Which Sister? (2)

Which sister is his great grandmother? He is linked to this blog.

Here's another photo of the same person. Which sister does he belong to?

And more descendants and more and more.

Which sister? (1)

Let's test your ability to see the resemblance.

The person on the right is one of Simeon and Annie's descendants. Which of the Dunn sisters is her ancestor? I knew as soon as I saw her picture.

She is one of the followers of the blog and her blog is linked to this one.

In a week, I'll add another photo of a descendant of the same sister. You can vote in the poll, Which Sister (1) to the right until 12/20.

PS Here is another photographic clue as to who.

The Sisters.

This is a nice picture. Now that you look at this and some of the grand-children of these women you can see their faces.

It is amazing to me to see the differences in these sisters and yet see their countenance on their decendents.

Book of this BLOG

I (Larry Vance) have put together a black and white version of the articles and comments from this blog into a hardcover book of 95 pages. The following link takes you to LuLu.com where you can purchase one or more copies of the book. The cost covers the printing costs and a nominal fee that goes to LuLu.com. You can also download the contents of the book for a nominal fee.

Bound copy of BLOG

This is a small image of the cover.

Rex Simeon Dunn

Rex is the youngest and thirteenth child of Simeon Harmon and Anna Buletta Jensen Dunn. He spent his childhood in Manassa. At the age of nine, he contracted polio and, consequently, spent many years in hospitals and at his sister's, Ethel Forsyth's, home in Los Angeles. After his graduation from Manassa High School, Rex attend and received a B.A. Degree from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado.

Rex maried Nancy Ellen Tracey of Manassa. They moved to Segundo, Colorado, where Rex taught Business Education. Their three oldest children, Phillip, Steven, and Paula, were born while they were in Segundo. Rex then taught school in Roy, New Mexico, Socorro, New Mexico, and Las Vegas, New Mexico. Rex received his Master's Degree from Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Nancy is the daughter of Roy Francis Tracey and Philomena Humrichouse. She moved to Manassa at the age of three years. When she was five, her mother married A. C. Nielson. Nancy attended Manassa schools and received a B. A. and M.A. Degree from Adams State College. Both Rex and Nancy have worked as teachers and Rex as a school administrator.

The family then lived in Quemado, new Mexico for seven years. Their youngest son, George was born during this time. The family moved to Farmington, New Mexico and they still live there.

This history was taken from A History of the Ancestors and Descendants of Simeon Harmon Dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen, Compiled by Vera Dunn Olivier and published June, 1993, page 143

Loyd Jensen Dunn

Loyd was the eleventh child of Simeon and Anna. He grew to adulthood in Manassa. In the process he was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was ordained in the office of Deacon, Teacher, and Priest. He was ordained an Elder in 1941.

Loyd grew up with a father who farmed and he learned to drive teams of horses and milk cows at an early age. By the time he was ten years of age, he was milking cows by hand regularly and was mowing hay, driving as many as six horses on a plow, planting grain, and caring for farm animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, turkeys, and chickens. He was taught the blessing of hard work as he hoed peas, potatoes, and lettuce, and picked green peas and potatoes. He also pitched bundles into a threshing machine, stacked hay, hauled grain, bucked bales, irrigated potatoes, and performed other farm jobs. He also worked in the pea sheds and a canning factory.

Loyd attended schools in Manassa. He was a good student, but didn't apply his abilities as well as he could have. Nevertheless he graduated from Manassa High School in 1939. As a senior, he served as student body president. Loyd attended Adams State College for one quarter in the fall of 1939.

Loyd left collelge and went back to his father's farm, which he took over and operated for the next 22 years. In 1959, Loyd returned to college. He received both a B.A. and M.A. from Adams State College. He did further graduate work at Adams State College, Brigham Young University, and Northridge State College.

Loyd married Cathryn Brothers in the Salt Lake Temple on 28 May 1941. This temple sealing was one of the choice experiences of their young lives. They will be eternally grateful to their Father in Heaven for granting the blessings of the temple to them at that time in their lives.

Eight children were born to Loyd and Cathryn. Five years elapsed between the fifth and sixth child. At this time, Loyd was called on a mission to the western Canadian Mission from 1953 to 1955. Cathryn moved in with her mother and worked as a nurse's aid in the nursery at Alamosa Community Hospital while Loyd was gone.

Loyd has held many positions in the church during his married life. Among Loyd's positions are three Stake Missions, Stake Mission President, High Counselor, Bishop, and Patriarch.

A typical March day during the years farming included rising at 4:00 am to dress and check lambing sheds, take care of newborn lambs and their mothers, feed the remaining sheep, but the cows in the barn, feed them, hand milk seven to ten cows, get milk ready to ship to the cheese factory, pump water by hand for all of the livestock, feed the pigs and chickens, and then go in for breakfast. After breakfast, it was time to check the lambing pens, get the tractor ready to plow or plant, run the tractor for about three hours, check the lambing pens and eat lunch. Then it was back on the tractor for another four hours, check the lambing pens, feed livestock, milk cows, put the sheep in the lambing sheds, eat supper, check the sheep and lambs again, and go to bed about 9:00pm.

When farming years were lean, Loyd worked in a filling station, a feed store, and a mine to supplement income. After graduating from college, Loyd became a full time school teacher.

From 1961 to 1963, Loyd taught school in Manassa and LaJara, Colorado. In 1964, the family moved to Lancaster, California. Loyd then taught elementary school in the Keppel Union School District in Little Rock, California, until he retired.

The Lord has given Loyd the opportunity to teach the missionary lessons to over 150 people who have become members of the Church. Among those those taught are a Stake President, Stake Mission Presidents, High Counselors, Bishops, and Temple Workers.

Loyd says: "We are thankful for all the blessings our Father-in-Heaven has given us, our parents, our brothers and sisters, our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, the truth of the Gospel and the opportunity to gain eternal lives. We bear solemn testimony that this, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is God's true church here on the earth and if we live up to the principles and commands He has given, we will all live with him as family units in the eternities to come. We bear this witness in the names of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Taken from A history of the Ancestors of Simeon harmon Dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen, compiled by Vera Dunn Olivier, published Jun3 1993.

Doris Dunn Mortensen

Doris was the eighth daughter of tenth child of Simeon Harmon and Anna Buletta Jensen Dunn. She attended school in Manassa and graduated from Manassa High School on May 21, 1937.

Doris remembers her childhood as follows: "We were a close family and had a very happy childhood, with all the advantages available at that time. We were all taught to work by helping in the garden, doing housework, and helping on the farm, cooking and even milking, when necessary. Papa suffered eight daughters learning how to cook. We had some very happy times, too, going pinon nut hunts and having candy pulls. Papa liked nothing better than to have Papa play the piano while he and Mama would sing to us. Our home was always open to our friends."



While still in high school, Doris was dance director in the Manassa MIA with her brother, Edgar. When she was a junior in high school, Verden Mortensen came to Manassa to finish high school. The school in Sanford he had been attending was closed for financial reasons. He was on the basketball team and Doris was a cheerleader. They started dating and Doris' Christmas present that year was a diamond. They were married at the John B. Reed ranch on March 21, 1937, and then travelled to Salt Lake City, Utah, where they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on March 25, 1937. To this union were born seven girls and one boy: DeAnn, Rosalie, Lorna Jeanne, Mary Lyne, Gary Harmon, Delores, Susan and Kathy June.



The Mortensens lived on a ranch near Sanford until 1956. At that time, Verden went to New Mexico to work on road construction. Doris stayed at the ranch with the family until her mother passed away. At that time the family moved to Manassa to live with her father. The family lived in Manassa for 18 years. When Verden quit construction work, they moved back to the ranch.

While living in Manassa, Doris held several positions in the Church --Primary teacher, member of the Primary presidency, MIA teacher, Stake MIA Board member, and Stake Girl's Camp Leader. After moving back to Sanford, she was Mother Education leader in the Relief Society. In 1979, the Sanford Ward was divided and she was put in as the Relief Society President of the Sanford 2nd Ward. She held that position until she became an extraction missionary. Doris has served as a visiting teacher all of her married life.

The history above was taken from A History of the Ancestors & Descendants of Simeon Harmon Dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen compiled by Vera Dunn Olivier published June, 1993

Quality of teaching in this century

Grandpa Dunn was a school teacher at one time in his life. Several of his children and grandchildren have also worked in the field of education.

Recently, I received an e-mail citing a test that was given to 8th graders in 1895, and stating that the education in this country had gotten quite bad.

I spent the evening reviewing the questions and finding answers on the internet just so that I could say that I knew as much as an eighth grader. I was amazed at the amount of information that is available to us at the click of a few buttons. While I found many things, that I could not answer quickly, I did find answers for many of the questions. Many of the answers were things that I had learned, but had forgotten for a time.

After spending an evening with the test (I still have more to do to complete it), I have come to the conclusion that some of the things asked on the 1895 test were important at the end of the 1800's, but are not as important to life in the 21st century.

I am amazed at the things that my grandchildren are learning in school. Some of the math skills of my seventh grade grandson are far beyond what mine were at the same level. I am also amazed at the "keyboading" skills and computer skills that are being taught at seventh and even at first grade level.

I am enjoying looking at this test example and what students were required to learn. I have learned from the article, but I think it is important to see that educational requirements are not the same as they were in the 1890s. That is not necessarily an indication that today's educational system is deficient. It is proof only that it is different.

If you are interested, you can see a completed version of the 1895 test, it is also available on the internet.

Elma Dunn Pagett

Elma was the ninth child of Simeon Harmon Dunn and Anna Jensen Dunn. She grew up in Manassa and graduated from Manassa High School. She then attended Blair's Business College in Colorado Springs for one year. Elma met Boyd William Pagett in the summer of 1935 when they were both working for Rickett's cannery in LaJara, Colorado. They were married in December of that year and moved to Fort Morgan, Colorado.
Boyd and Elma lived in Fort Morgan, Denver, LaJara, Grand Junction, and finally made a permanent home in Manassa. Boyd joined the Navy 10 July 1944 and served until 23 January 1946. Boyd and Elma were the parents of two children, JoAnn and Richard when Boyd joined the Navy. Elma stayed in Manassa with Elma's parents most of the time while Boyd was gone. They did join him in Port Townsend, Washington, while Boyd was in electrical school in Seattle. Boyd was sent to the Phillippine Islands and Elma and the children returned to Manassa. After the war, Boyd returned to Manassa and purchased Conejos county Gas & oil from his father-in-law, Simeon Harmon Dunn. He ran this business until his death.

Boyd was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 4 June 1960 by his son Richard. Their youngest child, Nancy was baptized the same day by her brother, Richard. Jane, Patricia (Pat), and Nancy also joined the family during the years in Manassa. Boyd and Elma were sealed for time and all eternity in the Arizona Temple on 2 April 1966. Jane, Patricia, and Nancy were sealed to them the same day. Richard was sealed to his parents in the Manti Temple on 28 May 1964 and JoAnn was sealed to her parents in the Arizona Temple on 2 April 1966.



Boyd died of a massive heart attack on 10 Dec 1964. Elma then attended Adams State College and obtained both a B.A. and M.A. Degree in education. She taught both third and fourth grade in Manassa for sixteen years and retired in May 1982. Elma served a fill-time mission in the Washington, Seattle Mission from April 1983 to April 1984. Her sister, Hazel served in the same mission at the same time. Elma has also worked in the Spanish Name Extraction Program and has spent years working with the youth of the church. He has been in the Name Extraction Program for ten years and has been an ordinance worker in the Denver temple for four years.1

Of all my aunts, Elma had the most impact on my life. For most of my youth, she was my next door neighbor. I loved visiting with her and many times, when I had problems that I needed to discuss, Elma was my confidant. She listened to me patiently and gave me advice that I valued. Sometimes I followed her advice, and sometimes I did not. I would have been much wiser to always follow the advice she gave me. Nonetheless, I never questioned that she loved me or that she was concerned for my welfare. When I was a young man and was so unhappy with my life because of the choices I had made, Elma still expressed her love and support.

My grandmother, Cora, was Elma's sister. I never knew Grandma Cora because she died before I was born. In my mind and heart, Elma took her place in my life. I will always love her for that.

Whenever I came home from travelling, one of the first visits I made was to Aunt Elma's house.

It was really a shock to me when I heard that Elma had passed away 20 March 1998. She had been quilting with her sisters. She was tired and laid down to take a nap. She passed away in her sleep.

1. The first part of this article was taken directly from A History of the Ancestors and Descendants of Simeon Harmon Dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen, Compiled by Vera Dunn Olivier and published privately in June 1993.
2. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Family Search, Elma Dunn 1917-1998, Person #KWCG-B28

Ina Olsen

Ina is the seventh child and fifth daughter of Simeon Harmon Dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen Dunn. She was the first child to be born in the big cement block house since the family was living in the granary when Edgar was added to the family. Ina started school at the age of six. As school started on September 1st and Ina wouldn't be six until September 12, she worried for fear she wouldn't be allowed to go. She did get to go to school in spite of the fact that her cousin, Ila Jensen, informed the teacher Ina was only five years old. Gladys Pratt, who later married S. Dilworth Young of the first Counsel of Seventy was Ina's first grade teacher.

When Ina was about ten years old, she had typhoid fever. She was the only one in the family to contract this dreaded disease and confined to her bed for several weeks. She had to learn to walk again and almost lost all of her hair.

Ina was one of the best players on the girls' basketball team at Manassa high school. At that time, girls only played half court basketball.

After graduating from high school, Ina spent one year in Salt Lake City with Frances. She worked for a Mrs. Thompson as a companion for her two children. Edgar also worked for her and attended the University of Utah. The following year Ina attended Brigham Young University, but decided against continuing her education at that time.

Ina's first full-time job was as a cashier and bookkeeper with the Gordon Department Store in Alamosa. She also worked in Trinidad, Montrose, and Grand Junction. She earned $10 per week for six eight-hour days and paid board and room and bought her clothes.

In 1941, after World War II had begun, Ina went to Port Townsend, Washington, to visit her sister, Hazel and her family. While there, she went to work for the government at Fort Warden and later transferred to Camp White, Oregon near Medford. After the war ended in 1945, Ina returned home to Colorado. Bishop Fred Haynie asked her to go on a mission. Since Ina hadn't been too active in the church for several years, she declined. Later, however, she changed her mind and decided to go. This was the turning point in her life. She spent eighteen months in the Northern California Mission under the direction of Presidents German E. Ellsworth and Thomas Gardner. She was in the mission home in San Francisco for nine months. The last three months of her mission were spent in Ashland and Medford, Oregon, where she had lived during the war.

After Ina returned home, she attended BYU for the summer quarter and then taught Seminary in Manassa for one year. During this time, she served as Stake YWMIA President.

Ina and Wilma Jackson purchased a flower shop in LaJara, Colorado. When Wilma got married, Ina decided to return to college. She worked for the Alamosa County Welfare Department and attended classes at Adams State College in Alamosa.

In December 1955, Ina went to Los Angeles, California to be with Hazel Nite and her family. She was called as an ordinance worker in the Los Angeles Temple. Here she met John Henry Olsen. They were married November 21, 1956, in the Los Angeles Temple by President Benjamin Bowring.

The Olsens lived in Hollywood until April, 1957, when they moved to Lancaster, California, where they were owners of a funeral home and sick room supply business. In February, 1981, Henry and Ina moved to St. George, Utah, to be closer to the temple. They had been driving 150 miles round trip to the Los Angeles Temple each week for over twelve years.

Ina and Henry were very involved in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in southern California. Ina's callings in the church have been many. Among them are Young Women Advisor, genealogy teacher, Relief Society teacher and visiting teacher, Ward and Stake YWMIA President, Ordinance Worker, and Seminary teacher.

When Henry passed away on June 11, 1992, in St. George, Utah, Ina stayed. Ina passed away 29 June 2004 in Washington, Washington, Utah.

The majority of this article has been taken from The History of the Ancestors and Descendants of Simeon Harmon dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen, published privately by Vera Dunn Oliver June 1993.

Edgar Harmon Dunn

Edgar was born shortly after the family of Simeon and Anna Dunn moved from Eastdale to Manassa. He was born in the granary. When I was a boy, we played in that granary. It was an empty shed of weathered wood with gaps wide enough for the wind to come through easily. I cannot imagine living in that granary during one of the cold San Luis Valley winters.

Edgar attended school in LaJara and Manassa was a star on the Manassa Maulers basketball team.

Edgar married LaVeryl Aydelotte on April t 1936 in Taos New Mexico. They were later sealed in the Mesa, Arizona Temple on December 7, 1955.

After his marriage, Edgar farmed with his brother, Loyd, on the family farm west of Romeo. On March 3, 1940, he was called on a mission to the North Central States Mission. After his misson, he farmed for a short time and then was hired as a carman on the D&RGW Railroad in Alamosa in 1942. Edgar went into train service as a fireman and worked up to head engineer. He retired from the railroad in July 1974, with 32 years of service.

When I was is high school, Edgar was my home teaching companion. Edgar was a faithful home teacher and I enjoyed going home teaching with him. We visited the homes of Ruth and Stanley Holman and Gordy and Ruth Bagwell each month. I enjoyed being with him. I loved his infectious laugh.

In September, 1974, only two months after retirement, Edgar and LaVeryl were called to serve 18 months on a walfre mission among the Indians in Taos, New Mexico.

Edgar died suddenly of a hart attack on 09 September 1978 at the age of 68. Edgar is buried in Manassa.

Portions of this article were taken from A History of the Ancestors and Descendants of Simeon Harmon Dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen compiled by Vera Dunn Oliver, published privately in June of 1993.

Hazel Dunn Nite

Hazel was the eighth child of Simeon and Annie Dunn. Her early life was spent in Manassa, Colorado where she graduated from high school in 1933. After graduation, she moved to Los Angeles, California where she lived with her older sister, Ethel Forsyth. Hazel attended Beauty College in Huntington Park, California. It was there that she met and married James Graham Nite.

Hazel and Jimmie moved to Round Mountain, Nevada six months after they were married. When Ronnie, their first child was born, they moved to Colorado and lived on the Dunn ranch west of Romeo. Hazel's second child, Jeanine was born in Manassa.

In 1940, there was another move. This time to Port Townsend, Washington. After Max was born, the family returned again to Manassa where Karen was born.

The Nites returned to California. This time to Santa Monica where they lived for many years. Hazel worked as an electrical assembler at North American Aviation for fifteen years.

After retirement, Hazel returned yet again to Manassa. She participated in the Spanish Name Extraction program and on February 5, 1982, she received a mission call to serve in the Seattle Washington Mission for 18 months.

Upon her return to Manassa, she continued to serve in the Spanish name extraction program.

Her home today sits on the property that was once Simeon and Annie's. Her home is where the chicken coop had been. Jeanine's home sits near Hazel's and they take good care of each other.

When I return home to Manassa, it's to Hazel's home that I go. I love her humor and her grit. When I saw her a couple of weeks ago, she reminded me, "It's hell to get old." It may be, but she has really done it graciously.

Thanks to Vera Louise Dunn for the information provided in, A History of the Ancestors and Descendants of Simeon Harmon Dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen, compiled by Vera Louise and published privately in 1993.

New Blogs added to the list

Recently, Larry and I have added some new blogs to the list. I can look at the blogs and see hints of their family resemblance, but I am not sure just exactly how they fit.

Today, I added two links.

• Jordan and Candice
• Are they still alive?
  

These were added at the request of their mother. Laraine Wheeler. Laraine is the daughter of Keith and Erma Bingham. Keith is the son of Cora and Ted Bingham. Cora is the Daughter of Simeon and Anna Dunn.

I added these links because I saw the links on Larry's blog and I believe I know who they are, but I need to confirm that.

• Just another day in paradise
• Another day in the life of the Dias
• The Stephens Family
  

As I look at the pictures, and as I read the entries, I believe I see traces of the Pagett Family. Help me understand who these links belong to and how they fit in with the family. We might try the format of Laraine's relationship shown above to indicate how the owners of the blogs belong in the family.

I would to add as many blog links as we can identify. If you have a blog you want added, you can send an email to Kent Vance

Ruth Carrie Dunn

Ruth Carrie Dunn, the fourth child of Simeon Harmon Dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen Dunn, was born in Eastdale, Colorado. Her parents could never agree on the date that she was born. Grandpa said it was one day, and Grandma said it was another. Grandma said that she should know because she was there. As a little girl, Ruth lived for a time in Eastdale, but soon moved to Manassa with her family. She lived in Manassa until she graduated from high school in 1925.

She then went to LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah. She also attended telegraphy school. Her two older sisters, Frances and Ethel, were in nurse's training there.

Ruth worked in Salt Lake City in the office at Utah Wollen Mills for a while and then returned to Colorado. She worked at J.C. Penney's in Antonito, and it was here she met Bill Koch. Ruth married William Emil Koch on 31 December, 1933, in San Luis, colorado. Ruth and Bill told us one day in the mountains that the day that they were married, the Sherriff was shot. His body was on display at the courthouse. Bill and Ruth had to see his body before they returned home.

Ruth and Bill moved to Alamosa and Ruth worked for Gordon Stores for 17 years. She worked for Alamosa National Bank for two years, and for Kavley's Department Store. She then worked then for 20 years as Clerk of the county court, and as clerk of the water court. Ruth has always been a working woman.

Ruth and Bill enjoyed their family and grandchildren. especially picnicing and camping on the Conejos river.

Ruth and Bill have been generous in helping extended family members, as well as their own immediate family. I would always plan on seeing Ruth at our house with new school clothes for us in the fall.

Mother (Gatha Wilson) spent some time with Ruth at her home in Alamosa a year ago this January. She moved to a nursing home shortly after that visit. There was recently an article in the Alamosa paper congratulating Ruth for celebrating her 103rd birthday.

Portions of this entry were taken foom A History of the Ancestors & Descendants of Simeon Harmon Dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen, compiled by Vera Louise Oliver and published privately in June of 1993.

Ethel Leona Forsyth

Ethel Leona Dunn was the second child born to Simeon Harmon Dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen Dunn. Ethel's early childhood years were spent in Eastdale, Colorado. When Ethel was six or seven years of age, the family moved to Manassa. She lived in Manassa until she left home to train to become a Registered Nurse.

After Ethel married Donald Prescott Forsyth, the couple made their home in Los Angeles, California. They lived and raised their children in Los Angeles. Don and Ethel loved to travel to Manassa, Colorado for summer vacations. They always spent some time in the beautiful mountains.

Many years after Don retired, they sold their California home and moved into the Los Angeles Temple Apartments, where they served for a time as temple workers Later they moved to Manassa where they put a mobile home on the property where Simeon and Anna Dunn had made their home in Manassa. When Don passed away, Ethel continued to live in Manassa near most of her sisters and her brother, Edgar.

Ethel is remembered as a sweet and loving woman. Her love of the gospel of Jesus Christ radiated in her life. She served as Primary president and twice as Relief Society president of the Manchester Ward in Los Angeles. Ethel and Don are both buried in Manassa.

This short history was taken directly from A History of the Ancestors and Descendants of Simeon Harmon Dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen, compiled by Vera Dunn Olivier and Published privately in June, 1993.

I Apologize for the quality of the pictures. They are details from some larger photographs and they are the only ones I have. If someone can add comments to this entry that will give us more details about Aunt Ethel, it would be greatly appreciated. Kent Vance

Frances Edna Dunn

Rueben Gillespie Moyle, the son of Matthew and Eliza Mary Gillespie Moyle, met Frances Dunn, eldest child of Simeon Harmon and Anna Buletta Jensen, in Allturas California. After much pleading and persistent courting, they were married in Reno, Navada. In the beginning, the only dependents were Fluffy, the cat, and a dog whose name cannot be remembered. Following the birth of their third child, Gayle, Rueben became sick and spent much time in the hospital.

In order for Frances to care for her ill husband, she sent their three children, Rueben Dean, Kay, and Gayle by train with Edgar and LaVerl Dunn to stay with their grandparents, Simeon and Anna Dunn in Manassa, Colorado.

The children stayed there for almost a year. When Reuben was well enough, they made a trip to Manassa to pick up the children. At this time, the decision was made to stay in Manassa.

Frances was a registered nurse and was employed at Alamosa Community Hospital. Reuben set up a poultry business in order to stay home with the children. Prior to this time, Reuben had worked most of his life as a carpenter. Frances worked as a registered nurse for many years. The family first lived on a farm near Romeo and later they purchased a home outside of Alamosa.

Reuben passed away on 23 Jul 1970, and is buried in Manassa. Frances has been an inspiration to all of her relatives. She remains active at the age of 91 (at the time of the history). After Reuben's death, they spent sever winters in California with her father, participating in work for the dead in the Los Angeles Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Frances is now living at the San Luis Valley Care Center in Alamosa. She has remained active in the church and is still a Relief Society Visiting teacher at the age of 91. She also still does temple work whenever she gets a way to go to Denver.

Taken from A History of the Ancestors and Descendants of Simeon Harmon Dunn and Annie Buletta Jensen, Compiled and published privately by Vera Dunn Olivier June, 1993,

Robert and Pam here for Jessie's wedding

Bob and Pam have been coming to St George for the past three years. Jessie is a pitcher on the Dixie College girls softball team. She is very good. Bob and Pam have come to all of Jessie's games. They have stayed with me most of the time and they have become very close friends. The are a great family. Jessie is marrying a polynesian man tomorrow in the St George Temple. Some of them are staying in my home and Loyd and Cathryn are staying with Leon and Loni. They will be married tomorrow. I love being a part of the Dunn family. All of them are special.

Gatha

Christen Jensen

Christen Jensen, son of Peder Jensen and Kirsten Andeston, was born October 28, 1848 in Farre, Skanderborg, Denmark. When he was 10 years old, Latter Day Saint Elders came to his father's home and taught the Gospel to his family. Christen was converted and wanted to be baptized, his father, however, thought he was too young. On April 6, 1862, the family of nine members left Denmark and traveled to Salt Lake City. On this journey Christen was taken seriously ill with ague, at Florence, Nebraska, and begged to be baptized. His father consented and he was baptized June 27, 1862. He instantly healed and became strong enough to walk all the way to Salt Lake City. The family later moved to Moroni, Sanpete county, Utah. During this time there was trouble with the Mavajo and Blackhawk Indians. Christen was mustered into Company A to do service in the Blackhawk war. He served in that capacity for three years.

He received his endowments and married Maria Sophia Anderson on February 8, 1868. That same spring, he received a call to go as a Church teamster across the plains, assisting the emigrants on their way to Utah. On December 5, 1875, he took a second wife, Anna Christina Bengtsson. In December, 1881, he married Helena S. Rundquist, and in 1886, he married Mattie K. Peterson. About this time great pressure was exerted against polygamists. Christen moved part of his family to the San Luis Stake of Zion. He was in exile for 12 years. The family lived in Richfield for about 13 years and then moved to Eastdale. He was the father of 18 children. Anna Christana was the mother of 7 daughters and three sons and Helena Sophia was the mother of six daughters and two sons.

In 1886 Christen assisted in organizing the 92nd Quorum of Seventy, and for 11 years he served as its senior president. After the persecution relented, the Jensen family made plans to return to their home in Utah, but he cas called to move to Eastdale and serve as the Bishop of the Eastdale Ward. He was ordained a Bishop by Apostle John W. Taylor on August 11, 1897, with Simeon Adams Dunn as First Counselor and Ward Clerk and Andrew S. Nielson as Second Counselor.

When Eastdale was sold, Bishop Jensen moved to Manassa. On October 24, 1909 he was set apart as a member of the High Council. On August 20, 1911 he was ordained a Patriarch by Apostle Orson F. Whitney. For a number of years, he was Stake Representative of the Genealogical Society of the San Luis Stake and served as a Secretary and Treasurer of the San Luis Stake Academy. He has acted as Justice of the Peace, Police Magistrate, School Trustee, membeer of the Manassa Town Board, President of the Colonial State Bank of Manassa and a missionary to his native Denmark.

After the death of his wives, he worked in the Salk Lake Temple and met and married Eliza Bessey. Christen died October 31, 1932 in Manassa.

This history was taken from "The Mormons: 100 Years in the San Luis Valley of Colorado 1883-1893", compiled and edited by Carleton Q. Anderson, Betty Shawcroft and Robert Compton,

1956 Reunion

Thanks to Bonnie Olsen, we have a listing of the people who attended the 1956 reunion of the Simeon Harmon Dunn Family. Please see below.

1. Wm. Emil Koch	15. Mary Lyne Mortensen	29. Levi Dunn	43. Robert Wm. Dunn
2. Ruth Carry Dunn	16. Delores Mortensen	30. Judy K.	44. Joseph Christen Dunn
3. Ruben Dean Gillespie	17. Donald Arlo Vance	31. Wm Rufus Warwick	45. Edgar Harmon Dunn
4. Frances K. Gillespie	18. Cora LaRue Bingham Lawson	32. Richard Boyd Pagett	46. Reva LaVerl Adelotte Dunn
5. Gayle Gillespie	19. Gatha Bingham Vance	33. Boyd Wm. Pagett	47. Mima Gay Dunn
6. Rex Simeon Dunn	20. Harold Lee Lawson	34. Elma Dunn Pagett	48. Jack Harmon Dunn
7. Nancy Dunn	21. Roland Kent Vance	35. Jane Dunn Pagett	49. Jill Ann Dunn
8. Paula Dunn	22. Donald Arnold Vance	36. Patricia Pagett	50. Simeon Harmon Dunn
9. Steven Dunn	23. John Edward Lawson	37. Nancy Pagett	51. Anne Beletta Jensen Dunn
10. Phillip Dunn	24. Bonnie Lynn Vance	38. Loyd Jensen Dunn	52. Hazel Dunn Nite
11. Verden N Mortensen	25. Betty Jean Johnson DeGolyer	39. Cathryn Brothers Dunn	53. Ethel Dunn Forsyth
12. Doris Dunn Mortensen	26. James Troy DeGolyer	40. Vera Louise Dunn	54. Ina Dunn
13. Lorna Jeanne Mortensen	27. Emily Jane Smith Dunn	41. Lloyd Gerald Dunn	55. Melvin Thomas Harmon
14. Gary Harmon Mortenson	28. Emily Dunn Warwick	42. Carol Anne Dunn	56. Sara Ellen Harsley Harmon

Eunice Chidester Harmon

I got an email today from someone who had found our blog. She directed me to this interesting Blog article. This is my 3rd great grandmother in the black and white picture.

Short words of advice.

Grandpa told me, "Hook your wagon to a star. Be the man your mother thinks you are. "

Gatha used to tell her children, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."

She also says, "The power of God is strong enough to pull us back into his arms."

Arlo used to say, "Put your money where your mouth is."

Betty's Mom used to say, "Save for a rainy day."

Gatha says, "There is no limit to the good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit."

Larry says, "Wisdom can be conveyed in a simple phrase." He adds, "You are only happy if you think you are."

He also says, "Choice is a two edged sword. " and "It is nice to know that there is forgiveness. The Savior has enabled us to receive and know that we receive forgiveness. We all have our skeletons."

Can you think of short lines of advice you have been given?

Ruth has a special day coming up

Gloria brought it to our attention that Aunt Ruth is getting ready to celebrate her 102nd birthday.

See the article in the Valley Courier


State honors Valley centenarians
Posted: Thursday, May 22nd, 2008
BY: Ruth Heide

Photos by Ruth Heide San Luis Valley centenarians honored Wednesday in Alamosa are from left Ruth Coch of La Jara who will be 102 next month; Ethel Davis of Monte Vista who will hit the 100-year mark in October; Claude Albert of Alamosa who will soon be 101; and Irma Satterfield of Alamosa who just celebrated her 100th birthday last month.
One resident nears 102



By RUTH HEIDE

ALAMOSA — Ruth Coch said the reason she’s still alive is because heaven does not have room for her yet.

She will be 102 years old next month.

Meeting in Alamosa this week, the Colorado Commission on Aging and the Region 8 South-Central Colorado Seniors Inc. honored Ruth Coch and other San Luis Valley centenarians during a special ceremony on Wednesday.

In addition to Ruth Coch, San Luis Valley centenarians present for the occasion were Irma Satterfield of Alamosa who turned 100 on April 25, Claude Albert of Alamosa who will be 101 years old on July 13 and Ethel Davis of Monte Vista who will hit the centennial mark on October 3. Ruth Coch will be 102 years old on June 16.

Ethel Davis, who now resides at Juniper Village in Monte Vista, was born in Oklahoma and had 14 brothers and sisters. She moved to the San Luis Valley at the age of 21. She and her late husband “Bud” had 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. She was a homemaker renowned for her mashed potatoes and also worked in the school cafeteria. Ethel also herded sheep from time to time. She is a lifetime member of Tri County Seniors.

One of 13 children, Ruth Coch was born in the San Luis Valley and married Bill Coch in San Luis “a long time ago,” she said. She and Bill had one daughter, Betty Jean, whom she called her greatest accomplishment, and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. When her grandchildren would call her “my beautiful grandma,” she would melt and often give them a quarter. Ruth played the piano, saxophone and basketball. She said she enjoyed playing in Sanford because that is where the good-looking guys were. She served as a clerk in the district court and now resides at the San Luis Care Center where her grand niece is director.

Coch advised young people to keep their bodies clean, not to smoke or drink, mind their parents and to flirt around.

Irma Satterfield was born in Mirage and grew up helping her father in the family business, a general store. She was married and had four children. She enjoyed being a homemaker as well as keeping active in her church over the years. Irma graduated from Adams State College and embarked on a second career in education.

A descendant of German settlers, Claude Albert is also a San Luis Valley native who was a rancher, was in charge of a road crew in Antonito and was a skilled handyman. He raised two daughters and three sons and enjoys his grandchildren. Claude now resides at Evergreen in Alamosa where staff recently found him throwing cookies for the resident therapy dog to retrieve.

The Valley centenarians received certificates from the governor and letters from U.S. Senator Ken Salazar who recognized the many changes and challenges the centenarians had experienced in the past century. “In surpassing the one-hundred year marker, these Coloradans have reinforced the age-old axiom that age ‘is just a number’,” Salazar said. “Now in their second century of their life’s journey, they are honored members of our communities and our society, and as such, are well-deserving beneficiaries of our admiration and respect.”

South-Central Colorado Seniors Policy Board Chairman Carol Refior recounted some of the changes and challenges the centenarians had experienced including heating up water for baths and laundry, outhouses, horse-drawn farm equipment, picking peas by hand and many other challenges. In the past century the honorees had experienced two world wars, the Great Depression and other major events, Refior added. She also described prices of the past such as 79-cent footwear and 2 pounds of hamburger for 15 cents. Refior described the social life of the early century when opera houses existed from Antonito to Saguache and shared the Paul Bunyan tall tale of how the Great Sand Dunes were formed.

Dignitaries present for the centenarian celebration in Alamosa on Wednesday included Alamosa Mayor Farris Bervig, Alamosa City Councilor Charles Griego, Alamosa County George Wilkinson and Ms. Senior Colorado 2007 Lara Carbajal. Local musician Donald Garcia provided entertainment for the event including the “Happy Birthday” song.

Colorado Commission on Aging Chairman Sheila Casey paid tribute to the centenarians’ “wonderful legacy” and attributed their longevity to their enthusiasm in life.

Ruth Coch exemplified that enthusiasm by remarking, “When I’m 200 I wonder what they’ll do then.”

Hypnotizing a chicken

Grandpa and grandma Dunn had a chicken yard. The chickens would run around, scratch, and eat in the yard. I had a boy tell me that a chicken could be hypnotized. I doubted him. He proved it.

It is quite simple.

1. Catch a chicken
2. Hold the chicken with the wings tucked against the body
3. Place the chickens head on the ground with the beak on the ground and the eyes looking straight ahead
4. Start at the beak and draw a deep line in the dirt straight from the beak away from the chicken with a stick
5. Slowly move the stick away
6. Slowly release the chicken

It will stay there frozen and not move. I was amazed. In a few moments or after a sudden noise or movement the chicken would dart away.

The Grandmother Clock

One of my fondest memories of Grandma and Grandpa Dunn's home was the grandmother clock that stood on a shelf in the kitchen. I believe that is why I love listening to a clock tick to this day.

Grandpa Dunn used to sing a song, "The Grandfather Clock". I would love to find a recording of that song.

I have heard it said that when their children were coming home late at night, grandma was ask them to stop the clock with the pretext that the noise was bothering her. What she was doing was having them stop the clock so she would know what time they were coming home.

I understand too, that when Grandma would ask one of the boys when they came in late at night what time it was. They would respond, "It's plenty after twelve."

Anna Buletta Jensen Dunn's Autobiography

(Written in 1956)

I, Anna B Jensen Dunn, aka Annie B. Jensen Dunn, daughter of Christen Jensen and Carrie Peterson Jensen, was born 28 of June 1882 at Moroni, San Pete County, Utah.

When I was twenty-two (22) months old, my parents moved to Richfield, Colorado, with three of us children, Kjersten, myself, and our brother, Pete. Leaving our oldest sister Mary with Father's first wife, who never had any children of her own. We lived in a dugout that belonged to bishop Sarn C. Berthelsen until Father could get the logs and build us a two room house with a lean-to for a kitchen. I have heard Mother tell about the first year they were here, she peeled the potatoes thick. Father planted them and raised a good crop of potatoes.

Father always made two trips back to Utah a year, he always came back with honey, dried fruit, and the top of the trunk filled with red colored woolen stockings, which Aunt Sophi had spun the yearn, dyed it, knit stockings that came over our knees. It was kind of her to do so much work for us, but how I disliked them. I'd lose mine, hide them and be all day getting dressed. I got many spankings over them. Too, I learned if I could get the ones my sister had worn, they didn't itch so bad.

We lived in Richfield until I was fifteen years old, so there was where we received most of our schooling. I remember my teachers, Orlando Funk, Ira Whitney and Jimmy Dyer. At that time Father was getting ready to move his families, we had two families in Colorado, back to Utah. We were all anxious to go, when he was called to move to Eastdale to be Bishop of that Ward. So we moved to Eastdale.

It was there I met and married my husand, Simeon H. Dunn. We have had thirteen children, five boys and eight girls. Two boys died in infancy, one daughter died at the age of thirty-six years, so the children came to live with us.

We are poud of our family and enjoy them very mush, which at present number over ninety, including, in-laws, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Taken from, "A History of the Ancestors & Descendants of Simeon harmon Dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen", compiled by Vera Dunn Olivier, Published privately June, 1993, pp 26-27

Simeon Dunn - The Final Years

Part 4 of 4 parts.

I was ordained a Seventy by Rules S. Wells on april 25, 1909, and a few years later was set apart as one of the Council of the 92nd Quorum. On the 24th of May, 1942, I was ordained a High Priest and set apart as a member of the High Council of the San Luis Stake by richard R. Lyman, an Apostle. I served under to Stake Presidents, John B. reed and Howard Shawcroft. During the time I was in the Seventies Quorum, I served as a Stake Missionary for about three years.

In 1940, I quit farming and went into the gas business wholesale and retail. During World War II, my wife and ran the place. She took care of the station while I did the hauling and delivering. Neither of us missed a day on account of sickness, and we had wonderful health. On January 1, 1950, I sold the business to my son-in-law, Boyd W. Pagett. I was 72 years old. I stayed and helped him for about four years.

During all this time I had been working in the Church in different positions. After my release as a High Councilor I was set apart as President of the High Priest's Quorum, where I served for about four years. I also served in the Mutual Improvement Association as Superintendent of the Sunday School for a number of years. I have served as a Wart Teacher (and Home Teacher) since I was a young man.

Our daughter, Cora, died October 11, 1944, and her husband, James Edward Bingham, died July 11, 1946, leaving a family of six children whom we helped to raise.

This history would not be complete without a word about my wife. We were married 58 years th 20th of November, 1958. She is the mother of 13 children, 11 of them we raised to man and womanhood, two died in infancy and our daughter, Cora died at the age of 36. The rest of our children are alive today. She has been a wonderful wife and mother, has taught her children honesty, thrift, to be good membeers of the Church and of the community where they live. She is loved and respected by the people of the community where she lives and all who know her. Our son, Rex was stricken with polio in 1936, when he was nine years of age. My wife never ceased working with him and spent years taking him to different doctors and hospitals. He was left with one leg that has to have a brace and he walks on crutches. As of this date (1958), we have 102 in family, in-laws and all--13 children, 43 grandchildren, 24 geat grandchildren, 80 blood descendants.

(1993 -- This history is bing finished by Semeon and Anna's daughters, Frances Gillespie, Ruth Koch, Hazel Nite, Elma Pagett, Doris Mortensen, and Ina Olsen). Anna Buletta Jensen Died October 9, 1959, at her home in Manassa. She was 77 years old. After he death, their daughter, Doris Morensen and family lived in the family home. Simeon lived with them in the summers and with his daughters, Ethel Forsyth, Ina Olsen and Hazel Nite, who lived in the Los Angeles area, curing the winters where he worked in the Los Angeles LDS temple. After five years, his daughter, Frances, rented a Temple apartment and they lived there together and worked in the Temple during the winters and went back to Manassa during the summers. The last three years of Simeon's life, he stayed in Manassa. He stayed mentally and physically active and died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 95 years old. He died January 10, 1973.

Better people never lived than Simeon and Anna. They are dearly loved by all of their descendants.

Taken from, "A History of the Ancestors & Descendants of Simeon harmon Dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen", compiled by Vera Dunn Olivier, Published privately June, 1993, pp 25-26

If I had known

A Poem by Annie Dunn

I didn't know that love meant

Keeping houses clean, by constant sweeping,

Scrubbing, ironing, washing clothes,

Making beds and making wishes

For new hats, and shoes and dresses,

Staying home and cleaning messes.

If this is love, excuse the laughter,

I didn't know what I was after.

- Annie Dunn

Taken from "A History of the Ancestors & Descendants of Simeon Harmon Dunn and Annie Buletta Jensen", compiled by Vera Dunn Oliver and published privately June, 1993, page 29