This is the story of the only great grandparent that I actually knew. All the others passed away before I was born. Lucy Walker Hendry Ostler Jacobs was born in Scotland but I knew her as Grandma Lucy and she lived just down the street from my elementary school and church in Sugar City, Idaho. She is a vivid part of my childhood memories.
Her husband, Millo (rhymes with pillow) Jonathan Ostler, died a year before my birth.
Millo was a lovely man who adopted Lucy's son, George. Millo and Lucy also adopted two daughters. Marvol shown in this picture being held by my grandfather, George Ostler. Unfortunately, she passed away from Bright's Disease when just 6 years of age.
Millo and Lucy also adopted Maxene shown in this photo with her mother. They were wonderful people with large hearts who suffered greatly during their own childhoods. Here are their stories.
Christina "Hazel" Hendry and Lucy Walker Hendry
My life story by Lucy Walker Hendry Ostler
I was born of Scotch parents on 20 September 1884 at Govan, Lanark, Scotland the daughter of George Walker Hendry who was born 6 March 1855. My mother’s name is Christina McGregor born in the year 1862. No other record found as yet until her marriage.
Very little is known of my early childhood as I will have to write from just where I can remember. The first thing I can remember is one night after my father had returned from his work he sat me on the gate post and I asked him his name. He said it was George. I told him I liked that name and when I was as big and got a baby boy, I was going to name it George which I did.
Then after that I can remember going to meet him when he would come home from work and how he would play with us children. I well remember the night my father was killed. He was killed at the building of the Forth Bridge. He was what they call a boiler maker in this country. He was up on some of the large structure from what Mr. William Price told me and it was just about quitting time and the large hoist was lowered just a few minutes too soon. It struck my father and beheaded him there before his fellow workmen. He said it was terrible. It brought every man to tears even to the Superintendent. Mr. Price, the day he told me this, he couldn’t hardly tell me for crying. He said It was so terrible. He said my father and mother was the best friends he ever had. Said they lived neighbors for years. He thought a great deal of them. Said I need never be ashamed of my people for he knew a number of them and finer people never lived on the face of the earth.
As a little girl I can remember Scotland for its beautiful green grass and beautiful trees, rain, thunder, and lightening. The trees were low on the ground. We could hide under them if I am not mistaken.
After the death of my father I can remember of going to my grand parents place to stay with my mother. I guess it was her parents. I can remember the big iron kettle that hung in the fire place and that we had mush for supper before we went to bed. As near as I can figure, I was only about 4 years old at the time my father was killed. I can remember while I was visiting at my mother’s parents once that I had a little girl friend by the name of Ethel. We used to have tea every afternoon which was water in tin cups. I can remember it wasn’t long after the death of my father my mother brought five little children to America.
I can remember of mother being very sick on the ship. I don’t think any of us children were sick. I guess we were too mean. I know every time the door was open we wanted to get out on deck. When I seen the big black waves I wasn’t the least bit afraid. I never had any fear of water. I think mother brought us children to Ogden. There were other Saints that came at the same time. We lived in a little house by the side of a creek. I can remember the clear water running over the rocks. Then another sad thing came into my life. Mother married again. I don’t know his name. He took her and one sister and brother away to Montana. As near as I can remember and when they got settled they were to send for the rest of us but that was more than forty years ago and we are still waiting for her. I do hope the time will soon come that I can find her or my sister or brother so I can clear up the mystery. We were left with a Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sneddon and soon after we were left there at Ogden her sister Belle came up from Taylorsville and took me to live with them as they had no girl. There I had some terrible trials to go through.
Millo Jonathan Ostler
The Life of My Father, Millo Jonathan Ostler
by one of his children either George Ostler or Maxene Ostler
Millo Jonathan Ostler was born April 5, 1882 at Payson, Utah to William Gallop Ostler born March 3, 1835 Bridport, Dosetshire, England and Frances Alice Heaton born October 23, 1865 Warm Creek, Payette, Utah. Five boys were born to my grandmother and grandfather Ostler. A very sad thing came into daddy’s life between the age of 7 and 8, the passing away of grandfather 24 June 1889.
Daddy being the oldest of the family found it pretty hard in trying to get the family getting along. He would anything he could get to do. One day a brother Robert Madison came to grandmother and ask her if daddy could go with him to his little farm. He said he had an awful weedy patch of potatoes he wanted us boys to clean out for him. They pulled weeds from early morning until late night. When we got through that night, Brother Madison paid us boys off. He gave each of us a twenty-five cent piece, and for fear that daddy might lose his, he tucked it way down into the bottom of his shoe. On the road home the other boys were telling each other what they were going to do with theirs. Daddy knowing that he had a mother and two little brothers at home who were very hungry, he kept still. When Brother Madison said he hadn’t learned from daddy in what he was going to do with his money.
“Oh!,” said daddy, “I am going to give it to mother, she will know what to do with it. Maybe she will buy some potatoes because we haven’t any.”
Wen he got home he walked into the house as proud as a peacock and handed mother the money.
Many and many a time daddy went to bed on what they called a lumpy dick supper that is just flour stirred in hot milk. He passed through lots and lots of hardships.
by one of his children either George Ostler or Maxene Ostler
Millo Jonathan Ostler was born April 5, 1882 at Payson, Utah to William Gallop Ostler born March 3, 1835 Bridport, Dosetshire, England and Frances Alice Heaton born October 23, 1865 Warm Creek, Payette, Utah. Five boys were born to my grandmother and grandfather Ostler. A very sad thing came into daddy’s life between the age of 7 and 8, the passing away of grandfather 24 June 1889.
Daddy being the oldest of the family found it pretty hard in trying to get the family getting along. He would anything he could get to do. One day a brother Robert Madison came to grandmother and ask her if daddy could go with him to his little farm. He said he had an awful weedy patch of potatoes he wanted us boys to clean out for him. They pulled weeds from early morning until late night. When we got through that night, Brother Madison paid us boys off. He gave each of us a twenty-five cent piece, and for fear that daddy might lose his, he tucked it way down into the bottom of his shoe. On the road home the other boys were telling each other what they were going to do with theirs. Daddy knowing that he had a mother and two little brothers at home who were very hungry, he kept still. When Brother Madison said he hadn’t learned from daddy in what he was going to do with his money.
“Oh!,” said daddy, “I am going to give it to mother, she will know what to do with it. Maybe she will buy some potatoes because we haven’t any.”
Wen he got home he walked into the house as proud as a peacock and handed mother the money.
Many and many a time daddy went to bed on what they called a lumpy dick supper that is just flour stirred in hot milk. He passed through lots and lots of hardships.
Maxene, Millo, and Lucy Ostler
The following information was compiled by my sister, Janis Ostler Palmer
Millo Jonathan Ostler was born April 5, 1882 in Payson, Utah. His father, William Ostler was born in Bridport, England on March 3, 1835. In 1847, when William was 12 years old, LDS missionaries came to their village. He, his parents (John Ostler and Sarah Endacott Gollop), and siblings were some of the first converted to the gospel in their village. In 1855 this family moved to South Hampton, England and it was there in the spring of 1859 that William and his younger brother, George arranged to sail to America on the ship, "William Tapscott." The ship sailed from Liverpool to New York City. William's occupation on ship records was listed as shoemaker. It was a year later that William and his brother went from Florence, Nebraska to Salt Lake City in the Jessie Murphy Ox Train. The rest of the John Ostler Family came to America in 1861 on the ship, "Manchester" and traveled to Salt Lake City in the Claudius Spencer Company.
Millo's mother, Alice Heaton, daughter of Jonathan Heaton, Jr. and Sarah Crissy Pedder, was born in Fayette, Sanpete, Utah on October 23, 1865. Her parents both came form England to Utah in 1861 and after marrying in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, settled in Payson, Utah. Alice was William's fourth wife and 30 years younger. His first wife had separated from him, his second wife had divorced him shortly after their marriage. No children were born to these marriages. His third wife died during child birth in 1880. Soon after, Alice and William married June 9, 1881 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City and made their home in Payson, Utah. They had five sons, Millo being the oldest. Alvin and Arthur preceded their father in death and Reuel passed away a few years later. After William passed away when Millo was only seven years of age, there were five children left for Alice to raise. There were two of her own, Millo and Alva, and three from William's third wife.
Millo went to work for a farmer getting a room, board and 25 cents a a month which he gave to his widowed mother. At nine years of age he got a job for $2 a month working after school and on weekends. He graduated from the 8th grade in Payson, Utah.
Lucy was born in Govan, Lanark, Scotland on September 20, 1884 (some records say 1883.) Her parents were George Walker Hendry and Christina McGregor. She was named after her paternal grandmother, Lucy Walker. When she was 4 years old, her father was killed in Scotland on June 2, 1887 as he was helping to build the Forth Bridge. He was 32 years old. Soon after the Mormon missionaries taught Lucy's mother, now single with 5 children. She joined the Mormon on November 18, 1887 after which she immigrated to the United States in April 1888 with her five young children on board the "Wisconsin" out of Liverpool with 69 other members of the Church. They passed through the customs house in New York and then transferred to a steamer for Norfolk, VA and then traveled by train to Ogden, Utah. The Mr. Price mentioned above was also a part of this group of Scottish saints. The five children included Margaret or Maggie, the oldest born in 1880; David born in 1881; Lucy born in 1883 or 1884; Christina, called Hazel, born in 1885; and George born just 4 months before his father died in 1887. According to Lucy’s obituary, her mother died and the children scattered to live in foster homes. (Lucy's own story written by her some years before her death tells a different story.) Lucy lived in foster homes in Ogden and Salt Lake City.
Millo's mother, Alice Heaton, daughter of Jonathan Heaton, Jr. and Sarah Crissy Pedder, was born in Fayette, Sanpete, Utah on October 23, 1865. Her parents both came form England to Utah in 1861 and after marrying in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, settled in Payson, Utah. Alice was William's fourth wife and 30 years younger. His first wife had separated from him, his second wife had divorced him shortly after their marriage. No children were born to these marriages. His third wife died during child birth in 1880. Soon after, Alice and William married June 9, 1881 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City and made their home in Payson, Utah. They had five sons, Millo being the oldest. Alvin and Arthur preceded their father in death and Reuel passed away a few years later. After William passed away when Millo was only seven years of age, there were five children left for Alice to raise. There were two of her own, Millo and Alva, and three from William's third wife.
Millo went to work for a farmer getting a room, board and 25 cents a a month which he gave to his widowed mother. At nine years of age he got a job for $2 a month working after school and on weekends. He graduated from the 8th grade in Payson, Utah.
Lucy was born in Govan, Lanark, Scotland on September 20, 1884 (some records say 1883.) Her parents were George Walker Hendry and Christina McGregor. She was named after her paternal grandmother, Lucy Walker. When she was 4 years old, her father was killed in Scotland on June 2, 1887 as he was helping to build the Forth Bridge. He was 32 years old. Soon after the Mormon missionaries taught Lucy's mother, now single with 5 children. She joined the Mormon on November 18, 1887 after which she immigrated to the United States in April 1888 with her five young children on board the "Wisconsin" out of Liverpool with 69 other members of the Church. They passed through the customs house in New York and then transferred to a steamer for Norfolk, VA and then traveled by train to Ogden, Utah. The Mr. Price mentioned above was also a part of this group of Scottish saints. The five children included Margaret or Maggie, the oldest born in 1880; David born in 1881; Lucy born in 1883 or 1884; Christina, called Hazel, born in 1885; and George born just 4 months before his father died in 1887. According to Lucy’s obituary, her mother died and the children scattered to live in foster homes. (Lucy's own story written by her some years before her death tells a different story.) Lucy lived in foster homes in Ogden and Salt Lake City.
She married Gervis (also known as Jarvis) Bates Mansfield in the spring of 1903. This was not a happy marriage or time period for her because she divorced him and did not talk about him or let her first child, George born on March 20, 1904, know about his natural father. He only discovered this information as a married man. It appears that Jarvis never remarried and at the time of his death from heart disease at age 58 was living in a room of the Wilford Hotel in Preston, Idaho.
Lucy married Millo Ostler on January 24, 1907. Not much is known about their meeting, except that they met in Ogden, Utah in June 1905. This marriage was sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on June 5, 1907. Lucy’s son, George, was also sealed to them at this time. They were unable to have any children of their own but adopted two girls; Marvol Alice born December 3, 1916 and Maxene born May 26, 1924. Marvol died of Bright’s Disease when she was just over 6 and a half years old.
Millo and Lucy made their first home in Salt Lake City in the 22nd Ward living with Millo’s invalid mother, Alice. Millo worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad and Continental Oil Company in Salt Lake City. The work on a smelter caused him to have pneumonia several times. He sang in his ward choir and bass in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for 15 years. He served as scout master in the 22nd and 11th Wards. He was also a counselor in the MIA in the 22nd Ward. Lucy also had callings in the Salt Lake Wards. She was a Relief Society teacher in the 22nd and worked in the religion class in 11th Ward. They moved to Spanish Fork for a time before moving to Teton, Idaho in 1919. Lucy was a Primary teacher in the Spanish Fork. Millo and Lucy lived five miles up the canyon from Spanish Fork.
Lucy and Millo lived in Teton just a short time before moving to Sugar City, Idaho in the fall of 1919. A few reasons for the move to Idaho were Millo’s health, the fact that his mother had passed away, and that two of her married sisters, Millo’s aunts, now lived in Idaho. The sisters were Martha Heaton married to Robert Cluff and Selina Heaton married to Albert Searle. The Cluff’s lived in a rock home directly south of Sugar City and the Searles lived on Moody Road and had a big red barn.
In Sugar City, Millo probably first worked on his Uncle Robert Cluff’s farm. A few years later Millo took up the trade of shoe making that his father William had also practiced. His father had at one time made shoes for some of the Brigham Young family. Mill’s shoe repair shop was in Harris’Building on Main Street, west of the Harrison Meat Market. This building also had two apartments. Millo, Lucy, and family lived in the apartment in back. When the Harris Building was sold, Millo moved his shoe repair shop to an empty room downstairs in the old bank. Then later it was moved around the corner and a bit east in an empty space next to the old theater entrance. When Millo became ill at the end of his life, his shoe equipment was sold to Tom Price, a shoe repairer in Rexburg.
Millo’s second job was his contract to haul the mail from the depot to the post office. When he did this either Lucy or Maxene would cover the shoe repair shop. In the winter he used an over sized sleigh. In the summer he put wheels on it to use until he could buy a pickup truck. The post masters during this time were Chris Schwendiman and Zeke Holman. His daughter, Maxene, remembers in the spring the baby chicks would come in and that her Dad would mostly deliver them right to the families, because so few families had telephones. Millo got sick in 1950 and had to stop hauling the mail. When he needed a day off, his mail hauling subs were George and Johan Lusk, his wife Lucy, and his daughter, Maxene.
Millo’s second job was his contract to haul the mail from the depot to the post office. When he did this either Lucy or Maxene would cover the shoe repair shop. In the winter he used an over sized sleigh. In the summer he put wheels on it to use until he could buy a pickup truck. The post masters during this time were Chris Schwendiman and Zeke Holman. His daughter, Maxene, remembers in the spring the baby chicks would come in and that her Dad would mostly deliver them right to the families, because so few families had telephones. Millo got sick in 1950 and had to stop hauling the mail. When he needed a day off, his mail hauling subs were George and Johan Lusk, his wife Lucy, and his daughter, Maxene.
Lucy started serving meals for freight train crews three times a week, because there were no cafes in Sugar City. In about 1928 or 1929, when Maxene was 4 or 5 years old, her parents rented the Phillips house. It was a two story house located one block south of the drug store. Here they took in boarders. One room downstairs was for a woman school teacher and the upstairs rooms were for gentlemen, most of whom worked for the Sugar Factory or at the potato pits by the Union Pacific Depot. About four years later, when Maxene was 7 or 8, this home was sold to Albert Holmes who had 13 children. Millo and Lucy were buying the Larsen Place one block east and one block south of the Phillips house, but needed to to vacate before the new home was ready, so Mr. Jim Simmonson, a widower, who had taken meals with them offered for them to stay in his home during the interim.
At the Larsen Home (so called because it was built by Lee and Ruth Larsen) the Ostlers had a large garden and many flowers. Lucy made flower arrangements to give to families for funerals and special occasions. She also shared her garden produce with many families. At this smaller house Lucy had room for just one boarder, but continued to feed 8 to 10 people during the sugar beet and potato harvests. Many of her former boarders would stop by when they were in the area to visit with Millo and Lucy, and to show their families the lady who made the best chicken and dumplings, pies, etc.
Millo and Lucy also found tie to serve in the church in Sugar City. He was a ward of home teacher most of his life. He worked on the genealogical committee for 20 years. He was secretary of the High Priest Group for the last 18 years of his life. Both Millo and Lucy served two temple missions in the Idaho Falls Temple in 1948 and 1949. The first year they were asked to do 70 endowments and the second year to do 25. On their certificates of release dated March 1, 1950, Millo had done 99 endowments and Lucy served as proxy for 114 endowments. One great-granddaughter remembers Lucy’s love of temple work. Lucy’s ‘Book of Remembrance’ is full of family group sheets where Millo and Lucy served as proxies for ancestors. Lucy also worked in the Relief Society. In the booklet “Relief Society Memories of Rexburg and North Rexburg Stakes 1883-1945,” Lucy is in the photo of the Sugar First Ward Relief Society. The history mentions that in May 1934, Lucy Ostler and Sarah Harris were in charge of a dinner that served 250. It was part of a dinner concert with Mary Thomas and her ladies’ glee club.
Mary Thomas was my great aunt on my father's mother's side. She is standing on the right in front of her brother Alfred Ricks, Jr. This photo also includes my paternal grandmother and her siblings.
Millo passed away at home on a Monday morning, October 1, 1951 of leukemia after suffering for a year. He was buried October 4, 1951 next to his daughter, Marvol’s grave. She had proceeded him in death on August 29, 1923.
Leo Jacobs and Lucy Walker Hendry Ostler Jacobs
After Millo’s death, Lucy married Leo Jacobs on February 22, 1952. He had also lost his spouse. Great-grandchildren, who knew her as Grandma Jacobs, remember going to her new home just north of the Sugar City Chapel after school before heading to Primary. There was a large garden and beautiful hollyhocks. Lucy died April 30, 1966 and is buried beside Millo in the Sugar City Cemetery. Leo outlived her by a few years and my family continued to visit him when in Idaho. He was a great man as well. I found Leo's story on Family Search and he and his wife also did temple work in the new Idaho Falls Temple. I wonder if that might be how they became good friends.
No comments:
Post a Comment