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Show Volume XXV Issue XXIII The Ogden Valley news Page 9 January 15, 2020 Biography of Harvey Matthew Burnett: Part X Note: This history was taken from “Lest We Forget: History of the Burnett and Fuller Families.” It was most likely compiled in the early 1960’s. The incidents described took place primarily in Eden. I landed in San Diego Friday p.m., February 22, 1924, and caught a street car to the church on 3715 10 St. The Elders lived under the splitlevel building on the side of the canyon. At first I thought the missionaries unfriendly, but soon found it was only their concentration of their busy schedule. We had morning classes and tracting five days a week; Saturday was for washing, ironing, and cleaning the church, mending if necessary, and correspondence. Since the missionaries batched it (were bachelors!), we took turns cooking and the lucky Elder tried to eat or get invitations from the Saints when it was his turn to cook. I have had three farms in my life and fortunate in having them. The first was the old Burnett homestead in Eden. I put in many tireless hours to develop it into a good farm and sold it for a profitable price. My second farm was in Boise, Idaho, the envy of all the people in the Boise Valley. I again put in long hours in working. I managed to survive after paying taxes, interest and making the payments. Then land values rose, and by selling my property, I doubled my money six or seven fold. My last purchase of land was the Morse Creek Ranch. By putting in sprinklers and working it, this property has doubled, also. This kind of ranch is now in big demand. I guess the Lord has watched over me. I was never exceptional or outstanding in anything, but I have stayed in there plugging all the time and it has paid off. Raising good horses has been sort of a hobby with me, and I have been lucky with them. Dad gave me a mare when I was a kid. Her colt was the finest in the land, I thought. I became so attached to her, that when she drowned in a mud hole, I felt my world had come to an end. My next horse was a buckskin that would buck each time I put the spurs to it, which would thrill the girls to no end. To me the bucking was like sitting in a rocking chair, but to the other kids, I was admired for daring to stay on the horse. My next pride and joy horse was a pretty dapple gray that everyone admired. I had many offers to sell her, but they were turned away. When she died, it was like losing one of the family. I owned a brown mare who gave me a couple of colts, which became an outstanding team. They were about the same size and pulled well together. One year I took them to a pulling match in Gooding, Idaho, and the following year when I went back, I was eating lunch and I began talking to a man. He informed me he had taken off work to come to Gooding to see that team from Boise pull again. I informed him it was my team and he questioned me an hour about the team. That’s when one can say with pride, “That’s my team.” After I returned from my mission I began to take over my Dad’s farm for he and the family had moved to Ogden. I met and married Martha Child December 12, 1928 in the Salt Lake Temple. She was the daughter of John and Matilda Carlson Child. She was born 24 June 1906. Before I met her she had had a severe case of diphtheria that left her with a weight problem. One of her nicest features was her beautiful red wavy hair. She knew I didn’t like red hair or overly plump girls, so it rather confused her at the start of our courtship. However, she was determined to win my affection and did many nice things to impress me. The first year of our married life we had a full nine months of hard winter. The pipes froze and broke, the small shed caved in, and I had left the car in the garage to get the wheels bal- point in the beginning of the British invasion. much repair work to do. For many weeks we anced but I ended up buying new tires because The town of Frederica was lain out in 84 lots were snowbound. Because of all the work I had the tires were badly worn for such a long trip. and permanent homes replaced the mud huts. to do. Martha felt she was neglected. Because We left Salt Lake late afternoon July 1, but Nevertheless, the town deteriorated because of not seeing anyone for weeks at a time, she before we got to Denver, Colorado, we ran into the soldier’s payroll was not brought to the solfelt as if she were a pioneer. Her disposition a blizzard and had to stay at a motel because diers. A fire destroyed the town in 1858. is she would try to change anything she didn’t the roads were so slick. The storm had subsided Since Martha’s death, I have done much like, but here was something she couldn’t by morning and snow was still on the road in traveling. Some of the places have been to change. This condition only made her frus- places. We traveled through Kansas, Missouri; Idaho Falls several times, to Lewisville to have trated and she wanted to quit and run home. I Arkansas; Alabama and finally arrived in Thanksgiving dinner with the Lundstroms, had to keep reminding her that I had warned her Brunswick, Georgia. Since the base was filled to Lyle and Linda’s wedding, a trip to Moses of the trouble she would have farming and mar- with service men, the army paid Lyle to find Lake to see Renee (oldest child/daughter), to ried to a farmer, but if she wanted to quit, she living accommodations elsewhere. He was the Petrified Forest by Grand Coulee Dam, could pack her things and leave, but if she did, fortunate to find a place to stay with an LDS and many other places, and I have seen things she wouldn’t be given a second change. She family… the Pittmans. I never thought I would ever see. I know finally decided to stay and adjust to the situAs I was hunting interesting places to see Martha was concerned about Lyle going into ation. Perhaps, many newly-married couples in Florida, I met a Mr. Gould in the American the service, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she have the same adjustment to make in their first Legion Hall, who was the guide to acquaint didn’t rejoice when Lyle had the ear trouble and year of married life, but in our situation, it was visitors to the sights of interest. He was also couldn’t get his wings, because of the danger climaxed by the fact we could not communicate President of the Chamber of Commerce. In involved in flying. But, however, Lyle going in with other people or socialize, and Martha was our conversation I told him my grandfather’s the service gave me an opportunity to do some not used to that. name was Robert Gould. He then told me his traveling and to see parts of the United States. After we moved to Boise and the children grandfather had two brothers, one whose name When I took Lyle and Linda to California, were older, DeMar (third child/oldest son) and was Robert, and who travelled west, but they before settling in Arizona, to complete Lyle’s some boys wanted to go rabbit hunting. He was lost contact with him. He also told me his Air Force training, we took a trip to the supposed to have met a history teacher to plan great-grandfather had a big plantation on St. Ashbury District in the San Francisco area. something special, but his hunting kept him Simons Island, but during the Sherman March, This was an eye-opener to me. After seeing the away. The man had dinner with us and then the plantation was destroyed. St. Simons Island way the “Hippies” work and live like animals, had to leave because DeMar did not get home was the first under the control of the Spaniards, I now can appreciate my own children. I am in time. Martha was very upset about DeMar but in 1736 James Oglethorpe persuaded the proud of my children and my grandchildren. not coming home in time; Martha was very English to equip the island with 650 soldiers, They have grown to be strong, wholesome upset about DeMar not coming home. When intending to build a large fort. It was not until citizens. And this I can truly say… and can he did get home, he had left his gun in the 1742 that the troop ambushed the Spaniards proudly say, “These are my children.” jeep. I was milking at the time, and I heard a to control the island. This was known as the Note: Harvey died March 4, 1981 in Boise, shot and then a scream. I ran to her and found Battle of Bloody Marsh, but was the turning Idaho. her holding the end of the shotgun and her arm bleeding badly. Blood and skin were all over her face and body. She had just missed her chest. A tourniquet did seem to help the bleeding, and we did manage to get her to the hospital in time to save her life. She had tried to pull the gun out of the jeep and it got caught and discharged, hitting her arm. The arm was shattered so much it had to be amputated. The doctor could not talk her into getting an artificial arm, so she continued through life with only one arm. However, she learned to do everything with her left hand—write, make bread, comb her hair, and all her work. She became interested in many activities, such as working of committees in the political fields and in genealogy. She was Secretary to the Genealogy Class in the 8th Ward for many years. The latter part of 1967 she became very ill with pulmonary edema and was hospitalized for many months. She was placed in a rest home for several months, but her condition worsened, and she was returned to the hospital. Medication did not seem to relieve her condition and she died of heart failure June 19, 1968. We had been married 40 years and 6 months. Huntsville School - Third and Fourth Grades Circa 1925/26 After the funeral, Lyle First Row: Victor Newey, Lloyd Thurston, Norman Austad, Earl Melle, Eugene Peterson, Lavoir Allen, Keith (fourth & last child) invited me Jensen, Lyle Smith, Lila Burrows, Thelma Rollo, Ethel Peterson, Clee Berlin, and George Carter. to go back to Georgia with him. Second Row: Mark Allen, Donna Wood, Merle Gessford, Illene Smith, Orville Neilson, Zina Shupe, Mazie He was serving in the army Newey, Beth Peterson, Valesa Burrows, Robert Wangsgard, Scott Wangsgard, and Orba Jorgenson, teacher. there, and had to report back to Third Row: Aaron Burrow, Wanda Jensen, Mildred Jensen, Bessie Spanios, Verna Bailey, Fern Evans, the base July 3. We stopped in Eunice Mathewson, Dean Peterson, and Iona Brunker. Photo courtesy of Robert Wangsgard (deceased). Salt Lake to see Linda, Lyle’s girlfriend, and had dinner. We From The Past . . . 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 are willing to share. 2668 Grant Avenue, Suite #104A, Ogden, UT 801-612-9299 Tuesday Night 5:00 p.m. Saturday Night 5:30 p.m. Sunday Morning 9:00 a.m. Fr. Mike Sciumbato 801-399-5627 StFlorenceHuntsville.org Tuesday 30 minutes before and after Mass. Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary, Middle School, and High School Providing a challenging, college-focused education in the proven tradition of Catholic schools, for the families of Ogden Valley. We want to teach your children! For information on our program, financial assistance, tours, or application, please call 801-393-6051 or 801-394-1515. |