Keturah's quilt

The following photos are of an inherited quilt with a history to it.

Apparently, this quilt came across the plains with Keturah Thurman Peterson as a young girl.  Her daughter, Mary M Sander, took this quilt off of Keturah's bed after she passed away and passed it down her family line.  Upon last inquiry, this quilt was in the possession of J. Haugosen.

Pretty, isn't it?

Photos of Isabrand Sander

Isabrand Sander Jr. married Asher's sister, Mary, making them brothers-in-law.

The following are a few images of Isabrand when older that have not yet been posted.

From the personal albums of Shannon Andersen

From the personal albums of Jane Haugsoen

Mary Merkley photos in college

The following are a handful of photos of Mary Merkley when she was attending school in Provo.

"Siblings Mary and Ellis Merkley, outside a house in Provo, UT"
From the personal albums of Delores Horton

Mary Merkley and roommates
From the personal albums of Delores Horton

Written details on back of photo above
(names of all girls lined up)
From the same source as above

More Diamond Mountain photos

The following are additional photos of the Diamond Mountain homestead I have not yet posted.

1926- Diamond Mountain Homestead
Isabrand Sander, Margret M Hanson, Asher, Mary M Sander, Birda holding son,
FRONT Virginia Merkley looking at her mother
From the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

Asher and Ray/Roy Merkley, 1929
Diamond Mountain and dog, Six
From the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

1931- Buffie Hatch and Virginia Merkley on Calico
up at Diamond Mountain.
From the personal albums of Tamera Lund

"Asher on the way with sheep to Diamond Mountain,
May 22, 1936"
From the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

Asher with nieces and nephews at Diamond Mountain
(Aird Merkley is recognized on far right)
From the personal albums of Tamera Lund

Homesteading on Diamond Mountain
Sander girls in photo
From the personal albums of Shannon Andersen

"Keturah's Diamond Mountain Cabin"
(Likely grown Sanders girls and Virginia M Hacking, 2nd from right)
From the personal albums of Tamera Lund

Merkley Mother's Day photo

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

Grandmother Merkley's home

Keturah Merkley was Asher's mother.

The following are photos of her home in later years and the surrounding garden, which many of her grandchildren speak fondly of.

The following excerpt comes from the history of Keturah P Merkley, a written document found in the personal albums of Sarah Nielsen (written by Sarah Nielsen):

"... Nelson died April 18, 1924, in the old home in Ashley Valley.  In a year or two Kate and Ellen moved into town (Vernal) to a home Kate had had built.  They lived there until 1940 when they moved to Heber..."

The following excerpt comes from the written document, "Memories of Birda L Merkley" (p2) written by Bryce Merkley and found in the personal albums of Bryce Merkley, regarding the building of this home:

"... Upon Nelson Jr.'s death, Keturah continued living in her home for a while.  Asher had decided to build a new home for Birda.  They had chosen a location at about 1000 West Main Street.  They had hauled in cobble rock to build a foundation and had logged lumber out of the mountains and had them sawed into "sawed logs" which meant they used solid timber to form the walls for the house.  About this time Nelson Jr. passed away and so the family decided that Asher should take over the farm, the homestead, and the "sawed logs" should be taken to a site at 141 West 1st South in Vernal to build Keturah a new home...."

"Grandmother Merkley's Home, Vernal, Utah"
From the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

"1931"
Back states: "Merkley home in Vernal after grandfather's death"
From the personal albums of Sarah Nielsen

"Grandmother Merkley's Home" (and garden)
From the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

"1933"
Back states: "L-R Dorothy Ann Whitbeck, Carolyn Sander, Kathleen Merkley, June Sander-
in Grandmother Merkley's flower garden"
From the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

"Kate, Ellen, and bunch of kids, 1936"
From the personal albums of Ellen Fletcher

"Sander girls at Diamond Mountain-
Buffy with Carolyn in front, Kathryn with June in front"
From the personal albums of Jane Haugsoen
*Due to the amount of vegetation, I doubt this was taken at Diamond Mtn
but instead taken from Keturah's flower garden.

"LEFT Buffie with Carolyn in front, Kathryn with June in front"
Appears to be on side property of Keutrah's home
From the personal albums of Shannon Andersen

"Keturah's home in Vernal"
From the personal albums of Delores Horton

Nelson Jr & Keturah with group of youth photo

The following is a photo of what appears to be a youth group convened on the property of Nelson Jr and Keturah's home in Vernal, UT.

Most of these are unfortunately unidentified, but it appears to be dated around 1909, based on costume clues and ages of those identified.

Youth gathering at Merkley homestead
From the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

Those that I CAN identify belong to the Merkley family, off on the far right by the tree, and social butterfly Erza Merkley in the very center back row where the white sheet drapes down to the right.

Here's a zoomed in version of those that I can identify:

From the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

BACK: Nelson Merkley Jr

Mary Merkley just in front of him with Keturah Merkley between her and the tree

Margret Merkley in front of them with Asher Merkley next to her and leaning against the tree.

And this is a shot in the dark, but I'd say that fellow directly in front of Margret Merkley with the hat on looks an awful lot like Franklin Lewis, Asher's future brother-in-law.  I might be wrong, but then again he did live in the area and was a youth at that time, comparable in age to Asher's older brother, Ezra.

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.

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

Mary Merkley's schooling

Mary E. Merkley Sander was Asher's sister.

Mary received higher education, which the local newspapers couldn't help but mention.  I'm not sure what her scholastic emphasis was in, but considering her reputation, I would not be surprised if it was something in the Literature, Rhetoric, Dramatic Arts arena.

 Newspaper notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1912, Sept 27, p2

Newspaper notice transcribed:

"One of the Salt Lake-going parties this week consists of Mrs. John N. Davis, A.W. Burke, Miss Mary Merkley, Miss Margaret Crook.  Miss Merkley will enter the B.Y.U."

"Mary Merkley- taken 4 Jun 1913 when Ezra (brother) was coming back from CA to Vernal"
From personal albums of Sarah Nielsen

Newspaper notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1913, Oct 24, p.4

Newspaper notice transcribed:

N. MERKLEY RETURNS

Mr. Nelson Merkley and family have returned from Salt Lake, Provo, Springville, Lehi, American Fork and other Utah points.  At Provo Miss Mary entered the B.Y. University.

At Lehi Mrs. Merkley visited her grandmother, Mrs. M. M. Geddy, who is 80 odd years old.  Mrs. Eddy is well known in Vernal.

"Mary E Merkley stumping for J Edward Johnson in front of Education Building at BYU in 1913 or 1914- Johnson won Student Body President against Henry Savage"
From the personal albums of Jane Haugsoen

Newspaper notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1914, July 24, p.1

Newspaper notice transcribed:
Miss Mary Merkley has returned from Salt Lake, where she attended summer school.  Miss Merkley expects to teach in Idaho the coming winter.

Newspaper notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1914, Oct 2, p.5

Newspaper notice transcribed:
Miss Mary Merkley left during the week for Idaho, where she will teach school this winter.

"The Many faces of Miss Mary Merkley"
From the personal albums of Jane Haugsoen

Newspaper notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1915, June 4, p.5

Newspaper notice transcribed:
Miss Mary Merkley, Mrs. Kate Calder and Mentzer Calder expect to leave in the near future for Berkley, California where they will attend summer school.

"Mary Merkley Sander"
From personal albums of Sarah Nielsen

Newspaper clip:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1917, Mary 18, p4

Newspaper clip transcribed:

"...The work in elocution also is a monument to the ability and training of Miss Mary Merkley.  She is one of the best trained teachers of elocution in the state and the work of her students speaks for itself..."

Isabrand Sander in WWI

Isabrand Sander was Asher's brother-in-law.  He married Asher's sister, Mary.

He served in World War I.

From the personal albums of Shannon Andersen

War Service Questionnaire:

SOURCE: ancestry.com
Particular source info located at bottom of image

 This War Service Questionnaire gives us information on his origins, tells us that he was self-employed and that he was married.  This Questionnaire was issued between 1914-1918.  Based on the info below, it was likely filled out in 1917 or 1918.

Registration Card:

SOURCE: ancestry.com
Particular source info located on right side of image

 This Registration card tells us of his origins, his place of employment at the time, that he had "defected eyes", and that he was SINGLE... This card was filled out in June 1917 and Isabrand married Mary a month later in July 1917.  This means, Mary was a war bride!

News article:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1919, Jun 13, p.5

This is a FASCINATING local newspaper article in what appears to be a letter home from Isabrand Sander as he was away in France fighting in 1919.  It's a perfect read for military historians as Isabrand discusses his regiment's involvement in the Champagne-Marne defensive, the Marne Aisne offensive, the Saint Mihiel offensive and the Muese-Argonne offensive.  Very cool stuff.  It's rather lengthy so I won't transcribe it, but perhaps someday I will.

Death info on Isabrand Sander

Isabrand Sander was Asher's brother-in-law.  He married Asher's sister, Mary.

From the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

According to these documents the following dates apply:

BIRTH: 21 Feb 1890- Ogden, Weber, Utah

DEATH: 4 Aug 1962- Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

He was 72 years old when he died in an auto accident.

Article:

SOURCE: Deseret News 1962, Aug 4, p.B1

Article transcribed:

S.L. Car Crash Kills Truck Firm Founder

Isabrand Sander, 72, 117 E. 3rd South, oil trucking executive and churchman, was killed at 9:40 a.m. when his automobile struck a Jordan river bridge abutment at 1135 W. 4th South.

Investigating officers said Mr. Sander was westbound on 4th South on his way to his office.  He was president of I. Sander, Inc., 1815 W. 5th South, a petroleum products transportation firm which he founded over 30 years ago.

Police said the vehicle crashed into the bridge structure with terrific force, smashing the front of the car around the victim and pinning him inside.  The car's dashboard and steering wheel were partially wrapped around the lower part of his body.

Alone In Car

Although police believe the accident to be a traffic fatality, they are seeking a postmortem to determine if Mr. Sander may have suffered a heart attack.

Rescue workers took more than half [an] hour to remove the victim's body.  Officers said Mr. Sander apparently died instantly.  He was alone in the automobile.

Mrs. Katherine Workman, 1129 W. 4th South, in her house a few yards from the impact scene heart the crash, looked outside and saw the wreckage and phoned police immediately. 

The vehicle remained upright, pointed westward against the abutment on the right side of the street.

Native Of Utah

A native of Utah, Mr. Sander had formerly resided in Provo and Heber.  He moved to Salt Lake City more than 10 years ago where he established an office for the Sander firm.  He founded the trucking firm originally in the Uintah Basin.

He served during 1959 and 1960 as first counselor in the South Thirteenth Ward bishopric, University Stake, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Years earlier he had served as a ward bishop in Heber.

Surviving are his widow, Mary Merkley Sander, Salt Lake City, four daughters and grandchildren.

*Spelling and punctuation adjusted wherein I was aware.

Obituary:

SOURCE: Deseret News 1962, Aug 6, p.B8

Obituary transcribed:
Car Victim's Funeral Set
Funeral services for Isabrand Sander, 73, 417 E. 3rd South, churchman and transportation executive, will be conducted Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the South Thirteenth Ward Chapel, 4th East, and 1st South.
Mr. Sander died Saturday when his car struck a Jordan River Bridge abutment at 1135 W. 4th South.
Founder of the I. Sander, Inc., a petroleum products transportation firm, Mr. Sander was president of the company which was located at 1815 W. 5th South.
Active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mr. Sander served in the high council of the Uintah Stake, and was bishop of the Heber Ward for five years.
Friends may call at 255 South 2nd East Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m., and Wednesday from 11:30 until 12:30 p.m.
Burial will be in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Death notice: 

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1962, Aug 16, p.3

Death notice transcribed:

Funeral Honors Auto Victim; Ex-Merchant

Funeral services for Isabrand Sander, 72, former Vernal merchant, were held Wednesday of last week in Salt Lake City.

He was killed Saturday at 9:40 a.m. when his auto struck a bridge abutment at 1135 West 4th South in Salt Lake City.  He was pronounced dead on arrival at Salt Lake General Hospital.

Mr. Sander was a former manager of the old Ashley Co-op in Vernal.  He opened the first Golden Rule store here in 1917.

He was the president of I. Sander, Inc., Salt Lake City, a petroleum products transportation firm which he founded more than 30 years ago.

Mr. Sander was born Feb. 21, 1890, in Ogden, a son of Izebrand and Harmana Roghaar Sander.  He married Mary Elizabeth Merkley in 1917 in the Salt Lake temple.

He was a World War I veteran and served with the 148th Field Artillery.

An active member of the LDS Church, he had served in a bishopric in Salt Lake during 1959 and 1960.

Survivors include his widow; four daughters, Mrs. Chad M. (Kathryn) Bertelson, Chicago; Mrs. George M. (Elizabeth) Sullivan, Mrs. Gregory F. (June) Hosford, and Mrs. Carolyn S. Broberg, all of Salt Lake City; ten grandchildren and three sisters, Miss Maggie Sander, Mrs. Albert W. (Jane) Bell, both of Ogden, and Mrs. C.G. (Minnie) Teerlink, San Jose, Calif.

Burial was in Salt Lake City cemetery.

From the personal albums of Jane Haugsoen

Because Isabrand's death occurred in the last 50 years, his death certificate will not become publicly available until sometime around the year 2012 (... I just check the site and they're behind a bit- not yet finished with 1961 deaths to date...)  When it is available I will post it here.