Agnes Ann Morgan-Life Story

Agnes Ann Morgan

1831-1915

     Agnes Ann Morgan is sort of a double relative.  She was the daughter of Daniel Morgan and Agnes Beveridge, who are my 3rd Great Grandparents.  She married Edward Banks Neilson who is the son Edward Neilson and Catherine Banks who are also my 3rd Great Grandparents.  Edward's sister, my 2nd Great Grandmother,Martha Matilda McGill Neilson married Agnes brother, my 2nd Great Grandfather, William Morgan.  Now that probably has everyone totally confused but they were not related, they just married a brother and sister from the same family.

     Agnes was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, to a hard working coal miners family.  Life was not easy for her.  She was always thrifty, a trait she learned through suffering hunger and pain.  When she was just a young girl she had to work in the coal mines.  She used to have to go to work holding her empty stomach with both hands.

     The story is told of another time during her youth when a link of chain fell on her back penetrating her body and coming out through one of her breasts.  She lay as though she were dead.  The family prepared her body for burial, thinking she was dead.  There were no undertakers to embalm her or any doctor to render aid or sign a death certificate, so the family dressed her in her burial clothes.  They placed her on a slab in a quiet room planning on burying her the next day.

     One of the member of her family went into the room to say her last goodbye.  As she stood there by Agnes, she thought she saw Agnes' body tremor.  Then she saw an eyelash quiver.  She ran from the room to summon aid for Agnes.  When the rest of the family returned to the room, sure enough, Agnes was alive!  For days she hovered between life and death.  Slowly but surely, the chain link passed through her body and came out the right breast.  Those two scars she carried with her all the rest of her life.

     She married Edward Banks Nelson in Dunferline, Scotland, 6 March 1849.  Edward was already a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Agnes was baptized into the Church just a few days after their marriage. 

     According to her granddaughter, Stella Ruby Foster, Agnes was "gentle, meek, mild and a very loveable person.  She was thrifty to the point of being stingy.  Every inch of her, every hair in her head was SCOTCH.  It grew out of poverty and deprivation of a life time."

     Again taken from this granddaughter's account: "She was a kind loving mother and wife.  Very industrious.  No one in all the family had a lazy bone in their body.  Many lovely quilts were the product of her time and energy.  She had many proverbs she liked to quote. 'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.'

'A woman can throw more out the window with a spoon than a man can shovel in with a shovel.' 'Pride goeth before the fall.'  She was very superstitious.  'Never walk under a ladder.' 'A baby under a year old must never look in a looking glass.' 'Look at a new moon over your right shoulder.' "  I heard my own Mother say these very same things.  Maybe it was the Scottish coming out in her too.

     Agnes was a midwife in Utah and delivered many babies.  She was honest hard-working, and obeyed the commandments.  Agnes lived several years after her husband.  She died 16 March 1915 in Garfield, Sierra, New Mexico.

Agnes Ann Morgan

Family History

     The past three years have been such a blessing in my life.  I have always been interested in family history and have done it off and on for many years.  More vigorous at times than at others but always dabbling in it.  Then after our mission to Micronesia Guam, we worked in the Idaho Falls Temple for 3 years and then decided to do a service mission at the BYU-Idaho Family History Center.  That was three years ago and we just keep extending our mission because we love it so much.  We have learned a great deal and have worked extensively on our own lines.
     We now have a couple of daughters and a grandson who are totally addicted to family history.  It has been such a joy and blessing to work with them.  They are pretty faithful in coming to the center when we are there.  The Temple has taken on a whole new perspective too.  We cannot miss our weekly visit to the Temple.  Between all of us we have literally found hundreds of names.  It is awesome.
     I remember when I was in 8th grade, we had to learn a poem and recite it to the class.  I chose a poem on family history.  That's how much I have always loved it.  I thought I would take the opportunity to share that poem for this week's blog entry.  Hope you enjoy it too.  I have no idea who the author is.

My Dream

I dreamed my Father called me home across the great divide.

I was very much bewildered.  I thought surely I had died.

Saint Peter met me at the gate.  He said, "Come follow me."

"There's something I must show you; something you must see."

Then I saw rows of people standing in a line.

When I looked them over, I found they were relatives of mine.

Some among the massive crowd I remembered well;

Some lived long years before I came on earth to dwell.

There were my great grandparents, whom I was pleased to see,

But when I walked toward them, they turned away from me.

Then I saw my cousins, my Uncles and my Aunts,

They said to me accusingly, "We didn't have a chance.

To do the work that must be done to start us on our way;

To gain for us Eternal Life, so here we have to stay."

My Father and my Mother, too, were standing far apart.

They looked so disappointed it made the tear drops start.

I turned and saw my Savior, on His face there was a frown.

"I died upon the cross for them and now you've let them down.

Behold your noble ancestors waiting for the day,

When you would open up the gates and help them on their way."

My heart was very heavy as I looked these people o'er.

The blinding tears ran down my face.  I turned to Him once more.

"Please, Blessed Savior, send me back.  I'll make another try.

I'll do the work for all my kin.  I'm not prepared to die.

I will not miss a single one.  I'm so ashamed Dear Lord.

I'll try to do each ordinance according to Thy word."

Then I awoke, the dream was gone.  I had not passed away;

But I made a resolution to start that very day.

Baptisms, Endowments, Sealing.  I found there were not a few.

The more I seared and searched the more I found to do.

But I will keep on hunting and searching all the while.

The next time I meet my ancestors, I'll meet them with a smile.

Homes of My Ancestors Part Two

     Last week I posted pictures of my Cook line and so this week I want to spotlight my Proctor line.  Once again I want to reiterate just how much these wonderful people have done for me and all of their posterity.  I love them all so very much and am so grateful for the sacrifices they made in my behalf.  I am who I am because of them.  It will be awesome to someday meet them again and express my love and appreciation to them.  Thanks to all my ancestors.

George Kidd and Annie (Ludlow) Proctor

These are the parents that raised my Mother, Ruth Elizabeth.

George Kidd and Annie Proctor

A view of the street Mother lived on.  She is running away with Aunt Rozella's lollipop.

The Proctor Family in Malta, Montana 1926

Grandma Proctor, Ethel, (Max or Woody) Grandpa Proctor

Inez, my Mother Ruth, Rozella

Grandpa Proctor, Mother, Grandma Proctor, Rozella, Ethel and Inez

Home in Tooele, Utah

Grandpa and Grandma instead home in Tooele, Utah on their 50th Wedding Anniversay

Franklin DH, George Kidd Jr and George Kidd Sr Proctor in Eureka, Juab, Utah

Uncle John and Aunt Effie Williams with Annie Caroline Proctor

at the Williams homestead in Lake Shore, Utah.

Homes of My Ancestors Part One

     In doing my family history, I have come to realize just how very very blessed I am and how very thankful I am for those ancestors who have paved the way for me to have the great blessings that I enjoy and so often take for granted.  I am come to appreciate their great sacrifices for me.  They gave so much so that I could have so much.  Sometimes I feel guilty for all that I have when they had so little.  Anyway, I thought I would post some pictures of some of the homes that my ancestors lived in. Some I have visited and some I have not.  It is fun to reminisce about these people and places. Hope you enjoy!

Grandpa and Grandma Cook

James Edward and Christina Magdalena Buchmiller Cook

Of course this was taken along after anyone live in it.  Below are some pictures of what it looked like back when they were living in it.

Grandpa Cook holding my brother Franklin.

My mother, Ruth with my brother, Franklin

My brothers, Franklin and Theron 

Franklin and Theron again.

My Dad, Cleo taking a picture of someone or thing.

My sister, Joyce, Mother, and Franklin

Franklin, Theron and Joyce

A modern day picture of the home of my Grandpa James  and Grandma Lena Cook in Grant, Idaho on the Lewisville Highway.  The lived here with several children.  

My Dad and Mom

Cleo Earl and Ruth Elizabeth Proctor Cook

Dad and Mom in Roberts

Wayne Rottweier, Theron Cook, Dean Rottweier, Franklin Cook in Roberts

Franklin and Theron in Roberts

Theron and Franklin in Roberts.  

Mother, Franklin, Theron, Joyce and me Lois at our home in Rigby, Idaho.

Me on Old Pal at our home in Rigby, Idaho

Dad at our home in Menan, Idaho

Dad in Menan

Lena Beyeler with Theron and Cindy Cook at the home in Menan, Idaho

Karl Heinrich Buchmiller and Christine Gertrude Walz

    Grandpa and Grandma Buchmiller actually lived in a dugout in the side of the canal in Rexburg, Idaho.  After Grandfather Buchmiller passed away, Grandma Buchmiller married Fiedrich Ludwig Klingler.  They built this home 376 West 4th South.  Now it is used for BYU-Idaho student housing. It must have been quite the lovely home when they built it and lived there.  It is just around the corner from where the dugout home was locate.

George Trevor Proctor

George Trevor Proctor

1907-1981

     George Trevor Proctor was born 14 June 1907 in Leland, Utah to Franklin DH Proctor and Elizabeth Sarah Williams. 

Birth Certificate

I really don't know a lot about Uncle George but I will write what I know and what the facts say are so.  Uncle George lived most of his life in Utah so I am not sure but think he must have been visiting his sister and brother-in-law Atha and Opal Staker who lived in Robert, Idaho, when he met and married Louella Poulson.  They were married 15 June 1932 in Roberts, Idaho.  To this union was born 2 children Afton Ann Proctor 31 Jan 1933 and David Trevor Proctor 19 May 1936.

      Uncle George and Louella's marriage wasn't to last.  Shortly before or after David was born they were divorced.  The 1940 census shows Louella and the 2 children living with her parents in Pocatello.  This record states that they were living at the same place in 1935.  So I am not sure just when the divorce took place.

      Uncle George was inducted into the army 5 June 1942 at Fort Douglas, Utah.  His enlistment was for the duration of the war plus 6 months.  I don't know if he ever saw any action or just how much this affected his life. 

     He married Lydia Elizabeth Staker 22 July 1945 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Lydia Elizabeth Staker Proctor

I only ever knew of Uncle George and Aunt Libby as she was called.  They never had any children but were a super great Uncle and Aunt to me.  When my family lived in Lovelle, Wyoming, Uncle George and Aunt Libby lived in a trailer house right next to the basement I lived in with my family. 

Joyce and Lois Cook 

Uncle George and Aunt Libby's trailer in the background

So we saw a lot of them.  Dad and Uncle George were working on the high power lines there in Wyoming.  I remember that we would go to Yellowstone National Park nearly every weekend and camp there with them.

     I remember him as always being happy and good natured.  He was quite a tease and was always a barrel of fun to be around.  There was never a dull moment when Uncle George was there.  I loved him and Aunt Libby and enjoyed being around them.

    This entry was taken from a booklet that was published for the reunion of the Spanish Fork Class of 1925.  It appears that the reunion was held in 1970 with the sketches from the class members being gathered the prior year:

     George Proctor-2400 South 4th East, Salt Lake City, Utah - Spouse: Luella Polson (Div); Lydia Elizabeth Staker.  "I have had a very good life.  I have lived in Salt Lake most of my life.  I work on construction (electrical) and at present working as a maintenance man for Utah Power.  I travel around a lot and work where I am needed.  I have been married twice and have had two good companions.  At present I am in Idaho doing work on a pole line."

Ruth, Atha, George, and Annie Carol Proctor

Bill, Annie Carol, George, Atha, and Ruth Proctor

     Uncle George died 3 March 1981in Salt Lake City, Utah at the age of 73.  He is buried in the West Valley City Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah.

     Aunt Libby lived to the ripe old age of 100.  She was born 2 March 1904 in Sunnyside, Utah and died 23 August 2004 in Bountiful, Utah.  She is buried next to Uncle George in the West Valley City Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Elwood and Jennie Proctor-Obituaries

Elwood Leslie Proctor

     When I blogged last week about Uncle Woody and Aunt Jennie, I inadvertently left off their obituaries that appeared in the newspapers.  I really wanted these to be in the blog and so I am adding them this week.  

     

Elwood Leslie Proctor

Elwood Leslie Proctor

1904-1955

     Elwood Leslie Proctor was born to George Kidd and Annie (Ludlow) Proctor 8 January 1904, in Benjamin, Utah.

Elwood Leslie Proctor

     He lived in Aberdeen, Idaho and then moved with his family to Tooele, Utah where he spent the remainder of his days.  He was a miner and a fireman.  Friends and family all called him Woody.

     He married Jennie Vera Searle on 18 August 1924 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

     To this union three children were born: DaLane, George Lyman, and Sue. 

Jennie and DaLane

     Woody died 24 December 1955 of silicosis a condition caused by inhaling too much silica over a long period of time.  Silica is found in sand and rocks such as granite.  His death was undoubtedly caused from working in the mines for so long.

     Aunt Jennie was born 29 August 1906 in Midvale, Utah, to Asa Lyman and Ursula Catherine (Snyder) Searle.  She passed away 8 November 1988 in Boise, Idaho.  Both Uncle Woody and Aunt Jennie are buried in the Tooele City Cemetery in Tooele, Utah.

Elwood Leslie Proctor

Jennie Vera Searle Proctor

     My Uncle Walt Formo wrote a tribute to Uncle Woody that follows:

     "Woody bought a beautiful brick home on East Street in Tooele, Utah.  Since his front lawn was higher than his neighbors, he built a rock retaining wall, with the aid of Al Peterson, that is beautiful.  Alongside of it, he planted the most beautiful rose bushes which are still there.  In back he had a lovely patio and fish pond with lots of flowering shrubs and roses.  He called his back yard 'a little bit of heaven.'  Dowstairs he had his den where he kept his sporting equipment and had his office.  He bought his daughter, DaLane (Doug), a baby grand piano and she became very skilled in music.  Later his younger daughter, Sue, also studied music.  He loved his family dearly and was very close to them.  His only son, George Lyman Proctor was born in 1931 but passed away shortly after birth.  My son Bill says Elwood used to pick him up and drive down to Hank and Evans Confectionary and let him buy penny candy and then take him back home.  I often visit his resting place and all the families'.  To me he was a beautiful person who I feel honored to have known and worked with.  Yes to me he was a legion."

Elwood Leslie Proctor

Elwood Leslie Proctor (They had photo bombers then too)

Dan and Inez (Proctor0 Whitehouse, Jennie (Searle) Proctor, Dorothy (Blackstone) Proctor, DaLane and Sue Proctor