At least these Professors didn't scare too much, for in the summer of 1902 I received a letter from Professor Driggs asking me if I would furnish transportation, and escort Professor Ward, Dr. Middleton and himself on a tour of Southern and Eastern Utah. This tour was made to try to raise the enrollment of students for the college at Cedar City, Utah, which was a branch of the Logan Agricultural College. The tour, which lasted for three weeks, was wonderful. The last two days of our trip we went fishing on Panguitch Lake where we caught over our limit of fish and nearly landed in the (Slab) Jail house. But Dr. Middleton, being acquainted in Panguitch., did much talking for us and saved the day - and the fish. From there, we went to Hatchtown and had Elizabeth Chidester fry some of the fish for us. The rest of the fish we left at the Hotel.

On this trip, we visited Panguitch, Escalante, Tropic, Cannonville, Henryville., Fredonia, Kanab, Hatch-town, and back to Circleville, and from there we went on to Marysvale where they could catch the train. We also spent two days of that time on the Colorado River. We left our horses at the Rim and walked twelve miles down the sides of the canyon to the river bottom. We crossed over the swinging bridge and stayed all night at the hotel, and then the next morning traveled back the twelve miles to the Rim where our horses and buggy were being cared for. It was quite a hike and, because I was young and skinny and used to much walking, I fared the best. They were a little heavy and not used to such leg exercise, so for them it was tough. These were great men, very sincere, kind and mischievous. It was a very interesting vacation for me, and my first one with pay, as well as being a wonderful opportunity. Through the inspiration of these three men on their dedicated journey of enlistment, 31 members were enrolled for the coming year at Cedar City A.C.

Again, after this work (and play) was finished, I returned to my job on Thompson's Ranch. I had spent many years with Ambrose Thompson, not only training his horses but also as his bodyguard. He was quite wealthy, but traveled in poor company. Whiskey was his greatest problem, and my job was to see that he got home all in one piece. I had much trouble in keeping him from falling on hot stoves, or being robbed. He always carried lots of "long green" and wanted everyone to know it. I think the disgust I had for the kind of life he led helped me from being tempted to live the same, so out of a distasteful job came a better life for me. It made me appreciate the way of life of my parents and family, which was so different. I now thank my parents and my brothers and sisters for the example they set for their youngest child and sibling, and I thank my Heavenly Father for such parents and for being reared and guided by such a family.

On June 26, 1902, sorrow struck our home for the first time when my sister Julia died in Circleville from the effects of childbirth. A tiny daughter had been born to her on May 15th, whom they had named Julia Luann, but the baby soon followed her mother in death despite the tender care of my mother. Then, two months later, Julia's husband, Alvin Thompson Smith, was injured in a lumber slide in Kimberly, Piute, Utah. He was brought to Marysvale for medical care, and this is where he died on August 30, 1902. This left their first child, Emma "Lenora," an orphan at the ago of three years. My parents brought her home and raised her. She lived with them until her marriage.

Also, during this year, father hadn't been feeling well, so we boys tried to hold down our jobs on the ranch and help him with the things that had to be done at home and on the farm. His condition worsened and, finally, following much persuasion he was prevailed upon to see Dr. Middleton of Panguitch. An examination revealed he had a stone in his bladder, which was causing him much pain, and he was advised to go to Salt Lake City to have it removed. He kept putting this off, but as the pain became more intense he finally decided to have it taken care of, and then asked to be released as Bishop. This was done at the fall Quarterly Stake Conference in 1902.

Father then leased the farm and our home and John and I quit our jobs, and we moved to Salt Lake City. At that time, Nora, John, I and Julia's girl, Lenora, were the only children living at home. In Salt Lake City we rented a house about a block and a half from Liberty Park. Soon thereafter father was taken to the LDS Hospital where he was operated on by Dr. Alan Sterner, with Drs. Allen and Middleton assisting. Though it was considered successful by the standards of that day, father never regained his health sufficiently tobe able to continue his vocation.

While we were in Salt Lake City, John and I obtained work with the City. John worked as a carpenter for a construction crew, and I hauled sand and gravel from the gravel pits for the paving of South Temple Street and Main Street. I received two dollars per load, and I think my average was six loads per day. We worked through two summers, and as often as the weather would permit.

I don't remember much about the period we spent in Salt Lake City, with the exception of the bicycle rides John and I used to take every evening on the park track. But records show that on February 8, 1904, 1 was ordained a Teacher by my father, and I also served as President of the Teachers' Quorum for two years. Early in 1904 we moved from Salt Lake to Provo, so Nora, John and I could attend the Brigham Young University.

My school days were mostly in Parowan and Circleville, with the exception of attending school one winter in Salt Lake City, and a year at BYU. But at that time of my life I did not think I needed much more education. I had my own horse, saddle, and bicycle, and I could always borrow father's buggy which was "top" transportation. I earned sufficient spending money, and so I can only say I went to the school of hard knocks. I realized later that this was a big mistake, but I stand alone with no one to blame but myself. I could have had an education , but I chose the hard way. However, I am very grateful for the experience gained from the "school of hard knocks," which was to be mine in later years. It was while we were living in Prove, during the late summer ( I think September of 1904) that I made a trip to Circleville to look after some business for my father. I wanted my own transportation when I got there, so I decided to ride my bicycle down to Circleville. I remember I made the trip in one day --- about 235 miles.

It was while I was in Circleville at this time that I met my future wife, Emily Steele. A group of my friends were playing for a dance and they asked me to join them with my violin, which I did. Many of my friends were at the dance, including Maude Paterson the daughter of Bishop Peterson, who had succeeded my father as Bishop of Circleville Ward. When she introduced me to Emily at the dance, it was love at first sight for me.

Emily lived with her parents on a ranch between Junction and Circleville, known as the Mitchel Ranch. It adjoined the Thompson ranch where I had spent so much of my early life, and which was so famous for thoroughbred horses. She was the daughter of my father's dear friends, Mahonri M. Steele and Mary Ellen Jepson Steele, whom father had met so many years before when they had worked together on the building of the St. George Temple. Brother Steele was a member of the Stake Presidency and, when on Church business in Circleville, always stayed at our house so I had met him many times. He and my father loved to talk of their experiences, and I never tired listening. Through their talking of old times, I learned much of their activities and the part they had played in the settlement of Southern Utah. And the way they lived was an inspiration to me. By their works I knew them and, as I have said, they had a great affect for good upon my life. I not only wished to renew my acquaintance with President er Steele, but I looked forward with keen anticipation to meeting his daughter Emily again. At the time we met, Emily was the organist for the Circleville Ward, which is the Ward I grew up in. My courtship of Emily Steele began with our second meeting, and by the end of the month I had asked her to marry me. She was enrolled at the branch of BYU located at Beaver beginning that fall, but before she left she promised to give me her answer when she returned home for the Christmas Holidays. That fall father and mother decided to move back to Circleville, and following their move I returned to work for Ambrose Thompson, as well as to help my father on the farm.

Emily's parents returned to their home in Panguitch for the winter, so at Christmastime I made the trip to Panguitch to see Emily and to get my answer. The answer was "yes." and we set our wedding date for the coming year to take place after she had finished her year at BYU.

During her year at BYU, because of her lovely singing voice and musical talent, she was the leading soloist for the school musical show, studying under the direction of Professor Alfred M. Durham. The show was so successful they toured many Utah towns as an inspiration to others to attend BYU. One of these performances was to be held at Parowan in April of 1906, and as I hadn't seen her since December, I made plans to be a. spectator at one of the performances. So, without her knowing, I drove the 55 miles from Circleville to Parowan to be present, just to see her and to hear her sing. I did not let her know I was there but, silently, sat in the audience. The picture she engraved on my mind at that performance has never left me. She was wonderful and did a marvelous job. But after her number was completed Professor Durham, whom I had known from boyhood days, came to the front of the stage and said, very politely "Will Alvin Jensen please come back stage." I then realized, don't ever try to fool your best girl, because she will have sharp eyes. Anyway, I didn't have to sing. I loved it, and the next day I received payment in full for my efforts. Instead of returning with the rest of the students, she rode with me. This happened on a Friday night, and on Saturday night they again performed at the Beaver Campus. On Sunday we attended Church together, which completed a wonderful weekend.

We later had much correspondence, but the next time we saw each other was in July of that same year, 1906, when we went to Panguitch Lake with Aunt Dee Crosby and her son, Raoul for a July 24th of July celebration. We had a wonderful week, with much dancing, hiking and fishing. These were all very precious moments, for it was at this time that we set our wedding date for October 3, 1906. A date which was to be the beginning of a beautiful and very happy married life. We did not see each other again until I went to Panguitch to claim her for my bride On October 10, 1906.

My father ordained me an Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My priesthood lineage being as follows: Jorgen Peder Jensen was ordained an High Priest by Francis M. Lyman, 28 Aug, 1896; Francis M. Lyman was ordained an High Priest by John Taylor, 27 Oct, 1880; John Taylor, was ordained an High Priest by Brigham Young, 19 Dec, 1838, Brigham Young was ordained an High Priest by the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon, Oliver Cowdrey, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, 4 Feb. 1835, The Three Witnesses were ordained High Priests, by the First Presidency; Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick C. Williams; The First Presidency were ordained by Peter, James and John, who were ordained by Jesus Christ, Son of God.

Two days prior to our marriage a door had slammed on Emily's right forefinger, causing a felon to form, and we had to have it lanced. However, we left Panguitch on October 2., 1906, traveling to Marysvale by horse and buggy, where we then boarded the train for Manti, Utah. Here we stayed with Adaline Tuttle, who had been Emily's nurse as a baby. This was a painful trip for Emily because of her finger, and AdalineTuttle used hot poultices on it, although Emily walked the floor half of the night to cope with the pain. The next morning, October 3, 1906, we went to the Manti Temple at 8:00 o'clock, where we were married by Lewis Anderson., and were out by noon. We spent our wedding night at Aunt Adaline's and the next day took the train back to Marysvale, where we got our team and buggy and went on to Circleville, where we stayed with my parents.

Page 1