USA > Idaho > Madison County > Salem > Salem L.D.S. Ward history, 1883 to 1972 > Part 4
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It was good to work and be one who was helping with the building of the canal; It was good also when the end of the day brought release with a supper of fried eggs and potatoes to be eaten around a camp fire, with time for sports afterwards, It would be great to be liked by everyone as Gus Belnap was. As he was the leader of the work, he became the leader of the sports at night. Hans and Alma did a lot of wrestling and Gus Belnap wrestled right along with them most of the time.
There were nights when the men sat around and talked in a worried way. They discussed one plan then another to get a channel blasted through the lava to the river to make the head. They didn't have a dollar to buy powder and not one of them knew a thing about blasting. They nearly always ended up by saying the thing to do was to go forward with the digging and leave the blasting. Somehow there would be a way. Gus Belnap would usually add what a piece of luck it was that old Mr. Hoft had filed on water at a head he had selected himself to water his own crops and was now turning his filings and priority right to the Salem Union Canal Company. Gus would remind them each time how that put their priority ahead several years of what it would of been.
At first, Alma worked proudly in the self conviction that Brother Gus and the others knew he would perform a man's full labor in a day The same hard routine repeated itself day after day, until he almost longed for the special privilege of being too young to shoulder a man's full load A canal, he decided, was made by hard, hard, slow, slow, labor Some days he spent most of the time rolling rocks and boulders as large as he could move. If the work moved forward only foot by foot, it nevertheless did move for- ward. Distance nor lava rock, nor lack of tools or money, in the end, kept it from moving forward. On the days when they had the most trouble, not one gave a thought to give up.
3Mr, Larsen was not absolutely sure that Amasa Belnap was the other person, but thinks so.
4This is a supposition to the ownership of the pasture. Mr. Larsen cannot
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These men always found a way. To survey the course, they laid a shot gun barrel across the land and sighted along the barrel of the gun. Alma heard them say more than once, it was lucky for them that the fall of the land was westward. He was proud when they decided to get the help of Joseph Larsen for this part of the work because he was good with figures. Everybody talked about the canal now. They boasted that it was good sized canal for slip scrapers, and that Gus Belnap and his crew were doing alright up there. It became easier to get a crew.
Even though by the time two years had gone by, they had worked it only as far as the side hill.ยบ Gus Belnap felt he could go to bed and sleep nights now. It was one thing to be body tired and bothered with weary aches, but the real work had been to try to change men's minds. He had never been able to understand why every landholder on the bench couldn't see the canal would be their life line. There was old Mr. Elliot and his woman and crippled boy Pete about to starve to death on the hundred-sixty acre homestead of theirs, because they could get no water to the land. As far as soil goes, theirs was the pick of the country. When he had first talked to the old Irishman, the old timer spat and said, "Faith and begorra Gus, and if the canal was to make me rich tomorra, I couldn't dig one shovel - ful. I'm that crippled with age. I'm not much better off than Pete, and that's how it is, begorra!"
Good reason, or bad, Gus had chalked him up as one more defeat. It was a different story now. The crew on the job was never as big as needed, but how the men did work. One quarter of a day on Monday had to be spent travel - ing to work and another quarter on Saturday traveling home for the Sabbath; but the rest of the time they wrung from every hour its full measure .
4Cont'd remember, but it seems likely since he gave his filings to the Canal company, and it was on his property.
"As the crew became larger, a boy was employed solely to carry drinking water to the working men.
6The side hill is a land mark that still stands on the outskirts of St. Anthony . It is about three-fourths of a mile from the head of canal .
7 This 160 acres was the northwest quarter of section 28, Township 7, Range 40 east of the Boise Meridian, now part of Diamond Bar Farm owned by Meyers Brothers of Sugar City, Idaho.
8This story of the alarm clock was submitted by Norman Rummel, who remem- bers hearing his father tell it many times. His father, L. J. Romrell worked on the canal and it was his experience.
9Not until years later was the use and control of sub-irrigation learned.
10The account of the 18 acres was written by Hyrum Romrell and refers to a branch ditch of the canal and the year 1900, and the property and experience of Hyrum Romrell. I have used it here as part of the earlier history to complete the story.
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Most of the rules the men made themselves. At four in the morning, an alarm sounded, hammering on an old tin kettle, and any dawdler clinging to the comfort of a few extra minutes in his warm bunk, found himself suddenly sailing out over the sagebrush with his head and back the running gears and his legs a V shaped pair of tugs drawn by two lusty fellow crew men . No one needed his lesson more than once.8 It took an hour to care for the horses and chores, then every man was on the job at five.
Hyrum Romrell leaned on his shovel and looked to the east. He pushed his hat off and with his head thrown back, thought there wasn't any sight in the world like the Grand Tetons shouldering out against the glow of dawn, or any peace like morning stillness when you stood alone in you field. Suddenly from each peak there shot upward a ray of light. Day! A new day!
He turned to his wheat heavy with full green heads. His eighteen acres!, watered with the canal's first season of water to the thirsty land. So thirsty, it soaked the water like a perpetually squeezed sponge.9 What matter that he had to keep the water on it constantly to keep it from burning. What matter the trouble of getting the first water through, of losing it along the way through poorly filled runways, or even the complete wash out of the side hill. It was here. His trained eye judged the harvest would be a wagon load of wheat . 10 Next year there would be more. Together they would learn to control the water.
"Right here is the best spot on the earth."
He did not know that he had spoken the words aloud nor at that moment feel how given he was to next year.
Written by Mary F. Meyers
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History of the Salem Ward Sunday School
1885
The Salem Ward Sunday School was organized February 7, 1885 with Arvis C. Dille Superintendent. Joseph Jensen and Alfred Hansen were Counselors. Alfred Hansen and Joseph Larsen were over the North Salem Sunday School with Miss Minerva Dille as Secretary.
1886
November 15, 1886 - The Sunday School was reorganized. Cyrus R. J. Harris was Superintendent, Joseph Jensen 1st, and Erastus Jensen 2nd Counselor. Joseph Larsen succeeded Minerva Dille as Secretary.
1897
The Sunday School was reorganized September 5, 1897. Alfred Ricks as Superintendent, Oscar Anderson as 1st Coun- selor, and Nephi Anderson as 2nd Counselor. In the spring of 1898, John W. Hill succeeded Nephi Anderson.
1900
April 22, 1900 - The Sunday School was reorganized with Ephriam Ricks as Superintendent. May 27, 1900 - Darwin Rolla Harris as 1st Counselor and Nephi Anderson as 2nd Counselor . Gotlieb Bohi succeeded Joseph L. Larsen as Sec- retary on February 4, 1894. These officers were still active at the close of 1899.
1892
June 12, 1892 - North Salem Sunday School was organized with Erastus Jensen as Superintendent, Harvey Roylance as 1st Counselor, William A. Ward as 2nd Counselor, and Matilda Larsen as Secretary .
1895
January 1895 - Erastus Jensen left the Branch and William A. Ward was chosen as Superintendent, Harvey Roylance as 1st Counselor, and William A. Judy as 2nd Counselor.
1896
January 5, 1896 - William A. Ward was released as Super - intendent, Sunday, January 12, 1896 John A. Hansen was chosen as Superintendent with Harvey Roylance and William A. Judy Jr. continued as Counselors, with Matilda Larsen as Secretary.
1904
Wilford Anderson was made Superintendent on August 7, 1904 with Samuel D. Fullmer as 1st Counselor and George Harris as 2nd Counselor. Gotlieb Bohi was made Secretary.
1906
January 1, 1906 - O. F. Ursenbach was Sustained as Super- intendent, John T. Horne 1st Assistant, James F. Shirley 2nd Assistant, and E. Holman Secretary May 26, 1907 - Above officers were released .
1907
May 26, 1907 - Sustained were James R, Turman - Super- intendent, James F. Shirley Ist Assistant, Aron Judy 2nd Assistants, and Ezekiel Holman Secretary
1908
May 3, 1908 - Reorganized with Ezekiel Holman Superin- tendent, Thomas Dalling 1st Counselor, Arthur Harris 2nd Counselor, and ElRoy Anderson Secretary.
October 1989 - Shows Edith Furse as Secretary, and roll books still show her as Secretary in 1909 and in 1910.
1913
November 23, 1913 - Reorganization with ElRoy Anderson as Superintendent, David Clark as 1st Counselor, and Wray Hegsted as 2nd Counselor. Other Counselors serving were William B. Muir, Charles Fogg Ist and David Clark, Charles Virgin 2nd.
1919
May 18, 1919 - Reorganization with David Clark Superin- tendent, David Clark 1st Counselor, Emery Anderson 2nd Counselor,
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1919 Elmer Belnap Secretary. Wray Hegsted was released on June 5, 1921. Duane Petersen was Sustained. Emery Andersen was released as 2nd Counselor on April 18, 1920, David Archibald took his place.
October 23, 1921 - David Clark was made Superintendent, Duane Petersen 1st Counselor, William Pattee 2nd Counselor, and Orval Mortensen served as Secretary from November 26, 1916 to November 2, 1919 when he was called on a Mission. Elmer Belnap took his place as Secretary.
Orval P. Mortensen followed David Clark as Superintendent of Sunday School with Harold Virgin as 1st Counselor, Prrion Walters as 2nd Counselor, and Adaline Belnap as Secretary. They were released on October 10, 1926.
Sustained were James L. Eddington, with Charles T. Hilton 1st Counselor, and James Eli Hope 2nd Counselor. They were released on May 20, 1929. Charles T. Hilton was sustained, James Eli Hope 1st Counselor, Peter Jensen 2nd Counselor, and Miss Zelda Harris Secretary. They were released and reorgan- ized June 14, 1930. Charles T. Hilton was Sustained Superin- tendent, James Eli Hope 1st Counselor, and Robert Handen 2nd Counselor.
November 30, 1932 - The Sunday School was reorganized with James Eli Hope Superintendent, Peter Jensen Ist Counselor, and Fred Shirley 2nd Counselor.
From the officers and teachers roll books of 1937/38, the Sunday School was reorganized December 25, 1938 with Orlando Jensen as Superintendent, Charles Fullmer 1st Counselor, Arthur Hope 2nd Counselor, and Kyle Worlton Secretary.
1945
December 2, 1945 - Sustained were Lowell Luke as Super- intendent, Verl Bodily 1st Counselor, Wendell Virgin 2nd Counselor, and in March or April Wendell 1st and Robert Hirschi 2nd Counselors.
1948
March 7, 1948 - Ward was reorganized. Lowell Luke and officers were released, and Sustained were Wendell Virgin as Superintendent, Robert Hirschi 1st Counselor, and Austin Price 2nd Counselor.
1949
December 26, 1948 - Ward reorganized .
January 9, 1949 - Robert Hirschi Sustained as Superinten- dent, with Austin Price 1st Counselor, and Gerald Birch 2nd Counselor, June 26, 1949 - They were released and Austin Price Sustained as Superintendent, with Gerald Birch 1st Counselor, and James Max Mortensen 2nd Counselor. January 10, 1954 - Released Gerald Birch as Ist Assistant. Sustained was James Max Mortensen 1st and Ross Hope 2nd Assistant, and Veda Mortensen Secretary. July 31 - Max Mortensen released, Sus- tained was Thomas Smith Jr. 2nd Assistant.
1956 1957 1958
September 30 1956 - Austin Price and Counselors were released. Sustained were Ross Hope Superintendent, Thomas Smith Jr. 1st Counselor, Edward Rindlisbacher 2nd Counselor, and Veda Mortensen Secretary. March 9, 1957 - Edward Rind- lisbacher was released, Sustained was Dean Zollinger 2nd Counselor.
April 20, 1958 - Released were T. W. Smith Jr. , and Sus- tained were Dean Zollinger Ist Assistant, and Blain Johnson 2nd Assistant.
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1921 1926 1929
1930
1932 1938
1959
Released January 25, 1959 were Ross Hope and Counselors. Sustained was Dean Zollinger as Superintendent of the Sunday School, with Blain Johnson 1st Counselor, Spence Harris 2nd Counselor, and Marcia Beaser Secretary -- later, Lucien Ball as Secretary .
1963
September 22, 1963 - Ward Conference was held. Sustained were Dean Zollinger as Superintendent, with Spence Harris as 1st Counselor, Ted Mortensen as 2nd Counselor, and Donna Harris as Secretary.
1964
October 25, 1964 - Ward Conference was held. Sustained were Fay Wasden as Superintendent of Sunday School, with Dean Birch as Ist Counselor, Layle Bagley as 2nd Counselor, and Belva Worlton as Secretary.
1966
August 14, 1966 - Released were Fay Wasden and Counselors. Sustained were Dean Birch as Superintendent, with Vivan Bagley as 1st Counselor, Rex Wasden as 2nd Counselor, and Beverly Robinson as Secretary.
1968
June 30, 1968 - The Ward was reorganized. Bishop Phill Worlton was released, and Sustained as Bishop was Gaylen Fuller. Also Sustained were Verd Mortensen as 1st Counselor, and Glade Wasden as 2nd Counselor.
July 21, 1968 - Sustained were Mack Sommer as Superintendent of Sunday School, with John Price as Ist Counselor, and Dallas Munns as 2nd Counselor.
1970
August 9, 1970 - Dallas Munns was Sustained as Superin- tendent of Sunday School, with Dean Zollinger as 1st Counselor, Mark Gardner as 2nd Counselor, and Rula Price as Secretary -- October 11, 1970.
1972
February 27 - Released was Dallis Munns and his Counselors. Sustained were Thomas Clifton as Superintendent, with Lawrence Coates as 1st Counselor, Lorin Harris as 2nd Counselor, and Rula Price as Secretary.
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SALEM WARD RELIEF SOCIETY
Salem Ward Relief Society was organized in November of 1885, under the direction of Bishop G. H. B. Harris and his Counselors.
Sister Martha Ward was appointed as President, with Victoria Harris as 1st Counselor, and Rosa Nelson as 2nd Counselor. Mary C. Harris and Minerva Dillie were chosen as Secretary, and Mathilde Wilson as teacher- supervisor.
December 13, 1886 - Mary C. Harris and Menerva Dillie were released and Sophia Valentine and Martha A, Jensen were Sustained in their place. April 5, 1888 - Cecilia Anderson, Jane Jacobs, and Sophia Valentine were Sustained as the Appraising Committee. September 1892 - Sophia Valentine was released as Secretary and Eliza Butler was Sustained as such.
June 3, 1893 - Mary Belnap, Amy R. Jaques, and Mary C. Harris were made Trustees in Trust to hold legal title to real estate for the Relief Society. December 6, 1894 - Eliza Butler was released as Secretary, and Mariah J. Peterson was Sustained on April 4, 1895.
No record is found of Mary B, Hegsted being Sustained as 1st Coun- selor, but she was released April 2, 1896, from that position. Mary J, Peterson was released as Secretary June 4, 1896, and Christine Christen- sen Sustained as such.
Under the leadership of Martha Ward, the Sisters of Salem Ward accomplished much good, In 1886, they were asked to store all the wheat they could, and every Sister responded to the call. Sister Ward served as President from 1885 until January 5, 1897, when the Society was reorganized, releasing Sister Ward and her board with a vote of thanks.
Sister Helena Flamm Jensen was chosen as 2nd President of the Salem Relief Society, with Martha Ann Jensen and Caroline Peterson as Counse- lors, Margaret Ricks as Secretary, Laura Hansen, treasurer; and Victoria S. Harris, Rosa Nelson, and Mary Belnap, Trustees in Trust.
December 1, 1898 - Stake Relief Society President Temperance Hinckly came to Salem with her Counselor, M. S. Anderson. Both commended the Salem Sisters highly for building a granary. They said that it was a big undertaking. They stated that Salem was the first Relief Society
in Bannock Stake to build a granary.
The Stake Officers asked the Salem Sister to celebrate the 17th of March with a program and picnic. Each Sister was asked to donate ten cents on that day.
The following changes were made: Laura Hansen was released as Treasurer on June 3, 1897, Amanda Bell Sustained as such; Myrtle Morten- sen Sustained as Assistant Secretary, November 16, 1899 and Christina Hegsted Sustained .
On February 2, 1901 Christina Hegsted was released as Secretary, and Evelyn Worlton Sustained. September 19, 1901 - Christina Hegsted was Sustained as Secretary,
Helena Jensen was released after eight years of faithful service with her devoted board, on December 14, 1904 .
Sister Martha Ann Jensen was chosen third President of the Salem Relief Society, with Della Hemming and Alice Roylance as Counselors, Evelyn Worlton as Secretary, M. May Grover as Assistant Secretary, and Christina Hegsted as treasurer.
President Jensen was especially adapted to care for the sick. To many a family in Salem, she went as an angel of mercy, and is remembered as such by those who were afflicted Her work never ended with just a visit to the sick, but in many cases, she stayed at the home of the sick
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until she knew that a change for the better had taken place,
During her services, the following Sisters were aids: Caroline Peterson, Alvelda J. Pederson, Lena Anderson, with Myrtle Mortensen as chorister, Pleasance Furse as Secretary, Rosa Ward as Assistant Secre- tary, and Ester Hilton as organist. After eight years of faithful labor, Sister Martha Ann Jensen and her officers were released on August 15, 1912.
Sister Evelyn Worlton was Set apart as fourth President, with Amanda Bell and Myrtle Mortensen as Counselors, Laura Hogg as Secre- tary, Amelia Phillips as Assistant Secretary, Christina Hegsted as Treasurer, and Alice Roylance and Lizetta Neff as aids .
Sister Worlton and her officers and members responded to the call from the general board to give every possible help to the Red Cross. Socks were knitted and bandages rolled.
Laura Hogg was released in 1914 as Secretary and Amelia Phillips as Assistant Secretary, and Essie Furse and Della Hemmings Sustained as such. Essie Furse was released February 28, 1915 and Nancy Cherry Sustained. Annie Mortensen was Sustained as chorister the same day.
After four years of service, Sister Worlton and her board were honorably released January 25, 1917. Mary Ward succeeded as fifth President, with Della Hemming and Alice Roylance as Counselors, Clara Withers as Secretary, Myrtle Bohi as Treasurer, and Lena Anderson as Class Leader. On June 8, 1919 the following were released: Della Hemming, Alice Roylance, Clara Withers, Myrtle Bohi, and Lena Anderson. Sustained the same day were Anna Jacobson as 1st Counselor, Nettie Belnap as 2nd Counselor, Eleanor Virgin as Secretary-Treasurer, and Linda Eddington as Assistand Secretary. Mae Hegsted succeeded Nettie Belnap as 2nd Counselor on September 20. July 1921 - Effie Belnap and Martha Ann Jensen succeeded as 2nd Counselors, Sarah J. Hilton as Secretary, Esther Hilton as chorister, and Ethel Bagley as organist. Sister Ward and her officers had a broad field of labor during the flu epidemic, caring with untiring efforts for the flu victims.
September 17, 1922 - Martha Ann Jensen was -gain chosen to be President, with Olive Jensen and Edna Hegsted as Counselors, Sarah J. Hilton as Secretary, Clara Withers as Assistant Secretary, Esther Hilton as chorister, and Ethel Bagley as organist Alice Hansen, Linda Eddington, and Eleanor Virgin were Class Leaders. Rachel Dillie and Clara Withers succeeded as Counselors, along with Mae Hegsted .
Clarissa Williams, general President of the Relief Society, had the inspiration of that the interest of the wheat fund should be returned to the Wards and used for Maternity and Child Welfare . Clinics were established for the removal of tonsils and the health of children and adults improved very much. Sister Jensen was the second time honorably released on September 25, 1927.
Sister Myrtle Wasden was Set apart as the seventh President, with Clara Withers and Annie Mortensen as Counselors, and Laura Hogg as Secretary-Treasurer. Lucy Bowen succeeded as 2nd Counselor. During World War I, the Relief Society grain was sold and the money was put in trust of the presiding Bishopric. Since there was no grain to be stored, Sister Wasden and her board decided to sell the granary with with the sanction of Bishop George Tanner, and use the money for the building of a new Relief Society room. The granary was sold and the money for the building was put in the Fremont County Bank, Sugar City, pending preparation for a new Relief Society room. The granary was sold to Alfred Ward .
Clinics and class work was carried on. Sister Wasden and her officers cared for the affairs of the Society to the best of their
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ability. On December 8, 1929 Sister Wasden and her board were honorably released.
Elsie K. Jensen succeeded as eigth President with Laura Hogg and Emily Hopw as Counselors, and Eulalia Worlton as Secretary. Bertha Rindlisbacher succeeded as 2nd Counselor in 1935, when Laura Hogg moved to Montana. During the service of Elsie K. Jensen, a great depression came over the nation. Banks were foreclosed, the money from the granary was lost. Government and Church had to lend a helping hand. Red Cross material was distributed by Sister Jensen and her officers to those in need.
Besides seven Class Leaders, there was a sunshine committee and a sewing and a decorating committee. All responded cheerfully to their duties. Clinics were carried on, eye glasses were supplied, and layettes and quilts were sold and given away to those in need. During the winter of 1932-33, material for quilt blocks and 22 pounds of washed wool were donated and 11 quilts were made that winter by the members under the direction of the visiting teachers.
Louise Y. Robinson had the inspiration to ask each Sister to donate one new and one made-over article for emergency. To this, the Salem Sisters responded well. Birthdays of all Sisters were celebrated for one year .
In November 1935, the Salem Relief Society Golden Jubilee was celebrated with a pageant depicting the highlights of the local Relief Society. At this celebration $20 was cleared and sent to Missionaries. The general fund was supplied with proceeds from show, fishpond, country stores, sales of ice cream at the sugar factories, and sale of tickets for the Romance theater .
The Sisters donated freely of their old clothing to be made over for the Church Welfare as well as new articles, fruits and vegetables. Scripture reading was made interesting by recipes for Bible cakes, Bible games and so on. Despite depression, Sister Jensen and her off- icers enjoyed many spiritual feasts and socials. During those lean years of depression, they gained the friendship of every Sister in the Ward .
On August 16, 1937 Sister Jensen was released and Emily Hope Sustained as ninth President, with Bertha Rindlisbacher and Janet Mortensen as Counselors, and Eulalia Worlton as Secretary. Sister Worlton was succeeded in January 1938 by Clarissa Luke, who in turn was succeeded by Della Gray.
The membership campaign was started during the year that Sister Hope was President. A total of 1582 chapters of scripture was read by the members. Forty two visits to the sick were made. Eight quilts were made. Clinics were held, five children had tonsils removed, eye glasses were bought for three children and the organization helped buy glasses for two adults. Two children had teeth taken care of by the Relief Society. Vegetables and fruits were donated and many went to the cannery and helped can the produce. A cover for the pulpit in the Chapel was bought during the year .
On September 4, 1938 Sister Hope was honorably released, also Bertha Rindlisbacher.
Eulalia Worlton was Set apart as tenth President with Janet Mort- ensen and Mable Hirschi as Counselors, and Clarissa Luke as Secretary. Mable Hirschi was chosen Premary President and was succeeded as 2nd Counselor by Myrtle Bohi.
During Sister Worlton's service, a library cabinet was built and an active library organized with Elsi K. Jensen and Sarah Bohi as librarians .
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A building fund was started for a Relief Society room. A quilt was made, having all the names of the members of Salem Ward embroidered on it, charging ten cents per name. The quilt was presented to Bishop O. P. Mortensen, and the money put in the building fund. During 1939 the new membership quota was reached, Salem being the first Ward in Rexburg Stake to reach its quota, thanks to the fine efforts of the membership coordinator, Emily Hope. A co-operative spirit prevailed during Sister Worlton's service. President Worlton was released on April 21, 1940 with a vote of thanks .
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