More on Fred Cashmore Kidgell

Utah Journal
12 March 1895

       One of my favorite searches is newspaper search.  It's arduous and very time consuming but, the results are very interesting and rewarding. Even a very small newspaper article can yield valuable clues on an ancestor and usually reveal's the character of the person.
      The following newspaper article is like having your car stolen in our day; Well almost, a car found today would not be sitting in front of your house.
     John Bullock was an older brother of Lily Jane and was visiting her and Fred when this happened:
     "Last Friday evening while John Bullock of Providence was visiting at  the residence of Mr. Fred Kidgell on Logan Island, some miscreant [troublemaker or worse] cut the strap by which the horse with which Mr. Bullock had come from Providence, was secured to a hitching post, and drove the animal away.  Fortunately the horse was gentle and well trained, and headed directly homeward, where the owner found it next morning.  This is not the first time that such a thing has happened in that neighborhood, and Mr. Kidgell is willing to pay a reasonable reward for the apprehension of the perpetrator, example may be made of him by the courts."    Way to go Fred.  Now if we only knew the 'rest of the story';  was the miscreant caught?

      Another newspaper article about Fred in 1929:

Logan Man Injured 

as Auto Leaves Road 

Logan, May 11---Fred C. Kidgell Sr., 55, of Logan sustained two broken ribs Friday morning when he drove his automobile off the highway to avoid crashing into a truck driven by Milton Thomas of Richmond and containing several children.  The accident occurred about three miles north of Smithfield when the truck driven by Thomas, attempted to pass another automobile on a curve.  To avoid colliding with the truck, Kidgell was forced to drive off the highway and into a borrow pit, causing his car to over turn.  He was brought to Logan for medical attention. 

      

      Another clipping from the local paper; 13 May 1929 stated:

Fred C. Kidgell, who had such a narrow escape from death last week when W. F. Jensen Company truck he was driving in Smithfield, overturned  when he had turned far to the road side in seeking to avoid striking a truck loaded with children attending the Health Day festivities, is reported as recovering nicely.  All who have seen the wreck wonder how he escaped death.

     Fred was thrown through the windshield hurting his head and broke several ribs.   From Fred's life history; Many of the children's parents came to the house to see him and thank him for what he had done.  

     Fred and Lily were good people; people you would love to have for a neighbor!  From the life history of Fred Sr.;

"One must realize that Fred C. Kidgell Sr. loved to cook and each Sunday he would send his children with trays of food to older neighbors.  Lily [Fred's daughter Stella Lily] would tell one day after delivering a tray to an elderly neighbor she reported to her father that they really shouldn't take food to this lady because she was sure that the food was thrown out the back door as soon as possible.  To this Fred said, "That is no problem.  We will keep taking food to her anyway."  Lily [mother] always had her children take trays of food to the older neighbors each Sunday; first they took the tray over to Grandmother Olsen and then when Mrs. Petersen died, she included Mr. Petersen.  [The Kidgell] family couldn't begin eating until the trays of hot food had been delivered."

This gracious example was carried into the next generation as shown in this newspaper article printed in 1965 about Fred C. Kidgell Jr.(first son and second child of Fred Sr. and Lily Jane) and Fred Jr.'s wife Luna (Skabelund.)   Dan Valentine's column 'Nothing Serious' was published for more than 30 years in the Salt Lake Tribune.

The Salt Lake Tribune  Wednesday Morning 24 March 1965

TODAY'S VALENTINE

A double Valentine to two of the finest neighbors in Utah.

They are Mr. and Mrs. Fred C. Kidgell of Logan Utah.

The Kidgells are neighbors to an elderly couple -- the wife has been an invalid for many years.  The husband is in his 80s.

And for many years, every Sunday of the year, Mr. and Mrs. Kidgell have prepared and delivered two trays of hot Sunday dinner....not now and then, not on special occasions---- but every Sunday over the years.

TRUE GOOD neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Kidgell 

Two days after Thanksgiving on 25 Nov 1939 Fred Cashmore Kidgell died. 

You will always be remembered.

More to come on the character of Fred and Lily Jane. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Renee

Fred Cashmore Kidgell

Lily Jane is the ninth of eleven children.

     In the life history of Lily Jane written by her daughter Melba it tells about how Lily Jane met Fred.  Remember Fred worked for his step-father at the Logan City Brewery ; "One day Fred came to Lily Jane's home to pick up a beer keg that had been left by some boys.  (One might safely surmise that Lily Jane's brothers were the boys who had left the beer keg.)  Lily went out to show him where it was.  He was a good looking fellow, stoutly built,with blue eves and a healthy complexion and brown hair.  He asked her for a date,  Later on when he asked her to go steady she told him she wouldn't go with a fellow steady that smoked. "

Ariel b1902, Fred b1897, Lily b1895
Logan, Utah

     It was a year later he was baptized into the LDS Chruch and they were soon  married in the Salt Lake Temple.
I am just realizing that other ordinances for the Kidgell family were done that same day, 14 Nov. 1894.  Fred's mother, Sarah Ann had five of her nine children sealed to her and her deceased husband Charles. Sarah Ann and Charles were sealed to each other in the Endowment House on 9 Jun 1866. Three children were born after 1866 so were BIC (Born in the Covenant.) Fred acted as proxy for his deceased father Charles.   Lily Jane acted as proxy for Caroline Loftus Kidgell who died at age nineteen months.  Others in attendance in the Temple were my great-grand mother Sarah Ann (Sadie)Kidgell Hepworth and her young son's James Edward Hepworth and Charles Vern Hepworth who acted as proxy's for three other deceased sons of Sarah Ann and Charles Kidgell.  What a joy full day this must have been.
     Fred was active in the LDS Church serving as Superintendent of the Sunday School as well as other Church positions; in 1935 Fred and Lily Jane were called by the Stake Presidency as special missionaries to do ordinances  work in the Logan Temple during that year. How they enjoyed doing this assignment. 
     Fred was a good cook; one of his specialty was making sauerkraut.  He went to the town of Providence to find out how the German people living there made it.  He had his pretty white barrel and made a tamper.  He would cut up the cabbage he grew in his garden and tamp it tight into the barrel.  Then it had to stand so long in the barrel to ferment.  Just thinking about it makes our mouths water.  (From the history written by Melba)

352 East Firs South, Logan, Utah 

More to come on Fred Cashmore Kidgell.

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.