Mary Ann Chapman's Story    Part 6   51







102

and people were taking up homesteads at the foot of the mountain & at Eager & Springerville were spreading their towns, but our little valley had the first water rights which was finally taken from it. Some Mexicans lived in the valley above our farms but finally moved away, they were not easy to get along with. As they lived on the upper end of the ditch they would steal the water when it was the turn of the lower end of the valley, which caused trouble, but finally our relatives bought them out. So we had our S. School & meetings & enjoyed them till It was just Bro. & Sis. Neilson & our family that held meetings but we had the spirit of the Lord with us & kept them going until Moroni was getting feeble & only Jay 14 years old to help farm so we moved to St. Johns. Jay's brothers helped him get work, Vivian went to high school & worked evenings, I worked & we got along. I would help mothers when in bed with young babies, did housework for Louise Udall. Vivian finally got a job in the Anderson Drug & Merc Co. Jay freighted & all working we got along, Moroni getting more feeble until he died. (My Moroni) As I have filled the pages till I began on Moroni's life section so will continue on here as there is room. As I came from Waynes, he & Helen brought me to St.Johns to Hugh's, they were going to the fall conference. Wayne told me he would like to be raised in the Priesthood for wherever he moved he is put in as President of the Elders. Then he is called to be Bishop of the Ward in Farmington


103

so he has the higher priesthood & is very faithful in it. After my visit of a month at Wayne's I was at Hugh's till Daisy's came to St.Johns for me. Then as the July heat came they took me on to St. Johns, where Wayne & Helen got me again & has one of the biggest jobs in the church. Alden & Majorie got me to visit them & took me back. Wayne & Helen came for me again in 1960, took me by Albuquerque where I had a visit at Wanda's & saw Alden & Majorie & children, also Dale & Nancy & a months visit in the fall. Again stayed with Wayne & Helen & saw him in his Bishop duties. Hugh & Nellie wanted me to go back to them as I had been with them a month & enjoying them. Loving seeing Vivian's every day as LaVeta was preparing for her wedding. Dwyn was here. I would get Nellie to take me to Vivian's to see what I could help with. Alvin & Leonard were home & it was such a treat to see them all & see Lou & hers & Leigh's. The day Wayne & Helen & boys brought me to St.Johns, during the forenoon I was at Vivian's awhile after Wayne & Helen left for home. When Ivan & Daisy, David & Tani came they got a peach & cherry tree to plant at their new home that was at the St.Johns home, young trees, so I didn't get to see Hugh, Nellie or Lou long nor have the visit I expected as they left in about 4 hours. I had to rest all I could if I thought I could stand the trip back. I knew if the Lord would help me I could, so we had a good trip but of course very tiring.