Merkley Mother's Day photo

"Mother's Day, 1918"
Keturah, Helen, Margret, Mary kneeling

Helen Merkley in photos

Helen Merkley Colton was one of Asher's sisters.

The following are a bunch of photos of her in her younger years that have not yet been posted.

All are from the personal albums of Sarah Nielsen.

Baby Helen Merkley

Younger Helen Merkley portrait

Helen Merkley portrait in oval

Helen Merkley portrait

Young Helen Merkley

Another young Helen Merkley

Helen Merkley by ivy

Family Summary- Nelson Merkley Jr & Keturah Thurman Peterson

The following is a brief summary for the family union of:

Nelson Merkley Jr.

and

Keturah Thurman Peterson

Nelson Merkley Jr.
b. 24 Mar 1857- Carson Valley, Nevada, to Nelson Merkley Sr and Sarah Jane Sanders Merkley
d. 18 Apr 1924- Vernal, Uintah, Utah

Keturah "Kate" Thurman Peterson
b. 8 Oct 1867- Hart Co, Kentucky, to Mary Elizabeth Thurman (and adopted by Peter Peterson)*
d. 2 May 1950- Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Nelson Merkley Jr. married "Kate" Peterson on 9 Jun 1884 in Vernal, Uintah, Utah (later solemnized in the Logan temple in Logan, Cache, Utah in 1889)*


Born to this union were the following:

Ellis Merkley
b. 2 May 1885- Vernal, Uintah, Utah
m. 17 Jun 1908- Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah to Jean Eleanor Gerber
d. 22 Mar 1976- Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Ezra Thurman Merkley
b. 23 Sept 1887- Vernal, Uintah, Utah
m. 15 Nov 1913- Vernal, Uintah, Utah to Alice Hacking
d. 18 Jan 1919- Vernal, Uintah, Utah

Helen Merkley
b. 9 Apr 1890- Vernal, Uintah, Utah
m. 29 Jun 1910- Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah to Byron Owen Colton
d. 22 Oct 1961- Roosevelt, Duchesne, Utah

Milton Merkley
b. 30 Apr 1893- ASSUMED Vernal, Uintah, Utah*
d. 9 May 1893- ASSUMED Vernal, Uintah, Utah*

Sarah Merkley
b. 20 Apr 1894- ASSUMED Vernal, Uintah, Utah*
d. 30 Apr 1894- ASSUMED Vernal, Uintah, Utah*

Mary Elizabeth Merkley
b. 25 Aug 1896- Vernal, Uintah, Utah
m. 6 Sept 1917- Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah to Isabrand Sander Jr.
d. 24 Oct 1974- Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Asher Merkley
b. 19 Jul 1899- Vernal, Uintah, Utah
m. 2 Aug 1920- Vernal, Uintah, Utah to Birda Lewis
d. 14 Feb 1974- Vernal, Uintah, Utah

Margaret Jane Merkley
b. 14 Apr 1902- Vernal, Uintah, Utah
m. 28 Apr 1927- Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah to Rulon Kershaw Hansen
d. 13 Mar 1989- Monroeville City, Allegheny, Pennsylvania (buried in SLC, UT)

Kate Merkley
b. 27 Nov 1907- Vernal, Uintah, Utah
d. 27 Nov 1907- Vernal, Uintah, Utah (stillborn)

Nelson Merkley Jr and Kate P Merkley family
Asher, Margret, Ezra, Mary, Nelson Jr, Kate, Ellis, Helen
From the personal albums of Lois Chatfield

Confirming documents for dates and places on all of these family members can be found within the posts on this blog.

*Visual copies of documentation for these life events have not yet been found.  Dates are based on family histories, newspaper clippings (such as obituaries), and database searches on familysearch.org that all seem to agree on or refer to the same dates and locations.

Byron O Colton, newspaper bio

Byron O Colton was Asher's brother-in-law.

He married Asher's sister, Helen.

"Burnie" Colton
From personal albums of Sarah Neilsen

The following is a newspaper biography covering the general basis of his life up until it was written in 1935.  Due to the length of it I won't transcribe it at this time, but it is fairly easy to make the words out by clicking and enlarging the image itself.

Newspaper article:

SOURCE: Roosevelt Standard, 1935, Aug 29, p.1

Nelson Jr and Keturah Merkley family photos

 The following are a series of photos taken of Asher's parents and their siblings probably around the year 1916.

Nelson Merkley Jr & Keturah Peterson Merkley family
From the personal albums of Lois Chatfield

Enlarged version of photo above
BACK: Asher, Ezra, Nelson Jr, Ellis
FRONT: Margret, Mary, Keturah, Helen
From the personal albums of Lois Chatfield
Also found in albums of Tamera Lund

Nelson & Keturah Merkley extending family
BACK: Ezra & Alice, Ellis, Asher, Jean, Nelson Jr & Keturah, Byron Colton holding Merrill, Helen
FRONT Lorna, Aird, baby Thurman, Harold, Mary Elizabeth Merkley, Ruth Colton standing, Margret Merkley, Lula Colton standing.
From the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak
Also found in albums of Bryce Merkley and Delores Horton

"Ruth Colton, Harold M, Aird M, Thurman M, Lula Colton, Merrill Colton, Lorna Merkley (Ezra's daughter) about 1916"
From the personal albums of Delores Horton

Lula Colton blocking Harold M, Ruth Colton, Aird M with baby Thurman M, Lorna M, Merrill Colton
Grandchildren of Nelson Jr and Keturah Merkley
From the personal albums of Delores Horton

Nelson Merkley Jr and company

Nelson Merkley Jr was Asher's father.

The following are a handful of photos of Nelson Jr in various situations.

"Nelson Jr, Byron Colton with
Merrill Colton in front, Asher Merkley"
From the personal albums of Sarah Nielsen

"Nelson Jr and a steer"
From the personal albums of Sarah Nielsen

"Nelson Merkley Jr in the snow"
From the personal albums of Lois Chatfield,
Also from albums of Delores Horton

"Charlie and Nelson Jr- brothers"
From the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

"Margret Merkley, little Ellen Murray, Nelson Jr, about 1921"
From the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak
(This was posted earlier, but I couldn't resist a repost)

Byron Colton turns 80, 90

Byron Colton married Asher's sister, Helen.

The following are articles on milestones he attained through age.

As surviving offspring may still be alive I won't transcribe these, though they can easily be read by clicking on them.

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1962, Feb 22, p.4

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1972, Feb 17, p.14

B.O. Colton
Photo from the personal albums of Sarah Nielsen

Burnie & Helen Colton- 50 years

Helen Merkley Colton was one of Asher's sisters.

She married Byron Owen Colton and they were married for over 50 years.

These are the notices of their 50 year mark in marriage:

"Burnie & Helen Colton"
From personal albums of Sarah Nielsen

Newspaper clipping:

NO SOURCE- found in the personal albums of Sarah Nielsen
Last bit of this clipping is missing, but the text is nearly verbatim in newspaper notice below.
As the article titles are different I'm assuming they are from different papers,
but likely both local to where they resided at the time.

 Newspaper notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1960, Jun 23, p.4

Newspaper notice transcribed:

Mr. and Mrs. Byron O. Colton Celebrate 50th Wedding Year

Mr. and Mrs. Byron O. Colton of Roosevelt, formerly of Vernal, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary June 29.

Mr. Colton was born February 15, 1882, at Provo, UT, son of Byron Oliver Colton and Sarah Maria Smith.  The family moved to Ashley Valley in August, 1884 and made their home near what is now Vernal.

Helen Merkley Colton was born in Vernal, April 8, 1890, to Nelson Merkley Jr. and Keturah Peterson, who were some of the original pioneers of Ashley Valley.  She attended public school at Vernal and graduated from the Uintah Stake Academy.  She also attended the Keister Ladies Tailoring School at Salt Lake City.

Mr. Colton received his schooling at the Maeser Elementary School, Uintah Stake Academy and the Brigham Young University, where in his senior year he served as chairman of the "Campus Committee" that secured 25 acres on Temple Hill, the first unit of the present upper campus.

The couple was married in the Salt Lake Temple of the LDS Church, June 29, 1910.  Their first home was in Maeser.  They later moved to the reservation, where Mr. Colton was active in settlement work and irrigation development.  He has been employed through the years by several of the larger irrigation companies as engineer in location and construction of canals and reservoirs located in the central and eastern part of the reservation area.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Colton have served many years in positions of responsibility in LDS Ward and Stake.  He was Bishop of Maeser Ward, Bishop of Randlett Ward and President of the Roosevelt Stake.  He is now acting Stake Patriarch for the Roosevelt Stake and an active Ward Teacher.

Among other achievements is also a long list of public service.  A few follow sixteen years in Uintah school district in elected service, a member of the Utah Water Storage Commission, 1929-1931, and dat present, a member of the Utah Water and Power board, having been appointed by Governor Herbert B Maw in 1947.  He has also served as Water Commissioner for the United States Uintah Indian Irrigation Project and Associated Water Users of the Uintah and Lakefork Rivers since 1931, and including the Duchesne and Strawberry Rivers since 1934.

To these parents have been born 9 children, seven of whom are living.  They are Mrs. Harold (Lulu) Dudley of Randlett, Merrill B. Colton of Sandy, Mrs. Glen (Margaret) Wyler of Fairfield, California, Elmo S. Colton of Holladay, Miles M. Colton of Pleasant Grove, Mrs. Calvin (Sarah) Neilsen of Mona, and Mrs. Vern (Grace) Berrett of Provo.

The couple desires to greet all friends and relatives at an open house at their home in Roosevelt on June 29 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. It is requested the presents be eliminated.

*Spelling and punctuation corrected by me wherein I was aware.

"Burnie and Helen"
Photo from the personal albums of Sarah Nielsen

Death info on Byron Owen Colton

Byron Owen Colton was Asher's brother-in-law.

He married Asher's sister, Helen.

Photo from the personal albums of Sarah Neilsen

According to these documents, the following dates apply:
BIRTH: 15 Feb 1882- Provo, Utah, Utah
DEATH: 5 Nov 1973- Orem/Provo, Utah, Utah
He was 91 years old when he died.

Obituary:

SOURCE: SL Tribune 1973, Nov 7, p.50

Obituary transcribed:

Byron O. Colton

ROOSEVELT- Byron Owen Colton, 91, Roosevelt, died Nov. 5, 1973, in an Orem nursing home of causes incident to age.

Born Feb. 15, 1882, Provo, to Byron Oliver and Sarah Myria Smith Colton.  Married Helen Merkley, June 29, 1910, Salt Lake Temple.  She died Oct. 24, 1961.  County surveyor and civil engineer for Duchesne County; member Utah Water and Power Board for 16 years; water commissioner, retiring in 1962, member Uintah Stake high council; former bishop of Maeser and Avalon Ward; Roosevelt stake president in the 1940s; Roosevelt stake patriarch.
Survivors: sons, daughters, Mrs. Harold (Lula) Dudley, Randlett; Merrill, Salt Lake City; Mrs. Glenn (Margaret) Wyler, St. George; Elmo, Salem, Ore.; Miles, Pleasant Grove; Mrs. Calvin (Sarah) Neilsen, Mona; Mrs. Vern (Grace) Berrett, Granger; 37 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren.
Funeral Thursday noon, Roosevelt 4th LDS Ward Chapel.  Friends call 4330 S. Redwood Rd., Salt Lake City, Wednesday 6-8 p.m., chapel Thursday hour prior to service.  Burial, Maeser Cemetery, Vernal.
*Spelling & punctuation corrected wherein I was aware.

Local Obituary:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1973, Nov  15, p.14

Local obituary transcribed:

Byron O. Colton, dies in Orem

Funeral services were held Thursday at noon in the Roosevelt Fourth Ward Chapel for Byron Owen Colton, 91, who died in an Orem nursing home November 5.

He was born February 15, 1882 in Provo to Byron Oliver and Sarah Myria Colton.  He married Helen Merkley, June 29, 1910 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple.  She died October 24, 1961.

Mr. Colton was a county surveyor and civil engineer for Duchesne County; member of the Utah Water and Power Board for 16 years; water commissioner, retiring in 1962; former bishop of Maeser and Avalon Wards; Roosevelt Stake President in the 1940's; Roosevelt Stake patriarch.

Survivors: sons, daughter, Mrs. Harold (Lula) Dudley, Randlett; Merrill, Salt Lake City; Mrs. Glen (Margaret) Wyler, St. George; Elmo, Salem, Oregon; Miles, Pleasant Grove; Mrs. Calvin (Sarah) Neilsen, Mona; Mrs. Vern (Grace) Berrett, Granger; 37 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren.

Burial was in the Maeser Cemetery.

Funeral notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1973, Nov 22, p.7

Funeral notice transcribed:
Last rites honor Byron O. Colton
Funeral services were held November 8, 1973 in the Roosevelt Fourth Ward for Byron O. Colton, who died November 5 at a Provo nursing home of causes incident to age.  Bishop Byron Gilbert officiated.  Prelude and postlude musicwas played by Elaine Hullinger, who accompanied the other music also.
Prayer for the family was given by Calvin Neilsen.  Opening prayer was by T. Golden Collins, followed by a male quartette, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives".  History and the obituary was given by Louie Galloway, followed by speaker President Paul Murphy.  A musical selection "King of Glor" was by Nancy Carter.  Speaker William E. Berrett and remarks by Bishop Gilbert.  A musical selection "Sometime We'll Understand" by a ladies group was next and the closing prayer way by Leland Angus.  Internment was in the Maeser Cemetery, under the direction of the Olpin Mortuary.  The grave was dedicated by President Calvin Kowallis.
He was born February 15, 1882 in Provo, the son of Byron Oliver and Sarah Maria Smith Colton, Two year later, the family moved to Vernal and the Uintah Basin has been his home since.  He has spent the last few years in the homes of his children.
He married Helen Merkley June 29, 1910, she preceded him in death 12 years ago.  He is survived by seven sons and daughters: Mrs. Harold (Lula) Dudley, Randlett; Merrill B., Salt Lake City; Mrs. Glenn H. (Margaret) Wyler, St. George; Elmo S., Salem, Oregon; Miles M., Pleasant Grove; Mrs. Calvin E. (Sarah) Neilson, Mona; and Mrs. Verne R. (Grace) Berrett, Granger.  He also has 37 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.
Much of Mr. Colton's life, since completing school, has been spent in public work.  He has contributed much to the growth and development of the Uintah Basin.  Among his contributions are surveying for construction of highways, buildings and mainly that of canals and reservoirs located in the central and eastern area of the reservation.
For many years he spent many hours of service to the schools in the basin.  He served as a trustee in the Uintah School District, soon after leaving school, and a board member on the Uintah School District Board of Education many years after that.
He was a member of the LDS Church and served in many capacities over a period of about 60 years.  He was bishop of the Maeser Ward, bishop of the Randlett Ward, counsellor in the Roosevelt Stake Presidency under William H. Smart and as stake president of the Roosevelt Stake for some 19 years.  He later served as stake patriarch, which position he still held at the time of his death.
Mr. Colton was active in water matters over much of the state of Utah, serving in the Utah Water and Power Board until he retired at the age of 80; at which time he also retired from his job as water commissioner on the Lakefork and Uintah River systems.
*Spelling adjusted wherein I was aware.

Final resting place of B.O. Colton, and wife, Helen
Photo from the personal albums of Sarah Neilsen

Because Byron died in the last 50 years, his death certificate will not become publicly available until sometime around the year 2023.  When it is, I will post it here.

Photo from the personal albums of Sarah Neilsen

Death info on Helen M. Colton

Helen Merkley Colton was one of Asher's sisters.

According to these documents the following dates apply:

BIRTH: 9 Apr 1890- Vernal, Uintah, Utah

DEATH: 22 Oct 1961- Roosevelt, Duchesne, Utah

She was  71 years old when she died.

Salt Lake obituary:

SOURCE: Deseret News 1961, Oct 24, p.B11
Obtained in personal albums of Sarah Neilsen

SLC Obituary transcribed:
Helen M. Colton
ROOSEVELT- Mrs. Helen Merkley Colton, 71, Roosevelt, died Sunday afternoon at home of a heart ailment.  Born April 9, 1890, Vernal, to Nelson and Katurah Peterson Merkley. Married to Byron Owen Colton June 29, 1910, Salt Lake Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Moved to Roosevelt, 1924.  Active member.  LDS Church.  Survivors: husband; sons, Merrill B., Sandy; Elmo S., Salt Lake City; Miles M., Pleasant Grove; daughters Mrs. Harold (Lula) Dudley, Randlett, Uintah County; Mrs. Glen H. (Margaret) Wyler, Fairfield, Calif.; Mrs. Calvin (Sarah) Neilson, Mona, Juab County; Mrs. Vern R. (Grace) Berrett, Granger; 30 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; brothers, Asher Merkley, Vernal; Ellis Merkley, Salt Lake City; sisters, Mrs. Isabrand (Mary) Sanders, Mrs. Rulon K. (Margaret) Hansen, Mrs. Clair (Ellen) Fletcher, all Salt Lake City.  Funeral Wednesday, 1 p.m., Roosevelt Fourth LDS Ward Chapel.  Friends call Olpin Mortuary, Roosevelt Tuesday 7-9 p.m. and at family home Wednesday prior to services.  Burial, Maeser, Uintah County, Cemetery.
*Punctuation and spelling adjusted wherein I was aware. 

Death Certificate:

SOURCE: Personal albums of Sarah Neilsen

Funeral Notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1961, Oct 26, p.5

 Funeral Notice:
Helen M. Colton Funeral Held In Roosevelt
Funeral services were held Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Roosevelt Fourth Ward LDS chapel for Mrs. Helen Merkley Colton, 71, of Roosevelt, who died Sunday afternoon at her home of a heart ailment.
Mrs. Colton is the wife of Byron Owen Colton, member of the Utah Water and Power Board and Roosevelt Stake patriarch of the LDS Church.  The couple resided in Vernal for many years.
Mrs. Colton was born April 9, 1890, in Vernal, a daughter of Nelson and Keturah Peterson Merkley.  She married Mr. Colton June 29, 1910, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.  They moved to Roosevelt in 1924.
She was an active member of the LDS Church.  Mrs. Colton's parents were among the original pioneers of Ashley Valley.  She attended public school in Vernal and graduated from the Uintah Stake Academy.  She also attended the Keister Ladies Tailoring School in Salt Lake City.
They Byron Colton's first home was in Maeser.  They later moved to the reservation where Mr. Colton was active in settlement work and irrigation development.
Survivors include her husband, three sons, Merrill B., Sandy; Elmo S., Salt Lake City; Miles M., Pleasant Grove, four daughters, Mrs. Harold (Lula) Dudley, Randlett; Mrs. Glen H. (Margaret) Wyler, Fairfield, Calif; Mrs. Calvin (Sarah) Neilson, Mona, Utah, and Mrs. Vern R. (Grace) Berrett, Granger.
Also surviving are 30 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two brothers and three sisters, Asher Merkley, Vernal; Ellis Merkley, Salt Lake City; Mrs. Isabrand (Mary) Sanders, Mrs. Rulon K (Margaret) Hansen and Mrs. Clair (Ellen) Fletcher, all of Salt Lake City.
Burial was in the Maeser Fairview Cemetery.
* Punctuation & spelling adjusted wherein I was aware.

Funeral Review:

SOURCE: Uintah County Library Archives, 2012
NO SOURCE listed, likely the Vernal Express 1961, Oct/Nov

Funeral Review transcribed:

Helen Colton Graveside Rites Held in Maeser

Funeral services for Mrs. Helen Merkley Colton, 71, were held Wednesday, October 25 at 1 p.m. in the Roosevelt LDS Stake Center.  Bishop Gilbert Ellingford of Roosevelt Fourth Ward conducted.

Invocation was offered by W. Russel Todd.

She died suddenly Sunday afternoon of a heart ailment, however, she had suffered ill health for several years.

Eulogizing the long and active life of Mrs. Colton were Fredrickson Musser and James E. Bacon, both life-long friends of the Coltons.

Music included a vocal trio by Mrs. David Adamson, Mrs. Jay Fitzgerald and Mrs. Adrean Bench accompanied by Mrs. R.V. Larson who also supplied the prelude and postlude music.

Also a violin duet was rendered by Mrs. Bench and Mrs. Norris Stenquist accompanied by Mrs. Don Fulton and a vocal solo by Mrs. Fitzgerald.  Prayer at the home was delivered by Isabrand Sanders.  Benediction for the services were offered by Bishop Merlin Sullivan.

Mrs. Colton was brought to Vernal for burial in the Maeser Fairview Cemetery.  Dedication of the grave was by Ellis Merkley.  Pallbearers were members of Mr. Colton's high priests group in the Fourth  Ward, Ariel Michie, Theron Leavitt, Forrest Bircher, Gordon Heaton, Dr. Calvin Kowallis and Dr. R.V. Larson.

Pallbearers for the graveside rites were Larry Dudley, Merrill Ray Chandler, David Chandler, Forrest Bircher, Ariel Michie and Gordon Heaton.

*Spelling adjusted wherein I was aware.

 Cemetery headstone:

Photo from personal albums of Sarah Nielsen
Headstone located in Maeser Fairview Cemetery.

Photo from the personal albums of Sarah Neilsen

Helen Merkley & Byron Owen Colton

Helen Merkley was Asher's older sister. 

Helen married Byron Owen Colton (of Vernal, UT) on 28 Jun 1910 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Thus, she became Helen Merkley Colton.

Photos from the personal albums of Sarah Neilsen
Photoshopped together by me.

An excerpt from the writing "My Life Story- Helen M. Colton" has this to say on the matter:

"... In the year 1909 I was in Salt Lake City going to Kiester Ladies Tailoring School.  I was really homesick being the first time I had been away from my home and parents.  

At the time I had several boy friends and could not make up my mind which one I should make my best friend.  So I kneeled by the window (as I was upstairs and alone in the house at the time) and said, 'Father in Heaven which of the boys shall I choose?'

A sweet voice said to me, 'Burnie Colton is the one for you' and as he was not one of the boys who had been taking me out it made me very thoughtful and changed my way of thinking so that I was not lonely and never have been as lonely since that time.

I know the Lord rules in the important things in our lives and I am very thankful for his care of me and my children.  It was very hard for me to make decisions and know which was the best for me.  The other force was so hard against me.  We were married June 29, 1910 in Salt Lake Temple."

Newspaper notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1910, Jun 24, p.1

Newspaper notice transcribed:
Mr. B.O. Colton Jr., and Miss Helen Merkley left for Salt Lake today.  If there is any one thing in this world better than any other, we wish them that.
* Punctuation and spelling adjusted.

Marriage License:

SOURCE: familysearch.org

Photo from the personal albums of Sarah Neilsen