On September 16th, 1885, I was born the seventh child, to Joseph Allen (Taylor) and Mary Lake Taylor. The little log cabin, in Harrisville (now Farr West), was humble in appearance, but great love was there to welcome each child. The cabin was just back of the old house (west of my home), now standing on the Lorenzo Taylor farm.
My family consisted of nine brothers and sisters; Mary Jane, Joseph Allen Jr., Harriett, Jedediah, Beorge Bailey, Lettie, (myself Lorenzo), Chester Lewis, Zina and Amy.
The Farr West School, which I attended, was located across the highway east of the Current Farr West Church. The teachers taught all eight grades in the two large rooms. During my schooling there, my teachers were; Sarah Hawks, Miss Wingrow and R. Rogers.
Mother was an excellent cook and seamstress, her food was very well prepared and tasty, although, during some seasons of the year there couldn’t be much variety.
I well remember the sorrow and grief I felt at the death of my little brother Chester, who died at the age of five.
The year of 1898, my father and mother left the farm, to act in positions, of Superintendent and Matron of Weber County Infirmary. The older children were married, but Lettie, Zina and Amy moved with them to Roy (Utah). It was my lot to be left home, to live with Aunt Sarah and family, and help Josiah with the farm. I was just 13 and missed mother very much. Aunt Sarah was kind to me and I got along very well with my half brothers and sisters. I lived with Aunt Sarah 3 years, when mother insisted on me moving to Roy with her, where she could supervise more closely my school work and give strict guidance to my teenage training.
One spring and summer was spent, herding sheep over the “Roy Flats” and up “East South Fork Canyon”. I walked by foot driving the sheep from Roy to the “Hardware Ranch”. It took me about 2 weeks. I slept on a blanket on the ground and ate cold food. My shoes wore out and I wrapped my feet in sacks. Four or five days I walked in about 6 inches of snow. This was a hard trip for a boy of 14, whose only company was a boy younger than me.
Lettie and I attended Weber Academy (a Church school) one year and lived in Ogden. We went home to Roy during the wee ends, where mother prepared food for us to last the following week.
While living with the family at the Infirmary, I worked on the 80 acre farm, supervising inmates and working in the large fruit orchard. I also work at Roy Canning Co. for 1 dollar and a half a day (a 12 hour day).
During the year of 1902 and 1903, I went to Provo and attend the Brigham Young Academy. (now Brigham Young University) I enjoyed this opportunity, especially the following teachers: Prof. Edwin Smart, Prof Horace Secrets, Prof. Walter Cluff, and Prof. E. H. Holt. Students boarded with families in Provo. I was rather hard to please, I guess, trying out the board at a couple of homes before I finally settled with the family of Edward G. Harding, in the Provo Third Ward. It could have been the attractive young daughter Maud Harding that made this home so pleasant to me. After Brother Harding’s death, both Maud and I went to her Sisters’ Minnie Harding Meldrum and Will Meldrums’ home, where I stayed for the reminder of the year.
On February 10th, 1904, Maud and I were married in the Salt Lake Temple. When I went to Bishop Martin for a temple recommend he said, “Ren, I was just going to call you on a mission”. Maud spoke up and said, “Well if he is going on a mission he had better go now”. As a result of this, I left for my mission a month after our marriage.
My call came in February to the Hawaiian Mission, two other missionaries and I, traveled by train to San Francisco, we took a steamboat the “Ben Teore” to the Islands. The rough sea voyage lasted 6 days, we were very happy to land after so many days of sea sickness. It was necessary to learn a new language, I had to study very hard but with the Lord’s help, I mastered it and was able to speak fluently before the year ended. (Among my many faith promoting experiences was an incident and a blessing I received in Hawaii in the early days of my mission which I will relate. Having great difficulty with the learning of the Hawaiian language and become very discourage I made my problem a matter of fervent prayer, the Lord blessed me greatly, the language was made very clear to me, my memory was strengthened and I was soon able to converse and preach to the people with clearness of thought and ease. The real blessing was realized a second time when I return after fifty years to the Islands and I could speak with the same ease and fluency to the beloved Hawaiian people which brought me thankfulness and joy. I was privileged to be called to speak in a session at the Hawaiian Temple and I was blessed to be able to speak in the Hawaiian Language.) The missionaries lived with the native Hawaiians, sleeping on grass mats on the floor and eating poi and fish. These people were friendly, unselfish and god fearing. I learned to have a deep affection for them and still love to have them visit us each summer and entertain them with the best food and accommodations possible. By this I am trying in a very small way to partially repay them for their kindness. I labored as president of the Islands of Kaui and Maui. It was my privilege to spent three years on the most beautiful of the Hawaiian Island, “Kaui”. After nearly four years of service to the Lord, I returned home, leaving many friends, who even to this day, after more than sixty years, still communicate and visit us.
Maud and I began housekeeping, at last, after a separation of four years, in a log cabin, located just east of our present home. She had this little three room cabin furnished, and decorated, so that it was most attractive. We lived in the cabin for three years until we built out present home.
I helped father on the farm for two years and when he wanted to retire in 1910, I bought the thirty three acres. One half of the land consited of swamps, hills and hollows, all the machinery out dated and worn out. I had a hand plow, harrow, mowing machine and wagon. Two horses and two cows, that I had acquired before going on my mission, were my only farm animals.
Sixteen years of hard work alone, with little hired help, were spent; draining swamps, leveling off hills, and building up hollows, in fact nearly every inch of top soil was moved from one place to another, on the thirty three acres. This was done, mostly by hand, digging and shoveling, because of lack of horse power and machinery. An irrigation system was also dug by hand.
Later, I was gradually able to get more horses, finally kept up the number to seven or eight good farm horses. Better modern equipment and machinery were purchased, such as a riding plow, harrow, scraper and mower. No more walking after the old machines.
After seven years of marriage, our first son Allen Edward was born, then Morris Harding, Verl Lorenzo and Elvin Lake. After waiting so long for our children, these boys were so welcome and loved dearly.
Plans for the future now had a new look, one to provide not only the necessities, but the best living conditions and opportunities to help guide our four boys. We wanted them to live; near to their God, be ambitious, know how to work, be educated, be good citizens and that the obey the word of their “Heavenly Father” as well as the law of the land. All our work, energy and prayers were spent to accomplish these purposes. Poor crops and depressions cam and went, but no sacrifice was too great, for their mother and myself, if it furthered the realization of our plans. Even some of the recreations young boys indulged in were discouraged to our boys, because of the environment and bad habits, they would be exposed to, during their tender teen age years.
My brother George and I bought an 110 acre farm in the upper fields, which we later divided adding 60 acres to my present 33, giving me a farm of now 93 acres. These 60 acres were undeveloped and now again, I must level the entire area and make an irrigation system, also fence the property. Long hours and days and weeks of hard work were needed to accomplish these improvements. Not only working myself, but by now I was able to hire some help. Edward Kerr, N.T McEntire and numerous others, helped. These of course were hired to make these improvements.
My farming operations were now on a much larger scale, different crops were plated; such as sugar beets, potatoes, hay and grain. Several acres of planted pasture were necessary for my new ventures. I now began a chicken project, I stated with a few hundred and built it up to around 4,000 (Hens). The project proved very successful and furnished us with a steady income. About this time started in the dairy business, with a few registered Holstein cows and increased the herd to 50 head. The dairy proved a most successful undertaking.
I had a large well dug which furnished 2 second feet of water, to add to my regular water rights already acquired.
As the boys grew up they were taught to be ambitious and also how to work. They began with light chores and gradually took on heavier work. The equipment they used was modern also the methods and a tractor was added to our machinery in about 1923. The boys worked on the farm during summers and helped with farm chores during the school year. I appreciated their help very much, but all to soon they grew up and left the farm for higher education and marriage.
We helped Allen through Utah State University, even after his marriage, we sent he and Nona to Logan so he could finish his four years. Morris also graduated from Utah State and we sent him to Wisconsin for graduate work, he completed all but one year for his ‘Doctorate” before his marriage and he later went on his own and finished his schooling. Verl graduated from Utah State also and did graduate work at the University of Utah and received his “Masters Degree”. Verl later attended Stanford University (In California) on his own and received another “Masters Degree”. Elvin graduated from Weber County High Scholl and he decided against college for more experience in ranching. He (was) manger of “Marble Ranch” at Carmel, California. We wouldn’t have been able to give the boys these advantages, without their willingness during their growing years, to cooperate in making the farm produce, so as to increase our income.
While the children were still small, I modernized our home with plumbing, electricity and furnace for heating. It made it much more convenient and comfortable for Maud and the children. Very few homes had these conveniences in this area. We had one of the first cars also and as the boys grew old enough to drive the use of the car was shared.
From 1944 I operated my farm, with the help of hired men, this went on for the next 23 years at which time, I retired and sold the farm to Allen at a liberal figure. I have lived on this farm all my life with the exception of 4 years in the mission field, 2 years at Roy and 6 year at BYU in Provo. Fifty eight years of farming and improving farm land, has been a gratifying occupation and I enjoyed every day.
Maud died January 20 1952, from a heart attack. She was a wonderful wife and mother, very ambitious and hard working and she made a happy comfortable home for all of us.
My experiences in church work and serving the Lord has been foremost in my life, working in the different organizations was a pleasure. I will list some activities as follows: President of Mutual, teacher in the priesthood, ward teacher, home teacher, Bishop of Farr West Ward for 10 years, High Council member and worked on the Welfare Committee, when it was first organized. During the building of the first brick church in Farr West, I served on the finance committee.
Some of my time was spent in community and civic interests. At the beginning of the Dairy Association, in Weber County, I took an active part in the promotion, organization and development of the Weber Central Dairy. I was also a member of the first group, who promoted the building of the Pine View Reservoir in Ogden Canyon and used my influence in getting the Western Irrigation Company, to buy 100% water rights according to the acreage. For ten years I was President of the Western Irrigation Company and also served on the Soil Conservation Committee, of Weber County, for a number of years. As an active member of the Republican Party I was chairmen of the Farr West District for a term.
June 12, 1952, I married Jennie Harding, of Provo, Utah. I had known her since she was a small girl; she filled the gap in my life so much needed at this time. We are very devoted to each other and she is a real joy to me in my declining years. We are very happy in our comfortable home.
Much pleasure has been taking in the enjoyable trips I have taken. We visited Maud’s sisters in Canada twice taking along the boys and Rose Kerr. We visited Verls’ and Elvins’ families several times and enjoyed traveling around the state of California and also toured the North West and Yellowstone Park several times.
One of the many joys of my life was returning to Hawaii and spending three wonderful months, visiting friends and enjoying church and temple activities.
We had a wonderful trip to Florida, visiting Adeles’ family in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We were also happy to see Paul and children. We lived with Paul in Orlando, Florida for a month and also toured the state. On our way home we visited a niece, Jennie Hyde and family in Washington DC. Jennie showed us the many important point of interest there, also in Virginia and Maryland. (I have visited 32 of the 50 states of the Union.)
My life has been very gratifying; I love my wives and children dearly. I rejoice in the development and manhood of my sons and also their successes. I am hoping and praying that they will continue in their church activities and in living their religion. The fifteen grand children and 4 great grandchildren are a source of great pride, and my prayers and interest as well as concern is felt for them. I am hoping here again that they may grow up strong in their faith and activities in the church. I am also proud of their educational accomplishments and hope many more will graduate from Colleges as Gordon, Gary and Kay are doing this year. (1968)
Great satisfaction is felt by the feeling that in a sense, I have accomplished some of the many objectives, I had planned. I will mention a few; our home has always been attractive ad happiness was in abundance. Our sons are active in the church and well educated. Examples by us, of clean living, good citizenship, and leadership has paid off, in the lives of these boys. The boys are ambitious and know the joy of hard work in realizing their accomplishments. It makes me happy, that after Verl left home, I was able to have help in the house for Maud whose health, was not the best and hope to do the same for Jennie as time goes on.
Nona, Beth, Lucile, Idonna and Mary have contributed their important share, in the raising of these fine grand children and in helping with the success of their husbands.
Grandsons, Gordon, Gary and Graig served missions in the Gulf States, Sweden and Australia. Another grandson Ronnie is still serving in Scotland and is the son of Allen and Mary.
My wish is that my sons will continue to be successful. Allen is a “Supervisor of Agriculture” at the Job Corp Center at Clearfield, as well as running his farm. Morris (has his title as Doctor) is an “Assistant Director in the Extension Service” at Utah State University. Verl is a “Licensed Real Estate Broker”, with offices in Pal Alto, Menlo Park and Redwood City. Elvin is manager of the 15,000 acre John Marble Cattle Ranch (Tularcitos) in Carmel Valley, California.
I am indeed thankful to our Heavenly Father that I have reached this mile stone in my life, in a good physical and mental health as I now enjoy. I am looking forward to the future with great interest, to see the progress of my family. And at the ripe young age of eighty-one, I still feel responsible and capable to give advice to any one of my family when, I feel it is necessary for their betterment.
Note: Written By Lorenzo Taylor in May, 1967. Lorenzo died December 2, 1970.
