The Reid, Owen & Hoyal Family Connection



Introduction 

About two years ago I became acquainted with Richard P. Reid CPA. I started having him do our taxes and early in 2012 I asked him where his family was from. When he informed me that they were from Georgia, I knew we had a connection. In the past I only knew generally about the Reid’s but my interest was piqued to find out more. Richard gave me the address for the Reid family blog and I began to learn more about the Reid family. I was not aware of Esther Stedman who lived with and was a foster child of Samuel and Zilphia Owen. Esther later married Charles Morgan Reid. I did know that Mark Reid had a role in my dad (James E. Hoyal) joining the LDS faith and that Ralph Reid played a role in my parents purchasing the El Monte home. When reading the Reid blog I got the impression that the Reid family knew very little about the Owen family and specifically Samuel & Zilphia Owen and that the feelings towards the Owens was not very positive. I discovered that Esther Stedman was Richard P. Reid’s great great grandmother and was truly loved and revered by the Reid family. She was one of those great women of the church. The Reid blog makes the following statement about Esther: “While they were unwilling to adopt her, the Owens did dutifully provide for Esther’s care. Unfortunately, Esther was raised by the Owens with the clear understanding that her foster care was dependent on contributions from her father, David, and that she must also contribute to her own care in every way.” It seems that they hired her out as a housekeeper to various families in the Clinton, Utah area, again on the blog “Esther was hired out to local families to work as a housekeeper and nanny” and that she was responsible for the expense of her up keep. Later on in this history as you become acquainted with her story I believe you will see how Samuel and Zilphia Owen became a blessing in her life. I had grown up believing that the relationship between the Hoyal’s and the Reid’s was very good and so I decided to find out more about this connection. In writing this brief history about the Reid, Owen and Hoyal families I hope to show the influence that the Reid family had on the Hoyal family and their membership in the LDS Church. There is much more to tell, and I will only tell a small part of what is recorded. In writing this story I had to ask myself, who am I writing it for and who would want to read it. Since most of it is about Lawrence & Lenora Hoyal, I would assume their grandchildren, which I am one, and the many great grand children would be the most interested. From Lawrence & Lenora to today, there are six generations removed from them and yet the story begins two more generations back in 1877. After seeing these pictures, my daughter Tayva wanted to know who these people were and how was she related, and so I’m sure others in the family are also not familiar with the names and faces and cannot make the connection. I hope the relationships will be more apparent once the story is told. In telling this history you must know that I’m looking at it through my own set of glasses. From my perspective I believe it was from the experience, MDL Reid and Nancy Duke Reid had in Georgia in 1877 that resulted in our membership in the Church. I know that there are many in the family who are not members of the LDS faith and still others who have become less active, as we say, for what ever reason. My intention is not to offend anyone, or try to convince anyone about the Mormon faith, but simply tell the story as I understand it. Hopefully the story I present will show how the LDS church and the personal stories of those involved have been interwoven and are a part of our heritage. The one person, who stands out as the glue that held this family together spiritually and in the church, was Lawrence & Lenora’s oldest son James Ellsworth Hoyal.  




James E. Hoyal

What were the circumstances that brought him to be a member of the Mormon Church and to become this spiritual leader? It's easy in this day and age to find fault with the way  people lived their lives. What I want to emphasize is the individuals total life and what they became in the end. If you follow James E. Hoyal's life history you will see the spiritual and personal growth that takes place as he remained active in the LDS Church and tried to do his best as he saw that best to be. To keep the story as brief as possible I have left out many side stories, but have included pictures which I feel would be of interest. As a side note, two experiences regarding, James Ellsworth Hoyal (Jimmie), occurred about ten years apart, the first occurred in 1988 at the funeral of Michael Hoyal (Mona and Ralph Hoyals son), which was held in Santa Rosa, California. A friend of mine living in the Santa Rosa, California area and a Stake President attended Michael’s funeral. As I greeted him he said to me “I came to hear the great patriarch speak”, Referring to James E. Hoyal (Jimmie). Again in 1998 at a church meeting, in Orem, Utah, James E. (Jimmie) was asked to give the opening prayer at a Stake Priesthood Meeting. A friend, sitting next to me (His service in the church had been extensive, he was a mission President twice, ran the LDS church senior missionary program, been a counselor in the MTC presidency, as well as a Bishop and Stake president. A great deal of his church service had been associating with General Authorities). After James E. (Jimmie) gave the prayer, this friend of mine turned to me and said: “Who is that man? During the prayer I had to open my eyes to see if there where angels surrounding him” of course I answered “That’s my dad”. I think we can all agree that ‘Pop” had a special gift when communicating with Heavenly Father; which he developed over many years of service in the Church.

The Beginning

On or about Feb 7, 1877, Marcus D. Layfette Reid, (MDL, as he was known), a cotton farmer and veteran of the Civil War, who lived near Armuchee, Georgia, went to town for supplies. While there he noticed a commotion. The towns people were about to tar and feather some Mormon missionaries. He was able to save them and took them to his home for their protection. His second wife, Nancy Elizabeth Duke, was unhappy with the situation and went outside to fetch some water. What follows is a family account of their experience and is on the Reid Blog/Web Site.

 

"One day in early 1877, MDL went to town to fetch supplies. As he was going about his business there, he noticed a bit of a commotion. To his surprise and disappointment, he observed that two Mormon missionaries were being harassed by a group of local townsmen who were preparing to tar and feather the men and run them out of town. MDL could see that the men were in trouble, and if left unaided, he knew that they would be seriously harmed. Compelled by his sense of good will, and perhaps inspired further, MDL was somehow able to create a distraction sufficient to sneak the missionaries away and take them to the safety of his home. When he arrived at home, MDL introduced the men to Nancy, and told her the story of their rescue. Nancy was upset to learn that the men MDL had rescued were Mormon missionaries. She knew of their reputation, and the persecution that Mormons were subjected to in the area. Fearing for the safety of her family, Nancy implored MDL to send the men on their way, but MDL insisted that they first feed them and care to the injuries they had sustained in their altercation earlier in the day. Still angered by the situation, Nancy grabbed a pail and left the house to fetch some fresh water from a nearby spring. As she was stooped to draw water from the spring, Nancy was approached from behind by someone who tapped her on the shoulder. Startled, she turned to see an older man with a white beard and shinning white hair who announced to her that the men in her home were servants of God and that she and her family would do well to allow them in her home and to care for them. Nancy’s attention was turned again to drawing water from the spring, and when she looked back to continue her conversation with the man, he was gone. Nancy returned to the house and told MDL what had happened. While Nancy was off gathering water, MDL had engaged in conversation with his missionary guests. Undoubtedly they spoke of many things, but ultimately, the discussion would turn to religion, and the unique elements of the missionary’s faith. Nancy’s visit from the stranger confirmed what MDL was feeling. These men were special, and MDL knew that he and Nancy needed to listen to their message. Later that evening, Nancy’s earlier fears were confirmed. A group of men arrived at the house demanding that the missionaries be turned over to them. MDL took a position at the door with rifle in hand and made it clear to the men that he had no intention of turning them over to the group. MDL stated firmly that, “these Elders are my guests. They haven’t harmed any of you and you are not going to harm them until you have killed me, and before you kill me I’ll kill some of you. Now go on home”. The mob of men could see that MDL was intent on defending his guests, so the group dispersed and left without further incident.”

(Read more of this story or the histories of those involved on our web site. Go to ourhoyalfamilyBlog or to the Reid Blog.)


Marcus D Lafayette Reid, Nancy Reid,daughter-in-law Martha Louise Child Reid, Grandshildren Martha Jane Reid, and Ralph Frisbee Reid about 1905

Three days later, 10 Feb 1877 (The Reid family honor this day and consider it very special); they were baptized and joined the Mormon Church. Eight years later after serving as branch president for the Armuchee Branch and supporting and protecting the Mormon missionaries during those years, they traveled to Utah, arriving in November 1885. They first settled in Kaysville and then in 1892 they moved to Clinton, Utah(Clinton, Utah is special to our family since that is where my dad was born).

Enter the Samuel Peter Owen Family

About the same time that the Reid Family moved to Clinton (1892) and in another part of the south, Samuel Peter Owen and his wife Zilphia Bailey Owen, were making arrangements to take in a foster child, Esther Weir Stedman. Samuel & Zilphia Owen had been living in Hot Springs, Arkansas since their marriage on 21 May 1882. They were childless and Arkansas court documents dated, 2 Feb 1892, indicate that they had agreed to raise Esther with financial help from her father David S. Stedman, but he (her father) was to maintain guardianship of Esther. Esther was born out of wedlock on 18 Mar 1883 and her Mother died August 20, 1887 when she was four. Her grandfather, Levi Weir, on her Mothers side was murdered on 29 July 1890. Esther was 7 at the time her grandfather was killed. From the time of her mother’s death until the time she was taken in by the Owens, she had been in various foster homes. (See court documents). At her grandfathers death she, Esther, inherited some valuable property. Esther’s biological father, David Stedman, applied for guardianship of Esther and contracted with Samuel & Ziphia Owens to provide for Esther’s care and upbringing. It appears that other than maintaining guardianship and controlling the property, David Stedman, had very little to do with Esther. David Stedman acknowledged Esther as his daughter, but had not married Esther’s mother because he was already married with another family. It is David Stedman, Esthers father, who should be looked upon as the bad guy in this situation.  It was about two years after her grandfather’s death that she went into foster care with Samuel & Zilpha Owens. She was about nine at that time and she was 16 when she married Charles Reid. So she was with the Owens for about seven years.

Samuel Peter Owen

According to “Seed Time and Harvest” Samuel & Zilphia were living in Little Rock, Arkansas at the time they heard the Mormon missionaries and joined the Mormon church. According to a letter written by Esther Stedman later in her life she states “They went to Tennessee. There, where we met the Mormon Elders, Mr. and Mrs. Owens joined the church and came to Utah in March 1894. I was baptized in Salt Lake City, Utah.” Since Samuel & Zilphia had been living in Arkansas for the ten years since their marriage, it makes more sense to assume they joined the Mormon Church in Arkansas. Court documents, as indicated above, place them in Arkansas on 2 February 1892. Samuel & Zilpha were baptized on 10 May 1893 about 15 months later (Don't know where). Esther was baptized on 2 April 1894 in Salt Lake City after the Owens came to Utah. Samuel & Zilphia Owen first settled in Bountiful, Utah where they lived for one year. In 1895, they moved to Clinton, Utah were Samuel Peter Owen became a successful fruit farmer and owned Sunnybrook Fruit Farm. After two years of success in Utah, Samuel wrote to his younger brother, James Marion Owen, inviting him to come to Utah. So by 1895, MDL and Nancy Reid family and the Samuel & Zilphia Owen family which included Esther Stedman, their foster daughter, were living in Clinton, Utah. Esther’s story is on the Reid Blog and included in ourhoyalfamily website. Below I have included part of that history. The Picture to the right is Esther Weir Stedman & Foster Parents Samuel P Zilphia Bailey Owen.
 

Esther Stedman & Samuel Peter, Zilphia Bailey Owen

“Esther’s life was one of repeated tragedy, yet one lived with the great hope of a better tomorrow. One look into her piercing dark eyes, told the story. Forsaken at birth by her father, Esther was raised by her mother under the specter of illegitimacy until her mother died when Esther was 4 years old. After her mother’s death, it took several years before arrangements were finally made for Esther to be given to the care of Samuel P. and Zilphia Bailey Owens, providing Esther some benefit of legitimacy that she deserved. Under the care of a stable family, there was hope of Estera more normal life. While they were unwilling to adopt her, the Owens did dutifully provide for Esther’s care. Unfortunately, Esther was raised by the Owens with the clear understanding that her foster care was dependent on contributions from her father, David, and that she must also contribute to her own care in every way possible. It was a difficult burden to place on a child, yet such were the circumstances of Esther’s early youth. Clinging to the hope of a better day, Esther endured. Not long after being received into foster care, the Owens was introduced to and accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For Esther, the message was heaven sent, and a glimmer of hope shone forth. Not long after their conversion, the Owens moved with Esther to Tennessee and then, two years later, on to Utah where they initially settled in Bountiful. They had been in Bountiful for one year when the opportunity came to move to the hills of the “Sand ridge”, where the Owens took up land in the area now known as Clinton. The Owens worked hard to prosper on that land. Esther was now in her teens, and while the Owens was working to tame the land, Esther was hired out to local families to work as a housekeeper and nanny. It was while working for the Beus family that Esther met Charles Morgan Reid, who had become interested in Esther and called on her often. Their friendship blossomed, and at the tender age of 16, the prospect of hope finally beamed brightly when Esther and Charles were married.”
 

Esther Stedman

It is interesting to note that when Esther signed her marriage certificate for her marriage to Charles Morgan Reid she signed it Esther Stedman Owen. I believe that including the Owen name with that signature indicates how she felt about her relationship with Samuel and Zilphia Owen even though she was only a foster child.  It is also interesting to note that Charles Morgan Reid is the younger brother to Mark Reid, Nini's second Husband and known to the Hoyal family as "Dady Reid"

 When Grandma, Lenora Owen Hoyal, would return to Utah to visit she would always visit the Reid family. We have many older photographs that shows them together with her and members of the Reid family.

The James Marion Owen Family

James Marion Owen
 abt 1897 Ogden, Utah

Samuel Owens younger brother James Marion Owen was born on 27 April 1869. He spent his early years in Fentress County Tennessee, but at the age of 18 and on 28 January 1888 we find him in Wyandotte, Hot Springs Arkansas. Most likely living close to his brother Samuel who was living there in Hot Springs. Returning to Fentress County he married his cousin, Mary Elizabeth Owen,  on 1 April 1890. James Marion’s father and Mary Elizabeths grandfather were brothers. At the time of their wedding James was 20 and Mary was 21. Mary was no stranger to hard times she was 16 when her father was murdered in Jamestown. James and Mary’s first child, a daughter, was born on 30 Aug 1891. Three months later she passed away, on 16 Dec 1891.

 

Mary Elizabeth Owen (Nini) Ogden, Utah 1897

Mary Elizabeth Owen was expecting their second child at the time Samuel & Zilphia joined the Mormon Church. It was either in Arkansas or Tennessee that the Owens heard the Mormon Missionaries and joined the church. “Seed Time and Harvest” states they joined the Mormon Church in Arkansas. Esther states they returned to Tennessee and there joined the church. I believe the reason they returned to Tennessee was to see family before leaving for Utah. I also believe they were probably there for the birth of Mary’s second child, Lenora, born on 17 Oct 1893. I believe Aunt Zilphia helped with that delivery. I believe that Mary Elizabeth (Nini), having lost her first daughter was looking forward to having help from Aunt Zilphia. With Aunt Zilphias training and her mid wife experience I would think she would come to Tennessee to help her sister-in-law before going on to Utah. There was always this special bond between Aunt Zilphia, Mary Owen (Nini), Lenora (grandma) and my dad (James E. Hoyal/Jimmie) and I believe it started at the birth of Grandma (Lenora) in Tennessee. I believe this was demonstrated when Grandma (Lenora) was due with my dad (Jimmie). Grandma (Lenora) went out of her way to go to Clinton, Utah for Aunt Zilphia’s help when James (Jimmie) was born. Lenora was born in the first part of October 1893 and Esther was baptized on April 2, 1894 in Salt Lake City and she states that the Owens came to Utah in March 1894. So it was 4 or 5 months after the birth of Lenora that they immigrated to Utah, arriving sometime in March 1894. Because of the legal arrangements, mentioned above, Samuel & Zilphia never adopted Esther, but she was always considered part of their family. James Marion Owen, with his wife Mary and daughter Lenora were living in Tennessee in 1894. James was teaching school and not doing very well financially. After his brother, Samuel’s, invitation to come to Utah, James Marion with his wife Mary Elizabeth Owen and daughter Lenora left their home in Tennessee arriving in Ogden, Utah in Dec 1896. Lenora, in “Seed Time and Harvest”, tells of her memories (age 3) of coming to Utah.



Mary Elizabeth Owen & Daughter Lenora 1899



 (For further information please go to “Seed Time and Harvest”

After visiting with Uncle Sam & Aunt Zilphia, they moved to Ogden where they rented a small home. There they lived while James Marion worked in Ogden canyon, helping to bring the water pipeline to Ogden. After a short period of time (probably a few weeks to a few months) James Marion was injured by a falling boulder and/or rocks, injuring his spine and the back of his head. This injury disabled him and was eventually fatal. Needing to find a less expensive place to live Mary Elizabeth (Nini) moved her family, James & Lenora, back to Clinton renting an abandon home, across the street from the Clinton School. Animals had been staying in the house, but Mary (Nini) cleaned it up and that’s where they lived. Clinton now had the two Owens families and the Reid family. Before long James Marion was taken to the State Hospital in Provo, Utah and passed away on 14 Feb 1898. He is buried in the Provo City Cemetery. After nearly eight years of marriage Mary Elizabeth was now widowed with a small daughter to rise. The following is a side note about James Marion Owen: After their move to Clinton James Marion would wander off and sometimes not find his way back home without help. Sometime in the late summer or early fall He wandered off perhaps going as far south as Bountiful, Utah. At least it was far enough away from home that no one knew who he was and since he did not know who he was, the State, not able to identify him, sent him to the State Hospital in Provo, Utah. It must have taken some weeks or months for Nini to find out where he possibly could be. At that time it must have been a long trip from Clinton to Provo (at least overnight) and Nini with Lenora made that trip to hopefully identify James. (From 1896 to the 1902 the Bamberger railroad was only completed from Salt Lake to Farmington, so travel was mostly by horse and buggy.) When they arrived in Provo, probably in December 1897 or January 1898, they were able to identify their father and husband, but he did not recognize them. Nini's great granddaughter, Lenora Hoyal Parkinson, Tells the following story  as related to her by her mother.  Lenora (Grandma) always remembered how she felt at the time of that visit. She remembered feeling sad and rejected (her father had always taken the time to play with her) and that her mother, Nini, was crying. That was the last time they would see him alive. He passed away shortly after their visit.



Nini was unable to provide for his burial and so he was buried by the County in an unmarked grave. The following was told to me by my brother Stephen Don Hoyal. In 1973, while attending a genealogy class at BYU, Steve, heard that James Marion was buried in the

Aunt Zilphia, Uncle Sam, Lenora & Jimmie at Lagoon in 1916

 Provo Cemetery. One day he went looking for the grave, but could not find it. Stephen inquired of the Saxton who was able to locate the records and the location of the grave, which was in the County section. Steve informed “Pop” who told Grandma, Grandma then provided the funds for Steve to place a headstone on the grave. 75 years after his death the marker was placed on his grave.
 

The Merging of the Owen & Reid Families

Mark Reid & Mary Elizabeth Owen:

Mary Elizabeth and Lenora stayed in Clinton and two years after losing her husband she married Mark Reid “Dady Reid”, Son of Marcus (MDL) Reid and Nancy E Duke Reid, on 14 March 1900.

Mark Reid & Mary Owen at time of Marriage 1900

Mark was born on 25 January 1873 in Georgia. His birth name was Green R. Mark Zealous Reid. Better known throughout his life as Mark Greenhall Reid. He was four years old, when his parents joined the LDS faith. According to "Seed Time and Harvest", Mark Reid was never really an active member, but always referred to the Mormon Church as “my church”. It is important to note that Lenora was barely three when they came to Utah and maybe as old as three years six months when her Father was injured and about four years four months when her Father died.  She was six years five months old when her Mother married Mark Reid. In a letter dated February 1, 1925, Lenora referred to Mark Reid as “Dady”. “Dady left for Utah last night and we are quite worried about him as it is so cold there but he is worried about Grandma” (Nancy Duke Reid).

 Photo on the left is of Nancy Duke Reid. On the back of the photo it says “To Norah from Grandma”. I think if you were to address a letter or photograph to a close relative, that’s how you would address it. It appears Nancy Duke Reid (Grandma) felt a close relationship with Lenora. Mark Reid was the only father Lenora knew and his mother, Nancy, was the only Grandma Lenora knew. At the time of the 1920 Federal Census Grandma Reid(Nancy) was living with Mark and Nini in Alhambra, California.

  Charles Morgan Reid & Esther Weir Stedman (Owen):

 Esther & Charles, Son of Marcus (MDL) Reid and Nancy E Duke, where married in the Salt Lake Temple on 20 Apr 1899. Charles was born on 6 June 1877 in Georgia; four months after his parents joined the Mormon Church. Charles’s middle name Morgan is the last name of the missionary that converted them. Charles and Esther lived much of their lives in Clinton, Utah. Esther was a long time friend of the Hoyal family as was Nancy Elizabeth Duke Reid. To Lenora Owen Hoyal, Nancy Reid was Grandma and Nancy treated Lenora that way. Lenora Owen Hoyal would travel from California to Utah often and would visit the Owen & Reid families. You can begin to see the connection between Marcus (MDL) Reid and Nancy E Duke ,Samuel Peter & Zilphia Bailey Owen, and James Marion & Mary Elizabeth Owen. It should be noted here that Esther was born in 1883, her mother died in 1887 she was raised in foster homes until 1892 when she was taken in by Samuel & Zilphia Owen. She moved to Utah with the Owens in 1894 and married Charles in 1899. She was only with Samuel & Zilphia for about 7 years. During the time she was with the Owen family, she was introduced to the Church, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Reid family. Some may speculate that she married young to get away from The Owens.  Getting married at 16 was more common in those days and old photographs of Esther, the Owens family, and the Hoyal family, as well as letters,  indicates to me the close relationship she maintained with those families.

The LDS Church Connection

Even though Uncle Sam and Aunt Zilpha had introduced James Marion and Nini to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Mormon Church, and to the Book of Mormon, initially Nini saw no need for a second bible. She had always been a student of the bible and constantly read to her daughter Lenora. After marrying Mark Reid "Dady Reid" Nini joined “Dady Reid’s Church”, the Mormon Church, on 1 July 1900. (Note: there is a discrepancy with the date she joined the Church. In “Seed Time and Harvest” it states that she was baptized on 29 Nov 1898 eight months after James Marion died and before her marriage to Mark. In 1981 I obtained copies of the Temple index cards (these are the official records of the Mormon Church) from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City for James Marion and Mary Elizabeth Owen. On her card it states she was baptized on 1 July 1900. On James Marion’s card is the 29 Nov 1898 date. His temple ordinances were also done, but not until 1903. I assume and believe that Samuel Peter Owen, James Marion Owens brother, did these temple ordinances for him and that the date in “Seed Time and Harvest” is the wrong date for Nini). It should be obvious that it was Mark Reid or the Reid family that influenced Nini to be baptized into the Mormon Church. Lenora Owen Hoyal was baptized on 6 Sep 1902, when she was eight years eleven months old. Nini and Daddy Reid stayed in the Ogden area. Lenora went to school there and had many friends in the Ogden area. When returning to Utah she would often stay with those friends as well as family. Nini and Daddy Reid ran a boarding house in the Ogden area and in July of 1912 a young man by the name of Lawrence Ellsworth Hoyal came to board with them, while he was working on the railroad in Ogden.

Lawrence Ellsworth Hoyal (a man of integrity)

Lawrence Ellsworth Hoyal (Grandpa) was born on 19 May 1895 in Los Angeles, California to James Ellsworth Hoyal(Hole) and Margaret Ellen Augustine. Grandpa was also known as LE Hoyal. While growing up, the Hoyal family lived in Los Angeles and San Bernardino areas as well as Texas, wherever LE’s father could find work. He was once a Jockey for Lucky Baldwin. James E. Hole had changed his last name from Hole to Hoyal to please his wife, Margaret Ellen Augustine. I think that all of us who knew Grandpa (LE) will appreciate this short history of his life. We knew him to be stern, yet caring, to be the most honest man we knew, to be a man of his word. He always called things as he saw them, never pulling any punches (How the cow ate the cabbage) as we often heard. He was strong willed and hard working, honest as the day is long, and never complaining. I believe the idea that the Hoyals are hard headed, and nobody can tell them much if anything at all, came from him. We all wanted to live up to his standard of integrity and enjoy a reputation just like his. While living with Grandma and Grandpa in Colton, California, Harold once asked Grandpa (LE) if he had ever been unfaithful to Grandma during his many travels. His reply “Hoyal’s don’t do things like that”. It was not the question that was important, but the answer which again demonstrated his sense of morals and honesty. My daughter Tayva can still remember the smell of cigar aroma from her visits as a small child. The cigar aroma would penetrate into the candy dish and to this day she is fond of cigar flavored candy caramels. At a young age LE learned how to work. It was probably out of necessity or as He states in his 1937 history and recorded in “Seed Time and Harvest” that he worked “to satisfy his wants”. One example of his willingness to work was at the time the family was living in Cleburne Texas. At the age of 11 and attending the North Ward School, he would take the neighborhood cows out to pasture and return them in the evening. For this he would receive “one dollar per month”. After leaving Texas in 1907 and with a short three month stop in Needles, California, the family settled in San Bernardino, California. While living in San Bernardino, LE worked at the Feed and Fuel business before and after school. He stated he “was working with Oranges buying and selling”. He would buy field boxes of “culls” for ten cents per box, sort out the best ones and sell them to the stores for fifty cents per box. The rest he would sell for ten cents per bucket. He states that he “was in this business at the time my mother died”. His mother died on 5 Aug 1910. He left Texas in 1907 about the age of 12. His mother died in 1910 when he was 15. So he was in the orange business when he was 14-15 years of age. His father then moved to Los Angeles and he gave this explanation of the move, “I moved my father from San Bernardino to Los Angeles with a team of horses and a wagon that I used while in the orange business”. At this young age you can see his independence and self reliance.

He then went to work for a Mr. Jim Hill who was building the 3rd street tunnel in Los Angeles and who had lots of horses and mules. LE thought he wanted to be a blacksmith and worked in the blacksmith shop for one year learning the blacksmith trade, but he did not make enough money “to satisfy his wants”. He then went to work as an apprentice boilermaker. That lasted about 6 months. The job was too dirty for him. Next he went to work for the Southern Pacific Railroad as a Machinist apprentice. He quit because of the “class of people” that he was working with and did not want to be associated with them. The family was living in the Glendale area at the time the family home burned to the ground on, Christmas 1911. After that and at the age of 16, he left home. Next he went to work for the San Pedro, Los Angeles, Salt Lake Railroad in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He left Las Vegas in first part of 1912 and found his way to Salt Lake City, where he worked on the expansion of the Hotel Utah. In the summer of 1912 he found his way to Ogden and a job on the railroad. He found a room at the boarding house run by Nini and “Dady Reid”. The boarding house was about two blocks from the railroad. Lenora was living there and was older than Lawrence.

Lenora Owen as a teenager wearing a bathing suit

After about two months LE was called back to San Bernardino for a National Guard encampment. After the encampment he went to work for the Union Tool Company in Torrance, California. During that time he states “Miss Owen and I communicated with one another all the time I was in California”. On Thanksgiving 1912 he returned to Ogden and worked as a machinist until 24 December when he “quit” to get married. Lawrence and Lenora were married in the Ogden City court house, on the afternoon of 24 Dec 1912. To quote Lenora from her history: “The first of July in 1912 I became acquainted with a new boyfriend who far excelled all the others in so much that on the Twenty-fourth of December we were married.” 

LE & Lenora’s marriage Certificate

 Note: On the marriage certificate the two witnesses were James Grant Hoyal and his wife, LE’s older brother.

 

After their marriage LE was having difficulty finding work. One evening getting ready to retire he observed his wife(Lenora) kneeling by her bed praying. To quote from “Seed Time and Harvest” “Lenora always prayed by kneeling down by her bed. Lawrence asked her what she was doing. She told him. He said he believed in God. She told him, ‘in prayer you thank Him for all He has given you, life, health and strength, loved ones and friends and ask help in what you need.’ Lawrence said,‘I need a job.’ He had left the railroad. So he said, ‘I’ll kneel down and pray and ask God to help me.’ He did. The next morning at 5:00 a.m. on a cold winter day in January with snow on the ground, he was in the Bamberger station around the stove where men gathered who were looking for work and where people would come to get workers. A man put his head inside the door and said, ‘Anybody run a Clamshell (steam shovel)?’No one answered. Then Lawrence yelled out, ‘I’m your man.’ ‘Get on the Bamberger just leaving and get off at the bridge and start the clamshell and dig for the pilings.’ Lawrence did just that. It took him two hours to start the clamshell. It was so cold he had to wrap his feet in burlap sacks to keep them from freezing. He got his job, and he worked building this bridge across the Weber River for several weeks.” Bamberger was the name given to the railroad that ran between Salt Lake City and Ogden, named after the owner Simon Bamberger and forth Governor of Utah. He also started Lagoon in 1896. After that, LE went to Pocatello, Idaho where he worked for a few months. In Idaho there was a murder/suicide of the principles in the business which left LE without work. He then sent his wife and child to Ogden to stay with her Mother and “Dady Reid”. He went to Evanston, Wyoming where he worked for about six weeks. He then returned to Ogden. After two weeks and not able to find work, he informed his wife that he “would not be home until I got a job”. He went to Salt Lake City and unable to find work there, went to Los Angeles. Work was slow there as well and so he worked his way on a boat to San Francisco. Still unable to find work, he worked his way on a ferry boat to Stockton, California. There he went to work for the Holt Manufacturing Company making Caterpillar tractors. He was in Stockton about six weeks when he “was informed that they were hiring machinists on the railroad and I went to Roseville, California”.

 

 This was in 1915 and he sent for his wife and young son. Lawrence Ellsworth Hoyal, Lenora Owen Hoyal & James Ellsworth Hoyal (Jimmie). He stayed there about nine months at which time he left for Los Angeles after an argument with the General Foreman (we can only imagine what that was about).

 

 

 

LE, Lenora & Jimmie abt 1914 

 

 

 

 

 



Nini Roseville 1915

While living in Roseville, Nini visited and attended the worlds fair in San Francisco. (The Worlds Fair took place between June 7, 1915 and September 22, 1915)

 

 

Jimme & Nini 1916



 

LE's five Siblings McGary Ave Home
about 1916/17

 I want to insert here the story of Grandma(Lenora) and Grandpa's(LE) five youngest siblings. After their mother died in Aug 1910 James E Hoyal(Hole) moved his family to Glendale(then known as Ivanhoe) to raise boysenberries. He rented five acres from the Augustine family.  Christmas time 1911 young Bill lite the candles on the Christmas tree and burned the house down. It must have been after that, that their father placed the five younger children in the Volunteers of America Home in Boyel Heights. (Uncle Johnny says in his history that it was Maude B. Booth Home) It could have been one in the same or a different one at a different time. He also states that they were all younger then ten. Hazel was the oldest of those five and she was born in October 1900.  I assume Johnny was referring to the death of their mother and not the age when they were placed in the home. Johnny also states that their father had injured his leg and was in bed for sometime not able to care for the younger children.  So in 1916, after 4-5 years in the home, Grandpa(LE) and Lenora returned to Los Angeles. One of the first things they did was visit his brothers and sisters who were in the Home. Grandma immediately decided that they needed to remove the children from the home and that she would raise and care for them. It is easy to see why Grandpa's(LE) brothers and sisters loved and adored Grandma(Lenora).

James E Hoyal(Hole) family abt 1917 at the Mc Gary Ave Home

The 5 Siblings placed in the home
left to right Johnny, Irven, Bill, Hazel, Ruth
 

 

  On arrival at Los Angles they lived in the Hoyal home on Mc Gary Ave. It was there that Lawrence Ellwood (Laurie), Lenora & LE’s second child and second son was born. LE was able to find work with the Santa Fe Railroad, but after a few weeks the Southern Pacific Railroad called him and wanted him to come to work for them. That was in the latter part of 1915 and he worked there until 1917. He records, “at which time I had charge of everything above the frame on locomotives in the Los Angeles general shops”. LE’s responsibility and reputation was growing and he was only 22 years old. In 1917 the different railroad companies were offering more money for their help. LE left the Southern Pacific for the San Pedro, Los Angeles, Salt Lake Railroad, then to the Santa Fe Railroad, and “back to the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1918 and have been with them ever since”.(History dated 1937) In 1918 he was transferred to Tucson, Arizona where he was the Night Roundhouse Foreman. It was while he was in Tucson and his family living on Lincoln Ave in Los Angeles that the twins Norma and Norman where born on 13 July 1918. Upon hearing the news of the birth he returned home to see the new baby. On arriving home he was surprised to find they were twins.

Each time Lenora had a baby, Nini would come to help. According to Grandma (Lenora) this time Nini stayed almost a year. Mark Reid had registered for the draft on 12 Sept 1918 in Hooper, Weber County, Utah. I find no record of Mark being in the military, but he could have reported for duty sometime after that. If he (Mark) was on active duty in the service there would be no reason for Nini to return to Utah. That may be the reason she stayed so long or was it the fact that Lenora(grandma) had twins and needed the help or both.

Picture on the far right is the home on Lincoln Ave next to Lincoln Park and where the twins were born.

Mark & Nini Reid 500 South First Street Home
Alhambra, California

It appears that Nini and Mark where living in the home in Alhambra since sometime in 1919. Mark Reid’s Death certificate indicates he had been living there for 6 years and had been in California for 6 years. He died 10 October 1925. The cause of his death was Pulmonary Tuberculosis. I have two (2) Grant Deeds dated in 1921 from two different individuals one for a Lot 21 & the other for Lot 22. I’m assuming that although they lived at 500 South First Street home since 1919 they did not purchase it until 1921. I have documentation that shows the land & home where free and clear by December 26, 1923 and at that time they borrowed money on the home. Nini paid that note off in 1930. I have a Chattel Mortgage dated December 3, 1923 from Mark Reid as he sold two mules, a wagon, harness, plow scraper, harrow and float. The interest he charged was 7%. He sold those items for $275 to a T. J. Walsh. I have a second Chattel Mortgage dated April 23, 1924 between Mark and a Robert L. Alvey for two mules, a harness, a wagon, a hay rack, a plow and a harrow. He sold those for $200 and charged 8% interest. So for a period of a few months Mark was selling mules and equipment he used in his business and taking out a loan on their home. He must have needed the money for something?

 The 1920 Federal Census was taken on 12 January 1920 and shows Mark and Mary (Nini), along with Marks mother Nancy E. Reid where  living at 500 South First Street in Alhambra, Calif. The home at 500 South First Street is the home that Nini & Mark lived in until his death in 1925 and until Nini moved to 1029 South Atlantic Blvd. about 1944. (Jimmie and Winona had lived in the 1029 Atlantic Blvd. home, but moved to El Monte in 1944).

 I have the Deed from the Johnsons to Mom & Dad Dated September 3, 1943. Even though they purchased the home in El Monte in 1943 they did not move in until spring of 1944. There was a family renting the home from the Johnsons and they needed time to find new housing. The home in El Monte was initially constructed to be a double garage. When converted to a home it was divided into four parts. On the north were two bedrooms with a bathroom in between and the other half was a living room and a kitchen. The back porch was added and eventually a large bedroom was built to house the boys. That is where my folks raised their eleven (11) children.

I have Mark Reid Death Certificate showing he died in Alhambra.


So in 1944, Nini was now living next door to her daughter Lenora and stayed there until her death in 1948. Mark Reid eventually purchased a small barn that he moved to the front part of their property on South First Street. He converted it to a small home. After Jimmie and Winona left the Orange ranch in 1934, that is the home they lived in.

Mark, Nini, & Jimmie at their home at 500 South
South First Street Alhambra

That is the home where I was born 17 Dec 1934. The address of that home was 504 South First Street. In the fall of 1935 Jimmie, Winona, Mariane and Chris moved into the house at 1029 South Atlantic Blvd., LE and Lenora’s old home. The rent was $10 per month. Later it was raised to $25 per month.
 Below is Lenora, Mariane & Chris about 1938 at 1029 South Atlantic Blvd home.

Lenora, Mariane, Chris
Alhambra 1937



Mariane, Chris, Donna, David
Alhambra 1941

Lawrence & Lenora move to Alhambra

Mertz Home

Now that LE had four children to provide for, he requested a transfer back to Los Angeles. In looking for land where they could have a cow (Rose) they settled in Alhambra, California. They rented a home (left) from the Metz family of Pasadena at 1117 South Wilson Ave (Later to be Atlantic Blvd,). LE eventually purchased two building Lots just north of the Metz home. LE purchased the land in February of 1921 from the estate of Isaias W. Hellman for the amount of $1250. This Document of purchase was recorded in the County of Los Angeles on May 12, 1921. This document I have in my Possession. He built a home on the first lot just north of the Metz home. Records indicate that they were in their new home in 1922. (1029 South Wilson Ave, later to be known as Atlantic Blvd.)

Home at 1029 South Atlantic

Home on the left is the one at 1029 South Atlantic Blvd without the front porch which was added later.

Home at 1027 South Atlantic

In 1927 LE purchased a large two story home that was on the corner of Wilson Ave and Valley Blvd. He moved that home to the 2nd building lot and had it remodeled. Cost of moving the home was $450 and the Initial payment was paid on 10 Aug 1927. Records indicate they were in that home at 1027 South Atlantic Blvd by 1930, but the remodeling was probably done by 1928 and the family could have moved in when the remodeling was done. He then rented the other house. The story goes, as told to Harold, by LE’s (grandpa) brothers, Uncle Irven and Uncle Ray and confirmed by Norman to his children, that the large two story home was once a brothel. If you know or remember the floor plan of the house it makes sense.

Ralph Frisbee Reid

Who is Ralph Reid and how is he connected? MDL Reid and Nancy Elizabeth Duke Reid had six children, the second being Mark “Dady” Reid, the fifth being George Washington Bailey Reid. George was born 15 October 1879 about two years after MDL and Nancy joined the Mormon Church. George married Martha Louise Child. Their third child was Ralph Frisbee Reid. He was born on 17 July 1904 in Utah and died in Palmdale, California on 3 September 1955. He is buried in the Clinton City Cemetery. Ralph was the Nephew of Mark “Dady” Reid. In 1943 when “Pop” was trying to borrow $1,000 to buy the home in El Monte Ralph Reid flew from Salt Lake City to California. It was War time and only two passengers where allowed on the plane, Ralph Reid and an Army Colonel. It makes you wonder what influence Ralph Reid may have had. By his dress and cars he drove we knew he had money. He came to our home in Alhambra and said he would lend my parents the money. He placed ten one-hundred dollar bills on the kitchen table and “Pop” signed a note. When the note was one-half paid off Ralph sent the note back and told “Pop” to put the money on the children. Again I believe this shows the close connection the Reid’s and the Hoyal’s had.

James Ellsworth Hoyal and Daddy Reid’s Church

The following is a quote from “Seed Time & Harvest” “When Jimmie was about eight year’s old (1921) ‘Dady Reid’ came over on Saturday and said ‘Jimmie was to go to church with him in the Morning’. Now this was something. Daddy Reid going to church. What would he wear: The only clothes Jimmie had ever seen him in, were overalls and jumpers. Besides, some friends in a big house between Valley and Ninth on Valley Boulevard had already taken Jimmie to the Nazarene Sunday School.” “That ‘dady Reid’ was going to church was something and of all things he said, ‘My Church’ ” This was to be the first Sunday school meeting of the Mormon Church in Alhambra. It was held upstairs in the Woodman Lodge. There were only a few members of the church in the Alhambra area and the missionaries had made arrangements to start a Sunday school. It was “Dady Reid”, Nini and Jimmie who went to church that Sunday. So began the Saturday night trips to Nini’s and Sunday morning to the Mormon Sunday School. “Dady Reid” rarely went and it was normally Nini and Jimmie who went. Even though Jimmie was attending Sunday School, it wasn’t until 1925 that Bishop Larsen and Tom Talley came to LE and Lenora’s home to ask Jimmie’s parents if he could be baptized. So nine days before Jimmies 13th birthday he and his brother Lawrence were baptized in the Adams Ward on October 3, 1925. It should be noted that Mark Reid passed away on 10 October 1925 just 7 days later. I wonder if Mark Reid and Nini were there for the Baptism. The records indicate that Jimmie & Lawrence (Jimmies brother) were confirmed members of the Church the following Sunday, but in “Seed Time & Harvest” Jimmie states it was one or two weeks later. Picture on the right is Mark Reid holding Mark Lester Hoyal in 1923

Nini & Mark Reids Legacy

The Reid family history of Mark & Mary Reid indicates they returned to Utah where Mark Reid died. The California Death Index and his death certificate states that Mark died at his home in Alhambra California. In “Seed Time and Harvest” it states that the funeral services were held at Turner & Stevens Mortuary in Alhambra, California and conducted by Bishop Larsen. Mark Reid is buried in the San Gabriel Cemetery. David Hoyal, my brother, states the following about his death: “I remember the house by the railroad where Nini and Mark lived. When I was a policeman in Alhambra their house was in my beat and I would stop at times and just walk around thinking of Mark and Nini. Mark was a mule skinner and had two mules which he used to plow or disk the vacant lots for the city. One of the policemen I worked with was a paper boy for Mark and Nini and he remembered them well. He told me that Mark would sit in the swing having his nightcap talking about his mules. My friend on the P.D. said that the night Mark died that the mules tore down their barn. I can relate to that. The night I destroyed my leg my stallion tried to reach me when I called out for help and in the process destroyed his pen and fractured his two front legs. Some say animals are not perceptive, I think they are.” David D. Hoyal.

In a letter written by Lenora Owen Hoyal to Aunt Zilphia dated February 1, 1925 Lenora says: “Dady left for Utah last night and we are quite worried about him as it is so cold there, but he is worried about Grandma. He has had some bad spells lately and drinks so much, we hope he won’t drink up there and also hope he won’t have any trouble with his nice little brother C.M.” In a history written by Douglas Parker Reid (a grandson of Charles Morgan Reid) and available on the Reid Web Site or in a brief Owen history complied by James E. Hoyal. It makes the following statement) “Charlie worked with his brothers, Bud and Walt, who were horse traders, on road crews and on the crew that built the Davis Weber Canal. The snow and rain and cold made for difficult working conditions. They slept in tents, and associated with a rough group of men. Under such adverse conditions, Bud and Walt took to drinking, and became alcoholics. They would get drunk and find themselves in jail, and Charlie would have to go get them out.” Bud also known as Mark was 4 years older than his brother Charles Morgan Reid, 6 years older than his brother George Washington Bailey Reid (the father of Ralph Frisbee Reid, and 8 years older than his brother Walter Laurel Reid.) I mention that because Mark (Bud) could have been a better influence on his brothers. It appears Mark had a drinking problem and probably that kept him away from church. In November 1990 my dad(Jimmie) along with his brother Norman Samuel Hoyal attended the funeral of George Samuel Reid in Roy, Utah. Jimmie was born in Clinton, Utah in 1913, and returned there often as a boy. George Samuel Reid was born in 1906. Ralph Frisbee Reid was born in 1904. I believe Jimmie (Pop) was well acquainted with both of them as well as others of the Reid family and really considered them his cousins.

 

Nini lived at her home on First South Street until she sold it in 1944. I remember the walks from our home on Atlantic to her home. The soft pillowed bed, the boysenberry pies, the smell of mint by the outside faucet, and the sound of the old clock at night. The house was set back from the street with a walkway leading to the front door. On the right of the path were Boysenberry vines held up by two posts and wire that ran between the two posts. Towards the street by the one post was a faucet with a mint smelling plant. Nini moved to 1029 South Atlantic Blvd in 1944 and lived there until her death in 1948. She passed away in the north west bedroom of that home. Her funeral was held in the Alhambra Ward. She is buried in the San Gabriel Cemetery next to Mark.

 

I want to include in this short story of the experience that Lawrence Ellsworth Hoyal (Grandpa) had at Nini’s funeral. Grandpa was setting on the first row of the chapel on the left and I was sitting on the second row directly behind him ( I was thirteen at the time) and can still vividly recall this experience. I will quote from “Seed Time and Harvest”. I include this because it is part of Mark Reid and Nini’s history and as a testimony of Temple Covenants and families.

Nini's Funeral 1948

 

“Nini’s funeral service was in the Alhambra Ward on April 3, 1948 (she died April 1, 1948). During the singing of the song, “In the Garden,’ by Myn Priestly, Lawrence Hoyal, her son-in-law, was sitting on the front row resting his head on Norman’s shoulder. Suddenly, he began to move his legs, jerking, and Norman stood up with him and helped him walk out the side door of the chapel and into a room where Lousie Mariger, a nurse and friend of the family, helped care for him. Lawrence went to the cemetery on Roses Road in San Gabriel, Nini Funeral 1948 but never got out of the car. The next morning, he was feeling better and as he was getting dressed, he asked Lenora, his wife, what the name was that Aunt Zilpha used to call her. She thought of several names and then said, “She used to call me ‘Toots’ sometimes.” “That’s it,” said Lawrence. “Aunt Zilpha asked me, ‘How’s Toots?’ Lenora said. “What do you mean?” Lawrence said, “When I saw her yesterday, she asked me, ‘How’s Toots?’ Uncle Sam was there and introduced me to your father. Uncle Sam said, ‘Larry, this is Lenora’s father; you have never met him.’ We were in a beautiful room dressed in white. The men had on ice cream pants and bakers’ hats and I knew I shouldn’t be there. I asked where Bud was (“Dady Reid”) and they said he had gone to get Aunt May (Nini). Just then the door at the far end of the room opened and in came “Dady Reid” and Nini. She looked so wonderful and beautiful, but I had to leave. The buildings were beautiful and stately and flowers too. I saw Frank Smith (the neighbor who built the brick fireplace in the big two story home) and he asked me what I was doing there and I told him I was in a hurry and couldn’t stay.” Lawrence said, “This happened to me yesterday at your mother’s funeral.”

Conclusion

It appears to me that if MDL Reid had not helped the Mormon Missionaries in Georgia in 1877, if Nancy had not had the experience at the well/spring, if they had not joined the Mormon Church, they would not have come to Utah and Mark would not have been in Clinton to marry Nini. And if Uncle Sam and Aunt Zilpha had not joined the church in Arkansas (Tennessee). James Marion and Mary Elizabeth would have never come to Utah, looking for better times, and not have been in Clinton. Mark, “Dady Reid” would not have married Nini and would not have been living in Alhambra to take James Ellsworth Hoyal (Jimmie/pop) to “Dady Reid’s Mormon Church”. It appears that Mark Reid was not an active, going to church, member of the LDS faith, but he, and/or his family, are the ones who were influential in having Nini & Jimmie become members. So you see I believe that the experience that MDL and Nancy had in Georgia has a direct link to our membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and is part of our history. Grandpa and Grandma (LE and Lenora) named their children after family members, indicating their strong ties to family. James E. Hoyal after his grandfather James E. Hoyal (Hole), Lawrence Ellwood Hoyal (Uncle Laurie) after his father, Norman Samuel Hoyal after Samuel Peter Owen, Norma Zilpha Hoyal after Aunt Zilpha Bailey Owen, Mark Lester Hoyal after Mark (“Dady Reid”) and also Aunt Hazel’s husband Lester, and Lenora after her mother. LE’s experience at Nini’s funeral, which I believe did happen and he did see what he saw, is a testimony to me of families and the reunion we have to look forward to when we leave this life. I appreciate the family and all the input they have given me.

James C. Hoyal (Chris)

 

Research Notes:

Ancestry.com:

California, voter registrations 1900-1968

Family Search.Org:

California Death index 1905-1939 Surname Range: Lem, Lep – Rouse, Roy Image 767 Page 9022 State File #46360

Death record of Mark Reid 10 October 1925

imareid.wordpress.com/: Reid Web Site

Seed Time and Harvest: The Life Story of James E. and Winona Christensen Hoyal from 1909-1982

Lawrence Ellsworth and Lenora Owen Family-Including Owen Family History: Complied by James E. Hoyal

Mark Reid’s Death Certificate.

Documents saved by Carl L. Hoyal from being thrown away.

Personal Comments by David D. Hoyal 18 April 2012

Notes taken from conversation with Harold Hoyal, Stephen Hoyal, Mariane Hoyal Ferguson and Lenora Hoyal Parkinson