Personal History of

I arrived in this world on a cold morning the 9th of February 1907 in Riverside, Bingham County, Idaho. My father was Daniel Hall Sedgwick and my mother was Isabelle Baker. I always called my father Papa and my mother was known to others as Belle. My brother Daniel Baker was eight years older than I. My sister Mary Isabelle was five years older and my brother Henry Gustave was three years my elder. I was the baby. My brother Gustave died when he was six years old. He had diphtheria and whooping cough at the same time. My sister Maybelle died when she was twenty six. She died of a ruptured appendix leaving her husband and three young children.

My father was a school teacher, business man, farmer and lived in many different places during my life at home. Among these places were Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Ammon, Garfied, Woodville, Lincoln, Inkum, Downy, Cambridge, Moreland, Mountain Home and Blackfoot. All of these places were in Idaho.

My first memories were when I lived in Inkum when I was about four years old. Probably the thing I remember about Inkum is the Lava rock. Then we moved to Downy where Papa owned a furniture store. He gave me a little table for my 5th birthday. We moved to Mountain Home where I was in the third grade and then to Pocatello. I had scarlet fever and I was sick a lot and I had to repeat some of my grades in school. In Pocatello my father owned a grocery store and he eventually went broke because he gave too many people credit and couldn't meet his obligations.

Papa also ran a farm for a congressman. He also ran a dairy farm and he bought a truck. (It was the first motorized dairy truck in Pocatello.) Once again it just didn't work out and he lost his dairy farm. We moved to Lincoln where there was a terrible flu epidemic and everyone was sick. Then for the next three years we lived in Pleasant Grove which was known as "Hog Holler". We had a farm with pigs, cows, horses, and chickens. We did our cooking on a coal stove. This is where I made my first cherry pie while my parents were away. And it was a total flop. Really the pits.

We then moved to Woodville where papa taught school. Papa got rich there. I remember well riding in the sleigh in the winter and it was lots of fun. Next move was to Ammon. I was thirteen and fourteen years old. I especially remember the swimming hole. The whole group would go there four or five times a week and it didn't cost a penny. Papa had a farm and did well so he invested in a service station and lost all.

I enjoyed my activity in the church. When I was a gleaner girl in the Blackfoot First Ward I was chosen to sing in a chorus of twenty-four girls from the entire Stake. This chorus came to Salt Lake in 1926 to sing in the "Jubilee". It was a real thrill. Papa taught school in Basalt for awhile. In September 1928 I worked in the Primary of Woodville, Idaho as organist and Seagull girl teacher. I served as assistant organist in the Sunday School also. I went to work at a bakery. The owner told me to feel free to eat all the goodies I wanted and I did, and never got tired of them. Some of my favorite foods even today are cookies, sweet rolls, cake, donuts and on and on.

I lived during the era of the silent movies with Charlie Chaplin, The Sheik of Araby. We had fun dancing The Big Apple, The Charleston. We loved the short fringed skirts, those cute short haircuts, just call me a Flapper.

While attending a dance at Progress Hall in Blackfoot one of my friends introduced me to a fellow she had been dancing with during the evening. Namely Elmer Longmore. We danced several times that evening and many Saturday night dances yet to come. One evening after the dance Elmer asked to take me home. Then he started to pick me up and take me to the dance. He was quite the romantic fellow. Then the "bum" went to California for a year. While he was away I dated a fellow by the name of Hank Evans and thought seriously about marrying him but Elmer returned home from California, we met again at the dance and that was "all she wrote".

We were married in Salt Lake on a nice cold rainy day, May 15, 1929. We were married at Aunt Susie Smith's home at 291 Almond Street. The witnesses to our marriage were Aunt Susie and Uncle Johnny Smith. (Aunt Susie Smith is my mothers sister) Uncle Johnny took us to the depot. We met Maybelle's husband, Harry King, at the depot and he took us to dinner. We missed the bus to Magna so we took the train to Garfield and walked on to Magna four miles away. It was a cold rainy walk, we were soaking wet, especially our feet because there were holes in the soles of our shoes. We were on our way to Uncle Alf Walters home where we were staying for a time as Elmer was working in that area.

We went back to Basalt, Idaho where we lived for about a year. That is where our daughter Lavon was born. We then moved to Pocatello where I enjoyed working in the Relief Society. I was asked to be the organist and then to my surprise they asked me to act as chorister. This kind of work was entirely new to me and I was afraid to tackle the job but I hated to refuse so I told them I would try. We had a chorus which met every two weeks to practice Relief Society songs. While conducting this chorus we sang on several programs and Sunday night meetings.

When we left Pocatello, we went to the little town of Thomas, Idaho in the Blackfoot Stake where we moved in with Mom and Dad Longmore. (George Brooks and Maud Mary Walters Longmore). The reason we did is because it was depression years and money was very hard to come by. It was a real help to us. Our first son Don was born while we were living in Thomas.

February of 1932 we came to Salt Lake for a visit and decided to make our home here. It was still hard times and we lived for awhile with Papa and Mama. Papa owned a grocery store and he also was teaching school. He also taught a class in American Citizenship to immigrants so they could become legal citizens. While living with my folks in Shelmerdine Court in Salt Lake, Lew was born. We then made our home on 1st Avenue and then on B Street. It was here that our dreams were realized. On the 21st of November 1935 Elmer and I went to the temple in Salt Lake City and received our endowments and were sealed to each other and had our three children (Lavon Don and Lew) sealed to us. This was the day we had been waiting for for so long, an answer to our prayers, a dream come true. This was truly a day of all days, now, with God's help we would face the world and the many problems that were before us.

We lived on 3rd North for awhile and following that Elmer purchased our first home at 373 Quince Street where we lived for the next thirteen years. The purchase price of this home was only $500 dollars. But it needed a lot of work. It was a shell. Elmer worked hard to make the home livable for his family.

We enjoyed living in the 19th Ward in the Salt Lake Stake. Before my calling as Primary chorister my mind kept reflecting on the nursery rhymes that I had repeated many times to my children. It just didn't leave my mind. I didn't know why. And then I received a call to be chorister with a challenge to have the Primary children put on a performance for our Ward. The program was already in progress in my mind. The Primary children put on an Operetta involving the nursery rhymes. Now I knew why these thoughts had come to me. The Operetta was a success and one of the biggest thrills of my life.

The rest of our children were born while we lived here. Dwayne, Steve, Del, Orlan, Byran, Val, Alaina and Sharla. Making us eight boys and three girls.

I've enjoyed being a mother. I was always thrilled when we anticipated a new baby in our family. Always looking forward to another daughter (or son). But it seemed to be our lot to enjoy eight sons in a row before adding two more daughters. And we love them all dearly.

How grateful I was at this time in our lives for both Elmer and I to become fully active, attending our meetings and participating fully in the Gospel. Many blessings followed.

For my wonderful family I am indeed thankful. I hope and pray that they will all grow up to be strong men and women and will always keep the commandments of the Lord. That they may have joy all through their lives. The greatest happiness there is comes from keeping the commandments and helping your fellowmen.

Building our home in South Cottonwood was not easy. But we have been greatly blessed in keeping out of debt in building it. The Lord surely had a hand in the location of our home at 6358 South 1300 East where we could view those beautiful mountains each day. I am surely thankful that we are here. There is no place that I know that I would rather be and I am truly grateful for our beautiful home and good neighbors in the South Cottonwood Ward. One incident not to be forgotten was my encounter with the bull. We had brought him home from Thomas, Idaho to be raised and butchered. As he grew and got a little larger (much larger) he got to be a little problem now and again. He loved to get out of the fence. One day when I got home from Relief Society a police officer was there to tell me to get the bull back in the fence. I ran in to change my clothes thinking he would wait for me, but when I came out he was gone. So on my own I got the bull back inside of the fence, but before I could get out I was charged by the bull and pushed up against the fence many times. Thank goodness for our dog Ranger who came to my rescue barking at the bull and scaring him off until I could get up and back over the fence to safety. The encounter on 27 April 1959 left me with a bruised back and arm and hip and a knee thrown out of place. Needless to say for the next few weeks we enjoyed roast beef a few steaks and ground beef. (Enough Said!)

I am truly thankful for a wise and generous husband who has given all he could earn for the support of his family and building our home. His honesty, strong will, and desire to do that which is right is very outstanding and has helped me many times.

I have enjoyed working in the church in whatever capacity I have been called to and I have benefited by it. I have tried to always do my best. I have enjoyed many callings in the Church. I have served as teacher in many of the auxiliaries, been a visiting teacher, visiting teacher supervisor, secretary, magazine representative, librarian, genealogist, and genealogy teacher. It seems like my main work was in the music department as accompanist and chorister. Music has meant a great deal to me in my life and I have appreciated greatly the opportunity I have had to work in the music departments of Relief Society, Primary, Sunday School and Sacrament meeting. By singing a simple melody it is possible to cast away the evil in ones soul. To keep it out we must be prayerful and live the commandments of God. By doing this we will have a melody in our heart that will make us feel like singing. Many years ago I was able to write the music and words for my very own song "Lets Sing For The Baby".

The strong faith I have in God has helped me tremendously in times of trials and tension and has brought me out of many depressions. I have gained a strong testimony of the Gospel through the years and I know my Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers.

As children we have many good memories of our mother. Of the kind things she did for us. She made Christmas a special occasion. Though there wasn't much money she and dad always seemed to do something special to make Christmas a most exciting day. Filled with love and the Spirit of giving.

On birthdays our mom always made our day special by making the birthday child a cute cake. For example, decorated with marshmallow snowmen or gumdrop flowers etc. And guess what you found in your piece of cake. A dime. Don't know how it ever ended up in the birthday kids piece of cake.

Easter, mom made baskets out of every kind of container imaginable, cereal boxes, shoe boxes or any other boxes. Decorated with crepe paper, tissue paper, material and etc. for the easter bunny to hide. She was very artistic and clever.

She loved yard work, planting flowers and pulling weeds which always gave her a backache. Which was about the only thing that plagued her. As she was healthy all her life. In fact the doctor told her she could live to be a hundred. She always loved to sing and dance. She worked at ZCMI bakery at the Cottonwood Mall for several years. (She still loved those bakery goodies). When she retired from ZCMI she helped daddy as a custodian at the ward house.

Mom took care of dad for the time that he was very ill as he suffered the effects of diabetes. She never complained or left his side. Always showing love and concern for his needs and his comfort. Daddy passed away May 6, 1975.

She got much enjoyment as she joined the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. She made many new friends and had many enjoyable times. She also served as chorister in the DUP. She enjoyed the association with her friends there until her health would not allow her to participate any longer.

As mom neared seventy she started bowling with some of her friends and found great joy in her new found interest. She joined two leagues and looked forward to them each week. She even got some trophies. One year for being the oldest person in the bowling league.

She was an accomplished mother of eleven children which is no easy job. She was able to spend a few years with Lavon and Bob in their home as she became elderly and was unable to be at home alone. And it is hard for us now to see her as she becomes older to suffer the effects of Alzheimer Disease and no longer able to care for herself and join in the activities with her family.

She is now spending some time in Ricks Golden Care Center. She still has her love of music and rhythm with her and she still loves to dance and eat goodies and drink. (punch that is) And make and unmake beds. God bless her that these years may have a bit of softness in them. We love her.

Compiled by her daughter Lavon and her daughter in law Mary from her own writings and incidents related through the years. "Christmas 1995".

I was born 9 Feb, 1907 in Riverside, Idaho about 3 miles west of Blackfoot Idaho, Bingham County. My father was Daniel Hall Sedgwick and my mother was Isabelle Baker. My brother Daniel Baker was eight years older than I. Sister Mary Isabella was five years older and my brother Henry Gustave was three years my elder.

My father was a school teacher, business man, farmer and lived in many different places during my life time at home. Among these place were Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Ammon, Garfield, Woodville, Lincoln, Income, Downy, Cambridge, and Mountain Home also Blackfoot. All of these places are in Idaho. Moreland and Riverside also.

While living in Blackfoot where I met the man I married, Elmer Henry Longmore, son of George Brooks Longmore and Maud Mary Walters. We were married May 15, 1929 at my Aunt Susie Smith's home at 7:45pm. The witnesses to our marriage were Aunt Susie and Uncle Johnie Smith, 291 Almond St. Salt Lake City, Utah.

There were eleven children came to bless our home. They were Lavon Goldie, Don Carol, Lew Roy, Dwayne, Steve Aldon, Del Lamont, Orlan Kay, Byran Elmer, Val Lee, Alaina Sherrell and Sharla Rae. The eldest and the two last children were girls, the eight in between were all boys.

I have gained a strong testimony of the Gospel through the years and have had my prayers answered many times. The strong faith I have in God has helped me tremendously in times of trials and tension and brought me out of many depressions.

Music has meant a great deal to me in my life and I have appreciated greatly the opportunity I have had to work in the music departments in Relief Society in Primary and Sunday School. By singing a simple melody it is possible to cast away the evil that is in ones soul. To keep it out we must be prayerful and live the commandments of God. By doing this we have a melody in our heart that will make us feel like singing.

Teaching in Sunday School, Primary and Mutual have also helped me a great deal and I appreciate these opportunities. Now I am working Genealogy and I hope the Lord will bless me that I will be able to this very important work as I should. I enjoy it very much.

On the 21st of November 1935 Elmer and I went to the Temple in Salt Lake City and received our endowments and were sealed to each other and had our three children sealed to us. This was the day we had been waiting for, for so long, an answer to our prayers, a dream come true. This was truly the day of all days, now, with Gods help we could face the world and the many problems that were before us.

Building our home has been a big problem but we have been greatly blessed so we could keep out of debt in building it. The lord surely had a hand in the location of our home here in South Cottonwood and I am surely thankful that we are here. There is no place that I know of that I would rather be, and I am truly grateful for our beautiful home.

I am also thankful for the wise and generous husband who has given all that he could earn for the support of his family and building our home. His honesty, strong will, and desire to do that which is right is very outstanding and has helped me many times.

For my wonderful family I am indeed thankful and I love them all dearly. I hope and pray that they will grow up to be strong men and women and will always keep the commandments of the Lord that may have joy all through their lives. The greatest happiness there is comes from keeping the commandments and helping your fellowmen.