PERSONAL HISTORY OF MATTIE ALBERTA BLACKMORE HOLYOAK MATTIE ALBERTA BLACKMORE HOLYOAK Born: September 18, 1908 Cardston, Alberta Canada Parents: William and Mary Christina Ada Horne Blackmore. Mattie grew up on the Staghorn Farm in a large family. She has many happy memories of her childhood in a home of love and togetherness; yet, where strict rules were in place and followed. Mattie was Baptized 6 Oct. 1918 in Cardston by Ernest Bates. Confirmed Oct. 6, 1918 by Nathan W. Tanner. Autobiography / Narrative by Mattie Our mother (Mary Christina Ada Horne) had more courage and ambition than anyone I ever knew; she never complained of the hardships she had to endure; bless her!! My mother was born in Box Elder County, Utah (1874). Married to my father in 1889 and joined with my father to settle in Cardston, Canada, NWT in 1892. She never complained or gave up. I hope I can be like her. To my mother I owe thanks for my love of beauty. She also taught me how to quilt and sew, to cook and the importance of being clean inside and out, also the importance of a clean home. She taught me to see beauty all around me; the sky, the grass and flowers, the snow of the winter, the birds and most of all she taught me love for my fellowman and to have faith in my Father above. She was the best. We loved our father very much. There was no man lived that was more kind and thoughtful. Father was born in Exeter, England and was apprenticed out as a seaman at the age of seven. He taught himself to read and write. He also taught us the importance of a good education and clean living. I remember my father as a loving, kind man; we loved him a lot. We never had a lot of material things in our home; but we had love and companionship there. I remember him so well at Christmas time as he went all out to make it a happy occasion. On Christmas morning he would get up real early, make a good warm fire in the stove then let us come out and choose the gift we wanted to take back to bed with us for awhile; of course to me it was always a doll. The spring he died I had been laid up with a broken leg I got when a wagon load of rocks we were clearing from the field ran over me. I remember so well when he used to go to town, he always brought me animal crackers and old fashioned chocolates; then hed come read to me and tell me of his trip, the things he saw and bought. Just when I was able to walk around he died. I will always remember that how lonely we were and how nice he looked in his Temple clothes. He used to tell us of his travels on the ship, of the things he saw. Hed tell us stories of England and sing songs to us as we sat around him in the evening. I was near ten when he died ; they were truly the good old days. My brother Jim took over and helped mother with the farm and family. He used to sit me on his lap and talk to me when I had a problem. I loved and appreciated all he did for us. He was a wonderful brother. We had to work hard on the farm; but there were many wonderful memories: gathering wild berries to make jam, driving the team and wagon home from town; when a storm hit and scared the horses, they bolted and ran full speed down the hill with me holding on to the reins pulling back with all my might. We got back to the farm in a hurry. Jim was worried about us and was watching out the window and ran and opened the gate. We all had a good laugh about it later; but it was frightening to us at the time. Many good memories I have of the farm and growing up and going to school in Cardston, where I finished high school. I remember watching the workers building the Cardston Temple. My father worked on the basement of the temple with his team of horses, old Brock and Stonie, two big greys. The floors were made of inch tile, all pretty colors and to me it was beautiful and still is. My first calling in the Church was a primary class. We went through the temple several times before it was dedicated. The Temple was always something special to me. I watched it being built and I was married there and have gone back several times with mother and my brothers and their wives and nieces, the latest being 1966. I was married to Jesse Gilbert Holyoak on December 2, 1925 in the Cardston, Alberta Canada temple by Edward James Wood. I met Jesse while he was up in Canada working with a cousin, James Thompson. Jesse was from Moab, Utah U.S.A. When Jesse and I were married we felt we had the world by the tail; never thinking of the rough road that may lie ahead. We stayed several days with his aunt Alice Thompson in Cardston then down a day or two with Henry and Idella in Welling; then took the train for Moab. We stopped off at Aunt Sarah Rushtons in Ogden and visited with his relatives there for a week. It was winter time and quite cold so we didnt go out much. Then we boarded the train at Ogden for Moab. It was a lovely day. One could see for miles and the mountains looked so beautiful. Jesse slept near all the way, so I watched the country side alone. I marveled at the Salt Lake Temple I could see in the distance. When we came over Soldier Summit I could look out the window and see the tail end of the train just coming around the bend miles below; it was a pretty sight. We arrived in Thompson at about 6:30 pm. Took a stage, they called it, and came into Moab. I thought I was clear to the ends of the earth and knew I was the next morning when all I could see was red walls of rock and a patch of blue sky above. Dad Holyoak immediately took me out to see if I could tell which way I had come in. Man dear, I couldnt see any way out, how could I see how I had come in. He had a good laugh, I loved Dad from the start. Our first Christmas, or mine I should say, in Moab Valley was a homesick one, everything was different. Their way of life was different than the way I was brought up at home. Mother always had a clean house and good meals and we children learned to help keep it clean and help each other and try to get along. Oh we had our differences; but there was love and cooperation there also. Life was not that way in Jesses home. His mother didnt care how the house looked or if meals were fixed nice or anything and there was quarreling all the time and it seemed like Dad Holyoak was the only one who cared or tried to keep things going. He was out in the field working from dawn to dark. Mother Holyoak was always gone visiting somewhere. I was very lonesome. I tried to clean and help cook and help Jesses brothers and sisters with their home work. I got very discouraged and lonesome for home. This was a new experience for me, not at all what I had expected; but, I had been married in the Temple and had taken a covenant with the Lord and I was determined to make it work even if it killed me, and it almost did. My, we expect a lot, dont we? That winter we lived on the Mesa and fed cattle. It was pretty up there. We used to ride a horse up over the slick rock and around the Mesa trail. One bend in the trail was real close quarters. We could look straight down the canyon, it looked like a long ways down; but the horses had traveled it enough that they knew the trail by heart. Thanks for that! I used to do a lot of sketching of animals and the house and trees and old Brownie, the faithful old dog. We used to ride out to the Mesa rim and look down into Moab. I loved those times. One time we were sitting there on our horses so quietly that a deer came bounding out of the trees right at the side of us. He was so surprised to see us there that he stood long enough for me to sketch him on a pad I had with me. Then I transferred it to a larger paper and still have it. The next summer we stayed in town and took care of things. I never saw so much fruit and we had a real nice garden. That fall, October 14, 1926, Gilbert was born. I wasnt so lonely now. The next spring we moved to LaSal on a farm there. I liked LaSal. Gilbert and I were alone a good share of the time; but we kept busy milking cows and shipping cream. We had a lot of milk, eggs and butter. I raised a big garden and we canned a lot of vegetables. I liked it there. I chattered to Gilbert so much he could talk real good when he was nine months old. Then, Jesse went to work for the Thomson brothers in lower Moab Valley. They had cattle and a great flock of turkeys, I will never forget those turkeys. I had Floyd Don then. He wasnt well and neither was I. We lived in two rooms; our kitchen had a dirt floor. I will never forget that either. Floyd Don died that fall. Again, we lived with Jesses folks that winter. The next summer we moved on Uncle Dans place on the flat. I liked it there too. It was lonely; but I liked it. Dale was born there. Uncle Dan died that summer and again we moved to Jesses folks place. Then; Jesse took up a homestead up by Aunt Etholen. It was hard work on me. We carried water from a spring up the wash. The house was small; but it was ours. Betty Joyce was born there. I had been sick for a long time, I spent a lot of time in bed to keep from losing the baby. I just knew it was a little girl and so I put up with the pain and not being able to walk except with the help of a chair which I pushed in front of me for support. I never did get to feeling good after the birth, so Dr. Allen did a big operation on me. My friend Ruth Parrot took care of Betty Joyce for me until I was feeling better. I was never able to have any more children; but I enjoyed my family. We had lots of good times together, worked hard too; but that is life. One funny thing that happened when Dr. Allen delivered Betty Joyce and had her all wrapped up and laid her in my arms, Dale and Gilbert came in to see the baby and Dale looked at her and said “Mom she looks like a monkey, let’s throw her away.” She had lots of dark hair and a red face. We had a good laugh over that. They had a lot of fun growing up together, playing cops and robbers and monkeys in the trees. We had to carry water to wash and heat in on a wood stove in the kitchen then scrub the clothes on a wash board and hang out side on the clothes line to dry. We even carried water to keep the flowers alive I tried to grow in buckets around the house to make it pretty. I went to work at the hospital to pay for the operation I had. I worked the afternoon shift and walked three miles to town and three miles home after work. It made a long day but I was grateful to be able to walk and not have so much pain all the time. Jesse was very angry about it all; but I couldn’t help it, so I worked and paid the bill. I had many experiences working at the Hospital, some good, some bad; but I made many good friends that I have cherished for life. I had the opportunity to buy a little house in town, so it was not so far to walk to work and it had running water and electric lights. I will never forget the feeling we had when we had a bathroom, running water and electric lights and all. Did it ever feel good. I will never forget when we got my washer and I could do my washing other than over a board. We raised good gardens, had lots of milk, eggs and butter. We felt we were rich and we were. We had lots of good friends and neighbors, plenty to eat and all, and beautiful flowers and trees around the house that I loved. The children could participate in school and church activities and we were all happy there. The Wilcox family from La Sal needed a place to stay and go to school, so Max came to stay with us. He was a good boy and Gilbert and Max were good friends; they got into mischief sometimes but we loved him like a son. Then Linda, his sister, came to stay while she went to high school. She roomed with Betty Joyce and then Ruth came; we had a lot of good times together. It was during this time that I went to work for Mr. Corbin at the telephone office. I really did enjoy working at the switchboard and I met a lot of good people and made good friends. I was able to pay off the house and have some to spare to get some things I desperately needed. I worked the hospital for 11 years as a nurse. Sometimes Dr. Allen needed me to special for the critically ill patients. I had to rely on my Heavenly Father a lot to help me know what to do for these patients. I certainly did a lot of praying. I had a great love for people and I could sympathize with them when they were in pain because I had known a lot of pain in my life. I worked at the telephone office for 17 years before the Dr. told me I had to quit because of my head and health. I enjoyed those years. I also worked some as a beauty operator. I did a lot of peoples hair at home in my spare time. I have been active in the LDS church all my life. I love my Heavenly Father with all my heart. I have needed him so much in my life and I could talk to him when there was no one else I could turn to. Here is a poem I love. TAKE MY HAND Take me by the hand dear Lord and lead me all the way. I dare not walk the road alone or I will go astray. Take me by the hand dear Lord the way is rough and long. And I am weak and trembling Lord while thou art calm and strong. Thou knowest all the rough spots Lord, that I alone would meet. So take me by the hand dear Lord, then I’ll not know defeat. Though some may choose to walk alone they do not understand, I want to walk with thee dear Lord and have thee take my hand. Raymond Orner “ I am a firm believer in Prayer and I have tried to live the Gospel the very best I could and be a good example to all my friends and family. I know that if I need the Lord he will answer my prayers as he has so many times in my life. I have been active in the LDS church all my life. I served in the Primary for 30 years; the visiting teacher message teacher in the Relief Society for many years; Mutual teacher and as a visiting teacher in Relief Society for 43 years until my health failed and I could no longer serve.” Mattie served on the Primary Stake board for 20 years and also on the Relief Society board. She also taught Sunday School. Mattie served a Stake Mission for the church and held many firesides in her home. Serving others has been the happiest times in her life. She could forget her pain and aches when she was busy, as the Lord always gave her the strength she needed. Mattie received an Outstanding Mother award, Book of Mormon achievement award 1976 – 1977, plus many service awards throughout her life of service in the Church. Mattie has been a wonderful mother to many children besides her own. Her home has always been a home away from home for many school children, teachers and cowboys as well as her grandchildren. Mattie and Jesse had four children. Gilbert Oral 14 Oct. 1926; Floyd Don 29 Jan. 1928, died 23 Sept. 1928; Dale Henry 12 May 1929; Betty Joyce 5 Nov. 1930. Mattie loves poetry, art, music and beautiful flowers. She sews and has made many beautiful clothes for her grandchildren and many hand crafted items for friends and to make her home beautiful. Mattie and Jesse celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with family and friends. Jessie passed away Jan. 19, 1987 after 61 years of marriage. Mattie has had many faith promoting experiences in her life. I would like to share one with you. “In the year 1949 I developed a severe pain in my left side and arm and over my heart. The Dr., then Dr. Temple, sent me to the hospital under treatment for a heart condition and terrible pounding headaches, that I still have now. I really put up a battle for my life I can tell you, more than anyone knew but myself and the kind Father above. One day Dr. Temple told me he was going to try some new pills for my headaches; so when I felt them coming on to call the nurse and she would bring the medicine to me. That night at eleven p.m. the headaches were pretty bad so I rang for the nurse, who happened to be Genevieve Holyoak, Johnson is her name now. She gave me the pills. Within 20 minutes I was so ill, my head felt as big as a tub and getting bigger. I could not get my breath. I called the nurse again and told her how I felt and asked her to call Brother W. R. McConkie and ask him to come and administer to me. (I always had a lot of faith in brother McConkie). He stopped and got Gilbert on the way (Gilbert hadn’t been married but several months). They came immediately, the Dr. came too and gave me a shot in the vein of my arm. He also turned the oxygen tank control up as high as it would go. I was surprised to see the oxygen up so high. I can remember seeing Brother McConkie come in; but not Gilbert. That was the last I could remember for hours. I never saw Gilbert until I woke up at daylight. I remember I went to a beautiful place, all the country around me was pretty and green with lovely flowers and birds singing. From where I sat on the side of a hill I could see people way down below me and they seemed very busy and happy. Some were singing. I was just too tired to move so I just sat there. Then I could see Dale coming towards me on his crutches with a bandage on his head (he had been in a car wreck that fall). Well he came up to me and said, “come on home mother we need you.” But I refused to go, again he said “come on home mother we need you.” But I was too tired, then he said “I can beat you to the top of the hill mother” but that did not move me either; then he went on up and over the hill out of sight. Then the next thing I know Gilbert was there. He put out his hand and said “What are you doing here Mother, don’t you know we need you at home, come with me now mother”. But I refused. I told him I was happier where I was and to go on back; but he said he wasn’t about to do that so he kept on saying “come on mother we need you at home, and I won’t leave without you.” Finally I got to my feet and tried to reach his hand. But always he was a step ahead of me with his hand out towards me and saying “come on mother it’s just a little ways farther, come on mother it’s just a little ways farther” and all the time I was saying “I am just too weary.” Finally with him encouraging me and my struggle on weary feet we reached the top of the hill. Then I opened my eyes and there sat Gilbert patting my hand and holding the oxygen mask over my face and he was saying “come on mother we need you, you can rest later”. Genevieve stood by my bed on the other side all white and tense also saying “Just rest, just rest.” Then I asked Gilbert where LaNae was, he said at home. Gilbert had never left my side all night, as it was daylight then and he had called me from the other side I know. It took me a long time to recuperate from that. I guess he did need me; and I have lived to see fifteen grandchildren; that I love very much and to know more than ever there is a kind Father in Heaven who hears and answers prayers, if we just do our part.” MOTHER year 1975 and 17 grandchildren now. Gilbert served a mission to the Texas Louisiana 1947 – 1949. Married LaNae Green Cooper 28 Sept. 1949 Logan Temple. They are the parents of 6 children. LaRita, Janet Marie, Carolyn, Gilbert Reed, Marilyn, James David. Gilbert and LaNae live on a ranch in St. Ignatius Montana Dale Henry married Helen Jo Beeson 22 Aug. 1953 Moab, Utah. They are the parents of five daughters. Daleine Jo, Lorette Vee, Riata Lee, Tonja Kim, Raqual Joyce. Dale and Helen Jo are divorced. Dale’s home is in Moab, Utah. He works construction all over the country. Betty Joyce married Devon Warren Foote Sept. 18, 1951 in the Salt Lake Temple. They are the parents of 6 children: Marla Ann, Devon Warren Jr., Boyd Keith, Carmalee, Ruth Marie, Beth Joyce. They live in Kaysville, Utah. Mattie and Jesse have 17 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren as of 1988. They have had 5 granchildren fill missions. Devon Warren Jr. – central Japan Kobe; Gilbert Reed – Hong Kong; Boyd Keith – Denver, Colorado; Ruth Marie – Chile Santiago North; Beth Joyce – Netherlands, Amsterdam. There have been 9 grandchildren married in the temple so far. Many have achieved success in the academic field also. I, her daughter, would like to pay tribute to her as a wonderful Mother and friend. She taught me to love life, the Gospel, the Scriptures and everything lovely or of good report or praiseworthy. She taught me how to work and enjoy it; how to sing and enjoy good music; how to cook, sew and clean, how to willingly serve my Heavenly Father and to love him with all my heart and trust in him always. With her as a wonderful example to follow I have a strong testimony of the Gospel and a love for the Prophets who guide this church. Mother served others all her life and never complained of the time or energy she gave in this service. She is a beautiful person and I love her with all my heart. If I could become even a part of the person she is I will be happy. I am sure when Heavenly father calls her home he will greet her with open arms and say to her “Mattie, my beautiful daughter, Welcome home. You have done well my good and faithful servant. Enter into your joy.”
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 03:24:39 +0000
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