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Laura Ann Hardy Mecham

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Laura Ann Hardy Mecham

(1865–1933)

Laura Ann Hardy Mecham, the fourth child of ten children born to Josiah Guile Hardy and his second wife, Ann Denston, was born November 26, 1865 in Mountain Dell Salt Lake County, Utah.

She married February 13, 1881, to G.O. Noble, to whom was born a daughter, Laura Maude. Due to the severe persecution of polygamous families, he chose to abandon Laura, his second wife.  The divorce became effective in 1889.  Then she married Lucian Mormon Mecham in the St. George Temple.  The daughter Maude died at the age of two years and was buried in St. George.

At this period of time many people from Utah were looking south for new fields to colonize as well as for freedom from religious persecution. The Josiah Guile Hardy family joined the stream of pioneers looking to Mexico and new opportunities. Lucian and Lara joined with them and, in 1891, traveling by team and wagon across Arizona and into New Mexico, crossing at Columbus into the land to be their new home. Colonia Pacheco was the birthplace of their last three children. Their first child was born in St. George and, as an infant, endured the difficult trip.

Pioneer life was hard and privations many. Lucian found farming the small acreage in this remote mountainous settlement very difficult with his handicap from birth of club feet, and especially following a freighting accident where his feet were crushed and bones broken. As a couple, they resorted to itinerant merchandising from colony to colony, selling books and dry goods that the colonists could purchase or barter for. This brought but a meager income. Then they tried operating a restaurant in Chihuahua City as a source of income.

Many are the loads of lumber freighted down the San Diego dugway, with Laura accompanying Lucian to help him with his handicap. He was as handy as any of the other freighters in hitching and managing the teams. Her hand was apt around the campfire and with the nosebags and harnesses.  Many children and adults alike delighted at Christmas time to find a new pair of buckskin gloves in their stocking which had been made by Laura’s talented and never tiring fingers. Her children more beautiful homemade dresses, suits and other peril as a result of her talent and ambition.

Finding living difficult and means scarce, Lucian and Laura heard of opportunities for freighting from Cananea to Naco in Sonora, so they, along with others from both the Sonora and Chihuahua colonies, headed that way. Living in tents and freighting with six horse teams and heavy wagons was not an easy life. During all those ventures away from home the children—Theodosia, Lucian, and two adopted children Pearl and Edgar Hallett—were left in Grandmother Hardy’s care.  As a dutiful daughter Laura had assumed much of the responsibility for her mother’s care, along with that of her feeble-minded sister, Mary, her father having passed away in Colonia Pacheco in 1894, three years after their arrival.

After being in Pacheco short time after the Cananea venture they headed for Cos station in Sonora which is halfway between Agua Prieta and Nacozari. Here they freighted between the end of the railroad and Nacozari, carrying merchandise to Nacozari and copper ore on the haul back. This continued until the completion of the railroad when they moved to Nacozari. The money spirit was high and prospecting was tempting, so a claim was taken up in the mine of the Pilares.  This was worked for some time and developed for sale. A fine prospect for a lucrative sale was promoted for $50,000 pesos (the peso was then worth $.50 to the dollar). But the idea of making the terms in American money and doubling the price upset the deal and the sale fell through. The property was never sold. All the labor, time and expense was lost. At that time $50,000 pesos would have been worth a fortune, like $1 million a day. Dame Luck never followed their path.

Lucian turned a stagecoach venture and build up a promising trade and a lucrative stage system, driving a four and six force “Royal Coach” from Nocozari to Moctezuma, adding other stages when needed with higher drivers. This ended in disaster when the many horses use in the stage system were to have been sold and delivered; but through the negligence of the person sent to deliver them, becoming drunk, some of the horses foundered and died and others were turned out of the corral and became lost. The financial loss was heavy.

The greatest event in Laura Mecham’s life came at this critical time when she was asked by a Doctor Keats, the company physician, to help him in the small and poorly equipped hospital which served both the employees and the public. Although she had enjoyed but a third grade education, she had not let her time pass in idleness and had developed greatly her reading ability and talent for learning. Doctor Keats was very willing to train her and give her needed assistance. She, being eager to learn, advanced happily became able to they just technical medical books, as her later years attested. Her training continued under Doctor Ayer, who was a retired army Doctor and very exacting, which was excellent training for her. In all, she served under many doctors and learned from each one during the years from 1903 to 1912. Then she left the hospital and moved to Douglas to be with and provide a home for her family that had been driven out of Mexico during the Revolution.

One great event happened while she was working in the hospital Nacozari when the explosion that nearly wrecked the town occurred. The train headed for the mine at Pilares, loaded with three cars of dynamite, caught fire. To save the town, Jesus Garcia, engineer, conducted it out of town before it exploded, losing his life and killing scores. The town bears the name of Nacozari de Garcia in his honor.  The explosion occurred over a mile from the hospital, but window panes were broken and plaster shaken from the ceiling, leaving the hospital in a disastrous condition to receive the dead and wounded that were rushed in.

In Douglas from 1912 to 1917, Laura operated a rooming house to make a home for the family. It was here that in 1913 Theodosia married Joseph P. Lewis from Colonia Morelos. Lucian married Kate Brown, the daughter of John Wesley Brown and Sarah Elizabeth Styles, converts from Alabama and recently from Colonia Chuhuichupa. After these marriages, Grandmother Hardy went to Orderville, Utah, to be with her son John Hardy. Lucian and Laura then moved back to the colonies as things had settled in Mexico by this time. For the first time Laura could enjoy the Elsie McClellan home, as she had previously stayed in Nacozari to help pay for the property and the family had lived in the home from 1910 to 1912.

Then commenced a number of mercantile ventures in the buying of property, the purchase of the Richardson home adjoining the two Brigham Stowell properties north of the main home, and in being the community doctor.  Laura began restoring properties, making them livable and attractive. She did much of her own freighting for the store from in Dublan and Pearson. She clerked, irrigated and helped in farming. Always her medicine cabinet was filled and hand satchel in readiness for emergencies. Winter or summer, heat or cold, day or night, on foot or horseback, in buggy, wagon, or car, it was all the same to her if someone sick demanded her attention. Many are the times that she went for days only with her “forty winks” for rest and a change of clothes.

During her period of service, she delivered and cared for, including the customary 10 day period following confinement, some 2200 babies. Most of them delivered in homes where often there were the most unsanitary conditions and the most meager and modest of circumstances. Yet, through it all, they were very few serious complications. There are literally thousands who call her blessed. She had a natural gift for healing and although she had no medical schooling or specialized training, her ability to diagnose and expertly treat sickness and emergencies are vouched for by hundreds, and your place in the hearts of the colonists and the Mexican people alike abides as an angel of mercy.

In 1925 she suffered a paralytic stroke, leaving her partially paralyzed and unable to carry on her normal activities. She then spent two years in Salt Lake City working in the temple, doing endowment work for hundreds. Through her life she had been a hard worker, doing the work of several persons, putting in longer hours than was wise, often working as though she were a man. In this she definitely was not observing the Word of Wisdom, as she was taxing her physical strength, and suffered another stroke in 1930, which left her bedridden until her death in 1933.  She spent her last years in Douglas and Chandler with Theodosia and Lucian, passing away January 29, 1933 in Douglas. She was buried in the Douglas cemetery.

Of the five children born to Laura Mecham, three died in infancy, but Theodosia and Lucian where a comfort and joy to their parents. Lucian and Laura’s descendants now number more than 60. Among them are doctors, teachers, artisans, housewives, missionaries, and loyal, good citizens.

Lucian M. Mecham, Jr., son

Stalwarts South of the Border page 477

Daniel Skousen

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Daniel Skousen

1865 – 1940

Daniel Skousen was the sixth child and fourth son of James Niels Skousen and Sidsel Marie Pedersen.  James Niels Skousen was born September 30, 1828, in Herslev, Vejle, Denmark.  Sidsel Marie Pedersen was born August 23, 1826, in Leasby, Aarhus, Denmark.

 They heard the message of the Elders after they were married, believed and were baptized. He was one of the King’s Guards in Denmark. Soon after they joined the Church they began saving to move to America. They had four children born in Denmark before they accumulate enough funds to make the journey. The oldest child, a girl, Petria, and the third child, Parley Pratt, died in Denmark.

On April 17, 1865, Daniel was born in Draper, Utah. He had eight brothers and sisters and had to help his parents make a living in a new and strange land. He went to school but a few months each year and all the formal schooling he gained was during those few months in Draper. The work Daniel did was to herd cows and as with most boys, he found time to swim, play and lie in the sun. But he learned early in life, as did the other members of his family, to obey.  Sometimes he learned the hard way. His parents were very strict. His mother was especially strong willed, a characteristic passed on to Daniel. But also he inherited, among other things, wisdom and a desire to work.

The Church soon called the Skousen family to help settle Arizona. With all their belongings loaded into two wagons they started on this move. Dan drove the cows and loose stock. They settled in St. Joseph first and there they lived the United Order. After a short time it was discontinued. Then they moved to Springerville, took up farms and thought this would be their permanent home. Dan’s father had taken a plural wife who was also a woman from Denmark, so it wasn’t long until the law took him to prison. This left the responsibility of care of the family on Daniel and his brother Peter.

Daniel was a sober man but very attractive and a first-rate baseball player, checker player and wrestler. He enjoyed good sportsmanship. He was a sports fan and it stayed with him through life. Not only did he enjoy sports but he loved to dance and sing. The arts were always interesting to him. He was put on the spot many times in his social life and forced to stand up for what he knew was right. This was especially the case with the Word of Wisdom. Very often designing men would tempt him, almost with force, to go against what he thought was right. But he stood by his convictions and would talk his way out and leave the drunken companions with his explanations.

It seems that he seldom escorted only one lady friend alone. They usually went in groups. But all the time he had his eye on one special girl, Melvina Clay Greer. She was his favorite dancing partner. When his younger sister, Caroline, decided to go to St. George and be married, Daniel thought it a good idea to go along. He convinced Melvina to accompany him. The four of them made the trip by team and wagon to St. George where they were married for time and eternity on December 9, 1885.

It was soon learned that one of Dan’s father’s families would have to leave the country if his father were to remain out of jail. So Dan, with his young bride, took his mother and younger brother and sister to Mexico. Dan and Malley (Melvina) had no idea of staying in Mexico, since his brother Peter had also come to Mexico to make his home and could take care of his mother. But it wasn’t long until Dan decided to make his home in Mexico also.  The people were still living below the present town site and were sorely in need of lumber to build things. Brother Joseph Moffett and Dan went up on the mountain, sawed lumber by hand, to help build homes, furniture and other things. This was the first lumber sawed in the colonies.

Dan was a healthy, stalwart, robust young man, six feet tall. Never was he afraid of work. “Early to bed and early to rise” was his theme song, and a light scarcely ever found him in bed. He always enjoyed good health except in the last year of his life when he was stricken with terrible pain. After taking him to a specialist in El Paso, they operated and found him afflicted with cancer. He was bedridden for nine months, and his body wasted away with the disease.

Dan was a faithful member of the Church. He upheld authority both by deed and precept. He worked in the Sunday School Superintendency for years and was always punctual and depending. He instilled these qualities into his children. He was an honest tithe payer and always had family prayers.  The choir depended on his rich bass voice and he enjoyed singing at public gatherings. At all the old folks’ gatherings, which were held once a year, he was asked to render one or two vocal solos. He encouraged his children not to only improve their talents but also render service whenever possible.

Dan worked wherever he could to earn a living for his family and for his mother, as his father did not come to Mexico to live but remained in Arizona. He found work in Galeana on a thresher at harvest time and as foreman of a big hacienda owned by Don Luis Terrazas in San Diego. Wherever he went, he made a good name for himself through his honest, fair and well-done work. His employer soon found out that they could trust him and could depend on what he said.

Daniel met was several severe accidents is almost cost him his life. One of these was while freighting down the San Diego Canyon. Two span of horses drawing a big wagon loaded with lumber were coming down the steep grade when the brake block broke turning the load loose. They were nearing a bend in the road and Dan knew they were going too fast to make it, so he climbed out onto the tongue of the wagon and dropped to the ground, hoping the load would pass over him and leave him unharmed. All would have been well, but the tongue chain caught his foot and threw it under the wheel crushing his foot and ankle. Brigham Pierce, living nearby, hearing the noise, came to see the cause. Seeing Dan badly hurt, he was going to take him to his home but Dan, being a lover of animals, asked him to please go cut the teams loose first. He could hear them struggling far down the hill. Dan was confined to his bed for four months. Blood poisoning set in and Dr. Lake did all he could for him but to no avail. One day Edmond Richardson came in. Seeing the pain Dan was in, he turned and walked out, returning soon with a drug. This brought relief and with the administration of other strong drugs he was soon up and around on crutches.

His dependability was proverbial. When a Sunday school representative came from Selig city, desiring to go to Pacheco, he could find no one who was able to take him. He then inquired where Dan Skousen was. Dan was plowing but when the request came he unhitched his team from the plow put on his light buggy and took Brother Stoddard and started to Pacheco.

He was Counselor to Bishop John J. Walser and people were yet taking plural wives. President Anthony W. Ivins, a close friend, asked him why he didn’t do likewise. Dan was slow to act but when he decided to join the ranks, he already had one picked out: a lively girl, Sarah Ann Spilsbury, who had been helping Dan and Malley in their home. They were married by an Apostle.

In 1901 he bought a gristmill from William R. R. Stowell.  Don Luis Terrazas advanced him the money. By this time Dan Skousen’s name was as good as his bond, he could borrow money or have credit anytime he wanted. He also took a contract with Brother Stowell to build a dam for Luis Terrazas up on Tapiacitas.  The dam held for many years. Dan built a 14 room house for his family and was always reaching out for more property. He leased a large tract of farming land south of the Colonia Juarez purchase and he bought a 300 acre farm called the “Ojo,” north of old Casas Grandes.

Dan had the ability to get along with Mexicans. He was willing to help show them how to plant and irrigate their land and how to harvest the crops. He worked on committees to visit the governor and often went to Mexico City on legal matters. He was known as “Don Daniel” by his native friends. Especially was this manifest during the Revolution. The coming and going of different factions was a difficult situation and it was his policy, as recommended by the Church, to be neutral. Very often he was called in to settle disputes for them. At the time Poncho Villa was in Casas Grandes, when leaders of the Stake and others had gone to get him to return some of their horses, Villa sent them on their way with threats. Dan also called upon him. And although Villa was very disturbed, without raising his voice or losing control of himself, Dan convinced Poncho Villa of their need and soon Villa gave him an order for some of the horses to be returned.

At the time of the Exodus, when most colonists left the country, Dan Skousen and his wife, Sarah, were among the first to return. Brother Ivins, former Juarez Stake President, said, “If I had a mill full of wheat like brother Skousen, I would go back.”

Dan’s material wealth, was almost depleted by the end of the Revolution; but they couldn’t take his land, only what he raised on it. He still had faith in future crops. Many of the rebel leaders ate at his table. He believed “it is better to feed them than to fight them,” but often it wasn’t all voluntary. During the Revolution he never knew when he went to bed at night what would find in his spacious yard the next morning. He trusted in the Lord and taught his family to have the same faith and prayer. He was held for ransom many times, with guns held at his head if he didn’t give over all his money or his guns. He was threatened with having his hay, mill and home burned, but with that same reasoning power, “that a soft word turneth away wrath,” he evaded many possible catastrophes. Many a person, Mexican and Anglo alike, came seeking help, either for themselves or for their family, eating either money or protection until opposing forces left. But it must be said to the honor of the Revolutionaries, that while on the ranch, soldier and leader alike, they were courteous to the womenfolk. At times, however, the women would cut the ropes from around the horses neck, put a child on its back and give therefore suspect, sitting the writer on the run for the tall cornfields or plum thickets to hide until the rebels and gone away.

Dan was a devoted husband and father and very much the head of his family. He sired 14 daughters and seven sons. Seven of these 21 children died in their tender years. Three of them filled honorable missions. All the living children obtain their education in the Juarez Stake Academy and graduated, many with honors. One became a registered nurse and returned to Colonia Juarez and was an angel of mercy to her hometown. They have all fill positions of leadership in their Wards and Stakes. Three children obtained their degrees from college and many of them have taught school, two of them in the Academy.

Dan was an active member of the High Council for many years and on the board of education. He was proud of each of his children and never missed an opportunity to attend cultural events sponsored by the school. Sports were his love and when his boys took an active part he was always one of the fans.

His love of animals and his ability to get them to respond to his desires because of his kind treatment was phenomenal. He always had a favorite horse that he would ride. And scarcely ever did one see him without his shovel. He could irrigate probably more profitably than anyone else, and water was at a premium in those days. So Dan, his horse and his shovel were a common sight on the streets of Colonia Juarez.

He lived in Colonia Juarez 54 ½ years. He was well thought of by businessmen of the area and in the border cities as well. He enjoyed the respect of many and left the example of his stalwart characteristics to his posterity.

Sarah S. Skousen, wife

Stalwarts South of the Border Nelle Spilsbury Hatch page 610

Edmond Franklin Durfee

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Edmond Franklin Durfee

(1866 – 1942)

Edmond Durfee

Edmond Franklin Durfee was born October 5, 1861 in Springville, Utah County, Utah. He moved to Aurora,with his family in 1875 when his father, Jabez Durfee, was called to be the first Bishop of all Aurora, Sevier County, Utah, which office he held until his death. From May 1883 through 1884, Edmond served a mission in what was then called the Northern States mission. The sum contributed to him by his friends amounted to $11.50. He labored in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois.

One year after his return home he married Nancy: on December 10, 1885 in the Logan Temple. During the next five years they lived on the farm and did some freighting by teams. They also had been blessed with two boys and two girls, but one of each was taken by death.

In the spring of 1891 they decided to move to Mexico. Ellen’s mother, Catherine Fahy Martin, left in May. The following summer was spent preparing for the move, and on October 9 they left by train and chartered some cars. On November 9, 1891 they arrived to brother Franklin Spencer’s home in the Corrales (Pacheco), Mexico having traveled by team and wagon from Deming, New Mexico onto Corrales where they were met by Mother Martin and Ellen’s sister, Hannah Jane Spencer. On the last lap of the trip before reaching Corrales, Edmond was kicked by one of the horses and got his leg broken. He was administered to buy brother Spencer and George Teasdale, who anointed the leg with oil, the pain ceased, but for six weeks he could not walk on it. Before leaving Utah he had learned the profession of cobbler, and goodness knows there were many who needed shoes, so he lost no time in filling the needs and shoeing bare feet. He was fond of reading and of doing his duties in the Church.

From his diary:

Fast Sunday) brother Spencer and family, Mother Martin, Apostle George Teasdale, myself and family went to Pacheco to meeting, and ate dinner with the John Kartchners. After six weeks I was back to farming and making ditches and reservoirs. At Conference in February 1892 I was called to be a home missionary in my life, Nancy Ellen, to be counselor to the Stake President of the YWMIA.. We lived in a two-room house in November 1892.

He was called to be Counselor to the Superintendent of Sunday School in Pacheco. On December 24, the Sisters work at having a public Christmas tree. It was beautiful and was loaded with presents (home-made). Edmond made and gave thirteen pairs of shoes and carpet slippers to children and elderly people. He was the first Santa Claus of the mountain colonies. Each person received a present. He spent his time in farming, shoemaking, and church duties as Ward Teacher, Home Missionary, second counselor in the YMMIA and Second Counselor brother Samuel W. Jarvis of the Sunday School.

In the spring of 1893 he rented land and planted on his own, hoping to raise a good crop; but with a late spring, and very little rain, and hot sun with an early frost in the fall, the farm was a failure. He hired two men to cut the corn for feed. He went Colonia Juarez to hunt work and to get flour. They had been living on cornbread mostly, even corn gravy and very little of it; not Adesa flour in the house for months. He got a job on a thrasher and was away from home on his job at Christmas time.

From his diary again: Now I will have my wife tell of an incident that happened in my absence:

December 25, 1893 Christmas morning at half came in my door and I opened it. I saw Patriarch Henry Lunu on a horse, he was well wrapped for it was early and very cold; he asked if brother Durfee was in, I answered, “He is in the valley trying to get or earn some flour” and I insisted on him coming in, but he said, “No, no, Dear Sister I have come with a message from the Lord to him. Why, bless my heart, I had no idea of hunger and suffering you have endured until the Lord showed it all to me last night and I have walked the floor, waiting for daylight that I might come and deliver the blessing of the Lord promised you. Tell brother Durfee that the Lord is pleased with him in the way he had shared his scanty portion with others. Get in a good lot of seed, plant every foot of land he can, every hill of corn, squash, potatoes and beans he can, for the Lord is going to give him a bounteous harvest, and bless your heart, help him all you can and I bring you the promise that you shall never suffer for food, neither you nor your animals in the future as you have in the past, and you shall be able to pay all obligations and live.” As soon as Brother Durfee came I told him and did all I could to help plant the seeds and rejoice in the blessing and had faith it would be fulfilled

While working I was successful in earning wheat took it to the mill and went home rejoicing with flour for my family. When I reached home and heard of the blessing promised, I did as I was bid. In February 1894 I took my wife, Nancy Ellen, and children to Conference at Colonia Juarez.  We attended both meetings. Apostles John Henry Smith, George Teasdale and Brigham Young, Jr. were all present. We had a time of rejoicing, a feast of the spirit. Sunday we attended both meetings and the evening meeting Monday, February 26. My wife was set apart by apostle George Teasdale as Second Counselor to sister Dora W. Pratt over the Y.W.M.I.A. of the Mexican Mission.  June 28 came the first showing of rain, but the crops were growing good. That fall we had a bounteous harvest. When the plow ran down the rows potatoes, the ground was nearly covered with large white potatoes, our crop being over 400 bushels and we sold them all but our seed and our family needs for 4 cents a pound. We paid off all our debts and obligations. I testify that the promise was fulfilled.

In 1895 he was made Superintendent of the Sunday School. During this time they were blessed with another son and daughter. They were both born in Corrales. In August, 1895 he took his wife and baby, all of us, and a load of potatoes to Chihuahua City to sell. They went by way of Galeana where Brother Spencer and two wives were located. After spending a few days looking at lands and visiting, they decided to go in with Brother Spencer and buy some land. They returned to Corrales for their household goods. On May 5, 1896 (Mexican National holiday). After a jolly good time, they packed and move down to the Valley and lived on the farm called El Torreon near the Mexican town of Galeana. They bought the farm with an old Mexican Hacienda on it, which consisted of large adobe rooms built around a square, all opening to the inner yard or patio with a water well in the center. It had large double doors to go out and in on the east and west. The old house was built on the point of the hill and was used formally in Indian times for a tower to overlook the valley. Some rooms were in good repair, others were not. There were beautiful clear springs that came from a hill about 3 miles above the house. Thousands of dollars had been spent by town people to get water to this house, but failed. Because of this failure Edmond and brother Spencer secured a right-of-way, in writing, free of charge, to cross the farms of other landowners.

Because of his knowledge of surveying and ditch making Edmond brought the water directly to the house as well as to all parts of the farm for irrigation. It was a great opportunity for him to teach the natives how to irrigate to raise gardens. After the water problem was solved he went to Juarez to Conference, and got a wagon load of trees, berry fruits, grape cuttings, and flour roots and seeds. That place soon began to “blossom like the rose.”

That winter Mother Martin and Chloe C. Spencer and Joseph A. Spencer, the two wives of Brother Spencer, and his son and wife all moved down and lived in the Mexican Hacienda. They had peace, love and harmony, endeavoring to keep the commandments of God and set a worthy example. During the winter months the children attended school in Colonia Dublan. Edmond bought a thresher and introduced a better way of threshing than running horses in a circle to stomp the wheat out of the straw with so much waste. August 1897 they were threshing in El Valle when a man came with a message for his wife from her sister, Hannah J. Spencer, stating that Mother Martin was very sick.

 

From his diary:

I took my wife and family and went as fast as possible to Galeana. She was very sick and September 17, 1897 passed away, leaving a great vacancy in the heart of all who know her, such a patient, cheerful, helpful, sweet disposition woman. October 21, 1898 we had a new baby girl join us; Angeline, born in Galeana. Each years labors were much a routine of the past year.

In the fall of 1900 he rented a house and moved his wife and family over to Dublan. Her health was very poor and she was an expectant mother. February 2, 1901 they were blessed with a fine boy, Ralph. In the fall of 1902 not being able to find a house to rent, they moved to an upstairs room over Erastus Durfee’s blacksmith shop in Dublan, climbing up and down a ladder, there being no stairway. Every drop of water had to be carried one-half block and up the ladder. The heat came from a small camp stove, besides heating water for bathing, washing and cooking the meals for a family of seven. After using the water it had to be carried down the ladder and thrown out. All day long the Bellows report as the flames sent the fumes and smoke of the buffalo chips straight into  the roof. The clang of the anvil rang through the air as the hammer pounded the irons into shape. There was no north wall or petition to stop the sound or smoke. They lived there all winter.

From his diary read:

We had worked in company with brother Spencer from the time we bought the place, but decided not to set a price and give or take; so he and son Joseph bought me out. So when I move back to Galeana for the summer I moved into a house known as Altita nearer Galeana town.  In 1902 we took a little Mexican girl to raise. I rented cows and ran a farm and my bees, made molasses and ran the pressure. During the summer we built a brick house into Dublan and that fall we moved in with boards laid on the floor supports to walk on and a wagon cover overhead and they continued building while we were living there.

On December 12, 1908, Edmond was ordained a High Priest in Dublan by Harry M. Payne. About this time his wife was called and set apart as a Mexican Missionary with brother Ammon Tenney as President of the Mexican Mission. The custom was to go in a group for two and three week trips visiting among the people and holding meetings in all the towns they visited. He kept the team and a light carriage always ready to take them on these trips. Brother Tenney often remark he was a missionary of deed, but he didn’t have control of the language.

On June 1, 1908 his wife went Salt Lake City as a representative from the MIA of Juarez Stake of Zion. She was gone two months, leaving two-year-old baby Fahy Martin in her husband’s care. She spent two glorious months enjoying the spiritual uplift of the June Conference, the association with the General Authorities, with her relatives and friends over the state, and returned home again in August, well and happy.

From his diary:

November 1908 I took my wife and daughter Luella and went to Sonora in company with the Stake Presidency. My wife, Nancy Ellen, being appointed to go visit the Y.W.M.I.A. of the Sonora Colonies. We joined the Juarez folks west of Dublan. Counselor Hyrum S. Harris rode with us. We had a nice trip, only cold and windy one day. President Junius Romney and Counselor Charles E. McClellan had great sport hunting and furnishing all the quails we could eat. We saw a bunch of antelope and two nimrods trying to get a shot at them; they got their clothing full of cactus thorns but failed to get the game. We reached Colonia Oaxaca after dark; the hall was all lit up for a dance. We stayed at Bishop Haymore’s and after supper all went to the dance. Arrangements were made to hold meetings on a return trip. Next morning we went to Morelos and my family stayed with my sister, Maria E. Van Leuven and family. We had a good visit with them, attended a meeting that night and the next day and night. Then we returned to Oaxaca, held meetings, reorganize the Y.W.M.I.A. and had a dance at night. All seem to enjoy your visit; we returned home the first week in December. My wife, being a practical nurse, where ever we travelled there were people she could help.

During four years they lived in the midst of war and had heard the cannon roar, the rapid firing machine guns, and army rifle noises when Casas Grandes was taken and had lived in the midst of revolutionists. They never knew what moment there outfits would be seized, but had been blessed up to this time and had been able to live and maintain themselves.

From his diary:

On July 26 and 27 I went to the field, plowing as fast as I could. About 4 p.m. Saturday Clyde Pierce, our neighbor boy, came to tell me and told me that Bishop Thurber had sent him for me. The rebels had surrounded us and we were to deliver up our arms and ammunition to the meeting house where the red-flag officers received them and I was to come and deliver mine! I learned they had a cannon set on our town on the North and South and were surrounded by armed soldiers. When I got to the house I found my wife packing a small trunk, one daughter helping her and the others making cookies and food to take. I gathered up my ammunition that I had hid, the rifle and Mama’s little .38 pistol which she had carried in a pocket from the time she came from Utah. When I reached the meeting house, Demetrio Ponce, the old Mexican we called “Chicken Thief” was headman. The latter had done so much stealing from us at Galeana. Many times my wife had shut over his head to let him know someone was on guard. Now when he saw them (guns) he took one in each hand and looked at them, then it me from head to foot and a satisfied expression came on his face; he had us in his power for he had hundreds of men under his control and us unarmed. I didn’t feel pretty good, and dear Mother felt worse. She prayed our Father in Heaven to protect us until we were safe from them. There are many who remember the last night we spent in Dublan, the spot we loved, the homes we left. But thanks to the Lord for courage to press on.

In the lumber shed at El Paso the Durfee’s gave faithful service. They knew the people from all over the Mission and Stake and were put in as advisors to help people get located and settled. That first night one old man lost his mind and was carried out by policemen. There were many miscarriages and confinements, and the Durfee’s were with them to serve, comfort and bless. Nancy Ellen supervised the cooking of the meals, to see that all able-bodied women and girls have the opportunity and duty to help serve. Being so well known in El Paso, she found jobs for many young women. Many of their friends turned off their help and hired the Mormon girls. She served in the Y.W.M.I.A .until her death May 28, 1916. Edmond Durfee found work in the cantaloupe fields for the boys who were privileged to write out in the luggage or boxcars and he went as supervisor. His last 10 to 15 years were spent working in the Salt Lake Temple for the dead. He died December 12, 1942; father of 10 children, one foster child, and all had temple marriages.

Olive D. curfew, daughter

Stalwarts South Of the Border Nelle Spilsbury Hatch page 137

John Kartchner

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John Kartchner

1851 – 1946

John Kartchner was born the first night following the day the Mormons arrived in San Bernardino, California, and he was the first white child born in that city. He was the fourth of his mother’s 11 children. He was born in a tent and the wind was blowing so hard that it was necessary for one man to attend each of the four corners of the tent so mother a baby would have protection from the bitter weather of the night.

When John was five years of age, he moved with his father and mother and their family from San Bernardino, California, to Beaver, Utah. In Beaver John lived the farm boy life. He was the oldest living son so he spent many hours with his young brother, Mark, hoeing weeds and doing farm chores. John’s father was nearly always in his blacksmith shop, so as John advanced in years a little, he took charge of much of the farm operation.

In 1865 the Kartchners move to what was at the time called “The Muddy” in Nevada. William D., John’s father, had rheumatism and it was believed that he would be better in the low climate of The Muddy. The father went ahead and then sent for the family to follow. John drove to yoke of oxen the long distance from Beaver, Utah to The Muddy, over very rough frontier roads. He was 14 at this time.

The Kartchners stayed at The Muddy for six years. Through this time John’s father ran his blacksmith shop and was the postmaster. John was in charge of the farming with his sisters and the younger boys. He raised corn, potatoes, squash, alfalfa hay, and truck garden items. The main cash crop was cotton which they hauled to St. George, Utah. Some of the cotton they would sell for much needed cash and some they wove into cloth, taking the cloth back to The Muddy for their own use.

In 1871, when John was 20 years old, President Brigham Young called all the Mormons from The Muddy and advised them to return to Utah. The Kartchner family lost their home and all they had developed at The Muddy. They had wheat up and growing fast, cotton ground prepared, and the farm was ready for a crop. Most of the Mormons set fire to their houses and barns and sheds and buildings.

During this early part of John’s life he had become a very good fiddler. He played hundreds of popular tunes for all kinds of square dancing and he didn’t need a drink to put pep into it. Where he went he was welcome. He played for house parties and public dances, much of the time for benefit dances and of course the house parties were mostly for the fun, and he had a lot of fun doing this service. He could play all night and not play the same tune twice John loved his fiddle and he liked anyone who enjoyed dancing.  He also liked anyone who can play a fiddle or guitar or an organ.

The Kartchners moved from The Muddy to Panguitch, Utah, in 1871. Here he met Lydia Amelia Palmer who later became his wife. They were married May 11, 1874 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. On return to Panguitch John built a long log house. He moved into the house in 1875 where his first child, Theda, was born April 29, 1875. John and his wife and their baby lived in the log house until the spring of 1876.  At this time he became interested in the United Order.  So, he sold all he owned in Panguitch and moved to Long Valley or Orderville.

In 1877 all the Kartchners were called to help colonize the northeast corner of Arizona. They settled in te area which carried the post office address of “The Little Colorado.” Here, through a period of time John was Presiding Elder. He was also foreman of one of the crews of men in the dam construction. The settlers attempted to build an earthen dam across the Little Colorado River.  When the rains came which brought flooding in the river, the dam did not hold and the settlers decided to move, giving up the project.

The committee was delegated to talk business with Mr. Stinson who owned a ranch in the location which is now a Snowflake, Arizona. The committee became discouraged and returned without making a deal for the ranch.  William Flake, John’s brother-in-law, then went to the Stinson place and purchase the ranch. Mr. Flake then invited all who wished to join him, and all the Kartchner clan moved to the Stinson Ranch (Snowflake).  A townsite was surveyed in each family drew to find which homesite or lots each would own. In this drawing, Mr. flake took his chances along with the rest. The town was named Snowflake in honor of Mr. Flake and Erastus Snow. Award of the LDS church was organized with John Hunt as Bishop, William Flake as First Counselor and John Kartchner  as Second Counselor.

While in Snowflake John met and married Nancy Jane Mann. They were married in the St. George, Utah, Temple, March 20, 1884. The Kartchners lived a rugged frontier life, but they were happy. He made himself part of all the activities for the betterment of the town. John ran a small farm, had milk cows, pigs, chickens, raised hay and grain, and always raised a good garden. In addition to these activities John ran a small herd of sheep on the open range.

All the time John was making people dance to some of the best country fiddlin’ they had ever heard. With or without pay the music was always the best he knew how to give, which was good. He loved every minute of it.

While in Snowflake, John served on the town Council, acted as deputy sheriff, and acted on the committee which selected the first County officers.

Early in 1885, President John Taylor advising people in Snowflake that any person who was about to be jailed for polygamy could if he wished, go to Mexico where the Saints were forming some colonies. Many of the men and some of the women decided to go to Mexico. Jesse N. Smith was President of Snowflake Stake.  He and Jesse N., Jr., Lot Smith, and Bishop John Hunt were among the ones to start for Mexico. John Kartchner was the only one who completely sold all he owned in Snowflake, and he and his family moved to Mexico. John and Bishop Hunt traveled together. Soon after they arrived in Mexico, Bishop Hunt received word that one of his wives he left behind in Snowflake had burned to death in an accident. Bishop Hunt rushed back to Snowflake and never returned to Mexico.

A short time after the John Kartchners arrived in Mexico, John began to help organize, survey, and do the things necessary to create the colony which was to be called Colonia Diaz. John’s wife, Lydia Amelia, lived in very poor health and in Diaz  her condition became rapidly worse. So, because of Lydia’s health condition, the John Kartchners moved up into the mountains of Chihuahua and help to settle Colonia Pacheco. It was in Pacheco that the Karch nurse spent most of the time they were in Mexico and it was in Pacheco most of John’s 18 children were born.

In Mexico, life for the Kartchners was packed with hardships. They lived an extremely rugged frontier life. They would go many weeks and even months without sugar. Part of the time they were fortunate enough to have molasses for sugar substitute. On rare occasions they would enjoy wheat flour. And sometimes there was not much to season the cornbread. It was common in most of the Pacheco homes to see a little container in a convenient place in the kitchen with a piece of rock salt and which had been gathered from the hill. Water would be soaking the salt and then the salty water would be used to season food.

John worked many different jobs trying to make a living for his large family. He was a fair carpenter, a good blacksmith, and a good sawmill man.  He worked at all these trades, but the deepest interest was in farming and livestock and he kept trying to get into this business.

In the evenings when the day’s work was done and the Kartchners would gather around in the frontier home, they would have good times. All the family would enjoy singing with each other and they would see many songs and also they would spend time testified each other of the truthfulness of their Christian faith. Some of the favorite songs of this family group were “All is Well,” ”We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet,” and “The Unknown Grave.”  They sang many of the songs of the prairies, the plains, the Indians, and the cowboys. And, of course they also enjoyed many of the current love songs. In those days new songs and the words to those songs traveled around very slowly, but they learned and kept in the family circle the decent songs they could hear and learn.

On August 10, 1896, Lydia Amelia Palmer Kartchner died in Colonia, Juarez. At this time Nancy was living in Dublan and when it became apparent she was going to pass away she felt heartbroken about Lydia. Nancy and Lydia loved each other dearly and had respect and trust for each other. After Liddy’s death the Kartchners moved back to Pacheco but for the rest of the time John lived in Mexico he owned a shack in Diaz, a home in Juarez, and a home in Pacheco.

By 1909, there was already some Revolutionary rumblings in the Sierra Madres. The rebel army by necessity had to live off the land. This condition made it more and more difficult for the Mexican colonists.  John Kartchner decided to leave Mexico and go to United States at this time. He sold, by contract, most of what he owned in Pacheco and stored the things he didn’t want to sell in a cave nearby. He never returned to the cave. He then went to Juarez with the intention of selling his property there. While in Juarez, Vanetta reached her 17th birthday and while a small group of children were playing at the party she fell off a spring seat which was placed on a double bed wagon. Her side struck the wagon tongue and within four days she died from this injury. The John Kartchner family then stayed in Juarez as until the spring of 1910.

By the spring of 1910 John had rounded up more of his cattle and made time payment sales of the things he could not take with him to the States. He left the colonies with three teams, two wagons, a white top buggy, and riding mare. He arrived in El Paso with one team and wagon, and sold them for money to live on and to travel by train to Bluewater, New Mexico. The Kartchners then went my team and wagon to Blanding, San Juan County, Utah, arriving in Blanding on July 10, 1910.

In 1923 John and Nancy had only two children left at home and at that time the family moved to the Salt Lake Valley. John Kartchner died February 3, 1946, in Salt Lake City. At this time his home was at 316 East on 13th South Street. Nancy Mann Kartchner died November 1, 1961 at Blanding, Utah.

Pearl K. Robertson, daughter

Pg 382 Stalwart’s South of the Border Nelle Spilsbury Hatch.