Catherine's life story as written by
LAURETTA LINDSAY BATEMAN,
Grandaughter of Thomas & Catherine Minson
I was asked to write this sketch of Grandmother Minson's life because I was probably more closely associated with her than any of her other grandchildren. I started to work for her when I was twelve years old (1911) and stayed until I was 19 (1918). During this time, I attended grade school and one quarter of high school. I helped grandmother after school and during summer vacation.
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Grandfather and Grandmother had a small business in the front of their home which faced the East and was located on the West side of the highway at the North end of town in Paris, Idaho. There was a partition through the front part of the house. On the North side was the shoe shop. Here Grandfather mended shoes and harnesses. On the South side Grandmother had a confectionary. She also sold school supplies, home baked goods, ice cream, root beer, and yeast for bread making. |
Grandmother was kind, understanding, and patient. She was always full of fun, she was witty, and everyone enjoyed talking and visiting with her. She was a good doctor with her home-made remedies and was often called on to use her skill in aiding the sick in the community.
The Indians used to travel through Paris a lot and they would stop at the business places and beg. One time one came to our place and Grandfather was asleep. Grandmother didn't want to wake him, but the Indian wanted her to and so he kept talking louder and louder until Grandmother said to him "shut up you noisy beggar." That must have frightened or insulted him because he didn't say another word. It really must have taken courage for a little woman like her to court the ill will of a big Indian.
Grandmother was very proud of her skill as a cook. She really made good bread, both brown and white. She also made and sold cinnamon rolls, buns, doughnuts, and pies. Apple pies were her specialty!
I remember every year we bottled hundreds of quarts of apples for pies. Fridays and Saturdays were big days for us; we baked from morning until night. So many people would buy their bread and pastry for Sunday. She sold her bread for ten cents per loaf, the Cinnamon Rolls and doughnuts for thirty cents a dozen and pies for thirty-five cents. She was proud to display her baking in the show window.
Grandfather had rheumatism so bad he wasn't able to do hard work or be on his feet much, but he took care of the business; that is, paid the bills and ordered the supplies. Uncle Moroni helped him some in the shoe shop.
Uncle Jess went on a mission (Oct 30 1912) and Uncle Moroni got married (Jun 1914). He, (Uncle Moroni) and his wife stayed with Grandmother and Grandfather for a while, then Uncle Moroni got a job and moved to a place of their own.
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When Uncle Jess got back from his mission (Nov 1914), he soon got married to Larene Long, (Jan 1915) Uncle Moroni's wife's sister. They stayed with Grandfather and Grandmother for a while. Finally they decided to let Uncle Jess take over the business and Grandmother and Grandfather went to Salt Lake to work in the Temple. They stayed there for about a year. Uncle Jess took the partition out between the shoe shop and the confectionary and opened up a cafe. They ran this for about a year until Grandfather and Grandmother returned and took over the business again. Uncle Jess and Aunt Lurline went to Magna, Utah, and he secured a job in the smelters.
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Jessie & Lillie about 1915 |
Uncle Jess had been buying bread from a bakery in Montpelier, but Grandmother started to bake bread and pastries again. She also sold short orders. She did this for some time but Grandfather's health was bad and her own health wasn't very good either, so in 1918 they decided to close the store, shortly after I decided to get married. (Lauretta married 6 Feb 1918.)
In 1920, Grandfather passed away (age 78). Grandmother had waited on him hand and foot and did everything she could to make him as comfortable as possible. Her life was indeed a life of service. She spent the remainder of her life living with her daughter, Eliza, in Salt Lake City.
Grandmother passed away in 1922 (at age 70).
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