Oliver Lewis & Viola Maria Mathias
Oliver Lewis was born in Parowan, Utah 4 March 1861. He came to Arizona as a young man with his parents and stayed with them a short time. It isn't known why he went back to Utah but he did and lived there the rest of his life. His story is interwoven with the rest of the family, and like the rest of the family, not much is known of his childhood.
Oliver was a big help to the family moving so far from their home in Panguitch in the dead of winter. He drove the ox team and helped so much in caring for the animals. He was the oldest boy at home and much depended on him. Driving an ox team wasn't any fun and he was very patient in his job. It is told how he was patient with an old ox who got tired and laid down on the job, as much as to say he was done working and wanted a rest. Everything stopped and no coaxing could persuade him to get up so finally Oliver got out his accordion and played a soft tune and to his amazement the old fellow got up and pulled his load. That is what patience will do.
So after helping his parents get settled Oliver went back to Utah. He had helped his father build a two room log house add get it fixed comfortable for them. Did he leave a sweetheart behind? We don't know but there was something of great interest there.
Anyway, he found a wife there, Viola Mariah Mathias, and after their marriage they settled down at a place called Santaquin, then moved to Thurber and was discontent there, so he moved on to Escalenta, where seven of his children were born. They then moved to a town called Fountain; then on to Elwood, then finished his life work at Bear River, where he farmed until he got too old to work. It was here that he died March 5, 1947, and was buried there five days later.
Oliver tells a lot about the Hey-Day of his youth, "At that time I was willfully reckless, rattle headed, as bad as any kid could be. I smoked, drank, I swore, I wouldn't obey council, in fact I did everything bad in the books. My parents had warned and told me of the ways young folks were going and tried to show me the way, but I thought I knew best and went on in my foolish ways. But I know what my parents was telling me was true and I would try to mend my ways--but I soon would go back to the old ways, and went on sowing my 'Wild Oats' doing many things I shouldn't have done and leaving undone many things that should have been done. Falling into many bad habits that have taken a whole lifetime to overcome. But after I married I began to slowly settle down and tried to profit by the many mistakes I have made."
Oliver was the father of twelve children, but we haven't any record much of what they did or where they lived until some of them were in the first World War.
Here are more quotes from the memos of Oliver Lewis: "From my earliest childhood my parents taught their children, that the Lord through revelations to the Prophet Joseph Smith had given to the Latter Day Saints, the most perfect means of maintaining health add strength that has ever been known to the children of man. And that revelation is found recorded in the book of Doctrine and Covenants, section 89. It says if we will be diligent in keeping the word of wisdom we would seldom be sick and if we get sick, the cause of our trouble nine times out of ten would be traceable to our lack of keeping the Word of Wisdom.
I've seen these teachings fully demonstrated at my father's home in the following manner: My mother gave birth to twelve children. One died in early childhood, but the eleven grew to man and womanhood without the aid of a doctor, if ever a doctor stopped at father's home during his entire life, I'm sure it couldn't have been due to his medical skill. There were eleven children in our family and healthier children didn't exist. Father told me many times that the Latter-day Saints should never be dependent on doctors for the healing of their sick. Although it is true that doctors are healing all manner of sickness, the fact still remains, that the best doctor on earth is a very poor substitute for the administering of the Mormon Elders.
The first time I ever saw the sick healed by administration of the Elders was at my father's old pioneer home, that used to stand one mile east of Panguitch, Garfield Co., Utah. My sister Keturah and husband, Alfred Baker, was there and Keturah had recently given birth to a baby boy, after which she became afflicted with milkleg. When father found that his means of healing the sick at home was not sufficient, he went to Joseph Davis, who was the Bishop of the Panguitch Ward and called for help. The Bishop called out eight faithful Elders and sent them to our home, under the following instructions: They were to come and stay twenty-four hours, without eating or sleeping; and to do all in their power to make the patient comfortable. The rest of the time was to be spent in singing the songs of Zion, praying and searching the scriptures and discussing them.. At the end of the twenty four hours, they would be better prepared for the task ahead. At the end of this time, I, under the instructions of my father, hooked a pair of horses to a spring wagon with box and seats and drove into Panguitch, borrowed other spring seats and drove to the Bishop's house. He told me where I would find eight other Elders. When I drove up, they all climbed into the wagon and I took them to our house. They relieved the other Elders and I took those eight Elders home. Thus making two round trips every morning in order to keep eight Elders constantly in the house. I don't remember exactly how long this went on, but I am safe in saying it was not less than seven days or more than twelve-days.
One night after I had retired to my bed I began pondering over my sister's condition; and wondering if I would ever see her alive again.. I thought it very doubtful, but to my great joy and surprise, when I arose the next morning my mother met me at the door.. I’11 never forget the joy in her eyes when she said, "Oh my boy, there has been some wonderful things happening in our house while you were asleep last night, I wish you could have been there and have seen for yourself, I wanted to call you but Bishop Davis forbid. He told us we should be quiet. She said that while the Elders were administering to my sister in the night, Bishop promised mother that before morning she should see her daughter walk on the floor. To me it seemed impossible, but not so. It was the God of heaven speaking by inspiration through his authorized servant, therefore it had to be fulfilled. When my sister got that promise she was lying on her back on her bed in the most helpless condition a mortal could be in. The only parts of her body she could move were her arms which were constantly swinging and hammering the bed in agony and pain. Her head rolled and tossed till her long black hair was one mass on her head. Her feet and legs were so swollen until they couldn't swell anymore without bursting, and to move one of them would be like taking her life. An hour after she got that promise, she told mother she felt like she could sit up in the rocker to rest awhile and enjoy the heat from the fire in the old fashioned fireplace, while her bed was changed. So with arms around her while she walked to the chairs and felt much better. Then she felt so much better she joined the Elders in singing some songs of Zion, praising the Lord for what he had done for her. She chatted merrily for an hour, then she tired, and the Elders walked her back to her bed. I took all the Elders home that morning end didn't bring any back. That was the only occasion I ever had of bringing Elders to and from my home for such a purpose. Suppose my father had called doctors instead of Elders. Doctors forty miles away with snow 18 inches deep, it would have been impossible. Just suppose father had found a doctor with medicine and he had perfected a cure; where would I have gotten this testimony? That I am now giving; and where would all these Elders have gotten such a wonderful experience? An experience as they got at my father's house at what I call Bishop Davis's school of the Prophets. A11 the people around Panguitch would have been singing the praises of that wonderful Doctor, and the Lord's name wouldn't have been in it, and He is a jealous God. We would all have been deprived of the ways and means the Lord provides to increase our faith in him.
It was at this time I was a willful and reckless, rattled brain kid, and this experience started me in a different direction; and my faith has been strengthened day by day until I was a changed man and the Lord lead me back to the "Straight and Narrow.."
A STORY OLIVER LEWIS TOLD THAT HE HEARD FR0M HIS MOTHER
Having been requested to write a brief history of my mother's family, I start with the first story I ever head my mother tell: While in early childhood she said one morning while her father, James William Huntsman, was milking the cow at the first home she ever knew or remembered, somewhere in Missouri, a wicked cowardly cruel mob came in their yard knocked her father down and lashed him to a fence rail and after beating him nearly to death, turned him loose and gave him his choice. If he would betray his people and join the mob he could keep his property, if not, he could take the old blind mare, hitch her to an old cart he had abandoned to the dump, fix it up and he would be allowed to take from his home all he could pile on the cart and leave within a short time. Mother saw her father stagger into the house but before long they had done as the mob demanded.
This was just a sample of what the Saints went through for the Gospel's sake. It was the plan the Lord had in teaching his faithful followers the way of sacrifices they must make in order to gain the testimonies they must obtain to qualify them to be staunch members of His church here on earth. And they had many many persecutions.
(I have gone through about 100 old letters Oliver Lewis wrote to his sister, Laura Lewis McBride, many years ago. In them I have found many interesting items which should be of interest to the grandchildren of our grandparents)
Oliver quotes: "While the World War No. 2 was going on, I had three sons across the pond, all under 20 years of age, two in the Navy and one in the Army. It was shortly after Delois took his place behind the Big Guns, he wrote us that nearly all of the boys who had been working behind the guns had either been killed or worn out, and Delois wanted an opportunity to write home as this might be the last letter he would ever write he said. "So if you don't hear from me in due time, you can guess what has happened."
About forty days passed and no letter, so one night before retiring my wife and I decided to inquire of the Lord if he would make known to us by a dream given to some member of the family that we might know what had become of our boys. Then my wife prayed the same as I, then we went to bed and slept. Along in the night we awakened. My wife had been dreaming about the boys, but it was so badly muddled that she couldn't make anything out of it, but we felt sure the Lord would answer our prayers. Again we dreamed but again things were not clear. While we were talking about it after awakening, our little boy heard us and sang out, "Oh Pa I had a dream last night and it was about the boys too." He said that Winifred came home first and he was all right, and a long time after that I saw a whole lot of soldiers marching; it was in a strange town, they had banners and flags and music was playing and everybody was having a good time. Then while I was standing on the sidewalk watching the soldiers marching, I saw Delois with them. When the marching stopped Delois came home with us and was all right. It was a long time before Alfred came home, when he did Delois was gone but Winifred was there, and I was sitting on the south side of our house. I watched Alfred and Winifred hook up Old Dan to the buggy and drive out, they were going to Galand to see Lynda.
I saw that dream literally fulfilled, record couldn't have recorded it more plain. The Lord revealed it through my little boy. Winfred was in the 145 Utah artillery division and always grumbled because he didn't get into active service. They held Delois as a guard in Germany until Spring, so he got home in time to celebrate the 4th of July in Brigham City, and there was where we saw that part of the dream come true. Alford was in the Navy and was gone a long time, then came home on furlough, and that was when Roy sat on the south side of the house and watched the boys hook up Dan and drive off. That dream put an end to the awful worry about our boys overseas. Wish this could be recorded for unborn descendants to read.
My Dear Sister Laura: You asked what proof I have that Tarlton Lewis was Joseph Smith’s bodyguard, and came to Utah in Brigham Young's Company. In the summer of 1878 I was working for Uncle Beason and grandpa lived with them in a separate room, my wife caring for grandpa (Next lines are missing, but I have heard many times that he was the Prophet's body guard)..
More extracts from Oliver's old letters to his sister Laura: "I am dreaming tonight of our dear old pioneer home in Pahguitch, and the snow is on the ground--the storm is raging wild outside, and big snowflakes falling down. Mother is singing her sweetest lullabies to her babe on her knee. Father is reading the old reliable "LDS News," just as happy as a father can be. They have 11 children all at home, all happy, healthy and bright. With a pitch pine log for a candle. We have all our lessons to get tonight--all huddled around the fire with our hearts full of glee.
We are back to the winter of 1876. The old home is warm with plenty of room, with a big pile of wood outside, we have plenty of milk cows out under the shed and plenty of horses to ride, a herd of cattle on the range, and a big fat hog to kill anytime we choose, plenty of beefsteak on hand and a dandy farm to boot. The best of neighbors by the scores and a whole town full of friends. Both school and playmates all around, surely such pleasures will have no end:
When I went to Panguitch in 1873 a few old stockades, huts and cabins were all the buildings I could see, the people's most valuable possessions were their community and their health; their hearts were full of mirth, trying to do all the good they could. Their hearts were bound together with friendship and love. They never rode a bicycle never rode a trike, always rode a horse or wagon when they went on a hike. They never used bad language; never did profane, never did see an automobile and never did ride on a train. They were harmless as a kitten; as rugged as a bear. If you were looking for neighbors you could always find them there.
Dear Laura: Just imagine yourself coming home to Panguitch finding your parents and brothers and sisters as in days of yore; children studying their lessons and parents chatting with neighbors and friends. What would you give for just such an experience? Most every one in those days had a little flock of sheep and our father would shear them as they lay in the door yard. Then mother would come with buckets and we would carry water from the canal, put it in leaky wooden tubs and wash the wool with home made soap and get it as clean as such soap would get it. After it dried we would pick the trash out of it then it was corded and spun into yarn. We would weave, put into yarn and make into cloth and then make it into dresses and other clothes. Mother would make the loveliest blankets; so soft and warm. What would a young lady now days think if she had to wear such clothes. It is hard now days for the youngsters to realize what our pioneer parents had to do to live. I don't remember going to school in Minersville when they had desks, the benches were of rough slabs with pegs for legs. It was tough sitting. Do you remember our cabin there Laura? I remember when mother got her first cook stove, it cost $100. We could get it now for $10. A box of matches half size cost 75 cents. We didn't have riches but we were happy:
I remember when grandfather and mother would go to conference, stop with us over night. They had a pair of dapple gray horses, the cover for the buggy was new or had been freshly washed. Grandpa Huntsman weighed over 200 pounds, while grandma was quite small. They always stopped with us on their way to Salt Lake but after grandpa died, I never did see grandma anymore. The only time we children ever saw an apple was when these grandparents came from conference they would bring us presents, they brought Ed a fife, me a drum, Dell a dog knife. Uncle Beason liked to torment us and take our toys away from us and make us cry; he surely loved to tease. Once I picked beans for grandma and she said I could have all I picked. I worked several days and got nearly a bucket full, then here came grandma Huntsman and traded me apples for the beans, the bucket wasn't as full of apples as mine was full of beans so 1 thought she had cheated me. I told grandma Lewis my troubles and she said the apples were worth more than the beans so I was satisfied. I remember well when grandpa Huntsman died although I was only about six years old.
(This from Laura Lewis) "Now 1 found the other part of the statement about Joseph's body guard. Now I only have grandpa's and grandma's word that Grandpa Tarlton Lewis was one of the Prophet's body guards and that is proof enough for me, and a lot of my grandparents history is recorded in the histories of the church.
I, Oliver Lewis, was baptized in the Beaver River just north of Minersvi11e when I was eight years old, but I find no record of it. Then Dell and I were both baptized in the St. George temple either the day before or the day after we got our endowments, I don't remember which, but I know it was in 1977--then we were both re-baptized just before we left Escalenta. All our work has been done under the last date so it makes no difference about the other baptisms. Our dear old grand parents have a lot of grandchildren who are not following in their footsteps and I feel like throwing off my coat and doing something about it. My own children are off the right path too, and dear Dell is one of them and he is one of the best hearted boys in the world. He just got off on the wrong foot and never tried to turn back. I have always said Dell and I are the Black Sheep of the family. I really sowed my wild oats, but I surely have repented of it and wish I could help a lot of boys and girls over the Hey-days of their youth. I hope when 1 get over there some of them won't ask me why I didn't warn them.
Oliver's letters state: "My mother after leaving Council Bluffs, crossed the plains with her father and oldest brother, Joseph Smith Huntsman, walking most of the way: Her parents were living at Lake Point when she married Samuel Lewis. They with the rest of the Lewis’, moved as pioneers about thirty miles north to Minersville. There they built canals, grubbed sage brush, fenced land and "made the desert blossom as the rose." At this place my mother gave birth to six children, all born in a little dirt roofed, but 14-16 feet. That cabin stood by the side of the road. All the freighters and emigrants had to pass right in front of our house. Many an hour I spent watching those trains of wagons pass drawn by horses and oxen. Six to eight teams to a load, and happy days those were to me. But all things do come to an end:"
"I wandered back to Panguitch just the other day to see my ancient home and for fifty years I've been away. In every nook and corner I saw a dreadful change. Where I used to be so familiar I felt so very strange. They have torn away our ancient home and loft nothing to mark where it stood. I suppose they have hauled it off to town to use for kindling wood. The sheds, stables, and corrals are gone and even the bed of the Sevier River is dry. The cottonwoods, the willows the burr nettles, and berries are left on the banks to die: And even our dear old swimming pool is gone; whirling, diving and swimming was such fun."
"When dear Dell and I were boys, yes and Jodie too, how we loved to roam over hills and flats and I look over the river bed where our cattle used to roam--and I thought how Dell, Jodie, and I used to roam, and how we had to hoof it and drove the milk cows home, how often I straddled a bronco--a thing I couldn't do now. The old place looked so sad and lonely, it brought a bitter sigh and a big lump came in my throat. It was among these pioneers of Panguitch that I spent my boyhood's happiest days, and I learned to love them dearly--but they are all gone today--but how, from our dear old home we did roam. We went to Arizona to build another home, there we found some splendid people, in a country, oh a southern shore, but from there our family scattered to meet on earth no more. Now father and mother have stepped behind the veil, and their children are passing one by one. The pruning hook has about finished it's work; we have all grown old and gray, but just as the sun goes down tonight we will all meet on the other side. Meet not only father and mother but all their descendents as well as their ancestors and in a glorious reunion, we hope to live happily for evermore--and that time is close. Are we prepared for it?
Now back to my old home place. I viewed the old town over and I saw absolutely nothing I had ever seen before, then I felt like 01d Van Winkle, had I been asleep for twenty years? Then I wondered what had happened--had some cruel Missouri mob slipped over here and took possession and driven our neighbors away. Then on the sacred ground built beautiful homes? To see these wonderful changes just made my poor heart sick. I didn't go there to see strangers--and 1 didn't stay long. I went to see friends and neighbors, but where 0 where had they gone? I longed to see my old schoolmates but they were no where to be found. I was told our old school teacher, George Dods now lies under the sod, and all the kind words he spoke in school still ring in my ears. Well my memory has been wandering and if I am going to get any sleep I better hurry the clock, just struck 2:00 a.m. and soon will come the break of day. So I close my eyes and go to sleep, and throw away my thinking cap." Goodnight from your brother Oliver.
Dear Sister Laura: Do you realize how blessed you are to have your children close by you--all raising big families and all working in the church. I have three children who have gone back on religion. I have one with me and one ten miles away, and the rest scattered all over creation.
Conclusion:
Uncle Oliver lived a good long life. He was very spiritual minded and had lots of faith. Much sickness was in his family and he depended much on the Elders for help and got it. He must have loved the cold country or he would have stayed in Arizona with the rest of his family, In Bear River he made his last home. My son, Rue1 Smith, promised his grandmother, Laura Lewis, he would go visit Uncle Oliver. So when he lived in Nevada where he taught school many years he went to conference in Salt Lake City and skipped an afternoon session to go visit Uncle Oliver. He was hard to find but he enjoyed the time spent with him: He was almost blind--living in a wheel chair, but he jovial and with mind bright, and was a good entertainer: He said that Uncle Oliver told him he always planned to go back on the Gila River where they had lots of water in the river, lovely weather and an ideal place to live. After Ruel's description of the valley at that time, Uncle Oliver changed his mind about Arizona.
Uncle Oliver and my mother, Laura Lewis McBride, did a lot of research work on their family lines. They started the bail rolling and before Mother died she promised to awaken our people on the other side, and I start work on any line and we wind up working on the Lewis line and that is not idle talk. The Lewis’ want their work done and it is a big work and we have some wonderful ancestors over there waiting for our help. Now I have succeeded in getting a little write up of everyone of grandfather Lewis’ children. For which I am very grateful, I want all of his children and grandchildren to know a little about this family, I have made so many mistakes, but tried and hope my cousins won't criticize me too much, and I will fold up my books, lay down my pen to one side and quit this kind of work. I have just finished my fifth story and I am getting where it is hard to see and I’m getting tired, but hope you all will read these pages and get a little good out of them.
Laura McBride Smith