Gene Austin Greer: My Brother

My Brother Gene

By Rene

for his 75th Birthday

I remember you helping your little sister, me, shell peanuts half of Christmas day and how hard you tried to salt them, because I loved salted peanuts. You even put a little water-a cup from the little dishes I had- then you sprinkled salt on them. I can still see you sitting at that little table. Another year I remember saying, wasn't it lucky Santa brought daddy a pocket watch because you had bought him a 'fob' for it. And you never once told me to quit believing!

I remember how you boys could go all over the orchard, from tree to tree without ever getting down. It seemed to me you slept outside a lot in the summer. Once after much begging, I was allowed to sleep outside with you. The ground was so hard, but you kept telling me how much fun we were having. Well, the stars were beautiful.

I remember the cat we had that ran up your leg and body and perched on your shoulder whenever you went out with the milk bucket. It rode down to the barn and as milked, you would squirt some of that good, warm milk into its mouth. How do I know it was good? You told me it was, but I never really liked it. I also remember the sad demise of the cat. We were out under the tree shucking corn to be bottled. You would fill the wagon with corn and bring it to us. As most cats are, it was curious and it sniffed and nibbled on the cor. It even tried to eat that which was ready to go in the house. Finally Mother because so exasperated she told you to "get that cat out of here and keep it out'. She said she didn't care what you did with it . So you tied it up to Daddy's fast operated grinding wheel with the only thing you could find-a piece of wire. When the corn was all in the house, you went to untie the cat but it was gone-wire and all! In the frenzy to get off, it jumped into the bushes and was hanged. I remember saying we would all miss that cat but wondered how you could ever go to milk the cow without the cat.

Do you remember gathering around the radio on Saturday nights while Mother and Daddy had gone to a dance, listening to The Shadow and another program that talked about criminals and where they were wanted? I got so frightened and you said, 'don't worry, they can't cross the state line.' Of course I believed you and was I surprised on my first trip to Ogden to see there was no high wall around Idaho after all.

Another time we were not being very good while the folks were gone. Mother kept her new electric iron on top of the 'press.' We had a scuffle and the iron fell off. we knew we were in trouble if it was broken so we took an oath not to tell what had happened. thank goodness it was not hurt a bit. But we were some uneasy kids until ironing day.

I remember you big boys flooding the hill so it would get ice so no traffic would get up it. What breath taking rides we had on the sleigh. it was a steep hill! I always thought you were brave to go to the cellar to get potatoes or apples. I was sure there was spiders there-not just spiders, but Black Widows!

I also remember you taking the lid off the big frying pan and stealing a big mouthful of potatoes, right from the pan. Yes you got scaled but you loved fried potatoes! And also stuffed peppers and still do. Later we all loved the food at the old Layton Noodle Parlor.

After we moved to Willard, I remember both you and Jr. got skates for Christmas. You would go down to Willard Bay to skate. I always wanted to go. Jr. would say 'No we don't want you to tag along.' But you would say, 'Oh come on.' I only had boots to slide around in but it was fun! Then you went back to Malad, graduated from Malad High. You and Fern got married and you got into the thick of WWII. After you were wounded, we were glad to have you home. You have always been a good hard worker. I remember once when you and Jr. were both out of work. He said he couldn't afford to work just anywhere and he didn't But you went to work for the railroad. You said you couldn't afford not to.

Doug remembers that you have always been an upbeat person with a ready smile and a willingness to help others.

We remember you and Fern coming to sit with us when J.D. was hurt and being operated on. J.D. says he remembers you driving that big old school bus, swinging in the tire swing you had built, of going down to the 'crick' not the river. Also remembers the family reunion in the park across from your house. Gary remembers going to the crick and falling in again and again.

Lori remembers you coming to see her at Primary Hospital. She mostly remembers your laugh and the twinkle in your eye. They both remind her of Grandpa Greer. Larry remembers going to the crick and also playing kick the can with everyone. Judy remembers your white hair and smile. And Troy has grown up memories of you coming to visit with us at the doctor's office and hospital.

Thanks for the many memories of all you did to help me have a happy childhood and all your kindness and love and as we have grown older all the meals we've shared at the Chuck-O-Rama.

I love you and am so glad you been and are my big brother.

Rene

My Brother Gene

by Alene

I remember when you had the measles-I had them too- We were probably 4 or 5. We were living up 2 Mile. I remember the bright blue wall and rough plaster. The second house where "Cap" lived and all his trunks and white peppermints and of course "ex-lax". I remember you fed them to me because they were "special candy".

I remember when Daddy took us in the car- who's I don't know- we were across the river from the house and Daddy was repairing the fence and a "big" bull was in the field- Daddy told us to say in the car but the bull came up to the fece and you decided we should get out of the car and run back to the house- I don't know how we were going to get across the river but run we did and the old bull running along the fence with us- fortunately for us, Daddy saw us and rescued us.

We would always go to Malad on Saturday and take the cream or whatever we had to sell- and came back way after dark.Then Daddy would put us on a horse to go up in the "Danes" far filed to get the cows and drive them back to the corral so Daddy could milk them. We'd get up to that far field and the coyotes would howl and you, my friend, would get off the horse (cause you could get back on) and leave me on the horse while you threw rocks into the trees to scare the coyotes. I would cry and you'd be mad cause I scared the coyotes.

We had a great life- we were poor but didn't know it. I remember when you took wood to town with Daddy and he accidentally ran over you with the wagon. I was so scared when you were in the hospital . I never knew Dr Mabey, but I hated him.

I remember beating Billy K. Evans up because he hit you in the head with a snowball. I remember beating him up another time when he pushed you off the slippery slide. You were bigger than i was but you were also nicer-so I fought your battles.

I remember in high school in Brigham- you had history in the morning and I had it in the afternoon and we had the same teacher and you'd tell me the test at lunch - that way I could get a "C" instead of an "F".

I remember when you got your driver's license and we borrowed Daddy's Model A and got Grant and Iva Lou budge and we went to Downey and down through Logan and back through Brigham and home we were gone all day and into the evening. We got home, no one was home but there was fried chicken and potato salad and chocolate cake and we helped ourselves and took off again - we went to Samaria and Pleasantview and to Budges about 9pm. We dumped Grant and Iva Lou out and went home. We got a scotch blessing and rightfully so - I don't remember if we ever got the car again.

I do remember Daddy's looks - and not saying a whole lot but taking our skates away -(ice skates) and we didn't skate the rest of the season. I remember when you went in the service - and when you were wounded. I can't remember anything negative in our relationship with each other throughout our life.

Among the things it took me years to forgive you for (I say years, because I was 12 before I went to Salt Lake City) is that on Wednesday night they had bank night at the theater in town. You bought a ticket and they had a drawing at the end of the show and whoever they drew got $100, but you to the there. Mother and Daddy went a lot of times, so we kids stayed home. (This was summer) You boys loved "Gang Busters" on the radio. it started off with sirens and gunshots ect. I'd be crying my eyes out before the story ever started and you would try to console me. You'd tell me this was in Salt Lake City on (KSL) and no one could get over the Utah Line. You said there was a big 40 or 50 foot rock wall on the State line and I felt so blessed no robbers ever got to us. Why would they- we were to poor. Then I discovered there was no wall!!!

I was always, and still am, proud of my "big brother"-

Good luck in the next 75 years - I love you,

#1 Sis,

Alene

Gene,

You have always been someone that I admired and knew I could call you a great friend. You are a stalwart of truth and kindness. I don't ever recall an angry word or show of temper. I truly appreciate the experiences we have had together. In later years, I have felt a true brotherhood with you. Continue as you are always,

Alene's other half,

Wayne

Gwenford/Winnifred Williams Jones

Gwenford William Jones

found on Ancestry.com

submitted by bdbowen67

Winnifred or Gwenford is noted as first name. died from heart attack Gwenford/Winnifred Williams Jones Gwen as she was most known was born on 14 Feb 1869 at E T Tooele, Utah. She was the fourth of twelve children born to Jinkin Williams and Rachel Vaughan. Her parents belong to the LDS Church but for some reason they were excommunicated.They then joined the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In the Spring 1870 they moved to Malad Valley, in Idaho. At that time they had 5 children William, Maria, Rachel, Gwenford, and Jinkin the baby.

They located at Cherry Creek, six miles south of Malad. This neighborhood consisted of five families, Daniel Tovy's, Benjamin William's, John D Jones' first family Moses Dudley's second family and Adam Peabody (bachelor).Her first schooling was at Willow Springs, Idaho. Finally Cherry Creek erected a school. The school terms in those days were three months. Her father was killed in 1884, when a shed fell on him one Sunday morning. Her mother finally moved to Malad with the younger group of her unmarried children, where she felt she would have a better opportunity of supporting her large family. I need not mention how nobly she performed this service. County charity was never accepted by her, she peddled goods and helped with the sick.

When Gwen was thirteen she milked at the Dairy of Stephania Jones, at the head of Malad. She milked 20 cows a day for $1.50 a week. She later worked for Verl Dives, where she worked until she got married at the age of twenty. It was 13 Mar 1888 that she married John Morris Jones, son of John D Jones and Mary Jane Jones. They had a church wedding, which was a double wedding, with John G Evans and Sarah Ann Jones (John Morris sister) being married at the same time by John Morris and Sarah Ann's father Marrying them.

Gwen and John raised 9 children in a 2 room house with a santy. In 1908 they moved into their new house which was about a block north of their old one. While they were there they had another child, (ten children in all) a little girl named Edna Maurine. Edna died when she was 10 months old from fumes fumigating the house. William James died of a lingering illness at the age 11.

When Morris, the second born, lost his wife in death on 24 May 1926, leaving5 children motherless, Gwen and John took them into their home to help Morris raise them. It was on 24 Jul 1931 that John died at the age of 73. Morris and his family remained with Gwen, with Morris operating her farm for her. Almost one year after John's death, Winnie their youngest remaining daughter died of a head infection, In 1941 her son John died. Gwen lived in Cherry Creek the rest of her life taking care of herself and son, doing her own housework until the morning when death took quickly at 82 without warning in her home for so many years, where she raised two families. She died 7 Sep 1950 and buried at Cherry Creek, Idaho.

Her granddaughter, Connie loved to go to Cherry Creek in the summer time and work on the farm. She says her Grandma Jones was always singing. She loved hearing her sing both in Welch and English. What a thrill for Connie with other members of the family and after a lot of writing letters to the leaders of the church and to members of the family to see how many were active in the church. Jinkin Williams and Rachel Vaughan was reinstated into the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on 23 Feb 1967 in the Logan Temple. Then had all their children sealed to them. Connie got to go and stand in as proxy for her Grandmother Gwen. What a great day it was to be there with other members of the family to getthis work done.

A Grandmother's Love

Tracie Turner

told by Donna Tolman

When Grandma Fern Jones Greer was sick, we were very worried about her. My Mom (Donna) worried about her being alone in the nursing home. My Dad prayed asking for some peace regarding the situation. In the morning he asked my Mom if she knew who Gwen was. She said the name sounded familiar. He told her that he dreamed that a woman named Gwen was there with her, taking care of her. My Mom pulled out her pedigree charts and discovered that Gwenford was her Mom's (Fern's) grandmother. Gwenford had passed before my mom was born so she never really new about her. This gave them great peace. Isn't that just like a Grandma to take care of her grandchildren.

Gwen Jones with some of her Grandchildren

John Morris Jones

John Morris Jones

found on Ancestry.com

written by bdbowen67

John Morris Jones was born 3 Mar 1858 in Willard, B-Elder, UT known as Pawn town. He was the 3rd child and oldest son of John David Jones and Mary Jones. Jones was also his mother's maiden name. He was one of ten children born to this couple. They had four boys and six girls: Mary Jane, Elizabeth, John Sarah Ann, David "W", Morris Henry, Brigham, Rose Anne, Margaret Ellen and Charlotte. They lived many years in Willard. John was educated inWillard, UT. John started freighting at 13 years old. He was a dry farmer and ran range cattle.They lived in Polygamy and on the 10th Feb 1857 his father John David Jones married Sarah James. They had 10 children also. Which gave John half brothers and sisters. Namely Benjamin David, Catherine Ann, William Henry, Evan George, Rachel, Joseph Alonzo, Ester Jane, Hannah, Annie Elizabeth, and Hyrum John. John and Ben were really close, they both got the burnt of things and had to take care of their families.

John was educated and probably got his education in Willard, Utah. When he was eleven years old in April 1869, John's father moved his 1st family to Cherry Creek, Idaho to homestead. Cherry Creek was a desolate, sage brush flat with lots of snakes, coyote and wolves. They went there with two other families. They took with them cattle, sheep and chickens.He moved his second family to Cherry Creek sometime later. John was 11 years old when they made the move. I am sure at this young age, he helped his father clear the land.

In the spring of 1870 another family: William Jenkins Williams and his wife Rachel Vaughan and family moved to Cherry Creek, Idaho. They had a daughter named Gwen. John and Gwen were married 13 March 1888. They had a church wedding ,which was a double wedding because John G Evans and Sarah Ann Jones being the other couple being married. John Morris and Sarah's father, who was the Bishop of the Cherry Creek Ward performed the ceremony. John started freighting when he was 13 years old. John and Gwen lived in one of the rooms of Grandma Williams, across from where Verl Moon lived. Someone asked why John waited so long to get married, He was 30. He said he had to take care of his family, his brothers and sisters. Uncle Ben took care of his family too. John and Gwen raised 9 children in a 2 room house and a shanty.

 In 1908 they moved into their new home, which was about a block of their old one.While they were there they had another child. They had 10 children, this was a little girl, Edna Maurine. Edna was 9 months old when she died from the fumes of fumigating the house. John and Gwen's children are: Rachel Cecelia, Morris Henry, John Benjamin, William James, Walter Davis, Mary Elizabeth, Verl Dives, Mildred, Winnie, Edna Maurine. William James died of a lingering illness at the age 11.

John started freighting when he was 13 years old and continued doing it most of life. He would go from Corrine, Utah to Butte, Montana. It would take him about six weeks to make a trip. He would make 2 or 3 trips each summer. John was also a dry farmer and ran range cattle. John had many interesting stories to tell about his freighting adventures. Everyone young and old liked to listen to them. He said one night he had hobbled his horses for the night (the horses learned to hobble in them). When he went to look for them, he went around the bend, suddenly there in front of him was standing a big bear. The hair on his neck stood up. His ax and everything was in the wagon. He said he looked at the bear and the bear looked at him. He said he put his hand down the bears throat, got hold of his tail and pulled the bear inside out.

 He said the Indians would roll rocks on the freight wagons as they would go through the narrows around Blackfoot and Pocatello. One time a rock hit him on the hip and left a big scar. He said one time he and some other freighters were on the road, but had camped for the night. He said an army officer stopped at their camp. He told them to unload their wagons, he was commandeering their wagons. He needed them and would be back in the morning for them. He wanted them to haul dead soldiers bodies back from where they had been fighting. The whole freighting camp moved out in the night so they wouldn't lose all the things they were hauling. When they went freighting, they went in wagon trains. When they would meet another train on the wagon trail, the best fighter from each train would get out and they would have a fist fight to find out which train would pull to the side and let the other train pass.

John was a gentle and a kind man and his word was his bond. He was a very honest man. He didn't feel he had to sign a contract. He had a nice personality. Aunt Mildred said Uncle Verl's personality is a lot like his dad's. His daughter in law, Estella said he was a very kind man. Everyone remembers him sitting in the rocking chair in the corner. I remember him getting up and stoking the fire. He loved his cigar. He had light brown curly hair which he never lost. DeLone said he liked to dress up and when he did, he'd stay dressed up all day.

When his son Morris' wife died, Morris and his 5 children moved in with John and Gwen, so they could help raise the children. There were: Maurice, LaMar, Jink, DeLone and Elda. Elda died soon after. One time when Maurice was a teenager, he got upset about something while working. He came in and said that he was going to run away. Some of the family were worried about it. John said, "don't worry, he'll be back." Sure enough that evening he came back.

When John got sick in Jul 1931, He had kidney disease, he would not let anyone except his wife and daughter-n-law Estelle take care of him. When he was sick, he said to his wife, "Gwen, I love you, but I've always been a Mormon." (Gwen was a Josephite). John died 24 Jul 1931 in Cherry Creek, Idaho and is buried in Cherry Creek.

Gwen joined the Mormon church 22 Jul 1933 and was sealed to John 23 Jul 1933 in the Logan Temple.

He married Winnifred Williams 13 Mar 1888 in Cherry Creek, Oneida, ID. He died 24 Jul 1931in Cherry Creek, ID of kidney disease.

Pamela June Jones

Infant Jones

Malad- Pamela June Jones, 12 days, daughter of William B and Barbara Bouwhuis Jones, died Thursday in Oneida Hospital of a heart condition. She was born May 16, at Malad.

Survivors are the parents; brother, Brad and William; sisters, Patricia, Penny, and Peggy, all of Malad; grandparents, Fred Bouwhuis, Salmon; Mrs. Laura M Bouwhuis, Maywood Calif., and Mrs. Veda Jones, Malad.

Funeral services will be Saturday at 2 p.m. in Benson Funeral Home. Friends may call at Benson Funeral Home tonight and Saturday prior to services.

Burial will be in Cherry Creek Cemetery.

Idaho State Journal May 29, 1964

John Benjamin Jones

John B Jones

by

Jack O Jones

son

John Benjamin Jones was born in Cherry Creek on Nov 16 1892 to John Morris Jones and Gwenford Williams. He died on Nov 10 1941 at the Oneida County Hospital at the age of 49. He was the third in a family of ten children, five boys and five girls.

I can remember my dad as being a fine man and father and husband. I can't recall his ever being any thing but loving and cosiderate for my mother. He was a hard worker and received very little for his efforts. There was eight of us children in his family and we were all wiell taken care of.

He was a farmer all of his life along with being a ranger rider for the cattle association for many years which was a contributing factor in his death. He was a brand inspector for many years.

He expected us to do our part in helpin on the farm with the work involved in getting the crops besides the daily chores of milking the cows, feeding the chickens and pigs and ect. After Woodrow got killed at the age of ten I guess I worked beside my dad a little closer being the next oldest son.

Dad and Mother purchased a house from Ed Vaughan out in the haylands south of Malad and moved it to Cherry Creek to be our home. I am not sure of the date but as our family grew larger dad hired ben Williams to build on two rooms which were used as a kitchen and bedroom. He owned about forty acres of ground in Cherry Creek which was dry land and was used for our keep and the necessities of life. He didn't own any equipment or horses. So any work that was done he had to borrow from his dad (my grandfather) who lived a mile away. This usually resulted in plan changing if grandfather was using the horses and machinery dad would have to wait several days sometimes to get his work done. This was the situation for many years. He finally bought the place next to our's from the Powell family after Charley Powell did. Charlie and dad had a lot of differences and fights over water and other things other the years. I can't remember them ever agreeing or getting along on anything. dad bought the property to try to provide better for his family.

Later in life he accepted the job of Range Rider for the cattlemans association to try to provide better things for his family. He rode a horse to the hills every day and put in long hard hours. I used to ride with him whenever there was an extra horse available and had the work on the farm done. he had to have several horses and would rotate them each day so the horses could rest.

I remember the 1st car he bought was a Model T Ford and we really thought we were living high. This was about 1927 I think. I remember we were going to town one day and by the old Cherry Creek school the door of the car came open and sister Fern fell out on the gravel road and scared us to death we just new she was dead but the Lord was with us because she was just cut and bruised up real bad.

The next car he bought was a new 1930 Chevrolet sedan. He would take us to town on Saturday night and we would coax him to go faster so he would stap it up to fifty miles an hour for about a mile and we really thought we were flying.

Riding the range for several years the cattlemans assoc. wanted dad to move up into the hills so he could watch the range a little closer. So he moved us into the hiss each summer to live. We lived in a sheep camp and tent. The only time we left there was when we went to town for groceries and when work had to be done on the farm like putting up hay or cutting the grain. We lived this way for several years during the summer months.

He would never stay away from home over night. he used to come home as late as twelve o'clock at night rather than stay with someone away from home.

I remember when he had his teeth pulled He had pyorea real bad. He chewed tobacco all the time and had to have his teeth out. he went to Malad to Dr Thomas Richards and Dr Richards would get hold on a tooth and would put his foot in Dad's chest to get leverage and when the tooth came Dr Richards would fall on his back on the floor. That was the way Dad explained it anyway. He said he would never go to another dentist. He went for months without any teeth because he wouldn't go back. Finally Dr Richard talked him into letting him come down home to take the impression for his new teeth. I can remember us kids all gathered around while Dr Richars was taking the impression and Dad not wanting him to do it. After he got his new teeth he had quite a time getting used to them because he would getting used to them because he would never go back and get them looked at again. We used to sit out by the house in the shad in the evenings when he had time and would talk and he would whittle on a stick of wood. Usually he would sit and scrape on his false teeth with a pocket knife because they hurt his mouth. He used to sith and brush his hair for long periods of time. He hated to see his hair getting thin and thought brushing would stop it from falling out. He never did go completely bald.

Dad didn't belong to the church and never went at all that I can remember. he used to tell me I ought to be in church on Sunday but never forced any of us to go. I remember him feeling bad and a little unhappy with me when I took my first job away from home but he didn't stop me from going.

He was never in a hospital or ever went to see a medical doctor as I can remember. I guess hard work kept him healthy. He wasn't a big man. about 5'9" tall and usually wighed about 180 to 200 lbs.

When his illness came upon him he went to the hospital in Malad and then was transferred to Ogden to the hospital. I lived in Ogden at the time they found out there that nothing could be done for him so he went back home and then to hospital in Malad again where he passed away a short time after.

John Benjamin and Veda Eggleston Jones