HISTORY OF FLORA JENETTE LERWILL PIERCE

HISTORY OF FLORA JENETTE LERWILL PIERCE AS WRITTEN BY HER IN ABOUT 1963

Born in Mona, Juab County, Utah, September 11, 1885, to Anna Christina Mets Lerwilll and Thomas Lerwill. Went to school at Mona until 14 years of age then finished school at Payson at the Peteetneet School-.

In Mona, when old enough, I milked cows and took them to the pasture, also helped father on the farm, cut potatoes to plant, planted them and helped dig them. We only had one boy in the family and he was crippled, so the girls helped on the farm.

Mother had nine children, three died in infancy, there were six in the family until the diphtheria was an epidemic, I was nine years old. Two of my sisters died in one week.

My older sister Lizzy, went out to work at Salt Lake City.  My father had a second wife and she also had children. We all had to help on the farm, I loved to play ball after school.  While in Payson I was teacher in Sunday School and Primary and sang in the Ward choir and also the Stake choir.  I chopped the wood and brought in the coal, we carried water from across the road, they had a well with a pulley so the girls always carried the water.  Mother took care of the house and did the sewing for us. There were 5 girls to sew for, and you could not buy dresses ready made.

When I was 14 we moved to Payson, then father went to live with his second wife. My mother said, she has small children and that is where he should live.

My sisters and brother got married, then mother and I lived alone.I worked out and also worked with father in the creamery. I weighed milk and washed vats. I loved to dance and went twice a week to dances.

Sept 12, 1906, I married Isaac Riley Pierce in the Salt Lake Temple. I then moved to Salem on a farm. This left mother alone at Payson. I worried about mother. It was buggy and horse days, so it took more time to go and see her.

When my second child was two years old we moved her to Salem, we built her a small home close to us.

Riley and I had six children. Edith P. Beddoes. Don C. Pierce. Dale L. Pierce, Rea P. Harpold. Louise P. Allen, Virginia P. Keele.

We all worked very hard on the farm while the children were home. We raised melons, cantaloupes, tomatoes, beets and onions. When the babies were small I drove the horses to cultivate the beets and when it was digging time for beets, we were all in the field trying to help.

In 1911, Grandfather Pierce passed away so we took care of Mother Pierce, the children were very kind to her for she was a very lovely lady, she loved us all so much. In time when my mother could not take care of herself she moved in with us.-

She and Grandmother Pierce were together so much, they did handwork and told of old times and trials they went through. The children enjoyed what they had to tell.

November of 1925, Riley was called on a short term mission to Chicago. Virginia was three years old, all the other children were in school, but were very good to help. The boys milked the cows and did the chores before going to school. Edith was in her last year sf high school. She quit school to help me in the service station, which was a sacrifice for her. We built the station in 1922. The new cement road was opened the same year.

Riley was sick when he returned home from his mission and could not work on the farm. I will never forget how the brethren of Salem Ward worked together and planted the crops for us. We were so grateful for the brethren that did such a fine work. The boys could help but were not old enough to do it alone.

In March 1930, Mother passed away, she was 85. Grandmother Pierce lived until July 1940. She was 91.

I first started to be a relief society teacher when Dale was a baby, now he is in the 5Oth year. He was born in 1913.

I was asked in June 1941 to be a counselor to Sister Mlnnie Hanks in the Relief Society in Salem Ward, I was work director.

Riley passed away March 7 1942. I felt like I could not carry on without him, but we had so much work to do in relief society because the war was on, we were so busy getting clothing and other things done to send across that it helped me very much, for I was so grieved at losing Riley. I was much blessed in things to do in the relief society. I am very thankful for the gospel.

All the children were married and moved away and the gospel was such a comfort.