Dora Evaline Taylor (1885-1981)

Dora Evaline Taylor was born on September 30, 1885, the second child of James Henry Taylor and Martha Amelia Rawson in Farr West, Utah. Her siblings are Martha Ellen, James Rawson, Rozella, Joseph Arthur, and Horace Hyrum.

She was baptized by Thomas Brown on June 7, 1894 and confirmed the same day by Nels A. N. Lee. Dora Evaline grew up in a frame house on a farm with many trees of all kinds on the property as well as a front lawn that stretched to the street. The farm was situated on what was known as the Four Corners. The crossroads took people to Plain City, Ogden, Slaterville, and Hot Springs. A tramway ran past the home each morning and each evening providing the family with transportation to Ogden and back when needed.

Dora’s memories of growing up in the area included the Farr West Ward’s celebration of Thanksgiving and Christmas. These family-oriented gatherings took place at the ward meetinghouse and included programs, supper, and dancing. Another event that Dora remembered with fondness was the Rawson Family Reunions (where Dora was elected secretary) which were always well attended.

When Dora was three years old, her mother bought her a white and pink straw hat with white daises on it and pink ribbon streamers flowing down the back. Because it was her third birthday and she was so excited about her new hat, she ran to show her Grandma Rawson, who lived ½ mile away. Dora’s mother called her to come back home but she continued on her way and didn’t return home until after she had shown her grandmother her new pretty bonnet

Dora also remembered the family’s first real excursion on the train to spend the day at the Lagoon Resort. Other exciting events included going to the Saturday Matinees at the Utahna Theater to see stage plays – a different play each week. The family would stable the horses after driving to town and reclaim them after the play.

On Easter Sunday, the family would go to the Hot Springs. This is a place where three or four springs came out of the ground naturally hot. They would rock up the springs to about four feet from the ground; then put raw eggs in the springs tied in a flour sack to cook while they prepared the rest of the lunch.

Another adventure Dora remembered was when she was about eleven years old. She remembers going for a sleigh ride with other members of the family. The children would heat rocks very hot and wrap them in blankets to put under their feet for warmth while out in the sleigh. They traveled to a favorite spot, Little Mountain, which was about sixteen miles from their home. They took their lunch and had a marvelous time but on the way home got lost. As they were trying to find the way home, the horses nearly gave out and they had to stop at a nearby farm to get the horses hay and water. Text Box: Dora’s high school graduation pictureIt took some time but they finally found their way back home. It was very late and her parents were becoming very worried. They arrived home about midnight, tired, hungry and cold, as the rocks had cooled off many hours prior to their arrival. But she still remembered it was a great day and they had lots of fun.

When Dora was fourteen years of age she worked for Brother and Sister John and Sarah Larkin. Sister Larkin was ill so she did all her housework and cared for her two children. In the summer she took charge of all the berry picking as the Larkins had several acres of strawberries that had to be picked, crated, and prepared for market.

With her small paycheck from this job, Dora and her mother would take their horse and buggy and go shopping for a bit of material. Her mother was a beautiful seamstress and always made her such lovely clothes. Dora’s mother even made her wedding dress.

Dances were an important part of the teen scene for Dora. She remembered the “fellows” would call for the girls in a wagon and all the boys and girls would go together. No one stayed home. Other times everyone would go horseback riding, run races at the Hot Springs race track, or take a picnic lunch and spend the day out in the hills.

Dora and her friends on Friday nights, in the summer would prepare picnic lunches, while the boys gathered wood. Then they would all meet about 6 p.m., light a big bonfire and enjoy the evening singing, playing games, and eating. Everyone had to be home by 10 p.m.

During the winter Dora enjoyed mutual activities. They would put on a play about every two weeks and had lots of dancing which included all members from Farr West and Plain City. They joined together to make a large enough group to make it more enjoyable. It was at these dances that she met Richard. It was on a Leap Year’s Eve Dance when her friend, Mae Wardle went to the dance alone. Richard and Will Arbon also came to the dance alone. Mae wanted to go home with Will, so she dared Dora to ask Richard to take her home. Unbeknownst to Dora, Mae had already asked Richard if he would take her home and he was delighted. As the evening wore on, Richard asked Dora for several dances and each time waited for her to ask him to take her home, but she didn’t right away. Finally near the end of the dance, she broke down and asked him and that started their steady companionship for the next three years.

Dora attended the Weber Academy for one year and two of her favorite teachers were David O. McKay, who taught world history, and his brother, Thomas McKay, who taught language.

After three years of courtship, Dora Evaline was sealed by John R. Winder to Thomas Richard Bates in the Salt Lake Temple on February 21, 1906.

Their first home was a little two room, red brick house in Plain City. They lived there one winter then moved closer to Richard’s family in Farr West and rented the old Costley home. Their first two children were born there.

During this time, Richard built their first home just south Dora of his father’s home so he would be near his father to help with the farming. During the winter months he worked at a furniture store called Herricks, where all their furniture was purchased. Here their second two children were born. Then a large power line was built through the area causing them to leave their home.

A fire destroyed their first home in July of 1929. They lost almost all their belongings. This was especially devastating as all the clothing for ten people was lost. Fortunately none of the family was hurt or injured. Richard’s violin was destroyed in this fire and that was one of the most significant losses as he had made the violin himself.

While waiting for a new home to be built, the family moved to Ogden and lived on 17th Street. Richard built the new home on the same spot as the one destroyed by fire and named it “Twin Barn Farm.” This farm had two identical barns standing side by side with the name proudly hanging between them on a sign.

Later, on September 29, 1932 the family decided to move to Morgan. After living for a time in a cement house, Richard built the family a nice new brick home. He then razed the old house and the family remained in this home until the death of Dora and Richard.

Dora always took great pride in her family and tried to provide each child with the greatest opportunity available. Her baking and homemaking skills have been considered outstanding not only by her family but also by her neighbors and friends. She took great pride in her ability to fix a good meal and loved to have her family come to dinner at any time.

History compiled and written by Lucille B. Sommers, a daughter and Ruth H. Barker, a granddaughter.
Sources: Family Records and Discussions with Dora Evaline Taylor, pictures in the possession of Ruth H. Barker

Speech Given by Dora Evaline Taylor
at the Taylor Reunion July 12, 1975

I’m not much of a speaker. I’m 89 years old.

My father was a wonderful man and he really loved his family. He was a very religious man and we all went to church. He saw that we all went to church every Sunday and we prepared for it before we went.

He used to tell us, my mother and us girls, he used to say, “You’ll see the time will come when you’ll see a streetcar go by your home and there will be horseless carriages going by and there will be people flying in the air.” We never thought much then, but the streetcar went by our door and so did the automobiles, so we can see it’s all come true.

I can remember when the first automobiles come along. Our roads in those days wasn’t very good and when we were going in our wagons we’d drive at the side of the road and let the automobiles go by and they would always save and thank us for letting them have the road.

The roads were so bad; I remember when we used to go to church, Father would have to take us in the buggy and a lot of times we’d have to sit with our feet up high to keep from getting in the water. After a while the men all got together and built a railroad to a big mountain where they could haul gravel and build up our roads so we were out of the water. That was the starting of our good roads and now we’ve got such a good road.

We never put up our fruit like the people do today. We dried all of our fruit in those days. Our young people would meet together and the boys, that had apple peelers, would peel the fruit and us girls would have to core the fruit and get it ready to be dried. Then the boys would put it out and dry it. I can remember the first fruit that was ever bottled. We would put it in the jars. We had little lids to go over them and then we’d heat wax and pour it over the bottle lids. Then when we opened the bottle we would have to break the wax to get it out.

I can remember such wonderful times that we all had and we had to make our own entertainment. Our folks would allow us to get together on Friday night but we had to be in about 11 o’clock. On Saturday we all had to prepare for our Sunday because everybody went to church. On Thanksgiving and Christmas all the people in the ward would meet at the meeting house. They put the tables all around the side of the building. Everybody brought their lunch and we’d have our lunch and a lovely program. There was a children’s dance in the afternoon and the older folks dance at night. On Christmas we always had a Christmas tree at the church and we all went up and received our presents on the tree. I remember we had a lot of young people in our ward that were really good players and good actors and we were proud of them. They put on a good show and that was mostly our entertainment in the winter time. We had such good times and people all associated together. I believe we had better times then than they do today.

I was a big girl before I ever seen a show, but I’ll never forget the first show I ever went to. We were told not to go to shows, and when I went in the show I felt just like the devil was sitting on my shoulder and I shouldn’t be in there. I really couldn’t enjoy that show. The boys happened to take us there and we really didn’t know we were going to the show when we left.

I can remember my father’s brothers. Nearly all moved to Idaho and I knew Uncle Joseph Allen and Uncle Andrew best. Oh, Uncle Andrew was our bishop and he was a wonderful bishop. Everybody loved him and when he died us children were all to his funeral and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.

Uncle Joseph Allen – I remember him so well. After my father died we had to do all the chores. We’d get up in the mornings when it was stormy and cold to go do the chores and Uncle Joseph Allen and his boys had already been there and done all our chores, milked the cows and everything. I can remember there was one man, I don’t remember his name, but he was really sick and he had been so sick he couldn’t get his crops all in. But, Oh! they were wonderful people and I think we all need to be proud of our grandfather Taylor and all of his family.

Family gatherings – I think are wonderful. We had a family gathering two weeks ago today. All my family met and there were 65 of the family at the reunion met in Morgan at the courthouse and had a lovely program and our lunch. Every year my family gets together. We have our Christmas party just before Christmas when we all meet together, have lunch, a program and Santa Claus comes and gives each one a little token of some kind. I think last year we gave them all a little cane. I think it would be wonderful if all people would try to keep together and keep close to each other so that we won’t forget each other.

I don’t know – I think I’ve taken enough time and we can have some of the others get up and tell things a whole lot better than I can, but I’m sure proud to be here today and to meet all you folks and know that you’re all close relatives.

These few words I say and thank you all.

Article in the Ogden Standard Examiner

Mrs. Bates Honored on Her 90th Birthday

Mrs. Dora E. Bates was honored by her family on her 90th birthday anniversary September 30 with a luncheon and party.

Ninety-three of her family members, close friends and relatives came to greet her and wish her a very happy 90th birthday. Out of state travelers came from Washington, Idaho and Wyoming for this special occasion.

She remains an active lady doing her own house work and yard work. She still crochets; in fact, nearly every one of her children have some of her handiwork which she has given to them as gifts. Folks can still go to her home where she “whomps” up a delicious meal, makes her own bread and goodies. She is a great example and delight to all of us.

She just recently took her first commercial airplane flight, traveling alone, to Richland, Washington, to visit with her son and his family for three weeks arriving back home with them by car, on September 29 in time for her birthday celebration the next day.

While in Washington she had the privilege of getting acquainted with three of her great-grandchildren she hadn’t seen yet.

Mrs. Bates was born on September 30, 1885, in Farr West, Utah to James and Martha Rawson Taylor. She attended the Farr West schools with one year at the Weber Academy before her marriage to Richard Bates on February 21, 1906. They were married 63 years before he passed away on April 29, 1969.

She and her husband had 10 children, six sons and four daughters, seven are still living. She also claims 30 grandchildren and 68 great-grandchildren making 106 living children at the present time. With the addition of her in-law children it brings the total family to 139 members.

Her sons are: Verne, of Roy; Earl, Morgan; Ivan, Richland, Wash.; Carl, Kaysville. Her daughters, Ethel Holt, Layton; Evelyn West, Ogden; Lucille Sommers, Morgan.

A Patriarchal Blessing

Upon the head of Dora Evaline Taylor
born September 30, 1885 in Harrisville, Weber County, Utah,
daughter of James H. Taylor and Martha Amelia Rawson
Arthur M. Rawson, Patriarch

(Note: Given the sacred and personal nature of patriarchal blessings, members have been asked not to post them on websites. I have edited this life sketch and removed the transcription of the blessing. Direct descendants can request a copy from the Church History Department.)