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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Happy New Year from the PETERSEN family.


     It's been a long time since we have had a 'baby' at the Petersen Family gathering on Christmas Eve. What a blessing to have our first Great-grandchild; he was born in February so that makes him ten months old, born to our oldest Granddaughter Cassidy and Grandson-in-law Nick.  
      He does the army crawl and walks when he feels like it.  I just could not resist posting about the new Twig on the Branch of our Family Tree.
     The captions were written by his Grandmother.

Before opening presents.......


New Sled.

Strapped into new Sled - Thanks Ggrandpa and Ggrandma Petersen.

Still new Sled.


"Pooh Bear...out of my new sled."
"OOOOH"


"Why is my sled not moving?"


"I want my sled to go!"

"Please, for the love of Pete make this sled go"



"Thanks Dad, carpet is as good as snow for now."



"All this excitement is making me tired but, I love this small piece of paper."
"Dad, I will be able to palm that ball in about three days..just you watch me."


"That's IT!"





"After opening presents NOT so fun anymore."



"Grandmother Nicole says even when I scream I am cute."



"Where's my sled?!"



A couple of days later........"This is more like it!"



Earl-Adrian-Maddison-Christopher-Nick-Knox-Cassidy-Renee-Nicole




The Petersen Family has so much to be grateful for.....
 And We Wish Everyone!








Thank You for stopping by.......



Saturday, December 17, 2011

Oh Christmas Tree! Happy Christmas Memory.

      To me the Christmas tree, more than any other Christmas tradition has become to represent the very essence of the season.   A few years ago, about 2009 I wrote about the following Christmas tree memory. 
Icicles of the past!  I still have the 'story book '
doll my mother is putting under the tree. abt 1950.
     Even selecting the family Christmas Tree is different than what I remember as a young  girl.  This year Earl and I selected the first tree we saw, fresh to the touch, just the height we wanted, beautifully proportioned and the price was right.  The salesperson took an electric saw and made a fresh cut of the trunk then it was put through a cylinder that covered it with plastic netting.  Tied to the top of the car for the ride home my thoughts were of Christmas many years ago while living in a small town of Jerome, Idaho.  
     My first visual image of the most beautiful Christmas Tree in the world was when I was about five years old.  It was from a Coca-Cola commercial before the movie started at our local Voris movie theater.  This was the same advertisement for Coca-Cola every year, not in color film but, in black and white.  I would sit watching with excitement seeing a jolly round Santa holding the Coke bottle but my attention was on the brilliant, bright, dazzling Christmas Tree in the background.  It was decorated with the big lights (The ones you see as decoration on the outside of the house today,) long sparkling tinsel that went around and around from the top to the base of the tall tree, breathtaking round ball ornaments and gleaming long heavy icicles on every twig.  It was a tree my mother tried to emulate in our small modest home. 
     When I would go with Mom and Dad to find the perfect tree it was exhausting.  We would go from tree lot to tree lot but the choices of finding the symmetrical was non-existent.  Dad would grow tired and Mother would be frustrated with the choices.  One year when I was about nine or ten years old Mother sent just the two of us to buy the tree.  "Vern, you know what to look for, so take Renee, I'm busy getting the baking done."  Dad and I thought we did a pretty good job picking out our tree but, when Mother came outside to make the final approval of the tree, she was disappointed and burst into tears, "that's the best you can do?"  Dad calmly replied, "You know Verona, I will fix it to look better."  With that said, Dad would go to his tool chest and get his hand saw and hand drill.  He would saw branches off the bottom the the tree then drill a hole in the trunk of the tree where it visibly needed another branch.  He would would then carefully fit the sawed off branch into the hole.  He would do this in several spots, wherever Mother thought it needed an added branch.  Then Dad would put the tree on a box that had been wrapped in Christmas paper.  That made it easier to put the presents underneath the tree.  Dad would put on the big herky jeweled colored lights then the sparkling tinsel, next the breathtaking round ball ornaments, then Mother would spend what seemed to me hours putting on the gleaming long heavy icicles, many strands to a branch very straight and organized.  To me it was beautiful.  This is still my memory of the most beautiful tree, as a child waiting for Christmas Day. 
Taken at Aunt Louise and Grandmother's home.
About 1950


     This picture is of all the family I ever knew on my father's side.  Cousin Ardyth, Aunt Louise, cousin Lee, Grandmother Ethel Hepworth Tomlinson and my self. Only Ardyth and myself are still living today. 

     This is the year (abt 1951) I got a new Schwinn bike!
Dad was principal of Jerome Jr. High and earned a very, very modest salary.  During holiday seasons, Christmas and Easter on Saturday's and school vacation he worked in the men's clothing department called Tingwalls Department Store in Jerome.   This was extra cash for Christmas and always a new Easter outfit.  I can't think of anything I asked for that I didn't get at Christmas time.  I hope I expressed my gratitude for all they did for me.  
      Today, I have added another favorite tree symbol;  The Family Tree!
Merry Christmas to All!  


Saturday, December 10, 2011

Great Grandmother enjoys swimming at Saltair.

Stella Lily?  Sadie  Lily Jane
Saltair, Utah
    It's a cold day today where I live to be thinking about swimming in the Great Salt Lake (aka Saltair) where these bathing beauties had their picture taken.       My father put together a family album years ago that I have looked at a hundred times and it wasn't until last week that I spotted this picture and finally realized who is in this picture. Dad had two of the women labeled right; He put 'unknown' for the lady on the left, in the middle is Great grandmother Sarah (Sadie) Kidgell Hepworth and on the right is Lily Jane Kidgell a sister-in-Law to Sadie.  I'm wondering if the 'Unknown' is a daughter of Lily Jane either Stella Lily or Melba and I'm leaning more toward Stella Lily.  I found this photo on Ancestry.com of Stella lily, even though the 'Salt Air' pic is not very clear I can see a resemblance in comparing this pic with the one below.  Wouldn't you agree?
Stella Lily Kidgell
b1895-1974
You will notice the bathing hat on Stella is more updated than the two more 'old fashion' style of bathing cap on Sadie and Lily Jane.
     Pictures of people bobbing around in the Great Salt Lake always looking like they were having a great time have always been an interest to me yet, I have never been there. Here are two links to learn more about the resort of Saltair that opened on Memorial Day 

Monday, December 5, 2011

Verona would be Ninety Seven today.


   

     Today is Mother's birthday; 5 Dec 1914. She would be ninety seven. 

     While living in Jerome, Idaho Mother sang in a trio. That was how they were known, The Trio with Beverly Woolley singing alto, Opel Webster second soprano and Mother sang soprano. Mother didn't read music so Bev would play her part on the piano until she would have her part memorized. They enjoyed practicing and singing together so much that they became very good friends. They sang for everything in the Magic Valley, school events, church activities, weddings, funerals, granges etc. 

     Bev and Opal were farmers’ wives but, Mother lived in town; Dad was Principal of the Jerome Jr. High School. The three of them seemed more like sisters than just friends. The husbands often would go with them to many of their performances and they became good friends too. The six of them enjoyed going to shows and dances, or just visiting. The Woolley's and Webster's had children my age and our families would get together for picnic's, we celebrated birthday's together and always the Fourth of July. I have wonderful memories of fun times with the Woolley's and Webster's. It was a sad time when we moved from Jerome to Pocatello in 1954. 

     They sang popular songs of the time or would make up words to popular music that would fit whatever occasion, like a tribute to someone. 

     Christmas time brings a memory to me of when The Trio recorded a record at the KEEP Radio Station; Fred Waring's arrangement of 'Twas the night Before Christmas' with Keith Johansen as the soloist.  In about 1978 Dad took the scratchy old 78' vinyl record and recorded it on a cassette tape. I just played it, you can still hear their voices through the scratches. Oh my, if that doesn't take me back to a happy warm place of almost sixty years ago. I wonder with the new technology today if the cassette can be made like new again? 
     My very favorite Christmas Song that Bev, Opal and Verona sang was 'Winter Wonderland.'     

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOTHER!



Thursday, December 1, 2011

A Tribute to Fred Cashmore Kidgell

Fred Cashmore Kidgell b 20 Dec 1871
 d 25 Nov 1939 Age 67
     Great-Uncle Fred died at the early age of sixty seven.   I really like this man and from this picture I can see where my father got his ears.  He died before I was born however, my older brother was four.  Did the family attend his funeral?  Grandmother Ethel? Aunt Louise? My father?  As I remember, Fred was one person that was talked about in my family.
In my research of G-Uncle Fred this is what I found I love about him;
  • A hard worker; someone who kept busy all the time. 
  • Once he was baptized in the LDS Church he was very devoted. 
  • Provided a fun loving home for his children, his children's friends and grandchildren
  • Could Cook wonderful Sunday Meals!
  • Was a gardener 
  • Could sing and play a banjo
  • A good neighbor
 This story is from Lily Jane's life history;
"...........Fred, played the banjo and sang bass.  After they were married Lily Jane took lessons on the guitar. She got so she could play and sing with her husband.  They used to sing and play the Gay Nineties songs, such as 'Bicycle Built for Two, After the Ball was Over, and Take me Out to the Ballgame .'"  Their son, Fred Charles, wouldn't leave his father's banjo alone and he kept loosening the keys.  It was so hard to get it tuned up that [Fred] gave up playing the banjo so Lily Jane gave up playing the guitar."


From the life history of Fred:
     "On Friday night, November 17, 1939, Fred Kidgell went ward teaching.  Before he left every body was kidding him because he looked so good. [while visiting in one of the homes] his companion said to [Fred] how he didn't look very good and they went outside for some fresh air.  He walked from the house to the gate and stood by a big tree.  He had a heart attack and they took him home.  He lived just one week after that and died on 25 November 1939."


     "One of his neighbors talked at his funeral.  [He] said what a wonderful neighbor he had been.  He called the path between his home and Fred Kidgell's a 'friendship path.'"  This 'friendship path' had been there for years, even before this neighbor had moved there.  An elderly lady, Mrs. Westerburg, had lived in this home and for years the Kidgell's had taken a hot dinner to her every Sunday and holiday. 
     
     I'm sure Lily Jane was heart broken when her beloveded, devoted husband died.  She was left a widow for twenty three years. 


    Great Uncle Fred I will always remember you.  


Next; The last years of Lily Jane Bullock Kidgell 



Wednesday, November 23, 2011

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





Thursday, November 17, 2011

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.

Monday, November 14, 2011

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!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

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. 

Saturday, October 15, 2011

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'!