Anthony Willis family tree » Allen Parcell Duke (1885-1967)

Données personnelles Allen Parcell Duke 

• Il est né le 3 février 1885 dans Wallsburg, Wasatch County, Utah, United States of America.Source 1
• Il est décédé le 29 septembre 1967 dans Orem, Utah County, Utah, United States of America, il avait 82 ans.Source 1
• Il est enterré dans Provo, Utah County, Utah, United States of America.Source 1
• Un enfant de Ethan Allen Duke et Martha Jane Parcell

Famille de Allen Parcell Duke

Il est marié avec Florence Varley.

Ils se sont mariés le 23 novembre 1910 à Utah, Utah, Verenigde Staten, il avait 25 ans.Les sources 2, 3

Enfant(s):

1. Paul Varley Duke  1911-1998
2. Gordon Duke  1914-2003
3. Helen Almira Allred Deniz  1917-1983
4. Don William Duke  1919-1999
5. Baby Boy Duke  1925-1925
6. Carrol Marie Duke  1929-2006

Notes par Allen Parcell Duke

I was born in Walls burg, Wasatch county, Utah, February 3, 1885. I got what schooling I have a Wallsburg District School reaching and finishing the seventh grade. I only attended the winter terms. I worked in the hay and grain in the summer (after I got old enough) and helped bale hay in the fall and winter. At the age of 14 I took a job with my Uncle J.K. Parcel, carrying mail from Wallsburg to Midway for 3 months April-May & June. From the age of 14 to 21 I took an active part in dramatics. At the age of 19 I spent the summer working on the section from Heber to the Wallsburg switch.
When I was 18 years old I was stricken with Typhoid fever. I was working in the grain field pitching grain for Ephrim Mecham. I told him I was sick and that I would have to quit. He said you are just playing sick because you are too dam lazy to work. He passed me on the road going for more help, and left me to walk over a mile so sick I could hardly make it. I was down for 11 weeks, I lost 58 lbs besides all my hair. My head was as smooth as my forehead, took about 6 weeks for it to get started again. Boy was I worried. But I was thankful the good Lord let me live. They started me out on a ¼ of a cracker to a meal after going 27 days without anything at all to eat. After I had been eating about 10 days, Mother gave me ½ a peach out the bottle. Boy did it taste good. So when she left the room I helped myself to 2 more peaches and inside of an hour I had a fever of 104. I thought my cads was numbered, but I pulled her out of the dive again. I guess my time was not here yet, when I got over that believe me I was more careful. When I did get to eating good I gained back my weight in double quick time.
Then when I turned 19 years of age I got Navy crazy. I wanted to join the Navy but Mother was against it. So I took it in my head to join anyway. So I got in with a friend that was going. We went to the Recruiting office to sign up. We had to go to Heber City. It was noon when we got there so they told us to come back at 2 o’clock. So we did. When I walked in, there sat Mom and Pop, so good-bye to the Navy. Well, I went o school for 2 more years, then on the 7th day of June, 1906, I left home to go to work in Bingham Canyon, Utah. I stayed in Provo City that night and landed in Bingham the next day with $.50 in my pocket. If I had had the price of a ticket I would have turned around and came back home again. But when I got to the Boarding House and got used to the work on the job, (by the way the job was on the cement gang), I decided to stay a while.
My boss on the cement gang was Berry Burk. He sure treated me swell. When the job ran out I got a job with Olley Thomas helping masons. I helped Joe Smith and his brother. They Olley Thomas quit and Joe Smith took his place. Then Joe wanted me to go in as an apprentice and work right with his men and learn the trade. But I got a chance to go on the tram and I could make a little more money so I took the tram.
I got to going out to the dances and the skating , met lots of girlies and boys. I met Kattie Bartlet, thought she was tops until she proved herself different. Then I made up my mind that I wouldn’t tie myself to the best girl in the world. I was to live my life alone. Sept. 1906, I went on the Highlandbay Tram. Put in 16 months there. Had trouble with the boss and quit. The next day went over to the smelter. Got a job with the masons. Then later got on the Yampa Tram, for Ike Johnson. Worked with Alf Battison, I never worked with a better partner. We put many happy shifts together. Then on the 8th of August 1909, there came a cloudburst on the hill above the tram and before we knew it the mud was running down the little hollow like a river. Then the mud began backing up and started over the tracks, went over 3 railroads down through the coal bin and into the grating pit of No. 3 Reverb furnace, pilled up on top of the Reverb, caved in the roof and B00177. Cost the company $50,000.00. Later the smelter closed down but the tram still run.
On the 28th of August, 1909, I laid off to attend a Duke Reunion to be held in Heber City, Wasatch Co., Utah. We made the trip by covered wagon and what a blessing for it rained all the way. I remember it so well, my new trousers got wet and when I got to Heber they was half way to my knees. Well, I found a dressing room and got them changed. My sister Rose had invited the two Varley Sisters and partners to go with us. Sarah had her partner but Florence did not. After the Reunion we went to Midway, stayed at Aunt Sarrah’s and went to a dance. When we got ready for the dance they all had partners but Florence and me. So I said don’t you think it would be alright if we walked together and she said just as you say. So we did, and from then on we didn’t separate. The more I seen of her the more I wanted to. We had good times together when I was home. But I was away most of the time so our courtship was mostly done in letters. I received about 1 letter a week and I managed to send the same. By this time I had began to think that the love bug had struck.
Sometimes I would find myself looking in the Furniture window wondering what she would like. I caught myself looking in Ben Lewises window. He asked me in. I looked at his rings. He said, “which one is it, Mr. Duke?” I said I must be sure of the girl first. That made me more desirous of her than ever. I was afraid I would let her get away. I knew she was the one and only one for me. So I ask the Lord to guide me. My health had been poor through the winter so I decided to quit the job for a while and go home. I left Bingham in March 1910. After about 10 days rest, I went up Provo Canyon to work for 2 weeks. I was afraid I would have to give it up but all at once I began to perk out of it so I soon got ok. One thing about being home, I could get to see my little Lady more often. My every thought was to ask her one question that was so near, but so far away. So one night in May, (I forgot the day), I asked her that question. To my surprise, she didn’t hesitate. My soul was at ease. I was ready to go back on the job now. I knew the Lord had quited and helped me so I knew she would stay true. I still was working in the canyon when a letter came from Alf Battison telling me my job was waiting for me if I wanted it. So I packed my suitcase and hit for Bingham. I hated to leave my girl but we had our date set for the 30th of September and I needed more money and it only give me 4 months.
I was saving all the money I could. In August my boarding house closed up so I had to find another place. I couldn’t find one, but I found a room where I could batch so I took it. I thought it would do for such a short time. I hadn’t been in my new quarters very long, when one evening I saw a boy across the street in the Bingham Coal and Lumber yard helping put some big logs on a wagon. He was such a little fellow and he looked familiar to me so I went over and talked to him. I asked him if he was any relation to Ray Duke. He said I guess I am, he’s my brother, and I found out it was Elmer Duke, my cousin. I ask him to come and stay with me. I said I am going to get married on the 30th of September, but he could stay with me until then. He was glad to come. He stayed about Sept. 10th, then he wanted to find another place. I told him not to get in a sweat, there was still 15 days. When low and behold there came a letter from Floss saying that her mother couldn’t get her ready for the 30th on her birthday. She said she wanted her to wait till Thanksgiving. So I said to Elmer, well Elmer, it looks like yhou have got 2 more months with me. If it hadn’t been for Elmer them 2 months never would have passed. After a little more than one month had passed there came another letter saying that Mother wanted her to wait until Xmas or Spring. She said, If you say Thanksgiving that is what it will be as I don’t like to put it off longer. I agreed with her 100% so I sat down and wrote her a letter telling her I was willing to still keep the old date as it may be dangerous to put it off. Little did I know there was one trying hard to beat my time. Going back to the middle of September, I wondered if it was the ring that was holding it up. So, I went to Ben Lewis and paid for the ring I had picked out on my way home. Then on the night of the 23rd of September, on a road of slow transportation, I presented the ring to her on my Father’s 53rd birthday. When my apponent seen the ring he tried harder than ever to get her to go out with him. But she would say” “Don’t you know what this ring means to me?” and she stayed with me 100%. So on the 23rd day of November, 1910, we were married in the Temple of our Lord, in Salt Lake City by Antone H. Lund. (And don’t think I didn’t ask her father for her either.)
We stayed in Salt Lake until the morning of the 24th, Thanksgiving Day. We returned home on the noon train. Then we had to get ready for the reception which was to come off that very night. Well, the reception did come off that night. We had a wonderful time. I didn’t know we had so many friends. We received some of the most lovely presents. We had to buy a china closet to put them in. Everything went on lovely until about 2 o’clock a.m., when Aunt Marie got sick. So we knew we would have to break up the party some way. So we worked it out this way, with help, of course. Erwin Hooley and Sarah went out and hooked my horse on the buggy and drove it out to the track. And Irene got our raps and put them out through the east window. So we went out one at a time. Floss and I got our raps and skipped out across the field where the kids was waiting with the rig, got in and away we went to Irenes. When I was going out of the house my Brother, Jack, said to me, “Hay there, you’re not going to get away that easy.” I said to him, “What do you mean? Do you think I would leave without a rap of any kind and no hat?” So he said, “See that you don’t.” And I was on my way then. Anyway, we go away and they didn’t know where we went so they didn’t find us.
We visited around for a few days with my folks, got our wedding photos taken, then left for Bingham on November 29, 1910. We arrived in Bingham that night and the next day I stayed home and helped get the house (that I had rented furnished) in order. Then Dec. 1st I went back to work. It seemed like a paradise to me after the way I had been living. Oh, how happy we were. Nearly every day I would see her about 10 minutes to 12 coming along the track with a big milk pan full of lunch so we could eat together. We would sit down together on a pay day and figure our bills, so much for rent, so much for groceries, so much for lights, and so on. We both knew where every cent went to. Day after day, month after month went by, it was all the same. We always worked together. Time passed on. The time came when my wife went down home to do some sewing. What for” Well we will learn later on. She was only gone 2 weeks but it seemed like a year. Well, another two months passed when Mother Varley was summoned. She stayed with us about three weeks when (it couldn’t of happened on the 23rd) on the 27th of November my wife presented me with a son. She had an awful hard time. I swore she would never have another. My Mother-in-law said, “Oh! Say, I have heard Roosters crow before.” And I guess she had.
On Dec. the 6th, 1911, the Yampa tram shut down. There I was, a wife with a new baby boy and no job. What was I to do. I thought of Bill Greer, he was a home town guy and a boss at the Utah Copper Co. So I went up to see him. Well, I got a job. I worked for Bill until the 21st, then I got 10 days off so we could take our boy home for Xmas. Well, we stayed down for 15 days and in the meantime the folks had persuaded me to take a job for Bishop Stone on the Dairy Farm. So I did. One of the biggest mistakes I ever made. But it couldn’t be helped now, it was all done.
Well, I got Father Varley’s team and wagon and got Ervin Hooley to go with me with his team and we took Ethel Varley and my Sister Rose and on the 5th of January, bright and early we left for Bingham Canyon to get our furniture. We arrived in Bingham OK and got some of our things loaded. I had to go up to the Copper to check out and get my money. Bill was awful angry because I told him I quit before he could fire me. I got my money and hurried back so we could get loaded. We got our load on and left Bingham the next morning. We just went sailing down the canyon until we run into some snow drifts, then old Pete locked. Then Erve had to hook on the end of the tongue to pull us out of every drift and there was about a dozen. I never was in a colder stiffer wind. When we got home we were about froze.
On January 10 I started work for Joseph O. Stone on the dairy farm; get up at 4:30 A.M., feed the cows and get started to milk at 5 A.M., then get in for breakfast at 7:15, then out at 8:00 AM to do the regular days work until 4:00 PM. Then it was the regular routine with the cows again, for the sum of $40.00 a month. I was with Bishop Stone two months when he put me in as Ward Clerk. Then we (my wife and me) had a real job. We had about 10 years of back minutes to put in the big Ward Book before we could put any of our minutes in it. Well, I was there as Clerk for one year and we had them all up to date. The first time they had been up to date since the ward was organized.
It was now the first of March, 1913. Out of a job again and as much as I said there would never be another, we was due for another increase in 2 more months. Well, I got a job digging some drain for Axel Anderson. I made from $350 to $3.75 a day so I was doing a lot better than at the dairy. Ben Wright and I put in the spring digging drains for Harry Gammon and my Father-in-law, William Varley.
The first of March I moved to a little house up in Lindon on Bro. Edman Craggens place. When the drain digging was all over, Bro. Craggen offered me $2.50 a day to work for him; an all summer job, but Ben had got me all worked up about Idaho. He was going up there as soon as him and Irene was married. By the way, Irene had lost her husband in May, 1911, and he was Ben’s younger brother and Ben and his wife had separated and now Irene is going to marry Ben.
Well, on the 8th day of May the stork visited us again with another boy. Our first boy we called Paul Varley and this one was Allen Lavell. Two sweet little boys and no job. Well, in June after Ben and Irene was married we chartered a railroad car and put all our belongings in it and Ben went with the car and I went on the train with Irene and her family and my wife and boys. We arrived in Twin Falls OK, but some of our furniture was broken. After we got settled into a house and pasture for one of my horses, then I had to find a job. It wasn’t much of a trick to get a job. I went to work for a fellow that was running a bunch of men roging peas. All we had to do was to pull all but one kind of peas out of the patch, just leave one kind growing. They were grown for a seed company.
When that job ran out I went working in the hay and when the hay was up I got a job on the threshing machine. I followed the machine all fall, got my board and horse feed and $3.00 a day; not so bad. When the threshing was done I got a job unloading coal for the Burton Coal Co. There I met Bird Lisenby, he was yard man at the yard. I worked there all winter when the cars came in and they kept me quite busy. In the spring Bird Lisenby moved to Salt Lake City. So I got his job as yard man. I stayed with Burton coal Co. until August when the doctor told me I had better get my wife out of Twin Falls unless I wanted to take her out in a box. So I didn’t want to buy a box like that. So we gave all the stuff we couldn’t take away, then headed for Utah.
We landed in Salt Lake City in August. I got a job at the Salt Lake Hardware Co. We put all the money we had down on a little home on 11th East and Kensington Ave. We only had $100.00. We put it all down on the home. I worked at the Salt Lake Hardware Co. about 4 months, then just before Xmas about the 20th of Dec. I got layed off. In the meantime, before that happened on the 12th of Dec. came our third boy which we named Gordon. Well, I got a job for the Salt Lake Hay and Grain Co. for $1.50 a day. I stayed there part of the winter when a young fellow about 20 years old came and offered to take my job for $1.00 a day and the first day he worked he started at 8 AM and got done at 11 PM. I told him the next day they ought to make you work all night. By the way, they let me have the job unloading the cars and bringing the hay and grain up to the store. I was making more when I worked than I did on the City delivery.
Finally I got a job on the Sewer. The City was putting 59 miles of sewer in and I got a job helping on a backfiller that paid $2.75 a day and was I glad to get it. I started on the 19th of March. Then when the job was drawing to a close I took a couple of days off and went to Bingham to see how the work was up there. I got a job in the bullgang. They gave me time enough to move up so I sent and got Erve Hooley to come with his team and move us up there after I got a house. About the 3rd or 4th day in the bullgang I was sent out on a dinkey engine fireing. I fired one trip up the hill when a young kid came and told me he was supposed to fire that engine and that the boss told him to tell me to go on the 19th I asked the engineer what I should do about it and he said I guess the kid is right. He is my regular fireman. So on the 19th shovel I went. Well, that was Charley Hart’s shovel. He had the name of not being able to keep a fireman longer than two or three weeks at the most. Well, I was with him nearly 2 years. shovel.
On February 20, 1917 we got our first girl. We was very happy with our little red head. Now we had three boys and a little sister. Six years and 3 months and now we have a family of four. We named our girl Helen Almira.
The first world war started in 1914 and ended on the 11th of November, 1918. In the meantime we had left Bingham and came down to Lindon in Tom Bert’s house. I got a chance to pick the apples on the lot for half of them. I got about 50 bushel for my share. My wife, being a thrifty woman, put all the apple sauce she could get bottles for. Well, this was the fall the war ended. But before it did I was called before the draft board. I was put in class A. I was in the next call to the collers, but it ended before the call came.
Just at that time we had to move again. We moved over in John Wright’s little house; 2 rooms just over the line in the Winzer ward. Charles Johnson was the Bishop. I worked for him part of the summer then went to Bingham for 8 months – winter of 1918 and 1919. Then on May 8, 1919 the stork struck again. This time with another boy. We called him Don William. The last name was after his grandfather. Then when he was 5 months old one of the greatest blows in this world hit us. Our beloved father and Father-in-law passed out of this life to the great beyond. He was the Bishop of the Vineyard Ward. Beloved by everyone, the whole country mourned his loss. He died Oct. 19, 1919.
The latter part of 1919, in Oct., Nov, and Dec. I worked for the Sugar Co in the Lindon Beet Slicer. The next canning season I got a job at the Pleasant Gove cannery taking the tomatoes from the farmers. I worked at that until Vern Gillman came along and offered me $1.00 a day more than I was getting. So when they wouldn’t give me as much as Vern would I left them and went with Vern. This was 1920. But before that in the last part of 1919 about Thanksgiving time, we moved from John Wright’s place on account of a sale. We moved in the old Logan place. While we were there my whole family took the influenza, including my wife and she was very bad. That was one time in my life the power of the Lord was made manifest. Another time when Gordon was four years old he had Diphtheria. He quit breathing for ½ hour, the death look was in his face. We thought he was gone, but we didn’t give him up. His stomach rolled up in a knot. Then I grabbed him by the chin and opened his mouth and blew down his throat with all the breath I had. Then he gasped for breath and his breathing came back slowly until he breathed natural. The power of the Lord had a hand in it or he would never of been here today.
Then when Paul had the same thing when he was 12 years old the doctor just gave him 15 minutes to live. My wife ran for our neighbor (Bro. Willet). He came and we administered to him and he took a turn for the better as soon as we got through. That was another time the Lord had a hand in it. The doctor said, “I never seen anything like that. That medicine must have been wonderful.” And Bro. Willet said, “You can call it the medicine if you want to, but I have another name for it.” This was in 1922. Before that, in 1920, when my wife had the flu she was only 32 years old, but she got over it very slowly. She was weak and frail for years. Her nerves was gone. For 10 or 12 years I would work my shift and come home and do the house work. She was 15 years before she got entirely over it. Bishop Johnson promised her if she had faith she would be healed; and some times when she was just about to give up she would think of his promise to her and that would pull her out of it. Gishop Johnson was just an every-day man, but there was none better. He was a wonderful man.
Well, in the spring of 1920 I went in the hole for a truck to go peddling. I got along fair until the truck cost for repairs nearly as much as I made. Then I found out it was an old truck. Two years old; just fixed and painted and sold to me for a new one. Well I stopped paying on it and kept all I made until I made back what I had paid in then turned it back. By the way, I moved my family back to Bingham first.
When I started work the first few days I was in the bullgang, then I was sent on the No. 9 shovel with Dunk McCullen and George Randings. I stayed on the 9 shovel until they began cutting the shovels off. Then I went into the pit for one winter. Then the mine shut down and then we had to leave Bingham again. And there we were again. And there we were again. The stork had visited us on the 6th of March and it was another boy. And this was May. We called our new boy Pratt Eugene.
I got a job on the county road until I could get enough money to pull out of Bingham. I worked there a good part of the summer, then I had to leave because there was no work I could get at that time, so we moved.
The next thing was to find a house which was not very easy. We finely found one that had been vacant for ages. It belonged to Lester West, one of the Bishopric of the Lindon Ward. That was where Paul took Diphtheria and I have told about that. But while we lived in that house we found out that Councilor West was one of the dirtiest low down persons I ever knew. Well, I was lucky enough to get a job in the Beet Slicer for the winter. Then as soon as the mines got going again in July 1922 we moved to Magna. I went to work there in the Magna Mill. I was there for nearly 3 years. We made lots of friends while there. On November 30, 1923, while still in Magna our sixth boy came to us. Then came the time when I was I was persuaded to leave my job and go on a farm and we sure got a jolt. We found a man that to deal with was just as bad as the Councilor West, and his wife helped him and that made him worse. The result of the summer work was fair, but I wish I had never encountered it. The trouble was so great that we lost the baby boy from the effects of it. So I will say no more about it, only that his name was A. D. Dimmick, a religious slicker, but not slick enough. He wanted to buy me off for $100.00, plus about 2 pickings of raspberries which would amount to about $15.00. We got three parties to estimate our crop to see what he should pay us to move off and let him have the rest of the crop. The three parties allowed us $480.00. But it did not suit the old miser, so he told the men if they thought there was that much there they could pay us off and they could take over. So they made up a contract with him, then when it came to signing it he seen they had him tied, so he had to do the work and that did not fit, so he made an excuse. When I told him I was to have 10 days to move out, and he said no that that he was to have the place at once. So I told him I would stay and finish the season. By request of the three men I kept track of what I made for my share for the rest of the season and I came out with $530.00. So you see, the men gave him the best of it, but he was too bull headed to except it. He was a good church goer and also a good wine seller.
Then after the crop was all gathered he called a Bishop’s trail to try to get us out. They gave him all the odds. The Bishopric allowed me $35.00 and I was to take it out of the tomato check. So I kept the first check as it wasn’t enough to pay me and he agreed that was OK, but he went right away and ties up the 2nd check. Rather than have any more trouble with him I just let it go. There was not enough involved. So I gave him his way.
We moved in a little house out in the Winser Ward. I painted the house for a month’s rent, then they turned around and sold it, so we only lived there about 6 weeks. Then I got a job with John Stratton. We moved in his house on the 6th of March. I worked for him all summer. That is where I lost my right eye and I got nothing out of that. I was instructed by Dr. Grue to go and lay my case before the State Utility Commission and they would get something out of it for me. But they told me that the farmer was immune from that law. They did not have to insure their men so I got nothing.
I applied for a job at the State Hospital, but had to wait my turn. So I went to work in Provo Canyon on the road driving team. I stayed there about one month when the word came to report for work at the Hospital. So on the 22nd day of January 1927, I started to work there. I worked there for 1 year and 8 months. On September 20, 1928 I left the Hospital. I picked up some odd jobs from then until Mar. 19, 1929, then I went on the railroad and worked there all summer. I also got Paul a job there too. He was only 17 years old, but the boss took him on anyway.
I put in an application for a job at the City and County Bldg. as a janitor. But before I go any further I must go back to 1927. On the 8th day of May the stork hit again. This time it was a girl come on Mother’s day. I made a speed run to the Hospital with Silis Sornsen. He came to the State Hospital for me and we got there just in a nick of time. Now back to the railroad. I stayed on the railroad until Sept. 26, 1929, when they sent for me to go to work at the City and County Bldg.
Dec. 1925, there was a bad blow came to our family. My brother Jim at the age of 31 died of heart trouble, left a wife and 2 children. One year to the day of his funeral, my mother died at the age of 69. Very sad affair. Then on the ___of May my sister, Rose, died of a stroke. That was 3 of us inside of 4 years. Well time goes on.
After I started in the City and County Bldg. as a janitor I found out I was working for a man that would bend to anything to meet his aim. I had only been their 3 months when I had a chance to join him in his dirty crooked work. When I told him W would not then the fireworks began against me. From then on for 8 years I endured nothing but misery. He would leave money laying around to see if I would take it and all such tricks. But as long as J.W. Gillman was a County official I was safe.
On February 24, 1934 another sad event happened in our family. My dear old dad passed on to the great beyond. We was called to the American Fork Hospital as my father had been taken there for an operation for a hernia. I knew he would (die) as soon as I seen him, but they operated any way. He died in ½ hour after the operation. We were all grief stricken over the loss of our Father. But after all he had gone to join our mother and our brother and sister. We know he was happy with them. So we had to adjust ourselves to the misfortune of losing our father. We had nothing to regret. He was a grand person.
Well, I put in 8 years and 3 months as a janitor in the City and County Bldg. But at the end of that I seen when I should have been asleep. I seen an immoral act of one of the elective officers and his office girl. I turned it in to my boss John Harrison and he went right to the guy and told him all about it and double-crossed me and tried to get rid of me, but I told him I would tell what I knew about him. So he said let it drop. So we let it drop. This was in August, 1937.
Everything went on smooth until Dec. then one day William J. Johnson took me by the arm and led me down to his office to tell me that John Harrison had me lined up for a lay off. Then I told him what I had seen and that was the reason Harrison wanted to get rid of me. So Johnson said he would get rid of all of them, but he said it won’t hurt you. But Johnson also double-crossed me and so I lost my job. Then Johnson made it possible for Sorenson to get a job in the State Capitol so they could get him away so it would make it look better for him. That was our County Commissioner, Bill Johnson. So I was out of a job it took me 3 months to get on W.P.A. I had to spend 4 years of the best time of my life on that job.
Finally in 1942 in May I accepted a job at the Utah State Hospital with the understanding that the Doc could lay me off any time he wished. So I took the job with the same idea that I could leave any time I wished.
So in Oct. 1942 I went to the Steel Plant to work at Geneva. I made a lot of good money then bought lots of bonds. Then when the job was finished and it was time for the plant to start operation there had to be another exam; and I failed, so I had no job. I injured my leg while in the employ of the Steel Co. and that was one thing that kept me from getting a job. So I had to be satisfied for one year. I was out of a job. The thing that hurt me was that my dear little wife had to get out and work.
Going back to November 1935. We let our little girl go with a girl friend on a vacation to Price, Utah. She was gone about a week, when on the 6th of November we received a letter from her saying that she had got married on the 2nd of the month. It was a great shock, but what could we do about it.
Then on the 27th of the same month our oldest son, Paul was married to Elsie Madison from Springville; a very nice girl. Then came Lavell on the _____________. Lavell was married to Leora Nelson another nice little girl. Then Don was the next at 2 O’clock a.m. April 2nd. That makes the third nice little daughter-in-law. Then Eugene (at last) got permission from his ship Captain to marry pretty little Olga Fossie from Australia. They were married April 1st, 1944. Then came Kenneth and Martha was married on November 23, 1942. He left 3 months later to join Uncle Sam’s forces. In 1945 he returned to find his wife had not been true to him, but they got their differences all in line again when she received her last check from Uncle Sam. Then while her husband was at the hospital she left a note for him and left town and took his baby with her. So Ken sees a lawyer and gets papers to retrieve his baby. Well, he goes to Nebraska and brought his baby back. Then he got a divorce with full controle of his baby. I also had other boys in the service. Gordon was first in 1936 at the age of 21. He sighned up for a 4 year term. Then in 1940 he was released. He was in the Navy. Then during the War he served 30 months more making 6 ½ years.
Then Eugene was the next in 1939. He joined the Navy for a 6 year term. Then the War came and he was in 6 years and 7 months. Then Paul the oldest joined the Navy. He got out when the war ended. He was in nearly 2 years.

*This is the end of this part of Grandpa Duke’s Journal. The rest of the
Journal tells of the time he spent as a caretaker of the MIA home in Provo
Canyon.
July 1st. I applied for unemployed social security as I had been out of a job for close to a year. I was rejected because they said I hadn’t all the checks I receive it. I had to then hunt up my stubs from all the checks I received in 1945 to show them I had drew enough. When I got them together I had made over $878.00. So that entitled me to $460.00 at the rate of $25.00 a week, although it took five weeks to get any action, then I got five checks at once. Then the next day I heard they wanted a man to take care of the M.I.A. Home, so I went after that. So on the 28th of Aug. I excepted the job.
I brought Phillip and Kay Allred, my grandsons and we spent a delightful 10 days together.
Mavis and Floss came after them Tuesday, September 10th to take them down so they could go to school. I went down with them and came back on the 11th Wednesday. Today is the 12th of Sept. and there is about 40 women here on a big supper and party. It is the Business and Professional Women’s Club. They left at 2 a.m. Friday morning. It took all day Friday to get cleaned up. Last night Sat. it was the Teachers of the Vocational School. I never seen such a merry bunch. The whole house was ringing with laughter the whole night through. They left at 12:30 a.m. Now it is Sunday 10 a.m. Well, I got busy and cleaned house, emptied garbage and had to carry it down to the creek. Then I showed 6 companies through the building then sawed some wood and so good for Sunday.
Monday morning I got the place ready for a party. Then sawed wood the rest of the day. The party didn’t come. A very quiet day. Didn’t see or hear any one all day; worse than a sheep hearder. He does hear the sheep and the bells. To lonesome for me. I think I’m getting out of here when the snow comes. No way of communication. I think they should put a phone up here so if a man gets sick there would be some way of getting a doctor or getting in touch with someone.
Tuesday morning. I just came up from breakfast. I suppose someone will be here today. If they don’t I’ll loose. Well, I went up and then I stopped and listened thought I heard the rumble of a car. Then I heard a loud blast of a horn. So it was a car and the horn belonged to Gordon’s car too. So, I dropped my ax and went to let them in. It was Mavis and Elsie. They took me down home, then we went to the office and got my business took care of then went back home. Then Wed. morn they brought me back. While they were here we killed the big rat that had bothered so much.
Well, they have gone again and I am alone again and it is nearly bed time. It’s awful cold up here tonight. It’s 8:30 p.m. I’ll have to go to bed to get warm.
Thursday 8 a.m. Just got out of bed. Now for some breakfast. Got all the wood that was sawed down the hill and on the porch. Fixed the cupboards in the cabin, got supper and now it is 8:30. It’s cold so I’ll go to bed.
Friday morning 9 a.m. Well, my breakfast is all over. Dishes washed and my floor is moped believe it or not; so now to shave and begin with the daily chores. First thing move my bed down to the cabin. I nearly froze the last two nights. The Utah Power and Light men came to test the meter they said they had to test it every 5 years. Well, I sawed a little wood as usual. I have just finished my supper which consisted of 2 small tomatoes and one peach. No bread so there was no dishes to was. Good night.
Monday September 30th. My Sweets Birthday. So Mavis came after me and took me home. I stayed and went to Salt Lake City on Wednesday night Oct. 2nd to Vanzas to my Dear’s birthday party. It was two days late but better late than never. Gordon brought me back on Thursday.
Oct. 3rd Friday. I sawed some wood and listened to the ball game. Saint Louis beat the Red Sox 12 to 3.
Friday. Redsox beat the Cardinels 6 to 3. Bettie and Bernell came to see me about getting married. I told them they should go up to Salt Lake and talk to mother first. They said they was going up on Saturday. So I told them to come and get me and I would go with them, and so they did. We had a nice visit with her. We also went up to Lavell’s. They brought me back the same night. We told them they could get married.
Mother got an order from Helen for $20.00 on Oct. 11, 1946.
Sunday. Nobody came up today.
Monday. Gordon came after me took me down to go to Betties wedding. Had a nice time. They gave the croud the slip: (Bettie and Bernell, I mean.)
Gordon came after me again Monday night. I signed up for another check Tuesday and I told them I had a job so next Tuesday will be the last time I will have to go down on Tuesday.
Very quiet week. Listened to the opening of the United Nations Convention on Wedesday.
Listened to the fight on Friday between Graham and Rapedy. Johney Graham was the winner.
Saturday November 2nd. I made a fire in the range and one fireplace. Mrs. Boswell and her husband came up with the plumber. They shut the water off the building.
Sunday. A very cold clear day and lonesome.
Monday. Gordon came after me. We went home. Mother was still in Salt Lake City. I went to a show and when I got back she was home.
Tuesday. We voted then on Wednesday she went back to Salt Lake City. Then on Thursday I came back to the home. Friday and Friday night it snowed all the time. It cleared off on Saturday at 10 a.m.
The ball game between Army and Noterdame resulted in a tie 0 to 0.
Sunday. Clear and cold.
Monday. A little cloudy. Still quite cold. Armistice day 1918.
Tuesday. November 12th. Gordon came up to see me. I didn’t go down with him, I thought as long as I had to go down next week on our Wedding Anniversary, if my Dear gets home.
Wednesday. Still snowing.
Thursday. Snowing in the morning, turned to rain, cleared off at night.
Friday. Nice and clear. Provo High and Carbon High football game resulted in Provo 25 and Carbon 6.
Saturday. A little cloudy, but quite cold. The University of Utah and University of San Francisco, Utah 21 San. 13.
Sunday and Monday. Very pleasant. Monday afternoon offal cloudy and dark looks like more snow.
Tuesday 19th of November. Still cloudy, no snow yet. All I can do is sit and write or read or sleep or listen to the radio. (Forget it.) I think I’ll get up and shave. Well, what do you know Gordon is here after me. Well I went home with him. I got home to find my Dear Wife had got home to. Thank goodness. I had a few days with her. I spent two weeks at home. We had a shower for Bettie on Saturday November 23rd We went to a birthday party for Bulah on the 25th of November. Then we had another shower for Betty on the 30th Then I came back up here on Tuesday December 2nd. which was our Wedding day. of November which was Kenneth’s birthday.
Rained at night, December 3rd. Clear in the morning, rained afternoon.
December 4th. Cloudy in the morning, started to rain in afternoon, rained all night.
December 5th. Cloudy all day. Had two young men visitors. Rained all night.
December 6th. Still raining, cleared again at 10 a.m. Let loose again at 4 p.m. Still raining at 10 p.m. Listened to the American Welder weight Champion fighter loose his title to the French fighter.
December 7th. Still raining at 2 p.m. started to snow. Lasted all afternoon. Stayed in all day. Snowed all night.
December 8th. Still snowing kept up all day until 10 p.m. Went to bed at 10:30 laid awake until 3 a.m. got up at 2:45 and made some tea, then went back to bed. Got up at 8:30 a.m. found a clear sky. Temperature 18 degrees.
December 9th. Temp. 18 deg.
December 10th. Temp. 16 deg. Gordon came after me. Went down for Gather Varley’s birthday party held at our place. Had a nice time. All came but Horace.
December 11th. Went out to Lowell’s and got some groceries.
December 12th. Came back to the house.
December 13th. Listened to all the football games, boxing matches and all.
December 14th. Some kids came by on skies also on Sunday.
December 16th. Nobody came.
December 17th. Three young men came it to get warm. They were hunting Christmas trees.
I have been here nearly 4 months. Christmas is just one week off and I never wanted to stay away from home so much in my life. I have no money for presents so I want to stay away.
December 18th. Gordon came after me. Mother came home. She was through with her job. We went to Sarah’s Birthday party over to Reeds and Bulahs.
December 19th. Floss went to American Fork to take care of a woman with a pair of twins. I went to a show at night.
December 22nd. I came back to the hills. Gordon brought me up.
December 23rd. I cleaned the hall for the geleaner girls and M. Men.
December 24th. Gordon came to take me home. Mother came home on Sunday the 22nd. I cleaned the M.I.A. House Monday the 23rd. Helen and Jimmy came home at 12:30 a.m. Dec. 25th. Mother sure told Jimmy what he was expected to do in the paying for the keep of Helen’s boys, Phillip and Kay. And he had better take notice of her.
I stayed home all day Dec. 26th.
December 27th. Mother came back to the home with me. Gordon brought us up. Mother stayed with me until the 30th of Dec. with no lights and no radio. When Gordon came after her on the 30th, then 5 minutes after they had gone the lights came on. I felt like running and bringing her back. But you know I couldn’t do that. The next few days was so lonely I didn’t even know what was on the radio. I wish my Dear had come up one week later as we would have had the lights. It looks like I had it all planed so I could have her in the dark. (But) I wouldn’t do that either. But I hope she comes again.
Gordon came up to bring me some food on the 9th.
The days pass slowly and loansome. Gordon came after me on the first of Febuary. I remained home for a week. I went to Salt Lake City with Reed on the 6th on the milk truck. Floss went over to Bulah’s. We came home on the Trailway. Gordon and Floss brought me back to the Home on the 28th, but Gordon was so busy on his house that I stayed one more day to help him; was coming the next day. I was nailing a strip of steel on the cornor as the stairs went to the basement. I was under the plasters scaffel. Just as I went to get out from under it, it fell striking me on the head. I was knocked down in the basement with a bad bump on the head. Then I had to go to the hospital to get my head fixed and I didn’t get back to the Home until the 16th of March.
I can’t get over dizziness. I have been back here 2 months and I am still dizzy.
This is the 24th of May, 1947. I am still at the M.I.A. Home. There is a big crowd of girls here for the week end. They will probably leave tomorrow.
Going back to the 15th of April. It was a big day. Irene Wright gave Mother Varley a big supper on her 80th birthday. Had a lovely time. Then on the 20th of April she had an Open House at her home. There was 300 people came that day, then they strung in all day the next day.
Now, back to the 24th of May. Got a letter from Eugene. He said they were going to try and get home for a visit this summer.
It is very lonesome up here in the hills.
August 2nd. Gordon came up to tell me that Eugene had come home. So I went home with him to see Eugene and Olga. Sorry to say there visit was not very pleasant, trouble over religion. Eugene and Olga left for California on August 7th. Eugene brought me back to the M.I.A. Home on the 6th of August, the day before he went. Olga left without saying good bye.
We had a farewell party for the outgoing bishoprick at Aspen Grove. We also had a parcel, McGuire and Duke Reunion on the 24th of August at Canyon Glenn. Had a nice time. I came up to the M.I.A. Home after the party. Brought Floss with me. She has been here now 4 days. It is Mother’s Week this week.
August 29th. Went home to get my new stove. Floss was called on a case so she had to stay down.
August 30th. Ken and Leon brought me back with a new stove. Ken and Leon Ford brought me up to the Home with a new stove.
September 7th. I went sown after my big saw. Came back on the 8th of September. Gordon and mother brought me back.
September 17th. Mother and Gordon came up with food for me.
September 20th. Provo High Faculty had a party here tonight. Brother Slack called on me for a visit.
September 30th. Went to my Sweethearts birthday party in Salt Lake City at Ednas. Sara gave the party.
October 1st. Gordon and Floss brought me up to the home.
October 9th. Gordon brought my Darling Wife up to stay a few days with me. Mother treated me by making me a pie.
October 10th. We wheeled all the wood down that was sawed.
October 13th. We sawed up a lot more wood.
October 14th. B.Y.U. Faculty had a big party.
October 15th. Baking day. My Dear made me some homemade bread and cookies and some Squash Pie.
October 17th. We sawed a lot more wood. Then alas Gordon came and took mother home.
October 19th. Gordon came to take me home for voting day.
October 21st. Went and voted.
October 22nd. Floss took Phillip and Kay to the dentist then went on her nursing job. Gordon and Betty brought me back to the hills.
October 24th. Had a party then closed up the house.
October 25th. Plummers came and shut the water off in the building.
Building closed for the season.
October 28th. Went to Salt Lake City to Lisel Ashes wedding.
October 30th. Gordon, Floss, Phillip and Kay brought me back to the hills.
November 3rd. Gordon came after me so I could vote on City Election.
November 4th. Went and Voted.
November 8th. Mother and Paul came with Gordon to bring me back to the Home.
November 9th. Chased 3 boys off the porch.
November 10th. Listened to the Friendship Train Program.
November 11th. Armestic day, 29 years ago today first World war closed.
November 13th. 2 above zero.
November 14th. Prise fight between Billy Fox and Jake Lemonta. Billy Fox Koed Jake Lemonta in 6th round.
November 15th. Gordon came and took me home.
November 23rd. Our Wedding day 37 years ago today.
November 25th. Went to Bulah’s birthday Party.
November 29th. Came back to the hills. Gordon and mother came with me.
December 3rd. Listened to the Princess Elizabeth’s wedding by transcription.
*This is the conclusion of what grandpa Duke had written in his little journal.

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Barre chronologique Allen Parcell Duke

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