You can call me selfish...

Its just that when I do my Family History research I choose to do it mostly on my own lines.  I may have mentioned that my husband comes from a long line of Pioneers and many members of is family have done lots of research on it.  This morning I was adding a couple of new photographs I found in school year books. of my father and mother in law..        

                                                       

        













Paul A Simmons                                                                                    Virginia J Larsen

 My daughter Rachel (the one who used to roll her eyes when I talked family history)  has received a new church calling in in her Ward in Georgia since moving there with her family last year.  She actually helps and teaches others on how to navigate the LDS Church website, familysearch.org.  Good thing she is smart as she has been thrown in to this at the deep end.   We have been working together on understanding the new changes to the site.  At one point we were both online with cell phones simultaneously learning the new changes. It has been a lot of fun for me and I do believe she is starting to enjoy it also.

Adding these two pictures today for Rachel to see opened up so much more as I started adding others on her grandfathers Pioneer line.  So much I had not really looked at before and so interesting.  I can not possibly include it all on this Post.  That will be reserved for later.

Long Hot Summer...

So many many days of Temps over 100 degrees and so many fires burning in Utah and surrounding States that many of our morning Sunrise's looked like this...

I did not plan on taking a break from blogging and I had no shortage of material to blog about and my escape in to Family History was an everyday thing, so what is my excuse for not doing it? I have no idea!

Trying to catch up would be futile so will try and come up with a couple of things to get my brain in gear again...

Early in the Summer we were back in Manti to the funeral of one of my husbands Uncle's..

Stanley Lewis Simmons

1931-2012

Unlike my Father in Law (his brother) Stan had spent most of his life in the small town of Manti.  He and another brother Don followed in their father's footsteps and ran the Simmons Hardware Store for many years.

He is survived by his wife Krista and his four sons and their families.  He had been ill for quite a long time and so family and many friends and neighbors gathered together together to remember him and celebrate his life and accomplishments. Although I only knew him from Family Reunions and the occasional visit my memories of him are of a cheerful smiling and happy person who was always ready to help and serve others.

My husband Paul B Simmons

(quite a family likeness)

Manti Cemetery  with the Temple in the background.

Bookends..

It wasn't intentional but I got my husband on the far right and his brother 

Daniel on the far left. and yes it was very hot.

 Of course I couldn't leave without a picture of my husband grandparent's grave...

Simmons Hardware and Furniture

(later Picture after being sold)

Manti Tabernacle where the Service was held.

A lovely old building built in 1879.

My Grandchildren 's Ancestors...

Collin, Elina and Ethan  Easter Sunday 2011

When I get a "bit bored" wading through the 17.000 ancestors on my own family tree I like to work on my grandchildren's family tree, which is of course also my children's.  The nice thing about my husbands side of the family history is that most of it has been worked on for many years by so many researchers .

As I was adding items on to their Pedigree Chart this past week I acquired a new photograph from one of my sister in laws, thanks Sue!

These are the two grandfathers's of my husband when they were missionary's in the Western States in the early 1900's.  Both were husbands of my husbands grandmother...

Mary Mabel Anderson

I know that sounds a little complicated and it is but more than that it is quite a sad story...

Mary was born in 1887 in Fountain Green, Sanpete, Utah the daughter of...

Lewis was a Pioneer to Utah from Sweden and served as the President of the Manti Temple from 1943-1959.

Collin and Ethan, my grandson's and  Lewis's 3rd great grandsons on the 24th of July 2009 at the Simmons Family Reunion looking at the flowers on the Manti Temple Grounds.

As we were driving in to Manti on that day and the Temple appears before you on the hill Collin thought it was a Castle, it is a beautiful and impressive sight.

Mary Mabel Anderson married George Barton Taylor in Manti in 1909 and they had one daughter Elizabeth aka Bessie born in 1911.  After his daughter's birth George was called to serve a full time LDS Mission to the Western States (married men were often called to serve Missions in the early days of the Church).

George was a grandson of John Taylor who was the 3rd President of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints
-
1808-1887
The only Church President born out of the United States (England)

George Barton Taylor 1886-1912
(I see a resemblance to his Grandfather)

While George was serving in Denver he became ill and passed away.  Mary Mabel Anderson Taylor traveled to Denver to accompany his remains back to Manti  for burial.  Met his companion Elmer Bert Simmons, (from Ucon, Idaho) who after his Mission was completed visited her in Utah where it seems they fell in love.

I don't know all of the details but I did meet Mary and Elmer in 1975 and was so impressed with both of them. Mary was a tiny vivacious outgoing lady Elmer was a quiet kind and caring person.

Together they had seven children one of which was my wonderful Father in Law.

Paul Alphonzo Simmons 1920-2004

A lot of history for one Post and I could go on, but let's save some for another day.