And I wonder where the time goes.

     This is the second Monday of the Month which means DUP day. (Daughters of Utah Pioneers)  And, today I attended two DUP Camps.  My own Meadow Springs Camp and another immediately after, the Windy Rivers Camp.
     Most member 'daughters' are retirement age (over sixty five) a few are between forty five and sixty, our camp has two daughters in that age bracket.  Many are way over sixty five and are great-grandmothers and gggrandmothers.  But, we have one thing in common, we all have Utah pioneer heritage; that means an ancestor or many ancestors of ours that trekked across 'the plains' (America) to the Utah territory before 10 May 1869 when the Transcontinental Railroad was completed.  The reason for belonging to DUP goes even deeper, it's a way to show honor, respect, and love for what our ancestors went through. They set an example of great faith in accepting the challenges and trials that was put before them. In our camp meetings we hear of personal pioneer histories given by members of the camp and a different lesson each month from a booklet printed by the International DUP.  Today the lesson was on 'Musical Instruments.'  "As soon as possible after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, accomplished musicians organized choirs and brass bands, wrote musical accompaniments for dramas and theater performances, and played music on all types of musical instruments.  Talented individuals sang songs, of joy, hymns, and humorous ballads, and agave professional performances that entertained, inspired, and buoyed up the spirits of the weary pioneers."   
There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of an ancestor of mine.  It helps me to cope with my own trials and challenges.

Summer 2011: Grandson Christopher went on a three day trek with over a hundred other youth in our area.  From the look on their faces it must have gone well.  Actually, I was there to witness these young people come over the hill down into the 'valley' pulling and pushing handcarts.  It did bring tears to my eyes.   Christopher did say how "It was a great experience" !
     I have been thinking of  late, where does the time go?  Again, I am having a hard time posting on a regular weekly basis and for those who follow this blog I am trying to do better because I have a lot of material to blog about however, everyday is a busy day.  So I will say to myself;  JUST DO IT!

Lily Jane Bullock Kidgell; A Grand Lady.

abt 1905 Fred Cashmore Kidgell - Lily Jane Bullock
Stella Lily - Ariel James - Fred Charles. 

In this lovely portrait taken about 1905 one more child has been added to the Kidgell family.  A boy named Ariel James, born 16 April 1902 in Logan.   I would guess he is about three years old in this picture; Stella Lily would be ten and Fred Charles eight.  Two more children would complete this family, a daughter Melba born 26 February 1906 in Pocatello, Idaho.   They also raised Preston C. Affleck born 9 November 1910 in Logan who was the son of Lily Jane’s sister, Alice Bullock Affleck.  Alice died six weeks after Preston was born leaving seven children.  Alice requested Fred and Lily Jane to take the baby and raise him if anything happened to her.   

Picture below is Melba at age four; love that bow in her hair and her sophisticated pose!

Melba Kidgell abt. 1910

Lily Jane was a dress maker/seamstress. It's most likely she made the clothes she is wearing in this portrait. Such beautiful detail in this blouse and skirt. Lily Jane was fourteen years old when she attended a school for dress making in Logan taught by Lydia Haws.  She would walk from her home in Providence  to Logan and home again each day she attended the dress making class.  Mrs. Haws told her she received more benefit out of her work than any other girl she has ever had.  

She spent many years teaching women from all over the Cache Stake to make over clothing.  When all her children were married she worked six years doing alterations for the Ready-to Wear store called 'The Leader' in Logan, Utah. 

(Taken from her life story by Melba K. Gedge)

During the depression years Lily Jane Kidgell had been in charge of the sewing center for the Logan Stake.  This was an early fore-runner of a welfare square or Deseret Industry type of program.  When the program was changed the worker's honored Lily Jane for her countless hours of service .

 4 March 1940 Ada E. Merrell wrote the following tribute:

A Pioneer

A sewing center was Relief Society’s dream,

And to Sister Kidgell—a sewer Supreme—

Goes the honor for making that dream come true,

Because of the wonderful things she could do.

Why she’d take an old coat and a skirt and

A dress, which most folks would say were

Simply a mess; and the next thing you knew

From this mess she would bring a quilt

That would almost be fit for a king.

Then with rags and old sox and some

Rope, if you please, she would fashion fine

Rugs with the greatest of ease.  Each day

Thru the racks of used clothing she’d go;

And glean out the things really worthwhile to sew.

Into aprons and dresses or trousers of such,

As were needed by many good families so much.

And day after day making the rounds, there

Wasn’t a thing anywhere on the grounds that

Couldn’t be used in some way or another, to help

Children and grownups from having to suffer.

Not only used clothing, but frayed nerves as

Well; were mended and smoothed by her magical spell.

When the women she worked with grew weary

And tired, she’d help and encourage until they’d

Be fired, with new hope and desire—To do all

They could, for not only their own but each

Others best good.

Now to the Region our center has gone—

With the changes that come as our Church

Marches on, but we’ll always be proud of the work we

Began—When asked to assist the Security Plan.

As the years come and go, and we see the plan grow—

There will be many people each wanting to know, 

“Who started  the work and then put it

Through” and we’ll say,

Sister Kidgell, a pioneer true. 

What a lady!  More on the life of Lily Jane and Fred continued. 

Fred, Lily Jane, Stella and Fred Charles.

Lily Jane, Fred Charles, Stella Lily, Fred Kidgell

           Look at the ruffles on Lily Jane's dress.  In Lily Jane's life history written by her daughter Melba she took a class in 'Dress Making' starting at the age of fourteen.  I'm sure she made her dress and the outfits the children are wearing.  More about Lily sewing abilities later. 

          Just short of one year after marriage (1894) their first child was born, Stella Lily, 21 Oct 1895.  Then Fred Charles was born 28 Jun 1897.  He looks about two maybe three months old in the picture so I’m sure it’s safe to say this picture was taken in the summer of 1897.  Lily Jane would be twenty two years old and Fred is twenty six.

          In 1897 father Fred is still working for his step-father Herman Volgel at the Logan Brewery. Herman's demise.  He is active the LDS Church and after his step-father dies on 4 April in 1898 Fred is the  proprietor of the Logan City Brewery.  
The following are just a few of the advisements found in the Logan Journal Newspaper     

Logan Newspaper:  7 March 1899

LOGAN CITY BREWERY

F. C. Kidgell, Mgr.

Manufacturer of and dealer in Keg and Bottled Beer.

Bottled Beer for Family Trade a Specialty.

Logan, Utah

3 April 1900 Logan Newspaper

          After being closed down for several months, the Logan City Brewery has again been opened.  Proprietor Kidgell has thoroughly renovated and filled it up and is now prepared to furnish the public with popular beverage.
     
      

   In May of 1898 just after the demise of Herman his step-father, Fred moved his family into a new house he had built on 352 East First South St. in Logan.   When their third child was born, Ariel James, on 16 April 1902 Fred was now working for the Amalgamated Sugar Company.

       

This is a record of Fred's employment the rest of his life----

• Managed stores for Singer Sewing Machine Company---first in Montpelier, Idaho; then Pocatello, Idaho and lastly in Logan, Utah  August 1904 --October 1909
• Run the press of Amalgamated Sugar Co.   November 1909--February 1910.
• Was the Logan City Water Master   April 1910--January 1912
• Bill collector for Mt. States Telephone Co.  January 1912--February 1916
• Salesman for W.F. Jensen Candy Co.  March 1916--November 1930
• Worked odd jobs which he could find available.               

           Fred and Lily Jane were well known throughout the Logan Valley.  So, I have lots to blog about. 

    

      Last week I made a connection with Lily Jane's sister, Margaret Bullock Hansen's Great Great grandchild Susan.  We have been exchanging pictures and stories; the joys of doing 'Family Search'!

Fred Cashmore Kidgell marrys Lily Jane Bullock 1894

Fred Cashmore Kidgell 1894 Logan, Utah

     Amazing! I have more pictures of Great grand-uncle Fred Cashmore Kidgell than any ancestor.  This isn't all the pictures I have of Fred. I have two pictures with his beautiful bride Miss Lily Jane Bullock with their young family and another probably taken just before he died.
     An update on Fred; he was four months old when his father died, Charles Kidgell Jr..  He attended Catholic Boarding School in his early years and was never baptized into the L.D.S. Church.  During his teen age years he lived with his sister Sadie Hepworth (my great grand-mother) and her husband and worked for the Hepworth family butcher shop and slaughter house. He also worked in a blacksmith shop. When he became college age his desire was to attend the Agricultural College in Logan.  This was when his mother Sarah Ann and husband Herman Vogel owned a brewery in Logan.  He decided to not go to school and work at the brewery.   This is when he met Lily Jane Bullock. 

    The picture below of Lily Jane was sent to me by Alice via e-mail attachment;  her husband is a grandson of Fred and Lily Jane.  On the back is written 1894 which I feel it is safe to say the pictures were taken just before they were married.

Lily Jane Bullock age 18; 1894

         Lily Jane was born 5 Dec 1875 in Providence, Cache, Utah, the tenth of twelve children born to James Bullock Jr. born in England and Margaret Bailey born in Scotland.  Her parents migrated to the Utah Territory in 1860.
        Fred asked Lily Jane to go 'steady' with him and she refused. (The following information was taken from the life history of Fred; written by his daughters, Melba K. Gedge and Stella Lily K. Olsen) " Fred was not a member of the L.D.S. Church and he smoked.  Lily Jane told him she wouldn't go steady with any one who wasn't a member of the church, or any one that smoked.  He told her he could quit smoking and she told him not to quit smoking for her, but for himself.  Soon after that Fred quit smoking and was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He had been baptized for quite awhile before Lily Jane knew about it."
     "One Year after he was baptized they were married on the 14 November 1894 in the Salt Lake Temple.  After they were married they had a dinner at the home of Uncle James and Aunt Sadie Hepworth.  (My great-grandparents)  They stayed there for two or three days. "
      "The newly married couple came back to Logan by train.  They went right over to Lily Jane's parent's home in Providence, Utah.  Fred had twenty cents left in his pocket so Lily Jane's mother gave them a loaf of bread and a piece of butter; also a little bacon.  They had rented a little house in Logan before they got married so their little home was ready and waiting for them so they went to it that night."
     "The next day Fred went to town in Logan and charged some groceries and had them sent to the home.  They lived in one-half of the residence at 354 South Main.  He made thirty dollars a month and they paid six dollars rent.  Before they were married Fred had bought a bedroom set, table and chairs, and a kitchen stove.  Lily Jane had made a rag carpet for the front room and Fred bought a piece of linoleum for the stove to stand on in the kitchen."   Before the first year past and just before their first child was born they moved  to first east between second and third south in Logan.

     It was Fred and Lily Jane that Dad and Mother stayed with when they were married in December of 1934 in the Logan Temple.   Dad didn't talk about his family (much) but, I did know that Fred was an uncle who lived in Logan.  And, I have met two grandchildren, Lily Jane of Manti, Utah and Kay, he lives in Salt Lake City.  I like the name Lily Jane and how Lily is spelled with one l.    How about it grandchildren, or anyone related to me, would you consider using the name Lily?!

Life history of Fred Kidgell and Lily Jane continued. 

            

Ellen Maria married into the BITHELL family.

     Ellen Maria Kidgell who was born three weeks after arriving in the Utah Territory in 1855 had turned eighteen years old October nineteenth when she married Joseph Bithell in December 30, 1873, he was twenty seven years old.
     Joseph with his father Thomas Bithell and six of his siblings migrated from England to the Utah Territory in 1860.  Joseph was  thirteen years old. His mother Eleanor Williams died in England five years earlier (1855).  His older brother Samuel Bithell crossed the plains twice as a 'back and forth teamster'  and the family settled in Ophir, Utah.
     Just a side note about Joseph's brother Samuel who was married to Agnes Hislop, born in Scotland.
Together they had sixteen children all born in Ophir, Tooele, Utah and all but two children grew to  adulthood.  Joseph and Ellen Maria had seven children, the first three reached adulthood and the next four children died before three years of age.
In my stash of pictures found in the old trunk kept in the granary in Albion, Idaho are pictures seen below of the first two children. On the far left is Joseph James Bithell born 12 October 1875 in Ophir.  The photographer certainly caught him with eyes wide open. It's like he can't beleive what's happening!  Joseph married Lovantia Painter Card on 17 Oct 1900 in Logan Utah.  He died at the young age of forty three (18 Nov 1918).  At the time of his death he was a merchant for the Thatcher Clothing Co. in Logan and died of Bronchial Pneumonia.
      The sweet faced dainty little girl on the right was named Cora Mae Bithell.  She was born 17 May 1877 also in Ophir, Utah.  Cora married Adelbert James Mcintyre in Salt Lake City on 11 Feb 1897.  She lived to be seventy four and died on 5 Oct. 1951.  She lived in Portland, Ore.

Joseph James Bithell
b 1875 - 1918

Cora Mae Bithell
b 1877 - d 1934

 Third child born to Joseph and Ellen was Charles Kidgell Bithell born 26 Jul 1878 also in Ophir.
Charles married Emma May McDermott on 3 Jul 1901 in Salt Lake City.
He died at age fifty one from an accident when a dirt bank caved in while working in a trench on 13 Mar 1934.  He was a pipe fitter for the water department of Salt Lake City.




http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~uttooele/ophirhistory.html
     Father Joseph's occupation in the first years of married life was a livery stable keeper; living in Ophir, Utah.  The 1890 Salt Lake Directory shows the Joseph Bithell  family living in Salt Lake City at 537 S. Fifth E. Street and lists Joseph's occupation as a minor.  Did he commute to work at the mine in Ophir each day?  It's not that far away but, mining is hard work and I would think a person would be very tired at the end of the day to commute by riding a horse.  Maybe he stayed at the mine and only come home on the weekends.
   Joseph died from a terrible mining accident and his two sons were present at the time.  I found two articles about this accident; the Deseret News article is very graphic; the Salt Lake Herald article is more 'how' it happened.  With information from both articles pretty well tells the whole story of the death of Joseph.

Deseret Evening News
Monday 13 Jan 1902

DIED AT THE HOPSITAL

Accident at Queen of the Hills Mine

Fatal to Supt. Bithell

Superintendent Joseph Bithell of the

Queen of the Hills mine in Ophir dis-

trict, Tooele county, died at the Holy

Cross hospital today as the result of

Injuries received at the mine on Friday

morning last.  [10 Jan 1902]

The accident was a very violent one

and crushed the head and breast of

 the unfortunate man in a frightful

manner.  The whole of his scalp was

torn off and one of his ribs was forced

through his lungs by a car which broke

from its moorings and started down the

rails of a steep incline that he was as-

cending.  His two sons, Joseph Jr., and

Charles K. were both at the mine at

the time and the latter ran down the

mountain side a distance of five miles

at a speed that caused him to fall

to the ground exhausted.  He was taken

Into a farm house and cared for while

his message was born several miles

farther for the holding of a Utah- Ne-

vada train until the injured man could

be conveyed to Terminus preparatory

to being brought to Salt Lake.  He

 reached here late last night and was

immediately operated on but his condi-

tion was found to be so serious as his

recovery was despaired of.

The deceased lived in this city at the

corner of Third East and Edith Avenue,

and leaves in addition to the two sons

 named, a wife and daughter, the latter

being Mrs. A. J. McIntyre.  Mr. Bithell

was 55 years of age and had lived

in the west for the past 35 years.  He

was well and widely known and his

friends will be greatly shocked to learn

of his tragic fate.

 Salt Lake Herald

Tuesday 14 Jan. 1902

DIED FROM INJURIES

Joseph Bithell, Who Was Hurt in

     Mine in Dry Canyon

From injuries received in a mine acci-

dent a few days ago, Joseph Bithell, the

foreman of the Utah Queen mine in Dry

canyon, died at the Holy Cross hospital

yesterday.

The accident which cost Mr. Bithell his

life occurred last Friday.  Mr. Bithell was

standing in the incline shaft of the mine

when a “skip” loaded with ore broke

loose from the wire cable and ran with

ever increasing speed down the steep

track.  Mr. Bithell, who was standing on

the track, discovered the runaway “skip”

but too late to save himself.  He was

 struck by the heavy car and hurled

 violently against the side of the tunnel,

badly injuring his head and body.

It was thought at first that he had been

instantly killed, but he revived and was

removed that night to Holy Cross

Hospital and placed under the care of

Dr. Hosmer.  All that medical aid and

surgery could do was done, but the

 injuries affected vital parts and yesterday

morning death released the patient from

his sufferings.

Mr. Bithell was a native of England, but

Has been a resident of this country for

a number of years.  He was about 55

years of age and leave a family to

mourn his loss.

The funeral will be held from the family

 residence near Third East and Edith

 avenue.  Thursday at 2 p. m. Friend

of the family invited to attend.  

What a difficult time for the Bithell family.  I'm sure this had a life long impact on son's Joseph Jr. and Charles.  I don't know any Bithell's.  I wonder if any of Joseph and Ellen's descendants have a life history?

Ellen Maria is a widow for 20 years never to remarry.  At some point Ellen moves to Portland Oregon to live with her daughter Cora Mae.   In the Oregonian paper is her funeral notice:

19 July 1922

BITHELL -   In this city at St. Vincent's 

hospital, July 17, 1922, Ellen Maria Bithell

age 66 years.  Deceased is survived by a daughter,

Mrs. Cora McIntyre of this city; a son, Charles

Bithell, and a sister, Mrs. Sadie Hepworth, both 

of Salt Lake City, Utah; a brother, Fred Kidgell, Logan Utah. 

She was a member of Piscah Chapter Eastern Star, and of the 

Salt Lake Circle No. 559, Women of Woodcraft.  Remains

accompanied by her daughter, Mrs. Cora McIntyre, will be 

forwarded this evening by the Skewes Undertaking Co., to 

Salt Lake City, Utah, where interment will take place. 

Deseret News 20 July 1922  Funeral Notice

Funeral services for Mrs. Ellen M. Bithell who died July 15 at 

Portland, Ore, will be held Friday at 3 p.m. at the Masonic Temple.

Services will be conducted by the order of the Eastern Star.  The body

may be viewed at the Evans & Early undertakers parlors from

 11a.m. until 2 p.m.  the day of the funeral.  Interment will be in 

Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Unless more information on the Bithell's surface, this takes care of the life of Ellen Maria Kidgell Bithell. 

Sit back and breath-Finally!

     Finally, since the tenth of August of being involved in several 'Events' - life is back to normal.  No deadlines!
     I played golf yesterday(Sep 19th) and today (perfect golf weather!!) and actually got a decent score (for me) and I truly beleive it was because I didn't have so much on my mind.
     In June I was elected President of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers of the Benton Company for the next two years.    There were 'things to be done' to get the season started by the first of September. There are seven camps within the Company and over one hundred ten members. (Refereed  to as daughters.)  Benton Company DUP has never had a directory; listing of all the Camps with members and their addresses, phone numbers and e-mails.   A difficult task since DUP meetings are not held in June, July, and August.   Accomplished!  Next was a money maker project and the DUP Board Members voted on the idea of making 'Pioneer Stirring Sticks'.  Accomplished!!

This is what was made by a very willing kind man who does wood work with the help two men who sanded and did the finishing touches to create the 'Pioneer Stirring Stick.'  This is the handiest tool in my kitchen!  It is just the right size for; scraping out cans and jars - cooking - blending - tossing. (salads and such.)  Over two hundred were made and they are a big hit.  A great money maker to go towards helping to preserve and build Ancestral landmarks and supplies for the DUP Company.   A wonderful stew recipe is included.

Chuck Wagon Stew

2-1/2 lbs. beef                        28 oz.tomatoes, fresh or canned

2 Tbsp. flour                1 Tbsp. Cinnamon

1 Tbsp. paprika                        3 Tbsp. chili powder

1 tsp. chili powder       1 tsp. cloves, ground

2 tsp. salt                    ½   tsp. dry crushed red peppers

3 Tbsp. shortening      2 c. carrots, chopped

2 onions, sliced           2 c. potatoes, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

Cut beef into cubes to make about five cups.  Mix flour, paprika,

1 tsp. chili powder, and salt.  Roll beef mixture.  In a Dutch oven,

Brown the beef cubes in hot shortening.  Add onion and garlic

 and cook until soft.  Blend in tomatoes, 3 Tbsp. chili powder,

for two hours. Add carrots and potatoes and cook additional

45 minutes or until vegetables are done.

      I am also involved in our local Tri-City Genealogical Society which hosted the Washington State Genealogical Conference that was held this last weekend. (For me it started on Thursday evening)  I was glad to help out and was so impressed with the time and the enthusiastic attitudes of the Tri-City Genealogical Society board members who have put in hours and hours of planning throughout the year for a very successful conference attended by one hundred and fifty people.  About thirty more people than projected.
     On top of all this going on over the many weeks in August and September Earl and I took three road trips out of town, two to the West side of Washington and a trip to Pocatello, Idaho.
     It feels so good to have it all behind me until the next wave of events.   Now it's back to blogging about the Kidgell/Cashmore family.  Thanks for your patience and I will post about Ellen Maria Kidgell, who married into the Bithell family on Thursday pm.

 

Unable to post for a while.

Family and genealogy friends,
As you see I have not posted for a while and cannot seem to find the time for another couple of weeks.
Hope you will be patient and please check back after September 17th.  Thanks for stopping by.

Renee age two-Albion, Idaho