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Show Volume XIX Issue II The Ogden Valley news Page 9 April 15, 2011 Autobiography of Mary Roseltha Fuller Burnett I, Mary Roseltha Fuller Burnett, was born December 20, 1880 in the town of Eden, Utah, the first child of Henry Jon and Mary Jane Gould Fuller. I was blessed in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and christened (named) February 3, 1881. My first recollection of my life is at the age of five. I can remember helping my grandmother, Adeleide Jelly Fuller carry large buckets of food to the pigs and also playing with Aunt Edith who was then a child. I remember my grandmother’s funeral. In those days the caskets were taken to the graves in wagons. The horse became frightened and jumped a ditch, throwing grandmother’s casket out of the wagon. Naturally, I was anxious to see the results but my mother’s warning kept me beside her. I attended school in a one-room school house which was also used as a church, for social gatherings, and for civic affairs. A large round stove in which wood was burned stood in the center of the room to provide heat. My first teacher was Naomi Fifield, but previous to my schooling, Mother taught me my alphabet from the Bible. The first day of school Mother brought me a second grade reader from the General Store because of my previous interest in reading and because I had some knowledge of word recognition. I graduate from the eighth grade when I was thirteen years old. I attended the Weber Academy for three months, but didn’t continue my schooling because of my eyes and an extreme homesickness. At the time I attended the Academy, I lived in Ogden, Utah with my mother’s friend, Mrs. Lawson. I was baptized September 5, 1888 (Eden Ward Records said 1889) in Eden, Utah by my Father. At that time Fast Meeting was held on Thursday morning. I was confirmed the same day by James Burt, Sr. I seemed to be a very healthy child and was large for my age. I was one of the awkward ones, not very popular. I had mumps, chicken pox, and a cold occasionally, but no serious childhood illness. When I was about ten or eleven years old, my father bought an organ and I was given lessons by Mary (Mamie) Littlefield, a young lady from Ogden who was living with my Father’s sister, Edith. I enjoyed playing the organ and was eager to learn to play. At the age of twelve I was sustained as Primary Organist. Our first Sunday School Superintendent, James A. Thompson, held what he called a Jubilee every three months, which consisted of singing, recitations, and talks by the young members. He always gave me something to recite, for as he said, I could learn quickly and remember very well. I recall when I about ten years old, the Government Agents coming to the house to heck on polygamy. They were inquiring about my Aunt Lizzie (Elizabeth McBride and second wife of Heber McBride and Mother’s oldest and only sister). Aunt Lizzie’s daughter Nora was living with us at the time while Aunt Lizzie was away trying to support herself and daughter. This visit was very upsetting for us because we had understood that the Agents were cruel men who would do much harm. It was a relief to know they were only checking to see that people were living the Manifesto which was declared in 1890. Each year the Indians with their provisions strapped to their horses would travel through Eden to new living quarters. Myself and brother and sister would pretend to be brave and watch the Indian procession pass by. However, as the redskins would get within sight, we would run into the house and hide. If any Indians came to our house to ask for food we would cling to our mother for protection. During the time I lived in Eden the Indians were friendly to the people with no outbreaks of hostility. In my early days we had no electricity and used kerosene lamps for lighting purposes. I was my job to wash the lamp chimneys every morning, as they always got some smoke on them. We drew the water for household purposes out of a well with a bucket hung on a rope or chain attached to a windlass, which was operated by hand. We also had a homemade washer which was operated by hand. After several years of use the washer wore out forcing us to wash on a scrub board. Our flat irons were heated on top of the stove. My father hauled wood or logs from the mountains in the winter and sawed and chopped the logs to use in our iron stoves. We had no bathrooms and our bathing was done every Saturday night in an old washtub. The young people in the town had surprise parties and weekly dances as entertainment. The Mutual put on plays. I never had a chance to participate in them, but my father was in almost every one of them. At the age of twelve I took my first long trip, my first train ride and experienced something few people had the privilege to enjoy. I attended the Salt Lake Temple Dedication. I went with Aunt Lizzie and her daughter, Nora. We travelled to Ogden, a distance of 12 miles, by wagon then boarded a train to Salt Lake. We attended the afternoon dedication in April 1893, and heard Brother Wilford Woodruff, the President of our Church, give the dedication. This was an all-day trip and an enjoyable one. Although it took us a day to make the trip by wagon and train, one woman in Eden, Mrs. Johnson by name, and a convert to the Church, would carry her baby and walk to Salt Lake to every Conference, a distance of over fifty miles; truly a faithful, sincere woman. There are many experiences of my childhood which I can recall, but they seem unimportant to place on paper. I led a normal life with a spiritual family, Father being Bishop. My mother had eleven children, eight girls and three boys. Willie, the oldest boy, died at the age of seventeen, October 23, 1900, and the ninth child was born a few hours later (Arvilla). The young people of the town had dances and parties to which I was invited. James Burnett asked me to one of these affairs and then was called out of town. James sent his brother Matthew to escort me to this particular party. This led to courtship of one and a half years and marriage on January 26, 1899, in the Salt Lake Temple. My Aunt Lizzie made my dress. It took three weeks to make it, but it was beautiful and was used as a costume for many, many years. Our first home was the old Burnett house which was later destroyed by fire. Three years after our marriage we built our home in Eden. It was a two-story brick house, large rooms, high ceilings, and six rooms. We lived there for many years and it was a home that held many pleasures for my family. (This home is located off of today’s Wolf Creek Drive, just below Wolf Creek Resort). In the year of January 1911, my father contracted typhoid-pneumonia and died January 13, 1911. My mother had been very ill for several months, but she seemed to receive strength and took care of Father. My mother contracted pneumonia and ided January 20, 1911, one week after Father. Historical Photo Caption for recap of March 1, 2011 Red Cross historical picture. Can anyone identify those pictured above? Please call Shanna at 801-745-2688 or Jeannie at 801-745-2879 if you can help. Photo courtesy of the Huntsville History Dept. Alan Cox Construction Inc. Names identified for the historical photo for the March 1 edition of The Ogden Valley news included Clair/Dale Berlin, the first student to the left on the front row. Sitting next to Dale is Jane Hislop, ?McKay, Sharon Fuller?, Fred ? Back row: Wayne Graham, Fuller? Fackerell?, third in back row Richard Shaw, ?, teacher, Mary Ellen Nell McKay. Our thanks to Joyce Montgomery, Joanne Francom, Laurel Lamborn, and Donald Whiteley for the names. If you can help with identifying more of these students, please call 801-745-2688 or 801-745-2879. The Ogden Valley News is looking for Ogden Valley and Ogden Canyon historical biographies, stories, and photos to use in its publication. Please mail, email, or call Shanna at 745-2688 or Jeannie at 745-2879 if you have material you wish to share. Alan Cox, General Contractor Licensed & Insured Specializing In: Custom Homes ~ Victorian Homes Framing ~ Finish Carpentry ~ Remodeling Finish Basements ~ Handyman Services FREE ESTIMATES 801-745-2044 or 801-791-1681 Jeffrey D. Shepherd DMD, MSD Specialist in Orthodontics shepherdorthodontics Fast Treatment Times • Children and Adults • Flexible Payment Options Call to schedule your complimentary exam today! 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