Cherokee Nation

Hello Dear Reader,

Woody did very well in his first semester at BYU and before we knew it, it was time for him to go home for Christmas. While he was gone Grandpa and Grandma received a letter from him saying he had an Indian friend who was not a member of the Church who would also like to attend BYU.

The administrators of the Indian Placement Program tried to find him a home with another family but weren't successful in their efforts. So Grandpa and Grandma agreed that he should stay with us also. This young man's name was Johnson Lee Owle and he was also very handsome and intelligent. It was beginning to look as though Indians would be part of our lives for a while.

Love,

Aunt Genni

Indian Treaty

Hello Dear Reader,

Shortly after Grandpa (Wesley) Carter was made bishop of the Rivergrove 2nd Ward the Church began what they called the Indian Placement Program. Members of the Church were asked to take American Indian students into their homes to live while they pursued an education.

Grandpa and Grandma asked us children what we would think of participating in this program and we all agreed it would be a good thing to do. So, in the fall of 1954, we had a young man by the name of Woodrow Sneed, a Cherokee Indian from North Carolina, come to stay with us while he attended BYU. He was an intelligent, handsome young man who brought a new dimension into the lives of a family who had been very provincial up to that time.

I haven't come across the photo of our house that I had hoped to show so you could see how different it was then than it is now, but in this photo of Woody you can see the redwood on the front of the house where there is now stone and you can see the white brick planter box that was in front of the porch. Maybe this will give you an idea of the difference.

Love,

Aunt Genni

More Changes

Hello Dear Reader,
Shortly after the Rivergrove Chapel was dedicated the new stake house was finished for West Utah Stake. And shortly after that, the ward was assessed for a new seminary building and a new stake welfare farm. As poor as the members of the ward were, they quickly raised money to pay off their obligations. In at least one case, our ward was the first ward in the stake to pay off its assessment. Grandpa (Wes) Carter felt that he was greatly blessed by the experiences and opportunities that came through association with fine members of the Church--especially those in the Rivergrove 2nd Ward.

But things are seldom perfect. Grandpa began to feel that his business partner, Ray Taylor, was unhappy with Wes's church responsibilities especially when he had to take time off to conduct a funeral or other duties that interrupted their work day. Ray had no use for the Church and became increasingly critical. Wes decided that, after 13 years, it was time to dissolve their partnership.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Visit of Le Grande Richards

Hello Dear Reader,
Between June 2, 1951 when Le Grande Richards, the presiding bishop of the LDS church, came to Provo for the groundbreaking of the Rivergrove Ward Chapel and December 27, 1953 when he came to Provo again for the dedication of the building, he was made an apostle.

It was Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) Carter's privilege to have him and his wife in our home for dinner. Others at the dinner included the other members of the bishopric, the bishopric of the Rivergrove 1st Ward, and the West Utah Stake presidency along with all of their spouses.

After dinner Elder Richards toured the building with the priesthood leaders and then he spoke in sacrament meeting and offered the dedicatory prayer. He kissed LeAnn on the forehead and she said she would never wash her face again! It was a wonderful occassion.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Many Blessings

Hello Dear Reader,

Somewhere I have a photo of Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) Carter's newly completed house. It appeared a little different than it does now. When (and if) I find it, I'll post the picture so you can see the difference.

Grandpa and Grandma felt very blessed financially and spiritually for the next several years. Grandpa said, "Everyone worked hard in the ward and gave of their time and means freely without any reservations. Consequently the new ward chapel was finished and paid for and ready for dedication by December of 1953 . . . it was a glorious occasion." Grandpa was then agent bishop and had the responsibility of seeing that the building was paid for and dedicated.

Who knew how many memories would be made in that building and the blessings that would occur there.

Love,

Aunt Genni

Grandma Hall

Hello Dear Reader,
Having Grandma (Caroline Ferguson) Hall move into our old house was a blessing for the whole family. Grandpa (Wes), in writing his history, said, "What a joy and comfort it has been to live next door to Grandma Hall all of these years and to witness her faith and wisdom in helping us rear our children. I have often said, 'If all mother-in-laws were as good as mine there would never be any jokes about mother-in laws."

We all loved being able to run over to visit with Grandma. She was not just a blessing to our family but also to the ward. She taught the 'theology" lesson in the Rivergrove II Ward Relief Society for years and years. Just recently I had an old acquaintance tell me that she received her testimony and her basis in the gospel from Grandma Hall's theology lessons.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Time to Start Anew

Hello Dear Reader,
I have been very busy cleaning out and sorting my genealogical records. It's been good to go through things and I can see that if I keep going I might be organized by the time school starts again in the fall. I still have a lot to do but I'm feeling good about what I have accomplished so far. One of the classes I audited last semester taught us how to organize our records, so I have spent a lot of time doing that as well as collecting documentation to prove that our records are correct. Yesterday I printed out Grandpa (Laning) Hall's Death Certificate from Record Search on FamilySearch.org. It's amazing how much is available to us in our homes via the internet but there is still much more out there in libraries and courthouses that needs to be gleaned.

Now it's time for me to start anew on the story of Grandpa (Wesley) and Grandma (Mary Hall) Carter.

After Grandpa Hall died on March 19, 1952 it was only a few more months until Grandpa (Wes) Carter finished building our new home which we moved into late in the summer. Grandma (Caroline) Hall then moved from the garage which had served as her temporary home into our old house. Except for time served on a mission Grandma Hall lived in that house for the remaining years of her life. Moving to a new house was wonderful--in a way, it was a time for the Carters and Grandma Hall to start a new chapter in their lives.
Love,
Aunt Genni