Simeon Adams Dunn and Wanda Marie Facer -- my Grandparents

(left to right:  Simeon Adams Dunn (Grandpa), Eliza Jane Dunn (Aunt Jennie), and Evaline Silver Dunn (Aunt Tebe)

A STORY OF MY LIFE

(By Simeon Adams Dunn,   Written approximately 1970-1971)

The first seventeen years of my life were spent in College Ward, 4 miles south of Logan.  My father purchased a fine farm of some 57 acres just across the road east of the present Ward Chapel and built two small houses, one for my Mother and her children, on the corner lot on which a large service station is operated at present, just south of the Church; and the second home was for Aunt Tishy and her family. These humble homes each had two rooms - one larger front room and a back room in each.    My father sold his property in Millville and moved to College Ward after having been sustained as the Bishop of this ward.  His farm and home in Millville today is in the Nibley Ward, directly across the road east of the chapel.  Father was the first Bishop of College Ward.

I was born March 2, 1896, the firth child is what came to be a family of six children, in my mother’s 2-room home.  The older children were Charles Welch, Eliza Jane (Jennie), John William, and Evelyn Silver.  Two- and one-half years following my advent into this world, my brother Lester Welch was born. 

I could not very well attempt to write the story of my life without including my other sister and brothers, Harriet Letitia, and four brothers, Levi; Oscar Smith; Samuel Atwood and Leslie Smith.  The children of Aunt Tishy and the first wife of my Father.  The two families were so closely related and held together by the bond of love so strong that people not acquainted with our relationship would not readily detect any difference.  With us there has always been two families of Brothers and Sisters and the word “half brother and sister” has had little use.

The arrival of March in 1896, must not have been “in like a lamb”.  Mother remembered that the weather was stormy and cold, the wind strong and the roads muddy and rough.  The midwife lived some four miles to the south and east at Hyrum.  On the night of March 1st, the time was fulfilled and, the horses were hitched to the buggy and the long trip to Hyrum began.  I am  not sure who made the journey, whether Father was on board, or whether Levi and Charles went on the mission; but I am sure Aunt Tishy was with Mother and when old Sister Lauritzen was late in arriving, the baby boy had already arrived and Mother was resting peacefully due to the loving and professional care of a new midwife, who in the years to come brought several hundred babes into the world in the College Ward area (Grandma Tishy).  My Mother used to smile as she reported the late arrival of Sister Lauritzen.  This fine old Sister brought a cool, damp cloth to Mother and carefully bathed her face and said, “Now you are pretty”.

This, in brief, was my entrance into the world, 49 years after the first Company of Mormons entered Utah.  When I consider the great changes that have taken place during my lifetime from the “Horse and Buggy Days” to the Atomic Age, I am quite certain that I am one of the groups, fast passing away, who could be classed as pioneers.

I have a very faint recollection of our life in the small home where I was born.  My brother Lester was born here August 18, 1898.  I seem to remember finding a small dog, made of crockery, by the fence just south of the house one day.  I remember, largely from what my older brothers and sisters have told me, that a family by the name of Hansen lived just across the street to the east, and played with our youngsters.

Father sold our home and moved Mother and her children about a mile down in the field just north and west of the meeting house. This was about 1899.  I recollect going with my sister, Eva, to see Aunt Tishy and her new baby boy, Leslie, born April 15, 1900, and I am quite sure we then lived in the log 2 room home Father had purchased from Lars Sorenson.

Our nearest neighbors were the Joseph Bindrup and Nephi Bindrup families, both of which lived about a half mile north and the Hans Sorenson family a short distance to the south.  They were all good neighbors and I remember them with love and respect.

Our home was made of logs, two rooms, a large kitchen and a large bedroom.  The kitchen furnishings consisted of an open hearth coal and wood burning stove, with a small water reservoir; a large kitchen table and a lounge that could be extended in front to sleep two people, a small safe with shelves and two front curtains to serve as doors and protect the food and dishes; a rag carpet with straw between the floor and the carpet; a wide bench to hold the wash basin and the bucket of water.  A small mirror hung above the wash basin and a bomb and brush case attached to the wall just above the wash basin.  We also had six or seven kitchen chairs for the use of the family.  The large bedroom was almost bare of furniture, the floor was covered with a clean rag carpet made a lot softer with fresh straw from the fall threshing, two double beds, made quite softer with fresh straw from the fall threshing, two double beds, made quite comfortable with bedtick filled with straw and plenty of blankets and quilts for the winter weather.  There was also a large wooden box with a lid on the top and a large drawer across the bottom.  In the box my Mother kept clothing and other things which needed special storage.   A couple kerosene lamps furnished our lights for this primitive home during the long evenings.

Perhaps the one thing that I dream about most in relation to this home was the wonderful flowing well just outside the kitchen window east of the house.  Night and day, it was always there and the water was just a bit more than 99.44% pure.  Even today, Wanda and I often go for a ride down the old Lane west from the meeting house in College Ward.  We turn the corner at the Lars Sorenson home and stop at my childhood home and enjoy the cold, fresh, pure water, the same as our family enjoyed it in those days of long ago.  This home is located on a 40-acre tract or land known as the “Lars Sorenson Forty”.

My memory of the life on the Lars Sorenson farm is remarkably vivid.  I recall the location of the poor land on the forty, where the soda shone white in the sunshine, and where the land produced no crops.  I remember the big ditch which crossed the road just north of our home and continued in a southwesterly direction to divide a few acres of land just west of the house from the remainder of the land to the fence; the willows and the big irrigation ditch which separated our land from the Chris Bindrup acres to the west.  One day during the irrigation season when much of the water had been drawn from the ditch which passed below our corral, my father jumped into the ditch and with his hands caught a very large trout.  I have always loved to fish and being a fisherman, I may be forgiven if I over-estimate the size of fish at times, it is my considered opinion that this was a very large fish, trout, at least 30 inches long, and it must have weighed at least 15 pounds.  Please remember that I am estimating after some 67 or 68 years and that I was quite a small boy at the time.

My first work for hire was during about my final year in the Sorenson home.  My b rothers, Charles and Oscar rented Father’s lower 40 acres, located ¾ mile directly north of Mother’s home, for the summer.  They hired me to tromp hay, foxtail and alfalfa.  When the summer was over, each of the brothers gave me 50 cents as payment in full.  According to my wages, I must have been rather a poor hired hand, but I remember paying 10 cents tithing to the Bishop, my Father. 

One day as our younger children were playing outside, we saw four or five ponies with Indian riders coming towards our home from the south.  This was not too many years after Indians had settled on the reservations and children, at least, were frightened when they came to the settlements.  We ran and told Mother, and she kept us close to the house until the Indians had passed.  They were on their way to the Washakie Reservation in the northern part of Box Elder County. 

My best friends of the neighbor boys were Ezra and Leonard Sorenson.  Ezra was two years older and I was from March 2 to May 5 older than Leonard.  We started school together in the fall of 1902.  George D. Cardon was our teacher, and he taught all eight grades in the one-room school.  The building still stands, and today is part of the home of John L. Green, just across the main road south from the College Ward Chapel, a few rods south of the chapel. 

When my brother Levi was about 16 years of age, he and his friend, Will Nelson, decided to leave home to seek their fortune in Wyoming.  They left in the night without conferring with the folks.  They rode horses to Logan, in the morning our old Tom was at the barn, the saddle still on his back, peacefully eating hay. Some weeks later the boys returned and Levi brought with him 3 or 4 horses, his wages for his work on a Wyoming ranch.  One of these horses was a fine black gelding, named Bethwick Dexter.  Another was a beautiful dark bay mare whom he called Utah Kate.  He sold the black horse to George Dunbar, a horse fancier from Logan at a good price for those days.  Within a short time, Dunbar sold the horse for a really fancy price, we heard for $750.  We kept the bay mare.  She was a beauty and I think one of the fastest horses in our community.  She was in the pasture just through the fence west of our house.  One morning we found an addition, four wobbly legs peacefully feeding from Utah Kate.  This was a red and white pinto with two long ears.  Will claimed the mother and now he also claimed a very cute little pinto mule colt.

I learned to milk the cows while we still lived in this home and in later years, I had plenty of practice as Father always had a dozen or more in the herd. 

During my first two years in school I frequently called at the Sorenson home and Leonard and I walked to school together.  Often, I would arrive early and help him feed several lambs on the bottle.  These were some foundlings which had no mother to feed them and so were raised on cow’s milk.  They were in a small pen just back of the cows.  I remember the stable as being warm and clean, even in the coldest winter weather.

I think I should make a more detailed description of our home in the field – “the Lars Sorenson Home”. This was a good-sized home, with a hip roof, originally planned to have two bedrooms upstairs.  It even had a part of a stairway outside of the back of the house, some of the steps were missing, but there was a door at the top in good condition.  A large shanty about 16 feet north of the house was accessible without much difficulty even during rainy weather, as it was connected to the house with a roof over the 16 feet, and a wall on the west.  There was a good lumber floor between the two buildings.  During ???  … the little building west of the house, by the back fence, where was kept a small box of ashes with a coal shovel, and a Sears and Roebuck Catalog, which made good reading during daylight hours.

In the Fall of 1903, Mother moved to Logan for the winter months to take care of the older members of our family who were attending the Brigham Young College.  Father rented a large house west on 5th South.  I believe it belonged to a Mr. Johnson.  We returned to the home in College Ward in the spring.  The following winter Mother again moved to Logan and this time rented a home just across the Logan River bridge, on the west side of the street.  It belonged to an elderly widow, Sister Hansen.  There was not room enough for me, and I lived with Aunt Tishy in her home. I well recollect that I turned eight years of age in the spring and my brother, Will, transported me to Logan, behind him on a horse and Mother took me to the Temple where I was baptized.  I had been promised that I could stay overnight with Mother, but it just happened that my sister, Eva, had contracted chicken pox so I returned to Aunt Tishy’s with my brother Will.  The weather was not good, it rained almost the entire day.

Father sold the Lars Sorenson home about 1905 and purchased the home adjoining the school on the south, from William Williams.  This became Mother’s home.  We lived here until April of 1913, when Father sold all his property in College Ward and moved both families to Logan.  My brother in law, Victor Allen built two houses for Father in Logan 7th Ward.  Aunt Tishy lived in the one just east on 2nd South and Mother lived in the one on 228 South 2nd East.

My second teacher in school in the one-room College Ward was J. W. Seamons from Hyde Park.  He boarded at our home during the severe winter weather, but traveled from Hyde Park to our school in a two wheeled cart, drawn by a small roan pony, when the weather was mild. Other teachers I remember are, Eva Williamson from Wellsville, Emily Olsen from Paradise, Jennie Edwards from England, my brother Charles, Wm. P. Leatham, and Walter J. Nes from Wellsville, Harry Olsen from Millville, and Naomi Law from Avon, who was my last teacher in the grades.

I graduated from the eighth grade in the spring of 1911.  College Ward boasted 4 graduated that spring, Myrtle Anderson, Marian Nelson, Alvin Jensen and myself.  We took the County examination in the Nibley Hall at Logan with all 8th grade students in Cache County. 

I have always loved fine horses; I suppose a direct result of my experience with them while I was a youngster on the farm.  I vividly remember Tom, Chief, Mac, Maud, Brownie, Utah Kate, a beautiful sorrel mare whose name I do not recall, and Old Orthodox who could never put on fat to hide his ribs, regardless of the grain and hay he consumed.  In the late years of my life I have generally kept a fine riding horse, with a suitable saddle and bridle to match, so that I have been proud to ride in the holiday parades.  I sold my fine American Saddler and my complete riding outfit just two years ago, 1968, to a horse fancier from Salt Lake City.  I remember at least 15 fine saddle horses which I have owned during my life and at least half of this number were fine American animals.

I also recollect that we had a wonderful dog, Old Watch, and our large grey cat.  These two pets we shall always remember, we had another tract of land north of us which we called our lower 40 acres. 

My father was the first Bishop o College Ward.  He was a faithful Bishop, and he served 21 years in this calling.  The ward members finished building a very fine meeting house about 1896.  This building served remarkably well for many years.  It was made of brick, only one large room, with curtains to draw when a number of classes were needed.  Grandma Tishey lived just across the road east of the meeting house.  On the large lot adjoining the home were fruit trees, a variety of berries, and sufficient area for a large garden plot.

The Hyrum slough carried plenty of water to serve as a fair swimming hole.  During the summer months this pool was in use by the boys of the ward, almost every Sunday immediately following Sunday School.  My Mother taught her boys it was wrong to go swimming on the Lord’s day.  I recollect that I did not disobey my Mother.

Very early in life I was introduced to the fine sport of fishing.  I loved to fish and it seems that each year of my life my love for this wonderful sport has increased.  I presently have the fishing gear required by a fisherman who really loves the sport.  I regret to acknowledge that I am about ten years behind on my favorite pastime.  We fished in the spring creek, generally in the farm area of Bro. John H. Schenk.  I remember that there were two swimming holes “Little Boys Sunday” and “Big Boys Sunday”.  These holes were generally in use on Sunday, and also on other days of the week.  The water was not warm.

My Mother was a wonderful woman.  She loved her church; she loved her home and she loved her children.  I remember very little about the two - room home where I was born but I remember the Lars Sorenson home.  My Mother was a quiet and reserved woman, queenly in her bearing and deeply religious.  Our home received the light from a coal oil lamp, placed upon the long kitchen table.  Around this table the children prepared their lessons for the morrow.  I believe that we had our home evening almost every evening.  We gathered around our lovely mother, one of the children read a chapter from the scriptures, we sang a church hymn, knelt in prayer offered by one of the family, kissed our mother goodnight and went to bed.  Father spent very little time at our home.  He had two wives and the deputies still caused much trouble for the brethren, even after they had served time in the state prison.  My Mother was a Latter-day Saint who kept the commandments and taught her children to do the same.  A few things were required in our home, no gossip about our neighbors, playing cards not allowed in our home and we were expected to faithfully follow the church teachings.  We were taught to have respect for each other and to pray to our Heavenly Father faithfully day by day.  Ours was a beautiful Mother, quiet and unassuming, and a queen in her bearing and speech with her children. As a family we were closely bound together by love, respect and taught by a saintly Mother and a fine Father.

I think our College Ward was best known in the early days for its muddy roads.  In the spring our roads were almost impassable.  Father was road supervisor and I remember well when gravel was placed on the main road, just wide enough for one wagon, or buggy to use.  This was a narrow strip between the Larson home and north to the Abe Hansen home.  I think that today there are no muddy roads except perhaps some field roads with very little travel.  About 1904 Father sold the Lars Sorenson home and purchased the home directly south of the old school house, the William Williams home, and here we lived until we moved to Logan in April of 1913.

I registered for the 9th grade in the BYC at Logan in the fall of 1912.  Soon after this, my brother, John William, left on a mission to the Eastern States.  I was late in starting and really lost interest in school.  I wanted to be a farmer and I could be kept busy on the farm while J. W. was on his mission, so I dropped out of school at mid-year and worked at home.  I registered at the Hyrum High school late in the fall of 1912.  My lifelong friend, Orville E. Nelson, also registered there and we lived together in an upstairs apartment above the old Post Office on main street.  We quickly became acquainted with the young people of the town and played on the Hyrum High School basketball team.  We really enjoyed the winter and have had life-long friends from our first year in high school in Hyrum Stake.

I registered at the USAC for my sophomore year, then returned to the old BYC for 1914-1915, and 16, and 17.  I completed my 5th year normal in the spring of 1917 and began my career as a teacher in Cache County in September 1917.  Through all of my years in the school before graduation, I was under the necessity of entering late in the fall and dropping out early in the spring to work on the farm.  I continued to work as a hired hand on the farms owned by James A. Anderson, J. W. Anderson and my father’s ranch in Blue Creek, Box Elder County.

I continued my studies by extension and correspondence and summer school and graduated from the USAC in 1949.  I claim to have a long record in school.  I began in College Ward in the Fall of 1902 and retired from school May 1962.  I therefore answered the school bell for a total of 60 years without a break of a full year.

I registered for a 3-year course in the study of Law, from the LaSall Extension University.  I completed 1/3 of the courses very well but because of illness in my family, I dropped the course and never completed it.  I also took a course in wireless telegraphy through the University of Utah in 1918 in connection with my Army service for Uncle Sam.  My special extension courses, through the years, brought me credits well above the requirements for a MA Diploma.  I registered at the BYC in the fall of 1911 but had to discontinue that at mid-year to help with the work on the farm.  It was during the first winter of 1912 at a High School basketball game and dance in the old Elite Hall in Hyrum that I first met Wanda Facer.  Our friendship was of the lasting kind and after quite a long courtship we were married in the Salt Lake Temple, August 31, 1917, by Elder Joseph F. Smith, of the Council of the Twelve.  A later chapter will deal with our happy life together with our children and our grandchildren and great grandchildren.

I enjoyed my life in school, playing basketball, being a member of the Track Team, I was a quiet backward young fellow and really did not enjoy being President of my graduating class in High School.  I remember the lines which appeared in the year book under my picture, “Doesn’t talk much and shies when he sees a girl”.  Our Senior class put on a play at graduation time and I had one of the important parts.

My ward activity in Logan as a young boy included a part of the giant in the opera “Jack and the Beanstalk”, and also a part in the drama with Olga Carlson. 

I was blessed with a fine well-proportioned healthy body, and I always enjoyed hard work.  World War I had begun in 1914 in Europe and at this time Germany was at the peak of her power.  U.S. declared war on the Central Powers April 6, 1917 and Sam and Lester enlisted in the 145th Field Artillery soon after.  Elder B. H. Roberts was their Chaplain.  They left school and their homes and were in Camp Kearny in California.  I finished the year in school and spent most of the summer at our ranch in Blue Creek.  I did take a month off and worked on the Knudson ranch at Corrine, where brother Levi was foreman.  I was paid $40 for my month’s wages. I then went back to Blue Creek for the harvest.  I had in the meantime signed a contract to teach school at Trenton in Cache County.  Mom and I had set the date for our marriage for August 31, 1917.  I left the ranch immediately following the harvest, late in August; borrowed $100 from the Cache Valley Bank in Logan and we traveled to Salt Lake City on the Bamberger line and we were married in the Temple by Joseph Fielding Smith.  Today he is the 10th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We were out of the Temple early in the afternoon.  We rode a street car to Fort Douglas and visited with my two brothers, Sam and Lester, who had enlisted in the Army.  We spent the night in the Wilson Hotel, then returned to Cache Valley the following morning and began our preparations to set up housekeeping in Trenton to a small two room house.  The rent was $7.50 per month.  Our furniture consisted of a kitchen Monarch range purchased from the Lundstrom Furniture Company in Logan.  Also, a kitchen table and 4 chairs, small cupboard, wash stand with a small mirror, a bed, dresser and small center table.  pumped any spilled water ran off the boards right back into the well.  The well at that home was topped by a board covering.  When we pumped any spilled water ran off the boards right back into the well.  Furthermore, when i gave it a good cleaning in the spring, we discovered to our dismay that salamanders were living in that well. 

After school and on Saturdays I chopped beets, that first fall, earning more than I was receiving from my salary. 

This was a humble beginning, but we were a couple of happy youngsters, anxious to work and with no fears for the future. 

I was to begin my life as a teacher for $72 per month a year of approximately 8 months.  My fine friend Roy Hall was the Principal at this school.  He taught grades 7 and 8, and I taught grades five and six.  Sarah Hayward and Luis Romney taught the four Primary grades.

Our students from the farms came to school in a buggy.  All neighbors who could pile in, came in this outfit.  The school was provided with a slope-shed, in which the horse and buggy could be kept all day, and the students brought along a bundle of hay for the horse, each morning. 

My first two weeks as a teacher were really not happy ones.  I often considered resigning but I remembered reading something about “The man who put his hand to the plow and looking back, etc”, and I had no desire to be a quitter, so I put off my resignation for forty-five years and resigned the first week in May, 1962, having had a wonderful 45 years as a teacher, school Counselor and a Principal.

I like Nephi of old, was born of goodly parents, and was blessed with a strong and healthy body, with such a body as I have always possessed, it is a bit difficult to understand how I could have had such a list of peculiar diseases, as my record reveals:

Measles - 1905

Whooping Cough - 1907

Mumps - 1913

Articular Rheumatism - 1915 (Dr. H. K. Merrill)

Slight sunstroke - 1915

Tonsillectomy - 1930 (Dr. D.C. Budge)

Influenza - 1918 at Camp Travis in Texas

Spine in my eye from a dry burdock-hospitalized 4 days (Dr.

      Porter) - June 16-1950

Shingles (Dr. Burgess)

Phlebitis – 1944-confined 6 weeks (Dr. Burgess)

Gall Bladder Operation-6 weeks in Vets Hospital in 1941, found

     small ulcer in stomach (Dr. Pierce and Covey)

Sciatica – to bed 3 weeks (Dr. Burgess)

Arthritis of lower spine (Dr. Burgess)

Appendectomy - March 16, 1950 (Dr. Burgess)

Congestive Heart Failure - Adelaide, Australia (Dr. Magara) 1963 -

     lost 35 pounds-Released from Mission and returned

     home—reported to LDS Hospital in Logan for series of tests Dr.

     Burgess diagnosed Anemia – ulcer acting up

Prostate Gland trouble-malignancy (Dr. Lund, Ogden) – Feb 1967. 

     Have taken Hormone tablets past 4 years and seem to

     be okay at Present; 

Phlebitis - both legs - 4 days in Logan LDS Hospital (Dr. Burgess)/

     Vets Hospital in Salt Lake City August 8, 1967 following

     treatment for phlebitis for 4 weeks-poor circulation (Dr. Layne),

October 1967-LDS Hospital in Logan-further treatment for

     Phlebitis.  Have had regular checkups since 1967 including

     extensive X-rays and blood tests.  Doctors give me a clean bill

     of health at this date (Dr. Burgess and Lund).

 June 1970 visited Dr. Tony Lund and he made examination of

     Prostate Gland, smiled and told me to check with him

     again in 3 years.

Jan 4-1971-entered LDS Hospital in Logan for extensive checkup. 

     Had complete blood tests, cardiograph and prostate

     gland. The growth had almost disappeared, large 4 years ago. 

     Dr said he would be safe in promising me that I would never

     die because of this malignant growth.  Weighed 157 lbs. - quite

     a reduction from 200 lbs. for past 55 years. 

As of today, July 1, 1971, I am in fair health.  I do seem to get tired rather often, but a good night sleep generally brings back much of my vitality and thus I am ready for another day.  I am happy and thankful for such improvement in my health and general condition.

TEACHER TO ADMINISTRATOR IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

I finished my first teaching position at Trenton in the spring of 1918, the following two years I replaced LeRoy Hall as Principal.  The next year I moved to Tyhee, Idaho where I was Principal in a 3-room school.  The 3 trustees of this school were unfriendly to Mormons and I was not offered a contract for the year 1920 and 1921.  In the meantime, I had talked with Superintendent R. V. Larsen of the Cache County Schools and accepted a position to teach in the grammar grades of Lincoln School in Hyrum, where LeRoy Hall was again Principal.  Thus, my work in the Lincoln school began in September of 1921. 

In the fall of the year 1927, I believe it was, Mr. Hall transferred to South Cache High School to be the head of the History Department.  Hugh R. Adams was Principal.  When Principal Hall transferred the High School I was appointed Principal of the Lincoln Elementary school   I held this position until September 1935 when LeRoy Hall left the teaching profession to become manager of the Lundstrom Furniture store in Logan, Utah and I was happy to transfer to the High School where I followed Mr. Hall as Head of the History Department.  I enjoyed my work under H. R. Adams. 

At South Cache High School, we did not have a drop-out problem, but there were a few boys who could be called drop-ins.  Al they wanted to do was act silly and amuse themselves in class, wasting everyone's time.  Our solution for this situation, us to send such boys home, allowing them to return on condition that they would apply themselves to their studies. 

I was employed at the High School as teacher, Department Head, School Counselor and Principal.  I resigned my position at this school late in Mary of 1959 when my wife, Wanda and I sailed away to the South Seas, to open a lovely new High School in American Samoa, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I was the first Principal of the Mapausaga High School and operated that school until May 1, 1962 when Mom and I returned home to live in a lovely new home of our own in Lehi Utah. Nadine and Elmo with their 5 children had a home in Lehi and we expected to live close to them.  Now that I had retired, having reached the ripe old age of 66 years.

OUR HOMES

World War I separated us for 6 months, from July 15 to December 28, 1918.  Our lovely Wanda Myrtle was born at Hyrum, Utah on July 5, 1918 in the large Soren Hansen home on Main Street.  This was three weeks after I had enlisted in the Army.  Wanda and Myrtle lived with her Father and Aunt Emma while I was in the Army.  I was discharged December 23, 1918.  On my return from the Army, I found that the Principalship of the Trenton School was awaiting me at a salary of $125.00 monthly.  The school had simply remained closed until the Army men returned from the service. 

There was a pump on our school grounds, having learned more of sanitation, than had been practiced in the Eighteen Hundreds, we did not have a bucket and dipper in the class room.  We let the pupils drink at the pump at recess and noon. 

We lived for three years in Trenton, Utah, where we occupied four different homes. 

1.            Two- room home on South Main, belonging to a man named Andrews.

2.            Joseph Brough home

3.            Robson home about ½ mile south of town

4.            J. W. Bentley home on South Main Street. Our second daughter was born in the Bentley home November 25, 1919. 

5.            We moved to Tyhee, Idaho on May 1920 and lived in what we called the “Jap” house.  It belonged to Father Facer.  Our teaching only lasted one year, and we returned to Hyrum by was of an Emigrant Car.  Here four of our five children were born and three grew up and made of our home a little Heaven on Earth.  We had our share of worries, hard times and sickness.  Two of our babes were not permitted to remain with us but we have been greatly blessed and our life has been wonderful and rewarding.  We have been a family of many homes. 

6.            The sixth house we lived in was the Emma Liljenquist home, one block east of the Lincoln School, which we rented. 

7.            Lofthouse home on 2 West 50 South which we purchased and then sold to Milton Baxter

8.            John Israelsen house 1 block south of Elite Hall, rented

9.            John Allred home joining Hyrum first ward on the hill and we sold to Moroni Smith later

10.          Les Nuhn, 1st house north of 3rd Ward Church, rented.

11.          George Lemon home approximately 183 E 2nd South, rented

12.          The Old Church, 1st house east of Soren Hansen House, rented.

13.          Dr. Eliason home, 166 East Main, purchased and sold to Wayne Olsen

14.          Bendt Nielsen home, 50 South 1st West, purchased and sold to Ellery Bickmore

15.          E. J. Wilson home, 442 South Center, purchased and sold to Ree Stauffer

16.          James J. Facer home, purchased and sold to Leon Swenson

17-21.  Homes in Samoa, rented

22. O. H. Birch Home for two months, rented

23. Lived in our new home in Lehi for 6 months,

24. Called on Mission to Southern Australia, November 1962, lived in Howells Apartment in Perth

25.  Lived in Ballentine Apartment in Perth.

26. Wilson Apt in Logan

27.  Alpine Motel in Pleasant Grove-2 months

28.  Lehi Home, sold to Bro Garrett

29.  Rouche home in Nibley

30. Florida Mission , Rudolph Apartment- 800 Jenks, Panama City Florida

31.  Atmore Alabama Upstairs Apartment - Mrs. Lewis, 202 ½ South Carney, Atmore Alabama

32.  Nibley new home

33.  Mobile Home (Magnolia Deluxe), 26 South 1st East, Hyrum, Utah—added a fine garage

Also lived in Sherrill Apartment in Salt Lake City Utah during Legislature Sessions (2 regular and 2 special sessions)

TIMELINE and POSITIONS HELD IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER - DAY SAINTS

1.            Born March 2, 1896, College Cache County, Utah

2.            Blessed April 1, 1896 by my father, Charles Oscar Dunn

3.            Baptized, March 8, 1904 by Elder George H. Tibbits, Logan Temple

4.    Confirmed March 8, 1904 by Elder Thomas Morgan, Logan Temple

5.   Ordinations:  Deacon, September 3, 1907, Bishop Charles O. Dunn

6.  Teacher, January 15, 1912, Bishop Charles O. Dunn

7. Priest, April 7, 1913, Bishop Charles W. Dunn (brother)

8.     Elder, May 7, 1916, Bishop Charles O. Dunn

9.            My first position in the Church, Secretary Deacons Quorum

10.          Married Wanda Facer, August 31, 1917, Salt Lake Temple, Elder Joseph F. Smith, Sealer

11.          Counselor in YMMIA, Logan 7th Ward

12.          Class Leader Mel Priesthood Class, 1918, Trenton Ward

13.          Patriarchal Blessing, Patriarch John Welch, (Grandfather) (I was very young)

14.          Patriarchal Blessing, Patriarch O. M. Wilson, July 1918 (Prior to Military Service)

15.          Wanda and I also received blessings from Patriarch John C. Brenchley

16.          Superintendent, Tyhee Ward Sunday School, North Pocatello, Idaho

17.          Sustained Ward Clerk, Hyrum Third, July 30, 1922

18.          Class Teacher, Parents Class, Hyrum 3rd Ward with Verna Miller

19.          Ward Teacher in practically every Ward we have resided

20.          Sustained 2nd Counselor Bishop Nicholi Jorgensen, July 15, 1923, Hyrum 3rd.

21.          Ordained High Priest, July 15, 1923, Elder Melvin J. Ballard

22.          Set apart First Counselor, Bishop Jas C. Christensen, Hyrum 3rd, Elder Joseph F. Smith

23.          Released from Bishopric, Aug 16, 1926

24.          Supervisor Teachers Quorum, Nibley Ward

25.          Class Leader Adult Aaronic Priesthood, Nibley Ward

26.          Member Ward Choirs, number of times, Choir Member Logan Stake Choir

27.          Member YMMIA Stake Board, Hyrum Stake

28.          Sustained Class leader High Priest Group Hyrum First Ward

29.          Scout Master Hyrum 3rd Ward Scouts, Troop 25, August 16, 1926

30.          Sustained Hyrum Stake Clerk, March 26, 1928, Set apart, Elder David O. McKay

31.          Sustained Member High Council Hyrum Stake, January 12, 1941, set apart, Elder Mark Austin

32.          Released Stake Clerk, March 23, 1941

33.          Set apart Temple officiator, Logan Temple, May 26, 1944 (Pres. ElRay L. Christiansen)

34.          Released from High Council, April 17, 1949

35.          Sustained Superintendent Hyrum 3rd Sunday School Counselor, Lamont Larsen and Carroll Miller

36.          Released as Sunday School Superintendent, Nov. 11, 1951

37.          Released Temple Officiator, October 15, 1953

38.          Sustained President High Priests Quorum, Hyrum Stake Feb 6, 1955

Counselors: Earnest S.  Obray, Seth P. Leishman, Reuben Hansen Sec.

39.          Released Pres. High Priests Quorum, Oct 15, 1957

40.          Called to establish new High School for Church in American Samoa.  Interviewed by Elder Spencer W. Kimball of Council of the Twelve.  Serve three years as Principal, Mapusaga High School, June 1959 to May 1962. This was one of the finest experiences that My Wanda Marie and I have had in this life.

41.          Branch President in Australia, Elizabeth Branch, 1962, Member Perth District Council

42.          Branch President in Panama City, Florida, 1966

43.          Branch President in Atmore, Alabama, 1966

44.          Mission to Australia, 1962

45.          Mission to Florida, Dec. 1965

OUR MISSIONS

AUSTRALIA

My Wanda Marie and I were called as missionaries to the Southern Australian Mission and set apart by Elder Harold B. Lee, of the Council of the Twelve, November 11, 1962.  We were assigned to labor in the Perth area, which included four Branches at that time.  We were responsible for organizing the fellowshipping program in these Branches.  I also was sustained a member of the Perth District Council.  This was a wonderful assignment for us, and My Wanda really enjoyed this assignment.  She made friends here who will remember her and bless her all the days of their lives.  Here in Australia we became well acquainted with President Bruce R. McConkie and his lovely wife.  We have loved them dearly and I shall love and respect them as long as I shall live.  Sometime in July, we were transferred to the Adelaide area and I was to preside over the Elizabeth Branch some 20 miles north and west of Adelaide.  We served there until our release in December of 1963.

FLORIDA

Mother and I entered the Mission Home on November 29, 1965, in preparation for service as missionaries in the Florida Mission.  We were set apart and blessed by Elder Delbert L. Stapley, of the Council of the Twelve.  I received a wonderful blessing under the hands of Elder Stapley, and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  I realize that the blessings pronounced upon my head are to be realized only as I am a faithful servant in the work of The Master.  Among many other promises, I remember the following:  1.  The Spirit and inspiration of God to be with me, 2. His protection to be over my Wanda and me and also to be over our loved ones at home, 3. We, including our family, were promised peace of mind because of the faithfulness of our dear ones, 4. Wanda and I were promised health and strength sufficient for us to meet the appointments and duties in the service, 5. We were promised that we would be an influence for good and a blessing to those with whom we should labor, 6. I was informed …….???

Service in the Mission Field:  Mother and I had fasted all day and had prayed for the Spirit of the Lord to inspire the Servant of God, who should set us apart.  Our tears flowed freely as we sat under the hands of Elder Stapley.  This has been such a wonderful day.  We shall never forget this Holy Day.  December 1, 1965, we purchased our Temple Garments.  Have purchased our accident insurance for the duration of our Mission.  We have sat with all the missionaries for a group picture. Also had a group picture of the 10 older couples in the Mission Home.  Were set apart for our missions and received our Minister’s Certificates.  At 9:20 this evening, our classes for this day ended. 

A letter came today from President Ned Winder of the Florida Mission, requesting another program of our Ward Testimonial.  In this letter he saluted us as President and Sister Dunn.  We wondered just what that meant.  We later learned that we were to preside over the Panama City Branch of the Church.  The people all loved President Dunn. But it was difficult to listen to their sorrows and not be affected by all of it.  Too much sorrow, too much infidelity.  All this hurt terribly.  

In August, we were assigned to preside over the Atmore Branch of the Church in Atmore, Alabama.  Troubles here too.  Not so many members and so much inactivity.  No one could play the piano so we had a great disadvantage.  There were good people here too.

(Grandma Wanda Marie wrote the following:) "The Branch had a fine piece of property and Sim made the final payment on it, so if they could have raised the money, they could have had a fine chapel. 

Sim began to lose weight and was so ill he could not sleep or eat.  He looked so miserable.  He decided to ask for a release when the year was over, so he did.  Pres. Glen Rudd and his counselors, Hatch and Nielsen came to Atmore to see us and to give Sim his release.  We were very sorry to leave but it was for the best.  Pres. Rudd asked what he could do for us while he was there, so we told him to go see the Madison’s.  Both Charlie and Pres. Rudd were impressed with each other.  They stood eye to eye and the president told Charlie that a new chapel was to be dedicated in two weeks at Mobile, that the new font would be full and how nice it would be if he could be the first baptized there and that his son Roger could do it.  Charlie would not commit himself but he said he would consider.  We were so anxious to hear what happened and were happy that Charlie Madison was baptized that day.  Reports are that he is the mainstay for the Branch and doing fine."

 A short time prior to our release to return home, President Winder was released and was succeeded by Pres. Rudd.  We knew President Rudd for just a short time, as he tendered our release, December 1, 1966.

(Wanda Marie insert):  "We left Atmore and went to Panama City for a couple of days, then on to Columbia to see Elmo and Nadine, Howard, Leone, and Diane came out for Christmas.  Lynda was there and Karen, Nada and Sandy, so we had a fine time with our dear ones.  Elmo had a meeting in Provo the 1st of the year, so he drove our car out for us.  We had a fine trip to Utah, saw our first snow at Gallup, New Mexico. Went to Nibley and took our home back from Byron and Tebe.  We liked Nibley and the people so very well, but this was not the place for us.  The fruit trees had died and it was too much work for Sim to do. 

Sim went to the hospital and then to Ogden to Dr. Tony Lund, who performed a test and reported he had a malignancy in the Prostate Gland.  they did not operate but gave him hormones and that took care of the growth.  His legs were bad...lumps and very painful.  He took it pretty well but was a worry.

August 19, 1967 was Open House for our 50th Wedding Anniversary.  Sim had been in the Veterans Hospital for several weeks but they let him come home for the Open House.  We did not go to the Chapel but had it in our home.  Sim could not stand on his legs very long so he sat most of the time.  It was lovely and we enjoyed it very much.  Elmo, Nadine and the children were here.  Myrtle and Harry and Mary, Marla and Lin.  Jane and Gordon and the girls were all in Bolivia so they could not be here.  That made us lonely but other than that we had a lovely afternoon.  Sim went back to the hospital in Salt Lake the next morning and I went to Afioga's, a wonderful friend.  Elden and Louise were in Germany, but their girls came from Salt Lake and Ogden.  We remained in Nibley until Sept 1969 when we sold our place to Elwood Morgan and purchased a large Mobile home and bought a lot from Russel Allen and now are in the process of building a garage and patio.  Back to Hyrum Third Ward.  This has been our home for most of our married life and most of my life so we feel we are home again.  Home for both of us.  I am happy."

In the autumn of 1969, Mother and I, while visiting with Elmo, Nadine and the family in Columbia, South Carolina, drove down to Panama City where we visited most of the Branch members of the Panama City Branch.  We also visited the Atmore Branch and received a warm welcome from the Saints and out friends of missionary days.

We spent two nights, I believe, with Brother and Sister Cecil Gilbert.  He was my Branch Clerk in Panama City.  In Atmore, we stayed at the home of Mrs. Lewis who was our landlady while we lived in Atmore. She was not a member, but was a very lovely lady, whom we respected and loved.

POLITICAL ACTIVITY:  While I have voted the Republican Ticket as a general rule, I have never been a Radical Republican in any sense of the word.  I came from a family that were classed as Republican.  My father, Charles Oscar Dunn, was to say the least, a strong Republican.  It appears that the Mormons, of early days, were largely Democrats.  The time when the Authorities of the Church considered it wise to live under the Two-Party System. They therefore encouraged people who were not too strong for the Democrats to join with the Republicans in making a strong Republican organization.  My Father, in connection with many others, were asked to help form a new Political Party.  Thus, he became “A Good Republican” and remained faithful so long as he lived.  I think he never missed a single time in any election to vote.

I served as a party worker for the Republicans in the Hyrum Precinct; as a party Chairman several times; party Secretary several times; I was elected Hyrum City Councilman two, 2-year terms and one 4-year term (a total of 10 years).  These years were Democratic and with one exception I was the only Republican on the council.  I served as Hyrum City Manager one summer.  While City Councilman, I served as Chairman or the Finance Committee and Chairman of the Light and Power Department.  In November 1950 Election, I was elected to House of Representatives, representing Cache County, State of Utah.  I was re-elected to the Utah House in the election of 1952 and served a total of tour years at the State Capitol.  This was one of the finest experiences of my life, outside the LDS Church.  I served as a member of the Cache County Republican Central Committee, a member of the State Legislature, I was appointed Chairman of the important Educational Committee and a member of the State Central Committee of the Republican Party.  I served as a member of the Welfare Committee for Cache County for 4 years; chairman of the U.S. War Bond drive in Hyrum for one year, during WWII, served many times as a Delegate to the Cache County Republican Conventions; and delegate to State Republican Convention several times.  Because of my intense interest in Education, I often disagreed with Governor J. Bracken Lee and as a result I sometimes was not too happy with my work.  I well remember that on one special day I had clashed with the Governor in a party caucus.  That evening was the Governor’s reception for all members and employees of the Legislative Session.  I told my Wanda that I had decided to absent myself from the reception.  Her reaction was “we are going to the Governor’s Mansion; I would not miss it for the world!”  We attended the Reception and when we approached the Governor and his Lady, he looked up and said, “Well Representative Dunn, we meet again.  Stand by your guns, I admire you for it.” In the years that have elapsed, I have really learned that I had a wonderful experience; associated with fine men and women and made many close friends.  I have even forgotten most of the actions of the Governor, which were calculated to discourage me and weaken my influence among the members of the House of Representatives. 

Since the year 1953, I have taken almost no part in Party Politics.  I think I have read somewhere, in the Bible, I believe:  “OLD MEN FOR WISDOM---AND---YOUNG MEN FOR WAR.”

AMERICAN LEGION: Joined the Post in Logan Utah soon after it was organized … I am a paid member at this present time. Through the years, I have served as Post Commander during WWII. Have served as Chaplain several times. ARMY SERVICE: Enlisted June 15, 1918. Fort Douglas, Utah. Mustered in.. Served in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas, 18th Division, 218 Field Signal Bn. Co. 13. Discharged Dec. 23, 1918 – Corporal. LIFELONG FRIENDS: Orville Nelson, Leonard Sorenson, Lyman Schenk, Cyrus Anderson, Wesley Nelson, Alvin Jensen, all of College Ward, LeRoy Hall and Victor Israelsen of Hyrum, Utah. Four of these friends, Orville Nelson, Victor Israelsen, Leonard Sorensen, Roy Hall are all deceased. MY FIRST SIGHT OF AUTOMOBILES: When I was 5 or 6 years old, I saw a small car in Logan, driven by Bob Murdock. My first ride was in the car owned by Governor Spry. He had business in Logan. His chauffer had a flat tire in College Ward, and I was one of the small boys who helped pump air into the tire, and we all had a ride in the large open-air red car. It was quite an experience. GIFT OF HEALING: My Father, in his Patriarchal Blessing, was promised the gift of healing. This gift came to him early in life, and we were taught to have faith in this ordinance. When I was Hyrum Stake Clerk, about 1933, I contracted a severe attack of Sciatic Rheumatism. Hyrum Stake was holding a quarterly conference and Elder Rudger Clawson, of the Council of the Twelve was our visitor. Following the afternoon session, the Stake Presidency brought Elder Clawson to our home and he administered to me and gave me a wonderful blessing. A few hours later the pain, that had been so severe for more than two weeks, left me and I have never suffered from this disease to this day, Jan. 12, 1972. CHURCH LEADERS WHO VISITED WITH US IN OUR HOME IN MAPUSAGA, AMERICAN SAMOA: Church Authorities, Apostles and General MIA Board Members often stayed with us while waiting for planes, which did not operate more than 2 or 3 days during the week. We enjoyed their presence with us. Wanda was a wonderful hostess and we were greatly blessed through their influence upon us and their blessings to us individually. The following leaders were the servants of our Heavenly Father and we thanked The Father for their presence in our home: Elder and Sister John Longdon; Elder and Sister Mark E. Petersen; Elder and Sister Marvin Ashton of MIA General Board; Elder and Sister Holt; Dr. and Sister Richards; Sister Richards of the MIA General Board; President Charles I. Sampson of the Mission had a room at our home whenever he came to Tutuila. Sister Sampson often came with him. We also entertained members of the Pacific Board of Education when they visited on our Island, for planes to transport them to Church College of Hawaii. These students had graduated from The Church College of Tonga. Wanda was so happy to care for these girls. She loved them and made them welcome and happy. In one instance a lovely girl, named Ruby Wolf, stayed with us for 5 weeks. For some reason she was not allowed to enter Hawaii. Through these months of our life in American Samoa, a wonderful young Samoan girl of 17 years lived with us and aided Wanda Marie with the work of the home. Her name was Annie Bourne, her home was in Western Samoa. We also had a lovely Samoan woman, Afioga Galeai, who lived with us much of the time and was such a wonderful aid and friend of my Wanda Marie. OTHER AUTHORITIES WHO HAVE BEEN IN OUR HOME: My Wanda and I were married in the Salt Lake Temple, August 31, 1917 by Elder Joseph F. Smith of the Council of the Twelve. Years later, when I was Hyrum Stake Clerk, we asked that we might have Brother Smith to our home for dinner. Our three lovely daughters were in their teens and of course were thrilled to have such a wonderful man in our home. In the course of the dinner, I said, “Elder Smith, you performed the marriage ceremony for us, back in 1917.” Elder Smith smiled and said, “Did I do a good job?” On January 13, 1924 I was set apart by Elder Joseph F Smith as First Counselor to Bishop Jas. G. Christensen, in Hyrum 3rd Ward. HOBBIES: I think I am not an avid sports fan today, but in my High School and College days I really enjoyed basketball, baseball, track and field competition, swimming and wrestling. I was blessed with a wonderful body, strong and healthy and fully able to take care of myself in most contests and work requiring strength and long hours of activity. I have always loved fishing and hunting, and through the years this love has really increased; although during the past 12 years I have done practically no fishing or hunting. I love travel by jet planes and have many hours of flight between Salt Lake City, Hawaii Fiji, Samoan Islands, New Zealand and Australia. I have also enjoyed jet travel in Western and Southern United States. I think perhaps I preferred travel by the large luxury ocean liners to that of the planes. VACATIONS: Through the years we have enjoyed many vacations. I have no record of the number of times we have visited the Yellowstone Park, but that has been the first place that came to the mind of our three daughters and their mother and father when the subject was up for discussion in the family circle. Since those early days when our gals were home, there have been very few visits to the Park. Our vacations have been our visits to our lovely daughters, where we have learned to appreciate and love our grandchildren and our fine sons-in-law. In late years, we have welcomed twelve great grandchildren to the family of thirteen grandchildren who came to the homes of our three lovely daughters and their husbands. At the present time, Grandpa Dunn makes his visits alone, but he still claims to have the loveliest daughters, the finest sons-in-law, the best grandchildren and the most wonderful great grandchildren to be found between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. I still enjoy vacations. Vacations other than the above, have included one three-week trip to the Northeastern States, the Eastern States, from New York to Washington, DC. We returned home by way of Carthage, Nauvoo, Independence and through other states as we came west to Utah. Mother and I have been to California many times and have traveled widely in the South Pacific area. We have also visited Canada, the Cardston Temple with By and Tebe and the Passion Play in the Dakotas. Through all these years I had the encouragement and support of a faithful, lovely and devoted wife, the mother of our five children, who was largely responsible for our happy home. I think she read somewhere, something to the effect that a “Wife should provoke her husband to good works”. This scripture has been faithfully followed in her life, for almost 53 years. I am truly thankful for my Wanda and our lovely daughters and their families. At this date, March 24, 1970, our mothers, our fathers, my one sister and four brothers have departed this life. Six of the original children still live, Harriet (Hattie) Allen, of Hyrum; Eva Snow of Nibley; Samuel Atwood of Tyhee, Idaho; Lester Welch and Leslie Smith both of Ogden, Utah; and Simeon Adams who is now living in 26 So 1st East Hyrum, Utah where with his lovely wife they have lived so many happy years and where their wonderful daughters grew from childhood into lovely womanhood, and brought so much happiness and joy to Mom and Dad.

OUR GRANDCHILDREN: Barbara married James N. Leiser in 1960 and they have six children...David-June 14, 1961; Steven-June 28, 1962; Mark-born and died July 1963, John Paul-May 22, 1965, and Julie and Jamie - June 9, 1967. They are living in Hyrum. Lynda graduated from USU, June 1967 and worked in Denver. There she met a young man who had joined the Church and so she married Walter Flewallen. they moved to California where she taught school. She got her divorce October 1969. Her little boy Steven, was born July, 1969, they were married March 1, 1968. Howard married May. 1968 and is going to BYU and will finish his Master's June 1970. He married Sharon Pearl Reed. They have a baby girl, Sheridan-Feb 1969. They were married in the Manti Temple. Karen and Nada were married Dec. 18, 1968. Karen married Lance Harmon and Nada married Charley Lux. Nada is a licensed beautician and they live in Brunswick, Georgia. Lance and Karen live in Phoenix. Sandy is going to BYU. Leone graduated from USU last June, 1969 and is teaching in Brawley, California. Diane is finishing her student teaching this term at Smithfield. She will join Leone at Brawley in the spring. Marie is married to Jim Nelson of Tempe and they have a baby girl, December 24, 1969. They married Jan. 21, 1969. Debra is a senior at Manti High School. Marla is going to the USU and Lin at Shasta College at Shasta, California. Myrtle and Harry have purchased a ranch at Redding, California, and they are in the process of moving there. Mary goes to elementary at Redding- 8 years old. Our lovely Mother passed away July 19, 1970, in the LDS Hospital, following surgery for an Aneurism in the large Artery, which supplies the legs and lower abdomen with blood from the heart. Dr. Conrad Jensen, heart surgeon performed the operation. Complications resulted and blood clots collected in her right leg. She passed away at 9pm after opening her eyes slightly and a sweet smile came upon her face and she breathed her last. Thus, ended the life of a Faithful Wife and MOTHER. She leaves a family who loved her dearly and will always cherish the teaching and example she was to all of them. She was prepared to leave this mortal existence, and as Paul, "had fought a good fight", lived a full life, and has earned a great reward which will be waiting for her in the Mansion of her and our Heavenly Father. our responsibility now, is to live worthy of someday joining her and continue this rich relationship we have enjoyed as mortals on earth.

Simeon Adams Dunn, 1917--Junior at Brigham Young College in Logan Utah

Wanda Marie Facer

Newspaper article from the LOGAN REPUBLICAN, Thursday September 6, 1917

MY STORY

MY STORY

By Wanda Marie Facer Dunn

I Wanda Marie Facer, (Dunn), was born December 6, 1894 at Avon, Cache County, Utah. My parents, James Jarvis and Myrtle (Lechtenberg) Conyngham Facer lived on a farm in Avon.  I was the fourth child of these parents:  James Vere, born May 20, 1889; George Lester, born 10 June 1891 and died June 11, 1891; Redmond Fay, born November 8, 1892 and myself Wanda Marie, born December 6, 1894.  Our Bessie, (Sarah Elizabeth) born March 16, 1896 and died February 26, 1901. 

Our first home was under the hill South.  While living here Father was called on a mission to the Southern States.  Mother kept the farm going with the help of the Carter Brothers, Harold and the other I do not remember.  This was in 1898.  This was hard on Mother and her health was impaired.  I do not remember too much of this time, but I do remember Father returning home in 1900.  We went to Brigham to Father’s sister’s home which was across the street from the Railroad Station.  We went shyly to meet him when he alighted from the train.  This was a joyous time fort his family and it also was a beginning of tragedy.  As we had awaited the trains arrival, my cousin ran down the stairs of the home of Aunt Lizzie and hugged our Bessie, who was a lovely little lass of four.  Brown curls and a very pretty little girl.  That night the Doctor came and announced that Hazel had Smallpox.

We returned home to Avon and Bessie came down with the dreaded smallpox.  We all had the severe disease, and Bessie contracted pneumonia and passed away.  Membranous croup the Doctor called it.  Fay was ill at the same time and I well remember Mother hanging on the gate after the funeral afraid to go in the house for fear Fay would be dead also.  But we all recovered and became well again.  Later the same Spring, Fay and I had the chicken pox.  The neighbors were afraid to come in. I remember the good brethren from the ward coming to the window where Fay and I were and how we giggled as they looked at us through the windowpane.

I had a happy and sad childhood.  Always there seemed was the fear of death.  I was not allowed to do the things the others did.  Never could swim or skate on the river.  Mother was afraid I would get hurt or drown, but I played as most of the children did in those days.  No sisters, so I became a regular tomboy.  I did the things that Fay did, climbed trees, rode horses and helped him with the milking and he helped me with the dishes.  We would ride the cows to and from the pasture.  Father took us to Logan to the circus and afterward we would ride the old mare, which was a broad as a barn, bareback -- standing up and doing all sorts of tricks as the people did in the circus.  My nearest girlfriend was Emily Knowles, who lived through the field.  Elise and Wilda Johnson lived near also, but I always liked Emily best.  Then in school there was Dora Davis, Myrtle Summers and Marguerite Davis.  My best pal was a lady that lived across the street from our place, Annie Knowles, she lived there near our home, with her husband Sam, and son Louis.  Louis I did not like much.  I used to play with the dog at Annie Knowles place, Shep, I think was his name.

I was a good student in school.  My only competitor was Joseph Law.  He could get ahead of me in spelling bees, if he got to the top first.  He could out spell anyone.  Vilate Muhn and Robert Pearce were my teachers.

Father was a hard-working farmer.  After he returned from his mission, he began the new house across the street.  A two-room downstairs—with a pantry and a pump in the pantry so we had plenty of water, a porch all around two sides of the house and a large room upstairs.  And on the south of the kitchen and across the porch a shanty where we could wash.  We had a large barn.  Mother planted lovely flowers and I remember the snowball bush at the gate.  Father planted many fruit and shade trees.  We also had a large granary and on the side a storage for ice, so we had ice cream all summer.  This was a happy time for a while.

My mother was ill most to the time.  I never remember when we did not have a hired girl and – well, they were mostly good to us, but sometimes they got cross.  Vere teased them so much, but I guess they were good to us.  Always was the fear of death though.  Mother could not carry her babies. First there was George Lester, and then Bessie and then the twins and then Myrtle Rose after which there was two other babies that died.  This was extremely hard on our mother.  When Myrtle Rose died the doctor brought a little girl to mother and we had out Ethel.  She was four weeks old.

Father was Bishop of the Avon Ward after his mission.  He was loved by all the people.  He was also a cattle buyer and would be away from home a great deal of time going to Star Valley, Wyoming and trailing cattle from Star Valley to Ogden.  So, Vere was Mother’s main stay and she was adored by him.  He would pick her up and out of her bed and waltz around with her.  She had taught him to waltz earlier in life.  Then he would hold her in the rocker chair and rock and sing to her.  She was bed fast so much of the time, after losing five babies and grieving so much. 

After Myrtle Rose died, the doctor fearful for Mother’s health brought Ethel to her one night.  I remember when this happened.  She began to nurse Mother immediately, as if she was starved.  I guess she was starved.  She was a twin and the mother had not enough to feed the two of them.  How we gathered around the bed and watched – that is, all except Vere, who would not come near until Father, Fay and I left to go eat our supper.  Then we heard Vere talking to the baby.  He always adored Ethel.

Our hired girls I should name, first there was the Fredricksen girls, from Avon.  I do not even remember their names. Also, the Pulsipher girls—these also it seems I have forgotten their names.  Later, there was Barbara Hopkins.  I liked her best of all.  I think Vere teased them so much and that was the reason they were cross.  But I am sure they were good to us, and to mother.

Our nights were always happy, Mother would gather us around her bed and sing to us.  She had a lovely contralto voice.  Always she would end the evening singing my song, ‘Juanita’.  This was a happy time for us.  When she was well, Mother was President of the Primary and sang in the Ward Choir.

I should tell how our Father would go to Logan, it seems now quite often and always bring home a large sack of taffy candy.  One time he bought a dresser to mother.  We still have it in the family.  I remember when he got our first washer, one which was turned by hand.  Fay and I took turns all the way home from Logan, turning it.  It was not so much fun when it was full of clothes and water.

In 1905 because of mother’s ill health we moved to Ogden.  But did not remain there long and moved to Logan to be near our grandmother and Aunt Susie, mother’s mother and sister.  Here we lived on about 325 East Center.  In the Gabrielsen house and on the bank of a canal.  Aunt Susie lived through the block and grandmother next to Aunt Susie.  They were very good to us.

My best friend was Lettie Turner who lived on the corner west of us.  She and her mother were very good to us.  I went to the, as I remember, we called it the Red Bug School.  There were millions of them at the school!  I believe it is the Whittier School now.  Wm. Apperly was my teacher, I was so scared of him. It was reported, and of course was not true, but I did not know any better – that he was a spiritualist and would make the benches dance over the kids he kept in after school.  I had to stay in once and was scared to death.  I remembered how I cried.  So, he let me go.

Our mother passed away September 26, 1906.  Everyone was kind but this was a terrible thing for me, for all of us.  I guess Vere was hardest hit as he had been so close to mother and he was 17 years old.  Grandmother came to live with us, and she made us as happy as she could.  She was a very special person and always made people happy around her.  She would sing to us as our mother did.  So, I remember this as a sad and a happy time.  Grandmother had a sad life and she made others happy around her.  She was a wonderful person and so very lovely.  She lost ten of her eleven children before she passed away—Mother, Aunt Susie, Uncle Karl and Uncle Pete all left families and to each home she went and helped in her cheery way.  So, our lot was not so difficult because of our lovely grandmother.  We remained in Logan for a few months, Father became ill in March with a ruptured appendix and seemed he was not to live either, but he was finally improved, and we were allowed to see him.  I remember how they cautioned me to be careful and not excite him, when I could go see him in the hospital.  I tried hard to be careful but was overpowered by the smell of ether and fell to the floor in a faint.  It did not harm my dad and he came home in about six weeks or two months’ time.  Then we moved back to Avon to the farm.

Father had bought a lot east of the Gabrielsen home, where we had been living and intended to build a home there that Summer – 1907.  I was happy at the prospect of going back to Logan and enjoyed the farm place in Avon.  Father, also intended to finish the house at Avon, which had never been completed, but fate intervened. 

In June 1907, Father was called to be Bishop of Hyrum Third Ward, so in September we oved to Hyrum.  I hated it but went along.  On August 1, 1907, Father married Emma Louise Jackson of Avon.  I’m afraid we did not welcome her very cordially as it meant our beloved Grandmother had to leave us.  She had made a happy home for us since the death of our mother.  So, we did not cooperate very well with Aunt Emma.

Father was not accepted very well in Hyrum 3^rd Ward.  For some reason the Bishop had resigned, and the people did not accept a new Bishop from the little town of Avon.  The people were really up in arms about this.  But it was not long before Father won them all over.  I am sure no Bishop was ever more respected and sincerely loved by the members of the ward as was my Father.  His first counselors were Zacharias Israelsen and Louis T. Miller.  Later, Bro. Miller was released and Neils J. Nielsen, the former Bishop was the second counselor.  This was a move that made the people happy.  This was a closely-knit Bishopric.  They all loved each other.

When they were sustained in the Ward, it was reported that Louis T. Miller failed to vote for my Father and then his name was presented as Counselor.  He became one of Father’s staunchest friends and most loyal to him always.  But because of conflicting work he had to ask for a release.  They were all very good friends of Father.

First, we lived in part of Z. W. Israelsen’s home.  Later Father purchased the Estle-Smith home on 2^nd West and 1^st North.  Later he sold this place to Estle-Smith and purchased the Soren Hansen home and the two houses next on the East.  One he sold to Jacob Allgaier and his wife Anna the other he kept.

Vere and Fay served on Missions, Vere in the Eastern States and Fay in England.  Elden, Aunt Emma’s only child was born November 15, 1908 and he also served on a mission in Germany. 

I had many friends in Hyrum and always loved the place.  Nearest were Eulalia Nielsen, who married Fay in 1917.  There was also, Isabella Savage, Rosalie McBride, Hermoine Haws, LaVeda Allen, Florence Allen, and Essie Nielsen.  There were many others, but these were special pals.  I love the ward, school and my friends in Hyrum. 

My schooling was limited.  I graduated from the eighth grade and went to the Hyrum High School for two years.  Then the High School was discontinued for two years.  Father would not let me go to Logan to school so that was stopped.  I started working in the stores in Hyrum.  First for the store run by Mr. Gunnell and this was located where the Bank is now.  I think they called it the Hyrum Co-co.  Later, I worked in the Allen Mercantile Store run by Z. W. Israelsen and owned by Florence Allen’s mother.

I was always unhappy about not going to school.  I was a good student and loved school.  When the Hyrum High School reopened two years later I did not go.  Fay and Vere were on missions and they thought they needed me to work.  I did not make enough to count so it did not help much.  Now I wish I had gone back to school.

The Winter of 1913 LaVeda and I went with Jack Wahlen to a basketball game at the old school building. Veda and I had new dresses of black voile over red and they were very pretty.  Veda’s sister, Elgeva, had made them for us.  We stood at the south end of the hall and when the players ran out on the floor, I exclaimed of one of them, “Oh, look at those arms!”  Jack said, “Wouldn’t you like them around you?” I answered, “That would be Heaven.”  Later at the dance, Roy Hall came up to Isabelle and me and asked if he could introduce two of the players to us.  I asked him to point them out and he said, “Oh, they are alright”.  So, I met Sim and his pal Orville Nelsen.  The next day they came up to Hyrum, from College Ward in a rubber-tired buggy and took Isabelle and I for a ride.  I guess it was love at first sight, but it was not until 1917 that we were married.  Sim had to finish school at the Brigham Young College, at Logan. So, we waited—sometimes not seeing each other for weeks.  No money and no transportation in those days.

August 31, 1917 Simeon A. Dunn and Wanda Marie Facer were married in the Salt Lake Temple.  The ceremony was performed by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith of the Council of Twelve.  While at Salt Lake we stayed at the old Wilson Hotel.  I remember there was a wild party in the room next to mine.  I was scared, and happy when the next night came and I could be with Sim. 

We began our married life in a two - room house, the Andrews home in Trenton, Utah; where Sim had signed to teach school with Roy Hall as Principal.  They had been and have always been life-long friends.  The house was a little one, we had a bed and dresser in the one room.  A table, four chairs, stove and steel couch in the kitchen.  This was our furniture, but we were very much in love and so happy.  Our water was from a well out back and this was open and had many salamanders in it.  Our toilet was, also out back.  This did not make for much sanitation, but we lived and were very happy.

Our nearest next-door neighbors were J.W. and Florina Bentley and their two daughters Gertrude and Eva.  How we loved these dear people.

The people of Trenton were fine and made us very welcome.  Besides Roy Hall, there was Sarah Hayward and Lula Romney. Sim taught fifth and sixth grades.  Sim enjoyed teaching with these people.  Especially his good friend Roy Hall.  His salary was not much, $72.50 per month for eight months.  Out of this we were paying for our furniture and $7>00 a month rent.

Some time in this year, in April I think, Sim went to Logan and when he returned, he told me he had enlisted in the Army.  World War I was in progress. His two brothers, Sam and Lester were already in the Army.  Sim said he did not want to be drafted.  Roy Hall enlisted in the Navy at the same time.  I was broken hearted but should have expected this to happen.  I had just put it out of my mind and would not permit myself to think of it.  After school closed in May, we went to Hyrum and moved into part of Father’s house, next to the big house.  Here we lived until June when Sim’s call came.  I moved in with Father, Aunt Emma and Ethel and Elden.  They were very good to me.  But I was unhappy.  Our first little girl was born July 5, 1918.  Sim for back from Fort Douglas a few hours before she was born.  Then had to report back to Salt Lake and to duty.  Stayed two days.  On August 4, 1918 this little one was christened by her Father assisted by my father.  We named her Wanda Myrtle.  She was a very cross baby and cried during the blessing.  She cried constantly – I was nursing her and was surely responsible for her crying.  She was a very pretty little child.  Large blue eyes and lovely golden hair.  A real beauty.

August 15^th Sim left for, first for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and from there to Fort (Camp) Travis, Texas.  Myrtle and I went home with Father and Aunt Emma.  They were so good to us, Father and Aunt Emma adored little Myrtle.  She would always be good when Father held her.  Ethel was so good with her too; she would take her for rides in her little doll buggy.  Other times, she cried constantly.  We just stayed home and both of us cried a lot.  Father moved to the ranch north of Mendon and there we lived all summer and fall.  Fay and Eulalia lived there also.  They had a cattle and dairy set up there.  Eulalia and Fay had a little boy, born September 15, 1918.  He was a big child and so different to our dainty little Myrtle.  But a very good baby and sweet as could be.  They too, were good to me and tried to help me.  But there was no happiness without Sim. This was the time when the big flu epidemic broke out, so we never left the ranch. Did not even go to see Sim’s folks in Logan.  Myrtle and I just stayed home.  We did not get the flu.

The Armistice was signed November 11, 1918.  Everyone in Hyrum were up town celebrating except Myrtle and myself.  Crying happy tears this time.  We were probably the only ones not uptown that night.  Now everyone would come home, we thought.  But it was not that easy.  Carl got in touch with Superintendent R. V. Larsen and he said if Sim could get released, he could go back to teach in Trenton, as Principal.  So, Sim got papers signed and was interviewed and the ball started rolling.  He was in line for Officers Training Corp, but he wanted to come home.  When his Superior Officer interviewed him to come home, the officer said, “Tell me, isn’t it true you are lonesome and want to go home because of that? The Army takes pretty good care of your wife and baby, do they not?”  Sim replied that he had been in since June and so far, I had not received any money from the government.  The man made an oath and signed the release.  I had one check, but it was just about the time of the interview.  I had not received any compensation and it would have been very bad if it had not been for the fact that I could live with Father and Aunt Emma.  So, he received his release.  I met every train that came into Mendon and as a result I caught a bad cold. Father put his foot down and forbade me to go anymore.  He said when Sim came, he would call up and we could go up then.  So, it happened, he came in and no one to meet him.  Elden was in the field and began to jump up and down and screamed, “There’s a soldier coming through the field”.  He had walked from Mendon to the ranch.  I was washing diapers and Ethel was holding Myrtle.  She just looked at her Daddy with the big blue eyes.  I am sure he thought she was a beauty.  How happy we were to have him come home again to us.  He went to see his folks in Logan, but we did not go.  The flu was raging, and we did not take any chances, we did not get it.

January 2^nd.  Sim and I went to Trenton and he began teaching – as Principal this time.  We lived in a couple of rooms of the Wm. Brough home.  Brother Brough having died earlier that fall of the flu.  Myrtle was a changed baby.  She was a happy and beautiful child now.  I am sure she missed her daddy.  Later in her school years she wrote a composition of this time saying: “Grandpa thought she was sick, Grandma thought she was spoiled, Mother also thought she was ill, but the fact was, she missed her dad and wanted to fight by his side”.

The school year was a success.  The teachers with Sim were Audrey Mund, Ardell Yonk and Donald Jessop.  In the spring, we moved to the Robeson home, south of town and we lived there until fall, the Bentleys took over the Hotel and we moved into their house.  Sim again was Principal of the school.  Other teachers were Orpha Larsen and Marie Hendry.

We lived in the Bentley place until the following summer.  Our Bishop was named Petersen and later Elmer Robeson was Bishop.  We enjoyed the Trenton Ward, so very much.

November 25, 1919 our dear little Nadine was born.  Myrtle was talking a blue streak now, almost 17 months old.  When Nadine uttered her first cry, Myrtle awakened and she stood up in her crib and exclaimed, “Cry baby, cry baby!” I had a very rough time.  Dr. Adamson could not get there because of the bad storm and muddy roads, Sister Bentley and Sim delivered the baby, Sim tying the cord.  I was hemorrhaging so badly but finally Dr. Adamson came and took care of my bleeding.  I was weak for weeks and could not get out of bed.  The Bentleys were so good to me, to us.  Aunt Emma came down from Pocatello and stayed for a couple of weeks.  She was so very good to us, fixed our Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, the baby was born Tuesday morning.

In the Spring when school was out, we moved to Tyhee where my father had purchased a farm and said he would let Sim have some of the land, to be shared with Fay.  Tyhee was about seven miles north of Pocatello.  This did not work out.  Sim got a school there that Winter and we stayed through the winter.  This was a school district that was run by Trustees—Catholics, and a lady who was a Mormon hater, so Sim was not offered the school another year.  We had heard this so he called Superintendent R. V. Larsen, in Logan and he asked Sim how he would like to go to Hyrum and teach with Roy Hall at the Lincoln school in Hyrum.  This was wonderful news, so the fall of 1921 we came to Hyrum and he began teaching at the Lincoln School with Roy as Principal.  We lived in the Emma Liljenquist home, 1^st South and 59 East in Hyrum.  Then we bought the home of Parley Lofthouse at 157 South 2^nd West in Hyrum.  It was a three-room house, no bathroom facilities but it was the first home we had purchased.  A very nice large lot and so many betties and a good garden spot.  The following year on August 14^th, our only boy was born and died.  I had a bad hemorrhage and the baby died in the birth.  This was a horrible shock and I was a long time getting over this.  I was ill for months.

March 4, 1924, our little Jane was born.  I had a bad time again carrying this baby.  She was nine weeks premature and weighed 3 pounds.  But she lived and how happy we were to have this little one.  We could not awake her to nurse except for every seven hours.  We kept her in a large wicker buggy and kept hot water bottles around her constantly.  Laneth Carlson who had a baby a few weeks older came over twice each day and nursed Janie.  I finally got my milk to come in and nursed her, but it was difficult time.  Now, they would have put her in the hospital and in an incubator, but then that was hardly known.  Much praying and administering and faith kept her alive and how grateful we were and are.  We know that it was only the blessings of our Father in Heaven that enabled us to keep our Janie.  We named her Jane, after Sim’s mother.  I remember when she had gained three ounces in a week, we celebrated.  My sister-in-law said she was not worth trying to save, but how happy we were to have her.  Myrtle and Nadine loved this little one so much.

April 16, 1927, our little Louise was born weighing 2 pounds.  This was a sad time for us.  She lived three days and cried a little plaintive cry that tore our hearts.  She passed away April 19, and we had two little treasures in Heaven.  This was a real trial and began a series of illnesses for me.  Operations and sickness seemed to follow each year.  How I lived has always been a mystery to us both.  How wonderful Sim was at this time.  He was Stake Clerk and went to the Stake Office each night after school and worked for hours.  Also, at this time he finished his degree after school by correspondence.  This was hard but we survived.  I was a constant burden both physically and moneywise.  How we ever paid for all the operations and doctor bills I can not imagine.  All three girls had tonsillectomy and appendix operations. And Sim also, we were blessed, we didn’t have any money, but we lived frugally and had little in the way of temporal things.  We finally paid our debts and things began to improve for us.

Our houses were many, first the Parley Lofthouse house, then the Emma Liljenquist, then we lived in John A’s home and then bought John Allred’s home next to the 1^st Ward Church.  We sold this to Moroni Smith and moved to the house now occupied by Mervin Nielsen on 3^rd South and 2^nd East. From there we moved to the house now occupied by Flossie Miller (then owned by Leslie Nuhn).  From here to the house on Main Street next to the big house and formerly owned by my Father and then owned by Z. W. Israelsen.  From here we moved to the house built by Dr. P. W. Eliason and this we bought- 146 East Main Street.  We sold this and moved to the Bendt Nielsen home at 64 South 1^st West - sold this and moved to the house now owned by Ree Stauffer, 442 South Center Street.  Father became ill and we moved to his home on 66 East Main to help Aunt Emma take care of Father.  After his death in 1947, we bought this house as Aunt Emma was going to live with us, then she moved to Salt Lake to be near Elden and we bought the house from her.  Here we lived until 1959, when we went to the Samoan Islands.  This home we sold to Leon and Delilah Swensen.  Our homes were modest ones, but happy ones.  The girls had many parties in our homes as the young people liked to come to our place.  We loved having them there.  Sim was so good to these young people and they loved him.  We enjoyed them all.  He would take them with our girls to the canyon to hike or to camp and often took a trailer on the back of the car so he could take the girls friends in a trailer.  This is a happy memory for all of us.  The friends loved Sim like a Father. He was special.

Sim was Ward Clerk – Counselor to Bishop Nicholi Jorgensen and to Bishop James G. Christensen in Hyrum 3^rd Ward.  He was also Scout Master.  He was Stake Clerk for 14 years and then High Councilman for 7 years.  He was also, Hyrum City Councilman and served here for 10 years and was City Manager for 2 years.

Sim taught at the Lincoln School for several years.  Roy Hall as his principal.  Many friendships were made at this school, all the teachers loved Mr. Dunn.  This friendship has carried on through the years.  Jennie and Dewey Nielsen, Bessie Brown, Lila Eliason, Wm. S. Bailey were special friends, Liberty Rigby, Defonda Dowdle, Constance Petersen and many others. 

Here I should tell that I was also active in the Ward and Stake. Serving as Sunday School Teacher, MIA teacher and R.S. Teacher.  I was Stake Secretary of the Stake Relief Society for 8 years, and on the MIA Stake Board.  Sim and I were Officiators I the Logan Temple, Sim for 10 years and me for eight years.  That was a glorious experience.  We enjoyed that so very much, but the school made it impossible for him to keep up that work and the school program too. 

The Fall of 1927 Roy decided to go to the South Cache High and teach so Sim became principal of the Lincoln School.  Here he remained until 1935 and then went to South Cache and took Roy’s place there in the History Department.  In 1937 he became Dean of Men at the SCHS, was School Counselor for a few years.  Then he was appointed Principal of the South Cache High School.  He became principle on July 13, 1954.  Here he served for 4 years, then resigned because he had been called to go to the Samoan Islands and open a Million Dollar High School for the Church.  He took Superintendent Lloyd Theurer into his confidence and they decided that Sim should be the School Counselor until the call came through.  He resigned as Principal and served as Counselor until the Spring of 1959 when the call came to go to the Isles.  This call had come about in the following way.  Emma Nielsen had written for a recommendation to go to the Tongan School.  We decided we would like to go too.  Sim asked how this call came about when he had sent Dr. Cook the recommendation for Emma.  Immediately the reply came back, “If you are interested in this work, fill in the enclosed questionnaire”, they needed a Principal for a new High School at Mapusaga in American Samoa. 

This began a full year of suspense, waiting for word from Dr. Cook.  In February 1959, a call came to meet Dr. Cook in Salt Lake, so we went down to see about this call.  Sim was hired and he got busy, ordering everything from typewriters, to textbooks to paper clips, etc. for the new school. This in addition to his work at South Cache High School.  We also had to have shots and get our own things in order, sell our home and everything we needed to do.  I became very ill and was almost unable to go to our Farewell when it did come.

I should enter here our girls’ weddings.  Myrtle and Louis Allen Maughan were married August 1, 1939 and in 1941 their daughter Barbara was born.  Nadine and Elmo A. Gray were married July 10, 1942 in Logan Temple.  They went to Boise and then back to Downey Idaho.  Jane and Gordon A. Van Epps were married January 27, 1945 in Phoenix, Arizona.  Gordon was in the Navy and was home on leave, they did not go to the Temple at this time.  Later, they were married in the Logan Temple.  Nadine and Elmo have four girls and one son.  Lynda born July 14, 1943; Howard Richard born October 5, 1944; Karen born December 15, 1946; Nada born June 14, 1949; Sandra born October 11, 1951.  Myrtle married Adlin Lamar Huish on October 13, 1946 and their children were Marla Jean born July 26, 1950 and Adlin Lamar Born September 23, 1951.  Myrtle married Harry A. Small 27 September 1960.  Their daughter Mary Ann was born October 16, 1961.  Jane and Gordon have four daughters:  Leone born February 19, 1947; Diane born March 9, 1948; Marie born September 14, 1949 and Debra Jane born April 19, 1952.

All our daughters graduated from the Lincoln School in Hyrum and then from South Cache High School in Hyrum.  All attended Utah State College and Myrtle went for three years and then quit and got married.  Nadine went for three years and quit and got married.  Elmo graduated from Utah State, and later got his Master’s Degree from Brigham Young University.  Jane went for one year and part of the second and quit and went to work at Bushnell Hospital during WWII, then married Gordon.  Gordon has his BS and Master’s Degree from Utah State.

Lynda has her degree from Utah State and Howard is finishing his Master’s at Brigham Young University.  Leone has her Bachelor’s degree from Utah State and is presently teaching in Brawley California, (she later received a Master’s Degree from Brigham Young University).  Lynda is teaching in Columbia, South Carolina, Diane is finishing her student teaching and will receive her degree from Utah State this June 1970. Marie is married and her husband is going to Arizona State at Tempe Arizona, Marie has finished her Associates Degree and has a baby girl born Dec. 24, 1969.  Debra is attending Manti High and will graduate this year.  Nada is married and so is Karen.  Karen is working in Phoenix and her husband is going to school there.  Nada is a graduate beautician and living in Brunswick, Georgia.  Her husband is working there.  Lynda is married and has a son Steven born July 11, 1969.  Howard is married and has a baby daughter, Sheridan, born February 13, 1969.  Sandra is attending Brigham Young University at Provo. 

Barbara is married James N. Leiser and is living in Hyrum and had four boys, David, Steven, John Paul and two daughters (twins) Julie Marie and Jami Susanne born June 9, 1957.  Barbara is a beautician.  Marla is going to Utah State University in Logan and Lin is attending the College at Shasta California.  Howard has completed a mission in Switzerland.

Elo is presently the Coordinator of Seminaries and Institutes in Columbia, South Carolina.  His area is North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and part of Alabama.  He had been in the Southeast for seven years.

Gordon has been with Utah State University for several years as an Agronomist and is living in Ephraim, Utah.  They have lived in Iran for three years ad Bolivia for two years and working for Utah State University ad the Government as a Soil Specialist.  They have traveled completely around the world and visited many countries of the world, Island, the Far East and the Holy Land.

Back to the trip and sojourn to Samoa.  We had to have shots and pictures taken, sell our home and store our furniture.  But eventually the day came, and we went on our way.  We moved out of our house and went to Nibley for a few days. Storing our furniture in Jennie’s basement and Byron Snow’s upstairs.  We had a lovely testimonial, a large crowd came and it was so nice. The Glee Club from Wellsville sang two songs for us (Parley Hall, Lamont Allen and Ray Leishman and Archie Maughan). They sang beautifully, “Now is the Hour”.  This made Sandy cry and she could not sing for a while but later she and Nada sang “Those Dear Hearts and Gentle People.”  Everyone wished us well although some people thought we were crazy to go so far away. 

By and Tebe took us to Ogden where we boarded the train, “The City of L.A.”  My first long train trip.  We had a drawing room, but we did not sleep much.  Barbara went to L.A. with us but could not get on the same train, so she left on another.  We saw their train in Las Vegas, they had struck a cow and were stranded for a short while.  No one was hurt.  Myrtle and LaMar met us in L.A. and took us to their home in Sepulveda.  We stayed there for a couple of days.  Went to Jim and Dorothy’s for supper and a visit.  Vere and Bertha were there.  Gordon and Jane and family came down to see us off.  We had a nice visit.  Nadine and Elmo could not get away.  Sam and Ethel were visiting in San Diego with Melvin and family and they came to see us off.  They, none of them waited for the departure of the ship.  It would not leave until midnight, so we told them not to wait.  It was wonderful to have them there. 

The ship was a British Luxury liner, “The Orsova”, it was 729 feet long, our ship steward was named Fletcher and the table steward was Tony Curtis.  In the ship were Marge and Lowell Wilson; Carman Wright and Vida Hanks; Made Harwood and her three children, Pamela, Doug and Kathy; Alwyn and Gloria Andrus all going to Samoa to teach.  We had a wonderful trip and enjoyed these people so very much.  The Harwoods were at our table.  Doug was a big eater and took much kidding from Tony who despaired on filling him up.  What a wonderful trip. 

The Orsova served delicious food most anytime of the day.  I had a bad cold and for the first two days remained in the cabin.  But I soon recovered and enjoyed the trip.  Neither Sim nor I were ill during the 12-day voyage.  Sim would walk around the deck many times each day.  Six decks I remember.  Just like a large city. WE met many fine people and had good visits with them.

Sim especially enjoyed the flying fish.  One day we saw a shark.  The small islands along the way were interesting.  Atolls-six days we came to Hawaii.  Small boats came out to meet the ship and they sang and danced for the ship passengers.  It was so lovely. It was in the early morning hours we got our first sight of Honolulu.  We did not sleep much.  The group went on a sightseeing trip around the Island.  Going out to the Temple, sampling the pineapple at the plantations, and we saw Bro and Sister Tiegen at the Temple bureau and met the sister of Leo brown at the Bureau.  Leo, we met in Upolu and he was a wonderful man, now we enjoyed seeing his sister.  Vida and Carma went with us in our tour.  It was so lovely, and the scenery was something we could never forget!

Returning to the ship about 5pm we started out trip to the Fiji Isles.  The sea was a bit rougher and we had to hang on to the sides of the walls going down the corridors.  It was difficult walking the deck, but we were not a bit sick, just loved every minute of it.  Reaching Suva, we disembarked and were taken to the Oceanic Hotel, a unique experience.  It was not the choicest place to spend the night, but we survived much better than Carma and Vida who were up above a bar and they had a wild night all around them.  But they got through the night OK.  This was our first experience sleeping under a canopy of mosquito netting to keep the bugs out.  The hotel personnel were Indian, not our red ones, but the4 ones from India and in their white shirts and white lava lavas. It seemed Suva was predominately Indian, the farmers and workers in hotels and stores.  Lowell and Marge Wilson and Sim and I went on a sightseeing trip around the Island.  We hired a guide and had a very interesting trip.  Including a group of dancers who entertained the tourists on a large lawn, with their kinky hairdos and colorful costumes.  The dances were interesting, many of them while sitting on the ground and using their bodies and hands in the rhythm of the dance.  Our food at the Oceanic was not too good.  I guess the surroundings did not add to the food’s goodness.  It was not to palatable.

Next morning, we were taken to the Teal, our first experience on a sea plane.  My first on anything of the sort- train.  Ship’s voyage-sea plane, I loved it!  This was quite a thrilling experience to be taken out in a launch and getting up in the plane from the launch.  Out on the rough and wi8ld ocean.  This was a double decker and Sim and I and the Harwoods were on the upper deck and the Andrus, Wilsons and Carma and Vida on the lower deck.  This was a thrilling experience.  Arriving at the launch landing at Apia we were met by the Barkers, Heber and Corinne and their children: Doug and Mike (twins), Ruth and Becky and they all greeted me as Grandma Dunn.  Also, there was the Hanks, Philip and Dawn—music teachers at the school, Also Penny who lived at the Barkers.  We were taken to the home of Pat and Larry Oler with their little son Eric.  Here we were to stay for a week, until our house was ready. 

In a week we moved into the dorm, formerly a lady missionary dorm.  Here we were housed in separate rooms and used the kitchen at different times.  Or we could go to the mission home for our meals.  Marge and Lowell Wilson, Carma and Vida and Sim and Myself.  Also, usually there was Carl Ernstrom, construction electrician.  His wife had returned to the states because of illness. He had his meals at the mission home but liked to eat with Sim and I, he said he liked to be with us, enjoyed our food and our company. 

We arrived in Apia about June 28^th.  Stayed at the Olders for a week, then moved to the dorm.  When our house was finished at Pesaga-Lotapa Village, we moved over there.  This was a lovely place although it was not landscaped, three bedrooms with twin beds in each bedroom, kitchen and bath with laundry room and storage space out back. Fabulously beautiful surroundings with the huge coconut trees and breadfruit and hibiscus flowers in the back.  It was a beautiful spot.  We were treated so wonderfully.  Although we did not have a car, we had many rides out away from the area by the construction people and by Phil and Dawn Hanks our neighbors across the street from us.  They had a little girl, Kathy, she and Eric Older adopted me as their grandmother. They would come often to the door for cookies.  There were besides the Hanks, the Olders, Harwoods and the Andrus living in a three-bedroom house.  The Eyestones, Bob and Virginia and Sue; Janet, Bobby and Mary Jo; The Grunners, Earl and Lurrine; the Larsen’s and their son Randy; The Larsens-Don and Royala; Penny and Gene Gough; Carma Wright and Vida Hanks; the Pucketts, Elden and Pat and four children (Ellen, Becky, Doug, and Marty); The Pucketts lived next door to us- All were good neighbors.  The Barkers lived over nearer the school, near the Mission house where the Charles I. Sampson’s lived.  They were lovely people.  Then there were the construction people:  Claire Sterling’s two daughters and one son, Bryon Thomas-Wells and Virginia Nielsen and daughter Panela-Martha and Lionel Harris and two daughters and one son: Jack and Ailene Davis, Alfred and Grace Steward; Frank and Sister Duncan and daughter and son.  The R. L. Yergensens and their mother Llyla Clark, the Yergensens had one little son; the Carl Ericksons an d the Samoan in charge of the Samoan labor missionaries—Lafe and Tava’etoto.  They were special people, very dedicated to the Church and so good to us.  The Labor missionary chorus sang for us each morning at 5am, their practice time.  It was so beautiful each morning, seventy of them and how they could sing. These were some fine friends, A wonderful experience but Sim and I were both anxious to go to the other Island—Tutuila where our school was being completed.  He did not really enjoy the school at Pesaga, too many problems and that was irritating at least.  Septic tanks over- flowing and such things and nothing being done about this. 

On our wedding anniversary, August 31, the teachers at Pesaga had a special dinner for us at the White Horse Inn.  Gave me a corsage of native orchids and Sim a white carnation.  A lovely dinner and a nice time.  We were also, honored at a native dinner where we sat on the floor and were served native foods served on a banana leaf and no utensils except a soup spoon to eat our soup.  Fish, Taro-breadfruit-chicken-lobster-beef-everything you could imagine and so much of it!  Sister Barker told me I had to eat everything, or the natives would be offended.  Maria Peters, a lovely native sister saved me, she leaned over and said, the more you leave the better they like it.  They take all that is left home to their children. 

This was a most beautiful place and we enjoyed our trips around the Island, the construction took us around quite a bit.  I enjoyed the church activities taught classes in Relief Society.  The people were so lovely.  I enjoyed them all.  But we were anxious to go to Tutuila.  That was always paramount in our minds.

Thanksgiving, Sim went to Tutuila for a T. G. dinner with the natives over there.  They, the native chiefs gave a dinner honoring the LDS people who were giving them the fine school.  Sim went over but I stayed in Apia.  I went to a Thanksgiving dinner with Penny and Gene and some others for an evening at the Shite Horse Inn.  It seemed funny not to be with the children and Sim.  When Sim came back, he had word that we were to go to Tutuila, soon.

We left Pesaga and went to Tutuila, Mapusaga.  The car driven by Claire sterling was sold to the school at Mapusaga for Sim to use.  So, we took it with us to Mapusaga. The night we, Sim, left for the other island was a terrific storm night.  Gene Gough drove the car on to the interisland boat.  We both wondered if he would make it—the car was driven on to the planks between the cabin and the front end of the boat.  The wind was high, the waves were high, and it was a big worry.  I stayed over and was going to Mapusaga the next day, with me was going Annie Bourne, a lovely Samoan girl who had been helping me in the house and with the permission of Annie’s mother and Pres. Sampson’s permission we were to take Annie with us to Mapusaga.  The night was a terrific one, high winds and heavy rain.  I could not sleep for thinking of Sim on that rickety ship.  The next day, we Annie and I went over on the first trip and it was not too bad as the rain had stopped. Annie had never flown, and she got a headache.  We were so glad to see Sim waiting for us at the Tafuna Airport at Tutuila.  He reported that the night had been rough, he wondered at times if the boat would come apart in the high wind and rain, but he had made it ok.  We were happy to be in Tutuila.

Our first Christmas was an unusual one.  Penny and Gene Gough had come over.  Gene was to be the shop man at the school at Mapusaga but was to be on construction until the school opened the next September.  So, they came and had dinner with us.  That evening we were up in the village for a Primary program.  They gave us a bench to sit on but most of the people sat on the floor.  Among other parts on the program was a small group of youngsters who sang for us. One little girl sang so loud you could have heard her downtown, she was Claire Tuia.  A beautiful little girl of four years.  She was a daughter of Betty and Fatamala Tuia who ran the village store just a few feet above the school.  Claire said she sang so loud so that her other could be sure to hear her.  The song was, “Be careful little hands, (feet, tongue, etc.) what you say for the Father up above is looking down on you.” It was so cute.  They had a Santa Claus -George Wilson_ dressed in a Scout Uniform. These people all sing, young and old alike, later we were serenaded  by a group of young elders who had been on the Island of Manua and had not been able to get over to the Mission headquarters for a conference, so they came and had late dinner with us.

Our tree was a specialty also.  Sim went up on the mountain and cut down a branch of a tree and Annie and I fringed crepe paper and trimmed it.  It was really cute.  We had ornaments and lights and our gifts made the tree lovely.  Taia Yergensen, a little native boy that the Yergensens were adopting came over and sang and danced for us.  He could really sing and dance.  We took pictures and had a lovely evening.  Penny and Gene were special people to be with.  Afioga, our neighbor, came over also, so our first Christmas away from home was a pleasant one.  They all sang and danced for us.  Betty and Fatamala invited us to their Fale and gave me some good lemon pie.  Betty is a cute little Hawaiian girl married to Fatamala Tuia, a Samoan.  Reports were that he beat her.  She did not seem very happy.  Most of the Samoans beat their wives we heard.  Their children were Evelyn, Milton, Minnie and Claire. 

We kept busy all winter if you could call this winter.  The weather was so lovely.  Rain, lots of it but sunshine and green everywhere and flowers all blooming everywhere.  I loved it.  Sim ordered all the equipment and the furnishings for the teacher’s homes.  Afioga Galena was a joy to us.  She lived in her Fale across from the school front.  So was near to us. She helped me a lot and was a joy to have near us.  We met for our meetings in the old mission home at Pago Pago.  It was a terrible place and we wondered if it would fall down on us, but the spirit was right, and we enjoyed the meetings.  Our Relief Society was held in the different homes.  Twice each Sunday we traveled to Pago Pago to the meetings.

Our only bad time was when Bro. and Sis. Stoddard would come over to our island.  He was head of the construction and had told Sim he would live in our home when they came over.  He was not too bad, but she was a pill—always telling us that she had blue blood and she really let everyone wait on her.  In fact, she demanded this.  She was not tolerant of Annie living with us.  In fact, she told us the first time she came over that she did not care to have Annie at the table with us  That did not go too well with us, but I kept still for several months,  he would not have been so bad—but she was something different.  I finally blew up and told her off.  She was always talking of the food she had stored in the cupboard.  Telling me that she was not even going to count the cans and I would be on my own as to my honesty.  For a long time I did not use any of it, but when the construction men would come over, I would feed them and once or twice I needed something that I did not have on hand. So, I finally used a few cans of vegetables.  I fed them all and would not charge them for anything.  I knew that the cans were not hers but were bought with construction money.  Finally, I told her off, when she had been exceptionally rough on Annie.  Then they moved out and we had our home to ourselves except for when ever the mission people came over, or the construction workers.  President Sampson had a room in our home always and we were happy to have him and the other construction men, or women occasionally.  We usually had some one to stay with us, most every weekend.  But we loved this, and Annie was wonderful to help. Whenever I needed extra help, Afioga came over and we loved her for this.  This was a wonderful experience.  We did enjoy our Annie.  Sometimes she would say, “I’m hungry for Samoan food” and she would go to the village and soon come back with a plate of taro or green bananas fried or cooked in a fire outside.  She was special.  She was so neat and clean and kept our house spotless.  Our house had 615 louvre windows and she cleaned them once a week.  I taught her to cook and to bake cakes.  She loved that, she sewed her clothes and was lovely.

Our first teacher to come was Irma Nichols, our librarian. She came early and we were not ready for her, but she came and stayed with us.  Both she and Pres. Sampson used the end bedroom.  His clothes were hanging in the closet.  Annie had washed and she and Irma had gone to Pago Pago.  Penny and I were in the living room talking.  Penny saw some workmen going past our place running and talking fast and loudly.  We did not see anything through our window, so sat down again.  Penny smelled smoke and soon men were running past and screaming.  We found smoke going out of the end room, Irma’s room.  Our car was in the carport, so I ran out and while gathering in the clean clothes that were hanging there, I accidently dropped the car keys in the clothes pin bag.  When they came to drive the car out of the carport, no keys were to be had.  The fellows finally pushed the car down over the hill to the school.  Sim was at the school.  Samoans go wild when ever they see a fire, they came in the house and dragged everything out and even dragged lamps and mirrors and everything off the walls.  Sim had left his watch ad ruby ring on the dresser in our room.  They disappeared along with everything else.  Irma lost everything she had except the clothes she had on, and the clothes that were washed that morning.  Annie also lost everything she had.  Also Pres. Sampson lost everything.  It was a terrible thing.  The house was a long one, so we saved our clothes in the first bedroom.  The clothes were soiled except those which had been in plastic bags.  Our dishes and kettles were taken out of cupboards and they were saved.  Also, some books were saved. But the loss was terrible, especially for Annie and Irma.

We moved into a small construction house up on the hill in the village, but the men soon finished a small apartment that

 was to be Irma’s and so we moved into her apartment, Irma, Annie, Sim and myself.  The next to be finished was a two -bedroom apartment, so Annie, Sim and I moved into that one.  Our house was the very last to be completed but it was a special one.  On the hill with a background of palm trees, fern trees and so lovely.  This overlooked the school and Sim could keep his eye on things at the school.  This was finally finished, and we moved into the house.

The day the school opened the desks had not arrived.  Books, paper and all the equipment had come but no furniture.  A strike in San Francisco had delayed the shipment of these items.  Mr. Senter, the school official, down in Pago Pago said not to worry about desks as the students were used to sitting on the floor anyway and they would not mind.  The day they registered, word came that the ship was in and the desks were there.   Bob Eyestone and the construction men, the Samoan Elders began to haul the furniture up to the school.  Everyone helped and by midnight the desks were all set up.  The next morning the rooms looked as if they had worked for weeks in preparation for the school opening.  The rooms were decorated with posters and all decorations that usually takes weeks. It was like a miracle. 

We had several teachers from our home area, Irma Nicholas, formerly of Hyrum, the librarian; Sylvester and Arlene Anderson from Millville and formerly workers with Sim at South Cache High; Matilda Miller from Hyrum 3rd Ward and she was our homemaker.  The others were all degreed teachers, some were more desirable than others.  Two were old maids and they caused a rift a time or two with the other teachers, but they were all good teachers, Penrod’s especially.  Norman Penrod helped Sim so much as did Sylvester Anderson.  The others were good workers but they, sometimes got lonesome, I guess, they did not like the primitive life on the island.  They came for something besides doing good to the Samoan people.  But things sent smoothly most of the time.  Fatamala Tuia was a very good help to Sim in dealing with the Samoan people, parents who came to see and ask questions about their youngsters.  Sim could not speak Samoan and they could not speak English, so Fatamal was a big help.  He also taught some classes.  He had, I believe graduated from a college in the states, California.   Anyway, he could speak very good English, and Samoan.  There was not too much discipline, they all wanted to go to school.  To punish a student all they needed to do was to tell them they could not go to school anymore, and they would beg.  They were a colorful group with their black hair, occasionally a red head, bright colored skirts and blouses or shirts.  They wore, at first, lava lavas, but soon passed a resolution requiring the students to wear trousers and the girls to wear skirts.  They were a thing of beauty, and how they could sing.  Choral and anything musical was very popular.  The band instruments were late in coming but that proved to be very popular.  Everyone wanted to take band.  Marilyn Davis taught chorus and then later band.  She was very good and got results from the students.  The instruments did not come in until February, but in the Spring the band was playing concerts downtown in Pago Pago.  They were born musicians and fell into the band playing naturally. Some wonderful youngsters.

The construction went on during the first and on into the second year.  Our house was the last going up.  But it was very nice.  These young men were not fast workers.  The electricians, Bro Eror and the painter, Alfred Steward, came over to our island, from Apia, and would take care of the current work on our island.  Usually these men stayed at our house.  Br. Steward usually brought his wife, Grace, and they had a construction house up in the village.  There were several little houses for the construction up there. Bro. Eror usually stayed with us, as did Pres. Sampson.  The Elders stayed with their local elders, but they came to us often for a dinner or for something or other. They were a joy to have.  Our school needed some thing new and help all the time. Rufus Maharori, a New Zealander, was head of the plumbers.  He had some Samoan men under him, and usually had these men doing the work while he went to Pago Pago.  A funny thing happened to one of the units.  Rufus went to Upolu and left his boys to hook up the bathroom units.  The one we moved into after the fire. Upon using toilet, we discovered that it had been connected to the hot water line, a real hot seat.  Many funny things happened all the time.

Annie and I planted flowers and shrubs, and everything grew.  Not much soil but the girls would bring me a large bouquet of lilies or hydrangea and after the bloom died, we would plant them in an inch of soil, but they would all grow and in a very short time would bloom.  That was a marvelous thing how things grew in lava rock. My home was a thing of beauty.

Fatamala went to Hawaii and brought back an orchid and we planted that.  They grew on a fern tree stump, so Sim went up on the hill back of our place and cut down a stump for our orchids.  They grew but never bloomed until after I had left.  Back of our place the rain would rush down the hill and made a pond where we planted some water lilies, they grew so lovely.  As I remember, we had 20 hydrangea and some 40 lilies and many hibiscus trees.  Just planted a branch of a hibiscus and it would grow and soon be a big tree or bush.  It was fantastic.     

On my birthday, December 6, a young girl and boy came to our house early in the morning and they had three dozen gardenias.  Beautiful flowers and the scent was so lovely.  It stayed in the house for days.  Then after Sunday School another knock came at the door and there were the Pucketts children, Doug carrying a lovely birthday cake for me.  Marie Peters sent the gardenias.  She had raised them. They were lovely and the cake was pretty and tasted good too.  So, we all had ice cream and cake. 

Just after we had left Upolu and gone to Mapusaga, Sim began chilling and running a high fever.  The first night I changed the sheets on his bed five times.  He would sweat and the sheets would be as if they had been dipped in the Sami, the ocean.  Some of the construction people came over and they administered to him.  But he did not improve fast enough.  Penny and I went to the hospital at Pago Pago and talked with Dr. Lyon, a state side Doctor.  When I told him what the problem was, he almost hit the ceiling.  How he did rave, “That man could have died, and we would have been blamed for it!”  He said he should have been taken to the hospital.  As soon as I could, I told him we had just come to the Island from Upolu and that I knew nothing about the facilities and nothing about the doctors or about the hospital.  He stopped raving and put his arm around my shoulders and said he was sorry, that he was not raving at me but that we should have contacted him at once.  He said they had an ambulance. That we should have them bring Sim to the hospital at once.  Penny and I went back to Mapusaga and got Sim into the back seat of the car and took him to the hospital, a distance of about eight miles.  They took him in immediately, Sim had said it being Saturday nothing would be done until Monday, but they got busy right off.  Took x-rays of his chest, put him in a private room, the only one available was in the maternity ward.  As Sim passed me, he said, “They promised not to bring a baby.”  They really worked with him that night.  Shots every hour or so.  Then antibiotic capsules and a nurse, Samoan, a big one and she was marvelous, Sim thought; she hardly left his side a moment.  Rubbed his head as he said it was aching terribly.  The next day I went down to Sunday School and stayed at the hospital with Sim.  We had a terrible storm, wind and rain and it even came into our house and flooded the covered walk into our house.  The canvas flaps outside the window of Sims room were soaked and really were flapping.  I had to wade through water up to my ankles to get into the hospital. He was very ill but recovered and came back to the school and to me and home.  Penny was a real godsend to me, and Gene also.  I do not know shat I would have done without her.  Annie too was such a help; she kept the place going. 

The Doctor’s bill and hospital bill was something, four days and all the medication he had came to $14.50.  This included a large box of antibiotics so that was a new experience.  It was a real difference from home.  And they took good care of him too.  Dr. Lyon and the others were very good doctors.  Having made their stake in the states they came to American Samoa and took their turn doing their bit for the natives.  They were not “no good doctors” who could not make good in the states, but they were specialists.  Dr. Jones had been there for several years.  Dr. Lyon left while we were there.  He was an excellent doctor.  I do not recall the other’s names, but they were all good doctors.  I see I have said the doctor bill, there was none.  These doctors did not charge for their services.  Sim tried to pay them something; but they said they could not take money from anyone.  Two of our teacher’s wives had babies there and they paid $.25 for one and the other was a cesarean and I believe it was something like $2.50.  I am not sure now what that one cost.  It happened after we left.

We returned to the Island a couple of years later and my orchid was in bloom then.  I have a lovely colored slide of it in bloom.

Annie had some trouble with some of her relatives and so her mother sent for her to come home.  This was no fault of Annie; these girls were jealous Pres. Sampson explained it. We treated her like one of the family and that made these girls jealous.  They blamed Annie for a report of one of the girls having a baby and they said she had told her folks in Apia and so the word got out over there.  The real fact was that sisters of the construction had told the people in Apia, but Annie got the blame, the girls would try to fight with her and molest her every move she made away from our house.  So, she had to leave.  I was broken hearted to lose this lovely Samoan girl.  Annie sent JoAnn to help us.  She was married and had a couple of children.  We had Evelyn, Siutu and they were ok, but not like Annie.  I never had any of them live in our home with us.  Annie was so special, and no one could take her place.  Afioga was a big help, she worked down in Pago and her Fale was open and almost daily someone would break in and destroy or steal things.  We kept her with us as much as possible.  She was wonderful to help when I needed someone to take over and help me.  Everyone of our visitors loved Afioga.

The Elders came to our school to baptize in the font there.  We had many elders returning home to the states, from New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji and some from Australia.  These were choice experience.  The Mission Board members from Apia and Mission presidencies would stay with us or Andersons or Goughs.  Horsleys were good to help also.  These were special people to help and were always willing to help us out.  Penrods were special also.

The first year the school had 185 students, 9^th and 10^th graders the second there were 250 students and the 10^th and 11^th grades.  There was a high percentage of baptisms.  Although some of the parents objected to their young people taking religion classes—especially the Book of Mormon Classes.  But they were required to take these classes and the kids loved them.  The Elders came and held their interviews with the students and gave the lessons.

Music was born in these people.  Everyone sang and played their ukuleles.  They took to the band instruments as if they had used them all their lives.  I believe there were some 175 band instruments and they all wanted to take band.  Sister Marilyn Davis was a good musician, strict and got the results.

One baptism was special, the mother of Afioga, Galu Galeai.  A tiny little lady who had not walked for two or more years.  She could crawl and lie on a mat on the floor.  She was well read and could converse on any subject.  She had an exceptional education for a Samoan.  She could talk of all the current events as she read everything she could get hold of. Elders Ronald Bell and David Hammong were the two missionaries who had visited her last and she told Afioga she wanted to join the church.  Afioga was quite upset, fearful that the Aiga family would blame her for the move if her mother insisted on being baptized.  The Aiga were quite prominent and could really persecute them if they wished to do so, but Galu said she could take care of the family and they would not be permitted to do anything to either she or Afioga.  She was a leader, her fathers on both sides being High Chiefs.  So, she was not afraid of her people objecting to what she wished to do.  Of course, they would blame Afioga, but Galu was not worried about them. She had recognized the truth and wanted to be baptized.  She could not walk.  I arranged for a wheelchair from up in the village and then we went down to Nu’u’uili to Mer Fale and brought her up in the car.  Wheeled her into the school, Sim got a library chair and they put her on the chair, and she was baptized, chair and all.  She lived about six months after the baptism.

At Galu’s death they had quite a celebration.  There is always a celebration at a death or wedding.  They had a feast and gave many fine mats and bring much food. Cases of salt beef and canned mackerel and everything you could imagine, cakes fish, taro and all such things.  We did not go to the feast, they sing, mostly they talk and visit and eat.  Afterward, Afioga brought a case of canned mackerel for the teachers at the school.  At first Sim did not take the food but Fatamala told him they would be offended if he did not take it, so he gave it to the teachers, a few cans to all of them.  We gave our share away.  They love food, all the Samoans and there are many children.  Afioga gave us a fine mat which was her Mother’s and we accepted that. 

We went to a death up in the village.  That was something.  We climbed up the stairway and sat on the floor and the corpse was on a bed on the floor.  A sort of bed made of mats and pillows.  The mourners and all sat around the floor.  Women sang and they chanted, and it was quite a mournful affair. Above the corpse was a wire line, on this wire hung pieces of silk and satins and fine mats that had been brought to the family of the woman.  At the feet was a cushion made of tapa cloth and covered with a spray of ginger flowers.  During the services, the High Chief spoke almost steadily, then the others would speak all in Samoan. Fatamala probably had noticed me looking at this cushion and he said that it was the bones of the girl’s father which they had dug up and washed and wrapped in the tapa cloth.  Afioga said she was there when they dug his bones up and washed them.  The High Chief said it was so the daughter could be buried with her father’s bones and they could rise at the same time in the resurrection.  But Afioga said that there was not space for another grave so they dug the bones up and they would be buried together.  That was quite an experience.  There is little space where a grave could be dug, because of the lava rock formations.

We also went to a wedding and that was something.  Then had about eight bridesmaids, and attendants for the groom too.  The cake was a lovely one, made by Sister Staline and was beautifully decorated.  The gifts were lovely too.  Sister Sampson had the lady missionaries guard the gifts, so that the families of the bride and groom would not take them, which was the custom in Samoa.  The families would take whatever they wished and leave the happy couple nothing.  So, this time the young couple got their gifts as Sister Sampson had them taken to the mission home for safe keeping.

The Principals of the Island Schools were called to a conference to the Church College of New Zealand, so I went along with Sim. This was a lovely trip; we flew and had a very enjoyable flight.  Matilda and Vern Miller went along, and we had a nice time.  In New Zealand we were assigned a small apartment with a teacher from the CCNZ, our meals we took at the Cafeteria of the college.  This was a high school, but they called it a college--However, it was glorified high school.  Here we were royally entertained and had a very lovely time.  We were taken to Little Yellowstone and went through the Moari Village and the Waitoma Caves, where there were thousands of glow worms, we were taken in a small boat along an underground river and the lights were turned off—the glow worms were beautiful!  That was unique.  The Maori village with the colorful carvings on the gates, and buildings were so wonderful.  It was such a thrill to see all these things.  We went through the Temple, then had an entertainment of the Moari dancers and singers.  That was lovely too.  Here we met people we knew and among them were Kenneth and Luetta Baugh, from Logan.  Ken had been with us for a few days in Samoa.  He was a work missionary for the plumbing and had been to our school and to the one in Apia also. 

Arriving home in Mapusaga we had our Dedication of the school.  Our visitors were President and Sister Wendell G. Mendenhall; Dr. Owen J. Cook, Executive Secretary of the Board;  Bro. Mendenhall was the President of the School Board; DeMonte D. Coombs on the Board; President and Sister Sampson and many of the Pesaga teachers including Heber and Corrine Barker; and the Samoan Elders who sang for the program. They were led by Corrine Barker and our own chorus sang under the direction of Sister Marilyn Davis.  We had many noted visitors of the Samoans, high chiefs and their wives and many of the Samoan people.  It was a colorful affair and very lovely.  The school auditorium and the Chapel was filled to over-flowing and very colorful.  The Samoans usually wear white when they go to any thing of this sort and always on Sunday.  It is such a surprise to see their white clothing when you see how they have to wash them.  In an open shower or in the river or Sami (Ocean).  But they are so white.  We were proud of our school and of the students.  Elder John Longden was to give the dedicatory prayer, but something happened, and he did not arrive, so President Wendell G. Mendenhall gave the prayer and Fatamala interpreted it for the Samoans.  We had a lovely dinner at the school, and all ate together.  We had in our home: the Mendenhalls, Dr. Cook and Dr. Richard T. Wooten of the Church College of Hawaii.  The others stayed with the various teachers.

Other notables who visited at our school were Elder and Sister Mark E. Peterson, LaRue and John Longden, Brother and Sister Marvin J. Ashton, Brother and Sister A. Palmer Holt, Dr. and Mrs. Tanner.  These were therefore the MIA and Primary, Dr. and Mrs. Wayne McIntyre, Dr. Billie Hollingshead from the CCH, Doctor Anderson from the CCH, Also, Bro Joseph Smith from the CCH.  We enjoyed these fine people.  Besides these, we had many teachers who came to go to Tong-to Western Samoa, and they usually stayed in our village for a few days before going to the other schools.  It was unusual not to have visitors each weekend.  Many teachers going back to the states which would come in on the Inter- Island boat-Tofua and they would arrive for a day or so, sometimes for a week and have to wait for the plane to leave for the states.  So, we had visitors. We enjoyed them.  I was surely blessed in health to be able to take care of these people. But it was truly fun, I enjoyed every minute of it.  Afioga always helped me so much.  Shirley and Dick Horsley and the Andersons were always willing to help when our house was bulging, and we needed help.  Many of the students coming or going to the Church College of Hawaii from Tonga came and stayed with us enroute to the school.  One week we had 5 girls with us for five days.  Then one of them could not get her visa so she stayed for five weeks before getting a boat to Tonga.  This was heart breaking for Ruby.  The others that went on were Sala, Mele, Mary, Iona, Sisi Kafa and Ruby and some others who were dear to us.  There were many young men who spent much time with us although they stayed up in the village in a Fale there.

Our most special visitors were Jane, Gordon, Leone, Diane, Marie and Debra who came to us on their way to Iran for a three- year assignment as an advisor to the Government there in the soils and corps program.  They were with us for a week between the plane stop. This was a wonderful time. But how the days did fly by.  I never knew a week to go by so fast.  They enjoyed the island, the Samoan people and the school personnel.  It was wonderful.  But the week went by and they were on their way to Fiji, Australia, Manila, Japan, Hong Kong, India and then to Iran. They had many stops and reported they enjoyed the all. But we felt lonesome.  Afioga really loved our folks, especially Debbie, She thought Debra was the cutest ever.

We experienced a small hurricane, a Tidal wave that ruined the lawns at Pago Pago and did much damage but did not come near the school and our village.  Coconut trees were felled, the breadfruit was destroyed, and the banana and taro were destroyed.  This was bad for the natives because their main food was from these plants.  They did not have money to buy needed food stuffs in the stores, they lived mainly on Taro, bananas, breadfruit, coconuts and fish.  On part of the island many Fales were downed.  It was a real catastrophe.

The second year at the school the Tripp’s went home, and LaVere Clawson came with his wife Merlene and six children, also Ishmael Stagner from the CCH, and Pitone Ione from the CCH.  Ishmael was a native Hawaiian but had an American father. They were fine young men and we enjoyed them.  The Clawson’s were from Hyrum and we knew them well.

Healthwise we were pretty good.  Sim had never completely recovered from his bout with Pneumonia, but he was pretty well.  I was really well all the time.  I never went to the hospital except once and when I did, I had my heart checked and they reported I was fine.  Once I fell and got all scraped and went to the doctor for that. We, I believe were the only persons on the compound that did not have dysentery and we were extremely blessed that way. Both Sim and I did not have diarrhea, not even once.  Most of the others had worms one time or another.  Once I had an ear infection, but that only lasted for a few days.  Other than this, we were always well.  Sim, of course, had a big job and it wore on him so much, but he did a good job and made many friends. 

The Millers, Goughs, Horseleys, Eyestones left for home together, but we waited until the following week, so that Sim could close the records.  We thought that Sylvester Anderson would be the new Principal, but he was not appointed and Elder Puckett, from the Pesaga was appointed the new Principal.  We left the Island and really hated to leave.  Sim would not tell anyone when we were leaving, in fact we left a day early to avoid the crowd being there.  But a few of the young ones found out and came to the plane.  Petala was crying when we were leaving.  He said, “I’ll never see you again.”  I told him, “Oh, yes you will Petala, because soon we shall go to Heaven and when we do I intend to request some wings and the first place I will go will be to Samoa and when you feel some one pulling at your ear you will know it will be me.”  He laughed and that broke up the crying spell.  Pres. And Sister Sampson had already left, and Philip Hanks had been appointed as the new President of the Mission.  So, we left and left a bit of our hearts with the Native people in our lovely Samoa.

Before we left, we had Elder and Sister Mark E. Petersen there with us.  One day, we were riding into town and Elder Peterson said, “What are you doing when you get back home Elder Dunn?” Sim answered he did not know gut he hoped there would be something for him to do.  Sister Peterson said there was a crying need for older couples for the mission field.  Elder Petersen said that was true and we could be used in the Mission field.  We had been home six months when we were called to the office of Elder Petersen.  Elder Petersen said that Pres. Moyle would like us to go to the Scottish Mission, I was thrilled and thought now I could see Ireland and perhaps check up on some of my ancestry.  But when the call came it was for South Australia.  Of course, we were happy. In a few weeks, we were in the mission home and getting all ready to go to Australia.  One special reason for our being happy was that now we could go back to our beloved Samoa, on our way to and from there.

We rented our home in Lehi to Cherryl and her husband. We had been I it for less than six months. We were sort of reluctant to rent it but were happy for the prospect of going on a mission.  In the mission hoe were many who had colds and of course I caught one.  We left a day early so that we cold spend a day or so with Myrtle and family in Los Angeles.  We did not make a stop in Hawaii and did not go through Samoa, we went directly to Nandi, Fiji.  Then on to Sydney and then to Melbourne, where President Bruce R McConkie met us.  We were at the mission home in Melbourne long enough to get a lunch and receive our instruction and then on a plane to Perth.  My cold was worse, and I coughed so much.  The plane was full of people going to Perth for the International Games, ‘Gymes’ they called it.  We landed in Perth in a terrible rainstorm and were met by Isabelle and Johnson and were taken to the home of Pres. and Sister Cummings for the night.  It was so damp and cold.  I thought we would freeze to death.  Twin beds, no heat in the room and the wind went thru the room like wind can.  We piled all our coats and everything we could get on the bed, but we could not get warm.  Despite all this we lived and the next day, Elders Mendenhall and England met us and took us to try to find a place to live.  The Gymes were or had taken over all the flats and rooms, so we had a difficult time finding a place to stay.  Finally, we found a room at Mr. and Mrs. Howells, a former River Boat Captain.  He was a real character.  She was a tiny English lady.  They were lovely to be with.  We had a bedroom used with her kitchen and bathroom.  They were nice to be with and if we could have had a couple of rooms to ourselves it might have been okay. Their home was an old time one and right on the Swan River. This was lined with boats and was a lively sight to see. But our chapel was across the river and a few miles down the Highway.  Sim was over at the chapel and saw they were building a Flat several sections.  So, he went up there and asked about them.  They were nearly completed and so he arranged with the owner, a Mr. Ballantyne for a Flat and we moved to this place.  The Howells did not wish us to go. They were not interested in our religion.  Mrs. Howells said, about the story of the First Vision, that it was a real nice story.  He would not listen at all, but they treated us tine.  It was fun to hear them talk. The river across from the Howells was a mile wide.  It was a lovely sight. So many birds, and the boats were interesting.  Sundays, especially, the river was lined with boats.  Mr. Howells would say about the cold weather, “Very unseasonable, very unseasonable”.  She could find excuses for not being warm.  The house was an old one and had a bath, that you had to go outside to get into.  But that was not too bad.  We soon bought a hot water bottle and kept warm in bed.  This was a choice experience. One we will never forget. 

The chapel at Como was the most beautiful I have ever seen and had not heat.  It was not unusual to have people come and bring blankets to wrap around them in church.  But we nearly froze, however I got over my cold and was well all the time while there.  There were 80 missionaries in the area, which included Perth-Como-Scarborough-Melville Heights and Dianella.  Then there was Kalgoorlie, over 320 miles from Como, we never did get there.  We did go to Bunbury a couple of times, about a hundred miles from Como-South (115 miles).

Perth was a beautiful place. Flowers and flowering trees everywhere.  The soil was all sand and grew every flower you could imagine.  Carnations grew everywhere, wild.  Jacarandas and Bottle Brush, Flame Trees, Wattle Trees, and just before Christmas, the most ungainly and ugly trees blossomed out in a burst of yellow, the Christmas Tree.  They were so lovely it was breathtaking.  Roses and geraniums grew so tall they had to keep cutting them down.  It was a fabulously beautiful place.  Then, there were the Cockatoos.  Every color plumage, and they talked a blue streak.  I was fascinated by these birds.  The Elders taught the one their landlady had, to say, “What do you know about the Mormons?” And, “Cocky’s a Mormon”.  It was so cute.  The people were special too, I loved them all.  I especially loved the little children, they, too, called me “Grandma”.  Many friends we made that we can only hope to meet in the hereafter. Tostevins, Cummings, Sister Manning, Shirley Mott, and many others.  Tea, tobacco, tithing and such things were the obstacles to their conversion.

We next moved to Ballantynes and occupied the downstairs Flat.  This was new and very nice, although to our American standards they would leave much to be desired.  No floor coverings, no clothes closets, they did have wardrobes, so the clothes closets were not missed too badly.  The bathroom was ok, except there was an outlet back of the toilet and not covered, so I put something over that space.  They had this instead of air vents.  No heat, so we had to buy a kerosene heater and an electric heater.  We sold these when we left there.  We paid 7 quineas for this place.  Our laundry was something odd.  In this new building, they put in coppers instead of washing machines.  A copper was really something.  A fire would be made under the machine and this would heat the water, then we would have to stir to get the clothes clean that way.  A time or two, I decided to do my wash in the sink by hand.  It was easier that way.  I took the clothes up to a laundry on Canning Highway a time or two, but the white clothes got all stained with black oil, so it was easier to do these things by hand.  In the kitchen was a gas stove, an old fridge (but a good one), a table and four chairs, a couch and an easy chair of sorts in the living room.  Ballentyne’s were fine people and very friendly, but not interested in our church.  They treated us very well though.  Mrs. Ballentyne did not smoke.  They had two daughters and one son, Jack.  Jack had a dog that had a crippled leg and was named Chester, for the Chester in the TV program with Matt Dillon, but the same play Matt was called Matt Morgan.  Just above us in the Flat were two young people, Prue and Alan Clements.  I visited them a lot, they had just recently come from England.  Finally, I invited them to go to Church with us and they went.  Alan became interested and the Elders came and taught them.  Alan accepted the truth and Prue did not.  She could not give up her tea and tobacco.  Alan did not smoke.  He was fine, and Prue was nice also, but she could not accept our belief.  One thing held her back,  an Uncle who was a minister in England and to whom she wrote for advice all the time.  Of course, he would not encourage her about the church.  So, Prue was never baptized, Alan was and would have been a good member if she had not been so antagonistic.  But he kept on.  We heard he had gone back to England with her.

Sim was on the district council and had to make periodical visits to the various Branches.  We were also head of the Coordination work in the Branches.  We worked closely with the missionaries, and  the Presidents of the Branches.  So, we traveled extensively.  We would help the missionaries if they needed help in activating their investigators.  We surely enjoyed beautiful Perth, the lovely flowers, trees and the beautiful River Swan as it meandered through the city. We mostly loved and enjoyed the people. 

While at Perth, Elder Ezra Taft Benson came to see our people and visit the missionaries. That was wonderful and we enjoyed that visit. Sister Belle Spafford, of the General Relief Society, came also, and also a member of the General Board of the Primary.   They had a special meeting, and we invited our landlady, Mrs. Ballantyne and Prue and Alan Clements to go with us.  They enjoyed the evening, especially, Sister Spafford. 

The word came that Gordon B. Hinckley would be here.  Because of the storms in Samoa, his plane was held up and he did not get there when he was to arrive.  Pres. McConkie sent word that he, they, would be there at 2am at the airport.  So, all the missionaries went out to the airport to meet with Elder Hinckley.  He got in about 6 and we had a meeting with him until 8am and he left to go to the continent.  He made a personal visit with all the missionaries and shook our hands and talked briefly with each of us.  He had mentioned Phyllis Were, a young nurse who was laboring in Taiwan, We had known Phyllis in Pesaga, so when he shook my hand, I mentioned we knew Phyllis.  He asked where and how we had known her, so I said in Samoa, he asked how come we had been in Samoa, and Sim told him about our being there.  Then I asked about Wayne Facer in Taiwan, that he was my nephew.  He said Wayne was a wonderful missionary, he talked with Sim and me for quite a while and was so nice.  He is such a dynamic person and a very good speaker and made all the missionaries feel good.

The first of August we were called to go to Elisabeth in South Australia.  A pretty little city 20 miles from Adelaide.  Elizabeth celebrated their 8^th birthday that year.  A very pretty little city.  Roses were so lovely and so many of them, they had to keep cutting them down or they would grow sky high.  Geraniums grew high too, they were beautiful.  The houses were in most cases, of red brick and were being built as fast as possible.  Many new ones were going up all the time.  These were for the immigrants from England Scotland, Ireland Germany ad other European countries, they are given free passage to Australia, just $5 per family.  Guaranteed a job and a house and are placed in Quonset huts for a time and given the houses as fast as they are completed.  The rent is not high, about $9 per week.  They are not landscaped but everything grows so fast that it is not long before they are lovely.  Elizabeth is a very attractive place.  The various sections had business districts of their own. There was Elizabeth Down, Elizabeth East, Elizabeth West, south and north and several other names. These all had their own Mall and they had a covered walk around them. These stores were very attractive, and we enjoyed going through them. Food was not too high; clothing was not bad either and a good selection.  Dry cleaning was cheap, a suit or overcoat for 3 shillings or 36 cents, haircut=5 shillings or 60 cents.

Sim took the place of Bro Johnson who had been President of the Elizabeth Branch.  The Johnsons went to Tasmania.  Sim had become white and weak when we went to Elizabeth, must have opened an ulcer when he carried the trunks to the car and to the train for shipping and mailing.  He was white and looked ill.  The day after we arrived, there was a Regional meeting conference.  Sim was installed at this meeting as President of the Elizabeth Branch.  The District Council sat on the stand or just below on the side front seats.  After the meeting, in which Sim had spoken, a man from the Council rushed up on the stand and shook Sim’s hand.  I noticed his looking at his fingers.  I suppose he felt Sim’s pulse.  He said, “is you ever need me, no matter what time of night, call me and I will come no matter when it is”.  This was Dr. Maguaer.  In a few days we did go to see Dr. Maguaer and he told Pres. McConkie to send Sim home, that he had congestive heart failure.  We, of course did not want to go hoe and stayed until Dec. 1^st and then the doctor told Pres. McConkie, “If you don’t send that man home, you will send him in a box.”  The Branch was growing and the conflict that had been in the branch was improving.  There had been quite a bad feeling for some time, we surely hated to leave there.  Mostly, the wonderful friends that we had there.  The night we landed in Elizabeth we had gone to bed, so cold that hot water bottles and blankets and quilts and overcoats could do little to warm us up, but we had gotten so sleep when we were suddenly awakened to find a group of Elders, yes, and Sisters at the foot of our bed and singing, “Up, Awake Defenders of Zion”.  They had decided to have Mary Paten baptized before she went back to Perth the next morning.  Mary was from Perth and had said if and when she was baptized, she wanted to have Elder Dunn do it.  So, we got up.  Brother Johnson wen to the Chapel to warm up the font and to fill it up.  Mary had cone over to see the sisters she loved, Cecile James and Elain Fielding, and others.  They had persuaded her to be baptized before returning to Perth.

She was not ready, had not stopped smoking, but they thought if she was baptized it would help.  The heater was either too slow or did not work at all and the water was ice cold.  There was no baptismal clothing there for men, just a small bloomer type thing for him to wear. How he got in it I could not imagine.  But he did and he looked so funny.  But the cold water was worse.  He said he nearly froze.  These places in Australia did not have heated homes and boy, was it ever cold.  They said they did not need heat as the winters were so short.  Anyway, they baptized Mary, this was a mistake and did not work out for the girl.  She had never quit smoking.  Now 1970, she is still smoking and feels insecure and sad about it.  I am sure she was baptized to please the sisters.  She really fell in love with these fine lady missionaries. 

We loved Elizabeth, the green rolling hills and fields of roses and flowers.  There were many sheep, the hills, many of them, were covered with a purple flowered plant, called Soursob, this was a noxious weed and was taking over the hills.  There were also many thistles.  Then a lovely green that covered many miles of lawns and fields that had a very pretty yellow flower, this resembled a four-leaf clover, but had a yellow flower.  This was Salvation Jane, it was beautiful, but was a menace.  Someone, they said, had imported this plant from Scotland and it grew like wild, taking over the fields and lawns.  It was all around the chapel and fields. 

Many problems at Elizabeth, hurt feelings and this had caused some inactivity.  The drinking water was brown in color, looked like someone had dropped a brown paint in it.  I boiled every drop we drank.  Just as I did in Samoa.  Sim continued to lose weight and had such dizzy spells and was tired all the time.  Dr. Maguaer was very anxious to send him home.  He did not want to send him to the hospital, he told Pres. McConkie it would do no good.  We did have so many lovely people here, but they had some real problems.  Sim’s first Counselor was Peter Elliot.  He had marital problems.  His wife was not happy here just what the problem was we did not know until one evening Peter came to the house and handed Sim a letter and it told that Shirley had run off with a young man, 18 years of age and the son of Bro and Sis Coates.  Peter said she had been immoral other times and now had left him.  Sim took it very hard. The little family were so darling, Jo Christine Billie, Tony and Leslie.  They were such sweet children, especially Billy and Jo Christine.  How Shirley could leave them was a mystery.  Arthur Coates was 18 years old and it was a shame to lead him astray.  Bro and Sister Coates were all broken up about this and all the people were. 

Sim’s other counselor was John Taylor, a butcher and he made sure Sim had the best lamb chops and liver real often.  I guess Brother Hagerty, Michael Sid, was the Clerk.  They treated us fine.  Sis Hagerty was inactive and would not come out.  She was friendly and treated us fine when we would meet her but hurt feelings and jealousies were too often the case here as in Perth.  I believe this was worse than Perth though, old Satan just seemed to stir up these feelings and they were hard for Sin to take.  His body was not strong enough for him.  Our landlady was another worry.  She said I was not as friendly as Sis Johnson.  I guess because I was always going with Sim and did not spend time with her, visiting.  Sis. Johnson would be home for most of the day ad thus would visit with her, so she thought I was unfriendly.  So, we were to go home.  At first, we had two Elders living with us.  Elder Wixom from Salt Lake City, and Elder Miller from Salt Lake City.  Later we had Elaine Fielding and JoAnn Gedge with us.   Then Sister Gedge left and Elaine and another Australian lady missionary came for a few weeks, Kay Iredell was her name.  She stayed until we left for home.  We enjoyed these fine young people; they were so special.

Regional Conference was Saturday and Sunday and we received our release at this meeting.  Pres. McConkie said some very fine things about Sim at this meeting.  About his work in the Mission Field, his spirituality and humility and desire to serve these people.  The next morning at the airport to see us off were Pres. and Sister McConkie and Keith Nielsen, Regional Supervisor.  We were sad though at leaving the mission field.  We hated to leave the fine friends we have met in South Australia, thankful to our Heavenly Father for the opportunity to serve and to know this beautiful country and these fine people.  What a marvelous life we have had.  Hope we can continue to do some good.  We hope for another mission.

Arriving at Sydney I saw two young men and told Sim I knew they were Elders.  They were and said they had a telegram to meet the Dunns at the airport and take us to the Mission Home. We thought it was either Pres. McConkie or Doug Coombs who had sent the telegram.  Doug, the son of Pres. and Sister Coombs had been with us in West and South Australia.  So, we were taken to the mission home at Sydney and Sim spent the day resting.  Then the Mission Pres. and Sis Coombs came home and we had a nice supper, then they took us to the place in Tutuila.  We were now on our way to Tafuna-Am, Samoa.  We arrived at Tafuna at 2am and there we were met at the plane steps by Sameme.  She had heard that Bro and Sis Dunn were on this plane and came out to meet us.  We were so happy to see Sameme, walking back to the airport we found seventeen of our Elders from South Australia who had been there for several days. They got a big bang of the way these Samoans greeted us.  Elder Larry Mendenhall said, “They all know and love you two!” At the airport was Jane Urhle and Mrs. Senter and Betty Tuia.  Also, Pat and Elden Puckett, who insisted we go to their place to stay, to the school and to the apartment where Miller’s had lived.  Elder said they had arranged for us to eat our meals with the Teacher families.  We told him no we did not want that, we could cook our own meals, but he said the teachers were counting on us and would be disappointed.  We compromised and said we could go for the evening meal each day and would fix our own breakfast and lunch.  The teachers treated us fine.  But when we left, we were surprised to find that Bro Puckett had charged us for each meal, for the apartment and for car rent, one day.  $20 in all.  We had had them, both Elden and Pat, at our home in Mapusaga, four times and Pat’s mother twice for two days each time.  Pat and Elden stayed for four days each time.  We never charged them at all for anything.  Never charged anyone, so we were surely shocked to have him charge us.  The apartment was filthy and cockroaches all over the place.  However, I cleaned it up and paid $30 for rent and food.  I wonder why they charged us when we had, all of the teachers at one time or another, come from the Pesaga School and we never charged them a cent. 

They had a special assembly for Sim and the students were so happy to see both of us.  They said they wished he would stay there and be the Principal.  It was good to see them and hear them talk and sing again.  They said the school had not been the same since we left there.  We had the car one day and visited some of the villages and down in Pago Pago.

A week later we left for Los Angeles, just stopping long enough in Hawaii to change planes. There we were met by Barbara and Myrtle. They looked so lovely to us.  Myrtle has such a lovely home and Barbara has three darling little boys; Mary is a darling little girl.  Marla and Lin were so dear too.  Lin, is a fine looking big lad.  I had caught a cold and did not get out much.  We had Thanksgiving dinner at Myrtle’s, and Dad went over to see Barbara and family.  Bob and Jim’s folks were there. 

Then to Logan and to Hyrum.  Tebe had found us an apartment across from the Temple.  Sim went to the Hospital for a checkup.  Dr. Burgess said he should have been sent to the hospital in Australia and threated there.  He gave him some medication to build up his blood and his body in general.  We lived here in Logan for a couple of months, then we got a chance to rent Sis Luella Birch’s home in Hyrum, we moved there, it was nicer, and stayed there for two months.  Our home in Lehi was rented for a few months longer.  I believe we were in Pleasant Grove for six weeks then moved to our home in Lehi.  (Luella had suffered a severe stroke and was at Olive’s in Garland).  We sold our home in Lehi and had one built, same pattern as the Lehi one, in Nibley—Nadine and Elmo had moved to North Carolina and so we had no one in Lehi.  Jane and Gordon were in Iran, and we wanted to build or buy a home in Hyrum, but there were none available.  Our house in Nibley was nice and we planted many fruit trees, shade trees, flowering trees, and shrubs.  Many peonies and iris.  It was beautifully landscaped.  Everything turned yellow—peach and apricot trees died, and the flowers turned yellow too, although they grew well. 

We lived there for two years and then improved in health, Sim contacted Elder Gordon B. Hinckley and we received a call for a mission to the Florida Mission.  Left the mission home December 6, 1965 and drove to Ephraim for a short visit with Jane and Gordon and family.  Then went to Florida.  Si had a letter from Pres. Winder that he was to be Branch President and so would not be doing any proselyting. When we reached Winter Park near Orlando, Florida, WE were told that Sim was to be the Branch President of the Panama City Branch, to replace Pres. Middleton.  We stayed at the home for a few days, visiting the Kennedy Base and saw the missiles and the church farm.   We did not get to Cypress Gardens as we expected to do.  We had planned to go, but Pres. Winder told us not to go then, that he had, or could get tickets much cheaper and he would send one of the Elders with us and show us around.  Two of the Elders were in a terrible auto accident at Fort Walton Beach, so Pres. and Sis Winder left in the night to go there and we decided to go back to our assignment at Tallahassee.  We were told that we would go later but that did not work out either.  So, we missed Cypress Gardens, but did get to many other beautiful places in Florida. We left the next day for Tallahassee for a conference.  We found a nice apartment assigned to us.  Compliments of Pres. Winder.  The conference was very interesting.  After the Sunday afternoon meeting, we were taken to Panama City, a distance of 100 miles.  Pres. Middleton drove our car for Sim.  It was a horrible ride.  All the way he talked constantly about the horrible people in Panama City.  There was no one there fit to be his counselor.  We stayed at his home that night and had a nice supper.  Monday, Sis Middleton got busy on the phone and looked through the papers to find an apartment for us. She was nice to us but concurred to an extent to what her husband had told us about the people.  So, our introduction to Panama City was not the best.  That evening, John H. Pomeroy came to the Middleton’s and we were impressed with him.  He told us his wife was not too well and they were expecting a new baby.  Sister Pomeroy had been ill since their last one was born and they were worried about her. They had lost a baby a couple of years before this.  

We went to a few apartments and finally found one at Mrs. Rudolph’s at 800 Jenks Ave.  not elaborate, but nice and roomy.  Three rooms and a bath and a lovely yard full of shrubs and flowering and shade trees, also, a garage for our car.  The trees were filled with birds which constantly chirped and sang.  I loved these birds.  I would stand in the window door and whistle and the birds from all over would answer.  Mrs. Rudolph said one morning, “That bird kept me awake all night, with answering your call”.  They did get so that they would sit on the chimney or antenna and sing.  They were so lovely.  Her flowers, azaleas, and camelias were so lovely.  All the flowering trees and shrubs were beautiful.  I loved Florida for its beauty and lovely surroundings.

The following Sunday was a sad occasion, the death and funeral of Sister Janey basset.  She had been a lifelong member and the mainstay of the Church in Panama City.  She had been ill for a long time, but never gave up her strong testimony.  She had a lovely service and afterward the meeting when Sim was sustained as Branch President.  He chose J. H. Pomeroy and Herman Lindsay as his counselors, retaining the clerk who was an officer in the Air Force and soon to be reassigned to another base.  I can’t remember his name.  Sim had asked Cecil Gilbert if he would be his clerk.  He refused and said he did not care to have the mob.  He had been clerk for Bro Middleton and cound not get along with him.  Leter when, the clerk left, Bro Gilbert came in to the office and asked if he could help anyway.  Sim told him yes, he would like him to be his clerk and he said he would be happy to do this. He said many times he could listen to Sim for hours, that he admired him so much.  Dorothy Gilbert and I wee fast friends, we went visiting teaching together and she usually drove her car as I did not drive anymore.  They were so good to the missionaries, too good, I am sure.  Scarcely a Sunday when they did not have some of them to dinner or supper, or both.  Dorothy and Cecil and their son, Richard were so wonderful to us and they liked Sim so much.  The Middleton’s were not so friendly because everyone liked Sim so much.  They had found fault with everyone and did not have any friends. 

Sim, of course, did not have clear sailing, ----------------------

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Simeon Adams Dunn and Wanda Marie Facer Dunn Family

Dunn Family:  left to right:  Nadine Dunn, Wanda Marie Facer Dunn, Simeon Adams Dunn, (seated) Wanda Mrtle Dunn and Jane Dunn

Simeon Adams and Wanda Marie Dunn with grandchildren:  Howard Gray, Lynda Gray (with Doll),  Karen Gray (in Grandma's arms),  and Leone Van Epps (in Grandpa's arms)

left to right:  Wanda Myrtle, Wanda Dunn holding Diane Van Epps, Jane Dunn Van Epps, Simeon Adams holding Leone Van Epps and Barbara Maughan in front.

Farewell program prior to mission to Florida:






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Newspaper article about Utah State Representative Simeon Adams Dunn

Christmas 1956 at Grandpa and Grandma's home in Hyrum Utah with ALL the cousins.

Wanda Dunn (Grandma)  -  Christmas in Mapusaga, American Samoa., 1961.

Christmas in 1967, Hyrum Utah with Leone Van Epps and Diane Van Epps--the rest of their family was in Bolivia

The Last Illness of My Lovely Wanda Marie Facer

(Written by Simeon Adams Dunn, January 21, 1971) Wanda was never very strong physically and during the early years when our children were small, she had a number of close calls upon her life. Her daily prayers were that Heavenly Father would spare her life until the children were grown. Her prayers were heard by the Father and were answered according to her petition. Our children were: Wanda Myrtle, born July 5, 1918; Nadine, born November 25, 1919; Simeon Adams, born and died August 14, 1922; Jayne, born March 4, 1924; and our Louise, born April 16, 1927 and died April 19, 1927. A number of periods of her life brought her greatly improved health. She served as Secretary of the Hyrum Stake Relief Society for a number of years and during this time she was greatly improved in health. She worked as an Officiator in the LDS Temple in Logan for 8 years and here also she was improved in health. During or three years residence in American Samoa in the South Pacific Islands and during our Mission in the Southern Australian Mission and during our time in the Florida Mission, Wanda enjoyed comparatively good health, I think I should report, “Exceptionally good health!” Sometime during the middle of 1968 her health began to fail and she suffered periods of severe pain. The pain grew more intense and the doctors were unable to locate the cause. In the early months of 1970 we had her examined by three specialists of the Salt Lake Clinic and by a heart specialist in Salt Lake City, Doctor Conrad Jensen. X-rays taken previously had shown the presence of a large Aneurism in the large artery, which supplies the legs and the lower abdomen, with blood from the heart. Doctors whom we had consulted agreed that this condition posed a serious threat to her life, and they strongly recommended an operation at once. Wanda readily agreed. She said she could no longer suffer as she had suffered during so many months. The pain had increased steadily and there seemed to be no way to bring her relief. She entered the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City on July 13, 1970. Dr. Conrad Jensen was the Surgeon who would perform the operation. Here she was treated for three days and the operation took place on Thursday, July 16, 1970. Complications resulted; blood clots collected in her right leg, in the artery. These were removed but more collected at once and the leg died. We had her removed from intensive care to a private room where we could always stay with her. Our three daughters, Barbara and Uncle Byron and Aunt Eva stayed with us in the hospital and took their turns watching over our lovely Wanda Marie. She was kept under sedation and so she suffered very little pain. Sunday evening, July 19 at about 9pm, Wanda opened her eyes slightly. A sweet smile came upon her face and she breathed her last. Thus, ended the life of a faithful Wife and Mother, a Lovely Companion and a Wonderful Missionary, and one of the Choice Daughters of Our Heavenly Father.

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