Biography of
Joseph Lewis Thompson
By Duane Archibald
Edited and added to by W. Howard Thompson
This brief history of the life of Joseph Lewis Thompson is written with the hope that it might serve as an inspiration to the descendants of this very special man. A man who was told by his patriarch, "The eye of the Lord has been upon thee from everlasting to do a great and mighty work in his kingdom.” Thousands of his descendants now enjoy the blessings of freedom and of the gospel because this man and his good wives had the intelligence and courage to follow their convictions. Written records of his life are non-existent but the actions of his life speak volumes to those who look with a prayerful and understanding heart. He is indeed a patriarch over his own great family.
There has been some conflict over the date of his birth. We have now
found a birth registration which we believe to be his, at St. Phillips,
Birmingham. Born 8 February 1815, christened 27 September 1822. He grew up in
England when children were put to work in factories at an early age. Since
Joseph became a silversmith, it is logical to assume that he served a long
apprenticeship under some master silversmith. Joseph learned the meaning of
work done according to exact standards.
Few children of these times learned to read or write. Joseph learned to
do both. While his writing showed that he had not learned to punctuate and that
his spelling was somewhat faulty, he wrote with a beautiful, legible hand.
There was in him a real desire to learn and achieve.
Two different dates are recorded for the marriage of Joseph Lewis
Thompson to Penelope Thompson. 28 Dec 1836 is the date listed in the Temple
Index Endowment House No. 2306, Book F, page 204. This same date was found on
the old Bible sheet. In the Joseph Lewis Thompson record the date of marriage
was listed as 28 December 1835. Editor's Note: An examination of these old
Bible sheets gives the impression that the listing of the first family, and the
marriage date were all recorded at one time, probably from memory, perhaps
about the time Joseph Lewis married Caroline, rather than over the years as the
events happened. It should be noted that several of the dates, including the
marriage date, have been written over, so that we cannot tell what the original
recorded date was. Our researchers over the years have not found a marriage
entry for Joseph Thompson and Penelope Thomp¬son. In the computer file index,
however, we have found the marriage of a Joseph Thompson to a Penelope
Thompson, at West Bromwich, 28 December 1835, G.S. film number 497349. The
parish of West Bromwich, Staffs, Eng., is immedi¬ately south of Walsall and
three and one half miles northwest of Birmingham. It seems likely that this is
the marriage we have been looking for, although Joseph signed with an X. The
family has universally believed that Joseph could read and write. The old Bible
sheets and the letter written to James Godson and Jane Bleak, are both believed
to be his handwriting. We have no explanation of why he did not sign his name.
We have found birth registrations for Susannah and William which seem
to fit our family; these appeared in the computer file index, and we have gone
back to the microfilm of the original records and checked them. They seem right
for our family, and the family group sheet at the end of this chapter includes
this new information from prime sources.
To this union twelve children were born. Five were born in Birmingham,
four in London, and three in Providence, Rhode Island. All except the eleventh
child, Benjamin Thomas, lived to be married. (See family group sheet of Joseph
Lewis Thompson at the end of this chapter).
The family moved to London after the birth of Jane 1 Dec. 1845 where
Joseph Lewis was employed by Aines and Cater as a silversmith. He and Penelope
knew all the trials and joys that come with rearing a large family. In the
light of subsequent events, it would be safe to assume that this was a close
knit family where love and fun were mingled with hard work and discipline. The
fact that the family immigrated to the United States indicates that there had
to be work and saving with a great purpose in mind. There would most certainly
had to have been close cooperation and devotion in this family.
During his life time Joseph Lewis Thompson exhibited interests, traits
and talents, which show that he had unusual natural ability and had received
training in music, drama, dance and boxing, as this biography shows. There are
no records extant, not even any family traditions, which tell of this early
training. However, there was opportunity for training and development of these
talents in the town of Birmingham at that time.
Lewis's Topographical Dictionary published in 1841 describes the
growth, increase in population, and expansion of the town, of the increase of
its industry, business and trade. The construction of the canals, roads, railroads,
and other means of communication with the rest of the world. It also tells of
the great increase about that time of the arts and culture, with the
organization of numerous societies and groups to foster these things. The
following brief extracts will illustrate the extent of this growth. "The
Philosophical Society, in Cannon- street, was instituted in 1800, and in 1810
the members extended their plan..."A Mechanics' Institute was established
in 1825..."A school of Medicine and Surgery was established in
1828..."The Botanical and Horticultural Society was instituted in
1828,..."The Society of Arts, in New-street, was established in
1821,..."The Institute for Promoting the Fine Arts was establish¬ed in
1828,..."The Theatre, in New-street, is a spacious and well-arranged
building,..."A second concert has been subsequently established, which,
originating, like the first, in the private meetings of amateurs, promises to
equal it in respect to numbers, though under less distinguished patronage. The
triennial musical festivals, for which Birmingham has become so preeminently
distinguished,...The performances consist of oratorios and selections of sacred
music, and are powerfully assisted by the very numerous and skillful choral
band of the town, which is under constant training and continual practice; they
are repeated every third year,..."The town-half, intended for the
transaction of public business and the holding of large public meetings, and
more especially with a view to the accommodation of the company, and efficient
performance of the music at the triennial festivals, was created under the
provisions of the street commissioners' act, obtained in 1828, and it was
completed in 1834."
It would be very interesting to be able to view some of their family
evenings when Joseph and his family were displaying their talents. Traditions
were begun here which lived on with his children and grandchildren.
The families of Joseph Lewis Thompson and James Godson Bleak were close
friends and neighbors in London. Joseph Lewis and James Godson worked for the
same company. Joseph would later name his ninth child James Godson Thompson and
James Bleak would later marry Jane Thompson, the fifth child of Joseph and
Penelope, thus becoming the son-in-law of his good friend.
These two families were visited by the LDS missionaries in 1848.
According to the records of the White Chapel Branch, London, England, Joseph
Lewis was baptized by Priest Johnson 3 February 1851. He was rebaptized 2 March
1857. His wife and children were all to be baptized later on unless it was
Henry whose baptism was performed by proxy 20 March 1937. Five days later James
Godson Bleak followed Joseph Lewis in baptism 8 February 1851.
The act of joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was
one of real courage and according to Mattie Pendleton in her biography of her
grandfather, William Henry Thompson, was the cause of Joseph being dismissed
from his work. Mattie wrote, "By doing this he (Joseph) was dismissed from
his work,…thus unable to get any work he went from town to town for a time
seeking employment of any kind. He took William, a dark haired, hazel eyed boy,
with him on these journeys to help. William traveled this way until he started
school, but he went only six weeks. He got the rest of his education at night
after the day’s work. He discontinued school to take a job working twelve hours
a day from six in the morning until six at night turning a rope wheel for two
cents a day or twelve and one half cents per week." Joseph eventually found
employment.
In 1831, Jabez Gorham of Providence, Rhode Island formed a
co-partnership with Henry L. Bebster and added to his jewelry industry, which
Gorham had owned and operated since 1813, the manufacture of silverware. Work
was done by hand. The main products were spoons, thimbles, combs and other
small articles.
According to a record entitled Representative Men and Old Families of
Rhode Island Genealogy and Biography Volume II, Published 1908 by J. H. Beers
Company, Chicago "John Gorham, son of Jabez Gorham completed his schooling
at the age of eighteen and in 1841 joined his father in business. In 1850 Mr.
Gorham Thurber was admitted to partnership in the concern and in 1852 Mr. Lewis
Dexter became an associate in the business, the firm style changing
respectively to Gorham & Thurber and to Gorham & Company.
"The senior member of the firm in 1852 visited Europe for the
purpose of acquainting himself with the manufacture of silverware in other
countries, returning the following fall, having engaged several skilled workmen
in branches not well understood in this country. From year to year the business
rapidly increased and in 1860 Mr. Gorham again visited Europe on a similar
errand and again brought operatives to this country among which were designers
and molders."
It was probably at this time, the first visit, that Joseph Lewis
Thompson was hired by Gorham to come to America to work for his company in
Providence, Rhode Island. While there is a time lapse of a year between
Gorham's first visit and the time that Joseph Lewis came to Rhode Island, one
could reason that it took some time to prepare for such a move.
Family tradition says that in the spring of 1854 Joseph Lewis was
chosen from 300 factory hands to come to Providence, Rhode Island to help build
and operate a silversmith factory. Who he was working for in London at this
time is not clear. (Family tradition has it that he was working for Gorham
& Sons in London but this is not very likely unless Gorham made some
special arrangement with Joseph on Gorham's visit to Europe. Gorham & sons
was initiated in Rhode Island.) In any event, Joseph and four fellow workmen
left England in the spring of 1854 to work for Gorham & Sons in Providence,
Rhode Island.
What feelings Joseph must have had to leave his wife and eight children
behind to come to America one can only imagine. Penelope was expecting James
Godson, her ninth child, in July. Surely this separation, to last about one
year and a half, was accompanied by great pathos. Perhaps their feelings would
be mixed with sorrow and hope, with wonderment and worry, with satisfaction in
anticipating something better. Maybe the desire to move to Zion was a powerful
motivating factor. The decision to come to America was a very crucial one. A
decision which was eventually to affect the lives of thousands of people
bringing great blessings to them. A decision which was probably made after much
thought and prayer and with the approbation of our Father in Heaven. Thank God
for the courage of these great ancestors.
The following year, four other members of the family, Susannah, William,
Jane, and Ann left London on the ship Robenia and landed in New York 21 May
1855. Ann, age 7, was watched over very carefully by the sailors aboard the
ship. The children went directly to Providence to join their father.
By this time Joseph Lewis Thompson was aforeman for Gorham &
Company. In "The Book of Rhode Island," Library call No. 974.5 R346,
it is recorded that Gorham & Company had grown steadily until in 1930 they
were employing two thousand men and women. "Much of the success of this
concern must be credited to the friendly relations that have always existed
between employer and employee."..."Since 1876 (until 1930), Gorham
Master Craftsmen have won first honors in every international exposition in
which they exhibited their masterpieces. Versailles, a Gorham pattern, is on
permanent exhibition in Paris at the Louvre." It was craftsmen like Joseph
Lewis Thompson who helped to establish this Company which today "stands
among the country's leading manufacturing establishments." (Book of Rhode
Island)
The mother Penelope and the rest of the children sailed for America on
the ship Quickstep. While crossing, John recalled later, they were caught in a
dense fog. It was possible to see only a short distance. Suddenly there came
into sight another ship sailing crosswise to them and directly in their path.
The Quickstep, unable to stop, crashed into the side of the other ship and it
sank. Everyone on board was drowned. The Quickstep was so badly damaged the
captain had to put into port for repairs. They put into New York harbor the day
before Christmas 1855. They soon joined the rest of the family in Rhode Island,
ending the separation of one and one half years. What an interesting and happy
reunion it must have been for this family.
Joseph Lewis established the policy of recreation each Saturday
afternoon for the employees of Gorham & Sons. Shooting, racing, boxing, and
high jumping were included in these Saturday activities. Joseph Lewis was a
boxer of considerable skill. Seymour Thompson said that Joseph had fought in
the ring. Samuel Thompson, the twelfth child of Joseph Lewis, told his sons
that Joseph had taught all of his own sons the science of boxing. Sam also said
that none of his sons could hold their own in boxing with their father even after
he was getting along in years. He was about six feet tall, slender and very
agile, and he possessed considerable ability in the area of sports and
entertainment.
During the eight years that Joseph worked for Gorham & Sons, three
more sons were born to him and Penelope - Richard Charles, Benjamin Thomas, and
Samuel. Bringing sorrow to the family, Benjamin died at the age of nine months
and was buried in Providence. Susannah and William were married. Jane attended
a Lincoln-Douglas debate. Ann saw Lincoln win a boat race with Douglas on
Narragansett Bay. Joseph was courting a lovely girl, Hannah Crompton, who would
become his bride when they both arrived in Salt Lake City in the fall. William
and Joseph worked for Gorham & Sons.
The spirit of gathering seemed to be among the Saints of the branch in
Providence. Susannah and William with their spouses and children, and Jane age
15 and unmarried, left Providence on 10 June 1861 to go to Utah. After the
birth of Samuel, Penelope was in very poor health. Joseph and the children
began preparing to go west. It was a family cooperative venture. Eliza knit
noobies and crocheted tobbogans, skating caps, and baby booties and jackets to
sell to a firm in Providence.
In June 1862, Joseph Lewis and Penelope, with eight children, left
Providence, their home of eight years, traveling by rail to St. Joseph and then
by steamboat to Florence as their three children had done the year before. They
stayed in Florence a few days to purchase a wagon and four yoke of oxen which they
christened Duke and Dan, Lion and Bay, Speck and Buck, Bailey and Brand. This
whole venture must have been an exciting one for the whole family and it surely
called for considerable planning, work, and sacrifice on the part of Joseph
Lewis, his good wife, and the children. They left Florence the 24th of July in
John Murdock's second company which consisted of 700 people and sixty-five
wagons.
Penelope was unable to walk so the older girls, Eliza and Annie, took
turns carrying ten-month-old Samuel. One day Eliza stopped at a stream to wash
the baby's clothes and the company went on. When she was missed, two men came
back for her, scolded her soundly, and returned her to her anxious family.
James could remember Eliza giving him a bath in the Missouri River. He
also remembered walking the entire distance 'barefooted and bareheaded.'...They
had singing and dancing around the campfires in the evening to revive their
spirits. Because of his ability as a dancer and singer, Joseph entered whole
heartedly into these activities. The company arrived in Utah 2 September 1862.
It would be a mistake to pass over this period without a close look at
a personal letter written by Joseph Lewis before he left Providence. Jane had
arrived in Salt Lake City in September 1861 in the company of Captain Ira
Eldridge. She stayed with her family's friends, the James Godson Bleaks, in
Salt Lake. She was with the Bleaks only a month when they were called to settle
the cotton mission in "Dixie!" On 26 October 1861, Jane became the
plural wife of James,G. Bleak. They arrived in St. George 1 December 1861, on
Jane's 16th birthday. The writer has heard his mother, Laura Thompson
Archibald, oldest child of James G. Thompson, speak of what a lovely, charming
person her Aunt Jane Bleak was.
The above mentioned letter was written to James and Jane soon after
their marriage.
Each reader may find his own meaning in the letter. It does reveal many
things about Joseph Lewis Thompson. We see a sample of his own writing which
for the times was good in spite of no punctuation and some misspelled words. He
is writing to James, his former friend and co-worker, as his son-in-law. Jane
was James's third wife. She was admonished by her father to be a wife in
"every deed." He praised God to bless the both of them. He must have
had great regard for James G. Bleak. He indicates that he was short of work.
Perhaps Gorham & Sons was experiencing one of the many recessions in our
economy. It might throw some light on why he later refused to go back to work
for Gorham even though he was having a hard time in Utah. It reflects his
desire to go west and be with family and the Saints. It shows that he was
concerned about getting the necessities of life for his family.
By the first of October 1862, Joseph and Penelope, with their unmarried
children, had settled in a dug-out in Logan on about 3rd west and Center St.
For a year this had been the home of Michael and Susannah Clark. The Clarks
decided to move to Virginia City, Montana. Joseph Lewis moved into the vacated
home making use of the few possessions "Sue" had left behind including
the family cow. He later "made this right" with "Sue" when
the Clark family moved back to Clarkston in May of 1874. The family lived in
this vacated dug-out until the spring of 1865.
In a record written by Katie Griffiths, wife of William John Griffiths,
it is recorded that in the summer of 1864, sixteen men led by an Indian
interpreter, Israel J. Clark, went into "The beautiful meadows" of
Clarkston. Among this group was Joseph Lewis Thompson. He is reported as saying
to the men in the party, "It is the prettiest little valley God ever made
and it is all ours."
From "The History of Clarkston," by Ben J. and Eunice P.
Ravsten, we quote the following which gives some insights into the settling of
the town of Clarkston.
"We are told that Samuel Whitney first entered this picturesque
valley while herding cows for Ezra I. Benson. In the year of 1864,...led by
Israel Clark - from whom Clarkston received her name and who was the first
presiding Elder - a group of pioneers came to establish a community. The first
settlers were: Israel J. Clark, Jesse Clark, James J. Myler, Joseph Lewis
Thompson, John Griffiths, Simon Smith, Oscar Myler, Andrew W. Heggie, Johannes
Dahle, Gideon Harminston, Ole A. Jensen, Cyrus Clark, John Thompson, and Andrew
McCoombs.
"McCoombs' wife, Amelia was with him and she and other women spent
the first winter there. Twelve families remained through the winter of 1864-65
and the winter was severe. Upon arriving in the valley they immediately began
building shelters and putting up hay. (grass hay)
"The first homes were dugouts, with a fireplace in one corner and
furnished with the most necessary articles of homemade furniture.
"Logs were sawed into lumber by the use of a saw-pit. The saw-pit
was made by digging a hole in the ground and constructing a frame across the
pit to hold the log in place. Two men, one in the pit and the other on top
using a cross-cut-saw, sawed the logs into lumber. Later a turning wheel was
used for making table and chair legs, rolling pins, etc.
"The spring of 1865 brought new settlers, new challenges, and
renewed dedication. The first ground was plowed and they planted crops,
broadcasting the grain into the cultivated ground.
"In the fall of 1865 a combined church and school house was built,
a log structure forty feet by twenty four feet. It was built on the corner of
the public square.
"The year 1866 brought trouble with the Shoshone Indians. They
claimed all of the land west of Bear River and they asserted their rights.
Chief John, son of Chief Washakie, led the Indians into the settlement and
demanded large amounts of beef and flour. Afterward they pitched their tents at
city creek near the homes of the people. The pioneers followed the advice of
Brigham Young, that it was better to feed the Indians than to fight them, but
when their food supplies dwindled and they could not meet the Indians demands,
they were advised to abandon their homes and relocate in Smithfield.
"The tents the Indians lived in were wickiups. Clarkston was first
built about two blocks further east than it is today. All the stream of water
ran east and then south of Clarkston.
"In the fall of 1865 there was a lot of trouble with the Indians
on the west side of Cache Valley. The grassy meadows of Clarkston were worth
fighting for and the Indians would not give up without a struggle.
"Many tedious hours were spent traveling between Clarkston and
Smithfield in an effort to farm their land. The next spring the persevering
farmers returned. They built their homes on the north and south side of a
street forming a fort. The fort was about two blocks long running east and
west. The young men served as guardsmen. The people lived in the fort until
1869, facing rough and stern realities.
Ten acres of farming ground was allotted to a family and five acres to
a single man. In 1869 the allotment was raised to twenty-five acres.
"Logan organized a company of minute men in 1860. Henry Stokes was
adjutant of the battalion on the west side of Bear River. In January 1868,
Clarkston organized a military group which consisted of a horse company,
infantry, and the silver greys. Members were as follows:
"Horse company; William Quigley, Simon Smith, William Griffin and
James Clark.
"Silver greys; James Simmons, Joseph Thompson Sr., Jorgen Olsen,
Michael Poulsen, William Stewart and William Griffin. James Simmons was
Lieutenant of the silver greys and Joseph Thompson, sergeant.
"Infantry; John Jolley, John Griffiths, JensHansen, Joseph
Thompson Sr., High Stewart, A. W. Heggie, Edwin Bassett, John Godfrey, Thomas
Beck, Thomas Godfrey, Kasper Loosle, Ole Anderson, Alfred Atkinson, Samuel
Stewart, Cyrus Clark, Josiah Barker, John Sutter, Ulrich Loosle.
"Thomas Beck was first lieutenant of the first platoon and John
Dahle, second lieutenant. These men were ready at all times to protect their
settlement from the Indian attacks or to aid other communities.
"A town survey was made and the people moved from the fort to
their new lots in 1870-71. About one-half mile west Joseph Lewis Thompson gave
Susannah a piece of property to settle on when she and her husband moved from
Montana to Clarkston.
"These are some of the things that happened at Clarkston during
Joseph Lewis's life. He had a part in all of it."
In the spring of 1865, Joseph and Penelope left the dug-out home in
Logan and moved their family to this "beautiful meadow" to make a
permanent home. It must have been a tremendous adjustment for all of his family
and himself. Here was a man, a highly skilled silversmith, accustomed to life
in big cities, trying to eke out a living on a small farm. Of farming, he knew
nothing.
When asked if he didn't regret leaving his home and work elsewhere to
come to Utah, he replied, "I came here for the gospel, and the gospel is
worth everything."
The story has been passed down through the family that Mr. Gorham wrote
to Joseph Lewis asking him to come to Rhode Island. He wrote in his letter that
he would give Joseph a house and lot and a job for himself and each of his boys
as they got old enough to work. To this offer Joseph wrote back saying,
"If I cannot live here in Utah, I can die here." He remained in
Clarkston.
On 9 December 1865, Penelope passed away. Perhaps the strain of so much
moving along with the work of caring for a large family was too much for her.
Apparently she had never quite regained her health from the time Samuel was
born. Her passing brought great sorrow to Joseph and his family.
It is regrettable that we have no pictures of Penelope and that we know
so little about her. She was blond and blue eyed, inclined to be heavy. She
would surely rate with the great and noble souls of all time. Her loyalty to
Joseph Lewis and his family is beautiful to reflect upon. Her devotion was not
less than that of Ruth's in the Bible. Penelope was interred in the Clarkston
cemetery, the first one to be buried there. She was taken to the cemetery in a
wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. Bishop Clark presided at the services.
The winter following Penelope's death, must have been a most trying one
for Joseph and his 'children. Kaylene Griffin writes, "Joseph Lewis's own
family could not get out to get flour and things they needed to eat so they
lived for months on boiled wheat, milk, and turnips. They got turnips from
Andrew McCombes. They had the itch bad, they had body lice and head lice and
were covered with sores and little boils from head to foot. Sam was just a few
months past his fourth birthday. His health was poor from not getting enough
food and nourish¬ment. Brother Andrew Heggie said they called Sam 'poor little
Sam' because they didn't expect him to live."
Eliza's husband, William, was killed in a freighting accident in 1866
so she and her three children drove a team of horses from St. George to
Clarkston where they lived with Joseph Lewis and his family. There is no
evidence that Joseph ever wavered in his belief that he had made the right
move. He bore his trials even as Job.
In the spring of 1867, the people were advised to leave Clarkston
because of threatened Indian troubles. Joseph Lewis, who had been in charge of
the town cow herd, took his own sheep herd to the Mendon range for that summer.
In the fall, the people came back to Clarkston and built a fort where
they lived for several years until they moved out on their city lots.
On 5 October 1867, Joseph Lewis married Carolyn Griffin in the
Endowment House in Salt Lake City. He was now fifty-two with five unmarried
children. She was twenty-two. She had come from England with her parents where
they had been converted to the LDS Church. Her life, a separate story of its
own, is a legend. Conditions for Joseph and his family soon improved. They were
cured of their ailments. Three sons were born to this union.
The people of Clarkston had to make their own entertainment. Dancing,
singing, instrumental music, amateur theatricals, community socials, family gathering,
and picnics were activities which brought enjoyment to the town's people.
Dances would commence about dusk. At midnight, refreshments would be served.
While the orchestra rested and ate lunch, the crowd would be entertained by
special acts such as step-dancing, sword dances, comic recitations, folk songs,
and group singing. Into these activities Joseph Lewis entered whole heartedly.
His high tenor voice was pleasant to hear and his step-dancing was something
that really got attention.
George Myler, son of Joseph Myler, in talking at his grandson's
missionary farewell, said his father had spoken so often about Joseph Lewis and
what a splendid entertainer he was. He said that when they were dancing the
plain quadrille that if Joseph Lewis in one part of it started to step-dance,
the rest of the dancers would just step back and watch him. He would dance
until he was exhausted and the crowd would ask for more. His son Sam said that
he was in constant demand and took part in nearly all of the social functions
in the Clarkston area.
On 19 May 1873, Joseph took Caroline's sister, Theophenia Griffin
Griffiths as his plural wife. She had been caring for three children since her
husband John had died 27 September 1869. One girl, Sylvia Lois, was born to
this union. She died at the age of twenty without marrying.
Joseph Lewis has been described as a handsome man. He was about six
feet tall with brown eyes and dark hair. Possessing an earnest look, he gave
the impression that he was an intelligent, sensitive man. Yet he was easy to
approach and all who knew him spoke well of him. It seems that he loved to
mingle with people; that he had a warm and outgoing personality. Today we would
call it charisma and empathy.
He has been described as a man who was particular in his appearance and
in his work. His son Sam said that his father could not plough a straight
furrow and that he would have Sam come after work and plough again to make the
field look better. Emma Myler said that when she saw Joseph and Carolyn coming
to Church, that they made an impressive couple. They were about the same
height.
Joseph certainly was a faithful, God-fearing man. His whole life
bespeaks this. As we view history, we see that most people "run with the
herd" or as Wadsworth said, "Toil away from sun to sun to do as other
men have done." Here was a man who was reaching for something better. He
had courage and vision. The three marvelous women he married are evidence that
he possessed sterling qualities or they would not have accepted him.
Words are always inadequate when anyone attempts to eulogize the life
of a good man or woman. The acts of a person's life speak louder and clearer
than words. As we, the numerous descendents of this good man, view his life,
who among us is not filled with gratitude and thanksgiving? Who among us is not
ready to rise up and bless his name? Who among us does not look forward to the
time when we can meet him in person and thank him for the "great and
mighty work" he has performed for us. God bless his memory.
