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Show Volume XXII Issue IV The Ogden Valley news Page 9 February 1, 2014 History of Walter Lindsay, Jr.: Part II Note: Information for this biography comes from the book “Early History of Liberty and the People.” Walter was a hard worker and was able to develop his land until it became very productive. After those first lean years, they began raising a fine vegetable garden and the orchard began producing apples, plums, pears, currants, and berries. This was quite an achievement because of the short season. They also raised their own meat consisting of beef, pork, and chicken while the cows supplied all their dairy needs. He and his wife struggled to make a good home for their family. They were both agreeable, kind, and loving. So, possessing these fine attributes, they succeeded in developing and maintaining a happy home life. Walter was a progressive farmer, so with Elizabeth’s cooperation, he increased his cattle and horses, bought forty acres of adjoining land, and made plans for an increased operation. As their farm increased, they had a greater need for culinary and especially irrigation water. Walter went three miles to the mountains north of his farm where there was a constant spring and made a small canal to carry this water to his farm. As the settlement grew, the canal was enlarged and water from the North Fork River was used to provide water for the other settlers, with the stipulation that Walter would, in addition to his irrigation rights, have a certain amount of water delivered to his place for culinary use. In the winter the stream would often freeze over and it was necessary to drive their cattle to Spring Creek, a distance of about one mile. They also hauled water for household use. Later, they dug a well which provided the needed water. The family was blessed with eleven children—Mary Alice, Jeanette, Christene, Walter Arthur, James Burt, Ellen Elizabeth, Mirnen, Hulda Matilda, Harriet Anne, William Colin and John Burt (twins). John died when just a few months old. The family was active in church and civic affairs. Walter was a member of the 67th Quorum of Seventies, also a Sunday School superintendent, and ward teacher for many years. He loved the church and on occasion would walk to Salt Lake City to attend General Conference. The parents often expressed their pleasure and happiness that they had been privileged to have their home here among the saints in Zion. How grateful and thankful they were that Walter’s mother had the faith and courage to decline the offer from a relative, which would have provided a life of comparative ease in Scotland as compared to the hardships they had been able somehow to surmount. They had a happy household. There was love and loyalty to each other. Sometimes the father would entertain them by step dancing. Being light on his feet, he could do it well and was often invited to dance at gatherings and parties. He made friends easily and was always ready to give help when it was needed. He was a peace-loving man whether in his home or among his neighbors and friends. His wife was a wonderful mother and their home was noted for its friendliness and hospitality. The mother and daughters were excellent cooks and usually when Stake visitors came to church, they would dine at the Lindsay home. Some of the visitors through the years were: Chris Flygare, Charles F. Middleton, Richard Ballantyne, David Evans, Charles J. Ross, Lewis Shurtliff, George and R. C. Butler, and David McKay, father of our beloved prophet David O. McKay. These were pleasant visits for the family as well as the visitors. After the boys were able to take over the responsibility of the farm, Walter took a job of hauling milk. He gathered the milk from the farms and delivered it to a skimming station located near the Caulder residence. Old residents of the town well remember the familiar sight of seeing Walter shooing old Bemnie and Kidd up and down the roads in all kinds of weather to pick up his load of milk. He had a very evasive manner of avoiding questions he did not care to answer and usually ended his remarks with, “I’ll be daft,” or, “And that’s and that’s and that’s.” Once his team ran away with the milk wagon. The cans were thrown out and many of them became badly bent. When he was chided by some of the neighbors about their damaged cans, he said, “Yours are not half as bad as some down the line.” On one occasion a neighbor, who had not always returned borrowed items, came over and said, “Can I borrow your shovel, Uncle Walter?” (everyone called him Uncle Walter) His answer was, “I’ll be daft if Old Yel had a calf last night and that’s and that’s and that’s.” After he was too old for the job of hauling milk or hard manual labor, being a restless nature and wanting to do something to pass the time and provide a little income, he took a job of carrying the mail form Eden to Liberty. He was the first mail carrier on this route and continued in this work for nineteen years during good weather and bad, three times a week. In the winter he rode in a cutter and looked very much like Santa Claus coming down the road in a black-topped, one-seated buggy. When the route was included with Huntsville, he retired. A little sidelight might be of some interest: While they were digging he deep well previously referred to, a windlass was used to pull the dirt from the well to the surface. A rope was attached to a drum-like affair with a crank that lowered a bucket into the well. When it was filled they would bring it to the surface by turning the crank. The workers would ride in the bucket to get to the bottom of the well. One morning as they were beginning work, the rope broke and the bucket fell to the bottom with one of the workers inside. Everyone at the top was very excited and one of them called down the well and said, “For D---sakes, Jody, if you’re dead, speak.” Fortunately Jody wasn’t seriously injured. Walter remained in the old home with his son James Burt and his wife Christena. He died January 28, 1919. This was during the Spanish influenza epidemic following World War I. A grandson, Walter West, contracted the disease at school. Mother immediately isolated the grandson and warned the family and grandfather of the danger. It wasn’t an easy matter to tell Walter what to do. Like most old people, he was very headstrong and set in his ways. He loved this grandson dearly because he was his namesake, so when he had an opportunity, he went into the bedroom and kissed the child. The next morning, he too became ill and in three days was dead. Because of the dreaded disease, no funeral was held. The coffin was brought to the house and by turning it on its side, they were able to get it through the door. After the corpse was placed inside, a large window had to be removed in order to get it outside. It was taken by sleigh to the Eden Cemetery where graveside services were held. He was buried by the side of his wife, Elizabeth. Everyone showed love and respect for him by calling him Uncle Walter. Note: This is the end of Part II of a two-part series. From The Past . . . Walter Lindsay, Mail Carrier. Photo courtesy of Rod Clarke of Eden. Liberty Pioneer Monument Nearing Completion: Committee gathers names of early settlers The basic structure of the Liberty Pioneer Monument has been completed and is ready for the placement of river rock and the memorial plaques to be added. In October, a crew from the Eric Wadman Construction Company, in cooperation with Wadman Enterprises, formed the monument and poured 15 yards of cement creating a structure 8’ x 13’ at the base, with a height of 7.5’. Volunteers from three LDS wards in Liberty gathered rock from the North Fork River that will be used to create the facade for the monument. Pioneer symbols from the early days of Liberty will be placed on the monument. Included will be the bell that hung in the Liberty School. The bell was donated by Shane and Summer Loewenstein in memory of Shane’s parents, Myron and Vivian Loewenstein, who bought the bell at a fundraising auction for a new church in Liberty in 1952. A committee has identified the early settlers of Liberty, which includes those who established homes before 1900 and lived in the community for at least ten years. A list of early settlers meeting this requirement is included herein. Please contact a member of the Liberty Pioneer monument committee if you have additional names that have been overlooked. You may call 801-745-6808. 1859 Moroni and Leora Campbell 1880 Temple Short 1889 John Trumble 1898 Cyrus and Mary Ann Penrod 1860 John Riddle 1880 James Ferrin 1889 Thomas Rhodes 1899 Thomas and Mary Atkinson 1860 Mr. Murray 1880 Abe Armstrong 1889 Robert Bailey 1890 Nathaniel Montgomery 1860 James Fisher 1884 Henry Theophilus and Mary Ann Chard 1889 Robert Montgomery 1891 Joseph Rhodes 1861 Thomas Bingham 1884 John and Electa Montgomery 1889 B. A. and Rebecca Montgomery 1891 George Rose 1865 James Thomas 1885 Richard and Viola Jones 1890 John and Mary Elizabeth Shaw 1892 John Spackman 1865 Arc Smith 1885 Alfred Berrett 1890 Edward and Emilene Davis 1893 William Ellis 1867 Walter and Elizabeth Lindsay 1886 Joshua Judkins 1893 David and Alice Rice 1895 Larine Heninger 1867 David Garner 1886 John Brown 1894 William Jr. and Rose Bailey 1895 James Chambers 1870 James and Mary Burt 1886 Grover Dunbar 1895 George and Mary S. Shaw 1896 Edward Marshall 1870 James Jr. and Ann Burt 1886 Joseph Gardner 1895 Chauncy and Mary Ellen Gardner 1896 Charles Sears 1870 John Gibson 1886 Elijah and Mary Ann Shaw 1895 Walter and Margaret Whiteley 1896 David Johnson 1875 George Burt 1886 Monroe Wade 1895 Burton Black 1897 Hyrum Gardner 1876 John Marshall Jr. and Christina 1886 James Wade 1895 William Orson and Phoebe Shaw 1897 1876 1886 1895 1898 1876 1886 1895 1898 1880 1888 1895 1900 1880 1888 1897 1880 1889 1898 1889 1898 Thomas Clarke John Short Franklin Wade Hamlet Ellery Berrett William Armschrough Edmond R. and Sarah Jane Shaw Andrew A. and Mary Alice Clark Samuel Higginbotham Harry Pappas Frank Campbell Warren and Mary Campbell Raymond and Geneva Ward James Henry Ward Daniel Campbell Charles Edward and Sally Ann Clark James H. and Kate Ward William and Mary Oram William Holmes Albert and Charlotte Ward Oliver Penrod Oliver and Hannette Penrod The Ogden Valley News is looking for Ogden Valley and Ogden Canyon historical biographies, stories, and photos to use in its publication. 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