Gayla Gorton Family History: September 2014

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Letters -- August 1894 -- Henry C Gorton to George W Gorton

(This is the last letter written to George by his brother before Henry committed suicide within the next two weeks.)

South Abington
Aug 30 1894

Dear Brother
Received your letter some days ago. was glad to hear from you and to hear that the world was going tolerably well with you and to hear that the family were well and prospering. You have not sent me the plan of your house. would like to see it. this is a disastrous year for the farming community in this section. drouth has ruined any prospect [pg 2] of crops so we are feeling pretty blue. pastures are all gone and consequently milk has dropped to near nothing. cows for a month have been fed the same as in winter. water also is nearly dried up and still no signs of rain. if this continues don't know where we will come out. few will make a living. I shall go behind probably three or four hundred at least and at a time when I am not well prepared to. though i am not really poor, I feel so very much so. my [pg 3] property would figure up seven or eight thousand which wouldn't indicate extreme poverty. though the present situation, to say the least, is uncomfortable and aggravating. Don't mind the loss so much if it was done and over with. it's no good to tell you all this; you can't help it but it's something of a relief to tell somebody one's troubles. Well I wont worry you with any more of it. everybody is well as usual. Cordeal has been sick but is now up, around and fast getting alright. [pg 4] Let me hear from you oftener. i am here all alone in the world and fast getting to be an old man and feel older than I really am. Love to all the folks. HC Gorton

Letters -- September 1894 -- Anna Peirce to George W Gorton

East Greenwich

September 24 1894

Dear George;

We received letters this morning telling us of Henry's death. We were very much surprised and sorry to hear it. I received a letter from him this summer and did not think but what he was as well as usual. He said he had intended [pg 2] to come down and see us this summer, but his crops were so poor he thought he would have to wait another year. We thought perhaps he would change his mind and rather looked for him through the month of August. I am very sorry that we are so far away that we cannot be with you through this week; I have not seen you for a long time, but have always kept track [pg 3] of you through your Father and Henry, but now I hope you will write to me so we can keep track of each other and perhaps some time we will be able to see each-other. If you ever come East, we shall be very glad to have you come and see us. our relation are very few, and it seems to me what there is left of us aught to know about each other. I have written to

Joseph Fry and will write Auntie Richmond. Lizzie joins with me [pg 4] in love and sympathy to you, hoping to hear from you soon. I am Your Cousin,

Anna Peirce

Letters -- September 1892 -- Henry C Gorton to George W Gorton

Abington (Pennsylvania)
September 25 1892

Dear Brother
Again I write to let you know how affairs are at home. Father continued to fail slowly until this morning when he quietly passed away without the slightest struggle. He had been slowly failing all summer, loosing his mind little by little, forgetting nearly all that happened yesterday, though remembering
[pg 2] all that happened years ago. If I could have known how near the end was I would liked to have you come home, but it was so uncertain. I thought he would linger for a month or two and it would be difficult for you to leave home so long. Tho neighbors have been more than kind, there had been no lack of help thro, I feel a lonesomeness that I nothing could bring. it is what I might have expected any time for the last year. Will write [pg 3] again in a few days. Will have the funeral service at the house tomorrow afternoon. With love to the folks, will close.
H C Gorton

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Letters -- March 1880 -- George W Gorton to H C Gorton

Soda Springs
March 9th 1880

Dear Brother
Your kind letter of Feb 22nd came to hand yesterday. was glad to hear from you once more. It found us all in good health. Henry is getting to be a big boy and smart as a whip of course he takes after his Father. To day he carried in wood, rolled down a snow drift and wound up by a harty squall. Mable no 2 is as pretty as a doll and points Grand Pa picture on the wall and child No 3, the women all call her a pretty baby. I suppose you will say babies all look alike. we have not named her yet. Mrs G wants you to send along a name. you and Father can club in together and send us a nice name for it. We are having nice warm weather. the snow has all gone from the hill sides. stock is doing well now without hay. hay is only worth 5.00 per ton. You are in good luck. I have a little hay to spare. I should think it would pay you to raise hay instead of other things. I sell and buy the manure. I can't say though that I am farmer enough to give advice on the subject and so I will not wade any deeper on the subject.

We think here at Soda that we are going to have a railroad. It will branch from the N P pass Soda and on to Oregon. The good people are quite excited over it. If it comes it will be quite a boon for this section of the country. as for my part, have not built any very big castles in the air over it. I was out on a deer hunt a few days ago. I killed 4 and feel quite elated over it. On the last part of the hunt I got within 40 yards of a big band. Think there was a hundred in it. The gun got out of kilter and I could not shoot. the deer stood and looked at me. I think I used some very powerful language. it was no use. before I could get the gun in order they slipped away. I am sorry to hear that Mrs Champ*** is in poor heath. I trust when warm weather comes she will fully recover. It gives me the blues to hear of our old neighbors dropping off but I suppose we must all go in our turn. We must all submit to the inevitable. how is Uncle John now days. Is he a jovial as ever and does he make his regular call as in days of yore. how is Geo Barton getting along. I presume he is coming ***** as usual. is Emery still on his feet and does Ben White still work

for him. does Rob still hold his little place. It is getting late and I think I will close. it seems I would like to write more but some how I can't get at it right. In regard to the Salt Works I can't quite tell yet what will be done. Write soon. Love to Father. from your Brother
GW Gorton

Letters -- November 1895 -- Margaret Mabel Waylett to Leah M Gorton

Malad City (Idaho)
Nov 3, 1895

Dear Sister
We received your
welcome letter a few days ago
Was glad to hear that you
were all well as this leaves us
the same at present. We are
having quite cold weather
now; the ground is white with
snow. I had a letter from
Mary she arrived at Caldwell
all right and she like the
place very well yet. I haven't

heard from Cal since I wrote that if it can be got - we
to you. I send you the letter aught to have it.
that we received from Mr. Griffith Well I must close for it
So that you can see what he is getting late and I want
says. Ma says that she hasn't to write to Henry. I just
any idea that we will received a letter from him
get any thing But George could But it was a very short
see what he thinks best to do. one. He said to tell Gramma
I wished you would write to that he was a good little
Ellen to see if she ever hears Boy. Write soon and let
from Emily. The letter doesn't us know how you all are. Kiss
say anything about her. Just   the Babies for Auntie and Gramma.
thinks of you would send and   Be sure and tell me
get a copy of William Owens' Grand wedding.
will that maybe you could do   With love to all I remain
some thing then. Mr Griffith    as ever your Loving Sister
speaks as if there is quite   PS. Ma says she don't think
a bit of property - yet - I think    she can come over it is so
cold.

(Probably from Margaret Mabel Waylett; The property from William Owens' will is addressed in another letter that I will post later.)

Letters -- April 1895 -- Henry C Gorton (II) to Leah M Gorton

Logan, Utah
Apr 15th 1895

Dear Mamma:
I wrote you
a letter some time ago
but haven't received
any answer yet. It has
been two weeks ago. I guess
you don't have much time
to write, but I think papa
would have time to write
once in a while. I am getting
so home sick I don't know what
to do but it won't be long
now only about six weeks
I guess. Ned Rose has gone
home. I don't think he
passed very well in
his studies. All of Rose's

folks was up to visit
the school the other
day. I have some novels
I am going to send you.
have you read
Ishmeal or from the depts
Ishmeal, in the depts.
I will send those
two if you haven't read
them. Has Ed come back
from the East yet.
What did you think of
the names I sent you
for the "new boy" I will
send you some more if
you don't like them.
Did you get the
watches I sent the b**s

here visiting the school
the other day there was
about 130 in all.
Well, Mamma I guess
I will close with love
to you and Papa and all
the children. Be sure
and write anon.

Your loving Son
Henry

(Henry was attending school in Logan, Utah at the time of this letter)

Group family photos...cousins, aunts, grandmas, brothers, uncles, moms and dads

Please post if you know/recognize the people below!

On far right...Sarah Dorleska Sterrett

Left to Right...unk, unk, unk, Gayla, Pat
Circa 1933

Left to Right: Betty Jo Davis, Margaret W, Gayla, Pat, Dorothy W

I believe Dot is in the center back...Sarah Ann Oakey (the handcart pioneer) is in the striped shawl

Same as above...Dot in the back, third from the right, Sarah Ann in the front third fro the right.

One of Gayla's Grade school classes
Circa 1937

An OLD newspaper clipping
Possibly Clarks in photo

September 1923
Includes: Minnie Sterrett, Nita Sterrett, William "Alt" Sterrett, Clifton Sterrett, Simeon Sterrett, Baby Clay (III) Gorton, Dorothy Gorton

Circa 1960
Back(l to r): Unknown, Stan Sterrett, Betty Jo Davis Bunce, Nita Sterrett, Emma Ruth Davis, Pearl Sterrett, Clifton Sterrett, Dorothy Sterrett, Jean Sterrett, Mabel Josephine Sterrett Davis, Bill Davis
Front(l to r): Wanda Bell Sterrett, Keith Davis, Boyd Davis, Morris Ray Sterrett

A Note listing Grandma Dorothy's Talents...

Dorothy's Talents I see...

1. You keep yourself beautiful and attractive - have good taste - always

2. Friendly to all and show interest in others

3. Spiritual and reflect your testimony

4. Willing to help when asked - will volunteer to help

5. Humorous enough to be fun and good company

6. Good mother I feel and good companion to hubby

7. Have leadership ability

8. Show wisdom and good judgement

9. Capable and neat as a secretary (in your work)

10. Genuine and sincere

11. Admired by all who know you

Author unknown

Invite to Grandma's 80th birthday party

Found with her other treasures after she passed away.

Confederate Money...1864

Probably picked up by George W Gorton as a souvenir on his way home from the War.

Hanging around the house...probably watching BYU sports

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Brother and Sister...Best Friends, Best Enemies

We all have favorite memories of these two together, causing and finding mischief together. But no one was a greater champion to Gayla than her big brother Clay. They remained the best of friends to the end. If you know of any silly Gayla and Clay stories, comment them below!