Franklin DH Proctor - Part Three

A young lady by the name Elizabeth Sarah Williams, my Grandmother, went to Great Grandpa Proctor’s home to work and keep house for him and his young children after the death of their mother.  Grandpa met her on one of his trips home.  It was love at first sight and they were married the following 2 May 1900 at Eureka, Juab, Utah.  He was 18 and she was 19.

Grandpa and Grandma returned to Colorado where Daddy was working at Camp Bird at Uray for a short time.

They soon returned to Eureka.  A tiny baby daughter came to gladden their home 26 December 1900.  The tiny baby daughter was named Bessie Vernell Proctor.

  On 22 April 1903 a son, William Thomas was born.

They left Eureka, Utah, as the lead was too much for Grandpa. 

Franklin DH, Elizabeth Sarah, Bessie and Bill Proctor

They made their home in Leland, Utah.  On 15 February 1905, Annie Caroline (Carol) joined the happy home.

They built the brick home on top of the hill, (later sold to Burts) here George Trevor Proctor was born 14 June 1907.

  They sold their little home and built the brick home across the road from Ephie and Carrie Peterson. (Later they sold this home to Earl Davis.) 

On February 1909 Grandpa was baptized at Spanish Fork, Utah, by Uncle John Williams (Grandma Proctor’s brother).  Grandpa and Bessie were baptized the same day.

On 22 October 1910, Mary Atha Proctor was born.

  They sold their home to Earl Davis and bought the Bill Lewis home.  James Franklin Proctor was born here 23 May 1913.

Grandpa and Grandma sold their home, ranch, cows, and all possessions and moved to a lovely home in Groveland, Idaho, a few miles from Blackfoot.  Grandpa’s brother, George, and his family moved to Idaho and settled in Wapello.

A bad year followed their move.  There wasn't a market for any of the crops.  It would cost more to market the crops than to leave them in the ground.  Grandpa was terribly discouraged.  He sold everything at a sacrifice.  He put his family and a few personal belongings in a covered wagon and in November 1914, he headed the team of horses back toward Utah.  It was a cold trip back home.  Grandpa and the boys slept on the ground and Grandma and the girls slept in the wagon.

One cold morning this side of Pocatello, Idaho, Grandpa froze his ears.  A man on a horse stopped at their camp fire to warm himself.  Icicles 5 to 6 inches long were hanging from the horses nostrils.  The entire front of the horse was covered with hoarfrost.  Annie Caroline walked from Inkom to McCammon, Idaho, a distance of 12 miles, to keep warm.

They had a hard time crossing the Malad Divide.  The roads were steep and very slippery.  Bessie, Bill, George and Annie walked beside the wagon.  When the horses would slip and fall to their knees, they would put rocks back of the wheels to keep the wagon from slipping backwards.

They  drove down Washington Avenue in Ogden, Utah, on Thanksgiving Day.  Everyone was dressed up for the occasion.  They wished the chickens wouldn't cackle.  They were riding in a cage which was hanging on the back of the wagon.  (They really were thankful for the chickens.  They kept us in eggs while we were on our trek.)  They arrived in Salt Lake City late Thanksgiving night and stayed at the home of Grandma Proctor’s oldest brother, Uncle George and Aunt Etta's home.  The next day they continued their trip on to Spanish Fork.

Once again the family settled in Spanish Fork, Utah.  They rented a home in the first ward for a short time.  The bought the Brimhall home just west out of the city limits on the Sugar Factory Road.

Alan Proctor was born 26 September 1916.  He gladdened their home for one short day.  He died 27 September 1916.

Grandma always wanted to move back to Leland, back to the friends she loved so dearly.  In 1917 they moved back to Leland and rented the Bowen home.  Ruth Elizabeth Proctor was born 16 November 1918.

  It was a broken hearted home the following 3 December 1918 when their dearly beloved Mother was called to the Great Beyond.  Annie remembers Grandpa putting his arms around them and drawing them near to him.  Under his kind and protecting care they knew he would be a Mother-Father to them.  (This he truly was.)  Their wonderful Mother had completed her mission here on earth.  Grandpa and his seven children must carry on.