I was married very young-just one month past 17. I married William J. Whitehead Jr. who had been an admirer of me and I of him for all our school days. To this union we were blessed with five children: Ross Monson, Connel Monson, Hazel, Willard DeLyle, and Boyd James. My life was never easy. We came to Canada with my husbands folks in 1908, leaving all my people in the States. The country was new and we had nothing but ourselves and our dear baby boy Ross 1 1/2 years old. There would be times when I felt I could not stand it or go on another day, however, I tried to encourage my husband to stay with it and give it a fair trial, but in less than a year he had made arrangements with a Mr. Johnson who came when we and his folks did and were leaving to return to their old home in Idaho Falls. I did not know of it until his plans were all made-so we parted with all our earthly possessions and left with them by train for Idaho, me taking the whole blame for him leaving. We left here in February and went to our home town, Franklin, Idaho. On the 28th of May the same year our second son Connel was born. Ross being then 2 years and 9 months old. It seemed like each baby brought all the love of heaven with it to our home and for me I asked no greater blessing and could have been content with the material things of life as the Lord chose to bless me with. We had a very cold winter following. My husband walked 3 miles to work in the Lewiston sugar factory and home at night. We moved to a small 2 room apt.(lean-to) of a widows home when Connel was 3 months old. I shall never forget two things that happened there. She had at the back an old fashioned shanty, which most people did in those days- to use for a summer cook kitchen while their families were all at home. Sister Merrick used this for a store place to just “put things in to get them out of the way”. In the winter some kind person gave her a lovely fresh ham when they killed a pig. Of course it was kept in this shanty and was frozen so we would have to cut a slice off for her when she needed it. One morning as my husband was leaving for work at 5:30(very dark) I went to the door with him as I always did and noticed right away the door of the shanty was open(there was no lock on it). Later in the morning I went around to tell her about it and I will never forget the look of suspicion on her face as she said “Are you sure you don’t know who took it?” If she had sun a knife through my heart, she couldn’t have hurt me more. I said, “Sister Merrick surely you don’t think we did.” She said, “It has never happened before and you were the only ones that knowed I had it.” I think I cried the rest of the day. She came in and found me that way and tried in feeble way to cover up but she didn’t have love for anyone so it still hurt. We had some member of the bishopric come and investigate later in the day and where it was there was a showing in the snow where the meat had been dragged thro the snow and traced it to the Bill Cherry home. That was one time I looked over something I never tho’t I could but I remember I never bought a bit of fresh pork for a very long time. She had the mane of being “nasty” to everyone. One night not so long after that she knocked on the wall and ask me if I would bring the children in and she would make us a bed on her Winnipeg couch in the kitchen. It was bitter cold and the children were in bed(my husband was working night shift). I was a bit reluctant to disturb them but couldn’t refuse her, she seemed disturbed and said she tho’t we would be warmer on such a cold night. I consented and took my little ones (after going around and making our bed in her kitchen) one by one, wrapping them in the flannelette sheet they had on their beds and we took refuge in our new sleeping quarters. As everyone else, or most everyone did, she let her fire die out with kindling wood and coal ready to relight it in the morning. Around 2 a.m. I was awakened by a faint call for help, a gurgling sound also. I finally realized where AI was and that Sister Merrick was trying feebly to awaken me. I ran to her bedside and found her gasping for breath in a choking manner. I did what I could for her and then she became a little easier and ask e to go for Ellen. Ellen was a midwife and everyone’s nurse (Ellen Morgan). I told her I would make the fire first and put some water on to heat. She wanted me to go but seemed reluctant to let go of my hand. I started out, it was a bright moonlight night when every star seems to stand out alone. I could hear my footsteps squeak in the hard snow path and just a bit lonely and fearful I made my way to Ellen’s as quickly as I could. I thought I should never be able to awaken her. My pounding on the door echoed thro’ the big empty house(I say empty as they had neither carpet or linoleum and very little furniture in their home) the door was loose and rattled back and forth as I pounded. I at last was rewarded with a faint “Whose’s there?” I gave her my message and she ask me to wait a minute . The door was unlocked so I entered and told her I would have to hurry back, my responsibilities there were urgent. I was afraid the children would waken and not know where they were become panicky. Also Sister Merrick needed me or may, and then my freshly lighted fire might not be just right so I hastened back. Everything was under control. Ross was awake, he was a few mo. over three years but as always he was lying there quietly wit his arm around baby Connel never making a sound of complaint, as was his nature. When he saw me he said “Where was you mama, I was afraid you was lost.” Ellen stayed thro’ the rest of the night, and as usual the Lord answered my prayers. Tho’ I had a patient on my hands for a few days and a difficult one. But she felt more her accusation of the meat night. We moved from her house in the spring to Brigham City, Utah. I liked living there very much. The people were so friendly and hospitable. That is where I met Lettie Cheney-Clin her husband and my husband worked for the same orchard Co. We lived in a duplex house and enjoyed our days together. Her eldest child Glenn was just 3 or 4 months younger than Connel. Hazel was born when Connel was four years old and then it was no question my happiness was complete. Two fine little boys and now a girl. |
If we could have looked at life the same way, their dad and I , no greater happiness could have been me. But life isn’t like that for me it seems. When Hazel was 2 months old, we moved a mile south of Brigham City, rented a large orchard and there we lived a bout 2 years. When the “moving bug” bit once more and we were on our way back to Franklin, Idaho once more. It proved to be as all other moves, fruitless, as far as contentment and settling down were concerned. So when Hazel was almost three years old, 2 1/2 to be exact, Grandpa Whitehead come down to be with his mother during her last few weeks on earth, and he tho’t it best for us to come back to Alberta. So we were on our way once more. At that time I was taking care of my invalid mother and have many times regretted leaving her. What greater mission could I have had. But the teaching of wives cleave unto thy husband, which is in the Bible, once more prevailed. I am a believer of that, if all try to make it worth the cleaving. I also believe in “husbands cleave to thy wife”. |
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