A Big Sister's Tribute

In 2003 my late mother, Helen Bay Gibbons (1921-2015), wrote this sweet tribute to her younger brother, Earl Maxwell Bay (1927-2018):

"Uncle Bud"
Earl Maxwell Bay (1927-2018)

April 13, 2003
Dearest  Bud:

Your most generous tribute and expressions of love in your letter of March 23 touched me deeply.  What a  very special man you are!  I am highly  honored to be your sister.   Your entire life has been one of thoughtfulness and kindness to others.  Thank you for all you have done for me, and now for this appreciated but not truly deserved letter.  Frank was touched by it also, and said, “Be sure that letter is preserved.  Why don’t you include it in your personal journal which is a bound book each year, so it won’t be lost.”   It is a treasure!

I have long recognized that putting ideas and events in written form gives them an increased power and permanence lacking in spoken form.  Your example of writing such messages to each of your children and grandchildren has got me thinking that I ought to do the same thing in our family, to let each loved one know how precious they are to me and to Frank.

My memories of you from your birth are sweet and warm.  Bernice could not pronounce the word “brother,” so called you “Little Budda”, and in spite of Mama’s urgent efforts to insist that we call you Maxwell,  you became known as “Budda” and then as Bud.  You far outshone me in courage, even though you were more than five years younger.  We  were trying to handle a feisty cow who didn’t like our leading her new calf away from the corral to the window of our house to show it to Bernice who was quarantined with scarlet fever.  You were only about five years old, but I turned the rope over to you.

When Dad had to leave town to find cash-paying work, you were the one to milk the cows, and do other manly chores for Mother when you were in your early teens.  You were so willing and so dependable.  You moved to the big West High School  as a senior, I believe.  What a change from Piute High!  What an adjustment being the new kid, having to defend yourself from bigger bullies.  One night  you and other teens were milling around in front of our house late one night, and the neighbors complained about the noise.  You were the one who went to apologize to the neighbors.  

You got a job working for peanuts, washing windows at a downtown store, and ushering in a theater.  When I told you goodbye at the train station, you whispered to me, “Don’t worry about money.”   I exhausted my limited cash while coming home from my mission on a bus (in order to stop in Phoenix and meet Frank’s mother en route).  So when my  friend and I stopped in Flagstaff to see you while you were there in officer training in the Navy, I soaked you for my share of the hotel room.  You never complained, although  you were hardly rolling in dough.

You worked your way through the university and became an engineer, while you and  your beautiful Betty were young, struggling  parents.  You saved and worked and bought your home at 4629 South 1130 East.  You were always there for your brothers and sisters.   

When Elvon suffered an accident out in the boonies somewhere, you did not hesitate but drove directly there to bring him back to the hospital in your station wagon.  Years later,  he tried to start a business as a building contractor, and was stiffed by  a company for whom he had built a big store.  He did not have sufficient capital to manage such a delay, as he had planned to pay for materials for other projects from the payment of the completed project.  He was in serious financial difficulty, and he told me that you  had gone to him and offered to borrow money on your own home to bail him out.  He knew that even that was not enough, so refused your offer.   I think it was a source of pride to  him that he gave up his own new home, his business, and worked to pay off all his debts without cheating his creditors.  But he was touched, and so was I,  by your loving generosity, so typical of you. 

When Dad was critically ill in the VA Hospital, and we were called to his bedside in the middle of the night, we all gathered to be near him.  Charlotte came with her son James Hill, his wife, and their son who was ready to enter the mission field.  The nurses and doctors were worried because there were so many of us.  (Usually, they had patients  with no one who came to visit.  The medical staff decreed that to protect our father,  we could not enter his hospital room until he fell asleep. Then, quietly, two at a time, could slip into the room for a minute or two without disturbing him. Charlotte announced, “The  out-of-town people go first.” Elvon was irate. “I will see my father before any out-of- towners.” Charlotte backed down, and we all got to see him briefly. Finally, he passed the  critical stage, and one by one everyone went home to bed except you and Mary and me.  I sat by his bedside for an hour, and then you said you would stay the rest of the night.  So  you got in your car, followed me home and then followed Mary to see that she made it OK, and then returned to sit with Dad the rest of the night.

After his death, you reluctantly assumed the duty of executor of his estate.  The attorney who was helping us was concerned that there would be a family struggle, with all the Bay children and all of Charlotte’s children who had been sealed to Dad in their adulthood.  Because of your diplomatic approach, Charlotte’s children told you, “We don’t want your father’s money.  All we want is his good name.”  You, however, insisted that they receive what he had specified in his will.  Dad had specified that Charlotte could remain  in the home until her death.   However, she did not want to remain in the home, so  you added her name to the list of the seven of us, handled the sale of the home and split the money eight ways.  There was absolutely no squabbling in our own family over who got what piece of furniture or other assets.  It was because we all had perfect trust in you, and valued our relationship with one another far above any physical legacy. The lawyer was amazed at the lack of ill feelings in the disposition of the matter.

For years, you were always on hand to help Uncle France.  No natural son could have been more kind to him.  You again reluctantly assumed the heavy duty of managing his estate, paying his bills, dealing with the accountants and legal matters.  (I was going through a time of physical anxiety and pain and did not think I could handle it.  Instead, you and Betty helped me , gave me encouragement that my pain was not going to be permanent.   Betty taught me some helpful exercises, how to “crawl like a dog” to get up from the floor.  She did me more good than the doctors).   

Even after your near-fatal heart attack, you were doing things for Uncle France and for Florence, taking them to the doctor, picking up medicine, etc., at the risk of your  own health.  After her death, you often spent the night on  Uncle France’s couch to be there to help him get safely to the bathroom.  You supervised his treatment in the hospital and his move to St.  Joseph’s Villa, and we promised him that he would not have to die alone.   I was so grateful that the Lord enabled us to keep that promise.

Then came the very difficult task for you as administrator of his estate, following his wishes as to the generous disposition of his property and money.  What a headache!   It took a  year.   Again, your natural talents of honorable kindness, diplomacy, and tactful confidentiality, assisted by Betty through the whole process, enabled you to conclude the  settling of the estate.   I never could have done what you did, and did so well.

Since receiving your wonderful letter, I have reread your Personal Statement of Faith.   What a treasure that is!   Your powerful witness of the truth, your honest and effective descriptions of your values and your faith will have greater influence that you can now know in the lives of your descendants for many generations.  Those written words of testimony along with your personal written tributes to each of your children and grandchildren will live through the generations to strengthen your family.  It has far more value than any monetary or physical treasure you could ever bestow.  I value your words and so will my descendants.  You have set a high bar for all of us to achieve.

What you have done for me, has been repeated over and over for other members of the family—Mary, JaNel, Paul, and Phil—and their offspring.  You have blessed us all in  ways too numerous to recount.   We are all honored to have such a man as you—a true Saint, a true Christian gentleman—as our brother.   God bless you always—you and Betty and your beautiful family. 

Much love, 

Helen

Homes We Lived In, by Helen Bay Gibbons

Ruth, Suzanne and Mark Gibbons in the backyard
of the Yale Avenue House, about 1957

I found this little document, written by my late mother, Helen Bay Gibbons (1921-2015). It was in her computer files and is entitled: "Homes We Lived In." Using Google's "Streetview" application, I've added contemporary (2019) photos of these ten homes, as well as the eleventh (and final) home of my late parents, at Canyon Road Towers, 123 East Second Avenue in Salt Lake City.

"Homes We Lived In: The Francis M. Gibbons Family: Ten Moves in the First Ten Years"

by Helen Bay Gibbons

140 West North Temple, Salt Lake City

1.   Frank and Helen. Small rented apartment at 140 West North Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah, during World War II  - June to December 1945.   Now part of a  Church parking lot. 

666 East Second Avenue, Salt Lake City

2.   Frank and Helen. 666 Second Avenue, SLC, another small apartment:  kitchen, bathroom, and living room with a fold-down wall-bed we called “the Cave.”    Now part of an LDS chapel parking lot. January to April 1946. 

1334 East Fifth South, Salt Lake City
This property is immediately adjacent to Mt. Olivet Cemetery where
Frank and Helen Gibbons are buried. Their grave is about a hundred yards
Southeast of the gated entryway visible on the far left.

3.   Frank and Helen. Small house that we bought at 1334 East Fifth South, SLC. 

April 1946 to December 1947.  When Grandpa Earl Bay had a severe coronary heart attack and almost died, we sold the house to invest the money in Grandpa’s business, Bay-Way Venetian Blind Company to help him. The parking lot of Friendship Manor now located where our little house stood. 

23 West 400 North, Salt Lake City

4.    Frank and Helen. Rented basement apartment across the street from the Capitol Hill Ward at 23 West Third North (now 400 North) in Salt Lake City.  One room with kitchen. Bath across a public hall outside the apartment.  Pretty awful, January to September, 1948, but with good landlord, Brother Willard Jones who served in the Salt Lake Temple Presidency. 

160 Kellogg Avenue, Palo Alto, California.
This house is in a highly desirable neighborhood near Stanford University
and is now worth well above seven figures.

5.     Frank and Helen. Our own small home at 160 Kellogg Avenue, Palo Alto, California, September 1948 to September 1950, when we sold the home in preparation for the birth of our first child. The home we loved was later razed and replaced with a larger, fancier home. 

6.    Frank, Helen, and SUZANNE. SUZI’S first home was in Stanford Village, a former World War II Army Barracks remodeled into apartments for married Stanford students. Much less expensive living.  We lived there from September to Christmas 1950, when lack of funds forced Frank’s withdrawal in his last year of law school in  Stanford University and transfer into University of Utah Law School. 

1210 East First South, Salt Lake City

7.  Frank, Helen and SUZANNE. Rented basement apartment, 1210 East First South, Salt Lake City, a fine old Holy Cross Nurses’ Home remodeled into separate apartments, ours probably the laundry room in the past –- very damp.  We lived there from January 1951 until Frank graduated from law school in August, 1951.  Then, the Bishop of University Ward called him as a missionary, with the  student Seventies Quorum in the ward agreeing to support him in the mission field, as recommended in April Conference. We accepted the call, but I felt sad, knowing I would have to leave my baby and go back to work to support myself and Suzi. 

8.   Frank, Helen, Suzi and MARK. MARK’S FIRST HOME:  23 West 3rd North (400 No.) upstairs apartment.  Frank wanted Helen and Suzi to be safe while he filled his mission, and he trusted Brother and Sister Willard Jones, our former landlords.  Also, it was near Grandpa and Grandma Bay and Mary and Bob Ellis.  Then, in October General Conference, the Brethren rescinded the request for Seventies Quorums to support and send married men into the mission field.  Frank began studying for the Utah State Bar exam, so I went back to work for a couple of months so he could spend full time preparing.  Mary Ellis took care of Suzanne while I worked.  As soon as Frank took the bar exam in December, he went back to work and I quit my government job.  Besides, I was pregnant again.  Mark was born in June and came home to that upstairs apartment.  We lived there from August, 1951 until about January 1954. 

72a West 200 North, Salt Lake City--Ruth's first home
This house is directly across the street north from the Conference Center,
which is fitting, since Ruthie sang in the Tabernacle Choir for many years.

9.    Frank, Helen, Suzi, Mark and RUTH. RUTHIE’S FIRST HOME: 72a West First North (200 No.) We were the first tenants in a new apartment building which had more room for the four of us, and where we were more comfortable.  Frank by now was working with the law firm of Senior & Senior and we had a more comfortable income. 

1784 Yale Avenue, Salt Lake City

10.   Frank, Helen, Suzi, Mark, Ruth, and DANIEL. DAN’S   FIRST HOME:  1784 Yale Avenue, a dream come true!   Frank’s client kept asking us to took at the home, and even though we still had a very small income, when we first saw the house, we both KNEW it was OUR HOME. It was a true miracle, a perfect haven of peace and love and beauty, where we lived happily ever after until our children grew up and moved away. 

Canyon Road Towers at 123 East Second Avenue, Salt Lake City

Helen Bay Gibbons in South America, 1978

Helen Bay Gibbons, who served on the General Boards
of the Relief Society, Sunday School, Young Women, and
Melchizedek Priesthood MIA 

The following are two accounts, written by my late parents, Helen Bay Gibbons and Francis M. Gibbons, about my late mother's General Board assignment in South America in 1978:

Our First Visit to South America 

by Francis M. Gibbons

Several months after the revelation on priesthood was announced [in 1978], Helen received an assignment from the presidency of the Relief Society to visit sisters in several countries in South America. It was decided I would accompany her at our own expense. Sister Roy Hatch of Mexico, a member of the Young Women General Board, was assigned to accompany Helen, and her husband, Dr. Roy Hatch, had decided to accompany his wife. We teamed up with the Hatches at Rio de Janeiro. There we learned a quirky truth about Brazilian politics. Although Sao Paulo is by far the largest city in Brazil and its airport at Guarulhos is the busiest of all, all flights into Brazil must land at Rio, and the Sao Paulo passengers must then take a short flight into Sao Paulo. This oddity is the result of the international popularity of Rio as a vacation mecca for today’s jet set. In Sao Paulo, Helen and I were the guests of the newly appointed president of the Sao Paulo Temple and his wife who lived in an apartment in the Vertentes. Years before, Helen had worked with the temple president on one of the general boards. While Helen and Sister Hatch did their work with the local sisters, Dr. Hatch and I attended a session in the temple and also served as the witnesses of the temple sealing of a young couple from Uruguay. There was an interesting and unforeseen consequence of this sealing when we reached Montevideo later in the tour.

In Montevideo we stayed in the mission home, which was known far and wide as Tuttle’s palace. It had been built while Ted Tuttle resided there. Its popular name derived from the fact it was larger than most mission homes and had more amenities than the others. The mission president at the time was a man named Robinson who came from the Mormon colonies in Mexico. Thus he was well acquainted with the Hatches. We enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner with the Robinsons, sans turkey. However, they were able to rustle up some chickens.

We attended a sacrament meeting in Montevideo, where we were all called on to speak. Both of the Hatches spoke Spanish fluently, but both Helen and I needed translators. During my remarks, I noticed several sisters in the audience were weeping. I learned later the young bride whose sealing Dr. Hatch and I had witnessed in Sao Paulo was the daughter of the bishop in Montevideo. Neither of the parents had the resources to attend the services in Sao Paulo, so my mentioning it evoked the tears I mentioned.

Following the meetings in Montevideo, we were driven the length of Uruguay to the city Rivera, on its northern border. There was a light drizzle over part of our route, which brought out the ponchos on the cowboys we saw along the way. It was a delightful sight.

The streets of Rivera were crowded with ancient American cars. This was a condition we found in many South American countries. The city of Rivera is on the border separating Uruguay and Brazil. For most of the leaders here, Spanish was a second language for them, which was a blessing for us since they spoke Spanish haltingly, enabling us to understand easily.

When the sisters had finished their work in Uruguay, we flew to Buenos Aires, where Helen and I were accommodated in the mission home of Elder Robert Wells, the mission president. The Wells took us on a tour of places in the city that were especially interesting to Latter-day Saints. This included the place where Melvin J. Ballard dedicated South America for the preaching of the gospel. His dedicatory prayer included language that indicated the work there would begin slowly like the growth of an oak tree. This is exactly what happened. The Wells had a young daughter with them named Sharlene, who played the Paraguayan harp for us and who later became Miss America. Had we known this was the real Sharlene Wells, we would have given her more coverage in our diaries.

During our stay in Buenos Aires, the king of Spain was in Argentina on a diplomatic visit. Our visit to a notable restaurant coincided with the visit of the king and his party, so that we accidentally became part of the festivities honoring the king. Never again would we be that close to royalty.

Our flight over the Andes to Chile was memorable, as I was absolutely certain our plane wouldn’t make it. These mountains are HUGE. Eight years later when I was assigned to labor in South America as a member of the Seventy, we would learn much more about them. Here I renewed acquaintances with boyhood friend, Bruce Gibson, who was serving as a mission president. Later we traveled to southern Chile, where we visited with one of the daughters of Mary and Bob Ellis, who, it turned out, was the troubleshooter for the mission president. [This is Chris Ellis Quincy, who in 2019 is serving her third mission, and still "troubleshooting" wherever she goes!]

We parted company with the Hatches in Chile and found our way home separately. It was a joyous introduction for us to this fabled land and its wonderful people.

Source: From, "Francis M. Gibbons--Prepared to Serve" by Daniel Bay Gibbons, unpublished manuscript.

The Gift of Tongues

by Helen Bay Gibbons

In the latter part of 1978, The Relief Society General Presidency assigned me as an emergency substitute for another board member. I was to fulfill an assignment in South America even though my Spanish was extremely limited. Nearing the end of our tour of five countries, I participated in Regional Conferences with my companion, Jean Hatch, a member of the Primary General Board.

On Friday, December 1, 1978, we arrived in the city of Concepcion, Chile. On the following day we were to meet with members of three Stakes. Jean went to plan with the Primary leaders. I was ushered into a small classroom in the Stake Center where I would meet with a dear sister, Sofia de Arias, the host Stake Relief Society President. Hermana Arias spoke absolutely no English, and her Spanish issued forth in such a rapid-fire stream of words, I was unable to follow her. The American wife of a Church employee, Sandy Holland, who had served a mission in Chile, was there to serve as translator. There were five of us in the room: Sandy, Sister Arias, her secretary, one of her counselors, and I.

Sister Arias began explaining in her “machine-gun Spanish”, at first nervously, and finally with growing confidence, her plan for conducting the Relief Society session the following day. We were concentrating on communicating with each other, while Sandy repeated her Spanish into English, and my English into Spanish. We spoke to each other almost without thinking of language differences, intent on the content of our discussion.

As we were talking together, a special sweet feeling pervaded the small room. Then I noticed that Sandy and the other sisters were crying. It was then I realized Sister Arias and I were understanding each other in our own language before Sandy could interpret for us. “Lo entiendo," Sister Arias would say, (“I understand it.”)

An inexpressible spirit of love filled the room. When the planning session was over, all of us embraced each other as sisters who knew we had shared a miracle.

Source: Computer files of Helen Bay Gibbons (1921-2015) 

Marinus Christensen and "Climax Jim"

Rufus Nephews, known as "Climax Jim," was one of the most
notorious criminals of the Southwest in the 1890's and early 1900's. 

My great-grandfather, Marinus Christensen (1863-1927, was a truly fascinating man: Born, orphaned and adopted in Denmark, crossed the Atlantic as a small child; was orphaned again on the pioneer trail in America; raised as an Overson by his older sister (and perhaps birth mother) and her husband in St. Johns, Arizona; learned the blacksmith trade from his Welsh father-in-law; ran the town's only blacksmith shop for thirty years; became a pillar of the community, the leader of the town band and orchestra, frequent actor on the stage, the sergeant in the town militia and the Sunday School superintendent in the large latter-day saint ward; elected multiple times as St. Johns Justice of the Peace; and became universally beloved for his good humor and pleasant manner. I'll post a much more detailed biography of his life later, but for now I offer this fascinating detail:

On April 21, 1900 this item appeared in the St. Johns Herald: "Marinus Christensen arrived Saturday night from Solomonville bringing with him "Climax Jim," who is having his preliminary trial today, charged with breaking some of the territory's ten commandments."

Starting in about 1894 the St. Johns newspapers--and every other Arizona newspaper--were seemingly filled with stories about "Climax Jim," who was a notorious criminal, cattle rustler and jail escape artist. His real name was Rufus Nephews, but he picked up the nickname "Climax Jim" because his favorite chewing tobacco was the popular "Climax" brand. Over a period of a decade he was arrested and charged dozens of times in Arizona and New Mexico, but never convicted.

Late nineteenth and early twentieth century advertisements
for "Climax" brand plug tobacco. "Climax Jim" got his nickname
because he refused to use any other brand.

Climax Jim at Fort Apache

Climax Jim was first indicted for stealing cattle in Graham County, Arizona in 1894. When his case came up for trial, Climax's attorney produced witnesses who swore that the crime had actually been committed in neighboring Apache County. St. Johns was the county seat in Apache County. So Climax Jim was acquitted in Graham County, and charges refiled in St. Johns. When that case came up for trial, he produced other witnesses who claimed that the crime had been committed in Graham County, and he was acquitted again.

A few years later, his local reputation became Western legend, when he was charged with altering a check and then trying to cash it. At the trial, the check in question was placed on one of the counsel tables in the courtroom as Exhibit "A" for the prosecution. Then, before the exhibit was introduced, the prosecutor and defense attorneys got into a heated argument and were called to the bench to confer with the judge. During the discussion, Climax Jim, who of course had a chew of "Climax" tobacco bulging in his cheek, stood up calmly and ambled over to the counsel table, where he picked up the check and stuffed it into his mouth.

The judge finally calmed the two attorneys down and told them to proceed. When the prosecutor reached down to find his Exhibit "A," it was nowhere to be seen. A few feet away, behind the defendant's counsel table, Climax Jim sat calmly, chewing his tobacco with an air of utter innocence. The case was dismissed for lack of evidence. In a final gesture of bravado, as Jim departed the courtroom following his acquittal, he passed by the bench, and spit the remains of Exhibit "A" into judge's brass spittoon.

Climax Jim

Over the years, Climax Jim became a legend for his numerous successful jailbreaks. In 1894 he was arrested at age 17 for stealing a dozen steers in Winslow, Arizona. He was arrested and taken to jail. That night, Climax Jim used a hidden pocketknife to cut a hole in the adobe walls of the jail. Several months later, on July 4, 1894, he stole a horse in Gila County. The sheriff caught him in Pleasant Valley, and took in custody to Globe. Along the way they had to camp out in the wild, so the sheriff chained Climax Jim to a post. During the night, Jim succeeded in breaking a link in the chain with a rock, and fled on foot. Several months later, he was arrested for another crime, and placed behind bars. He was given a hot meal for dinner, but kept the spoon in his cell when the tray was taken away. That night he used the spoon to scrape away the mortar around the bricks in the wall and created a hole large enough to climb through. He then stole a horse and headed south toward Mammoth, where he was arrested for stealing another horse.

Climax Jim also was an expert lock picker and safe cracker. After being locked in a securely-locked cell one night in another jail, he boasted to the sheriff that he would break out that night. The Sheriff laughed at him, but the next morning when the Sheriff returned to the office, there was Jim sitting at the Sheriff's desk with a big smile on his face. Later, in Clifton, Arizona, a storekeeper ordered the latest safe from back east, advertised as burglar proof. Climax Jim was at the depot, waiting for a train, the day the safe arrived. He started playing with the dial, and within 30 minutes, to the astonishment of a crowd of onlookers, succeeded in opening the door.

Marinus Christensen

Now back to St. Johns, where my great grandfather, Marinus Christensen, was the town blacksmith and St. Johns Justice of the Peace. In June of 1898 Climax Jim was captured for cattle rustling at the Hash Knife Ranch. Burt Mossman, the ranch foreman (who later became the first captain of the Arizona Rangers) took Climax down the mountain to St. Johns. He was locked in the jail and an arraignment was set in Superior Court (where my grandfather later presided as judge).

During the night, Climax Jim sprang the lock and escaped into the darkness. He was at large for several months thereafter, but was a busy man. He became part of what was called the "Red Pipkin Gang," and participated in attempts to rob two trains in Arizona and one in New Mexico. He was finally arrested on New Years Eve, 1899 in Graham County. By New Years Day, 1900, he had escaped, but was recaptured along Eagle Creek in February, and returned to jail. On the morning of March 6, 1899, Graham County Sheriff Ben Clark fitted Climax with a new pair of heavy leg irons, which were riveted shut by the local blacksmith. Two days later, Climax Jim broke out of the shackles and ran for freedom.

At this point, enter Marinus Christensen, who traveled down to Graham County to transport the prisoner back up to St. Johns to face numerous charges, including the charges dating back to 1898. I suppose Marinus was sent for various reasons--he was a big man, the Sergeant of Company K, the St. Johns militia, and a blacksmith, so he could secure his own handcuffs and leg irons. In any event, Climax Jim was brought back to Apache County, and placed in heavily guarded custody. He was placed in a cell and shackled 24 hours a day with heavy leg irons, probably made by Marinus Christensen.

The sequel is as follows. On the night of July 7, 1899, Climax Jim escaped from his leg shackles in the Apache County jail, removed his clothes and waited for his jailer to enter the cell to check the shackles. When the jailer came into the cell, Climax Jim threw his clothes into the jailer's face, and after a vicious fight inside the cell, made his escape out through the open door on foot--without a stitch of clothing on. Jumping on a horse, he rode out of town like Lady Godiva, and escaped into the mountains.

For more information, see Karen Holliday and John D. Tanner, Jr., Climax Jim: the Tumultuous Tale of Arizona's Rustling Cowboy (Arizona Lithographers, 2005). See also, Marshall Trimble, "The Outrageous Climax Jim," True West Magazine, November 5, 2012.

Gila Valley, Globe & Northern Railway station in Solomonville, east of Safford.
Marinus Christensen traveled here in April 1900 to retrieve the prisoner, "Climax Jim."

Oral Interviews of Francis M. Gibbons (1921-2016)—Part 9

(From an Interview of Francis Marion Gibbons conducted by Daniel Bay Gibbons September 26, 2001 in Salt Lake City, Utah)

Family and Church

St. Johns Stake Academy
The center of spiritual life for the Latter-day Saints in St. Johns

My Father’s Church Service in St. Johns

DBG:    Dad, let me ask about Grandpa’s Church service both in St. Johns and Phoenix.
FMG:    In St. Johns I really have no recollection of his service.  He was on the High Council.  Levi Udall was the Stake President.  As a member of the High Council he would go with the Stake family to the various Wards in the Stake or Ward conferences.  The Stake1 would have included Springerville, Eagar, a little community up on the New Mexico Border, Alpine, Concho, then over on the Railroad there were a couple of little branches over there.  So his role as a member of the High Council would have involved attending, as I have stated, the Stake functions held in these various units.  They would travel around as a group, the Stake Presidency and members of the High Council.  I don’t remember how they had divided their responsibilities.  Maybe one of the Counselors would take two or three members of the High Council and they’d go to this unit and then the President and other High Councillors would take other units.  I don’t know how they did it.  But you would know from your service on the High Council how that would happen.  So he would participate and would be called on to speak.  I’m sure that they used him heavily in giving instructions on teaching and what not.   So that was his role in St. Johns.

Aunts and Uncles of Judge Andrew Smith Gibbons on his father's side
Standing: Uncles Bill, Dick, Josh and Roy
Seated: Aunt Eliza, father Andrew Vinson, and Aunt Martha

Long Service of Extended Family in the St. Johns Stake

Its interesting that the Pioneer was the senior member of the High Council in the St. Johns Stake, and A.V. was a member of the High Council of that Stake, as was my father.  So there were three generations in our family who were members of that High Council.  And of course there were the other Gibbons boys, Uncle Bill, Uncle Dick, Uncle Roy and Uncle Josh.  I’m sure that the various organizations of the Ward and of the Stake were peopled with a lot of Gibbons.  So our family was very prominent in that part of the State.

Bishop John H. Udall of the Phoenix First Ward

My Father’s Church Service in Phoenix

Then when he went to Phoenix, he was on the Stake Sunday School Board, and in that capacity I guess they used him chiefly, because of his ability as a teacher, to train other teachers.  That would have applied to the whole Maricopa Stake.2  When we went down into the valley there was only one Stake there in the whole valley.  It was called the Maricopa Stake.  That’s the name of the County.  The headquarters were in Mesa.  Prior to the time I went on my mission there was still just the one Stake there and we held all of the Stake conferences over in Mesa in a building called “The Mezona Hall” that the Church had built.  That’s where the Stake conferences were held.  And we traveled from Phoenix the eighteen miles over to Mesa to hold the Stake conferences.  And so my father’s role in the Stake Sunday School Superintendency would be to participate in the various activities of these Wards in connection with their Sunday Schools.  

Mezona Hall in Mesa, Arizona, purchased by the Church in 1919 and expanded in 1926.
The name "Mezona" is combination of Mesa and Arizona.

The Phoenix First and Second Wards

In Phoenix, when we first went there, there was just the one Ward.3  There was a Phoenix First Ward which was just a block from the Phoenix Union High School.  So we would travel clear across town to go to the Phoenix First Ward.  And when we moved there the Bishop was John H. Udall, the brother of Levi and Jesse and the son of D.K.  Because he had been raised in St. Johns there was a very close tie with our family.  When they built the Second Ward we didn’t move our membership at first.  I think maybe the reason was because of John H.  There was a very close relationship there.  But later we moved our recommends from the First to the Second Ward.  Our Bishop in the Second Ward was George M. Price.  George’s brother, J.R. Price, was the Stake President.  J.R. Price had been a missionary under Heber J. Grant in England.  So there was a close relationship between J.R. Price and President Grant.

July 16, 1915 article in the Holbrook News
Mentioning the teaching of Andrew Smith Gibbons in
the Holbrook Stake

My Father as a Gospel Teacher

After we moved into the Second Ward my father became the teacher in the High Priests Quorum and also taught the Sunday School class.  So he was very heavily called upon because of his teaching ability.  But he never occupied a position of principal administrative responsibility in the Church.  His whole Church career was in the judicial system, the High Council, or in teaching.  He seemed very comfortable with that and he did well at it.  His ability was recognized throughout the Mormon community in the Salt River Valley.  So that was the extent of my father’s connection with the Church.  I’m satisfied that he was handicapped because of his failure fully to live the Word of Wisdom.  I can’t help but think that the leaders of the Church knew that he wasn’t a gung-ho thousand percent latter-day saint.  In a sense he was kind of on the fringe.  He would have been well known in the professional community there because of his role with that firm, which was one of the finest firms in town, and his connection with the Arizona Club, and what not.  But I’ve told you before many times I’m sure, that at one point – and I don’t know what prompted it – but he finally came to the point where he decided, “I’m not going to do this any more.”  He gave up his tobacco and he gave up his social drinking and became a really converted latter-day saint except for coffee (laughing) and tea.  He couldn’t quite make the complete break  (Laughing) but he did well.  He did very, very well.

Fannie Christensen and her daughters,
Jessie Christensen Morgan and Adeline Christensen Gibbons
After her husband's death, Addie served in many church callings

My Mother’s Church Service in St. Johns and Phoenix

DBG:    What about Nana’s Church service during your growing up years?

FMG:    In St. Johns my mother was a counselor in the Stake Primary Presidency.  So in that position she would travel to these different units of the Church in the St. Johns area and give instructions in the Primary.  She was always active in the Relief Society.  I can remember going to Relief Society meetings with her as a little kid.  They did a lot of quilting.  They had bazaars and things of that kind.  Of course with her singing ability and her association with this guitar group, she was very active in musical circles in St. Johns. My parents had a group of special friends that they used to socialize with a lot, in addition to the regular socials for the Church.  They would get together and have socials in their homes and what not.  So they had a very full life.  When she went to Phoenix, she became a counselor in the Stake Young Women’s Association at a time when Delbert Stapley was the Superintendent of the Young Men.  So, because of that my mother and Delbert Stapley became very well acquainted.  So my mother always called him, “Dell.”  Never Brother Stapley or President Stapley or Elder Stapley, she just called him “Dell.” And he called her Addie. So she was very active in the Young Women’s program in Phoenix for many years.  I never really saw her perform because of the fact that it was the Young Women’s organization, but I knew that she was active.  She became active in the Relief Society in Phoenix also.  

So my parents were really active latter-day saints.  If the truth were known, I suppose a large majority of the people in the Church at that time had their coffee, had their tea.  It was just not a big deal back in those days.  It became a big deal with the emphasis Brother Grant gave to it.  So they enjoyed the Church and they enjoyed the members of the Church and they were always very supportive.

Children of Adeline and Andrew Smith Gibbons
Standing: Andrew Smith Gibbons, Jr., and Francis M. Gibbons
Seated: La Von Gibbons Thurber, Pauline Gibbons Clarke, and Ruth Gibbons Elliott
Judge Andrew Smith Gibbons vetoed the idea of missions for both of his sons

My Father Vetoes a Full Time Mission for Me

In that respect, I heard later that when I turned nineteen, Bishop Price went to my father to talk about sending me on a mission, and my father vetoed it.  My suspicion is that my father felt that I would be better off not going on a mission and that I would do better to concentrate on my business activities, saving my money, building up my financial status so that I could go into the grocery business on my own.  He just couldn’t see the value of it.  They never had a missionary in the family.  My father wasn’t missionary minded.  I guess it was a judgment he made that it was not worthwhile.  It’s unfortunate that he never really saw that side of the Church, nor did he understand the impact that a mission could have on a young man.

My Father’s Regrets About Not Sending Andrew on a Mission

I did hear him say later that he regretted that he didn’t send Andrew on a mission. I think that a mission would have been the making of my brother Andrew because he later became a very diligent Stake Missionary.  He was the Stake Mission President in Phoenix and they were really doing a lot of missionary work.  Then he became a member of a Bishopric and was a counselor in the Presidency of the London Temple when he was a mature man.  But what a blessing it would have been for my brother Andrew to have gone on a mission.  Especially at a time when he was at that age.  He was born in 1907 so that he would have been 19 years old in 1926 or so.  That would have been the ideal time for my brother to go on his mission.  

Notes

1 The St. Johns Arizona Stake was created 23 July 1887 with David K. Udall as Stake President. Deseret News 2001-2002 Church Almanac , page 172.  ASG’s uncle William H. Gibbons served as a counselor to D.K. Udall.  D.K. served until April 30, 1922, when he was succeeded by his son, Levi S. Udall.  Levi served as Stake President from 1922 to 1945.  Levi was an attorney who had been coached through the Bar by ASG, and who would defeat ASG for the judgeship in the election of 1930.  ASG’s service on the St. Johns Stake High Council was likely under President Levi S. Udall.

2 The Maricopa Stake (later renamed the Mesa Arizona Maricopa Stake) was created 10 December 1882 with Alexander F. MacDonald as Stake President.

3 The Phoenix ward split had actually occurred 20 February 1928.  Church historical records contain the following information regarding the Phoenix First and Second Wards as of December 31, 1930, the very month that ASG and his family arrived in Phoenix:

“PHOENIX 1ST WARD consists of Latter-day Saints residing in the east part of the city of Phoenix, or in that section lying east of Central Avenue. The ward was organized Feb. 20, 1928, when the Phoenix Ward was divided, and John H. Udall, who still presides (1930), was chosen as Bishop. The Phoenix Ward chapel, to which an amusement hall was added in 1922, became the meeting house for the Phoenix 1st Ward. On Dec. 31, 1930, the Phoenix 1st Ward had 690 members, including 172 children.  PHOENIX 2ND WARD, Maricopa Stake, consists of Latter-day Saints residing in the west part of the city of Phoenix, or in that section lying west of Central Avenue. The ward was organized Feb. 20, 1928, when the Phoenix Ward was divided. George F. Price, who had acted as Bishop of the Phoenix Ward, was chosen as Bishop of the newly organized Phoenix 2nd Ward, and he still acts in that position. A fine modern chapel, built in Spanish style at a cost of $80,000, has been erected in the ward since its organization. It is of interest to note that many non-Mormons donated generously towards the erection of this chapel, and a certain member who does not desire his name to be disclosed, donated a pipe organ costing $4,000. The membership of the Phoenix 2nd Ward Dec. 31, 1930, was 680, including 151 children.”

Andrew Jenson, Encyclopedic History of the Church , pages 653 to 654.  Because the ASG home in Phoenix was “west of Central Avenue”, the Gibbons family was technically in the Phoenix Second Ward from the time they moved to Phoenix in December of 1930.

Oral Interviews of Francis M. Gibbons (1921-2016)—Part 8

(From an Interview of Francis Marion Gibbons conducted by Daniel Bay Gibbons September 26, 2001 in Salt Lake City, Utah)

St. Johns Town Life

Wagons entering St. Johns

Patriarch Willard Farr (1856-1951)

Town Celebrations on the Twenty-Fourth of July

I remember on the twenty-fourth of July there would usually be a reenactment of the arrival of Brigham Young into the valley.  The children would be dressed up in pioneer attire and would have little wagons with covers on them, and we would march down Cleveland Avenue and enter the Church grounds and there we would have festivities all day.  There would be races of different kinds.  Three legged races.  Regular races for different age groups.  On one occasion I worked out a deal with Brother Farr,1 who was our Stake Patriarch.  He had a little service station and sold some candies and canned goods.  I took a box of – I think they were Baby Ruths – and I hawked them there on the grounds of the Church and I got one free candy bar for selling the whole box of candy.  So there would be stuff to eat and drink.  It was a very festive occasion which was always touched off early in the morning with a dynamite blast.  Someone had the responsibility to go up near the Church building and set off a charge of dynamite, which could be heard all over the valley.  And that was the signal for everybody to get up and get ready for the festivities. So, they were very special occasions and all the kids especially looked forward to enjoying that kind of an outing.

DBG:    What other kinds of community life were there for the town – for the Ward?

Silent Movies in the Dance Hall

FMG:    There was a hall.  I guess it was intended originally as a dance hall. It had a stage.  I can remember attending silent movies in that hall.  My father, because of his status, had a special place for him and his family that was near the stove.  They had a stove that would keep you warm.  It was really very pleasant in cold weather to go there and sit near that stove and watch the show.  Very often the kids would crowd down front near the stage.  They’d leave their parents and go down front near the stage so they could see the show better.  I can remember there were sockets for bulbs for the dramas.  I remember that my cousin Rendol used to go down there and we’d like to stick our finger in that socket to get a little shock. It was really exciting. (Laughter) So we had that movie house.  

ASG's cousin Dodd Greer (left) and his sons were town musicians

Town Musicians

There was a town orchestra that had been organized by the town barber, Jim Shreeve.2  So when there were dances, either in that hall or over in the High School, why usually Jim Shreeve’s orchestra would play.  Later, when we moved out of St. Johns, I understand that Rendol and my cousin Calvin “Top” Greer,3 Dodd’s son, who was a fine musician, and Ez Thurber4 had a little band.  They would provide most of the live music for the people in St. Johns for their dances and so forth.  They used to go over – we called it the railroad – they’d go over to Sanders and Houck and several little towns there on the railroad, not far from Holbrook. And they’d go over there and play for their dances.  

The Traveling “Bronson Players”

Also, when I was a boy there was a traveling group called the Bronson Players.5  There was a couple named Bronson who had dramatic ability and they had organized a little company.  And they would travel around to these little towns.  For example, they’d come into St. Johns and they had their own tent, and they’d set up the tent there on the triangular lot near the anchor of Cleveland Avenue, and they would stay there for a couple of weeks.  They would have show every night except Sunday.  I remember when they came into town they needed a lot of help to set up their tents, so the guys that were big enough could work for the Bronsons setting up their tent and they’d get free tickets.  So we would go to those Bronson shows almost every night while they were in town.  

DBG:    Wasn’t there a little song that was played by the Bronson players?

The Bronson Refrain: “Diddle Town to Dawdle Town”

FMG:    Yes.  Yes.  That song – at least the one I remember – went this way:

(Singing)

Diddle Town to Dawdle Town is eighteen miles.

From Dawdle Town to Diddle Town is eighteen miles.

From Diddle Town to Dawdle Town,

From Dawdle Town to Diddle Town,

From Diddle Town to Dawdle Town is eighteen miles.

(Laughter)

Advent of Radio in 1926

Then later, when we got electricity, which was I think in 1926 when I would have been five years old, then of course we had the radio.  I remember the first radio that my father purchased.  It was an Atwater Kent.  We used to listen to it almost every night for a while.  

“Amos and Andy” – Racist Attitudes in St. Johns

The children were permitted to stay up until Amos and Andy was over.  That was the cutoff, when you’d heard Amos and Andy, then you had to go to bed.  Of course it was a racist show. The Kingfish – “Buzz me, Miss Blue!” We never thought a thing about it.  It was good entertainment.  It was funny.  And so we were raised with those racist attitudes.  

Things Lost with the Coming of Radio

In any event, after electricity and the radio came in I guess we really lost a lot by that, because up until then you were on your own resources for entertainment.  As a result, most of the families in St. Johns insisted that their children learn instruments. Now my sisters, LeVon and Pauline, both played the piano.  We had a piano in our home.  My brother Andrew played the horn – the bass horn.  Rendol was very skilled as a musician.  In fact that’s how he made his life.  The Greer boys were fine musicians.  And so you’d find in most Mormon families there was a lot of musical talent. So they would entertain themselves, and they’d get together with little groups.  I mentioned my mother’s guitar club.  They used to get together regularly and practice and then they would perform.  So that was the nature of the entertainment.  

Early Radio Programming

But, as I say, when the radio came in, why then too much we were glued to the radio.  There was not a lot of programming, so that it was not a twenty four hour thing.  But there were certain shows that we used to enjoy.  They had a lot of dramas on radio.  I remember there was a program called the Campagna Italian Balm.  It was kind of like this Jurgens Lotion.  This was a sponsor.  And they’d have these mystery shows on the radio and all of the sound effects and what not.  So the family would gather around the radio and really enjoy the drama of it.  Then there was the Maxwell House Playhouse Theater, and so forth.  That added a very interesting aspect to life

My Only Experience in “Trotting the Boards”

Then I’ve told you, I’m sure, many times about my only experience in trotting the boards.  Rendol’s sister Leona6 put together this play and she roped Rendol and me into performing.  She had us all dressed up in little suits and plug hats with canes.  We performed in this little theater that I told you about where we had the silent movies.  I still remember the song that Rendol and I sang together. It went:

(Singing)

While you’re gone

I’ll be good

Not because

I’m so good

But because 

I’m Kar-AAAAAzy for you.7

(Laughter). And then it went:

(Singing)

While you’re gone

I’ll be nice . . .

And so forth and so on.  So Rendol and I performed together under Leona Gibbons’ direction.  And so there were these kinds of dramatic things that went on.  

Marinus Christensen, left, had
a dramatic flair and was a frequent participant
in St. Johns dramatic productions

Grandpa Christensen on the Stage

My Grandpa Christensen was very much admired for his ability as a performer.  He performed often in those little plays and dramas that were organized in St. Johns.  I remember the one thing that I’ve heard my mother talk about many times.  He played the part of a butcher.  At one part in the play he had a ham and he was either on a park bench, or someplace, and he had that ham by him.  And Uncle David was in the audience.  There was a theft in progress.  That ham was being stolen.  And David stood up in the audience and said, “WATCH OUT PA, HE’S STEALING YOUR HAMMMMM!!! ”  (Laughter).  So Grandpa Christensen was very much in the midst of the entertainment.

DBG:    Dad, tell me more about the Courthouse.

Portico entrance to Apache County Courthouse

The Apache County Courthouse

FMG:    Father’s court was on the second floor of the Courthouse.  On the main floor was the Clerk’s office and the Assessor’s office and the Sheriff’s office.  And then in the back of the main floor was the jail.  I remember the feelings I had when I would see that jail.  It had a very forbidding appearance to me.  But the prisoners were kept right there in the jail on the first floor of the Courthouse.  You went up the stairs and on the upper floor was the courtroom, which you’ve seen. Then my father’s chambers were on the front of the building, or the north side of the building.  Then the County Attorney had an office up there.  And I think that’s just about all.  I think the top floor was devoted to the Court.  The courtroom, the chambers of the Judge, the County Attorney.  In my father’s chambers was a rotating – I don’t know what you’d call it – it was a kind of a little library.  He had his books that he was using there in that little carousel.  So you could turn it around, so if you had a book on the other side he just turned this carousel and there was the book right in front of him.  I remember as a little kid it was quite exciting to turn that carousel, which I didn’t do often because he didn’t like it.  That was one of the features of his chambers.  So he could go right from his chambers to the bench.  I neglected to mention, there would have been an office up there for the Court Reporter and his Bailiff and what not.  I was really too young to appreciate my father’s role as the presiding officer of that Court.  I had a very childlike perspective.  I was interested in things like this carousel with the books in, and things of that sort.  There was a peculiar odor connected with that Courthouse.  There were spittoons around – a lot of smoking that went on.  As a result over a period of years the odors would accumulate.  So the Courthouse had a very distinctive odor.  A combination of cigarette, tobacco smoke, pipe smoke, cigar smoke and whatever.  But to me it was an impressive building.  I can recall the sense of reflected importance that I had because that’s where my father presided.  

My Father’s “Good Life” on the Bench in St. Johns

I can envision that my father had a really good life there.  He had an assured income, which was good for the time.  He didn’t have any worry about money.  The load was not heavy, and of course that accounted for the fact that he so often went out of St. Johns to preside in other courts.  He was one of the prime movers in the construction of the St. Johns golf course, which was up on the bench adjacent to the “St. Johns International Airport.”  (Laughter).  So he liked to play golf.  He liked to hunt.  He liked to fish.  I’ve been fishing with him.  We used to go up to the Lyman reservoir and fish.  Then I’ve told you about the outings when we would go up into the White Mountains and fish for trout.  I was with him on one occasion on a hunting outing when they were deer hunting.  So he had these outdoor activities; golf, hunting, fishing.  He had the interest in this sheep herd and then a cattle herd.  He was an investor.  Never made any money out of it but, you know, he’d like to go out and watch them dip the sheep and brand.  I can remember going with him to watch them brand the young heifers.  So this was a nice outing for him.  As I say, he always had a nice car.  So it was kind of the Life of Riley,8 really.  

Judge A.S. Gibbons

My Father Returns to Law Practice at Age Fifty

For that reason I have always really admired my father for having left that rather cloistered – carefree in a sense – life to go down to the big city, Phoenix, the capital of the State and to go into the practice of law at age fifty.  Now he’d been County Attorney for a year or two, but he’d never really practiced law.  I’m sure that it was traumatic for him.  At the same time I’m satisfied that it gave him a good feeling that he went from the bench to the practice of law and excelled.  

Harmony Between Jews, Mexicans, Mormons and Indians in St. Johns

So really in my earliest life in St. Johns I lived a very sheltered, secure, uncomplicated life there with my family and enjoying the opportunities of the Church.  It was an unusual community, especially when you introduce the Jews into it.  The Barths9 and the Schusters.10  So you have the Jews, the Mexicans, the Mormons all thrown together in that little community.  The Catholics and the Mormons.  And we all lived in peace.  The days of the antagonisms between the two communities had subsided.  

DBG:    Also, you had three – actually four Indian tribes within a short distance.

FMG:    Oh yes.

DBG:    Zuni, Hopi, Navajo and Apache.

FMG:    Yeah.  The town was really ringed by the Indian tribes.  Because of my father’s position he had a lot of Indians in his court.  You know all about Emo and Prescott.

DBG:    Tell me more about Emo and Prescott.

Our Navajo Friends, Emo and Prescott

FMG:    Emo and Prescott were Navajos.  They had been in my father’s court for some reason, I don’t know.  He had made their acquaintance.  He knew of their agricultural skills.  So he hired them every Spring.  They’d come over from the Reservation to St. Johns and set up in the wash house and they made that their home while they were there.  They would sleep there.  Then during the day they would plow and plant the garden and get everything in ship shape.  They always brought little trinkets with them.  I remember they brought a bow and arrow on one occasion and little jewelry trinkets and what not.  They always had something for us.  Both of them put up their hair in little buns on the back, and I remember one and maybe both of them had rather colorful little things that they put over the knot of the hair in the back.  They always had a – they didn’t stink, but they had a distinctive odor about them, and it was really rather pleasant.  They were very friendly until Andrew played his joke, and that was the end of our relationship.  But it was a very interesting thing to have Emo and Prescott come and spend a few days with us, maybe a week or so getting everything in ship shape and then they’d go.

DBG:    What was Andrew’s joke?

Andrew Smith Gibbons, Jr. and Francis M. Gibbons
The two sons of Judge A.S. Gibbons and Adeline Christensen Gibbons
Photo taken in Salt Lake City about 1965

Andrew Plays a Joke on Emo and Prescott

FMG:    Well, he had a magneto.11  He hooked it up to the stove in the wash house.  Then he positioned himself where he could see their reaction.  And they came in one evening after they had finished their work and Andrew was there at the window watching and he give it this [cranking motion] with the magneto and it caused the pans on the stove to shake and move.  They were terrified and ran out of the wash house and wouldn’t go back in.  Mother found out what had happened and so she called my Dad immediately.  My Dad came down from the Courthouse and he demonstrated to them what had happened, but that didn’t make any difference.  They were convinced that the Gibbons wash house was beset with evil spirits and they wouldn’t go back in.  They spent the night outside and went home and never came back.  Of course Andrew, who was fifteen years older than me, was just having a little fun and he didn’t have any idea that that would be the impact.  That was the last of our relationship with Emo and Prescott.

1 Willard Farr: The Stake Patriarch in St. Johns during FMG’s boyhood. Born 5 July 1856 in Ogden, Weber County, Utah Territory to Lorin Farr and Mary Bingham.  He was called to be Bishop of the St. Johns Ward on 24 July 1887 at the age of 31.  He succeeded D.K. Udall, who had just become the President of the new St. Johns Stake.  He later served as St. Johns Stake Patriarch for many years before his death.  His occupations included farmer, school teacher, and the owner and operation of a service station in St. Johns.    History of the St. Johns Arizona Stake , page 153. On 13 October 1877 he married Mary E. Ballantyne, daughter of Richard Ballantyne and Mary Pierce. He arrived in St. Johns June 2, 1881. In 1894 he was elected probate judge of Apache county, and served in that position two years.   Andrew Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia , Vol. 1, page 557.  He served as Bishop from 1887 to 1894.  Andrew Jenson, Encyclopedic History of the Church , page 733.  Brother Farr also served two terms as St. Johns Stake Clerk: first from 1906 to 1912, and later from 1920 to 1928. Andrew Jenson, Encyclopedic History of the Church , page 732.  Of his personal qualities, it has been noted: “Elder Farr is five feet ten inches in height, of rather slender build, and has brown hair and eyes. He is unpretentious in demeanor, humble and unassuming in all the walks of life, deliberate in counsel and does not jump at conclusions hastily.”   Andrew Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia , Vol. 1, page 557. Apparently Brother Farr at one time had a home or farm in the Round Valley area, located on the Little Colorado River, about 20 miles below, or northwest of St. Johns. It was only a small village in which L. D. S. meetings were held in the school house.  At a sacrament meeting held May 29, 1910, at this home of Patriarch Farr, the saints at Hunt and Concho were organized as a ward with Asahel H. Smith as Bishop. Andrew Jenson, Encyclopedic History of the Church , page 346.  Willard Farr died 18 November 1951.  

2 James S. Shreeve (1891-1962): Town barber. The shop, known as  “Jim’s Barber Shop” was located on the “Whiting Block,” the main business district in St. Johns. See Wilhelm, A History of the St. Johns Arizona Stake, page 144. See also, St. Johns Cemetery records at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/az/apache/cemeteries/stjohns.txt

3 Irl Calvin Greer (1919-1995): FMG’s second cousin. Calvin was the son of Dodd L. Greer and Wilmerth Hazel Butler, and the younger brother of Lacy Camp Greer, the “real cowboy” with his own horse, whom FMG always envied as a boy.

4 A. Ezrel Thurber, Sr. (1882-1974): Confirmed FMG a member of the Church on 7 July 1929 in the St. Johns Ward, St. Johns Arizona Stake.  Also known as “Pop” Thurber, he was the father of A. Ezrel Thurber, Jr., the future husband of FMG’s sister LeVon Gibbons.

5 The Claman Bronson Players: Traveling vaudeville company, active in Arizona during the 1920’s. The company would come into a small town for a period of a few days to two weeks, and perform a different show every night, thus encouraging people to attend night after night. The titles of the plays, gleaned from contemporary newspapers, are fascinating: “The Clodhopper,” “The Church and Its People,” “The Call of the North Woods,” “The Cowboy and the Girl,” “Jiggs and Maggie in a Mining Camp,” etc. The following newspaper articles from the period will give more detail about this company and how they operated:

From the Arizona Republic in Phoenix, December 17, 1921:

CLODHOPPER RETURNS TO ELKS

"Toby" comes back to the Elks theater today with a matinee at 2:30 and tonight at 8:15 in the smashing rural comedy-drama, "The Clodhopper." If you don't think that "Toby" has become immensely popular during his short stay in Phoenix Just try to get into the Elks tonight and then if you can't, take a friendly "tip" and make your reservations for Sunday to see the new play, "The Call of the North Woods," with "Toby" up in Canada. The Claman-Bronson company with "Toby" have made a decided hit. A pleasing feature of the Claman-Bronson players is that they give two complete shows in one a snappy drama and a rattling good vaudeville show. Either one could make good in itself.

From the Miami Daily Arizona Silver Belt, in Miami, Arizona, December 24, 1921:

XMAS PRESENT— 

What to give them? If you can’t decide what Xmas present to get your wife, mother, father, sister or the kiddies. Get them a season ticket. Let them come every night during Xmas week at the Unique theater to see "Toby” and the Claman Bronson company of players. The price is only 50c for the best seats, they will laugh and enjoy themselves and never forget it. They will thank you and you could not give them a more appropriate present. 

WHO IS TOBY?— 

Theater & amusement lovers In Miami should be delighted to know that they are to have the Claman Bronson company with "Toby” for the entire Xmas week at the Unique theater starting Sunday night, with entire change of play and vaudeville every night. Everyone in Miami will enjoy a good laugh! with Toby and soon everyone In Miami will know Toby and like, him. He will make you laugh and forget your troubles in every play that this company presents at the Unique during Xmas week. He'll drives away all your troubles and makes the world seem brighter. The Claman Bronson company is a capable one and comes highly recommended to Miami from Phoenix and other coast cities where they have appeared. 

EXTRA SPECIAL! CHRISTMAS ATTRACTION UNIQUE THEATER 

One Week Starting Sunday, Dec. 25 The Claman-Bronson Co., 12 Capable People, Including TOBY And the Famous Toby Quartette Direct From a Successful Stock Engagement at the Elks Theatre, Phoenix. HIGH CLASS VAUDEVILLE AND A REPER TOIRE OF THE BEST PLAYS “THE CLODHOPPER” “THE CHURCH AND ITS PEOPLE” “THE CALL OF THE NORTH WOODS” “THE COWBOY AND THE GIRL” “THE BARRIER” “WAY DOWN EAST” “SPUTTER” A Positive Riot of Fun PRICES ONLY 50c PLUS TAX Complete Change Each Night ONE SHOW EACH NIGHT At 8 p. in.—Doors Open 7:30 p. m.

From the Miami Daily Arizona Silver Belt, January 3, 1921:

Real Flesh and Blood Play For People Of A Mining District 

A rare treat, especially for the people of a mining district is promised in the four act comedy melodrama. “The Gambler and the Girl.” which is to be presented by the Claman-Bronson troupe at the Unique this evening. This evening’s play, otherwise entitled “Jiggs and Maggie in a Mining Camp,” is said to be replete in humorous situations and will undoubtedly appeal to all lovers of good clean comedy. The Claman-Bronson players, in their brief stay here in Miami have scored such a hit with local theater goers as is rarely accorded visiting stock companies. Through their excellent presentations of popular plays, their efforts have all been attended with large houses. They will stay in Miami for the remainder of the week, and their plays for the duration of the stay will include several that have made record runs in larger cities of the country. 

From the Graham Guardian in Safford, Arizona, January 20, 1922:

NOW PLAYING Layton Hall EXTRA SPECIAL THEATRICAL ATTRACTION 

Claman Bronson Players - 11 Capable People, including TOBY and the Famous TOBY QUARTETTE. Two shows in one Drama and Vaudeville DIFFERENT PLAY EACH NIGHT High Class Vaudeville Between Acts Admission Children 25c Adults 55c including tax.

6 Leona Gibbons: First cousin of ASG and contemporary of FMG and his sister Ruth.  Born 22 January 1913 the daughter of Lee Roy Gibbons and Armitta Nicoll (Uncle Roy’s first wife).  Leona had a twin sister who was stillborn.  Married William Clayton Jenkins, Jr. in Washington, D.C. on 4 August 1934.

7 Al Jolson, “I’m Ka-Razy for You,” 1929. For 1929 audio recording by Eddie Walters, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgt7w3x59wo

8 “Living the Life of Riley”: An oft-repeated phrase from FMG and ASG. Reportedly, it is an Irish-American phrase popularized during World War I.

9 The descendants of the brothers Solomon, Nathan and Morris Barth. Solomon Barth was a wealthy St. Johns resident.  One of a family of wealthy businessmen, including his brothers Nathan and Morris Barth.  The Barths were Jewish.  Solomon came to America in 1855 as a boy of thirteen from his native Poland.  He made crossings of the Little Colorado near the site of St. Johns as early as 1864 and operated a pack train, carrying salt from the Zuni Salt Lake to the mines in the Prescott area.  In 1870 he secured a lucrative contract from the U.S. government to haul supplies for the Army from the railhead at Dodge City, Kansas to Fort Apache in the White Mountains.  To help with this huge undertaking, Sol sent to Poland for his two brothers, Nathan and Morris, who came to join him and they all settled permanently in the area by 1873.  These three brothers and their descendants dominated the commercial enterprises of the entire Little Colorado River basin for fifty years or more.   See , History of the St. Johns Arizona Stake, page 20.  Solomon’s sons Isaac and Maurice were both lawyers and became close friends and associates of ASG.

10 The descendants of the Schuster brothers, Adolf and Ben.  Adolf Schuster was the principal of A & B Schuster Company in St. Johns.  The Schuster brothers, Adolf and Ben, reached Holbrook about the time the railroad arrived and established a general merchandise store there. Like the Barth brothers, Adolf and Ben were Jewish. They later established the A & B Schuster Company store in St. Johns, a sizeable cattle ranch with headquarters at Cedro, and two farming projects, one in the Salado Valley and another in the White Mountains.   See, History of the St. Johns Arizona Stake , page 307.

11 A magneto is a small generator with a hand crank, used in the earliest telephones, and could generate up to 100 volts or more of electricity, if cranked vigorously.