History: David William Rowley

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The winter we were living on the Merrill place I hitched up the iron gray team. Burt and Duke, and hauled a load of wood. Francis had come over and he was helping me unload the wood. I was working just behind Duke’s single tree when I felt a brush on both sides of me and I ask Francis, “did Duke kick at me?” He said, “He sure did and a foot went on each side of you as slick as a whistle,” and he had a good laugh.

My wife’s relatives lived with us for quite a while, especially her younger sister, Melva and her brother Harold. Her dad was with us for a while, too.

While living on this same place I got up one Sunday morning, it must have been in January or February and the day seemed so sunny and warm that I decided to air out the potato cellar. We had been in Church for a while when I looked out of the window and saw they were frosting up. It was getting cold and I saw a blizzard coming. I left church and hurried home. I shut the doors and put some heat down there. If I had been much longer everything in the cellar would have been frozen. This is an example of how quickly the weather changed in Montana. Some times in the winter it could be really cold when you went to bed and when you got up a Chinook wind would have melted almost all of the snow.

Francis had been living on the Leo Morgan place, but because of this terrible depression he couldn’t make payments so the bank decided to foreclose. They took back the place and sold everything Francis had; and because I had signed with him, they took everything I had too. I asked the bank to sell things on time because people didn’t have money. If they could have had easy payments people would have paid more for out things.

Between Francis and I, we had at least $10,000 in stock and cattle besides the place. They sold out the whole thing for $1,006. A flock of sheep sold for $2.00 a head; big short horned cattle sold for around $15.00 each; a very good four section harrow and a completely overhauled hay stacker (it cost $52.00 just to overhaul it) sold for $6.00 apiece. Then they wanted us to pay the balance of $4,000. We couldn’t, so they sold the note to a Mr. Harbolt in Chinook. About two years later he sold it to Francis and me for $200 cash. We paid it, not because we thought we owed it, but just because we wanted to clear our names.

Franklin D. Roosevelt had been elected President and he started doing things to help the people get back on their feet, such as the NRA (National Recovery Service) and the PWA (Public Works Administration). I went to work for the NRA with a four horse team building reservoirs. The money I earned saved us from starving and going without clothing. The full account of this experience is to be found in the history in the history of Lillian Alcorn Rowley’s life.

Well, after losing all we had in the Leo Morgan episode, we moved back on the farm with the folks. We were better off because I was working on the NRA nine days a month, the rest of the time I could help Dad, trap and such. I was paid $11, a day and I must say that was the biggest money I ever saw I was most grateful for it and it seems like we made it go a long ways.

To be continued…

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How Are You Related To Me?

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Maternal Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather: Nicholas Paul – 732
Nicholas 732 – Nicholas 408 – Jane 198 – Hugh Thompson 85 – David William 30 – Grace Harriet 10 – Lillian Lorraine 3 – Kellie Jeanette 1

Maternal Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother: Ann Heath – 733
Ann 733 – Nicholas 408 – Jane 198 – Hugh Thompson 85 – David William 30 – Grace Harriet 10 – Lillian Lorraine 3 – Kellie Jeanette 1

Maternal Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather: Nicholas Paul – 408
Nicholas 408 – Jane 198 – Hugh Thompson 85 – David William 30 – Grace Harriet 10 – Lillian Lorraine 3 – Kellie Jeanette 1

Maternal Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Aunt: Harriet Paul – 734
Harriet 734 + Nicholas 732 – Nicholas 408 – Jane 198 – Hugh Thompson 85 – David William 30 – Grace Harriet 10 – Lillian Lorraine 3 – Kellie Jeanette 1

Maternal Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Aunt:  Elizabeth Jane Paul – 735
Elizabeth Jane 735 + Nicholas 732 – Nicholas 408 – Jane 198 – Hugh Thompson 85 – David William 30 – Grace Harriet 10 – Lillian Lorraine 3 – Kellie Jeanette 1

Maternal Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Uncle:  James Heath Paul – 736
James Heath 736 + Nicholas 732 – Nicholas 408 – Jane 198 – Hugh Thompson 85 – David William 30 – Grace Harriet 10 – Lillian Lorraine 3 – Kellie Jeanette 1

Maternal Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Aunt:  Mary Ann Paul – 737
Mary Ann 737 + Nicholas 732 – Nicholas 408 – Jane 198 – Hugh Thompson 85 – David William 30 – Grace Harriet 10 – Lillian Lorraine 3 – Kellie Jeanette 1

Maternal Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Uncle: John Paul – 738
John 738 + Nicholas 732 – Nicholas 408 – Jane 198 – Hugh Thompson 85 – David William 30 – Grace Harriet 10 – Lillian Lorraine 3 – Kellie Jeanette 1

Maternal Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Uncle: Richard Paul – 739
Richard 739 + Nicholas 732 – Nicholas 408 – Jane 198 – Hugh Thompson 85 – David William 30 – Grace Harriet 10 – Lillian Lorraine 3 – Kellie Jeanette 1

Maternal Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Uncle: George Paul – 740
George 740 + Nicholas 732 – Nicholas 408 – Jane 198 – Hugh Thompson 85 – David William 30 – Grace Harriet 10 – Lillian Lorraine 3 – Kellie Jeanette 1

Maternal Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Aunt:  Emma Paul – 741
Emma 741 + Nicholas 732 – Nicholas 408 – Jane 198 – Hugh Thompson 85 – David William 30 – Grace Harriet 10 – Lillian Lorraine 3 – Kellie Jeanette 1

Maternal Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Aunt: Charlotte Louise Paul – 742
Charlotte Louise 742 + Nicholas 732 – Nicholas 408 – Jane 198 – Hugh Thompson 85 – David William 30 – Grace Harriet 10 – Lillian Lorraine 3 – Kellie Jeanette 1

+: Parent
-: Child
=: Spouse

This Day In Our Family History

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1676

John Packer was christened in Cambridge, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom

1816

John Phipps Brand was born in Soham, Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom to Abraham Brand and Ann Phipps. He was the 2nd of 11 children, and the 1st of 6 sons, born to the couple

1858

Elsa Nelson was born in Efverod, Kristensad, Sweden to Niels Nelson and Anna Anderson. She was the 3rd of 5 children, and the 1st of 3 daughters, born to the couple

1872

Mary Elizabeth Harper was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

1907

Marie Lunt died in Beazer, Cardston, Alberta, Canada

1924

John Gibbons was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

1941

Alice, William and Agnes Sayre were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

History: David William Rowley

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That winter Wren Stoddard and I hauled coal from the Hebbleman mine about 10 miles from where we lived. We usually left home before daylight and would get back about noon. Then we would take the coal into town, unload it, collect our money for it and get back home in time to do chores. One morning when we left for the coal they were shining brightly and the sky was real clear. We got to the mine, which was down in a canyon and loaded up our coal. It was probably between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. our wagon boxes were on runners. We looked up to the rim of the canyon and could see snow starting to blow. By the time we got to the top and started home it had become a blizzard and kept getting worse. We couldn’t see a thing in front of us. We couldn’t depend on the horses finding the way either, because they didn’t want to face the wind and kept circling around trying to get their backs to the wind. Soon we were hopelessly lost. We walked beside our horses to keep them from freezing. A long in the afternoon we came upon some old buildings we knew. We stopped and rubbed the frost out of each other’s faces after we managed to locate the road and get going again. It didn’t take long and we were lost once more. Just before sundown, it started to clear off and we were able to find our way home. We were both badly frostbitten. It was quite a while before I could shave. This was another one of the many times my life has been spared.

The next summer another baby was born to us. This time I was the father of a son, born 27 August 1929. We named him David Alcorn Rowley.

I was still helping my father and raising a big garden for ourselves, but I was having a hard time to provide the things that my family needed.

In the spring of 1930 I rented the Victor Bottomly place. It was straight north of the highway about a mile from Dad’s. it wasn’t a very good place, but at least we were by ourselves. We had a few cows, chickens, pigs, horses and some machinery. I never was afraid of hard work and much of the time it was before daylight when I started and I wouldn’t get out of the fields until after dark.

We talked of going to the temple to be sealed many times. In the latter part of the year of 1930 we went to the Cardston, Alberta Temple in Canada there we were sealed for time and all eternity and Grace and David were sealed to us. It was on the 24th of September 1930. Lillian and I both got our Patriarchal Blessings at this time also under the hand of Patriarch John F. Anderson. I have treasured that blessing almost more than anything I have. It has been a great comfort and guide to me. The trip was a vacation for us and we enjoyed it very much.

Part of our beets were frozen in the ground that winter and we lost most of our horses because they got into some garbage and ate some poisoned oats.

We moved onto the Merrill place across the road from the Milk River. During that 1931-1932 depression year we sold our beets and hay for $4.00 a ton, wheat for $0.08 a bushel and everything else in proportion.

To be continued…

How Are You Related To Me?

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Maternal Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather: Hugh Thompson – 729
Hugh 729 – Mary Ann 399 – John Thompson 197 – Hugh Thompson 85 – David William 30 – Grace Harriet 10 – Lillian Lorraine 3 – Kellie Jeanette 1

Maternal Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother: Mary Ann O’Brian – 730
Mary Ann 730 – Mary Ann 399 – John Thompson 197 – Hugh Thompson 85 – David William 30 – Grace Harriet 10 – Lillian Lorraine 3 – Kellie Jeanette 1

Maternal Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Aunt: Elizabeth Thompson – 731
Elizabeth 731 + Hugh 729 – Mary Ann 399 – John Thompson 197 – Hugh Thompson 85 – David William 30 – Grace Harriet 10 – Lillian Lorraine 3 – Kellie Jeanette 1

Maternal Great-Great-Great-Great–Grandmother: Mary Ann Thompson – 399
Mary Ann 399 – John Thompson 197 – Hugh Thompson 85 – David William 30 – Grace Harriet 10 – Lillian Lorraine 3 – Kellie Jeanette 1

+: Parent
-: Child
=: Spouse

This Day In Our Family History

LoonyLuntsLeave a comment

1567

Alice Squire died

1710

Ebenezer Mansfield and Hannah Bassett were married

1811

John Sperry was born in East Bloomfield, Ontario, New York, United States to Joy Sperry and Mary Lamont. He was the 1st of 9 children, and the 1st of 5 sons, born to the couple

1824

William Lamont Sperry was born in Loudonville, Ashland, Ohio, United States to Joy Sperry  and Mary Lamont. He was the 6th of 9 children, and the 2nd of 5 sons born to the couple

1853

Maria Amelia Gardner was born in Preston, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom to John Gardner and Martha Dunlop

1896

Della Grace was born in Nephi, Juab, Utah, United States to Charles Howard Grace and Elizabeth Ann Lunt. She was the 3rd of 6 children, and the 2nd of 3 daughters, born to the couple

1933

Nathan Sperry completed his endowment for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

1950

Abraham Lee Harper died in American Fork, Utah, Utah, United States

2004

John Elmer Howard died in San Diego, San Diego, California, United States

2017

Darlene Lunt Holman died in Placentia, Orange, California, United States

Happy Birthday!

Calvin Marc Lunt

History: David William Rowley

LoonyLuntsLeave a comment

I continued to see Lillian for a while, then went back to Taylor Butler’s. I could have continued to work for them, but it seemed like the folks always needed my help so I came home to help harvest their crop of grain, beets, hay, etc.

Lillian and I continued to go together through the winter and spring and then we decided to get married. We just took off, taking her father and my father with us. We went in Alcorn’s car and we were married by the President of the Chinook Branch, Wallace B. Peterson on 14 July 1927. We backed out of the building so that if anyone asked us about getting married we could tell them we “backed out” of it.

We came back to Harlem in a heavy rain storm and went to a Church party in the Harlem branch that night. No one knew we were married. Lillian sang some songs at the party, she had a very good singing voice. She used to entertain a lot at the Branch activities with her singing.

Lillian’s dad had given her 100 nice laying hens which I had to put in with dad’s chickens and we had to move in with my folks for a while because there was no other place to live. I hadn’t been able to save any money. The spring before Dad had bought the old Everett place near the Albert Johnson place. There were no buildings on it so we built a small house of cottonwood poles. This is where we all lived together for a while. There was Dad and Mother, Francis and Erma and Lillian and I all living together in the same house.

On the 7th of August 1927 I was ordained an Elder by James G. Allred.

Lillian and I were pretty excited that winter because we were expecting our very first baby. We wanted to get a place by ourselves, so when a friend, Wren Stoddard, told me that the bank wanted to sell the Leo Morgan place, he and I went up to look it over. It was a good place.

That night I had a dream that Leo Morgan and I had a wrestling match. I had been doing some wrestling and boxing and was pretty good at it. In my dream I could throw him awful hard, but he would get straightened up and reach out his long arms and get a hold of me and I couldn’t get away from him no matter how hard I tried. I just could not get out of his reach. I told Lillian about the dream and we figured it was a warning from the Lord. I went over and told the folks and Francis said if I wasn’t going to buy the place he would. It turned out that he couldn’t get the place unless I cosigned with him. To help a brother I did it against my better judgment and the Lord’s warning.

Since we didn’t get a place for ourselves, I moved two labor shacks from the Alcorn place over to Dad’s and fixed them up for a place for Lillian and myself. That was where Grace and David were born. We continued to stay on at Dad’s place in the house I fixed up for us and that fall on 20 September 1928, a sweet little girl was born to us and we named her Grace Harriet after her two grandmothers.

Grace was a tiny little baby, but we loved her so much and were so grateful for her safe arrival.

In the fall of 1928 my sister, Verda, was called on a mission. She came home in September in 1930. She enjoyed it very much.

To be continued