Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Your Thoughts or Memories
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Friday, July 11, 2008
Brief History of Ebba Rachel Hokanson Tuckfield
Ebba Rachel Hokanson was born May 20, 1901 in Hyrum, Utah. There is some confusion on the year she was born as the building which housed her birth records burned. However, two different LDS Church records, including birth records, record her birth year as 1901. Only one, the Hyrum Ward records of 1901 list it as 1900. She was also baptized in the LDS Church in 1909, presumably at the age of 8 yrs. old. This would put her birth year as 1901.
She was born to Pehr Hokanson and Mary Christina Jensen. Her father had been married previously to Anna Marie Ockerman and they had 7 sons. This marriage ended in divorce and Pehr married Mary. To this family came seven daughters, one son who died soon after birth, and one stillborn baby. Rachel was the youngest living girl in this family. About the age of two, their family moved to Salem Idaho. They went to Idaho to dry farm. While in Idaho they lived in several towns including Salem, Herbert, DuBoise, and Rexburg.
Rachel attended elementary school in Salem, Herbert, and Rexburg, and one year of high school at Ricks Academy. While in Rexburg, she worked at Lange Cafe and Bakery, a Laundry, the Sugar Factory Hotel, and spent a summer working on a homestead at DuBoise. She then went to Salt Lake City to help her married sister, Cora care for her family when Cora's third baby was born. Here she also obtained employment at ZCMI sewing in the factory and as a waitress in an Ice Cream Parlor. She remained in Salt Lake until she married Charles James Tuckfield. (See history of Charles for courtship and marriage information)
They moved to Lehi for the first year and a half. It was during this time that their first child, Fern Evonne Tuckfield was born. They moved back to Salt Lake City and between the years of 1922-1925 they lived in three different homes in Salt Lake. Their second child, Lysle Charles Tuckfield, was born in the Spring of 1925. In the Fall of 1925, Charles was transferred to Pocatello, Idaho. They remained in Pocatello for about a year. Here she had a beauty shop in her home. When they returned to Salt Lake in the Fall of 1925, she was able to stay home and be a housekeeper and mother until 1929. She then returned to the workforce and worked as a clerk and cashier in several places including: Walkers Dry Goods, JC Penneys, Sugar House, Liberty Park, State Fairgrounds, LDS Tithing Office, and the Paris Co. During this time she helped care for her ailing mother, whom she loved dearly. She then had her third child, Ralph Lee Tuckfield in 1934
Rachel always loved to travel. While she had a young family she traveled with either her husband or her family to fun places. She accompanied her husband to Los Angeles and Caldwell, Idaho. Her first trip to Yellowstone was with her husband and family. They also traveled as a family to Bryce Canyon. She and Charles went to Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. Then they took the three children to San Francisco. They took many short camping trips up American Fork Canyon.
Charles died unexpectedly in 1941. She then realized she would have to support her three children, so she returned to school. She went to comptometer school. This gave her skills to obtain employment at the Union Pacific Railroad Co. until she retired. She worked in several offices from Clearfield, to Salt Lake, and then the North Salt Lake office.
Rachel loved music as a girl and throughout her life. While a young girl, she participated in singing contests with her sister, Ada. She was in school plays, including Snow White when in the sixth grade. She took piano lessons, voice lessons, and music conductors lessons. She participated in and arranged Primary and MIA programs and plays. She composed a song which was used for the Jr. Seminary in the Columbus Ward and South Salt Lake Stake. In 1956, she arranged an Easter Cantata for the Bountiful 4th Ward Choir for Easter Sunday. She loved playing the piano and singing in all types of choirs and choruses and just singing with her family. Other talents she developed are those of crocheting, needlepoint or petty point, embroidery, quilting, and sewing. She created and gave away many afghans, throws, bedspreads, dresses, hats, baby clothes, doll clothes, and pictures with her talents. She also loved plants. She had plants and flowers both inside and outside her home.
As her children grew, she continued her traveling. After the death of her husband, she traveled with her children to Kentucky;l to Pomona, Calif; to San Diego and Coronado Beach; Tijuana, Mexico; and Chicago. Her son Lysle served an LDS mission in Sweden. At the end of the mission, Rachel traveled to Sweden and they explored Europe together. They visited Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Holland, and England. From there they traveled by boat to New York where they met Ranny and Fern and Ralph and traveled across the country by automobile, stopping at sites along the way. Later in life she traveled to Seattle, Las Vegas, Miami, Cuba, Hawaii, Boston, New York, Nauvoo, and Victoria and Vancouver, Canada. One of her favorite trips was a Church History tour which included the pageant at Hill Cumorah.
Rachel was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in many callings including teaching, music, working with the relief society, chorister, literature teacher, Jr. Seminary, secretary to the Stake Mission president, and working in the primary with the children. She also served in the community during the depression. She was the president of a self-help group of ladies.
In her later years she suffered from breast cancer and later dementia. She joined her husband in the eternities on Feb. 5, 1986 and is buried next to her sweetheart in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Brief Historical Sketch of Charles James Tuckfield
Charles James Tuckfield was born August 27, 1892 in Bingham, Tooele, Utah to James Howell Tuckfield and Isabella Dorcas Simmons. When he was born, he had 5 step brothers and sisters from his mother's first marriage ranging from ages 9-17. He also had one 4-yr. old brother, George. When he was 2 yrs. old, his mother died shortly after the birth of his sister Elizabeth Eva. Six years later in the year 1900, when Charles was eight years old, his father married Alice Jane Perry in Provo, Utah and a half-sister was born, Dorothy Fay. Alice also had four other children from a previous marriage, ages 11-18 at the time of the marriage.
Charles had very dark curly hair, thick eyebrows, and long eyelashes. Physically he was short in stature, but stood tall among men.
Charles only completed the 7th grade as far as formal education. However, he had a very active and creative mind. He spent much of his life tinkering with machines, pulleys, gears, cars and working with tools and wood. He loved to read and learn and figure out how things worked or how to solve problems.
During his youth, he was called to serve his country during World War I and was a private in the infantry. He was on a ship about half-way to France to do battle when the armistice was signed and the war ended, so he did not have to see active duty.
Charles was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was 17 years old. He was not very active in the Church until he met his future wife, Ebba Rachel Hokanson. He met Rachel at a dance in Idaho. Charles, being somewhat shy, asked his friend to ask Rachel if she would dance with Charles, which she reluctantly accepted. After the dance, Charles walked Rachel home and her boyfriend followed harassing them until it nearly resulted in a fight. This romance blossomed and they were married in the Salt Lake City Temple 30 June 1920.
Their first home was in Lehi, Utah. During this time, their first child, Fern Evonne Tuckfield was born. They then moved to Salt Lake City in the Fall of 1922. He worked for Union Pacific Railroad as a railway carman. They lived in three different homes from 1922-1925. Spring of 1925 brought their second child, Lysle Charles Tuckfield. In the Fall of 1925 Charles was transferred to Pocatello, Idaho where they lived for about a year after which they returned to Salt Lake City. In 1927 they purchased a home at 2160 Green Street where a few years later their third child, Ralph Lee was born.
He was a hard worker, honest, full of integrity, and was always concerned with the welfare of his family. He enjoyed new developments and as often as his budget would permit he would obtain the latest and greatest items that had been developed. Some of these include being the first in the neighborhood to convert from coal heat to modern gas furnace. As the telephones and new kitchen devices were developed they would acquire the latest.
As a family they loved the mountains and camping. Charles would come home from work, say pack the car, and off they would go. They had many memorable times camping in American Fork Canyon, Yellowstone, and Bryce Canyon to name a few. They also spent time going to Saratoga or the Great Salt Lake Beaches of Black Rock and Saltair. Often they would just take a Sunday drive which usually ended up with either ice cream or A&W root beer. Charles also took his son, Lysle, prospecting in the bench lands above Lehi. Nothing ever resulted from the claim, but they did enjoy tramping around the hills together.
Charles loved to work in the garage and built a small shop adjoining his garage. He was considered almost a "mechanical genius" because of his inventive and creative mind. He was constantly being sought after by his friends, neighbors, and others for his help, advice and knowledge of mechanical matters and he was always willing to help. His son, Lysle, said "I have seen him work out mechanical problems with gears and pulleys that would involve college math--although he had no formal training for such. Most of his problem solving was done by self reason and discovery." His automobiles were always in top shape and ran to perfection. He had is Model T, his 1927 Chevrolet, and a 1939 Chrysler Royal. Seldom did anything malfunction on his automobiles.
Charles had a heart condition during much of his life for which he took nitroglycerin. His heart unexpectedly failed him in his sleep January 8, 1941. Many friends, family and coworkers attended his funeral. He is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Charles only completed the 7th grade as far as formal education. However, he had a very active and creative mind. He spent much of his life tinkering with machines, pulleys, gears, cars and working with tools and wood. He loved to read and learn and figure out how things worked or how to solve problems.
During his youth, he was called to serve his country during World War I and was a private in the infantry. He was on a ship about half-way to France to do battle when the armistice was signed and the war ended, so he did not have to see active duty.
Charles was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was 17 years old. He was not very active in the Church until he met his future wife, Ebba Rachel Hokanson. He met Rachel at a dance in Idaho. Charles, being somewhat shy, asked his friend to ask Rachel if she would dance with Charles, which she reluctantly accepted. After the dance, Charles walked Rachel home and her boyfriend followed harassing them until it nearly resulted in a fight. This romance blossomed and they were married in the Salt Lake City Temple 30 June 1920.
Their first home was in Lehi, Utah. During this time, their first child, Fern Evonne Tuckfield was born. They then moved to Salt Lake City in the Fall of 1922. He worked for Union Pacific Railroad as a railway carman. They lived in three different homes from 1922-1925. Spring of 1925 brought their second child, Lysle Charles Tuckfield. In the Fall of 1925 Charles was transferred to Pocatello, Idaho where they lived for about a year after which they returned to Salt Lake City. In 1927 they purchased a home at 2160 Green Street where a few years later their third child, Ralph Lee was born.
He was a hard worker, honest, full of integrity, and was always concerned with the welfare of his family. He enjoyed new developments and as often as his budget would permit he would obtain the latest and greatest items that had been developed. Some of these include being the first in the neighborhood to convert from coal heat to modern gas furnace. As the telephones and new kitchen devices were developed they would acquire the latest.
As a family they loved the mountains and camping. Charles would come home from work, say pack the car, and off they would go. They had many memorable times camping in American Fork Canyon, Yellowstone, and Bryce Canyon to name a few. They also spent time going to Saratoga or the Great Salt Lake Beaches of Black Rock and Saltair. Often they would just take a Sunday drive which usually ended up with either ice cream or A&W root beer. Charles also took his son, Lysle, prospecting in the bench lands above Lehi. Nothing ever resulted from the claim, but they did enjoy tramping around the hills together.
Charles loved to work in the garage and built a small shop adjoining his garage. He was considered almost a "mechanical genius" because of his inventive and creative mind. He was constantly being sought after by his friends, neighbors, and others for his help, advice and knowledge of mechanical matters and he was always willing to help. His son, Lysle, said "I have seen him work out mechanical problems with gears and pulleys that would involve college math--although he had no formal training for such. Most of his problem solving was done by self reason and discovery." His automobiles were always in top shape and ran to perfection. He had is Model T, his 1927 Chevrolet, and a 1939 Chrysler Royal. Seldom did anything malfunction on his automobiles.
Charles had a heart condition during much of his life for which he took nitroglycerin. His heart unexpectedly failed him in his sleep January 8, 1941. Many friends, family and coworkers attended his funeral. He is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
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