I typed this exactly as Dad has written it before he had his stroke. Complied by Gae HARWARD OLSEN.
Biography of Ozias Harvey Harward
I was born at Aurora, Sevier County, Utah, November 20, 1898. My father was a farmer, east of town on Lost Creek, Sevier River running between home and farm. High water problems every spring. When I grew old enough to follow father around, I wanted to go on the farm. During high water season, we would travel about fifteen miles to a bridge in getting to the farm. Coming home on weekends, my younger brothers would bring the cattle to the Sevier River and swim them over. I would herd them during the day, then swim them back to the milkshed to be milked. Then back again the next morning, from springtime last of April until June. When the river was down, we could travel over and back. This was the life during growing season to help take care of the milk cows, and work in hay, grain, and sugar beets. School was enjoyable, along with the caring for our morning and evening work.
Father died on June 7, 1916. It was hard to make the adjustment without Father; a large farm, cattle and horses, with plenty of equipment, but being young and not knowing how to do business, we had a hard time. One thing all seven brothers and two sisters could say, “We did learn how to work.”
I had many happy days in swimming, hunting and playing different kinds of games. I had many friends in Sevier County, Glenwood being my favorite town. I met Montez in the spring of 1915 horse back riding. I had a team of desert horses, very wiry and plenty of life. So with a one seated buggy and those firey horses, Dewey Mason, my cousin, having a team also, we had a great deal of fun from 1915 to 1918. Montez and I were married January 23, 1918 in the Manti Temple. Our days of courting and going to school was finished but our study and learning is still going on.
My Father and Mother loved their family very much and spent their time and work trying to show us the happy way of life. I am most greatful for this, to know how to work, following their example in honesty and good living. The example of studying and living the Lord's plan of life has been a great blessing for the wife and I.
Herbert H. Bell and Lucy Payne Bell were the very best of people. They were hard workers, property owners, good citizens, and leaders in the town of Glenwood. They worked hard in the Church all their lives. Brother Bell was Bishop over twenty years and a Patriarch for many years. Sister Bell was a leader among women and a Relief Society worker all her life. They both led a missionary life.
Missionary work has always been a part of our lives. November 1921, I was called to fill a mission in South Africa. We had a Stake Mission in Sevier County before this. I don't know why, but a year before I went to Africa, I had a feeling I was going to be asked to go. So Mother and I worked hard in the sugar beets and other crops to save what money we could. When the call came, having Garn and LaVon, it was a real job. But after talking to Brother Larsen and Brother Hunter from Richfield who just returned from Africa was the help we needed in making up our minds. The wife had been trained and taught in the best home with strong parents in the Church, or I am sure she would not have taken such a responsiblity. But from November 1921 to February 1924, we had some great experiences. We met many wonderful people and helped to bring many people into the Church. The wife, Montez, had the sacrificing and hard work. I got to see much of the world and many wonderful people.
A happy meeting in 1924, but a hard struggle to get started over again in making a living. From 1924 to 1934, we farmed and worked for the Cherry Hill Dairy in buying cream and eggs then shipping them to Provo. We sold Singer Sewing Machines for two years when I could get away from the farm. Our family had all moved to Provo. Drought, a depression came in on 1929. No price for any crops. We had about twenty head of cows. The stock from Wes Consen $125.00 we paid for many of them, sold all but five for $18.50 per head to the government. We had some registered sows paid $85.00 each for them. We sold the sows and young piglets to the government
for $1.00 each. Our brick home cost us about $16,500.00 besides our work. We sold the farm 40 acres of land, machinery, and home for $1,800.00.
The home was a real struggle to build. Mother and I had two teams of horses and a wagon of my Fathers to haul the brick from Glenwood. A rough run for a number of years getting it paid for.
We worked in the Church from 1924 to 1934 in the Sunday School, M.I.A. and Seventy Quorum. I got a job at the Pipe Plant in Provo for one year 1934 to 1935. We rented a home on 1st West and 340 South. We lost Golden 1934. This was a real hard experience to go through as we loved our family so much. But the Lord's plan of life to live by gave us courage that we can and will have our family in the life to come, if we plan and work for it.
In 1935, we moved on the brink of the hill 1600 South in Orem. We purchased the land where the 20th Ward Stake Center now stands in Orem. We sold that house then built two houses on 1700 South, East of the highway. We purchased eleven acres of West Jordon Avenue in Provo and built some homes there between 1250 West and 1350 West on 1460 North Street and built some homes there. Mother worked in M.I.A., and Relief Society in the Ward, also Stake Relief Society President for five years. It was hard work but we made many friends. I worked five years with Orlando Jolley, and LeRoy Taylor in the Grandview Bishipric. I also worked for five years with Rodney Kimball and Jonh Nicol and had a great deal of experiences. In 1946, we lost Lamon Wayne. Some day we hope to have lived a life so we can have our family again in the life to come.
In 1949, Mother took care of Val, Kenneth, Ronald and Terry while I did missionary work in California from the fall until spring of 1950. A great challenge for all of us. Then work and work for ourselves most of the time. It was a very enjoyable time.
In 1962 to 1964, Ronald, Terry, Mother and I went to the East Central States on a mission for the Church. We took our car after the mission was over and gave it to Dixie Milton Plymde in Buckhannon, West Virginia so they could go to Church. We made friends and helped the Lord bring some into the Church. When we arrived home in 1964, we had no way of tranportation. LaVon took care of our busineess while we were away. Then we purchased an Oldsmobile car and GMC truck and started over again in a world of hurry, hurry. Mother and I are still in touch with many of the wonderful people we helped come into the Lord's way of life.
We worked in missionary work in Sevier County, North Sevier County, Sharon Stake and West Sharon Stake. With our wonderful and lovely family, the Lord has blessed us with what we need to get along with. We have enjoyed working three days a week in working as Ordinance Workers in the Salt Lake Temple. We hope to be able to work there for a long time. For when we go to the other side, we don’t our people to disown us.
I would like the family to know that Mother and I know there is a God in Heaven that lives. We have a Spiritual Father and Mother the same as we have an earthly Father and Mother who gave us our earhtly bodies. John 1:1-10 says: Know that Jesus, under the direction of our heavenly parents,created and brought together the materials to form this earth for all mankind. Everything that is here on this earth was made by Him. (Pearl of Great Price, Moses Chapter 3 and 4) Jesus gave us a plan to live by and be happy. He died for our sins if we will follow him and keep his commandments. The Resurrection is positive and sure. John 10:17-18. John Chapter 20, Mary and the diciples had great faith and a testimony. Jesus appeared to Thomas, reach hither thy hand. John 20:25-31 Get a combination reference to help you find the scriptures you want. 3 Nephi Chapter 11, Jesus among the Nephites. Father and Son appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820. Doctrine and Covenants 110 Year 1836 We saw the Lord. Some say no one has ever come back and will come again to rule on this earth. Acts Chapter 1. A personal knowledge of God Gospel Doctrine Joseph F. Smith.
The written word of the ancient prophets and apostles help us to find our way. Romans 10:12 We say how then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him on whom they have heard? How shall they hear without a preacher? How shall they preach except they be sent? Joseph F. Smith Man cannot give this knowledge. I may tell you what I know, but that is not knowledge to you. I can tell you how you obtain it. If we recieve this knowledge it must come from the Lord. He can touch your understanding and your spirits so that you shall comprehend perfectly and not be mistaken, but I cannot do that. You can obtain this knowledge through repentance, humility, and seeking the Lord with full purpose of heart until you find Him. He is not afar off. It is not difficult to approach Him if we will only do it with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. as did Enok, Brother of Jarod. Job, Ezekial, Alma, Joseph Smith and all God fearing people.
We try to keep these thoughts in mind.
This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. But what I do today is important. Because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever.
Leaving in its place something traded for it. I want it to be gain and not loss, good and not evil, success and not failure. In order that I shall never regret the price I paid for it.
The family may want to go over some of these thoughts. Mother and I love all of our family very much. Sons, daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren, son-in-laws, daughter-in-laws, and all that have any connection or relationship with the Bell's, Payne's, Curtis's and Harward's. We are very proud of our people who have gone before us and prepared the way for us to enjoy life and get the best of everything.
Montez and Harvey
Januray 2, 1971
One of our enjoyable sports was hunting rabbits, pheasants and deer as they were plentiful in 1913 to 1945. In making plans to hunt rabbits, all the hunters of Aurora, Sevier County would choose up sides for the hunt along the foothills or over in Round Valley over by Maple Grove, South of Scipio. Some of the men would be assigned to gather up the rabbits in the wagon coming behind the hunters. As the hunt was over and arriving home each one could take what rabbits they wanted. The remainder would be given to the widows in town. The losing side would pay for supper and dance. A real live time which everyone enjoyed. People all took an intrest as we had to plan all of our entertainments, no radios, TV's or picture shows. Working together was great. Deer hunting every year was a great thrill. Groups of men would go together. In preparation, wagons, hay, horses, grain, lanterns, tents, bedding and all the rest of it was a great thrill. Dewey Mason, Edgar Kennedy, Edward Noal, and many others living close by and I went together. Edward would drink a great deal. When we got all fixed up and ready to go, many times Edward would be drunk, we would tie him on top of the bailed hay laying on his stomach. A rasp on each wrist and each linked and tied the rope down over the sides of the wagon box so he didn't fall off. When he had to vomit, it wouldn't hurt him. We always got plenty of deer, hard work, but really enjoyable. Hunting up Lost Creek, Cold Spring Mountains, east of Aurora on the west side of Maple Grove, Willow Creek, and most of the range of mountains between Sevier County and Millard County. I shot my first deer west from Maple Grove. Some thrills along with the hard work but we always enjoyed it. The meat was delicious. During our hunting days, we lost one horse rolling over a ledge of rock up by Chalk Creek east of Fillmore. On Lost Creek mountain, strapping a large deer on a horse while the deer was still warm the blood not all out of the deer, the horse got frightened and died with a heart attack. Hunting sometimes was expensive. LaVon froze his feet on a hunt. Instead of staying by the fire, he went out looking for us. The wind, snow and cold weather was bad. I was sorry about it but LaVon had never forgotten it. When you are young, you sometimes forget what you are doing and the dangerous chances we take. I have never forgiven myself for that foolish thing I did. LaVon has never wanted to hunt as much since then. After we moved to Provo, LaVon has gone a few times with us.
One fall, LaVon, Kay,Val, Kenneth, Jim Walker and I went hunting on Nebo Mountains east of Mona. Plenty rough and steep. On top of the mountain, LaVon got a nice deer and it was almost night. Kay and Jim took the deer down the trail. The rest of us went down the rough mountains. LaVon, Val, Kenneth and I got a lovely deer, cleaned it up and quartered it, each taking a quarter. The farther we went, the steeper it was. Night was coming on and part of the mountain had slid down. Oh, how rough and steep. One by one we each threw our meat in the creek, snow and ice, steep and rough. As I remember it, we told the Lord the predicament we were in. We would use the butt of our guns to hold us so we wouldn't slip back as we were climbing, holding to rocks and whatever we could get to hold onto with the other hand. We struggled until we were give out. Plenty dark. I said there is a trail close here. All of you stay here while I find the trail. LaVon said you are not going, we will all find the trail together. After we rested a bit, sweat to the neck, we crawled a little farther, how happy we were, here is the trail. A real rough experience.
On another trip, Val and Kenneth took their wives with us up Dairy Fork, Spanish Fork Canyon. There was plenty of deer, in fact, Kenneth said they are going in every direction. We got the deer but Ken over done it in going up and down after the deer, so we had to rest and take it easy. The smell of the deer and hides, Kenneth couldn't stand. I have taken a number of deer hunting trips with Val and Ronald. Real thrills to see the deer running through the timber and climbing the mountain side. Garn and I hunted a few years with Francis Ludlow from Spanish Fork, his Father-in-law. Nice trips and happy days. As jeeps came along, I went hunting with Clyde, Ilene, Bill and Iva Lee. Ronald, Val and I drove our truck with camper to have a good bed and gas stove. This was nice.
Our enjoyable life included childhood, playmates, parties, games, basketball, hunting bird, courting, horses and one-seated buggies, friends, one-act plays. The activity enjoyed in Sunday School with happy teachers. Enjoyment with Ford cars, dancing, farming, milk cows, beautiful horses and pride in them. Building homes and planning them. The depression 1929 to 1943. From 1918 to 1934, the many rough years helped us to appreciate life and family. The many good and happy people in Aaronic Priesthood Quorums, Elder and 107th Quorum of Seventy's, the High Priest Quorum. All the Missionary friends and the wonderful people in Temple work. A very happy life. The ups and downs, the hard times, getting along without many things made life complete and brought many experiences to all of us.
In the life of Ozias Harvey Harward a few thoughts of my childhood I enjoy thinking about. In a family of 15 children, I was the eighth child. Born November 20,1898, in Aurora, Sevier County, Utah. We had the best of parents and raised on a farm. Father raised hay, grain, corn, sugar beets, garden crops, chickens, pigs, diary cattle and some very fine horses. Father took great pride in everything he owned. All the family were trained in all things by our parents. The children took a liking and pride in all our parents enjoyed doing. They did not take any short cuts in teaching and training all of us. Their family was their pride and joy. In a religous way, we were all taught to help and love each other, to help others whenever and where ever we could. Mother and Father were too anxious in helping others. I remember they helped others many times so much they neglected their own intrest in life. Mother was Relief Society President for years. She had the responsibility in taking care of the wheat, eggs and garden produce for the poor and handicapped. I remember one spring they had more wheat than was needed, the Stake authorities told them to sell it. They did, so the party that purchased the grain paid with a check. No funds in the bank to cover the check, father paid for the load of wheat, hard to do.
One more experience that I witnessed. A frame and log home they sold. A small down payment was made but after a few months the payments weren't made. Finally, the home burned down. The people helped to build another for them. But Mother and Dad never received their money for their home. Father, for years, took care of the tithing yard. I remember the foxtail hay, the wild oats, the old boney cows that came in for tithing. This all taught me a lesson in being honest with the Lord. Prayer, morning and evening were always held. We all learned to love our parents and the Lord for his many blessings. Working on the farm was a great blessing in learning how to work. Our appreciation for life, parents, brothers and sisters also friends grew. Our parents would help us in obtaining the things we desired in life.
We lived just over the fence from the school house. When the school bell rang, just a hop, step and jump, we were there. Our sports: playing basketball, marble games, school plays, learning to ice skate and dancing. Campfire games, hunting birds at night with a lantern, as we would scare them out of the haystack and sheds, knocking them with a board. As we got older, hunting rabbits, and pheasants was very enjoyable. Schooling was good, but I didn't get out of it what I should.
As I reached early manhood hunting deer was a great sport, the last of October every year. From 1916 to 1960 I took part with others hunting. In my carelessness, I killed one good horse with a heart attack, fresh blood and the smell of the deer got the best of him.
Father died in June 1916, a real hard task to take care of the farm, cattle and chickens was a real job. Mother was among the best of women. Caring for eight boys and two girls. Mother having a great deal of faith in herself and in the Lord, she battled through life. Setting an example of honesty, love and hard work for all of us. Always having prayer morning and evening. Orson went on a mission. Tom worked hard and saved money also filled a mission. The farm Father worked so hard to pay for included eighty acres of farm land, thirty acres of pasture on Lost Creek east of Aurora, and forty acres west of the cemetary in Aurora. All of the farm and cattle was given to the family. While Father was alive, he gave me calves to raise as I enjoyed working with him on the farm. After the calves grew up, I sold them and purchased my first Model T Ford car. The rest of the family had their land. Mother was among the best of mothers. How grateful all of us were for her love, hard work and deep concern for all of us. Along with giving us all their earthly possessions, they trained all the family how to work and save. Spending was a good lesson. Mother's and Father's example of honesty, true love and helpfulness to everyone was examplified all their lives.
I loved to go places and do things. Horses, buggies and sleighs was a real thrill to have. The towns were small. New friends was nicer to get aquainted with. Beautiful desert horses filled with energy; it was a great thrill to have the horse with a new harness with all the decorations hooked to a one-seated buggy. My cousin Dewey Mason, worked hard. He also had a nice outfit. The only ones like it anywhere around. So we hd no problems in having plenty of friends for a buggy ride of sleigh ride in the snow. When winter was on, we would decorate the harnesses with sleigh bells and have good sharp shoes on the horses. Hot rocks wrapped in the sleigh. What a thrill it was to go. We got acquainted with many young people in Sevier County. Glenwood, fifteen miles South there were many nice looking and atractive young ladies. The snow was plentiful, so with the sleigh bells on the horses, some good warm blankets, we had many enjoyable trips. After we got started, we made two trips each week thirty miles up and back. I would drive my team one trip and Dewey would drive the next. This way our horses could rest up a bit. We did not know we were falling in love with the bishop's daughters for a while. Many enjoyable winters and summers we were together. After I got the car, we would only use the horses and sleighs for those nice sleigh rides. Very happy days.
When Montez and I decided we wanted each other as companions, we planned the kind of home we were going to build. Many castles were built. When January 23,1918 came around, our castles were built. After so much persuasion, Brother and Sister Herbert H. Bell gave their consent to start our lives together, very happy days. We were married in the Manti Temple. We lived in Mother and Father's old home until we got a nice brick home built on ground Grandfather gave to us west of Aurora cemetary.
The year is now January 1975. After 57 years, the home is still beautiful. Montez and I did much of the work in building our home. We worked as farmers.Hay, grain, sugar beets, dairying and poultry raising was our task in making a living. In 1929, a drought came, a depression started. From then until 1942, everything in farming was rough. From 1918 to 1934, we built up a good place to make a living. We had a large dairy herd, puoltry and pigs. The Lord sure blessed us. Even though it was hard to make a living, we paid from $120.00 to $135.00 for each cow. Butter fat was too cheap. We could not make anything by keeping them. The Government paid $18.50 for each of them. The chester white hogs cost $85.00, we had three of them. We sold them with the weiner pigs for $1.00 each. The drought and depression on, I was forced to leave home for work. I came to Provo to work at the Cast Iron Pipe Plant in May 1934. During the summer a flash flood came in the hills west of Aurora, washed down through our field. The wife got discouraged, called me up at Provo and said we are coming up. We will all starve together. In the family there was Garn, LaVon, Ilene, Bell, Iva Lee, Gae, Vila Dean and Golden. I went to Aurora and purchased an old truck from Austin Spencer. The motor was gone, I put a tounge on to guide it. Took one team of horses and loaded all I could on the truck. Sidney Humphrey took the rest of our furniture and the family on a large truck and headed for Provo. I sold the home, 20 acres of land, machinery, chicken coops, grainery, sheds, hay derick, wood pile, all for $1,800.00. It cost me $5,000.00 besides all our work to build the home. We also let four horses, harnesses and wagon go with the place. Coming up to Provo, LaVon and I drove 5 milk cows along with part our belongings on the old truck. We traveled up by Manti and through the hills as there was feed for the cows and horses. It took us one week to make the trip. We milked the cows, letting the milk go on the ground. The horses were so tender footed they could hardly walk when we arrived. Will Taylor at Cherry Hill Dairy fed the cows for their milk the rest of the year. Then I sold them to the government for $15.50 each. We rented a home on Third South and Second West, in Provo, lived there until the next summer, then moved out by Grandview Church. Times were plenty rough, Garn worked out in Vineyard for .50 a day for Victor Vicklund for sometimes. He got lonesome, we did too, so he let his money job go. We went through hard times for many years. All the family learned how to work and what hard times were. We went into the sugar beet business for about ten years or more down by the lake shores for Carl, Heber and Reed Knudson. Some of the best years we raised from five hundred to five hundred fifty tons of beets each year for $4.50 per ton. We received $3.00 a ton and Knudson's $1.50, about all it amounted to was hard work.
After the building started at Geneva Steel Plant, I worked on consruction. After the first plant was finished, I worked in the Open Hearth for a while. The gas and smoke was bad. In our scraping and scratching we got started to purchasing some land. This is where the tables started turning a bit for us. When I left Geneva, I started getting timber in the West Fork of Duschene Mountains. Garn and LaVon helping, I built and helped to build sixteen homes over a period of time. In the decisions in buying land, we bought 5 acres on 17 South from State Street, 12 acres on 17th South up to 20th Ward Chapel, 11 acres on Jordan Avenue west to 1250 West on 1460 North Street. Tom Harward and I purchased 12 acres east of 21st and 17th Ward Chapel, and 11 acres on 20th South Street going 1460 North down to the 24th Stake House.
We worked in the West Fork of the Duschene Mountains four different years cutting logs and hauling lumber to Provo building homes, raising fruit, chickens, and just working and working.
In the Church, we were always busy. I worked in the Aaronic Priesthood Quorums in Sevier County, Utah. Very enjoyable and faith promoting. I went on a Stake Mission in North Sevier Stake with Victor Ford. I rode a gregy horse and Brother Ford rode and bicycled to Sigurd, Vermillion, Aurora and Salina. I filled a Foreign Mission to South Africa November 1921 to February 1924. A real decision to make leaving Montez, Garn about 2.5 years old and LaVon 4 months old. I felt one year before I was called to go by Bishop Levi Sorensen that I would be called. Terris Larson from Richfield and Albert Hunter from Delta encouraged me to go, as they had just returned home from South Africa.
This was a far, far away place to go in 1921. Six days from Montreal on the Saint Lawrence River to Liverpool, England. Twenty four days from South Hampton to Cape Town. The large passenger ships were great to be on when you were not seasick. Cape Town is a beautiful city builton the seashore and up the mountain side.
TO OUR FAMILY
These experences in my life may help you along your way. I will start with this thought:
This is the beginning of a new day.
God has given me this to use as I will.
I can waste it or use it for good,
but this is important because I am
exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will
be gone forever.
Leaving in its place something I have
traded for it.
I want it to be gain and not lose.
Good and not evil. Success and not failure.
In order that I shall never regret the price I have paid for it.
1. Training and example of my parents in our home, in the Church, the support in my education, the pattern of wholesome recreation.
2. The loss of my Fathr was very hard in making adjustments. The courage,faith and devotion of my Mother in raising 14 children. This was and still is an inspiration to all the family.
3. My courting days were great in choosing a mate. The wife and I after marriage in the Manti Temple on January 23, 1918, worked there for five days anxiuos to get all we could on the meaning of life, marriage and a family. After two sons came into our home, we felt that a better understanding and acquaintance with the Lord’s plan was what we needed. After two years of saving, I was called to the South African Mission in January of 1921. Traveling from Montreal, Canada, down the Saint Lawrence River to Liverpool, England thus to London. My stay there with Elder's in the Mission home was very helpful. Then to South Hampton, from there to Cape Town. We were 22 days on the Atlantic Ocean, enjoyed flying fish, huge whales shooting water in the air and having a gay time as the ship passed them by. In arriving in Capetown, in watching the fishermen catching whales, many of them weighing from 90 to 120 tons. The ocean was like a sea of glass most of the time. The sun rising and setting in the ocean. Three time a day news of the world was picked up by instruments and put on the bulletin board for us. The large ships having swimming pools, a recreation dancing hall, picture shows, and all kinds of games and recreation. Over 700 passengers were on the huge ship.
My work in Capetown, Kimberly, Boomfulton and Johannesburg. Many people were anxious to hear about the gospel. At the finish of World War I, the challenges were great. The plantations of pineapple, bananas, oranges, grapes, cotton fields, and all kinds of wild animals in the forest. The ostrich farms, gold and diamond mines were a thrill to watch as the watchmen and cartakers were kind and courteous in showing Americans around. All nationalities of people lived there
My family, home and America were great to see when I returned home after two and a half years. It was hard for me to get adjusted after being in that hot country.
Twenty-five years later, the experiences I had in Santa Cruz, Hollister and Gilroy, California as a missionary was very enjoyable. One of the flower garden spots of the world is California. Many people there were anxious and ready for the gospel. When my mission was finished, the wife came to get me. On our way home, when we came into Nevada, we had the back of the car loaded with wild flowers.
The pleasure of returning to our four boys at home and the married and married children was a real heaven on earth. I promised my wife then if we lived long enough, we would go on a mission together. The wife said we won't live long enough, as the boys are too young.
In 1961, Ronald was called to labor in the Northern States mission. The wife and I were called to the East Central States mission. Terry went to school in West Virginia for two years. Our trip to the East Coast was a long ride, but the country from Utah to West Virginia was beautiful. The scenery in Kentucky and West Virginia was rolling hills, wild flowers, shrubs of all kinds, and beautiful hardwood trees. All kinds of birds in the Spring, Summer and Fall. It was sure a thrill to drive and see the beauty in the West Virginia hills. We had the joy of baptizing 68 good people, young and old into the Lords Church.
Again to our 13 children, 53.grandchildren and 66 great grandchildren we are grateful for all of them. The faith promoting experiences we have enjoyed with our family and friends. Our work in the Salt Lake Temple is very rewarding. Our appreciation for life in trying to follow the Lord's plan is wonderful.
Ozias Harvey HARWARD'S History-- As told to his daughter, Gae in 1977.
I was born November 20, 1898, in Lost Creek, Sevier County, Utah. Lost Creek was later known as Aurora, Utah. I was born of goodly parents, Francis Eva CURTIS and Ozias Strong HARWARD the eighth child of a family of fifteen children. As a young child, I did the averagethings a normal, healthy boy does. Such as following my father around asking many questions, doing things to make mother raise her voice and tease my sisters. I was raised on a farm, father raising hay, grain and dairy cows. We learned the value of work early in our childhood and each had their special chores to do as soon as we were old enough to be of help in many small ways.
We moved our cabin from Lost Creek into the town of Aurora by the time I was old enough to go to school. The school was just through the field and across the fence from our house. As soon as I heard the first bell ring, I would make a mad dash for the school, jump the fence, and make it just as the second bell rang. The Aurora Elementary School was where I attended the first eight years of my formal schooling. We learned much about the three R's, Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. The favorite time of the day was recess when each young man would hope to be the winner at a marble game or purg which was also played with marbles. The girls played hop scotch and jump the rope to use up their excess energy. After graduating from Elementary School, I attended the Saline High School which was about five miles Northeast of Aurora. I traveled to school in a horse drawn buggy. I finished the ninth and tenth grade thus ending my school days. I recall some of the things we did for recreation, because we had to make our own fun in those days, was playing such games as Steal the Stick, Kick the Can, Run my Sheepie Run, and Knock the birds from their nests. We enjoyed such competitive games as Basketball, Baseball, and Volleyball. We would always enjoy seeing who was the fastest footracer in the group. In the summertime after the chores were all done, we would build a big bonfire and have a party, consisting of good food and dancing around the bonfire to the music of the fiddle, guitar and drums. Everyone got to dance with everyone else and this made for many enjoyable evenings when no spending money was available and this was most of the time. In the winter time we enjoyed going sleigh riding and ice skating on the canal which was right through the middle of town. We also enjoyed our horses, especially those boys who had their own horses. We would go on horseback riding trips for a little different change of pace. Occasionally, we would borrow the neighbors chickens unbeknowns to them or our parents and have ourselves a delicious chicken dinner with the whole gang in attendance.
All of the kids in those days had chores to do. Some of them that I remember doing was herding the cows in the summertime, helping to milk them morning and night, making sure that the wood boxes were filled with kindling and wood for the cooking stove in the summer and also for the heating stove in the living room during the winter months. When I was a young boy, my Mom was the President of the Relief Society and I recall helping her gather the Sunday eggs. These were the eggs that the hens laid on Sunday and we would gather them on Monday, take them to the lady in the ward who was assigned to collect them. The money which was paid for the Sunday eggs was sent to the General Relief Society office in Salt Lake City, Utah to help buy wheat for storage in the Welfare Plan.
I remember going with Dad and some of my brothers to the hills west of Aurora, called the Red Hills, and gathering cedar wood for cooking in the Kitchen stove and pine wood for the heater stove. The bedrooms were not heated only what heat went from the frontroom where the heater stove was located. We would cut the wood with a hand cross-cut saw into lengths to fit into the wagon which was a flat bed with stakes on the sides to keep the wood from falling off after it was loaded. After getting a full load, we'd take it back down to the house where it would be stored for use when needed. It took lots of wood because that's all we used in those days for fuel.
Most of the people were members of the Church who lived in the area and usually every Friday night we'd have a dance. For some of the dances, our ticket to get in would be a load of wood, chopped, gathered, and delivered to the church or school. A group of us would get together and have a good time getting the wood before the dance started. Everyone came and their were no "wallflowers" because everyone liked to dance.
We also had rabbit hunts and a dinner consisting of all the rabbits you could eat and a dance after. The boys and men would choose up sides, half of us would hunt rabbits east of the river and the other half would hunt on the west side. After the rabbits were shot, we'd cut their ears off and take them back to a central meeting place and count them. The side that had the most rabbit ears, would get treated to dinner by the losing side. The rabbits were all gathered up and whoever wanted them for eating could have them. The rabbits were really good eating and this was a special treat for everyone. After the feast, then the dancing. Most of the young men and women were good dancers and enjoyed dancing such dances as the Virginia Reel, the Scottish Polka, Waltz, the Two-Step and Square Dance. For our inside dances, we also had a piano to go along with the fiddle, guitar and drums mentioned before. I remember on New Year's Eve, we'd dance all night and then sleep all day on New Year's Day to start the new year off right. Everyone was included, young and old alike, a good time was had by all. As we got older, we'd go to surrounding towns and get to know new friends. In the spring, summer and fall, the Ward would plan a family outing in the hills. This was an enjoyable experience for all,of us that had the opportunity to go and,mingle with our friends, neighbors and,reletives.
Now, after all this reminiscing, to get back to my personal life and happenings.,After finishing the tenth grade, I worked on the farm raising hay, grain,and sugar beets. In the fall at sugar,beet harvest time, the farmers from all over the surrounding area would haul their sugar beets to the beet dump and pile them in large piles. Three of my brothers and I each had a wagon and a team of large horses, Sharlend, Aften and Heber. We would bid so much a ton to haul the beets from the piles to the railroad from shipment to the factory for processing. All of the loading and unloading was done by hand with a large 5-tine beet fork. We recieved from 18 to 23 cents a ton and the four of us could haul about 100 tons per day. After loading, the wagons were weighed to determine the tonnage hauled. We hired young boys about age 15 to do the easy part, that of driving the team with the loads of beets to and from the railroad yard, while we kept busy doing the heavy work, that of loading and unloading. The boys were paid according to the tonnage we were able to move each day. This was very hard work and we learned early in life how important it was for each to do his share. I don't know how at the end of a long day of hard work we had the energy to go courting, but I guess that's what kept us going and we had something to look forward to that we all enjoyed.
I remember the fall after I got old enough to take care of them and how Dad would buy me about six heifers. It was my responsibility to feed and take care of them until they were large enough to sell. I'd take the money and buy more calves to build a bigger herd and keepsome to have to do a little courting and have a little fun, or as we called it, horsing around. My brother and I made many trips with the team and wagon to the Red Hills to cut cedar posts for fencing. We would cut them, peel off the bark with an ax, and trim them up. We would then haul them back to town and sell them to the farmers.
We also gathered dry wood from the hills, about 12 miles round trip and bundled it into cords. All the jobs we did to earn a livelyhood required determination and hard work but we seemed to thrive on both and expected nothing without earning it. On the other side of town to the east about 25 miles into the hills, we would take our wagons and teams to cut Quaking Aspen poles on Cold Spring Mountain. A permit was required to cut these poles and was acquired from the town Constable. We would go into the hills and stay three or four days to do the cutting. Then we'd start loading them and the long trek back to town began. The farmers would buy them along with the cedar posts to fence in their corrals and also fencing for their proterty. The other wood that we hauled was available to anyone and everyone who wanted to go after it.
The types of work memtioned above were done before and after being married. I started at an early age as most of the other guys around town did. I started courting a very special and lovely young lady from Glenwood, a little town 14 miles from Aurora, when she was 14 and I was going on 17 years of age. This beautiful courtship with Montez Bell was sealed for time and all eternity on January 23, 1918 in a marriage ceremony at the Manti Temple. Many of the highlights of our three years of courting, and our first couple years of married bliss are described in Mother's history. We always raised a large garden growing potatoes, squash, corn, green beans, peas, cabbage, carrots and other garden vegetables with much success. Tomatoes we could not grow and would purchase them for canning. Most of the vegetables were canned for winter useage. We also dried corn and apples to
munch on during the long, cold winters. One of the least favorite jobs I remember doing was hauling of beet pulp because it was rather a smelly one. The beet pulp was what was left from the sugar beets after processing. The pulp was loaded on wagons at the factories in Monroe and Ginnison which were located about 15 miles from Aurora. The farmers got the pulp back according to the amount of beets that were brought to the factory at harvest time in the fall. The pulp was hand loaded and hauled to the farmers to be fed to their cattle along with hay and grain during the winter months. We could haul one load a day, with juice dripping all along the way with a very distinct odor which could be smelled for a long distance. We received 6.00 per load.
Mother and I had about 100 acres of ground that we planted hay, grain, corn and sugar beets on, saving a large garden spot. The ground was all irrigated and we got shares of water according to the stock we owned from the canal. Part of the water came from Seven Mile Reservior on the east and the Piute Reservior on the southwest. We had water turns about every seven days.
As young married teenagers, I remember the special celebrations on several special days during the warm months of the year. A committee would be selected to plan the various activities for all ages from the toddlers through the teenagers, to the more mature known as old folks. Some of the activities were foot races pulling matches, to o'war, fish ponds and various competitive games. Everyone in town came and everyone participatedfrom the youngest to the oldest. This was known as entertainment and everyone enjoyed each other and loved the competition the different activities presented. The different Ward organizations had food assignments and there was always lots of food and goodies. For the older boys and men, there was horse-shoe pitching and horse races. The men who had horses were delighted to show off their horses and one race-track that we used and sometimes we'd just run the horses down to the road. The last competition of the day was the horse-pulling match. The wagons were loaded down with large rocks and the back wheels were chained together so they wouldn't turn. The large horses were then hooked onto the tongue of the wagon. The prize was won by the team that could pull the rock-loaded wagon the greatest distance with the first big pull. Whips could be used on the horses if the owner so desired but it didn't seem to make much difference in the effort put forth by the team. I had a team that I entered in this match. My team was large horses and
each weighed about 1600 pounds. They were black and gray in color and named Dick and Chub. I won the 1st and 2nd prize a number of times even though I worked my horses very hard most of the time. Some of the teams were just kept for comparitive events. I also had a team of desertport horses and a single buggy that I used for courting the girls. They were named Nelly and Snick. I had them well trained so they knew the road without being driven while I was attending to other things, if you now what I mean.
Mother and I worked very hard to make a living and realize some of our dreams. We had little machinery and most of the work was done by the sweat of our brows.
I wore bib overalls, plain blue and light colored shirts, buttoned down the front type. One Sunday I wore my best dark suit with a white shirt and tie.
There were eight boys at home when Father died. Mother was a short, heavy set woman. She had light complexion and blue eyes. She was calm most of the time and was loving and kind. She had a lot to put up with, with a house full of boys. The boys were all pretty good to do the jobs when she asked them to do them. She was slow to anger but on occasion, she showed us she could get mad. She was a very hard worker all her life. She always made sure we got to church on time and took care of our church obligations.
My Father had a light complexion and quite dark hair. He was a little over six feet tall and quite a large frame. He had a very pleasant and agreeable disposition and was usually slow to anger, but when he did get angry, look out. When he couldn't get us boys to do the things he asked, if not done right away, he would do them himself. He worked on a farm all of his life and very hard. He was a very active church worker. He was in the Bishopric for many years and took care of the Tithing Granary for many years. He died when I was 16 years old of pneumonia, in the year of 1914 in the fall. He was buried in the Aurora Cemetary. He left a large farm for the family to take care of. After Father died, we kept all of the farm and Mother worked right along with us in the fields. We had two large farms in Lost Creek, one was 150 acres. There was 40 acres under the State Canal all under cultivayion and 40 acres of pasture land. We had a large herd of diary cattle, raising our own beef, pork and had a large garden growing all kinds of vegetables. We bought the fruit for canning, most of it coming from Dixie country. Orson was on a mission when Father died. I was the oldest boy at home.
As each of us boys got married, we still all worked together on the farm. Orson went to work for himself after coming home from his mission. We each took enough to live on. We would sell the crops and then save money for seed for the next year. I was the last boy to stay on the farm, Rudolph staying with me. Mother and Rudolph bought them a home together in Provo, Utah, and Mother lived there for a number of years.
After moving to Provo, I spent quite a few weeks of the summer months falling trees. We used a hand cut cross saw. We would trim all the limbs off and cut each tree into 12, 14, and 16 foot lengths. We would log them in with a team of horses. We built a skidway and loaded the logs on a 1.5 ton Ford truck and haul them into the Erv Anderson Sawmill. One winter, Clyde, Carl, and LaVon went with me at different times to get logs out to build their homes.
I worked at Geneva Steel during construction as a brick mason and also did carpenter work for about five years.
When I got back from my mission to California, I went to work for Rhodes Jeppson driving a truck delivering potatoe chips to storesI worked for the State Hospial as a carpenter remodeling and repairing what the patients pulled apart. I kept this job until Mother and I were called on our mission to the East Central States.
Our headquarters for our mission was in Louisville, Kentucky. In February of 1964, I contracted pheumonia and spent 43 days in a large hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia. After being released from the hospital, Mother gathered our belongings together and shipped them home. Mother and I flew home and arrived on March 2, 1964. I gradually recuperated and gained my strength back again. I have been greatly blessed during my lifetime. Mother and I have a lovely family and we love them very much.
While I was on my mission in California, I had a wonderful time. I met many people and made many friends. I had a problem child for a companion. He was lazy h about work. We'd start for an appointment on our bicycles and he'd get real sick. He'd go back to our apartment and I'd go on to our appointment myself. When I'd get back, he'd be off to a picture show. He finally decided this kind of work wasn't for him and he left and went home to Salt Lake City, Utah while I was gone to a Cottage Meeting. He stayed home for a short tand finish his mission. I picked apricots, prunes and peaches to get acquainted with the people and would gradually get around to talking about the gospel. I felt good about the success I had telling the people about the gospel. I had 12 baptisms while there. The young the easier ones to convert. Most of them became really active and truly loved the gospel and were much happier because of it
In the East Central Mission, we had 65 baptisms and made lots of friends. We went on lots of picnics and socials. We baptized 12 people from one family, all except the father. He later came into the church. We used our car as transportation and gave it to one of the members when we came home. He had a large family and didn’t have much money. He gave me a check fo $225.00 and I never did cash it.
When I went on my mission to South Africa, we traveled by train to Salt Lake City, Utah. We were set apart there and went through the Salt Lake Temple. We then traveled by train to Montreal, Canada. From Canada, we traveled on a large passenger ship to Liverpool, England. All of the Elders, including myself, were terribly seasick. We got off the ship at Liverpool, England and went by train to London, England. We stayed in London for about a month waiting for a passage on another ship to South Africa. It took us 23 days by boat from Southhampton, England to Capetown, South Africa, the most southern tip of South Africa. Capetown was then the capital city of South Africa. We worked there for about one month and then went to Johannesburg, which was island and up north about 2,000 miles. We traveled by train to Johannesburg and then set up housekeeping and bought us a bicycle for transportation around the city. We worked in the city of Turpentine for about one year of my mission. We found great joy and satisfaction as we were able to interest people in the gospel and baptize them into the church. One girl I baptized I was particularly impressed with, her mother and her father passed away. We traveled 150 miles to visit with her and teach her the gospel. She later married a member and moved to California. One day while Mother and I were working in the Salt Lake Temple, this same girl that we had known so many years ago, came into the Temple. I recognized her and she was really glad to see me after so many years. That was just one we had the opportunity and blessing of working with while in the mission field in South Africa.
We tracked and knocked on kept in shape riding our bicycles wherever we went. We had meetings on street corners and sometimes waded through cow pastures to try and find those who were waiting to hear our wonderful message. I got pretty lonesome, and then I'd work harder to try to keep myself busy. It took about three months to recieve letters from home so it was really great to hear what was going on at home even though by the time I heard the news, it was history.
In 1922, while on my mission to South Africa in Lordsberg, a suburb of Johannesburg, a strike between the gold miners and the British Government broke out. I with 5 other Elders were laboring on Lordsburg lived in the central part of the city. We lived on the ground floor of a building that had been used for a show room. The front of the building facing east was all plateglass and one large door. It was 20x40 feet and was used for our church services. Back of this room was our living quarters. We all had our clothes for two years and tracts and literature for six months that had been shipped from Capetown, the South African Mission Headquarters. One morning as we were going out to work, we were notified by policemen that there was going to be trouble between the government and the miners and to be on the lookout as we would have to join one side or the other or else move out of the district.The government had been setting up camp around that part of the city for about a month.
We went to work and about 11 o'clock a number of the government calvary were going through the city on the lookout for the miners. There was a police station just south of our living quarters and a Trades Hall across the street. On the North or next street were Department stores and food centers. We didn't have any idea that we were in the center of a hornets nest. We went out tracting two by two. Some miners were stationed on top of the buildings exchanging shots with the government men. After hearing the shots, I and my companion decided we better make our way back home. We worked in pairs, the other two pair felt the same. Within about two blocks of home we saw two horses on the ground that had been shot. We all arrived at our living quarters about the same time. In talking things over and with the help of the Lord, we decided we better take with us what we could put on our bicycles and go somewhere else. We stacked our steamer trunks and tracts. Made a little circle and got in there and stayed until the next morning. The next morning we got up, had a little breakfast when two policemen came to the door and told us we would have to join the miners or stay there and take our chances. We left, went over into the city of Johannesburg where there was a few members. In getting into the main part of the city, we had to cross a number of streets. The government had machine guns stationed on each through street. The police notified the people they would give them two hours to pack and get out before the shooting would start. As we looked back, the police station and the trading station were both on fire. This strike lasted about six weeks. We worked in the other parts of the city until we talked to the police to find out if it was safe for us to go back and see if we had anything left. He said, "If you go back, you go at your own risk." Two of the policemen went back with us. On arriving, neither front nor back door had been opened. One bullet had been fired through the wall just above the door in the chapel and lodged in the wall in the living quarters just above my bed. We were all very happy and grateful to the Lord for the Miraculous ending of this experience. We stayed here another two months, gaining many friends and converts and then moved to Jeppiestown and Lurfeenteen. We all felt the Lord had protected us through this period.
Church Ordinations and Callings:
Given a name and a blessing-January7,1898 by Daniel H. Cloward in the
Aurora Ward.
Baptized-November 20,1906 by Joseph H.Taylor at the Manti Temple in Manti, Utah.
Confirmed-November 20,1906 by James P. Olsen at the Manti Temple.
Ordained a Deacon-November 20,1911 by Bishop C. Melton Ivie in the Aurora Ward.
Ordained a Teacher-November 24,1912 by Bishop C. Melton Ivie in the Aurora Ward.
Ordained a Priest-January 22,1917 by Hans Jensen in the Aurora Ward.
Ordained an Elder-January 2,1918 by Lewis Anderson in Richfield, Utah.
Ordained a Seventy-May 22,1921 by B.H. Roberts in Richfield, Utah. Brother Roberts was one of the brethern from the seven President's of the Seventy's Quorum.
Odained a High Priest-August ,1935 by Apostle Marvin J. Ballard.
Married January 23,1918 by President Lewis Anderson in the Manti Temple, Endowments and Sealed.
Patriarchal Blessing-November 18,1921 by Church Patriarch Hyrum G. Smith in the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Departed for my Mission to South Africa-November 20,1921, called by
President Heber J. Grant.
Released-January 1,1924, Returned home, February 7,1924.
Served nine years as Sunday School Superintendent in the Aurora Ward, May 1924 to June 1934, Called to this position upon getting home from my
mission. Recieved a letter from David O. McKay who was then General Sunday School Superintendent congradulating me and my board for having such a good Sunday School, May 11,1934.
I served in the Y.M.M.I.A. Presidency in the Aurora Ward.
2nd Counselor in Bishopric-1936 to 1941 in the Grandview Ward, Orem,Utah. Bishop J. Orlando Jolley, 1st Counselor, LeRoy Taylor.
1st Counselor in Bishopric-May 18,1941 to October 18,1946. Bishop C. Rodney Kimball, 2nd Counselor John Nicol.
Called to serve a mission in Northern California, October 10,1949 to April 1,1950.
Called to serve a Stake Mission in the Sharon Stake, July 30,1953 to November 1,1955, Orem,Utah.
Called as Stake Mission President in 1957 in the Sharon Stake, 1959 to 1960.
Taught the Adult Class or Gospel Doctrine Class in Sunday School for 10 years.
Counselor in the Stake High Priest Quorum in the Sharon Stake, Orem,Utah.
Mother and I called to serve a Mission in the East Central States, August 13,1962 to March 3,1964.
Mother and I set apart as Ordinance Workers in the Salt Lake Temple, August 12,1968.
Ordinance Workers in the Provo Temple-Set apart January 10,1971. Released June of 1975.
My dear children, I want to bear my testimony to you that our Heavenly Parents live. They always have and they always will live. I know that Jesus Christ was the only begotten son who created all things on this earth under His Father's direction.
I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet chosen in these latter days to restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ back to earth again in this last dispensation.
I have been permitted to be baptized and hold the priesthood in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and help build up his kingdom. All these experiences I have had in my life I am grateful for. I know if I remain true to the covenants I have made throughout my life, I will be rewarded for all the good I have accomplished.
My desire for each of you is that you will always remain true to the covenants you have made
This is my humble prayer.
Love,
Dad (Ozias Harvey HARWARD)
November 20,1979
Biography of Ozias Harvey Harward
I was born at Aurora, Sevier County, Utah, November 20, 1898. My father was a farmer, east of town on Lost Creek, Sevier River running between home and farm. High water problems every spring. When I grew old enough to follow father around, I wanted to go on the farm. During high water season, we would travel about fifteen miles to a bridge in getting to the farm. Coming home on weekends, my younger brothers would bring the cattle to the Sevier River and swim them over. I would herd them during the day, then swim them back to the milkshed to be milked. Then back again the next morning, from springtime last of April until June. When the river was down, we could travel over and back. This was the life during growing season to help take care of the milk cows, and work in hay, grain, and sugar beets. School was enjoyable, along with the caring for our morning and evening work.
Father died on June 7, 1916. It was hard to make the adjustment without Father; a large farm, cattle and horses, with plenty of equipment, but being young and not knowing how to do business, we had a hard time. One thing all seven brothers and two sisters could say, “We did learn how to work.”
I had many happy days in swimming, hunting and playing different kinds of games. I had many friends in Sevier County, Glenwood being my favorite town. I met Montez in the spring of 1915 horse back riding. I had a team of desert horses, very wiry and plenty of life. So with a one seated buggy and those firey horses, Dewey Mason, my cousin, having a team also, we had a great deal of fun from 1915 to 1918. Montez and I were married January 23, 1918 in the Manti Temple. Our days of courting and going to school was finished but our study and learning is still going on.
My Father and Mother loved their family very much and spent their time and work trying to show us the happy way of life. I am most greatful for this, to know how to work, following their example in honesty and good living. The example of studying and living the Lord's plan of life has been a great blessing for the wife and I.
Herbert H. Bell and Lucy Payne Bell were the very best of people. They were hard workers, property owners, good citizens, and leaders in the town of Glenwood. They worked hard in the Church all their lives. Brother Bell was Bishop over twenty years and a Patriarch for many years. Sister Bell was a leader among women and a Relief Society worker all her life. They both led a missionary life.
Missionary work has always been a part of our lives. November 1921, I was called to fill a mission in South Africa. We had a Stake Mission in Sevier County before this. I don't know why, but a year before I went to Africa, I had a feeling I was going to be asked to go. So Mother and I worked hard in the sugar beets and other crops to save what money we could. When the call came, having Garn and LaVon, it was a real job. But after talking to Brother Larsen and Brother Hunter from Richfield who just returned from Africa was the help we needed in making up our minds. The wife had been trained and taught in the best home with strong parents in the Church, or I am sure she would not have taken such a responsiblity. But from November 1921 to February 1924, we had some great experiences. We met many wonderful people and helped to bring many people into the Church. The wife, Montez, had the sacrificing and hard work. I got to see much of the world and many wonderful people.
A happy meeting in 1924, but a hard struggle to get started over again in making a living. From 1924 to 1934, we farmed and worked for the Cherry Hill Dairy in buying cream and eggs then shipping them to Provo. We sold Singer Sewing Machines for two years when I could get away from the farm. Our family had all moved to Provo. Drought, a depression came in on 1929. No price for any crops. We had about twenty head of cows. The stock from Wes Consen $125.00 we paid for many of them, sold all but five for $18.50 per head to the government. We had some registered sows paid $85.00 each for them. We sold the sows and young piglets to the government
for $1.00 each. Our brick home cost us about $16,500.00 besides our work. We sold the farm 40 acres of land, machinery, and home for $1,800.00.
The home was a real struggle to build. Mother and I had two teams of horses and a wagon of my Fathers to haul the brick from Glenwood. A rough run for a number of years getting it paid for.
We worked in the Church from 1924 to 1934 in the Sunday School, M.I.A. and Seventy Quorum. I got a job at the Pipe Plant in Provo for one year 1934 to 1935. We rented a home on 1st West and 340 South. We lost Golden 1934. This was a real hard experience to go through as we loved our family so much. But the Lord's plan of life to live by gave us courage that we can and will have our family in the life to come, if we plan and work for it.
In 1935, we moved on the brink of the hill 1600 South in Orem. We purchased the land where the 20th Ward Stake Center now stands in Orem. We sold that house then built two houses on 1700 South, East of the highway. We purchased eleven acres of West Jordon Avenue in Provo and built some homes there between 1250 West and 1350 West on 1460 North Street and built some homes there. Mother worked in M.I.A., and Relief Society in the Ward, also Stake Relief Society President for five years. It was hard work but we made many friends. I worked five years with Orlando Jolley, and LeRoy Taylor in the Grandview Bishipric. I also worked for five years with Rodney Kimball and Jonh Nicol and had a great deal of experiences. In 1946, we lost Lamon Wayne. Some day we hope to have lived a life so we can have our family again in the life to come.
In 1949, Mother took care of Val, Kenneth, Ronald and Terry while I did missionary work in California from the fall until spring of 1950. A great challenge for all of us. Then work and work for ourselves most of the time. It was a very enjoyable time.
In 1962 to 1964, Ronald, Terry, Mother and I went to the East Central States on a mission for the Church. We took our car after the mission was over and gave it to Dixie Milton Plymde in Buckhannon, West Virginia so they could go to Church. We made friends and helped the Lord bring some into the Church. When we arrived home in 1964, we had no way of tranportation. LaVon took care of our busineess while we were away. Then we purchased an Oldsmobile car and GMC truck and started over again in a world of hurry, hurry. Mother and I are still in touch with many of the wonderful people we helped come into the Lord's way of life.
We worked in missionary work in Sevier County, North Sevier County, Sharon Stake and West Sharon Stake. With our wonderful and lovely family, the Lord has blessed us with what we need to get along with. We have enjoyed working three days a week in working as Ordinance Workers in the Salt Lake Temple. We hope to be able to work there for a long time. For when we go to the other side, we don’t our people to disown us.
I would like the family to know that Mother and I know there is a God in Heaven that lives. We have a Spiritual Father and Mother the same as we have an earthly Father and Mother who gave us our earhtly bodies. John 1:1-10 says: Know that Jesus, under the direction of our heavenly parents,created and brought together the materials to form this earth for all mankind. Everything that is here on this earth was made by Him. (Pearl of Great Price, Moses Chapter 3 and 4) Jesus gave us a plan to live by and be happy. He died for our sins if we will follow him and keep his commandments. The Resurrection is positive and sure. John 10:17-18. John Chapter 20, Mary and the diciples had great faith and a testimony. Jesus appeared to Thomas, reach hither thy hand. John 20:25-31 Get a combination reference to help you find the scriptures you want. 3 Nephi Chapter 11, Jesus among the Nephites. Father and Son appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820. Doctrine and Covenants 110 Year 1836 We saw the Lord. Some say no one has ever come back and will come again to rule on this earth. Acts Chapter 1. A personal knowledge of God Gospel Doctrine Joseph F. Smith.
The written word of the ancient prophets and apostles help us to find our way. Romans 10:12 We say how then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him on whom they have heard? How shall they hear without a preacher? How shall they preach except they be sent? Joseph F. Smith Man cannot give this knowledge. I may tell you what I know, but that is not knowledge to you. I can tell you how you obtain it. If we recieve this knowledge it must come from the Lord. He can touch your understanding and your spirits so that you shall comprehend perfectly and not be mistaken, but I cannot do that. You can obtain this knowledge through repentance, humility, and seeking the Lord with full purpose of heart until you find Him. He is not afar off. It is not difficult to approach Him if we will only do it with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. as did Enok, Brother of Jarod. Job, Ezekial, Alma, Joseph Smith and all God fearing people.
We try to keep these thoughts in mind.
This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. But what I do today is important. Because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever.
Leaving in its place something traded for it. I want it to be gain and not loss, good and not evil, success and not failure. In order that I shall never regret the price I paid for it.
The family may want to go over some of these thoughts. Mother and I love all of our family very much. Sons, daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren, son-in-laws, daughter-in-laws, and all that have any connection or relationship with the Bell's, Payne's, Curtis's and Harward's. We are very proud of our people who have gone before us and prepared the way for us to enjoy life and get the best of everything.
Montez and Harvey
Januray 2, 1971
One of our enjoyable sports was hunting rabbits, pheasants and deer as they were plentiful in 1913 to 1945. In making plans to hunt rabbits, all the hunters of Aurora, Sevier County would choose up sides for the hunt along the foothills or over in Round Valley over by Maple Grove, South of Scipio. Some of the men would be assigned to gather up the rabbits in the wagon coming behind the hunters. As the hunt was over and arriving home each one could take what rabbits they wanted. The remainder would be given to the widows in town. The losing side would pay for supper and dance. A real live time which everyone enjoyed. People all took an intrest as we had to plan all of our entertainments, no radios, TV's or picture shows. Working together was great. Deer hunting every year was a great thrill. Groups of men would go together. In preparation, wagons, hay, horses, grain, lanterns, tents, bedding and all the rest of it was a great thrill. Dewey Mason, Edgar Kennedy, Edward Noal, and many others living close by and I went together. Edward would drink a great deal. When we got all fixed up and ready to go, many times Edward would be drunk, we would tie him on top of the bailed hay laying on his stomach. A rasp on each wrist and each linked and tied the rope down over the sides of the wagon box so he didn't fall off. When he had to vomit, it wouldn't hurt him. We always got plenty of deer, hard work, but really enjoyable. Hunting up Lost Creek, Cold Spring Mountains, east of Aurora on the west side of Maple Grove, Willow Creek, and most of the range of mountains between Sevier County and Millard County. I shot my first deer west from Maple Grove. Some thrills along with the hard work but we always enjoyed it. The meat was delicious. During our hunting days, we lost one horse rolling over a ledge of rock up by Chalk Creek east of Fillmore. On Lost Creek mountain, strapping a large deer on a horse while the deer was still warm the blood not all out of the deer, the horse got frightened and died with a heart attack. Hunting sometimes was expensive. LaVon froze his feet on a hunt. Instead of staying by the fire, he went out looking for us. The wind, snow and cold weather was bad. I was sorry about it but LaVon had never forgotten it. When you are young, you sometimes forget what you are doing and the dangerous chances we take. I have never forgiven myself for that foolish thing I did. LaVon has never wanted to hunt as much since then. After we moved to Provo, LaVon has gone a few times with us.
One fall, LaVon, Kay,Val, Kenneth, Jim Walker and I went hunting on Nebo Mountains east of Mona. Plenty rough and steep. On top of the mountain, LaVon got a nice deer and it was almost night. Kay and Jim took the deer down the trail. The rest of us went down the rough mountains. LaVon, Val, Kenneth and I got a lovely deer, cleaned it up and quartered it, each taking a quarter. The farther we went, the steeper it was. Night was coming on and part of the mountain had slid down. Oh, how rough and steep. One by one we each threw our meat in the creek, snow and ice, steep and rough. As I remember it, we told the Lord the predicament we were in. We would use the butt of our guns to hold us so we wouldn't slip back as we were climbing, holding to rocks and whatever we could get to hold onto with the other hand. We struggled until we were give out. Plenty dark. I said there is a trail close here. All of you stay here while I find the trail. LaVon said you are not going, we will all find the trail together. After we rested a bit, sweat to the neck, we crawled a little farther, how happy we were, here is the trail. A real rough experience.
On another trip, Val and Kenneth took their wives with us up Dairy Fork, Spanish Fork Canyon. There was plenty of deer, in fact, Kenneth said they are going in every direction. We got the deer but Ken over done it in going up and down after the deer, so we had to rest and take it easy. The smell of the deer and hides, Kenneth couldn't stand. I have taken a number of deer hunting trips with Val and Ronald. Real thrills to see the deer running through the timber and climbing the mountain side. Garn and I hunted a few years with Francis Ludlow from Spanish Fork, his Father-in-law. Nice trips and happy days. As jeeps came along, I went hunting with Clyde, Ilene, Bill and Iva Lee. Ronald, Val and I drove our truck with camper to have a good bed and gas stove. This was nice.
Our enjoyable life included childhood, playmates, parties, games, basketball, hunting bird, courting, horses and one-seated buggies, friends, one-act plays. The activity enjoyed in Sunday School with happy teachers. Enjoyment with Ford cars, dancing, farming, milk cows, beautiful horses and pride in them. Building homes and planning them. The depression 1929 to 1943. From 1918 to 1934, the many rough years helped us to appreciate life and family. The many good and happy people in Aaronic Priesthood Quorums, Elder and 107th Quorum of Seventy's, the High Priest Quorum. All the Missionary friends and the wonderful people in Temple work. A very happy life. The ups and downs, the hard times, getting along without many things made life complete and brought many experiences to all of us.
In the life of Ozias Harvey Harward a few thoughts of my childhood I enjoy thinking about. In a family of 15 children, I was the eighth child. Born November 20,1898, in Aurora, Sevier County, Utah. We had the best of parents and raised on a farm. Father raised hay, grain, corn, sugar beets, garden crops, chickens, pigs, diary cattle and some very fine horses. Father took great pride in everything he owned. All the family were trained in all things by our parents. The children took a liking and pride in all our parents enjoyed doing. They did not take any short cuts in teaching and training all of us. Their family was their pride and joy. In a religous way, we were all taught to help and love each other, to help others whenever and where ever we could. Mother and Father were too anxious in helping others. I remember they helped others many times so much they neglected their own intrest in life. Mother was Relief Society President for years. She had the responsibility in taking care of the wheat, eggs and garden produce for the poor and handicapped. I remember one spring they had more wheat than was needed, the Stake authorities told them to sell it. They did, so the party that purchased the grain paid with a check. No funds in the bank to cover the check, father paid for the load of wheat, hard to do.
One more experience that I witnessed. A frame and log home they sold. A small down payment was made but after a few months the payments weren't made. Finally, the home burned down. The people helped to build another for them. But Mother and Dad never received their money for their home. Father, for years, took care of the tithing yard. I remember the foxtail hay, the wild oats, the old boney cows that came in for tithing. This all taught me a lesson in being honest with the Lord. Prayer, morning and evening were always held. We all learned to love our parents and the Lord for his many blessings. Working on the farm was a great blessing in learning how to work. Our appreciation for life, parents, brothers and sisters also friends grew. Our parents would help us in obtaining the things we desired in life.
We lived just over the fence from the school house. When the school bell rang, just a hop, step and jump, we were there. Our sports: playing basketball, marble games, school plays, learning to ice skate and dancing. Campfire games, hunting birds at night with a lantern, as we would scare them out of the haystack and sheds, knocking them with a board. As we got older, hunting rabbits, and pheasants was very enjoyable. Schooling was good, but I didn't get out of it what I should.
As I reached early manhood hunting deer was a great sport, the last of October every year. From 1916 to 1960 I took part with others hunting. In my carelessness, I killed one good horse with a heart attack, fresh blood and the smell of the deer got the best of him.
Father died in June 1916, a real hard task to take care of the farm, cattle and chickens was a real job. Mother was among the best of women. Caring for eight boys and two girls. Mother having a great deal of faith in herself and in the Lord, she battled through life. Setting an example of honesty, love and hard work for all of us. Always having prayer morning and evening. Orson went on a mission. Tom worked hard and saved money also filled a mission. The farm Father worked so hard to pay for included eighty acres of farm land, thirty acres of pasture on Lost Creek east of Aurora, and forty acres west of the cemetary in Aurora. All of the farm and cattle was given to the family. While Father was alive, he gave me calves to raise as I enjoyed working with him on the farm. After the calves grew up, I sold them and purchased my first Model T Ford car. The rest of the family had their land. Mother was among the best of mothers. How grateful all of us were for her love, hard work and deep concern for all of us. Along with giving us all their earthly possessions, they trained all the family how to work and save. Spending was a good lesson. Mother's and Father's example of honesty, true love and helpfulness to everyone was examplified all their lives.
I loved to go places and do things. Horses, buggies and sleighs was a real thrill to have. The towns were small. New friends was nicer to get aquainted with. Beautiful desert horses filled with energy; it was a great thrill to have the horse with a new harness with all the decorations hooked to a one-seated buggy. My cousin Dewey Mason, worked hard. He also had a nice outfit. The only ones like it anywhere around. So we hd no problems in having plenty of friends for a buggy ride of sleigh ride in the snow. When winter was on, we would decorate the harnesses with sleigh bells and have good sharp shoes on the horses. Hot rocks wrapped in the sleigh. What a thrill it was to go. We got acquainted with many young people in Sevier County. Glenwood, fifteen miles South there were many nice looking and atractive young ladies. The snow was plentiful, so with the sleigh bells on the horses, some good warm blankets, we had many enjoyable trips. After we got started, we made two trips each week thirty miles up and back. I would drive my team one trip and Dewey would drive the next. This way our horses could rest up a bit. We did not know we were falling in love with the bishop's daughters for a while. Many enjoyable winters and summers we were together. After I got the car, we would only use the horses and sleighs for those nice sleigh rides. Very happy days.
When Montez and I decided we wanted each other as companions, we planned the kind of home we were going to build. Many castles were built. When January 23,1918 came around, our castles were built. After so much persuasion, Brother and Sister Herbert H. Bell gave their consent to start our lives together, very happy days. We were married in the Manti Temple. We lived in Mother and Father's old home until we got a nice brick home built on ground Grandfather gave to us west of Aurora cemetary.
The year is now January 1975. After 57 years, the home is still beautiful. Montez and I did much of the work in building our home. We worked as farmers.Hay, grain, sugar beets, dairying and poultry raising was our task in making a living. In 1929, a drought came, a depression started. From then until 1942, everything in farming was rough. From 1918 to 1934, we built up a good place to make a living. We had a large dairy herd, puoltry and pigs. The Lord sure blessed us. Even though it was hard to make a living, we paid from $120.00 to $135.00 for each cow. Butter fat was too cheap. We could not make anything by keeping them. The Government paid $18.50 for each of them. The chester white hogs cost $85.00, we had three of them. We sold them with the weiner pigs for $1.00 each. The drought and depression on, I was forced to leave home for work. I came to Provo to work at the Cast Iron Pipe Plant in May 1934. During the summer a flash flood came in the hills west of Aurora, washed down through our field. The wife got discouraged, called me up at Provo and said we are coming up. We will all starve together. In the family there was Garn, LaVon, Ilene, Bell, Iva Lee, Gae, Vila Dean and Golden. I went to Aurora and purchased an old truck from Austin Spencer. The motor was gone, I put a tounge on to guide it. Took one team of horses and loaded all I could on the truck. Sidney Humphrey took the rest of our furniture and the family on a large truck and headed for Provo. I sold the home, 20 acres of land, machinery, chicken coops, grainery, sheds, hay derick, wood pile, all for $1,800.00. It cost me $5,000.00 besides all our work to build the home. We also let four horses, harnesses and wagon go with the place. Coming up to Provo, LaVon and I drove 5 milk cows along with part our belongings on the old truck. We traveled up by Manti and through the hills as there was feed for the cows and horses. It took us one week to make the trip. We milked the cows, letting the milk go on the ground. The horses were so tender footed they could hardly walk when we arrived. Will Taylor at Cherry Hill Dairy fed the cows for their milk the rest of the year. Then I sold them to the government for $15.50 each. We rented a home on Third South and Second West, in Provo, lived there until the next summer, then moved out by Grandview Church. Times were plenty rough, Garn worked out in Vineyard for .50 a day for Victor Vicklund for sometimes. He got lonesome, we did too, so he let his money job go. We went through hard times for many years. All the family learned how to work and what hard times were. We went into the sugar beet business for about ten years or more down by the lake shores for Carl, Heber and Reed Knudson. Some of the best years we raised from five hundred to five hundred fifty tons of beets each year for $4.50 per ton. We received $3.00 a ton and Knudson's $1.50, about all it amounted to was hard work.
After the building started at Geneva Steel Plant, I worked on consruction. After the first plant was finished, I worked in the Open Hearth for a while. The gas and smoke was bad. In our scraping and scratching we got started to purchasing some land. This is where the tables started turning a bit for us. When I left Geneva, I started getting timber in the West Fork of Duschene Mountains. Garn and LaVon helping, I built and helped to build sixteen homes over a period of time. In the decisions in buying land, we bought 5 acres on 17 South from State Street, 12 acres on 17th South up to 20th Ward Chapel, 11 acres on Jordan Avenue west to 1250 West on 1460 North Street. Tom Harward and I purchased 12 acres east of 21st and 17th Ward Chapel, and 11 acres on 20th South Street going 1460 North down to the 24th Stake House.
We worked in the West Fork of the Duschene Mountains four different years cutting logs and hauling lumber to Provo building homes, raising fruit, chickens, and just working and working.
In the Church, we were always busy. I worked in the Aaronic Priesthood Quorums in Sevier County, Utah. Very enjoyable and faith promoting. I went on a Stake Mission in North Sevier Stake with Victor Ford. I rode a gregy horse and Brother Ford rode and bicycled to Sigurd, Vermillion, Aurora and Salina. I filled a Foreign Mission to South Africa November 1921 to February 1924. A real decision to make leaving Montez, Garn about 2.5 years old and LaVon 4 months old. I felt one year before I was called to go by Bishop Levi Sorensen that I would be called. Terris Larson from Richfield and Albert Hunter from Delta encouraged me to go, as they had just returned home from South Africa.
This was a far, far away place to go in 1921. Six days from Montreal on the Saint Lawrence River to Liverpool, England. Twenty four days from South Hampton to Cape Town. The large passenger ships were great to be on when you were not seasick. Cape Town is a beautiful city builton the seashore and up the mountain side.
TO OUR FAMILY
These experences in my life may help you along your way. I will start with this thought:
This is the beginning of a new day.
God has given me this to use as I will.
I can waste it or use it for good,
but this is important because I am
exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will
be gone forever.
Leaving in its place something I have
traded for it.
I want it to be gain and not lose.
Good and not evil. Success and not failure.
In order that I shall never regret the price I have paid for it.
1. Training and example of my parents in our home, in the Church, the support in my education, the pattern of wholesome recreation.
2. The loss of my Fathr was very hard in making adjustments. The courage,faith and devotion of my Mother in raising 14 children. This was and still is an inspiration to all the family.
3. My courting days were great in choosing a mate. The wife and I after marriage in the Manti Temple on January 23, 1918, worked there for five days anxiuos to get all we could on the meaning of life, marriage and a family. After two sons came into our home, we felt that a better understanding and acquaintance with the Lord’s plan was what we needed. After two years of saving, I was called to the South African Mission in January of 1921. Traveling from Montreal, Canada, down the Saint Lawrence River to Liverpool, England thus to London. My stay there with Elder's in the Mission home was very helpful. Then to South Hampton, from there to Cape Town. We were 22 days on the Atlantic Ocean, enjoyed flying fish, huge whales shooting water in the air and having a gay time as the ship passed them by. In arriving in Capetown, in watching the fishermen catching whales, many of them weighing from 90 to 120 tons. The ocean was like a sea of glass most of the time. The sun rising and setting in the ocean. Three time a day news of the world was picked up by instruments and put on the bulletin board for us. The large ships having swimming pools, a recreation dancing hall, picture shows, and all kinds of games and recreation. Over 700 passengers were on the huge ship.
My work in Capetown, Kimberly, Boomfulton and Johannesburg. Many people were anxious to hear about the gospel. At the finish of World War I, the challenges were great. The plantations of pineapple, bananas, oranges, grapes, cotton fields, and all kinds of wild animals in the forest. The ostrich farms, gold and diamond mines were a thrill to watch as the watchmen and cartakers were kind and courteous in showing Americans around. All nationalities of people lived there
My family, home and America were great to see when I returned home after two and a half years. It was hard for me to get adjusted after being in that hot country.
Twenty-five years later, the experiences I had in Santa Cruz, Hollister and Gilroy, California as a missionary was very enjoyable. One of the flower garden spots of the world is California. Many people there were anxious and ready for the gospel. When my mission was finished, the wife came to get me. On our way home, when we came into Nevada, we had the back of the car loaded with wild flowers.
The pleasure of returning to our four boys at home and the married and married children was a real heaven on earth. I promised my wife then if we lived long enough, we would go on a mission together. The wife said we won't live long enough, as the boys are too young.
In 1961, Ronald was called to labor in the Northern States mission. The wife and I were called to the East Central States mission. Terry went to school in West Virginia for two years. Our trip to the East Coast was a long ride, but the country from Utah to West Virginia was beautiful. The scenery in Kentucky and West Virginia was rolling hills, wild flowers, shrubs of all kinds, and beautiful hardwood trees. All kinds of birds in the Spring, Summer and Fall. It was sure a thrill to drive and see the beauty in the West Virginia hills. We had the joy of baptizing 68 good people, young and old into the Lords Church.
Again to our 13 children, 53.grandchildren and 66 great grandchildren we are grateful for all of them. The faith promoting experiences we have enjoyed with our family and friends. Our work in the Salt Lake Temple is very rewarding. Our appreciation for life in trying to follow the Lord's plan is wonderful.
Ozias Harvey HARWARD'S History-- As told to his daughter, Gae in 1977.
I was born November 20, 1898, in Lost Creek, Sevier County, Utah. Lost Creek was later known as Aurora, Utah. I was born of goodly parents, Francis Eva CURTIS and Ozias Strong HARWARD the eighth child of a family of fifteen children. As a young child, I did the averagethings a normal, healthy boy does. Such as following my father around asking many questions, doing things to make mother raise her voice and tease my sisters. I was raised on a farm, father raising hay, grain and dairy cows. We learned the value of work early in our childhood and each had their special chores to do as soon as we were old enough to be of help in many small ways.
We moved our cabin from Lost Creek into the town of Aurora by the time I was old enough to go to school. The school was just through the field and across the fence from our house. As soon as I heard the first bell ring, I would make a mad dash for the school, jump the fence, and make it just as the second bell rang. The Aurora Elementary School was where I attended the first eight years of my formal schooling. We learned much about the three R's, Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. The favorite time of the day was recess when each young man would hope to be the winner at a marble game or purg which was also played with marbles. The girls played hop scotch and jump the rope to use up their excess energy. After graduating from Elementary School, I attended the Saline High School which was about five miles Northeast of Aurora. I traveled to school in a horse drawn buggy. I finished the ninth and tenth grade thus ending my school days. I recall some of the things we did for recreation, because we had to make our own fun in those days, was playing such games as Steal the Stick, Kick the Can, Run my Sheepie Run, and Knock the birds from their nests. We enjoyed such competitive games as Basketball, Baseball, and Volleyball. We would always enjoy seeing who was the fastest footracer in the group. In the summertime after the chores were all done, we would build a big bonfire and have a party, consisting of good food and dancing around the bonfire to the music of the fiddle, guitar and drums. Everyone got to dance with everyone else and this made for many enjoyable evenings when no spending money was available and this was most of the time. In the winter time we enjoyed going sleigh riding and ice skating on the canal which was right through the middle of town. We also enjoyed our horses, especially those boys who had their own horses. We would go on horseback riding trips for a little different change of pace. Occasionally, we would borrow the neighbors chickens unbeknowns to them or our parents and have ourselves a delicious chicken dinner with the whole gang in attendance.
All of the kids in those days had chores to do. Some of them that I remember doing was herding the cows in the summertime, helping to milk them morning and night, making sure that the wood boxes were filled with kindling and wood for the cooking stove in the summer and also for the heating stove in the living room during the winter months. When I was a young boy, my Mom was the President of the Relief Society and I recall helping her gather the Sunday eggs. These were the eggs that the hens laid on Sunday and we would gather them on Monday, take them to the lady in the ward who was assigned to collect them. The money which was paid for the Sunday eggs was sent to the General Relief Society office in Salt Lake City, Utah to help buy wheat for storage in the Welfare Plan.
I remember going with Dad and some of my brothers to the hills west of Aurora, called the Red Hills, and gathering cedar wood for cooking in the Kitchen stove and pine wood for the heater stove. The bedrooms were not heated only what heat went from the frontroom where the heater stove was located. We would cut the wood with a hand cross-cut saw into lengths to fit into the wagon which was a flat bed with stakes on the sides to keep the wood from falling off after it was loaded. After getting a full load, we'd take it back down to the house where it would be stored for use when needed. It took lots of wood because that's all we used in those days for fuel.
Most of the people were members of the Church who lived in the area and usually every Friday night we'd have a dance. For some of the dances, our ticket to get in would be a load of wood, chopped, gathered, and delivered to the church or school. A group of us would get together and have a good time getting the wood before the dance started. Everyone came and their were no "wallflowers" because everyone liked to dance.
We also had rabbit hunts and a dinner consisting of all the rabbits you could eat and a dance after. The boys and men would choose up sides, half of us would hunt rabbits east of the river and the other half would hunt on the west side. After the rabbits were shot, we'd cut their ears off and take them back to a central meeting place and count them. The side that had the most rabbit ears, would get treated to dinner by the losing side. The rabbits were all gathered up and whoever wanted them for eating could have them. The rabbits were really good eating and this was a special treat for everyone. After the feast, then the dancing. Most of the young men and women were good dancers and enjoyed dancing such dances as the Virginia Reel, the Scottish Polka, Waltz, the Two-Step and Square Dance. For our inside dances, we also had a piano to go along with the fiddle, guitar and drums mentioned before. I remember on New Year's Eve, we'd dance all night and then sleep all day on New Year's Day to start the new year off right. Everyone was included, young and old alike, a good time was had by all. As we got older, we'd go to surrounding towns and get to know new friends. In the spring, summer and fall, the Ward would plan a family outing in the hills. This was an enjoyable experience for all,of us that had the opportunity to go and,mingle with our friends, neighbors and,reletives.
Now, after all this reminiscing, to get back to my personal life and happenings.,After finishing the tenth grade, I worked on the farm raising hay, grain,and sugar beets. In the fall at sugar,beet harvest time, the farmers from all over the surrounding area would haul their sugar beets to the beet dump and pile them in large piles. Three of my brothers and I each had a wagon and a team of large horses, Sharlend, Aften and Heber. We would bid so much a ton to haul the beets from the piles to the railroad from shipment to the factory for processing. All of the loading and unloading was done by hand with a large 5-tine beet fork. We recieved from 18 to 23 cents a ton and the four of us could haul about 100 tons per day. After loading, the wagons were weighed to determine the tonnage hauled. We hired young boys about age 15 to do the easy part, that of driving the team with the loads of beets to and from the railroad yard, while we kept busy doing the heavy work, that of loading and unloading. The boys were paid according to the tonnage we were able to move each day. This was very hard work and we learned early in life how important it was for each to do his share. I don't know how at the end of a long day of hard work we had the energy to go courting, but I guess that's what kept us going and we had something to look forward to that we all enjoyed.
I remember the fall after I got old enough to take care of them and how Dad would buy me about six heifers. It was my responsibility to feed and take care of them until they were large enough to sell. I'd take the money and buy more calves to build a bigger herd and keepsome to have to do a little courting and have a little fun, or as we called it, horsing around. My brother and I made many trips with the team and wagon to the Red Hills to cut cedar posts for fencing. We would cut them, peel off the bark with an ax, and trim them up. We would then haul them back to town and sell them to the farmers.
We also gathered dry wood from the hills, about 12 miles round trip and bundled it into cords. All the jobs we did to earn a livelyhood required determination and hard work but we seemed to thrive on both and expected nothing without earning it. On the other side of town to the east about 25 miles into the hills, we would take our wagons and teams to cut Quaking Aspen poles on Cold Spring Mountain. A permit was required to cut these poles and was acquired from the town Constable. We would go into the hills and stay three or four days to do the cutting. Then we'd start loading them and the long trek back to town began. The farmers would buy them along with the cedar posts to fence in their corrals and also fencing for their proterty. The other wood that we hauled was available to anyone and everyone who wanted to go after it.
The types of work memtioned above were done before and after being married. I started at an early age as most of the other guys around town did. I started courting a very special and lovely young lady from Glenwood, a little town 14 miles from Aurora, when she was 14 and I was going on 17 years of age. This beautiful courtship with Montez Bell was sealed for time and all eternity on January 23, 1918 in a marriage ceremony at the Manti Temple. Many of the highlights of our three years of courting, and our first couple years of married bliss are described in Mother's history. We always raised a large garden growing potatoes, squash, corn, green beans, peas, cabbage, carrots and other garden vegetables with much success. Tomatoes we could not grow and would purchase them for canning. Most of the vegetables were canned for winter useage. We also dried corn and apples to
munch on during the long, cold winters. One of the least favorite jobs I remember doing was hauling of beet pulp because it was rather a smelly one. The beet pulp was what was left from the sugar beets after processing. The pulp was loaded on wagons at the factories in Monroe and Ginnison which were located about 15 miles from Aurora. The farmers got the pulp back according to the amount of beets that were brought to the factory at harvest time in the fall. The pulp was hand loaded and hauled to the farmers to be fed to their cattle along with hay and grain during the winter months. We could haul one load a day, with juice dripping all along the way with a very distinct odor which could be smelled for a long distance. We received 6.00 per load.
Mother and I had about 100 acres of ground that we planted hay, grain, corn and sugar beets on, saving a large garden spot. The ground was all irrigated and we got shares of water according to the stock we owned from the canal. Part of the water came from Seven Mile Reservior on the east and the Piute Reservior on the southwest. We had water turns about every seven days.
As young married teenagers, I remember the special celebrations on several special days during the warm months of the year. A committee would be selected to plan the various activities for all ages from the toddlers through the teenagers, to the more mature known as old folks. Some of the activities were foot races pulling matches, to o'war, fish ponds and various competitive games. Everyone in town came and everyone participatedfrom the youngest to the oldest. This was known as entertainment and everyone enjoyed each other and loved the competition the different activities presented. The different Ward organizations had food assignments and there was always lots of food and goodies. For the older boys and men, there was horse-shoe pitching and horse races. The men who had horses were delighted to show off their horses and one race-track that we used and sometimes we'd just run the horses down to the road. The last competition of the day was the horse-pulling match. The wagons were loaded down with large rocks and the back wheels were chained together so they wouldn't turn. The large horses were then hooked onto the tongue of the wagon. The prize was won by the team that could pull the rock-loaded wagon the greatest distance with the first big pull. Whips could be used on the horses if the owner so desired but it didn't seem to make much difference in the effort put forth by the team. I had a team that I entered in this match. My team was large horses and
each weighed about 1600 pounds. They were black and gray in color and named Dick and Chub. I won the 1st and 2nd prize a number of times even though I worked my horses very hard most of the time. Some of the teams were just kept for comparitive events. I also had a team of desertport horses and a single buggy that I used for courting the girls. They were named Nelly and Snick. I had them well trained so they knew the road without being driven while I was attending to other things, if you now what I mean.
Mother and I worked very hard to make a living and realize some of our dreams. We had little machinery and most of the work was done by the sweat of our brows.
I wore bib overalls, plain blue and light colored shirts, buttoned down the front type. One Sunday I wore my best dark suit with a white shirt and tie.
There were eight boys at home when Father died. Mother was a short, heavy set woman. She had light complexion and blue eyes. She was calm most of the time and was loving and kind. She had a lot to put up with, with a house full of boys. The boys were all pretty good to do the jobs when she asked them to do them. She was slow to anger but on occasion, she showed us she could get mad. She was a very hard worker all her life. She always made sure we got to church on time and took care of our church obligations.
My Father had a light complexion and quite dark hair. He was a little over six feet tall and quite a large frame. He had a very pleasant and agreeable disposition and was usually slow to anger, but when he did get angry, look out. When he couldn't get us boys to do the things he asked, if not done right away, he would do them himself. He worked on a farm all of his life and very hard. He was a very active church worker. He was in the Bishopric for many years and took care of the Tithing Granary for many years. He died when I was 16 years old of pneumonia, in the year of 1914 in the fall. He was buried in the Aurora Cemetary. He left a large farm for the family to take care of. After Father died, we kept all of the farm and Mother worked right along with us in the fields. We had two large farms in Lost Creek, one was 150 acres. There was 40 acres under the State Canal all under cultivayion and 40 acres of pasture land. We had a large herd of diary cattle, raising our own beef, pork and had a large garden growing all kinds of vegetables. We bought the fruit for canning, most of it coming from Dixie country. Orson was on a mission when Father died. I was the oldest boy at home.
As each of us boys got married, we still all worked together on the farm. Orson went to work for himself after coming home from his mission. We each took enough to live on. We would sell the crops and then save money for seed for the next year. I was the last boy to stay on the farm, Rudolph staying with me. Mother and Rudolph bought them a home together in Provo, Utah, and Mother lived there for a number of years.
After moving to Provo, I spent quite a few weeks of the summer months falling trees. We used a hand cut cross saw. We would trim all the limbs off and cut each tree into 12, 14, and 16 foot lengths. We would log them in with a team of horses. We built a skidway and loaded the logs on a 1.5 ton Ford truck and haul them into the Erv Anderson Sawmill. One winter, Clyde, Carl, and LaVon went with me at different times to get logs out to build their homes.
I worked at Geneva Steel during construction as a brick mason and also did carpenter work for about five years.
When I got back from my mission to California, I went to work for Rhodes Jeppson driving a truck delivering potatoe chips to storesI worked for the State Hospial as a carpenter remodeling and repairing what the patients pulled apart. I kept this job until Mother and I were called on our mission to the East Central States.
Our headquarters for our mission was in Louisville, Kentucky. In February of 1964, I contracted pheumonia and spent 43 days in a large hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia. After being released from the hospital, Mother gathered our belongings together and shipped them home. Mother and I flew home and arrived on March 2, 1964. I gradually recuperated and gained my strength back again. I have been greatly blessed during my lifetime. Mother and I have a lovely family and we love them very much.
While I was on my mission in California, I had a wonderful time. I met many people and made many friends. I had a problem child for a companion. He was lazy h about work. We'd start for an appointment on our bicycles and he'd get real sick. He'd go back to our apartment and I'd go on to our appointment myself. When I'd get back, he'd be off to a picture show. He finally decided this kind of work wasn't for him and he left and went home to Salt Lake City, Utah while I was gone to a Cottage Meeting. He stayed home for a short tand finish his mission. I picked apricots, prunes and peaches to get acquainted with the people and would gradually get around to talking about the gospel. I felt good about the success I had telling the people about the gospel. I had 12 baptisms while there. The young the easier ones to convert. Most of them became really active and truly loved the gospel and were much happier because of it
In the East Central Mission, we had 65 baptisms and made lots of friends. We went on lots of picnics and socials. We baptized 12 people from one family, all except the father. He later came into the church. We used our car as transportation and gave it to one of the members when we came home. He had a large family and didn’t have much money. He gave me a check fo $225.00 and I never did cash it.
When I went on my mission to South Africa, we traveled by train to Salt Lake City, Utah. We were set apart there and went through the Salt Lake Temple. We then traveled by train to Montreal, Canada. From Canada, we traveled on a large passenger ship to Liverpool, England. All of the Elders, including myself, were terribly seasick. We got off the ship at Liverpool, England and went by train to London, England. We stayed in London for about a month waiting for a passage on another ship to South Africa. It took us 23 days by boat from Southhampton, England to Capetown, South Africa, the most southern tip of South Africa. Capetown was then the capital city of South Africa. We worked there for about one month and then went to Johannesburg, which was island and up north about 2,000 miles. We traveled by train to Johannesburg and then set up housekeeping and bought us a bicycle for transportation around the city. We worked in the city of Turpentine for about one year of my mission. We found great joy and satisfaction as we were able to interest people in the gospel and baptize them into the church. One girl I baptized I was particularly impressed with, her mother and her father passed away. We traveled 150 miles to visit with her and teach her the gospel. She later married a member and moved to California. One day while Mother and I were working in the Salt Lake Temple, this same girl that we had known so many years ago, came into the Temple. I recognized her and she was really glad to see me after so many years. That was just one we had the opportunity and blessing of working with while in the mission field in South Africa.
We tracked and knocked on kept in shape riding our bicycles wherever we went. We had meetings on street corners and sometimes waded through cow pastures to try and find those who were waiting to hear our wonderful message. I got pretty lonesome, and then I'd work harder to try to keep myself busy. It took about three months to recieve letters from home so it was really great to hear what was going on at home even though by the time I heard the news, it was history.
In 1922, while on my mission to South Africa in Lordsberg, a suburb of Johannesburg, a strike between the gold miners and the British Government broke out. I with 5 other Elders were laboring on Lordsburg lived in the central part of the city. We lived on the ground floor of a building that had been used for a show room. The front of the building facing east was all plateglass and one large door. It was 20x40 feet and was used for our church services. Back of this room was our living quarters. We all had our clothes for two years and tracts and literature for six months that had been shipped from Capetown, the South African Mission Headquarters. One morning as we were going out to work, we were notified by policemen that there was going to be trouble between the government and the miners and to be on the lookout as we would have to join one side or the other or else move out of the district.The government had been setting up camp around that part of the city for about a month.
We went to work and about 11 o'clock a number of the government calvary were going through the city on the lookout for the miners. There was a police station just south of our living quarters and a Trades Hall across the street. On the North or next street were Department stores and food centers. We didn't have any idea that we were in the center of a hornets nest. We went out tracting two by two. Some miners were stationed on top of the buildings exchanging shots with the government men. After hearing the shots, I and my companion decided we better make our way back home. We worked in pairs, the other two pair felt the same. Within about two blocks of home we saw two horses on the ground that had been shot. We all arrived at our living quarters about the same time. In talking things over and with the help of the Lord, we decided we better take with us what we could put on our bicycles and go somewhere else. We stacked our steamer trunks and tracts. Made a little circle and got in there and stayed until the next morning. The next morning we got up, had a little breakfast when two policemen came to the door and told us we would have to join the miners or stay there and take our chances. We left, went over into the city of Johannesburg where there was a few members. In getting into the main part of the city, we had to cross a number of streets. The government had machine guns stationed on each through street. The police notified the people they would give them two hours to pack and get out before the shooting would start. As we looked back, the police station and the trading station were both on fire. This strike lasted about six weeks. We worked in the other parts of the city until we talked to the police to find out if it was safe for us to go back and see if we had anything left. He said, "If you go back, you go at your own risk." Two of the policemen went back with us. On arriving, neither front nor back door had been opened. One bullet had been fired through the wall just above the door in the chapel and lodged in the wall in the living quarters just above my bed. We were all very happy and grateful to the Lord for the Miraculous ending of this experience. We stayed here another two months, gaining many friends and converts and then moved to Jeppiestown and Lurfeenteen. We all felt the Lord had protected us through this period.
Church Ordinations and Callings:
Given a name and a blessing-January7,1898 by Daniel H. Cloward in the
Aurora Ward.
Baptized-November 20,1906 by Joseph H.Taylor at the Manti Temple in Manti, Utah.
Confirmed-November 20,1906 by James P. Olsen at the Manti Temple.
Ordained a Deacon-November 20,1911 by Bishop C. Melton Ivie in the Aurora Ward.
Ordained a Teacher-November 24,1912 by Bishop C. Melton Ivie in the Aurora Ward.
Ordained a Priest-January 22,1917 by Hans Jensen in the Aurora Ward.
Ordained an Elder-January 2,1918 by Lewis Anderson in Richfield, Utah.
Ordained a Seventy-May 22,1921 by B.H. Roberts in Richfield, Utah. Brother Roberts was one of the brethern from the seven President's of the Seventy's Quorum.
Odained a High Priest-August ,1935 by Apostle Marvin J. Ballard.
Married January 23,1918 by President Lewis Anderson in the Manti Temple, Endowments and Sealed.
Patriarchal Blessing-November 18,1921 by Church Patriarch Hyrum G. Smith in the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Departed for my Mission to South Africa-November 20,1921, called by
President Heber J. Grant.
Released-January 1,1924, Returned home, February 7,1924.
Served nine years as Sunday School Superintendent in the Aurora Ward, May 1924 to June 1934, Called to this position upon getting home from my
mission. Recieved a letter from David O. McKay who was then General Sunday School Superintendent congradulating me and my board for having such a good Sunday School, May 11,1934.
I served in the Y.M.M.I.A. Presidency in the Aurora Ward.
2nd Counselor in Bishopric-1936 to 1941 in the Grandview Ward, Orem,Utah. Bishop J. Orlando Jolley, 1st Counselor, LeRoy Taylor.
1st Counselor in Bishopric-May 18,1941 to October 18,1946. Bishop C. Rodney Kimball, 2nd Counselor John Nicol.
Called to serve a mission in Northern California, October 10,1949 to April 1,1950.
Called to serve a Stake Mission in the Sharon Stake, July 30,1953 to November 1,1955, Orem,Utah.
Called as Stake Mission President in 1957 in the Sharon Stake, 1959 to 1960.
Taught the Adult Class or Gospel Doctrine Class in Sunday School for 10 years.
Counselor in the Stake High Priest Quorum in the Sharon Stake, Orem,Utah.
Mother and I called to serve a Mission in the East Central States, August 13,1962 to March 3,1964.
Mother and I set apart as Ordinance Workers in the Salt Lake Temple, August 12,1968.
Ordinance Workers in the Provo Temple-Set apart January 10,1971. Released June of 1975.
My dear children, I want to bear my testimony to you that our Heavenly Parents live. They always have and they always will live. I know that Jesus Christ was the only begotten son who created all things on this earth under His Father's direction.
I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet chosen in these latter days to restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ back to earth again in this last dispensation.
I have been permitted to be baptized and hold the priesthood in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and help build up his kingdom. All these experiences I have had in my life I am grateful for. I know if I remain true to the covenants I have made throughout my life, I will be rewarded for all the good I have accomplished.
My desire for each of you is that you will always remain true to the covenants you have made
This is my humble prayer.
Love,
Dad (Ozias Harvey HARWARD)
November 20,1979
