| My father, Thomas, was active in the organization of most of these groups and spent some time in teaching school. To provide for his family he built boots and shoes for the people. Throughout the valley, he was known for his fine workmanship, and people came from far places to have his build their boots and shoes. |
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| Even so, the number of jobs he got was not sufficient to supply all the necessities of life for them, and he had to turn to farming to supplement their needs. He raised a variety of vegetables which were put in pits and preserved for the hard winter months. |
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The days, weeks, months, and years rolled by and it is now January 3, 1871. The stork is in the process of delivering another precious bundle of joy to the Minson home. Another son, Hyrum Edward, arrived to grace their happy home. God had been good and given them another son to fill the void of their first son. Now little Joseph would have a little brother to play with. The next two years were much the same as the years which had gone before--days of trial and days of joy and thanksgiving. |
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So the time rolled around to December 1872, when they were expecting their fourth child. Mother wanted so much to have a little girl. If only the Lord would bless her with the fulfillment of this desire, it would make her the happiest person in the world. On December 8, her prayer was answered and beautiful baby girl was born--Eliza Ann Minson--named after Thomas's mother, Ann, and his sister, Eliza. The desire of their hearts had been granted. God had surely been good to them. |
When we learn of the things these people went through, we realize they were not just ordinary people, they were a chosen people; chosen because of their faith and ability to withstand the trials and hardships that beset a pioneer people. They were a proud and hardy people; proud that God had seen fit to select them to guild up His kingdom in these last days. They were hardy because they possessed the drive, strength, and fortitude due to their faith and humility. Tried? Yes, they were tried to see if they would remain true to their covenants. Time was swiftly passing but these wonderful people were fixing their roots firmly in the soil of this rugged country. It would not be long before these roots would be sending forth shoots that would flower and bear fruit, that would be sent abroad to bless the nations of the world.
How limited is our vision when we look ahead into the future, but how far reaching when we look back into the past. Thank God for the vision that He gave these people and for the strength to press on to the end so that their posterity may enjoy the fruits of their labors. These certainly were trying times. On one hand they had the elements to contend with. They were never sure when they planted their crops that they would mature, or if they did that they would be able to harvest them before the coming of rain or snow and frost that would ruin them. If it rained over an extended period of time when the grain was in shock, it would become soft and very easily frozen. Or if the weather warmed up, the grain would mold and rot in the shock. The roots in the ground would be subject to the rain; and if frozen in the ground, their value as food would be destroyed. Also they had the Indians to contend with.
As the settlement grew and more people moved to the west, the Indians became more fearful that the white man would take away their hunting grounds and their food supply. They did not depend to any great extent on the grain that the white man raised, but rather on wild animals, the different kinds of wild fruits and roots which they got from these hunting grounds. When the white man first came in small numbers they were willing to tolerate him as long as they could get food and presents of different kinds. But as the numbers increased they could see that they had to drive the white man out or lose their hunting grounds. They began to make raids on the outlying farms, driving off their cattle and horses, burning the buildings; and in some instances, killing all the members of the family. In other instances they carried away the white women and children as their slaves. It was during this time that John Smith (the husband of Catherine's Aunt, Elizabeth Ward Smith) was herding horses in Weber Canyon when he was attacked and killed, and his horses driven off. But the counsel of President Brigham Young was still remembered, so they appeased the Indians by giving them food, clothing, and other things.
On March 6, 1875, another blessed event took place in the Minson home. Another choice spirit, Arthur, was placed in their hands to love and cherish. It is now eleven years since Father had come to the land of Zion. Many things had happened since then. The church had taken on a steady growth. It was expanding in all directions. Many hundred Saints had come to Zion - the land of the free and the home of the brave. They were coming from all over the world. They were going up to the mountains to the House of the God of Jacob, where they could have freedom of speech and worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience. They loved the freedom they had and rejoiced in the blessings of God.
The cold, severe winters were moderating a little. They were becoming a little shorter and a little less severe. The seeds were becoming acclimatized and they could endure more cold without freezing. Consequently, more seed was harvested for food. They found that numerous vegetables would thrive and mature in the short season. They dug pits in the ground and stored these vegetables for the cold months of winter.
In 1877, when Arthur was a toddler of two years, Father and Mother were looking forward for a new increase in the family. On March 4, 1877, another baby boy, Frank was born with a crooked foot. It was turned around and up against his ankle, making it so, if he ever walked, he would walk on his heel with the foot extended out and upward. My, what a calamity to come upon them. There were no orthopedic doctors there in those days, or even general practitioners, so the people had to depend on their own ingenuity and the help of God to surmount their problems. So they took their troubles to their Father in Heaven and it was made known to Father what he should do. It was here that the knowledge of his trade was made manifest, for he built a boot for the little foot in such a way that the pressure applied would pull the foot back into line. The foot grew straight and became just as strong and useful as the other one. How can we doubt God and His ability to help us when we know such things.
Reading from Father's diary: "Thomas Minson was set apart as Bear Lake Stake Clerk of Zion in August 1877, by Apostle Franklin D. Richards in the Bowery at Paris, Idaho, at the organization of the Stake and having served for nearly 27 years.” On Friday, October 18, 1878, the Y.M.M.I.A. was reorganized with Wm. H.B. Shepherd as President, George Passey as 1st Counselor; Thomas Minson 2nd Counselor; Orson Pendrey, Secretary; and Henry Athey as Treasurer." (Remember the name “Athey”.)
It was during this time that Father had the opportunity of working with the young people in drama. They produced many plays for the entertainment of the people in the valley. They were put on in a very large barn called Kimbels Barn. They used the hay loft and built a stage in one end. They used wagon covers for curtains and heavy slabs were made into seats for the spectators. These were great times of relaxation and fun. They had to use every means of diversion they could to distract their minds from trials and hardships they were to pass through.
In 1879, Eliza was the only girl in the family of five, and she was not six years of age. She was a beautiful little girl and was fast becoming a big help to Mother. But she longed for a little sister. She had been told that God was going to bless them with a new baby and she was delighted when Grace Ellen, a new little baby sister, arrived on March 21.