Emily Crofts Leyshon

Emily, whom he had known in Wales was working at the boarding house where William was living. They soon resumed their friendship and fell in love. They were married in Provo, Utah, on June 15, 1881 by John E. Booth. They built a two room log cabin at Winter Quarters, Carbon, Utah and decided that a new room would be added after the birth of each child. While there they were blessed with seven children and their house became quite large. They decided to travel to Salt Lake City and have their children sealed to them; Lewis born Jan. 15, 1883, Sarah Jane born Dec. 14, 1884, Lettice born Sept 17, 1886., Emily born Apr. 5, 1888, William born Jan. 8, 1890, Martha born Dec. 17, 1891, and Hyrum born Mar 13, 1894. This was done on February 26, 1896. While at the temple, William and Emily did work for Lettice, William's first wife, and her two small children. Later in Winter Quarters William and Emily were blessed with three more children; Ezra born Sep. 16, 1896, Lorenzo born Jan. 19, 1899, and Mary born Dec. 1, 1901. They then moved to Spanish Fork, Utah where their last two children were born; Nephi born May 13, 1904 and Rachel Munerva born Apr 19, 1905/6.

Shortly after Emily and William were married, William's two children Joseph and Alice came to live with them. At a young age Joseph ran away and joined the Navy. Nothing was ever heard from him until William's death, Joseph then came to his father's funeral. He was then again never heard from until one day the State of California notified Sarah, his half sister, that he was found dead in an ally. He was buried in California and his flag was given to Hyrum, his half brother. During the time Alice was with William and Emily, she gave birth to a baby out of wedlock. She gave the baby to some people by the name of Meadows, in Pon Town. Later the Meadows moved to Canada and Alice went on to Salt Lake City where she married and later died.

Six years after William and Emily were married there was a bad flood in Winter Quarters which took all their clothes and home. But the miners came and helped build a new home and supply food and clothes. A few years later a big boulder rolled into their house and again the fellow miners aided in the repair.

William and Emily did a lot of ordinance work for the dead in the Salt Lake Temple. William who worked mostly in the coal mines was also known for the good he did with herbs. Although he never had any formal training, he was called "doc" by many people. William's father who was also an herb doctor had taught William how to use herbs for the benefit of healing. William not only helped but saved many people in Winter Quarters and around the country with the herbs he mixed. Emily was often by his side. She was also a midwife. Friends referred to them as "doctor" and "nurse".

William and Emily never forgot the mine disaster of May 1, 1900 when their eldest son, Lewis, was killed. William told his son to stay home but Lewis knew they were in need of money and that his father was too sick to go so he went. When they moved to Spanish Fork, they lost their second son, Leland, who was only nine. After all their trials, William said, "Em, my dear, console yourself and let us call on the Lord and do our duty unto Him and He will carry us through." William was truly a man of great faith.

Sixteen years before his death, William was injured which was caused by working in the coal mines of Winter Quarters. It left him paralyzed for the rest of his life. Six of those years were spent in bed but he kept up his courage and hope, and succeeded to recover enough to provide a living for his family until he died. Despite all of his troubles, even during his sickness, William never failed to pay his tithes and offerings. When sorrow and death prevailed, William strove to live the gospel and be a wonderful father and husband.

William loved sports and the outdoors. Fishing was one of his great pastimes. Emily shared in his enthusiasm for fishing by bottling the fish for winter. A game called "Chicken Fight" was one of William's favorites. William also had a dog which he loved dearly. Often times the dog would pull the children with the wagon on the sleigh.

William tried very hard to teach Emily how to read and write, but later as sickness and children came there wasn't much time. Emily received no form of formal schooling and never knew how to read or write. When signing her name, she simply made an "X".

One of the mines in Winter Quarters was called for many years the Leyshon mine. However the name was later changed when William was unable to make money on the mine and a new man took over.

William and Emily and their family did such odd jobs as clean school, churches, washed and ironed for the miners, to help with expenses. Emily cooked in a boarding house to help with expenses. William was the first to arrange for playgrounds for children. He also was the first in organizing baseball, hopscotch and other games for children. Lettice, Sarah, Alice, Lewis, and Joseph kept the playgrounds clean every day. While Emily and William were living in Leland, their crop of wheat was destroyed. William said, "Never mind, Em, some chicken will come and eat the wheat that's left."

William loved his family dearly, and even during his sickness when confined to a wheelchair or bed, he was more than happy to have one of his children sit on his lap. He often read them stories and when confined to a wheelchair gave them rides on it.

After moving to Leland, Utah, William was sick most of the time. While in Leland they lived in a four room house on a farm. William didn't know much about farming however.

Leyshon home in Leland, Utah

William Leyshon (age 56) died August 5, 1905 in Spanish Fork. He left his wife, Emily with eleven children and the 12th on the way. Rachel, was born eight months after his death. William felt much love for his family as expressed in his last words which were, "Em, don't work too hard, but do keep the children together. All my love to you and the children."

John and Frances Rovsek

John Rovsek and his wife , Frances Rovsek first moved to Kenilworth around 1910. Their first son John jr. was with them. John Rovsek worked in the mines, and Frances took in boarders.

Approximately 1912, John Rovsek signed a lease with Matt Andler of Hiawatha, to lease property in section 24, it was a 5 year lease, and he wanted to dairy farm. Much isn't known about this time, only what was found in records.

Approx. 1917 or 1918, John Rovsek signed a new lease, most likely with the mining company, to dairy farm. Since their are no records left, and the area has changed so much, we can only speculate at the location. But we believe based upon a 1912 topo map of Hiawatha, it shows a dairy in section 27. This would also concur with stories Fred Rovsek has told. My father, Fred , has said they had cows, pigs, goats, sheep and horses. Fred would go with his brothers John jr. and Adolph to sell milk etc. to people who lived in the community.

Fred Rovsek remembers Michael Jr. Dikleva, he used to play with him. He lived at house #602. He also remembers Frank and Teresa Zele. They were friends of the family. We also know The Kostelic's were family friends since Rosa Kostelic was Freds godmother and the Rovsek boys use to play with Frank Kostelic.

My aunt, Marjorie Rovsek, remembers the principal, Mr. Grant. She also remembers a teacher named Mrs. Funk. She liked her because she used to take the class hiking.Some of the children she and her brothers and sister used to play with are Lucille Babcock, Fern and Mary Pikas, and a boy with the last name of Wycherly. She couldn't remember the name of the sheriff at that time, but she remembered his horse being a beautiful black with a silver bridle and saddle. The kids all loved him. One other person she remembered was Reverend Walberg, who lived in town. She did not know what religion he was.

Both Fred and Marjorie have told us many stories of their life as children. They both loved it there, along with the rest of the family. The mountains especially, and all the open land. But in 1928, many people were leaving the Hiawatha area, their was a shortage of jobs. So as the community they sold their dairy goods to dwindled, they too had to make the hard choice of moving their family elsewhere. So in 1928, they packed up and left for Detroit, Michigan. I believe none of them still alive have forgotton their life and their love for the land in Hiawatha.

photo on left - Left to right - back: John Rovsek, John Spunt, John Oriegel, Frank Zele, Theresa Zele front: Eddie Rovsek & Marjorie Rovsek, Fred Rovsek, Frank Costello & Zele child, Frances Rovsek	Photo on right - Theresa Zele & Frances Rovsek with Marjorie and Francis Rovsek seated.

Rachel Davis Powell

PIONEER RESIDENT OF PRICE PASSES

Mrs. John Davis Powell, One First Woman, In Price Dies

Mrs. Rachel Davis Powell, one of the first women to settle in Price, was laid to her final rest Sunday at Carbonville. She died Thursday at the age of 74. Funeral services were held in the Price tabernacle, with interment under direction of the Deseret Mortuary.

Mrs. Powell was born in Utah, October 23, 1855 daughter of George Preston Davis and Sarah Davis. She came to Price June 6, 1879 and is believed to be one of the first women to make her home in this community permanently. Mrs. Powell gave birth to the first child in Price. Her husband Robert Powell died several years ago.

Van Lafayette Wilkerson

OGDEN - Van Lafayette Wilkerson, 85, of 200 Harrisoville Road, died Tuesday November 30, 1976 in a local hospital.

Born April 30, 1891 in Kanab, Utah, son of William and Rachel Painter Wilkerson. married Winnie Elnor Petty on June 20, 1917 in Duchesne, Utah. She died Jan 5, 1964. Veteran World War I, worked as coal miner, rancher and buisnessman. Member of Veterans Foreign Wars. Lived in Kanab, Duchesne County, Carbon County and Midvale. Came to Ogden in 1971.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the Myers Mortuary Chapel in Ogden, where friends may call one hour prior to services. Interment Helper, Utah cemetery.

PRICE, Carbon County - Milford Bard Farnsworth, 61, Price, died Oct. 17 of natural causes in a Price hospital. Born Aug. 10, 1910, Spring Glen, Carbon County, to Milford B. and Rozina Ames Farnsworth. Married Ada Wilkerson, 1935, Price: divorced, 1960. Survivors: sons, daughters all of Price; 5 grandchildren; brother, sisters. Funeral Wednesday, 2 p.m. at Fausett Mortuary, Price, where friends call Tuesday, Wednesday one hour prior to services. Burial Price City Cemetery.

Michael Thomas

SALT LAKE CITY - Michael "Mike" Thomas, 67, a former Carbon County resident, died May 26, 1983 in a shopital here>

He was born Sept. 1, 1915 in Sunnyside, Utah, to Gregory and Mary Bolf Thomas.

He married Eunice "Pat" Wilkerson in September 1939 in Price. She survives.

A member of the Catholic Church, he was employed at U.S. Steel Corp.'s Horse Canyon Mine prior to his retirement. He was a retired member of United Miner Workers of America, Horse Canyon Local.

Catholic chapel services were at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Mitchell Funeral Home in Price. Burial was in Mr. View Cemetery in Helper.

Ezra Boren

PRICE - Ezra Boren, 90, died April 24, 1984 in a Price Hospital.

Born November 9, 1893 in Cannonville, Utah to William Coleman and Lavina Jones Boren. Married Isabell Averritt in 1916, she later died. Resident of Price since 1926. Worked on railroad and local farms in the area.

Survived by two sons, three daughters, three children preceded him in death; also surviving are 22 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; five great great grandchildren and four half sisters.

Funeral services Friday 2:00 p.m. Mitchell Chapel in Price where friends may call Thursday and Friday prior to services. Family will be at Mortuary Chapel Friday one hour prior to services. Burial; Price City Cemetery, Price.

Walter Andrews Lovins

Sun Advocate, September 1943

Price Man, Helper Woman Badly Hurt In Automobile Upset

Walter Lovins, 43, of Price, and Mrs. J. Jones, 35, of Helper, were seriously injured in an auto accident two miles north of Huntington Tuesday evening.

At Price Hospital, where the injured pair was taken, Lovins was found to have sustained a crushed chest, internal hemorrhages and other hurts. Mrs. Jones was treated for a fractured pelvis and head lacerations.

The mishap occurred, according to state highway patrolmen, when the car which Lovins was driving and in which Mrs. Jones was a passenger, left the road on a curve and rolled down the barrow pit.

Sun Advocate, September 30, 1943

Auto Crash Victim Dies of Injuries, Leaves 4 children

Walter Andrews Lovins, 45, succumbed at the Price hospital Friday of injuries received in an auto accident early last week.

Funeral services were conducted at the Wallace chapel by Reverend Richard E. Halbert, pastor of the Methodist Community church, Wednesday, 2:00 p.m. Interment was in Price cemetery.

Mr. Lovins suffered a skull fracture, crushed chest and other internal injuries when the car he was driving ran off a curve and smashed into a borrowpit Tuesday night of last week. Riding with him was Mrs. Julia Jones, 35, of Helper, whose head was lacerated and pelvis broken, but is recovering satisfactorily at the hospital.

Mr. Lovins was born in Williams county, West Virginia, June 26, 1898, son of Ransom and Nancy Elizabeth Jefferson Lovins. He came here from New Mexico over a year ago and was employed by the Independent Coal and Coke company of Kenilworth.

Leiter, William H.

William H. Leiter, age 80, passed away December 13, 1982 at his home.

Born May 12, 1902 in Sunnyside, Utah to William H. and Janet Crawford Leiter. Married Welda Janet Mower, January 15, 1924; later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. High Priest in the McKay Ward. Had served as ward financial clerk for 30 years. Served many years as District Manager O.P. Skaggs System. Retired in 1972 from Moore Supply Co.

Funeral services Thursday 12:00 noon, McKay Ward, 1391 Park. Friends may call Wednesday 7 - 8 p.m., Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple and Thursday one hour prior to services at the Ward Chapel. Interment; Salt Lake City cemetery.

John W. Crawford

John W. Crawford, 67, 1651 E. Stratford Ave., died Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at his residence after a lingering illness. Born July 7, 1889, Almy, Wyo., to John and Agnes Wilson Crawford. Married Ellen Radcliff Dawson, N.M., 1910. Charter member BPOE, Price First Baptist Church. Mine foreman, 1912 to 1941 to 1954, Carlsbad, N.M.

Life of Nancy Ella McNees

Nancy Ella McNees was born March 4, 1852 in Salisbury, Tennessee. She was the youngest of twelve children born to Richard NcNees and Nancy Johnson. She was born into a fairly wealthy family who owned a large plantation with cotton being their main crop. When she was three months old, her father died, and at age five, her mother died. The family property was sold and the money divided among the children. Guardians were appointed for the younger children, with Nancy, and two of her sisters, going to live with her older sister and her husband. One of her sisters died shortly thereafter.

Then came the civil war. Her family had moved to Des Arc, Arkansas shortly before the war began, and as southerners, they supported the Confederacy. Several of her brothers joined the army, along with two brothers-in-law--including the husband of her sister she was staying with. Nancy was about eleven years old when the war started, and in her life story she states, "I remember very trying and dangerous times" (Our Golding Heritage, p. 4). Northern army soldiers, "Yanks," as they were called by the Southern folks, camped about six miles from the NcNees home. In times of war, behavior that is not condoned during peace time, seems to become common place. Nancy recalled, "Drunken soldiers often came to the house and bothered the girls. Through their treachery, they nearly caused starvation in the land. They destroyed everything we had. A crowd of them would come into our yard and shoot our chickens and pigs. They even killed our milk cows and left the small children without milk. They would then cut off forty or fifty pounds of the choicest part of the meat and leave the rest where it fell. They even took their pocket knives and slit great holes in the cloth on our loom that we had carded, spun, and woven. I could relate many more such things but will not. All my life I have thought the Civil War a cruel and unjust war. But in later years, I have decided that it must have been right and just or the Lord would not have permitted it. . . I was young, and it is hard for me to remember the particulars of the ending of the war or the assassination of President Lincoln. I do know that of my brothers who went to war, five never came back. Whether they were killed in battle or not, we never knew, but we never heard from them again" (Heritage, p. 5-7). Nancy continues, "An orphan misses the happy, carefree pleasures of this life when deprived of mother and father.

My childhood was sad, but, to a certain extent, it was made up to me when I became acquainted and fell in love with my life’s partner, Sebron Golding" (Heritage, p. 9). They met at a revival meeting, corresponded for a while, and married 23 March 1871. She stated, "I was troubled a great deal after my marriage about religion. We belonged to the Methodist Church and had been married by a Methodist minister, but I didn’t feel satisfied with what that church taught. . . After our first baby came, I fretted more than ever. I was desirous that my baby should be brought up in the right church. . . . But I was not satisfied, so one night in my prayers, I asked the Lord to show me in some way if I belonged to the right church. That night I dreamed of seeing a lot of people being baptized in a way I had never seen before. . . . I was anxious the next day to learn which church baptized in that way. . . . I was very disappointed to learn that none of the churches baptized in that way, because I was sure that my dream was an answer to my prayer" (Heritage, p. 9-10).

"Then, sometime later, two Mormon elders came to our home. Their names were John McCalister and Henry Boyle. They talked to me about the Mormon Church and explained their principles to me. When they told me about baptism by immersion, I was sure theirs was the right church. . . . we all went to the river again and were baptized into the Pleasant Prairie Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have never been sorry one minute, and I have received many blessings in my church" (Heritage, p. 10). Many people joined the Church in the Des Arc area, and like many in their day, desired to "come to Zion." Nancy, her husband, and two small children, left with twenty six other families in April 1877 and traveled by wagon across the prairie states, finally arriving in New Mexico. The journey was filled with trials and afflictions. There was a lack of food with hunger making tempers run high. Death took several members of the wagon train, including a new baby of Nancy’s in-laws. Her oldest daughter, Ada age four, was run over by the wagon resulting in a broken leg above the knee. During a dust storm, the wagon train took shelter in an Indian village. One of the Indians had red blotches, and ten days later, small pox broke out among the wagon train members. They weren’t allowed into settlements, several people died, and they were delayed in New Mexico for awhile. Some of the travelers ended up staying in New Mexico, but most continued on to Arizona. By the time they arrived, they were destitute and some were on foot. Most of the group stayed in Arizona, but Nancy and her family moved north to Utah. After settling and moving around in several locations in Southern Utah, they settled in Cainsville.

Life there was difficult and hard, and they were unable to work out a life’s substance there. In 1902, they left and moved north, eventually moving to Wellington, Utah. Here Nancy spent her remaining years as the wife of a civic-minded husband who was also a patriarch at the time of his death. In 1909, she and Sebron were called on a mission to work in the Manti Temple for two years. Her husband died in 1925, and Nancy lived as a widow for another nine years, dying on 11 December 1934. She was buried next to her husband in the Wellington Cemetery. Nancy had nine children, eight who lived to adulthood, married in the temple and were active in their community. Today, her family numbers over two thousand, most of whom are active members of the Church. Through all the trials of her young life, the troubles later on, and the afflictions of life common to her time and place, Nancy put her trust in God and remained true and faithful to her faith. She left a great legacy to her descendants and is truly one of the great mothers of Zion, who with her husband, will stand triumphant at the last day. "And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in they youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day. . . . And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; . . . yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me" (Alma 6: 3, 27).

Frank Costello Sr.

SALT LAKE CITY - Frank Costello, Sr., 69, of Diamondville Wy., died August 2, 1980.

Funeral services were conducted by Father Thomas Cleary at St. Patrick's Catholic Church August 5. Rosary was recited at the church.

Organists for the services were Rosalie Tratnik and Jona May Gonzales and Amy Jewkes sang "Amazing Grace" and "Peace Is Flowing Like a River."

Interment was in the Kemmerer City Cemetery.

Pallbearers were John Costello, Tony Costello, Stanley Costello, Bill Zele, Allie Hangich, and Nick Beyda. Honorary pallbearers were Bill Srdoc, Paul Canoso, Tony Tratnik, Richard Costello, Roger Costello, Fred Sadler, Jr. and Gus Baggstrom.

Frank Costello, Sr. was born June 9, 1911, in Winter Quarters, Utah to Rose Costello Zele and Frank Costello.

He worked as a coal miner and came to the Kemmerer area in 1929 where he worked in the local mines.

He married Angela Tratnik on June 9, 1935 at Randolph, Utah.

He also worked at Star Mine before moving to Price, Utah for a brief period, and returned here to Diamondville once again to mark up 45 years as a coal miner.

He was a member of the United Mine Workers of America for 35 years and the Western Slavonic Association for 53 Years.

He was also a sexton for the Kemmerer cemetery for several years.

He is survived by his widow, Angela, Diamondville; daughter, Mrs. Fred (Darlene) Sadler, Diamondville; son, Frank Costello, Big Piney, Wyoming; brothers Tony Costello, Frontier, Wyom., Stanley Costello, Grand Junction, Colorado, John, Helper; Utah; Bill Zele, Price, Utah; Rose Crandall, Helper, Utah; and three granddaughters. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Julie.

Wilma Brasher

Wilma Cleo Davis Brasher, 82, of Spanish Fork, died June 18 at the Castleview Hospital in Price.

She was born No. 22, 1907, in Spring Glen, Utah, the daughter of George W. Davis and Eliza Luella Gentry Davis. She married Richard Allen "Dick" Brasher, Nov. 8, 1926, in Helper. He died in 1978.

She was educated in Spring Glen and Helper schools. She graduated from Price High School. She attended BYU and took many other artist seminars and classes. She was an oil painting artist.

She was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She lived in Spanish Fork for 35 years and for the past 7 years had lived in Lehi.

Funeral will be Friday at 1 p.m. in the Walker Mortuary, 187 S. Main, Spanish Fork. Friends may call at the cortuary Thursday 6 - 8 p.m. or Friday one hour prior to the services.

Burial will be in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.