Handwritten letter from Ilene McConkie to her grandson Lyrad, along with a book about John Watkins-
Dec. 12, 2000
Dear Lyrad and family, greetings from Grandma Ilene. Wishing you the very best. I thought a long time what to send you and I have been working so hard on scrapbooks and writing stories. I thought you'd enjoy this book as much as I have. I had to borrow Stella’s copy to recopy as I sent mine and never got it back.
I never met my great grandfather but my mom and Grandpa Edward Watkins told me many of the stories about him. He made his own bricks and built many beautiful homes in Midway, Heber and Vernal. Many are still standing today. He and his father were architects for Queen Victoria in England.
When he joined the church his mother disowned him and while he was wealthy there, he left with very little to come to America. He crossed the plains with the Martin Handcart Company with green carts that fell apart.
I guess you got some trumpet talent from him and Cody B architecture and decorating. My grandmother Margaret Ackhurst W. was a midwife to many. She never moved to the big new house. He had two other wives and children. Her little home still stands across the road. Cody and I went several times to Swiss Days in Midway and went through the house. Great Grandpa had an organ and it was still there with his picture on it. He had made all the furniture and his beds were beautiful.
The house was passed and sold to relatives down through the years. One year one of the huge pine trees on the lawn was given to the Salt Lake (I think) Tribune and was their Christmas tree. A woman from Park City bought the house and made movies there, then the last I heard she sold it to someone in Orem with all the furnishings. Well I hope you have time to read and enjoy this. The Abplanalp family, my grandmother’s folks, were from Midway too. Love Grandma Ilene
Edward Watkins
My Grandpa Watkins was a very handsome and big man. He was always kind and gentle when they came from Vernal for a visit. Some stories Mom told us was one time 2 little boys were playing with matches between 2 haystacks and caught them on fire and were trapped. Grandpa wet a quilt and wrapped it around him and went into the fire and brought them out. They were dead and the hay burned to the ground. Grandpa’s hair wasn't even singed. He had said a prayer before he went in.
My grandfather went to a England on a mission, leaving Vernal and his family. He had 9 living children. The baby (Aunt Leona) was 3 months old, Aunt Viola 3 years, my mother pearl 11. My grandma had to send him $25 a month for his mission and they didn't have much so she took in washing to do for the Cafe O in Vernal. They carried water from a ditch and heated it in a tub outside then scrubbed on a washboard. One time she hadn’t made enough money when the time came and was very worried. A man came the last day she should send it and knocked on the door and said, “I owe Ted (Edward) Watkins $25 for some hay I got a long time ago.” She said her prayers were answered. She had great faith and was very religious.
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The road from Roosevelt to Vernal was just a dirt road and it was pretty hard to travel so they didn't come over very often, but I remember very well that while the women were inside cooking, Grandpa would set a chair out in the dooryard, put a towel around your neck (I guess he was a barber) and he run all the kids thru and give them haircuts. He used the top of your ears as a marker so they were pretty short. My hair was so fine and straight, while my friends had curls I was just ugly.
When Grandpa died my dad had the Jenkins Mortuary and he took care of the funeral. He had to order a large casket, because Grandpa was a big man. I helped him and it was my job to hurry out and have the hearse door open. (picture enclosed) You can see my legs under the door. Dad is holding the trucks and Mom and Grandma following. I will write about my Grandma Watkins later.
(photo to be added here later)
Jay, Frankie, Stella, Ilene
I would have been 6 years old. Jay 3 1/2 years. Stella was born September 11, 1928, Frankie January 27th, 1929.
This is to show you the haircuts Grandpa Watkins give us. When new it was across the top of our ears.
(photo)
Great Grandpa John Watkins he was the bugler for Martin Handcart Company. Home in Midway. Martin's Cove. Waiting for rescue to come from Salt Lake.
It’s so fun to go to Midway and see his home.
Cody and I went there a few years ago when they had Swiss days and went inside. The original organ (pump) was still in the front room with his picture on it.
They were refinishing it. Turning some of the bricks around and painting and repairing the fancy corners cornices.
Last year Susan and I went and the house was closed but there is a bronze plaque on the door saying it is a historical preserved building.
I don't know if you have this book. If you do send it back, if not keep it I let the Riley twins take my original book to seminary in Payson and didn't get it back so this is a copy. Everyone liked the story of when he went back to kill an oxen in the hardships they suffered.
