Tag Archives: Colonia Juarez

John Kartchner

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.

 

Clifford Leon Whetten 1946-2011

Clifford Leon Whetten   Slide Show

Clifford Leon Whetten left this mortal existence on September 11, 2011 surrounded by his loving family. His passing was sudden yet sweet, due to complications from pancreatic cancer. At the time of his diagnosis, Clifford was serving as the MTC President for the LDS Church in Lima, Peru.

Clifford was born February 10, 1946 in Colonia Chuichupa, Chihuahua, Mexico to Glen and Ada Whetten. He was the seventh of ten children. His siblings were his best friends throughout his life.

After graduating from the Juarez Stake Academy, he served his first mission in Northern Mexico. He married Rosalyn Hatch in the Mesa, AZ temple on December 21, 1968. Together they were blessed with four children.

After earning degrees from BYU and UTEP, Clifford moved his family to College Station, TX. Upon earning his PhD from Texas A&M, he remained at the university as a professor of education administration and multi-cultural studies. They spent many happy years in Texas raising their family. During that time, he served as a branch president, bishop and as a member of the stake presidency.

Clifford retired from teaching early, at the age of 59, when he was called to serve as president of the Mexico Tuxtla Gutierrez Mission from 2005-2008. Upon completing their mission, Clifford and his wife settled in Utah to be closer to their children and grandchildren. But their love of missionary work was put into action once again when he and his wife went to serve at the MTC in Lima, Peru in January 2010. Clifford received an honorable release from his earthly missionary service on September 7, 2011, four days before his passing.

Clifford is survived by his eternal companion, Rosalyn; their children Diana Windley (Ryan), Carolyn Smith (Jacob), Renee Christensen (Gary), and David (Natalie); their grandchildren Jett, Lauren, Luke, Jenna, Tommy, Carter and Sammy; and his siblings John, Velma, Amanda, Robert, Edward, Earline, and Don.

He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Glen and Bert.

Funeral services will be held Friday, September 16, 2011 at 11 a.m. at the Valley View Ward, 2455 North Valley View Drive, Layton. Friends may visit family Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist”s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.

Interment, Croydon Cemetery.

The family gives appreciation to Dr. Mark Ott and the many nurses at IMC who provided our husband and dad with compassionate care during the last five weeks.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the LDS General Missionary Fund.

Vilda Whetten Hunsaker 1918-2011

09/06/1918 ~ 09/13/2011
On a fall afternoon, just one week after celebrating her 93rd birthday, mother returned to the waiting arms of her husband T.D., and to a couple of high-fives from her grandson Dax. Mother was born in Colonia Garcia, Chihuahua, Mexico, the 7th child of John Amasa Whetten and Martha Elizabeth Carling. While still a very young girl, her mother died two weeks after giving birth to her brother Carl. This necessitated in bringing together two households, resulting in a new family of 23.
Mother spent her early years in Colonia Garcia, Colonia Juarez and finally, Colonia Chuichupa, Mexico. She graduated high school from the Colonia Juarez Academy and later served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church) in Mexico City, Mexico. Shortly after her mission, and being fluent in Spanish, she accepted a job as a teletype operator at Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX. While at a Church dance, she met a handsome, curly dark-haired service man who was on leave. Mother was smitten at “may I have this dance”. Six weeks later they were married – a marriage that lasted for 63 years. Blessed to this union were six children, 27 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren.
After Dad was discharged from the army, they moved back to his home town of Honeyville, UT. This is where they remained the rest of their lives together. The same home, back yard, garden and pasture, is where lessons were taught, rules sometimes were broken, love was abundant and you were always safe and respected. In the case of Mom and Dad, their “starter home” became their “finisher home”.
Memories of Mother include the smell of fresh home-made bread or cinnamon rolls wafting from the kitchen. During the summer canning months, rows of wide-mouth Kerr jars lined the kitchen counter, waiting to be filled with the harvest. Her quilting frames set up in the living room. And, being asked to help roll the quilt when necessary was a privilege. You always felt loved, safe and special when on her lap or in her presence. She was a wonderful cook, seamstress, mediator, healer and child advocate. Mother was a devoted wife and often stood still and silent and allowed Dad to stand on her shoulders.
Mother loved the Lord and served faithfully in many leadership and service positions in the Church. After Dad retired, they served two additional Church missions and two decades of service in the Ogden Temple.
After Dad’s passing in 2007, Mother truly felt the sting from the loss of her soul mate. However, she remained in Honeyville for a few more years. With her advanced age, and mourning the loss of Dad, living in an empty house, filled with over a half century of memories, was difficult for her. During this time she welcomed the frequent visits from her children and friends. Her previous good health began to yield to maladies incident to age, and on September 11, 2011 she suffered a stroke from which she never recovered.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Honeyville 3rd Ward chapel, with a viewing one hour prior. Additionally, a viewing will be held at the Myers Mortuary on Friday, September 16, 2011 from 6:00-8:00 p.m., located at 205 South 100 East, Brigham City, UT. Pursuant to Mother’s request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the General Missionary Fund of the Church. Condolences and love may be expressed at www.myers-mortuary.com.
– See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=153635930#sthash.gkzhy8ST.dpuf

Wilbur Thayne Wagner 1930-2013

 

Wilbur Thayne Wagner

10/5/1930 – 12/26/2013

Wilbur Thayne Wagner, 83, passed away December 26, 2013 in Mesa, AZ. Wilbur was born in Colonia Guadalupe, Chihuahua, Mexico to Albert Henry Wagner and Mary Willa

Thayne Wagner on October 5, 1930. He loved his life on the farm and had great stories to tell. He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with an unwavering testimony. His witty expressions and stories were filled with great wisdom. He married Carel Robinson in the Mesa Temple December 3, 1953 – they just celebrated their 60th anniversary. He is survived by his dear wife and 8 of their 9 children; Teria (David) Mortensen, St. George, UT; Paula (Art) Whiting, Mesa, AZ; Tamara (Larry) Reeves, Friendswood, TX; Brenda (Eric) Larsen, Orem, UT; Ted (Shauna) Wagner, Laredo, TX; Jana (Kirk) Tryon, Allen, TX; Kevin (Kim) Wagner, Chico, CA; and Shauna Wagner, Mesa, AZ. He is also survived by 27 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 2 sisters, Thelma Bluth and Elizabeth Belnap as well as 3 brothers, Dennis, Vaughn and Rick. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Carla Wagner, granddaughter Savannah Wagner and 4 brothers Kenyon, Dwaine, Henry, and Darryl. Funeral services will be on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 11AM at the LDS church at 2334 E. Pueblo, Mesa, AZ with a viewing 1 hour before. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.

Clifton Leon Whetten 1917-2013

Clifton Leon Whetten

3/27/1917 – 6/28/2013

Longtime Elfrida resident Clifton Leon Whetten passed away June 28, 2013, at his home, with his wife, Claudia, at his side.  He was 96 years old.

Clifton was born March 27, 1917, in Taos, N.M. He was the first child of Clifford Leon Whetten and Annie Martineau Whetten, who were living in a log cabin at a lumber camp at La Madera, N.M. Clifton was born the day the president of the United States declared war on the Europeans involved in WWI.

Near the end of May, the family loaded a covered wagon with their belongings and began their journey to Chihuahua, Mexico. They eventually settled in Colonia Chuichupa, Chihuahua, Mexico, a small settlement in a high mountain valley. Clifton grew up riding horses, helping at his father’s sawmill, milking cows, as well as helping with the gardens and farm animals. He was also responsible for the range cows and calves. While living in Mexico, Clifton’s sister, Marzelle, and three brothers, Merrill, Clair and Jean, were born.

Clifton attended elementary school thru the eighth grade in Chuichupa, (known as Chupie). He enjoyed anything to do with horses, especially roping. When it was time for high school, he spent the winters down in Colonia Juarez attending the Juarez Academy, working as a school custodian to help to pay his tuition.

Upon his graduation in June 1935, he was asked if he would return to Chuichupa to teach at the elementary school. To qualify for this position, Mexican school officials required that he attend a session of summer school in nearby Pearson, taught by Mexican schoolteachers. In September, he began teaching the seventh and eighth grades. His brother, Merrill, was in his eighth-grade class.

On Aug. 4, 1936, Clifton married Lila Judd, daughter of Jerome John and Cynthia Amanda Brown Judd, also of Chuichupa. They were married in Mexico, then went to Arizona to be sealed in the Mesa LDS Temple. They eventually became the parents of five children. Their first child, a little boy, named Clifton Leon Whetten Jr., died when just 10 days old. Three daughters were born while they were still living in Mexico, Lila Lee, Cynthia Ann and Elaine.

In April 1948, Clifton, Lila and the three young girls moved to Hinckley, Utah. In June of that same year, a son, Clifford Judd Whetten, was born making the family complete. Clifton found employment as a section hand with the Union Pacific Railroad.

Later, he began working as a carpenter at Dugway Proving Grounds near Tooele, Utah. Another move in May 1951 brought the family to Orem, Utah, where he had purchased an orchard with peach, pear, apple and cherry trees, and a raspberry patch.

Clifton built a brick home for his family while he farmed, served in the LDS Church and worked as a yard man at a lumber yard. He later was appointed manager of the store.

In August 1957, his daughter, Cynthia Ann, married Ted Peacock, and then two and a half years later, he became a grandfather, a role he dearly loved. His daughter, Elaine, married Rex Sweat in 1966, Lila Lee married Howard Nichols and Judd married Susan Clark. Both of these marriages were in 1970.

From 1959 to 1964, Clifton built homes in the Orem-Provo area as well as in Lander, Wyo. In 1964, he was called by his church to serve a church-building mission in Salt Lake City. He served for two years in the Butler area, while building two big chapels. After his release from this assignment, he continued to work on church buildings for a private contractor in Salt Lake City and St. George, Utah. In Idaho and Arizona, he did additions on a hospital, schools and churches and built several churches.

In 1970, Clifton moved to Arizona to work. While working on a remodeling project at a church in San Manuel, he met Claudia Pittman. Clifton and Claudia married in September 1971 and were sealed in the Mesa temple in 1987.

In 1973, Clifton, Claudia and her two children, Shauna and Bruce, (whom he adopted and raised) moved to Elfrida, where he ran his farm, raised a family and lived until the day he died.

In 1974, Clifton and Claudia had a child together, Nathan, followed by another child, Calvin Leon, in 1975, who lived just 21 hours before passing away.

Clifton committed more than 30 years of service to the students and staff at Valley Union High School, serving in various capacities on the school board. He was also vital in bringing health care to Elfrida, working closely with longtime friend Ginger Ryan. The Chiricahua Community Health Center is now named in his honor, the Cliff Whetten Clinic.

Clifton was also an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many different capacities. He was also a member of the Sulphur Springs Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Elfrida Fire Department, the Elfrida Citizens Alliance and the local Lions Club.

Clifton is survived by his wife of 41 years, Claudia; seven children, Lila Lee (Howard) Nichols, Cynthia Ann (Ted) Peacock, Elaine (Gene) Ellis, Judd (Susan) Whetten, Shauna (Gerry) Hustin, Bruce Whetten and Nathan (Katrina) Whetten; 18 grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Gene (Dee Anne) Whetten; and sister-in-law, Mary Lou (Clair) Whetten.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marzelle Brown; brothers, Merrill and Clair Whetten; sons, Clifton Leon Whetten Jr. and Calvin Leon Whetten; and grandsons, Kyle Leon Vance and Jake Tyler Whetten.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 6, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Elfrida. Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. followed by a public service at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at the Elfrida Cemetery.