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Show Volume XIX Issue XIII The Ogden Valley news Page 9 May 1, 2011 Autobiography of Mary Roseltha Fuller Burnett: Part II My Father (Henry John Fuller) was born December 18, 1857 at Mill Creek, Utah of English descent. He came to Eden with his parents in the 1860’s. He endured all the hardships of pioneer life. He came to Eden with his parents in the 1860’s. He held prominent positions in the Church and in public affairs. He worked in the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association and in the Sunday School. He was Counselor to President David O. McKay’s father who was at that time Bishop of the Eden Ward. He was Bishop of Eden Ward for sixteen years, until his death. He lived a life of a true Latter-day Saint and was respected by all who knew him. My mother (Mary Jane Gould Fuller) was born December 18, 1861 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and just three days after mother arrived in the Valley. (This should be three months. Her parents arrived 13 Sept 1861 with the Homer Duncan Company. See Journal History of the Church.) My mother’s family moved to Eden when she as a child. Her mother died when she was eight years old making it necessary for her to make her way in the world. Her father married again and the stepmother was very cruel to the children. As a child the meals consisted of one large bowl of gruel or mush in the center of the table and one spoon was passed around to each member of the family to dip into the bowl. This made Mother ill because of the unsanitary method. Her stepmother taunted her with the fact that she thought she was better than the others. My mother states that the stepmother threw her little brother down the well and only by his clinging to the rocks and pulling himself to the top was he saved. Mother stayed with Mrs. Eggleston until her marriage to Father January 8, 1880. It was because of my mother’s unfortunate experiences that she was very weak in body, but never-the-less a very humble woman. She always trusted in the Lord and was very active in her Church duties. In my own family of boys and girls we had the normal troubles accounted to any family. We had our good times our sufferings, and our usual mishaps. Omer had his arm nearly cut off by a mowing machine when he was a small boy. A doctor was called in to sew back the arm and it was done without any anesthetic. Omer also got his thumb in the derrick pulley. Adrian had his appendix removed, and each year a minor accident occurred. Because of the large farm, we had hired men which necessitated cooking three meals a day. I did all the baking of bread (8 to 10 loaves a day), pies and cakes. I used a coal stove. I did my own canning and one year, I recall canning 25 bushels of peaches at one time. Electricity was brought into our home in 1924, and in that year, I had my first experience with an electric washer and electric iron. On July 3, 1916, our tenth child, a son, was born. The doctor was drunk when he came to deliver the baby, and I believe, cut the cord too short. The baby became very ill and passed away July 16, 1916. I have always said he was the tithing to the Lord. Previous to his birth, I had a dream that two babies came down the elevator in the Temple; administer to the family and by the power of the Priesthood and our faith and prayers, the family recovered. In 1924, we bought a house in Ogden, Utah. My sons kept the farm. We resided Pictured above is Mary Roseltha Fuller with her husband Matthew Burnett and their children. Back Row: Ivan, Boyd, Harvey, Omer, Adrian, and Merlin. Front Row: VaLois, Vida, Evelyn, Mary Roseltha, Lois, Matthew, Adell, and Mardell. one was dark complexioned and one was blond. The blond baby went back up the elevator, but the baby with the dark hair was happy to stay. It was shortly after this that my sister had a dark complexioned baby, and my tenth child was blond. My sister’s baby lived. In January, 1920, a flu epidemic hit every family in the town. My husband had a herd of cattle in the lower valley and had gone there to take care of the winter feeding. My entire family of six boys and five girls were all down with the flue a whole week. It kept me busy going from one bed to another administering to their needs. Three or four were seriously ill. Merlin, my oldest son, would get out of the sick bed to milk the cows and feed the cattle. At one time, I felt that I might be coming down with the flu, but my prayers, offered to the Lord for strength to aid my family, were answered and I felt the weakness leave me. I called in my uncle, who was then Bishop, to at 2323 Monroe Blvd. and while there, we managed through the depression years in spite of the large family plus boarders. My husband worked hard all his life to till the earth and to provide. My husband passed away September 2, 1944, of leukemia, and my oldest daughter passed away October 13, 1945 of surgical pneumonia. My sons and daughters have held responsible positions in the Church. The boys have gone right up in the Priesthood Quorums from Deacon to High Priests, working as teachers, Sunday School Superintendent, MIA Supt., Bishops, District Presidents, High Counselors and Stake Missionaries. Harvey went to the California Mission, Adrian to the West Central Mission and Ivan went to the Mexican Mission. My daughters have all held responsible positions in the Church and attended their Church duties faithfully. On June 29, 1923, I had surgery to remove a tumor and on January 13, 1954, I had surgery for a perforated ulcer and three-fourths of my stomach was removed. It was only through the prayer of the family and the Priesthood that I quickly recovered so that at the age of this writing I can still be of some use to the world. My hobbies are crocheting and piecing quilts, which I enjoy. On September 1969 I am 88 years old. I have 41 grandchildren and 93 great grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Postscript by Evelyn Burnett Bowers My mother was busy all her life right up to her death on March 27, 1971. She made over 100 quilts, crocheted hundreds of pieces, and embroidered hundreds of things for her children and grandchildren. When she was 80 years old, she had surgery to remove cataracts. From that day until her death at age 91, she was making something for someone. After Mardell’s death in December 1970, her health seemed to decline. Adell stayed with mother after Mardell died. Mother completed a quilt March 26 and said she was tired and would lie down. However, Adell couldn’t arouse her in time for supper. She was in a coma for 36 hours and then awoke and said, “Am I still here? I’m not dead yet?” She closed her eyes and peacefully left this life, knowing she had fulfilled her purpose here. Historical Photo NORDIC FIREWISE cont. from page 1 Residents in the area should turn in a work summary to the Nordic Firewise Committee any time they conduct yard work that mitigates fire danger on their property. Activities include weeding, cutting brush and high grasses, tree trimming, and even replacing roofs with more fire resistant materials. Work summary forms will be available at the seminar or from Firewise street captains. Call Nicole Householder at 7451122 or Carolyn Daniels at 745-6135 if you have questions or would like information on protecting your property and your family from a wildland Nordic Firewise cleanup from 2010. fire. Front Row: ?, Lois Lightfelt, Joan Felt, Norma Allen, Keith McKay, Duane Grow, Wayne Graham, Sherman Johansen, and Billy Harris. Middle Row: Cleo Smith, Mary Faye Morris, Dearrell Renstrom, Evan Ivie, Dale Berlin, Rusty Muir, Gay Felt, and Beverly Winter. Back Row: Jay Stromberg, Weley Wilson, Jerald Engstrom, Keith Barnett, Larry Wood, Elaine Gibson?, Ramona Hansen, Donna McKay, Charlene Montgomery, and Helen McCloy. If you can identify any of the missing names, please call Shanna at 801745-2688 or Jeannie at 801-745-2879. Photo courtesy of Huntsville Historical Department. 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 801-745-2688 or Jeannie at 801-745-2879 if you have material you wish to share. 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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