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Show Page 2 Times Newspaper Wednesday. January 12, 2000 1 Editorial 0 n (CdPmoooooDQaiDY fpDDBDdDDB gosusnma The Utah Stat Legislative session begins Jan. 17. As senators and representatives representa-tives from Orem, Lindon and Vineyard get ready to head to Salt Lake and Capital Hill, make sure you are informed and let those who represent you know how you feel about the issues being addressed at the first session of the new century. The ever-growing population in Utah County means that our representatives cover large and diverse areas. That puts the onus on us to know who the senator and representative are for our district and to let them know how we feel on the issues they will be discussing and acting act-ing upon next week. One of the hottest topics up for discussion is education and education funding. Utah spends the highest percentage per-centage of each tax dollar for education edu-cation of any state in the union. However, because of the number of children we have in the state, we are among the lowest in amount of money spent per student stu-dent Teacher salaries in Utah are also among the lowest in the nation. Since Utah is the ninth highest high-est taxed state in the nation, increasing in-creasing taxes is not a popular idea as a way to add to education educa-tion funding. However, increases andor new taxes will be proposed pro-posed at this session. According to senator John Valentine, some of the tax bills being proposed involve a soda pop tax and increases in income, property and sales tax. Governor Leavitt has proposed pro-posed deferring payment on bonds for two years, thus freeing up that money to be used for education. edu-cation. While there are flaws in that initial proposal, there are other, similar proposals that could work. We as citizens should study these proposals and let our representatives rep-resentatives know how we feel and what ideas we may have in dealing with this important issue. is-sue. Also of concern to many following fol-lowing the rash of gun-related, mass violence last year, is the gun control issue. A myriad of proposals regarding regard-ing guns will great the legislative body as it meets next week. Again, let your voice be heard on this issue. is-sue. ' " ' ; Remember, if you feel strongly one way or another about this, your representative probably does too. If he or she doesnt hear from you, the constituent, the vote from your district will likely reflect your representatives opinion and not necessarily yours. As always, each area of the state will be fighting for transportation transpor-tation funds. Two major freyway off-ramp projects in the works for Utah County (Pleasant Grove Lindon and 13 SouthUniversity Parkway), plus a possible freeway free-way widening between Orem and Provo and ether vital projects are on the agenda of our representatives. representa-tives. Again, let them know your feelings and lend your support as they fight to make sure some of that transportation money comes to our county. In short, never lose sight of the privilege you have of living in a society where you have such a large voice in government from a city, to state, to national level. Margarets Dayton (Vineyard, southeast Orera and northeast Provo), Katherine Bryson (South central Orem), Tammy J. Rowan ' (north Orem), and Marlon 0 Snow (parts of north Orem, Lindon and Pleasant Grove) are the House members for our area. John Valentine north Orem, Lindon, Pleasant Crove, American Ameri-can Fork and Lehi) and Parley Hellewell (south Orem and Provo) are our senators.. During the session, the senators sena-tors and representatives can be reached by phone at (801) 638-1035, 638-1035, fax (801) 538-1414 (Republican) (Repub-lican) or (801) 538-1449 (democrat) (demo-crat) or by email through' the leg- " islature web page at yyw.le.state.ut.U3. Each member of the legislature receives his or her private email through this page or by using the first initial and last name of the legislator in a direct email (ffid3.ytoBIe,stafaut,vs) The Orem Heritage Museum, in cooperation with the Times, invites descendants of early Orem homesteaders to submit a biographical sketch and photo of their ancestor and spouse for publication in the newspaper and preservation in the Orem Heritage Museum. Ancestors need to have lived on their land, farmed, and raised their family from 1870-1900, either ei-ther on top of the Provo Bench, on the lower (kneva Road, or on Carterville Road. For further in formation, call llollis Scott, 374 60K). or Lon Bowen 226 0555. 1 S ' 1 i&a li.- i Samuel Nephi Skinner and Sarah Jane Sixsmith Samuel Nephi Skinner was born December 29, 1847, a son of Horace Billings and Eleanor Seace Skinner (see Dec. 15, 1999 issue of the Times). He was born at Glenwood Mills, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. He was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1855. When Samuel was five years old, he came to Utah with his parents and eight brothers and sisters - Sarah, Elizabeth, Clarissa, Hiram, Amos, Angeline, Joseph Horace, and Ester Jane. They crossed the plains in Captain Walker's Company, having two yoke of oxen and three yoke of cows. When they reached Wyoming, his mother gave birth to another son, Alonzo, but this did not delay their journey, and they arrived in Salt Lake City October 4, 1852. Ten days later, they moved to Provo, where Samuel's father set up a cooper shop. The elder Skinner worked at that trade until his death. Samuel learned the cooper's trade from his father. They made barrels and wooden wash tubs. It was while hunting in the marshes for reeds for the hoops of the barrels that Samuel's father came down with the illness that caused his death. Samuel Nephi Skinner was a private in Captain Martin W. Mills' company. com-pany. He was also in Harvey H. ClufTs militia, and served as a home guard in Provo from 1865 to 1866, during the Black Hawk War. In October of 1874, Samuel was called on a mission to help b'iild the St. George Temple. He worked on timber, cutting down trees and cutting cut-ting them into lengths so they could be hauled into St. George. While there, he had his back hurt by a tree falling on him and he related the following account. While Samuel lay pinned under the tree, he realized there was no other person anywhere near who could help him, so he exercised his faith and offered up a prayer. In his prayer, he told the Ixrd that if it was His will that the work on the temple continue and that he keep working on it and complete his mission, then it would be up to Him to remove the tree. No sooner had he finished his prayer than he saw and felt the tree being lifted from him by an unseen power, and he was able to get from under it. He was released from his mission in March of 1875 and returned to Provo. Samuel cut wood for the woolen mills in Provo, and it was there that he met Sarah Jane Sixsmith. She was a daughter of William and Jane Grundy Sixsmith. Her birthdate was October 29, 1854, at Lance, near Wigan, Lancashire, England. She was converted to the LDS Church by Elder John W. Nefl", a missionary, and was baptized April 17. 1872. Sarah left her parents' home in England and emigrated to America on the first voyage of the ship Nevada, arriving in Salt Lake City on June 27, 1873. She went to American Fork the next day, and lived there until December of 1873. She went to Alpine, where she lived until August or 1874, then to Provo where she worked in the woolen mills as a weaver. She worked in the mills until she married Samuel Nephi Skinner in April of 1875. The couples life together was typical of that of local settlers hard long hours and small income. In 1875, the Skinners moved to the Provo Bench (now known as Orem) and filed on and homesteaded 160 acres of land on the southeast quarter of Section 22. Samuel then cleared a small piece of land of sagebrush, and he and his brother, Amos, made adobes and built a one-room house with a dirt roof. On February 7, 1878, he moved his wife and one child into their home. Little by little, Samuel cleared more land and raised a crop of grain and hay. He helped build the Provo Bench Irrigation Canal and took water stock for his pay. He cut his grain and hay with a scythe. He thrashed, cradled, and bound it by hand, and cleaned it by holding it up high and letting the wind blow the chaff out. Then he hauled the grain to a grist mill to be made into flour. He hauled water for house use by ox team from a spring at the foot of a big dugway until a well was dug bamuel grubbed sagebrush for his neighbors, or anyone who needed help, for $1.25 an acre. He worked on the big bench canal with the other . settlers to help get water to irrigate their land. Over a period of time, more rooms were added to the house as eight more children were born to Samuel and Sarah. Food and clothing were not plentiful and clothes were literally worn until there was nothing left. New clothes were seldom seen. Meals did not consist of elaborate foods many were simply bread sprinkled with sugar, with a little hot water poured over. Fuel was chopped wood. Sarah's pleasures were her flowers; her windows would be full of potted pot-ted plants mostly geraniums. On the outside were beautiful roses. Samuel Nephi Skinner died January 18, 1929. Sarah Jane Sixsmith Skinner died July 4, 1931. They are both buried in the Provo Cemetery. They were the parents of nine children: Samuel Henry, Eleanor Jane, George Albert, Alfred, John Horace, Francis Marion, Irvin, Elsie Elizabeth, Eliza-beth, and Lauretta. limpanogos Green - 7- CtjU. 6. Hied fc. The 2Q QMM MAYORS I mm and ADMIRED From L.J. SNOW to JERRY WASHBURN Bu CLVDC t. UIKKS, jrT Orem-Geneva Times from Snow to Washburn, leaders of the Town, Elected Under Timpanogos Green, Have served with honor, even with renown, And ably blessed the blooming Orem scene. As Town Board President and also, Mayor, They knew the key to city growth was water-That water-That critical municipal affair Enabled every Orem son and daughter. The people knew that water came from snow. And Lawrence Snow, a well-known resident. Was chosen, first, to sacrifice and show His worth as Orem's Town Board President. J. W. Gillman followed Snow to head the Board, And carry on the civic call to lead. He figured what the people could afford, And worked to meet their ever-growing need. For Ivan J. Burr, Depression times were tough, As money woes in Orem quickly grew. It sometimes seemed there never was enough To go around from water revenue. Emery McKellip came to take his turn, As maintenance was needed for the streets. The all-new Town Board had a lot to learn, And sought to get a building for their meets. Mayor B. M. Jolley bought the Orem City Hail, Right in the center, facing U. S. 91. Their City celebrations in the Fall Were meant for folks to play and have some fun. In '4 1 Orem Town became a City. Mayor Jolley served through tragic World War II. Then. J. W. Gillman, a Mayor, bright and witty, Was elected thrice to his post-war rendezvous. ! i i The death of Gillman brought a drastic change; For Mayor Ray E. Loveless did propose, The City Council, maybe, might arrange To hire a city manager they chose. It fell to Mayor LeGrknd Jarman 's term To pick the city manager to serve, As O. V. Farnsworth's hiring would affirm. (It was a post the Council would preserve!) The six-months term that Luzell Robbins filled Saw openings of needed city streets; And building of a storage tank that chilled The waters which an aquifer accretes. V. Emil Hansen was a Mayor, indeed, Who knew the City's water wishes, well. And Melbourne Wallace saw the pressing need For "Grade A" milk which dairymen could sell. With Milton Jameson the City thrived, And earned a reputation, far and wide. Then, James E. Mangum, gratefully, survived A heart attack, and defdy stepped aside. But life went on, and Orem City grew; And City Hall was bursting at its seams, While Winston M. Crawford realized a coup, As Orem gained its City Center dreams! And then, Mayor Mangum.'vigorous and fit, Returned for eight more years to serve again, .., To guide the city's almost infinite ' , Arrays of ways to ease the taxing pain... DeLance Squire courted Industry a lot. And saw the City prosper in the land; While S. Blaine Willes made a Camelot Where businesses were bolstered to expand. When he resigned, Joyce Johnson took the reign, And she became the City's modest Mayor, Till Stella Welsh succeeded that domain, And showed her joy of service everywhere! And then, the Orem flag was flown aloft, As Joseph Nelson 's trusty hat was doffed. "It's time!'' he said. The citizens agreed That he should be the Mayor, and take the lead. But, tragically, the curse of cancer cells Turned Nelson's sojourn into fond farewells. i It fell to Chris Yandow to play the part Of Mayor, serving with a willing heart. Then, Jerry Washburn won the Mayor's post: Of all the ballots casf, he had the most. Now, he has donned the mantle he shall wear As Orem City's most Millennial Mayor! . Salute the ones who served. We owe them plenty: Each Mayor of Orem, counting, One through Twenty! For extra copies of the Millennia! Issue stop by the Orem-Geneva Times office at 538 South State in Orem. 225-1340 EZZZ3 (USPS 411-700) Published Weekly by Utah Valley Publishing Company 801-225-1340 Fax 801-225-1341 538 South State Street, Orem, UT 84058 Its to-fissn fen, 533 Sati Sttts Sirest irss. EI sskl Subscription in advance per year $16.00 Out of State Subscription ppf year $35.00 rer Uopy $.50 1 OOR |