Charles & Crystal Lewis- Golden Anniversary

Charles Lewis was Birda's older brother.

Charles and his wife, Crystal Potter Lewis, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1962.

The following are documents of photos of that event.  

All photos are from the personal albums of Patty Stewart.

"Crystal and Charlie Lewis, Nov 1916"

Newspaper announcement:

SOURCE: SL Tribune 1962, Oct 7, p.4B
Found in the personal albums of Patty Stewart

Newspaper announcement transcribed:
Golden Weddings
Special to The Tribune
VERNAL- A golden wedding anniversary observance honoring Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Lewis will be held Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Max Stewart, 240 S. 2nd West.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were married Oct. 30, 1912.  Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A school teacher in Uintah and Carbon counties, Mr. Lewis has resided in Vernal most of the time since moving here with his parents in 1895.
Mrs. Lewis, the former Crystal Potter came to Vernal in 1907 and taught school for 15 years.  She also served six years as county librarian.
Both have been active in the LDS Church.
They have one son and two daughters, Lt. Col. Charles Howard Lewis, Mr. R.D. (Lenore) Nielson and Mrs. Max (Patricia) Steart, 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Local announcement:

NO SOURCE- found in personal albums of Patty Stewart
Assumed from the Vernal Express 1962,  Oct?

Local announcement transcribed:

Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Lewis Celebrate Golden Anniversary

Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Lewis will celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary Sunday.

They were married in Vernal, Utah, October 30, 1912.  Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

Together Mr. and Mrs. Lewis served as teachers in local schools 52 years.  Mr. Lewis taught in Uintah and Carbon County schools for 37 years.  Mrs. Lewis taught for 15 years.

Mr. Lewis graduated from Uintah High School in 1911.  He attended the University of Utah, B.Y.U. and Utah State University, majoring in art and band music.  He taught band and orchestra at Uintah High School and was also the choir leader in the LDS organizations and scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts for many years.  Mr. Lewis was born March 3, 1892 at Midway, Utah, to Siney and Elizabeth Coleman Lewis, Sr., who moved to Vernal in 1892.

Mrs. Lewis attended high school in Vernal and the University of Utah and Utah State University.  She was not only a teacher but also the County Librarian for six years, taught Sunday School 35 years and was secretary, class leader and visiting teacher in Relief Society for more than 40 years.

Mrs. Lewis is the daughter of W. Edwin and Harriet K. Potter, who moved to Vernal in 1907.

There will be an open house honoring Mr. and Mrs. Lewis at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Max Stewart, 240 So. 2nd West, Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.

Napkin from the anniversary party
From personal albums of Patty Stewart

"Golden Wedding 1962- Crystal and Charlie"

"50th Anniversary Cake"

"Charles and Crystal cutting their 50th anniversary cake"

Death info on Lottie Harper

Lottie Blair Lewis Hodson Harper was a half-sister to Birda.

They shared the same father (Siney Lewis Sr) but Lottie came through a second wife, Elizabeth Blair.

From personal albums of Dallas Workman

According to these documents the following dates apply:

BIRTH: 28 Dec 1877- Holladay, Salt Lake, Utah

DEATH: 24 Sept 1907- Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

She was 30 years old when she died after childbirth.

*Exact birth date and place is derived from family records and a 1900 census. I have not yet confirmed with the original source material, but plan to soon.

 Local death notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1907, Oct 4, p.1

Local death notice transcribed:

Siney Lewis and wife have gone to Salt Lake on a sad mission.  Their daughter, Mrs. Harper died in that city September 27th leaving two children, one of which is a young baby.  They will bring the children home with them.

*Punctuation added where I saw fit.  Date of death mentioned does not correspond with death certificate.

 Death Certificate:

SOURCE: Utah State Archives

Record of Death listing:

SOURCE: familysearch.org

Funeral notice:

SOURCE: Deseret News 1907, Sept 26, p.10, col 1

Funeral notice transcribed:

Funeral of Mrs. Harper- Mrs. Lottie E. Harper, wife of Joseph P. Harper, late of Vernal, Utah, was buried this afternoon from the undertaking parlor of E.W. Hall.  Mrs. Harper died Tuesday at the Keogh-Hammond hospital.  Beside the husband, a son five years old and a babe of three days, survive her.  Mrs. Harper was about 40 years of age.

*Middle initial and her age do not echo other documents- an assumed set of typos?

Death info on Alfred Watkins

Alfred Watkins was Birda's brother-in-law.  He was the first husband to Birda's older sister, Lenora (or Nonie).

To my great dismay, there are no photos to be found of Alfred.

According to these documents, the following dates apply:

BIRTH: abt. 1864?

DEATH: 17-19 Nov 1896- Midway, Wasatch, Utah

He was about 31 years old when he died.*

Marriage license from the year before in 1895 states he was 31 years old.  

Birth year was estimated from information found on marriage license as well.

Death notice:

SOURCE: Deseret News 1896, Nov 16, p.5

Death notice transcribed:

DIED IN THE MOUNTAINS

A Young Hunter of Midway Frozen to Death.

A report was brought to town late last evening that Alfred Watkins, a son of Bishop Watkins of Midway, had been found dead on Mahogany ridge, about four miles north of Midway, supposed to have been frozen to death some time between Tuesday and the time his body was discovered.

A Wave man set out to hunt up further particulars, but did not meet with the desired success, and owning to the closeness to press day we can only give this meager report of the sad affair.

Last Tuesday Alfred Watkins left his home and young wife and babe in Midway to go out gunning in the hills just north of the town, saying he would return that evening.  Upon his failing to appear late at night, his wife became alarmed and notified other members of the family.  Thinking the missing man would surely return by morning, no attempt to search for him was made that night, but early Wednesday morning a searching party was formed and diligently searched the hills and canyons the entire day without success.  The search was continued until late in the afternoon of yesterday, when the lifeless body of the object of their anxiety was found on what is called Mahogany ridge, between the old Warm Land resort and Snake Creek, north of Midway, as stated above.  From what we could learn the body appeared to have been frozen, as there were no signs of having met with an accident or of having been foully dealt with.

The body was brought to town and the news broken to the distracted wife of about eighteen months, who is left with the child.

The deceased was about 30 years old, and one of Midway's honorable young men.  The affair has cast a gloom over the entire community.-- Wasatch Wave, Nov. 13th

*I can find no mention of Alfred's death within the Wasatch Wave, the county where the event occurred.

 Local death notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1896, Nov 19, p.1

Local death notice transcribed:

Alfred Watkins, formerly of this county, was found dead near Midway last Thursday and it is thought that he froze to death as he started out hunting on Tuesday.  He has been living in Midway about a year and has brother living here, and about two years ago married Miss Lewis whose parents live in Millward.

*Marriage record is dated 1895, so this notice's marriage guess is off by a bit.

Because the state of Utah did not produce death certificates until after 1900, there is no death certificate available for Alfred.  I am hoping to find living descendants that may have more information.

The only photo I have on this sad tale is that of the wife and child he left behind.

"Daughter Hazel with mother, Lenora L Watkins (Evans)"
From the personal albums of Phil Foster

The widowed Nonie went on to remarry Mr. Edward W. Evans in 1904, so her story picks up from there...

Death info on Harold Hullinger

Harold Everett Hullinger was Birda's brother-in-law.

He married Birda's younger sister, Jennie.

From the personal albums of Doug Merkley
Photo cropped from a larger image

According to these documents the following dates apply:

BIRTH: 11 Dec 1899- Vernal, Uintah, Utah

DEATH: 14 Feb 1971- Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

He was 71 years old when he died.

Obituary:

SOURCE: SL Tribune 1971, Feb 16, p.19

Obituary transcribed:
Harold E. Hullinger
VERNAL- Harold Everett Hullinger, 71, died Feb. 14 in a Salt Lake hospital of complications following surgery.  Born Dec 11, 1899, Vernal, to Winfield S. and Emma Lybbert Hullinger Jr.  Married Jennie Lewis, June 6, 1924, Salt Lake LDS Temple.  Former president Utah Teachers Assn.  Graduate Utah State University.  Charter member senior citizens organization, Vernal.  School teacher Uintah District.  Survivors; widow; sons, daughter.  Hugo, Don, both Salt Lake City; Paul, Smithfield; Dick, Portland, Ore.; Floyd, Provo; Mrs. Glen (Venetta) Probst, Lansing, Mich.; 24 grandchildren; brothers, sisters.  Jesse, Rigby, Idaho; Mrs. Mary Norton, Owen, both Salt Lake City; Hallis, Roosevelt, Duchesne County; Jake, Provo; Mrs. Norma McLean, Vernal.  Funeral Tuesday 1 p.m., Vernal Fourth LDS Ward Chapel.  Friends call Vernal Mortuary, Tuesday prior to services.  Burial Vernal Memorial Park.

Death notice:

NO SOURCE (likely SL Trib or Deseret News?)
Found in the personal albums of Bryce Merkley

Death notice transcribed:

Educator, Churchman Dies At 71

VERNAL- Harold Everett Hullinger, Vernal, 71, educator and Church worker died Sunday in a Salt Lake hospital following surgery.

He was former bishop of the Vernal Second and Fourth wards and a high councilman for 22 years in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He taught school in the Uintah School District for many years and was a former president of the Utah Teachers Association.  He was a graduate of Utah State University and a charter member of the senior citizens organization in Vernal.

He was born Dec. 11, 1899, in Vernal, a son of Winfield S. and Emma Lybbert Hullinger Jr.  He married Jennie Lewis June 6, 1924, in the Salt Lake Temple.

He is survived by his widow of Vernal; five sons and a daughter, Hugo, Don, both Salt Lake City; Paul, Smithfield, Cache County, Dick, Portland, Ore.; Floyd, Provo; Mrs. Glen (Venetta) Probst, Lansing, Mich.; 24 grandchildren; brothers, sisters, Jesse, Rigby, Idaho; Mrs. Mary Norton, Owen, both Salt Lake City; Hallis, Roosevelt, Duchesne County; Jake, Provo; Mrs. Norma McLean, Vernal.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the Vernal Fourth Ward chapel.  Friends may call at the Vernal Mortuary tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. and Tuesday before services.  Burial will be in the Vernal Memorial Park.

From personal albums of Bryce Merkley

Because Harold died in the last 50 years, his death certificate will not become publicly available until around the year 2021.  When it is available I will post it here.

Death info on Helena H Lewis

Helena Hoeft Lewis was Birda's sister-in-law.  

She married Birda's older brother, Siney Jr.

From Siney Jr & Helena Lewis family history compilation
Found within the personal albums of Bryce Merkley, also Carol Harless albums

According to these documents the following dates apply:

BIRTH: 14 Jul 1883- Chicago, Cook, Illinois

DEATH: 11 May 1952- Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California

She was 68 years old when she died.

Funeral program:

From Siney Jr & Helena Lewis family history compilation
Found within the personal albums of Bryce Merkley, also Carol Harless albums

Death certificate:

From Siney Jr & Helena Lewis family history compilation
Found within the personal albums of Bryce Merkley, also Carol Harless albums

Local death notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1952, May 15, p.4

Local death notice transcribed:

Charles P. Lewis received a telegram Sunday informing him of the death of Lena Hoeft Lewis, wife of Siney Lewis in Inglewood, Calif.  Mrs. Lewis died Sunday morning.  No details were given.  The Siney Lewises are former Vernal residents.

California Funeral notice:

SOURCE: Inglewood Citizen 1942, May 15, p.15
From Siney Jr & Helena Lewis family history compilation
Found within the personal albums of Bryce Merkley, also Carol Harless albums
*Newspaper is dated 1942, but all other dates point to her death in 1952, thus this paper's date must be a typo.

California Funeral notice transcribed:

Funeral Rites Today for Mrs. Helena Lewis.

Mormon funeral services for Mrs. Helena Hoeft Lewis, 68-year-old mother of nine, will be held today at 11 a.m. in the Inglewood Ward Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ, Latter Day Saints, with Bishop Robert M. Smith of the Inglewood ward officiation.  Interment will be in Inglewood parish cemetery with Hardin-Flanagan Mortuary in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Lewis died in her sleep at her home, 559 East 67th street, Inglewood, early Sunday morning.  Formerly of Vernal, Utah, she had resided in California for 10 years and in Inglewood for six years.  She was born of German parents in Chicago, Ill.

Mrs. Lewis leaves her husband, Siney; sons, William A. of Lynwood and Charles S. Lewis of Springville, Utah; daughters, Mrs. Enola Shelton, Mrs. Bertha DuRee, Mrs. Hazel Obert and Mrs. Merle E. Silvers of Inglewood, Mrs. June Williams of Silverado, Mrs. Nellie Rae McDaniel of Los Angeles, and Mrs. Karma Koci of Stibnite, Idaho; a brother, Edward Hoeft of Ogden, Utah, and a sister, Mrs. Myrtle Walker of San Francisco.

*Spelling corrected wherein I was aware.

Photo of headstone:

From Siney Jr & Helena Lewis family history compilation
Found within the personal albums of Bryce Merkley, also Carol Harless albums

From Siney Jr & Helena Lewis family history compilation
Found within the personal albums of Bryce Merkley, also Carol Harless albums

How Ellen works into this story

A bit of explanation on how Leila Ellen Merkley -- runs into this immediate family circle:

Ellen's mother was Rachel Merkley Murray- she was a sister to Nelson Merkley Jr.

"Rachel Merkley Murray, circa 1902 with hat"
From the personal albums of Ellen Fletcher

According to what I've been told (and PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong), Ellen was apparently the tail end of a bunch of kids for Rachel and her husband, and unfortunately Rachel died soon after giving birth to little Ellen around 1917.  Ellen's father was overwhelmed and asked Nelson and Keturah if they wouldn't mind taking her on as their charge.  So even though Nelson and Keturah's youngest child (Margret) was in her teens at the time, Ellen Merkley was welcomed into the family and raised as their own, even though her own father and siblings lived elsewhere in the same town.
For these reasons, confusion crops up when family group sheets are organized as Ellen grew up as part of Nelson and Keturah's family, but she was technically their niece as far as tracing lines goes.

"Mother's Day 1918, Mary M Sander and little Ellen Merkley"
From personal albums of Ellen Fletcher

"Mary Sander and Ellen Merkley- Mother's Day 1918, Vernal"
From personal albums of Ellen Fletcher

"Ellen Merkley 2 years old, 1919 Vernal on the farm"
From personal albums of Ellen Fletcher

"Ellen Merkley, age 4"
From personal albums of Sarah Nielsen

"About 1921- Margret Merkley, Grandfather Nelson Merkley Jr, Ellen Murray Merkley"
From personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

"Ellen and Keturah, Farmington NM, circa 1932"
From personal albums of Ellen Fletcher

So even though Ellen was a cousin to Asher, she related better to the children of all her cousins, and was considered the eldest of the granddaughters.

"1929 at Grandma (Keturah) Merkley's home- Grandma Keturah, Ellen Murray holding baby Carolyn Sander, Margret Merkley holding baby Kathleen Merkley, ?, Kathryn Sander, Virginia Merkley, Geraldine Merkley, ? Elizabeth, June Sander."
From personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

Ellen in the 1940's
From the personal albums of Ellen Fletcher

Because Ellen is still living, I'll hold off on posting any other information on her for now.  But just for a clarification measure on how she ties in to the family, there you have it.

Ellis Merkley & Jean Gerber

Ellis Merkley was one of Asher's older brothers.

He married Jean E. Gerber (of Maeser, UT) on 17 Jun 1908 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Thus, she became Jean Eleanor Gerber Merkley.

Photos from the personal albums of Delores Horton
Cropped and fitted together into one image by me.

Marriage License listing:

SOURCE: SL Herald 1908, Jun 17, p.4

Newspaper notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1908, Jun 12, p.5

Newspaper notice transcribed:

The information comes from a reliable source that Ellis Merkley and Miss Jean Gerber who left here a few days ago, went to Salt Lake to be married in the Temple.

 Marriage License:

SOURCE: familysearch.org

Photo from the personal albums of Delores Horton

Death info on Jean Merkley

Jean Eleanor Gerber Merkley was Asher's sister-in-law.  

She married Asher's older brother, Ellis.

Photo from personal albums of Delores Horton

According to these documents the following dates apply:

BIRTH: 17 Apr 1885- Midway, Wasatch, Utah

DEATH: 26 Dec 1972- Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

She was 87 years old when she died.

Obituary:

SOURCE: SL Tribune 1972, Dec 27, p.8B

Obituary transcribed:

Jean E. Merkley

Jean Eleanor Gerber Merkley, 87, 1924- 10th East, died Dec. 26 of natural causes at home.  Born April 17, 1885, Midway, Wasatch County, to Moroni and Emily Jane Jacob Gerber.  Married to Ellis Merkley June 17, 1908, Salt Lake LDS Temple.  Former Uintah LDS Stake MIA president, Vernal.  Former school teacher; welfare social worker.  Survivors: husband; sons, daughters, Aird G., Dr. Harold E., both Salt Lake City; Thurman G., Portland, Ore.; Mrs. Eugene T. (Margret) Condie, Fremont, Calif.; Dr. Ralph G., Saratoga, Calif.; Mrs. Harlan W. (Geraldine) Clark, Johannesburg, South Africa; 15 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; brothers, sisters, Irvin, Mrs. Frank W. (Helen) Jones, both Lehi; E. Lyman, Salt Lake City; Hugh, Spanish Fork; John W., Las Vegas; Mrs. E. Ray (Stella) Gardiner, Mrs. Bert (Fern) Swain, both American Fork; Mrs. Florence Richardson, Orem.  Funeral Friday noon, 255- 2nd East, where friends call Thursday 6-8 p.m. Friday one hour prior to services.  Burial Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Funeral Program:

From the personal albums of Bryce Merkley and Delores Horton

From personal albums of Delores Horton
"Ellis and Jean on 'Perfect Day'"

 Written history:

Written by Jean's granddaughter, Delores Horton, 1996

Written history transcribed:

Grandmother's Perfect Day, Christmas 1972

written by Delores Merkley Horton, June 1996

Three times on this Christmas Day of 1972 Grandmother (Jean Merkley) said, "This has been a perfect day".  First she said it about noon after she had received calls from all of her children who lived out-of-state.  After Christmas dinner at my Uncle Harold's where she was with all her family in Salt Lake, and the last time she told my Grandfather it had been a "perfect day" was when he was helping her get ready for bed.  She died in her sleep very peacefully early the next morning- next to Grandfather.  She was eighty-seven and she and Grandfather had been married 63 1/2 years.

She was a magnificent person.  I absolutely loved her!!  She always made me feel like a person of great worth.  She was a builder and booster of the highest order.  I KNEW without a doubt I was her favorite (later I realized we all felt that way) but I did have the claim of being her oldest granddaughter!  One of her friends said to me once, "Be great, just like your grandmother".  I hope I am half as good.  She was a wonderful person.

I went to see her just before Christmas because we went to Beaver for the holiday.  I baked some bread to take to her and while I was there she gave me the brass candy dish that she ALWAYS had candy in when we came to see her.  I was so thrilled to have it.  I cherish it and think of her when I see it.

A couple of weeks after she passed away we had a birthday dinner for all the January birthdays (Mother, Margaret, David and me) and Grandfather came.  It was the first occasion we had to be together since the funeral and it was a tender time for all of us.  Grandfather gave the b lessing and I realized how different his voice was- just sad and sorrowing.  In the blessing he asked the Lord to keep us "in the hollow of His hand".  I was so touched, we all were.  I loved him so and it was sad to see him without Grandmother.

* Punctuation and spelling adjusted wherein I saw fit.

Photo from personal albums of Delores Horton

Because Jean passed away in the last 50 years, her death certificate will not be made publicly available until sometime around the year 2022.  When it is, I will post it here.

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.