Grandpa Ostler's one true cousin

Hans Jensen and Dale Bernice Hale

It has been fascinating to explore the family tree of the Mansfield family.  My grandpa, George Ostler, was adopted by his mother's second husband.  He did not learn until in his thirties that his birth father was Gervis Mansfield.  I have wondered lately if he went out of his way to meet Gervis's sister, Henrietta Mansfield Hale Dives' only child, Dale Bernice Hale.  She would have been his only cousin as Henrietta and Gervis were the only living children of their mother, Henrietta Almeda Douglass who died when they were very young.  Their father, Brigham Young Mansfield, remarried so they had half siblings and my grandfather would have had half cousins but Dale Bernice would have been his only full cousin.

One of the highlights of my own life has been the enjoyment of my cousins.  I would have wished the same for my Grandpa George.

This photo showed up on Memories on Family Search.  It was labeled Dale Bernice Hale but I can't help wondering if this is not a photo of Henrietta with her daughter, Dale.  The clothing and hair styles look more like the early 1900's.  Both mother and daughter look much like each other in the adult pictures.

She had three children with her husband Hans who was several years older and who passed away before she did.  Her cousin, George, also had three sons; Gary, Max, and Paul.  I hope that they all have become acquainted with one another on the other side.

Many members of her extended family are buried in Washington Heights Memorial Park in South Ogden near her grave.

Grave Marker of Grandpa George

in the Sugar City Cemetery, Sugar City Idaho

My grandpa George was able to meet his birth father in Preston, Idaho when Gervis lived in the hotel owned by his sister, Henrietta.  At one time Dale Bernice and her family also lived in Preston.  Perhaps he was also able to meet his cousin, Dale.

Day of the Tartan and Family History from Scotland

My great grandmother, Lucy Walker Hendry, seated on the right of her sister, Hazel, immigrated as a child to the United States from Scotland.  You can read more about her life here.

Today is celebrated as Tartan Day in Scotland so I did a bit of looking about for the Tartans of my ancestors.

This is the Hendry Family Crest.  I was unable to find a Tartan pattern for this name.

Her mother was a MacGregor and I found both Family Crest and Tartans.

In fact, I found four Tartans.  Those MacGregors have quite the story and history.  You can read more about it at here.

Smoke rolls over the Vermillion Cliffs

In November we traveled from Provo to Mesa.  As we traveled over the Kaibab Plateau we noticed smoke which was not unusual has there have been a series of controlled burns recently.  However, as we exited the pine forest it was highly unusual to see smoke rolling over the Vermillion Cliffs.

 It was so unusual to see this view of the rock cliffs.

The smoke was not as dense further to the east as a full moon rose in the sky.

Unusual but beautiful at the same time.

I love it when the sun has started to set in the west and these cliffs begin to glow.

A view back at the Kaibab where all this smoke had orginated.

It is always fun to observe something new on our many trips north to south and north again.

New Cedar City Temple

It has been a delight to watch the building of the Cedar City Temple as we would fly by on Interstate 15 heading south to Arizona.  It is located on the west side of town and from a distance looking south from the freeway it reminded me of the Nauvoo Temple.  It opened for a public viewing last November so we stopped by on our way south last November.

It has simple lines but is beautiful both inside and out.  Each temple bears the words, "Holiness to the Lord, The House of the Lord" at the entrance.  This is the front of the Cedar City Temple.

It was a bright and sunshiny day, thus the dark blue sky.

I loved several features on the inside including a painting in the baptistery which is a larger version of the same artwork that I pass each time I provide service in my home temple, the Provo City Center Temple.  Columbine flowers, ceder trees, feathers, and other symbols of the area are part of the interior decor and stone work.  It was a pleasure to visit this temple.