My intention in writing this history of my father is
not to write a documented complete history of him but to write my
version and memories of him and his life. Claudious Bowman was born in
Kanab Utah on the sixth of Sept. 1890. His Father was Henry Eyring
Bowman and his mother was Mary Gubler. His early years were spent in
Kanab.
When he was about seven years old his father was called
on a mission to Germany. He sold his interest in the Kanab Mercantile
Coop and moved his family to Provo. His boys attended grade school
there, Mother Mary Gubler was very resourceful and thrifty and sold
milk and butter while the boys worked for neighbor farmers after
school and during the summer months. They soon learned to work and
learned the value of thrift and saving money. When her husband
returned from his mission she was able to give him even more money
than he had left for her support.
Grandfather received a letter from his Uncle Henry
Eyring inviting him to visit Colonia Juarez where his Uncle Henry was
manager of the Coop Mercantile of the Colony. Grandfather Bowman liked
what he saw and the possibilities there. He went back to Utah and
moved his family down to Colonia Juarez. He bought a controlling
interest in the Cooperative Mercantile and later became the manager of
the store. When the Railroad came into Dublan they moved the main
store to Dublan and built up the Union Mercantile.
My mother relates that, while the Bowmans were
preparing and remodeling their home in Dublan, that father Bowman and
some of the boys ate their dinners at the Robinson home and that is
where she first met Claude.
When Dad entered the Dublan grade school they found
that he was more advanced in his schooling than the other kids his age
so they moved him up into the seventh grade. Then it was a problem to
keep him busy because he learned so quickly. The seventh grade teacher
sent him to the principal. While there he would answer the principles
questions before the eighth graders could think of the answer. Paul
Cardon was the principle at that time and the teacher for the eighth
grade. I remember Dad's laugh when he told this story.
Dad and his brothers began to work around the Union
Mercantile. One day an ancient Chinese man came to the store and began
to purchase his supplies. Each purchase he would bring out and hang on
his old saddle while his old white horse was asleep with his head
hanging low. This was a little too much for the boys to pass up. One
of them slipped out and put some "high life" on the horse's back-bone
just above the tail. That poor old horse came to life with a loud
snort and went bucking down the street scattering stuff all along the
street. The old man came out and ran frantically down the street
calling loudly in Chinese to his crazed horse. I don't know the rest
of the story because I never heard what happened after that, but if I
know Grandpa Bowman those boys received their just dues.
As Dad grew older he was taken into the offlce of the
Store and taught accounting and how to keep the books. He liked it so
much that he took a course in accounting by correspondence. We have a
picture of him sitting in the office of the store with his hat on. Dad
was sent to Provo to attend the BY High School. He told us how he had
grown 5 inches in one year while in Provo. On his return he worked
full time in the Store office and became part of the Union Mercantile
Basket Ball team.
Grandpa Henry was a real sports fan and organized a
baseball team and a basket ball team. The baseball team won the Stake
championship with Leon Pratt as the star Pitcher. Brother W. Ernest
Young relates in his journal that Grandfather Bowman would yell and
throw his hat in the air and generally carry on at the games. He also
said that Grandpa was a good coach and that he, Brother Young, enjoyed
playing on his team. Dad used to tell about some of the trips to El
Paso to play Basketball. Grandpa would go in his Model T ford taking
the team. They would all push it out when it got stuck in the mud or
the sand, but when the Ford broke down they had to walk all of the way
to Columbus where they took the train to El Paso. They were so tired
and footsore that they could not play their best but they still won
their game. They won most of their games in El Paso and the El Paso
coach would say, "Too much Bowman brothers combination". Dad played
Center while Uncle Demar and Uncle Thel played forwards. Uncle Harold,
and Uncle Dev played guards. Bobby Done and Emerson Pratt later played
with them in El Paso. They made up a team that was really tough to
beat. After the Exodus most of these same players played for El Paso
and won the Southwest Conference Championship.
When I was a little boy the Dublan Team was made up of
Claude Bowman, Harvey Taylor, Loren Taylor, Morgan Hurst, and Jay
Robinson. I don't remember who sat on the bench but in my minds eye I
can see those five older men playing against the Juarez Academy
team.
We used an old adobe building with a very good Oak
Hardwood Floor that had been used, to assemble wagons and farm
machinery, by the Union Mercantile. They put a very good backboard and
a basket at each end and we called it the Gym. Dad ran the electric
wires from the Mill over to the Gym so that we could have night
games.
The Electricity came from the Hydroelectric Plant that
the mill had over on the west side of the river that used the water
from the Hot Springs. We grew up playing Basketball and skating on
roller skates in that old Gym.
EARLY MEMORIES
My earliest Memory of Dad was when I was about 3 and 4
years old. Dad had gone to the mountains hunting and had killed a big
Black Bear. He had the hide tanned and put it in his bedroom by his
bed. I slept in a little bed against the wall. That big bear rug was
between my little bed and my Parents bed. One night I dreamed that the
bear hide came to life and began to growl horribly at me in my bed. I
woke up from that terrible dream and could still hear the terrible
growling of the bear in the darkness. I huddled down in my bed in fear
and dread. I couldn't cry out or move for what seemed a very long
time. Finally in the Grey light of dawn I could see the Bear rug lying
on the floor and recognized the growling sound as the snoring of my
father.
When I was 5 years old we moved from the old Chico
Jones home, where I was born, up to the two story brick home that was
on the same block as the Mill. Dad bought it from Peter Skousen. Amid
the confusion of moving and packing things up I remember that I felt
lost and forgotten. Suddenly my Dad came and gave me his new Sunday
Felt Hat and told me to take it up to the new house and hang it up.
With that great recognition and responsibility I walked carefully up
the long block to the new House. I was barefooted and the little path
leading into the house was full of weeds and Bullhead Stickers. I
finally made it into the house by holding that hat high with one hand
and picking the stickers out with the other. When I got that new hat
safely hung up I felt that I had helped the family move.
The Bishopric announced a contest for the members of
the ward. The family that could do the most to fix and clean up the
home would received a valuable prize. We went to work on the outside
and the inside. We took out all of the weeds and stickers and hauled
in river dirt for the new lawns. We hauled in Adobe dirt, from the
flat, for the walks and driveway. We leveled and planted the lawns and
rolled down the walks, the driveway and the sidewalks. I say we
because Dad had procured from somewhere, a roller. It was made from a
ten inch pipe six Ft. long, filled with cement with a bolt in each
end. We put a wire loop over the bolt with a stick handle in one end
of the wire to pull it with. . Bob was on one end and I was doing my
utmost on the other. We would wet down the dirt then roll it down with
that roller. I was a husky little boy, 6 years old, and was very proud
that I could help Bob with that roller. We cut the front ditch on both
sides with a string so that it would be straight. We planted Maple
trees along the ditch bank. Bother Warren Longhurst gave us the Maple
trees from his nursery. He offered to give Maple trees to anyone of
the ward that would plant and take care of them. I remember Dad
working with Claudius and Bob to put windows in the upstairs bedrooms.
They poured cement for the casings around the windows. We knocked the
mud plaster off the walls and the ceilings and replaced it with mortar
plaster. We trimmed the trees around the house and planted flowers and
a rose arbor. We planted a garden with grapes along the fence. We
planted a Raspberry Patch against the east wall of the Garden with
grapes fencing in the Raspberry patch.
I remember going with Dad up to Pearson to get the big
cast iron pipes and corrugated culverts to put in for bridges for the
ditch across the streets. We also got a cast iron modem bathtub and a
flush toilet. Dad brought a hot water tank and pipe to install it
with. He put a coil of ¾ inch galvanized pipe in our wood stove fire
box to heat the water.
Well, Dad won the contest and the prize was to be a
flock of Silver Laced Wyandot Chickens complete with two huge
Roosters. Dad went to work and built a Chicken Coop of Adobe complete
with a big run planted to alfalfa. The roosts had grooves in them that
were padded with felt that could be soaked with oil to prevent the
parasites from infesting the chickens. The nests were also painted
with crude oil to keep out the parasites.
When all was in readiness the beautiful Chickens came
to their new home, they were Dad's pride and joy. I remember gathering
the big brown eggs and enjoying them for breakfast. We didn't have any
chairs so Dad had the Carpenter at the mill build us some four legged
stools. These were simple but effective. They were made with a four by
four block about 8 inches long forming the center. The leg was put on
each of the four sides at an angle with screws. The top or seat was a
12" x 12" x 1" piece nailed on the top. We used these strong stools in
our kitchen for all our meals for many years.
DAD AND MOTIHER'S ENGAGEMENT
Dad, even when he was very young had strong convictions
and ideas of what he wanted in life and especially about the purpose
of marriage and family life. I remember Mother telling about their
courtship and marriage. Mother said that when he would come down to
court her they would sit in the Parlor and visit always in hearing
distance and under the watchful eyes of her parents and family. She
would giggle and say that when he would leave she would stay outside
and could hear the hoof beats of his horse as he galloped up the back
street and turned into the barn of his home. We were especially
interested when she told us of her engagement. She said that Dad asked
her if she wanted to marry him she shyly answered "yes". He asked,
"why"? Mother giggled and told us that she was flustered and didn't
know what to say. Finally she said, "I guess because I love you". Then
she countered with, "Why do you want to marry me"? He answered with
conviction, "Because I want you to be the mother of my children."
TEACHING US TO WORK
Dad had a firm conviction that his boys needed to learn
to work. He always had plenty of work for us to do and saw to it that
we did what we were told to do. We had big lawns that encircled the
house except for the Flower garden in the front. There was a walk that
went from the front door to the front gate with a flower garden on
each side. During the dry season of the year when there was no
irrigation water from the ditch, we had to water the lawns using our
Pitcher Hand Pump. Dad made a wooden V trough that hung on the spout
of the pump and carried the water to the lawn. Dad told us to keep
that pump going all day. There were four of us Claudius, Bob, Wesley
and I, we would take turns at the pump. Wesley and I were littler so
we had to use all of our weight to be able to pump. At first our hands
would get sore but they soon got toughened to the pump and we could do
a pretty fair turn. While one was pumping the others would play and
have jumping contests. Those games got so interesting that at times
the one at the pump would run to join in the game. It seems Dad had it
timed just right and about that time he would step around the corner of
the mill and yell, "Get on that pump." We would all jump and run and
line up at the pump.
During the summer we had two big gardens that were
planted to all kinds of vegetables. They were watered regularly so the
weeds would really grow and infest the garden. Dad assigned us to hoe
weeds eight hours a day. That would be from 7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
with one hour out for breakfast and one for lunch. We learned to make
each hoe stroke count and bob taught us to keep a clean place between
us and the weeds so as to not leave any weeds that were not hoed.
After 5:00 O'clock it was our free time. We usually worked hard on the
weeds until five then run down to the river. We had a perfect swimming
hole that we called the Cardon hole because it was on the Cardon land.
This swimming hole kept a constant level of water because of a dam
just below it. It was deep starting next to the east bank and didn't
start to slope up until it reached the west bank about 30 ft. across.
The hole was about 100 Ft.. long so there was plenty of room to swim
and dive. There was a big white, weathered stump that extended over
the deepest part of the hole. The stump extended up about 8ft. above
the water and it was easy to walk up the stump as it sloped up over
the water from the bank. It was a perfect place to dive from. Bob
didn't allow us to just swim around, we had to practice diving and
practice perfecting our Johnny Weismeuller Crawl. I am sure that Dad
knew that if we worked hard that we would enjoy our free time more. We
certainly didn't get bored and we always had many things planned for
our free time. We became expert at Marbles, Tops, Yoyos and Baleros
and practiced walking on our hands and learned to turn flips. The
neighborhood boys were always on hand to join in the fun.
Claudius was not with us at this time because he was
working up on the Riquena farm with Uncle Harvey. He was put to
cultivating com and beans. He enjoyed working with the big Percheron
Draft Horses that we used on the farm. He would leave very early with
Uncle Harvey. He would always carry his Lunch kit and wouldn't get
home until after dark.
THE SCHOOL BUS
Along about the time Wesley was ready to go to High
School Dad decided that Dublan needed a bus for the Dublan kids to
travel to Colonia Juarez to attend High School at the Academia Juarez.
He got the people enthused in a project and they bought a Bus. When
they brought it in it didn't have any seats in it. I guess they got it
cheaper that way. They went to work and built four long seats the
length of the Bus. One on each side and two in the center back to
back. I remember Wesley in the bus installing those seats. They padded
the boards and covered them with green leather from the Tannery. Those
seats served us for many years and hauled a lot of students to School.
I remember that we had to sit generally boy, girl boy, girl because
the boys are wider in the shoulders and the girls are wider in the
hips. Each row of seats was facing each other so the girls sat with
their legs together between the boy's spread legs in the opposite
seat. It took over an hour to travel to Juarez on the dirt road. We
passed the time singing. We learned many of the old songs and
harmonized well. All of us that road the Bus during those years have
fond memories of singing together and enjoying our time on the
Bus.
WORKING IN THE MILL
When Wesley was in High School he was little for his
age. Dad decided to keep him out a year and have him work in the Mill
as a packer. There were three packers Wesley, Ventura, and Fidel
Flores. They each worked an 8 hour shift as the mill operated 24 hours
a day except Sunday. The shifts were from 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. from
3:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. and from 11:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. I remember
Wesley became the best packer the mill ever had. He taught me all of
the tricks of the trade. The summer after my freshman year at the
Academy I went to work in the mill as a sweeper. I had to keep the
mill clean from top to basement and pick up and sack all of the flour
spills that occurred when a tube would get clogged. Whenever I could I
would go and help Wesley stack the flour in the bodega. I admired his
strength and agility in wheeling the two wheeled hand truck up the
little incline into the big warehouse.
When I began my sophomore year, the bus stopped one
evening in Casas Grandes. Taylor Abegg and I got out and bought
ourselves each a Soda Pop and drank it. Very soon we both came down
with severe cases of Typhoid Fever. I remember the terrible headaches
and alternating chills and fever. Mother, day and night would wipe my
face with a cold wet towel or cover me with blankets to get me warm. I
remember that Dad would bring Dr. Martin Del Campo to give me
injections. I was kept in Dad and Mother's bedroom all during that
terrible time. After three weeks of high fever it finally subsided and
I remember how good the food tasted.
I was very weak. I don't know why but I suddenly had a
relapse and was again very ill for three more weeks. I vaguely
remember that Dad and someone else laid their hands on me and
administered to me. This gave me courage and faith to get well. All of
this time Taylor was undergoing the same terrible fever. I was so weak
that I had to wait to gain enough strength to walk again. I decided to
go down and visit Taylor and see how he was doing. I walked slowly
along the Sidewalk until I came to the head of the Coon lot where they
had a ditch across the sidewalk. This ditch had a gentle slope down in
and up the other side. I coasted down into the ditch but was too tired
to make it up the other side. As I sat down to rest Taylor came along
and coasted down into the ditch but couldn't make it up the other
side. We sat down there and laughed at our weakness and had a good
visit.
I remember I slowly regained my strength so that by
Christmas I was doing pretty well. That Christmas I remember Dad gave
all of us boys a beautiful Remington Pump 22 Rifle. We each received a
packet of ten boxes of 22 bullets. Wow what a Christmas. I would take
that wonderful 22 and go hunting down along the river and over to the
Warm Springs. At Dad's suggestion I would leave in the morning and
walk most of the day hunting to get my strength back. I really enjoyed
these long walks and hunting trips.
They lasted about a month until Dad decided that it was
time that I got back to work and he put me in the mill as a packer for
the rest of that school year and summer until the fall. When I started
to work at the mill I weighed 45 kilos, the same as a sack of flour.
At first I had to have help with the two wheeled hand truck loaded
with six sacks of flour, but as I gained strength I was able to take
the truck into the warehouse. After a few months I was able to lift a
sack of flour over my head and throw it to the top of the stack ten
high. I even learned to sew the sacks of flour expertly by hand. I
will always be grateful that Dad sent me to the mill to be a packer.
It gave me the confidence that I needed to go back to school and
really study and enjoy all of the activities.
TAYLOR AND BOWMAN
As long as I can remember Dad was in a partnership with
Harvey Taylor. They called it Taylor and Bowman. They worked together
in harmony and congeniality and our two families were very close and
we learned to call them Uncle Harvey and Aunt Mary. They called Dad
and mother Uncle Claude and Aunt Jennie. Taylor and Bowman owned Stock
in the mill and they owned the Riquena Farm. Dad worked in the mill
and Uncle Harvey ran the fare. They always worked together with mutual
respect and honesty. Later they bought land on the flat and the
Ranches.
THE MILL
Dad upgraded the mill with new machinery from Germany
and really took pride in installing it. Don Manuel Rivas was the mill
carpenter and he built the wooden tubes to carry the different grades
of Flour, Bran and Shorts from the top to bottom of the mill. When the
silks from the sifters would wear out Dad would bring them home for
Mom to replace them with new silks on her Sewing Machine. I loved to
help her by working the arm of the treddle to make the machine run.
Mother got so good at sewing that I could make that machine really hum
and she could keep the silk folded and sewing onto the canvas edging
as fast as I could make it sew. We would stop at each corner, sew
around the comer and then hum down the next side. Each silk was a
different grade to sift the different grades of flour as they came
from five different Roller Mills.
Dad helped the people of the whole region by extending
credit to those who needed it. All during the year the farmers came in
for flour and money to live on and plant their wheat with. They would
sign a little "Vale" and take what they needed. When they harvested
their wheat they would bring it into the Mill and settle up their
debts and leave the rest for credit for the coming year. This system
acted as a banking system for the farmers and they were able to
operate their farms in this way. Many could not have lived without
this help from Dad. Dad knew each one of them and their integrity and
capacity to pay. When a new person came in they usually brought a
known signature as a guarantee for their payment. All of the farmers
for miles around knew Dad and loved him. They called him "El Mocho
Gumar" and knew that he was a fair and honest man. They called him
"Mocho" because when he was a young man he cut off his thumb while
sawing Lumber in the Carpenter Shop. For many years he was the
lifeline and help for the farmers and gave them an invaluable service.
There were no banks or any place they could procure a loan to operate
their farms on. Back then Wheat was the main crop and it supplied the
flour for Tortillas and bread. It also supplied the cracked wheat for
mush and the bran for the dairy cattle. Many of the poorer people used
the shorts, which were cheaper. The shorts were a grade of flour
between Bran and white flour and had a sweet taste. I remember the
delicious taste of tortillas made of shorts. Many of the older farmers
have told me that times have changed and that they missed being able
to go to the mill and get flour and money on credit. They are having a
hard time because they can't get credit at the Banks. They say they
really miss their good friend "El Mocho" and the mill. He helped them
when they really needed it.
FAMILY TEACHINGS
Dad was very well self disciplined and he wanted each
of his family to develop Self Discipline also. He would not allow any
face cards in our home and didn't want us to play any kind of games
with face cards. He taught us to strictly observe the Sabbath Day. We
were not allowed to go joy riding on Sunday or play any kind of games.
As soon as we were old enough to fast we were taught that fasting was
24 hours without food or drink. We were taught to always be on time to
our meetings and to always be where we were supposed to be when we
were supposed to be there. We were taught to be willing and eager to
fulfill all of our obligations in Priesthood and in the church and
community organizations. Dad and Mother lived so that we could follow
their example.
Dad taught us to play Chess and the goal for us was to
be able to beat Dad but we never did reach that goal. He also liked to
compete with us in skill games such as darts and bean bag toss. He
would even play Basketball with us in one bank games of 21.
Dad and Mother were very hospitable any and all that
needed a place to stay or happened to be around at mealtime were
invited home. I remember Brother Edwin McClellan lived in our home
while he was making our kitchen cabinets. Brother Dare LeBaron lived
with us while he was painting the house. The German Engineer lived
with us when he came from Germany to install the new Mill Machinery.
The Old Mennonite Miller lived with us while working in the mill
teaching the millers how to do the milling.
The Old English Man by the name of Mr. Brown stayed
with us many times when he came from Galeana to bring his wheat or buy
flour. Any stranger who Dad met and that needed a nights lodging was
welcomed in our home.
For 21 years while Dad was Stake President, he drove to
Columbus N.M. to pick up the General Authorities of the Church and
drove them down to conferences. They always stayed at our place and
were given the best we had in lodging and meals. It was a great
blessing for all of us to associate with these Apostles and Prophets
of the Lord. We visited with them and felt their Spirit and they
prayed with us and left their blessing in our home.
Many times in the evenings, when the visitors from Salt
Lake would come, Dad would say. "Go get the boys and come and sing for
us". We would go invite our friends that sang with us to come and
entertain the visitors. The group was made up of Nacho Ruiz with his
Guitar, Severo Ruiz with a wash tub for a drum Cachin Ruiz with an
empty cardboard string cone with a tissue paper over the end for a
Trumpet, Tomas Ruiz with a washboard for a Guagira and Wesley and I to
harmonize with Nacho. Some times Armando Solis would come. He had a
very beautiful singing voice that we all loved to hear. We would all
congregate in the front room and with our band would entertain the
visitors for and hour or two. We would sing many of the old Mexican
songs in three-part harmony and really enjoy those times.
MOUNTAIN TRIPS
My earliest recollection of the mountains was a big
Rodeo in Mound Valley. Our family went in Dad's "Star Car". It had a
little truck bed instead of a Rumble Seat. I remember lying in my bed
in the back of that Star Car and listening to the high pitched mooing
of the cattle that were being used for the Rodeo. I also remember
wondering about the mounds that dotted the valley. I was told that
they used to be Ancient Adobe Houses of the people that inhabited this
valley. I remember thinking about the book of Mormon people living in
that beautiful valley with a clear mountain stream running through
it.
Dad loved to go to the mountains to hunt and he went
about every Deer Season and every Turkey Season as I remember. When I
was about ten years old Dad took me with him on the big fall Deer
hunt. I remember traveling forever. it seemed, in the back seat of
Dad's car, I was nestled among the bundles of food, camp equipment and
bedding. Dad was driving and Uncle Harvey was in the passenger seat.
Uncle Harvey greeted me with, "Well Keithy (he always called me
Keithy) we're going on a big hunt." I just grinned and was very happy
that I had been invited to go along. I remember that we packed up
three Packs on horses and four horses were saddled ready to go. Uncle
Steve Farnsworth let me ride a little brown horse and told me that he
would take care of me. We road out of Garcia just as the sun was
coming over the eastern hills. We rode west over the Continental
Divide and down across the Gavilan River. After riding all day through
beautiful pine forests and grassy Mesas we came to a little grassy
camp by a clear mountain stream. Uncle Steve confided that we were
camped on the Bald Mesas just a little north of Bull Peak. We unpacked
just before sundown and hobbled the horses out for the night. Dad told
me to get a fire going. He was going over to the Rim to watch the big
Bucks parade along the Rim after sundown. Uncle Steve came back to
camp carrying a two point Buck on his shoulder and immediately began
to cut up the liver for a supper of liver and onions. After a long day
without eating I really enjoyed that meal of fresh fried liver
smothered in onions.
The next morning before daylight I woke up to a busy
camp. The horses were being saddled and the Tenderloin of Venison was
frying in a big iron skillet. After a hasty breakfast of Venison and
bread washed down with hot Postum, we mounted up and rode out into the
frosty morning just at daylight. I remember my hands and feet were so
cold that I thought they were going to drop off. We rode single file,
Uncle Steve in the lead with Uncle Harvey, Dad and me following close
behind. The horses seemed to walk silently through the tall grass.
Uncle Steve stopped and pointed ahead of us. There on
the trail that wound up and around Bull Peak was a sight that made my
heart pound. Nine big White Tailed Bucks were lined up along the
trail. The three men dismounted with their guns in their hands
discussing, in whispers, which Deer each would take. Dad handed me the
bridle reigns of his horse to hold. They all got ready and at the
count of three the shots rang out as one. Two big Bucks jumped and
fell rolling down the steep hillside. One just humped up and ran
slowly down the hill and lay down about fifty yards from where we
were. Dad pumped another bullet in his 30-30 Rifle and took careful
aim and fired. The Deer flopped over and lay as if he were dead. Dad
walked down to where the Deer lay with me following close behind with
the horses. He straddled the Deer, took a firm hold on one him and
began to cut the Deer's throat. Suddenly that Deer came to life and
began to jump and thrash around and paw Dad with his sharp hoofs. Dad
tenaciously held on and continued to saw on the Deer's throat. Finally
the Deer kicked it's last spasm and Dad stood up he was bruised and
bloody from head to foot and the front of his shirt and pants were tom
and bloody. Dad was grinning triumphantly but Uncle Harvey and Uncle
Steve were really laughing.
They each cleaned his Deer and tied it on his saddle
and we went back to Camp to hang up the Deer and relax while Dad got
cleaned up and changed his clothes.
One day as we were riding along on a high ridge covered
with giant pine trees, our horses hoofs began to make a booming sound
on the ground. I turned to Uncle Steve and asked if it was hollow
underneath us. He answered that he thought that it was a clay ridge
and that was why it made that booming sound. In my imagination I was
not convinced and I could imagine a deep cavern directly under us.
At the end of this wonderful hunt we hung up nine big
Bucks in the trees west of Garcia. We had finished eating the Two
Point Buck for camp meat. Later that night after dark we went back in
the car and retrieved the Meat in the car and distributed it around
the town for people to eat.
I remember when Dad was Stake President he had as his
Counselors Brother Wilford Farnsworth and Brother Moroni Abegg. They
would visit the different wards in the Stake including the Mountain
Colonies. They were Colonia Pacheco, Colonia Garcia and Colonia
Chuhuichupa. I accompanied Dad many times on these trips.
One time I went with Dad and Brother Farnsworth to
Colonia Garcia. We left early Saturday morning and arrived in Garcia
in mid afternoon. On the way Dad told Brother Farnsworth that he would
like to take him Turkey hunting that evening. Brother Farnsworth said
that he would like that since he had never hunted Turkey.
When we arrived in Garcia Dad went to see Albert
Beecroft and asked him to take us Turkey hunting since he was a very
good Turkey Caller. We went in the Car up on the Continental Divide
West of Garcia and walked to the edge of a deep canyon. Here Dad gave
Brother Farnsworth the Shot gun with instructions how to operate it.
Albert began to chirp on his Wing Bone and we all listened intently.
Soon we heard a lusty Gobble that came from across the canyon. The big
Gobbler came into view strutting and gobbling. Albert told Brother
Farnsworth to get ready because the Turkey was going to fly across the
canyon. That beautiful bird took off with strong beating of his wings
and sailed across the canyon straight toward us. In the excitement of
that moment Brother Farnsworth stood up and began pumping the
mechanism of the Shot gun. When the Turkey saw us and heard the chuck,
chuck of the gun, he banked steeply and sailed back down the canyon
and was lost to sight. Brother Farnsworth asked excitedly, "What!
What! Happened"? Dad answered saying, " Wilford! you never did shoot".
We all looked down to see all five unfired shells lying on the ground.
That Turkey flying directly at us was exciting!
I can remember many successful Turkey hunts with Dad,
In Chuhuichupa with Cliff Whetten and in Garcia with Uncle Steve
Farnsworth. When I was eleven years old Uncle Steve gave me a Wing
Bone out of a Turkey Hen and taught me how to use it, I began to
practice diligently and learned to use it well. That started me on my
long career as a Turkey Caller.
On our scout hikes at twelve yeas old I called Turkey
for my fellow scouts but those are other stories.
DAD AS A BUILDER
I remember when I was in the first grade we attended
school in the old Relief Society Building out on the flat. We were
using that building for all church purposes at that time. They got
permission to build a new chapel with the church putting up 50% and
the Dublan Ward to put up the other 50%. We could put up our 50% in
labor and some of the materials. Dad was head of the building
committee and he spent a lot of time and effort getting everything
organized and supervising the actual building.
They went to work to make all of the brick needed for
the building. I remember watching how this was done. They made a big
mixing box with a big log in the middle. This log had iron bars driven
into it that stuck out all around and up and down the log to act as
mixers. The log was secured at the top and bottom so that it could
turn around and around to mix the brick material. A long pole was
fastened to the top of the log and extended out and a horse was
hitched to the end of the pole to turn the mixing pole around in the
mixing box. They would fill the mixing box with the right proportions
of sand and clay then add water as needed to mix the brick material to
the right consistency. The horse would go around and around in a
circle at the end of the pole and mix the material until it was ready
to put into the brick molds. As soon as the bricks were ready, dried
by the sun, they were stacked in such a way as to form a big brick
kiln to be burned into beautiful red brick.
The kiln as I remember had three tunnels under the
stacked brick to provide a place for the fire to burn the brick. The
wood was hauled from the mountains in wagons. I remember seeing Uncle
Jay Robinson and Uncle Lee Robinson bring wagon loads of Oak and
Juniper wood with their teams and wagons. I remember that I went down
at night to see the brick kiln aglow from the red, hot coals that
filled the three tunnels. I could see the glow and the fire coming out
of the sides and the top of the kiln. The bricks were stacked in such
a way that the fire could heat each brick and turn it into a bright
red burned brick. I remember that Charles Taylor was tending the fire
when I went down there.
I remember watching Dad mixing the cement with the
other men to pour the floor of the basement of the new building and
the wide ramp that led from out side down into the basement. The whole
ward pitched in and when the building was finished it was beautiful
and very well constructed. The floors of the whole building were
installed with imported Oak flooring. All of the doors and windows
were very well made and beautiful. The big stage was in the south end
of the big hall. The building was large and very adequate for all of
the needs of the ward and the School. I attended grade school there
from the 3d grade to the 8d' grade.
Later when I was made principal of the grade school I
taught school in that building for 5 years. We used the building for
all of the purposes of the ward and community. All of our dances,
dramas, operas, conferences and church meetings were held in that
building. Some of the fondest memories of my life are centered in and
around that wonderful old building which is no more.
Dad loved to dance and attended all of the dances with
us. We used to have a dance nearly every Friday night. Brother
Robinson, who was Mr. Dance of the church, came down to teach dancing
to the members of the Stake at our Stake Conference. For a time the
soldiers from the old Regimiento 20 came to play for the dances. They
had a big Marimba and could really make music with it. Three soldiers
all played at the same time and filled our hall with wonderful dance
music.
For many years Brother Oliver and Sister Agnes Bluth
played for the dances. Sister Bluth played the piano and Brother Bluth
played the Saxaphone. They usually invited two or three musicians from
Casas Grandes to play with them and they provided our dance music for
many years. The dances at that time were for all of the members of the
ward and stake from 12 years and up. All of the family came together
and usually danced every set. Dad was a very good dancer and inspired
us to really try to dance well.
THE TENNIS COURT
Dad loved to play tennis and was very good at it. He
said to the family one day, "We are going to build a Tennis Court".
Dad bought a Transit to stake out and level the court area. We hauled
in the dirt from out on the flat and leveled up the court. We
installed a water tap on one side of the court about at the middle and
dampened down the leveled dirt with the hose. We would sprinkle the
dirt just enough for it to pack then tamp it down with heavy tampers.
We used sand to keep the dirt from sticking to the tampers. After it
was tamped enough to support the roller we started rolling it down.
The Roller was very unique and very heavy. It was an iron pipe about
4ft. in diameter and 20 inches wide filled with cement and had a 2
inch pipe in the center through which the pipe handles were placed to
push it with. We had to grease the center frequently so as to make it
easier to push. We would sprinkle the area where we were rolling and
throw sand in front of the roller so the dirt would not stick and pick
up. We would roll back and forth the length of the court leaving a
very smooth hard packed surface on the court. To paint the lines we
used a lime solution in a can with a hole in it and moved along a
string line as a guide. Once in a while we would get a spot too wet
and the roller would tilt dangerously to one side. If it ever tipped
clear over it was a major operation to lift the roller back up and
repair the damage to the court. We learned to be very careful not to
let it tip over.
We made a high wire fence on the north end of the court
that joined the Chicken Coop on the north east comer of the court. We
extended a high fence from the top of an Adobe wall on the south end.
The wall joined the Barn on the southwest comer of the court.
We installed the net posts with a Rachet Tightener on
one side. Dad brought in a good net and some good Tennis Rackets and
balls from El Paso. Later Dad brought us a restringing outfit and good
strings. We would restring our own rackets and did for many years.
Dad taught us all to play Tennis and he taught us all
of the rules and how to keep score. We all worked right along with Dad
and partook of his enthusiasm and learned that you can do anything you
really want to do. We all practiced with each other and Dad played
with each one of us to show us what we had to do to be able to beat
him. We had many family Tennis tournaments. We were all fairly evenly
matched but we never could win against Dad. Some times we could win a
few games but not a set against Dad. He was always very
competitive.
Dad supervised each step of all of the work and worked
along with us helping us to learn how to do it. We later put up a
Backboard and a basket at each end of the court and some big lights on
each side of the court so that we could play Basketball and Tennis at
night.
We had to roll down the court and repaint the lines
about every two weeks but that only made us appreciate the good
playing surface all the more. I remember that Kathleen and Dorothy
learned to play Tennis with all of the rest of us. This project really
united our family and helped us to work and play together.
I learned to play Tennis on that court and when I was
teaching in the Academy in Col. Juarez I won the Tennis Tournaments
against the Alumni and then won against the Tennis Champ of the
School. I was able to do this every year until I developed a tick that
would close my left eye at critical times so I couldn't judge the
ball. I remember that Greg Bowman was the Student that beat me the
last year I played in the Tournament.
THE DUBLAN GYM
Dad decided that we needed a Gym in Dublan. I don't
know how he got this unprecedented project approved by the Church
authorities but it was approved and Dad went to work and with the help
of the Ward and built the Gym. This was an enormous undertaking. This
included buying in the US the flooring, steel beams, and many other
things that were not available here. Dad bought the materials and got
them across the border and had them hauled to the building site. The
members of the community did all of the work under Dad's
supervision.
When it was finished it was probably the best gym of
it's kind in the state. Dad Arranged to have the State Basketball
Tournament here in our Gym to inaugurate it. All of the best Primera
Fuerza Teams came to the big inauguration. Dad coached our Dublan team
at this time and we all loved to play for him. We won the State
Tournament that year for the first time in the history Basketball in
Dublan.
Dad, with the help of the other coaches made the
selection to go to the Nationals in the City of Puebla. Most of the
Team flew down to Puebla two days early but Dad had some pressing
business so he and I flew down the day that the Tournament was to
start that night. When we arrived at the Gym we found that the
Governor had put Agustin Garcia in as Coach in Dad's place and Agustin
had put Cherokee, a Chihuahua player, in my place. We lost to the
Mexico City team by I point.
Dad taught me a great lesson when he didn't show any
animosity or resentment for having been pushed aside out of his being
the coach of the team representing the State of Chihuahua. Seeing how
he took it helped me to swallow my pride and resentment.
When the Gym burned down Dad was already in Mexico City
working as President of the Mexican mission. Bishop LaSelle Taylor put
Ashton Longhurst as the head of the committee to rebuild the Gym.
Brother Chato Bluth and Brother longhurst with the help of many other
members of the Ward rebuilt the Gym. It was an extremely hard job
because the big beams had been twisted by the fire and had to be
straightened. Finally it was completed and was again our beautiful
Dublan Gym. We decided to celebrate by hosting the State Tournament
here again.
In 1958 we again hosted the State Tournament here in
our Gym. Lester Skousen was our coach that year. Again we won the
State Championship and, with the Dublan Team as the base, we made the
Selection for Sate Team that was to represent the State of Chihuahua
in the National Tournament. This Tournament was held in Chihuahua
City. We won the National Tournament and we proudly brought home to
Dublan the big National Trophy in Feb. of 1959. I have a photo of that
Team and I will use it to try and remember the players on that
team.
This was less than a year after Dad was killed in an
Automobile accident While serving in his mission but we all felt to
give him credit for making this possible. He coached the Dublan team
even before the Gym was built. He had us practice on our dirt court at
our house and we played many games against Juarez in the old Gym in
Colonia Juarez. Every time I meet Harold Brown even now, after fifty
years, he tells me that he remembers those games in Juarez. He tells
me that My Dad used to yell, "Give it to Keith give it to Keith"! Then
Uncle Lorin Taylor used to yell "Give it to Selle give 'em hell!"
LEAVING HOME
The morning after I graduated from high school, in May
of 1941, we were eating breakfast around the kitchen table and Dad
asked, "Well what do you want to do now"? I answered, "I want to go to
school at BYU. Dad said with a little laugh, "I'm not holding you'.
He then said that he would take me to Jacob Lake to work for Uncle
Harold Bowman for the summer to get me started. Dad realized that a
good part of my education would be to work my way through school
without any help from home. I left home with just the clothes I had on
to begin the great adventure of working my way through college. I
didn't have any baggage or any money at all but I did have the
knowledge and confidence that I could go to school and I knew how to
work. Dad had confidence in me and knew that I could do it. The
Details of this adventure are written in detail in another story but
this is about Dad and my memories of him.
I was living in the Dorm at the Y that Sunday morning
Dec. 7, 1941 when we heard President Roosevelt declare war on Japan
because of the attack on Pearl harbor. Many of my friends and fellow
Students from the Dorm went down and enlisted in the Armed Forces. I
was required to register with the Draft Board as a Non Resident Alien
with a Visa to go to school. Dad sent me word that I should stick to
my purpose and continue in school. Then in 1943 when the pressure from
the Draft Board and the people in general got worse I called Dad and
asked him about enlisting arid he told me that he wanted us to go on a
mission.
At the end of the summer of 1943 Dad picked me up at
Jacob Lake and sent Donn, Dan and Me to the mission home in Salt Lake
City. After our training and preparation there we came home for a few
days, then we all three went on the train together to Mexico City to
begin our missions. Dad sent us Money each month to sustain us on our
mission but we were required to send home each month a detailed report
of every peso that was spent and what it was spent for. This was good
training and helped us to try to spend only what was necessary for the
work of the mission.
When I was stationed in Mexico City I was playing
Basketball on the team that was sponsored by the Secretaria De
Agricultura. It was the best team in Mexico City at that time and
President Pierce had told me to play basketball. He sent Elder LaSelle
Taylor to introduce me to the coach of the Team. I would work in the
mission work during the day and play in the games at night.
One night we were playing against the Phillips 66 team
from the USA. I remember that as I stepped to the sidelines to throw
the ball in during the game I looked and saw Dad, President Pierce and
Harold Pratt sitting on the front row right in front of me watching
the game. I really played my heart out after that knowing I had the
approval of Dad and Pres. Pierce and Pres. Pratt. After the game they
took me to supper and we had a good visit.
DAD AND OUR MARRAIGE
When Donn, Dan and I were released from the mission we
all came home together. We arrived home on Donn's birthday Feb. 9,
1946. Dad informed us that we were to report our missions in Stake
Conference in the first part of March.
I remember I went to the Sunday morning Conference
meeting early prepared to give my report. I walked in the door of the
big hall and looked down to the end of the hall. There in the light of
the window was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. I stopped and
stood still and so did my heart. I said half aloud, " There she is!
Naoma Haynie"! I knew that she was the answer to my prayers. I
continued on to the stage where I was to give my report.
After the meeting I invited, according to custom at
conference time, two young high school girls to go home with me to
have dinner in between the two sessions of conference. I had my guitar
out and was singing some romantic Mexican songs to the girls while
waiting for dinner to be served. Naoma came in, to my surprise,
carrying food for the table. When our eyes met I became embarrassed
because here I was a returned missionary, a 24 year old, singing
romantic songs to the two very young High School girls.
At the last of the afternoon session of the Conference
it was announced that there would be a meeting held in the Relief
Society room to organize an Ex Mexican Missionary Club. For some
reason I was delayed and went into that meeting a little late. I
hurried to the back and sat down and discovered that I was sitting by
Naoma. I remember the feelings I had when I reached over and held her
hand and felt the response when I tightened my grip on her hand. I
learned later that she had a ring on her finger and that it actually
hurt her hand when I squeezed it.
I don't remember anything about that meeting except
that I was holding that lovely little hand. After the meeting as we
walked out together I said in a way of making a date, "I will probably
be down to see you this evening". Naoma answered in her usual direct
way, "Are you coming or not? I am not going to wait if you are not
coming". I said hastily, "Yes I will be there". The next scene in my
memory opens with the Bowman family around the big dining room table
with Dad at the head of the Table and Mother at the foot of the table
nearest the kitchen. Along one side Elder Thomas E. McKay was seated
in the middle with Maurine on his left and Naoma on his right. Donn
was sitting next to Maurine and I was sitting next to Naoma. Elder
McKay turned to Maurine and commented, "So you're the new Daughter in
Law". Maurine giggled and answered, "Yes". Then he turned to Naoma and
asked, "What about you are you going to be the next Daughter In Law"?
She answered hastily, "Oh no, I am going on a mission, I just came
down to say goodbye".
After supper Naoma and I had to walk back down to
Elaine Bluth's home where Naoma was staying because Donn was using the
family car to take Maurine back to Colonia Juarez. We walked out into
the cold, windy March night and walked hand in hand down to the Bluth
home and found a refuge out of the wind by a window on the north side
of the old Bluth home. There we huddled together and talked of our
feelings and when I kissed her I knew that I wanted to marry her and
that I was falling in love. By the time I went home about 2:OO A.M.
Naoma and I had decided to be married.
I am telling all of this in order to set the stage for
Dad's reaction and his part in it. The next morning rather late I came
down stairs and was in the bathroom washing up for breakfast and
Mother stepped in and asked, "What do you think of Naoma"? I answered,
"She has more spark in one night than any of the others had in a
year". Later during breakfast I told her that we were engaged to be
married. She immediately told me that I had better go talk to Dad
about it. When I went over to the mill office and told Dad the good
news he was not pleased and told me that he didn't want me to marry
and that it was too soon and gave many other reasons why he thought
that I shouldn't marry Naoma. I was shocked and saddened and as I was
always the obedient Son and wanted to please my Father I decided to
break it off.
The next Sunday morning I went into Sunday School as
they were singing the opening song. I hurried in and sat down in an
empty seat near the door. I looked up and there in front of me I saw
Naoma looking more beautiful than ever. She was dressed in a lovely
Dove colored suit and I fell in love all over again. She was sitting
between Her sister Dorothy Jean and Elma Jane Jones. My heart sank as
I realized what I had to do to please my Father.
I suffered the rest of that day and avoided going to
see Naoma. That night I was to give a fireside and talk to the young
people of the ward about my mission and show them all of the pictures
I had of my mission. After the fireside Naoma and I walked silently up
the street from the old Call home to the Jones home and on past a
little way to stand under a giant Cottonwood tree. There under that
tree and holding hands she asked tensely, "OK what is wrong". I began
by saying, " Well in the first place I love you very much". She
countered with, "That is all that matters, isn't it"? My heart was
breaking and I realized that yes that was all that mattered really, no
matter what the consequences. As I held her in my arms that night I
realized that the Lord had told me that she was the one that I was to
marry and that I really loved her with all my heart.
The next day I went over to the mill office to face my
Father. I told him that I had decided to go ahead and marry Naoma. I
could see his anger mount as he realized that I was disobeying and
going against his will. In anger he said, "If that is what you want,
you can just get out". I sat back silently considering all of the
implications of leaving home and destroying all of our plans of
working the ranch together and spending my life in love and harmony
with my family. Especially it hurt to be disobedient and receive the
disapproval of my Father after being so close to him and having him as
my ideal.
After what must have been an hour of silence between
us, each considering the terrible implications of what had been said,
I finally choked out, "Dad I don't think you really mean that". He
answered gruffly, "No I guess I don't. If you have made up your mind
to do it then I will help you".
Then I saw Dad as he really was. He could control his
anger and strong feelings even in a situation where he had to back
down from his position and very strong words. The purpose for telling
this long detailed account was to show Dad in his true strong self. He
often told me that in Church courts he would rather err on the side of
leniency than to err in judging unjustly.
DAD'S HELP AND GUIDANCE
True to his word Dad helped us in every way. He took us
to the Temple to be married. He invited us to live in the upstairs
apartment of the Bowman home. He helped me get started to work the
land on the flat and took me in to work for the mill when it fell
down.
We were sitting at breakfast one morning when we heard
a noise and looked out of the window to see the west wall of the
mill's wheat bins explode outward spreading wheat across the garden
clear to the grape arbor by the lawn. Dad walked out and looked it all
over. He turned to me and said, "Get your little team and wagon and
start hauling wheat we are going, build it back strong enough this
time." With my wagon and teams and with the help of the men I had on
the farm we hauled all of the wheat around to the mill intake. Then we
hauled all of the dirt and adobes from the garden around to where they
were remade into new Adobes to rebuild the Mill's wheat bins. Then we
hauled all of the dirt to make all of the adobes that were needed. The
walls were rebuilt 4 Ft.. thick with reinforced cement bands about
every 2O Ft. as the walls went up. We also hauled the sand and gavel
for the Cement and the dirt to lay up the Adobes with.
Dad hired men to make the Adobes and lay them up all by
contract and had no trouble to find the men that knew how to do it.
They all worked willingly and well under Dad's close supervision until
the job was finished.
We lived upstairs in our little apartment for about six
years and had our first three children there. Grandmother Eva May
Peterson Haynie came to be with Naoma for each birth. She was a
midwife and had delivered over 300 babies. I loved to watch her
tenderly take care of Naonia and the baby. She would bathe the baby
and tenderly rub on baby oil then rub and toast the baby's tiny feet
by the fire. The baby would stretch his little legs toward the fire
and wiggle his tiny little toes in pleasure.
Keith La Rae was born Sunday April 6, 1947. Dad was
about as proud of him as I was. By the time he was 3 months old he
could stand straight up balanced on my hand. By 8 months he was
walking around. Dad took us to Salt Lake to Conference and to show off
our little son.
When Mary was born on the 5th of Feb. there was 5
inches of snow on the ground. She warmed our hearts and our home. She
was such a beautiful little girl that all who saw her wanted to touch
her face and hair. Dad thought that she looked like My Sister Dorothy
and Dad's Sister Maybeth and was a true Bowman.
Just before our third baby was to arrive, our Dublan
team was to go to Chihuahua for the State Basketball Tournament. Dad
encouraged me to go saying that Naoma was in very good hands and would
be taken care of if the baby came. I flew to Chihuahua on the LAMSA
airline that came at that time to Casas Grandes. We won our first game
that night and stayed in the little hotel near the old "Gimnasio
Rodrigo M. Quevedo" where the Tournaments were held.
Very early the next morning I hurried up the street
about ten blocks to an old Colonial style building. In the third story
of the empty house there was a short wave radio set that I had
permission to use. I hurried to the tower room and turned on the set.
Dad came on the air telling me that Dr. Ernest LeRoy Hatch was
upstairs to help Naoma deliver her baby. We talked back and forth for
a few minutes then Dad said excitedly, "You are the father of a little
baby girl and Naoma and the baby are both doing fine."
We named this beautiful little girl Naoma Susann
Bowman. We called her the Basketball Orphan because when her 8th
birthday came along I was supposed to be in Chihuahua for the State
Basketball Tournament. Early that morning we all went up to the Warm
Springs and built a nice big fire. With Don Marcial de la Cruz as
witness I Baptized her in the ditch of warm water that flowed from the
Warm Springs. We rushed back in time for me to catch the plane and fly
to Chihuahua and play in the Game that night.
We were commenting on this story the other day and Mary
Eva said, "Yes you learned to Baptize in the warm water because of
me." I was baptized in the cement pump tank and the water was so cold
that it made me cry and I was so embarrassed. She was baptized the 5th
of Feb. in the cold pump water out on the farm at the orchard.
During those years Mother went frequently to be with
her Daughters and Daughter in Law to help them when they had their
babies. While she was gone Naoma would take over the downstairs
kitchen and assume mother's work. She was very attentive to Dad's
needs and he learned to love her and our children. I heard him comment
to Mother, "I wish that our other Daughters in law were more like
Naoma."
THE RANCHO VERDE
One day Dad sent for me to come to the mill office.
When I arrived there, I found President Arwell L. Pierce and his Son
in Law, Harold Turley in the office talking to Dad. After the
greetings were over President Pierce explained that they owned some
land out on the flat and that they wanted to make it into a producing
farm. He said that he had talked to Dad about it and that Dad has said
that I could do that for them He said that they would pay me a wage of
600.00 Pesos a month to start with then we could work out some kind of
a Partnership.
I accepted the proposal and went to work. I hired Glenn
Whetten to drill the well with his equipment. We fenced the whole area
and began to make ditches and prepare the land for planting. We built
a house for our family to live in and we moved out on the farm. We
installed running water and Gas lights in the house and bought a
butane gas Refrigerator.
We planted the whole farm into alfalfa to build up the
soil. Soon there was a beautiful green farm in the middle of the dry
flat. As soon as the green Alfalfa began to come up, hundreds of Jack
Rabbits would come in at night to feast on the tender green plants. I
saw that they had eaten off the first three borders of Alfalfa down to
the roots,
Harold Turley had left me and old army Jeep that he had
used at the sawmill in Bella Vista so I started to go out at night and
shoot Rabbits in the lights of the Jeep. The front windshield would
swing up leaving a clear space for shooting. Dad heard about the
Rabbit hunting and would come out to the farm every free night to help
me kill the Rabbits. We each had a good 22 caliber Rifle and we had
contests to see who could kill the most rabbits. We would follow the
Rabbit with the Jeep lights until it stopped, then swing up the
windshield and put our Rifles to our shoulders and shoot. The one who
could shoot first could only count those Rabbits that were hit exactly
in the heart to make the Rabbit keel over backwards. If we both shot
at the same time to kill the Rabbit we could not count that one. This
was great sport and soon diminished the number of Rabbits eating the
Alfalfa.
When the back of the Jeep was full We would drive over
to the orchard on the Flat where I had an Adobe corral full of pigs.
We would throw the Rabbits to the pigs and by the next morning there
would be nothing left except a few tufts of fur. I still remember the
good times we had together on those Rabbit hunts.
As the work progressed on the farm I would counsel with
Dad about the different problems that would come up. Also I went to
talk to Tom Jones who was a very wise and prosperous farmer. I learned
many things from him about farming and many other things.
The First two years we cut and bailed the hay and
shipped it to Cd. Juarez to the lumber Yard that belonged to the
company or to the Sawmill in Bella Vista. I put a Hayrack on my rubber
tired wagon. I had a little team of mules that I used on the wagon.
Their names were Chata and Mischief. I also used a little mule called
Tejano. With my little mules hitched to the wagon we would haul the
bales of hay to the train station in Dublan. We loaded car after car
with hay. I remember we could get 5 cuttings a year. Because of the
green fields the farm became know as "El Rancho Verde".
When we were living on the Rancho Verde our Son Samuel
Kent was born. He was raised during his early years in our Horse and
wagon days. The Old jeep wore out and we made the chassis, axle and
wheels into a little covered wagon. On Sunday we would hitch our
little mules to the wagon and pile in the family. As we would come out
the gate I would speak to the little mules and they would break into a
run and we could be into Dublan in 10 minutes.
One spring Uncle Devreau and his friend Jack (the Lion
hunter) came down to go Lion hunting with their hounds. Dad told them
that I was the one to take them hunting and sent them out to the farm.
I felt that I could not leave at that time because Naoma was expecting
a baby any day and I was in the middle of watering the fields of
hay..
Hilven Cluff was living in Pacheco at the time and was
taking out hunters as a side line business. I went to see him in
Colonia Juarez. He happened to be there to see his family who were
living in their home in Colonia Juarez so that the children could go
to school. Arrangements were made and Hilven took them on a good Lion
hunt.
Uncle Dev really enjoyed the hunt in the rugged Sierra
Madre but Jack came back saddened and disappointed because one day on
a chase in especially rugged country they lost two of his hounds.
It was while they were gone on the hunt our little Son
Samuel Kent was born. I went and called Dr. Hatch by phone but by the
time he got there Mother Haynie had already delivered the little boy
and was toasting his little feet by the Gas heater. He was born on the
6th of April 1952.
DAD AND TIIE CHOLUGO
I must have inherited my love of animals from Dad. When
I was a little boy I was sent out to Mrs. fbarra's to take some ribbon
to put on a dress that she was making. I lingered in the shoe repair
shop where Mr. lbarra was repairing shoes. While I was watching Mr
lbarra pound the shoe he was repairing a strange little animal began
squeaking and trying to come to me. I had never seen an animal exactly
like that so I asked what it was. Mr. fbarra told me that it was a
little baby Cholugo. (Coatimundi) I untied the string he was tied with
and cuddled him in my arms. He nestled down in my arms and squeaked
contentedly. I told Mr. lbarra that I wanted that little animal. He
said I could have him for 13.00 Pesos. I rushed home to plead with my
mother to let me buy that cute little animal. I explained all about
the little animal in detail. I told her that he had a nose like a pig
and paws like a bear and his back feet were like a babies feet, soft
and smooth on the bottom. His tail was long and covered with hair and
he had little round ears and shiny eyes. I knew he loved me and wanted
to come home with me. My mother listened silently to all I had to say
and looked into my pleading eyes. She went to the cupboard and counted
out 13 Pesos and handed them to me. I rushed out to Mr. Ibarra's shop
and brought home my little Cholu. I took of the little collar and
string he had on and fed him some warm bread and milk. He ate
hungrily. Lapping the milk with his tongue and using his little hand
like paw to eat the bread out of the bowl. That night I took him to
bed with me. He snuggled in my arms and put his little pig nose in the
hollow of my throat and went to sleep. Very early the next morning I
was awakened by Cholu. He was playfully nibbling on my toes under the
covers of the bed. I threw back the covers and jumped out of bed and
ran into the other room with Cholu following close behind. By the time
Cholu could climb up on the bed I would jump off and run to the other
bed. At breakfast he loved the mush that I fixed for him, with little
pieces of toast in it. I fixed it with sugar and cream just like we
always ate it.
On cold winter nights we would be sitting in the dining
room around the big wood heater that heated the whole house. Dad would
be sitting in his chair by the radio reading his magazine. We had a
big slate Grey Tom Cat that liked to sit in front of the heater.
Little Cholu would run around trying to get attention. Dad would pick
him up on his lap and scratch his ears for a while. Cholu wanting to
play with the cat and would run and jump on the cat's back and try to
wrestle with him. The cat would sit unmoved and dignified. Finally
after tiring of these attacks the big cat would turn and give Cholu a
slap with extended claws. Poor Cholu would retreat crying and
squeaking pitifully. After a moment Cholu would resume his playful
attacks with undaunted fury. After about three of these attacks on his
dignity the cat would give Cholu another good slap. Each time Cholu
would retreat crying and squeaking we would all laugh at his crazy
antics. Dad especially enjoyed Cholu's persistence in spite of the
painful slaps.
Mother insisted that Cholu had to live outside so I
made him a home out of a big box that I put in the big Mulberry tree.
Each morning I would take him his mush and toast. During the day Cholu
would come to the kitchen door and hook his strong claws in the screen
and pull the door open and dash through the kitchen and up the stairs.
Mother would go to the foot of the stairs and call sternly, "Cholu
come down here". Cholu would come slowly, squeaking in protest, down
to look around the corner of the stairs. If Mother did not have the
broom in her hand, he would dash gleefully back up the stairs and
Mother would have to go get the broom. When she had the broom he would
come down sadly and obediently go outside again. When we had visitors
Dad liked to show off Cholu's eccentricities. He would take Cholu into
the bath room and put a little bit of water in the bottom of the tub
and put in a bar of scented soap. Cholu loved to show off. When Dad
would put him into the bath tub Cholu would get the soap and busily
lather the full length of his long tail. Then he would proudly parade
back and forth with his lathered tail straight in the air.
We had a rope tied from the tree of Cholu's house to
the next tree. When Dad would say, "Cholu come on walk across". Cholu
would obediently go up and try to walk the tight rope. He would manage
to walk about 2 or 3ft lose his balance and swing under. He would
squeak angrily and go back and try again with the same results. This
would continue as long as anyone would stay and watch his efforts.
To show Cholu's ingenuity Dad would take him in on the
Kitchen table and place an egg, Cholu's favorite food in front of him.
Cholu would hold the egg with his paws and try to bite it but could
not get a purchase on it for the egg was too big for his mouth. After
a few tries he would push the egg over to the edge of the table and
drop it to the floor. He then would jump down and enjoy a good meal
licking it all up.
There was a special bond between Dad and Cholu. Cholu
seemed to know the exact time when Dad would come home to dinner from
the mill. He would run to meet him and jump up and clamp on Dad's leg
and cling there while Dad scratched his ears all the way home.
DAD'S LAST HUNT
The first Christmas after Nacma and I were married Dad
said that he wanted to take all of his boys on a big Deer hunt. He
asked me to send the horses up and insisted that he wanted to take his
big Pinto horse from the Ranch. Father Esaias Haynie had sent us a
bunch of His best saddle horses and his pet mule Chihuahua. Dad Haynie
was selling out of the ranch in Oaxaca and wanted us to have these
Animals. All of these animals had been raised and worked in the
mountains and were very good in the mountains.
After getting the horses all shod and ready to go, I
sent them to the mountains to wait for us in Pacheco. As I remember I
sent Chihuahua, Chanate, Coffee, Palomino, Chango, Dad's Pinto and
Claudius' sorrel mare from the Poultry plant. Our party consisted of
Dad, Uncle Steve Farnsworth, Claudius, Wesley, Hugh Day McClellan and
me.
Hugh Day took his truck and arrived in camp just before
sundown. He had killed a big four point White Tailed Buck on the way.
He said that he had killed it standing on the side of a hill of bare
rock that is on the road nearly at the bottom of the grade coming down
into the Gavilan.
Uncle Steve got permission from his friend Mr. Mendoza
to camp on the south side of the Gavilan River. This campsite was
about 500 yards West of where the Elvin Whetten Ranch house is now
located.
The next morning early we all mounted up and rode out
of camp across a flat little mesa eager for the days hunting. Dad and
I rode together climbing steadily up the rugged trail toward the high
north end of the Blues. I noticed my Mule Chihuhua prick up his ears
and look up the mountain. I looked up carefully and saw a big
beautiful Buck standing on the steep side of the mountain looking all
around trying to locate what was making the noise. We quietly
dismounted with our rifles in our hands. I pointed for Dad to see the
Deer but he couldn't see him. We moved back and forth trying to get
Dad to locate the Deer but he finally said, "I can't see him you had
better shoot". I shot and the Deer fell down the steep side hill
sliding and rolling toward us for about 50 ft. We mounted and climbed
up to where the Deer was lodged against a tree. I quickly bled him
cleaned him and cut of the legs at the knees and hocks. Dad said, "You
had better put the Deer on my big Pinto". I replied, "No my mule will
do fine". We continued on up the mountain. Chihuahua was used to
carrying Deer behind the saddle so we went on ahead quietly looking
for a Deer for Dad. I could hear Dad complaining about his Pinto
banging his knee against a tree. I looked back and saw the big horse
sweating and struggling to climb the rugged mountain.
By the time we topped out on the high north end it was
beginning to sprinkle and it was getting very dark and cloudy. Dad
said that we had better get back to camp and started toward the South.
I protested that we should go to the North. He insisted that he was
going North and that he knew where he was going. I took out my pocket
compass and showed him that he was going the wrong way. He apologized
and said that it was easy to get turned around in the dark cloudy
weather.
We traveled down what we thought was a less rugged
ridge until we came to a rock cliff just above the bottom of the
canyon. We followed this down trying to find a way down into the
canyon. Finally we came to a sloping depression in the solid rock that
was only about twenty feet from the bottom. I turned my mule into it
and he carefully went sliding down to the bottom. Dad called down that
he could not get his horse to go down. I left my mule and climbed back
up to help Dad. The Pinto didn't want to chance the rock. Dad was
pulling on the reigns and I got behind to push, Finally we got him
started down. Dad stepped out of his way and the horse slipped and
fell and rolled to the bottom After the horse got up and recovered
from his roll we continued on down the canyon. By the time we came to
the lower mesas it was very dark. My mule kept pulling to the right so
I let him go saying to Dad, "My mule wants to go this way." We crossed
a little wash and hit the trail to camp. As soon as we could see the
light of th campfire we were received with shouts of welcome. As we
dismounted Dad commented, "If I weren't so heavy I would ride that
little mule tomorrow." I told him not to worry about being heavy that
Chihuahua could carry him easy.
The next morning we woke up to about 5 inches of snow
on the ground and it was still snowing. Dad decided that we had better
get out of there before we got snowed in. I saddled up Chihuahua and
went to help the cowboys take the horses as far as Pacheco.
Wesley tells how the vehicles couldn't make it up out
of the Oso Canyon and he had to walk over to Pacheco to bring Melvin
Turley over to pull them up the hill with a big logging truck that had
chains on.
After that hunt Dad was convinced that he should do
something about his eyesight. He read someplace about improving your
eyesight by exercising your eyes. I remember he began to exercise his
eyes and told us that we all needed to exercise our eyes to keep them
in good shape. I guess it worked for him because he never did use
glasses
DAD'S PRIORITIES
Dr. Bradbury (Mister Los Alamos) called Claudius and
asked him to organize another trip into the Sierra Madre in search of
Cave Dwellings the he had not seen. Claudius as usual asked me to find
such a place and organize the trip. I went to Chuhuichupa to see my
dear friend Emilio Burgos for help. He sent me to see an old Indian
who's name was Bacho Luna. Emilio said that the old man knew about
more caves and dwellings than anyone he knew. I went to the old man's
little one room house. I visited with him and I asked him about caves
and cave dwellings. He then told me enchanting stories about the many
caves that he had found in his wanderings in the mountains.
Finally he told me that the biggest and the best
preserved Cave Dwellings that he had ever found was a cave that he
called "La Cueva de Las Ochenta Casas". I asked him if he would take
us there. He considered a moment and asked. "When do we leave". We set
up the date for the next week and I made arrangements with Emilio for
the horses and pack mules for the trip.
After I bad reported to Claudius and he had called Dr.
Bradbury I told Dad about the trip and invited him to come along. He
said that he would very much like to go and would take his car as part
of the transportation. He then said that he had ward conference in
Chuhuichupa the nexi Sunday. Dr. Bradbury arrived with his party of
Three. The total party included Claudius, Dad, me. Dr. Bradbury and
his Son John and Marshall Bond. Marshall Bond was a member of the
California Sierra Club and was a very interested member of the
party.
Dad and Dr. Bradbury were drawn to each other and
visited late into the night. The next day we packed up all of our
equipment and provisions and traveled to Chuhuichupa. We left
Chuhuichupa early in the morning with Don Bacho Luna leading on his
little old white horse. We were all mounted on Emilio's good mountain
bred horses and we were leading three good pack mules. Soon we were
climbing a long beautiful wooded ridge into the high Candelaria
Mountains. The whole country was covered with majestic Chihuahua Pines
and tall waving grass. We traveled the whole day enjoying the
beautiful country and seeing many Deer and other animals in the
unspoiled country. Just at sunset we came to a little saddle on a long
ridge that extended down into the "Rio Aros".
Don Bacho dismounted and came back to talk to the
assembled little group. He said that he had shot a Bear and was
trailing it from the blood and the Bear had lain down in a little
spring here in this saddle. We went over to where he indicated and
there in the tall grass was a small seep of water. He indicated that
just around the side hill we would find the cave. He had followed the
bear there and that is how he found it. We went around on a ledge
about 10 feet wide and came into a large cave filled with ancient
dwellings. On each side of the large entrance was a large Olla like
the one in cave valley. These ollas had been constructed with grass
and willows and plastered on the inside and the outside with a clay
plaster. The shape of the olla and the smooth surface of the plastered
walls were designed to keep out the rodents. Poles had been built in
through the Olla at different intervals to act as ladders on the
outside and the inside. The ancient dwellers could climb in and out to
store and use their corn. They were about 10 feet high and about 8
feet in diameter.
The one on the right side of the cave was made of white
clay but the one on the left was made of red clay. I climbed into the
white Olla and found some small ancient cobs and plenty of dust. As I
went to climb in the other red one I noticed that the poles still had
the bark on them indicating that it had not been used. On the white
one the poles were used and worn.
We unpacked our mules and unsaddled our horses for the
night. Don Bacho went into the back of the cave and scraped off the
dust and ashes and pulled out some very well preserved com fodder for
our animals to eat. We enlarged the little seep for water and had a
very comfortable camp.
Dr Bradbury was enchanted with the two story dwellings
that filled the back half of the cave. He counted 80 rooms that were
still intact and could see where others had existed anciently. He cut
a piece of a pole that made up the floor of a second story room and
took it to be carbon dated. He later sent word that those rooms had
been built around 900 A.D.
The next morning, from the ledge in front of the cave,
I looked down into the cliffed up river far below. To the east I could
see where the river came from the south and turned west into the
cliffed up area. I could see the water shining in the distance. To the
west the river turned south again and again I could see the water as
it ran south. I asked Don Bacho what river it was and he stated that
it was the Aros River.
The plan was to travel east down into the Chico River
that day to visit other caves and dwellings. Dad said that as much as
he would like to go he had to return to Chuhuichupa to hold a ward
conference. All of the others went on to the Rio Chico Dad and I
returned to town to attend the Ward Conference.
It would have been easy to yield to the urging of the
others to go on with them but Dad would not miss his appointment.
DAD AND PEOPLE
This soft side of Dad's nature was not known to the
general public. To most people he was the stem dignified Stake
President. To those who knew him well he was a warm and loyal friend.
He understood people and loved them for what they were. When I would
accompany Dad to visit the wards in the mountain colonies I could see
the love and respect he had for the people and they for him.
When he went to Mexico as President of the Mexican
mission he loved the missionaries and he loved the people and received
their love and respect in return.
On one occasion Naoma and I visited Wilford Farnsworth
and his wife at the mission training center in Mexico City. They were
working as Directors of the Mission Training Center for the
missionaries in Mexico City. Since Wilford and I had grown up together
in Dublan they invited us to dinner at their Apartment' We had an
enjoyable visit and a very good dinner. Wilford told me of his part in
going to arrange the legal details of bringing Dad back to Mexico City
and to fly him home after Dad's death in that automobile accident in
Tehuacan Puebla. He told me again and again how he loved Dad and how
Dad had changed from when he Wilford knew him when he was growing up
as boy here in Dublan. He said that everywhere Dad went people warmed
to him and were filled with his enthusiasm and love for the work of
the Lord in the mission. He said Dad would go to a branch and talk to
the men and fill them with enthusiasm for the work. He would ordain
them to the Priesthood and Set them apart to be Branch Presidents and
Counselors. They in turn would rise to the callings they had received
from the Lord and love and respect Dad for the rest of their lives.
Wilford would then say, "I was amazed at the great change in your
Dad". Wilford left Dublan after he graduated from High School so he
really didn't know Dad as he really was.
Dad had many friends among the General Authorities of
the Church. He loved and respected them and they in turn loved and
respected him. He spent most of his later life serving the Lord and
working in the church. He was able to get many projects approved
because many of the Brethren knew Dad and respected him and had stayed
in our home. When he was in the mission he was able to get approval
for Grade Schools in the small branches of the church all through the
mission. Her started the schools and they were a big success and did a
lot of good for quite a few years.
He was able to get approval for the project of the big
Secondary school in Mexico City. He was killed before he could get the
work going on it. Dan Taylor took over that project and the Benemerito
has been a great blessing in the lives of hundreds of students. It
also developed many leaders that were so badly needed in the church at
that time.
Dad became a leader here in the community of Nvo. Casas
Grandes. He joined the Rotary Club and later was put in as president
of that Club. He was instrumental in establishing the first Bank here
and became its first president. He was involved in getting a Meat
Packing Plant organized for the cattle men of the area and took on the
responsibility of building it without being paid for it. He was known
and respected by all who knew him. They all knew that CB, as he was
known could get the job done.
When Dad and Mother would come through Dublan en route
to Conference from their mission. They usually stopped for a couple of
days to visit and enjoy the family. We have a video of Dad sitting on
the porch with a group of his grandchildren gathered around him. Some
are on his lap and he is smiling and saying, "Hi diddle, diddle the
cat and the fiddle. The cow jumped over the moon. The little dog
laughed to see such craft and the dish ran away with the spoon.."
He would tell us, "The mission is really great. I would
like to spend the rest of my life in the mission". Mother would give a
little laugh and say, "Well I wouldn't I would like to come home and
be with my grandchildren". It seems that they both got their wish. Dad
was killed in an Automobile accident near Tehuacan Puebla. They were
returning from a conference in Vera Cruz. An Elder was driving, Dad
was sitting in the passenger seat and Mother and two lady missionaries
were in the back seat. They were traveling in a heavy Rain Storm
behind a Bus. The Elder turned out to pass the Bus just as the Bus
turned out also. The Elder swung the car back to avoid the bus and
crashed into the rear comer of a big truck, loaded with Pineapple that
was stopped on the highway without any warning lights. Dad was killed
instantly and the Elder suffered two broken legs and other injuries.,
Mother suffered a broken arm, some broken ribs and facial bruises. As
I remember the two lady missionaries didn't have any serious
injuries.
Claudius and Wesley went down and brought Dad and
Mother home on the LAMSA airlines, after taking care of all of the
legal details and arrangements.
The funeral was held in the Gym. The program was given
by the family. I don't remember all of the speakers or the details of
the funeral but I do remember Brother Cliff Whetten giving one of the
prayers. That prayer went on and on extolling Dad's deeds and
history.
The Gym was packed and overflowing out into the street
with people from all around the area who knew and loved Dad. Elder
Gordon B. Hinkley came from Salt Lake to represent the First
Presidency of the Church and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In his
talk he read a letter from the First Presidency to Mother and the
family.
As the dirt and rocks began to fall on Dad's Coffin
Elder Hinkley remarked to no one in particular, "Too bad that such a
great man had to be buried in such a God forsaken place". I was
standing near by and thought to myself," This is what Dad would want
because he had said many times, 'Don't worry about the graves the
people are no longer there anyway'".
Uncle Ehno Robinson was also standing near and heard
Elder Hinkley's comment and later he commented on it and did proceeded
to do something about it. He planted evergreen trees and provided,
with the help of the town, a well and a pump to water them with.
These are some of the memories of my Father. I am sure
that each one of the family members has a different version and
different memories which they should record. I write this for our
family and our descendants so they can know a little more about their
heritage.
Samuel Keith Bowman Dec. 10, 2001 ~