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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ADRIA RICH PORTER
( Submitted by George A. Mortimer )
Adria Rich Porter's missionary photo.
[Written and dictated from 1958 to 1960. Most dates have been checked against independent sources and
corrected, if necessary. Full names of relatives have been added if not already given by her.]
July 22, 1881 in a little town called Porterville, Morgan County, Utah, in a one-room, dirt-covered, log
cabin, a pair of twins were prematurely born to Thomas and Adria Brough Rich. They were the excitement and
curiosity of the entire Morgan County as people from far and near came to see them.
To name them was the next duty. The midwife (as they were called then, her name was Sister Hoag)
suggested Joseph and Josephine. My father said, "I like Joseph, but not Josephine."
Adria and Adrian was next suggested. Father said, "I like Adria but not Adrian." So the boy was named
Joseph (the first born), and the girl was named Adria. (Very fitting twin names did you say?)
The little log house was situated across the road south from where the Porterville Ward meeting house
stood (which used to be the school). In August 1881 this house was moved south one mile and placed on the farm
my father had formerly bought. It remained on that farm until about 1929. It was later used as a chicken house.
In September 1881 Joseph died. He died when he was two months old. Mother had just fed us (the twins)
and tucked us in bed for the night. Mother said, "If they die tonight, they won't die hungry." When broad daylight
came Joseph closed his eyes in death. He wasn't sick at all. It was just time for him to be born. But he came here
to get a body and a name, then went back to our Father from whence he came. He was Mother's first boy to die.
They buried him in a little homemade coffin in the Porterville Cemetery.
The first thing that I remember happened in my life was a visit to Randolph, Utah, to visit Uncle Enoch
Tipton's coal mine. He married a sister to my Grandfather, Thomas Brough. Her name was Elizabeth Brough
Tipton. She had naturally curly hair and she arranged it so beautifully. She was a beautiful lady. I remember how
clean and cozy she kept the house. She wore a black dress and a white apron. We were made so welcome to her
house.
I remember so well my grandmother, Jane Paterson Brough. She always looked so aristocratic, which she
was. During the Christmas season she kept home-made choke-cherry wine on hand and when callers came she
always gave them a piece of her very good fruit cake and a small serving of wine. She was a real Doctor of
Medicine, a real M.D. Someone said she had a degree to that effect, but I'm not sure of that. She used herbs grown
in her own garden for most of her medicine. She brought hundreds of babies into the world throughout Morgan
County, and was paid such a small amount for her services. She was paid, sometimes a bushel of potatoes, a small
shoat or sometimes no pay at all. She felt her services rendered were needed and the Lord paid her in consolation
for a duty done. She was called all times of the night or day. She has gone out when blizzards have been raging
outside and has saved the lives of many people. At one time she saved the life of my husband, Hyrum, when he had
pneumonia.
My girlhood life was a happy one, with my constant companion my sister, Jane, two years my senior. We
were always side by side. In school we studied out of the same books and were together every hour of every day.
When she married my heart was nearly broken. How could I live without her?
Our girlhood days were very happy ones. We drove the cows to pasture in the hills and would gather them
at night and drive them home. We rode our sorrel pony named "Bally." She was sorrel with a white stripe down her
entire face from the top of her head to the tip of her nose. She was very tame and kind to us girls. She knew our
wants and cheerfully obeyed them. We loved her very much. I'm sure we will be happy if we can have her in the
next world.
One night as we (Jane and I) were riding over the hills gathering the cows to take them home, we passed
some service berry bushes where a lot of locusts were gathered. I grabbed one as we were riding along, and while
we were singing to the top of our voices I slipped one in Jane's mouth. (I hadn't planned on telling this as it wasn't a
lady-like act.) We sang all the time as we rode over the hills. Jane should have been very angry with me for doing
that, but as I recall, she took it very cheerfully.
Jane and I were inseparable all of our lives. We played with dolls and had imaginary doll houses all around
the farm. We knew who lived in each one, and kept each one clean and swept. The dolls were of corn cobs or rags.
I can still see those houses and who lived in each. Jane and I loved each other dearly and never quarreled with each
other, ever. Jane played with dolls until she was married. When she was married I was heart-broken and I missed
her so much.
One fine playmate, besides Jane, was an imaginary lady, Sprazie, who lived across the road from the barn,
under a sage bush. Another imaginary playmate was Miss Mary who lived under a wheat grass near the creek.
She was a wonderful housekeeper and kept the ground swept clean. Of course, we girls were really the
housekeepers and kept the ground swept clean and smooth.
I was a religious and prayerful person and had childhood prayers answered many times. One rag, used as a doll,
was named Sprazie. We usually played with her in her playhouse which was a sage bush, all swept clean
underneath. One day Sprazie was lost. I looked for her high and low. I asked each member of the family if they
had seen Sprazie. No one had. So I went back to the bush-playhouse and looked again. Still no Sprazie could be
found. So I knelt in prayer to ask for help. Then the thought came to look under the end of the bench by the box
cupboard. There was Sprazie. I dropped to my knees again in thanksgiving for the help I had received in finding my
dear doll.
We girls were fishing one day in the creek which ran through our farm. Jane caught a huge trout. It was so
large it frightened her and she trembled like a leaf.
The family was very poor. If we had an apple in our stocking at Christmas it was a treat, and an orange
was very special. We had a lot of good times together though with the things we did have. We always had good
food, and we all learned to be good cooks.
We girls had one dress for summer and one for winter. The dresses were always homemade. One special
dress was a tan wool trimmed in green velvet.
One habit I had I must tell you about. It was drinking raw eggs. I loved going to the barn and getting the
newly laid eggs and cracking them on the toe of my shoe. I would drink the egg raw and whole right out of the
shell.
No one had a refrigerator in those days. Mother had a very fine cellar. She kept her milk in large tin pans
with a clean shingle between the pans so there was a tier of at least three pans in each pile. She made excellent
butter and used to work it and print it in a round print that had an acorn in the top. She also made good cheese. I
remember she packed cheese in a large crock jar adding a little brandy, then a layer of cheese, then a sprinkling of
brandy, then a layer of cheese and so on until the jar was full. Then this stood to ripen for about a month. It was
good beyond explaining.
Mother provided such good tasty meals. We were never sick because of poor food. Mother was the best
homemaker and cook we have ever known. I remember for my wedding dinner, she baked a whole tub full of bread,
such beautiful, light, tasty bread. Mother always made very good spice loaf cake, and used to have some every time
company came.
I was baptized in East Canyon Creek, on the west side of the bridge, by Alva Porter.
At the time I was growing up regular Fast Meeting was held the first Thursday of each month. The men
laid off work that day. They fasted for breakfast, then went to testimony meeting from 10:00 to 12:00 noon, then
went home to a nice dinner and back to work in the afternoon. One time a young boy, George Phillips, spoke in
tongues.
I was eight when I started school. All my grade school was in one room, and I went through all the eight
grades and got my diploma when I was about 16.
Father took great care that we never missed a day of school. We all arose early, each girl was assigned to
milk a certain number of cows before breakfast, then the rush to get ready for school. Father took us to school in
the big wagon, a distance of about 1-1/4 miles to the East Porterville school house.
My first teacher was Miss Thomas, a kind, pretty lady. My next teacher was Joseph R. Porter. He was my
teacher for years. They told me I was the teacher's pet. At my first day of school I was promoted to the 2nd grade.
I always loved school, and it always seemed easy for me.
I was always a good student. At the end of the school year the teacher, J. R. Porter, had an Honor Roll. He
asked me to sign first. I was top on the honor roll. Bessie Porter (Brough), daughter of C. G. Porter, was second.
I always was prepared and always learned quickly.
Joseph R. Porter taught the eight grades every day in one room. He taught reading, writing, arithmetic,
geography, history, spelling, grammar, penmanship every day. We wonder how he did it, but he did it. Speaking of
school, Jane and I studied out of the same books all day every day and she said it was hard for her. She read slower
than I, and it worried her to keep up. I remember one day I missed several words in spelling, and when we arrived
home one of my sisters (I don't know which one) told Father how I had failed in spelling that day and he gave me a
scolding, and believe me I studied my spelling after that. When spelling matches came around, I was champion
speller several times during the year.
Artemissia Porter and Lillian were sisters, daughters of John J. Porter. Artemissia and I were bosom pals,
and Lillian and John were friends. J. R. Porter was the teacher at the time. Sometimes he would give us a dance on
Friday nights. One time we wanted him to give one and he wouldn't. I wrote a note saying it was a shame he
wouldn't give us the dance. I said he was a "Bee Shop" (he was Bishop of the Ward as well as the school teacher).
Artemissia took the note and laid it on his desk. At recess he said, "Adria, please come to my desk." I knew he had
seen the note. I said, "I'm sorry I wrote that note. It was not a nice thing to do at all. Will you please forgive me?"
He said, "Yes, I?ll forgive you. Whenever anyone asks us to forgive we always should. And to forgive means to
forget. We'll never mention it again." He never did. I learned not to trust Artemissia and learned what true
forgiveness was. Those lessons have stayed with me all my life.
Grandma Brough (Jane Paterson Brough) was present at the time my brother, Benjamin, died. Before he
died he talked of seeing beautiful flowers in the room and said he heard Grandpa Rich's footsteps. (This was
Thomas Rich, Sr.) outside the door and knew whose steps they were. He had never seen Grandpa Rich as he died
before Benjamin was born. He died early in the morning. My father was in the barn milking a cow when a voice
spoke aloud, "You'll have to give him up." Father at once left the cow and went quickly to the house. We all knelt
in prayer, and Benjamin passed quickly and peaceably away. He had always been a very religious boy.
By this time, Father had built a much larger log house of five rooms, and after a few more years he built a
nice brick house of six rooms. While building the brick house my sister, Emeline, and I went with Father to
Hardscrabble Canyon to the Joe Taylor mill where we helped get out and helped saw all the lath and lumber needed
for the brick house. We helped pull the lath through the saws. We were up there a week, and we prepared all the
meals for ourselves and the men. We were about 10 or 12 years old. I remember we used a big clean quilt for our
table cloth, and our meals looked and tasted very good. Mr. Taylor praised us highly for our good housekeeping,
and did to his dying day. He said, "Tom Rich's girls are the best housekeepers I have ever seen." We like to live
over those days.
Thomas Rich family in 1890.
Left to right: Thomas Rich (father), Benjamin Thomas (Ben), Adria, Emeline Brough,
Henrietta Brough, Arnol Coulson, Emily Jane (Jan), Adria Elizabeth Brough (mother).
Thomas Rich family in 1900.
left to right: kneeling - Adria, Samantha Ann (Mantie), Emeline;
sitting at the parents Adria Elziabeth Brough and Thomas;
standing - Emily Jane (Jane), Arnol, and Henrietta.
Father and Mother were industrious, frugal, economical, religious people. Father never worked in the field
on Sunday. They taught us honesty every day of their lives. We girls helped Father on the farm. He was careful,
kind and considerate of us, suggesting every few hours that we not work too hard, saying, "Now, girls, don't work
too hard." "Better not lift that, it's too heavy," speaking of a bucket of potatoes or some such heavy load. No one
had better parents than they! They had ten children--six girls and four boys. They were Henrietta, Jane, Adria and
Joseph, Emeline, Benjamin, Arnol, Samantha, Hosea and Ruth. In addition to her family Mother cared for a little
boy, Mathias, whose mother died at his birth. The little boy's parents were William Brough, Mother's brother and
his wife, Janie Cotrall. Mathias died when he was about one year old.
Mother's heart was about broken for up to now she had watched four of her children die in infancy, which
was very hard, but they always said, "Thy will be done," in the family prayers. Benjamin died when 5 years old
with enlargement of the heart, Hosea with blood poison and Ruth, and now Mathias. Arnol lived until he was 35
years old and died with a urinary poisoning, leaving a wife and 5 children. His body was brought from Payette,
Idaho, to Porterville to be buried.
We were taught frugality and economy every day of our lives. We were sent to herd cows from the potato
patch, and while we were herding cows we were also sewing carpet rags to make a carpet. At this time, we
prepared a lunch for ourselves. Usually it was of home-made bread and home made butter (the best ever made) and
choke-cherry jelly. Good; I can taste it yet. As I think over those days) how I wish I could live them over again.
We were so happy and felt that life was super?nothing better. It seemed we did our tasks with a smile and with
such joy, it was really indescribable. I am wondering if the young people of today would take this willingly and
pleasantly.
Jane and I traded about in cleaning the pantry and kitchen, one scrubbed pantry shelves while the other
cleaned the kitchen floor. The next week we would do just the opposite job we had done the week before. To this
day (1959) Jane says I scrubbed the shelves so well she did not have to do them on her week.
I am going to tell you about Mother and the Indians. There was quite a tribe of Indians quite a distance
south from our farm, really up in the hills. They came to town about once each week to do shopping for food, etc.
in exchange for beads and buckskin. They rode on horses, usually one following the other. They liked our mother
very much and traded their beads to her for butter.
Once Big Chief Charley brought her some cloth and asked her to make him a shirt. She did, and it fit him
perfectly and he was so proud of it. He paid her in beads and buckskin
Mother made Temple robes and Temple aprons and helped wash and "lay out" most of the people who died
in Porterville. At that time we had no undertaker.
Orson Porter was our Sunday School teacher, and at this time we learned the "Articles of Faith" and the
"Ten Commandments" which we have never forgotten. We will always thank him for that.
We young people had rather simple ways of enjoying ourselves. No radio, no television, none of the things
to amuse us as we have today, but we were all happy doing the things we found amusing, dancing, putting on our
dramas in the ward MIA. I was usually given "Leading Lady" in our dramas. It was all fun.
The next morning after a dance, we had to get up as early as usual and get onto regular schedule. Grandpa
always said, "If you must dance, you can pay the fiddler." That meant, "Weary or not, you've had your fun so
come now and get onto the job."
For amusements, Father always said, "Bring your friends here. I would rather have you and your friends all
here than to have you away." So our friends always came. We had a field cleared where we all used to play ball.
Hyrum (Hyrum Kilburn Porter) and I were engaged Sept. 5th, 1898. I remember the night he asked Father
and Mother if he could have my hand in marriage. Father and Mother were sitting on the back porch together. As he
approached he thought, "Now is my chance." To his question, they both gave consent.
One incident that happened during our courtship was, Hyrum was working on the big irrigation ditch that
carried water to all of the farms on the East side of Porterville. Mother kindly invited him to have dinner with us. I
felt worried to have him eat with us that day, as we were having black wild currant loly-poly pudding, a real old-
fashioned pudding, but he liked it, so all was well.
We were not married until Sept. 4, 1901. In the meantime, Hyrum taught school at the Ricks Academy in
Rexburg, Idaho. During the summer of 1900 I picked and bottled raspberries for our supplies preparatory to our
getting married. I picked the berries from Hyrum's patch of raspberries.
At 6 A.M. he drove up to the Rich farm on Sept. 3rd, 1901 in the big white top buggy, and Mother and I
and he boarded the buggy and off we drove to Salt Lake City arriving at the Edward Hunter home about 6 P.M., a
distance of 50 miles. (Edward Hunter of Salt Lake City was the husband of Hyrum's half sister, Addie. Addie
was Aunt Lizzie's [Elizabeth Bailey Porter] daughter.) The following morning we went to the Temple where we
were married for time and for all eternity.
After leaving the Temple, we went shopping for a range. We bought one called the Star Estates range. It
was delivered to our home the following week. Jim Kofford who had been working in Salt Lake City, rode home
with us and as we could not make the journey home without camping out one night, we camped on the ground at
South Weber near the mouth of Weber Canyon. Mother and I slept together and Jim and Hyrum in another bed. It
makes me laugh now, as I doubt if any newly married couple would submit to such a plan today. We took it all in
good part and laughed about it. Mother and Father gave us a nice wedding dinner the following week. We received
lots of nice gifts.
Hyrum had built an extra room on the back of the big brick house, and we lived in the front of the house
and his parents kept the back part of the house.
We felt that we would be happier if we had a house of our own, so we began planning for it, and August
13th, 1902 we moved into our cute little three-room house. We planned to make an addition on as soon as we could
financially, and on August 20th, 1902 Veda was born. We were so happy with her and felt happy with our little
home that it could be ready before she came.
Grandma (Jane Paterson) Brough died in August of 1903. She planned that on the day she died she would
die early enough so they could get everything cleaned up by dark. She did. She died about 3 P.M., and by dark they
had her all washed and laid out as she had desired. She was very methodical and immaculately clean.
We were busy and one day during the year of 1903 Hyrum received a letter from "Box B" requesting that
he prepare to go on a mission to the Eastern States. We made all preparations for the Mission.
January 18th, 1904 Hyrum Preston was born. He was a big red-headed fellow. I remember incidences of
his birth. We had no doctor. Mother and Father had come to spend the day. I was feeling quite sick all day, and at
about 4 P. M. I suddenly felt very sick, and in about an hour of labor he was born. Mother was the attending
physician. Everything was OK and a natural birth was the result.
Now we had two children and a mission to be made ready also. Jane and Will were at our house when
Hyrum left to take the train for his mission. As a matter of fact, Will drove him to meet the train. A group of
Elders from Salt Lake City was on the train bound for New York. Hyrum had a very sore throat and was not well
at all. When he was at the door to leave, Veda, then one-and-a-half years old, went to her father with a package of
catnip she had gathered from the back garden, and giving it to him said, "Here, Daddy, is some catnip I gathered to
make your throat well." She had tied it herself and gave it full of faith that it would heal him. The faith of a little
child! He said he would take it even if he had to leave something else to make room for it. His throat was well in a
few days.
At that time we owed $500.00 on our house. We made a contract with C. G. Porter to rent the farm for the
two years while Hyrum was on his mission. I was very frugal and careful of money received from the farm, and at
the time the mission was ended I had the $500.00 all paid off and the missionary supplied also. I had also made a
suit for each of the children and for myself to greet the missionary upon his arrival home.
During the winter months of his mission he did tracting work and then was called to the office to be
Secretary of the Eastern States Mission. He held this position until the end of his mission. John G. McQuarrie was
President of the Mission. The "Smoot Investigation" was rampant at that time, and polygamy was discussed
extremely. Hyrum took part in court a great many times defending Mormonism.
March 6th, 1906 he returned from the mission. John R. Porter (a half brother) took the two children and
me to meet the train in Morgan where we met the missionary. We were happy to have our family reassembled
again. He seemed strange to us. The change in altitude seemed to affect him as he seemed dazed for several days.
We still lived in the little three-room house, but the mortgage was paid off. It took good planning and
careful spending and I did both. I knew the only way to get that big debt paid off was to apply the money properly
and economize on what was left. I have been forever grateful to get that paid.
We then resumed our duties on the farm. Hyrum planted cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce in abundance,
such straight rows and such wonderfully good vegetables. He was an excellent farmer.
December 4th, 1906 Reed Rich Porter was born. We called him our missionary boy.
Hyrum decided to teach school, so he received a contract to teach in High School in Vernal, Utah. We
moved there in August 1907. William J. Snow was principal and Hyrum and _________ Robinson were teachers.
As I recall, Hyrum taught music and drawing and algebra. I remember some of the students said they wished
Brother Porter had never seen a box, as he had the students draw boxes every conceivable shape and size.
While in Vernal he was sustained as Stake Clerk in the Uintah Stake with William Smart as President.
The children all had whooping cough, measles and chicken pox while we were in Vernal. Veda was very
sick with measles and it seemed that pneumonia had set in. We called the doctor and before the doctor arrived
Hyrum administered to her and blessed her and she was almost made well under his hands, and by the time the
doctor arrived Veda was out of danger. We were so thankful for this wonderful healing by the Priesthood and
thanked our Heavenly Father for it.
I had worked so hard while Hyrum was on his mission that rheumatism attacked me, and I was very lame
for about two years. My whole system was weakened and I took whooping cough when the children had it, even
though I had had it when I was a child.
In May 1908 I and the children moved back to Porterville, and at the close of school Hyrum came. He
began farming again.
In August 1908 I took very sick. We had Dr. Ezra Rich (my cousin) call. He diagnosed my cause as a
tumor. I was taken to Ogden to the Dee Hospital and Dr. Rich operated on me and removed an ovarian tumor. I
was two months pregnant at the time, and after remaining in bed most of the time for the next seven months, Wesley
was born. We named him Ezra Wesley for the doctor who saved his life and mine. He was a big healthy fine baby
and weighed 10 1/2 lbs. He was unable to see, as his eyes were so covered with a white mucous. In about three
weeks the mucous cleared up, and he was a fine healthy boy. I was happy he was a boy, even though I had two
boys and one girl.
In the winter of 1913 Hyrum was lifting a rack and it slipped, throwing him on the frozen ground. The fall
was so severe it ruptured the valves of his heart. He called a doctor, and he advised him to get his deeds and papers
fixed up as he could only live three months. We were, of course, very stunned and shocked at this news. I had a
strong feeling of faith come over me and I said, "You can't die. I need you to help me raise these children." He was
put to bed for about two weeks, and he gradually regained his health again and lived twenty-nine years after. He
witnessed the marriage of all of his children and saw all of his grandchildren except Celia, youngest child of Veda.
All through those years I was especially careful of him, never allowing him to lift heavy furniture or do any
work that would be hard on his heart.
In 1914 Hyrum?s mother (Electa Maria Kilburn Porter) had a severe stroke. She was unconscious for
several days but gradually grew better but was never able to care for herself. We engaged several nurses, but they
would stay only a few months at a time when another would have to be secured. It finally fell to my lot to care for
her. We took her to our little house for one year, then the following year we moved to her house and cared for her
there where we had more room.
Hyrum decided he would like to go to Ogden and get treatments for his heart ailment from a doctor there.
It was necessary that the family go also, so we engaged another nurse for her. She was bedfast for five years after
the stroke. She died a sad death. She had been such a good person all her life and we wondered whey she was
made to suffer so long before passing away. She died 24 April 1917. Mary, her oldest daughter, cared for her last.
She died in Mary's house.
While we lived in Ogden, Veda was in high school, attended the Lewis Junior High and the boys were in the
Elementary grades. Wes contracted so many diseases at that time, as I have mentioned before, the other three
children had had those diseases while we lived in Vernal, Utah and now it was Wes's turn. He had measles and
scarlet fever and was very sick, especially during the scarlet fever siege. His eyes and ears discharged to a terrible
degree. We were afraid at times that he could not live. It was necessary for Hyrum and the three other children to
move to another house, about 244 W. 33rd St., while Wes and I remained at the corner of 33rd and Grand Ave.,
Ogden, Utah (number 304). I baked bread for the family and would take it quickly out of the oven and deposit it on
a bench outside of the back door, and they would get it later. We were so very careful not to contaminate the
family with the disease. When Wes was quite well and very much over the disease we were ordered to fumigate the
house. We were ordered to put all of our clothing and bedding in one room while the doctor put burning
formaldehyde in the one room and the following morning we bathed and left all of our clothing in the other room
while it was given the same treatment. Such care was given to killing the germs. No such treatment is used now, it
is considered unnecessary now.
We made friends at the time that still remain our best friends. Mrs. Helen Jessop and the Alma Flinders
family are two families considered our best friends. Dick Jessop and Alma Flinders have both passed away. Dick
was electrocuted (as he was fixing some wires on his job) and lived then days after he was stricken. Alma lived to
be 80 years old.
While in Ogden I took a course in sewing at Heber College under the direction of Charlotte Stallings (later
Nicholas) and a course in cooking under Lydia Tanner. I enjoyed it immensely and have felt its benefits all the rest
of my life in preparing meals and menus and in sewing.
We moved back to the farm in the spring of 1918. We had enjoyed our life in Ogden, and it was hard to go
back to the farm, but we felt that best in rearing the boys, which proved okay.
Since we were back on the farm the three boys and their father worked hard. They raised peas, cabbage,
cauliflower, lettuce, potatoes and other garden vegetables. When the season for the harvesting of peas was on, it
was a hard battle. We had our hours for delivering peas to the vinery, and the hours assigned would come any hour
of the day or night. The boys were real helpers and would arise any time of the day or night to cut or haul the peas
to the vinery. One large vinery was just across the road from our farm.
Hyrum was kind to the boys, and they cooperated very well. When it came time to harvest the cabbage, the
boys would cut the cabbage and pile it in piles, then drive down the rows and load it on the wagons. Reed was the
fastest cutter of the group. He could cut and load tons of cabbage in a day.
Our little three-room house was not large enough for our family now, so it became necessary to enlarge the
house, which we did. Clarence Porter did most of the work in tearing down the old house and rebuilding the new
one. He made it into a six-room bungalow, a very nice, convenient home with bath and running water, with
basement where we washed and also stored things.
We were so happy in our big comfortable house. The children continued to go to school; by this time a
consolidated school system had been established throughout Morgan County, and the school system supplied a
bus to haul the children to and from school. They all went to Morgan to school. Veda and Preston to high
school and Reed and Wes to the grades.
Hyrum was bishop of Porterville Ward for 8 years and was loved and respected by all the members of the
ward. He was a very successful bishop. Many members of the ward paid tithing who had never paid before in
deep regard for their bishop.
Hyrum and Adria Porter family in 1922:
left to right: Ezra Wesley (Wes), Hyrum Preston (Preston), Hyrum Kilburn (father),
Adria Rich (mother), Veda Jane (Veda), and Reed Rich (Reed).
Thanksgiving Day, 1922 (I think it was), Wes took a severe cold and it settled in his ear and terminated in a
bad mastoid operation. This was caused by a severe scarlet fever of a few years before. He was taken to the Dee
Hospital in Ogden. As he was being wheeled into his room he read above the door, "Number 413," aloud. I said
"413 is your lucky number, Wes." It proved to be his lucky number as he left the hospital in a shorter time yet than
any one with a mastoid operation, which I recall was eight days. Two years after that he had a mastoid behind the
other ear. Notwithstanding all this, he graduated from high school in four years.
While Preston and Reed were in high school, it was necessary for them to be excused from school for one
day which happened to be "M" day. Hyrum had them duly excused by the Principal J. R. Tippetts. The following
day a group of boys grabbed our two boys, Preston and Reed, and shingled their hair close to their heads almost to
the point of shaving their heads. We were so angry at this as their Father had arranged with the principal to have
the boys excused. No one else was treated like this, not even Afton Waldron who had not been excused. To make a
long story short, not much was done about it and the boys had to take the blame. But I have never felt that we were
rightly treated.
At Reed's first day at high school he resolved that he would have four years high school, four years college
and one extra for his master's degree. He carried this out exactly. His major was finance and banking
Veda had one year in college. Then she came back home and taught first grade in Porterville.
Preston went to college one year and boarded at the Baird home. His second year he wanted to be a
carpenter, so he got his father's consent to work with a Mr. McNiel and helped build school houses all over Morgan
County. The next year he wanted to be a farmer so he rented my father's farm. He worked very hard and was a
very successful farmer. The following year he took a collector's job in Idaho collecting for the Maytag Company.
He went back to college for one quarter, and he and Reed and two other boys batched together, but he decided it
was a slow process and was required to take so much unnecessary work that he wouldn't need, so he went again to
his collecting job. When Wes finished high school, we decided to rent the farm and move to Provo to be with the
boys in college.
In order to feed the family and pay the rent, etc., I took from 4 to 6 boys to board and room (in Provo).
The price at that time was $22.50 per month for three hot meals per day and laundry, clean sheets every week,
and laundry for the boys, shirts, sox, underwear, etc. shirts ironed. I was careful and thrifty and saved some
money, even at that low price, so that when we built our brick house at 101 West - 8th North, I had saved
enough money to buy an overstuffed set, congoneum rugs for all the rooms except the front room, also curtains
and paint throughout the house. We bought an electric range and refrigerator but Hyrum helped me pay for
those. I continued to take boarders. It required a great deal of hard work but I did it uncomplainingly.
We bought a potato chip business in 192_ and operated it in our back yard garage. It proved to be our
savior as Hyrum learned by careful study and work to make the best chips in the United States.
Reed graduated in 1928 and went at once to New York. I remember his father signed with him for $50.00
loan at the Farmers and Merchants Bank, which he paid off himself.
Veda went back to college and got her degree in Home Economics in 1929 and taught in the American Fork
High School.
Wes graduated in 1930, and he went to New York also, with Reed. The 1929 depression was on, and it was
hard for the boys to get jobs. There was nothing in Provo as a job.
Preston and JaneE (Jane Elizabeth Jolley) were married April 30th, 1930 in the Salt Lake Temple and went
at once to St. Anthony, Idaho. He was at first a bookkeeper for the St. Anthony Flour Mills, then about one year
later he was promoted to Manager of the mills. He was a fine, honest man and he and JaneE were liked very much
by the Idaho people. In a letter of recommendation from one of his Porterville friends, Thomas Carter, who knew
him well, wrote, "You can trust him with a million." Which you could. Their two fine sons were born in St.
Anthony. J. Stanton was born Feb. 20th, 1933 and Richard Gordon was born Sept. 18th, 1937.
Veda and George H. Mortimer were married in the Salt Lake Temple July 1st, 1931 and went at once to
Washington, D.C. as he had a job as Patent Examiner. George Allan was born in Washington, D.C., April 9th,
1932 and Jean Louise was born in Washington, D.C., 26th Oct. 1935. William John was born in a New York
Hospital, Dec. 30 1939. Celia Ann also born in a New York hospital May 30th, 1943.
Wes and Mary were married 23rd June 1934, and Lee Ashby Porter was born 25th Dec. 1941 in Syracuse,
N . Y.
All very fine grandchildren. We are proud of every one of them.
Reed was married to Sylvia Feldman June 16, 1931. They were divorced 15 June 1941. Rose Purcella and
Reed were married 24 March 1943 in New York City. She died July 31, 1958 of Leukemia. We all loved her very
much.
Our potato chip business was very thriving and in 1939 we built a nice little house at 72 West 9th North
and a shop at 92 West 10th North. Hyrum had a good business and supplied all of Provo which he delivered
himself every day, and the towns as far south as Cedar City.
During the summer of 1940 my father took very sick with urinary poisoning and after several weeks was
taken to the Holy Cross hospital in Salt Lake City where he died 8 December 1940 at the age of 94 years.
On 5 February 1942, Hyrum went to the doctor as he was not feeling very well and his feet were swelling
and he had other symptoms of heart disease, the result of the fall he had taken years before. Dr. Don C. Merrill
advised him to go to bed for a moth and the doctor felt that he might overcome this heart trouble. He went to
bed as directed and never gained his strength again. He gradually grew weaker and his body was fast filling
with water.
In April 1942 our careless cook, a Mr. Tangres, let the gas get too hot at the shop and set the shop on fire.
It burned almost to the ground. We had $100 worth of chips ready for the market that were destroyed either by the
water from the fire department or by the fire. The High Priests of the ward helped me rebuild it and Reed and
Preston came and all in all with the insurance we rebuilt the place and by June 1942 we had the chips on the market
again. The names of some of the cooks Hyrum hired were Joe Teasdale, Rex Thurman, Arthur Harding and
Tangres. We felt that with the help of our dear ward members and our Heavenly Father, we were able to again call
it Porters Potato Chip Co.
Reed enlisted in the Navy in May 1942. He was Second Lieutenant. Was in the Pacific Theater of war,
also in Central America. He was in the Pacific when his boat was dive bombed, and he and his crew were sent
to Virginia for repairs. I and Wes were at his apartment with Reed and Rose when we heard on the radio the
signing of the Armistice. I was so very thankful to be there with my two sons, safe and alive.
Hyrum was able to be dressed and sit in a chair every day. He never did go out and down the front steps
again. The night of July 27, 1942 we had prayers as usual and he offered the prayer, and he walked to the bath
room and combed his hair and brushed his teeth as he did every night of his life. He said, ?If my folks met me
in New York tonight they wouldn?t know me.? He looked very haggard and bad. I helped him get in bed and
he slept well until 4 AM then he raised up on his elbow and asked for a drink. After drinking he lay down
again and quietly went to sleep until 5:50 AM when he began making a noise with his lips. I jumped out of bed
and stood at the foot of the bed. He gave several gasps and was gone. I called Bishop Victor J. Bird and I
called Dr. Don C. Merrill before we called the undertaker.
I sent messages to all of the children. The funeral was held 31 July 1942. All of the children came except
Reed (who was on military assignment). It was a beautiful death and benediction to a wonderful life. He had
been very religious, was very kind to his family all his life.
At this time we owed only $500 on our house at 72 West 9th North. I paid that off at once from the
Beneficial Life Insurance Co. I was so very thankful to be able to pay off that debt and have my home secure.
Veda remained with me for about 2 weeks after the funeral and Mother stayed for several weeks later. We,
Mother and I, made a trip to St. Anthony, Idaho, to visit Preston and family. We both enjoyed the visit.
In October 1942 I went to New York and lived with the Mortimer family until June 1st 1943. Celia was born
while I was there.
I rented the potato chip shop in 1942-43 to Orrin Wilde and sold it to him in 1943. World War 2 was on
and Mr. Wilde could not get enough oil to keep the chip business going so he closed the shop.
Mother had visited each of us girls, and she had a keen desire to go home for a few days. She ate
Thanksgiving dinner with Mrs. Kippen in Porterville. She was seemingly well and walked home, a distance of about
a block and went to bed as usual and never waked again. Edna Porter noticed that her window shades were not
raised that morning, so about 9 A .M. she went to Mother's house and found her still asleep. Edna called each of us
girls. We all arrived there before she died which was at 1 p.m. 21 Nov. 1943. She was buried by the side of our
father. She had such a great desire to live longer. She didn't like the place where she would be buried. She
expressed a wish one time to me that she'd like to be buried in the Provo Cemetery where the grass was green and
every thing seemed quiet and still. It probably doesn't matter too much where our bodies are laid, it's how we have
lived that makes the difference. Nevertheless, I would like to be buried in the Provo Cemetery by the side of my
husband. I have my lot selected and paid for.
In April 1948 I received a call to go on a mission. I accepted the call and was assigned to the California
Mission. However, it was necessary that I have an operation for hemorrhoids before going. The operations was
performed by Dr. Don C. Merrill. I healed slowly and was not able to go on the mission until Sept. 20, 1948; I
enjoyed my stay at the Mission Home.
The following is the blessing given, my "setting apart blessing," by Richard L. Evans: "Our Heavenly
Father, be mindful of her in all things because of great stature in her life. New life and new friends be good, for her
good. Bless her with health and strength. Be wise, Sister Porter, in your activities. Do not over do that every task
may be possible. Heavenly Father, may friends make possibilities for her, that doors may open up for her. May her
desire to go forth be directed by Thee. She may be able to touch many hearts as her life has been touched through
her sweet spirit. Bless all things she leaves behind and give her assurance of well being. Thy protection and peace
of mind go with her." (This blessing came true for me.)
When I received my call, Reed wrote to me saying, "Mother, I want to be a part of that mission. I'd like to
suggest to the family that each one of us contribute some money each month for your benefit." I answered to him to
do as he would like to do. As a result, each one contributed $10 per month during the entire time I was out. Many,
many thanks to them!! I was cared for financially and with the rent from my house I had ample money for my entire
mission. When I arrived home my house was clean and I had some money in the bank.
We left for California on the train at 7 P. M. We had a sleeper and at 4 A.M. we were all awakened that
our train was on fire. We were transferred to another car and stood up the most of the way to California. Upon
arriving in Los Angeles, California, President McConkie met us at the station and took us to the Mission Home.
Sister Anna Johnson and I were assigned to Pres. Smith's bedroom, the bedroom always saved for the President of
the Church when he visited the mission. The following morning I was called to Pres. Oscar McConkie's office.
The first thing he said to me was, "Sister Porter, the Lord sent you here. I have a place for you, now. I want you to
go to Williams, Arizona and Sister Bankhead will be your companion. You had better start tonight. Your bus leaves
at 6 P.M.
I thought that was a big order as I had to get my luggage transferred from the train to the bus and was to
ride all night and travel alone, a distance of about 300 miles.
I had been given the wrong address, as the lady missionaries had moved. I left my luggage on the porch and
walked to the house and found the lady missionaries. I inquired of the lady who met me at the door if Sister
Bankhead was there and she timidly said, "I am Sister Bankhead."
We enjoyed our labors in Williams, Arizona very much. Found some good friends and preached the gospel
to the white people and just a great many Indians (Lamanites). Our first baptism was in Williams, Arizona. One
little lady named Ruth Kennedy and her two children were baptized.
We phoned to Prescott for arrangements for the baptism of three people, a mother and her two children.
Prescott was about 30 miles away from Williams, and the baptism was to take place in Prescott. When we got
there the baptismal font was in the process of being repaired. The plumber was there fixing it, but it was not
finished. He said it would be ready to hold water in about 1/2 hour, but that there would not be any hot water
available that day.
Elder White, the District President, went to a cannery nearby and made arrangements to get some hot water
from them. They lent him a truck and some 10 gallon cans to carry the water in, and they got all they needed to fill
the font. They had to pass the 10 gallon cans through a window to get it into the baptismal font, but they did it. It
was a beautiful meeting, a baptism and testimony meeting. Tears of joy were in the eyes of all of us.
We lived at the house of Sister Hall until November 1st, 1948, when we were transferred to Santa Barbara,
California.
Santa Barbara is a beautiful place, almost like heaven with its flowers in profusion. Martha Washington's
geraniums covered walls and banks. In telling incidents of my mission, I find it will fill pages, and it will be
necessary to tell only the most important ones. November 18, 1948, almost at the close of the day, we called at
1509 Olive St. and found a Mr. George Thomas Pye. He was eager and glad to hear the gospel, and had not heard
it before. After our interview he said, "I think I want to join your church." He accompanied us to Sunday School
the following Sunday and said he was ready for baptism.
November 26, Elders Grigg and Wiser met us and went with us to visit Mr. Pye. After hearing the rules of
the Word of Wisdom he decided he could not keep that so we discontinued our visits with him. He died a few
weeks later. I have his dates, etc. and Elder Grigg promised to attend to his work in the Temple.
Dec. 17, 1948, Sister Bankhead and I left Santa Barbara at 6 A. M. for Los Angeles to attend conference.
It was announced before we arrived there that we two were to be given new companions. Sister Mazie Ludlow was
my companion and Elizabeth Eligen was Sister Bankhead's. I was then senior companion. Dec. 18 the conference
consisted of testimony bearing. Pres. McConkie said, "No one can stir or convince anyone else unless he is stirred
and convinced himself. Bear your testimony. Study the scriptures with great earnestness," etc. etc.
We left Los Angeles at 3:30 P.M. for our apartment in Santa Barbara. Sisters Bankhead and Eligen found
a new apartment and Ludlow and I remained at Miss Wren's house at 1516 Olive St. On Dec. 25th we four lady
missionaries cooked dinner at the Wren house. New Years Day we four walked to town and had dinner and went to
a show in the afternoon.
Pres. McConkie said, "Mormonism is the biggest thing on the earth. It touches the lives of everyone on the
earth. Makes our lives bigger and better and takes care of us for eternity."
March 5th, 1949, we left Santa Barbara at 8 A.M. to attend a report meeting, followed by a wonderful
testimony meeting. As we were departing for our different homes two Elders, Jack ____ and Spencer Ostler were
traveling without purse or scrip. It was nearly dark, and as they left to go out in the dark our hearts were rather sad
to see them go out into the darkness. But the Lord was watching over them. Before going out they had knelt in
prayer and asked God to send someone who wanted the gospel to give them a ride. They had gone only a short
distance when a car suddenly stopped and a man asked them to ride. He was going to Santa Barbara to a place very
close to where they lived. They gave him a Book of Mormon and preached the gospel to him. He was very much
interested and said to them, "You have given me something and I am going to give you something." And he gave
them $5.00. They had not told him they were traveling without purse or scrip. He gave them his address (at home)
and asked them to call on him and teach him more. They did so and found him very interested. He later was
converted and baptized. The Lord moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform. The Lord was surely
watching over the missionaries.
March 16. I was much worried about giving my speech in Hall meeting. Satan tried to make me think I
couldn't give it. As evening drew nearer I had more determination that I could do it if I only bore my testimony.
The spirit of the Lord directed me, and Elder Grigg said I gave a marvelous speech. I thank my Heavenly Father
for His help. I felt it very keenly. Satan did not conquer.
I had always known where the Book of Mormon came from and knew of its authenticity, but one night as I
was reading in 3 Nephi about Jesus visiting the people on this continent and where he miraculously administered the
sacrament to them a strong testimony came over me, and I saw not a book made of paper, but it was shown to me
as a history of a great people and a book "out of the dust" and I have forever since had a strong testimony of its
authenticity.
May 23rd, 1949, Elder Grigg called me aside and said he had talked with Pres. McConkie, that Sister
Bankhead and I were to be laboring together again if I would consent. We would go to Santa Paula. I gave consent
and we left Santa Barbara, May 26th. We went apartment hunting but found nothing suitable, but found one that
would be ready June 6th. We stayed in a dirty hotel until June 6 when we moved to 227 Nth St. in a nice clean
apartment upstairs. We were very happy then.
July 6th, 1949. Three baptisms were recorded for Sister Ludlow and me, they were Hortense Cuellar and
her two children, the boy 15 years old and the girl 11 years. We two were the first to visit them and thereby given
credit for their baptisms. We are so happy about them. The Lord surely blessed them and us. Elder Grigg was
instrumental in teaching them after we were called to Santa Paula.
June 26th, we fasted and went to Sunday School. Bro. and Sister Edmunds invited us to their home for
dinner. They are recent converts. Less than a year ago, he had been searching for the true gospel for years. He
had never heard of Mormonism until a Book of Mormon was given to them by her brother. He sold all he had and
gave it to the poor, carrying out instructions given in the Bible. He read the Book of Mormon through and was
converted it was true. Then he hunted up the Mormon Elders and said to them, "I want to be baptized in your
church whether you want me to or not." He and his wife were baptized four weeks later. They are grand people and
are living almost perfect lives. God bless them!
We labored very prayerfully and earnestly in Santa Paula. We loved everyone and enjoyed every minute of
our time there. We loved each other and we prayed together, sang together, preached the gospel together and the
day before we left the mission field we had three more baptisms to our credit. Not to our credit, the credit of the
Lord, as He converted them, not us.
The last baptism of my mission was a Brother and Sister Speck who lived up a canyon from Santa Paula.
They were an elderly couple. My companion and I were the first to contact them. She was crippled with arthritis
and used a cane all the time. They were very sincere and accepted the teachings humbly, almost angelically. One
day she announced that she would like to be baptized. So we went ahead with the arrangements.
The day before the baptism, Elder Grigg, then the District President, went to their home to interview them.
She was ready. Elder Grigg said, "Mr. Speck, you're not going to let your wife be baptized and you not, are you?"
He answered, "No, I'm not. I want to be baptized, too." So they were both baptized the next day in Ventura. On the
same day, Sister Ellsworth was baptized, too. Brother Ellsworth was already a member, but she said, "It took you
two older ladies to teach me these things. I seem never to have heard them before." It took us older women to get to
her heart. We were the instruments in the hand of the Lord to touch her.
The following is an account of that baptismal service:
Sept. 14th, 1949 at Ventura, California. A beautiful baptismal service was held at the L.D.S. Chapel at
Ventura. District President Richard L. Grigg was in charge. Elder Jones sang, "Oh My Father" without
accompaniment. It pleased Sister Speck very much. Those baptized that day were Mr. J. D. Speck, Mrs. J. D.
Speck and Mrs. Ellsworth. All were very happy and the spirit of the gospel was there. Benediction was offered by
Adria R. Porter.
The last meeting we attended in Santa Paula was Sunday evening. The program was a talk by Sister
Bankhead and myself and a duet by Elders Hansen and Gomez, and a duet by Brother and Sister Gomez, "O My
Father" sung in Spanish and a duet by Brother and Sister Revill. I had prepared a talk on the Book of Mormon but
Sister Bankhead took most of the time, so just before standing on my feet I changed my talk to "A Testimony."
Everyone praised my talk, and I was blessed in giving it as it was mostly extemporaneous.
September 15th, 1949, we left Santa Paula for Los Angeles. We called at the Mission Home. Pres.
McConkie gave us our honorable release and a check for our transportation home. He gave us a grand blessing,
said we had both done a grand job and we "have not a thing to worry about the rest of your lives." He said, "God
acknowledges your work and will bless you for it."
We took the "Pony Express" out of Los Angeles at 7:30 P.M. and had dinner on the train the following
noon. Arrived in Salt Lake City 5:15 P.M. Emeline was at the train to meet me, and Preston and family were in
the station. I made my report Sept. 16 to Apostle Joseph F. Merrill.
After arriving home I had a beautiful feeling of satisfaction as my mission had been a wonderful
experience, and the Lord had blessed me every hour. I give Him the praise!
Jan. 1st, 1953. I have decided to keep a diary hoping to make it day-to-day happenings. I was invited to
have dinner with Sister Mary Mortimer. Dick Young came in his car to get me. Had a nice visit. George and
Grace (Mortimer) came to see me and I had supper with them. Then we played Rook. Sister Durrant came also and
the four of us played.
Jan. 15, 1953. Got a letter from Preston. He has been very sick in bed with colitis trouble and is now
under Dr. Stevenson.
On Feb. 28th, I had three teeth out and got a shot of penicillin.
April 11. The dentist took impression for my teeth. No fun.
April 17, 1953. Had five more teeth extracted. Also had a shot of penicillin, then my new teeth put in.
Had a bad night.
August 21, 1953. Mrs. Jessop came. We had a good visit..
May 1st, 1954. I was mopping my kitchen floor when all of a sudden my whole left side went numb for
about 2-1/2 hours. I called to Ray, a fellow who was living at my house then, and he called Brother and Sister
McAllister next door. Preston and JaneE came down that evening and took me to their house. I stayed there until
May 9th when they brought me home.
June 19th, 1954. I?m leaving tonight with Sister Ludlow for Long Beach, California. We arrived there the
next day at noon. Her folks met us and took us to her home.
June 26th. Charlotte Jacobs and Bro. Norman Farnsworth called at the Ludlow home and took me to Santa
Monica with them. June 30th, went to Catalina Island. We went to the Los Angeles Temple site on the 27th. It is
not finished.
Nov. 20, 1955. I had a slight stroke in my right leg. I called Lloyd Tyson who lived in my house. He
helped me to a chair and applied cold water to my head. I became a little better in about an hour, but was sick all
week. Dr. Merrill and I decided it best to take a series of treatments to thin the blood and cause these strokes to
discontinue.
Nov. 28, 1955. I went to Utah Valley Hospital where they began a treatment of di-cumeral which I took
until Sept. 1958, going to the hospital every 14 days. Dr. Maurice J. Leon discontinued the di-cumeral and I began
improving and to all appearances I am pronounced well.
I came East with George and Veda, Sept. 2nd, 1958 and have been happy and cheerful all of my stay. I am
now at 126 Cooper Ave., Upper Montclair, N.J. where I began writing this autobiography. I thank my Heavenly
Father most heartily and also thank these dear people here?Veda, George, Celia, for their part in helping me to get
well. We are leaving by plane June 4th, 1959 for Utah and hope to arrive safely with God's watch-care over us.
It has been very fine here to see my children and grandchildren and visit with them in their homes.
I like the following poem--
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love,
Where there is injury--Pardon.
Where there is doubt--Faith,
Where there is despair--Hope,
Where there is darkness-Light,
Where there is sadness--Joy,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console.
To be understood, as to understand,
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
I am grateful beyond degree for my blessings; I can not count them, they are too numerous. I appreciate
having lived in this wonderful period of time?from 1881 to 1959, beginning with a log cabin, one room, with dirt
roof and dirt floor, and a candle for light, straw mattress, weaving cloth, weaving carpet, carrying water from the
creek or ditch for all household purposes including washing of clothes which was done on a washboard. And now,
in 1959, we have telephone, television, radio, electricity for light and power, automatic washing machines and dish
washer and all the conveniences one could desire and now they are planning a trip to the moon.
Most of these conveniences have come to us since the gospel has been restored to the earth again. The
Lord has planned things for the coming forth of the gospel.
I have always labored in the Church. I was Secretary in Primary when I was just a young girl. I was
Secretary in the Y.L.M.I.A. and also Ward Bee Keeper in the Porterville Ward. I was Stake Bee Keeper in Morgan
Stake then called to be President of the MIA. We instituted a swimming class for the benefit of the girls where we
all learned to swim.
I have labored for the past 20 years in Relief Society in Provo. When Creative Arts, Alice Louise
Reynolds, Chapter 12 was organized by Maude R. Taylor, I was her First Counselor. I was County Historian for
the D.U.P. of Utah County for four years. Amanda Johnston was my assistant. We filed and compiled 17 volumes
of Pioneer histories, as many volumes as had been compiled during the whole period of time since its organization
in 1911.
One Decoration Day, Hyrum came to me in a dream. He was handsome, like a prince. He told me that he
was teaching school and very busy but very happy, that at noon hour he was practicing on the piano so he would
know how to play.
Before Mother died, she told us girls to be sure the veil did not touch her face in burial. When she did die,
we noticed that the veil did touch her face and it bothered us but there was nothing we could do about it. About the
20th of June, 1960, I went to the Temple in Salt Lake before coming East where I planned a two-month visit. I had
a wonderful experience in the Temple that day. Mother came to me and was with me all through the session. I did
not see her, but I felt her presence. At one certain place I heard Mother's voice, "Tell the girls not to worry about
the veil anymore. It doesn't matter, for it is only of the material world."
A great peace came over me. I went and visited Jane and told her and wrote Mantie, and told Emeline.
After I told them the message I said, "Veda has told many times of spiritual experiences she has had. Now I know
they are really true."
[Biographer?s comment: On 2 July 1960, she flew to Idlewild airport in New York City to visit with Reed,
Veda, and Wes for a couple of months. While there she had a disabling stroke and, while bedridden, got
pneumonia. She died 4 September 1960 in Montclair, New Jersey. Her body was shipped to Provo for the funeral
and she was buried beside her husband in the Provo City cemetery, as she had wished.]
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