part

of the time.  we are haveing some very fine weather.  glad to here of the Boys

getting there Beets out of the ground  there quite a lot of them in the ground here

yet.  glad to here of you likeing your school  I sopose that you all do mis Ella

this winter.

We will send the last letter that we received from Jessie and Don   we think

  it is a very fine letter but would like for you to send it back after you read it   it is

sure good news when we get letters like that from our dear children

Hazel writes the same about her hubby and it makes us feel good

Well Mae will say so long for this time to my oldest Grand Daughter

from Your oldest

Grandpa ^[160]

A second piece is a postcard from Albert and Mary to their daughter Florence from Washington Park, California. It is addressed to Mrs. A. E. Jarvis, Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho:

Dec. 17, 1926

Dear Flossie Just a card.  this street looks a little diferent from the main st in

Bloom. dont you think  we have been on this st  this is some city   today is just

like spring   flowers all out in bloom.  Now we do wish you all a very merry

Xmas and a happy new year.  received the letter from Ella  glad to here of your

cold being better   you must all keep well   we have some very nice rides out in

the country with the boys   with love to all from. dady and mama ^[161]

The third piece is a letter from California. Leah explained why her parents were there:  “My father became ill, even tho. he worked in the Logan Temple for nine years, he had a heart condition. Three of my brothers & their wives Grover--Don & Lester lived in Calif. They had my dad and mother move to Calif. for a while. I stayed in Salt Lake with my brother Bailey and his familey, Phylis his wife & Monte & Bud” and two years before her father’s death married Verne Kener in the Salt Lake Temple. ^[162]

Huntington Park Calif  Nov 10, 2(?)

Dear Daughter Florence.

thought that I would pen You a few lines this morning  we are at Grovers home

to day  we live about three blocks from G.C. home.  one of the finest homes in

this town  they have 65 Electric lights in the home  Sure a fine home and all nicely

furnished.  the weather and cuntry is fine the roses all out in blume  you can step

out of the house and pick oranges of the treese  Sure nice.  children runing bear

footed.  we received a nice letter from Ella [Florence’s second daughter] the other

day  glad to here fo her doing So well and like her School.  So Mae is in Smithfield

[Utah]  I sopose it is very quite around your home this winter.  Poar George not

being there [Florence’s brother-in-law].   have not heared from the retuns of

the election in Bear Lake yet  hope that the ones I wanted to get there was succesful

in getting there   did not know that Bro Oliver was on the ticket till I got the Paris

Post  will here soon now   we received your letter of the 6. where you sent us some

meat  we have not received it yet but we will soon I hope.

Your Mother is sure well  She feels fine here amoung the flowers and

Sunshine.  I do hope to get to feel better after a while

Hope all is well with you.  tell Bert [Florence’s husband] not to work to

hard  we dont want him to get hurt this winter  what would he do without Dear

Old George [Bert’s bachelor brother who had helped on the farm for many years

had recently died].  With love to all as ever your Daddy  A.B.D. ^[163]

Grandson Mont Dunford, son of Albert, Jr., remembered happy times with his grandparents.

Living in S.L.C. and as very young boys, the highlight of our summer vacations wase the trips to Logan seeing Gramma & Grampa Dunford. After a full day’s travel in Dad’s old Chevy--most of it spent patching tires, we arrived at 374 North 3rd East St. Most memorable things we did was coasting & playing with Grampa’s old steel wheeled wagon--the clickey-clack noise it made. Tree huts in the huge poplar trees out front. Picking & eating rasberries from his garden. Our evenings were spent on the front porch talking about the old days when they lived in Bloomington, Idaho.  Bear Lake stories. Our school in S.L., friends & neighbors living on Wilshire Place & Sego Avenue. During our porch chats & stories, Grampa always asked Bud & I to rub his legs.  He suffered with severe swelling . . . His legs would become very enlarged & the skin thickened & broke in several places. Our rubbing & messaging eased the pain. ^[164]

In 1928, two accounts were written about Albert and Mary while they were still alive. The first gave information about Albert:

Albert Bailey Dunford is the father of twelve children.  Seven Boys and Five girls. All born well and perfect at Bloomington, Idaho. At the time of this writing January 20, 1928, his health condition is fair.  His Heart bothers him so he is unable to work as he did, but for the past five years he has been a worker in the temple at Logan, Utah. He enjoys the work and often says he is thankful he is able to go to the temple each day. There are no better inspirational meetings held anywhere.  He is loved and respected by everyone who knows him. At this writing, he has 2 girls and 5 boys living.

 From this same account one can read that Albert was a farmer and stockman. He was five feet seven inches tall and weighed 160 pounds.  His eyes were blue, his hair color was “dark,” and his chest size was 40.  His general condition of health was good, but his heart trouble started when he was sixty-five years old.  His special interest was his family. ^[165]

The second account described Mary:

Mary Martina N. Dunford is the Mother of 12 splendid children. All born at Bloomington, Idaho. At this writing January 20, 1928 her health condition is good, with the exception of severe headaches and backaches. She is able to do her housework and enjoys doing so. She is a member of the Pioneer Handcart Club and is a Relief Society teacher in the 5th Ward of Logan, Utah. She is loved and respected by all who knows her. All during her married life she has been a wonderful mother to her children.

According to this account, she became a Relief Society teacher in 1883.  Her eyes were blue and her hair color was medium dark. She was 5 feet 4 inches and weighed 150 pounds. She was specially interested in “everything that is good.” ^[166]

Leah wrote that her father “spent his last year in Huntington Park, Calif. with three of my brothers and their families.  He and mother, myself with my young baby Dee was returning home when he died at my brother Bailey’s home on Wilshire Pl in Salt Lake before they reached their home in Logan.” ^[167] He died on May 20, 1929, ”of heart trouble. A funeral was held in Logan, Utah, at the 5th Ward, of which he was a member. .  . . The body was brought to Bloomington Cemetery in the family plot along with his children and parents.” ^[168] Albert was seventy-one years old.

“After Granddad died,” granddaughter Ida wrote, “grandma moved to 230 East 3rd North .  . . . Uncle Grover got a smaller house on East 3rd North. Here she spent the remainder part of her life and visiting and staying with her family; her sons Grover, Don, and Lester in California. Also her daughters Florence in Logan ^[169] and Leah in Salt Lake and son George in Boise, and Uncle Bailey in Logan all helping her in every way.” ^[170] Leah’s son “Dee was born in July and was three or four months old when my father died. My mother rented her home in Logan and lived with us for a while. That is when we moved to 627 7th Ave. With her help we was able to pay a little more for rent.” ^[171]

Mont, the son of Albert, Jr., wrote that

Dad’s brother Uncle Grover in Los Angeles asked that we move to Logan to be close and care for Gramma after Gramp’s death. A small brick house was purchased by Grover, timely for us because of the deep depression & the early 30s market crash. After our move to the Dunford home, Gramma’s move to her new home just two blocks away, we all pitched in to make her comfortable. Mother would cook her meals, the yard & house cleaning was kept up. For quite some time Bud moved in her house to be of further help. ^[172]

In 1938, granddaughter Ella wrote Mary’s story from her point of view and with her approval:

After moving to Logan we lived in the fifth ward.  At present I am in the fourth ward.  I have worked in the Relief Society, as a teacher, attended the Sacrament meetings and was always willing to perform any duty asked of me. I have always enjoyed my Church work. I have also worked in the Temple for many years, performing many baptisms and endowments for the dead. I was Counselor in the Zena D. Young Camp of Pioneer Daughters for many years. Enjoyed the work very much. For a number of years I was Historian of the Handcart Company, which I joined in April 1918. I worked with Mrs. Will Smith in this work. I was Historian from 1919 to 1922. In 1936 and to the present time I am chaplin. I love all the members of this company. We enjoy each other and have many good times together. And now my daughter Florence has joined the Co. this year 1938, which has made me happy. These associates and memories will always be happy one’s to me. ^[173]

Granddaughter Ida wrote,

Grandma suffered with severe headaches, and I can see her now with one of Granddad handerchief tied around her forehead, using witch hazel. She often told me it cooled her head when it ached. . . . Again I see Grandma or Mamma D in her lovely hats, and nice clothes. ^[174] She had good taste in them, also she loved new and pretty dishes, and she was very particular and fussy on how we all took care of them. She was a very immaculate housekeeper and worried alot when she was so sick before she passed away.  As she could see some dust here or there. She always had a smile, a cheerful word for everyone she met.

“I see Grandma very neat clean and trim; before retiring for the night she always combed her hair.  She was always afraid of wrinkles coming on her face and I can see her rubbing and trying to keep them off as she made the statement she didn’t want to be to old and wrinkled so Granddad wouldn’t know her. . . .

“I also see her with her crocheting by her favorite chair, or some laying on the table as she always kept her hands busy, whenever she sat down to rest. She made nine crocheted bedspreads and was on her tenth when ill health struck her. She had a growth on one of her elbows she claimed was caused by too much crocheting.” ^[175]

Mary’s first great-granddaughter wrote,

I remember ‘Mama D.’ when I was young. I have special memories of her living in her little house in Logan, Utah. I loved to go visit her. I loved to coax her to let me take down her hair & brush & comb it.  It was so--soft & long & beautiful. I knew she loved me. I cried easily & she said I was like her, my tears were close to the surface. I remember her rubbing her forehead a lot as she was sitting in her chair.  She said she wanted Grandpa to be able to recognize her. She had an afghan wrapped around her legs a lot because she said they were cold. Sometimes she’d let me rub her feet & legs and they were -- cold. I loved her radio. I loved the shape of it. The radio was a ‘miracle’ to me. I loved to touch & feel her doileys & dresser scarves.  They were filmy and some of them were velvety. I loved her crocheted doileys & bedspreds & I loved to watch her crochet. ^[176]

At a family gathering in Logan the 27th of Feb. 1941 we made a record and Grandma gave a brief history of her life, and on closing she left this message to her children and grandchildren:

"We were blessed with twelve children, seven boys and five girls.  Myself, five boys and two girls now living. To these sons and daughters I wish to say, I love you all, and I do appreciate all you have done for me, and are always doing. It more than speaks the love and gratitude you have for me.

"To my fourteen grandchildren I wish to say, Be mindful of your duties as children and parents. Teach those eight Great-grandchildren and others of mine the correct way of life. Because you see I love you all. I have enjoyed working in the church organizations and Temple. I have received many blessings through doing so. I have been made happy with this little gathering tonight. My time is up for this recording, so good night to all." ^[177]

Mary Martina died early in the morning on July 18, 1941, at her home at 230 East 300 North, Logan, Utah, after an eighteen-month illness. She was almost 77 years old.  Funeral services were held on July 21, 1941, in the Logan fifth ward; graveside services were held in Bloomington, Idaho, where she was buried beside her husband and five children. ^[178]

Oliver Dunford, Albert’s brother, spoke at her funeral and said,

I have known her all her life. Her parents crossed the plains with handcarts, and they endured all hardships the pioneers had to in those days. After coming to Utah, they finally settled in Hyde Park, Utah, where this good sister was born. Later they moved to Bloomington, Idaho. There she lived and grew up. When a young girl, she met my brother Albert. After an interesting courtship they were finally married. All of their children were born in Bloomington, Idaho. Our families which were both large mingled together a lot. But now both families are scattered over many states. My brother loved her as I have heard him say so many times. They had their trials and sorrows but love was always there to help them through. I remember their baby [Savina] of about three years, was playing with a bottle which broke and pierced the heart, causing the baby to bleed to death in a few hours. This was a terrible trial, one which was hard to overcome. ^[179]

William Peterson, professor at Utah State Agricultural College, said,

I have known this good woman all my life. . . . My memory goes back to the time when I had a tooth pulled. It bothered me a lot.  She knew how I felt and sympathized with me. She always did . . . If this good family can live like their mother, their lives will be enriched through knowing her. I have known both families, the Nelsons and the Dunfords. Good sturdy people all of them. They believed their religion and lived it. ^[180]

Two Bishops spoke at Mary’s funeral. Bishop John Q. Adams remarked that

Sister Dunford grew to womanhood over there in Bloomington. She met her husband Albert Bailey Dunford, Sr., over there. When she came to Logan, she became acquainted with my sister Margaret, and they worked together as cooks for the temple workers.

This was when the temple was being constructed and Albert was one of the builders.

After she was married, she with her good husband came to Logan fifth ward to live. As I was bishop of this ward, I soon became acquainted with this good family, and I have often heard Brother Dunford speak of his pioneer father and how he met his death in Blacksmith Fork Canyon.

 Bishop Newell Daines noted that

this good lady was a member of both fifth and fourth wards.  She lived many years in the fifth and just the last few in the fourth. That is why we have both ward officers on the stand today.  Also the Singing Mothers are from both wards.  Sister Dunford has endeared herself to both wards.  We all love and respect her. ^[181]

“A Tribute of Respect” was read by Sister Margaret Greenwell of the Daughters of the Handcart Pioneers:

Whereas: In the death of daughter Mary M. Dunford the Logan chapter Daughters of the Handcart Pioneers has lost a sturdy and dependable officer and member and our hearts go out in understanding sympathy to her beloved family. And whereas we bow in submission to her passing, knowing full well she is assured of a place in the celestial kingdom of our Heavenly Father. Being born of pioneer parents in the early years of the state, she has come up through many hardships and trials; but her indominitable will to do and overcome have helped her along the rugged paths of life. It was ever her joy to meet with our organiztion and always expressed her love for the members thereof. We will miss her uplifting influence and hearty handshake in our future gatherings.... ^[182]

After the funeral, the procession followed in line through Logan Canyon to Bear Lake. The day was beautiful, hot, and sunshiny “just as Grandmother Dunford wanted it to be.”  At the Bloomington Cemetery friends and relatives waited for their arrival.   “The casket was taken from the hearse and placed over the grave, after which the casket was opened for the Bloomington relatives and friends to view the remains.”  After a prayer Howard H. Broomhead gave a few remarks about Mary.

Sister Dunford had a very cheerful disposition.  She always had a smile and a cheerful word for whomever she met.  . . . I shall always value the acquaintance I have had with Sister Mary Dunford.  I remember an accident of a sweet child.  When playing with a bottle it broke, cutting the child. She died almost instantly bleeding to death. That was a severe shock to the family and community. ^[183]

Then Alfred A. Hart said,

I remember her so well even before her marriage. She was always a comely and pleasant person.  She was loved by her family and everyone. She came from a very fine lineage. Her parents were such grand stalwart sturdy pioneers. Her father served in the bishopric of this town and her mother was a midwife. A midwife in those days seemed like angels in times of mercy. She helped my mother many times as a midwife.

Sister Mary married into a prominent family, the Dunfords. They were my neighbors for many years. . . . They [Albert and Mary] like the rest of us had many trials while here. I remember the passing of a beautiful daughter, which was a great trial for them. Sister Dunford had such intense love for [?] that it ‘twas very hard for her to adjust herself after her passing. But today there will be a great reunion and they will greet her with outstretched arms over there, her husband, sons and daughters who preceeded her in death. ^[184]

Someday we, too, as their descendants may meet Albert and Mary on the other side; and we can thank them for being our ancestors, for working out their salvation faithfully, and for enduring to the end through all the trials and tribulations of their earthly existence.

style='font-size:12.0pt;display:none'> 

ENDNOTES