While he had a very quick temper he was soon over it. At the same time he had a kindly nature and was ever ready to share his smiles of a kindly word and even his food etc. which he had in abundance to those in need. He not only gave flour and wheat to the ward for the poor but he gave much directly to the needy, the recipient of these gifts being glad of the same not knowing what they and their families would have done without it. He sold food to those who were unable to pay for it at the time later being paid in work or anything he could use such as lumber etc. He provided food and shelter to anybody who in passing might call. In fact his doors were ever open to the men of the roads as he said he did not know when one of his might be in need of a place to go
I have referred to father helping those in distress therefore let me site one or two cases. When Bro. Orson Smith, one of our bishops, first came here from Logan he had a hard time to make a living for his little family. My father noting this shared his little store with him although in so doing he was fearful that some would think him trying to get on the best side of the bishop. Bro. Smith in speaking of this said he did not know what they would have done without this aid, for which he was most thankful. True it wasn't much but it seem to be the seal on a lasting friendship between our families which has lasted through the years.
Again when Elder John Gibbs lost his life in defense of the gospel, being mobbed and killed while laboring in Tennessee. Father went to the aid of his widow Louise and children who were having a hard time. True Sister Gibbs was a mid wife and earned a little this way but as she said she was very thankful for this aid as it came when she was in need.
A Mrs Emma Philips who is still living often refers to this and father and mother recalling the times when as a child she and her parents and family would have gone hungry if it had not have been for them. Her mother used to do washing etcfor my mother who paid her in flour etc. besides giving, her food on the side, etc.
I can remember father giving flour by the sack and beef by the quarter to the ward for the poor. On one such occasion he asked the ward clerk Bro. Mills if he kept a piece of beef for himself. Being told no he said then you will have some and cut him off a nice piece of what he had left. Sometimes when there was a call for flour and the ward was out Bro. Mills would turn to father for aid which he received.
Bro. George Summers of Avon told this story a short time ago how thankful he was for the, aid, flour. bacon he received from father as he didn't know what they would have done otherwise. He said that when he and his little family first moved to Avon he didn't have but very little food and no money to buy more and having no work, he did not know what to do. Getting acquainted with father he told him of his plight and father let him have what he needed and thus he was able to keep the wolf from the door until he was able to provide for himself. He later paid with cedar posts as agreed for the food that a stranger had been trusted with.
Joe Hirst who used to work for father often tells that one winter when he was first married and out of work and with little to eat that father came to him saying that he could use a man to do chores but was unable to pay more than 15 dollars a month and part of that in food. Joe took the job and was glad to do so, although some of his pals called him crazy for doing so. In talking to Joe he says that when work opened up in the spring he had not only provided for his family but was out of debt, while his friends were in debt. He said that he had had lots of fun helping to break the colts. That spring he stayed on with them working for his wages.
Much more could be said along this line but I will let this suffice with the following amusing incident. Father had sold a hunderd pounds of flour to be paid for in work, to a neighbor a John Badger. Father being busy mother seen to the filling and weighing of the sack. When she thought she had enough she had it weighed as it only weighed ninety pounds she wanted to put in the balance, but the old man in his slow and easy way said "that's all right it won't be so much to carry." This made mother angry and she thought you lazy devil."
During his last illness, which lasted for four years, part of the time being unable to feed himself and having to have care day and night, it taking two men to move him as he was a very large man standing a good six feet in his stocking feet and weighing a good two hundred pounds. He returned a bright out look on life and enjoyed talking to his friends of which he had a great many. Among those who spent many nights in caring for him, giving his family a little rest were Nels Hanson and John Mc Murdie.
During the early part of this sickness a call came to me his son Parley to go on a mission. Realizing that he might not see me again, he did not say no but gave me a father's blessing and told me to be on my way. Through his faith he was able to live to see me return.
Author long dead