Thorpe-Dayton-Bird-Bricker-Gray-Wyant-Family History

Nauvoo Connections

2011-05-22T19:33:03-06:00

Cousin Kevin Thorpe shared the following with me this week:

I just got back from a trip with my wife to Nauvoo and a bunch of other church history sites. Before I went, my parents gave me some links to some family history sites you have made. I looked around on those and then looked those people up back in the midwest. You probably know all of this already, but I was shocked how much information there was about a couple of our ancestors. Since I got the original info off of your site, I thought I'd let you know what I found.

At the Visitor's Center in Council Bluffs, there is a tribute to the Mormon Battalion. In the video they show there, they mention Wilford Hudson, our great-great-great grandfather on Grandbe's line, a couple of times. I found the video on youtube and here are the links to the three part movie. It is about twenty minutes total and the second part is the one that talks about our ancestor. I enjoyed the whole movie though because it was extremely interesting to see how big of a role our direct ancestor played in the gold rush as far as discovering the gold and then helping build the road that almost everybody going to the gold rush ended up using.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaglCPoubpM (Part I)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFP6NSdp90k (Part II)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKG6QW78azQ (Part III)

Growing up here in California, we studied a ton about the Gold Rush, but I had to go to Iowa to learn my family's involvement in such a big event in our nation's history! I also learned that there is a plaque here in Northern California honoring him, and the carving they mention in part II of the movie is also in a museum in Northern California. It was pretty exciting to learn all of this.

In addition, we looked up Hiram Dayton and Susannah and I were able to locate several of the places in Nauvoo where he owned land while the Saints were there. I attached a few photos of the land that he had owned

Nauvoo Connections

2010-08-15T16:59:45-06:00

Cousin Kevin Thorpe shared the following with me this week:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaglCPoubpM (Part I)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFP6NSdp90k (Part II)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKG6QW78azQ (Part III)

Swasey Reunion

2009-08-30T00:00:19-06:00

Today, Gail and I attended the Swasey reunion with Jim and Sue Gray. It was fun to meet so many "cousins" we hadn't met before.

Below are photos from the event. You can click on the images below to link to a source file that can be downloaded in full resolution to your computer.

Ora Faun Gray Eulogy by Gary Gray

2009-08-15T14:13:46-06:00

Let me introduce Sister Faun with the opening paragraph from her Journal.

"That little baby girl born on a crisp, golden, autumn day - October 16, 1906 in the pleasant little town of Mona, Utah, the ninth child in a wonderful family of ten, to devoted parents who cherished, loved, taught, and directed our lives in the way we should go. By word and deed we learned from them to love God and to keep His commandments, to love each other, to be mindful of and to serve our fellowmen. To know that each of us belongs to that eternal family, each important to the whole, each necessary to God's wonderful, eternal plan of salvation."

From this opening paragraph it is easy to see she was a child who was well loved and loved well in return. Her life seemed always to reflect the teachings of her youth. In her journal she recounted a story which represents what I believe to be the essence of Sister Faun. Let me read just these few paragraphs from her journal.

"During those summers Papa took Paul and me everywhere with him and oh what fun it was. One summer he was digging a well over on the West side dry farm in Mona with hopes of reaching water to improve the wheat crops. All summer, Papa and the men helping him would start at daybreak to load the barrels of water and tools in the wagons to take the few miles to the dry farm where they would spend the day digging for water. One early morning as they were preparing to leave, Paul and I were watching and following Papa around asking questions when he asked us if we would like to go with him that day. "Oh yes, of course". So Papa persuaded Mama that it would be alright. Sure he would take good care of us, so another lunch was quickly made for us, hats were put on our heads and we were boosted upon the seat of the wagon to sit beside Papa. I can still feel the warmth of the morning sun coming up, the smell of the sweet odor of the hay and the horses and hear the happy singing of Papa as the wagons pulled out of the barnyard. Down the dusty road we lumbered, past the pond and the pastures, across the creek bridge. Oh what an adventure! Suddenly Papa stopped the horses and jumped off the wagon and with his pocket knife cut off a piece of thistle. He peeled, cut it and handed each of us a piece. Then back on the wagon and once more we were on our way, singing Papa's favorite happy morning song. "There was a little lassie, went this way, went that way" and so forth. Each of us chewing on the sweet stick of thistle. Did you ever eat a piece of sweet thistle? Well you should. But then, it may not taste the same in a different time and place. All that day as the men worked on the well Paul and I roamed the field, rode the horse, found treasures of Indian arrow heads. This had been Ute country. And swinging in the hammock that Papa had made with chicken wire hung between two fence posts. By sundown most of our energy was spent so we stood with Papa beside the deep well. "Did you get to water today, Papa?" I asked. "No, my dear. Eighty feet down and only a trickle of water. I guess the good Lord really intends this to be a dry land."

"It's so deep, Papa", we said. "Yes, my dears, so deep. A whole summer's work". And then he brightened. "Would you children like to go down into the well and see what it looks like?" "Oh yes, could we, Papa?" So one at a time we stepped with Papa into the big bucket and the men slowly lowered us into the well. First Paul and then me. What a pounding of my heart, but Papa had his hand on my shoulder and that always gave me courage. Down we went, past the sand and the rock and the red earth, each changing layer of earth bringing my questions and Papa's careful answers. Then as the bucket came to rest on the bottom of the dark well, I saw it, that small trickle of water, a summer's work. "I'm sorry it's only a trickle, Papa." I said. And then as we stood there watching that trickle of water, a small feeling of melancholy touched me. "Papa, it's rather dark and scary down here isn't it?" And Papa, always ready to teach us some important lesson, pressed me a bit closer to him and said something I have never forgotten and I never shall. To the child of seven and the woman of seventy-two it has always been a great comfort. "Look up, my dear," he said. And as I looked up I saw above the top rim of the well, the sky with the brilliant red of the summer sunset. How often I have seen that blazing color as

Utah

's summer sun sets. And as I looked upon this color from the bottom of that deep well, I heard my loving Father's voice say, "You must never be frightened, my dear. You see, up there is a kind and loving Heavenly Father. If you always stay close to Him with faith and prayer, He will guide you, direct and bless your life. He alone will know what is best for you, trust in Him. Remember, always remember no matter where you go, no matter what you do or what happens to you, you will be safe if you always remember Him and pray to Him." That evening riding home we sang Papa's evening song, "Oh Galilee, Oh Galilee, Where Jesus loved so much to be". As the wagon rolled slowly along that dusty road there was such love in my heart for Papa and a greater faith and trust in that Heavenly Father that has henceforth blessed my life."

Even as a child Faun had a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel but with each new calling in the church her testimony and love of the gospel have become stronger. Her first calling was in the early 40's when she was a young mother with two young boys. She was called to teach a class of 12 year olds' in Sunday School. They were a challenge for her but they were bright and had been taught the gospel principles by their parents. She often thought of them and remembered the good lively classes they had - and wondered - did they teach her more than she taught them? She said she was left wiser than before teaching the class.

Then she was called as a teacher in Relief Society. The class that year was called the Old Testament as Literature. In her own words, "I shall never forget it, my feeling that a mistake had been made. Feeling that I was totally unprepared for such a calling. There were so many wonderful sisters in that class, so much more capable and versed in the gospel than I. But I had been taught to never say no when I received a calling in the church, and so I must accept and do my best. So with fear and a weak feeling of my capability, I accepted. I shall never forget the many hours of study every morning. Then an hour's walk to ponder and to pray. To pray that the Lord would help me to remember what I had studied and that I would only teach that which was true, only that which the Lord desired and prompted me to teach. I must tell you that those years that I taught those lessons enriched my life so much, as I studied about the prophets of old - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, and others, they became so close to me. I felt the strength of Amos - a strong man taken from the fields to preach to the King, the elite, and I cried with Jeremiah over his love and his sorrow for his people and their wickedness and unrepenting ways, and I felt the strength and wisdom of Isaiah. How I loved those never-to-be forgotten lessons."

Later she was called to be a counselor in the Relief Society. She refered to this calling as, "days of rich friendships, days of loving sisters, days of real service, of giving and receiving wonderful blessings."

Then came a calling of real surprise - President of the Young Women's Mutual. She had never worked in the Mutual before but was glad to accept this calling. Her daughter, Ann was just 12 years old and in her first year of Mutual. Faun thought it would be great to be involved with the girls and their activities. It was a very active and happy time. Beautiful girls. She had a hand in helping plan their lessons, their dances, their shows and camp. The camps were great. She loved those times they shared sleeping under the stars at

Donner

Lake

, the hikes, the songs, all the workers. She stayed with the calling until Ann was out of Mutual and off to college. (Part of that time, Brother Harold Sellers was Young Men's President and it was so great and fun working with him.)insert your own thoughts here.

The next calling was very special. She had never thought of herself being at the

Temple

as a full time worker, so when the call came it was a joyful blessing. Many times she had the special blessing of going to the temple and each time she went to that sacred place, she felt the peace and a special spirit there, the loving sisters and brothers, the special work being done. How she loved it all. The three years she spent there, had a special place in her life. To be a full time worker in the Lord's House, to meet with the brothers and sisters for prayer meeting each morning, to spend one whole day each week in a beautiful, peaceful place doing the Lord's work was more than she could ever ask for. Surgery on her knees forced her to give up that work she loved so much.

Then she wondered, "What does the Lord have waiting for me now?" It was a little hard for her to think of anything that could take the place of those last three years. But He did have something. That was when Brother Ronald Buhler came to see her asking if she could speak Spanish or if she could read Spanish. She said, "No, not a word". Then he asked if she knew anything about the extraction program. She replyed "No, I have no idea what it is". He spent some time telling her about it, letting her know that it was very important work and that her ward was involved with working on Spanish records. He said he felt she had the spirit and that she could do the work. By the time he finished telling her about the work, she was anxious to learn more and, true to form, did accept. She learned about the Spanish in the records and began to love the work. She couldn't wait to come to the church each morning and spend hours in that little room working on records. She was given the Aztec Indian records. She enjoyed doing these the most of all as she had some Indian blood in her veins and sometimes felt like these people were her ancestors. She received many blessings from years of work there. But most of all she was so happy being able to do this work. She received so much help from many wonderful people.

Each position strengthened her testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. During these past few years of illness, her testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ never wavered. She has greatly enjoyed the visits of ward members, friends, and family.

Like a missionary, her time in the field has now been completed. Her release, at age 87 years 6 months, came DATE at time. She has gone "home" to make her report and rejoice with family that have preceded her. Those having gone before are her husband Velsa, better known to most as Bud, two grandchildren, Christine and Steven, and all but two of her brothers and sisters.

I am sure it will be a grand "home coming".

Dayton's Birthday

2009-06-28T19:01:14-06:00

Yesterday, we celebrated Dayton's birthday at Lagoon. In addition to virtually all of the Phil and Linda Thorpe family, Dayton's friend and doppleganger Paul Harold joined us.

The following video shows the highlights.

Father's Day

2009-06-21T22:54:15-06:00

Today we celebrated Father's Day with my father, Philip Dayton Thorpe.

Mom cooked a wonderful meal of "Mish Mash" and honored dad for his great life and sacrifice for us.

Here are some photos:

Annual Bird Christmas Reunion

2008-12-07T10:15:47-07:00

Last night was the annual Charles William and Alice Reid Bird Family Christmas Reunion. It is always a wonderful time to catch up with family, hear and share old stories and listen to the family sing. Music is a powerful tradition in the family, going back to the time when the first members of the family joined the LDS Church. Since then at least seven have been members of the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Here are some photos from last night. I apologize for not taking my good camera. Everyone is better looking than they appear here!

Charles Larsen Thorpe: Forest Ranger

2008-11-27T15:06:41-07:00

In the early 1900s, the father of Ward R. Thorpe, Charles Larsen Thorpe served as a Forest Ranger at the Mammoth Ranger Station in Sanpete County, Utah.

These photos were all taken around the time he served there.

Richard and Sallie Before They Were Grays

2008-11-23T19:23:12-07:00

Richard Velsa and Sallie Jean Wyant Gray dated for several years, starting in high school, before they married shortly after graduatng from the University of Southern California in June of 1953.

The following are photos of the two during the years they dated.

Sallie in a Bikini or My Sexy Mother-in-law

2008-09-14T16:46:42-06:00

There are some things in life you never want to see. Your mother-in-law in a bikini is high on the list (though right below seeing your father-in-law in a speedo)!

Recently, this photo of my mother-in-law, Sallie Wyant Gray, at the beach with her friends came to my attention. First, please allow one observation: my mother-in-law was a knockout!

This photo is my new favorites of her. It shows her in a way that makes her so much more human. During the years I knew her, she was a always a devout Mormon and I would never have imagined her in a bikini (even a relatively modest 1950s bikini). In fact, Sallie was a bit of a socialite and was not raised in the LDS Church. She converted in 1953 and shortly thereafter married my father-in-law, Richard Gray. Seeing this glimpse of Sallie living a life that was on a slightly different trajectory than the life she ultimately lived, makes me appreciate her even more. She gave up a social set for a family and a life of service devoted to her adopted religion.

She was an awesome woman.

Sallie is the girl at the right in the foreground.