History Page 5

Emily Crofts Leyshon

Emily, whom he had known in Wales was working at the boarding house where William was living. They soon resumed their friendship and fell in love. They were married in Provo, Utah, on June 15, 1881 by John E. Booth. They built a two room log cabin at Winter Quarters, Carbon, Utah and decided that a new room would be added after the birth of each child. While there they were blessed with seven children and their house became quite large. They decided to travel to Salt Lake City and have their children sealed to them; Lewis born Jan. 15, 1883, Sarah Jane born Dec. 14, 1884, Lettice born Sept 17, 1886., Emily born Apr. 5, 1888, William born Jan. 8, 1890, Martha born Dec. 17, 1891, and Hyrum born Mar 13, 1894. This was done on February 26, 1896. While at the temple, William and Emily did work for Lettice, William's first wife, and her two small children. Later in Winter Quarters William and Emily were blessed with three more children; Ezra born Sep. 16, 1896, Lorenzo born Jan. 19, 1899, and Mary born Dec. 1, 1901. They then moved to Spanish Fork, Utah where their last two children were born; Nephi born May 13, 1904 and Rachel Munerva born Apr 19, 1905/6.

Shortly after Emily and William were married, William's two children Joseph and Alice came to live with them. At a young age Joseph ran away and joined the Navy. Nothing was ever heard from him until William's death, Joseph then came to his father's funeral. He was then again never heard from until one day the State of California notified Sarah, his half sister, that he was found dead in an ally. He was buried in California and his flag was given to Hyrum, his half brother. During the time Alice was with William and Emily, she gave birth to a baby out of wedlock. She gave the baby to some people by the name of Meadows, in Pon Town. Later the Meadows moved to Canada and Alice went on to Salt Lake City where she married and later died.

Six years after William and Emily were married there was a bad flood in Winter Quarters which took all their clothes and home. But the miners came and helped build a new home and supply food and clothes. A few years later a big boulder rolled into their house and again the fellow miners aided in the repair.

William and Emily did a lot of ordinance work for the dead in the Salt Lake Temple. William who worked mostly in the coal mines was also known for the good he did with herbs. Although he never had any formal training, he was called "doc" by many people. William's father who was also an herb doctor had taught William how to use herbs for the benefit of healing. William not only helped but saved many people in Winter Quarters and around the country with the herbs he mixed. Emily was often by his side. She was also a midwife. Friends referred to them as "doctor" and "nurse".

William and Emily never forgot the mine disaster of May 1, 1900 when their eldest son, Lewis, was killed. William told his son to stay home but Lewis knew they were in need of money and that his father was too sick to go so he went. When they moved to Spanish Fork, they lost their second son, Leland, who was only nine. After all their trials, William said, "Em, my dear, console yourself and let us call on the Lord and do our duty unto Him and He will carry us through." William was truly a man of great faith.

Sixteen years before his death, William was injured which was caused by working in the coal mines of Winter Quarters. It left him paralyzed for the rest of his life. Six of those years were spent in bed but he kept up his courage and hope, and succeeded to recover enough to provide a living for his family until he died. Despite all of his troubles, even during his sickness, William never failed to pay his tithes and offerings. When sorrow and death prevailed, William strove to live the gospel and be a wonderful father and husband.

William loved sports and the outdoors. Fishing was one of his great pastimes. Emily shared in his enthusiasm for fishing by bottling the fish for winter. A game called "Chicken Fight" was one of William's favorites. William also had a dog which he loved dearly. Often times the dog would pull the children with the wagon on the sleigh.

William tried very hard to teach Emily how to read and write, but later as sickness and children came there wasn't much time. Emily received no form of formal schooling and never knew how to read or write. When signing her name, she simply made an "X".

One of the mines in Winter Quarters was called for many years the Leyshon mine. However the name was later changed when William was unable to make money on the mine and a new man took over.

William and Emily and their family did such odd jobs as clean school, churches, washed and ironed for the miners, to help with expenses. Emily cooked in a boarding house to help with expenses. William was the first to arrange for playgrounds for children. He also was the first in organizing baseball, hopscotch and other games for children. Lettice, Sarah, Alice, Lewis, and Joseph kept the playgrounds clean every day. While Emily and William were living in Leland, their crop of wheat was destroyed. William said, "Never mind, Em, some chicken will come and eat the wheat that's left."

Leyshon home in Leland, Utah

William loved his family dearly, and even during his sickness when confined to a wheelchair or bed, he was more than happy to have one of his children sit on his lap. He often read them stories and when confined to a wheelchair gave them rides on it.

After moving to Leland, Utah, William was sick most of the time. While in Leland they lived in a four room house on a farm. William didn't know much about farming however.

William Leyshon (age 56) died August 5, 1905 in Spanish Fork. He left his wife, Emily with eleven children and the 12th on the way. Rachel, was born eight months after his death. William felt much love for his family as expressed in his last words which were, "Em, don't work too hard, but do keep the children together. All my love to you and the children."

John and Frances Rovsek

John Rovsek and his wife , Frances Rovsek first moved to Kenilworth around 1910. Their first son John jr. was with them. John Rovsek worked in the mines, and Frances took in boarders.

Approximately 1912, John Rovsek signed a lease with Matt Andler of Hiawatha, to lease property in section 24, it was a 5 year lease, and he wanted to dairy farm. Much isn't known about this time, only what was found in records.

Approx. 1917 or 1918, John Rovsek signed a new lease, most likely with the mining company, to dairy farm. Since their are no records left, and the area has changed so much, we can only speculate at the location. But we believebased upon a 1912 topo map of Hiawatha, it shows a dairy in section 27. This would also concur with stories Fred Rovsek has told. My father, Fred , has said they had cows, pigs, goats, sheep and horses. Fred would go with his brothers John jr. and Adolph to sell milk etc. to people who lived in the community.

Fred Rovsek remembers Michael Jr. Dikleva, he used to play with him. He lived at house #602. He also remembers Frank and Teresa Zele. They were friends of the family. We also know The Kostelic's were family friends sinceRosa Kostelic was Freds godmother and the Rovsek boys use to play with Frank Kostelic.

My aunt, Marjorie Rovsek, remembers the principal, Mr. Grant. She also remembers a teacher named Mrs. Funk. She liked her because she used to take the class hiking.Some of the children she and her brothers and sister usedto play with are Lucille Babcock, Fern and Mary Pikas, and a boy with the last name of Wycherly. She couldn't remember the name of the sheriff at that time, but she remembered his horse being a beautiful black with a silver bridle and saddle. The kids all loved him. One other person she remembered was Reverend Walberg, who lived in town. She did not know what religion he was.

Both Fred and Marjorie have told us many stories of their life as children. They both loved it there, along with the rest of the family. The mountains especially, and all the open land. But in 1928, many people were leaving the Hiawatha area, their was a shortage of jobs. So as the community they sold their dairy goods to dwindled, they too had to make the hard choice of moving their family elsewhere. So in 1928, they packed up and left for Detroit, Michigan. I believe none of them still alive have forgotton their life and their love for the land in Hiawatha.

photo on left - Left to right - back: John Rovsek, John Spunt, John Oriegel, Frank Zele, Theresa Zele front: Eddie Rovsek & Marjorie Rovsek, Fred Rovsek, Frank Costello & Zele child, Frances Rovsek	Photo on right - Theresa Zele & Frances Rovsek with Marjorie and Francis Rovsek seated.

This information was donated by Lori Curtis.

Rachel Davis Powell

PIONEER RESIDENT OF PRICE PASSES

Mrs. John Davis Powell, One First Woman, In Price Dies

Mrs. Rachel Davis Powell, one of the first women to settle in Price, was laid to her final rest Sunday at Carbonville. She died Thursday at the age of 74. Funeral services were held in the Price tabernacle, with interment under direction of the Deseret Mortuary.

Mrs. Powell was born in Utah, October 23, 1855 daughter of George Preston Davis and Sarah Davis. She came to Price June 6, 1879 and is believed to be one of the first women to make her home in this community permanently. Mrs. Powell gave birth to the first child in Price. Her husband Robert Powell died several years ago.

Van Lafayette Wilkerson

OGDEN - Van Lafayette Wilkerson, 85, of 200 Harrisoville Road, died Tuesday November 30, 1976 in a local hospital.

Born April 30, 1891 in Kanab, Utah, son of William and Rachel Painter Wilkerson. married Winnie Elnor Petty on June 20, 1917 in Duchesne, Utah. She died Jan 5, 1964. Veteran World War I, worked as coal miner, rancher and buisnessman. Member of Veterans Foreign Wars. Lived in Kanab, Duchesne County, Carbon County and Midvale. Came to Ogden in 1971.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the Myers Mortuary Chapel in Ogden, where friends may call one hour prior to services. Interment Helper, Utah cemetery.

PRICE, Carbon County - Milford Bard Farnsworth, 61, Price, died Oct. 17 of natural causes in a Price hospital. Born Aug. 10, 1910, Spring Glen, Carbon County, to Milford B. and Rozina Ames Farnsworth. Married Ada Wilkerson, 1935, Price: divorced, 1960. Survivors: sons, daughters all of Price; 5 grandchildren; brother, sisters. Funeral Wednesday, 2 p.m. at Fausett Mortuary, Price, where friends call Tuesday, Wednesday one hour prior to services. Burial Price City Cemetery.

Michael Thomas

SALT LAKE CITY - Michael "Mike" Thomas, 67, a former Carbon County resident, died May 26, 1983 in a shopital here>

He was born Sept. 1, 1915 in Sunnyside, Utah, to Gregory and Mary Bolf Thomas.

He married Eunice "Pat" Wilkerson in September 1939 in Price. She survives.

A member of the Catholic Church, he was employed at U.S. Steel Corp.'s Horse Canyon Mine prior to his retirement. He was a retired member of United Miner Workers of America, Horse Canyon Local.

Catholic chapel services were at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Mitchell Funeral Home in Price. Burial was in Mr. View Cemetery in Helper.

Ezra Boren

PRICE - Ezra Boren, 90, died April 24, 1984 in a Price Hospital.

Born November 9, 1893 in Cannonville, Utah to William Coleman and Lavina Jones Boren. Married Isabell Averritt in 1916, she later died. Resident of Price since 1926. Worked on railroad and local farms in the area.

Survived by two sons, three daughters, three children preceded him in death; also surviving are 22 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; five great great grandchildren and four half sisters.

Funeral services Friday 2:00 p.m. Mitchell Chapel in Price where friends may call Thursday and Friday prior to services. Family will be at Mortuary Chapel Friday one hour prior to services. Burial; Price City Cemetery, Price.

Walter Andrews Lovins

Sun Advocate, September 1943

Price Man, Helper Woman Badly Hurt In Automobile Upset

Walter Lovins, 43, of Price, and Mrs. J. Jones, 35, of Helper, were seriously injured in an auto accident two miles north of Huntington Tuesday evening.

At Price Hospital, where the injured pair was taken, Lovins was found to have sustained a crushed chest, internal hemorrhages and other hurts. Mrs. Jones was treated for a fractured pelvis and head lacerations.

The mishap occurred, according to state highway patrolmen, when the car which Lovins was driving and in which Mrs. Jones was a passenger, left the road on a curve and rolled down the barrow pit.

Sun Advocate, September 30, 1943

Auto Crash Victim Dies of Injuries, Leaves 4 children

Walter Andrews Lovins, 45, succumbed at the Price hospital Friday of injuries received in an auto accident early last week.

Funeral services were conducted at the Wallace chapel by Reverend Richard E. Halbert, pastor of the Methodist Community church, Wednesday, 2:00 p.m. Interment was in Price cemetery.

Mr. Lovins suffered a skull fracture, crushed chest and other internal injuries when the car he was driving ran off a curve and smashed into a borrowpit Tuesday night of last week. Riding with him was Mrs. Julia Jones, 35, of Helper, whose head was lacerated and pelvis broken, but is recovering satisfactorily at the hospital.

Mr. Lovins was born in Williams county, West Virginia, June 26, 1898, son of Ransom and Nancy Elizabeth Jefferson Lovins. He came here from New Mexico over a year ago and was employed by the Independent Coal and Coke company of Kenilworth.

Leiter, William H.

William H. Leiter, age 80, passed away December 13, 1982 at his home.

Born May 12, 1902 in Sunnyside, Utah to William H. and Janet Crawford Leiter. Married Welda Janet Mower, January 15, 1924; later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. High Priest in the McKay Ward. Had served as ward financial clerk for 30 years. Served many years as District Manager O.P. Skaggs System. Retired in 1972 from Moore Supply Co.

Funeral services Thursday 12:00 noon, McKay Ward, 1391 Park. Friends may call Wednesday 7 - 8 p.m., Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple and Thursday one hour prior to services at the Ward Chapel. Interment; Salt Lake City cemetery.

Information received from Janet Hansen.

John W. Crawford

John W. Crawford, 67, 1651 E. Stratford Ave., died Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at his residence after a lingering illness. Born July 7, 1889, Almy, Wyo., to John and Agnes Wilson Crawford. Married Ellen Radcliff Dawson, N.M., 1910. Charter member BPOE, Price First Baptist Church. Mine foreman, 1912 to 1941 to 1954, Carlsbad, N.M.

Information received from Janet Hansen.

Life of Nancy Ella McNees

Nancy Ella McNees was born March 4, 1852 in Salisbury, Tennessee. She was the youngest of twelve children born to Richard NcNees and Nancy Johnson. She was born into a fairly wealthy family who owned a large plantation with cotton being their main crop. When she was three months old, her father died, and at age five, her mother died. The family property was sold and the money divided among the children. Guardians were appointed for the younger children, with Nancy, and two of her sisters, going to live with her older sister and her husband. One of her sisters died shortly thereafter.

Then came the civil war. Her family had moved to Des Arc, Arkansas shortly before the war began, and as southerners, they supported the Confederacy. Several of her brothers joined the army, along with two brothers-in-law--including the husband of her sister she was staying with. Nancy was about eleven years old when the war started, and in her life story she states, "I remember very trying and dangerous times" (Our Golding Heritage, p. 4). Northern army soldiers, "Yanks," as they were called by the Southern folks, camped about six miles from the NcNees home. In times of war, behavior that is not condoned during peace time, seems to become common place. Nancy recalled, "Drunken soldiers often came to the house and bothered the girls. Through their treachery, they nearly caused starvation in the land. They destroyed everything we had. A crowd of them would come into our yard and shoot our chickens and pigs. They even killed our milk cows and left the small children without milk. They would then cut off forty or fifty pounds of the choicest part of the meat and leave the rest where it fell. They even took their pocket knives and slit great holes in the cloth on our loom that we had carded, spun, and woven. I could relate many more such things but will not. All my life I have thought the Civil War a cruel and unjust war. But in later years, I have decided that it must have been right and just or the Lord would not have permitted it. . . I was young, and it is hard for me to remember the particulars of the ending of the war or the assassination of President Lincoln. I do know that of my brothers who went to war, five never came back. Whether they were killed in battle or not, we never knew, but we never heard from them again" (Heritage, p. 5-7). Nancy continues, "An orphan misses the happy, carefree pleasures of this life when deprived of mother and father.

My childhood was sad, but, to a certain extent, it was made up to me when I became acquainted and fell in love with my life's partner, Sebron Golding" (Heritage, p. 9). They met at a revival meeting, corresponded for a while, and married 23 March 1871. She stated, "I was troubled a great deal after my marriage about religion. We belonged to the Methodist Church and had been married by a Methodist minister, but I didn't feel satisfied with what that church taught. . . After our first baby came, I fretted more than ever. I was desirous that my baby should be brought up in the right church. . . . But I was not satisfied, so one night in my prayers, I asked the Lord to show me in some way if I belonged to the right church. That night I dreamed of seeing a lot of people being baptized in a way I had never seen before. . . . I was anxious the next day to learn which church baptized in that way. . . . I was very disappointed to learn that none of the churches baptized in that way, because I was sure that my dream was an answer to my prayer" (Heritage, p. 9-10).

"Then, sometime later, two Mormon elders came to our home. Their names were John McCalister and Henry Boyle. They talked to me about the Mormon Church and explained their principles to me. When they told me about baptism by immersion, I was sure theirs was the right church. . . . we all went to the river again and were baptized into the Pleasant Prairie Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have never been sorry one minute, and I have received many blessings in my church" (Heritage, p. 10). Many people joined the Church in the Des Arc area, and like many in their day, desired to "come to Zion." Nancy, her husband, and two small children, left with twenty six other families in April 1877 and traveled by wagon across the prairie states, finally arriving in New Mexico. The journey was filled with trials and afflictions. There was a lack of food with hunger making tempers run high. Death took several members of the wagon train, including a new baby of Nancy's in-laws. Her oldest daughter, Ada age four, was run over by the wagon resulting in a broken leg above the knee. During a dust storm, the wagon train took shelter in an Indian village. One of the Indians had red blotches, and ten days later, small pox broke out among the wagon train members. They weren't allowed into settlements, several people died, and they were delayed in New Mexico for awhile. Some of the travelers ended up staying in New Mexico, but most continued on to Arizona. By the time they arrived, they were destitute and some were on foot. Most of the group stayed in Arizona, but Nancy and her family moved north to Utah. After settling and moving around in several locations in Southern Utah, they settled in Cainsville.

Life there was difficult and hard, and they were unable to work out a life's substance there. In 1902, they left and moved north, eventually moving to Wellington, Utah. Here Nancy spent her remaining years as the wife of a civic-minded husband who was also a patriarch at the time of his death. In 1909, she and Sebron were called on a mission to work in the Manti Temple for two years. Her husband died in 1925, and Nancy lived as a widow for another nine years, dying on 11 December 1934. She was buried next to her husband in the Wellington Cemetery. Nancy had nine children, eight who lived to adulthood, married in the temple and were active in their community. Today, her family numbers over two thousand, most of whom are active members of the Church. Through all the trials of her young life, the troubles later on, and the afflictions of life common to her time and place, Nancy put her trust in God and remained true and faithful to her faith. She left a great legacy to her descendants and is truly one of the great mothers of Zion, who with her husband, will stand triumphant at the last day. "And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in they youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day. . . . And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; . . . yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me" (Alma 6: 3, 27).

This story has been donated by Frances Cunningham.

Frank Costello Sr.

SALT LAKE CITY - Frank Costello, Sr., 69, of Diamondville Wy., died August 2, 1980.

Funeral services were conducted by Father Thomas Cleary at St. Patrick's Catholic Church August 5. Rosary was recited at the church.

Organists for the services were Rosalie Tratnik and Jona May Gonzales and Amy Jewkes sang "Amazing Grace" and "Peace Is Flowing Like a River."

Interment was in the Kemmerer City Cemetery.

Pallbearers were John Costello, Tony Costello, Stanley Costello, Bill Zele, Allie Hangich, and Nick Beyda. Honorary pallbearers were Bill Srdoc, Paul Canoso, Tony Tratnik, Richard Costello, Roger Costello, Fred Sadler, Jr. and Gus Baggstrom.

Frank Costello, Sr. was born June 9, 1911, in Winter Quarters, Utah to Rose Costello Zele and Frank Costello.

He worked as a coal miner and came to the Kemmerer area in 1929 where he worked in the local mines.

He married Angela Tratnik on June 9, 1935 at Randolph, Utah.

He also worked at Star Mine before moving to Price, Utah for a brief period, and returned here to Diamondville once again to mark up 45 years as a coal miner.

He was a member of the United Mine Workers of America for 35 years and the Western Slavonic Association for 53 Years.

He was also a sexton for the Kemmerer cemetery for several years.

He is survived by his widow, Angela, Diamondville; daughter, Mrs. Fred (Darlene) Sadler, Diamondville; son, Frank Costello, Big Piney, Wyoming; brothers Tony Costello, Frontier, Wyom., Stanley Costello, Grand Junction, Colorado, John, Helper; Utah; Bill Zele, Price, Utah; Rose Crandall, Helper, Utah; and three granddaughters. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Julie.

Information received from Linda Kastelic.

Wilma Brasher

Wilma Cleo Davis Brasher, 82, of Spanish Fork, died June 18 at the Castleview Hospital in Price.

She was born No. 22, 1907, in Spring Glen, Utah, the daughter of George W. Davis and Eliza Luella Gentry Davis. She married Richard Allen "Dick" Brasher, Nov. 8, 1926, in Helper. He died in 1978.

She was educated in Spring Glen and Helper schools. She graduated from Price High School. She attended BYU and took many other artist seminars and classes. She was an oil painting artist.

She was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She lived in Spanish Fork for 35 years and for the past 7 years had lived in Lehi.

Funeral will be Friday at 1 p.m. in the Walker Mortuary, 187 S. Main, Spanish Fork. Friends may call at the cortuary Thursday 6 - 8 p.m. or Friday one hour prior to the services.

Burial will be in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.

Charles Loomis Sr.

The Loomis family moved to Utah in 1944. Charles worked at the Wattis mine and lived in Price. They moved to Sunnyside about 1945 where he worked for Utah Fuel, then Kaiser Steel. Charles, Jr left in 1954 to join the Air Force; Angie left June, 1956 when she married and moved to New Mexico; Ramona left in 1958 after graduation. Charles and Marion left Utah in early 1960s. Settled in Las Vegas, NV in 1963.

Charles Loomis Sr.
18 January 1991

Charles Loomis Sr., 89, died Friday. He was a 28-year resident of Las Vegas. A coal miner, he was born july 1, 1901, in Buckman, N.M. He is survived by his wife, sons, daughters and 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be noon to 8 p.m. Monday in Bunker Mortuary, where services will be at noon Tuesday. burial will be in Eden Vale Cemetery. Bunker Mortuary handled arrangements.

Marion Perea Loomis

Marion Perea Loomis, 93, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, in Farmington, N.M. She was born July 5, 1916, in Kearns, Colo. Marion was of the Pentecostal Faith. She also was a member of the Culinary and Bartenders Union Local 226 in Las Vegas. Marion was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Loomis, Sr.; daughter, Angelina "Angie" West: son, Charles "Chuck" Loomis, Jr.: son-in-law, Duanne "Red" Horn; great-grandson, Shea Padilla; and her 10 siblings. She leaves to cherish her memory a daugther, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, 10 Grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren. Services were privately held in Las Vegas.

Chuck Loomis Jr.

Arizona City - Charles "Chuck" Loomis Jr., 71 of Arizona City died April 26, 2008. The graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Friday in National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, in Phoenix, with Tom Smith officiating. Mr. Loomis was born Feb. 23, 1937 in Pagosa Springs, Colo. He was an Air Force veteran of the Korean War and retired from the National Guard after 20 years. He was a truck driver and worked for Maricopa County before retirement. Survivors include his wife, two sons, his mother, a sister, and seven grandchildren. He was preceeded in death by his father, Charles Loomis Sr., and a sister, Angelina West. J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud, the Gardens Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Angelina Loomis West
March 12, 1938-Feb 10, 2004

Loving wife, mother and grandmother, Angelina West, 65, of Bloomfield passed away from this life on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004, at her home. Angelina was born March 12, 1938 to Charles and Marion (Perea) Loomis at Pagosa Springs, Colo. Mrs. West will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her. Mrs. West is survived by her husband of 24 years, mother, sons, brother, sister, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, step great-grandchildren and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m., today, Friday, Feb. 13, 2004 at Templo Sinai Assembly of God Church, 800 McCormick School Road, Farmington. A celebration of her life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004, at Templo Sinai Assembly of God Church with Pastor Stephen Marquez officiating. She will then be laid to rest at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Cedar Hill.

Joshua Seaton

Taken from UTAH Vol. III pg 15. Compiled by J. Cecil Alter 1932.

Joshua Seaton, superintendent of the Sweet Coal Company in Carbon County, is a Scotch mining engineer, having learned the fundamentals of the mining industry both in practice and in technical school in his native land. Since coming to America many organizations have employed him and he has contributed to the production of coal in many parts of the intermountain country.

Mr. Seaton was born at Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, June 11, 1879, son of William and Mary (Mason) Seaton. His father followed the occupation of teamster. Joshua Seaton attended public schools and in 1907 was graduated from the Hamilton Academy with the degree Mining Engineer, and was awarded by the government a first class certificate as a mine manager in Scotland. After leaving college his first service was in charge of mine of the Watson Coal Company, limited, in Scotland, as foreman. Later in the same year he was made foreman at Canderigg, Scotland, for the James Nimmo Company.

Mr. Seaton came to the United States in 1910, and his first service here in the mining industry was as mine foreman at Rock Springs, Wyoming, for the Union Pacific Coal Company. This company in 1914 transferred him to Reliance, Wyoming, as foreman. He became foreman of the Lion Coal Company in 1915, and in 1917 came to Utah.

His first work in this state was opening the Peerless Mine, at Peerless, and in 1919 he went to Rolapp as foreman for the Cameron Coal Company. Mr. Seaton spent six months of the year 1920 traveling for pleasure and observation through Canada, and later in the year returned to Utah and opened the mine of the Utah Central Coal Company at Scofield. In 1922 he went to Wattis and took charge of a cutting machine for the Lion Coal Company. The following year he was mine foreman with the Spring Canyon Coal Company, and since 1927 has superintended the operations of the Sweet Coal Company in Carbon County.

Mr. Seaton married, December 31, 1908, Miss Catherine Brown, of Strathaven, Scotland. They have five children, Catherine, William, May, Frances and Josephine. Mr. Seaton is a member of Price Lodge No. 16 of the Masonic fraternity.

Calvin Junior Jewkes

The Spectrum, 2 Jun 2011

Calvin Ju­nior Jewkes, age 86, passed away at home May 29, 2011. He was born May 31,1924 in Kenilworth, Utah to An­drew Calvin and Viola Jewkes.

Cal, mostly known as Junior, was raised in Kenilworth, Utah where he met and married his eternal compan­ion Betty June Manchester March 9,1947. They were later sealed in the Manti LDS Temple.

Cal graduated from Car­bon High School in 1942 and attended the University of Utah, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechani­cal Engineering. He spent most of his career at Hill Air Force Base working on the design and improvement of the landing gear for Air Force Jets. He served honorably in the United States Army during World War II, where he was awarded the purple heart.

Cal always had a love of sports. He spent countless hours playing a variety of sports and watching his chil­dren and grandchildren play. Music was an important part of Cal's life. His love for mu­sic equaled his talents. He played trumpet, sang and loved to share his talents with others. He enjoyed playing in dance bands throughout his early life.

Cal, following the pass­ing of Betty, married Jane Johnson and moved to Ivins, Utah. Jane and her family were a great source of love, joy and support to Cal. Fol­lowing Jane's passing, Cal remained in Ivins where he loved the climate and en­joyed his friends and family. Cal was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a true follower of Christ. His life was an example of love and service. He was a loving, caring husband and father.

He is survived by his son, Steven H. Jewkes and wife Jennette, Kaysville, Utah; daughter Vicki Yurth, Bounti­ful, Utah; six grandchildren and three great grandchil­dren; his brother and his wife, Kenilworth, Utah.

Funeral services will be­held Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at the Red Cliffs LDS 8th Ward Chapel, 625 East Center Street, Ivins, Utah. A visitation will be held Saturday, prior to services at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel. Interment will be held Mon­day, June 6, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the Kaysville City Cemetery in Kaysville, Utah.

Obituary donated by Wilfred Peters

LaMar L. "Buff" Buffmire

Deseret News, April 16, 2004

LaMar L. "Buff" Buffmire 9/3/24 ~ 4/13/04 LaMar L. "Buff" Buffmire, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and uncle died peacefully at home April 13, 2004. He was born September 3, 1924 in Clawson, Utah to Lola Wright Buffmire and Gus Buffmire. LaMar attended Price High School and graduated from Carbon College. He served in the Army as a nose gunner during World War II in the Pacific Theater. He married his life long companion, Judy Ann Parmley Buffmire in 1948. LaMar led a productive and varied work life including 20 years in the food industry. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and lapidary work. An avid "rock hound" he enjoyed his association with the Wasatch Gem Society and loved creating jewelry and other gifts for his family and friends. His greatest love was his family and extended community of wonderful and supportive friends. He loved his dear cousins Keith Wright and family, Jack and Russell Cox and family and his sister-in-law, Vera Parmley and family. LaMar was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Wallace Buffmire, his sister LaVon Buffmire Cochron, and daughter, Shanna Lee Buffmire Harris. LaMar is survived by his loving and steadfast wife, Judy Ann Buffmire;his daughter, Kathryn Labadie and her husband Matthew; son-in-law, Ken Harris, grandchildren, Ben and Jessica Harris, Amani L. Reed and his wife Jules, and his much loved nieces and nephews. The family extends its gratitude to LaMar and Judy's loving and supportive community. We appreciate the assistance and blessings from Winder West 13th Ward, the assistance and support of neighbors Gary and Mickey Burnham and family and our wonderful friend and home care provider, Carmen Ben Abdallah, and the Community West Nursing Services Hospice team particularly his caring and thoughtful nurse, Debby Buese. Funeral services will be Saturday, April 17th at 10:00 a.m. at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Dr. Friends may call one hour prior to services. Interment, Ferron, UT.

Obituary donated by Wilfred Peters

Dr. Judy Ann Cook Buffmire

Deseret News, June 5. 2011

Dr. Judy Ann Buffmire 1929 ~ 2011 Dr. Judy Ann Buffmire died peacefully on May 28th in Portland Oregon, where she had moved in 2009 to be with her daughter, son-in-law and two of her grandchildren. Dr. Buffmire, better known just as Judy was dedicated to her family, friends and to the state of Utah. Born June 5, 1929, to Bill Broyles and Audrey Francis Cook she cherished her childhood growing up in and around Carbon County. She graduated from Wasatch Academy in 1947 and the next year married the love of her life, Lamar Lee Buffmire. Turning 30 and with her two daughters in school, Judy enrolled at the University of Utah and received her undergraduate degree in 1966, her Masters degree in 1967 and her Ph.D. in Psychology in 1969. Judy became the Director of the Rocky Mountain Regional Resource Center for Special Education at the University of Utah and then an administrator in the Utah Department of Social Services. She was instrumental in creating the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation under the Utah State Board of Education and became its first executive director. In honor of her service the Judy Ann Buffmire Rehabilitation Service Center in Salt Lake City was dedicated on September 16, 1999. Judy served as president of the Utah Psychological Association from 1999-2000 as well as maintained a private practice during her entire career. Elected in 1992 Judy served six terms as a Democrat in the Utah House of Representatives where she provided compassionate leadership and celebrated many legislative accomplishments. Judy received many prestigious honors during her remarkable career. A few highlighted awards as examples of her achievement include the Karl F. Heiser National Award for Advocacy, American Psychological Association 1999; Distinguished Legislator of the Year Award, Utah Medical Association 1999; National Legislator of the Year Award, National Association of Social Workers 2000; Presidential Citation, American Psychological Association 2000; Continuing Hero on the Hill, Coalition of People with Disabilities 2001; Norman S. Anderson Award for Distinguished Service 2001; National Alliance on Mental Illness "Judy Buffmire Award" 2002; and Lifetime Achievement Award, Utah Psychological Association 2009. Judy was preceded in death by her husband, Lamar Lee Buffmire, in 2004 and her dear, dear daughter Shanna Lee Buffmire Harris in 1999. Judy is survived by daughter and son-in-law Kathryn and Matthew Labadie, her son-in-law Ken Harris, grandchildren Ben and Jessica Harris, grandson and his wife Amani and Jules Reed and great grandson Taye Kumani Reed, sister-in-law Vera Parmley, eight nieces and nephews and their families, many dear cousins and a wide range of caring and dedicated friends. A celebration of life will be held in Salt Lake City at a later date. Remembrances can be made by donation to NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) or to the charity of your choice.

Obituary donated by Wilfred Peters

Ernest Antonio Cima

Ernest Cima Services to be Held at LDS Chapel

Helper: Funeral services will be conducted Friday March 2, 1956 for Ernest Antonio Cima, in the Latter-Day Saint ward chapel in Helper at 1:00 p.m.

1947 - Ernest Antonio & Birdie Leonard Cima

He died Sunday February 26, 1956 at his home from injures sustained on the job at the DRG&W Railroad while fighting a fuel track fire August 18, 1954.

He was born December 7, 1907 in Red Lodge, Montana to James and Virginia (Filippini) Cima. He has been a resident of Helper for 41 years. Worked as a machinist for the DRG&W Railroad for 22 years before his injury forced his retirement.

He was a member of the Helper Volunteer Fire Department for 14 years prior to his retirement from the railroad. He was also an active member of the Loyal Order of Moose.

Superseded in death by his wife of 21 years Birdie (Leonard) Cima, October 25, 1948. He is survived by three sons, and three daughters, his second wife and two step-children.

Burial will be in the Mt. View Cemetery under the direction of the Mitchell Funeral Home in Price.

The information for this individual was received from Ernest Cima.

Birdie Leonard Cima

Rites Today for Mrs. Birdie Cima; Program Announced

Funeral services for Mrs. Birdie Leonard Cima, 39, wife of Ernest Cima, who died Monday morning at 3:05 o'clock in the Price hospital following a short illness, will be held at the Helper L.D.S. ward chapel today at 2 p.m. under the direction of Bishop Lynn Broadbent.

An active member of the Helper ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. Mrs. Cima was a Relief Society teacher at the time of her death.

She was born in Price April 26, 1909, a daughter of Leopold and Zoe Ellen Powell Leonard. She attended school in Price and has been a resident of Helper nearly 20 years.

The program to be presented at the services as announced by the family is as follows: Song, "The Lord's Prayer, Helper Ward choir, invocation by Clarence Bjorn. Song, "Sometime We'll Understand", choir, talk, James Charlesworth; Vocal duet, VeLoy Powell and Addie Abrams. Talk, Jesse Bryan; Song, "I'll Go Where you Want me to go Dear Lord", choir; talk, John C. Smith; Violin solo, Mrs. C.B. Needles. Benediction, Byron Carter. The grave will be dedicated by Ray Powell.

Survivors in addition to her husband are: her parents, Price; three daughters and three sons and a sister and seven brothers.

Burial will be in the Mt. View cemetery under the direction of the Mitchell funeral home of Price.

The information for this individual was received from Ernest Cima. A history of Birdie Leonard Cima is available in the book "Leonard Family Genealogy & Histories" Vol. 2, 1992. This book is available from Ernest Cima or from the Price Family History Library.

Fox Lake Drownings Verified:
Searching Parties Fail In Bear Lake

Fox Lake Tragedy Is Confirmed in Price

PRICE, Aug 6, 1941 - Confirmed reports reached Price late Monday night from Fox Lake in Duchesne County establishing the death by drowning of two prominent Carbon County men who were on a fishing trip at the lake.

John Battista Cima, 40, and Jack Vignetto, 45, both of Helper, are the victims of the accident, but neither body had been recovered late today.

The two men had been fishing from a collapsible boat, according to the report, while Henry Ruggeri, Price attorney, and Paul Mancina, also of Price, were fishing from the shore. Jill Vignetto, 15-year-old daughter of one of the victims was the fifth member of the vacation party.

Did Not Return

When the men in the boat did not return in the afternoon on Sunday, the three set out to look for them. They discovered the overturned boat and two hats floating on the water.

Word of the accident was relayed to Price from the ranger station in the section. The lake is five hours by horseback from the highway, and difficult of access.

Frank Barboglio, president of the Helper State Bank, where Mr. Vignetto was cashier, received word of the accident and organized a party of four men to go to the lake. Joe Barboglio, Carl Leavitt, and John Mancina, the latter of Price, joined him in one party. Pete and Ernest Cima, brothers of John B. Cima and his father formed a second group who went to the lake Monday morning.

The Survivors:

Mr. Vignetto is survived by his daughter, and a son of Helper, and a sister. He was cashier and director of the Helper State Bank, member of the board of directors of the Carbon County Country Club, and a Mason, Shriner and Kiwanian.

Mr. Cimas was justice of the peace at Helper, and an engineer of the Rio Grande Railroad. He was also a member of the Moose Lodge.

Mr. Cima was born July 21, 1901, in Castle Gate, son of James and Virginia Filippini Cima, both of whom survive. His widow, Mrs. Ruth Carter Cima, also survives, with three daughters all of Helper. Two brothers and one sister also survive.

The information for this individual was received from Ernest Cima.

Ruth Olive Carter Cima

Wife Dies from Shock at Husband's Death

Helper, Aug 6 - Tragedy struck twice in the Cima family this week with the sudden death yesterday of Mrs. Ruth Olive Carter Cima, 35, following the death by drowning of her husband, Jack B. Cima, Sunday during a fishing trip.

Mrs. Cima died at her home Tuesday afternoon of a heart ailment. She was 35 years old, a daughter of Byron and Batilda O. Madsen Carter of Helper. She was born at Mt. Pleasant on Jan. 6, 1906. She is survived by three daughters all of Helper.

Shock from the news of the death of the husband is believed to have precipitated the death of the wife.

Many out of town relatives and friends arrived last week end to attend the joint funeral service held for Mr. and Mrs. (John Battista) Jack Cima last Sunday in the LDS church. Mrs. Cima was born January 6, 1906, at Mr. Pleasant, a daughter of Byron and Matilda O. Madsen Carter. She came to Helper in 1918 and was married to Mr. Cima May 26, 1923. She has lived here since that time with her family.

The body of the husband and the other drowned man had not been found today.

Final Tribute Paid to Victims of Drowning at Services Sunday

A real American weekend of fishing and camping last week became a nightmare of tragedy when two of the best known and loved men of Helper were reported victims of a double drowning at Fox Lake, near Vernal . The story of the deaths of Jack Vignetto and J.B. Cima and the untimely passing of the latter's widow has become common knowledge in Helper. How the two men left Mr. Vignetto's daughter, Jill, at a camping spot to cook breakfast one Sunday morning while they went out on the lake for a bit of early fishing, how the collapsible boat from which they were fishing sunk, throwing the men into the icy waters of the lake, and how for several days a vigorous but fruitless search was maintained in order to recover the bodies are common topics of conversation on every street corner in the city. But what will never become common are the empty places, formerly filled by these men, which will be left in the everyday life of Helper and its people.

The information for this individual was received from Ernest Cima.

Final rites were held Tuesday morning at 10:30 for James "Jim" Cima, 77, resident of Helper for over 40 years, who died Friday at 4:30 p.m. in the City County hospital in Price of thrombosis.

Rev. Francis R. Lamothe conducted the services in the St. Anthony Catholic church.

Mr. Cima was born June 21, 1871, at San Calomano, Italy, a son of Antiona and Antonia Rosario Cima, and came to this country when he was 16 years of age. Forty-five years ago he came to Carbon county, first settling in Castle Gate and then in Helper where he raised his family.

During the last few years Mr. Cima was employed by Helper City in various capacities, most of which was at the Mt. View cemetery as caretaker, where he was buried. He had been a member of the United Mine Workers and was a charter member of Stella D'America lodge. He held a medal indicating he was one of the founders of the lodge and dated Jan. 15, 1898.

Another Helper Pioneer Answers the Final Call of his Maker

A week ago friends and relatives of James (Jim) Cima met at the St. Anthony Catholic church here where they paid silent tribute and honor to another of this city's pioneer builders who had answered the call of his maker.

Virginia (Filippini), John (Jack) James Cima Castle Gate about 1902

Jim Cima, as he was familiarly know by all who knew him, like many of the sturdy men and women who built the western frontier, came to America because of economic reasons. He chose Carbon county as his future home and the coal mines as the place to earn a livelihood for himself and his family.

In the nearly half century he lived in this community Jim Cima raised a fine family of boys and girls - he gave them the benefit of a father's council, and encouraged them to become upright citizens. Success was his in this respect. He was not a man to parade his talents out in front, but rather he remained pretty much in the background content to do as he was asked, which was perhaps one of his greatest virtues - doing every job given him the best he could.

I knew Jim Cima's family much better than I knew him, but I have observed his characteristics that went into the development of this community and I hasten to join his countless friends in offering a word of consolation to his sons and daughters who mourn the passing of their father.

The information for this individual was received from Ernest Cima.

HELPER, Carbon County - Virginia M. Wiley, 92, former resident of Helper, died Jan 12, 1979, in a Salt Lake City nursing home.

Born Aug. 17, 1886, Loredo, Texas to Angelo and Maria Colombo Filippini. Married James Cima in 1900. He later died. Married Joseph Melens. He died. Married Charles Wiley in 1947. He died in 1955. Member Catholic Church. Former resident of Carbon County.

Catholic chapel services Friday 1 p.m. at the Mitchell Funeral Chapel, Price, where friends may call Thursday and Friday prior to services. Burial, Mountain View Cemetery, Helper.

The information for this individual was received from Ernest Cima.

Zoe Ellen Powell Leonard

PRICE - Mrs. Zoe Ellen Powell Leonard, 74, 276 South Carbon Ave., died of natural causes Thursday, 1:15 p.m., in a Price hospital. Born Dec 6, 1887, Price, to John Ammon and Sarah Jane Plum Powell. Married to Leo Leonard, later solemnized, Salt Lake Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Active, LDS Church Relief Society, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Price musical groups. Funeral Monday, 11:30 a.m., Price Third LDS Ward Chapel. Friends call Wallace Funeral Home Sunday and at Ward Chapel Monday one hour prior to service. Burial, Salem City Cemetery.

The information for this individual was received from Ernest Cima.

James George Callaway

The Sun
Dec. 3, 1931

James George Callaway, pioneer resident of Price, died at his home Thursday after an illness brought on by heart trouble. Callaway had made his home here for 35 years.

Funeral services were held on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the J.E. Flynn Funeral chapel. Speakers were Ernest S. Horsley and Mayor W. F. Olson. Interment was in the Price City cemetery.

Callaway was born in Eugene, Ore., on July 30, 1867. He is survived by his widow, Annie Peterson Callaway; one daughter, Mrs. Sims, Los Angeles, Calif.; four sons, Clifford, Edward Callaway, Mutual; Roland and Leland of Price.

Information received from Jessica Sury and Kathleen Lawrence.

Clifford L. Callaway

POCATELLO, Idaho - Clifford Leon Callaway, 66, died in a local hospital Aug. 31 after a long illness. Born Sept. 17, 1901, Price, Utah, to James George and Annie Petersen Callaway. married Gwendolin Larsen Dec. 8, 1922, Castle Dale, Utah. Employed many years with Eastern Utah Telephone Company, Price. Moved to Pocatello 1934. Worked for Post Office Department, later for Challenge Creamery until retirement in 1962. Veteran WW II. Member LDS Church. Survivor: Widow. Funeral Tuesday, 2 p.m., Henderson Funeral Chapel where friends call until time of service. Burial with military honors. Mountain View cemetery.

Information received from Jessica Sury and Kathleen Lawrence.

C. Edward Callaway

SPRINGVILLE - C. Edward Callaway, age 69, at Springville, died October 9, 1982, in the Utah Valley Hospital of a heart ailment.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. Springville 8th / 10th ward chapel, 355 East Center. Friends may call Wheeler Mortuary, 211 East 200 South, Springville, Monday, 7 - 9 p.m. Tuesday, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Interment, Farmington City Cemetery.

Information received from Jessica Sury and Kathleen Lawrence.

L.D.S. Funeral For Victim Mine Mishap

An L.D.S. funeral service for Leland "Bud" Maurice Callaway, 27, who died Fridays, January 14, as a result of injuries received in a Geneva mine accident near Dragerton was conducted by Bishop Frank Bryner at Price tabernacle Wednesday, January 19. Interment was in Price cemetery.

Mr. Wallace was crushed by a piece of coal which broke loose from the face of the shaft while he was helping operate a cutting machine.

Mr. Callaway was born in Price, April 25, 1917, and was a cutting mechanic. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Hana Liddell Callaway, son Gary and daughter Kathleen, all of Dragerton; three brothers, Clifford of Santa Monica, California, Edward and Roland, with America's armed forces; a sister Mr. Edna Fitzgerald, Pocatello, Idaho, and mother, Mrs. Ana Gaillard Callaway, Pocatello, Idaho.

Wallace mortuary had charge of the arrangements.

Information received from Jessica Sury and Kathleen Lawrence.

Stanley G. Colby

GEORGE COLBY (URDIX STILLMAN (ANDY), JOHN) was born 1862 in New York, and died 1897 in Cripple Creek, Colorado. He married AGNES AMELIA PETERSON May 25, 1896 in Sandy, Utah. She was born May 04, 1867 in Oslo, Norway, and died September 02, 1945 in Garfield, Utah. Child of GEORGE COLBY and AGNES PETERSON is: STANLEY G. COLBY, b. February 28, 1897, Orangeville, Utah; d. January 1984, Price, Utah.

STANLEY G. COLBY (GEORGE, URDIX STILLMAN (ANDY), JOHN) was born February 28, 1897 in Orangeville, Utah, and died January 1984 in Price, Utah. He married ANA BIRDELLA TIDWELL April 16, 1918 in Price, Utah. She was born December 28, 1897 in Wellington, Carbon County, Utah, and died May 07, 1992 in Helper, Carbon County, Utah. Child of STANLEY COLBY and ANA TIDWELL is: STANELY GLEN COLBY, b. July 08, 1921, Storrs, Utah; d. August 1983, Wellington, Carbon County, Utah.

James Elsdon Chapman

James Elsdon Chapman was born 10 / 20 Nov 1882 in Streator, Illinois. He was killed on May 30, 1945 by being crushed between a timber and motor.

Information received from Brenda Vires.

Eastern Utah Advocate
9 July 1914
Heber Russell, aged 32, employed by Lafe Bowns, a Provo sheepman, met a horrible death near the D. & R.G. passenger depot in this city about four o'clock Monday afternoon, when he attempted to board a moving freight train. Sunday Russell had assisted in loading some sheep at Colton to be taken to Colorado. He came to Price Sunday evening, spent the night here on business and expected to catch the train hauling the sheep and accompany it to Colorado. When the train pulled into the local station, Mr. Russell evidently thought it was not going to stop, so he tried to board it while in motion, with the result that he was thrown under the wheels and horribly mangled, dying before his body was picked up. The body was taken to the undertaking rooms of Pace & Tingley, where it was later viewed by Coroner Middleton and Messrs. G.E. Nelms, W.E. Anderson and McC Wilson, who had been empanelled as jurors. The inquest was held between 5 and 6 o'clock that evening and the jurors found that deceased came to his death through his own fault, holding the railroad company blameless.

The testimony of half dozen eye witnesses was to the effect that the train was slowing up to stop and was not running to exceed six to seven miles per hour.

Deceased leaves a divorced wife and four children, the latter ranging from one to seven years in age. Two of the children are in the care of Mrs. W.B. Curtis of this city and it was to arrange for their care that the father came to Price. The other two children are with relatives on the reservation. He is survived by a father, A.J. Russell, five brothers, David, Myron and Harrison of Nine Mile, and John W. and Charles H. of Idaho, and one sister, Mrs. Lillian Lee of Vernal. The father, Myron and Harrison and wife and the widow of deceased attended the funeral, which was held from the L.D.S. Tabernacle at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, with President Horsley officiating and speaking by John H. Pace and John Potter. The remains were interred in the Price cemetery.

16 July 1914
Eastern Utah Advocate
Donation to family of Heber Russell, deceased

Sheepmen of this section met Sunday and donated liberally to the family of Heber Russell, who was killed last week by a freight train. Following are the donators and the amounts subscribed by each:

$5.00 from: Joe Lavigne, John Duerden, Joe Gaillard, H. Garnier, Henry Levour, Wm. A. Robinson, S.W. Robinson, Pierre Curutchet, Willis Bartholamew
$2.00
Peter Mazet, Mar Blank
$1.00
August Renier, Jean Aldasora, J.H. McKindrick, Orsen Brothersen, Julian Gastelurnta, Joe Palany

9 July 1914
Eastern Utah Advocate
Heber Russell Killed

Heber Russell of Nine Mile met with a shocking death in the local freight yards Monday morning by being thrown under a freight train. The wheels severed the body into four pieces, crushing the features beyond recognition.

He had come to Price with a bunch of sheep which had been loaded for Kansas City. He thought the train was pulling out and as he was to accompany the sheep east he attempted to board it but missed his footing and was thrown underneath.

The deceased was only 30 years of age and leaves a wife and four children. Interment took place here yesterday, services being conducted from the tabernacle.

Life in the Mines, In Carbon County, Utah

I'll try to describe Sunnyside mine where I lived. As long as I can remember there were all kinds of nationalities in this coalmine area. There were Greeks, Austrians, Italians, Japanese, Chinese, and Englishmen, but especially Italians. There were Irishmen and Welshmen too, and they all lived in this little town of Sunnyside. During the First World War there were about five thousand people there. All these people came in from the old country, and lots of them couldn't speak English, and those that did, spoke broken English. I got to mingle with all these people and all those kids. I got to help teach Greek kids to speak English and I got to go to school with them. I got to eat with them and drink with them and learned their habits - more and more different habits. I got to learn a little of every kind of language, mostly swear words, but words anyway. But the best part of it was the different ways people lived. I'd go in and eat with the Greek kids, and I'd go in and eat with the Italian kids, the Japanese kids, and the others. It was completely different from our way of living. We'd call them "spaghetti fiends" and they'd call us "Mormons." In this little town we had our Greek town and Italian town and "Gobblers Nob," and all that. But we still all kind of mingled together. We kids were closer; there must have been about 700 kids in school then.

They had all kinds of coke ovens in the town because during the war they needed to produce coke to make steel. They had big, big coke ovens there in Sunnyside. They would mine the coal and make coke and the whole town would be smoky because they never caught any of the gas like they do now. They would send this coke in most cases to Columbia Steel, that place between Provo and Springville, but some of it they saved and sent all over for use as fuel. I don't know where they sent it before then or since because Columbia has shut down.

We had some of the better baseball teams in the county. That's what everybody played during the summertime. There weren't any swimming pools around so we made our own in the creek that went down through the middle of town. We'd get gunnysacks, put dirt in them, and then dam up the creek and make us a swimming pond. Once in a while a flood would come down and wash it all away, then we'd rebuild it. It was a good thing that it flooded out because all the sewers and everything was thrown into the creek. There was no such thing as inside plumbing; there were only outside toilets at that time and it all went underground into the creek. All the water from the bathhouses and all the dirt that was washed down was caught in our swimming pond. It's a wonder we didn't all die.

In Sunnyside there were two mines and they both had bathhouses for the men. All the men used those bathhouses, all the nationalities together, except the Japanese and they had their own. The Japanese used to have a big tub; it was about twenty-feet square and about three-feet deep. They would all get into it together and bathe in the same water. We used to go up and peek at them through the holes and they'd catch us and chase us away. The women used to go up once a week. Us kids used to take a bath in a number two-washtub set up in the middle of the floor. As we got older though, we'd sneak into the mine bathhouses and take a shower, then sometimes we'd shower twice a day.

There was a boiler house where they had 8 or 10 boilers. They made steam for power. There was very little electricity then, just enough for a few lights in town. What they used most of their steam for was to run the big steam engines to crush the coal at the Tipple. They had electric locomotives that they ran on a trolley line in the mine and hoists and lights. They used to load their coal by hand. They'd pick and drill holes and shoot it and then they'd get paid .40, .50, .60 cents a ton for loading it. It was mostly all contract work.

Some of the mines were two or three miles deep. There were cave-ins that killed a lot of men. Explosions and real disasters. I was never in one, although I went into the mines when I was about fourteen years old with my dad. I can't remember how much money I got paid then, but it couldn't have been much. On idle days my dad would go in and run pumps, like on a Sunday or sometimes when the mine wasn't running and I'd go with him and stay all day. Dad was a boss during the week, but on Sundays the men would take turns running the pumps to keep the mines from drowning out from underground streams. The streams would fill the lower parts and they would have to pump the water out so they could work. They pumped during the week too, but the men working there kept it pumped out. The mines ran down into the ground on a slope then they'd break off into each side and that's how they'd get their coal. They couldn't take it all out of one big place or the whole mountain would cave in.

Sunnyside was twenty-eight miles east of Price. There's Sunnyside, Columbia, Dragerton up there now which wasn't there before. Sunnyside is called Kaisers mine now. The mines are still running and there are still people living in Sunnyside. It was pretty good money at that time, better than average. Most of the coalmines closed down in the summer because nobody bought coal to heat their houses. This was before natural gas came into this part of the country. After natural gas came in they kept closing down mines and closing down mines until only industry and powerhouses buy coal now, because gas is used to heat houses now.

Winter never bothered us kids. The bigger the winter, the better we liked it. We went sleigh riding and skating. We skated on hills and down in the creek. The snow would pack down so hard we could skate down the hills. Up above our house there were ledges, red ledges and white ledges. Up on this red ledge we had an old shack. We used to steal chickens and potatoes and onions from our folks and we'd go up there and cook them. We kids had more fun in the summer up in the ledges. We'd climb the mountains all day long. It was a good place to stay out of mischief, and our folks just let us run. There were probably a few places that we should have stayed away from, like those big high cliffs. With us kids climbing all over them, it's a wonder one of us didn't get killed. One guy or two broke their legs though.

We used to have our own little coalmines up on the hill. We used to go up and dig this coal out and light little fires and then we had pipes we'd gather up and put them in the coal. It's a wonder we didn't get our eyes put out because we'd get these pipes red hot and then we'd pour water on them and the steam would come "whooshing" out. We'd have whistles on one end. We used to play ball on the old slack dump. (That's ground up coal; it's powdery and black). There were whole piles of it out there. We kids used to play baseball on it. They'd use this slack to put into the ovens to make coke, and where they took some of the slack out it would be kind of level. Down below in town they had a nice big ball diamond and sometimes we used to go down there and play, but you know how kids are, in their own backyards playing. We'd come home so black you couldn't tell who we were. Our mothers would give us a beating, tell us to stay home, make us take a bath, then we'd be back at the same place, playing ball again.

We used to spend a lot of time in the barn. They used to use horses in the mines. They'd pull the car cars and pull the coal out of the mine. They'd pull the coal up to the parting (that's where the shafts separated), then a hoist would take it from there. They had about 30 or 40 great big mules or horses that they'd keep in this big barn. We kids used to go up on top of this barn and throw rocks and everything else at these mules. We'd use flippers and BB guns and anything else we could lay our hands on. There was a man who was supposed to tend to them, but he couldn't tend to them and watch us too. He was called Barn Boss and he was real mean. I think his name was Cofford or something, but he sure was mean. We were up there one day and there was this one tough mule and we were poking the mule in the hind end with a piece of pipe. We were jabbing him and he was kicking the barn so hard the shingles were coming off the rock. Well, something hit me so hard I darn near passed out. This old Cofford had hit me with a black snake whip and made a great big S shape welt on my back. We really high-tailed for home. Of course I couldn't tell my dad or he'd have killed me for even being up there. One time a bunch of us kids were swimming up in the canyon. I was about fourteen I think, and this Greek neighbor of ours who lived up the road, got into a fight with another Greek. This other guy shot him right between the eyes, then he ran up the canyon. So I think he was muttering some kind of prayer. I've seen men in the mines crushed by slabs. When I was about 33 I broke my arm in the coalmine. I got hit with a hoist and had to have a steel plate put in my arm. Then the screws came out and they had to operate again. I was about two years laid up with that broken arm.

Living in the mines was a real colorful life; I don't know anybody who has had as colorful life as I've had. All these people I lived around taught me a lot about human nature and how to get along. I've learned to talk broken Greek, and Italian and everything else. It's been an interesting place to grow up in.

This story was donated by Christine Frawley Hill.

Kula Mavrakis Francis

Published in San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on June 11, 2011

June 28, 1919-June 7, 2011
Resident of Saratoga

Loving wife, mother, yiayia, sister, sister-in-law, aunt and friend. Kula passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at age 91 with her family surrounding her.

Kula was born June 28, 1919 in Sunnyside, Utah to Nick and Mary Mavrakis. She married the love of her life, Frank Francis in 1939. She was a member of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in San Jose, where she previously served as President of the Philoptochos Society. Kula was very active in Greek-American social life including the Ikaros Chapter of the Pancretan Association. Kula was a long time member of the Daughters of Penelope having served in several offices including District Governor. Kula was loved by all who knew her and most of all she loved her family and her faith. She was preceded in death by her husband Frank. Kula is survived by her two sons, two daughters, her grandchildren; five great grandchildren, two brothers and many nieces and nephews.

Trisagion Service Monday June 13 at 7:00 p.m. and Funeral Service, Tuesday June 14 at 10:30 a.m., both at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 1260 Davis Street, San Jose, CA 95126, with interment at Madronia Cemetery in Saratoga. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in San Jose.

Additional Information:

Kula was born June 28, 1919 in the coal camp of Sunnyside, Utah, to parents Nick and Mary Mavrakis, immigrants from the island of Crete, Greece. She spent most of her early years in the Carbon County coal camps of Sunnyside, Mutual and Columbia, and graduated from Carbon High School in 1937.

Kula moved up to Salt Lake City to attend business college, and while in SLC, she met Frank Francis, who was also born in Carbon County (Winter Quarters). On June, 4, 1939, Frank and Kula were married at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, in Price, Utah.

Kula and Frank lived in Salt Lake City, where their first three children were born: James 1940, Mary in 1942, and Michael in 1950.

In 1952 Kula and Frank moved the family to San Francisco to be closer to his brothers and sisters. In 1955 they then moved to South San Francisco, where in 1956 their daughter Heidi was born.

In 1958 the family moved to San Jose, where they were co-owner of The Echo restaurant, in Los Altos and later enjoyed a most successful life from Frank's career in real estate. Kula and Frank were the most loving couple having celebrated 41 years of marriage before Frank passed away in 1980.

She loved so much in life and gave so much to others. Kula enjoyed Giants and 49'er games, weekly get togethers with her sister in-laws and close friends for the past 60 years, poker games with her nephews, daughters and grandsons, reading many novels, and hearing her sons play saxophone duets together. She had a love for roses and all thing pretty.

Kula was a member of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in San Jose, and was very active in Greek-American social life. She served as President of the Philoptochos Society of St. Nicholas and was a long-time member of the Daughters of Penelope, holding many offices, including Chapter President and District Governor. In 2010 Kula was honored for her lifetime of work with the Daughters. She was also very active in the Ikaros Chapter of the Pancretan Association, and often wrote the chapter news for their national magazine.

Mary Galanis Mavrakis

Sun Advocate - Thursday, February 13, 1941

Mrs. Mary Mavrakis, 42, of Columbia, died this morning at 5:00 a.m. after a heart attack.

Mrs. Mavrakis was born in Varnos, Crete, Greece, in 1899, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Petro Galanis of Vamos, Greece. She came to the United States in 1915 making her home in Denver until 1929 when she moved to Columbia. She had lived there since.

Mrs. Mavrakis had been an active member of the Arcadi club of Carbon County. At the time of her death she was the president of the Women's Pan-Cretan organization.

She is survived by her husband, Nick Mavrakis, and the four children.

Also surviving her are her mother, one sister, two brothers and one grandson living in Salt Lake City.

Kirtland Cowan

WELLINGTON, Carbon County - Kirtland Cowan, 76, died Nov 16, 1977.

Born June 27, 1900, Elizabeth City, N.C., to William Walter and Emma Caroline Davenport Cowan. Married Lars Catherine Liddell Chantry, 1975. Member LDS Church.

Survivors: son, daughter, both of Indian Springs, Nev.; stepchildren; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services Thursday, Wellington Second LDS Ward Chapel at 10 a.m. Friends may call at Fausett Mortuary, Price, Wednesday, 7-9 p.m. thursday, one hour before the services at the ward chapel. Buried, Tooele City Cemetery.

Anthe Vutetakis

In January 1977, I (Spyros Vutetakis) interviewed my Matera (mother), then age 77, in Canton, OH

Dimitris Vutetakis

BACKGROUND: In the early 1920's, we lived in Sunnyside, Utah, a coal mine town, where I was born in 1921. Dimitris, my Patera (father), born in Kefala, Crete, in March 1887, arrived in America on May 10, 1907 at the port of Boston. He then worked as a miner for about nine years, briefly at first in Canonsburg, PA, before going on to Sunnyside. He became an American citizen sometime in 1914 or 1915. On June 2, 1916, Patera became one of the operators of the Greek coffeehouse, the social center for the many single Greek miners. Then on November 5, 1917, he was inducted into the U.S. Army, where he served for nearly twenty months, including fourteen months in France. He was granted an overseas discharge in France, so he could go directly to Greece, where he stayed for several months. There he arranged to marry Anthe Stratigakis, born September 1899 in Plakoures, Crete.

The Stratigakis family was highly respected. Matera's father, Emmanuel, for example, had been a renowned Klefti (rebel) leader against the Turks during their occupation of Crete (he was famed as the 'Plakouriótis'). The successful 1896 Revolution against the Turks had its headquarters in the family home in Plakoures, on Akrotiri. Venizelos (later to become the George Washington of modern Greece) lived there during six months of the rebellion. In a very unusual step, Patera declined the customary dowry from the bride's family, so privileged did he feel in becoming a member of it. In March 1920 he returned with Anthe to America (through New York but not Ellis Island, as he was a citizen) and Utah. Unfortunately, Patera was never able to revisit Crete, while Matera finally did in 1971 and again in 1973, when there were joyous reunions and celebrations throughout our one month visits there!

The following are excerpts of the 26 page interview made by Spyros Vutetakis.

James & Anthe Vutetakis with children Spyros & Irene

Question: Do you remember your first impressions of Sunnyside?
"I came by train. I don't remember the first days... but I do remember about certain women" Metera chokes a bit and pauses with tears. "One was Galánena... the golden Galánena. She had two sons and one daughter, Foto (Fotini), whom they were trying to get Patera to marry before he left for the Army".

Galánena was so good... so good... She was like a mother to me.. and not just like a mother, she liked me very much too" .. tearful pause, then resuming... "And Foto was like a sister, we were friends... I think Galánena migrated as a married woman."

"She was always on hand when all three of my children were born... When I had Spyros I didn't even know how to pick up or hold a baby... The dear woman would come and help me... she would cook... She was like my mother"...

This appears to be the coffeehouse staff. Patera sits at far right. The two sitting next to him are his partners, Gogoléss and Alékos. Note their natty clothing and general mien, especially Alekos in his light suit. The two coffeehouse barbers. Mr. Alfiéris and Mr. Louros, are standing in the center. Behind Patera appears to be Mr. Logiákis, close friend of the Fricksons. The two on the left are presumably employees or friends.

The coffeehouse:
"The caffenio section belonged to three - Vutetakis, Vasilis Gogoléss, Alékos Kourtis" The company had built the building, probably charged rent"...

"Also koubaros Alfieris had his barbershop in it, and there was a billiard room, in addition to the large, very large caffenio section.... Alfieris and Kyriakos Louros rented the barbershop from the three others who had the billiard room and the caffenio... They played much billiards"...

I continue re coffeehouses... The coffeehouse was their only social life... "Right"... The men washed themselves and put on their Sunday suits to go there... "Right."... Being well-dressed was a sign of respectability... "Right... yep."... Everyone would go there.. "All of them." .... Laborers, small businessmen, labor agents, interpreters, Greek government officials, priests, gamblers, etc met there. "All of them."... I mention re Paters closing the caffenio when I was born.. "Yes, his heir was born - Spyros Vutetakis - so he closed it for the day... The customers didn't like it at all... they had nowhere to go all day... But he reopened it the next day."

"After the coffeehouse was burned down in 1922, Patera had to return to work in the mine." The coffeehouse burned in 1922, the year of the major strike...

How did the fire start?... "It was arson... A bucket was found there that had been used to start the fire... the reason had to do with the fact that the coffeehouse was prosperous... So, during the Carbon County strike of 1922, some Greek men hatched a plan. They would burn down the coffeehouse, and enter the mines as scabs.

"Then they planned to go to the Company management to say that because they had helped the Company break the strike, the Company should help them by building a new coffeehouse for them to manage." ..... The Company refused, saying there would not be another coffeehouse."

After a few days with Lourakis, Koubaro Alfieris took us in because it was a tight squeeze at Lourakis'... Alfieris provided us with a room. We stayed a while, until the Company rented us a nice little stone house, consisting of four rooms, at Patera's request. The rent was $10 a month."

"In return, the Company expected Patera to work in the mine. He had been unemployed since the fire. So he returned to the mine. The strike had been broken by then."

"He first worked outside the mine, around the 'elevator', as we called it". (It was the tipple.) "The carts, loaded with coal - the miners would be paid by the cartful - would be brought out of the mine and hauled high up the elevator and dumped... Then loaded onto trains. Though it was some distance, I could see the elevator clearly from the kitchen door.".

"I would watch Dimitri working there. I don't know how I recognized him - all the workers were completely black from the coal dust - but I did. Maybe it was the way he stood or walked, I'm not sure."

"Later he was transferred to working within the mine. That's where he was working when Castle Gate exploded. And that's when we decided to leave."

Eugene Wendell Smith

The Helper Journal
Thursday, November 16, 1950

Castle Gate Miner Succumbs to Mine Injuries

Funeral services for Eugene Wendell Smith, 34, of Castle Gate will be conducted Friday afternoon at 2:30 in the Castle Gate ward chapel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with Bishop Fay Thacker officiating. Mr. Smith died Monday afternoon from injuries suffered in the Castle Gate No. 2 mine. He was working with a coal loading crew, when a large section of top coal fell, pinning him against the machinery. Co-workers Remo Ariotti of Helper, Bert Huff and Bob Reynolds of Castle Gate, rushed to his aid and carried him to a coal car and took him to the surface where he was rushed to the City-County hospital in Price, where he died shortly after. At first his injuries had been thought not serious, but on arrival at the hospital examination showed he had a severely crushed chest.

He was born April 20, 1916, at Christman, Ill., a son of Herman and Ruby Dailey Smith.

He married Luella Davies at Helper October 4, 1939. He had been a resident of Castle Gate for the past five years and was a member of Castle Gate local, UMW of A.

A world War II veteran, Smith held many army service decorations, including Normandy, North France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe battle stars; European, African and Central Europe Service ribbons; a good conduct medal, a victory medal, a distinguished unit badge and a purple heart.

Surviving him are his widow; two daughters, one son, all of Castle Gate; his mother, two sisters, and a grandmother.

Price Post of the American Legion will conduct military rites at the graveside in the Price City cemetery. Friends may call at the Mitchell funeral home until Friday noon and at the chapel in Castle Gate from 1 p.m. to time of the services.

Information received from Suzie Baxter.

Katherine Elizabeth Loftis

Mrs. Katherine Elizabeth Loftis, 72, former resident of Price and Kenilworth, died in a Salt Lake City hospital Tuesday night following a long illness. She was the widow of Lee L. Loftis, well know resident of Carbon county for man years.

Mrs. Loftis was born in Lawrence, Kansas, on October 19, 1864, a daughter of David N. Reed and Amanda Reed. With her husband, who was a contractor, she moved to Carbon county in 1906. She had lived in Salt Lake City for the past seven years.

Surviving are two sons, Robert Reed Loftis of Salt lake, and John Howard Loftis. Vernal, and six grand-children.