Three Newspaper Brothers All Die Young

 Three brothers, sons of Orlando Erastus Chamberlain and Mary Cram, all became newspaper men. These three, Ernest Orlando Chamberlain (1859-1898), Wilbur Johnson Chamberlain (1866-1901), and Walter N. Chamberlain (1869-1900) are my first cousins, three times removed. They all died between 1898 and 1901. Ernest had reached the pinnacle of his profession as managing editor of the New York Evening World working for Joseph Pulitzer, but the pressures of work then seemed to affect his health, and he finally succumbed to pneumonia at the age of 38. Wilbur and Walter likewise had health problems and died at 37 and 30 years of age respectively. Only Wilbur had surviving children. Here are newspaper notices about them.

[The Philadelphia Enquirer, Thursday, 8 January 1885, page 8] Elizabeth, N.J. -- The libel suit of ex-mayor L.V.F. Randolph, of Plainfield, against ERNEST O. CHAMBERLAIN, formerly editor of the Plainfield Bulletin, for $20,000 was tried yesterday. The jury returned a verdict for six cents.

[New York Herald, Tuesday, 19 April 1898, p. 13]
ERNEST O. CHAMBERLAIN, managing editor of the Evening World, died last night of pneumonia at his home, Rockledge, at Edgewater on the Hudson. Although Mr. Chamberlain had been ill for a month, his death came as a shock to his friends. Reports from his home told that he was improving, and that he would return to his place in the field of newspaper work after a period of rest. Mr. Chamberlain's condition became so alarming on Sunday afternoon that his physicians were hurriedly summoned. He continued to grow worse until the end last night. Mr. Chamberlain was thirty-eight years old and had earned for himself a conspicuous place among the editors and writers of the country. He was born at Great Bend, Pa., in 1860, and received a common school education and began writing for the Great Bend Reporter when quite a young man. He afterward went to Dunellen, N.J., and edited a newspaper called the Rock. Just after attaining his majority, Mr. Chamberlain bought the Plainfield (N.J.) Bulletin. His treatment of the politics of New Jersey resulted in his being called to edit the Trenton Times. Afterward, he went to Philadelphia and became New Jersey editor of the Philadelphia Press. In 1886, Mr. Chamberlain came to New York and was employed on the New York Sun, where he remained until 1892. His principal work was of a political nature. From the Sun he went to the World, becoming the city editor. For five years he had charge of either the morning or evening editions of the World, except during brief periods when he had charge of the gathering or writing of news of special importance. In August 1897, Mr. Chamberlain went to Europe and on his return wrote a series of articles on the government of European cities, which were widely quoted and favorably commented upon. Mrs. Chamberlain survives her husband. Two of his brothers are newspaper men.

[Batavia Daily News, Thursday, 21 April 1898, page 2] ERNEST O. CHAMBERLAIN, news editor of the New York Evening World collapsed a few weeks ago from overwork getting out extra after extra of the yellow journal. He became crazy, and his death occurred this week.

 W. J. CHAMBERLAIN DIED AT CARLSBAD -- New York, Aug. 15 -- Word has reached here from Carlsbad, telling of the death of W.J. Chamberlain, one of the best American newspaper men. His death occurred yesterday. Death was due to cerebral congestion and heart failure. Chamberlain was born in Great Bend, Pa., on March 12, 1866. He did his first newspaper work in Jersey City and joined the staff of the New York Sun in 1890. He continued in the services of the paper until his death. He had a part in the most important news getting exploits of his day. His story of the fight at Santiago during the Spanish-American War caused widespread comment. When war broke out in China, Chamberlain was sent there. Illness forced him to return to London some weeks ago. [The Buffalo Enquirer, Buffalo, New York, Thursday, August 15, 1901, page 8]

[Philadelphia Enquirer, Wednesday, 18 July 1900, page 4]
Plainfield, N.J., July 17 -- WALTER N. CHAMBERLAIN, who has been engaged in newspaper work in New York for the past ten years, died at his home in this city this morning after an illness lasting about two weeks. Mr. Chamberlain was born in Plainfield 31 years ago, and was a brother of the late Ernest Chamberlain, who was managing editor of the New York World for a time. While engaged in professional work at the burning of the steamship piers in Hoboken June 30 he contracted a cold which caused his death. He was unmarried.  

My Cousin Louis

 
 Photo of western scene

You never know who you might find as you dig into your family history. In the past on this blog I have written about my McGibney cousins who traveled the country performing family concerts in the late 1800s; I have written about my cousin John Abel Wright who murdered his wife by dousing her in kerosene and then lighting her on fire; I have written about my cousin Dougie Duncan who killed two other men in a fight in Montana; and I have written about the tragedy of two cousins Betsey and David Corser who were engaged to be married when David died in a snowstorm while they were out for a sleigh ride and Betsey died of a broken heart a few months later.

I think all of these stories could probably have been told much better by another of my cousins. His name was Louis Dearborn LaMoore. Louis was the grandson of Abraham Trefethern Dearborn and before I tell you about Louis, I want to tell a little of the story of Abraham.

Abraham was the only child of William Seavey Dearborn and Frederica Garic. He grew up in a troubled home and his parents separated or divorced in 1842 while he was a young boy of about 4 years of age. The troubles of this family are described in detail in a book written by Edna (LaMoore) Waldo. Abraham lived with his father after the separation, but his father, William Seavey Dearborn, died, presumably, under mysterious circumstances while the family was living in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. According to Yet She Follows, 125-26, “just before starting off on a long trip to market with a drove of fat cattle, William, it is supposed, stopped to see his estranged wife Frederica; had he returned, there might have been a reconciliation. But, accompanied by two hired men, he went to the market town, several days away through a thickly wooded country, sold and paid for his cattle, and disappeared. Neither he nor either of the men was ever heard of again and the supposition was that he had been killed for his money.” His son Abraham was thereafter raised by his grandparents and by his Aunt Eliza Jane Angeline Dearborn (my great-great grandmother).

Photo of Eliza Jane Angeline (Dearborn) Chamberlain

Abraham T. Dearborn moved in the 1860's to Todd County, Minnesota near his Aunt Eliza Jane and her husband, Lawrence Alonzo Chamberlain. After the Civil War began, he enlisted at Fort Snelling, Minn. as a sergeant into Co. G, 3rd Minnesota Infantry. From a history written by my cousin David Curtis Dearborn of this family we learn that, "The 3rd Minnesota Regiment was sent to Fort Halleck, Kentucky to serve on the western front which, by all accounts, suffered from confusion, changes of command and poor morale. At the Battle of Murfreesboro (Tenn.), 13 July 1862, the regiment surrendered without a fight, and A.T. and his men were captured. Part of the regiment, including A.T.’s company, was paroled two days later at Warren County, Tenn. back to Minnesota to help put down the Indian uprising. Because the regimental officers were not among those released, A.T. was put in command of Co. G. At Fort Abercrombie, Dakota Territory, on about 30 October 1862, he received a superficial gunshot wound to the right leg. It was on this campaign that he met his future father-in-law, Capt. Ambrose Freeman of the 1st Minnesota Mounted Rangers. By May 1863, A.T. was back in Tennessee, where records show that he was thrown from his horse at Island No. 10. He was discharged from the service on 2 July 1863, suffering from chronic diarrhea and general prostration. He did not remain inactive long. On 28 October 1863 he re-enlisted as a first lieutenant in Co. G, 2nd Tennessee Colored Heavy Artillery. He was again stationed at Fort Halleck, Ky., and saw little action during the rest of the war. Records in his pension file show, however, that on 5 March 1865 he received a wound to his left forearm and a severe wound to his right middle finger. He also suffered from acute bronchitis, rheumatism and remittent fever, not unusual symptoms for a soldier in the field.

I like to think that my great-great grandmother Eliza had some influence on Abraham and helped him to grow into the strong, adventurous man he became. Yes, Abraham had an interesting life and perhaps some of that may have may have been passed down to his grandson, Louis.

So why is it that I think Louis, my 3rd Cousin, once removed, could have told all of these stories much better than I can. Well, Louis, it turns out, had a flair for writing. By the time he finished his career, he had written 89 novels, 14 short-story collections, and two full-length works of nonfiction. As of 2010, his books and stories had sold more than 320 million copies, had been translated into a dozen languages, more than 35 films and TV shows were produced from his books, and he helped to pioneer the use of audio tapes for books.

Louis died in 1988 before I discovered that we were fairly close cousins. I would have liked to have met him. Although he was born a LaMoore, as a young man he decided to change his name from Louis LaMoore to Louis L'Amour. The name L'Amour was probably the original family name anyway since the ancestry on that side of his family is French or French Canadian.

Very few writers can claim a wider readership or a more successful career than Louis. He once said, "There have always been hard times. There have always been wars and troubles–famine, disease, and such-like–and some folks are born with money, some with none. In the end, it's up to the man what he becomes, and none of those other things matter."

Yes, I would have liked to meet Louis and I think I am going to have to read a few more of his books.

Photo of Louis L'Amour from his Wikipedia page.

Charlotte Eliza Blaisdell and Francis Little Moore Branch of Dewers Family -- Part I

 
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.

Home of Francis and Charlotte Moore in West Union, Todd Co., 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 surrounded by his family about 1901. Clockwise from left: Alice Estella (Moore) Chamberlain, Anna Eliza, Henry Ernest, George Francis, Lottie Calvina, Bertha Estella, Walter Alonzo, and Ethel Jane.

An earlier photo of the Chamberlain family taken about 1891.

Alice Estella (Moore) Chamberlain with her daughters. Front row: Bertha Estella, Alice, Ethel Jane. Back row: Anna Eliza, Lottie Calvina.

Sons of Alice Estella Moore and William Alonzo Chamberlain. Front row: Clarence Wright, Henry Ernest, and Lester Moore. Back row: Walter Alonzo and George Francis.

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.

Ethel Chamberlain as a young woman. Photo taken probably about 1910.

Ethel and her sister Anna waiting for the train. Photo taken about 1950.

Ethel Jensen in front of her Pleasant View, Utah home with the summer flower garden in full bloom.

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.”

Bertha Estella (Chamberlain) Nielsen and her sister Ethel Jane (Chamberlain) Jensen in a photo taken in 1959.


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.

Chamberlain brothers and sisters at a reunion in 1959 in Pleasant View, Utah. Left to right: Lottie, Henry, Anna, Ethel, Stella, Walter, and Lester.

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.

The family of Lester and Alice Chamberlain.
 
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/).

Grandma Jensen

William Alonzo Chamberlain surrounded by his family about 1901. Clockwise from left: Alice Estella (Moore) Chamberlain, Anna Eliza, Henry Ernest, George Francis, Lottie Calvina, Bertha Estella, Walter Alonzo, and Ethel Jane.

Grandma Jensen (Ethel Jane Chamberlain Jensen) was always a safe harbor in any storm. She and Grandpa Jensen (Joseph Moroni Jensen) lived on Pleasant View Drive about two blocks from our home. Growing up, I spent almost as much time at my grandparents home as I did at my own. It was a place I could go and feel the depth of family roots. It seemed that someone in the family was always visiting.

Grandma loved to have family around. Her house was full of wonderful smells, secret hiding places, and old treasures, like an iron that had no electric plug, a wash tub and wringer that were operated by hand, and old photos of people who looked so odd with their funny clothes and hair styles.

Grandma died too young even though she was 74. She was the first close family member I had lost, but perhaps her death prepared me for the loss of my mother 4 years later. I miss them both, but treasure the legacy they left me...a legacy of family and the importance of remembering the ones who have gone before.

Alice Chamberlain with her daughters. Front row: Bertha Estella, Alice, Ethel Jane. Back row: Anna Eliza, Lottie Calvina.

Joseph Moroni Jensen and Ethel Jane Chamberlain Jensen -- photo taken in December 1953.