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Show First Orchid Marks 85th Birthday Mrs. Julia E. Robison wears her first orchid, a gift from her family on her 85th birthday February 22, 1949. Mrs. Julia E. Robison, one of the earliest settlers of the Delta country, coun-try, is truly one of Utah's pioneers. Her entire life, which now numbers 85 years, has been lived in pioneering. pion-eering. She was born Feb. 22,1864 in Washington county, a daughter of Allen and Phoebe Anna Roberts Taylor. Her mother crossed the plains by ox team in 1850, at the age of 7 years. Her father was captain of the second largest company com-pany of pioneers that came over. His loyalty was commened by Brig-ham Brig-ham Young, who entrusted him with the tithing money of the second se-cond company. He carried it across the plains strapped to his back. He was bishop of Kaysville for 17 years, and then was called to Wash ington county to pioneer, in 1862. As a girl of 8 Mrs. Robison remembers re-members the visit of Brigham Young at their home, an event that stands out vividly in her mem ories. Her memory has always been particularly keen, and she recalls many things of interest in her life, both joyful and sorrowful. Her life story, written for the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, tells them in detail. She had no formal schooling, but was taught by her parents. When she was 9 years old, a woman wo-man teacher was appointed, and the little Julia cried because she couldn't attend. But by that time she had started working in the cotton cot-ton factory, where she earned $3 a week, for sweeping and learning to spool. At 12 years, she was advanced ad-vanced to the spinning wheel and earned $6 a week. When she was 15 years old she wove cloth, and was paid $8 a week. And her days were happy ones, both at work, and hours after work, and holidays. She married William N. Searle Sept. 15,1880 in the St. George Temple and the young couple pioneered pion-eered a home in Wayne county, then called Rabbit valley, after a short period in Clover Valley, Ne vada. Their children were Del Searle, Allen Searle, Virgie Brod-erick Brod-erick and Sarah Jane Shiner. The ' father died when the children were all small, the baby two months old and the wife was left to care for them. April 14,1892 she was married to John Hector Peterson, in the Manti Temple. Soon after their marriage he was called on a mission to Sweden for three years, , and his wife cared for her children and two of his by a former marriage. One of them was Emery E. Peterson, Peter-son, also an early' Deltan. After his return their children, John Lyman, Julia May and Lavell were born. Lavell died at the age of 20 months. It was in 1906 that the family moved to Delta, then called Aiken, from the railroad switch. They homesteaded 160 acres of land, pitched their tents, and once more began to pioneer. When the dams were being built, Mrs. Peterson cooked for the crew of workmen, cooking and serving meals in a large tent. In 1908 another son was born, Lloyd, the first baby boy born in Delta. The years went by, and pioneering pioneer-ing was ending, the country was settled and flourishing. The family home was on their farm on the South Tract, until Mr. Peterson died in 1930. Several years ago she married mar-ried Quint Robison, and they make their home in Delta. In addition ot her service as a wife and mother, Mrs. Robison was always active in church work, especially es-pecially the Relief Society, as officer offi-cer and teacher. Seven children of her family of ten are living: Del Searle, Virgie Broderick, John L., Lloyd, and Mae Fullmer of Delta; Allen Searle, California, and Stella Peterson, Provo. She has 46 grandchildren, grand-children, 60 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Forty members of the family were home for her birthday party last week. |