Thelma Mikesell Winters

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Life

by

Thelma Mikesell Winters

Written to her daughters in December 1987

 

I was born the 5th living child of Jeff and Florence Mikesell - In a little yellow house in Pocatello, Idaho in April of 1934.

My memories of Pocatello were what my mother told me, as we left there when I was 4 years old.  She said Daddy had quite a time getting the doctor to come to the house as he was drunk, and I was delivered without his help.

Ernie (who was 12 years older than me) had to baby sit some as I got older and Mom said he would tie me to a tree and play Marbles with his friends. I was lucky to be born into a large family with older ones to help me - and I expect I was thoroughly spoiled for a while. 

Della Ann was 2 1/2 years older and she played with me. We had lots of tea parties. Once she had gathered the yellow dandelion blooms and put them in a jar with some water. At some later date she gave me some of the juice for a tea party.  (I was a good girl and ate everything she gave me, even the mud pies.)  Well, this time it really backfired, as I became unconscious and my legs wouldn' t hold me up. They called the doctor and he said I had been drugged or was drunk. Finally Della Ann showed them where we had been playing, and the doctor discovered the dandelion wine! 

grandpa Andrew Jackson Mikesell with Thelma and Della Ann

I know now that life was pretty hard for Mom and Dad as I was born in the "big depression" and they already had a family to feed. Daddy had been laid off at the Railroad. (I remember him as a tall, handsome man with thick black curly hair and beautiful blue eyes, and a very deep voice!) 

I didn't realize till I was older that Dad was crippled in his feet and back from the spinal-Meningitis that he had when he was a teen-ager. He told me he went to sleep one night in the late fall, and when he woke up, it was spring. 

Mama was a vivacious red-head with a sparkle in her brown eyes. She said at one time her hair was long enough to sit on when braided, and she wore it wound around her head, but it gave her a headache. So one day she just cut the braid off. When Daddy came home that night he cried over her lost flaming tresses! But she never grew it long again. She was 13 years younger than Daddy and always ready for a good time!  She lost her mother at the age of 15. Mama had taken care of her mother for 2 years before that. Grandma died of Brights disease, a kidney failure. She said the doctor would come and poke needles into her mother to release the fluids from her tissues. 

Florence was the oldest of the family so was delegated to her mother's place at the age of 13 to raise her 6 younger brothers and sisters, cook the meals and care for the home. Her father went off to work and was away for long periods of time. He was also a Bishop in the Mormon Church and had many responsibilities there. 

The year that they had the bad flu epidemic, that killed so many, Mama (as a young girl) went with her father to take care of the ill and mostly to bury the dead. 

Mama had fun times too! She told of riding in the Rodeo with her brother Carlos. And of singing in public, also with Carlos. She loved to go to dances, and I imagine had many admirers. Her fiance was killed in World War I and she later married Jeff, who was from a neighboring family. The day they were married Mama said she ate 19 bananas on the trip home in the wagon. I guess it was the first bananas she had ever eaten.

She often talked of the wonderful time she lived in. She saw the first cars built and drove them, and lived long enough to see Man walk on the Moon. 

When we left Pocatello, Daddy had been ill with walking pneumonia, but the boss said if he'd bump another man off the job at the railroad for 1 day, he could get a pass for the whole family to go to Washington, so that's what we did.

I thought it was wonderful!  We lived in a great big house on Mt. Kit Carson at the foot of Mt. Spokane. There were some very interesting people on the mountain and we walked many miles to visit each other. Daddy worked for $1.00 a day for the W.P.A. and we had no transportation of our own. Being 27 miles from Spokane we had to depend on a neighbor or relative to get groceries and supplies.  We had a nice garden with a strawberry patch and a few chickens in a coop for eggs and fryers.  In the early spring we ate a lot of dandelion greens and pig weed.  Jimmy and our cousin Lynn did a lot of fishing and hunting and that really helped as they brought back lots of game to eat.  My mother's brother Carlos, and my dad's sister Mary (Aunt May) and their families lived on the mountain also.

 

I remember going into Spokane in the back of the pickup with Uncle Carlos and his family.  Aunt Nelly took us to see a Gene Autry show (he was her favorite.)  We got the groceries for both families and on the way home we were hit by a cloudburst.  It rained so hard that kids and groceries almost floated out of the bed of the pickup.  It was like sitting in a bath tub!

 

I was 5 1/2 when Mama said she was going to Spokane to the hospital to get a new baby. I figured she didn't love me anymore, so I put some of my things in a shopping bag and took off for the nearest neighbors. Daddy didn' t come get me for 2 months. That's the last time I ever ran away from home!  I realize now that Mama was very ill, spent 2 months in the hospital before she had Leslie (my younger sister). I never thought then that the sweet little baby Mama brought home would someday write our family history to pass down to my children.

 

We were in the process of moving to Spokane to a small house on the east side. Mom, Ernie and Leslie were already living there and one Sunday (Dec. 7, 1941) Ernie walked all the way back up to our place on the mountain to tell Daddy and the rest of us that we were at war with Japan, as they had bombed Pearl Harbor.

 

 

 

Ernie went into the Army, and later Jimmie went into the Merchant Marines and after that the Army. Mama and Betty worked at Galena making parachutes. Daddy planted a "Victory garden". Everything was "rationed", and times were hard but it was for a good cause because we loved our country and was proud of it. We bought saving bonds, and most homes had stars in the windows for their men in the service. We invited service men from the Army, and Navy bases to stay in our home when on leave.

 

Betty and Della went down to the USO and danced with them. We went. on picnics to Natatorium park with many of them. Betty was a pin up girl. I collected aluminum and rolled it into a ball and helped with Daddy's garden. I remember being in the classroom at school and hearing over the radio that President Roosevelt had died. We all cried, because we loved him. He had been a good president.

 

When the war was over Mama took us to town that night and there was dancing and hugging in the streets. I'll never forget the joy on the faces and I'm glad she let us be a part of it.

 

 

 

As a child growing up, I was sort of a Tom Boy. I didn' t play with dolls but usually had a "Club" of some kind most of the time with me as President. Once, after I had my paper route and earned enough to buy myself a bike, I formed a detective club. Every time we heard a siren blow we would ride to the scene and take notes on all that happened, then report at the next meeting. I rode a lot of miles on that bike!

 

cousins - Louise Dean and Thelma with her bike

 

My folks had left the Mormon church and we were baptized into the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, while we still lived up on Mt. Kit Carson.  I'm really grateful for the church, as it was the center of my life during my growing years, and later when raising my own family.

 

I met Wayne when I went to Harper, Oregon to live with Ernie and his wife Edith for my senior year of high school. He was a handsome cowboy and sang to me - and won my heart. And has become my best friend.

 

 

Our life together has been great!  We have 4 lovely daughters and 7 wonderful grandchildren. We have lived a varied, but exciting life together, and made many friends and memories along the way. The hard times tend to fade in our memory as we reflect back over our 35 years together.

 

 

The last 7 years have gone quickly, as we travel in our Motor Home to where ever inclination takes us.  Sometimes to be with family and friends and sometimes just to be by ourselves, way out on the desert gathering artifacts of a civilization that walked and camped in the same places over 10, 000 years ago.

 

We don't have riches or property to leave to you girls and your families, but we are glad that through Leslie's efforts in putting this project together, we can at least leave you some knowledge of your background and heritage and we take pride in passing it on to you.

 

Winters photo album


"Some Memories", by Wayne Winters


"Spokane's First 1954 Baby"

 

Elizabeth Standley Osborn Benson, part 2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AN ANGEL OF MERCY

My great grandmother

Elizabeth Standley Osborn Benson

7 March 1838 - 4 May 1919

Part 2 of 3

by Leslie Mikesell Wood

Part 2 - Elizabeth marries and marries and marries:

Elizabeth was still 15 years old when she married her 24 year old brother-in-law Thomas Jefferson Osborn. Jefferson, as he was called, was the eldest child of David Osborn, the 2nd, and Cynthia Butler Osborn who had been with the same wagon train west. Cynthia had died on the trip, leaving her husband with young children. Jefferson was married to Ellen, Elizabeth's older sister.  Elizabeth became the second wife in polygamy for the first time.

In trying to understand this marriage it is helpful that Jefferson wrote about his wife Ellen and her health in his journal. "On the 13 of Sep 1857 I was married to Ellen Standley daughter of Alexander Schoby and Philinda Upson Standley. I took my wife back to Missouri, rented a room and we took 4 boarders while I still worked for Sam Frost in the Blacksmith shop.

We burned a coalpit, we had to stay with it night and day. We took turns comeing [coming] home for food. I very foolishly tried to test my wifes bravery accordingl [accordingly] I slipped a wedge out so that I could raise the window and slip into the house unperceived by her. O how can I ever make amends. My naturay [naturally] brave wife fell to the floor in a swoon or fit, it was hours before she regained conciousness [consciousness], she never again was the same merry healthy brave woman. But was ever nervous, sleepless and an invalid. Troubled with Nightmare [nightmares] and constant fear or dread of some unseen intruder. She bore her misfortune uncomplainingly. Was industrious, equinomical [economical], very Religious, loving and obedient. Being a helpmete [helpmate] in its true sense. To her wise council [counsel] I often attribute in a measure my success in after life."

Jefferson had had trouble with his health also. In his journal he tells about his first trouble with his lungs. He had several bouts of trouble with them after this experience, and they were eventually the cause of his death:

"I continued working for Frost comeing [coming] home at intervails [intervals]. Frost moved about 3 miles. He had one old cow that kept running back. I was obliged to go for her on foot, this aggrevated [aggravated] me being of a quick temper so one night I procured a Hickery [hickory] cudgel and taking her by the tail I whipped her severely. I retained my hold and ran all the distance home, the consequence was I had over done. before I got the chores done I took a chill, bled at the lungs and was dangerously sick all the rest of the winter. In the spring I recovered and went to work again."

Keeping in mind Elizabeth's kind, sympathetic heart, at her young age she became a member of the Osborn household, taking on household, childcare and nursing duties that would depress a less loving person.

Ellen and Jefferson had been married the year before leaving Nauvoo for Utah. In his journal he wrote, "I married 14 September 1851, Ellen, daughter of Alexander Standley, left my parents and moved to Belleview and worked in a blacksmith shop six months. June 1st I started for Salt Lake and arrived there 9 September 1852." [dates are different than those stated by Church records and some other accounts of the trip]

"I settled in East Weber and put up a house in October. Our child, Cynthia, was born 25 Oct. 1852. The Indians were troublesome and we had to move into a fort.

24 of January 1854 I was married again, (to Elizabeth Standley, sister to Ellen). December 31st we went to my father-in-law, A. S. Standley's burial. My daughter Cynthia took sick the 5th of February 1855 and died and left us without a child. Lydia, our fourth child was born 3 January 1857."  Two girls had died in infancy before Cynthia's birth. Two children, Sarah and Thomas Jefferson Jr., were born later to Ellen, the first wife.

Elizabeth had married Jefferson in the Endowment House at Salt Lake City.  Rebecca Osborn, born on the 14th of Sept., 1857, and Harriet Esther Osborn, my grandmother, born the 21st of March, 1860,  were the only two children of this couple.

The Utah War, was an armed dispute between the Mormon settlers in Utah and the United States government. The trouble lasted from May 1857 until July 1858. They had no pitched battles and was finally resolved through negotiation. The Mormon troops were called the Nauvoo legion.

Jefferson was appointed a Captain of 50 men in the Nauvoo Legion, 1st Company of the 5th battalion, when the Governor of Utah Territory put Utah under martial law. Jefferson mentioned in his journal: "I took a prisoner for 24 hours". In September 1857 he wrote in his journal: "Today I raised 10 men, armed, mounted on horses and a baggage wagon. They all appeared willing to go and the brethren and sisters are to do their best to fit them out with but two exceptions, Brother Parsons is unwell but would rather go himself and take his boots than to have someone else take them. Willie Mullen told his wife his gun was broke when it was not and when I went to see him he was loading his gun for a fuss with me or any other man that might come to take it to use in defense of our country." Even if they could afford them, they were very hard to get, so they had to share their shoes and guns.

At one time thousands of  Mormon's abandoned Northern Utah communities including Salt Lake City. A few men were left behind to set the homes and fields on fire if the army arrived. The war was stopped by the cold and snow as much as by the Mormon Legion.

Harriet Jane Osborn Davis, Jefferson's little sister wrote about that time period: "Another sore trial of the Saints came when Johnson"s Army was sent to Utah. Able-bodied men and boys over 18 years of age were required to act of soldiers to keep the army from entering the valley. My future husband was one of these boys, although I did not know him at the time. My brother [Jefferson] was called to go, as were many of my relatives. I was nine years of age and helped pound many pounds of dough with which to make soda crackers for our soldiers. The old men who were left at home with the families had to make regular trips with loads of provisions to the men. All winter they camped in the snow and suffered much. In the Spring, President [Brigham] Young made a treaty with Johnson's Army, in which they promised that if they would be allowed to enter the city they would not harm people or property. Brigham Young did not have much faith in the promises of the Army due to past experiences, wherein the Saints had been treated very badly by the government; so he called the Saints together and instructed them to move south to a camp until the danger was over.

When we left we didn't know where we were going. Men were left behind and instructed to set fire to everything, homes and all, if the promises of the Army were not kept. President Young said that this time they were not going to enjoy our homes that we had struggled so hard to get. After we started to move it began to rain. I had to take turns with the others driving the stock. We went to Bountiful the first day and stayed with some friends of Father's, by the name of Bergess." Harriet Jane does not say if Elizabeth and Ellen and their daughters went with her father on this trip, but Jefferson was in the Legion and would not be home to protect his family.

[Sept. 28, 1857] "Lydia is very sick."  [Oct 12] "Lydia is better, there is a great deal of sickness, flucks [flux?] and diarrhea. Mary's child is very sick and J. Wadsworths child is lying at the point of death." Jefferson was worried about Lydia while he was away with his troups but he got home during the 1st part of December.

"I had a letter instructing me to go to G S L city to receive the ordination of a Bishop."  "I was ordained a Bishop to act in East Weber under the hands of Bp. Hunter and Stoker" On the 4th of March 1958, he presided over the wedding of his brother David Osborn to Nancy Thorn, "the first couple I ever married".

Jefferson also mentions the evening they went to a dance and "enjoyed ourselves very well, although it was rather noisy" and that "Rebecca, Elisabeth's child was blessed at our fast meeting" and "the children had a dance and conducted very well but there was some men and boys on the outside of the house that were very troublesome and ill mannerly" He wrote about building a school house and using it for preaching services. The area was still having trouble with the Indians. Two of the Mormon men were killed.

"Dec the first we had as cold weather I think as I ever felt. In Jan [1859], I took a very bad cold and have been unable to cut my own fire wood. On the 7th of Feb., Franklin Standley [Elizabeth and Ellen's oldest brother] died. About the first of March there was a division of the estate by arbitration, there was $713. belonging to Ellen and Elizabeth."

"We have had a long and tedious winter, it is now the 19th of March and snowing and storming very bad, my health is getting better. There is a great many soldier teamsters and some deserters in the country and there is likely to be a great deal of stealing of horses this spring. On the 25th of Dec 1858 Rebecca [Jefferson's sister] was married to Richard Thorn at our house and" [The journal ends here, Jefferson became ill with consumption and died the 9th of June 1861.]

Jefferson's father David Osborn the 2nd wrote in his journal: "Aug. 14th, 1861. About the first of June I heard that Jefferson was sick and wanted to see me. I went down to Weber immediately. He had been quite poorly had taken cold which affected his lungs, which caused him to cough and spit blood considerable, he rested but little at night, but had got better and was able to ride round and see to his stock and other concerns. He had been afflicted with an inward disease of a consumptive character for some years past, but his disposition was such that he would not suffer it to keep him in the house. " "He walked with me over his farm and showed me his young crop which looked very well, also the improvements he was making, also showed me his cattle and horses." 


"I heard no more from Weber till 1 o'clock on Sunday when a messenger came with the intelligence that Jefferson died that morning."  "He had taken a relapse, sent for and got the medical aid of Dr. McIntire, suffered much but died in his rocking chair quite easy." "I now give the case of Ellen his wife. She had given birth to a fine boy a short time previous to his death and became totally deranged in her mind and continued so nearly all the time until Monday morning June 17, when she also departed this life and was buried by the side of her husband and children. We called the child after it's father, Thos. Jefferson." "The death of the infant son of Thos. J. Osborn took place a short time after the death of it's father."

Obituary, Deseret News, 26 June 1861:

"Departed this life at East Weber, June 9th, of consumption, Thomas Jefferson Osborn.

Br. Osborn (the son of David and Cynthia) was born February 20, 1829, in Green county, Indiana; was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints, when nine years old, in Pike county Illinois, from whence he gathered with the Church to Missouri, in company with his father, thence removed to Nauvoo, Illinois, and emigrated to these valleys in 1852. He was appointed Bishop for East Weber Ward in the spring of 1858, in which capacity he was acting at the time of his death, to the general satisfaction of all."

Jefferson was buried near his little children which he had buried.


Michael Standley writes: "About the first of June 1861, Mother [Philinda Upson Standley] was called to Weber for sickness in the family there. In those days the mail was supposed to be tri-weekly, that is, they went over one week and tried to get back the next. Lydia and I were alone and Mother was gone a long time with no word.

When she came home she brought Ellen and her three children with her. The baby had been born soon after Mother had reached there and the husband, Jefferson Osborn, had died a few hours  afterward. All this seemed more than Ellen could stand in her weakened condition. She felt she would not live long and requested Mother to care for her children. She followed her husband in a week or so and the baby went a few months later."

The death of Ellen Standley Osborn was summed up in just one sentence:

Deseret News, 3 July 1861 - "Died: At East Weber, June 9th, 1861, Bishop THOMAS J. OSBORNE, aged 30 years. Also ELLEN, the wife of T. J. Osborne, on the 17th June, aged 28 years."

We can only imagine the work and worry that our Elizabeth had over the illness of her husband while helping her pregnant sister Ellen and doing the majority of the work raising her own and Ellen's children.

After Jefferson's death, his brother David Osborn the 3rd and his wife Nancy, moved to Weber and took charge of Jefferson's farm and property. Wanting to follow Ellen's death-bed request, after much consideration Elizabeth consented to give up little Lydie and Sarah into their grandmother's care.

And so Elizabeth's first marriage was finished. She had two children, Rebecca Adaline Osborn and Harriet Esther Osborn, my grandmother.

 

Elizabeth (Standley) Osborn Osborn Benson and her children

Elizabeth at center; top clockwise: Leonard Osborn,1863-1938 [son of David Osborn III]; Harriet Osborn Mikesell,1860-1926 [daughter of Thos. Jefferson Osborn]; Margaret Benson Hatch,1868-1933 [daughter of Moroni Benson; Linda Benson Atkinson,1876-1952 [daughter of Moroni Benson]; Rebecca Osborn Allen,1857-1908 [daughter of Thos. Jefferson Osborn].  Photo provided by Dorothy and Joe Kennedy.


<back to part 1          go to part 3>

Standley photo album

Osborn photo album

Elizabeth's findagrave.com memorial page

Some free LDS clipart in this article are courtesy of mormonshare.com]

Elizabeth Standley Osborn Benson, part 1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AN ANGEL OF MERCY

My great grandmother

Elizabeth Standley Osborn Benson

7 March 1838 - 4 May 1919

Part 1 of  3

by Leslie Mikesell Wood

 

Part 1 - Elizabeth's early years, her family's life-style as Mormons :

Elizabeth, my great-grandmother, was born on the 7th of March 1838, in Suffield, Portage County, Ohio. She was the sixth child of Alexander Scoby Standley and Philinda Upson Standley. [My aunt, Mary Mikesell Dean, said that "Phi" in Philinda rhymed with "eye".] 

Elizabeth wrote that Alexander Standley was born in New Jersey May 12, 1800 and that his early days were spent fishing near the mouth of rivers that emptied into the sea. At seventeen he moved to the wild Ohio country. Alexander had no opportunity to attend school but through studying on his own, by firelight and on stormy days, from a book called "The Young Man's Companion" which contained the rules for reading, writing, arithmetic and grammar, he eventually was chosen to teach the district school.

There he was elected Justice of the Peace of that precinct. He bought a farm covered with timber, which he cleared. He built a log home and married Philinda Upson on the 19 of March, 1829 in Suffield, Portage County, Ohio They worked hard, economizing and saving what little money came their way. They made a comfortable home, until their life was upset by the death of their first born, Eliza, who was born April 13, 1830 and died May 10, 1830. They began to search for more spiritual meaning to their lives.

Alexander believed the teachings of Jesus in the Bible but could not find a church that he was satisfied with. One day they listened to the teachings of an Elder in the Mormon church and after studying their beliefs they were baptized in 1937. He was ordained an Elder and was appointed to preside over the small branch of new members.

Elizabeth's sister, Lydia Standley Burnham wrote: "My father and mother were baptized in March 1837, and my mother's sister Laura and her husband, Aretus Geer, soon followed. There was a branch of the church organized and according to agreement they combined their efforts to join the main body of the church in [Far West] Missouri. The company consisted of 31 members. They constructed a large wagon with a cover, reaching over the wheels. Everyone walked except the babies, and weakly ones. At night they all managed to sleep in, under, or around the wagon, the cover coming far enough over the wheels to protect those sleeping around the wagon."

With the other members of the church, they were persecuted when they moved to Missouri in the fall of 1938 and were driven from there in February 1839, losing their little girl, Martha, from whooping cough. Everyone in the family developed sore eyes, and baby Elizabeth nearly lost her sight.

Alexander writes about the troubles that he and the church members had: "On the 10th of September, in 1838, we left Portage county, Ohio, for Colwell [Caldwell Co. Mo.], and arrived at Far West on the 23rd of October. There we found our brothers under arms, having been driven from Carrol county and collected from different parts of Colwell [Caldwell] county for mutual defense and safety.

Every house was crowded to the extent that I was unable to find shelter for my family, and having spent almost a week in fruitless search and energy, during which time the brethren having an affray with the mob at Crooked River, and being informed that they were still collecting in large numbers in the south part of the country, I determined to leave my family in the wagon and join my brethren in resisting the mob.

I accordingly marched with a detachment of mounted troups, under the command of Colonel G. M. Hinkle, to Log Creek Timber, where, after remaining a short time, it was ascertained that a large body of the mob had been discovered between us and Far West, whereupon it was determined to attempt a retreat in a circuitous route to town to join our brethren there. This was accomplished in time to be in readiness for the mob.

At their arrival, finding us prepared to receive them, they halted at a distance of about a half a mile, a party was soon dispatched, bearing a white flag to ascertain who they were and to learn their intentions, and on their return we were told that they were troops sent by the Governor for the purpose of restoring peace, and that the officers desired an interview with the principal men of the church.

We were soon after informed that Brother Joseph, with some others, had been treacherously surrendered into their hands and that they were taken as prisoners by the troops who had orders from the Governor to exterminate the whole mormon community. Whereupon we determined to prepare ourselves in the best possible manner for their reception.

We accordingly built a sort of a fortification or breastwork of house logs, wagons, and other such things as we could most easily procure, and held ourselves in readiness for immediate action until the next day, which was Oct. 31st., when terms of peace were agreed upon, by which we were required to sign a deed of trust of our property, real and personal, to a board of commissioners appointed for the purpose.

We were also compelled at the point of the bayonet, to make our acknowledgement to the proper officers that this was our free and voluntary act. We were then allowed the liberty of the town but were not suffered to disperse as they were determined to return as prisoners all who were known to have been engaged in any skirmish or in any way violated the laws of the State, whereby they had become liable to be held to a trial."

    Alexander Scoby Standley 1800-1854 - photo in "Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah", page 346.

Lydia Standley Burnham wrote in 1927: "The Saints settled in a place called Commerce, in Illinois, on the banks of the Mississippi River where they built a nice town, which they called Nauvoo. My father arrived there and built a log house, which he made ready to occupy on May 1, 1840 the day their seventh child was born.

In 1842 he came very nearly losing his life. While trimming a shade tree, a large limb struck him with great force in the breast. He lived thirteen years after that, but never saw a well day. After many months he improved sufficiently to go with the boys and oversee their work which they were obliged to do.

My mother would go out and follow flocks of sheep and gather wool from the fences and card and spin it. She and the girls knit socks, and bought and sold cotton yarn, which she colored with bark and wove into cloth for their dresses."

Alexander was one of Joseph Smith's minute men. Elizabeth often heard the big drum sound and saw him take his old flintlock gun, to make a light as they could get no matches, into the rain, mud and darkness.

Philinda was a member of the first Relief Society organized in Nauvoo by Joseph Smith. They were both among the few who received their endowments in the unfinished Nauvoo Temple. Alexander would gather his little family close in the family circle and taught them the Gospel of faith, obedience, tithing, and the Word of Wisdom, warning them against pride and wicked fashions and other worldly dangers.

He was called to go on a mission but because he was hurt by a falling tree he never went. He was not strong after that but continued donating to help Brother Joseph out of his troubles, and after Joseph was killed, donating to help the Church. Elizabeth said of her father "He was full of sympathy, charity, honesty, integrity, truthfulness, and love." In having to move so much he became an expert in building a log house, of which he built nine.

Lydia Standley Burnham wrote: "In February, 1846, my parents left Nauvoo with Captain George Miller's company to cross the plains, but after the Mormon Battalion was fitted out the Saints were not able to make the trip and Brigham Young sent messengers to the head companies instructing them to select a suitable place to make them-selves comfortable for the winter.

They followed the Platte River for many miles and finally stopped at Punca, on the banks of the Running Water River in Nebraska Territory, Dec 13, 1846. Provisions were very scarce then and quite a number crossed the Missouri River and bought provisions with their watches, or any jewelry in their possession. Their bread was mostly made of corn meal they ground on a hand mill, which was quite coarse.

Soon after leaving Nauvoo they overtook a company under the leadership of James Emmet and decided to unite with them for greater safety from the Indians. On investigation it was found that some families had very little provisions, consequently they put their provisions together and dealt out rations every week. For months at a time they were thus scrimped.

James Emmet told the punca Indians, unknown to the main members of the company, they would unite with them and they would intermarry. In the course of time a bunch of young Indians came to obtain wives and word went round the village that all girls over twelve must either hide or claim to be married, and that offended the Indians greatly. They had to kill a beef and make a feast for them.

In 1847 father went to Pottowattamie County, Iowa, and with the help of his boys put up a log house, ploughed several acres of ground, put in a good garden and a field of corn. He let his only horse team go to help take church records and church property to the Valleys. In 1848 there was a long dry spell and their crops were drying up. In a conference at Kanesville they were promised if they would make a feast for the poor saints the Lord would send rain. A committee was appointed and a time set for the feast. At the close of the conference Apostle George A. Smith prayed for rain and before an hour had passed a heavy rain fell, which saved their corn from drying up."

Ezra T. Benson and George A. Smith were making ready to come to Salt Lake but they lacked one animal of having sufficient teams. Alexander gave his next to the last cow to help them head west to Utah. The Lord blessed him for this. Son Michael Standley writes "With the help of two boys he raised a large crop of corn, and as this was the year before the gold rush to California the price of corn went up enormously. He sold his corn and bought 20 cows and calves, and in a short time had the family well fined with the necessities of life."

Lydia Standley Burnham wrote: "Alexander Schoby Standley divided his property to assist those who were starting to the [Utah] valley in the year 1846 to the amount of $300."

The 1850 [18 Nov. 1950] census finds the family in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Alexander 50, Philinda 30, with their children Franklin 18, born in Ohio; Ellen 16, born in Ohio; Henry 14, born in Ohio; Elizabeth 10 born in Ohio; Sinenia [Cyrene] 8, born in Illinois; Philinda 6, born in Illinois; Sarah 4, born in Illinois; Lydia 2, born in Puncaw Land [Punca Nation Nebraska]; and Michael at 10 months, born in Omahas Land [Council Bluffs]. As for the ages of the family, Philinda would have been 36 and most of the children were older than written by the census taker.

Finally it was time for the Standley family to head for Utah. Michael writes: "In 1852 Father yoked up his cows and young steers, and with them we crossed the plains."  Alexander's LDS Emigration card has: "Stanley, Alexander, and family from Huntsfield Branch 1852. Crossed plains in 3rd Company (Capt. Thos. C. D. Howell) J. H. Dec. 31, 1852, supplement p. 15"

George Burton Standley wrote: "Early in 1852, the Company began making preparations to go to the Great Salt Lake Valley, making yokes and bows for the cattle and training them to travel when hitched together. They fitted up three wagons with three or more yoke of cattle to each wagon and having only one yoke of cattle and three yokes of steers, they had to use several cows. At Council Bluffs, Iowa, a company of 50 families were organized with Joseph Howell as Captain. They started for Utah the first week in May 1852.

Every morning at the call of the bugle, all would make preparations for the day's journey. In the evening after the cattle and sheep had been herded on the grass for hours, they would make a corral of their wagons to shut in the cattle. There were about forty sheep and they had a fold of canvas to protect the sheep at night. While traveling, they would roll the fold up and fasten it to the side of the wagon. The family walked most of the way across the plains with the exception of the two youngest children, who were too small to walk. The four older sisters, the youngest being eight years old, walked all the way and drove sheep and and younger stock. One of the difficulties to contend with was to get the sheep across the streams, for sheep seem to be afraid of water. Then the remainder would follow. Night and morning the cows had to be milked and the milk taken care of, but it added greatly to the food supply."

"After traveling for days, they would choose a place where wood, water, and grass was plentiful and let their teams rest for a day or more. This was the time when the women would do their washing, and bake crackers to eat for lunches. The men would spend their time watching the animals out grazing and making whips and lariats out of rawhide. Occasionally, on moonlight nights a plot of ground was cleared and they would all enjoy a dance for a change. Sunday was observed as a day of rest and worship. While crossing the desert they had to gather buffalo chips for fuel as nothing grew that could be burned. When passing salaratus beds after a rain, it was quite hard to prevent the animals from drinking from the puddles of alkali water which was poisonous to the animals if they drink it."

Lydia Standley Burnham wrote: "We came to Salt Lake in 1852, having three wagons with three yoke of cattle to each wagon. We came to Utah in Joseph Howel's "Fifty" and Captain Whitehead's "Ten".

Mary Mikesell Dean related how when her grandmother Elizabeth Benson came to stay with the Mikesell family, she and Mary would sleep in the same bed. Elizabeth would tell Mary stories about the trip to Utah. Here is some of what Elizabeth told Mary:

Elizabeth was 14 years old when she came west to Utah with her family. She was a school teacher on the trip, teaching the children when they were stopped and when there was time. After they arrived she continued to teach school in her house, a one room school, teaching all grades.

Elizabeth herded her family's sheep coming west with the wagon train. She swam across streams, holding a sheep's leg.

Elizabeth was told to stay close to the wagon but seeing some berry bushes, and being tired of eating the same foods everyday, she took a small bucket and went to pick berries. Suddenly an Indian grabbed her up onto his horse and galloped away. The men of the wagon train quickly came to her rescue and the Indian threw her off the horse, the fall breaking her leg. Elizabeth then had to ride in the wagon.

In the life story of Elizabeth's sister Cyrene, it was written: "During the autumn of 1851 and the winter of 1851-52 the family made preparations for the journey across the plains to Salt Lake Valley.

The father, a far-sighted man of financial ability, traded his horses, oxen, and other property for milk cows and young cattle. The cows were trained to the yoke and on the journey they pulled the wagons and gave milk en-route. However, as the wagons were well loaded and the cows not very strong, those in the company who were strong enough walked most of the way, and the young girl Cyrene was one of these.

On the way the principal food for the family consisted of milk from the teams of cows. These were milked night and morning, and the milk was carried in a wooden churn. At the end of each day's journey the small balls of butter were strained from the milk and the latter used with corn meal mush, which furnished the family supper. The butter was used with "Johnny cake" for breakfast. [The motion of the wagon churned the butter and made the buttermilk] The company arrived in the Salt Lake Valley September 15, 1852."  [Church records state that they arrived December 31, 1852.]

Back left: Sarah Standley Pace, 1844-1924; Cyrene Standley Merrill, 1840-1917; Elizabeth Standley Benson, 1838-1919; Lydia Standley Burnham, 1846-1933.
Front left: Michael Standley, 1849-1934; Philinda Upson Standley, 1814-1892; Alexander Henry Standley, 1836-1912.

Elizabeth wrote: "Father was a believer in - but never practiced - the holy order of plural Marriage. He said to me when I was about to enter into it: "My dear child, this is a glorious principle, if you could only realize the responsibilities you are taking upon yourself and keep in your place, honor, respect and obey your husband, and above all else, regard the feelings of the other wives as you would the apple of your eye. Do as you would be done by under all circumstances; you will as surely gain the highest degree of glory for the daughters of zion." But, O. how often we forget good counsel."

George Burton Standley writes: The company reached Salt Lake City on October 3rd, 1852. There breaking company and camp, my great-grandfather and his company went to East Weber where he made a dug-out. The family wintered there, where the cattle could live by browsing on the underbrush and limbs of the cottonwood trees growing near the Weber River. When winter was over, the family went to Bountiful and settled by a spring near Jordan Island where they spent the first four years in Utah.

Alexander Scoby Standley was a scoolteacher part of the time after arriving in Utah. It was his desire to gather with the Saints, and after arriving in Utah, his health failed fairly fast. He died December 29, 1854, at Bountiful, Davis County, Utah. His wife Philinda Upson Standley lived until January 27, 1892."

Our Pioneer Heritage, Volumn 9: "Although most of the families of the South Bountiful distrct made butter and cheese for their own use, they often bartered some for household necessities. The arrival of the Alexander S. Standley family in 1853 probably marked the beginning commerically of the dairy industry in the district. An island in the bend of the Jordan River furnished excellent pasturage for their twenty-five milk cows. Later, the lake water covered the pasture and the family abandoned their holdings."

Elizabeth wrote: "Two years after we came to Utah, father quietly passed away and was laid to rest New Year's Day, 1855."

Go to part 2 - Elizabeth marries and marries and marries.>

Standley photo album

Osborn photo album

Elizabeth's findagrave.com memorial page

Standley Family

1st married to Jefferson "Jeff" Osborn. After he died she married his brother David Osborn III. After she divorced David she married Maroni Benson. She was known by her family as Grandma Benson. She was a school teacher and later often nursed the sick. Click on "Slideshow" to enlarge.

Andrew Jackson Mikesell's wife was Harriet Osborn. Harriet's mother was Elizabeth Standley. Elizabeth's parents were Alexander Scoby Standley and Philinda Upson Standley.

The "Zoom In" Link has been replaced by the "Slideshow" link. The Slideshow is now where you can zoom in on all photos in the album you're viewing. After you open the Slideshow, use the "Settings" to choose how large you want photos to appear.

My Dad Jeff Mikesell

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Dad



Jefferson Osborn Mikesell 1887-1962

by Leslie Mikesell Wood 2001

I'm going to tell you about my dad as I knew him. I was the youngest of his children and he took care of me while my mother worked. He was one of the early house-husbands. We didn't have a car and so we walked or rode the bus whenever we went anywhere. When I started kindergarten I missed him so much the first day I didn't go back. You can see he spoiled me rotten, which did not go over too well with my siblings. He had been strict with them but mellowed as he got older. Although he sometimes looked gruff and could scare the life out of me with his shout if he saw me doing something wrong, Dad was a very kind family man, who was not well for much of his life. I could not understand why my girlfriends were scared of him.

For many years, when he was not well enough to work, he raised a huge vegetable garden and shared with neighbors. I remember him pulling a red wagon around our neighborhood as a door to door Watkins salesman in Spokane, Washington. The neighbors all knew and liked him and many were regular customers.


We had a dog, Tootsie Sagwell Mikesell, that Dad liked but he could not stand cats. Thelma and I were given a white kitten and we had it until we found another one, this one black. When we returned home one day they were gone. Mom said Dad gave them away. I guess we brought home one kitten too many.

Thelma had a large newspaper route and Dad often helped her. He would take it over when she was sick or off on church youth activities. I think he knew more of the neighbors than anyone.

He used to sing a song to me when I was little. It went "Froggie went a-courtin, he did ride, uh-huh, uh-huh, [repeat] Froggie went a courtin, he did ride, a sword and pistol by his side, uh-huh...uh-huh..." The second verse was about Froggie going to Miss Mousie's door, but I don't remember the rest. He also would put a handkerchief on his fist, like a mini-scarf, used 2 buttons for eyes and magically had a puppet. He had his favorite recliner and in his later life his grandchildren loved to climb up on his lap and slowly rock.
 

Jeff with grandchildren Jeffry, Jan and Debbie

There was a grocery store owned by George Horseman just a double block away from our house. It had nothing to do with their name, just the quality of their meat that made Dad say they sold horse meat and he would only shop at Hanks, the small neighborhood grocery about 8 blocks away. Mom & Dad became great friends with the owners. In those days families would run up a tab and pay at the end of the month. I always tried to go with Dad when he paid the bill because Hank would hand me a free candy bar. Dad didn't mind going after groceries, even though his feet were misshapen and he had to wear special made shoes. He bought them at White Shoe Company where they kept a "last" of his feet. They were very expensive. He could rest his feet before starting home by visiting with Hank and the other neighbors that shopped there.

We walked 6 blocks to our RLDS church every Sunday, and on Wednesday evening for prayer service. I could not stay awake and would fall asleep in church. Even when I was a good size, dad would carry me home and I would wake up in my bed the next morning not remembering how I got there.

Dad usually went along with whatever ideas Mom had. For awhile she decided we would make money by raising hamsters. He built cages and fixed a room in the garage for them. I know now they were a great nuisance to him but he took care of them when Mom and I were away at our church reunion camp. I don't think we made any money, some of the mothers ate their babies and often they would chew their way out of the cages.

When Mom decided to fix up the small upstairs bedroom for me, Dad painted the walls and woodwork and cut the tall headboard down on the bed so it would look more modern. One day he was cleaning his and mom's bedroom ceiling with a clay product, something like play-dough. When I came along he thought he would entertain me by drawing a big smiley-face with the clay. When he tried to get rid of that face, he couldn't. It was still there when we moved away.  Another time he tried to knock down a hornets nest in one of our trees. He couldn't run into the house fast enough and got stung many times.

One Father's Day, when fathers got into the movies free, we got Dad to take mom and me to three different theaters. He probably slept through them. Mom and I loved movies.

Dad was not raised to be too religious even though his was a Mormon family. His mom was the religious one. He seldom if ever swore at our home but when he got with some of his swearing relatives, especially brother-in-law George Aller, he could fit right in with their conversation. He respected Mom and although they could argue at the drop of a hat over any little thing, he never got violent. In fact, what drove Mom wild was that if mad he would not talk, sometimes for days. She was just the opposite, she could blow up but then was soon over it.

Dad felt sympathetic to other salesmen, I remember two of his buys that mom didn't get too mad at. One was a large black Bible with beautiful pictures, of Jesus, in the center. Another was an expensive vacuum cleaner. They used it for many years, and then it came in handy later, when they managed the motel. They bought their grave plots when the cemetery was first being developed.

About 1954 we moved to the "Blue Bird Motel" where Dad helped Mom manage it. He was also the fix-it man there and was always busy. One day he was minding the office when a stranger came in. Dad asked him if he wanted a room. The man laughed and was amazed that Jeff didn't recognize him. It was Jeff's brother Ern whom he hadn't seen in 40 years. I thought that Uncle Ern was just a shorter version of Dad.

   Managers apartment at Blue Bird Motel

When I got into Lewis & Clark high school, I hated it. I used any excuse to stay home. If I played "sick", Dad would let me stay in bed and read, bringing me tea and milk toast, spoiling me again. They were so busy at the motel they didn't pay much attention to my schoolwork and when I was told at school to shape up or ship out, they let me quit school. At the time I badly needed discipline they were too tired and busy making a living to straighten me out. If I hadn't had their early moral training at home I don't know what I would have become. I feel bad now that I didn't realize that Dad was not well and how hard they were both working, at a time when they should have been able to rest.

When his health finally gave out he and Florence moved to a small house in N.W. Spokane. I think they enjoyed that short time alone together in their own home. Dad finally had time to read his western paperbacks and at that time there were lots of cowboy television shows that he enjoyed. He loved to argue about what star was in what western movie. He coughed a lot and lived on cough-drops and Role-aids.


Finally he was so ill that he was admitted to Edgecliff Sanatorium in Spokane. He could have adult visitors but his grandchildren would stand outside and wave where he could see them out of the window. Edgecliff was owned by Washington State for Tuberculosis patients. Jeff had spent time there before, about 1939, when he first came to Spokane. They were very good to him there and never sent a bill. He died of emphysema, contributed to by tuberculosis. Mom and all his children were there except me.  At that time I had a 3 year old and a 6 month old baby. I had been to see him the day before but was not called to be there when he died, a misguided attempt to spare me. I still think of Dad often. * * *


Mikesell family photo album

Jeff's Memorial page on findagrave.com

Jeff's biography, by daughter Betty Mikesell Erlandson

Florence Allen Mikesell's biography

Happy Father's Day!

Here's wishing all you fathers a great

Father's Day!



P.S. I know about good fathers, I had the best!  Leslie

Dean and Allen family

Photo sent by Darlene Allen. Taken at Coeur d'Alene Lake Idaho at family gathering.

The Dean and Allen family visits

The "Zoom In" Link has been replaced by the "Slideshow" link. The Slideshow is now where you can zoom in on all photos in the album you're viewing. After you open the Slideshow, use the "Settings" to choose how large you want photos to appear.