Friday, March 14, 2014

DID YOU KNOW - William T. Williams remembers seeing his father only once and later, had to have his nose removed?

William T. Williams
I was born in Spanish Fork, Utah on May 26, 1871. I lived with my parents, Thomas and Ann Rees Griffith Williams until I was seven months old. 

Because of the lack of means and the ill health of my mother, I was passed on to Simeon Comfort Powell and wife, Edith Last Cornaby Powell at Salem, Utah, who cared for me until I was about eleven years old. I have a conflicting birth date records. In my father’s brief old Bible record my name is written as Davidd, the Welsh way of writing David, but the Powell’s changed my name to William Powell.

One Sunday afternoon in my early childhood, I think I was around the age of five to seven year old, I was instructed by Mr. Powell’s daughter, Mary, to drive some horses down the road a little ways as they were getting into the crops, as there were no fences around the farm, the crops would be ruined. The folks were away visiting at Scofield at the time.

Mr. Van Taylor was irrigating his field and had noticed me driving the horses. A few minutes later he saw the horses going down the road but couldn’t see me anywhere. He left his irrigating to investigate and found me in the road, unconscious, where a horse had kicked me in the head and crushed it. He took me home and quickly rode his horse to Payson. He returned with a young doctor, George Greer, who had just finished his training in medical. He cleaned out the broken bones and stitched the skin together. I was unconscious for three or four days. This accident left a bad scar and dent in my forehead where the bones were removed but has caused me no further trouble.

My only recollection of my father was, I think, somewhere around the age of eight to ten. I was living in Salem at the time with the S.C. Powell family. My adopted father, Samuel Cornaby, or some of the family, had made arrangements for me to meet my father at Grandpa Cornaby’s. I was dressed in my Sunday best one morning, and my step-parents said to me, “You may walk over to Spanish Fork and visit with your father at Grandpa Cornaby’s”.

It seemed strange to me at that young age that I was sent alone, but I am thankful that they let me see him. I walked to Spanish Fork and arrived at Grandfather Cornaby’s at ten or eleven o’clock. I knocked, and the door was opened. In one corner of the room sat an old man, his whiskers and hair were gray, and he wore a pair of spectacles. His head and hands shook with palsy. He was close to seventy at the time. I was then introduced to my real father, and I think it was the first time that I had ever been introduced to anyone. They asked me to go and shake hands with him as he was my father. I was rather bashful and shook hands rather shyly. He asked for a drink of water, and I was permitted to get one for him. We visited for perhaps an hour or two, and then I walked back to Salem.
I left my adopted parents in 1882 and went home to my mother, brothers, and sisters, my father in the meantime having died. I went by the name of William Williams, but when I was eighteen or nineteen year old and working in Tucker, Utah, there were three if not four persons with the same name, so the first to the post office was served with the mail. Through the advice of David Clark, I adopted William T. Williams as my name but have no name for the letter T. I have done all business to this day in that name, and my children acknowledge it and use my signature as William T. Williams.

Somewhere around the year 1917, I arrived home after dark. There were chores to do, so I went out to milk the cows. After finishing the milking, I was hurrying into the house when I ran into the snubbing post (a post used to rope and tie cattle with) and hit myself in the nose. My nose swelled up for several days, and then apparently healed. After about five years a small lump began to form. The doctors advocated removing it, but I had no confidence in letting them remove it. About five more years passed, with it continued to grow and reached the cancerous stage. It would bleed and hemorrhage at night. Finally one day a man came to our home that had been healed of cancer at Dr. Nichols’ Sanatorium, Inc., of Savannah, Missouri.

Through his recommendation, my wife and family urged me to go there and have the cancer removed. With the money I had and the assistance of my oldest son, Allen B., who was herding sheep at the time for Thomas and Herbert Williams, I and my wife went to Savannah, Missouri, to Dr. Nichols’ Sanatorium, where the cancer was removed by escharotics or acid burning process. It was done without loss of blood and was painless, although my whole nose had to be removed. This cancer was removed in June 1927 and at this date I have had no signs of its return, although it has now been sixteen years ago this month since its removal. This didn’t disfigure my face, but the doctor had to take the whole nose off and an artificial nose was fitted on by an expert, when has proved perfectly satisfactory. Three months after this operation, I went back for an examination, and a growth was removed from my shoulder.

Since then I have been on crutches in the house, still looking at the beauties and wonders of the earth, wishing all people health through the front window. This brings me to my 72nd birthday on May 26, 1943.

I feel at this time that I would like to express my appreciation and thankfulness to my step-parents, Simeon Comfort Powell and Edith Hannah Cornaby Powell. As a youth I didn’t fully appreciate what they did for me, but I think I am not any different in that respect than any other child.

My step-parents cared for and took care of me at an age when it was impossible for me to fully care for myself. When grown, I married Hannah Caroline Powell, their daughter, so these good people are my children’s grandparents. 



Decendancy
William T. Williams (1871-1949)
Allen Berry Williams (1905-2000)
LaVon Williams (1932-2015)
Diane Finlinson
SOURCE
Autobiography of William T. Williams, written in 1943 at the age of 72.

Monday, March 10, 2014

DID YOU KNOW - Hannah Cornaby wrote Who's on the Lord's Side? Who?

Hannah Last (1822-1905)
Hannah Last was born March 17th, 1822 in Suffolk, England and from her own autobiography she writes, "I was early taught by my parents to love that Being, who has made the earth so beautiful, and provided so much for His creatures dwelling thereon; thus I was early led to admire and reverence the Creator through His works." 

As you can see, she had a wonderful poetic way with words. In fact, at the time of her death in 1905, she was Poet Laureate of Utah.

I would like to share with you one of her poems that many of you might find familiar.

Who's on the Lord's side? Who?
Now is the time to show.
We ask it fearlessly;
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?
We wage no common war,
Cope with no common foe.
The enemies awake;
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?

We serve the living God,

And  want his foes to know
That, if but few, we're great;
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?
We're going on to win;
No fear must blanch the brow,
The Lord of Hosts is ours;
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?

This is the type of courage it took for her and her husband, Samuel, to join the church. Not long after they were married, they were introduced to a book about the "Mormons", which gave a very unflattering account of the church, it's history and teachings. Hannah wrote, "Although the book was written to show the fallacy of "Mormonism", it made a deep impression on my mind. My husband and I read it together carefully and thoughtfully, and we arose from its perusal, satisfied of the divine mission of Joseph Smith.

Her poem continues:

The stone cut without hands 
To fill the earth must grow.
Who'll help to roll it on?
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?
Our ensign to the world
Is floating proudly now.
No coward bears our flag;
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?

The pow'rs of earth and hell

In rage direct the blow
That's aimed to crush the work;
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?
Truth, life, and liberty,
Freedom from the death and woe,
Are stakes we're fighting for;
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?

Like Joseph Smith, Hannah was troubled with all the different religions when she wrote, "Accustomed as I was to read my bible, it was impossible not to see many discrepancies between the teachings of the religious sects and those of the Savior." She would take long walks with her husband and they would discuss the gospel and pray for answers to the many questions they had concerning the gospel. It was during the darkest time of her life the spirit whispered to her, "Fear not, for I am with thee."

The Lord has armies great
Which at his bidding go.
His chariots are strong;
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?
When he makes bare His arm
To lay the wicked low.
Then is the time to ask;
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?

It was the beginning of February, 1852 on a cold storming evening that Hannah invited a man who was seeking a little shelter from the storm under the awning of their store. "I invited him to come in for better protection from the weather, which he did, expressing his thanks, but assuring me that if I knew who he was, I probably would not welcome him under my roof. He introduced himself as George Day, a Latter-day Saint Elder and he had come to their town with authority from God to preach the gospel. Hearing this, Hannah rushed to get her husband and they began to hear the gospel. They at dinner and continued their discussions till late that evening, and started again early the next morning where they left off. They were so excited about the message they were hearing that they invited all their neighbors, positive that they would feel the same spirit, but to her amazement she writes, "But they could hardly refrain from abusing him and us, and called us fools for listening to such lies - but we were too happy to be angry at such strange conduct."

Samuel was baptized shortly thereafter, but Hannah needed to wait for awhile due to the birth of her first child. As soon as her health would permit, she set an appointment to be baptized. But, when the time arrived, a mob gathered and grew throughout the day till they numbered many hundred and threatened them with what they would do if any attempt was made to go in to the water. Samuel tricked the mob and got out of the house and Hannah snuck out after dark. When the mob realized what had happened, they rushed to the water to stop the baptism.

"Before we reached the water's edge," she wrote, the whole horde was upon us, and my husband baptized me amid a shower of stones. We appealed for the protection of the police who were present, but they would not help. We made our way back as best as we could, followed by the mob, and, although the stones whizzed around us, thick as hail, not one touched us and we reached home in safety, thanking God for our miraculous deliverance; determined more than ever, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, to adhere - through evil, as well as good report - to the principles we had embraced."

Then rally to the flag
Our God will help us through.
The victory is ours,
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?
Stainless our flag must wave
And to the nation show,
The olive branch of peace;
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?

Who's on the Lord's side? Who?

Now is the time to show
We ask it fearlessly,
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?

Descendancy
Hannah Last (1822-1905)
Edith Hannah Cornaby (1852-1913)
Hannah Caroline Powell (1882-1975)
Allen Williams (1905-2000)
LaVon Williams (1932-2015)
Diane Finlinson

Source: Talk written by Tom Miller and used by several of his children for Sacrament Mtg.

DID YOU KNOW - Abraham Powell was killed by a bear?

Abraham Powell
A most lamentable accident occurred on the 3rd day of the 12th month. A part of hunters consisting of John A. Powell, Abraham Powell, Caleb B. Rhoades, and Robert Snyder, of this place, started on the 23rd of November, a deer hunting expedition. They selected their hunting ground at Nebo Creek, east of Mount Nebo. As they were gathering up their game, one of the party, Brother Abraham Powell was attacked by a grizzley bear, which lay secreted in the brush, about 10 feet off, striking him down before any defense could be made, and literally tearing his eyes from their sockets, scalping his head from below the region of the eyes, mangling and bruising his whole body in no less that forty-seven different places, in a most fearful manner. Notwithstanding he was used in such a dreadful manner, he rallied and hollored to his brother John Powell, who was nearly three-quarters of a mile off from the scene. The latter sped to his rescue as fast as possible and carried him to camp, when he received all the care and attention that the isolated circumstances would permit; but in spite of all efforts, he expired on the morning of the 4th, in very severe suffering.

The deceased was a young man, aged 23; a most daring a fearless hunter. He was industrious and of exemplary habits, a quiet and peaceable disposition, dutiful and kind to his mother, he was the son of the late James Powell, so well known in the Missouri persecutions, and Mrs. Jemima Powell, an aged lady, who lives to mourn his loss. His comrades, at his request, ordained him to the priesthood of an Elder, and dedicated him to the Lord, after which he expired, uttering his last words, "Take care of mother."

Source
From the Deseret News of Dec. 6, 1878
Salem, Utah Dec. 6, 1878
Editors Deseret News

Descendancy
Abraham Powell,
Son of James & Jemima Powell
Brother of Simeon Comfort Powell
Hannah Caroline Powell
Allen Berry Williams
LaVon Williams
Diane Finlinson

Sunday, March 9, 2014

DID YOU KNOW - Thomas C. Callister miraculously was not trampled by his horse?

Thomas Clark Callister was a man of great faith, as is shown in the following brief experience in his life. 

During the summer of 1879 he was out on the range with his brothers rounding up some cattle when he was stricken with a sun stroke. As he was considerable distance from the pre-arranged meeting place, and was riding a horse that was newly broken in, having been ridden only once or twice, he was gravely worried over his circumstance. He feared that if he were to lose consciousness and fall from the horse the near wild animal might trample him. 

It was with a prayer on his lips and in his heart that he tried to make his way toward the meeting place, but to no avail. His consciousness faded and he fell to the ground. When he failed to meet his brothers at the appointed time and place they set out to find him. It was several hours later that they came upon him lying on the ground. Standing beside him calmly was the spirited horse. There were signs of pawing’s in the ground immediately beside the unconscious body of Thomas, but the horse had not hurt him and had remained so quiet as to not even disturb the rope which was coiled on the saddle. 

This has always been a faith promoting experience to Thomas and his family that the Lord does watch over and protect us. The effects of this stroke remained with him for six years. 

In 1885, Thomas and his wife, Alice went to the dedication of the Manti Temple. It was while there that he received another great blessing from his faith, for he was made well. He was never troubled with this affliction again. During his life in Fillmore he was dedicated to the work of the Lord and served as the Bishop of the Fillmore Ward for 17 years, served on the Millard Stake High Council and was a Counselor to President Alonzo A. Hinckley in the Millard Stake.

Source
HISTORY OF THOMAS CLARK CALLISTER Written by his daughter, LaNola Callister Driggs


Descendancy
Thomas Clark Callister, son of Thomas Callister & Helen Mar Clark.
1/2 brother of Mary Maranda Callister, mother of
Lydia Lyman
Richard Finlinson

Diane Finlinson

Thursday, March 6, 2014

DID YOU KNOW - James Powell threw his own brains into a fire?

James and Jemima Powell were living in Caldwell County, Missouri in the early days of the church. They were not members of the LDS church at the time and a mob came, requesting him to join them against the Mormons. He said, "No, I will not join you. I don't know anything about the Mormons." They replied, with a warning, "If you do not join us, we will kill you."

The mob then headed in the direction of Jemima's parent's home, where the Powell's young daughter was at the time. James and Jemima feared for her safety and followed the mob. 

As they met up with the posse, one member of the mob became angry and hit James over the head with his gun barrel, smashing his head and giving them a warning that if they weren't gone by the next morning, they would return and kill all of them.

Jemima ran for help. Her family were Latter-Day Saints and a blessing, by the laying on of hands was given to James. Afterwards, he arose and walked about 200 yards to the family house.

They decided it was best to leave for Huntersville (a town about four miles away) and packed their belongings in a wagon, driving all night through a wooded country, followed by the posse who were determined to see them gone.

Upon arrival, they were surrounded by a crowd of three hundred men who asked what they had in the wagon. Jemima replied, "If you must know, we have a wounded man in the wagon." They then asked if we had done anything for him and if we were Mormons. Although Jemima's parents and two sisters had joined the church, at that time, neither James or Jemima were Mormons and had never heard a Mormon preach. 

One of the men told them to go to a certain vacant house, where James was taken out of the wagon and doctors performed an operation on his head. They cut his scalp in four parts, drawn down as far as his ears and forehead, but they were fearful of the posse and left him in this condition.

During James illness, nearly one fourth of his brains were taken out. The doctors were showing them to others present in the room, when James requested to see them. They were handed to him. He looked at them closely and then threw them into the fire, remarking, "There is a miracle for you! (A man holding his own brains in his hands, throwing them into the fire and living to see them burned!)

His left arm and side was paralyzed through the blow, but James recovered sufficiently to work and care for his family, even though he never had the use of one arm. He suffered from seizures the rest of his life.

The family joined the Mormon Church and moved in fear from place to place, eventually moving to Nauvoo where they stayed until the Saints were driven out. They settled in Odgen, Utah.

In Ogden, the Weber River divided their farm land and their home. In July 1854, James was crossing the river on his horse, caught in a fit and being alone, fell into the river and was drowned. His body was found the next day and was buried.

James suffered great physical hardship throughout his life as a result of his faith, but remained true and faithful to the end.


Descendency
James Powell (1809-1854), husband of Jemima Wimmer
Simeon Comfort Powell (1842-1918)
Hannah Caroline Powell (1882-1947)
Allen Berry Williams (1905-2000)
LaVon Williams (1932-2015)
Diane Finlinson

Sources: 
Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, p. 2436
Incidents in the life of James Powell were written in Feb 1860, as related by wife, Jemima Powell, after James' death. (They were written in the handwriting of Jemima Wimmer and was found in an old family record book of Peter and Elizabeth S. Wimmer in the possession of Robert Wimmer, a grandson of afore mentioned Robert Wimmer)
*This story was condensed by Diane Miller, but is in its entirety on myfamilyfiles.blogspot.com

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

DID YOU KNOW - Grandpa Williams almost lost his life in Guam?

Grandpa Williams was a hard worker. After he and Grandma Williams were married, the Great Depression of the 1930's came and he worked long and hard to take care of his new little family. 

He worked in Garfield, Utah with the American Smelting and Refining Company while enrolling in classes to train as a Machinist and a Welder. He attended these classes for over four years while working full time at the smelter.

Finally the time came where he was hired by the Tooele Ordinance Depot, where he could use his training. He worked as an auto mechanic on government mobile equipment.

While at Tooele, the shop superintendent offered him a chance to go to Guam to teach the soldiers auto mechanics and welding. He accepted this opportunity, but before leaving, moved his family to Spanish Fork where they owned a home. At this time, the family consisted of four girls and one boy.

In Guam, the welding classes were held in an army Quonset hut, but the auto mechanics classes were held outside, in almost daily rains, followed by hot tropical sun. Grandpa Williams enjoyed his work in Guam, but did not like being separated from his family.

He had an experience in Guam that nearly cost him his life. It was while picking up sea shells in the ocean, that he and another soldier were caught in a tidal wave following a typhoon which struck Yap Island. They were miraculously saved from drowning through the power of prayer.  He prayed so fervently to be spared and this has always been a strong, faith promoting event to Grandpa. That same day, two other men were drowned on the island, caught in similar circumstances.


Descendency
Allen Berry Williams (1905-2000)
LaVon Williams (1932-2015)
Diane Finlinson

Sources
"Bull Ladle", Retirement Article written by Allen B. Williams for the Pacific States Cast Iron Pipe Company. June 1970
Spanish Fork Ward Newsletter, featuring Allen & Delila Williams, prepared by Marie Hill, Sept. 1969