Hello Dear Reader,
After the Sneeds had brought Billy to Provo life resumed its normal course with children returning to school and Grandpa (Wes) working on the construction on the new duplex which was to become a source of income for several years. I don't remember exactly when the construction started but it was still going on the following summer.
Grandma (Mary) went to Relief Society one day (back in the day when it was during the week) and Grandpa took Billy to the duplex with him. When Grandma went to retrieve Billy he was nowhere to be found. Grandpa had become so engrossed in his work he forgot all about his new little son. We (the other children) and all of the neighbors were enlisted to help search for Billy.
The tension was pretty high for what seemed a long time.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Monday, July 12, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Grandpa's Work
Hello Dear Reader,
After Grandpa (Wes) Carter had dissolved his partnership with Ray Taylor he went into business for himself. Early in the spring of 1957 he worked for Sister Lothfield Newren remodeling her house. For pay Sister Newren gave Grandpa a building lot located at 605 North 750 West. This was a newly-created road that went through from 5th North to 8th North.
Grandpa was an industrious entrepreneur who scrambled to make a living for his family. So he started to build a duplex on the lot he had received for payment. It was nice to have him working so close to home. We children often went over to see how things were progressing and sometimes we were required to lend a hand. Grandpa said, "We started to build a duplex." When he said "we" I think he included, Kent, Ralph Burk, Grandma, Carol, me, and LeAnn. I just remember we seemed to spend a lot of time there.
Love,
Aunt Genni
After Grandpa (Wes) Carter had dissolved his partnership with Ray Taylor he went into business for himself. Early in the spring of 1957 he worked for Sister Lothfield Newren remodeling her house. For pay Sister Newren gave Grandpa a building lot located at 605 North 750 West. This was a newly-created road that went through from 5th North to 8th North.
Grandpa was an industrious entrepreneur who scrambled to make a living for his family. So he started to build a duplex on the lot he had received for payment. It was nice to have him working so close to home. We children often went over to see how things were progressing and sometimes we were required to lend a hand. Grandpa said, "We started to build a duplex." When he said "we" I think he included, Kent, Ralph Burk, Grandma, Carol, me, and LeAnn. I just remember we seemed to spend a lot of time there.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Saturday, July 10, 2010
New Child, New Name
Hello Dear Reader,
The Sneeds had been almost afraid to come back to our house for fear Billy would cry and hang on them again. But their fears were calmed when they did return and Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) were able to have a good visit with them.
In the course of the conversation Grandpa and Grandma mentioned that they were concerned about what to name him. Sister Sneed said they had had that conversation on the trip to Utah and their oldest daughter said, "His name should be Billy David--Billy because that was already his name and David after David O. McKay, the prophet, of course." I remember the adults all laughing and deciding that that was the perfect name. So Grandpa and Grandma's new little son was named Billy David Carter. Not William. Grandma could never pronounce the name "William" but Billy. His name wasn't completely new--just the middle and last parts.
Love,
Aunt Genni
The Sneeds had been almost afraid to come back to our house for fear Billy would cry and hang on them again. But their fears were calmed when they did return and Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) were able to have a good visit with them.
In the course of the conversation Grandpa and Grandma mentioned that they were concerned about what to name him. Sister Sneed said they had had that conversation on the trip to Utah and their oldest daughter said, "His name should be Billy David--Billy because that was already his name and David after David O. McKay, the prophet, of course." I remember the adults all laughing and deciding that that was the perfect name. So Grandpa and Grandma's new little son was named Billy David Carter. Not William. Grandma could never pronounce the name "William" but Billy. His name wasn't completely new--just the middle and last parts.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Friday, July 9, 2010
The Miracle
Hello Dear Reader,
Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) called Sister Sneed and she said it was just like a miracle--that never before had such a thing happened. Grandpa said, "There was much joy in our household at hearing this good news!"
The Sneeds came to Utah at Christmas time bringing Billy with them and staying for the holidays to be with their son, Woody. Of course Grandpa and Grandma had not seen their new son before the Sneeds arrived. He was a cute little boy but he was crying and hanging onto Sister Sneed. She said he cried all the way from North Carolina and had been car sick.
Grandma took her new little son and the Sneeds went to a motel. They thought it would be better for him to bond with our family as quickly as possible. He cried all night long and Grandma sat up with him. But the next day when the Sneeds came back for breakfast Billy was happy and didn't even try to go back to Sister Sneed.
Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) called Sister Sneed and she said it was just like a miracle--that never before had such a thing happened. Grandpa said, "There was much joy in our household at hearing this good news!"
The Sneeds came to Utah at Christmas time bringing Billy with them and staying for the holidays to be with their son, Woody. Of course Grandpa and Grandma had not seen their new son before the Sneeds arrived. He was a cute little boy but he was crying and hanging onto Sister Sneed. She said he cried all the way from North Carolina and had been car sick.
Grandma took her new little son and the Sneeds went to a motel. They thought it would be better for him to bond with our family as quickly as possible. He cried all night long and Grandma sat up with him. But the next day when the Sneeds came back for breakfast Billy was happy and didn't even try to go back to Sister Sneed.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Into the Hospital and Home Again
Hello Dear Reader,
That fall Grandma (Mary) Carter went into the hospital to have the varicose veins removed from one of her legs. As I remember she was there for a few days. On returning home she said, "I wouldn't [have minded] going to the hospital if I could [have come] home with a baby.
The phone was ringing as Grandpa and Grandma entered the house. Grandma took the call. Grandpa recalled, "It was the Welfare [Department] in Provo asking us if we were still interested in the little Indian boy." Grandma answered, "Oh no, they've turned us down and have given us all these reasons why we can't adopt him." The woman at the other end of the line said, "They have moved his case to a new county and right away [the officials in the new county] wanted to know why the boy had not been adopted by you."
Grandma didn't bring a baby home from the hospital but the news of one was awaiting her.
Love,
Aunt Genni
That fall Grandma (Mary) Carter went into the hospital to have the varicose veins removed from one of her legs. As I remember she was there for a few days. On returning home she said, "I wouldn't [have minded] going to the hospital if I could [have come] home with a baby.
The phone was ringing as Grandpa and Grandma entered the house. Grandma took the call. Grandpa recalled, "It was the Welfare [Department] in Provo asking us if we were still interested in the little Indian boy." Grandma answered, "Oh no, they've turned us down and have given us all these reasons why we can't adopt him." The woman at the other end of the line said, "They have moved his case to a new county and right away [the officials in the new county] wanted to know why the boy had not been adopted by you."
Grandma didn't bring a baby home from the hospital but the news of one was awaiting her.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Discouragement
Hello Dear Reader,
Sister (Mary) Sneed suggested that Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) Carter go ahead and make application to the Utah Welfare Department despite the North Carolina laws. They were so anxious to have another child that they followed her advice. A man came, interviewed them, and sent his findings to the NC Welfare Department.
It wasn't long until Grandpa and Grandma received a letter from Sister Sneed saying that North Carolina had turned them down. Along with North Carolina laws forbidding interratial adoption the study that was done indicated that the Carters were too religious, had too many children of their own, and the youngest child of the family(LeAnn) was too much older than the little Indian boy.
Grandpa said, "We were very discouraged and [gave] up all hope."
Love,
Aunt Genni
Sister (Mary) Sneed suggested that Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) Carter go ahead and make application to the Utah Welfare Department despite the North Carolina laws. They were so anxious to have another child that they followed her advice. A man came, interviewed them, and sent his findings to the NC Welfare Department.
It wasn't long until Grandpa and Grandma received a letter from Sister Sneed saying that North Carolina had turned them down. Along with North Carolina laws forbidding interratial adoption the study that was done indicated that the Carters were too religious, had too many children of their own, and the youngest child of the family(LeAnn) was too much older than the little Indian boy.
Grandpa said, "We were very discouraged and [gave] up all hope."
Love,
Aunt Genni
Possibilities
Hello Dear Reader,
Woody's mother, Mary Sneed, corresponded with Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) Carter on a regular basis. She was a welfare worker in North Carolina. One particular letter Grandpa and Grandma received from Sister Sneed contained an inquiry that was full of possibilities.
She asked Grandpa and Grandma if they knew of an Indian family in Provo that would be interested in adopting an eighteen-month-old Indian boy. Grandpa and Grandma inquired at the BYU Indian Council but had no success in finding anyone.
They prayed about it, discussed it with the family, and then wrote to Sister Sneed informing her of their findings and asking if it would be possible for our family to adopt the child. She wrote back saying that, according to North Carolina laws, it would be impossible. Who really knew what the possibilities were?
Love,
Aunt Genni
Woody's mother, Mary Sneed, corresponded with Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) Carter on a regular basis. She was a welfare worker in North Carolina. One particular letter Grandpa and Grandma received from Sister Sneed contained an inquiry that was full of possibilities.
She asked Grandpa and Grandma if they knew of an Indian family in Provo that would be interested in adopting an eighteen-month-old Indian boy. Grandpa and Grandma inquired at the BYU Indian Council but had no success in finding anyone.
They prayed about it, discussed it with the family, and then wrote to Sister Sneed informing her of their findings and asking if it would be possible for our family to adopt the child. She wrote back saying that, according to North Carolina laws, it would be impossible. Who really knew what the possibilities were?
Love,
Aunt Genni
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