Name Cloud

This "Name Cloud" shows the most popular names in my Family Tree. This and more available on treeseek.com

Pictures from "150 Years in Peoa"

Fred Marchant (center with colt) 
and his next-door cousins Lula (left) and Glen (right) Marchant. 

Bishop Abe (Abraham Marchant) with Relief Society Sisters of Peoa 
planting a tree on the church grounds to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Relief Society.
 His wife Mary Ellen Marchant is on his right. 

The "Relief Society" tree in 2010. 

Fred and his father Abraham Marchant ready to go feed.

Fred and Ione Marchant's truck

Peoa Post Office. Can you remember the combination to Box 12?

Marchant Cash Store.
Owned and operated by Del and Velma Marchant for over 50 years.

The Gordon Stembridge barn in Peoa.

Mother's Day Tribute - 2013

Two years ago, I sat in the funeral for my Aunt Lila Marchant Christiansen, my father’s sister.  Her family paid tribute to her strength and testimony.  She was widowed at an early age, not long after her youngest daughter Brenda, who is my age, was born.  Aunt Lila raised her large family on her own. I knew much about her life, but found myself admiring her more for overcoming so many difficulties in her life. What a positive example and good mother, and then grandmother, she had been to her large posterity. How her family had been blessed by her life.

Janice Seely, Julie, Louise, Lynette, Blake, Becky Marchant.
Ione Marchant
 August 1979, the day of Louise's Mission Farewell.

I soon realized that I had a woman in my life with similar circumstances, my own mother.  She, too, had been widowed early in life. Ione Stembridge Marchant was 44 when my father died. I’ve come to realize how young that is. Of her six children, two were still at home, while the oldest four were away at college. She faced the challenges of raising her family alone with courage and resolve. She carried on with the farm with the help of my brother Blake who was still in high school. She still had to deal with teenagers as well as some serious medical emergencies and challenges. As we became adults, she gave advice and encouragement about life decisions--careers, missions, relationships, marriages, babies and families. When I talked to Mom about some of the major turning points in my life, she wouldn’t tell me what to do. She would listen, make a comment or two, then leave the choice to me. She assured me I’d make the right decision. Just talking it out with her was comforting.

Mom was our family’s most important nurturer. She was a good cook and made sure we ate well. How blessed we were to live on a farm. Roast Beef almost every Sunday for dinner, accompanied by baked, mashed or scalloped potatoes. Fresh vegetables from the garden in summer and fall, then frozen or preserved vegetables and fruit through the winter. We had treats of homemade candy, popcorn balls, cookies.  And homemade bread. Mom made bread every week. We had a large oven, and it was filled with bread pans on baking day.  

Mom did more than feed us physically; she provided a nurturing spiritual environment. She didn’t preach to us. Her example spoke louder than words.  She served in quiet, thoughtful ways.  Mom often visited our neighbor, Tilde Anderson, who was a widow. It wasn’t an assignment or duty, just something Mom chose to do frequently. Many times, on baking day, Mom would send some of us kids to take a loaf of fresh bread to Darrell Milliner.  Darrell and my father drove to work every day at Park City High School, where they taught high school.  Darrel lived alone in Peoa. His wife had died and his children were no longer at home. I wasn’t always happy to be the one assigned to deliver bread to him, but it felt good to give something so good to someone who appreciated it so much.  It was later that I realized she was giving us the opportunity to serve. As a mother now, it’s something I try to do with my children.

I love you Mom. Happy Mothers Day! I’m forever grateful for your life and example.

Ione Marchant Reese, June 2010

A Small Town 4th of July

The 4th of July was always an anticipated holiday for the Marchant family. The activities surrounding Independence Day instilled in us a patriotic spirit and gratitude to be an American, but more than that they were fun!

Most of our holiday observance was tied to the nearby town of Oakley, who has hosted a 4th of July Celebration since 1935.  But our day's events began in Peoa itself with the local flag raising. Town residents would be reminded of the holiday by the ringing of the old Peoa school bell which was on a Daughters of Utah Pioneers (DUP) monument on the LDS church grounds. For many years, our own Grandma Evalyn Stembridge took her responsibility as an officer of the local DUP seriously, ringing the bell at 6 am to wake the town. At 7 a.m. the short program would begin, boys in scouts would sleepily arrive and see that the flag was raised. We’d sing along to a cassette tape accompaniment of the Star Spangled Banner and other patriotic songs. During the program, the sun would rise over the hill immediately to the East of the church. Sure, we loved our country, but the favorite part of the morning was the donuts and hot chocolate served at the end.

The Oakley 4th of July Parade began at 10 a.m. It's a slice of Americana, a small town parade  We enjoyed waving to the queens on horseback and floats, and especially gathering the candy that was thrown out. In the early years, our family always watched the parade near its starting point by the Oakley LDS Ward house and original rodeo grounds. The parade went one direction, and in case you missed anything, it turned around and came back!  As we grew up, all of the Marchant kids had the chance to participate in the parade. For many years there was a Marchant musician in the South Summit High School Marching Band. Before the days of custom t-shirts and casual shorts for bands, the marching Wildcats looked spiffy in their tailored wool uniforms complete with tall white furry hats. Great for looking professional, not so good for staying cool. Later years saw Marchant girls represented on floats for Summit County Dairy Princess and Kamas State Bank. The Oakley Parade was one of the most documented events our family, faithfully filmed with our 8mm movie camera.  

In the afternoon, Oakley had a Junior Rodeo. I never actually participated in this Rodeo, although maybe Blake did. My memories include watching city kids trying to catch a greased pig or ride a sheep or calf, usually unsuccessfully. I also remember sitting in the hot sun.  

The marquis event of the 4th of July Celebration was the Oakley Rodeo. Our frugal family faithfully attended every year, but to save money we opted to buy the General Admission tickets. For a lower cost, we bought tickets and we kids went early to the Rodeo grounds to secure the best seats, hours before the rodeo began. We brought our own treats, usually home made pink candy-coated popcorn. Now the Oakley Rodeo is a fully sanctioned professional rodeo. Back in the 1960’s and 70’s, we often cheered local cowboys who tried to “stick” a ride on a bucking horse or bull, or rope a calf. A popular event was the Wild Cow Milking contest, made up of Kamas Valley residents working in teams to rope a cow and be the first to get some milk to show the judges. I may just be getting old, but the rodeo stock from the past seemed more ferocious than it does now.The bull fights with the clowns seemed to last for a long time. I do know the seats in the old arena were closer to the action, making it more exciting (and probably dangerous) when a bull chased a clown or cowboy to the edge of the arena.  

As our family grew, the tradition of a Peoa/Oakley 4th of July was shared with the next generation. Families traveled from Texas, Washington State, Nevada to join in a Family Reunion with built in activities - Flag Raising, Parade, Rodeo. The Oakley Parade only goes one way now, starting at the new Rodeo Grounds South of Oakley.  For years we watched the parade near the Oakley Polar King Drive-In, often next to Stembridge cousins and their extended families. Later we moved further east along the highway for viewing the parade, nearer to the new rodeo grounds and town park. Grandchildren and even great-grandchildren learned the charm of a small town parade where it throwing candy is still permitted. For many years, all seats for the rodeo have been reserved.  The Rodeo is part of the professional circuit and showcases some of the best cowboys and cowgirls in the country.  But the outdoor experience at the base of the mountains on a summer’s evening is still the same.

Ione started a new part of the 4th of July experience when she introduced a family breakfast held on a day near the 4th of July when family was in Peoa. The breakfast was held at the Weber Cottonwood Picnic Area, in Weber Canyon east of Oakley. After being sprayed with insect repellant, we would enjoy a hearty breakfast cooked over camp stoves. Blake was usually found manning the grill, turning out perfectly browned French Toast and Pancakes. When in Utah, Julie was the manager of the details of the meal. Janice and the Seely Family from Texas were here for one of the early years of the canyon breakfast.The energetic Seely boys found the Weber River nearby and got in the river and played. After that year, more cautious parents allowed their children to throw rocks in the river from the bank, but not actually get in. After breakfast and clean-up, pictures were taken, documenting who was able to attend and how much all the kids had grown over the past year.  

The Family Breakfast tradition continues today, although the venue has changed. 2011 was a wet spring, a high water year that brought fears of flooding. To eliminate the temptation to children to get too near a dangerously high river, Ione decided to hold the breakfast outside her house in Peoa.  This worked out well and was more convenient for food preparation. It still allowed for the family to be together, enjoying a delicious breakfast outside in the cool mountain morning.

1940 Census - Peoa

You are probably aware that the 1940 US Census was released this month.  I knew the Church is involved in indexing the information (and have done some of that indexing myself).  But today I read an article about searching the original documents and tried it with success!  Peoa is a pretty small place; its residents are listed on 8 census sheets.  I found both Ione and Fred and their families with little effort.  So cool to see them listed as children.

The 1940 Population of Peoa is listed as 263.

See the Peoa Census Schedule here.  The Stembridge family is on Page 1A, along with Jessie Stevens and Mrs. Neel.  Abraham and Mary Marchant are on the bottom of Page 1B, but Fred is on the next page (2A). You can follow the progression of the census taker, going from Woodenshoe to the store, including Glenn and Afton Walker and Dell and Velma Marchant.  It's pretty fun to take a look.

Links for Fred Marchant

I recently did a Google search for Dad and found that this Church News article from when he was made Stake President.  In those days, they were able to do a longer article for each new Stake Presidency.  The link is HERE.

Also, I read about a website for graves around the world, findagrave.com.  There is a picture and information about Dad's grave site HERE.

The Fence:

Looking at the picture of the fence in front of the house I was thinking that Fred and Ione's grandchildren and great grandchildren, probably did not know the fence was ever there.  This picture of the front fence with the front porch in the background reminded me how the fence provided a dividing line along with the sidewalks, for the family lawn work assignments.  The fence and sidewalks were used to split the lawn into 6 separate pieces (6 kids needing a job..... just goes to show you that Fred was a pretty sharp math teacher & never think Ione didn't know the correct number of jobs needed as well).   Anyway the 6 areas gave every child a piece that they would take a turn in mowing their section of lawn each time and raking if needed.  The smallest piece of lawn that everyone wanted, was the side piece next to the driveway.  Getting this small assignment was like hitting the lottery, since it was the smallest and in about 3 passes you could be done mowing your assigned area.  And then the next week we would rotate to one of the other pieces and so on.  Now Fred and Ione showed the ability to adapt their math skills based on the number of kids available each time we mowed the lawn.  Since "6 kids a mowing" was a limited engagement.  Because not all of the kids would have been old enough to mow the lawn when they first moved in.  And it took a number of years to get all 6 big enough to mow and by then the older ones were getting old enough to go to college and moved on with there lives.  We adapted our math skills to divide the chore of mowing so that it could get done without being to hard for any one person. At times we would take turns cutting a few rounds then the next person would take a turn and so on.  No self propelled or riding mower in those days and if we did not keep it cut the long grass had to be raked and that was a real pain.  We tried not to let that happen. 


I also remember in the summer and fall most Sunday evenings the lawn between the fence and the road was used as the "community football field".  It seemed everyone came to play and when it got to dark to play, it usually ended up being a great place to talk, into the warm summer nights or cool fall evenings.  After a while in the dark, Ione would open the front door, telling us it was late and time to come into the house.  Of course, I being very obedient would always hurry in.... my sisters.... well I can't remember if they were as obedient as I was or not.  (I am sure they will be happy to tell you if they were or were not.... if you dare ask)

If memory serves the fence out front, was taken out after lighting struck the pine tree which is now just a stump and has flowers on top.  I recall the fence was fun because you could walk on top of it from the back to the front and back again.  Problems were encountered when someone else was coming in the opposite direction and if you could not work together to step around each other.
I also remember the titter totter which was made from an old wagon wheel axle with wooden spoke wheels (just like the Pioneers used, pulled by either horse or oxen), one wheel is now next to the South side of the house and is used as a decoration.  A number of years ago I took a piece of wood from the original axle and gave a piece of it to a friend of ours in Spring Creek, NV (John Lynch) who made knives. Now this was a block of old ugly wood about 9 inches long and 4 inches square faded and rotting on the edges.  The middle was very hard and was cut probably 12 years before and set aside.  I remember it was difficult to cut and had hoped to do something with it... so I asked him to make a letter opener...    After a few discussions, he convinced me to let him make a knife instead and if Ione wanted to open a letter the knife could easily do that as well.... So I consented and he then shaped a handle out of the small block of axle I gave him (White Oak) and used it to make a knife for Ione.  If you want to see a very nice knife with a piece of the original axle made into the handle ask Ione if she will show you it. I am sure she would be happy to show it to you, it is beautiful and by the way it is a very sharp knife so be careful.

Well these are just a few of my thoughts as I looked at the picture on the blog and remembered.  And by the way in a few weeks the bush near the right of the steps at the front of the house will bloom into a pink "cotton candy" color and always was a welcome sight letting us know spring had sprung in Peoa...