I was born on September 6, 1941 in Indianapolis Indiana, to Harold Burton Riffel and Gladys Violet Green. I am the third child of 9 and the first boy. I have 4 brothers and 4 sisters. I am now 70 years old and enjoying life living in Utah. I have 3 girls and 2 boys, one deceased. I am married and will celebrate my 49th wedding anniversary in July 2012.
When I was real little and still in a high chair I pushed myself over and hit my head, which knocked me out. My dad put snow down my back to wake me up. I still have a scar on my head where I hit it on the floor.
When I was about 5 years old, we were living out in the country by Paragon Indiana. My mom and I went out to tell my dad it was time for lunch. My dad picked me up and sat me on one of the horses and took me to the road, he took me off the horse and told me to take them to the barn. The horses took off dragging me along. It was quite a bumpy ride as I only was on the ground about every 5 feet.
One time my sister Violet was dragging an old lawn mower, the kind without a motor...and I told her I didn't want the blade to go around and she didn't listen to me so I tried to stop the blades and it almost cut my finger off. My mom tied something on my finger to hold it in place. I still sport a nice scar from it.
We had bee hives and snakes in the yard and every time we did something wrong...my mom knew about it. I think she had eyes that moved in different directions, one way for one eye and another direction for the other one.
My dad built a house in Martinsville and we lived in the garage while it was being built. I had a paper route at one time, I also worked at a cafe doing dishes. I wanted a bike so I saved my money until I was able to buy it. My dad used to take us fishing up on Blue Bluff, north of town, near the REMC power plant.
After my dad died I watched over the younger kids while my mom worked. She worked hard to support us. After my mom married again, we moved out on Wilbur Road, west and a little north of Martinsville.
When I was about 15 or so, I ran away from home because my step dad hit me. I went to the park and slept for a few hours on a picnic table then went back home.
I went into the Marine Corp after I graduated from high school. I married while in the Corp. and later moved back to Martinsville, Indiana. I was introduced to the most wonderful gospel and the only true gospel, on the earth, by my wife. I was baptized on 4 December, 1973 in Martinsville. I served in several callings in the Church. I was called to the Branch Presidency as 2nd coun. in 1978 and was released in 1979. I have served as young men president, Ward Mission Leader, I taught Temple classes as well as Scout Master and also Asst. Scout Master. I have served as Ward Clerk over membership and over finances. I now spend my time building things and working a small farm.
I retired from the Electric Power Company in 1998 and moved to Utah on a farm my father-in-law had worked for over 50 years. I have one daughter that lives near me, which we rely on when we cant understand the new technology of today. I have a good friend who is my Uncle. We go fishing and to other places together. My life is content, I am in a wonderful Ward, with wonderful people...who could ask for more. Love you all.

Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Samuel Traggott Graff 1889
Samuel Traggott Graff (my grandfather) was born in Cannonville, Utah, 31 Oct 1889 to John Jacob Graff of Rebstein, St. Gallen, Switzerland and Lucy May Bramall (Sometimes spelled Bramhall) of Manchester, Lancashire, England. The name was originally spelled with only one "F" but was changed later when Jacob's generation came along.
My grandfather had 6 brothers and sisters and 3 half siblings. Lucy died when Grandpa was only 4 years old and the father, not being able to care for such a large family sent the children out to live with other people. Grandpa was raised by a woman names Smith. After Grandpa grew up and was back in the town of Cannonville, he became a sheep herder, owning around 300 head, and he was also the town barber for some time.
Grandpa met and married Mary Ethna Clark on 12 June 1912 in Cannonville. They had a son and a daughter, the son dying in infancy. The daughter being the mother of my cousin Sherril that I have talked about through the years. Mary died 2 years after her marriage on 10 March 1914. Grandpa married Martha Jane Henderson (MY grandmother) on 13 Oct. 1916 in Tropic Utah. They had 11 children, 2 of the 3 boys died in infancy. My mother Indra is the oldest and became the caretaker of the younger children when grandma became sick. One day my grandfather picked up a boy he had hired to help him tend to the sheep and as they were going out to the sheep camp, grandpa told the boy he would pay him $15.00 a month and that he would charge him $20.00 a month for room and board and so at the end of the month the boy would owe grandpa $5.00. The boy not knowing that grandpa was teasing, told him he couldn't do that and grandpa said, he wouldn't charge him room and board if he did a good job. Grandpa loved to kid around. He was a great story teller. He was a strong man. When he worked at the C.C. Camp, he carried a pair of brass knuckles because the men working with him were from Kentucky and Ohio and they carried knives and guns. Grandpa told them the brass knuckles were for protection. Grandpa was a small man that stood only a little over 5 feet and some inches. He had been hurt on a horse when the horse threw him and dragged him several yards. He was bruised up and had a broken leg. He always stood a little crooked after that mostly due to a bad back. Grandpa was well loved by everyone and he was a great father and a wonderful grandfather.
Before Grandpa was married he liked to dress in flashy clothes and even wore make-up.
A story was told at one time by a man that worked for Grandpa. One day while the man was herding the sheep across the road a tourist from California came by and hit and killed several sheep. The tourist, not wanting to have a run in with the law told the man he would pay for the sheep and then be on his way. The man later told Grandpa what had happened and Grandpa, being the tease he was, told the worker he had broken the law by taking the money, but that Grandpa would help him cross the Colorado River into Arizona. His suggestion as to the way to avoid the law coming after him, they would turn the horse shoes on the horse backwards so the law would think the horse was coming back in their direction. Another time when Grandpa was teasing the Camp Cook, who had made a stew with "This and That" in it, asked the men how they liked the stew, Grandpa spoke up and said it would have been a good stew if he had had some cucumbers to put in it.
Grandpa endured alot of struggles in his life, having lost his sheep due to owing money to others but eventually built his herd back up. He was generous. He gave money and food to those in need as well as giving of himself. He provided transportation to and from hospitals. Grandpa had a great singing voice, maybe where my mother got her wonderful voice, Grandpa loved to sing lullabys to his children and grandchildren. He was a grateful person. Anyone that did anything for him he was thankful to them. He was a good dancer and loved to listen to the Radio program, The Lawrence Welk Show, because it was good music to dance to.
After my grandmother Martha died in 1942, Grandpa married Bertha Clarke, who had been his childhood sweetheart, but later parted ways with both of them failing in health. Grandpa went to Bountiful Utah to live but missed home to much so he came back to Cannonville where Johnny Palmer cared for him. When his health got worse, his daughter Mary came and took him to Kanab to live. One spring day Grandpa told Aunt Mary that come fall those leaves would cover his grave. He died that summer, 19 July 1966 in the Kanab hospital. He is buried in Cannonville where he spent most of his life, next to both of his beloved wives.
MY MEMORIES OF MY GRANDFATHER;
No more wonderful man ever lived on the earth as far as I was concerned. The love he showed to his grandchildren couldnt have been more caring and loving. He was always ready to help us, he would saddle the horse everytime we wanted to ride and then unsaddle them after we were done. He would send me to the store and always tell me I could have 25c to spend on myself. Seems like he sent me to the store everytime I went to see him. He had a wonderful old house on the south side of town that I loved. It had an upstairs with three really big rooms and one room had a large closet that we used to go play in. I used to spend my time there with my Aunt Shirley before she was married and after my mother died. I loved spending the night in that big old house and always wanted a house built like it. It had a long front porch and I always wanted a porch like it. We would sit on the banister for hours and talk, the town kids liked to go there and sit to talk. Grandpa had orchards with lots of different kinds of fruit. He had lots of friends, everyone loved him. He would take me out with him to the sheep herd and even let me help shear sheep which probably made it take longer to do. I do not ever remember him getting upset at anyone. I know my grandfather will be standing beside my mother waiting for me when I pass through the veil and I can hardly wait to see them again. I hope its a while longer tho as I am enjoying life, at this time, at my old age of 69,(tomorrow).
My grandfather had 6 brothers and sisters and 3 half siblings. Lucy died when Grandpa was only 4 years old and the father, not being able to care for such a large family sent the children out to live with other people. Grandpa was raised by a woman names Smith. After Grandpa grew up and was back in the town of Cannonville, he became a sheep herder, owning around 300 head, and he was also the town barber for some time.
Grandpa met and married Mary Ethna Clark on 12 June 1912 in Cannonville. They had a son and a daughter, the son dying in infancy. The daughter being the mother of my cousin Sherril that I have talked about through the years. Mary died 2 years after her marriage on 10 March 1914. Grandpa married Martha Jane Henderson (MY grandmother) on 13 Oct. 1916 in Tropic Utah. They had 11 children, 2 of the 3 boys died in infancy. My mother Indra is the oldest and became the caretaker of the younger children when grandma became sick. One day my grandfather picked up a boy he had hired to help him tend to the sheep and as they were going out to the sheep camp, grandpa told the boy he would pay him $15.00 a month and that he would charge him $20.00 a month for room and board and so at the end of the month the boy would owe grandpa $5.00. The boy not knowing that grandpa was teasing, told him he couldn't do that and grandpa said, he wouldn't charge him room and board if he did a good job. Grandpa loved to kid around. He was a great story teller. He was a strong man. When he worked at the C.C. Camp, he carried a pair of brass knuckles because the men working with him were from Kentucky and Ohio and they carried knives and guns. Grandpa told them the brass knuckles were for protection. Grandpa was a small man that stood only a little over 5 feet and some inches. He had been hurt on a horse when the horse threw him and dragged him several yards. He was bruised up and had a broken leg. He always stood a little crooked after that mostly due to a bad back. Grandpa was well loved by everyone and he was a great father and a wonderful grandfather.
Before Grandpa was married he liked to dress in flashy clothes and even wore make-up.
A story was told at one time by a man that worked for Grandpa. One day while the man was herding the sheep across the road a tourist from California came by and hit and killed several sheep. The tourist, not wanting to have a run in with the law told the man he would pay for the sheep and then be on his way. The man later told Grandpa what had happened and Grandpa, being the tease he was, told the worker he had broken the law by taking the money, but that Grandpa would help him cross the Colorado River into Arizona. His suggestion as to the way to avoid the law coming after him, they would turn the horse shoes on the horse backwards so the law would think the horse was coming back in their direction. Another time when Grandpa was teasing the Camp Cook, who had made a stew with "This and That" in it, asked the men how they liked the stew, Grandpa spoke up and said it would have been a good stew if he had had some cucumbers to put in it.
Grandpa endured alot of struggles in his life, having lost his sheep due to owing money to others but eventually built his herd back up. He was generous. He gave money and food to those in need as well as giving of himself. He provided transportation to and from hospitals. Grandpa had a great singing voice, maybe where my mother got her wonderful voice, Grandpa loved to sing lullabys to his children and grandchildren. He was a grateful person. Anyone that did anything for him he was thankful to them. He was a good dancer and loved to listen to the Radio program, The Lawrence Welk Show, because it was good music to dance to.
After my grandmother Martha died in 1942, Grandpa married Bertha Clarke, who had been his childhood sweetheart, but later parted ways with both of them failing in health. Grandpa went to Bountiful Utah to live but missed home to much so he came back to Cannonville where Johnny Palmer cared for him. When his health got worse, his daughter Mary came and took him to Kanab to live. One spring day Grandpa told Aunt Mary that come fall those leaves would cover his grave. He died that summer, 19 July 1966 in the Kanab hospital. He is buried in Cannonville where he spent most of his life, next to both of his beloved wives.
MY MEMORIES OF MY GRANDFATHER;
No more wonderful man ever lived on the earth as far as I was concerned. The love he showed to his grandchildren couldnt have been more caring and loving. He was always ready to help us, he would saddle the horse everytime we wanted to ride and then unsaddle them after we were done. He would send me to the store and always tell me I could have 25c to spend on myself. Seems like he sent me to the store everytime I went to see him. He had a wonderful old house on the south side of town that I loved. It had an upstairs with three really big rooms and one room had a large closet that we used to go play in. I used to spend my time there with my Aunt Shirley before she was married and after my mother died. I loved spending the night in that big old house and always wanted a house built like it. It had a long front porch and I always wanted a porch like it. We would sit on the banister for hours and talk, the town kids liked to go there and sit to talk. Grandpa had orchards with lots of different kinds of fruit. He had lots of friends, everyone loved him. He would take me out with him to the sheep herd and even let me help shear sheep which probably made it take longer to do. I do not ever remember him getting upset at anyone. I know my grandfather will be standing beside my mother waiting for me when I pass through the veil and I can hardly wait to see them again. I hope its a while longer tho as I am enjoying life, at this time, at my old age of 69,(tomorrow).
Sunday, January 15, 2012
A few more golden memories
When I was young my mother kept my long dark hair in ringlets or braids. It was almost to my waist. When my grandfather would send me to the store he always sent enough money and would tell me I could have a quarter to spend. It felt like I was rich. Wilford Clarks store always had penny candy on the counter so I was able to buy alot, to me it seemed alot.
When I was in my last year of primary, we went on a Hobo Hike. We dressed in old clothes so we could look like hobos, we had a lunch in a bandanna tied to a stick. We walked to Georgetown, which is 5 miles south of town. We went swimming in a pond and then ate lunch. Then we hiked back home. Jim Clarke took pictures of us standing together with our teacher...Aunt Isme Henderson. I still have my picture and a list of the girls. The year I was born, there were 7 girls born and no boys. When we turned 8, those that had birthdays before summer would go south of town and be baptized in a pond. We would all be confirmed the next sunday.
When I was a teenager, my best friend and I went to the store and bought soda's. Beverly bought a coke and I bought a 7-up. We poured a little of the coke into a clear glass of 7-up and made it look like beer. I have a picture of me holding mine.
When I was 15 I had a curfew of 10pm. I would come home and since I slept out in an old trailer, I would wait until my father was asleep and then I would sneak out and go down town to meet the other kids. There were 4 girls and 4 boys and we went up to Merrills Ranch, up on the mountain by the old corral before Tropic. We stayed there until 1am. I never got caught but the other kids did. I dont know what kind of punishment they were given. After I left home and the year book came out, Beverly wrote in it about our wonderful night out. (Grandchildren, dont get any ideas) My boyfriend was Paul, whom I mentioned in the other blog...All these years later, about 50 years later, I still have my year book.
No one in this world has been more blessed and watched over as well as I was. You have a wonderful father/ grandfather that the Lord prepared just for me and kept me until we met. All I ever wanted in life was to be married to a good man and have children. I loved the kids I baby sat for so I knew I would love my own and now we are 55 strong and some of you are really strong in the gospel which makes me very proud of you, those that choose not to be in the church, my prayers are that someday you will understand what you are missing and come back so we can be an eternal family together. I love you all.
When I was in my last year of primary, we went on a Hobo Hike. We dressed in old clothes so we could look like hobos, we had a lunch in a bandanna tied to a stick. We walked to Georgetown, which is 5 miles south of town. We went swimming in a pond and then ate lunch. Then we hiked back home. Jim Clarke took pictures of us standing together with our teacher...Aunt Isme Henderson. I still have my picture and a list of the girls. The year I was born, there were 7 girls born and no boys. When we turned 8, those that had birthdays before summer would go south of town and be baptized in a pond. We would all be confirmed the next sunday.
When I was a teenager, my best friend and I went to the store and bought soda's. Beverly bought a coke and I bought a 7-up. We poured a little of the coke into a clear glass of 7-up and made it look like beer. I have a picture of me holding mine.
When I was 15 I had a curfew of 10pm. I would come home and since I slept out in an old trailer, I would wait until my father was asleep and then I would sneak out and go down town to meet the other kids. There were 4 girls and 4 boys and we went up to Merrills Ranch, up on the mountain by the old corral before Tropic. We stayed there until 1am. I never got caught but the other kids did. I dont know what kind of punishment they were given. After I left home and the year book came out, Beverly wrote in it about our wonderful night out. (Grandchildren, dont get any ideas) My boyfriend was Paul, whom I mentioned in the other blog...All these years later, about 50 years later, I still have my year book.
No one in this world has been more blessed and watched over as well as I was. You have a wonderful father/ grandfather that the Lord prepared just for me and kept me until we met. All I ever wanted in life was to be married to a good man and have children. I loved the kids I baby sat for so I knew I would love my own and now we are 55 strong and some of you are really strong in the gospel which makes me very proud of you, those that choose not to be in the church, my prayers are that someday you will understand what you are missing and come back so we can be an eternal family together. I love you all.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
My lifetime of Memories
I was born in January, (I know this because I was there,) on the kitchen table, when the snow was up to the eaves of the houses. My father had gone down below on horse back to attend to some of my grandfathers sheep herds. I was delivered by a doc that wasnt really a doc, he cared for the animals in the area. When I was a baby my "play pen" was a large box. One day my father came home from work and picked me up and called me his little "Cookie." The name stuck and now I have come full circle and live back in my home town.
Some of my memories are about my bike riding up and down in front of the house outside of the fence. The house faced East and I rode on the North. I loved to play in the red dirt, I even ate it. It tasted real good, nice and clean.
We had two large trees beside the house and my father attached some bed springs between it for us a swing. He also made us a teeter totter and a merry-go-round out of a wood wagon wheel. We could put our legs between the spokes and push ourselves around. We always had animals to take care of. Our house was in town at the top of what we called Indra's hill. On the next street to the south we would go sledding in the winter. The hill was called Jack Seaton hill. He always had homemade cookies for us, I think I remember he always gave us a drink too, just not sure what, may have been milk or hot choc.
My grandfather had horses, and when we wanted to ride them we would go to his house and he would saddle them for us and then when we were done he would unsaddle them.
We gathered brigham tea from beside the ditch and build a small fire, we used a coffee can to make our tea in. We also threw potatoes into the fire and roasted them. They were wonderful, even the black skins tasted great.
The women of the town always had a quilt on at someone's house and when our mothers would go to the house to quilt and visit with other women, we would tag along. I learned to quilt some but didnt really like it. Most of the time we just played with the other kids that came. I remember playing a card game called "Mark Twain," it was so fun. We spent alot of time on the Red Rock, we would take newspaper and bark from logs and smoke them, WOW, that makes my mouth water.
We moved the house out of town where my father grew hay for his animals, we helped skin the bark off the posts for fences. We would go pine nut hunting in the fall. My father and mother always got a deer and would hang it from the rafter of the house, I remember my mother going out with a sharp knife and cutting off parts for our supper. I helped skin out a pig, that was neat. I would go swimming in a ditch up at the top of the field and down through a slough into a pond. We also went swimming in different ponds around the area. When they built the new highway...in 1957-8, I fell in love for the first time. His name was Paul Crandall. His father was the contractor building the road. Crandall Construction built a yute pond (Not sure how that was spelled) in the creek bed below town. The pond was deep and had crystal clear water in it and we loved to swim in it.
My mother was a wonderful cook and she made lots of candy. She never owned a mixer so everything was beaten by hand. When she would hold a spoonful of fudge up and let it run back down into the bowl, (this was to help it cool faster) we would run our finger or a spoon under it to catch some. She made candy and took to the primary kid all the time. When I graduated from Primary, they called me to be the sun beam teacher and I remember making cup cakes for my class. We met in what is now the Relief Society room.
We would go out to the base of the red rock behind my grandfathers house and build a big bon fire. The older boys in town would bring old tires and it lit up the place where we could see to play games. All the things we did in town were as a group and it was so much fun when the older boys, the ones I remember the most helping us was Gerald Stock and Melvin Dutton, they would be the leaders for the game Run My Sheepy Run. and Red Rover. The older boys would move Joe Hughes outhouse from his property every Halloween...down to the main street in front of what used to be Angus' store. Sometimes they only tipped it over.
Marion Clark had an old building in the back of his place which we decorated with posters all over the walls. The pictures were movie stars and my sister Linda loved a certain movie star so most of the pictures were of him. When we were still living down at the old place some of us kids dug a large hold at the base of the red rock and covered it with wood and used it as our play house.
There was one girl in town that didnt like me and kept teasing me so I lit into her. She had on a nice dress and I tore it up pretty bad. She was older than me and alot bigger. I had to go down and tell her I was sorry. Im sure I was punished for it.
I used to help herd my grandfathers sheep out to the shearing corral out at Kodacrome. We would stop to eat lunch and my grandfather would make sour dough biscuits for us and we would drink coffee. Mine had alot of milk so I guess you could say I drank milk with a little coffee in it.
One day my oldest sister took a bunch of kids and walked to Hennrieville over the mountain, the highway hadn't been built at that time. We love to sit on the road at the bend by Wilford Clarks Home, it was the only place where there was a street light, and talk for hours.
I was one week from being 13 when my mother died. That is still as plain in my mind as if it just happened. I was so full of grief that during the funeral I couldnt stop crying. We sat on wood chairs in the chapel, there were no pews at that time and the church building was only 3 rooms.
Every Christmas someone would cut a really tall christmas tree and on christmas eve we would all go to the church and decorate it and everyone that came had to bring a present marked "girl" or "boy" that way everyone got a present.
When my father built a wire cover over his hay, up high, he put an old steering wheel and a car seat up there and we played we were traveling. This we did for hours at a time. My brother and I played marbles alot. You take a spoon and dig 5 small holes, one of them being in the middle of the square made by the other 4 holes. We had one large marble and a bunch of smaller one and we had to flip the large one to hit the small ones and go around the whole square and into the middle hole. The one that got it into every hole was the winner.
I started babysitting when I was nine. There are still 4 families in town that I baby sat for.
When I was sad or unhappy I would go to the cemetery and lay on my mothers grave and cry my heart out to her. It always brought me some comfort.
My greatest wish in this life is to be like my mother, and I'm sure I have let her down alot. She was the most important person in the world to me. I was so thankful I had her singing voice. and so sad that I have lost it and can no longer sing. Even 55 years after her death I still miss her with all my heart and tears come to my eyes when I think of her. Maybe someday I can make her proud of me.
Some of my memories are about my bike riding up and down in front of the house outside of the fence. The house faced East and I rode on the North. I loved to play in the red dirt, I even ate it. It tasted real good, nice and clean.
We had two large trees beside the house and my father attached some bed springs between it for us a swing. He also made us a teeter totter and a merry-go-round out of a wood wagon wheel. We could put our legs between the spokes and push ourselves around. We always had animals to take care of. Our house was in town at the top of what we called Indra's hill. On the next street to the south we would go sledding in the winter. The hill was called Jack Seaton hill. He always had homemade cookies for us, I think I remember he always gave us a drink too, just not sure what, may have been milk or hot choc.
My grandfather had horses, and when we wanted to ride them we would go to his house and he would saddle them for us and then when we were done he would unsaddle them.
We gathered brigham tea from beside the ditch and build a small fire, we used a coffee can to make our tea in. We also threw potatoes into the fire and roasted them. They were wonderful, even the black skins tasted great.
The women of the town always had a quilt on at someone's house and when our mothers would go to the house to quilt and visit with other women, we would tag along. I learned to quilt some but didnt really like it. Most of the time we just played with the other kids that came. I remember playing a card game called "Mark Twain," it was so fun. We spent alot of time on the Red Rock, we would take newspaper and bark from logs and smoke them, WOW, that makes my mouth water.
We moved the house out of town where my father grew hay for his animals, we helped skin the bark off the posts for fences. We would go pine nut hunting in the fall. My father and mother always got a deer and would hang it from the rafter of the house, I remember my mother going out with a sharp knife and cutting off parts for our supper. I helped skin out a pig, that was neat. I would go swimming in a ditch up at the top of the field and down through a slough into a pond. We also went swimming in different ponds around the area. When they built the new highway...in 1957-8, I fell in love for the first time. His name was Paul Crandall. His father was the contractor building the road. Crandall Construction built a yute pond (Not sure how that was spelled) in the creek bed below town. The pond was deep and had crystal clear water in it and we loved to swim in it.
My mother was a wonderful cook and she made lots of candy. She never owned a mixer so everything was beaten by hand. When she would hold a spoonful of fudge up and let it run back down into the bowl, (this was to help it cool faster) we would run our finger or a spoon under it to catch some. She made candy and took to the primary kid all the time. When I graduated from Primary, they called me to be the sun beam teacher and I remember making cup cakes for my class. We met in what is now the Relief Society room.
We would go out to the base of the red rock behind my grandfathers house and build a big bon fire. The older boys in town would bring old tires and it lit up the place where we could see to play games. All the things we did in town were as a group and it was so much fun when the older boys, the ones I remember the most helping us was Gerald Stock and Melvin Dutton, they would be the leaders for the game Run My Sheepy Run. and Red Rover. The older boys would move Joe Hughes outhouse from his property every Halloween...down to the main street in front of what used to be Angus' store. Sometimes they only tipped it over.
Marion Clark had an old building in the back of his place which we decorated with posters all over the walls. The pictures were movie stars and my sister Linda loved a certain movie star so most of the pictures were of him. When we were still living down at the old place some of us kids dug a large hold at the base of the red rock and covered it with wood and used it as our play house.
There was one girl in town that didnt like me and kept teasing me so I lit into her. She had on a nice dress and I tore it up pretty bad. She was older than me and alot bigger. I had to go down and tell her I was sorry. Im sure I was punished for it.
I used to help herd my grandfathers sheep out to the shearing corral out at Kodacrome. We would stop to eat lunch and my grandfather would make sour dough biscuits for us and we would drink coffee. Mine had alot of milk so I guess you could say I drank milk with a little coffee in it.
One day my oldest sister took a bunch of kids and walked to Hennrieville over the mountain, the highway hadn't been built at that time. We love to sit on the road at the bend by Wilford Clarks Home, it was the only place where there was a street light, and talk for hours.
I was one week from being 13 when my mother died. That is still as plain in my mind as if it just happened. I was so full of grief that during the funeral I couldnt stop crying. We sat on wood chairs in the chapel, there were no pews at that time and the church building was only 3 rooms.
Every Christmas someone would cut a really tall christmas tree and on christmas eve we would all go to the church and decorate it and everyone that came had to bring a present marked "girl" or "boy" that way everyone got a present.
When my father built a wire cover over his hay, up high, he put an old steering wheel and a car seat up there and we played we were traveling. This we did for hours at a time. My brother and I played marbles alot. You take a spoon and dig 5 small holes, one of them being in the middle of the square made by the other 4 holes. We had one large marble and a bunch of smaller one and we had to flip the large one to hit the small ones and go around the whole square and into the middle hole. The one that got it into every hole was the winner.
I started babysitting when I was nine. There are still 4 families in town that I baby sat for.
When I was sad or unhappy I would go to the cemetery and lay on my mothers grave and cry my heart out to her. It always brought me some comfort.
My greatest wish in this life is to be like my mother, and I'm sure I have let her down alot. She was the most important person in the world to me. I was so thankful I had her singing voice. and so sad that I have lost it and can no longer sing. Even 55 years after her death I still miss her with all my heart and tears come to my eyes when I think of her. Maybe someday I can make her proud of me.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Martha Jane Henderson Graff (My Grandmother)
Marth Jane Henderson was born Nov. 20, 1899 in Cannonville, Utah to William Jasper Henderson and Lydia Drucilla Johnson. She was the 6th child of 9 children.
Martha completed 8th grade, she was a good bookkeeper, she was an execllent reader and she could memorize quickly. She had a large mental storage of songs, stories and poems that she used to teach her children.
Martha spent most of her life around the Cannonville area. She loved the town and the people. She could feel the sorrow of others as deeply as they did. She was very sensative.
Martha Jane told her father that she was going to marry Sam Graff, and he said she wasnt. When his lectures wouldnt work, he made a switch from willow branches and proceeded to give her a real switching yelling all the time for her to say she wouldnt marry old Sam Graff. Martha yelled louder and louder that "I will to", "I will to."
Martha and Sam were married on Oct. 13 1916 in Tropic. She had 11 kids, my mother Indra being the oldest.
Martha kept the books for her husband for the sheep herd he owned.
Martha held several Church positions while raising her kids. She gardened, canned, made jams, jellies, and flowers. Sam built her a rose trellis for her front yard on the property across the street from her mother. (The place where Uncle Howard lives now). The other house they lived in was where Bishop Thompson lives now) These were the busiest and happiest times in her life.
One day martha borrowed some salt from her mother, and then sent one of the children over to return it, Lydia met the child on the walk and told her, you never return salt, it is bad luck.
Martha's love for her mother and her watchful care of her all the days of her life was a beautiful example of Christ-like love for all her posterity to follow.
When nights were cold, bricks were placed in the fire and then taken out and wrapped in newspaper to be put in the beds of the children. Martha made lots of cookies, jelly tarts, rag dolls, doll houses for the children. She lived with red sand in shoes, roasted potatoes (Probably in an open fire like we did when I was young) peppermint tea, and cigarettes made from sears catalogs and bark. (those were really good)
Martha's home was very clean, which she took great pride in. She died Oct 12, 1942 (Three months before I was born). in Cannonville at age 42.
This is my part of a story that was told to me...When Grandma Martha was alive, she was to sick to attend Church on Mother's Day and my mother, Indra, was going to sing. After Church was over, Mama (Indra) went to Grandma's house and sang the song to her. At the time of my mother's death, my grandfather lived in a large 2 story house on the property across the street from Bonnie and Bill Nelson. I dont know if Grandma died there or not, I seem to remember someone saying she had lived in that house.
Martha completed 8th grade, she was a good bookkeeper, she was an execllent reader and she could memorize quickly. She had a large mental storage of songs, stories and poems that she used to teach her children.
Martha spent most of her life around the Cannonville area. She loved the town and the people. She could feel the sorrow of others as deeply as they did. She was very sensative.
Martha Jane told her father that she was going to marry Sam Graff, and he said she wasnt. When his lectures wouldnt work, he made a switch from willow branches and proceeded to give her a real switching yelling all the time for her to say she wouldnt marry old Sam Graff. Martha yelled louder and louder that "I will to", "I will to."
Martha and Sam were married on Oct. 13 1916 in Tropic. She had 11 kids, my mother Indra being the oldest.
Martha kept the books for her husband for the sheep herd he owned.
Martha held several Church positions while raising her kids. She gardened, canned, made jams, jellies, and flowers. Sam built her a rose trellis for her front yard on the property across the street from her mother. (The place where Uncle Howard lives now). The other house they lived in was where Bishop Thompson lives now) These were the busiest and happiest times in her life.
One day martha borrowed some salt from her mother, and then sent one of the children over to return it, Lydia met the child on the walk and told her, you never return salt, it is bad luck.
Martha's love for her mother and her watchful care of her all the days of her life was a beautiful example of Christ-like love for all her posterity to follow.
When nights were cold, bricks were placed in the fire and then taken out and wrapped in newspaper to be put in the beds of the children. Martha made lots of cookies, jelly tarts, rag dolls, doll houses for the children. She lived with red sand in shoes, roasted potatoes (Probably in an open fire like we did when I was young) peppermint tea, and cigarettes made from sears catalogs and bark. (those were really good)
Martha's home was very clean, which she took great pride in. She died Oct 12, 1942 (Three months before I was born). in Cannonville at age 42.
This is my part of a story that was told to me...When Grandma Martha was alive, she was to sick to attend Church on Mother's Day and my mother, Indra, was going to sing. After Church was over, Mama (Indra) went to Grandma's house and sang the song to her. At the time of my mother's death, my grandfather lived in a large 2 story house on the property across the street from Bonnie and Bill Nelson. I dont know if Grandma died there or not, I seem to remember someone saying she had lived in that house.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Indra Henderson Graff Dennett (Parts written by Betty Lou Graff Wintch-sister)
Momma was born September 4, 1917, in Cannonville, Utah, to Samuel Troggett and Martha Jane Henderson Graff. She was blessed October 7, 1917, by William Jasper Henderson, Sr. She was baptized July 18, 1926, by Leon Campbell. She was confirmed the same day by Wallace Henderson.
Momma married Daddy, Verdell Dennett, on October 19, 1935, in Panguitch, Utah. They were later sealed in marriage on January 19, 1957, in the St. George Temple.
Momma died January 14, 1956. My sister, Linda Carol, the fourth daughter of Indra and Dell, joined her mother in heaven December 26, 1956.
**************************************************
Indra Henderson Graff lived in Cannonville her whole life. She was the oldest child of Samuel Troggetts and Martha Jane Henderson Graff.
Indra had to do most of the outside chores as her dad was gone to the sheep herd most of the time. The burden were heavy for her. Indra was always self confident in her life. She always knew what she wanted. She was loved and revered by all. She always knew the right words to say at the right time, she could be tough but she could get really angry. She hid a lot of her heartache behind loud laughter and angry outbursts. But no greater privilege be had than to know her.
Indra had such a great capacity to love that she befriended even the person she was angry at if they appeared to be getting the worst of the deal.
Indra milked the cows and she would squirt milk into the mouths of cats that had followed her to the corral. The younger kids wanted to have the milk squirted into their mouths but Indra always missed and the children's hair was always still but when we were found out, mother put a stop to it.
Indra was a good care giver. She never put up with nonsense when mother and dad were gone.
One day a small lamb fell into the outhouse and it was Indra's job to fish him out. He smelled so bad we gave him the name of shity until mother heard us quarreling and renamed him, we didn't want to feed him but mother made us take turns until dad decided he was to go out with the herd.
In about 1940-47 (it had to be before 1943 because my Grandmother died 3 months before I was born) Indra had been assigned to sing a solo in the Mother's Day program at Church. Mother was to sick to go so after Church Indra came to the house and sang some of song for her. Indra had a beautiful singing voice, but she couldn't get through the song, Indra knew that mother was dying...she wept bitterly.
Indra loved pretty things. During her teenage years formals made of satin, velvet, and taffeta were popular. The dances in Cannonville were beautiful with all the pretty colored dresses. The 3 surrounding town got together for these dances.
I used to love to sit and watch Indra get ready for the dances, she was so very beautiful but she hated her freckles. On her they were beautiful though. Indra and her friends would have taffy pulls and sing a song called "I'm Looking for an Angel," A song that Indra sang a lot was called "Sis Feet of Dirt." It was sang at her funeral. The words are ; "I'll sing you a song of the world and it's ways, And the many strange people we meet---From the rich man who rolls in his millions of wealth, to the struggling wretch on the street. But a man, tho he's poor, and in tatters and rags, We would never affect to despise; But think of the adage, remember, my friends, That six feet of dirty makes us the same size."
One time I told Indra I would never eat rabbit. Time went by and Indra asked Kent and I to come down for dinner. No one in their right mind would turn down dinner at Indra's house...It was a delicious meal as usual, lots of feather light biscuits and lots of fried chicken and gravy. Indra knew I did not like chicken drumsticks so she set one on my plate and I told her to give it to Dell and Kent. She did and gave me another part of the chicken. I ate piece after piece of the delicious meat and I asked Indra how many chickens did she cook. She said only one and all but the drumsticks were still in the oven, the meat I ate was rabbit. I have never known a better cook than Indra, she could make a meal out of nothing. I was sure she would be famous for her Carmel dumplings. Following is the recipe;
2 Cups sifted flour
4 tsp baking powder
2 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups milk
4 cups boiling water
1 tsp vanilla
Mix flour, baking powder, 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tsp salt. Cut in the shortening. add milk and stir until mixed. Melt 2 cups sugar in large heavy skillet until carmelized to a light brown. Add boiling water carefully. Stir with temperature on simmer until all sugar is dissolved. Add 1/4 tsp salt with vanilla. Drop dumpling mixture by heaping tablespoons spoons into carmel syrup. Cook on simmer for about 20 minutes. Serve hot or cold with cream.
Indra was very popular with both boys and girls. b ut while waiting for the truck from Bryce Canyon to come by and pick up the girls, all in their formals, the truck came by and told them they would be back in 15 minutes after they pick up the Henrieville girls. When Indra seen the truck coming, she said she was going to marry that man, Dell Dennett) because she admired a man of his word.
Momma married Daddy, Verdell Dennett, on October 19, 1935, in Panguitch, Utah. They were later sealed in marriage on January 19, 1957, in the St. George Temple.
Momma died January 14, 1956. My sister, Linda Carol, the fourth daughter of Indra and Dell, joined her mother in heaven December 26, 1956.
**************************************************
Indra Henderson Graff lived in Cannonville her whole life. She was the oldest child of Samuel Troggetts and Martha Jane Henderson Graff.
Indra had to do most of the outside chores as her dad was gone to the sheep herd most of the time. The burden were heavy for her. Indra was always self confident in her life. She always knew what she wanted. She was loved and revered by all. She always knew the right words to say at the right time, she could be tough but she could get really angry. She hid a lot of her heartache behind loud laughter and angry outbursts. But no greater privilege be had than to know her.
Indra had such a great capacity to love that she befriended even the person she was angry at if they appeared to be getting the worst of the deal.
Indra milked the cows and she would squirt milk into the mouths of cats that had followed her to the corral. The younger kids wanted to have the milk squirted into their mouths but Indra always missed and the children's hair was always still but when we were found out, mother put a stop to it.
Indra was a good care giver. She never put up with nonsense when mother and dad were gone.
One day a small lamb fell into the outhouse and it was Indra's job to fish him out. He smelled so bad we gave him the name of shity until mother heard us quarreling and renamed him, we didn't want to feed him but mother made us take turns until dad decided he was to go out with the herd.
In about 1940-47 (it had to be before 1943 because my Grandmother died 3 months before I was born) Indra had been assigned to sing a solo in the Mother's Day program at Church. Mother was to sick to go so after Church Indra came to the house and sang some of song for her. Indra had a beautiful singing voice, but she couldn't get through the song, Indra knew that mother was dying...she wept bitterly.
Indra loved pretty things. During her teenage years formals made of satin, velvet, and taffeta were popular. The dances in Cannonville were beautiful with all the pretty colored dresses. The 3 surrounding town got together for these dances.
I used to love to sit and watch Indra get ready for the dances, she was so very beautiful but she hated her freckles. On her they were beautiful though. Indra and her friends would have taffy pulls and sing a song called "I'm Looking for an Angel," A song that Indra sang a lot was called "Sis Feet of Dirt." It was sang at her funeral. The words are ; "I'll sing you a song of the world and it's ways, And the many strange people we meet---From the rich man who rolls in his millions of wealth, to the struggling wretch on the street. But a man, tho he's poor, and in tatters and rags, We would never affect to despise; But think of the adage, remember, my friends, That six feet of dirty makes us the same size."
One time I told Indra I would never eat rabbit. Time went by and Indra asked Kent and I to come down for dinner. No one in their right mind would turn down dinner at Indra's house...It was a delicious meal as usual, lots of feather light biscuits and lots of fried chicken and gravy. Indra knew I did not like chicken drumsticks so she set one on my plate and I told her to give it to Dell and Kent. She did and gave me another part of the chicken. I ate piece after piece of the delicious meat and I asked Indra how many chickens did she cook. She said only one and all but the drumsticks were still in the oven, the meat I ate was rabbit. I have never known a better cook than Indra, she could make a meal out of nothing. I was sure she would be famous for her Carmel dumplings. Following is the recipe;
2 Cups sifted flour
4 tsp baking powder
2 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups milk
4 cups boiling water
1 tsp vanilla
Mix flour, baking powder, 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tsp salt. Cut in the shortening. add milk and stir until mixed. Melt 2 cups sugar in large heavy skillet until carmelized to a light brown. Add boiling water carefully. Stir with temperature on simmer until all sugar is dissolved. Add 1/4 tsp salt with vanilla. Drop dumpling mixture by heaping tablespoons spoons into carmel syrup. Cook on simmer for about 20 minutes. Serve hot or cold with cream.
Indra was very popular with both boys and girls. b ut while waiting for the truck from Bryce Canyon to come by and pick up the girls, all in their formals, the truck came by and told them they would be back in 15 minutes after they pick up the Henrieville girls. When Indra seen the truck coming, she said she was going to marry that man, Dell Dennett) because she admired a man of his word.
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