Ivan Waddoups Biography

Some Loving Memories of Our Daddy

Ivan Waddoups

By Rea W. Barrington

God gave us memories that we might have roses in December and even as a rose may bring a smile to our lips or a tear to our eyes, so are our memories of our Daddy, Ivan Waddoups.

Daddy's father, William, was a polygamist in the early days of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, being married to Martha Page and also to our grandmother, Eliza Jane Stephenson.

Eliza and William were blessed with a set of twins, Isabella and Harris; a boy, Moroni; and a girl, Hattie, before our Daddy was born. But sadness came to call on their humble home as both twins and Moroni died in their infancy.

Hattie was about two years old when Dad came to join this wonderful family. Times were not easy, as grandmother had been ill all the time she was carrying Dad, but she seemed to accept her lot and never complained. Dad was born December I5, 1888, in Lewiston, Utah, in the home of William and Martha. No doctor was in attendance, but grandmother was cared for by Vivinice Talbot, who often acted as a midwife.

At this time, grandmother never knew from one day to the next when she might have to take her babies and flee into the darkness of night into Idaho to keep the United States officers from taking grandfather to prison for having two wives.

Under these sad circumstances, nine more children were born to this union. They were: Verda, Carrie, Lulu, Heber, Wilford, Horace, Owen, Victor, and Hazel. Carrie, Heber, and Owen were also called home when they were still babes. Little Carrie who died in Dayton at the age of two, loved Dad and followed him around calling him Isic, for she was too young to talk plain.

It goes without saying that the bonds of love were very strong in this little home and these partings of so many beautiful children were very hard for all of them.

Dad was very fond of his Grandmother Stephenson who always stopped whatever she was doing to visit and make things he liked to eat. She always said he was a special grandson. He was a jolly sort of boy who loved to play ball, fish and ride horses.

When he was growing up, food was very scarce and grandmother had a hard time giving her children the food they needed.

Dad attended his first school in Lewiston. He walked the two miles each way, usually holding to Hattie's hand, while they trudged along on frozen snow drifts that covered the fences, so they needed not to follow the road. He took his turn with the other boys, in hauling in coal and wood to keep the fire going.

Grandmother and her little family were on the move a lot and did not see grandfather very often, so it was left up to her to teach her precious children

to pray and walk uprightly before God. This family never just "talked" about going to church for it was as natural as eating for them to arise and prepare for church without being asked or told to. It was Dad and Hattie who hitched the horses to the white topped buggy and saw that all were neat and clean and ready to go. This dear old buggy also took them to Logan to the circus, which was really a wondrous experience to these hard working children. They scrimped and saved to get enough money for the tickets and there never seemed to be enough for candy or treats, but they were so tickled to go that this did not spoil their fun.

Dad soon took the place of a father and idol to all the younger children. He was a hard worker, doing the chores, milking and feeding the cows and horses as well as working in the fields long hours each day.

Once Hattie and Dad earned $69.75 working in the beets and when they received their pay they went to town and spent the entire amount on a "Morris Chair" for a Christmas gift for their father. Dad's generous nature made him loved by all who knew him, all the days of his life.

When Dad was around 17 years old, he had adventure come into his life. He wanted to go places and see things so he left home alone and without telling anyone, went to Montana. It is told to us that his mother walked the floor and cried for three days and nights. Hattie felt so badly she didn't go to bed either, but stayed up with her mother.

This is a copy of a letter his folks sent him, but he never received it, so it was returned to Lewiston, kept by the family, and finally given to Mom.

Lewiston, Utah

January 9, 1907

My Dear Son, Ivan,

I take pleasure in writing a few lines to you in answer to your welcome letter and to learn where you were and to hear you were well. It was a happy relief to us, for me and Ma and the children had spent the most unhappy week in our lives fretting about our dear boy when we learned that you had not gone to Bountiful. Now dear son, Ivan, remember the council I have given you before, keep good company, refrain from bad habits, especially from alcohol and tobacco and profane talk. Remember, dear son, that you hold the Holy Priesthood and let me implore you to honor it and God will honor you. I look with pride on you, my boy, and have hoped to see you become a honor to my name and the cause of Zion. Please, Ivan, don't let me be disappointed in this for it would send me to my grave. I love you, my boy, and if I have done or said anything to you that has hurt you I trust you will forgive me. How long do you expect to stay? Tell me in your letter, and did anyone go with you, and if so, who? Please tell us what you are doing. I am through now with the beets and am spending a week at home with the folks. The three boys have been quite sick for the last ten days, but are some better now. Uncle Syrus Page and his wife were here Saturday night and Sunday from Bountiful. She sends her love to you.

Dear son, when you want to come home if you don't have enough money to come with I will send it to you. I will close for the present with kindest love from your loving father, W. Waddoups

Write soon

Lewiston, Jan. 8, 1907

Mr. Ivan Waddoups,

My Dear Son,

We received your much welcomed letter tonight. I cannot tell you how pleasured we were to hear from you and where you are. We have been looking for you since New Years Day. We were getting so uneasy about you. Your Pa phoned Uncle Tom Waddoups. When he said you had not been down there you cannot know how we all felt and how pleasured we were to get a letter in your own hand writing and you were well when it was written even though you were so far away. My son, what ever induced you to go so far away from us without letting us know where you were going? Let us know, Ivan, if you have been led away against your wishes and we will help you to come home immediately. If you went because you desired to go, do not stay very long. My son, have you plenty good warm clothes to keep you comfortable and a warm bed to sleep in at night? If you have not, write immediately and let us know. I wish you had taken your sweaters and stockings with you. Write as soon as you can and tell us all about it. My son, be a good boy and remember the Lord and say your prayers that the protecting care of our Heavenly Father may be with you. Honor the priesthood that has been given you and keep yourself pure and unspotted from the world. Try and keep the best company you can find. Tell us if there is anyone out there that you are acquainted with. We are all better now but Pa. He has a very bad cold. Excuse bad writing and crooked lines. Good night and God bless you and protect you from all harm.

Your Loving Mother,

Eliza J. Waddoups

Lewiston, Utah Jan. 8, 1907

Dear Ivan,

I will just write a little note to let you know that I with the rest have missed you. The children have all been sick every since you left and it has taken mother and I all the time to tend to them so with that and you gone together, the holidays have been very dull at home. John and Ella took me to one dance and that is all the outing I've had and that has been one more than the rest have had. Ivan, you don’t know how the poor little kids have missed you. Wilford and Horace are saving their money to put in the bank for you and talking about you all the time but none of them miss you like little Victor. For two days he worried night and day. Ivan, please write often for we will be anxious every minute ‘til you get home. Hattie

Verda and I will write you a long letter in a day or two. Remember me. Your ever true sister, Hattie

We will never know the things that made Dad run away or what feelings he had that caused him to write and tell his loved ones where he was, but we do know it wasn't in his nature to hold grudges or unkind feelings toward anyone and that he loved his family and they loved him very, very much.

Aunt Hattie tells how Dad homesteaded in Black Pine, Idaho (near Malad). The only time she was able to visit him, he lived in a tiny one room shack that he kept very neat and clean. She says it nearly broke her heart to leave him there alone.

While he was here he was bitten by wood ticks and contracted spotted fever. He was very ill but he drove his horses all the way from Black Pine alone. When he reached Bear River the floods had washed out the bridge and he had to ford the river. When he reached home he was soaking wet and fell into the house unconscious. The family got him into bed and called the doctor. He suffered terribly with a very high fever that made him delirious for three days. The doctor said it was a miracle he did not die crossing the river.

Dad worked very hard while he was here but he always enjoyed life, too. Uncle Barb (Horace) tells of a few things that happened while he was staying with Dad. They had a very deep well that Barb had been warned to stay away from. One day when Dad came in from the field Barb wasn't anywhere to be found so Dad supposed him to be down the well. He got a long rope and tied it on one of the horses to pull him up from the well and tying the other end around himself was just ready to go down into the well when Barb came meandering in from the neighbors.

A new church house was being built and when the recreation hall was completed a dance was held even though the building was far from being finished. Barb and Dad arrived early and conceived the idea of nailing a brace across the door. When others arrived, Barb and Dad crawled under the brace on their hands and knees and everyone else did the same. My it must have been hard to hold back the laughs.

One batch of bread they will never forget was one that the yeast didn't work. They let the dough stand and added yeast several times for a couple of days and it still didn't raise so they finally baked it in one big flat loaf. It came out more than hard and heavy. They broke pieces off of it and tried to eat some and they had it with them in the wagon one day when they met another wagon coming towards them. They threw it to their neighbors who examined it and threw it out on the road. Uncle Barb says the dust really flew.

Even though this family had hard times to endure they also had lots of fun together. Here are some of the cute little things Aunt Hattie told me about our fun loving Dad when he was growing up.

He was a lively little boy, into the usual amount of mischief and yet loveable enough about it to get away with most of his pranks.

When he was two years old he took Hattie's first doll with hair and eyes that would open and close, and chopped it's head off. He explained later that he was just trying to find out what made the eyes open and shut.

As he started school his big sister Hattie, who was in the third grade, would take him by the hand to protect him from the "big kids”. Two boys use to take out a knife and say they were going to cut his ears off which always worried Hattie more than it did him.

At the age of ten, when he should have known better, Dad took his father's big shaving mirror out to the chopping block to show a big wild rooster his reflection. The rooster seeing himself in the mirror, flew at it and broke it. It tickled Dad so much that no one had the heart to spank him.

Dad always loved kids and animals. At one time he had a big dog that was mean to other people but who was very good to him and Bill (Wilford). It would hardly even let anyone get close to them.

He also had a racing horse and racing buggy given to him by his Uncle Harris when he was about seventeen. It was a very pretty horse but would run like crazy when it was whistled at. One day Hattie, Hazel and Verda took the horse and buggy and went to town. Some playful boys seeing them whistled at the horse. Of course the horse ran away and gave them a thrilling ride and took them home. Hattie got the punishment for this.

When Dad was thirty years old he answered the call of his country by joining the Navy on January 9, 1918. He served at the Navel Training Camp at San Diego, California; the Naval Training Camp at Mare Island, California; a receiving ship at Mare Island; on the U.S.S. Hazelwood; and on a receiving ship in New York.

While stationed at Mare Island, in the San Francisco Bay, his Father and other sugar factory officials were in San Francisco to attend a convention. Dad met them there and there was a happy reunion between father and son. The other officials were amazed at the love demonstrated between father and son. It was a touching scene when the tall, handsome sailor folded his gray-haired, stoop shouldered father in his arms and kissed him.

Mom has the scratch paper Dad wrote notes on preparing to give a talk at the Dayton Grade School, telling about some of his Navy experiences. Using those notes she gave me the following account:

He took his training at San Diego to be a gunner’s mate and then spent a few months at Mare Island. From here he went by boat down through the Panama Canal and up to New York. When they were somewhere along the Florida coast a terrible storm struck them and the sea was very, very rough. Two men, one of them Ivan's best friend, were washed overboard in the storm and lost at sea. Ivan was in New York about three months on a receiving boat. He thought New York was beautiful with its clean streets, tall buildings, many bridges and Central Park. He was impressed by the traffic and the extremes of hot and cold temperatures.

While he was here he marched in a parade with President Woodrow Wilson. From here he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Some of the places of interest he visited were: The Rock of Gibraltar, Genoa Italy, the Azores Islands, Carfield, Greece, Constantinople, Turkey in Europe and Smyrna, Turkey in Asia. He also crossed the Black Sea to Odessa, Russia and visited Tangier, Africa. While in Constantinople, an English lady took him to see the old Hippidrome where they used to have chariot races, and many other old ruins. The food in these countries was very poor. About the only food they liked were eggs. He enjoyed this trip very much. He only wished he could have visited Egypt and the Holy Land while he was so near them.

He spent about three months overseas going on a Destroyer, the U.S.S. Hazelwood and returning on a Battleship, the Arizona. When he got back he was stationed at Bay Ridge in Brooklyn. He was stationed here about five months. While he was here he saw a big ship hit a captain's motor boat and cut it in two pieces. It was a very costly boat used to take captains to and from larger ships. The sailors had to drag the bottom of the Hudson River for two days but the water was so swift and deep that nothing was recovered. He also saw a World Series baseball game while he was here.

From New York he traveled by train to Chicago and then to Denver, Colorado, where he met Mom. He only saw her once then continued on to Salt Lake City, where he was discharged on October 4, 1919. It was always a topic of joy to him when he spoke about the Navy. He loved his country, the flag and all they represented more than anyone I had ever known. The flag flew over the Post office every day as long as he lived. It draped his casket at his funeral and was given to Mom before he was buried.

Through his journeys in the Navy, Dad traveled half way around the world before he met the girl he was to make his wife. This is how Mom tells the story:

“When I was eighteen years old, I left Illinois on April 1, 1919 and came out west with my girlfriend, Josephine Snowhill. We stopped in Denver and worked at housework for six months with the plan to make enough money to go to California. While in Denver I met Ivan on September 1, 1919 and saw him only one evening. It was Labor Day. Josephine and I went to an amusement park. We paid to get though the gate. When we got inside there were two men sitting on a bench. One was a sailor in uniform. Josephine and I started to walk to the sideshow and these two men followed us. When we got in front of the show where the men fell into the water when someone threw a ball and hit a certain spot, the one boy spoke to me and said, ‘Here is a sailor who would like to speak to you.’ I smiled so he knew I approved of it and we four walked around together, taking in the sights and activities.”

“Josephine and I both worked for a Mr. and Mrs. Swan so we rode a streetcar there and spent the evening there. About midnight, Ivan gave me his address and they left. I expected him to call me but he never did. He was shipped to Salt Lake City where he was discharged from the Navy and then he went to Lewiston, Utah where his folks lived. After a few weeks passed I wrote to him as he didn’t have my address. He answered my letter and in October I met him in Salt Lake City. He showed Josephine and I the State Capitol Building, Temple grounds and interesting things around the city. We were only there two days and as he left he asked me if I would marry him if he would come to California when the run in the sugar factory was over. I told him I would. I sure thought he was wonderful! I had met a lot of boys in my life but I never liked any of them. I was always considered a man hater by my girlfriends.”

“Josephine and I went to Los Angeles, California where we got a job doing housework for the movie star, Will Rogers. We worked here six months. On April 2, I left Los Angeles and met Ivan in Stockton, California on the third. He had a job there doing construction work. We were married on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1920, by a Methodist Minister with two elderly ladies as witnesses. We lived in a hotel for four days. While he worked I was to find us an apartment. I found one I thought we could afford but it didn’t look too good. That night we walked past it but Ivan would not go in. He said, ‘We want one better than that!’ The next day I found a better one.”

“One day I left a roast cooking and went to visit a neighbor in the same apartment. Soon the hall was full of smoke and the land lady thought the place was on fire, with smoke rolling out of the windows. My how that roast was burnt! When Ivan came home he didn’t even jaw me. He said he liked burnt roast. When I was married I wore high-top laced shoes. One evening he wanted to make me more comfortable by talking my shoes off. I was so shy I wouldn’t think of letting him.”

“While living in Stockton, we attended LDS Sunday School and talked to the missionaries. We lived here almost a year with Ivan doing construction work. We then came to Lewiston and lived with Ivan’s Dad. When we were nearly to Lewiston, Ivan was very uneasy and finally told me he had a confession to make. He told me the picture he had sent to me when I was in Los Angeles was not really him but his brother Barb. I had shown it to many people and told them it was Ivan as I really believed it was, but I didn’t feel bad when he told me because Ivan was really good looking.”

“Ivan’s father was a good looking man with white hair. He was eighty years old. He and I would sit in th house talking about religion and that’s where I learned about the LDS Church. Our first child Victor V. was born here on April 15, 1921. I got blood poisoning and was very sick. Ivan and his father administered to me and I was healed.”

“We moved to Burley, Idaho in September of 1921. Ivan worked for wages for farmers and later rented a farm. While there Ivan’s brother, Wilford came off of his mission and came to live with us and help run the farm. He taught me the Gospel and baptized me on August 6, 1922. It was a great day in my life. When Bill came to live with us he drove Ivan’s team of horses and a wagon with high sideboards from Lewiston. Ivan was so happy to have his team which he owned before we were married. They were beautiful brown horses that he fed well and kept curried so they always looked nice. We used this outfit to go to town and church. Ivan would stand up in front to drive and the baby Vic, Bill and I would sit in the back on straw with quilts on. The horses had lots of get up and go. As soon as Ivan untied them from the fence they would start out. That is the kind of horses he always liked. I had never been around horses and never learned to drive them. We lived in Burley four years. Our second child, Mildred was born here on January 20, 1924.”

“We bought our first car, a Ford Sedan in November 1925 and paid $750 cash for it. We moved to Clifton, Idaho in January of 1926 to buy a farm. Elaine was born here on May 17, 1926. Ivan was a Deacon Quorum teacher and I was a Beehive teacher. Ivan liked to farm and got his name in the Preston newspaper for having a very good herd of cows. It said, ‘The highest herd tested was owned by Ivan Waddoups of Clifton, Idaho and averaged 1,329 pounds of milk and 45.34 pounds of butterfat per cow.’”

“On April 4, 1928 we were sealed in the Logan Temple and had the three children sealed to us. This was a wonderful day. On June 3, 1929, I took a trip to Quincy Illinois to visit my folks who I had not seen for ten years. I took the three children with me.”

“When I came back my younger sister Wilma came with me. She lived with us three months. In 1965 when I asked her some of the things she remembered about Ivan she wrote, ‘We got off the train in Dayton and Ivan was there to meet us in a Model-T Ford Sedan. From the very beginning he was very kind to me, not in words but in the silent grin, and friendly gleam in his eyes. His general attitude around the house was the same. He always showed an interest in whatever was being done. I remember how the children would speak for kisses every time he shaved, and he was very happy to oblige. During the three months that I lived with them we always went to church. I have never seen Ivan angry. He never said a cross word to any of his children and even in correcting them it was always in the kindest manner. All through my association with him he has been as close as a brother to me and I appreciated his kindness. Most everyone I know respected him and I never knew anyone that didn’t like him. He was honest in his dealings and very respectful of others.’”

Dad loved this farm and his prize cows and, beautiful horses but because of illness and not enough irrigating water he lost it. At one time he had blood poisoning in both of his wrists. The doctor had to lance the gatherings and drain them before he got well. The neighbors were good to help by doing the chores. In 1928 he got all of his teeth pulled. They kept him in the Preston Hospital over night. In the night he took chills but never ask for more blankets and he developed pneumonia. He was very sick for several weeks.

A kind man, Artie Henderson, in Dayton offered Dad a job helping him in a service station. By this time the folks had four children, Bernie being born April 28. 1930. They moved into two rooms adjoining the station. In due time they took over the station. Business was good being located on the main highway and the farmers also purchased gas, oil, etc. from them. While here Dad had pneumonia three times. Mom took care of him, the kids and the station. In March of 1931, they moved to a home just north of the Dayton Church House. They built a new service station here and also sold confections and a few groceries. I was born in this home on November 9, 1932. Barbara was born here on August 16, 1934 and Marie on August 1, 1940.

On May 5, 1934, Dad was appointed acting postmaster. Part of the station was partitioned off for this purpose. Wells McIntire from the Preston Office helped him get started. On April 24, 1936 he was commissioned as postmaster. He was the eighth postmaster in Dayton. Dad enjoyed this work, going to conventions, meeting other postmasters, etc. He only had an eighth grade education but he kept his records and books in perfect order. On June 25, 1948, he received a letter from Boise saying, “Thank you for your cooperation in submitting the best quarterly reports ever to be received at this office. We are sincerely, Harry L. Yost, Central Accounting Postmaster, Boise, Idaho.”

Dad was postmaster for seventeen years. He was granted annual leave but never took any. He felt tied down with the service station and Postoffice and didn't feel he could leave them. He worked every day from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mom helped him a lot but she wondered how he could work such long hours. He had a door bell attached from the post office to the house so he could ring for help when he needed it. His personality suited him well for working with the public as he was kind and showed his love for all people. He loved little children. He would wait and wait and wait while they picked out the kind of penny candy they wanted. Every child in town knew him from the time they could talk. Once one of Mike Archibald's small boys asked to go to Preston. Mike replied, “We can’t go to Preston, I haven’t got any money.” The boy quickly answered, “Let's go to Ivan’s. He'll sell us some money!” This was so typical. Daddy would have given his last dime to anyone he thought needed it more.

The church and our post office were centers of community life. The Greyhound bus stopped here when the little flag was out. One dear old neighbor lady, Annie Wolverton, use to catch the bus twice a week to go to Preston to the doctor. As she waited for the bus Dad made her day a little bit happier as he visited with her. He always helped her on and off the bus. She thought so much of Dad and always thanked him for his kindness. Once she told him she could ask him for help when she couldn't ask anyone else. More than once he showed his kindness for people he never knew by staying up nearly all night to keep the post office warm for a bus load of people that were stalled because of bad roads. Dad always had a long bench in his building and many people spent lots of time here visiting, waiting for busses and etc.

People met here to arrange transportation to the temple. They would meet at 6 a.m., as many as fifteen to twenty. The post office was always open and warm when they got there. Many of the ladies paid 25 cents for their ride. There was one dear sister who went every time but who never had enough money to pay her way. No one knew Dad gave her 25 cents each time.

At one time there were only two phones in Dayton, one being ours. It was very common for Dad to go from one end of the ward to the other to get people to the phone. He was always happy and willing to do these things.

He was always active in civic affairs. He was a school trustee for many years. He worked hard for the Chamber of Commerce for the West Side. During the Second World War, he was a Civil Defense Officer. He never missed any of their meetings and he had the key to turn all the lights off in Dayton in case a blackout was necessary.

He really enjoyed the 4-H Gardening Club he taught. He enjoyed visiting the gardens and also going to the county fair. All who worked with him loved him and worked hard to do the work required of them. He loved to work with young people and took great pride in his work.

Perhaps I have repeated myself in saying that he had a great love for children but he truly did. His last Christmas, when he was so ill he couldn't stand alone. He had Joe Hansen take him to the Dayton Grade School where he sat on a chair by the door and gave each child a pencil with his name on it as they went out.

At one time he was custodian of the church house and took great pride in this work too. Mom and us kids helped what we could. He was also caretaker of the cemetery for a while. He would go move the sprinklers every hour and sometimes leave some of us kids there for the afternoon with books and crayons and a pocket watch to keep track of the time to make sure we moved the sprinklers every hour. The lawns were mowed regularly and were always neat and green.

In 1934 a recreation hall was built as a W. P. A. project. It was built just west of the church house. Dad was the secretary, keeping track of each man's hours as well as the finances. Each day he would check on the work and keep his books up to date so he could give his reports at each meeting. The government furnished the material, the ward the labor and the church the furnace, chairs, piano, and electric wiring. The grand opening dance was held February 14, 1935. Dad was one of the officials who went to Salt Lake City to get the orchestra and was so pleased at the big crowd that came to the opening of this beautiful building.

Sometimes in the Fall when business was slow, Mom would watch after the Post office while Dad worked at the beet dump for four to six weeks. Sometimes he worked in the beet fields with some of the kids topping beets by hand to make a little extra money to make things nice for his family.

Another thing he enjoyed was baseball and took great delight in Dayton's team. In the Summer of 1940, Dad was manager for the team. Games were played every Saturday afternoon and Dad always furnished the gas for the team to go to the games. Bernie was only nine years old but acted as bat boy. He was so happy when the team got new uniforms that year with one matching in his size. Vic played on the team and Dad was so proud of his boys and the whole team.

In 1938 Dad bought a radio, their first, and one of the first in Dayton. During the World Series the radio would be in the post office so he and many of the neighbors could hear the games. When Bernie had polio Dad had the radio by his side and the two of them heard series together that year. This was much before the time of T.V., in fact, Dad never lived to see one but I'm sure he would have really enjoyed seeing all sport programs.

As has been mentioned, going to church was a way of life with Dad from childhood. As a youth he enjoyed MIA and dancing. The MIA use to put on lots of plays and Dad always took a team and sleigh to practices and to other wards to put on their plays. Sometimes they went as far as Oxford, about thirty miles away. He had many girl friends but never found the right one until he was thirty years old.

He was ordained a Deacon by his father when he was twelve years old, on January 31, 1900. He was ordained an Elder by Alma Merrill on November 19, 1905. He was ordained a Seventy by John Kemp on September 15, 1907. After he was married he always attended priesthood meeting and paid his tithes and offerings. He taught the deacon class many years and also taught the Seventies class at one time. He furnished bread for the sacrament every Sunday for fifteen years and never took any pay for it. He always saw that it got there on time. He also worked on the Stake Old Folks committee for several years. Anything the church ever asked of him, from hauling bricks to being a teacher, he did willingly.

We lived in the same house in Dayton for seventeen years and then the owner wanted to come back and live there so it was necessary for us to move. One fourth acre of land was purchased from Mark Archibald directly across the street from our other home and an old railroad house owned by Uncle Carl and Aunt Wilma was purchased and moved onto a full basement on this lot. A lot of remodeling work had to be done on the house, which Dad did himself while Mom took care of the post office, with him being close enough to help her when needed. We moved into this house on December 1, 1946. The service station and post office were moved to that side of the street as soon as the weather permitted in the Spring.

Dad enjoyed this house very much and did so much to make it nice for the family. He planted lawn and flowers and put up three lattice fences on the back to hide a canal and make the yard look neat. Barbara, Marie and I enjoyed helping with this fence. Dad's favorite flowers were daisies and yellow roses.

Each of us children have many happy personal memories of Dad but I will only mention a few.

A few lines from Marie tell us this:

I cannot remember very much about Dad but from the stories I've heard and the letters I received from him when he was in the hospital in Salt Lake, I know he gave me more happy experiences, showed me more love and left me with more wonderful memories in eight short years than some fathers share with their children in a complete lifetime.

From the time I was a baby, I would sit on Dad's lap hour after hour and be perfectly contented and happy just as long as he would hold me. On one of these occasions I was playing with his wedding ring. It slipped through my fingers and hit the floor. Although the entire family immediately began to search the kitchen, they never did find the ring.

When I got older I loved to have Daddy play games with me and nearly every night when he got home from the service station, I would be waiting for him to play one game with me before I went to bed. No matter how late it was or how tired he was, I can never remember a time when he didn't sit down and play a game with me.

While Dad was in the hospital, he wrote me lots of cards and letters. Once when I was writing to him Mom said I kept begging her to put a dollar bill in the letter because he always gave us money.

In every letter I wrote to him I would tell him I was praying for him to get better. I would like to quote what he wrote to Mom in one of her letters. “If any Elders are around I will ask to be administered to and with you and Marie praying for me I know I will be alright. You know I have a lot of faith in a little girl’s prayers for her Daddy.” You could tell what a kind and loving person Dad was just by reading his letters.

Barbara's memories are now added:

The thing I remember most about Dad is how every kid in town loved him and also how many things he did for the youth in the community.

He organized the only baseball team Dayton ever had and they really had a good team and lots of fun. He also was one of the officials and main organizers for the recreation hall where they had roller skating every Saturday and lots of fun dances. After he died, the baseball team dissolved.

He was always so good and so patient with his own children. Most of us never remember him ever giving us one whipping, even though there were many times we needed one. Whenever there was a special event at school when we needed some money, he always gave us more than we ask for.

I worked in the post office and service station from the time I was ten years old. I made a lot of boo-boos and gave away a lot of profit, but Dad never raised his voice to me or said one mean thing to me.

I remember when we first got a new hot patch machine to fix tires. I would either cook them too long and ruin the tire or else I wouldn't cook them long enough and the people would get halfway to town and the tire would go flat. The people were kind too, because they never cussed me either. Dad would make it right with them and everything would be fine.

When we moved across the street into our new house, I helped Dad run most of the cement. With all his good lessons I am still an expert cement finisher. I really enjoyed working along side of Dad, whether it was in the post office or building fences. I feel I really gained a lot from him, mostly seeing how kind and understanding he was with people.

When he was so sick before he died, he would walk over to the post 0ffice to see how I was getting along. I was so glad I was able to work over there so Mom could be with Dad. I’m sure that everyone that knew Dad loved him as we all did.

I, Rea, remember a special service men' s dance when Dad and several other men had spent several hours trying to decorate the hall, getting no further than cutting some crepe paper in strips, when he ask me if I would go help because he had to leave to go to Brigham City, Utah to get the orchestra. I was only about ten or twelve and had never done anything like this but I was complimented that he would ask me so with full confidence that I could do it, I worked hard and fast with the men there to help me and by the time of the dance it was looking quite nice. He was so happy when he saw it that he gave me a dollar bill which was big money to me but meant more because of the happiness he showed in doing it. He always told me I was a pretty printer, too. I remember too, the special outings on Sunday afternoons when he took the whole family to see his brothers and sisters and some dear aunts in Lewiston. We all thought his family was extra special.

In 1948 Bernie was going to auto mechanics school in Pocatello, Idaho. Dad wasn't feeling very well this winter but one weekend he took Bernie to Preston and let him pick out a tool box and the tools he needed. On the way home Bernie said he sure wished they had enough money to buy the torque wrench they looked at. Later Dad went back and bought it as a special surprise for Bernie. He never figured the cost, just the happiness it brought.

Elaine always loved to work with her Dad and spent many, many, hours helping him in the service station and post office. It always impressed her how neat he was and how he wore a tie every day of his life. She told me she would do anything to get to help him even to suggesting she sweep an already swept floor.

Milly tells us:

The thing I remember best about my Dad is a couple of sayings he always used

to say. One was, “Don't blame a person for doing wrong, pity him.” And the other is “If a man loves flowers or animals he can’t be all bad.” We all loved our Dad no matter how little we were or how old and all the people that knew him felt the same way. Little kids would learn to say Ivan as soon as they would learn to say mama and daddy but I am sure the reason everyone loved him was the love he showed to everyone he met. I will always remember the love he had for our mother and also the respect.

Dad and I shared many happy moments. He had a knack for knowing what to say or do at any occasion. He was so proud of his family. He always found time to take us kids for a car ride or to a ball game. I'll never forget when he bought his brand new '36 Ford. He loaded up all us kids and took us for a ride. I think he

was the proudest man in the world.

Dad was a true diplomat. I'll never forget when I was about ten and Mom went to June conference and left me to house keep. Dad bought some steak and I burned half of it while tending the kids and the other half was almost raw. I felt awful and was about to cry when Dad said it was the best meat he’d ever tasted.

I'll always remember how much he loved his grandchildren and how proud he was of them. I am so sorry the rest of the grand kids never knew him but somehow I feel he knows all of them. I thank God for a Mom and Dad like I had.

Vic was only nine years old when Dad took over the Shell Station in Dayton, when they moved from the farm in Clifton; but Dad trusted him to work in the station making gas sales and even making change for the sales. There was a lot of tourist trade but Dad had complete confidence in Vic and Vic always did his work well.

Dad and Vic were great pals and always got along very well together. In 1941 Vic joined the Navy which made Dad very proud. The folks waited eagerly for each letter. Dad could hardly wait for Vic's first furlough. When he did get home, Dad put on his Navy uniform, (from 1918) which was a little bit tight but still when around, and they had a picture taken together. They looked very much alike.

I remember so well some of the special songs Dad use to sing to us. Mom says he never sang in public but that he loved to sing to his children. Vic and Bernie, do you remember sitting on his lap hearing, “That Little Boy of Mine”? Do the rest of you remember “Way Down Upon the Swanee River”, “It's a Long Way to Tipperary”, and “When You and I were Young Maggie"? And how about "Darling you are growing old, silver threads among the gold. Shine upon your brow today, life is fading fast away”, or "There’s a long, long trail a winding into the land of my dreams, where the nightingales are singing and the white moon beams”, or “There's a gold mine in the sky far away, we will find it you and I some sweet day"? Then there are the beautiful words, "With someone like you a pal good and true, I'd like to leave it all behind and go and find a place that's known to God alone, just a spot to call our own. We'll find perfect peace where joys never cease out there beneath a kindly sky. We'll build a sweet little nest somewhere in the West and let the rest of the world go by.” And last but not least, “Nearer My God to Thee.”

In 1947 Dad started to feel sickly most of the time and in I948 he was operated on in the Veteran’s Hospital in Salt Lake City for cancer of the bowels. He was in the hospital about one month but recovered quite well and was able to go to work for a while. But in about six months the cancer spread to his liver. He was very sick to his stomach, not being able to eat and very weak but never had to take medication for pain and was able to stay at home with Mom taking care of him until he passed away on July 13, 1949. He was bedfast for three months and his bed was moved into the living room so it was easier for the family to be with him and easier to receive the many visitors he had. He was very patient and very grateful for everything anyone did for him. Mom never had to deceive him about his ailment but neither one of them ever mention the word "cancer." Both hearts understood that he would never get well but they seemed to spare each other's feelings by not talking about it. Just once he said, “This ailment I have is always fatal isn't it Mother?" and she said, "It looks like it Dad."

I would like to quote a few remarks of one of the speakers at Dad's funeral, a neighbor, Jim Phillips: “They have lived neighbors to us the last twenty years, just through the fence and I never had a better friend in the world than Brother Ivan. He was honest, had no deceit and his word was as good as gold. Whatever Ivan told you he would do, he would do it. We never had better neighbors than they... Ivan was indeed a friend to the needy, a great friend to the needy."

The last verse of the Poem, “The House By the Side of the Road" by Sam Walter Foss states:

Let me live in my house by the side of the road

It's here the race of men go by,

They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,

Wise, foolish ... so am I;

Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat

Or hurl the cynic's ban,

Let me live in my house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

This was Ivan's whole desire as I knew him through life. He wanted to be a friend to man. I don't think he ever met a person unless he made a friend of him.

Daddy was laid to rest on July 16, 1949. The grave was heaped with beautiful flowers and if each tiny flower had represented one friend the comparison would not have been too great (flowers were carried by at least 50 little children from Dayton).

I have written this account humbly with the hope that these precious memories will not be lost to his posterity, that they too may know our Daddy.

I will close with a line from the grave dedication prayer offered by his brother, Victor Waddoups: “...And we pray that their (his posterity) thoughts and memories will be as beautiful as these flowers which adorn this grave.”

Yes, God gave us memories, that we might have roses in December. May we as children never let the roses of our Daddy's memory fade, may we never let the petals fall and be lost and may we pass them on to his posterity that they too, may at least in this way, have beautiful memories of our Daddy, Ivan Waddoups.