Phoebe Delora Black

And then, we have letters like this; a voice from the dust from Phoebe Delora Black, mother of Carolyn Reid, mother of Billie Marlene Bryan, mother of Michael V. Moyes.

My dear children, being now in my 79th year and having passed a life of deep experience in the changes to which life's nature is always liable, now being in circumstances that afford me much leisure time, I have resolved to make a record of the leading incidents in my life. Judging the feelings of my family, from my own for my parents, I want to leave for their satisfaction a portion of my history. I shall commence from my earliest remembrances except a portion of my parents and grandparents history. And now my children, over whose welfare I have watched with hope and prayers for their well-being, accept this as my deep affection for you. Remember my weaknesses only to avoid them in yourselves. Treasure up in your hearts and practice in your lives the council I have given you and be assured that not a sentence has been uttered but for the purest desires for your happiness. Never talk of the faults of your parents as it will lessen the respect you should cherish for their admonitions. Cultivate sincere love and friendship for each other and in a special manner for your own offspring. Avoid as much as possible irritable temper before the younger members of your household as it will be a great disadvantage and increase your toil in the forming of their minds. These sentiments may result in much good to you when my tongue is silent. Remember the trust your mother reposed in her God. Be faithful in keeping his commandments. These are the desires of your loving and affectionate mother.

I was born in Kanosh, Millard Co., Utah. My parents, whose names were Joseph Smith Black and Caroline Thompson Black, were honest, intelligent people and thought not from the wealthier ranks of society. They were indeed God-fearing and noble people. They were of noble origin. My grandparents on both my father's and mother's side were energetic, active saints. My grandmother Black was reputed to be amiable and affectionate, full of love and tenderness for all and, in a special manner, she was so for the children of her kindred, whom she often amused with songs and stories, one of which I well remember ("Blue Up My Broom"). Mother was the daughter of Peter Pederson Thompson who was the head of a family of 5 children. I have no recollections of either my Grandfather Thompson or Grandmother Thompson or Grandfather Black. My earlist recollections of school were in the old school house in Deseret. A man by the name of Wheatley was the teacher. Well do I remember the times he would use a long ruler on the palms of the students for the least offense. Many is the time he would shut the unnruly boys in the organ box (organ used for church services as school and church were in the same building).

That is the end of this letter found in Ogden in 1973 while my mother and grandparents visited Delora Hurst, my grandma's sister. There were some notes and dates of church ordinances and callings:

Phoebe Black Reid

Born June 22, 1875. Baptized in the Sevier River by Uncle William's house by Joshua Bennett at 8 years, 1883. Special appointments before marriage: Secretary of Mutual, Sunday School teacher. After marriage: Oasis Secretary of Relief Society. Went to Mammoth in the fall of 1900, had three children.
In Mammoth, 2nd counselor to Eliza B. Hales .....

...anyway, I have another fuller account of her family growing up and some joyous and tragic times. The names of friends and people she served with are interesting but hard to type here. We had a home teacher in West Jordan in 1996 named Brother Forsey who said he had ancestors from Mammoth, Utah.
I had just read the history of Phoebe Black and found the name of my home teacher's relative recorded there. She was 1st counselor to Grace Forsey in 1900 Mammoth Relief Society. My home teacher loved the information and gave us tickets to the Salt Lake Buzz baseball game behind home plate and another game by third base. Great grandma Phoebe was involved in her grandchildrens' lives and saw to it that they attended church even though my grandmother no longer attended. She visited my mother in Southern California and was a major influence in her life and she very much approved of her marrying my dad, Leon.