CHARLOTTE ELIZA BLAISDELL (Patience C. Dewers3, David Dewers2, David Dewers1) was born 17 February 1842 in Jessup Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania to Patience C. Dewers and John Blasdell. She died on 2 March 1872 in West Union, Todd County, Minnesota at the young age of 30 years the same day her youngest son, Edward was born. Her eldest daughter Alice, who was 11½ years old, became the mother to the younger children.
Charlotte was married on 15 January 1860 in Jessup Township, Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania to FRANCIS LITTLE MOORE who was born 1 January 1836 in Ossian, Allegany County, New York to James Moore and Nancy Little. Francis was a farmer. He married second 28 May 1884 in Minnesota, Emma or Martha J. “Mattie” Ackley; they were later divorced with the papers filed in July 1890. Francis died 2 February 1929 in West Union, Todd County, Minnesota.
Charlotte and Francis had the following children:
i. Alice Estella Moore was born on 30 October 1860 in Jessup Twp., Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Alice was diabetic and blind in her last few years of life. She died on 22 October 1932 in Pleasant View, Weber County, Utah and was buried in the Willard Cemetery, Willard, Box Elder Co., Utah. Alice married William Alonzo Chamberlain son of Lawrence Alonzo Chamberlain and Eliza Jane Angeline Dearborn on 28 December 1882 in Long Prairie, Todd Co., Minnesota.
William Alonzo Chamberlain was born on 12 May 1852 in Great Bend, Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania and died on 18 December 1907 in Pleasant View, Utah. He was buried on Friday, 20 December 1907 in the Willard Cemetery. His daughter Lottie described the cause of his death:
“One day my sister Ethel and I went to Lagoon, a resort in Farmington, Utah. Soon after we came down with typhoid fever. We think it was the water we drank while at Lagoon. Ethel lost all her hair as a result of the fever. I was a very sick girl. I seemed to be getting over it when I had a relapse. For several days I didn’t know anything that went on. My children, Curtis and Mae both took it but seemed to get over it without too much trouble. We were at mother’s so she could take care of us. My brother, Walter, had it too. He was such a lively boy, unless someone was watching all the time, he would get out of bed. He had four relapses. He was lucky to make it. Father slept with him at night to see that all was well with him. He [father] took the typhoid and tried to keep going until his strength was gone. Father always said if he got it he would never live. How right he was. His kidneys were bad and when he took the fever it was more than his body could bear.”
William and Alice made their living by farming, but also took in boarders, mostly miners who worked for a man called Don Maguire. Maguire had mines in the mountains above Willard and Pleasant View, Utah. After William died, Alice kept the farm going herself with her children. Her daughter Lottie recalled that they harvested dewberries, raspberries, strawberries, asparagus, and beans. William Alonzo and Alice met the Mormon missionaries in Minnesota and joined the Mormon Church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). After joining, they decided to move to Utah in 1885 where there were more members of their new faith. There, William built a small frame and log home in Willard, Box Elder Co., Utah close to the foot of the mountains. They remained in Willard until 1901 when they sold their farm and moved to Pleasant View, Weber Co., Utah. After moving to Utah, William wrote to his family about their trip. However, even after moving to Utah, they frequently corresponded with their family back in Minnesota, sometimes trying to clear up misconceptions about their new religion. Alice’s sister Melissa (Moore) Tilton wrote back to her frequently. Here is an example of one of Melissa’s letters:
West Union
April 10, 1885
Dear Sister,
this morning finds me trying to answer your welcom letter which I received last night i was glad to hear that you liked and was gatting along so nice we are all well and hope this may find you the same I was sorry to hear that you hurt your self so bad we hird so many storryes about it that we was all glad to hear the truth we are haveing a verry backward spring hear their havent bin anny seeding don yet around here it is rainind to day just enough to make it nasty george has gon up country I dont no his adress pa has heard from him once when he wrote he was a seeding with his team gitting a dollar an acer all the boys have gon up conutry but not whare george is george traided horses with mr beal over to west port got that grays team that he drove. I havent seen janey since you went away they say the baby is awful cross san was over thear yesterday she said she answerd your letter Elen Comstoe has got a nother boy that dont suit verry well Miranda had another little girl and it died they have awful luck the babby lived 2 weeks miranda was quite dangerous when we last heard well Alice it is quite incurigen to hear that you are still liveing with Alonso yet I Expected to hear that lonso had got another wife by this time they had the story going that you had not bin hurt that you had bin shut up in a cave and all sorts of storrys you would laugh if you could hear some of the storryes it would make you sick to hear then all I you wanted to know how little georgy was little Elwin is well he was all right in a day or to again he is just as good as he can be he will laugh and play on the loung for to oures to atime roy thinks the baby is awful nice mr strictland has not ben verry well for a Couple weeks he has bin staying up to ur pas aunt marry is sick a bed down to mr juds I dont no what is the matter mr tilton went down there to have her do some writeing and she could not gat up how is lotty i hope she is good for your sake i wished that I was there a good many time after i heard that you was hurt to take care of you and lotty well that is all that i can think this time so with my love to you all i will say good by rite soon
from you loveing sister
Melissa Tilton
kiss lotty for me
Alonzo and Alice had the following children:
1. Lottie Calvina Chamberlain, b. 1 October 1883, West Union, Todd Co., Minnesota. “Aunt Lottie” lived in a small home on Pleasant View Drive in Pleasant View, Weber Co., Utah. The author (Bart J. Kowallis) visited her on a number of occasions as a young boy and remembers her telling him that she was sure the landings on the moon were just another TV show, and not real. During the summer when visiting her, there were always prickly, sour gooseberries to be found in her garden. Lottie d. 23 January 1971, Ogden, Weber Co., Utah, bur. Willard Cemetery. Lottie md. 1st 7 July 1898, Brigham City, Box Elder Co., Utah when she was 14 years old, Clarence Percy Marshall, son of Henry Curtis Marshall and Elmina Rosaline Freeman. Clarence was 20 years older than Lottie. Lottie later recalled the circumstances of this marriage:
“When I was about eleven or twelve years of age, Clarence Percy Marshall came to live with my folks. He was working for W.B. Wedell surveying and curbing a tunnel on father’s property. He also worked for various mines. He built a tramway to one. C.P. (as everyone called him) enlisted in the Spanish American War, Company K, 2nd Regiment, U.S. Volunteer Engineers. Being very mature for my fourteen and a half years, and finding C.P. and I cared a great deal for one another, we obtained the consent of my parents to marry. On the 7th of July 1898 we were married at Brigham City, Ut. Aunt Jane Duncan and her family were staying with us at the time. They were on their way to Canada to settle. C.P. and I were married secretly so I could continue my schooling without any trouble. The night of our marriage, I slept with Brownie Duncan so they wouldn’t know. I slipped away for part of the night because C.P. was leaving at 5 in the morning for the war. Later my Grandfather Chamberlain, who lived near us, let the news out. It made a very uncomfortable situation for me at school.”
Clarence was b. 23 June 1864, Omro Twp., Winnebago Co., Wisconsin; d. 27 June 1904, Rock River, Albany Co., Wyoming, killed while working for the Union Pacific Railroad as a civil engineer; bur. Willard Cemetery. Lottie md. 2nd 24 August 1911 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah, Alexander Wilkinson, son of Alexander Wilkinson and Margaret Brown, b. 10 June 1870, Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland; d. 11 May 1934, Ogden, Weber Co., Utah; bur. Ogden City Cemetery. In the 1965-66 issue of the Chamberlain-Moore Journal, it was reported that “Lottie Wilkinson is looking better than she has for a long time. With Spring here, she can be found most every day in her garden. Her cane helps her to get there, but then the shovel, rake or hoe serves a double purpose by helping her to maintain her balance while working. The Boy Scouts came to help her clean up her yard this Spring.”
2. William George Chamberlain, b. 15 October 1885, Willard, Box Elder Co., Utah; d. 11 February 1886, Willard; bur. Willard Cemetery.
3. Henry Ernest Chamberlain, b. 3 May 1887, Willard, Box Elder Co., Utah; d. 4 April 1971, Nyssa, Malheur, Oregon; bur. 8 April 1971, Ogden City Cemetery, Weber Co., Utah. Henry md. 2 November 1908, Pleasant View, Weber Co., Utah, Susan Mae Jensen, daughter of James Jensen and Karen Sophie Hansen (and sister to Joseph Moroni Jensen, who married Henry’s sister Ethel). Susan b. 11 December 1882, Pleasant View; d. 15 June 1965, Nyssa, Malheur, Oregon; bur. 19 June 1965, Ogden City Cemetery.
4. George Francis Chamberlain, b. 12 December 1889, Willard, Box Elder Co., Utah; d. 29 November 1985, El Monte, Los Angeles Co., California; bur. 3 December 1985, Rose Hill Memorial Park, Whittier, Los Angeles, California. George md. 3 October 1923, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah, Blanche Viola Nielsen, daughter of Andrew P. Nielsen and Blanche Hannibal. Viola b. 29 April 1901, Robison, Juab Co., Utah; d. February 1989, Los Angeles Co., California. At family reunions, Uncle George was always a hit when he played a tune or two on the saw accompanied by Aunt Viola. As he would draw the old violin bow across the edge of his saw, he would bend the saw more or less in order to hit the right notes. It was a unique talent and always enjoyed by the entire family. In recalling his youth, George had this to say:
“O what a problem child I was. I had a favorite spot on top of a ridge I often went to watch the cows from, but I would get to daydreaming and quite often fell asleep and let the cows get back in our alfalfa field or garden spot, or on Cragun’s field about a mile or so from where they should have been. This caused me to get a switchin’ and sometimes resulted in damage bills for the folks to pay. I never seemed to overcome this weakness, so I had lots of scoldings and spankings. I heard my Uncle Wright once telling my father that he thought it would be a good thing for him to give me a licking in the morning before taking the cows out because my memory was so short.”
5. Anna Eliza Chamberlain, b. 19 October 1891, Willard, Box Elder Co., Utah; d. 9 March 1984, Ogden, Weber Co., Utah; bur. 12 March 1984, Ben Lomond Cemetery, North Ogden, Weber Co., Utah. Anna md. 1st 20 November 1912, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah, William Morgan Johns, son of David Johns and Sarah Ann Thomas. William b. 25 October 1883, Pleasant View, Weber Co., Utah; d. 25 June 1916, Pleasant View of “tubercular ulcers of the bowels; bur. Ben Lomond Cemetery. Anna md. 2nd 26 February 1919, Salt Lake City, James Martin Burnett, son of William Burnett and Sarah Jane Wilde. James b. 16 April 1877, Eden, Weber Co., Utah; d. 16 September 1949, Harrisville, Weber Co., Utah while working at the brickyard; bur. Huntsville, Weber Co., Utah. Anna recalled that when she was young, she “was always an awful ‘scare baby’. If anyone said ‘boo’ to me I would cry. I remember my first year at school, they were having a program for some special occasion. Mother taught me and Ethel a song to sing on the program. Ethel is two and one-half years younger than I am. We had sung about the first line when I began to cry. Ethel held onto my dress and said, ‘Come on, let’s sing,’ but all I could do was cry...This fear stayed with me through all my school years.”
6. Ethel Jane Chamberlain, b. 1 March 1894, Willard, Box Elder Co., Utah. Ethel was this blog author’s grandmother and because she lived just one block away, she was like a second mother. Her home was always an open, welcoming, and safe place. During the summer months the small home was often filled with cousins and aunts and uncles. She was a tireless worker and a leader in her church and community. For many years she served as President of the Primary in her LDS Ward and later in her LDS Stake. Ethel d. 22 September 1970, Ogden, Weber Co., Utah due to complication from several infected hernias that she had put off going to see the doctor about because Joe was in the middle of the peach harvest and she did not want to leave him without help; bur. 24 September 1970, Ben Lomond Cemetery, North Ogden, Weber Co., Utah. Ethel md. 10 December 1913, Salt Lake LDS Temple, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah, Joseph Moroni Jensen, son of James Jensen and Karen Sophie Hansen. Joseph b. 27 August 1888, Pleasant View, Weber Co., Utah. Grandpa Joe was a fruit farmer, growing mostly peaches, but also a number of other fruit crops (cherries, apricots, apples). He was known by his customers for his honesty. When he gave you a bushel of peaches you could be sure that the biggest ones were not stacked on the top with scrawny ones underneath. Joe sold most of his peaches right from his home, and his customers would loyally come back year after year because they knew Joe Jensen would give them the best peaches he had. Joseph served as secretary of the Weber County Mosquito Abatement Committee for 25 years, and he was the president of the Alder Creek and Little Missouri Water Company. He d. 12 June 1984, Pleasant View at the age of 95 years; bur. 18 June 1984, Ben Lomond Cemetery, North Ogden, Weber Co., Utah.
7. Bertha Estella “Stella” Chamberlain, b. 15 June 1896, Willard, Box Elder Co., Utah; d. 28 March 1960, Seattle, King Co., Washington; bur. Willard Cemetery. Stella md. 1st 8 April 1915, Brigham City, Box Elder Co., Utah, Prentice Bascom Bates, son of Bascom and Mary Bates; b. 18 September 1888, Texas; d. 6 February 1957, Loma Linda, San Bernadino Co., California. The marriage ended in divorce. Stella md. 2nd, W. J. “Red” Ryan and they lived in a mining camp in Ely, White Pine Co., Nevada. In 1930, Stella wrote to her mother on letterhead of the Collins Hotel, Ely:
May 12, 1930
Dear Mother and all,
Just a few lines to let you know I’m still alive. I got a letter from Lottie a few days ago she told me a lot of news some wasent very good. I was sorry to here about Anna, seems to me she is having her share of trouble, but I was glad to here you are keeping well. I’m living in town now so if any of you come to Ely for the big Lincoln highway Celebration June 4-5-6-7th just come to the Collins Hotel. I’m living at Thayer’s Camp now but I hope to get a house soon as we expect Thelma and maby Alice as soon as school is out. Red expects to have a steady job in a day or so, and then our troubles will be over, tell the boys it only takes 5 hours to make the trip here from Ogden and the town will be wide open, Saloons & Dance Halls just like you read about a hundred years ago, only more so, but If Ely can be any more wide open than it always has been, I don’t know how they’ll do it, every other door is a bootleg joint there is a dance hall & girls in nearly everyone, and this is the only Hotel in town that hasent got one or two girls, but the Salt Lake paper said that Ely would be throwed open for the celebration and I hope I get to see someone from home, tell everyone hello.
Lots of love from - Stella & Red
Stella’s second marriage also ended in divorce. She md. 3rd 6 December 1936, Magnus Christian Nielsen. Magnus b. 17 September 1889, Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark; d. 13 May 1953, Seattle, King Co., Washington. During WWII, Stella wrote to her sister Ethel from Seattle that, “...we have always been so safe here, now there is a anti-aircraft gun on the top of the city power house and men on guard day & night. I work in the laundry adjoining it. Sand bags are being filled around the schools and other public buildings, guns on most all the high buildings & hills. All this makes me wonder what is happening at home and how everyone is.”
8. Walter Alonzo Chamberlain, b. 30 November 1898, Ogden, Weber Co., Utah. Walter owned the “Crystal Springs Resort” in the small town of Honeyville, Box Elder Co., Utah for many years and provided those facilities for the annual Chamberlain-Moore family reunions where there was always lots of good food (enough olives to put one on each finger, and Kentucky Fried chicken), swimming in the warm waters of the hot-spring heated pools, and, for hours of entertainment for children, crayfish to catch with bits of chicken tied to a string from the ponds and streams that flowed from the hot springs. Walter d. 2 December 1994, Crystal Springs, Honeyville, Box Elder Co., Utah; he md. 30 September 1925, Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah, Helen Elizabeth Rhees, daughter of Reuben Thomas Rhees and Mary Tucker. Helen b. 17 October 1901, Pleasant View, Weber Co., Utah.
9. Lester Moore Chamberlain, b. 1 May 1904, Pleasant View, Weber Co., Utah; d. 18 September 1980, Ogden, Weber Co., Utah; bur. 22 September 1980, Ben Lomond Cemetery, North Ogden, Weber Co., Utah. Lester md. on 14 July 1926, Ogden, Alice Gibby Andrew, daughter of Joseph Frederic Whittier Andrew and Marian Gibby. Alice b. 19 June 1905, Pleasant View; d. 20 October 1991, Ogden.
10. Clarence Wright Chamberlain, b. 9 December 1906, Pleasant View, Weber Co., Utah; d. 6/7 June 1946, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California of burns received in an accident in Nevada; bur. Willard Cemetery, Willard, Box Elder Co., Utah. Clarence, according to the author’s mother, was a very tall man and she always enjoyed when he came to visit her mother and father, Ethel and Joseph Jensen in Pleasant View. Because of his height, Clarence would have to stoop to pass through doorways in the house.
(Go To Part II)
REFERENCES
1850 US census, Jessup Twp., Susquehanna Co., Pa., p. 38 (stamped) and 75 (written), dwelling 553.
1870 US census, Omro Twp., Winnebago Co., Wisconsin, p. 20, dwelling 143.
1870 US census, West Union Twp., Todd Co., Minnesota, p. 8, dwelling 64.
1880 US census, Eden Precinct, Weber Co., Utah, e.d. 99, p. 468B or 19, dwelling 186.
1900 US census, Elk Twp., Roger Mills Co., Oklahoma, e.d. 205, sheet 21B, dwelling 454.
1900 US census, Pleasant View Precinct, Weber Co., Utah, e.d. 180, sheet 15A, p. 46, dwelling 263.
1900 US census, Union Precinct, Box Elder Co., Utah, e.d. 201, sheet 8A, dwelling 130.
1900 US census, West Union Twp., Todd Co., Minnesota, e.d. 203, sheet 2B, dwelling 33.
1910 US census, Pleasant View Precinct, Weber Co., Utah, e.d. 217, sheet 15B, dwelling 272.
1910 US census, Pleasant View Precinct, Weber Co., Utah, e.d. 217, sheet 16A, dwelling 280.
1920 US census, Pleasant View, Weber Co., Utah, e.d. 150, sheet 1A, dwelling 8.1920 US census, Pleasant View, Weber Co., Utah, e.d. 150, sheet 1A, dwelling 10.
Ben Lomond Cemetery, A_6_20_2, (http://utahgravestones.org/).
Ben Lomond Cemetery, B_2_8_5, Utah Burials (http://history.utah.gov/burials/).
Blaisdell Papers, v. 11, n. 2 supplement, p. 122.
California Death Index, 1940-1997, Ancestry.com online database.
Chamberlain-Moore Journal, 1956-57, p. 4, 7, 9-12, 122
Chamberlain-Moore Journal, 1960, p. 4.
Chamberlain-Moore Journal, 1961, p. 3-4.
Chamberlain-Moore Journal, 1962, p. 3.Family information from Phyllis (Jensen) Butler.
Huntsville Cemetery, 37_1_1, Utah Burials (http://history.utah.gov/burials/).
Minnesota Death Certificate #A-177-10, Todd County.
Ogden City Cemetery, J-11-6-1E and J-11-6-2E, Utah Burials (http://history.utah.gov/burials/).
Ogden Standard Examiner, 21 December 1907.
Ogden Standard Examiner, 23 October 1932, p. 8.
Ogden Standard Examiner, Thursday 25 August 1983.
Ogden Standard Examiner, Thursday 14 June 1984.
US Social Security Death Index, FamilySearch online database.
Utah Death Certificate, Weber Co., Pleasant View, series 81448, file no. 422, stamped no. 003204632.
Utah Death Certificate, Weber Co., Pleasant View, series 81448, file no. 400, stamped no. 0704386.
Utah Death Certificate, Weber Co., Ogden, series 81448, file no. 214, stamped no. 003404710.
Utah State Death Certificate # 29-0579-TT.
Utah State Death Certificate, state file #143-788-FF; local file #944-FF.
Utah Marriages, 1887-1966, FamilySearch online database.
Washington State Death Index, Ancestry.com online database, Seattle, King Co., certificate 8496.
Willard Cemetery gravestones (http://utahgravestones.org/).
So very interesting..thankyou
ReplyDeleteThis is all so amazing! Priceless! Thank you so much Bart!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Denise. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteLoved reading this history Bart. Thank you for sending it our way.
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